A chain of bottleshops in the eastern states will no longer stock Margaret River brewery Colonial Brewing Co's beers after complaints about the brand name. Blackhearts & Sparrows' owners said the decision was made in light of recent events, both in Australia and around the world. Staff and customers had also reached out with their concerns. "While we appreciate that the people behind Colonial Brewing had no malicious intent in their choice of brand name, words have power. Weve had discussions with Colonial in the past with concerns about their name, but with their branding remaining the same our decision was clear," they said. (Sharecast News) - London stocks were still firmly in the black by midday on Tuesday despite weak UK jobs data, amid reports US President Donald Trump is considering a $1 trillion infrastructure package and after the Federal Reserve launched a corporate bond-buying programme. The FTSE 100 was up 2.5% at 6,216.30. Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said: "Yesterday, I noted that policymakers would be forced to chuck even more money at pandemic relief as second waves of cases and a painful and incomplete economic recovery bit. Right on cue, the Federal Reserve announced it would start buying individual corporate bonds, building on the existing purchases of ETFs. The Fed 'will purchase corporate bonds to create a corporate bond portfolio that is based on a broad, diversified market index of US corporate bonds', the central bank said. "The Fed is stepping things up after its statement last week left investors more than a little concerned about the pace of recovery. The move suggests that the Fed, as was clear last week, is worried about the economy enduring a protracted downturn. Meanwhile the White House is again said to be mulling a $1tn infrastructure plan to stimulate the economy. The two horsemen of risk sentiment recovery - monetary and fiscal stimulus - riding to the rescue again." On home shores, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the number of hours worked in the UK fell at a record pace as an extra 6m people stayed off work during the Covid-19 crisis. Total weekly hours in the three months to the end of April fell by 94.2m, or 8.9%, to 959.9m a year earlier. The number of workers on payrolls dropped by more than 600,000 between March and May and job vacancies fell to a record low as the Covid-19 crisis continued to hit the labour market. ONS figures indicated vacancies plunged 60% between March and May. Total pay fell in real terms for the first time since January 2018. The unemployment rate surprised economists by holding steady at 3.9% versus an average forecast for an increase to 4.5%. But experts warned the figures showed the government's furlough programme doing its job while delaying the long-term damage once state support for workers' wages ends in October. Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the headline rate showed employment held "in suspended animation" by the government's job retention scheme. "The true damage from Covid-19 will emerge in the autumn," he said. In equity markets, travel stocks IAG, Carnival and easyJet were high risers. The sector rallied as travel company TUI, also firmly higher, said it plans to partially restart its Summer 2020 programme. Elsewhere, Ashtead rosse after the construction equipment hire firm said fourth-quarter profits had halved but paid a dividend despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Building materials company CRH was also a high riser, with traders pointing to a potential boost from US infrastructure spending. Outsourcer Capita racked up strong gains as it said it has been awarded a five-year, 10m contract by Irish Water for the transformation and operation of its customer contact centre services. Cineworld rose after saying it will reopen its UK and US cinemas on 10 July, with social distancing measures in place. 4imprint pushed higher as it said orders had risen to almost half last year's amount as US states began lifting Covid-19 restrictions that had hit the promotional merchandise company's sales hard. Greggs advanced after saying it had frozen almost all shop openings and asked landlords for rent cuts as it set out plans to reopen about 800 stores for takeaway this week. Market Movers FTSE 100 (UKX) 6,216.30 2.50% FTSE 250 (MCX) 17,595.38 2.96% techMARK (TASX) 3,744.23 2.02% FTSE 100 - Risers Carnival (CCL) 1,389.50p 10.32% International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 289.50p 9.37% Ashtead Group (AHT) 2,628.00p 8.73% easyJet (EZJ) 833.40p 8.57% CRH (CRH) 2,892.00p 7.43% Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 155.05p 6.34% Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 343.70p 6.15% Intermediate Capital Group (ICP) 1,299.00p 6.13% Ferguson (FERG) 6,390.00p 5.83% Barratt Developments (BDEV) 528.00p 5.77% FTSE 100 - Fallers Admiral Group (ADM) 2,261.00p -0.70% Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,349.00p -0.42% Intertek Group (ITRK) 5,258.00p -0.15% BAE Systems (BA.) 499.30p 0.26% Spirax-Sarco Engineering (SPX) 9,742.00p 0.47% Tesco (TSCO) 223.60p 0.68% Polymetal International (POLY) 1,479.00p 0.72% Severn Trent (SVT) 2,426.00p 0.79% National Grid (NG.) 922.40p 0.81% London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 8,034.00p 0.83% FTSE 250 - Risers Capita (CPI) 45.22p 10.72% 4Imprint Group (FOUR) 2,650.00p 9.96% Wood Group (John) (WG.) 230.90p 9.48% Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 75.10p 7.67% PureTech Health (PRTC) 258.00p 7.50% TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 484.50p 7.17% Telecom Plus (TEP) 1,446.00p 7.11% Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 214.00p 7.11% Ferrexpo (FXPO) 197.80p 6.92% Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 1,082.00p 6.60% FTSE 250 - Fallers Apax Global Alpha Limited (APAX) 135.40p -1.17% Provident Financial (PFG) 199.40p -0.80% Contour Global (GLO) 183.20p -0.76% IG Group Holdings (IGG) 774.00p -0.58% Senior (SNR) 82.15p -0.30% Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 2,702.00p -0.30% Personal Assets Trust (PNL) 44,050.00p 0.11% Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS) 1,270.00p 0.20% JPMorgan Indian Investment Trust (JII) 503.00p 0.20% B&M European Value Retail S.A. 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Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe QUEENSBURY One of the nurses who helped care for the dozens of sick residents at Glens Falls Center, then fell sick herself, was able to return to work Tuesday. Donita Wiley was sick for six weeks. She was tested after the first few residents caught coronavirus, and on April 23 she learned she had it too. She assumes she caught it at work. I dont go nowhere else. I dont do much beyond work, she said. It just kind of hit all of a sudden. When she got the test, she had slight symptoms. But by the time the results came back, days later, she was far sicker. I took a really quick turn for the worse, she said. It was horrible. The next day, she went to Glens Falls Hospital. She did not come out until May 19. Of the 25 days she spent there, 19 days were on a ventilator. She cant remember that part she was sedated. Her daughter Jordan Madison, a surgical technologist at the hospital, feared for the worst. I was very scared, Madison said. She has difficulties with allergies and breathing. When her mother had to be ventilated, she sprang into action. I got her on the trial remdesivir and just prayed, she said. Remdesivir, an antiviral drug, is being studied to see if it can help people fight off coronavirus. So far, the results look promising. Im not sure if that made the difference, Madison said, but she was eager to get her mom into the trial as quickly as possible, just in case it worked. She kept a book describing every day of her mothers hospitalization every test, every drug, every decision. Wiley has read it now and was impressed, saying she received very good care from the entire hospital team. I sent all the doctors thank-you notes and doughnuts, she said. After she was discharged, it took her three more weeks to recover enough to go back to work. She went home on oxygen, which she slowly weaned herself from over the weeks. But even now, she feels exhausted all the time. It was very scary. It took all my energy, she said. The ventilator also impacted her voice. The vent tube is threaded down the throat next to the vocal cords. Now, her voice is hoarse. I cant yell at anybody, she said. She supervises the 3 to 11 p.m. shift at Glens Falls Center. When she arrived Tuesday, she was greeted with balloons, socially distanced co-workers applause and a huge American flag hoisted by a firetruck. She was taken completely by surprise. After a brief greeting from friends and family outside because visitors cant enter the nursing home her co-workers treated her to a cake inside. She had hoped to just slip back to her job without anyone making a big deal of it, but she was a good sport about the attention. Im glad to be back, she said. You can reach Kathleen Moore at 742-3247 or kmoore@poststar.com. Follow her on Twitter @ByKathleenMoore or at her blog on www.poststar.com. Love 25 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Businesses in 22 Michigan communities are benefiting from $993,984 in grant funding awarded by the state as part of economic recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants were part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporations Match on Main program, which was expanded in May to refocus resources on keeping existing businesses running. In all, 299 businesses will get funding in the following communities: Calumet Marquette Grayling Traverse City Charlevoix Sault Ste. Marie Mt. Pleasant Rogers City Zeeland Lake Odessa Big Rapids Bay City Lapeer St. Johns Paw Paw Ypsilanti Coldwater Adrian Detroit (Grandmont-Rosedale neighborhood) Lake Orion Owosso Lansing The grants were open to local governments, downtown development authorities or other economic development organizations representing commercial districts. Applicants could apply for up to $50,000, and businesses chosen for the grants were allotted between $2,000-$10,000. In a statement, MEDC CEO Mark Burton said the grants will assist businesses recovering from the loss of revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Michigans small businesses and traditional downtowns are the heart of our communities, and by providing communities with resources to engage in economic recovery efforts we can help ensure our downtowns not only recover, but thrive, he said. Until recently, most businesses in the state were closed to in-person business or activities under the states stay-at-home executive order. Although retail businesses, bars and restaurants and personal care businesses like salons have since been allowed to reopen in limited capacity, some places of public accommodation remain closed. COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. READ MORE: Is a second wave of coronavirus inevitable? Michigan nears critical point to suppress another outbreak Restaurants, pools, libraries reopen: An updated chart of whats allowed in Michigan Michigan salons left in the dark as pressure to reopen mounts Advice from Up North: QR codes, UV lights and more pointers, as Michigan restaurants reopen Diners flock to downtown Flint restaurants as order is lifted Michigans mask mandate highlights political fault lines in coronavirus crisis Award-winning comedian Eric Omondi has disclosed where and when he first met his baby mama Jacque Maribe. In an interview with Rev Lucy Natasha on YouTube, the funnyman said they met in 2011 while working at Radio Africa. That is the question Im asked most, some Kenyans just want to know about me and Maribe We met at Radio Africa (in 2011). I was working at Radio Jambo and she was at Kiss TV, said Omondi. The pair went on their first date at Java Sarit Center and as they say, the rest is history. According to Eric, they vowed to remain best friends even after they both left Radio Africa to pursue other jobs. Alikuwa reporter Kiss TV. Tukapatana tukakuwa marafiki sana. Tukaenda date pale Java Sarit Center. Tukawa marafiki na mimi nikatoka hata yeye akatoka akenda Citizen. Since then were tight. Were the best of friends na sisi tunajiambia kila siku whatever happens, well remain best of friends. Tunajikumbusha kila siku. Shes a true friend, said the funnyman in a past interview. In the interview with Rev Natasha, Eric also revealed what he always looks out for on a first date. I wish to date or work with someone with respect. If I am meeting you for the first time, U would watch how you treat strangers and especially waiters or security men. That tells a lot. New Delhi, June 16 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to grant any relief to Pabubha Manek, a senior Gujarat BJP leader, who was disqualified as MLA from Dwarka constituency by the Gujarat High Court last year. A bench of Chief Justice S.A. Bobde, M.R. Shah and A.S. Bopanna dismissed the application filed by Manek in his pending petition seeking stay on the High Court order. Manek moved the apex court challenging the High Court order and sought a stay on it, as he intended to contest the Rajya Sabha polls slated later this month. Manek's counsel contended before the bench that if the High Court order is not stayed, then he may not be able to contest the Rajya Sabha polls, and insisted on staying the order till the disposal of the pending petition. In April last year, the apex court had directed that Dwarka Assembly seat should not be declared vacant and admitted Manek's plea challenging his disqualification. But, the top court did not stay the April 12 High Court order, which set aside Manek's election for submitting a defective nomination form and ordered a by-election for the seat. Congress candidate Meramanbhai Goria had moved the High Court challenging Manek's victory from the Dwarka Assembly constituency in 2017. Goria argued that Manek had submitted a defective nomination; as a result his election should be set aside. Goria claimed the nomination form did not have any mention about the name and number of the constituency, which was '82-Dwarka'. Manek is a seven-time MLA from the constituency. "Defect of substantial character as contemplated under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951", observed the High Court. However, the High Court did not accept Goria's prayer that he should be declared the winner, as he had received the second highest votes in the election. Vietnam's second-largest electricity producer PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) has officially confirmed its approval of investment for Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 thermal power plants, with a combined capacity of between 1,300 to 1,760MW. The Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 thermal power plants have been approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to complement the adjusted Power Development Plan VII (PDP7) in Decision No.212/TTg-CP dated February 13, 2017; and by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the adjustment plan of Nhon Trach Power Station under Decision No.3453/QD-BCT dated September 6, 2017. Accordingly, the total investment is estimated at roughly VND32.5 trillion ($1.4 billion). The two thermal projects will be built in Ong Keo Industrial park, Phuoc Khanh commune, Nhon Trach district, Dong Nai province. With its favourable location and solid infrastructure of the Southern key economic zone, the province of Dong Nai has become the focus of attention of property developers for years. PV Power will invest and build Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 thermal power plants (illustrative image) The construction of the plants is scheduled for the second quarter of 2021. Earlier this year, foreign lenders Citibank and INGbank have signed a letter of authorisation to provide financial assistance to the project. Ho Cong Ky, Chairman of PV Power, believed that Citibank and INGbank would be trusted partners thanks to their wide range of international expertise in funding power projects. The two banks would raise appropriate financial options for Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 thermal power plants. Previously, Societe Generale a French multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Paris expressed its keen interest in lending for the two projects. The two plans are key investment projects of PV Power in the upcoming time and once completed, the projects will help offset power shortages in the 2021-2025 period created by construction delays of many other power plants in the south of Vietnam. Last year, PV Power also inked an agreement with PetroVietnam Gas JSC to provide and sell liquefied natural gas for the project. However, the firm is facing roadblocks of falling short of coal demand. At the annual shareholder meeting last month, the board of directors raised their voice of upcoming shortages of coal for Vung Ang 1 coal power plant. Vinacomin the major supplier of PV Power could only provide three million tonnes of the firms demand for Vung Ang 1, which allegedly needs 3.4 million tonnes for this year. PV Power will likely secure the remaining 400,000-450,000 tonnes of coal from imports. By putting a united front against the novel coronavirus and working in tandem, the Centre and states have shown the finest example of 'cooperative federalism', Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while kick-starting his two-day interaction with Chief Ministers, Lt Governors, and top bureaucrats of states and union territories. Based on the feedback of the CMs, Modi is expected to announce a policy beyond June 30 when 'Unlock 1' comes to an end. The meeting comes amid a 'violent face-off" between India and China in Ladakh that took place overnight in Laddakh's Galwan Valley. "Sometime in future, when India's battle against the novel coronavirus is analysed, the present time will be remembered as an example of how we worked together, in what is surely the finest example of cooperative federalism," Modi said. A total of 3,43,091 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed so far across the country. In the last 24 hours, 10,667 new patients have tested positive. The number of fatalities, which currently stands at 9,900, with 380 deaths reported over the last 24 hours, is going up towards the 10,000-mark. "Noted experts around the world are discussing at great lengths the way India implemented the lockdown and the discipline Indians showed during this time. In India, the recovery rate has gone over 50%. India is among those nations where coronavirus-infected people are being successfully treated. The experience from many states have instilled self-pride with the way damage due to coronavirus has been contained and how we are looking to move forward," Modi said. Chief Ministers of 20 states are expected to join the Prime Minister in discussing the road ahead. The list of states includes Punjab, Assam and all other northeastern states. On June 17, Modi will meet Chief Ministers of the 15 worst-affected states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Gujarat, marking the seventh meeting with the top functionaries of various states during the Covid-19 crisis. The country has opened up over the past few days and economic indicators show all signs of India moving towards normalcy, Modi said. "Our economy has started to show green shoots. Power consumption has started to go up, fertiliser purchase has increased dramatically, exports are returning to pre-Covid-19 levels... We now need to work on value chains and specific economic points," Modi said, adding that small factories need guidance and hand-holding. "I know work is being done in that direction. For trade and industry to work at its old speed, we all need to work together, he said. At such a crucial time, when India is looking to return on track, the PM cautioned Indians against being lax in maintaining laid-out guidelines and precautions. "Don't even think of going out of the home without wearing a face cover or a face mask," Modi said. (Photo : REUTERS/George Frey) The drug hydroxychloroquine, pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump and others in recent months as a possible treatment to people infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is displayed by a pharmacist at the Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, U.S., May 27, 2020. Malaria drugs are not included anymore in the list of COVID-19 drug candidates as the Food and Drug Administration withdrew the emergency authorization of two malaria drugs that are touted by the United States President Donald Trump. In the latest report, the two malaria drugs: hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, are "unlikely to be effective." These two drugs have been promoted by the current U.S. President, Trump. The previous report said he took hydroxychloroquine after being exposed to two people who had tested positive for the coronavirus. READ ALSO: COVID-19 Update: Greatest Coronavirus Risks Can Be Found in These Places; Clinical Trials Speed Up Spread of Other Diseases FDA said they had reviewed some data, and eventually, determined that the drugs, particularly hydroxychloroquine, did not demonstrate benefits that "outweigh the known and potential risks." "Additionally, in light of ongoing serious cardiac adverse events and other serious side effects, the known and potential benefits of CQ and HCQ no longer outweigh the known and potential risks for the authorized use," the agency said. READ ALSO: [COVID-19 Update] Experts Warn of New Coronavirus Complication: Diabetes The Malaria Drugs Were Authorized in March In March, the agency authorized the drugs for use in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The decision came after Trump said they could be effective against the virus. Earlier this year, the agency had issued warnings that the drugs could cause alarming heart arrhythmias. READ ALSO: COVID-19 Update: 'Game-Changer' Hydroxychloroquine Malaria Drug Doesn't Help Patients at All, Says U.K. Experts 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The UNLV department of brain health has formally launched the Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, offering hope through scientific discovery for patients who are suffering from Alzheimer's, dementia and other brain and neurological diseases. The Center is the latest in a series of milestones from the department of brain health and the School of Integrated Health Sciences to better understand how a healthy brain functions, to improve care and treatment of people with brain diseases, and to identify mechanisms of brain disorders. The Center will drive research, track the progress of clinical trials around the world, and provide learning opportunities in the science of developing treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative disorders. The Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience will advance the science of brain health in tangible ways to transform the lives of millions of people affected by neurodegenerative diseases today and into the future." Ronald. T. Brown, dean of the School of Integrated Health Sciences The Center will be led by UNLV research professor Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, who previously served as founding director of the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research at UCLA and founding director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. Dr. Cummings is a renowned clinical trials and Alzheimer's expert. He has published nearly 800 scientific papers and 44 books devoted to Alzheimer's, clinical trials, and treatment development. "The Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience will allow our programs at UNLV to be in the forefront of learning how to get more and better treatments to patients faster. We are building the foundation for cures," said Dr. Cummings. At the heart of the Center is its clinical trial observatory. This unique scientific platform is dedicated to tracking most Alzheimer's disease clinical trials throughout the world, acquiring data from the successes and failures of each trial, enabling researchers to learn how to improve trials and accelerate drug development. "The observatory will strengthen the science of treatment development and systematically reveal how to make trials better, faster, and cheaper," said Dr. Cummings. "Application of these lessons will accelerate treatments to dramatically improve people's lives." The Center is made possible thanks to a $6 million pledge from philanthropist Joy Chambers-Grundy and the late Reg Grundy. Mr. Grundy was a successful and well-loved Australian entrepreneur best known for his many television productions, which remain popular with audiences throughout the country. "My darling late husband, Reg, and I have always been drawn to support this wonderful cause that aims to end the suffering for so many people," said Joy Chambers-Grundy. "Our fervent hope is that scientists across the world can collaborate with Dr. Cummings and other top researchers at UNLV to find treatments for brain disorders and help people thrive in their daily lives." The Chambers-Grundy gift also supports an endowed chair for Dr. Jefferson Kinney, professor and chair of the UNLV department of brain health and an endowed professorship for Dr. Cummings. The center was formally approved by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents at its June meeting. The UNLV department of brain health was launched by the School of Integrated Health Sciences in 2019 to advance research, education, and practice to benefit brain health and the care and treatment of people with brain disorders. The department's faculty specialize in basic and clinical research in neurodegenerative disease, neuropsychology, and occupational therapy. Pyongyang says it destroyed the office to force human scum to pay dearly for their crimes amid a leaflet campaign. North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office building on Tuesday after issuing a series of threats in a significant escalation with South Korea as years of diplomatic progress quickly fades away. Seouls Unification Ministry said the destruction of the building in the North Korean border town of Kaesong happened at 2:49pm local time (05:49 GMT). South Korean media reported a large explosion was heard and smoke could be seen rising over Kaesong. Black-and-white surveillance video released by South Koreas defence ministry showed a large blast that appeared to bring down the four-storey structure. The explosion also appeared to cause a partial collapse of a neighbouring 15-storey high-rise that had served as a residential facility for South Korean officials who staffed the liaison office. Footage of North Korea destroying the inter-Korean Liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea this morning after North Korea stopped communication with South Korea #NorthKorea pic.twitter.com/lVR17Rky5f CNW (@ConflictsW) June 16, 2020 The North which has a long track record of pressuring South Korea when it fails to extract concessions from the United States has repeatedly bashed the South in recent weeks over declining bilateral relations and its inability to stop leafleting by defectors and activists. Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said the North destroyed the office to force human scum and those who have sheltered the scum to pay dearly for their crimes apparently referring to North Korean defectors who for years have floated anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. The inter-Korean liaison office was established in 2018 as part of a series of projects aimed at reducing tensions between the two Koreas. The joint liaison office in Kaesong Industrial Complex was set up in 2018 to facilitate activities between the rival Koreas [Yonhap via Reuters] South Korean defence ministry warned of strong response to any North Korean military provocations. The destruction of the office broke the expectations of all people who hope for the development of inter-Korean relations and lasting peace on the peninsula, deputy national security adviser Kim You-geun told a briefing. Were making clear that the North is entirely responsible for all the consequences this might cause, he said. Later on Tuesday, the United States urged North Korea to avoid further counterproductive steps. The United States fully supports the ROKs efforts on inter-Korean relations and urges the DPRK to refrain from further counterproductive actions, a State Department spokesperson said, referring to the South and North by their official names. Serious action When the office was operating, dozens of officials from both sides would work in the building, with South Koreans travelling each week into the North. The office has been closed since January over coronavirus fears. In recent days, Pyongyang has made several threats against Seoul and threatened to destroy the office if defector groups there continue with their campaign to send propaganda leaflets and other material across the border. On Saturday, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un, warned that Seoul will soon witness a tragic scene of the useless North-South liaison office being completely collapsed. She also said she would leave to North Koreas military the right to take the next step of retaliation against South Korea. Robert Kelly, a Koreas analyst from Pusan National University, said while the leaflets were cited as the reason for blowing up the office, North Korea has been seeking to bring other grievances back into the international spotlight, including crippling US sanctions. Theyve never taken serious action like this, it is actually quite surprising, Kelly told Al Jazeera. It is reflective of larger things the North Koreans are disappointed that South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been able to achieve so little. The Americans have pushed the South Koreans very hard not to cut a deal with North Korea. Very serious development Al Jazeeras Rob McBride, reporting from Seoul, said the incident is very serious development, but added it was not completely out of the blue. There have been increasingly threatening noises from North Korea, especially in the past week. Earlier on Tuesday, North Koreas military also threatened to move back into zones that were demilitarised under inter-Korean peace agreements, as the communist country continued to dial up pressure on rival South Korea. The Korean Peoples Army said it was reviewing a governing party recommendation to advance into unspecified border areas and turn the front line into a fortress. Several defector-led groups have been sending leaflets together with food, one-dollar bills, mini radios and USB sticks containing South Korean dramas and news over the border and said they will continue with their campaign this week, despite North Korean threats and South Korea saying it will take legal action. The leaflets usually carry messages critical of Kim Jong Un. Inter-Korean relations have been strained since the breakdown of a second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Vietnam in early 2019. That summit fell apart because of disputes over how much sanctions should be lifted in return for Kims dismantling his main nuclear complex. Kim later promised to expand his nuclear arsenal, introduce a new strategic weapon, and overcome the US-led sanctions that he said stifles his countrys economy. Some analysts say North Korea appears to be using the leaflet issue as an excuse to increase pressure on South Korea amid stalled denuclearisation talks. The leaflets are an excuse or justification to raise the ante, manufacture a crisis, and bully Seoul to get what it wants, said Duyeon Kim, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, a Belgium-based independent non-profit organisation. Last week, North Korea severed hotlines with South Korea as the first step towards shutting down all contact with Seoul. South Korea said the defector groups actions increase cross-border tensions, pose risks to residents living near the border, and cause environmental damage. On Monday, Moon urged Pyongyang to keep peace agreements reached by the two leaders and return to dialogue. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 06:53:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Vehicles cross the border between France and Italy in Menton, southern France, on June 15, 2020. In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron declared "a first victory" over the coronavirus epidemic, announcing a return to normalcy from Monday across French regions, except for overseas territories. From Monday, European travellers will be able to enter French territory without restriction, while those from countries outside Schengen area will have to wait until July 1. (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua) BRUSSELS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A number of European countries on Monday started exiting border controls cautiously at different paces while striving to reduce tourism fallout and pushing vaccine development. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Europe has registered 2,187,307 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 182,976 deaths as of 10:00 a.m. CET (0800 GMT) on June 15. REOPENING BORDER Lots of European nations, including Germany, France, Belgium and Denmark, began to relax their border controls on Monday. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announced last week that controls along Germany's land borders with Switzerland, France, Austria, and Denmark would be lifted from Monday, adding that the government would reconsider its plans if the COVID-19 situation worsens. From June 16, EU citizens and Swiss nationals can enter Germany again unhindered, without controls and without quarantine regulations, according to the federal government's decision. The decision is with a few exceptions. For example, controls for foreigners arriving by plane from Spain will not end until June 21. The German government on Monday lifted its travel warnings for the European Union (EU) members, the Schengen-associated states and Britain, except Spain, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The warnings were replaced by individual travel advice. According to the German Federal Foreign Office, travel warnings would remain in force or would be issued again if there were a high number of newly infected people, as currently applied to Sweden. The benchmark was a number of more than 50 newly infected persons per 100,000 inhabitants over the last seven days. In neighboring France, travelers from countries outside the Schengen area will have to wait until July 1. In Belgium, the authorities reopened its border to other EU members, non-EU Schengen countries -- Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway -- as well as Britain. While Belgium gives the green light to other European countries, the same does not necessarily apply in the other direction. According to the information posted online by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgians can currently only visit Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Liechtenstein and Switzerland without restrictions. Non-essential travel outside the EU and Schengen area is still prohibited. The development came after the European Commission requested member states to have their borders reopened by July 1. EMBRACING TOURISTS Spain planned to reopen its frontiers with the EU countries -- with the exception of Portugal -- on June 21. But a pilot scheme of tourism was kicked off on Monday. The first group of an estimated 10,900 German tourists expected to visit the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza between now and July 1 landed at Palma de Mallorca Airport on Monday morning. They are the first tourists allowed to enter Spain since the declaration of the State of Alarm and the subsequent lockdown. All the tourists had to undergo a safety and security check, which included filling in a form still in flight to give details of where they would be staying during their visit, which must last a minimum of five nights. They also had their temperature checked on arrival. The pilot scheme is considered a trial for a wider opening of the tourist sector both in the Balearic Islands and in the rest of Spain in the coming weeks. In addition, Greece reopened its gates to tourists on Monday, with protecting the health of visitors and locals being its top priority, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced. International flights for tourists to Athens and Thessaloniki airports have resumed from Monday. REKINDLING HOPE Italy, once hit hard by the coronavirus, recorded 26 new COVID-19 fatalities in the past 24 hours, the lowest daily increase in the country since March 3. Along with some European partners, the country signed a contract with AstraZeneca pharmaceutical company for buying up to 400 million doses of a potential coronavirus vaccine. The contract with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical followed a deal agreed between Italy, Germany, France, and the Netherlands in the previous days in order to ensure the availability of the vaccine in the European markets, once ready. "Italy has not yet purchased doses of the vaccine -- which are not yet available -- but rather signed a contract to keep supporting this scientific research," Italy's Deputy Health Minister Pierpaolo Sileri told state-run RAI Radio 1 on Monday. "Presuming to have it ready for autumn may be premature, yet it (the vaccine) could arrive by the end of the year, or beginning of 2021," he added. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Some Cape Bretoners are calling for immediate repairs to the crumbling rail line that runs across the island, regardless of whether a proposed container terminal gets built in Sydney harbour. Eleanor Blue Morrison said the railway is falling into a state of disrepair and fixing it could help spur economic development across Cape Breton. "It's deplorable. It should never have gotten to this state to begin with," said the president of the Orangedale Railway Station Museum in Inverness County, N.S. "I know it'll probably take a lot of money to get it back up to a good inspection level, but it can be done." Blue Morrison, whose father worked on the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway, said she has seen missing and worn ties, varied spacing between the rails, the railbed eroded by rain or floodwater and saltwater deterioration of the railbed along the Bras d'Or Lake. She would like to see trains bringing cruise ship passengers from Sydney to the Highland Village Museum in Iona, N.S., and farther down the line to the Orangedale station. Tom Ayers/CBC Blue Morrison said she supports the Cape Breton Regional Municipality's efforts to attract a container terminal development because it could lead to investment in the rail line. "There's going to be more than just one winner if the railroad is workable again and that's going to be everybody," she said. Steve Smith, a Coxheath, N.S., resident who lives on Bungalow Road near the tracks, recently shot some drone footage of a huge washout near his home and another farther west toward Point Edward. The railbed washed away in several spots after the Thanksgiving Day flood of 2016. The railway owner put up some concrete barriers to block access to the section and shored up the railbed to prevent further damage, but Smith said the washouts are still dangerous. People aren't supposed to walk on the tracks, but Smith said he sees them regularly using the rail line to walk from the Cantley Village subdivision to the Keltic Plaza shopping centre or using nearby ATV trails that cross the tracks. Story continues The washout off Coxheath Road also continues to pose a problem for local drainage because the culvert underneath the railbed has not been enlarged, he said. Matthew Moore/CBC "The condition of the track, especially here near Bungalow Road, is really poor," said Smith. "There's large washouts. The ties are falling from the rails into the washouts. You can barely walk around or get through and I find that it's a problem. It could be a safety concern for the public that's using the trail as a sidewalk and it's a safety concern because of water. You can't have water moving through areas that are filled with blocks and railroad debris." Charlie MacLean, co-chair of the Scotia Rail Development Society, agreed. The society was formed in 2015, just as the rail owner, Genesee & Wyoming, stopped running trains across Cape Breton and signalled its intention to abandon the line altogether due to a lack of demand. "We want to see trains running again and we would like to see the track and the track bed owned by the province and not by a owned-from-away company that can do with it as they wish upon their whim or other financial concerns," MacLean said. Matthew Moore/CBC "[The province] own the highways, they own the streets we drive our cars on. This is just another vehicle for conveyance of goods and people and we think if it's owned by the province, then they have more control over it and would presume that they would charge any company that used it a reasonable fee for use." MacLean said the steel rails seem to be in good shape, but there are plenty of sections where the infrastructure needs to be repaired or replaced. "The longer it's ignored, the more costly it will be to rejuvenate it and get it back in operation," he said. In 2014, Genesee & Wyoming said rail traffic had fallen far below the amount needed to make the line economical and an annual subsidy of $2 million was not enough to keep it going. The last train ran across Cape Breton heading for the mainland in October 2015. Rail line critical In the meantime, Cape Breton Regional Municipality was intensifying efforts to attract a container terminal to Sydney harbour and officials said an intact rail line was critical to make the proposed development viable. If the line was abandoned, the owner could rip up the rails and sell off the right-of-way, but the provincial government changed the law and made that process more difficult. It also negotiated a subsidy deal with Genesee & Wyoming to keep the rail line in place, with the province paying up to $60,000 a month for basic company expenses, such as staffing and insurance, but not for repairs and maintenance. The subsidy was intended to keep the rail line in place in case CBRM's container terminal proposal ever materialized. Tom Ayers/CBC Promoters of the project say they have lined up funding and builders for a proposed container terminal, but have yet to attract a shipping company willing to commit business to the port. This year, the government renewed the subsidy for one more year, but capped it at $30,000 a month. Meanwhile, the line has continued to deteriorate, with many sections of track in such bad shape that train traffic would be impossible. In 2017, a study done for the Port of Sydney Development Corporation found the line needed at least $103 million in repairs to make it usable for container shipping. Smith said he would like to see the railway owner fix up the line so trains can run again or else give up the line so it can be used for active transportation. Warren Gordon photo "If it's going to be a railway, then yes, they need to put the money into it and make it happen," he said. "If they're going to keep the property and let the community use it for rails-to-trails or other projects, that's what I would like to see, as well." In February, the province amended the Railways Act to make track inspections mandatory and repair orders possible. Transportation Minister Lloyd Hines declined an interview request, but the department said in an email that gaps in the legislation make it "challenging for government to ensure railway owners maintain and repair their rail infrastructure." Regulations still being drafted The department said the last full inspection was done in 2014. It said enforcement of the new rules hasn't started because regulations are still being drafted specific to active, discontinued and abandoned lines. Once they are ready, the department said, the government will be in a position to proclaim the legislative amendments. Andre Houde, a vice-president with Genesee & Wyoming, said he is not aware of any public safety issues on the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway line. Necessary maintenance done, says company "We have done the necessary maintenance to keep it according to the agreement we have with government," he said. "If the development of business was to appear, there would be some more investment to be made there before we would run trains." Houde said the company has been engaged with the provincial government on the development of new regulations. "We are satisfied with the government's assurances that our concerns, when we raise them, will be addressed positively at that point." MORE TOP STORIES "First and foremost, I would like to extend an apology on behalf of the District and the Board of School Directors to the student who was involved and to his family. They did not ask for this incident to occur, nor do they deserve the negative attention that it has brought." - school board President Tina Stoll Thousands of over-50s have had their dreams of giving up work dashed after the Covid-19 crisis wrecked their retirement plans. Many say they can no longer afford to stop working because the value of their pension savings has plummeted. Others have had to suspend pension contributions after their income was hit by lockdown and they can't now build up the nest-egg they need. Pension fears: Jude Hough, who was planning to stop working at 55, now estimates retirement is now at least ten years away because of the impact of lockdown Half of investors admit having a 'pension black hole' and fear their savings will no longer give them the income they need in retirement, according to a study by Fidelity. To plug this gap, many say they will have to continue working full or part-time. A separate report by Legal & General claims one person in six aged over 50 and in work thinks they will delay retirement by an average of three years because of the pandemic, with one in ten expecting to spend an extra five years or more in work. Businesswoman Nanda Marchant, 58, is in the latter camp. She had been looking forward to starting a phased retirement in just a few months' time but now expects this to be delayed for six or seven years. Nanda, who lives in the Midlands, and her husband Tony Hodgson, 60, wanted to gradually spend less time working, reaching full retirement in about three years. But Nanda's income dried up when her research business was forced to shut in March. Her husband is no longer earning either, leaving their plans and finances in tatters. Nanda Marchant (pictured with husband Tony) saw her income dry up when her research business was forced to shut She says: 'My business was going well and I could take on as many projects as I wanted. Tony sold his pricing consultancy business in December and had planned to do consultancy work. 'But finding work for both of us is now looking very difficult.' Nanda's business, Added Insight, is a research company which runs focus groups and interview sessions. She is unsure when she can take on projects again. As well as her loss of earnings, the value of Nanda's pension pot, which is invested in the stock market, has fallen. 'At one point I had lost 20 per cent of my money but now the loss is in single percentage points. 'But this will need to recover before I can think of slowing my work and phasing in retirement.' The self-employed are among those hit hardest, according to the financial services company Aegon. Some 40 per cent of self-employed workers have been forced to rethink their retirement plans, with 22 per cent now expecting to delay. This is the case for self-employed Jude Hough, 47, who was planning to stop working at 55. She estimates retirement is now at least ten years away because of the impact of lockdown. Jude spent her life savings buying a lingerie shop in the market town of Alcester, Warwickshire, at the end of last year. Monthly sales at the shop were around 30,000. Jude quickly set up a website at the start of lockdown lindaroselingerie.shop but so far it has brought in less than 5,000 of online orders. 'I had grand plans to retire. But I have just lost a huge amount of income, taken on 10,000 of debt through the bounce-back loan scheme and my pension savings have taken a beating,' she says. 'Now I'm now in a very poor position and can't see any sign of retirement on the horizon.' Jude has shrewdly saved in pension schemes since she was 21 and recently consolidated all the pots she had accrued, which will take time to recover. Recently retired David Thompson, 63, saw his pension savings fall by 50 per cent in the recent stock market crash. Recently retired David Thompson, 63, saw his pension savings fall by 50 per cent in the recent stock market crash He finished his banking job in February and was looking forward to retirement. But he is now searching for work again as he has a pension black hole much of his money was in oil stocks, which have plummeted in value as demand and the oil price collapsed. David, who lives in Edinburgh, says: 'I retired at the beginning of this year with no idea of what was around the corner. I planned to live abroad for six months with six months in the UK. But that's not looking likely now.' According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of workers aged over 65 is already at a record high of 1.42 million. If people change their retirement plans in response to the pandemic, this number could soar even higher. Although stock markets in general have since partially recovered, widespread declines have hit pension savings. This is a bigger worry for those close to retirement who don't have much time to make up big losses and may now want to leave their pension untouched for longer to give it time to recover further. Ross MacNish, financial planner at wealth manager Brewin Dolphin, says: 'You can stay invested for longer, rather than turning on the income taps, and put more into your pension while you are still earning. Assuming markets recover, you could find yourself in a better position in a few years. 'Lockdown has had a big impact on people's normal spending habits and short-term plans, so it may be a good time to consider what you will require when it has ended and what that means for your retirement. Set out a range of scenarios and you may find you can reduce what you think you need.' Maike Currie, investment director at Fidelity International, says: 'If you decide to defer your desired retirement age and work for longer, it's important to update your pension provider about your plans particularly if you're a member of its default investment option, where your investments are automatically selected.' This is because most firms automatically begin moving your money into safer investments such as cash as you approach your retirement. If they don't know you have postponed your retirement, the investments will be de-risked too early and you could miss out. moneymail@dailymail.co.uk Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States TORONTO, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIMCO Canada Corp. (PIMCO Canada) today announced the June 2020 cash distributions for the ETF series (ETF Series) of the PIMCO Canada mutual funds that distribute monthly (Funds). Unitholders of record of the ETF Series, at the close of business on June 23, 2020, will receive per-unit cash distribution payable on or about June 30, 2020. Details of the per-unit cash distribution amount are as follows: Fund Name Ticker Cash Distribution per Unit PIMCO Monthly Income Fund (Canada) PMIF $ 0.01956 PIMCO Monthly Income Fund (Canada) US$ PMIF.U US$ 0.02173 PIMCO Investment Grade Credit Fund (Canada) IGCF $ 0.03580 PIMCO Global Short Maturity Fund (Canada) PMNT $ 0.03866 PIMCO Low Duration Monthly Income Fund (Canada) PLDI $ 0.03028 The Manager, PIMCO Canada administers and manages the PIMCO Canada ETFs, and retains Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC, (PIMCO), to provide sub-advisory services to the Funds. About PIMCO PIMCO is one of the worlds premier fixed income investment managers. With our launch in 1971 in Newport Beach, California, PIMCO introduced investors to a total return approach to fixed income investing. In the 45+ years since, we have continued to bring innovation and expertise to our partnership with clients seeking the best investment solutions. Today we have offices across the globe and 2,850+ professionals united by a single purpose: creating opportunities for investors in every environment. PIMCO is owned by Allianz S.E., a leading global diversified financial services provider. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expect, intend, will and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Funds. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Funds, PIMCO Canadas and/or PIMCOs current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, market factors. Although the Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors which affect this information, except as required by law. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in the ETF Series Units. Please read the prospectus and ETF Facts carefully before investing. The ETF Series Units are not guaranteed, their value may change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the fund, please see the specific risks of mutual funds section of the prospectus. Units of ETF Series trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. The products and services provided by PIMCO Canada may only be available in certain provinces or territories of Canada and only through dealers authorized for that purpose. PIMCO Canada has retained PIMCO LLC as sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada will remain responsible for any loss that arises out of the failure of its sub-adviser. Contact: Agnes Crane PIMCO Media Relations Phone: +212 597.1054 Email: agnes.crane@pimco.com The world we live in today is full of advanced technology inventions. Life has become so much better with the introduction of smart phones, iPhones, tablets, internet etc and the number of internet users are increasing on daily basis, but we must be mindful of the dangers of addiction and abuse of these technology inventions. According to the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) the number of internet users in Nigeria presently is above 120 million. This development has contributed to the increase in the number of internet addicts and abusers e.g. online pornography addicts & paedophiles. Online pornography addiction is a growing problem in the technology age which many victims, internet users, stakeholders and the general public are not paying serious attention to. It is breaking homes & destroying lives spiritually, physically, mentally, academically & emotionally on daily basis. Research revealed that in every minute, more than 2,000,000 (two million) pornographic materials are exchanged on the internet and social media. This of course has a lot of negative impacts on children, youths and the society at large. Online pornography addiction is one of the major factors that are contributing to the increase in cases of rape & child defilement in Nigeria & the world at large in this technology age. This is because online pornography addicts are always desperate to satisfy their sexual urge on any available victim after watching pornographic pictures & videos on the internet, particularly when they get to a stage at which they cannot control their sexual urge anymore. This is why we hear of cases of rape and child defilement almost every day. It was reported recently in the media that a 22-year-old undergraduate was raped to death in a church in Benin city, three armed men allegedly gang-raped a 17-year-old girl who is a street hawker in Ekiti State, while two students were also raped and killed in Ibadan, Oyo State and all these happened within some days. There are also several cases of gruesome murder and rape of ladies, men, boys & girls by those who are supposed to be their fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, uncles, teachers, mentors etc. The scourge of rape is wicked and satanic. It has destroyed the future of many unsuspecting victims and sent several of them to an early grave. In order to deal more effectively with the scourge & reduce it to the barest minimum in the society, here are some important tips: 1. Children should be educated on internet safety because they are the most vulnerable. This is also applicable to adults. Online pornography addicts and paedophiles are always on social media to search for their victims. 2. Parents should give their children moral and sex education at the early stage of their lives. A 2-year-old child is due for moral and sex education. 3. Moral and Sex education should be included in the curriculum of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. 4. Children should be discouraged from watching pornographic films, videos or other pornographic materials because in most cases, it increases their sexual urge which may eventually lead to rape or child defilement when it becomes uncontrollable. 5. Parents should avoid luring their children to sex through family pornography. e.g. children should not be allowed to bath together irrespective of sex or age. Parents on the other hand should avoid undressing in the presence of their children irrespective of age or sex. 6. Indecent dressing should be prohibited in the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. 7. There should be more awareness campaign on rape & child defilement on daily or weekly basis on the media, in schools, markets and other public places. 8. The criminal justice system should be strengthened in order to ensure quick prosecution of perpetrators. 9. Perpetrators should not be allowed to enter plea bargain on cases of rape & child defilement. 10. The signing of "Sexual Violence Against Children Bill" into Law by the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the establishment of Sex Offenders Register, publication of names of convicted sex offenders in Ekiti State is a welcome development and should be emulated by other state governments, as this will ensure effective prosecution of perpetrators & reduce the scourge of rape & child defilement to the barest minimum. Rotimi Onadipe Tel: +234-8169121819 Email: [email protected] A Sikorsky-Boeing team announced today that the experimental helicopter prototype competing to replace the Army's UH-60 Black Hawk has completed a flight at nearly 205 knots, or 236 miles per hour, and is just months away from exceeding 250 knots, nearly 290 mph. The SB-1 Defiant prototype is currently competing against the V-280 Valor prototype, developed by Textron Inc. and Bell, in the Army's Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) effort. That competition is part of the larger Future Vertical Lift endeavor to equip the Army with faster, longer-range helicopters beginning in 2030. Read Next: Guard Kills Trespassing Suspect at Navy SEAL Training Facility in Alaska "We are really proud of this milestone and what our team has achieved," said Jay Macklin, director of Future Vertical Lift Business Development for Sikorsky. "Exceeding 200 knots is significant also because it's beyond any conventional helicopter's speed." Sikorsky, which is owned by Lockheed Martin Corp., and Boeing Co., built the Defiant after the Army awarded the team a contract in 2014 as part of the Joint Multi Role Technology Demonstrator (JMRT-D) program. The Army also awarded a contract to a Textron-Bell team, which built the V-280 Valor, a tiltrotor-design helicopter that completed its first test flight in December 2017. Since then, the Valor has exceeded speeds of 300 knots, or 345 mph. The Defiant's test flight at 205 knots "is just a number, but it's a number that you are not typically accustomed to hearing with respect to a helicopter," Bill Fell, a former Army aviator and test pilot in the Defiant program, said. "When I started as an Army aviator in the old [OH-58] Kiowas and [AH-1] Cobras, you were [flying] at 100 knots; then we graduated to Black Hawks and Apaches and it's 130 to 140 knots,' he said. "We went 205 knots with less than 50% of the installed prop power, so expect a lot more in the future, because we had a lot more prop power to apply to this machine." The Defiant was designed to fly at a minimum speed of 230 knots, "so we will go well in excess of that, in excess of 250 knots," Fell said. "It's not weeks, it's not years, it's probably in the order of a few months before we get out to maximum speed," Fell said. "It's hard to say because it's all based off of success here on the test bed." The Defiant program has spent many hours testing the engine and other systems on the ground in a special test stand designed to collect data and predict how the prototype will perform during flight. "I think the key takeaway is, we are seeing exactly the performance our analytical tools have predicted; this gives even greater confidence as we continue to expand the speed envelope and maneuvers of Defiant," Macklin said. In March, the Army awarded competitive agreements to Bell Textron Inc. and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. to continue into the Competitive Demonstration and Risk Reduction (CD&RR) phase of the FLRAA program. The CD&RR effort is scheduled to last until 2022, the year the Army plans to select one vendor to eventually produce FLRAA. Randy Rotte, director of business development for Boeing Cargo Helicopters and Future Vertical Lift, said he is confident that Defiant will give aviators what they need to survive in the "most lethal and complicated battlefields today and in the future." "The survivability through the low-level high-speed maneuvers, the ability to fly in close formation and into those dark, dusty, tight [landing zones] ... it's going to enable our Army's ground forces' commanders to conduct operations that are nearly impossible today." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related: These 2 Futuristic Aircraft Will Compete to Replace the Army's Black Hawk The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has sent a dispatch to the National Assemblys Economics Committee and Ministry of Planning and Investment on adding private tutoring to the list of conditional business fields. According to MOET, private tutoring is provided based on real demand from students and parents. The licensing of private tutoring activities is still included the list of conditional business fields stipulated in the Investment Law. MOET has twice requested the Ministry of Planning and Investment to add private tutoring to the list and submit to the National Assembly for approval. This aims to strengthen management over the private tutoring activities. Once private tutoring is listed as a conditional business field, MOET will issue a legal document to replace the Circular 17 with new regulations, setting sanctions on violators. Nguyen Bich Lan, who once managed a learning center in Hanoi, said private tutoring has been a conditional business field, but put under the management of MOET. But if this is stipulated in the Investment Law, MOET will only play the role of managing teachers qualifications. The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has sent a dispatch to the National Assemblys Economics Committee and Ministry of Planning and Investment on adding private tutoring to the list of conditional business fields. Asked if private tutoring is legalized and the problem of forcing students to go to extra classes will be settled, Lan said itll be difficult to do this. However, she thinks that the law will stipulate sanctions on violators, so it will help ease the problem. The headmaster of a secondary school in Hanoi said under the Circular 17, the board of management has the responsibility of supervising teachers of the school to find out if they provide unlicensed private tutoring service. However, she admitted she cannot do that. I am managing a school, Im not on the right position to catch teachers running extra classes. Even if I can find someone providing private tutoring without license, I wont be able to punish him, because giving punishment is not my function, she said. Putting private tutoring under control is what MOET has wanted to do for many years, but no perfect solution has been found. According to Nguyen Quoc Binh, headmaster of Le Quy Don Secondary and High School in Nam Tu Liem district in Hanoi, it is necessary to prohibit general school teachers from providing private tutoring. The private tutoring should be the job of learning centers. This means that students must not to go the extra classes where the teachers are their teachers at school. Many parents complain that their children have to go to extra classes unwillingly and called for prohibiting private tutoring. However, experts said that private tutoring cannot be prohibited because this is a real demand from students. Vu Dung Do private schools in Vietnam need rescuing? Following requests from tourism and manufacturing companies, private schools are now calling for help from the State. Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who was to work with Sushant Singh Rajput in his ambitious directorial venture Paani, said that he must be remembered for his films and performances. He added that the actor must not be reduced to a million theories of why he killed himself or a man who was depressed. I think part of us loves drama. Because we are in the movie business and any business that has a high profile, people look for drama. Right now, we are going through the phase where everybody is talking, it is dramatic. I am hoping that the dramaticness of it all will go away We are short-term attention span people. This is what social media has made us. Gone are the days when the mind was settled but hopefully, in Sushants case, the mind will settle and when it settles, we will watch his films again and again and we will understand what he brought to this business, he said in an Instagram live with Manoj Bajpayee. Shekhar opened up about his experience of collaborating with Sushant on Paani. After months of prep, the film was shelved due to the producers Yash Raj Films backing out of the project. Shekhar said that when he met Sushant for the first time, it was like meeting a child. He was bouncing up and down, so excited that he was going to work with me and do Paani. The great thing about Sushant that I noticed was that acting did not stop with rehearsing the lines or reading the script or doing the movements. His interest went way beyond... Every time I had a meeting with the production designer or the DOP or VFX team, he was there, the filmmaker said. Shekhar said that Sushant was fully immersed in the character from Paani, Gora, and would call at 2 or 3 in the night or come over to discuss the smallest details. The filmmaker said that it became an addiction for him. During the three months of prep, Shekhar kind of fell in love with Sushant. He said that the actor was heartbroken when the film was shelved. Jab film bandh ho gayi and he realised he wasnt doing the film, bohot roya woh. Main bhi roya. Woh rota tha toh main bhi rota tha saath-saath because I was also passionately and deeply involved with it. Humari zindagiyaan hi kuch aisi hoti hai - ups and downs. Aur yeh jo lafz hai - depression Aisa nahi hai main keh raha hoon ki depression nahi hoti, main aisa keh raha hoon ki depression ek lafz hai jiske saath hum khel lete hai (When the film was shelved and he realised he wasnt doing the film, he cried a lot. I cried too. I would cry every time he cried because I was also passionately and deeply involved with it. Our lives are full of ups and downs. This term - depression... I am not saying that depression does not exist, I am saying that we play with depression). As creative people, it is an emotion that we play with, he said. Shekhar shared that during the making of Bandit Queen, he would go into a room and shout at the top of his voice to vent out his emotions, and then watch the edit. During the shoot, I was angry. I dont want to be angry when I am watching the edit, otherwise how can I judge? Those are the kind of lives we lead. We push ourselves. Sushant would always push himself in every little way. Every cell of his would be involved. How can you come out of that easily? You cant!, he said. Manoj asked Shekhar what was troubling him about Sushants death, to which he said, Pareshaan toh wohi cheez kar rahi hai, jo maine nahi kiya (I am troubled about the things that I didnt do). Paani, producers ne kaha, Hum nahi banayenge Sushant ke saath. Paani nahi banegi. Kuch aur film koshish karke bana leta, woh nahi kiya. Main bahar chale gaya Hindustan se. Gussa, naraaz ho gaya (The producers said, We will not make Paani with Sushant. Paani will not be made. I should have tried to make another film with him, which I didnt. I left India as I was angry and upset), he said. Also read: Saif Ali Khan calls Bollywoods sudden love for Sushant Singh Rajput ultimate hypocrisy, says thats an insult to the dead Shekhar said another thing that bothers him is the fact that he did not call or visit Sushant in the last six months. He said that even if they were not discussing a film, they could talk about so many things, whether it was quantum physics or anything else. Manoj pointed out that Sushants death has left people very angry and asked Shekhar why that is. The anger is coming from the recognition of people like you who are now showing to the world that stardom the way we imagine, woh asli stardom nahi hai (that is not real stardom). Gussa isliye aa raha hai, ki baaki logon ko kyun nahi phir chance mila (People are angry because why did others not get a chance), he replied. The common people strongly identified with Sushant and his journey, Manoj said. Kahin na kahin gussa jo aam junta ko aa raha hai, kyunki Sushant mein unko ek aisa hero dikha tha jo unke beech se aaya tha. Suddenly unko lag raha hai ki unka jo representation tha, jo kahin na kahin unko ek hope de raha tha ki unke beech ka ladka agar itni door jaata hai, toh unke liye bhi hope hai (Somewhere, the people are angry because they saw in Sushant a hero who was one of them. Suddenly, they have lost that representation. He gave everyone hope that if he could come from humble beginnings and make it big, then others could, too), the actor said. Sushant ka achanak iss tarah se chale jaana kahin na kahin iss baat se woh bohot zyada rooth gaye hai (Somewhere, they are upset because of the way Sushant suddenly left). The anger is also a way of emoting and grieving, a way of showing their own loss, he added. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more The Telangana government on Monday capped the cost of conducting a COVID-19 test in a private lab at Rs 2,200 and fee for treatment in private hospitals from Rs 4,000 to Rs 9000 per day, depending on the use of some equipment. Speaking to reporters, Health Minister E Rajender said the government has given the nod for private labs to do the tests. Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Monday capped the cost of conducting a COVID-19 test in a private lab at Rs 2,200 and fee for treatment in private hospitals from Rs 4,000 to Rs 9000 per day, depending on the use of some equipment. Speaking to reporters, Health Minister E Rajender said the government has given the nod for private labs to do the tests. "The fee for the test has been fixed at Rs 2,200. The charge for treatment of patients in ICU without ventilator support has been fixed at Rs 7,500 per day, while it would be Rs 9,000 per day for those who are on such support," he said. However, a government Order issued later said these charges do not cover certain tests and medicines. Since the cost of some anti-viral injections is in the range of Rs 40,000 Rs 50,000, such treatment can be charged separately, the minister said. He said private players have been asked not to entertain requests from those without symptoms wishing to get tested. The information related to tests and those undergoing treatment at private hospitals should be shared with the government as preventive measures, including tracing of contacts and others, need to be taken, he said. Rajender said the chief minister has allowed recruitment of healthcare personnel on a temporary basis, if necessary, to conduct a survey of every household in Hyderabad for Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI), pneumonia cases and others. The minister opined that Telangana is in a position to conduct about 7,500 tests per day. "People should utilise government healthcare facilities and if those who can pay, go to private hospitals, they can do so,", he said. The government has received requests from some people who want to choose hospitals in the private sector, Rajender said. Asked about the 50,000 tests proposed to be conducted in Hyderabad and adjoining areas as part of measures to contain the infection, he said they would be conducted free of cost in the next seven to 10 days. The government is ready to conduct more tests, if necessary, he said. Quoting ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), Rajender said there is no community spread of the virus in Telangana. The state has followed the guidelines of ICMR, he said. Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar said there is no need to fear the virus and that Hyderabad is in a better position compared to other cities and states. The government, he said, has decided to increase the number of tests as misinformation, including in the social media, has been spread about testing in the state. The tests would be conducted for people with influenza- like symptoms, family members of those who tested positive and high-risk groups, including doctors and other healthcare personnel, police, government officials and media persons, he said. The government on Sunday said it would conduct COVID-19 tests on 50,000 people in 30 assembly segments in the state capital and four adjoining districts which are witnessing a spike in new cases in a bid to contain the spread. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had instructed officials to conduct the tests in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Vikarabad, Medchal and Sangareddy districts over the next 10 days. Rao had also asked them to prepare guidelines for the private hospitals and laboratories to conduct COVID-19 tests, treatment and the cost by following the norms. The order issued on the charges to be levied by private hospitals, said prices prescribed by the government does not include the cost of PPE, interventional procedures such as central line insertion, chemoport insertion, bronchoscopic procedures, biopsies, ascitic /pleural tapping. The rate also does not cover high-end drugs like immunoglobulins, meropenem and tocilizumab, as well as investigations such as CT scan or MRI it said. The resignation of Director Amanda Bennett and Deputy Director Sandy Sugawara was announced as Michael Pack, a conservative filmmaker and supporter of the president, was set to take over as head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is the agency overseeing VOA. NPR The Ghana Covid-19 Private Sector Fund has received a donation of GHC51,000 from M&G Pharmaceuticals Limited to support the construction of an infectious disease isolation and treatment facility. Management of M&G Pharmaceuticals Limited made the presentation at the Ga East District Hospital in Accra, where the facility is located. M&G Pharmaceuticals Limited is a company that provides quality, affordable and innovative pharmaceutical and health care products to the West African Sub-region. Bharat Gopal Vasu, a director at M&G Pharmaceuticals Limited explained that the donation is in line with the companys corporate social responsibility initiatives to support the country in a time of need. This is a global pandemic. Its something that is affecting everyone, everywhere in the world and we believe that the little that we can do in order to help out our homeland Ghana would be in the best interest for all of us, Mr. Vasu said. Mitesh N. Varia, another director of M&G Pharmaceuticals says his outfit found it necessary to assist the country build its first infectious disease facility that will serve the nation for generations to come. "I don't think anyone in the world was prepared for such a pandemic, he said. But I think everyone is trying their best in the interest of safety, in the interest of making sure that the pandemic is controlled. Administrator of the Ghana Covid-19 Private Sector Fund, Felix Kyei-Mensah who received the donation expressed gratitude to M&G Pharmaceuticals Limited for their kind gesture and assured that their donations, like others to the fund, will be put to good use. We are very appreciative of your donation, Mr. Kyei-Mensah said. We will ensure accountability as far as the fund is concerned. The 100-bed infectious disease isolation and treatment facility is an initiative of the Ghana Covid-19 Private Sector Fund. When completed, it will support the treatment and care of critically-ill Covid-19 patients and in the future be used to treat people who get infected by other infectious diseases such as cerebrospinal meningitis and cholera. She's just returned to Sunrise after taking six months off for maternity leave. And Edwina Bartholomew was positively glowing on Tuesday when she stepped out with her four-month-old daughter Molly at Balmoral Beach. The 36-year-old newsreader chatted happily to a friend, who also had a stroller, while baby Molly waited in her car seat. New mum: On Tuesday, Sunrise's Edwina Bartholomew cut a casual figure in comfortable activewear at Balmoral Beach The new mother cut a casual figure in comfortable activewear for the relaxed outing, donning a grey B.O.D logo sweater, worth $99. She paired the athleisure sweatshirt with black exercise leggings, styling the laid back ensemble with a black cap and matching black sneakers. The blonde beauty kept her lightly curled locks down, looking put together after a morning at work with full coverage foundation, mascara and a nude pink lip. Enjoying the outdoors: On Tuesday, Edwina spent time with her four-month-old daughter Molly at Balmoral Beach Chatting: The 36-year-old newsreader talked to a friend, who also had a stroller, while baby Molly waited in her car seat Earlier that day, Edwina surprised her Sunrise colleagues when she revealed she'd been tested for coronavirus just two days after returning to work from maternity leave. During a panel discussion about the pandemic, the journalist said she'd decided to get tested earlier this month because she was afraid of 'catching something'. Despite the low rate of infection in Australia, Edwina said she was concerned that some people still weren't practising social distancing and good hygiene. Trendy: The new mother donned a grey B.O.D logo sweater, worth $99 Casual: She paired the athleisure sweatshirt with black exercise leggings 'I had two days back in here at work and I took myself off to get a COVID test because I was so afraid of catching something,' she said. Sunrise host David 'Kochie' Koch appeared unimpressed by Edwina's admission, playfully scolding her for being overly cautious. 'Eddy, Eddy,' he said, looking flabbergasted. 'There was only one community case out of 7.5 million people yesterday.' Sporty chic: Edwina styled the laidback ensemble with a black cap Stunner: She looked put together after a morning at work with full coverage foundation, mascara and a nude pink lip A Sunrise spokesperson later clarified Edwina had been tested because of a sore throat, which is a symptom of coronavirus. 'Edwina came down with a sore throat after a few days back at work. As a precaution she went [for a test],' they told Daily Mail Australia. During Tuesday's broadcast, Edwina was quick to point out that not everyone was taking the pandemic seriously. From work to play: The blonde beauty kept her lightly curled locks down Surprising: Earlier that day, Edwina told her Sunrise colleagues she'd been tested for coronavirus just two days after returning to work from maternity leave 'Not everyone is taking it seriously the whole time. I don't understand why they don't encourage everyone to get tested,' she said. Edwina added that the best course of action would be to test 'as many people as possible'. Kochie then suggested compulsory testing for all Australians 'once a week', which Edwina stopped short of agreeing with. Cautious: During a panel discussion about the pandemic, the journalist said she'd decided to get tested earlier this month because she was afraid of 'catching something' A Sunrise spokesperson later clarified Edwina had been tested because of a sore throat, which is a symptom of coronavirus 'Not once a week. But if everyone got tested then [it would help] open everything up,' she replied. Edwina returned to Sunrise earlier this month after six months of maternity leave. She welcomed her first child, Molly, in late December last year. He added that C.D.C. employees would be redeployed to states experiencing new outbreaks and encouraged governors to think on a county level when dealing with them. The vice president also said that the viruss spread was now well contained, and he adopted a term that Mr. Trump has used for the virus embers, which can be quickly snuffed out. The president often talks about embers, Mr. Pence added. As we go through the summer, as we see, over all, as you all know, around the country, that despite a mass increase in testing, we are still averaging roughly 20,000 cases a day, which is significantly down from six weeks ago. Experts, including some in the Trump administration, have warned that stamping out the coronavirus is not that simple. In fact, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, warned last week that we have something that turned out to be my worst nightmare, a reference to the viruss ability to spread rapidly. On the call, Mr. Pence instructed Alex M. Azar II, the health secretary, to address the problem in a constructive way. Mr. Azar said that localized outbreaks at meatpacking plants and nursing homes would continue to be a focus for officials. If any of them light on fire, Mr. Azar said, weve got to get there right away. Dr. Deborah L. Birx, who is coordinating the administrations response, reiterated that hospitalization rates for the virus had been declining across the country, though some states had seen an uptick. Youre finding cases in the community rather than finding them in the clinic and the hospital, she said, adding that more people had been identified as asymptomatic or presymptomatic in recent weeks. She said protest sites across the country had not yet seen a rise in coronavirus cases, though she said data had begun to show early upticks in Minneapolis. This is an opinion column. Shhhh. Im trying to hear the governor. She must be saying something. Something about the recent staggering spike in coronavirus infections in the state. Something about police reform, which leaders across the nation are publicly addressing. Something about growing defiance of the states law protecting memorials." Something about a plan to attack Alabamas racial health disparities, about African American residents dying at twice the rate of white residents. Something. I just cant hear her. Shhhh. Earlier this week, we set a one-day increase record with 1,014 new coronavirus cases. In Birmingham, we saw a new high in the number of patients treated at the University of Alabama of Birmingham: 68. We heard from Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, UABs director of infectious diseases. She calls where we are now widespread sustained community spread. And as if that wasnt enough to prompt something from the governor, she added: Theres so much infection out there, you could go anywhere and potentially be exposed. Shhhh. Im straining to hear the governor. Its been more than a month since she offered any words of counsel or comfort. In early May, she said its still safer at home while touting that the daily increase in positive infections had stabilized at around 300 and re-opening our businesses and beaches. On that day, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris declared: Evidence clearly indicates that the worst is behind us. Or not. Right, governor? Shhh. I cant hear her. What of police reform? Across the nation governors and state legislature are taking swift, bold actions to address the national crythe national demandfor improving policing in our communities. Last weekend, Colorado lawmakers sent a police reform bill to Gov. Jared Polis that included a statewide ban on chokeholdssomething every state and municipality should enact nowand requiring an officer to intercede if they witness excessive force by a fellow officer. Polis has indicated he will sign it. Sure, Polis is a Democrat. As is New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who signed three new police reform bills in recent days, including one requiring officers to verbally inform a supervisor within six hours after discharging a weapon that strikes a person and file a written report within 48 hours. Another new bill requires courts to gather and reveal demographic data, including racial breakdowns, for misdemeanors and other low-level violations, an effort to ensure no single community is targeted more than another. Republican leaders are, well, leading, too. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill last week that not only banned chokeholds but forbids the state from hiring officers fired elsewhere for misconductsuch hires often fall through the cracks because there is no national database tracking police misconduct. At least not yet. Reynolds said the bill offers additional accountability" that helps citizens and the police. Whats that youre saying, governor, about improving policing in our state? Shhh. I cant hear her. Surely the Governor has said something as more and more state and local leaders defy an ill-conceived, out-dated law only she and a decreasing number of cronies believe is just. And as our petulant Attorney General fritters away our money suing cities for removing memorials erected less to honor the losing side than to uphold white supremacy and the dehumanization of black citizens. Shhh. If the Governor said something about it, I missed it. Weve known almost since the onset of COVID-19 that the virus disproportionately affects African Americans, here and nationwide. Surely, the governor has thoughts on addressing the long-known health-gap in our state, the inaccessibility of quality care, particularly in the Black Belt and in poor neighborhoods statewide. Thoughts, too, on finally seriously exploring Medicaid expansion to benefit our working-class neighbors instead of continuing to stubbornly eschew it because of political pettiness. Surely the Governor who appoints a taskforce for everything is appointing one to explore how we as a state become better in the wake of the two dynamic crises that are shaking America and forcing all of us to reassess how we treat each other today, tomorrow and especially beyond. The Governors silence speaks volumes about who matters in Alabama. And who doesnt. Shhhh. I still cant hear her. Can you? A voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond), Roys column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) has today, Tuesday, 16th June, announced plans for the institute to reopen to all students on a phased basis for the new 2020/21 academic year. From 14th September, second, third and fourth-year students will return to campus and recommence their studies. Incoming first year students will begin on 28th September in line with all other institutes of technology. Taught postgraduate students will return to campus on the 5th October; other postgraduate students will be advised of their start date for their programme by their respective faculty. The current global public health pandemic has impacted all and has shaken confidence and occasioned concern as to the future. This is particularly true for third level students who want to know what the coming academic year will look like and how, in a time of restriction with limited economic opportunity, they can best progress with appropriate study toward careers that will be essential as we forge a path through recovery. The quality of the student experience is of paramount importance and AIT aims to protect that experience as much as possible while delivering academic programmes in a way that is safe, inclusive, supportive, and effective. The plans, which have been under preparation with some time, note that the health and wellbeing of students and staff in the institute is of primary importance in both preparing and planning for the delivery of the 2020/21 academic year. As part of its reopening plans, the institute announced that it is committed to providing students with face-to-face, on-campus learning interaction. President of AIT, Professor Ciaran O Cathain said: We are known for our close-knit campus community and having approachable and supportive staff, so having our students on campus will allow for this one-to-one interaction which is essential. The world has changed considerably over the past few months since the start of the global pandemic and the physical closure of our campus on Friday, 13th March. It has been inspirational to see how our students and staff have adapted to our change of delivery in order to complete the semester," he said. "It has shown great flexibility and our institute and its community adapted very well at a time of crisis. However, I also note that it has been an anxious time for students who are uncertain of the future. Our plans for the upcoming academic year will alleviate those concerns and show the strength of our commitment in getting students back on campus. As part of the plans announced, the priority for academic delivery from September 2020 will include on-campus learning for lectures with practicals and laboratories also taking place on campus. Where face-to-face lectures are not possible due to social distancing requirements, lectures will take place via interactive remote learning and the virtual classroom. AITs learning platforms enable real-time engagement with lecturers, interaction with class groups and will replicate the live classroom environment. "Students will primarily experience traditional on-campus learning, as face-to-face interaction with lecturers and peers is an integral part of the student experience. As most of our class sizes are small, this will allow for this level of interaction. Our practical classes, such as tutorials and laboratories,will also take place on campus with social distancing applied," Professor O Cathain added. "The student is at the core of Athlone Institute of Technology, and we are committing to ensuring the delivery of an exceptional academic and student experience for the new academic year, despite the challenges of COVID-19. We will take every measure necessary to ensure that our campus community continues to thrive." The announcement today coincides with a joint statement issued on behalf of the presidents of the institutes of technology of Ireland who are collectively encouraging incoming students to start and existing students to continue their higher education in the 2020/21 academic year. In addition, the statement sets out how the sector will support students and communities over the coming months and throughout the coming academic year. In a statement issued by THEA on behalf of the sector it noted that the presidents of the institutes of technology are particularly mindful of new students entering higher education for the first time. This is a cohort that has had its anticipated transition pathway significantly disrupted and our determination is that these students will be supported and assisted through the coming months in order to establish a positive student experience, despite the turbulence they have experienced in recent months. As part of their reopening plans, AIT published a document for students entitled Our commitment to you - bringing you a safe, supportive and welcoming student experience in 2020/21 which outlines their approach to learning, student supports and the student experience for the new academic term. The document additionally sets out enhanced hygiene and safety measures and notes all advice and guidelines from the CMO, NPHET, HSE and the Department of Education and Skills are guiding the physical reopening of the campus. Timetables for returning students will be available at online registration on the 13th July, noting these timetables are subject to change. Students are advised to visit www.ait.ie for a detailed range of FAQs concerning the new academic term and reopening of the campus. Twenty Indian soldiers, including a colonel, have been killed and China has reported 43 casualties after brutal hand-to-hand combat broke out between the two sides at the Himalayan border. The Indian army stated today that a 'violent face-off' erupted in the Galwan Valley in the northern Ladakh state on Monday night 'with casualties on both sides.' Despite initially reporting just two deaths, the army this afternoon announced that the true death toll was 20 soldiers, including a colonel. Chinese authorities reported 43 casualties but did not specify how many soldiers had died in the confrontation, ANI news agency reported. Tensions have flared between the two nuclear-armed nations in recent months, but these are the first fatalities in decades. NDTV reported that no shots were fired in the battle, but that soldiers attacked each other with sticks and batons on the Indian side of the border. The army said in a statement late Tuesday that the two sides 'have disengaged' from the disputed Galwan area where they clashed overnight on Monday. The 20 soldiers succumbed to injuries they suffered in the sub-zero temperatures of the high-altitude terrain. Scroll down for video. Three Indian soldiers, including a senior army officer, were killed Monday night in a confrontation with Chinese forces along a disputed border area in the Himalayas (the red territory is controlled by India, and the beige and grey stripes, Aksai Chin, is Chinese but claimed by India) Indian soldiers erect a military bunker along the Srinagar-Leh National highway on June 16, 2020 Colonel B Santosh Babu (pictured) was one of the officers reported dead in the confrontation on the Ladakh border today India's military statement earlier today said: 'During the de-escalation process in Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place last night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. 'Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation.' Among the dead was Colonel B. Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of the 16 Bihar regiment. His mother Manjula told the New Indian Express: 'I lost my son, I cannot bear it. But he died for the country and that makes me happy and proud.' China has not commented on the deaths. The incident is the first such confrontation between the two Asian giants since the 1975 Arunachal ambush, during which four Indian soldiers were killed along the disputed border, known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Indian army soldiers rest next to artillery guns at a makeshift transit camp before heading to Ladakh, near Baltal, southeast of Srinagar today An Indian Border Security Force soldier walks near a check post along the Srinagar-Leh National highway today Indian soldiers erect a military bunker along the Srinagar-Leh National highway today The 1962 Sino-Indian War Aksai Chin is located either in the Indian state of Ladakh or the Chinese region of Xinjiang. It is an almost uninhabited high-altitude scrub land traversed by the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway. The other disputed territory is hundreds of miles away to the east of Tibet. The 1962 Sino-Indian War was fought on these two frontiers as Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru put it, a struggle over land where 'not even a blade of grass grows.' Chinese motivations for the war centred on percieved efforts by India to subvert Beijing's interests in Tibet. Just a few years before the war, the Indians had granted asylum to the Dalai Lama after the 1959 Tibetan uprising. According to the CIA at the time, the Chinese 'were motivated to attack by one primary consideration - their determination to retain the ground on which PLA forces stood in 1962 and to punish the Indians for trying to take that ground.' Indian motivations included, testing Chinese resolve, testing who the Soviets would back and to garner sympathy from the United States. Advertisement The deaths at the border comes after several clashes along the 2,175 mile border, over which the two sides fought the 1962 Sino-Indian War. India suffered a humiliating defeat. On May 9, dozens of Chinese and Indian soldiers were injured in fistfights and stone-throwing in Sikkim state. Many Indian soldiers were hospitalized for weeks. And in another incident days later, footage emerged which purported to show a Chinese soldier being beaten by Indian forces on the banks of Pangong Lake, a mile into Indian territory in Ladakh. India's army chief General Manoj Naravane downplayed the 'temporary and short-duration face-offs.' But a week after making those remarks, the general flew north to visit the 14th Corps HQ in Leh, Ladakh's capital, The Economist reported, suggesting something more serious was afoot. The two sides have blamed each other but analysts say India's building of new roads in the region may have been the fuse for the dispute. Both sides have dispatched reinforcements and heavy equipment to the zone. In the Galwan Valley soldiers have been locked in a weeks-long face-off. India's foreign ministry spokesman said in May: 'It is Chinese side that has recently undertaken activity hindering India's normal patrolling patterns.' It is unclear how many troops the Chinese have in the region, former army colonel Ajai Shukla believes there to be several PLA brigades, which means thousands of men. The bulk of these troops are likely positioned at the rear behind those leading the incursions into Indian territory. The intrusions have been 'fast in-and-out' forays, according to The Print, with around 40 to 60 Chinese men deployed. Activists of Sanskriti Bhchan Manch shout slogans as they stage a protest against China, holding posters of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in Bhopal, India, 16 June Indians burn images of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bhopal today after news of the violence at the border broke On May 25 the Chinese state-controlled Global Times said Indian troops had been trespassing on Chinese territory and wrote: 'The Galwan Valley region is Chinese territory.' The Galwan Valley was formally handed back to the Indians after the war of 1962. The Global Times report claimed that Indian troops were trying to erect illegal defence facilities since the beginning of May and that China had border controls in response to Indian provocations in the Galwan Valley. One reason for the heightened tension could be a new road built to Daulat Beg Oldi, the world's highest airstrip and the site of an intense Sino-Indian dispute in 2013. Believed to have been filmed in mid-May on the banks of Pangong Lake, a mile into Indian territory, footage purports to show Indian forces battering a People's Liberation Army soldier and smashing up a Chinese armoured car Pro-Beijing social media accounts recently posted images purporting to show Indian troops battered and bound with rope on the banks of a lake in the disputed region on the Himalayan border The road allows for the rapid and vast movement of Indian troops into the region. India says China is occupying 38,000 sq km of its territory. In 2017, Indian troops mobilised in the Doklam region near Bhutan after Chinese soldiers threatened to build a road there, which India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj described as a threat to India's security. Later that year, soldiers of the two countries were seen fighting against each other near the Ladakh region in north west India, after 8,000 Indian troops were sent to counter-act Chinese officers carrying out incursions on the Line of Actual Control. Troops from the two countries have been facing off along the disputed frontier for more than a month (file photo) Relations were believed to have eased following two meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) in recent years. Pictured: The pair at a meeting in India in 2014 Relations were believed to have eased following two meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recent years. The pair met in the Chinese city of Wuhan in 2018 while they also had talks in Chennai, southern India last October. The Indian and Chinese sides are separated by the LAC which is difficult to discern because rivers, lakes and snowcaps mean it can shift. India recently built a new road along the LAC in Ladakh, which reportedly infuriated Beijing. In the event of a conflict, the road could reportedly allow India to move men and material rapidly. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Quito, Ecuador Tue, June 16, 2020 15:45 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf2d66b 2 Environment tortoise,Galapagos,threatened-species,animal,environment,conservatism Free Diego the giant Galapagos tortoise whose tireless efforts are credited with almost single-handedly saving his once-threatened species, was put out to pasture Monday on his native island after decades of breeding in captivity, Ecuador's environment minister said. Diego was shipped out from the Galapagos National Park's breeding program on Santa Cruz to remote and uninhabited Espanola. "We are closing an important chapter" in the management of the park, said the minister Paulo Proano on Twitter, adding that 25 tortoises including the prolific Diego, "are going back home after decades of reproducing in captivity and saving their species from extinction." Espanola welcomed them "with open arms," he said. Before being taken back by boat to Espanola, the 100-year-old Diego and the other tortoises had to undergo a quarantine period to avoid them carrying seeds from plants that are not native to the island. Diego weighs about 80 kilograms, is nearly 90 centimeters long and 1.5 meters tall, if he really stretches his legs and neck. Diego's contribution to the program on Santa Cruz Island was particularly noteworthy, with park rangers believing him responsible for being the patriarch of at least 40 percent of the 2,000-tortoise population. Around 50 years ago, there were only two males and 12 females of Diego's species alive on Espanola, and they were too spread out to reproduce. Diego was brought in from California's San Diego Zoo to join the breeding program which was set up in the mid-1960s to save his species, Chelonoidis hoodensis. The National Park believes he was taken from the Galapagos in the first half of the 20th century by a scientific expedition. Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean, were made famous by 19th Century English naturalist Charles Darwin's studies of their breathtaking biodiversity. To the Editor: Re Landmark Ruling Protects L.G.B.T. Workers (front page, June 16): The lesson I draw from Justice Neil Gorsuchs majority opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., is that when my community was urging our brothers and sisters 40 and 50 years ago to come out, we were setting the stage for this grand moment. Former Justice Anthony Kennedy got it on L.G.B.T.Q. issues because he had personal and professional ties with L.G.B.T.Q. people back home in Sacramento. Justice Gorsuch clerked for Justice Kennedy and considered him a mentor. Another article, A Reliably Conservative Justice Surprises, and Disappoints, quotes an openly gay man who interviewed with then Judge Gorsuch for a clerkship in 2017 (and mentions that the judge had two gay clerks). I cant imagine having attempted such a thing when I was seeking my first legal employment, but it wouldnt raise an eyebrow today. Even Justice Brett Kavanaughs dissent, which I read as consistent with his judicial philosophy but in fact reluctant, congratulates the L.G.B.T.Q. community on its triumph, but says he wishes it had been accomplished through legislation rather than a judicial decision. (Photo : REUTERS/Erin Scott) People hold up a Black Lives Matter banner as they march during a demonstration against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Washington, U.S., June 14, 2020. (Photo : Alex Hicks Jr.-USA TODAY NETWORK) Demonstrators march during a protest against racial inequality and the death of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. June 15, 2020. Crowdsourcing website GoFundMe has frozen $350,000 worth of donations to a group called Black Lives Matter (BLM) Foundation after BuzzFeed informed them that the group is not affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement. After George Floyd died on May 25 after being kneeled on his neck by a police officer, donations to racial justice organizations poured in. Also, various individuals organized campaigns on charity sites like GoFundMe while employers agreed to match their employees' donations on Benevity and other websites. Both platforms have the BLM Foundation in the list of recipients. The Santa Clarita, California-based BLM Foundation was founded in 2015. Its founder Robert Ray Barnes told Buzzfeed that it has nothing to do with the movement. The foundation's mission is to have "unity with the police department," which is different from the movement that protests against racism and police brutality. According to Business Insider, employees of Apple, Google, Microsoft, Dropbox, and other big companies also have collected over $4 million for the BLM movement through charity platform Benevity, but the funds are not yet been received. Both platforms have vowed to work with donors and campaign organizers to get the funds to their rightful recipients. Black Lives Matter: Movement or Foundation? Since earlier this month, the global Black Lives Matter movement has raised an estimated $4.35 million for an organization called the Black Lives Matter Foundation. However, most funds are now in question after BuzzFeed News discovered that it is unrelated to the protesters. The foundation and movement may have the same names, but their beliefs towards ending police brutality and racial injustice are different. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Dropbox CEO Drew Houston also listed the foundation as an eligible organization in their memos sent to employees. According to the BuzzFeed report, both platforms seem unaware that the BLM Foundation and the global BLM movement are not affiliated with each other until the news agency contacted them. They have now withheld the group's contributions and are now trying to transfer the funds to their intended recipients. Redirecting funds to their rightful causes Meanwhile, a GoFundMe spokesperson said that the company is now working with Paypal to redirect funds. GoFundMe uses the PayPal Giving Fund database to enable people to donate, according to Business Insider. The spokesperson said there are currently 180 campaigns that raise money for the Black Lives Matter Foundation. A total of $350,000 worth of donations have been accumulated, but is currently frozen while GoFundMe works with PayPal and the campaign organizers "to ensure all of the money raised is transferred to the Black Lives Matter movement via their fiscal sponsor." "We are diligently looking into the matter and working with the donors, our partners, campaign organizers, and charities involved to ensure that the funds are granted as quickly as possible," a PayPal spokesperson told Business Insider. Similarly, Benevity also withheld the $4 million that was reported in the BuzzFeed article per the company's "standard vetting and disbursement process." "No funds will be going to the Black Lives Matter Foundation as they've been deactivated from our platform," a Benevity spokesperson told Business Insider adding that it is working closely with their clients to redirect the funds to proper causes. The BLM movement began as a hashtag #BlackLivesMatter after Trayvon Martin died in 2013. It became more widely known as Black Lives Matter in 2014 after Michael Brown's death in the hands of law enforcement. In contrast, the "Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. was only registered as a Delaware corporation until 2017 with its non-profit arm called Thousand Currents. The California attorney general's office sent a cease and desist order to BLM Foundation for failing to properly register and file annual financial reports. Read also: Back On Track? The U.S. Might Allow American Firms Work With Huawei on 5G Again 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Vice President Mike Pence argued Tuesday that reports of a second wave of the coronavirus are 'overblown.' 'The media has tried to scare the American people every step of the way, and these grim predictions of a second wave are no different,' he wrote in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal. 'The truth is, whatever the media says, our whole-of-America approach has been a success. Weve slowed the spread, weve cared for the most vulnerable, weve saved lives, and weve created a solid foundation for whatever challenges we may face in the future. Thats a cause for celebration, not the medias fear mongering,' he added. And he pointed out in the past five days there were only 750 deaths. 'The past five days, deaths are down to fewer than 750 a day, a dramatic decline from 2,500 a day a few weeks agoand a far cry from the 5,000 a day that some were predicting,' Pence wrote. Vice President Mike Pence argued that reports of a second wave of the coronavirus are 'overblown' Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump have argued that the increased number of coronavirus cases around the country are a result of increased testing, not because the country has begun reopening Vice President Mike Pence tours Winnebago Industries in Iowa as part of the administration's push to reopen the country In fact, yesterday there were only 296 deaths but the national death toll is now at more than 116,000. Pence, who heads the White House's Coronavirus Task Force, repeated an argument he and President Donald Trump have been making: that the increased number of coronavirus cases around the country are a result of increased testing, not because the country has begun reopening. President Trump has pushed hard for states to reopen for business, banking on a strong economy to help him win re-election. The vice president was in Iowa on Tuesday to tour a Winnebago factory as part of the administration's push to reopen the country. Iowa is also a battleground state in the 2020 election. Pence's claim comes as a leading COVID-19 model is predicting 200,000 deaths due to virus in the United States by October - up by a staggering 30,000 from its last forecast just 10 days ago - as cases nearly double in Alabama and South Carolina and Miami pauses its reopening due to a surge in infections. The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation revised its death toll forecast upwards by 18 percent from 169,890 on Tuesday due mainly to states reopening and people not adhering to social distancing. The model, whose estimates are cited by health experts, is projecting that Florida will see its deaths nearly triple to 18,675 deaths by October and California can expect to see deaths surge by 72 percent to 15,155. Georgia and Arizona are also predicted to have sharp increases in deaths. Currently, the US death toll due to COVID-19 stands at more than 116,000 and there have been more than two million confirmed cases across the country. Health officials expressed concern a second wave of the virus could come if the country reopened too soon and too quickly. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, in an appearance on Fox News Tuesday afternoon, was asked if Pence's op-ed meant the administration was arguing there would be no second wave. 'Our position is that we are monitoring it. We can't predict the future. We think we are at a place where we have this under control and keep it under control. But we are monitoring each and every day to ensure that there is not a second wave any time soon,' she said. President Trump, meanwhile, repeated his argument COVID-19 could go away without a cure or vaccine. 'I always say, even without it, it goes away. But if we had the vaccine, and we will, if we had therapeutic or cure, one thing sort of blends in to the other, it will be a fantastic day. I think that's going to happen and it's going to happen very soon,' he said Tuesday during his announcement on police reform. He said a coronavirus cure was in sight by the end of the year. 'Before the end of the year, I predict we will have a very successful vaccine, therapeutic and cure. We're making tremendous progress,' Trump said. President Trump has kept faith there will be a coronavirus vaccine by year's end and has pushed states to reopen from their shutdowns. The pandemic caused unemployment to reach 13 per cent, the stock market to tumble and the economy to tank. The president is banking his re-election campaign on a strong U.S. economy and has unveiled a new slogan - 'Transition to Greatness' - as states go through the phases or reopening. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany would not say the administration was arguing there would be no second wave of the coronavirus States have seen an increase in the number of coronavirus cases as they reopen; above a person is tested for COVID in Virginia Beach goers in Miami Beach; the mayor of Miami announced Tuesday he was slowing the city's reopening because of the uptick in coronavirus cases Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the White House's Coronavirus Task Force, touring Winnebago Industries in Forest City, Iowa Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told lawmakers last month that scientists are already testing possible vaccines in a phase one clinical trial with an eye of going to phase two this summer. 'If we are successful, we hope to know that in the late fall and early winter,' he said in his testimony before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Fauci also warned as states begin to reopen - thus pulling back on stay-at-home orders and social distancing - 'you will see some cases reappear.' 'There is no doubt even under the best of circumstances, when you pull back on mitigation, you will see some cases appear,' Fauci warned, adding the U.S. must be prepared for 'when the inevitable return of infections occurs.' 'We will start to see little spikes that might turn into outbreaks,' he noted. Thirteen states have since reported weekly increases in deaths related to COVID-19. Meanwhile, new cases of COVID-19 nearly doubled in Alabama and South Carolina in the second week of June compared to the prior seven days. Alabama's new cases rose 97 percent to 5,115 for the week ended June 14, with 14 percent of COVID-19 tests coming back positive compared to 6 percent in the prior week. New cases in South Carolina rose 86 percent to 4,509, while the positive test rate rose to about 14 percent from 9 percent over the same period. South Carolina and Alabama health officials say the increases are down to some residents not following social distancing guidelines to avoid large gatherings and wear a mask in public. In Oklahoma, where President Trump plans to hold a campaign rally on Saturday, new cases rose 68 percent to 1,081 in the second week of June, while the positive test rate increased to 4 percent from 2 percent the previous week. Pence is also scheduled to attend the rally. The three states are among hot spots throughout the South and Southwest that helped push the total number of new infections in the US up 1 percent in the week ended June 14 - the second increase after five weeks of declines. Nationally, the rate of positive tests has hovered around 5 percent for several weeks, according to the analysis. More than 583,000 tests were reported in a single day last week, which was a new record. At least 17 states across the US have seen COVID-19 infections surge in the last week as record numbers of new cases and hospitalizations continue to sweep through the likes of Florida, Texas and Alabama New cases of COVID-19 nearly doubled in Alabama and South Carolina in the second week of June compared to the prior seven days as 17 states reported weekly increases in the spread of coronavirus STATES WHERE COVID-19 CASES INCREASED IN THE LAST WEEK STATE TOTAL CASES NEW CASES WEEKLY CHANGE Alabama 25,615 5,115 +116.6% South Carolina 18,795 4,509 +85.9% Oklahoma 8,231 1,081 +67.9% Florida 75,568 11,630 +49.6% Nevada 11,173 1,524 +44.3% Arkansas 12,501 3,075 +41.5% Louisiana 46,619 3,803 +31.1% Mississippi 19,516 2,246 +27% Arizona 35,691 8,802 +26.6% North Carolina 44,119 8,573 +23.2% Texas 87,854 12,876 +20.4% Tennessee 30,432 4,051 +20% Georgia 57,681 5,783 +17.7% California 148,855 20,043 +10% Iowa 23,926 2,259 +6.8% South Dakota 5,898 460 +3.4% Oregon 5,377 569 +0.7% New deaths from coronavirus nearly doubled in Georgia and Missouri in the second week of June compared to the prior seven days. Thirteen states have reported weekly increases in deaths related to COVID-19 THE STATES WHERE COVID-19 DEATHS INCREASED IN THE LAST WEEK State Total deaths New deaths Weekly increase Georgia 2,451 271 +96.4% Missouri 879 70 +89.2% Washington 1,213 60 +71.4% Alabama 773 81 +32.8% Maryland 2,939 190 +24.2% Illinois 6,489 585 +13.8% Washington, D.C. 515 26 +13% Rhode Island 833 61 +13% California 5,063 437 +5.8% South Carolina 600 54 +3.8% Arizona 1,186 142 +2.9% North Carolina 1,109 113 +2.7% Connecticut 4,201 130 +2.4% At least 17 states have seen COVID-19 infections surge in the last week as record numbers of new cases and hospitalizations continue to sweep through the likes of Florida, Texas and Alabama. Several of the states, mostly in the South, have seen an increase in new cases since Memorial Day as health officials warn of a potential surge in new coronavirus infections as states push ahead with reopening. Alabama reported a record number of new cases for the fourth day in a row - more than 1,000 cases were reported in a day on Sunday alone - the first time that's happened since the start of the pandemic. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Carolina all had record numbers of new cases in the past week days. ARIZONA HOSPITALIZATIONS: Arizona has continued to have record hospitalizations for coronavirus in the past few days NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITALIZATIONS: North Carolina had a record number of patients enter the hospital on Saturday TEXAS HOSPITALIZATIONS: The number of people being admitted to hospital in Texas for COVID-19 continues to increase ARKANSAS HOSPITALIZATIONS: Arkansas had a record number of patients enter the hospital over the week to be treated for coronavirus In Louisiana, which had been one of the earlier virus hot spots, new cases were again on the rise with over 1,200 - the most there since May 21. Nationally, there were over 25,000 new cases reported on Saturday, the highest tally for a Saturday since May 2, in part due to a significant increase in testing over the past six weeks. The rise of new infections in Florida has prompted Miami to halt its reopening. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said on Monday that the city wasn't ready to enter phase three of the state's reopening plans. 'Although hospitalizations have remained consistent, the overall number of positive cases has increased and even the number of positive cases proportional to testing has slightly increased,' Suarez said. Many of the states that have seen increases in cases are also seeing record hospitalizations - a metric not affected by increased testing and perhaps more troubling for health officials. Arkansas, North Carolina, Texas and Utah all had a record number of patients enter the hospital on Saturday. In South Carolina, 69 percent to 77 percent of hospital beds are occupied in various regions. Our people Working for equality Conrod Kelly, executive director of social determinants and population health, talks about the importance of giving everyone an equal chance for health and success You could say that Conrod Kelly grew up in the health care industry. As a child in Miami, where his family settled after emigrating from Jamaica, he spent a lot of time in doctors offices where his mom worked in administration. Driven by his parents wish for him to excel, Conrod initially set his sights on a career in medicine. But the pharmaceutical representatives who visited his mothers medical offices piqued his curiosity. I was captivated by the fact that the pharmaceutical reps were talking with doctors, nurses and the staff about different disease states and treatments, Conrod recalls. I realized then that people in pharmaceutical companies have a very important role to play. After working as a representative at another company early in his career, Conrod joined our company in 2009, taking on roles with increasing responsibility. Since mid-2019, hes been in a new role, one that reaches into our communities. As Mercks first executive director of social determinants and population health, social business innovation, Conrod is advancing efforts to make health care more equitable among underserved populations to help improve patient and population health outcomes. Im working to see how we can help to reduce the disparities that exist between different groups of people across therapeutic areas and geographies, says Conrod. Everyone should have an opportunity to make the choices that allow them to live a long healthy life, regardless of their income, education, ethnic background, gender and sexual orientation. Conrod Kelly As a society, this means investing resources in the places where health startsin families, neighborhoods, schools and jobs. It means addressing issues like health literacy and access to care by working with policymakers at all levels, supporting community-based organizations and funding efforts to improve health systems. Perhaps most importantly, says Conrod, it means establishing relationships with communities that have experienced socioeconomic inequity, bias and structural racism. They need to know that we care, and were willing to listen and learn Conrod Kelly Working to advance health equity is not new for Merck. Our Foundation supports programs to reduce health disparities and improve the health of people in underserved communities. And, Merck for Mothers, created in 2011, works with collaborators to help create a world where no woman has to die giving life irrespective of where they live or the color of their skin. Across the company, we are working to help strengthen health systems and build sustainable and scalable solutions to advance health care for all, says Carmen Villar, vice president of social business innovation. Conrod is working across the enterprise, leveraging the social determinants of health as a framework to drive sustainable business and societal value. A touch of sugar Conrod got a running start on this work as the lead of our U.S. diabetes franchise, where he used film to raise awareness about the type 2 diabetes epidemic among groups hit hardest by the disease. The documentary, A Touch of Sugar, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2019, has become an educational tool used by governments, medical schools, health systems, and patient and community-based organizations. Using film to capture the stories of people united in their struggle with this chronic disease allowed us to tackle the issue of social determinants in a culturally relevant and health literate manner, Conrod explains. Giving back Although everyone was on their best behaviour during the Tuesday, June 16 qualifying session at Woodbine Mohawk Park, driver Doug McNair did his best to unleash 'mayhem' during the compact, six-race docket. McNair and the Pepsi North America Cup eligible Mayhem Hanover took to the track in Race 5 and lined up in Post 7 over the 'fast' track. Mayhem Hanover, who has been ranked as a 48-1 shot in TROT Magazine's 2020 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, got away second for McNair, who stayed to the inside past the :28.4 opening quarter. 'Mayhem' was unleashed early in the second panel, as the three-year-old son of Sportswriter looped to the lead well before he clicked off the opening half in :57.2. Mayhem Hanover chugged along on the engine past the 1:25.4 three-quarters pole, at which point he stepped it up more. McNair and his charge opened up multiple lengths in the stretch and went on to win decisively by 16 and three-quarter lengths. Mayhem Hanover closed with a sharp :26.1 final panel and nailed the wire in 1:52. In 2019, Mayhem Hanover closed up his season very well for trainer Gregg McNair and owners Scott and Clay Horner. The colt captured his Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Final, won four of his 11 starts overall, and banked $117,000 in purses. Mayhem Hanover, pictured in 2019 while in victory at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Although Race 2 was just a morning mile, an OSS graduate got a 'dream' trip behind a Hambletonian winner and was able to upset the apple cart. The Jacques Dupont-trained and Sylvain Filion-driven Dream Nation lined up in Post 1 for the second qualifier of the morning. To his extreme outside, in Post 6, was the 2019 Hambletonian winner, Forbidden Trade, who was set to make his third qualifying performance of the delayed 2020 campaign. Dream Nation left out from the rail, but it was Forbidden Trade that exited the gate just a tad quicker. The O'Brien Award winner crossed over and trotted past the :29 quarter pole with Dream Nation tucked in the pocket. Multiple starters made breaks behind Forbidden Trade and Dream Nation, but the leading pair wasn't phased, as they went down to the half-mile indicator in :57.3 and eventually clicked off three quarters in 1:26.2. After an extended two-hole ride, driver Sylvain Filion tipped Dream Nation out in the stretch, and the son of Archangel was ready to test Forbidden Trade. Dream Nation was fresh when he came up alongside Forbidden Trade, and he had what it took to surpass his high profile foe. Bob McClure opted against getting into a qualifying battle in deep stretch and settled for second with Forbidden Trade. Dream Nation got the job done courtesy of a sharp :27.2 final quarter and stopped the clock in 1:54.1. The margin of victory was one and a quarter lengths over the 'fast' track. Dream Nation, pictured in 2019 while in victory at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Dream Nation has put together quite a nice scorecard from his 15 career starts. The gelding's seven wins and $273,000 in purses is also complemented by his trio of second-place finishes and pair of third-place efforts. Dream Nation is owned by Les Ecuries Dorleans Inc., ny- Ecurie CSL, Gestion Levesque 2005 Inc., and Marc Camirand. Replays of Mohawk's Thursday qualifiers appear below. Please note that Dream Nation's race starts at roughly the 39-minute mark, while Mayhem Hanover's qualifier starts just before the one hour and nine-minute mark. To view the harness racing results from Mohawk's Tuesday qualifying session, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers). Action is looming large on government-run secondary school teachers who have bagged job on the basis of fake 2004-05 session BEd degrees of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra. After action against similar teachers of government-run primary schools by the state Basic Education department, Additional director (secondary education) Mahendra Dev has now ordered all district inspectors of schools (DIOSs) to provide information regarding teachers at government secondary schools in their respective districts who have been appointed on the basis of BEd degrees of 2004-05 session of Agra University. Following the orders, the state education directorate has set up a two-member screening committee comprising two of its deputy directors (education) including Ramchet and Shiv Sevak Singh to look into all such cases, inform education department officials. Though officials concerned are tight-lipped about this ongoing inquiry, others in the department concede that already over 150 such teachers have been identified in 60 different districts of the state and whose documents would now be scrutinised afresh. As soon as details arrive from the remaining 15 districts, the scrutiny would begin, they claim. Officials share that they plan to complete the probe and make the information available to the state government for action by June end itself. Additional director (secondary education) Mahendra Singh Dev confirmed the development and said that the two member screening committee set up to look into the issue is already conducting an inquiry. Action would be taken based on the documents of these teachers being compared with details of fake and tampered degrees of Agra university made available by the special task force (STF) of UP Police, he added. Already, over 1000 government primary school teachers of the state have been terminated during the past two years on the grounds of bagging jobs on the basis of fake and tampered degrees. These teachers were part of a list of 4705 individuals identified by the special investigation team (SIT) set up by the office of the UP DGP to find individuals who had secured fake degrees and mark-sheets from Agra University and bagged government jobs. Five varsity employees were also arrested in this connection. On December 13, 2018, the SIT had handed over this list to UP Education department in a CD. The SIT was formed after a complaint was lodged with the state education department about employees with fake or tampered degrees. The SIT in its report had mentioned that as many as 3,652 employees in the state education department had fake degrees and 1,052 employees had tampered degrees. The panel had submitted its report to the education department after which officials in the department were ordered to take action against the employees with fake degrees. Anxiety is rising in Chennai every day as the numbers of COVID-19 cases rise. The total number of positive cases in Tamil Nadu as on June 15 is 46,504. Of this, Chennai has the largest chunk of cases 33,244. A total of 479 deaths related to the virus has also been reported as on June 15. The chief minister on Monday announced an intense lockdown from June 19 to June 30 in four districts Chennai, Chengalpet, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur in an effort to bring down the increasing cases in these districts. But the question on every Chennaiites lips today what is going on? Why are the cases climbing every day? When will this end? COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The Lede spoke with bureaucrats and experts handling the pandemic containment measures to find out the answers to the questions above. The continuous rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 can be attributed to a number of factors. 1. Congested unplanned living areas with high population density which makes spread easier and faster. 2. The casual attitude of a majority of Chennai residents towards wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining physical distancing. 3. The unknown nature of the virus and the evolving thought processes worldwide on how to contain spread and treat the infection. High population density: The six red zones There are six zones within Chennai from where around 80% of the positive cases are being reported. Royapuram, Tondiarpet, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Anna Nagar, Kodambakkam and Teynampet are Chennais hotspots. Epidemiologists have clearly said that if we have to get over this, it is by continuous testing, getting people in congested areas out and ensuring that their high risk contacts are tested. There is no shortcut, according to them, said Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan in a phone interview to The Lede. Tamil Nadu is conducting the maximum number of tests for COVID-19 in the country. As on June 15, the number of tests conducted stands at close to 7.3 lakh. Compare this to Maharashtra which has more than double the number of positive cases (around 1.1 lakh) as Tamil Nadu and yet has conducted less than seven lakh tests so far. When we test so much (in these red zones), in Royapuram, Tondiarpet, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Anna Nagar, Kodambakkam and Teynampet almost 80% of the daily cases (in Chennai) are from these areas. The disease has a doubling time and internationally there is a pattern. We are working in a focussed manner in Tamil Nadu. We have gone to the street level in these six areas and found that all these cases so far found are surprisingly in 6900 of the 40,000 streets in the 200 wards. These areas are a challenge for us, said Radhakrishnan. What Radhakrishnan means is that the congested living quarters, especially those of the middle and lower income groups, has contributed to wider spread of the disease as physical distancing is more often than not, impossible. His claim is backed up by an almost two-decade old paper called Slums in Chennai: A profile, published in York University by Dr C Chandramouli, IAS officer and then Director of Census Operations in Tamil Nadu. This paper was published just after the conclusion of the 2011 Census of India. According to the paper, the total slum population of Tamil Nadu is around 28 lakh and forms 20% of the towns in which they are situated in. The largest slum population is found in the Chennai Corporation where 10,79,414 persons are reported as slum dwellers. This forms 25.6% of the total population, states the report. Houses in these areas and this is easily seen when one visits the current red zones are largely semi-permanent and temporary structures. 64% of the houses are of a permanent nature in slum areas. Contrast this with non-slum areas where 91% residences are permanent in nature. The study also discusses the availability of living space a crucial parameter at present for physical distancing to stop the spread of the virus. 67% of the households in slums live in one-room tenements. Only 2% of the households in slums have more than 3 rooms. The cramped accommodation has its natural impact on health and hygiene. The spread of diseases is facilitated by such living conditions, finds the study. Other problems in slums include access to drinking water, with 55% of slum dwellers having access to drinking water within 500 metres of their homes and 19% of slum dwellers having to travel more than 500 metres to get drinking water. More than a third of homes in slums did not have toilets. As a result, open defaecation has led to a host of diseases and poor immunity to beat the virus. 30% of slum households have no drainage facilities either, worsening the health hazard. With a little more than a quarter of Chennais population living in slums, this is a large population disadvantaged to tackle the virus and beat it. Interestingly, in the more organised Slum Welfare Board housing in places like Kannagi Nagar, authorities say it has been easier to contain the virus. This is because the residences are better planned and more space is available for slum dwellers. Our real problem is very high population density in six zones. In the urban slums which are planned, in Kannagi Nagar and Sholinganallur, the infection has been much easier to contain, said Radhakrishnan. Testing & what it means As already mentioned earlier in this report, Tamil Nadu is conducting the maximum number of tests as compared to anywhere else in India. A few weeks back there were allegations levelled at us that we are not showing the right numbers, said Health Secretary Radhakrishnan. Today we are being asked why the numbers are so high. It is a chicken and egg situation. Radhakrishnan explained that testing was being done strategically with a focus on the high-risk patients in containment areas. This is apart from those who walk in to hospitals to get themselves tested. And due to focussed testing, the state is able to find and treat those who are infected, said Radhakrishnan. Within the testing, we have prioritised as well. There is a charge levelled at us that 50% of those tested are positive. If I test 2000 unconnected people randomly, my positive cases will be down. Now since we have organised fever camps, respiratory camps, we will definitely see more numbers. Organically it will go up and start coming down. Epidemiologists are of the view that tests should be increased even further, he added. While states like Delhi are refusing to test asymptomatic cases as a matter of policy, Tamil Nadu is testing everyone, including asymptomatic patients, at least as a matter of policy. Why Chennaiites need to chip in As per the states data, around 15-20% of Chennais residents are not wearing masks. Many of those that do, usually wear the mask just under the nostrils. This defeats the very purpose of masking which is to prevent the spread of the virus through droplets released when one sneezes or coughs. Authorities across the board complain that people are not cooperating in terms of following the rules. Despite punitive measures fines by police for not wearing masks, the threat of booking of cases under the Epidemic Diseases Act for crowding Chennaiites appear to be laissez-faire about the virus. This is also showing in the pattern of infection in the city. If you see, there are positive cases in Brindavan street (T Nagar) and KK Salai in MGR Nagar. But on the opposite streets there is not a single case, explained Radhakrishnan. He attributes this to the simple fact of residents cooperation. It is not just Radhakrishnan, but a number of authorities, police included, that The Lede cross-verified with, who stated that the increase or containment of the spread of the virus, was visibly different street to street. And the spread was entirely dependent on whether the residents of that street were disciplined in wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining physical distancing. Since it is a highly infectious disease, if we find 10 cases, by the time we clamp down and control it, there are 400 cases there. In Chennai, for instance, in areas like Porur, Annai Sathya Nagar, Thideer Nagar and others, there has been no COVID recurrence. This is because people have been disciplined. The occurrence and containment of COVID has differed from street to street depending on the attitude of the people in taking precautions, said Radhakrishnan. The government is desperately pleading with residents to follow the precautionary steps and help in fighting the disease. The only help that people can do is 100% masking and washing hands. That is a weakness in Chennai. People in upper class, middle class and in slum areas all have this attitudinal problem. At least 15-20% people have the attitude that this is just like a cold. So they are not wearing masks properly. That is the reason we are using local influencers to tackle them, said Radhakrishnan. The unknown virus With experts the world over studying the virus in a desperate bid to make sense of patterns, spread, prevention and cure, uncertainty is the order of the day. The World Health Organisation (WHO) itself has gone back and forth on a number of occasions, as they grapple with how to tackle the virus. The latest instance has been the WHOs move of June 05 to allow the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients. On May 26, it had suspended the usage of the anti-malarial drug as a possible treatment. No one really has a handle on the virus the world over. Governments and global bodies are reacting to developments and changing their strategies accordingly. All our efforts (and success) depend on many factors including the culture of the people, which is unpredictable, a senior bureaucrat told The Lede on condition of anonymity. There are many factors we cannot quantify. We try our best. The fever clinics are expected to catch symptomatic persons early, outside containment, which may be due to accidental spread. This will increase the numbers initially and ultimately reduce cases, he said. Role of governments & role of citizens Experts in public health agree that governments and citizens alike have equal responsibility in stopping the spread of the virus. The governments role is to ensure there are adequate beds, ensure good healthcare, availability of drugs for treatment, test citizens and take care of healthcare workers, said V Ravi, senior professor and head of Public Health Virology at Bengalurus NIMHANS. But there is an equal responsibility on the part of the citizens to ensure that they do not cause further spread of the virus. They need to wear masks so that they stay safe and they keep others around them safe. This is only in the hands of the citizens, he told The Lede. It is not government responsibility alone. Citizens have much more responsibility than government. Nobody can prevent the spread of this virus. It is only in the hands of citizens. It has gone beyond controlling transmission and spread. To be fair to governments the world over, their responsibility should be to provide the best of care to those who are sick. Avoiding spread cannot be the governments responsibility. When The Lede pointed out that this very point made by many governments has led to criticism of blaming the people, Professor Ravi said that it was not a blame game. I dont believe in the word blame. I believe in the word responsible behaviour. Whether it is government or people, the only way you can bring down the number of cases is by exhibiting responsible behaviour. There has been a huge surge in cases after the lockdown was lifted but this was bound to happen. My professor used to say - anything that goes up has to come down. This too will come down. When sufficient number of people in a population get infected, the virus cant find susceptible people, so the infections will come down and it will settle down. We have seen this with H1N1 and HIV, said the Professor who has four decades of experience in the field of public health. Professor Ravi also said that despite people knowing that they had to follow some simple rules like masking and physical distancing, it was not being followed to a large extent. Knowledge does not change behaviour. If it did, smokers would not smoke and get lung cancer, he said. To governments, his advice is to prefer a combination of carrot and stick rather than just the carrot or the stick. Blame games dont achieve anything other than publicity. Positive messaging helps in behavioural change. Providing alternatives helps in behavioural change for instance, if you tell a migrant not to go home and that we will look after you but then you dont look after him. You have to provide an alternative you have to provide safe transport for him. Positive messaging like telling people that we are there to take care of you, so many people went into hospital but very few died these are the kinds of messages that will calm people down. Also the numbers need to be analysed more carefully just saying there are so many cases today does not make any sense. We need to look at how many positive cases there are versus the number of tests done this will show how well the government is tracking the spread, said Professor Ravi. Urgent issues to be addressed But all is not exactly well in Tamil Nadu. Despite the best efforts of the government machinery, there are crippling concerns over the availability of beds and the exorbitant charges for treatment in private hospitals. Reports of lack of hygiene and proper care of patients in many government hospitals too will need to be addressed. The issue of healthcare workers increasingly getting infected is also a cause for concern. How the state deals with these key issues will determine the faith posed in government by the people of Tamil Nadu going forward. Fuel Your Pipeline. Close More Deals. Our full-service marketing programs deliver sales-ready leads. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Learn more Facebook has set up American Edge, a political advocacy group for the high-tech industry, which is drawing scrutiny from United States lawmakers, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. American Edge will fund ad campaigns and studies by academics to push its efforts, according to the paper. Facebook is working with a diverse group of stakeholders to build support for the tech industry, it told the Post. Though it acknowledged its leading role in American Edge, the new coalition is just one of many technology industry-promoting efforts it supports. Facebook formed American Edge as a nonprofit organization in December, and registered an accompanying foundation in April. The setup lets American Edge advertise and raise money without having to disclose all of its donors, according to the Post. Other powerful organizations, including the National Rifle Association, operate in a similar way. After earlier calls for regulation by Mark Zuckerberg, for Facebook to now set up an NRA-style lobbying effort to avoid regulation speaks louder than words, said Marietje Schaake, international director of the Stanford Cyber Policy Center. U.S. lawmakers are warned, she told the E-Commerce Times. Free Speech Issues High taxes, regulation, the high cost of housing, crime and homelessness have reduced the lure of Silicon Valley as a high-tech hub, observed Mike Jude, research director at IDC. Other states are stealing high tech away, he told the E-Commerce Times. Wherever the academic environment is equivalent and taxes and the cost of labor are low, mini-Silicon Valleys are popping up, Jude said. My personal belief is that Silicon Valley is doomed. American Edge reportedly aims to convince policymakers that Silicon Valley is essential to the U.S. economy and the future of free speech an argument that appears to be gaining traction. Were getting so much information from social media that Silicon Valley is material to the future of free speech, remarked Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. However, American Edge likely will put out false information and attack opponents, and that could harm free speech, he told the E-Commerce Times. Still, if antitrust actions cause the downfall of companies that distribute or control information Alphabet, Twitter and Facebook the result would be a sharp reduction in our ability to share and spread our ideas, Enderle pointed out. The other forums just dont have the same reach that primary social media firms enjoy. Tech companies dont give a fig about free speech, IDCs Jude remarked. They made the mistake of preaching free speech and are now trying to reconcile that with things like data collection, targeted advertising and censorship. Facebook eventually might pay people to use their site in exchange for providing it with their data, Jude suggested. That said, if Facebook just duplicates what the NRA has accomplished, the effort could be extremely powerful, Enderle said. Members of the American Edge Board The following have been named as American Edge board members: Former New Mexico governor Susana Martinez FP1 Strategies Danny Diaz, who worked on Gov. Martinezs campaigns Bradley Smith, Capital University Law School professor and former FEC Commissioner Jim Papa of Global Strategies Group John Ashbrook, Republican public affairs strategist and Cavalry founding partner Chris Carney, political consultant at Nossaman law firm and former Pennsylvania congressman Papa and Carney are Democrats; the others are Republicans. The boards makeup would imply that the group will tend to be conservative in its sights, Enderle observed, but that generally would be true of most corporate efforts like this. Fighting to Survive Silicon Valley has managed to tick off both sides of the political spectrum, Jude pointed out. Meanwhile, Congress is starting to worry about the influence that Big Tech could have on political discourse. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, as well as several government agencies, have launched antitrust and other investigations against Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon. Facebooks launch of American Edge might be an attempt to play defense. Fifty-five percent of tech executives participating in the CNBC Technology Executive Council Q3 2019 survey said Facebook had the most to lose from the governments antitrust probes, while Google and Amazon were a distant second and third. That possibility is likely at the heart of Facebooks concerns, and fear does tend to loosen up the purse strings, Enderle suggested. Its an interesting and bold move, but Facebook has been pretty clueless when it comes to public perceptions in the past, suggesting its more likely to do the firm damage than to benefit it in the long term, he said. In the short term, Congress is focusing on the upcoming presidential election, Jude said. Post that, there may be some interest in pursuing antitrust actions, especially if theres a new administration. Social Welfare Purpose A 501(c)(4) organization must not be organized for profit, and must be operated exclusively to promote social welfare. Critics have expressed fears that Facebook will be able to distort and shape the public dialog at will. However, American Edge is not a PAC, nor is it a public education business, Jude said. It is simply an advertising company. Facebook is social media and social media is advertising, he added. The companys trying to deflect opprobrium the only way it knows how by starting a new advertising company. Advertising companies can hide their managers behind a corporate veil, Jude noted, so long as they are private. DENVER Former Colorado governor and current Senate hopeful John Hickenlooper apologized Monday for comments he made six years ago comparing politicians to slaves being whipped to row an ancient slave ship. Tay Anderson, a black Denver school board member who has been instrumental in organizing protests against the death of George Floyd, tweeted a video Monday morning of Hickenlooper making the quip. The video shows a silhouetted Hickenlooper speaking at some sort of gathering with a microphone in his hand about political schedulers. Imagine an ancient slave ship, he tells the audience. He says the schedulers are the people who lashed slaves to keep them rowing the ship. We elected officials are the ones rowing, Hickenlooper said. In a statement released through his campaign, Hickenlooper said: Taking a look at this video from six years ago, I recognize that my comments were painful. I did not intend them to be. I offer my deepest apologies. Hickenloopers campaign said the video Anderson tweeted was from 2014 but did not specify the event at which the then-governor was speaking. Anderson has endorsed Hickenloopers rival, former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Hickenlooper is the front-runner in the June 30 primary, but he has stumbled repeatedly recently. Earlier this month Hickenlooper struggled to give his definition of the term Black Lives Matter, saying it meant that every life matters a formulation rejected by many of the African American activists who coined the slogan and one for which Hickenlooper later apologized. Then the state ethics commission found Hickenlooper violated the states voter-approved ethics law by accepting flights on private planes while governor. The winner of Colorados Democratic Senate primary will face Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, widely seen as the most vulnerable GOP senator this year. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Bayer CropScience share price touched 52-week high of Rs 5,714, rising 4 percent in the morning trade on June 16 after a tie-up with the agri- business division of ITC. The company said it partnered with ITC to extend the reach of its crop protection products through ITC's e-Choupal 4.0 platform. The partnership has commenced as a pilot project in Mysuru in Karnataka and would gradually be expanded to other parts of the country, Bayer said in a statement. With COVID-19 disrupting farming operations and on-farm advisory, the initiative would help farmers avail agri-inputs and advise digitally on a timely basis, it added. ITC and Bayer are jointly training and on-boarding retailers to cater to farmers' orders placed through e-Choupal. At 1032 hours, Bayer CropScience was quoting at Rs 5,695, up Rs 210.50, or 3.84 percent, and ITC was quoting at Rs 188.60, up Rs 1.40, or 0.75 percent on the BSE. With inputs from PTI A number of police officers in Georgia's capital and most populous city have resigned in recent weeks amid nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice. The Atlanta Police Foundation revealed Monday night that eight officers within the Atlanta Police Department have resigned since June 1. Earlier Monday, the group had inaccurately reported 19 resignations and later apologized for the error. "We are now going into the third consecutive week of unabated protests in which officers have worked 12-hour shifts seven days per week," Atlanta Police Foundation president and CEO Dave Wilkinson said in a statement. "As you can imagine, their stress levels are exacerbated by physical and emotional exhaustion. We are grateful for the sacrifices they are making every day and will continue to support them while accelerating the programs under the Atlanta Police Foundations mission in order to address police reform and other issues the protests and their aftermath have illuminated." Earlier suggestions that multiple officers from each zone had walked off the job were inaccurate. The department is experiencing a higher than usual number of call outs with the incoming shift. We have enough resources to maintain operations & remain able to respond to incidents. Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) June 18, 2020 The Atlanta Police Department said reports that "multiple officers from each zone had walked off the job were inaccurate." "The department is experiencing a higher than usual number of call outs with the incoming shift," the department wrote in a post on its official Twitter account late Wednesday. "We have enough resources to maintain operations [and] remain able to respond to incidents." PHOTO: Police with riot shields advance to detain protesters for blocking traffic on a freeway, during a rally against racial inequality and the police shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 13, 2020. (Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters) Protests against police brutality and racial injustice erupted in cities across the United States and around the world in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of police. Floyd, an unarmed 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 shortly after a white police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck as three other officers stood by. Story continues MORE: Atlanta police officer fired after Rayshard Brooks death during confrontation at Wendy's drive-thru Demonstrations intensified in Atlanta after Rayshard Brooks, an unarmed 27-year-old black man, was shot to death by a city police officer in the parking lot of a Wendy's last Friday. The deadly encounter led to large groups of people protesting at the scene, chanting Brooks' name, while some appeared to set fire to the fast-food restaurant. PHOTO: Protesters take part in the 'March on Georgia,' organized by the NAACP, in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, on June 15, 2020. (Dustin Chambers/Getty Images) Just hours after Friday's shooting, Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields submitted her resignation to Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Shields had led the police department since December 2016. MORE: Rayshard Brooks went from telling Atlanta officer about visiting mother's grave to being fatally shot What has become abundantly clear over the last couple of weeks in Atlanta is that while we have a police force full of men and women who work alongside our communities with honor, respect and dignity," Bottoms said at a press conference Saturday, "there has been a disconnect with what our expectations are and should be, as it relates to interactions with our officers and the communities in which they are entrusted to protect." ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. Multiple Atlanta police officers have resigned in recent weeks amid protests originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Clark County Prosecutor Tony Golik said he is asking a prosecuting attorneys office outside of the county to determine whether the fatal shooting of a Vancouver man earlier this year was legally justified. Golik and other senior prosecutors in his office traditionally have reviewed use of deadly force by local law enforcement officers. The prosecutors are tasked with determining whether officers actions are reasonable and lawful. However, last week, a coalition of groups demanded oversight into the investigation of the shooting of William Abbe. Three Vancouver police officers fatally shot Abbe on April 28 while responding to an assault between him and another man at Fourth Plain Boulevard and Stapleton Road. According to the Vancouver Police Department, arriving officers found one man lying unconscious on the ground, while the other man, Abbe, refused police commands to drop objects he was holding. Witnesses said Abbe was throwing pieces of sharpened pipe or construction rebar at officers just before they shot him. Video of the shooting has been widely shared online, and has led many people to question whether shooting Abbe was appropriate. GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING The groups asking for accountability from the police department said in an open letter that Abbes homicide marks the latest in a series of inexcusable incidents of deadly Vancouver police actions largely involving vulnerable civilian populations such as those who are Black, experiencing homelessness, mentally ill or immigrant. Golik said there is high community interest in Abbes killing, and its been suggested to him that the use-of-force review should go to an office outside Clark County, which he called a very fair point. We need to be introspective and listen to the public right now. I support the call for an outside prosecutor, Golik said. It would be an important step to take for these cases to ensure everyone has complete confidence in the process. Golik said he is talking with a number of prosecutors about taking on the review and will send it off soon. He said not everyone in his field agrees with the approach, but many do. We work shoulder-to-shoulder with local law enforcement, and we know each other. There should be no question about the independence of the review, and this can help, he said. His office is likely to hand over reviews of local officer-involved shootings to outside officials for the foreseeable future. Golik said that is the best course of action for such cases until there is a change in law. State proposal Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee proposed creating a new, independent state body to investigate police killings, as well as restricting chokeholds by law enforcement agencies statewide and establishing a legal obligation for law enforcement to report misconduct by their fellow officers. The investigative unit could be a separate agency, or could be a subunit of the Washington State Patrol, Inslee said. Currently, state law allows the governor and the county prosecutor to grant the attorney general concurrent jurisdiction in an investigation. A county prosecutor can ask another prosecuting attorneys office to take any case where there is a valid or perceived conflict of interest. The Clark County Sheriffs Office announced May 28 that the investigation into Abbes shooting had been finalized and sent to Goliks office for review. According to the report, the investigative team was made up of detectives from the sheriffs office and Camas and Battle Ground police departments. Defense attorney Angus Lee sent a letter to the prosecutors office Friday stating that the absence of any involvement by community representatives in the Abbe investigation violated the requirements of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act, formerly known as I-940. The act was passed into law so that investigations into officer-involved shootings would be transparent, and so that the public could trust the outcome of the investigation, Lees letter says. The apparent refusal or failure by the Clark County Sheriffs Office to comply with state law calls into question the entire investigation, the letter concludes. All new rules related to I-940 took effect Jan. 5. Clark County sheriffs Sgt. Brent Waddell said the Legislature approached the implementation of the rules knowing that they would take time to implement. It just takes time to vet everyone and get them trained, Waddell said, adding that the pandemic also had an impact on the timeline. Pandemic slows process Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp said the rules were adopted Dec. 16, and once they were established, local agencies worked together for two months to decide how to proceed. Kapp said officials are still working on recruiting the two nonlaw enforcement community representatives as required by law. Nineteen applicants initially responded to the recruitment announcement for the positions, which are unpaid and voluntary, Kapp said. The applications were originally due March 31, but the deadline was extended by 30 days because of COVID-19 priorities and to allow a wider representation of the community to be able to apply, Kapp said. A workgroup consisting of Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins, Skamania County Sheriff Dave Brown, Vancouver Police Chief James McElvain and others met Thursday to review applications and a questionnaire that was due May 22. Fifteen applicants who responded to the questionnaire will move forward with the selection process. Once the background process is complete, the applicants will receive training covering their roles and responsibilities on the team and the processes in place following officer-involved shootings. Recruitment for the non-law enforcement community representatives will be ongoing, and we will continue to welcome applications from interested Clark or Skamania County residents in an effort to maintain a pool of members who represent the diversity of our communities, Kapp said. The citys web page on the independent investigation team says officials had hoped to receive more applications from diverse representatives of the community, but that hasnt happened despite efforts to reach out to various groups like the NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens. Jerzy Shedlock, The Columbian U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable on Fighting for Americas Seniors at the Cabinet Room of the White House June 15, 2020 in Washington. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images) Trump Says US to Pull Some Troops From Germany WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump said on Monday he would cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany to 25,000. This equates to a reduction of about 9,500 troops. Speaking to reporters, Trump accused Germany of being delinquent in its payments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and vowed to stick with the plan unless Berlin changed course. So were protecting Germany and theyre delinquent. That doesnt make sense. So I said, were going to bring down the count to 25,000 soldiers, Trump said, adding that they treat us very badly on trade. NATO in 2014 set a target that each of its 30 members should spend 2 percent of GDP on defense. Most, including Germany, do not. Asked about Trumps statement, German Ambassador to the United States Emily Haber said U.S. troops were in Europe to defend transatlantic security and to help the United States project its power in Africa and Asia. This is about transatlantic security but also about American security, she told a virtual think tank audience, saying U.S.-German security cooperation would remain strong and that her government had been informed of the decision. By Jeff Mason and Arshad Mohammed Scientists and astrophysicists from the University of Nottingham have calculated that there could be over 36 other life forms throughout the Milky Way Galaxy. Are we alone? A group of scientists and astrophysicists sought to answer this age-old question in a research study published recently in the Astrophysical Journal. The scientists revealed that there could be more than 36 other life forms in the Milky Way galaxy, but because of time and distance, we may never know for a fact whether they exist or not, according to a published article on CNN. How Scientists and Astrophysicists Came Up with This Result Astronomer and astrophysicist Frank Drake created an equation in 1961 which became the basis for the study conducted by the scientists and astrophysicists from the University of Nottingham. The authors in the study acknowledged that the Drake equation in principle can be used to calculate how many Communicating Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (CETI) or other life forms there might be in the galaxy. However, there are many terms in the Drake equation that are unknowable and additional methods are needed to calculate and determine the number of CETIs. The Difference Between the Drake Equation and the New Approach So the team of scientists from the University of Nottingham created and developed a new approach. Christopher Conselice, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Nottingham, told the CNN news through an email that what makes their equation different from Drake is their very simple assumption about how life developed. Conselice added: "One of them is that life forms in a scientific way - that is if the right conditions are met then life will form. This avoids impossible to answer questions such as 'what fraction of planets in a habitable zone of a star will form life?' and 'what fraction of life will evolve into intelligent life?' as these are not answerable until we actually detect life, which we have not yet done." Moreover, the calculation they called Astrobiological Copernican Principle includes the history of star formation in the galaxy, ages of stars, the metal content of the stars, and the likelihood of the stars in hosting human life. Meanwhile, Tom Westby, co-author of the study and an assistant professor from the same university said: "The two Astrobiological Copernican limits are that intelligent life forms in less than 5 billion years, or after about 5 billion years - similar to on Earth where a communicating civilization formed after 4.5 billion years." Other Evidence of the Existence of Other Life Forms Another assumption they see in these potential civilizations is that they are making their presence in different ways like signals. It can be remembered that space experts reported in February that there had been fast radio bursts of radio waves in space. Additionally, the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment/Fast Radio Burst Project detected an average of signals every 16 days from September 2018 to October 2019. The study also asserted that there would be a minimum of 928 civilizations communicating in the galaxy today but it needs 700 years to make a detection. Three Duncannon residents were allowing 11 dogs to live in unsuitable, deplorable conditions before they were arrested, Pennsylvania State Police said. Harvajean Shaffer, 42; Dorothy Roush, 69; and Donald Shaffer, 27, were charged with animal cruelty after state police discovered the animals on Thursday. In their report, troopers said the odor coming from the Cherry Street home because of the dogs was so bad it could be smelled from the street. Police also found dead cats in the house. The dogs were rescued and taken to Perry County Animal Rescue. READ MORE: The cops should have read this guy his rights, Pa. court says in throwing out evidence in child-sex case York County motorcyclist dies nearly a week after crash: coroner Pa. officer suspended without pay after video shows him kicking a protester: report A fitness fan has revealed that she's been breaking lockdown rules to have sex with her businessman lover twice a week in their separate homes. Monica Holmes, 34, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, visited her partner throughout the UK's coronavirus-related quarantine despite being aware that their nights of passion were in breach of the guidelines. And although the rules have now been relaxed to allow for two households to merge into 'support bubbles' - Monica, who is a private carer, insisted it isn't enough. She said it's 'ridiculous' to deny 'our basic human instincts' and is backing a new campaign fighting for a further relaxing of social distancing to allow all Brits outside of high risk groups to sleep with whoever they like. A fitness fan (pictured) revealed that she has been breaking lockdown rules to have sex with her businessman lover twice a week in their separate homes Monica Holmes (pictured), 34, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, visited her partner throughout the UK's coronavirus-related quarantine despite being aware that their nights of passion were in breach of the guidelines At the beginning of the month, an amendment to the Health Protection Bill was released amid the pandemic, stating: 'No person may participate in a gathering which takes place in a public or private place indoors, and consists of two or more persons.' Last week, the rules were eased slightly to allow adults who live alone to chose one other household they can 'bubble' with - where they can visit and stay overnight. Divorcee Monica, who lives near her lover in Harrogate, said: 'I have been having sex throughout lockdown and I feel zero shame or regret. 'I'm a very sexual person and l couldn't live without sex. I need the physical release for my mental wellbeing. It's a brilliant stress reliever and, given everything which is going on in the world, we need it more than ever. 'It's so ridiculous to think anyone could be arrested or fined for following our basic human instincts and needs. Just try and arrest me.' Although the rules have now been relaxed to allow for two households to merge into 'support bubbles' - divorcee Monica (pictured) insisted it isn't enough Recalling her decision to flout the government's rules to stay at home, Monica added: 'I started seeing a guy four months ago, just before lockdown started. 'We both decided right after the new rules came in that we would still see one another and we meet twice a week for sex either at his place or mine. She continued: 'I don't care what my neighbours think, they don't know me so they can't judge or bad mouth me. While they'll be some people who say what I'm doing is wrong, there's also a lot of people who agree with me and are doing the same. 'It's inhumane to tell people they can't have sex. We are not naughty school children and the more you forbid something, the more people will want to do it.' Being a ke yworker, Monica says she can easily get tested anytime, with one COVID-19 test a few weeks ago coming back negative. But the fitness fan isn't worried about getting the deadly virus because she believes she's 'so healthy' that it wouldn't affect her. Monica (pictured) said it's 'ridiculous' to deny 'our basic human instincts' and is backing a new campaign fighting for a further relaxing of social distancing to allow all Brits outside of high risk groups to sleep with whoever they like Being a keyworker, Monica (pictured) says she can easily get tested anytime, with one COVID-19 test a few weeks ago coming back negative 'I work out at the gym a lot and look after myself,' she explained. 'This is why I'm so sexually active. Healthy people have much more sex than people who don't look after themselves.' Monica also criticised the continuing social distancing guidelines, adding: 'Lockdown is just nonsense. How can people from different households not date or have sex, yet tens of thousands of people can gather for a mass protest in London? It just doesn't add up. 'No one is going to stop me living my life and enjoying myself and other people should do the same.' Monica is backing a new campaign started by relationship expert Louise Van Der Velde, who runs free masterclasses helping couples to have more fulfilled love lives. Louise is launching a legal challenge in the High Court in London against the lockdown and wants new rules allowing people outside of high risk groups to have sex with whoever they like - not just one person in their 'support bubble'. Real estate agent Richard Ashby, 38, from Cambridge, has had sex with 'plenty' of women in breach of lockdown and is also backing the campaign. Real estate agent Richard Ashby (pictured), 38, from Cambridge, has had sex with 'plenty' of women in breach of lockdown and is also backing the campaign Richard said: 'I totally ignored lockdown from the start and travelled hundreds of miles to meet friends, just to break the horrifying routine of forced imprisonment. 'And after the government's laughable attempt to ban sex, I headed over to a friend's place to do exactly that. There are plenty of people I have met for sex during lockdown. It's a lifestyle choice. 'We all know it's in breach of the rules but the government can essentially forget it. I don't feel guilty. It's an absolute travesty that anyone can dictate that on any terms. Relationship expert Louise Van Der (above) is launching a legal challenge in the High Court in London against the lockdown and wants new rules allowing people outside of high risk groups to have sex with whoever they like 'Banning sex is the most ludicrous thing I could ever imagine happening. Whoever came up with it they can f*** off. I resent the idea that everyone out there is terrified of having fun or procreating, it's a joke. 'The sex ban literally takes away everything that a human being needs - touch, connection, love at first sight, passion, hugs and sex. You cannot just strip this away from people for months at a time - the effects will be catastrophic on people's mental health and wellbeing.' He added: I've heard about Louise's campaign and fully support her legal bid to stop the government banning sex for millions of us who are not in relationships - not that it'll make a difference to me as I will continue to do it anyway.' Following the relaxation of the rules last week, couples who do not live together can finally stay the night together in each other's homes. But there are still restrictions on people dating normally and sleeping with more than one person outside their bubble. Sexpert Louise said: 'We need to end the sex ban for anyone outside of high risk groups. Millions of young people who risk no more than a bout of flu from the virus are having their lives wrecked by these rules. 'I am mounting a legal challenge in the High Court to free us all from these draconian restrictions which make no sense at all.' First batch of military aid to Ukraine from US arrived in Kyiv 6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes off Philippine coast Armenia confirms 940 new coronavirus cases, no deaths Papua New Guinea parliament repeals death penalty law TikTok starts testing paid subscriptions Israeli fighter jets, refueling planes hold massive drills aimed at Tehran France announces gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions Fountains in Athens' central square illuminated with Armenian tricolor Austria approves Europe's first mandatory COVID-19 vaccination mandate World War II aircraft crashed in India found after 77 years Armenian Parliament Deputy Speaker meets EU delegation Deputy Speaker of Armenian parliament meets Russian Ambassador to Armenia Germany won't pay compensation if Nord Stream 2 doesn't comply with German, EU laws NEWS.am digest: EU special rep. is in Armenia, Roma's Mkhitaryan turns 33 today Child injured in Artsakh car accident taken to Yerevan by Russian peacekeepers' helicopter Taiwanese woman faces death penalty for setting island's deadliest fire Turkey passes law to exempt converted lira deposits from corporate tax Blinken says he discussed Iran nuclear deal with Lavrov Erdogan says Turkey has peaceful relations with Russia like never before New German government wants to attract 400,000 skilled workers from abroad every year Israeli Attorney General orders to investigate police allegations of spyware Blinken: Any Russian invasion of Ukraine will be met with swift response Candidate: Ombudsmans institution is one of few established institutions in Armenia Lavrov summarizes the results of talks with Blinken UN agrees on definition of Holocaust denial Lavrov and Blinken talks kick off in Geneva Australian FM says issue of sending direct military aid to Ukraine is not considered Armenia PM receives EU delegation, need for full operation of Karabakh peace process is stressed Armenia National Assembly debating on new ombudspersons candidacy Katherine Tai: The world can't go back to the 2019 trading system Dollar gains value in Armenia Armenia legislature told hold secret ballot to elect TV and radio commission new members NATO intends to hold largest military exercises beyond Arctic Circle in early March 7 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh 'Zangezur corridor' will unite Turkic world, says Azerbaijan presidential office official Armenia FM highlights need for full resumption of Karabakh peace talks Armenia ex-defense minister: In our time it was shame to immediately turn to CSTO in case of Azerbaijan provocations UN General Assembly head calls for peace during Beijing Olympics Armenia Tourism Committee has new chairperson Russian MFA: Priority today is to start Azerbaijan-Armenia border delimitation, demarcation process Parliament passes, in first reading, bill restricting gambling advertising in Armenia UK considering sending hundreds of additional troops to Ukraine's neighbors Warships of Russia, Iran and China work out counteraction to maritime piracy Armenia first deputy minister of justice dismissed Israeli defense minister tests positive for COVID-19 Karabakh conflict resumption likelihood is moderate, its impact on US interests is low, report says Antonio Guterres thinks Russia will not invade Ukraine Azerbaijan ambassador to Russia hastens to sweeten the sediment of statement by US embassy in Baku IS fighters attack army barracks in mountainous area north of Baghdad, killing 11 soldiers Thomas de Waal: Will Armenia and Turkey be able to normalize relations after 3rd attempt? Armenia Security Council secretary, visiting EU delegation discuss situation on border with Azerbaijan Foreign ministers of Israel and Turkey have talk for 1st time in 13 years Fly Arna shareholders appoint companys Board of Directors 628 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia CSTO chief: Necessary to work on Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation, demarcation FBI search congressman's home in connection with Azerbaijan probe Newspaper: Armenia PM again goes way of black and white Newspaper: Scenario devised after war to be implemented in Artsakh EU Special Representative for South Caucasus arrives in Armenia Quake hits Armenia: 28 km northwest of Jermuk Crete island lighthouse illuminated with colors of Armenian tricolor Aurora Humanitarian Initiative to allocate $500,000 to projects in Artsakh Sajid Javid: Britain must learn to live with COVID-19, it could be with us forever Erdogan suggests Putin and Zelensky meet face to face EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus meets Aliyev US imposes sanctions on Ukrainians related to 'Russian harmful foreign activities' Sabah: Ankara refuses to hold next Armenian-Turkish meeting in a third country US general discusses regional security and bilateral cooperation in Armenia Secret graves of alleged protesters discovered in Almaty Armenian side members to Armenian-American Intergovernmental Commission confirmed WHO advises countries to lift or ease international travel restrictions US sanctions against Vladimir Putin, Ruben Vardanian and members of the Russian government Armenian Foreign Ministry discusses Mirzoyan's participation in Turkey forum Thailand to resume non-quarantine travel scheme from February 1 Instagram introduces paid subscription feature NEWS.am daily digest: 20.01.22 Europe considers new strategy to combat COVID-19 Norwegian prosecutors refuse release Anders Breivik, 2011 mass murderer Erdogan urges Turks to sell foreign currency for liras Azerbaijan not yet returned about 300 sheep of Armenia villager Media: Israeli President thinks about visiting Turkey Dollar quite stable in Armenia Trade turnover between Ukraine and Armenia increases by 24% Armenia legislature speaker meets with of International Republican Institute president, and director for Eurasia Kremlin does not exclude new call between Putin and Biden EU Special Representative for South Caucasus to soon visit Armenia, Azerbaijan State Duma discusses work of biolaboratories near Russia's borders US lawmakers to parliament speaker: Armenian POWs must be returned to their homeland immediately Security Council chief: Armenia expects OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to visit region Armenia government does not approve plan to considerably raise minimum wage Turkish FM: Armenian representatives invited to diplomatic forum in Antalya Twitter suspends Mexican billionaire's account over offensive behavior Armenian PM says Omicron strain is slowly spreading Azerbaijan says it supports launching border delimitation process with Armenia with no conditions Zakharova speaks on Aliyev's visit to Kyiv Zakharova does not comment on Azerbaijan president's threats against France presidential candidate for her Artsakh visit Cavusoglu: Steps to increase mutual trust will be discussed at next meeting with Armenia US gives go-ahead to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send missiles and other American-made weapons to Ukraine Zakharova: Russia, as OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, supports continuation of work in this format Cyber attack on Red Cross: data of over 515,000 people compromised Miscreants allegedly stole Premlata Agrawals prestigious Padma Shri award from her house in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand on Monday, her husband Vimal Agrawal informed on Monday evening. Agrawal is Indias oldest woman to climb Mount Everest. Her husband filed a complaint with the police, a copy of which is with the HT, alleging that the thieves also stole Rs 20,000, 15 silver coins and two computer hard discs containing the videos and photos of his wifes achievements and award-winning moments. The incident happened around 5 am. Also read: Chinas survey team summits Mt Everest to remeasure its height The thieves got into the house last night and took away my wife Premlata Agrawals Padma Shri Award along with Rs 20,000 in cash 15 silver coins and two computer hard discs containing videos and photos of her precious memories. Police team led by city Superintendent of police Subhas Chandra Jat had visited the spot my 71, KD Flat house with the dog squad this morning. The Inspector General and Kolhan Deputy inspector general of police too have taken cognizance of the incident. We are happy with the progress of the investigation, said Vimal Agrawal. Vimal said the family was not present at their 71, KD Flat house as they had stayed the night in their new house on Marine Drive under Sonari PS area. Half of the materials were shifted to our house in Marine Drive and the remaining materials were at our Kadma-based house. The thieves seemed to have exploited our absence at the house last night, said Vimal, adding that he has lodged a written complaint with the Kadma Police Station. Leading mountaineer Premalata Agrawal was conferred the Padma Shri Award in 2013 and the National Adventure Award in 2017 among many other national and international awards. She became the oldest Indian woman to scale the worlds highest peak, Mt Everest, on May 20, 2011, at the age of 48. At 50, she became the first Indian woman ever to conquer the top peaks of all the seven continents, popularly called the Seven Summits after climbing Alaskas McKinley Peak on May 23, 2013. With this, she became the first Indian woman mountaineer to step on the highest peak of North America. Being a housewife and the mother of two was hardly an obstacle for her. The short film, A New Day Will Be, features Slovak actor Robert Roth. The straw boater hat is one of the dress items that should be worn on Bloomsday. (Source: Facebook/Museum of Literature Ireland) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled This years Bloomsday, a festival celebrating Irish writer James Joyces masterpiece Ulysses, has been forced to move online due to the coronavirus outbreak. Apart from online events, more than 40 performers from 40 locations across six continents, running from Santiago to Tokyo and from Johannesburg to Dublin, including Bratislava, have met in a short film, titled A New Day Will Be, to jointly celebrate the festival based on the 1922 book. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Bloomsday, widely popular in Dublin as the story takes place here, is celebrated on June 16 from 8:00 until the next morning, following a timeline of Ulysses from the year of 1904. The day is named after one of the main characters in the book, Leopold Bloom. video //www.youtube.com/embed/HtToq6pmRnM The Slovak stage actor, Robert Roth, is one of the performers reciting so once were we in the Slovak language at a cemetery alongside, for example, former US Democratic Presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg and Beto ORourke, who recite other words used in Ulysses from elsewhere. Under normal circumstances, people would be going to readings and performances dedicated to Ulysses, some of them wearing clothes from the era when the book was written. And those in Dublin would be discovering places mentioned in the book while wearing straw boater hats. From isolation to love and hope Because of the pandemic, the Museum of Literature Ireland (MOLI) and The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA), with their partners, decided to bring the world closer together through the video. Words from Ulysses (video) Scene 1: Coast - Morning A little trouble about those white corpuscles. Silence, all. White breast of the dim sea. The twining stresses, two by two. Scene 2: Coast Late Morning Touch me. Soft eyes. Soft soft hand. I am lonely here. I am, stride at a time. A very short space of time through very short times of space. Scene 3: Pharmacy - Day Quest for the philosopher's stone Living all day among herbs, ointments, disinfectants. Something going on: some solidarity. Scene 4: Cemetery, Memorial Day Faithful departed. As you are now so once were we. Scene 5: Library Day Life is many days, this will end. Scene 6: Hotel Day Nations of the earth. No-one behind. Then and not till then. Scene 7: Irish Bar Day Love loves to love love. Scene 8: Coast Evening The year returns. History repeats itself. Life, love, voyage round your own little world. Scene 9: City Night But tomorrow is a new day will be. Scene 10: Bedroom Night The sun shines for you he saidyes I said yes I will Yes. Using Joyces timeless words, performers join together to chart our universal, shared humanity as we journey through these extraordinary times: from silence, isolation, the desire for human touch and the quest for a vaccine, through remembrance and resilience, to hope, love and finally affirmation, the DFA said. The score composed and performed by Dublin-born fiddler Caoimhin O Raghallaigh is accompanied by Ulysses phrases in almost 20 languages, including Swahili and Irish Sign Language. For each scene, the type of location chosen echoes the original setting of the relevant episode of the novel, the DFA noted. The Ulysses book mentions Eccles Street, where Leopold Blooms home is, and also features a hospital, several pubs, as well as the National Library of Ireland. RTE's Ulysses-athon The first Bloomsday celebration was held by Joyces friends after his book was published. Ireland, however, began to celebrate Bloomsday no sooner than in 1954. Even though Joyce left Ireland in 1904 for continental Europe, residing in Paris, Trieste, and Zurich, he did not stop writing about Dublin. He once said: For myself, I always write about Dublin, because if I can get to the heart of Dublin, I can get to the heart of all the cities of the world. Nearly a century after the book was published, Joyce's Ulysses has touched the hearts of people worldwide. On this occasion, Irelands national broadcaster, RTE, is running almost a 30-hour production of Ulysses from 1982 as well. COVID-19: Retracted hydroxychloroquine studies, changes to carrier risk, how virus spreads on surfaces Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The global coronavirus pandemic that spurred mass government shutdowns of businesses and the loss of over 30 million jobs in the U.S. has led many to question the ever-changing advice coming from the World Health Organization and other experts whove been advising government officials and the public. While churches, restaurants, and doctors' offices continue to operate well below capacity, many Americans have joined street protests that sometimes number into the thousands, raising concerns about a spike in coronavirus infections. China is also now seeing an increase in infections and has imposed a lockdown in part of Beijing. In February, Tedros Ghebreyesus, the head of WHO, criticized the U.S., Australia and Singapore's ban on foreign travelers from China and later Europe. Some even called it "xenophobic." Yet later, many countries followed suit by enforcing their own travel restrictions. WHO and the CDC also initially said wearing face masks would not protect the public, but months later they advised strict adherence to wearing masks in public spaces. Now, expert opinions have changed on how the virus is spread from person-to-person, on surfaces, and which treatments are safe and effective. Here are three questions being raised in response to those changing opinions. 1 2 3 4 Next Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - Benin has so far recorded 532 cases of people infected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), officials of the ministry of Health told PANA here Tuesday Country music legend Garth Brooks is coming to a stage near you for a concert experience, unlike anything you have attended before. His performance is set to air at 300 drive-in theaters across the country, including one in the Capital Region, on June 27. Country music fans will have an opportunity to take part in the "largest-ever one-night show to play at outdoor theaters," if they can secure tickets for the local showing at the Malta Drive-In. A man who falsely claimed he had COVID-19 and filmed himself coughing on shoppers during the global pandemic has been jailed for driving offences. Raymond Gary Coombs, 39, went to a Fresh Choice supermarket in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 4 and deliberately coughed and sneezed on coronavirus-fearing customers during nationwide lockdowns. He was arrested the following day for offensive behaviour after sharing footage of the stunt on Facebook, which he later deleted. In the video, he could be seen coughing in the direction of customers and occasionally smiling as if to apologise for doing so. Raymond Gary Coombs, 39, filmed himself smiling and deliberately coughing on shoppers in a supermarket Days earlier, the tradesman uploaded a video to Facebook claiming he tested positive to COVID-19, but tests taken after the arrest came back negative. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called Coombs 'an idiot' after his prank was made public. Judge Raoul Neave described his behaviour in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday as 'dangerous, selfish and stupid', Stuff reported. 'It is the kind of nuisance behaviour that has plagued your career,' she said. Coombs previously wrote on social media that his coughing spree was inspired by 'many prank pages' and offered his 'sincere apologies' for his behaviour. Days earlier, Raymond Gary Coombs (pictured) uploaded a video to Facebook claiming he tested positive to COVID-19, but tests taken after the arrest came back negative 'I'm sorry for this prank that was played,' he wrote. 'It never should've happened - the alcohol had really taken effect and I have no sensor when I get this messy. 'There is nothing else I can say but apologise to everybody and assure you all it will not happen again.' Coombs was convicted of drink driving after he was caught in August last year with a blood alcohol reading of 0.239, almost five times the legal limit of 0.05. He later pleaded guilty to a string of other offences, including careless driving, refusal to provide a blood sample and breaching his release conditions by contacting an ex partner who he was ordered not to communicate with. The man had posted the video of him coughing loudly at the Fresh Choice supermarket (pictured) in Christchurch Defence lawyer Kathy Basire argued Coombs endured 'significant childhood trauma' and started drinking again on the anniversary of his mother's death. While he had undergone alcohol treatment in prison before, Ms Basire told the court he wanted more treatment to curb his binge-drinking. Judge Neave sentenced him to 16 months jail and fined him $750, but will be able to apply for home detention once a bed at a rehabilitation facility becomes available. He was also banned from driving for 28 days and will then be able to apply for a zero-alcohol licence. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 07:13:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Vehicles cross the border between France and Italy in Menton, southern France, on June 15, 2020. In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron declared "a first victory" over the coronavirus epidemic, announcing a return to normalcy from Monday across French regions, except for overseas territories. From Monday, European travellers will be able to enter French territory without restriction, while those from countries outside Schengen area will have to wait until July 1. (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua) Responding to the announcement that Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party have agreed a Programme for Government, Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley said: For four and a half months Fianna Fail and Fine Gael excluded Sinn Fein from the government formation process in an attempt to deny change, to protect the status quo and to continue with the same politics that have so badly failed workers and families. They have now reached an agreement on a Programme for Government with the Green Party, most of which is an aspirational wish list. But the reality is that a government led by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael - no matter who they are propped up by - does not represent the change that people voted for and will not deliver for workers and families. Their record in government together over the past four years shows us exactly what they will do if this Programme for Government is endorsed by the parties involved. What we need is a complete break from the past, not a repeat of it. That means rebuilding the economy in a fair and sustainable way, delivering affordable housing, delivering universal healthcare, making sure workers can retire at the age of sixty-five, investing in rural Ireland and delivering the type of real change required to tackle the climate emergency. This will not be delivered by a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael led government. In the time ahead we in Sinn Fein will use our increased political strength to push forward the policies we put before the electorate in February and which increasing numbers of people voted for. We are within touching distance of a better Ireland. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail can delay change, but they cannot stop it. NEW YORK - President Donald Trump cannot claim he no longer resides in New York to defend against the defamation lawsuit brought by a woman who says he raped her years ago, lawyers for the accuser argued Monday citing the president's rancorous call with governors this month during which he boasted about his ties to the city. Trump's June 1 phone call was intended to encourage the nation's governors to take a tougher posture in quelling riots and violence that grew from protests over the death of George Floyd while in police custody, lawyers for journalist E. Jean Carroll noted in a new court filing. But in doing so, they said, the president contradicted his legal team's claim that New York City is an improper venue for the lawsuit because he now resides in Washington and has changed his primary residence from Manhattan's Trump Tower to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. "Now what happened in New York, I have to tell you, I live in Manhattan," Trump said on the phone call, according to a transcript filed in court. He was alluding to the NYPD's initial failure to stop the looting and mayhem there. "I don't know what's happening in Manhattan, but it's terrible," the president said, according to the transcript. Attorneys for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Carroll sued Trump last year after he called her a liar and accused her of fabricating the sexual assault to sell her book. Carroll alleged in her memoir that Trump raped her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman, a high-end Manhattan department store, during the 1990s. He is facing a similar lawsuit from former "Apprentice" contestant Summer Zervos, who said in 2016 that Trump sexually assaulted her several years prior, claims the president has denied. Her case is pending before the New York State Court of Appeals, its highest, which will decide if Trump can be sued personally while in office or if he's immune. Arguments in the Zervos case have not been scheduled. A court spokesman said Monday the case could be heard as soon as October - a timeline that could prove damaging to the president's reelection campaign - but that it is more likely to be heard next year. Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the Carroll case, a New York State Supreme Court judge has yet to decide if the lawsuit should be put on hold until the appeals court decides the immunity question. Carroll's team is seeking a DNA sample from Trump to compare it to genetic material found on the dress Carroll says she wore the day of the assault. Trump's lawyers have argued immunity in both cases and have sought to put Carroll's proceeding on hold until there's a ruling on that matter in the Zervos case. Judge Verna Saunders heard arguments in Carroll's case in early March, but her decision has yet to come. The coronavirus pandemic shut down all nonessential matters in New York's court system later that month. Monday's filing reinforces Carroll's assertion that Manhattan is a proper venue in which to sue the president, a lifelong New Yorker, her lawyers said, adding that their claim to jurisdiction is reinforced by the fact that Trump's reelection campaign is based here, at Trump Tower. The attorneys argued that Trump's home base has been and continues to be in New York. The Washington Post previously reported that Trump tried to register as a Florida voter using his White House address and later had to reapply citing Mar-a-Lago. Carroll's lawyers argued that this illustrates the president uses whatever address benefits him. Shoppers Drug Mart Partners with Pineapple Express Delivery to Launch Same-Day Home Delivery for Medical Cannabis VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2020 / World-Class Extractions Inc. (CSE:PUMP) (FRA:WCF) (OTCQB:WCEXF) (the "Company" or "World-Class") provides an update regarding the business of its controlled subsidiary, Pineapple Express Delivery. Medical Cannabis by Shoppers has partnered with Pineapple Express Delivery, a leading logistics technology company offering specialized delivery services for the legal cannabis industry, and is pleased to announce the launch of same-day delivery for medical cannabis patients in cities in and around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Medical Cannabis by Shoppers is Shoppers Drug Mart's online platform for the sale of medical cannabis. Read the full news release here: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/medical-cannabis-by-shoppers-launches-same-day-medical-cannabis-delivery-in-and-around-the-gta-860056019.html. About World-Class Extractions Inc. World-Class is an innovation-driven company which deploys and manages custom-built extraction centers for licensed cannabis and hemp processors. Utilizing its custom technology and processes, World-Class enables its licensed partners to efficiently produce high-margin cannabis and hemp concentrates and oils. Through its relationships with licensed partners, World-Class has the ability to offer toll processing of cannabis and hemp to licensed third parties that lack the expertise and equipment required to produce high-quality cannabis and hemp concentrates and end-products. In addition, Pineapple Express Delivery Inc., a World-Class subsidiary, offers legal cannabis delivery services for both the medical and recreational markets in Ontario, as well as certain other provinces within Canada. Investor Contact Daniel Mogil World-Class Investor Relations 1-437-266-1968 ir@worldclassextractions.com https://worldclassextractions.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management of the Company. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws, the ability of Pineapple Express Delivery to expand its delivery services and to provide discrete shipment of products to Shoppers Drug Mart customers. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. SOURCE: World-Class Extractions Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594068/World-Class-Extractions-Inc-Provides-Corporate-Update Mumbai, June 16 : In a stunning development, the Covid-19 death toll in Maharashtra took a high jump by 1,328, after a detailed reconciliation of fatalities in Mumbai and other parts of the state in the past few weeks, Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta said here on Tuesday. With this, the state toll has shot up from 4,128 to zoom beyond the 5,000-mark to touch 5,456 deaths. From these 1,328 new fatalities, Mumbai alone accounts for 862, increasing the city Covid-19 toll from 2,250 to 3,112 now. Similarly, Thane has 146 new deaths on record, pushing up the toll from 480 to 626 now. Pune has 85 new fatalities added to its current death toll of 494, shooting up the total to 579, pushing it to the third slot behind Thane now. The development came a day after Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging fudging of figures of deaths by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Last week, the state government had ordered all concerned medical authorities to complete the reconciliation of the Covid-19 deaths by June 15. Fadnavis had accused the BMC of a "cover up" by suppressing around 950 deaths which was a gross violation of ICMR guidelines. "Before announcing any Covid-19 related deaths, it is examined by the Death Audit Committee formed by the BMC. We have noticed that there are at least 451 recent deaths that were not declared as Covid-19 deaths. As per the ICMR guidelines, there were Covid-19 deaths, but the DAC showed them as non-Covid-19 deaths. Besides there are another 500 Covid-19 deaths that were not reported to DAC," Fadnavis said. After the state government declared the latest figures, Fadnavis tweeted: "It is my sincere request to the state government that please don't ignore this entire episode of criminal negligence in the name of reconciliation of numbers. These figures were suppressed for the last 3 months." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) File image The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given its approval for a new coronavirus testing kit developed by a Korean company, which can deliver results in just 30 minutes. The development comes at a time India has been looking to ramp up its testing capabilities to deal with the massive surge in coronavirus positive cases. The antigen test kit produced by the firm SD Biosensor which has a manufacturing unit in Gurugram -- became the first of its kind to get ICMR validation. The test kits would come in handy in field settings because they are portable and will help in conducting on-site rapid tests in containment zones and hotspots. For live updates on coronavirus, click here The new testing tool called the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Detection Kit, not only delivers results in much less time compared to the RT-PCR test kits that take two to three hours, but also costs just a few hundred rupees as compared to the RT-PCR kits that cost around Rs 2,500. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show While there are several advantages of using the antigen kit, an India Today report states that the method of sample collection could be counted as one of its limitations. To detect coronavirus infection through these new Korean test kits, only nasopharyngeal swab samples can be used. Moreover, the ICMR has suggested that if the Standard Q Covid-19 Ag Detection Kit produces a negative test result, it would be safer to get an RT-PCR test just to be doubly sure before ruling out any infection. Twenty army personnel were killed during a violent confrontation with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night A total of 20 Indian Army personnel were killed during a violent confrontation with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night. It was a first such incident in the last 45 years that reflected massive escalation in the five-week border row. Initially, the army said one officer and two soldiers were killed. Later in the night, an army statement said 17 more soldiers who "were were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20". The army also stated that the Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where soldiers from both sides had clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020, adding that the "Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation". The Chinese side also suffered some loses, however, exact numbers have not been reported so far. The editor-in-chief of Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times confirmed this, while adding that the Indian side shouldn't be "arrogant and misread Chinese restraint as weakness." Hu Xijin said that the Chinese side was holding back the number of its casualties as the government did not want to "stoke the public mood". He termed it a "goodwill gesture". Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, dont be arrogant and misread Chinas restraint as being weak. China doesnt want to have a clash with India, but we dont fear it. Hu Xijin (@HuXijin_GT) June 16, 2020 Chinese side didnt release number of PLA casualties in clash with Indian soldiers. My understanding is the Chinese side doesnt want people of the two countries to compare the casualties number so to avoid stoking public mood. This is goodwill from Beijing. Hu Xijin (@HuXijin_GT) June 16, 2020 A senior military officer, quoted by news agency PTI, said that it is the first incident involving the casualty of an Indian soldier in a violent clash with the Chinese Army after 1975 when four Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush at Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh along the de-facto border between the two countries. Official sources told PTI that there was no firing between the two sides, and the casualties were result of a fist fight and stone-pelting among the two forces. Multiple sources in government and military establishments told PTI that the clashes continued for several hours. Reports claimed that the army officer killed in the clash was the commanding officer of a battalion at Galwan. However, there is no official word on it. Spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava asserted that the violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo in the region. The MEA said that both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had agreement arrived at earlier at higher level been "scrupulously followed by Chinese side". "Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). We expect the same of the Chinese side," MEA spokespeson Anurag Srivastava said. "We remain firmly convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity," the MEA added. Meanwhile, China accused India of "stirring up trouble" and "transgressing" the Chinese border. "Our border troops had a high-level meeting and reached important consensus on easing the border situation but astonishingly on June 15 the Indian troops seriously violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line for illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel which led to serious physical conflict between the two sides and China has lodged strong protest and representation with the Indian side," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. "We once again solemnly ask the Indian side to follow our consensus, strictly regulate its front-line troops and do not cross the line, do not stir up troubles or make unilateral moves that may complicate matters," the spokesperson said. Zhao also added that both sides agree to resolve this issue through dialogue and consultation and make efforts for easing the situation and upholding the peace and security along the border area. There has been a large buildup of Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks. The incident comes days after Indian Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said both sides have begun disengaging from Galwan Valley. China's state-run newspaper Global Times claimed in a report that clashes were triggered by Indian troops as they crossed over to the Chinese side and carried out attacks on Chinese soldiers. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in the standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row. In their first serious efforts to end the row, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Major General Liu Lin held a nearly seven-hour meeting on 6 June. The meeting was followed by two rounds of Major General-level talks. The Indian side has been pitching for restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from the areas which India considers on its side of the LAC. On Saturday, Gen Naravane said both sides are "disengaging" in a phased manner. "We have started from the north, from the area of the Galwan river where a lot of disengagement has taken place. It has been a very fruitful dialogue that we have had." Following the standoff in eastern Ladakh, the two sides have deployed additional troops along the LAC, the de-facto Sino-India border, in North Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh in the last few days, the sources said. After the standoff began in early last month, Indian military leadership decided that Indian troops will adopt a firm approach in dealing with the aggressive posturing by the Chinese troops in all disputed areas of Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie. The Chinese Army has been gradually ramping up its strategic reserves in its rear bases near the LAC by rushing in artillery guns, infantry combat vehicles and heavy military equipment. The trigger for the face-off was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley. The road in the Finger area in Pangong Tso is considered crucial for India to carry out patrol. India has already decided not to stall any border infrastructure projects in eastern Ladakh in view of Chinese protests. The situation in the area deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. With inputs from PTI India received USD 51 billion in foreign investment in 2019 and was the world's 9th largest recipient of foreign direct investments (FDI) in 2019, according to a report by the UN's trade body. IMAGE: Text. Photograph: Reuters. The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in a report on Monday that a lower but positive economic growth in India in the post-Covid-19 pandemic period and India's large market will continue to attract market-seeking investments to the country. The World Investment Report 2020 by UNCTAD said that India was the 9th largest recipient of FDI in 2019, with 51 billion dollars of inflows during the year, an increase from the 42 billion dollars of FDI received in 2018, when India ranked 12 among the top 20 host economies in the world. In the developing Asia region, India was among the top five host economies for FDI. The report said that global FDI flows are forecast to decrease by up to 40 per cent in 2020, from their 2019 value of USD 1.54 trillion. This would be for the first time since 2005 that global FDI falls below the USD 1 trillion mark. Foreign direct investment to developing economies in Asia, hit hard by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, are projected to decline by up to 45 per cent in 2020. In South Asia, FDI is also expected to contract sharply in 2020. In India, the biggest FDI host in the subregion, with more than 70 per cent of inward stock, the number of greenfield investment announcements declined by four per cent in the first quarter, and merger & acquisitions contracted by 58. However, the country's economy could prove the most resilient in the region. FDI to India has been on a long-term growth trend. Positive, albeit lower, economic growth in the post-pandemic period and India's large market will continue to attract market-seeking investments to the country, the report said. It added that the magnitude of the logistical challenges during both the lockdown and the recovery remain a big downside risk for FDI in the medium term for India. The digital economy and real estate and property development, two industries that attracted growing FDI before the pandemic, could evolve in different directions, the report said, adding that the digital economy will likely see continued investments, real estate and property development will face significant pressures from slowing demand and financing constraints. India's most sought-after industries, which include professional services and the digital economy, could see a faster rebound as global venture capital firms and technology companies continue to show interest in India's market through acquisitions, the report said. The report noted that investors concluded deals worth over $650 million in the first quarter of 2020, mostly in the digital sector in India. Large deals in energy were also concluded, such as the acquisition by Total (France) of Adani Gas (India), valued at $800 million. FDI flows to South Asia increased by 10 per cent to USD 57 billion in 2019, the growth driven largely by a rise in investment in India, which further relaxed investment barriers in mid-2019 (including in retail, insurance and downstream coal processing). FDI to India, the largest South Asian recipient, increased 20 per cent to USD 51 billion, sustaining the country's upward FDI trend, the report said. Most of the investments were in the information and communication technology and the construction industry. ICT investments into India have evolved from information technology services for global companies to the rapidly growing local digital ecosystem, with many local and regional digital champions, particularly in e-commerce (such as Flipkart and Zomato), attracting international investment, the report said. A number of mega deals also contributed to M&A activity. These included investments in internet companies, which amounted to USD 2.7 billion, as well as the USD 7 billion acquisition of Essar Steel (India) by a Japanese-Indian joint venture. Outflows from South Asia grew 6 per cent, driven by investment from India. Yet they remained small, representing only one per cent of global outflows. Companies in India are the sub-region's largest investors, with more than 90 per cent of outflows in 2019. Investments from India are expected to decline in 2020, with the largest MNEs revising their earnings down by 25 per cent in early 2020 due to the impact of the pandemic, it added. The report said that flows to developing Asia will be severely affected due to their vulnerability to supply chain disruptions, the weight of global value chains-intensive FDI in the region and global pressures to diversify production locations. In 2019, FDI flows to the region declined by 5 per cent, to USD 474 billion, despite gains in South-East Asia, China and India. The report stressed that global FDI flows will be under severe pressure this year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, dropping well below the trough reached during the global financial crisis and undoing the already lacklustre growth in international investment over the past decade. Flows to developing countries will be hit especially hard, as export-oriented and commodity-linked investments are among the most seriously affected. The outlook is highly uncertain. Prospects depend on the duration of the health crisis and on the effectiveness of policies mitigating the pandemic's economic effects, said UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi. The financing of the operation is secured thanks to the support of Alpha Blue Ocean The acquisition of LCI Medical has been confirmed by the board of directors on June 12 th , 2020 , 2020 Several manufacturers confirm their interest in this new group Eragny-sur-Oise, France, June 16th, 2020, 17h45 CEST - Safe Orthopaedics (FR0013467123 - ALSAF), a company specializing in the design and marketing of ready-to-use technologies for spinal surgeries, delivering the safest treatment of spinal fractures urgently treated, confirms the acquisition of LCI Medical following the decision of the board of directors on June 12th, 2020, and the strengthening of its cash position thanks to the support of Alpha Blue Ocean ("ABO"). Creationg of a leader group for ready-to-use technologies As announced to the market on May 6th, 2020, Safe Orthopaedics wishes to consolidate an integrated leading group on ready-to-use technologies: Innovative and pioneer, Safe Orthopaedics was the first player to make available "ready-to-use" kits (implants and instruments) for spinal surgeries to orthopaedic surgeons. The combination with LCI Medical will allow Safe Orthopaedics to refocus its design, production and shipping to hospitals activities on two French sites, to accelerate the pace of development of new products for spine, but also to deploy its know-how on ready-to-use technologies in other orthopaedics segments, through different methods: on its behalf, through subcontracting and for third parties, as original equipment manufacturer, or in the framework of co-developments. Since the announcement of its intention to acquire LCI Medical, the company has noticed expressions of interest for this new group and initiated discussions with other manufacturers in order to co-develop and to propose to hospitals across the globe more and more ready-to-use technologies. Holding of the Shareholders' Meeting on July 24th, 2020 Safe Orthopaedics announces to its shareholders the holding of its Combined Annual General Meeting in its head office on Friday July 24th, 2020, annonce a ses actionnaires la tenue de son Assemblee Generale annuelle mixte ( AGM ) a` son siege social le vendredi 24 juillet 2020, held in close session in accordance with the regulation on fight against Covid-19 epidemic. The meeting notice will be published in BALO on June 19th, 2020 and contains the agenda and draft resolutions. The main terms for participation and voting will be made available on the website of the Company, and sent to the bearer shareholders on July, 3rd. As part of this meeting, the board of directors of Safe Orthopaedics propose to the shareholders to approve the proposed acquisition of the company LCI Medical, announced on May 6th. All of the audits and due-diligence procedures have been completed and the operation has obtained the approval of the board of directors of Safe Orthopaedics. Moreover, the financing of the operation has been secured, through the accelerated draw of 4 tranches of convertible bonds ("investor calls") on May 7th and June 5th, issued by Alpha Blue Ocean, as part of the investment agreement set up on July 2019. Safe Orthopaedics has been a pioneer for the first ready-to-use technology for spinal surgery on the market. We are proud that to this day, more than 16 500 patients, in 24 countries, benefited from our innovations in just 6 years. We listen to our customers, we have the will to offer a short innovative cycle and original logistics and commercial services, and we were working on the transformation of our company. The acquisition of LCI Medical will allow us to strengthen our leading position on spinal market, but also to promote ready-to-use technology on new markets through partnerships with manufacturers and/or through an industrial subcontracting with a strong value-added." Pierre Dumouchel, Chief Executive Officer of Safe Orthopaedics, declares "Thanks to the strategical and financial support of Alpha Blue Ocean and to the trust of our shareholders, we were able to quickly reinforce our cash position and to confirm the acquisition of LCI Medical. We call on our shareholders to adjudicate on the finalization of this operation of strategical transformation, which will allow to maintain a strong growth of spinal activity for Safe Orthopaedics and LCI Medical, to ensure the acquisition of a structurally profitable activity of subcontracting, and to open new technological and commercial technological opportunities in order to achieve financial balance in 2022". About Safe Orthopaedics Founded in 2010, Safe Orthopaedics is a French medical technology company, a pioneer of the design and marketing of innovative ready-to-use technologies Contacts Safe Orthopaedics Francois-Henri Reynaud Chief Financial Officer Tel.: +33 (0)1 34 21 50 00 investors@safeorthopaedics.com Press Relations Ulysse Communication Pierre-Louis Germain / +33 Nicolas Daniels / +33 Attachment North Korea's official mouthpieces on Monday continued to threaten South Korea even as the South mutedly celebrated the 20th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit. There was no mention of the anniversary in the North Korean state media, which instead foamed at the mouth about South Korean activists who send helium balloons carrying propaganda leaflets across the border. Threatening to "retaliate with continuous actions until the end," the North's official Rodong Sinmun daily called the South Korean government's plan to crack down on the activists "nothing but a deceptive tactic aimed at averting a crisis." "The South Korean government can never escape from responsibility for helping profane the highest dignity [meaning leader Kim Jong-un] and causing a total rupture in cross-border relations, but must pay duly for it," it fumed. Wage theft will become a crime in Victoria after the state's upper house, in an Australian first, passed legislation making deliberate underpayment of workers a criminal offence. The legislation was passed late on Tuesday night with crossbench support, despite opposition from the Coalition parties.Employers and the federal government have warned Victoria's approach could be unconstitutional and confusing. Victoria's Attorney-General Jill Hennessy with Premier Daniel Andrews. Credit:James Ross The Victorian laws include fines of up to almost $1 million for businesses and up to 10 years' jail for offending employers, with a team of new inspectors empowered to police the laws. Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy said workers now "have the law on their side". She said existing laws had failed to stop the problem, making a criminal approach necessary. Murdered Black Lives Matter protester Oluwatoyin Salau was last seen entering a dessert shop in Florida three days before her body was found along with a 75-year-old woman near the suspected killer's home. The bodies of Oluwatoyin Salau, 19, and Victoria Sims, were found by Tallahassee police Saturday night in the 2100 block of Monday Road. Authorities confirmed their identities on Monday. Aaron Glee Jr, 49, was arrested in connection to the murders after the bodies were found near his home, police said. Salau was last seen in the area of Orange Avenue and Wahnish Way in Tallahassee on June 6. On that same day, she shared a series of disturbing tweets about being molested by a black man who offered her a ride. The Tallahassee Police Department did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment Tuesday morning, but Glee's mother, Sandra Cutliff, did tell DailyMail.com that her son confessed to strangling the young woman and also murdering Sims, who he called his 'white grandmother'. Cutliff claimed that her son admitted to the murders from his jail cell on Sunday night. She said he did not sexually assault Salau and does not have a vehicle. On June 10, a woman matching Salau's description was captured on surveillance footage walking into Big Easy Snowballs on North Monroe Street around 7pm. The woman, who was wearing white Crocs like police described in their missing persons alert, entered the shop, used the restroom and left. A day after Salau was last seen alive at the shop, Sims went missing. She was last seen near Blairstone Road on June 11 driving a Toyota Camry. Scroll down for video Black Lives Matter protester, Oluwatoyin Salau (pictured left in white), 19, was last seen entering Big Easy Snowballs dessert shop in Florida three days before her body was found along with Victoria Sims, 75, near the suspect's home The woman, who was wearing white Crocs like police described in their missing persons alert, entered the shop, used the restroom and left. This map shows where both women were last seen before they were murdered Courtesy of WCTV Police issued a missing person alert for Sims about a half hour before her body was found Saturday night. According to AARP Florida, Sims was a long-time volunteer with the organization. 'AARP Florida deeply regrets the death of Vicki Sims, a long-time AARP volunteer. We understand that the Tallahassee Police Department is pursuing an investigation into her death,' the group wrote Sunday evening. According to the organization which is 'dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older' Sims is survived by two daughters, Brenda and June, and several grandchildren. She was a member of the Tallahassee Heights United Methodist Church. Sims retired several years ago from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Salau (left) was found dead in Tallahassee along with a 75-year-old Victoria Sims (right) after tweeting that she had been sexually assaulted by a man Aaron Glee Jr (pictured left in a May mugshot and right in a June 14 mugshot ), 49, was identified by police as a suspect after the bodies of Salau and Sims were found near his home in Tallahassee Saturday night Glee reportedly told authorities that he often helps homeless people. The bodies of both women were found near his home (pictured) on Monday Road Police tape is seen near Glee's home where the bodies of Salau and Sims were found Saturday night Timeline of the murders of Oluwatoyin Salau and Victoria Sims There are many gaps to fill in surrounding the murders of Oluwatoyin Salau and Victoria Sims beginning on June 6 with the Salau's disappearance. June 6: Richview Road and Park Avenue area Salau shares a series of tweets Saturday afternoon accusing a man of molesting her at his home earlier in the morning around 5.30am. At 4.40pm, Salau sent her last tweet. June 6: Last sighting of Salau by friends Salau was last seen in the area of Orange Avenue and Wahnish Way. June 8: Salau's name starts trending on social media Salau's name continued to trend on social media as people called on police to investigate her disappearance. June 9/10: Tallahassee Police Department announces Salau as missing person In a statement drafted on June 9 but shared on Facebook by the department on June 10, police urged the public to report any sightings of Salau to the department's Special Victims Unit. The statement said Salau could be in the area of Jakes and Patterson Street. June 10: Salau's last known sighting A woman matching Salau's description is seen walking into a dessert shop to use the restroom. June 11: Victoria Sims reported missing Sims was last seen on Blairstone Road, near Monday Road, driving a Toyota Camry. June 13: Missing person alert for Victoria Sims is issued Authorities issued a missing person alert for Sims at 8.50pm. June 13: Police find two bodies while following up on missing persons case Authorities discovered two bodies around 9.15pm in the 2100 block of Monday Road. June 14: Police arrest suspect Authorities announced on social media that they arrested a suspect believed to connected to the murders of both women. June 15: Identities confirmed Police confirm the victims as Salau and Sims. No other details about their murders have been released. Authorities also identified the suspect as Aaron Glee Jr, 49. Advertisement 'Vicki worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others as a dedicated advocate for older Americans; a committed volunteer for AARP, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Big Bend and other community causes; a devoted mother and grandmother; and a passionate, fully engaged citizen, helping our nation to achieve its highest ideals. 'Her life is an example of the great principle laid out by AARP's founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus - "to serve, not to be served".' According to police, Glee was out on bail at the time of murders of Salau and Sims. Records show Glee is said to have assaulted a woman when she rejected his sexual advances on May 29. He was charged aggravated battery after police say he kicked the woman but released on a $2,500 bond on June 1. Glee reportedly told authorities that he often helps homeless people. He was also charged with battery after an alleged fight over 'racial differences' on May 28. Police have not said how Salau, Sims and Glee are each connected, though it has been reported that Salau was struggling with homelessness. It was also revealed by DailyMail.com on Tuesday that Glee told his mother that he met Salau on a bus and invited her to his home. His mother claimed that he actually knew Sims, who would come by his home to check on him. Salau's high school classmate, Allyson Sancho, told WCTV that the two graduated Lincoln High School together in 2018. After graduating they lost contact with one another, but Sancho said she had a chance to catch up with Salau earlier this month while attending a local protest. She cared so deeply about every person, Sancho said. And you knew it was genuine. She believed in you and everything she was fighting for. Police said Salau was last seen on June 6 in the area of Orange Avenue and Wahnish Way in Tallahassee. On that same day, she shared a series of disturbing tweets about being molested by a black man who offered her a ride. 'Anyways I was molested in Tallahassee, Florida by a black man this morning at 5:30 on Richview and Park Ave. 'The man offered to give me a ride to find someplace to sleep and recollect my belongings from a church I refuged to a couple days back to escape unjust living conditions,' Salau tweeted. She said the man, who she described to be in his mid-40s, 'came disguised as a man of God and ended up picking me up from nearby Saxon Street'. 'I entered his truck only because I carry anything to defend myself not even a phone (which is currently at the church) and I have poor vision. I trusted the holy spirit to keep me safe,' she wrote. 'When we arrived at his house he offered me a shower and I thanked him and shower and he gave me a change of clothes. 'He exposed himself to me by peeing with the bathroom open obviously knowing I was out of it. I told him about a sexual assault situation that happened...' Several people took to Twitter early Monday morning and started sharing the '#RIP Toyin' hashtag. The hashtag came after Tallahassee police reported finding two bodies on Monday Road around 9.15pm Saturday night. 'TPD investigators arrived in 2100 block of Monday Road in the course of a follow up investigation in a missing person case. During the course of the investigation, two deceased people were located in the area,' police said in a press release. Salau had tweeted about telling the man she accused of molesting her about another man who 'tried to force me to give him oral sex and then continued to harass me thru text and knocking at my door for days'. 'Going back to the situation that happened to me this morning, I did not fall asleep. 'He then asked me if I wanted a massage at this moment his roommate who was in the house was asleep. I was laying on my stomach trying to calm myself down from severe ptsd. He started touching- 'My back and rubbing my body using my body until he climaxed and then went to sleep. Before I realized what happened to me I looked over and his clothes were completely off. Once I saw he was asleep I escaped from the house and started walking from Richview Road to anywhere else. Just hours before she went missing on June 6, Salau shared on Twitter that she had been molested by a man earlier that morning She said the man, who she described to be in his mid-40s, 'came disguised as a man of God and ended up picking me up from nearby Saxon Street' 'All of my belongings my phone my clothes shoes are all assumably at the church where I've been trying to track since I sought spiritual guidance/ refuge. I will not be silent. 'Literally wearing this man's clothes right now DNA all over me because I couldn't locate his house the moment I called the police because I couldn't see.' Under her thread, several people asked Salau if she was safe and even offered help, but she never responded. Salau was vocal in the Black Lives Matter protests that that broke out in the wake of George Floyd's death on May 25. In a video, shared on Twitter, Salau recently spoke at a protest. 'Can't nobody silence me. It's not that all lives don't matter, but right now our lives matter. Black Lives Matter. Just hours after posting the tweets, Salau disappeared. Several people took to Twitter early Monday morning and started sharing the '#RIP Toyin' hashtag Police have not said whether or not Glee is the same man Salau accused of molesting her on June 6 before she disappeared It is unclear how Salau, Sims (left) and Glee are each connected, though it has been reported that Salau was struggling with homelessness 'Black trans lives matter,' Salau said in the video, referring to the recent death of black trans man, Tony McDade, who was shot dead by police in Tallahassee. 'We're doing this for him, we're doing this for our brothers and sisters who got shot [and] for every black person because at the end of the day, I cannot take my f**king skin color off. Everywhere I f**king go, I'm profiled whether I like it or not.' 'Black trans lives matter,' Salau said in the video, referring to the recent death of black trans man, Tony McDade (pictured), who was shot dead by police in Tallahassee Salau's statements were met with applause and cheers from dozens of people standing behind and around her. It's unclear when exactly that protest took place. She was also vocal about racism and police brutality on Twitter. In a May 31 tweet, Salau wrote: 'If you're Black trying to silence other black voices please stay tf home there is no negotiating with racism. No Justice no justice no peace.' Salau was also enrolled in the cosmetology program at Lively Technical College. In a statement, the college wrote: 'The Lively Technical College family is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau. 'Toyin was in our cosmetology program and had a very promising future ahead of her. We will miss seeing Toyins beautiful smile. The Salau family is in our prayers as they deal with this tragic loss.' Tallahassee police have not released any other details surrounding the case. An investigation is ongoing. Man arrested for the murders of BLM protester, 19, and 75-year-old confessed to his mother that he 'strangled the teen and killed the older woman who he knew' In a bombshell exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Glee's mother, Sandra Cutliff (pictured), revealed that her son had called her from jail on Sunday night and confessed to killing both women Aaron Glee Jr, who was arrested as a suspect in connection to the slayings of Oluwatoyin Salau and Victoria Sims, confessed to his mother about the killings, DailyMail.com has revealed. In a bombshell exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Glee's mother, Sandra Cutliff, revealed that her son had called her from jail on Sunday night and confessed to strangling the young woman and also murdering Sims, who he called his 'white grandmother'. Cutliff, 67, said her son suffered from mental health problems and had been on a downward spiral into a psychotic break over the past few weeks. Glee told his mother he met Salau on a bus, invited her to his home and let her shower there, Cutliff said. He told Cutliff that Salau asked him for 'molly' (ecstasy) and when he refused she called him a 'n****r', the mother told DailyMail.com. Glee then flew into a rage and strangled her to death, Cutliff said. 'He told me that after she got out the shower she wanted molly. He told her he wasn't going to buy it. He said she called him a f***-ass n****r and bit him. That triggered him off,' she said. Some time after the first alleged murder, Cutliff said Sims came to his house to check on him. The 75-year-old, a long-time volunteer for AARP Florida and member of Tallahassee Heights United Methodist Church, was friends with Glee and helped him look after himself and get government services, Cutliff told DailyMail.com. She said Glee referred to Sims as 'Miss Vicky' and his 'white grandmother' and would sometimes cook for her. Cutliff said her son confessed that when Sims visited him last week she called him a 'slob', he became enraged again and killed her. The mother said she did not know when exactly her son committed the two alleged murders. Salau was last seen on June 6, and Sims on June 11. On the day she disappeared, Salau shared a series of disturbing tweets about being molested by a black man who offered her a ride. Police have not said whether or not Glee is the same man Salau accused of molesting before she disappeared. Cutliff said her son did not sexually assault Salau and does not have a vehicle. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ As the political season is gathering momentum and the NPPs primary have been scheduled for Saturday, 20th June, 2020 to elect parliamentary candidates for the various constituencies nationwide, the NPP Japan branch wish to congratulate the national leadership for the swift and timely decision to hold this election in the midst of the pandemic. The NPP Japan branch would like to use this opportunity to congratulate all parliamentary aspirants across the 168 constituencies where there are NPP siting MPs and the remaining orphan constituencies for their bold decision to serve the good people of Ghana. As the NPP goes through this crucial national exercise, the NPP Japan branch would like to wish the party the best of luck and entreat all aspirants and delegates to respect the rules of engagement as outlined by the general secretary. There had been instances in the past when internal democratic engagements or exercises had degenerated into chaos and undesired ends in other political parties but the great Kukurudu party has gone about its activities without any skirmishes so far. Fortunately, it is worthy to note that such negative incidents that usually mark the rudimentary stages in the political process of other political parties, such as parliamentary and presidential primaries, cannot be tolerated in this great party. We believe in the hierarchy of the party of having worked to create a level playing field for all the aspirants to ensure a free, fair and transparent election. We would like to remind all aspirants and delegates that this national exercise is not a do-or-die affair but a democratic means of making our party great. We entreat all stakeholders to accept the election results in good faith and fight together in unity after the elections. It is our hope that all grievances that may come as a result of the election would be addressed using the partys laid down structures. The NPP Japan would like to charge all delegates and aspirants that will partake in this national exercise to go about it with decorum and desist from any violence acts that would bring the image of the party into disrepute. On this note, we wish all NPP delegates and aspirants a free, fair and successful elections. Long live NPP Long live our motherland Ghana. Issued and signed by Kwaku Adu (Acting Communications Director) Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has seized a property in Abuja traced to the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. The ICPC in a Twitter post on Tuesday, via its verified account, accused Mr Mohammed of illegally allocating the property belonging to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to a school, Zinaria International School, while he was Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. It said Mr Mohammed and members of his family are directors and shareholders of the school. The property is located at Plot 298 Wuye District, Cadastral Zone B3, FCT, Abuja. According to the Commission, the seizure is pursuant to its powers contained in Section 45 (4) (a-c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The ICPC also said it Will issue notices of seizure and shall cause them to be served on the appropriate land registry, ministry and department where the property is situated as required by law. It added that following the notice of seizure, the Commission will apply to the court for an order of forfeiture under Section 48 of the ICPC Act, pending when the tenure of the governor expires. The Commission said its investigations revealed that Mr Mohammed allocated the said property to the school despite an existing right of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture over the land. Mr Mohammed, who was FCT minister between 2010 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been facing prosecution for alleged graft and fraud allegedly committed while he was the FCT minister. The EFCC last year filed a six-count charge against him over alleged gratification and corrupt acquisition of landed property reportedly valued at N550 million on No 2599 and 2600 Cadastral Zone, AO4 Asokoro District, Abuja, from Aso Savings and Loans Plc in 2014. Mr Mohammed is also accused of failing to make full disclosure of his property on 54, Mike Akhigbe Street, Jabi, Abuja, in the course of filing his asset declaration form at the EFCC. Similarly, the ICPC had earlier charged him with using his office to confer corrupt advantage upon himself and relations under Section 19 of ICPC law. But he could not be arraigned in court by the agencies before he was sworn in as Governor of Bauchi State on May 29 last year. In view of the provisions of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the charge which was pending before Hon. Justice Senchi of FCT High Court 13, Jabi, was withdrawn by the Commission to forestall its being struck out by the court suo moto, the ICPC then said in respect of the case. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A man was shot Monday night as protesters in New Mexico's largest city tried to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador outside the Albuquerque Museum, prompting the city to announce that the statue would be removed until officials determine the next steps. The man was taken to a hospital and was listed in critical but stable condition late Monday, said Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos. A confrontation erupted between protesters and a group of armed men who were trying to protect the statue of Juan de Onate before protesters wrapped a chain around it and began tugging on it while chanting: "Tear it down." One protester repeatedly swung a pickax at the base of the statue. Moments later, a few gunshots could be heard down the street and people started yelling that someone had been shot. See a collection of photos of toppled and damaged statues and monuments in a gallery at the end of this story Gallegos said police used tear gas and flash bangs to protect the officers who intervened and detained those involved in the shooting. He said they were disarmed and taken into custody for questioning as police worked to secure the scene. He said detectives were investigating with the help of the FBI but he did not immediately release any other information. "The shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city," Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. "Our diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us. Our hearts go out the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight. This sculpture has now become an urgent matter of public safety." Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement in which she took aim at the armed individuals, saying they were there to menace protesters. She said no matter who strikes first, there would be no room in New Mexico for any sort of escalation of what she called "reckless, violent rhetoric." "The instigators this evening will be rooted out, they will be investigated, and they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," she said. The violence came just hours after activists in northern New Mexico celebrated the removal of another likeness of Onate that was on public display at a cultural center in the community of Alcalde. Rio Arriba County officials removed it to safeguard it from possible damage and to avoid civil unrest ahead of a scheduled protest. A forklift pried the massive bronze statue of Onate on horseback from a concrete pedestal. Cheers erupted among bystanders who saw the memorial as an affront to indigenous people and an obstacle to greater racial harmony, though several people also arrived to defend the tribute to Onate. County Manager Tomas Campos said the statue was placed in storage for its own protection. He expects the three-member county commission to solicit public comment on what to do next with the public works project commissioned by the state in the early 1990s. "This is public property and I'm not going to allow it to be damaged," Campos said. "Plus, I don't feel like risking my sheriff's deputies or state police to defend it." The Onate statues have been a source of criticism for decades. Onate, who arrived in present-day New Mexico in 1598, is celebrated as a cultural father figure in communities along the Upper Rio Grande that trace their ancestry to Spanish settlers. But he's also reviled for his brutality. To Native Americans, Onate is known for having ordered the right feet cut off of 24 captive tribal warriors that was precipitated by the killing of Onate's nephew. In 1998, someone sawed the right foot off the statue an incident that weighed in the decision to stash away the statue. Luis Pena of Espanola, an artist and computer network engineer, started a public petition last week to remove the statue in Alcalde. He said he was heartened to see it taken off display. Removal of the statue was followed by a few heated roadside discussions about local colonial history, under the gaze of a half-dozen sheriff's deputies. Tony Valerio, 65, rushed to the site after a neighbor alerted him that the statue was being taken down. "He's my hero. He brought a lot of good things to New Mexico," Valerio said of Onate. "What's next? The Statue of Liberty?" Lujan Grisham, who has campaigned on her heritage as a 12th-generation New Mexican, called the statue's removal a "step in the right direction" in an earlier Twitter post. By Monday evening, dozens had joined a celebratory gathering with Native American dancing and drumming outside the cultural center where demonstrators left hand prints in red paint on the empty statue pedestal. Meanwhile, the scene in Albuquerque turned into chaos as people ran for cover. Police in riot gear could be seen taking at least two people into custody following the shooting as some protesters heckled the officers. It was more than two hours before the area was cleared. Monuments to European conquerors and colonists around the world are being pulled down amid an intense re-examination of racial injustices in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of police. Albuquerque city officials have promised to convene a council of community leaders and artists to consider the concerns about the public art piece. Titled "La Jornada," the sculpture depicts Onate leading a group of Spanish settlers to what was then the northern-most province of New Spain in 1598. The collection of statues includes an indigenous guide, a priest, women settlers and soldiers. The names of the families who accompanied Onate are listed on plaques below as part of the "Wall of Spanish Ancestral Heritage." "Recent calls for altering 'La Jornada' remind us that works of art often challenge communities to debate ideas, pursue empathy, grapple with multiple perspectives, reconcile conflict and interrogate history," said Shelle Sanchez, head of the city's Cultural Services Department. Photos: Statues, monuments toppled or damaged during protests Lee reported from Santa Fe. Attanasio reported from Alcalde. Attanasio 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. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Creating and designing a business website takes time. And once you have your website ready, you may be tempted to stay with the same web host because youre familiar with them. And for some businesses, staying with the same web host for a long period of time works great! If youve managed to find a web host that is meeting the needs of your business and youre comfortable with, there isnt any reason to change. For other businesses, however, staying with the wrong web host could compromise the security of your website and lower the amount of traffic that visits your site. This means that your website could be harming your sales and reputation. If you want your website to be as successful as possible, you need to be using the right web host. And there are certain signs you should watch out for that indicate it is time to switch your web host. Site takes forever to load Users want websites to load within two or three seconds. If your website takes longer than that to load, people could begin getting frustrated and instead go to a competitors website. Slow websites can be caused by several things, including a lack of bandwidth or an overall poor web host. If you have tried upgrading your bandwidth and your site is still slow, you may want to switch hosting providers for a more optimized site. Repeated downtime While every host goes down on occasion to make updates, most good web hosts will announce these updates in advance. If you find your website repeatedly going down, and the web host doesnt have an explanation for why or isnt helping to find a solution, it is time to switch. Keep in mind that customers cant access your website while it is down, so whenever you experience downtime, youre potentially losing business and sales. Poor security features You need security features, such as malware scanning and regular backups, to help keep your site protected. If your website isnt secure, your website could be vulnerable to hackers and malware attacks. It could even be dropped from search engines. To protect both your site and the users who are visiting your site, you need to make sure your web host is offering upgraded security features. If they arent, it is time to switch. Bad customer service Most hosts offer some sort of customer service, whether it is email support, chat support, or forum support. However, if you reach out to them for help with a billing issue or help to figure out why your website is down, and they dont get back to you promptly or they provide you with an inadequate answer, it is time to look for a host that places more value on their customers. Need more features Maybe there are certain features youre looking for, such as the ability to support certain plugins, that your current web host doesnt offer. Or maybe you need to increase your bandwidth, but there isnt an option for an upgraded package. Sometimes, you might find that you have outgrown your existing web host. Once this happens, you have no other choice than to start looking for a new one that has the features you need. Price is getting too high You might start to notice that the charges for your host go up every year, but havent noticed any changes such as improved features. Or, even worse, you start to notice unexplained charges on your credit card and customer service cant tell you why. Or in the case of some small businesses, you could be paying features you arent using. If your current web host is breaking the bank, look for more affordable options. Finding a new web host When it comes time to switch your web host, make sure to do your research. If you need help getting started, consider using a site such as Fortune Lords, which specialize in reviews, to find some of the best hosting in India. You should look at several different web hosts before deciding on a host. Make sure that the host has all the features you need, is secure, and offers bandwidth upgrades if needed. Final thoughts Your web host should aid in the success of your business, not prohibit it. If you find yourself repeatedly unsatisfied with your web host or if youve outgrown your current web host, it could be time to start looking for another one. The longer you stick with an inadequate web host, the more business you lose. MINNEAPOLIS, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With unmatched breadth of experts and specialty programs, Children's Minnesota has once again been honored by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's Best Children's Hospitals, including recognition for the health care system's leading pulmonology program. The 14th annual Best Children's Hospitals rankings recognize the top 50 pediatric facilities across the U.S. in 10 pediatric specialties. Children's Minnesota ranked No. 44 in pulmonology and lung surgery and No. 26 in the joint nephrology program in partnership with the Masonic Children's Hospital. Learn more about Children's Minnesota's pulmonology program. "Now more than ever patients and families across the region need access to high-quality, equitable care," said Dr. Marc Gorelick, president and CEO of Children's Minnesota. "This recognition assures our community that Children's Minnesota is equipped to provide the specialized expertise they need, complimented by advanced technologies and treatments, research, education and top clinical outcomes. In these uncertain times, we are as committed as ever to be every family's essential partner in raising healthier children, not only during illnesses or injuries, but throughout childhood." This is the seventh time that Children's Minnesota's pulmonology program has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report. The program has been nationally recognized for advanced expertise throughout major health crises in the field, including the alarming national rise of lung injuries due to vaping and the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was sought after by clinicians, government officials and health departments across the country to help guide diagnosis and treatment for teens and young adults with presenting symptoms of lung damage related to vaping. The pulmonology program is also at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic and clinicians have spent much of 2020 researching, assessing, diagnosing and treating symptomatic children and young adults. With a focus on diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative services, the pulmonology program provides care for pulmonary disorders such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, neuromuscular disorders, chronic lung disease of prematurity (BPD), bronchitis, pneumonia, croup and other conditions. U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and advice for consumers, introduced the Best Children's Hospitals rankings to help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available. The rankings rely on clinical data and on an annual survey of pediatric specialists. The methodology factors in patient outcomes, such as mortality and infection rates, as well as available clinical resources and compliance with best practices. For more information, visit Best Children's Hospitals for the full rankings. About Children's Minnesota Children's Minnesota is the seventh largest pediatric health system in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children's serves kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, 12 primary and specialty care clinics and six rehabilitation sites. Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit childrensMN.org. SOURCE Children's Minnesota Related Links www.childrensmn.org The cemetery spreads 2,000 square meters in Phuoc Hai fishing village in Dat Do District. Since it was built 21 years ago 455 whales have been buried here. Fishermen believe whales are sacred and bring them luck, and so worship the creatures both alive and dead. To fishermen in Vietnam, especially on the central and southern coasts, the whale is worshiped as Ca Ong, or "Lord Whale", who protects them at sea. Fishermen pray to the whale for a safe trip every time they go fishing. This is a practice that has been in vogue for generations. Phuoc Hai villagers are no exception. A person who spots a dead whale has the responsibility to mourn the death with all the rituals carried out when his/her parent or grandparent passes away. Third Avenue Management recently released its Q1 2020 Investor Letter, a copy of which you can download here. The Third Avenue Value Fund posted a return of -42.08% for the quarter, underperforming its benchmark, the MSCI World Index which returned -20.95% in the same quarter. You should check out Third Avenue Management's top 5 stock picks for investors to buy right now, which could be the biggest winners of the stock market crash. In the said letter, Third Avenue Management highlighted a few stocks and Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) is one of them. Deutsche Bank is an investment bank and financial services company. Year-to-date, Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) stock gained 24.2% and on June 15th it had a closing price of $9.47. Here is what Third Avenue Management said: "Deutsche Bank made substantial progress in its restructuring efforts during the last two years, including the formation of a Capital Release Unit (CRU). The CRU is essentially a pool of non-core assets and liabilities that are in liquidation but are currently trapping the associated capital while the bank winds down the CRU. CRU capital totals EUR 8.3 billion of shareholders equity and it is expected to be liberated over coming quarters. The plan is to redeploy half of that capital into other parts of the business and distribute the other half to shareholders beginning in 2022. Deutsche Bank also owns 79% of publicly listed asset manager DWS Group, which today has a market value today of EUR 3.6 billion. The entire market cap of Deutsche Bank itself is only EUR 12.3 billion today, which suggests that the entirety of Deutsche Banks actual operations, including Germanys largest retail banking business, global corporate banking and global investment banking, have virtually zero value." In Q4 2019, the number of bullish hedge fund positions on Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) stock remained unchanged from the previous quarter (see the chart here). Our calculations showed that Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) isn't ranked among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Story continues The top 10 stocks among hedge funds returned 185% since the end of 2014 and outperformed the S&P 500 Index ETFs by more than 109 percentage points. We know it sounds unbelievable. You have been dismissing our articles about top hedge fund stocks mostly because you were fed biased information by other media outlets about hedge funds' poor performance. You could have doubled the size of your nest egg by investing in the top hedge fund stocks instead of dumb S&P 500 ETFs. Below you can watch our video about the top 5 hedge fund stocks right now. All of these stocks had positive returns in 2020. Video: Top 5 Stocks Among Hedge Funds At Insider Monkey we leave no stone unturned when looking for the next great investment idea. For example, 2020s unprecedented market conditions provide us with the highest number of trading opportunities in a decade. So we are checking out stocks recommended/scorned by legendary Bill Miller. We interview hedge fund managers and ask them about their best ideas. If you want to find out the best healthcare stock to buy right now, you can watch our latest hedge fund manager interview here. We read hedge fund investor letters and listen to stock pitches at hedge fund conferences. Our best call in 2020 was shorting the market when the S&P 500 was trading at 3150 after realizing the coronavirus pandemics significance before most investors. You can subscribe to our free enewsletter below to receive our stories in your inbox: [daily-newsletter][/daily-newsletter] Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. The Cardinal, head of the Maronite Church, confirms his support for the government called to "listen to the people" and "promote reforms". Some parties "create problems" to "distort" the ideals of the revolution. Unemployment reaches 35%, over 45% of people below the poverty line. Beirut (AsiaNews / Agencies) - "We support the government that has only one purpose: to listen to the people and promote the reforms that everyone is asking for". In the homily for Sunday mass, celebrated yesterday, the Maronite patriarch Card Beshara Rai again addressed the political and economic crisis, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which is gripping Lebanon. He did not spare attacks on some parties that "create problems" during street demonstrations in recent weeks, with the aim of "distorting the revolution" and its ideals. The cardinal turned to political formations, inviting them to put a stop to the internal "rebellious" factions, before the nation "slips into sedition". The reference is to the clashes and violence of the last few days in which elements of confessional claims have emerged, especially in Beirut and Tripoli. From Bkerke, the Maronite patriarch stressed that the Land of Cedars "is going through a difficult period" in its history, as they have not seen in the previous hundred years. The prelate lashed out against "partisans" who pursue personal logic, who "mock justice, prey on public funds, empty the state coffers, impoverish people and throw young people, hungry, into the street". The collapse of the local currency, which hit historic lows last week since the protests began in October, has again sparked protests with hundreds of people in the streets in various cities, amid protests over the worst recession in decades. Added to this is the emergency situation generated by the new coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Hassan Diab has convened an emergency meeting of the executive to discuss the crisis by approving the engagement of dollars in the currency markets and the lowering of the value in the exchange rate. However, this was not enough to quell popular anger with an unemployment that touched 35% of the active population and over 45% live below the poverty line according to data from the Ministry of Finance. The Cardinal said these elements have fueled a general mistrust between the population and the state. "Trust in democracy is great - added the Cardinal - but trust in the demonstrations of politicians and institutions is very weak". Finally, the Maronite patriarch renewed the appeal to government officials to "feel the suffering" of the Lebanese who "are hungry and fear both the present and their future". In this context, the Church works to "renew the identity of the country, in anticipation of the centenary of Greater Lebanon". * in the photo, some protesters stage the nation's "funeral" Carson City, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2020) - Franklin Mining, Inc. (OTC Pink: FMNJ) CEO William Petty and Marco Lopez, the owner of the Skorpius Copper Mine in Chile, have mutually agreed to rescind the contract for the development for copper of 22,000 hectares owned by Mr. Lopez. After due diligence and further studies, Mr. Petty has deemed the cost of development and production not in the company's best interests. Franklin Mining Logo To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6923/57962_60683e026436585a_001full.jpg "We have declined to move forward on this project," Mr. Petty announced on Monday. "Once we looked at the long term development costs and labor-intensive production model, we decided it would be better to stay focused on what we know." Franklin Mining will continue to focus on refining possibilities and producing gold in Bolivia and Peru. Safe Harbor Act: This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report. Story continues For additional information, visit our website, www.FranklinMining.com, call: (830)-331-0031, email: FranklinMining.CEO@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @FMNJ1864 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57962 Casting director Mukesh Chhabra, who is making his directorial debut with the yet-to-be-released Dil Bechara starring Sushant Singh Rajput, mourned his untimely demise in a heartbreaking note shared on Instagram. The actor was found dead at his Mumbai home on Sunday at the age of 34. Sharing pictures with the late actor, Mukesh wrote, Sushant was like a brother to me, it is so unfortunate and heartbreaking and I cannot even put it down in words. Sushant was an introvert but he was really intelligent and talented beyond words.The Industry has lost a gem, an irreplaceable gem. Deeply saddened and shocked. I still cant believe it. Our endless conversations have come to an abrupt end. I hope you are in a better place my brother, will always miss you and love you. Mera bhai. Mukesh, who was the casting director of Sushants debut film Kai Po Che!, was one of the first to visit his residence after hearing the tragic news. He also attended his funeral at the Pawan Hans crematorium on Monday afternoon. Earlier, on Sunday, a distraught Mukesh appealed to the media to give him some privacy to come to terms with news of Sushants death. Dear Journalists, reporters, TV Channels, Its a very personal loss. Has left me numb and distraught. Will take me time to overcome. Please do not call/message me. You are adding to my stress. I CAN NOT TALK FOR A FEW DAYS. Thank You. Please, he wrote. Also read: Vivek Oberoi shares details of Sushant Singh Rajputs funeral, calls it a wake-up call for film industry Dil Bechara, an adaptation of John Greens bestselling novel The Fault In Our Stars, will be Sushants final release. His co-star Sanjana Sanghi also bid him a tearful farewell. She broke down as she reminisced about their film in an emotional video. I refreshed my web pages a 100 times hoping Im reading some sort of horrible joke. Im not equipped to process any of this. I dont think I ever will be. Im definitely not equipped to articulate my feelings, this is me failing, but trying, she wrote in her caption. Were going to spend an eternity to try and make sense of what youve left us behind with, and I personally never will be able to. I simply wish you never left us behind in the first place. Just know, you have a country full of millions, looking up at you, smiling at you, thankful for you. As you smile back at us, from up above. The fact that you get to spend the rest of your time by your mothers side, I know you gives the only happiness you wanted in the world. #RIPSushantSinghRajput, she added. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Industrial equipment rental company Ashtead Group plc (AHT.L) reported Tuesday that its fourth-quarter profit before taxation fell 52 percent to 98 million pounds from 209 million pounds last year. Earnings per share declined 46 percent to 17.4 pence from 32.8 pence a year ago. Underlying profit before taxation was 114 million pounds, compared to 222 million pounds last year. Underlying earnings per share were 20.2 pence, compared to 35.0 pence a year ago. Revenue dropped 2 percent to 1.13 billion pounds from last year's 1.11 billion pounds. Underlying rental revenue was 1.04 billion pounds, down 1 percent from 1.01 billion pounds a year ago. Further, the company said its Board has proposed final dividend of 33.5 pence, same as last year, making 40.65 pence for the full year, slightly higher than last year's 40.0 pence, with strong cash generation and a strong balance sheet. Looking forward, the company said, 'The diversity of our products, services and end markets coupled with ongoing structural change opportunities put the Board in a position of confidence to look to the coming year as one of strong cash generation and strengthening our market position.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. A hotly debated waste collection project may not be carried out by the City of Winnipeg any time soon. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A hotly debated waste collection project may not be carried out by the City of Winnipeg any time soon. In March, city council sought an arbitrators view on whether or not a 2018 settlement agreement requires the city to conduct the two-year public garbage pilot project. KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES CUPE is filing a grievance accusing the city of failing to honour a 2018 settlement agreement which requires the city to conduct a two-year public garbage pilot project. That agreement settled a Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 500 grievance, which alleged the city unfairly overlooked in-house collection within its previous major garbage contract. The citys largest union says the settlement requires the pilot project to occur, while city staff argue thats only true if the pilot can be done without exceeding the price for private collection. It now appears an arbitrator wont reach a speedy solution on that dispute. Instead, CUPE has filed a second grievance, which the city says will spark a lengthier process. "(Its) very likely that (this) will not see arbitration for at least 18 months," writes Moira Geer, the citys water and waste director, in an email obtained by the Free Press. The pilot project was supposed to begin in east Winnipeg on Feb. 1 this year until city staff recommended cancelling it over budget concerns, estimating it would cost $656,000 more than a $2.2-million private option. At that point, CUPE claimed dropping the plan would violate the 2018 settlement. On Monday, a union leader confirmed a second grievance now accuses the city for "failing to honour" the settlement. "Theyre reneging on the settlement so well go (to arbitration) on the whole settlement in its entirety," said Gord Delbridge, president of CUPE local 500. "Well be seeking damages from the city, too, because weve invested a lot into this, for them to just up and change their tune." The union has not released a damage estimate, which Delbridge said would relate to planning efforts for the pilot project. CUPE has long questioned the citys cost estimates for in-house collection and argued the union can prove its able to perform the work efficiently. "There has been huge delays and that shouldnt be taking place. The city should honour their agreements, then they wouldnt be running into this," said Delbridge. He said no timeline has been set to deal with the grievance, which he also expects will take a year or two to resolve. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. With the dispute expected to linger on, the city now plans to hire a contractor for the east Winnipeg contract and designate a separate southwest Winnipeg multi-family garbage collection area "as a pilot candidate." The current collection contract for the southwest area is due to end "in less than two years," Geer notes. Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), who has long supported the pilot, said he fears the mounting delays could make it less likely the project will actually take place. "My concern is at some point there wont be the will to even try it," said Mayes, who will become councils water and waste chairman on June 27. "I think if this (takes) much longer, we could just miss a whole garbage cycle here Weve got to get this thing moving at some point." Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga Parliament has reduced the number of days it has been sitting this year due to the COVID-19 crisis. Political adviser Lloyd Rang argues the Liberals have been responsible in handling Parliamentary operations while Prof. Christian Leuprecht insists the actions of the prime minister are subverting democracy. Lloyd Rang Political Adviser YES Call it Schrodingers Parliament. For the Liberals, Parliament is doing the best it can in a pandemic. For the Conservatives, the government is eliminating the role of the peoples representatives. How did we get here? As Canada was shutting down back in March, all parties agreed to suspend in-person sittings of Parliament until April 20. To safely continue working, they agreed that some members could sit in the house in person while others joined virtually. The House resumed full in-person sitting on April 20, but continued the hybrid model until May 25. And on May 25, the NDP and Liberals passed a vote to adjourn for the usual summer recess. A special committee on COVID-19 will keep meeting through the summer. In February, the Conservatives and Liberals were neck and neck in the polls. As the crisis went on, the prime ministers briefings became part of the daily news cycle, and the Liberals rose to around 40 per cent. The Conservatives, led by Andrew Scheer in his ongoing role as the Ghost of Elections Past, sank to 25 per cent support. Breathlessly citing the need for oversight and accountability, Scheer called for in-person sittings to resume past May 25. He lost the vote in the house to the NDP and Liberals, who felt it was still unsafe to meet. Theres little doubt that when COVID-19 hit, moving Parliament online was the right thing to do. And just like many of us who began to work from home Parliament found a way to be productive. Like other provincial parliaments in Canada, and in Westminster-style parliaments in Britain, New Zealand and Australia, bills were still introduced. Debates and votes still happened. The sky did not fall. Its still not falling. On average, during the last Canadian Parliament, the House sat for 122 days a year. If all goes as scheduled, the House will sit for 86 days this year not bad, considering. Some have said if Parliament could meet during world wars it can meet during a pandemic. Mind you, only one of those is contagious. Its not a great comparison. As former NDP stalwart and parliamentary reform expert Bill Blaikie put it: Whatever people think of what the federal Parliaments doing, it is struggling to continue to be a Parliament in the pandemic context, which is more than you can say about, for instance, the Manitoba legislature. The Canadian Parliament, in spite of criticisms that have been levelled at it the fact of the matter is they are working. What it means to be working also varies by party. The Conservatives are dealing with a suspended leadership contest and a political zombie for a leader. For them, working means getting the media attention that Question Period provides. Realistically, though, the role of the peoples representative is about much more than Question Period. When people were struggling with pandemic lockdowns, they needed local leadership from their MPs. And those MPs stepped up. Take Hamilton NDP MP Matthew Green, for example, who used his constituency office to help my stranded niece get home from New Zealand. If Green and others would have flown across the country, it would have put their own health at risk. And their communities, too. The hybrid model of Parliament has given us the best of both worlds. It has allowed members to be in two places at once voting on issues in the House and helping folks at home. Now, as lockdown measures slowly ease over the summer, MPs need to be in their constituencies. They need to feed into the special COVID-19 committee thats continuing to meet. And lets face it its not like our MPs are going to Bali on vacation. We can expect theyll be working hard. For Conservatives, heading out the door for the summer, blustering that Canadas democracy is under attack is an easy sound bite. But theyre not giving Canadians enough credit. Since the pandemic hit, weve all had a lot of time to pay attention to what our leaders are saying. Weve been watching our prime minister and premiers closely. We are highly engaged. Maybe just maybe Scheers Conservatives are failing to convince Canadians not because we havent heard them, but because we have. Lloyd Rang is a veteran political adviser, speech writer and CEO of LRC communications. Christian Leuprecht Director of the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations at Queens University NO Political executives have been using broad emergency powers to impose sweeping restrictions through orders-in-council with little or no parliamentary debate. The federal government has even cancelled the budget it had planned to table and refuses to provide a fiscal update. According to Finance Canada, by May 2020 direct federal spending announcements related to the pandemic had amounted to $152.8 billion. The Parliamentary Budget Office projects the federal deficit to exceed $250 billion this fiscal year. The Government of Canadas total balance sheet is now $1 trillion in the red, while total public debt in Canada approaches $3.2 trillion or 166 per cent of GDP. For June 17, the government has allocated four hours for Parliament to debate $87 billion in supplementary estimates and total spending of $150 billion, including about $6 billion in new spending. The minimal time allocated to debate this years estimates makes it the most expensive four hours in Canadian parliamentary history. A democracy should reciprocate unprecedented restrictions on individual freedoms and unprecedented levels of spending with unprecedented levels of debate and scrutiny. Yet, Canadas federal government has not only capitalized on the virus to limit democratic debate, but also effectively put the very ability of Parliament to carry out its functions up for debate altogether. With support from the NDP, the minority Liberal government resolved to impair the regular functioning of Parliament for at least six months. It has suspended normal business in the main chamber, cut the number and frequency with which written questions can be tabled and reduced Parliament to a shadow of its former self: 40 sitting days between July 2019 and June 2020. In scope and duration, the constraints imposed on Parliament by this government are without precedent. Yet, throughout this emergency, Parliament has proven its capacity to vote on exceptional measures at an unprecedented pace. Indeed, on May 11, the House of Commons administration served notice that it stands ready to hold full sessions of Parliament in remote or hybrid form. The prime minister passed up this offer under the guise of possible health risks of the virus to gathering Parliament, whilst himself joining in select mass public gatherings. At the same time, the federal government has repeatedly sought exceptional executive powers, acting as if it commanded a majority in the House, initially without even consulting Parliament. Canada is a notable outlier among Westminster parliamentary systems: The United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand have revitalized their Parliaments in all their functions. Share your thoughts Respect for constitutional convention made Great Britain the most prosperous and stable political and economic system in the world for over 200 years. The Westminster system of constitutional monarchy has proven itself over the course of 300 years. In Great Britain, the respect for constitutional convention has prevailed continuously through both world wars and the divisive debate over Brexit. Although Canadas government consulted the House of Commons in its initial attempt to legitimize a neutered virtual substitute, the governments decision to truncate Parliament is arbitrary and defies convention. Instead of capitalizing on the full diversity of views represented in Parliament to optimize outcomes for all Canadians, the Liberal minority government has gone to unprecedented lengths to subvert Parliament in its core functions of scrutinizing government, authorizing legislation and representing Canadians. Parliament has a supreme duty to hold the executive and government to account, along with the quality and timeliness of advice provided by the civil service. Responsible government is Canadas foremost constitutional principle: government is responsible to the people through Parliament. The speed, efficiency and unanimity with which fiscal and legislative measures have been supported by opposition parties not just in Canada but across the democratic world belies the disregard the federal government is showing for parliamentary audit by the duly elected representatives of the Canadian people. Along with the courts, Parliament, after all, is a democratic peoples bulwark against excesses of executive power. Christian Leuprecht is Class of 1965 professor in leadership at the Royal Military College, director of the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations at Queens University, and a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. WASHINGTON (AP) The parents of a former U.S. Marine who has been jailed for nearly a year in Moscow on charges that he endangered police officers are urging the court system and government to ensure a fair trial for their son. They spoke out as a Russian court sentenced another American to more than a decade in prison in an unrelated espionage case. Trevor Reed was charged in August 2019 with assaulting police officers who were driving him to a police station after picking him up following a night of heavy drinking at a party. Russian authorities say the 28-year-old Reed was drunk inside a police car when he grabbed the arm of the driver, causing him to swerve into another lane, and elbowed another officer who tried to intervene. CELEBRITIES JOIN CAUSE: Salma Hayek, Baby Bash join hunt for missing Fort Hood soldier Reed's trial began this year and continues June 30. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. His family says that besides seeking a fair trial for their son, they also want to ensure that U.S. officials are closely tracking the case, including being mindful of potential irregularities in the Russian criminal justice system that could result in unfair punishment. We want to make sure that people throughout our government, both elected and in the agencies, understand what's going on in case he gets a disproportionate punishment," Joey Reed, his father, said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. Which at this point, based on the evidence and the facts of the case, any prison sentence in my opinion is disproportionate. His parents spoke to the AP on the same day another American jailed in Russia, Paul Whelan, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges following a closed trial that the U.S. denounced as a mockery of justice." Whelan, also a former Marine, insists he is innocent, saying he was set up when he was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 while visiting Russia to attend a friends wedding. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. was outraged by the verdict and said the treatment of Whelan while in custody has been appalling. Reed's parents, of Granbury, Texas, say they are concerned about what they see as irregularities in both cases, including missing evidence and contradictory accounts by police officers in their son's prosecution. At the time of his arrest, Trevor Reed was in Moscow visiting his girlfriend and studying the Russian language. He had attended a party one week before he was scheduled to return home, where his family says he was encouraged to drink a large amount of vodka. Reed was sharing a ride home when he became nauseated and got out of the car. After he began running around near a busy boulevard, the police were summoned to help. But instead of taking him for medical care, as the family says is standard protocol in Moscow, officers drove him to the police station. Inside the car, police say, Reed grabbed the arm of the driver and struck an officer with his elbow. The police car swerved into another lane during the altercation, the authorities said. Reed has no memory beyond drinking vodka at the party and no recollection of what happened inside the car, his family says. When his girlfriend came to pick him up several hours later, he was being questioned by Russian authorities without a lawyer or an adequate interpreter. She was told he was being charged with intentionally endangering the officers, the family says. His parents have seized on what they say are discrepancies. They say traffic video does not show the police car swerving, and that Reed's girlfriend a lawyer who is close with the family and has been helpful to the defense and others who were in a car following close behind did not report seeing the police vehicle swerve on the way to the station. Investigators also did not give the defense video from inside the car or the police station video that the family says has since been erased. Reed is housed in a room with about a half-dozen other inmates at a detention facility in Moscow and is permitted outside for only a brief window each day. His father, who has lived periodically in Russia over the last year, has visited him on multiple occasions. In addition, he has recently experienced abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, said his mother, Paula. I am extremely concerned about him catching COVID-19 more than ever now, Paula Reed said in a text message. And since social distancing is impossible in a jail situation it compounds my concerns for his health." The U.S. embassy in Russia, meanwhile, has sent representatives to different court appearances, and the family says it wants the embassy to continue sending a Russian-speaking consul to observe Reed's court proceedings and for Ambassador John Sullivan to attend the trial at its conclusion. The family also says it wants the U.S. government to publicly acknowledge that Reed is imprisoned, is on trial and that the case is being monitored. We would hope that Russian law is followed and due process is used in my sons case, Joey Reed said. The Queensland government has introduced proposed laws to freeze the wages of hundreds of thousands of public servants for a year in a bid to save half a billion dollars. Legislation will be rushed through Parliament this week to defer pay rises it had already promised workers. The freeze, announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in April, will affect almost a quarter-of-a-million public servants including police, teachers, nurses and firefighters. Credit:Nathan Howard/Bloomberg The $500 million the government plans to save will be funnelled into coronavirus stimulus packages. The freeze, announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in April, will affect almost 250,000 public servants including police, teachers, nurses and firefighters. Bengaluru, June 16 : The Karnataka health department has launched an online tobacco quiz in an effort to end addiction in people and empower them to identify the myriad ways in which the industry manipulates, an official said on Tuesday. "This is a campaign about the health hazards of tobacco and to make you all understand the tactics employed by tobacco industries," said an official. The tobacco quiz envisages empowering people with the knowledge required to detect tobacco industry manipulation and equip them with the tools to stand against such tactics. By manipulation, the department refers to indirect advertising, branding, marketing and other related smart activities. "This is especially important right now as studies show that tobacco users have a higher risk for coronavirus. State Tobacco Control Cell calls on all young people to join the fight to become a tobacco-free generation," he said. Calling on celebrities and social influencers, the department has asked them to reject tobacco product endorsement deals or brand ambassadorships. It asked social media platforms to ban all forms of nicotine and tobacco advertisements, promotions and sponsorships. Similarly, the department appealed to film, television and drama production companies to take a pledge not to depict tobacco or vaping in their productions. The 15-question quiz will be available each day for a week, centred on tobacco control program and the ill-effects of tobacco and pan masala The quiz winners can generate a digital printed electronic certificate, including other rewards. The State Tobacco Control Cell of the Department of Health and Family Welfare is organizing the competition. Microscopy image of a heart muscle cell with a tiny embedded laser emitting bright green light. The white ribbons arching through the cell are part of the machinery that allows heart cells to contract. Analysing the colour of the light emitted by embedded lasers allowed observation of the workings of this machinery in an unprecedented manner, with important future implications for understanding heart disease. Credit: University of St Andrews It sounds like science fictionbut lasers beating to the rhythm of a live heart is exactly what researchers at the University of St Andrews have developed to improve the understanding of heart failure and to help develop more effective treatments. Leading an interdisciplinary team of scientists, Dr. Marcel Schubert and Professor Malte Gather of the School of Physics and Astronomy and Dr. Samantha Pitt of the School of Medicine at the University of St Andrews, embedded tiny lasers into individual heart cells, and by analysing the light these lasers produce they monitored the contractions of the heart muscle. The research, published in Nature Photonics today, comes in the year in which the laser marks 60 years since it's invention. To check the function of the heart, doctors take a patient's pulse, measure blood pressure, or take an electrocardiogram (ECG) which provides information on the function and the rhythm of the heart as a whole, but provides little information about what happens in the different parts of the heart. Echocardiograms and other sophisticated methods can provide more local information, but further advances, in particular for treatments which explore stem cells or transplanted tissue, will require to follow the contractions of the individual cells forming the heart muscle. Achieving this, at least in animal models routinely used to study critical heart conditions commonly seen in human patients, promises improved understanding and thus more effective treatment. Fluorescent beating heart cells with microlaser. Credit: University of St Andrews Lasers are widely used in biomedical imaging, resolving ever finer details of life, including mapping details in heart cells. But because lasers are usually big and power-hungry, they sit outside the heart and can only send their light to the surface of the biological tissue, which severely limits how deep they can look. In this latest work, tiny lasers were placed inside the heart where they acted as microscopic probes. With every beat of the heart, the colour of light that these lasers emit changed by a small but clearly detectable amount, thus precisely encoding the contractions of the heart cells over time. Dr. Marcel Schubert, a Royal Society Research Fellow in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of St Andrews, said: "The colour change came as a big surprise and is believed to be caused by a previously unrecognised change in the cellular machinery of the heart muscle cells." Professor Malte Gather, of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of St Andrews, said: "The data our lasers provide look similar to the ECG your doctor records. But in our case, it contains mechanical information about the inner workings of a single cell, and it comes from deeper in the tissue than other optical microscopes can see today." Although the research is still in its early days, the present study proves that lasers can resolve fast dynamic processes inside individual live cells and whole hearts. More work will be required before the new method can be applied routinely in research labs around the world, but the team is optimistic that lasers in cells are a mainstay. The microlasers can be readily produced in the millions and compared to many modern microscopes, the additional infrastructure required to analyse the laser emission is relatively cheap and, to allow other labs to use and modify their method, the team have made all their protocols and the software that converts the laser output into a freely available Optical ECG. The research team are already working towards their next milestone of turning a recently developed nanolaser into an optical sensor for heart contraction. Being 1,000 times smaller than the microlasers used in the current study, these lasers will further increase versatility and bio-compatibility, thus paving the way for applications of the new method in long-term studies and in clinically relevant cardiac therapies. Explore further Tiny lasers light up immune cells More information: Marcel Schubert et al. Monitoring contractility in cardiac tissue with cellular resolution using biointegrated microlasers, Nature Photonics (2020). Journal information: Nature Photonics Marcel Schubert et al. Monitoring contractility in cardiac tissue with cellular resolution using biointegrated microlasers,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41566-020-0631-z People with underlying health conditions like heart disease and diabetes are 12 times more likely to die and six times more likely to be hospitalised with severe coronavirus disease (Covid-19) than healthy patients, according to what is the largest yet analysis of patient records to understand how to save lives from the virus that has infected 823,289 and claimed 431, 541 globally (WHO report as on June 15). One in five (19.5%) people with underlying diseases died compared to 1.6% of those who were healthy, found an analysis of 1.3 million cases and 103,700 deaths in the United States from January 22 through May 30 done by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the countrys federal agency. Hospitalisations were also significantly higher in those with chronic diseases, with 45.4% of such people needing to be hospitalised compared to 7.6% with no pre-existing disease. Of the 1.3 million cases, 14% needed hospitalisation, 2% needed intensive care, and 5% died, but the real death rate is likely to be lower because people with mild or no symptoms often remain undiagnosed, said the CDC. The chances of severe illness and death increase with age, particularly in men and people with underlying health conditions, according to the analysis. The CDC report is consistent with reports from around the world, including India, where people with other diseases had a higher risk of hospitalisation and death. In the US, cardiovascular disease (32%), diabetes (30%) and lung disease (18%) are the most common chronic diseases among Covid-19 patients. Even among young adults below 39 years, the hospitalisation rate in the US is at least four times higher for those with underlying illnesses. Deaths are highest among people 80 years or older, irrespective of whether they had chronic illnesses, but about 50% of all deaths were in that age group with a chronic health illness. The prevalence of underlying diseases is similar between the sexes, but men with Covid-19 were twice as likely to need hospitalisation, the CDC study found. In a separate but linked study published in the journal Lancet on Tuesday, an estimated 1.7 billion people -- more than 20% of the worlds population have at least one underlying health problem such as obesity or heart disease that put them in greater danger of Covid-19 infection. In India, close to four in five people (78%) diagnosed with Covid-19 have underlying conditions, according to an analysis of data from first 33,050 cases in India reported till April 30. Men accounted for two-thirds of cases, and half (51.2%) of all patients were over 60 years old, said the Union ministry of health analysis. The risk factors for severe Covid-19 include old age, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and obesity. Our clinical experience in India is that those at the highest risk of severe disease and death are Covid-19 patients with any two or more underlying conditions, such as hypertension and kidney disease, or diabetes and chronic lung diseases, said Dr Randeep Guleria, director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. In India, an estimated 54.6 million people have heart disease and 70 million people have diabetes , according to estimates based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. With testing remaining low and many sick people avoiding hospitals, there is a danger of the death certificates not recording the correct cause of death and Covid-19 being missed, which is why we must study all-cause mortality to see if overall deaths have increased during the pandemic. Also, the advantage of a young demographic is negated if chronic diseases are high in young people and the health systems are weak, said Dr Dileep Mavalankar, director, Public Health Foundation of India, Gandhinagar. In the West, it is easy to track of deaths from to cardiac arrests at home through 911 emergency calls, but it is very difficult to get community-level data from India, where the cause of death often goes unrecorded or it not clinically accurate. There is anecdotal evidence of more people dying at home than the total Covid-19 deaths because many, especially the elderly, are scared to go to hospitals due to corona fears, which leads to delays in treatment and avoidable death, said Dr Ashok Seth, chief cardiologist and chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi. In the Lancet study cited above, the authors estimate that 349 million people -- or 4% of the worlds population -- are at high risk of severe disease needing hospitalisation. The modeling used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, UN population estimates for 2020 and the list of underlying health conditions relevant to Covid-19, as defined by current guidelines. This risk varied from less than 1% in people under 20 to nearly 20% of those 70 or older, rising to 25% in men over 70 years. The Lancet study also found that twice the number of men as women needed hospitalisation. Globally, less than 5% people under the 20 have underlying health condition, which is over 66% for those aged 70 and above. Among the more mobile working age population (15 to 64 years), 23% people worldwide are estimated to have at least one underlying condition. Our estimates suggest that age-based thresholds for shielding could play a role in reducing deaths and reducing the number of people who require hospital treatment, but the choice of threshold needs to be balanced against the proportion of people of working age affected, as well as the health and economic consequences associated with long periods of isolation, says Dr Rosalind Eggo from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, in a statement. Along with health and other frontline workers, vaccination in the future must be prioritised for vulnerable populations, including the elderly and people with underlying conditions to save lives. Not only should the elderly and people with chronic disease follow social distancing and protection norms, such as masks, but so must young people around them to prevent transmission of infection, said Dr Mavalankar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON YEREVAN. Attempts to concoct a criminal case against me will also fail. Opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) MP Naira Zohrabyan stated this in the National Assembly Tuesday, addressing Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan. "You are a bad prosecutor, you are a bad lawyer because you are a person without morals. The search at my staff of the PAP central office has just ended. You had written nonsense. You can accuse me of many things, such as being emotional. But Naira Zohrabyan will cut off her hand right here if someone proves that Naira Zohrabyan can give a bribe to someone. I will make a statement about a crime that in this report you say that in one of the phone conversations Naira Zoharbyan said, 'Well, actually, these people do not vote for the PAP without electoral bribes.' This proves that you have listened to my phone calls for at least two years. I will send all this thats happening here to all European institutions; they have been petitioning to us since yesterday," Naira Zohrabyan added. The MP reiterated that she will not back down. Armenia National Security Service prepares case on another PAP MP A large proportion of UAE employees are very positive about how their employer has treated them during the Covid-19 pandemic, with 56% rating their companys treatment of staff either as excellent (31%) or very good (25%). The figures are noticeably higher among employees working in the Banking & Finance sector (73%). Advertising/ Marketing/ PR professionals (63%) and those working in the Education sector (61%) also seem happy with their employers conduct towards them during this time, YouGovs latest research reveals. On the contrary, 21% of all respondents claimed their employers treatment has been good and only 23% rated it as fair or poor. This proportion is considerably higher among those working in the Tourism and Hospitality industry (35% rating Fair or Poor). When asked about the behaviour of various sectors within the UAE economy in response to the pandemic, residents were more likely to say all the sectors have behaved well rather than poorly. The Supermarket sector (81%) leads among businesses perceived to have responded well to the pandemic, followed by Pharmaceutical companies (77%), Utilities (72%) and Technology sectors (70%). Comparatively, a lower proportion rated the behaviour of airlines and leisure companies positively. 45% feel that airlines have responded well to the outbreak, but a third (32%) describe their behaviour as poor. The same is true for leisure companies, where the figures are 44% and 29%, respectively. Opinions are most polarised over the behaviour of the holiday/ travel companies, with 37% feeling companies in this industry have responded well, and a further 33% believing them to have responded poorly. With regard to companies who have lost most of their day-to-day business, a third of residents believe that despite the circumstances their employees should be kept fully employed and fully paid (32%). A quarter (24%), however, said employees should have their pay cut until normal work resumes. Others feel workers should be furloughed (17%). A small minority (13%) feel if necessary some employees should be laid off altogether from their jobs. Thinking about the future of work, a majority predict less business travel and greater use of video conferencing (51%) because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Many believe that remote working will be relied on far more for many businesses (42%) and more organisations will shut stores and move their businesses to online-only (40%). Alongside this, 36% believe profits will be retained by businesses in future to allow for an emergency fund in times of crisis. Some employees foresee attitudinal changes from companies in the UAE, with 22% believing that businesses will value their existing employees more, and 30% predicting companies will make more of an effort to support their local communities. -- TradeArabia News Service BBC iPlayer has been a valuable resource during the lockdown and things are no different for theatre enthusiasts! Here is a range of shows worth catching, which we're updating as the weeks go on. Anything Goes The starry Barbican production will be online for a YEAR. That's pretty nice going. J'Ouvert The wonderful West End production is available alongside a massive variety of stage shows in the BBC's "Light's Up" programme including the RSC, Leeds Playhouse and more. Imagine: Tom Stoppard A Charmed Life Alan Yentob meets a host of theatre folk including Tom Stoppard in this new series. An American in Paris The glitzy West End production is a feast for the senses and is available to watch now. You can also try the John Wilson Orchestra's Prom. Staged The second series, once more led by Michael Sheen and David Tennant, follows two actors who are out of work and determined to carry on rehearsals. Their home lives and families have other ideas! The Goes Wrong Show The screen endeavours of the notorious Mischief Comedy team, the group continue to go from strength to strength. Uncle Vanya The star-studded West End production, which we threw heaps of stars at last year, is available for a time on the streaming service. Top Hat (1935) Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are the go-to for musical movies and Top Hat, featuring music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, may be one of their finest. Nicole Raquel Dennis singing Dreamgirls BBC/Guy Levy Musicals: The Greatest Show A 100-minute musical extravanganza, featuring some of the most iconic shows performed by top-tier vocalists. The Sky's the Limit (1943) Joan Leslie and Astaire star in the 1943 film which has music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The Gay Divorcee (1934) Based on Dwight Taylor's 1932 musical of the same name (but controversially leaving out a lot of Cole Porter's original tunes) this was another of the ten movies Astaire and Ginger Rogers did together. A Midsummer Night's Dream CBeebies is currently offering a version of Shakespeare's iconic comedy aimed at very young audiences, broken down into accessible chunks. Fosse / Verdon Want to know all about the making of some of the greatest musical movies of all time? Don't miss this award-winning series starring Michelle Williams and Sam Rockwell. It might change the way you look at the stage! Carefree (1938) The perfect pairing of Astaire and Rogers continues with this comedy, which also features the work of Berlin. The film controversially (at the time) featured a "long on-screen kiss", which shocked audiences in their droves. Upstart Crow The stage version's West End run was cut short by the lockdown, but there's more than enough fun to be had on BBC iPlayer in this David Mitchell-led sitcom about Shakespeare. Think Blackadder meets Horrible Histories with extra Ben Elton fun! China's SUV specialist automaker Great Wall Motors on Tuesday signed an MOU with the Maharashtra government while staying committed to a phased investment plan of $1 billion for a factory in the state that will generate employment for 3,000 people. The announcement came at a time when India-Sino relations hit a new low on Tuesday. Armed forces from the two countries clashed at the Galwan province of Ladakh in India that resulted in the death of an officer and two soldiers. Economic ties between the two nations have also been strained over the last few months. India tweaked its FDI policy in April to scrutinise all prospective investments from China as calls for a boycott of Chinese products have become shriller. GWM's investment in the state would be made at the erstwhile General Motors's factory in Talegaon that the Chinese automaker bought over in January this year. The MoU was signed virtually between James Yang - President, & Parker Shi - Managing Director, of Indian subsidiary of GWM, along with Sun Weidong - Chinese Ambassador to India and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and Subhash Desai, the state's industries minister. Shi and Yang were appointed to head the Indian operations of the company only on May 28 and the signing of the MoU on Tuesday indicated the worsening relations between the governments of the two countries has had no impact on the company's plans for India. "We would like to thank the Maharashtra government for extending full support and helping us foster a long and mutually beneficial cooperation that hopefully will turn out to be a great business proposition for both," said Parker Shi. "This would be a highly automated plant in Talegaon with advanced robotics technology integrated in many of the production processes. Overall we are committed to $1 billion of investment in India in a phased manner, which is directed towards manufacturing world class intelligent & premium products, R&D centre, building supply chain and providing jobs to over 3,000 people in a phased manner." Located in Talegaon Industrial Park the plant is spread over an area of around 300 acres and is close to the expressway. It is about 45 kilometers from Pune city and about 100 kilometers from Mumbai Port. The factory has facilities like logistics distribution center, training center, project management building, administrative office building and public facilities center. GWM is the second major Chinese auto company to venture into the Indian market after SAIC-owned MG Motor that made its debut with the Hector SUV last year. It was one of the participants at the India Auto Expo in February earlier this year when it had showcased the full range of SUVs including Haval H9, F7, F7x, F5 and electric vehicles IQ and R1. Its first Haval SUV will be launched in the market next year. Founded in 1984, Great Wall Motors is headquartered in Baoding in the Hebei province of China and owns brands like Haval, GWM EV and GWM Pickup. It has more than 70 holding subsidiaries worldwide and 10 R&D centers in seven countries, including India, the US, Germany, Japan, South Korea, China, and Austria. It has 14 global manufacturing facilities. Also Read: Coronavirus update: PaisaBazaar lays off half of its workforce; over 1,500 impacted Also Read: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain admitted to hospital due to fever; tested for COVID Highlights: The drilling program suspended in March 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns has been resumed. The planned program of 2,300 meters will continue through June and July with results to be released upon completion. Hole 20AU003 has been collared and is in progress to test gently northwest-dipping structures detected by CSAMT geophysical surveys in a low magnetic area. An airborne magnetic ZTEM MAG survey is to be conducted over the Aurora and Echo Targets and the neighbouring Goodpaster gold deposit. Detailed airborne magnetic surveys will be flown in a collaborative effort with the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Millrock Resources Inc. (TSX-V: MRO, OTCQB: MLRKF) ("Millrock" or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on drilling at its 64North Gold project. Exploration work is being funded and managed by Resolution Minerals (Resolution ASX: RML) in a collaborative arrangement with Millrock as the project operator. The 64North Gold Project is a very large tract of claims in Alaskas emerging Goodpaster Gold District. Drilling has resumed at the Aurora Target, continuing the program started in March, 2020. The approximate hole locations are shown in Figure 1. The target being drilled at the Aurora Target is adjacent and immediately west of the Pogo Mine property, which is owned and operated by Northern Star Resources Ltd. (Northern Star). Northern Star has previously reported a gold resource of 5.95 million ounces of gold in a series of veins grading 9.6 grams per tonne gold (Source: Northern Star website). More than four million ounces of gold has already been mined at Pogo and Northern Star has recently announced a new gold discovery called the Goodpaster deposit a short distance away from the mutual claim boundary. Millrock cautions that mineralization on the nearby Northern Star property is not necessarily indicative of gold mineralization hosted on the Companys property. Story continues Millrock President & CEO commented: We are pleased to be drilling again to further test the Aurora Target, which lies immediately southwest of the Goodpaster gold deposit discovered by our neighbours, Northern Star Resources. We will continue the systematic exploration of the favorable geophysical and structural/stratigraphic targets that comprise the Aurora Target area. Also, the planned airborne ZTEM and magnetic survey will be a great test. If successful in replicating results obtained by ground-based methods, this airborne method will result in significant cost savings to test other areas of the project. Figure 01 is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b3efd3a9-fbe2-4e5a-83b8-6598001b91ad. Aurora Target Overview The Aurora Target is a two-kilometer by five-kilometer long zone of low-magnetic rocks adjacent to a late diorite intrusion. The setting is very similar to that observed at the nearby Pogo Mine. Millrock postulates that the late diorite body intruded along a westerly extension of the Liese Creek fault, which is known to have played a key role in the genesis of the Pogo gold deposits. Highly anomalous gold-bismuth-arsenic in soil is documented. High-angle gold-bearing quartz veins have been intersected by prior drilling, however, the few holes drilled by earlier workers did not go deep enough to intersect the low-angle, regional shear zone that is known to host gold at Pogo and the Goodpaster Deposit. Millrock believes this structure exists at the Aurora Target. Results of Drill Hole 20AU001 Numerous zones of mafic rocks, fault zones, and quartz veins intercepted in drill hole 20AU001 fit with the exploration model. The low-angle, regional shear preferentially ruptured the mafic lithological layers. The Aurora Target is located in this regional shear and the current drill hole program will test the shear for gold mineralization in a variety of places. The regional shear at Aurora was detected by CSAMT and ELF ground-based geophysical surveys in 2019. ZTEM Airborne Survey A ZTEM airborne survey will soon be executed in the same area, along with detailed airborne magnetic surveys. If the airborne methods are able to detect the regional shear effectively, the method may be applied elsewhere on the project in a very cost-effective manner. Millrock has developed a comprehensive COVID-19 safety plan with clear protocols that will help keep the operating team safe. The plan has been submitted to the relevant agencies and approved by the State of Alaska. Resolution can earn up to a 60% interest in the 64North Gold Project through exploration expenditures of US$20 million, payment of US$200,000 cash, and issuance of 38 million Resolution shares. The minimum commitment for 2020 is US$5.0 million. Other details of the agreement between Millrock and Resolution are documented in Millrocks announcement made on December 16, 2019. Quality Control and Quality Assurance Millrock adheres to stringent Quality AssuranceQuality Control (QA/QC) standards. Drill core samples are kept in a secure location at all times. For this program, representative half-core samples will undergo sample preparation at ALS Chemex prep laboratory in Fairbanks, Alaska USA. Samples will be subsequently analyzed at ALS Chemex laboratories in Vancouver, Canada. Gold will be analyzed by Fire Assay (specifically ALS code Au-AA25 - Au by fire assay and AAS using a 30-gram nominal sample weight). Other elements (48 in total) will be analyzed using ALS method code ME-MS61 which involves a four-acid "near-total" digestion and an ICP-MS + ICP-AES finish. The following QA/QC protocols have been adopted for this program: 1) Duplicates will be created as coarse crush duplicates on every 50th sample (2% insertion) in the sample preparation process at the laboratory, and 2) Blank material is to be inserted at a rate of 2 blanks per 100 samples (2% insertion) and 3) StandardsCertified Reference Material (CRMs) every 20th sample (5% insertion) plus additional random insertions at the supervising geologists discretion. All results from duplicates, blanks, and standards will be reviewed and if found to be accurate and within acceptable tolerances, the results will be published. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information disclosed within this document has been prepared, reviewed and approved by Gregory A. Beischer, President, CEO, and a director of Millrock Resources. Mr. Beischer is a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101. About Millrock Resources Inc. Millrock Resources Inc. is a premier project generator to the mining industry. Millrock identifies, packages, and operates large-scale projects for joint venture, thereby exposing its shareholders to the benefits of mineral discovery without the usual financial risk taken on by most exploration companies. The company is recognized as the premier generative explorer in Alaska, holds royalty interests in British Columbia, Canada and Sonora State, Mexico and is a significant shareholder of junior explorer ArcWest Exploration Inc. and has a shareholding in Resolution Minerals Limited. Funding for drilling at Millrocks exploration projects is primarily provided by its joint venture partners. Business partners of Millrock have included some of the leading names in the mining industry: EMX Royalty, Centerra Gold, First Quantum, Teck, Kinross, Vale, Inmet and, Altius as well as junior explorers Resolution, Riverside and PolarX. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Gregory Beischer Gregory Beischer, President & CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Melanee Henderson, Investor Relations (604) 638-3164 (877) 217-8978 (toll-free) Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, managements expectation that the planned drilling program will successfully be carried out. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, Millrocks ability to mobilize the drill rig and camp and complete the drilling work and other customary risks of the resource industry. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 15:34:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planner approved seven fixed-asset investment projects with their combined investment totaling 129.8 billion yuan (about 18.35 billion U.S. dollars) in May, an official said Tuesday. The projects were mainly in the transportation and energy sectors, Meng Wei, spokesperson with the National Development and Reform Commission, told a press conference. Next, the commission will accelerate the implementation of investment plans within the central budget in a bid to scale up effective investment, Meng said. Fixed-asset investment includes spending in infrastructure, property, machinery and other physical assets. Official data showed that China's fixed-asset investment declined 6.3 percent year on year to 19.92 trillion yuan in the first five months, narrowing by 4 percentage points from that in the January-April period. Enditem Houston native Maya Fontenot learned about the inequities of health care as a kid, accompanying her Louisiana relatives to county hospital appointments that mostly just left them confused after their rushed doctors spent little time hearing them out and explaining their conditions in plain English. Fontenot, who would google the doctors language, resolved then that she would make an impact in health care. The watershed came a few years later when a grandmother got a new primary-care doctor who was patient and eager to listen to patients. It showed Fontenot the difference a doctor could make in overcoming some disparities in care. Just hearing how my grandmother felt after her appointments made me realize this doesnt have to be an inherent problem, said Fontenot, who is of African American and Native American descent. This is very surmountable. Its a problem that can be fixed. But people have to want to fix it. Fontenot will begin her path to be an advocate for better health for poor communities of color next month when she starts classes at the University of Houstons new medical school, the first in the city in nearly half a century. The school aims to produce primary-care doctors to practice in underserved areas. UH announced the 30-student inaugural class Monday, a group remarkable for its racial make-up. Nearly three quarters are Hispanic and African American. Nationally, in contrast, such minorities comprise just 13 percent of all students accepted at U.S. medical schools. Houston Chronicle Dr. Stephen Spann, founding dean of the UH College of Medicine, said composition of the is just the way it shook out. Applicants ethnic background played no role in the admissions committees scoring system, he said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Higher ed board approves UH med school plan It just turned out students most interested in our mission we were very deliberate in pursuit of students who fit it came from those backgrounds, said Spann. Thats important because they can help us seek solutions for the current health care problems facing our city and state. Spann cited COVID-19 as an example of such problems. The disease caused by the novel coronavirus is disproportionately affecting African-American neighborhoods. The focus on primary care in underserved areas is central to UHs identity. The minority-majority university is located in Houstons Third Ward, the reason UH leaders gave for the decision to construct the building that will house the medical school on campus. Construction on the building began Monday. Other characteristics of the class also are telling. Fifty seven percent of the class are first-generation college students and 40 percent came from a low socioeconomic background. More than 90 percent of the class displayed qualities indicating high mission congruence, according to UH. The admissions committee interviewed 164 applicants, culled from 1,728 applications, for the 30 slots, emphasizing primary-care predictors such as family members in service-oriented careers, experience in primary care in another capacity, and a pursuit of medicine that represents their second career. Texas ranks 47th out of 50 states in the ratio of primary care doctors per person and the shortage is expected to get worse. Currently, only 20 percent of medical students nationwide become primary-care doctors. Those chosen include Anthony Carona, who, raised by his mother in Dickinson, studied for the priesthood for seven years, most recently in Rome. He said his various service experiences convinced me that I could do the most good by pursuing medicine. They also include Cenk Cengiz, whose family emigrated from Turkey when he was 14, unable to afford health insurance. As a pre-med student at UH, Cengiz would email doctors in the Texas Medical Center to set up shadowing opportunities, but was embarrassed to say I had never seen a physician in the United States. I thought someone like me will be able to better understand immigrant issues and why they might be reluctant to seek health care, said Cengiz, a biology major at UH. The inaugural class include five graduates of the University of Texas at Austin, and two graduates each from UH, Baylor, Texas A&M, Houston Baptist, Prairie View A&M and Rice University. All came from in state. Recruiting the class was made easier thanks to an anonymous $3 million gift to the school announced in 2018. The donation will provide $100,000 four-year scholarships for each of the 30 students, covering all tuition and fees. To get in was mind blowing, said Fontenot, who majored in sociology at Baylor University. With only 30 students being accepted, I dont think any of us expected to get in. I grew up on these inner-city streets and coming home to a medical school that so prioritizes care for poor communities and communities of color is a dream come true. The UH medical schools first day of fall courses is July 27. todd.ackerman@chron.com SHANGHAI, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AUTOCRYPT Co., Ltd. will be exhibiting at this year's Automotive Cybersecurity (AutoCS) conference, taking place in Shanghai from 18-19 June, 2020. As well as showcasing a booth at the much-publicized AutoCS event, Shanghai PanQi CEO Clark Jin will also be hosting a presentation detailing real-world cybersecurity scenarios in the automotive industry. With the ever-growing landscape of autonomous and connected vehicles, leading minds and corporations are seeking to collaborate and discuss crucial automotive cybersecurity regulations, latest testing methods, good practices and real applications. AUTOCRYPT has established a joint venture with Shanghai PanQi Information Technology Co., Ltd. and the two corporations will move forward to navigate these issues in China. AUTOCRYPT and PanQi bring forward the solutions these situations require through security offerings ranging from V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything), V2D (Vehicle-to-Device), V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) security, as well as Fleet Management. As leading players for automotive cybersecurity in Asia, the two companies prioritize progressive action in bringing these offerings to market, and will be showcasing the solutions at AutoCS. AUTOCRYPT CEO, Daniel ES Kim remarked, "We are very much looking forward to exhibiting at AutoCS because the private and public sector must work collaboratively to move past the status quo when it comes to automotive cybersecurity. As the number of connected and autonomous vehicles increases in China, so must the discussions on security regulations and implementation of security measures. It is essential that we not only minimize, but also negate the risks involved and put safety first, and AUTOCRYPT brings forward a comprehensive set of solutions to the table to negate those risks." ----- AUTOCRYPT is the leading player in transportation security technologies. Beginning in 2007 as an in-house venture at Penta Security Systems Inc., AUTOCRYPT spun off as a separate entity in 2019 as its presence expanded worldwide. Recognized by TU-Automotive as the Best Auto Cybersecurity Product/Solution of 2019, AUTOCRYPT continues to pave the way in transportation and mobility security through a multi-layered, holistic approach. Through security solutions for V2X/C-V2X, V2G (including PnC security), in-vehicle security, and Fleet Management, AUTOCRYPT ensures that security is prioritized before vehicles hit the road. Visit www.autocrypt.io for more information, and contact marketing@autocrypt.io for partnership inquiries. T he protest song is not easily defined, but one thing that all of the songs on this list do have in common is a sense of urgency. This same urgency has already sparked a wave of new music in response to the killing of George Floyd . In these songs, as in all protest music, there is a rush to tell a certain story: a rush to retaliate, a rush to let people know what they're fighting against, a rush to support them as they do so. Many of the songs on this list were written as a visceral reaction to a piece of news perhaps a photograph, or a radio announcement. Some lyrics were put together in under an hour, the recordings were carried out that same day. Later performances often remain laced with that same rousing sense of immediacy. The 11 songs below all deal with very different issues, but their greatness lies in the fact that each still seems intensely relevant today. There are obviously a great many more protest songs to choose from, but this list provides a solid foundation to the genre. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll Bob Dylan, 1964 The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll is a quietly devastating song. Dylan opts away from symbolism here, favouring the straightforward storytelling of his folk roots and letting the horror of true events speak for itself. Hattie Carroll was a 51-year-old black barmaid who was working at a hotel party when she was murdered by a young white man named William Zantzinger. The killing was unprovoked, and Zantzinger would only ever serve six months in prison for assault. Dylan's outrage at this story becomes more and more pronounced as the song charges towards its conclusion: slow vocals become much pacier, quiet strumming becomes much louder, and the song's refrain builds into its final damning assertion: "Bury the rag deep in your face/ For now's the time for your tears." Strange Fruit Billie Holiday, 1939 When Billie Holiday first started performing Strange Fruit at Cafe Society in Greenwich Village, the nightclub's founder, Barney Josephson, allegedly drew up some rules. Holiday would only ever perform the song as the last in her set, there would be no table service as she sang, there would be no encore, and there would be no light apart from a single spotlight on her face. The rules were put in place to make sure that the brute force of the song was never lost upon any audience, and when listening to the song now, it's not hard to imagine the electrified hush that must have fallen over the club as Holiday sang. Strange Fruit is a ruthless song, which undercuts the rich, gothic imagery of the South with the stark realities of lynching. Holiday's unwavering delivery grips you until its bitter end, and will stick in your mind for hours after you turn it off. Unwavering delivery: rules were in place for performances of Strange Fruit, so the power of the song would not be lost / Getty Images Mississippi Goddam Nina Simone, 1964 On June 12, 1963, Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers was killed in the driveway of his home in Mississippi. Just three months later, four young black girls were killed at a church in Birmingham, Alabama, after white supremacists planted dynamite underneath the steps of the building. When Nina Simone heard the news, she didn't know what to do. It was more than I could take, she later recalled. The bombing of the little girls in Alabama and the murder of Medgar Evers were like the final pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that made no sense until you had fitted the whole thing together. I suddenly realised what it was to be Black in America in 1963, but it wasnt an intellectual connection. It came as a rush of fury, hatred, and determination." An hour later, Simone had written Mississippi Goddam. Every time she performed it from then on, she would manage to communicate the full weight of the "fury, hatred, and determination" that had first compelled her. The song was a far cry from the passive protest music that otherwise typified the age: bitterly self-aware, utterly honest, and more than happy to point the finger where it needed to be pointed. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Bob Dylan, 1963 One of Bob Dylan's greatest skills is his ability to make the universal feel somehow intensely personal; the complex simple, the difficult easy. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall is a song that does all three of these things with both effortless charm and vigorous force. Combining the traditional question and answer form of folk with the rich symbolist imagery of poets such as Rimbaud someone Dylan has frequently cited as an influence Dylan conjures up a vast, sweeping world, only to immediately pull the carpet out from underneath it, culminating in a song that warns against destruction whilst mourning that which has already been lost. Ohio Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, 1970 On May 4, 1970, a group of students at Kent State University in Ohio were protesting against Nixon's expansion of the Vietnam War. The Ohio National Guard was brought in to disperse the protest, and as the day was drawing to a close, guardsmen shot 67 rounds of ammunition into the crowd. Four students died, nine were injured. In an infamous photograph of the incident, a young girl kneels over the body of a student who has just been killed and screams into the camera. As the story goes, Neil Young saw this photograph, immediately took to the woods in California, and wrote Ohio in less than an hour. The band recorded it the next day, and it was released twelve days after that. According to Graham Nash, the band felt compelled to bring it out immediately: "We were angry now. The kids were angry now. We wanted to speak and scream about this now." It's not hard to hear this anger in their voices, as the typical airiness of CSN&Y harmonies is transformed into something both fiery and haunting at the same time. Banana Republic The Boomtown Rats, 1980 In classic Rats style, a jumpy bass and jangly chorus mask lyrics simmering with rage. Anyone not listening especially carefully to Banana Republic could be forgiven for thinking that this is a frothy pop song, but the nonchalance of the track only drives Geldof's blade in deeper. A scathing condemnation of Ireland, Banana Republic would prove enormously successful in the country it was criticising praised by many for rallying against "a claustrophobia of silence" which nevertheless saw the band forbidden from performing it live. In the end, they were so determined to play for their supporters that they set up a show at a private estate. "RTE Radio announced it one minute after midnight, when the courts closed, so they couldn't stop us," Geldof has since explained. "I expected 300 people. There were 30,000." Big Yellow Taxi Joni Mitchell, 1970 Big Yellow Taxi was not the only environmental anthem to be penned in 1970. In fact, many other songwriters were inspired by the worrying catastrophes of that year, which culminated in the heavily polluted Cuyahoga River in Ohio catching fire, and Congress passing a long-awaited National Environmental Policy Act. In Mitchell's case, a visit to Hawaii was the stimulus for her song: I walked over to the [hotel room] balcony and there was the picture-book scenery, palm trees swaying in the breeze and all, she later told NME. When I looked down there below my view was this ugly, concrete car park on the hotel grounds. This view gave her a chorus, and a later visit to the Honolulu tree museum," which charged the people a dollar and a half just to see em, gave her a second verse. You might expect Mitchell's lilting voice and cheery guitar to undermine the gravitas of her lyrics, but this lightness also embodies the breezy recklessness that she warns against, adding another layer of artfulness to the song. This Is America Childish Gambino, 2018 Of all the songs in this list, perhaps the most meticulously self-aware is Childish Gambino's (Donald Glover) This Is America. Thoroughly contemporary, it is a stark departure from the tradition of protest songs. In fact, most of the work's genius lies not in a rousing chorus or a sharp sense of morality, but in the boundless and often obscure implications of its accompanying video. Released at exactly the same time as the track itself, the images that Glover presents alongside his music illustrate a world of flippant violence, which works in tandem with the track's sunny Afrobeat rhythms and bright hints of gospel to highlight the bitter paradoxes that shape American culture. It is a video that you will feel compelled to watch many, many times and every time you do, you'll find a new and different flash of brilliance. Respect Aretha Franklin, 1967 There can be no better introduction to this song than the one that Franklin sings in her bridge. Gladly making a point of spelling out her title, she is quite clear about demanding the attention of anyone who might not be listening to her. Respect was in fact originally recorded by Otis Redding but it was Franklin's invigorating energy and catchy arrangement that made it an anthem, as Redding himself soon acknowledged. Soon after she added in her own R-E-S-P-E-C-Ts and "sock it to me" backing vocals, the song was adopted by both Civil Rights and Women's Rights movements, becoming a key fixture at the marches and rallies of the age. Spanish Bombs The Clash, 1979 Once dubbed the "only band that matters" by their fans, The Clash's Spanish Bombs is a pacy, poppy addition to their seminal 1979 album London Calling. There is an urgency in its forward shuffle and the repeated shouts of its chorus, which took inspiration from a series of bombings by Basque separatists on Costa Brava holiday resorts. Strummer lyrically twisted these events so that they sat alongside images of the Spanish Civil war forty years earlier, and tied the whole angry concept together by singing in what he has since described as "Clash Spanish" slightly rough around the edges, but in a way that still somehow adds to the gritty persuasiveness of the track. Shipbuilding Elvis Costello, 1983 Written in the context of the Falklands War, Shipbuilding highlights the irony of a conflict which has the potential to restore prosperity to a community whilst also stealing the lives of its young men. Turning his eye to traditional areas of UK shipbuilding, Costello points out that these same ships could become the final resting places of those called up to fight. This is never laid out explicitly, but Costello's opening question "Is it worth it?" hangs over the whole song, morbidly answering its own call. DUBLIN, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aptiv PLC (NYSE: APTV), a global technology company enabling the future of mobility, today announced Richard L. "Rick" Clemmer has been named to its board of directors, effective as of July 1, 2020. "I am very pleased to welcome Rick to Aptiv's Board of Directors," said Kevin Clark, president and chief executive officer. "Rick's extensive experience leading semiconductor and software companies will be invaluable as we accelerate our development of advanced technology solutions." Mr. Clemmer is a global technology CEO, most recently leading the turnaround of NXP Semiconductors as Chief Executive Officer and President, a position he held from 2009 through May 2020. He continues to serve NXP as a strategic advisor. Mr. Clemmer has also previously served as senior advisor to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Agere Systems Inc. Prior to joining Agere Systems, he held a number of executive leadership positions at Texas Instruments and Quantum Corporation. Mr. Clemmer holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. He also serves on the board of HP, Inc. About Aptiv Aptiv is a global technology company that develops safer, greener and more connected solutions enabling the future of mobility. Visit aptiv.com. SOURCE Aptiv PLC Related Links https://www.aptiv.com/ Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 05:28:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese technologies used in medical industries are extremely important for Egypt's pharmaceutical sector, said Ali Aouf, head of the Pharmaceutical Division of the General Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce. "Most Egyptian pharmaceutical companies rely on Chinese equipment and machinery because of the efficiency of the Chinese technology in this field," Aouf told Xinhua in a recent interview. He added that China's pharmaceutical sector has very good capabilities and infrastructure, noting that Egypt imports raw materials, medical supplies, and devices from China. "This has notably helped Egypt's pharmaceutical sector develop rapidly," he stressed. The Pharmaceutical Division, which is created by a decision of the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry, includes all pharmaceutical private, governmental, or foreign medicine companies as well as drug importers operating in Egypt. There are some 1,200 companies and about 160 factories operating in the pharmaceutical sector in Egypt. "China is an outstanding country in this kind of industry...there is an exchange of experiences between China and Egypt in the field of pharmaceutical industries," Aouf said. He described China's experience in fighting the novel coronavirus as "wonderful," praising China's efforts to curb and control the spread of the virus in a short period of time. Speaking about the repercussions of the coronavirus crisis in the pharmaceutical sector in Egypt, Aouf said that the production of medicines during the first three months of this year increased by 12 percent, which means that companies achieved profits by the same percentage, compared to the same period last year. "This was caused by the fear of citizens, especially those with chronic diseases, who bought and stored medicines fearing a possible shortage because of the virus spread," he said. "Pharmaceutical companies made sales of 20 billion Egyptians pounds (1.2 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2020," he revealed. However, he expected that drug production will slightly drop during the second quarter of this year "as patients who stored medicines will not do the same thing again." Aouf stressed that all medicines are available in the Egyptian market, including those that are used within the coronavirus treatment protocol. However, Aouf admitted that there is a shortage in nutritional supplements production, noting that the people largely buy these supplements in recent months to boost their immune systems amid the spread of the coronavirus. He pointed out that the companies will cover the market needs of these supplements during the coming days. Egypt has so far confirmed 47,856 COVID-19 cases, including 1,766 deaths and 12,730 recoveries. Since March 25, the Egyptian government has been imposing a nighttime curfew as a key precautionary measure in combating the highly infectious virus. Egypt and China have been cooperating closely in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, through the mutual provision of medical aid and sharing experiences in containing the spread of the deadly respiratory disease. In early February, Egypt was among the first nations to provide aid to China in its fight against the coronavirus outbreak. China, after having largely controlled the pandemic, returned the favor by sending three batches of medical aid to Egypt. On April 16, May 10, and May 16, Chinese doctors held video conferences with Egyptian counterparts to share their experiences in the prevention and treatment of the virus. Enditem The Bachelorette's Carlin Sterritt has found a new way to cash in on his reality TV fame. The personal trainer-turned-Instagram model, 30, announced on Monday that he wants to become a professional photographer, charging fans $100-per-hour to take photos of them for Instagram. Pitching his business idea to fans, Carlin wrote on Instagram Stories: 'I shoot and edit my own content and content for friends using my own presets... I've never really thought of making it a business... should I make it a side hustle?' Shock career change? Carlin Sterritt, 30, announced on Monday that he wants to become a professional photographer, charging fans $100-per-hour to take photos of them for Instagram '1 hour... with me... a set price... 3 professional images,' he continued, uploading an array sleek-looking photos from his catalogue. He proceeded to encourage fans to participate in a poll, asking them whether he should bother pursuing a career in photography or just 'stick to personal training'. In another Instagram Story post, Carlin suggested that he charge $100-per-hour for his photography services, but this has since been deleted. Behind the lens: Pitching his business idea to fans, Carlin wrote on Instagram Stories: 'I shoot and edit my own content and content for friends using my own presets. I've never really thought of making it a business. Should I make it a side hustle?' Talented: '1 hour... with me... a set price... 3 professional images,' he continued, uploading an array of sleek-looking photos from his catalogue It comes amid swirling rumours that Carlin and his girlfriend Angie Kent have broken up. On Monday, Carlin added fuel to the fire by posting a cryptic post to Instagram and encouraging fans to 'live in the moment'. Uploading a photo of himself sitting at Winifred Falls at the Royal National Park, Carlin wrote: 'You don't always need the answers. Live in the moment. Be still. Breathe.' Would you pay? He proceeded to encourage fans to participate in a poll, asking them whether he should bother pursuing a career in photography or just 'stick to personal training' Something to tell us? On Monday, Carlin hinted that he and Angie Kent have called it quits after he shared a cryptic post about not always needing answers His post was quickly inundated with supportive comments from his followers, including fellow Bachelor, Matt Whyatt, who wrote: 'Hope you're well brother.' While another commented: 'Sorry you and Angie didn't work out.' Carlin has persistently shut down talk the couple have called it quits. Interesting! Sharing a photo of himself, Carlin wrote: 'You don't always need the answers,' before he encouraged fans to 'live in the moment, be still and breathe' Speaking to Daily Mail Australia earlier this month, he described the split rumours as 'silly' and baseless. Over the weekend, Angie raised eyebrows when she 'liked' a cryptic post about 'missing' someone and 'moving on' over the weekend. You don't miss the person, you miss the memories,' the quote read. Interesting! Over the weekend, Angie raised eyebrows when she 'liked' a cryptic post about 'missing' someone and 'moving on' Cryptic: 'You don't miss the person, you miss the memories. You miss the person you THOUGHT they were but baby you DO NOT miss that person. Move on and let yourself free,' the quote read 'You miss the person you THOUGHT they were but baby you DO NOT miss that person. Move on and let yourself free.' She later dismissed the speculation, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'I can't even like a post without it being about my relationship? I like thousands of quotes/memes that don't relate to my life at all.' 'Nothing to do with my relationship,' she added. It comes after Angie fueled speculation that she's split from Carlin when she told fans to 'stay out of it' after noticing they had unfollowed each other on Instagram. She also blamed the activity on a 'glitch in the system.' The pair were rumoured to have quietly parted ways several weeks ago, after their supporters noticed they were seemingly living separate lives. She wrote on the BachieFunny Instagram fan account on Sunday: 'Leave it. If you don't know, you don't know,' she added. Speaking out: Last week Angie fueled speculation that she's split from Carlin when she told fans to 'stay out of it' after they noticed they had unfollowed each other on Instagram Interestingly, Angie did not deny that they had split up. Instead of clarifying the status of their relationship, she told people it was 'none of their business'. 'Everyone got their happy ending when the show was on,' she wrote. 'Now it's no one's business. It's my real life. So best people stay out of it unless they know for real what someone is going through.' U.S. Citizen Whelan Sentenced To 16 Years For Spying By Russian Court By RFE/RL June 15, 2020 A Russian court has found former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan guilty on an espionage charge, a verdict that the top U.S. diplomat in Russia called a "mockery of justice." The Moscow City Court on June 15 handed Whelan a prison sentence of 16 years for the conviction in a trial that was held behind closed doors because the evidence includes classified materials, as well as because of measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The 50-year-old Whelan, who also holds British, Canadian, and Irish citizenship, was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and in March this year went on trial, which was held in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and diplomatic protests. He denies all charges. Whelan told journalists that he will appeal the court's decision, calling it politically motivated. "It is a political trial, a political sentence," he said. Prosecutors claimed that a flash disc found in Whelan's possession contained classified information. On May 25, a prosecutor at Whelan's trial asked a Moscow court to find him guilty of espionage and sentence him to 18 years in prison. Whelan says he was framed when he took a USB drive from an acquaintance, thinking it contained holiday photos, and that the allegations of spying against him are politically motivated. He has also accused his prison guards of mistreatment. U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said that he was "disappointed, enraged" by Whelan's sentence and called the trial a "mockery of justice," stressing that Whelan's conviction will harm U.S.-Russia relations. Answering a journalist's question about a possible exchange of Whelan for Russian citizens held in the United States, Sullivan said that Washington was not seeking exchange, but instead justice for Whelan. Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said separately that the issue of pardoning or exchange of his client will be possible only in 10 days, when the court's ruling comes into force. Whelan was head of global security at a U.S. auto-parts supplier at the time of his arrest. He and his relatives insist he visited Russia to attend a wedding. Before the verdict, U.S. officials had urged Moscow to release Whelan following their criticism of Russian authorities for their "shameful treatment" of him. With reporting by TASS, Interfax, AFP, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia- verdict-in-spy-trial-of-us-citizen -whelan/30671322.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Grab our new app rova and stay tuned to The Sound Stay tuned to The Sound and download our new app rova and take the greatest music ever made with you wherever you go. All zodiac signs have distinct personality traits and characteristics. Wouldnt it be helpful to know what the day has in store for you just as you kickstart your morning? Go on and read to find out whether the odds are in your favour today. * Aries (March 21-April 20): Something you feel is being thrust upon you on the family front may keep you mentally occupied. Stars look bright on the property front. Showcasing your strength on the academic front will work in your favour by covering your weaknesses. Someone may become your guide on the health front and benefit you immensely. Things move smoothly on the work front and you can expect cooperation of all. Love Focus: Love life appears a bed of roses, as you spare no efforts in appeasing partner! Lucky Colour: Dark Brown Lucky Alphabet: J Friendly Numbers: 11, 15 Friendly Zodiac Today: Libra & Aries Be careful of: Pisces * Taurus (April 21-May 20): Your involvement on the domestic front, despite professional workload, will be much appreciated. This is a good day to deal with property matters. Excellent news awaits some on the academic front. Arrears or outstanding payments are likely to be received by some. A change of lifestyle is likely to boost your health. You may feel that people are working against your interests, but this may not be so, so cheer up! Love Focus: Someone you are going steady with is likely to make your day by expressing undying love. Lucky Colour: Violet Lucky Alphabet: J Friendly Numbers: 11, 18, 20 Friendly Zodiac Today: Aries & Scorpio Be careful of: Aquarius * Gemini (May 21-June 21): Some of you are likely to find a suitable place to stay. You may get motivated to put your best foot forward on the academic front. Those spiritually inclined may encourage their near and dear ones for going on a pilgrimage. Monetary help may be forthcoming for some. You will be able to make quick recovery from an ailment that has been troubling you of late. A professional opportunity is likely to knock at your door and promises to get you into the limelight. Love Focus: You may have second thoughts about a romantic relationship. Lucky Colour: Metalic Blue Lucky Alphabet: H Friendly Numbers: 15, 22 Friendly Zodiac Today: Virgo & Scorpio Be careful of: Cancer * Cancer (June 22-July 22): Spending time with friends and family is indicated and will prove immensely gratifying. A property issue will be settled amicably. Some kind of recognition awaits you on the academic front. You are likely to seize all opportunities that come your way on the financial front. An ailment dogging you for long will disappear, as health stars brighten. You are likely to bask in the glory of an achievement on the professional front. Love Focus: You will find much comfort in the company of lover today. Lucky Colour: Off White Lucky Alphabet: K Friendly Numbers: 18, 20 Friendly Zodiac Today: Leo & Sagittarius Be careful of: Aquarius * Leo (July 23-August 23): You are likely to remain a step ahead of what is presently going on at home to avoid getting involved. Some of you may plan to shift to a better place. Your strong showing on the academic front is likely to mark you as an achiever. Good monetary management will keep your bank balance healthy. You will be able to keep your coffers brimming and enjoy your wealth too. Your active lifestyle will ensure that you remain fit and energetic. Expect a prestigious assignment to come your way on the professional front. Love Focus: Some positive developments are foreseen for the eligible on the marriage front. Lucky Colour: Navy Blue Lucky Alphabet: U Friendly Numbers: 16, 18 Friendly Zodiac Today: Libra & Sagittarius Be careful of: Aries * Virgo (August 24-September 23): Your luck is about to turn for the better, so expect something good happening to you on the personal or professional front. Some family affairs pending for long will be taken care of today. You may start thinking in terms of property. You will be able to raise your performance level on the academic front through outside help. Multiple earnings may make you feel more financially secure than before. Some ailment or the other may bother you, so take preventive action. Love Focus: Positive developments on the romantic front promise to bring you immense pleasure. Lucky Colour: Violet Lucky Alphabet: L Friendly Numbers: 20, 22 Friendly Zodiac Today: Gemini & Scorpio Be careful of: Cancer * Libra (September 24-October 23): Attending a family function may appear a chore, but you may be compelled to attend it. Some property issues are likely to keep you occupied. Your academic performance is likely to bring you into the notice of those who matter. Someone may give you a helpful tip regarding a financial matter. You are likely to enjoy good health by maintaining your daily routine. Shifting to a better environment is on the cards for some. Love Focus: Exciting times are foretold on the romantic front, as you get to spend quality time with lover. Lucky Colour: Peach Lucky Alphabet: R Friendly Numbers: 12, 14 Friendly Zodiac Today: Cancer & Virgo Be careful of: Scorpio * Scorpio (October 24-November 22): Some of you are likely to win the confidence of your senior at work by doing more than what has been told. Something may not go as planned on the family front. Judge all offers on merit, if you plan to sell property. Academic excellence is likely to help you achieve your dream. You will manage to rescue your money from a dubious scheme by taking prompt action. Health remains satisfactory through own efforts. Love Focus: There is a likelihood of a budding romance appearing on the horizon as someone of the opposite gender comes into your life. Lucky Colour: Cream Lucky Alphabet: G Friendly Numbers: 11, 16 Friendly Zodiac Today: Sagittarius & Virgo Be careful of: Taurus * Sagittarius (November 23-December 21): Your actions may put suspicion in the mind of a parents or family elder. Those planning to buy property would do well to wait a little more. Good preparation will keep you in contention in a competition. You are likely to invest in a good cause with an eye on self-promotion. Prompt handling of a health issue facing you will save you from much trouble later. Praise is in store for you at work for something that you have accomplished. Love Focus: Someone you are desperate to be with is likely to reciprocate the similar signals. Lucky Colour: Lemon Lucky Alphabet: P Friendly Numbers: 27, 9 Friendly Zodiac Today: Virgo & Libra Be careful of: Aries * Capricorn (December 22-January 21): Some function or marriage is likely to be planned at home. It is best to steer clear of any dispute on the property front. Becoming a favourite of your teacher is possible on the academic front. A venture initiated by you in your personal capacity will prove profitable in the long run. Overstraining on the health front in workouts cannot be ruled out for some. Stars advise you to be a little patient if switching jobs was on your mind. Love Focus: There is much joy foreseen for those in love, so rejoice! Lucky Colour: Mehendi Green Lucky Alphabet: Y Friendly Numbers: 16, 18 Friendly Zodiac Today: Sagittarius & Libra Be careful of: Aquarius * Aquarius (January 22-February 19): Making plans for an outing with family is possible. You will be able to complete the documentation of a property related matter. Your hard work is likely to show in your academic performance. Good investment opportunities come your way and keep you financially strong. Dont emulate someone and overstrain yourself on the fitness front. A new deal is likely to come through and give you a taste of success. Love Focus: This is an excellent time for those trying to make a long-term relationship permanent. Lucky Colour: Pink Lucky Alphabet: E Friendly Numbers: 8, 12 Friendly Zodiac Today: Libra & Capricorn Be careful of: Taurus * Pisces (February 20-March 20): Making your niche at a new workplace will not be difficult. Some of you may survey property and contact property dealers today. Admission to a prestigious institution may become a possibility for some. This is an excellent time to earn big bucks as opportunities come your way. Maintaining an active lifestyle will be the key to your maintaining excellent health. Love Focus: You are likely to succeed in youre to rejuvenate your love life. Lucky Colour: Silver Lucky Alphabet: T Friendly Numbers: 10, 16 Friendly Zodiac Today: Scorpio & Virgo Be careful of: Leo The astrologer can be contacted at psharma@premastrologer.com or support@askmanisha.com Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter The sidewalks of Mount Hope fill up early with essential workers. The health care and construction workers come out first, followed by the delivery drivers, grocery store clerks, security guards, building porters and countless others. They make their home in this hilltop neighborhood of 53,000 in the Bronx that has been an anchor against the coronavirus. From there, they disperse to all corners of the borough, the city and beyond to provide the services that other people count on in a global health crisis. As New York City begins reopening, nothing has really changed in Mount Hope. Many residents never stopped going to their jobs. Not when confronted by the dangers of the virus. Not when looting broke out during the protests for racial justice over the death of George Floyd. Not when many other New Yorkers began working from home, and others altogether fled the wealthiest neighborhoods in Manhattan. The only time that Albertha Johnson, 47, has been able to stay home from her job as a supervisor for the citys Human Resources Administration, the nations largest social services agency, was when she got the virus in April. Indias largest private sector mortgage financier Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) is gearing up for a mega fund raise of around Rs 12,000 crore in multiple tranches, sources with knowledge of the matter told Moneycontrol. HDFC has held discussions with merchant bankers in the past few weeks and is looking to raise around Rs 12,000 crore via a combination of a QIP (qualified institutional placement) and an NCD (non-convertible debenture ) + warrant or FCCB ( foreign currency convertible bond route), one of the individuals cited above told Moneycontrol. The QIP component is slated to be around Rs 7,000 crore and the convertible component around Rs 5,000 crore. The plan is for each chosen instrument to be launched separately, a second individual added, warning that no final decision on the quantum or fund raising instruments has been taken yet by the NBFC behemoth. A debenture is a type of debt instrument unsecured by collateral. The debentures which cant be converted into equity or shares are called non-convertible debentures. A warrant is a security that entitles the holder to buy the underlying stock of the issuing company at a fixed exercise price until the expiration date. FCCB is a type of convertible bond issued in a currency different than the issuer's domestic currency. In other words, the money being raised by the issuing company is in the form of foreign currency. A convertible bond is a mix between a debt and equity instrument. HDFC wants to strengthen its balance sheet through this fund-raising exercise and boost its capital buffers during this uncertain phase. It can also be well prepared in case of any asset quality concerns due to its exposure to the real estate sector, said a third individual. Many of the financial services players will look to raise money quickly as part of forward planning to accommodate any substantial slips in asset quality once the moratorium is lifted. They would rather raise capital at todays share price than raise it later, according to the fourth individual. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted a moratorium on term loans whose instalments are due between March 1 and May 31, which was later extended till the end of August. The moratorium is intended to provide borrowers some relief during the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic and consequent lockdown. All the four individuals spoke to Moneycontrol on condition of anonymity. According to a stock exchange intimation, a meeting of the committee of directors of HDFC will be held on June 19 to consider seeking shareholder nod for raising funds by issue of equity shares and/or other securities through any permissible modes. The shares of HDFC on June 16 closed 4.03 percent higher at Rs 1,822.80 a piece on BSE. HDFC has raised capital via the NCD + warrants route on two earlier occasions: in 2009 and 2015. The company reported a standalone profit of Rs 2,232.5 crore for the quarter ended March, down 22 percent year-on-year due to higher provisions related to COVID-19 and high base last year. Provisions (expected credit loss) increased significantly to Rs 1,274 crore for the quarter ended March, which included the impact of COVID-19, against Rs 398 crore YoY. The management said it has made provisions of Rs 10,988 crore as of March 31. This is Rs 6,800 crore over and above the regulatory requirement. To be sure, HDFC has a capital adequacy of 17.7 percent (of which 16.6 percent is tier one capital), which is one of the highest in the financial sector in India. The gross non-performing loans as of March 31 stood at Rs 8,908 crore. This is equivalent to 1.99 percent of the loan portfolio. The non-performing loans of the individual portfolio stood at 0.95 percent while that of the non-individual portfolio stood at 4.71 percent. Moneycontrol is awaiting an email response from HDFC and will update this article as soon as we hear from them. Nguyen Du uses binoculars to observe grey-shanked douc langurs in Hon Do Mountain, Quang Nam Province. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh. A group of volunteers have spent the past three years guarding a troupe of 60 endangered grey-shanked douc langurs in Quang Nam Province. At 6 a.m. Monday, Nguyen Du, Nguyen Hai and Luong Thanh Van, from Tam My Tay Commune of the central province's Nui Thanh District, began their regular patrol. Before taking off on their motorbikes, the three volunteers brought along water, food and machetes. The trio traveled for about one kilometer, crossed an acacia plantation forest and reached Hon Do Mountain, covered with more than 10 ha of natural forest, home to two douc langur families. Du, using binoculars to observe the douc langurs eating leaves, estimated each family had about 10 offspring. Tam My Tay used to be completely covered by natural forests, but was gradually cleared for cultivating acacia. Currently, the forest spans on 30 ha, all rocky mountains. Each peak has a narrow forest strip with a width of between 50-150 m and length of about 900 m. Many shrubs are interspersed with large trees covered with other natural forest ecosystems, which is different from the acacia plantation located 7-10 km away. Inhabiting the forest are grey-shanked douc langurs, pig tailed macaques, deer and several bird, squirrel, and rat species, amongst others. As a result, this place is popular with hunters. In 2017, Du invited Hai and Van to patrol and remove animal traps in the forest after reading there were no laws protecting the critically endangered douc langurs from poaching and deforestation. Though the volunteers have been called crooks, the group hopes its efforts would help the douc langur population thrive. Community lends hand to protect endangered douc langurs Community lends hand to protect endangered douc langurs Douc langurs have their leafy meals in Quang Nam Province. Video by Bui Van Tuan. By 2019, Tam My Tay had established a forest protection team consisting of 10 members led by Du. However, without funding, the team itself had to cover gas, meals and other expenses. Team members took turns to patrol the forests and monitor douc langur movements regardless of weather conditions, scaling every peak from early morning to late at night. "One night someone called to report seeing a flashlight on the mountain, suspecting there could be poachers hunting douc langurs. I mobilized the team, who discovered some locals merely searching for their lost cows," Du recalled. In case of actual violations, reports are immediately dispatched to forest rangers. In early January this year, non-government biodiversity conservation center GreenViet agreed to provide the team an annual sponsorship of VND6 million ($260), each member receiving VND600,000 to cover gas. "We are not burdened with money problems. We just want to lend a hand in protecting and guarding douc langurs from harm," Du said. Van said douc langurs have been living in the mountains for many years but not many locals know they are endangered. Locals do not typically catch langurs though. "This species is very clever, and can distinguish any threat," Van said. He said many langurs sit and chew leaves in trees being cleared for acacia cultivation, often teasing the farmers toiling below. The group would only run for cover in case a stranger is detected. A family of douc langurs on Hon Do Mountain, Quang Nam Province. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Van Tuan. Tran Huu Vy, director of GreenViet, said the forest strip in Tam My Tay is the only place in the world where people can easily spot grey-shanked douc langurs in the wild, adding locals are particularly keen on their protection. A survey conducted in March by GreenViet estimated there are about 60 douc langurs from eight families. Compared to a 2018 survey, the number increased 10 individuals and two families, signifying the douc langur population is growing steadily. However, Vy said there is also the possibility that langurs living in neighboring mountains have moved here. To protect the douc langurs, local authorities of Quang Nam Province are developing a conservation plan with a budget of VND100 billion ($4.34 million) to restore the natural habitat. Another possible option is that locals donate their forest land and later become shareholders of a cooperative eco-tourism business model. Shareholders will be entitled to manage, administer and share profits according to capital contribution shares. Le Tri Thanh, chairman of Quang Nam Province, said: "Following the government's proposal, the province is looking to develop community tourism for locals to join, and then connect with tourist companies to draw visitors. This method will help reduce investment costs." Grey-shanked douc langurs are endemic to Vietnams Truong Son mountain range in the central region. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists grey-shanked douc langurs as one of the 25 most threatened primate species in the world. Currently, this species still exists in the five provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Kon Tum and Gia Lai, with 1,500-2,000 individuals. Pointing to similar transactions of the past, Chairman David Holmberg said Highmark typically adds jobs after joining forces with another insurer. He predicted that will be true again following an affiliation with HealthNow New York, a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan covering 21 counties in New York. The two health insurers announced plans to affiliate on Tuesday; the transaction still needs government approval. It often allows us to grow. That has been our history We look at it as a growth opportunity, said Deborah Rice-Johnson, the president of Highmark Inc. She was referring to previous transactions which joined Highmark with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware in 2012 and Blue Cross of Northeastern Pa. in 2015. During a call with reporters, Holmberg was reminded of rounds of layoffs and outsourcing at Highmark in recent years, such as layoffs involving 370 workers last month and 240 workers about a year earlier. He acknowledged a workforce ebb and flow, but said transactions such as affiliating with another health plan typically lead to more business and a larger workforce. He said Highmark is substantially larger than before those transactions. Highmark is based in Pittsburgh and has substantial operations based in East Pennsboro Township in Cumberland County. On Tuesday, leaders of the two companies said combining them will add scale that will benefit Highmark. The New York insurer, which is much smaller, will gain from things such as access to better technology and processes and increased leverage with policy makers. HealthNow New York will be re-named Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York and Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York. It will maintain its Buffalo headquarters and upstate New York regional office and have its own board of directors. It will remain a non-profit health insurer, as is Highmark. The CEO, David Anderson, said the company will remain locally-focused and have a high level of autonomy. HealthNow New York has about 2,000 employees, including some based in an office near Philadelphia. Similar to Highmarks Holmberg and Rice, Anderson said he expects the affiliation will result in professional growth opportunities rather than job cuts. Highmark presently covers about 4.9 million people in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia. The combined company will cover about 5.5 million. Holmberg said the affiliation continues Highmarks focused growth strategy of working with like-minded partners. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. HOUSTON, June 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sterling Group, an operationally focused middle market private equity firm, announced the closing of Sterling Group Partners V, LP (together with its parallel fund, "Fund V"). Fund V was oversubscribed and closed at its $2.0 billion hard cap in approximately four months. The majority of Fund V's capital was committed by returning investors. Sterling welcomes several new investors that expand the firm's Limited Partner base in the United States, the Middle East and Asia. "The Sterling team is grateful for the continued support of our long term investing partners, particularly in the midst of an extremely difficult market environment," said Franny Jones, Managing Director, Investor Relations. "The demand for Fund V is a result of Sterling's hands-on, operational approach to transforming industrial businesses and our firm-wide commitment to continuous improvement in all aspects of our business." Consistent with Sterling's successful history over four decades, Fund V will primarily target corporate carve-outs and family businesses. The firm emphasizes its operational approach in partnership with management teams to grow and improve its portfolio companies. Sterling's partner group, including Greg Elliott, John Hawkins, Brian Henry, Scott MacLaren, Gary Rosenthal, Brad Staller, and Kent Wallace, have a collective 100-plus years working at Sterling. Sterling's previous fund closed in 2015 with $1.25 billion of investor commitments. Kirkland and Ellis served as legal counsel for Fund V. Sterling did not utilize a placement agent. About The Sterling Group Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group targets controlling interests in basic manufacturing, distribution and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of its initial platform companies range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 56 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $17 billion. Currently, Sterling has over $4 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss. SOURCE The Sterling Group Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Overview Global Coffee Market Revenue is an ever-flourishing market space, reason being the worldwide popularity of coffee as a beverage. Coffee is consumed in high volume globally thanks to its taste, feel, and caffeine content. Moreover, the rapid urbanization and the demand for the beverages-on-the-go to deal with the modern lifestyles escalate the market on the global platform. Conversely, factors such as the volatility in the prices and demand & supply gap of coffee beans are expected to pose challenges in the growth of the market, further worrying market players to the core. Nevertheless, factors such as the emergence of organic coffee and various functional beverages based on coffee would support the market growth over the forecast period. Achieving fair trade certification continues to be a popular trend among producers as well as coffee shoppers. Fairtrade coffee is a big business for grocery retailers as well as to the private label coffee lines. Citing the growing consumers' demand for transparency in the production and understanding more about the supply chain, the decision to certify the entire private label coffee line as fair trade is a natural next step in the process, which also indicates that shoppers have responded well to the initial offering. Fairtrade certification also increases the sales of coffee products by nearly 10%. Almost half of all coffee meets some sustainability standard, reflecting consumers sentiments about from where their coffee comes and supports fair practices. Major Players Key players driving the Coffee Market Revenue include Starbucks Corporation (U.S.), Tata Global Beverages Ltd. (India), Nestle S.A. (Switzerland), Jacobs Douwe Egberts (The Netherlands), The Coca-Cola Company (U.S.), Strauss Group Ltd. (Israel), Unilever PLC (U.K.), The Kraft Heinz Company (U.S.), Tchibo Coffee International Ltd. (U.K.), and The J.M. Smucker Company (U.S.) among others. Industry Advancements/Related News March 21, 2019 - Archer Farms, Inc. (the US), one of the larger producer and supplier of coffee beans as well as swine and sheep to hospitals, research facilities, and universities announced that their coffee products, including bags and pods, will be fair trade certified by 2023. In 2016, Archer Farms had introduced an expanded assortment of coffee that featured many bold new farm-to-cup improvements for clients as well as for the environment. About 20% of Archer Farms coffee is already certified, and sold around the United States Target Corporation (the US), a general merchandise retailer, collecting 6 MN pounds of the private label coffee, annually. Target is teaming up with Fair Trade USA to complete the certification process. The Fair Trade Certified program works to ensure coffee producers are paid fairly for their products and have safe working conditions. Market Segmentation For ease of understanding, Coffee Market Revenue has been segmented into four key dynamics: - By Variety: Arabica and Robusta among others. By Form: Whole and Ground (Instant Coffee Powder, Portioned Coffee,) among others. By Distribution Channel: Store-based and Non-store-based. By Regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest-of-the-World. Access Full Report Details and Order this Premium Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/coffee-market-6889 Regional Analysis The North American region, heading with the high consumption of Arabica dominates the global coffee market. The region accounts for an attractive market space for coffee manufacturers, worldwide. As a result, these manufacturers are continually bringing up a new flavor of the product, expanding their product portfolio which consecutively leads to increasing the size of the coffee market in the region. Additionally, these manufacturers are focusing on the promotional activities to create awareness among the consumers related to the new product launch that, as a result, further stimulates the growth of the regional coffee market. Owing to the various innovations in flavor and the quality of the product, the coffee market in the North American region is estimated to garner a value of USD 24,277.8 MN by 2023, registering a whopping 23.88% CAGR throughout the forecast period. The coffee market in the European region accounts for the second-largest market globally. Europe is also known for the larger producer of coffee in the world which makes it host of coffee for the world. Also, the European government supports the organic production of coffee which in turn escalates the demand in the market. The Asia Pacific coffee market accounts for a profitable market globally. Being one of the larger producer and consumer of coffee, the APAC region has been witnessing a remarkable growth overall. Under the APAC region, Vietnam is popularly known for the second largest producer of coffee, globally. Related Covid-19 Analysis on FnB Reports: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/report/covid-19-impact-a2-milk-market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/report/covid-19-impact-alternative-sweeteners-market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/report/covid-19-impact-artisan-bakery-market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/report/covid-19-impact-rtd-beverages-market NOTE: Our Team of Researchers are Studying Covid19 and its Impact on Various Industry Verticals and wherever required we will be considering Covid19 Footprints for Better Analysis of Market and Industries. Cordially get in Touch for More Details. Hungary ready to help Audi run local plant at full capacity: Orban Hungary's PM Orban and Slovakia's PM Matovic hold joint news conference in Budapest BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary is ready to give financial support to Audi to help its manufacturing plant in the country run at full operating capacity, Prime Minister Viktor Orban was reported as saying on Monday as he visited the site. Orban said Audi was key to the Hungarian economy's recovery from the adverse impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. "We have to fight for the Audi plant as well," state news agency MTI cited Orban as saying. MTI said Audi's engine and car manufacturing plant in the western Hungarian city of Gyor returned to normal operation with three shifts on Monday after weeks of disruption caused by the pandemic. "We can protect jobs with agreements," MTI cited Orban as saying. The prime minister did not elaborate on the specifics of support for Audi, which employed 12,807 people at the end of 2019 and is one of Hungary's top exporters and revenue earners. A spokeswoman for Audi declined to comment. The Gyor plant manufactured 1.97 million engines and 164,817 cars last year, including the Q3 Sportback, the RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback, after investments worth over 11.5 billion euros since Audi entered Hungary. Orban said it could take up to two years for major manufacturers in Hungary to draw up plans exceeding those from before the pandemic, signalling a potentially long recovery for the local car sector, a mainstay of the Hungarian economy. MTI cited Audi Hungaria's Chairman of the Board, Alfons Dintner, as saying that the Hungarian factory was still well off pre-crisis output levels, adding that customer demand was "moderate". (Reporting by Krisztina Than and Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) The coronavirus pandemic isn't the only crisis being faced by Charleston area residents. For years, the region has been grappling with a housing crisis, forcing people farther outside urban areas in search of affordable places to live. "We travel until we can afford something," said Omar Muhammad, president of the Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities. Experts have suggested the region needs thousands of affordable homes yearly for the next decade to mitigate the ongoing crisis and keep up with population growth. Municipal governments and a handful of nonprofits and private companies are trying to tackle the monstrous effort but seem to be coming up short with just a handful of units annually. Issue for years The crisis has been ongoing. In 2014, the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments reported about 33 percent of homeowners and 50 percent of renters are living in housing they can't afford. In 2017, a Post and Courier analysis showed many people in the region can't afford to live where they work. While the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says households should spend no more than 30 percent of their income on housing, a 2018 study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University showed more than 48 percent of renter households in the Charleston region are spending more than that. The crisis has forced many out of their dwellings. North Charleston was noted as the No. 1 city in the nation for evictions in 2018. Nonprofits in the city have long been trying to address the crisis. In 2016, LAMC and Metanoia executed an agreement that allowed Metanoia to begin stewarding mitigation funds given by the State Ports Authority. The money was to address the potential negative impacts of the new intermodal terminal in five North Charleston neighborhoods. Metanoia was given $860,000 to build affordable homes, and has leveraged money from other sources. To date, the nonprofit has built 11 homes with mitigation funds and has secured land for another 21 units. Seven units are currently being constructed. Before 2016, Metanoia had completed a little over 30 units, said the Rev. Bill Stanfield, CEO of Metanoia. Metanoia and LAMC said it isn't nearly enough to keep pace with the area's growth. "That's a drop in the bucket," Muhammad said. "It's piecemeal. We need a dedicated source of funding that affordable housing developers can go to. Wide-ranging impacts Many of those being impacted by high costs of living live in the region's historically black neighborhoods, communities that have repeatedly been burdened by a swath of issues that make it difficult to move up the social and economic ladder. Stanfield pointed to recent protests against police brutality following the death of George Floyd. Floyd was a black man who died in May after a white police officer knelt on his neck. Amid Charleston's economic boom in recent years, African Americans have been left out, Stanfield said. "I think (the protests) are inclusive of other kinds of legacies that have hurt people of color," Stanfield said. "Housing has been one." Stanfield said the days are quickly passing of North Charleston being an affordable place to live. He lives in Chicora Cherokee and repeatedly gets offers to buy his home. Collaborative efforts Nonprofits aren't the only ones trying to create attainable living dwellings. Private companies are collaborating with local governments to address the crisis as well. Luxury Simplified and JJR Development LLC have collaborated to create homes on about 45 lots in Union Heights. The goal is for the homes to be sold to local first responders, military personnel, veterans, teachers, and municipal employees. The two-story, two-bedroom structures would run about $170,000 to $180,000, said Jeff Roberts, managing member at JJR. Ten properties are already underway in the African American community that once served as a vibrant hub of houses and businesses. A deal with the neighborhood says the homes will be kept in price range where they can be purchased with conventional mortgages, without subsidy or deed restriction. JJR also hopes "a substantial number of these new homes will be acquired by minorities." Were doing the best we can ... to bring back homeowners," Roberts said. Roberts said collaborative efforts will be key to addressing the region's housing situation. In Union Heights, JJR worked with the city to get zoning variances, allowing a parking space on each lot. It's going to take cooperation among municipal agencies and private developers and nonprofits to help people live where they work, Roberts said. There really has to be many, many solutions," he said. Across the city of Charleston, several strides have been made. A 2001 $10 million bond produced 163 units of rental housing. In 2017, a $20 million bond referendum was approved by voters and residences are expected to begin going up this year. The city expects to produce more than 800 rental units. Charleston has also received $8-10 million in fee in lieu payments to generate housing, and another $10 million in a settlement recently reached over a lawsuit the city filed against Charleston Citywide Local Development Corp. The money is expected to be used to generate housing. Charleston has also received several million in federal funds since 1975 to create living spaces. The city's first-time homeownership program, which stems back to 2004, has produced about 140 houses. In total, the department has developed just above 10,000 homes between 1976 and 2020. Other efforts are on the horizon. The Humanities Foundation recently obtained the Henry P. Archer School on the East Side, where there are plans to create 88 units of senior housing, said Geona Shaw Johnson, director of Charlestons Department of Housing and Community Development. As things move forward, nonprofit leaders are concerned about how the pandemic will exacerbate the region's housing plight. After placing a halt on evictions amid the outbreak, South Carolina lifted the restriction in May. "It's another crisis in the making," Muhammad said. He said he's heard from people who need help paying their rent and mortgage. Daniel Itai The Zimbabwe Daily Brussels, Belgium The Belgian government has been advised to apologise for the brutal killings of Congolese people by Princess Marie-Esmeralda, the youngest child of King Leopold III. From 1885 to 1908 more than 10 million Congolese people died through murder, starvation, torture and disease under the rule of Belgian King Leopold II. I think it is very important that we raise the issue of apologies on behalf of Belgium to the Congolese people for the atrocities committed by our country during colonization, said the Princess. Belgian activists have since targeted statues of King Leopold II in Ghent, Antwerp, and Brussels, amongst other places. They are calling for the country to acknowledge its racist past and end the idealizing narrative around the Kings realm. - Advertisement - Other initiatives include a popular online petition demanding all his statues to be taken down by the end of June in honour of the Congolese proples 60th anniversary of independence. Like this: Like Loading... M ohammad Asghar, the first minority ethnic member of the Welsh Senedd, has died aged 74. The Conservative member for South Wales East, who defected from Plaid Cymru two years after his election in 2007, was described as an "extremely significant figure in Welsh politics". He was taken to hospital on Tuesday morning following a medical emergency. A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said: We were called to reports of a medical emergency at an address in Newport on Tuesday, June 16, at approximately 11.19am. We sent two rapid response cars and two emergency ambulances to the scene where we were assisted by colleagues from Gwent Police. His daughter, Natasha Asghar a presenter for the QVC shopping channel, said on Twitter: Today by far has been the worst day of my life. I lost the first man I ever loved forever." The Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, also paid tribute, saying: "As both Wales first Muslim councillor and first ethnic minority member of the Senedd, Mohammad Asghar was an extremely significant figure in Welsh politics and has contributed so much to his community and the country since settling here as a young man. His loss is terrible news. He will be fondly remembered and I would like to pay my condolences to Mohammads family, friends and constituents. Sarah Atherton, Conservative MP for Wrexham, tweeted: Im deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Mohammad Asghar. He will be fondly missed by his family, friends and colleagues. The Welsh Conservatives leader in the Senedd, Paul Davies, added in a statement: This news is a devastating blow to the Conservative Group in the Welsh Parliament. Our friend and colleague, Mohammad Asghar known to many as Oscar has served the people of South Wales East in the Senedd with distinction for more than 13 years. Proud to be British and Welsh and proud of his roots, Oscar had friends from across the political spectrum, and made his mark on Welsh history as the first-ever BAME Member of the Senedd. I am sure that everyone will join me in sending condolences to his family ,especially his wife Firdaus and his daughter Natasha, both of whom he loved dearly, at their tragic time of loss. Mr Asghar was born in Peshawar, Pakistan, and moved to London as an adult to complete a Master of Business Administration qualification before settling in Newport, South Wales, and working as an accountant. In 2004, he became Wales first Muslim councillor, representing the Victoria Ward in Newport. When he defected to the Tories in 2009, he also became the first member of the Senedd to leave one party to join another. Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price, said: On behalf of myself and Plaid Cymru I send sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mohammad Asghar. We remember Oscar for his dedication to the people of South Wales East and his long service in the Senedd. Wales education minister, Kirsty Williams, said: So very sorry to learn of the passing of Mohammad Asghar MS. Deepest sympathy to his family, friends and Welsh Conservative colleagues at the Senedd. Two Indian soldiers and an officer are dead after a violent face-off with Chinese soldiers on the disputed Himalayan border, one of the most serious incidents involving the two countries in decades. There were casualties on the Chinese side as well, Indian army officials in New Delhi, claimed. The incident took place late on Monday night in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, where the two sides have been in a stand-off for the past few weeks, with some skirmishes reported. Military representatives of both sides were meeting to defuse the tension, according to an official statement released in New Delhi. During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers, army spokesperson, Col. Aman Anand, said. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation, Anand said. Broadcaster NDTV reported that the deaths were not a result of gunfire, but possibly hand-to-hand combat. Beijing accused India of crossing the border and attacking Chinese soldiers. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, told a press briefing that Indian forces had twice carried out provocative attacks across the border, leading to serious physical clashes on both sides. The escalation between the Asian giants comes amid efforts to defuse weeks of tensions on the border. Military-level talks had been initiated. Thousands of Indian and Chinese forces have been locked in a stand-off for weeks at different places in the Ladakh region, including Pangong Lake and the Galwan valley, since early May, accusing each other of trespassing. The deaths are believed to be the first in a confrontation between the two Asian neighbours since 1975 when four Indian soldiers died when a patrol was ambushed in the north-eastern state of Aunachal Pradesh, Indian media reported. The Himalayan borders have seen skirmishes and clashes between the two countries before, but these have usually been resolved without the loss of lives following military and diplomatic talks. India and China dispute several sections along their ill-defined 3,500-kilometre border, most of which runs along the Himalayan range. The two countries fought a war over their border in 1962. The latest stand-off in Ladakh has seen brawls involving fistfights, stone-pelting and shouting matches after Chinese troops entered deep inside Indian Territory and ignored warnings to leave, Indian media reported. The Chinese troops were camping at the sites, having erected tents and brought material for the construction of bunkers. India also deployed additional units in the area. The last face-off between the forces of the Asian neighbours was at the uninhabited Doklam plateau in the eastern Himalayas, which continued for more than 70 days. That stand-off saw troops dispatched to Doklam from both sides after China attempted to build a road through the plateau, which is claimed by Bhutan, a close ally of India. (dpa/NAN) Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu, shown in 2015, calls the vacancy tax an idea worth exploring, citing the urgent need for housing. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) The Los Angeles City Council took a first step Tuesday toward asking voters to approve a new tax on empty homes, directing city lawyers to draft the measure ahead of a looming deadline. But the council has not made a final decision to put the tax on the November ballot, in the face of an ongoing debate about how such a tax should work and how it would affect Angelenos. The vacancy tax has been proposed as a way to nudge landlords to put vacant apartments back on the market and generate revenue for affordable housing. Backers of the idea, including tenant and housing advocates, have pointed to Vancouver, Canada, where such a tax was credited with bringing empty homes back into use, as a success story. An analysis conducted for a city commission by Blue Sky Consulting Group found that after carving out some exemptions, a vacancy tax could cover more than 19,000 residential units, nearly 2,500 commercial units and more than 2,900 parcels across L.A. This could bring in as much as $128 million annually, the study found. The Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department also analyzed the idea and found that L.A. has a vacancy rate between 6% and 7% and that "higher end" units are disproportionately vacant compared to apartments going for lower rates. Amid rising homelessness, "it is very hard to argue that this idea isn't worth exploring," said Councilman David Ryu, whose district stretches from Sherman Oaks to Miracle Mile. "Thousands of people are still sleeping on our streets outside luxury towers with empty units. We have a clear problem that requires clear action and urgent action." Councilman Mike Bonin, who championed the proposed tax, suggested moving forward with a measure modeled on a similar tax passed in Oakland, but using a different structure for taxation rates outlined by the Blue Sky consultants. The Oakland tax penalizes the owners of properties that are in use fewer than 50 days in a calendar year and includes a number of exemptions, such as for landlords who have low incomes. Story continues Blue Sky had recommended a flat tax of $5,000 a year for vacant residential properties, with charges ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 annually for vacant parcels, based on their size and whether they were for single-family homes or multifamily development. In reaction to concerns raised Tuesday, Bonin adjusted his proposal to exclude commercial properties that are not eligible for residential use and single-family homes that are not owned by corporations. It is unclear how much those changes would affect the anticipated revenue from a vacancy tax. Blue Sky also estimated that the city would need to spend $2.9 million initially and $5.6 million annually to administer such a tax; a city analyst pointed out Tuesday that additional exemptions could add to administrative costs. Many Angelenos phoned in Tuesday to urge the council to pursue the tax. "Right now, thousands are living and dying on the streets because of the economic fallout due to the twin pandemics of COVID and racism. ... It is more important than ever that this go on the ballot," said Stephanie Hirsch, a resident of Councilman Paul Koretz's Westside district. Landlord groups, in turn, have argued that such a tax would hurt property owners even if they are trying to fill units. In a letter to the council, Horace H. Heidt said that bureaucratic delays had made it impossible for him to build the housing he had planned on his property. Being taxed on that empty lot, Heidt argued, would be "unconscionable and outrageous!" "It is insane to tax vacant apartments in Southern California believing that a rational property owner would voluntarily withhold a rental unit," Heidt wrote. Their arguments met with mixed reactions from council members. Koretz said that although he had been warned that a vacancy tax could discourage development, it's not "necessarily a bad thing" to discourage people from building units and leaving them empty. Others complained that they had scant time to weigh the possible effects of a vacancy tax. Councilman Joe Buscaino, whose district stretches from Watts to San Pedro, said he wasn't comfortable moving forward with a plan in the "midnight hour" amid concerns from property owners. The council faced a Friday deadline to ask city attorneys to draft the proposed tax. Councilman John Lee, who represents the northwestern San Fernando Valley, echoed his concerns. "We just haven't had time for a thoughtful review of what's before us, an opportunity to engage with stakeholders," Lee said. The council ultimately voted 13-0 to ask city attorneys to draw up the measure for further debate. Deputy City Atty. Strefan Fauble said it was possible for city lawyers to have it ready in roughly a week. The council now faces a July 1 deadline to decide whether to put the proposed measure on the November ballot. Over the long Memorial Day weekend, a Twitter storm blew in about bots, those little automatic programs that talk to us in the digital dimension as if they were human. What first caught the attention of Darius Kazemi was the headline on an article from NPR, Researchers: Nearly Half of Accounts Tweeting About Coronavirus Are Likely Bots which Hillary Clinton retweeted to her 27.9 million followers and a similar headline from CNN. Kazemi thought, That seems like a lot. An independent researcher and internet artist in Portland, Oregon, and a 2018 Mozilla Fellow, Kazemi has spent considerable time studying the nature and behaviour of bots. Stereotypically, bots run amok on social media, at Russias behest. Some would say that there is a vast and often troublesome population of bots out there: In one paper What Types of COVID-19 Conspiracies Are Populated by Twitter Bots? the author said that some bots were hijacking COVID-19 hashtags with disinformation and conspiracy hashtags, such as #greatawakening and #qanon. But Kazemi thinks the bot plot against America is exaggerated. There are major unknowns: How pervasive are nefarious bots, really? What is their real effect? Dont they mostly tweet at each other? And, fundamentally, what is a bot? (For instance, sometimes it is difficult to tell a bot from a troll, which is an antagonistic human just spoiling for a fight, or a cyborg, which is a human-run account that intermittently deploys a bot.) Kazemi also makes bots; he has been called a deeply subversive, bot-making John Cage. (His bot Two Headlines crawled Google News, picked two headlines at random and mashed up keywords on Twitter, for example: ABBA crosses Korean border for summit.) He defines a bot as a computer that attempts to talk to humans through technology that was designed for humans to talk to humans. Skeptical of the nearly half claim, Kazemi found the source of the article, a news release from Carnegie Mellon University about the research of Kathleen Carley, director of the CMU Center for Computational Analysis of Social and Organisational Systems; since January, Carley had collected more than 200 million tweets discussing the coronavirus or COVID-19. Were seeing up to two times as much bot activity as wed predicted based on previous natural disasters, crises and elections, she said in the release. Kazemi had hoped to find a research paper, with data and code; no luck. That was disheartening, he said. Yoel Roth, Twitters head of site integrity, tweeted that the company had seen no evidence to support the claim that nearly half of the accounts Tweeting about #COVID19 are likely bots. He included a thread from the Twitter Communications team labeled Bot or not? that walked through the taxonomic nuances. Carley said in an interview that she was reluctant to provide data before publication because she didnt want to be scooped; she also didnt want to violate Twitters terms of service. (The terms allow distribution of tweet and user IDs for peer-review or research validation, but the details can get complicated.) The last time we sent out a bot paper with the data at the same time, someone else stole our data and published our paper before we did, Carley said. Stuff will come out when it gets accepted for publication. She added that she decided to share preliminary findings in response to queries from journalists and colleagues: It seemed important that people knew about COVID-19. We thought we were doing a service. Scientific preprints are proliferating during the pandemic, with researchers rushing to release results. And news outlets can be overzealous in jumping on results without a critical lens, much less analysing the data. But the dearth of data was a red flag for Kazemi. He dug in with Twitter threads: Unless we posit that there are more bots than people out there on social media, he wrote, there needs to be extremely good data to make a claim that half of all conversation about COVID-19 is from bots. The burden of proof is huge and not met. Others weighed in on Twitter as well. Kate Starbird, director of the Emergent Capacities of Mass Participation Laboratory at the University of Washington, asked: Are automation & manipulation still a problem here? Yes. Should Twitter do better? Absolutely. But we researchers need to be precise in how we talk about different behaviours, including how we label bots. Brendan Nyhan, a professor of government at Dartmouth College, said: Argh. What matters is the number of tweets people *see*. Bots can post infinity tweets into the ether. *Measure exposure not tweets.* Alex Stamos, director of the Stanford Internet Observatory, called it LAffair COVID Bots, and noted, Disinformation about disinformation is still disinformation, and is harmful to the overall fight. In early June, a similar story emerged about bot prevalence in the Twitter discourse around the protests over the killing of George Floyd. An article in Digital Trends said that bots were spreading conspiracy theories and disinformation around the protests and the Black Lives Matter hashtag. The story cited Carnegie Mellon research implying that 30% to 49% of accounts tweeting about the protests were bots. These claims again raised skepticism and concern, from Kazemi and others. Joan Donovan, research director of Harvards Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, said that academics, when they release novel and shocking findings whether publishing in a journal or by news release have a responsibility to provide the evidence. Dropping a statistic into the world without any explanation of what kind of content is attached is particularly troubling, especially related to the Black Lives Matter hashtag, she said. Carley said in a phone interview that she had a few ongoing social media projects, including studies on COVID-19 and the election. She uses a bot-detection tool developed at CMU called Bot-hunter. I have said to everyone who has asked me, bots in and of themselves are not nefarious, Carley said. Bots are just software. They are used for good things, and they are used for bad things. She noted that of all the Black Lives Matter tweets collected so far in her research (bot and not), 90.6% were in support of the movement, 5.6% were not supportive, and the balance were neutral. The subset of bot tweets, she said, did not appreciably affect those ratios bots were expressing overwhelming support for the protests, and often they were simply retweeting news, or rebroadcasting messages from the World Health Organisation or Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. How to Find a Real Bot Motivated by the headlines, Kazemi, in the intervening days, began a bot audit, manually inspecting data sets of suspected bots and verifying their existence in the wild. He focused on data used to train the machine learning algorithm that drives Botometer, a bot-detection tool by the Network Science Institute and the Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research at Indiana University, which checks the activity of a Twitter account and gives it a score based on how likely the account is to be a bot. A score of 0 is most humanlike, a score of 5 is most botlike. Other researchers do similar work. Manlio De Domenico, a physicist at the Bruno Kessler Institute in Trento, Italy, created the COVID19 Infodemics Observatory, which surveys about 4.5 million tweets daily. During the peer-review process for a paper, Assessing the risks of infodemics in response to COVID-19 epidemics, his lab validated 1,000 user accounts. (The analysis took 12 people two weeks to conduct.) Jonas Kaiser, of Harvards Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, and Adrian Rauchfleisch, of National Taiwan University, audited Botometer for their preprint paper, The False Positive Problem of Automatic Bot Detection in Social Science Research. Kaiser noted that algorithms are only as good as their training sets and generally perform worse when applied on unknown data. We found that the tool that is generally understood to be the gold standard of the field is unreliable with its detection of bots, and it gets worse when tracking the bot classifications over time as well as for other languages, Kaiser said. Michael Kreil, a data journalist in Berlin, has been auditing bots since shortly after the 2016 U.S. election. Late last year he gave a talk titled, The Army That Never Existed. The precis: Social bots have influenced elections. Does it sound plausible? Yes. Is it scientifically founded? Not at all. Defining the bot is a tricky problem; technically, it could be any automated account, like a news aggregator, or amplification software, like Hootsuite. Kazemi found many bots tweeting about COVID-19, including neighbourhood health clinics using marketing software to post daily pandemic PSAs about washing your hands. He also found that humans were often mistaken for bots. Consider the grandpa effect, as he called it: people who were mistaken for bots because they used social media in uncool or gauche ways, he said. Users fond of hitting the share button on news articles also resulted in false positives. This led Kazemi to wonder whether Botometer should be renamed Normiemeter. He tweeted: Can you imagine the headlines? 50% of accounts tweeting about Covid are normies. There was also normal fandom behaviour, such as the progressive K-pop fans who overwhelm social media algorithms to get topics trending they rallied around the Black Lives Matter movement. There were burner accounts of people engaging with porn and following lots of accounts, with few or zero followers. And there was a black South African woman who liked to respond with walls of congratulatory emojis whenever she saw other black women succeeding in their careers. One morning on Twitter, Kazemi put out a call for bot sightings, and he asked people what made them think they had spotted a bot. About half the respondents cited the Twitter handles with multi-digit suffixes, like @Darius98302127. But as Kazemi himself recently learned, new users (since at least late 2017) are not initially given the option of choosing a username; they are automatically assigned a numerically original handle, which many dont bother to change. For the other respondents, the term bot was a slur shorthand for, I dont agree, and I think this position that the other person holds is so outrageous that it couldnt possibly be held in good faith by a human. Do Bots Matter? The problem of what is or what is not a bot may be too slippery to solve in part because bots are continually evolving. As Kazemi noted, Its a bit like when Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously said of pornography, I know it when I see it which, Kazemi added, is not an ideal strategy. The more important and perhaps even more difficult issue is how to measure the impact of bots on the collective discourse. Do bots change our beliefs and behaviours? We want to understand what type of susceptible populations engage with them and what types of narratives resonate, said Emilio Ferrara, a computer scientist at the University of Southern California and the author of the COVID-19 Conspiracies bots paper. The holy grail of bot research, he said, is to understand whether bots matter. Many people would agree that, yeah, maybe there are tons of bots, he said. But if nobody cares about them maybe they get suspended right away and not a large share of the audience sees their content its less problematic. Sarah Jackson, an associate professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, said that it was more important to focus on where the bots are in networks and with whom they interact. Jackson is a co-author, with Moya Bailey and Brooke Foucault Welles of Northeastern University, of the book #HashtagActivism, Networks of Race and Gender Justice. Studying dozens of #BlackLivesMatter networks, the authors found that spam and delegitimising bots were almost always on the periphery, interacting with very few real people. So, even if there are a lot of bots in a network, it is misleading to suggest they are leading the conversation or influencing real people who are tweeting in those same networks, Jackson said. But bots have also been adopted by organisations and activists in social movements as effective vehicles for catalysing change. Jackson pointed out that bot-detection algorithms flag what might be considered atypical human behaviour: People dont typically tweet 24 hours a day, or 1,000 times an hour, or create new accounts only to delete them once they amass a following. But these are all normal and expected behaviours for people documenting protest activities, she said. And as Kazemi observed in one of his threads describing another class of false positives: You know who uses Twitter in a way that the vast majority of people who hold Ph.D.s do not? Disenfranchised populations. Meanwhile, the self-identifying Galaxy Brain Bot his favourite bot of 2020 scores a mere 1.8 on Botometer. Siobhan Roberts c.2020 The New York Times Company Three members of Russia-led forces were reportedly wounded on June 15. Russia's hybrid military forces on June 15 mounted seven attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with four Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action. "The Russian Federation's armed formations violated the ceasefire seven times in the past day," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on June 16. "As a result, three servicemen of the Joint Forces were wounded and another one sustained combat-related injuries in enemy shelling." Read alsoNational Guard Ivan Murovanyi: "We didn't sit idle in dugouts. We would always return fire" Russian-led forces opened fire from proscribed 82mm mortars, anti-tank missile systems, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms. Under attack were Ukrainian positions near the towns of Avdiyivka and Maryinka, and the villages of Novoluhanske, Novoselivka Druha, Pavlopil, and Kamianka. The Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy attack. According to intelligence reports, three members of Russia-led forces were wounded on June 15. "Since Tuesday midnight, Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions near the village of Orikhove, using automatic grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and rifles," the update said. No casualties have been reported among Ukrainian troops since Tuesday midnight. NORWALK The city is taking its summer camp online. According to the mayors office, Norwalk will be among the first Connecticut municipalities to offer a virtual summer program. City officials announced Tuesday the Summer Play and Learn Camp cannot be held in-person because of the state guidelines limit capacity to 150 people due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Norwalks summer camp usually attracts as many as 800 children. Summer sports will be allowed to practice starting June 27, pending approval from the citys health department. I am sad that we have to cancel our summer camp, but we are working hard to provide online alternative programs for not just young people, but the entire Norwalk community throughout the summer. These programs will be free to attend, will exercise the body and mind, and I think will be well received across the community, Mayor Harry Rilling said. I was hopeful we could provide some form of in-person camp, but after consulting with the Norwalk Health Department and recreational camp experts, it just wasnt feasible. I share the disappointment many parents may be feeling, and I ask them to consider joining one of the many programs we have lined up over the next several weeks. Please know this wasnt an easy decision, but one I had to make as the health and safety of residents is my top priority. The new Norwalk Adventure Clubs will launch via Zoom on July 6 and run for eight weeks through Aug. 28. The online classes and activities will be free and will not require pre-registration. Programs will cater to campers entering preschool through senior year of high school and will include dance movement, bilingual story time, escape room challenges, Lego building, scavenger hunts, open mic performances, bingo and more. Rilling said the city will consider in-person outdoor recreation activities later in the summer, pending health conditions. Last month, the city issued refunds for the summer camp as conditions remained uncertain. State guidelines says summer camp can be held in-person, but with strict protocols: Campers would have to stay at least 6 feet apart and wear face masks. Sharing games or equipment would be prohibited. Any camp the city holds must be enriching and safe for participants and staff, and that is not feasible given the current health situation and the restrictions and guidelines in place from the state of Connecticut, Norwalk Director of Recreation and Parks Nick Roberts said. Our team has been thinking outside of the box to develop programs and classes suitable for different ages and interests. I believe families and young people alike will find many different activities to enjoy this summer. A full calendar and schedule of classes will be released by Friday at norwalkct.org. erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com Why this Seven Springs clip grabbed the attention of 1 million people The tweet has been seen by more than 1 million people so far. Many commenters asked if the clip was planned or fake. Assets worth about $85 million seized from ex-managers of Yugra bank AGN Moskva, Sergey Vedyashkin 10:47 16/06/2020 MOSCOW, June 16 (RAPSI) The Moscow Commercial Court has ordered seizure of assets totaling 5.9 billion rubles (about $85 million) owned by ex-owner of Bank Yugra Alexey Khotin, former bank board chairman Dmitry Shilyayev, and several individuals and corporate bodies upon an application by the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA), according to court records. The Moscow Commercial Court is to hear on July 3 two DIA claims against former managers of the bank in the amount of $529.2 million and 5.9 billion rubles. Earlier, the same court ruled in favor of the DIA as to attachment of cash assets and other properties of former Bank Yugra managers. At that time, DIA petitioned the court to grant it interim relief by seizing the aforesaid property in the framework of a claim by which it sought to hold the defendants civilly liable and recover from them the damages. In the period from April 9 through April 16, the court ruled in favor of DIA as to the recovery of about 8 billion rubles (about $113 million at the current exchange rate) from the defendants, holding them civilly liable, and the seizure of their assets. These claims are to be heard on June 3. This February, the court dismissed a request of Yugra bank acting on behalf of Shilyayev to review the ruling, by which the banks license had been revoked in 2017, basing upon new evidence. An earlier petition to review the order of Russias Central Bank of 2017 revoking Yugra license was dismissed in cassation in September 2019. In July 2017, Russia's Central Bank said withdrew the license of Yugra bank, one of the top 30 banks. It imposed temporary administration represented by the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) in the bank. The DIA was ordered to conduct Yugras status inquiry. In October 2018, the Moscow Commercial Court declared Yugra bankrupt. This April, the Moscow City Court extended house arrest of the majority stockholder of Yugra bank Alexey Khotin charged with embezzling 7.5 billion rubles from the credit organization until July 18. Other defendants in the embezzlement case, ex-bank board chairman Dmitry Shilyayev and ex-president of the bank Alexey Nefedov, will also stay under house arrest until mid-July. Investigators believe that banker Khotin and his alleged accomplices have been involved in stealing the money from Yugra. The fact of the embezzlement is confirmed by the documents of Russias Central Bank, Deposit Insurance Agency and other evidence, according to the investigation. [June 16, 2020] Customer Segmentation Helped a Fintech Company to Increase Customer Retention Rate by 20% | A Quantzig Success Story Quantzig, a global data analytics and advisory firm, that delivers actionable analytics solutions to resolve complex business problems has announced the completion of its recent engagement- Customer Segmentation: Improving Customer Retention Rate in Asian Market. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005802/en/ The case study aligns perfectly with Quantzig's commitment to helping its clients transform business processes using data and analytical insights. It also offers comprehensive insights into: The role of customer segmentation in enhancing customer loyalty The benefits of customer segmentation The challenges facing the fintech industry in 2020 Request a FREE proposal to better understand the scope of our success story and gain comprehensive insights into the business benefits of customer segmentation. According to Quantzig's customer segmentation analytics experts, "Customer segmentation relies on identifying key differentiators that divide customers into groups that can be targeted." The fintech companies mostl leverage computer programs and other technologies to support financial and banking services. Broadly, fintech is defined as a technological innovation in financial services. Companies functioning in the fintech industry exist in the market to provide and improve the existing financial and banking infrastructure. The breakthrough moment for the fintech industry was the disruption of global financial services. Major fintech industry players originated around that period to give a financial boost to other businesses and individuals by leveraging advanced technical solutions. The client in this study, is an American company with operations around the world. The client was looking forward to understanding the customer segments in the Asian market and segregating the customer in terms of need-based and value-based models. Speak to our analytics experts to learn how customer segmentation and profiling solutions can help fintech industry players to drive profitable outcomes using a new marketing plan. Customer Segmentation: Business Outcome 1: Enhanced customer loyalty 2: Increased customer retention rates by 20% 3: Maximized cross-selling opportunities Request a free demo to gain comprehensive insights into our customer segmentation solutions portfolio for the fintech industry. Customer segmentation helps organizations in the fintech industry to classify customers into measurable segments based on customer needs, behavior, and preferences. The use of advanced analytics methodologies also enables FinTech companies to determine the profit potential of every customer segment by leveraging a data-driven customer segmentation strategy. Furthermore, customer segmentation analytics enables them to allocate their marketing budget as per the customer segment to stay ahead of their competitors. About Quantzig Quantzig is a global analytics and advisory firm with offices in the US, UK, Canada, China, and India. For more than 15 years, we have assisted our clients across the globe with end-to-end data modeling capabilities to leverage analytics for prudent decision making. Today, our firm consists of 120+ clients, including 45 Fortune 500 companies. For more information on our engagement policies and pricing plans, visit: https://www.quantzig.com/request-for-proposal View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005802/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] T he number of people signing on for benefits because they are out of work or on very low wages has soared to its highest level for more than a quarter of a century, official figures reveal today. The claimants total rocketed by 528,000 in a month to just over 2.8 million in May, a level not seen since October 1993, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. That is a rise of 1.56 million or 125.9 per cent since March as the devastating impact of the lockdown has ripped through the economy at an unprecedented pace. The rate of increase is fastest in London where the claimant count rate now stands at 8.2 per cent of the working population. Todays figures will increase the pressure on the Government to ease the requirement for social distancing from two metres to 1.5 or even one metre to prevent another huge wave of job losses in the hospitality and tourism sectors over the summer. Economists said the claimant count which includes people on Jobseekers Allowance or claiming Universal Credit because they have no or very low paid work is seen a better indicator of the underlying level of suffering than the official unemployment rate. The number of employees on payroll has fallen in recent months / ONS This was barely changed at 3.9 per cent in the February to April quarter. A slew of other indicators pointed to extreme stress in the labour market despite the safety net of the Governments furlough scheme, which supports nine million jobs. The number of employees is down 612,000 since March, while vacancies fell to a record low of 476,000 in April. The total number of hours worked fell by a record 94.2 million, or 8.9 per cent in the same month, compared with last year. Earnings not including bonuses rose just one per cent, meaning that real wages fell 0.4 per cent after taking inflation into account. That is the first drop since January 2018. Minister for Employment Mims Davies MP said:Todays figures are starting to show the impact of Covid-19 on our economy, but our furlough scheme, grants, loans and tax cuts have protected thousands of businesses and millions of jobs, setting us up for recovery. Already our nationwide network of Work Coaches have moved in to support jobseekers across sectors and match them with employers who are recruiting. By responding to the needs of communities across the UK they will be at the heart of our revival and renewal, helping people find new roles and move forward with their lives. But Jing Teow, senior economist at consultants PwC, said:"Todays data shows just how hard the coronavirus has hit workers across the country. Employment and unemployment rates have remained broadly unchanged over the three months to April. However, this picture belies the significant number of workers - 8.9 million, or one in four - being furloughed as a result of the fall in economic activity as these workers are still classified as being employed. Chancellor Rishi Sunak was quick to introduce the furlough scheme / PA "The sharp fall in weekly hours worked, close to 9 per cent compared to last year, offers a truer picture of the impact of rising unemployment and furloughing. Real pay also fell for the first time since January 2018. More worryingly, monthly vacancies data - an indication of labour market tightness - showed that vacancies fell by a record 60 per cent in May compared to March, while the claimant count rose to 2.8 million. James Reed, Chairman of REED, Britains biggest recruitment firm, said: What was sadly a health emergency is now rapidly becoming an employment crisis. Millions of jobs are now at risk and what were seeing may just be the tip of the iceberg. Theres a real danger that unemployment could go above 15 per cent, and as the clock continues to tick on the Governments generous Job Retention scheme, jobseekers and businesses face an unforgiving employment landscape. Fiona Cincotta at Gain Capital said: "Whilst the governments furlough scheme offers an unprecedented amount of support to the UK labour market, we can expect to see this start to unravel in the coming months as the scheme is gradually withdrawn." Loading.... The furlough scheme continues to hold off the bulk of job losses, but unemployment is likely to surge in the months ahead, said Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors. Wage support has given firms some much-needed time to regroup. "The third Create No Matter What challenge is all about illustration," said Mary-Irene Marek, Director of Content and Social Media for Adorama. "There is no limit on what you can create and how you want to express yourself during the entire creative process. There are endless ways for you to share a piece of yourself with the world, and we can't wait to see what you create around the theme of hope." Adorama's #CreateNoMatterWhat campaign is a community-based hashtag to engage with and encourage creatives to create, learn, and think outside the box. Whether it's photography, videography, audio, design or editing, #CreateNoMatterWhat challenges creators to keep their creativity flowing and to express their passion at every opportunity. To enter the Illustration Challenge, participants should submit a completed online entry form and up to five illustrations that demonstrate their talents, skills and vision. Winners will be selected based on the following criteria: adherence/appropriateness to the challenge theme, originality of expression, quality of artistic composition and aesthetic design, creativity and overall execution of concept, and visual and emotional impact. The Illustration Challenge is open now through June 24th at 11:59 PM ET. The winner will be announced on June 26th at 12 p.m. ET. To learn more about the Hope Illustration Challenge and submit up to five entries for a chance to win, visit www.adorama.com/cnmw. About Adorama Inc. Adorama has been serving customers for more than 40 years and has grown from its flagship NYC store to include five successful online retailers: Adorama, Sunny Sports, Leisure Pro, Scuba.com, and PRINTIQUE. Shopping is available online or at the company's storefront in New York City, featuring both Adorama and Leisure Pro showrooms. The company also rents equipment through Adorama Rental Co. in Manhattan and Brooklyn and serves institutions via Adorama Business Solutions. Adorama customers can connect to a network of experts through its interactive blog 42West, through AdoramaTV, social media, and with live online and in-store events. ADORAMA Contact Irwin Rommel Suba [email protected] 646.321.3263 PR Contact Nicole Fait [email protected] 949.438.1104 SOURCE Adorama Related Links https://www.adorama.com/ Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 By PTI LUCKNOW: At least 80 people working for the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's helpline service here have tested positive for COVID-19, a senior official said on Tuesday. "The first case (among those working at the helpline) was detected around 4-5 days back," the official told PTI. The helpline service '1076' has been outsourced to a company. "We had visited the place almost a month back, and they were properly told masks and sanitisers have to be used by everyone. They (the company) forwarded us photographs and videos of people wearing masks while working," the official said. However, the official refused to comment on whether any action has been initiated against the company, which was providing the services. The Yogi Adityanath government had last year launched the chief minister's helpline number '1076'. The 24X7 toll-free helpline number enables residents of the state to file their complaints. It was launched to establish a direct link between the people and the Chief Minister's Office. Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas was arrested on Monday in an alleged hit-and-run accident in Chico, Calif., where he mightve been impaired by alcohol, according to a collision report acquired by NJ Advance Media. This wouldnt be the first time Rosas was involved in a driving incident involving alcohol. Introducing Giants Extra: Sign up for a free trial now. Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text directly with reporters In February of 2016, Rosas was arrested in Orland, Calif, and charged with driving under the influence and driving with Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of more than .08%, according to Glenn County court records. Rosas is from Orland. The DUI charge was dismissed, per court records, but Rosas pled guilty for driving with a BAC over .08%. He was sentenced to 30 months probation. Rosas was driving a 1998 Chevy Blazer and was pulled over when he failed to stop at a stop sign. He was 21 years old at the time. The Giants "were aware of a prior arrest prior to him joining us, a person familiar with the situation told NJ Advance Medias Matt Lombardo. Rosas went undrafted in April of 2016 after playing collegiately at Southern Oregon University. The Giants signed him in 2017 when he beat out Mike Nugent for the starting kicker job. Now 25, Rosas was arrested on Monday morning in Chico and booked at Butte County Jail in California for a misdemeanor hit-and-run and driving on a suspended license. Per Chico Highway Patrols collision report, alcohol impairment was believed to be a factor in the incident. Per the report, Rosas was driving erratically at 100 miles per hour when he ran a red light and hit a Ford pickup truck. He attempted to drive away from the scene when his car broke down, per the report, when he then proceeded to flee on foot. Responding officers found Rosas near the crash sit, barefoot and his hands, legs and feet covered in blood. We are aware of the situation and have been in contact with Aldrick," the Giants told NJ Advance Media in a statement about Mondays arrest. "We have no further comment at this time. Rosas was a restricted free agent this offseason but signed a $3.2 million tender to keep him with the Giants for the 2020 season. He was a Pro Bowler in 2018 but struggled in 2019, missing five field goals and four extra points. Get Giants text messages from reporters: Cut through the clutter of social media and text directly with the Giants beat writers. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now for a free trial. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Zack Rosenblatt may be reached at zrosenblatt@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Stalled by regulatory hurdles, plans are afoot to integrate WhatsApp services with JioMart to take on rivals Paytm, PhonePe and Google Pay. WhatsApp has about 400 million users in India. It has been testing its payments service in India - based on UPI - with about a million users. (Representative Image) New Delhi: WhatsApp has launched its WhatsApp Pay in Brazil, nearly two years after it began testing the payments service in India. In 2018, the Facebook-owned company had started testing the service in India, which allows users to utilise the messaging platform to send and receive money. However, the ambitious plan has been caught in a bind over regulatory issues. In a Facebook post on Monday, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Brazil is the first country where it is widely rolling out payments in WhatsApp. Today were starting to launch payments for people using WhatsApp in Brazil. Were making sending and receiving money as easy as sharing photos, he said, adding that small businesses will also be able to make sales right within WhatsApp. To do this, were building on Facebook Pay, which provides a secure and consistent way to make payments across our apps, he said. Zuckerberg said WhatsApp is working with local banks, including Banco do Brasil, Nubank, Sicredi as well as Cielo, the leading payments processor for merchants in Brazil. In a blogpost, WhatsApp said it has built payments with security in mind and a special six digit PIN or fingerprint will be required to prevent unauthorised transactions. To start, we will support debit or credit cards from Banco do Brasil, Nubank, and Sicredi on the Visa and Mastercard networks -and we are working with Cielo, the leading payments processor in Brazil. We have built an open model to welcome more partners in the future, it added. WhatsApp has about 400 million users in India. It has been testing its payments service in India - based on UPI - with about a million users. While the company was hopeful of rolling out the payments service to a larger userbase last year itself, it has faced regulatory hurdles that has delayed a full-fledged launch in India. Its rivals in the country include Softbank-backed Paytm, Flipkarts PhonePe and Google Pay. Interestingly, Facebook had recently announced USD 5.7 billion investment in Jio Platforms. Simultaneously, Jio Platforms, WhatsApp Inc, and Reliance Retail Ltd (RRL) have also proposed to enter into a separate commercial arrangement. Under the arrangement, JioMart - a new RRL commerce marketplace which connects customers with Kirana stores and other small and microlocal Indian businesses - plans to integrate certain WhatsApp services with JioMart. The idea of an Iraqi-Iranian divorce is becoming more and more popular, but the question remains of whether it will be possible, writes Salah Nasrawi Now that the United States and Iraq have agreed on a roadmap to advance their bilateral relationship, speculation is rising that the nations new government has a better chance of ending Irans malignant role in Iraq. The election of Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, not known as an ally of Iran, as Iraqs new prime minister in May has increased the potential for a back-peddling in Iraqi-Iranian relations with potentially dramatic consequences. This assumption was reinforced by a strategic dialogue with Baghdad called for by Washington on the future of the bilateral relationship, a sign that the United States is seeking warmer ties with Iraq. Last week, senior diplomats from both sides met by video conference for the first session of the dialogue and came out with a set of resolutions on advancing bilateral relations. The process is based on the Strategic Framework Agreement concluded between the US and Iraq in 2008 and guidelines for long-term relations laid out by the two countries. Based on an assessment of the final statement from the meeting, the United States and Iraq may be on a new path to deepening their cooperation, taking advantage of opportunities raised by the new government in Iraq. In the statement, the two countries reaffirmed the importance of the strategic relationship and their determination to take appropriate steps to enhance it in the interest of both countries and to achieve security, stability and prosperity in the region. While the United States renewed its commitment to developing close bilateral security cooperation with Iraq, it also expressed its preparedness to developing political relations on all levels. Washington also promised to help Iraq across a range of other key issues, including the economy, investment, government reforms, humanitarian efforts, rebuilding the country and elections. Since the US troop withdrawal from Iraq in 2011, Iraqs ties with the United States have weathered post-invasion era distrust and pressures from Iran and its proxies. But if the two countries are now to succeed in warming their relations and increasing cooperation, they will likely need to strengthen their ties and change their relationships in fundamental ways. This may turn out to be an increasingly uncomfortable development for Iran, which has been engaged in an intensive and costly struggle with the United States over Iraq. Iran has showed no sign of changing the dynamics of its engagement in Iraq, and it has continued to make inroads in its troubled western neighbour. A few days before taqIraqs FIraIIraqs Prime he US-Iraq dialogue took place, Iran dispatched its Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, at the head of a large political, economic and security delegation to Baghdad to play on its increasing influence in Iraq. During a two-day trip, Ardakanian signed a key energy deal that allows Iran to continue to export badly needed electricity to Iraq, something which the United States has always opposed. Ardakanian also announced that the Iranian delegation had secured half of a disbursement worth $400 million from cash-strapped Iraq and reviewed a three-year plan for reconstructing the Iraqi electricity industry by the Iranian private sector. The deal was another sign of defiance to Washington, and it shows that Tehran will not give in to US pressure to end its free rein in Iraq. The United States has imposed economic and oil sanctions on Iran as part of its policy of maximum pressure to compel Iran to renegotiate the nuclear deal with the West, but it has repeatedly exempted Iraq, allowing it to use crucial Iranian energy supplies for its power grid. Ahead of the strategic dialogue, Washington granted a 120-day sanctions waiver for Iraq in May to continue importing electricity from Iran in order to help the new Iraqi government succeed and give it time to cut back its ties with Iran. But as the US-Iraqi strategic dialogue progresses, Washington will hope that it will provide an opportunity for decoupling Iraq and Iran and serve its goal of binding the US closer to Baghdad under the new government of Al-Kadhimi. However, the question remains of how Washington will be able to achieve this ambitious twofold goal when it has failed to produce a clear, comprehensive and functional strategy to confront Iran and win back Iraq. To try to mitigate the lack of a concrete strategy, the US has set out some priorities that it believes could force Iran to scale back its interference in Iraq. These include assisting Iraq in implementing wide-ranging plans to reform its government and the performance of its judiciary that include human rights, electoral reforms and efforts to strengthen the rule of law and anti-corruption. In addition, the United States has placed the emphasis on the return and reintegration of people displaced in the war against the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq and helping ethnic groups that were targeted by it. The United States has also made it clear that it will support Iraq through the international financial institutions to help it meet the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic and declining oil revenues. But beyond the rhetoric of the diplomatic statements, the United States seems to be setting preconditions for resetting its relationship with Iraq mainly by slapdash efforts to sever Iraqs dependence on Iran. In order for Iraq to get the help it needs to confront the Covid-19 pandemic and plummeting oil revenues, which are threatening Iraqs healthcare system and economic collapse, Washington has made it clear that Iraq will have to choose between Iran and the assistance that it can give. To meet long-term needs to reconstruct cities destroyed in the war against IS and rebuild Iraqs devastated economy, Iraq should expect help from the United States only if Al-Kadhimi works to curtail Irans influence in the country. Conceivably, the United States expects Al-Kahdimis government to work to cut back Irans proxies and allies in the country, which are the backbone of Tehrans influence and the guardians of its interests in Iraq. While Washington wants to see Baghdad reining in the power of Irans proxies, it also hopes that fixing the electoral process in Iraq will prevent pro-Iran groups from gaining ground in Iraqs parliament as they did in the last elections. As the US administration was kicking off the talks, the US Congress was preparing its own plans to push back on Irans increasing influence in Iraq and throughout the region. A Congressional group has called on the legislature to designate some of the pro-Iran factions in Iraq as terrorist organisations. The proposed list includes the Badr Organisation and its Secretary General Hadi Al-Ameri, in addition to several factions of the Popular Mobilisation Forces. The recommendation is part of a broader US strategy to sanction Irans allies in the wider region that include the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, the Lebanese Hizbullah group and the Houthis in Yemen. From the moves of the US administration and Congress, assumptions could be made that Washington plans for a long stay in Iraq and that it wants to have long-term ties binding it to all future governments. The big question about this American endeavour, however, is how far Washington is likely to go in Iraq and whether there is any appetite to confront Irans influence and risk a devastating new conflict. The layers of uncertainty as to whether Washington can succeed in forcing a final divorce between Iraq and Iran are thus abundant. Iran has gone a long way towards consolidating its influence in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003 due largely to flawed policies in the post-occupation era. Every US action from day one of the invasion helped to turn Iraq into a client state of Iran, a former enemy which shares a 1,400 km border with Iraq. Through allied Shia politicians and paramilitary groups in Iraq, Iran emerged as the dominant force in the country, expanding its influence and its role beyond political and security efforts to commercial, business and cultural ties. Many Iraqi observers believe that the connections between the two countries have become so intertwined that it will be impossible to fully separate Iraq and Iran. For these observers, decoupling Iraq and Iran would be like carrying out a difficult surgical operation on a conjoined twin, needing surgeons who have better ideas of where the patients vital organs are before starting cutting. Given the Trump administrations reckless foreign policy that has weakened the overall US position in the Middle East, it is unlikely that Washington has a plan or the time to execute its intentions to curtail Irans influence in Iraq. The Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis that is a fallout from US sanctions may have limited Irans advance in Iraq, but Tehran has continued to produce a reaction felt by the United States. At least three rocket attacks targeted bases hosting American soldiers and the US Embassy in Iraq this week. They clearly came in the context of the US-Iraq strategic dialogue and the tensions between the US and Iran. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: [June 16, 2020] Cyberhaven Wins Business Intelligence Group's Prestigious 2020 Fortress Cyber Security Award PALO ALTO, Calif., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyberhaven , a trailblazing Data Behavior Analytics (DaBA) provider, today announced it was named a 2020 Fortress Cyber Security Award winner in the Data Protection category. The company also unveiled new continuous monitoring and real-time discovery capabilities that help organizations expose insider threats and stop risky employee behaviors before critical data and intellectual property are even jeopardized. The Fortress Cyber Security Awards recognize the world's leading companies and products that are working to keep data and electronic assets safe from ever-evolving cyber threats. This prestigious industry distinction comes on the heels of two Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM) award wins for Cyberhaven, providing further validation for Cyberhaven's leading Data Behavior Analytics Platform. "We are proud to name Cyberhaven as a winner in the 2020 Fortress Cyber Security Awards program," said Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer, Business Intelligence Group. "As our society continues to evolve and become more reliant on networks and data, companies like Cyberhaven are critical at providing the protection and trust consumers demand." According to the 2020 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), 17% of all data breaches are caused by human errortwice as many as just a year ago. The majority of insider threats over 60%) are also caused by careless human error. This is corroborated by a Cyberhaven study, which found that 58% of organizations believe a lack of employee awareness and training is the #1 cause of insider threats. As organizations contemplate extendedor even permanentwork from home policies, they can expect increased data exposure by employees using collaboration apps and personal cloud storage. The only way to address these sources of pervasive insider threats is to understand how, when and why people make mistakes with sensitive data and provide immediate and continuous education to end those behaviors. Cyberhaven's newest capabilities help organizations constantly monitor critical assets and data and pinpoint the moment an employee or authorized user is about to make a mistake. When an employee uploads a sensitive file or shares valuable IP on a chat application, for example, Cyberhaven delivers a warning to the employee, as well as team leads or management to discourage risky behavior and instill accountability. Armed with real-time insights, security teams can take appropriate action and provide "just-in-time" training to empower employees. This training can also be used to inform an organization's ongoing employee education efforts. "Most cybersecurity professionals believe users are innocent until proven guilty and that they should be treated accordingly. Rather than constantly watching users, most would prefer to monitor high-value data, while providing trusted users with proper education to ensure data is not exposed to unnecessary risk," said Dr. Volodymyr Kuznetsov, CEO of Cyberhaven. "Cyberhaven's industry recognition reinforces a market need for innovative, data-driven ways to mitigate risk while actively educating users on cybersecurity best practices. By continuously analyzing data behavior, Cyberhaven provides security teams with a unified view of risk, reduces alert fatigue, and protects critical data and assetswithout inhibiting employee productivity." Cyberhaven indexes and reconstructs the flow of data across all assetson-premises and in the cloud, including SaaS and proprietary applications and homegrown systemsto reveal intent behind data exposure and understand the full story. To learn more visit here . And for information about the annual Fortress Cyber Security Awards, please visit https://www.bintelligence.com/fortress-cyber-security-awards . About Cyberhaven Cyberhaven's Data Behavior Analytics (DaBA) solution enables organizations to gain real-time visibility into the behavior of business critical data as it moves across endpoints, servers and applications on-premises and in the cloud. Cyberhaven observes data's behavior and records it, so that whenever a data incident is suspected, it has the entire context and knows everywhere the data went, who accessed it and when. Cyberhaven doesn't require any changes to a company's data or IT environment, or any heavy upfront policy creation effort. Founded in 2016 by a group of accomplished security researchers, Cyberhaven is based in Palo Alto, Calif. with offices in Boston, Mass. and Lausanne, Switzerland. For more information, please visit https://cyberhaven.com . View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cyberhaven-wins-business-intelligence-groups-prestigious-2020-fortress-cyber-security-award-301077687.html SOURCE Cyberhaven [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Chattanooga Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is hosting a LIVE! virtual panel conversation with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department. Guest panelists are Sheriff Jim Hammond, Captain Van Hinton and Deputy Jessica White. Topics to be discussed include policing the black community, police accountability, transparency and law enforcement's efforts in community relations. It will be held Wednesday at 5 p.m. It will be live streamed at https://facebook.com/cacdeltasigmatheta [June 15, 2020] Exclusive Networks Partners with CrowdStrike to Bring Enterprises in Asia Pacific Comprehensive Cybersecurity SINGAPORE, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Exclusive Networks, the global "value creating" specialist distributor for cybersecurity and cloud solutions, today announced it has partnered with CrowdStrike Inc., a leader in cloud-delivered endpoint protection. The partnership will bring the CrowdStrike Falcon platform to key markets in Asia with Exclusive Networks' pre- and post-sales support through its network of over 200 engineers. CrowdStrike's cloud-native platform will be available to Exclusive Networks partners and customers in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Thailand. "The Southeast Asia region is incredibly diverse with different markets requiring unique solutions. Exclusive Networks' local knowledge combined with their regional reach make them a fantastic partner to deliver CrowdStrike's solutions to enterprises in key Asian markets," said Geoff Swaine, Regional Vice President, Channel and Alliances, Asia Pacific and Japan, CrowdStrike. "Cybersecurity has become mission critical for organizations as they look to secure their information technology (IT) operations and prevent breaches. Our CrowdStrike Falcon platform coupled with the expertise of Exclusive Networks' team will provide organizations with a powerful and comprehensive defense program that will allow them to spot and stop breaches." CrowdStrike's Falcon platform will provide cloud-delivered endpoint protection for enterprises, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to proactively detect threats within networksand across devices to block attacks. Exclusive Networks will support all partners with end-to-end, pre- and post-engineering and service support with their team of engineers and cybersecurity experts in APAC who are ready and able to provide support for customers at a moment's notice. "We are proud to partner with CrowdStrike and offer our customers the leading cloud-based, endpoint cybersecurity solutions in the world," says Brad Gray, Senior Vice President APAC at Exclusive Networks. "Together we will allow companies in Asia to keep up to date with the right solutions knowing that they are being supported by our experts who can point them in the right direction." Internet usage and growth continues with over 3.8 billion internet users globally of which 53% are from the Asia Pacific region according to the Bond Internet Trends 2019 report. Companies are also increasingly relying on the internet to conduct their day-to-day business, a trend that has accelerated as more employees work from home thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. However, according to the CrowdStrike Work Security Index, there has been a 100X increase in malicious cyberattacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exclusive Networks will make CrowdStrike's solutions available to partners and end customers throughout Asia. By leveraging its local network of over 20 offices in the APAC region, Exclusive Networks will work with resellers and systems integrators to ensure companies in Southeast Asia, from start-ups and SMEs to multinationals, will have robust cybersecurity protection. Images available to download here About Exclusive Networks Exclusive Networks is the global 'value creating' specialist distributor for cybersecurity and cloud solutions - the defining and interdependent technologies of the digital era. Its capabilities are backed by best-of-breed vendor portfolios, unparalleled skills and a host of compelling services from pre and post-sales technical support to leasing, training, professional services and global project management. With 50+ offices across five continents and presence in over 100 countries, Exclusive Networks has a unique 'local sale, global scale' model, creating value and enabling partners to achieve global reach, while delivering the value of a locally-focused specialist distributor. More at www.exclusive-networks.com SOURCE Exclusive Networks [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Turkey Says Moscow, Ankara Have 'No Significant Disagreements' on Need for Libya Ceasefire Sputnik News 10:53 GMT 15.06.2020(updated 12:09 GMT 15.06.2020) Turkey deployed combat troops to Libya earlier this year, and has provided large amounts of military equipment to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) for its war against General Haftar's Libyan National Army (GNA). Moscow is seeking to facilitate a political settlement to end the long-running Libyan civil war. Turkey and Russia are working toward establishing a ceasefire in Libya, and have no major disagreements on the issue, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has announced. "We don't have any problems in our discussions with the Russians...No, that's not the issue. But a ceasefire that can bring Libya to a political process - we need more discussions to make that possible. Only after those are clarified can we come together at the ministerial level and sign a joint document," Cavusoglu said, speaking to reporters during a meeting with Iranian officials on Monday. According to the foreign minister, he spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov twice by telephone on Sunday, with the ministers agreeing to postpone a planned face-to-face meeting between Lavrov, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, and Turkish officials until discussions at the expert level on the Libyan issue were completed. "There is no other aspect to it...we have no significant disagreements. Of course, we are on different sides, yes. But when it comes to a ceasefire, there are no different opinions, there is no crisis or anything of that sort which caused the postponement," Cavusoglu assured. Earlier, a Turkish official told Reuters that Lavrov and Cavusoglu had postponed planned talks due to the GNA's ongoing offensive to take the strategic coastal city of Sirte from Haftar's forces, a week after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi announced a Cairo-backed initiative for a ceasefire between the two warring parties. Russia and Turkey in Libya Russia established diplomatic ties with the eastern Libyan Tobruk-based government in 2015, and has praised the LNA forces' efforts to root out terrorist militias and armed gangs operating throughout much of the war-torn country following the overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. At the same time, Moscow has refused to provide the LNA with weapons shipments directly, pointing to the UN arms embargo against the nation. Haftar has visited Moscow on several occasions to discuss the crisis in the country, with Russian officials repeatedly calling for dialogue between Tobruk and Tripoli to resolve the long-running crisis. Turkey has provided considerable support to the Tripoli government, delivering at least eight multiple launch rocket systems, 10 strike drones, 70 Kirpi and Vuran armoured vehicles, and over 260 Turkish-made all-terrain vehicles to the country, according to LNA data. Ankara announced the deployment of ground troops in the country earlier this year in a bid to stop the LNA's offensive to take Tripoli, with Haftar's forces estimating that as many as 1,500 Turkish troops and security contractors, and thousands of radical fighters from Syria, have been transferred to the war-torn nation in recent months. Libya collapsed into chaos and civil conflict soon after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi with the support of NATO airstrikes in 2011. After that, dozens of competing militia and terrorist groups, criminal gangs and human smuggling groups popped up throughout the country. In the years that followed, the GNA and the Tobruk-based government consolidated themselves into the two major forces competing for control over the oil-rich nation, with repeated efforts to reach a political settlement; the most recent took place in Berlin in January, and failed. The LNA began an offensive to take Tripoli in April 2019. The offensive slowed, and then sputtered to a halt earlier this year following the Turkish intervention, and the LNA warned that "all Turkish targets in occupied areas of Libya" would become "legitimate targets" if Turkey did not withdraw its forces immediately. This week, Turkish media reported that Ankara had plans to set up two permanent military bases in Libya. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Treasury Metals Inc. (TSX: TML) (Treasury or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by Haywood Securities Inc. (collectively, the Underwriters) in connection with a bought deal private placement financing (the Offering) of an aggregate of 27,800,000 subscription receipts (the Subscription Receipts) at a price of $0.36 per Subscription Receipt (the Issue Price) for gross proceeds of $10,008,000. The Offering is being completed in connection with the Companys previously announced transaction (the Transaction) wherein Treasury will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Tamaka Gold Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Mining Gold Corp., which holds a 100% interest in the Goldlund Gold Project (Goldlund), located immediately adjacent to Treasurys Goliath Gold Project (Goliath) in Northwestern Ontario. Please refer to the Companys press release dated June 3, 2020 for further information regarding the Transaction. The Subscription Receipts will be issued pursuant to a subscription receipt agreement (the Subscription Receipt Agreement) to be entered into by the Company, the Underwriters, and a licensed Canadian trust company as subscription receipt agent to be agreed upon. Pursuant to the Subscription Receipt Agreement, the gross proceeds from the Offering (less 50% of the Underwriters cash commission and all of the Underwriters expenses) (the Escrowed Funds) will be held in escrow pending satisfaction of certain conditions, including, amongst others, (a) the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions precedent to the Transaction; and (b) the receipt of all required shareholder and regulatory approvals in connection with the Transaction and the Offering, including the conditional approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (Escrow Release Conditions). If the Escrow Release Conditions have not been satisfied on or prior to the date that is 90 days after the closing date of the Offering, the holders of Subscription Receipts will receive a cash amount equal to the Issue Price of the Subscription Receipts and any interest that has been earned on the Escrowed Funds. The Company has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a receipt from the applicable regulatory authorities (the Securities Commissions) for a (final) prospectus qualifying the distribution of the Common Shares and Warrants (as defined herein) (including any Common Shares underlying the Subscription Receipts issuable upon exercise of the Underwriters Options (as defined herein)) issuable upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts and the Underwriters compensation option issuable upon conversion of the Underwriters compensation option receipts (the Qualifying Prospectus) by 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on August 18, 2020 (the Qualification Deadline). Pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement, each Subscription Receipt shall automatically convert into one unit (a Unit) or one Penalty Unit (as defined below), as applicable, upon the later of: the date when the Escrowed Funds are released; and the date which is the earlier of: four months and one day after the closing of the Offering; and the second business day following the filing of the Qualifying Prospectus. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a Common Share) plus one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole such purchase warrant, a Warrant), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.60 for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering. If the closing price of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) is equal to or greater than $1.00 per share for a period of twenty (20) consecutive trading days during the exercise period, the Company may elect to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to a date that is not less than 30 calendar days from the date on which written notice is delivered to the Warrant holders. In the event the Company has not received a receipt from the Securities Commissions for the Qualifying Prospectus before the Qualification Deadline, each Subscription Receipt will thereafter entitle the holder to receive upon the conversion thereof, for no additional consideration, one unit (a Penalty Unit), each Penalty Unit to be comprised of 1.1 Common Shares and 0.55 of a Warrant. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for the exploration and development of the Goliath and Goldlund projects, and for general corporate purposes. Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about July 7, 2020 and is subject to certain customary conditions, including, but not limited to, the approval of the shareholders of Treasury in connection with the Transaction, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and acceptance of the TSX. The Subscription Receipts to be issued under the Offering will be offered by way of private placement exemptions in all the provinces of Canada and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Subscription Receipts and the Warrants, and the Common Shares underlying the Subscription Receipts and the Warrants respectively, will be subject to a statutory four-month hold period in accordance with Canadian securities legislation, subject to qualification under the Qualifying Prospectus. To view further details about the Transaction and the Goliath and Goldlund projects, please visit the Companys website at www.treasurymetals.com . Contact Information Greg Ferron CEO & Director Tel: 416-214-4654 Email: greg@treasurymetals.com Twitter @TreasuryMetals About Treasury Metals Inc. Treasury Metals Inc. is a gold focused company with assets in Canada and is listed on the TSX under the symbol TML and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol TSRMF. Treasurys flagship Goliath Gold Project is located in Northwestern Ontario. The project benefits substantially from excellent access to the Trans-Canada Highway, related power and rail infrastructure, and close proximity to several communities including Dryden, Ontario. Treasury plans on the initial development of an open pit gold mine with subsequent underground operations. The Company also owns several other projects throughout Canada, including Lara Polymetallic Project, Weebigee Gold Project, and grassroots gold exploration properties Gold Rock/Thunder Cloud and Shining Tree properties. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements, and forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements, which include expectations about the timing and completion of the Transaction and the Offering, the use of proceeds from the Offering, the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions and managements expectations with respect to the Offering and the Transaction, the issuance of a receipt for a Qualifying Prospectus, the exercise of the Underwriters Option, the necessary approvals for the Offering including the approval of the TSX and shareholders of Treasury and are based on the Companys current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, which may prove to be incorrect. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such words such as will, expects, may, should, estimates, anticipates, believes, projects, plans, and similar expressions, including variations thereof and negative forms. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Companys actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks and uncertainties relating to the completion of the Transaction and the Offering as described herein, the ability of the Company to satisfy all Escrow Release Conditions, obtaining necessary TSX and Treasury shareholder approval of the Offering in connection with the Transaction and managements ability to anticipate and manage the foregoing factors and risks. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation. Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Chinese Ministry of National Defense slams U.S. military plane flying over Taiwan PLA Daily Source: Ministry of National Defense Editor: Huang Panyue 2020-06-15 22:37:55 BEIJING, June 15 (ChinaMil) -- On Monday afternoon, a Chinese defense spokesperson slammed the flight by a U.S. C-40 military transport aircraft over Chinese territory without Chinese side's permission on June 9, calling it an extremely wrong and dangerous action. Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), said that the U.S. military aircraft's flying across Taiwan grossly violates China's territorial sovereignty and seriously undermines peace and stability of cross-Straits relations, which was extremely wrong and dangerous. "Chinese side urged the U.S. side to abide by the one-China policy and the three China-US Joint Communiques' stipulations, and stop all acts that provoke China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Ren Guoqiang. Taiwan is an integral part of China and there is no way out for "using Taiwan to contain China" and "attempt to raise status by bonding with foreign forces", said Senior Colonel Ren. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has firm will, full confidence, and possess enough capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, protect the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the strait, maintain regional peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, and resolutely thwart any attempt to create so called "one China, one Taiwan", Ren stressed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) was expected to plead guilty on Tuesday to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter for its role in the 2018 California wildfire that killed 85 people and decimated the town of Paradise. The court hearing in Chico will see the US's largest utility face the consequences of its neglect that resulted in the blaze, dubbed Camp Fire. The wildfire was ignited by PG&E's faulty electrical grid which it had failed to maintain despite the surrounding area being heavily forested and prone to high temperatures and strong winds. The hearing before Superior Court Judge Michael Deems comes nearly three months after PG&E reached a plea agreement in November 2018 fire that ripped across the region of Northern California. The fire killed 85 people, but prosecutors werent certain they could prove the company was responsible for one of the deaths. Officials ruled that death was a suicide. It is a rare occurrence for companies to plead guilty to felonies and admit that their failures caused multiple deaths. PG&E is also reaching the end of a complicated bankruptcy case that the company used to work out $25.5bn in settlements to pay for the damages from the fire and others that torched wide swaths of northern California and killed dozens of others in 2017, the Associated Press reported. The bankruptcy deals include $13.5bn earmarked for wildfire victims. A federal judge plans to approve or reject PG&Es plan for getting out of bankruptcy by the end of this month. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey told the AP: We want this to be impactful because this cant go on any longer. There is going to have to be a sea change in PG&Es method of operation. The plea will be entered by the company's CEO, Bill Johnson. As the felony counts are read out at the hearing, they will be accompanied by pictures of the Camp Fire victims shown on a big screen. The court hearing will be streamed online. On Wednesday, surviving relatives of those who died in the 2018 Camp Fire will be invited to make statements to the court. More than 20 people plan to attend in person while others have sent in statements which the DA will read. Judge Deems is expected to formally sentence PG&E on Thursday or Friday. Besides the mass killings, PG&E also will plead to one felony count of unlawfully causing a fire. No executives will be charged, leaving no one to be imprisoned for the crimes. PG&E instead will pay a maximum fine of $3.5m in addition to $500,000 to cover the costs of the criminal investigation. Recommended California primed for wildfires amid unusually dry weather The plea agreement also spares PG&E from being placed on criminal probation for a second time. The company is in the midst of a five-year probation for a 2010 explosion in its natural gas lines that blew up a neighbourhood in San Bruno, California and killed eight people. The probation lasts until January 2022. Since filing for bankruptcy early last year, PG&E claims it has been dramatically altering a corporate culture that prioritised profits for its shareholders over the safety of the 16m people who rely on the utility. The company says it is being more vigilant about trimming trees around power lines and replacing outdated equipment before it crumbles. Some measures have been heavily criticised. In 2019, PG&E decided to shut off large parts of its grid when fire conditions were heightened. Millions of people were left without power for days. As part of a deal with California power regulators, PG&E will replace 11 of its 14 board members. CEO Bill Johnson will step down this month. Despite PG&Es pledge, critics are fearful of the upcoming wildfire season after an unusually dry winter in northern California. Additional reporting from the Associated Press BDRP Virtual Annual Meeting Our foundation as a multi-disciplinary society led the way for innovative research that continues to move us toward a healthier future. Some of the worlds leading scientists will be recognized for their research on birth defects, including alcohol and cannabinoid exposure on brain development, caffeine exposure during pregnancy, and gene-environmental interactions in autism. The special lectures and awards will be presented at the Society for Birth Defects Research and Preventions (BDRP) first-ever Virtual Annual Meeting June 25, 29 and 30, as well as July 1 and 2, 2020. At a fraction of the cost of its traditional in-person Annual Meeting, the BDRP virtual presentations will also cover other hot topics such as the latest birth defects research surrounding opioids, gene therapy, and obesity in pregnancy. For the full Virtual Annual Meeting schedule, including opportunities for Continuing Medical Education credits, please visit https://birthdefectsresearch.org/meetings/2020/. The Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention is an international and multidisciplinary group of scientists including researchers, clinicians, epidemiologists, and public health professionals from academia, government, and industry who study birth defects, reproduction, and disorders of developmental origin. Through its 2020 awards, the unique diversity of the birth defects research field is underscored. Our foundation as a multi-disciplinary society led the way for innovative research that continues to move us toward a healthier future, said Chris Curran, PhD, BDRP President. As scientists, we have always recognized the transformative power of diversity in the many disciplines represented in the Society and we hope to inspire more scientists of all backgrounds to get involved in this rewarding research. The 2020 Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention award recipients and special lecturers include: Keynote Lecture Diana W. Bianchi, MD, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Scheduled Presentation: Prenatal Genomic Medicine: Transforming Obstetric Practice and Delivering New Biological Insights Josef Warkany Lecture Linda S. Birnbaum, PhD, DABT, ATS, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program Scheduled Presentation: POPs: A Plethora of Developmental Effects Robert L. Brent Lecture: Teratogen Update Karen W. Gripp, MD, FAAP, FACMG, A.I. duPont Hospital for Children/Nemours Scheduled Presentation: From Dysmorphology to Next-Generation Phenotyping F. Clarke Fraser New Investigator Award Joshua F. Robinson, PhD, University of California, San Francisco Scheduled Presentation: Establishing a Research Program in Developmental Toxicology Utilizing In Vitro Models and Big Data Approaches Agnish Fellowship Elaine M. Faustman, PhD, University of Washington Scheduled Presentation: Educating Future Birth Defects Researchers: Opportunities in the Era of Personalized Medicine, Systems Biology, and CRISPR Technologies James G. Wilson Publication Award for the best paper published in the journal Birth Defects Research Kristen R. Breit, PhD, San Diego State University The effects of alcohol and cannabinoid exposure during the brain growth spurt on behavioral development in rats; Birth Defects Research 111.12: 760-774 (2019) Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention Innovator Award Finalists Myrto Dimopoulou, PhD, Toxys Title: ReproTracker: A Human Stem Cell-Based Biomarker Assay for In Vitro Assessment of Developmental Toxicity. Colette Miller, PhD, US Environmental Protection Agency Title: A Tale of Two Livers: The Impact of Sex on Hepatic Gene Expression in the Adolescent Rat Exposed to Ozone During Implantation. Lena Smirnova, PhD, Johns Hopkins University Title: Studying Gene-Environmental Interactions in Autism with iPSC-derived BrainSpheres: microRNA and Metabolic Biomarkers of the Synergy. Edward W. Carney Distinguished Service Award Alan M. Hoberman, PhD, DABT, ATS, Charles River Marie W. Taubeneck Award Bevin Blake, PhD, NTPL/NIEHS Edward W. Carney Trainee Awards Bevin Blake, PhD, NTPL/NIEHS Haneesha Mohan, PhD, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network FASEB Howard Garrison Public Affairs Fellowship Mona Dai, PhD Student, Harvard University Birth Defects Research Distinguished Scholar Awards Marlene Anderka, ScD, MPH, for research associated with Medications used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and the risk of selected birth defects; BDRA, 94.1: 22-30 (2012) Robert L. Brent, MD, PhD, for research associated with Evaluation of the reproductive and developmental risks of caffeine; BDRB, 92.2:152-187 (2011) For a full list of Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention awards and recipients, please visit: https://www.birthdefectsresearch.org/meetings/2020/am-awards.asp About the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention The Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (BDRP) is made up of nearly 700 members worldwide specializing in a variety of disciplines, including developmental biology and toxicology, reproduction and endocrinology, epidemiology, cell and molecular biology, nutritional biochemistry, and genetics as well as the clinical disciplines of prenatal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, neonatology, medical genetics, and teratogen risk counseling. Scientists interested in BDRP membership are encouraged to visit http://www.BirthDefectsResearch.org. Media Contact: Nicole Chavez, 619-368-3259, nchavez@birthdefectsresearch.org TUESDAY PUZZLE When we last saw Alex Eaton-Salners, he was trying to send us a message in Morse code. In this puzzle, nothing is definite unless you count the shaded squares. Tricky Clues 1A. You would see a TESLA at an electric charging station. I just bought my first hybrid car nonplug-in, as I dont have a place for an outlet on my driveway after driving my old car for 14 years, and I am so excited. Hopefully, charging stations will become as prevalent as gas stations in the next few years, so it will be easier to recharge them. 9A. Hi, kids! The RONCO company, headed by Ron Popeil, of Pocket Fisherman and Spray-On Hair fame, was responsible for one of the first mass-produced food processors, which was called the Veg-O-Matic. 34A. Ralph NADER, who ran unsuccessfully for president, spent most of his career as an advocate for consumer protection, environmentalism and government reform. His book Unsafe at Any Speed, which revealed the designed-in dangers of midcentury automobiles, was published in 1965. [June 15, 2020] SECUI selects Snet SWAN powered by 128 Technology for enhanced "Zero-Trust" Security Leading network integrator to offer SECUI software-centric SD-WAN service BURLINGTON, Massachusetts, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 128 Technology, the leader in Session Smart Routing, today announced that SECUI Corporation has selected Snet Systems, a leading network integrator headquartered in Seoul, Korea, to offer a highly reliable and secure managed SD-WAN service, called SWAN, powered by 128 Technology's Session Smart Router. Snet Systems and SECUI an information security company and subsidiary of Samsung SDS based in Korea, will work together to offer enterprise customers a networking environment that delivers the agility they need to be more customer-centric and outpace their competitors. Snet Systems will provide its SWAN solution to SECUI, which will offer Snet its next generation solutions for network security, threat detection, and security management. The two companies will work collaboratively to provide sales and technical support on joint domestic projects where SECUI participates as a new service. Snet Systems announced in October 2019 it would join the 128 Technology Solution Partner Program, which enables service providers to leverage 128 Technology's 128T Networking Platform to create new revenue streams. Snet and SECUI will gain several new features from 128 Technology's router, including application-aware routing, zero trust security, as well as orchestration and automation. These features will drive more efficient use of network bandwidth, security, performance, and simplicity than any other routing platform on the market today. "We're excited to partner with SECUI, a true leader in the security space," said Incheol You, Chief Technology Officer, Snet Systems. "The combination of SECUI's security infrastructure, in addition to our SWAN solution, will result in a powerful offering to enhance our customers' productivity, bandwidth efficieny and profitability." "128 Technology's Zero Trust security approach was a major reason why we decided to partner with Snet," said Byung Soo Kim, Vice President, SECUI. "We're not interested in network security that's painted on or relegated to the perimeter. We need a security solution that's baked into the routing fabric itself and can help us mount simpler and more affordable defenses. Snet SWAN, powered by 128 Technology, was the ideal solution." "Today's enterprises need a network that is not only resilient to attacks but can also isolate an attack to the smaller segment within the network," said Kaz Kuroda, Managing Director APAC, 128 Technology. "By partnering with 128 Technology and using its Zero-Trust security model, Snet and SECUI will be able to reduce the risk of security breaches and compliance penalties as well as make it easy to connect and secure remote locations." To learn more about 128 Technology's mission to set the network free, visit here. About SECUI Corporation SECUI has been concentrating on network security technology development since its founding in 2000. We are now starting to have international security company as a target. SECUI has been recognized for its competence and potential throughout the world, and continuously making new stories with pleasant corporate culture, innovative process, creative thinking and passionate activities. From development, consulting, SI service and more, SECUI's ethic for management is based on providing best technology, excellent quality and superior products / services to the customers. As a No.1 security company in Korea, we will always comply with our social responsibilities. About Snet Systems Snet Systems is Cisco Gold Partner since 2002 in Korea. We have years of comprehensive experience in architecting technology solutions that best fit a customer's requirements for a next generation network infrastructure. Snet Systems consults, designs, establishes, and maintains all infrastructure of network, security, unified communication, as well as data center solution, Cloud Service, Internet of Thing (IoT), SDN Application, and Mobile Network Solution. In addition, the company has a sustainable growth system through synergy management with its affiliates, Goodus, Goodus Data, Goodus Smart Solutions, and overseas branch offices in Indonesia, China, and Vietnam. About 128 Technology 128 Technology, a software-based networking company, is on a mission to radically reinvent companies' digital futures based on a new model for virtual networking called Session Smart. Session-smart networking enables enterprise customers and service providers to create a service-centric fabric that's more simple, agile, and secure, delivering better performance at a lower cost. Whether your enterprise is moving your business to the cloud, modernizing the WAN edge, seeking more reliable unified communications or pursuing an industrial internet of things (IIoT) initiative, Session Smart networking re-aligns networks with digital transformation initiatives. Headquartered in Burlington, Mass. along Route 128, 'America's technology highway', the company also has operations throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about 128 Technology, visit www.128technology.com and follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Media Contacts: Guyer Group for 128 Technology Kevin Whalen kevin@guyergroup.com Kaz Kuroda Managing Director APAC, 128 Technology kkuroda@128technology.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1180114/128_Technology.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/475738/128_Technology_Logo.jpg SOURCE 128 Technology [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] Late May is the best time of the year to explore the worlds third pole - Mount Qomolangma, as the wind on the summit is milder and the precipitation yet to come. Soldiers of Peoples Armed Police Force collect trash at the Mount Qomolangma base camp. Photo by Zhang Quan, People;s Daily Online Sixty years ago, Chinese mountaineers successfully conquered the mountain from the south ridge for the first time in human history, and today, a Chinese expedition once again reached the peak of the mountain for measurement. In the mountain working were also trash collectors. On May 11, a ceremony was held at the Mount Qomolangma base camp to mark the commencement of trash collecting on the mountain this year. It is reported that Mount Cho Oyu and Mount Shishapangma have been cleaned up, and the garbage collecting is also scheduled to end this month for Mount Qomolangma. As of mid-May, around 6 tons of garbage have been removed for the three mountains, all of which are over 8,000 meters high. According to statistics released by Tibet Autonomous Region last year, a total of 3,019 people have reached the peak of Mount Qomolangma via its north ridge since 1960. Because its there. The famous remarks by British mountaineer George Mallory attracted numerous to the foot of Mount Qomolangma, to whom a glance afar at the snow cap of the mountain would bring huge satisfaction. As more and more people materialize their dream of conquering the world's highest mountain, garbage is generated, bringing great pressure to local ecology. To clear trash on Mount Qomolangma, a place with extreme environment and unique geological conditions, is never an easy task, and the risks and difficulties expand as the altitude rises. A tourist pose for a picture at the Mount Qomolangma base camp. Photo by Dong Naide, Peoples Daily Online The cleaning of the north ridge was started in 1997 by Tibet Autonomous Region, and over 8 tons of trash were removed above the altitude of 5,200 meters in 2018 alone. The autonomous region also rolled out a temporary garbage management plan for the mountain, and established an environmental protection fund. It offers free trash cans and bags for climbers, and established environmentally friendly toilets at camps. Besides, the autonomous region also encourages local herdsmen and farmers to serve as full-time environmental workers. The base camp is also backed off to the Rongbuk Monastery at an altitude of around 5,000 meters. Trash collecting for Mount Qomolangma is now regular and professional, and the control and environmental protection mechanisms are constantly improved. Though the mountains ecology is fragile, protection is gradually in place. The grand and unusual sceneries are always in dangerous and remote areas. The trips reaching rarely visited places expanded human exploration of the world, and the human civilization must also be protected at unprecedented levels. One day, to protect the mountains, seas, jungles and deserts will no longer be exclusive for explorers, but a common responsibility of every person on the Earth. As we move forward to test the physiological limits, we shall also never back down in safeguarding the limits of ecology. A Burning By Megha Majumdar Knopf. 289 pp. $25.95 --- Megha Majumdar's debut novel, "A Burning," is aptly named. This all-consuming story rages along, bright and scalding, illuminating three intertwined lives in contemporary India. Majumdar, who was raised in West Bengal before attending Harvard University and moving to New York, demonstrates an uncanny ability to capture the vast scope of a tumultuous society by attending to the hopes and fears of people living on the margins. The effect is transporting, often thrilling, finally harrowing. It's no wonder this propulsive novel was chosen for the "Today" show book club and leaped immediately onto the bestseller list. The story opens with horrific news racing across social media: Terrorists have firebombed a train, trapping more than 100 people inside the cars as they burned. Facebook lights up with calls for justice, requests for donations and complaints about the ineffective police. Scrolling through these posts, a young sales clerk named Jivan jumps in with her own casual outrage. But when her message earns no "likes," she comes up with something more provocative: "If the police watched them die, doesn't that mean," she writes, "that the government is also a terrorist?" With that one impulsive moment, Majumdar conveys the perils of social media in much of the world. Succumbing to the scroll's constant invitation to opine, Jivan has fallen for the illusion of freedom that Facebook creates. It's a perfectly common misstep, and only later does Jivan realize, "I wrote a dangerous thing, a thing nobody like me should ever think, let alone write." Sure enough, a few nights later, police pound on her door and throw her into the back of a van. With a narrative style that feels like a cascade, Majumdar reveals that Jivan has been beaten into signing a confession and then arraigned for firebombing the train. Even as she professes her innocence, journalists begin spinning the pedestrian details of her impoverished life into a narrative of plotting against the state. Interspersed between scenes of that febrile nightmare are the stories of two other tangentially related characters, equally well drawn and compelling. Lovely is a hijra - part of an intersex community in South Asia that is both revered and reviled. Assumed to have a special connection to the divine, Lovely is sought after to bless weddings and births, but her sexuality also attracts mockery, even abuse. Largely dependent on begging, she defends herself with an audacious mix of humor and bravado, never sure when a moment of confrontation might turn violent. Many readers will remember that Arundhati Roy explored the lives of hijra in her swirling 2017 novel, "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness." Majumdar's focus is smaller but equally powerful. Lovely speaks in a joyous, impetuous voice that's irresistible - so full of hope and will power. She knows with all her heart that the acting lessons she's taking from some old hack will make her a movie star, though that dream feels so naive to us it almost hurts to read. Better yet, Majumdar renders Lovely's narration in almost-fluent English, another sign of the young woman's determination to improve her station. With a thin understanding of verb conjugation, Lovely speaks only in the progressive tense, giving everything she says a sense of continuous immediacy, e.g. "He is pinching my cheek, and I am laughing even though it is hurting." As it happens, Lovely's English tutor is Jivan, the young woman accused of committing that terrorist act that has convulsed the nation. But Lovely knows Jivan didn't bomb the train: Those weren't explosives she was carrying; they were books for her. Although she's eager to testify in her tutor's defense, circumstances will challenge Lovely's virtue and deliver one of the most painful moments in "A Burning." The fragility of moral courage is central to the third story running through this novel, which is focused on the costs of righteousness. A man known as PT Sir is a P.E. teacher at Jivan's old school. He's a nervous, grasping character, not inherently evil, just desperate for the trappings of prestige. That hunger makes him a handy tool for a local politician who needs an expedient servant willing to lie when necessary. And so, for a bit of flattery and a few modest bribes, PT Sir slides comfortably into a morass of political corruption - all for the greater good, of course. In one indelible episode, a political boss dispatches PT Sir to a rural village to promote the party's plans for a new school. His speech is just a collection of empty promises, but it attracts a crowd that quickly shifts out of his control. As he offers bland platitudes, thugs whip up the audience into a mob that turns on a Muslim family. The atrocity that follows - described in the crazed voice of the killers - leaves PT Sir shaken, but the next day his adviser reassures him that there's nothing to worry about. Calmed, he leaves the office and realizes, "He himself will be all right. Maybe that is all that can be salvaged." What a simple, clear summation of the principle of selfishness that rots a community from the inside. Majumdar's outrage is matched only by her sympathy for these ordinary people so deft in the practice of self-justification. Building on their perfectly natural weaknesses, the short, intense chapters of "A Burning" present a society riven with influence peddling and abuses of power but still wholly devoted to the appearance of propriety. It's a damning critique of a culture that generates constant upheaval but no systemic change. In Majumdar's sharp telling, the courts are a spectacle of paid liars, the press trumpets an endless din of scandal, and the poor are routinely exploited. And through it all, politicians demonize their opponents and promise that salvation is just one election away. Fortunately, all this takes place on the other side of the world and has nothing at all to do with us. --- Charles writes about books for The Washington Post and hosts TotallyHipVideoBookReview.com. Police, community members and others meet near the Columbia Heights Metro Station to discuss recent shootings and other crime in the area on Jan. 20. (Matt McClain/The Post) Residents, who on Thursday toured the area with D.C. police and city leaders, say shootings have made them feel unsafe in their neighborhood. Temenos recognized for industry-leading technology, ranked best-selling core banking platform for 15th year with over 3x more new named deals than the next contender Temenos named leader in digital banking and channels category with Temenos Infinity for the fourth consecutive year, with 50% more new deals than the next provider Temenos reconfirmed as leader in retail payments systems with Temenos Payments, with more than twice the number of new deals than the next competitor Intelligence Sales League Table 2020 (SLT). Temenos was also named a regional leader in both Europe and Americas. Temenos, with its AI and advanced cloud technology, continues to be the undisputed leader in the main product categories in the IBS League Table with the greatest number of competitors. Temenos has been ranked as the best-selling core banking system for 15 years, as well as the best-selling vendor for digital banking for the fourth consecutive year. For 21 years running, Temenos has demonstrated consistent leadership, placing in the top two positions for core banking systems. In this year's Sales League Table, Temenos led in nine categories, including: #1 Digital banking and channels with Temenos Infinity, gaining 38 new name deals #1 Best-selling core banking system with Temenos Transact, securing 51 new name customer deals #1 Retail payments system with 51 new deals for Temenos Payments #1 Risk management system, closing 53 new deals with Temenos Financial Crime Mitigation #1 Regional Leader in Europe, working with ABN AMRO and challenger banks such as Lunar and Alba #1 Regional Leader in Americas, partnering with innovative banks such as CWB Financial Group #2 Regional Leader in the Middle-East and Africa with key clients such as Egyptian National Post Organization #2 Regional Leader in APAC with innovative clients such as TSB with Temenos Infinity Digital Onboarding and Virgin Money Australia #2 Islamic Banking, partnering with the world's largest Islamic bank, Al Rajhi Bank Max Chuard, Chief Executive Officer, Temenos, said: "It's a great honor to be recognized as the best-selling banking software provider with the most modern technology across the main product categories of digital, core banking, retail payments, and risk management systems. Now more than ever we see an acceleration in digital and cloud adoption banks need agile, modern banking technology across the front and back office. We offer our offer our clients, both established banks and new entrants, the winning combination of the richest banking functionality and the most advanced cloud-native, cloud-agnostic technology. We deliver solutions for the 'New Normal' that give our clients agility, speed to market, hyper-personalized services at the front end and automation and operational excellence in the back office. The IBS report reconfirms Temenos as global powerhouse and the world's #1 banking software company and I would like to thank our customers, partners and employees for helping us achieve this exciting milestone." IBS' Sales League Table Panel, said: "2019 was a record-breaking year for our Sales League Table, with nearly 900 validated deals globally and the highest level of vendor participation to-date. Temenos' success was notable due to achieving #1 positions in the most intensely competitive categories including digital banking, core banking, retail payments and risk management systems. At IBS Intelligence, we are seeing banks re-visiting their digital transformation plans to support their businesses through the current COVID-19 crisis. 2020 will be an interesting year for our industry and we will be continuing to track new deals and trends to support our clients worldwide." Temenos continues to relentlessly focus on innovation, investing 20% of its revenue in R&D more than any other provider in the industry. The IBS Intelligence Sales League Table is the global barometer for sales performance of banking platforms ranging from retail, to private, to Islamic, to digital-only and universal banking. The SLT provides a vital tool to executives in banks for selecting vendors for RFIs and influences vendor selection across conventional and digital banking. Ends About Temenos Temenos AG (SIX: TEMN) is the world's leader in banking software. Over 3,000 banks across the globe, including 41 of the top 50 banks, rely on Temenos to process both the daily transactions and client interactions of more than 500 million banking customers. Temenos offers cloud-native, cloud-agnostic and AI-driven front office, core banking, payments and fund administration software enabling banks to deliver frictionless, omnichannel customer experiences and gain operational excellence. Temenos software is proven to enable its top-performing clients to achieve cost-income ratios of 26.8% half the industry average and returns on equity of 29%, three times the industry average. These clients also invest 51% of their IT budget on growth and innovation versus maintenance, which is double the industry average, proving the banks' IT investment is adding tangible value to their business. For more information, please visit www.temenos.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005373/en/ Contacts: Media Contacts Jessica Wolfe Grace Collins Temenos Global Public Relations Tel: +1 610 232 2793 + 44 20 7423 3969 Email: press@temenos.com Alistair Kellie Andrew Adie Newgate Communications on behalf of Temenos Tel: +44 20 7680 6550 Email: allnewgatetemenos@newgatecomms.com The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) made history on Friday with the publication of its first audited financial statements after 43 years of its operation. The annual reports and financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, were for 20 of the state-owned national oil companys subsidiary companies operating within and outside the country The companies covered in the reports published in corporations website last Friday included the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Warri Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC), Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), Kaduna Refining & Petrochemical Company (KRPC), and Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), Nigerian Products and Marketing Company Limited (NPMC), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC). The others include the National Engineering & Technical Company Limited (NETCO), Nigerian Gas and Marketing Company Limited (NGMC), Duke Oil Services (UK) Limited, Duke Global Energy Investment Limited, Duke Oil Incorporated, NNPC Retail Limited, National Petroleum Investments Management Services (NAPIMS), The Wheel Insurance, NIDAS Shipping Services, NIDAS UK Agency, and NIDAS Marine. Disclosure good for transparency The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Waziri Adio, congratulated the Group Managing of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, for keeping his promise to publish the audited reports. Having such disclosures is good for transparency and accountability. I congratulate @MKKyari and his team and urge them to make this a regular practice and in open data format, Mr Adio said through a tweet with his personal twitter handle, @Waziriadio. NEITI has been in the vanguard of the sustained demand for the NNPC to make public the financial statement of its operations and those of its subsidiaries. On assumption of office last year, Mr Kyari pledged to open the NNPC financial books to the public as part of his managements commitment to openness, transparency, and accountability in line with the global EITI principles. Since last year, the NNPC has always published the monthly financial and operational reports, including its upstream, downstream and oil and gas export activities. Refineries perform poorly As expected, all the refineries returned poor results, with Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Limited posting the worst performance, with an accumulated loss of over N423.43 billion compared to over N359.093 billion in 2017. Apart from an operating loss of about N64.55 billion, Kaduna refinery reported administrative expenses of about N64.68 billion during the year, down from about N114.347 billion in 2017. The bulk of the losses were attributed to direct operational costs, despite that none of the four refineries in the country has been functional for years. Also, Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited posted a loss of over N46.62 billion during the year, although better than over N57.8 billion loss reported in 2017. Although the refining company earned about N1.455 billion as revenue during the year, about N22.6 billion was recorded, as gross loss for the year, with about N24.04 billion incurred as processing expenses, even with petroleum refining operations still closed since 2017. READ ALSO: The bulk of the losses declared by the company were administrative expenses of about N24.03 billion, including salaries and other remunerations paid to its workers. The Warri Refinery posted operating loss of about N45.399 billion against N85.136 billion the previous year, with the cost of sales during the year dropping from N14.54 billion in 2017 to N12.745 billion during the year and gross loss from N13.29 billion in 2017 to N10.757 billion. Operating expenses stood at about N34.642 billion, down from N71.847 billion in 2017. Salaries, wages, and allowances took about N13.756 billion in 2018 against N12.9 billion spent for the same purpose in 2017, while directors remuneration gulped about N270.1 million compared to N353 million spent in 2017; travels and hotel expenses took N758.9 million against N471.8 million in 2017. About N10.354 million was written off as bad debt. Mixed Report The upstream industry subsidiary, the NPDC, which is one of the few companies that turned in some positive report, did not perform exceptionally well. Although the company reported earnings of N1.38 trillion as revenue against N82.4 billion in 2017, its cost of sales was about N1.05 trillion, from N483.73 billion in the previous year. Its gross profit was N339.1 billion compared to about N398.7 billion in 2017, while its operating profit was N278.7 billion, up from N252.2 billion in 2017. Also, finance costs dropped to N19.93 billion, from N34.7 billion in 2017. Total comprehensive income for the year stood at N799.7 billion against about N179.3 billion in 2017. The petroleum products marketing subsidiary, the PPMC, realised about N29.55 billion as revenue, a decline from about N113.2 billion in 2017. Advertisements The cost of sales gulped about N5.23 billion, a massive drop from over N90.3 billion spent in 2017, while its gross profit increased to N24.3 billion during the year from N22.9 billion in 2017. The companys statement showed its comprehensive income recovered to about N11.13 billion during the year against a loss of over N42.534 billion recorded in 2017, while administrative expenses, which contributed most to the companies poor performance, dropped to about N16.233 billion from about N51.035 billion in 2017. The NNPC Retail, which is in charge of the NNPC mega filling stations and other retail outlets across the country, reported a modest performance, with a revenue yield of about N236.64 billion compared to about N216.14 billion in 2017. Of the revenue realised for the year, cost of sales gulped about N212.48 billion, up from N200.86 billion in 2017, with gross profit at N24.16 billion against N15.28 billion in the previous year. Profit for the year for the company stood at a paltry N2.27 billion, marginally up from about N1.82 billion in the previous year. The gas marketing subsidiary in charge of marketing and distributing natural gas and its deliverables to major industrial users and utility distribution companies in Nigeria and the West African sub-region also posted positive returns, with a comprehensive income of about N16.6 billion against N5.2 billion recorded in 2017. Although the companys revenue dropped from N275.1 billion realised in 2017 to about N243.6 billion, gross profit rose to N26.28 billion during the year, from N17.94 billion in 2017, with profit before tax at N12.48 billion compared to N9.37 billion in the previous year. Cost of sales dropped to N217.4 billion, from N257.2 billion in 2017, and administrative expenses up from N8.57 billion in 2017 to N13.8 billion. A 359 to 372-million-year-old fossil of a fern-like plant that lived before dinosaurs and mammals stalked the Earth has been identified as a new species, 50 years after its discovery. The 'stick-like' relic was unearthed from the banks of Manilla river, New South Wales, after heavy flooding in 1964, and collected by amateur geologist John Irving. He gave it to the state's geological survey, which left the fossil languishing in a drawer for decades before it was re-discovered by French palaeobotanists. They cut open the two-inch fossil, revealing rows of perfectly preserved cell walls. When these were compared to other fossil plants from the same period, the Late Devonian, scientists realised they were looking at a new species, and even a new genus, that shared similarities with modern-day ferns and horsetails. The find - christened Keraphyton mawsoniae - is particularly significant as fossils from the Late Devonian are extremely rare. Keraphyton mawsoniae was only identified from its two-inch fossil after the tiny stem was cut open, revealing rows of perfectly preserved cell walls When the fossil (left) and its cells (right) were compared to other plants living at the same time, during the Late Devonian, scientists realised they were looking at a new species. Top right are the xylem cells, in the centre of the plant, and bottom right are the outer cortical cells which have progressively thicker walls The cell walls inside the fossilised plant are pictured above. The fossil had languished in a lab for more than 50 years before French palaeobotanists took a look The ancient plant grew in the Barraba formation, Australia, when the island was part of the southern hemisphere super-continent Gondwana. At this time, plants and animals were still working to colonise the land, but the oceans were already teeming with life. The fossil was studied by Flinders University PhD student Antoine Champreux. 'It's nothing much to look at - just a fossilised stick - but it's far more interesting once we cut it and had a look inside,' he said. 'It is an extraordinary discovery, since such exquisitely preserved fossils from this period are extremely rare. 'We named the genus Keraphyton (like the horn plant in Greek), and the species mawsoniae, in honour of our partner Professor Ruth Mawson, a distinguished Australian palaeontologist who died in 2019.' This diagram shows the 350-million-year-old cells. The xy cells are xylem tracheids, serving in the transport of water, while oc and ic points to the outer cells, which are near the cells at the surface. La are lacuna, a cavity in the plant, en are endodermis cells, stopping water passing to the outer layer and damaging the plant The fossil was found at the Manilla river in Barraba, New South Wales (shown above) The plant was re-discovered by PhD student Antoine Champreux. Most of the work relating to the study was done at the French laboratory of Botany and Modelling of Plant Architecture and Vegetation in Montpellier, before further work was completed at Flinders University, Adelaide The plant is currently in France where it is being studied by Brigitte Meyer-Berthaud, an international expert in the first plants on Earth at the French laboratory of Botany and Modelling of Plant Architecture and Vegetation in Montpellier. This laboratory is particularly interested in fossils from the Devonian-Carboniferous geological period, to build a more detailed understanding of plant evolution during this era. KALAMAZOO, MI The Kalamazoo City Commission took action on police issues after a presentation from the public safety chief and a lengthy discussion of how to make changes in policing and how police and the community interact. The Kalamazoo City Commission met on Monday, June 15, on the first public commission meeting since the events of May 30 to June 2, which included controversial police tactics that have led to criticism against the city. Police responded to large crowds and protests in Kalamazoo, as well as property destruction, and used tactics including tear gas to disperse crowds. Commissioner Eric Cunningham made a motion, which was approved, meant to examine standards for new hires at the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and make changes based on what the community wants. The expectation is within six months we have a clear expectation of what our new hires skill set should be, Cunningham said, especially in the area of cultural competency. Commissioner Jack Urban said he supports the idea of the community giving input on police officer standards, and thanked Cunningham for pushing the envelope. The city commission also passed a motion to foster community input regarding data to collect about the department and share with the community. The motion asks for a comprehensive list of data being collected now for members of the city commission, city staff and community members to weigh in on the issue. City Manager Jim Ritsema said there needs to be a serious discussion about other priorities the city is working on to determine a possible timeline. He said it is urgent, but gathering input could take longer. Restrictions because of COVID-19 could also cause issues in gathering public input, Kalamazoo City Attorney Clyde Robinson said. Cunningham made another motion, which also passed, to have a report created examining the citys current Citizens Public Safety Review and Appeal Board aimed at giving more teeth to the group meant to provide citizen input and oversight on police issues and complaints. The city commissions actions Monday followed an approximately 90-minute presentation from Public Safety Chief Karianne Thomas that included responses to a number of questions from commissioners. Thomas described the events as civil unrest and said the situation unfolded rapidly in various locations, including in downtown Kalamazoo. It was not a protest," Thomas said. It was civil unrest there were some people to cause damage, there were some there to just observe, to be part of a crowd. Everybody was there for a different reason. But I wouldnt call it a protest past 10 p.m., which caused us to react to the damage and the looting," The chief addressed one video clip that shows police marching toward people and using tear gas to disperse the group. Some were laying on the ground when officers deployed tear gas. Everyone had been told to leave before the officers fired tear gas, Thomas said. And we know that people that were kneeling and laying down were causing damage downtown and causing some of that, Thomas said. The departments crowd management team are the only ones trained to deploy tear gas and they were the only ones dispensing it during the incidents, she said. Its not a technique used very often, Thomas said. The last time KDPS used it was in 2014, when people were trying to overturn an ice cream truck with the driver inside in 2014, the chief said. Related: Ice cream truck driver caught up in riot near WMU recalls how quickly it got out of hand Its pretty far back in the toolbox and, unfortunately, we had to use that on those days, Thomas said. The decision was made to bring in the Michigan National Guard and Michigan State Police to help local officers during the civil unrest, she said. The department looked at what happened in other cities, such as Lansing and Grand Rapids, in determining how to prepare for an expected influx of people in Kalamazoo, Thomas said. The Michigan National Guard was unarmed and brought in to help keep the peace, she said. I understand that was intimidating to a lot of people, and that wasnt the intent," Thomas said. She talked about the officers wearing what has been called riot gear" by others. We call it personal protective Equipment, it is protection from blunt force trauma, Thomas said. It is similar to what a baseball catcher would wear, she said, and the department has an obligation to provide the protective gear to officers, she said. If the appearance of the officers made the situation worse, Thomas said that was never the goal. She said she apologized if the appearance scared anyone. Other people were tear gassed again the next day in Kalamazoo. After the situation came under control, officers were dismissed, Thomas said. Two fires broke out, one on June 2 and the second was in the early morning of June 3. Both fires are considered suspicious, according to police. Thomas outlined many areas where KDPS is working to connect with the community and training the department uses. KDPS started implicit bias training in 2014, she said. The department holds meaningful reviews to examine actions and if policies need to be changed, she said. She talked about deescalation, and said the department trains in deescalation techniques to help people in a mental health crisis at the time police are in contact with them. The department tracks use of force incidents, she said, and KDPS officers used force (including anything above handcuffing) in 322 incidents in 2019. She said the department tracks complaints against officers to evaluate if any have a larger number, and why. Thomas talked about improvements the department intends to make. The department needs to ensure every officer is wearing a body camera, acknowledging members of the crowd control team were not wearing them during the response to crowds and demonstrations because of issues hooking it to the uniform, she said. We need to figure out a system where they are all wearing body cameras, Thomas said. The department recognizes it could have communicated better, she said. The addition of a public information officer, which is funded in the current city budget, will help the department by allowing better communication with the public, she said. This situation proved we needed one desperately at this time, Thomas said. Communicating with everyone why were doing what were doing would helped in so many areas." Commissioner Chris Praedel asked about accountability and Thomas said the department can take various actions in case officers violate policies, up to termination. Commissioners received "hundreds and hundreds of messages from the community about the issues, Praedel said, and he relayed some of the criticism, including complaints alleging aggressive and provocative behavior from police, and others about the people in a surrender stance who were tear gassed. Thomas responded, saying that there was more that was not shown on the video that has been circulating on social media. Looking at something in the entirety of whats occurring is important, rather than picking out snippets, Thomas said. Difficult and complex decisions were made to keep the community safe, she said. "They were high level decisions and they were my responsibility to make those decisions based on everything we had, she said. Praedel asked about the possibility of what has been called riot gear causing escalation. Thomas said she never wanted to create an environment where people were scared of the officers because of what they were wearing or the tools they used. There is more to be done, Ritsema said. He outlined a plan for moving forward, including an independent investigation of the events and other reforms. I think its important to have an outside review done and I think Karianne and her team is open to that, Ritsema said, and city officials hope to learn from the investigation. The city commission meeting centered on the topic related to police issues for approximately three hours, not including citizen comments received later in the meeting. Andy Argo was among the 73 people who submitted a comment, and he called for changes including stopping the use of tear gas and chemicals against citizens. Comments were being played as the meeting continued past 11 p.m. Read more: Outside investigator will review police use of tear gas on Kalamazoo protesters What defund the police means to advocates in Michigan Recreational marijuana sales begin in Kalamazoo Michigan salons, barbershops reopen this week A new study in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, published by Oxford University Press, suggests that wildfires change the types of songs sung by birds living in nearby forests. Hermit Warblers sing a formulaic song to attract mates, in contrast with a repertoire of more complex songs they use to defend territories. There is often a single, dominant formulaic song within the same geographic area. In the United States, the summer range of Hermit Warblers is limited to the Pacific Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Hermit Warblers appear especially sensitive to fire and other disturbances over short periods of time. They are negatively impacted immediately after low severity fires or selective timber harvests but respond positively to the resulting changes in forest structure and increasing insect populations over longer periods of time. Bird song has been proposed as one measure for understanding how biodiversity is maintained within an ecological community. Song learning via imitation, in conjunction with cultural drift, often leads to the development of sets of geographically distinct song variants within bird species. Researchers here recorded the formulaic songs from 1,588 males across 101 study sites in the state between 2009 and 2014. The results provide the first comprehensive description and mapping of Hermit Warbler songs throughout California. The researchers classified the songs into 35 dialects. Researchers also modelled the effects of recent fire history at the local scale, the amount of breeding habitat at the regional scale, and the distance between territories to examine factors involved in song diversity. The researchers found that song dialects tended to be isolated from each other within different forest types, but that in contrast, local song diversity increased with the amount of local fire and regional habitat. Using a longitudinal analysis of additional data from ten study areas revisited in 2019, the researchers here also showed that song structure had begun to change since the initial visits 5-10 years earlier, and that the diversity of song forms increased at locations that had been burned by wildfire between visits. Taken together the results suggest that wildfires, the mass effects of dispersal of birds singing rival song forms, and time all disrupt the uniformity of songs locally. "Our surveys suggest that song dialects arose in sub-populations specialized to different forest types," said the paper's lead author, Brett Furnas. "Over the longer term, fire caused some birds to flee and created a vacuum for other birds to fill. The net result is that some areas now have birds singing more than one dialect resulting in a complex diversity of songs throughout California." ### The paper, "Wildfires and Mass Effects of Dispersal Disrupt the Local Uniformity of Type I Songs of Hermit Warblers in California," is available (at midnight on June 16th) at: https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukaa031. Direct correspondence to: Brett J. Furnas Wildlife Investigations Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Rancho Cordova, California 95670 brett.furnas@wildlife.ca.gov To request a copy of the study, please contact: Daniel Luzer daniel.luzer@oup.com Sharing on social media? Find Oxford Journals online at @OxfordJournals Chinese military to conduct exams for civilian positions PLA Daily Source: Xinhuanet Editor: Huang Panyue 2020-06-15 17:07:18 BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese military will conduct examinations on August 23 to recruit candidates for its civilian positions, the military authority said Monday. Family members of military martyrs, and military personnel of long-term service, especially those who served as frontline military medics to combat the COVID-19 epidemic, will be eligible for additional scores, according to a statement from the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission. Applicants competing for vacancies that are eligible for doctoral degree holders can register on the "Military Talent Net" between June 17 and 21, and people for other positions can upload their registration details on the website between July 1 and July 10, said the statement. The statement vowed to recruit outstanding talent for the urgent need of the military while ensuring a fair and transparent selection process. The recruitment will conclude before late November, according to the statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Last Wednesday, 650 Indian cruise ship workers on Marella Cruises Explorer staged a demonstration on the upper deck of the ship ported off the coast of the UK, protesting conditions in which they have been held captive for over three months without a clear plan by their employer or their government for repatriation. Since the cruise industry closed its doors to incoming customers on March 13 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, there have been thousands of ship workers who face similar conditions. The Miami Herald reported Sunday that at least 42,000 workers remain trapped on cruise ships without paychecks, and some still are suffering from COVID-19, three months after the industry shut down. CMV Astoria crew protesting Monday Yesterday, another group of Indian workers on the Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) MV Astoria staged a similar protest, submitting a Facebook video to the cruise crew advocacy news source Crew-Center.com. Although the Crew-Center report described the event as a hunger strike, crew members participating in the strike declined to comment to the WSWS to confirm. A protesting worker addressed video viewers, explaining, We are crew from CMV Cruises Astoria, and weve been stranded here for three months. We are all just waiting to go home we havent had any updates on when we are going home. The company is trying their best, but we havent had any updates from the Indian Embassy. Please Indian Embassy, help us, we are in need. Another crew member made an appeal to the Indian government. We request you to help us, and help our company to repatriate us. Our families need us. In an expression of the sheer anger and desperation felt by these workers, a protestor displayed a sign that read, Enough is enough, and FrustratedWhat next? Suicide?? Mauritian repatriation quarantine facilities The latter was an obvious reference to the eight non-COVID-19-related deaths and one suicide attempt occurring on stranded cruise ships since early May. Two cruise ship crew members were reported to have been found hanged in their cabins, two reportedly died from jumping overboard, and four more had unclear causes of death, but that are widely suspected to have been suicides. On Saturday, a recently repatriated Mauritian citizen arriving to a 15-day quarantine facility posted a video to a Facebook group for Mauritian seafarers that was subsequently shared 500 times in several minutes. The viral video documented the filthy conditions of the accommodations which the Mauritian government had imposed upon its returning citizens at a cost of $1,300 per person, as the WSWS had previously reported. Several similar social media posts followed along with an outpouring of anger over dirty floors, dusty tables and furniture, and closets in which the floors were covered with dead insects. Cruise ship workers must not place any faith in the governments in their home countries, nor in the corporations which employ them. Instead, international seafarers must form independent rank-and-file committees across all ships and fleets to coordinate the widest possible action in defense of workers rights to repatriation, safe and healthy quarantine measures at no cost to the employees, and financial compensation for lost wages due to the coronavirus pandemic. These committees must act in conjunction with similar organs of struggles on land in all countries and industries to fight for a global socialist economy. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday condemned as "barbaric" and "acts of inhumanity" a surge of femicides since South Africa eased anti-coronavirus stay-at-home measures. Murders of women have spiralled since the start of June, when lockdown restrictions were loosened allowing for more movement of people, according to the police. Speaking at a ruling African National Congress virtual meeting, Ramaphosa said gender-based violence "continues to plague our country and we have been saddened by the continuous and recurring news of men attacking and killing women in the past few weeks." "Men continue to kill women in the most horrific and barbaric fashion" he said, warning "it must end". In a weekly newsletter earlier, he described the attacks as "acts of inhumanity". One of the most gruesome attacks was that of an eight-months pregnant woman whose stabbed body was found hanging from a tree in Roodepoort, a western suburb of Johannesburg. Five days later, the body of another young woman was found on Friday dumped under a tree in Soweto. Police have reported several other cases of femicide across the country in recent days. The reasons for the sudden increase are being investigated. Police Minister Bheki Cele has said that an overall rise in crime was caused by the lifting of a ban on the sale of alcohol. On Saturday Ramaphosa referred to the past week as "a dark and shameful week for us as a nation". "We note with disgust that at a time when the country is facing the gravest of threats from the pandemic, violent men are taking advantage of the eased restrictions on movement to attack women and children," he said in a statement. Ramaphosa called on young men to become even more active in fighting gender-based violence as he spoke on the eve of the 44th anniversary of the June 16 Soweto massacre of black school children by the apartheid regime. Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi joined calls to end femicide saying "enough is enough". "Let's be the generation of men to break this attack on women," he said to his half-a-million Instagram followers. South Africa is ranked among countries with one of the highest levels of intimate partner violence in the world. A woman is killed every three hours in South Africa, according to police statistics -- a rate five times the world average. Around one in two are murdered by men with whom they had a close relationship. Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE are parties to the Trilateral Contact Group for the Peaceful Settlement of the Situation in Donbas (TCG). This was stated by the Ukrainian delegation during the TCG meeting on Monday, the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine reported. "Also, during the TCG meeting, the Ukrainian delegation reiterated that the TCG participants are three parties - Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE," the statement says. In addition, at the end of the work of the humanitarian group, the Ukrainian party again initiated an extraordinary meeting of this group. The OSCE representative supported Ukraine's proposal. As reported, on June 10, a regular meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE) took place in a video conference format with the participation of representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as part of the Ukrainian delegation. Then, at the suggestion of Heidi Grau, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, a break for technical reasons was announced until Monday, June 15. On June 10, a number of issues were discussed within the security, political and humanitarian subgroups of the TCG. ish Home Just In Bhattarai on new Nepal map: Olis real test begins now Kathmandu, June 15 Peoples Socialist Party Nepals senior leader and former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai has said Prime Minister KP Sharma Olis real test in reclaiming the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura region encroached by India will begin now. Bhattarais statement comes two days after the House of Representatives unanimously endorsed the constitution amendment bill that recognises the new political map of the country incorporating this region. Speaking with journalists in his home district of Gorkha on Monday, Bhattarai said Olis next steps would decide if he was a real nationalist or nationalism was just a fake identity created to deceive people. Yes, we got our land back into the map, but we also need to have right to use that practically, he said, Lets see how the prime minister will move forward. Advising the prime minister to take the process ahead in national consensus, he urged him to listen to others suggestions also. KAMPALA The Ministry of Health has confirmed 9 new coronavirus cases from 2,677 samples tested on Sunday June. Four of the new cases were among 1813 samples tested from points of entry while five were among 864 samples of contacts and alerts. All confirmed cases are Ugandans. The new cases have pushed Ugandas accumulative coronavirus infections to 705 The community infections were identified from Tororo (2), Amuru (1) Kyotera and Entebbe in Wakiso (1) Districts. To date Uganda has registered a total of 299 recoveries. Additionally, 37 foreign truck drivers, 32 Kenyans, 1 Tanzanian, 3 South Sudanese and 1 Eritrean tested positive for the coronavirus and were handed over to their respective countries of origin. Meanwhile, four contacts of COVID-19 patients have escaped from Arua Prison Primary School institutional quarantine centre. The four contacts who were quarantined together with 20 others, two weeks ago, took advantage of a heavy downpour and the subsequent power blackout between 7 and 10 pm on Saturday to escape. According to a watchman who had been tasked to guard the facility, he, and his counterparts from the Local Defence Unit, sought shelter in a nearby room during the downpour. The contacts, who were all in their rooms, used the loophole to run away from the facility unnoticed. The escape went unnoticed until Sunday afternoon. The watchman told local media that the four escapees had earlier on complained to the health officials who brought their second test results that they were tired of being confined and that they were concerned their family members who were entirely dependent on them. He added that although they had tested negative for COVID-19, the four had been advised to stay at the quarantine centre for confirmatory tests. Related The question of whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers sexual orientation or gender identity was always a closer one than either side made it out to be. And after reading Justice Neil Gorsuchs majority opinion, as well as the dissents by Justices Sam Alito and Brett Kavanaugh, respectively, Im still scratching my head at who is right. On the one hand, its patently absurd to suggest that anyone in the 1964 Congress thought the bill they were voting on included such protections. Homosexuality was considered a psychological disorder at the time and homosexual activity still criminalized in many states while transgenderism wasnt even a thing, as the kids would put it. Indeed, when various versions of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act came up for congressional hearings in the late 2000s and early 2010s, progressive groups and Obama administration civil-rights officials spoke of the urgent need to update Title VII to protect vulnerable sexual minorities. So its not bigoted reactionism to suggest that Title VII, as written, doesnt contain so-called SOGI (sexual orientation/gender identity) protections. On the other hand, the relevant statutory language refers to adverse employment actions taken because of . . . sex. Sex, as we know from many contexts, is a big, loaded word. Like Walt Whitman, it contains multitudes. Ones sexual orientation refers to whether someone is attracted to people of the same or opposite sex. Whether someone is transgender refers to whether the person thinks of himself, herself, or [insert pronoun here] as the sex assigned at birth. Lord knows that the people who draft statutory language dont always have the precision of professional grammarians and often leave purposeful ambiguities as a legislative compromise or to toss the tough line-drawing problems to the administrative state. So its not relativistic Humpty-Dumpty-ism to suggest that Title VII, as written, already contains those same SOGI protections. Story continues Instead, if we throw out both legislative-intent arguments and result-oriented ones based on the idea that the meaning of statutes changes with the times living U.S. Code-ism? what were left with is a case of statutory interpretation with no clear answer. Thats why my own Cato Institute which filed briefs supporting constitutional rights for gay people in Lawrence v. Texas, United States v. Windsor, and Obergefell v. Hodges sat out the three cases consolidated under the name Bostock v. Clayton County. But regardless, its gratifying that all the justices seemed to agree with Justice Gorsuchs mode of analysis: When the express terms of a statute give us one answer and the extratextual considerations suggest another, its no contest. Only the written word is the law, and all persons are entitled to its benefit. Were all textualists now! Where the disagreement came was in Gorsuchs textualist analysis that it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex, because an employer who fires someone for being gay or trans fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. My colleague Walter Olson has characterized this approach as surprise plain meaning, in that it would indeed surprise time travelers from the 1960s, but its based on the plain meaning of the relevant words found in 1960s dictionaries. Of course, Justice Alito, in a dissent joined by Justice Thomas, counters that Gorsuchs opinion is a pirate ship sailing under a false textualist flag. Thats because neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is tied to either of the two biological sexes. An employer can implement a no-LGBTQ employees policy without paying any attention to or even knowing the biological sex of applicants. Moreover, Justice Kavanaugh points out, Gorsuchs interpretation not only allows all those who would prefer SOGI protections codified into antidiscrimination law to do an end run around the separation of powers, it privileges a literalist statutory meaning over an ordinary one. Even if sex includes sexual orientation, the plaintiffs must also establish one of two other points . . . . [1] that courts, when interpreting a statute, adhere to literal meaning rather than ordinary meaning. Or alternatively, [2] that the ordinary meaning of discriminate because of sex . . . encompasses sexual orientation discrimination. I rather think that Kavanaughs sophisticated analysis wins the day, but thats because I read it last; I had previously been convinced by Gorsuch, and then Alito, until finally settling on the newest justice. Ask me tomorrow and Ill surely have a different answer. But regardless of who got the better of the lawyering, Bostock shows that those who group all the conservative justices together are missing the boat. Gorsuch and Kavanaugh are both committed textualists, and both were appointed not just by a Republican president but by the same one (Trump). Progressive critics who discount their independence or claim theyre just result-oriented reactionaries have egg on their face. And when they find a mirror in which to clean up, they should look deeper, because its actually the liberal justices who vote in lockstep. As a policy matter, it certainly wouldve been better for Bostocks result to have come through legislative rather than judicial action. As someone who doesnt like adding evermore regulations onto struggling business owners and this is all about small business, not the woke corporations that long ago changed their employment practices Im uncomfortable extending further intrusions into the freedom of contract. Thats particularly so in a fraught area where courts are ill-equipped when making such close statutory calls to also consider and write rules regarding religious exemptions, womens sports, and other hard cases that a legislative body wouldve hashed out. Over to you, Congress. More from National Review Disgraced former NSW Labor minister Milton Orkopoulos has appeared in court after being accused of sexually abusing two boys in the 1990s. Orkopoulos, 62, appeared briefly in Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday via audio-visual link from Sydney's Long Bay prison. Milton Orkopoulos was arrested in January for allegedly setting up an Instagram account and not telling police within the required seven days. Credit:Isabella Porras Defence lawyer Omar Juweinat told the court Orkopoulos had been moved into the prison's maximum security area since his arrest on Monday. Orkopoulos had been held in the prison's less secure remand section before Lake Macquarie detectives charged him with fresh child abuse offences. Police in New South Wales (NSW), Australias most populous state, continued a crackdown against the right to protest over the weekend, deploying a large force to a Sydney rally in defence of refugees on Saturday and issuing a fine against one of the organisers for supposedly breaching coronavirus health orders. Despite government threats and denunciations, protests in solidarity with the international demonstrations triggered by the US police killing of George Floyd have continued. Some three thousand people gathered in Perth, the capital of Western Australia, on Saturday, while over a thousand rallied in Darwin in one of the largest demonstrations in the Northern Territory in recent years. The official hostility to the emerging movement was exemplified by a massive operation on Friday night to prevent an unauthorised Sydney demonstration against police violence and indigenous deaths in custody. Between 500 and 1,000 officers, many of them from the riot squad, were involved, vastly outnumbering those who sought to protest. Sydney Town Hall was barricaded and surrounded by riot cops, in a show of force aimed at intimidating growing social and political opposition. Police blockading Sydney Town Hall (Credit: WSWS) Over the past days, further information has come to light revealing the aggressive character of the police mobilisation. On social media, a number of participants in the Friday protest alleged that police had threatened to use a sound weapon against them, known by the name of its US manufacturer, Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD). In comments to the media, NSW assistant police commissioner Mick Willing flatly denied the claims. There is one issue I want to clarify out there about the alleged use of some sort of sound weapon by police, he said. That is not the case, police officers used a normal loud hailer to issue a warning to the crowd. Footage taken by Channel Nine at the rally and subsequently posted to Twitter indicates that Willings statement was false. It shows a Nine reporter in Hyde Park, where protesters had sought to assemble after it became clear that it would not be possible to gather at Town Hall. An automated voice with an American accent clearly stated: This is a test of the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD). The reporter appeared to be puzzled and concerned. The announcement was identical to that heard in videos online showcasing LRADs capabilities. Social media screenshots from Channel Nine footage, moreover, show officers carrying a device that seems to be marked LRAD through the park, with a control panel similar to those displayed in promotional material for the US company. Senior NSW police officers carrying a device that appears to be marked "LRAD" (Screenshot from Channel Nine footage) Willings comments appear to have been an exercise in obfuscation. It is true that the police did not use a sound weapon against protesters. Most LRAD devices do have capabilities for public announcements. LRADs, however, are anything but normal loud hailers. The company boasts on its website that all of its devices are equipped with deterrent capabilities. In practice, this means that they are able to emit piercing alert noises, at a high frequency that causes pain and discomfort to those within range, and that can result in long-term hearing loss. LRADs were initially designed for use in military situations and in operations targeting maritime piracy. They have been deployed against opponents of the US-led occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the past fifteen years, however, they have also been used extensively by police, especially in the United States, to disperse demonstrations. A 2016 Law Report program on the Australian Broadcasting Corporations Radio National reported that more than half of the countrys state and territory governments, along with the Australian Federal Police, had recently acquired LRAD devices. The NSW police would not comment on whether they were involved in the purchases. Some three months later, at a September 1 hearing in state parliament, then NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione admitted that his force had bought an unspecified number of LRADs at approximately $11,000 per device. The Radio National report noted the potentially catastrophic capabilities of LRADs. It featured comments from Karen Piper, a University of Missouri academic, who was present at a Pittsburgh protest against the G20 in 2009 when police activated the deterrent function of an LRAD. Piper stated: [T]his machine emits this long piercing noise. Its a very high frequency, it really hurts your ears. I started to not feel well immediately after that. I felt dizzy and nauseous and disoriented. Tests subsequently found that she had permanent hearing loss as a result of nerve damage. Speaking on Radio National, University of Melbourne sound and law expert James Parker made clear that the purchase of LRADs by Australian governments was directed against protests. He warned that It expands the nature of police/state/military authority in a certain kind of way. It makes sound itself part of the arsenal that police and military and state institutions have. The Friday protest in Sydney appears to be the first time that Australian police have taken an LRAD to a public gathering. Another incident underscored the bellicose nature of the police mobilisation. An officer, apparently from the riot squad, was caught on camera making a hand gesture that has been used over the past several years to signify white power. NSW Police officer making hand gesture often associated with the far-right (Twitter screenshot/SBS) Police authorities responded by claiming that the officer did not know the meaning of the gesture, which is similar to an ok signal. An identical incident occurred during an aggressive police operation to prevent protests outside the International Mining and Resources Conference in Melbourne last October. An officer was photographed making the gesture to demonstrators. His superiors claimed that he was unaware of any offence that may have been caused. It rapidly emerged, however, that the officer was a supporter of the fascistic alt-right, who would have known exactly what he was doing when he displayed a white power hand sign. The gesture had recently been used in court by Brenton Tarrant, the Australian-born fascist whose massacre in April last year killed 51 people in two New Zealand mosques. The police attacks on protests in Australia over the past weeks have been overseen by the entire political establishment, including state Labor and Liberal administrations and the federal government. The claims that they have been motivated by concern over the danger of coronavirus infections at mass gatherings are a sham. Governments are continuing to announce the rollback of the few remaining lockdown measures on a daily basis. They have explicitly declared that they are not seeking to eradicate the virus, because of the economic cost that this would result in, i.e., its adverse consequences for the profits of the corporate and financial elite. In reality, the authorities are seeking to establish a precedent for the suppression of public displays of opposition, including protests. While the initial target may be the heterogeneous demonstrations sparked by the US police murder of George Floyd and anger over indigenous deaths in custody, this is directed against the working class. Yesterday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison delivered a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. He declared that limited relief measures for the unemployed introduced during the pandemic would be rolled-back over the coming months. Not all of the jobs lost during the crisis could be saved, Morrison stated, and the population would need to accept substantially reduced government spending. He touted a further pro-business overhaul of industrial relations and workplace conditions, to be enforced in partnership with the trade unions. Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese signalled a continuation of bipartisanship, stressing the need for economic growth. This agenda means a frontal assault on the jobs, wages and conditions of ordinary people. Unemployment is already at levels unprecedented since the 1930s, and broad sections of the population are on a financial precipice. The ruling elites are well aware that their offensive will encounter growing opposition from the working class, which is why they are accelerating longstanding attacks on democratic rights. As you know, the House has convened a legislative workgroup with the full intent of mandating these things in the 2021 legislative session, in addition to other legal requirements to begin to undo the systemic inequality that our justice system continues to hand out every day, the letter said. However, you have the power with the stroke of your pen to begin this process today. MASHANTUCKET, Conn. | Drivers heading down state roads leading to Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut are greeted by flashing warnings: "Avoid Large Crowds" and "Don't Gamble With COVID." Despite having authority to shutter thousands of businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has been constrained when dealing with the sovereign tribal nations that own two of the world's largest casinos. After pleading with tribal leaders to not reopen and even raising the possibility of pulling their state-issued liquor licenses, he ultimately settled for ordering state transportation workers to put up the signs. "People over the age of 65 should not be in large, congregate settings. We think that's dangerous, even now," said Lamont, a Democrat, after the casinos partly reopened on June 1, weeks ahead of the state's timetable for large indoor events. "So, we tried to put some good, strong advice in place as people are on their way to taking a gamble." Connecticut's two federally recognized tribes, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe are not alone in reopening doors early as the nation reemerges from the shutdown though both say they are being careful about reopening. Facing pressure to bring back employees and start generating revenue, tribes in Washington, Oregon, California, Florida, North Carolina, New York and elsewhere have decided to welcome back gamblers even though their states haven't allowed large gatherings. Other businesses have bristled at shutdown orders and restrictions, and some have pushed the limits. But the tribes that run the casinos are different because the U.S. Constitution recognizes them as sovereign nations with full authority within their reservations so state and local leaders have no say in reopening their casinos. "Tribal nations are just that, they're nations. So they are not bound by state laws," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said recently. New York state officials haven't decided yet when to allow commercial casinos to reopen, but the Oneida Indian Nation announced last Wednesday it will partly reopen three casinos, and the Cayuga Nation reopened its casino on May 15. Both are upstate, where similar large gathering places are not yet open. In California, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote a letter to tribal leaders pleading with them to align their plans with the state's, warning that people crowding in casinos could spark a new wave of infections. The "virus does not recognize jurisdictional boundaries," he said. In Florida, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez took to social media after the tribal casino Miccosulkee Resort & Gaming reopened early. Last month, he urged residents to follow federal health guidelines if they decide to go and gamble. That same tribe resisted pleas from state and local officials in late March to close entirely, as other tribal casinos, restaurants, movie theaters, parks and beaches had. At the time, Gimenez resorted to issuing a video message, urging elderly residents to "take personal responsibility" and stay away from any large gatherings, including the casino. Miccosulkee tribal officials, known for being strongly independent, had insisted they were following federal health recommendations. But days later, the tribe announced it would close the casino, while noting it was "under no legal obligation" to do so as a sovereign nation. As of last Tuesday, the American Gaming Association website identified 280 tribal casinos that have so far reopened, while 244 remained closed. Danielle Her Many Horses, deputy executive director of the National Indian Gaming Association, said those figures represent the diversity of opinion among tribes. "You have tribes in states that do want to open up and tribes that are like, 'no, no, no, we're going to back off on this because we don't think that's the right idea,'" she said. "And you have others who are like, 'we need to get our people working,' who are thinking of it in (terms of) rebooting the economy." How tribes have managed the coronavirus pandemic may also reflect their relationship with state and local leaders, Her Many Horses said. She noted Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, for example, meets regularly with the tribal leaders to discuss how the casino reopenings are going. Meanwhile, in South Dakota, three tribes the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Oglala Sioux Tribe set up checkpoints on state and federal highways to keep unnecessary visitors from their reservations because of the coronavirus. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has questioned the tribes' authority to take such action. In Connecticut, where the state receives 25% of the slot machine revenues generated at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, said he was surprised Lamont initially took a strong stance against their reopenings. Both tribes repeatedly encouraged the governor to see firsthand the steps they had taken, from installing special air filtration systems to barring busloads of gamblers from New York and Massachusetts. "I have tribal elders that I'm concerned about. And so I'm not going to put my community at risk," Butler said. "We're doing this very, very cautiously and with every safety precaution in mind." Ultimately Lamont sent a team of state agency heads to both casinos to review the operations and recommend some changes. Butler, who acknowledges the state's warning signs are "kind of catchy," credited Lamont for not caving to pressure to "do things that were a little bit more aggressive" and ultimately recognizing the tribes' sovereignty. "I think the adults in the room actually came to the table and had an adult conversation," Butler added. "He realized that, look, we may agree to disagree and still work well together. And we did." Associated Press Writer Marina Villeneuve in Albany, New York, contributed to this report. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The two staff members of the Indian mission in Islamabad, who were kept under detention for almost 12 hours, were picked up from a petrol station close to the high commission, people aware of the development said. These embassy staffers were picked up at 8.30 am Pakistan time on Monday by a group of around 15-16 armed people who came in six vehicles, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. They were blindfolded with a rucksack thrown over their heads and handcuffed, they added. The two staff members were then taken to an unknown location about 10 minutes from the place where they were picked up and interrogated for about six hours. They were repeatedly beaten with rods and wooden sticks and made to drink filthy water. Also Read: Furious at torture of 2 staffers, India considers reducing mission strength in Pak Giving further details, the people said that the two Indian staffers were interrogated regarding the specific role and function of all high commission officials. Reports in the Pakistani media had claimed that the Indian officials had been arrested after their car allegedly hit a pedestrian near the diplomatic enclave. The Indian officials told Hindustan Times that their kidnappers made multiple videos in which these staffers were forced to confess under duress that they had committed an accident. They were also threated and told that this is how the other members of the high commission would be treated in the future, the officials said. The two men were handed back to the Indian high commission at around 9 pm. They were released after the Pakistani charge daffaires in New Delhi was summoned to the foreign ministry for lodging a strong protest. Though they were able to walk, the people said that the two Indian staffers carried extensive injury marks to their neck, face and thighs indicating extensive manhandling. No life threatening injuries have been detected so far in their medical examination. A first information report (FIR) by Islamabad Police, accessed by HT, claimed fake Pakistani currency with a face value of Rs 10,000 was found in the car they were travelling in. These allegations were dismissed by the people cited above, who described them as false and baseless. The incident was widely seen in New Delhi as retaliation for the Indian governments decision to expel two officials of the Pakistan high commission who were apprehended on charges of spying on May 31. India had expelled the two officials of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi after they were detained by security agencies while trying to obtain classified materials on Indian security installations. Both men were declared persona non grata for indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission and asked to India within 24 hours. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When NYC police officers cannot even take meal without coming under attack, it is clear that environment in which we work has deteriorated to a critical level," the Police Benevolent Association said on Twitter Monday night. We cannot afford to let our guard down for even a moment. The Indian army said Tuesday that 20 of its soldiers were killed in border clashes with Chinese troops, Reuters and The Associated Press reported, citing an army statement. They are the first deaths in 53 years in the standoff between these two nuclear-armed powers. The army originally reported that three Indian soldiers had died, but later said 17 additional soldiers had succumbed to injuries, according to the news agencies. India and China, the world's two most populous countries, are locked in a territorial dispute along their mountainous 2,175-mile frontier. No shots have been fired since 1975, with troops occasionally engaging in hand-to-hand scuffles and throwing rocks, as early reports indicated was the case Tuesday. But experts worry that tensions are escalating between India Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a friend of President Donald Trump's and an increasingly assertive China. In the past year, China has increased its nuclear arsenal from 290 to 320 warheads, and India from 130-140 to 150 warheads, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI. The Indian army said in a statement late Tuesday that the two sides had "disengaged from the disputed Galwan area after clashing overnight, according to The AP. In an earlier statement, the Indian army said that one of its officers and two soldiers were killed in a "violent faceoff" in Galwan Valley, in the mountainous region of Ladakh. Senior military officials from both sides were meeting to defuse the situation, it said. Image: A man walks inside a conference room used for meetings between military commanders of China and India, at the Indian side of the Indo-China border at Bumla, in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. (Adnan Abidi / Reuters file) China blamed India, whose troops it said "crossed the border for illegal activities and launched provocative attacks against Chinese personnel," the state-run tabloid newspaper, the Global Times, said citing a foreign ministry briefing. "The Chinese side has lodged a strong protest and solemn representation to the Indian side, urging it to strictly restrain its front-line troops according to the consensus," it said. Story continues Hu Xijin, the influential editor-in-chief of the Global Times, tweeted: "I want to tell the Indian side, don't be arrogant and misread Chinas restraint as being weak. China doesn't want to have a clash with India, but we don't fear it." The latest flare-up started last month with more reports of rock-throwing and culminating with thousands of troops now camped either side of the Galwan Valley. The dispute dates to the 1860s, when British colonial rulers in India drew a border that was later disputed by China. This flared into a conflict in 1962, when Chinese forces invaded and drove back their Indian counterparts in what is still remembered as a chastening defeat. In the 1990s, both sides signed an agreement reaffirming their promise not to use military force. Our platform is the only journey orchestration platform with roots in AI-powered search and recommendations to deliver on the promise of journey orchestration. - Coveo CEO and Chairman Louis Tetu Coveo announces today that the Coveo Experience Intelligence Platform has been named a strong performer in The Forrester Wave: Journey Orchestration Platforms, Q2 2020 and received among the highest scores possible in the Market Presence category. The report is available here. The [Coveo] platform is a good fit for firms looking to unify data to transform digital and employee experiences and increase self-service and content relevancy, the report says. The Coveo Experience Intelligence Platform uses artificial intelligence, analytics, intelligent search and recommendation technologies to personalize digital experiences. By stitching together content and data from across the enterprise, Coveo clients deliver world class experiences enterprise-wide across commerce, service and workplace. Organizations need to deliver the intelligent, tailored experiences that people have come to expect. We believe this report validates the overwhelming market need for AI and data to power every digital experience. Coveo CEO and Chairman Louis Tetu said. Our platform is the only journey orchestration platform with roots in AI-powered search and recommendations to deliver on the promise of journey orchestration. The Coveo Experience Intelligence Platform gives companies like ours a competitive edge to meet our customer needs, RingCentral Vice President of Self-Service Jeff Harling said. The powerful machine learning and rich content experience has enabled our customer service organization to scale with the growth of our customer base." For more information, view the report here. About Coveo Coveo enables enterprises to thrive in the experience age, through delivering unique experiences that are relevant, unified, and valuable. The Coveo Experience Intelligence Platform uses AI, intelligent search and recommendation technologies to personalize millions of digital experiences for customers, partners, and employees, for many of the worlds most admired digital experience leaders. Coveo delivers solutions for Commerce, Service and the Workplace built on the Coveo Experience Intelligence Platform, with Coveo-accredited partners, and through Alliances with Salesforce, ServiceNow, Sitecore and more. Learn more at coveo.com. TDT | Manama An Emirates flight arrived at Bahrain International Airport yesterday afternoon, marking the airlines first flight carrying passengers to the Kingdom in about three months. The airline is set to operate seven flights a week between Dubai and Manama using their Boeing 777-300ER aircraft that will carry cargo and passengers returning to the Kingdom for emergency purposes. Passengers can also travel onwards to various locations within the Emirates airline network through Dubai. Travel restrictions still persist in most countries, and Emirates reminds its customers that they must check entry and exit requirements to their destinations before joining their flights. Flights from Dubai to some international cities in the Asia Pacific region, Europe and the Americas are currently open. Flight EK839, which arrived in Bahrain yesterday, departed from Dubai International Airport. The return Emirates flight EK840 left Bahrain International Airport shortly afterwards. A man in Wisconsin has caused alarm by walking his dog while wearing a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood. Charles Michael Booth, 50, was identified by police as the man spotted Friday in Conover drinking a beer and waving at cars as he sported the KKK regalia while walking his dog. Vilas County Sheriff Joseph Fath told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel his office received multiple calls about the man Friday evening. Fath said that police responded and Booth told them he was 'just taking his dog for a walk'. He added that Booth was not committing any crimes. Scroll down for video Charles Michael Booth, 50, was identified by police as the man spotted Friday in Conover drinking a beer and waving at cars as he sported KKK regalia 'I don't anticipate any follow-up on it,' Fath said. The incident sparked outrage among neighbors, however, including one who took a picture of Booth and shared it in disbelief. One woman told the Journal Sentinel that she and her husband saw Booth walking his dog while in the KKK outfit. She called the event 'so surreal' and said Booth just 'politely waved'. 'We froze,' said the woman, who wished not to be named because she is one of Booth's neighbors and has what she called a 'mixed-race' family. 'We knew what we were looking at, but we didn't know why. We were so in shock,' she said. Gregory Jones, president of the Dane County NAACP, called the incident a 'terrorist act'. Two men in KKK hoods tried to disrupt a Black Lives Matter rally last week in Nevada '(Booth) intended to project what I believe to be white supremacist behaviors by wearing this garb,' Jones said. 'It is intended to create fear among people even people who are not of color. (People in Vilas County) should be mindful and be willing to stand up and say this is not acceptable in our county at all,' he added. It comes as protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis have reignited concerns about racism and police brutality across the country. The incident in Wisconsin is not the first time that displays of KKK regalia have shocked the nation in recent weeks. Last week, two men wearing KKK hoods tried to disrupt a Black Lives Matter protest in Nevada - but were chased off after the BLM demonstrators and pro-police counter-demonstrators joined forces to demand that they leave. In May, a man walked into a Vons grocery store near San Diego wearing a KKK hood was the subject of a police inquiry. The San Diego Sheriff's Department won't charge this man who wore a KKK hood while shopping in a Vons supermarket on May 2, citing his protections under the First Amendment Police have yet to identify this 'attention seeking' man who wore a Klu Klux Klan hood to a Colorado grocery store last month According to a statement from the San Diego Sheriff's Department, the man explained to authorities that the 'hood was not intended to be a racial statement' but was intended to show his 'frustration with the coronavirus and having people tell him what he can and can not do'. Also last month, a man in Dillon, Colorado walked into the City Market grocery store wearing a KKK hood bizarrely emblazoned with a swastika and peace symbol. 'I just couldn't believe what I saw. It just blew me away,' fellow shopper Don Nechkash told KDVR. 'He was walking around and just very obviously looking for attention. It was blatantly obvious because he would pick up a product and walk around and kind of look at different people just waiting for someone to say something'. Nekash added that a number of patrons inside the store approached the man and called him 'a racist'. The man was asked to leave the store by management and departed before police arrived. An investigation was launched, but it is unclear if the man was ever identified. A usually busy Main Street in Livingston , Montana after Governor Steve Bullock order the closing of restaurants, bars, and theaters on March 20,2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. William Campbell-Corbis via Getty Images Austin, Texas, has extended its coronavirus stay at home orders after seeing a spike in cases and hospitalizations. More than two dozen states have seen spikes in cases, but many have chosen to move forward with their reopenings. In Arizona, experts said the state's reopening prompted the spike in cases. The state is now an emerging hotspot. Public health experts have warned that states may need to reimpose lockdowns if cases continue to climb. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. After a spike in cases, authorities in Austin, Texas, announced the city would extend stay-at-home orders for another two months. The city is now in Stage 4 risk, which is the second-highest and will remain under the orders until August 15, Mayor Steve Adler announced. "Wear a mask when you go outside & don't go places where people aren't wearing masks. New orders encourage businesses to require social distancing & face coverings while in Stage 4," Adler said in a tweet. The decision came after the city recorded a seven-day average of more than 20 hospitalizations a day, Spectrum News reported. Prior to the decision, Adler told local ABC affiliate KVUE that authorities "have some decisions to make and trade-offs to consider as we approach the red zone." "Make no mistake, we will be seeing more hospitalizations and deaths," Adler told the outlet. "We need the governor's help enforcing masks and social distancing if we are to keep reopening the economy without overwhelming hospitals." Despite the guidelines in Austin, the state of Texas is continuing to reopen even as overall case totals continue to climb, Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday. According to The Washington Post, as of Friday, the state has recorded its third day in a row of record high hospitalizations. More than 2,100 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday. Cases are rising in other cities and states but they're not locking down Story continues Other cities and states across the country are also seeing a spike in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, but not all are shutting down. According to NPR, public health experts agreed that in Arizona, the rush to reopen is responsible for the spike in cases there. Arizona is an emerging coronavirus hotspot, with over 4,400 new cases from Friday through Sunday, Business Insider previously reported. The state lifted its lockdown on May 15, and two weeks afterward cases began to increase. NPR reported that the weekly average of daily cases nearly tripled from two weeks ago. Prior to the lockdown being lifted the state had about 5% of its COVID-19 tests come back positive. Earlier this month, that rate was 12%. "It's spreading like wildfire," Rep. Greg Stanton, an Arizona Democrat, said on social media Sunday. "Arizona is the new national hotspot for COVID-19 with more than 4,400 new cases in just the last 72 hours. Per capita, Arizona's infection rate is now more than three times higher than New York state." Gov. Doug Ducey dismissed worries that the state's healthcare system could be overwhelmed after the state's largest hospital system warned of shortages. "The entire time we've been focused on a possible worst-case scenario with surge capacity for hospital beds, ICU beds, and ventilators," Ducey told reporters Thursday. "Those are not needed or necessary right now. However, experts said the state could see a strain on its a healthcare system with increased hospitalizations. "Arizona's COVID-19 hospitalizations are rapidly increasing," Banner Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Marjorie Bessel told NPR. "As of June 4, there were 1,234 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. About 50% of those patients are hospitalized in Banner Health facilities." In Austin, Adler said while the state's hospitals are not at capacity, the new orders are meant to make sure they're not overburdened. Arizona is not the only state seeing a spike in cases. According to Business Insider, twenty-five states and Puerto Rico have seen a 10% increase in infections over the past two weeks. Business Insider also reported that states like Utah and Oregon have also announced plans to address their increasing number of cases. Utah will pause all reopening plans until June 26 and Oregon will impose a week-long pause on further reopening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned last week that strict social distancing measures and store closures could come back if coronavirus cases in the US "dramatically" increase. "Right now, communities are experiencing different levels of transmission occurring, as they gradually ease up onto the community mitigation efforts and gradually reopen," CDC deputy director for infectious diseases Jay Butler said during a press briefing Friday. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading US expert on infectious disease, also warned states to reconsider their reopening plans if they see spikes in cases, CNN reported. "When you start seeing more hospitalizations, that's a surefire sign that you're in a situation where you're going in the wrong direction," Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN on Friday. "If you leapfrog over different phases, you increase the risk that you're going to have the kind of resurgences that we're seeing in certain of the states," Fauci said. Read the original article on Business Insider Creating pressure on SC is not fair when the govt is in disarray The High Court on Monday ruled that the denial of treatment by government and private hospitals or clinics resulting in the death of the patient would constitute a criminal offence. The online Bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim also issued 11 directives asking the government to bring to book the people responsible for death considering it as causing death by negligence. The court passed the rule after hearing five writ petitions filed as public interest litigations by several Supreme Court lawyers and right organisations for enforcement of government directives on treatment of all patients. It is true that court directives came at a time when critical patients continued to die after being denied of treatment at different hospitals in the capital and elsewhere during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The petitioners stated that in hospitals doctors were declining to receive or attend critical patients without a certificate that the patient was not positive for Covid-19. In the 11-point directives, the court asked the health secretary and the director general of the health services to strengthen monitoring to prevent private hospitals or clinics from imposing excessive bills for treating Covid-19 patients. These directives are in the best interest of the patients but the most important question is why these human rights bodies do not do something on their own initiative and strength. They can organise themselves to put pressure on the government to do the right things desirable for the patients. Running to courts with public interest cases when courts themselves are in a precarious situation and lawyers themselves are not to united to make the judiciary functionally strong and independent is not the correct thing to do. As lawyers it is their responsibility not to put the judiciary in an embarrassing position. The court's orders are to be implemented by the government. The government has already issued many such orders which have proven incapable of implementation. The government is in a situation of awful mismanagement created by allowing free corruption and by placing the wrong people in high places for loyalty. The health system is broken beyond repair. On the top of it corruption goes on unchecked. So who is going to help whom? There is no rule of law but rule of corruption. For long the conscientious sections of our people tolerated the intolerable silently which has pushed the country to such a miserable position. The government has created so much mismanagement that for everything it depends on the police and the police also took advantage of corruption as an opportunity. The government only knows how to declare areas locked down and how to ask the police and army to enforce it. Even in rich countries lock downs are arranged by making food funds available for the people in need. Our government officials are so much out of touch of the people and so rich that many them do not understand that without a free food supply lockdown means that the poor people will starve. It is not a secret that hospitals are unprepared in a pathetic way. ICU sections of many hospitals are not dependable. Three ICU specialists died of coronavirus. Many doctors and nurses are also losing their lives everyday because they are taking risks with their lives to save others. But they don't have adequate equipment for their own protection so they can offer better treatment to the patients. It is true that in some hospitals doctors take advantage of the helplessness of the patients and charge exorbitantly. The charge for ICUs which are non functional to deal with Covid-19. It is also reported that in hospitals the ICU patients are kept tied down to their beds to stay as long as the doctors want for higher bills to pay. False corona free certificates are available for going abroad and in China and Japan such people with false certificates were caught. Nothing shames us. We grant that no one singly is to be blamed. May be single one used. Many of us are guilty of committing crimes against the people. Now we are dying helplessly for the crimes of many. Thanks to doctors and nurses in the front line of the pandemic who fight and who try to be helpful when the government is unprepared. At the same time we urge the doctors associations to see that the poor patients are humanely treated. If you were thinking that Toronto feels like one of the last places in North America mostly under lockdown, youd be right. The city, along with Peel and Windsor-Essex, remains stranded in Stage 1 of the provinces reopening plan given that these three regions continue to produce the bulk of Ontarios new daily COVID-19 cases. That means no patio dining at restaurants. No open shopping malls. No professional hair cuts. Ontario is currently Canadas most closed economy, with 43 per cent of small businesses open, according to survey results released Tuesday by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). Many of those businesses that are still closed are likely in the Toronto and Peel areas, said Ryan Mallough, director for provincial affairs for Ontario at the CFIB. Much of the rest of the continent appears to be moving at a faster pace. For example, in Montreal, another Canadian hotbed of COVID-19 infections, barbershops were permitted to reopen Monday under strict conditions. Mallough said the CFIB is pleased the Ontario government decided to adopt a regional approach, in that it allowed other parts of the province to reopen faster given their low case numbers. This includes the regions surrounding Toronto and Peel, including Halton, York, and Durham, which will be able to move into Stage 2 as of Friday. But at the same time if youre a business owner in Toronto, its already frustrating if youre a hairstylist and see one in Montreal reopen and now maybe youre seeing one across the street, but you cant open, he said. Its very frustrating from a business perspective. They very much want to reopen and start generating revenue again. Economists say that keeping Toronto in Stage 1 for a few more weeks will of course prolong the already devastating impact that the pandemic has had the economy. But if the city were to reopen too early and see a surge of new outbreaks, that could lead to a full shutdown again, they say, which would be even worse for the economy. Just look at Houston, where the Texas city of five million largely reopened last week, but where officials have already cautioned that a recent surge in new cases may force them to shut down again. Thats the thing we should be most worried about, not whether it takes an extra week or two to reopen, said David Macdonald, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. I think its important to note that if we were to open too soon and saw a second wave, the impact of shutting down a second time would, Im sure, be far worse than waiting an extra week or two to make sure we have outbreaks under control. Though no exact date has been given by the government, its reasonable to believe that Toronto could at last move into Stage 2 in a week or so should the number of new positive cases continue to decline, said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases physician at Toronto General Hospital. I think it is reasonable, but we also have to remember its not a linear path forward. If there are outbreaks, we might need to clamp back down and thats a distinct possibility, he said. I think that should be an important part of the communication ... If there are a high number of cases in a particular area or throughout the province, we might need to reimpose public health restrictions. The question also remains as to how many Toronto businesses will even be able to survive once theyre given the green light to reopen. Smaller businesses particularly, the longer theyre closed, the more difficult it is for them to open, because theyre paying their fixed costs like rent and theyre running out of money, said Sherry Cooper, chief economist, Dominion Lending Centres. Even once restaurants, for example, can finally start serving people again on patios in Toronto, recovery will still be a long way off, said Mallough at the CFIB. For one thing, theyll be operating at reduced capacity to meet physical distancing requirements. We may see a bit of a boom at the beginning, but were talking about three months for most businesses of near zero revenue, he said, referring to the time these businesses have been largely closed. A good summer it not going to make up for that. A great summer is not going to make up for that. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 15:54:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. COVID-19 cases topped 2.1 million with over 116,000 fatalities on Monday as new hotspots emerged in many states where restrictions in place to curb the spread of the virus continue to ease amid an economic reopening. There were 2,113,372 cases of COVID-19 and 116,135 deaths in the United States, according to an updated tally by Johns Hopkins University on Monday. New York state, once the country's epicenter of COVID-19, has gone from having the worst infection rate to the "best," Governor Andrew Cuomo said Monday. As of Sunday, New York had 1,608 coronavirus patients, the lowest figure since March 20, and a three-day average of 27 deaths, the lowest since March 21, he added. However, states in the South, West and Southwest are seeing upticks in their coronavirus case counts -- and in some cases setting records -- as a troubling pattern emerges in areas that began lifting restrictions earlier than others, the New York Times reported. South Carolina, which was among the last states to issue stay-at-home orders and the first to start reopening, recorded 840 new infections on Monday, the highest number in one day since the pandemic began, said the report. In Arizona, which reopened pools and gyms in recent weeks, hospitals have been urged to activate emergency plans to handle a flood of COVID-19 patients, it added. Arizona is one of the 12 U.S. states seeing a rise in hospitalizations from COVID-19 and one of the eight states that experts say are the new hotspots for the virus, news website Vox.com reported. At least 23 U.S. states were seeing a rise in cases as of last week, according to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins data. Texas health authorities said there were 2,287 patients sickened with COVID-19 on Sunday, the sixth new high for coronavirus hospitalizations in the state in less than a week, CNBC reported. Texas is among the first U.S. states to relax its statewide stay-at-home order, allowing it to expire April 30. The United States will see an even more grave situation in containing the pandemic as states start reopening and schools resume in-person instruction, experts warned. "I fear that we will not see a turning point for a year," Stanley Perlman, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa, told Xinhua in an email interview. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projected that the country was on pace to reach 124,000 to 140,000 COVID-19 deaths by July 4, and that more fatalities could be expected in Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, North Carolina, Utah and Vermont next month versus the last month. An influential model produced by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington also revised its projections, forecasting nearly 170,000 COVID-19 deaths in the United States by Oct. 1. Projections for most locations suggested that infections could rise between August and September, assuming that schools will reopen for in-person instruction during this period, said an IHME release. States may need to re-implement the strict social distancing measures that were put in place earlier this year if coronavirus cases rise "dramatically," the CDC said. Enditem It was a rare admission when President Donald Trump told The Washington Post last year that he regretted the way he treated his older brother, Fred Jr., who died of alcoholism. But he insisted that a subsequent financial feud with his late brother's children had been settled amicably, saying, "We all get along." Now, however, Trump's niece - the daughter of Fred Jr. - has written a book slated to be published in July that could explode the image of a unified Trump family. In a description of the book posted on Amazon late Monday night, Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist, is said to describe "a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse. She explains how specific events and general family patterns created the damaged man who currently occupies the Oval Office, including the strange and harmful relationship between Fred Trump and his two oldest sons, Fred Jr. and Donald." Mary Trump plans to reveal the feuds that have long simmered within the family but until now have been largely masked by nondisclosure agreements and the limited public visibility of the president's siblings, The Daily Beast reported Sunday. The book will include Mary Trump's account of her conversations with Donald Trump's sister, former U.S. appellate judge Maryanne Trump Barry, who does not speak flatteringly about her brother, according to The Daily Beast. Mary Trump, who declined a Washington Post interview request last year to talk about her father's death, did not respond Monday to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for the publisher, Simon & Schuster, confirmed that the book will be published July 28, declining to comment further. Barry, reached by phone Monday, declined to comment. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Mary Trump's book, if it is as critical as has been reported, would mark a rare departure among the president's three living siblings and extended family members, who have largely refused to comment about him and have stayed out of public view. Its publication threatens to put the Trump family's internal tensions on prominent display months before the November election. "They might be polite, but Donald's personality is one of dominance, and that includes his family," said Jack O'Donnell, a former Trump casino executive. "That is no fun for anyone." Some of the friction appears to stem from a battle over the family fortune that erupted after the death of Fred Trump Jr. The future president's older brother, Fred Jr., went to TWA's training facility in Kansas City, Mo., and flew briefly as a secondary pilot. He died of alcoholism in 1981 at 42 years old. His children, Fred III and Mary, thought they would one day receive what they believed was their father's fair share of the family wealth. But 18 years later, when Fred Sr. died, Donald Trump and his siblings fought to keep most of the money for themselves, according to court records. Fred III and Mary sued other members of the Trump family in 2000, alleging that their relatives had persuaded Donald Trump's father to change the will. Donald Trump cut off family company payments that had been used to care for Fred III's son, William, who had cerebral palsy. Trump told the New York Daily News at the time that "when [Fred III] sued us, we said, 'Why should we give him medical coverage.' " Fred III said in court documents that "my aunt and uncles thought nothing about taking away my critically ill son's coverage in an attempt to browbeat me into abandoning my claim in the probate contest." "You have to be tough in this family," Fred III told the Daily News at the time. "I guess I have what my father didn't have. I will stick to my guns. I just think it was wrong. These are not warm and fuzzy people. They never even came to see William in the hospital. Our family puts the 'fun' in dysfunctional." Fred III, who could not be reached for comment Monday, has not publicly spoken about the matter since the case was settled confidentially. Mary told the Daily News at the time that she was incensed by the way the family treated her family and her brother. "Given this family, it would be utterly naive to say it has nothing to do with money," Mary Trump said. "But for both me and my brother, it has much more to do with that our father be recognized. He existed, he lived, he was their oldest son. And William is my father's grandson. He is as much a part of that family as anybody else. He desperately needs extra care." According to The Daily Beast, Mary Trump was a primary source for a 2018 investigation by The New York Times into how Donald Trump received hundreds of millions of dollars from the family real estate company. The New York Times declined to comment. President Trump has tried to gloss over the disputes within his family. Asked by The Post last year about the feud with his nephew's family, he minimized the cost of caring for William Trump's cerebral palsy. "One child was having a difficult time," Trump said. "It was an unfortunate thing. It worked out well, and we all get along." In discussing his brother's death with The Post, Trump said he regretted his constant criticism of Fred Jr. for seeking to be a TWA pilot instead of going into the family business. He recalled telling his older brother, "You're wasting your time." Their father, Fred Sr., berated Fred Jr. for wanting to be nothing more than "a chauffeur in the sky." "I do regret having put pressure on him," Trump said. Running the family business "was just something he was never going to want" to do. "It was just not his thing. . . . I think the mistake that we made was we assumed that everybody would like it." Years earlier, Fred Trump Jr. had helped Donald when he was seeking to transfer from Fordham University to the University of Pennsylvania's business school, Wharton. Fred Jr. was close friends with a Penn admissions officer, James Nolan, who told The Post last year that he interviewed Donald Trump for entry. Contrary to Donald Trump's assertion that Penn was one of the nation's hardest schools to enter, showing that he was a "genius," Nolan said that more than half of applicants were admitted and that it was "not very difficult." During the inheritance fight, Donald Trump relied especially on his younger brother, Robert, who served as a spokesman for the siblings in court documents. In fighting against the effort by Fred III to gain support for his son with cerebral palsy, Robert Trump wrote that the family had provided financial support "out of the goodness of our hearts" and had given Fred III $200,000 annually even though they didn't have to lift "a finger" for the money. While Robert Trump acted as Donald Trump's surrogate in the court case, he has had his own clashes with his brother, according to O'Donnell, a former Atlantic City casino executive who worked with both men. In his memoir, "Trumped!," O'Donnell wrote that Donald Trump hired Robert to help run his casinos, which were then floundering. When Donald Trump complained during a meeting with his casino executives that "We're going to lose a fortune," Robert responded: "Donald, you know there's just no way to predict these things," according to O'Donnell. Trump was furious with his brother, saying, "I'm sure as hell not going to listen to you in this situation. I listened to you and you got me into this," according to O'Donnell. Robert Trump said, "I'm getting out of here. I don't need this," O'Donnell wrote. Donald Trump, in an interview for The Post's biography "Trump Revealed," said his brother "never quit" and did a "really good job." O'Donnell said in an interview Monday that Donald Trump promotes the "image of a strong loyal family," including with his parents, children and siblings. Although O'Donnell said Robert gets along with Donald Trump, he thinks the browbeating at the Taj Mahal casino "changed forever" their relationship. Robert Trump, who could not be reached for comment, does not appear to have ever spoken publicly about what happened in Atlantic City. He told the New York Post in 2016 that "I support Donald one thousand percent. I think he's doing a great job. I think he's got a great message." He and Donald were photographed embracing on the night of the election. The Post reported last year that a company in which Robert Trump has a financial stake received a $33 million federal contract. Maryanne Trump Barry, the president's sister, resigned last year as a federal appellate judge in the wake of an investigation into whether she violated judicial conduct rules related to her role in the family company's tax practices. The investigation, launched after The Times investigation into Trump family finances, became moot when she resigned. Trump once joked that he was considered putting her on the Supreme Court. She has said little publicly about her brother during his presidency. Trump's other sibling, Elizabeth Grau, a former administrative assistant at Chase Manhattan Bank, has maintained a low profile throughout her brother's presidency. She could not be reached for comment. OTTAWA - The federal government will look at how measures to revive the economy from its pandemic-induced freeze will impact women and men differently, Finance Minister Bill Morneau promises. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Finance Minister Bill Morneau rises during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on May 26, 2020. Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the government will look at how measures to revive the economy from its pandemic-induced freeze will impact women and men differently. He also suggests that federal officials will consider how any changes to the COVID-19 economic safety net may affect racialized communities in this country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - The federal government will look at how measures to revive the economy from its pandemic-induced freeze will impact women and men differently, Finance Minister Bill Morneau promises. He also suggests that federal officials will consider how any changes to the economic safety net rushed into place for people whose jobs have been affected by COVID-19 could affect racialized communities in Canada. Morneau is working on a host of changes to federal programs that are now estimated to cost about $153.7 billion, as anti-contagion restrictions are rolled back to allow companies and workers get back to business. The Liberals teased upcoming announcements Monday about an extension of the emergency response benefit for workers, a revamp of the wage subsidy program and new options Friday for small- and medium-sized businesses to access an emergency loan program. Morneau told the Senate's finance committee in the afternoon that officials are working on various economic scenarios to determine how programs should adapt to give support where it's needed without throttling the recovery. In developing those next steps, Morneau said the government would consider traditional and creative economic measures that could fit into any eventual budgets. "Most certainly we will be looking at the typical data we look at, but we will also continue to try and look at other sources of data that are important," Morneau said. "A good example is obviously we've taken an approach to looking at gender-disaggregated data to come up with approaches that have an impact on women differentially and that kind of approach will be something we'll consider for other parts of our society." He didn't say when the government will release a budget or economic update. He said there needs to be more certainty about the underlying economy, which will come as restrictions ease. The pandemic's economic effects have been disproportionately felt by women and low-wage workers, and work is underway to better understand the impacts on race and visible minorities. Statistics Canada plans to collect information on race and visible-minority status as part of its monthly jobs report, starting with the survey next month, to provide insights on populations of interest and assist in making evidence-based decisions. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Morneau said one lesson he's learned during the pandemic is to adapt programs as new data comes in. One of his cabinet colleagues, Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos, told a midday press conference on Parliament Hill that Morneau would have an announcement in the "near future" on the federal wage-subsidy program based on input from business and labour groups. The program has paid out $10.5 billion in aid to almost 210,000 companies as of June 8, but that's at a pace below what the Liberals expected when they first proposed the program. Its budget has been revised down from $73 billion to $45 billion, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged companies anew on Monday to apply for the aid if they hadn't already. Duclos disagreed the numbers for the program were disappointing. He suggested numbers would go up now that there is more certainty about reopening plans and when employers can rehire furloughed workers. "It was an understandable lack of speed initially when that was introduced. Now, that is clearing up," Duclos said. "Businesses are understanding better how the system works and businesses have a better ability to see the way forward, economically speaking." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2020. A white sucker underwater in the St. Lawrence River. Credit: Shutterstock In a northern Ontario First Nation community, a council member who also drove the children's school bus volunteered to take three primary teachers and their students to a nearby river. They had heard that the suckers were running. It was May, the time of the sucker moon; time for community members to harvest the fish. Community Elders used traditional Indigenous teaching methods that involve telling stories and explaining while demonstrating, as well as encouraging children to participate. The Elders taught children that the land is a provider of food and resources. They explained that children must watch and listen carefully so they remember how things are done in a respectful way. Through observing, listening and participating, the children learned how to catch the fish using nets, snares made from rabbit wire and sticks and using their bare hands. They learned safe ways of catching, scaling, getting water from the lake to clean the fish, filleting, creating a smoker, gathering wood and making a fire and then smoking the fish. They learned respectful ways, such as not playing with the fire or splashing water when washing the fish. Every part of the fish was smoked and eaten (including the head and intestines), so there was no waste. The children learned an important traditional way of living, from watching the Elder make the snares to placing the fish on the smoker. The next day, students, their teachers and community members took the bus to a nearby lake where there was a fire pit. An Elder cooked the fish over an open fire where the children had an opportunity to taste the fish they had caught. The Elders used the community's Indigenous language, Oji-Cree, reinforcing words that the children were learning in their Indigenous language classes. In Oji-Cree, the word for river is Ziibii (pronounced zeebee). Namebin (pronounced naamaybin) is the word for suckers. Ishkode (pronounced ishkoday) is the word for fire. The Elders told the children (Abinoojiiyag, pronounced abinojeeug) that their community's traditional language is a connection to the land (Aki, pronounced ahki). It is the community's first language, a gift given by the Creator. Children scaling the fish. Credit: Kathy Sky, Author provided Return of the language Throughout much of the 20th century, Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools where they were only allowed to use English. Living away from their families during the school year, the children started to lose their language. Because of residential schools, generations of Indigenous children and adults do not speak their Indigenous languages fluently. The Elders, fluent speakers in the old language, some of whom are great-grandparents of children in school today in First Nation communities across Canada, are passing away. The next generation, such as Kathy (one of the authors of this article) is fluent, but has lost some of the words of the old language. Each generation knows less and less of the language because their parents have had fewer and fewer opportunities to learn and use the language at home with their families. Because English was the language of their schooling, this generation tended not to use their Indigenous language at home with their children. As a result, parents of school-aged children may have learned their community's traditional practices growing up with their Elders, but very few are fluent in the language. Parents, along with the chief and council and community members, see families, the community and the school as partners in revitalizing the community's traditional practices and language. Indigenous communities are now reclaiming their own traditional language and culture by incorporating Indigenous knowledge and ways of teaching into Eurocentric provincial curriculum. The smokehouse. Credit: Kathy Sky, Author provided Northern language, writing and play Our Northern Oral Language and Writing through Play partnership research, funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Grant, involves collaborative action research with Indigenous teachers, Elders and community members in northwestern Ontario in Treaty 3, Treaty 5 and Treaty 9 areas, as they bring together Indigenous knowledge and the provincial curriculum. In the northern Ontario First Nation community where children learned traditional ways of fishing and smoking fish, teachers drew on research on early literacy, inviting children to use writing to communicate and reinforce what the children wanted to share and remember about their cultural experiences. In this way, the teachers and students reinforced the importance of the children's language and cultural learning alongside literacy. Teachers encouraged children to communicate ideas that are important to them. In the example below, it is clear that cleaning the fish, something that the Grade 1 writer was able to participate in, was enjoyable and a significant part of the experience for her. Teachers wanted children to think, and asked children to use what they knew about letters, words and sounds, rather than to copy words or only write the words they knew how to spell. A Grade 1 students writing following the sucker fishing experience: I was clean[ing] the fish. I was taking off the scales. Credit: Kathy Sky, Author provided Figuring out how to spell unfamiliar words was a literacy learning process for the children. In the example, the child knew the spelling of some words. She sounded out words, such as clean, fire and fish, and then thought about letters that she could use to write the sounds. She wrote a letter for every sound that she heard and was able to spell words that were repeated, such as clean and fish, correctly the second time. The children learned traditional practices by observing, listening to Elders and other community members speaking their community's Indigenous language and participating. They saw the connections between cultural learning and literacy by writing about what was important and enjoyable to them. In keeping with Indigenous knowledges that are about relationships and being in harmony and balance with the environment, parents, community members and teachers see the need for children to be literate in the English language order to participate in mainstream society, as well. Explore further Visual method helps with learning language rules This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Authorities in New Mexico on Monday removed a statue of Juan de Onate, the despotic conquistador of New Mexico, as anti-racism protests around the United States are evolving to target symbols of colonial atrocities. The removal of the Onate statue in Alcalde in northern New Mexico came amid a flurry of other actions aiming to topple monuments to Onate, who became the province of New Mexicos brutal colonial governor in 1598, putting into motion centuries of Spanish rule in the region. A protest against another Onate statue, in Albuquerque, was scheduled for Monday night. Protesters recently sprayed the words your God is not my God on a colossal Onate statue in El Paso. The agitation against honoring Onate reflects a tension that has long festered between Native Americans and Hispanics over Spains conquest more than four centuries ago, with protests this year over police violence unleashing a broader questioning of race relations in this part of the West. Onates period as governor was marked by a violent repression considered severe even by the standards of his time. He killed 800 indigenous people in Acoma Pueblo and ordered his men to cut off the foot of at least 24 male captives. Spanish authorities convicted him on charges of excessive violence and cruelty, permanently exiling him from New Mexico. Maurus Chino, 66, an Acoma artist, said he welcomed the efforts to take down the statues. But Chino said that in his view, removing the monuments did not go far enough. Melt them down and recast them as commemorative pieces, said Chino, adding that doing so could help draw attention to crucial junctures in New Mexico history, such as the 1680 uprising that figured among the most successful indigenous rebellions against the Spanish empire anywhere in the Americas. The statue in Alcalde that was removed on Monday gained notoriety decades ago when the right foot of the statue was cut off in a secretive act of protest. Since then, that act has resonated widely in New Mexico as a symbol of indigenous resistance. Some Hispanic leaders in New Mexico oppose removing the statues, though there is by no means consensus on the question. Ralph Arellanes Sr., president of the Hispano Round Table of New Mexico, said that taking down the Onate statue in Albuquerque would be wrong. It is a sculpture of a group of people on their journey into New Mexico with their livestock, Arellanes said in a Facebook post about the statue, which was completed in 2004 and depicts Onate leading an expedition of settlers and soldiers. The Albuquerque Museum board of trustees voted last week to remove the sculpture, called La Jornada, or the journey. The citys Cultural Services Department said over the weekend that it would convene a group of artists and community leaders to discuss the issue. Officials in Rio Arriba County told the Albuquerque Journal that the statue in Alcalde was being removed temporarily. The discussion about what to do with the statues is feeding a broader debate over race and identity in New Mexico. For many Hispanics, statues of Onate and other conquistadors represent symbols of resistance to Anglo dominance in New Mexico since the 19th century. Weve been living among each other for 400 years, intermarrying, making New Mexico what it is today, Arellanes said in a telephone interview, while emphasizing that he had indigenous ancestry from Tewa-speaking peoples. This is what happens when people try to drive a wedge between us. Others, however, said it may be time to stop honoring conquistadors. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the governor of New Mexico, said on Twitter that taking down the Onate statue in Alcalde was a step in the right direction toward understanding New Mexicos complicated history and imbalanced power structures. Brian Vallo, the governor of Acoma Pueblo, said he agreed with removing the Onate statues, drawing a connection between the atrocities carried out centuries ago during the conquest and the legacy of those events today. He pointed to the vulnerability of tribal nations in the face of COVID-19 and the heightened risk they face of dying, as an example of how indigenous peoples are still struggling with extreme inequality. This is not anything new for Acoma, said Vallo, who opted against speaking at the Albuquerque protest on Monday to remove the Onate statue. He said he was trying to lead by example for a people that have followed strict distancing measures in an attempt to prevent infections. It has to be understood that Acoma has been dealing with this trauma since it happened in 1599. The impetus for removing the statues also points to shifting definitions in New Mexico of what it means to be Hispanic or Native American. Some pushing to take the monuments down identify as Genizaros, descendants of enslaved Indians who were raised in Hispanic culture, while other proponents of the statue removals suggest there are other ways to recognize the endurance and resilience of New Mexicos Hispanic culture. We are not static museum pieces and history has never stood still like these statues, Estevan Rael-Galvez, a former New Mexico state historian, said in another Facebook post. The fact that Onate and other figures of conquest have been embraced as a symbol of identity reveals a lack of critical thinking and imagination. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Amid an unabated rise in coronavirus cases in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a fresh round of consultations with chief ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday on ways to check the spread of the virus as India exits the lockdown. On Tuesday afternoon, PM Modi will hold a video-conference with chief ministers, Lt governors and administrators of 21 states and Union territories. These include Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, the northeastern states and some UTs. The prime minister will interact with chief ministers of 15 states and the LG of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. These include high case load states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The two-day virtual meet comes against the backdrop of rising number of coronavirus cases in the country. India saw a jump of over 11,000 novel coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day on Monday, taking the total number of infections to over 3.32 lakh, while the toll rose to 9,520 with 325 more deaths. Under "Unlock 1", several relaxations have been made for public and businesses to ensure that economic activities hit by the lockdown gather momentum. Ahead of his meeting with chief ministers, the prime minister had on Saturday reviewed the steps being taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in areas with high case load and the road map for effective management of the situation. PM Modi had suggested that the home minister and the health minister convene an emergency meeting with the Delhi Lt governor and chief minister and other officials to plan a "coordinated and comprehensive response" to handle the challenge posed by rising cases of COVID-19 in Delhi. The meets suggested by the prime minister took place on Sunday. This would be the prime minister's sixth round of consultation with the chief ministers, the last being on May 11. Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with all the chief ministers over telephone in the last week of May, just before lockdown-4 was to end. 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. New Delhi: In a shocking development from eastern Ladakh, a Colonel-rank Army officer and two soldiers were killed during a violent clash with Chinese troops at one of the standoff points in the Galwan Valley. Colonel Santosh Babu, who was killed in the standoff was Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment. The incident took place on the night of June 15. The 'shocking' bloodshed incident at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a first to take place in the last 45 years. Confirming the report, an Army official said that the incident came during the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley and that senior military officials of both sides are currently meeting to defuse the situation. According to sources, 3-4 casualties have been reported on the Chinese side too. While calling India to not take unilateral action on the killing of its troops in the border standoff, China accused Indian soldiers of crossing border and attacking Chinese personnel, that caused the latest standoff. Details of what exactly led to the violent face-off are not clear at the moment although reports state that no firearms were used and deaths took place after stones were pelted by troops from both sides. A large number of Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks, said PTI. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in a standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions and demanded their immediate withdrawal for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row. Union Defence Minister briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the latest standoff at LAC. According to reports, Rajnath, who held a crucial meet with CDS, three service chiefs and the MEA, will also take part in PM Modi's meeting with Chief Ministers via video conference today at 3 pm today. On the other hand, Army chief MM Naravane, who was scheduled to visit Pathankot, has cancelled his trip in view of the Ladakh incident. Union Defence Minister briefed on the incident: Following the development, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar chaired a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs. The latest escalation on border standoff from the Chinese side was discussed during the meeting. The agonizing development at the eastern Ladakh comes at a time when India and China are continuing diplomatic and military engagements for an early resolution of the standoff between border troops. However, despite their continuous dialogues, the border row seems to have been mounting up with June 16 witnessing bloodshed on both sides. The two sides had made headway in talks last week with Army chief General MM Naravane saying disengagement was in progress. The development had come after weeks of tension, including an incident in the month of May in which patrolling troops from the two sides exchanged blows on the banks of Pangong Lake, resulting in injuries. First incident of violence leading to fatalities between India and China in over four decades: The last deaths on the India-China border were in 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by the Chinese soldiers on the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh. At least four soldiers were killed in a Chinese ambush in Arunachal Pradesh. This is the first instance of casualty between the two sides since then. Credit: CC0 Public Domain As economies around the world start to reopen, governments are looking for ways to help track and contain new coronavirus infections. One tool is contact tracing, used by public health officials to halt the ongoing transmission of an infectious disease. Some states have already retrained state employees to work as contact tracers, and there is an expected need of 100,000 contact tracers across the United States. Along with growing the contact-tracing workforce, Apple and Google announced earlier this spring a collaborative effort for digital tracing. The first of these tracing apps, which use Bluetooth technology to track contacts based on phone proximity, is now live as part of a large-scale pilot study in Switzerland. But how, exactly, do these two approaches work, and what will the next phase of the pandemic look like if both strategies are used widely? To provide additional context and understanding, Penn experts discuss how contact tracing works, both the traditional "analog" and new "digital" approaches, and how both strategies could shape what everyday life looks like in the next phase of the pandemic. Contact tracing is an epidemiological tool to curb the spread of disease. Contact tracing is a systematic approach for tracking a new case's source of infection as well as finding others who might have been exposed to that case during their infectious period. "Contact tracing is designed to, as quickly as possible, identify any high-risk exposures the new case may have had with others and then ask those contacts to take precautions so they don't infect others," says Kevin Volpp, who, along with David Asch and Carolyn Cannuscio, is leading contact-tracing efforts at Penn Medicine. This work is typically conducted by state and local health departments, but this task has currently been delegated by the City of Philadelphia to Penn Medicine for its own patients. "Contact tracing is not about getting people in trouble," says Cannuscio. "It's about supporting communities in order to halt transmission and lower the burden of disease." Contact tracers conduct phone interviews with patients who recently tested positive to recreate their movements and activities and to figure out who they came in close contact with. Contact tracers also share information with local health departments to help prevent further spread, especially for cases that occurred in high-risk settings, such as communal living centers. "When it's done well, the contact-tracing process involves not just the interview but then follow-up 'detective work' to connect the dots," says Cannuscio. After the initial interview, these "epidemiological detectives" work to identify and locate potential secondary cases so they can let them know that they should self-isolate, check for symptoms, and possibly get tested. This might be difficult to do if, for example, a positive case met someone at a party but only remembers a first name. The contact tracer needs to see what other information they can find out about that person so they can get in touch with them. A contact tracer needs to have empathy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, and an ability to react and forge bonds very quickly. Contact tracers also provide support to patients. They explain how to self-isolate, ask if they are having difficulties paying rent or are facing eviction, and inquire about their ability to get basic necessities like groceries. "Emotional intelligence is key in this role. It's really one shot we have with this person to convince them that we are doing this to support their family, their loved ones, and their community," Cannuscio says. She adds that being both curious and empathetic is also essential. "I really key in on that. How curious is this person about the dynamics of COVID-19, about the life circumstances of the people they are calling, and how much empathy can they draw on to connect with that person," she says. Contact tracing works best as part of a package of mitigation strategies. At this stage of the pandemic, Volpp says it's impossible for contact tracing alone to contain COVID-19. "Ideally, contact tracing would have been deployed as soon as the first cases were identified because the goal is to get containment as quickly as you can" he says. "Now, if you have hundreds of new cases a day, it's hard. Let's say everyone had on average 10 contacts, then each day you'd have to track down 2,000 people, and not everyone will be easy to reach." As the number of new daily cases begins to decrease, contact tracing will become more useful but will still need to be part of a package of approaches, along with continued adherence to social distancing and good hygiene. "When we look at what's happened in other countries, it's clear that there's a package of tools that have been used: testing, manual contact tracing, digital contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation. When all of these tools are used together, they can be very effective at suppressing an epidemic," says Volpp. There are privacy challenges for both analog and digital contact tracing. For contact-tracing efforts at Penn Medicine, two different contact tracers will talk to a new case and that person's contacts in order to protect patient privacy. "If a contact were to ask, 'Who infected me?' then the contact tracer can say 'I don't know'," Volpp says. For digital contact tracing, protecting privacy is more complicated. If a person has downloaded a contact-tracing app, their phone will broadcast a one-time token, an encrypted string of numbers and letters, to other phones that also have the app and are within Bluetooth range. Phones will store any tokens they collect for 14 days. Then, if a person tests positive for coronavirus, they upload their results onto the app, which broadcasts their phone's tokens to a central server. The app then notifies any people whose phones have stored that same token that they should self-isolate. "People know that they've been in contact with someone who tested positive, but they don't know much more than that," says Aaron Roth. Roth and Michael Kearns work on differential privacy in social networks, which is the approach used to protect individual privacy in large datasets. One example is Google's community mobility reports, which provide aggregated information about people's movements without providing details on any one individual. While protecting privacy on contact-tracing apps is done through cryptographic approaches, differential privacy still comes into play for protecting individuals who did not test positive. "If you haven't been diagnosed with COVID-19, then nobody who's looking at your phone should be able to figure out who you've been hanging out with," says Roth. Apps can't completely replace manual contact tracing. One of the biggest hurdles to app-based contact tracing is the number of users needed to be effective, and as of now only three states in the U.S. have committed to using these Bluetooth-based apps. "If 1% of the population opts into this app, and it's doing proximity detection, you won't have enough coverage for it to be useful," says Kearns. "Given that it is likely that such apps will be offered on a voluntary opt-in basis, a major challenge will be to use nudges to increase uptake in ways that will be acceptable to the public," says Volpp. And because these proximity tracker apps rely on Bluetooth technology, there's also a possibility for false positives, or people told they were at risk of contracting coronavirus when they actually weren't. Because Bluetooth-enabled devices can connect to one another through walls and across large open spaces, a person could be within Bluetooth range of an infected person but not have been in contact in a clinically relevant way. With these types of contact-tracing apps, developers walk a fine line between privacy and accuracy. And, after the pandemic, governments need to avoid "mission creep." In terms of digital privacy, Kearns, Roth, and Volpp agree that, because of the severity of the pandemic, an effective contact-tracing app would need to be one that is both widely adopted and that finds an ideal trade-off between missing potential cases and being too sensitive. "Conceptually, it has to have some knob that adjusts the trade-off between false positives and missed cases. If you set the knob all the way in one direction, you have the app crying wolf all the time, and then people start to ignore it," says Kearns. They add that the challenge post-pandemic would be to avoid "mission creep," where, because a tracking system is in place, governments decide to keep it active. "Mission creep would be, 'Well, now that everyone's opted in for this app ' and tracing their location all the time and also your proximity to other people. Now, it bleeds into other use cases that are not medically critical," Kearns says. Cannuscio adds that these proximity-based apps now face new challenges in light of concerns about privacy during the ongoing protests. "With the protests, for example, if people were there who later tested positive, people likely won't be able to name the other people they were face to face with, so the proximity trackers could be helpful. But privacy concerns are heightened in an era when there's tension between protestors and both law enforcement and government. Those issues are not simple by any stretch of the imagination," she says. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Everyone needs a roof over their head. Shelter is a basic human need. But millions of people around the world simply cannot afford adequate housing. Perhaps none more so than the people who live in certain cities, where housing is so expensive that some people resort to living in grossly inadequate lodgings. Here is a list of ten cities with the most expensive average home prices. New York City High-rises in New York. Image credit: Stephan Guarch/Shutterstock.com What comes to mind when you think of New York City? The Statue of Liberty? Times Square? How about sky high housing prices? In 2018, the Big Apple was ranked the 10th most expensive city in the world to buy a home, with an average home price of more than $646,000. Its simply a matter of supply and demand. New York Citys population keeps growing, but the housing sector has not kept pace. In addition, the amount of amenities in the city drives up the cost of housing since landlords can charge more for homes that are close to the citys many attractions. Space is also an issue as there is no land for the city to expand outward. Paris Skyscrapers are not allowed in the city of Paris. Image credit: V_E/Shutterstock.com The average home price in the French capital is more than $650,000. One of the reasons why owning a home in the City of Romance is so expensive is that the law does not allow for high-rise buildings, where cheaper housing could be situated, nor does it allow the city to expand outwards to a significant extent. At the same time, the demand for housing in the city has skyrocketed. Los Angeles Aerial view of of a residential neighborhood in Hawthorne, in Los Angeles, CA. Image credit: TierneyMJ/Shutterstock.com Buying a home in the City of Angels will set you back an average of more than $717,000. Like other cities, Los Angeles has simply not been able to keep up with the demand for housing. Regulatory red tape and the citys penchant for selling vacant land to wealthy retailers rather than using it to build affordable housing are also cited as reasons for why owning a home in L.A. is an expensive proposition. Vancouver A row of houses in Vancouver, Canada. Image credit: Romakoma/Shutterstock.com The city on the coast of British Columbia is the third-biggest in Canada, but it is number one in the country when it comes to lack of affordable housing. In fact, Vancouver is the second-least affordable housing market in the world. As of 2018, the average home price in the city was more than $754,000. Beijing Beijing is also a super-expensive city. Image credit: Rongyiquan/Shutterstock.com The average home price in Chinas capital is approximately $763,500. Chinese authorities have made an effort to build affordable housing in recent years. However, the housing that they built is located on the outskirts of the city, where there are few public transportation options for people needing to be in the center of town. As a result, few people have opted to live in these units. Shenzhen Skyscrapers in Shenzhen, China. Image credit: Serjio74/Shutterstock.com Located in southern China, adjacent to Hong Kong, Shenzhen boasts the 5th most expensive average home price, at nearly $784,000. In the summer of 2019, Chinese authorities announced their intention to build 1.7 million affordable housing units in the city by 2035. But these units will only be available to professionals with university degrees, who possess a residency permit known as a hukou. Since 70% of the residents in Shenzhen do not have a hukou, however, the new housing will not be accessible to most of the citys population. Shanghai Homes in Shanghai, China. Image credit: Atiger/Shutterstock.com Chinas most populous city is home to the worlds 4th most expensive average home price, which is almost $906,000. Many migrants who come to the city looking for work will find themselves living in very cramped conditions, to say the least. There are situations in which up to 24 migrants will cram themselves into a 2-3 bedroom apartment. Singapore View of the skyline of Singapore. Image credit: Nuttawut Uttamaharad/Shutterstock.com Buying a home in this Southeast Asian city-state will set you back an average of approximately $915,000. But unlike Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai, Singapore has managed to provide affordable housing for the vast majority of its residents. Today, more than 90% of Singaporeans own their homes. Munich Old town homes in Munich. Image credit: Travel Faery/Shutterstock.com A home in Germany's third most populous city costs an average of $1 million. Renting in the city can be expensive, too. In fact, Munich held the distinction of the most expensive city in Germany for renters for 20 years, until 2018. Hong Kong The Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China has the worlds most expensive average home price at approximately $1.25 million. It is also the least affordable housing market on Earth. In fact, the situation is so desperate that some residents live in so-called cage homes, stacked one on top of another, with just enough space to fit one person and some of their belongings. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees Monday, June 15 voted unanimously to appoint Daniel Williams to fill the seat of the late Deb Bailey. Williams is president and CEO of the West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (WMCAT). He was one of 11 applicants from various sectors seeking to complete Baileys six-year term that expires Dec. 31 and a chance to run for the seat. Hailed as a servant-leader, Bailey died April 27 from complications with cancer. The former director of global corporate relations at Steelcase Inc. was appointed in 2013 as a trustee and elected in 2014. Related: Crowded field seeking appointment to vacant GRCC Board of Trustees seat GRCC Trustee Kathy Crosby said it was a very strong field of a qualified candidates. She said Williams brings a unique perspective to the board and understands the role of the board of trustees and governance and strategy. "He works familiarly with the young people in our community and knows what they will have to confront and overcome and learn and be to succeed at our college,'' she said. "He also knows the expectations of employers who are building a workforce. He knows our community through his many collaborative efforts and the relationships he has built and the boards he worked with.'' WMCAT operates a Teen Arts and Tech Program for Grand Rapids Public Schools students and operates an Adult Career Training program. I am humbled to follow Deb Bailey, who I respected so much and who was respected by so many people in the community, said Williams, about how that makes the appointment really special. The importance of a strong community college has never been more important to the region than it is right now, as we look to support seniors who just finished high school and are trying figure out their next steps and as the economy continues to change and shift. Williams, who was the principal of Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy before joining WMCAT in 2015, said we are in a very important inflection point in K-12 and higher education. He said he will run for the seat because he thinks he can make a difference at this vital time in education. There were many, many great candidates, well-qualified candidates but I feel that Dr. Daniel Williams is the best candidate, said Trustee Kenyatta Brame prior to the board voting. Brame said that Williams was the candidate that checked all his boxes including: Someone with experience working with Kent County students and schools. Someone who understands the educational needs and requirements of current and future GRCC students. Someone who understands the barriers that prevents students from continuing their education. Someone capable of helping the college break down those barriers. Trustee Cynthia Bristol said she was greatly impressed by Williams, who enjoys a great connection with the community. He is invested in preparing high school students for college, encouraging and engaging unemployed adults to pursue income security through career training and working with GRCC to build a strong dual enrollment,'' she said. Trustee Kathleen Bruinsma was the only one of the six board members to nominate someone other than Williams. She said supported Brandy Lovelady Michell, director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Kent ISD, based on her professional and lived experience. For 20 years, she said Mitchell has been thinking about working on some of the same facets of the colleges strategic plan and college action projects. The board interviewed the candidates virtually May 20 and May 27. Scott Urbanowski, president of Humanoid Digital, withdrew his name over the weekend. Williams earned his doctorate in interdisciplinary leadership from Creighton University, a masters degree in educational leadership from Easter Michigan University, and bachelors degree in communication studies from the University of Iowa. The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation is currently working to continue the legacy of Bailey by endowing a scholarship in her name. Community members can donate through the foundations online donation page: grcc.edu/donate. Select "Deb Bailey Memorial Scholarship from the drop-down menu under "Designation. More on MLive: Resumption of dine-in services a whole new ballgame for Grand Rapids breweries Michigan mandates testing after confirming nearly 2,000 coronavirus deaths in nursing homes Salons, bottle returns reopen: An updated list of whats allowed in Michigan Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday blamed the Indian army for provoking the serious physical conflict along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, said Indian troops twice crossed the border line for what he described as illegal activities, and attacked the Chinese personnel which led to serious physical conflict between the two sides. The Indian army has confirmed that three including an army officer had died in the clash that took place in Ladakhs Galwan valley late on Monday evening. The army has also confirmed that there were casualties on both sides in the violent face-off. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, however, insisted that he was not aware of any fatalities. Some time later, the first confirmation of casualties on the Chinese side came from Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of Global Times. Also Read: Face-off between India and China in Galwan valley: What we know so far Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash, Hu Xijin tweeted on Tuesday afternoon. He went on to ask India not to misread Chinas restraint to be a sign of weakness. China doesnt want to have a clash with India, but we dont fear it, the editor tweeted. The Global Times newspaper, a tabloid published by Chinas ruling Communist Partys official newspaper, however, has not reported the casualties so far. The only news report on the border clash was based on the foreign ministry briefing. According to the Indian army, the border clash at Galwan valley took place when the de-escalation process was underway. Officials later said military commanders, Major General Abhijit Bapat, commander of the Karu-based HQs 3 Infantry Division and his Chinese counterpart are holding talks at the site of the clash to defuse tensions. A Colonel-rank officer, the commanding officer of the unit posted at the standoff point, was among the three to have died in Mondays clash. The deaths, the first in a clash with the Peoples Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control in 45 years, were mostly attributed to stones thrown by both sides. Some soldiers also used rods to hit the other side. In 1975, an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradeshs Tulung La. Four Assam Rifles soldiers were killed in the attack. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. 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You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. India is among countries with least number deaths due to COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday and noted that the country can minimise its losses if all the rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus are followed. New Delhi: India is among countries with least number deaths due to COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday and noted that the country can minimise its losses if all the rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus are followed. The Prime Minister made the remarks on the first day of his sixth meeting with chief ministers and Union Territories through video conferencing on ways to deal with crisis created by coronavirus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with Chief Ministers of states & Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, via video conference. pic.twitter.com/erWrV7k4VS ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 "The recovery rate has gone above 50 percent in India. For us, the death of even one Indian is unsettling but it is also true that India is one of the countries where there have been least deaths due to COVID-19," he said. "The two weeks of `Unlock 1' has given us a lesson that if follow all rules and directions, then the country will be able to minimise its losses. To even think of stepping out without a mask or face cover is not right at present. 'Do gaj ki doori', hand-washing and use of sanitisers is of utmost importance. With markets opening and people stepping out, these precautions are even more important," he added. The Prime Minister said that green shoots are visible in the economy because of the efforts made in the last few weeks.He said that timely decisions have helped in containing coronavirus in the country. "Two weeks have passed since Unlock 1. Our experience during this time could be beneficial for us in the future. Today I will get to know ground reality from you. Your suggestions will help in chalking out future strategy," he said. Modi said that timing matters a lot in overcoming any crisis. "Timely decisions have helped a lot in containing coronavirus in the country. When India's fight against COVID-19 will be analysed in future, this time will be remembered for how we worked together and served as an example of co-operative federalism," he said. The Prime Minister said that in the last few weeks, thousands of Indians returned to India from abroad and hundreds of migrant workers reached their home towns. "Almost all modes of transport have resumed operations, still COVID-19 impact has not been that huge in India as in other parts of the world," he said. Modi held a detailed meeting with senior ministers and officials to review India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday. With an increase of 10,667 cases and 380 deaths in the past 24 hours, the COVID-19 count in India reached 3,43,091 on Tuesday. [June 16, 2020] EasyKnock Completes $20 Million Series B Funding Round Opening the Door for More Americans to Realize the American Dream EasyKnock, the first institutionalized residential sale-leaseback company in the U.S, today announced a $20 million funding round co-led by Blumberg Capital and QED Investors, with contributions from FJ Labs, Correlation, Moderne, 7BC and Interplay. The homeownership innovation platform shakes up a 100 year-old industry, enabling owners more options to take advantage of the equity they have in what is likely their largest asset. Further, EasyKnock offers the benefits of selling without the disruption of moving. One of EasyKnock's products, "Sell & Stay," is the first commercialized, residential sale leaseback program in the United States. Homeowners can sell their home at market value, access the money they need and remain in their home as a tenant with flexible terms. "There is more than six trillion dollars of home equity in the U.S. today and we want to be able to unlock this value for homeowners," said Jarred Kessler, CEO of EasyKnock. "In a time of economic uncertainty, EasyKnock has remained fully operational. We know that consumers are looking for flexibility and speed, and we see opportunity in offering solutions for consumers to monetize their equity and take control of their future." With these investments, EasyKnock will further enhance its technologies while scaling product offerings and adding to its employee headcount. "We still believe in he American Dream," said David Blumberg, founder and managing partner, Blumberg Capital. "During this downturn when many banks and i-buyers are hesitant or backing away from the residential housing market, we are doubling down to invest with American families. EasyKnock pioneered and continues to lead the emerging residential sale-leaseback category, which enables homeowners to sell and stay as tenants in their own home. We believe in EasyKnock's mission to use AI and data analytics to provide American homeowners with needed financial flexibility." "EasyKnock empowers homeowners to transform the enormous amount of equity trapped in their homes at a time that banks are tightening credit policies," said Frank Rotman, Founding Partner at QED Investors. "We're thrilled to partner with EasyKnock to help solve the financial and emotional needs of homeowners seeking to unlock more value from their homes." EasyKnock provides new ways for homeowners to monetize their equity immediately by utilizing an AI-driven qualification and underwriting engine to identify suitable customers and close the sale within 30 days. Unlike traditional mortgage refinancing options, EasyKnock is a buyer, not a lender and therefore can provide solutions for a broader range of US homeowners. Through its two principal programs - Sell & Stay and MoveAbility - and partnerships with three of the top U.S. mortgage lenders for a unique referral pipeline, EasyKnock helps homeowners live better by making their equity work for them. Since the last funding round in May 2019, EasyKnock has launched the MoveAbility for Realtors offering and announced partnerships. About EasyKnock Founded in 2016, EasyKnock is the United States' first technology-enabled residential sale-leaseback company that brought American homeowners Sell and Stay and MoveAbility. Through EasyKnock's programs, homeowners can access the money they need to achieve their goals. With Sell and Stay, homeowners sell their home without moving, with the flexibility to buy back their house or move at any time. MoveAbility serves as a bridge product for homeowners planning on moving in the near-term. They can sell their home immediately without a rushed move. Headquartered in New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina, EasyKnock currently provides its innovative financial products to homeowners across 50 states. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005235/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet on June 23 to discuss the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country, the hike in petrol and diesel prices and the border tension with China. The highest decision making body of the party will also discuss the current stand-off with Nepal. Congress president Sonia Gandhi will chair the meeting. India and China are currently engaged in diplomatic and military contacts for an early resolution of the stand-off between their border troops that emerged in the public in early May. Earlier last week, the two sides began what Indian officials described as a limited military disengagement at three hotspots along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) - Galwan Valley, Patrolling Point 15 and Hot Springs - in eastern Ladakh, which has been the focus of the tensions. However, Indian officials have confirmed the build-up of Chinese forces has extended as far as Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. A violent face off was reported on Monday night in which both the sides suffered casualties. Nepals Parliament last week cleared a constitutional amendment bill to revise the countrys map, a move that is seen to virtually make the boundary row a permanent irritant in its relations with India. In its previous meeting on April 23, the CWC had alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking to inflame communal divisions even as the entire nation battles the Covid-19 pandemic. Gandhi, on her part, had also accused the BJP of spreading the virus of communal prejudice and hatred in the country. The remarks were in apparent reference to the communal colour given to the lynching incident in Palghar district of Maharashtra. The virus does not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed, religion or gender. As a nation we must be wary of forces that seek to polarise in times of crisis such as these. The onus lies on us to ensure that we stand together as one nation in the face of all odds, the resolution added. The CWC also discussed the issues of migrant workers, farmers, revival of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs), empowering of states to devise solutions tailored to their unique situations and challenges and adequate financial package for them to fight Covid-19. Posted on: June 16, 2020 7:15 PM Burundian bishops express sorrow following death of President Pierre Nkurunziza The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Burundi have expressed their great sorrow on the death of President Pierre Nkurunziza. The Bishops met on 10 June following the death of President Nkurunziza last Tuesday (9 June). Officials in Burundi say that the President died following a heart attack. President Nkurunziza had announced his intention to stand down later this year, after 15 years in office, and he did not contest the countrys General Election last month. The President-elect, Evariste Ndayishimiye, was due to be sworn in during a handover ceremony in August. Following an emergency ruling by Burundis constitutional court, President Ndayishimiye will now be sworn in on Thursday (18 June). Both men are from the countrys CNDD-FDD party. In a communique following their meeting last week, the Bishops expressed their condolences to President Nkurunzizas family, the government, and all Burundians. They urged people to be calm and united as a tribute to the late President, who they said always called people to seek for unity and social cohesion. In a statement, the Anglican Church of Burundi said that the House of Bishops appealed to other religious groups to join together in solidarity with the whole population in prayers during this hard time. The Primate of Burundi, Archbishop Martin Blaise Nyaboho, issued the communique in the presence of the Bishops representing the nine Anglican dioceses of the province. In a television broadcast he said that they were grateful for all the good works that President Nkurunziza had done for his country during the last 15 years he was in power. He stressed that they will always remember what he achieved for the benefit and development of Burundi. All nine bishops in Burundi visited the State House in Ntare Rushatsi to sign the book of condolence. Dean Hosam Naoum consecrated as coadjutor Bishop of Jerusalem The former Dean of St Georges Cathedral in Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum, was consecrated on Sunday (14 June) as Coadjutor Bishop of Jerusalem, in a stripped-down service at St Georges Cathedral in Jerusalem. Bishop Hosam will become the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem following the retirement of Archbishop Suheil Dawani next year. Jerusalem holds a special place in the heart of all Christians and Anglicans from around the world would have been expected to attend; but Covid-19 travel restrictions meant that overseas visitors were kept to a minimum, with the service broadcast live over the Internet. In his sermon, Archbishop Suheil spoke of the meanings of the two words in Hosam Naoums new title. First of all, the title of bishop means that from today onward Dean Hosam will join the ranks of episcopal leadership not only here in this diocese, but also within the worldwide Anglican Communion, Archbishop Suheil said. But the second meaning is equally as important. For the title Coadjutor means that, in due course, then-Bishop Hosam will succeed me as Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem. At that same time, he will also become one of the Heads of the Churches here in the City of the Holy One. And so today is the first step towards his assuming a greater mantle of leadership within Christs One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church here in Jerusalem. Hosam, in this coming year as Coadjutor Bishop, we must join our efforts, working hard at all levels: ecumenically, institutionally, and in our relationships with our sister churches and partners, both locally and internationally. This is the basic compass that will guide you in your future leadership. Archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster warn against West Bank annexation The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster have written to both the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev, and the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to express their opposition to any move by the Government of Israel to annex West Bank territory after 1 July 2020. These letters followed the recent warning from the leaders of Churches in the Holy Land that the Government of Israels proposed annexation of West Bank territory would bring about the loss of any remaining hope for the success of the peace process (see ACNS Weekly Summary on 12 May 2020). In each letter they made clear they unambiguously support the fundamental right of Israels citizens to live in peace and safety but these prospects can only be secured through negotiation rather than annexation. It is essential that both Israelis and Palestinians may live without violence or the threat of violence from each other or other armed groups, the Cardinal and Archbishop emphasised. Archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster take part in pilgrimage as English churches open for prayer Churches and other religious buildings in England are now able to open for private prayer, after the UK government relaxed some of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. The decision on whether to open individual churches for prayer will be down to local clergy and Parochial Church Councils, as they will need to satisfy health and safety regulations, including cleansing and the maintenance of social distancing. To mark the relaxation, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, joined the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols. The two leaders attended the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral where they kneeled for prayer on either side of the main aisle. They then walked the short distance to Westminster Abbey, the Queens own church opposite the Houses of Parliament, where they prayed on either side of the Shrine of Saint Edward the Confessor. Saint Edward, who died in 1066, was the founder of the Abbey and one of the last Anglo-Saxon Kings of England. The relaxation of the regulations applies only to churches in England. The bishops of the Church in Wales say that are working with the Welsh government on a protocol for re-opening churches there when it is safe to do so. When the law permits, we envisage a gradual opening of churches based on a clear demonstration of compliance with the protocol and guidance our primary concern is for the health of those that will use our churches again, they said. The Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) has issued guidance to help its churches prepare for the move to Phase Two of the easing of lockdown regulations by the Scottish Government in. We are not yet in Phase 2 and cannot yet restart the activities permitted in Phase 2 until the Scottish Government announces a date for this to take place, but the SEC guidance allows churches to prepare for that moment. Phase 2 is not currently expected to start any earlier than 18 June, an SEC spokesperson said. The Church of Ireland is an all-island Anglican province which includes Northern Ireland in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Churches in Northern Ireland are already able to open for private prayer; and the Irish Government have announced that churches in its territory will be able to open for public worship from 29 June. To help churches prepare, the Church of Ireland has produced a set of protocols which includes a nine-step plan. They start with communicating with workers and parishioners prior to opening on a specific date. At all times, churches must comply fully with all relevant current legislation in their respective jurisdiction, and follow the advice of health authorities, particularly in relation to social distancing, hand hygiene, and respiratory hygiene, a spokesperson said. Disciplinary hearing held for Bishop of Albany over same-sex marriage refusal [Edited extracts from a report by Egan Millard for the Episcopal News Service] The US-based Episcopal Church has held a disciplinary hearing for the Bishop of Albany, William Love, over his refusal to implement a decision of the Churchs General Convention to authorise same-sex marriage rites. Church lawyers argue that by prohibiting clergy in his diocese from using the same-sex marriage rites approved for churchwide use by General Convention, Bishop William broke the vows he took when he was ordained a bishop to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church. But Bishop William defended his actions, saying that they did not conflict with existing church canon law. The hearing, conducted under the churchs Title IV disciplinary process, was originally scheduled to take place on 21 April in Colonie, New York, but was changed to a Zoom meeting due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Title IV hearings are held when members of clergy are accused of breaking their vows or violating the churchs constitution and canons. During the hearing, presided over by Bishop Nicholas Knisely of Rhode Island, the church, represented by lawyer Paul Cooney, and Bishop William, represented by the Diocesan Chancellor Chip Strickland, did not dispute the facts of the case or the theological validity of same-sex marriage but presented arguments over whether Loves actions violated church law. Bishop Nicholas said that it may take several weeks for the panel to reach its decision. The panel can either dismiss the matter or issue an order, which could include suspending or deposing Love essentially stripping him of his spiritual authority. Provincial synods move online or delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions The ongoing restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and continuing uncertainty about when and how lockdowns may be lifted has resulted in a number of provincial synod meetings being postponed or moved online. The biennial meeting of the General Synod (Te Hinota Whanui) of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia was to be held in Nelson from 9 to 14 May. It has been replaced with a one-day virtual synod, on 25 July, to conduct urgent business only. A longer meeting is planned for later in the year. The Church of Englands General Synod is a legal body established by the UK Parliament. A change in the law was required to postpone elections for the next quinquennium, which were due to take place after a group of sessions in York in July. Instead, current members will continue for an additional year following an Order in Council by Queen Elizabeth. Julys meeting has been replaced with a one-day virtual sitting, which will include question time, a presidential address and a presentation on the Churchs response to Covid-19. Developing IZs is seen as a profitable business at this time as many foreign investors are leaving China and heading for Vietnam. Since the establishment of the first IZ, covering an area of 153 hectares in Hai Phong, developed by a Japanese investor, Vietnam now has 335 IZs as of March, with total area of 97,800 hectares. Of these, 260 IZs have become operational with the total natural area of 68,700 hectares, and the other 75 IZs are under construction. The occupancy rate of the operational IZs is 75.7 percent. The development of IZs has become strong in recent months in the context of the US-China trade war and the wave of relocating production bases out of China. In the first three months of 2020 alone, 5 new IZs were set up with the total area of 800 hectares. Meanwhile, in the year 2019, only four IZs were established. The occupancy rate has also increased by 1.5 percent to 75.7 percent in the first three months of the year. Many IZs which were left idle in the past, have been revived in anticipation of the new FDI wave. The 46 hectare Viet Hoa Kenmark IZ in Hai Duong is an example. It was registered by a Taiwanese investor. However, the investor disappeared after three years of construction. Later, it was sold to An Phat Plastics and Green Environment, which built the IZ and made it ready to receive investors. It was registered by a Taiwanese investor. However, the investor disappeared after three years of construction. Later, it was sold to An Phat Plastics and Green Environment, which built the IZ and made it ready to receive investors. A representative of Sao Do Group, the investor of Nam Dinh Vu IZ, revealed that he has received many investors who have come to learn about investment opportunities. One of them is SK E&C, belonging to SK, one of the South Korean biggest groups. Prior to that, SK had poured $1.5 billion into the projects in Vietnam and said it will expand business in Vietnam. As too many IZs have arisen simultaneously, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) warned that this would have serious impact on socio-economic development and adverse effects the environment. The ministry said in order to receive the new FDI wave, Vietnam needs to have a conductor who programs the development of IZs so as to obtain the optimal benefits. Nguyen Van Toan, deputy chair of the Vietnam Foreign-invested Enterprises (VAFIEs), pointed out that the weak point of Vietnams IZs lies in the poor infrastructure. In many IZs, the developers have just levelled the ground and are awaiting investors. In some IZs, there is no road to transport goods. Dont let investors develop IZs spontaneously. It is necessary to program IZ development, Toan said. IZs not only sell the right to lease land, but also provide associated services." Kim Chi Three Indian soldiers were killed in a violent face-off on the Chinese border, the Indian army said Tuesday, following weeks of rising tensions and the deployment of thousands of extra troops from both sides. Brawls erupt regularly between the two nuclear-armed giants across their disputed 3,500-kilometre (2,200-mile) frontier, but no one has been killed in decades. But the Indian army said there were casualties on both sides in Mondays incident on the Himalayan frontier between Chinas Tibet and Indias region Ladakh, although Beijing made no mention of any while laying the blame squarely on Delhi. A violent face-off took place yesterday (Monday) night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers, an Indian army spokesman said in a statement. An Indian army officer in the region told AFP that there had been no shooting in the incident, on precipitous, rocky terrain in the strategically important Galwan Valley. It was violent hand-to-hand scuffles, the officer said on condition of anonymity. The officer killed was a colonel from Attacking Chinese personnel Beijing confirmed a clash took place and accused Indian soldiers of crossing into Chinese territory and attacking Chinese personnel. Indian troops crossed the border line twice provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides, Chinas foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Tuesday. We again solemnly request that India follows the relevant attitude and restrains its frontline troops, he added. Chinas defence ministry confirmed the incident had resulted in casualties but did not give the nationality of the victims or any other details. India and China have long squabbled about their border but recent weeks have seen an escalation. On May 9, several Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in a clash involving fists and stone-throwing at Naku La in Indias Sikkim state, which borders Bhutan, Nepal and China. Alice Wells, the top US State Department official for South Asia, likely irked Beijing last month when she said that China was seeking to upset the regional balance and had to be resisted. But the Chinese foreign ministry said only last week that a positive consensus had been reached following effective communication through diplomatic and military channels. Indias foreign ministry too had sounded conciliatory, saying the two sides would continue the military and diplomatic engagements to resolve the situation and to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas. However, Indian sources and news reports suggested that Chinese troops remained in parts of the Galwan Valley and of the northern shore of the Pangong Tso lake that it occupied in recent weeks. We are at an extremely worrisome juncture in the relationship, former Indian ambassador to China and foreign secretary Nirupama Menon Rao told AFP. Prickly relations India and China have never even agreed on the length of their Line of Actual Control frontier, and each side uses different frontier proposals made by Britain to China in the 19th century to back their claims. They fought a brief war in 1962 in which China took territory from India. Further deadly clashes followed in 1967, but the last shot fired in anger was in 1975. In 2017 there was a 72-day showdown after Chinese forces moved into the disputed Doklam plateau on the China-India-Bhutan border. After that Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese leader Xi Jinping appeared to ease tensions at two summits. If not handled correctly this can really escalate into something much bigger than we had initially imagined, Harsh V Pant from the Observer Research Foundation think-tank told AFP, calling Chinas statement worrying. China, with its better infrastructure, with its better military capabilities, perhaps thinks that this is the time to push India, to see how far India will go, Pant told AFP. SOURCE: AFP Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide kicked off a conversation about mental health. A lot of people attributed his despression to his 'outsider' status in Bollywood, saying that the actor was struggling for due recognition in the industry. An old episode from Koffee with Karan was dug up, on which Karan Johar and Alia Bhatt had seemingly mocked the actor. Many have blamed nepotism for pushing him to the edge, sparking off a debate on social media. After Alia and Karan posted their reactions to Sushant's death, netizens slammed them for having previously spoken dismissively about the Chhichhore actor. However, actress Swara Bhasker has taken to social media to express her opinion about those blaming Bollywood nepotism for Sushant's death. She tweeted, "Parts of India Twitter blaming #KaranJohar and #AliaBhatt for the tragic suicide of Sushant - for some silly game played on a frivolous and pointless chat show (that All those people who are now abusing Bollywood nepotism lapped up) is both the height of idiocy and hypocrisy! 1/n. Sushant didn't leave a note. We don't know what he went thru. We dont know the cause. taking out ur frustration using the pain of a troubled person. He didn't leave a note! Get it? He didn't want to talk about it. He'[s gone. Let him have his peace & his family privacy. 2/n." Parts of India Twitter blaming #KaranJohar and #AliaBhatt for the tragic suicide of Sushant - for some silly game played on a frivolous and pointless chat show (that All those people who are now abusing Bollywood nepotism lapped up) is both the height of idiocy and hypocrisy! 1/n Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) June 15, 2020 Sushant didnt leave a note. We dont know what he went thru. We dont know the cause. STOP taking out ur frustration using the pain of a troubled person. He didnt leave a note! Get it? He didnt want to talk about it. Hes gone. Let him have his peace & his family privacy. 2/n Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) June 15, 2020 In the Koffee With Karan episode, Alia was asked to rate three male actors in a Rapid Fire question - the choices were Sushant Singh Rajput, Ranveer Singh and Varun Dhawan. She said, "Sushant Singh Rajput, who?" This has sparked off an outrage against both Alia and Karan Johar post Sushant's death. Follow @News18Movies for more EURid released its Annual Report containing a 2019 overview of statistics, achievements and financials. 2019 was a full year for EURid thanks to the following developments: extension of its Service Concession Contract with the European Commission the publication of the new .eu Regulation scheduled to enter into force in October 2022 the launch of the updated eligibility criteria allowing EU citizens to register a .eu domain name independently of their residency the introduction of the .e? (.eu in Greek) after nearly a decade since its application within ICANN the official start of the APEWS system to prevent possibly abusive registrations. EURid additionally won the Registry of the Year at the 2019 CENTR Awards for the second time in a row, the German Association of the Internet Industry "eco://award" in the Domains category, and the ACSAC's "Distinguished Paper Awards" for the APEWS system. When it comes to the .eu portfolio, the total net registrations decreased by 78 439 (from 3 684 750 to 3 606 311) compared to 2018. The decline may be attributed to the strengthening actions to fight abuses as well as to the uncertainties associated with the UK withdrawal from the EU and consequential measures for UK registrants. The countries with the highest growth in terms of registrations were Portugal 72.9%, Norway 48.5%, and Ireland 44%. Read more from EURid's 2019 Annual Report. About EURid EURid is the not-for-profit organisation that operates the .eu, .?? and .e? top-level domains, following a tender process and appointment by the European Commission. EURid works with over 700 accredited registrars. As part of its ongoing commitment to data security, EURid has been certified for the ISO27001 security standard since 2013. EURid is also registered by the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), which is an expression of its environmental commitment. EURid has its headquarters in Diegem (Belgium), and regional offices in Pisa (Italy), Prague (the Czech Republic) and Stockholm (Sweden). More information at: www.eurid.eu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005509/en/ Contacts: EURid Reelika Kirna press@eurid.eu 82 mm mortar mine in the ground, Donbas Open source On June 15, an incident took place in Donbas, involving an injury of a civilian resident. Russian mercenaries shelled residential neighborhoods on the outskirts of Avdiivka. The press office of the Joint Forces Operation HQ reported that on June 16. "Local woman suffered an explosive trauma and the blind fragmentary wound to her lower back in the yard of her own household at about 9 p.m. The citizen was taken to intensive care of Avdiivka central city hospital, where she received medical assistance. Her health conditions are satisfactory", reads the message. The fragments also damaged the house's roof. Ukrainian side of the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination found that the distance and the direction where the shooting came from clearly point out to the fact that occupant forces are involved in this crime. Since the beginning of June 16, Russian occupants attacked Ukrainian positions from mortars. Two ceasefire violations were observed. A business student who dropped out of university earned $53,000 in a month by launching a career in real estate selling luxury multi-million dollar properties. Carter Lagana, 21, from Brisbane, was completing a degree under a $24,000 academic scholarship in March 2017, when his step brother recommended he apply for a real estate internship advertised online. Although he did not get the job, the student became hooked on the idea of a career in real estate and emailed a well known agent, Drew Davies, formerly of McGrath New farm, to ask if he could shadow him for free. Carter Lagana (pictured), 21, earned $53,000 in June 2019 after dropping out of university to launch a career in real estate When Mr Davies agreed, Mr Lagana quit his job and began working tirelessly, cold calling and door knocking to secure clients, until he was finally awarded his first pay cheque five months later- a retainer of $400. All of his hard work paid off when he began making sales the following year, earning him a whopping $91,000 in commission between February to August 2019. 'When I dropped university to go full fledged into real estate, every one said ''you're crazy, you're crazy'',' Mr Lagana told Daily Mail Australia. '[Then] I had my first five figure month in February 2019, where I earned roughly $28,000. 'In June I earned $53,000.' Alongside Mr Davies, the then 20-year-old made two local record-breaking sales on Brisbane's northside. Both purchased off the market, 57 Enderley Rd in Clayfield fetched $4.625million in August 2018, while 69 Towers St in nearby Ascot was bought for $4.15million in April the following year. Mr Lagana said he left university in January 2019 because he thought he could earn and learn more outside of a classroom, and he has never looked back. Mr Lagana (right), worked as an intern for Drew Davies (left) at McGrath New Farm, before the pair transferred to Place Ascot after Mr Davies took over as director in July 2019 'The opportunity cost of me being in a classroom just became enormous,' he said. 'To get into real estate, all you need is a real estate license in order to start earning money comparable to high earning professions, like law and medicine, which take years to become qualified in and saddle you with debt. 'In real estate there is no corporate ladder, if you know what you are doing and are willing to put in the work to obtain those outcomes you could easily earn six figures in your first year.' Mr Lagana said there are five basic steps anyone could take to kickstart a six-figure career in real estate after obtaining a license, which costs $1600 and can be completed in a two-week course either in person or online. The first step is to get a thorough understanding about the industry through listening to experts in the field via podcasts or information online. Next, research an agent you would like to learn from and reach out to them to ask if you can intern beneath them for free. The real estate agents made a record breaking sale for 57 Enderley Rd Clayfield (pictured), which sold for a whopping $4.625 million in August 2018 69 Towers St (pictured), Ascot, was bought off the market for $4.15million in April 2019 The Ascot property features five bedrooms, three bathrooms and an outdoor pool Once you have secured an apprenticeship, gain as much work experience to build up your skill set and learn how to connect with clients. 'As soon as you can, add value and contribute to the business,' he said. 'Generate leads and book appointments just by picking up the phone or knocking on potential client's doors. It is really that simple.' The experience gained can then be leveraged to secure a paid position with the agency you have been interning with, or elsewhere. The last step is to kickstart your career and begin making personal sales. However, Mr Lagana urged those wanting to jump into real estate to remember success takes patience. 'Real estate is like a plane taking off, a lot of fuel is burnt simply trying to get off the runway,' he said. 'You have to put in the work consistently to begin seeing results.' Using the experience he gained in real estate, Mr Lagana has now moved on to other entrepreneurial ventures. He is currently working on a podcast, Brisbane Based, and business related content. The death toll in India due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) soared past the 10,000-mark on Tuesday after Delhi and Maharashtra took into account hundreds of fatalities that were pending review, increasing their total count by 437 and 1,409 respectively. In all, the country added 2,004 deaths -- including the 1,672 backlogged fatalities -- and 10,951 infections in its Covid tally on Tuesday. The national capital also recorded the highest number of deaths 93 -- in a 24-hour period. The city has now has recorded 44,688 infections in all with 1,837 of them succumbing to the disease. Tuesdays reconciling of numbers takes case fatality rate (CFR) in the city from 3.3% to 4.1% in a single day. A senior official from Delhis health department said the jump in numbers was due to the death committees efforts over the last four days to go through all previous mails and add the deaths. Some of the deaths were missed as a result of clerical and technological errors, said this person, asking not to be named. Most of the backlog deaths were from June, with a few pending from before, this person said. In Maharashtra, the state recorded 81 cases through the day to takes its total death count to 5,537. The state has had 113,445 cases, and the new death numbers take its CFR to 4.9% from 3.7 a day earlier. Overall, Indias CFR rose from 2.9% to 3.4% as the country now has had 11,919 fatalities from 353,853 infections. While the first 5,000 deaths took 80 days, the latest 5,000 fatalities came in just 17 days, with more than 2,500 being reported in just the last week. The first death due to Covid-19 in India was reported on March 12, with a 76-year-old man who returned to Kalburgi in Karnataka from Saudi Arabia testing positive and succumbing to the disease. The Federal Government has warned Nigerians that the figures of COVID-19 cases in the country will rise and overwhelm the health infrast... The Federal Government has warned Nigerians that the figures of COVID-19 cases in the country will rise and overwhelm the health infrastructures. It said people are becoming careless following the lifting of lockdown, adding that it (the government) is no longer a frontliner in the fight against the virus. The Government said that it is now left for the citizens to determine whether Nigeria will reach its peak or not. Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said this in Abuja yesterday at the daily press briefing If you listen to me conscientiously in the past four weeks, Ive spoken about personal responsibility, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, said. Were not your frontliners any more. The choice of whether youll get to the hospital is yours. Were not your frontliners any more. The choice of whether youll get to the hospital is yours. Mustapha pointed out that it has got to a stage where no amount of enforcement will help stop the spread. The PTF Chairman said it is now the choices made by the people that will determine what will happen next. According to him, the people are the only ones that can work assiduously to ensure that the level of transmission is reduced now that it has gone into communities spreading. Nobody should be deceived that Nigeria has reached the peak of the pandemic, Mustapha said. He warned: COVID -19 is real and because restrictions have been lifted is not a licence for carelessness. Yes, well return to a new normal, but not the normal of the past. Are figures going to rise? Yes, theyre. The quantum in which they rise is dependent on what we do. But as for the figures, we dont want to delude anybody; theyll rise. The quantum with which theyll rise exponentially or gradually is dependent on what Nigerians do. The SGF warned that if the people decide to be careless because restrictions have been lifted, then the country will have a peak, if were not careful, it can overwhelm even our health infrastructure. China's official media on Tuesday quoted the Chinese military as claiming that it "always" owned sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region and alleged that "provocative attacks' launched by the Indian troops resulted in "severe clashes and casualties." In its first reaction on Monday's clashes between the two militaries at the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh, a statement in the Chinese media quoting the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theatre Command Spokesperson Colonel Zhang Shuili said, "China always owns sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region." "The Indian troops have broken their promises and again crossed the line of actual control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley region on Monday evening and purposely launched provocative attacks, leading to severe clashes and casualties," Zhang claimed. At least 20 Indian Army personnel, including an officer, were reportedly killed in the violent face-off in Ladakh's Galwan Valley on Monday night, in the first such incident involving fatalities after a gap of 45 years and signalling a massive escalation in the five-week border standoff in the sensitive region. The Army said there were casualties on the Chinese side as well. The extent of casualties on the Chinese side is not immediately clear. While acknowledging "severe clashes and casualties", the PLA statement quoted by the Global Times as well as China Daily was silent on the casualties on the Chinese side. "China always owns sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region," the PLA statement claimed. "The Indian border defence troops are inconsistent with their words and seriously violated the agreements both countries have reached, the consensus made during the army commander-level talks and harmed the relations of the two militaries and the feelings of the two countries' peoples," it said. "India should stop all provocative actions, meet the Chinese side halfway and come back to the right path of solving disputes through talks," Zhang said. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in the standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas, including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the border row. While the Chinese officials were silent on the casualties suffered by the PLA troops, Hu Xijin, editor of the ruling Communist Party-run Global Times tabloid tweeted to say there are casualties on Chinese side too. "Chinese and Indian military personnel broke out in a severe physical conflict in the Galwan Valley. The Indian side stated that three people died in the Indian Army. According to my urgent knowledge of people familiar with the situation, there are also casualties on our side," she said. However, the Global Times later tweeted that the "official Global Times accounts have NEVER reported the exact casualties on the Chinese side. The Global Times CANNOT confirm the number at the moment." Ilyas al-Taheris death being compared with George Floyd after resurfacing of video showing policemen restraining him. Thousands of Moroccans and Spaniards have signed an online petition calling on Madrid authorities to re-investigate the death of a Moroccan youth a year ago. The Spanish daily El Pais published on June 9 a video showing six security guards roughly restraining Ilyass al-Taheri, 18, in the city of Almeria, despite him not offering any kind of resistance. The guards lead al-Taheri, whose hands were cuffed behind him, to a bed in the juvenile centre where they proceeded to work to shackle him face-down for 13 minutes, the video shows. At times, all the guards seemed to be on the bed, possibly on al-Taheri, and at others, one guard could be seen kneeling on his back. After al-Taheris hands, feet and waist are bound, one of the guards lifts al-Taheris head up before bringing it down on the bed, where he lay motionless. Al-Taheri passed away soon after, the autopsy of his body concluding that the restraint process might have been behind his suffocation. According to El Pais, the security guards reacted to al-Taheris resistance to their orders disproved by the video which made them use force with the teenager, pressing his head, face-down, into the bed. The newspaper pointed out that the victims family had appealed a judicial decision to close the file after an investigation last January concluded that his death was accidental, and that the attempt to restrain him for such an extended time was necessary to prevent violence or injury to himself. Al-Taheri had been staying at the Tierras de Oria juvenile centre, where he was diagnosed with an antisocial personality disorder as a result of drug abuse, from the age of 10. His family had immigrated to Spain from the Moroccan city of Tetouan. The video has sparked widespread anger in Morocco, where social media users dubbed al-Taheri the Moroccan Floyd after comparing it with the clip of George Floyds death, which triggered anti-racism protests worldwide. Floyd, a Black American, was killed on May 25 in the city of Minneapolis after a white policeman knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. Why nobody is Talking about this now !!!! You shared the story of George because he was American But Ilyass is just a Moroccan ! Soo you all are ignoring the story!!! #JusticeForIlyass #MoroccanLivesMatter 1/2 pic.twitter.com/l0GbRjXJH0 Ailee (@Aileegi) June 13, 2020 https://twitter.com/panicsey/status/1272078189490208769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Translation: He died aged only 18 years old at the hands of Spanish police in the same way George Floyd died, the police said the death was accidental while they strangled him for 13 MINUTES 13 minutes. Il a fallu 13 minutes pour qu'Ilyasse, un jeune marocain, (Allah y rahmo) perde vie parce qu'on lui a bloque la respiration sans aucune justification. Il a du tellement souffrir. Nous demandons a ce que justice soit faite. #JusticeForIlyass La Reine du mcflurry (@MalikaaBlch) June 13, 2020 Translation: 13 minutes. It took 13 minutes for Ilyas, a young Moroccan, (God rest his soul) to lose his life because he was blocked from breathing without any justification. He must have suffered so much. We call for justice. On Sunday, Moroccan activists, using the English and Arabic hashtag #JusticeForIlyass, called on their countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs to put pressure on Spanish authorities to try those involved in al-Taheris killing. Moroccos consulate in Almeria offered to help al-Taheris mother in the legal battle. Murad Al-Ajouti, a lawyer and member of the Justice for Ilyass coalition, explained in a post on his Facebook page that the consulate had contacted the coalition and told him they were also in contact with al-Taheris mother. The coalition, made up of lawyers and civil-society associations, had filed a complaint with the Spanish judiciary to reopen an investigation into Taheris death shortly after El Pais published the video. After reviewing the video, the Arab Culture Foundation in Spain announced in a statement that it was willing to be a civil party in the case. Al-Taheri was subjected to inhuman treatment before his death by asphyxiation, the statement said. The issue is related to a premeditated murder that was fueled by hatred and racism and not by an accidental violent death, as the Borchima Town Court ruled last January. The Arab Culture Foundation also called on the Almeria Court to change its standards and issue a model ruling on this incident. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal While calls across the country to remove statues and monuments honoring Confederate leaders have spread to include European colonizers such as Christopher Columbus and Don Juan de Onate, the city of Santa Fe has no plans to remove any of its monuments to controversial historical figures. Public art, including monuments, memorials and murals, can serve as a vehicle for dialogue about the history and stories of a community, Pauline Kanako Kamiyama, director of the citys Arts and Culture Department, said in a statement to the Journal. The call to action that has taken place through marches, candle-lit vigils and peaceful protests here in Santa Fe as well as similar actions nationwide provide an opportunity to have difficult conversations about colonization of this land and systemic institutional racism. The erasure of history without conversation serves no one. As in other cities across America, Santa Fe has held several peaceful demonstrations in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by Minneapolis police officers last month. The incident has reignited debate over race relations and whether it is appropriate to honor controversial historical figures, such as Confederate leaders. In Santa Fe, there is a monument dedicated to Kit Carson, the frontiersman who led the Long Walk, the forced removal of Navajo people in 1864, and a statue of Don Diego de Vargas, the Spanish conquistador who led the reoccupation of Santa Fe 12 years after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Some Native American people say these men participated in the genocide of their ancestors. Activists in 2018 successfully brought an end to Santa Fes Entrada, a reenactment of the de Vargas-led resettlement held during the Santa Fe Fiestas. In addition, an obelisk that serves as the centerpiece of the citys historic Plaza was originally inscribed with a dedication to soldiers who died in battles with savage Indians until someone decades ago removed the word savage with a chisel. We know history is often told by a dominant culture, usually the victors, however, we also know that history is constantly evolving. These are living stories that need to be told from many perspectives, Kanako Kamiyama said. This can be accomplished by making equity and healing the guiding principles when considering art and monuments in public space. Santa Fes Entrada has been replaced by a ceremony that places emphasis on reconciliation between Spanish and Native people. In 2017, following a demonstration that turned deadly in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, then-Mayor Javier Gonzales announced a plan to address controversies over some monuments in Santa Fe. A comprehensive list of 61 statues, monuments, murals and plaques was created, but the initiative did not go any further. After Mayor Alan Webber took office the following year, a city spokesman said that the issue was not something Webber was focused on. NHS staff shortages could get worse if vital foreign staff are put off joining the health service because of the way Britain has handled the Covid-19 crisis, an expert has warned. The NHS already had tens of thousands of job vacancies before the crisis spiralled out of control, with 40,000 nurse posts empty and unions crying out for more staff. International recruitment is crucial for plugging employment gaps across the health service and figures show one in seven NHS workers were born overseas. But Nigel Edwards, chief executive at the Nuffield Trust think-tank, said the UK won't be the most attractive place to work following its handling of the Covid-19 outbreak. He said officials were slow to react to the coronavirus compared to other countries, which may paint the NHS in a bad light and put health workers off joining. Britain currently has the third highest death toll in pandemic, with 42,000 people confirmed dead - fewer only than the US and Brazil. And a 'disproportionate' number of the NHS staff who have died after catching the virus have been immigrants, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has admitted. The UK's handling of the pandemic could exacerbate NHS staffing shortages by discouraging foreign nurses and doctors from joining, an expert fears Nigel Edwards, chief executive at the Nuffield Trust thinktank, said the UK won't be 'the most attractive' place to work following the Covid-19 outbreak 'STILL A LOT TO DO' TO CREATE WORLD-BEATING TEST AND TRACE SYSTEM At the same Royal Society of Medicine briefing, Professor Sir Chris Ham, former chief executive of the King's Fund think tank, said 'there is still a lot to do' to create a world class contact tracing system. The Prime Minister pledged in May that a there would be a 'world beating' test track and trace operation by June 1 - but Sir Chris said this is 'nowhere near'. Last week the head of NHS Test and Trace, Baroness Dido Harding, admitted that the programme was not yet 'gold standard' after figures showed a third of people who tested positive for coronavirus could not be reached by officials or failed to provide details of their contacts. Sir Chris, who is now non-executive chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire sustainability and transformation partnership and non-executive director of Royal Free Hospitals, said: ''As Jonathan Van-Tam (England's deputy chief medical officer) said we are at a dangerous moment with the lockdown being eased ahead of having a fully-functioning test and tracing system in place. 'I really worried that there is still a lot to do to develop the so-called world class or world beating test and trace system. 'We are nowhere near that yet although a lot of work is taking place to move us closer to that.' Advertisement Mr Edwards discussed the future challenges the health service faces in a webinar hosted by the Royal Society of Medicine today. Replying to a question about whether the Nightingale Hospital in London would be used in the event of a second wave, he noted that the NHS may struggle to staff it. He said: 'One of the issues is the NHS is short of staff. It had 40,000 vacancies going into the crisis. To some extent it has been hoping to fill that gap with international recruitment. 'Im not sure about this but I suspect we are not most attractive for health professionals now after whats been of our performance in the the pandemic.' Mr Edwards added the UK had been 'several weeks behind the curb on where we should be particularly compared with some other countries'. Critics say if the Government had acted sooner, taking the advice from Italy and Spain who were struck down by Covid-19 outbreaks before Britain, may have had a better outcome and saved thousands of lives. The UK has been labelled the 'sick man of Europe' because it has the highest cumulative death toll of the continent, with almost 42,000 laboratory-confirmed coronavirus fatalities. Ministers say they were 'following the science' at every stage - but scientists, including those who have advised the Government during the pandemic, say the lockdown was triggered to late. The sheer number of Covid-19 cases, and those needing hospital care, have had a direct impact on the NHS. Therefore, the handling of the pandemic in the UK may put off foreign workers from joining the health service, Mr Edwards suggested. Millions of NHS staff working on the frontline to save the lives of Covid-19 patients were born in other countries. Overall, 13.8 per cent of the 1.28million NHS staff in England say that their nationality is not British, data published by the House of Commons this month shows. Some 5.5 per cent are EU nationals, making up nine per cent of doctors in Englands hospital and community health services and six per cent of nurses. Figures also show there were at least 106,000 vacancies across the NHS in England before the pandemic, with over 44,000 vacancies in nursing. A report by the Health Foundation last year highlighted critical shortages in the supply of NHS staff against demand. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the NHS was a 'top priority' after winning the 2019 election campaign. While the NHS staffing issues cannot be solved through overseas recruitment alone, it's considered crucial to help. Mr Johnson repeated his campaign promise to deliver 50,000 more nurses, and last month introduced a new NHS visa to offer fast-track entry and reduced visa fees for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. HISTORIC RACISM TOWARDS IMMIGRANTS MAY BE TO BLAME FOR HIGHER BAME COVID-19 DEATHS Historic racism and hostility towards immigrants could be partly to blame for black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) people being more likely to die from Covid-19, officials claimed today. Public Health England (PHE) published the long-awaited second part of its report into how the coronavirus has hit BAME communities harder. It said 'hostile environments' towards immigrants may have affected settled BAME communities through 'heightened prejudice' and 'societal tensions' but did not explain how this has directly raised the risk of Covid-19. The report also claimed a lack of trust in the NHS may have left some BAME groups reluctant to seek help early on, potentially making their disease harder to treat. It said some people were 'fearful of being deported' if they presented to hospital. And it claimed that BAME NHS staff may be less likely to speak up when they have concerns about personal protective equipment (PPE) or their risk. The report - based on discussions with 4,000 people - noted that historic racism has meant non-white communities are generally poorer so have worse health, putting them at higher risk if they catch Covid-19. Ethnic minority people in particular those from black, Bangladeshi or Pakistani backgrounds have for decades been more likely to have lower-paid jobs, leaving them with less money to live healthy lifestyles. BAME people are more likely to have conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, PHE said, which make them more vulnerable to Covid-19. And they are more likely to work in risky jobs in which they spend time in contact with members of the public, increasing the chance of them catching the disease. Today's report was published after officials came under fire for failing to make any recommendations for what could actually be done about the problem in their first document, published two weeks ago on June 2. Advertisement But during the pandemic, he has been criticised for failing to support workers from overseas - despite admitting they had saved his own life when he was admitted to ICU with Covid-19 in April. Labour sought an amendment to the Immigration Bill to exempt NHS staff from paying for NHS care. The health immigration surcharge on non-EU migrants is 400 per year and was set to increase to 624 in October. It has been long protested by unions. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted it was 'grossly hypocritical to clap our carers one day and then charge them to use the NHS the next'. Initially Mr Johnson defended the hefty bills and claimed the NHS would be left short of essential funding without them. But in an overnight U-turn, he dropped the charge for health and care workers on May 21. The Royal College of Nursing, British Medical Association (BMA) and Royal College of Physicians have since written to Mr Johnson to clarify the fee will be scrapped urgently. The BMA also called for a total reform of immigration rules for foreign-born medical staff working in the NHS. BMA council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul wrote to Home Secretary Priti Patel on 3 April outlining a range of measures required to support international doctors during the continuing crisis. It for indefinite leave to remain to the families of all overseas medical staff who die in the pandemic. It followed Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitting that 'tragically a disproportionate number of those in the NHS that have died are people who came to make their lives here and work in the NHS'. He said: 'I think it's fair to say that my admiration for those who work in the NHS, whether they come from overseas or were born here, it doesn't matter, my admiration is unparalleled.' It ties in with the shockingly high proportion of NHS staff who have died of Covid-19 of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. The PA news agency has verified the deaths of 166 frontline UK healthcare workers with Covid-19 since the start of March this year. It said BAME staff account for 60 per cent of frontline healthcare worker coronavirus deaths. YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan met with the US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy, USAID Armenia Mission Director Deborah Grieser and USAID project manager Astghik Grigoryan, the ministry told Armenpress. The meeting participants discussed the current coronavirus situation, the strategy run by the healthcare ministry and the actions expected as a result of the cooperation. Minister Torosyan thanked for the long-term cooperation and introduced the details of Armenias healthcare policy. The minister said the current coronavirus-related situation is a chance to improve the condition of hospitals in provinces and hold trainings for healthcare workers. The US Ambassador positively assessed the Armenian governments dialogue with the public and highlighted the transparency of information aimed at forming public trust. The Ambassador expressed readiness to assist Armenia in overcoming the coronavirus, noting that the needs of the healthcare system are a priority. The USAID provided assistance to Armenia through UN agencies for purchasing necessary PCR tests, equipment and medical items. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan As India is set to be elected as a non-permanent member in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), foreign minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi has put up a brave fact and claimed that it is not an 'issue' even if India is elected as a permanent member. Pakistani journalist Naila Inayat shared a clip from Quereshi's interview, wherein he said that already India has attempted to get the seat as a permanent member a number of times and it would make no difference to the Imran Khan-led nation. He also added that if India is elected, Pakistan too will be elected as a permanent member - a point that is laughable given that India has at various points has had support of 4 of the 5 permanent members, while Pakistan's all-weather friend China remains Imran Khan's only backer. Qureshi said UNSC was an important forum but Indias non-permanent membership should not be seen as extraordinary because Pakistan had also served at the same position previously for seven times. READ | Imran Khan slashes Pakistan president's budget to less than half Qureshi is of the view that even if India becomes member of United Nations Security Council, no hell will break loose. Just like no hell broke loose after Aug 5 last year.. pic.twitter.com/iNtDkdLeIy Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) June 15, 2020 READ | Pakistan's Punjab makes teaching of Quran mandatory in all universities, else no degree On June 5, India's Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar announced that the polls for India's temporary seat in the UNSC as a non-permanent member would take place in June. The election will take place at the United Nations on June 17. India would be contesting for the non-permanent member seat whose tenure is of 2 years, beginning from January 2021. India has emerged as the single-endorsed candidate from its regional group, amid the larger push for the country to be made a permanent member of the 5-nation apex grouping, currently comprising the US, UK, Russia, China and France. READ | Pakistan Reports Over 5,000 New Cases, Tally Crosses 140,000-mark India's role in UNSC previously India has been actively pursuing for a permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council for years and has received support from four of the five permanent members. Barring China, the other permanent members of the Security Council have backed India to join as a permanent member, including two successive US governments. Previously, India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the Council for the years 19501951, 19671968, 19721973, 19771978, 19841985, 19911992 and most recently in 20112012. India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the Security Council, saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member of the Council which in its current form does not represent the geo-political realities of the 21st Century. Each year the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of 10 in total) for a two-year term. The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis - five for African and Asian States; one for Eastern European States; two for the Latin American and Caribbean States; and two for Western European and other States. READ | Imran adamant on Pakistan's England tour: 'people want to see Cricket start despite Covid' A high-ranking state Health Department official mysteriously let go at the height of the pandemic alleges the real reason he was fired was because he pushed back on a request to test relatives of Gov. Phil Murphys top aide for coronavirus, calling it a complete waste of his time. According to a newly filed whistleblower lawsuit obtained by NJ Advance Media, Christopher Neuwirth who served as assistant commissioner for the Division of Public Health, Infrastructure, Laboratories and Emergency Preparedness claimed that he was ordered in late April to provide test kits to family members of George Helmy, the governors chief of staff, for COVID-19. Neuwirth said he was abruptly fired after raising concerns within the department about the ethics of providing scarce specimen collection supplies to people connected to the governor. At the time, New Jersey was testing only those with symptoms of COVID-19 because of a shortage of supplies and manpower. Hundreds of people were still driving to the public testing site at Bergen County College in Paramus in the middle of the night to sit in their cars for hours, hoping to qualify for one of the 500 tests that were available each day. Clearly, we cannot say no, or advise them that this test doesnt matter, and its a complete waste of an ACs (assistant commissioners) time to spend literally 6-hours collecting one specimen, Neuwirth wrote in an email sent to the chief of staff of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli as the alleged incident was playing out, the lawsuit said. Im sharing this with you simply for documentation and in case this continues to spiral out of control. A spokesman for the governor, in response to the lawsuit, said: We look forward to a putting forward a vigorous defense against this meritless complaint." At his coronavirus press briefing in Trenton on Tuesday, Murphy said neither he nor the superintendent could comment. But he had praise for Callahan, Helmy and Persichilli. I literally dont know where we would be in this state without Pat Callahan and George Helmy," the governor said. They literally, along with Judy, are heroes and they earn that every single minute of every single day. I cannot even fathom what our state would look like without them and without Judy and what theyve done. A spokesman for the State Police said they could not discuss pending litigation. The Health Department did not respond to a request for comment. Neuwirth was terminated by the Department of Health as assistant commissioner on May 28, amid reports that he had been fired for allegedly failing to disclose a side job. Those reports claimed he failed to disclose that he was also employed by Margolis Healy and Associates, a safety, security, emergency preparedness firm. Asked about Neuwirths dismissal, the governor said only, Ive got no comment on Chriss situation. But I will say this, that folks are not its par for the course that youre not supposed to have another source of income, thats just as a general matter. The questions over his firing grew after NJ Advance Media obtained secretly recorded conversations with Persichilli, who indicated that Neuwirth was actually let go because the administration had become convinced that he was the one leaking confidential information to the press about the states response to the coronavirus. But in the complaint filed in state Superior Court in Mercer County on Tuesday, Neuwirth said his dismissal was not about any outside consulting work, which he claimed had been mischaracterized. And it was not about any leaks to the press, which he denied. He charged that the coronavirus tests he had been ordered to conduct at the behest of an administration insider were unethical and unlawful," incompatible with public policy, a misuse of governmental resources, and a misuse of power. Because I pursued an ethics complaint, I was terminated, Neuwirth said in an interview with NJ Advance Media through his attorney, Christopher Eibeler of Smith Eibeler. Lines at a coronavirus testing site at Bergen Community College in Paramus in March.Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com According to the complaint, Neuwirth received a phone call on April 24 from State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan, who he claimed had told him that the governors chief of staff needs a favor. The request was to have the assistant commissioner himself, or a member of his staff, go to the home of unnamed relatives of Helmy in Bergen County and collect specimens for COVID-19 testing that weekend, through the Department of Heaths Public Health and Environmental Laboratories. Fully understanding that the request for the favor was coming from top-level people within the governors inner circle, the complaint said Neuwirth told Callahan that he would look into the matter. The following day, the complaint said Callahan again called and angrily demanded to find out why no one had yet contacted Helmys family members. Neuwirth responded that he had no staff available. So then, this is something you are going to do? he said the State Police superintendent asked. Yea, I dont have a choice, Neuwirth said he responded, according to the lawsuit. But he never went through with the testing. On April 26, after driving from his home in Flemington to the Public Health and Environmental Laboratories in West Trenton to obtain specimen collection tubes and preparing to make the trip up to Bergen County, Neuwirth said he reached out to the Health Departments Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance. He complained that he had been instructed to collect private COVID-19 tests on family members of a Governors Office employee as a favor, the complaint stated, and questioned the propriety of the request. He said he was told to go home. After dropping off his state vehicle, he said he called Persichilli to discuss the situation as well. He claimed the commissioner also told him to go home and not perform the tests. At the time, New Jersey was reporting 102,196 cases of COVID-19 in the state and 5,617 deaths. Weeks earlier, Matt Platkin, chief counsel for Murphys administration, had tested positive for the virus, officials disclosed, after coming into contact with someone who had been infected at the New Jersey Regional Operations & Intelligence Center. Platkin had been asymptomatic, leading to questions of the governor as to why his top attorney had been able to get a test that was restricted to only those with coronavirus symptoms. Why does he get a free pass to do that? Murphy asked at a press briefing in response. We need this guy. The governor said Platkin came in contact with a number of people who turned out to have the virus, and that the chief counsel thought he should get tested to be safe. Sources told NJ Advance Media that Helmy had also been tested, but that the results had been negative. Neuwirth, who spoke freely about the events leading up to his termination, said the request from Callahan had not come as a total surprise. For a number of weeks, we had a suspicion there would be requests to test family members or friends, he recalled in a telephone interview. Testing was limited. Testing supplies were limited. The Bergen site was open, but there were still long lines. He said after he failed to go through with the specimen collection on Helmys relatives, doing his job became difficult. I was ostracized. I was out of the inner circle, he said. According to the complaint, senior Health Department staff removed scheduled meetings from his calendar, refused to share information with him, and would not respond to his emails. He said he was no longer being consulted on matters related to his responsibilities as assistant commissioner. Then on May 20, he was called into the front office after NJ Advance Media published a story that day based on internal department records and statements by officials, as well as interviews with families, workers and others, that found that New Jersey failed to react fast enough or take forceful, aggressive actions to slow the deadly rampage in nursing homes. The story included internal analytical material obtained by reporters that revealed a severe shortage in nursing homes of personal protective equipment known as PPE, such as masks and gowns, at a time the department was prioritizing hospitals. Neuwirth was asked whether he had been leaking confidential information to the media. He said he denied it. Eight days later, he was terminated. When asked why, he was informed it was a no-cause termination and that his services were no longer needed. Its clear that accusing me of wrongdoing and leaking information to the media was a convenient cover story for pursuing an ethics complaint, in addition to the administration lying and mischaracterizing my external employment and workplace performance, said Neuwirth. I am confident that once all of the facts surrounding my termination have come to light it will be clear that I never behaved unethically and was terminated for doing what any public servant should be expected to do. The lawsuit seeks reinstatement, back pay and unspecified damages and attorney fees. READ THE LAWSUIT: NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Geneva Tue, June 16, 2020 11:31 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf177c1 2 News switzerland,travel,tourism,destination,Sweden Free Switzerland opened its borders Monday to travelers from European Union countries but said temperature checks would be required for those flying in from Sweden, which has been hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Like a raft of other European countries, non-EU member Switzerland reopened its borders on Monday after months of coronavirus curbs, to travelers from all 27 countries in the bloc, along with Britain, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. But its health ministry said that people entering the landlocked country from nations with high numbers of new infections could be subjected to temperature checks. "This is currently the case with regard to Sweden," it said. "From June 15, passengers arriving on direct flights from Sweden will therefore have their temperature checked at the airport," it said, adding that "persons with signs of a high temperature will be given a medical examination and, if necessary, be tested for COVID-19." Sweden controversially took a far softer approach to reining in the outbreak than most countries. Read also: Europe starts to reopen borders but no free travel yet It kept cafes, bars, restaurants and most businesses open, as well as elementary and middle-schools, in recent months as COVID-19 spread, stressing that citizens could be relied on to practice the recommended physical distancing without legally-binding measures. While Sweden's Nordic neighbors have reported deaths linked to the pandemic in the hundreds and have seen new cases slow to a trickle, Sweden has reported nearly 5,000 deaths and more than 50,000 cases. The country of 10.3 million people continues to report around 1,000 new cases each day. Meanwhile Switzerland, population 8.5 million, has registered over 31,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 -- with just 14 new cases reported on Monday -- and 1,675 deaths. Topics : switzerland travel tourism destination Sweden By PTI AHMEDABAD: India is not interested in land of Pakistan or China but wanted peace and amity, Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday. Addressing virtual 'Jan Samvad' rally of Gujarat BJP from Nagpur in Maharashtra, he said India believed in peace and non-violence and do not want to be strong by becoming an expansionist. "India never tried to grab land of its neighbours like Bhutan and Bangladesh," he added. The Minister of Road Transport & Highways and MSME also said that COVID-19 crisis will not last long, as a vaccine is on its way soon. "India do not want land of either Pakistan or China. All India want is peace, amity, love, and (want) to work together (with neighbouring countries)," Gadkari said. ALSO READ | Ladakh standoff: No one can look at India with crooked eye, says Nitin Gadkari His comments came at a time when India and China are engaged in a stand-off at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Talking about the completion of one year of the second term of the Modi government, Gadkari said its biggest achievement was to bring peace in the country by dealing with matters of internal and external security. "...Whether it is about almost winning over the Maoist problem or securing the country from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism...There is China on the one side of our border and Pakistan on the other side. We want peace, not violence," he said. During his speech, the Nagpur MP referred to famous novel "Mrityunjaya" by Marathi novelist Shivaji Sawant, saying peace and non-violence can be established by only those who are strong and not weak. "We should not make India strong by becoming expansionist. We want to make India strong for establishing peace. We never tried to grab land of Bhutan. Our country made Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the prime minister of Bangladesh after winning the war (with Pakistan in 1971), and our soldiers returned thereafter. "We took not a single inch of land. We do not want land either of Pakistan or China. All we want is peace, amity, love, and wanted to work together," he said. Gadkari also said the coronavirus crisis will not last long as scientists in India and abroad have been working to develop a vaccine. "This crisis is not going to last long. Effort is on in our country to develop a vaccine for coronavirus. Scientists across the world are working in this direction. As per the information received by me, I can say with confidence that very soon we will find vaccine. Once we develop a vaccine, we won't have to fear the crisis," Gadkari added. As per the Union Health ministry, India saw the highest single-day spike of 11,929 novel coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the number of infections to over 3.20 lakh on Sunday, while the toll crossed the 9,000 mark with 311 more deaths. The ability to monitor variations in O2 saturation and heart rate, while in motion, through garments only opens up a world of applications for the military. Cipher Skin Inc., a data technology startup, was awarded a $1.5M contract by the U.S. Department of Defense, as part of the second phase of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This highly competitive program will support the development and commercialization of Cipher Skins BioSleeve in partnership with the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The BioSleeve is a smart compression sleeve designed as a digital tool for physical therapists, trainers and athletes in the rehab and return-to-play process. The users can visualize, via the Digital Mirror app, real-time complex motion of their knees and arms in three dimensions, along with key metrics such as range of motion and joint angular velocity. All data is automatically stored and managed in the Digital Mirror. Dr. Shaka Bahadu, Cipher Skins Co-Founder, said: Physical therapists and trainers can rely on fully automated range of motion tests, with the guarantee of highly precise, objective data. With the BioSleeve, they reduce their daily administrative burden by 90% and spend more valuable time with their patients. More than that, they can keep treating them through remote sessions, in the safest and most effective way. Cipher Skin quickly drew the AFSOCs attention with interest from others within the U.S. Special Operations community; the AFSOC plans to assess the BioSleeve to aide in recovery and enhanced physical training by some of the worlds most elite operators. Dr. Bahadu specified: On top of measuring complete range of motion, the BioSleeve will soon monitor heart rate and dynamic O2 saturation, unlocking the complex physiological processes of the body. There is no need for cameras or other bulky equipment its simply clothing. This is definitely a critical tool for our soldiers, from rehab to in-the-field performance. With 77% of all injuries within the SOF community being preventable musculoskeletal injuries, the interest from the AFSOC has been extraordinary so far. The ability to monitor variations in O2 saturation and heart rate, while in motion, through garments only opens up a world of applications for the military. One of them is hypoxia prevention for parachutists, pilots and aircrew, a potentially deadly issue faced by our military personnel today. The secret behind this incredible technology? A patented conductive grid that can be embedded into any garment and integrated with a diverse array of sensors. This unique flexible lattice enables the sensors to conform around the whole body for more accurate measurements. Dr. Bahadu is delighted about the promising partnership: We feel honored by this unique opportunity to help improve the safety and performance of our soldiers. Within 18 months, more than 200 BioSleeves will be delivered, assessed and validated by three units of the U.S. Special Operations during field training. About Cipher Skin Cipher Skin Inc, http://www.cipherskin.com, is a Colorado-based company that revolutionizes the way data on the human body or any physical object - is collected, reported, analyzed and monitored. Our goal is to provide users with gapless, authentic data that matters most. Based on the teams cutting-edge expertise in high-quality sensors and analytical tools, Cipher Skin has developed a groundbreaking technology a cloud-connected sensor mesh, embedded in garments, that measures critical vital signs and tracks movement in three dimensions, creating the Digital Mirror of the wearer. Unlimited access to authentic data opens up an exciting world of possibilities to decode human performance, and predict injuries and points of failure on any human body or object. Cipher Skin is on the way to disrupt a $700 billion market size including healthcare remote monitoring as well as oil and gas monitoring. LONDON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dorae has been recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. Dorae is the physical trade cloud, a software platform that brings technology to the heart of supply chain and business processes. The World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. "We're excited to welcome Dorae to our 20th cohort of Technology Pioneers," says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. Dorae is developing cutting edge technologies all over the world. Beyond their innovations, these firms are contributing greatly to improving the state of the world." Aba Schubert, Co-Founder and CEO of Dorae says, "Thank you, World Economic Forum, for this honor. As the leader in supply chain technology, Dorae delivers the latest tools to help our users achieve value, reliability and sustainability. Dorae serves a market at the core of global economic activity, with a magnitude in the trillions of dollars. The insights and relationships that we will gain as a Technology Pioneer will enable us to push further and serve our global private and public sector client base even better." Ricardo Santos Silva, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Dorae says, "We received news of this award by the World Economic Forum with great humility and great excitement. Dorae's ability to grow and to expand its market, especially during the last months that have been so challenging for the world, show that our impact is huge and growing. Dorae will make the world a better place." This year's cohort selection marks the 20th anniversary of the Tech Pioneers community. Throughout its 20-year run, many Technology Pioneers have continuously contributed to advancement in their industries while some have even gone on to become household names. Past recipients include Airbnb, Google, Kickstarter, Mozilla, Palantir Technologies, Spotify, TransferWise, Twitter and Wikimedia. About Dorae: Dorae is the physical trade cloud. It has offices in UK, US and Portugal. Dorae serves and connects it userbase around the world. (www.dorae.com) About World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org). Cleveland Clinic researchers have developed the world's first risk prediction model for healthcare providers to forecast an individual patient's likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19 as well as their outcomes from the disease. According a new study published in CHEST, the risk prediction model (called a nomogram) shows the relevance of age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, vaccination history and current medications in COVID-19 risk. The risk calculator is a new tool for healthcare providers to aid them in predicting patient risk and tailoring decision-making about care. It provides a more scientific approach to testing which is important for the healthcare community which has faced increased demand for testing and limited resources. The ability to accurately predict whether or not a patient is likely to test positive for COVID-19, as well as potential outcomes including disease severity and hospitalization, will be paramount in effectively managing our resources and triaging care." As we continue to battle this pandemic and prepare for a potential second wave, understanding a person's risk is the first step in potential care and treatment planning." Lara Jehi, M.D., Study Corresponding Author and Chief Research Information Officer, Cleveland Clinic. The nomogram, which has been deployed as a freely available online risk calculator at https:/ / riskcalc. org/ COVID19/ , was developed using data from nearly 12,000 patients enrolled in Cleveland Clinic's COVID-19 Registry, which includes all individuals tested at Cleveland Clinic for the disease, not just those that test positive. Data scientists, including co-author on the study Michael Kattan, Ph.D., Chair of Lerner Research Institute's Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, used statistical algorithms to transform data from registry patients' electronic medical records into the first-of-its-kind nomogram. This study revealed several novel insights into disease risk, including: Patients who have received the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) and flu vaccine are less likely to test positive for COVID-19 than those who have not received the vaccinations. Patients actively taking melatonin (over-the-counter sleep aid), carvedilol (high blood pressure and heart failure treatment) or paroxetine (anti-depressant) are less likely to test positive than patients not taking the drugs. Patients of low socioeconomic status (as measured in this study by zip code) are more likely to test positive than patients of greater economic means. Patients of Asian descent are less likely than Caucasian patients to test positive. "Our findings corroborated several risk factors already reported in existing literature - including that being male and of advancing age both increase the likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19 - but we also put forth some new associations," said Dr. Jehi. "Further validation and research are needed into these initial insights but these correlations are extremely intriguing." In a previous network medicine study led by Lerner Research Institute scientists, 16 drugs (including melatonin, carvedilol and paroxetine) and three drug combinations were identified as candidates for repurposing as potential COVID-19 treatments. While these findings suggest an association between taking these medications and reduced risk of testing positive for COVID-19, additional studies are needed to assess how these drugs may affect disease progression. "The data suggest some interesting correlations but do not confer cause and effect," said Kattan. "For example, our data do not prove that melatonin reduces your risk of testing positive for COVID-19. There may be something else about patients who take melatonin that is indeed responsible for their apparent reduced risk, and we don't know what that is. Consumers should not change anything about their behavior based on our findings." The nomogram, developed using data from patients tested at Cleveland Clinic for COVID-19 before April 2, 2020, showed good performance and reliability when used in a different geographic region (Florida) and over time (patients tested after April 2, 2020). This suggests that the patterns and predictors identified in the model are consistent across regions and communities and can be potentially adopted for clinical practice in healthcare systems across the country. "This nomogram will bring precision medicine to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to enable researchers and physicians to predict an individual's risk of testing positive," said Kattan. "Additionally, while testing solutions continue to be needed, it is so important to make sure we are responsibly and optimally dispatching our resources - including clinical personnel, personal protective equipment and hospital beds. Our risk prediction model stands to greatly assist hospital systems in this planning." The COVID-19 research registry, which now has data from more than 23,000 patients, is being used to inform a variety of studies. Researchers from across the Cleveland Clinic enterprise are using the dynamic registry data in more than 140 COVID-19-related research projects in areas such as cancer, pediatrics and intensive care. Police are launching a forensic investigation into the rope used on Robert Fuller, 24, who was found hanging from a tree after investigators initially classed the death as a suicide. The FBI's civil rights division and the California attorney general's office will be overseeing the Los Angeles County's investigation into the death, after another black man was found dead in a similar fashion in a nearby city just days earlier. Fuller, 24, of Antelope Valley, California, was found hanging from a tree with a rope around his neck outside Palmdale City Hall in Palmdale, California, by a passerby at 3.39am on June 10. Police said there were no signs of struggle at the scene. The coroner's office said Fuller's death was initially reported as an apparent suicide, but that his cause of death was being deferred pending a full autopsy, which was completed June 12, and an investigation. Robert Fuller, 24, was found hanging from a tree on June 10. Authorities are now conducting a full investigation into his death The discovery of Fuller's body, amidst weeks of George Floyd protests, has resulted in community members demanding authorities carry out a full investigation into his death and the idea that it actually might have been a homicide. The new involvement of the FBI and the attorney general's office in Fuller's case was announced by Sheriff Alex Villanueva at a news conference Monday. Villanueva said that he had approached Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the FBI to ensure transparency in the investigation and 'that we'll leave no rock unturned,' according to KTLA. County medical examiner Dr. Jonathan Lucas, who was also at the news conference, added that: 'Initially, there wasn't any evidence or information that led us to believe that there was anything other than a suicide [but] we felt better that we should look a little more deeply and carefully just considering all the circumstances at play.' Authorities said that the only evidence found at Fuller's scene was a rope, his cell phone, what was in his pockets and the backpack that he was wearing. No chair or other object had been used to prop Fuller up, authorities said, according to USA Today. The discovery of Fuller's body, amidst weeks of George Floyd protests, has resulted in community members demanding authorities carry out a full investigation into his death People are seen gathering at the site where Fuller was found dead in Palmdale on Monday Capt. Kent Wegener said that the tree Fuller had been found hanging from was 'very easily climbable' and the rope had been secured by someone in the tree, not from the ground, the Los Angeles Times reported. Lt. Brandon Dean of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau, who is supervising the investigation into Fuller's death, had previously told The Daily Beast that there were no signs of defensive wounds or physical assault on his body and no evidence that Fuller was 'put up' in the tree 'against his will.' The Sheriff's Department said that it will be conducting a forensic analysis of the rope - including the knot used - as well as looking into Fuller's medical history, dating back to when he lived in Arizona and Nevada, before moving to California. Authorities also said that they would work to interview Fuller's Department of Social Services case worker, but did not explain why he had a case worker, and said that they would continue to search for any videos that might show what happened the night Fuller was found dead. The actual location where Fuller was found hanging doesn't have any surveillance cameras, so authorities have been seeking out footage from businesses nearby to see if he was alone or with somebody else before his death. Malcolm Harsch, 38, was found hanging from a tree near what's been described as a homeless encampment, close to the Victorville City Library on May 31 Authorities said that they did not suspect foul play in Harsch's (pictured) death, but his family has said that he was not depressed and suicide doesn't seem 'plausible' In addition, 'The rope wasn't thrown over but tied to the branch, which means somebody had to get up there and tie it,' Dean said. Although Fuller's complete autopsy was completed on June 12, Dean noted that police were still waiting for toxicology reports to come in. If Fuller had a 'high level of a chemical that might have poisoned him or knocked him unconscious and allowed someone to drag him up there, it would give a new direction to the case,' Dean told the news website. Fuller's family has denied that he was suicidal, while hundreds of protesters had been out demanding justice for him, in addition to an independent investigation and autopsy. Palmdale has issued a statement supporting an independent inquiry. Fuller's death came just 10 days after another black man was found hanging from a tree in Victorville, California, about 45 miles from Palmdale. Malcolm Harsch, 38, was found hanging from a tree near what's been described as a a homeless encampment close to the Victorville City Library on May 31 at about 7am. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department had said that although foul play was not suspected in Harsch's death, they are still investigating what happened. Harsch's family, meanwhile, has said they are worried that his death will be prematurely ruled a suicide. In a statement to Victor Valley News, Harsch's family said that his cause of death hadn't been released yet, but that they were 'concerned that his death will be labeled as a suicide.' 'Amidst the current racial tension and following the protesting the night prior to his body being discovered we were truly troubled to learn of his passing particularly of how his body was discovered,' the statement read. 'He is an African-American man whose body was found hanging from a tree! The deputy who called to confirm his death asked questions about drug or alcohol use, he made a statement about how the coronavirus has 'hit people really hard' and said that a USB cord was used to hang himself.' The family claimed they were told by witnesses that his 6'3'-long body was not even dangling from the tree when it was found and that there was blood on his shirt. They also noted that there 'there didn't appear to be any physical implications at the scene to suggest that there was a struggle or any visible open wounds at that time,' which would explain why his shirt might've been bloodied. The family said that Harsch 'didn't seem to be depressed to anyone who truly knew him' and that he had recently spoken with his kids about seeing them soon. 'The explanation of suicide does not seem plausible. There are many ways to die but considering the current racial tension, a black man hanging himself from a tree definitely doesn't sit well with us right now. We want justice not comfortable excuses.' A San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department spokesperson told the newspaper that 'There were no indications at the scene that suggested foul play; however, the cause and manner of death are still pending.' The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which is looking into Fuller's death, said that it intended to connect with San Bernardino County officials during the investigations into the two men's deaths to see if there are any links between them, USA Today reported. Prior to coming onboard, Schmidt was chief underwriting officer at Avivas UK & Ireland business across personal, commercial, and corporate/specialty lines. Before then he spent two decades in international business at Zurich Insurance Group. Replacing Schmidt as CUO is Tim Carter, who was executive vice president, Americas of Argo Group US, Inc. The risk that off-the-plan apartment buyers will pay more than the property is worth at settlement has increased as prices continue to slide. Lenders value a property at completion and, if the valuation is lower than the contract price, the loan may be refused or the buyer asked to provide a larger deposit. The risk that off-the-plan apartments will be worth less than the contract price has increased in Melbourne and is showing signs of starting to increase in Sydney. Credit:Graham Tidy Adding to the settlement risk is mounting job losses, which may leave some buyers contracted to buy apartments for which they are unable secure finance once their unit is completed. Off-the-plan apartment buyers who are unable to settle contracts could lose their deposit of tens of thousands of dollars typically 10 per cent of the purchase price. They could also be sued by the developer to recover any difference between the original contract price and what the developer eventually receives from another buyer. Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State met with President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, after which he said he secured the presidents blessing for his re-election bid. After the meeting which held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Mr Akeredolu told journalists that he was prepared for the All Progressive Congress (APC) primaries, whether direct or indirect mode. He said he believed he would be re-elected as he enjoys the support of the majority of Ondo residents. Mr Akeredolu seeks a second term on the APC ticket but faces a major hurdle from some members of the party, both within and outside the state. His candidature is allegedly opposed by an APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, who is considered the most influential APC leader in South-west Nigeria. Mr Akeredolus meeting with Mr Buhari comes weeks after the Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki, had a similar meeting with the president, after which he also said he secured the presidents support for his second term bid. Mr Obaseki has since been disqualified by the APC and announced his resignation from the party on Tuesday. OHCHR GENEVA (16 June 2020) a The agreement by the new coalition Government of Israel to annex significant parts of the occupied Palestinian West Bank after 1 July would violate a cornerstone principle of international law and must be meaningfully opposed by the international community, UN experts said today. Forty-seven of the independent Special Procedures mandates appointed by the Human Rights Council issued the following statement: aThe annexation of occupied territory is a serious violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions, and contrary to the fundamental rule affirmed many times by the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly that the acquisition of territory by war or force is inadmissible. The international community has prohibited annexation precisely because it incites wars, economic devastation, political instability, systematic human rights abuses and widespread human suffering. Israelas stated plans for annexation would extend sovereignty over most of the Jordan Valley and all of the more than 235 illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This would amount to approximately 30 percent of the West Bank. The annexation of this territory was endorsed by the American Peace to Prosperity Plan, released in late January 2020. The United Nations has stated on many occasions that the 53-year-old Israeli occupation is the source of profound human rights violations against the Palestinian people. These violations include land confiscation, settler violence, discriminatory planning laws, the confiscation of natural resources, home demolitions, forcible population transfer, excessive use of force and torture, labour exploitation, extensive infringements of privacy rights, restrictions on the media and freedom of expression, the targeting of women activists and journalists, the detention of children, poisoning by exposure to toxic wastes, forced evictions and displacement, economic deprivation and extreme poverty, arbitrary detention, lack of freedom of movement, food insecurity, discriminatory law enforcement and the imposition of a two-tier system of disparate political, legal, social, cultural and economic rights based on ethnicity and nationality. Palestinian and Israeli human rights defenders, who peacefully bring public attention to these violations, are slandered, criminalised or labeled as terrorists. Above all, the Israeli occupation has meant the denial of the right of Palestinian self-determination. These human rights violations would only intensify after annexation. What would be left of the West Bank would be a Palestinian Bantustan, islands of disconnected land completely surrounded by Israel and with no territorial connection to the outside world. Israel has recently promised that it will maintain permanent security control between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River. Thus, the morning after annexation would be the crystallisation of an already unjust reality: two peoples living in the same space, ruled by the same state, but with profoundly unequal rights. This is a vision of a 21st century apartheid. Twice before, Israel has annexed occupied land a East Jerusalem in 1980 and the Syrian Golan Heights in 1981. On both occasions, the UN Security Council immediately condemned the annexations as unlawful but took no meaningful countermeasures to oppose Israelas actions. Similarly, the Security Council has repeatedly criticised the Israeli settlements as a flagrant violation under international law. Yet, Israelas defiance of these resolutions and its ongoing entrenchment of the settlements has gone unanswered by the international community. This time must be different. The international community has solemn legal and political responsibilities to defend a rules-based international order, to oppose violations of human rights and fundamental principles of international law and to give effect to its many resolutions critical of Israelas conduct of this protracted occupation. In particular, states have a duty not to recognise, aid or assist another state in any form of illegal activity, such as annexation or the creation of civilian settlements in occupied territory. The lessons from the past are clear: Criticism without consequences will neither forestall annexation nor end the occupation. Accountability and an end to impunity must become an immediate priority for the international community. Available to it is a broad menu of accountability measures that have been widely and successfully applied by the UN Security Council in other international crises over the past 60 years. The accountability measures that are selected must be taken in full conformity with international law, be proportionate, effective, subject to regular review, consistent with human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, and designed to undo the annexations and bring the occupation and the conflict to a just and durable conclusion. Palestinians and Israelis deserve no less. We express great regret about the role of the United States of America in supporting and encouraging Israelas unlawful plans for the further annexation of occupied territory. On many occasions over the past 75 years, the United States has played an important role in the advancement of global human rights. On this occasion, it should be ardently opposing the imminent breach of a fundamental principle of international law, rather than actively abetting its violation.a ENDS (*) The experts: Mr. Michael Lynk, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967; Ms. AgnAs Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Mr. Ahmed Reid (Chair), Ms. Dominique Day, Mr. Michal Balcerzak, Mr. Ricardo A. Sunga III, and Mr. Sabelo Gumedze, Working Group of experts on people of African descent;Ms. Alena Douhan, Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights; Ms Alice Cruz, Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, Ms. AnaAs Marin, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus; Mr. Aristide NONONSI, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan; Mr. Alioune Tine,Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali; Mr. Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context; Mr. Baskut Tuncak, Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes; Ms. Catalina Devandas-Aguilar, Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities; Ms. Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, Special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons; Mr. Chris Kwaja (Chair), Ms. Jelena Aparac, Ms. Lilian Bobea, Mr. Saeed Mokbil,Ms. Sorcha MacLeod, Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination; Ms. Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons; Mr. ClAment Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the right to peaceful assembly and association; Mr. Dainius PAras, Special Rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health; Mr. David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression; Mr. David R. Boyd, Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment; Mr. Diego GarcAa-SayAn, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; Ms. Dubravka A imonovic, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; (Chair) Ms. Elizabeth Broderick (Vice Chair) Ms. Melissa Upreti, Ms. Alda Facio, Ms. Ivana RadaA iA, Ms. Meskerem Geset Techane, Working Group on discrimination against women and girls; Mr. Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Ms. Fionnuala D. NA AolAin, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; Mr. Githu Muigai (Chair), Ms. Anita Ramasastry (Vice-chair), Mr. Dante Pesce, Ms. ElAbieta Karska, and Mr. Surya Deva, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights; Ms. Isha Dyfan, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia; Mr. Joe Cannataci, Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy; Mr. JosA Francisco CalA Tzay, Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples;Mr. JosA Antonio Guevara BermAdez (Chair), Ms. Elina Steinerte (Vice-Chair), Ms. Leigh Toomey (Vice-Chair), Mr. Seong-Phil Hong, and Mr. SAtondji Adjovi, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Ms. Karima Bennoune, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; Ms. Kombou Boly Barry, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Mr. LAo Heller,Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation; Mr. Livingstone Sewanyana, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh, Special Rapporteur on sale and sexual exploitation of children; Ms Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; Ms. Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Mr. Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Mr. Nils Melzer, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Mr. Obiora C. Okafor, Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity,Mr. Olivier De Schutter, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights; Mr. Saad Alfarargi, Special Rapporteur on the right to development; Ms. E. Tendayi Achiume, Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism; Mr. Thomas Andrews. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar; Mr. TomAs Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea; Mr. Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; Mr. Victor Madrigal-Borloz, Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; Ms. Yuefen LI, Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights; Mr. Yao Agbetse, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Central African Republic The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Councilas independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. UN Human Rights, Country Page: Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel For more information and media requests, please contact Katarina Medlova (+41 22 917 9129 / kmedlova[at]ohchr.org ) For media enquiries regarding other UN independent experts, please contact Renato de Souza (+41 22 928 9855 / rrosariodesouza[at]ohchr.org) and John Newland (mediaconsultant2[at]ohchr.org) Hundreds of youth across Katsina State on Tuesday converged on Katsina town to protest the killings and wanton destruction by gunmen in their respective localities. The peaceful protest, convened by Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) and Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiative, was flagged off at Kofar Soro and concluded at the old Government House, Katsina. The convener, Jamilu Charanci, said the protest was meant to express dissatisfaction over the governments failure to deliver on its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of its citizens. Groups protest in Katsina, demand end to killings He said the government has also failed to defend and protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria as more gunmen are invading from other neighbouring countries and launching attacks in Nigeria. Mr Charanci said the protest was part of their constitutional rights to demands actions from their representatives to bring an end to the security situation across the North. Katsina State is the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari. Groups protest in Katsina, demand end to killings Earlier, the national coordinator of the group, Nastura Shareef, said the protest will hold across northern states on Saturday to demand for improved security and an end to the killings, kidnapping and wanton destruction of properties across the North. He said the peaceful protest is also a renewed call to let go the heads of Nigerian security service chiefs because their hold onto power has degenerated to more blood baths and security breaches across the north. The National Assembly had recommended the removal of the service chiefs over their failure to protect the lives of Nigerians. However, the president insisted on working with them despite the failure, the youth leader said. Enough is enough, a cogent step has to be taken to halt the atrocities that have gripped the northern states. For about eleven years the north has known no peace, Mr Shareef said. Were no longer convinced on the presidents directives on security issues and press releases condemning attacks because he has been doing so for so long, but nothing has changed. What we need now is to stop the massacre in the north, he added. Groups protest in Katsina, demand end to killings Protest illegal Police The police command in Katsina said the protest is illegal as the protesters did not get the permission of the command before embarking on the protest. The states police commissioner, Sanusi Buba, while addressing the protesters said such massive gatherings have violated the COVID-19 protocol of prohibition of large gathering of persons to check the spread of the virus. READ ALSO: He said the police will not tolerate that because criminal minded persons can utilise the opportunity to infiltrate the gathering and carry out criminal activities. Mr Buba, however, said the command on Monday, paraded 50 arrested armed bandits and placed a N5 million bounties on Adamu Aleiro, a suspected mastermind of recent attacks in Kadisau community in Faskari Local Government Area. The commissioner said the police and sister security agencies are working round the clock to ensure security across various communities in Katsina State. President Trump plans to take executive action today that would provide new federal funding incentives for local police departments to beef up training over the use of force and strengthen a national database to track misconduct, according to senior administration officials. Trumps order, the product of collaboration with law enforcement groups and families of suspects killed by police, aims to address the mass protests over police brutality that have convulsed American cities. Yet even as the president described his measures as pretty comprehensive, they are expected to fall far short of the kind of sweeping reforms that activists from Black Lives Matter and other social justice groups have demanded such as significantly reducing funding for police departments and directing the money to social programs. (Washington Post) Featured stories Police detain armed militia members after man is shot at Albuquerque protest (Washington Post) Rayshard Brooks family pleads for justice, change (Atlanta Journal Constitution) A dispatcher and two 911 callers voiced concerns over officer use of force in George Floyds death (CNN) NYPD officers got sick after drinking Shake Shack milkshakes tainted with bleach, union says (CNN) Robert Fullers hanging death under investigation despite initial signs of suicide: Officials (ABC News) North Korea bombed an inter-Korean liaison office near border, South Korea says (NBC News) National news Pence tells governors to repeat misleading claim on outbreaks (New York Times) Trump administration is blocking COVID stimulus oversight: government watchdog letter (Reuters) Texas reports highest number of hospitalized coronavirus patients since outbreak began (CBS News) FDA ends emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID (CBS News) U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omars father dies from coronavirus complications (NBC News) Trump campaign to give Tulsa rally-goers masks, fever checks (Reuters) Supreme Court extends federal civil rights protection in workplace to all LGBTQ employees (Tribune News Services) Voice of America leaders to resign amid friction with Trump (Politico) U.S. agency violated science policy by backing Trump hurricane tweet, report finds (Reuters) Boy, 14, sentenced to 18 months in juvenile detention for his role in 2019 murder of Barnard College student Tessa Majors (USA Today) New evidence, father released in hot car death of 2 Tulsa children (KTUL Channel 8) World news U.N. Human Rights Council to examine systemic racism and police brutality (CBS News) France backs off chokehold ban, moves to increase use of stun guns: report (The Hill) Trump confirms plan to cut troops in Germany (BBC) India soldiers killed in clash with Chinese forces (BBC) Beijing and provinces impose travel curbs as coronavirus cases mount (Reuters) Europe reopens for a summer unlike any other after coronavirus lockdowns (CBS News) EU and UK agree to speed up Brexit trade talks with the transition period expiring in six months (CNBC) Air Force pilot killed when fighter jet crashed in North Sea (The Hill) AND WE'RE BACK!!! Downtown CID Boasts More Taxes For Private Security Facebook post touts CIDs as model of 'community policing' Facebook post sparks affection, attention for CID Ambassadors An extraordinary social media post on June 9 turned into a rousing and heartfelt show of support for the Downtown and River Market Community Improvement District Ambassadors last week. And, two days later, it prompted a news story on KSHB-TV 41. County Kenny Puts Kansas City Concert On Hold Kenny Chesney's Arrowhead Stadium show is moved to May 2021 KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Kenny Chesney's rescheduled performance at Arrowhead Stadium is now set for next May. Chesney will bring his "Chillaxification Tour 2020" to Kansas City on May 29, 2021. He last played Arrowhead in July 2018. Just over a month ago it was announced that Chesney's 2020 tour had been postponed citing concerns over the spread of COVID-19. Garth Forgets KC??? Organizers announce locations for Garth Brooks drive-in concerts, KC not listed in first wave Kansas City's hopes of hosting a Garth Brooks drive-in concert are no "More than a Memory" after organizers announced Monday that the metro area didn't make the cut for the first wave of locations.Our "Friends in Low Places" weren't enough. Panty Probs Redux Victoria's Secret's "Toxic Culture of Sexual Harassment" At Center of New Lawsuit Against Parent Company L Brands | The Fashion Law On the heels of an eye-opening expose on Victoria's Secret that the New York Times published in February, the internet was abuzz with commentary ... and in at least some cases, downright rage. Everybody Loves Dolly Dolly Parton statues instead of Confederate monuments is what some want Confederate memorials in Tennessee should be replaced by statues of Dolly Parton, a new petition suggests. Prez Trump Solution For American Civil Unrest??? White House teases Trump executive order on policing reform but details vague As Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill put forward their proposals on policing reforms, the White House remained vague Monday about what legislative reforms President Donald Trump would be willing to sign onto but said he has been working on an executive action. Campaign 2020 Double Talk Lindsey Graham praises Joe Biden and calls Donald Trump a 'race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot' in new ad Before he was one of the president's closest allies, Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump - and some members of the Republican Party want voters to remember that come Election Day. No Cure Yet FDA ends emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID The Food and Drug Administration has ended its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, drugs the president touted in the fight against coronavirus. Mr. Trump took a 14-day regimen of hydroxychloroquine himself. Based on the FDA's continued review of the available scientific evidence, it determined the drug is "unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19 for the authorized uses," the FDA said. BLM Around The World U.S. Embassy In South Korea Removes Its Black Lives Matter Banner Amid the uproar over policing and racism in America, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, hung a large banner on Saturday that said, "Black Lives Matter" on the front of the mission. Two days later, it has taken the banner down. Corona Summer Comeback China warns "very high" risk of new Beijing coronavirus cluster spreading Beijing - Officials in China's capital city reported 36 new, locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The update brought the total number of new cases to 79 since last Thursday, when the disease reappeared after almost two coronavirus-free months in Beijing. The cluster is now the biggest the capital has had to deal with since February. Kansas City Artsy Urban Core Spring Cleaning KC muralist covers boarded up church walls with murals KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Graffiti covered up parts of The Community Christian Church after day three of protests. When senior minister, Rev. Shanna Steitz saw what unfolded at her church, she said it made it very personal. "On the night when things really got chaotic here in front of the building, it was if no one felt safe here," Steitz said. Kansas City Hotness Persists Hot and steamy weather conditions through Friday Hide Transcript Show Transcript SUNRISE. KATIE: IT IS SO PRETTY OUTSIDE AS WE ARE LOOKING OFF TO THE EAST. YOU CAN SEE THE LEADERS OF CLOUDS AND SUN. IF I COULD JUST SPEND TWO MINUTES ON THIS PICTURE, WE WILL SEE THE SUN COME UP DURING MY WEATHER UPDATE. We return to the Monday grind inspired byalong with these pop culture, community news and national headlines. Checkit:And this is thefor right now . . . JACKSON, Mississippi Alcohol sales in Mississippi are seeing a big jump during the coronavirus pandemic, the state Department of Revenue says. "Since March 16, we have shipped 932,120 cases, which represents an increase of 140,785 cases over last year," the department's division of Alcoholic Beverage Control said in a social media post last week. Numbers reported by the agency include sales to some casinos and restaurants, said Department of Revenue spokesman Jacob Manley. Most of the increase is sales at liquor stores, Manley told the Sun Herald. "The sales slacked off a little bit since restaurants and casinos reopened," but are still strong, said Danielle Yelle, who handles information technology and sales at Shawn's Petit Bois Liquor Store in Biloxi. Officials wrote in the social media post that the state agency is shipping at capacity every night. Crews are working to reduce a backlog of requests at the state warehouse that supplies wine and alcohol for liquor stores, restaurants and casinos. It will take longer than usual to receive your order, the agency said. We ask for your patience as we work to get your orders out. Alcohol sales arent the only thing rising. Over the past week, COVID-19 cases along the coast have risen by 14.9 percent over the past six days, according to data released by the Mississippi Department of Health. Since June 10, there have been 39 new cases reported in Jackson County, 66 in Harrison County and six in Hancock County -- 111 in total. Statewide, there have been 1,669 new cases over that same period -- an increase of 9 percent -- along with 47 deaths, an increase of 5.4 percent. Tuesdays update from the MDH shows Mississippi has surpassed 20,000 cases (20,152) and 900 deaths (915). The good news locally: Although the number of cases has seen a large increase, there have been no new deaths reported on the coast, which now totals 855 cases and 35 deaths. The Mississippi Press Warren Kulo contributed to this report. Oleksiy Poroshenko passes away at the age of 84 Unian Oleksiy Poroshenko, the father of the fifth president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, has passed away. The European Solidarity faction announced this on its website and expressed its condolences to the family of Ukraines fifth president. "Today the heart of a great man of labor, farmer, public and political figure, Hero of Ukraine, father of the fifth President of Ukraine Oleksiy Ivanovych Poroshenko stopped. He devoted his whole life to serving Ukraine, developing its economy, caring for people. We express our sincere condolences to Petro Oleksiiovych and Maryna Anatoliivna, to all relatives and friends because of such a great loss - the death of a father and friend, mentor, and advisor. It is difficult to find words that could reduce the emotional pain of losing a loved one, the statement said. The night before, the media reported that Oleksiy Poroshenko had a stroke. It is worth noting that he was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine (in 2009) for services in the development of agro-industrial complex and the introduction of modern technologies for growing crops. Mumbai, June 16 : The International Space University (ISU) of France has mourned the untimely demise of Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput. The university, located in France's Strasbourg has issued a statement expressing condolence to the late actor's family and friends. "IN MEMORIAM, SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT "We are deeply saddened by the dramatic news on the death of well known Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput. "Mr Singh Rajput was a believer and strong supporter of STEM education and was following ISU on social media. He had even accepted an invitation to visit ISU's Central Campus in the summer of 2019 but other agenda priorities prevented him from traveling to Strasbourg. "Our thoughts are with Sushant Singh Rajput, his family and his friends. His memory will remain among his thousands of followers across India and all over the world," reads a statement issued by the University. In his last photos, Sushant can be seen wearing a black T-shirt which bears the International Space University (ISU) logo. Sushant was known to be interested in the study of stars and space, which is evident from some of his social media posts. "Dark Energy that is responsible for our universe to expand at an accelerating rate forms around 68% of the universe. Dark Matter on the other hand that is responsible for the formation of our ordered galaxies in this chaos of expanse, forms around 27% of the universe. They together are two most famous and mysterious known-Unknowns that we know of. That means, if we take everything from our daily experience, everything that we know about, it's made of atoms and all of that adds up to only 5 percent of the universe. Our reality is not what actually reality seems to be," reads an Instagram post by Sushant Singh Rajput which the actor had shared in the first week of May. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery PHILIPSBURG:--- The police received several calls on Sunday morning June 14th, 2020 concerning a drive-by shooting that took place on the Sister Modesta Road in Simpson-bay. At the location, the officers were informed by witnesses, that two men in a white Mazda with Dutch plates drove up to the car wash and proceeded to fire several shots at the location. After firing several shots, the suspects fled the scene in the direction of Welfare Road. Witnesses assisted the officers with an accurate description of the vehicle that was on the scene and this information was quickly passed along to the central dispatch, who then immediately alerted all other patrols in the area. Patrols in the area were able to spot the vehicle matching the description, still in the Cole Bay area. The officers quickly stopped the white Mazda and apprehend the two suspected perpetrators. The suspects with the initials I.J and G.J were immediately taken into custody and transported to the police station in Philipsburg where they are being held for questioning. The car was also confiscated pending further investigation. KPSM Press Release. By ANI NEW DELHISenior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Tuesday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the border matter with China in Galwan Valley, saying 'why he is hesitating to show red-eye to China in Ladakh'? "Double-faced politics. Modi Ji use to accuse the UPA for not showing red-eye to China when it crosses LAC. Modi Ji, now why are you hesitating to show red-eye to China in Ladakh?" he tweeted. "And when Nepal is showing you red-eye then why do you now want to have a dialogue. Where is your 56-inch chest?." READ| Indian Army officer, two jawans killed in clashes with PLA A couple of days back, Rahul Gandhi also questioned the government over Chinese aggression in Ladakh and targeted the Prime Minister. "The Chinese have walked in and taken our territory in Ladakh. Meanwhile. The PM is absolutely silent and has vanished from the scene," the Congress MP posted, tagging a news article that claimed China has taken a hard line during military-level talks on Saturday. The former Congress president has been asking the government repeatedly to clarify whether China has taken over Indian Territory in Ladakh region. This image provided by Joey Reed shows Trevor Reed and his mom, Paula Reed, in 2014 in Arlington, Texas. Read more WASHINGTON The parents of a former U.S. Marine who has been jailed for nearly a year in Moscow on charges that he endangered police officers are urging the court system and government to ensure a fair trial for their son. They spoke out as a Russian court sentenced another American to more than a decade in prison in an unrelated espionage case. Trevor Reed was charged in August 2019 with assaulting police officers who were driving him to a police station after picking him up following a night of heavy drinking at a party. Russian authorities say the 28-year-old Reed was drunk inside a police car when he grabbed the arm of the driver, causing him to swerve into another lane, and elbowed another officer who tried to intervene. Reed's trial began this year and continues June 30. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. His family says that besides seeking a fair trial for their son, they also want to ensure that U.S. officials are closely tracking the case, including being mindful of potential irregularities in the Russian criminal justice system that could result in unfair punishment. We want to make sure that people throughout our government, both elected and in the agencies, understand what's going on in case he gets a disproportionate punishment," Joey Reed, his father, said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. Which at this point, based on the evidence and the facts of the case, any prison sentence in my opinion is disproportionate. His parents spoke to the AP on the same day another American jailed in Russia, Paul Whelan, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges following a closed trial that the U.S. denounced as a mockery of justice." Whelan, also a former Marine, insists he is innocent, saying he was set up when he was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 while visiting Russia to attend a friends wedding. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. was outraged by the verdict and said the treatment of Whelan while in custody has been appalling. Reed's parents, of Granbury, Texas, say they are concerned about what they see as irregularities in both cases, including missing evidence and contradictory accounts by police officers in their son's prosecution. At the time of his arrest, Trevor Reed was in Moscow visiting his girlfriend and studying the Russian language. He had attended a party one week before he was scheduled to return home, where his family says he was encouraged to drink a large amount of vodka. Reed was sharing a ride home when he became nauseated and got out of the car. After he began running around near a busy boulevard, the police were summoned to help. But instead of taking him for medical care, as the family says is standard protocol in Moscow, officers drove him to the police station. Inside the car, police say, Reed grabbed the arm of the driver and struck an officer with his elbow. The police car swerved into another lane during the altercation, the authorities said. Reed has no memory beyond drinking vodka at the party and no recollection of what happened inside the car, his family says. When his girlfriend came to pick him up several hours later, he was being questioned by Russian authorities without a lawyer or an adequate interpreter. She was told he was being charged with intentionally endangering the officers, the family says. His parents have seized on what they say are discrepancies. They say traffic video does not show the police car swerving, and that Reed's girlfriend a lawyer who is close with the family and has been helpful to the defense and others who were in a car following close behind did not report seeing the police vehicle swerve on the way to the station. Investigators also did not give the defense video from inside the car or the police station video that the family says has since been erased. Reed is housed in a room with about a half-dozen other inmates at a detention facility in Moscow and is permitted outside for only a brief window each day. His father, who has lived periodically in Russia over the last year, has visited him on multiple occasions. In addition, he has recently experienced abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, said his mother, Paula. I am extremely concerned about him catching COVID-19 more than ever now, Paula Reed said in a text message. And since social distancing is impossible in a jail situation it compounds my concerns for his health." The U.S. embassy in Russia, meanwhile, has sent representatives to different court appearances, and the family says it wants the embassy to continue sending a Russian-speaking consul to observe Reed's court proceedings and for Ambassador John Sullivan to attend the trial at its conclusion. The family also says it wants the U.S. government to publicly acknowledge that Reed is imprisoned, is on trial and that the case is being monitored. We would hope that Russian law is followed and due process is used in my sons case, Joey Reed said. SALT LAKE CITY - A Utah man accused of choking and stabbing a woman he met on the dating app Tinder pleaded not guilty to murder on Tuesday. The lawyer for Ethan Hunsaker, 24, said hes planning to get a psychological evaluation done on his client. Attorney C. Markley Arrington didnt elaborate on the reasons for the evaluation during a virtual hearing held online, but authorities have said previously that Hunsaker had been diagnosed with an unspecified mental illness. Hunsaker is accused of killing 25-year-old Ashlyn Black in an unprovoked attack on May 24 after the two met on Tinder. They met for a few drinks at a bar before going to his apartment in Layton, authorities have said. He called 911 to report the slaying early Sunday morning and told police to shoot him, according to court documents. Hunsaker told police he choked and then stabbed her unprovoked as they cuddled, according to the document. Police found Black lying on the floor, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Emergency workers tried to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead of her injuries at the scene. If convicted, Hunsaker faces at least 15 years and up to life in prison. He didnt speak during the hearing other than answering a few basic questions from the judge. Hunsaker appeared wearing a mask and jail scrubs from inside the Davis County jail, where hes being held without bail. Blacks parents have called Hunsaker a monster who killed their daughter in a crime as senseless as it was evil. Black had worked during her life to be a voice of those who could not speak out for themselves and had a gift for working with special needs people, her family has said. Doctors Without Borders has pulled out of a hospital in the Afghan capital where gunmen last month killed 25 people, including mothers, in a horrific attack on a maternity ward. The organisation, which specialises in medical assistance in hostile environments, said it feared being the target of another attack after the raid on Dasht-e-Barchi hospital in Kabul on May 12. Three gunmen stormed the facility in a brazen daylight assault that triggered international outrage and shocked a nation already used to decades of war. Sixteen of those killed were mothers who were "systematically shot dead" in a raid that lasted for hours, said Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which ran the maternity ward. The facility was one of MSF's biggest projects worldwide and was home to almost 16,000 deliveries in 2019 alone, the group said. But on Monday MSF said it had decided to end all its activities at the hospital over fears of being targeted again. "The decision comes with the understanding that while no information has emerged about the perpetrators or motive of the assault, mothers, babies and health staff were its deliberate target and similar attacks may repeat in the future," it said in a statement. No group claimed the attack, but President Ashraf Ghani pinned the blame on the Taliban and the Islamic State (IS) extremist group. US Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said IS was responsible. "We were aware that our presence in Dasht-e-Barchi carried risks, but we just couldn't believe that someone would take advantage of the absolute vulnerability of women about to give birth to exterminate them and their babies," said MSF Director General Thierry Allafort-Duverger. "Higher walls and thicker security doors wonat prevent such horrific assaults from happening again. The hospital is in an impoverished neighbourhood of the capital largely dominated by the Shiite Hazara community, and its closure is expected to affect more than a million people, MSF said. The attack on the hospital was not the first targeting MSF in Afghanistan. More than 70 MSF personnel and patients admitted into MSF health care programmes have been killed in Afghanistan over the past 16 years, it said. In October 2015, an MSF hospital in the northern province of Kunduz was destroyed by a US airstrike in which 42 people were killed. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Meitilda Yaung (The Jakarta Post) Darwin, Australia Tue, June 16, 2020 10:31 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf14bd8 3 Opinion Papuan-Lives-Matter,racism-in-indonesia,Racism,discrimination,Papua,West-Papua Free The long history of systematic racism against African-Americans in the United States seems to have reached its breaking point over the last few weeks after people around world watched the horrific scene of George Floyds life being robbed from him before their eyes. The world has finally said, Enough. The wave of the Black Lives Matter movement has started the conversation about how Indonesia treats its fellow black citizens, the Papuans. The country has already witnessed the anger and frustration unleashed following the now infamous racist incident in Surabaya in August 2019. The unnecessary attacks and racial slurs freely thrown at Papuan students in their dormitory was sickening. It was dehumanizing. Not one high-ranking official condemned the racist attack until protests erupted across Papua. The incident showcased one example of the many different levels and types of discrimination that Papuans have endured for decades. As a Papuan, I can say that we too have had enough. Papuan lives do matter and the question is, what now? Where do we go from here, Indonesia? Are Indonesians aware of what systematic discrimination looks like beyond racial slurs and anti-black stereotypes? Does this country understand the impacts of unresolved human rights abuses and the generational trauma it has caused on top of the ongoing discrimination against Papuans? When are we going to have the long-overdue dialogue to resolve ongoing conflict? Indonesia needs to pause to really listen to what Papuans have been saying and make the required changes. Without real systematic changes, the wound of racism will continue to run deep for Papuans. Healing can only start with reconciliation, which is impossible without going back down the lane of history to tell the truth. The longer the government delays a dialogue and insists on using the same approach, the more Papuans will internalize these injustices, which will lead to growing resistance. To the mainstream media industry in Indonesia, my message is: You have a role to play, a powerful one. Can we count on news media to provide independent and balanced coverage on Papuan issues? For too long we have noticed an under-representation of eastern Indonesia. It is a problem. It does not promote inclusivity, the ideology this country holds so dear. Now is the right time to reflect on the role that the media plays in creating narratives about Papuans and other Melanesians in the country. What about giving more platforms to authentic Papuan voices? We need to change narratives and beauty standards portrayed on Indonesian screens. To my fellow Indonesians: I give my sincere thanks to those of you who have taken the time to listen and learn more about racism against Papuans. Thanks for speaking up by using your platforms no matter how big or small they are. We see you. We see you posting on social media and receiving backlash or arguing with strangers over your Papuan Lives Matter post. You restore our hope in humanity. Some of you might be confused and your comments come from a good place. We get it, it does not make sense to blame 269 million people in the country for what is happening to Papuans, especially for what happened in the past. It is not fair to bring all attention to Papua when there are millions of others in the country struggling to meet their needs. But no human deserves to be treated as less than others because of their skin color, and ignorance is part of the problem. Papuans only make up about 1 percent of the countrys total population and we often feel unheard and invisible. Many in my generation were told that the solution was to be as well-educated as possible. So we left Papua and even Indonesia with aspirations to be intellectuals who could express themselves well and think critically to solve problems to be enough. But we cant even talk about the things that truly matter to us. We are scared for our lives every time we dare to speak out against the injustice that our people experience. Why cant we speak our truth without being labelled provocateurs or separatists? It hurts to endure the pain while many watch in silence. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, but this is not a reality for so many Papuans. What we are asking from you is to be open minded and to listen. Never believe the lie that this is a fight between your race and ours. It is a fight against a system that enables racism and injustice to prosper. We have never said that your lives dont matter. What we are saying is our lives matter just like yours. Finally, our black is beautiful, and we will always wear it with pride in honor of our ancestors. We are Papuan, the Melanesians of the South Pacific, with black skin with frizzy hair. Our ancestors have lived in and protected a great land of natural beauty and richness. We have lived on the island for tens of thousands of years, and we are not changing who we are to fit your standard. Never mistake our pride and love for our cultural identity as backwardness because we never shame you for being you. We are here to speak for ourselves, and we are here to stay. *** Senior financial analyst Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Mumbai: Taking the police by shock, at least 11 accused arrested in connection with the Palghar lynching case tested COVID-19 positive on Tuesday (June 16). According to reports, the accused were due to be shifted soon from Wada Police Station lockup to a temporary jail being set up by the district collectorate, for which COVID-19 tests were carried out on all at this police station. On Tuesday, the test reports of 11 have come positive. An official told IANS they are isolated at the COVID Care Hospital in Posheri, Wada, but soon they will be shifted to the Prisoners Isolation Ward in Palghar Rural Hospital, as advised by the local medical authorities. It is not clear whether any police or security personnel who may have come in contact with the accused are infected, even as full precautions are exercised at the police station. One accused had tested COVID-19 positive in the month of May. The 12 afflicted are among around 160 people arrested in connection with the mob-lynching of two seers and their driver in a remote area of palghar. Those arrested include 9 minors and several local politicians. On the night of April 16, the sadhus and their driver were attacked,brutally thrashed and killed by an angry mob of around 350 villagers which mistook them for kidnappers near Gadchinchale village. The incident sparked a nationwide political row which prompted the Maharashtra government to effect a major shakeup in the local police, including shunting out Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh and replacing him with senior IPS officer D.T. Shinde. Simultaneously, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh handed over the triple-lynching probe to the state CID, suspended five police officials and transferred 35 police constables to different police stations within the district. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Monday, June 8 11:59 p.m. Deputies responded to car-deer crash in Warren Township. 10:22 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township residence for a 50-year-old woman who said she couldn't find her purse and was unsure if it was lost or stolen. The woman said there were credit cards and $50 in cash in the purse. She wished to report the incident in the event her lost property was found. 10:17 p.m. A 42-year-old Porter Township man reported an unknown person had taken four game cameras worth about $423 from his property. 9:09 p.m. A 61-year-old woman said she got into a verbal argument with her 15-year-old grandson because she accused him of going through her apartment when she was not home. The 15-year-old yelled at his grandmother and then broke her apartment window. The grandmother did not want to press charges. The 15-year-old and his 47-year-old father agreed to clean up the mess and replace the window. 8:07 p.m. Deputies responded to a vehicle crash in Mills Township. 8:05 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Hope Township location in reference to a 39-year-old woman who reported she had a verbal argument with her 42-year-old husband and that she witnessed him drive his vehicle into a ditch after leaving their residence. A deputy arrived on scene and discovered there was no vehicle damage. The 39-year-old left the residence for the evening and a report has been forwarded to the prosecuting attorney to request charges for driving while license revoked. 3:19 p.m. Officers responded to a report of family abuse/neglect in the 900 block of Joe Man Boulevard. 2:28 p.m. Deputies completed a total of 14 vehicle identification number inspections at a Sanford auto business after the titles were lost during recent flooding. 1:29 p.m. A 55-year-old Edenville Township woman reported a subject in her neighborhood riding an ATV on the dry lake bed. The incident only occurs occasionally, so she was advised to call 9-1-1 when it is occurring so law enforcement can contact the subject. 1:19 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Village of Sanford residence to speak with a 24-year-old woman regarding a possible breaking-and-entering. The woman said she has no property missing, because she had moved it all out after the flood, but she noticed the door was open when she returned to paint the apartment. 12:58 p.m. Deputies responded to a two-car crash in Jerome Township. 10:01 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Isabella Street and Currie Parkway. 9:21 a.m. Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Larkin Township. 1:24 a.m. A deputy was requested by Bay County to check a location in Ingersoll Township for a 33-year-old Bay City woman who called Bay County 9-1-1 and stated she was sitting in a parked vehicle in Ingersoll Township but wasn't making sense. The deputy checked the area, but was told the woman had been taken to a hospital in Bay County for a mental health evaluation. 12:31 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Mount Haley Township location in reference to a 23-year-old man reporting a black car was parked in his driveway and then left the area. The deputies checked the area and were unable to locate the vehicle. Sunday, June 7 11:36 p.m. A citizen called 9-1-1 to report that a Chevy Traverse was "all over the road." A deputy observed the vehicle pull into a gas station. Contact was made with the driver, a 59-year-old Wyoming man, who said he was having vehicle issues while en route to work in Sanford. 10:35 p.m. Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Lincoln Township. 9:13 p.m. Officers responded to a report of a domestic assault in the 3800 block of Gettysburg Street. 8:50 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Hope Township residence in reference to a report of a 33-year-old man target shooting. The deputy made contact with the man and educated him on legal and safety issues including the use of an appropriate back stop. The man said he will not target shoot until a sufficient back stop is built. 4:42 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township location in reference to an intoxicated man wandering in the roadway. Deputies made contact with the 38-year-old Lee Township man, who said he was hanging out at his brother's house nearby but his brother left. The deputies told the 38-year-old to stay on his brother's property, which he agreed to do. 4:21 p.m. Officers responded to a suicide attempt in the 300 block of Cherryview Drive. 4:16 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 900 block of Joe Mann Boulevard. 4:06 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 7300 block of Eastman Avenue. 3:37 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Homer Township residence in reference to a driver striking a mailbox with his vehicle. The 26-year-old driver had a vehicle malfunction which caused him to strike the mailbox. The 83-year-old property owner and the driver agreed to handle the matter civilly, and the driver fixed the mailbox himself. 3:29 p.m. A deputy responded to the area of M-30 and Cedar Street in Edenville in reference to subject walking onto the collapsed bridge. The deputy responded and instructed a man off the bridge. The deputy then thoroughly placed hazard tape to discourage people from walking on the hazardous bridge. 10:49 a.m. A deputy responded to a Greendale Township location for a report of a car-deer traffic crash. The injured deer was euthanized by the responding deputy. 6:50 a.m. Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Homer Township. 5:16 a.m. Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Warren Township. The police killing of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25 sparked outrage that has seen protests across the world denouncing police brutality, demanding change, and the end of systemic racism. Floyd's death, unfortunately, is just one of a slew of police killings upon black men and women, including those who were unarmed and just going about their daily lives. In some cases body cameras were turned off, police departments have refused to share footage, and officers have yet to be criminally charged. Below are some of the black men and women who have died by the hands of police in 2020: Rayshard Brooks 27 years old, June 12, Atlanta, Georgia Rayshard Brooks (pictured), 27, was killed by police in the parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant in Atlanta on Friday On June 12 Rayshard Brooks, a black man, was shot dead in a confrontation with Atlanta police officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Bronsan. Officers were called to the scene following reports of a man sleeping in his vehicle at a Wendy's parking lot. Cops awoke him and had him complete a sobriety test, which he failed. When trying to handcuff him Brooks grabbed one of the officera's Taser and ran from the officers and pointed the stun gun at one of them. Officer Rolfe then shot Brooks twice in the back and he died at a hospital. His death has been ruled a homicide On June 17 the Fulton County District Attorney's Office announced Rolfe has been charged with 11 counts, including felony murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, in the killing of Rayshard Brooks. Felony murder that carries a possible sentence of life without parole or the death penalty. Brosnan has been charged on three counts, one of aggravated assault a charge that carries up to 20 years in prison and two violations of oath, including a failure to administer timely medical assistance. Rolfe has been fired and Brosnan placed on administrative leave. Police Chief Erika Shields resigned from her post less than 24 hours after the shooting. Atlanta police officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Bronsan were the cops involved in Brooks' killing. Rolfe, above, has been fired David McAtee 53 years old, June 1, Louisville, Kentucky David McAtee ran a popular BBQ joint in Louisville called Yayas BBQ Shack. He was fatally shot by police and the Kentucky National Guard as they dispersed a large crowd on June 1 following reports of a group of demonstrators in the area though it wasnt confirmed if that group was a part of protests. Witnesses said McAtee and his friends and family were separate from the group of protesters and were at a weekly neighborhood party where McAtee served food. According to officials, the police and soldiers were fired upon and two Louisville cops and two National Guardsmen returned fire. McAtee was killed by a shot fired from a guardsmen. Louisville police chief Steve Conrad was fired after it was revealed that the body cams of the police involved in the shooting had been deactivated. Officer Katie Crews, a white woman, was involved in the shooting and had mocked a different protester on Facebook earlier the day of the shooting, was placed on administrative assignment following the shooting. The other officer in the shooting was Austin Allen. Kentucky State Police, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI are investigating the shooting. Lawyers for the McAtee family intend to file a lawsuit. David McAtee was shot dead on June 1 after Louisville officers and the National Guard 'returned fire' into a group gather in a parking lot, next to where McAtee's business is located Two cops were involved in that shooting. Officer Katie Crews (left) and Officer Austin Allen (right), neither of whom had their body cameras switched on during the incident Tony McDade 38 years old, May 27, Tallahassee Florida Tony McDade, a black trans man, was shot dead in Florida just two days after the killing of George Floyd. Though the details surrounding Tony McDade's (pictured) death are murky, he was killed on May 27, two days after George Floyd died under the knee of Derek Chauvin He was killed after being approached by police as a suspect in a stabbing. According to the Tallahassee Police Department, McDade was in possession of a handgun and a bloody knife that was found at the scene. But videos shared on social media by witnesses appear to tell another story. According to Rolling Stone, one witness said on Facebook: 'They said "Stop moving, n****r," and then they shot him after he stopped moving.' Witness, Clifford Butler, told WFSU: 'I never heard, "Get down, freeze, Im an officer." I never heard nothing. I just heard gunshots.' The identity of the officer who shot McDade has not been released due to Marsy's Law. The officer has been placed on administrative leave. Marsy's Law classifies anyone whos allegedly had their life threatened as victims including police officers and ensures their right to privacy. Yet witnesses have said the officer in question was white. A press release from the TPD states that he has been placed on administrative leave. The Tallahassee Police Department still hasn't released body camera footage. George Floyd 46 years old, May 25, Minneapolis, Minnesota On Memorial Day George Floyd was arrested by a group of officers for allegedly using a fake $20 bill at a deli. George Floyd (pictured) died on May 25 under then knee of Officer Derek Chauvin He was pinned to the ground by white police officer Derek Chauvin, who dug his knee into the back of Floyd's neck for an excruciating eight minutes and 46 minutes in a horrific act caught on camera. In the video Floyd is heard gasping 'I Can't Breathe' - words that would be echoed across the globe to decry his violent death. All the while, cops Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng helped restrain Floyd as Tou Thao stood nearby. The video sent shockwaves across the country and sparked massive protests denouncing police brutality against black people and demanded justice. All four officers were fired after the incident. Chauvin was charged with a new, more serious count of second-degree murder on June 3. He had previously been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He was arrested on May 29 and is being held at Minnesota Department of Corrections. His bail sits at $1million. He was the subject of at least 18 prior complaints and only two were 'closed with discipline'. From left to right: Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane On Wednesday June 3 the three other officers involved were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. On Wednesday June 10 Thomas Lane was released from Hennepin County Jail after posting bail. The bail for him and the other officers was set at $1million unconditional or $750,000 with conditions. He had been on the police force for four days when Floyd died. On Friday June 19 J. Alexander Kueng was released on $750,000 bail bond. Dion Johnson 28 years old, May 25, Phoenix, Arizona On May 25 a Phoenix police trooper approached a vehicle and found Dion Johnson, 28, sleeping behind the wheel with beer and a gun visible in the car. Following a struggle, the trooper shot Johnson and killed him On May 25 a Phoenix police trooper approached a vehicle and found Dion Johnson, 28, sleeping behind the wheel with beer and a gun visible in the car. The details of the circumstances around Johnsons death are murky as troopers at the scene were not equipped with body cameras or dash cameras. Cops said that the trooper approached Johnson and a struggle between the two ensued. The trooper then fired their weapon and struck Johnson, claiming they feared theyd be pushed into oncoming traffic, as per 12News. Johnson was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. The trooper involved is on paid administrative leave. Officials with the FBI will review evidence in Dion Johnson's case alongside the Arizona U.S. Attorneys Office, and the DOJs Civil Rights Division. Maurice Gordon Jr 28 years old, May 23, New Jersey Maurice Gordon, 28, was fatally shot by a white officer following a traffic stop on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey. Maurice Gordon, 28, was fatally shot by a white officer following a traffic stop on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey on May 28 Gordon was shot by a New Jersey State Police trooper four times following a struggle with the officer, just two days before the death of George Floyd. His car was pulled over for driving 101mph and while sitting in the back of a police cruiser, he tried to flee. Gordon then allegedly tried to get in the drivers seat of the patrol car and in the confrontation with police was shot multiple times. Damcam video of the traffic stop shows him being shot and killed by the trooper. The trooper involved in the case was Sgt. Randall Wetzel. Wetzel remains on administrative leave with pay. An investigation is underway. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said that a grand jury would review the case to consider possible criminal charges. Gordon had moved to the US from Jamaica to attend college and work. His friend had called 911 in Dutchess County, New York in the early morning of May 22 hoping police would check on Gordon, who had been talking about being possessed and having paranormal experiences. But New Jersey police did not know about Gordons mental health history. The trooper involved in the case was Sgt. Randall Wetzel. He is seen above on dashcam before shooting Gordon dead Robert Johnson Jr 29 years old, May 16, Essex, Maryland Robert Johnson Jr was fatally shot on May 16 while celebrating his cousins 15th birthday party in Essex. Robert Johnson Jr was fatally shot on May 16 in Essex, Maryland after getting into an argument with a neighbor after he bumped into their car. An officer was called to the scene who shot Johnson. He dented a neighbors vehicle while trying to park and told the man who owned the car that hed pay for repairs, but the discussion escalated into an argument. The neighbor called police reporting that Johnson was armed. The departments initial release on the incident stated 'the first arriving officer was confronted with an armed suspect and discharged his weapon.' Johnson died after he was taken to the hospital. The department later said that when the officer approached Johnson's car he exited his vehicle and his 'gun fell to the ground in plain view of the officer'. Baltimore County Police say they recovered a gun from the scene and have body camera footage of the confrontation, which the department has declined to release. 'He wasnt even a threat, he dropped the gun. Yall didnt go by the protocol and the right procedures. They just got out of their car and started shooting,' Johnson's brother said following his death. The officer in the shooting was identified solely by his surname as Police Officer First Class Knight, a 24-year-old veteran of the force with no prior offenses. He was initially placed on adminstrative leave and has resumed patrol duties. On Wednesday June 24 prosecutors released bodycamera footage and said they wouldn't press charges against officer. They said the shooting 'justified' because Johnson was seen grabbing the gun off the ground and running with it, though he did not shoot or aim it at the officer. Dreasjon 'Sean' Reed 21 years old, May 6, Indianapolis, Indiana Dreasjon 'Sean' Reed was shot and killed by officers on May 6 during a high speed chase with police that was streamed on his Facebook live in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dreasjon Reed also known as Sean Reed was fatally shot by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police on May 6, 2020 following a police pursuit on the city's northwest side. The incident was recorded on Facebook Live by Reed Officers saw someone driving recklessly on Interstate 65 speeding at nearly 90mph. Police pursued but lost sight of the vehicle. The car was later spotted in a city street and officers chased Reed on foot before cops said Reed and the officer exchanged gunfire. According to police, there was an exchange of gunfire between Reed and an officer after the officer's use of a stun gun was 'ineffective'. However, Reed's family and their attorneys maintain that Reed did not fire a gun. The officer who shot Reed was identified on June 10 as Dejoure Mercer, who had been with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police for four years. A special prosecutor is investigating Reeds death. The officer who shot Reed was identified on June 10 as Dejoure Mercer, who had been with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police for four years Shaun Fuhr 24 years old, April 29, Seattle, Washington Shaun Fuhr was fatally shot by police on April 29, suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Shaun Fuhr was fatally shot by police on April 29, suffering a gunshot wound to the head following a domestic violence report Police responded to a call by a woman who reported that her boyfriend, who is the father of her one-year-old daughter, had beat her, fired a gun at her, and taken their daughter at gunpoint and fled. Seattle police body camera footage showed several officers chasing a man on foot as he ran through a small parking lot and confront him. He was holding the child when he was shot and an officer ran to pick up the child. NAACP officials in Seattle argued that deadly force was not necessary in the confrontation and from the video Fuhr did not appear to display a weapon. Fuhr with his infant daughter above Seattle police SWAT Office Noah Zech, 35, was placed on paid administrative leave following the shooting. The shooting is being investigated by its own force investigation team and the King County Sheriffs office. Breonna Taylor 26 years old, March 13, Louisville, Kentucky Taylor was a 26-year-old EMT who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police inside her home in the early hours of March 13 by officers conducting a 'no-knock- warrant. Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black EMT, was shot eight times in her bed on March 13 by Louisville police officers who stormed into her home on a 'no-knock- warrant searching for a drug suspect who wasn't there The warrant was a part of a drug probe, but the suspect had already been in custody. Officers entered the apartment and were fired upon by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who believed a robbery was in progress. Police returned fire, striking Taylor eight times, who had been sleeping in bed moments before. On June 11 no-knock search warrants were banned in Louisville following a unanimous vote of the Metro Council. Following the council's vote, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer vowed to sign Breonna's law 'as soon as 'it hits his desk'. Det. Joshua Jaynes, the officer who applied for the 'no-knock' search warrant that led to Breonna Taylor's death, is now on administrative reassignment. The three officers in the case - Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officers Brett Hankinson and Myles Cosgrove - have not been charged in the shooting and have been placed on administrative leave. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer fired embattled Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad on June 1 after learning that officers behind fatal shooting of popular barbecue restaurant David McAtee did not have their body cameras on, even though they were mandated to following Taylors death On Friday June 19 Mayor Greg Fischer announced Friday that Louisville Metro Police is moving to fire Brett Hankison for 'blindly' firing 10 rounds into Taylor's apartment. On September 23 Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron indicted fired Det. Brett Hankison on three first-degree wanton endangerment charges accusing him of blindly firing into Taylors home and the walls of a neighbors apartment. No charges were filed againt any of the three officers directly related to Taylors death. The three officers in the case - Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officers Brett Hankinson and Myles Cosgrove - have not been charged in the shooting and have been placed on administrative leave. From left to right Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Det. Brett Hankison, Det. Myles Cosgrove Manuel Ellis 33 years old, March 3, Tacoma, Washington Manuel Ellis is a black man who died while being restrained by Tacoma police officers for allegedly 'trying to open car doors of occupied vehicles'. Manuel Ellis, 33, died as he was restrained by Tacoma, Washington police officers on March 3, stopped for allegedly trying to open car doors of occupied vehicles Cops said they approached Ellis and an 'altercation ensued' and Ellis had to be physically restrained. Officers said they called for medical aid when they said Ellis needed help but he died at the seen. In jarring audio from the 911 call Ellis is heard exclaiming, 'I cant breathe' as an officer is heard asking for hobbles to strap down Ellis' legs. Video of his arrest shows Tacoma officers striking down a black man and pinning him to the ground. An autopsy shows he died of respiratory arrest due to hypoxia caused by physical restraint. Hypoxia is a condition in which the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. Officers Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins, Masyih Ford and Timothy Rankine, who are now on administrative leave following the incident. Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards has called for them to be fired. The officers involved were also not wearing their bodycams, by Tacoma Police Department. Masyih Ford (left) and Timothy Rankine (right), are two of the four officers involved. They were not wearing body cameras but there is footage of the incident that has been submitted. The four officers involved are on administrative leave Ahmaud Arbery 25 years old, February 23, Atlanta Ahmaud Arbery (pictured), 25, was killed on February 23 while jogging on a residential street just outside the port city of Brunswick Arbery was fatally shot on February 23 while jogging on a residential street just outside the port city of Brunswick. He was shot dead by father and son Greg McMichael and Travis McMichael who armed themselves and chased him down when they saw him running in their neighborhood. Gregory McMichael had worked as an investigator in the Glynn County District Attorney's office for 24 years until he retired in May 2019. But it wasn't until May 7 that the McMichaels were arrested and charged with murder, more than two months after Arbery's death. The elder McMichael told police he suspected Arbery was responsible for recent break-ins in the neighborhood. Video that showed Arbery collapse on the pavement after being shot three times fueled a national outcry not just over the killing but also that more than two months passed before arrests were made. In the following weeks, as the fires moved toward Tidbinbilla, the reserve looked for other temporary refuges to which it could evacuate its animals. Eventually, it moved six koalas; nearly 1,000 endangered northern corroboree frogs; 22 especially precious brush-tailed rock wallabies, whose genetics are key to a breeding program meant to reestablish a population that is nearing extinction in the wild, and 26 endangered eastern bettongs, which already went extinct on the mainland but are being reintroduced. (In the end, the reserve did not burn). At Taronga Zoo, keepers were careful to keep the relocated platypuses wild: limiting their interactions with people, making sure they still had to burrow and catch their own food. The zoo also began to make plans for housing larger numbers of platypuses, should the need for evacuation arise again soon something that climate projections suggest is likely. And then, at last, rains returned, although they came so heavily that flash floods tore through fencing at the top of the Sanctuary. The ponds of Tidbinbilla refilled. The reserve tested the quality of the water to make sure it was not contaminated with fire retardants, and did surveys to make sure the ponds still held enough food. Finally, it was time to release the first round of platypuses and watch how they fared. The platypuses arrived in a van and were checked by a vet. Then the zoo keepers who had taken care of them for the months of their exile released them into full ponds, edged with greenery, that looked little like the ones they had left. Just before the release, the rain and wind stopped and the clouds parted to let sun shine on the water. FP Trending NASA's Curiosity Mars rover recently captured images of Earth and Venus in the night sky from the Red Planet. The rovers mast camera clicked pictures about 75 minutes after sunset on 5 June. A two-image twilight panorama of Earth and Venus shows both the planets as mere pinpoints of light, which scientists attribute to a combination of distance and dust in the air. The pictures were taken to gauge the increased brightness of the twilight sky at a time of year when more dust is suspended in the Martian atmosphere than usual. "Even moderately bright stars were not visible when this image of Venus was taken. Earth also has bright twilights after some large volcanic eruptions," said Mastcam co-investigator Mark Lemmon of the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the colour and brightness of the sky appeared different from these most recent images when Curiosity snapped Earth and its moon in 2014. The reason behind the change in colour and brightness is the presence of all the high-altitude dust in the Martian air right now. The rover was launched on an Atlas V 54 1 on 26 November 2011, from Cape Carnival Air Force Station. It landed on the surface of Mars on 5 August 2012. Its main mission was to find if Mars has the right environmental conditions to support small life forms. Curiosity revealed information about this pretty early on in its mission. Mars has life on it and it has an atmosphere in which microbes could thrive a mix of sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon. The rover has also divulged that the amounts of methane in the red planets air vary throughout the year. Presence of methane cycle gives a hint that life once survived on Mars. On its mission, Curiosity also found that millions of years ago, Mars had rivers and lakes on its surface. As per a report in CNET, presently Curiosity is the only functioning rover on Mars at the moment. Its predecessor Opportunity which depended on sunlight to operate got knocked out during a dust storm. NASA plans to launch the Perseverance rover in July and if things go to plan, it will land on the planet in February 2021. This May 31 photo provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff shows former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was arrested May 29 in the May 25 death of George Floyd. Read more After watching live footage of Minneapolis officers arresting George Floyd on May 25, a police dispatcher was concerned enough by what she saw to call a supervisor. "You can call me a snitch if you want to, but we had the cameras up" on Floyd's arrest, said the unnamed dispatcher in audio released on Monday. "All of them sat on this man." The supervisor promised to find out what was happening but it would be nearly another 15 minutes before a sergeant arrived at the scene where Officer Derek Chauvin had knelt on George Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes before his death, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The tape, part of a batch of 911 calls about Floyd's death released by the city, raises fresh questions about how Minneapolis police reacted as horrified bystanders and their own dispatcher sounded alarms about the officers' use of force. One 911 caller, an off-duty firefighter who happened upon the scene while police pinned Floyd to the street, reported the officers were making no effort to save his life. "I literally watched police officers not take a pulse and not do anything to save a man, and I am a first responder myself, and I literally have it on video camera," said the unnamed firefighter, according to a transcript reviewed by the Star Tribune. "I just happened to be on a walk so, this dude, this, they [expletive] killed him . . ." As Floyd's death has sparked worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality, Chauvin, 44, has been charged with second- and third-degree murder. Three other officers who were on the scene face charges of felony aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. All four officers have been fired. READ MORE: Live coverage of what's happening Tuesday, June 16 The newly released call from a police dispatcher suggests even some inside the department were alarmed at what they saw unfolding outside the Cup Foods market where Floyd was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill. The dispatcher watched the incident on a video feed from the network of hundreds of police cameras stationed around the city, the Star Tribune reported. She called a supervisor around 8:30 p.m. on May 25 and spoke to him for less than a minute, according to a time stamp on the call. That's roughly the same time when an unresponsive Floyd was loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher and then rushed to the hospital, according to a timeline of his death by The Washington Post. The dispatcher described what she'd seen, telling the supervisor that the officers "got something out of the back of the squad, and all of them sat on this man, so I don't know if they needed you or not, but they haven't said anything to me yet." The supervisor responded, "Yeah, they haven't said anything yet, unless it's just a takedown, which doesn't count, but I'll find out." (He was probably referring to a Minneapolis police policy that officers using approved "takedown techniques" aren't required to notify their superiors that they used force on someone, the Associated Press reported.) Then, the dispatcher added, "No problem, we don't get to ever see it, so when we see it we're just like, well, that looks a little different, but . . ." Bystanders who called 911 were more frank in their assessment of what Chauvin and the other officers had done to Floyd. The cops "pretty much just killed this guy that wasn't resisting arrest. He had his knee on the dude's neck the whole time," one caller told 911, according to a transcript reviewed by the AP. The caller reported Floyd had "stopped breathing" and he "was already in handcuffs." He added, "I don't even know if he dead for sure but dude was not responsive when the ambulance came and got him, and the officer that was just out here left, the one that actually just murdered the kid in front of everybody." The Minneapolis police did not immediately respond to a message from The Washington Post early on Tuesday about the recordings. Police declined to comment to the Star Tribune, citing the open investigation into Floyds death. TROY An Averill Park man who was spotted by city police with seven other men in military-style body armor and bullet proof vests making their way through the city's June 7 Troy Rally for Black Lives was arraigned Tuesday in City Court on 19 weapons counts that accuse him of having two assault-style AR-15 rifles with live ammunition and thousands of rounds of ammunition in his truck, authorities said. District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly's office said a a tactical manual tying the group to the New England Minutemen militia group was found when police searched one of the vehicles after confronting the armed men. Nathaniel Shepard, 31, and the others were stopped on Sixth Avenue near the Troy police station as they approached their vehicles, Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said. Shepard works for a septic and excavation firm in Raymertown, according to police records. Some of the men, three of whom were from out-of-state, were carrying loaded firearms, two-way radios and batons, officials said. Inside the vehicles loaded firearms, ammunition, a gas mask and fireworks were also recovered. Shepard's arrest follows the arrest last week of Noah Latham, a soldier based at Fort Drum, who was with the group when authorities said they caught him with a "ghost gun," an untraceable firearm assembled from parts sold on the internet. Donnelly had previously said the case is complex, and extended beyond the Capital Region, with investigators exploring ties that Latham and the other men may have to outside groups. The group of eight men stood out in the crowd at Riverfront Park in their military-style clothing and the batons some wore on their belts, Deputy Police Chief Dan DeWolf said. Police never let them out of sight as they walked through the crowded park and downtown streets as the rally took place. Police said they did not know why the group went into the crowd during the peaceful demonstration but tracked them throughout. "Between live surveillance and video surveillance we were able to watch them and track them," DeWolf said. Undercover officers, local cameras and drones were deployed to follow the group as it made its way from the rally back to their vehicles at the City Station buildings on Sixth Avenue between Ferry and Congress streets. The men were questioned by police shortly after they were taken into custody within a few blocks of the police station as thousands of people demonstrated peacefully at Riverfront Park. The rally was the biggest in the Capital Region and among countless anti-police brutality and civil justice demonstrations held across the country since the May 25 death of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Earlier: Soldier arrested near Troy's Black Lives Matter rally allegedly had 'ghost gun' Thousands rally Sunday in Troy, Saratoga Springs Search warrants were executed for evidence technicians and detectives to inspect the contents of three vehicles in which the group drove to Troy. That's when police discovered the tactical manual from the New England Minutemen. "It was eye opening to read," DeWolf said. Detectives have begun probing possible links between Shepard, Latham and the other men to the militia group. On its Facebook page, New England Minuteman describes the organization as "A group of individuals dedicated to fighting tyranny through any means necessary. We prefer peaceful means, but are more than capable of exercising our right to take other roads." The group on its website says its member are "comprised in large part" of people in the military and law enforcement. The minutemen have posted pictures on Facebook of members watching the Manchester., N.H. police at a rally on June 7 and video of members on guard outside churches in Concord, N.H. on May 16 and Worcester, Mass.on May 10. The group has also posted video on Youtube showing men with their faces blotted out and dressed in military-style fatigues with rifles appearing to perform military-style exercises. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Shepard was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for the loaded rifles, 16 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon for having extended magazines containing up to 30 rounds and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon for having a baton. The rifles and ammunition were in his 2007 Dodge Ram. After his arraignment, Shepard was released under the supervision of the Rensselaer County Probation Department. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count. Our community and our law enforcement officers worked very hard to maintain a peaceful environment at Troys rally. The decision of these individuals to attend the rally with loaded firearms, protective gear, fireworks and two-way radios leaves open questions as to their intentions, Donnelly said. While we continue to actively investigate this situation, we may never know what could have happened if not for the swift intervention of the Troy Police Department, she continued. Last week, Latham, 21, a specialist E-4 with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, was charged with carrying a loaded handgun. The pistol had no serial number and is identified as a ghost gun." Latham, who is originally from Massachusetts, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was released with a GPS ankle bracelet monitoring device and confined to the Fort Drum military base at least until his July 9 return to City Court. Latham is a Second Amendment advocate who unsuccessfully lobbied Jefferson County legislators earlier this year to declare the county a Second Amendment sanctuary. The Times Union reported last year that law enforcement agencies across New York began encountering so-called "ghost guns" more frequently in recent years. They include assault-style rifles and semiautomatic handguns, and law enforcement officials said they are increasingly finding their way into the hands of criminals and resold in underground markets. Thousands of kits used to build the guns are being sold annually across the nation by online mail-order companies, which exploit a loophole in federal and state gun control laws by providing "unfinished" hardware with the drill bits and instructions -- including video tutorials -- needed to make a fully functioning firearm. Days after the publication of that article last September, Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to 16 ghost gun companies ordering them to cease selling assault weapon kits in New York. Very few states, including New York, have laws specifically prohibiting the purchase, possession or sale of ghost guns. Several lawmakers have proposed bills that would do that. But James' letter contended the sale of even unfinished assault weapons violates state penal and general business laws. Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf is prosecuting the case. Joel Abelove is representing both defendants. Shepard and Latham are scheduled to return to City Court July 9. Troy police continue to investigate the case and additional arrests are expected. Kate McCann, whose daughter Madeleine went missing during a family holiday to Portugal in 2007, attends a news conference at the launch of her book in London, UK, on May 12, 2011. (Chris Helgren/Reuters) Madeleine McCann Parents Deny Getting Letter From German Police Saying She Is Dead The parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann were told there is evidence that she has died, according to a German official. German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told the Press Association news agency that a letter was written to Kate and Gerry McCann about the girls death. Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007 and has been the subject of a 13-year-long search. However, Gerry and Kate wrote in a statement that they never received a letter from Wolters. Since the recent police appeals regarding Madeleines disappearance there have been many inaccurate stories reported in the media, the two wrote. The widely reported news that we have received a letter from the German authorities that states there is evidence or proof that Madeleine is dead is false. They added that like many unsubstantiated stories in the media, this has caused unnecessary anxiety to friends and family and once again disrupted our lives. A police mug shot of Christian Bruckner (also Brueckner), a suspect in the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann, in 2018 in Milan where Brueckner was arrested and extradited to Germany for the rape he is currently imprisoned for. (Carabinieri Milano via Getty Images) As we have stated many times before, we will not give a running commentary on the investigationthat is the job of the law enforcement agencies and we will support them in any way requested, the two said. Furthermore, we do not have a family spokesperson nor are we actively paying any lawyers If there are important developments that can be made public, they will be issued through official police channels. German investigators believe Christian Brueckner, 43, is responsible for the girls death after abducting her in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. He was in jail for drug dealing and is appealing his conviction for sexual assault in another case that also occurred in Praia da Luz, according to the Press Association. A man walks with his dog below the apartment where three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007, in Praia da Luz, Portugal, June 4, 2020. (Rafael Marchante/Reuters) Wolters told the Daily Mail on June 15 that his office has been quite clear throughout we are investigating a murder and we have the evidence for that. We can understand the pain of the parentsand they want reliefbut it is better for them that we have a clear and successful conclusion to the case, Wolters. Detectives from Scotland Yard have spent more than $15 million on the search to find the missing girl, who was 3 when she went missing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the Chief Ministers and heads of 21 States and Union Territories on Tuesday. The meeting with heads of Punjab, Assam, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, among others, is scheduled for 3 pm today. A similar meeting with heads of the rest 15 states and UTs is also scheduled to take place tomorrow. Earlier on Saturday (June 13), Prime Minister Modi had held a detailed meeting with senior ministers and officials to review India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting, attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, reviewed the national level status and preparation in the context of the pandemic. Strong housing markets in north Alabama, hospitalizations up in Birmingham and the president may visit Alabama to back a U.S. Senate runoff candidate. Listen to Ike Morgan, above. Get this post and more in your weekday Down in Alabama newsletter by subscribing here. You can also hear Ike each weekday by looking for Down in Alabama on the device of your choosing. Click here for the Spotify podcast page Click here for the Alexa skill page on Amazon Click here for the iTunes podcast page Click here for the Stitcher podcast page CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Envisioning a future in which users can spin up zero trust, high performance networking, NetFoundry's API is now available in the world's largest API marketplace - RapidAPI. Developers can now implement zero trust, cloud-orchestrated, programmable networking between any set of cloud applications, edge applications, user devices and IoT devices. The resultant private networks eliminate dependencies on MPLS or VPNs. "We've been using the NetFoundry APIs to integrate private networking into our DevOps cycles in a simple, secure and reliable manner, with excellent results improving our automation and agility," said Sergio Sancez, CEO AGT Idit Oryon, Head of partnerships at Rapid API says, "RapidAPI is excited to collaborate with NetFoundry to offer its cloud native zero trust, programmable networking APIs on the world's largest API Marketplace. RapidAPI enables developers to easily find, connect to, and manage the APIs they need for building diverse applications without duplicating efforts by building complex code. By making NetFoundry's software-only, zero trust models accessible to our development community, they can now add zero trust security and optimized performance to their next-generation applications." "We are delighted to enable developers to simply and programmatically spin up zero trust networking without doing network engineering, leveraging our RapidAPI marketplace API," said Galeal Zino, Founder & CEO of NetFoundry. Galeal continued, "This is the second wave: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) APIs gave developers the abstractions and controls necessary to leverage cloud native compute; now Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) enables developers to easily leverage cloud native networking." "The NetFoundry platform with their programmable endpoints and APIs enables multi-cloud automation and automates networking inside DevOps constructs," says Ananda Das, CEO of Technilium, Australia. "Our partnership with RapidAPI enables developers to build next-generation secure-by-design applications that require secure transactions, smart automated digital services," says Sreelakshmi Sarva, Head of Product at NetFoundry. Developers may now subscribe to the NetFoundry API via the RapidAPI marketplace to spin up application-specific networks termed "NetFoundry AppWANs". AppWANs provide micro-segmented, software-only, high-performance access to applications. These apps can be made to be invisible to the internet, accessible only via the private, zero trust AppWAN overlays. Because the solution is app-specific, software-only and cloud-orchestrated, it can be used to provide security and performance for any application, without disrupting any existing WANs or networks, and without impacting other applications. About NetFoundry NetFoundry Inc. is the leader in providing zero trust, high performance, cloud native networking. Customers use NetFoundry's turnkey, software-only NaaS services and APIs to spin up private, zero trust networks in minutes, securely connecting any application on any device via any Internet access. Partners also build their own solutions, leveraging the software which NetFoundry built, open sourced and is the leading contributor to, available at Ziti.dev. NetFoundry is a Charlotte, NC headquartered company with locations across the world. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122676/NetFoundry_Logo.jpg Media Links Twitter: @NetFoundry LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/netfoundry/ Web: https://netfoundry.io/ 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. [June 16, 2020] Taiwan Prepared for the Post-Covid-19 Era With Emerging Technologies The Covid-19 pandemic spurs transformation of digital healthcare everywhere. To echo that trend, the Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan will bring together 300 technology giants and healthcare providers to exhibit healthcare-centred applications and solutions powered by AI, IoT, bio-sensor, 8K image tech and 5G to then ignite fresh ideas amongst those with desires to reinvent the way healthcare used to be delivered. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005017/en/ Taiwan prepared for the post-Covid-19 era with emerging technologies Healthcare+ Expo Taian, 3-6 December 2020 (Photo: Business Wire) ICT's showroom for health tech and solutions Multinational companies choose to partner with Taiwan because of the nation's high quality and productivity of IC design and manufacturing, hardware and software integration. With over decades of experience in technology and healthcare combined, Taiwan-based tech sector has been able to assist countries around the world putting in place with smart hospital solutions, wireless body sign tracking and monitoring systems, AI-assisted medical imaging systems, point of care solutions, 5G and UV LED robots, in a relatively short time. Information and communication technology leaders including Acer, Advantech (News - Alert), Asus, CHT, Coretronic, FET, Foxconn, Inventec, Quanta, Qisda, Realtek, Wistron, are part of the Expo lineup that will showcase how technology responds to healthcare issues and challenges in difference scenarios. Together they have developed a wider smart healthcare ecosystem which will be put on display during the four-day Expo. Healthcare supply chain: reboot and rebuild While the global trade was influenced by the coronavirus pandemic, Taiwan remained one of which uninterrupted as per the online publisher Visual Capitalist. By looking at the Mobility Index and Covid-19 Recovery Rate amongst 41 countries surveyed, the publisher found only two of them with positive numbers. Taiwan's electronics export grew by 11.5% in Q1, 2020, coupled with semiconductors registered at $4.02bn the same quarter- the amount topped the others according to the industrial association SEMI. The data above indicates that Taiwan has the ability to cope with change and is a low-risk market despite facing Covid-19. The Healthcare+ Expo will therefore introduce a grand convention aiming at healthcare supply chain in the APAC region, more than 30 industrial associations from the region will be invited to meet face to face to clarify demand-supply needs and work together to create a wider supplier network. Register online to expand supplier network View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005017/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Silent Generation grew up dealing with the Great Depression and World War II. Now the first-year college students of Generation Z are coming of age amid climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. The whole world was opening up to students that started college last fall, says Robyn Fivush, an Emory professor of psychology and director of the Institute for the Liberal Arts. They reached the threshold of adulthood. And then the pandemic hit, pulling the rug out from under them. What does it mean for their dreams of research, of travel, of what they want to do with their lives? It creates an even more uncertain future at a point when they were just starting to home in on their passions and form their adult identities. Emory University is one of five universities across the country collaborating on a study focused on narratives written by first-year college students from last fall about their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The longitudinal study will follow the students for a year or more to track their psychological well-being and academic performance. The goal of the study is to determine whether the self-narratives can predict better outcomes for the students, and to gather data for any interventions that may be needed to help students to have more rewarding and successful academic experiences. Fivush, director of the Family Narratives Lab in Emorys Department of Psychology, is a leader in the field of narrative identity how we use stories to understand ourselves and to make sense of the world and our place within it. She launched the student narratives study in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Kansas, the University of Missouri, the University of Utah and Western Washington University. Ive become particularly interested in college-age individuals because its such an important time in the formation of identity, Fivush says. Even though the majority of Americans do not go away to college, the ones that do are living away from home for the first time, learning time management, how to feed themselves, how to interact with peers and how to make their own decisions. The researchers are recruiting students from all five of the universities now for the study. They hope to enroll between 600 and 1,000 participants to write two detailed narratives. The first narrative asks them to describe an event that best captures the challenges they have faced as a result of COVID-19. The second narrative focuses on an event that best captures what they have learned about themselves as a result of COVID-19. Participants will also fill out questionnaires at the start of the study, and at periodic intervals during the course of it. The questions cover the participants living situations and their physical health. They also aim at assessing the participants levels of anxiety, stress and depression, whether they are flourishing, and whether they are experiencing positive personal growth and making academic progress. The hypothesis is that more coherent, positive narratives will be predictive of better mental health, more effective identity processing and better academic progress. The data may help us create interventions to support students who may be struggling as they navigate disruptive and stressful events, Fivush says. Students from lower-income families and first-generation college attendees were already more at risk for not making it to graduation so the fallout from the pandemic may be especially difficult for them to navigate, Fivush says. If we dont get some really deep data about what they are experiencing and how they are making decisions we are not going to be able to help them to stay the course and graduate, she says. Its vital to understand and support them. Education remains the single most important path to upward mobility and for resolving inequalities. The researchers launched the study with available funds as a year-long project, and they will release useful data as it becomes available. They are currently writing grants to secure funding to extend the study for longer. Fivush has served in administrative roles at Emory designed to create more integrated and reflective experiences for undergraduates. I really enjoy administrative work because its a chance to think strategically about education and what it is that were trying to accomplish, she says. Emory is well-situated in terms of its resources and its commitment to the undergraduate experience. We are teaching the change agents and the leaders of tomorrow. The role we play as educators is critical for the future of the world. Generation Z, or those born from around the mid-1990s to early 2010s, now make up the largest segment of the population and are the first true digital natives those who have never known the world without the Internet. Every college student has a smart phone and is continuously flooded with information, Fivush says. That has broken down and fractured shared social narratives. It may give you more leeway to create your own story. On the other hand, it makes the world more complicated, more ambiguous and uncertain. And all of those things can make the identity journey more challenging. The cashier at WHSmith clears his throat to make sure Diane von Kesmark, 72, can hear him. 'It's hygiene, madam,' he tells her, emphatically. But he is not referring to the transparent plastic shield separating customers from the till, nor the latex gloves he is wearing to handle goods. He is explaining why he can't accept her request to pay for her Daily Mail available for 70p in all good newsagents in cash. The government suggests shops should encourage contactless payments instead of cash. But studies indicate cash and coins pose no greater risk than handling other everyday items 'Oh goodness, really?' Diane replies, as she rummages through her handbag to find her bank card, instead. 'I'm afraid so,' the cashier says. 'Money, it's dirty.' But is it really? Many shop owners in Twickenham, West London, seem to think so. As I stroll down the High Street on Monday morning, the day all retailers were allowed to reopen, several have put up signs along the lines of 'please use card wherever possible'. It follows government guidance on safe reopening that suggests shops should encourage contactless payments instead of cash. But studies indicate cash and coins pose no greater risk than handling other everyday items, and the anti-cash stance makes life difficult for people such as Diane. 'I'm finding it impossible to pay for things [with cash],' she tells me. 'It's the same everywhere. 'Normally, I get a set amount out of the bank once a week and that's it. Now, I've got absolutely no idea of what I've spent.' Consumer group Which? has found that more than half of volunteers helping to deliver groceries during lockdown said the vulnerable had given them cash to do their shopping. Yet, one in ten said they had that payment method refused in stores. Cash machine withdrawals fell by 55 per cent in lockdown, according to ATM network Link. While research conducted for Money Mail, by digital business bank Amaiz, suggests half of all retailers plan to go cashless or have already done so due to the virus. Such figures have fuelled fears that the cash system, heavily relied on by the elderly and vulnerable, is 'hanging by a thread'. Only 7 per cent of those aged 65 and over use cash less than once a month, according to the banking trade body UK Finance, and digital payments are impossible for the 2.3 million over-70s who don't have internet access. Former pensions minister and campaigner for the elderly Baroness Altmann says it is 'vital' shops continue to take cash. 'There are elements of the reaction to the virus that have already discriminated against the elderly,' she adds. 'If we continue to do so when reopening, this crisis will do long-term damage to the fabric of our society.' 'I don't want to queue for change' But shop owners face a tricky choice. Reopening responsibly means being squeaky clean. Paras Patel, 35, and his party shop Memories, were back in business on Monday. As I enter, he is printing off 'card only' signs for his window. 'It's to stop the spread,' he says. But there are practical considerations, too. 'He points to the long queue outside Lloyds Bank across the road. 'I don't want to wait in that to get change and petty cash,' he says. Banks also charge businesses to deposit their cash, making it cheaper for some to refuse it. Health fears: Cash machine withdrawals fell by 55% in lockdown, according to ATM network Link Florist Sophie King, 34, is reopening The Bloomery today and also plans to be 'card only'. She feels that, with only about 15 per cent of her sales made by cash, her business can survive without it. But she adds: 'If someone says to me they want a 50 bouquet and they've only got a 50 note, I'm not going to say no. If someone says to me they want a 50 bouquet and they've only got a 50 note, I'm not going to say no Florist Sophie King I'm still a small business, after all.' It seems most traders are prepared to be flexible. Jo Senior, 45, says that while her gift shop, Mojo, won't advertise that it takes cash, it will accept it so long as customers and staff feel safe. She adds: 'Some elderly customers don't like using cards and we want to look after them.' As for my own shopping trip, I find it surprisingly straightforward to buy my assortment of goods, all paid for in cash. It's a varied haul: A pork pie from the butcher; two punnets of strawberries from the grocer; chocolate raisins from Tesco; orange juice from Iceland; a paperback from Waterstones; an espresso from Esquires Coffee; paracetamol from Boots; a pen from WHSmith. Only at Boots am I told cash should be used only as a last resort. And, while WHSmith says it is encouraging customers to pay using contactless wherever possible, you can use cash at the self-service checkout (though this is something elderly and vulnerable shoppers are not always comfortable doing). But, sometimes, technology fails us. Earlier this month, in Twickenham, a local outage meant some essential small businesses couldn't use their card machines for up to two weeks and cash became king once again. Paul Cooper, of Cooper & Sons, who sold me the strawberries, says most of his customers were happy to pay by cash and he took I.O.Us for those that weren't. If they still want to pay by cash, we'll still take it Paul Cooper, of Cooper & Sons 'We know a lot of our customers and we operate on trust,' says Paul, 54. 'If they still want to pay by cash, we'll still take it.' Stephen Jones, the former chief executive of UK Finance who resigned yesterday, says: 'The banking and finance industry is committed to ensuring that access to cash remains free and widely accessible to those who need it.' m.dilworth@dailymail.co.uk Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has issued a decision stipulating the no-fly and restricted zones to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ultra-light aircraft. A drone used for spraying pesticide. Under Decision 18/2020/QD-TTg, the no-fly zones are national defence and security areas under the management and protection of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Public Security. These include military stations, areas for deploying forces, combat equipment and training, warehouses, factories, logistic bases, prisons and detention camps of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Public Security, and other areas related to the national security, the decision said. The distance from the UAVs and ultra-light aircraft to the no-fly zones horizontally must not be less than 500m at any height. The vehicles are banned from flying over working areas of offices of Party, State, National Assembly, Government, ministries and central-level agencies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, provincial and city-level Party committees, peoples committees and councils, diplomatic and consular missions, and international organisations. The limit distance horizontally to the areas is no less than 200m at any height. The areas of military and civil airports were noted as the no-fly zones. The no-fly zones extend by 15,000m and 5,000m from two sides of rectangular shapes of the runways at any height. Airports which have less than six civil flights per day can flexibly adjust the no-fly zones at their discretion. However, drones and ultra-light aircraft will not be allowed to fly within the boundaries of airports and in the time before and after one hour of the airplanes landing and taking off. The vehicles can only fly with the permissions of military flight control and management agencies at the airports. The no-fly zones are also the areas within the limits of air routes, flight trails and corridors that were licensed in the airspace of Vietnam, the limited scope of air routes stated in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) Vietnam published by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam. The PMs decision states that in special cases of national defence and security or at the requests of ministries, branches and localities to ensure flight safety and social order, the Ministry of Defence shall decide to temporarily prohibit from flying to unmanned aircraft in one or some areas. The decision will take effect immediately. The PMs decision also regulates restricted flying zones to drones and ultra-light flying vehicles including airspace over 120m above the terrain (excluding airspace of the above-mentioned no-fly zones), crowded areas and the border areas. The limited distance in the land border with China is 25,000m from border line to the land of Vietnam at all heights while the limited distance in land border between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia is 10,000m. The limited distances are 3,000m in width and 5,000m in length from the no-fly zones at airports having military and civil flights. And the heights are less than 1,200m above the terrain. The organisation of flights of drones and ultra-light aircraft in restricted flying areas must meet requirements of flight licensing authorities, the decision said./. Dong Thap farmers adopt drones to spray crops Some farmers in the southern province of Dong Thap have started using drones to spray pesticide and fertilizer on their crops after seeing how effective the machines are. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. By Sarah Hare In the evening of June 9, the White Township Planning Board convened a regular meeting through Zoom video conferencing. Although countless organizations successfully use Zoom during this pandemic, this board clearly had not worked out potential kinks and to ensure the public would be able to hear clearly and participate smoothly. Many would agree that the meeting was an embarrassment. During the meeting, the boards attorney referred to the townships Zoom subscription to investigate how many people would be accepted in. Participants stated that they were receiving messages from friends who wanted to join but could not, that they were being kicked off. One would expect that the number allowed in would be crucial information that the board should have known before the meeting began. Then, since Chairman Tim Matthews was initially absent, a childish back and forth ensued in which no one would accept responsibility until board member Drew Kiszonak agreed. As the meeting progressed, problems occurred. New Jersey Highlands Coalition Director Julia Somers stated she had indicated a desire to speak multiple times and was only unmuted upon her seventh attempt. As the chat record shows, she was not alone in making multiple attempts to speak. Others were confused about the hand-raising, sought help through the chat room, and were not acknowledged. Who knows how many others had tried but had not been called upon? At 7:30 p.m., 110 participants were counted. They complained in the chat room and verbally about difficulties with hearing the speakers. Audio zoning in and out, static, and echoing were among the reception challenges. One observer noted that it took 40 minutes to begin speaking of agenda items. In fact, board member Sam Race exclaimed that if they werent going to begin speaking about the agenda, he had things to do. One might argue that problems using technology for public meetings should be expected and tolerated. But consider this: More than 100 participants at a Warren County meeting makes the case of the importance of this meeting. Why? The Jaindl Land Companys warehouses applications were on the agenda. Public comments throughout the meeting called this Zoom meeting unfair and questioned the meetings legality. Finally the board, with Jaindls lawyers approval, postponed the meeting, though not without hesitation. The next meeting at which the Jaindl applications will be discussed is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 30. The hesitancy in acknowledging challenges with Zoom suggests that the planning board was more interested in meeting the deadline for application completeness than in considering what would be most fair to the public. Priorities. This meeting put residents concerns in the back seat even during a pandemic and regarding a 3 million-plus square foot warehouse development that will change their lives forever. Lets remember what this means. Prime farmland gone. Increased 18-wheeler truck traffic on a two lane country road, Route 519. Storm water runoff from hundreds of acres of impervious surface year after year. Noise and air pollution significantly increased. Road expansion and traffic lights charged to county taxpayers. Loss of a peaceful quality of life. Historic buildings threatened. Road safety issues and septic/sewer concerns. Not mentioned enough is the unavoidable destruction of habitat along the lifeblood Delaware River where bald eagles fly, and threatened or endangered wild creatures dont adhere to the county lines on a map. But who on this planning board cares? Its hard to know. Who makes the living beings of White Township a top priority? Its hard to know. Who does this planning board represent? Sarah Hare is a resident of Hope Township. The Delhi government on June 16 asked the five-star Taj Man Singh hotel to isolate all its rooms to accommodate COVID-19 patients of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. The iconic hotel will turn into a temporary coronavirus facility with immediate effect as the national capital looks to enhance its capacity for growing number of patients in the city. The Delhi government also said that Ganga Ram Hospital would be responsible for proper disposal of biomedical waste generated at the hotel. All hotel staff will be provided with protective gear and basic training to handle COVID-19 patients. Transfer of patients and arrangement of ambulances will be the hospitals responsibility, while food, housekeeping service and disinfecting of premises will be done by the hotel. For live updates on coronavirus, click here COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The charges for using the rooms will be collected by the hospital, which will then hand it over to the hotel. If the need arises, the hospital can arrange for the stay of its doctors, nurses and paramedical staff at the hotel itself. The hotel and the hospital management can decide the room rent, the government said. The Taj Man Singh hotel is located in the heart of Lutyens Delhi, the city's power district. The flagship Tata Group property becomes the third luxury hotel in the national capital to accommodate coronavirus patients. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had allowed Hotel Surya and Hotel Crown Plaza to be used as COVID-19 facilities. With more than 42,000 patients testing positive for coronavirus, Delhi has the third-highest number of infections in the country, next only to Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Delhi is woefully short of hospital beds for coronavirus patients following a spike in cases after easing of lockdown restrictions. To follow our full coverage on coronavirus, click here Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt has refuted claims that the Convention People's Party (CPP) supports the compilation of a new voters' register by the Electoral Commission (EC). The new voters' registration exercise is scheduled to begin on June 30 this year and will last for 38 days across the nation. Meanwhile, there is a strong opposition against the EC's decision for a new register as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other individuals have dragged the Commission to the Supreme Court seeking several declarations over the registration exercise. The NDC placed before the Supreme Court two reliefs with one being that the court should direct the EC to include the voters' ID card in the registration process and the other relief they sought was for the court to determine whether or not it is constitutional for the Commission to hold the registration exercise. The party however dropped their relief about the constitutionality of the EC's decision to conduct the exercise and is now praying the highest court of the land to determine whether or not the decision to abandon the voters' ID card as an identification document for the impending mass registration exercise is constitutional. Other parties are also praying the court to hear the case on whether or not the EC should compile a new voters' register. Following all these law suits, the EC is poised to conduct the exercise and a publication in the Daily Graphic on Monday, June 16 indicates that six political parties including the CPP have thrown their weight behind the EC. Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Kwesi Pratt stated the reports that the CPP is solidly behind the EC to compile the new register is a complete falsehood. He stated emphatically that there has been no such attempt by the CPP. "I am a member of the Central Committee of the Convention People's Party. I am Chairman of the Logistics Committee of the party. The party has never taken any such decision. Yes, the party has not taken any decision to support the compilation of a new voters' register," he exclaimed. ''So, how come CPP has been drawn into this whereas CPP hasn't said any such thing?'' he further questioned. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Actor Deepika Padukone found it heartening that actor Danish Sait decided to talk about his mental health issues on social media. However, Deepika also had an important piece of advice for those who are sharing their experiences on a public forum. In a string of tweets, Danish talked about suffering from depression and anxiety. My 3rd year through therapy and anti depressants, I dont sleep at night without taking my cipralex tablet. Depression doesnt look like anything, it makes you feel like nothing from within. Hard to describe, harder to understand. Doctors / professionals have been my only hope, he wrote in a tweet. Retweeting him, Deepika wrote, It is extremely heartening to see soo many of you coming out and sharing your experience with mental illness. However,I would recommend not naming the medication you are on and/or the specifics of the dosage.Simply because: -it is not a one rule fits all. - the information could potentially be misused. https://t.co/uDDjoZgvNb Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) June 15, 2020 In another, she added, However,I would recommend not naming the medication you are on and/or the specifics of the dosage.Simply because: -it is not a one rule fits all. - the information could potentially be misused. Deepika also shared an Instagram Story and wrote Depression is an illness. Actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death by suicide on Sunday has left the film industry in shock. Many took to social media to talk about mental health and finding ways to deal with depression. Also read: Let Sushant Singh Rajput go in peace, Sonu Sood requests media; Anushka Sharma and Vikrant Massey call for sensitive coverage Deepika, too, shared a post about it. As a person who has had a lived experience with mental illness, I cannot stress enough about the importance of reaching out. She urged her legion of followers to talk, communicate, express and seek help in such a situation. Remember, you are not alone. We are in this together. And most importantly there is hope, her post read. Deepika has long been an advocate for mental health awareness and has often spoken about her own experience with depression. She also started the Live Laugh Love foundation, which provides mental health support for people. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Looks like Australian actress Nathalie Kelley won't get to have her cake and eat it too as her new series, The Baker and the Beauty, has been axed in the US. The ABC network has decided to cancel the romantic comedy, which airs on Stan in Australia, after just one season. Taking to social media, the 34-year-old star of the show revealed the sad news to her fans. Scroll down for video Cancelled: Australian actress Nathalie Kelley has revealed her new romantic comedy, The Baker and the Beauty, has been axed after one season 'Hey everyone! This is a @bakerandthebeauty update to announce we will not be continuing on @abcnetwork - though thankful to them for the opportunity to tell this story,' Nathalie wrote on Instagram. However, fans of the series can rejoice as Nathalie revealed her hopes that the show will still get a second season adding: 'BUT - dont despair! 'We are optimistic that the show will find a right home - and we will get to make a season two on a platform more suitable for us and for the amazing fan base. 'Tell us why you want a season two... !' Storyline: The romantic comedy centers on Nathalie's celebrity character Noa Hamilton and Cuban baker Daniel Garcia (played by Victor Rasuk), who fall in love Starring Nathalie and Victor Rasuk in the leading roles, the series is based off the hit Israeli series, Beauty and the Baker. The show centers on Daniel Garcia (Victor), who works for his Cuban family's bakery in Miami. During a night out, Daniel has a chance encounter with international superstar, Noa Hamilton (Nathalie), and sparks fly. But, as the two fall deeper in love they must overcome the cultural barriers they are faced with. Nathalie has previously spoken out about how the show is 'groundbreaking' in it's representation of diversity and Latin culture on screen. Beauty: Nathalie was born in Peru, but left her birth country when she was two years old 'It felt pretty groundbreaking, because diversity is very important and this would not have happened 15 years ago!' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's really important to have authentic representations of what society actually looks like on screen.' The Australian actress was born in Peru, but left her birth country when she was two years old. Since becoming an actress, Nathalie has appeared in the hit shows, Dynasty, The Vampire Diaries and Unreal. You can watch Season 1 of Baker & The Beauty on Stan. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 21:31:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- Located on the Pamir Plateau, Taxkorgan is the only Tajik autonomous county in China, with more than 80 percent of its roughly 41,000 residents belonging to the Tajik ethnic group. -- For local residents, mountains posed challenges for their daily life and work. They were mired in grinding poverty. -- Infrastructure development has kept breaking new ground in the county, making life easier and better for everyone. -- Distinctive landscape and culture have helped power Taxkorgan's tourism, boosting economic growth. by Xinhua writers Zhang Zhongkai, Gao Han and Zhong Qun URUMQI, June 16 (Xinhua) -- At the intersection of the two main roads of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County stands a landmark sculpture of a flying eagle. The eagle is one of the most revered totems for some 33,000 ethnic Tajik people living in the county in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Located on the Pamir Plateau, Taxkorgan is the only Tajik autonomous county in China, with more than 80 percent of its roughly 41,000 residents belonging to the Tajik ethnic group. Aerial photo taken on June 10, 2020 shows a view of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) China has vowed to leave no ethnic group behind in ending poverty and achieving a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The once impoverished county managed to get out from the doldrums of poverty last year and is making strides toward an all-round prosperous society. MOUNTAIN TRAP Ethnic Tajik people living in Taxkorgan are known as the "eagles of the high mountains," but it was never easy to be a free-flying eagle on the Pamir Plateau. Taxkorgan, with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters above sea level, is located among a cluster of mountains. For local residents, mountains posed challenges for their daily life and work. There were no roads in many villages and the existing small trails could be easily destroyed by floods or mudslides. In Rasekam, the remotest village in the county, villagers previously lived in 12 gullies. It would take about a month for Dawut Uxur, former Party chief of the village, to finish visiting all the villagers by horse, yak or camel. A trip to the county, more than 200 km away, would take five days. Combination photo shows one of the gullies where residents of Rasekam Village used to live (top, photo taken with a drone on July 8, 2019) and a resettlement community for relocated residents of Rasekam Village in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County (bottom, photo taken with a drone on June 6, 2020), northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) "Some aged villagers had never ventured beyond their village. It's just mountains everywhere," said Dawut, 66. The mountainous landscape also made it difficult to access electricity, tap water and communication signals. Dawut had never watched TV until 2017. BREAKING NEW GROUND However, the mountains failed to dampen China's determination to lift people of all ethnic groups and all corners of the country out of poverty. Infrastructure development has kept breaking new ground, making life easier and better for everyone. After living in the mountains about 180 km away from the county seat for 47 years, Dure Jarman, 49, a villager in Datong Town, finally could live without having to worry about earthquakes. A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted Taxkorgan in 2017, damaging more than 3,000 shabby houses made of earth and rocks. New houses were built with support from the central and local governments, and many were relocated to places more suitable for living and work. Dure's 80-square-meter house is just about 25 km away from the county seat. It was equipped with home appliances like a washing machine, a gas stove and a cooker. The house also came with a shed and a yard. Combo photo shows Dure Jarman, a villager in Datong Town, walking with a pack camel in a gully in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (top, photo taken on Nov. 17, 2018); and Dure sowing crop seeds after relocating to a resettlement community in Taxkorgan (bottom, photo taken on June 3, 2020). (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) For those who chose to stay in the mountains, life is also different. The road between the county seat and the town was improved in 2018, slashing the travel time by half to about four hours. Stable electricity will replace power generated by photovoltaic panels and a small hydropower station to reach all the villages in Datong by the end of June, as wires are making their way into valleys. "It's no longer just mountains. We feel connected with the rest of the world," said Dure. AIMING HIGH Renovated houses and improved infrastructure are just the beginning of the Tajik people's journey to a well-off life. Warxidi Village sits close to several popular tourist sites in Taxkorgan. Maynurgul Ikmu, 30, was not aware of the fact that they lived near a cash cow until 2015 when a tourist service center was established about 1 km away. Taxkorgan has seen a growing number of visitors drawn by the county's snow-capped mountains, verdant grassland and Tajik festivities such as the eagle dance and polo. Many travelers also visited Maynurgul's house to have a taste of traditional milk tea and Tajik culture. In 2016, Maynurgul built a family inn to house tourists with the encouragement and support of the local government. Maynurgul Ikmu prepares accommodation for homestay lodgers at her family hotel in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) She has learned to cook new dishes to cater to visitors' diverse tastes, and performs the traditional Tajik eagle dance for tourists and sells hand-made Tajik souvenirs. Her family raked in more than 150,000 yuan (about 21,191 U.S. dollars) last year, and bought a car in January. "It's the happiest thing for me in recent years," she said. More than 1.1 million trips were made to Taxkorgan in 2019, bringing in more than 1 billion yuan in tourism revenue. The county made it onto the top national tourist destination list in late 2019. Taxkorgan has made plateau plant cultivation, plateau herding, tourism and border trade as its pillar industries to lead its sustainable growth, with tourism as the major focus, according to county mayor Guluzar Aburahman. In April, construction began on Taxkorgan Airport, expected to be the highest-altitude airport in Xinjiang. It is expected to improve transportation and boost the county's tourism market once put into operation. The airport will be completed before June 2022. Photo taken on June 3, 2020 shows the construction site of the Taxkorgan Airport in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) "Taxkorgan's economy will soon take off. The sky, rather than the mountains, will be the limit for our pursuit of a better life," said Guluzar. (Video reporters: Zhang Zhongkai, Su Chuanyi, Hu Huhu, Gao Han and Li Jing; Video editor: Zhang Yichi) San Francisco Mayor London Breed is introducing a November ballot measure to make it easier for small businesses to open and operate as they struggle to survive during the coronavirus. The Save Our Small Businesses initiative would streamline the citys months-long process for new retail permits by requiring city reviews within 30 days and allowing multiple city departments to process applications simultaneously. Speeding up the process would help retailers that must pay rent pending city reviews before they can open. Cafes, restaurants, community-serving facilities, social service providers, philanthropy organizations and arts groups would also be eligible for streamlining. In addition, nonprofits would be allowed to open offices in neighborhood retail districts, which Breed said would help them find more affordable space and fill vacant storefronts. Some city leaders and neighborhood groups have resisted the idea of allowing offices to spread into shopping areas. All too often, our current system makes it frustrating to own and operate a business in this city or keeps people from wanting to open a business in the first place. We have to do better for our small businesses if we want our neighborhood corridors to not only survive, but thrive, Breed said in a statement. The measure would also allow more outdoor dining, a measure supporters believe is relevant for both livening up city streets and, during the pandemic, preventing the spread of the coronavirus. In neighborhood retail districts, the measure would eliminate the requirement that the city notify neighbors after a proposed business files a building permit, if the business is already allowed under zoning laws. The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and merchants groups said they support the measure. We need strong, decisive action to help our merchant corridors and storefront businesses. This ballot measure is the perfect combination of reforms, streamlining, and support to get our beloved neighborhood businesses back on their feet, Rodney Fong, CEO of the chamber, said in a statement. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes A Chronicle investigation found that retailers and restaurants have to overcome extensive city reviews that can extend for years, which exacerbates retail vacancies. Though high rents and the rise of online shopping are also obstacles, business owners said the city process can be infuriating. Over and over I hear from businesses who have been trapped for months in planning purgatory, Sharky Laguana, president of the citys Small Business Commission, said in a statement. They spend money every day, but cant open their store, or transform their restaurant to do what needs to be done to stay alive because the process itself has become the obstacle. This measure tackles these problems head on. Its about time we addressed the real problems facing small business every day in San Francisco. I cant support this measure enough. The measure will be the second time this year that voters consider changing the citys retail policy. In March, they passed a retail vacancy tax that was scheduled to go into effect next year. But after the coronavirus pandemic began, the Board of Supervisors delayed the tax until 2022. Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf WASHINGTON Officials in Tulsa, Okla., are warning that President Trumps planned campaign rally on Saturday his first in over three months is likely to worsen an already troubling spike in coronavirus infections and could become a disastrous super spreader. They are pleading with the Trump campaign to cancel the event, slated for a 20,000-person indoor arena or at least move it outdoors. Its the perfect storm of potential over-the-top disease transmission, said Bruce Dart, the executive director of the Tulsa health department. Its a perfect storm that we cant afford to have. Tulsa County, which includes the city of Tulsa, tallied 89 new coronavirus cases on Monday, its one-day high since the viruss outbreak, according to the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency. The number of active coronavirus cases climbed to 532 from 188 in a one-week period, a 182 percent increase; hospitalizations with Covid-19 almost doubled. The Democratic nominee in Nebraskas Senate race is facing calls from his own party to step down following the revelation that he made a series of sexually explicit comments to and about a female staffer. The Nebraska Democratic Partys Executive Committee voted unanimously on Monday to withdraw all resources from the nominee, Chris Janicek, who owns a cupcake bakery in Omaha. In a series of text messages sent to a group of seven people, including the female staffer, he argued with her and then speculated whether the campaign should devote money to getting her laid. It will probably take three guys, Janicek wrote, and then described an imagined group-sex scene involving the staffer in graphic detail, according to the AP. You are my boss and a candidate running for Senate, (an) office held by just 100 Americans representing approximately 330 million of her people, the staffer wrote back. There is zero tolerance for what you said. Janicek apologized for his comments, but told the AP he would not drop out of the race. The campaign of incumbent Republican Ben Sasse did not immediately comment on the incident. Our party will not extend resources or any type of support to any candidate that violates our code of conduct and doesnt treat men and women with the dignity and respect they deserve, Nebraska Democratic Party chairwoman Jane Kleeb said in a statement. Anyone who reads the text knows that Janicek should not be a candidate for high office, said Vince Powers, a Democratic activist and lawyer for the staffer. My client has done nothing wrong, and by prolonging the inevitable [Janicek has] only made it worse. More from National Review - The Government has already made necessary arrangements to repatriate in an orderly manner some 4,000 Mauritian citizens stranded in different countries abroad owing to the closure of the borders in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic across the world including Mauritius. At date some 2,700 Mauritians have already been repatriated with eight flights scheduled till end June 2020 and an additional seven flights in July to bring back all the Mauritians by end July 2020. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Nandcoomar Bodha, made this announcement, yesterday, in the National Assembly during his intervention on Budget 2020-2021. With regards to the call of the Mauritian Government for cruise owners to shoulder the responsibility and bear the cost of repatriating Mauritian employees working on those cruise ships, Minister Bodha highlighted that appropriate arrangements have already been made to bring back the Mauritian citizens in a regular manner. He further pointed out that with the gradual opening of Dubai airport and other hubs, it has been possible to reach out to some Mauritians who were stranded in countries such as Pakistan, Istanbul among others. In his intervention, Minister Bodha also made an overview of the various sectors that are severely affected by the Covid-19 situation namely the tourism industry and the financial services sector. He also spoke of diplomacy whereby he added that digital diplomacy is the new norm nowadays while countries across the world are struggling for their economic revival. Digital diplomacy is here to stay, underscored Mr Bodha and in this endeavor he reiterated the need to connect with all member states for an enhanced cooperation in the interest of one and all. Speaking of the European Union (EU) projection of putting Mauritius on the black list for which the list will be released on 1st October, Minister Bodha underlined that Mauritius has expressed interest of being assessed as an autonomous evaluation by the EU to address the deficiencies and that Mauritius will be ready by August 2020. He further underscored that this evaluation exercise which will be undertaken with the consultation, dialogue and expertise of the EU, is crucial for Mauritius to maintain its good repute and clean jurisdiction regarding its financial services sector. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, also commented on Governments efforts to prevent, manage and control the spread of the Covid-19 which, according to him, has reaped positive results. He attributed the positive outcome to the sense of solidarity demonstrated by the population at large and the Government in managing the situation in a proper manner and concluded that Government has left no stone unturned in consolidating the welfare state with a budget of around Rs 63 billion earmarked in budget 2020-2021 at a time where the world is facing both economic and social crisis in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Alitos alternate textualism holds that a statutes words mean what they meant to those who used them when writing the statute. Gorsuchs textualism says that Mondays majority was properly controlled by the meaning, then as now, of Congresss 1964 words. The ordinary public meaning (Gorsuchs phrasing) of those words, were, he grants, intended to ban only discrimination against women, not sexual orientation. But the words meanings have not been changed by societys subsequent attitudinal changes. Rather, the unchanged meaning of the 1964 language entails the conclusion that the courts majority reached Monday about the nature of actions (e.g., employers firing gay, lesbian or transgender employees) that, although not on Congresss mind in 1964, are today necessarily recognized as actions taken because of sex. Marise Payne tonight branded the World Health Organisation 'not fit for purpose' and slammed China for spreading fake news as she set out Australia's global ambitions in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. The Foreign Minister said the WHO was not 'free from undue influence' after it heaped praise on China's handling of the pandemic which erupted in Wuhan in December. In a landmark foreign policy speech in Canberra, Senator Payne also accused China of spreading disinformation to create 'fear and division' in the West. World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands in Beijing on January 28 ahead of their meeting to discuss how to curb the spread of a new pneumonia-causing coronavirus The Australian government has forged its own path toward stopping the virus, managing to slow the spread of the deadly disease, without following advice from the WHO. Pictured: Nurses at Sydney Airport Since last week Chinese state media has been advising citizens not to study in or visit Australia, claiming they would be putting themselves in danger because the country is racist. 'Australia has been very clear in rejecting as disinformation the Chinese Government's warnings,' Senator Payne said. 'I can say emphatically that Australia will welcome students and visitors from all over the world, regardless of race, gender or nationality. 'The disinformation we have seen contributes to a climate of fear and division when what we need is cooperation and understanding.' Senator Payne also called out propaganda posted on social media by authoritarian regimes including China, Russia and Turkey to make themselves 'look good' at dealing with the virus. 'Let's be clear: disinformation during a pandemic will cost lives,' she said. 'It is troubling that some countries are using the pandemic to undermine liberal democracy and promote their own, more authoritarian models.' Passengers go through the security and body temperatures check on a first day of ending more than a two-month lockdown at railway station in Wuhan, China A tweet from the WHO on 24 January which shows it repeating Chinese insistence that the virus did not spread between humans Cremona Hospital Intensive Care for the most serious patients infected with the COVID19 Coronavirus in Italy in March Outlining a more ambitious role for Australia in the world, Senator Payne (pictured last year) said the country would be more active in pushing its values of freedom and democracy The bulk of Senator Payne's speech at the National Security College focused on how Australia will help improve global co-operation and, in particular, reform the WHO. The UN organisation has come under fire from the US, Australia and European nations after it stalled on declaring a pandemic, told countries to keep borders open and uncritically repeated information from the Chinese government, including that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Australia was the first nation to call for an inquiry into the origins and spread of the virus - sparking huge trade tensions with China - and was backed by the European Union before the UN agreed in May. Marise Payne outlines three ways to improve global co-operation Senator Payne said the government will 'target our efforts to preserve three fundamental parts of the multilateral system': The rules that protect sovereignty, preserve peace and curb excessive use of power, and enable international trade and investment; the international standards related to health and pandemics, transport, telecommunications and other issues that underpin the global economy and which will be vital to a post-COVID-19 economic recovery; the norms that underpin universal human rights, gender equality and the rule of law. Advertisement Senator Payne said the international order was badly in need of reform 'in several areas'. 'The pandemic has brought into stark relief the major role of international institutions in addressing and coordinating a global response to a global problem, across multiple lines of effort,' she said. 'What has been exposed is the magnitude of the consequences if we fail to ensure these institutions are fit-for-purpose, accountable to member states and free from undue influence. 'In the wake of this devastating health crisis, Australia wants to see a stronger WHO that is more independent and transparent.' US President Donald Trump has threatened to pull funding from the organisation after he called it 'China-centric' and said it failed to contain the virus. The Australian government has said it will not walk away but will instead try to change the organisation, which received $57million from Aussie taxpayers in 2018. 'Frankly, there is no other institution that can marshal collective efforts to improve health security across the globe,' Senator Payne said. 'We have seen how global public health action or inaction can affect Australians at home and abroad. So there is a strong incentive for Australia to show leadership on making the WHO as effective as possible.' Referencing criticism of WHO director Tedros Adhanom, who has been accused of pandering to China, she said: 'We cannot let the vital and practical work that the WHO does on the ground be overshadowed by questions about the approach of its headquarters in Geneva.' Outlining a more ambitious role for Australia in the world, Senator Payne said the country would be more active in pushing its values of freedom and democracy. 'Effective multilateralism, conducted through strong and transparent institutions, serves Australia's interests, she said. 'Our challenge is to ensure the institutions, and our active engagement, delivers for Australia and for Australians. To do this, Australia must better target our role in the global system.' Senator Payne said new global rules to govern cyber and artificial intelligence, critical minerals and outer space must fit Australia's 'enduring values and principles'. 'We want to deepen our cooperation with our likeminded and regional partners on shared goals, to shape better outcomes,' she said. Senator Payne also suggested the rising power of China was putting a 'strain' on the international order. People wearing protective clothing and masks arrive at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, to board one of the first trains leaving the city in China's central Hubei province early on April 8 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny to an official dinner at the White House September 20, 2019 'Multilateral institutions are experiencing unprecedented strain from a new era of strategic competition, shifts in global power, technological disruption and complex security, health and economic challenges,' she said. But she insisted Australia would not turn its back on global co-operation. 'Australia will continue to work to ensure global institutions are fit-for-purpose, relevant and contemporary, accountable to member states, free from undue influence, and have an appropriately strong focus on the Indo-Pacific,' she said. 'We will continue to support reform efforts in the United Nations and its agencies to improve transparency, accountability and effectiveness. 'This is foreign policy designed to use Australian agency and influence to shape a safer world and make us safer at home.' SIOUX CITY -- Mayor Bob Scott opened the Monday meeting of the Sioux City Council with news that many residents wanted to hear -- the city pools will be open in a week for public swimming. Previously, city officials had announced pools would not open for regular operations this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan was to limit usage of pools to adult fitness classes and swimming lessons for children on select times of the day, beginning in late June. However, on Wednesday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds lifted COVID-19 restrictions on the state's swimming pools and water parks, so Scott said the city would open its fleet of pools on June 22. Scott said a distance of six feet is recommended in the pool and on the decks, to maintain a degree of social distancing. He added that wearing masks on the pool deck is highly encouraged, although they should not be worn by people who are in the water. A few minutes later, the city issued a press release on the opening of the pools, while noting the city splash pads will not open for the summer. Additionally, the slide at Riverside Pool will not be open. One key element is that all swimmers must sign in with their names, for information that will be used by staff for contact tracing, in the event a positive case is confirmed. Other Northwest Iowa pools that previously planned to be closed have opened sooner than the timing in Sioux City. The Sioux Center water park opened on Friday. The pool season in Sioux City will last six weeks, through Aug. 2, at Leif Erikson, Lewis and Riverside pools. The swimming sessions will be held with an unspecified limited capacity. On Mondays through Fridays, open swimming will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on weekends, the three-hour sessions will be from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., then again from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The release said staff have developed policies and procedures in consultation with Siouxland District Health to provide a safe environment for pool users. New cleaning procedures will be in place, such as pool workers cleaning high touched surfaces every half hour, with deep cleaning happening before and after each session. Guests are encouraged to maintain six feet of distance from others and use hand sanitizer before entering and leaving the facility. Seth Meyers, 46, is a comedian, writer, actor and host of the television show "Late Night With Seth Meyers." He was previously a cast member and head writer of "Saturday Night Live." This interview was conducted May 19. Q: What's it like doing the show in your attic? You're used to doing it in front of an audience - are you the only one in the room? A: Yes, I am. And as much as I love my wife, she is a silent observer who would only rattle any little shreds of confidence I have left. (Laughs.) Q: So have you had to kind of recalibrate now that you don't hear, or pause for, laughter? A: In a perfect world, people are laughing so hard, you have to stop. That's never going to happen here. And so you ultimately just plow ahead. But you don't want to just talk so fast because you obviously are hoping people at home laugh, too. It's that weird thing of trying to balance when you tell a joke and how long you wait until you tell the next one. It's very uncomfortable to sort of dopily wait after a joke. I would hope that people watching at home can tell that we appreciate the weirdness of it and are trying to adjust accordingly. Q: Is there anything that is actually surprisingly good about this setup? A: Well, you never get thrown by a joke not going as well as you thought it would go. And you can do jokes that you're confident would not go well in front of an audience knowing that you don't have to suffer through their awkward reaction to it. Like we had a "Frasier" joke the other day about the fact that Bhutan's graph (of its pandemic curve) looked like the "Frasier" logo. Now, I don't know if we would have taken that journey with an audience. (Laughs.) But it was a joke we all liked a great deal. And I do think, if you're watching at home and you hear an audience laugh really hard at one joke and then not laugh at another joke, it influences your judgment of the joke. Whereas here, there's this nice thing of, "Hey, no one's taste but me and the staff who have chosen these jokes." And everyone at home can judge them accordingly. It's like a blind taste test, to some degree. Q: So where did your interest in politics come from? I know you grew up in New Hampshire. A: If you're not going to be into it there, you probably won't find anyplace later where you'll be more susceptible to its charms. But I remember, we would just do, like, fake elections in our schools, and it was a big deal. I would read old Hunter S. Thompson essays about being on the campaign trail, and I couldn't believe that he was at the Sheraton Wayfarer that we drove by every day. You know, "Oh my god, Hunter Thompson had drinks in there." (Laughs.) Your parents would take you to the local diner to see people who were running for president. For me, I think the most exciting thing was seeing somebody like Paul Simon speak at your school and then see Al Franken play him on "SNL." I liked comedy more than politics, but when I realized people in comedy liked politics, I started paying closer attention. My parents talked politics a lot. And I remember the weekend tradition in our house was my brother and I would tape "SNL," and then we'd wake up Sunday and we'd all watch "SNL" together, and then we'd watch "The McLaughlin Group." Q: So when you, eventually, got a job on "SNL" yourself, it must have been a dream come true. A: Oh, my - yeah: beyond. I always remember the first day being on "SNL." There's pictures of everybody who's ever been on the show, head shots from their first week on the show. The first day you walk down the hall, you think, Oh my god. You see, like, Eddie Murphy and Chevy Chase and Will Ferrell. And then, like, a month into it, you start seeing the head shots of the people who aren't huge movie stars. And you realize, oh, there are a lot of different outcomes from a tenure on this show. Q: At the White House correspondents' dinner in 2011, you said, "Donald Trump has been saying he'll run for president as a Republican, which is surprising since I just assumed he was running as a joke." President (Barack) Obama also delivered some pretty tough shots (on Trump) that night. People have said that the evening may have been critical in cementing his resolve to run for the presidency. Do you think that's the case? And, if it were, would you have done anything differently? A: Well, that's an impossible bit of time travel. (Laughs.) But I should say, I don't think that anything I did was out of line. Lest anyone forget, (Trump) wasn't just an ordinary citizen who just happened to have a seat at that dinner. He was a birther, just basically banging the drum on the idea that the president wasn't from this country, which is as racist today as it was then. And while we're throwing blame around, I think he was at the Washington Post table. Am I right? Q: That is right. A: (Laughs.) Well, I will share blame with you guys. Q: You've called the president a liar, incapable of uttering truth, amoral. Do you ever worry that so much focus on Trump - and, you may hurl this back at me; the media is culpable - actually fuels the fire and makes him more popular rather than actually holding him to account? A: I don't know. I could see both sides of it. But it's not just, "Hey, welcome to 'A Closer Look,' the president's a liar." It's, like: "Hey, here's 'A Closer Look.' Here's what he lied about today." Somebody has to say they're lies. I don't think you can just let the president talk without calling in the lies. I mean, for me, it's more frustrating when someone says he has an "interesting relationship with the truth." That seems to be some soft middle that doesn't do anybody any good. And we do try to point out more often than not that a lot of what Donald Trump is doing and a lot of what he's getting away with are things that were put in place decades ago. One of the biggest mistakes is to think that a lot of it will be different post-Trump era. Hopefully we will continue to point out hypocrisy. Because I don't think there will be a shortage of it. I think there will be less can-you-believe-what-happened-today. I don't know if there will be things as baldly comic in the way that hypocrisy is displayed as they are now. Q: You moved from "SNL" to hosting "Late Night" and chose a mix heavier on politics, current events. A: The first time we did "A Closer Look," we didn't think something that's 10, 12 minutes long about politics would hold people's attention as well as it did. And then, you'd be out and about, and that was the thing, more often than not, people would tell you they liked on the show. And that was nice, too, because it was the biggest chunk of the show. It would be a bummer if people said, "You know, my favorite is that 30 seconds at the end where you say goodnight." Q: After you've gone through events and processed what to you seems absurd or needs calling out on the show, do you feel better personally, like it's a way of dealing with things and moving on? A: A hundred percent. I can tell you that doing it is very cathartic. And I hope that, to some degree, watching it provides some catharsis as well. You know, when I was at "SNL," the weeks off were such an important time to just regenerate and breathe and be out of that insane schedule. Whereas, like, now, when I have a week off, I just find myself muttering to myself because I don't have an outlet to talk about anything. (Laughs.) Everyone should be so lucky to have 15 minutes uninterrupted to mutter about their feelings. Q: This country has seen a lot of difficult moments recently, but in this moment, in this pandemic, does being able to interact with the world in this way have a different significance? A: Well, the main significance is that we're still able to do it. I feel so incredibly lucky that we've found a way to do the show in the extreme circumstances. I think I would feel very lost without it right now. It's really hard to do it without the staff - one of the most joyous parts of doing the show is interacting with them. But it's still doing the show, and I just feel like I certainly have more of a purpose with it. Q: Do you have advice to live by? A: I will say that I'm incredibly lucky for the chances I've had. And one of the things that happened when I got "SNL" is that my dad - I remember him saying, "This doesn't mean you're going to have a successful career, but it means you have a chance now. So, you know, don't miss this opportunity." I think that would be the thing that my parents always impressed upon me is that luck is really only as valuable as the hard work you're willing to put into it. When people are starting out in comedy, it's really hard when people ask for advice because so much needs to go right. But the thing I would say is you just try to put yourself in as many positions for that thing to go right as possible. You know, when I was an up-and-coming improviser, you just said yes to every chance to perform because you never knew the night that somebody who was going to change your life might be in the audience. Q: So what was your big break? A: I was doing the Chicago Improv Festival, which was this small improv festival, with my comedy partner at the time. And someone from "SNL" was visiting family in Chicago and happened to go see a show. She worked in the talent department. And I remember I got a phone call saying they wanted me to send in an audition tape. And (laughs) - not to date myself, but it was very hard to know somebody with a camera. But it was a huge - I started a years-long process of sending in tapes until I finally physically auditioned. Yeah. It's crazy to think that it would come from that, but that's what it came from. Q: We all have kind of golden moments in our lives, in our careers, when it feels like things are really just coming together. Can you talk about a moment like that, where it felt like you were in the right place, doing what you were supposed to be doing? A: It's strange, I walked offstage that night at the correspondents' dinner very much feeling that it couldn't have gone better. I had spent three weeks with seven writers working on that, and we wrote so many jokes. And I'll be honest: The hard part wasn't that Donald Trump was in the audience. The hard part was that Barack Obama was on the dais. (Laughs.) I think there are tough comedians to follow, but I would argue there's nothing quite as hard as following Barack Obama for the eight years that he was the president at the correspondents' dinner. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer (L) speaks during a news conference at the OCDA's office in Santa Ana, Calif., on Feb. 20, 2019. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP) Orange County Attorney Convicted in Ex-Wifes Cruise Ship Murder SANTA ANA, Calif. (CNS)A former Irvine attorney was convicted on June 15 of killing his ex-wife and throwing her body overboard while on a Mediterranean cruise to solve his financial disputes with the victim. Lonnie Loren Kocontes, 62, was convicted of murder with a special circumstances allegation of murder for financial gain in the killing of 52-year-old Micki Kanesaki, whose body was recovered by the crew of a research vessel on May 28, 2006, in the Mediterranean Sea near Italy. Kocontes, who is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 18. Kocontes almost got away with the perfect crime, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told reporters after the verdict was handed down. He said the defendant strangled the victim before throwing her overboard, so there was no way for her lungs to fill up with water and the body floated instead of sinking, allowing it to be found. Kocontes is a very smart, very educated attorney, but he made a very critical mistake, Spitzer said, adding that the defendant picked the cruise ship because every room had a direct drop to the water. The victims brother, Toshi Kanesaki, told reporters he was surprised at the verdict, which jurors reached after only about an hour of deliberations. I was kind of surprised. There are a lot of moving parts to this case, Kanesaki said. I didnt think they could come to a verdict so soon I was thinking worst-case scenario was a hung jury. Kanesaki said he was relieved its over, for now. In her opening statement of the trialwhich began in February and was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemicSenior Deputy District Attorney Susan Price said Kanesaki, at the time, was with a man who no longer loved her, and Kocontes had remained with her for financial reasons. Had they not found her body, we would never know she was strangled and was dead before she ever hit the water, Price said. Kocontes, most recently a resident of Safety Harbor, Florida, and Kanesaki met while working at a Los Angeles law firm, where he was an attorney and she was a paralegal, Price said. They married in 1995 and divorced in 2002, but continued living together in Ladera Ranch, California, and took steps to split up their assets to protect him from threatened litigation, she said. Kanesaki suffered from severe arthritis and couldnt work as a paralegal any longer, so she turned to investing, according to the prosecutor. Kocontes met a woman, Amy Nguyen, through a dating website in 2002, and they had an intimate relationship while the defendant continued living with Kanesaki, who initially had no idea this affair was happening, Price said. Kocontes former best friend told investigators that nothing mattered more to [Kocontes] than money and sex, the prosecutor said. She said Kocontes married Nguyen in Las Vegas in 2005 and the two moved in together in Orange, California. In September of that year, he filed a motion in court to have a judge force Kanesaki to sell their Ladera Ranch home, Price said. There was a dispute between the two whose house this was, she said, adding Kanesaki did not want to sell the residence or move out. Eventually, Kocontes dropped the issue, left Nguyen, and moved back in with Kanesakibut told Nguyen he loved her and did not want to leave her, the prosecutor said. Kocontes then had new wills drawn up for himself and Kanesaki, according to Price, who said Kocontes was named as executor of his ex-wifes estate. Soon after, the two made plans to go on a cruisewhich was unusual because he seldom went on vacation and was known for his thriftiness, Price said. Before the trip, Kocontes asked his best friend, a private investigator and retired cop, about security on cruise ships, such as surveillance cameras, she said. Kocontes picked an unusual cruise vacation for Americans because it required a flight to Minnesota and then London before boarding the ship in Spain, Price said. The travel agent was concerned his client might not like it because it was a no-frills trip aboard a converted ferry, she said. Kocontes specifically asked for a balcony room. It was very important to him, the prosecutor said. On the first day of the cruise, the defendant and Kanesaki opted for a daylong Sicily excursion. They returned to the ship, where they had dinner and shared a bottle of wine before going to a casino and seeing a show, Price said. Kocontes told investigators he woke up about 4:30 a.m. on May 26, 2006, and realized Kanesaki was missing. He told investigators that she may have gotten nauseous from the wine and fell overboard, Price said. The defendant was put up in a hotel in Naples, but he stayed just a day and returned home before his ex-wifes body was found, Price said. Instead of going to his home in Ladera Ranch, he went to Nguyens house, where they resumed their intimate relationship, she said. An autopsy showed Kanesakis lungs were completely free of water and she had severe hemorrhaging around her neck, which was consistent with strangulation, Price said. The pathologist, Dr. Pietrantonio Ricci, told investigators that the victim also sustained a skull fracture or hemorrhaging in her brain, Price said. Nguyen told investigators that at some point, Kocontes told her that he paid his best friend to kill Kanesaki and hurl her overboard, according to the prosecutor, who said the friend did not go on the cruise. Nguyen lied to a federal grand jury in 2006 that was investigating the killing, the prosecutor alleged. Kanesakis niece, Julie Saranita, recorded phone conversations with Kocontes while she was cooperating with FBI agents, according to Price, who played some of the conversations for jurors during her opening statement. Kocontes was angered when Saranita confronted him with the autopsy results and asked him if he had anything to do with her aunts death, Price said. While federal agents were looking into the death, Kocontes at some point talked Nguyen into removing a hard drive from one of the computers in his Irvine office, Price said. She lied to the federal grand jury because Kocontes threatened to kill her and make it look like an accident, Price alleged. Kocontes attorney, Denise Gragg, told jurors there are very few things in this case that are not contested, but one of the main differences involves the relationship between the defendant and the victim. Kanesaki had to stop working because of her arthritis and her only income was disability payments, Gragg said. Kocontes was the breadwinner in the marriage, Gragg said. They split up their assets due to the threatened litigation, but it never materialized, Gragg said. Kocontes continued to support Kanesaki from 2002-2005 even though he had no legal obligation to do so, she said, telling jurors they would hear conflicting evidence about the cause of death. Essentially her neck was broken, which was consistent with someone who hits the water consistent with a fall, Gragg said. Gragg also told jurors that they would hear evidence that Amy Nguyen is a liar and about her clients best friends role in the changing of her story. Kocontes is also charged with attempting to solicit the murder of Nguyen while he was in jail and is awaiting trial in that case. That case is pending. Washington: President Donald Trump said on Monday he was ordering a major reduction in US troop strength in Germany, a move widely criticised by members of his own party as a gift to Russia and a threat to US national security. "We're putting the number down to 25,000 soldiers," Trump said at the White House. US President Donald Trump attends the NATO in Watford, England, last year. Credit:Getty The US currently has about 34,500 troops in Germany far fewer than during the Cold War, when Germany was the central focus of American and NATO efforts to deter invasion by the former Soviet Union. In recent decades, Germany has hosted key American military facilities and provided a jumping-off point for troops deploying to the Middle East, including during years of conflict in Iraq. Trump faulted Germany for failing to pay enough for its own defence, calling the long-time NATO ally "delinquent". HELENA, Mont. - A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday to cancel a long-disputed oil and gas lease on land in northwestern Montana considered sacred to Native American tribes in the U.S. and Canada. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overruled a judges 2018 decision that had allowed a Louisiana company to keep its lease within the Badger Two-Medicine area of Lewis and Clark National Forest. That area near Glacier National Park is the site of the creation story of the Blackfoot tribes of southern Canada and Montanas Blackfeet Nation. John Murray, the Blackfeets tribal historic preservation officer, said the courts decision will close a long and painful chapter in the history of our people. These leases should never have been issued in the first place, Murray said. Todays ruling shows that these companies and their lawyers were not just on the wrong side of history but were also on the wrong side of the law when they waged their 40-year crusade to drill our ancestral land. The lease owned by Solenex LLC was the last active exploratory lease of about 45 issued in the Badger-Two Medicine area since the 1980s. Were obviously very disappointed in the panels decision today, particularly their refusal to engage with any of the arguments we raised on appeal, said David McDonald, attorney for Solenex, which is owned by Sidney Longwell. We fully intend on continuing to fight for Solenex and the Longwell family, and were currently considering all available avenues to do so. The company has held the lease for more than 30 years. It had not yet drilled because of bureaucratic delays within the U.S. departments of Interior and Agriculture, prompting the company to sue in 2013. The U.S. government cancelled the lease in 2016, saying a proper environmental analysis had not been conducted, a decision Solenex challenged. A federal judge sided with the company in 2018, saying the long amount of time between the lease being issued and cancelled violated federal law. The three-judge appellate panel ruled the judges findings were wrong and that the the government had considered Solenexs interests. Delay by itself is not enough to render the lease cancellation arbitrary or capricious, the ruling said. ___ This story has been updated to correct the spelling of John Murrays name in the fifth paragraph. A new electoral council starts work in Venezuela, dominated by government loyalists, and denounced as false by the opposition. The United States has accused Venezuela of trying to rig parliamentary elections later this year. Under Venezuelas constitution, the opposition-controlled National Assembly has the power to appoint the council members. But the Supreme Court named its own board on Friday after ruling the legislature had failed to do so. The majority of council members are government loyalists. Opposition leader Juan Guaido has rejected the council as false and has refused to recognise it. Al Jazeeras Lucia Newman reports. A couple revealed how they discovered a hidden note written by the previous owner of their home while stripping the wallpaper in their front room. Charlotte Morrison, who lives in London, and her husband Yariden were redecorating their front room when they discovered the handwritten note advising them on how many rolls of paper to buy. Posting on Facebook, Charlotte shared a snap of the message, penned by a man called Jon in 1997. Charlotte Morrison who lives in London, posted a photo (pictured) on Facebook of the DIY tip she and her husband discovered underneath their wallpaper It read: 'If you ever need to wallpaper this room again it will take eight rolls of wallpaper. I bought just six rolls at 17 per roll, 5/12/97 and I didn't have enough. (It really p***** me off). Jon. 21/12/97.' Amused by the finding, Charlotte shared laughing emojis and captioned the post: 'So decided to strip all the wallpaper layers finally in the front room, come across this. Cheers Jon.' The image went viral and soon racked up over 14,000 shares and almost 5,000 comments, with many dubbing Jon a 'legend'. A few days later Charlotte followed up her post by explaining that she had been contacted by one of Jon's relatives. She wrote: 'WE FOUND JON!! A relative of Jon's contacted me! Described our house and correct address. 'Only Jon hates social media, instead of statuses he writes notes. I let Jon's relative know that social media thinks he is a legend.' Charlotte explained that they discovered the note written by previous home owner Jon while removing the wallpaper from their front room The couple were contacted by a relative of Jon, after the post was shared over 14,000 times and racked up almost 5,000 comments A stream of responses to the post saw people admit how grateful they would be if the previous owner of their home left notes on decorating advice. One person said: 'I love it!!! I've been there and done that with wallpaper before and it does p*** you off, when you think you've purchased enough - especially if they've discontinued it and you cannot purchase anymore.' Another wrote: 'Why couldn't we have had a helpful fella from the 90s, or why couldn't I be good at maths at least.' 'I always date and write on every wall I've wallpapered how many rolls it took, perhaps that's me being a Virgo,' a third claimed. Police have appealed for more information after thieves stole a transit van, trailer and mini digger from a Gloucestershire farm. Gloucestershire Constabulary were called to a farm in Churchend, in Twyning on Friday night (12 June). It was reported that a white Ford transit van with the registration AG57 HWO had been stolen. A trailer which had a red mini digger connected to it was also taken. The vehicle is believed to have been stolen at around 11.30pm that night, and CCTV footage shows two men in the area before the theft took place. "Anyone with info about the vehicle, or anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident 114 of 13 June," the police said. Figures by NFU Mutual show that rural crime cost UK farmers 50 million in 2018. New Delhi, June 16 : Amid the Congress's criticism of the government after news emerged that three Indian soldiers were killed during a violent India-China face-off at Ladakh, BJP President J.P. Nadda branded the Congress as an "irresponsible" opposition. Though without mentioning the border clash, Nadda said it was Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi who, as then Congress chief, had decided to skip an all-party meeting called by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the Kargil war in 1999. "When we were fighting the Kargil war, Sonia Gandhi ji had asked for a Rajya Sabha session. The then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had called an all-party meeting, but Congress didn't participate. This is their culture. During the time of crises, Congress always created political issues," alleged Nadda. He further claimed that the Jan Sangh - the BJP's ideological predecessor - had stood by the then governments during the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars. However, Nadda said Sonia Gandhi created "political issues" even as the nation was trying to reclaim Tiger Hill in 1999. He went on to allege, "I'm pained to say that the behaviour of the opposition party has been gravely irresponsible during this crisis. We as a party work to serve the nation. But Congress' intention is to serve the party only." Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala had alleged that the "Modi government remained a mute spectator" in face of "occupation of our territory by the Chinese". An Indian Army Colonel, who was the Commanding Officer of an infantry battalion, and two soldiers were killed during a clash with Chinese troops at one of the standoff points in the Galwan Valley. These are the first casualties faced by the Indian Army in a clash with the Chinese People's Liberation Army since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. Nadda also lashed out at the Congress over its changing demands on the lockdown and Sonia Gandhi's attack on fuel price hike. Nadda claimed at least four Congress-ruled states too hiked fuel prices. "Your Chief Ministers don't listen to you and you try to talk to Modi about it?" asked Nadda. The BJP President was speaking at a BJP virtual rally where he was addressing cadres in Kerala. Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston Even if omicron peak nears, Long Beach cases and hospitalizations will still be up for weeks, official says Amazon is testing a wearable device that notifies fulfillment center workers when they're violating social distancing rules. The device is a clear plastic sleeve with a clip that features an LED light and audio system, according to a memo seen by CNBC. When workers are too close to one another, the wearable emits a loud beeping noise and the light flashes. Amazon's facility in Kent, Washington, will begin deploying the device starting Wednesday, according to a private online group for warehouse workers. So far, Amazon is testing the device with daytime warehouse workers. Employees can pick up the wearable from stations located throughout their facility and will receive instructions on how to use the it. Workers return the device at the end of their shift and they can share feedback about the device by scanning a QR code on flyers posted in the facility. Workers don't have to use the device if they don't want to. Amazon's hope is that the technology will help employees and teams "work safer" amid the coronavirus pandemic, the memo states. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the company recently began a small-scale pilot of the wearable device at one of its warehouses. The spokesperson added that the company will use feedback from teams testing the device "to continue to iterate." "We're excited to test this technology with you and get your feedback to understand if it's an effective tool to keep you safe," the memo says. "Additionally, if we are ever notified of a COVID-19 diagnosis, the data captured from the devices of associates who had close contact can be used to conduct contact tracing." The tests come as Amazon is also experimenting with other safety measures to enforce social distancing rules at its warehouses. On Tuesday, the company announced it's rolling out "Distance Assistants" at a handful of facilities across the U.S. A camera is hooked up to a monitor and a local computing device that alerts users as they walk by whether they're maintaining proper distancing. Amazon has added floor markers in high-traffic areas as a means of advising people on how to maintain a safe distance. It has also added jobs at warehouses where employees are in charge of monitoring whether workers follow social distancing rules. The company was also relying on its "top machine learning technologists" to detect areas where it can improve social distancing in its facilities by reviewing camera footage. Amazon's response to the coronavirus pandemic has been criticized by warehouse workers, politicians and state attorneys general. They argue Amazon moved too slowly in its efforts to provide personal protective equipment, temperature checks and other tools to keep employees safe. The company and its CEO Jeff Bezos have pushed back on these accusations, saying Amazon has gone to "great lengths" to protect workers from the coronavirus. WATCH: Coronavirus may forever change how Big Tech works An Australian recruitment company director has revealed how to ensure your resume is always read and considered by employers. The director of Career Threads, Joanne Besser, told Seek that candidates must use the right language when writing a CV, avoid over explaining and make use of keywords that link to the job that has been advertised. 'Put yourself in an employer's shoes and consider their mindset, time schedule and what they're requesting in the job description,' Ms Besser told the publication. Melbourne careers and LinkedIn expert Sue Ellson agreed and said it's important to ensure a resume is 'scan-friendly' and passes the 'skim reading test'. Joanne Besser, director of Career Threads, told Seek candidates must use the right language when writing a resume, avoid over explaining and make use of keywords that link to the job advertised (stock image) 1. The language test When writing a resume Ms Besser said it's essential to write in a conversational, achievement-based style to ensure a candidate is explaining themselves and their experience well in a clear, concise manner. Sue Ellson (pictured) said it's important to make sure a resume is 'scan-friendly' This can easily be done by avoiding the use of vague language such as 'performed multiple tasks', and instead using result-driven language such as 'increased performance by X% through introducing Z'. Ms Ellson agreed with this tactic and recommended avoiding overusing the word 'I' while also formatting your CV well. 'Conversational language is always preferred to discuss your achievements and success in the various positions you've had,' she told FEMAIL. When formatting the resume itself, Ms Ellson recommends avoiding underlining headings, using a suitable sized font and ensuring the resume can be read on both a computer and phone or tablet. When writing a resume Ms Besser said it's essential to write in a conversational, achievement-based style to ensure a candidate is explaining themselves and their experience well in a clear, concise manner (stock image) 2. The skim test To ensure a resume passes the 'skim test', a candidate must be concise and list their achievements in a 'hierarchy order' with their most relevant experience at the top. Both Ms Besser and Ms Ellson suggested this formatting to allow the employer to easily match the perfect candidate suitable to the job. 'Each resume must be changed to suit the job advertised,' Ms Ellson said. 'You should have one long resume with all your key information which is then adjusted and shortened each time to suit the job.' This helpful tactic not only allows the candidate to form a new 'hierarchy order' each time but it also warrants the 'scan-friendly' layout. HOW TO ENSURE YOUR RESUME PASSES EACH TEST 1. The language test Write in a conversational, achievement-based style Explain and discuss achievements in a clear, concise manner Use result-driven language, such as 'increased performance by X% through introducing Z' 2. The skim test Be concise List achievements and experiences in a 'hierarchy order' with their most relevant information at the top 3. The screen test Identify the keywords used in the job description and incorporate these into your resume and LinkedIn profile Ask someone else to review the job advertisement alongside your resume to see if the two match Advertisement To ensure a resume passes the 'skim test', a candidate must be concise and list their achievements in a hierarchy order with their most relevant experience at the top (stock image) 3. The screen test Many job seekers may be unaware that large recruitment companies often use an automated applicant tracking system (ATS) that swiftly reviews resumes to search for specific key words relating to the job description. Not only does this save the recruiters time but it also removes those who may not be suited to the job. That being said, it's essential for job seekers to incorporate the keywords from job descriptions into their resume to ensure it is read. 'The employer is looking for matches with each application, so if you're going to a project management job be sure to use the term "project management",' Ms Ellson said. Another simple way to conduct a screen test is to ask someone else to review the job advertisement alongside your resume to see if the two match. CLEARWATER, Fla., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- YourMedicare.com, LLC, a national, non-government organization dedicated to helping provide Medicare beneficiaries with the information they need to learn, compare and decide on their Medicare options, is excited to announce that it has provided more than 500,000 meals to Feeding America, the nation's largest, domestic hunger-relief organization. Starting in October 2019, every effective insurance enrollment submitted on the YourMedicareSM Enrollment Center resulted in the organization providing 10 meals to seniors, veterans, children and families in need. Since then, YourMedicare has set an aggressive goal of donating 1 million meals to Feeding America in 2020. The YourMedicare Enrollment Center is a multi-carrier platform that allows agents to compare, quote and enroll their clients all in one convenient place. Often averaging one enrollment every 60 seconds for 10 hours straight each day, the YourMedicare Enrollment Center has positioned itself as an indispensable resource for productive and forward-thinking insurance agents. "In six months, we've reached the half-way point to our 1 million-meal goal, which is incredible," said YourMedicare's program leader, Matthew Graham. "But with our country experiencing the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic fallout, more work is needed to provide to people who need it most, especially for our senior populations." According to Graham, YourMedicare understands the challenges facing the senior population, which was the genesis of the program. "Our partnership with Feeding America is an additional way to support people who struggle with hunger by providing nourishing food to people who need it most," he said. Sixty-three percent of senior households served by the Feeding America network are forced to choose between food and medical care. And as the baby boomer generation ages, the number of seniors facing hunger is only expected to increase. Individuals can visit www.YourMedicareFeedsAmerica.com to make an online donation, or contact Matt Graham at [email protected] for more information on how to access the YourMedicare Enrollment Center. About YourMedicare.com, LLC YourMedicare.com, LLC is a national non-government, independent marketing organization dedicated to helping provide individuals with the information they need to learn, compare and decide on their Medicare options. The organization provides agent and consumer resources, including the YourMedicare Enrollment Center, which is a multi-carrier platform that allows agents to compare, quote, and enroll their clients all in one place. About Feeding America Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on http://www.facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow us on http://www.twitter.com/FeedingAmerica. SOURCE YourMedicare Related Links http://www.yourmedicarefeedsamerica.com/ Still, the lack of racial and economic diversity in the affluent community which has been named among the wealthiest enclaves in the U.S. troubles Yonover, who suggests that District 38 re-name Joseph Sears School after a member of the Calhoun family, who were said to be the first black residents to buy a home in the village. LORDSBURG, N.M. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agent (BPA) Johan Mordan of the Lordsburg Station was working in the remote boot heel area of New Mexico on Thursday, June 11, when agents lost communications with him. A search ensued and, within minutes, responding agents found BPA Mordan unresponsive lying on a trail. Agents immediately began CPR (chest compressions) and air support was requested for extraction. Agents worked exhaustively trying to save him, unfortunately BPA Mordan could not be revived. All proper notifications and investigative protocols have been initiated. BPA Mordan entered on duty with CBP and the U.S. Border Patrol on July 8, 2019, as a member of Session 1127 and was 26 years old at the time of his death. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. 2020 The Deming Headlight (Deming, N.M.) Visit The Deming Headlight (Deming, N.M.) at www.demingheadlight.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON The House will vote next week on legislation to grant statehood to Washington, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer announced Tuesday. If the House passes the bill on June 26, it will be the first time a statehood bill passes either chamber of Congress. It is not expected to advance in the GOP-led Senate, but advocates are still looking to a likely historic step forward in the long-running campaign to make Washington the 51st state. For the first time, statehood will put an end to our oldest slogan: taxation without representation, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton said during a news conference. It will also mark a change in attitudes toward the idea of D.C. statehood, which in 1993 was voted down in the House, 153-277. Forty percent of the no votes were Democrats, The Washington Post reported at the time. It took me some time to conclude that the only way we were going to give the citizens of the District of Columbia their right as American citizens was to support statehood, Hoyer said. Hoyer and Norton were joined by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. The bill up for a vote is similar to one filed by Norton, HR 51, that is co-sponsored by 223 Democrats and one independent but has no Republican backers. The newer bill was approved on Feb. 11 by the House Oversight and Reform Committee on a 21-16 vote. Nortons measure would give the District two senators and one member of the House. Republicans are opposed to giving the majority Democratic city statehood, which would likely provide the party a boost in both chambers. We will continue our work to protect every Americans right to be heard at the ballot box and on the floor of the House, and of the Senate, Pelosi said, calling the vote historic. The relationship between President Donald Trump and District leaders grew icy in recent weeks, as the president fought with Washingtons mayor over the response to protests against racism and the police killings of George Floyd and others. This was an appropriate time to bring a bill forward to show respect for the citizens of the District of Columbia of whatever color, but also to show respect to a city, who has a very large African American population, Hoyer said. Washington also received much less funding than its state counterparts in the massive $2 trillion coronavirus aid law called the CARES Act, Hoyer said, because it was treated like a territory. If D.C. were a state it could not be shortchanged as it was under the CARES Act and its residents would be protected from the kind of civil rights violations, we saw in Lafayette Square, Hoyer said. T he Transport Secretary was left visibly uncomfortable as he was unable to give a figure for how many people arriving in the UK have gone into quarantine. During an appearance on BBC Breakfast, Grant Shapps was quizzed on the strict rule, which came into force on June 8 and requires travellers to self-isolate for 14 days. The measure has been widely criticised by Tory MPs and travel chiefs, while the airlines EasyJet, British Airways and Ryanair launched legal action against the Government on Friday. Travellers who refuse to comply face 1,000 fines, with only hauliers and those incoming from Ireland exempt. Host Naga Munchetty asked Mr Shapps on Tuesday morning: Do you know yet how many people have been quarantined who have arrived in the UK? Grant Shapps squirmed as Naga Munchetty pressed him for answers / BBC Breakfast If you may recall with the quarantine rules, this is to say we work very hard as a society to be getting on top and beating this virus, Mr Shapps replied. We dont want to be in a situation where we re-import it or Brits go abroad and come back and bring it back with them. We absolutely dont want to see that. Ms Munchetty continued: Do you have a number? Quarantine isnt people being taken to a location, Mr Shapps fired back. Its asking, requiring people in fact to quarantine themselves for 14 days when they get here. Ms Munchetty continued to press Mr Shapps for a figure, asking again: How many people have stuck by that requirement? Sorry, say again, Mr Shapps replied, as he seemingly lacked an answer. The Transport Secretary said he was exploring air corridors for travellers / BBC Breakfast The host responded: How many people have stuck by that requirement is what I asked?" Mr Shapps then confidently replied: Well we think very good compliance and it is required by law and we do have people checking up so we think high compliance has been the case." Still not happy, the BBC Breakfast host asked: What is high? We thinksorry I didnt hear you, Mr Shapps said as Ms Munchetty once more demanded to know: What is high? Passengers arriving in the UK have to quarantine for two weeks / REUTERS Eventually landing on a figure, Mr Shapps answered: We think sort of right up there, 90 percent or greater and we have people checking up so you can end up being fined, and you will end up being fined if you ignore this. Ministers are set to review the measure on June 29, at the two-week point, amid mounting outcry over the damage it could inflict on an already stalling economy. The Transport Secretary said he is actively looking at whether we can introduce air corridors to ease the curbs. It came as Spains foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez threatened to make Brits quarantine for 14 days when it opens its borders next week, unless Britain drops its own quarantine rule for Spanish arrivals. She told the BBC: "We will be checking what the UK will be doing, and we will be in a dialogue with the UK to see whether or not we should be introducing reciprocity, as they have different measures from the rest of the European union." The subject has already seen JK Rowling scorned by her millennial fans. But that has not dissuaded West Country aristocrat Sir Michael Ferguson Davie from striding into the transgender debate in a manner which may have fellow noblemen nervously clutching their coronets and other baubles. With gender change there are implications for the succession of hereditary titles, says Sir Michael, 76, whose baronetcy, which can only pass down the male line, dates from 1847. In the wake of JK Rowling (pictured)'s controversial statements about gender, West Country aristocrat Sir Michael Ferguson Davie has used the current debate as a rallying cry to end the law of primogeniture If an eldest child, born a female, declares herself now to be male, will that child then take precedence over a younger sibling who was born a male? Sir Michael is using the current debate as a rallying cry to end the law of primogeniture. It is surely time to amend the rules of primogeniture for the succession of peerages and baronetcies, he adds. Sir Michael suffered the heartbreak of losing his only son and only child more than 30 years ago. His plea is echoed by the 9th Earl of Arran, 81, who has two daughters but no son. The 9th earl of Arran (pictured) has echoed Sir Michael's plea, stating that the concept of male heirs is 'outdated' and 'embarassing' Describing the system of primogeniture by which titles and estates are inherited by sons, or other male heirs, in preference over daughters as outdated and embarrassing, he tells me it should be speedily brought to an end. It shouldnt matter what sex you are in 2020, he explains, adding that inheriting a title currently is done only on DNA. Charlotte Carew Pole, who heads the pressure group Daughters Rights, confirms that point. Under the 2004 Gender Recognition Act, the eldest daughter could have a gender re-assignment certificate, and could legally be allowed to call herself Mr, but she would still, for the purpose of titles, be a woman and so would not take precedence over her younger brother or whoever the male heir might be. The Earl of Shrewsbury, the premier Earl of England, tells me: Daughters Rights have presented a Bill to end male primogeniture, and to very simply allow the first born, regardless of sex, to inherit. I fully support that initiative. Heaven! Dame Joan hits the shops after lockdown Dame Joan Collins (right) was spotted in Selfridges department store in Oxford Street on the opening day of the shops reopening after coronavirus Dame Joan Collins was quick to respond to Boris Johnsons clarion call for the nation to return to the High Street and shop with confidence. The Dynasty star headed straight from her home in Londons Belgravia to Oxford Street, where she made a beeline for Selfridges department store. First day shopping, she told fans. Heaven, she exclaimed. I love shopping. Dame Joan has made it clear shes increasingly fed up with lockdown, joking last week: Let me outta here! Dont mock Keith Richards. James Fox, who ghostwrote the Rolling Stones guitarists bestselling 2011 autobiography, has hit a wrong note with his subject. Richards has taken exception to Fox doing impersonations of his distinctive drawl. He got a little touchy about that, says Fox. It got back to him that I was going around telling these marvellous anecdotes in Keith-speak. 'He said to me: Ill tell you something, James. One day youre going to get your personality back. Ouch. Is lockdown getting to Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon? Tory MP Philip Davies struck a nerve when he told her: You should get out more, during a select committee grilling. Theres nothing I would like more than to get anywhere else except staying at home with my children, retorted the mum-of-four. Home schooling cant end soon enough. Racy Lolas in the pink with her sister Jazzy Lady Lola Crichton-Stuart (right) was photographed wearing a backless gown with Game Of Thrones star Jazzy de Lisser (left) Fashion designer Serena Bute, who is married to former racing driver Johnny Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute, once complained shes hopeless at marketing herself. Luckily, she has two social media-savvy daughters at hand. Lady Lola Crichton-Stuart, 20, whose father is Jonny, shared this picture online as she modelled a shocking pink backless gown from her mothers eponymous label. She is joined by Game Of Thrones star Jazzy de Lisser, 28, whose father is Serenas first husband, Jamaica-born grandee Robert De Lisser, in the same frock in green. My big lil sis in our mummas creations, Lady Lola captions it. A fawlty message for comedy fans Living up to his irritable comic creation Basil Fawlty, John Cleese spent lockdown recording bad-tempered messages for paying fans. You can get celebrities to send a personalised message to someone, he explains. I think its supposed to be something nice but Im probably better at threats and insults. And his daughter Camillas efforts to persuade him to join Instagram did not end well, either. My very first broadcast began with me beaming at the camera and saying, Hi, Im John Cleese, and in this period of self-isolation Ive decided that Im going to open my own official Killagram account. My daughter was mortified. Martin Freeman admits that taking on the monologue originally performed by Alan Bennett in the BBCs lockdown remake of Talking Heads was a little intimidating. The socially distanced shoot on the deserted EastEnders set at Elstree studios brought its own quirks. I was in Dot Cottons bedroom, so thats one thing ticked off the bucket list, the actor says. Most people would love to boast about being related to James Bond, but Daniel Craigs half-brother Harry has suddenly become keen to play down their connection. The blond model has changed his surname from Craig to Easton on social media. Harry is the son of Daniels father Tim and describes himself as an eccentric gentleman. Lets hope he doesnt leave Daniel shaken and stirred. Lady Marys hammy new role as a pig The Countess of Carnavon has named one of her pigs Lady Mary (both pictured right), after Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery (left) The Countess of Carnarvon, whose Highclere Castle in Hampshire is where Downton Abbey was filmed, has paid homage to one of the shows much-loved characters. She posted a picture of herself with her pig, whom she has named Lady Mary portrayed on screen by Michelle Dockery. Back with a muddy Lady Mary, writes Lady Carnarvon, quoting playwright George Bernard Shaw: Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it. Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., the man prosecutors say is the prolific and ruthless Golden State Killer, will reportedly plead guilty to 88 charges in exchange for life in prison, the Sacramento Bee reported Monday. DeAngelo, 74, is facing the death penalty if convicted in the murders of 13 individuals in five California counties. But sources told The Bee that DeAngelo -- barring a change due to his "unpredictable nature" -- will plead guilty at a hearing on June 29 in order to receive life in prison instead. He is currently facing over two dozen charges in the Sacramento Superior Court, which means some 60 more charges would be added. The Golden State Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist, is suspected in the violent rapes of over 50 women from 1975-86. DeAngelo has already been charged in the murders of Brian and Katie Maggiore, Lyman and Charlene Smith, Keith and Patrice Harrington, Manuela Witthuhn, Janelle Cruz, Claude Snelling, Robert Offerman, Debra Manning, Cheri Domingo and Gregory Sanchez. Investigators believe he is linked to crime scenes around the state, which likely explains the additional charges. Capital punishment is currently suspended in California due to a 2019 executive order signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The order put a moratorium on executions for the duration of Newsom's governorship. In order to fully repeal the death penalty, state voters would have to weigh in. Given DeAngelo's age and the death penalty moratorium, it's highly unlikely he would ever be executed by the state. But the plea bargain would allow for an expedited legal process, something both DeAngelo's public defenders and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office have previously pushed for. Death penalty trials are long and arduous. Prosecutors told The Bee they have 150 witnesses, many in their 80s or older, and the trial alone could take 10 weeks, not counting any appeals. In March, CBS13 reported the Sacramento County public defender's office sent a letter to victims and their families saying they were seeking a way to shorten the process. "Criminal cases often take many years to resolve by trial," the letter obtained by CBS13 reads. "The trial process is often very stressful for victims and their families. This particular case is exceedingly complex due to the number of charged crimes and the diverse locations of the charged crimes. We would like to reach a resolution of the case that avoids a trial, satisfies all parties and provides a more immediate resolution of the case." Investigators believe the former California police officer may have raped over 50 women. The crime spree, which spanned Sacramento, Contra Costa, Orange, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties, created panic in the Sacramento area as dozens of women were victimized. The Golden State Killer was known for creating violating, personal connections to victims, including telling one woman he had seen her at the lake. It's hard to know if the killer really had links to his victims, however. He broke into victims' homes before he attacked, giving him ample access to family photos, letters and other identifying details. The terror did not end with rape, however. In some cases, the rapist called his victims afterward. One woman, at the request of police, kept her phone number for years in the hopes the attacker would call and reveal identifying information. Decades after the last case went cold, investigators announced DNA led them to a break in the case. Detectives say they submitted the killer's DNA to an open-source genealogy website called GEDmatch, where it found a match with a relative who also used the service. Detectives were then able to narrow their list of suspects, eventually arresting DeAngelo, who once worked as a police officer in Auburn and Exeter. DeAngelo is due next in court on June 29. He has been incarcerated in the Sacramento County Main Jail since his arrest in April 2018. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was concerned about the situation on the Korean peninsula and called for restraint from all sides after North Korea destroyed an inter-Korean liaison office. Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was closely following developments on the Korean peninsula, but so far had no plans for high-level diplomatic contacts to ease the tensions. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Andrey Kuzmin; Editing by Alex Richardson) MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was concerned about the situation on the Korean peninsula and called for restraint from all sides after North Korea destroyed an inter-Korean liaison office. Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was closely following developments on the Korean peninsula, but so far had no plans for high-level diplomatic contacts to ease the tensions. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Andrey Kuzmin; Editing by Alex Richardson) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Independent Laois-Offaly TD Carol Nolan has welcomed elements of the programme for government agreed between Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Greens, but expressed worry that the document maybe be "aspirational" and lacking substance. Speaking to the Offaly Express, Deputy Nolan said: "On a positive note, the proposed Programme for Government certainly contains measures that we can all support. This is specifically true with respect to the rollout of greater levels of financial incentives for farmers and the wider agri sector." However, the Offaly deputy added that "the carbon tax demands are going to cause massive levels of frustration and there is no denying this simple fact." "I am happy to see that the position of the Just Transition Commissioner will become a statutory one and that it will be allocated appropriate levels of resources to oversee the Transition process," she said of the process of creating new forms of employment in the Midlands after the cessation of peat production. "In this sense, I am hopeful that it [the programme for government] will be good for Laois-Offaly, but this is strictly contingent on the transition process not being narrowed any further than it already has been. "It is vital that the process not be subjected to any more damaging demands from a green-inspired policy approach," Deputy Nolan continued. "The main problems I have at present are that the document is clearly aspirational in character and this is compounded by a lack of detail and specifics about how the various agri schemes will be financed, for instance. "There are also the serious questions around whether or not it even reflects where people are really at. Do they want a Programme for Government entirely dominated by a Green Party perspective? I think not. Yet that is where we appear to be. "My thoughts at present are that the entire government formation process remains subject to significant levels of uncertainty. "The membership of all three parties each seem to have enormous difficulties with the agreed text and it is by no means certain that it will be passed by two third majority required by the Greens," she commented. When asked about her role now on the opposition benches in the Dail, Deputy Nolan sad: "My main objective in opposition, as a member of the Rural Independent Group, will be to work constructively where this is possible but also to demand the reform of any policies that are shown to have a negative impact on ordinary families." ALBANY - State Senate Minority Leader John J. Flanagan announced Tuesday he will be stepping down as a state legislator effective June 28 to take a job with Northwell Health. Flanagan announced earlier this year he would not pursue reelection to his District 2 seat, which covers a portion of Long Island, opening up the Senate seat to a new face. As I have often said over the course of my career in public service, it has been my extraordinary honor and privilege to have served the people of New York in both the Assembly and Senate, Flanagan said in an emailed statement. My life has been immeasurably enriched by the thousands of people whom I have met along the way, and I leave Albany with my head full of life lessons and my heart full of fond memories. The outgoing senator will join Northwell on June 29 as vice president of regional government affairs in Suffolk and eastern Nassau counties, according to a news release on the health systems website. Flanagan will serve as the regions liaison with legislative officials and government regulatory agencies at the federal and local level. Flanagan, who has served in the state Legislature for more than three decades, leaves along with several other Republican senators who had announced they would not seek reelection. The state's GOP Chairman, Nick Langworthy, thanked Flanagan for his years of service in an emailed statement Tuesday afternoon, noting the senator's advocacy for education and school children. Flanagan has been best known in recent years as chair of the chamber's Education Committee, where his voice has been heard amid the bruising debates over the Common Core and education funding. Two of the fiercest opponents in the current education wars lauded him: the New York State United Teachers union, for understanding the deep concerns of students, parents and educators; and the pro-charter school group StudentsFirstNY, for being a champion of school choice expansion. More for you State Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan won't seek re-election Flanagan also was a vocal opponent of the bail reforms that went into effect this year, calling for changes to the measures. Senate Republicans will be meeting via Zoom on Friday to select a new minority leader. Senators Rob Ortt, of North Tonawanda, and Patrick Gallivan, of Elma, both expressed interest in taking on the post. Sen. Joseph Griffo, the deputy minority leader for the caucus, declined to fill the top post. Glenville Republican Sen. James Tedisco issued a statement saying that he would not pursue the minority leadership position, but called on the next leader to be a representative from upstate. "Right now, it's clear we have one voice from one political affiliation from one region of the state controlling all levers of power in state government," Tedisco said. "We need a strong upstate voice to bring a more regional and holistic approach and greater checks and balances to Albany." Langworthy said he looked forward to working with the conference's next leader. "I look forward to working with the next Senate Republican leader in short order to ensure we regain Republican strength in the Legislature to challenge Andrew Cuomo's dictatorial rule and the extreme left agenda that has gripped our state government," he said. "Freedom, prosperity, and law-and-order are on the ballot this November, and Republicans are excited and energized to win." BOSTON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrew Nigrelli, AIF, RFC, CMFC announced today the addition of Wealth Advisor William Newell, CFP, Newell will affiliate with one of the fastest-growing advisory firms in the country, Carson Wealth. Newell's affiliation brings the number of Carson Wealth locations in the Boston metropolitan area to threewith offices in Waltham, Holliston and Norwelland introduces advanced planning and superior customer service to local families in need of financial guidance amidst volatile current events and markets. Newell oversees $126M and is joining forces with Nigrelli, who affiliated with Carson Wealth in early 2020 with six team members and $230M in assets under management. Over the past few months, Nigrelli has focused on establishing Carson Wealth in the area, and said, "Carson has done a fantastic job building infrastructure and technology that can solve for scale. The fact that we were able to acquire a firm in the middle of our own transformation is a testament to that. And Bill saw the same potential. He and I have since formed a great friendship and business relationship and look forward to building Carson's brand here in the Northeast." "Having access to some of the brightest minds in the industry in terms of planning, advice, and investment expertise will help us deliver value to our clients that far exceeds the capability we had in the past," said Newell. "We also know that giving our clients access to the Carson CXClient Experiencewill allow them to have a 'single pane of glass' view into their investments and financial plans, something they have been wanting for years." Nigrelli added, "The opportunity to grow to a multi-billion-dollar office simply didn't exist under our old firm structure and felt it was time to move forward based on our vision, goals and need for a business continuity plan. Carson Wealth gives us the tools to build an enterprise that will help us reshape the way we work with our clients well into the future." Carson Founder and CEO Ron Carson said, "Andrew, Bill and the teams in Boston are incredible at what they do, and exhibit such high standards of integrity and care at every turn. They are always looking for ways to deliver more advisor value, and I know that they'll leverage our next-level value stack of advisor services to do just that." In addition to being a mainstay in the Barron's annual list of top wealth management firms, Carson Wealth remains among the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing companies. Carson currently serves more than 33,000 families across the United States. About Carson Wealth Founded in 1983, Carson Wealth has grown to become a Barron's Hall of Fame firm, serving clients through holistic financial planning, disciplined investment strategies and proactive, personal service. Carson Wealth is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, with the mission to be the most trusted for financial advice. For more information, visit www.carsonwealth.com. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. *Barron's Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors: Over 4,000 advisors who wish to be ranked fill out a 102-question survey about their practice, data is verified and then applied to a ranking formula. The ranking reflects the volume of assets overseen by the advisors and their teams, revenues generated for the firms, and the quality of the advisors' practices. The scoring system assigns a top score of 100 and rates the rest by comparing them with the top-ranked advisor. Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client. SOURCE Carson Wealth Related Links https://www.carsonwealth.com/ Gregory Minott came to the U.S. from his native Jamaica more than two decades ago on a student visa and was able to carve out a career in architecture thanks to temporary work visas. Now a US citizen and co-founder of a real estate development firm in Boston, the 43-year-old worries that new restrictions on student and work visas expected to be announced as early as this week will prevent others from following a similar path to the American dream. Innovation thrives when there is cultural, economic and racial diversity, Minott said. To not have peers from other countries collaborating side by side with Americans is going to be a setback for the country. We learned from Americans, but Americans also learn from us. Minott is among the business leaders and academic institutions large and small pleading with President Donald Trump to move cautiously as he eyes expanding the temporary visa restrictions he imposed in April. They argue that cutting off access to talented foreign workers will only further disrupt the economy and stifle innovation at a time when it's needed most. But influential immigration hard-liners normally aligned with Trump have been calling for stronger action after his prior visa restrictions didn't go far enough for them. Trump, who has used the coronavirus crisis to push through many of his stalled efforts to curb both legal and illegal immigration, imposed a 60-day pause on visas for foreigners seeking permanent residency on April 22. But the order included a long list of exemptions and didn't address the hundreds of thousands of temporary work and student visas issued each year. Republican senators, including Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Ted Cruz of Texas, argue that all new guest worker visas should be suspended for at least 60 days or until unemployment has returned to normal levels. Given the extreme lack of available jobs, the senators wrote in a letter to Trump last month, it defies common sense to admit additional foreign guest workers to compete for such limited employment. Trump administration officials have been debating how long the forthcoming order should remain in place and which industries should be exempted, including those working in health care and food production. But the White House has made it clear it's considering suspending H-1B visas for high-skilled workers; H-2B visas for seasonal workers and L-1 visas for employees transferring within a company to the U.S. In recent weeks, businesses and academic groups have also been voicing concern about possible changes to Optional Practical Training, a relatively obscure program that allows some 200,000 foreign students mostly from China and India to work in the country each year. Created in the 1940s, OPT authorizes international students to work for up to one year during college or after graduation. Over the last decade, the program has been extended for those studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics so that they can now work for up to three years. While congressional Republicans have been some of the strongest supporters of eliminating the program, 21 GOP House lawmakers argued in a letter to the Trump administration this month that OPT is necessary for the country to remain a destination for international students. They said foreign students and their families pump more than $40 billion annually into the economy even though the students represent just 5.5.% of U.S. college enrollments. Companies and academic institutions also warn of a reverse brain drain, in which foreign students simply take their American education to benefit another nation's economy. Some critics say OPT gives companies a financial incentive to hire foreigners over Americans because they don't have to pay certain federal payroll taxes. The program also lacks oversight and has become a popular path for foreigners seeking to gain permanent legal status, said Jessica Vaughan, policy director at the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington group advocating for strict immigration limits. The government does not require that there be actual training, and no one checks on the employer or terms of employment, she said. Some of the participants are career 'students,' going back and forth between brief graduate degree programs and employment, just so they can stay here. Xujiao Wang, a Chinese national who has been part of the program for the past year, said she doesn't see any fault in trying to build her family's future in the US. The advocacy group sent a letter to Trump last week pleading for preservation of the programme. It was signed by roughly 50 businesses and colleges, including TripAdvisor and the University of Massachusetts, as well as trade associations representing the state's thriving life sciences industry centered around Harvard, MIT and other Boston-area institutions. Men who drink alcohol moderately risk increased mortality, hospitalization: study Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A recently published study on alcoholic consumption found that even moderate drinkers will experience a higher rate of mortality and hospital stays than those who drink less or abstain. Researchers headed by Professor Adam Sherk of the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, Canada, recently examined safe drinking guidelines in the North American country. In a study published Monday, the researchers concluded that drinking both within and above national guidelines posed serious health risks for both men and women. Despite the comparatively high level of these guidelines, drinkers adhering to these limits were still exposed to increased hospital stays for both genders and increased mortality in men, concluded the researchers. If national drinking guidelines are based on aligning risks between drinkers and abstainers, our study suggests limits of approximately 12 g per day for men and 17 g per day for women. The study explained that many countries have low-risk drinking guidelines (LRDGs) on alcohol consumption, with North American standards generally being higher compared to other regions. Adherence to guidelines did not eliminate alcohol-caused harm: those drinking within guidelines nonetheless experienced 140 more deaths and 3,663 more hospital stays than if they had chosen to abstain from alcohol, stated the researchers. A weighted relative risk analysis found that, for both women and men, the risk was lowest at a consumption level of 10 g per day. For all levels of consumption, men were found to experience a higher weighted relative risk than women. The study centered on British Columbia and drew from data collected in 2014 by the Canadian Institute for Health Informations Discharge Abstract Database and the Canadian Substance Use Exposure Database. Researchers noted that one limitation of their study was that "the estimation of acute injuries based on average weekly consumption presents a potential source of inaccuracy," noting that "someone drinking seven drinks per week could have one per day or seven on Saturday night." "As a result, it is possible that our approach overestimates/underestimates the prevalence of alcohol use within weekly guidelines," they added. "This would lead to a higher/lower proportion of harm being experienced by those drinking within the guidelines; therefore, these findings should be interpreted with some caution." Over the years, scientific research has offered conflicting evidence on whether drinking alcohol, even in moderate amounts, was beneficial to ones health. For example, a 2017 study by Danish researchers concluded that drinking alcohol three to four days a week lowers the risk of diabetes compared to those who drink alcohol once a week. "Our findings suggest alcohol drinking frequency is associated with risk and that consumption over three to four days a week is associated with the lowest risk of diabetes, even after taking average weekly alcohol consumption into account," said Professor Janne Tolstrup of the University of Southern Denmark. However, another study from 2017 reported on by the BMJ Company found that drinking alcohol, even in moderate levels had adverse brain outcomes including hippocampal atrophy. The finding that alcohol consumption in moderate quantities is associated with multiple markers of abnormal brain structure and cognitive function has important potential public health implications for a large sector of the population, concluded the study. Alcohol might represent a modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment, and primary prevention interventions targeted to later life could be too late. Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has given its nod to set up a commission for job security and skill development of workers, said state minister Sidharth Nath Singh here on Tuesday. The minister said the proposal was approved during a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The chief minister has decided that the government will look after interests of workers, whether they are migrants or residents of the state, he said. With this, UP has become the first state in the country to think about safeguarding interests of its workers, the minister said. Named as the UP Kamgar Shramik Sevayojan Avam Rozgar Aayog, the commission will have an executive board and district-level committees, Singh said, adding that at the state-level, the CM will be its chairman and the minister for labour its convener. It will have ministers for industrial development and micro, small and medium enterprises as vice-presidents, Singh said. Ministers for agriculture, rural development, panchayati raj and urban development will be its members, the minister added. In May, the UP CM had directed to set up a commission for extending job security to workers. The CM had also directed officials for extending insurance cover to them. The UP minister said the panel will help provide employment and focus on skill development of workers, which will give a boost to the state economy. The objective of the commissions is to provide employment to workers in private or non-government sectors as per their skill set besides increasing employment opportunities, a government spokesman said. The spokesperson said economic activities had come to a halt in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown, hitting workers hard. Since Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state, the number of affected workers belonging to the state was also the highest, the spokesman said, adding that this was the biggest challenge before the state and the chief minister initiated prompt steps like providing maintenance allowance and ration kits besides increasing man-days under the MGNREGA. On the role of the commission, he said it will act as a facilitator between labourers and industrials units. The commission will provide skilled workers to industrial units as per their demand and organise training programmes for skill development. This training will be made available through an apprenticeship in industrial units, he said, adding that it will also work as a facilitator in case of demand from other states and countries and extend basic facilities like housing, social security, insurance at the place where they are being adjusted. The employment department will collect the skill data of all workers. The executive board of the commission will have 14 members headed by the industrial development commissioner and at the district-level committees will be headed by DMs and have 19 members. The executive board will monitor the working of the commission. The meeting of the commission will be held every month and that of the board every 15 days while the district-level committees will meet every week. The CM has directed that the ministers in-charge of districts and the local legislators will be regularly apprised of its activities by the DMs concerned. ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A broad coalition of industry and government organizations today urged Members of Congress to oppose an amendment to the highway reauthorization bill that the House Transportation Committee is considering on June 17. The amendment would allow electric vehicle charging stations at interstate rest areas, undermining the current prohibition on the sale of goods and services to motorists at rest areas and hurting existing businesses and local governments. The coalition that opposes this amendment includes NATSO, representing truckstops and travel plazas, the National League of Cities, National Association of Convenience Stores, National Restaurant Association, National Federation of the Blind, National Retail Federation, Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America, Asian American Hotel Owners Association, and the National Tank Truck Carriers. Amendment 019, authored by Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), would allow electric vehicle charging stations at rest areas located on the Interstate right-of-way. Policies to advance the adoption of electric vehicles should foster a dynamic and competitive marketplace that encourages private sector investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and avoid harming those businesses best positioned to accelerate EVs in the market. "NATSO supports policies to encourage investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure," said NATSO President and CEO Lisa Mullings. "Many of our members have already made these investments, and others are actively exploring them. The alternative fuel corridor grant program that provides a core component of this legislation would go a long way toward increasing EV charging infrastructure at retail fuel stations throughout the country," Mullings said. "We support such grant programs. The last thing we should do, however, is undermine that progress by allowing EV chargers on the Interstate, from an advantaged location. If this occurs, private businesses will be forced to reconsider investing in EV charging." Federal law prohibits states from offering commercial services at rest areas built after 1960. This includes electric vehicle charging stations. Congress prohibited states from offering commercial services at rest areas along the Interstate Highway System specifically so that private sector entities would grow and provide the services needed by travelers. Both NATSO and the coalition of stakeholders opposing the Napolitano Amendment support smart policies to encourage EV charging investment. The organizations would oppose allowing sales at rest areas of gasoline, diesel, food, beverages or any other products sold by off-highway businesses. Offering electric charging services at rest areas would allow states to enter into direct competition with the private businesses already operating near the interstate exit interchanges to meet the fueling needs of the motoring public. If state governments preempt consumer demand for this new technology, they will effectively destroy the incentive for private sector investment. NATSO earlier this year partnered with ChargePoint, the largest electric vehicle charging vendor in North America, to create a National Highway Charging Collaborative. The Collaborative will deploy charging at more than 4,000 travel plazas and fuel stops in the next decade to significantly increase access to charging as EV adoption accelerates. As part of this collaboration, NATSO and ChargePoint also oppose policies that discourage private sector investment in electric vehicle charging, such as the Napolitano Amendment. Link to Letter Here Founded in 1960, NATSO represents the industry on legislative and regulatory matters; serves as the official source of information on the diverse travel plaza and truckstop industry; provides education to its members; conducts an annual convention and trade show; and supports efforts to generally improve the business climate in which its members operate. Contact: Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman 703-739-8578 SOURCE NATSO, Inc. Related Links http://www.natso.com An infantry battalion has carried out extensive drills with tanks and armed airborne personnel at heights over 15000 feet in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) announced Monday. The rare announcement by PLA did not specify when the drill was held but said it was the armed forces Xizang (Tibet) Military Command that organised the exercise at heights over 4700 metres. The Xizang Military Command falls under the Chengdu Military region. The PLAs announcement comes in the backdrop of the unprecedented escalation of India-China border conflict on Monday when three Indian soldiers were killed soon after a talk to deescalate the ongoing tension at the border descended into violence. Until late evening Tuesday, China was yet to confirm or deny reports that said the PLA had suffered casualties as well. Its rare for the PLA to announce drills; its the state media, which do it from PLAs handouts and visuals. Published in PLAs online mouthpiece, the Lhasa-datelined report said the exercise focused on infantry and tank offensive formation, enemy firepower strike, initiation of attack, defensive counter-impact, in-depth attack, etc. The exercise focussed on long-distance strike by tanks at enemys forward firepower points, infantry-guided maneuver of tank, tank-guided marching of infantry, fast maneuver of infantry facilitated by tanks. The drill was a test check for coordination between infantry and tanks. The participating troops included ground forces, battlefield service and airborne penetration forces. They have been brought to a completely unfamiliar high-altitude area, which set a severe test for the coordination between the commanders and different arms, the report written by Ren Feng and He Penglei from PLA-sponsored China Military Online said. It was a stock-taking exercise too. After the drill was over, the battalion went through the problems and deficiencies exposed by it, the report said. Chinas state-controlled media has in the past weeks carried out reports of PLAs high-altitude drills, often connecting it with the ongoing border tension with India, which started in early May. On June 7, state media said the PLA had carried out a large-scale drill involving thousands of paratroopers to check its preparedness in transporting soldiers and armoured vehicles from the central Chinese province of Hubei to border areas to the northwest of the country. The largescale maneuver operation was done in the backdrop of the ongoing border friction with India, the nationalistic tabloid, Global Times and national broadcaster CCTV said in reports. The news on Chinese state media came out on a day when New Delhi said India and China will continue military and diplomatic engagements to resolve a weeks-old stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This was after talks were held between delegations led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, commander of Leh-based 14 Corps and egation led by Maj Gen Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region, at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC on Saturday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:10:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HELSINKI, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The economy of Finland will contract by six percent this year, predicted the Finnish Ministry of Finance on Tuesday. The figure is slightly higher than the 5.5 percent forecast in April, but far lower than the range of 11 percent-15 percent predicted by several forecasters earlier this year. At a press conference, the ministry said that lifting anti-COVID-19 restrictions from June will boost Finnish economic activity, especially in the services sector. The economy is projected to pick up at the end of 2020, and gross domestic product (GDP) is then estimated to grow by 2.5 percent in 2021 and by 1.7 percent in 2022. The ministry noted, however, that a major improvement in the outlook on export markets is required for the country's economy to recover. The new projections are based on the assumption that there will be no second wave of COVID-19 in the country, said Mikko Spolander, director general at the Finance Ministry. According to the ministry, the deficit in the public economy will rise to 8 percent and the ratio of general government debt to GDP will rise to approximately 71 percent. Spolander told the media that recovery measures "will carry Finland over the crisis", but decisions should be taken soon on how to balance public finances in the long run. He said the focus should be on structural reforms. The ministry predicts a 5 percent contraction in the world economy in 2020. Global economy will start to recover in the second half of this year, and in 2021 global growth is expected to remain just below 4 percent. Meanwhile, Statistics Finland reported that Finnish national economic output decreased by 7.9 percent in April year-on-year. Seasonally adjusted output declined by 2.1 percent in April from the previous month. Commentators noted that the downturn in Finnish production was less severe than initially feared. Timo Vesala, chief economist of Municipality Finance Plc, one of the major financial institutions in Finland, told local business daily Kauppalehti that the crisis hit Finland less severely than Europe on average. Jukka Appelqvist, senior economist at Danske Bank, said no major plants or work sites had to be shut down in Finland. "Also the cessation of international travel impacted Finland less as the tourist industry is not in a central position". However, Appelqvist warned of the likely decline in export demand later. Enditem Tesla has become the first electric car company to offer 400 miles of range on one battery charge. The company announced that its Model S sedan - at least the units labeled 'Long Range Plus' - have been given an unprecedented range of 402 miles by the EPA. 'Starting today, all North American Model S Long Range Plus vehicles have an official EPA-rated range of 402 miles,' said the company in a press release. Tesla Model S now first ever electric vehicle to receive EPA range rating above 400 miles! https://t.co/EOTwVfvHS5 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2020 According to them, the designation marks an almost 20 percent increase in range when compared to a 2019 Model S 100D using the same battery pack design. Tesla, which issued a statement on the Model S designation, says several changes to the cars' design have aided the unprecedented range. Among the improvements are a reduction in mass through the use of different materials for making the cars' seats, drive units, and battery packs. Likewise, new lightweight and aerodynamic wheels have also helped increase range by as much as 2 percent according to the company. Improvements in the Model S regenerative breaking, which uses the cars' kinetic energy to bolster battery power, have also helped to increase range, Tesla says. Reductions in weight, tire improvements, and advancements in regenerative breaking have all aided the increased official range (stock) 'To bring the car to a stop smoothly, regenerative braking now works at a lower speed and deceleration rate, sending more energy back to the battery pack while simultaneously enabling a driving experience like no other car,' it said. Notably, the increase in range has little to do with improvements in the vehicles' batteries. On that front, Tesla's battery supplier, Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited, says it will begin shipping shipping batteries that have a lifespan of 1.24 million miles and can last for 16 years. After watching live footage of Minneapolis officers arresting George Floyd on May 25, a police dispatcher was concerned enough by what she saw to call a supervisor. "You can call me a snitch if you want to, but we had the cameras up" on Floyd's arrest, said the unnamed dispatcher in audio released on Monday. "All of them sat on this man." The supervisor promised to "find out" what was happening - but it would be nearly another 15 minutes before a sergeant arrived at the scene where Officer Derek Chauvin had knelt on George Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes before his death, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The tape, part of a batch of 911 calls about Floyd's death released by the city, raises fresh questions about how Minneapolis police reacted as horrified bystanders and their own dispatcher sounded alarms about the officers' use of force. One 911 caller, an off-duty firefighter who happened upon the scene while police pinned Floyd to the street, reported the officers were making no effort to save his life. "I literally watched police officers not take a pulse and not do anything to save a man, and I am a first responder myself, and I literally have it on video camera," said the unnamed firefighter, according to a transcript reviewed by the Star Tribune. "I just happened to be on a walk so, this dude, this, they [expletive] killed him . . ." As Floyd's death has sparked worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality, Chauvin, 44, has been charged with second- and third-degree murder. Three other officers who were on the scene face charges of felony aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. All four officers have been fired. The newly released call from a police dispatcher suggests even some inside the department were alarmed at what they saw unfolding outside the Cup Foods market where Floyd was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill. The dispatcher watched the incident on a video feed from the network of hundreds of police cameras stationed around the city, the Star Tribune reported. She called a supervisor around 8:30 p.m. on May 25 and spoke to him for less than a minute, according to a time stamp on the call. That's roughly the same time when an unresponsive Floyd was loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher and then rushed to the hospital, according to a timeline of his death by The Washington Post. The dispatcher described what she'd seen, telling the supervisor that the officers "got something out of the back of the squad, and all of them sat on this man, so I don't know if they needed you or not, but they haven't said anything to me yet." The supervisor responded, "Yeah, they haven't said anything yet, unless it's just a takedown, which doesn't count, but I'll find out." (He was probably referring to a Minneapolis police policy that officers using approved "takedown techniques" aren't required to notify their superiors that they used force on someone, the Associated Press reported.) Then, the dispatcher added, "No problem, we don't get to ever see it, so when we see it we're just like, well, that looks a little different, but . . ." Bystanders who called 911 were more frank in their assessment of what Chauvin and the other officers had done to Floyd. The cops "pretty much just killed this guy that wasn't resisting arrest. He had his knee on the dude's neck the whole time," one caller told 911, according to a transcript reviewed by the AP. The caller reported Floyd had "stopped breathing" and he "was already in handcuffs." He added, "I don't even know if he dead for sure but dude was not responsive when the ambulance came and got him, and the officer that was just out here left, the one that actually just murdered the kid in front of everybody." The Minneapolis police did not immediately respond to a message from The Washington Post early on Tuesday about the recordings. Police declined to comment to the Star Tribune, citing the open investigation into Floyd's death. New Delhi: The Finance Ministry on Tuesday said public sector banks have disbursed Rs 16,031.39 crore till June 12, under the Rs 3-lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for the MSME sector, adversely affected due to COVID-19 crisis. Public sector banks (PSBs) have sanctioned loans worth Rs 32,049.86 crore under the 100 per cent ECLGS for the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector starting June 1. The scheme is the biggest fiscal component of the Rs 20-lakh crore Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month. "As of 12 June 2020, #PSBs have sanctioned loans worth Rs 32,049.86 crore under the 100% Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme, out of which Rs 16,031.39 crore has already been disbursed," Sitharaman said in a tweet. On May 21, the Cabinet had approved additional funding of up to Rs 3 lakh crore at a concessional rate of 9.25 per cent through ECLGS for the MSME sector. Under the scheme, 100 per cent guarantee coverage will be provided by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) for additional funding of up to Rs 3 lakh crore to eligible MSMEs and interested Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) borrowers in the form of a guaranteed emergency credit line (GECL) facility. For this purpose, a corpus of Rs 41,600 crore was provided by the government, spread over the current and next three financial years. The scheme will be applicable to all loans sanctioned under GECL facility during the period from the date of announcement of the plan to October 31 or till an amount of Rs 3 lakh crore is sanctioned under GECL, whichever is earlier. The main objective of the scheme is to provide an incentive to member lending institutions to increase access and enable availability of additional funding facility to MSME borrowers, in view of the economic distress caused by the COVID-19 crisis, by giving them 100 per cent guarantee for any losses suffered by them due to non-repayment of the GECL funding by borrowers. All MSME borrower accounts with an outstanding credit of up to Rs 25 crore as on February 29, which were less than or equal to 60 days past due as on that date, ie, regular, SMA-0 and SMA-1 accounts, and with an annual turnover of up to Rs 100 crore, would be eligible for GECL funding under the scheme. June 16, 2020 / 11:17 PM IST Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE updates | 1,859 fresh COVID-19 cases in Delhi take tally to over 44K; death toll climbs to 1,837: Bulletin The death from COVID-19 in the city mounted to 1,837 on Tuesday while 1,859 fresh coronavirus cases took the tally in the national capital to over 44,000-mark, according to the health bulletin released by the Delhi government. The death toll from COVID-19 in Delhi stood at 1,400 on Monday. Ninety-three fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours, the Delhi Health Department bulletin said. However, the bulletin also said the cumulative figure included all pending deaths reported to and audited by the Death Audit Committee. From June 12-14, over 2,000 cases were reported per day in the city. The highest spike of 2,224 fresh cases was recorded on June 14. The bulletin said the death toll from coronavirus infection has climbed to 1,837, and the total number of cases mounted to 44,688. (PTI) The New Zealand government lifted all remaining COVID-19 social distancing measures on June 9, allowing workplaces and public facilities to operate without taking any special precautions. Limits on crowd sizes have also been removed. On June 8, Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns government reported that there were no active cases of COVID-19 in the country. New Zealand has recorded 22 deaths from the coronavirus, and another 1,482 cases of people who have recovered. No new cases have been detected since May 22. Arderns Labour Party-led government is being widely hailed in the international media for having eliminated the virus, in contrast countries such as the US where governments are forcing a return to work even as cases continue to soar. In an article for the Conversation, public health experts Michael Baker and Nick Wilson said modeling by the Universities of Otago and Auckland shows there is more than 95 percent likelihood that there is no virus left in New Zealand. The only way to be certain that the virus is stamped out, however, would be mass testing of the population. Although the government is encouraging people with mild symptoms to be tested, scientists internationally estimate as many as half of all COVID-19 carriers are asymptomatic. New Zealand has tested only about 6 percent of its population (312,648 people). At present there are only enough test kits for another 296,667 people, according to the Ministry of Health. Even if New Zealand is free from the virus, Baker and Wilson warned that with the pandemic continuing to rage throughout the world, New Zealand remains at risk of a second wave. Businesses are demanding that New Zealand reopen its border with Australia, where state governments are lifting restrictions and reopening schools even though the virus has not been suppressed. The Ardern government has already appeased businesses by lifting lockdown restrictions in April and May earlier than public health experts recommended, in order to send people back to work. To prepare for future outbreaks, Wilson and Baker pleaded for an urgent overhaul of the health system, including the establishment of a new national public health agency for disease prevention and control. They also called for the mandatory use of facemasks on public transport and airlines. Wilson told Radio NZ on June 10 that New Zealands contact-tracing systems were way behind countries like Taiwan or South Korea. Were reliant on manual tracing systems and a pretty low-quality app, he said. He called for a royal commission of inquiry into the pandemic and an upgrade to public health services which have been run down for decades. The health system would be quickly swamped if another outbreak is not contained. The New Zealand Herald reported on May 28 that the countrys 12 regional public health units, which are responsible for disease control, have an annual budget of $440 million, which is $80 million less than 10 years ago. A letter to Ardern signed by 50 public health experts, dated May 4, states that the COVID-19 response has exposed an extremely concerning realitythat there is a massive and hugely problematic shortfall in New Zealands public health investment. A stock take of hospital infrastructure released this week found that $14 billion is needed over the next decade to fix problems with buildings including operating theatres, intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency departments. Dozens of buildings are in poor or very poor condition. Six out of 10 ICUs assessed did not have up-to-standard negative pressure rooms, used to isolate COVID-19 patients. Some rooms had doors with inadequate seals. The media reported on June 12 that St John Ambulance service, which is funded through charitable donations and partially by the government, is in severe financial trouble. Chief executive Peter Bradley told staff the service needed to save $30 million and as part of this we will need to cut back on staff numbers. Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers held nationwide strikes in 2018 and 2019, with demands, including an increase in staffing levels, to alleviate the extreme pressure on hospitals. These struggles were sold out by the trade union bureaucracy, which echoed the Ardern governments claims that there was no money to immediately address the crisis. The 2018 nurses strike, for instance, ended with a deal valued at just $500 million, including a meagre 3 percent pay increase and no significant staff increase. The same government responded to the pandemic by handing out more than $11 billion, so far, to businesses in the form of subsidies, not counting tax concessions and loans. The Reserve Bank has agreed to spend up to $60 billion on quantitative easing: printing money to buy financial assets and prop up the markets and the wealth of the super-rich. The government has begun an advertising campaign calling on the public to unite for the recovery from COVID-19, including by buying Kiwi-made goods to help get our businesses and communities humming. Ardern has described New Zealanders as a team of five million. Contrary to this nationalist propaganda, the country is deeply divided and social inequality is soaring. The ruling class is using the pandemic and the economic crisis to restructure class relations, with major attacks on jobs, wages and working conditions. Mass redundancies are continuing. In the past week, The Warehouse retail chain announced six store closures and up to 1,080 job cutsafter receiving $67 million in wage subsidies from the government. Air New Zealand, which is majority-owned by the government and has access to a $900 million government loan, warned that it may slash a further 2,000 jobs, on top of 4,000 already confirmed. The Association of Consulting Engineers estimates that 2,000 highly skilled consultants (15 percent of the workforce) could lose their jobs, largely due to councils and government agencies cutting spending. TVNZ, the state-owned broadcaster, has announced plans for up to 90 layoffs, following similar announcements by private media companies. Event Cinemas has so far cut 60 jobs nationwide. Vodafone estimates it will axe more than 100 positions. More attacks are looming. The OECD estimates that New Zealands gross domestic product will shrink by 8.9 percent this year or 10 percent if there is a second wave of COVID-19 infections. Its economic outlook report, released this month, predicts a surge in unemployment when the governments wage subsidy scheme expires in August. The author also recommends: A reality check on the ongoing spread of the coronavirus pandemic [9 June 2020] Pandemic intensifies social crisis in New Zealand [30 May 2020] Media glorify New Zealand prime minister as she ignores advice to continue pandemic lockdown [4 May 2020] The following editorial appeared in Tuesday's Japan News-Yomiuri: - - - The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has disrupted global manufacturing supply chains. The public and private sectors together should strive to promote the diversifying of suppliers that are not dependent on specific countries. Most seriously affected has been the automobile industry. As parts could not be supplied from China, where the virus first spread, Japanese automakers' domestic factories have been forced, one after another, to temporarily suspend operations since February. This arose because, as competition has intensified, extensive cost reductions have resulted in parts imports from China increasing to as much as 30% of all parts imports. Personal computers were also in short supply at one point due to a delay in parts procurement. The handover of homes was delayed in some cases when imports of equipment such as toilets and bathtubs stagnated. All of these cases can be said to highlight the fragility of supply chains that rely on China. In some cases, a single missing component can lead to a shutdown in production. It is important for companies to check their procurement networks again and identify important parts. Including the securing of alternative supply sources, it is desirable to create a supply network that is resistant to risks. Faced with the trade friction between the United States and China, companies have already started shifting their factories from China to other places, such as the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It will be effective to accelerate this trend. By using information technology to grasp the production situations of overseas clients, it is said that companies will be able to respond flexibly in an emergency. It is hoped that such efforts will be strengthened. Returning production bases to Japan is an option for lowering risks. As a measure against the coronavirus, the government has established a subsidy system for companies that relocate to Japan their product or material manufacturing bases. Amid the globalization of the economy, however, expanding domestic production without much consideration cannot be deemed realistic. The government needs to carefully determine which production facilities should be retained in Japan and specify the priority areas that should return to the country. The European Union, looking to reduce its dependence on China, adopts a strategy of encouraging companies to return to the EU the production bases in enterprises where demand is expected to increase, such as batteries for electric vehicles and pharmaceuticals. In Japan, major challenges remain in securing medical supplies, such as masks and protective clothing. The domestic production system for materials that are indispensable in an emergency should be expanded. Sony Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. are among the companies that have supported the production of face shields and ventilators. Sharp Corp. has entered the production of masks. To prepare for a crisis, it is hoped that companies will consider whether they can further expand production collaboration across industry boundaries. The government should promote the establishment of a framework for international cooperation in which countries can provide emergency goods to each other, among other issues. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 21:50:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly RAMALLAH, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Palestine has stopped sending updated Palestinian population data to Israel, as part of its protest against the Israeli plan to annex parts of the West Bank. Under the Palestinian decision of abolishing the agreements with Israel, the Palestinian Authority (PA) began to register the newly born Palestinians, issue identity cards to 16-year-old teenagers and Palestinian passports without updating Israel. However, the newly registered Palestinians could face Israeli penalties including refusing to recognize their identity cards and passports, which will ban them from traveling in the future with their parents through the crossing points that Israel controls. Yousef Harb, director general of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, told reporters in Ramallah that over the last month, his ministry did not send any data to the Israeli side to update the Palestinian population. He said that the measure is part of the Palestinian leadership's decision, which was made last month to halt all agreements, understandings and coordination with Israel. The Palestinian decision was made in response to the Israeli government's plan to annex large parts of the West Bank and impose Israeli sovereignty on the settlements built in the West Bank. "Under the previous bilateral agreements, it is necessary to send the updates of the Palestinian population record to the Israeli side, but now after the abolition of the agreements, it is not necessary," said Harb. Asked about the possibility of transferring the updates to the Israeli side through an international mediator, Harb said "talking about a third party is not in the consideration of the Palestinian leadership." He added that in case the crossing points and borders are opened, "we will contact international parties to intervene and facilitate the traveling" for the Palestinians. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye had earlier stated that the international organizations will be the third party to hold contracts between Israel and Palestine. Under Oslo agreements signed between Israel and the Palestinians in 1993, the Palestinian side used to send a daily update of the Palestinian population record, including the newly born and the deceased, as well as the issuing of new identity cards and passports. The crisis of coronavirus pandemic still obstructs the movement and traveling of the Palestinian population through the crossing points that are controlled by Israel in the West Bank and those controlled by both Israel and Egypt in the Gaza Strip. Eassam el-Arouri, director of Jerusalem Center for Legal Support, told Xinhua that Israel has benefited from having the updated record of the Palestinian population, not only in social terms but also in security affairs. "Israel does not need the Palestinian population record to serve the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza, but to serve its security record," he said. Enditem A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a judge's decision to become Facebook friends with a woman whose child custody case he was hearing created, at the very least, the appearance of bias. The incident involving Barron County Circuit Judge Michael Bitney is the first case of its kind in the state and one that could test the boundaries of social media use by judges in the years ahead. Bitney had been overseeing a custody dispute between Timothy Miller and Angela Carroll in June 2017, when he accepted Carroll's friend request on Facebook. The judge had just overseen a two-day evidentiary hearing, in which Carroll was seeking full custody of her son, citing domestic abuse at the hands of Miller as justification for her request. Bitney gave the parties 10 days to submit written arguments. After they did, and before he ruled on the case, Bitney accepted Carroll's Facebook friend request. While waiting on the judge's ruling, Carroll liked 18 of Bitney's Facebook posts - 'loving' two of them and commenting on two more. The incident involving Barron County Circuit Judge Michael Bitney is the first case of its kind in the state and one that could test the boundaries of social media use by judges in the years ahead Bitney didn't comment or like any of hers though he didn't deny reading them. Miller, meanwhile, was said to be unaware of the social media connection between the judge and plaintiff. The bulk of Carrolls reactions to Bitney's posts were 'likes' to prayers and Bible verses that he posted. None of the posts were directly related to the pending custody case. However, she also shared or liked several third-party posts that were related to domestic violence, the court ruling said. 'Carroll was effectively signaling to Judge Bitney that they were like-minded and, for that reason, she was trustworthy,' Justice Rebecca Dallet wrote for the majority. A month later Bitney ruled that Miller had abused Carroll, gave her sole custody of their son, and ordered a review of Miller's child support obligations. On the same day the ruling was issued, the guardian ad litem for the child learned that Carroll had posted on Facebook that 'the Honorable Judge granted everything we requested' and then discovered Carroll and Bitney were Facebook friends. After the Facebook friendship was discovered, Miller asked the judge to reconsider his ruling. The judge said he was impartial, noting that he had simply accepted her friendship but did not 'like' or comment on any of her posts. He also said that he had already decided on his ruling prior to accepting her Facebook friend request. No 'reasonable person ... would seriously call into question the courts objectivity or impartiality,' the judge said. A state appeals court later ruled in Miller's favor, saying the judge's actions created a substantial risk of bias resulting in the appearance of partiality. It ordered that the custody case proceed with a different judge and the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed. A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a judge's decision to become Facebook friends with a woman whose child custody case he was hearing created, at the very least, the appearance of bias (File photo) After the Facebook friendship was discovered, Miller asked the judge to reconsider his ruling. The judge said he was impartial, noting that he had simply accepted her friendship but did not 'like' or comment on any of her posts. He also said that he had already decided on his ruling prior to accepting her Facebook friend request In Tuesday's ruling, the court determined that 'the extreme facts of this case rebut the presumption of judicial impartiality,' a due process violation. Justice Annette Ziegler also used the case to 'strongly urge' Wisconsin judges to 'weigh the advantages and disadvantages of using electronic social media like Facebook.' 'I am concerned that no matter how cautious and attentive the judge may be, a judge who uses electronic social media may expose both the judge and the judiciary as a whole to an appearance of bias or impropriety,' she wrote as part of the 4-3 majority. But Justice Brian Hagedorn, in a dissent, said even though the case involves social media, 'an area comparatively unexplored in judicial ethics circles,' the facts are rather ordinary and the judge's actions did not violate the due process rights of the father as he fought for custody rights. There's not enough evidence to show whether the Facebook friendship unfairly influenced the judge, Hagedorn said. 'Judges are people too,' Hagedorn wrote. 'The very concept of an impartial judiciary depends upon the belief that judges can manage through their biases, news feeds, political supporters, former co-workers, and neighbors to render decisions without fear or favor to any party.' The case presented the question of whether a judge can violate due process rights by becoming friends with someone on Facebook. That hasn't been addressed yet by the U.S. Supreme Court, making the case one it may want to take up, said attorney Brandon Schwartz. 'Social media is obviously not going away,' said Schwartz, who represented the mother fighting for custody of her child.'It would be an opportunity to provide some guidance by the U.S. Supreme Court to all of the courts across the country.' The ruling was the latest in a series of examples across the country where a judge's actions on social media call into question their ability to fairly consider cases before them. For example, two years ago the Florida Supreme Court said judges could be Facebook friends with attorneys. Schwartz said the Wisconsin case was the first case of its kind where a violation of due process rights was alleged because of a judge becoming friends with someone on Facebook. 'It's an issue the U.S. Supreme Court may have an interest in,' he said. Unidentified men allegedly drugged and gang-raped a 16-year-old domestic worker on Friday after luring her to a secluded place from the New Delhi Railway station on the pretext of helping her board a train to her home state of Jharkhand, police said on Monday. A police officer said the survivor, who worked in an East Delhi neighbourhood, was not in a position yet to tell investigators much about the crime scene and how many suspects were involved. We do not have any hard clues right now, but we hope to solve the case soon and catch the culprits, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The officer said the girl left the house where she was employed on Friday evening and reached Anand Vihar railway station. She somehow managed to reach the New Delhi railway station where she came across two to three men who promised to help her board a train to Jharkhand. They allegedly led her out of the station and took her to an unknown location where they forced her to drink alcohol and allegedly raped her. Since the girl was intoxicated at that time and is not aware of the topography of the region, she is unable to help us with details of the crime spot, said the officer. The men abandoned the girl, who walked for the next few hours, before a policeman noticed her disoriented condition and brought her to the Kotwali police station. Our women officers interacted with her to get to know about the crime. The survivor was fed and medically examined, said the officer. The survivor has been handed over to the Child Welfare Committee. Senior police officers authorised to speak to the media refused to comment. Police have registered a case of gang rape and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has dashed any remaining hope that the state would have retained a single cent of its predicted $151 million surplus this year. Coronavirus stimulus packages have wiped out both federal and state government surpluses, and Queensland faces an uphill battle to get back on its feet. Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick in Question Time. Credit:Dan Peled/AAP Unveiling stage two of the state's plan to take Queensland's economy off life support, Mr Dick said "the size of the challenge before us is daunting". "No government in Australia can think of delivering a surplus," he told the Parliament on Tuesday. The threat to the Arab region of Turkeys irredentism is real. Ankara is eyeing not so much a neo-Ottomanism as a return to the Ottoman Empire, writes Mohamed Abdel-Qader Numerous policies and statements betray the nature of Turkish strategies towards its Arab neighbours with the aim of securing a permanent presence on their territories. The measures, rubrics and contexts leave little doubt that Turkey has embarked on a project to revive old bonds, a movement that former prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu termed neo-Ottomanism. In pursuit of this project, Justice and Development Party (AKP) governments exploit the harsh circumstances in other countries. Often military bases are the first foothold in a process that seeks to connect foreign territories more closely to Turkey than to the central authorities at home. It is a modus operandi more keeping with the old Ottomanism rather than anything new. Turkey has military bases in Syria, Iraq, Qatar and Somalia. Most recently it has set its sights on Libya where it now operates a naval base in Misrata and an airbase in Watiya. As a general rule, Turkish policy towards the Arab region prefers muscle flexing, sabre rattling and brinksmanship as a means to impose de facto realities. Such rough tactics are the AKPs methods of choice for expanding Turkish influence in the Middle East. Its military pacts with local militant organisations and militias, and most recently with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, are part of the process and, in some cases, the packaging. Like the groups with which it enters into league, Ankara targets soft states to expand its influence into permanent military presences while its language of diplomacy and bartering is articulated at gunpoint. Such policies and behaviours are not temporary shifts in tactics or transient phenomena. They are a manifestation of a fundamental change in the Turkish political mentality which has grown increasingly ultranationalist, religiously fanatic and bellicose. LEGITIMISATION DEVICES: Turkeys ability to manoeuvre, escalate politically and intervene militarily in the region has capitalised on Arab weakness, Iranian pressures on the Arab region, and a period of latency in Egypts regional leadership due to Egypts need to rebuild capacities and avoid risky adventures. Turkey is also aware of sharpening international divisions, especially those caused by the Russian return to the regional and international scenes, which have opened opportunities that had not been present two decades ago. In particular, Turkey has seized on inter-European and trans-Atlantic divides in order to move into grey areas and to act counter to the policies of its Western allies which are at odds with each other over dozens of bilateral and international issues. Turkeys neo-Ottoman brand of ethnocentric nationalism is the primary driver of its aggressive strategy to occupy portions of the Arab world. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Libya and other countries of North Africa are the heritage of his forefathers and the legacy of his country. In a recent speech, he said: Turkey has a vast historical and civilisational basin. The Mediterranean and North Africa are an important part of that basin. Libya is the legacy of our Ottoman Empire. The new Turkish policy is to legitimise its old policies of imperial conquest and military occupation. It has developed some new means as well, some involving Turkification through the dissemination of Turkish language and culture. It has mobilised electronic armies, hundreds of internet sites, dozens of satellite television stations to infiltrate societies and advance its foreign policies. In tandem with its military drives in Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Libya, Ankara has expanded its Turkish language education programmes, cultural centres abroad and foreign student grant programmes. Even in its official rhetoric, its expansionist designs are becoming less and less disguised. On the 98th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic, President Erdogan paid tribute to the leader of the war of independence, the builder of our republic and its first president, Ghazi (warrior) Mustafa Kemal. He went on to say: We challenge all who reduce the history of our country to 90 years. We must take all measures, including the revision of our textbooks starting from primary school. Turkey cannot be confined to 780,000 square kilometres. Former Turkish president Abdullah Gul, a co-founder of the AKP, has made similar intimations. He once stated that Turkey relinquished Mosul to Iraq, but if that country were to undergo partition, Turkey would have certain rights to claim. More recently, in a speech in Bursa, Erdogan said: We did not accept our current borders willingly... Some people ask out of total ignorance what Turkey has to do with Iraq or Syria. All that geography is part of our soul. Turkish media has disseminated maps depicting the areas once under Ottoman control. One map effectively presents Turkeys plans to expand its present-day borders to include Mosul and Kirkuk in Iraq, and a long strip of territory in northern Syria. In addition to reviving ancient historical claims, the Erdogan regime has been advancing its agenda through relations with Turkmen minorities, some Iraqi Kurdish parties and some Sunni forces. THE HISTORICAL DIMENSION: Ankara sought to exploit the security breakdown in the Middle East that followed the Arab Spring in order to export the structural weaknesses that pervade the Turkish state due to sectarian, ethnic and regional conflicts in Anatolia. Towards this end, it strove to add an Ottoman layer of identity on top of the Ataturk Turkic and Anatolian identity of the state, drawing on the broader Islamic bond, which became a unifying theme in its foreign policy. Then, harking back to the Ottoman era and Turkeys centricity as the seat of the caliphate, Erdogan has repeatedly called for amendments to the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne in accordance with which the allied powers recognised the Turkish republic in its current boundaries. The pro-Erdogan historian Kadir Misiroglu deplored the treaty as a defeat and degradation, because in signing it the Turks relinquished their leadership of the Muslims and settled for a small patch of land. Turkey has taken a number of actions to alter its official borders with Arab countries. It was no coincidence that its first military operation into Syria coincided with the 500th anniversary of the battle of Marj Dabeq (8 August 1516). Ankaras pretext for the operation has less to do with the alleged plans of Syrian Kurds to establish an autonomous government in northern Syria than with its own territorial designs. In a meeting with Turkish mukhtars in Ankara, Erdogan said that the areas in northern Syria that threatened to become a terrorist belt fell within the borders of the Turkish National Charter. Under the charter, adopted by the Turkish parliament in 1920, Turkey claims the right to determine the fate of such territories outside its boundaries, as Mosul, Aleppo and Kirkuk. Turkeys positions on many events in Iraq have been informed by AKP irredentism. A government spokesman held that Ankara retained historical rights based on bilateral and international agreements which, he stressed, referred to the Lausanne Treaty of 1923 and the Ankara Treaty of 1926. It is often the case, therefore, that Turkish reactions to developments in Iraq have less to do with their impacts on Turkish interests than with the regimes perception of Turkish historical rights in Mosul and the rights of Turkmen in Kirkuk. In the pursuit of its designs Turkey relies on local proxies: the Turkmen, Peshmerga and National Mobilisation Forces in Iraq, and the Free Army and Al-Nusra Front in Syria. In Libya, it relies on mercenaries and remnants of terrorist groups that it has shipped over from Syria in order to advance its expansionists project there and elsewhere in North Africa. The Turkish regime has its heart set on the vast natural resources of the Arab region to support its expansionist project, which it has been pursuing militarily, through its proxies and by means of its Turkification drives. It is pursuing these designs most intensely in western Libya, northern Syria and northern Iraq where the Turkish regime cultivates factions that subscribe to its ideological and political agendas. Already in some places Turkish flags flutter atop some government buildings and pictures of Erdogan grace the walls inside. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: [June 16, 2020] PagoFX, Santander's International Money Transfer Service, Introduces a Solution for Sole Traders, New Currencies and Extends Its No-fee Programme LONDON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Additionally, PagoFX is now available on any device through PagoFX.com The new solution, available for the 3.5 million sole traders in the UK, will accommodate everyone from freelance creative professionals, to tech developers, to microbusinesses and homemade crafters. traders in the UK, will accommodate everyone from freelance creative professionals, to tech developers, to microbusinesses and homemade crafters. No-fee programme extended for two more months, until mid-August. 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Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1191840/PagoFX_Logo.jpg Media contact [email protected] +44(0)203-971-4304 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi, June 16 : On a tragic day when Indian soldiers were involved in a violent border skirmish in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, almost in parallel the Pakistan foreign office lashed out at India. The Pakistan foreign office, exposing its usual Janus face, categorically rejected Indian MEA's statement on the involvement of Indian High Commission officials in the "hit-and-run" incident and possession of fake currency. In a typical diplomatic double speak, Pakistan directed its ire at the supposed irresponsible statement and 'baseless allegations' made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in the matter relating to the involvement of Indian High Commission officials in a "hit-and-run" incident and possession of fake currency. It went on to say that the MEA's statement was a reprehensible attempt to distort facts and deny the culpability of these officials in criminal offences. Then Pakistan double speak claimed that two officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Dwimu Brahma and Selvadas Paul, were over-speeding and crashed their car into a pedestrian on Monday. The pedestrian was seriously injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. The officials attempted to flee from the scene; however, some passersby who witnessed the incident stopped them from fleeing and informed the Police. The police rushed to the scene and took the officials to the police station. During the course of investigation, Pakistan claimed that fake currency was also recovered from the afore-mentioned officials. After it was confirmed that the said officials were from the Indian High Commission, they were released and handed over to a senior diplomat from the Indian High Commission. The litany of woes continued with the Pakistan foreign office adding, "The senior Indian diplomat was reminded that possession of fake currency and 'hit-and-run' after an incident are serious offences. Such illegal actions and reckless conduct by the officials of the Indian High Commission are against the law and established diplomatic norms. He was also reminded of the Indian High Commission's obligations to ensure that its members did not engage in illegal activities and adhered to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961." According to the Pakistan foreign office: "The Indian MEA's litany of baseless allegations is yet another attempt to malign Pakistan and a part of desperate efforts to divert attention from India's state-terrorism in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IoJ&K). The BJP government must realise that its irresponsible policies and unilateral actions are increasingly imperiling peace and security in the region. India must act responsibly in the interest of regional peace and stability." Uri: Security forces have arrested two men from PoK who have been working for Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM and acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the Line of Control(LoC) in Uri sector in Kashmir, the Army said. Security forces have arrested two PoK nationals who have been working for Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit and acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the Line of Control in Uri Sector, an army official said. The official said the two men were apprehended in a joint operation by the Army and BSF close to the LoC on September 21. One of the arrested men is believed to have acted as a guide for the four JeM terrorists who attacked an Army base in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday. During the investigation, the individuals have revealed their identities as Ahasan Kursheed alias DC, a resident of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan, a resident of Pottha Jahangirboth in PoK, the official said. He said the duo was recruited two years ago by JeM and were guiding militants to infiltrate across the LoC. The details provided by them are being examined and corroborated by the concerned agencies, the official said, adding the two men are now in the custody of the Army and are being interrogated. The arrested men were initially believed to have told their interrogators that they had inadvertently crossed the LoC. The arrest comes six days after the deadly attack by four heavily armed JeM terrorists in Uri in which 18 soldiers were killed. The four terrorists were also killed in the encounter. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Israel is beset, mostly by verbal threats, on all sides. Few shots are fired at Israel, using any sort of weapon. The primary threats to Israel are Iran (via Syria, Lebanon and Gaza) and Hamas (Gaza and West Bank). The Fatah government in the West Bank is also threatening violence if Israel does not back off on plans to annex Israeli populated parts of the West Bank. Fatah has nothing to threaten with. Several terror campaigns since 2000 have one thing in common; all failed. No just fail fail but often embarrassing fail. Iran has pulled back on the aggressive moves against Israel and is apparently relying on the American presidential elections in November to bring to power a more pro-Iran and anti-Israel government. Syria would prefer to make a separate peace with the Americans and the rest of the Arab world. Iran will not allow that and as long as Iran has over 50,000 mercenaries in Syria, a separate peace with the U.S. and Arab League is not going to happen. Syria is the costliest foreign adventure Iran has taken on, even with the much reduced budget for such foreign wars. The Iranian clerics are still obsessed with attacking and destroying Israel. Most Iranians agree with the Arab world that is not likely to happen. For over 70 years most of the Moslem world has sought to destroy Israel and has nothing but a long list of military defeats and other failures to show for it. In fact, the current Iranian effort to gain control of the Moslem Holy Places Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia has more and more Arab states openly allying themselves with Israel. Prominent Gulf Arabs are more frequently discussing this Israeli alliance openly. This is unusual because in the past such public statements would have triggered violence in the streets and Arab media. No more. The Iranian clerics, or at least their IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) bodyguards are still undertaking expensive efforts to attack Israel. In Syria, that means about 50,000 Iranian mercenaries now wearing Syrian Army uniforms and moving into bases near the Israeli border. These Syrian soldiers are paid by Iran to take orders from Iran, despite the Syrian uniform. This is demoralizing for Syrian troops and the Syrian government. If these Iranian Syrian soldiers attack Israel the Israelis will attack Syria, including pro-Assad cities that have so far avoided major airstrikes. This is what happens in Lebanon when Iran-backed Hezbollah goes to war with Israel. Then there is Turkey, which also avoids war with Israel yet portrays Israel as an enemy of Islam. Turkey would prefer that Iran do the same and go home. Many Iranians and Syrians openly agree with Russia and Turkey. The Iranian government responds with Israeli airstrikes are killing people in Syria. Syrians note that most of the dead are Iranians or mercenaries (Arabs or Afghans) on the Iranian payroll. The Iranian government deliberately keeps as few Iranians as possible in bases likely to be hit. Iranians getting killed in Syria, even if they are IRGC Iranians are very unpopular back in Iran. Syrians just dont like all these Syrians who are working for Iran or Turkey as mercenaries and getting killed by whoever. The Assads would like the Iranian forces, most of them mercenaries, to leave but the Iranians refuse. Israel tells the Assads that if they stick with Iran the Assads will be destroyed and Iran will suffer another defeat. The Assads realize that the Iranians are fanatics about destroying Israel and that the Israelis have demonstrated an ability to counter any move the Iranians make. Moreover, all the other Arab states consider the Assads traitors for aligning themselves with the Iranians, who are quite openly at war with Arab control of Arabia. Worse, no one has much sympathy for the Assads, who have very few good qualities. Despite this, the Assads apparently side with Russia and Israel rather than Iran. What this comes down to is the fact that Iran is a foreign (Indo-European, not Arab) power that wants to increase its direct control over Syria. Russia, Turkey, the U.S. and Israel do not. Since 2012 Israel has carried out a growing number of air raids on Iranian targets in Syria. The targets are mostly Iranian weapons storage sites, bases and now missile assembly operations. Since 2012 there have been about 38 airstrikes a year but there have already at least that many so far in 2020. Its not unusual for there to be four or more airstrikes a week. These air attacks use various types of smart bombs and guided missiles and rarely miss or are aborted. The Syrians frequently claim to have intercepted Israeli air-launched (often from inside Lebanon or Israel) missiles but the reality is that few of the Israeli missiles fail to hit their targets. Commercial satellite photos are available to determine damage and there is always a lot of it. Iran and Syria complain that the formidable Russian air defense system in Syria is not used to stop the Israelis. The Russians dont want a fight with the Israelis, if only because the Israelis might publicly demonstrate the ineffectiveness of Russian air defense systems. These systems are a major export item for Russia and the Israelis could reduce those export sales with demonstrations of how to get past the Russian air defenses. June 15, 2020: Egypt is trying to revive its economy after the covid19 virus quarantines are lifted. At the same time, Egypt continues coping with new covid19 infections. So far the virus has infected 453 per million Egyptians and killed 16 per million. Most of the deaths occurred in the last month. Emphasis has been on reducing the virus presence in areas frequented by foreign tourists. The national health system in Egypt is largely non-existent and many cases of covid19 will go undetected as will deaths, which can be confused with any number of similar diseases. In contrast, Israel has the best health care system in the region and more of its population is regularly exposed to foreign travelers who unknowingly spread such diseases all over the world. So far Israel has suffered 2,100 infected per million Israelis and 33 dead per million. Israelis travel to foreign destinations more (per million people) than any other nation in the region. That means Israel was infected about the same time the rest industrialized nations were. The virus and quarantine response measures hurt the economy but those quarantine restrictions are now being lifted because there have been far fewer virus infections in the last month. The unemployment rate is on the decline from a record-high 25 percent, the highest ever for Israel. With infections and deaths continuing to fall the economy will be operating at full capacity by late 2020 and economic growth will return. In Gaza, Hamas resumed attacks on Israel with at least one rocket fired into Israel and several fire balloons launched into Israel over the weekend. None of the balloons caused any injuries or property damage. This increased violence is apparently related to Hamas demands that Israel allow Qatar to deliver $50 million in cash to Gaza to pay Hamas employees. Hamas and Israel have an unofficial understanding that if the cash gets through each month there will be no border violence (rockets, mortar shells, fire balloons and so on.) The recent Israeli parliamentary elections featured heavy criticism of allowing those cash transfers and calling them blood money paid to appease Hamas. Hamas is growing more concerned about the economic damage it has inflicted on Gaza because of its constant attacks on Israel. Hamas is trying to negotiate some kind of ceasefire that would lift the embargo on Gaza. Years of these efforts have not succeeded and may never do so because there are too many Islamic terror factions in Gaza that constant war with Israel and dont care about the Gaza economy. June 14, 2020: In the south (Gaza) a rocket was fired from Gaza into Israel where it exploded in a field. The next day Israel bombed an underground Hamas facility and fired on Hamas structures near the border. June 13, 2020: The UN declared Iran was definitely behind the September 2019 UAV attack on Saudi oil facilities and was smuggling weapons to Shia rebels in Yemen. Those weapons are used to attack Saudi Arabia and shipping in the Red Sea. All this was documented in the UN final investigation report, which also noted that Iran has set up similar UAV assembly operations in Iraq and Lebanon. Both of these countries have Iran-backed militias called Hezbollah. In Gaza Hamas launched several rockets into the sea. This was apparently another test of locally made rockets. Israel opposes these tests as they are carried out without warning and endanger any ships that happen to be within range. June 12, 2020: Israel is being asked to openly take sides in the Libyan civil war. An official of the Egypt-backed LNA (Libyan National Army) made the announcement. Since 2014 the LNA has been fighting Islamic terrorist groups and later the UN backed GNA (Government of National Accord) in Tripoli. There are two Libyan governments and the other one is the HoR (House of Representatives) government based in eastern Libya. The HoR has effective military capabilities in the LNA, which has been fighting since April 2019 to take the last GNA stronghold of Tripoli. This is the largest city in Libya and the traditional capital. Egypt has long backed the HoR because the LNA had taken control of the Egyptian border and helped keep Islamic terrorists out of Egypt. By 2018 Egypt was certain that the LNA had pacified eastern Libya up to and including the Egyptian border. That was always the main Egyptian concern. Egypt worked with the UAE to support the LNA and while Egypt is less active but the UAE and Saudi Arabia are still major supporters of the LNA as is Russia. In late 2019 Turkey began supplying a lot more weapons to the GNA and during the first week of January 2020 began sending troops. This is all about keeping the GNA alive at first but after a few more months the Turks had brought in nearly 10,000 Arab mercenaries and dozens of armed UAVs and other equipment. By the end of May, the LNA had to call off its Tripoli offensive because the Turkish forces had become too powerful. Turkey is technically an ally of the GNA, mainly because GNA officials signed an agreement with the Turks to claim offshore waters that actually belong to Greece. These water areas are believed to contain oil and natural gas deposits. The GNA is not a real Libyan national government and unable to establish treaties or territorial accords with any other nation. The Turks back the GNA because the GNA approves of the Moslem Brotherhood and many other Islamic radical groups that Turkey approves of. The UN is unwilling to block the Turkish intervention and European nations are divided. Several Arab nations are willing to back efforts to expel the Turks from Libya and that effort is escalating. The LNA has a major advantage because it controls most of Libya including most of the oil production and export facilities. The LNA has shut down oil exports to force the GNA to surrender. Now the GNA is using the Turkish mercenary forces to regain control of the Libyan oil. June 11, 2020: In southwest Syria (Damascus) an Israeli airstrike destroyed an Iranian facility, killing four Iranians and three Syrians. Several warehouses and other buildings were destroyed. June 10, 2020: In Gaza Hamas leaders were dismayed to discover that one of their senior officials had been recruited by Hezbollah to spy on the Hamas leadership for Iran. This included recording phone calls and reporting the movements of senior Hamas officials. Now Hamas fears there are more such Iranian agents and that Iran may be planning to overthrow Hamas and replace it with another Islamic terror group in Gaza that will be more cooperative with (take orders from) Iran. June 8, 2020: In western Egypt, the government sent combat units, including several dozen M1 tanks and about ten AH-64 gunships, to the Libyan border. This is in response to the retreat of the LNA (Libyan National Army), an Egyptian ally, from western Libya. Egypt supported LNA efforts to gain control over western Libya which had nearly succeeded. Then Turkey intervened. After that Russia reduced support for the LNA and called for discussions with Turkey, if only because Turkey and Russia are sort-of allies in Syria just as they are now sort-of enemies in Libya. Egypt is not sort-of about wanting Turkey out of Libya. The Turks apparently dont care what Russia, Egypt or anyone else wants. Turkey has come to stay in Libya and probably Syria as well. June 7, 2020: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province) another Israeli airstrike damaged an Iran base and killed at least twelve Iranian mercenaries while also destroying a lot of explosive material (rockets and ammo). Iran has noted that nearly all Iran-controlled Iraqi militia reinforcements moved to Syria are hit by an Israeli airstrike within days of their arrival. That is one reason these gunmen are moved to one of the Iranian bases in Deir Ezzor province that have some protection. That means bunkers, underground barracks and other well-protected facilities. These new arrivals do suffer some casualties from the airstrikes, usually including a few dead as well as many more wounded. Iran is unsure how the Israelis are obtaining knowledge of these new arrivals, as well as when new shipments of rockets and other weapons from Iran arrive. These shipments are also hit, usually with spectacular results as the stuff explodes in the warehouse or bunker it was stored in. June 6, 2020: In Egypt (Sinai) ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) murdered another elder of the Terabin tribe. During the last week, ISIL sought to kidnap men from another Bedouin Sinai tribe. Back in May ISIL beheaded three Terabin men and kidnapped another three. This was in addition to a large ISIL attack on the Bedouin village that left over a dozen Bedouin dead or wounded. There were several other ISIL attacks on Bedouin villages in May. All this ISIL violence is part of an effort to compel cooperation from the tribe. Such cooperation can range from simply not reporting ISIL movements to the security forces, up to actively supporting ISIL and allowing the Islamic terrorists to openly recruit from the tribe. These days ISIL rarely gets any degree of tribal cooperation. By 2018 Egypt had persuaded most of the Sinai tribes to work with the security forces to curb ISIL activity. As is usually the case ISIL arrogance and brutal tactics turned the Bedouin from neutrals (and s0metime allies) into implacable enemies. Over a hundred Bedouin were killed by ISIL between 2016 and 2018 and that has had an impact. This pro-government attitude has gone from Bedouin sharing information about ISIL activities to quietly accept weapons, vehicles and cash to assist in patrolling the Sinai. The Bedouin never pass up free weapons but working part-time for the security forces is OK as long as it increases security for their own tribe. For a long time the security forces were reluctant to supply the Bedouin with weapons, because of the risk they would eventually be turned against Egyptian forces. That is still a risk but right now ISIL is a much larger danger to everyone. ISIL persists in using violence against tribes it feels might succumb to such pressure. June 4, 2020: In western Syria (Hama province) Israel launched another airstrike against a Syrian military base and destroyed several buildings, killing 18 people including nine Iranian mercenaries that were also operating from the base. Syria claimed the air defense systems at the base shot something down but there was no evidence of that. Earlier attacks at this base had killed Iranian and other foreign technical experts from North Koreans and Russia. The base currently contains a workshop for assembling long-range rockets and installing satellite guidance systems. June 3, 2020: In the north, on the Lebanese border, Hezbollah continues to threaten attacks on Israel but so far there has been nothing but posturing by Hezbollah and posturing in return by the Israelis. Hezbollah cannot afford another war with Israel right now but does not want to show how weak it is. Media-friendly border incidents are staged regularly by both Hezbollah and Israel. June 1, 2020: In Egypt, the government has declared Sinai and Red Sea resorts safe (from covid19 and Islamic terrorists) for foreign tourists. May 31, 2020: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province) an airstrike, possibly Israeli, hit a convoy of armed men near the Al Bukamal crossing into Iraq. Three vehicles were damaged and five Iranian mercenaries were killed. May 30, 2020: In Egypt (Sinai) counterterrorism operations during the last few days left 19 Islamic terrorists and five soldiers dead. Thats about half the total casualties for the entire month of May. Security forces concentrated on raiding known or suspected Islamic terrorist hideouts and bomb-building workshops. In many cases all of the Islamic terrorists have fled these locations before the troops arrive, leaving behind weapons, explosives and other gear. May 27, 2020: Russian media reported that a Russian Peresvet mobile (truck-mounted) laser system had downed an Israeli UAV in southern Syria. Israel denied it and no one produced wreckage indicating otherwise. May 23, 2020: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province) three Iranian IRGC men died when their vehicle exploded on a road. No one witnessed the explosion and an examination of the wreckage indicated that the vehicle was hit by a missile, not a roadside bomb. Israel is the likely attacker as the Israelis have been using UAVs over Syria more frequently. May 20, 2020: Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia are demanding that Turkey get out of Libya. The Turks are not impressed and their presence in Libya reminds Arab nations why Turkey ruled most of the Middle East for centuries. These neighbors of Libya cannot ignore the Turkish invasion and the UAE, a Persian Gulf oil state that has long supported the LNA, is not backing down either. BRUSSELS, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ACT | The App Association released a statement from chairperson and founder Mike Sax on the European Commission's decision to open investigations into Apple's App Store rules. "We note the opening of the investigation and would like to underline to the European Commission the fact that the App Store makes it possible for thousands of small European developers to easily create and distribute their products and services worldwide, to the benefit of consumers. The store provides quality, security, and better user experience, essential for SMEs such as our members to build consumer confidence. "The App Store has seen tremendous success and innovation from small app makers because every developer is treated the same way, no matter their size, putting smaller developers on a level playing field with the big brands. Making exceptions for larger players with more bargaining power would distort competition and lead to higher costs for small developers. The app ecosystem works because everyone is part of it, and we will work to make sure the Commission hears the voice of small app makers, and not just big brands, so companies of all sizes can continue to thrive in the App Store." About the App Association: ACT | The App Association represents more than 5,000 app makers and connected device companies in the mobile economy. Organisation members leverage the connectivity of smart devices to create innovative solutions that make our lives better. ACT | The App Association is the leading industry resource on market strategy, regulated industries, privacy, and security. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/886168/ACT_Logo.jpg NBC is bringing back 30 Rock favorites for the network's upcoming Upfronts special. Liz Lemon and the gang will return to host the showcase of NBCUniversal projects for the 2020-2021 season, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The hour-long pre-recorded and scripted special - set to air July 16th - will be taking the place of the traditional in-person Upfronts, where casts, creators, advertisers and the media gather together to preview next year's offerings. Rock and roll: The cast of 30 Rock are coming back to host NBCUniversal's Upfronts special, which is set to air across their networks Fans of the whip-smart comedy can expect stars Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer, as well as a few surprises. The show will get wide exposure, set to rebroadcast across fellow NBCUniversal networks USA, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, Syfy and CNBC following its NBC premiere. It will also be available on Peacock, the NBCUnivesal streaming service. 30 Rock creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock were thrilled to have the chance to bring their cast back together, saying: 'We're all happy to have this excuse to (remotely) work together again for NBC. 'To quote Kenneth the Page, there are only two things we love in this world, television and everyone.' Evolving: The pre-recorded scripted special - set to air July 16th - will be taking the place of the traditional in-person Upfronts, where casts, creators, advertisers and the media gather together to preview next year's offerings When life gives you Lemon... Fans of the whip-smart comedy can expect stars Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer, as well as a few surprises Hitting it out of the Park: The 30 Rock-hosted Upfronts come on the heels of the very successful virtual Parks And Rec reunion from the end of April The 30 Rock-hosted Upfronts come on the heels of the very successful virtual Parks And Rec reunion from the end of April. Through the special NBCUniversal and friends were able to raise millions for Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund. NBCUniversal's chairman of advertising and partnerships Linda Yaccarino told the public she was excited to see the Upfronts evolve. 'At NBCUniversal, we're excited to produce an upfront that reflects a new reality and celebrates our relationship with viewers and advertisers alike,' she said. 'Historically, this event is about the future of programming; this year, it's about the future of our industrya future where we can meet audiences wherever they are, with the stories that move them. As the old saying goes... when life hands you Lemon, have her host the upfront!' Thrilled: 30 Rock creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock said 'We're all happy to have this excuse to (remotely) work together again for NBC. To quote Kenneth the Page, there are only two things we love in this world, television and everyone' Creative solution: NBCUniversal's 30 Rock special will serve several purposes according to media insiders, drumming up audience interest in upcoming projects and filling up vacant airtime while also serving as an ultra flashy pitch package for potential ad buyers The 30 Rock crew will also be joined by talent from across NBCUniversal's family of programming, which includes NBC, Telemundo, USA Network, Syfy, E!, Bravo and more. NBCUniversal's 30 Rock special will serve several purposes according to media insiders, drumming up audience interest in upcoming projects and filling up vacant airtime while also serving as an ultra flashy pitch package for potential ad buyers. While networks usually entice advertisers with events in May, brands have had to pivot in light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. ViacomCBS recently opted for digital presentations while Disney (parent company of ABC, Freeform, ESPN, Lifetime, FX and more) has been courting clients with 'customized, 30-minute showcases,' according to The Hollywood Reporter. The special will air July 16th at 8pm on NBC. Some Australian businesses are expected to still fall victim to the recession and "never open again", according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The Ruthvin Institute suggests one in 6 businesses will close as a result of the recession. It'll take two years to return the economy to pre-COVID-19 levels, and five years of 4% growth to catch up to where the country was headed prior, according to Morrison. Visit Business Insider Australia's homepage for more stories. While the government has presented a rosy vision of the future, it cannot ignore the cold hard fact of an Australian recession. Outlining the 'State of the Nation', Prime Minister Scott Morrison conceded not everyone will emerge from the recession unscathed, despite government programs costing upwards of $100 billion. "Without these measures, businesses would have simply fallen over, fallen victim, never to open again. This still may ultimately be the experience for some," he told the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) on Monday. It's certainly the expectation of forecasters. The Ruthven Institute, established by the founder of research called IBISWorld Phil Ruthven, predicts as many as one in six will close during the recession. "Australia faces an immense challenge as we look to recover from our first recession in three decades. Those words are hard to say. For many of us, I think for most Australians, it is still to sink in," Morrison said. However, despite maintaining that lifelines like the JobKeeper wage subsidy, JobSeeker and loan repayment holidays had provided a much-needed bridge to "many more", the PM remains steadfast in his stance that they will be phased out sooner rather than later. "Left in place for too long, not only will that damage the capacity of the Budget to deal with important essential services, but it will also dull the dynamism of the economy and prevent the adjustments that must necessarily take place to enable new jobs to be created and our economy to move forward," Morrison said. Story continues His address conceded that the "devastating" damage to the wider economy is undeniable with 30 months of job growth wiped out in April alone, with "still worse news ahead". A five-year recovery is now deemed "critical". "It is expected that over $100 billion of economic activity has been lost this year, and that it will take us an estimated two years at least, just to get back to the level we were at pre COVID-19," Morrison said. "Thats why we have a plan to lift growth, not just for the next few months, just not for now, but the next five years. We need to lift our economic growth rate by more than 1 percentage point above trend to beat the expected pre-COVID-19 GDP by 2025, to catch back up to where we were before COVID hit." With trend growth at 2.75%, it sets the government the immense task of lifting this to almost 4%. The OECD has forecast the economy will contract by 5% this year and rebound by 4.1% next year. To achieve this mean feat, the Morrison government this week laid out its newest stimulus program, dubbed JobMaker, to fast-track 15 national infrastructure projects. They include Inland Rail from Melbourne to Brisbane and the underwater Marinus Link providing electricity to Tasmania from Victoria. It won't be enough to prevent some businesses from failing, however. "The shutdown stopped around 15% of the nations GDP from generating output. In these and other badly-impacted industries, government support provides some help; but not for the two to three years it will take to recover to 2019 conditions," Ruthven said. If the government has any hope of turning the clock back quickly, it won't be the last stimulus package that the country sees. READ MORE: The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) rejected Cairos ceasefire initiative last week. The militias that back the GNA continue to press eastward, preparing for a showdown in the petroleum crescent in the Gulf of Sirte, and local news reports cite GNA security sources saying Syrian and other mercenaries have been despatched to reinforce Tripolis forces to the south. Turkey, however, which is backing the GNAs eastward thrust to seize control of Libyan oil storage facilities and terminals, as well as military bases in the vicinity, remains wary of Russia. According to a Turkish official, the main cause for the delay in launching operations in Sirte is the absence of an understanding between Ankara and Moscow. The latter has been pressing for a ceasefire, and supported the Cairo Declaration. Some reports from Libya have suggested that forces from the Russian Wagner Group are still on the ground in Sirte, which is why Ankara is dragging its feet. Yet Yusuf Katipoglu, a Turkish politician close to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), told the pro-GNA Tanasuh channel that Turkey would launch the offensive soon, regardless of what Moscow might say. Observers had expected Russian and Turkish officials to get together to discuss the situation. The fact that no meeting has taken place is a sign, they say, of the growing friction between Moscow and Ankara. It was also reported that GNA head Fayez Al-Sarraj had proposed a deal to Moscow, under which, in return for relinquishing its support for Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Moscow would receive lucrative construction contracts to compensate for the billions of dollars Russia lost with the fall of the Gaddafi regime. The reports add that Al-Sarraj also offered to hand over two Russians held in Tripoli for over a year on espionage charges. This week, as Cairo renewed its calls for a return to the Libyan political process as the only solution if stability is to be restored to Libya, it encountered a new crisis when pro-GNA militias abducted Egyptian workers and then broadcast video footage of their torture on the Internet. As news of the incident broke on Monday, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was speaking about the broad regional and international support Cairo had garnered for its peace-making efforts. The Egyptian initiative is consistent with current international and UN efforts and initiatives, he said. It aims to ensure the equitable representation of the three Libyan regions [Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan], and to unify and organise Libyan governing institutions and equip them to perform their duties, and to ensure a just and transparent distribution of Libyan wealth. Egyptian MPs urged a swift and strong response to the GNA militias abduction and torture of Egyptians. Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said Cairo would not allow the incident to pass unanswered, and would choose where, and how, to respond. Voicing her outrage at the abuse of Egyptian civilians in Libya, Immigration Minister Nabila Makram vowed Cairo would not allow the incident to go unanswered. She hinted at the possibility of recourse to force when she recalled how Egypt avenged the Egyptian Copts who were massacred by Islamic State terrorists in Libya. GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashaghas response to Egypts renewed calls for the return to the political process was noteworthy in that he is a leading hawk who opposed the Cairo Declaration. Egypt had a role to play in the Libyan political process, he said. On the incident involving Egyptian civilians, he said that his ministry had launched an investigation and would bring the perpetrators to justice. Egyptian MP Mustafa Bakri questioned Bashaghas credibility. Hes running a ministry made up of militias and is probably behind the incident himself. Libyan sources contacted by Al-Ahram Weekly are divided over whether Bashagha has the ability to resolve the crisis. They note that the men who detained the Egyptians in the video were all from Misrata, which Bashagha represented as a parliamentary member, and that he has strong ties with the Western militias, which he worked to reorganise under his ministry. A Libyan source in Tripoli told the Weekly: You need to take into consideration that there are tens of thousands of Egyptians living and working in this part of Libya. Though they are safe in the majority of places, this is not the case in areas that fall under the control of GNA militias that have an antagonistic relation with Egypt. Other sources doubt the militias could have acted independently in Tarhouna, which is where the incident occurred, because the strategic city is closely watched by the Interior Ministry. Libyan commentators report the GNA camp is fracturing over political differences. The latest rift occurred last week, between Interior Minister Bashagha and Vice Chairman of the Presidency Council Ahmed Maiteeq, over the role of Misrata militias in Tripoli, and now in the battle for Sirte. Maiteeq is reported to favour a ceasefire. It is noteworthy that Bashagha was the only GNA official that Aguila Saleh, the speaker of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives, mentioned during his speech at the launch of Cairos Libyan peace initiative. Bashagha personally suffers from the role those militias play in Tripoli, said Saleh. Subsequently, a number of militias in Tripoli agreed to form a league to defend their interests from the foreign mercenaries that now rival them, and also in the face of the reform plan that Bashagha announced recently. Cairo continues to seek information that will lead to the rescue of the detained Egyptians. It is aware that the broadcast of the video showing Egyptian civilians being tortured is intended to convey political messages. In addition to undermining the Egyptian role in the Libyan crisis, it seeks to frustrate Libyans who have placed hopes in this role. The militias have made no demands from Egypt, but the element of blackmail is clear, especially given the growing tide of Libyan appeals for Egyptian military intervention, and the circulation over Libyan social networking sites of images of Egyptian forces amassed along Egypts western borders. Cairo has made it clear that the forces are there for defensive purposes in light of the spiralling violence in Libya and that it remains determined to play an effective role in promoting a return to an inclusive political process in Libya. Nevertheless, an Egyptian source close to the developments told the Weekly that Egypt must ready itself for eventualities that could entail the use of military force in the event our national security is endangered. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Jason Manford turned delivery driver for Iceland on Tuesday. The funnyman, 39, took to Instagram to share a selfie while sitting in the front of his van in his uniform while sharing a caption alongside the shot reading: 'I'm guessing this is why mum's go to Iceland @IcelandFoods'. Speaking about his effort, he said: 'Massive thanks to Iceland who have offered me this opportunity to not just deliver some food to their loyal customers, but also for making a generous donation to charities that are close to my heart.' Frontline: Jason Manford turned delivery driver for Iceland on Tuesday In exchange for his valued contribution, Iceland has also made a donation to Jason's charity of choice, The Children's Adventure Farm Trust. Based in Cheshire, the charity provides holidays and days out for terminally ill, disabled or disadvantaged children from across the North West of England. Richard Walker, Managing Director at Iceland, said: 'Everyone at Iceland is extremely grateful for Jason's contribution today and he has certainly helped to lift spirits with our customers and heroic colleagues... 'Our stores are deeply rooted within their local communities, so it's a real privilege for us to be in a position where we can work with great people like Jason and donate to some worthy causes at the same time.' During his shift, Jason surprised workers at The Bread and Butter Thing charity in Trafford Park, Manchester with 500 worth of groceries. Here he is! Jason put his showbiz life aside to start a new role for the day It comes a month after the supermarket offered him a job after his application to work as a driver for Tesco was rejected - a decision he claimed to be 'livid' about. Last month, he joked he was 'livid' that Tesco had declined his application and admitted that he was 'only trying to do his bit' amid the coronavirus pandemic. Iceland replied to his tweet offering him work for a day and promising to make a donation to the NHS in his name. In response to Tesco's rejection, Jason had posted: 'Absolutely livid Tesco. I was only trying to do my bit. That's why comedians go to Iceland! It comes a month after the supermarket offered him a job after his application to work as a driver for Tesco was rejected - a decision he claimed to be 'livid' about Job offer: Iceland Foods replied to Jason's tweet, saying he can work with them for a day and the supermarket will make a donation to the NHS Thanks, but no thanks! The star's post, which appeared to be in jest, also included a screenshot of the email he received informing him they wouldn't be pursuing his application He went on to joke that he'll be keeping an eye on the new employee, and said: 'I hope the better person got and enjoys the job, I'll be watching.' But Iceland stepped in, saying: 'Our door is always open for you. Help us out for the day and we'll make a donation to the NHS in your name.' Jason's original post had included a screenshot of Tesco's rejection email informing him they wouldn't be pursuing his application. The email read: 'Hello Jason, we appreciate your interest to work for Tesco during these unprecedented times and thank you for your application for the Customer Assistant - Convenience. 'Regrettably we are unable to progress your application forward this time as the vacancy is now closed. Unfortunately, due to such a high volume of applications we are unable to provide any detailed feedback. Declined: The comedian said he was 'livid' that the store had declined his application and admitted that he was 'only trying to do his bit' amid the coronavirus pandemic 'If you are interest in other opportunities at Tesco, or would like to be kept in the loop about future jobs that may be right for you, keep your Tesco Career Centre up to date.' Jason had applied for a role at the Alderley Road Express in Wilmslow, which is local to his Cheshire home where he lives with wife Lucy Dyke and their children. Tesco responded to Jason following his posts on social media and claimed that he was rejected because he didn't meet the deadline for the application. Fuming: In response to the rejection, he posted on Instagram: ' Absolutely livid Tesco. I was only trying to do my bit' Wanting to help: Jason later defended his post after people accused him of 'taking the p**s' by applying for a job at his local supermarket A Tesco spokesman said: 'We've recruited around 50,000 temporary workers during the Coronavirus pandemic and they have played a huge part in helping us to serve customers safely during these unprecedented times. 'Jason's skills would have no doubt brought a lot of joy to our customers and colleagues, so it's a shame he didn't make the deadline for this vacancy. But should he ever want to join the Tesco family in the future, we'd be happy to receive an application from him.' Jason later defended his post after people accused him of 'taking the p**s' by applying for a job at his local supermarket. He said: 'A few people thought I was taking the p**s, being insensitive or making it up about my previous message about being turned down for a job as a Tesco driver. Struggle: Last month, Jason admitted he broke down in tears at the thought of having to learn to be a 'full-time dad' again in lockdown, speaking during an appearance on The Steph Show 'I applied 7 weeks ago when I thought, like everyone, it was basically wartime and it would require all hands on deck. 'Curtains got cancelled on the 16th & I applied on the 21st fo quite a few jobs). I have since managed to fill my 'spare time' doing some volunteer driving (this is not 'virtue signalling', just defending myself!) and homeschooling 6 kids (and doing our little quizzes and kids' comedy clubs!) and being made to clean my own house by my wife. 'At the same time I also don't believe 'we're all this together'. I'm more aware than ever the differences in society & chatting to some of the people I've driven the last few weeks has only highlighted how hard the lockdown has been for people with less money and space. 'I feel extremely fortunate. Hope you're all keeping safe and being kind to yourself and to others. EastEnders fans were left in tears on Tuesday night as the programme aired its final episode after running out of episodes due to the COVID-19 crisis. The hit BBC One soap will keep loyal viewers in suspense as they ended the show with a dramatic Sharon Mitchell cliffhanger. Production on EastEnders came to a halt in March, when the UK went into lockdown and most people were instructed to stay home, and work from home if they can. The End(er)! EastEnders fans were left in tears on Tuesday night as the programme aired its final episode after running out of episodes due to the COVID-19 crisis And for the first time in the soap's 35-year history, the show ran out of new material on Tuesday night and was forced to go on a hiatus in a BBC first. Tuesday's dramatic final episode ended with Sharon, played by Letitia Dean, being revealed as the new Queen Vic pub landlady. Viewers had been led to believe that Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) would be taking over the reins but Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) managed to trick the Walford hardman. Bombshell: The hit BBC One soap will keep loyal viewers in suspense as they ended the show with a dramatic Sharon Mitchell cliffhanger Naughty: Viewers had been led to believe that Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) would be taking over the reigns but Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) managed to trick the Walford hardman Just as Mick was about to sign over the Queen Vic, he dropped the explosive bombshell that there was in fact a new different landlord. Phil was left sceptical over the announcement as he protested: 'We had a deal. You're bluffing, there's no way you could have got a different buyer that quick.' To which Mick then led Phil and his equally baffled wife Linda (Kellie Bright) to the bar where Phil's estranged wife Sharon was pulling pints. In a typically dramatic Albert Square scene, Phil's scorned wife chillingly said: 'Hello Phil, what can I get you?' Revenge! Just as Mick was about to sign over the Queen Vic, he dropped the explosive bombshell that there was in fact a new different landlord Get out of my pub! In a typically dramatic Albert Square scene, Phil's scorned wife chillingly said: 'Hello Phil, what can I get you?' The camera then panned on to a smug Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Mick and Linda while Phil was left seething over the dramatic bombshell. Phil and Sharon have been at loggerheads after she decided to raise her illegitimate son Kayden rather than give him to his grandmother Karen while the Walford hardman also blamed her for Dennis' death, resulting in him kicking her out. Soap watchers were left delighted over the explosive ending as they admitted that they were in suspense over what will happen next between the two characters. Yet some viewers were left in tears over the final episode as they lamented the fact that their favourite soap would be off air for the foreseeable future. Smug: The camera then panned on to a smug Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Mick and Linda while Phil was left seething over the dramatic bombshell On person said: 'Noooo!!! I am really emotional #eastenders.' A different user put: 'I just cried at the end of Eastenders knowing it's the last one for a while. #EastEnders #f**kcovid @bbceastenders.' Another follower commented: 'If Eastenders ever had to end for good then tonight's episode was pretty perfect. 'Hello Phil what can I get ya?' #EastEnders #Sharon.' A different viewer joked: ''Hello, Phil! What can I getcha?'' - Sharon Watts 2020, Series 1, Finale, EastEnders. #EastEnders.' Mixed reaction: Soap watchers were left delighted over the explosive ending while some fans were left in tears over the soap finishing for the foreseeable future While another fan added: 'Gutted that was the last @bbceastenders episode tonight. Can't wait for it to return in September. 'Loved tonight's duff duff cliffhanger Sharon just bought the vic and said hello Phil what can I get you - Classic #EastEnders.' The cast have in fact returned to the set over the past couple of weeks, and production has restarted on new episodes, but these will not be ready for broadcast just yet. In place of its Monday and Tuesday episodes, a new series called Secrets From The Square, hosted by Stacey Dooley, will be shown. It was advertised during Tuesday's final episode. BBC One will also unearth iconic past episodes and treat fans to a does of nostalgia for the time being. Re-Stace-Ment! In place of its Monday and Tuesday episodes, a new series called Secrets From The Square, hosted by Stacey Dooley, will be shown. It was advertised during Tuesday's final episode Since EastEnders has never been aired in 'seasons' like other shows, this will be a milestone episode to many. It first hit screens in February 1985 and has been a staple of British evening TV ever since. The soap will return later in the summer, returning to its four days a week broadcasts, which were scrapped to release out the instalments that were in the can. But the show returns with shortened episodes; rather than the standard half-hour slots, they will be 20 minutes long to begin with. Executive Producer of the show Jon Sen said: 'Resuming production is incredibly exciting and challenging in equal measure. 'Since we postponed filming we've been working non-stop trialling techniques, filming methods and new ways of working so that we can return to screens four times a week as EastEnders should be. 'Filming will inevitably be a more complex process now so creating 20 minute episodes will enable us to ensure that when we return, EastEnders will still be the show the audience know and love.' Johnson is speaker at Northern State event Monday U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson will speak at the grand opening of Northern State University's Center for Public History and Civic Engagement. Coronavirus: Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh see a drop in COVID-19 cases India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, June 16: The number of COVID-19 cases, that is announced by the Union Health Ministry, can be seen rising rapidly in the country. But Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh are seen reporting a decline in the rate of new infections. These states have seen the rate of increase drop by nearly two per cent, giving relief to local authorities. LAC faceoff: 1 Indian officer and 2 soldiers killed in Chinese aggression| Oneindia News Will Solar eclipse 2020 mark the end of coronavirus? Find out what this Scientist has to say It can be seen that three of these states are the biggest source of migrant workers in India. The number of coronavirus cases started to swell when these workers decide to return home due to the nationwide lockdown. Since the number of migrants returning to home states has reduced, the rate of COVID-19 spread has also slowed down in these states. Speaking to reporters, Railway Board Chairman Vinod Kumar Yadav on Monday said, "Most migrant workers have reached their home destinations. We continue to coordinate with the state governments to send back remaining migrant workers." Everything you should know about Patanjali's COVID-19 cure Coronil On the other side, it can be seen that the Indian Railways has been running Shramik Special trains to ferry these migrants to their home states from different parts of the country. In Bihar, the number of coronavirus cases increased to 6,581 on June 15 from 3,923 on June 1. But, the rate of increase was 10.81 per cent in the second week of June as compared to about 12 per cent in the first week. According to reports, on May 1, around 2.1 million workers returned to Bihar when the Shramik Special trains started. Of them, only 2,50,000 came in two week of June. Uttar Pradesh government's health data shows that the weekly average of increase in the coronavirus cases in the first week of June was 412 cases per day, which reduced to 356 cases per day in the second week. In Madhya Pradesh, the number of new cases recorded has fallen from 1,424 in last week of May to 1,401 in second week of June. The reason for this is just 54,282 workers came back to the state in June as compared to over three lakh in May. On Earth, glowing oxygen is produced during polar auroras when energetic electrons from interplanetary space hit the upper atmosphere. This oxygen-driven emission of light gives polar auroras their beautiful and characteristic green hue. The aurora, however, is just one way in which planetary atmospheres light up. The atmospheres of planets including Earth and Mars glow constantly during both day and night as sunlight interacts with atoms and molecules within the atmosphere. Day and night glow are caused by slightly different mechanisms: night glow occurs as broken-apart molecules recombine, whereas day glow arises when the Sun's light directly excites atoms and molecules such as nitrogen and oxygen. On Earth, green night glow is quite faint, and so is best seen by looking from an 'edge on' perspective - as portrayed in many spectacular images taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This faintness can be an issue when hunting for it around other planets, as their bright surfaces can drown it out. This green glow has now been detected for the first time at Mars by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which has been orbiting Mars since October 2016. "One of the brightest emissions seen on Earth stems from night glow. More specifically, from oxygen atoms emitting a particular wavelength of light that has never been seen around another planet," says Jean-Claude Gerard of the Universite de Liege, Belgium, and lead author of the new study published in Nature Astronomy. "However, this emission has been predicted to exist at Mars for around 40 years - and, thanks to TGO, we've found it." Jean-Claude and colleagues were able to spot this emission using a special observing mode of the TGO. One of the orbiter's advanced suite of instruments, known as NOMAD (Nadir and Occultation for Mars Discovery) and including the ultraviolet and visible spectrometer (UVIS), can observe in various configurations, one of which positions its instruments to point directly down at the martian surface - also referred to as the 'nadir' channel. "Previous observations hadn't captured any kind of green glow at Mars, so we decided to reorient the UVIS nadir channel to point at the 'edge' of Mars, similar to the perspective you see in images of Earth taken from the ISS," adds co-author Ann Carine Vandaele of the Institut Royal d'Aeronomie Spatiale de Belgique, Belgium, and Principal Investigator of NOMAD. Between 24 April and 1 December 2019, Jean-Claude, Ann Carine and colleagues used NOMAD-UVIS to scan altitudes ranging from 20 to 400 kilometres from the martian surface twice per orbit. When they analysed these datasets, they found the green oxygen emission in all of them. "The emission was strongest at an altitude of around 80 kilometres and varied depending on the changing distance between Mars and the Sun," adds Ann Carine. Studying the glow of planetary atmospheres can provide a wealth of information about the composition and dynamics of an atmosphere, and reveal how energy is deposited by both the Sun's light and the solar wind - the stream of charged particles emanating from our star. To better understand this green glow at Mars, and compare it to what we see around our own planet, Jean-Claude and colleagues dug further into how it was formed. "We modelled this emission and found that it's mostly produced as carbon dioxide, or CO2, is broken up into its constituent parts: carbon monoxide and oxygen," says Jean-Claude. "We saw the resulting oxygen atoms glowing in both visible and ultraviolet light." Simultaneously comparing these two kinds of emission showed that the visible emission was 16.5 times more intense than the ultraviolet. "The observations at Mars agree with previous theoretical models but not with the actual glowing we've spotted around Earth, where the visible emission is far weaker," adds Jean-Claude. "This suggests we have more to learn about how oxygen atoms behave, which is hugely important for our understanding of atomic and quantum physics." This understanding is key to characterising planetary atmospheres and related phenomena - such as auroras. By deciphering the structure and behaviour of this green glowing layer of Mars' atmosphere, scientists can gain insight into an altitude range that has remained largely unexplored, and monitor how it changes as the Sun's activity varies and Mars travels along its orbit around our star. "This is the first time this important emission has ever been observed around another planet beyond Earth, and marks the first scientific publication based on observations from the UVIS channel of the NOMAD instrument on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter," highlights Hakan Svedhem, ESA's TGO Project Scientist. "It demonstrates the remarkably high sensitivity and optical quality of the NOMAD instrument. This is especially true given that this study explored the dayside of Mars, which is much brighter than the nightside, thus making it even more difficult to spot this faint emission." Understanding the properties of Mars' atmosphere is not only interesting scientifically, but is also key to operate the missions we send to the Red Planet. Atmospheric density, for example, directly affects the drag experienced by orbiting satellites and by the parachutes used to deliver probes to the martian surface. "This type of remote-sensing observation, coupled with in situ measurements at higher altitudes, helps us to predict how the martian atmosphere will respond to seasonal changes and variations in solar activity," adds Hakan. "Predicting changes in atmospheric density is especially important for forthcoming missions, including the ExoMars 2022 mission that will send a rover and surface science platform to explore the surface of the Red Planet." More information: "Detection of green line emission in the dayside atmosphere of Mars from NOMAD-TGO observations" by J.-C. Gerard et al. (2020) is published in Nature Astronomy. ExoMars is a joint endeavour of the European Space Agency and Roscosmos. The NOMAD experiment is led by the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (IASB BIRA), assisted by CoPI teams from Spain (IAACSIC), Italy (INAFIAPS), and the United Kingdom (Open University). This project acknowledges funding by the Belgian Science Policy Office, with the financial and contractual coordination by the European Space Agency Prodex Office, by the Spanish MICINN through its Plan Nacional, as well as by UK and Italian Space Agencies. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 08:44 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf07a01 2 Business export,import,trade-balance,trade-surplus,economic-growth,GDP-growth,recession,economic-contraction,Statistics-Indonesia,BPS Free Indonesias economy is expected to contract sharply in the second quarter this year as trade data show that both exports and imports nosedived in May amid a coronavirus-induced global economic slowdown. Economists have warned that falling imports in all goods categories point to lower demand and weaker manufacturing activities as well as investment, which will have a severe impact on the economy. Household spending and investment account for more than 70 percent of Indonesias gross domestic product (GDP). On that basis, we expect household spending and investment growth to contract, so second-quarter economic growth is projected to shrink by 2 percent to 3 percent, Bank Permata economist Josua Pardede said via text message on Monday. Indonesian imports plummeted to US$8.44 billion in May, down 42.2 percent from the same period last year, Statistics Indonesia announced on Monday. Imports of raw and intermediary materials, which account for more than 70 percent of total imports, plunged by 43.03 percent year-on-year (yoy) to $6.11 billion. Read also: Consumer confidence reaches historic lows amid layoffs At the same time, imports of consumer goods and capital goods tumbled by 39.83 percent and 40 percent yoy, respectively. Exports, meanwhile, fell 28.95 percent yoy in May to $10.53 billion, their lowest level since July 2016, due to reduced shipments of coal, coffee, palm oil, as well as oil and gas. With imports falling more than exports, the country achieved a trade surplus of $2.09 billion for the month. Lockdowns and social distancing measures implemented in countries around the world to contain the coronavirus spread have sapped global commerce and hit economic growth, disrupting supply chains and forcing factories and stores to shut down. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has projected that global trade will shrink by between 13 and 32 percent as the economic impact of the health crisis remains uncertain. The [May export and import] data is surprising, as [trade] fell more than expected, said Mirae Asset Sekuritas Indonesia economist Anthony Kevin in a phone conversation on Monday. Read also: Indonesia's exports, imports nosedive in May as COVID-19 restrictions hit trade It shows that peoples purchasing power is deteriorating faster than thought, he said, adding that he expected the economy to contract by 2 percent in the second quarter, more steeply than his previous projection of a 1.5 percent contraction. Indonesias gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.97 percent yoy in the first three months of the year, the weakest quarterly growth since 2001, as household spending and investment growth slowed. The government expects the economy to grow at 2.3 percent this year under the baseline scenario, or contract by 0.4 percent under the worst-case scenario, which compares to growth of 5.02 percent recorded in 2019. The governments fiscal policy is crucial to prevent a more severe economic contraction, Bank Central Asia (BCA) chief economist David Sumual said. He urged the government to expedite spending in the second quarter to stimulate the economy, as he projected GDP growth to contract by around 3 percent in the second quarter. The government has unveiled Rp 677.2 trillion ($47.6 billion) worth of stimulus spending to strengthen the healthcare system, direct more funds toward social protection to boost consumption and provide incentives to rescue Indonesian businesses from bankruptcy and workers from layoffs. David said exports and imports may have hit the bottom in May, as Indonesia and its trading partners had begun to relax social restrictions and lockdowns this month. Recovery in trade activities will largely depend on the trajectory of the virus and whether there will be a second wave in Indonesia or in its trading partners, he said. Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of $4.31 billion during the first five months of the year, which compares to a deficit of $2.68 billion in the same period last year, the BPS data show. Read also: Indonesian stocks, rupiah surge in recent weeks despite weak economic outlook Given the surplus, Bank Indonesia head of monetary operations Nanang Hendarsah said the current account deficit (CAD) would be less than 2 percent of the GDP in 2020, lower than the central banks initial projection of 2.5 to 3 percent. We see room for the rupiah to strengthen further to reflect its fundamentals and smooth the market mechanism, Nanang said as quoted by Tempo.co. The rupiah traded at 14,115 per US dollar on Monday afternoon as the currency has gained around 17 percent since early April. Anthony of Mirae, however, took the optimism with a grain of salt, as he said the rupiah valuation was connected to economic growth. If the rupiah stood at around Rp 14,000 against the greenback while the economy grew at 5 percent, it was quite impossible to have it at Rp 13,000 when the economy contracts, he said. Although the trade balance was in surplus, it should have reflected the weak domestic purchasing power, he said, projecting that the rupiah would take a hit in the next months after listed companies release their financial reports, which are expected to be weak, leading to foreign capital outflows. (prm) Contributed / Greenwich Police Department GREENWICH Police are asking the public for help in identifying and locating two men suspected of stealing $700 in merchandise from a liquor store in Riverside. The theft happened Saturday at A1 Cellars in the Riverside Commons shopping center, police said. Beautycounter has raised $106.9 million to date, according to PitchBook. The privately held company, whose roster of investors includes the U2 frontman Bono and the private-equity firm TPG, was most recently valued at about $400 million. Source: Beautycounter Beautycounter founder Gregg Renfrew lobbies in front of Congress for better government regulations on personal-care products. Source: Beautycounter Beautycounter's business has been unconventional from the start in that it eschewed the first-floor makeup counters of traditional department stores in favor of a model more akin to the cosmetics giant Avon. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, it launched as a direct-to-consumer business in 2013, selling through its own website and web of consultants, of which it has more than 60,000 today. It was first founded by Renfrew in 2011. Many of these consultants are so-called micro-influencers, according to Renfrew, and they tout Beautycounter's merchandise through their social media accounts with thousands of followers, or over virtual Zoom gatherings. They receive up to 35% commission on their retail volumes, she said. And many of the consultants will actually build out their own teams and sell together, Renfrew added. We have an army of advocates, and we want more voices to our movement. Gregg Renfrew Beautycounter CEO Beautycounter currently has three boutiques in Denver, in New York City and a seasonal pop-up in Nantucket with another set to open in Los Angeles later this year. The coronavirus pandemic, which forced many retail storefronts to temporarily shut, has validated Beautycounter's strong e-commerce presence even more so. "This has been three years [of growth online] compressed into four months," the CEO said, adding that Beautycounter recently sold out of its Vitamin C serum in two and a half weeks. "And while many people have moved away from what they think to be unnecessary spending, there is something about beauty and maintaining wellness that people continue to focus on," Renfrew added. "People are still taking care of their bodies." Sparking a consumer movement [June 16, 2020] Global Study Sponsored by Qlik Finds Strong Relationship Between Optimizing Data Pipelines and Business Value PHILADELPHIA, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Qlik today announced a global study that shows organizations that strategically invest in creating data-to-insights capabilities through modern data and analytics pipelines are seeing significant bottom line impact. The global IDC survey, sponsored by Qlik, of 1,200 business leaders* shows that companies with a higher ability to identify, gather, transform, and analyze data to glean insights benefited from higher quality decision making and better business outcomes, including improved operational efficiencies, increased revenue and increased profits. Organizations are inundated with data, and many are struggling to maximize the value of that data since its flowing through unintegrated and leaky data pipelines. The research shows a direct relationship between creating stronger data-to-insights capabilities through data pipeline investments ones that successfully deploy data management and analytics solutions to close pipeline gaps to decision making that drives business outcomes. 86% of organizations in the top half of those surveyed with the best data analytics pipelines also get the highest decision-making scores 67% of organizations in the top half of those surveyed with the highest decision-making scores had the highest business outcomes scores Even in these challenging economic times, CEOs at major enterprises are continuing to invest in their data pipelines to close the gaps and enable their organizations with more high quality and valuable data for decisions, said Dan Vesset, Group Vice President, Analytics and Information Management at IDC. These leaders are increasing their enterprise intelligence quotient by automating the data preparation cycle through technology, giving employees the vital tools and time needed to analyze data for impactful insights that create real business value. Companies in the survey with the highest dmonstrable data-to-insights capabilities, resulting in strong data pipelines that drive better decisions, see significant bottom line impact. 76% said operational efficiency improved by an average of 21% improved by an average of 21% 75% said revenue increased by an average of 21% increased by an average of 21% 74% said profit increased by an average of 22% The challenges to deploying data pipelines that drive better decisions and business outcomes are significant. Organizations are dealing with complex and varied data types and sources, which can leak through data and analytics pipeline gaps. Of those surveyed, over 60% experienced significant challenges in assessing the value of data and identifying valuable data sources, often due to a lack of a data catalog. And over 42% surveyed identified assuring data correctness as a main challenge when processing or transforming data for analysis. So even as organizations invest in techniques like machine learning and AI to enhance insight generation and analysis, its clear that the success of these investments is highly dependent on having an agile, automated and agnostic data pipeline that closes the gaps by working across any cloud, system and data source in real-time. Only by closing these gaps to eliminate data leaks can organizations transform their data pipelines to provide continuous and reliable enterprise-ready data that drives action and outcomes. Organizations must close the gaps in their leaky data pipelines to consistently transform their data into ongoing and real business value, said James Fisher, Chief Product Officer at Qlik. Our unique end-to-end approach to data integration and analytics gives organizations the ability to improve their data-to-insights capabilities at the speed of business for greater responsiveness and better outcomes. Qliks data integration and data analytics platforms, together with its data literacy as a service offering, deliver the industrys only end-to-end approach to Active Intelligence. Unlike traditional BI, Active Intelligence realizes the potential in data pipelines by bringing together data at rest with data in motion for continuous intelligence derived from real-time, up-to-date information, and is specifically designed to take or trigger immediate actions. This eliminates data leaks by closing the gaps from relevant to actionable data (Qlik Data Integration), actionable data to actionable insights (Qlik Analytics) and from investment to value (Data Literacy as a Service). *Source: IDC InfoBrief, Sponsored by Qlik, Transformative Data Through Leadership Survey, Doc# US46445920, June 16, 2020. About Qlik Qliks vision is a data-literate world, one where everyone can use data to improve decision-making and solve their most challenging problems. Only Qlik offers end-to-end, real-time data integration and analytics solutions that help organizations access and transform all their data into value. Qlik helps companies lead with data to see more deeply into customer behavior, reinvent business processes, discover new revenue streams, and balance risk and reward. Qlik does business in more than 100 countries and serves over 50,000 customers around the world. Methodology: In February and March of 2020, IDC conducted a survey of IT and LOB respondents responsible for data management and analytics within their organizations. A Web-based survey was sent to 1,200 organizations in in 11 countries around the globe: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Singapore, U.K., and U.S. Respondents were director, vice president, and C-level decision makers. Respondents represented organizations of varying sizes. All respondent companies had at least 1,000 employees globally. Respondent companies represented a variety of industries including education, finance, government, healthcare, manufacturing, retail/wholesale, transportation, communication, and utilities. 2020 QlikTech International AB. All rights reserved. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Media Contact: Derek Lyons [email protected] 617-658-5310 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A symposium on upholding and improving the "one country, two systems" was held Monday in south China's Shenzhen to mark the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Basic Law. Organized by the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, the symposium was attended by about 200 people from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and overseas, including officials from China's central authorities. The National People's Congress (NPC) decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security and the ensuing legislation by the NPC Standing Committee are the best ways to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the HKSAR Basic Law, said Deng Zhonghua, deputy head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. Once enacted, the new law, with unchallengeable status and authority, will be a key component of the laws of the HKSAR and any local law of the HKSAR must not contradict it, he noted. Chen Dong, deputy head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said that an increasing number of Hong Kong residents have come to understand that establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security will help consolidate the "one country, two systems" and end the chaos in the HKSAR. In accordance with the Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, the NPC, the highest state organ of power, made the decision, which has solid legal grounds and its validity is beyond question, said Zhang Yong, deputy director of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the NPC Standing Committee. The NPC decision is an important institutional arrangement in upholding and improving the "one country, two systems" and another practice of governing the country in accordance with the Constitution, said Zhang. Those from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas participated in the symposium via video link due to the COVID-19 pandemic. China began coronavirus tests for 90,000 people and locked down several residential areas near a wholesale market in Beijing where a new cluster of COVID-19 broke out, even as the country reported 67 new infections including 42 in the capital. In a bid to stem the spread of the contagion, the authorities in Beijing started conducting the nucleic acid tests on 90,000 people. About two lakh people were reported to have visited the Xinfadi wholesale market since May 30. Also several residential areas around the market, which supplies 90 per cent of vegetables and meat products, were placed under strict lockdown. Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates Beijing sacked two officials in Fengtai district - Zhou Yuqing, deputy head of the Fengtai district government, and Wang Hua, Party secretary of Huaxiang Township in Fengtai - for misconduct in office during epidemic prevention and control. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Zhang Yuelin was also ordered to be removed from the post of general manager of the Xinfadi wholesale market, official media reported. Also, the official media here revived the debate about the origin of the coronavirus after Yang Peng, a researcher from Beijing CDC, told state-run CCTV that it has been preliminarily determined that the virus found on the samples from the market is related to strains China has seen from imported cases. The genome sequencing showed that the coronavirus came from Europe. Thousands of overseas Chinese are currently returning with a number of them testing positive for the coronavirus. The World Health Organisation (WHO), which was blamed for supporting China since the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan in December last, however, said the strain of the virus circulating at the Xinfadi market is not new. Gene sequencing for the first case was reported as belonging to the European strain, which has been circulating in China and other countries, the WHO statement said. The WHO also said it sought a report from China on the new cluster of cases in Beijing while its officials have not yet visited the area. "WHO encourages the sharing of this and other sequences on a publicly available website as soon as possible. We await more genetic sequencing to see how close this virus is to others. "We have asked China for the genetic sequencing and to receive new data on the epidemic as the investigation unfolds; and our counterparts are committed to continuing to provide such data. WHO is following up with Chinese officials for further detail," it said. As all the new cases in Beijing were linked to the Xinfadi market in south Beijing's Fengtai district, health officials appealed to the people, who had visited the market since May 30, to undergo nucleic acid tests. The sudden increase in cases has sparked concern that China may be on the cusp of a rebound of COVID-19, belying experts' predictions that a second wave may hit the country during the winter starting from October. All hospitals in Beijing have been ordered to perform nucleic acid and antibody tests, a CT scan and a routine blood test on patients with a fever, Gao Xiaojun, spokesperson of Beijing's health commission, told the media on Sunday. So far, the local government has closed six wholesale markets and made alternate arrangement for vegetable supplies to the retail stores. The Beijing local government earlier said that the health workers detected the virus in 40 samples collected at Xinfadi, including from cutting boards used to prepare imported salmon. Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the source of the latest outbreak could be either contaminated seafood or meat from the market, or a visitor or worker who contracted the virus unknowingly. As of Sunday, the overall confirmed cases in China reached 83,181, including 177 active cases, with two in severe condition. Altogether 78,370 people have been discharged after recovery and 4,634 people died of the disease, the authorities said. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 18:34:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Troops of India and Pakistan exchanged heavy fire and targeted each other's positions on Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday. The two sides exchanged fire on LoC in Tangdhar sector of frontier Kupwara district, about 155 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Today during the early morning hours, Pakistan initiated an unprovoked cease-fire violation along the LoC in Tangdhar sector by firing mortars and other weapons. Befitting response was given," Indian army spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia in a brief statement said. According to officials, the exchange went on for some time. However, so far no loss of life was reported in the skirmishes on the Indian or Pakistani side. On Sunday a trooper was killed and two others wounded in an overnight exchange of fire in Shahpur-Kerni sector of frontier Poonch district. There has been a surge in cease-fire violations on LoC since the beginning of this month. The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on LoC and International Border (IB) in Kashmir, despite an agreement in 2003 to observe a cease-fire. However, the cease-fire remains in effect. New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating cease-fire agreements. And both sides maintain their troops gave a befitting reply to the other side. LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into Indian and Pakistan-controlled parts. Enditem Spotify has reduced its Australian revenue from $129 million to just $416,000 over the course of four years despite experiencing a spike in user numbers. The Swedish music streaming service has adjusted its accounting policy to lower its tax exposure. Instead of Australian subscribers paying Spotify Australia, the payments now go to the parent company in Luxembourg, which has a tax rate of 17 per cent on sales revenue, compared with Australia's 30 per cent. Spotify has reduced its Australian revenue from $129 million to just $416,000 over the course of four years despite experiencing a spike in user numbers (stock image of woman checking her Spotify account) A company spokesman told Australian Financial Review the updated accounting policy is enforced internationally. The spokesman said the decision was compliant with all relevant tax laws. The revenue collected in Australia from individual subscribers was now zero, and the $416,000 declared in 2019 was residual revenue from a business deal with an Australian telco. All other income is then subject to tax in Luxembourg. In 2020, Billie Eilish (pictured) was named a top Spotify artist. Recent estimates suggest about eight million Aussies use the streaming platform University of Technology accounting professor Peter Wells said as Spotify continues to grow in Australia, the new policy of diverting revenue to the parent company could come under scrutiny for breaching the 'spirit' of tax laws. 'It's something we can expect the government to address through more legislation and the ATO to address through judicial responses,' he said. In 2016, Spotify Australia lodged $129 million of 'premium revenue' from local subscribers who paid for the service. But in the last tax year, that number plunged to just $416,000. While the company doesn't release national figures to show where the lion's share of its 130 million users are based, survey company Roy Morgan recently estimated about eight million Australians use the service. EVANSTON, IL The founder of a pair of Evanston software companies is accused of falsifying a loan application for a coronavirus economic relief program. Federal prosecutors say the local CEO dramatically overstated the payroll of a holding company in an effort to fraudulently secure more than $440,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. Rahul Shah, 51, of the 200 block of Davis Street, Evanston, was charged Monday with one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution. He has not responded to requests for comment about the matter. Shah is the founder and chief executive officer of Katalyst Technologies, Inc., and Boardshare LLC. Both companies have offices at 500 Davis St. in downtown Evanston. According to an online resume, Shah founded Katalyst in 2000, and the company has since grown at an annual rate of 25 percent a year. In addition to its Evanston headquarters, the company operates offices in Atlanta, London and multiple cities in India, according to a news release. "When I started Katalyst 19 years ago, the foundational values focused on our employees and community we operated," Shah said last month in a release announcing the company's inclusion on a ranking of Chicago area workplaces. "Today, we are a global company with associates [across] the world." According to an affidavit from James Sams, an agent with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, in support of Shah's two-count indictment, Katalyst's April 15 application for a PPP loan from a bank in Texas showed that Shah owned 42 percent of the company and that it had $845,285 in monthly payroll expenses. Rahul D. Shah, 51, of Evanston, is listed as the founder and CEO of Katalyst Technologies, Inc. (Screen capture, June 16) Loans under the PPP program are fully backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, but they are processed by participating local banks. The loans can be entirely forgiven if they are used on eligible costs such as payroll, mortgage interest, rent and utilities within, usually, 24 weeks of receiving the money. Story continues On April 30, Shah applied for another loan on behalf of N2N Holdings LLC, which does business under the name Boardshare, according to the affidavit. The federal agent said the loan application was signed by Shobha Shah, Rahul Shah's wife and the chief operating officer of Katalyst, who was identified as N2N's sole owner. The application included multiple IRS forms that falsely described the company's expenses, the affidavit said. It claimed the company spent nearly $426,000 on payroll over the final three quarters of 2019. But actual IRS filings show the company reported paying its workers less than $10,000 over the same period, according to the federal agent. Investigators interviewed at least three people whose identities were used to falsely inflate the payroll of Boardshare, according to Sams' affidavit. The agent alleged all three listed employees said they worked for Katalyst prior to 2017 but never worked for the Shahs' other company. Boardshare makes portable projectors and software marketed to educational institutions as "interactive whiteboards," according to its website. A representative did not immediately respond Tuesday to inquiries regarding how many employees, if any, the company has. FBI and Treasury agents spoke with Mr. Shah on May 29 in a recorded interview, Sams alleges. He said he knew there were "errors" in the application and initially blamed employees in India, but when the agents challenged his claim that India-based staff had supplied the false IRS documentation via email, Shah conceded he had no evidence to back it up. Mr. Shah admitted the fake 1099 forms were "probably" prepared in the United States, according to the affidavit. "You all prepared [them,] not somebody in India, and submitted it thinking 'it will keep our business alive,'" agents allegedly asked. "[I]s that an accurate way to put things?" "I would say so, yes," Mr. Shah responded, according to Sams' affidavit. If convicted of both counts, Shah could face a sentence ranging from probation to up to 60 years in federal prison, but sentencing guidelines make a lengthy prison term unlikely should the case be resolved by a guilty plea ahead of trial. A date for Mr. Shah's initial court appearance in the case had not been set as of Tuesday afternoon. "The Paycheck Protection Program was designed as a lifeline for small businesses struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic," Chicago U.S. Attorney John Lausch said Tuesday in a statement announcing the charges. "My office is working closely with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable anyone who seeks to commit fraud in connection with this important program." This article originally appeared on the Evanston Patch Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: Three militants were killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Tuesday. At least 17 militants have been killed in militancy-hit Shopian district since June 6. Acting on specific information about presence of militants, a joint party of police, CRPF and army laid siege around Turkawangam village in Shopian in wee hours of Tuesday to track down the militants hiding there, a police officia said. Adding that while the security men were zeroing-in on a target house, they came under gunfire from militants hiding in the area, which was returned by the troops, triggering an encounter. Kalia said that the operation was going on when reports last poured in. Security forces have recovered two AK-47 rifles and an INSAS rifle from the encounter site, Kalia said. A police official said the identity of the deceased militants was being ascertained. With todays gunfight, 17 militants have been killed in four gunfights in Shopian since June 6. Shopian alongwith three other south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam has emerged as a stronghold of militants after the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016. Most of the encounters and local recruitments since 2016 have taken place in south Kashmir. Meanwhile, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing towards Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Tuesday, a defence spokesperson said. The Indian Army gave a befitting response to the Pakistani aggression, he said. "On 16 June 2020, in the morning hours, Pakistan initiated an unprovoked Ceasefire Violation (CFV) along the LoC in Tangdhar (in north Kashmir's Kupwara district) by firing mortars and other weapons," defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said. There have been no reports of any casualties so far. (With PTI Inputs) Growth amid difficulty Among Vietnams agricultural exports that recorded growth during the January-May period, rice was the best performer, having shipped nearly 2.9 million tonnes worth US$1.41 billion, up 5.1% in volume and 18.9% in value over the same period of 2019. In May alone, rice exports surged by 47% in volume and 55.3% in value against the previous month, with average prices soaring to US$527 per tonne. Prices in the first five months also rose to 13%, averaging at US$485. This is a bright spot in Vietnams farming export picture with the coronavirus remaining complicated in many countries. For fruits, export revenue plunged by 21.4% to US$1.15 billion as many fresh fruits were unable to reach the Chinese market at the time of the outbreak explosion in the worlds second largest economy. Vietnams farming exports continued to face difficulty with the virus having spread widely to Europe and the United States. Although fruit exports have yet to see growth, there are signs of a possible recovery, with the latest good news coming from the export of fresh lychees to the US, Australia, Singapore and Japan, while measures have also been taken to facilitate the shipment of lychees to China, one of the largest markets for the tropical fruit for years. The slump in seafood exports is also slowing down with the decline in May at just 1.6%, significantly lower than the previous months, as exports to China soared by 20%. Total seafood exports to China are forecast to fully recover by the end of June. In the meantime, seafood exports to Japan in April and May grew by 16% and 9%, respectively, which is expected to make the East Asian country the largest buyer of Vietnamese seafood in 2020. According to VASEP, the body of seafood producers and exporters, exports to China and Japan are picking up but recovery is unlikely to be seen in the US and Europe as the virus outbreak has disrupted supply chains and trade activities. In addition, the demand for seafood has fallen as restaurants are closed and consumers have cut their spending. If the outbreak persists, Vietnamese seafoods are expected to face steeper declines in the coming months. Efforts for quick and strong recovery At a recent conference, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong noted that the demand for food will still grow despite the coronavirus since food is an essential goods. Therefore, Vietnam needs to seize on this opportunity to quickly regain growth by diversifying its exports in order to meet the new consumption demand of each country, such as increasing the share of canned food instead of fresh products. In this situation, rice is one of the candidates for explosive growth in the coming months. It is estimated that the Mekong Delta will produce 2.3-2.5 million tonnes of rice in the upcoming summer-autumn season, with high-quality rice accounting for 1 million tonnes and jasmine rice 580,000 tonnes. The Philippines is forecast to be the largest buyer of Vietnamese rice. China and Indonesia have also been increasing their rice imports from Vietnam after the outbreak has subsided, offering a golden opportunity for Vietnam to boost its rice exports. While rice is looking up, challenges are still gripping the seafood sector. Processors and exporters all agree on the need to focus on markets where the outbreak has been contained to compensate for the continuing downturn in Europe and the US. The export structure is also expected to see a marked shift towards canned products to meet safety requirements in the time of outbreak. In the meantime, it has been predicted that shark catfish exports will not recover until the third quarter, as such it is necessary to develop the domestic market to deal with the surplus. Steady growth has not been seen in fruit exports, but hope is being pinned on the rapid and strong recovery of demand for imported products in China, a major market for many Vietnamese fruits. But it is necessary to encourage Vietnamese enterprises to export through official channels, strictly abide by origin tracing and labelling rules, and meet other quality requirements under the agreements with their partners. After several months of taking a serious hit by the coronavirus, Vietnams farming exports are now gradually recovering in some key markets. Challenges will remain in the latter half of 2020 but, as Vietnam has essentially contained the coronavirus outbreak, it is an opportunity for the country to build up importers confidence in the quality and safety of Vietnamese farming produce. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2020 / The solution partnership between SMKG and Xpay creates a complete circle for end-to-end payments in E-commerce, Mobile payments & Brick & Mortar for EMV POS Contact and Contactless payments, both on-line and off-line. SmartCard marketing Systems Inc (OTC PINK:SMKG) Partner MSP for the Philippines Xpay Worldwide Corporation Pte (www.xpay.world), a technology-driven company specializing in Credit & Debit Card EMV Device certifications and enables card-present payment processing solutions, has announced the third-party certification of its XPayMobile payment solution. The rigorous assessment confirms that use of the XPAY product results in PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance scope reduction, allowing our partners and clients to more easily meet the stringent data security requirements needed in today's payments landscape. The expert evaluation was conducted by QRC Assurance And Solutions Private Limited (www.qrcsolutionz.com), an Indian-based authority in cyber security and compliance solutions with clients worldwide. QRC documented its findings in a standard PCI Attestation of Compliance that is now available confidentially to XPAY's clients. "We developed the foundational XPayMobile platform with a goal building upon it for Digital Transformation expansion to reduce our clients PCI compliance burden, and helping them avoid the consequences that come from a data breach," said Gary Repchuk President at XPAY. "Having a globally recognized company like QRC confirm through hundreds of hours of testing that the XPAY solution delivers on all compliance requirements is extremely rewarding." XPAY's CTO Garry Gacusan spearheaded the certification initiative, leading a team that provided QRC with the system access and information needed to fully vet the XPay Mobile platform. "Banking partners and Merchants who implement the XPay Mobile solution save significant time, effort, and capital each year as it addresses the payment card industry data security which is a mandatory standard for all banks, processing centers, financial organizations and merchants." In continually addressing identified access-points for payment card data, PCI DSS compliant businesses such as XPAY seek to achieve effective operations and PCI DSS L1 compliance for preventing payment card fraud and data loss. "All companies that manage payment card data during any process must meet the stringent information security standards of PCI DSS compliance designed to ensure customer security," explained Vamsi Krishna Maramganti Founder & CEO at QRC. "Comprised of 12 practices encompassing transaction processes and data storage treatment, PCI DSS compliance stipulates that businesses adhere to strict data encryption methodologies, network and traffic monitoring services, and defined user access privileges to stored data. XPAY has implemented all the security controls as per the PCI DSS standard in their scoped environment to protect the cardholder data during storage, processing and transmission." XPAY's industry-leading features secure credit card data in dynamic transaction environments adhering to strict compliance rules. The new Level 1 Certification comes as part of the company's dedication to make global sales for its Payment & Digital Transformation products as simple and as secure as possible. By removing the burden of obtaining PCI compliance, XPAY helps growing companies protect themselves from the reputation and monetary damage that security breaches create. "Our evaluation covered many areas including validation of the encryption mechanisms from encryption endpoints to the XPAY decryption environment, cryptographic key management principles and implementation of payload encryption and decryption," said Mr. Maramganti at QRC. "XPay Mobile exceeded the required standards in all areas." XPAY serves clients in a wide range of industries, including Banking, Finance, Tele-medicine, Catering and Transportation. These organizations leverage the company's advanced payments technology and the Digital Transformation platforms licensed from Smartcard Marketing Systems to streamline operations, fill Digital transitions gaps, complete payment acceptance and provide a seamless eco-system experience for their customers. "There are few, if any, other systems like the combination that XPAY and SMKG's family of platforms in the market today. By adding PCI testing and certification by QRC, our stakeholders throughout our digital transition and payments ecosystem can rest easy when our solutions are deployed for their bespoke needs in any industry and sensitive data is localized. "added Massimo Barone CEO at SMKG" ABOUT XPAY WORLDWIDE CORPORATION XPAY. Worldwide Corporation is a Philippines based, and globally deployed boutique technology solutions provider that delivers the newest Digital Transition and Financial technologies available today. Our payment, loyalty and operational platforms assist in accelerating our clients Digital Transformation and Payment initiatives with flexible commercial arrangements that fit most companies or government agencies business model. ABOUT QRC QRC Assurance And Solutions Pvt Ltd provides multiple Quality, Risk, and Compliance services and have completed over 1000+ assessments with 100 + clients in 10 + countries with the help of our 150 + man-years of experience. QRC are continuously working towards providing the latest security intelligence, understanding of the latest compliance requirements, IT security and information assurance to our clients. At QRC, we believe there is always a better way to secure your business. Visit us at https://www.qrcsolutionz.com/ to discover a more valuable, less troublesome way to achieve compliance where trust of client is earned and we are passionate about it. ABOUT SMARTCARD MARKETING SYSTEMS INC OTC:SMKG SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc (OTC PINK:SMKG) is an industry leader in specialized industry cloud and mobility applications to the global PayTech and FinTech markets. SMKG is an boutique technology company, providing business intelligence and digital transformation strategies with a proprietary portfolio of applications and wireframes for banking, enterprises, retail e-wallets, digital ID-EKYC, digital workforce, events management, education, and ride booking industries. For more info visit www.smartcardmarketingsystems.com or visit our business applications marketplace at www.Emphasispay.com We seek safe harbor Contact info: Massimo Barone CEO mbarone@smartcardmarketingsystems.com or news@smartcardmarketingsystems.com 1-844-843-7296 SOURCE: SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594096/SmartCard-Marketing-Systems-Inc-OTCSMKG-Partner-Xpay-Worldwide-Corporation-in-Manila-Philippines-Announces-Third-Party-Certification-of-Its-PCI-Compliant-End-to-End-Encryption-Payment-Host-Solution Lemma, pioneer in programmatic DOOH has appointed Vinay Goel as Vice president South East Asia. As a function of his new role, Vinay Goel will be responsible to scale programmatic DOOH business & strengthen the supply end for Lemma in South East Asian regions. With an experience of over 13+ years spanning across both agency and client side, Vinay has worked with organizations the likes of Dentsu Aegis Networks Posterscope, Philippines and India, Tata Teleservices etc. In his time with the agency he managed brands like Netflix, Heineken, Mastercard, Walt Disney, Huawei, Diageo and many others. He also has a strong entrepreneurial background stemming from his ecommerce marketplace venture, nativbird.com (The Ground Play Inc.), enabling local MSME businesses to adapt to the digital ecosystem. Talking about his new role, Vinay Goel said In the past couple of years, we all have witnessed the shift of both consumer behavior and advertising investments geared towards digital. And with the COVID 19 pandemic happening, this shift has further accelerated. Now more than ever, advertising platforms have to adapt faster and work harder and that includes the digital out of home medium as well. The need for transparency, accountability and ability to measure performance becomes intrinsic prerequisites. Lemmas vision of delivering a truly Programmatic Digital OOH solution, and ability to make this transformation possible motivated me to accept this role. Im pleased to be part of this multi-talented team and together, pioneer this progression towards programmatic His proven acumen across diverse functions like advertising, sales, operations, and business management across various markets and cultures will help Lemma strategically build its hold in key markets, subsequently scaling their programmatic DOOH business. Commenting on this key appointment, Mayuresh Phadke,CO- Founder & COO, Lemma said Our vision is that of being a unified solution for all DOOH requirements, globally. As we enter into one of the biggest OOH markets, Vinay Goel will help us get to work on the next phase of growth. We are excited to have him on board as his extensive experience coupled with his strategic business growth outlook & market understanding will aid us in achieving accelerated success in establishing Lemma as market leaders in programmatic DOOH internationally as well. Goels last stint was as GM- Posterscope Philippines where he was instrumental in driving business development opportunities, while also successfully setting up and managing OOH business in the region. Under his leadership the agency was awarded countrys best outdoor agency in the 2018. Vietnam welcomed the results that the UN Investigative Team to promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by the self-claimed Islamic State (IS) group (UNITAD) has achieved in its investigations and collection of evidence of the ISs crimes, during a video conference of the UN Security Council on June 15. The scene of an explosion in Baghdad, Iraq on June 7, 2018. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) The UNITADs activities have made significant contributions to stability of Iraq, stressed Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN. He shared difficulties and challenges that the UNITAD encountered amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and spoke highly of the effective cooperation of the Iraqi government with the UNITAD. The diplomat suggested the UNITAD continue focusing on strategic priorities in the coming time while protecting witnesses and victims of the IS, as well as strengthening coordination with the Iraqi government in all activities to ensure Iraqs sovereignty and jurisdiction over crimes occurring in its territory. He also emphasised Vietnams commitment to joining the other UNSC member states in supporting the UNITAD to fulfill its mission. VNA Former Atlanta Police Department officer Garrett Rolfe conducts a field sobriety test on 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks in a Wendy's restaurant parking lot on June 12 in this still image from the body-worn camera of officer Devin Brosnan in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta Police Department/Handout via Reuters Atlanta police on Monday released the disciplinary histories of Officer Devin Brosnan and now-former Officer Garrett Rolfe. The pair were involved in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks on June 12 in the parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant. Rolfe, who has been fired, received a written reprimand for use-of-force involving a firearm on October 17. It's the only use-of-force complaint leveled against him. He had been with the department for nearly seven years and had faced 12 investigations. He was exonerated in nine of them. Brosnan joined the agency a year ago and had no disciplinary history. He's been put on administrative duty while the shooting is investigated. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. The Atlanta Police Department on Monday released the disciplinary histories for two white officers involved in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man who wound up on the policemen's radar after falling asleep in a Wendy's drive-thru on Friday night. The department identified Garrett Rolfe as the officer who opened fire at Brooks. The encounter began peacefully but escalated when Rolfe and Officer Devin Brosnan tried to arrest Brooks. Brooks tussled with him, grabbed one of their Tasers, fired it at them, and also tried to flee, according to video footage of the incident. Rolfe's job was terminated on Sunday after being with the agency for nearly seven years, since October 2013. A charging decision is expected soon, but District Attorney Paul Howard told CNN on Sunday that Brooks "did not seem to present any kind of threat to anyone, and so the fact that it would escalate to his death just seems unreasonable." Police records show that Rolfe received a written reprimand in October 2017 for use-of-force involving a firearm. It was the only use-of-force complaint on his disciplinary history. He did, however, receive a written reprimand in September 2018 and an oral admonishment in 2014, both over vehicle accidents. The document doesn't provide more details about each incident. Story continues In all, Rolfe's disciplinary file includes 12 incidents, including four citizen complaints as well as a firearm discharge in 2015 that did not have a conclusive action taken. Nine investigations are marked "exonerated" or "no action taken." Brosnan became a police officer in September 2018, according to police documents. He did not have a disciplinary history prior to Brooks' death. Police Chief Erika Shields also resigned after Brooks died. Police violence and systemic racism have been thrust into the international spotlight since George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died on May 25, pinned under the knees of three Minneapolis policemen. One of them, Derek Chauvin, kept his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes even though Floyd was handcuffed and pleading for air. His death sparked outrage, which prompted Black Lives Matter demonstrations around the globe. Brooks' death has had a similar impact on Atlanta, with hundreds taking to the streets to demand justice. On Saturday, protesters also torched the Wendy's where he died and blocked traffic. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story said Officer Devin Brosnan was hired in June 2019, based on his disciplinary history that the Atlanta Police Department sent to Insider. Expanded Coverage Module: black-lives-matter-module Read the original article on Insider Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:27:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Iran held positive talks during a two-day visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to Turkey this week, trying to bring back on track the bilateral ties eroded by their differences over regional issues, experts said. "Relations between Tehran and Ankara are close in various fields but require further consultations," Zarif was quoted by media outlets as saying during his visit on Sunday and Monday. The Iranian top diplomat's trip coincided with a last-minute cancellation of a visit by two top Russian officials to the Turkish city to focus on the Libyan crisis, where Ankara and Moscow back opposing parties. Iran and Turkey also support opposing parties in Syria and Iraq. Out of security concerns, Turkey's foreign policy has been dominated by the developments in these two countries in recent years. After its recent Spring Shield Operation in Syria's northern province of Idlib and the ongoing military incursions in northern Iraq, Turkey is increasingly converging with its NATO ally the United States while its common understanding with Iran is eroded, observers argued. "The main issue of contention discussed during Zarif's visit was the security issue stemming from Iran's proxy attacks in Idlib. Their actions have caused a tension in bilateral relations," said Sabir Askeroglu, an expert from the Center for Iranian Studies. "Turkey has seriously warned Iran regarding its proxies in Syria, and Zarif came to Turkey to prevent a further deterioration in ties and to express his administration's good will in this matter," Askeroglu told Xinhua. While Iran has always refused to admit its involvement in the battles in Idlib, the last rebel stronghold that the Russian-backed Syrian forces try to retake, several Iranian-backed groups such as the Lebanese Hezbollah are fighting in Syria. "Ankara has clearly warned Tehran about its involvement in Idlib, which would hamper Turkish military operations in northern Syria, and also about its reported support to Kurdish rebels of PKK (outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party) operating in northern Iraq," Askeroglu noted. Iran's actions in Syria and Iraq would determine if its relations with Turkey will progress in a better direction or not, the expert argued. The trade between Turkey and Iran is an important factor pushing the old neighbors together, especially after the COVID-19 outbreak which has hit countries across the world. While Iran is an oil-producing country, it is subjected to U.S sanctions, with many sectors of its economy, particularly the oil industry, seriously impacted. In this context, Turkey offers a lifeline to Iran regarding trade as Ankara opposes Washington's unilateral sanctions against its neighbor. "While the whole world is struggling against the (COVID-19) pandemic, the U.S., instead of showing solidarity with the world, is using the outbreak ... as an opportunity to seek to change the regime in Iran," commented Turkish political analyst Nedim Sener in the Hurriyet daily. Turkey has always refused to call for a "regime change" in Tehran, expressing support to the elected government in Iran and its representatives. Turkey and Iran said, after a meeting between Zarif and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, that they are working toward reopening their borders for travellers and plan to restart mutual flights on Aug. 1, after a months-long hiatus over the coronavirus pandemic. For his part, Zarif expressed appreciation for Turkey's support while the U.S. is tightening sanctions on Iran hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. "The support given by Turkey to Iran, under U.S sanctions, during the pandemic is something to be noted and valued," Mustafa Caner, a researcher from Ankara-based think tank SETA, said in a recent report. "U.S. sanctions have deteriorated Iran's economy and the coronavirus outbreak has made things even worse," he said. Caner noted that both Iran and Turkey have made efforts to ensure that their relations will continue in the post-pandemic era. Enditem Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) - The head of the Congolese Department of Rescue Studies and Training at the Directorate General of Civil Security, Police Commander Janet Wolfang Nsimi, announced on Tuesday in Brazzaville that the assessment of civil security interventions during the period of lockdown from March 31 to May 17, 2020, reveals that 2,980 people were rescued, with an exponential increase in requests for relief and assistance Many of the people were reportedly very drunk including Nerys Williams (pictured) who refused to go with police when they tried to arrest her A drunk partygoer slapped, head-butted and bit three police officers when they tried to arrest her after they were called to a party. Police responded to call about an assault and found a gathering of 30 people, a breach of the lockdown rules, at a house in Bethesda. Many of the people were reportedly very drunk at the party. Nerys Williams refused to go with police when they tried to arrest her. She slapped and head-butted PC Megan Roberts before biting Jamie Aston and finally kicking officer Leon Portillo. Jamie Aston had to be treated in hospital because the bite was so severe. Williams, of Fordd Carneddi in Carneddi, today appeared in court in Llandudno where she was charged with three counts of assaulting an emergency worker. She slapped and head-butted PC Megan Roberts before viciously biting Jamie Aston and finally kicking officer Leon Portillo. Jamie Aston had to be treated in hospital because the bite (pictured) was so severe. Williams, 32, pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 52 weeks in jail and a 128 surcharge. Prosecutor James Neary told the court the situation the police found themselves in was deemed so serious it was classed as a 'red one' incident, and officers had to come from as far as Bangor. Carla Forfar, defending, told the district judge that her client suffers from Post Traumatic Street Disorder following a 'very, very abusive relationship in her past.' During the incident, Williams, a support worker, had gone into 'panic mode'. She is 'deeply apologetic', said her solicitor. Inspector Jon Aspinall, of North Wales Police, said: 'Especially at a time when gatherings like this are prohibited it is very disappointing that my officers are subjected to physical violence whilst trying to keep our community safe. 'This sentence sends a clear message that assaults on key workers will not be tolerated.' Mark Jones, North Wales Police Federation Secretary, called it 'deplorable' that brave and hardworking officers were assaulted doing their job. When the Black Lives Matter movement took hold in the wake of Trayvon Martins murder in 2012, it was almost as if an incantation had been whispered into the ether, because for the next five years America turned into what looked like a sizzle reel for a black snuff film, as images of shot black body after choked black body after broken black body after dragged on the sidewalk black body after violently removed from the public pool black body made their way to our computers and phones. But this was just the most grotesque presentation of R.D.S. My own experiences on the ground were more mundane, but terrifying in ways one cant quite put into words. The northwestern edge of Yales campus is rimmed with expensive shops. The highlight of these is an Apple store. One especially sunny and optimistic-feeling day, as I was walking back to my office from grabbing lunch I witnessed a scene that triggered my subway memory. About 10 police officers and six vehicles, some of them vans big enough for several suspects, had converged on the body of a lone weeping young black male, about 20 years old by my guess. The police had him sitting in full display on the curb instead of in a car or wagon, thus a large white audience of Yale students were learning just how dangerous the New Haven natives were. As I passed, I heard this young man sob: What you expect me to do? Im tired, Im tired! Maybe his onlookers were confused about his fatigue but I wasnt. He was tired of a mega-rich institution that thrived despite the black poverty that circled the institution like a Trumpian wall. He was tired of things like Yale building two new residential colleges at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, yet to look at the construction crews at the building site right next to one of the blackest areas of New Haven, youd swear someone had said, Hire anyone except those black people over there. I didnt care about whatever property he allegedly lifted from the Apple store because I know what had been lifted from him and others on the social edges a sense of being full and fully respected members of the richest nation on earth. As I walked by this young man I could only wish he had kept his social distance. R.D.S. will get you. By the time I reached my present job at Johns Hopkins University, I had essentially given up. When the small number of my black colleagues decided to challenge the universitys wish to establish an armed police force on campus, one likely to be staffed by former officers from the Baltimore Police Department one of the deadliest in the nation I never bothered to join them. Valiant as their attempt was, I know this: When fearful whites and co-opted blacks decide the scariest people on earth are poor blacks, absolutely nothing can stop them from putting the police between them and the black folks they help to keep scary. The resolution went forward despite opposition and passed, but last week the administration decided to delay the arrival of the armed force by two years. In the face of entire cities defunding or disbanding the police, this cant help but strike me as a hedge for a return of the status quo, rotten as it is. If these black people wont stay in their designated spaces, the police will help remind them. It will be a great surprise if I am not driven to my keyboard within the next few years writing about our campuss very own George Floyd moment. In the meantime, I keep my distance I dont want to be a candidate for such a moment. It is not only instances that can result in physical harm I avoid. I almost never attend casual faculty functions. I dont go out for drinks. I dont entertain for dinner parties and I dont seek to ingratiate myself into the lives of my white colleagues. I have a great deal of respect for the many white academics I have worked with. But some of them remain vectors of R.D.S. nonetheless. I know so much about many of these people because I know what it is white America needs me to be for it to allow me inside. What they need is a version of myself that acquiesces and conforms, that is never displeased or contrary or angry. Even though the emergency raised by the COVID-19 epidemic has long since dissipated, assuming it ever existed, Governor Walz continues to exercise dictatorial emergency powers. He enjoys turning the dials of our lives. To the extent that a crisis exists, it is a nursing home crisis. However, I have yet to see a serious analysis of excess deaths even in that setting. Yesterday the Minnesota Department of Health reported six new death attributed to COVID-19. Four of these six new deaths occurred among residents of long-term care facilities. All were in their 60s or older. Hospitalization/ICU usage continue to decline. Of the 1,304 total deaths attributed to the epidemic so far, 1,034 have occurred among LTC residents. That comes to 79.3 percent of the total. The Minnesota Department of Health continues to exclude me from its daily press briefings. I have embedded the audio of yesterdays press briefing below. One of the questions addressed our wacky super fine-tuned Minnesota model on which Walz predicated his original shutdown announcement of March 25. The model is now in version 3.0, but its still a joke. Kevin Roches comment on version 3.0 in Happy screwed up model day engages with Commissioner Malcolms tentative defense of it in her response to the question posed yesterday. For some reason or other, Malcolm keeps a socially- distanced six-foot separation between the model and Walzs edicts. Kevin commented specifically here on yesterdays briefing. I have tried to maintain my cool in my commentary here, but Kevin lets it all hang out: [H]ere are the lies (I am tired of sugarcoating the messaging coming from the State) spread by the agents of Dictator Walz (it is also time to refer to him by his correct title) at the daily coronavirus briefing. These lies are the same as they previously used, so they clearly think they can keep fooling the citizenry. They tried to claim that the Minnesota epidemic model isnt that far off. Lets be honest, almost every parameter in the model is wrong, so the output is bound to be wrong and it is. It isnt even close on the lower bound of uncertainty, much less the central estimate. The scenario that comes closest is the most extreme set of mitigation measures, which we arent doing. The Administration just keeps failing to own up to the failure of the model, a model they highlighted constantly as the basis for decision-making. They gave more BS about Wisconsin, claiming at times things looked worse in Wisconsin and at times in Minnesota. Wisconsin hasnt been close to Minnesota since the first couple of weeks of the epidemic. They also said well, some localities still had lockdowns. I have looked at the mobility data, and Wisconsins began swinging up right after the order and until very recently, as Minnesotans have started voting with their feet, they stayed significantly ahead of comparable numbers in Minnesota. And once again, we get the science is different in Wisconsin, because they have seasonality that limited the epidemic from the start, but there is apparently not any seasonality in Minnesota. And again we got the run-around about the Dictators use of emergency [powers] and how he is consulting with the legislature. He isnt and he hasnt. He talks to a few people who tell him exactly what he wants to hear. And the spokespeople had no answer for why the same approach is being used across the whole state. I want to take a shower and vomit to get the sleaze off and out every time I listen to one of these briefings. You can listen in yourself in the audio below. CHICAGO Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Tuesday announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19. After experiencing minor symptoms over the weekend, I consulted with my health care provider using telehealth services, he said. Upon the advice of my doctor, I was tested yesterday and informed today that I have tested positive for COVID-19. I have been self-isolating since the onset of my symptoms, and I will continue to do so in accordance with guidance from my doctor and public health authorities, he said. Additionally, we are in the process of notifying individuals I may have come into contact with so that they can self-isolate and seek telehealth guidance. Raoul said his symptoms continue to be mild and he is regular contact with his staff to manage the operations of his office uninterrupted. Although the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Illinois is decreasing, I urge people to follow guidance from public health officials by staying at least six feet away from others, wearing a face mask when around others, and washing your hands often, he said. I am fortunate to be otherwise healthy and am following recommendations to protect those around me. I encourage all Illinois residents to take precautions to protect themselves and vulnerable residents from contracting COVID-19. The Ghana Police Service says it expect the immediate compliance from the public on the mandatory wearing of face mask, as directed by President Nana Akufo-Addo while awaiting the Executive Instrument on the subject. The Police in a short statement advised that wearing face mask will safeguard our health, our families our loved ones and our Country. President Nana Akufo-Addo in his eleventh address to the nation on Sunday, 14 June 2020 said the wearing of face masks is now mandatory. He warned that anybody who goes out without wearing one will be dealt with by the police. / The President said: It is important for me to remind residents of the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions, where the great majority of cases have been recorded, and in the Western and Central Regions, where we are seeing an increase in infection cases, to continue to adhere strictly to the social distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols announced. With the doctors and scientists telling us that the virus is transmitted from human contact, through talking, singing, coughing and sneezing, which results in sending droplets of the virus from one person to another, residents of these four regions, and, indeed, all Ghanaians, must remember that the wearing of masks is now mandatory. Leaving our homes without a face mask or face covering on is an offence, he said. The police have been instructed to enforce this directive, which is the subject of an Executive Instrument, the President added. Let me repeat: our survival is in our own hands. If we are lax and inattentive, we will continue to have serious challenges with the virus. If we are mindful and self-disciplined, we have it in us to defeat this pandemic and help return our lives to normalcy. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Conviction of U.S. Citizen Paul Whelan in Russia Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State June 15, 2020 The United States is outraged by the decision of a Russian court today to convict U.S. citizen Paul Whelan after a secret trial, with secret evidence, and without appropriate allowances for defense witnesses. We have serious concerns that Mr. Whelan was deprived of the fair trial guarantees that Russia is required to provide him in accordance with its international human rights obligations. The treatment of Paul Whelan at the hands of Russian authorities has been appalling. Russia failed to provide Mr. Whelan with a fair hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal; and during his detention has put his life at risk by ignoring his long-standing medical condition; and unconscionably kept him isolated from family and friends. We demand Paul Whelan's immediate release. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Pakistani action is being seen as retaliation after two Pakistan High Commission officials were asked to leave India over spying The Pakistani action is being seen as retaliation after two Pakistan High Commission officials were asked to leave India late last month after being caught carrying out espionage activities In a day-long drama, two Indian High Commission staffers who had gone missing while on official duties on Monday morning in the Pakistani Capital Islamabad in what is believed to be retaliatory action by the Pakistani establishment were released late in the evening and handed back to the Indian High Commission after claims by the Pakistani police that they were involved in a road accident or hit-and-run case. Sources confirmed to this newspaper that an FIR filed against them by the Pakistani Police mentions that they caused injuries to a person and were also in possession of fake currency to the tune of Rs 10,000. The fake currency charge against them is being seen as the serious one that will make it untenable for them to stay in that country further. There were also some reports that the two staffers may have sustained some injuries while being in the custody of the Pakistani establishment. Hours before their release, India in the evening had summoned Pakistani Charge dAffaires Syed Haidar Shah and issued a demarche, demanding their immediate return along with the car of the Indian High Commission, with Government sources saying the demarche made clear that there should be no interrogation or harassment of the Indian officials and that the responsibility for the safety and security of the concerned diplomatic personnel lay squarely with the Pakistani authorities. The Pakistani action is being seen as retaliation by Islamabad after two Pakistan High Commission officials were asked to leave India late last month after being caught carrying out espionage activities. According to some reports, the two Indian High Commission staffers belonged to the paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and were on deputation. A few hours before their release, Indian Government sources had on Monday evening said, The Pakistan CdA was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs and demarched on the reported arrest of two officials of the High Commission of India in Islamabad as reported in the Pakistani media. The demarche to the Pakistan CdA made clear that there should be no interrogation or harassment of the Indian officials. The responsibility for the safety and security of the concerned diplomatic personnel lay squarely with the Pakistani authorities. The Pakistan side was asked to return the two officials along with the official car to the High Commission immediately. It may be recalled that earlier this month, the vehicle of Indias Charge d Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia was chased in the Pakistani Capital Islamabad by a motorcycle-borne person suspected to belong to Pakistans spy-agency ISI. This was after two Pakistani officials of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi were caught for espionage late last month and asked by India to leave the country after being declared persona non grata. Indian Government sources had earlier this month said the two Pakistani officials had been caught red-handed carrying out espionage but had not been subjected to any torture as alleged by Pakistan. Sources had then said Pakistan appeared to be making the false allegation that its two officials had been tortured in order to create grounds for torture of Indian embassy officials in Islamabad. The worst apprehensions of India on expected retaliatory action by Pakistan seem to have come true. Rye Pier is a magnet for recreational snorkellers and divers, who spot stingrays, sea horses and even sharks as they weave through the sponge-encrusted pylons. But for the past fortnight the sea floor around the pier has been littered with disintegrating chicken carcasses and plastic rubbish, dropped by crowds of people fishing for migratory giant spider crabs over the June long weekend. People lining the Rye Pier over the June long weekend to fish for spider crabs. Credit:Jules Casey Victorian National Parks Association conservation campaigner Shannon Hurley said spider crab catching practices had been "a complete shemozzle this season, with escalating concerns for public safety". "We cant have the sea floor continuing to look like a chicken cemetery," she said. But Alex Szabo, 29, who worked as a chef there from 2015 to 2016, said Mr. Conlons brute management style when Abe was on the line, it was as bad as any kitchen Ive seen, he said took an emotional toll on the kitchen staff. He recalls breaking down in front of Mr. Conlon one night. I told him my life right now makes me want to kill myself, and I do not know what to do, Mr. Szabo recalled. His response to that was I should just work more. Mr. Conlon said he did not remember the incident, and in a lengthy interview with The Times, he and Ms. Lo took exception to some former employees description of Fat Rice as an unsafe place to work. I dont think thats a fair conclusion for you to make, Ms. Lo said. Many former employees criticized her for not intervening on their behalf more often. Both Ms. Lo and Mr. Conlon attributed his behavior in part to his own past traumas, including drinking, drug abuse and the way he himself was treated as a younger chef. In a text message after the interview, Mr. Conlon reiterated his belief that he is an example of an industrywide problem that he alone should not have to answer for. I am acknowledging that my harsh behaviors, poor leadership and temperament are indicative of the greater problems in the restaurant world in which I have learned them, he wrote. I am complicit in my participation in the thats just how it is, because thats how it has been culture. Northrop Grumman and the Boeing Company to manufacture and assemble the C-band only satellites in Dulles, Virginia and in Los Angeles, California SES, the leader in global content connectivity solutions, announces it has selected two U.S. satellite manufacturers, Northrop Grumman and the Boeing Company, to deliver four new satellites as part of the company's accelerated C-band clearing plan to meet the Federal Communications Commission's objectives to roll-out 5G services. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005487/en/ Boeing/Artist's Rendition of SES-20 and SES-21 satellites (Photo: Business Wire) Northrop Grumman will deliver two flight-proven GeoStar-3 satellites, each equipped with a high-quality C-band payload to deliver the superior customer experience that end users are accustomed to. The two satellites SES-18 and SES-19 will be designed, assembled and tested in Dulles, Virginia. The Boeing Company will deliver a pair of highly efficient all-electric 702SP satellites. The two satellites SES-20 and SES-21 will be manufactured and assembled in Los Angeles, California. These four C-band only new satellites will enable SES to clear 280 MHz of mid-band spectrum for 5G use while seamlessly migrating SES's existing C-band customers. Each satellite will have 10 primary transponders of 36 MHz plus back-up tubes so they can enable the broadcast delivery of digital television to more than 120 million TV homes as well as provide critical data services. The satellites, when launched in Q3 2022, will be positioned at 103 degrees West, 131 degrees West and 135 degrees West orbital slots. The cost of manufacturing these four satellites is part of the USD 1.6 billion investment envelope that SES has announced in May. SES is committed to investing in America by procuring services and equipment needed for the C-band transition from large and small businesses across the U.S., and these significant partnerships with Northrop Grumman and the Boeing Company are cornerstones of that commitment. "Given the FCC's strong leadership in providing for accelerated clearing of precious C-band spectrum in the U.S., our focus is on delivering on our commitment and making the spectrum available in the shortest possible time while ensuring that we protect the broadcast customers and communities that we have built over 35 years," said Steve Collar, CEO at SES. "To meet our deadlines to clear C-band spectrum, we have selected established American satellite manufacturers in Northrop Grumman and Boeing with their focus on heritage, reliability and minimal risk to build these four satellites, enabling us to fully support the FCC's 5G Fast initiative." Follow us on: Social Media Blog Media Library About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries over 8,300 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 367 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005487/en/ Contacts: For further information please contact: Suzanne Ong External Communications Tel. +352 710 725 500 suzanne.ong@ses.com (Newser) A man has been hospitalized in critical condition after being shot a number of times in the torso during a protest in New Mexico late Monday. The protesters were demanding the removal of a bronze statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate, described by the Washington Post as "a 16th-century despot who massacred indigenous people." Things apparently ratcheted up as they went at it with a pickax and chain and members of a self-described civilian militia group dubbed the New Mexico Civil Guard showed up to try to safeguard it. APD Chief Michael Geier said the department had received "reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence." CNN reports Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham went further in a Twitter statement that blasted the "heavily armed individuals who flaunted themselves at the protest, calling themselves a 'civil guard.'" story continues below Steven Ray Baca, 31, has been arrested and changed with aggravated battery in connection with the shooting of Scott Williams. Baca is a former city council candidate who the Albuquerque Journal reports referred to local officials as "complete wimps when it comes to fighting crime"; it's not clear if and how he's connected to the civil guard. The paper says video from the scene appears to show Baca advancing through the crowd and shoving a woman to the ground. The protesters allegedly then turned on him, with Baca allegedly using pepper spray on those coming at him. Protesters allegedly continued their pursuit, with an undercover detective who was present saying Baca was tackled and hit repeatedly with a longboard (akin to a skateboard) until shots were heard. Williams had allegedly been wielding the longboard at the time. (Read more New Mexico stories.) THE child custody battle between businessman, Frank Buyanga and his ex-girlfriend, Chantelle Muteswa has reached another level. Buyanga has written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa complaining against individuals who he alleged are meddling in his child custody battle and personal matters, with Chantelle. In his request, he chronicled to the President on how met Chantelle. As a part of the agreement, I allowed Mr Muteswa an option to buy back the property, an option of which he failed to take advantage. During or about 2008, Mr Lawrence Muteswa approached my offices in Harare to sell his property, namely, 13 Coventry Road, Greystone Park. I transferred the funds (USD) to his Stanbic account, of which he acknowledged receipt.As a part of the agreement, I allowed Mr Muteswa an option to buy back the property, an option of which he failed to take advantage. I ignored her request for some time. Whilst my company was in the process of recovering the property, I received a Facebook request from Ms Chantelle Muteswa stating she had an interest in meeting me. Unbeknown to me at the time, she was the daughter of Mr Muteswa.I ignored her request for some time. On December 31, 2009, I was invited to a New Years Eve gathering by a gentleman referred to as Rimo, in Harares Vainona neighbourhood. At the gathering, I was approached by Mr Leeroy Serima who pointed out Chantelle to me. He informed me that she wanted to be introduced and to meet me. This is how Chantelle and I became acquainted, but at the time I did not realise that the real intention of Chantelle was to seek the forgiveness of her family debt and to manipulate me into not proceeding with the recovery of her fathers property, Buyanga said. He said in their conversations he asked Chantelle if she knew who Muteswa was but she ignored the question. Chantelle and I became close, communicating frequently and then began a relationship. As time progressed, I received a friend request on Facebook from Mr Muteswa and upon showing this request to Chantelle, she asked me to ignore it.Chantelle and I became close, communicating frequently and then began a relationship. Chantelle and I have a child who is currently five years old. Daniel Alexander Sadiqi, was born out of wedlock in South Africa. The access and parental rights in regard to Daniel has been the subject of exhaustive litigation scattered between numerous courts. I, as the biological father, have had to fight tooth and nail for every single aspect pertaining to my parental right as the biological father of Daniel, as well as having to fight for his rights, being guided by what is in his best interests. As set out hereunder, it has been a disturbing cumulating of events. The interference of individuals in your confidence in these matters has exacerbated an already acrimonious situation. These individuals have taken no cognisance of the impact their actions have on my five-year-old child. Daniel was born in South Africa, however, Chantelle returned with him to Zimbabwe, where she unlawfully obtained a birth certificate for him and intentionally omitted to register me as the father on the illegally obtained document, he said. Buyanga said he has made every effort to be involved in his childs life and on or about January 25, 2018, the parents entered into a memorandum of agreement for access to and maintenance of Daniel, which agreement was made an order of the Childrens Court, by consent. He said the court order was varied three times at his instance, with the last variation order being made on April 17, 2019. He said the court order was violated by Chantelle, and despite the fact that she was found in contempt of court, she persisted to deny giving him Daniels passport when he exercised his access rights. Chantelle and I had agreed that Daniels home would be 13 Coventry Road, Greystone Park, Harare, Chantelles fathers house that had been saved by myself. As far as I am aware, Chantelle is dependent upon her father for her accommodation. In June 2019, whilst Daniel was with me, Chantelle and her parents were evicted from 13 Coventry Road, Greystone Park, Harare. After they were evicted, Mr Muteswa was reported in the media stating, I do not have a place to sleep, these days it is cold. As a loving father, I had no option but to approach the court, in the best interests of Daniel, and sought a court order that he could not return back to Chantelle under the circumstances that she was in, as this would be placing Daniel into an unstable and unsafe environment that is detrimental to his welfare. As a concerned father I exercised my legal right to apply to extend my access rights to Daniel to allow me to provide accommodation for him, which the court correctly granted. The court found that I could provide Daniel with a stable and safe environment where his best interests would be met. He added, Despite the Childrens Court ruling that Daniels best interests were with me and that I could provide a safer home for him, Chantelle demanded that Daniel be returned to her, even though she was unable to provide him with a safe and stable home. Chantelle approached the High Court to assist her and the urgent chamber application was heard before Honourable Zhou J under case number HC6037/19. In Chantelles application to the High Court, she requested that the High Court set-aside the order granted by the Childrens Court and that the High Court issue a warrant of arrest. Her application was dismissed. The reasons for the dismissal are set out in the judgment attached. Chantelle then appealed against the ruling of the Childrens Court. The appeal is under case number CIVA 220/2019. The court found that it is in the best interests of Daniel that he stays in a safe and stable environment. To protect him, I made application for execution pending appeal. The appeal was granted, and Daniel remained safe with me. He said Chantelle proceeded with yet another urgent chamber application under case number HC6651, in which she sought stay of execution of the Childrens Court order under case number CCA205/18 pending determination of appeal under CIV A. 220/19. The order was to serve as a warrant of arrest. This application was found not to be urgent and was removed from the urgent roll. Your Excellency, it has never been in doubt that I am Daniels biological father, but Chantelle secured a birth certificate for our son which did not include my name as his father. She intended to make it seem as though he did not have a father. Despite several interactions to resolve this matter, and include me on our childs birth certificate, Chantelle did not want my inclusion on the birth certificate as Daniels father. This right is enshrined in terms of Section 81(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Section 81(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states Every child, that is to say every boy and girl under the age of 18 years has the right to be given a name and a family name. Daniel was being denied his constitutional right of having a family name which is my name. My child deserved to have his fathers family name and I made an application that his birth certificate should include my name. This application was granted by the court, he said. Notwithstanding that the court ordered that Daniel remain with me, Chantelle was granted the right to see him under supervision by either myself or by my personnel. Through my attorneys, and in the interests of our son, I engaged her several times that we should discuss the way forward, inviting her to see Daniel, but she was not willing discuss the matter. Butte County Superior Court Judge Michael Deems read the name of each victim aloud in the courtroom while the images of the dead were shown on a large screen as Johnson entered a plea for each of the counts. The fire killed 85 people, but prosecutors werent certain they could prove PG&E was responsible for one of the deaths. Johnson also pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to one felony count of unlawfully starting a fire. SEOUL, South Korea North Korea said on Tuesday that it would cut off all communication lines with South Korea, including military hotlines, as it vowed to reverse a recent detente on the Korean Peninsula and start treating the South as an enemy. North Korea made the decision when its top officials in charge of relations with the South, including Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, met on Monday, the Norths official Korean Central News Agency said. The officials stressed that the work toward the South should thoroughly turn into one against the enemy, the North Korean news agency reported on Tuesday. We have reached a conclusion that there is no need to sit face to face with the South Korean authorities, and there is no issue to discuss with them, as they have only aroused our dismay. Shortly after its announcement, North Korea refused to pick up the phone on Tuesday morning when the South made its routine daily call on the military hotlines between the two countries, officials in Seoul said. Ms. Omars mother died when she was 2, and when she was 8, her extended family fled Somalias civil war, and spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya. In 1995, they sought asylum in the United States, settling first in Arlington, Va., and later in Minneapolis, which has a large Somali population. Her father, who was a teacher in Somalia, picked up work driving taxis and later got a job at the post office. Ms. Omar became a citizen in 2000, when she was 17. Ms. Omar, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress in 2018, has spoken of how her fathers words of advice helped her navigate life. When she was bullied at school, he sat me down, and he said, Listen, these people who are doing all of these things to you, theyre not doing something to you because they dislike you, she said in an interview the year she was elected. They are doing something to you because they feel threatened in some way by your existence, she said. At least 30,693 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Minnesota, and about 1,304 people have died from Covid-19, according to the state health department. At least 116,000 people have died from the disease in the United States, and more than two million people have been infected. Atlanta, GA, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ScottMadden, Inc., one of North Americas leading management consulting firms specializing in energy, recently released its latest edition of The ScottMadden Energy Industry Update (EIU). Themed Take It to the Limit, this EIU explores the changing environment for natural gas companies, as gas utilities face risks and opportunities with the push toward decarbonization. For more than a decade, natural gas production has increased significantly, resulting in relative price stability, customer growth for gas utilities, and a coal-replacement fuel for power generation. At the same time, decarbonization initiatives at the state and municipal levels are presenting complications for gas utilities. While a few communities have proposed policies limiting end-use natural gas usage, intending to reduce CO 2 emissions, others have taken steps to ensure availability of gas as an economically attractive fuel. Regardless of the direction of policy, gas utilities can undertake several near-term actions and develop longer-term strategies to reshape service offerings that meet an evolving energy market and customer preferences. These tactics and strategies will be along two fronts: continuing and enhancing existing programs, processes, and initiatives and developing new services and business practices that help achieve decarbonization goals. As gas utilities have observed decarbonization efforts, some are taking the initiative to improve the emissions profile of the gas value chain, explains Greg Litra, partner at ScottMadden. Gas utilities have made notable progress with reducing emissions, and there are three areas they can focus on to further these efforts, including baselining and benchmarking, decarbonizing the gas stream, and focusing on resource optimization. For a closer look at the challenges and opportunities ahead for gas utilities, you can hear from Greg Litra in this new video or access our latest report here. Complimentary Energy Industry Update Webcast If you have not yet registered, we encourage you to join ScottMaddens complimentary webcast, ScottMadden's Energy Industry Update Take It to the Limit on Thursday, June 18, 2020, from 1PM2PM EST. During this session, our industry experts will share their views and field questions related to the future of the gas utility, 100% clean energy goals and how they may be impacted by COVID-19, and regulatory strategy during a pandemic. Cristin Lyons, partner and energy practice leader, will serve as webcast moderator. Register for this webcast here. About ScottMaddens Energy Practice We know energy from the ground up. Since 1983, we have served as energy consultants for hundreds of utilities, large and small, including all of the top 20. We focus on Transmission & Distribution, the Grid Edge, Generation, Energy Markets, Rates & Regulation, Enterprise Sustainability, and Corporate Services. Our broad, deep utility expertise is not theoreticalit is experience based. We have helped our clients develop and implement strategies, improve critical operations, reorganize departments and entire companies, and implement myriad initiatives. About ScottMadden, Inc. ScottMadden is the management consulting firm that does what it takes to get it done right. We consult in two main areasEnergy and Corporate & Shared Services. We deliver a broad array of consulting services ranging from strategic planning through implementation across many industries, business units, and functions. To learn more, visit www.scottmadden.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn. Calaveras County deputy among the responders catches a quick rest in between helping the Butte County Camp Fire efforts Nov 8 2018 View Photo Butte County, CA The nations largest utility admitted to the blood on its hands for causing deadly fires, including one that destroyed a town, by neglecting to properly tend to its equipment. On Tuesday, outgoing PG&E CEO Bill Johnson traveled from the companys San Francisco headquarters to a Butte County courthouse and pled guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter that occurred as a result of the November 2018 Camp Fire incident that sparked from an aging electrical grid. The blaze, which all but decimated the entire town of Paradise also forced PG&E to initiate bankruptcy proceedings early last year. Under its negotiated plea agreement with Butte County DA Mike Ramsey, PG&E also pled guilty to one felony count of unlawfully starting a fire. As Butte County Superior Court Judge Michael Deems read the names of each of the 84 victims as their photos appeared on a courtroom screen Johnson acknowledged the horrific toll that PG&Es history of neglect wrought. No words from me could ever reduce the magnitude of that devastation or do anything to repair the damage, Johnson said in a subsequent statement. I hope the actions taken today bring some measure of peace. A grand jury indictment summary listing the corporate misconduct is forthcoming. Reshuffled Board To Choose New CEO Johnson, who was hired about six months after the Camp Fire, plans to step down as CEO on June 30, the same date that the utility hopes to secure a federal judges approval for its plan to emerge from its second bankruptcy case in 16 years. A mostly new board of directors recently announced by PG&E as part of a deal with the State of California will hire his replacement. The hearing was set up as a way to publicly shame PG&E for past practices that chose to boost investors profits over upgrading and maintaining its infrastructure to protect the 16 million people who rely on it for power. Many of the fires victims were elderly or disabled. They took desperate measures to save themselves. More than 20 family members of the victims are expected to make statements in court Wednesday. It is anticipated that Deems will formally sentence PG&E Thursday or Friday though no one will be imprisoned for the companys crimes. PG&E has agreed to pay a maximum fine of $3.5 million-plus $500,000 for the cost of the investigation. The deal does not include criminal probation. Notably, PG&E is on criminal probation until January 2020 for a separate incident involving some of its natural gas lines that in 2010 blew up a neighborhood and killed ten people in San Bruno. PG&Es bankruptcy case includes $25.5 billion in settlements to pay for the damages from the Camp Fire and other deadly Northern California blazes caused by its equipment in 2017. There is also $13.5 billion in funds earmarked for wildfire victims. If its bankruptcy plan is approved, PG&E and other investor-owned utilities that have bought into the states wildfire fund may tape it to help pay for wildfire damages. The fire season is shaping up to be busy one due to unusually dry winter weather and a forecast calling for a hot, dry summer with offshore wind events generating more high fire danger days. In a separate announcement, the FDA has warned doctors against prescribing the HCQ in combination with remdesivir, the other drug shown to help COVID-19 patients. The United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on Monday, revoked the emergency authorisation for the malaria drug - hydroxychloroquine - promoted by the US President Donald Trump for treating COVID-19. This new development comes amid growing evidence that the drug does not and could cause serious side effects. The FDA said the drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are unlikely to be effective in treating the coronavirus. Citing reports of heart complications, the FDA said the drugs unproven benefits do not outweigh the known and potential risks. Several studies of the decades-old malaria pills have also suggested that they are not effective either as a treatment or to prevent COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are frequently prescribed for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and can cause heart rhythm problems, severely low blood pressure, and muscle or nerve damage. The agency reported Monday that it had received nearly 390 reports of complications with the drugs, including more than 100 involving serious heart problems. Such reports represent an incomplete snapshot of complications with the drugs because many side effects go unreported. Hydroxychloroquines anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties suggested it might help COVID-19 patients, and the FDA had authorised its emergency use in March at the height of the pandemic when there were no approved treatments. The early enthusiasm was partly based on laboratory experiments in which the drug appeared to neutralise the virus. Chloroquine, which is not approved for any use in the United States and has more side effects, has not fared any better in human clinical trials. Drug not good On Thursday, a National Institutes of Health panel of experts revised its recommendations to specifically recommend against the drugs use except in formal studies, and that, Im sure, had influence on the FDA, Nissen said. The actions by the FDA and NIH send a clear signal to health professionals against prescribing the drugs for coronavirus. No large, rigorous studies have found the drugs safe or effective for preventing or treating COVID-19. And a string of recent studies made clear they could do more harm than good. Dr Peter Lurie, a former FDA associate commissioner, and an Obama administration appointee, said the agency had tarnished its reputation by clearing the drugs based on scant evidence and under apparent political pressure. This is an agency that gains its credibility from the strength of its scientific pronouncements, said Lurie, now president of the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest told The Associated Press. The lesson of this whole tawdry episode is that its the old, painstaking ways of science that ultimately deliver safe and effective therapies. Loads of pills This sudden FDA move means that shipments of the drugs obtained by the federal government will no longer be distributed to state and local health authorities for use against the coronavirus. The decades-old drugs are still available for alternate FDA-approved uses, so US doctors could still prescribe them for COVID-19 a practice known as off-label prescribing. Any drug with US approval can be used in any way a doctor sees fit regardless of what it has been approved for. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said the drug is still being studied for possible use at an earlier stage of the disease. A lot of the data that has come out that was more negative was people who were quite ill in the hospital, he told Reuters. The drug can still be used with a doctors prescription, Azar noted. Dr Steven Nissen, a Cleveland Clinic researcher who has been a frequent FDA adviser, agreed with the decision and said he would not have granted emergency access in the first place. He told The Associated Press, There has never been any high-quality evidence suggesting that hydroxychloroquine is effective for treating or preventing coronavirus infection, he said, but there is evidence of serious side effects. The FDA granted emergency use for the anti-malaria drugs in late March at the same time the US government accepted 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine that had been donated by two foreign drug manufacturers. Millions of those doses were shipped to US hospitals to treat patients who werent enrolled in clinical trials. But the FDA previously warned doctors that it had seen reports of dangerous side effects and heart problems reported to poison control centres and other health systems. The agency said it revoked the authorization in consultation with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) which had requested the emergency use. BARDAs former director said in April that he was removed from his job because he resisted political pressure from Trump appointees to allow widespread use of the malaria drugs. Rick Bright said he worked with FDA senior staff to limit the drugs authorization to patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and under professional supervision. Among other issues, Bright objected to the fact that some of the doses imported were manufactured at facilities in India and Pakistan that had not been inspected by the FDA. Bright is seeking reinstatement to his position at BARDA after being transferred to the NIH. The FDA says it sampled and tested the imported drugs to confirm they met the agencys standards for safety and quality. Half of the hospitals responding to a mid-May survey conducted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) reported excess supplies of hydroxychloroquine that they expected to return to wholesalers. Remdesivir to the rescue In a separate announcement, the FDA has also warned doctors against prescribing the drugs in combination with Gilead Science's remdesivir, the lone drug currently shown to help patients with COVID-19. The FDA said the anti-malaria drugs can reduce the effectiveness of remdesivir, which FDA cleared for emergency use in May. Remdesivir is an experimental intravenous medication that has been shown to help severely ill, hospitalized patients recover faster. Late Monday afternoon, the FDA announced it would update remdesivirs prescribing label to warn against combining it with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine. The agency said results from laboratory tests suggest the drugs interfere with remdesivirs virus-fighting ability in human cells. Despite that risk, regulators said they have not yet seen the problem in patients. Still a game-changer Trump disagrees with the FDA's revoking of the drug and said the only US. agencies have failed to grasp its benefit in fighting the coronavirus. His remarks were delivered to reporters at the White House, hours after the FDA revoked its emergency use authorization of the drug. In March, Trump said hydroxychloroquine in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin had a real chance to be one of the biggest game-changers in the history of medicine, with little evidence to back up that claim. He said that he had taken the drugs preventively after two people who worked at the White House were diagnosed with COVID-19. He also urged others to try it, again with no scientific backing. I took it and I felt good about taking it. I dont know if it had an impact, but it certainly didnt hurt me, Trump said on Monday. Trump said there had been great reports out of France, Spain, and other places, without offering any evidence or further explanation. France is one of the countries that has already stopped using the drug for COVID-19 patients. Italy and Belgium late last month halted use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients. But the US, last month sent two million doses to Brazil, which has emerged as the pandemics latest epicentre. Hundreds of trials testing hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine as interventions for COVID-19 are still underway, including a US study designed to show whether hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin can prevent hospitalization and death from COVID-19. With input from agencies Three people, including a woman, were hacked to death and two were assaulted over suspicions of practising black magic in three districts in Odisha, police said on Monday. A 30-year-old man beheaded a woman in Mayurbhanj district before walking into the police station with the severed head and in Rayagada district, a man hacked two elderly people to death. Swarnalata Minz, Khunta police station inspector, said Budhuram Singh from Karakachia Nuasahi village of Mayurbhanj district killed his neighbour Champa Singh, 60, suspecting her to be responsible for the death of his young daughter last Wednesday. Champa was inside her house when Budhiram dragged her out and chopped her head with an axe. Later, he walked to the police station with the severed head and surrendered before the cops. Police in Rayagada district said Premananda Mandangi of Badakoshapad village under Seskhal Police station area of the district hacked his neighbours Jadumani Mandangi (45) and Poli Madangi (50). Both died on the spot. Premananda had earlier alleged that three of his family members were killed by Jadumani and Poli by performing black magic. A village meeting was held three months ago where Jadumani and Poli were asked to pay Rs 3,000 as a penalty for practising black magic. However, they didnt pay the fine. The police arrested accused Premanand and seized the bodies of Jadumani and Poli after they were informed by the victims families. In a separate incident, an elderly man and his daughter were assaulted and forced to drink cow dung-laced water over suspicions of witchcraft in Balasore district. Police said Parshuram Barik, a 60-plus man from the districts Nilagiri area, was assaulted by his neighbour and several other villagers after they suspected him to of practising black magic. They said after the daughter-in-law of Bariks neighbour, Shantilata, fell ill, she called a witchdoctor to his home. The witchdoctor after conducting some rituals said Barik was casting a spell on her. Following this, other villagers tied him to a tree and assaulted him. When his daughter Puspanjali tried to save him, she was assaulted and both were forced to drink cow dung-laced water. Haiti - News : Zapping... A tropical wave is approaching Haiti June 15, 2020 : A Tropical Wave is about to cross the Caribbean Arc today and it will pass over Haiti in the next 72 hours. Rain showers, sometimes thunderstorms, will remain over the country throughout the week. Homes for endangered children The majority of children's homes in Haiti are funded by small private donors such as individuals, churches or religious groups. It is feared that these children's homes will not receive their regular donations and will experience interruptions in their financial and material support, particularly with regard to basic necessities such as food, propane for cooking and hygiene and cleaning products, due to restrictions on international travel and the worsening socio-economic situation. The Institute of Social Welfare and Research (IBESR) coordinates its action with that of protection actors in order to best mitigate the risks while advocating for the prevention of family separation and the acceleration of family reunification in order reduce the number of children in these homes, where the risk of transmission is high due to overcrowding. Minister of Justice wantsthe arrest of "Barbecue" Wednesday in front of the press, Lucmanne Delille, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, urged the Haitian National Police (PNH) and more particularly the Central Direction of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) to put everything in place works to track down and bring before justice the former police officer Jimmy Serizier aka "Barbecue" accused of involvement in several massacres in working-class neighborhoods. End of the run for Gang Leader "Carmelo" Monday in Gressier, agents of the Departmental Unit of Maintenance of Order (UDMO) quartered in Leogane put an end to the long run of Judenor Saint-Cyr aka "Carmelo" presumed leader of a Gang, by proceeding to his arrest in Gressier. He is accused in particular of rapes, robberies, murders and robberies. Minister Delile determined to end gangs The Minister of Justice, Lucmanne Delille renews his determination to do everything in his power to put out of harm's way the armed gangs which sow terror in several popular neighborhoods of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince... HL/ HaitiLibre Japan has kept its deaths from the new coronavirus low despite a series of missteps that beg the question of whether it can prevent future waves of infections. Authorities were criticized for bungling a cruise ship quarantine and were slow to close Japan's borders. They have conducted only a fraction of the tests needed to find and isolate patients and let businesses operate almost as usual, even under a pandemic state of emergency. But the roughly 900 deaths, or 7 per million people, in Japan are far fewer than the 320 per million in the U.S. and more than 550 per million in Italy and Britain. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on May 25 declared an end to a 7-week pandemic state of emergency, lauding ``the power of the Japan model'' and winning World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus's praise as a ``success.'' Experts say it's unclear exactly how Japan has managed to keep outbreaks in check, but the country needs to use the reprieve to beef up testing and healthcare systems to better find, isolate and treat patients to minimize future waves of infections. A government-commissioned panel concluded that early contact-tracing helped pinpoint outbreaks, slowing the spread of the virus until late March, when a surge of cases overwhelmed the extremely labor intensive process of investigating clusters of infections. A campaign to get the public to avoid high-risk environments, dubbed the ``three Cs,'' or close contact, closed settings and crowded places, also helped, it said. ``At a relatively early stage, we detected signs of infections and we were aware of how the coronavirus transmits ... We were able to warn the people against the `3 Cs' from early on,'' said Shireru Omi, a public health expert and leading figure on the government task force. ``Japan could have been like (the U.S. or Europe) if infections had overshot at the beginning,'' he said. Omi and other experts say widespread use of masks to fend off allergies and prevent sharing colds; the Japanese custom of bowing instead of shaking hands or hugging; a taboo on wearing shoes inside homes and a highly accessible, affordable public health system all helped. Patients who were hospitalized benefited from Japanese doctors' heavy reliance on CAT scans and X-rays to diagnose pneumonia cases. Researchers also suspect possible past exposure to other strains of coronavirus might provide some protection from the illness. Or, Japan may just have been lucky so far, despite many missteps, some critics say. Initially, hopes were high that Japan's system of public health centers, or ``hokenjo,'' set up decades ago to track down tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, might be a powerful weapon against the pandemic. Instead, gutted by steep staff cuts and restructuring, they became bottlenecks as they were flooded with tens of thousands of phone calls and testing requests. Bureaucracy prevented commercial and university labs from helping, as some people sickened and died before their calls were even answered. ``A public health perspective was prioritized, and treatment for each patient was neglected,'' Michiko Sakane, a doctor in Tsukuba, near Tokyo, said in a recent article published by the Medical Research Information Center. ``We had to keep asking patients with flu symptoms to wait at home. We don't even know how many of them were positive,'' she said. ``We needed a system that allow us to test anyone who needed to be tested.'' Infections spread in hospitals, as meanwhile emergency rooms often rejected suspected COVID-19 patients due to shortages of protective gear, ventilators and intensive care beds. The handling of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, on which 712 of the 3,711 people aboard gradually fell ill while being quarantined in the Yokohama port, triggered criticism that Japanese health officials had turned the vessel into a virus incubator. Hundreds of those patients flooded into hospitals just as the pandemic was gaining a foothold in the Tokyo-Yokohama region. Other passengers were eventually evacuated from the ship without reports of secondary infections. Officials say tests were rationed to avoid overwhelming hospitals, since health ministry policy initially required hospitalization of all positive cases. Officials later agreed to isolate asymptomatic or mild cases in hotels. Still, emergency medicine briefly collapsed, said Takeshi Shimazu, head of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. ``If we had a bigger outbreak, we wouldn't have been able to cope.'' By early June, Japan had tested some 254,000, or only 0.2% of its 126 million people, a fraction of the numbers tested in the U.S., Germany and South Korea. Omi has acknowledged the actual number of infections could be 10 or 20 times, or more, the health ministry's tally of nearly 17,000. So far, government appeals to businesses to let employees work remotely; limited shutdowns of some businesses and schools and voluntary compliance with calls to avoid crowds appear to have turned the tide. Numbers of new cases have dropped dramatically, though they have rebounded in recent days, a reminder of how easily the new coronavirus can spread. One priority is to better protect the nearly one-third of Japanese over 65 in this fastest aging nation, said Tatsuhiko Kodama, a Tokyo University Immunologist. As Japanese return to schools, shops and offices reconfigured to help prevent infections with ample use of plastic screens, masks and reminders to keep their distance, access to faster testing is crucial, officials say. The government has revised its testing guidelines and is setting up dozens of testing stations, introducing quick test kits for early detection. Some antibody testing has begun to assess the extent of infections and a contact-tracing app for both Apple and Google smartphones is under development. Authorities are on the lookout for further outbreaks of the virus that has cost the country hundreds of lives and trillions of yen (trillions of dollars) in lost production, consumer spending and tourism revenues _ and in government spending to help salvage the economy. When Tokyo confirmed 34 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, its governor declared an ``alert,`` lighting the city government headquarters and the scenic Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay in crimson. Shimazu fears such largely symbolic measures won't prevent a resurgence of infections as people once again crowd onto trains and gather in cramped offices and classrooms. ``How effective can masks, social distancing and hand washing be?'' he said. ``I'm watching the situation with great concern.'' Search Keywords: Short link: Washington: The Trump administration is considering withholding aid to one of its closest Arab partners, Jordan, in a bid to secure the extradition of a woman convicted in Israel of a 2001 bombing that killed 15 people, including two American citizens. The administration says it's weighing "all options" to press Jordan to extradite Ahlam Aref Ahmad al-Tamimi, who is wanted by the US on a charge of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction against American nationals. The charge was filed under seal in 2013 and announced by the Justice Department four years later. The most wanted poster for Ahlam Aref Ahmad al-Tamimi, a Jordanian woman charged in connection with a 2001 bombing of a Jerusalem pizza restaurant that killed 15 people and injured dozens of others. Credit:FBI/AP The extradition issue is likely to be raised this week when Jordan's King Abdullah II speaks to several US congressional committees to voice his opposition to Israel's plans to annex portions of the West Bank. Tamimi is on the FBI's list of "most wanted terrorists" for her role in the suicide bombing at a crowded Jerusalem pizzeria. It was one of the deadliest attacks during the second Palestinian uprising. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 13:31:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SUVA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Tuesday urged local farmers to grow more food in the island nation. Speaking during the launch of the Nubu Farms in Nadarivatu, Naitasiri, one of Fiji's 14 provinces on the main island of Viti Levu, Bainimarama said Fiji is blessed with vast land that should be utilized by local farmers. In 2019 alone, over 5.4 million Fijian dollars (about 2.5 million U.S. dollars) of carrots and over 1.8 million Fijian dollars (about 829,980 U.S. dollars) of celery were imported even though it can be easily grown in Nadarivatu's ideal climate. Nadarivatu has the tropical rainforest climate prevailing with an average annual temperature of 30 degrees and about 2,318 mm of rain in a year. Bainimarama said not all food in Fiji for visitors is grown locally in commercial quantities as kitchen essentials such as onions, garlic, carrots and celery are imported by hotel and restaurant managers for tourists. While the 2020 tourism industry has been crippled due to COVID-19, the Fijian government is working hard to get the sector back up and running, he said, adding that when tourism returns to some form of normalcy, he wants more value of big import bills to stay in Fiji. Meanwhile, Fiji's Minister for Agriculture Mahendra Reddy said contracted farmers will not need to worry about taking their produce to markets as the Agro Marketing Authority (AMA) will buy directly from them. AMA is responsible for the purchasing of crops from farmers and for all orders either overseas or for local markets. Enditem Greens MLC David Shoebridge has declared he will not sack a staffer who was charged with defacing a statue of Captain Cook as he was censured by the NSW upper house for failing to condemn the act. Mr Shoebridge condemned the public criticism that had been "piled on" his staffer Xiaoran Shi after she was charged with vandalising a statue of Captain Cook in Hyde Park on Sunday. "I will not be sacking my staffer for what she did," Mr Shoebridge told the chamber. Greens MLC David Shoebridge with Xiaoran Shi, who was charged with vandalising a statue of Captain Cook in Hyde Park. Credit:Facebook/David Shoebridge Ms Shi, 28, and her friend Charmaine Morrison-Mills, 27, will return to court next month on charges of destroying or damaging property after allegedly spray-painting "sovereignty never ceded" and "no pride in genocide" on the statue of Cook during the early hours of Sunday morning. BEIJING - China and India accused each other Wednesday of instigating deadly border clashes between their forces along the disputed Himalayan frontier, pledging to safeguard their territory but also to try to end a standoff that has dramatically raised the stakes between the nuclear-armed Asian giants. Twenty Indian troops were reportedly killed in the clashes Monday night in the Ladakh regions Galwan Valley, while it was not clear whether China suffered any casualties. Indian security forces said neither side fired any shots, with some officials saying the soldiers were carrying anti-riot gear rather than weapons. The Indian soldiers, including a colonel, died of severe injuries suffered in sub-zero temperatures after the two sides threw rocks and traded blows, Indian officials said. It was the deadliest conflict between the sides in 45 years, and escalated a standoff in the disputed region that began in early May, when Indian officials said Chinese soldiers crossed the boundary at three different points, erecting tents and guard posts and ignoring verbal warnings to leave. That triggered shouting matches, stone-throwing and fistfights, much of it replayed on television news channels and social media. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned New Delhi not to underestimate Beijings determination to safeguard what it considers its sovereign territory. His comments came in a phone call Wednesday with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Wang said China demanded that India conduct a thorough investigation and harshly punish those responsible. The Indian side would best not make an incorrect judgement of the situation, would best not underestimate Chinas strong determination to safety its sovereign territory, Wang said in a statement issued by the foreign ministry. He repeated Chinas claims that India was solely responsible for the conflict, saying Indian forces had crossed the Line of Actual Control that divides the thousands of troops from both sides deployed in the area. Jaishankar, in turn, accused China of erecting a structure in the Galwan Valley, which he called a premeditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties, according to a statement. He added that the incident would have serious repercussions on Indias relationship with China, but that both sides were committed to further disengaging on the remote plateau of the Himalayan terrain. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the soldiers killed in the clashes. Their sacrifices wont go to waste, he said. For us, the unity and sovereignty of the country is the most important thing. India wants peace, but when provoked, it is capable of giving a fitting reply, be it any kind of situation. A group of protesters gathered Wednesday near the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, Indias capital, condemning the killing of the soldiers and demanding a ban on Chinese goods. They carried placards with crossed-out photographs of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese army. A small group of retired Indian army personnel also marched close to the embassy with placards reading Chinese army down down. They were detained by police. While experts said the two nations were unlikely to head to war, they also believe easing tensions quickly will be difficult. This will likely be a watershed moment in India-China relations and the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, said Abraham Denmark, Asia program director at The Wilson Center. Both countries are led by men who have embraced nationalism, and both countries are facing tremendous domestic and international upheaval as a result of COVID-19 and other long-standing problems. The main questions now are if either side can find a path to deescalation and whether Indias allies such as the United States will help. It is a highly volatile and dangerous situation between two nationalistic, nuclear powers at a time when American influence has badly diminished, Denmark said. An editorial published Wednesday in the Global Times, a Chinese Communist Party newspaper, said India was being encouraged by the U.S., which has been steadily building relations with Indias military. The arrogance and recklessness of the Indian side is the main reason for the consistent tensions along China-India borders, the editorial said, adding that China does not and will not create conflicts, but it fears no conflicts either. China claims about 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 square miles) of territory in Indias northeast, while India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometres (15,000 square miles) of its territory in the Aksai Chin Plateau in the Himalayas, a contiguous part of the Ladakh region. India unilaterally declared Ladakh a federal territory while separating it from disputed Kashmir in August 2019. China was among the handful of countries to strongly condemn the move, raising it at international forums including the U.N. Security Council. Thousands of soldiers on both sides have faced off over a month along a remote stretch of the 3,380-kilometre (2,100-mile) Line of Actual Control, the border established following a war between India and China in 1962 that resulted in an uneasy truce. The United Nations urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint. We are concerned about reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control between India and China, U.N. associate spokesperson Eri Kaneko said. We take positive note of reports that the two countries have engaged to de-escalate the situation. ___ This story has been corrected to show a reference to 17 injured is a description of how some fatalities occurred and not a report of more casualties. ___ Sharma reported from New Delhi. Scientists have discovered a pattern that may help explain why people with chronic diseases are at greater risk from coronavirus. People who suffer from diabetes, lung disease and high blood pressure have more cellular doorways through which the virus can enter than do healthy people, according to an analysis of 700 lung samples. The new research from the University of Sao Paulo and the University of Washington may finally help explain why a respiratory virus may so dramatically affect people with diseases seemingly unrelated to the lungs and airway. In a silver lining, the scientists suggest that a drug used to treat some breast cancer patients could help block off the excess ACE2 receptors through which coronavirus enters, perhaps saving thousands from infection. People who suffer from chronic conditions linked to more severe coronavirus infection have more ACE2 receptors (pink), which act like doorways for coronavirus, on the surfaces of their lung cells, Brazilian and American researchers found The higher rates of infection and severe COVID-19 among people with pre-existing lung conditions were hardly a surprise to doctors as the coronavirus pandemic. began spreading around the globe at the start of the year. But it soon became clear that people with non-pulmonary diseases were at risk too. A study published yesterday in the The Lancet estimated that 1.7 billion people worldwide are at increased risk of coronavirus infection due to underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease. And to the horror of front-line workers everywhere, people tested positive for coronavirus with primary symptoms like diarrhea or stomach pain. Many hospitalized patients have died not of pneumonia, but of heart attacks and blood clots. The key to the mysterious array of symptoms seems to be the ACE2 receptor. ACE2 is a critical protein on the surface of cells inside our bodies. It acts like processor for other proteins and hormones in a series of reactions that helps control blood pressure. But it also fits the spike protein on the coronavirus's surface like a glove, giving the virus an entry point into human cells. ACE2 receptors are most prevalent on lung cells, which explains why the virus does such devastating damage to the organs. Coronavirus was recently dubbed a disease of the blood vessels, too - another common site of ACE2 receptors. Still, the link between people with other conditions, like kidney disease or diabetes, and severe coronavirus infection, was not clear. But the new Washington state and Sao Paulo Brazil research may have found a missing link. They examined 700 lung samples from people with a wide range of chronic health conditions and compared them to samples from healthy people. ACE2 was far more 'expressed' or prevalent on the cell surfaces of people with: hypertension, diabetes, and chronic obstructive lung disease. The scientists suggested that an enzyme called KDM5B that helps keep ACE2 receptors at normal levels could help block infection. 'This identification of a common molecular mechanism of increased COVID-19 severity in patients with diverse comorbidities could direct the development of interventions to reduce the infection risk and disease severity in this population,' they wrote in a study that has been accepted for publication in the Oxford University Press for infectious Diseases Society of America. The executive committee of parent-teacher associations (PTAs) across schools in the state can propose a reduction in fees in the current situation if they feel so, said state education minister Varsha Gaikwad, while talking to the media on Tuesday afternoon. While the government has already released strict guidelines against hiking fees, and asked schools to allow parents to make partial payments, the decision with respect to fee reduction should be taken by individual PTAs of the schools. As per the rules, the PTA executive committee has to approve fees for every year, and if parents wish, they can get their fees reduced, said Gaikwad. According to the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2011, proposals concerning fees have to be placed before the PTA executive committee for approval. The minister also said that action will be taken against schools that are still not complying with the departments directives on not hiking fees. We have asked our officers to take strict action against such schools, she added. The minister said that while results of HSC (Class 12) are expected to be out by mid July, those of SSC (Class 10) will be out by July end. After several teachers from schools across the city said they were being called to work even as the standard operating procedures (SOPs) released by the department on Monday do not specifically mandate them to travel, Gaikwad said that a separate set of SOPs will be released for schools in red zones. We are also getting several calls from teachers, especially in Mumbai, about schools asking them to report to work. We understand their concerns, and hence, to bring in more clarity, a set of guidelines specifically for schools in red zones will be issued soon, the minister said. Officials from the education department said the guidelines are likely to be released by Wednesday. A senior official reiterated that the SOPs are binding on schools of all mediums, managements, and boards across the state. The education department has also started conducting a statewide third-party audit to understand whether online learning is reaching students and if not, the students are being given other options like phone call-based instruction from teachers, home-delivered textbooks, etc. Speaking about the concerns of private preschool educators after the government decided to ban online learning up to Class 2, Gaikwad said, At this point not pressuring our children is more important than anything else. We hope that schools understand our compulsions in the current situation and behave in a rational and humanitarian manner. Iraq's Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) has made deep cuts in Basra crude supplies to Asia in July as the producer complies with an OPEC+ pact to cut output, seven sources with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday. Iraq's supply cuts come on the back of similar reductions by the world's top exporter Saudi Arabia. Both producers are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries which agreed earlier this month with allies including Russia, a grouping known as OPEC+, to extend a record 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of production cuts for a third month in July. Iraq, which has been lagging behind its target, had already taken measures to further reduce its output and exports in June. For July, Iraq's Basra crude supply cuts in Asia ranged from 30% to 100% of contract volumes, the sources said, adding that the degree of reduction varied among buyers. "Some didn't get (any) allocation," one of the sources said. For two Indian buyers, the cuts were about 36% and 75% of their monthly contract volumes, the sources said. The overall amount of Basra crude supply for July is estimated to fall by 15% to 20% on average, the sources said. Iraq planned to export 2.8 million bpd of Basra crude from its southern ports in June, its newly appointed oil minister said on Monday. SOMO could not be immediately reached for comment outside its business hours. Tighter crude supplies from OPEC+ countries have pushed up prices of Middle East and Russian sour crude in Asia, prompting buyers to seek oil from other regions, traders said. TDT| Manama A Bahraini man on death row for his conviction of killing a policeman and injuring several others back in 2017 yesterday got his final plea rejected by the Court of Cassation. According to court files, the appellant was a member of a militant cell that was trained by Iranian Revolutionary Guards to carry out terrorist attacks in Bahrain and targeting policemen. It was also shown that the cell members were planning to blow up several oil pipelines and assassinate public figures in the Kingdom. The suspects received extensive military training on the use of explosives and firearms in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard camps, in addition to receiving direct logistic and financial support through escaped terrorists in Iran, Chief of Public Security Lieutenant-General Tariq Al Hassan said while revealing the results of police investigations in 2017. The five-member terrorist group was responsible for detonating an explosive device that was hidden under a traffic cone along the highway near Jidhafs, targeting a police bus. The attack, which occurred on October 27, 2017, caused the death of policeman Salman Anjam and injured others. He was earlier sentenced, along with a fellow gang member, to capital punishment and to pay a BD500 fine. Other members received sentences varying from life in prison to seven years of jail time. The court also ordered to strip all of the involved defendants of their Bahraini citizenship Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 14) The Department of Health on Sunday reported 539 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the Philippines overall tally of infections to 25,930. In its latest bulletin, DOH said 366 were identified as fresh cases or those whose test results were released within the last three days. The agency has been separating the total count into fresh and late cases since late May. The remaining 173 cases were, meanwhile, part of the validation backlog, 142 of which were recorded in Metro Manila, the agency noted. The capital region also listed the highest number of fresh cases with 153 new infections, while Central Visayas reported 110. Fourteen more fatalities were also recorded, raising the infectious diseases death toll to 1,088. Recoveries also rose to 5,954, as 248 more individuals survived COVID-19. Metro Manila earlier eased its lockdown measures in a bid to gradually restart the economy and help workers affected by the health crisis. President Rodrigo Duterte is set to decide on the new quarantine rules on Monday, but Malacanang earlier said the development on cases "does not inspire relaxation. Despite spike in deaths, PH fatality rate still going down Health officials also earlier addressed concerns on the spike in coronavirus-related deaths, saying the countrys case fatality rate has continued to go down. In a virtual presser, epidemiologist Dr. John Wong acknowledged the sudden rise in fatalities in the past two days, but explained that the overall picture sees an improvement in Philippines data. Even if you look at the past two days, we have very few actual deaths. In fact, the median is just nine, said Wong, a member of the sub technical working group tapped by the countrys COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force. Wong also stressed that there may be a delay in the reportage of death count due to the validation process by respective local governments and the DOH itself. The actual dates of death would occur first, but that still has to be reported to the LGU, and later on to the regional offices and DOH. And DOH has to validate it. It takes some time before an actual death is reported. That explains the delay in reporting, Wong added. More cases abroad Meanwhile, coronavirus cases among Filipinos abroad also increased to 5,541, as the Department of Foreign Affairs reported 22 more overseas infections on Sunday. Death toll among Filipinos abroad is at 409, while a total of 2,491 recovered from the infectious disease. Around the world, the mysterious virus has infected over 7.8 million individuals in 188 different countries including China, the epicenter of the outbreak. The army of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) denounced in an official statement on Monday the dreadful acts that attempt to propagate hostility and hatred between the Libyan and Egyptian peoples, after the kidnapping and abuse of Egyptian workers in Libya. The GNA said the criminal group depicted in the video abusing Egyptian workers were claiming to be part of the Volcano of Rage men in Misrata, and that they only aim to distort the image of the GNA and the cities of the Libyan revolution. The GNA assured in its statement that the Volcano of Rage men will arrest those responsible for the incident. The army stressed that the newspaper responsible for circulating the video is dubious and serves foreign agendas aiming at harming the Libyan people. A video that has been recently circulated showed militias loyal to the GNA arresting and assaulting Egyptian workers in Libya. The video caused outrage in Egypt, which prompted Egypts Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal and immigration minister Nabila Makram to promise that the country will take a stand at the right time against the incident. Libya has been divided between two rival factions: an internationally recognised government based in the capital Tripoli and the Libyan National Army (LNA) of eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar. Egypt has been a prominent backer of Haftar in recent years. Earlier this month, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi announced a peace initiative to end the civil war in Libya that includes a cease and was endorsed by Haftar. Meanwhile, spokesman of the LNA Ahmed Al-Mesmary apologised to the Egyptian people over the kidnapping and abuse of Egyptian workers in Libya, stressing that the perpetrators are militias supported by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The LNA spokesman said in a phone call on Monday with Sada Al-Balad TV Channel that the LNA was able to identify and locate the perpetrators. According to Al-Mesmary, the video was shot at the headquarters of Al-Hazm militia in Misrata, calling the militia a very dangerous terrorist organisation. Al-Mesmary said the Egyptians in the video are innocent workers with no ties to the Libyan domestic affairs, arguing that they are paying the price for the Egyptian stance towards the crisis in Libya. According to Al-Mesmary, the incident depicted in the video resembles hundreds of documented crimes occurring in Libya that are being committed against both Libyan nationals and foreigners by militias supported by Erdogan. We apologise to the Egyptian people and the Egyptian leadership for such awful acts that are not representative of Libyans or Libyan morals but of the militias supported by Erdogan, Al-Mesmary said. The LNA spokesman said the army are not sure about the exact number of the kidnapped Egyptians, but that according to the video they number between 19 and 22. All the militia loyal to Erdogan consider any libyan in East Libya and any Egyptian an enemy . . . they always threaten the LNA, the Egyptian army and Egypt, Al-Mesmary added. In a statement on Sunday, the GNA interior ministry denounced the incident, calling it a criminal act. The GNA said it is looking into the authenticity of the video and investigating the loyalty of the militia in it, promising that after the investigation, the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Search Keywords: Short link: Google has removed 36 applications from the Play Store after they were found to be responsible for unwanted adverts and taking users to malicious websites. The apps would also remove their icon from the smartphones home screen and apps folder, making it harder for the user to uninstall it. Researchers from WhiteOps found fraudulent code in a number of beauty camera applications, with names such as Yoroko Camera, Beauty Collage Lite, and Rose Photo Editor & Selfie Beauty Camera. Many of these apps can be identified by a large number of installations in a short space of time, and a large amount of 5-star and 1-star ratings, resulting in a U-shaped distribution. Altogether, these apps were downloaded more than 20 million times, 565,833 per app on average. Recommended Android users urged to uninstall Facebook and YouTube download app A new app was published to the Play Store every 11 days, and removed by Google every 17 days, the researchers said. By September 2019, the threat actor had already had 21 apps removed (almost all of the apps they had published to that point), so they adapted their tactics. The fraudster likely developed a more robust mechanism to avoid detection and removal. WhiteOps said. A batch of 15 apps, all published after September 2019, had a much slower removal rate using those new techniques. The group behind the apps attempted to change code in their apps to avoid detection, in a possible attempt to pinpoint the criteria used by Google for removing apps from the Play Store. However, it could be that the actors simply wanted to keep the app on the store for later use. When the fraudulent code is reactivated, millions of users would immediately become targets. These hackers used a number of tactics to hide their fraudulent activities, including using several packers in the apps. Packers are when an app contains disguised files that cannot be read by analysis tools, making it harder for the Play Store to discover malicious activity. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty They also used Arabic characters from the Quran to obfuscate the code, which substantially reduces readability for people not familiar with Arabic, confuses researchers as to where bad actors are based, [and] breaks analysis tools/functionalities since several do not support unicode characters the researchers said. While Google may have taken the applications off the Play Store, that does not remove them from smartphones automatically. If any user has these apps still on their device, it is recommended to uninstall them: The monsoon has advanced well and reached parts of northwest India on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, and added it is expected to arrive in Delhi earlier than the normal date of June 27. It has covered areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh, western and eastern Madhya Pradesh, IMD said. IMD scientists said they will confirm the arrival of monsoon in Delhi depending on how favourable the conditions are for its advancement over the next four to five days. It will be humid and hot with maximum temperature ranging from 40 to 43 degree C in most parts of northwest India including Delhi. But there will be no heat wave condition. We are expecting the monsoon to pick up again from June 19 due to the formation of a low-pressure system and advance towards western Uttar Pradesh, said Regional Weather Forecasting Centre head Kuldeep Shrivastava. He said the monsoon could even reach the Delhi suburb of Noida around June 19 or 20. Shrivastava, however, underlined that the department cannot say if the monsoon arrival in Delhi can be announced immediately. The monsoon arrives in Kerala in June before it covers other parts of the country and starts to retreat by September. It delivers about 70% of Indias annual rainfall. The monsoon is crucial to the cultivation of rice, wheat, sugarcane and soybeans in the country where farming accounts for about 15% of the economy but employs over half of its people. The monsoon is also important for restocking reservoirs and replenishing groundwater. Monsoon rains lasted longer last year and triggered floods even as it started with the driest June in five years and below-average precipitation in July. IMD said the monsoon was passing through Kandla and Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Indore, Raisen, and Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) and Fatehpur and Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, where it has reached at least five days in advance. It added the monsoon, was, however, on a normal track. National Weather Forecasting Centre head K Sathi Devi said the monsoon had advanced very well so far with help from a low-pressure area, which developed over the Bay of Bengal last week. The low-pressure system moved inland from the Odisha coast and helped the monsoon advance, bringing a lot of rain. Another low-pressure system is likely to develop over the north Bay of Bengal on June 19. These low-pressure systems move west northwestwards. If they do develop, they will strengthen the monsoon and help it advance further. IMD said the low-pressure system, which helped the monsoon flow advance, has weakened now. So, there is unlikely to be any rain in northwest India over the next three days, it added. It said heavy to very heavy rain is likely in Konkan, Goa and over central Maharashtra during the next two days. IMD said the rainfall intensity over eastern India is likely to increase and heavy to very rainfall is likely over the region, including sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim in the next two days. There will be widespread rain in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram during the next five days, IMDs Tuesday bulletin said. AKRON, Ohio, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Toledo Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is conducting tree trimming and other vegetation management work in communities across its northwest Ohio service area to help enhance service reliability for customers. The work helps to maintain proper clearances around electrical equipment, which can reduce the frequency and duration of power outages, especially those associated with severe weather such as the numerous storms experienced this past winter. Since the beginning of the year, tree contractors have trimmed along more than 825 circuit miles of electric lines in the Toledo Edison service area as part of the nearly $7.3 million vegetation management program for 2020, with an additional 1,200 miles expected to be completed by year end. "Tree trimming is one of the most important and effective things we do every year to help maintain and protect our electric system," said Rich Sweeney, regional president, Toledo Edison. "This work pays dividends year-round in fewer service disruptions, particularly during severe storms that can cause tremendous damage to trees, which in turn have the potential to damage our equipment." Tree trimming will be conducted in the following communities this year: Clyde Defiance Delta Fayette Fremont Gibsonburg Lyons Monclova Oregon Pemberville Toledo Whitehouse Woodville The tree trimming is done on a four-year cycle. The program includes inspecting vegetation near the lines to ensure the trees are pruned in a manner that helps preserve the health of the tree, while also maintaining safety near electric facilities. Trees that present a danger or are diseased may be removed. As part of its notification process, Toledo Edison works with municipalities to inform them of tree trimming schedules. In addition, customers living in areas along company rights-of-way also are notified prior to vegetation management work being done. The vegetation management work is conducted by certified forestry experts under the company's direction, including: Arbormetics Solutions; Asplundh Tree Expert Company; Nelson Tree Service Inc.; and PennLine Service. 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 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 more than 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. Editor's Note: Photos of workers using bucket trucks to trim trees near FirstEnergy power lines are available for download on Flickr. A video explaining and demonstrating tree-trimming work can be found on FirstEnergy's YouTube channel. SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp. Related Links http://www.firstenergycorp.com In a major development, one officer and two jawans of the Indian Army lost their lives in a violent scuffle which took place between Indian and Chinese Armies at Galwan Valley in Ladakh on Monday night. It's the first incident in more than four decades resulting in fatalities. In 1975, four Indian soldiers had died in a Chinese ambush in Arunachal Pradesh. Four Assam Rifles troopers were killed in the ambush that took place at Tulung La region of Arunachal Pradesh on October 20, 1975. It was the last such incident of scuffles on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation," according to the official statement by the Indian Army. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, news agency ANI reported. Recent developments in Eastern Ladakh were discussed in the meeting, it added. The Indian Army is expected to give more details on the incident later in the day. The tensions between the Indian and Chinese armies have been on for some weeks now over border related issues in Ladakh. The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on the evening of May 5 which spilled over to the next day before the two sides agreed to "disengage". However, the standoff continued. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9. The troops of India and China were engaged in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam tri-junction in 2017, even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. Also read: SEBI serves notice to Rakesh Jhunjhunwala over alleged 'insider trading' charges Also read: EPFO update: One-third of registered companies default on April PF dues Washington: US President Donald Trump says his former national security adviser John Bolton will break the law and face criminal liability if a book he has written about his time in the White House is published. Trump told reporters that Bolton knew he had classified information in his book, and that he had not completed a clearing process required for any book written by former government officials who had access to sensitive information. Donald Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton has written a memoir. Credit:AP "I will consider every conversation with me as president highly classified. So that would mean that if he wrote a book and if the book gets out, he's broken the law," Trump said. "That's called criminal liability. That's a big thing," Trump added. You are here: China Four giant pandas officially met the public at the Jiuzhaigou panda park in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday. The four pandas, Xin Xin, Tian Tian, Hai Hai and Xiao Liwu (meaning "Little Gift" in Chinese), came from two bases under the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda on Oct. 31, 2019. Xiao Liwu was born in San Diego of the United States in 2012 and relocated to Sichuan in May last year. Located at an average altitude of 2,380 meters in Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, the park covers an area of around 3,220 square meters and is a base for the protection, research and publicity of giant pandas. According to the latest national wild panda survey published in 2015, there are 31 wild giant pandas in Jiuzhaigou County. BEIJING, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JA Solar ("the Company"), a manufacturer of high-performance photovoltaic (PV) products, recently signed a partnership agreement with Exel Solar, a leading distributor of PV products in Mexico. As part of the agreement, the two parties are set to strengthen cooperation in providing more high-quality solar modules to the consumers in Mexico, driving forward the development of the solar energy market in the country. JA Solar has formed a strong relationship with Exel Solar when the Company entered the Mexican market in 2016. As the Mexican government started to ramp up the development of renewable energy, the solar energy sector in Mexico is experiencing substantial growth. Riding on this momentum, JA Solar, as the partner of Exel Solar - one of the top solar distributors in Mexico, is looking forward to bringing new possibilities to the local solar sector and transform the landscape of local PV market. Highly efficient and cost-effective, JA Solar PV products has been well-received among the customers in Mexico and achieved great success in both utility-scale solar sector and distribution generation segment in 2019. Exel Solar has more than 12 years of experience in the Mexican solar market and has specialized in distributing the leading solar brands to system integrators who in turn provide solutions to their residential, commercial and industrial customers in Mexico. "We are very happy to continue being JA Solar leading distributor in Mexico," said Horacio Duhart, CEO of Exel Solar, "JA Solar has been an outstanding partner that not only provides top quality solar modules but also their excellent sales and operations support has helped Exel Solar to become the leading distributor in Mexico." "We are thrilled that our PV products have received high recognition from the Mexican market," said Jin Baofang, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of JA Solar, "The partnership agreement marks another new milestone in developing and delivering PV products with high performance and cutting-edge technologies for our customers in Mexico. JA Solar is excited to be working with Exel Solar to introduce more high-quality solar modules and supply world-class solar projects in the country through this partnership." "Looking forward, we will further strengthen our cooperation with distributors around the world to provide better quality services to our global customers and contribute to the development of the PV industry," Jin Baofang added. About Exel Solar Exel Solar, the leading solar distributor in Mexico, has its corporate offices in Merida, Yucatan and provides nationwide coverage with warehouses located in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Chihuahua, Tijuana and Merida. Exel Solar is a subsidiary of Exel del Norte, a 32 year old distributor in the Information and Technology industry. About JA Solar Founded in 2005, JA Solar is a manufacturer of high-performance photovoltaic products. With 12 manufacturing bases and more than 20 branches around the world, the company's business covers silicon wafers, cells, modules and photovoltaic power stations. JA Solar products are available in over 120 countries and regions and are used extensively in ground-mounted power plants, commercial & industrial rooftop PV systems and residential rooftop PV systems. The company has been listed on Fortune China 500 and Global Top 500 New Energy Enterprises for several consecutive years. SOURCE JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd Related Links https://www.jasolar.com/ ALBANY Well, the statue of old Philip Schuyler will go. Mayor Kathy Sheehan has ordered that it be moved, because the icon of the American Revolution owned slaves. As I wrote in Sunday's column, I agree with the decision. Even though, yes, history is complicated and it's a bit foolish to judge figures of the past by today's standards, Schuyler doesn't deserve his place of honor at the entrance to City Hall. But once Schuyler is gone, what, if anything, comes next? Sheehan told me she doesn't know if the Schuyler statue, which will likely be moved to a museum, will be replaced by another. Or if it should be. "The other piece of this is that it's very dangerous intersection," the mayor said. "Having a circle there impacts a pedestrian's ability to get around the street. Cars kind of zoom around in every direction." Sheehan's right about that, no doubt. The area where Eagle Street meets Washington Avenue can be downright terrifying for anyone unwise enough to traverse it on foot. And pedestrians wanting to get to City Hall from the East Capitol Park, on the far side of Washington, are forced to take a ridiculously circuitous route. So here's an idea: When the Schuyler statue goes, turn the area that now surrounds him into a plaza. No cars allowed. There's plenty of room for a City Hall Plaza if the city is willing to reroute some of the traffic and sacrifice the parking spaces immediately in front of City Hall. (An accommodation would need to be made for handicapped parking.) Imagine the benefits. Instead of a sea of pavement dominated by parked and speeding cars, City Hall would have a lovely gateway. There would be plants and trees, benches and tables. When the weather is nice, there could be food trucks and musicians. "A plaza sounds like the right track it is a sea of asphalt there now and theres no safe way to cross," said Andrew Neidhardt of the group Walkable Albany, when I ran the idea by him on Monday. "A larger plaza space would do wonders to define the traffic space better and allow for crosswalks." Neidhardt added: "And whatever ends up in the middle of the new plaza might actually be accessible to people! Right now its hard to get up to the statue because of all the traffic." That's been especially obvious in the days since Sheehan announced the statue would go. People arriving to photograph Schuyler are forced to stand in the path of traffic as they do. City Hall Plaza would even be large enough for a statue to replace Schuyler. But who should it depict? Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. I asked that question on Twitter and received a slew of suggestions including William Kennedy, Susan B. Anthony and Henry Johnson. All good ideas, worthy of debate and consideration. Here's one more: Samuel Schuyler. According to "These Exalted Acres," Paul Grondahl's book about Albany Rural Cemetery, Samuel Schuyler was a "free person of color" who started as a dock worker, worked his way up to become a towboat operator and ultimately owned the prosperous Schuyler Tow Boat Line. Schuyler succeeded despite withering racism, his achievements a rebuke to the slavery that still existed when he died in 1841. Schuyler, buried at Albany Rural, deserves more recognition in his hometown, and perhaps, as I suggested in a column four years ago, the Philip Schuyler Acheivement Academy, a majority-black school in Albany, should be renamed for him. (Grondahl wrote that no connection between "the black Schuylers" and the family of Philip Schuyler has been established.) But the best idea for City Hall, I think, is a memorial that recognizes the contributions of the thousands of enslaved men and women who helped build Albany and environs. Their impact on this city and region has never been given its due; their lives and labor have never been appropriately valued. But they are an integral, if tragic, piece of the region's story. For nearly 100 years, a statue of one of the region's biggest slave owners has stood in an esteemed spot at the entrance of City Hall. When the statue of Philip Schuyler finally comes down, what replacement could be more appropriate than an honor to those he owned? cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill An Action Hero: Ayushmann Khurrana is now joined by Jaideep Ahlawat as they kickstart shoot in London NSA Souda Bay Welcomes U.S. Ambassador, Greek Defense Leaders Navy News Service Story Number: NNS200615-10 Release Date: 6/15/2020 2:05:00 PM From Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece Public Affairs NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUDA BAY, Greece (NNS) -- Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece welcomed U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey R. Pyatt, Greek Minister of Defense Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, and Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff Gen. Konstantinos Floros, to the installation June 12, 2020. During the leaders' visit, they toured the installation's facilities and met with command leaders. In remarks to the press at the end of the visit, Pyatt said, "Souda, for the United States government plays two critically important roles. First of all, it is our most important platform for the projection of American power into a strategically dynamic Eastern Mediterranean region. From Syria to Libya to the choke point of the Black Sea, this is a critically important asset for the United States as our air force, naval and other resources are applied to support our Alliance obligations and to help bring peace and stability." "But the other aspect of Souda Bay, which is less well known, is that this is the most important venue for day-to-day cooperation between Greek and American forces," he said. "I'm extremely proud of the partnership that we have here, and the way in which all of our services, with the Hellenic Navy at the Souda Bay pier, with the Hellenic Air Force at the topside base, and the Hellenic Army at NAMFI, work every single day with our Greek counterparts to build the kind of habits of cooperation that are the essence of our alliance." NSA Souda Bay is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The embattled governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has said the forthcoming governorship election in his state would determine if incumbency would be a factor for him or not in the election. Let us go to the polls and Nigerians will see, Mr Obaseki responded on Tuesday at the presidential villa when reporters told him that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, said incumbency is not a factor that would work for the governor, in the election. He was in the villa to see President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Obaseki announced his resignation from the APC earlier on Tuesday, after his meeting with Mr Buhari The APC, Friday, disqualified Mr Obaseki from the party governorship primary in Edo state over alleged discrepancies in his educational certificates. There have been speculations that the governor is planning to join the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Obaseki said he would announce in the next few days, specific line of action and the party he would join. Mr Obaseki also spoke on why he visited the two PDP governors, Nyesom Wike and Udom Emmanuel of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states respectively. These are my brother governors who are from my sub-region, some of them have gone through similar experience Im going through, the governor said. Its only proper that when you have challenges of this nature youll go and talk to people who have gone through similar experience for advice. Thats basically what I went to do with them. He also spoke on the controversy around his certificates. Someone who hasnt gone to school, who doesnt have a certificate himself, will not know and understand what inconsistencies in certificates are, thats the starting point. What is the inconsistency? Theres no inconsistency in my certificates. The issue was in 2016, when I contested for gubernatorial election, I could not find the originals of my certificates because I hadnt required them for more than two decades. So I deposed to an affidavit that I couldnt find the originals. Subsequently, I found all the original copies of all my certificates and they are with me. So I dont understand whats inconsistent about that. Maybe the inconsistency in the Youths Corps certificate where he said my surname was missing an i at the end, but if you look at that it was like a cursive, it was written in a cursive manner. So if thats inconsistency for him, then its really sad that people of that quality are leading Nigerias ruling party. A new law in the state which is meant to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus prohibits any gathering of more than 20 people anywhere in Edo. The Edo state government had insisted that they would ensure strict compliance with the COVID-19 law in any political gathering in the state, a development which the APC national chairman, Mr Oshiomhole said he did not think the governor would use against the APC primary. Mr Oshiomhole on Monday said if PDP would assemble 5,000 delegates in the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, for their governorship primary, he saw no reason why the APC would be disallowed from having between 100 and 150 people queue to vote in each of the wards during the party governorship primary. When reporters told Mr Obaseki that the APC chairman expects him to provide level playing ground he responded, He, Adams Oshiomhole, has he? As governor Wike said, he should practice what he preaches, he has never done so. He has not provided a level playing ground even in the selection process. The governor added, You are afraid of people who are educated because you didnt go to school. You are afraid of people who have something to offer because all he knows how to offer is brigandage, crisis. So for us, Nigeria has to move forward beyond some of the characters who are currently overseeing our political polity and they are scared. They are scared that when people of substance, when people who are proven, when people who have succeeded in other aspects of life come into politics, they will be history. A statue of Christopher Columbus was removed from Tower Grove Park in St Louis, Missouri, on June 16, following authorization for the removal from the parks Board of Commissioners. Tower Grove Park issued a statement regarding the decision of its board to take down the statue, emphasizing its commitment to creating a space that is welcoming to all people. Tower Grove Park celebrates the diversity of our community every day and serves as the centerpiece of the regions most vibrant neighborhoods. When a statue of Christopher Columbus was placed in the park 140 years ago, its purpose was to celebrate the contributions of immigrants in this region. But now, for many, it symbolizes a historical disregard for indigenous peoples and cultures and destruction of their communities, the statement said. Tower Grove Park is a public park partially funded by the City of St Louis, according to their website. Video filmed by Instagram user @heyjonesy3 shows a crew removing the statue from its plinth with a crane on Tuesday. At least two people protested the removal of the statue on Tuesday, video shows. A man yelled at a crowd of people gathered in the area, You guys dont know what the f*** Columbus did. If we stole everything Ill tell you what you f***ing do, you make yourself a f***ing will, you give everything to some tribe, you go home, you kill yourself, and were done with it. Credit: @heyjonesy3 via Storyful Lil Wayne's new girlfriend Denise Bidot surprised fans of the 37-year-old rapper on Monday by confirming their budding relationship via Instagram Story. 'Somehow in the middle of all the madness, something special happened,' captioned the 34-year-old model, who included three loved up photos of herself and Wayne in the post. Bidot's relationship confirmation comes just one month after Lil Wayne's split from rumored fiancee and Australian model La'tecia Thomas. Confirmed: Lil Wayne's new girlfriend Denise Bidot surprised fans of the 37-year-old rapper on Monday by confirming their budding relationship via Instagram Story In the photo booth style portraits, Denise wowed in a blue shimmering top as she and the A Milli rapper leaned in close to one another. Lil Wayne donned a white button down and had a bevy on bling on his fingers and wrist. In the first photo, Denise appeared to be laughing up a storm as Lil Wayne kissed the side of her head and placed his arm around her. In the second photo, Bidot placed her hand on Lil Wayne's cheek as they shared a tender kiss on the lips. For the grand finale, they placed their heads close to one another as they smiled sweetly for the camera. Model mayhem: Bidot - who has nearly 700,000 followers on Instagram - is one of the faces of Rihanna's popular Savage X Fenty lingerie line; Denise pictured on Instagram on Friday Spring Awakening: Denise was most recently featured in their spring campaign; Denise pictured on Instagram on May 11 Although Lil Wayne did not re-post or respond publicly to her post, Denise remains the only account followed by the Lollipop rapper on Instagram. Bidot - who has nearly 700,000 followers on Instagram - is one of the faces of Rihanna's popular Savage X Fenty lingerie line and was most recently featured in their spring campaign. During the latest episode of his Apple Music series Young Money Radio with Lil Wayne, the rapper confirmed he was in a relationship as he discussed married life with fellow rapper Nicki Minaj. 'Remember when you was telling me that I be having an attitude all the time because I needed good d**k? You was right though,' said Minaj. 'Somehow in the middle of all the madness, something special happened,' captioned the 34-year-old model, who included three loved up photos of herself and Wayne in the post; Denise pictured on Instagram on March 15 One and only: Although Lil Wayne did not re-post or respond publicly to her post, Denise remains the only account followed by the Lollipop rapper on Instagram; Lil Wayne pictured in 2019 To which, Lil Wayne replied: 'I just hope my girl heard that, thats all.' His prior relationship with La'tecia Thomas reportedly came to an end in May - after having dated for the majority of 2019. Rumors regarding the pair's engagement were initially sparked in December when Thomas was spotted wearing what appeared to be a diamond engagement ring on her wedding finger, as reported by The Rap-Up. As if fans were not excited enough, Wayne added even more fuel to the fire when he released his rap track Not Me in late January. In the over three-minute tune, Lil Wayne refers to Thomas as his 'wifey from Australia.' Splitsville: Bidot's relationship confirmation comes just one month after Lil Wayne's split from rumored fiancee and Australian model La'tecia Thomas; the former couple pictured in February In another song featured on his 2020 album Funeral titled Stop Playin' With Me, he bragged about his relationship with 'plus-sized model' Thomas. 'I got a plus-sized model, but she my lil mama / I make her bust it open for me like a pinata / And as the world turned, she was my spin doctor,' rapped Lil Wayne. But by May, the engagement appeared to have been called off due to Thomas being photographed without her diamond ring on during an outing that month. She went on to unfollow the rapper on Instagram, as well as all other account associated with him. NEWTOWN A triathlon summer camp organized in the name of a slain Sandy Hook Elementary School first-grader has found a way around the coronavirus crisis by offering a modified program for kids who want to swim, bike and run. Instead of a six-week program with a finale featuring 3,000 spectators, the Race4Chase program has proposed an abbreviated two-week program that starts later in the summer, to take advantage of easing reopening restrictions. In certain areas, we know there are people who are desperate for summer camps, said Kevin Grimes, executive director of the Chase Michael-Anthony Kowalski Sandy Hook Memorial Foundation, which runs the triathlon camp in conjunction with 28 YMCAs in Connecticut and three other states. On top of that, kids want to come back to compete because they had such a great experience the year before some kids learned how to swim and bike at these camps. Chase Kowalski was one of the 20 first-graders and six educators who were slain during the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting. The childs parents converted their grief into action, forming a nonprofit to honor his spirit by providing grants to run free triathlon camps. This year was supposed to be the biggest Race4Chase triathlon camp season to date, with 16 sites in Connecticut and 12 others in South Carolina, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It was also supposed to be the year that a Race4Chase camp was going to be located in Newtown for the first time, at the newly built Community Center on the towns sprawling 185-acre Fairfield Hills campus. But in late April as the COVID-19 pandemic surged in Connecticut, the CMAK foundation was forced to cancel its camps. Since then, the state has seen a steady decline in coronavirus hospitalizations a reliable sign that the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak is behind Connecticut for now. In response, the state has been deliberately reopening beaches, parks, hair salons, hotels, offices, retail stores and restaurants. On Wednesday, the state plans to reopen amusement parks, gyms, libraries, nail salons, tattoo shops and theaters, all with social distancing and infection-control rules. As a result, the CMAK foundation proposed an abbreviated triathlon camp to its participating sites. No one is happier about the decision than staff at Newtowns Community Center, which is preparing for its own phased reopening on June 22. The Race4Chase camp is the perfect program to be offered at the Community Center and to be hosted on the Fairfield Hills campus, said Matthew Ariniello, Newtown Community Center director. The camp registration in Newtown is booked. Information about camps that may be providing the modified Race4Chase program at nearby YMCAs in Brookfield, Milford, Stratford, Trumbull and Wilton-Norwalk is expected soon at cmakfoundation.org. DOVE AWARD NOMINEE RICK CUA UNVEILS NEW BOOK, WHAT ARE YOU KNOWN FOR? Celebrated Recording Artist, Author, Speaker, Teacher, and Pastor's Second Book Encourages Readers to Build Their Legacy "One Brick at a Time" June 16, 2020 Graduates in caps and gowns waved through the sunroofs of cars -which were decorated with balloons, bigger-than-life portraits and posters - as they rode with their families on a four-mile graduation parade through New Canaan on Monday, June 15. What started as a substitute for the annual commencement ceremony during the coronavirus pandemic to maintain social distancing was immediately such a hit that teachers and graduates said that a parade should become the new yearly tradition. Many said they enjoyed having the community come congratulate the 301 members of the New Canaan High School Class of 2020 on their big day. "I think it was awesome," graduate Dustin Valenti said. "I think it should become a tradition." Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge, Bob and James Bowen at the World Premiere of A Street Cat Named Bob. (Getty Images) The cat that inspired the A Street Cat Named Bob books and films has died aged 14. James Bowen met Bob in 2007 during his battle with drug addiction when he found the cat abandoned and injured and decided to look after him. He began taking the cat with him when busking or selling The Big Issue in London. Bowen then wrote a book about their relationship, titled A Street Cat Named Bob, which became a smash hit and was made into a film in 2016. In a statement on the official Facebook page for Bowens books, the author said Bob had saved his life. He said: Its as simple as that. He gave me so much more than companionship. With him at my side, I found a direction and purpose that Id been missing. He added that the success they found together was miraculous. Bowen added: Hes met thousands of people, touched millions of lives. Theres never been a cat like him. And never will again. Author James Bowen and his Street Cat Named Bob attend the LondonCats International Show and Expo at Tabacco dock on May 04, 2019. (John Keeble/Getty Images) I feel like the light has gone out in my life. I will never forget him. The Big Issue also released a statement about the death of Bob. We are saddened to report that Bob, the street cat who rose to fame by James Bowens side as he sold The Big Issue and busked in London, has died. Bob was thought to be at least 14 years old. Read our tribute: https://t.co/1qjb9OlrG0 The Big Issue (@BigIssue) June 16, 2020 It said: All of us at The Big Issue will never forget the impact Bob had on not just Jamess life but many of our vendors who could relate to his story. Magazines that featured Bob on the cover were always top sellers, and vendors looked forward to selling those editions and speaking to customers who were also fans. Our condolences are with James and everyone else who was touched by this incredible cat. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Bob the cat attends the UK Premiere of "A Street Cat Named Bob" in aid of Action On Addiction on November 3, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) In 2016 Luke Treadaway starred as Bowen in a film adaptation of A Street Cat Named Bob, helmed by Tomorrow Never Dies director Roger Spottiswoode. Bob played himself in the film, with a number of other cats as his stand ins. The Duchess of Cambridge attended the premiere in her capacity as patron of Action On Addiction and appeared awestruck at meeting Bob. A festive sequel, A Gift From Bob, was shot in London in November 2019 and is due for release this Christmas. The unstated but nonetheless official US government policy toward coronavirus is herd immunityletting the pandemic rip until so many people have survived the infection that their immunity will block further spread. This policy is homicidal, in the literal sense of the word. The federal and state governments are allowing tens of millions to be infected by a disease which will kill a large number of them, perhaps millions, rather than undertake the systematic campaign of testing, contact tracing and isolating those infected or exposed, which would halt the spread of the disease before it rages entirely out of control. After two and a half months of 20,000-plus daily COVID-19 cases, the reopening of the country for business and commerce in violation of the rules set by health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is leading to a resurgence of cases in the Carolinas, Florida, Texas, Arizona and California without attempts to impose new restrictions. We cant shut down the economy again. I think weve learned that if you shut down the economy, youre going to create more damage, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told CNBC. According to a Tucson ICU nurse, writing for a local online paper, Tucson Sentinel, the second wave in Arizona has hit far worse than the first. We have been balancing around full capacity at all times over the past weeks. COVID-19 is real, despite an insane number of people on social media believing the hoax or that its just the flu and people shouldnt worry. I have never looked around my 100 percent full ICU and genuinely thought that there is the possibility of NO survivors. But will herd immunity actually provide the population guaranteed protection? The hypothesis on which the policy is based, one that is essentially unproven, is that those who have the good fortune to survive the infection will develop robust antibodies to prevent second infections. Some recent studies have shed light on this question. In a recent analysis of 370 individuals with known COVID-19 infections whose serums were held at the New York Blood Center, 96 percent had detectable antibodies to one of the viral proteins. Testing against two other proteins produced by the virus showed 85 and 89 percent of this population had antibodies. Two percent had no detectable antibodies. Using sophisticated assays, the researchers were also able to quantify the amount of antibody infected individuals produced. As the authors noted, the level of neutralizing antibodies varied over a broad range, with some showing as much as 40,000 times more than others. The concern is that this may correlate with the amount of protection that may be offered, meaning that many people, after surviving COVID-19, will still be susceptible to it again. Another study conducted in the UK, corroborating the findings in the New York study, noted that up to 8.5 percent of people infected with COVID-19 did not develop antibodies. The study led by researchers at St Georges, University of London and St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had analyzed antibody tests results from 177 patients with previous COVID-19 infections. Those patients that developed antibodies had a stable response for almost two months. Patients having the most severe infections with excessive inflammatory response (mainly those older or with obesity and hypertension) were more likely to develop antibodies, according to the Daily Telegraph. The study suggested that asymptomatic patients are less likely to develop a sustained immune response. Professor Sanjeev Krishna, corresponding author on the paper, said, We need to understand how best to interpret the results from these tests to control the spread of the virus, as well as identifying those who may be immune to the disease. The immunity to the virus is not as robust as had been hoped by investigators, and no one yet knows what level of neutralizing antibodies are required to offer protection. This has considerable implications for vaccine productions, as vaccine efficacy seems to hinge on the ability to demonstrate consistently high levels of neutralizing antibodies. The WHO, having fumbled a question on asymptomatic patients during one of their press conferences last week, have clarified their statements with data. They stated that 16 percent of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, but these individuals can still transmit the infection to others. Determining the proportion of the population that is asymptomatic but nonetheless infected and contagious is critical to knowing how the disease is transmitted. Other studies had indicated that 40 percent of coronavirus transmissions have occurred through people who do not display overt symptoms of infection. In a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the authors explained that transmissibility of the infections is linked to a high level of SARS-CoV-2 that is shed in the upper respiratory tract, including by those who are considered pre-symptomatic. In a skilled nursing facility in Washington state, a symptomatic health worker tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus by PCR testing, leading to a facility-wide screening on March 13 and then March 20. Among 76 residents at the facility, 48 (63 percent) had positive tests, of whom 27 were essentially asymptomatic. However, 24 of the 27 asymptomatic individuals would go on to develop symptoms over the next four days. Seventeen of these 24 patients had viable virus cultured up to six days before they developed symptoms. Of note, 26 percent of all the residents who tested positive subsequently died. The authors wrote, symptom-based screening alone failed to detect a high proportion of infectious cases and was not enough to control transmission in this setting. These small studies highlight the difficulty in using symptom-based strategies to control the transmission of the virus and demonstrate the rapid transmission of the virus once it insinuates itself in locations like nursing facilities, crowded markets, political rallies, choir rehearsals at church, and, of course, large factories. Recently, the city of Wuhan in China conducted an aggressive campaign to test the entire population over the course of several days, finding several hundred asymptomatic patients. Mass testing of residents of nursing facilities and other congregated populations such as hospitals, mental health facilities and prisons becomes an essential component of a public health strategy to contain the virus. It is critical that workers at Ford, GM and FCA, or meatpackers, industrial workers in general, demand a much more robust and comprehensive strategy to ensure safe work environments. The CDC has asserted in its guidelines that asymptomatic transmission enhances the need to scale up the capacity for widespread testing and thorough contact tracing to detect asymptomatic infections, interrupt undetected transmission chains, and further bend the curve downward. But the public health infrastructure in the US is a hollowed-out shell without the resources to carry out such a project. It is not that the resources do not exist in American society. If even a fraction of the trillions of dollars of public funds diverted into the financial markets had been set aside instead for public health, the necessary infrastructure to stem the infection could be set up in a matter of weeks. The failure to make such an effort is not a mistake or an oversight, but a coldly calculated policy to let countless numbers of elderly and infirm people die, since they are no longer able to produce profits for the financial elite, while forcing large numbers of people of working age back into the factories and other workplaces at terrible risk to their health and lives. It is a deliberate culling of the proletarian herd, as far as the capitalists are concerned. Advocates for reform say Trump law and order approach does not go far enough as Democrats prepare broader legislation. Calling for unity as legislators in Washington, DC debate police reform and cities across the country struggle to address anti-police protests, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Tuesday that he said, encourages police departments to adopt the highest professional standards. Trumps order establishes financial incentives for police departments to adopt national best practices through credentials to be offered by independent qualifying bodies. It would restrict chokeholds of the kind that killed George Floyd on May 25 but still allow use when a police officers life is threatened. The order also establishes a Department of Justice database that will track police officers who are accused of using excessive force to prevent bad cops from hopping from town to town in law enforcement. It would steer more federal funding to training for police departments in handling mental health, homelessness and addiction. Whats needed now is not more stoking of fear and division. We need to bring law enforcement and communities closer together, not to drive them apart, Trump said. Democrats in the House of Representatives and Republicans in the Senate are preparing competing packages of policing changes as US politicians seek to respond to mass demonstrations over the deaths of George Floyd and other Black Americans. Favourability On Black Lives Matter: Favourable 61% (+24 Since 2017) Unfavourable 30% (-18) Morning Consult National Poll Political Polls (@PpollingNumbers) June 11, 2020 The flurry of activity shows how quickly the mass protests over police violence and racial prejudice are transforming politics in the US. Kyle Kondik, an analyst at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said the president and Congress are responding to some real measurable shifts in public opinion about police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement. Usually when there are big shifts in public opinion you do see politicians try to get in front of that. Its not just Trump, Kondik told Al Jazeera. These protests have captured the publics interest and the political system is responding to that, Kondik said. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday held a hearing on policing, drawing testimony from the nations leading civil rights and law enforcement leaders. Now is the time to reimagine a more fair and just society in which all people are safe, Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, told senators, according to The Associated Press news agency. The nationwide outcry is anything but a reaction to one isolated incident or the misconduct of a few bad apples', Gupta said. RIP Rayshard is spray-painted on a sign as as flames engulf a Wendys restaurant during protests in Atlanta, Georgia. The restaurant was where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police following a struggle in the restaurants drive-thru line [Brynn Anderson/AP Photo] Senator Tim Scott, the sole African American Republican in the Senate, has been crafting the Republican legislative package, which will include new restrictions on police chokeholds and greater use of police body cameras, among other provisions. Scott said he spoke with Trump about the legislation over the weekend. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trumps executive action does not go far enough. While the president has finally acknowledged the need for policing reform, one modest executive order will not make up for his years of inflammatory rhetoric and policies designed to roll back the progress made in previous years, Schumer said in a statement. The proposals emerging from Democrats and Republicans share many similar provisions but take different approaches to address some of the issues. Neither bill goes as far as some activists want in their push to defund the police by fully revamping departments. I strongly oppose the radical and dangerous efforts to defund, dismantle and dissolve our police departments, Trump said. We have to give them great respect for what they do, for the job is one of the most dangerous jobs on earth, he said. Trump took a political shot at Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, saying Biden had failed to address criminal justice reform as vice president during the Obama administration. Many of the same politicians now presenting themselves as the solution are the same ones who have failed for decades on schools, jobs, justice and crime, Trump said, sounding a campaign theme. Biden is casting the issue more broadly as revolving around systemic racism and tweeted a video clip of a conversation with a campaign field organiser. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 05:46:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ALGIERS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Algerian health authorities on Tuesday reported 116 new COVID-19 cases and 11 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total infection cases to 11,147 and the total death toll to 788. Head of the COVID-19 Detection and Follow-up Commission Djamel Fourar noted that 107 patients were newly discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries to 7,842. Head of the Algerian Health Security Agency Kamal Sanhadji on Tuesday said he expects that COVID-19 cases will take downfall trend as of July in Algeria. "Starting from next month Algerians will be able to coexist normally with the COVID-19 just like any other viruses such as seasonal flu," Sanhadji was quoted as saying by the state run radio Channel III. Enditem MONTREAL - Air Canada's chief financial officer echoed on Tuesday his boss's recent call to ease travel restrictions as the airline continues to bleed cash, despite concerns over a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 16/6/2020 (584 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. An Air Canada check-in area is shown at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Saturday, May 16, 2020. Air Canada's chief financial officer says the airline is starting to see "some improvement" on domestic bookings, but that international business will only improve when governments start to lift travel restrictions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes MONTREAL - Air Canada's chief financial officer echoed on Tuesday his boss's recent call to ease travel restrictions as the airline continues to bleed cash, despite concerns over a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the airline is starting to see "some improvement" in domestic bookings, international flights will only pick up when governments begin to remove barriers such as quarantines, Michael Rousseau told investors at a virtual National Bank event. "I hate these online meetings. I hate these virtual meetings," Rousseau said. Colleagues and clients are "eager to interact" in person, he said, calling the online gatherings "a loss for everybody." "Bookings will only improve...when the government has started to eliminate restrictions," he added. Last week, Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu was among more than 130 signatories to an open letter from the travel and tourism industry calling on premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to loosen travel restrictions and roll out targeted quarantines for passengers returning from higher-risk countries. Leisure travel within Canada has already seen an uptick as interprovincial travel barriers are scaled back, Rousseau said, though several Maritime provinces continue to block province-to-province trips while others discourage them. He expects domestic business trips to ramp up as early as September, followed by international leisure and business travel, but said the lucrative summer European market is passing the company by this year. "Summers almost past, to some degree. The leisure European markets are summer-based. We're trying to capture some of that...but thats probably more into next year," Rousseau said. On Tuesday, Trudeau said Canada and the United States will continue to limit non-essential travel between the two countries until at least July 21. Ottawa continues to require passengers returning from abroad to self-isolate for two weeks. The confirmation came the same day Chinese authorities were reimposing some travel restrictions in the capital as they work to contain a new coronavirus outbreak and prevent it spreading more widely in a country that previously appeared to have largely contained the disease. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Air Canada predicted last month it would bleed about $20 million per day in the second quarter as border shutdowns continue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the company to furlough nearly 20,000 employees this month. The airline does not expect passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023, Rousseau said. The number of international air travellers was down 97 per cent year over year at the start of this month, with passengers on U.S. flights down by 98 per cent on June 7 alone, according to the Canada Border Services Agency. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2020. with a file from The Associated Press Companies in this story: (TSX:AC) The murderous clash on the Galwan River which claimed the lives of 16 Bihar regiment commanding officer Colonel Santosh Babu and two other soldiers broke out after troops moved to remove a Peoples Liberation Army tent set up near a position code-named Patrolling Point 14, inside territory on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control, highly placed government sources have told News18. Few details have emerged on how the fighting began, but government sources familiar with events said PLA soldiers responded to the Indian action by throwing stones from the high ground above Point 14, and then staged an assault using iron rods and clubs. Large numbers of soldiers in both armies suffered serious injuries in the fighting, the sources said, with being moved to military hospitals for critical care. Point 14, near the confluence of the Galwan and Shyok rivers, was the site of a Division Commander-level meeting last week, where the Indian Army and PLA had agreed to being thinning down troops, a move seen as a first step towards ending the months-long crisis on the Line of Actual Control which began in May. Even though an investigation of the precise circumstances under which Colonel Babu was killed is still underway, a senior military official said he appeared to have been targeted by PLA troops in the course of the melee, likely while attempting to defuse the savage fighting. Local PLA commanders, government sources said, sought a meeting to defuse the fighting early on Tuesday morning, leading to local-level military talks which are still underway at the time of writing this report. From what we know so far, a military officer said, it doesnt appear that there was any great planning behind Chinas actions. The most likely explanation is that they just didnt expect us to stand our ground. New Delhi and Beijing have, so far, declined to offer official comment on how the fighting began. PLA soldiers had pitched tents at Point 14 earlier this month in a gesture of protest against Indias completion of a bridge across the Shyok, along a road connecting the strategic airfield Daulat Beg Oldie, the last military post south of the Karakoram Pass. Following the talks, however, the two PLA tents at Point 14 had been removed. The PLA had also established camps at Point 15, and the Indian Army had responded by pitched tent dozens of metres from their location. Both sides had agreed to reduce their presence following the talks earlier this month. Point 17, the site of the third standoff in the Galwan valley, had seen both armies bring in troops and armoured personnel carriers in support of their presence. The agreement called for the Indian Army and PLA to pull back both their vehicles and troops. In essence, a senior government official explained, this would have put a kind of informal no-mans land between the two armies. Though the killing of the three soldiers and unconfirmed numbers deaths or injuries of PLA troops reported in Chinese media mark the first fatalities on the Line of Actual Control since 1975. However, several soldiers suffered serious head injuries in similar fighting between troops of the two armies near Pangong lake on May 5. Large numbers of the soldiers injured in the May 5 clash suffered potentially life-threatening injuries, an intelligence official said. I guess we should thank god, or blind luck, that no one was killed. In 1975, the PLA had ambushed an Assam Rifles patrol at the Tulung La pass in Arunachal Pradesh and killed four. Earlier, in 1967, 88 Indian soldiers and perhaps as many as 340 PLA troops were killed in the course of skirmishes near Nathu La and Cho La, the gateways to the strategically-vital Chumbi valley. Though both countries now disarm troops and border guards engaged in patrolling the LAC one of the outcomes of a series of border-management measures agreed on over the decades violent clashes have become increasingly common since 2013. The reasons lie in complex disputes over exactly where the LAC never demarcated in joint military surveys actually lies. In Galwan, as well as other disputed sectors of the LAC, the PLA has responded to new Indian border infrastructure work a response to similar work conducted by China since the 1980s by seeking to obstruct Indian patrols from moving beyond the 1962 line. In maps published in 1962, after the end of the China-India war that year, the PLA asserted it had established control of the entire Galwan valley. Lightly armed Indian troops of the 5 Jat Regiment, whose supply lines had been choked for months, held out against an entire PLA battalion at one key post in Galwan, losing 32 of the 68 troops stationed there before running out of ammunition. Following the war, though, the PLA pulled back from its 1962 line. In the years that followed, Indian troops began patrolling ground dozens of kilometres to the east of the 1962 line, reaching positions that India claims to be the LAC. In the 1980s, China launched major border-works programmes which led several areas claimed by India to lie on its side of the LAC like the Finger 8 ridge in Pangong to be physically held by the PLA. New Delhi has never published an authoritative official map of the LAC, but China is believed to have rejected one version handed to it in 2003 because it considered the gaps between Indias position and its own too large to be bridged through talks. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Export of cement from Turkey to Turkmenistan grew by 115.78 percent from January through May 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, having amounted to $8.6 million, Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend. In May 2020, Turkey's cement export to Turkmenistan reduced by 34.75 percent compared to the same month of 2019, making up $972,000. In the first five months of 2020, cement export from Turkey to international markets declined by 6.9 percent compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to $1.3 billion. Export of cement from Turkey made up 2.3 percent of the countrys total export for the mentioned period. In May 2020, Turkey exported over $250.3 million worth of cement to world markets, which is 29.3 percent less compared to the same month of 2019. Turkeys export of cement in May 2020 amounted to 2.5 percent of the country's total export. From May 2019 through May 2020, Turkey exported cement worth $3.4 billion abroad. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Kevin W. Cowden, 54, of 1421 E. Lafayette Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 5:46 p.m. Sunday on a charge of felony theft with previous burglary convictions. Demondra L. Harris, 21, of 200 E. Chambers St. was arrested at 1:43 a.m. Monday on a charge of battery. She is accused of hitting a woman who was in a car and then pulling the woman from the car and dragging her on the ground, according to a police report. Two 16-year-old girls were cited on city ordinance violations against fighting after getting into a fight in the road in the 1000 block of East Morton Avenue at 5:24 p.m. Sunday. Kayla M. Hepburn, 37, of 225 Brighton Lane was arrested on a battery charge at 8:30 a.m. Sunday after she was accused of punching someone in the face in the 800 block of West College Avenue. VANDALISM A car was damaged overnight Saturday while it was parked in the 300 block of East Beecher Avenue, according to a report filed at 8:45 a.m. Sunday. A light was damaged at MacMurray College at 447 E. College Ave. between 8 p.m. Saturday and 8:27 a.m. Sunday. OTHER REPORTS Police are investigating a report that someone kicked a womans dog in the 900 block of Hackett Avenue earlier in the day, according to a report filed at 5:27 p.m. Sunday. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer A testing clinic in Huntsville is seeing a sudden spike in positive results for COVID-19 that the clinics CEO calls disturbing. Thrive Alabama, a local medical nonprofit, has been testing up to 250 people per week in the Huntsville area since March 20. The percent of tests that came back positive hovered around 3% until last week, when positive results in Huntsville jumped to 14%. I was scared to death, said Thrive Alabama CEO Mary Elizabeth Marr. I immediately sent an email to David Spillers at Huntsville Hospital, Dr. Pam Hudson at Crestwood Medical Center and to (Huntsville Mayor) Tommy Battle to let them know this is what were seeing in our own clinic. Marr said the rise in Thrive Alabamas positive cases is not due to increased testing because her organization has been testing about the same number of people every week since March. Those being tested run the gamut from people with symptoms to those who care for at-risk relatives to those who simply want to get tested for peace of mind. The rise in positive results began about a week after much of Alabama started to reopen. Personally, I feel like were seeing a spike because we go into stores and restaurants where people are not social distancing, they are not wearing masks, and its very frustrating, as someone whos trying hard to stay away from COVID, said Marr. People need to take this seriously. Throughout the lockdown, Madison County maintained a relatively low rate of infection. But infection rates are picking up. Since Memorial Day, Madison County added 280 new coronavirus cases, a 94% increase. Madison County has seen just 6 deaths, far less than any of the other large urban areas in the state. Hospitalizations also remain low in North Alabama, with only 36 coronavirus patients across the Huntsville Hospital Systems 11 hospitals. Most are in Morgan County. Crestwood CEO Dr. Pam Hudson said Monday the area has been fortunate, but Im holding my breath for the next couple of weeks. Thrive Alabama holds drive-up COVID-19 testing on Mondays and Wednesdays on the back side of First Baptist Church of Huntsville, which is located on Governors Drive. The testing area is accessed on St. Clair Avenue. Tests are available to insured and uninsured people because Thrive Alabama is a federally qualified healthcare center. Co-pays and doctors notes are not required. Marr said testing times change depending on weather and testing supply availability, so she advises people to check www.thrivealabama.org or the organizations Facebook page for updated testing times. Thrive Alabama gets its tests through Assurance labs in Hoover, and typically gets results to patients within 3-5 days. Well see what happens this week, said Marr. I want people to wash their hands, use hand sanitizer, wear masks and social distance so that were not looking at a trend thats going to continue to go up, and so we wont see increased hospitalizations. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tracy Rucinski and David Shepardson (Reuters) Tue, June 16, 2020 11:07 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf16282 2 News Airport,travel,Airlines,coronavirus,COVID-19,face-mask Free US airline passengers who refuse to wear facial coverings during the novel coronavirus pandemic could have their flying privileges revoked, the industry's main lobby group said on Monday. Major US airlines may prevent anyone not wearing a mask from boarding and provide the coverings to passengers who have none. Once on board, however, flight attendants have little power to enforce the policy if passengers remove their masks. Carriers with the policy include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, Airlines for America said in a statement. The airlines will clearly inform passengers about their individual policies on face coverings before flying, followed by an announcement with specific details onboard, it said. Each carrier will determine the appropriate consequences for passengers who fail to comply, up to and including being put on that airline's no-fly list. Airlines offer certain exemptions, including when people are eating or drinking. Read also: Singapore Airlines says flight experience after COVID-19 will change United, which last week said passengers would have to agree to wearing a face covering on a pre-flight checklist, said any passenger that does not comply with the policy onboard beginning June 18 will be placed on an internal travel restriction list that would prevent them from flying with the airline "for a duration of time to be determined pending a comprehensive incident review." Delta said it was doubling efforts to ensure customers are aware of, acknowledge and comply with its mask requirement, which it said is one of the most important ways to "stay safe while flying." The measures are expected to remain in place throughout the coronavirus crisis. On Twitter, Senator Ed Markey, who has been vocal along with about a dozen other Democratic senators on airline issues during the pandemic, praised the tougher enforcement policies, adding "But we still need federal action immediately." The US government has not mandated any airline safety requirements since the pandemic hit global aviation, despite calls from unions and industry. "The federal government has completely abdicated its responsibility to keep the flying public and aviation workers safe during COVID-19," said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendant-CWA said, adding "the industry alone cannot fix this." The administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Stephen Dickson, is expected to be questioned about masks at a Senate hearing on Wednesday. Coal-burning in Siberia led to climate change 250 million years ago A team of researchers led by Arizona State University (ASU) School of Earth and Space Exploration professor Lindy Elkins-Tanton has provided the first ever direct evidence that extensive coal burning in Siberia is a cause of the Permo-Triassic Extinction, the Earth's most severe extinction event. The results of their study have been recently published in the journal Geology. For this study, the international team led by Elkins-Tanton focused on the volcaniclastic rocks (rocks created by explosive volcanic eruptions) of the Siberian Traps, a region of volcanic rock in Russia. The massive eruptive event that formed the traps is one of the largest known volcanic events in the last 500 million years. The eruptions continued for roughly two million years and spanned the Permian-Triassic boundary. Today, the area is covered by about three million square miles of basaltic rock. This is ideal ground for researchers seeking an understanding of the Permo-Triassic extinction event, which affected all life on Earth approximately 252 million years ago. During this event, up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species became extinct. Calculations of sea water temperature indicate that at the peak of the extinction, the Earth underwent lethally hot global warming, in which equatorial ocean temperatures exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It took millions of years for ecosystems to be re-established and for species to recover. Among the possible causes of this extinction event, and one of the most long-hypothesized, is that massive burning coal led to catastrophic global warming, which in turn was devastating to life. To search for evidence to support this hypothesis, Elkins-Tanton and her team began looking at the Siberian Traps region, where it was known that the magmas and lavas from volcanic events burned a combination of vegetation and coal. While samples of volcaniclastics in the region were initially difficult to find, the team eventually discovered a scientific paper describing outcrops near the Angara River. "We found towering river cliffs of nothing but volcaniclastics, lining the river for hundreds of miles. It was geologically astounding," says Elkins-Tanton. Over six years, the team repeatedly returned to Siberia for field work. They flew to remote towns and were dropped by helicopter either to float down rivers collecting rocks, or to hike across the forests. They ultimately collected over 1,000 pounds of samples, which were shared with a team of 30 scientists from eight different countries. As the samples were analyzed, the team began seeing strange fragments in the volcaniclastics that seemed like burnt wood, and in some cases, burnt coal. Further field work turned up even more sites with charcoal, coal, and even some sticky organic-rich blobs in the rocks. Elkins-Tanton then collaborated with fellow researcher and co-author Steve Grasby of the Geological Survey of Canada, who had previously found microscopic remains of burnt coal on a Canadian arctic island. Those remains dated to the end-Permian and were thought to have wafted to Canada from Siberia as coal burned in Siberia. Grasby found that the Siberian Traps samples collected by Elkins-Tanton had the same evidence of burnt coal. "Our study shows that Siberian Traps magmas intruded into and incorporated coal and organic material," says Elkins-Tanton. "That gives us direct evidence that the magmas also combusted large quantities of coal and organic matter during eruption." And the changes at the end-Permian extinction bear remarkable parallels to what is happening on Earth today, including burning hydrocarbons and coal, acid rain from sulfur, and even ozone-destroying halocarbons. "Seeing these similarities gives us extra impetus to take action now, and also to further understand how the Earth responds to changes like these in the longer term," says Elkins-Tanton. ### Additional study co-authors include Benjamin Black of City College of New York, Roman Veselovskiy of the Institute of Physics of the Earth (Russia), Omid Haeri Ardakani of the Geological Survey of Canada, and Fariborz Goodarzi of FG & Partners Ltd. This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. At least four members of Congress have reaped benefits in some way from the half-trillion-dollar small-business loan program they helped create. And no one knows how many more there could be. Its a bipartisan group of lawmakers who have acknowledged close ties to companies that have received loans from the program businesses that are either run by their families or employ their spouse as a senior executive. Republicans on the list include Rep. Roger Williams of Texas, a wealthy businessman who owns auto dealerships, body shops and car washes, and Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri, whose family owns multiple farms and equipment suppliers across the Midwest. The Democrats count Rep. Susie Lee of Nevada, whose husband is CEO of a regional casino developer, and Rep. Debbie Mucarsel Powell of Florida, whose husband is an executive at a restaurant chain that has since returned the loan. And there are almost certainly more, according to aides and lawmakers. But only the Small Business Administration and Treasury Department have that information, and the Trump administration is refusing to provide any details. That leaves it entirely up to business owners including elected officials to decide whether to come forward about a loan, which can be as large as $10 million. Democrats have tried to pry free the list of recipients. But their push in the House to require disclosure of at least some companies was blocked on the floor late last month by Republicans including Williams and Hartzler, who voted against the bill. Lee and Powell joined all Democrats in supporting it. All four lawmakers have previously voted in favor of the small-business program. This is the largest distributor of taxpayer money in human history, and we need to ensure taxpayers know where its going, the author of that bill, Rep. Dean Phillips, said in an interview. The Minnesota Democrat added that his bill was not written to expose members of Congress, because frankly I expected members of Congress to be forthright and transparent to begin with. Story continues Each of the lawmakers who received PPP loans, either directly for their business or indirectly through a spouse, say the loans were acquired through proper channels and part of a desire to help keep Americans employed. Spokespeople for Williams and Hartzler declined to say how much money was provided under the loans to the privately held companies lawmakers own. Full House Resorts, of which Lee's husband is the president and CEO, received $5.6 million, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Fiesta Restaurant Group, which employs Mucarsel Powell's husband as an executive, received $15 million before returning it in full. A spokesperson for Mucarsel Powell said her husband played no role in applying for the PPP loan and did not financially benefit from the aid; amid the recession, he took a pay cut from his employer. While it is not illegal for lawmakers to apply for or accept the money, it has raised new questions about lawmakers potential conflicts of interest as they craft the next coronavirus rescue package as well as the administrations fierce secrecy of the $670 billion program. The program already faced intense scrutiny over charges it was helping the well-connected after reports revealed that large corporations were among the first to be awarded loans, while the smallest businesses were stuck in line. Now its being dogged by growing transparency complaints, with Treasury and SBA refusing to disclose recipients after officials initially said data would become public through Freedom of Information Act requests. POLITICO has sought the information under FOIA. Both Democrats and Republicans have vowed there will be robust oversight of Congress spending on coronavirus relief, including its signature loan program. But Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has so far refused to disclose the recipients of those loans, though he indicated Monday he was planning talks with lawmakers seeking details on the loans. Among other steps, the Administration should release the names of all PPP borrowers, a group of senior Democrats wrote in a letter to Mnuchin on Monday. Much of the scrutiny surrounding lawmakers taking PPP loans has centered on Williams, one of the wealthiest members of Congress with a net worth of over $27 million in 2018. He received a PPP loan for an undisclosed amount for his Roger Williams Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership in Weatherford, Texas. The same dealership employs his wife, according to his most recent financial disclosure form. If youre a multimillionaire taking taxpayer money in the middle of the biggest unemployment since the Great Depression, get ready to explain that decision to the American people, said Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) as she introduced new transparency legislation last month and called out Williams by name in a news release. Williams was one of 146 Republicans to oppose Phillips bill to require the SBA to disclose loans over $2 million. Another one of those Republicans was Hartzler, whose family also received PPP loans for multiple businesses. Aides to both Republicans said their respective loans were under the $2 million threshold that would have required disclosure under the bill but would not provide more details. A spokesman for Hartzler also declined to say which of her businesses had received the loans. "The public statement from April is the only information we have at the moment surrounding PPP, Hartzler spokesman Danny Jativa said. Phillips transparency legislation initially would have published the names of all businesses that received a loan, though he agreed to create a $2 million threshold for disclosure as part of an agreement with some of his GOP colleagues. But the bill, which won the support of 38 Republicans, fell just a handful of votes short on the floor, stunning Phillips and other Democrats who had expected it to pass under a fast-track procedure reserved for popular bills. To this very day, I do not quite understand what happened, Phillips said. Conservative opposition to the bill, however, had been mounting in the week leading up to the floor vote, with Republicans increasingly worried that the measure would essentially name and shame businesses who receive PPP loans. Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) who serves on the Congressional Oversight Commission established by the coronavirus relief law and says PPP loans should be disclosed under existing SBA policy said in an interview that he believed the bill was redundant and that this whole PPP program is already burdened with tremendous paperwork requirements. Meanwhile, Mnuchin and some businesses have expressed concern that disclosing the borrowers could reveal confidential information about their payroll. Phillips said he has begun talks with top Democrats to bring the bill to the floor again this time, under a simple majority where it would easily pass. The freshman Democrat said he is also open to changes to safeguard payroll data in order to win over more Republicans, as long as it still requires disclosure. My simple, but very strong belief is that taxpayer dollars when distributed by Congress and the executive branch of our government should be transparent and subject to accountability, Phillips said. Plain and simple. Nevada Rep. Lee has also faced scrutiny for her personal connections to the program. The freshman Democrat was hit with an ethics complaint from a right-leaning watchdog group on Friday after reports that she personally lobbied SBA to help casinos like Full House Resorts, which her husband runs access PPP loans. SBA eventually did make the change, and the business that employs Dan Lee received millions of dollars through the program, as first reported by the Daily Beast, as did many other struggling Nevada casinos. Lees office said she had no knowledge of the loans and had no influence over the application. And her spokesman noted that her advocacy for the PPP gaming fix was part of a bipartisan push by the Nevada delegation. In terms of transparency, the Congresswoman does believe that loan recipients should be publicly disclosed, which is why she voted in favor of the TRUTH Act," a Lee spokesman said in a statement, referring to the Phillips bill. Mucarsel Powell, the fourth lawmaker known to have ties to the program, also faced criticism after a publicly traded company that employs her husband as an executive received $15 million in PPP loans. But the company, Fiesta Restaurant Group, later returned the money after public outcry nationwide over large companies accessing aid intended for small businesses. "Congresswoman Mucarsel-Powell has called for full transparency of which corporations have gotten PPP loans," a spokesperson said, singling out Republicans for "blocking our calls for transparency. Its not illegal, or even uncommon, for members of Congress to be involved in policy decisions that sometimes overlap with their own financial interests. But it becomes a conflict of interest if members use their position of influence to enhance their own standing. And mixing the two is politically perilous. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) faces a tough campaign because of stock trades she made during the pandemic even though the FBI has since dropped its probe. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) was forced to step down, at least temporarily, from his chairmanship of the Intelligence Committee for stock trades. Some transparency groups, as well as some lawmakers, have pointed out that Congress created no disclosure rules for its own members when it comes to the sprawling PPP program, unlike some other sections of the $2 trillion relief bill. For example, the Houses Office of General Counsel sent a letter to all members in May asking them to self-identify if they or close family members have financial ties to companies that might benefit from a separate Federal Reserve liquidity program. The same does not exist for PPP. The push for greater disclosures has been bipartisan in the Senate: Small Business Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the lead architect of the PPP, earlier this month asked the administration in a joint letter with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) to adhere to SBA disclosure practices and release the names and other details of PPP borrowers. In April, Rubio said Congress was prepared to force the administration to disclose loan recipients and the bottom line is we're going to know one way or the other who got this money. Williams did write a lengthy statement on May 5, announcing that one of his companies received a loan, but it was published four days after it was first reported by the Dallas Morning News. Hartzler released her statement on April 29, one day after it was reported by the Columbia (Mo.) Tribune. Like every other company who accepted a small-business loan, our business qualified under law and regulation, and today over 100 of our employees are grateful that we did, Williams wrote in a note to constituents published on his website. Any IAEA's counterproductive decision to be met with Iran's proper response: Mousavi ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Mon / 15 June 2020 / 12:08 Tehran (ISNA) Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency's recent report on Iran and said, "They are trying to reopen a closed case based on the US and Zionist regime's allegations about Iran's legal nuclear activities". Speaking at a weekly press conference on Monday, Mousavi said, "The IAEA should appreciate Iran's cooperation. Any IAEA's counterproductive decision will be met with Iran's proper response". "We advise the IAEA to be realistic in this regard. We recommend it to refer to the reliable documents and good cooperation of the Islamic Republic with the IAEA and not to issue a report based on the US and Zionist regime's allegations. We hope that the recent meeting of the IAEA leads to a result that would be useful and constructive for maintaining the international security," Mousavi went on to say. Elsewhere in his remarks, Mousavi announced that three mediators of Astana peace process Russia, Turkey and Iran- will hold a videoconference at the presidential level on the ongoing situation in Syria. "It is highly likely that the videoconference of Iranian, Russian and Turkish presidents will be held in the near future," he added. "The exact date of the conference will be set during Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's current visit to Turkey and Russia," Mousavi stressed. Mousavi also pointed to the UN report which claims missiles that hit Armaco were of Iranian origin, saying it is perfectly in line with the US new policy and plot against Iran. "The claim is baseless and is based on the accusation made against Iran by Saudi Arabia and the United States," he said. Stating that Iran did not receive any evidence and document that the missiles were of Iranian origin, Mousavi stated, "The UN Secretary-General has been pressured by some countries to issue a report that is baseless". About Iran's legal action to free billions of dollars of its oil money frozen in South Korea's banks due to the US sanctions, Mousavi said, "Our action is not anything new, as we have been pursuing the money South Korea owes us for a long time". "South Korea has subjected more than half a century of relations with us to interference from others. South Korea's blind obedience to the US and its move to use the unilateral US pressures as an excuse for blocking Iran's assets are not acceptable to us." Mousavi also pointed to anti-Iranian measures taken by some specific groups in Afghanistan and said Tehran has good ties with Kabul and is keen to develop relations with its neighboring country. "However, Iran sees propaganda against the government as unacceptable," he added. "Iran has always encouraged peace in Afghanistan and hosted warmly its Afghan sisters and brothers for four decades; meanwhile, Tehran cannot close its eyes on some illegal acts," the spokesman emphasized. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On the morning last October when the Supreme Court heard oral arguments from a handful gay and transgender employees claiming they were unfairly fired, Justice Neil Gorsuch found himself musing aloud about the negative impact a judge who was inclined to rule on their behalf might have on the country. "At the end of the day," Gorsuch asked, "should he or she take into consideration the massive social upheaval that would be entailed in such a decision?" On Monday, Gorsuch delivered the majority opinion in such a decision, Bostock v. Clayton County, without any apparent concern for social upheaval. By declaring "an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay and transgender defies the law," Bostock instantly completes a five-part canon of LGBT-rights decisions from the court since 1996, the last two of which struck down federal and state laws that treat same-sex unions differently than opposite-sex ones. None of those other opinions, all written by now-retired justice Anthony M. Kennedy, were mentioned by Gorsuch, who in his application of the 1964 Civil Rights Act's protections against sex discrimination relies on a different legal reasoning than Kennedy did in his gay rights cases. But Gorsuch seems to have learned one important lesson from the earlier cases: There's no reason to worry about social upheaval. Fear of what might follow major victories has haunted civil rights and civil liberties litigators for decades, as two of the last century's most sweeping court decisions left enduring conflicts in their wake. The desegregation order contained in the 1954 ruling Brown v. Board of Education triggered a "massive resistance" across the South - and decades of new tensions about how to integrate schools in communities that never had Jim Crow laws of their own. The modern antiabortion coalition can be traced to the aftermath of the 1973 opinion that guaranteed a woman's right to choose, leading Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to argue that Roe v. Wade has proved politically counterproductive to the cause of women's rights. "Roe seemed to have stopped the momentum," Ginsburg said. "Roe became a symbol for the right to life movement. They have an annual parade now every year on the day in January when it was decided." For a while, such a story seemed to apply to gay marriage. The first court to take the notion seriously was the Hawaii Supreme Court, which in 1993 unexpectedly ordered a trial at which the state had to justify its practice of discriminating against same-sex couples. It was a seminal legal victory for gays and lesbians, but it also helped to rally opposition to same-sex marriage before there was any organized movement for it in the United States. In both Honolulu and Washington, opponents of gay rights had much in their favor, including public opinion, money and organizational capacity. In 1996, Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, a bill "prompted by concern that, if appears possible, Hawaii rules that same-sex marriages are legal, other States would have to recognize marriages performed there," as White House staff secretary Todd Stern explained to President Bill Clinton hours before he signed it into law. In 1998, voters in Hawaii - along with those in Alaska, where a similar lawsuit had gained traction in state courts - amended their constitution to permanently take control of the marriage issue away from judges before any couples were permitted to marry. Similar dynamics played out in other states where judges took the lead in recognizing same-sex couples. A number of Vermont legislators who voted two years later for a civil unions bill drafted at a court's direction lost their campaigns for reelection. A 2003 decision by Massachusetts's top court that made that state the first to legally marry same-sex couples accelerated a previously floundering effort to pass a federal constitutional amendment to ban such unions nationwide. (When it failed to pass Congress, 13 states passed their own bans over the summer and fall of 2004.) A similar decision in California was undone, just months later, by the passage of Proposition 8, the most devastating trauma experienced by campaigners for same-sex marriage. These experiences informed the cost-benefit calculus for anyone who considered pursuing equal marriage rights through the courts over two decades. "Political backlash is especially likely when a court decision not only contravenes public opinion but has supporters who are less intensely committed than are its opponents - at least those supporters who are less immediately impacted by the decision," Harvard Law School legal historian Michael Klarman wrote in "From the Closet to the Altar," his 2013 study of the interplay between marriage litigation and politics. "Given such extreme disparities in intensity of commitment, it is small wonder that gay marriage rulings have generated such political backlash." Yet even as opponents of same-sex marriage appeared to have an advantage in intensity, broader opinion was on a steady march against them. Largely insulated from activity in courtrooms and legislatures, polling showed support for same-sex marriage consistently moving upward by a few percentage points every year, aided by wide gaps separating how younger and older Americans saw the issue. Since 1996, support has increased 2-fold. Strategist Evan Wolfson, who founded the single-issue group Freedom to Marry, took to calling this phenomenon "losing forward" - the idea that unsuccessful ballot and legislative campaigns can serve a valuable function in educating the public about unfamiliar issues, ultimately leading to comfort and acceptance. Indeed, that seeming paradox is among the reasons marriage has become the favored case study for activists seeking to engineer a radical shift in public opinion on their own issues. The polling trajectory undergirded other shifts in power. Beginning in 2011, when pollsters began measuring majority support for gay marriage, campaigners in favor showed that they could protect legislators who voted with them, and then that they could win at the ballot box. Corporate executives and other financial interests felt safe backing marriage campaigns, as other donors - especially those with public-facing business interests - feared being publicly aligned with the opposition. By the time Barack Obama announced, in the spring of 2012, that he had "been going through an evolution on this issue," it was his opponents who accused the president of opportunistically latching onto a safe position. "President Obama has played politics on this issue," said then-Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. A large part of this achievement can be credited to the way that strategists behind what they came to call "marriage equality" succeeded in separating it from the broader LGBT-rights project. To take the side of same-sex couples seeking to marry did not require acknowledgment of the full equality of all sexual minorities, both court briefs and television ads conveyed. One person who was clearly receptive to this appeal was Kennedy, whose majority opinion in Obergefell is now read at weddings but rarely cited by other judges: It has far more to say about the meaning of marriage than civil rights law. As a result, both the victory and the defeat of Obergefell in June 2015 were smaller than those who had escalated the conflict toward the Supreme Court expected it would be. With the marriage question settled, Congress and state legislatures returned to the same debates over employment and housing nondiscrimination that had occupied them for decades before the fights over same-sex unions pushed them aside. But what was more significant for the future path of gay rights was the reaction by opponents. There was little backlash from those aggrieved by the decision beyond a brief lashing-out among the defeated. A few governors flirted with defying the court mandate to marry gay and straight couples on equal terms, but within days, they all backed down. A handful of Alabama counties, goaded on by state Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, briefly decided to stop issuing marriage licenses to any couples, andone Kentucky county clerk went to jail briefly for her refusal to comply. In Utah, some state legislators explored an end to civil marriage altogether, while then-Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal proposed abolishing a Supreme Court that he said had "become a public-opinion poll instead of a judicial body." Rather than harbingers of the type of social disruption and political conflict that followed the court's school-desegregation and abortion cases, these episodes endure only as trivia. Instead, as social conservatives abandoned their efforts to define marriage for the entire country, they instead sought shelter from the law's impact on their lives. Tellingly, the first post-Obergefell case that touched on the newly established right for gay couples to wed was brought by a Colorado baker who claimed that making a cake to celebrate one. Elsewhere, social conservatives are working to enshrine exceptions for religious liberty to a wide range of laws, mostly where sexual politics is concerned. A movement that once called itself a "moral majority" now seeks the law's protection as a besieged minority. This week's Supreme Court ruling, which applies the sex-discrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect individuals from being targeted due to their sexual identity or orientation, anticipates that the next phase of gay rights cases are likely to be initiated by those who lost this round. Even as Gorsuch waves away the fallout of "undesirable policy consequences," like an end to sex-segregated bathrooms and dress code, he notes that the 1964 bill left room for employers to argue that the nondiscrimination rules conflicted with their religious beliefs. His opinion all but instructs employers to prepare lawsuits that would force the court to rule on "how these doctrines protecting religious liberty interact" with the newly expanded civil rights protections. It is a vision of political and legal conflict on emotionally fraught terrain - without social upheaval. - - - Issenberg is the author of "The Engagement: America's Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage," which will be published in September by Pantheon Books. Reuters A supervisor with Philadelphia's Family Court was fired after a video circulated online showing him tearing down Black Lives Matter signs and telling bystanders that black lives don't matter to him. The video shows Michael Henkel marching along a sidewalk tearing Black Lives Matter signs from fences and walls. When a bystander yells "black lives matter" at him, Mr Henkel replies "not to me, they don't." The fence was surrounding a public playground and was on public property. During the video, a woman off-camera yells that the signs weren't his property. "My taxes pay for this place, just so you know. So I can do whatever I want ... I'm always around here too," Mr Henkel says to an individual during the video. According to CNN, Mr Henkel was fired Monday from the First Judicial District over multiple violations of the state court system's Code of Conduct and Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Policy. MICHAEL HENKEL is employed at The Philadelphia Family court working in the Domestic Relations unit!! How can ANYONE be employed to work with minorities as well as vulnerable populations with this level of IGNORANCE and HATE! pic.twitter.com/nr1fAryoFu (@JahMari_Couture) June 15, 2020 "The Court takes this incident very seriously and believes Mr Henkel's behaviour as shown in the video is egregious and totally unacceptable for an employee of the Courts," Martin O'Rourke, a spokesman for the family court, said. According to Mr O'Rourke, Mr Henkle had no involvement with adjudicating cases, but did supervise employees. Mr Henkel wasn't the only city employee affected by the George Floyd protests against police brutality and systemic racism; Philadelphia Police Department Captain Lou Campione was removed from his command Tuesday morning for his handling of a protest over a Christopher Columbus statue. Story continues Mr Capione was removed from his command in Philadelphia's 1st District after his officers allowed a group of armed individuals guarding the statue of Columbus to beat up a smaller group of protesters calling for its removal. The protesters were attacked and forced into the street. "While we were getting pushed into traffic, there was a line of 40 cops that did nothing. They did nothing," Deborah Rose, a West Philadelphia resident, told CBS 3 Philadelphia. Mr Capione's demotion came following an Internal Affairs investigation into his response to the encounter. Read more UN's human rights body to hold urgent debate on racism in US HURLEYVILLE, N.Y., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Center for Discovery ("The Center," TCFD) in Hurleyville, New York, extends its sincere gratitude to Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Congressman Antonio Delgado (D-NY) for their steadfast support of the most vulnerable population in the state, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization urges more support for those with complex conditions. "Senator Schumer and his staff have been remarkable in their response to our needs. They and Congressman Delgado's team have carefully listened and truly understand the extreme measures necessary to protect and care for the complex and medically fragile residents of The Center. Additionally, they understand the burden of these extra costs on organizations like TCFD. We couldn't be more grateful for the Senator's and Congressman's assistance in reaching out to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and his staff," said Patrick H. Dollard, TCFD President and CEO. He added, "It is important for those in power to understand that our population is the most vulnerable to COVID-19. A new study revealed that those with developmental disabilities living in group homes are four times as likely to contract the coronavirus and two times as likely to die. These are staggering numbers. There are many members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who have been working with us on behalf of the most vulnerable. Caring for those with special needs during this crisis is not a partisan issue, it is a moral imperative." "From the earliest days of this pandemic, I have worked with The Center for Discovery to make sure that its thousands of residents with complex conditions and 1,700 employees responding on the frontlines to this crisis in Sullivan County are cared for and protected. The team at The Center for Discovery are more than caretakers for those with special needs, they have become second family to residents who haven't been able to see their loved ones for three months because of high-risk of exposure to COVID-19. The Center has not only provided around-the-clock care and support services to these vulnerable patients but has also kept its frontline employees in mind, working with my team almost daily to address PPE shortages, funding opportunities, policy issues, and more," said United States Senator Charles E. Schumer. "That is why when The Center for Discovery told me that over $2 million in expected relief never came from the feds, I immediately asked HHS to cut through the red tape and resolve this issue. Those with special needs cannot be forgotten as we continue to respond to this pandemic and I'll keep fighting for the answers that the patients and employees at The Center for Discovery deserve." A letter from Senator Schumer to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar can be found here. Prior to this letter, in mid-May, Schumer assisted The Center for Discovery in submitting a complaint and required documentation to the HHS Office of the Secretary. Continued correspondence between The Center for Discovery and HHS did not yield any updates on progress being made to resolve the issue, prompting Schumer's recent June 11, 2020 letter to HHS Secretary Azar. On June 12, 2020, Congressman Delgado joined in Schumer's push asking Secretary Azar to distribute funding quickly to the Center for Discovery. "The CARES Act was signed into law months ago and there is no excuse for delays in these necessary resources for facilities providing essential care," said Rep. Delgado. "I support The Center for Discovery in their requests to the Administration about these delays and I will continue to call on HHS to distribute these funds as quickly as possible to ensure health facilities across NY-19 have the resources they need to provide quality care." The full letter from Congressman Antonio Delgado to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar can be found here. The Center for Discovery provides extraordinary healthcare and education to more than 1,200 children and adults with complex conditions. Located in rural Sullivan County, New York, it has a staff of doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physical therapists, adaptive recreation experts, music/art/dance therapists, special educators, farmers, orchardists, nutritionists, chefs, and other support staff. TCFD had a pandemic plan in place and supplies ordered before New York State shut down. It has since taken other extraordinary measures to ensure the health and safety of its residents, staff, and their families. This has meant providing staff with an on-campus Staff Co-Op Market and a Wash House to order groceries and other essentials and do laundry, respectively. As a result of those efforts as well as early and strict use of full personal protective equipment and the early closing of residential homes to outsiders, The Center has provided a model for the care and pandemic protection of both fragile populations and their valuable caretakers. "At The Center for Discovery, we work every minute of every day to ensure the individuals we care for and our entire staff are safe, healthy, and happy. We look forward to continuing our work with Senator Schumer, Congressman Delgado and all of our bipartisan local, state, and national supporters through this pandemic and critical time in our nation's history," said Dollard, "taking care of our residents and students during these times will require true political cooperation. It is a human issue, not a political one." About The Center for Discovery The Center for Discovery (TCFD) is a leading provider of healthcare and education services for more than 1,200 children and adults with complex conditions, medical frailties and Autism Spectrum Disorders, located 90 miles northwest of New York City. Named a Center of Excellence in 2016, TCFD has long been a leader in developing new models of care for individuals with complex conditions. Located on 1,500 acres of land in Sullivan County, TCFD houses school campuses, residences, medical and research facilities, organic and biodynamic farmland, and leased private businesses offering meaningful employment opportunities. Deeply focused on an individual's personal potential and possibilities, rather than a disability, TCFD strives to create better care and unique and challenging opportunities for the most vulnerable populations. For more information about TCFD, please visit https://thecenterfordiscovery.org/ . Michael Rosen Executive VP of Marketing and Strategic Communications (917) 232-5556 [email protected] SOURCE The Center for Discovery Related Links https://thecenterfordiscovery.org/ [June 16, 2020] UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia Awarded Contract to Serve Medicaid Individuals in Mountain Health Trust Program UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia has been awarded a contract by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources to continue providing access to comprehensive healthcare and support services to Medicaid individuals enrolled in the state's Mountain Health Trust Program. The new contract becomes effective in July 2020. UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia, which has served individuals in the West Virginia Medicaid program for 17 years, currently provides medical services to over 160,000 individuals in Mountain Health Trust. "UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia is honored to continue serving Medicaid beneficiaries in West Virginia," said Tadd Haynes, president, UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia. "We are committed to providing solutions and capabilities based on our deep understanding of our members' unique needs and challenges, input from our extensive provider network, and the guidance received from our strong community collaborations. We believe in continuously striving for better health outcomes and better service and look forward to partnering with the state to improve the lives and health of communities across West Virgina." UniCare's holistic approach focuses on programs and initiatives designed to meet the needs of communities, providers and members and has long demonstrated commitment to partnering at a local level to address social determinants of health, focusing on the unique and evolving needs of members as well as investments in programming and capacity to support the communities in which members live. Since 2003, UniCare has been in West Virginia communities, creating and nurturing relationships with organizations that share a common goal of improving the health and lives of West Virginians. UniCare values these relationships and believes such collaboration helps to create better health outcomes for UniCare members. To learn more about UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia, please visit https://mss.unicare.com/west-virginia/home.html. About UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia, Inc. UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia, Inc. serves more than 160,000 Medicaid beneficiaries living in West Virginia. UniCare has served Medicaid beneficiaries in West Virginia since 2003. For more information about UniCare, visit http://mss.unicare.com/, and follow the company on Facebook @UniCareCorp and Twitter (News - Alert) @UniCare. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005700/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] According to this study on gender representation in opinion pieces on socio-legal tech policy, only roughly 26 percent were authored by women. The study also found that the same authors were contributing to multiple publications, which prevents greater diversity of perspectives Equality in gender representation is yet to find meaningful manifestation in all facets of the society. Conversations around various spheres must be gender-inclusive, failing which the consequences will be biased against those who are left out. The domain of technology and its latest innovations indicate that there exists an inherent gender bias, calling for a more inclusive discourse. The media must act to position the opinions of marginalised genders that work in this domain at an equal level as men. r-TLP conducted an integrated quantitative study to analyse gender representation through opinion pieces on the intersection of technology, law, policy and society, across online media platforms. Although there is an overwhelming majority that likes to believe the gender gap in opportunities is not pervasive, these results show otherwise. To understand the extent of diversity, we initiated this study, taking into consideration opinion pieces on socio-legal technology policy published by nine major online media platforms. Although currently restricted at an analysis through the lens of gender representation, we hope to enhance it through other nuances, such as the interplay of caste, in future parts of the study. The enhanced report will also attempt at understanding the method through which media houses and their teams look at the issue of representation. *** The reality of our times is the opaqueness of the law making system. Our countrys legislators remain minimally accessible to the general public when it comes to engagement. Although policies on Pre-Legislative Consultation exist, the adherence to such policies is scant. The structure of the political system in India renders involvement through the political process inaccessible to many. The lack of avenues for civic engagement in the political system is bridged by the fourth estate in commendable ways. They provide a platform to initiate discussions between the experts in the field, budding enthusiasts and the policymakers, through opinion pieces. Many of these discussions have the potential to shape the approach taken in regulatory practices and legislation. The media also has the capacity to define the contours of public understanding and discourse on the effects of actions by State and non-State bodies on everyday life. In the area of technology policy and regulation, it becomes important to acknowledge the contribution by commentators, as the sphere is highly dynamic. The internet and online media in particular drive much of these discussions. They are referred to by people to deepen their knowledge. Their easy accessibility and continuous output tags them as reliable sources. However, it is necessary that these discussions cover multiple perspectives and be inclusive, warranting comments and opinions from diverse groups of people. Data on representation Our research was focused on opinions/opinion pieces written by author/s that were specifically attributed to them individually over the period ranging from 1 June, 2017 to 31 May, 2020. The choice of platforms for this research was based on the popularity of these media houses. Publications were analysed based on search results using tags within websites, as well as scrolling through pages of opinion pieces that fit the relevant bracket. The total number of articles that finally formed the database was 984. In this attempt, we exempted articles under bylines of institutions, as well as the ones attributed to teams that work for these platforms. Upon an analysis of the gender identity of the authors to whom these 984 articles were attributed, we found 727 males, 255 females and one Butch. When we considered these media houses individually, the general gender disparity was perceptible. While some fared well, the others had a large gender gap. Eight out of the nine media houses analysed showed a difference, with considerably higher numbers of male authors getting bylines. An interesting pattern was noticed with regard to female authors articles: a higher ratio of them were re-publications/cross-publications, as compared to the male counterparts. Additionally, most of the republications were from non-Indian females. The observation concluded was that there is a noticeable gap in opportunity when it comes to original articles for Indian females on the select online media platforms, as compared to their male counterparts. Another noticeable pattern we came across was the contributions made by the same authors across platforms. To calculate this, we considered the authors who contributed more than five times in the dataset. The result proves a considerable domination of certain voices repeatedly, preventing greater diversity. Such repetition prevents the reach of newer and diverse perspectives. It hinders the objective of improved civic engagement. Possible reasons for disparity in representation According to various studies that focus on understanding the gender disparity in the areas of article writing and publishing, it is proven that most of the reasons stem from underlying patriarchal norms, lying in the age-old social disparity between men and other marginalised genders, where it was easier for a man to voice his opinion and participate in a public debate. Further, the fact that such writing and publishing is rooted in the concept of productivity signals the absence of an equivalent leisure of time for women. That most men do not have to take charge in domestic settings after office hours the second shift that countless working women do could be the possible foundation underlying this existing gap. It is also a widely seen practice, especially in the legal profession, that the contribution of the juniors who have worked just as much on a project is given little or no attribution. As bylines are attributed to the big name, it leads to a skew in the representation, invisibilising those who are new to the profession. Although the information that an author wants to voice out is published, the attribution skews the effect of such work. The support provided by various institutions working in this space could also add to the possibility of getting a byline. It brings in an innate perception bias, which could work against independent authors working without the support of big names in the sector, which was a recognisable trend from the database. A similar perception bias may also function on the basis of gender, as men are perceived to be better equipped in technology, as well as decision making. As we recognise the existence of a disparity, we understand that the difference might not be associated with active editorial decisions. The above mentioned reasons are so deeply entrenched into the system that weeding them out is a strenuous task. Further, not conforming to these set notions might create the fear of reduction in the functional reader-base, which challenges the survival and reach of these platforms. It could also stem from the fact that the reader-base formed over the years expects the media house to conform to set notions and commission male writers they have always been associated with; thereby, ensuring readers remain loyal becomes a concern. Possible solutions It is necessary that platforms introspect and pay attention to the disparity in representation that exists within. It is pertinent to analyse editorial and commissioning decisions, particularly in emerging fields such as tech, and devise techniques to address the disparity. Methods such as undertaking analyses of pitch-to-publication ratio and the differences across gender in them could help. Further, proactive steps can be taken while commissioning pieces, to include diverse and broader perspectives. Since institutional backing plays an important role in pushing for articles by employees, the onus to re-evaluate lies on institutions as well. The benefits of having such diverse perspectives involves better formulation of policy, as well as increased trust in the systems that enable democratic functioning. Bridging the existing disparity demands these platforms make themselves more accessible, specifically to marginalised genders. The impact of having such voices will help prevent previously made mistakes of exclusionary frameworks, that led to faulty ground rules in other sectors. robos of Tech Law and Policy (r-TLP) aims to improve the representation of marginalised genders in the intersection of technology, law, policy and society by providing a platform to voice their opinion. Sapni G Krishna and Priyanshi Dixit are final year law students and founding editors of r-TLP. Seoul, June 16 : North Korea blew up the inter-Korean joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong on Tuesday, sharply escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula after near-daily threats against Seoul over anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets. The surprise move sparked concern that the communist nation could put other threats against the South into action, including taking military action and moving troops to border regions disarmed under inter-Korean agreements, reports Yonhap News Agency. North Korea's state media confirmed that the liaison office was "completely ruined". "The relevant field of North Korea put into practice the measure of completely destroying the North-South joint liaison office in the Kaesong Industrial Zone in the wake of cutting off all the communication liaison lines between the north and the south," Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a report. The two Koreas launched the liaison office in September 2018 to facilitate inter-Korean exchange and cooperation amid a reconciliatory mood created by summit talks between their leaders. The office suspended its operations in early January due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. The destruction was in line with "the mindset of the enraged people to surely force human scum and those, who have sheltered the scum, to pay dearly for their crimes", KCNA said, referring to North Korean defectors in the South sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets. "At 2.50 p.m., the liaison office was tragically ruined with a terrific explosion," it said. Earlier, witnesses and sources said smoke was seen and an explosion was heard from the border town, with residents in South Korea's northernmost village of Daeseong-dong saying that dark smoke began billowing with a bang sound, according to the Yonhap News Agency report. The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the destruction. Moon did not attend the session and details of the meeting were not immediately available. The explosion came after Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned on June 13 that "before long, a tragic scene of the useless North-South joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen". The North has been lashing out at the South almost daily for failing to stop defectors from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border via balloons. Pyongyang has vowed to deal with South Korea as an "enemy", cutting off all cross-border communication lines, and threatened to take other measures, including military action. Following the explosion in Kaesong, the South Korean military tightened its surveillance and readiness posture for possible accidental clashes near the tense border areas, according to officials. Earlier on Tuesday, the General Staff of the (North) Korean People's Army warned that it is reviewing an action plan to advance into "the zones that had been demilitarized under the north-south agreement, turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten the vigilance" against the South, the Yonhap News Agency reported. The demolition of the liaison office marked the latest setback in inter-Korean relations, which have been almost stalled since a no-deal summit between Pyongyang and Washington in February last year. Last October, North Korea demanded the South tear down all "unpleasant-looking" facilities at the now-shuttered Mount Kumgang resort on its east coast. Launched in 1998, the tour program was a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation. Click here to read the full article. LONDON COVID-19 has upended Burberrys salary and bonus structure for the most recent and current fiscal years, while the company has also re-jigged its pension policy and executive share plans to align them with those of its luxury peers. Burberry revealed in its latest annual report, which was published last week, that the coronavirus has had a drastic impact on salaries and bonuses in the last fiscal year, 2019-20, while the company will continue to feel the reverberations from lockdown and store closures in the current year. Burberrys fiscal year ends on March 31. More from WWD As reported, Burberry rejected the British governments help in the wake of the coronavirus, maintaining base pay for all employees unable to work remotely, and slashing top bosses salaries by 20 percent for the April-to-June period. The companys chairman and the non-executive directors did likewise with their fees, and the equivalent cash amount from that reduction has been donated to the Burberry Foundation COVID-19 Community Fund. In the annual report, Burberry said because incentive targets for fiscal 2019-20 had not been met due to store closures worldwide, there will be no bonus payments for the companys executive directors, and 2017 awards under the Burberry Group plc Executive Share Plan 2014 will not vest. In addition, senior staff, including chief executive officer Marco Gobbetti and chief operating and financial officer Julie Brown, will not receive a salary increase for the current 2020-21 fiscal year. According to the report, their salaries will continue to be 1.14 million pounds, and 725,500 pounds, respectively. There will also be no increase in fees for the chairman or the non-executive directors this year. The criteria for annual bonuses have also been modified in the wake of COVID-19. In the current fiscal year, the maximum annual bonus that can be earned will be limited to 50 percent of base salary, or one-quarter of the usual 200 percent. Story continues The remuneration committee said it would determine the annual bonus for fiscal 2020-21 at the year-end next March, taking into account performance against strategic objectives set around the companys response to, and recovery from, COVID-19. The committee will look at Burberrys cost mitigation program; working capital management; supply chain management, and its strategy to build a more sustainable future, primarily focusing on product sustainability and carbon reduction, as well as overall business performance and shareholder experience. In addition to the changes to salaries and bonuses, Burberry has recast its executive share plan program and its pension scheme in an attempt to bring the company in line with its luxury peers, and with other U.K. companies of similar size and status. In the annual report, the remuneration committee argued that the new and restricted plan, known as the Burberry Share Plan, fits better with the characteristics of the luxury industry, compared with a traditional long-term incentive plan. Many of our global competitors predominantly non-U.K. based, and privately owned businesses use restricted shares to reward their leaders, the committee said. Under the new plan, executive directors will receive awards with a lower value than under the original plan. Those awards will also be subject to performance underpins, according to Burberry. The committee said the new plan is better because it prevents executives from potentially making moves that only enhance short-term revenues and profit, such as expanding distribution into non-image-building stores or the use of excessive discounting, which can be damaging for the brand and long-term value for shareholders. The committee believes the new plan will encourage management to focus on executing the transformation strategy to position Burberry firmly as a luxury brand; to provide the flexibility to make the right investments at the right time, and to discourage the use of [certain moves] to increase revenue and profit in the short-term at the expense of the long-term shareholder experience. The maximum award under the new policy for the ceo will be 162.5 percent of salary and the maximum award for the chief operating and financial officer will be 150 percent of salary. This is half the level of awards under the current share plan, and reflects best practice and shareholder expectations, Burberry said. The new Burberry Share Plan awards will not pay out if the company has underperformed and if vesting is not justified. Awards will be subject to a holding period so that the total time horizon before any potential sale of shares is five years for the entire award. Burberry also plans to reduce its pension benefits for executive directors, bringing them in line with the rates available for the wider workforce. The maximum pension allowance for any new executive director appointments to the board is being further reduced to align with the maximum employer pension contribution rate available to the majority of the U.K. workforce, or 6 percent of salary. The new measures will be voted upon during Burberrys annual general meeting next month in London. As reported last month, COVID-19 dragged down sales and profits at Burberry Group in fiscal 2019-20, but the company said it was already seeing a strong rebound in some parts of Asia, and its balance sheet was robust enough to push through the difficult times. Revenue in the 12 months to March 31 was down 3.2 percent to 2.63 billion pounds at constant exchange, and fell 4 percent at actual rates. Reported operating profit, calculated with new accounting measures, fell 57 percent to 189 million pounds. The company declined to offer any outlook for the current year, but it said the first quarter would be badly impacted by store closures. GOLDEN, Colo., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascent360, a leading customer database platform (CDP) provider for resorts and outdoor-recreation facilities, has been chosen by Grouse Mountain Resort to boost its digital marketing efforts during this challenging time. Grouse Mountain is a four season resort located 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. Known as "the Peak of Vancouver" for its focus on snow sports, Grouse Mountain also features unique activities for guests of all ages including their famous "grizzly bear cam," showcasing the lives of grizzly bears in the Resort's wildlife refuge; aerial ropes adventure courses; and North America's largest aerial tramway system. As the Resort prepares to begin a phased reopening following its temporary closure due to the COVID-19 crisis, "now is a crucial time to implement this project, so we're set up for success when the Resort reopens," says Director of Marketing and Communications at Grouse Mountain Will Alexander. During a typical season, these offerings attract large segments of tourists and locals alike and produce a wide array of customer data collected from various sources, such as point-of-sale, lift-ticket and e-commerce systems. However, Grouse Mountain was managing most of the information from each disconnected system using manual methods, taking valuable time and making meaningful customer insights nearly impossible. "We wanted a better way to understand and engage with visitors on the Mountain, but all of our data was completely siloed," says Alexander. "As a family-focused resort, we need to segment marketing to reach a variety of guests of all ages. Using Ascent360, we'll be able to consolidate our data, identify target customers and personalize the messages we send them, increasing the lifetime value for all." According to Scott Buelter, CEO and President at Ascent360, the CDP integrates disparate data from multiple customer touch points, providing complete visibility into the guest experience. This allows resorts to create customized, automated email marketing campaigns, relieving teams of time-consuming manual processes. The platform's geo-targeting abilities even identify customer locations, so they can send tailored offers to out-of-town guests and last-minute specials to locals. "The Ascent360 CDP creates a single source of truth, which will enable Grouse Mountain to both communicate in an authentic way with each guest and deliver content at scale," says Buelter. "This will help them preserve their family focus while growing their business." About Ascent360: Ascent360 is a leading Customer Data Platform (CDP) provider for mid-market businesses. Founded in 2013, Ascent360 developed one of the first CDPs, and today manages over 150 databases for clients across brand, retail, e-commerce and resort segments. With the mission of simplifying and humanizing data, the Ascent360 Software-as-a-Service platform helps marketers understand their customers and personalize their approach to meet individual needs. Ascent360 offers ongoing data analysis and strategic marketing guidance to guarantee an immediate, long-term return on investment. About Grouse Mountain: Grouse Mountain is the number one visitor attraction in the Lower Mainland, with 1.3 million annual visitors. Known as the Peak of Vancouver, we offer unparalleled panoramic views of the city, sea and surrounding mountains along with a wide range of year-round outdoor and educational activities, dining and more. For more information, please visit grousemountain.com. For more information, visit http://www.ascent360.com/ or contact Heather Knutson: 720.728.3362 or [email protected]. SOURCE Ascent360 Related Links https://www.ascent360.com Three former premiers on Tuesday attacked plans to merge Britain's overseas aid agency with the foreign ministry, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists will help Britain cope better with Chinese and Russian threats. In a highly exceptional move, ex-Labour party leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown joined Johnson's Conservative predecessor David Cameron in criticising the plan. Cameron called the decision a "mistake" while opposition leaders and charities also spoke out, voicing concern about the potential politicisation of development funding. Johnson said the Department of International Development (DfID), set up in 1997 to administer British aid, was an "artefact of a benign era" and will be merged with the Foreign Office to form a new "Whitehall super-department". "The Foreign Secretary (Dominic Raab) will be empowered to decide which countries receive or cease to receive British aid," Johnson told lawmakers in parliament. Funding decisions now needed to take into account the latest geopolitical threats, he added. "We give 10 times as much aid to Tanzania as we do to the six countries of the west Balkans who are acutely vulnerable to Russian meddling," Johnson said. The new department ?- to be called the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ?- will put "extra throw-weight and megawattage" behind Britain's foreign diplomacy when it is established in early September, he added. - 'Giant cashpoint' - Britain's overseas aid budget -- worth 15 billion (17 billion euros, $19 billion) -- has been a sore point for some right-wing lawmakers and government-supporting newspapers. Johnson told MPs it had for too long been treated like "some giant cashpoint in the sky" and bore no relation to "UK interests or... values that the UK wishes to express, or the priorities, diplomatic, political or commercial, of the Government of the UK". But Labour party leader Keir Starmer told the House of Commons the merger was intended to "deflect attention" from the country's high coronavirus death toll and grim economic figures as it slowly emerges from lockdown. Ian Blackford, leader of the Scottish National Party in the UK parliament, called the decision "shameful". He accused the government of "blatantly using challenging domestic circumstances to wind down essential aid for the world's poorest". Outside Westminster, reaction was rapid with Danny Sriskandarajah, the head of Oxfam GB, claiming the move would have a catastrophic impact for many. "I think it's a backward step that risks costing millions of lives," he told the BBC. "The UK has been known in the last couple of decades as a world leader on development and that's in part because we've had a specialist department that has had a laser sharp focus on ending extreme poverty." - Former PMs - Britain spends 0.7 percent of its economic output on international aid, more than other members of the G7 group of leading industrialised nations. Johnson insisted that his government was committed to the target, with calls from lawmakers that the budget should be ring-fenced in the new department. DfID has an international reputation in the development sector and is seen as a key soft power asset independent of government. But it was the unusual intervention by three of Johnson's Downing Street predecessors which was arguably the most eye-catching of the responses. As well as Cameron, who made his comments in a tweet, Blair, who was prime minister when his Labour government separated DfID from the Foreign Office 23 years ago, also attacked the decision. In a series of tweets he called it a "wrong and regressive move", adding he was "utterly dismayed by the decision". Blair's successor Brown, now a UN ambassador on global education, said DfID had lifted millions out of poverty. "It's sad the government is abolishing one of the UK's great international assets," he said on social media. In an exceptional move, ex-Labour party leaders Tony Blair (R, pictured November 2019 at a Remembrance Sunday ceremony) and Gordon Brown (C) joined Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative predecessor David Cameron (L) in criticising the plan Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs Britain's overseas aid budget had for too long been treated like "some giant cashpoint in the sky" Gregory Minott came to the U. S. from his native Jamaica more than two decades ago on a student visa and was able to carve out a career in architecture thanks to temporary work visas. Now a US citizen and co-founder of a real estate development firm in Boston, the 43-year-old worries that new restrictions on student and work visas expected to be announced as early as this week will prevent others from following a similar path to the American dream. Innovation thrives when there is cultural, economic and racial diversity, Minott said. To not have peers from other countries ... Panaji, June 16 : The Goa government has sought clearance of GST dues backlog and funds from the central government's Covid Care Fund for creating infrastructure for management of the pandemic, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said here on Tuesday after a video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Twenty-one Chief Ministers attended the video conference with the Prime Minister. "I have requested the Prime Minister to clear the GST backlog of the last seven-eight months and financial help from the PM-Cares fund," Sawant said. The Prime Minister advised us on testing and tracing (of Covid-19 people), he added. The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister urged states to give priority to resumption of economic activities. "The Prime Minister said we should give priority to economic activity. We can come out of this by only doing that," Sawant said. AURORA, CO Colorado has one of the best children's hospitals in the country, according to U.S. News & World Reports annual rankings. Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora was ranked No. 6 on the report's top 10 honor roll list. The 2020-21 best childrens hospital rankings released Tuesday feature the top 50 hospitals in 10 pediatric specialties and 10 hospitals that earned a spot on the magazines honor roll. The hospitals on the honor roll deliver exceptionally high-quality care across multiple specialties, according to a news release from U.S. News & World Report. Children's Hospital Colorado is nationally ranked in 10 pediatric specialties: Cancer: No. 9 Cardiology & Heart Surgery: No. 6 Diabetes & Endocrinology: No. 4 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery: No. 1 Neonatology: No. 25 Nephrology: No. 16 Neurology & Neurosurgery: No. 10 Orthopedics: Hospital Name: No. 14 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery: No. 5 Urology: No. 8 Dont miss the latest news updates in Colorado. Sign up for free Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily. Boston Childrens Hospital claimed the No. 1 spot on the honor roll for the seventh consecutive year. The 2020-21 edition of the Best Childrens Hospitals does not include data from the coronavirus pandemic, which began after the data-collection period ended. Across our nation, health care professionals are striving against unprecedented challenges to provide the best possible care to each of their patients, said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News, in a news release. The nurses, doctors and other professionals at the Best Childrens Hospitals have demonstrated a track record of delivering top-notch care to children with diverse medical needs. U.S. News & World provides a full methodology section for its Best Childrens Hospitals 2020-21 report. The 10 hospitals that made U.S. News honor roll are: Boston Childrens Hospital Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center Texas Childrens Hospital Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Childrens Hospital Colorado Childrens National Hospital Nationwide Childrens Hospital UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital Stanford Story continues >> The full list of the best childrens hospitals via U.S. news can be found here. This article originally appeared on the Denver Patch Associated Press In the final moments of a 10-hour standoff with a gunman at a Texas synagogue, the remaining hostages and officials trying to negotiate their release took near simultaneous plans of action, with the hostages escaping as an FBI tactical team moved in, an official said Friday. I think we both kind of realized around the same time that: Its time to go, Matt DeSarno, the FBIs special agent in charge in Dallas, said at a news conference. DeSarno said that just after 9 p.m. on Jan. 15, he authorized his teams to enter the synagogue at the moment the hostages came to "a similar conclusion to escape. LIMERICKs political community has once again offered its full support to staff in King Johns Castle who are facing redundancy come September. Theres been criticism of the Shannon Group after it confirmed that both King Johns Castle and Bunratty Castle will close for the winter season after August 31, in a move which could see almost 150 permanent and 200 temporary staff jobless. On Friday, their trade union Siptu held an open air meeting following talks with management, and it was attended by local Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan, Senator Paul Gavan plus local councillors Sarah Kiely, Kieran OHanlon, Elisa ODonovan, Sharon Benson and Conor Sheehan. Siptu representative Rachel Keane said: Our members are seeking the political parties to get involved and get this decision reversed. It doesn't make any sense. Not only to our workers, but also makes no sense to tourism. She confirmed the union sought an assurance from management at the castles that they would remain open in September. This wasnt forthcoming, with the Shannon group previously blaming the fact US tourists are not likely to come in winter. They made this decision prematurely and without thinking about the strategic plan that will be in place in regards of tourism, Ms Keane said. In response, a spokesperson for Shannon Heritage said: "The Covid-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on our Shannon Heritage visitor attractions. The closure of all our sites since March has severely impacted our revenue stream. Shannon Heritage sites make the bulk of their operating revenue in the peak tourist season which allows them to sustain their operation in the off-season period. Our visitor attractions at Shannon Heritage rely heavily on overseas visitors flying into the region, who account for up to 70% of our visitors and revenue. It is becoming increasingly likely that there will be no international tourists in Ireland for the remainder of this year, and unfortunately the anticipated level of domestic visitors will not be near sufficient to make up the shortfall." Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:42:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will convene its 19th session from June 18 to 20 in Beijing. The legislators will deliberate draft laws, including the laws on administrative discipline for government employees, promoting rural vitalization, and support for veterans, Yue Zhongming, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, said Tuesday. The latest revision to the draft law on administrative discipline for government employees will be submitted to the session for a third reading, Yue said. He noted that it specifies administrative discipline for government employees who falsify or forge their personal files and documents, or implicate another person with the intention of damaging the person's reputation, or having the person investigated for responsibilities, among other misconducts. The draft laws on promoting rural vitalization and support for veterans will be submitted to the session for the first reading, Yue said. The draft law on promoting rural vitalization stipulates measures for the enhancement of agriculture, the improvement of rural areas and the personal development of rural people. The draft law on support for veterans specifies veterans' resettlement, and stipulates that pre-retirement educational training and employment support for veterans should be enhanced. According to Yue, improving legislation on public health has been part of the NPC Standing Committee's 2020 work plan, including revising the Wildlife Protection Law, the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law, the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases and the Emergency Response Law. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 06:39:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: This surveillance video shows police officer Garrett Rolfe fatally shot 27-year-old African American Rayshard Brooks on Friday night in the U.S. city of Atlanta in Georgia State. (Xinhua) "This is about law and order, but it's about justice also," says U.S. President Donald Trump. WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he will sign an executive order on police reform on Tuesday. "The overall goal is we want law and order and we want it done fairly, justly. We want it done safely," Trump told reporters at the White House. "This is about law and order, but it's about justice also," he said. The move comes amid growing calls for action following the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota late last month, which has triggered nationwide demonstrations against police brutality and racism. Combo photo shows police officer Derek Chauvin (L) and George Floyd. Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while the latter one kept saying "I can't breathe." Floyd later died in police custody. (Xinhua) The outcry has intensified after a white police officer shot and killed Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old African American man, in Atlanta, Georgia last week. "The trust that we have with the police force is broken and the only way to heal some of these wounds is through a conviction and a drastic change with the police department," Brooks's cousin said Monday. Asked about the Brooks case on Monday afternoon, Trump called it "very disturbing." "I thought it was a terrible situation," he said. "I studied it closely. I'm going to get some reports done today, very strong reports, and we'll have a little more to say about it tomorrow." Brooks was shot twice in the back and died from organ damage and blood loss from the wounds, the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office said in a statement on Sunday. Garrett Rolfe, the officer who shot Brooks, was fired. A second officer, Devin Brosnan, was placed on administrative duty. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigned over the shooting. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said his office is hoping to announce a decision about possible charges by the middle of next week. This undated photo widely circulated on the Internet shows 27-year-old African American Rayshard Brooks looking to the camera with a light smile. (Xinhua) Brooks died after a confrontation with police officers who were responding to a complaint that he was asleep in the drive-thru of a restaurant. Police said the officers tried to take Brooks into custody after he failed a sobriety test, which led to a struggle between the two sides. Police claimed that Brooks, while allegedly resisting, grabbed an officer's Taser and ran off with it. Footage capturing the scene from the restaurant's parking lot showed that Brooks turned around and appeared to point the stun gun at the police officers before being shot. An ambulance transferred Brooks to a local hospital, where he died after undergoing surgery. The shooting prompted protests over the weekend in Atlanta, and the restaurant where the shooting took place was set aflame. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced on Monday that she is signing a series of administrative orders to reform the use of force within the Atlanta Police Department. Bottoms, speaking to reporters, said that she and the city will continue to do what the city needs to do to ensure all Atlantans are treated with dignity and respect. "We saw the worst happen on Friday night with Mr. Brooks. It angered me and it saddened me beyond words," she said. "Burning down buildings will not get us change in this city because if anything it is going to erase the message and it is going to eclipse what this is all about." New Delhi: Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Friday proposed patriotic tourism to make the countrymen aware of the role of defence forces in providing people safety and comfort. We should visit our borders and the villagers living nearby to know the role of defence forces in our safety and comfort, Kumar said at a seminar, which was organised to celebrate Haifa Mukti Day by Forum for Awareness of National Security (FANS). The Day is commemorated to pay tributes to the sacrifice of more than 900 brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives for liberating the Palestinian Port of Haifa from Ottoman Empire of Turkey during World War-1 on September 23, 1918. These soldiers were from the Lancers of Maharajas of Jodhpur, Mysore and Nizam of Hyderabad. The seminar, titled World Peace: Significance of Indo-Israel friendship, was also attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Jagdish Mukhi, Israels Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon, among others. At the seminar, Kumar suggested action plan by proposing patriotic tourism to the audience as well, a release said tonight. He also moved a resolution, which was unanimously accepted by the audience, the release said adding the resolution proposed renaming Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Mukti Chowk. According to the release, Carmon promised all support to FANS and Indo-Israel Friendship Forum for bringing the two countries closer and for the proposed visit of Indians to Haifa in 2018, the centenary year of Indian heroism in Haifa. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Stopping leaks at TV HQ: Penetron helped stop leaks in the concrete basement of Russias Ostankino Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting and prevented further damage to the structure. As an integral solution, Penetron-treated concrete is maintenance free and has the ability to self-heal hairline cracks that may form in the future. The downstream savings in maintenance and repair costs can be substantial. Repairs and renovations on the basement structures of Moscows Ostankino Institute of TV and Radio Broadcasting were completed in March 2020. The Penetron System was extensively used to repair and waterproof the concrete foundations of the television center. The Ostankino Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting ("Ostankino), located in Moscow, Russia, is Europes largest broadcasting center. It encompasses 300,000 m2 (3.3 million ft.2) of office space and production facilities used by federal TV channels, such as NTV, Match TV, Karusel and Channel One. Ostankino is directly adjacent to the well-known Ostankino Tower, a massive television and radio tower and the tallest freestanding structure (534 m / 1,772 ft.) in Europe, says Igor Chernogolov, President of Penetron Russia. Countering the Damage from Water Infiltration Recently, leaks in the below-grade concrete structures at Ostankino were reported. An inspection by local Penetron experts revealed widespread water infiltration, concrete scaling and further signs of deterioration. After consultation with the project engineers, the Penetron crystalline waterproofing system was specified to repair and waterproof the compromised structures. PENEPLUG was applied initially to quickly stop all active leaks and enable further repair work. This work consisted of routing out and filling large cracks with PENECRETE MORTAR, followed by a topical application of PENETRON over all repaired concrete surfaces. Permanently Sealing Concrete Against Water Penetration Once applied to the positive or negative side of the prepared concrete surface, the proprietary chemicals in all Penetron crystalline products react in a catalytic reaction with moisture to generate a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete. This formation permanently seals micro-cracks, pores and capillaries against the penetration of water or liquids from any direction. The non-soluble crystalline formation generated by Penetron crystalline materials becomes an integral part of the concrete matrix and performs consistently during the service life of the concrete. As an integral solution, Penetron-treated concrete is maintenance free and has the ability to self-heal hairline cracks that may form in the future, adds Igor Chernogolov. The downstream savings in maintenance and repair costs can be substantial. The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives and distribution channels. For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com, or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700. Thiruvananthapuram, June 16 : Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to tell the nation on the stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh and said "there is more to it than India building a road". "The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister should say more on what has happened as there is more to it than India building a road and China has other motives. There are limitations to what I can say more, as I am a former Defence Minister. Let them say it," remarked the senior Congress leader, who has been the longest-serving Defence Minister in the country. "I am also eagerly waiting to hear what the Centre has to say. For the past few weeks, in certain sensitive areas in Ladakh, the Chinese forces have advanced and are stationed there now. The two countries should settle this amicably," Antony added. Antony was the Defence Minister from 2006 to 2014 in the first and second UPA governments led by Manmohan Singh. Three casualties have been reported on the Indian side in a violent face-off with the Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh. The last clash with the People's Liberation Army was reported in 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. Former Indian diplomat T.P. Sreenivasan, who hails from the state capital, said one will have to wait and see what China is up to in the post-Covid times. "This time, one can sense a feel of arrogance in the way China has behaved. It's said that no firing has taken place; if so, how come so many casualties? Will have to wait and see what they are up to as in the post-Covid times, USA is helpless and China may be using this as an opportunity to stamp their authority. In Taiwan and Hong Kong, they did it. Now, we have reported loss of lives; so let us wait and see," Sreenivasan said. Doctors can still prescribe anti-malarial drug to patients, US Health Secretary Alex Azar said, hours after the FDA withdrew the emergency use authorisation of chloroquine and HCQ in the treatment of COVID 19 patients. The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision came on Monday after it concluded that the anti-malarial drugs may not be effective to cure the virus infections and lead to greater risks than any potential benefits. "At this point, (HCQ) and chloroquine are just like any other approved drug in the United States. They may be used in hospital, they may be used in out-patient, they may be used at home, all subject to a doctor's prescription," Azar said. "In fact, the FDA's removal of the Emergency Use Authorization takes away what had been a significant misunderstanding by many that had made people think that somehow it could only be used in a hospital setting, and we've tried to make that clear throughout," he said in response to a question. During a White House media appearance with President Donald Trump, Azar asserted that HCQ was approved in the United States. ALSO READ: UK begins trial of latest virus vaccine this week with 300 candidates "If a doctor wishes to prescribe it, working with a patient, they may prescribe it for any purpose that they wish to do so. And, this (FDA's decision) actually removes a potential barrier to them," the health secretary said. The FDA said its decision in this regard was based on new information, including clinical trial data results, that have led it conclude that the drugs may not be effective in treating Covid-19 and that its potential benefits for such use do not outweigh its known and potential risks. FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton, in a letter dated June 15 to Gary Disbrow of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), said as of the date of this letter, the oral formulations of (HCQ) and (chloroquine) CQ are no longer authorised by the FDA to treat Covid-19. On March 28, FDA had issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for use of oral formulations of chloroquine phosphate (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) to be distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Hinton said that FDA now believes that the suggested dosing regimens for CQ and HCQ are unlikely to produce an antiviral effect. "Earlier observations of decreased viral shedding with HCQ or CQ treatment have not been consistently replicated and recent data from a randomised controlled trial assessing probability of negative conversion showed no difference between HCQ and standard of care alone," he said. Current US treatment guidelines do not recommend the use of CQ or HCQ in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 outside of a clinical trial, and the NIH guidelines now recommend against such use outside of a clinical trial, the FDA said. Azar described the media interpretation of FDA's letter as inaccurate. "With the FDA finding that they don't see enough data to support hospital-based use, for those who are the most extreme cases of patients who have been hospitalised, they took that restriction off. They took the Emergency Use Authorization off," he said. Azar asserted that FDA said its data in the hospital setting was not supportive. "We continue to study in out-patient settings, as well as preventative. That data is not yet in," he added. Lord Rowlands sought assurances from the government on the EU's arrest warrant scheme. (Parliament.tv) The UK risks being turned into a Costa del Sol-style criminal haven if it fails to strike an arrest warrant deal with the EU after Brexit, a peer has suggested. Speaking to the House of Commons EU security and justice sub-committee on Tuesday morning, Labour peer Lord Rowlands asked security minister James Brokenshire about security arrangements after the transition period ends. Since the UK will no longer be a part of the surrender agreement between EU member states, Lord Rowlands asked the Tory minister what the government plans to replace the system with. Under the current EU-wide agreement, arrest warrants can be fast-tracked between member states leading to easier and faster surrender of suspects and convicted people. Security minister James Brokenshire said he was optimistic about striking an extradition deal with the EU before the Brexit deadline. (PA) Lord Rowlands cited the 201 arrests of EU suspects on British soil under the scheme in 2017, and sought assurances from Brokenshire that leaving the scheme would not turn the UK into a criminal haven. I hope we agree that we do want to avoid going back to the old system because it did allow criminal havens, Lord Rowlands said. Those characters who lived on the Spanish Costa del Sol felt immune from any form of proceedings. I hope youre not suggesting that we might have to go back to that, are you? Rowlands asked the minister. Brokenshire replied that he hoped to strike a deal similar to the agreement signed between the EU27 and Norway and Iceland in November last year, which allows both countries access to the surrender agreement without being members of the EU. I very much hope that we can conclude an arrangement that is similar to the surrender agreement that has been agreed with Norway and Iceland, Brokenshire said. And that is very firmly the approach that we take and indeed it is notable that the EU themselves have reflected that in their own approach. Frankly its in everyones interests that we reach an agreement that equips operational partners on both sides. Story continues And so I do remain positive on reaching an agreement. But if that were not to be possible then we are able to revert to preceding that arrangement whilst noting that we firmly want to have an agreement that does reflect the Norway and Iceland arrangements. The UK has only a few months left to secure an agreement with the EU in a number of crucial areas after it officially declined to request an extension to the transition period last week. Boris Johnson has said there is no reason why the outline of a Brexit deal cannot be sealed by the end of July, after he asked EU leaders at a video summit to put a tiger in the tank of stalled talks. It is very clear what we need to achieve, Johnson said. I dont think were that far apart, but what we need is a bit of oomph in the negotiations, and I was pleased that Ursula von der Leyen [and other EU officials] all agree. There is no reason why we shouldnt get this done in July. GRAND RAPIDS, MI It was still dark that morning when Mitchell Hamm, driving I-96 to his internship, was hit head-on by an oncoming vehicle. There was nothing he could do, he was told, after the pickup truck he was following swerved out of the way at the last moment and another vehicle, traveling in the wrong direction, struck his. In the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Congress took the unprecedented step of inserting federal anti-discrimination law into purely private employment decisions. It did so to address an urgent national crisis: the long shadow of state-backed racial discrimination. A mischievous opponent of the bill added sex to the list of forbidden bases for discrimination. Nobody at the time would have thought that the term sex meant sexual orientation or gender identity at odds with biological sex, yet the Supreme Court, in Bostock v. Clayton County, said that it now does. To begin with, this is an unhealthy way to make law in a democracy. The law is now read to mean something different in 2020 from what even the most liberal Justices would have said in 1964. Congress for years has been debating bills to amend the statute to cover these topics; the Court just did its work for it, and without any of the compromises or conscience protections that legislators typically debate. We understand what the Courts liberal justices were up to, but a decent respect for democratic lawmaking should have cautioned Justice Gorsuch and Chief Justice Roberts against going down this path. The decision steals a number of bases without admitting what it is doing. Men must get the same treatment as women, says the Court, but who is a man and who is a woman? In the transgender case, that is itself effectively the question, one better resolved by the peoples representatives if the law must decide it. The Court says that a man cannot be fired for marrying a man if a woman would not be fired for marrying a man but this is not discrimination on the basis of sex at all, it is discrimination on the basis of behavior. The Court says that it is not (yet) abolishing bathrooms and dress codes that distinguish by sex, but it is difficult to see how its rigid, ahistorical logic of all must be the same does not lead that way. We think Justice Alito had the better of the argument: The law has long understood that sexual orientation and identity are distinct concepts from sex. When the military banned gays and lesbians alike from serving, or the immigration laws banned homosexuals from entering the country, the response was to change the law, not to pretend that the question was one of gender discrimination. Story continues Imposing the framework of race discrimination blindly onto sexual matters has always involved additional complications better handled by legislative compromise. Will traditionally minded people now be brought up for workplace harassment for holding conventional opinions about marriage and human biology? The Court admits that its decision will drive it deeper into the thicket of conflict between anti-discrimination law and religious liberty, placing religiously orthodox Americans further on the defensive. It is precisely because of the interests to be balanced that it would have been better to leave the meaning of the law as it was when written and leave to Congress the decision of when and how to change it. More from National Review The Conversation is running a series of dispatches from clinicians and researchers operating on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. You can find all of the stories here. Even as America begins to reopen, people across city neighborhoods continue to express appreciation for the health care workers braving hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients by clanging pots and cheering nightly. Similar to the firefighters who sacrificed their lives during 9/11, frontline health care workers have become the symbolic heroes of the moment. But for many American health care providers, this time is unprecedented in terms of the ways in which our lives are threatened. Roughly 77,000 U.S. health care workers have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 400 have died. These statistics trigger inevitable fear and uncertainty, an uncertainty that is masked by the call to duty that summons providers to carry on despite the novel coronavirus and its risks. This fear can lead doctors and nurses to keep their distance and deprive patients of a potentially comforting presence during this acutely vulnerable time. At UCLA Health, Im a hospitalist a board-certified physician in internal or family medicine whose practice is based in a hospital as well as an anthropologist in the Center for Social Medicine and Humanities. My interactions in the hospital with a woman suspected of having COVID-19 showed me how fear of contagion could impact my conviction to maintain a compassionate presence in caring for patients. A need for connection I was working a shift as a moonlighter in mid-March for a hospital that was not my home institution. My job was to ensure the safety of the daytime hospitalists patients overnight. At around 9 p.m., I received a page from a nurse in the intensive care unit about a woman I will refer to as Ms. Johnson (not her real name). Story continues Ms. Johnson was a young African American woman with longstanding Type 1 diabetes. She had experienced multiple hospital admissions in the past for diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition that can occur when blood sugar levels get too high. Chronic complications from her disease led to kidney failure, and she was in the ICU the night I was called. Over the course of this hospitalization, she had developed fevers and a cough that prompted testing for COVID-19. Ms. Johnson was placed in enhanced droplet isolation while waiting for her test results, which took five to seven days to return from the CDC laboratory. Her enhanced infection control measure mandated that anyone entering her room wear a gown, gloves and eye protection, in addition to a surgical mask. During this early phase in the U.S. crisis, the CDC recommended that providers wear full protection only with patients who fulfilled the criteria for persons under investigation. These patients were perceived to be at elevated risk for COVID-19 infection because they were symptomatic and had traveled from high-prevalence countries, such as China and Italy, or had been in contact with a person infected by COVID-19. I was uncomfortable with the CDC policy because of media articles questioning the ability of simple face masks to protect health care workers and reports about the possibility of asymptomatic viral transmission. Given conflicting expert opinions, I wanted to be protected by wearing an N-95 mask, but I would have been breaking hospital policy if I wore one to see Ms. Johnson. In the interest of protecting precious supplies of personal protective equipment, N-95 masks were reserved for patients undergoing aerosolizing procedures, such as intubation or a breathing treatment. I asked the nurse if it was possible to speak over the phone with Ms. Johnson instead of seeing her in person. The nurse agreed. Over the phone, Ms. Johnson expressed her frustration that her primary physician was not available and shared that she preferred a higher dose of insulin than she was being given. Due to the risk of dangerously low blood sugar levels, I wanted to avoid an overdose and explained the importance of sticking with the prescribed dose. Throughout the call, Ms. Johnson became increasingly distressed. All these doctors are calling me on the phone and saying that they understand, that they hear me and that theyre here to help, she said. She expressed frustration with her isolation in light of her improbable COVID-19 infection. She expressed feeling locked up and discriminated against because of her race. She also told me of her mothers visit earlier that day how she was able to see her only briefly through the glass. Ultimately, she wanted to be released from her solitude. She wanted to be with her mom. She wanted someone to hold her. Youre all afraid to touch me, she said. Youre scared and trying to say what you need to say. Her words spoke a painful truth. Ms. Johnsons concerns went beyond the question of insulin. She wanted connection. Under pre-COVID-19 conditions, I would have gone to see her. Even if my presence would not resolve her medication discrepancies, it would have allowed me to express my sympathy better than I could over the phone. But now the risk calculation had changed, and it went beyond personal safety. If I get sick, who will cover my shifts? If COVID-19 cases surge, will I be available? What if I bring the virus home to my family? As a physician and cultural anthropologist, I am trained to interrogate the ways in which standardized protocols, cumbersome electronic medical records and time pressures can serve as dehumanizing forces in the doctor-patient relationship. These constraints are only amplified during this time of uncertainty and vulnerability. A new normal Now, three months later, conditions have changed. With a well-vetted PPE protocol and the example of coworkers traversing COVID-19 units with unbroken professionalism, I feel more comfortable working in the new normal. But there are unmistakable differences compared to the practice of medicine pre-pandemic: increased monitoring of patients by robots, curtailed physical examinations and the palpable absence of family members. In addition to these distancing measures in the hospital, there has been a dramatic shift toward telemedicine. As leaders in digital health and health care delivery call for a greater push toward nonvisit care and imagine a future where in-person visits are the second, third or even last option, my lingering remorse about Ms. Johnson tells me that Zoom visits and telephone calls cannot substitute the therapeutic power of presence. I feel ambivalence as my neighbors cheer from their windows for the seemingly fearless and unflappable frontline provider. What dangers lie behind a hospitalists bravery, and what are we losing in the process of tempering our risks? As anthropologist Jason Throop has argued, empathy, or the ability to understand another and be understood, is affirmed through touch. Touch is central to empathic communication because the person being touched is also touching back. Ms. Johnsons COVID-19 test was negative, and she ultimately transferred out of the ICU. Unfortunately, she may have lasting memories of her isolating hospitalization during the pandemic. As COVID-19 ushers in a new era of medicine, will this disconnect further impair doctor-patient interactions? Or will we find a way to maintain the essential give-and-take between patient and provider that is so powerful and core to our professions healing craft? My hope is for the latter. [Get facts about coronavirus and the latest research. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter.] This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Read more: Liza Buchbinder does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. WASHINGTON The 2016 theft of secret C.I.A. hacking tools by an agency officer, one of the largest breaches in agency history, was partly because of failures to install safeguards and officials who ignored the lessons of other government agencies that saw large breaches when employees stole secrets, according to an internal C.I.A. report released on Tuesday. The C.I.A. fostered an innovative culture within its hacking team, which took great risks to create untraceable tools to steal secrets from foreign governments. But that team and its overseers were focused on building cutting-edge cyberweapons and spent too little energy protecting those tools, failing to put in place even common security standards like basic monitoring of who had access to its information, the report said. The agency should have known better, the report concluded, given that the theft came years after highly public disclosures by the former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who stole data from the Pentagon and State Department, and the former contractor Edward Snowden, who took information from the National Security Agency. Both helped expose those secrets. In March 2017, WikiLeaks published some of the C.I.A.s most valuable hacking tools, which it called Vault 7. The WikiLeaks disclosure revealed some of the ways that the C.I.A. could break into foreign computer networks or activate the camera or microphone on electronic devices to eavesdrop on adversaries. More than 1,000 faculty, graduate students and others are calling on Penn State administrators to give them more input in decisions related to the plans to reopen the universitys campuses this fall, including autonomy in deciding whether their instruction is offered in-person. In an open letter that as of Tuesday morning had been signed by 846 faculty and 303 graduate students and other employees, faculty members also are looking for a promise of job security for employees who dont have the protection that tenure provides and a guarantee that faculty will play a central role in decision-making with regard to the universitys response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Penn State President Eric Barron announced on Sunday a plan to resume on-campus, in-person classes and other activities this fall in a limited fashion. The university switched to remote instruction in the middle of the spring semester due to the coronavirus outbreak in Pennsylvania. While some faculty see the return to in-person instruction as inevitable or necessary, Sarah Townsend, an associate professor of Spanish and Portuguese at the University Park campus, they also believe the mode of instruction should be left up to faculty members. The university put out a statement that they would be as flexible [with regard to work schedules] as possible working with people. Thats not good enough because it leaves a lot of leeway, she said. First of all, its left up to individual departments and individual supervisors to make these kind of calls. What we really want is for faculty to be able to make those calls. She and others who signed the letter attribute the root of their complaints about the universitys fall semester plans universitys plan for resuming in-person instruction this fall to a lack of transparency during the decision-making process and the lack of sufficient faculty involvement. The university has assembled task groups and claiming that faculty were involved but the number of faculty is very small and no one knew who was on these task groups until Sunday evening when we received the announcement from President Barron, Townsend said. It was then when she and others counted fewer than 20 members of the nearly 300 people on the task groups were faculty members; many of them were deans or associate deans who hold administrative duties, she said. Penn State officials, however, pushed back on the faculty complaints about a lack of transparency and lack of input. In a statement shared by university spokeswoman Lisa Powers, it said the university has been open and consultative in its decision-making throughout the crisis. It said Barron has issued open letters to the community, held four town hall meetings, organized 16 task groups, provided updates on the university website, engaged Faculty Senate and elected officials, and surveyed faculty and students. As we move forward, our plans will be shaped by new and continued collaborations, as we look forward to continuing to actively engage faculty, staff and students, Powers said in the statement. Their voices are an important part of these efforts. She later added: Again, this is a process, and much more remains to be done together. Townsend said a group of 13 faculty members joined together in writing the letter last Wednesday and then talked about it with about 50 colleagues. They then began sharing it with others across the universitys 24 campuses and the number of signatures on it grew to 603 by the time it was emailed to Barron, Provost Nick Jones and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Kathy Bieschke on Friday. The letter was left open for other faculty and staff members to sign. As of Tuesday morning, it had been signed by at least 12% of the nearly 7,100 faculty members who work on most of Penn States 24 campuses. Gary King, a professor of biobehavioral health at University Park, said faculty understand that administrators had to make changes in light of the pandemic and worked with the administration during the spring semester when the decision was made to switch exclusively to remote instruction. These are things that we as faculty do and we do it naturally for the administration but we do it for our students as well," King said. We want everyone to be protected. Thats also why going into the fall, he said, faculty would like to have some latitude with respect to how they teach classes. What we want to be able to continue our role as academicians and scholars without in any way somehow jeopardizing our own health as well as the health of students, King said. Townsend said she is sure there are some students and parents who are equally concerned about the health risks posed by going back to in-person instruction and residential campus life during a pandemic. At the same time, she is confident the majority of faculty, including herself, would prefer to be in a classroom under ideal conditions. Many who signed the letter she said are adamantly against broader shifts to online learning. But under the circumstances, we think faculty should have that option, Townsend said. Other issues raised in the faculty letter concern the lack of assurances about job security and benefits for all staff and contingent faculty; the possibility of additional furloughs and layoffs; and failure to guarantee yearlong funding for graduate students whose progress has been impacted by the pandemic. Townsend and King said they expect the university administration to respond to the letter but at this point there has been neither a response or acknowledgment that the faculty concerns are under consideration. Were going to deliberate and give some more thought and give them more time, King said. "We know they have a lot on their plate and we know these things dont oftentimes move very quickly. But clearly this is a major initiative on the part of faculty that we wanted to bring to the attention of the administration but also bring to the attention of the stakeholders as well as the citizens of the commonwealth. Were concerned about this and we expect to hear something from them. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nina Loasana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 09:24 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf0d114 1 National COVID-19-in-Indonesia,school-reopening,senior-high-schools,junior-high-schools,Education-and-Culture-Ministry,Nadiem-Makarim,new-normal,health-protocol Free The Education and Culture Ministry has announced that the country will allow phased reopening of schools located in COVID-19 low-risk areas, or green zones, starting in July. A joint ministerial decree by the education minister, religious affairs minister, home minister and health minister was announced on Monday to regulate the school reopening during the pandemic. "We'll allow schools in green zones to reopen," Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim said in Monday's online press conference. "Around 90 cities and regencies across Indonesia are considered green zones. The number of students in those areas is roughly equivalent to 6 percent of all students in the country. This means the remaining 94 percent still have to continue their education through online learning," added Nadiem. According to the ministrys official academic calendar, the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year is slated for July 13. In the press conference, national COVID-19 task force chief Doni Monardo said the task force had mapped the risk status of all regions in the country affected by the COVID-19 pandemic based on 15 indicators from the World Health Organization. The indicators, which comprise the number of new cases, suspects and fatalities among other things, determine whether the regions fall into the green, yellow, orange or red category. Read also: School reopening raises concerns as health risks loom "The status of a region could change easily based on the progress of COVID-19 transmission in the area," Doni said. Nadiem explained that the ministry would hand the final decision to reopen schools in certain green zones to their respective regional administration. "Even if the local administrations decide to reopen schools, the schools still have to fulfill our strict requirements and health protocols before reopening," he said. For the reopening, the schools are required to have clean toilets, hand-washing facilities, disinfectant, thermo guns and access to health facilities. They should also provide areas where wearing a face mask is mandatory. "Students, teachers or parents who are sick or have a comorbidity are advised not to go to schools. Those who had traveled outside the green zone area should also self-isolate for 14 days before going to schools," Nadiem said. During the initial stage, the ministry will only allow senior and junior high schools to reopen. Elementary schools will be able to follow suit two months after, while kindergartens four months after. Read also: Ministry suggests shorter school hours as part of 'new normal' After the reopening, all students have to adhere to physical distancing measures and wear masks. Schools are required to limit the amount of students per classroom to 18, or roughly 50 percent of the previous capacity. "As a consequence, schools have to implement a shift system to be able to accommodate all students," Nadiem said. "Meanwhile, boarding schools are still prohibited from reopening their dorms for at least for two months after reopening." During the initial two months after reopening, schools are prevented from running their canteens and cafeterias. Physical education classes and extracurricular activities are also prohibited. Nadiem further said that parents would have the final say on whether they would allow their children to go to school or not. "Schools cannot force parents to allow their children to attend. If they are not comfortable letting their children go to school, the school should allow the students to resume their online learning," he added. The minister also said schools could be closed again if there was any COVID-19 transmission in the area, or if the risk status of the area had changed to yellow, orange or red. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday announced the merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with the Department for International Development (DfID) as part of his vision for a Global Britain, but it was soon panned by critics as a mistake. Former Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the intention to retain the UKs commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of its GDP on international aid, but said the decision to merge the departments is a mistake. The new department is to be called Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Cameron tweeted: More could and should be done to co-ordinate aid and foreign policybut the end of @DFID_UK will mean less expertise, less voice for development at the top table and ultimately less respect for the UK overseas. Labour and campaign groups such as Oxfam criticised the move as Johnson outlined the merger to take effect from September to unite aid with our diplomacy as part of what he called long overdue reform in Whitehall. The DfID was created in 1997; the UK no longer gives aid to India but funds some projects. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed dismay: I am utterly dismayed by the decision to abolish DfID. We created DfID in 1997 to play a strong, important role in projecting British soft power. It has done so to general global acclaim. The strategic aims of alignment and diplomacy and focus on new areas of strategic interest to Britain could be accomplished without its abolition. Wrong and regressive move. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown also opposed the move, reiterating his view that the merger would essentially solve one big problem the rundown of Britains diplomatic service by creating a much larger problem: the loss of Britains soft power. Labour leader Keir Starmer said there was no rationale for the merger, while Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell, who was international development secretary from 2010 to 2012, said abolishing the department would be a quite extraordinary mistake. According to Johnson, the merger will give more powers to British ambassadors. He said in a statement to the House of Commons: The Foreign Secretary will be empowered to decide which countries receive or cease to receive British aid, while delivering a single UK strategy for each country, overseen by the National Security Council, which I chair. Those strategies will be implemented on the ground by the relevant UK Ambassador, who will lead all of the Governments work in the host country. And in this we are following the examples of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, all of whom run their development programmes from their foreign ministries. And we will align other British assets overseas, including our trade commissioners, who will come under the authority of the UK ambassador, bringing more coherence to our international presence, he added. Oxfam GB chief executive Danny Sriskandarajah joined the voices opposing the merger: It is scarcely believable that at a time when decades of progress are under threat from Covid, the prime minister has decided to scrap DfID, a world leader in the fight against poverty. This decision puts politics above the needs of the poorest people and will mean more people around the world will die unnecessarily from hunger and disease. The Foreign Office may be excellent at diplomacy but it has a patchy record of aid delivery and is not as transparent as DfID. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Germans off to sunny Spain as Europe loosens border lockdown The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Zaventem By Philip Blenkinsop and Isla Binnie BRUSSELS/MADRID (Reuters) - European nations eased border controls on Monday as coronavirus cases declined after three months of lockdown, with German tourists heading for Mallorca and French bargain-hunters streaming into Belgium to buy cheap cigarettes. Greece allowed more international flights as it sought to salvage the summer season, German tourists flocking to neighbouring Denmark caused an 8 km (5 mile) queue and Italians popped into France to buy lottery scratch cards. Spain is initially allowing in about 1,500 visitors from Germany as part of a pilot project to begin opening up the Spanish tourism market in the coming weeks. Hundreds of German tourists, the first to visit Spain since borders were closed in March, arrived in Mallorca on Monday on a flight from Dusseldorf. They passed signs reminding them in German and Spanish to wash their hands and wear masks, then queued at a distance from each other to have their temperatures read and paperwork checked by border staff also with faces covered. "Holidaymakers can be happy that the beaches in Palma have never been so empty," said Aage Duenhaupt, a spokesman for travel company TUI. "But there won't be parties in the same way this year." In a corner of Europe where Switzerland, Germany and France are neighbours, local officials met on the pedestrian bridge that joins Weil am Rhein in Germany with Huninque in France to exchange warm words and bouquets as borders reopened. The Rhine Center shopping mall in Weil was doing above-average business for a Monday morning. "For us it is very important. About 50% of our permanent customers come from Switzerland and France. We were looking forward to this day," mall manager Alev Kahraman said. GRADUAL REOPENING The Schengen area of 22 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland operates control-free crossings. But for three months they have been mostly closed. Story continues Officials hope lifting internal border controls will allow a gradual reopening to other countries from July and revive a tourism industry that flatlined during the lockdown. The European Commission has launched a site, "Re-open EU https://reopen.europa.eu/en", giving information on travel, coronavirus rules, and whether hotels and beaches are open. But it will not be a return to unfettered travel for 420 million Europeans. In Greece, passengers arriving from airports deemed high-risk will be tested and quarantined for up to 14 days, depending on the result. Restrictions remain for passengers from Britain and Turkey. Spain will allow no foreign tourists until June 21, aside from limited exceptions for Mallorca and some other islands.. The pilot scheme was authorised to host around 10,000 German tourists through to July 1. Now most European visitors will be welcome after June 21. Elsewhere, the right to travel will depend on where you live and where you are going. The Czech Republic has a traffic-light system, barring tourists from 'orange' or 'red' countries such as Portugal and Sweden. Denmark will accept tourists from Iceland, Germany and Norway, but not Sweden, if they book at least six nights' accommodation. Britain's two-week quarantine for visitors means Britons will face the same confinement in France. But in the Belgian village of Macquenoise, tabac stores did brisk trade as French citizens queued, well apart, to buy cheaper tobacco three months after prices rose at home. "It's worth the effort," said Nadege Caplain, who made an early-morning 200-km (125 miles) round trip to buy cigarettes. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, Clara-Laeila Laudette and Isla Binnie in Madrid, Catarina Demony in Lisbon, Richard Lough in Paris, Pascal Rossignol in Macquenoise, Jan Lopatka in Prague, Andreas Mortensen in Copenhagen, Mike Shields in Zurich; Writing by Giles Elgood; Editing by Janet Lawrence) The 2020 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival will remain on schedule for Oct. 16-18 in downtown Chattanooga, event founder Byron DeFoor announced Tuesday. We are continuing our plans and preparations to hold our second Chattanooga Motorcar Festival this October with the expectation that all businesses will be operating by then and sporting events will be back on schedule, so that we can all enjoy the many activities that bring us together," said Mr. DeFoor. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Chattanooga. It will be a busy month, as many sporting events have been rescheduled for October. We thank all our fans, car collectors, racers and local business owners for continuing to support the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, which benefits neuroscience research. We will do everything in our power to ensure a successful, safe and fun event for everyone. Heres something you should know: Chattanoogas motto, years ago, was Chattanooga Can Do.' After EPB Telecom, a local firm, developed the fastest Internet in the Western Hemisphere, Chattanooga came to be known as 'GIG City.' That led us to the motto of the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival: Get In and Go. We Can Do, so lets Get In and Go! Presented by DeFoor Brothers and hosted by Fifty Plus Racing Foundation, Inc., the 2020 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival includes a full three days of activities in West Village, the Tennessee Riverfront and the Westin Hotel Chattanooga. The High Jinks Rallye will take place on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17, while the Time Trials will be conducted on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16, 17 and 18. The Time Trials will be completed by noon on Sunday, and events will be hosted by Alain deCadenet with noted personalities Brian Redman, Wayne Carini, Bill Rothermel, Keith Martin, Donald Osborne and Linda Vaughn. Other celebrities expected to participate in panel discussions include Bobby Rahal, Lyn St. James, David Hobbs and Ray Evernham. The Concours d'Elegance will be the weekend's featured event, held in West Village on Sunday, Oct. 18. Additional Friday and other weekend events, such as a car auction on Saturday, automobilia vendors and cooking classes for children, will be announced at a later date. For additional information on the Festival, go to www.chattanoogamotorcar.com. Welcome to the new Chili's. Like most restaurants across the country, the casual dining chain is reopening its dining rooms after months of its tables sitting idle and relying on takeout and delivery sales. About 82% of Chili's and its more upscale sister chain Maggiano's Little Italy have welcomed back dine-in customers as of June 9. But the restaurants can't revert to business as usual. Instead, the two chains are modifying their locations to follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local and state governments. Wait staff wear gloves and masks. Trimmed-down menus are now disposable. Some tables are marked with X in tape as customers space out across the dining room. Customers appear to be returning to Chili's. During the week ended April 29, same-store sales had plunged 42.1% from a year earlier. By the week ended June 3, same-store sales were down just 18.9%. Chili's and Maggiano's parent company, Brinker International, announced Tuesday that Chili's is outpacing the rest of the casual dining industry and grabbing market share from rivals. Maggiano's same-store sales, however, remain under pressure. During the week ended May 3, they plunged nearly 70%. The chain's locations are more concentrated in urban areas or malls both of which have been devastated by the pandemic. "It's going to take a little bit for those concepts to get back," said Brinker CEO Wyman Roberts. Brinker also said last week it is generating positive operating cash flow, allowing it to stay current on rent and pay down debt. Shares of the company, which has a market value of $1.1 billion, have fallen 35% in 2020. Here's a look inside a reopened Chili's in Lewisville, Texas: Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes Donald Trump, June 16, 2020: "They've come up with the AIDS vaccine." "They" have not. There is no AIDS vaccine. Here's a clip of the video. "They've come up with the AIDS vaccine" pic.twitter.com/Z8MQK5Bi2F Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) June 16, 2020 Said Trump: "These are the people, the best, the smartest, the most brilliant anywhere, and they've come up with the AIDS vaccine. They've come up with or, the AIDS and, as you know, there's various things and now various companies are involved, but the therapeutic for AIDS." There is treatment for HIV/AIDS. There is no vaccine. There is no such thing. Trump later mumbles that the "AIDS vaccine" is a "treatment." When do we get a neurology assessment of the president's fitness for office? Something is seriously wrong with him. Trump: "They have come up with the AIDS vaccine. " pic.twitter.com/0BzSJHzQwG Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 16, 2020 America is in the throes of an accelerating pandemic that has killed well over a hundred thousand people in this country, and shows no sign of stopping. No vaccine. No president. President Trump: "They've come up with the AIDS vaccine." pic.twitter.com/JF6zCdmPYC The Hill (@thehill) June 16, 2020 Super bummed my doctor never told me there's an AIDS vaccine. https://t.co/LfQV2u2j6t Vic Vela (@VicVela1) June 16, 2020 President Trump once told guests at Mar-a-Lago that he had to "fumigate" his dishes and silverware after dining with his longtime fixer Roy Cohn, who died of AIDS. From @joe_palazzolo and @mrothfeld's 'The Fixers': pic.twitter.com/bYrvs8fyuB Scott Bixby (@scottbix) June 16, 2020 Trump says he has great respect for scientists, and "they've come up with the AIDS vaccineor the AIDS as you know, there are various things and now various companies are involved but the therapeutic for AIDS." (There is no AIDS vaccine, yes good therapeutics.) Daniel Dale (@ddale8) June 16, 2020 The President just said there is an #AIDS vaccine. There is NOT. There is #PrEP which is a once-a-day pill to prevent HIV. I don't know if that's what he meant. Also, since we're here, PrEP doesn't prevent other STD's. Okay, have a good, healthy sex life. Reggie Aqui (@reggieaqui) June 16, 2020 Take it from someone with "the AIDS". There is NO vaccine. HIV is a manageable illness thanks to the science this fucknut doesn't believe in, and the activists this shit stain tear gassed. So fuck this liar and everything it says. https://t.co/7ZUVrohgSI David Russell (@17days) June 16, 2020 Trump says researchers have come up with an "AIDS vaccine," then later says it's a treatment:pic.twitter.com/QBZB3nAFVa Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) June 16, 2020 Budget airline EasyJet has put back the delivery of 24 new aircraft it purchased from Airbus until at least 2025 the day after it recommenced flights following eleven weeks of being grounded. The Luton-based airline announced two months ago that it had deferred the order for the aircraft beyond 2022 as it was battling the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic that had brought the industry to a halt. They will now be delivered sometime between the 2025 and 2027 financial years. EasyJet is also entitled to cancel up to seven aircraft that they are due to receive between 2022 and 2026. Easyjet resumed its first domestic flights since March 30 yesterday with extensive hygiene measures in place. All passengers and crew are required to wear masks Its purchase is part of a 100-strong 4.5billion order from the planemaker Airbus. The transaction has been the subject of a major dispute between the firm's management and the airline's founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. Monaco-based Sir Stelios has claimed the acquisition would bankrupt the airline. He even offered a 5million reward to anybody who could find evidence of corruption in the deal. EasyJet has fervently denied any financial impropriety. He subsequently initiated a shareholder revolt which tried, but failed, to get rid of four senior company officials including the chief executive over the order. Despite surviving the confidence vote, chief financial officer Andrew Findlay declared he would leave the airline in 2021. The other company officials targeted were chairman John Barton and director Andreas Bierwirth. Two other board members, Chairman Charles Gurassa and board member Andy Martin, announced last week they would depart EasyJet later in the year. Yesterday, the airline resumed its first domestic flights since March 30, after the plummeting demand for air travel in the preceding weeks forced it to postpone operations. Chief executive Johan Lundgren said he would 'feel 100 per cent safe' flying on a packed plane About 300 flights are being offered this week by the company across 22 European destinations. By the end of July, they hope to be travelling between about half of its 1,022 routes. Extensive hygiene measures have been implemented by them to try and prevent the coronavirus from spreading. Aircraft are being deep-cleaned, and passengers and crew are required to wear masks. Chief executive Johan Lundgren told the PA news agency that he would 'feel 100 per cent safe' flying on a packed plane. Easyjet's management has been in a battle with the airline's founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou over the company's 4.5billion purchase of 100 new aircraft from Airbus 'The recommendations that we've implemented have been defined together with international regulators Easa (European Aviation Safety Agency), ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and also our own company's medical doctors and expertise.' He also said he believed people could travel abroad on a summer holiday despite the new UK quarantine restrictions. 'We would hope and would be really looking forward to restrictions being either lifted, or air bridges put in place where it made sense to do so, allowing UK customers as well as people in the rest of Europe to be able to go on a holiday.' Though the company has begun flying again, it has stated it plans to cut around 30 per cent of its whole workforce. It has about 15,000 staff worldwide. Other airlines have also announced redundancies in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. British Airways is expecting to slash up to 12,000 jobs while Virgin Atlantic has said over 3,000 employees will be made redundant. Shares in EasyJet were up 8.6 per cent soon after midday today to 833.9p. (CNN) Mexico will conduct a safety review of Canadian health policies and procedures before allowing any more temporary workers to travel to Canada to work in the agricultural sector. "This is a temporary pause in order to determine the circumstances surrounding the safety conditions on farms," said Oscar Mora, spokesman for the Mexican embassy in Ottawa. More than 60,000 migrant workers travel to Canada every year for seasonal work in agricultural industries. A temporary ban means that up to 5,000 Mexican workers are currently waiting to come to Canada. Ambassador Juan Jose Gomez Camacho, on behalf of the Mexican government, has been in daily communication with the Canadian government to try and understand why and how hundreds of Mexican workers have been infected with Covid-19, weeks after completing a mandatory 14-day quarantine in Canada, Mora said. CNN has confirmed that two migrant workers from Mexico have died in the last few weeks and dozens more workers have been treated in hospital. Communal housing on farms and cramped conditions in packing facilities and greenhouses has contributed to the virus spread, acknowledged the local health unit in Windsor-Essex, Ontario, where the death occurred. The province of Ontario has been the hardest hit by the outbreaks, and its Premier said Monday no one should blame the migrant workers for getting sick. "They came here, they self-isolated for two weeks and they picked it up since they've been here," said Premier Doug Ford. "I don't want any finger pointing at these hard-working migrant workers. They're good people, they mean well, and they're hard workers too." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Mexico temporarily forbids workers from going to Canada due to coronavirus." [June 16, 2020] Essential Utilities Inc. Announces New General Counsel for Peoples Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) announced today the appointment of Mike Turzai as general counsel for Peoples. Peoples, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, is the natural gas division of Essential Utilities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005339/en/ Mike Turzai (Photo: Business Wire) Turzai spent 10 terms serving the 28th Legislative District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, including his most recent three terms as Speaker of the House. Throughout his career, Mike has focused on creating jobs across Pennsylvania industries. Families, education and benefits for workers have been ongoing priorities throughout his service to the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Throughout his career in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Mike built a reputation for putting people first - family, constituents, fellow legislators and the general public. Mike cares about people," said Essential Chairman and CEO Christopher Franklin. "As general counsel for Peoples, he will be one of the key leaders of our natural gasbusiness that plays a critical role in the everyday lives of families and individuals in more than 760,000 homes and businesses. Caring for those families and individuals we serve and the more than 1,500 Peoples employees that ensure the safe and reliable delivery of our natural gas, will be the cornerstones of his leadership. I'm excited for him to join the team and use his expertise as a key member of the Peoples leadership team." Turzai will report to Christopher Luning, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Essential Utilities. "I look forward to working with Mike in his role as general counsel for Peoples. The 28th Legislative District is located in the heart of western Pennsylvania's natural gas industry. Mike is well aware of the opportunities and challenges of this growing industry. His background and expertise will benefit our customers and the communities we serve," said Luning. Turzai also expressed excitement for this next step in his career. "Peoples has been providing natural gas service to families in western Pennsylvania for more than 130 years. As a native of western Pennsylvania, I am familiar with the company, the dedication of its employees and its commitment to our region. I am honored to join the Peoples team and help continue the company's legacy as a strong local employer, community partner and driver of economic development," said Turzai. Turzai was born and raised in southwestern Pennsylvania and currently resides in Allegheny County with his wife, Lidia and their three sons, Andrew, Stephen and Matthew. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame. In 1987, he earned a Juris Doctor from Duke University. About Essential Essential is one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5 million people across 10 states under the Aqua and Peoples brands. Essential is committed to excellence in proactive infrastructure investment, regulatory expertise, operational efficiency and environmental stewardship. The company recognizes the importance water and natural gas play in everyday life and is proud to deliver safe, reliable services that contribute to the quality of life in the communities it serves. For more information, visit http://www.essential.co. WTRG (General) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005339/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi: Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's shocking and tragic demise has sent shivers across the nation. He was found hanging from his Bandra pad in Mumbai on June 14, 2020, leaving behind his grieving family, fans, friends and film fraternity. Although post-mortem report confirmed that the actor died of asphyxia due to hanging and Mumbai police ruled out any foul play in his suicide, his family believes otherwise. Sushant Singh Rajput's cousin and MLA Neeraj Bablu alleged that the actor was turning out be a threat for others in the Bollywood industry and that he was pushed to this extent. Neeraj said, "Sushant achieved huge success in mere 10 years which others could not. Many were jealous of his rise and saw him as a potential threat as he had become too big. Financially, everything was fine. So much pressure was built on him that he was pushed to take such an extreme step." Adding more, he said: "Some big names are behind this, I will name them at the right time. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has ordered for probe after we urged for an investigation and soon everything will be clear." Maharashtra Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh tweeted a day back about Mumbai police probing the suicide case in relation to Sushant's professional rivalry as well. While the post mortem report says actor @itsSSR committed suicide by hanging himself, there are media reports that he allegedly suffered from clinical depression because of professional rivalry. @MumbaiPolice will probe this angle too. ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) June 15, 2020 The 34-year-old Sushant Singh Rajput is survived by his father KK Singh and four sisters. He had lost his mother in 2002. Sushant Singh Rajput's last rites were held at Pawan Hans Crematorium, Mumbai on Monday (June 15, 2020). Several Bollywood celebrities such as Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Sharma, Abhishek and wife Pragya Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi and Jackky Bhagnani amongst others paid their last respects to the departed soul. LOUISVILLE, Ky. The Louisville Metro Police detective who applied for the no-knock search warrant that precipitated the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor has been placed on administrative reassignment. Interim Louisville Metro Police Chief Robert Schroeder announced Wednesday morning that he placed Detective Joshua Jaynes on administrative reassignment until questions from Taylor's family, her attorneys, a U.S. postal inspector and others about "how and why the search warrant was approved" are answered. Schroeder also said the matter has been referred to the FBI, which has launched its own investigation into Taylor's death. Jaynes wrote five affidavits seeking a judge's permission for no-knock searches, including at Taylor's apartment, as a part of a narcotics investigation in March. Jefferson Circuit Judge Mary Shaw signed all five within 12 minutes. According to court records, the warrants were for Taylor's apartment on Springfield Drive, a suspected drug house in the Russell neighborhood on Elliott Avenue, two vacant homes nearby on Elliott Avenue and a suspected stash house on West Muhammad Ali Boulevard. Breonna's Law: Other cities look to Louisville after city bans no-knock warrants The warrant for the Muhammad Ali house was not executed, court records show, though police did not specify why. The warrants for Taylor's apartment and Elliott Avenue were carried out at nearly the same time. While Taylor was named on the warrant for her apartment, two men Jamarcus Glover and Adrian Walker were named on all five warrants and were among the primary targets in the investigation. Glover was arrested on Elliott Avenue that night for trafficking and firearm offenses. The case remains pending. Experts skeptical of no-knock application The language on all five warrants is similar, describing the criminal history of the suspects and Jaynes' observations. All end by asking for a no-knock entry "due to the nature of how these drug traffickers operate." Story continues Jaynes wrote that the subjects have a history of attempting to destroy evidence, use cameras to monitor police and have a history of fleeing law enforcement. Taylor's apartment was included in the search because Jaynes said Glover had been seen getting a package from Taylor's home in January and driving to a "known drug house." But experts previously contacted by the USA TODAY Network's Louisville Courier Journal about no-knock warrants saw problems with Jayne's application. Professor Christopher Slobogin, director of Vanderbilt Universitys Criminal Justice Program, has said "unless the police had reason to believe this particular house had cameras, and explained that reason to the judge, a no-knock warrant would be improper." Otherwise, he said, "police would never need to knock and announce for any search related to drug dealing, with consequences like the one we have in this case. Brian Gallini, a professor at University of Arkansas who has written about the Fourth Amendment also was skeptical: If it was appropriate here, then every routine drug transaction would justify grounds for no-knock. Jaynes also wrote that he "verified through a U.S. postal inspector that Jamarcus Glover has been receiving packages" at Taylor's apartment. "It is not uncommon for drug traffickers to receive mail packages at different locations to avoid detection from law enforcement," Jaynes wrote. " Mr. J. Glover may be keeping narcotics and/or proceeds from the sale of narcotics" at Taylor's apartment "for safekeeping." But U.S. postal inspector Tony Gooden, of Louisville, told WDRB News in May that a different agency had asked in January to look into whether Taylor's home was receiving suspicious mail. The office had concluded that the apartment was not, according to Gooden. "There's no packages of interest going there," Gooden told the news outlet. The Courier Journal has not been able to reach Gooden for comment. Benjamin Crump, a Florida-based attorney who is representing Taylors family and is involved in several in high-profile cases of African Americans killed in police shootings, wrote in a news release that Gooden's statement "directly contradicts what the police stated in the affidavit to secure a no-knock warrant for her home." More than a month after Taylor died, Jaynes again received a no-knock search warrant for the suspected trap house on Elliott Avenue, still targeting Glover and three other suspects. Glover was arrested following that search for additional trafficking charges. When police entered Taylor's home in the early morning hours of March 13, Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, fired his weapon and struck an officer in the leg, maintaining that he believed someone was breaking in. Officers returned fire, striking and killing Taylor, an unarmed 26-year-old ER technician. Andy Wolfson contributed to this report. Follow reporters Tessa Duvall (@TessaDuvall) and Ben Tobin (@TobinBen) on Twitter: After weeks of Black Lives Matter protests: Trump signs order on tracking police misconduct, officer training What we know: Man arrested in deaths of activist Oluwatoyin Salau and volunteer Vicki Sims in Florida This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Breonna Taylor: Louisville detective with no-knock warrant reassigned Conservative and Labour MPs say they are dismayed the government plans to hold another public consultation on live exports again delaying a decision on a ban after years of signalling support for one. One senior Tory is writing to the environment secretary demanding an explanation. The department of environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) says ministers are planning a fresh consultation, just two years after the last one. The 2017 Conservative manifesto said it would be possible to take early steps to control the export of animals for slaughter, and last years manifesto promised to end excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening after Brexit. Michael Gove, when he was environment secretary, in 2018 strongly signalled he wanted to end live exports, saying all options would be considered. He issued a call for evidence on curbing live exports for slaughter and improving animal welfare during transport. How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Show all 16 1 /16 How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A crowded transport truck Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A thirsty pig on transport truck is given water by a Melbourne Pig Save activist Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Toronto, Canada Pigs being transported to slaughter in freezing weather Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Toronto, Canada A volunteer gives water to thirsty pigs Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Toronto, Canada Pigs en route to an abattoir How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Canada A cow looks out of transport truck just outside the slaughterhouse gates Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Spain Stacked crates of rabbits awaiting slaughter Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Australia A pig finds some air at a sale yard Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Toronto, Canada Pigs in a transport lorry en route to an abattoir Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A pig in a transport truck touches noses with a man Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Melbourne, Australia, 2017 Chickens in transport crates Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Spain, 2014 A rabbit's nose and feet poke out from between plastic crates Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Spain A rabbit looks out between plastic crate slats Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Nepal, 2017 A chicken looks out through fencing on a crowded transport truck Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Spain Broiler chickens are captured and loaded into transport crates for slaughter Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Israel, 2018 A ship carrying up to 30,000 sheep and cattle from Australia to Israel arrives at port after almost three weeks at sea Jo-Anne McArthur / Israel Against Live Shipments The same year, as Boris Johnson campaigned to become Tory leader, he held out hope to animal lovers of a ban, condemning the trade as barbaric. But the government then asked advisers to make recommendations on improving conditions and again no plans for a ban materialised. MP Sir David Amess, a member of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, told The Independent: It sounds churlish but Im fed up with the endless consultations, so Im surprised were having another one. Ive always listened to ministers on this, and always got the impression that we agreed that live exports of animals is not acceptable and were going to do something about it. So I dont understand why were having yet another consultation. He said he would be writing to George Eustice, the environment secretary, to ask why there would be another consultation and would raise questions in the Commons. The UK exports more than half a million animals abroad each year. The trade was worth 1.6bn in 2014-18. Another shipment of live animals is due to go from Ramsgate on Thursday. Youve only got to look at these animals to see the way theyre squashed together its disgraceful, he said. I think there are many Conservative MPs who feel as strongly as I do. Im mystified by the way the department is dealing with this. I want the voice of the silent majority to be heard. Shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard said: If true, this looks like another delaying tactic. Ministers should just get on and do it, while maintaining transport on the island of Ireland. The government does not need another consultation to ban live animal exports. The number of animals exported is very small but there is political agreement on a ban. We should not need another costly consultation for the same groups to say the same thing for ministers to act. Defra says its new proposed consultation is wider in scope than the last one as it would cover excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening. In a new report on the export of EU animals by sea, the European Commission documents sub-standard vessels, inadequate checks on ships and poor legal accountability. It also identifies illegally high temperatures in lorries, and under-reporting of animals that are unfit to travel. Animals are regularly moved across the border between Northern Ireland and the republic in both directions, with many thousands sent from the north to Europe via the south. Last year, the republic exported nearly 300,000 live animals. Ministers of successive governments have argued that under the rules of the EU single market, which guarantee free movement of goods, it is not possible for any member state to ban live animal exports. Veteran Tory MP Sir Roger Gale, a patron of the foundation, said the government should ban live exports from 1 January, when the Brexit transition period ends, and set up a chain of local abattoirs to replace those that have closed over the years. If a consultation is a way of kicking this into the long grass, its bad news but if its a way of producing a thorough response that would a good thing, he said. A Defra spokesperson said: The government has committed to improving the welfare of animals during transport and ending excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening, and will be launching a public consultation in due course. Earlier in the day, the 55-year-old minister tweeted to inform that he was admitted to the RGSSH, a dedicated COVID-19 facility under the Delhi government. New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who has been hospitalised after running high-grade fever and suffering a sudden drop in his oxygen level, tested negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday, senior officials said. Doctors at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) said his condition is "stable". However, he had been supplemented with oxygen supply, and his condition is being monitored. Earlier in the day, the 55-year-old minister tweeted to inform that he was admitted to the RGSSH, a dedicated COVID-19 facility under the Delhi government. Follow LIVE updates on Coronavirus Outbreak here Due to high grade fever and a sudden drop of my oxygen levels last night I have been admitted to RGSSH. Will keep everyone updated Satyendar Jain (@SatyendarJain) June 16, 2020 "Due to high-grade fever and a sudden drop in my oxygen levels last night I have been admitted to RGSSH. Will keep everyone updated," he tweeted. He was later tested for COVID-19, hospital authorities said. "He was brought to the hospital late night. A COVID test was done on him and he has tested negative," a senior official of the hospital said. Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hoped that Jain recovers soon. "Without worrying about your health, you were dedicated in service of people round-the-clock. Please take care and get well soon," he said in a tweet in Hindi. Stranded Ghanaians in Mauritius have appealed to the government to bring them into the country. The group, numbering about 20, has been stranded in the island nation following the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the subsequent closure of Ghanas borders. Some of them who spoke to the Ghanaian Times on telephone yesterday complained about ill-health due to lack of food and called on the government to work with its counterpart in Mauritius to end their plight. Some, however, have been imprisoned for working with their tourist visas and violating the regulations of COVID-19 lockdown. John Kyei, a member of the group, in a telephone interview with Ghanaian Times confirmed the ordeal some of them were going through in the wake of COVID-19. He said although most of them arrived in Mauritius with tourist visas, they were forced to extend their stay when Ghanas borders were closed. The extended stay which they did not make preparation for, he explained, had resulted in financial and accommodation challenges saying that eating and sleeping in a fitting place now is by the benevolence of some locals whom we have made as friends. Those who took up jobs to enable their survival although the visa did not allow them have been thrown into prisons while some were currently crippled with serious sicknesses. Our situation is very bad here. Food and accommodation are big challenges for us. Some of the guys are in prison now because they went out while the lockdown was being enforced and working with tourist visas, Mr Kyei explained. We pleading with the government to come to our aid and we are ready to pay the costs involved and go through any mandatory quarantine we will be asked to do, he added. He said the group had secured support from organisations and friends in Ghana toward flight and all other expenses needed for their return. The group, he stated, had also engaged Air Mauritius which had agreed to fly them to Ghana in their carriers on the France route. Meanwhile, the Head of Communications of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Basiwa Dowuona-Hammond, told Ghanaian Times, the Ministry was working with Missions across the globe to evacuate all Ghanaians and persons with resident permit back to Ghana. All the Missions, she said, were presently compiling data of all those who wish to return to the country and urged all interested persons and those facing challenges to contact the Missions through e-mail for assistance. The government has not abandoned those who wish to come back to Ghana. As part of the arrangements, the Missions are putting together the data of all those interested. The Ministry is doing it from one country to another and on June 17 those from the United Kingdom will be flown to the country. Others will also be followed in due course, she added. Source: The Ghanaian Times Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Saif Ali Khan said Bollywood was 'famously competitive', and those pretending to care for Rajput were a sign of ultimate hypocrisy and an insult to the dead. Saif Ali Khan recently commented on social media posts from the Hindi film industry after the demise of Sushant Singh Rajput on 14 June. In an interview to Times of India, Khan said the news of Rajputs death "just awful". He also hit out at people who are "talking rubbish "on social media during the time of the tragedy. There are so many people whove made comments so quickly. And it just seems to me that people are somewhere gaining some mileage from this poor fellows tragedy, you know, whether its to show compassion or to show interest or to show some political stance. So many people are talking rubbish in this nonstop kind of barrage on social media, and its just embarrassing, really, I think, Khan said. The actor added that a day of silence or introspection would be a better tribute to Rajput than "an outpouring of love from people who obviously didnt care about him, and people who famously dont care about anybody else." Khan further said Bollywood was "famously competitive", and those pretending to care for Rajput was a sign of "ultimate hypocrisy" and an "insult" to the dead. Ranvir Shorey wrote a series of tweets on the inherited privilege that the elite club of Bollywood enjoys and gets to decide who will be a star. Shekhar Kapur, Gulshan Devaiah, and Anubhav Sinha too had hinted at the contribution of the Bollywood privilege club in the untimely passing of Rajput. (Also read on Firstpost -Sushant Singh Rajput passes away: The unspoken hierarchies in Bollywood and what it means to be an 'outsider') * A collection of Suicide prevention helpline numbers are available here. Please reach out if you or anyone you know is in need of support. The All-India helpline number is: 022 2754 6669 Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 20:21:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NANJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Xiang Junbo, former chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for taking bribes by a local court in east China's Jiangsu Province Tuesday. Xiang was also fined 1.5 million yuan (about 212,000 U.S. dollars), according to the Intermediate People's Court of Changzhou City. All of Xiang's illicit gains has been confiscated and will be turned over to the national treasury, according to the verdict of the court. The court found that Xiang took undue advantage of multiple posts he had held from 2005 to 2017 and assisted certain organizations and individuals in project contracting, loan handling, qualification approval, and job promotions. In return, Xiang accepted money and property worth over 18.62 million yuan, according to the court. The court said that it has given a lenient punishment considering the defendant confessed to his crimes and surrendered his illicit gains. Xiang accepted his sentencing and pledged not to lodge an appeal. Enditem BERLIN, June 15 (Reuters) - Germany's new borrowing will rise to 218 billion euros this year, Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief budget lawmaker told Bild newspaper on Monday as Berlin is working on a record stimulus package to counter the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The comments by Eckhardt Rehberg followed a Reuters report from last Wednesday in which a senior official said that Germany's overall new borrowing would probably balloon beyond 200 billion euros this year. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber Editing by Michelle Martin) RTHK: New Zealand confirms two new cases of coronavirus New Zealand said on Tuesday that it has two new cases of the coronavirus, both related to recent travel from the UK, ending a 24-day streak of no new infections in the country. New Zealand lifted all social and economic restrictions except border controls last week, after declaring it had no new or active cases of the coronavirus, one of the first countries in the world to return to pre-pandemic normality. However, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned that new cases may come up in the future as New Zealanders return home, and some others were allowed in under special conditions. The health ministry said the new cases were related to the border as a result of recent travel from the UK. Both cases are connected, it said in a statement. Further details were expected in a news conference later on Tuesday. New Zealand has so far had 22 deaths from the virus. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. My heart is torn off, Stewart said. Ryan worked for me under the Warrants, and he was in my wedding. We just saw each other a few weeks ago; his daughter just graduated from college. He and (the other officer) were really close, too. This is just really tragic. Smoke rises from the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, Tuesday. The South Korean Ministry of Unification said North Korea blew up the South-North joint liaison office, located in the complex, at 2:49 p.m., three days after Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, warned that the office would "completely collapse." Yonhap https://www.youtube.com/embed/QSgEejzUnbc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen> By Do Je-hae North Korea blew up the inter-Korean liaison office in Gaeseong, Tuesday afternoon, following through on an earlier threat to do so. The Ministry of Unification confirmed that the North had blown up the office at 2:49 p.m. following reports of an explosion and smoke from the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC). The office, set up in September 2018, was one outcome of the Panmunjeom Declaration announced April 27 that year after the first summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The office was set up to facilitate inter-Korean projects and joint events, and to support working-level negotiations between the two Koreas; but it had been non-operational since January this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The demolition came three days after Kim's powerful sister Kim Yo-jong issued a statement threatening hostilities, including military action, to protest anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border from the South by North Korean defectors and activists. "Before long, a tragic scene of the useless South-North joint liaison office completely collapsed will be seen," she said then. About three hours after the explosion, the North's Korean Central News Agency said the country "completely ruined" the office. Cheong Wa Dae condemned the explosion, saying Seoul would take firm action if Pyongyang continued measures that hurt inter-Korean ties. "The South Korean government today expressed strong regret over the North blowing up the South-North joint liaison office building opened under the 2018 Panmunjeom Declaration. The North's destruction of the office is a violation of everyone's expectations for the development of inter-Korean relations and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula," Kim You-geun, first deputy director of the National Security Council (NSC), said in a media briefing after an emergency meeting presided over by Chung Eui-yong, President Moon's national security adviser. "The government has made it clear that the North is fully responsible for all incidents that may occur because of this (explosion). We sternly warn that, if the North continues to take steps to aggravate the situation, we will respond strongly," Kim said Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho, the South Korean head of the liaison office, also said the destruction was an unacceptable act, adding the government was lodging a strong protest. 3 terrorists shot dead in encounter at Shopian, J&K India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 16: Three terrorists have been gunned down in an encounter at Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir. The identities of the terrorists are still be ascertained. Sources tell OneIndia that following specific intelligence a cordon and search operation was launched. The terrorists opened fire following which the encounter broke out. The Army spokesperson said that one AK-47 and one INSAS rifle had been recovered from the encounter site, which is 500 metres away from the Rashtriya Rifles camp. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain hospitalised, to take COVID-19 test| Oneindia News Six months on, Security Forces have already gunned down 100 terrorists in the Valley This is incidentally the fourth encounter in the district in less than 10 days. The previous encounters in Shopian have claimed the lives of 19 terrorists. From January 2020, more than 100 terrorists have been killed. These include terrorist from the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad. In April alone the security forces conducted the maximum operations and managed to kill 28 terrorists. In May, 20 terrorists were eliminated. The data further says that in the first six months of the year, 35 terrorists from the Hizbul Mujahideen, four foreign terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, 10 local terrorists of the JeM and three from the Islamic State were killed. It may be recalled that last year, the Security Forces had killed 125 terrorists. Both Apple and Google are having a hard time regulating all the third-party COVID-19 contact tracing apps that popped up on their app stores recently, as people begin to venture out of their homes. As The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month, some of those applications arent transparent in what theyre doing with your data. Now, New York Attorney General Letitia James is urging the tech giants to ensure that those applications arent capable of collecting sensitive personal health information, to minimize any invasive data collection and to guarantee that they truly delete consumer information. James said in a statement: As businesses open back up and Americans venture outdoors, technology can be an invaluable tool in helping us battle the coronavirus... But some companies may seek to take advantage of consumers and use personal information to advertise, mine data, and unethically profit off this pandemic. Both Apple and Google can be invaluable partners in weeding out these bad actors and ensuring consumers are not taken advantage of by those seeking to capitalize on the fear around this public health crisis. The Attorney General points out that while the companies own contact tracing technology was designed to protect consumer privacy, the same cant be said for third-party programs. As such, shes asking the companies to commit to greater oversight by allowing only apps affiliated with federal or state public health agencies to collect personal health information, such as COVID19 test results. She also wants them to prohibit third-party contact tracing apps from using consumer data for targeted advertising and for identifying anonymous users. James wants them to require third-party contact tracing apps to delete consumer information on a rolling, 14-day basis, as well. In addition, the Attorney General is asking the tech giants to make it clearer to users which apps were launched by the government and which were rolled out by random developers. According to Business Insider, the companies now have until June 19th to acknowledge James letter. For now, the Attorney General is asking users to remain vigilant and to check with the Apple App Store or Android Play Store for information on what entity operates the app and whether the app collects geolocation information or other data. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:01:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GENEVA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Republic of Moldova nominated Tudor Ulianovschi, an experienced diplomat, for the post of World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General, said a WTO press release Tuesday. According to a biographical note posted on the WTO website, Ulianovschi has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova and has over 15 years' experience in diplomatic service. Before his career as Foreign Minister, Ulianovschi was the Moldovan top diplomat in Geneva, serving as ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva and to the WTO. During his mandate in Geneva, the diplomat also worked as Chairman of the Balance of Payment Committee of WTO and President of Trade and Development Board at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The incumbent WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo announced in May that he would resign from the post on Aug. 31, a year before his term expires. According to the timetable announced by the WTO General Council Chair David Walker, member states are allowed to submit nominations for a new chief within one month, starting from June 8, and a consolidated list of all candidates will be issued to members after July 8. Shortly after the nomination period has closed, candidates will be invited to meet with members at a special General Council meeting, present their views and take questions from the membership. It's stipulated that if no new Director-General can be confirmed by Aug. 31, the General Council shall designate a current Deputy Director-General to serve as Acting Director-General, until the appointment of a new chief. Enditem Actor Sushant Singh Rajput's remains have been laid to rest in a crematorium in Vile Parle, Mumbai. His family members, including his father KK Singh, flew from Patna for their son's last rites that were performed on Monday evening. His suicide has sent shock waves across the country and his family is devastated. Reportedly, his sister-in-law couldn't bear the loss of the young family member. It is reported that the actor's cousin brother's wife, Sudha Devi, was in deep shock and had stopped eating after she got to know about Sushant's suicide. As the family performed the last rites of the actor in Mumbai, Devi passed away at his native, Purnia in Bihar. Sushant was found hanging in his Bandra residence on Sunday morning by his domestic help. His mortal remains were taken by the police to the hospital for COVID-19 test and post-mortem. The preliminary post-mortem report of the Bollywood actor said that the cause of his death is asphyxia due to hanging. The police suspected it to be a case of suicide but no suicide note was found from the site. Home Minister of Maharashtra, Anil Deshmukh has said in a statement issued on social media that Mumbai Police will also be looking into the 'professional rivalry' angle in Sushant's death by suicide. Sushant's funeral was also attended by his friends and colleagues from the industry like Varun Sharma, Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey, Vivek Oberoi, Krystle D'Souza and others. This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata). Follow @News18Movies for more WASHINGTON - The Trump administration's intensifying efforts to block oversight of its coronavirus-related rescue programs are raising new alarms with government watchdogs and lawmakers from both parties amid concerns about the anonymity of companies receiving unprecedented levels of taxpayer funds. Government watchdogs warned members of Congress last week that previously unknown Trump administration legal decisions could substantially block their ability to oversee more than $1 trillion in spending related to the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to four congressional committee chairs Thursday, two officials in charge of a new government watchdog entity revealed that the Trump administration had issued legal rulings curtailing independent oversight of Cares Act funding. The letter surfaced amid growing bipartisan outrage over the administration's decision not to disclose how it is spending hundreds of billions in aid for businesses. On Monday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin appeared to bow to that pressure, saying he would work with Congress on new oversight measures. But some Democrats have said the White House is not taking disclosure requests seriously enough. "They seem to be saying one thing while doing exactly the opposite," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee. "If the Trump administration is committed to full cooperation and transparency with taxpayer dollars, it is unclear why it is manufacturing legal loopholes to avoid responding to legitimate oversight requests." According to the previously undisclosed letter, Treasury Department attorneys concluded that the administration is not required to provide the watchdogs with information about the beneficiaries of programs created by the Cares Act's "Division A." That section includes some of the most controversial and expensive programs in the coronavirus response efforts, including the administration's massive bailout for small businesses and nearly $500 billion in loans for corporations. Mnuchin surprised many lawmakers last week when he announced he would not allow the names of Paycheck Protection Program recipients to become public after the Trump administration had said for months that the data would eventually be disclosed. The letter from the inspectors general and Mnuchin's insistence that the PPP data will not be released come after the White House has repeatedly rebuffed efforts to scrutinize where the taxpayer funding is going. In their letter, the inspectors general leading the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), an independent panel created to oversee implementation of the Cares Act, expressed concern about the administration's legal opinions and their impact on oversight. "If this interpretation of the CARES Act were correct, it would raise questions about PRAC's authority to conduct oversight of Division A funds," Michael Horowitz and Robert Westbrooks, the acting chair and executive director of the PRAC, said in a letter obtained by The Washington Post. "This would present potentially significant transparency and oversight issues because Division A of the CARES Act includes over $1 trillion in funding." The Treasury Department did not comment on the legal rulings but said the administration was being fully transparent. In a statement, department spokeswoman Monica Crowley said Cares Act spending would be subject to "comprehensive oversight," including multiple inspectors general, a new congressional panel and the independent Government Accountability Office. The Treasury Department is also briefing congressional lawmakers and updating the government-wide reporting site USASpending.gov. "The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee's scope under the CARES Act covers other programs that are not already reviewed by these overlapping oversight bodies," Crowley said. "Further duplication of these oversight functions by the PRAC would not increase transparency or oversight. Treasury is fully complying with all of the substantial oversight, transparency, and reporting requirements of the CARES Act." The new obstacles to the watchdogs' efforts surface as the administration faces a bipartisan backlash on Capitol Hill over its decision not to disclose which businesses are receiving funding under the PPP, the bailout program for small businesses. The rulings could limit the watchdogs' ability to review massive new federal programs, government transparency experts say. If not addressed in the next legislation by Congress, the opinions could curtail the watchdogs' ability to collect information about who is receiving the funding, they say. It is unclear whether the law gives the administration the ability to withhold the information. "This is a devastating blow to oversight," said Danielle Brian, executive director of the nonprofit Project on Government Oversight, which tracks government transparency. "It is a contorted analysis of the law and clearly counter to what Congress intended." A key congressional Republican also expressed concern about Treasury's interpretation of the law and its impact on transparency. "American taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent," Blair Taylor, a spokesperson for Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala. "Neither the letter nor the spirit of the law limit the accountability committee's purview in that regard. Chairman Shelby is supportive of clarifying that in subsequent legislation, if necessary." The oversight bodies referenced by the Treasury Department, including the congressional commission and the GAO, have different mandates and are less likely to identify individual instances of fraud than the inspectors general curtailed by the department's ruling, according to Brian. The administration has updated the government spending website with only a small fraction of Cares Act spending, Brian said. In addition to the PPP and loans for corporations, Division A of the Cares Act includes billions for state and tribal governments and airline bailouts. The Trump administration has faced criticism over its allocation of money to tribal governments as well, with a group of Native American tribes suing. The Trump administration has defended its handling of the bailout program. Mnuchin has said releasing the names of PPP recipients could compromise proprietary and sensitive business information. In the past, however, Trump administration officials had said they would be disclosing the information. And on Monday, Mnuchin said on Twitter he will be discussing adding "proper oversight" of the PPP, but it is unclear what he envisions. President Donald Trump has moved since the earliest days of the rescue package to curb oversight of the law. Almost immediately after signing the bill, Trump questioned the constitutionality of its requirement that a new special inspector general for pandemic recovery notify Congress immediately if the administration "unreasonably" withholds information requested by investigators. In early April, Trump also ousted acting Pentagon inspector general Glenn Fine, who was chairman of the federal panel created by Congress to oversee the implementation of the stimulus package. The $2 trillion Cares Act established the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee to serve as a special watchdog. The PRAC was granted subpoena power to monitor spending and issue reports and was to operate under the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, chaired by Horowitz, the inspector general at the Justice Department. Westbrooks serves as executive director of the PRAC. The White House's Office of Management and Budget and the Treasury Department suggested alternatives ways of conducting oversight, but the inspectors general rejected the idea, according to their letter. "These alternatives do not address the full range of programs for which the PRAC is responsible, nor do they provide the breadth and depth of reporting needed for the PRAC to fully carry out the responsibilities required" under the law, Westbrooks and Horowitz wrote in their letters to the committee chairs. Mnuchin's claim at a hearing last week that the government would not be disclosing borrowers' information marked an abrupt reversal from previous statements by the administration. Loan applicants were warned on the government's application form that it would "automatically release" business information "such as the names of the borrowers" along with the loan amount and any collateral pledged to secure it. Officials at the Small Business Administration, which handles the day-to-day aspects of the Paycheck Protection Program, have repeatedly promised in response to media questions and public document requests that the agency will release "individual loan data" without providing firm dates. And as of Monday afternoon the SBA's Freedom of Information Act website still carried a statement saying the agency would release "loan-specific data" to the public. "The agency recognizes the need to balance the interests of transparency with the privacy and confidentiality issues release of loan information raises," the SBA website reads. "In the near future, we will be able to turn our efforts to providing loan-specific data to the public, but hope that all understand the need for the Agency to focus its efforts on fulfilling the urgent needs of small businesses." Lawmakers from both parties have repeatedly criticized the lack of transparency. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Ben Cardin, D-Md., the chairman and ranking Democrat for the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, said in a June 3 letter that names and loan amounts of PPP loan recipients should be made public, though they have differed on whether Congress should force the Trump administration's hand. Senate Republicans blocked Democratic-sponsored legislation that would have mandated the SBA provide daily and weekly updates to Congress and the public, along with a public database containing the names, loan amounts, and addresses of loan recipients. Last month, Rubio said the SBA should wait until after it had processed the loans to worry about disclosure, although he was clear that it would be published eventually. "It's my view that we're going to find out all of this information," Rubio said. "And we're going to know it in a timely fashion so we can do something about it." On Monday, Rubio press secretary Nick Iacovella said the senator "plans to work closely with SBA and Treasury to ensure enough data is disclosed about the program to determine its effectiveness and ensure there is adequate transparency without compromising borrowers' information." In the meantime, interest in the program has waned dramatically, and Democrats are pressuring the administration to get more money to disadvantaged and rural employers as required by the Cares Act. On Monday, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, and the six other Democrats on the committee wrote to leaders at the Treasury Department, the SBA and eight top banks asking that they do more to ensure funds go to "entities in underserved and rural markets," including businesses owned by women, military veterans and economically disadvantaged groups. Last month, the SBA's inspector general warned that the agency had not properly reflected that emphasis of the law, and Cardin said last week that he will submit legislation requiring leftover PPP funds to be used that way. The Post is among 11 news organizations suing the SBA for access to records on loan recipients, amounts of loans and other basic information the agency has previously released. Recently, SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza has been encouraging disadvantaged businesses to apply. She issued a statement to lenders Monday asking that they "redouble your efforts to assist eligible borrowers in under-served and disadvantaged communities" before the program's June 30 deadline. Canberra, June 16 : Australia's economy is on track for a gradual recovery from COVID-19, but faces the threat of a second wave of infections, according to the central bank on Tuesday. At a meeting held earlier this month, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) officials pointed to the chance of a second wave of infections as a potential global stumbling block, reports Xinhua news agency. "Should widespread contagion resume, with a return of lockdowns, confidence would suffer and cash flow would be strained," it said on Tuesday. RBA officials were broadly optimistic about the country's success in containing the virus so far, leading to an earlier opening up of businesses than initially expected, and the possibility that a downturn would be shallower than expected. Federal government stimulus measures were credited as instrumental in protecting the economy from collapse, with some households actually better off in terms of income under the pandemic. "Households that were already receiving welfare payments had additional payments, and the JobKeeper program and increased JobSeeker payments had supported incomes for others. "In some instances, households had received more income than usual," the RBA said. However figures show that along with a contraction in spending in late March and April, many Australians had lost their jobs or seen a drop in the number of hours worked, which fell by 9 per cent overall in April. RBA officials said that while this figure was less than it could have been, it was still substantial and may have an effect on spending during the second half of the year. Australia has so far reported 7,333 COVID-19 cases, with 102 deaths. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Members of the non-governmental organization MADADGAAR PARIVAR hold placards and shout slogans as they protest the killing of Indian soldiers by Chinese troops in Ahmedabad, India, June 16, 2020. A clash between Indian and Chinese security forces in a disputed area of the Himalayan mountains has left at least 12 people dead and possibly dozens injured, reports said Tuesday, marking the first time soldiers have been killed in a confrontation between the two militaries in more than four decades. Thousands of troops from the nuclear-armed neighbors have faced off since May along the unmarked border in the Galwan Valley, in Indias northeastern region of Ladakh, with Chinese troops rushing artillery and combat vehicles into the area after India was seen building a road nearby, according to Indian media reports. While the two sides had pulled back ahead of a new round of talks aimed at reducing tensions, fighting broke out on Monday night at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) leaving at least 12 Indian soldiers dead, Reuters News Agency reported Tuesday, citing three Indian government sources. New Delhi Television (NDTV) reported that 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel, had been killed. Earlier, the Indian army had said in a statement that one of its officers and two soldiers were killed in a violent faceoff on the contested border with China. Chief reporter at Chinas official Global Times online newspaper, Wang Wenwen, cited reports in a tweet earlier on Tuesday that five Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers were killed and 11 injured in the clashes. However, the Global Times later tweeted that it had never reported the number of casualties on the Chinese side and was unable to confirm one. Asian News International reported that China had suffered 43 casualties in the clash, including dead and seriously injured, citing sources with knowledge of Indian intercepts. It said Indias Ministry of External Affairs claimed the clash occurred as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo during de-escalation and could have been avoided if the agreement at the higher level had been scrupulously followed by Chinese forces. Reuters quoted Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian as saying that India had severely violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line and provoked and attacked the Chinese forces, causing a violent physical confrontation between the two border forces. An unsigned editorial in the Global Times on Tuesday warned India that while China does not and will not create conflicts it fears no conflicts either. It said that Chinas PLA and government will firmly safeguard China's territorial integrity and maintain national interests when dealing with border conflicts. Reports said senior Chinese and Indian military officials are meeting to de-escalate the situation. Risk of escalation Tuesdays clash marks the first time in more than four decades that soldiers had been killed in clashes between the two militaries. In 1975, four Indian soldiers were killed while on patrol in a border area. While the two sides last week pulled troops back several miles from the LAC at three disputed border points, observers suggested that China might use Tuesdays clash to undermine efforts to reduce tensions in the area. Chinas aggression, and the killings, mark a turning point in Sino-Indian relations, Brahma Chellaney, professor of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research, told Reuters. The military fatalities in a confrontation underscores the risk of a larger military conflict. Daniel Russel, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) in New York, said in a statement that China is throwing punches and provoking its neighbors at a time that Beijing should be focusing on the countrys economy. Instead, [Chinese president] Xi Jinping is making a conscious appeal to Chinese nationalism and appears to be calculating that China can handle the consequences of these actions. Coming for the fingers Lobsang Sangay, head of the Dharamsala, India-based Tibetan government-in-exile, told CNN India Chinese incursions in the region bear striking similarities to Beijings occupation of Tibet in 1950. [Chinas founder] Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders said Tibet is the palm we must occupy, then go after [the] five fingers, and the first finger is Ladakh, [then] Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, he said. They have the palm, Tibet, now they are coming after [the] five fingers. Sangay said the Tibetan government-in-exile has been warning India for decades that what happened to Tibet could happen to you, and only recently have a growing number of people in the country begun to realize the threat posed since [the] Indo-Tibet border became [the] Indo-China border. While India has a right to defend its territory and sovereignty, the head of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) advised that dialogue is the only way to move forward. They both should go together because the Chinese strategy has always been carrot and stick, similarly, India should respond the same way, he said. But never be the first one to take action or intrude. In most of the cases, its the intrusion in the border areas are coming from the Chinese side. Latest face-off The current face-off in Ladakh is only the latest in a series of flare-ups along Chinas and Indias 2,200-mile-long undemarcated border, or Line of Actual Control, with Indian soldiers using their fists to block an attempt by Chinese troops on May 9 to cross into Indian territory at the Nakula pass in northern Sikkim. Meanwhile, in June 2017, India sent hundreds of troops into Bhutan to defend its ally against efforts by China to build a road southward into Doklam, an area claimed by both China and Bhutan. The stand-off continued for over two months and ended when both sides withdrew. China and India fought a border war in 1962 that left hundreds killed or wounded on both sides. Atlantans take to streets to protest officer's killing of Rayshard Brooks Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In a new wave of protests, Atlantans on Saturday hit the streets, blocked traffic and set fire to a Wendys restaurant, the site where a 27-year-old black man was shot and killed in a struggle with the police following a field sobriety test, according to reports. Another Black Man was Killed in Your Neighborhood, said a sign held by one of the protesters at Wendys, which was later burned down by a crowd expressing anger at the death of Atlanta resident Rayshard Brooks, according to The Associated Press. Demonstrations in Atlanta came at a time when nationwide protests and riots sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, were beginning to simmer down. Floyd died on May 25 while he was lying on the ground, handcuffed, and restrained by three officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey recently said the city would need well over $55 million in state and federal aid to rebuild more than 1,000 buildings damaged or destroyed in the riots. That number has since been increased to over $500 million. Atlantas police chief, Erika Shields, announced her resignation Saturday. Out of a deep and abiding love for this city and this department, I offered to step aside as police chief, Shields said in a statement released Saturday evening. It is time for the city to move forward and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the shooting took place when officers were responding to a complaint that a man was sleeping in a car blocking the Wendys drive-thru lane on Friday night. Brooks failed a field sobriety test and resisted his arrest. Security camera video released by the GBI shows a man running from two white police officers. The man is seen holding an object in his hand which he raises toward an officer behind him. The officer takes out his gun and fires. The man who is running falls to the ground in the parking lot. The GBI said Brooks had grabbed a Taser from an officer and pointed it at the officer. At a press conference Saturday, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said the incident didnt warrant the use of deadly force. I have called for the immediate termination of the officer, she said, according to The Washington Times. L. Chris Stewart and Justin Miller, the attorneys representing the Brooks family, also held a press conference Saturday evening. In Georgia, a Taser is not a deadly weapon, Stewart said. Thats the law. Thats what the cops are trained to do. Ive had cases where officers have used Tasers on victims, and they argue with us in court that Tasers arent deadly. Thats the case law here. He continued, You cannot have it both ways. Stewart suggested that the confrontation could have easily been avoided. Talk to him. Talk. Hey Buddy, you fell asleep in line, you OK? Why dont you pull your car over there and call an Uber. And then you walk over, and then you leave. Why is that so hard for police officers? A conversation. He wasnt doing anything crazy or violent or harming anyone. Hey buddy, I think youve had something to drink ... pull over there, call an Uber. I guarantee you that happens hundreds of times a night in college towns with young white kids or other places in America. But we dont get that benefit of the doubt. According to an analysis of available data, done by The Washington Post, although half of the people shot and killed by police are white, black Americans are shot at a disproportionate rate. They account for less than 13 percent of the U.S. population, but are killed by police at more than twice the rate of white Americans, the report says. However, Heather Mac Donald, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and the author of The War on Cops, argues in an op-ed, published in The Wall Street Journal, that while the use of excessive force needs to be held accountable, theres no evidence of widespread racial bias. In 2019, Mac Donald writes, police officers fatally shot 1,004 people, most of whom were armed or otherwise dangerous. African-Americans were about a quarter of those killed by cops last year (235), a ratio that has remained stable since 2015. That share of black victims is less than what the black crime rate would predict, since police shootings are a function of how often officers encounter armed and violent suspects. The author points out that in 2018, African Americans made up 53% of known homicide offenders in the U.S. and commit about 60% of robberies, though they are 13% of the population. (Newser) Two women who met after recent Black Lives Matter protests against the death of George Floyd were found dead in Florida on Saturday, Fox News reports. The bodies of Oluwatoyin Salau, 19, and Victoria Sims, 75, were both found in the vicinity of suspect Aaron Glee's Tallahassee home; he was arrested in connection with their deaths. Salau was reported missing June 6, the same day she posted about being molested by a man who had offered her a ride to find somewhere to sleep and to get her belongings from a church where she had previously been sheltering. It's not clear whether Glee, 49, was the man Salau was referring to in her Facebook post. story continues below Salau was spotted at a shelter two days after being reported missing, per the Tallahassee Democrat, and she was seen on surveillance video walking into a store on June 10, her last known sighting. Sims, who was a well-known local activist, was last seen June 11. Glee had been arrested in an unrelated case May 29 for allegedly propositioning a woman for sex, then pushing her to the ground and kicking her in the stomach when she turned him down. He was released on bail in that case June 1. "There is no justice that can be served that will replace my sisters life," Salau's brother tells the Democrat. (Read more Florida stories.) The Clay County Commission is demanding that the roughly $11.7 million in funding for coronavirus expenses it gave to Kansas City be spent within Clay County borders. The Kansas City Council voted in late May to have the funds go toward projects within the county with the exception of administrative costs or spending "not otherwise readily divisible based on geographic boundaries." Groups laud Trump administration's rollback of Obama-era rule that redefined sex Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Conservative groups are applauding the Trump administration's announcement on Friday that it's scrapping an Obama-era federal regulation requiring healthcare providers and insurers to perform gender-transition procedures and abortions against their medical judgment or religious convictions. Mary Beth Waddell, a senior legislative assistant for Family Research Council, said her group "fully supports" the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' decision as it would "ensure Obamacare isn't used as a vehicle to advance transgender or abortion politics." The Obama administration's 2016 regulation redefined sex discrimination in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act to include termination of pregnancy and gender identity, which it defined as "one's internal sense of gender, which may be male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female." HHS said in its announcement Friday that it "will enforce Section 1557 by returning to the government's interpretation of sex discrimination according to the plain meaning of the word 'sex' as male or female and as determined by biology." After the announcement of the change in policy, long sought by religious and conservative groups, the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List called President Trump "the most pro-life president our nation has ever seen." "Today he delivered another important victory for conscience in America," the network of more than 837,000 pro-life Americans nationwide said in a statement. Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie, policy adviser for The Catholic Association, said all Americans not only healthcare professionals who put the welfare of their patients and the integrity of science ahead of social ideologies "can applaud the Trump Administration's move to revise HHS Section 1557." Preventing "discrimination on the basis of sex" was intended to ensure that women are treated on par with men, Christie explained. "Changing the definition of sex to mean 'gender identity' and to include unfettered access to abortion would not have protected the vulnerable." Instead, he continued, "it would have made it impossible for doctors to decline to perform ethically problematic procedures (like late-term abortion) and experimental and dangerous ones (like the removal of healthy organs from young patients with gender dysphoria.)" The government, she added, should not be in the "business of social engineering," nor interfere in the way of "sound medical ethics and patient care." Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the SBA list, argued that abortion is not healthcare and said the government should never mandate it. "The Obama/Biden administration sought to expand abortion at every turn, even trying to reinterpret federal law to define abortion as a civil right," she said. The group GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, or GLAD, argued that the Trump administration's interpretation of Section 1557 "contradicts" the Affordable Care Act. "It's contrary to established case law, dangerous to transgender people, and can't survive legal challenge," GLAD's Jennifer Levi said in a statement, according to The Washington Times. Waddell explained, however, that many people in the medical community are opposed to performing gender transition procedures because of the "severe negative, psychological, and physical impacts" suffered by patients after these operations. "These negative impacts have only become more apparent in the last four years since the Obama rule was adopted," she said. The Obama rule, she added, "failed to recognize the many unintended consequences to patients particularly those identifying as transgender." Men and women often get "different doses of medications and even different ones altogether," she explained. "Men and women sometimes exhibit different symptoms for the same disease. Treating a person differently based on their self-professed gender and not their biological make-up can be not only harmful, but deadly." Dannenfelser lauded Trump and HHS Secretary Alex Azar "for standing firmly on the side of the majority of Americans who reject taxpayer funding of abortion." The 2016 regulation was not enforceable as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas had vacated the rule last fall for violating the Administrative Procedure Act and the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The new federal policy now complies with court rulings. Co-author Anne-Laure Decombeix excavating the Barraba fossil site during an expedition in 2013. Credit: Antoine Champreux Antoine Champreux, a Ph.D. student in the Global Ecology Lab at Flinders University, has cataloged the discovery of the new fern-like plant species as part of an international effort to examine the Australian fossil in greater detail. The fossil was found in the 1960s by amateur geologist Mr John Irving, on the bank of the Manilla River in Barraba, New South Wales. The fossil was exposed after major flooding events in 1964, and Mr Irving gave the fossil to the geological survey of New South Wales, where it remained for more than 50 years without being studied. It was dated from the end of the Late Devonian period, approximately 372-to-359 million years agoa time when Australia was part of the Southern hemisphere super-continent Gondwana. Plants and animals had just started to colonize continents, and the first trees appeared. Yet while diverse fish species were in the oceans, continents had no flowering plants, no mammals, no dinosaurs, and the first plants had just acquired proper leaves and the earliest types of seeds. Well-preserved fossils from this era are rareelevating the significance of the Barraba plant fossil. The fossil is currently in France, where Brigitte Meyer-Berthaud, an international expert studying the first plants on Earth, leads a team at the French laboratory of Botany and Modelling of Plant Architecture and Vegetation (AMAP) in Montpellier. This French laboratory is particularly interested in further examination of Australian fossils from the Devonian-Carboniferous geological period, to build a more detailed understanding of plant evolution during this era. Mr Champreux studied the fern-like fossil during his master's degree internship at AMAP and completed writing his research paper during his current Ph.D. studies at Flinders University. "It's nothing much to look atjust a fossilized stickbut it's far more interesting once we cut it and had a look inside," says Mr Champreux. "The anatomy is preserved, meaning that we can still observe the walls of million-year-old cells. We compared the plant with other plants from the same period based on its anatomy only, which provide a lot of information." He found that this plant represents a new species, and even a new genus of plant, sharing some similarities with modern ferns and horsetails. "It is an extraordinary discovery, since such exquisitely-preserved fossils from this period are extremely rare," he says. "We named the genus Keraphyton (like the horn plant in Greek), and the species Keraphyton mawsoniae, in honor of our partner Professor Ruth Mawson, a distinguished Australian paleontologist who died in 2019." An article describing the new plantKeraphyton gen. nov., a new Late Devonian fern-like plant from Australia, by A Champreux, B Meyer-Berthaud and A-L Decombeixhas been published in the scientific journal PeerJ and It reinforces the partnership between the lab AMAP (Montpellier, France) and Flinders University. Explore further New ancient plant captures snapshot of evolution A deeper dive into novel coronavirus infection numbers in the United States shows why the Canada-U.S. border shouldnt open anytime soon. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A deeper dive into novel coronavirus infection numbers in the United States shows why the Canada-U.S. border shouldnt open anytime soon. The number of COVID-19 cases in many parts of the U.S. has soared over the past week, including Florida, Arizona and Texas. Case numbers were on the rise in 22 states as of Saturday, as many areas reopen large parts of their economies. Florida saw its biggest daily jump of new cases since the beginning of the pandemic. Case numbers alone aren't the only thing to consider. Test positivity rates the percentage of those tested who are infected are even more important. While those numbers have been on the decline in the U.S., the rates south of the border are more than double what they are in Canada. CP The Canada/U.S. border is closed to non-essential travel until June 21. (Elaine Thompson / The Associated Press files) Public health officials look at the seven-day rolling average of test positivity rates as an important metric when analyzing the spread of the disease. In the U.S., as of Monday, the seven-day average was 4.5 per cent; its two per cent in Canada. The numbers differ substantially between regions, just as they do in Canada. Rates are far higher in Quebec and Ontario than they are in Manitoba, where test positivity rates have been well below one per cent for weeks. Likewise, the test positivity rates for the past seven days in Arizona (15.6 per cent) or Alabama (13.5 per cent) are well above Maine (2.05 per cent) or Vermont (0.6 per cent). As of Monday, 35 states or regions (including Puerto Rico and District of Columbia) had test positivity rates below five per cent, while 17 had rates above that number. The challenge for Canada: once the border is open to non-essential travel with the U.S., it cant pick and choose which states it will accept travellers from. If it could limit travel between Canada and states such as Montana (0.49 per cent) and West Virginia (0.75 per cent), there would be far less risk. But thats impossible. CP Ottawa needs to decide is where the epidemiology should be in the U.S. before it agrees to open the border to non-essential travel. (Ryan Remiorz / The Canadian Press files) Once the border reopens, people will travel from all areas of the U.S., including Texas, Arizona and Florida. Its all or nothing. Those travelling by car may also pass through multiple states, further raising the risk of infection. Canada can currently limit travel between provinces and impose 14-day self-isolation rules, where needed. So far, those measures have worked well for provinces such as Manitoba and New Brunswick, which have far fewer cases than most other jurisdictions. Manitoba is considering lifting self-isolation requirements with western provinces and northern parts of Ontario in Phase 3 of its reopening plans but only because infection rates in those jurisdictions are relatively low. Canada doesnt have that luxury when it comes to the United States. Trying to enforce a 14-day self-isolation policy for millions of people travelling between Canada and the U.S. under an open-border scenario would be far more problematic. CP The border is still open to commercial traffic. (Rob Gurdebeke / The Canadian Press files) Its doubtful public health officials would be willing to roll the dice on that, which is why the federal government is expected to announce soon an extension of the border closure. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. What Ottawa does need to decide, though, is where the epidemiology should be in the U.S. before it agrees to open the border to non-essential travel. Should Canada stay closed until all states have test positivity rates below a certain level (such as five per cent)? Should it remain closed until all states have flattened their curve for a prescribed period? Test positivity rates and overall case numbers may not be the only data the federal government considers, but there should be a specific plan in place (and the criteria used to be made public). These decisions should not be made on the fly. Like all aspects of this pandemic, trying to find the right balance between the economy and protecting public health is no easy task. But with the high rates of infection in many parts of the U.S. (and the growth of cases in some regions), keeping the border closed until further notice is the obvious choice. tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca Fleet Readiness Center East Declares Capabilities on First F-35 Components Navy News Service Story Number: NNS200615-01 Release Date: 6/15/2020 9:05:00 AM By Heather Wilburn, Fleet Readiness Center East Public Affairs MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (NNS) -- A new public-private partnership with Lockheed Martin gives Fleet Readiness Center East another means of supporting naval aviation. The depot recently declared capability on 14 F-35 components, meaning FRCE is now a verified source of repair and testing for these items. "This component workload is the next step in F-35 maintenance at Fleet Readiness Center East, and we're excited to have begun this work," said FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. Mark E. Nieto. "We're looking forward to providing increased support to our Navy and Marine Corps aviators, and we're hopeful these new capabilities will also bring a positive economic impact for the local community." As the lead site for depot-level maintenance on the F-35B Lightning II, Fleet Readiness Center East is no stranger to the fifth-generation fighter. FRCE has conducted modifications and repair on the Marine Corps' short takeoff-vertical landing variant of the aircraft since 2013, and has also worked with the F-35A (conventional takeoff and landing) and F-35C (carrier) variants. However, the new capabilities declarations are a first for F-35 at the depot, said Steve Gurley, F-35 capability establishment lead at FRCE. "This is a new workload coming in for Fleet Readiness Center East," said Gurley, who ensures all the logistical elements are in place before the depot declares capability on F-35 components. "We inducted our first F-35 valve in February, into our valves and regulators shop. That valve is the first of the 14 components that we've declared capability on." The F-35 components workload will expand as new capabilities are established. "We'll be working with anything from valves to ejection seats to a turbomachine, which provides power to start the engine. There will be a good variety of components, and there is a pretty quick ramp up," Gurley said. "We have the 14 we've declared capability on, and we have 42 F-35 components that we're in the process of declaring on, and there are more to come. Starting this year, in fiscal year 20, there are additional activations that will eventually put us at 105-plus components for the F-35." The new F-35 component work provides FRCE with a scheduled workload through 2024 and beyond, Gurley said. "The F-35 is the future of naval aviation, and this is a way to keep FRC East viable as a provider for that," he explained, adding the additional workload could also lead to hiring to support the program. "It's a huge effort, and it's going to reach out to a lot of different areas." Ensuring FRCE is ready to declare these capabilities requires a great deal of legwork during the establishment phase, before the first component ever arrives for repair. Each new declaration requires in-depth analysis of current workload, predicted future workload, facilities and required skill sets. On average, the multi-phase process follows a four-year timeline, and involves a group of experts that spans the depot's workforce. "Our team consists of logisticians, industrial engineering technicians, engineers, facilities, program managers and the business office. We oversee and manage the process," Gurley explained. "The work we've put in to the point to get to an induction is truly a team effort." That team effort is necessary for an undertaking of this size and complexity, he added. Logistical considerations include the availability of proper tooling, manpower resources, packaging and handling capabilities, technical data, artisan training, supply support and more. "Without facilities, you can't bring in new equipment," Gurley continued. "Without the proper tech data, which the industrial engineering technicians are screening along with engineering you can't work the component until you have all that in place. It's a huge effort on everybody's part, to try to get all those logistical elements in place before you declare." It's important for FRCE to have all the pieces in place initially to ensure the depot can provide the service promised to the fleet. There is often an adjustment period once the work begins, but the goal is always for FRCE to begin operations at full capacity and work to overcome any unexpected obstacles, Gurley said. "We don't want to induct a component for repair and then have it go right into a delay status for material, or something that we have control over," he explained. "Sometimes you can't control or predict it, so when you start a new program and start receiving inductions, the first few parts that come in are a good test to show us where we need to improve and smooth out the process." The majority of the increase in capabilities from 14 F-35 components to 57 is scheduled to occur through November 2021, which means those declarations are rapidly approaching. That's good news for FRCE and for the fleet's F-35 readiness, Gurley said. "There's a lot of work coming, and it's coming fast," Gurley explained. "That will have a good impact on the depot, and will carry out for the future. Some of these items are being categorized on the F-35 top degrader list, so once we declare, that will be a good thing to be able to support the fleet. We can take on some of that workload and hopefully help the supply system." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Daily Beast Reuters/Arnd WiegmannTheatrical rock superstar Meat Loaf, whose Bat Out of Hell is one of the bestselling albums of all time, has died at the age of 74. Reports say the singer and actor had recently fallen sick with COVID-19.In an emotional statement posted to Facebook early Friday, the performers family said he was with his wife when he died and had said his final goodbyes to his two daughters in the past 24 hours. The star sold 100 million albums in his five-decade career and starred in movie A wave of economic turmoil has washed through the stock market this year, sending investors fleeing for the perceived safety of dependable dividends. Finding the best dividends on offer is tough, but it looks like the payout at Bank Of Hawaii (NYQ:BOH) could be one of them. Mounting numbers of dividend cuts have put income investors under pressure like never before. Deceptively high yields have turned into traps and the promise of payout growth has vaporised. For those investors who rely on high yielding shares, it's been a miserable time... The good news is that some stocks look well placed to ride out this chaos. With a checklist of key dividend measures you can be on the path to finding them. Here's a summary of why Bank Of Hawaii scores well... GET MORE DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS INTO NYQ:BOH 1. High (but not excessive) dividend yield Yield is an important dividend metric because it tells you the percentage of how much a company pays out in dividends each year relative to its share price. That makes it easy to compare dividend payouts right across the market. High yields are obviously appealing but be careful of excessively high yields (usually above 10%) because they can be a sign of problems. When the market suspects a company may be unable to sustain its dividend, the share price will fall and actually push the yield higher - and this can be a trap. So it pays to be wary of excessive yields. Bank Of Hawaii has a dividend yield of 4.21%. 2. Dividend growth Another important marker for income investors is a track record of dividend growth - and evidence that the growth will continue. Consistent dividend growth can be a pointer to companies that are carefully managing their payout policies - and rewarding their shareholders over time. Rather than aggressively dishing out earnings, dividend growth companies tend to have more modest yields, but are better at sustaining their payouts. Bank Of Hawaii has increased its dividend payout 4 times over the past 10 years - and the dividend per share is forecast to grow by 3.94% in the coming year. Story continues 3. Dividend safety Attractively high yields obviously turn heads - but its important to know that a dividend is affordable. Dividend Cover (similar to the payout ratio) is a go-to measure of a company's net income over the dividend paid to shareholders. Its calculated as earnings per share divided by the dividend per share and helps to indicate how sustainable a dividend is. Dividend cover of less than 1x suggests that the company cant fund the payout from its current year earnings - and might be relying on other sources of funds to pay it. Bank Of Hawaii has dividend cover of 1.80. Next steps With these three important rules, you can track down shares that offer a reasonable yield, with a record of growth and safety. On this basis, Bank Of Hawaii could be worth a closer look. To find out more you might want to take a look at the Bank Of Hawaii StockReport from the award-winning research platform, Stockopedia. StockReports contain a goldmine of information in a single page and can help to inform your investment decisions. To find more stocks like Bank Of Hawaii, you'll need to equip yourself with professional-grade data and screening tools. This kind of information has traditionally been closely guarded by professional fund managers. But our team of financial analysts have carefully constructed this screen - Stockopedias Dividend Stock Ideas - which gives you everything you need. So why not come and take a look? Plus, if youd like to discover more about dividend investing, you can read our free ebook: How to Make Money in Dividend Stocks. (Newser) President Trump said Monday he is ordering a major reduction in US troop strength in Germany, a move widely criticized by members of his own party as a gift to Russia and a threat to US national security. "We're putting the number down to 25,000 soldiers, Trump said at the White House. The US currently has about 34,500 troops in Germany far fewer than during the Cold War, when Germany was the central focus of American and NATO efforts to deter invasion by the former Soviet Union. In recent decades, Germany has hosted key American military facilities and provided a transit point for troops deploying to and from the Middle East. Trump faulted Germany for failing to pay enough for its own defense, calling the long-time NATO ally delinquent," the AP reports. story continues below "We're protecting Germany and they're delinquent. That doesn't make sense," the president said, referring to Germany's failure thus far to attain a goal set by all NATO members in 2014 to spend at least 2% of gross national product on defense by 2024. Germany says it hopes to reach 2% by 2031. Trump suggested his troop withdrawal decision was intended to punish Germany, noting that the presence of American troops is a boost to local economies. "Those are well-paid soldiers, he said. They live in Germany. They spend vast amounts of money in Germany. Everywhere around those bases is very prosperous for Germany. So Germany takes, and then on top of it they treat us very badly on trade." Some 22 Republican members of the House Armed Service Committee have urged Trump to rethink the move. (Read more President Trump stories.) Hong Kong, Arms Control on Agenda of Planned US-China Meeting By Nike Ching June 15, 2020 Top diplomats from the United States and China are planning for a closed-door meeting Wednesday in Honolulu, as anti-U.S. propaganda from China's state-controlled media outlets intensifies, exacerbating rising tensions between the two countries. The planned one-day meeting between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jiechi, would take place ahead of the U.S.-Russia arms-control talks in Vienna, scheduled to start June 22. In Honolulu, the U.S. is expected to renew its call for China to join three-way arms control talks. Politico first reported Pompeo was quietly planning a trip to Hawaii to meet with Chinese officials. A diplomatic source told VOA that China had requested the meeting. The U.S. is described as "unenthusiastic" about the meeting, after Beijing officials used the George Floyd protests to accuse the Trump administration of a double standard when it criticized China's crackdown on Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters. Senator Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, said he does not trust Communist China's intentions, nor does he think they're acting in good faith. "Until Communist China agrees to be transparent, fulfill the obligations under the Phase 1 trade deal, and stop violating human rights, stealing from the U.S., militarizing the South China Sea, taking away the rights of those in Hong Kong and threatening Taiwan, they will never be a trustworthy partner to the United States. We have to remember that Communist China never lives up to their agreements," Scott told VOA Mandarin. The planned meeting comes as the U.S. is trying to deter China from implementing a new national security law in Hong Kong that would erode the territory's rights and freedoms under the Basic Law. While it's unlikely that Washington can compel Beijing to not enact the legislation, the specific implementation remains open-ended, and this is likely where the U.S. can still exert pressure. "You can imagine which [Hong Kong] will be the issue of dialogue between China and U.S.," said EU High Representative Josep Borrell after a virtual meeting with Pompeo on Monday morning. Borrell was asked by a reporter following his video conference with Pompeo where the EU stands regarding the new Hong Kong national security law. "For us, it's important to stay together with the U.S. in order to share concerns and look for a common ground to defend our values and our interests," Borrell said. Substantial U.S.-China diplomatic and security talks have been in limbo for more than a year. The two countries last met for their annual U.S.-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue on November 9, 2018. Some analysts said the Honolulu meeting is unlikely to defuse the rising tensions that have been building over many issues including COVID-19, trade, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South China Sea, pushing the bilateral relationship to its worst in decades. "China prefers to dial down the heated rhetoric," Brett Bruen, former White House Global Engagement Center director under the Obama administration, told VOA. "That allows them to continue the crackdown on Hong Kong, and subtle, but significant disinformation efforts on their responsibility for COVID-19." "They also know [U.S. President Donald] Trump is facing a tough reelection and needs 'wins,' so they will try to dangle out some new billion-dollar purchases of American products in exchange for the White House easing up on their critique," Bruen added. Others said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is "out of options." "They are probably concerned about their economy," retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Robert Spalding, who served on President Trump's National Security Council, told VOA. "Their banking system is a mess. Manufacturers are fleeing," Nuclear arms talks Next week, top officials from the U.S. and Russia plan to meet in Vienna to discuss nuclear arms reduction negotiations. "China also invited. Will China show and negotiate in good faith?" asked U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea in a tweet. Billingslea said he and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov have agreed to meet for nuclear arms negotiations. The Trump administration has voiced a general interest in preserving the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), which obliges the United States and Russia to halve their inventories of strategic nuclear-missile launchers. The treaty expires in February 2021. U.S. officials are hoping to negotiate a three-way deal that brings Beijing into a new arms-control framework. China, whose nuclear arsenal remains significantly smaller than those of Moscow and Washington, has declined to join the trilateral talks. A source from a hotel in Honolulu's Waikiki Beach said the Chinese delegation is currently expected to check out on June 18 (Thursday.) How the Chinese officials are complying with a local quarantine requirement during the coronavirus outbreak remains unclear. A statewide order by Hawaii Governor David Ige requires a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all visitors arriving after March 26, 2020. The order says the designated quarantine location is the hotel room or rented lodging of visitors. The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. did not respond to a request for comment on the planned meeting or how Chinese officials are complying with the mandatory quarantine. Pompeo and Yang last met in New York in a closed meeting in August 2019. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Damage to underground water resources from the controversial Shenhua Watermark coal mine may be far worse than forecasts endorsed by the NSW government, according to Emeritus Professor Ian Acworth who has uncovered new evidence hiding in plain sight. The Chinese-owned open cut mega mine is slated to dig a vast pit into the side of a hill, called Mount Watermark, overlooking Australia's most fertile black soil farming country, the Liverpool Plains near Gunnedah. A sign erected by a landholder on the Liverpool Plains, where farmers are calling for NSW government to cancel Shenhua's proposed coal mine. Credit:Paul Mathews Shenhua claims the region's underground water resources, held in shallow aquifers and tapped by farm bores, are not connected to the mine site. But Professor Ian Acworth has found the ancient Mooki riverbed, buried deep underground, directly links the proposed mine pit to aquifers underneath the fertile black soil plains. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2020) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE:TRIP) ("Red Light Holland" or the "Company") , an Ontario-based corporation positioning itself to engage in the production, growth and sale of a premium brand of magic truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, is pleased to announce that it has closed the second tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its previously announced brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of units (the "Units") for gross proceeds of $830,529. Including proceeds from the first tranche, previously disclosed on June 9, 2020, the Corporation has raised aggregate gross proceeds of $3,830,529 under the Private Placement to date. Eight Capital acted as sole agent (the "Agent") in connection with the Second Tranche. "We continue to lock in more financing which strengthens Red Light Holland's position of being one of the global leaders in this relatively new sector. We are elated to have new shareholders who share in our vision," said Todd Shapiro, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Director. Pursuant to the Second Tranche, the Company issued a total of 5,033,515 Units at a price of $0.165 per Unit (the "Issue Price"). Each Unit consisted of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") of the Company. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.26 at any time until June 16, 2024, subject to an accelerated expiry option. If, following the date that is four months and one day following the date hereof, the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") for any 10 consecutive trading days equals or exceeds $0.50, the Company may, upon providing written notice to the holders of Warrants, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to the date that is 30 days following the date of such written notice. Story continues The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Second Tranche for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Second Tranche was completed on a best efforts agency basis through the Agent. In connection with the Second Tranche, the Company paid the Agent a cash fee of $58,137 and issued 352,346 compensation options (the "Compensation Options"), with each Compensation Option entitling the holder to purchase one Unit of the Company at the Issue Price for a period of 48 months following the date hereof. All securities issued in the Second Tranche closing are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable securities laws expiring October 17, 2020. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws. About Red Light Holland Corp. The Company is an Ontario-based corporation positioning itself to engage in the production, growth and sale (through existing Smart Shops operators and an advanced e-commerce platform) of a premium brand of magic truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, in accordance with the highest standards, in compliance with all applicable laws. For additional information on the Company: Todd Shapiro Chief Executive Officer & Director Tel: 647-204-7129 Email: todd@redlighttruffles.com Website: https://redlighttruffles.com/ Forward-Looking Statements Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Red Light Holland. 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. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, the anticipated use of proceeds. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57966 We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held two-back-to-back meetings with top military brass on Tuesday deliberating on the situation in eastern Ladakh after an Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley. IMAGE: Army Chief General MM Naravane leaves from the residence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after meeting, in New Delhi . Photograph: ANI Photo Singh also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the killing of the three Indian Army personnel during Monday night's clash as well as on the overall situation in the region, government sources said. The colonel and the two soldiers were killed in the violent face-off with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley where the two sides have been on a bitter standoff for over five weeks. The Indian Army said there have been casualties on the Chinese side as well. The killing of the Indian Army personnel is the first such incident involving fatalities after a gap of 45 years. Four Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush at Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh along the de-facto border between the two countries in 1975. The first meeting Singh held was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs, and it carried out a comprehensive review of the ground situation in eastern Ladakh as well as deliberated on India's preparedness to deal with any eventualities, the sources said. It is learnt that the government decided to further ramp up India's military strength in areas like Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. After the nearly one-hour meeting, Singh gave a briefing to Prime Minister Modi on the overall situation, they said. In the late afternoon, the defence minister held another meeting with Jaishankar, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane and Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat. The sources said Gen Naravane presented a detailed report to the defence minister covering various finer details of Monday night's clash in Galwan which continued for several hours. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in the standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row. In their first serious efforts to end the row, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held a nearly seven-hour meeting on June 6. The meeting was followed by two rounds of Major General-level talks. The Indian side has been pitching for restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from the areas which India considers on its side of the LAC. LONDON In an unexpected sign of hope amid the expanding pandemic, scientists at the University of Oxford said on Tuesday that an inexpensive and commonly available drug reduced deaths in patients with severe Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. If the finding is borne out, the drug, a steroid called dexamethasone, would be the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients. Had doctors been using the drug to treat the sickest Covid-19 patients in Britain from the beginning of the pandemic, up to 5,000 deaths could have been prevented, the researchers estimated. In severe cases, the virus directly attacks cells lining the patients airways and lungs. But the infection also can prompt an overwhelming immune reaction that is just as harmful. Three-quarters of hospitalized Covid-19 patients receive some form of oxygen. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. The head of the U.S. agency that warns of dangerous weather violated its policy on scientific integrity with a statement last year backing a tweeted forecast by President Trump about the path of a hurricane, according to a report released Monday. Trump wrote on Twitter on Sept. 1 that Alabama would be among states that would 'most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated' by Hurricane Dorian, then one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record. Within minutes, the National Weather Service office in Birmingham, Alabama, responded by saying that Alabama would not see any impacts from Dorian. A new report said the acting head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration violated the agency's policy on scientific integrity when it backed a tweet by President Trump about the path of a hurricane The broader controversy over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration backing President Trump's insistence that Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama became known as 'Sharpiegate,' because of the type of pen used to draw the storm's path over the state A report conducated on NOAA's behalf found that NOAA's acting administrator Neil Jacobs (pictured, left) violated the agency's scientific integrity policy by slapping down a statement made by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham that contradicted Trump After days of controversy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, part of the Commerce Department headed by Wilbur Ross, released a statement on Sept. 6 saying the Birmingham tweet was 'inconsistent with probabilities from the best forecast products available at the time.' A report conducted on NOAA's behalf by a panel set up by the non-partisan National Academy of Public Administration, found that NOAA's acting administrator, Neil Jacobs, and its former deputy chief of staff and communications director, Julie Kay Roberts, violated the agency's scientific integrity policy with the statement. In a memo posted along with the report on the NOAA's website, Stephen Volz, the NOAA official responsible for scientific integrity, said the NAPA panel found the pair did so 'intentionally, knowingly, or in reckless disregard' of the code of conduct. In his memo, Volz said Jacobs and Roberts did not believe it was a good idea to release a statement, but 'felt significant external pressure to do so.' The controversy became known as 'Sharpiegate,' after Trump displayed a modified NOAA map to depict the storm threatening Alabama. The New York Times reported last year that Ross threatened to fire top employees after the Birmingham office contradicted Trump and that then acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney had directed Ross to order the NOAA to disavow the NWS tweet. The Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the panel's report. In a statement on the NOAA website responding to the NAPA report, Jacobs said its analysis was based on the premise that either the President's tweet, or that from the Birmingham office was right, and the NOAA was choosing between the two, which was not the case. 'NAPA never questions or refutes the scientific veracity of the actual statement,' he said. In a letter posted on the NOAA site, Roberts said the panel had failed to 'provide the complete picture of what occurred and the contextual factors that played a role in the statement issued on September 6.' Israel approves funding to build 'Trump Heights' settlement in disputed territory Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Israels cabinet has approved funding to develop a settlement in the Golan Heights named after U.S. President Donald Trump as a show of gratitude for Trumps recognition of Israels sovereignty over the territory last year. Israeli media reports that on Sunday, Israels cabinet earmarked 8 million shekels (about $2.3 million) to develop Trump Heights near the village of Qela in Golan Heights, a disputed territory that Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed the plan last year to name a new settlement after Trump following his decision last March to make the U.S. the first foreign country to recognize Israels sovereignty of the area. Last June, cabinet members officially voted to rebrand a Qela neighborhood as Ramat Trump, which in English translates to Trump Heights. In the cabinet meeting Sunday, Netanyahu was quoted as saying that Israel would "begin practical steps in establishing the community of Ramat Trump on the Golan Heights. The government today approved the decision on the establishment of the settlement in Ramat Trump in the Golan Heights and the settlement ministry begins work to train the field to populate by 300 families, Minister of Settlement Affairs Tzipi Hotovely said in a statement. The decision on the establishment of the settlement is big news. The Ministry of Settlement leads the establishment of the first settlement nucleus in the settlement and will continue to act to strengthen settlement in all parts of the country Israel. According to The Jerusalem Post, some of the funding is earmarked for planning by the Housing and Construction Ministry while the rest is earmarked for the construction of temporary structures by the World Zionist Organization. In response to the settlements dedication last June, Trump sent a tweet thanking Netanyahu and Israel for this great honor. The funding approval comes as there are over 26,000 Jewish settlers living in the Golan Heights as Israel has built dozens of settlements in the region through the years, according to The Associated Press. There are believed to be at around the same number of Arabs living in the region. Most Arabs in the region follow the Druze sect of Shia Islam and have rejected Israels offer of citizenship, according to Reuters. Trump said last March that recognizing Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights was meant to ensure security for Israel. However, critics have argued that Israels annexation violates international law. "Today, aggressive action by Iran and terrorist groups in southern Syria, including Hezbollah, continue to make the Golan Heights a potential launching ground for attacks against Israel very violent attacks," Trump said at the time. "This should have been done numerous presidents ago." Syrias foreign ministry called Trumps recognition of Israels sovereignty in the Golan Heights a "blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity. Prior to Trumps recognition of Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights, his administration moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital. The move drew support from the presidents evangelical conservative base but also criticism from government heads in the Middle East and others who fear it could hinder any chances at creating peace in the Middle East as both Jerusalem and Palestinian Authority claim Jerusalem to their capital. The provincial government is launching a $2.5-million home nutrition and learning pilot program to help feed families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The provincial government is launching a $2.5-million home nutrition and learning pilot program to help feed families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I am confident this pilot project will go a long way to help thousands of Manitoba families and children experiencing food disruption during this difficult time," said Families Minister Heather Stefanson. The funding is coming from the Manitoba Protection Plan, a government initiative to support Manitobans affected by COVID-19. Stefanson said the pilot program will deliver nutritious food and family-friendly recipes to about 6,000 children and 2,500 families within the pilot sites. The province has partnered with community organizations already providing food to families in their communities, and the program will build off of those existing relationships. "Communities often know better than governments... how to support families in need," said Stefanson. "That is why we are relying on the leadership of community-led organizations." MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Diane Redsky, executive director of the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre: The home nutrition and learning pilot program will help over 1,000 families every week in our community so they dont have to worry about where their next meal will come from." The program will roll out this week with the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre and Andrews Street Family Centre serving Winnipeg families. Three other organizations that are part of the pilot project will be providing food for families in Brandon (Samaritan House), and Cross Lake (Food Matters Manitoba), as well as Thicket Portage, Pikwitonei, Ilford/War Lake and Wabowden (Bayline Regional Round Table). The program will run until the end of September. "Our community relies on us for their daily survival to make ends meet, said Diane Redsky, executive director of Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre. "The home nutrition and learning pilot program will help over 1,000 families every week in our community so they dont have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Were very grateful to the province of Manitoba for this vital investment." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Families involved will receive packages of healthy food, recipes and learning activities developed by the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba. The Manitoba Teachers Society has been lobbying for a universal meal program for all school-aged children and recommended it in their 2019 K-12 review. "The Society recognizes the important link between nutrition and learning and has strongly advocated for a universal meal program for K-12 students," said society president James Bedford. "While this is by no means a universal program, it is certainly a step in the right direction and will have a big impact in the lives of some of Manitobas most vulnerable children." Bedford said teachers have been spending money out of pocket on food for students for years. He added with the income disruption caused by COVID-19, he expects to see an increase in hunger in the classroom this year. "I hope that come September, we see an expansion of this program because the benefits of feeding kids far outweigh the short-term costs," said Bedford. kellen.taniguchi@freepress.mb.ca At least 20 soldiers of Indian Army were killed in faceoff with troops of China's People's Liberation Army in Galwan valley on Monday night, sources say. The number of casulaties on Indian side is expected to rise, they further said. Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on developments regarding the Galwan face-off. Before that Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army chief General Manoj Naravane met Singh at his residence. Later, the Ministry of External Affairs released a statement in this matter, blaming Chinese forces for unilaterally trying to change the status quo which led to altercation at Indo-China border in Ladakh. The Ministry assured that the goverment is committed to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. Colonel Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of 16th Bihar Regiment, and two jawans died on Monday night after clashes took place between India and China at the Galwan Valley region in Ladakh. The Indian Army confirmed the developments and issued a statement soon in the matter. "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation," stated the official statement by the Indian Army. China has also reported casualties after the clash. This is the first instance of casualty between the two sides since 1975. Also read: Indian soldiers killed on China border first time since 1975 Follow the live updates on India-China standoff here on BusinessToday.In: 10.30 pm: Indian Army confirms that 20 soldiers have died in the wake of skirmish with Chinese forces in Galwan valley. 9.40 pm: At least 20 Indian Army soldiers have been killed in confrontation with Chinese troops in Galwan valley, sources say. This number is likely to increase. 8.30 pm: Home Minister Amit Shah reaches PM Narendra Modi's residence. 8.15 pm: MEA releases statement on China attack on India in Ladakh The Ministry of External Affairs has issued its statement on the violent clash at Galwan valley in Ladakh on late Monday night that resulted in deaths of one Indian Army official and two jawans. The Ministry assured that the government is committed to sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. The full statement is as follows: "India and China have been discussing through military and diplomatic channels the de-escalation of the situation in the border area in Eastern Ladakh. Senior Commanders had a productive meeting on 6th June 2020 and agreed on a process for such de-escalation. Subsequently, ground commanders had a series of meetings to implement the consensus reached at a higher level. While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. On the late-evening and night of 15th June, 2020 a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side. Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. We expect the same of the Chinese side. We remain firmly convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 7.38 pm: Indo-Tibetan Border Police Director-General SS Deswal leaves from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after a meeting. ITBP, along with Indian Army, guards the Indo-China border. Delhi: SS Deswal, Director-General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police leaves from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after attending a meeting. ITBP, along with Indian Army guards the Indo-China border. pic.twitter.com/NlMQeDDCq2 ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 7.12 pm: Rahul Gandhi offers condolences to families of martyred soldiers Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has extended his condolences to the families of Indian Army official and soldiers martyred in Galwan valley. "Words cannot describe the pain I feel for the officers and men who sacrificed their lives for our country. My condolences to all their loved ones. We stand with you in this difficult time," tweeted Rahul Gandhi. Words cannot describe the pain I feel for the officers and men who sacrificed their lives for our country. My condolences to all their loved ones. We stand with you in this difficult time. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 16, 2020 7.07 pm: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-China standoff in Galwan valley. 6.51 pm: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane leave from the residence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This is the second successive review meeting in a day after death of one Indian Army official and two jawans in Galwan valley. Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane leave from the residence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This is the second successive review meeting in a day. pic.twitter.com/SwO8QLTy0H ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 6.36 pm: Colonel Zhang Shuili, spokesperson of PLA's Western Command, blames Indian army of crossing LAC and provoking attacks, which led to fierce physical confrontation and resulted in casualties. He, however, did not disclose the details of casualties on Chinese side. He claimed that Galwan valley always belonged to China. 6.28 pm: External Affairs Minister present at Rajnath Singh's residence External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is present at the meeting being held at the residence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. CDS General Bipin Rawat and Army chief General Manoj Navarane are also present. 6.26 pm: Special train ferrying labourers to road project close to China border cancelled A special train ferrying labourers from Jharkhand to BRO road construction project at Indo-China border has been cancelled after rising tensions in the region. The train was scheduled to leave on June 20. The first train was flagged off by CM Hemant Soren himself last Saturday. Dumka DC has cited security reasons for the cancellation of trains. 6.20 pm: Suspend business ties with China, says SJM After deaths of Indian soldiers in a confrontation with Chinese forces, RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has reiterated that India should not do any business with China. We have written to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to reconsider Delhi-Meerut RRTS project award to a Chinese firm, SJM said. This is against Atma Nirbhar Bharat call by the Prime Minister, it further added. We also appeal to Maharashtra government to reconsider accord with Chinese auto company, SJM said. 6.16 pm: De-escalate the situation on LAC, says CPI(M) The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) has expressed "its deep condolences at the death of an Indian officer and two soldiers" in Galwan valley . "The Government of India should come out with an authoritative statement as to what actually happened. It is imperative that both the Governments immediately initiate high level talks to defuse the situation and advance the process of disengagement on the basis of the agreed understanding on maintaining peace and tranquility on the border," CPI(M) said 5.46 pm: Indian Army Chief General Manoj Naravane has reached the residence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. 5.22 pm: Minitry of External Affairs is expected to release a statement on Chinese attack on India shortly. 5.16 pm: Congress condemns China's attack on India, says no compromise on national security and integrity "Congress remains firm that the entire country stands as one to protect India's national security and our territorial integrity at all costs. Let Modi government remember that in our Parliamentary democracy, 'secrecy or silence' are unacceptable on part of our government," said Congress spokersperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a statement. Congress remains firm that the entire country stands as one to protect Indias National Security & our Territorial Integrity at all costs. Let Modi Govt remember that in our Parliamentary democracy, secrecy or silence are unacceptable on part of our Govt: Shri @rssurjewala pic.twitter.com/hq2G3LnTFh Congress (@INCIndia) June 16, 2020 4.55 pm: Sensex dips 275 points after China attack on India today, recovers Sensex and Nifty lost all their gains to end in red during afternoon session on Tuesday after three Indian army personnel lost their lives in Galwan valley in Ladakh in an attack by Chinese forces. Trading in green since morning on positive global cues, Sensex lost 275 points to 32,953 and Nifty fell 85 points to 9,728 as reports of tension between India and China emerged. Later, Sensex and Nifty recovered all losses to trade flat amid positive global cues. 4.51 pm: China did not retreat from Galwan despite talks Despite corp commander talks between India and China, the latter did not withdraw forces from Galwan, said sources in the know. Both sides had agreed to step back from the valley after dialogue on June 6. 4.50 pm: Make sure sacrifice of Indian soldiers is not in vain, says Asaduddin Owaisi AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi took to Twitter to express his condolences to families of Indian soldiers martyred in Galwan. He said that the government must ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain. "India stands with the 3 brave martyrs who were killed by China today in #Galwan. My thoughts are with families of Colonel & 2 brave soldiers. The commanding officer was leading from the front. The government must avenge these killings & ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain," Owaisi tweeted. 4.44 pm: China blames India of 'provocative attacks' As tensions escalate on Galwan Valley, China has blamed India of crossing the border illegally. "On June 6, the border troops of two countries held a commander-level military meeting and reached an important consensus on easing the situation in the border areas. But what is shocking is that on June 15, the Indian troops seriously violated the consensus of the two sides, crossed the border illegally twice, and carried out provocative attacks on Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical conflicts between the two border forces," said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "China has lodged strong protests and solemn complaints with the Indian side, and once again solemnly demanded that the Indian side strictly restrain the frontline troops in accordance with the relevant spirit, do not cross border, do not take provocative acts, do not take any unilateral actions that will complicate the border situation. China and India agree to continue to resolve bilateral issues through dialogue and consultation and make efforts to ease the tension and maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas," he further said. 4:25 pm: HD Devegowda raises questions on the clash Former PM HD Devegowda raises questions on the de-escalation process. He asked why Indian soldiers lost lives in a "de-escalation" process. He added that that the PM Modi and Defence Minister must offer a clearer picture of the border issue with China. 4:15 pm: What led to India-China standoff? India-China tensions escalated in the first week of May after a violent clash took place on Pangong Tso lake between troops of both the countries. The trigger as China's opposition to India's laying of key road in the Finger area around Pangong Tso as well as the construction of another route connecting Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road. 4:05 pm: India-China clash rewind: First escalation since 1962 There has been tension in the Galwan area for the first time since 1962 and that too at a time when the LAC is clearly defined. In 1962, China launched an attack on India across its Eastern and Northern borders. One of the main reasons that triggered the war between the two sides was the construction of a road between Xinjiang and Tibet. 3.59 pm: Former Chief of Army Staff VK Singh says saddened by the martyrdom "Saddened by the news of the martyrdom of our boys in the Galwan Valley. I salute their indomitable courage, selflessness and sacrifice," said VK Singh. 3:50 pm: Chinese Foreign Minister's statement "Recently, in order to ease the situation in the border areas between China and India, China and India have maintained close communication through diplomatic and military channels. On June 6, the border troops of two countries held a commander-level military meeting and reached an important consensus on easing the situation in the border areas. But what is shocking is that on June 15, the Indian troops seriously violated the consensus of the two sides, crossed the border illegally twice, and carried out provocative attacks on Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical conflicts between the two border forces," said China FM. 3:40 pm: Shashi Tharoor says bow head in tribute "The tragic news from Ladakh is shocking & calls for resolute handling by our government," says Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. The tragic news from Ladakh is shocking & calls for resolute handling by our Govt. Meanwhile let us bow our heads in tribute to the three martyrs who gave their lives to protect India, & honour those who serve on our borders every day, risking their lives for our nation. #JaiHind Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 16, 2020 3:30 pm: Capt Amarinder Singh condemns Ladakh incident Captain Amarinder Singh said that whatever is happening in Ladakh is a continuation of Chinese aggression. The happening in the #Galwanvalley is a continuation of violations by China. It is time now that the country stands up to these incursions. Our soldiers are not fair game that every few days officers and men are being killed and injured defending our borders. (1/2) Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) June 16, 2020 3:20 pm: Omar Abdullah questions de-escalation reports Omar Abdullah said that if killing two jawans and an officer is "de-escalation" then matters must have really escalated. Three Indians killed in the line of duty, he said. Since heard no shooting took place. The deaths were the result of violent scuffles & stone pelting. Regardless of the how & the way three Indian army personnel were killed by the Chinese in the line of duty. Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 16, 2020 3:15 pm: Mehbooba Mufti says there must be retaliation Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter to say that the nation wants to know why there is no talk of retaliation. Two jawans and an officer have been martyred during the India-China clash. Seems like China has hijacked the aggressive ghar main ghuske marengay militaristic approach. Nation deserves to know why there is no talk of retaliation to avenge the death of three Indian army personnel! Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 16, 2020 3:10 pm: Congress spokesperson says strong message must be sent Congress spokesperson said that a strong message must be sent to China in the wake of the border clashes. Salute the courage & sacrifice of brave officers/soldiers who laid their lives protecting territory of our Nation, condolences to their families -China must be sent a strong message registering Indias protest & anguish #IndiaChinaFaceOff Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) June 16, 2020 3:05 pm: Global Times chief says don't want clash but don't fear it Global Times Hu Xijin said that China does not want any clash with India but also does not fear it. "I want to tell the Indian side, don't be arrogant and misread China's restraint as being weak," Xijin added. Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, dont be arrogant and misread Chinas restraint as being weak. China doesnt want to have a clash with India, but we dont fear it. Hu Xijin (@HuXijin_GT) June 16, 2020 3:00 pm: Rajnath Singh briefs PM Modi Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has briefed PM Modi on the India-China standoff. He also informed PM Modi of the measures that have been initiated after the clash. 2:57 pm: Brahmos had received clearance ahead of clash The air-launched Brahmos had received combat clearance before the India-China troops clashed on Tuesday. Brahmos Corp told India Today, "The 'fleet release clearance' certification has paved the way for the pilots of Indian Air Force (IAF) Squadrons to use the missile during combat missions." The Brahmos is a supersonic land attack cruise missile capable of ranges in excess of 300 km. 2:50 pm: Defence Minister to virtually meet PM Modi Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to hold a video conference with PM Modi ahead of his virtual meeting with the CMs of states and UTs. They are likely to discuss the border situation. 2:45 pm: Indian Army amends official statement to include casualties on both sides A little after the official statement was issued, Indian Army amended the statement to include "casualties on both sides". Earlier the statement had only talked about the casualties on the Indian side. 16 minutes after its first statement, Indian Army issues an amended version adding 3 words: on both sides. pic.twitter.com/PUGj4CPcsP Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) June 16, 2020 2:40 pm: Anand Mahindra says time to stand by martyred soldiers Anand Mahindra has said that eventually people will come to know the truth behind the clash but now is the time to stand in support of the martyred soldiers. We will eventually learn about the details of what happened in Ladakh. That is our right. But right now, we must grieve with & stand by the families of our martyred soldiers. And stand solidly in support of our armed forces. anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 16, 2020 2:30 pm: Indian Army chief's visit to Pathankot cancelled Army Chief General MM Naravane's scheduled visit to Pathankot military station has been cancelled in the wake of the India-China clashes. Several casualties have been reported from both the sides. 2:24 pm: Congress MP says need befitting retaliation Congress MP Adhir Chowdhury said that india needs to ensure "befitting retaliation". He said Indian Army officials fell victim to unscrupulous Chinese aggression. Our Army Jawans including Colonel have been fallen victims to unscrupulous Chinese aggression. @PMOIndia we need befitting retaliation, retaliation, retaliation! I pay my homage to the brave souls who have laid down their precious lives for the sake of Our Motherland Adhir Chowdhury (@adhirrcinc) June 16, 2020 2:20 pm: Chinese media on India-China clash The Chinese media quoted the Foreign Minister and said that both the sides have agreed to resolve the matter through dialogues. China and Indian side agreed to resolve the bilateral issues through dialogue to ease the border situation and maintain peace and tranquility in border areas: Chinese FM https://t.co/2cuo0TEpzd Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 16, 2020 2:10 pm: The clashes said to have been hand-to-hand combat According to reports the clashes were hand-to-hand combat. No bullets were fired. Five of Chinese sides are said to have died. No bullets were fired. It is hand-to-hand combat... https://t.co/QEZCM49BUH Wang Wenwen (@WenwenWang1127) June 16, 2020 2:05 pm: 5 PLA soldiers were killed According to reports five People's Liberation Army soldiers were killed while 11 were injured during the clash. Face-off is said to have been hand-to-hand combat. Reports say 5 PLA soldiers were killed and 11 were injured at LAC China-India border yesterday. Wang Wenwen (@WenwenWang1127) June 16, 2020 1:58 pm: Omar Abdullah calls China shameless Omar Abdullah called China shameless for blaming India for the attacks. "Ulta chor kotwal ko dantey," he said. Ulta chor kotwal ko dantey. #Shameless https://t.co/lDDf3bUE2N Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 16, 2020 1:54 pm: AAP says sacrifice must not go in vain AAP said that the sacrifice of the Indian soldiers must not go in vain. "We are grieved to hear about the attack on our soldiers at Ladakh border," it said. We are grieved to hear about the attack on our soldiers at Ladakh border. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of martyred soldiers. Their sacrifice for the nation must not go in vain. #Ladakh AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 16, 2020 1:53 pm: Chinese Foreign Minister's statement on India-China face-off China has lodged solemn representations with the Indian side and urged it to strictly restrain its frontline troops from crossing the border or taking any unilateral action that may complicate the border situation. China and Indian side agreed to resolve the bilateral issues through dialogue to ease the border situation and maintain peace and tranquility in border areas: Chinese FM 1:50 pm: Congress reacts to India-China clash Randeep Surjewala calls the clash shocking and unbelievable. Violent clashes between India and China led to the death of two jawans and an officer from Indian side. The Nebraska Democratic Party called on its U.S. Senate nominee to drop out of the race Tuesday after he made sexually repugnant comments about a campaign staffer in a group text with her and other staffers. The party said its state executive committee voted unanimously on Monday evening to withdraw all of its resources from Chris Janicek's campaign. Janicek, the owner of an Omaha cupcake bakery, is challenging Republican Sen. Ben Sasse, who is seeking a second term. Janicek accepted the Democratic nomination a little more than a month ago after winning a seven-candidate primary race, but the odds of winning in November were against him in Republican-dominated Nebraska even before his party withdrew its support. We've had enough: Nebraska Democrats want Chris Janicek to step aside from his long-shot bid at the Senate seat held by Ben Sasse after the candidate's sexual harassment of a staffer came to light. His campaign slogan is 'enough' Free cupcakes: Janicek has campaigned by taking free baking to an Omaha high school but is now refusing to quit over his sexual harassment shame 'Our Democratic Party has no tolerance for sexual harassment,' state Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb said in a statement. 'Our party will not extend resources or any type of support to any candidate that violates our code of conduct and doesn't treat men and women with the dignity and respect they deserve.' The text messages, which were obtained by The Associated Press, were from a group chat involving Janicek and five other people, including the female staffer. At one point, he wrote that he had argued with her and then asked whether the campaign should spend money on 'getting her laid.' 'It will probably take three guys,' he wrote, before describing in graphic detail an imagined group sex scene involving the female staffer. He then tried walk back those comments as 'a joke,' and texted an apology to the group. 'I'm going on no sleep and a bunch of exuberant excitement and I think I was out of line,' he wrote. The female staffer texted back that she was appalled by his comments and could no longer support his campaign. 'You are my boss and a candidate running for Senate, (an) office held by just 100 Americans representing approximately 330 million of her people,' she wrote. 'There is zero tolerance for what you said.' Party officials said they demanded that Janicek withdraw as the party's nominee, which he refused to do. Head-to-head: Chris Janicek is trying to take the safe Republican senate seat from Ben Sasse The campaign staffer, who has since quit, filed a formal complaint with the party alleging that Janicek violated its code of conduct that prohibits sexual harassment. In a brief phone interview, Janicek said he doesn't plan to drop out of the race. He alleged that the party was targeting him because he disagreed with its more liberal activists on issues such as abortion rights and gun control. 'They're using this as a crutch,' he said. Janicek didn't deny that he made offensive comments, but he said he apologized for them and assumed the matter would be kept private. Vince Powers, a Lincoln attorney and former state party chairman who is representing the female staffer, said Janicek also apologized to his client in person, but that she still wants him out of the race. 'People go to work for Democratic candidates in an underdog race because they're idealists,' Powers said. 'So when you get a text like this, it's just devastating.' Party officials can only replace Janicek on the November general election ballot if he files a request with the Nebraska secretary of state's office to have his name removed. If Janicek does withdraw, the party would have a few months to field a replacement. The last day for the secretary of state's office to certify candidates this year is Sept. 11, which is 50 days before the general election. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday he would talk to Congress about proper oversight of $660 billion in small business economic relief, after previously resisting calls to reveal who received the funds. Mnuchin tweeted he would discuss oversight of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with lawmakers in attempt to balance disclosure with appropriate protection of small business information. Earlier this month, Mnuchin told lawmakers that revealing which businesses received PPP loans and for how much could be confidential and proprietary, in part because the loan amounts are determined by how much a business pays employees. But the resistance was met with blowback from both Republicans and Democrats, who said it is difficult to appropriately guide government aid during the pandemic without knowing where the money is going. Furthermore, they added the public has a right to see where taxpayer dollars are spent. Given the many problems with the PPP program, it is imperative American taxpayers know if the money is going where Congress intended - to the truly small and unbanked small business. The administrations resistance to transparency is outrageous and only serves to raise further suspicions about how the funds are being distributed and who is actually benefiting, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, in a statement Friday. A new e-commerce partnership could bring 1,200 Shopify small business sellers to the Walmart Marketplace this year, the companies announced Monday. Walmarts top e-commerce priority for years was to build a marketplace customers would trust. The company has joined forces with Shopify, an all-in-one commerce platform used by more than 1 million businesses, to open the Walmart Marketplace to its sellers, said Jeff Clementz, vice president of Walmart Marketplace. This integration will allow approved Shopify sellers to seamlessly list their items on Walmart.com, which gives Walmart customers access to a broader assortment, he said. Many Shopify sellers already were established on Walmart.com, but Marketplace has not penetrated to the extent possible, making this deal a tremendous opportunity, Clementz added. We have been in talks over the years, but discussions quickly came together over the past six months, said Satish Kanwar, vice president of product at Shopify. Shopify wants to give its merchants the power to choose where they want to sell and to make it as seamless as possible for them, he told the E-Commerce Times. With that in mind, we are partnering with Walmart to help our merchants drive sales and grow their businesses. Anything that reduces the barrier to entrepreneurship is good for merchants, good for consumers, and good for Shopify, Kanwar added. Qualified Merchants Wanted E-commerce in the United States grew 74 percent last quarter, in part due to a shift in shopping needs caused by the pandemic. Growth in Walmarts Marketplace outpaced the overall business growth, noted Clementz. The launch of this integration with Shopify is under way, with a focus on U.S.-based small and medium businesses that complement Walmart.coms offerings. Walmart.com is inviting Shopify sellers to install the Walmart Marketplace app from Shopifys App Store to determine their eligibility. If approved, the sellers can add an unlimited number of products to the Walmart Marketplace. Approved vendors can make changes to product images and inventory within Shopify. Those changes will be reflected on Walmarts site immediately and automatically. For more information on qualifications, see Shopifys vendor site. Business Basics 101 The Walmart Marketplace, which launched in August 2009, experienced slow growth until 2014. That is when Walmart added a massive number of new third-party items from small vendors looking for an alternative to Amazon. The Walmart Marketplace mimicked Amazons tactic of offering shipping services for third-party vendors through Walmarts massive logistics network. Two years ago, it announced Walmart Marketplace items would be eligible to participate in its free, 2-day shipping program and in-store returns. Shopify, founded in 2006, has become a favorite choice for businesses seeking an e-commerce on-ramp that is fast and cost-friendly. Monthly fees start at US$29. That buys an online store with digital tools to manage payments, inventory and shipping. Both Amazon and eBay already have partnered with Shopify, While Amazon clearly dominates the e-commerce channel, the expansion of Walmarts presence with third-party sellers is a step in the right direction, said Frances Bigley, spokesperson for CommerceIQ. It does mean that one-party brands must be particularly diligent about managing this channel properly to avoid out-of-stock issues and price gouging for consumers, she told the E-Commerce Times. Hidden Benefits E-commerce platforms like BigCommerce and Shopify are employing affordable and easy-to-use integrations to make it as easy as possible for fast-growing merchants to sell across various channels, including Walmart Marketplace and social platforms like Facebook and Instagram, noted Sharon Gee, head of omnichannel partnerships at BigCommerce. This approach by Walmart will help retailers to expand their general catalog and expose their customers to new products from up-and-coming digitally native brands, and ultimately, help them be more competitive with Amazon, she told the E-Commerce Times. The e-commerce space seems to be consolidating pretty quickly, observed Daniel Elman, analyst at Nucleus Research. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Reach is incredibly valuable, he told the E-Commerce Times. Sellers will put their products on the platforms that give them the potential to reach the most customers and drive the highest sales. Rocking the Sales Boat The partnership between Walmart and Shopify should make smaller e-commerce players uneasy, as the copycat effect comes into play, Elman suggested. As more sellers go on a platform, others will see their success and attribute it to the platform, pushing them to move onto the platform as well. Smaller e-commerce players without a viable long-term strategy to grow seller numbers may find themselves easy targets for acquisition, he explained. That could mean trouble for smaller e-commerce companies, Elman warned. It could result in online marketplaces consolidating around key players. It seems like the space will likely consolidate around Amazon, Walmart and Alibaba in the long term, he said. The exception would be niche sellers like Reverb for musical equipment and other specialized platforms that can deal in specific industries or categories of products. These platforms can offer specialized insurance, shipping and customer networks, along with a more detailed product set, Elman continued. For example, a consumer who simply wants a guitar might go to Amazon or Walmart, but a shopper who wants a 1969 Fender Stratocaster in Sunburst finish likely would go to a more specialized retailer like Reverb. Smaller e-commerce players that are generalists now should look to curate a specific customer base or product set and cater exclusively to that niche, he suggested. Thats the only way to differentiate enough to compete with the scale, efficiency and resources of the large platforms like Walmart and Amazon. The Shopify partnership increases the Walmart Marketplaces appeal. As customers sympathetic to the quit Amazon movement leave Amazon Prime, Walmart may become a more viable alternative. This, in turn, could sway more customers to leave Amazon as their primary shopping platform in favor of Walmart, said Elman. Right now, much of Amazons dominance is the number of sellers and visitors it has on its platform, and the value offered by the Prime program. Potential Game-Changer The Walmart-Shopify partnership could be a big game-changer for small and medium-sized businesses, observed Bart Mroz, CEO of Sumo Heavy. The Walmart-Shopify partnership supports Shopifys strategy to give its sellers the tools they need to compete in todays competitive e-commerce marketplace, he told the E-Commerce Times. Last year, Shopify announced it had invested $1 billion in its fulfillment network, which would help its sellers ship items more efficiently and compete with the retail giants specifically Amazon, which popularized two-day shipping, Mroz noted. The partnership comes at an opportune right time, as many consumers want to support smaller e-commerce businesses in the wake of COVID-19, he added. The typical perks of buying from Amazon such as faster shipping and a wide product range were not as widely available, because of warehouse shortages and shipping restrictions in some areas. So consumers started looking elsewhere for the products they needed. The threat of Amazon and other large online retailers, like Wayfair, will still loom large, but with a new way channel to get in front of tens of millions of consumers, SMBs may actually have a chance to compete with some of the super sellers on Amazon, Mroz said. Measured Competitive Threats The new venture between Walmart and Shopify will help small and medium business owners reach millions of customers who shop on Walmart.com every day. It also broadens the assortment of items customers can shop on the Walmart site, said Robb Hecht, adjunct professor of marketing at Baruch College. This comes during a time period when online shopping is surging due to the coronavirus pandemic and related retail restrictions. The result will increase the value and traffic in the Walmart ecosystem. This venture likely is not a major threat to large online competitors like Amazon and Wayfair, which already have large audience reaches, he told the E-Commerce Times. However, it could pose a threat to smaller direct-to-consumer social commerce companies that are selling direct to their customers via Shopify services, Hecht pointed out. It could be an issue for those new to the Facebook Shop platform and others that hoped to grow their direct audience reach with customers. Now D2C Shopify sellers could become very interested in the audience reach and the buyers intent Walmart gives them and their goods, and bring less business to Facebook Shop, Hecht said. Vendor Input I think this is great for small businesses and Walmart. It will make their marketplace more competitive and open small businesses up to much more exposure than ever before, said Jeff Moriarty, marketing manager at Moriartys Gem Art which joined the Walmart Marketplace Monday. The integration will make it much simpler to sync with a Shopify store, he told the E-Commerce Times. The more competition, the better it will be for small businesses that find it difficult to compete with low-margin sellers on Amazon, Moriarty added. That makes him very optimistic about this new relationship. This partnership gives smaller e-commerce companies a leg up against Amazon by distributing directly to Walmart, said Michael Dash, CEO of ChannelReply, which sells to eBay, Amazon, Walmart and Shopify customers. They dont have to go through the traditional account setup and upload process, and they can reach a huge audience immediately, he told the E-Commerce Times. Vendors that are not selling on Walmart already can see upwards of a 20 percent increase in their bottom line, Dash added. I dont think it will necessarily take business away from Amazon. I think it gives the sellers access to a new buyer they wouldnt have access to, he said. Also, a number of brands refuse to sell on Amazon due to bad experiences, noted Dash. Those vendors may take a dip into Walmart waters. The agreement is expected to provide financing support to the energy sector according to the goals set out in the comprehensive Sustainable Energy Strategy 2035 adopted by the Egyptian government Egypts Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat signed on Tuesday an agreement with the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) for a grant worth 151 million allocated to the Energy Sector Budgetary Support Program. The agreement is part of the ministrys plan to form a multi-donor platform around a shared policy matrix to secure immediate funding from multilateral and bilateral development partners for budgetary support and assistance in mitigating the impact of the pandemic, the ministry said in a statement. The agreement was signed by Minister Al-Mashat, the Ambassador of France in Egypt Stephane Romatet, and AfD Country Director Fabio Grazi. The agreement is expected to provide financing support to the energy sector according to the goals set out in the comprehensive Sustainable Energy Strategy 2035 adopted by the Egyptian government, which emphasises the importance of renewable energy. The program targets two objectives, the first is to enhance financial sustainability, governance and operational efficiency of the electricity sector, while the second is to support clean energy and green growth, according to Al-Mashat. It also provides three-year technical assistance to the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and its affiliated utilities, supporting reforms for a sustainable energy sector through capacity building, and laying assessment methodologies of direct and indirect socio-economic impact and regulations set by the Electricity Regulation Authority, Al-Mashat added. The Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker said the agreement is important to help in taking major steps to reform the energy sector in Egypt. Signing this financing agreement for the electricity sector is good news for both France and Egypt, as it highlights our joint commitment to support our partnership in the energy sector. It also greatly serves efforts in the climate field, as the funding allows us to accompany Egypt on its journey to develop a variety of energy sources with low carbon emissions, Ambassador Romatet said. On the other hand, AFDs Grazi stated that the new DPF to the electricity sector represents a key step in AFDs commitment to support the transition towards a sustainable and efficient energy system in Egypt. The current cooperation portfolio amounts to 826.3 million, aside from AFDs management of EU grants to Egypt worth 153 million, according to the international cooperation ministry. Search Keywords: Short link: P lans to introduce ethnicity pay gap reporting are ramping up as the Black Lives Matter protests draw attention to the issue, the Evening Standard has learnt. The Governments efforts on the matter have been hampered by Brexit and Covid-19 proving a drain on resources. A consultation with industry on how to implement ethnicity pay reporting closed in January 2019 but Westminster is yet to publish its response, which has been delayed by the Covid crisis. However, sources said the Government has run voluntary testing with a range of businesses using real payroll data to better understand the hurdles to producing accurate data. The aim is to produce data sets similar to gender pay gap reporting which was introduced for companies with more than 250 employees in 2017 although the process is likely to be more complex. Industry sources said employees would have to self-declare their race while companies or Government would need to define what type of people they class as a minority. A spokeswoman for the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: Building a fairer economy means ensuring the UKs organisations reflect the nations diversity from factory floor to boardroom. We are working closely with the business community to consider the steps that can be taken to build more inclusive workplaces, including reporting on diversity. There is no timeline for when the Governments response is due, but the issue has shot up the media agenda since the death of George Floyd. A petition calling for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting is to be debated in parliament after receiving 100,000 signatures this week. The Bank of England found last year that the pay gap between ethnic minority and white workers was 10%. The Standard revealed in March that companies would not face a fine if they did not submit their gender pay gap data this year due to the virus crisis. Saudi Arabia is expected to scale back or call off this year's hajj pilgrimage for the first time in its modern history, observers say, a perilous decision as coronavirus cases spike. Muslim nations are pressing Riyadh to give its much-delayed decision on whether the annual ritual will go ahead as scheduled in late July. But as the kingdom negotiates a call fraught with political and economic risks in a tinderbox region, time is running out to organise logistics for one of the world's largest mass gatherings. A full-scale hajj, which last year drew about 2.5 million pilgrims, appears increasingly unlikely after authorities advised Muslims in late March to defer preparations due to the fast-spreading disease. "It's a toss-up between holding a nominal hajj and scrapping it entirely," a South Asian official in contact with Saudi hajj authorities told AFP. A Saudi official told AFP: "The decision will soon be made and announced." Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, withdrew from the pilgrimage this month after pressing Riyadh for clarity, with a minister calling it a "very bitter and difficult decision". Malaysia, Senegal and Singapore followed suit with similar announcements. Many other countries with Muslim populations -- from Egypt and Morocco to Turkey, Lebanon and Bulgaria -- have said they are still awaiting Riyadh's decision. In countries like France, faith leaders have urged Muslims to "postpone" their pilgrimage plans until next year due to the prevailing risks. The hajj, a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, represents a major potential source of contagion as it packs millions of pilgrims into congested religious sites. But any decision to limit or cancel the event risks annoying Muslim hardliners for whom religion trumps health concerns. It could also trigger renewed scrutiny of the Saudi custodianship of Islam's holiest sites -- the kingdom's most powerful source of political legitimacy. A series of deadly disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 worshippers, has prompted criticism of the kingdom's management of the hajj. "Saudi Arabia is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea," Umar Karim, a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, told AFP. "The delay in announcing its decision shows it understands the political consequences of cancelling the hajj or reducing its scale." - 'Buying time' - The kingdom is "buying time" as it treads cautiously, the South Asian official said. "At the last minute if Saudi says 'we are ready to do a full hajj', (logistically) many countries will not be in a position" to participate, he said. Amid an ongoing suspension of international flights, a reduced hajj with only local residents is a likely scenario, the official added. A decision to cancel the hajj would be a first since the kingdom was founded in 1932. Saudi Arabia managed to hold the pilgrimage during previous outbreaks of Ebola and MERS. But it is struggling to contain the virus amid a serious spike in daily cases and deaths since authorities began easing a nationwide lockdown in late May. In Saudi hospitals, sources say intensive care beds are fast filling up and a growing number of health workers are contracting the virus as the total number of cases has topped 130,000. Deaths surpassed 1,000 on Monday. To counter the spike, authorities this month tightened lockdown restrictions in the city of Jeddah, gateway to the pilgrimage city of Mecca. - 'Heartbroken' - "The hajj is the most important spiritual journey in the life of any Muslim, but if Saudi Arabia proceeds in this scenario it will not only exert pressure on its own health system," said Yasmine Farouk from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "It could also be widely held responsible for fanning the pandemic." A cancelled or watered-down hajj would represent a major loss of revenue for the kingdom, which is already reeling from the twin shocks of the virus-induced slowdown and a plunge in oil prices. The smaller year-round umrah pilgrimage was already suspended in March. Together, they add $12 billion to the Saudi economy every year, according to government figures. A negative decision would likely disappoint millions of Muslim pilgrims around the world who often invest their life savings and endure long waiting lists to make the trip. "I can't help but be heartbroken -- I've been waiting for years," Indonesian civil servant Ria Taurisnawati, 37, told AFP as she sobbed. "All my preparations were done, the clothes were ready and I got the necessary vaccination. But God has another plan." burs-ac/sls/hc Muslim pilgrims gather in August 2019 around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca prior to the start of last year's hajj pilgrimage A greatly limited number of Muslim worshippers walk around the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, during the coronavirus pandemic By Andrew Osborn and Susan Heavey MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Russian court convicted former U.S. marine Paul Whelan of spying for the United States on Monday and sentenced him to 16 years in jail, a ruling that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said outraged Washington. Whelan, who holds U.S., British, Canadian and Irish passports, was detained by agents from Russias Federal Security Service in a Moscow hotel room on Dec. 28, 2018 as he prepared to attend a wedding. Russia says Whelan, 50, was caught with a computer flash drive containing classified information. Whelan, who pleaded not guilty, said he was set up in a sting operation and had thought the drive, given to him by a Russian acquaintance, contained holiday photos. "This is all political theatre," said Whelan, who watched proceedings from a glass box inside the Moscow city courtroom. He told the judge he had not understood the verdict as proceedings were conducted in Russian without translation. Whelan had held up a piece of paper on which he denounced the proceedings as a "sham trial" and asked for U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of Britain, Canada and Ireland to take "decisive action". Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said an appeal would be made against the verdict. Questioning the court's independence, Whelan's family said in a statement "Russian judges are political not legal entities". Pompeo said Washington was furious and wanted Moscow to immediately free Whelan. "The United States is outraged by the decision of a Russian court today to convict U.S. citizen Paul Whelan after a secret trial, with secret evidence, and without appropriate allowances for defense witnesses," said Pompeo. "The treatment of Paul Whelan at the hands of Russian authorities has been appalling. Russia failed to provide Mr. Whelan with a fair hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal; and during his detention has put his life at risk by ignoring his long-standing medical condition; and unconscionably kept him isolated from family and friends." Story continues John Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to Russia, told reporters that no evidence had been produced to prove Whelan's guilt during what he called a mockery of justice. The ruling would not have "a good impact" on ties between Moscow and Washington - already strained by a range of issues - but that dialogue would continue, he said. PRISONER SWAP? Zherebenkov said Whelan was told when he was detained that he would be part of a prisoner swap with the United States and that he believed this was what Moscow now wanted to do. The Russian Foreign Ministry told the Russian news agency RIA it had proposed detailed prisoner swaps to Washington many times but gave no further details. Moscow has called for the release of two Russians jailed in the United States - arms dealer Viktor Bout, who agreed to sell weapons to U.S. undercover agents posing as Colombian guerrillas planning to attack American soldiers, and Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was convicted of conspiracy to smuggle cocaine. Zherebenkov said he believed Moscow wanted to do a deal involving Bout and Yaroshenko. Whelan did not oppose the idea of formally asking Russia to pardon him, Zherebenkov said, but wanted to appeal against the verdict first. Bout's wife, Alla, told the RIA news agency on Monday she was ready to pen an appeal to U.S. authorities asking them to swap her husband for Whelan. A New York court in 2012 sentenced Bout, subject of a book called "Merchant of Death" and inspiration for the film "Lord of War" starring Nicolas Cage, to 25 years in jail. Whelan will serve his sentence in a maximum security prison, the court said. State prosecutors had sought an 18-year term. (Additional reporting by Alexander Marrow and Anton Kolodyazhnyy in Moscow; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Peter Graff) An expert has raised concerns over how consumer data is being used by social media application TikTok, after the Chinese-owned company announced plans to open an Australian office. TikTok, which has more than 1.6 million Australian users according to Roy Morgan, is largely used by teenagers and features lip-syncing and comedy skits that appear in 15-second bursts. The platform, owned by tech giant ByteDance, this week appointed its first local general manager, Lee Hunter, and several former Airbnb and Google executives specialising in government policy and advertising to its local division. Newly appointed TikTok Australia general manager Lee Hunter. Credit:Rhett Wyman But Fergus Ryan, an analyst at the Australian Strategy Policy Institute, said that there are still concerns about the platform's use of data and censorship (removal of content that is sensitive to the Chinese government and others) that need to be addressed. "There are many apps that most people with smartphones have that harvest a scary amount of data from users and send that information back to servers around the world, which is concerning. But what makes this even more concerning that the data is being sent back to Beijing and ... China has a whole suite of national security laws that effectively remove any firewall," Mr Ryan said. [New Yorkers flattened the curve. Now theyre dropping their guard.] The context New York City, once an epicenter of the pandemic, has recorded more than 215,000 infections and nearly 22,000 deaths. Now that the severity of the outbreak is waning locally, people seem to be eager to resume normal activities. The city began Phase 1 of the states four-phase reopening plan on June 8, which allowed construction and manufacturing to resume, and permitted curbside and in-store pickup for retail stores. Outside New York, states that were slow to close and quick to start reopening have seen spikes in infections and hospitalizations. The reaction Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has warned that he may close any part of the state that sees a jump in virus cases. There is a very real possibility that we would roll back the reopening in those areas, Mr. Cuomo said at his Sunday news briefing, suggesting that a dreaded second wave of infections was almost inevitable if people continued to gather and not wear masks. It will come. And once it comes, its too late. The next day, Mr. Cuomo called out local officials who he said did not want to enforce unpopular rules. Nobody wants to go to a bar and say: You guys have to wear a mask. You guys are violating social distancing, the governor said. I get it, but they have to do their job. The total number of Covid-19 cases in India has reached 3,43,091, including 1,53,178 active cases, 1,80,013 cured/discharged/migrated cases and 9900 deaths. Indias COVID-19 count crossed 3.4 lakh on Tuesday with an increase of 10,667 new cases in the last 24 hours while the death toll has risen to 9,900 with 380 persons succumbing to the virus in the last 24 hours. The increase in cases is marginally lower than the spike of cases witnessed a day earlier. The COVID-19 count includes 1,53,178 active cases while 1,80,013 patients are cured/discharged/migrated. According to the Health Ministry, the total number of reported cases in the country are 343091. With 110744 cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst-affected state in the country. The state has 50567 active Covid-19 cases, while 56049 have been cured or discharged and 4128 persons have died. 10,667 new #COVID19 cases and 380 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The total number of positive cases in the country now stands at 343091 including 1,53,178 active cases, 1,80,013 cured/discharged/migrated and 9,900 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/O15XwZZe7T ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 Read also: Amit Shah reviews Covid-19 preparedness at Delhis LNJP Hospital Read also: HCL enhances Covid-19 isolation and treatment facilities in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu has 46,504 cases including 20,681 active cases and 25,344 have been cured or discharged. 479 have died in the state. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced maximized restricted lockdown from June 19-30 in areas of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur districts which come under Metropolitan Chennai Police limits. Delhi has 42,829 COVID-19 cases, out of which 25,002 are active, 16,427 have been cured or discharged and 1400 have passed away. According to the Health Ministry, Gujarat has 24,055 coronavirus cases, Uttar Pradesh 13,615, West Bengal 11,494, Rajasthan 12, 981 and Madhya Pradesh 10,935. Kerala has 1348 active cases while 1,175 patients have recovered from the virus in the state. The Kerala government on Monday eased travel and quarantine restrictions for those visiting the state for a period up to seven days after obtaining entry passes. Those visiting the state for priority needs such as education, business, healthcare, property management can avail e-pass from the government portal with a validity of seven days. The order said these travellers need not undergo the mandatory 14-days of home quarantine. In Uttarakhand, the count of people infected with virus are 632. In Punjab, the total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 3,267 including 753 active cases, 2443 recovered and 71 deaths. Read also: No plans of another lockdown in Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal In Manipur, 32 more COVID-19 cases were reported taking the total number of cases in the state to 490. Goa reported 28 new COVID-19 cases today taking the total number of cases to 592 including 85 recoveries. The West Bengal Health Department said that 407 more COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths were reported in the state today. The total number of cases in West Bengal now stands at 11,494. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired a meeting of all political parties in Delhi on the COVID-19 situation. He also visited Lok Nayak Jaiprakash (LNJP) Hospital and interacted with the management. The number of labs for COVID-19 testing in the country has increased to 901 including 653 government and 248 private labs. The recovery rate has risen to 51.08 per cent. Read also: Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao decides to test 50,000 people for Covid-19 in and around Hyderabad in next 10 days For all the latest National News, download NewsX App The first symptoms Brian Wilkes noticed were his loss of smell and taste. They popped up on March 23, five days after the 39-year-old and his 9-year-old son flew into Hawaii and one week after Bay Area counties ordered a shelter-in-place. The pandemic was still nascent, but Wilkes, a general contractor who lives in Oakland, tried to be as diligent as he could about safety on the plane: sanitizing everything they touched, wearing masks, and even upgrading their seats to first class so theyd have more room. But after noticing his senses werent working well, other symptoms began to crop up: he was light-headed, lethargic, and started feeling short of breath and chest tightness just from light conversation. When he got diarrhea, he decided to go into a nearby clinic in Hawaii, where he tested negative for the flu. The following day, he got tested for the coronavirus at a drive-through clinic. Four days later, he got his results: negative. I told (the nurse), thats bulls, I know I have it, Wilkes said. Wilkes is one of the many across the world who believe they have gotten sick with the coronavirus but tested negative, despite symptoms and progression that point to the contrary. A Redwood City resident among the passengers of the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship took seven coronavirus tests over a two-week period with results fluctuating between positive, negative and inconclusive. Dr. Joseph Fair, a virologist and epidemiologist, tested negative for COVID-19 four different times despite being hospitalized in New Orleans. One of the most challenging aspects of the worlds response to the pandemic has been the reliance on testing, said Kelly Wroblewski, director of infectious diseases at the Association of Public Health Laboratories. Stephen Lam / Special to The Chronicle Even the experts and scientists racing to both produce more tests and analyze the virus know that testing a coronavirus as new as this one presents complications, and cant be the only metric we rely on to shape policy and inform personal decisions, including when people see family and friends again, or go back to work. This heavy, heavy reliance on testing to not only diagnose patients but also to make public health decisions and public safety decisions is sort of unprecedented and to put this expectation on tests is not realistic, Wroblewski said. There is no test that is 100% sensitive and 100% specific those just dont exist. Though data on false negative rates for the virus diagnostic tests seem to vary and is still relatively scarce experts agree that false negatives are a concern. Early research out of China stipulated the false negative rate could be around 30%. A study on Abbott ID Now, a diagnostic test that produces results in 15 minutes, was found to have a false negative rate of 15%. But the rate greatly depends on the timing of the test. If testing was done at the optimal moment, that number may be closer to 5%, said Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at UC Berkeleys School of Public Health. So when is the optimal time to get tested? If someone is tested too early, one day after potential exposure, their viral load may be below the threshold of detection, rendering a negative result. Alternatively, if someone is tested too late when theyre at the tail end of their infection, or if theyre only shedding a little bit of the virus the viral load may also be too low to be detected. But knowing whats early or late for each person depends on the course of that persons symptoms and sickness. Generally speaking with viruses, viral load peaks around two to four days after symptom onset, said Wroblewski. However, this virus is not a typical virus. A Nature study showed peak viral load to be around two days before symptom onset. There have also been widely varied timelines given on how long it takes for symptoms to show up after exposure. On average, people start to get symptoms about five days after theyve been infected, but some people are getting sick shortly after exposure, while others have seen two weeks pass before experiencing symptoms. Many experts are encouraging people to get tested around three to six days after they think they may have been exposed. A study from the American Society of Microbiology found that during the first five symptomatic days, both nasopharyngeal (deep nasal) and oropharyngeal (long throat) swabs had the highest viral loads and gave positive results, but by the fifth day, detection of the virus dropped to 40%. Several other studies corroborate that the later a specimen is collected after symptoms begin, the higher the chance of a false negative. Test sample collection may also be a factor in false negative results. Its possible that some false negative test results come about because of variability in swabbing technique, according to Dr. Anne Wyllie, an associate research scientist at Yale. The deep nasal swab, which is the most common diagnostic test in use, requires a health care provider, who might be a trainee or an intern, to collect nasal secretions that are far back in the nose, and rotate the swab several times. Its a test that requires some finesse to make sure the sample is collected from the right place; its also difficult for the patient to sit through. Stephen Lam / Special to The Chronicle Theres also the issue of how the virus moves in the body. The outward appearance of the virus neurological issues, blood clots, blue toes, pneumonia can be as perplexing as its path inside the body. The virus tends to first begin in the nose and the throat, but can quickly spread into the lungs. It can also lodge itself along the lining of blood vessels and push even further, damaging and attacking different organs. Depending on when a test is taken, its possible the virus may have already traveled beyond the original sites of entry, ones nose or throat. Or, according to Swartzberg, the virus may be present in just one part of the upper respiratory tract, but not throughout. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Some scientists are beginning to consider whether saliva tests where a patient spits into a cup may be better equipped to detect the virus across the board, both in mild cases and reliably over a longer period of time. In a study of 49 patients and 98 health care workers, a Yale University team found that saliva samples provided greater detection sensitivity and consistency throughout the course of an infection than the broadly recommended deep nasal swab. One health care worker who tested variably using a deep nasal swab tested positive all three times from a saliva test. However, saliva tests are not yet in widespread use, because nasal swabs and throat swabs are already the gold standards for many other viral panels, according to Wyllie, who led the Yale teams study. That study has yet to be peer-reviewed and there is not yet sufficient data to judge with certainty how saliva tests compare to the swab tests. But Swartzberg agrees that preliminary research suggests saliva tests may prove to be reliable. Symptoms dont always mean infection. The way a person sheds a virus isnt always consistent and isnt always on a defined schedule, Wroblewski said. Take the case of a UCSF doctor who has been testing positive for the coronavirus for nearly 90 days, though the worst of her symptoms are over. Her case is still something scientists are puzzled by, but experts maintain its highly likely that the virus isnt active in the body for long periods after symptoms pass even if someone is still testing positive. On the other hand, there are people who continue to experience a wide range of symptoms and fall into relapses for months, despite testing negative. One explanation could be that, for some infected people, the virus kicks the immune system into overdrive, triggering long-lasting symptoms even after the virus itself is long gone, as Yale immunologist Akiko Iwasaki told the Atlantic. Stephen Lam / Special to The Chronicle If I get a negative test result, but I think Im sick, what should I do? The short answer: stay home. What weve seen and the data we have so far shows that two weeks out, most people are no longer shedding viable virus, Wroblewski said. For those who are still experiencing symptoms after two weeks, the safest option is to continue self-quarantining until all symptoms go away or even a week or 10 days after that. Testing is one tool in the toolbox, she said. It often cant tell us everything. But if your symptoms progress, the hospital should be the place to go, whether youve tested negative or positive. Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle reporter. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com A 52-year-old Groves, Texas, man has been sentenced to 78 years in federal prison for violations related to an arson and insurance fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Texas. U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox said Patrick Wayne Bronnon was found guilty on Oct. 21, 2019, of 40 charges including conspiracy to commit mail fraud and use of a fire in commission of a felony. Bronnon and 11 other individuals were indicted and charged in May 2018 with federal violations related to the $1.7 million insurance fraud scheme. On June 16, Bronnon was sentenced to 940 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone. Breakdown: 16 counts of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud 100 months on each count to run concurrently. First count of Use of a Fire in commission of mail fraud (Arson) 120 months consecutive to the 100 months above. Second count of Use of a Fire in commission of mail fraud 240 months consecutive to the 220 months above Third count of Use of a Fire in commission of mail fraud 240 more months consecutive to the 460 months above According to information presented in court, beginning in 2011, Bronnon, and others, began executing a scheme to defraud various insurance companies through fraudulent claims on homes and vehicles. The scheme involved identifying a low value property and purchasing it through a co-defendant straw purchaser. Within a few weeks of a down payment being made, Bronnon or an associate would intentionally damage the home, typically by fire or water, in order to collect insurance proceeds. In total, nine fraudulent fire claims, three fraudulent water damage claims, and two fraudulent theft claims were filed with various insurance companies on nine different addresses, totaling approximately $1.7 million in fraudulent payments. The properties were located in Port Arthur, Port Neches, Beaumont, and Sugarland, Texas. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, National Insurance Crime Bureau and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte. Source: U.S. Attorneys Office Related: Topics Texas Fraud USA Arson Mumbai, June 16 : Veteran actor Prakash Raj has opened up on the practice of nepotism in the film industry and blamed it for the untimely demise of the talented young Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found hanging at his residence on Sunday. "#nepotism I have lived through this .. I have survived ... my wounds are deeper than my flesh ..but this child #SushanthSinghRajput couldn't.. will WE learn .. will WE really stand up and not let such dreams die .. #justasking," tweeted Prakash Raj. Prakash Raj also shared an old video on Twitter where Sushant Singh Rajput can be seen talking about the practice of nepotism in Bollywood. "Nepotism is there and everywhere, not just in Bollywood. You can't do anything about it. Nepotism can co-exist and nothing would happen but at the same time if you deliberately don't allow the right talents to come up, then there is a problem. Then the whole structure of the industry would collapse one day..." Sushant says in the video. Sushant Singh Rajput's last rites were performed here on Monday in the presence of his family, friends, fans and a few industry colleagues. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text ALBANY The Common Council unanimously passed a resolution renaming Livingston Park in West Hill, Black Lives Matter Park, in honor of Juneteenth. Councilman Jahmel Robinson, who represents the area and introduced the resolution, wrote that the park was renamed, as a testament to freedom, liberation, and justice and a place where black life, black history and black culture can be honored and celebrated. The Livingston family was one of the early prominent settlers in New York thanks to Livingston Manor, a 160,000-acre land grant. The descendants of the original settlers were major figures in the Revolutionary War and the Continental Congress. Robinsons resolution also lays out that the family imported and owned enslaved people from Antigua and Jamaica. In a brief speech to the council, Robinson said the name on the park reflected the countrys inability to fully move past its history of racism and discrimination. America continues to ignore the fact that black lives matter, he said. And the reason America is allowed to ignore that fact is because its systems are designed against a backdrop of racism, and to keep black people in bondage. Juneteenth commemorates Union Gen. Gordon Granger's June 19, 1865 reading of federal orders that declared all previously enslaved people in Texas were free. It marked the emancipation of the last enslaved African-Americans in the Confederacy. In an interview Tuesday, Robinson said that as a student of history, he had grown up learning about important figures in the city's history but most of that history never talked about cruel treatment that enslaved people suffered at the hands of those figures. "I've always wondered why black history was always overshadowed by white history," he said. Additionally, he said the park had been neglected in recent years but the city was planning on eventually investing up to $150,000 in to it. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Mayor Kathy Sheehan's office said Sheehan supported the council's resolution and was working with Robinson to find a date for a dedication ceremony. The resolution renaming the park is the second piece of city property connected to slave-owning families to be impacted by the national discussions around historical markers and statutes of people who owned enslaved people. Last week, Sheehan ordered city employees to prepare a plan to remove the statute of Phillip Schuyler from in front of City Hall. Schuyler, a Revolutionary War hero and the father-in-law of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, owned 13 enslaved people at his Albany South End mansion and four more at his farm in Saratoga County. Sheehan orders Albany City Hall's Schuyler statue removed Sheehan said she ordered the statues removal after scores of people asked her why someone who owned other people would be featured with a monument in such a prevalent place. The statute will be moved to a place in the city where it can be put into historical context, Sheehan said. Verata Health We are proud to be the leading digital solution for solving the burden of prior authorization and look forward to making the fax machine a thing of the past. Verata Health, an artificial intelligence-powered prior authorization software platform, was awarded both the AVIA Vetted Badge in 2020 for prior authorization (for successfully addressing prior authorization challenges based on the needs and criteria of AVIA Members), and the AVIA Market Validated Badge in 2020 for having proven traction in the market. AVIA is the nation's leading digital transformation partner for healthcare organizations. AVIA provides unique market intelligence, proven collaborative tools, and results-based consulting to help solve healthcare's biggest strategic challenges. This year, in partnership with its Members, AVIA has launched the 25% Challenge, which aims to reduce administrative overhead and waste that accounts for up to 25% of a hospitals total expenditures. Health system executives identify prior authorization as one of the most expensive administrative challenges facing hospitals today and one of the most significant barriers to timely patient care. Errors in prior authorizations account for nearly a third of all provider write-offs and contribute to surprise medical bills received by patients. Verata uses artificial intelligence to automate and streamline prior authorizations for provider practices, hospitals, and large health systems. Verata automatically identifies when clinical criteria are met, thereby reducing the burden to doctors and hospital staff, preventing errors that lead to expensive write-offs, and helping patients get faster care. "Our team at Verata is honored to receive both the AVIA Vetted and AVIA Market Validated Badges," says Verata's CEO, Jeremy Friese, MD. "We are proud to be the leading digital solution for solving the burden of prior authorization and look forward to making the fax machine a thing of the past." In addition to the AVIA Badges, Verata Health has also been given a COVID-19 designation that identifies its digital prior authorization solution as one supporting hospital systems during the COVID-19 pandemic because its solution supports remote work for both centralized and decentralized teams. Prior authorization teams and staff can access the Verata Health platform remotely and work prior authorizations entirely from home. Hospitals and health care systems across the country are leveraging the platform as they begin to ramp up elective procedures both now and in the coming months. About Verata Health Verata Health's Frictionless Prior Authorization empowers practices, hospitals, and health systems to take control of their prior authorizations with artificial intelligence. Verata's technology automatically prepares prior authorizations, identifies payer rules, retrieves clinical documentation, and obtains payer decisions, so staff members don't have to. Supporting both simple and clinically complex prior authorizations, Verata Health provides visibility across the entire prior authorization process, reducing the administrative burden and accelerating patient access. Giving patients the right care at the right time. For more information, please visit https://www.veratahealth.com. ### A Necedah man is facing between three and 12 years, six months in prison after he was pulled over in New Lisbon for his eighth operating while under the influence offense. Jerry Sorenson, 58, of Necedah is charged with felony operating a motor vehicle while under the influence eighth offense, and misdemeanor failure to install an ignition interlock device. If convicted of the felony charge he faces a minimum of three years to a maximum of 12 years and six months in prison, or a fine of up to $25,000, or both. According to the criminal complaint: At about 8:30 p.m. May 31, Trooper Coady Schiltz was traveling on Highway 12 near New Lisbon when he observed a car turn onto Highway 12 in front of a truck. The car made a wide turn to avoid being hit by the truck, and once on Highway 12 drove down right shoulder of the road for a quarter mile. After catching up to the car Schiltz checked the registration status, with the plates on the vehicle coming back as not associated with a vehicle, and the listed owner of the plates having no license issued. Schiltz activated his emergency lights and the car pulled over. HARRISBURG A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Monday will extend legal protection to gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination at certain workplaces across all of Pennsylvania, but advocates for LGBT rights say a yearslong fight for civil rights in the state Legislature is not over. LGBT rights advocates in Pennsylvania hailed the high courts ruling as a historic victory. But the courts ruling does not cover people who work for smaller employers, and it does not extend legal protection against discrimination to housing or public services, LGBT rights advocates in Pennsylvania said. We need to update state law not only to include what the Supreme Court has ruled but to provide complete protection as we do with other classes of people, said Jason Landau Goodman, executive director of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress. Long-standing opposition by Republicans who control both chambers of the Legislature has spurred advocates to work at the municipal level. That has resulted in LGBT rights protections in 58 municipalities covering roughly one-third of Pennsylvanias population, according to the Pennsylvania Youth Congress. Even before Monday, most states had adopted no laws that prohibit workplace discrimination targeting LGBTQ employees. For years in Pennsylvania, Democrats have fought to add categories sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to a state law that empowers the state Human Relations Commission to investigate complaints of discrimination in employment, housing and public services because of someones race, sex, religion, age or disability. The commission can impose civil penalties, such as back pay or damages. Opponents suggested that such legislation could violate religious liberties or freedom of conscience. Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has backed the legislation. While the legislation was stalled, Wolf in 2016 signed an executive order barring state contractors and grant recipients from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Asked about the courts decision Monday, Wolf said it was about time, but he also echoed Goodman and other LGBT rights advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, in saying that work remains to be done in Pennsylvania. Other governors have acted, amid legislative inaction. In 1975, then-Gov. Milton Shapp issued an executive order barring employment discrimination based on sexual orientation in state employment and, in 2003, then-Gov. Ed Rendell issued an order extending that protection to gender identity or expression for state employees. Goodman said 2020 may yet bring action. While most top Republicans have not moved to advance LGBT rights bills, Goodman said the bills this year are in committees with friendlier chairpersons. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Laman Ismayilova Good news for Azerbaijani animation artists! A new award for category Best Azerbaijani Short Animated Film has been established for the upcoming ANIMAFILM Festival in cooperation with the French Embassy in Azerbaijan, the French Institute in Azerbaijan (IFA) and with the support of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. This year`s winner of the ANIMAFILM Festival has a chance to attend Annecy Festival 2020 in France and receive professional MIFA accreditation. Return flight to France and accommodation of the winner will be covered by IFA. Moreover, ANIMAFILM will also delight animation artists with another award for the Best Azerbaijani Screenplay for a Short Animated Film in partnership with Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan The winner will be awarded with a valuable photo camera. The screenplay should be linked to one of the following themes: diversity, tolerance, multiculturalism, human rights, women rights or climate change. Deadline for applications: 30.06.2020 For more information, please visit: ANIMAFILM Notably the third ANIMAFILM Festival will be held in two cities of Azerbaijan, Baku and Sheki on October 14-18. The festival is supported by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture, Sheki City Executive Power, Azerbaijan Union of Film-makers, Embassy of the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan, Embassy of France in Azerbaijan, French Institute in Azerbaijan, Nizami Cinema Center, Mujru Publishing, Barat Abdullayev and other partners and sponsors. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Tamil Nadu has reported 49 Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday- the highest in a single day-- taking the death toll in the state to 528 even as 1,515 new coronavirus cases pushed the tally of number of infected in the southern state to 48,019, as per state health department data quoted by PTI. While the state recorded its highest single day spike in deaths, chief minister K Palaniswami was quoted as saying that the recovery rate from the contagion was high in the state but the fatalities remained low. He attributed it to a slew of measures taken by the government. In view of a slew of anti-Covid-19 initiatives being taken by the government, the recovery rate was high, Palaniswami was quoted as saying by PTI. The deaths due to Covid-19 are very low, he further added. For Coronavirus Live Updates Tamil Nadu is Indias third-worst affected state after Maharashtra and Delhi and the chief minister on Monday decided to clamp a fresh 12-day-long lockdown starting June 19 in the four most affected districts, namely, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram. The governments decision came only three days after it had told the Madras High Court that it didnt intend to reintroduce lockdown, terming such talks as rumours. The governments decision followed a warning from a panel of experts constituted by the government which said a second wave of infections was possible if strict measures were not taken. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 The panel said that the infection in Tamil Nadu was currently at its peak and the number of cases will gradually come down, however, they warned of a second wave-- like seen in China, where over 40 new cases were detected due to local transmission of the diseaseif strict measures were not taken. The panel also sought an increase in testing and manpower and intensifying of containment and quarantine measures. The four districts where lockdown will be reintroduced account for 83.69% of the states total cases. Chennai alone accounts for 71.49% of all cases in the state. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, who recently asserted that he could keep the identities of coronavirus bailout recipients secret, speaks at the White House in April as President Trump watches. (Alex Brandon/AP) If you put money down on March 27 on a bet that the Trump administration would do its best to block oversight of the $2-trillion coronavirus rescue program, congratulations: You've won the bet. Since Trump signed the CARES Act 81 days ago, he has fired government inspectors general who had been assigned the task of monitoring the disbursements of this cash to businesses big and small. The very day after he signed the act, Trump signaled his intention to restrict the information his appointees can submit to Congress about rescue program spending. Government officials don't want to share information because they're worried it will be politically harmful or show failures in the program. Neil M. Barofsky, inspector general of the TARP bank bailout, 2008-2011 Trump's Treasury secretary, Steve T. Mnuchin, flatly declared earlier this month that he wouldn't disclose the names of small businesses receiving loans through the act's $600-billion Paycheck Protection Program. Even if you landed on the right side of the bet, however, you almost certainly underestimated how far the White House would go in trying to keep information about the payouts secret or Congress' apparent complicity in the undermining of its own oversight responsibility. On April 10, for instance, the White House Office of Management and Budget instructed executive branch agencies that they don't have to disclose any more information about their business grants than earlier laws required. But that's absolutely false: The CARES Act explicitly requires much more disclosure, including information about how the recipient businesses plan to use the money. That's because the purpose of the PPP funding is to help businesses hire workers and keep them on the payroll goals that can't be assessed without employment data. "Government officials don't want to share information because they're worried it will be politically harmful or show failures in the program," says Neil M. Barofsky, who oversaw spending in the 2008 bank bailout as special inspector general for the so-called TARP and has kept an eye on the evolution of the coronavirus bailout. Story continues When I last spoke with Barofsky, as the CARES Act was being considered on Capitol Hill, he warned of the necessity of strong oversight of its spending. Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, an influential watchdog group, calls the administration's effort to withhold spending data from all scrutiny "the primary crisis underlying oversight of COVID relief funding." Although the firing of inspectors general and other interference with the oversight process are troubling, Brian says, "if we're not getting the data, all these other things don't matter." Full transparency not only provides raw material for formal oversight bodies, but for journalists and others with the time and expertise to mine the data for clues to how the money is spent. The burden of keeping this bailout transparent, Barofsky told me, will necessarily fall on Congress. But Congress hasn't held up its end thus far. Its most glaring shortcoming is its inability to settle on a chairperson for its own pandemic oversight commission, the only oversight body created by the CARES Act that is outside President Trump's control. The body comprises four members one each appointed by the Democratic and Republican leaders in each chamber. They're in place. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) haven't yet publicly agreed on a chair. As a result, the commission has been unable to hire staff or schedule public hearings, which require a majority vote. "Until the commission has a Chairperson, the taxpayers are funding a bailout without the mandated accountability," Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) wrote to Pelosi and McConnell on Wednesday. "It's not just about the chair," Porter told me. "But having a chair unlocks the other tools the commission needs to be effective." At its peak, Barofsky's TARP oversight office employed 46 staff members. Rumors persist in Washington that a chair could be named any day now. It's unclear who is to blame for the blockage, or how strongly Pelosi has pushed back against the hamstringing of the commission. But she certainly hasn't spoken in public as though it's a top priority. At a Thursday press conference, she brushed off a question about the appointment by saying it would happen "hopefully soon as I think it will be imminent." But she used almost exactly the same words on May 5 "hopefully we'll have a decision soon." That's curious because oversight of the CARES Act disbursements was an issue that congressional Democrats went to the mat for, declining to advance the rescue bill until it was in place. The act ultimately established three oversight bodies. In addition to the congressional commissioner, they were a special inspector general for pandemic recovery, or SIGPR; and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, which comprises 20 inspectors general from across the federal government and is chaired by Michael E. Horowitz, the Department of Justice inspector general. For SIGPR, Trump nominated Brian Miller, a member of the White House Counsel staff. Miller's nomination raised objections from Senate Democrats that he was too close to the president's staff to exert independent oversight of coronavirus spending. Miller did have the support of the Project on Government Oversight, based on his effectiveness as inspector general of the General Services Administration in 2005-14. The Senate confirmed Miller on June 2. Less than two weeks after signing the CARES Act, Trump undermined the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee by firing two inspectors general slated to be members of the body. They included Glenn Fine, the Defense Department acting inspector general, who had been appointed by his fellow members to be the committee chair. He also has aimed public rhetorical attacks on Christi Grimm, the acting inspector general at the Department of Health and Human Services, who is also a member of the committee. Horowitz and the committee's executive director, Robert Westbrooks, told Congress last week that the White House had quietly issued a series of legal rulings sharply constraining the information that federal officials must disclose to the committee related to the CARES Act's Division A, which includes $1 trillion in funding for small businesses and loans to major corporations. "If this interpretation of the CARES Act were correct, it would raise questions about PRACs authority to conduct oversight of Division A funds, the officials told Congress in a letter reported by the Washington Post. Independent oversight of the government spending is crucial because very little of it needs to be doled out with strings attached. "The commission's task is going to be tracking which companies are getting the money and what they do after they get the money," says Bharat Ramamurti, a former economic advisor to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who is Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer's appointee to the congressional commission. "The money is not coming with serious conditions," Ramamurti told me. "One thing the commission is required to do under the law is to report on the effect of this program on the financial well-being of the people of the United States," Ramamurti says. "To do that, you have to ask, did the companies fire workers, did they pull full executive compensation, did they do a stock-buyback? Only if we track the money in that way will we be able to assess whether this has been helpful in improving the financial well-being of families." Mnuchin's assertion that the identity of Paycheck Protection Program recipients and the terms of their funding are "proprietary" and confidential, Brian of the Project on Government Oversight says, "is a really uninformed position." The paycheck program is based on an existing program at the Small Business Administration, "which has been making that information transparent since 1991." Indeed, Mnuchin's argument was so extreme that it provoked objections even from congressional Republicans. Mnuchin later backed off, saying that he will confer with Congress to determine the extent of his disclosure obligations. The combination of lack of disclosure and the undercutting of oversight bodies' independence "is rendering the oversight institutions to be powerless," Brian says. "Congress has to respond." The question boils down to whether the administration and Congress are intent on making the coronavirus rescue programs successful. Without disclosure and oversight, they won't be. The $2 trillion allocated so far is the largest such spending package ever enacted, an unprecedented temptation for corruption and turpitude at every level, from administration officials disbursing the funds down to applicants with their hands out. Federal prosecutors already have brought three cases alleging attempted fraud by applicants for PPP funding. The money allegedly sought fraudulently totaled almost $13 million in the three cases. But that's a drop in the bucket compared with the roughly $650 billion authorized for the program. Just think about how much could go astray if no one is watching. As the disbursements get larger with time, "it becomes even more important to have the right oversight provisions in place," Barofsky says. Already, he notes, "there is a significant problem with fraud in the PPP program. That's exactly why you want more transparency and oversight." What incentive could the Trump administration possibly have for keeping the curtains pulled shut? CALVERTON, Md., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Potomac Financial Group (PFG), a Maryland-based provider of premier financial planning and wealth management services, formally announced today the addition of Jeremy S. Dvorak, CFP, CASL to the company's advisory team. Mr. Dvorak, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional, joins PFG with over 15 years of experience as a financial planner having previously served as a Raymond James independent financial advisor. He will continue operating from his Ellicott City, Maryland office location and offer an expanded geographic footprint for the company. PFG introduces Jeremy S. Dvorak as a new addition to the company's advisory team. "We are always looking for financial planners to join the PFG team, but finding the perfect fit with our mission and client-centric philosophy is our utmost priority," said Todd Wike, Managing Partner at Potomac Financial Group, Financial Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional at Raymond James Financial Services. "I've had the privilege to get to know Jeremy over the past several years on both a professional and personal level through our shared Raymond James connection. It was immediately apparent that his integrity and passion for helping his clients achieve their financial dreams make him an excellent addition to our team." "After managing my own practice, I am excited to take this next step forward and offer my clients the excellent tools and valued resources that PFG has an outstanding reputation for providing," added Mr. Dvorak. "We are precisely aligned in our shared passion and common goals to do whatever it takes to help our clients helping them to find their financial freedom, no matter what comes their way." A graduate of Towson University, Mr. Dvorak earned a B.A. in Economics with a focus in Financial Planning. In addition to being a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional, he is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL) and has Series 6, 7, 63, 65, 24 and numerous State Life and Health Insurance licenses. Prior to establishing his own practice, he spent 7 years as a top advisor at M&T Securities and was a standing member of the President's Advisory Council. Visit PotomacFinancialGroup.com to learn more about Mr. Dvorak and PFG's wide-ranging financial planning and personal wealth management solutions. Media Contact: Sara Aulebach Executive Assistant & Marketing Coordinator Potomac Financial Group Tel: 301.595.8600 [email protected] About Potomac Financial Group | Since 1973, Potomac Financial Group (PFG) has served as a premier financial planning and wealth management firm singularly committed to helping its clients and families achieve financial independence and security. With over 45 years of combined experience, PFG has grown to be one of the region's most trusted financial planning firms through its innovative financial solutions and commitment to exemplary personal care. To learn more, visit PotomacFinancialGroup.com. 4061 Powder Mill Road, Calverton, MD 20705 Phone: 877.595.8605 *Trust services offered through Raymond James Trust, N.A., a subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, Inc. Potomac Financial Group is not a registered broker dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, CFP (with plaque design) and CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. Related Images jeremy-s-dvorak-cfp-casl.jpg Jeremy S. Dvorak, CFP, CASL PFG introduces Jeremy S. Dvorak as a new addition to the company's advisory team. Related Links Potomac Financial Group Website SOURCE Potomac Financial Group UN gives free pass to Saudi-led coalition in Yemen despite admitting hundreds of Yemeni children killed, Tehran says. Iran said on Wednesday the UN is giving a free pass to the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen by removing it from a list of groups violating childrens rights. A recent report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the coalition would be delisted for the violation of killing and maiming, following a sustained significant decrease in killing and maiming due to air strikes. It said the death toll had fallen since an agreement signed in March 2019. The UN report was issued as Houthi rebels reported that an air attack by the Saudi-led coalition had struck a vehicle carrying civilians in northern Yemen on Monday, killing 13 people, including four children. UN secretariat gives a free pass to Saudi-led coalition in #Yemen, despite admitting 100s of Yemeni children were killed, Irans foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Twitter. Saudi Arabia and its ally the United States are making a mockery of international bodies, Mousavi added, using the hashtag ListOfShame and attaching pictures of dead Yemeni children. The coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was deposed by the Houthi rebels in late 2014. It has been widely blamed for civilian casualties in bombing raids that campaigners say have pushed the country deeper into crisis. 222 kids killed The Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict has said the Saudi-Emirati-led coalition was responsible for the death or injury of 222 children in Yemen last year. In 2016, the coalition was briefly included on the annual list before a threat by Saudi Arabia to cut off funding to UN programmes forced a reversal. The secretary-generals envoy for children and armed conflict, Virginia Gamba, said the UN had come under no pressure from Saudi Arabia, and the removal from the list was based on data. In 2017, after Guterres assumed the UN leadership, the coalition was placed in a sub-section of the report created for those making efforts to avoid deaths of children. It remained there in 2018 and 2019. Homeless children stand on the road from Khoukha to Taiz in Yemen [Nariman el-Mofty/AP] New York-based Human Rights Watch denounced Guterres for dropping the coalition from the list of shame, saying he was ignoring the UNs own evidence of continued grave violations against children. UK charity Save the Children called it a shocking decision by Guterres. The Houthis remain on the UN list of shame for failing to put in place measures to improve the protection of children, though Guterres said in the report he is encouraged by ongoing UN talks with the rebel group to end and prevent violations for which they are listed. The report, which reviews several conflicts worldwide each year, said 4,019 children were verified as having been killed and more than 6,000 maimed in 2019. As if Covid-19's vicious toll of deaths and damaged lungs was not harmful enough, British experts are starting to warn of a second wave of serious neurological woes involving lasting damage to the brain and nerves. They are causing mental problems including psychosis, confusion, mania, depression and fatigue, as well as rare but terrifying phenomena such as catatonia (physical and mental shutdown) and Guillain-Barre syndrome, where people's immune defences destroy their own nerves. Perhaps most worryingly of all, experts predict that neurological damage from Covid-19 may ultimately cause lasting epidemics of chronic fatigue and depression, even among younger people who had the virus comparatively mildly. A UK-wide alliance has now been created to monitor such cases: CoroNerve the National Surveillance Programme for Neurological Complications of Covid-19. It involves both the Association of British Neurologists and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. British experts are starting to warn of a second wave of serious neurological woes involving lasting damage to the brain and nerves as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. (Stock image) CoroNerve has gathered case studies of more than 150 British adults with symptoms that reflect these emerging problems. Almost a third have suffered from mood disorders and confusion. Significant numbers show evidence of damaging brain inflammation. In a yet-to-be-published study, posted online last month in the electronic journal SSRN, CoroNerve members reported that, for example, ten patients developed psychosis, six had dementia-like symptoms and four had mood disorders such as depression. Such altered states were 'disproportionately represented in younger patients' (aged 20 to 50), it warned. Dr Benedict Michael, a consultant neurologist at the University of Liverpool, who is leading the CoroNerve initiative, told Good Health: 'We are receiving clinical reports from across the UK of unexplained neurological symptoms in patients with Covid-19. 'These range from forms of encephalitis [brain inflammation] through to psychosis and catatonia. It is quite a broad spectrum.' Much of the damage seems to be wrought by patients' immune systems overreacting to the virus and sparking harmful inflammatory reactions in brains and nerves, Dr Michael explains. These may be seen as a neurological parallel to the lung damage wrought by immune cells in people with severe Covid-19, where a 'cytokine storm' sparks inflammation that destroys tissues. But in rarer cases, the neurological problems seem to be caused by the coronavirus infecting the nervous system itself. The virus has been detected in the fluid in victims' spines and brains. Serious problems have been studied in Northern Italy, which felt the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic weeks before the UK. Experts predict that neurological damage from Covid-19 may ultimately cause lasting epidemics of chronic fatigue and depression. (Stock image) In mid-March, Alessandro Pezzini, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Brescia, opened a special neurology unit for Covid-19 patients who were also experiencing delirium, seizures and encephalitis. Globally, the most common neurological symptom reported by Covid-19 patients has been a loss or distortion in smell and taste. Initially, doctors blamed this on the virus damaging smell receptors in the nose. However, a report at the end of last month in the journal JAMA Neurology described a Covid-19 patient with anosmia (loss of sense of smell) whose MRI scans indicated that coronavirus had infected brain regions associated with smell the right gyrus rectus and the olfactory bulbs. After the patient's sense of smell returned, scans showed her brain was back to normal. The researchers, at Humanitas University in Milan, warned that the virus might infect the brain by entering nerves in the nose. Expert tip Use hand sanitiser in between soap-and-water washes, paying attention to the area between the fingers, and the nails, says Asif Munaf, a consultant in general medicine. Advertisement Commenting on this research in the same journal, Serena Spudich, a professor of neurology and infection specialist at Yale University, in the U.S., wrote: 'If the virus has infected brain tissue, the question is, could this spread to other parts of the brain and cause other, more serious neurological effects?' She added: 'We know that [the previous epidemic viruses] SARS-1 and MERS have been shown to enter the central nervous system. 'Several coronaviruses have been shown to cause direct brain effects. There is also some evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can do this too.' So concerned are some neurologists that last week, in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, they called for all Covid-19 patients in hospitals to be given MRI brain scans before they are discharged. Dr Majid Fotuhi, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, U.S., warned: 'We need to monitor these patients over time as some of them may develop cognitive decline, brain fog or Alzheimer's disease in the future.' Neurological problems do not affect only adults. This month, paediatricians at Columbia University in the U.S. warned in the journal JAMA Pediatrics that among 50 children and adolescents in hospital in New York with Covid-19, 6 per cent had experienced 'seizures or seizure-like activity'. An online report, also published this month in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, led by CoroNerve, even warned of international cases where Covid-19 patients had developed Guillain-Barre syndrome, in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks part of its own peripheral nervous system. The effects of this rare syndrome (which can be triggered by other viruses) range from brief weakness to devastating paralysis, leaving those affected incapable of breathing independently. And last week, three Harvard Medical School clinicians posted online the first published case study of a middle-aged Covid-19 patient developing catatonia, a brain condition that left him paralysed in a foetal position, unable to move or speak. Fortunately, the catatonia was quelled by high doses of lorazepam, a benzodiazepine drug, said the report, which is scheduled to appear in the journal Psychosomatics. Other viral illnesses, including influenza, have been believed to spark catatonia. 'We have already seen several cases of catatonia in the UK,' says Dr Tim Nicholson, who is leading the Royal College of Psychiatrists' work on Covid-19 complications. He told Good Health: 'We are on the alert because of the history of encephalitis lethargica that followed the Spanish flu epidemic of 1919.' A million people worldwide had encephalitis lethargica in the wake of that pandemic it causes a high fever, headache, double vision and lethargy. In acute cases, patients went into comas and catatonic states. 'We are also seeing cognitive problems, psychosis and a mixed bag of other stuff such as manic episodes and depressive episodes,' says Dr Nicholson, a neuropsychiatrist and a clinical lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London. Dr Nicholson wonders if Covid-19 might cause a unique syndrome in a very few patients, where neurological effects emerge after the infection is apparently cured. 'Some patients who have had mild infections with fluey symptoms have subsequently suffered from debilitating fatigue and chronic symptoms such as 'brain fog' that last more than a month after the illness,' he explains. 'In online communities, such patients are calling themselves 'long-haulers'.' Most of these people are younger adults in their 20s and 30s and were previously fit and healthy, says Dr Nicholson. 'The first cases are emerging clinically. We need six months to diagnose such a syndrome definitively. But three months into the pandemic [in the UK], we have enough evidence to have a pretty clear idea what's happening.' Try this... This washable face mask from tights manufacturer Wolford is 20 This face mask, from tights manufacturer Wolford, is made with a double layer of breathable fabric and has bendable aluminium wires at the nose so you can adapt it to fit your face. Washable at 60c. 20 plus p&p, thetightspot.com Advertisement Dr Manoj Sivan, an associate clinical professor in physical and rehabilitation medicine at the University of Leeds, is also concerned for the future. He told Good Health: 'In our research on the SARS and MERS epidemics, we found patients complaining mainly of breathlessness and fatigue in the first six months post-discharge, and then psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. 'The neurological problem of chronic fatigue was not much explored in SARS and MERS studies, but we believe it is likely in Covid-19.' His work currently involves monitoring a sample of Covid-19 patients after they leave hospital. 'Some have neurological problems such as neuropathy [nerve damage] and myopathy [muscle weakness]. 'We are seeing neurological complications from the infection in a small proportion of these patients such as mood problems and encephalopathy,' he says. 'Patients are also experiencing depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. 'If problems such as these are addressed early, with timely rehabilitation, we can have good outcomes. The later you leave them, the worse they can end up. 'This is why it makes economic sense to have resources across the country for the early screening of patients after discharge, to identify their emerging problems and manage them properly.' Neil Burnette TruBlue is unique because we have such a wide variety of services and because of our focus on providing a kind of high-quality customer service that people arent used to getting in this industry. - Neil Burnette Throughout Neil Burnettes career, helping teams provide customers and clients with top-notch customer service has always been a priority. Now Burnette is excited to have an opportunity to bring that same focus to his own clients as the local franchise owner and operator of TruBlue Total House Care of Suffolk TruBlue is a full-service house care company that offers both bundled and unbundled services in Suffolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Carrolton, Smithfield and the surrounding areas. The TruBlue franchise, from day one, was built on the idea that people in the community needed an honest, high-quality, customer service-focused company that could do everything from minor handyman repairs to cleaning services to renovations. I love living in this community, but I know it can be challenging to find contractors who will be on time, do quality work, clean up after themselves or even call you back. At TruBlue, we want to raise the bar in this industry, Burnette said. Clients looking for dependable, high-quality, individual services can hire TruBlue for handyman repairs, cleaning services, emergency repairs, landscaping, seasonal services and minor home renovations. For clients looking for total house care solutions especially seniors and busy families who want the comfort and convenience of owning a home without worrying about the maintenance hassles TruBlue offers a House Care Plus monthly and quarterly maintenance program. TruBlue also works with homeowners, realtors and rental property owners who need to get homes move-in ready quickly and keep them maintained as well as business clients. In addition to the services TruBlue is known for, Im looking forward to being a resource for seniors and their families. My mom is 95 and lives 3,000 miles away and it seems like, every time I go to visit her, there are small things that need to be fixed from a closet door off the hinges to settings being messed up on the television and TruBlue is in a unique position to be able to help with those sorts of small things. We want to partner with our clients to help with projects big and small, Burnette said. Burnettes career before TruBlue was in retail leadership, first in sporting goods and then with a leading home goods company. Promotions and new assignments sent him to California, Arizona, Louisiana and Texas before he settled in Virginia to oversee a companys stores throughout Virginia. Although he enjoyed the work he was doing, he realized he was ready for a new challenge in a new industry when he bumped into another TruBlue owner, Tim Diemont. With the changes in the ways people are buying home goods, I was starting to think about a change myself when I bumped into Tim. He used to work for me and we hadnt seen in each other in about seven years and his enthusiasm for what he was doing as a TruBlue franchisee was amazing. He was very happy about the company, the concept and the focus on service and, after talking to him, I realized how big of a difference TruBlue could make for people in my community, Burnette said. TruBlue is unique because we have such a wide variety of services and because of our focus on providing a kind of high-quality customer service that people arent used to getting in this industry. TruBlue of Suffolk is licensed, bonded and insured. To learn more about TruBlue of Suffolk, call (757)530-5569, email or visit https://www.trubluehousecare.com/suffolk/. Kolkata, June 16 : West Bengal has reportedly not been given any time slot to speak at the two-day interaction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and State Chief Ministers to review the COVID-19 pandemic situation, sources in the state secretariat here said. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister is slated to interact with 15 Chief Ministers of states that account for the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country. Most of the states are the worst hit regions in the wake of the reverse migration of daily wage workers. State government sources said that though West Bengal features in the second list on Wednesday, but no specific time slot has been mentioned for Bengal to put forth its take on the corona pandemic situation. Prime Minister Modi will also meet 21 Chief Ministers at 3 p.m. on Tuesday via video conferencing to review the situation. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Stocks in Australia saw robust gains, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 3.89% to close at 5,942.30. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 2.39% to close at 24,344.09. Mainland Chinese stocks were higher on the day, with the Shanghai composite up 1.44% to around 2,931.75 while the Shenzhen component added 1.847% to approximately 11,398.97. The Nikkei 225 in Japan surged 4.88% to close at 22,582.21 as shares of robot maker Fanuc skyrocketed 6.74% while the Topix index advanced 4.09% to finish its trading day at 1,593.45. Over in South Korea, the Kospi soared 5.28% to close at 2,138.05. Investors on Tuesday likely focused on central bank announcements. In the Reserve Bank of Australia's minutes of its June monetary policy meeting released Tuesday, the central bank's board "recognised that the substantial, coordinated and unprecedented easing of fiscal and monetary policy in Australia was helping the economy through this difficult period." "It was likely that this fiscal and monetary support would be required for some time," the RBA minutes said. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan on Tuesday stood pat on its main policy tools. In a statement announcing its monetary policy decision, the central bank said "Japan's economy is likely to remain in a severe situation for the time being due to the impact of COVID-19 at home and abroad, although economic activity is expected to resume gradually." "For the time being, the Bank will closely monitor the impact of COVID-19 and will not hesitate to take additional easing measures if necessary, and also it expects short- and long-term policy interest rates to remain at their present or lower levels," the BoJ said. The U.S. Federal Reserve announced Monday more measures to support the market. The Fed said it would buy individual corporate bonds, marking a broader approach to corporate bond buying. Previously indicating it would eventually buy bonds on the primary market, Monday's announcement by the U.S. central bank marked an expansion of that into the secondary market. "I think the reality is that the Federal Reserve, learning from the experience of the global financial crisis, is that they can't wait for things to happen and then act upon it," Tai Hui, Asia chief market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday. "The preemptive nature of a lot of these measures have been positive." Evation. Yesterday, authorities in the Philippines used that typo to convict Maria Ressa, the crusading journalist who founded the independent news site Rappler, and her former colleague Reynaldo Santos of cyber-libel charges. The typo appeared in a May 2012 article in which Santos linked Wilfredo Keng, a Filipino businessman, to the human-trafficking and drug trades. The story was published four months before the Philippines introduced the law under which the cyber-libel charges would eventually be brought, placing the story beyond that laws scope. Then, in 2014, Rappler spotted and fixed the typo. Prosecutors argued that the fix amounted to republication of the article, which meant the cyber-libel law applied to it after all. That interpretation, like almost everything else about the case, was a stretchthis morning, Ressa decried it as legal acrobaticsbut that didnt stop a judge handing down a guilty verdict. Ressa and Santos could now face up to six years in prison. They plan to appeal. Whatever the eventual sentence, the verdict is another sharp blow to press freedom in the Philippines, whose authoritarian president, Rodrigo Duterte, has waged a relentless campaign to silence critics, including Ressa, who have spoken out about atrocities including a war on drugs that has claimed at least twelve thousand Filipino lives to date, many at the hands of the state. The Philippines National Union of Journalists said the verdict against Ressa and Santos basically kills freedom of speech and of the press. Ressas voice cracked as, speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, she said, To the Filipinos watching, this is not just about Rappler or about us. This is about you. Because freedom of the press is the foundation of every single right you have. This morning, Ressa vowed to fight on. She tweeted #HoldTheLinea slogan that has become a rallying cry among Dutertes critics. ICYMI: The mystery of Tucker Carlson Yesterdays convictions marked an escalation of officials harassment of Ressa and Rappler. Pro-government accounts have repeatedly mobbed Rappler on social media; Duterte banned the sites reporters from the presidential palace and campaign events. In his state of the nation address in 2017, Duterte accused Rappler of being wholly owned by Americans, in violation of media-ownership provisions in the Philippine constitution; later the same year, he spread conspiracy theories about the site deriving funding from the CIA. While Rappler does have foreign backers, including Pierre Omidyar, the billionaire eBay founder whose media investments include The Intercept, it is wholly owned and operated by Filipinosbut that didnt stop the countrys Securities and Exchange Commission from moving, in 2018, to effectively revoke Rapplers license. Ressa and Rappler have subsequently faced charges of tax and securities fraud, which have yet to be resolved. In December 2018, Ressa narrowly avoided arrest on landing at an airport in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. In the first months of 2019, she was arrested on two separate occasions, and has repeatedly had to post bail to secure her freedom. Last year, Ressa wrote about her arrests for CJR, as well as Dutertes broader campaign of disinformationpatriotic trollingto pound critics into silence. Duterte said around the time of his inauguration, in 2016, that just because youre a journalist, you are not exempted from assassination, if youre a son of a bitch. Since then, he has lobbed allegations of fraud at the owners of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the countrys biggest English-language title, and ABS-CBN, the countrys biggest broadcast network. The Inquirer was sold to a pro-Duterte businessman. The government threatened to force ABS-CBN off the air; last month, it followed through after ABS-CBNs license, which is granted by the countrys legislature, expired. Pro-Duterte lawmakers stalled efforts to extend the license, and the government refused ABS-CBN special dispensation to continue broadcasting while the issue was resolved. Dutertes war on the press goes far beyond censorshiphes waged a brazen effort to exert almost total control over the Philippines information ecosystem. Almost all Filipinos with internet access use Facebook, which, thanks in part to subsidies that Facebook itself paid, is cheaper and easier to access than independent news sites; consequently, as Ressa wrote for CJR, Facebook is our internet. As Davey Alba explained in an exhaustive feature for BuzzFeed in 2018, allies of Duterte, who has admitted to deploying trolls during his election campaign, have flooded the platform with pro-government propaganda and crude smear campaignsincluding the weaponization of pornographytargeting critical journalists and politicians. There was no strong loyalty or support for news in the first place, Clarissa David, a professor at the University of the Philippines, told Alba. False news did not have to supplant the legacy brands. People went from no access to news to gaining access only through Facebooks algorithm-driven news feed. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Facebook has ramped up fact-checking programs and other measures in the country, but critics say its approach remains inadequate. Abuse is routine on the platformlast week, Regine Cabato reported, for the Washington Post, that trolls cloned accounts belonging to reporters, including student journalists, in order to harass or incriminate them. The fresh trolling campaign came in the context of draconian new anti-terror legislation the legislature passed last week, which will likely give the government yet another pretext to stifle dissent. Already this year, Duterte signed legislation ostensibly aimed at curbing misinformation around the spread of covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. A few days later, the law was used to charge two journalistsMario Batuigas and Amor Virata, who had reported on a local mayors social media posts about possible cases of the virus in Cavite City, south of Manilawith spreading false information. Internationally, Ressaa former CNN bureau chief who is a dual US citizenis the most visible victim of Dutertes war on the press, but she is far from alone. From lone typos to major media conglomerates, Duterte and his allies are leading a totalizing war on dissent in the Philippines and, in the process, tipping the country back toward its days of dictatorship. Writing for CJR, Ressa recalled starting out as a journalist in the late eighties, covering Southeast Asias transition from authoritarian rule to democracy. Its bizarre now to think of the euphoria then. Below, more on the Philippines and international press freedom: Other notable stories: ICYMI: Why micropayments will never be a thing in journalism Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Wrexham hospital patients enjoying virtual visits thanks to Coleg Cambria iPad donations This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 16th, 2020 Hospital patients in Wrexham are enjoying virtual visits with family thanks to the kindness of staff at Coleg Cambria. The north east Wales college has donated iPads to the Wrexham Maelor Hospital to allow relatives currently unable to physically visit the wards due to the Coronavirus pandemic can stay in contact with loved ones. Brian Laing, Informatics Project Manager at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) thanked Cambria for the generous gesture. The use of these iPads has been really appreciated and beneficial to our patients, he said. One patient received a Skype call from their relatives in Australia on their birthday, which was great to see as it really brightened up their day. There relatives were also very thankful and appreciative that we were able to provide this service. Thank you, Coleg Cambria. The Health Board had already been working behind the scenes to provide iPads to patients across its North Wales community hospitals and care homes in response to Covid-19. The donation from Cambria and partner organisations means they have also been able to improve digital inclusion at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan. Mark Brandish, Director of Technology and Library Services at Cambria, said the colleges place at the heart of the community means they are ready and able to support people who need it most during the pandemic. Coleg Cambria has been doing all it can to work with our local communities to provide essential services and support to key workers during this challenging time, he said. When Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board got in touch to see if we were able to loan them some of our college iPads in order to help keep elderly and vulnerable patients connected with their families, we were only too pleased to help out. For more information on Coleg Cambria, visit the website: www.cambria.ac.uk Seoul, June 16 : North Korea blew up the inter-Korean joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong on Tuesday, sharply escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula after near-daily threats against Seoul over anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets. The North blew up the liaison office at 2.49 p.m., Yonhap News Agency quoted Seoul's Unification Ministry as saying. Earlier, military sources said that smoke was seen and an explosion was heard from the border town. The explosion came just days after Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned on June 13 that "before long, a tragic scene of the useless North-South joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen". The North has been lashing out at the South for failing to stop defectors from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border via balloons. Pyongyang has vowed to deal with South Korea as an "enemy", cut off all cross-border communication lines, and threatened to take other measures, including military action. Following the explosion, the South Korean military tightened its surveillance and readiness posture for possible accidental clashes near the tense border areas, according to officials. Earlier in the day, the General Staff of the (North) Korean People's Army warned that it is reviewing an action plan to advance into "the zones that had been demilitarized under the north-south agreement, turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten the vigilance" against the South, the Yonhap News Agency said in the report. "As of now, no unusual, specific military moves by the North Korean military have been detected. We are closely monitoring them," an officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The liaison office was launched in September 2018 to facilitate inter-Korean exchange and cooperation amid a reconciliatory mood created by summit talks between their leaders. The office suspended its operation in early January due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. It will cost Toronto $14.5 million to re-open its 10 nursing homes safely and prepare for a potential second wave of COVID-19, according to a report released today. The measures being recommended include continuing to screen everyone for illness who enters the homes, including temperature checks, mandatory use of masks and other personal protective equipment for staff, maintaining physical distancing measures and limiting staff to working at a single location. It also recommends expanding the use of technology to allow more virtual visits. The report, by staff from the citys seniors services and long-term care division, was released at the COVID-19 briefing at city hall on Monday. The report reviews what happened at the citys long-term care homes during the pandemic and makes 16 recommendations for action moving forward. The most expensive is maintaining mandatory and full access to PPE, estimated at $7.5 million a year, and maintaining active screening of staff, essential visitors and residents, with an estimated price tag of $3.5 million a year. Implementation of these key recommendations will enable SSLTC to continue its proactive and nimble COVID-19 response, and ensure the citys long-term care homes are prepared for a potential second wave of COVID-19, according to the report. The city took early action prior to the World Health Organization declaring a pandemic to ensure a safe environment for the 2,600 residents who live in the citys 10 long-term care homes, and the more than 3,300 people who work there, but despite best efforts, the virus proved difficult to contain, the report points out. Three city homes, Seven Oaks, Kipling Acres and Lakeshore Lodge experienced significant outbreaks in the early states of the pandemic. Working experience gained in the early outbreaks helped the city more effectively mitigate outbreaks in other city homes. According to the report, as the homes gradually re-open, based on that early experience and on guidance from local and provincial health authorities, communal dining will resume, while maintaining physical distancing. So will resident programs, with a maximum of five residents per group. Medical and other service appointments will resume, although virtual consultations will be performed as needed. Returning residents and new residents that test negative 24 hours prior to admission will be admitted. At one point during the pandemic, all city long-term care homes reported residents or staff or both with the virus, according to a press release from the city. Today, 11 residents in three city homes are positive for COVID-19. Also at the press conference, Mayor John Tory thanked Premier Doug Ford for the careful and prudent decision to not push Toronto into Phase 2 of the provincial reopening plan. The Peel region and Windsor will also remain in Phase 1. Dr. Eileen de Villa, Torontos public health chief, said keeping Toronto in Phase 1 was a reasonable decision. We are getting closer to our goal of 14 days of (daily new infection) decreases, but we are not quite there yet, de Villa said. In Phase 2, residents will be able to eat at patio restaurants, get haircuts and shop in malls. Sources have told the Star that July 26 is being eyed for Toronto entering Phase 2 if virus indicators continue to improve. On Monday, Torontos seven-day average for new daily infections dropped to 98 from 116. Tory urged restaurants and bars that want to claim public space to open or expand patios to prepare for Phase 2 by registering with CafeTO. Business owners can apply to: install a new cafe on sidewalk in front of or beside their business or in front of an adjacent property; expand an existing sidewalk; or install a new patio in a curb lane of roadway. Francine Kopun is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @KopunF David Rider is the Stars City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider Read more about: During this critical moment, we are more committed than ever to combatting the systemic issues of racism and all forms of discrimination, and prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable communities, King said in a statement. The next three years will shape our citys future for decades and our caucus is devoted to advancing progressive policy that ensures every Chicagoan has the opportunity to not just survive, but thrive. Given that even one word matters, how sad that those who know better speak with words that inflame and alienate rather than resonate and unify, choosing words such as defund and abolish police departments when they meant reform, fix, renew, transform, cleanse or overhaul. Both in the District and Minneapolis, the inflammatory words were weaponized in an effort to humiliate two courageous mayors into a position they courageously chose not to take. Both said No. Those nos keep faith with the peacemakers and the millions of Americans unified to value our police. And value their victims. A New York family told by their town to take down a banner displaying a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. because it violated a fire code say they believe they are being unjustly targeted. Avisia Brown and her family were told they need to take down a banner hung outside their house displaying a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. in Eastchester, N.Y. (Avisia Brown) For the past 10 years, Avisia Brown, who is white, said she has hung banners outside the home she shares with her mother, husband and son in Eastchester, about 20 miles northeast of Manhattan. In most cases, the banners made from an old bed sheet are hung to celebrate a holiday. About a week and a half ago, Brown, 37, said she erected a display to join the national conversation on racial inequality to honor George Floyd, the 46-year-old African American man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes on May 25. Brown draped a banner over a window with the King quote, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." In the grass and dirt in front of the home she placed signs that say, "Black Lives Matter," "No justice no peace" and "United We Stand." There is also a poster that quotes some of Floyd's last words, "I can't breathe." Avisia Brown has previously had a Halloween display outside her house with banners, in Eastchester, N.Y. (Avisia Brown) "I feel like it encompasses exactly what's happened right now," Brown said in an interview Tuesday, referring to King's quote. "A lot of people look at it as 'Black Lives Matter, that's not my issue. I don't need to worry about it.'" But, she said, people "need to realize it's going to trickle down. It's not a political issue. This is a civil rights issue. If you can watch a man have his neck kneeled on for nearly 9 minutes, and it not move you there's something wrong." When Brown and her family set out on their daily walk Sunday, her husband, Dan Brown, found a note in the dirt between the house and porch. It was a notice from the Town of Eastchester Building and Planning Department that had apparently been left there Friday, informing them they had until Saturday to remove the banner from the front facade of the residence. Story continues The banner violated a fire prevention and building code, the note said. If it was not removed by Monday, the homeowner, Avisia Brown's mother, Doreen Limato, could be fined up to $1,000 for every day it is up. In a statement to NBC News, the town of Eastchester said it supports the free expression of different view points, and that while certain types of signs and holiday decorations are permitted, banners are not. "The content of the banner is not considered in issuing warnings or violations," the town said. "Numerous other signs with similar messages were placed at the same residence and remain there." The town said it had received complaints about Brown's banner, and after several unsuccessful attempts were made to contact the owner of the property to advise it was in violation of the code and needed to be removed, a notice of violation was issued. Brown removed the banner to avoid any fines, but she said she believes her family is being singled out because of the display's messaging. Brown said she has displayed banners the same size and made from the same material for the past decade that have been up for 30 to 60 days before and well after a holiday without notice from the town. The family has also featured over-the-top Halloween decorations and never faced opposition, she said. In October, Brown placed a banner that said "Christ promised a resurrection of the dead" over the same window where she hung the banner that has come under scrutiny. Some of her neighbors including one across the street have large window displays, but have told her they have not received a notice from the town. "We've never been told this was in violation of anything," she said. "We have neighbors who have banners up for graduations." Brown said she has contacted the town to see if they can provide clarification as to why she alone has received a notice. The town disputed that account on Tuesday, saying that at around the same time a notice was issued where Brown lives, "several other premises were notified that they must remove their banners." All but one complied with the requests, the town said, adding that the residence was then issued a notice of violation and ultimately complied. Brown said she has requested the town consider amending its sign laws. Three months after New York hospitals closed to visitors due to COVID-19, visitation can resume at the facilities. The announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday gives hospitals the discretion to resume visitation. The state's decision follows a pilot program at 16 hospitals, including St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, that restarted visitation with some restrictions in May. Hospitals that decide to open for visitors must follow safety guidelines. The guidelines include time-limited visits, screenings and temperature checks before entry and requiring visitors to wear masks and other personal protective equipment while in the hospital. "This was always a balance of public health versus the personal relationships and people who are in hospitals who desperately want to see loved ones and loved ones who want to see people in hospitals," Cuomo said of the three-month-long suspension. Before resuming visitation, hospitals must plan to allow guests into the facilities while protecting patients. Auburn Community Hospital hasn't decided when it will allow visitors. The hospital's existing visitation policy is that no visitors are allowed except in certain circumstances, including delivery and labor, if the patient is a child or has developmental or intellectual disabilities, and for "imminent end-of-life situations." Matthew Chadderdon, vice president of marketing and public affairs at Auburn Community Hospital, said Tuesday that the hospital's COVID-19 task force which was established 100 days ago plans to discuss the topic at its next meeting. "We're going to take a look at the executive order and make sure that we have all the precautions in place before we make a decision on visitations," Chadderdon said. There are already strict standards in place for employees entering the hospital. Before beginning their shift, employees are screened and their temperatures are checked. Employees wear masks throughout the hospital, Chadderdon said. At the hospital's nursing home, Finger Lakes Center for Living, employees are tested for COVID-19 once a week to abide by a state mandate. "It's pretty rigorous and we just need to make sure that we're properly prepared for the kind of visitation that we would expect. We'll take it up and take a look at it. When we're ready certainly that's something we'll communicate to the public and our patients and our employees." In other news: Cayuga County reported no new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. The county's total number of confirmed cases stands at 109. Four people who recently tested positive for COVID-19 remain in mandatory isolation. Fifty-five people are in mandatory quarantine due to possible exposure to the virus. There have been 103 people discharged from mandatory isolation, according to the Cayuga County Health Department. Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Protesters in Albuquerque, N.M., wrapped a chain around the neck of a bronze statue and began tugging and chanting, "Tear it down," shortly before sunset Monday. Their efforts to pull down a monument to Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate suddenly stopped as four shots rang out. Most people instinctively turned toward the noise, videos from the scene show. A few screamed. Just yards away, a group of men sporting quasi-military garb and carrying semiautomatic rifles formed a protective circle around the gunman. The gunshots, which left one man in critical but stable condition, have caused a public outcry - both over the shooting itself and the presence of what many have called an unregulated militia. On Tuesday morning, the Albuquerque Police Department announced that detectives had arrested Steven Baca, 31, in the shooting. Baca, who appeared to be protecting the statue and opened fire after people pursued and hit him, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and firearm enhancement, according to a criminal complaint. The victim, Scott Williams, suffered gunshot wounds to the torso and immediately received aid from bystanders, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, a Democrat, said the statue would now be speedily removed as an "urgent matter of public safety" until authorities determine a next step. "The shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city," Keller said in a statement. "Our diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us. Our hearts go out [to] the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight." State leaders have denounced the armed civilian group that gathered in the area. Some of its members were taken into custody, police said. The group says it is not affiliated with the shooting suspect. "The heavily armed individuals who flaunted themselves at the protest, calling themselves a 'civil guard,' were there for one reason: To menace protesters, to present an unsanctioned show of unregulated force," New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, said in a statement. "To menace the people of New Mexico with weaponry - with an implicit threat of violence - is on its face unacceptable; that violence did indeed occur is unspeakable." Recent protests against Onate statues in New Mexico mirror similar calls to tear down Confederate monuments amid a rise in demonstrations after the killing of George Floyd, who died on May 25 as a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. In the hours leading up to the violence Monday, protesters faced off with members of an armed group that calls itself the New Mexico Civil Guard and counterprotesters toting "All lives matter" signs. One group sought to tear down a monument to Onate, a 16th-century despot who massacred indigenous people. The other set out as self-designated protectors of the statue, creating a heavily armed presence at the park in Albuquerque's historic Old Town. Aside from a few scuffles over signs near the monument, the protest had largely been peaceful, although tense at times. Then a white man in a blue T-shirt appeared to rile the crowd, according to video obtained by KOB4. People erupted in shouts, and the man took a few steps back. The man in the blue shirt, identified as Baca, seemed to be protecting the statue in a bystander's video, police said in the criminal complaint. An undercover police detective saw protesters pursuing Baca, who used pepper spray on them, the complaint adds. "The group appeared to maliciously pursue" Baca, hitting him with their hands and legs, police state. In the video obtained by KOB4, a masked protester swung what police identified as a longboard and struck Baca in the shoulder. The man backpedaled out of the crowd but continued to exchange shouts with protesters. Someone in the video encouraged people to follow the man and get his license plate number. Several people followed him, and one tackled him to the ground. According to the complaint, Williams - the gunshot victim, dressed in black - can be seen on bystander video retrieving the board and swinging it toward Baca's upper body and head. Then, the complaint says, Baca fired several shots. The crowd scattered. In a second video that captured the moments after the shooting, the gunman sat in the middle of a road as New Mexico Civil Guard members formed a circle around him. One man carrying a semiautomatic rifle and wearing camouflage fatigues and a military-style helmet kicked the handgun away from the man and stood with his foot on the weapon. Police responded to the scene with tear gas and stun grenades to force the crowd back. Officers detained several members of the armed group, according to reporters and witnesses at the scene. Video showed officers placing the apparent gunman into a cruiser. Police wrote in the criminal complaint against Baca that he was recorded holding a black semiautomatic handgun like the one eventually recovered from the scene along with four spent shell casings. Baca could be seen firing and then placing the weapon on the ground, sitting away from it and using his personal cellphone, the complaint states. Baca did not appear to be injured in the video but was taken to a hospital and declined to speak to law enforcement, the complaint says. Police have released little information about the suspected shooter and have not said whether they think he has any connection to the armed group. In a Facebook post, New Mexico Civil Guard Curry County denied that the gunman was a member, writing that its affiliates responded to disarm and encircle the gunman and prevent further violence. Baca is a political conservative and a registered Republican, according to voter records. He last year ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Albuquerque City Council, telling the Albuquerque Journal at the time that "he felt compelled to seek his first elected office out of fear the community is becoming a 'third world country.' " On his campaign Facebook page, which no longer exists, Baca criticized local authorities as being "complete wimps when it comes to fighting crime," the newspaper reported. He went on to receive less than 6 percent of the vote. A 2016 GoFundMe account that he seems to have created indicates that he traveled to the Republican National Convention that year as an alternate delegate. Baca told the Albuquerque Journal last year that he is the son of a former Bernalillo County sheriff. A spokesman for the sheriff's office on Monday declined to say whether Baca's father had served as sheriff but said he had not been employed by the department for nearly 20 years. "Despite false rumors, the suspect has no connection to BCSO. His father worked for the agency nearly twenty years ago, but was no longer an employee of BCSO as of 2001," Sheriff's Deputy Connor Otero said in an email. Otero declined to say whether Baca or the New Mexico Civil Guard were previously known to the sheriff's office. The New Mexico Civil Guard, which identified itself to a New York Times reporter covering the protest Monday, has a controversial history. The right-wing group has repeatedly shown up at Black Lives Matter protests in recent weeks with guns and in quasi-military garb. On Facebook, the group has shared materials encouraging people to arm themselves, promoted military training on infantry tactics and "ambushing," and shared posts opposing the leveling of monuments to Confederate figures in the South and Onate in New Mexico. Members of the group recently told the Eastern New Mexico News that their aim was to protect businesses from damage during protests. They said they had been in contact with police and were following guidance given to them by officials. Groups such as the New Mexico Civil Guard and other armed far-right counterprotesters, often referred to as "militias," have been a controversial presence at Black Lives Matter protests across the United States. At an Albuquerque protest this month, video of police talking to an armed "militia" spurred allegations that officers were coordinating with the group in an official capacity, although police denied the claim. At least one national lawmaker from New Mexico viewed the group's consistent presence at protests as suspicious enough to warrant further inquiry. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, called on the Justice Department to investigate the shooting Monday night. "This is not the first report of heavily armed civilian militias appearing at protests around New Mexico in recent weeks. These extremists cannot be allowed to silence peaceful protests or inflict violence," Heinrich said on Twitter on Monday night. Some critics have drawn contrasts between police response to largely peaceful and unarmed Black Lives Matter protests and the demonstrations against coronavirus restrictions in April and May by heavily armed people. Monday's shooting also led some critics to note that the armed civilians and alleged shooter were taken into custody by police without incident, but the Black Lives Matter protests are responding to incidents in which police have fatally shot unarmed black men. "Notice how calmly they're all being detained," former housing secretary Julian Castro tweeted Monday night. "Don't tell me George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks and Eric Garner - who did not harm anybody - couldn't be treated differently." Meanwhile, Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier vowed to investigate any group that sought to stoke violence at the protest. "We are receiving reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence," Geier said in a statement. "If this is true [we] will be holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, including federal hate group designation and prosecution." - - - The Washington Post's Julie Tate, Matt Zapotosky and Katie Mettler contributed to this report. Camden Property Trust (NYSE:CPT), FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX) and Shoe Carnival Inc (NASDAQ:SCVL) announced quarterly dividends on Monday, June 15. These companies draw the interest of dividend investors because they are long term payers and have increased their dividends significantly over the past five years. Camden Property Trust The Houston, Texas-based real estate company focusing on multifamily homes announced that on July 17, it will distribute a quarterly cash dividend of 83 cents per common share, which is on par with the previous payment. The quarterly dividend will be paid to shareholders of record as of June 30. The ex-dividend date is scheduled for June 29. Based on Monday's closing price of $93.79 per share, the quarterly dividend generates a 3.53% forward dividend yield. The S&P 500 yields 1.94% as of June 15. Camden Property Trust has been distributing dividends for approximately 27 years and increased them by a compound annual growth rate of almost 5% over the past five years. The company sustains the dividend with cash on hand of $22.3 million and trailing 12-month operating income of $501 million as of the most recent quarter ended on March 30. In the past year, the share price dropped 12.7%, determining a 52-week range of $62.48 to $120.73. The market capitalization is $9.13 billion, the price-earnings ratio is 41.68 versus the industry median of 14.64 and the price-sales ratio is 8.96 versus the industry median of 6.35. Wall Street sell-side analysts recommended an overweight rating for the stock and have produced an average target price of $99.94 per share. FedEx Corp The Memphis, Tennessee-based global provider of transportation, e-commerce and business services to individuals and companies announced that on July 13, it will pay a quarterly cash dividend of 65 cents per common share to shareholders of record as of June 29. The payment will be on par with the previous one. The ex-dividend date is scheduled for June 26. Story continues Based on Monday's closing price of $133.68 per share, the quarterly cash dividend generates a 1.95% forward dividend yield. The S&P 500 yields 1.94% as of June 15. FedEx Corp has been paying dividends for approximately 18 years and increased them at a CAGR of 28.23% over the past five years. As of most recent quarter, which ended last Feb. 28, the company funds the payment of the quarterly dividend with $1.8 billion in cash on hand. In the past year, the share price has declined by 18.3%, determining a 52-week range of $88.69 to $199.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.92 billion, a price-sales ratio of 0.5 versus the industry median of 0.65 and a price-book ratio of 1.86 versus the industry median of 0.97. Wall Street sell-side analysts recommended an overweight rating for the stock and have established an average target price of $134.50 per share. Shoe Carnival Inc The Evansville, Indiana-based footwear retailer announced that on July 20, it will distribute a quarterly cash dividend of 9 cents per common share, which represents a 6% hike compared to the prior distribution. The payment will be made to shareholders of record as of July 6. The ex-dividend date is scheduled for July 2. Based on Monday's closing price of $27.02 per share, the quarterly dividend produces a1.33% forward yield. The S&P 500 grants a dividend yield of 1.94% as of June 15. Shoe Carnival Inc has been paying dividends for nearly eight years and has grown them at a CAGR of 6.6% over the past five years. The company sustains the dividend with $13 million in cash on hand and $33.4 million in trailing 12-month operating cash flow. Figures are as of the most recent quarter, which ended on May 1. The share price was almost flat over the past 12 months of trading. The 52-week range was $12.56 to $40. The stock has a market capitalization of approximately $380.66 million, a price-earnings ratio of 32.95 versus the industry median of 17.5 and a price-sales ratio of 0.42 versus the industry median of 0.51. Wall Street sell-side analysts issued a buy recommendation rating for the stock and have produced an average target price of $32.75 per share. Disclosure: I have no positions in any securities mentioned. Read more here: Not a Premium Member of GuruFocus? Sign up for a free 7-day trial here This article first appeared on GuruFocus. As graduation season approaches, Zhejiang Sci-tech University in Hangzhou, capital of east Chinas Zhejiang province, recently prepared creative cakes for nearly a thousand students who are about to graduate from the university, Chinanews.com reported Tuesday. By June 15, all the cakes were baked and ready to be distributed to students as souvenirs. To express their good wishes to the students, the university has specially designed novelty moulds for the cakes, which feature the universitys logo and mascot as well as words of encouragement. The cakes were baked in a variety of flavors, including cheese and pumpkin, pineapple, and black sesame. PALM BEACH, Fla., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Karyn Turk, former Mrs. Florida, activist and political commentator has launched a new online series "Behind The Headlines". Behind The Headlines is an investigative series that takes viewers "behind the headlines" of the nation's biggest stories to highlight the inaccuracies of headlines to actual facts and present viewers with a different perspective. The first episode of Behind The Headlines seeks to set the record straight where the headlines differ from the actual facts in Karyn Turk's own case. Karyn Turk Karyn Turk Turk captured national attention in early 2020 when the media reported salacious headlines such as "Mrs. Florida Stole Pennies off Her Mother's Eyes Before She Died" and "The Palm Beach Socialite Charged with Scamming the Elderly". Turk has spent the last couple of years in a brutal war with her mother's nursing home over her mother's care and physical signs of neglect. She reported the nursing home to numerous government agencies, which resulted in the appointment of a "guardian" to oversee her mother's care. This guardian did very little to improve her mother's care but did oversee her mother's estate and began charging hefty fees to liquidate it. Turk ultimately received a misdemeanor charge for inaccurately reporting the use of a small portion of her mother's funds since the guardian now controlled everything. Turk was sentenced to 30 days in a maximum-security prison for this in March. Upon release she started advocating against guardianship fraud by working with the Center for Estate Administration Reform (CEAR) and is lobbying Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida and Washington D.C. leaders for change. Guardianship fraud is a financial scheme to defraud elderly individuals of their life savings: it is a widespread criminal network involving nursing homes, lawyers, and guardians. It is more prevalent that we think with over 1.5 million adults under guardianship with 273+ Billion in assets under their guardian's control. For the full story of what happened to Karyn Turk, you can go to Behind The Headlines TV on YouTube. Karyn Turk is available for interviews on her story, the show and guardianship fraud. Please contact Kristin Davis at [email protected] or (212) 920-9918 to schedule. SOURCE Karyn Turk They will determine the circumstances under which a region may tighten some restrictions Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is preparing the next changes for the regions that are aimed at strengthening lockdown restrictions. This was announced by Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov at a meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, the press service of the Presidents Office reports. "Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov said that changes to the resolution regulating the observance of quarantine measures would be made," the statement said. They will determine the circumstances under which a region may tighten some restrictions. This will be necessary in case the epidemic situation worsens. As we reported earlier, as of June 15, Ukraine's capital city Kyiv and another 10 regions of the country are not ready for the weakening of quarantine measures, as the current Covid-19 incidence in these areas still exceeds the allowable rate. According to Ukraine's Healthcare Ministry, Kyiv, Volyn region Vinnytsia region, Zhytomyr region, Zakarpattyya region, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Lviv region, Rivne region, Ternopil region, Chernivtsi region and Chernihiv region are not ready to mitigate the lockdown. The highest rate is observed in Volyn region (34.81), the lowest - in Chernihiv region (12.62). Augustoberfest to return in 2022, but in a new location This year marks the 25th anniversary of Augustoberfest, usually held in downtown Hagerstown. But this year's festival is moving out of Hagerstown. Smartphone apps used to trace the spread of the novel coronavirus in Bahrain, Kuwait and Norway are putting the privacy of thousands of people at risk, Amnesty International warned Tuesday. Researchers at the groups Security Lab analyzed apps in 11 countries, including those in Bahrain and Kuwait, which upload GPS-captured location data to a central database that allows live or near-live tracking of individuals. Because the apps require users to register with their national ID number, Amnesty warns authorities in those countries could easily tie personal information to an individual. The group expressed similar concerns over Norways app, which uses phone numbers for registration. Bahrain, Kuwait and Norway have run roughshod over peoples privacy, said Claudio Guarnieri, head of Amnesty Internationals Security Lab. They are essentially broadcasting the locations of users to a government database in real time this is unlikely to be necessary and proportionate in the context of a public health response. Amnesty said contact-tracing apps such as the one used in the United Arab Emirates can reduce the risk of mass surveillance by having users voluntarily report themselves as symptomatic, rather than automatically uploading their data. The group called on governments to ensure their coronavirus-related apps securely store users information and collect only what data is necessary. It also urged Kuwait and Bahrain to immediately halt the use of their highly invasive surveillance tools." Governments across the world need to press pause on rolling out flawed or excessively intrusive contact-tracing apps that fail to protect human rights. If contact-tracing apps are to play an effective part in combating COVID-19, people need to have confidence their privacy will be protected, said Guarnieri. After Amnesty shared its findings with the Norwegian government, the country announced Monday it would suspend the use of its coronavirus app. How extensively can potential jurors be questioned to see if they harbour racist views? A newly published Ontario court ruling is being hailed by some legal experts as a hopeful sign of things to come after the judge in a Toronto murder trial allowed lawyers wider latitude to probe for potential bias. While lawyers have been allowed for almost three decades to screen jurors for racial prejudice, theres been a tendency for judges to limit the scope of questioning to yes-or-no-style questions: Do you harbour any racial prejudices? If so, can you put them aside in your decision making? But in a decision last year that was just published on the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CANLII) website, Ontario Superior Court Justice Kofi Barnes allowed for more nuanced questions along with multiple-choice answers at the start of a murder trial. Acknowledging that anti-Black bias is entrenched in some individuals, societies and institutions, Barnes wrote that the danger of unexplored subconscious racial bias was too important to ignore. Rakhi Ruparelia, a University of Ottawa law professor who has been advocating for more robust screening of jurors, called the decision significant. Time will tell, but everything that is happening right now in terms of current events and awareness of racism in the criminal justice system, I think its going to be hard for judges to deny the level of discrimination and systemic discrimination, she said. We need to move to a place where we can say, What do we do about it? rather than, Is there a problem? The option to screen jurors for potential racial bias was allowed after a landmark 1993 Ontario Court of Appeal decision in R v Parks, a case involving a Black drug dealer in Toronto who was accused of second-degree murder in the death of a white drug user. But since that decision, judges have generally been reluctant to expand the scope of questioning of jurors, citing a lack of empirical evidence it is needed and the concern it would take up too much court time and be too invasive, Ruparelia said. Sticking to the standard line of questioning is overly simplistic and not terribly helpful. Very few jurors will actually admit their bias openly and thats assuming theyre aware of their bias, she said. It really doesnt take that much extra time to do it properly. If it did take a bit of extra time, if it meant that we have a better jury a more impartial jury isnt that worth the investment? Ruparelia didnt mince words in a 2018 column published in the Canadian Bar Associations national magazine. If we truly aspire to dismantle systemic inequalities in criminal justice, our (predominantly white) judiciary needs to overcome its discomfort with issues of racism, she wrote. Barnes decision helps to move the needle, experts say. His decision stems from a case involving two men, Trayon Johnson and Richard Ireland, who were accused of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Maxwell Chavez and the attempted murder of Jackson Merizzi at a Mississauga shopping plaza in 2017. At the start of the trial last year, lawyers for Johnson, who is Black, applied to the court for an opportunity to question prospective jurors to suss out the existence of racist, discriminatory or otherwise intolerant attitudes toward men of African ancestry. The first proposed question asked: Do you believe that Black men are more likely than other men to commit certain types of violent crimes? That was followed by five possible answers: I strongly agree; I agree, but not strongly; I disagree, but not strongly; I strongly disagree; and I dont know. The second question asked: As a result of attitudes that some people have grown up with, or experiences they have had, it may be more difficult for them to attempt to judge the evidence of the witnesses without bias, prejudice or partiality. Might you be even slightly hesitant in your ability to judge the case fairly given that one of the individuals charged is a Black man, one of the victims is white, and the other victim had a white mother and a Latino father? This was followed by four possible answers: I would not be able to judge the case fairly; I might be able to judge the case fairly; I would be able to judge the case fairly; and I do not know if I would be able to judge the case fairly. In allowing these questions, Barnes said while the yes/no style of questioning allowed in the 1993 Parks decision was well suited to identify overt racist beliefs, it did not capture our contemporary understanding of racism, particularly subconscious racial bias. Maureen Addie, one of Johnsons lawyers, told the Star the more nuanced questioning was effective and that there were some people excluded from the jury who likely would not have been excluded under the standard line of questioning. It gives people who are being asked the questions an opportunity to be more reflective and honest with themselves and with everyone else. And it gives the triers more time and information to assess the person, Addie said. A jury ultimately acquitted Johnson of both charges in June 2019, while his co-accused, Ireland, was found guilty. Ireland has appealed. Kent Roach, a University of Toronto law professor, said he expects to see more judges follow Barnes example of allowing deeper questioning of jurors following the federal governments adoption last year of jury selection reforms under Bill C-75. Under the old system, the responsibility for weeding out biased jurors fell to a couple of everyday citizens picked out of the jury pool, called triers. The Crown and defence lawyers could also exercise a limited number of peremptory challenges that allowed them to exclude prospective jurors without having to give a reason. Under the new system, the responsibility for screening jurors shifts entirely to the judge. Whats changed with Bill C-75 is the judge is now making the decision and the judge understandably wants more information and the judge wants more nuanced information, Roach said. Hopefully thisll break the dam. Now that judges are having to make this decision theyll decide that it is worth spending a few more seconds. Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus has urged the government to not forget female workers affected by the coronavirus lockdown in the wake of its commitment of $688 million to the male-dominated construction sector through its HomeBuilder program. Speaking at the State of the Nation forum hosted by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, Ms McManus said the pandemic and associated shutdowns had a greater impact on women, and the government's economic response needed to address that. ACTU secretary Sally McManus (centre) has warned the government not to forget women in its coronavirus recovery plans. Credit:Louise Kennerley "You think about those that have been most hard hit out of this?" Ms McManus said. "Well, it's women and young people really, it's ... obviously the hospitality industry, retail industry, arts and entertainment." "If our response is entirely about, 'well, we've got a pink recession and we need to respond through blue-collar jobs' ... are we really addressing what's actually happened?" Ms McManus said. The biggest cities in Jackson County will have to wait a little longer to receive CARES Act funding, which had to first be funneled through the state of Missouri and now is tied up by red tape at the county level. Have Sheriff Offices in North Carolina, possibly even Beaufort County's Sheriff Office, become too political in the discharging of their sworn constitutional duties? No, the sheriff is a constitutional officer. Yes, the Sheriff Office, on strong occasion, often reverts back to political patronage in the dispensation of their sworn constitutional duties. A mild earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter Scale struck the Kutch region in Gujarat on Tuesday (June 16) morning at 10:49 AM. This is the third earthquake to hit Kutch in Gujarat in the last three days. According to officials, the epicentre of the low-intensity earthquake was located 11 km away from Bhachau, a small town in Kutch. On Monday (June 15), tremors were felt twice within five minutes in Bhachau region of Kutch leaving the residents in a state of panic with many rushing out of their homes to save their lives. The first tremor was felt at 12:57 pm and it was of 4.6 magnitude, while the second tremor was felt at 1 pm and it measured 3.6 on Richter Scale. The epicentre of both these quakes were near Bhachau. On Sunday (June 14) too, Kutch was jolted by a low-intensity earthquake of 4.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale. The epicentre of the earthquake was 15 km away from Kutch. Meanwhile, an earthquake measuring 5.8 on Richter scale struck Jammu and Kashmir at 7 am on Tuesday. This was the third earthquake to hit the union territory in three days. According to officials, the epicentre of earthquake was in Tajikistan at a depth of around 100 Km. People living in most parts of the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar, Kishtwar and Doda districts felt the tremors. Mild tremors were also felt in Jammu. Sheriff Dart seems to genuinely do all he can to help level the playing field, as do other elected officials. But so far, no one has been able to figure out how to clean up the inequality that seems to financially punish south suburban residents at every turn. Authorities in Beijing placed a swath of the city under lockdown on Monday and tested tens of thousands of people as they rushed to contain a new coronavirus outbreak that marked an unnerving breach in Chinas capital Authorities in Beijing placed a swath of the city under lockdown on Monday and tested tens of thousands of people as they rushed to contain a new coronavirus outbreak that marked an unnerving breach in Chinas capital. President Xi Jinping had said from the outset that Beijing, the seat of Communist Party power and a crowded metropolis, should be a fortress against the pandemic, and local officials have imposed strict measures to keep infections low. Until now, the efforts appeared to have protected the capital against the virus after it emerged late last year in Wuhan, a city in central China. While the dozens of new cases in Beijing seem slight compared to the hundreds and even thousands of infections reported daily in other countries, the fresh outbreak has jolted China, prompting the government to fire local officials and reinstate some recently relaxed restrictions. The resurgence of cases points to the challenges that governments around the world face as they reopen economies while the virus persists. We feel this is dangerous, Chen Xiaoxi, owner of a shop around two miles from a market linked to the new outbreak, said by telephone. He said he was awaiting the results of a nucleic acid test to check if he had the virus. It is a worry; everyone is worried, Chen said. This is no ordinary disease. Were waiting at home and cant go out. The city government said Monday it had tracked down 79 coronavirus infections over the previous four days, including 36 confirmed Sunday. Virtually all appeared ultimately traceable to the vast, bustling Xinfadi food market in the south of Beijing. Later in the day, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation, told a news conference that more than 100 cases have now been confirmed in the Beijing flare-up. Xi, who is also the leader of the ruling Communist Party, has not commented publicly on the latest cases, but he previously stressed the importance of controlling outbreaks in Beijing, as well as Wuhan. The safety and stability of the capital directly concerns the broader outlook for the party and the country, he said in February when giving orders about the epidemic. Some Chinese disease control experts said Beijing appeared to respond to the outbreak quickly. Even so, this failure in the capitals defences appeared to rile Xis subordinates. Two local officials and the general manager of the Xinfadi market were dismissed Sunday for what the city leadership said was a failure to move quickly enough against the infections. A vice premier warned that the outbreak could widen. The market is densely packed with many moving around, and the risks are high that the outbreak will spread, Sun Chunlan, a vice premier overseeing health policy, said at a meeting Sunday, according to Xinhua, the official news agency. Take firm and decisive measures to thoroughly prevent its spread. Until this outbreak, Beijing had gone 56 days without new locally acquired cases. Officials were mainly concerned that the virus would be carried in by Chinese people returning to the city from abroad. By the end of Sunday, Beijing had recorded a total of 499 cases of officially confirmed coronavirus infections since the epidemic began in late 2019, including nine deaths. A scattering of new infections outside Beijing appeared linked to the upsurge in the city. Sichuan province in southwest China said a woman who recently arrived there was infected, probably through her husband in Beijing who was infected. Hebei province next to Beijing reported four new cases connected to infections in the capital. Liaoning province in the northeast also said two cases there were connected to the Beijing infections. To stifle the new outbreak, the government has brought out a playbook of policies and restrictions honed during Chinas nationwide battle against the epidemic. Authorities shut down and sealed the market over the weekend. City officials were testing 90,000 residents from neighbourhoods around the Xinfadi market and another market suspected of a role in the infections, the government said Monday. Residential compounds in those neighbourhoods have been sealed, and authorities were racing to track down and isolate anyone who has been infected. The area is home to many migrant workers from elsewhere in China. Beijing city authorities announced Monday that neighbourhoods across the rest of the city would also step up checks, requiring round-the-clock manning of entrances, temperature checks and expanded disinfection. The government banned restaurants from holding wedding banquets and other large gatherings. Xu Hejian, a spokesperson for the Beijing government, said at a news conference Monday: We must fully grasp that epidemic containment in the capital is long-term, complex and arduous. By Sunday afternoon, 111 people had been ordered into supervised isolation in the Fengtai District, the area of southern Beijing that includes the market, because of their possible contact with infected people. The government said it had requisitioned rooms in 11 hotels to hold people. Eleven residential areas near the Xinfadi market were placed under strict guard over the weekend to prevent visitors from entering and most residents from leaving. Officials said that students across Beijing in grades that have resumed classes could choose to stay at home if they wished. Residents near the market described being tested for the virus by medical workers who took throat swabs. One resident, who gave only his surname, Cao, said he was worried that the virus could spread among residents like him as they milled around apartment compounds, waiting to be tested. While Communist Party leaders appeared to treat the outbreak as almost an embarrassing affront, epidemic experts sought to reassure the public. They said that like other countries, China should get used to the idea that outbreaks were likely even as overall infection rates fell. Beijing wont become a second Wuhan, Zeng Guang, a senior epidemiologist with the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, was quoted as saying by the Beijing Daily, the citys main official newspaper. Dont be overwrought. Heed the governments orders and trust the disease control workers and doctors. Still, the burst of cases in Beijing is worrisome because it has been traced to the citys main food market, where in normal times thousands of traders, suppliers and workers from beyond Beijing jostle with buyers from across the city. Usually, Xinfadi supplies about 70% of the fresh vegetables consumed in Beijing and 10% of its pork, a city official said last week. On Monday, officials said that 200,000 people had visited the market since May 30, although that estimate may have included repeat visits. The good news is that all the cases are linked to the Xinfadi market, and there have not been cases without a route of transmission, Zhang Wenhong, a medical expert at Fudan University in Shanghai, said in an online comment Sunday. The bad news is that the capacity of Xinfadi market is astounding, and its unclear where a new flash point will emerge, wrote Zhang, who has become a prominent voice in Chinese epidemic policymaking. The infections raise the risk of further cases in shops and restaurants where the food ends up. City officials have rushed to assure residents that other markets will step up their supplies of food. The customers at Xinfadi include many retail shoppers, especially retirees, who travel far to the market for its varied, cheap produce. The city government ordered anyone who went there recently to report to authorities. The governments aggressive tracing efforts have already indicated that the coronavirus spread among vendors and workers at the market, as well as some people who had shopped there. As of Monday, however, experts still had not said how the virus arrived in the market. The city government said that traces of the virus turned up on surfaces in the market, including on cutting boards for salmon. The finding brought about unproven theories that the virus was carried on the salmon or workers who handled it, and supermarket chains in the city threw out their stocks of salmon, according to local news reports. But Wu Zunyou, an investigator from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control, said on a government website Sunday that it would take more time and testing to pin down the source. Many of the first infections in Wuhan late last year were linked to a market that sold seafood and wild game, but officials have yet to say publicly how the virus spread in that market. Zhang, the Shanghai expert, said the outbreak in Beijing was a lesson in what Chinese citizens would have to get used to. Near-zero cases will be the normal for Chinas epidemic prevention, he wrote. I hope that society will adapt to this new normal as soon as possible. Chris Buckley c.2020 The New York Times Company Click here to read the full article. PARIS As the immediate business damage from the coronavirus comes into clearer focus, with Hennes & Mauritz AB groups Monday report showing sales are improving after falling 50 percent last quarter, broader signals about future consumption show an uneven recovery might be shaping up. With stores reopened in most markets, fast fashion players have largely moved past the worst of the disruption. More from WWD Inditex, which owns labels including Zara, Stradivarius and Massimo Dutti, last week said it expects sales to improve after falling 44 percent in the quarter ending April 30, when most of its stores were closed. With economic troubles expected to continue well after the stores reopen, however, how interested will consumers be in renewing their wardrobes with fresh styles and easily accessible fashion? A report from RBC Europe suggests that second handclothing could emerge as a threat to fast fashion. RBC analysts surveyed consumers in the U.K., Germany and Spain, and found that a majority of respondents had bought at least a fifth of their clothing second hand in the last year. Noting a shift away from fast fashion, RBC said over 60 percent of respondents indicated they were likely or very likely to purchase fewer, higher-quality items, rather than a large amount of inexpensive clothing. With price and quality remaining two of the most important factors that consumers consider when buying clothing, we see potential for people to move towards the higher quality but lower prices that secondhand clothing can offer, said RBC. This could have a negative effect on chains like Zara, H&M and Primark. Zara-owner Inditex, however, could take market share as newness could be favored by consumers in a downturn, according to RBC analysts. They also said they prefer investing in Inditex over H&M, citing the Spanish retailers inventory situation, more flexible business model and stronger balance sheet. Story continues Inditex is betting on digital prowess to navigate the current, choppy environment and last week announced plans to invest nearly 3 billion euros in beefing up its digital platforms and integrating store and online stock over the next couple of years. At the same time, it is sticking to its strategy of culling smaller stores to focus on larger, spruced up flagships COVID-19 disruptions have not called for a revision of this approach, executives said. Inditex noted normal consumer behavior in reopened stores, and said sales had recently returned to prior-year levels in China, Japan and South Korea. H&M group, which also owns Cos, Monki, Weekday and & Other stories, as well as Afound a n online discount retailer that sells marked down merchandise including secondhand items noted sales performance in reopened markets has varied greatly. The lockdown period boosted online business at both Inditex and H&M, with the Spanish retailer noting e-commerce sales were up 50 percent over its last quarter, which started in February. Inditex expects the online channel to account for over a quarter of total sales in 2022, compared to 14 percent last year. H&M said Monday that online sales rose 32 percent in local currencies, showing further proof that consumers deepened their embrace of online purchasing while physical stores were closed. The Swedish fast fashion retailer reported sales for the three months ending May 31 totaled 28.66 billion Swedish kronor, or $3.05 billion, a period which the company has said would be the most hit by the COVID-19 crisis. Sales this month so far, through June 13, were down 30 percent in local currencies, showing improvement. H&M has been gradually reopening stores since the end of April in a number of markets. Around 900 H&M stores remain closed, around 18 percent of the group total. Online sales are open in nearly all of its e-commerce markets 48 out of 51. Second quarter sales were better than expected, thanks to the online performance as well as the reopened stores, said Richard Chamberlain of RBC Europe, in an emailed research note. However, we remain relatively cautious on the margin and inventory outlook, and expect only a gradual pace of recovery from here, added Chamberlain. The analyst expects further markdowns next quarter, as it is traditionally a heavier clearance quarter. The sales figure was in line with expectations, noted analysts from Berenberg, who said they will be looking out for details on profitability, as gross margins may have been diluted from markdowns. H&M will provide further details on first-half results on June 26. Veteran Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, whose website Rappler has put President Rodrigo Duterte under tough scrutiny, was convicted of libel on Monday and faces up to six years in jail, in a ruling widely seen as a blow to media freedom. Veteran Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, whose website Rappler has put President Rodrigo Duterte under tough scrutiny, was convicted of libel on Monday and faces up to six years in jail, in a ruling widely seen as a blow to media freedom. Ressa, chief executive of Rappler and a former CNN journalist, was charged with cyber libel over a 2012 article that linked a businessman to illegal activities, reports Reuters. After the verdict, Ressa vowed not to be silenced and accused the judiciary of becoming complicit in a campaign to stifle press freedom in the Southeast Asian nation. Were at the precipice, if we fall over were no longer a democracy, she told reporters. The decision fuelled concern over human rights in a country where Dutertes war on drugs has left thousands dead and he recently renewed a threat to kill drug dealers, despite condemnation in a UN report. He is soon expected to sign an anti-terrorism law his opponents fear could target them, but which he says is needed to fight extremism. To the shock of many, leading broadcaster ABS-CBN Corp, which had criticised Duterte, had to stop broadcasts last month after its licence expired. In handing down the verdict against Ressa, 56, a dual US-Filipino citizen, Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa said the exercise of a freedom should and must be used with due regard to the freedom of others. Ressa faced up to six years in jail, the judge said. Reynaldo Santos, a former Rappler researcher and writer, was also found guilty. Both were granted bail pending an appeal. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte supported freedom of speech and it was a previous administration that pushed for the cyber libel law. Duterte had never filed a libel case against a journalist, he added. Let's first understand how Rappler became the forefront of the case and why the Philippine government is accused of going after media What is Rappler? Ressa and associates started Rappler on Facebook in 2011 and it became a news website in 2012. Rappler comes from combining rap and ripple, meaning to discuss and to make a wave. It covers everything from business to politics. Who owns and funds Rappler? Parent firm Rappler Holdings has four major shareholders with combined stakes of nearly 91 percent. They include Ressa (23.8 percent), media firm Dolphin Fire Group (31 percent), business incubator Hatchd Group (17.9 percent), and angel investor Benjamin So (17.9 percent). Rappler is funded by advertising, has a premium membership, and has engaged in crowdfunding. Why is Rappler singled out? The administration says it supports freedom of the media but must enforce the law. Critics say the government appears to be singling out Rappler. Its journalists are known for investigative reports, scrutinising the government and fact-checking people in power, especially President Rodrigo Duterte, whose public statements often contain inaccuracies and contradictions. Duterte has called Rappler a fake news outlet. Rapplers reporting on alleged irregularities and conflicts of interest has irked government members and Dutertes inner circle. It is banned from attending presidential events. What are the cases charged against Rappler? Rappler has been fighting at least three legal and regulatory challenges in the past year, which allege ownership violations, cyber libel, and failure to report gains of nearly $3 million in its 2015 tax returns. It denies wrongdoing. It operates pending a review after its license was revoked for violating rules against foreigners owning stakes in media. Rappler had argued Omidyar Network, the philanthropic arm of EBay founder Pierre Omidyar, was a silent investor. Omidyar cut ties to remove what it said was an artificial barrier being used against Rappler. Rappler also faces a libel case over a 2012 story that the justice ministry says broke a cybercrime law because the story was updated in 2014 after the law took effect. Are other media houses under similar pressure? There are no similar cases against other media, but Duterte and his office have publicly scolded the press. Salvador Panelo, Dutertes spokesman, has said Rappler, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, The New York Times and Reuters were hopelessly and blindly critical of the Duterte administration. Duterte says he has no problem with journalists, but he has threatened the broadcast license of media group ABS-CBN, accused a newspaper owner of dodging taxes, and blasted columnists who write on sensitive issues such as his health. Journalists say they face online hate and threats from Dutertes supporters, with patterns of trolling and language that indicate a degree of organisation. Rappler says the government uses the internet as a weapon, which it denies. Many threats originate from Facebook postings by pro-Duterte bloggers who say the mainstream media is biased. Some bloggers have ties to the administration or hold government posts. Dutertes office has said it respects free speech and is not responsible for the online conduct of private citizens. Philippines' position on the Press Freedom Index Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, part of a legal team representing Ressa, called the conviction an affront to the rule of law, a stark warning to the press, and a blow to democracy in the Philippines. I hope that the appeals court will set the record straight in this case. And that the United States will take action to protect their citizen and the values of their Constitution, she said in a statement. US lawmakers have previously criticised what they see as harassment. The cyber libel case is one of the numerous lawsuits the government has filed against Ressa and Rappler that have spurred global concern about the intimidation of reporters. Media watchdogs and human rights groups condemned Mondays verdict, which Amnesty International called a sham that should be quashed. With this latest assault on independent media, the human rights record of the Philippines continues its free fall, Nicholas Bequelin, its Asia-Pacific regional director, said in a statement. The Philippines slipped two places in the World Press Freedom Index this year to 136 among 180 countries, down from 134. Businessman Wilfredo Keng featured in a 2012 Rappler story, updated in 2014, linking him to illegal activities, citing information in an intelligence report from an unspecified agency. In his complaint, Keng said the story included malicious imputations of crimes, vices, and defects. The court ruling said Rappler showed actual malice for not publishing at least a clarification after Keng complained. With inputs from Reuters The Australian economy won't escape the deep global recession in the same way that it largely skirted the global financial crisis more than a decade ago. However, it is still in an enviable position when compared to the vast majority of developed countries through both good luck and good management. The living standards of Australians have heavily relied on the tailwinds of resources demand from China. Credit:Ian Waldie The economy has been underpinned by the resources industry for two decades but it's time to broaden our economic base. The luck is well known and transformative for our economy an abundance of natural resources. This fillip for growth has seen us almost uniquely placed among developed economies to benefit from enormous demand from China. The living standards of Australians have been underpinned and heavily relied on this tailwind for two decades. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Snow showers this morning. Peeks of sunshine later. High around 35F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers developing after midnight. Low 24F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%. U.N. human rights experts said on Tuesday that Israel's plan to annex significant parts of the occupied West Bank would violate international law banning the taking of territory by force, and urged other countries to actively oppose it. A joint statement, signed by nearly 50 independent experts, also voiced dismay at U.S. support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "unlawful" plan to extend sovereignty, de facto annexation of land that the Palestinians seek for a state. "The annexation of occupied territory is a serious violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions, and contrary to the fundamental rule affirmed many times by the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly that the acquisition of territory by war or force is inadmissible," it said. What would be left of the West Bank after annexation of about 30% would amount to a "Palestinian Bantustan", it said, in a reference to South Africas poverty-stricken "homelands", where black people were confined during apartheid Israel's foreign ministry declined comment. Netanyahu has set July 1 as the date to begin advancing his plan to annex Israel's settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, hoping for a green light from Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a peace plan that includes Israel keeping its settlements and the Palestinians establishing a state under stringent conditions. Palestinians have rejected the proposal and voiced outrage at Israel's proposed annexation. "We welcome the (U.N. experts') statement as a reminder for the international community of its responsibilities, of the gravity of the situation and of the urgency to implement accountability measures to end the illegal colonial-settlement enterprise, including annexation, to save the prospects of peace and to support a rules-based world order, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Tuesday. The U.N. experts said Israeli violations against Palestinians have included land confiscation, settler violence, home demolitions, excessive use of force and torture, restrictions on media and freedom of expression, and "a two-tier system of disparate political, legal, social, cultural and economic rights based on ethnicity and nationality". "These human rights violations would only intensify after annexation," they added. Search Keywords: Short link: Singapore will allow small gatherings and the reopening of restaurants and shops from June 19, its health ministry said on Monday, in a major easing of the city-state's coronavirus restrictions. Social gatherings of up to five people will be permitted from Friday, when the majority of activities resume after more than two months of restrictions, dubbed "circuit breaker" measures. Social distancing requirements will remain in place. Tiny Singapore has one of the highest infection tallies in Asia, with more than 40,000 cases, because of mass outbreaks in dormitories for its migrant workers. Singapore reopened schools and some businesses earlier this month. The government said on Monday incidence of cases in migrant worker dormitories had declined and there were no new large clusters emerging. Cases outside the dormitories also remained stable despite the increase in workplace activities. "By limiting close contact among individuals while maintaining hygiene and safe management principles, we will be able to resume more activities without substantially raising the risk of new clusters of infections," the health ministry said. As countries reopen their economies, concerns are growing globally over a fresh wave of cases. "We are fully cognizant of the fact that we may have new cases emerging as the community returns to many of the routines that they were accustomed to before the implementation of the circuit breaker measures," the ministry's director of medical services, Kenneth Mak, told a media briefing. Malls, gyms, parks and beaches are on the list to reopen, but religious congregations, bars, theaters and large-scale events will not yet be allowed to resume activities. The government also said working from home must remain the default for all businesses where feasible. WWII Army Veteran John Edward James Jr. posed for a portrait outside of his home in Philadelphia on Monday, his 100th birthday. Read more John Edward James Jr. doesnt have any special advice for living to 100. When I get hungry, I eat. When I get sleepy, I go to bed, James said Monday, his 100th birthday. He does believe in getting his rest. Hes been going to bed at 8 oclock every night since I was a baby, said daughter Marion Lane, 71. He also never smoked or drank alcohol, she said. About 15 relatives his two surviving daughters, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and a few other close kin celebrated with a small party Sunday at James home in the Elmwood section of Philadelphia. We had food and a birthday cake, Lane said. But we tried to be safe, and we all wore masks, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. James has outlived two wives, and he often jokes that hes looking for his third wife. He appears in remarkable condition at 100. He lives on his own. He cuts his own grass, and he drives a mile and a half to the grocery store. In addition to his own shopping, he also shops for a disabled neighbor. There are 30 stairs in this three-story townhouse, and he goes up and down them all the time, Lane said. And hes not limping. But both his daughters my sister and I are limping. James was born June 15, 1920, in Johnstown, Pa., but grew up in Charles City County, Va., across the river from Jamestown. After graduating from high school, James moved to Philadelphia because there werent many jobs in his rural hometown. In 1941, at age 21, he was drafted into the Army, and in 1942, James completed Officer Training School at Fort Benning, Ga. He was one of 21 men of color who graduated, most of whom were assigned to be in charge of all-black troops. However, because James was assigned to the 242nd Quartermaster Battalion, he would have been placed in charge of white officers if the Army gave him his commission as second lieutenant. James and his family believe he was denied the commission because of his skin color. He identifies as multi-racial, with African, Native American, and European ancestry. During World War II, he worked in five campaigns, in North Africa and in Italy, from the toe of the boot up to the Apennines in the north. He wasnt in combat, but served on the front lines as a clerk-typist. After Lane waged a three-year campaign, the Army finally issued his commission in 2018. The Museum of the American Revolution hosted the June 2018 ceremony, shortly after his 98th birthday and about 75 years late. The museum featured James in a profile that said: James descends from a long line of men who served in the military, dating back to the American Revolution during which his great-great-great-grandfather served as a sergeant and was at the Valley Forge encampment in 1777-78. In addition to the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of the Revolution, James is a member of the Society of Descendants of Washingtons Army at Valley Forge. After the Army, James returned to Philadelphia and met and married Mary Elizabeth Ficklin, daughter of a prominent Baptist minister. (The Ficklin family has its own long history of working in the White House, from 1939 to 2016, serving as butlers or as maitres d. The last one, John Wrory Ficklin, retired in 2016 as a special assistant to the president and senior director for records and access management at the National Security Council.) James attended mortuary college after his Army service, but was put on a waiting list to become an apprentice with a funeral director. Because his wife was expecting their first child, he couldnt wait to become an apprentice. He went to work for what is now the U.S. Postal Service and stayed for 30 years. For the first 15 years, he was a letter carrier, and later was a manager until he retired in 1976. John and Mary James raised three daughters at 51st and Race Streets in West Philadelphia: Brenda Watts, Lane, and Denise Pearson, who died in 2009. His first wife died in 1969. Then, in 1971, James married Doris Reavis, who was his first girlfriend in high school in Virginia. They were married until her death in 2001. James doesnt believe in talking much. He used to tell us, The only fish that doesnt get caught is the one that kept his mouth closed,' Lane said. On Monday, James said he was excited to have his family celebrate with him. He said it felt fantastic to be 100. His other popular advice to his children: 'Dont let a no stop you. If you go down this road and run into a no, dont give up your hopes. Take another road, and you can achieve your goals. Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/16/2020 -- When an employee is injured on the job and is awarded workers' compensation, their medical care and lost wages should be entirely paid for by their company's insurer. In cases of severe or even catastrophic work injuries, the injured worker could require months to years to recover and need continuing medical care throughout the process. Workers' compensation should cover the high cost of this treatment for severely injured workers, but one issue that frequently arises is where they are able to go to receive care. For many injured workers, it can seem like a desirable option to receive treatment from a doctor or therapist that they already know and trust, but this is not always an option for people having their care covered under workers' compensation. Typically, companies and their insurance providers have lists of pre-approved doctors that their injured employees must choose from in order to have their treatments fully covered. Different companies will of course have different policies, but most follow the same general guidelines for approving or denying their injured employees medical benefits. Knowing how these guidelines apply to them can help injured workers make sure that they're being treated as fairly as possible by their employers. For workers that are severely injured and require immediate emergency medical care, it is usually not necessary to them to see an approved provider for the initial treatment. Immediate treatment needed for a serious work injury should always be covered by workers' compensation. In many cases, work injuries require numerous doctor's appointments or physical therapy sessions to recover from after the initial treatment. This is known as "follow up care," and injured employees almost always have to choose a provider that has been pre-approved by their employer's insurance in order to have their bills covered by workers' compensation. Typically, the only way that employees can choose their own doctor for follow up treatment is to pre-designate a care provider when they are hired, or soon after. Employees generally will not get approval for coverage if they try to designate their own doctor after being injured on the job. Anyone who is interested in learning about workers' comp law in Atlanta is encouraged to visit https://atlantaworkerscomplawyers.com/ as soon as possible for more information. About Workers' Compensation From The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson Workers' Compensation From The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson provides workers' compensation legal defense to individuals throughout the Atlanta area. The firm focuses on representing injured workers before the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation. This firm is dedicated to providing clients with legal defense, getting them the compensation they deserve. Interested parties can call the firm today at 404-369-3167. Bolsonaro did not empower health experts and scientists to lead a response. Instead, they were undermined and ignored, sidelined and pushed out. He fired his first health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, whose sober briefings had calmed anxious Brazilians, after he and Mandetta clashed over the need for social distancing. Then he pushed out Mandettas replacement, Nelson Teich, who failed to share his zeal for using chloroquine as a coronavirus treatment. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week revoked its emergency authorization for the anti-malarial drug and the related hydroxychloroquine to be used to treat the coronavirus, saying they were unlikely to be effective but carry potential serious side effects.) [June 16, 2020] Code Ninjas Launches Nationwide Contest to Give Back to Deserving Families HOUSTON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To help support families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Code Ninjas, the nation's largest and fastest growing kids coding franchise is giving away 100 free kids coding camps this summer, to give back through the joy of coding. The new contest, launching June 15, will include a special camp discount for a limited time. Through the 100 Free Camps Giveaway, Code Ninjas hopes to provide a little relief to families during this difficult time, from essential workers and first responders to overwhelmed parents. Code Ninjas Camps, whether in-person or virtual, are a fun and engaging way for children to learn how to code and gain life-changing skills. Deserving families will get the benefit of the fun and educational value these camps provide, without the cost. From June 15 through June 28, 2020, families across the country can enter the 100 Free Camps Giveaway by filling out the entry form at codeninjas.com/100Freeamps. Participants will select their local participating Code Ninjas location, submit their contact information and explain why their family should win a free week of camp. Participants can also nominate deserving families in their entry. Bonus points will be awarded to participants who include their Instagram handle and post about the contest using the hashtag #100FreeCamps. By submitting the form, participants will unlock access to a special 10% discount off available camps at their selected Code Ninjas location for the duration of the contest period. Code Ninjas will select and notify the 100 winners to claim their free week of coding camp around July 10. "At Code Ninjas, we're proud to provide fun and enriching experiences to kids in our communities. We've seen how coding changes lives, and with our lives forever changed in the wake of recent events, we wanted to do our part in giving back," said Code Ninjas CEO David Graham. "We hope these 100 free camps will not only show our appreciation, but offer these families and their kids the skills they'll be able to utilize for the rest of their lives." Code Ninjas Camps feature engaging topics for kids to explore coding, STEM, robotics, video game building and much more. Guided by a savvy team of Code Senseis, the camps are available both in-person and virtually. Code Ninjas is committed to the health and safety of families and communities at its locations. As cities begin to ease restrictions, all Code Ninjas locations are prepared to re-open by adhering to strict safety procedures including cleanliness and social distancing. Learn more at codeninjas.com/covid-19. Code Ninjas teaches kids to code by building their own video games in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment. With a robust, nine-belt curriculum inspired by martial arts, Code Ninjas keeps kids engaged, while parents see their children gain life-changing critical thinking, teamwork and STEM skills. For more information about the 100 Free Camps Giveaway, or to enter, please visit codeninjas.com/100FreeCamps. About Code Ninjas Founded in 2016, Code Ninjas is the world's largest and fastest-growing coding franchise, with hundreds of locations across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. At Code Ninjas, kids learn to code while building their own video games. They gain problem solving, critical thinking, and STEM skills in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment. Kids have fun, parents see results. For more information, visit codeninjas.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/code-ninjas-launches-nationwide-contest-to-give-back-to-deserving-families-301077909.html SOURCE Code Ninjas [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Advertisement The Foreign Office came under pressure to remove five British Empire-era murals from its walls in the wake of racism protests across Britain. Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy is believed to have raised the century-old works by Sigismund Goetze which line the grand staircase in the palatial Whitehall building with her counterpart Dominic Raab. The pieces, completed between 1914 and 1921, include images of empire seen as problematic by campaigners, including a representation of Africa as a fruit-bearing little boy surrounded by white Anglo-Saxon adults. In the corner (circled) of Britannia Pacificatrix, there is what Sigismund Goetze referred to as 'a little Swaheli boy', to 'remind us of our obligations, and the possibilities, in the dark continent' Britannia Sponsa: This represents the Anglo-Saxons arriving in Britain, associated with legendary brothers Hengist and Horsa coming to Kent in the fifth century. It shows the Anglo-Saxons violently taking possession of Britannia, showing the racial superiority of the Anglo-Saxons over the Celts and Romans Britannia Colonorum Mater: Britannia stands proudly in this mural, ruling the waves and watching her sons travel to 'spread the race' into the colonies and create the world empire. Along with Britannia Sponsa, the two works present a simple picture that the Anglo-Saxons arrived were nurtured and then left to conquer the world Brittania Bellatrix: This deals with the 'adolescent period of the race, where the sons of soil learn the skills of war' and are educated before going abroad to spread the empire Britannia Nutrix: The mural shows a nourishing mother taking care of the infant race and teaching them about the arts of agriculture, music, pottery, and spinning There are five murals on the staircase, entitled, Britannia Pacificatrix, Britannia Sponsa, Britannia Nutrix, Brittania Bellatrix and Britannia Colonorum Mater Caroline Dakers, professor of cultural history at University of the Arts London, told the Guardian: 'I can understand why people feel this work should be removed from a government building, but I think it should be preserved somewhere else, such as a museum. 'We can then have a discussion in a multilayered way and reach a greater understanding why Britain had these views about empire.' Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy, pictured in Brighton in February There are five murals on the staircase, entitled Britannia Pacificatrix, Britannia Sponsa, Britannia Nutrix, Brittania Bellatrix and Britannia Colonorum Mater. According to the Foreign Office's online photo album they show the 'origin, education, development, expansion and triumph of the British Empire, leading up to the Covenant of the League of Nations'. The Foreign Office has been asked to comment. It comes as the Government finds itself embroiled in another race row. Boris Johnson was facing fresh criticism today after choosing a No10 policy adviser who once branded the idea of institutional racism as a 'myth' to set up a commission on racial inequality. The choice of Munira Mirza, the head of the Prime Minister's policy unit and a former deputy mayor from his time in charge of London, sparked uproar from campaigners and Labour MPs. They claim her previous comments on race should prevent her from holding a role in setting up the investigation, launched in the wake of the protests which swept Britain in the last week. They also raised concerns over her alleged decision to give a role to Trevor Phillips, the former head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, who has angered some with past comments on British Asian communities. Foreign visitors arriving to see Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured yesterday) see the murals as they climb the grand staircase in the heart of the ornate building The choice of Munira Mirza, the head of the Prime minister's policy unit and a former deputy mayor from his time in charge of London, sparked uproar from campaigners and Labour MPs Boris Johnson last night defended his decision to launch a commission on racial inequality after Labour claimed it was a 'back of a fag packet' plan designed to 'assuage the Black Lives Matter protest' Dawn Butler, the Labour MP and former equalities minister, told the Guardian Ms Mirza's role 'undermines its credibility from the very outset by appointing someone who stands by Johnson's racist comments, rejected the Lammy review, saying ''institutional racism' is 'a perception more than a reality'', and opposed Theresa May's very own Racial Disparities Audit'. She added: 'I am tired of fighting the government on this issue. The only review needed is into all the past consultations and reviews as well as their failure to implement over 200 prior recommendations.' And the Institute for Race Relations ThinkTank said: 'Any inquiry into inequality has to acknowledge structural and systemic factors. 'Munira Mirza's previous comments describes a ''grievance culture'' within the anti-racist field and she has previously argued that institutional racism is 'a perception more than a reality.' WASHINGTON - The Senate Ethics Committee dismissed its investigation into alleged insider trading by Sen. Kelly Loeffler, notifying her in a letter Tuesday that it found "no evidence" that the senator violated the law or Senate rules. The panel's decision follows the Justice Department, which last month closed its probe of Loeffler's stock sales before the coronavirus pandemic crashed the markets. "The fake news media takes another loss. Exonerated. Again," Loeffler, R-Ga., tweeted. Government watchdog groups Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Common Cause filed complaints with the Senate Ethics panel in March, accusing Loeffler of violating the STOCK Act, which forbids lawmakers from profiting off information they learn in nonpublic briefings. "Despite the obvious attempts by the media, political opportunists and liberal groups CREW and Common Cause to distort reality, facts still matter and the truth is prevailing," her office said in a statement. Loeffler, who is the wealthiest member of Congress, denied that she and her husband had sold stock in response to a closed-door briefing on the coronavirus in January. Allegations against Loeffler noted the dozens of stock sales she and her husband made beginning on Jan. 24, when she attended a briefing on the coronavirus. Between then and Feb. 14, they sold stock worth $3.1 million and purchased others, including Citrix, which produces software for teleworking. In April, Loeffler announced that she and her husband would liquidate their individual stock shares, not as an admission of wrongdoing, she said, but to avoid the distraction. "The truth, as I said when the accusations first surfaced, is that I have never used any confidential information I received while performing my Senate duties as a means of making a private profit," she wrote in a Wall Street Journal opinion article this year. "Nor has anyone in my family." The Justice Department dismissed similar probes into Sens. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., but is still looking into Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., for alleged insider trading. Twenty years ago, in what seems to have been her last major interview, Mary Trump had nothing nice to say about her uncle Donald Trump or the rest of his siblings. "My aunt and uncles should be ashamed of themselves," she told The New York Daily News in a December 2000 article. "I'm sure they are not." Mary, then 35 years old and a graduate student living on Long Island, New York, was along with brother Fred Trump III fighting over grandfather Fred Trump Sr.'s will and a family policy about health coverage. The legalistic issues belied the flesh-and-blood conflicts beneath, as recounted in the Daily News piece. Essentially, Mary and her brother said they had been swindled out of a fair share of Trump Sr.'s estate because his will left the bulk of it to his four living children, without an equal share to their late father, Fred Trump Jr., better known as Freddy. "Given this family, it would be utterly naive to say it has nothing to do with money," Mary told the paper then. RELATED: Melania Trump Renegotiated Her Prenup After Donald Trump's Presidential Win, New Book Claims Decades later, Mary is set again to speak out about her family with a forthcoming tell-all, Too Much and Never Enough, according to a report in The Daily Beast. Publisher Simon & Schuster confirmed Monday the book will be released on July 28. The Daily Beast described the book as including "harrowing and salacious" details. It will also reveal how Mary "played a critical role" in The New York Times' reporting on her family's finances, according to the website such as "supplying Fred Trump Sr.s tax returns and other highly confidential family financial documentation to the paper." If as described, the Trump family tell-all will be an explosive account from one of the president's own relatives, especially one so private. Here's what else you need to know about his niece Mary. Story continues Donald Trump/Instagram Donald Trump (left) as a boy with his family, in an undated photo The five Trump siblings, including Donald Trump She Hasn't Been in the Spotlight As The Daily Beast notes, Mary "has kept out of the public eye and has not spoken publicly in decades." She was quoted in the Daily News article in 2000 about her family's legal fight but has scant appearances online or in the news. Public records show she was born Mary Lea Trump in May 1965 and is 55 and lives on Long Island. Her publisher said she is a clinical psychologist and has a daughter. She has one brother, Trump III. Both siblings were born to Trump Jr., President Trump's older brother, and Linda Trump, according to court papers. The couple divorced in 1970. The Trump family has a history of successive generations named for the parents and grandparents before them: According to The New York Times, Mary's namesake is her father's mother. As a girl, she was photographed in the Daily News along with her mother at a local hat show. The Family Legal Battle Was Fierce President Trump told the Times in 2016 that the 20-year-old fight in their family over his father's estate was "very amicably" settled. But the Daily News article from the time describes more intense emotions. "You have to be tough in this family. I guess I have what my father didn't have. I will stick to my guns. I just think it was wrong," Trump III told the paper. He was describing the most notorious part of the estate battle he, his sister, their mother and his wife were then fighting in New York. After he and Mary sued in March 2000 alleging Trump Sr.'s will was "procured by fraud and undue influence" by their aunts and uncles President Trump, brother Robert Trump and sisters Elizabeth and Maryanne Trump the health insurance Trump III was using to pay for toddler son William's care was cut off. Sonia Moskowitz/Getty From left: Donald Trump and Ivana Trump with his parents, Mary Trump and Fred Trump Sr., in May 1987 in New York City "When [Trump III] sued us, we said, 'Why should we give him medical coverage?' " President Trump told the Daily News at the time. "It's cold when someone sues my father. Had he come to see me, things could very possibly have been much different for them," he said of his nephew, who fired back: "These are not warm and fuzzy people. They never even came to see William in the hospital. Our family puts the 'fun' in dysfunctional." Young William was born not long after Trump III spoke at the 1999 funeral for Trump Sr., but the little boy suffered serious health complications including seizures and cerebral palsy. "We just don't know what William's future holds, what he will be able to do in his life," Trump III's wife, Lisa, told the Daily News. The Conflict Over the Will Mary told the Daily News in 2000 their issues were more personal than financial. "For both me and my brother, it has much more to do with that our father [Freddy] be recognized," she said. "He existed, he lived, he was their oldest son." "And William is my father's grandson," Mary continued. "He is as much a part of that family as anybody else. He desperately needs extra care." Freddy, Trump Sr.'s oldest son and the president's older brother, died in 1981 when he was 42, after years of heavy drinking. Though never truly estranged, Freddy's failures in real estate and other personal troubles were a kind of black cloud in the family, which revolved around their property business. When Trump Sr. died in 1999 after years with Alzheimer's, his will was clear, according to the Times: "It divided the bulk of the inheritance ... among his children and their descendants, 'other than my son Fred C. Trump Jr.' " According to the Daily News, that meant that his grandchildren, including Mary and Trump III, each got $200,000 but their late father did not receive a share of the majority of Trump Sr.'s money, which instead was divided four ways to his surviving children. While Mary and Trump III alleged some wrongdoing in the final version of the will, their aunts and uncles told a different story: President Trump, according to the Daily News, said they "lived like kings and queens" and aunt Maryanne said they were "absentee grandchildren." "He had no intention of treating them as one of his children none," Maryanne told the Daily News about her father's decision on inheritance. Louis Liotta/New York Post Archives /(c) NYP Holdings, Inc. via Getty Fred Trump Jr. (left) in 1966 A judge ruled by the end of 2000 that the medical coverage the family had rescinded for Trump III continue "until the dispute is resolved," according to the Daily News. Of the will's contentious four-way split, President Trump explained: "I think he [Trump Sr.] felt if it goes to the two children, it also maybe can go to the mother [Linda] indirectly. He felt the mother was the cause of some of Fred's difficulty, and Fred had a difficult life." Speaking with the Times in 2016, the president said he "was angry because they sued." He said then that he had somewhat mended his relationship with Trump III, who the Times reported also worked in real estate. Mary Has Reportedly Leaked About Her Family Before In October 2018, the Times published a lengthy investigation of the Trumps' finances and reported that "[President Trump] received at least $413 million in todays dollars from his fathers real estate empire, much of it through tax dodges in the 1990s." (The presidents attorney claimed the reporting was 100 percent false.) According to The Daily Beast, Mary Trump was a key source and is ready to go public with her upcoming book, including describing "her involvement working with [Times] journalists ... to crack the story." The website links the long-ago legal battle to the information Mary was reportedly able to hand over to the Times two years ago. Produced in that lawsuit was "a treasure trove of confidential and highly sensitive Trump family financial documents, including Fred Trump Sr.s tax returns," according to The Daily Beast. The Times did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment, though a paper spokeswoman declined to comment for a Times article. What Is in Her Tell-All According to The Daily Beast, Mary's book will "include conversations with Trumps sister, retired federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry, that contain intimate and damning thoughts about her brother" as well as a retelling of Freddy's death in '81. Too Much and Never Enough, according to The Daily Beast, will include "allegations that Donald and Fred Trump Sr. contributed to [Trump Jr.'s] death and neglected him at critical stages of his addiction." The president, who rarely speaks in personal terms, has repeatedly talked about the shadow of his older brothers death and what role family influence may have played in his brother's problems. I do regret having put pressure on him, he told the Washington Post last year. The family real estate business was just not his thing I think the mistake that we made was we assumed that everybody would like it. He did [go to rehab]. A number of times, the president told the paper then, noting that it was not a stay-over rehab. I dont think there was much we could do at the time. Things have been studied and learned right now that are much different. The White House did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Monday. Efforts to reach Mary were unsuccessful. India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent India, China disengage after violent face-off in Galwan valley leaves many dead India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, June 16: Indian Army on Tuesday said that as many as 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand-off location have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20. "Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20," the Indian Army said on Tuesday night. Civil Aviation Minister says 'decision on the international flights will be taken in July The statement further attributed the deaths to sub-zero temperatures at the high altitude terrains. "Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation," the statement said. Reports said the Chinese side also suffered "proportionate casualties" but chose not to speculate on the numbers. India, China disengage after violent face-off in Galwan valley leaves many dead Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about last night's clash as well the overall situation in eastern Ladakh after he held a high-level meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs. Reportedly, it is the first incident involving the casualty of an Indian soldier in a violent clash with the Chinese Army after 1975 when four Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush at Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh. Military said the two armies held major general-level talks at the site of the clash. "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place on Monday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers," the Army said in a brief statement. "Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation," it said. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy The government lodged a protest against Japan on Monday for whitewashing forced labor from its industrial history at an exhibition center that opened in Tokyo. The Foreign Ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita to lodge the protest and issued a statement expressing "deep regret" over the historical revisionism on display at the new Industrial Heritage Information Center in Tokyo. Tomita claimed that his government "faithfully adhered" to the recommendations of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2015, when it listed 23 industrial facilities that played an important role in Japan's modernization. The center makes no mention of the often brutal conditions suffered by Korean forced laborers, many of whom died in a notorious coal mine on Hashima Island, one of the listed sites. Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Naoki Okada told reporters that the Japanese government "fully accepted" the recommendations by the committee and "exhibited" its pledge to the international community. But the exhibit contains only the word "pledge" but no details of what the pledge might be. When asked if the Japanese government intends to add more exhibits in response to Korea's protest, Okada simply reiterated the formula. The latest whitewash by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's far-right government has further soured Seoul-Tokyo relations, which were already at breaking point over compensation orders by Korean courts for the victims of forced labor, and scuppered recent hopes of a thaw. FILE PHOTO: Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn attends a news conference at the Lebanese Press Syndicate in Beirut By Nate Raymond BOSTON (Reuters) - Lawyers for the former Green Beret and son wanted by Japan for helping former Nissan Motor Co <7201.T> boss Carlos Ghosn flee the country on Monday argued U.S. authorities wrongly arrested them for aiding a crime that they say does not exist in Japan: bail jumping. Lawyers for Michael Taylor and his son, Peter Taylor, in a motion asked a federal judge in Boston to quash the U.S. warrants issued last month for their arrests or release them on bail while their extradition case proceeds. U.S. authorities arrested the Taylors in May at Japan's request for allegedly smuggling Ghosn out of the country in a box while he was out on bail awaiting trial on financial charges. Their lawyers on Monday argued that neither bail jumping nor helping someone do so are crimes in Japan. The defense attorneys said that fact is "so far beyond dispute that the Japanese government has begun considering whether it should amend the law to make such conduct a crime." While Japan has issued arrest warrants for the Taylors, their lawyers said the crime stated in the Japanese warrants is an immigration offense, a non-extraditable misdemeanor. The lawyers added that neither Taylor, including Michael, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran who founded a private security company, pose a flight risk requiring them to be held without bail. The Justice Department and Japanese embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. U.S. authorities arrested the Taylors in Harvard, Massachusetts, on May 20 at the request of Japan, which in January issued arrest warrants for both men in connection with facilitating the Dec. 29, 2019 escape. Ghosn fled to Lebanon, his childhood home, while he was awaiting trial on charges that he engaged in financial wrongdoing, including by understating his compensation in Nissan's financial statements. He denies wrongdoing. (This story corrects headline to ex-Nissan boss, text unchanged) (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; additional reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Aurora Ellis) Chidambaram questions PM's silence on 'intrusion of foreign troops' India pti-PTI New Delhi, June 16: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday questioned the prime minister's silence on the "intrusion of foreign troops" and said it was worrying for the country. He said the nation is waiting for an official statement from the Ministry of Defence or Army headquarters. "Will it come tonight?" "The PM has maintained a worrying silence since May 5. Can you imagine any other Head of Government not saying a word for 7 weeks since the intrusion of foreign troops into a country," the former Union minister asked on Twitter. Civil Aviation Minister says 'decision on the international flights will be taken in July He said one has seen the official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs that says nothing new after the news broke out at 12.52 pm on Tuesday, thanks to an Army WhatsApp group. Government needs more taxes, it is poor says Chidambaram "Admittedly, Indian lives have been lost. Who are the brave men who have made the supreme sacrifice? Is one of them a Tamil/Indian from Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu," Chidamabarm also asked. An Indian Army colonel and two soldiers were killed during a violent clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night -- the first such incident involving fatalities in the last 45 years and signalling a massive escalation in the five-week border row in the sensitive region. Syracuse, N.Y. A Syracuse woman was thrilled to learn today New York is ending its ban on group home visits three weeks after she started an online petition to pressure the state to lift the restriction. I am excited we finally got through, people are listening and theres a change, said Madelyn Smith, a Syracuse University grad student studying special education. Smiths 19-year-old brother, Caleb, who has autism, lives in a group home in Oneida County. She and her parents have not been able to visit him since March 24 when the state banned visitors at all group homes to keep the coronavirus out. More than 6,200 people from across the state have signed her petition demanding that the state Office of People with Developmental Disabilities communicate with families about resuming visitation at the facilities. Smith believes her petition and coverage of the issue in syracuse.com and other news media outlets influenced the states decision. Smith said she and her family hope to visit her brother this weekend. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today groups homes will decide whether to allow visitors. Group homes must notify the state if they choose to allow visits and follow all guidelines. Visitors must wear masks and agree to symptom and temperature checks. Smith said her brother and many other group home residents did not understand why their families stopped visiting. Cuomo acknowledged the ban on visitors was difficult, but said it was necessary to protect people vulnerable to the virus. There are about 38,000 New Yorkers living in 7,250 group homes regulated by the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. As of June 10, 2,396 residents had tested positive for Covid-19, including 38 in the agencys Central New York region which includes Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga, Cortland, Oneida, Herkimer and Lewis counties. Statewide there have been 375 group home resident Covid-19 deaths, including one in Central New York. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus pandemic means no July 4 fireworks for most Central NY communities CNY autistic teen in group home cant understand why family stopped visiting Update: Coronavirus spreads slowly in Onondaga County, new data shows Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com James T. Mulder covers health news. Have a news tip? Contact him at 315-470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com A police officer patrols in front of Sydney Cenotaph in Martin Place on April 24, 2017 (Saeed KhanN/AFP via Getty Images) Former Labor Minister Milton Orkopoulos Faces Court Over Fresh Child Abuse Allegations Disgraced former New South Wales Labor minister and convicted sex offender Milton Orkopoulos has appeared in court on June 16 over historical child abuse allegations. Orkopoulos, 62, appeared briefly in Newcastle Local Court on June 16, via audio-visual link from Sydneys Long Bay prison. Magistrate John Chicken adjourned the case to August 20 when the police prosecutor is expected to complete its brief of evidence against Orkopoulos. Chicken ordered authorities to assess Orkopoulos for mental health issues. Orkopoulos, wearing glasses and prison greens, said nothing during the brief hearing and did not apply for bail, which was formally refused. New South Wales (NSW) Police allege Orkopoulos sexually and indecently assaulted two boys known to him on separate occasions in the 1990s in Lake Macquarie and on the NSW mid-north coast. Orkopoulos has been charged with 15 offences including aggravated indecent assault of a person under 16 years of age, committing an act of indecency with a person under 16 years, aggravated sexual assault, and causing a child aged under 14 to participate in child prostitution. NSW Police Superintendent Danny Sullivan said on June 16 the two victims had shown bravery to approach authorities and were being supported. Were very thankful for the courage thats been shown by the people in relation to this, Sullivan told reporters. These matters are very delicate when a victim comes forward, were very conscious of the trauma and distress coming forward may cause them, he said. He did not rule out laying additional charges on Orkopoulos. Orkopoulos was held in Long Bays less secure remand section before Lake Macquarie detectives formally charged him with fresh child abuse offences on June 15. The former member of Parliament has spent over 11-and-a-half years in jail after he was convicted of 30 child sex, drug, and child porn offences. However, earlier in the year he had another run-in with the law when he breached his parole conditions. Orkopoulos was granted parole in December 2019 but was arrested in January 2020 for allegedly setting up an Instagram account and not telling police within the required seven-day period. He had his parole revoked in February after police were notified Orkopoulos had used the mobile phone of a resident at the Malabar halfway house where he was staying. The charges related to his alleged breach of parole conditions is scheduled for July 1. Related Coverage Australian Senate Debates Strengthening Child Sexual Abuse Laws Orkopoulos case comes as the Senate recently concluded a debate over a new bill looking to strengthen child abuse legislation and increase the minimum mandatory sentence for serious child sex abusers. The bill was voted down by Labor, Centre Alliance, Greens, and Jacqui Lambie. However, on June 16, Labor indicated that it would backtrack this decision and not oppose the bill should the federal government reject their amendments the next time it goes to the Senate. The death of George Floyd as he was put under arrest by four police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota has fueled anger over race issues in the United States. Reactions like the protests this month in many American cities seem to have taken place before. In 1967, conflict between African Americans and police in Detroit, Michigan and other U.S. cities resulted in deadly and destructive violence. And in 1992, people in African American neighborhoods in Los Angeles, California took to the streets in anger because of a police incident. On April 29, a jury found four Los Angeles police officers not guilty of beating Rodney King, a black man. Video of the beating had appeared soon after the arrest. In the days of violence that followed, more than 60 people died and the National Guard was brought in to return order. Some experts say that economic problems have joined with other problems like the spread of the new coronavirus to harm African Americans. Weve got a perfect storm, said Cecelia Rouse, professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University. She told the Associated Press that COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, is creating economic harm for African Americans. Health experts suggest that African Americans are more likely than whites to die of COVID-19. They are more likely to work in lower-paying service jobs. Many of these jobs in restaurants, movie theaters and other service businesses have been lost because of the measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. People are mad said Monica Lewis-Patrick, president of the community group We the People of Detroit. She said the U.S. cannot call itself the wealthiest nation in the world and still have these major inequities and disparitiesbased on race. After the civil unrest of the mid-1960s, the United States Congress passed the Fair Housing Act. It was meant to end housing discrimination. Two years ago, Margery Turner of the Urban Institute researched the effects of the act on its 50th anniversary. She wrote that African Americans and other minorities continue to face discrimination although the clearest examples of it have decreased. Turner noted the separation of communities by race continues. She said the average white American lives in a neighborhood that is 75 percent white and eight percent African American. The average black American lives in a neighborhood that is 35 percent white and 45 percent black. The current economic recession resulting from business closures tied to the coronavirus is very troubling for African Americans. That is because they had appeared to be making gains after the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009. The unemployment rate for black Americans reached a record low level last year. Black wealth, severely limited by the financial crisis of the late 2000s, had recently grown at a higher rate than white wealth. Some politicians and other leaders want to reduce the economic difference between black and white Americans. They are calling for policies they say will help African Americans. These include paid sick leave, a higher federal minimum wage, and possibly additional direct payments like those the U.S. government recently sent to most taxpayers. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that from 1968 to 2018, the average yearly earnings for black households rose 37 percent from around $30,000 to around $41,000 . Earnings for white households grew 31 percent, from around $51,000 to just under $67,000. But, black households still earn less than white households. The income divide remains wide although African Americans have increased the level of education they receive. The Economic Policy Institute reports the number of black Americans that have completed high school hit 92 percent in 2018, and 23 percent finished college. However, black Americans are still more than two times as likely as whites to be poor. The official poverty rate does not include the effects of government programs such as food assistance and Medicaid. In addition, the unemployment rate for African Americans has been around two times higher than the rate for whites. In February, researchers at the Brookings Institution reported other reasons for the wealth divide. They noted African Americans inherit far less money than whites. In addition, those who become top earners are more than whites to lose the wealth they have gained. The study said, African Americans also are more likely to provide financial help to friends and family. Im Pete Musto. Paul Wiseman reported on this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story inequities n. things that are unfair disparities n. noticeable and often unfair differences between people or things wealth n. the value of all the property, possessions, and money that someone or something has minimum wage n. an amount of money that is the least amount of money per hour that workers must be paid according to the law inherit v. to receive money or property from someone when that person dies Oregon plans to test all workers and residents in large senior care homes for the coronavirus by Sept. 30 and then retest all workers once a month, public health officials announced Monday. The move marks the states first comprehensive testing response to the epidemic -- a slow start that forced senior care companies and counties to strike out on their own in search of test supplies. The biggest concern has been workers contracting the disease in their communities and then infecting the vulnerable people they care for at the facilities. The outbreak in senior care homes appears to be subsiding for now in Oregon, with fewer cases and deaths reported every week, but it is far from over. At least 39 people connected to a Canby rehabilitation center, Marquis Hope Village, have been diagnosed with the disease since the first known cases were reported June 4 and four residents have died. More than half of all the states coronavirus deaths are connected to nursing, assisted living and retirement homes. Just like for the rest of society, testing will be key to reopening senior care homes. The federal government in May recommended that all residents and workers in nursing homes get tested at least once and that workers get tested regularly thereafter. Thats what the Oregon Health Authority aims to do, starting with the six counties that account for most of the states long-term care outbreaks: Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Yamhill, Marion and Polk counties. In the first round of tests, to begin June 24, Oregon will work through all the residents and staff in nursing homes in the six counties. Next on the list are assisted living homes in those counties that offer dementia care, followed by assisted living centers without dementia care. The rest of the states nursing and assisted living facilities will come next, in the same order of priority: nursing homes, assisted living homes with dementia care, then all other assisted living homes. The homes themselves will be responsible for arranging the testing with the states help, as necessary. Oregon officials expect that the states overall testing capacity will be about 17,000 per week, and that 4,500 of those weekly tests will be long-term care workers and residents. At that rate, all of the approximately 60,000 residents and workers in all 685 nursing and assisted living homes in the state could get tested at least once by the end of September. Once the state has those one-time results, the care homes will have to work out their own plans to test all employees once a month. This second phase will also adopt the federal recommendation that everyone at a facility get tested if a new case emerges. State Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, said the states plan wont be enough to allow senior care homes to open up as the coronavirus recedes. People should be tested more often than the plan calls for, he said, and the initial round of tests should prioritize getting all asymptomatic staff tested sooner rather than later. I think that this plan is important, Dembrow said. But I dont think we should be under any illusion that in and of itself this is going to allow us to safely open up our long-term facilities to outside visitors. Oregons top health official, Patrick Allen, has said his agency did not recommend to the governor that all staff and residents in senior care get tested. While the bulk of Oregons coronavirus deaths are connected to the homes, relatively few facilities have infections, Allen said, and resources are scarce. About 10% of the states nursing and assisted living homes have had at least one coronavirus case, a newsroom analysis of state data shows. Some senior care home companies and counties have already been offering tests to staff and residents, including Yamhill and Linn counties as well as the senior care home company Avamere Family of Companies. Avamere has done nearly 3,000 tests proactively, the companys chief medical officer Elizabeth Burns said, discovering 44 positive cases in six building. The company has tested all or most staff and residents in two dozen care homes, she said. We know that asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic spread is the Achilles heel of this pandemic, Burns said in a statement. Both of Oregons U.S. senators and all but one representative joined last week in sending a letter to federal health officials asking that they supply Oregon with all of the states allotted testing supplies. The lawmakers cited both Browns plan to test everyone in nursing and assisted living homes as well as U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidelines recommending that all nursing home residents and staff get tested at least once. The state cannot implement their plan with the current limited supply of testing transport media and swabs, Sen. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader wrote. Oregons coronavirus epidemic in senior care homes started in March when two people at the state veterans home in Lebanon tested positive for the virus. The crisis blew up around mid-April, when 10 residents of the Southeast Portland nursing home Healthcare at Foster Creek died from the coronavirus. Nearly 120 people at the home contracted the virus and a total of 30 have died. Nursing and assisted living homes with outbreaks meaning more than two cases or at least one death peaked at 27, according to a state Department of Human Services list. Currently, 15 nursing and assisted living homes are reporting one or more coronavirus cases. -- Fedor Zarkhin fzarkhin@oregonian.com desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin Kangana Ranaut's anger over nepotism and movie mafias after the tragic death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14, sparked a big debate over social media. Reports are stating that the Chhichhore actor ended his life after allegedly being sidelined by the biggies from Bollywood industry. After Kangana's video message over Sushant Singh Rajput's death, fans started trolling Bollywood biggies like Karan Johar, YRF, Alia Bhatt, Sonam Kapoor and others on social media. But many people don't know that Tollywood actress Shraddha Das was the first to bash B-town celebs for showing their fake nature, after the young actor's death. Shraddha Das took to Twitter and expressed her anger on Bollywood's fakeness and hypocrisy in a series of tweets. The Mugguru actress wrote, "The ones who are writing I'm shocked, wish i reached out and all that nonsense... it's really fake baba...why are you wishing? You should have reached out na? What is this jumping into the bandwagon everytime..they don't even realise half of them are the cause of ds shit happening." Shraddha Das also said that fake people can never be real friends. She expressed, "If you ever go to a filmi party, you will realise people don't look beyond what u are wearing &how u are looking & how happening & influential you are..and once you get sucked into it,you want that fake approval again and again. These are not and can never ever be ur real friends." The Hippi actress further stated that biggies never understand your feelings, but hurt you with their remarks. "Not 1 person will try to know or even make d effort to know your heart. & D arrogance & scathing remarks they can pass on a new or even seasoned one can only be tolerated by very thick skinned strong ppl! It's foolish to expect true and unflinching love,loyalty or friendship here," she wrote. Shraddha concluded by stating, "The day you only look at this like a job, and keep your emotions aside and work, you will be protected from most bullshit!" Now, the Mumbai Police has started an open investigation while Sushant Singh Rajput's family members are demanding a CBI probe for his mysterious death. Also Read : Sanjay Nirupam Claims, Sushant Singh Rajput Lost 7 Films In 6 Months After Chhichhore Also Read : Sanjay Nirupam Claims, Sushant Singh Rajput Lost 7 Films In 6 Months After Chhichhore Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM Monday marked the return of outdoor dining, and this food writer was ready to get back out there. Sort of. As soon as I could find my purse. And my bra. And my courage. We made it two blocks before I realized I forgot my wallet. When we finally hit the Parkway, en route to the Drifthouse in Sea Bright, the questions came as fast as the exits: Do you put the mask back on between bites? Are they going to take our temperature? How do they manage the bathrooms? I reviewed the Drifthouse, from Jersey favorite chef David Burke, when it opened in 2018 and lost my mind over their bacon on a clothesline, a treat that quickly became one of the most copied dishes in the country. Ive been dying to go back, I texted a friend, before realizing my poor word choice. A sign on the pool deck outside at the Driftwood Cabana Club in Sea Bright. Its hard not to consider the risk. Ive hunkered down for the past three months, truly. It was mid-April before we even ordered takeout, and when we did, I decided it had to be fully worthy. (Santillos Pizza and our local favorite, Amazing Taste in Green Brook, were the only spots that made the cut.) Id call myself a 7 out of 10 on the how careful are you being now scale several notches below my sister, whos still washing all her groceries in the sink. But the thought of willingly sitting right next to other human beings, breathing, chewing and talking, while potentially eek maskless, for, like, two hours? Are we nuts? I wondered. Then I remembered the bacon. I felt like I could smell it from the Driscoll Bridge. I remembered the thrill of not cooking a meal yourself. Not doing the dishes. The pure hedonist luxury of a freaking cocktail menu. Remember cocktail menus?! The Drifthouse is located inside the Driftwood Cabana Club, right on the beach, and wed be sitting on their outdoor deck. Knowing the space and anticipating the ocean breeze gave me confidence. Besides, salt waters a disinfectant, right? As we walked up we masked up, because you have to go through the pool club lobby to get to the restaurant. A partition separated the folks at the front desk. Shoe-print stickers on the floor marked six feet apart and looked like an expert-level game of hopscotch. Inside, tables were set, even though no one would be sitting at them, as our hostess led us to one of a dozen on the deck. Staff wore masks and servers had gloves on, too. Janis, our waitress, smiles behind a surgical mask while serving dinner patrons at the Drifthouse Restaurant in Sea Bright, N.J. during the reopening of outdoor dining on Monday, June 15, 2020. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comAndrew Mills | NJ Advance Media When our waitress, Janis, with an s like Joplin, came over, I scooted in my chair, trying to create distance without offending her. This was the first lesson I learned there is no way for waitstaff to do their job from six feet away. Or even two feet. And if I was scared of being near her, I could only imagine how she must have felt, having to approach table after table. She set us at ease with a joke. Theres a smile under this mask, I swear! When I asked if she was happy to be back she quipped, Oh yeah. Theres only so much of your husband you can take. There were moments the whole scene looked normal, until you saw someone mask up to use the bathroom. I love your masks! Janis said to a mother and her two little girls as they put on colorful printed ones to go inside. Nicholas Steighler, the manager, told me its been hard to get servers back, especially when they can collect unemployment plus an extra $600 a week. Needless to say, hes happy to be open even if theyre doing 40 seats in a space that has 260. When it comes to cash flow, outdoor dining is a drop in an empty bucket. The scene at the Drifthouse Restaurant in Sea Bright, N.J. during the reopening of outdoor dining on Monday, June 15, 2020. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comAndrew Mills | NJ Advance Media The trickiest part of the night was the complimentary popovers, with sesame and poppy seeds baked into the top. I caught a seed in the back of my throat and couldnt help it: I had to cough. My boyfriend glared as I tried mental jiujitsu to stifle the urge. The fit passed quickly, thankfully, without too much of a scene. I think. Lesson #2: Its impossible to keep a mask on if youre drinking cocktails. We gave up quickly. I tucked the strap of my N95 under the candle so it didnt blow off the deck in the breeze. It was such a strange interloper amongst the table setting I couldnt help but take a picture. By my second Angry Margarita (tequila blanco, orange curacao, lime, agave, tajin seasoning) I relaxed. You hit a point where you hope for the best, where you soothe yourself with that line you read about how the risk of outdoor transmission is pretty low. You surrender. You try to enjoy. We barely ate all day in anticipation. Weve made some nice meals at home but burrata with asparagus, green tomatoes, watermelon cubes, crisped nuggets of prosciutto and razon-thin slices of pickled onions on top? Yeah, not on our menu. Nor was the lobster, the 40-day dry-aged steak, the insane, beautiful desserts. The burrata dish with asparagus, watermelon, crunchy prosciutto and tomatoes at the Drifthouse in Sea Bright. (Note: I took a bite before I remembered to take a photo. I'm out of practice! So this is my attempt at re-staging the dish.) The deck filled up by the time we left. David Burke popped by and said hello, his fourth stop of the day as he toured his Jersey restaurants. (Dining in New York is still closed.) He has passed the time at his home in Atlantic Highlands, cooking at home more than ever. On a whim, he started filming himself with a puppet that looks just like him, named Lefto since it goes on his left hand. His son edited them and put them on social media. Now Leftos gone viral. Im certifiable, Burke says. But it came at a time when everybody needed a laugh. He had almost 200 diners each at Son Cubano in West New York and Ventanas in Fort Lee last night. It was a great launch, he says of opening day. People are excited to get out, man. If you go out to dinner a lot you forget that its a privilege. People watching, walking in, the energy, the hustle and bustle. Theres a show going on. Drinks coming at you. Somebodys serving you. And you dont have to get up because you forgot the butter or the salt. And then to read a menu and have choices. At home, most peoples repertoire is 7 dishes. And my hats off to all the parents. Three meals a day. Wow. It doesnt end. Marilou Crane Halvorsen, president of the N.J. Restaurant & Hospitality Association (left), poses for a photo with Chef David Burke at his Drifthouse Restaurant in Sea Bright, N.J. during the reopening of outdoor dining on Monday, June 15, 2020. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comAndrew Mills | NJ Advance Media Still he says, outdoor dining isnt going to make anybody money. Yeah, you have cash flow, but its break-even cash flow, he says. Its gonna rain. Its gonna get cold. This is not a business model. Plus, what happens after a few weeks when people want their streets or their parking lots back? For us diners, though, it was glorious to be out. The sunset. The view of the ocean and the bay, even if it got chilly as the night went on. Farther down Ocean Avenue other restaurants buzzed with patrons, even on a Monday. This is June in Jersey. It all looked almost normal. We were out to dinner. We were down the shore. And I felt more appreciative than ever. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Jean Todt has welcomed news that Ferrari and Mercedes are looking into expanding beyond Formula 1. The FIA president said installing an even lower than originally planned budget cap for 2021 - $145 million per team - is the right thing to do. "We had to be ambitious because with the costs of before, Formula 1 was unsustainable," the Frenchman told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. "The gap between the large, medium and small teams was too big." But big-spending teams like Ferrari and Mercedes have warned that being forced to downsize and the prospect of sacking staff means they are looking into re-deploying personnel into other racing categories. Ferrari is openly looking into Indycar, for instance. When asked if this is the right step for Formula 1, Todt said: "I am always optimistic. "What is the point of spending more than half a billion a year in one category? This is bad for the sport. "As in all sectors of the economy, there will be a reduction in staff in Formula 1 and they will get the opportunity to work elsewhere," he added. "When I was young, drivers like Jim Clark and Jochen Rindt raced in several series at the same time. It was a great era. "I would be happy to see Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull fighting together with the factory teams at Le Mans," Todt said. (GMM) Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola says they would have flown his deceased Deputy Chief of Staff (DCoS), the late Mikhail Jare Adebisi, abroad for treatment of not for COVID-19 lockdown. The governor described the deceased as a courageous person and one of his most loyal and dedicated workers, who, despite his health challenges, took his job seriously. Oyetola spoke on Monday while hosting executive council (exco) members led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Wole Oyebamiji, who visited him to brief him on what transpired at the 3rd Day Fidau prayer for the deceased; as well as members of the House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, who had visited to condole with the governor. The governor, who said it would be difficult to find a replacement for his late aide, added: We would have flown out Adebisi for treatment, but for the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the health challenges, he never joked with his job. When he was leaving for Lagos, he said, pray for me sir and I became frightened. Advertisement Read Also: People Sneaking Into Osun From The North Govt Raises The Alarm He was one of the most loyal and dedicated workers around me. He was a man of courage, a good example of what loyalty and dedication are all about. You can rely on him any time, any day. Jare took initiatives and did assignment even before telling him. He equally stood out in terms of consistency and dedication. He did not like to be pitied even despite his health challenge. But for the pandemic, he would have been flown out again for treatment. It will be difficult to find a replacement for him. Even on sick bed, he was coordinating his work. We all will miss him. The Donald Trump administration is considering withholding military and economic assistance to aid-dependent Jordan over its continued refusal to extradite a convicted terrorist who helped kill 15 people in a 2001 bomb attack in Israel, The Associated Press reported today. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Maghreb and Egypt Henry Wooster implied that aid cuts could be on the table in written responses to the Senate as part of his confirmation process to serve as the next US ambassador to Jordan. The United States has multiple options and different types of leverage to secure Ahlam Aref Ahmad al-Tamimis extradition, Wooster wrote in response to a series of questions pushing him on the issue from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. We will continue to engage Jordanian officials at all levels not only on this issue but also on the extradition treaty more broadly. US generosity to Jordan in foreign military financing as well as economic support and other assistance is carefully calibrated to protect and advance the range of US interests in Jordan and in the region, Wooster added. Why it matters: Congress passed a law in December that could eliminate Jordans $1.5 billion in American military and economic aid unless Amman turns Tamimi in to face the US criminal justice system. A group of seven conservative Republicans pressed the Jordanians on the issue last month with the backing of the pro-Israel Endowment for Middle East Truth, which pushed Congress to pass the legislation as part of last years foreign aid spending bill. However, the law allows Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to issue a national security waiver that would allow US aid to Jordan to continue even if Amman fails to extradite Tamimi. Israel gave Tamimi 16 life sentences in prison for her role in the 2001 attack but released her as part of a 2011 prisoner exchange with Hamas. Tamimi is currently on the FBIs list of most-wanted terrorists, and the State Department is offering a $5 million reward for information that leads to her arrest or conviction. Members of the Senate and House foreign affairs panels are likely to press Jordans King Abdullah II on the issue when he speaks with them by video on Tuesday to reiterate his opposition to Israeli plans to annex most of the West Bank. Whats next: Tamimis family sent a letter to the king today, lobbying him to resist US pressure to extradite her. Know more: Congressional Correspondent Bryant Harris has the full story on the push to cut off Jordan from all US assistance over the Tamimi extradition. New Delhi, June 16 : Condemning Chinas military aggression along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) called for boycott of Chinese goods, listing 450 imported items. The development comes as the India-China faceoff in Galwan Valley in Ladhak turned violent on Monday, leading to multiple casualties on both sides. The CAIT said that the objective is to reduce import of Chinese finished goods by $13 billion or about Rs 1 lakh crore by December 2021. At present, India imports about Rs 5.25 lakh crore, i.e. $ 70 billion, worth of goods annually from China. "In the first phase, CAIT has selected more than 500 broad categories of items which include more than 3,000 items which are made indigenously in India also, but succumbing to the temptation of cheap items, these were being imported from China until now," CAIT said in a statement. "Manufacturing of these items does not require any sophisticated technology and even if they do, India is well equipped and therefore the goods manufactured in India can be used very easily in place of the Chinese goods which will reduce India's dependence on China for these goods," it added. In a one-story brick building in suburban Dallas, between a dentist office and a family medicine clinic, is a medical laboratory that has run some of the most expensive coronavirus tests in America. Insurers have paid Gibson Diagnostic Labs as much as $2,315 for individual coronavirus tests. In a couple of cases, the price rose as high as $6,946 when the lab said it mistakenly charged patients three times the base rate. The company has no special or different technology from, say, major diagnostic labs that charge $100. It is one of a small number of medical labs, hospitals and emergency rooms taking advantage of the way that Congress has designed compensation for coronavirus tests and treatment. Weve seen a small number of laboratories that are charging egregious prices for COVID-19 tests, said Angie Meoli, a senior vice president at Aetna, one of the insurers required to cover testing costs. How can a simple coronavirus test cost $100 in one lab and 2,200% more in another? It comes back to a fundamental fact about the U.S. health care system: The government does not regulate health care prices. This tends to have two major outcomes that health policy experts have seen before and are seeing again with coronavirus testing. The first is high prices overall. Most medical care in the United States costs double or triple what it would in a peer country. An appendectomy, for example, costs $3,050 in Britain and $6,710 in New Zealand, two countries that regulate health prices. In the United States, the average price is $13,020. The second outcome is huge price variation, as each doctors office and hospital sets its own charges for care. One 2012 study found that hospitals in California charge between $1,529 and $182,955 for uncomplicated appendectomies. Its not unheard-of that one hospital can charge 100 times the price of another for the same thing, said Dr. Renee Hsia, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and an author of the appendectomy study. There is no other market I can think of where that happens except health care. There is little evidence that higher prices correlate with better care. Whats different about the more expensive providers is that theyve set higher prices for their services. Patients are, in the short run, somewhat protected from big coronavirus testing bills. The federal government set aside $1 billion to pick up the tab for uninsured Americans who get tested. For the insured, federal laws require that health plans cover the full costs of coronavirus testing without applying a deductible or co-payment. But American patients will eventually bear the costs of these expensive tests in the form of higher insurance premiums. In some cases, they are paying for additional tests, for flu and other respiratory diseases, that doctors tack onto coronavirus orders. Those charges are not exempt from co-payments and can fall into a patients deductible. Those kinds of bills could make patients wary of seeking care or testing in the future, which could enable the further spread of coronavirus. In an April poll, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that most Americans were worried they wouldnt be able to afford coronavirus testing or treatment if they needed it. Redacted medical bills and explanation-of-benefit documents provided by health insurers, coupled with bills that New York Times readers have shared, show the huge price variation in coronavirus tests. In Texas alone, the charge for a test can range from $27 to the $2,315 that Gibson Diagnostic has charged. Some patients are billed nothing at all for testing at public sites, where local government agencies pick up the tab. Its hard to know the true range of what health providers charge and what insurers pay, because both parties typically keep that information secret. Health care providers testing for coronavirus also have additional protections if they want to charge high prices. The recent CARES Act requires that insurers cover the full cost of coronavirus testing, with no co-pays or deductibles applied to the patient. The health plans must also pay an out-of-network doctor or lab its full charge so long as the provider posts that cash price online. More for you Children are only half as likely to get infected by the coronavirus, research shows That latter provision is meant to prevent a practice known as balance billing: when an insurer pays an out-of-network doctor something less than the full charge, and the doctor bills the patient for the remainder. Health policy experts worry that the policy unintentionally gives some providers the green light to set exceptionally high charges, knowing that insurers are legally required to pay. If you are an out-of-network lab, you can name your price, said Loren Adler, an associate director at the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy. I could say its $50,000, and you are required to pay me that amount. No health care provider has been quite that bold in its coronavirus testing prices; most have kept their charges relatively modest. Many health care providers have settled on test prices of $50 to $200. Medicare initially paid heath providers $51.31 for coronavirus tests but bumped reimbursements up to $100 in mid-April. LabCorp, one of the countrys largest diagnostic testing firms, bills insurers $100 for its tests. A few health providers have set their prices significantly higher. A chain of emergency rooms in Texas and Oklahoma, for example, has regularly charged patients $500 to $990 for coronavirus tests. A small hospital in Colorado and a laboratory in New Jersey have also come to insurers attention for their especially high bills. Multiple insurers identified Texas as the state where theyve received the highest proportion of expensive tests. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas has received more than 600 out-of-network bills for coronavirus tests that are over $500, with an average charge of $1,114. Gibson Diagnostic Labs website advertises COVID-19 testing for your patients with results in just 24 to 48 hours. The website states the cash price for a coronavirus test as $150, which is what they bill the government for uninsured patients tests. The billed charges for insured patients were many multiples higher. Three large health insurers independently identified Gibson Diagnostic, which is in Irving, Texas, as the source of their highest-priced tests received during the pandemic. One national health plan was surprised to notice testing for sexually transmitted diseases tacked onto some of the coronavirus bills that ran through Gibson Diagnostic. In a statement last week, the company said the $2,315 price was the result of human error that occurred when a billing department employee entered the wrong price into an internal system. It billed 117 tests at that price and had 23 of the claims paid in full. Some insurers paid partial reimbursements or sent back no money at all. The company said one insurance plan flagged the high price in mid-April, which led it to reduce the price to $500. The new charge was still 500% of the Medicare rate and $350 higher than the online cash price. The company declined to comment on how it settled on the new price and why it differed from the one posted on its website. Gibson Diagnostic also said that it had recently reversed a few of its $2,315 charges and, after an inquiry from The Times, would reverse the rest of those bills within 24 hours. Other laboratory owners questioned why even $500 would be necessary to run a relatively simple test. A data set of 29,160 coronavirus test bills provided by Castlight Health, a firm that assists companies with health benefits, found that 87% cost $100 or less. The American Clinical Laboratory Association estimates that its members, which have run a collective 11 million coronavirus tests, charge between $95 and $209. I dont believe its commercially reasonable, said Peter Gudaitis, who runs Aculabs in New Jersey, a member of the association. Gibson Diagnostic may have come to a similar conclusion: This week, the company reached out to The Times to say it would once again lower its price. Now, the lab charges $300 per coronavirus test. The high prices have frustrated state insurance regulators, who lack authority to tamp down what health care providers charge. We see these infrequently, but they are infuriating when they do occur, said Mike Rhoads, a deputy commissioner of consumer services at the Oklahoma Insurance Department. There are free testing sites in our state. This does not need to happen. He has encouraged the administrators of health plans he regulates to contact their members of Congress, to urge refinements to the CARES Act that would help bring prices down. Some members of Congress say they are looking into the issue, particularly those who recently worked on a bipartisan effort to outlaw surprise medical bills (that effort has been sidelined since the arrival of the pandemic). Legislators say they are still researching the issue, and no action is currently planned. Weve got no regulatory authority over the health care providers, Rhoads said. There is not much we can do. We hope that somebody puts some pressure on these out-of-network providers to stop doing this, particularly during this period of time. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. No more use of pepper spray or controversial carotid holds -- that's Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner's recommendation for the district's police force to the board of education, announced in his weekly update to the school community. The recommendation comes amid the ongoing debate over the future of school police on LAUSD campuses. Student activists and the union representing LAUSD teachers, United Teachers Los Angeles, are calling for eliminating school police, while the unions representing school officers and administrators are pushing back. Beutner dedicated much of his Monday remarks to the topic of policing. "It should be clear to all in our nation there is much work to do if we are to create a just and equitable society," Beutner said in the video address. "Los Angeles Unified must take action and be part of the solution." GET THE BEST OF LAIST IN YOUR INBOX Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the latest on local politics, food, culture and the absurdities of L.A. life. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Beutner called on the LAUSD school board to eliminate the use of pepper spray and the policy allowing carotid holds before the fall semester begins in August. Here's a quick summary of Beutner's remarks and recommendations announced Monday. CAROTID HOLD The controversial maneuver involves placing pressure on the neck as a means of restraining an individual. According to the LA School Police Department policy manual, only officers who have received specific training are allowed to use it -- and even then, the manual recommends avoiding its use on vulnerable people, including the elderly and children. "Any individual who has had the carotid control hold applied, regardless of whether he/she was rendered unconscious, shall be promptly examined by paramedics or other qualified medical personnel," the manual explains. The hold has been under scrutiny by government and law enforcement officials from the state to the city, my colleague Frank Stoltze explained last week. In his remarks, Beutner said "school police have never fired a weapon on campus since they were formed in 1984," but he made no mention of how often the carotid restraint was applied. We asked LAUSD and LA School Police for the number of incidents where LA School Police used the carotid hold in the past year but have yet to receive an answer. PEPPER SPRAY According to the LA School Police manual, use of oleoresin capsicum spray -- also known as pepper spray -- "may be considered for use as self-defense, as a method of defending others from the unlawful use of force of violence, and in some cases, as a method for compliance." "OC spray should not, however, be used against individuals or groups who merely fail to disperse or do not reasonably appear to present a risk to the safety of officers or the public," the guidance continues. Members of the grassroots group, Students Deserve, have told board members at previous meetings about multiple incidents in which Los Angeles School Police allegedly used pepper spray on students. A LAUSD spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times that from 2019 to this year, pepper spray was used eight times. About a year ago, the Los Angeles County Probation Department began the process of ending the spray's use in juvenile camps and halls. WHAT ABOUT DEFUNDING SCHOOL POLICE? Beutner did not directly address calls to defund the district's police department, but he did say that the district will review the school police budget over the summer, along with the rest of the district's budget. My colleague Kyle Stokes looked more closely into what it would take to disband LA School Police. Students Deserve has planned a march calling for defunding LA School Police for Tuesday morning. SHOW UP IN THE STREETS ON TUESDAY! WE WILL MARCH TO DE-FUND LAUSD SCHOOL POLICE. Share this far and wide. BLM LA, Students Deserve and many organizations across L.A are calling on LAUSD to completely divest the $70 million from School Police & invest in services for Black youth ! pic.twitter.com/Z6kxuGkjvc #StudentsDeserve (@LA_StudentsDsrv) June 13, 2020 Meanwhile, school police are circulating a form letter asking that officials "not pander to the political divisiveness of the United Teachers of Los Angeles Board of Directors and instead, send UTLA a strong message by retaining the Los Angeles School Police Department." Student safety has always been and will continue to be our #1 priority. Please click on the link below and support your LASPD. https://t.co/rQ03QUxan1#ProtectingLAUSD #LAUSD #WeAreTheCommunity pic.twitter.com/CdYyJR3R8p LA School Police (@LASchoolPolice) June 10, 2020 WHAT'S NEXT? Beutner said he'll convene "a small group of community members with expertise in this area" to look more closely at policing on campus. "They will look at what is needed to keep schools safe as well as what students need to feel free from stigma and feel they are a respected part of their school community," Beutner said Monday. "They will ask hard and uncomfortable questions and come up with concrete recommendations." He said the group's mission is to make recommendations to the school board "as soon as possible." WE LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS Ayala-owned Kia Philippines is reminding transport business operators that its Kia K2500 Karga can help meet the demands of the times. With more commuters looking for safe and reliable modes of transport, owners and operators are likewise looking for options to service these needs. The Kia K2500 Karga is a viable option due to the following: Style and functionality The K2500 Karga may be a workhorse, but it still wears the unified family look of Kia models such as the tiger nose grille. And since it is what it is, the K2500 Karga also gets functionality with features such as vinyl seats, with various seating configurations that can meet the social distancing requirements. Kia k2500 Karga The Kia K500 Karga has front center armrest with cupholders and rear air-conditioning system with multi vents and dual blower motors. The front occupants now have power windows. Efficiency The Kia K2500 Karga has a Euro-4 compliant, 2.5-liter common rail diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission with 128 horsepower and 255Nm torque with a payload capacity of up to 835 kilograms. Easy to own Backed by a 3-year/100,000km warranty, whichever comes first, the K2500 Karga comes in the following variants and prices: 4x2 Karga: P1.11 million 4x4 Karga: P1.215 million Moreover, Kia Philippines makes it truly easy to own a K2500 Karga with its Deals Designed for You promo. Extended to run for the entire month of June, it gives business owners a chance to purchase a K2500 for as low as P53,000 all-in downpayment for the 4x2 Karga or P61,000 for the 4x4 Karga. Cash buyers, on the other hand, will be able to avail of a P35,000 discount. Beyond the easy ownership, Kia Philippines also gives buyers peace of mind with its trained technicians looking after every Kia brought in for service. "The Kia K2500 Karga is designed as a people carrier but is flexible to haul cargo as well. Business owners get a workhorse that can seat up to 19 people in comfort and safety and at the same time, a goods carrier when the need arises. Its engine is potent yet efficient, and it is backed by a 3-year warranty and ease of ownership with our Promise to Care aftersales program," Kia Philippines President Manny Aligada said. For more information on the Kia K2500 or any Kia vehicle, visit the Kia Philippines website at https://www.kia.com/ph/main.html or check them out on Facebook and Instagram. Story continues Photos from Kia Philippines Also read: Kia PH Assures K2500 Buyers: We Got You Cab-over-Truck Comparo: Kia K2500 Karga, Hyundai H100, Mitsubishi L300, Isuzu Traviz INDIANAPOLIS Every day, more people are completing the free contact tracing course being offered by Purdue University Global to train individuals in this important public health enterprise to slow the spread of COVID-19. As of Monday (June 15), more than 400 people had successfully completed the course and obtained a certificate among the more than 1,800 who had registered. Kevin J. Kieft, president and CEO of the Lake Wales (Florida) Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council, said he couldnt pass up the opportunity to take the course. The ability to learn some more about the COVID pandemic and gain new insights on how its transmitted between individuals and ways to combat that transmission interested me, Kieft said. I gained a better understanding of how to actually identify COVID cases, ways that it is transmitted and how and why contact tracing is such an important public health tool to help curb a pandemic or epidemic and limit exposures without drastic measures. Having obtained her certificate, Sarah Reid-Miller, a finance and insurance representative in Lafayette, Indiana, now hopes to become a contact tracer. I want to do something to help in the fight against COVID-19, Reid-Miller said. I learned more about the pandemic and the steps communities are taking to flatten the curve. The self-study course offering takes approximately six to eight hours to complete, and those who successfully finish receive a certificate of completion. The course is powered by D2Ls Brightspace learning platform, which supports all of Purdue Globals online programs. We continue to offer training for those interested in becoming contact tracers, and the feedback regarding the learning experience has been overwhelmingly positive, said Melissa Burdi, Purdue Global vice president and dean of the School of Nursing. This training is vital, particularly now as we are seeing a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in various parts of the country. As a result of this training, contact tracers are equipped with important skills and knowledge needed to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Using World Health Organization content for the most current and widely accepted information about the disease aligned with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the course covers six primary topics: How COVID-19 is contracted and transmitted. Strategies to reduce the spread of the disease. COVID-19 contact tracing protocols. Contact tracing legal requirements. Effective risk communication. Analytical skills for quality improvement and more. The course bundles CDC-supported readings, media and training modules to provide students with an innovative, interactive and just-in-time training experience. Skills-building bundles accelerate learner achievement of CDC-defined learning objectives by combining multiple methodologies that reach all types of learners: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. The cost for the COVID-19 contact tracing course is $295, but for a limited time that fee is being waived for individuals who enroll. Purdue Global also will make the course available to government agencies, educational institutions and businesses to support their specific needs for training solutions for contact tracing. For more information, including the possibility of customized solutions, visit purdueglobal.edu/covid-19-contact-tracing-course/. A long-used public health tool, contact tracing is the process of identifying individuals who may have come into contact with an infected person and, thus, breaking the chain of transmission of a disease and reducing infections. According to estimates from the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the recommended staffing guidelines for states is 30 tracers for every 100,000 citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. About Purdue University Global Purdue University Global is the extreme personalization online university, providing students the competitive edge to advance in their chosen careers. It offers a hyper-tailored path for students to earn an associate, bachelors, masters or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, desired pace, military service, previous college credits and other considerations no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global serves more than 31,000 students (as of March 2020), most of whom earn their degree online. It also operates several regional locations nationwide. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. It is affiliated with Purdue Universitys flagship institution, a highly ranked public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue University also operates two regional campuses in Fort Wayne and Northwest, Indiana, as well as serving close to 6,000 science, engineering and technology students at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus. For more information, please visit purdueglobal.edu. Media Contact: Tom Schott, 765-494-9318, tschott@purdue.edu Sources: Melissa Burdi, melissa.burdi@purdueglobal.edu David Elkins, david.elkins@kaplan.edu Kevin J. Kieft Sarah Reid-Miller Related Releases: More than 1,100 have registered for Purdue Global COVID-19 contact tracing course Purdue University Global launches course in COVID-19 contact tracing Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body Auburn Universitys spring and summer graduates will be recognized in two ceremonies to be held in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 8, contingent on current health and safety guidelines and weather. From the beginning, we have worked to balance three important goals when planning our graduation ceremonies, said Auburn President Jay Gogue. Beginning with measures to support the safety of our graduates and guests, we have also strived to uphold the tradition of our ceremonies while engaging input from our students. In early June, a survey was sent to a sample of spring and summer graduates asking for feedback on various commencement scenarios. Among the responses, holding ceremonies in Jordan-Hare Stadium that allowed attendance by family and friends was overwhelmingly selected by students over the other scenarios presented. Its so important for our spring graduates to participate in August commencement and have this symbolic experience that we could not have in May due to the pandemic, said former Student Government Association President and spring 2020 graduate Mary Margaret Turton. Although our class was unable to share in the unique traditions that are associated with spring graduation, the opportunity to come back to Auburn and walk across the stage in Jordan-Hare Stadium is something we will never forget. To take advantage of milder temperatures, the university will host two ceremonies on Aug. 8, one in the early morning and a second in the early evening. Beginning at 7 a.m., the first ceremony will celebrate graduates from the Harbert College of Business; Samuel Ginn College of Engineering; College of Architecture, Design and Construction; School of Nursing; and School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. The evening ceremony, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., will include the College of Agriculture; College of Education; College of Human Sciences; College of Liberal Arts; and College of Sciences and Mathematics. Face coverings will be required for all graduates, who will be physically distanced in chairs on the field. Families and groups also will be required to physically distance in the stands and are encouraged to wear face coverings. Students will be permitted to remove their face coverings as they cross the stage for photographs and will be handed a copy of The Auburn Creed from President Gogue instead of the traditional handshake. Hand sanitizer will be available and easily accessible for students and guests, and stadium surfaces will be disinfected between ceremonies. By taking advantage of the stadiums expanded capacity, the university is consolidating its traditional five spring ceremonies into two, using the field to seat graduates apart from one another and allowing groups of family members to distance themselves in the stands. Both ceremonies will be livestreamed for guests unable to attend or who have health concerns. While the university anticipates hosting the ceremonies outdoors, contingency plans have been developed in the event of changes to existing COVID-19 regulations or severe weather. These plans include transitioning both ceremonies to Auburn Arena and livestreaming them without guests. To offset high summer temperatures, bottled water will be provided to graduates on the field, and concessions will be available for guests. Students should wear comfortable shoes for walking on the grass and guests are encouraged to dress appropriately for warmer temperatures. Summer graduates who need to order keepsake regalia can place an order through the Auburn University Bookstore. Additional information is available on the commencement website. Separate ceremonies will be held on Aug. 1 for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn Arena. For questions regarding commencement, please contact aucommencement@auburn.edu. We are making an important change today in our writing style. When referring to a culture, ethnicity or group of people from the African diaspora we will use Black, with an uppercase B. We are making this change to NJ Advance Medias style guide to acknowledge and respect the word represents a people with shared cultures and experiences, and not a color. Black, we believe, should be used like other identifiers, such as Asian, Latino or African American. We also will continue to use African American in stories when warranted, as African American and Black arent always interchangeable. The change was brought on in part after internal conversations initiated by the newsrooms Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee late last year. Earlier this year, we started capitalizing B in some of our stories and opinion pieces. We had also noticed the shift to uppercase B by scholars (here and here), other U.S. news organizations (Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and Boston Globe), and among some readers. Black and Blackness embraces the fullness of the diaspora, the Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Woodbury and founding director of Salvation and Social Justice, told Robin Wilson-Glover of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. It not only acknowledges the entirety and diversity of the people as expressed through African Americans, Africans, West Indians and Afro Latinos. It also acknowledges the shared culture of survival against colonialism and white terror. The words people use to describe themselves are constantly evolving, and we have pledged to better listen to our staff and our readers. There have been several thoughtful pieces on the topic such as this and this. Its also important to note this is not the first time the Black community has asked American society to change how it wants to be described. In the mid-1920s, W.E.B. Du Bois demanded we uppercase Negro, the word at the time to describe Black people. Around 1930, mainstream publications such as the New York Times acquiesced and adopted that style. In the 1960s, the word Black came into use to energize a battle for civil rights but it never took hold in the press, or in some corners of the Black community. Then, in the 80s, Jesse Jackson urged us all to use "African American," and our style changed again. In the past two decades, Black again has become the preferred descriptor. It is now another way that members of a race have described their art, their music, their literature and themselves. At the same time, the African diaspora in our nation has become more diverse. The Black community no longer just includes ancestors of those enslaved in the American South. This is more than an issue with writing style. Style is, Do we uppercase the word Road when its used in a numbered street address? For those issues, we use The Associated Press Stylebook, the most widely adopted stylebook in U.S. newsrooms. Editors at the AP repeatedly have answered questions on using the uppercase B, including an inquiry earlier this month. They have signaled it is part of ongoing study and discussion, but they have yet to make a change. For timely and sensitive topics such as this, as we previously have done with our own stylebook for the past two decades, we dont wait for validation of a decision we consider necessary and overdue. When the Diversity Committee and newsroom editors discussed this change, we also asked ourselves, If were considering this, should we also consider uppercasing white, when referring to people with light-colored skin, particularly those of European ancestry? The short answer, we concluded: white is a physical description of people from different cultures. We should add that outside of the white supremacist movement, we did not find a widespread expressed desire by anyone to uppercase white. The desire of Black people to be identified as Black exists. It is real. It has been embraced by many in the Black community. And we are merely catching up with something already put into practice. More broadly, we respect how people wish to be identified, and that is true of any legitimate desire from any ethnic group. If there are reasons to address other groups, we will continue to do so. We have adopted other notable changes to our best practices this year. In January, we pledged to stop using police mugshots for anything other than the most serious crimes and vowed to stop using names of suspects charged in minor incidents. We have the flexibility to adjust case by case, but as digital publishers, we realize internet search engines are unforgiving. We also will continue to watch what is happening in the world around us, and be cognizant of organic changes in how ethnic groups identify themselves. We are willing to change our approach in response to that when appropriate. And we will continue to engage our employees and our readers on this topic. Here is the updated passage in our style guide: Black: Capitalize Black as a reference for people of African ancestry. African American may be used but it is important to note it may not accurately describe all Black people who may not be citizens or who may be from another country. When in question, you should follow a persons preference. If you have questions or comments you can direct them to me at kwhitmer@njadvancemedia.com. Kevin Whitmer is Senior VP for Content, Expansion and Development for NJ Advance Media. 'Most distressing is the glee with which many people in the GAA community are now happy to spread vile gossip, photographs and videos about other GAA members' (stock photo) Swappie, an online marketplace for buying and selling refurbished phones, has raised $40.6M (35.8m) in Series B funding as it launches in Ireland. The funds will be used to accelerate its growth and to support the companys expansion plans in Europe. Consumers here can now access refurbished phones that come with a warranty for up to 40pc less than the price of a new device. By mid-August, Irish customers will be able to sell their existing devices to Swappie. Sami Marttinen, CEO and co-founder of Swappie, said: As Irish consumers become more aware of the environmental impact that their purchasing decisions have, we expect to see far greater demand for high quality refurbished smartphones. Because we refurbish every device ourselves, in our own factory, we control the whole value chain. This means we can deliver the highest quality devices, under warranty, for much less than the cost of a new phone. Co-founded in 2016 in Finland by Sami Marttinen and Jiri Heinonen, the business aims to provide customers with a way to upgrade their phones in a high quality, more affordable and environmentally friendly manner. To date Swappie, which is operating in Italy, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, has raised $48m (42.5m). This latest funding round includes venture capital firm TESI, alongside existing investors Lifeline Ventures, Reaktor Ventures, and Inventure. Last year Swappie recorded sales of over $35m. banner - Reuters The US Embassy in South Korea has been ordered by Washington to remove a giant Black Lives Matter banner after it came to the attention of Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo. Mr Trump and Mr Pompeo, his secretary of state, were reportedly displeased by the decision to unfurl the banner. It was hung on the facade of the embassy in Seoul by US ambassador Harry Harris on Saturday. Following a request from the state department in Washington it has now been removed. A rainbow "pride" banner offering support to the LGBTQ community was also taken down. In their place a banner marking 70 years since the end of the Korean War was displayed. On Saturday the embassy sent out a message on Twitter with a photograph of its Black Lives Matter banner. It said: "The US Embassy stands in solidarity with fellow Americans grieving and peacefully protesting to demand positive change. "Our Black Lives Matter banner shows our support for the fight against racial injustice and police brutality as we strive to be a more inclusive and just society." At the time, Mr Harris said: "USA is a free and diverse nation. From that diversity, we gain our strength." On Monday the embassy made no comment,. Black Lives Matter protests are being held across the world following the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25. But the Seoul banner was seen as a rare example of open support for the protest by an appointee of Mr Trump. Mr Harris, a 40-year veteran of the US Navy, became the US ambassador in Seoul in 2018. He was appointed by Mr Trump and has privately said he is planning to leave his position before the end of the year. Most evangelical churches say donations have grown, stayed same despite lockdowns Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Optimism is beginning to return to evangelical churches and organizations in the U.S. as a majority of them saw cash donations growing or remaining the same during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in April compared with the same month last year, according to a survey. Asked how total cash donations, excluding one-time extraordinary gifts, changed for them between April 2020 and April 2019, 66% of churches and 59% of Christ-centered nonprofits said it was higher than or the same as April 2019, shows the survey by Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Asked how donations changed between April 2020 and January 2020, when a pandemic of this magnitude was not even imaginable, 72% of churches and 61% of nonprofits said it was higher than or the same as January, adds the survey, conducted between May 12 and May 27 with 1,341 leaders of evangelical churches and nonprofits. The optimism documented in January is already beginning to return, said Warren Bird, ECFA vice president of Research and Equipping, in the survey report. Despite financial challenges, 69% of churches and 46% of nonprofits said they are optimistic about giving over the next three months May to July. Ministries that do evangelism are most optimistic about future cash donations, at 62%, and ministries providing education are least optimistic, at 29%. The study also shows that the role of online giving increased for churches, but remained largely unchanged for other nonprofits. While 64% of churches saw an increase in online giving, 34% saw no change. Most surveyed churches and ministries have applied for loans through the Trump administrations Paycheck Protection Program, which is intended to help small businesses and nonprofits weather coronavirus-related shutdowns. And most churches and nonprofits said they have no plans to change staffing levels over the next three months. Rough and uncertain waters are still ahead for some, particularly summer camps, schools, short-term missions, and other ministries involving near-term travel and large in-person gatherings, said Bird. Yet the responses in this report indicate the impact of the pandemic to date is reasonably manageable. Churches also helped each other financially. The Churches Helping Churches Challenge, launched by the AND Campaign and other Christian organizations on April 3, urged larger, more stable churches to assist at-risk churches in their own community. It also created the COVID-19 Church Relief Fund to provide $3,000 grants to help congregations in need. In a little over a month, the initiatives Relief Fund raised nearly $650,000 from 1,371 individuals and ministries, with 100% of all funds donated going directly to churches. Meanwhile, the United Methodist Church saw a steep decline in giving during the month of April. At the end of May, the UMC General Council on Finance and Administration held an online meeting to discuss the drop in giving after large numbers of UMC congregations were closed due to coronavirus-related restrictions on religious services. Collections for the month of April were down 26% compared to the same time last year, as well as being 45% lower than in 2017. Another factor given for the drop in giving was the denominations ongoing debate over LGBT issues, specifically whether the UMC should continue to adhere to the belief that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. DUBLIN, Ohio, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Faced with a decreasing number of healthcare providers and growing patient volume as the Baby Boomer generation ages, surveyed rheumatologists said they plan to hire more advanced practice providers (APPs), expand patient care with telemedicine and invest in technology to manage the increased demand for services. These findings were released today in the first edition of Rheumatology Insights, a research-based report published by Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions. Based on surveys with more than 100 U.S. rheumatologists, Rheumatology Insights focuses on key trends impacting one of the fastest-growing areas of specialty medicine. Hiring more APPs (57%) was the most frequently cited solution for managing growing patient demand, but adoption of telemedicine (34%) and investments in other technology (34%) were also commonly cited as strategies to address the shortage of providers and create more time for patient care. Participating rheumatologists also indicated that increasing administrative duties are the biggest challenge facing their practice. The research was conducted just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., indicating that rheumatologists were already considering telemedicine services before the technology was quickly adopted and became more mainstream in recent months. The survey also explored rheumatologists' attitudes about value-based care and biosimilars. Key findings include: Rheumatologists are familiar and comfortable with biosimilars, but concerned about the economics of prescribing them: Most rheumatologists are very or somewhat comfortable (90%) prescribing biosimilars; however, a majority of participants (65%) strongly agree or agree that they are unlikely to switch to biosimilars until the economics are more favorable and there is greater adoption among payers. Most rheumatologists are very or somewhat comfortable (90%) prescribing biosimilars; however, a majority of participants (65%) strongly agree or agree that they are unlikely to switch to biosimilars until the economics are more favorable and there is greater adoption among payers. Rheumatologists report positive financial performance under MIPS, but remain skeptical about the broader goals of value-based care: Most participating rheumatologists said their practices are participating in MIPS (Merit-based Incentive Payment System), with nine in 10 saying financial performance has stayed the same or improved, compared to fee for service; however, two-thirds of participating rheumatologists said they lack confidence that MIPS will help improve patient outcomes and total cost of care. "The growth of the rheumatology field is resulting in exciting advances in rheumatology care as well as new challenges for providers, which prompted us to launch this research to better understand how rheumatologists are responding to these trends," said Dan Duran, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Provider Solutions for Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions. "We hope that deeper insights into how rheumatologists are addressing these important issues will help spark meaningful discussions about how to best support both providers and patients." Rheumatology Insights is a companion publication with Oncology Insights, a series of research reports exploring the views of oncologists on a wide range of subjects. About the Survey The findings in Rheumatology Insights are based on web-based surveys conducted in February and March 2020. More than 100 rheumatologists from a mix of community- and hospital-based practices participated in the research. The report also includes viewpoints from Gordon Lam, MD, FACR, Medical Director, Clinical and Translational Research at NorthEast Rheumatology, Atrium Health, and Amy Valley, PharmD, Vice President, Clinical Strategy and Technology Solutions, GPO, Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions. About Cardinal Health Cardinal Health, Inc. is a global, integrated healthcare services and products company, providing customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories and physician offices worldwide. The company enhances supply chain efficiency for clinically proven medical products, pharmaceuticals and cost-effective solutions. To combat prescription drug misuse, the Cardinal Health Foundation and its education partners created Generation Rx, a national drug prevention education and awareness program. The Foundation actively supports an array of other solutions, including efforts to reduce opioid prescribing, promote drug take back and safe disposal and expand collaborative community work. Cardinal Health is backed by nearly 100 years of experience with operations in nearly 46 countries. For more information, visit cardinalhealth.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Contacts Media: to request a copy of the report, please contact Marcia Frederick, [email protected] and (614) 757-9968; Investors: Kevin Moran, [email protected] and (614) 757-7942. SOURCE Cardinal Health Related Links http://www.cardinalhealth.com Research conducted by Linkflow Capital shows that more SMEs continue to see improved access to financing in 2019 SINGAPORE - Media Outreach - 16 June 2020 - In their annual SME financing research conducted by Linkflow Capital, SMEs continue to see improved access to financing in 2019. According to Linkflow Capital, up to 39% of SMEs gained access to financing in 2019. This figure has continued to improve since the company started tracking data from 2017, from 19% in 2017 to 34% in 2018. Research data and statistics are derived from Linkflow Capital's SME loan comparison portal launched in 2017. For this latest survey, data was generated from over 2436 unique users for the period January to December 2019. "In 2019, our dataset suggests a slight improvement for SMEs attempting to secure business financing, with up to 39% of our portal users eligible indicatively for financing, up from 34% in 2018." said Ben Teo, a spokesperson for Linkflow Capital. "2019 was a challenging year with the looming backdrop of a US-China trade war and sluggish GDP growth of 0.7% in 2019, the slowest in a decade. Despite these conditions, we did not see major adverse impact in credit tightening for SME financing, although overall business loan growth dipped slightly from 2018." Consistent from the data in 2017 and 2018, the major reason why most SMEs are not able to access financing continues to be a combination of low revenue and poor cash flow. Presently, the elephant in the room will obviously be Covid-19 and more specifically, its impact on SME financing availability. Although this research is predominantly based on 2019's data, flash figures for the period January to May 2020 are included as well to form a basis how 1st half 2020 might pan out for the SME financing landscape amidst the backdrop of Covid-19. For detailed figures and data on Linkflow Capital's research survey, kindly visit their webpage at https://smeloan.sg/blog/2019-sme-finance-accessibility-survey. Story continues As we cross the halfway mark of 2020, the world is fraught with rising uncertainties with risks of deglobalization and political friction between major world economies. Singapore's GDP forecast for 2020 have been revised to -0.7% to -0.4%, possibly the worst showing since independence. The Government has provided much support and succor for SMEs to cushion Covid-19's economic damage, including financing schemes to support SME lending. It is now critical for businesses to pivot and adapt agilely to sustain and grow through this challenging phase. About Linkflow Capital Pte Ltd Founded in 2012, Linkflow Capital is a SME financing consultancy firm providing business financing advisory to SMEs in Singapore with an extensive network of capital providers. Website: https://smeloan.sg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LinkflowCapital/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LinkflowCapital LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/company/linkflow-capital-pte-ltd Sounds of construction reverberated through the air as the domes for the North Georgia Astronomical Observatory at the University of North Georgia (UNG) were lifted and placed atop the newly built facility. "This is a major milestone because the facility looks and feels like a professional observatory," said Adam Strzemienski, assistant director of facilities for capital planning and sustainability. "This building will accomplish the instructional, research and community education goals of the project." UNG proposed replacing the aging observatory with a state-of-the-art facility. In January 2019, the University System of Georgia (USG) approved the $1.4 million plan, which UNG funded. Ten months later, the 20-year-old facility was demolished and construction began on the single-level 3,200-square-foot building. "We rebuilt on the same location, because it is the best spot," Strzemienski said. "It's on elevated terrain and miles away from the biggest source of light nearby, which is the city of Dahlonega." On May 18, the observatory's domes that will house two telescopes arrived. They were assembled during the week and installed May 22, which indicated construction is near an end. "Now, it's more than 80% complete and crews get to work on the interior," Strzemienski said, adding the project is set to be complete in late July 2020. "They will paint the walls, move in the furniture and install equipment such as the internet network, fire alarms and light fixtures." Two key pieces of equipment are the brand-new telescopes measuring at 24 and 28 inches across in the primary mirror diameter. Dr. Gregory Feiden, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at UNG, said the largest telescope will be situated on a 3-foot-by-3-foot pillar that is nearly 20 feet tall. "It's a solid block of concrete," said Feiden, who visited the construction site a few times to see the progress as the observatory director. "The immensity of the new facility is really striking." The observatory's main feature will be the two telescope rooms accompanied with multipurpose rooms for viewing. Strzemienski said the rooms will be handicapped-accessible. "Even if you are in a wheelchair, you can go in the room with the dome and have a lift provide access to look into the telescope," he said. Other features include a small classroom, two bathrooms, a kitchenette, work space, and storage space. Outside of the facility is improved parking, including a turnaround for school buses. Safety lighting will be stationed in the parking lot and around the building. "As people enter the facility at night, the controlled light will be red," Strzemienski said. "This way people can see where they are walking, but no direct light will affect the telescopes and viewing the night sky." He said UNG's ground management team is researching flowers that bloom at night and devising a plan for landscaping. The new facility will provide students hands-on experience working in a professional-grade observatory with high-quality research equipment, Feiden said. But it will not be limited to their use. The building will be open to the public on Friday nights following the free show in the George E. Coleman Sr. Planetarium. It is an aspect that sets UNG's observatory apart, making its completion highly anticipated by the public. "It's surprising how much community support it has," Strzemienski said. "This little observatory is getting a lot of attention." In fact, Good Day Atlanta on Fox 5 and WSB-TV on channel 2 in Atlanta featured segments about the observatory. After closing its doors for three months, Passionfish restaurant in Pacific Grove is back in business, but its clear something is different. We put up the shower curtains which are 7 feet by 7 feet, and well seat every other table, explained owner of the establishment, Cindy Walter. I believe we have 27 of these dividers. Then we also took shower curtains; we cut them to size and we covered all of our wine glasses. The entire staff, including chefs and dishwashers, are all required to wear masks. As for guests, masks too are required. Only one guest can check in for a party at a time and must wait outside or in their cars until they are seated. These extra steps are vital, Walter said, after her husband and co-owner of the restaurant, Ted, underwent a double lung transplant last year, making him extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. Our thought was, how do we make the restaurant safe for him? What are the steps that we need to do that we would feel comfortable sitting down and dining? And thats where all of this came out of, said Walter. Customers said theyre thrilled to be back. I think the shower curtains are a great solution, said Susan Jones, a resident of Carmel Valley. I was wondering how they were going to do it. I like them because they are transparent, so it doesnt box in the seating areas too much. It still feels open yet private. Although keeping their kitchen closed for so long wasnt ideal, Walter said shes happy to be welcoming guests back. There was a lot of things that really encouraged us to be patient, get things done, do it properly and not try and open up on the very first day, said Walter. Walter said theyre also planning to set up a space outside for outdoor dining in the next couple of weeks. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. formally pleaded guilty Tuesday to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter over its responsibility for Californias deadliest and most destructive wildfire, a dramatic moment as the legal fallout from the historic blaze approaches its long-awaited conclusion. Bill Johnson, CEO of PG&E Corp., the utilitys parent company, personally entered each of the pleadings at a hearing in Chico, the result of Butte County prosecutors criminal investigation into the 2018 Camp Fire. The fire nearly leveled the town of Paradise and surrounding areas more than 1 years ago, and investigators found that it was started by an old power line that PG&E allowed to deteriorate. Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press PG&E was indicted by a grand jury on 85 felony counts, including the 84 manslaughter charges and one count of unlawfully causing a fire. (An 85th death was found to be indirectly caused by the Camp Fire.) Johnson pleaded guilty to all of them at the hearing in Chico, which was broadcast live online because of space limitations prompted by the coronavirus. One by one, the judge read aloud the names of the victims, mostly elderly and infirm, who had suffered horrific, preventable deaths. The court projected their photos onto the wall. Mask pulled down, Johnson took in each picture as he entered the 85 guilty pleas on behalf of his company. Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press Shirlee Teays, found inside her home on Skyway clutching a framed photograph of what, investigators couldnt tell. Cheryl Brown, 75, and her husband, Larry Brown, 72, seated in their recliners. Don Shores, 70, and his wife, Kelly Shores, 65, also seated in their recliners. Teresa Ammons, 82, outside her trailer with her purse. Ethel Riggs, 96, unable to reach the manual release of her garage door. Richard Brown, 74, splayed underneath his truck. Guilty, Your Honor. TK Huff, 71, facedown in his yard, having crawled 10 feet from his wheelchair. David Young, 69, who crashed his minivan into a tree while evacuating, only to burn alive with two pets in the cargo area. Rose Farrell, 99, next to her wheelchair on the front porch. Three generations of Heffern women Ishka, 20, Christina, 40, Matilde, 68 in their bathtub. Barbara Coulson, 71, and her sister Shirley Haley, 67, their arms wrapped around each other at their home on Heavenly Place. Guilty, Your Honor. After accepting PG&Es guilt, which took more than a half-hour, Johnson said he knew he could never take away the pain felt by the many thousands of people who were harmed by the Camp Fire. He said PG&E is deeply sorry for the fire and its tragic consequences and that the company was trying to make sure it never caused anything similar again. On behalf of PG&E, I apologize, and I apologize personally for the pain that was caused here, Johnson said. I make this plea with great sadness and regret, and with eyes wide open to what happened and to what must never happen again. Johnson took the reins at PG&E in May 2019 several months after the Camp Fire and he will depart the company at the end of the month. PG&E is also currently trying to wrap up its bankruptcy case that was prompted in large part by the Camp Fire. A judge overseeing the case is expected to approve the companys exit plan, though no written ruling has come yet. Butte County District Attorney This was a historic moment, and hopefully a historic moment for corporate America, said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey at a news conference hours after Johnson accepted PG&Es guilt in court. Prosecutors ... will not allow them to get away with recklessly endangering the lives of the citizens they serve. Just before the news conference, Ramseys office released a 92-page report detailing the results of its criminal investigation. The thorough document paints an alarming picture of PG&Es numerous missteps in the decades leading up to the disaster, as the company scaled back inspections of a century-old power line and overlooked deteriorating equipment until a hook connected to a transmission tower broke and caused the fire. PG&E inherited the tower when it bought Great Western Power Co. in 1930, about 10 years after the equipment was originally installed. Though PG&E never catalogued or replaced much of the original equipment on the tower, many of the original pieces appear to have remained in place, the report said. After the Camp Fire, investigators found extensive wear on parts of the tower at the origin point as well as bolted-on replacement plates that showed PG&E was aware that the hooks and holes were rubbing on each other causing wear, the report said. An engineer with expertise in failure analysis and a meteorologist hired by government officials later concluded that wear on the broken hook that led to the fire was consistent with about 97 years of rotational body on body wear, according to the report. Under PG&E policy in 1987, crews had to patrol the Caribou-Palermo transmission line, which started the Camp Fire, three times a year once from the ground and twice in the air and climb 5% of the towers annually. As of 2005, the line had to be patrolled only once a year, typically, though it was supposed to receive a closer inspection once every five years, the report said. Records reviewed by prosecutors and grand jury members showed that, from 2001 to 2018, PG&E usually inspected the Caribou-Palermo line by helicopter and the patrols steadily declined in thoroughness. The amount of time spent examining the line fell off, too: One worker reported spending 1 days on helicopter inspections before 2001 but, by 2018, the aerial inspections of that line and others concluded in the span of several hours. The report further said that PG&E failed to follow its own maintenance procedures even though several employees said they strictly adhered to company standards. And for many policies and decisions, the company could not fully explain its own decision-making. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California This inability to determine who made decisions and upon what those decisions were based frustrated efforts to identify individuals potentially personally liable for policies that (led) to the conditions which caused the Camp Fire, the report said. Another problem was that no one who PG&E hired to inspect and maintain its power lines was trained to watch out for the kind of hook wear that led to the Camp Fire, according to Ramsey, the district attorney. That meant that the hooks just wore and wore and wore with no one looking at them, until obviously ... disaster struck, he said at the news conference. In Ramseys telling, PG&E fell far short on maintenance and training in part because profit was a driving force. Jurors examined PG&E witnesses and considered whether they had found enough evidence to indict any employee or executive. But the grand jury ultimately determined it could not meet the burden that California law would require to pursue charges against a specific person affiliated with PG&E, according to the report. Many of the decisions that ultimately led to the Camp Fire were made in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, the report said. It would be almost impossible to prove a person making decisions in 1995 knew the decision was creating the risk of a catastrophic fire over 20 years later and either disregarded or ignored that risk. PG&E announced that it would plead guilty to the Camp Fire criminal charges three months ago, but its appearance in court was delayed multiple times because of the pandemic. Additional hearings are scheduled in Chico for the rest of the week, when family members of people who died in the fire will be allowed to read victim impact statements into the court record. After all those statements have been read, a state court judge will formally sentence PG&E. The company has agreed to pay the maximum fine of $3.5 million and another $500,000 to reimburse the district attorneys office. PG&E is already on probation because of felony convictions that arose from the deadly 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion. The San Mateo County district attorney sent a senior inspector from his office to help Butte County prosecutors investigate the Camp Fire, the report said. That inspector immediately began seeing parallels between the San Bruno explosion and the Butte County fire, including issues of PG&Es record-keeping and inspection processes, the report said. The Camp Fire had personal significance for Ramsey, who grew up in Butte County and has been the district attorney there for more than 30 years. At the news conference, he recalled how his youngest daughter, who lived in Paradise, was initially reluctant to flee, hoping to ride out the fire successfully. Her older sister, who was out of state, urged Ramsey to use your best dad voice to persuade her otherwise. So Ramsey did. It took some convincing, he said, but his daughter drove away with her four small children. They barely made it out. J.D. Morris and Lizzie Johnson are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com, ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris, @lizziejohnsonnn Sanaa, June 16 : Yemen's Houthi rebels on Tuesday claimed responsibility for drone attacks on a military airport in the Saudi Arabian border city of Khamis Mushait. "The attack was carried out by five bomb-laden drones on Monday night, targeting the hangars of warplanes and arms depots in the Saudi airport," the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV quoted the group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea as saying. "The target was accurately bombed," he said, adding the operation came in retaliation for the coalition's "military escalation, airstrikes and economic blockade." Khamis Mushait is in the Saudi southwestern region of Asir, which borders northern Yemen, reports Xinhua news agency. There was no comment yet from Saudi Arabia or the coalition on the Houthi claim. The Saudi-led coalition launched a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Tuesday morning, according to the city's residents. Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in early 2015 to support Hadi's government. The five-year-long war has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million and pushed more than 20 million to the brink of starvation. Court allows detention of Manher for appearance in court with doctor The Pechersky District Court of Kyiv has granted permission for the detention of Kherson Regional Council Chairman Vladyslav Manher, who is suspected of involvement in the murder of Kherson activist Kateryna Handziuk. Manher must appear before a judge within 36 hours, according to the ruling. "An independent expert, who was attracted by prosecutors, found out that Manher can be transported to Kyiv in the presence of a doctor. His state of health allows this," the online resource "Who Killed Katya Handziuk," has said. Manher's lawyer Dmytro Ilchenko said on Facebook that he plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. "The Kyiv court allowed the forced appearance of Manher in court, regardless of his state of health. Grounds for the ruling was testimony by an ambulance doctor from Odesa, who did not examine Manher," Ilchenko said. "Zelensky has built up problems for Ukraine with the European Court of Human Rights," the lawyer said. The press office of Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) must appear before the investigating judge within 36 hours for consideration of the PGO's request to change the conditions of his pretrial detention. The PGO decided to petition the court because of Manher's attempts to illegally influence witnesses, threatening them and their families. As reported, on July 31, 2018 in Kherson, an unknown person doused Handziuk with acid. She was taken to a local hospital with burns, but was soon transferred to a medical facility in Kyiv. On November 4, the passed away. The persons involved in the case are include Manher, assistant to member of parliament Ihor Pavlovsky and ex-Anti-Terrorist Operation veteran Serhiy Torbin and Oleksiy Levin (Moskalenko). They are charged under Party 3 of Article 27 (complicity) under Article 115 (premeditated murder) of Ukraine's Criminal Code. LGBTQ advocates rejoiced Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court issued an unexpectedly broad ruling that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 specifically, Title VII of the act, which prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sex bars employment discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. Chase Strangio, deputy director of Trans Justice at the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, called the ruling "a truly important rebuke" of conservative efforts to roll back LGBTQ legal protections established during the Obama administration. "This is a major blow to the interpretation that anti-trans forces are looking to advance," Strangio said. "You kind of forget that positive, good things can happen sometimes." The court said Title VII also covers sexual orientation and transgender status, upholding lower court rulings that said sexual orientation discrimination was a form of sex discrimination. The decision was written Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's four more liberal members to form a 6-3 majority. More from NBC News: Trans workers on what the Supreme Court ruling means for them Pride 2020: Must-read LGBTQ history books Beyonce's message for LGBTQ grads: 'Your queerness is beautiful' Of the three plaintiffs whose cases led to Monday's landmark ruling, only one survives: Gerald Bostock, the Georgia state employee who was fired after it was discovered that he joined a gay softball league. "Today, we can go to work without the fear of being fired for who we are and who we love," Bostock said in a statement. "Yet, there is more work to be done. Discrimination has no place in this world, and I will not rest until we have equal rights for all." Aimee Stephens, the transgender woman who sued after she was fired from her job at a Michigan funeral home, died last month of kidney disease. Donald Zarda, a New York skydiving instructor who was fired in 2010 after telling a tandem dive customer that he was gay, died in a BASE-jumping accident in 2014. "There are no words to describe what I'm feeling at this present moment," Donna Stephens, Aimee's widow, said. "I know that the last seven years of Aimee's life, she rose as a leader who fought against discrimination against transgender people," she said. "I am so grateful for this victory, to honor the legacy of Aimee." Melissa Zarda, Donald's sister, said the ruling was "the very best way to honor my brother's memory and legacy," saying that he sued because he "wanted to ensure nobody else went through what he did." "Millions of LGBTQ Americans still live in fear of losing their job because of who they are or who they love, so this decision is welcome news," said Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., who is gay. "The Supreme Court confirmed that there must be equal justice under the law for LGBTQ Americans in the workplace. This decision gives our community dignity and legal recourse should our civil rights be violated." Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden called Monday's decision "a momentous step forward for our country." "Before today, in more than half of states, LGBTQ+ people could get married one day and be fired from their job the next day under state law, simply because of who they are or who they love," Biden said, vowing to sign the Equality Act into law if elected president. The Williams Institute, an LGBTQ research center at UCLA Law School, estimated that the ruling protects an estimated 8.1 million working-age LGBTQ people in the United States: 7.1 million lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer people, and 1 million transgender people. Of those people, 3.4 million lesbian, gay and bisexual workers and over a half million transgender workers gain immediate new protections from Monday's ruling because they live in one of the 27 states without any pre-existing LGBTQ workplace discriminations. "The ruling ensures a blanket of employment protections for LGBTQ people rather than the inadequate patchwork that has all but stopped at the borders of Southern states," the Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, said of the estimated 5 million LGBTQ people living in the South. "For LGBTQ Southerners, the decision shows yet again that that no one should face discrimination because of who they are or who they love." Some advocates, however, warned that there was still work to be done, and that while Monday's Title VII ruling establishes a reading of sex discrimination that will significantly expand the scope of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, more legislation is still needed. "I think the Bostock ruling will eventually control the definition of sex in every federal civil rights bill or law that includes sex, but the challenge here is that there are some contexts where there are gaps in federal law, and we need to fill those gaps," James Esseks, director of the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, said. He added that the Equality Act which would explicitly add sexual orientation and gender identity to a variety of pre-existing civil rights laws "would fill that gap" by barring discrimination in public accommodations, jury duty and some other areas left out of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Even as the Bostock decision signals the end of the legal argument that Title VII's ban on sex discrimination does not bar discrimination against LGBTQ people, Esseks said there is already a new anti-LGBTQ legal argument making its way through lower courts. "I think the next tactic by opponents of LGBTQ equality is to claim that religious freedom gives them a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people," Esseks said. "And that is an endeavor that is already well underway." Tim Fitzsimons reports on LGBTQ news for NBC Out. The article "LGBTQ Advocates, Plaintiffs Rejoice After Supreme Court Title VII Win" originally appeared on NBC News. In this article AIR-GB An increasing number of countries around the world are welcoming back international travelers for the summer, after a period of lockdown due to the coronavirus. However, with vaccines and treatments for the virus still in development, traveling safely is important. If paying up for your own private plane has crossed your mind as the dream solution, you're not alone. PrivateFly, a private jet charter broker, saw an 85% rise in inquiries in the first two weeks of June compared with the same period last year. Meanwhile, Air Partner, a global aviation services group, saw more than a 210% increase in flight bookings in May, versus the same month last year. People are seeking charter flights for new types of experiences than in years' past. Colin Anderson Productions pty ltd "This summer, we're seeing many clients opting for nature-filled, wellness-oriented experiences," said David McCown, president for Air Partner U.S. "They're seeking out under-the-radar destinations that can provide safe alternatives to the usual major tourist destinations." So what do you need to know as a first-time private jet-setter? CNBC's Global Traveler spoke to brokers to find out the basics. How much does it cost? Similar to the cost of a normal plane ticket, prices vary depending on the duration of the flight. The length of stay and type of plane also factor into how much you pay. Edward Reid, co-founder of Villiers Jets, said most aircraft cost between $5,000 and $10,000 an hour. Similarly, Adam Twidell, CEO of PrivateFly, said a one-to-two hour flight on a small jet could cost around $5,000, while a long-haul flight, such as New York to London, on a larger aircraft could set you back upwards of $130,000. Andy Christie, Air Charter Service's global director of private jets, said charters could start at 5,000 ($6,272) but cost as much as 1 million ($1.27 million). An airplane in VistaJet's fleet. Courtesy of VistaJet For those looking to become frequent flyers on private planes in the wake of the pandemic, some air carriers offer subscription or loyalty plans. VistaJet has launched a short-term leasing program, for example, where travelers can hire a plane for one to three months for a fixed monthly cost, including up to 50 hours usage a month with additional hours at a reduced rate. Fuel, crew and handling fees are usually included, said Reid. Additional costs typically include "technical considerations like de-icing and overnight hangarage," which is the storage of the plane. He said private charters would also usually include basic catering, but specific food requests could cost more. What type of plane should I charter? The type of plane you charter depends on the number of people traveling together, budget, luggage requirements and the route, said Twidell. "Ultra long-range jets and private airliners such as the Gulfstream G650, Global Express or Boeing Business Jet are suitable for long-haul flights, and for larger groups or VVIP travel," he said. "They seat up to 18 or more passengers and come with flat bed options for sleeping, larger bathrooms and multi-zone cabin configurations giving passengers the feel of a luxury hotel suite in the sky." Christie said that two of the most common mid-sized jets are the Hawker 900XP and the Citation XLS. They can accommodate eight passengers, have between four and five hours' range and will fit around eight pieces of luggage. However, he added that people could fly solo if they want. How far in advance do I need to book? Like most aspects of vacation planning, the earlier you book the better, but for those in need of a speedy getaway, Twidell said PrivateFly has a booking and take-off record of 16 minutes. He said that nearly half of PrivateFly's clients book no more than a week in advance of their departure. Reid said Villiers Jets allows booking in as little as two to three hours in advance of departure. Meanwhile, VistaJet's Chief Commercial Officer Ian Moore recommended giving 24 hours' notice for a flight. How do I get to my private plane? Many airports operate private terminals, or allow private charter brokers to work as "fixed-based operators," to handle private traffic. "These are quiet, efficient and well-equipped to facilitate a quick transition from arrival at the airport to departing on the aircraft," said Reid. "The great benefit of private charters is that it opens up a range of local and regional airports to our clients, often much closer and convenient for their end destination." Can I change my mind on the destination or extend my trip? There is flexibility to change where you travel and to extend your trip, but the more notice given the better, said Reid. This allows for revised flight plans and permissions to be granted at the new destination. He said there is usually an additional cost, in the case of Villiers Jets, to account for additional flight time or higher landing fees at the new destination airport. Charter flights provide the flexibility to fly into regional and local airports. rubberball Twidell also said changes to a trip's schedule can almost always be accommodated up to and including the day of the flight. He said there may be an extra charge if the crew needs to stay overnight, for example, but this depends on the extent of the changes. Are pets allowed on the plane? Pets are generally allowed on board private planes, according to the aircraft providers that CNBC spoke to. Christie highlighted that this can be subject to pet passport requirements and other animal international travel restrictions. VistaPet caters to clients flying with pets. Courtesy of VistaJet Air Partner flights may require pets to be placed in an "approved kennel" and for travelers to notify the account manager organizing their trips ahead of time. Twidell said that a PrivateFly plane did one journey from London to Alicante, Spain with 10 pets two dogs, two cats and six birds as well as their two owners. Moore said that one in four VistaJet members regularly travels with pets, so it created a service called VistaPet, offering perks such as care kits, sleep mats, menus and even fear of flying courses for four-legged friends. Do I need specific insurance? By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 16, 2020 | 10:39 AM | FRANKFORT In collaboration with the Department for Local Government (DLG), today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the first Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act reimbursement for local governments with expenses related to COVID-19.The City of Bardstown will receive $395,739 of the $300 million allocated for city and county governments across the commonwealth."The City of Bardstown is the first of many cities and counties to be reimbursed for expenses related to COVID-19," Gov. Beshear said. "We appreciate everything that all of our local governments have done to follow guidelines and keep Kentuckians safe. These reimbursements help in our continued fight against COVID-19."DLG Commissioner Dennis Keene said our local governments have worked tirelessly to follow guidelines and precautions, making reimbursements essential."We know how important these reimbursements are for our local governments," Commissioner Keene said. "Our staff is working diligently to make the process simple and efficient so we can get reimbursements out the door and to our cities and counties as quickly as possible."Reimbursements for the City of Bardstown will cover previously incurred costs for sanitation supplies to comply with Healthy at Work guidelines, equipment upgrades to allow City Council members to telework, paid sick and family leave to public employees, and grants for small businesses to offset the financial burden of COVID-19."The City of Bardstown is very appreciative of this funding from the CARES Act and the very fast, efficient response we got from DLG during the application process," Mayor Dick Heaton said. "The funding is going to be very helpful to the city as we finish budgeting for fiscal year 2021, which will be heavily impacted by COVID-19, high unemployment and business interruption during the last quarter of fiscal year 2020 and the first two quarters of fiscal year 2021."Since the application was released last month, DLG has received approximately 55 applications for reimbursement from city and county governments across the commonwealth, which are pending approval until all documentation is submitted.For more information and to apply for reimbursement, click the link below. On the Net: Madeleine McCann's parents have rubbished claims that they received proof from police that their daughter is dead. It was reported last night that German prosecutors had written to Madeleine McCann's parents to say "getting the culprit is more important than putting our cards on the table". Police in the northern city of Braunschweig are investigating the disappearance of the British three-year-old and it was said they have "concrete evidence" she is dead. But Maddie's parents, Gerry and Kate, said in a statement on their website today: "The widely reported news that we have a received a letter from the German authorities that states there is evidence or proof that Madeleine is dead is FALSE." Read More "Like many unsubstantiated stories in the media, this has caused unnecessary anxiety to friends and family and once again disrupted our lives," the statement continued. Expand Close Suspect: Convicted paedophile Christian Bruckner / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Suspect: Convicted paedophile Christian Bruckner "As we have stated many times before, we will not give a running commentary on the investigation- that is the job of the law enforcement agencies and we will support them in any way requested. Furthermore, we do not have a family spokesperson nor are we actively paying any lawyers. "Any recent comments attributed in the media have not come from us unless they have been posted on our website. If there are important developments that can be made public, they will be issued through official police channels." Bruckner was first publicly linked to Madeleine two weeks ago when Braunschweig police made an appeal for more information on his whereabouts the night she went missing. The authorities are unable to charge the 43-year-old convicted paedophile with Madeleine's murder with the evidence they currently have, but have insisted their case against him is "90pc" there. Hans Christian Wolters, one of the German prosecutors leading the investigation into Madeleine's case, said he "sympathises" with Kate and Gerry McCann's desire to know what new evidence has been recovered on their daughter's fate, but a successful case against Bruckner is "more important". Speaking in his Braunschweig office yesterday, Mr Wolters said: "We have written to the McCanns again because we are closely following and monitoring what has been going on in the media. We have really considered the fact that it is going to be very hard for the family when we tell them that we assume Madeleine is dead. "But we can't say why she is dead. It is more important that we are successful and we are able to get the culprit as opposed to just putting our cards on the table and tell them why we think she might be. I know it would be of relief to the parents to know how she died but it would hamper the investigation if we give away too much information." Mr Wolters's correspondence to the McCanns came as their Portuguese lawyer, Rogerio Alves, demanded a meeting with police there as the McCanns become increasingly frustrated at the lack of transparency in the joint British-German-Portuguese investigation. "At this time, what I hope is that everybody helps to find the truth instead of... keeping information for themselves," he said. ( Daily Telegraph, London) A man who falsely claimed there was a bomb on an international flight was "angry" after he waited on hold for more than 35 minutes, was hung up on, and was later told not to call an airport number again, court documents reveal. Sanjay Kalubhai Korat, 39, a chef from Argenton near Newcastle, made two phone calls in March 2019 insisting there was a bomb on Singapore Airlines flight SQ423 that was travelling from Mumbai to Singapore. His mother and another relative were on board. Sanjay Kalubhai Korat leaves court in January. Credit:AAP An announcement was made to the plane's 263 passengers and 18 crew that a bomb threat had been made and an emergency landing was ordered. Two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to escort the flight to Changi Airport. During the hoax calls, one of which was recorded and translated from Hindi, Korat said he would provide information on the bomb "when the blast happens" and "after the crash". PSKOV, Russia -- Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva again has rejected charges that she had "justified terrorism" by publishing an online commentary that linked a suicide bombing with the countrys political climate as her trial resumed proceedings. At the June 16 hearing in the northwestern city of Pskov, defense lawyer Vitaly Cherkasov said prosecutors failed to show any statements by his client that could confirm the allegations. Prokopyeva, a freelance contributor to RFE/RLs Russian Service, was charged in connection with a commentary she wrote in November 2018, published by the Pskov affiliate of Ekho Moskvy radio. In the text, she discussed a bombing outside the Federal Security Service offices in the northern city of Arkhangelsk. Russian media had reported that the suspected bomber, who died in the explosion, had posted statements on social media accusing the security service of falsifying criminal cases. In her commentary, Prokopyeva linked the teenager's statements to the political climate under President Vladimir Putin. She suggested that political activism in the country was severely restricted, leading people to despair. Cherkasov told the court that Prokopyeva's comments in question were a journalistic analysis in which his client tried to find out what caused the young man to commit a crime in order to prevent similar tragedies in future. Prokopyeva has described the case against her as an attempt to murder the freedom of speech in Russia. If found guilty, she faces up to 7 years in prison. The charges against Svetlana are bogus and should be dropped, so that she and other Russian journalists can continue their efforts to address the important questions that Russians are contending with without fear of legal penalty," RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said in a statement. Human Rights Watch called Prokopyevas prosecution "a violation of freedom of expression, but not just hers." "It sends yet another chilling message that in Russia, raising uncomfortable questions can have severe repercussions -- a lesson the authorities have been giving the media for years," the New York-based rights group said. The case has drawn criticism from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and media rights groups like Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the European Federation of Journalists. This post is part of Outward, Slates home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here. On Monday, the Supreme Court rendered its long-awaited decision in Bostock v. Clayton County: Anti-LGBTQ employment discrimination is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The importance and significance of employment protections for transgender Americans could not be overstated even if you tried. Incredible! Remarkable! Amazing! Unthinkable! Historic! Trans people are joyful, giddy, surprised, awestruck, wondering, and perhaps most of all, relieved. The relief comes from already having all but given up after a brutal week under a brutal administration in a brutal year. Court watchers largely thought we were supposed to lose this one, given the conservative majority. Wed just about lost hope and suddenly, here it is again, at last, our old friend: hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WE WON IN THE SUPREME COURT 6 to 3! An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law! This is huge because it allows gender to considered part of sex descrimination as defined by Title VII! Trans people win some protections for a change!! https://t.co/rkXCFJj1PD Shakina (@Shakeenz) June 15, 2020 Im so used to being crushed day after day that I kind of cant believe this is real???? Mel Stone (@melstonemusic) June 15, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To understand our joy, you have to understand that to be trans and care about trans people until now has meant seemingly endless worry over jobs. One friend is on her 10th interview; she keeps being rejected even though shes qualified and then some. Another is being given a hard time at work, but he cant quitwhere would he get another job? A thirds been out of work so long shes stopped looking, and her depression is getting bad. Your fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth trans friends are part-time, underemployed, with advanced degrees all going to waste. Your ninth trans friend just lost her job and wants to know if you have any connections that could help. Your 10th trans friend just graduated, and shes so hopeful that youre keeping your worries to yourself. Your trans friends who are employed are letting the ones who arent crash on their couches, youre letting someone crash on your own couch, some friends of friends do sex work out of desperation, and there are too many GoFundMe pages to give money to. It goes on, and on, and on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I went into a store and asked the lady if they were hiring, my friend and housemate Mandy told me when I asked her to talk about looking for a job in her home state of Tennessee. She said they werent, but if I cut my hair and stopped wearing nail polish, I might have some better luck. But I dont want to talk about Tennessee, she added. It makes me sad. Advertisement Advertisement Of course, its not as simple as saying that with Bostock our struggles are all in the pasteven the Supreme Court has limitations on its power over the real world where we live. But federal employment discrimination protection is a darn good start. By ruling that Aimee Stephens, a woman who was by all accounts a model employee, was fired illegally for transitioning at work, the court gave recourse to the thousands of trans people who have struggled to find and keep a job due to widespread discrimination against people who dont conform to gender norms. Beyond that, they sent a message to employers that being transgender is not reason enough to refuse work to a qualified applicant, or to terminate the employment of a competent employee. Advertisement Advertisement While not everyone has a spouse or a desire to be married (with all due respect to Obergefell, 5-years-old this month), almost everyone has a job or needs one. The struggle to find and keep employment touches almost every trans person at one time or another. A 2013 survey found that the trans community had twice the rate of unemployment as the general population, 44 percent were underemployed, and 15 percent of trans people had a yearly income under $10,000. Changing that without federal protection from discrimination at work was like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it. Advertisement There is one bittersweet aspect to the story that was not forgotten in the trans communitys joyous response. The plaintiff in the case, Aimee Stephens, did not live to celebrate her victory in court with us. The woman who once wrote to her co-workers, The first step I must take is to live and work full-time as a woman. I will return to work as my true self, setting in motion a chain of events that would one day change the world, died in May after a long illness. Advertisement Spare a thought today in the midst of celebrating this 6-3 Supreme Court decision upholding LGBT protections under existing Civil Rights legislation (protests work and they matter) for Aimee Stephens, the trans woman whose case was heard and who died before it was decided. della - rooting for everybody black (@della_morte_) June 15, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement I wish Aimee Stephens was still alive to see this Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) June 15, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephens is in our history now, and in our hearts. We only wish she could also be with us to see what she fought for come to pass, as transgender Americans finally take their place in the workforce as equal, valued, and protected employees. Pride Is Gonna Look Different This Year, and We Couldnt Be Prouder Bryan Lowder, Christina Cauterucci, and Rumaan Alam are joined by Bob the Drag Queen and Mark Joseph Stern to discuss the Black Lives Matter protests, HBOs Were Here, the fifth anniversary of marriage equality, and the Supreme Courts momentous Title VII employment discrimination decision on Outward, Slates LGBTQ podcast. Chinese migrants seeking work in infrastructure projects have poured into Tibets Chamdo prefecture over the last four years, displacing Tibetan residents whose farms and homes have been taken over to make room for high-rise housing, Tibetan sources say. Many Chinese have moved into Tibetan areas, and their numbers are already surpassing the numbers of Tibetans still living in Chamdo a local resident told RFAs Tibetan Service, speaking on condition of anonymity. Chamdo is a highly Tibetan-populated region, and is known for its rich farmlands for the harvesting of crops, Shidey Dawa--a researcher at the Dharamsala, India-based Tibet Policy Institute--said, adding that China has been relocating Tibetan residents of Chamdo to more urban areas as part of what it calls a Poverty Eradication plan. "According to official Chinese sources, at least 26,000 Tibetans have migrated from Chamdo to nearby areas of Lhasa since 2016, but their numbers are probably greater than that," Dawa said, "And once the Tibetans from Chamdo have been relocated to urban areas the Chinese government brings more Chinese workers into the region under the pretext of carrying out infrastructure projects." This is really just an attempt to destroy the Tibetans culture and identity, Dawa said. In a resettlement scheme launched in 2014-2015 authorities have already ordered thousands of Tibetan residents of impoverished areas of Chamdo, the easternmost part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, to move from their farmland to areas closer to the TARs regional capital Lhasa, where they live with large families piled into single dwellings and cut off from opportunities for employment. New areas of settlement for families forced from Markham and Gongjo counties include the Lhasa-area counties of Toelung Dechen, Tagtse, Maldo Gongkar, and Phenpo Lhundrub, sources say. When Tibetans are forced to relocate from their villages to tiny box-like houses provided for them by the Chinese, getting accustomed to living such different lives in a different place takes a huge toll on them, another Tibetan source said, also speaking on condition he not be named. But now in Chamdo, knowing the Chinese language has become essential to finding work. And without knowing Chinese, it is difficult to find a job even in stores and hotels, he said. Hundreds of Tibetan families temporarily absent from their homes in Chamdo prefecture have meanwhile been left without permanent places to live after being struck from the lists of residents now ordered by Chinese authorities to relocate from their ancestral land, local sources told RFA in earlier reports. The families, comprising around 4,000 residents of Chamdos Markham (in Chinese, Mangkang) and Gongjo (Gongjue) counties, have also been forbidden by authorities to return to their native places, leaving them in a difficult situation, one source said. Reported by Lobsang Gelek for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney. A sign in place since mid-March announces the temporary closures of restaurants, nightclubs, gyms, and entertainment venues at LA Live in Los Angeles on May 7, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images) Senators Request Pandemic Aid Allocation Totals from Governors Three Republican Senators are seeking information from Governors about how federal pandemic response funds have been allocated in their state. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) Monday sent a letter to U.S. Governors requesting information on how their states have used the trillions of dollars in taxpayer funding from the CARES Act and other federal coronavirus response measures. Today @SenRonJohnson, @SenTedCruz and I send a letter to U.S. Governors requesting information on how states have allocated taxpayer funding from the CARES Act and other federal coronavirus funds, said Sen. Rick Scott Monday. Congress passed a series of bills in March, to alleviate some of the financial devastation caused by the CCP virus and the economic shut-down, including the CARES Act, which authorized $2.9 trillion to provide financial support to individuals, businesses, and other entities affected by the global pandemic. Lawmakers want to know how state and local governments have spent the $150 billion which was given to them to directly respond to the crisis in their jurisdictions. Now, nine weeks later, nearly $1.3 trillion, or 50% of the CARES Act funds, have been distributed. This taxpayer money is designed to be spent on coronavirus response to support those in need, the senators wrote. Taxpayers deserve to know how this money is being spent, so we write to ask for an update on how your state has allocated funds from the CARES Act and other federal coronavirus response measures. The lawmakers are requesting information regarding the total federal funding received, spent, and remains in balance. They also want to know if states plan to use the Federal Reserves Municipal Liquidity Facility and if their state has requested FEMA Disaster Relief Fund assistance. The senators are asking for the relevant information by Friday, June 26th. We look forward to working with you to protect taxpayer dollars and put our nation on a path to recovery recovery from this virus, from the economic devastation it has brought with it, and from the fiscal calamity that decades of politicians have ignored, they wrote. According to the treasury department CARES Act funds allocated to states are to be used only for expenditures related to the pandemic and incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020. Apportionment is by population, except that $3 billion is reserved for U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, $8 billion is allocated for tribal governments, and each state is guaranteed at least $1.25 billion even if its population indicates a lesser amount. According to the National Conference of State Legislature, At least 44 states and territories have created or proposed ways to track, oversee, and distribute information relating to federal stimulus funds. Governors are creating new entities, state agencies are documenting projects, and legislatures are forming commissions or committees to monitor the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act mandates that agencies submit their spending plans to Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) by June 27th. They are to submit quarterly reports to the Office of Management and Budget, Treasury, the PRAC, and appropriate congressional committees that detail how funds are spent on each project or activity. This data is then to be made public after 30 days on the PRAC website. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will hold a virtual fundraiser on June 23 where he will appear with former US President Barack Obama. Biden has escalated the efforts to raise funds after he secured the delegate threshold to officially clinch the Democratic presidential nomination for general elections in November. Bidens work under Obamas presidency helped him gain the trust of African-Americans and the overwhelming support turned the tide for him during South Carolina primary when Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was ahead of his Democratic rivals. The momentum gained from South Carolina primary extrapolated on the Super Tuesday of March 3 when the former Vice President 10 out of 14 states, virtually putting an end to Sanders bid. Folks, Ive got some big news: Next week, Im getting together with my friend and former boss, President @BarackObama, for a virtual grassroots fundraiser. We would love to see you there. Chip in now to get your ticket: https://t.co/UD3RHHKIw1 Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 16, 2020 Obama endorsed Biden In April, Obama endorsed his ex-deputy for his White House bid saying he is proud to endorse his friend Joe Biden for the President of the United States. In a video message shared on social media, Obama said that his 2008 decision to choose Biden as his running mate was one of his best decisions ever". "I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a President right now... Joe has the character and the experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and heal us through along recovery," he added. While Biden has been the presumptive Democratic nominee for months after Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders withdrew from primary elections, his latest series of wins across the US helped him secure 1,991 unpledged delegates necessary to officially clinch the nomination. The 77-year-old Democratic leader said that it was an honour for him to compete alongside one of the most talented groups of candidates the party has ever fielded. Biden promised that he is going to spend every day to earn the votes of Americans across the country to make win the battle for the soul of this nation. He has sharpened his attack against US President Donald Trump amid growing civil unrest over the death of George Floyd in police custody. Read: Biden Slams Trump For Rolling Back Protection To LGBTQ+ Patients, Going Back On Progress GUNNA Drinks is among the companies to secure Future Fund backing. (GUNNA Drinks) A plant-based restaurant, a clean energy company, and a craft soft drinks maker are among the first batch of businesses to secure investment from the governments startup support initiative, the Future Fund. Yahoo Finance UK has confirmed that vegan restaurant Stem + Glory, craft soft drink brand GUNNA, and wind energy startup Ripple are among the first businesses to receive funding from the Future Fund. Other projects to have secured cash are understood to include a hydrogen car company and a digital wardrobe app. The Future Fund was launched in May to help support Britains innovative startup businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund lends businesses up to 5m ($6.3m) in the form of convertible loan notes that transform into shares in the businesses if the loans cant be repaid. Read more: Government urged to name tech startups backed by Future Fund The Future Fund has 250m of government money to lend. Companies must have funding matched by a venture capital investor to qualify, meaning the fund should facilitate at least 500m of investment. The fund has so far approved loans worth 146m to 155 businesses. However, the British Business Bank, which runs the fund on behalf of the government, last week said it couldnt name any of the startups receiving taxpayer cash because of commercial terms. The refusal led to calls for greater government transparency from the head of the Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy select committee. Vegan restaurant Stem + Glory is among the group of startups to secure cash from the Future Fund. (Stem + Glory) Some companies are using crowdfunding platform Seedrs to raise the match funding required for the Future Fund. A spokesperson for Seedrs confirmed to Yahoo Finance UK that six companies raising money on its platform had secured funding from the Future Fund. Four others are waiting for confirmation. The process has been very good so far, Melvin Jay, the founder of GUNNA drinks, told Yahoo Finance UK. GUNNA, a craft soft drink company, is among the six to have secured backing from the Future Fund. The startup has been awarded 130,000 by the Future Fund and raised a further 144,880 on Seedrs. Story continues The British Business Bank and their team are very professional, Jay said. Read more: UK government gives businesses 100bn helping hand Another company benefiting from the Future Fund is Stem + Glory, which runs two plant-based restaurants in Cambridge and London. The group raised 200,000 from the Future Fund. Stem + Glory chief executive Louise Palmer-Masterston said the process was painless and super fast. We found the application process really easy, Sarah Merrick, chief executive of Ripple Energy, told Yahoo Finance UK. Ripple Energy is building a cooperative wind farm project, allowing investors to buy a stake in a yet-to-be-built wind farm and reap the benefit of clean, cheap energy when it is constructed. It too has had its Future Fund application approved. We applied for 125,000 and heard back in just 11 working days that our application had been approved, Merrick said. It's amazing the government was able to turn it around so quickly. The only sensible recovery is a zero carbon one so it's great the government is supporting innovative companies like Ripple to create the zero carbon future people are so keen to see. Louise Palmer-Masterston, chief executive Stem + Glory. (Stem + Glory) Other businesses understood to have secured funding include digital wardrobe app Save Your Wardrobe and hydrogen-powered car company Riversimple. Those waiting for confirmation include online business lender Assetz Capital and gym group Fore Fitness. Keith Morgan, chief executive of the British Business Bank, said in a statement: In the past week the British Business Bank-run Future Fund has tripled the number of companies approved for convertible loans. The rapid build of our open access online transaction process has enabled businesses to gain access to finance through the scheme quickly and efficiently. The scheme plays an important role in providing funding for innovative businesses that are not able to access other forms of support so I am extremely pleased to see so many companies receive their agreements in such short a time. The Nebraska Democratic Party has asked its Senate nominee to pull out of the race, after a female staffer reported texts he sent making graphic sexual comments about her. Chris Janicek, who owns a cupcake bakery in Omaha, Nebraska, is running as the Democratic nominee for the Senate, against Republican Ben Sasse, who is seeking reelection. Mr Janicek accepted the nomination in May, after he won a Democratic primary in the state that involved six other candidates. However, on Monday, the states Democratic party voted unanimously to withdraw its support and funding for Mr Janicek, according to the Associated Press. In a statement released on Tuesday, Democratic Party chairwoman Jane Kleeb said: Our Democratic Party has no tolerance for sexual harassment. Ms Kleeb added: Our party will not extend resources or any type of support to any candidate that violates our code of conduct and doesnt treat men and women with the dignity and respect they deserve. The female staffer reported the graphic texts to the party and filed a formal complaint, in which she claimed Mr Janicek violated their code of conduct regarding sexual harassment. Several of Mr Janiceks texts were obtained by the outlet, from a group chat that included the woman, the nominee and four other people. In one message, Mr Janicek said that he had argued with the staffer, and wondered whether the campaign should spend some of their funds getting her laid. He added: It will probably take three guys, before describing in graphic detail a group sex scene involving the woman, according to the AP. Mr Janicek then reportedly attempted to defend his comments as a joke and sent another text message with an apology to the rest of the members of the group. Im going on no sleep and a bunch of exuberant excitement and I think I was out of line, he added. The woman replied to Mr Janiceks messages and told him that she was quitting her job and would no longer support his campaign for Senate, according to the outlet. You are my boss and a candidate running for Senate, (an) office held by just 100 Americans representing approximately 330 million of her people, the former staffer wrote. There is zero tolerance for what you said." The AP reported that Mr Janicek apologised to the former staffer in person, but hoped that the incident could be kept private. He claimed he was being targeted by the party, because he disagrees with more liberal beliefs on abortion and gun control. Recommended Senators Harris and Booker give emotional speeches about lynching bill He added that Theyre using this as a crutch, to stop him running as the Democratic candidate. The party will be able to field a new candidate in Novembers election only if Mr Janicek withdraws his name from the ballot something he is currently refusing to do. The party would then have a deadline of 11 September to submit a new nominee. Vince Powers, a former state party chairman, who is representing the former staffer, told the Associated Press that his client wants Mr Janicek to drop out of the race. People go to work for Democratic candidates in an underdog race because theyre idealists, Mr Powers said. So when you get a text like this, its just devastating. At first, Indias military said only three Indian troops had been killed in the clash, where the Ladakh region of India abuts Aksai Chin, an area controlled by China but claimed by both countries. But late Tuesday night, a military spokesman said that 17 other Indian soldiers had succumbed to injuries sustained in the clash, bringing the total dead to 20. An Indian commander said dozens of soldiers were missing, apparently captured by the Chinese. Indian television channels reported that several Chinese soldiers had been killed, as well, citing high-level Indian government sources. Chinese officials did not comment on that. Its not clear what India can do now. Mr. Modi and his Hindu nationalist party have pursued a forceful foreign policy that emphasizes Indias growing role in the world and last year, after a devastating suicide attack that India blamed on a Pakistani terror group, Mr. Modi ordered airstrikes on Pakistan, bringing the two countries to the brink of war. But India is in no shape to risk a war against China especially now, as it slips deeper into the economic and health crisis caused by the coronavirus, which has cost the country more than 100 million jobs. Whatever India might want to do its not in a position to do, said Bharat Karnad, a professor of security studies at the Center for Policy Research at New Delhi. The Modi government is in a difficult position, he said. This is bound to escalate. And, he added, we are not prepared for this kind of escalation. Mr. Xi has been doubling down on Chinas territorial claims across Asia, backing up arguments with the threat of force or sometimes even the use of force. In recent weeks, the Chinese have tightened their grip on the semiautonomous region of Hong Kong; menaced Taiwan; and sunk a Vietnamese fishing boat in the South China Sea. India must take focused action to recover the market shares held by its workers in foreign countries as part of the countrys efforts to overcome the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Monday. The Protectors of Emigrants (PoE), the section of the external affairs ministry responsible for safeguarding interests of Indian workers abroad, must rise to the challenge of reviving post-Covid economy, Jaishankar said. We are currently focused on ensuring that the negative economic consequences of the pandemic on our talent and skills abroad are mitigatedIt is imperative that we recover our market shares as quickly as possible. The coming months will see dedicated efforts in that direction, he told the third annual conference of PoEs. As of late last week, more than 29,000 Indian workers and more than 11,200 professionals have returned from across the world under the Vande Bharat Mission. Several thousands of Indians have lost their jobs, mainly in West Asia, because of the economic fallout of the pandemic. The government has also given priority to the welfare and protection of Indians working in west and southeast Asia and has taken all steps to reduce their vulnerabilities, Jaishankar said. Nevertheless, there are still cases of cheating, illegal agents and attempts to go for work in an irregular manner. The role of our PoEs in combating such practices is vitalWe have all put in great efforts to secure the interests of the most vulnerable migrants, especially blue-collar workers, seamen and women migrants. The e-Migrate system helps ensure the rights and protection of workers in collaboration with host governments and the integration of this platform with those of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, other GCC countries and Malaysia will facilitate these efforts, he said. The government has established three new offices of PoEs, taking the total to 13 and extending the reach to areas that provide migrant flows to foreign countries. It has also liberalised usage of the Indian Community Welfare Fund to provide welfare measures to Indians in distress overseas. This has had a particular relevance as we responded to the economic distress caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Also of note is the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, Jaishankar said. The ministry is also working on skill mapping and collaboration with skill councils overseas so Indian workers are able to earn better incomes.HT Correspondent letters@hindustantimes.com New DelhiIndia must take focused action to recover the market shares held by its workers in foreign countries as part of the countrys efforts to overcome the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Monday. The Protectors of Emigrants (PoE), the section of the external affairs ministry responsible for safeguarding interests of Indian workers abroad, must rise to the challenge of reviving post-Covid economy, Jaishankar said. We are currently focused on ensuring that the negative economic consequences of the pandemic on our talent and skills abroad are mitigatedIt is imperative that we recover our market shares as quickly as possible. The coming months will see dedicated efforts in that direction, he told the third annual conference of PoEs. As of late last week, more than 29,000 Indian workers and more than 11,200 professionals have returned from across the world under the Vande Bharat Mission. Several thousands of Indians have lost their jobs, mainly in West Asia, because of the economic fallout of the pandemic. The government has also given priority to the welfare and protection of Indians working in west and southeast Asia and has taken all steps to reduce their vulnerabilities, Jaishankar said. Nevertheless, there are still cases of cheating, illegal agents and attempts to go for work in an irregular manner. The role of our PoEs in combating such practices is vitalWe have all put in great efforts to secure the interests of the most vulnerable migrants, especially blue-collar workers, seamen and women migrants. The e-Migrate system helps ensure the rights and protection of workers in collaboration with host governments and the integration of this platform with those of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, other GCC countries and Malaysia will facilitate these efforts, he said. The government has established three new offices of PoEs, taking the total to 13 and extending the reach to areas that provide migrant flows to foreign countries. It has also liberalised usage of the Indian Community Welfare Fund to provide welfare measures to Indians in distress overseas. This has had a particular relevance as we responded to the economic distress caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Also of note is the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, Jaishankar said. The ministry is also working on skill mapping and collaboration with skill councils overseas so Indian workers are able to earn better incomes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two months after completing its $26 billion merger with Sprint, T-Mobile plans to lay off a portion of the workers that came to it through the acquisition. According to TechCrunch, T-Mobile vice-president James Kirby told approximately 400 former Sprint employees on a call on Monday that they would need to find new work after August 13th. It's unclear the total number of former Sprint employees involved in T-Mobile's planned layoffs. TechCrunch reports the carrier held multiple calls similar to the one detailed above throughout the day. While some people may get more, the website says most employees will receive two weeks of pay for every year that they were on the job. After the report came out, T-Mobile published a blog post in which it said it plans to hire 5,000 new employees over the next year. In the same post, it confirmed the layoffs without detailing their scope. As part of this process, some employees who hold similar positions are being asked to consider a career change inside the company, and others will be supported in their efforts to find a new position outside the company, the company said. We will work with all employees and support them. As TechCrunch notes, job creation is one of the things former T-Mobile CEO John Legere used to sell the public on the then hotly contested merger. In a blog post published last year, Legere said the new T-Mobile would employ 11,000 more workers by 2024 than what the two carriers would have had combined had they continued to operate as separate companies. Notably, when everything was all said and done on April 1st, new jobs weren't one of the benefits T-Mobile said would come out of the merger. Not knowing whether T-Mobile will hire back more workers than it plans to let go makes it difficult to measure the impact of the companys plan. But it's safe to say the optics of the current situation aren't great. The company is cutting jobs at a time when the current unemployment rate in the US is at 13.3 percent, and the coronavirus pandemic has left the American working class at its most vulnerable in decades. Canada has its priorities all wrong when it comes to personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing and distribution. Through a series of missteps, the government put its citizens in danger. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 16/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Canada has its priorities all wrong when it comes to personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing and distribution. Through a series of missteps, the government put its citizens in danger. Negligence and mismanagement resulted in Canada shipping away vital PPE supplies, allowing foreign entities to purchase existing stock, and later importing poor-quality replacements at a time when Canadians needed them most. Canada should never have had a PPE shortage, whether its masks, gowns or medical equipment like respirators. At the beginning of April, it dawned on the Canadian government that hospitals would face a major medical gear shortage as countries all over the world restricted export of essential supplies. As the largest producer of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp, and with an established pulp industry that goes back more than 200 years, there was no reason why Canada could not have been the most prepared country in the world when it came to, at the very least, basic medical masks. The United States already depends on Canadas pulp mills for the raw materials used to make paper gowns and masks. The issue came to a head in April when U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order that restricted the export of PPE made in the United States using raw materials from Canadas mills. It was one of several examples of Canada having the resources to be prepared for this pandemic but failing on delivery. Also in April, Canadian businesses began stepping up and producing paper masks, gowns and other PPE. Irwin Toy, Canadas oldest toy company, shifted its manufacturing focus and started producing between 250,000 and 500,000 masks a day. It proved Canadas ability to equip its hospitals and medical staff with everything they needed but exposed the huge failings of Canadas leaders right from the start. The welcome move from Irwin Toy and other big Canadian manufacturers followed weeks of uncertainty about PPE. Basic fabric and paper mask prices were massively inflated and many manufacturers were unable to produce the equipment at regular costs. None of these problems may have occurred, and Canada would have certainly been better prepared for this pandemic, if foreign entities had not been allowed to stockpile Canadian products, and if the Canadian government hadnt shipped 16 tonnes of PPE to China in February. This systemic failure of the Canadian government and health-care system poses a number of questions. Why are Canadian manufacturers claiming that their offers to help produce PPE were ignored? Irwin Toy claims that efforts to reach out to premier of Ontario, after warnings that his province was running low on supplies, fell on deaf ears. Were Canadian manufacturers properly consulted over this shortage and were they given the opportunity to help from the start? Why did the Canadian government so quickly choose to export so much PPE? The Department of Global Affairs chose to ship tonnes of equipment to China when there were just four cases of COVID-19 in Canada. But surely government officials were aware that viruses, by nature, spread. Four cases today could mean 1,000 cases next week. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced on Feb. 9 that Canada deployed 16 tonnes of PPE, including face shields, masks, gloves and goggles, to China. That was just weeks before Canada experienced a shortage. Where was the foresight when the World Health Organization had already declared the virus an international public health emergency on Jan. 30? Why were Chinese companies and individuals allowed to buy up Canadas N95 mask stock in early January? CEO of Ontario mask supplier eSafetyProducts, Robert Bortoluzzi, told the media that Chinese companies bought up all the PPE they could get their hands on. "They were running around like worker bees buying and shipping back to China, ironically where the masks are made," he said. Conservative MP Erin OToole claims the government knew that China was stockpiling equipment from overseas. Over six weeks, the Chinese government imported more than 2.5 billion pieces of PPE, including two billion masks. OToole said he was told that the military and emergency services in Canada were well aware of China stockpiling and importing gowns and masks, including N95 masks, from overseas. So why didnt the Canadian government take action against foreign entities wiping out our domestic supply of essential protective equipment? Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Perhaps the issue of foreign purchasing is a legislative oversight that needs to be looked at immediately. Not only did this series of failures mean Canada was wholly unprepared for when the crisis really began, it also drove prices up. The result was that Canada had a huge shortage of key medical supplies at a time when they were needed most. Domestic suppliers were forced to raise prices on the PPE they did have while the economy was collapsing. To make things worse, Canadas efforts to import PPE and medical equipment failed when China delivered one million faulty KN95 respirators and masks that were unfit for use. With 43 per cent of the worlds PPE imports coming from China, surely this is the wakeup call we need. Canada has the raw materials and the industrial might to get the job done, and to ensure its health system is prepared for the next big pandemic. Jack Buckby is a research associate with Frontier Centre for Public Policy . Troy Media Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, June 17 2020 As Indonesia transitions into the new normal, the country continues to report high numbers of new COVID-19 cases, with three new daily records reported since the beginning of June as well as the highest daily death toll of 64 fatalities on Monday. The government reported a record daily high of 993 new cases on June 6, exceeding the previous high of 973 cases on May 21, followed by 1,043 cases on June 9 and 1,240 cases the following day, with epicenters East Java and Jakarta contributing significantly to the tallies. Government spokesperson for COVID-19 affairs Achmad Yurianto attributed the spikes to "aggressive contact tracing". to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login A man has been arrested in connection to a shooting Monday evening at a demonstration where protesters planned to topple a conquistador's statue in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Steven Ray Baca, 31, was taken into custody and faces charges of aggravated battery with the use of a firearm, according to a booking sheet. Scott Williams was shot multiple times in the torso and remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition, according to police and a criminal complaint. There were no other reported injuries. Image: Alleged gunman in blue shirt arrested (KOB4) We are receiving reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence," police Chief Michael Geier said. "If this is true will be holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, including federal hate group designation and prosecution. A video of the protest appeared to show police holding multiple people on the street near the Albuquerque Museum, where protesters were planning to remove a statue of Juan de Onate, NBC affiliate KOB reported. It wasn't immediately clear whether they were under arrest or were being detained. KOB reported that they belonged to an armed "civil guard" group. The protest began as a peaceful prayer rally. Several protesters uploaded videos to social media showing that the arrival of a small group of heavily armed men in fatigues, members of the militia group the New Mexico Civil Guard, escalated tensions. The militia group claimed to be there to protect the monument. In the videos, members of the New Mexico Civil Guard surround the sculpture as some protesters attempt to go around them. One of the protesters takes out a pickaxe, according to a local news report. Baca, who isnt dressed in fatigues or outfitted with a long gun, doesnt appear to be a member of the New Mexico Civil Guard. On Facebook, the New Mexico Civil Guard said Baca wasnt a member of their group. This is not the first report of heavily armed civilian militias appearing at protests around New Mexico in recent weeks. These extremists cannot be allowed to silence peaceful protests or inflict violence, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said Monday night on Twitter. Story continues Image: Steven Ray Baca (Albuquerque Police Dept.) He also called on the Department of Justice to investigate. Police said it appears Baca was trying to protect the statue and as he was leaving the area he began "interacting with the crowd," according to a criminal complaint. Shortly after, an undercover police detective stationed in the area observed several members from what appeared to be the main protesting group pursuing Steven on foot while he backed away from them, utilizing pepper spray to douse the oncoming crowd," it states. The group "appeared to maliciously pursue Steven while several began physically attacking him, the complaint alleges. Baca was struck with a longboard and then tackled to the ground as the board falls, it says. A second person picked up the longboard and swung it at Baca, who was armed with a semi-automatic gun and fired several shots, according to the complaint. Video from the scene does not show Baca to have any physical injuries and he declined to give a statement to police, the complaint says. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she was "horrified and disgusted beyond words" by the violence. The heavily armed individuals who flaunted themselves at the protest, calling themselves a' civil guard,' were there for one reason: To menace protesters, to present an unsanctioned show of unregulated force. To menace the people of New Mexico with weaponry with an implicit threat of violence is on its face unacceptable; that violence did indeed occur is unspeakable," she said in a statement. Another video from the station showed several people tugging on a chain that had been lassoed around the statue while chanting "tear it down." At the end of the video, several shots can be heard, although it isn't clear whether the sounds are gunfire. Officials used tear gas and non-lethal projectiles in an attempt to push back the protesters. Image: Juan de Onate statue (Susan Montoya Bryan / AP file) "This sculpture has now become an urgent matter of public safety. In order to contain the public safety risk, the City will be removing the statue until the appropriate civic institutions can determine next steps, the mayor said late Monday. The Onate statue has been a source of criticism for decades. Onate, who arrived in present-day New Mexico in 1598, is celebrated as a cultural father figure in communities along the Upper Rio Grande that trace their ancestry to Spanish settlers. But hes also reviled for his brutality. To Native Americans, Onate is known for having ordered the right feet cut off of 24 captive tribal warriors that was precipitated by the killing of Onates nephew. In 1998, someone sawed the right foot off the statue an incident that weighed in the decision to stash away the statue. Monuments to European conquerors and colonists around the world are being pulled down amid an intense re-examination of racial injustices in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of police. Baca described himself on Twitter as a Conservative-Libertarian millennial who is here to help cure the RC (Rulling-Class) Virus that's exist in every facet of society." Baca lost a bid for Albuquerque City Council in 2019. According to a candidate profile in the Albuquerque Journal, Baca, the son of a former Bernalillo County sheriff, had worked as a freelance process server and in debt collection. The profile said Baca was a lifelong Albuquerque resident who was running for office in response to the community's becoming a third-world country, overrun with homelessness, and his current local elected officials being complete wimps when it comes to fighting crime. Baca hosted the directions for 3D printable guns on a YouTube channel and attended a 2019 rally for President Donald Trump in Albuquerque, tweeting a photo of himself at the rally wearing a Make America Great Again hat. Most recently, Baca was named a board member for the Albuquerque Tea Party, according to a Facebook post from the group. Iran to host virtual meeting on peace process in Syria: FM Zarif Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 1:17 PM Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Islamic Republic will soon host a virtual conference on the situation in Syria and the Arab country's peace process as agreed by the three guarantor countries in the Kazakh capital. Zarif made the remarks while speaking in a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Istanbul on Monday. "This meeting will be held to help realize peace in Syria within framework of the Astana agreement," Iran's foreign minister said. Foreign Ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey in April emphasized the need to continue consultations and coordination among the three guarantors of the Astana process as the most effective format for the settlement of the crisis in Syria. Iran's Zarif, Russia's Sergei Lavrov and Turkey's Cavusoglu conferred on a range of issues, including the situation in the militant-held province of Idlib in northwestern Syria, the Syria Constitutional Committee, the need for the lifting of unilateral sanctions amid the coronavirus pandemic, the humanitarian situation in Syria and repatriation of refugees to the Arab country. A first deal was signed in Kazakhstan's capital Nur-Sultan, formerly called Astana, arranging for the creation of de-escalation zones across Syria, including in parts of Idlib. The second one that came about in the Russian resort city of Sochi allowed Ankara to bring in a small number of forces to man the observation posts to reinforce de-escalation. Ankara has, however, been found in default of both the deals by failing to separate terrorists from what it calls "moderate" opposition groups in the Idlib zone and by sending thousands of troops and heavy military hardware into the province in an unprecedented incursion to back the militants. Elsewhere in the presser, Zarif said he had held talks with his Turkish counterpart about the latest developments in Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen, adding, "Turkey is trying to [help] establish peace in Yemen... Turkey wants a peaceful solution to [the crisis] in Yemen without any war or conflict." The top Iranian diplomat also noted that he had exchanged views with Cavusoglu about the resumption of bilateral trade relations, which have been suspended following the deadly coronavirus pandemic. Zarif expressed Tehran's readiness to boost medical cooperation with Ankara and said the two sides have succeeded in containing the coronavirus. He further noted that the Turkish people would soon benefit from Iran's gas export to Turkey, which would be in line with the agreements reached between the two countries. He added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Tehran, but did not provide a date for the visit. Zarif added that the two countries' officials will sign trade agreements during Erdogan's visit, without giving further details. Turkey opposes unilateral sanctions against Iran: Cavusoglu The Turkish foreign minister, for his part, expressed his country's opposition to the unilateral US sanctions against Iran. "We are against the unilateral sanctions imposed against Iran," he said. The US returned the sanctions against Tehran in 2018 after leaving a historic nuclear agreement between Iran and major world powers. Washington's departure and snapback of the bans came although the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has been ratified by the United Nations Security Council as a resolution and notwithstanding the JCPOA's multilateral nature. Ever since quitting the deal, Washington has been trying to scare other countries of the world into abiding by its coercive measures, warning they would face punitive action if they failed to do so. Commenting on Syria, Cavusoglu stressed the importance of developing cooperation with Iran to help solve the crisis in the Arab country. He also emphasized that Turkey would hold more consultation with Russia about lasting ceasefire in Libya, saying the Turkish and Russian presidents have agreed on joint action to put an end to violence in the North African country. Turkey is reportedly planning to set up two permanent military bases in Libya following the Tripoli government's operation to retake areas seized by forces under the command of renegade general Khalifa Haftar. Citing military sources, Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak, reported earlier this week that Ankara was planning to set up a military base in the strategic Misrata port and also use the al-Watiya air base, located south of the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Libya plunged into chaos in 2011 when a popular uprising backed by a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged in the North African country the UN-recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, and another group based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by Haftar's forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address People will be able to get a free meal and produce in the Slate Belt this week. The Greater Valley YMCA, partnering with Slate Belt Rising, Operation BBQ Relief, The Common Market and the Farmers to Families program will be providing several pallets worth of food Thursday in Wind Gap. Volunteers will be distributing three pallets filled with more than 500 frozen meals provided by Operation BBQ Relief. The trays of food are designed to feed a family of four. Another pallet of fresh produce will be available. The distribution will be held at the Wind Gap Fire Co. Social Hall located at 111 N. Broadway from 4-6 p.m. Thursday or while supplies last. The social hall has a carport so people will be able to drive through to pick up the meals while maintaining social distancing and limiting contact with food distributors. We want to provide our families with resources so we can increase food access across the Lehigh Valley, Greater Valley YMCA Director of Pathway Development Maribel Tandazo said. The food distribution is meant to supplement the entire family so they can stretch their food budget. Operation BBQ Relief is a nonprofit organization that provides meals for disaster areas or other emergency situations. More than 500 people received free meal kits at the organizations debut distribution event last month in Easton. Farmers to Families Food Boxes is a program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which recently received a grant for the distribution program through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Seventy boxes of produce was given out directly to people or to other local charity groups last week in Wind Gap. The Greater Valley YMCA has distributed food in other parts of the Lehigh Valley before but last weeks distribution was the first for the organization in the Slate Belt. There are no residency requirements to pick up the free food. John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. President John F. KennedyI've often said that cybersecurity professionals are a lot like first responders. That is, they train, practice and endlessly condition themselves for the big red alarm to ring so they can save the world from cybermiscreants. Some people are comfortable in that role and others aren't, which is often the determining factor in whether someone is a successful cybersecurity leader.COVID-19 is the big red alarm ringing, and I've been advising those professionals that now is their time to save the world to take advantage of opportunity afforded by the crisis and demonstrate strategic leadership by establishing a deliberate vision for how security in our organizations will be executed both now and in a post-coronavirus world. Dan Lohrmann, a former chief information security officer for the state of Michigan, says it best: "The pandemic has brought cybersecurity front and center for state and local governments, but under different names and categories. Whether the hot topic is working from home, or unemployment benefits enrollments, or streamlining business processes using digital signatures, cyberleaders must seize this opportunity."Working from home certainly belongs in that list of hot topics, since COVID-19 has resulted in government organizations transitioning a majority of their office-based employees to some form of remote work. This initially looked like a temporary measure, but it's becoming increasingly clear that many of those remote workers may never be returning to their government cubicles. Security leaders need to shift their response from viewing remote work vulnerabilities as a temporary problem and begin identifying more permanent solutions.Remote work isn't a new business practice; many organizations inside and outside of government have been allowing it for years. What's different and concerning is the urgency and rapidity in which we made the transition. The security concerns include a vast and growing landscape of Internet communication options such as teleconferencing; far more use of cloud services and applications; and the use of data often sensitive taxpaying-citizen data without having developed adequate security policy or technology controls. Government employees working from home are playing games and trolling Facebook and Instagram on the same computers they are using to access sensitive data. How is your agency's security awareness training?That's the kind of question government's chief information security officers can expect to hear more and more frequently from the elected executives and policymakers who are their bosses. CISOs have struggled for years to be taken seriously as business leaders and deserving of membership on the executive leadership team. The pandemic is their moment to prove they belong, but responsibility is the price they must pay for a seat at the table. "Security is not a problem you solve, it's a long-term business risk you manage," says security expert and entrepreneur Matt Devost. "It is important that your security program doesn't focus just on short-term goals, but that you also play the long game. As the CISO, you need to have a compass, not a map."One of the best compasses out there is the business concept of "People, Process and Technology." Originally devised as an organizational development methodology to manage digital change, its three components have become foundational pillars of all great information security programs. CISOs need to develop very specific and clearly thought-out people-process-technology strategies that account for a future where the challenges are significantly different than they were at the beginning of 2020.One of the first recognized process casualties of COVID-19, for example, was the lack of business continuity planning in most organizations. Does your jurisdiction or agency have a business continuity/crisis management plan today? And beyond the issue of continuity, are your security policies crystal clear on what is acceptable and unacceptable use of government-issued technology and services?Now is a time to be creative creative in the use of our talented people, creative in negotiating new (and old) contracts with vendors, and creative in getting every ounce of value out of the technology we already own. We need to think hard about how we can further integrate cybersecurity technology into our core services and processes in a way that shows real value in mitigating risk.I often think we make cybersecurity more complicated than necessary. I read a long time ago that General Dwight Eisenhower's strategic plan in the final years of World War II was straightforward: (1) enter the continent of Europe; (2) defeat the German army; and (3) bring the war to an end. I'm sure that's far too simplistic, but when it comes to setting overarching goals to guide a responsive and comprehensive strategy, there's often value in simplicity.GoverningGoverning Brings global insurance services experience and a track record of profitable growth through focusing on clients and people Charles Taylor, the leading provider of services and technology solutions to the global insurance market, has today announced the appointment of Rob Brown as Group Chief Executive Officer. For over three decades, Brown has been a transformative leader responsible for steering large global insurance businesses to achieve excellent performance in terms of both client outcomes and financial results. Brown has a strong track record of building and leading high performing teams and was selected from an international pool of exceptional candidates. An outstanding leader with deep insurance knowledge, Brown has worked as an underwriter, a broker and a manager and has built an excellent reputation for leadership, through concentrated focus on clients, people and communications. In his previous role as CEO of AXA Global Corporate Solutions, Brown was responsible for 1500 employees globally over a 4-year period. During his tenure, he successfully led the team of the Corporate Solutions business to expand their product solutions and their client base. Prior to AXA, Brown spent 15 years at Aon in a variety of senior leadership roles in the UK and EMEA, including a 4-year period as CEO of Aon UK. More recently, he held the position of CEO of Aon Risk Solutions, EMEA, with overall leadership of 15,000 employees across 50 countries from 2011-14. Brown's tenure in both roles saw a consistent focus on delivering great outcomes for clients. He has also held underwriting roles in commercial lines at global insurance carriers, including Zurich and AIG. Edward Creasy, Chairman of Charles Taylor commented, "We are delighted to welcome Rob to Charles Taylor. He is a highly regarded CEO with impressive insurance experience at the board and executive level within major insurance market organisations and an outstanding leader of people. Above all he is a great cultural fit for our organization having also spent time in multiple markets around the world in people-focused businesses." He added, "We are looking forward to the future with Rob at the helm. We are confident that under his operational and strategic guidance Charles Taylor will continue to grow its distinctive market position as the provider of professional services and technology solutions supporting every stage of the insurance lifecycle and operating model." Rob Brown said, "The insurance industry increasingly relies on first class providers of services and solutions to access expertise and operational capacity, and to help market participants across the world deliver what their clients want. I believe that this will be truer than ever over the coming years as current market conditions drive more rapid operating model change. Charles Taylor has an outstanding reputation for superior client service and a great culture. I'm excited to be joining the team and to listening, learning and adding value as we collectively deliver the next chapter of Charles Taylor's success." About Charles Taylor Charles Taylor is a global provider of professional services and technology solutions dedicated to enabling the global insurance market to do its business fundamentally better. Dating back to 1884, Charles Taylor now employs approximately 3000 staff in more than 120 locations spread across 30 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Charles Taylor believes that it holds a distinctive position in its markets in that it is able to provide professional services and technology solutions in order to support every stage of the insurance lifecycle and every aspect of the insurance operating model. Charles Taylor serves a diversified blue-chip international customer base that includes national and international insurance companies, mutuals, captives, MGAs, Lloyd's syndicates and reinsurers, along with brokers, distributors and corporate insureds. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005222/en/ Contacts: Philippa Ushio Prosek Partners +1 858 373 7052 pro-charlestaylor@prosek.com A German neo-Nazi went on trial on Tuesday for the murder of pro-refugee politician Walter Luebcke. His killing in June 2019 shocked the country and highlighted the growing threat of right-wing extremism. Federal prosecutors say the main suspect, 46-year-old Stephan Ernst, was motivated by 'racism and xenophobia' when he allegedly shot Luebcke in the head on June 1, 2019. German neo-Nazi Stephan Ernst went on trial on Tuesday for the murder of pro-refugee politician Walter Luebcke His killing in June 2019 shocked the country and highlighted the growing threat of right-wing extremism. Pictured: Luebcke in 2012 Ernst appeared in the dock at the higher regional court in Frankfurt alongside co-defendant Markus H. who is accused of helping Ernst to train with firearms - including the murder weapon. Ernest was flanked by armed guards as he arrived in court. The killing of Mr Luebcke is believed to be Germany's first far-right political assassination since World War II. Some people queued all night to get into the court, but seating is limited because of coronavirus social distancing measures. Ernst appeared in the dock at the higher regional court in Frankfurt alongside co-defendant Markus H. who is accused of helping Ernst to train with firearms - including the murder weapon Dozens of journalists had to watch proceedings from a separate room. A spokesman for Luebcke's family, Dirk Metz, told reporters it was 'a difficult day' for them. 'The family wants to send a clear signal against hatred and violence' by taking part in the trial, he said. 'One cannot fall silent the face of such violence.' Luebcke, 65, belonged to Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative CDU party and headed the Kassel regional council in the western state of Hesse. He supported Merkel's 2015 decision to open the country's borders to refugees and spoke in favour of hosting asylum seekers in a local town. Prosecutors believe Ernst and his accomplice attended a speech by Luebcke in October 2015 when the politician defended helping refugees and said anyone who did not agree with those values was 'free to leave the country'. The remark was widely shared online and turned Luebcke into a hate figure for the far right. After the speech, Ernst 'increasingly projected his hatred of foreigners' on to Luebcke, prosecutors said in the indictment. Following mass sexual assaults by migrants against women in Cologne on New Year's Eve 2015 and a 2016 Islamist attack in the French city of Nice, Ernst allegedly began tracking Luebcke's movements. There were heavily armed police officers outside the court as the trial got underway Ernest, pictured wearing as mask as he arrived in court, 'increasingly projected his hatred of foreigners' on to Luebcke, prosecutors said in the indictment Between 2016 and 2018, prosecutors say he worked with Markus H. to improve his skill with firearms, and the two are said to have attended right-wing demonstrations together. In the course of their investigations, prosecutors separately charged Ernst with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing an Iraqi asylum seeker in the back in 2016. They also uncovered weapons and ammunition belonging to Ernst, including revolvers, pistols and a submachine gun. Some people queued all night to get into the court, but seating is limited because of coronavirus social distancing measures Although Ernst initially admitted killing Luebcke, he later retracted his confession and said Markus H. had pulled the trigger. But prosecutors maintain that while the accomplice 'accepted and supported' the danger Ernst posed, he was not aware of concrete attack plans. Ernst already had a conviction for an attempted 1993 bomb attack on an asylum home. In 2009, German media say he took part in neo-Nazi clashes targeting a union demonstration. But Ernst then slipped off the security services' radar, fuelling criticism that German authorities were not taking the far-right threat seriously enough. Although Ernst initially admitted killing Luebcke, he later retracted his confession and said Markus H. had pulled the trigger German police came under fire years earlier for overlooking racist crimes after it emerged that a neo-Nazi terror cell, the National Socialist Underground, had killed 10 people, mainly immigrants, between 2000 in 2007. Luebcke's killing was followed by a shooting at a synagogue in Halle, eastern Germany, that left two dead in October 2019, while another gunman shot dead nine people of migrant origin in the central town of Hanau last February. Several politicians have reported receiving far-right death threats in recent months, including Germany's only black MP Karamba Diaby. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has since declared far-right extremism the 'biggest security threat facing Germany'. He has promised tougher security measures, including a crackdown on online hate speech. [June 16, 2020] Legally Speaking: Global Law Firm King & Spalding Chooses Fairfax County Location for Firm's 22nd Office Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, announced today that King & Spalding, a law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers working in 21 offices around the globe, has chosen Tysons, Fairfax County's largest commercial district, for its 22nd office. "Firms that bring global expertise in corporate law are absolutely essential for a strong business and technology ecosystem, so we are delighted to welcome King & Spalding to Fairfax County and Northern Virginia for its 22nd worldwide location," Hoskins said. "This announcement joins last month's decision by Microsoft (News - Alert) to create an R&D and software development hub here as examples of the strength of the business community here." King & Spalding's newest office is located at 1650 Tysons Boulevard. The office will include a 25-lawyer corporate/M&A team. Charles Katz will serve as the office's managing partner. "Clients value our insight into their issues and appreciate that we are fully committed to serving the Mid-Atlantic business community," said Thomas J. Knox, King & Spalding partner and co-chair of the firm's global Technology Industry practice. "Leveraging King & Spalding's industry-leading financing, national security, international trade and regulatory practices furthers our ability to counsel clients during this period of uncertainty and opportunity." Jeffrey C. McKay, chairman of the FairfaxCounty Board of Supervisors, highlighted the attractiveness of the county to law firms that want to work on business and technology law. "Fairfax County and Tysons have long been prestigious locations for some of the most prominent law firms in the region and nation," McKay said. "I welcome King & Spalding to the county and thank them for this vote of confidence in the thriving business climate we have worked tirelessly to grow." Fairfax County is home to 11 Fortune 500 companies and more than 100 companies on the Inc. 5000 list. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons, the FCEDA maintains business investment offices in six important global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tel Aviv. Follow the FCEDA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. The FCEDA is a member of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance. Other members of NOVA EDA are the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Arlington County, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development. King & Spalding represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with more than 1,100 lawyers in 22 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Other office locations include Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, New York, Palo Alto (News - Alert) (Silicon Valley), San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005694/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Regulatory News: SuperSonic Imagine (Euronext: SSI, FR0010526814, PEA-PME eligible) (Paris:SSI), a Company specializing in ultrasound medical imaging, announces that the Combined Shareholders' Meeting (ordinary and extraordinary) of SuperSonic Imagine shareholders was held on June 16, 2020 under the chairmanship of Michael Brock (Chairman of the Board of Directors). Given the current context related to the coronavirus epidemic (Covid-19) and in accordance with Article 4 of the French Ordinance no. 2020-321 of March 25, 2020 and the decision of the Board of Directors of SuperSonic Imagine of May 4, 2020, the Combined Shareholders' Meeting of Supersonic Imagine was held in closed session (huis clos), without the physical presence of its shareholders, who were able to participate and vote by mail, or by giving a proxy to the Chairman of the Combined Shareholders' Meeting or to a third party. The Combined Shareholders' Meeting of June 16, 2020 met the necessary quorum and all the resolutions were submitted for approval to the shareholders. 11 shareholders representing 19,568,620 shares and 19,568,620 voting rights, i.e., 81.29%, out of a total number of 24,073,389 shares with voting rights, participated, for the ordinary part, to the Combined Shareholders' Meeting. 11 shareholders representing 19,568,620 shares and 19,568,620 voting rights, i.e., 81.29%, out of a total number of 24,073,389 shares with voting rights, participated, for the extraordinary part, to the Combined Shareholders' Meeting. The shareholders adopted all the resolutions (ordinary and extraordinary) proposed to them by the Board of Directors. In particular, they have: Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting approved the annual and consolidated accounts for the year ended December 31, 2019 (1st and 2nd resolutions) as well as the allocation of earnings to the "retained earnings" account resulting in losses of (18,046,485.85) euros (3rd resolution). The Combined Shareholders' Meeting also acknowledged the shareholders' equity situation of less than half of the share capital and approved the need to decide on the continuation of SuperSonic Imagine's activity (4th resolution); approved all the related-party agreements submitted to its vote, it being specified that Hologic Hub Ltd., did not take part in this vote, in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 225-40 of the French Commercial Code (5th resolution to 9th resolution); approved the ratification of the respective co-opting, as directors, of Mrs. Patricia Dolan, Mr. Michelangelo Stefani and Mr. Antoine Bara, as well as the appointment of Mr. John LaViola as observer of the Board of Directors (10th resolution to 13th resolution); approved the compensation policy for corporate officers as well as the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board of Directors paid or owed during and in respect of the year ended December 31, 2019 (14th resolution to 20th resolution); approved the settlement agreement entered into between SuperSonic Imagine and Mrs. Michele Lesieur on January 29, 2020 in the context of the dismissal of the latter's mandate as Chief Executive Officer (21st resolution); authorized the Board of Directors, in accordance with Article L. 225-209 of the French Commercial Code, to purchase treasury shares under a share buyback program (22nd resolution); Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting authorized the Board of Directors to reduce SuperSonic Imagine's share capital by canceling shares purchased or to be purchased under the authorization to buy back treasury shares (23rd resolution); decided not to pronounce the early dissolution of SuperSonic Imagine and approved the continuation of SuperSonic Imagine's activity pursuant to Article L. 225-248 of the French Commercial Code (24th resolution); approved all of the proposed amendments to the by-laws in order to align them with legal and regulatory provisions (25th resolution to 29th resolution) and, more generally, delegated its power to the Board of Directors to make necessary amendments to the by-laws in order to bring them into compliance with legal and regulatory provisions, subject to ratification of these amendments by the next Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting (30th resolution); granted full powers to carry out all formalities required by law (31st resolution). The detailed results of the votes for each resolution are published on SuperSonic Imagine's website (https://www.supersonicimagine.fr). SuperSonic Imagine's by-laws, as approved today, can be consulted on SuperSonic Imagine's website at the following address: https://www.supersonicimagine.fr. In accordance with article R. 225-29-1 IV of the French Commercial Code, the 2020 compensation policy, as approved this day by the shareholders, is available on SuperSonic Imagine's website https://www.supersonicimagine.fr. About SuperSonic Imagine SuperSonic Imagine is a medical technology company (Medtech) specialized in ultrasound imaging. The company designs, develops and markets an ultrasound platform whose exclusive ultrafast technology (UltraFastTM) has given rise to new imaging methods, which have now become standards in the non-invasive care path for the characterization of breast, liver or prostate diseases. The first innovative mode UltraFastTM is ShearWave elastography (SWETM), which allows doctors to instantly visualize and analyze tissue hardness, which is critical information for the diagnosis of many pathologies. To date, more than 600 publications have validated the benefits of its technologies. The latest addition to the Aixplorer range, Aixplorer MACH 30 introduces a new generation of imaging UltraFastTM allowing the optimization of all innovative imaging modes: ShearWave PLUS, UltraFast Doppler, Angio PL.U.S, TriVu. With more than 2,300 ultrasound platforms installed worldwide, SuperSonic Imagine is present in more than 80 countries and its main markets are China, the United States and France. The group's revenues for the 2019 financial year amounted to 26.8 million. SuperSonic Imagine is a company listed on Euronext (symbol: SSI). For more information, visit www.supersonicimagine.fr. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005843/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations NewCap Thomas Grojean supersonicimagine@newcap.eu +33 44 71 94 94 Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on Tuesday resigned his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Obaseki resigned after he was disqualified by the partys National Working Committee (NWC) from recontesting in the governorship election. Information Nigeria recalls that the embattled governor who has been at political war with the APCS National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. He was on Friday disqualified from APC governorship primary over issues relating to discrepancies in his certificates. Advertisement But, following his disqualification from participating in the June 22 primary election, Obaseki and Nyesom Wike met at Rivers Government House in Port Harcourt on Sunday, June 14. The duo met after former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar asked Obaseki to join the Peoples Democratic Party. Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in a violent clash along the Line of Actual Control in the Galwan Valley on Monday night, leaving a commanding officer, a Colonel, and two jawans dead on the Indian side. The dead have been identified as Colonel B Santosh Babu, Havildar K Palani and Sepoy Ojha. The Army confirmed the incident and said, During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. The Army said there were casualties on the Chinese side as well "There was no firing. No firearms were used. It was violent hand-to-hand scuffles," an Army officer told AFP on condition of anonymity. ALSO READ | RIP Colonel Santosh Babu: My son was too young to die, says father; mother heartbroken, but proud The editor-in-chief of the Global Times, which is a Chinese government mouthpiece, tweeted, "Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, dont be arrogant and misread Chinas restraint as being weak." Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, dont be arrogant and misread Chinas restraint as being weak. China doesnt want to have a clash with India, but we dont fear it. Hu Xijin (@HuXijin_GT) June 16, 2020 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh immediately held a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. "Rajnath Singh reviewed the current operational situation in Eastern Ladakh, consequent to yesterday's violent faceoff on the LAC, along with the CDS and the three Service chiefs," the Defence Ministry said in a statement. A large number of Indian and Chinese troops had previously engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh over the last five weeks. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation, Army sources added. READ| China raises objection to India's construction near borders in Uttarakhand's Lipulekh area There are around 12,000 soldiers with heavy vehicles, artillery and armoured support equipment on both sides of the Line of Actual Control in a standoff position. Earlier, soldiers from both countries clashed on four occasions, starting on the intervening night of May 5 and 6 when Chinese soldiers attacked Indian troops at the location between Finger 4 and Finger 5, along the Northern Flank of the Pangong Tso lake. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Indian troops "crossed the border line twice... provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in a serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides." The incident comes days after Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said both sides have begun disengaging from the Galwan Valley. READ | LAC standoff: Ladakh martyr Havildar Palani served country for 22 years, planned to retire next year The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in a standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions and demanded their immediate withdrawal for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row. (With PTI and AFP Inputs) Birminghams HPM has been selected as construction manager for a $94.5 million culinary science center - including a teaching boutique hotel and restaurant - that is slated to open next year at Auburn University. Work to prepare the site began in April on the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, a 142,000-square-foot complex at the corner of East Thach Avenue and South College Street in downtown Auburn. The center is named for the parents of Auburn alumnus and board of trustees member Jimmy Rane, founder and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving, who gave $12 million toward the project. HPM will provide project management support for Auburns Facilities Management Administration. Construction is expected to be completed next year. The center will be the first revenue generating academic building on Auburns campus. The center will provide practical learning environments for hospitality and culinary sciences students, with classrooms, demonstration kitchens and food production labs, a brewing science center, and new teaching restaurant on the property. The center will also have six upper-level residences for long-term leasing. There will also be a rooftop swimming pool and bar, full-service spa and other amenities. The luxury hotel portion of the project is seeking to achieve the AAA Five Diamond certification. HPM previously served as the owners representative during construction of a $35 million AAA Five Diamond Hotel in Houston, Texas. Our previous history in providing project management leadership on other high-profile hospitality and higher education initiatives made this an ideal fit, HPM President Mike Lanier said. Xiang was removed from his post in 2017 and investigations were launched over accusations that he had pocketed RMB18.62 million in bribes from 2005 to 2017. This spanned back to the time when Xiang headed the Agricultural Bank of China, a state-owned firm, and after he was appointed to head the CIRC in 2011. The downfall of Xiang was part of Beijings purge of the insurance sector, with several other insurance executives being investigated and arrested for graft. Xiang was the highest-ranked official among those prosecuted. After his removal, the CIRC was integrated with the banking regulator to form the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC). Under Xiangs watch, Chinas insurance regulator began to allow insurers to make more aggressive investments by lifting the previous cap of 40% on insurers assets as equity investments. According to the report, this is in contrast to global norms in which insurers usually invest most of their assets in long-term and more stable instruments such as bonds and only around 10% into the more volatile equities. Xiangs tenure also saw huge growth in premium for universal life products. By 2016, universal life premiums made up 38% of total life premium in China, the report said. Beijing later cracked down on universal life products, saying that these products exposed the Chinese insurance industry to systemic risk and imposed limits on these products and the companies that sold them. Newspapers had reported that the virus was discovered on chopping boards used for imported salmon at Beijings Xinfadi market. The origins of a new cluster of coronavirus infections in Beijing are uncertain, World Health Organization officials said on Monday, but the claim that it might have been caused by imports or packaging of salmon was not the primary hypothesis. Several districts of the Chinese capital put up security checkpoints, closed schools and ordered people to be tested for the coronavirus on Monday after an unexpected rise in cases linked to the biggest wholesale food market in Asia. State-run newspapers reported that the virus was discovered on chopping boards used for imported salmon at Beijings Xinfadi market amid worries about a second wave of the pandemic in China. Mike Ryan, head of the WHOs emergencies programme, stopped short of saying packaging needs to be tested systematically following the new infections. I think we need to look at what has happened in this case, I dont believe it is the primary hypothesis. But it needs to be explored, Ryan said in a briefing. His comments echoed those of experts earlier on Monday who said the fish itself was unlikely to carry the disease and any link to salmon may have been the result of cross-contamination. China, a major importer of seafood and meat, has halted purchases from European salmon suppliers because of fears they might be linked to a coronavirus. Ryan said the UN agency was closely tracking the outbreak, has offered more technical help to China and was in close contact with the Beijing authorities as they seek to control it. As weve seen in many countries, the emergence of new clusters especially when the origin of the cluster, the driver of the cluster, is not recognised is always a concern, he said. But what we do like to see is an immediate response to that and a comprehensive set of measures. Ryan said he fully expects China to publish the genetic sequencing of the virus from the Beijing outbreak as it has done in the past. Genetic traces have suggested it could have come from Europe. The WHOs comments about the latest episode in China will likely draw scrutiny after criticism from the United States of the U.N. agencys handling of the pandemic, accusing it of being China-centric and demanding an investigation. President Donald Trump said last month he was cutting ties with the organisation. More than 100 cases have been confirmed in the new outbreak but no reported deaths, WHO officials said. The finding that this may represent a strain more common in transmission in Europe is important and it may reflect human-to-human transmission more than any other hypotheses, Ryan said. But that remains to be seen. He also said the agency may boost its country office team with more expertise in the coming days as the investigation develops. Coronavirus infections appear to be spreading along major highways and interstates across the United States as states continue to reopen and people start social distancing less, health officials have warned. New COVID-19 hot spots are popping up along interstates in California, Arizona and the Carolinas, according to data compiled by the PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. A PolicyLab map of current cases per 100,000 people in a select number of counties across the country show infections appear to be clustered around the I-10, which stretches through southern states from California to Florida. Cases are also centered alongside the I-5, which runs the length of California; and on the I-85, which stretches through North and South Carolina. New COVID-19 hot spots are popping up along interstates in California, Arizona and the Carolinas, according to data compiled by the PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Currently, California, Arizona and the Carolinas are all seeing spikes in new infections in the last week, according to data from each state's health departments. Some of those increases have occurred in counties where the interstates run through or near and coincides with states reopening and people relaxing their social distancing measures following the Memorial Day weekend. Dr David Rubin, the director of PolicyLab, told the Daily Beast that he fears the data is showing that the spikes are occurring as people travel more interstate as lockdown measures are lifted. He said the current uptick in southwestern states, like Arizona, could soon move north and affect metro areas like San Francisco. 'The southwest outbreak is moving right up the I-5. You can see the risk all the way up. Were a week or two away from Sacramento and San Francisco,' he said. Dr Rubin said the virus also appears to be traveling along the I-85 through South Carolina's Mecklenburg, Durham and Randolph counties and North Carolina's Greenville and Spartanburg counties. Currently, California, Arizona and the Carolinas are all seeing spikes in new infections in the last week, according to data from each state's health departments New cases of COVID-19 nearly doubled in Alabama and South Carolina in the second week of June compared to the prior seven days as 17 states reported weekly increases in the spread of coronavirus New deaths from coronavirus nearly doubled in Georgia and Missouri in the second week of June compared to the prior seven days. Thirteen states have reported weekly increases in deaths related to COVID-19 He is now closely watching counties in Virginia that are also linked by the I-85. In addition to tracking current cases, researchers at the PolicyLab have been using cellphone data to track changes in mobility to predict the trajectory of new infections over the next four weeks. In those counties, infections are predicted to increase in the next month if current social distancing behaviors continue. Fears have been mounting of a second wave of COVID-19 infections given daily cases and hospitalizations have been spiking to record levels in multiple states. South Carolina has seen its cases surge by 85 percent in a week with state health officials saying the increase is partly down to some residents not following social distance guidelines to avoid large gatherings and wear a mask in public. North Carolina's cases have increased just over 23 percent in a week. The state has also seen record hospitalizations in recent days - a metric not affected by increased testing and perhaps more troubling for health officials. Meanwhile, Arizona has seen its infections increase by more than 26 percent in a week, while California's cases have risen 10 percent. Many state health officials partly attribute the increase to gatherings over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in late May. Others say the increase in cases is due to more robust testing. Health officials warn it is too soon to forecast if the George Floyd protesters across the country could be the source of widespread community transmission that could result in a spike in cases and deaths. Lifting lockdown made it seem all is hunky-dory. Were seeing the consequences now: The cap-ital city of India, New Delhi, seems to be heading towards becoming the coronavirus capital as well, as many people are saying. The number of cases in Delhi is much less than in Mumbai, but the rate of growth in this city has been high, given that the number of cases was much lower earlier. What exactly is happening in Delhi? What has caused the sudden increase in cases? What is the medical response? How is the infrastructure prepared to cope with it? Read this interview with Arvind Ku-mar, ... The 84-day lockdown may prove to be a boon for millions of fish-loving Bengalis, who eagerly wait for this time of the year for the queen of fish - the Hilsa - to arrive from the sea. Experts said that as pollution in the river Ganga and its tributaries is less this year because of the lockdown, it could attract schools of Hilsa to migrate upstream to breed. This year we are expecting a good catch. All the industries were shut because of the lockdown and pollution is down in the River Hooghly. This could attract schools of Hilsa. Also the rains and other conditions have been favourable, said a senior official of the state fishery department. HT had earlier reported that for the first time in many years, several stretches of the Ganga including Kolkata were conforming to Central Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) standards for the quality of river waters. The biological oxygen demand was less than 3 mg/l, dissolved oxygen was more than 4 mg/l and ph 6 to 9. The biological oxygen demand is the oxygen needed by the river to sustain life. The Hilsa, which usually spend their lives in the sea, migrate into the rivers to breed during this time of the year. If they dont find good waters in the Hooghly (a tributary of the Ganga) they head for the rivers in Bangladesh skipping Bengal. In 2012 Bangladesh had imposed a ban on export of Hilsa to India. The ban was lifted in 2019. Cyclone Amphan, which has left the state devastated, may also boost the Hilsa harvest. Cyclonic storms churn up minerals from the sea bed which would help in plankton production. Plankton being a fish food helps in attracting more fish, said Utpal Bhowmik, a hisla expert and the former head of the riverine fishery division at Central Inland Fishery Research Institute. Every year major fishing activities remain suspended between April 15 and June 14 to protect the fishery resources and biodiversity during the breeding season. This year the ban was from March 25 when the countrywide lockdown was announced. The extended fishing ban because of the lockdown will surely boost fish production. The fishermen are all ready to venture into the sea within a day or two. The ban has been lifted but the sea is rough because of bad weather. We are just waiting for the weather to clear, said Abdar Mallik, secretary of Sagar Marine Matsya Khuti Cooperative Society, a fishermen forum in south Bengal. But there is an irony. Fishermen in the coastal districts of the Bengal pointed out that even though they are expecting a bounty this time because of the lockdown, cleaner water and good rains, cyclone Amphan has left them devastated. Thousands of fishing boats have been damaged in the storm. We know there is a bounty out there in the sea but there are not enough boats to venture out. Many people have lost their boats, said Pradip Chatterjee, convener of National platform for small scale fish workers. More than 8,000 fishing boats have been damaged in the cyclone of May 20, while 37,711 fishing nets have been damaged, according to government estimates. The administration is providing 2,600 to the affected fishermen for damaged nets and 5,000 who have lost their boats. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Delhi Police on Tuesday questioned Delhi Minority Commission Chairman Zafarul Islam Khan in a sedition case registered against him for his social media post in April, officials said. This comes a day after the special cell of the Delhi Police sent Khan a notice, asking him to join the probe within two days over his "controversial" social media post related to the violence in northeast Delhi earlier this year. "I joined the probe today. I was questioned by the police for nearly 2.15 hours. They sought details regarding my social media post. I gave all the required details to them in written format," Khan told PTI over phone. The questioning took place at the Janakpuri office of the special cell, the police officials said. An FIR was registered against Khan on April 30 under sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth) of the Indian Penal Code after police received a complaint from a resident of Vasant Kunj. This is the second notice sent to Khan. Earlier in May, a notice under section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was sent to him by the special cell asking him to hand over the device used for making the "controversial" social media post. Khan had accordingly submitted his device. In the FIR, the complainant had alleged that Khan's post was provocative and seditious and intended to cause disharmony and create a rift in society, the police said, adding the case was being investigated by the cyber cell. However, later, Khan had also sought an apology, while the BJP demanded his removal from the commission. He had said that his tweet on April 28 thanking Kuwait for taking note of the "persecution" of Indian Muslims in the context of the northeast Delhi violence has "pained" some people which was never his intention. Protesters hold on to hope as China prepares to impose a national security law that could utterly change the territory. When 2 million people marched through the streets of Hong Kong a year ago, the territorys leader Carrie Lam had just promised to suspend the controversial extradition bill that triggered weeks of peaceful protest in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. When the march went ahead anyway, it was a sign that the discontent was about far more than a bill that would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial. Money is not everything, Lee Cheuk Yan, the general secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation and Trade Unions and chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movement of China, told the Senate Banking Committee in the US on June 4. It is more important for Hong Kong to preserve our freedom and way of life, or else Hong Kong is no longer Hong Kong. We are left with the body, but not the spirit. Until September last year, Bonnie Leung was the vice convener and international spokeswoman for the Civil Human Rights Front, the umbrella group that mobilised the initial opposition to the bill. She had no expectation of success when the movement took to the streets, but she realised things would be different on June 12, the day the extradition bill was due to have its second reading in the Legislative Council (Legco). The CHRFs plan was to peacefully encircle the Legco building, but as Leung stood on stage, she saw people in the crowd distributing face masks and helmets. They just did it, she said of the protesters. They decided that they would risk their own lives, safety, years of imprisonment to stop the pro-Beijing legislators from getting into the building to debate the bill. As the police resorted to tear gas to break up the crowd, the second reading was abandoned. Three days later, Lam announced the bill had been suspended. These people created hope, Leung said. It convinced us that we are one camp, but using different strategies. Promises Hong Kong, which had enjoyed some civic freedoms but never full democracy in more than 150 years as a British colony, was returned to China in 1997. The British and Chinese governments thrashed out the terms of the return in the 1980s. For China, beginning to embark on an era of economic reform, Hong Kong was not only a political prize, but an economic one. The territory was a vibrant manufacturing centre, and by the time of the handover was contributing the equivalent of 16 percent of the mainlands GDP. A protester walks across pictures of Chinas President Xi Jinping during a demonstration in Hong Kong on October 1 2019, Chinas National Day [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters] The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, an international treaty, laid out the terms, with the Basic Law as the territorys mini-constitution. Under the agreement, Hong Kong would become part of China, but retain a high degree of autonomy under the so-called one country, two systems framework until 2047, while the Basic Law held out the ultimate aim of universal suffrage in electing Hong Kongs leader and legislature. China reserved the right to interpret the law. Life continued much as before. Hong Kong continued to hold its annual vigil for the lives lost in the military crackdown on Tiananmen Square in 1989. Its media continued to report freely. An independent legal system provided comfort to the citys residents, as well as domestic and international businesses. But in recent years, and particularly since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2013, Beijing has taken an increasingly interventionist approach. In 2014, pro-democracy protesters camped out at the central business district for nearly three months the so-called Umbrella Protests after China said only pre-approved candidates would be allowed to stand for the post of chief executive. The next year, a group of booksellers, known for salacious publications on Chinas leaders, disappeared only to re-emerge on the mainland making confessions on state television. In 2016, there was acrimony over oath-taking in the Legislative Council China exercised its powers to interpret the Basic Law and six elected pro-democracy politicians were disqualified. Last month, a controversial bill criminalising disrespect for Chinas national anthem was passed. Hardened by the experience of 2014, protesters changed their approach. They became a collective nimble, responsive and organised across social media, adopting the motto Be water. People could choose their own way to participate from a flash mob during lunchtime, to consumer boycotts, to messages on Lennon walls or taking to the front line. Despite forceful policing, and Chinas move last month to impose a National Security Law on Hong Kong, the movement has survived. In the immediate term its not looking good, said Lokman Tsui, an assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who is an expert in digital communication. But the thing about hope is that hope is not just waiting for good news to fall out of the sky. Its something you have to work for, and in the past year, Hong Kong people have been working hard to keep having hope, to keep protesting. Engaging or appeasing? When China joined the World Trade Organization in December 2001, many commentators thought its inclusion into the global economy would eventually make the country more like a Western democracy. Rowena He, who left the mainland after the 1989 crackdown and now teaches history at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, says decision-makers failed to understand the nature of the government in Beijing. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam welcomed the findings of the Independent Police Complaints Council, a police watchdog, which dismissed most of the serious allegations against the police, while conceding there was room for improvement in how officers dealt with anti-government protests. [Jerome Favre/EPA] Facing the China model of governance, a hybrid of authoritarian control and state-led capitalism, the Western world was mesmerised by the wealth and material accomplishments of a rising China, but they were naive about the nature of the CCP, she said. For a long time, they adopted an appeasing policy of not talking about human rights but focusing on business with the illusion that the country would eventually become democratised. China is now the worlds second-largest economy, but its political system has hardened. Xi has expanded surveillance, clamped down on dissent and made himself Chinas most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. The CCPs underlying principle in handling crisis has always been to maintain power at any cost, He said. Nevertheless, the protests of the past year have been left largely to Hong Kong to resolve. Lams administration has shown little willingness to compromise, instead relying on the police. Some 9,000 people have been arrested over the past year, the youngest only 11 years old, according to the South China Morning Post. The government is doubling down, doubling down and doubling down, said Tsui. Its not listening to the people and is using the police as its only response. Last September, Samuel Chu, whose father was one of the leaders of the Umbrella Movement, founded the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council with the goal of making Hong Kong a major and essential component of US-China policy. Along with high-profile meetings for Hong Kong campaigners in the US, it was instrumental in building support for two bills backing democracy in Hong Kong that were passed last November. But, behind the scenes, China was also planning its next move. In April, 15 of the citys most-prominent and respected pro-democracy campaigners, including veteran politician Martin Lee and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, were arrested for taking part in the protests. Then, on the eve of the annual session of the National Peoples Congress, the countrys parliament, Beijing announced plans for the National Security Bill. It would mean people in Hong Kong could be jailed for activities labelled as treason, secession and subversion by foreign forces accusations that have been levelled against critics on the mainland. In Hong Kong, protesters returned to the streets after a coronavirus ban on gatherings of more than eight people had kept many at home. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang vote in favour of the national security legislation for Hong Kong at the closing session of the National Peoples Congress on May 28 [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters] Hong Kongs government, which has labelled the protesters rioters, has backed the legislation, insisting ordinary people will not be affected. The legislation only aims to prevent, curb and sanction an extremely small minority of criminals who threaten national security, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng wrote in a blog post on Sunday. Constrainment Nevertheless, the law has spurred concern among an international community already on edge over Chinas handling of the coronavirus, which first emerged in the central city of Wuhan last year. US President Donald Trump keen to deflect from his own calamitous handling of the outbreak condemned the move. The US later said Hong Kong no longer had the autonomy that allowed it to enjoy special trading status. The UK said it would offer as many as three million Hong Kong people enhanced visa rights and the possibility of citizenship. Earlier this month, parliamentarians from 11 countries including Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK and the US formed the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China to reconsider the way in which democracies worked with China. What appears to be emerging, wrote Andreas Fulda, assistant professor in the School of Politics and International Relations at Britains University of Nottingham, in The Conversation, is constrainment, a concept of incentives, deterrence and punishment first outlined by Gerald Segal in the mid-1990s. Targeted sanctions are also a possibility. Its not a magical let the wall come down,' Chu said, acknowledging the fickle nature of the Trump administration. These are the grinding day-to-day things that will minimise the damage to Hong Kongers while maximising the damage to the CCP and its supporters. People around the world understand what bullying by the CCP feels like and that lying by the CCP makes a difference to our everyday lives. For Hong Kongs protesters, the National Security Law has given them renewed determination. Overt calls for independence, while far from mainstream, have become more visible. Tsui says the strategy is to make it difficult for Beijing and continually raise the price of playing hardball. The coronavirus meant this years Tiananmen vigil was banned, but many people made their way to Victoria Park anyway. Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, centre, joins the 2020 vigil for the victims of the 1989 crackdown in Tiananmen Square in Hong Kongs Victoria Park [Kin Cheung/AP Photo] The next Legco Elections are scheduled for September. In last years district elections, pro-democracy candidates swept the board. The Legco poll is more controlled, but the democracy camp was expecting to do well. Some worry the National Security Law, which is expected to be imposed in the next couple of months. could make it difficult to campaign. For He, whose students often ask her for advice, it is necessary to retain some optimism. There is never an end game, she said. No matter how bad it might appear now, it is just the beginning of an end. It is easy to be a hero for a few moments, but it is harder to be persistent, to carry on day-to-day. We should not lose hope. We might lose many battles, but we will win the war. Vegan beauty magnate Cassandra House (pictured) is suing Airbnb for $253,000 after a guest allegedly trashed her apartment and stole designer dresses A vegan beauty magnate is suing Airbnb for $253,000 after a guest booked through the online marketplace allegedly trashed her apartment and stole designer dresses and shoes from Gucci and Chanel. Cassandra House, 35, claimed in a lawsuit filed against the accommodation provider the guest at her Gold Coast beachfront home destroyed her luxury Kruger pans and kitchen pots worth more than $1,300. Ms House - a high-ranking consultant with multi-level marketing giant Arbonne - also said the guest stole a $50 silver banana and a $279 bottle of Dom Perignon champagne. The motivational speaker said in her filing the banana matched the 'apple decor' of her two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment - which is available to rent for $700 per week. In a court filing, Ms House claimed the guest destroyed her luxury Kruger pans and kitchen pots worth more than $1,300 The successful consultant with multi-level marketing company Arbonne said a $50 silver banana she alleged was stolen from her matched the 'apple decor' of her two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment (pictured) on Main Beach on the Gold Coast Damages were filed after the guest stayed at her apartment on Southport's Main Beach between April 1 and April 5 of 2018, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported. Other six-figure valuations in the long list of claims include $10,000 worth of Swarovski jewellery and $55,000 in engagement presents. Ms House's profile with the skincare company describes her as a 'three-time degree holder and Masters graduate' and a 'successful business owner in multiple industries'. 'Cassandra was able to "retire" and travel abroad and use her life to volunteer full time, fulfilling her greatest passion, worldwide education work,' her profile reads. Ms House is a high-ranking consultant with multi-level skincare marketing giant Arbonne It boasts that after nine months of working in network marketing Ms House owned her own Mercedes Benz car. Within a year, the profile says, she had become a national vice president at Arbonne. Arbonne's vegan range specialises in skincare, nutrition and cosmetics products. Ms House's business profile boasts that after nine months of working in network marketing she owned her own Mercedes Benz car Pictured: The bathroom in the allegedly trashed apartment - which is available to rent for $700 No defence has been filed in the case. An Airbnb spokesman said police were investigating and declined to comment on the case. 'Airbnb is fully co-operating with the Queensland Police Service and their investigation. Given the matter is being investigated, it would be inappropriate to comment further,' a spokesman for the company told Daily Mail Australia. We have been asked to make clear that charges against Ms Cassandra House have been dismissed. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9489967/Gold-Coasts-Cassandra-House-attempted-fraud-charge-against-dropped.html Amid nationwide outrage over racial injustice and police brutality, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, R, is under pressure to further limit when state law enforcement agencies can use lethal force. Democrats on Tuesday pushed him to issue an executive order to ban chokeholds in all instances involving state officers and to dramatically curtail when they can shoot at vehicles or use deadly force to subdue someone. "Policing in our country is broken," the Democratic caucus of the House of Delegates wrote in a letter to Hogan. "While we have taken some important steps together with you - most notably passage of the Justice Reinvestment Act - we have not done enough to fix policing in Maryland." Lawmakers asked Hogan to take action immediately that would affect 18 law enforcement agencies under his control, including the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Natural Resources Police and police forces at various public universities. The governor does not have direct control over the policies of sheriff's offices or city and county police agencies, which most frequently interact with the public. House Speaker Adrienne Jones, D, the state's first black speaker, drafted the letter, which said that "the past three weeks have exposed what some of us have known for years: that enforcement of our laws has not yielded equal justice." The letter asked the governor to require the law enforcement agencies he oversees to adopt five "best practices" recommended by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission. The best practices were issued years ago as recommendations for agencies statewide, but it was not immediately clear Tuesday how many agencies have adopted them. "As you know, the House has convened a legislative work group with the full intent of mandating these things in the 2021 legislative session, in addition to other legal requirements to begin to undo the systemic inequality that our justice system continues to hand out every day," the letter said. "However, you have the power with the stroke of your pen to begin this process today." The practices would: - "Require that deadly force is only used to 'stop an imminent threat of death or seriously bodily injury to the officer' or a citizen." - "Require a duty to intervene for those police officers who see another officer 'using force beyond what is objectively reasonable under the circumstances.' " - "Implement an early warning system to identify excessive incidents involving use of force and immediately retrain that officer." - "Ban shooting at vehicles, unless the vehicle is clearly being used for deadly force against an officer or another person." - "Require that every officer within a State law enforcement agency sign an affirmative written sanctity of life pledge to 'respect every human life' and 'act with compassion toward others,' as recommended by MPTSC." Additionally, the caucus asked Hogan to ban chokeholds in all circumstances. On June 5, Minneapolis City Council enacted such a ban in response to the killing of George Floyd, who died after an officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd's death on May 25 sparked nationwide protests that still continue. The officer, who was later fired, has been charged with second-degree murder. Three other former officers also have been charged. Hogan spokeswoman Shareese Churchill said several of the policies in the letter are already implemented, but "we will certainly give thoughtful consideration to the Speaker's letter, as well as the conclusions and recommendations of the work group she has established to examine these serious issues." Hogan and the Democrats who dominate the General Assembly enacted the Justice Reinvestment Act in 2016. The sentencing-reform package, which cut jail time for nonviolent criminals, has helped reduce Maryland's prison population. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is coming under fire for her 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, after Kavanaugh dissented in Monday's landmark ruling affirming that federal anti-discrimination laws protect gay and transgender employees. Collins, who faces a tough 2020 reelection bid, is among the most vocal Senate Republican supporters of LGBT rights. She is one of the lead sponsors of the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to other protected classes in federal law. After news of Monday's 6-to-3 Supreme Court decision was reported, she praised the ruling as "a major advancement for LGBTQ rights" and called for Congress to pass the Equality Act and amend the Civil Rights Act to "expressly prohibit" such discrimination. But Democrats - including Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, Collins's likely general election opponent - skewered Collins on Monday for her vote to confirm Kavanaugh in light of his position on Monday's ruling. "Judge Kavanaugh voted against banning companies from firing employees for being gay or transgender," Gideon said in a tweet. "It's clear that Senator Collins will continue to be a reliable vote for Trump's anti-LGBTQ+ nominees. Help us replace her in November." Collins also faced criticism last year after the Supreme Court voted 5 to 4 to block a restrictive Louisiana abortion law. While Democrats hailed the decision, they pointed to Kavanaugh's dissent as a sign that he might be poised to side with conservatives in future rulings on abortion rights. In October 2018, Collins delivered a 44-minute floor speech declaring her support for Kavanaugh. At the time, Collins, who supports abortion rights, said she did not think Kavanaugh would vote to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion. She also noted in her speech that Kavanaugh "described the Obergefell decision, which legalized same-gender marriages, as an important landmark precedent." Quoting a previous decision, Kavanaugh wrote in his Monday dissent that the Supreme Court "has previously stated, and I fully agree, that gay and lesbian Americans 'cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth.' " But he argued that under the Constitution's separation of powers, it is "Congress's role, not this Court's," to amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination "because of sex." "Our role is not to make or amend the law," he wrote. "As written, Title VII does not prohibit employment discrimination because of sexual orientation." Collins's office pointed to the senator's record of voting to confirm not just Kavanaugh but all six Supreme Court nominees who have been considered during her time in the Senate. Two of those justices - Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel Alito Jr. - were nominated by President George W. Bush. Two others - Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan - were nominated by President Barack Obama. Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch were nominated by President Donald Trump. - - - The Washington Post's Robert Barnes contributed to this report. PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- It was about 1:30 a.m. on June 17, 2017, when the U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a Philippine cargo ship off the coast of Japan. The crash crushed a large section of the Fitzgerald above the waterline and caused extensive damage below, creating a 13x17 foot hole in the ship. The collision claimed the life of seven of the destroyers crew and injured several others. Now, almost three years to the day after that fatal collision and two years after repairs began, the Fitzgerald departed Ingalls Shipbuilding Saturday, fully repaired and ready to rejoin the fleet. It has been our privilege to work with the U.S. Navy to repair and restore Fitzgerald, said Ingalls president Brian Cuccias. We our proud of our shipbuilders hard work and pleased this capable warship rejoin the Navys fleet. Following the 2017 collision, the Navy awarded Ingalls a $270 million contract for repair and modernization of the Fitzgerald (DDG 62). At the time, the Navy said in a statement it was determined only an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer shipbuilder could complete the repairs and that Ingalls alone had the capacity and ability to restore USS Fitzgerald to full operational status in the shortest period of time with minimal disruption to ongoing repair and new construction work. The destroyer was brought from Yokosuka, Japan, to Ingalls via a heavy lift transport, arriving at Ingalls in January 2018. After more than a year in drydock, Fitzgerald was relaunched in April 2019. Ingalls officials said that, due to the complexity of the repair and modernization, both repair and new construction procedures were used to return the Fitzgerald to full operational status. The U.S. Navy's investigation into the crash found that inadequate leadership and flawed teamwork were factors in the accident. The report also indicated poor seamanship by the crews of both vessels. However, the Navy did praise the actions of the crew after the collision. The fallout from the accident resulted in the Fitzgeralds captain and two other senior officers being relieved of duty, along with several other junior officers. Request FREE Proposal for Comprehensive Insights Quantzig, a global data analytics and advisory firm, that delivers actionable analytics solutions to resolve complex business problems has announced the completion of its recent engagement-Customer Segmentation: Improving Customer Retention Rate in Asian Market This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005802/en/ The case study aligns perfectly with Quantzig's commitment to helping its clients transform business processes using data and analytical insights. It also offers comprehensive insights into: The role of customer segmentation in enhancing customer loyalty The benefits of customer segmentation The challenges facing the fintech industry in 2020 Request a FREE proposal to better understand the scope of our success story and gain comprehensive insights into the business benefits of customer segmentation. According to Quantzig's customer segmentation analytics experts, "Customer segmentation relies on identifying key differentiators that divide customers into groups that can be targeted." The fintech companies mostly leverage computer programs and other technologies to support financial and banking services. Broadly, fintech is defined as a technological innovation in financial services. Companies functioning in the fintech industry exist in the market to provide and improve the existing financial and banking infrastructure. The breakthrough moment for the fintech industry was the disruption of global financial services. Major fintech industry players originated around that period to give a financial boost to other businesses and individuals by leveraging advanced technical solutions. The client in this study, is an American company with operations around the world. The client was looking forward to understanding the customer segments in the Asian market and segregating the customer in terms of need-based and value-based models. Speak to our analytics experts to learn how customer segmentation and profiling solutions can help fintech industry players to drive profitable outcomes using a new marketing plan. Customer Segmentation: Business Outcome 1: Enhanced customer loyalty 2: Increased customer retention rates by 20% 3: Maximized cross-selling opportunities Request a free demoto gain comprehensive insights into our customer segmentation solutions portfolio for the fintech industry. Customer segmentation helps organizations in the fintech industry to classify customers into measurable segments based on customer needs, behavior, and preferences. The use of advanced analytics methodologies also enables FinTech companies to determine the profit potential of every customer segment by leveraging a data-driven customer segmentation strategy. Furthermore, customer segmentation analytics enables them to allocate their marketing budget as per the customer segment to stay ahead of their competitors. About Quantzig Quantzig is a global analytics and advisory firm with offices in the US, UK, Canada, China, and India. For more than 15 years, we have assisted our clients across the globe with end-to-end data modeling capabilities to leverage analytics for prudent decision making. Today, our firm consists of 120+ clients, including 45 Fortune 500 companies. For more information on our engagement policies and pricing plans, visit: https://www.quantzig.com/request-for-proposal View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005802/en/ Contacts: Quantzig Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 538 7144 UK: +44 208 629 1455 https://www.quantzig.com/contact-us San Francisco, June 16 : In a bid the help people manage their finances efficiently, Microsoft has launched the Money in Excel feature for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers, starting first in the US. 'Money in Excel' is a template and add-in for Excel that allows users to securely connect bank, credit card, investment, and loan accounts to Excel and automatically import your transaction and account information into an Excel spreadsheet. "If you're a current Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscriber, simply go to this link to download the template," said Arjun Tomar, Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft 365. Once downloaded, open the Excel template and follow the on-screen prompts to connect your financial accounts using a secure third-party plugin supported by Plaid (Plaid currently supports most major U.S. financial institutions). Once your account information is verified, the workbook will be updated with your latest transaction history and is now ready for use. "Once your financial accounts are connected, Money in Excel will automatically import your transaction information from all your accounts into one workbook. You no longer need to spend hours manually setting up a personal finance spreadsheet from scratch; Money in Excel does it for you in just a few seconds," Microsoft said in a statement on Monday. Every time you want to update the workbook with the latest transactions, just click the Update button and get the latest snapshot of your transactions and accounts without ever leaving Excel. Once your transaction information is imported into Excel, it's easy to track your spending habits to help stay on course and get closer to your financial goals, said Microsoft. With the help of easy-to-read graphs, you can quickly track how your spending compares month over month. "Money in Excel will alert you to increases in your subscription fees, changes in bank and overdraft charges, or any big purchases that were posted during the month," said Tomar. India voices serious concern over increasing spread of terrorism in Africa at UN US announces $2.9 million aid to support Indias battle against COVID-19 India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, June 16: The US government has announced $2.9 million dollars to support India in its response to the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. This builds on a foundation of more than $1.4 billion in health assistance, and nearly $3 billion in total assistance, that the United States has provided to India over the last 20 years. The US government through its agency for aid (USAID) pledged funds to help India fight Coronavirus. The funds announced will be supporting two organisations in their efforts. Out of $2.9 million announced, $2.4 million will go to what is called ''USAID health strengthening project''. Civil Aviation Minister says 'decision on the international flights will be taken in July This will be implemented by the Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO)- an organisation affiliated with John Hopkins University. The rest of the money ($500,000) will be provided to the World Health Organisation. Lauding India's efforts, U.S. Ambassador to India Kenneth I. Juster announced that the USAID assistance will further support India's response to COVID-19. "COVID-19 is a global public health threat that can be addressed best by close collaboration among governments and international organizations. The U.S. Government, through USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies, is working closely with the Government of India and multilateral agencies to support India's response to this global pandemic," said Ambassador Juster. This generosity is underscored by our contributions to several crucial multilateral partners, which includes: U.S. contributions to WHO in 2019, which exceeded $400 million, almost double the 2nd largest member state contribution. U.S. support to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) of nearly $1.7 billion contributed in 2019. This support will be critical going forward, as refugee populations are uniquely vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. contributions to the UN Children's Fund in 2019 totalled more than $700 million. The life-saving activities UNICEF has been doing for years -- such as immunization campaigns and health and sanitation training and assistance -- will save lives as we fight this dangerous pathogen. Because an infectious-disease threat anywhere can become a threat everywhere, the United States calls on other donors to contribute to the global effort to combat COVID-19. USAID is the world's premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID's work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. To learn more, visit: https://www.usaid.gov/indiaFor more information about USAID's response to COVID-19, please visit: https://www.usaid.gov/coronavirus-covid-19 Dear Readers: We, as Americans, have just been through a difficult time financially. Are you or someone you know struggling to pay the rent? Here are a few things to consider. First, check your lease. You may have a grace period during which a late charge wont be charged. Next, be sure to talk to your landlord. Avoiding a conversation wont make the problem go away. If you are upfront with them about your situation, they may be able to work with you. Be proactive. But, rest assured, you are not alone. This pandemic crisis has caused a lot of hardship for many people. And as always, honesty is the best policy! Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. by Marian Demir For Sahak Mashalian "the temple is large enough" to be used by both confessions. A decision that would be "applauded" from a "peace" perspective and would make Turkey an example and pride in the world. But 73% of Turks want it as a mosque. Istanbul (AsiaNews) - Hagia Sophia in Istanbul "should be open to worship". The appeal to change the use of the much disputed building, originally a basilica, later transformed into a mosque and now a museum as per the will of Kemal Ataturk, this time is not from a Muslim leader but from a high profile Christian personality. Sahak Mashalian, 85th Armenian patriarch of Constantinople, states that "the temple is large enough" for everyone to use and "a small part can be reserved for Christians". This is yet another chapter in the controversy over Hagia Sophia. The tension around the building recently escalated following the decision, supported by nationalist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to recite an Islamic prayer inside. In the days that followed, a survey was published stating that 73% of Turks would favor transformation into a mosque. In this incendiary context, the Armenian patriarch proposes a solution that could bring everyone to agreement, as he himself explains. "Saint Sofia was founded - he recalls - thanks to the labour of thousand workers, spending a fortune. Over the 1500 years many repairs have taken place, including the efforts of the Fatih Sultan foundation, everything has been done to protect this temple as a place of worship, and certainly not as a museum ". "I think that kneeling believers - he adds - prostrate themselves with respect and admiration, is more appropriate to the nature of the place than tourists who wander here and there taking pictures". Patriarch Mashalian says this is why he wishes to propose that Saint Sophia be open to worship. The site is quite large. And that an area be reserved for Christians ". A decision, he adds, that would end up being "applauded" by the whole world with a view to "peace" and "religious maturity". "May Saint Sophia - he continues - become the symbol of peace for humanity and the current century. Is this, perhaps, a utopia? " he wonders, since "we all worship under the same sky". Can we not "we share the dome of Hagia Sophia in the same way". The Armenian patriarch reaffirms faith "in one God / Allah" even if "the creed is different", a place that "absorbs a thousand years of Christian prayer and 500yeras of Muslim prayer within its walls, is a synthesis of the mysterious existence and will have no objections to this practice . He therefore invites all the faithful to enter, breathe in the silence and learn from it. Hagia Sophia "is a place of wisdom" and can teach that "there is nothing more precious in the history of humanity through its 1500 years than peace". "We cannot afford the luxury - he concludes - of a new conflict between the cross and the crescent. The salvation of the planet is inherent in the alliance between the cross and thecrescent. And the honor of presenting such peace to the world would be a source of pride for the Republic of Turkey. " Miss Diamond Ring founder Michelle Demaree has been regularly selling hefty engagement rings despite the COVID-19 pandemic. (Michelle Demaree) A few weeks after much of the U.S. went into a shutdown because of the coronavirus, Peter Webster, cofounder and president of New York jewelry company Roberto Coin, got a call from a client who was seeking a 25th-anniversary gift for his wife. In accordance with his clients budget, Webster sent off a 120-carat diamond necklace, priced at $1.5 million, for consideration. That will buy a lot of forgiveness, Webster said with a laugh a few weeks ago. Were seeing quite a few sales in the $50,000-to-$100,000 range. People have this pent-up frustration. They cant go on their world trip so they will buy jewelry. Theres much more movement than I thought there was going to be. Wealthy people are generally still rich despite COVID-19, which has caused economic havoc and led about 41 million Americans to file for unemployment benefits since the pandemic began, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Stuck indoors because of the recent stay-at-home orders, the wealthy are shelling out tens of thousands of dollars on pricey baubles that might not be shown off at galas or European getaways anytime soon. During the shutdown, a Roberto Coin client had a $1.5-million budget for an anniversary gift for his wife. The jewelry label sent this 120-carat diamond necklace. (Roberto Coin) Jewelry retailers have attributed the demand for jewels to a combination of boredom, a need for diversion or a desire for an investment vehicle. I think people are seeking things of beauty to equalize the challenging news and information they are digesting daily, said Los Angeles jewelry designer Loree Rodkin, who has designed pieces for Cher and Elton John. Beautiful shiny objects take away the darkness that everyone is going through and bring back a sense of normalcy to their lives. Soon after the shutdown started, Rodkin sold a $23,850 Evil Eye pendant fashioned from tsavorites, diamonds and black diamonds. After the initial shock of what was going on, when that panic settled down, I started to see this willingness to spend, said Lisa Nikfarjam, founder of jewelry brand Lisa Nik, which is based in Los Angeles and New York. My clients found themselves in this unique position of being stuck at home without an outlet. So if they were thinking about a particular piece of jewelry before, now they had an opportunity to make a decision. Story continues Using video chat, Nikfarjam sold a $22,000 diamond necklace, a $28,000 green beryl ring and a $52,000 engagement ring. Lisa Nik jewelry designer Lisa Nikfarjam sold numerous pieces, including this green beryl ring, shortly after the COVID-19 shutdown took effect. (Lisa Nik) Not everyone has been financially hurt by this, said Nikfarjam, who added that her clients were looking for ways to support brands theyd done business with previously. There has been a giving mentality. Im pleasantly surprised. For auction house Sothebys, global online jewelry sales have exceeded expectations. In early May, the company closed a sale of fine jewels that brought in $2 million, surpassing presale estimates, with 91% of lots sold; the top lot was a Graff ruby and diamond necklace that went for more than $513,000. Since March, Sothebys' 12 online auctions have brought in more than expected, with bidders from more than 50 countries. A New York sale in late April brought in $1.34 million for a 1930s Cartier Tutti Frutti bracelet that's about double its original estimate and is said to be the highest price ever for a jewel in an online-only sale. We are as pleased and surprised as everyone else, said Kendall Reed, head of fine jewels and global online sales for Sothebys. Even though people are stuck in their homes, they are still celebrating special occasions. Reed said the brisk business being seen by Sothebys also could be attributed to the auction house's global reach. A vintage Cartier Tutti Frutti bracelet sold through Sotheby's is said to be the highest-priced piece of jewelry ever sold during an online-only jewelry sale. (Sotheby's) There are parts of the world that are a lot more open for business, Reed said. And we are also open for selling when a lot of jewelers are not. In accordance with Los Angeles County guidelines, jewelry stores have been allowed to reopen. Jay Carlile, store director of the Beverly Hills branch of Italian jewelry house Buccellati, said he had been unable to fulfill client requests because the store and its staff followed the shutdown measures. Buccellati does not have an e-commerce platform. Its a personal business, and its hard when we are not able to go into our stores, Carlile said. Nonetheless, during the shutdown, clients called and asked for pieces and were ready to pick them up when the store started its curbside service. Jewelry holds a certain amount of interest when you cant do much else, he said. Everyone needs a distraction, and for our loyal clients, jewelry is it. At Gearys, a Beverly Hills jewelry, watch and home boutique, President and Chief Executive Tom Blumenthal has found that customers have been continuing to acquire Rolex watches the 90-year-old store specializes in them through the pandemic. Even when the store was officially closed, a couple of us were coming in every day to serve our clients over the phone and online, said Blumenthal, adding that since Gearys fully reopened in early June, its been business as usual. While we were closed, our customers were calling us for Rolex watches, but we were only selling those to clients we knew. Occasions were still happening birthdays, graduations. People still needed gifts. Prices for a Rolex watch start at about $6,000 and reach into six figures. Another thing Blumenthal noticed is an uptick in demand for the store's prestige homeware, which includes brands such as Baccarat and Christofle. Blumenthal said that shoppers, driven by more at-home entertaining, have been buying glassware and barware since they sealed themselves off at home during the county and state shutdown. Sales have only increased since the store reopened for business, he said. Now that people have been spending so much more time at home, theyre reassessing what they have, and thinking, Lets get a new set of tableware or some new drinking glasses,'" he said. "Theyre feeling more comfortable having small groups over for cocktails rather than going out. Tim Derdenger, associate professor of marketing and strategy at Carnegie Mellon Universitys Tepper School of Business in Pittsburgh, said the pandemic is forcing brands to rethink how they reach customers, including those who arent necessarily feeling the pinch. Consumers who are that wealthy arent feeling too much of an impact, he said. And if they are, its offset by the theory that they are replacing what they might have spent elsewhere like on travel on these higher-end pieces. He said jewelry companies would have to consider implementing by-appointment-only visits to encourage their clients to feel safe entering a store or arrange showings in a clients home. Jewelry retailers maintain that, pandemic notwithstanding, life carries on. Couples are getting engaged. Some are still getting married, and there are special occasions to be celebrated while people have been cloistered at home. Michelle Demaree, founder of Beverly Hills-based Miss Diamond Ring, sold a $100,000 ring to a client in New York who proposed to his girlfriend in Central Park in the middle of the shutdown. Another client in the Pacific Palisades wanted a six-carat yellow diamond, which was priced at $150,000. Most of Demaree's sales are for engagement rings, and a few are anniversary upgrades. However, she said there has been no slowdown in rings in the $30,000-to-$100,000 range. Theres a bit of a carpe-diem mentality, she said. Ive been seeing more of a drive toward engagements. They just want to continue to celebrate their love and enjoy their lives, quarantine or not. London-based Threads Styling has seen a spike in interest for special pieces such as Bulgari jeweled watches. (Threads Styling) As restrictions ease, wealthy collectors are still on the hunt. Just look at London-based Threads Styling, a social commerce platform and personal shopping service that posts luxury looks and items on social media, including one-of-a-kind pieces. While in quarantine, one client bought a $120,000 Bulgari watch she saw on Snapchat, another an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak priced at $100,000 on Instagram. Sarah Ho, a London-based jewelry designer with a studio in Mayfair, began working with Threads Styling while in lockdown, resulting in the sale of a pair of earrings at $103,000. And what's particularly noticeable from sales? How many first-timers are buying prestige pieces. Weve seen a real increase in new customers, said Sophie Hill, founder and chief executive officer of Threads Styling. And theres also a real movement to wear fine jewelry and watches every day. Our clients are not putting them in a safe. Theyre not saving them for an occasion. Theyre wearing them at home. Along with social media and video chats, jewel brands and retailers also capitalized on the fascination for sparkling pieces by reaching their clients using traditional approaches. Sylva & Cie founder Sylva Yepremian has sent out wish boxes containing jewelry. Her clients keep what they like and they return the rest. (Sylva & Cie) I send out wish boxes to my clients containing several pieces, said Sylva Yepremian, founder of Los Angeles brand Sylva & Cie, where jewelry is typically in the $15,000-to-$35,000 range, with sapphires north of $50,000. They keep what they like and send back the rest. Although Yepremian might have missed out on the trunk shows she usually participates in around Mothers Day, she said her business is otherwise not as hurt by the downturn or shutdown as she thought. The search for self-expression is still relevant, she said. We have a captive audience. They need a sense of escapism. They want beauty in their lives. They may not be getting dressed and going out, but putting on a piece of jewelry can make you feel great. An orphaned tree kangaroo shared snacks with a local wildlife enthusiast after the native marsupial broke into a lodge in Atherton, Queensland. After entering Lumholtz Lodge, a wildlife facility named after the endemic Lumholtzs tree-kangaroo species, the animal named Nelson was filmed eating treats while sitting on the shoulder of Paul Webster on May 22. They are bloody good, arent they, Webster can be heard saying after the tree kangaroo uses its claws to prompt for one of the snacks. Webster told Storyful, Nelson is the only known tree kangaroo that has demonstrated this level of intelligence and development [at the facility]. He is an orphan whose mother was killed by a vehicle strike. According to WWF (World Wildlife Fund), Tree kangaroos live in lowland and mountainous rainforests in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the far north of Queensland, Australia. Credit: Paul Webster via Storyful The premier of the Canary Islands, Angel Victor Torres, during Sundays video conference with his regional counterparts and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. During his weekly video conference with Spains regional premiers, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Sunday that the country will reopen its borders with all European Union and Schengen-area countries on June 21. The exception will be Portugal, which will have to wait until July 1 on the request of the Portuguese government. Spains King Felipe VI and the president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, will hold a ceremony on that day to reopen the Spain-Portugal border. Government sources confirmed on Sunday evening that despite having left the bloc earlier this year, the United Kingdom is still considered an EU member state given that it is in a transition period and enjoys full membership rights. This means that UK travelers will also be able to enter Spain from June 21. Speaking to UK daily The Telegraph, a government source warned, however, that this does not mean that there may not be another change if the epidemiological situation in Britain requires this. On Monday, the British Embassy in Spain sent out a tweet also confirming that the UK was included in the group of countries to whom these border relaxations will apply. Borders were closed by the Spanish government under the state of alarm, which was implemented on March 14 in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The state of alarm will also end on June 21, meaning that residents in the country will be able to travel freely once more throughout the territory. Spain implemented one of the strictest coronavirus lockdowns in the world, and most residents are still limited to their province or territorial unit under the governments ongoing deescalation plan. From June 21, travelers arriving in the country will no longer be required to stay in quarantine for two weeks Travelers from outside the European Union and the Schengen free-travel area will be permitted to enter Spain from July 1, the prime minister explained, provided there is a reciprocal agreement on travel and taking into account the epidemiological situation in the country of origin, among other factors. Sanchez expressed particular concern at Sundays meeting about the situation regarding the pandemic in the American continent and in countries such as Russia. In a tweet published on Sunday afternoon, Spains Foreign Affairs Minister Arancha Gonzalez also confirmed that both EU states and Schengen area countries would see borders with Spain reopened from June 21. Sanchez told the regional chiefs on Sunday that from June 21, travelers arriving in the country will no longer be required to stay in quarantine for two weeks. The prime minister also reported that in the last week, a total of 27 coronavirus-related deaths have been registered according to Health Ministry data, with 235 new infections detected in the last 24 hours. The prime minister announced to the regional premiers that Sundays would be the last of the weekly video calls that have been taking place every Sunday since the coronavirus crisis began. He added that their next meeting would be toward the end of July, and would be in person. English version by Simon Hunter. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for harsher laws to tackle so-called "honor killings" after the particularly shocking slaying of a teenage girl, allegedly by her father, prompted a nationwide outcry. Rouhani on May 27 pushed for the speedy adoption of relevant bills, some which have apparently circulated for years among various Iranian decision-making bodies without any tangible results. The call comes after 13-year-old Romina Ashrafi was killed last week in Hovigh, some 320 kilometers northwest of Tehran. Local media reported that the teenager was beheaded while she slept by her father, who used a farming sickle. The father, Reza Ashrafi, was said to be enraged after Romina fled the family home to marry a 35-year-old man she loved. Both of their families complained to the authorities, and security forces detained Romina and her boyfriend, Bahamn Khavari, following a five-day hunt. Although Romina reportedly told police she would be in danger at home and feared for her life, the girl was handed over to her father as required by Iranian laws. After the killing, the father allegedly turned himself in to police and confessed to the crime. Hovigh district Governor Kazem Razmi said the man was in custody, charged with murder. He said the investigation into the case was still under way. Meanwhile, the vice president for women's affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, was quoted as announcing a special order from Rouhani to investigate the killing. Under current law, her father faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years if convicted. According to the Islamic Penal Code, he was Romina's guardian, so he is exempt from retaliation in kind, meaning the death penalty in this case. Iranian media occasionally report on cases related to honor killings carried out by relatives, usually male family members, when the actions of women and girls are perceived as violating conservative traditions on love, marriage, and public behavior. It is not known how many women and girls die from such killings. In 2014, a Tehran police official reported that 20 percent of all murders in the country were honor killings. Romina's boyfriend apparently faces no penalty since under Irans laws, girls can marry after the age of 13, though the average age of marriage for Iranian women is 23. With reporting by AP and IRNA New Delhi, June 16 : India on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for abducting and torturing two of its high commission officials in egregious violation of international conventions on diplomatic relations and bilateral treaties signed by the two countries. Two Indian High Commission staffers in Pakistan were forcibly kidnapped and held captive by Pakistani security agencies and released only after an illegal custody for more than 10 hours on Monday. The officials were released only after strong intervention by the High Commission of India in Islamabad and the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi. In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the government said that Pakistani security agencies had interrogated, tortured and physically assaulted the two Indian officials, causing them grievous injuries. The officials were video-graphed and coerced to accept a litany of fictitious allegations and concocted charges, the government said, adding that the vehicle of the High Commission, in which they were travelling, was extensively damaged. "This premeditated, grave and provocative action on the part of the Pakistani authorities, preceded by intensified surveillance, harassment and intimidation of High Commission personnel over the past several days, was designed to obstruct and disrupt the normal functioning of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. The attempt by Pakistani authorities to levy false accusations and concocted charges on the officials of the High Commission is rejected in entirety," the government said. These actions by Pakistan, the government said, constitute an egregious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 as also the 'Code of Conduct for treatment of Diplomatic or Consular personnel in India and Pakistan' signed in 1992 and reaffirmed by both sides in March 2018. Such actions were also against all established norms and practices of diplomatic conduct, the statement said. The government also summoned the Charge d' Affaires (CDA) of the High Commission of Pakistan, Haider Shah, on Tuesday to lodge a strong protest against the abduction and torture of the two officials in Islamabad by Pakistani security agencies. New Delhi also strongly condemned and deplored the action of the Pakistani authorities. New Delhi conveyed its grave concerns to the CDA about the fact that the Pakistan agencies threatened to physically harm more officials of the Indian Mission. The government told the CDA that Pakistan is responsible for the safety and security of the Indian High Commission, its officials, staff members, their families and properties. "Such continued unilateral actions by Pakistan, aimed at escalating tensions, will not succeed in diverting attention from the core issue of Pakistan's continued hostile activities and sponsorship of cross-border terrorism against India," the statement said. A 13-year-old boy caught an 11-foot, 6-inch, nearly 900-pound tiger shark during a recent 36-hour offshore trip in Port Aransas, according to an employee from the charter boating company the teenager was on. The 13-year-old is from Weatherford, which is about 29 miles west of Fort Worth Stacy Springer, an employee with Dolphin Dock Deep Sea Fishing, told mySA.com the large tiger shark was reeled in by the young angler, Micah Harless, and his father Robbie during their 36-hour trip that ended Monday morning. The charter boat had around 14 people on board, she said. Indigenous Artists Use Technology to Tell Stories About Their Ancestral Lands These five art projects explore the impact of climate change using VR and other mediums. YES! Magazine Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun does not use email or text. In the Coastal Salish communities from which he hails, he has been known as a painter and a dancer since the 1980s. Yet, he has been exploring the virtual reality renaissancethe technology that allows you to figuratively step into a computer-generated 3D worldsince it made its soft debut in the 90s. In 2019, Yuxweluptun fell in with Paisley Smith, a filmmaker and virtual reality director who, like Yuxweluptun, comes from the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, in what is today known as British Columbia. Together, they created, an immersive and provocative virtual reality experience that drops the viewer into a world designed in Yuxweluptuns style. Surrounded by his 80s-style visuals, you are then encouraged to design the world as you want by throwing oil paint onto the screen with abandon. Only once youve reached the end of the virtual adventure do you realize the running oil has left a trail of destruction in its wake, and that there is no turning back from this changed environment. By combining Smiths virtual reality filmmaking with the 80s-style visuals of Yuxweluptuns paintings, Unceded Territories explores the intersection of environmentalism and Indigenous rights. It is just one example of the many ways Indigenous artists across the Americas are engaging technology and other works to draw attention to their culture and the environmental challenges confronting their communities, which are on the front line of climate change. How do I teach people to love the land? asks Yuxweluptun, whose paintings tell stories about Indigenous human rights and climate change. You cant use my story and blame me for that. You cant blame me for global warming. In the past, establishments outside of Indigenous communities rarely took note. Now, with social media, awareness is no longer limited to those directly affected, he says. Virtual reality, Yuxweluptun says, is another medium for someone like him to express his ideas in more ways than just on a one-dimensional canvas. Not everybody can do it, because you have to be able to think in a certain way, he says. Its a different way, other than painting or making a sculpture. Here are the stories of four other groups of Indigenous artists using technology and art to tell their communities stories. The Condor and The Eagle Bryan Parras has been working in radio in the Houston market since the early 2000s and, as time passed, saw how social media made storytelling more accessible to everyoneincluding those in marginalized communities. In 2014, Parras met a European couple, Sophie and Clement Guerra, who had come to the United States to support the climate movement and who quickly became entangled in the Indigenous movement as well. Eventually, they began work on The Condor and The Eagle, an independent documentary about four Indigenous leaders on a transcontinental adventure. Journeying from the Canadian plains, through the U.S and deep into the heart of the Amazonian jungle, they battled Big Energy while working to unite the peoples of North and South America and deepen the meaning of Climate Justice. Parras, himself of mixed Indigenous descent, is no stranger to filmmakers and reporters who come into Indigenous communities to observe, but without getting their actual input. Its another form of extraction, right? Cultural extraction, he says. Its why Parras, was the documentarys campaign producer, acted as a bridge between the filmmakers and his community, so that Indigenous communities portrayed in the film would be included in the editing process as well. What may not be written in the history books are now archived in this story, he said. Since its premiere at the Woodstock Film Festival in October 2019, The Condor and the Eagle has been selected by more than 50 film festivals and won 12 awards . The most notable one is Best Environmental Documentary at the 2019 Red Nation International Film Festival in Beverly Hills, California. Wenazii Kegoke; See Visions Casey Koyczan is Tlicho Dene from the Northwest Territories of Canada. When he collaborates on virtual reality exhibits, he brings what he calls a Northern aestheticvisuals of the remote landscape of the Northwest Territories of Canada. His latest project is, a three-chapter virtual reality experience that takes you into a dreamlike interpretation of encounters with animal spirits of the North. See Visions uses stark colors to evoke the feeling of walking through the snow under an aurora borealis. Koyczan considers the animals depicted in this atmosphere-heavy video to be its most important features. Its all about being involved in the North, he says. It reinforces the subtle notion that we are on their territory. See Visions debuted in a prototype version in 2019 at the annual ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival in Toronto, a global hub for Indigenous-made media art. Koyczan and his partner on the project, Travis Mercredi, are now developing it for length and interactivity. Its the kind of work ImagineNATIVE envisioned when it began featuring virtual reality projects in 2017, with the idea of depicting the world for Indigenous communities 150 years into the future. The idea, Koyczan says, is that although their current reality is not ideal, Indigenous communities will survive. Thriving in this society hasnt been laid out yet, Koyczan said. Its really cool to depict these things. How things could be. Although he studied fine arts in college, Koyczan decided he preferred shaping things with his hands. He often builds installations that allow him to project each of his projects from his laptopcreating a physical aspect for further immersion. He also creates the music for his projects, playing several instruments in a style he calls electro-rock. About his and Mercredis work, Koyczan says, We feel its providing accessibility and insight into a portion of our landscape and aesthetic as new media artists. Dundas West Museum: Three Sisters Mural Production Three Sisters In 2019, the Dundas West Art Museum in Toronto hosted an art exchange that allowed one Canadian artist to travel to Chile to paint a mural, while Chilean artist, Paula Tikay, went to paint in Canada. At the end of [painting] a mural, one leaves and leaves [their] work for the people who transit those places, says Tikay, who is Mapuche, the largest Indigenous group in Chile. They are like small messages that can identify and rescue stories from places. They are like gifts that appear for the inhabitants of that space. Dundas West Art Museum is Torontos first open-air street art museum . The neighborhood of Dundas West has long been connected with Chile since Chileans began moving there as refugees of Augusto Pinochets dictatorship in the 1970s. Tikays contribution to the museum is a Three Sisters mural, depicting three Indigenous women who represent the three main agricultural crops of Indigenous groups in the Americas. Three Sisters is the name given to climbing beans, maize, and squash that are/were grown together in an agricultural strategy called companion planting. Its a historical reminder that European settlers learned to plant crops on American soil from its Indigenous people. Tikay calls it an honor to use her art to remind people of that, especially because it was also practiced in her ancestral southern Chile. My Louisiana Love The Houma Nation sits on the Mississippi Delta; the wetlands there were struck by both Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the BP oil spill five years later. These disasters, both natural and manmade, slowly chip away at the way of life of the Houma people, making them less able to hunt, trap, and fish. In 2015, Monique Verdin co-produced the documentary,which traces her journey back to her home in the Houma nation and focuses on her communitys struggle with decades of environmental degradation. Vision Maker Media: My Lousiana Love Trailer It has recently been made available on PBS again. Verdin herself expressed surprise at its rerelease. I didnt think it would be relevant at the time, she says, but its even more relevant now. In telling this larger social and economic story, Verdin makes the film semi-autobiographical by displaying her and her familys struggles, which include the death of her father. With my father gone, she says in the narration, I had lost another piece of my Louisiana. She is working to address some of the issues highlighted in the documentary. She is part of Another Gulf is Possible , a grassroots collaborative, led by women of color, that is doing resistance work against corporations searching for oil in the region while reviving Indigenous methods of living off the land sustainably. Demi Guo is an NYC journalist with bylines in WNPR and National Geographic.Note: This article originally appeared on YES! Magazine . It is published under a Creative Commons license Join the Conversation UPDATE (6/17): Pa. coronavirus cases near 80K, deaths reach 6.3K. But rates continue to slow. Pennsylvania is probably two days away from reaching 80,000 cases of COVID-19, if current case rates hold steady. As of Tuesday, Pennsylvania coronavirus cases totaled 79,483, an increase of 362 from the prior day, according to the daily report from the state health department. Thirty-three more deaths pushed the Pennsylvanias COVID-19 death toll to 6,276. (Cant see the map? Click here.) Meanwhile, U.S. retail sales saw a record 17.7% rebound in May, though it has not completely made up for previous months pandemic plunges. Locally, case rates in the Lehigh Valley remain steady and low, and a Warren County gym has found a creative way to reopen. Here are your Pennsylvania coronavirus updates for June 16, 2020. Coronavirus in Pa. The rate of new coronavirus cases statewide continues to decline, even during Pennsylvanias gradual reopening. The current seven-day average of new cases is comparable to early March, and trending fairly steadily, if slowly, downward. State health officials credit the gradual lifting of restrictions and residents continued use of masks and social distancing for the progress. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) About two dozen other states have reported spikes in coronavirus infections this month, according to Johns Hopkins University and media reports. In Pennsylvania, the majority of hospitalizations and deaths have been in residents 65 and older, according to the state health department. As of Tuesday, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities account for 16,720 cases 21% of the states total case count and 4,279 deaths, or 68% of Pennsylvanias COVID-19 death toll. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Of Pennsylvanias 79,483 cases, 6,033, or 7.5%, have been in health care workers. The health department estimates 75% of coronavirus patients statewide have recovered. At least 523,609 tests have come back negative. Coronavirus in the Lehigh Valley As of Tuesday, Lehigh County and Northampton County combined for 7,223 cases, according to state-level figures. Twenty new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. Both counties are averaging just over 10 new cases a day over the last seven days, their lowest case rates since late March. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Meanwhile, the state has reported 515 coronavirus deaths in the Lehigh Valley, three of them in the last day. (The Lehigh Valleys two coroners have reported at least 522 local deaths from COVID-19, according to figures released in the last several days. There is often a reporting lag in death data.) The state also reported new deaths in two nearby counties: (Cant see the table? Click here.) Retail sales record rebound U.S. retail sales jumped by a record 17.7% from April to May, a partial rebound from previous months of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Associated Press, which cited a government report released Tuesday. Mays rebound was likely aided by the $3 trillion in rescue money that the federal government has provided to companies and households. Retail sales would need to surge by an additional 9% to return to their level before the pandemic. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Any sustained recovery will hinge on an array of factors: The path of the coronavirus, how willing consumers are to shop, travel and congregate in groups, how many businesses manage to stay open and rehire many workers and whether the government provides additional support. Local gym reopens by moving outside A New Jersey gym near the Lehigh Valley has found a creative way to reopen. It just moved outside. Members of Gibson's Fitness Center in the Warren County borough of Washington can now use a makeshift outdoor fitness center, which opened Monday. Back in May, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order allowing for fitness classes to be held outside. And now that up to 100 people can gather outdoors, gym owner Kevin Hopkins came up with this plan in hopes of getting his business rolling again. Its not inside but you know, were going to do the best we can and make it worthwhile, Hopkins told lehighvalleylive.com. Signage is clearly displayed at the entrance to the Gibson's Fitness Center's outdoor "fitness center," in Washington. Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Uttar Pradesh cabinet headed by chief minister Yogi Adityanath has approved the setting up of a commission to safeguard the interests of workers amid the huge migrant exodus to the state after clamping of nationwide lockdown following the coronavirus outbreak in March this year, according to a PTI report. The proposal to set up the commission towards the end of May had generated political heat following Yogi Adityanaths suggestion that the migrant labourers from the state were ill-treated in other states, which, he said may have to procure permission from UP to hire native workers in future. This had led to a sharp reaction from Maharashtra NavNirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who said Maharashtra, too, in that case should place restrictions on entry of workers from UP. Yogi Adityanath government had instructed officials to thrash out the contours of the commission on a war footing to ensure that the huge migrant workforce could be provided employment in the state and their interests safeguarded with an effective regulatory framework. For Coronavirus Live Updates The commission has been named UP Kamgar Shramik Sewayojan Avam Rozgar Ayog and it will be headed by chief minister Yogi Adityanath as its chairman and will also include two vice-chairpersons, state minister Siddhartnath Singh was quoted as saying by the agency. Close to 30 lakh migrant labourers have returned to UP after losing livelihoods during the lockdown. The state government is also busy carrying out an exercise for their skill mapping. An official spokesman had recently said that the skill suggested that the largest number of migrant workers have come from the real estate development sector. On June 5, Yogi Adityanath had said that around 42 lakh people were already absorbed in the state through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and others were getting enlisted for several construction projects that have resumed in the state. Also Read: As migrants return slows down, Covid-19 cases decline in Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and MP A comprehensive project has been prepared by the state. Skill mapping of all migrants is being done including other youth and unemployed workforce. We are working together with industries, businesses to provide them jobs. Additionally, there is a bid to increase employment in other sectors like agriculture. Adityanath said while speaking exclusively to Shashi Shekhar, the chief editor of Hindi daily Hindustan. He added that his government was committed to providing good healthcare and means of sustenance to all migrant workers apart from providing them with appropriate jobs. He added that the new commission will bring ministers, worker representatives and industry people on one platform with one common goal. He said the government was looking at the MSME sector and the allied agriculture sector as major potential employment providers. Mysuru : , June 16 (IANS) Devotees would not be allowed into the famous Hindu temple atop the Chamundi hills in Karnataka's Mysuru on Fridays of Hindu calendar month 'Ashada', beginning June 22, to prevent crowding amid the Covid-induced lockdown, a top official said on Tuesday. "As thousands of devotees throng the Chamundeshwari temple atop the hill during the auspicious month of Ashada, especially on Fridays and the weekends, we have decided to ban their entry to prevent crowding and avoid getting infected by the virus," Mysuru Deputy Commissioner Abhiram Shankar told IANS here. Mysuru, the southern state's cultural capital and popular tourist spot, is about 150km southwest of Bengaluru. The temple on the city's outskirts, however, will be open for devotees from Monday to Thursday, as per the extended lockdown guidelines. Devotees must wear mask, maintain physical distance and not bring holy water to sprinkle or offer prasadam to the presiding deity. "Since the temple was re-opened on June 8 under unlock 1.0 after remaining shut for 75 days since March 25 due to the extended lockdown, about 2,000-6,000 devotees, including women and children, have been visiting it daily as per the guidelines," Shankar said. The ban will also apply on July 13, though a Monday, which marks the birthday of the goddess, which is celebrated as Chamundi Varadanthi Utsav (fest). "The temple's priests will be allowed to conduct rituals and other activities from Friday to Sunday as on other four days of a week till Ashada ends on July 20," said Shankar. Admitting that it's the first time due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown that the district administration was forced to enforce the ban on three days of a week till Ashada ends, Shankar said the area around the temple was small and the passage to it through the hill was narrow to allow so many people gather at a time. "As per the guidelines to all religious places of worship, large congregations or gatherings are not allowed to ensure social distancing. Even community feeding is banned," said Shankar. The administration has deployed additional police personnel from the foothills to the temple to regulate the movement of devotees and their vehicles. The priests have also been advised to convey to the devotees to visit the temple on any day from Monday to Thursday due to the ban from Friday to Sunday. According to temple chief priest Shahishekar Dixit, special poojas are conducted on Fridays of Ashada to invoke the goddess of power, as Chamundi is an incarnation of goddesses Durga and Lakshmi, to fulfill the wishes of devotees, as mentioned in the Skanda Purana (epic). "We have been able to contain the virus spread by taking preventive measures and strictly enforcing the lockdown guidelines," asserted Shankar. Of the 118 positive cases across the southern district till date, 14 are active, 104 have been cured and discharged, while not a single death occurred since the outbreak of the virus in mid-March. District minister S.T. Somashekar, Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha, the temple administration board and local officials met earlier in the day and decided to ban the entry of devotees from Friday to Sunday during Ashada. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took a jibe at the BJP-run government in Gujarat and said that the high mortality rate due to COVID-19 has exposed the state's model for disease control. "Covid19 mortality rate: Gujarat: 6.25% Maharashtra: 3.73% Rajasthan: 2.32% Punjab: 2.17% Puducherry: 1.98% Jharkhand: 0.5% Chhattisgarh: 0.35% Gujarat Model exposed," Gandhi wrote on Twitter, quoting a news report. Meanwhile, Gujarat has the fourth-highest COVID-19 cases in India. The state saw its total death toll cross the 1,500-mark to reach 1,505 on Tuesday morning, taking the case tally to 24,055. Though the number of positive cases being detected from the state's worst-hit Ahmedabad are gradually coming down, the cases are still spiraling, at an average of 488 cases daily. Australia's pubs have started to run out of draught beer after a ransomware attack caused a major brewery to shut down. The West End Brewery in Thebarton in Adelaide was forced to temporarily stop beer production on June 9 after parent company Lion Australia suffered a cyber attack. After a week with no product from the brewery, numerous pubs in the Adelaide area have recorded a shortage in beer kegs. Publican Sam Ferguson from the Southwark Hotel at Thebarton told The Advertiser his taps have run dry. 'All our taps are completely empty,' he said. The Southwark Hotel in Thebarton (pictured) is completely out of draught beer after the West End Brewery was forced to close Mr Ferguson ordered nine kegs and only received three in his last delivery, forcing him to move his customers onto bottled beer. '(There's) no Iron Jack on tap. No Boag's Premium deliveries. No Heineken deliveries. You can't get draught beer,' he said. Lion Australia produces several popular beers including XXXX Gold, Hahn, Tooheys and James Boag's, with disruptions from the cyber attack to be seen across the country. Australian Hotels Association SA general manager Ian Horne said all licensed venues will be impacted through stock shortages. 'Certainly every hotel would be impacted to a greater or lesser extent but they're working through it,' he said. Lion Australia shut down its IT operations following the attack on Tuesday and said there is no evidence personal information from their system has been impacted. Publican Sam Ferguson from the Southwark Hotel (pictured) has been forced to move his customers onto packaged beer The brewers released a statement outlining their progress on Monday. 'Our investigations have shown that a partial IT system outage at Lion is a result of a ransomware attack,' the statement reads. 'In response, we immediately shut down key systems as a precaution. 'Our IT teams and expert cyber advisors have continued working throughout the weekend to investigate this incident, working to bring systems back online safely. 'We have made good progress, however there is still some way to go before we can resume our normal manufacturing operations and customer service. 'Across our Australian and New Zealand adult beverages businesses, we continue to have limited visibility of our products in our systems. 'We're working to bring our breweries back online as soon as possible, hoping to get a number of our breweries back up and running very soon. The West End Brewery (pictured) ceased beer production on June 9 after parent company Lion Australia suffered a cyber attack 'We apologise to our consumers and customers, especially those who are only just getting their own venues back up and running following COVID-19 closures. 'We thank them for their patience as we do everything we can to get back to normal supply levels. 'While our systems are offline, we have worked very hard to be able to supply a limited number of key products to our customers. 'We will continue to accept and fulfill orders as best we can, using interim manual processes where we need to.' Most pubs across Australia only reopened in the last two weeks when coronavirus restrictions were eased to allow 50 customers at a time. Ilhan Omar's father died Monday from COVID-19 complications, the congresswoman has announced. Nur Omar Mohamed, 67, had been in a coma in Hennepin Medical Center for the past eight days. Ilhans elder sister Sahra had flown in from Kenya to be at his side. He was said to have banned the congresswoman from his bedside amid a furious argument father and daughter have been having over her affair and marriage to her campaign fundraiser. Paying tribute Omar said: 'It is with tremendous sadness and pain that I share that my father, Nur Omar Mohamed, passed away today due to complications from COVID-19. 'No words can describe what he meant to me and all who knew him. My family and I ask for your respect and privacy during this time.' One friend of the family had earlier told DailyMail.com: He told the family he did not want Ilhan near him and wanted Sahra to be in charge of everything. The source said Mohamed who is also known as Nur Said Elmi and Omar have not been speaking in recent months since DailyMail.com posted pictures of her and her new husband Tim Mynett with his hand on her rear. He thought that was very demeaning that she should be walking around in public like that, said the source. They have hardly spoken in three months. He has been very angry about the shame his daughter brought upon him and the family for having an affair while married.' Ilhan Omar's father died Monday from COVID-19 complications, the congresswoman has announced. She shared this picture with her father as she made the announcement Paying tribute Omar said: 'It is with tremendous sadness and pain that I share that my father, Nur Omar Mohamed, passed away today due to complications from COVID-19' The source said Mohamed and his congresswoman daughter have not been speaking in recent months since DailyMail.com posted pictures of her and her new husband Tim Mynett with his hand on her rear Mohamed was being treated at the Hennepin Medical Center in Minneapolis Soon after DailyMail.com initially reported the rift, Omar put a picture on Instagram of herself, Mynett and her father happily smiling at the Iftar. Omars spokesman Jeremy Slevin denied that he and his daughter were on the outs. They talk regularly and recently had Iftar together, he said, referring to the after-sunset meal that Muslims eat during Ramadan. Omar, who is facing a tough Democratic Party primary to hold on to her Minneapolis-based seat, married Mynett, her chief fundraiser in March. Nur Mohamed moved to the United States with Sahra and Ilhan in 1995 after spending more than four years in a camp for Somali refugees in Kenya. Other siblings who could not get permission to come to America went to Britain. In the congresswomen's book, This Is What America Looks Like, Ilhan alternates between saying her father was strict and that he was liberal The family moved first to Alexandria, Virginia, before settling in Minneapolis where Mohamed worked first as a taxi driver and then for the United States Postal Service. Ilhan's mother had died when she was just two years old. His background in Somalia has always been clouded. Ilhan's Wikipedia page says he was a teacher, but others have claimed he was the propaganda minister for the repressive government of dictator Said Barre, and as such he should have been barred from moving to the United States. He had seven children Ilhan is the youngest. In 2009 she married British subject Ahmed Elmi, who some have said was Mohamed's son and so her brother. The marriage allowed him to get an education at North Dakota State University. In her memoir published this year, Ilhan Omar said she had a 'Britney Spears-style meltdown, shaving off her hair and eloping with Elmi, who she hardly knew. In the book, This Is What America Looks Like, Ilhan alternates between saying her father was strict and that he was liberal. She said she sometimes wished he had been tougher with her when she was a child, saying he and her grandfather 'were annoyingly accommodating to each person's opinion.' But she said he got upset with her during her teenage years if her clothes showed too much skin. Ilhan's father is pictured at her swearing in ceremony with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Ilhan's elder sister Sahra (pictured) flew in from Kenya to be at their father's side Nur Mohamed moved to the United States with Sahra and Ilhan in 1995 after spending more than four years in a camp for Somali refugees in Kenya 'He wouldn't have been fixated on the fact that a shirt didn't cover up my chest enough but rather on the fact that he had failed to teach me that my value as a human wasn't based on the extent of my body that I had on display. 'He would have blamed himself for not giving me enough self-esteem, resources, or love,' she wrote. But in another part of the memoir This Is What America Looks Like, she said he was stern. 'Although most other kids my age went to clubs, I never wentnot because I would be tempted to drink. No, I worried about there being a shooting or a fire and getting stuck or dying inside and my father's having to live with the fact that I had been in a club. 'My friends joked that I was more afraid of my father than I was afraid of God. ''God is forgiving,'' I would say. 'My father isn't.' Omar, who is facing a tough Democratic Party primary to hold on to her Minneapolis-based seat, married Mynett, her chief fundraiser in March Ilhan Omar's father Nur Omar Mohamed, 67, has been in a coma in Hennepin Medical Center for the past eight days suffering from COVID-19 'My father raised me with a strict morality, not strict rules. He never said I needed to be home by a certain time, but he would have been angry if I came home late because I was at a party with my friends. 'He never once said to me, ''You can't leave the house unless you wear a hijab.'' 'A lot of the Muslim girls I went to school with would change their clothing as soon as they were out of their parents' housethe skirts got shorter as they got closer to school. 'This was a time when jeans with cutouts were popular. I told my dad I wanted a pair, and he went out and bought them for me. When I left the house, my friends, who put their cutout jeans on only when they were out of sight of their parents, were shocked. 'You're the devil's child,' one said. Born in 1941 in Argentina, of Argentine and Swiss parentage, Martha Argerich ranks as one of the great pianists of the era. She began her piano studies at age 3 and performed her first concert at age 8; it was all uphill after that. She went on to win numerous international competitions and awards and embarked on a remarkable performing and recording career. Some of the major composers whose works she has performed and recorded over the years include Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Liszt, Schumann, and Prokofiev. Ranking among her finest achievements is a recording of the Chopin Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Opus 11, in which she displays her multiple pianistic gifts. Needless to say, her technique is impeccable, her clarity phenomenal. Each note is distinct, whether executed in a lightning-fast run or in an almost-vibrating trill. Such is often not the case, even with some major players. Her attack is powerful; one critic has remarked that when he first heard her play, without seeing her, he assumed that it was a man playing, as there was such force in her sound. And on seeing her, as I did recently via YouTube, walking onstage demurely, her longer-than-shoulder-length mane of gray hair flowing behind her, I was not prepared for the powerhouse performance I was about to hear. A brilliant interpretation is apparently second nature to her. Her fingers skim seemingly effortlessly over the keyboard, as she segues from a delicate legato to a fiery and impassioned ferocity. Her tone resounds as if of spun gold. In physical appearance, she exudes a powerful presence yet is wholly feminine. However, camera closeups of her hands and arms suggest something more: Although her hands seem unremarkable in appearance, her forearms (just partially revealed beyond her near-wrist-length sleeves) are well-developed and somewhat muscularfrom decades of practice and performing. She has repeatedly said, according to the Independent: I love very much to play the piano. But I dont like to be a pianist. Because she has chosen to avoid the press and publicity, she has been out of the limelight for most of her career. She has eschewed solo performing in favor of her preferred soloist-with-orchestra work, having remarked that she felt lonely when alone onstage. Numerous recordings exist of her various achievements, including several of the Chopin Concerto No. 1 in E Minor. One such notable disc has her performing this work with the Symphony Orchestra of Montreal with conductor Charles Dutoit (Argerichs then-husband) at the podium. This recording also includes her performance of the Chopin Concerto No. 2. Martha Argerich performing with the Symphony Orchestra of Montreal, conducted by Charle Dutoit, her husband at the time. When at age 75, she performed the Liszt Concerto No. 1 with the West-East Divan Orchestra (Proms project) under the baton of Daniel Barenboim, The Guardian wrote: It was an unforgettable experience. Just last year, at age 78, when she performed the Tchaikovsky First Concerto, again with the East-West Divan orchestra, The Guardian wrote that her performance bristled with intensity and intent from the first bar. Conductor Daniel Barenboim was again at the podium. Music remains at the center of her life. She serves as president of honor of the International Piano Academy Lake Como (Italy), and with the Argerich Music Festival in Beppu, Japan. Fortunately, her pianistic genius has been preserved via numerous recordings and the magic of YouTube. Diana Barth writes for several theater publications, including New Millennium. She may be contacted at diabarth99@gmail.com A new Irish film set in Kildare and directed by a Newbridge native is getting rave reviews after becoming available on Amazon Prime in recent days. Dating Amber is the story of Eddie and Amber, both secondary school students who are gay. They decide to fake a relationship to withstand the taunts of schoolmates. Directed by David Freyne, who grew up in Newbridge, the film stars Fionn O'Shea as Eddie and Lola Petticrew as Amber. The cast includes well known actors such as comic Sharon Horgan, Barry Ward and Ian O'Reilly. Another local interest is promising actor Evan O'Conner, who plays the scene-stealing younger brother of Eddie. Evan is currently a student in Newbridge College but has been hailed as a "great talent" by Freyne. The movie features many scenes of Kildare such as the sweeping Curragh Plains. Freyne described the film as a "love letter to Kildare, growing up and coming of age". Freyne, who grew up in The Village off the Green Road in Newbridge, said: "We were incredibly lucky to get access to both the Curragh plains and the barracks. "The film is set there so the thought of having to recreate it somewhere else would have been terrible. "And I truly think the Curragh is a hidden jewel in Ireland's crown. The vastness of it was made for cinema." Dating Amber several nostalgic cultural references such as Feile t-shirts and Oasis and Pulp songs in the soundtrack, The film also has political and social undercurrents relating to the legalising homosexuality in 1993 and the 1995 divorce referendum and its potential impact for Eddies warring parents. Freyne hopes that the movie will hit cinema screens and it's likely people that view it on Amazon Prime TVs or laptops may want the big screen experience. Speaking about a cinema date, he said: "Well with Covid19, it's hard to tell but hopefully in October. But to have the opportunity to make the film a Prime Original for people to enjoy now is just incredible. And the response has been so amazing so I can't imagine a better release." Dating Amber is director David Freynes latest offering since 2018s The Cured. Freyne, who is based in London, said he has been using the limitations of the Covid-19 lockdown to work his way new scripts. He explained: "Like most people I'm eating way too much and watching far too much news. "But I'm lucky to live near a forest for long dog walks. And I'm writing some new scripts. I count myself very lucky." Reviews The reviews have been warm and generous so far with Film Ireland saying that Freyne "has crafted a special film to be immensely proud of". The Irish independent said Dating Amber is one of the most touching and hilarious Irish films I've seen which RTE said that as a document of an already-bygone age Dating Amber will stand the test of time. The Irish Times said the young leading actors displayed perfectly aligned performances. Fionn OShea, who recently starred as Mariannes boyfriend Jamie in BBC Threes teen drama Normal People, takes on the role of Eddie. Fionn is also known for roles in Handsome Devil, Innocent and Roy. The cast, made up of young and experienced actors, works seamlessly and is the secret ingredient in the movie. Fionn OShea, who recently starred as Mariannes boyfriend Jamie in teen drama Normal People and is also known for roles in Handsome Devil, Innocent and Roy. Lola Petticrew (Amber) is best known for roles in A Bump Along the Way and My Left Nut. Barry Ward has recently been seen as Mike Collins in White Lines - the husband of Laura Haddocks character, Zoe. You may also know him from roles in Save Me, Britannia, The Capture and The Fall. Sharon Horgan is very well known former role in Catastrophe alongside Rob Delaney, This Way Up with Aisling Bea and Military Wives alongside Kristin Scott Thomas. Simone Kirby who plays Jill has been seen in Peaky Blinders, Resistance and Rebellion. Dating Amber is Freyne's first feature film since The Cued in 2017. That film starred Rory Dungan, Rachel O'Kane, Ellen Page and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor. The film was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. Freyne told RTE that he really wanted to make a 'coming of age' film personal to him but it was difficult to secure funding for Dating Amber. He explained "I really wanted to make that kind of film that I wished I had growing up, something that has a hopeful message, a hopeful ending. It's ultimately about these two kids who end up becoming best friends and shaping who they are to become." "So we tried to make it a couple of years ago and kind of failed and then after a first feature it was easier, you get a lot of "nos particularly when dealing with gay characters and a lot of the nos you get is that its either too funny for a gay film - which you are actually told by financiers - or that we already have a gay film, which I think is a quota which is incredibly enraging." He said. Discussing what he was up against Freyne explained: "I think people are used to a gay film that has to be Oscar-baity with an A-list star playing gay and that's the worthy films that get made, if you want to make something that is a really mainstream, funny gay film. It's very, very tricky because there are just not many of them." The success of Dating Amber will surely open more doors for Freyne in the future. Amtrak is ending daily service to hundreds of stations outside the Northeast and blames the coronavirus pandemic, the railroad said this week. Starting Oct. 1, most Amtrak long-distance trains will operate three times a week, instead of daily, the company said in a memo to employees Monday. The carrier is also planning to enter fiscal year 2021 with reduced train frequencies in the Northeast Corridor, the busiest in its network, and on its state-funded routes, the company said. The downsized operations come as Amtrak prepares to cut up to 20% of its staff in response to the financial crisis left by the pandemic. Demand for service - and the company's revenue - plummeted to historic lows starting in mid-March as states implemented strict coronavirus lockdowns. "Congress is not going to support us indefinitely to run mostly empty trains," Roger Harris, Amtrak's executive vice president and chief marketing and revenue officer said in the memo to employees. "We need to demonstrate that we are using our resources efficiently and responsibly." Amtrak said last month that it needs nearly $1.5 billion in supplemental funding from the federal government to maintain "minimum service levels," anticipating that ridership will not recover to pre-pandemic levels in fiscal 2021. Even with the supplemental funding, the company said, it would need to cut service and personnel to stay afloat. Amtrak estimates that ridership in the next fiscal year may reach 16 million, or about 50% of pre-pandemic levels. Ridership was down 95% during the pandemic and the Northeast Corridor, which had several virus hot spots, was hit especially hard. Even as states begin to reopen, ridership remains down 90%. While the company's plan to slash long distance daily service was not a surprise, some rail advocates said Amtrak is wrong to reduce daily service to communities across the country, some places in which the train is the only transportation option. They said, those routes saw the smallest declines in ridership during the pandemic. According to Amtrak, demand for its long-distance service is down by 70%. "Let's be clear, this is penny-wise and pound-foolish," Jim Mathews, president and chief executive of the Rail Passengers Association said in a statement. "The long-distance services declined the least among Amtrak's three business lines during the coronavirus-induced slowdown, and its services remain essential to the hundreds of small communities across the United States with fewer options than Philadelphia or Boston or New York City." Mathews estimates that as many as 461 stations outside the Northeast Corridor will lose daily service. He said Amtrak could be "setting itself up for failure by losing operating slots on host railroads, losing employees it will need to restore service and possibly losing the rolling stock as well." The Long Distance service, which includes 15 routes, is Amtrak's least profitable. It also is the most dependent on government subsidies. But the routes also have a strong fan base of train aficionados who take to the tracks to travel across America and of people from parts of the country where airports are not easily accessible. The Auto Train, which travels from the Washington suburbs of Lorton, Va., to the Orlando, Fla., area, is the only long-distance route that will continue to operate daily, Amtrak said. According to the company, the Auto Train has remained strong, even during the pandemic, maintaining a loyal ridership of people who migrate between Florida and the Northeast between seasons. The New York-to-Miami Silver Meteor will run four times a week, so the stations it shares with the Silver Star are served daily, officials said. Amtrak's two existing triweekly trains - the Sunset Limited (New Orleans-Los Angeles) and the Cardinal (New York-Washington-Chicago) - will remain triweekly. The following routes will go from daily operations to three times a week: California Zephyr (Chicago to San Francisco), Capitol Limited (Washington to Chicago), City of New Orleans (Chicago to New Orleans), Coast Starlight (Seattle to Los Angeles), Crescent (New York City to New Orleans), Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle), Lake Shore Limited (New York to Chicago), Palmetto (New York to Savannah, Ga.), Silver Star (New York to Miami), Southwest Chief (Chicago to Los Angeles), and Texas Eagle (Chicago to San Antonio). Ross Capon, president emeritus of the Rail Passengers Association, said having less than daily service on the long-distance trains will end up costing Amtrak more in the long run. One reason, he said, is that the new schedules will not allow for good same-day connections. "This could be the last summer for reasonably scheduled long-distance trips," Capon said. Amtrak said plans are also to operate 32% less frequently in the Northeast and 24% less frequently for the state-supported service beginning Oct. 1. In a statement, Amtrak attributed the decision to operate at reduced capacity through fiscal 2021 to "the long-term impact of Covid-19 on ridership" and said "Our goal is to restore daily service on these routes as demand warrants, potentially by the summer of 2021." MBABANE - It may seem governments hands are tied with regard to forcefully sending a COVID-19 adult patient to a healthcare centre for professional assistance. This assessment comes after the demise of a COVID-19 patient who allegedly refused to be admitted to hospital or at a healthcare facility after being diagnosed positive for the virus. The 54-year-old woman from the Manzini Region was confirmed positive for coronavirus last Tuesday. The woman is alleged to have flatly refused to go to the hospital to the extent that the ambulance which was commissioned to fetch her from her home had to turn back. It is alleged that when the rapid response team tried contacting her, her mobile phone rang unanswered. The deceased woman was mildly symptomatic when she tested positive. The woman is said to have been tested after going to Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital to treat her flu-like symptoms. Confirmed The news of her demise was confirmed by the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, when giving updates on cases, on Sunday. Yesterday during a press conference at Cabinet Offices, Nkosi said it was unfortunate that they could not send a person to a health facility against their will. The only time we can forcefully take a person to hospital is when they are a minor, mentally unstable or are unconscious. Otherwise, it is their right to choose not to seek medical assistance, she said. When asked if the COVID-19 regulations, which stipulate that knowingly exposing others to the pandemic would be tantamount to attempted murder could be applied in this case, she said this case, which was a first in the country, was a delicate situation. It seemed like her decision was being supported, said Nkosi. Nkosi said such cases would arise if people who tested positive enter into shock. Refuse I doubt that religious beliefs made her refuse to be admitted to a health facility as she did have a record of going to the hospital. It must have been shock and a bit of denial, she opined. She said people needed to be educated that COVID-19 was just a virus which they could quickly recover from. In the meantime, the countrys renowned Human Rights Lawyer Sipho Gumedze said some rights were limited by others. People can have a right to freedom of choice to medical care but that right does not supersede the right of protecting the right to life of others, he said. He advised that should government experience similar cases in future, they should take the patient to hospital to protect the lives of others. Meanwhile, the minister pleaded with business owners to conform to COVID-19 regulations as they opened their businesses. The minister said this when welcoming the opening of businesses which had been closed for a while, including bottle stores and hairdressing salons. I had the opportunity to have a sit-down with hairdressers in Piggs Peak where they expressed their concern over the closure of their businesses. They said they were hungry and we are happy that they are now back in business and we hope they will protect their customers and themselves as they conduct business, said Nkosi. She said the Ministry of Health, municipalities and other bodies would be continually assessing if businesses adhered to COVID-19 regulations. With a state as large as Texas, not knowing the exact placement of cities is understandable, but San Antonio has never been a coastal city. CNN covered the shooting at Rebar that took place Friday. The shooting started when a group was refused entry because they were intoxicated. One of the men claimed he was a UFC fighter from California and went back to his car before returning with a long rifle. He shot eight people and fled the scene, according to San Antonio police. The network's morning program, "New Day," shared details of the incident Saturday. The coverage included a map of Texas to give viewers an idea of which part of the state they were referring to, but it may have led them in the wrong direction. San Antonio was placed on the coast, closer to where Corpus Christi is located. Viewers were quick to correct CNN on social media. "According to this @CNN graphic, it looks like San Antonio went to Corpus Christi for the weekend," a Twitter account for the journalism department at John Jay High School tweeted. This isn't the first time CNN has made a cartography flub. In 2016, CNN used a map with the similar positioning. Sites like MSN.com also hosted the CNN video with the mapping error. CNN isn't alone in confusing San Antonio on a national scale. Earlier this month, the New York Times referred to the South-Central region of Texas as the "the Alamo." See other times the national media botched the Texas map below. Advertisement The UK's oldest theme park has gone into administration in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic - a year before its celebrated its 100th birthday. The trust behind 99-year-old Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northants, has called in administrators to the leisure site, which first opened in 1921. Wicksteed Charitable Trust has blamed the financial strain of the Covid-19 pandemic which it said had resulted in 'months of uncertainty and difficulty'. The trust, which hopes to keep the free playgrounds and parkland open, is aiming to form a new smaller company with the aim of raising funds to re-open the park for its centenary. A total of 115 staff, 48 of which are permanent, have lost their jobs as a result of the move. The trust behind 99-year-old Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northants, has called in administrators to the leisure site, which first opened in 1921. Pictured: Visitors enjoy the swing ride at Wicksteed Park in 2019 Wicksteed Charitable Trust has blamed the financial strain of the Covid-19 pandemic which it said had resulted in 'months of uncertainty and difficulty'. Pictured: Visitors enjoy the carousel at Wicksteed Park The trust, which hopes to keep the free playgrounds and parkland open, is aiming to form a new smaller company with the aim of raising funds to re-open the park for its centenary. Pictured: Two young girls enjoy the Carousel at Wickstead Park in 2017 The new smaller company has been set up to try to raise funds to keep the park operating until next spring in time for its 100th birthday. Pictured: Children enjoy a slide at Wicksteed Park A total of 115 staff, 48 of which are permanent, have lost their jobs as a result of the move to put Wicksteed Park into administration Wicksteed Park was the brainchild of Charles Wicksteed, who was the son of a Unitarian minster and one of 21 children. It was set up in 1921. Here people enjoy a ride in 1923, two years after the park opened Oliver Wicksteed, chairman of the trust, said: 'We are all devastated by what has happened and the effect this will have on our staff, their families and our visitors. 'We fully appreciate the effect this decision will have on staff members who have already been through months of uncertainty and difficulty due to Covid-19 and we are working hard to ensure they have access to the support and advice they need at this time.' Wicksteed Park: Theme park in Kettering opened in 1921 with the worlds first slide and has a large lake dug by hand Wicksteed Park was the brainchild of Charles Wicksteed, who was the son of a Unitarian minster and one of 21 children. He set up a Charles Wicksteed & Co. Ltd in 1876, in Digby Street, Kettering, which produced tools and wooden toys. A keen inventor, in 1913 Charles bought a piece of land in Kettering meadowland with the intention of developing a model village. The large lake, a significant feature of the park, was dug by hand and steam ploughs in 1916. He wanted to create an open space and safe parkland for local families and opened the park in 1921. In 1922 what is thought to be the world's first slide was installed at the park. It was made from wooden planks. In 1922 what is thought to be the world's first slide was installed at the park. It was made from wooden planks. To celebrate the end of the First World War, his factory took some central heating pipes from its factory and used them to build swings for children, creating the first commercial playground. Its success led to the founding of Wicksteed Playscapes, the world's first playground manufacturing company, which is still operating supplying play equipment to 80 countries. On the death of Charles Wicksteed, the board of trustees was determined to continue his work and kept the children's playground as the largest free facility of its kind in Europe. The park's Water Chute, built in 1926 is the oldest working ride in the UK. The Wicksteed Park Railway is one of the most iconic features of the park today and ore than 15 million people have taken to its rails since it first opened in 1931. The park has added a host of new features in the past decade including a log flume, a zip wire experience, a climbing centre and soft play. It is also home to an annual firework's display, the local parkrun, the Crazy Hats Walk, and annual puddle jumping contest and an annual soap box derby. Last year, its pavilion also underwent a 2.5m renovation and is now an award-winning wedding venue. Advertisement The new smaller company has been set up to try to raise funds to keep the park operating until next spring in time for its 100th birthday. Local residents have also set up fundraisers to support the cause and one Justgiving page has raised over 1,500 in less than 24 hours. The trust said it will try to keep the free playgrounds and parkland open and the pavilion for forthcoming bookings, when government guidelines allow indoor events. Mr Wicksteed, who is the grandson of Charles Wicksteed, who opened the park 99 years ago, added: 'The new company, funded by the trust, is a much streamlined business aimed at getting the park through to next spring when it can hopefully start to re-open fully. 'But we need people's help, support and understanding in order to try and make that happen. 'The costs of the old business were crippling and could not be sustained with the huge loss of revenue already suffered this year. 'Even if park rides opened in July, the costs of social distancing measures and the reduced capacity at which the park would have had to operate, would have meant it was unlikely to be financially viable.' The park has struggled to make money in recent years as 400,000 out of 850,000 annual visits generate no income for the park because it is free to access. It has been closed since lockdown and was facing a summer without visitors paying for rides and attractions, events and reduced numbers paying for parking. The business had been left with no income for months apart from the small parking revenue which generated a loss of 820,000 in 2018/19. He added: 'Ultimately, Wicksteed Park is a private park which costs a great deal of money to maintain if we are to continue to open for people to use free of charge, as we have for the last 99 years. 'The Trust receives no regular external financial support or public funding unlike other national or council owned parks, but still makes a contribution to the local economy of at least 11 million each year.' Mr Wicksteed added that, apart from the furlough scheme, 'there has been no meaningful government support for charities such as ours'. He said: 'We now need people, not least the Government, to recognise all we have done for the many millions of people who need our park and our work supporting the community. 'If we want it to stay for many millions of people in the future to enjoy then we need to find a way to protect and preserve it. 'The sacrifices that people are having to make during the current crisis are extraordinary and in some ways Wicksteed Park and its future are nowhere near the top of people's priorities, as they become ill, lose loved-ones and struggle to make ends meet financially. 'But millions of people across the country and generations of families love Wicksteed Park and have scores of happy memories made here. 'It is a touchstone in their lives and a representation of the fun times they have had - and when the country comes out of the other side of this crisis, as it inevitably will, it will be one of the places that people will want to return to as a sign that normality has returned.' A letter sent to staff by accountancy firm Grant Thornton LLP on Monday (19/6) was titled 'Wicksteed Park Limited - In Administration'. It said: 'As discussed on our call today, the leisure park and events business of the Company has been critically impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak and has been unable to trade over its peak summer period. 'The financial impact of this lack of trading has led to the administration of the company.' The trust, which hopes to keep the free playgrounds and parkland open, is aiming to form a new smaller company with the aim of raising funds to re-open the park for its centenary. Pictured: The world's first slide recreated at Wicksteed Park Last year, the park introduced a witch's hat one of Britain's best-loved piece of playground equipment which disappeared from playgrounds 30 years ago over concerns it was too dangerous for children The original rides (such as this one pictured in an inner city playground in 1938) 'had a high risk of inflicting lethal injury', according to a 2011 report by the Children's Play Advisory Service In a statement, Wicksteed Park said: 'Wicksteed Park Ltd has been unable to avoid going into administration, with the loss of 48 permanent staff and 67 part-time and other jobs, due to the huge financial strain caused by the coronavirus outbreak. 'The decision to call in administrators comes after the government announced the closure of the hospitality and leisure industry, hitting seasonal businesses particularly hard.' Last year, the park introduced a witch's hat one of Britain's best-loved piece of playground equipment which disappeared from playgrounds 30 years ago over concerns it was too dangerous for children. A modified version of the ride which is correctly known as the ocean wave was installed at Wicksteed Park last year. The conical swing is balanced on a central pole which wobbles unpredictably. But whereas the original rides 'had a high risk of inflicting lethal injury' according to a 2011 report by the Children's Play Advisory Service the new version has a mechanism which keeps the ride spinning but prevents crushing into the pole. And in case a child should take a tumble, soft flooring was placed beneath the ride to cushion their fall. In 2016, a 90-year-old book written was unearthed, which contained illustrations of all of Charles Wicksteed's inventions including photographs of dozens of youngsters perched perilously on them. The book, first published in 1928 and was named a 'Plea for Children's Recreation after School Hours and after School Age', was discovered gathering dust in the park's archives, STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are asking for the publics help to locate a 37-year-old man who has been reported missing from Mariners Harbor. Jay Arungah was last seen on June 4 at about 8 p.m. inside his home on Birch Road, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Police described Arungah as black, standing about 511 tall and weighing about 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. ARCHIVED - Spain will re-open borders to EU member states from 21st June Residents of all EU member states and countries within the Schengen zone will be admitted The twists and turns of the Covid crisis continue and just hours after declaring that Spain was sticking to its guns and would NOT be opening its mainland borders to foreign tourists until July 1st, the Government has done a complete U-turn and made the surprise announcement on Sunday that it WILL be opening for foreign nationals from 21st June. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez made the announcement during the last of the weekly video conferences held with the presidents of the 17 autonomous regional Governments before the country moves into the new normality which also begins at midnight on 21st June (effectively 22nd June). Spain closed its borders on 14th March when the state of emergency was first decreed, enforcing a strict lockdown in a bid to further prevent the spread of Covid-10. Since then the Spanish resident population has been prohibited from moving internally between either provinces of the larger regions or between regions other than for essential purposes, flights into and out of the country fell to an absolute minimum with repatriation flights and essential movement only and those returning to Spain were subjected to a strict 14 day quarantine. From midnight on the 21st June free movement of Spanish residents around the country will resume and on Sunday the Prime Minister said that the borders would be re-opened for other EU member states and other nations within the Schengen Zone. At that point he made no specific mention of the UK, although the British media is reporting that sourceshave confirmed that the UK will be included within the permitted nations as although the UK will be officially leaving the EU from the end of December 2020, during the year the UK is still in a transition period. Later in the day Spanish foreign affairs minister, Arancha Gonzalez, confirmed on Twitter: Spain will open its borders with EU and Schengen-area countries as from 21 June, with the end of the state of alarm and end of quarantine. Travellers arriving in Spain will not be subjected to any quarantine requirement and will only undergo a cursory temperature check when arriving via air or sea and be requested to complete a Passenger Registration card giving contact details to permit contact tracing. No quarantine will be imposed. The only EU country excluded from this arrangement is Portugal. The Spanish-Portugese border is due to re-open on 1st July when a formal opening ceremony attended by the king and Prime Ministers of both countries will take place. From 1st July borders with third countries, outside of the Schengen area, will be opened in stages, depending on epidemiological situation in the specific countries. A list of countries from which Spain will accept visitoprs is to be prepared and published in the same way as has been the case in other EU nations recently. Its a very surprising move, as the Spanish Government has been so adamant that it would not be opening its mainland borders until 1st July, Salvador Illa, the Health Minister re-iterating on Friday that this was the case following intense pressure from the EU to harmonise the re-opening of borders between member states and reactivate tourism. The Prime Minister has been adamant that protecting the residents of Spain from external contagion has been, and remains, top priority, and there had certainly been very strong hints recently that the opening of borders would be gradual and controlled, only permitting residents of nations in a similar epidemiological situation to enter. Certainly the tourism minister had sewn considerable doubt about the possibility of UK tourists being allowed to come to Spain this summer given the high level of cases still being reported in the UK. What makes it even more surprising is the reaction of some of the regional presidents to the announcement on Friday that Galicia would be exercising its options to leave the state of emergency from Monday 15th June onwards and that airports would only be imposing a basic temperature control on foreign arrivals. Several regional presidents have expressed very strong opinions over the weekend that these two measures would lead to a rise in imported cases of Covid-19 in their own regions from both other regions of Spain and international flights and were opposed to both decisions. Last week the Ministry of Health raised the point several times that opening borders would result in a resurgence of cases and expressed its opposition to a premature lifting of restrictions. "Spain will not ooen its borders until 1st July and then, only with absolute security" the Minister said on Friday in a press conference, issuing asurances that the re-opening of Spanish borders would only be undertaken gradually. State Investigating Hospital With Coronavirus Policy That Profiled Pregnant Native American Mothers and Separated Them From Newborns Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham cited significant, awful allegations in a ProPublica and New Mexico In Depth story on a hospital where clinicians said pregnant Native women were singled out for COVID-19 testing and separated from newborns after delivery. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Twitter Saturday that state officials would investigate allegations of racial profiling of pregnant Native American women at a top hospital in Albuquerque. Lujan Grisham was reacting to a story published Saturday by New Mexico In Depth and ProPublica revealing that Lovelace Womens Hospital had a secret policy for screening Native American women for coronavirus based on their appearance and home ZIP code, according to several clinicians who work there. Described as racial profiling by medical ethicists, the policy resulted in some Native American women being separated from their newborns at birth as hospital staff waited for test results, according to the clinicians. These are significant, awful allegations and, if true, a disgusting and unforgivable violation of patient rights, Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, wrote . The state of New Mexico is investigating whether this constitutes a CMS violation and will unequivocally hold this hospital accountable. These are significant, awful allegations and, if true, a disgusting and unforgivable violation of patient rights. The state of New Mexico is investigating whether this constitutes a CMS violation and will unequivocally hold this hospital accountable. https://t.co/XXisfKLZHd Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) June 13, 2020 CMS, or the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, regulates hospitals to ensure that all patients have access to medical care. State Auditor Brian S. Colon also weighed in, with a Facebook post commenting that Lovelace has some additional explaining to do. A Lovelace spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a voice message and email Saturday. In previous statements, Lovelace acknowledged screening patients by geographic area, but it said that such practices followed guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was not immediately clear whether the policy described by clinicians remained in place on Saturday. The CDC doesnt mention geography in its COVID-19 guidelines for pregnant women. It specifies that pregnant patients should be treated as people under investigation for COVID-19 only if they exhibit symptoms or have had recent high-risk contact with COVID-19 patients. Our latest from @BryantFurlow, in partnership with @propublica. Pregnant Native American women were tested based on their race & ZIP code, clinicians say, leading some to be separated from their newborns. #nmpol https://t.co/taP8zHK62p New Mexico In Depth (@NMInDepth) June 13, 2020 According to several Lovelace clinicians, when pregnant women showed up at the hospital who appeared to be Native American, staff members were instructed to compare the expectant mothers home ZIP code against a list of Indian reservation ZIP codes maintained by the hospital, known informally as the Pueblos List, a reference to New Mexicos Pueblo Indian tribes. If the pregnant womans ZIP code matched one on the list, she was designated as a person under investigation for COVID-19 and tested even if she did not have symptoms, the clinicians said. Several Native American tribes in New Mexico have been hit hard by the coronavirus, recording some of the highest per capita rates of infection in the nation. But not all of the ZIP codes on the list are home to tribes with high prevalence of the disease. Lovelace did not use rapid COVID-19 tests, so it took up to three days for results to come back. During that time, the hospital separated some asymptomatic mothers from their newborns as part of an effort to prevent transmission of the virus from mother to child. Other Albuquerque hospitals are using rapid tests and do not separate Native American mothers from newborn children. Such separations deprive infants of close, immediate contact with their mothers that doctors recommend. We had no knowledge of this practice happening, Tripp Stelnicki, Lujan Grishams communications director, said Saturday. The state Health Department has contacted CMS to determine how to proceed, Stelnicki said. The intent is to find out what ... is going on, Stelnicki said. And if indeed, if this has happened, it is extremely disturbing, and to rectify the position if there were CMS violations, those will be pursued. Bryant Furlow is a reporter for New Mexico In Depth. HAVE YOU GIVEN BIRTH AT LOVELACE WOMENS HOSPITAL IN ALBUQUERQUE? Were reporting on birth and newborn care at Lovelace Womens Hospital. Wed like to hear from you to help us understand your experiences. We appreciate you sharing your story, and we take your privacy seriously. ProPublica is gathering this information for our reporting, not for immediate publication. Join the Conversation GRAND RAPIDS, MI Amid a nationwide call for police reform, Grand Rapids city officials on Tuesday outlined steps theyre taking to strengthen community relations, enhance accountability and improve policies designed to reduce the use of excessive force. City Manager Mark Washington said a budget amendment will be brought to the city commission next month that would enable the police department to repurpose existing funds. Those funds would be used to add a second full-time position the Office of Oversight and Public Accountability, a non-sworn public information officer, and a non-sworn chief of staff. The cost of adding the positions is $480,156, according to documents presented during the meeting. In addition, the city staff and commissioners discussed the concept of using dollars budgeted for the police department for economic development, housing and other community programs. This is an idea that is gaining nationwide attention following the death of George Floyd, a black man in Minnesota, who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. It has often been referred to as defunding the police. During a presentation to the commission, City Attorney Anita Hitchcock said the Grand Rapids City Charter mandates that not less than 32 percent of the citys general operating fund be used for police services. The citys fiscal year 2021 budget, which starts July 1, includes $55.1 million from the general fund for the police department. Thats equivalent to 38.6 percent of the general fund, according to information presented during the meeting. Washington said changing the minimum amount of funding allocated to the police department would require a charter amendment and a vote of the people. Mayor Rosalynn Bliss praised the recent changes city officials have made over the past week in response to protests over the death of Floyd and other black Americans at the hands of police. Those proposed changes, which include short- and long-term recommendations, included a ban on choke holds, an emphasis on de-escalating tense encounters, and requiring officers to give a verbal warning when possible before using deadly force. I agree that this is a step forward, knowing that theres still a lot of work to be done in the months and years ahead, Bliss said, adding that the recommendations capture a lot of community feedback shes heard in the wake of Floyds death and civil unrest in Grand Rapids. Bliss also addressed calls from community members to reallocate police funding for other uses. She said city commissioners have had such discussions before, and that progress has been made in some areas. Weve allocated funds to add social workers to the police department and create our homeless outreach team, and weve made investments in our neighborhoods of focus, she said. For those who dont know, weve been active in conversations for well over a year with the county, talking about how do we better respond to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or substance abuse crisis. Like other cities across the U.S., Grand Rapids saw large scale protests in response to Floyds death. A peaceful protest the afternoon of May 30 devolved into a riot that night, with participants burning police cars, smashing storefront windows and looting businesses. The riot cost an estimated $2.4 million, according to the latest estimate by the city of Grand Rapids. The figure includes damaged buildings and broken windows, as well as police overtime and expenses related to supplies and equipment. Several other large demonstrations were held over the following week or so. Washington said he and his colleagues wanted to respond to calls for changes in policing with urgency but not in a knee jerk way. What weve tried to focus on, right now, is what could we get done within the next 60 days to address some of these issues, he said. Later, he added: We were just trying to be very, very responsive to the urgency of the moment. Police Chief Eric Payne said that, in addition to the other changes discussed during the meeting, hes creating a Community Police Advisory Council with 12 members. We have to rethink how were doing police work in 2020, he said. Theres a big awakening out there that we have to do better. Commissioner Joe Jones said the city has an opportunity to reimagine policing in Grand Rapids. He also said he would like to see more funding for the citys Office of Oversight and Public Accountability, and that the city should discuss whether to reduce the police departments funding from 38.6 percent of the general fund to 32 percent. Moving from 38.6 percent to 32 percent is a $9.4 million reduction. I have very much taken on a mindset of wanting to be a part of the reimagining of our departments, he said. It is whats needed for such a time as this. Commissioner Jon O'Connor said its important that city leaders effectively communicate proposed changes within the police department to police officers. He said having buy in from the departments employees is important. We have a ton of great men and women doing the job every day, he said. They hold themselves to high standards. They dont like it when other people make them look bad. -This story has been corrected with the correct spelling of Anita Hitchcocks first name Read more: Wrong-way drivers are deadly, ongoing concern on West Michigan freeways Michigan pollster: Trumps Bible photo op caused immediate drop in support Grand Rapids school board eyes deep budget cuts amid coronavirus economic fallout The UK's new polymer 20 note, which recently entered circulation, is made by De La Rue. (Leon Neal/WPA Pool/Getty Images) Embattled passport and banknote maker De La Rue (DLAR.L) said on Tuesday that the UKs Serious Fraud Office (SFO) had concluded a year-long probe into suspected corruption relating to its business in South Sudan, and will take no further action. De La Rue is pleased that the SFO has closed its investigation and that the SFO is taking no further action in respect of this matter, the company said in a statement. In a separate statement, the SFO said that, after an extensive investigation and a thorough and detailed review of the available evidence, the case did not meet the test for prosecution. In July 2019, De La Rue disclosed that the SFO had opened the probe into its affairs in South Sudan. In 2011, the firm spent six months designing and manufacturing the countrys new currency. READ MORE: UK employers have slashed 600,000 staff since March De La Rue has been at the centre of several probes by the SFO, including a 2010 investigation into the falsification of banknote quality certificates by employees. It is the largest commercial printer of passports in the world, and has designed around a third of the banknotes in circulation globally. The South Sudan probe was just one of a number of setbacks for De La Rue in recent years. The company, which has issued a series of stark profit warnings, last year lost the contract to print UK passports. French-Dutch competitor Gemalto was picked for the 10-year, 490m contract. The government later said that Gemalto would also manufacture the post-Brexit blue passports. READ MORE: European stocks surge after US Federal Reserve move calms markets Former chief executive Martin Sutherland demanded that then-prime minister Theresa May visit the companys factory to outline why her government made the decision to offshore the manufacturing of the British passport. Under new chief executive Clive Vacher, the company in February unveiled an extensive three-year cost-cutting plan, noting that it hoped to save 35m ($45m) per year from the second half of its current financial year. De La Rue said that it was targeting cost savings in its currency division. The company, which prints Bank of England banknotes, designed the polymer material and technology used in the new 20 note featuring artist JMW Turner. SUNRISE, Fla., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, people across Florida continue to face challenges that extend beyond medical care, including basic daily needs such as food, internet connectivity and essential supplies. Centene and Sunshine Health are partnering with various organizations to support efforts that address these social determinants of health. Social determinants are non-medical barriers to achieving quality health outcomes. They include socioeconomic and environment factors such as food accessibility, employment, education and more. Research shows that medical care accounts for approximately 10 to 20 percent of health outcomes. Social determinants account for the remaining 80 to 90 percent. "When you're worried about putting food on the table for your family, your long-term health isn't at the forefront of your mind," said Liz Miller, CEO of Centene's Combined Florida Market. "New social determinants have arisen due to the pandemic like being able to afford supplies to make sure your child can attend school from home. Our most vulnerable populations were being hit the hardest, and we wanted to act quickly to help our members and our communities." Hunger and Food Security In partnership with Feeding America and its network of food banks, Centene and Sunshine Health contributed more than $100,000 to community food distribution sites throughout Florida. Sunshine Health also partnered with Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa and the Urban League of Broward County to support their emergency relief funds. Centene also committed to donating 1 million meals per month for 12 months across the nation. Connectivity Telehealth and other virtual communications tools have become invaluable for enabling access to healthcare during the pandemic. Sunshine Health offers Medicaid members a mobile app with timely health education alerts and the ability to securely text their care manager. The app is especially helpful for members with medication needs, questions, providers offering virtual health appointments, or available community resources to address our members' social determinant needs. Sunshine Health added more than 7,000 providers offering telehealth during the pandemic, to increase access to care options for members. Healthcare and Educational Supplies To ensure Floridians have access to crucial supplies during this time of need, Sunshine Health, in coordination with Centene, donated $250,000 in $25 and $35 Walmart and Amazon gift cards to help those in need purchase essential healthcare and educational items, including diapers, over-the-counter medicines, cleaning supplies and books. Sunshine Health is delivering the cards to more than 170 community groups, such as Healthy Start of Pasco County, Jasmine Project Miami-Dade and the Osceola Council on Aging, to distribute to those in need. Sunshine Health also donated 50,000 masks to Federally Qualified Health Centers across the state; and 200 masks to each of Florida's 20 Child Welfare Communicated Based Care Lead Agencies. Sunshine Health also offers a Community Connections Help Line to connect anyone in the community with available resources. That number is1-866-775-2192. About Sunshine Health Headquartered in Sunrise, Fla., Sunshine Health is among the largest healthcare plans in Florida. Offering coordinated care and a network of support for more than 1 million members, Sunshine Health is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. Sunshine Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Sunshine Health offers government-sponsored managed care through Medicaid, Long Term Care, Ambetter (Marketplace) and Allwell (Medicare). Additionally, we offer a specialty Medicaid health plan for children in or adopted from Florida's Child Welfare system. For more information, visit SunshineHealth.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @SunHealthFL. About Centene Corporation Centene Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, is a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives. The Company takes a local approach with local brands and local teams - to provide fully integrated, high-quality, and cost-effective services to government-sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Centene offers affordable and high-quality products to nearly 1 in 15 individuals across the nation, including Medicaid and Medicare members (including Medicare Prescription Drug Plans) as well as individuals and families served by the Health Insurance Marketplace, the TRICARE program, and individuals in correctional facilities. The Company also serves several international markets, and contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide a variety of specialty services focused on treating the whole person. Centene focuses on long-term growth and the development of its people, systems and capabilities so that it can better serve its members, providers, local communities, and government partners. Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, www.centene.com/investors. SOURCE Sunshine Health In a brief televised address on the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday, Emmanuel Macron announced that his government would work closely with the trade unions to place the cost of the crisis on the backs of working class. Under conditions of global protests against police violence, two years after the start of the yellow vests movement, and after the historic transport strike this winter, Macron refused to make any concessions to demands from the population. Macron noted that the government had spent 500 billion during the pandemic. This was justified, he said, because of the exceptional circumstances we have just been through. But it is on top of our already existing debt. He made clear that these massive handouts, which largely financed purchases of toxic securities held by the big banks and to stabilize the largest French corporations, came with no strings attached for any obligation on the part of the financial aristocracy to preserve jobs or economic activity. On the contrary. France would experience bankruptcies and multiple redundancy plans due to the global economic downturn, he said. According to official forecasts, between 800,000 and 1 million workers will lose their jobs, and 40 percent of small and medium-sized businesses in the Ile-de-France region around Paris will go bankrupt in the coming months. This reflects an economic downturn of approximately 10 percent in a year in many countries in Europe and internationallyconditions not seen since the 1930s. Macron insisted that it was unthinkable to force the ruling class to pay to protect jobs and small business, while French and European authorities are showering public money on the ruling class. We will not finance this spending by raising taxes, he said. This is a declaration of war by the financial aristocracy, in France and throughout Europe and the world, on the working class. It has used the pandemic as a pretext to transfer hundreds of billions of euros to its bank accounts, at the expense of workers and small businesses. While US and European central banks are granting the super-rich trillions, the super-rich display their contempt for the threatened ruin of millions, even as hunger and misery increases in France and Europe. The modern-day ruling class displays a level of parasitism and contempt unseen since the feudal nobility refused to pay taxes to the Etats-Generaux before the French Revolution. This is the source of Macrons assertion that We have nothing to be ashamed of with our balance sheet. Tens of thousands of lives have been saved by our choices and actions. On this basis, Macron announced the mandatory reopening of day-care centres, schools and universities from June 22, the reopening of cafes and restaurants from today, and unrestricted visits to retirement homes. In fact, the pandemics toll is a stain that Macron and his European counterparts will carry forever. By refusing to provide masks to the population, to promptly explain and organize mass testing and social distancing, or to provide the health system and confined workers with the necessary financial resources, these governments have made themselves responsible for a catastrophe. A few statistics illustrate this fact. In Chinaa country with 21 times the population of France, where COVID-19 first broke out and which therefore had to improvise treatments and containment methods that were known at the beginning of the pandemic in Europethere were 4,634 deaths. In France there were more than 29,400. When Macron states that he is not ashamed of his record, it is a testament to his class contempt for the lives of the population. As for what Macron calls his choices to confine workers and set up a testing infrastructure, it was the workers who imposed them on governments, not only in France but throughout Europe and internationally. Faced with waves of strikes in Italy, the United States and Brazil, the European ruling classes felt compelled to order large-scale confinement. The French employers organisation openly testified to this fact. In all industrial sectors, including those where there is no ban on activity from health considerations, there is an extremely brutal change in the attitude of workers, Patrick Martin, the vice-president of the national employers association, said in March. He had denounced the over-reaction of workers to the deadly danger of COVID-19. This meant that corporate management can no longer continue production because of pressure from workers. Terrified by the growth of opposition among workers, the ruling class intends to pursue an authoritarian and violent policy to impose its diktat on workers, the self-employed and small businesses. Macron has therefore given his full support to the police officers in charge of suppressing mass demonstrations over the past two weeks. In the face of worldwide protests against the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police, and in France against the killing of Adama Traore in police custody, Macron was content with a promise to be tough on racism and anti-Semitism. This statement is preposterous from a president who at the beginning of his term of office joked about the drowning of refugees off the coast of Mayotte. On the other hand, Macron, who in November 2018 called the collaborationist dictator Philippe Petain a great soldier, as the riot police were preparing to attack the yellow vests, reaffirmed his unflinching support for the police. Nor will we build our future in disorder, without a republican order, he said. This order is ensured by the police and gendarmes on our soil, adding that the police deserve the support of the government and the recognition of the nation. As protests take place around the world against police violence, this underscores the deeper issues facing workers and young people entering into struggle. The reason Trump sought to deploy the military against the American protests is that the financial aristocracy considers a military dictatorship necessary to impose its criminal and socially destructive policies on the working class. Racist attitudes undoubtedly play a role in police violence. But it is impossible to stop police violence by trying to discredit racist attitudes, because such violence is based on material interests. It is the defence of the privileges of the financial aristocracy against a working class in revolt. In actions against the yellow vests, the police arrested more than 10,000, injured more than 4,400 demonstrators, disembowelled more than 25, ripped off five hands, and killed Zineb Redouane, an elderly woman. As Macron and the ruling classes around the world prepare to impose massive attacks on workers to bear the cost of the coronavirus corporate handouts, larger class conflicts are brewing internationally. The magazine Opinion recently reported: While minority groups stayed out of the yellow vests, domestic intelligence is concerned about a convergence of de facto struggles between the social and racial crisis. For the time being, democratic and anti-racist slogans predominate in the mobilizations against police violence. The yellow vests movement largely avoided explicitly political demands. But the decisive question is not the present state of the consciousness of the workers and young people who have entered into struggle, but the political tasks the nascent international workers movement will have to address in response to the attacks by Macron and his international counterparts. The two-year yellow vests movement and Macrons determination to attack the national pension system make clear that there is nothing to negotiate with Macron. Workers must break from the discredited trade union apparatus, which Macron has welcomed by promising to coordinate his governments policies with the social partners. At the same time, he announced that open-air rallies of more than 10 people would still be banned on the pretext of the pandemic, even as workers are to be forced to work in their hundreds in dangerous and poorly ventilated factories. In France and throughout Europe, independent groups of yellow vests, youth and striking workers exist in neighbourhoods and on social media. The Socialist Equality Party seeks to raise the consciousness of the workers, to establish their independence from political parties and apparatuses of the capitalist class, and to arm workers with a perspective that expresses the objective logic of the struggles to come. These can be victorious only to the extent that they are based upon the building of a mass movement to transfer political power to the working class and the construction of a socialist society. With bars, clubs and event spaces shuttered in the wake of the pandemic, drag queens and other self-employed entertainers who earn their livelihoods from performing at these venues have faced unprecedented financial hardship, which will be addressed by the "Drag Queen Mukbang" hosts in each video. With an aim to champion organizations and initiatives that support LGBTQ+ communities, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire has also partnered with GLAAD and various local nonprofits across the country. A longtime supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, Jack Daniel's parent company Brown-Forman has received a perfect score for 10 consecutive years on the Corporate Equality Index, a national report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. More about the cast of "Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire Presents Drag Queen Mukbang" and the premiere dates for their videos: Patrick Starrr - One of the first "men in makeup" on YouTube, Patrick Starrr is a beauty guru pioneer who has amassed over 4 million subscribers and dolled up celebrities such as Kim Kardashian West and Paris Hilton . ( June 20 ) - One of the first "men in makeup" on YouTube, Patrick Starrr is a beauty guru pioneer who has amassed over 4 million subscribers and dolled up celebrities such as and . ( ) Gia Gunn - A transgender contestant featured on Season 6 of "RuPaul's Drag Race" and Season 4 of "RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars," Gia is known for her iconic catchphrases and being an outspoken advocate for trans rights. ( June 27 ) - A transgender contestant featured on Season 6 of "RuPaul's Drag Race" and Season 4 of "RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars," Gia is known for her iconic catchphrases and being an outspoken advocate for trans rights. ( ) Eugene Lee Yang - Best known for being 1/4 of The Try Guys , Eugene also has a drag persona Cheyenne Pepper who has hosted the 2018 Streamy Awards and performed alongside "RuPaul's Drag Race" queens at last year's VidCon closing ceremony. ( July 4 ) - Best known for being 1/4 of , Eugene also has a drag persona who has hosted the 2018 Streamy Awards and performed alongside "RuPaul's Drag Race" queens at last year's VidCon closing ceremony. ( ) Laganja Estranja - A contestant on Season 6 of "RuPaul's Drag Race," Laganja was named one of "The Most Powerful Drag Queens in America" by New York Magazine and featured on the cover of its special issue alongside Gia Gunn . ( July 11 ) Due to national stay-at-home orders, each episode was self-shot entirely by the hosts. Any hosts that appear together in an episode are also in quarantine together, in compliance with social distancing restrictions. In addition to handling production duties, the performers designed their own sets using whatever materials were readily available with the exception of Tennessee Fire products. "I wore a costume that I already had on hand and did the makeup myself," said Eugene Lee Yang. "We may be limited in what we can do while filming, but Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire worked with us every step of the way to create the ultimate drag-themed mukbang experience." "For some reason, food, drink and drag just seem to go together," said Laganja Estranja. "My fellow queens and I applaud Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire for shining a light on the community during these challenging times and using this series to support organizations like GLAAD." "The drag community consists of many artists and performers who depend on nightlife spaces to earn a living," said Gia Gunn. "Many people in our community are struggling right now as a result of the shutdown. I am super thankful to Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire for calling attention to this part of the industry that is often overlooked." "This lineup is about inclusivity," said Patrick Starrr. "We have drag queens and beauty gurus, drinkers and non-drinkers like Gia, a Try Guy and a transgender woman. We're able to connect over our love of performing and just share good food and Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire with viewers." "Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire is honored to collaborate with such an extraordinary roster of talent to produce a one-of-a-kind content series that also addresses some real issues being faced by the LGBTQ+ community," said Fabricia da Silva, Field Marketing Manager of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. "This series combines an IRL food trend with a social media phenomenon to create bold and fiery content designed to warm hearts and lift spirits." About Jack Daniel's Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel's is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel's Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel's is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand. Website: www.jackdaniels.com Please drink responsibly. Jack Daniel's and Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire are registered trademarks 2020. Whiskey Specialty, 35% alc. by vol. (70 proof), produced and bottled by Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee. www.jackfirepride.com For downloadable press information, click here . SOURCE Jack Daniel's Related Links https://www.jackdaniels.com/ Advocates for reform say Trump law and order approach will not go far enough as Democrats prepare broader legislation. Embracing a new priority, US President Donald Trump is set to announce executive actions on police procedures and Senate Republicans are preparing a package of policing changes as Republicans seek to respond to mass demonstrations over the deaths of George Floyd and other Black Americans. It is a sudden shift for the Republican Party, one Democrats are watching warily as they advance broader police reform legislation in the US House of Representatives. The crush of activity shows how quickly the mass protests over police violence and racial prejudice are transforming politics in the United States. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared that Republicans are developing a serious proposal to reform law enforcement. The Senate Judiciary Committee will gavel in Tuesday afternoon for an extensive hearing on Police Use of Force and Community Relations, drawing testimony from the nations leading civil rights and law enforcement leaders. Now is the time to reimagine a more fair and just society in which all people are safe, Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, will tell senators, according to advance testimony. The nationwide outcry is anything but a reaction to one isolated incident or the misconduct of a few bad apples', Gupta says. The outcry is a response to the other horrific killings of Black people by police. New systems While the emerging GOP package is not as extensive as sweeping Democratic proposals, which are headed for a House vote next week, it includes perhaps the most far-reaching proposed changes to policing procedures from Republicans, a party long aligned with a law and order approach. Trumps executive order would include establishing a database that tracks police officers who garner complaints about excessive use of force in their records, according to two senior administration officials who briefed reporters in advance of Tuesdays announcement. It would establish a national credential system that would give police departments a financial incentive to adopt best practices. The two officials briefed reporters on the executive order on the condition that they not be identified. Harsh police tactics across the US have spurred widespread calls for police reform, which the US President and congressional Republicans and Democrats are addressing [Ken Cedeno/Reuters] Senator Tim Scott, the sole African American Republican in the Senate, has been crafting the Republican legislative package, which will include new restrictions on police chokeholds and greater use of police body cameras, among other provisions. Scott, who said he spoke with Trump about the legislation during the weekend, warned Monday that pushing voting in Congress on police reform to a late date would be a bad decision. In Atlanta, the weekend shooting and death of Rayshard Brooks, an African American man, by a white officer led to a renewed public outcry, more street protests and the police chiefs resignation. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York is among those urging Republicans not to settle for minor changes. Now is the time to seek bold and broad-scale change, Schumer said Monday. With the political debate fluid, it is unclear whether the parties will be able to find common ground. The proposals emerging from Democrats and Republicans share many similar provisions but take different approaches to address some of the issues. Neither bill goes as far as some activists want in their push to defund the police by fully revamping departments. Central to the Republican package would be the creation of the national database to improve transparency so officers cannot transfer from one department to another without public oversight of their records. The Democrats have a similar provision. Yet the Republican bill does not go as far as the Democrats do on the issue of eliminating the legal protection for police of qualified immunity, which would enable those injured by law enforcement personnel to sue for damages. White House officials have said that goes too far. As an alternative, Scott has suggested a decertification process for officers involved in misconduct. One large police union, the influential Fraternal Order of Police, said in a statement it is working with Congress and the White House on the proposals, having provided feedback on the Democratic bill and substantial input on the emerging GOP package. A 15-year-old girl who was missing from Penshurst since Monday morning has been found. NSW Police said the girl was "located safe and well" by officers from Campbelltown Area Command at 9.30pm on Tuesday. An appeal was made for public assistance on Tuesday after the girl disappeared. She was last seen at a home on Centre Street, Penshurst, about 7.30am on Monday, police said in a statement on Tuesday. "She was spoken to via mobile phone about 6.30pm the same day, but when she did not return as expected she was reported missing to officers attached to St George Police Area Command," the statement said. The new coronavirus disease or Covid 19 has been with us for more than half a year since it was first reported in China in December 2019. In that short period, it has affected more than seven million people and killed 410,000. The World Health Organisation declared Covid 19 as a pandemic on 30th January 2020 and has since then provided information and guidelines about the disease and its management. Covid 19 has attracted millions of posts and publications in the media and social media much of it being misleading or false. This has led to strenuous efforts going into fact checking and information validation to ensure that people receive only credible information. Despite all of that, many myths still persist about the pandemic. In the interest of safety, this column, as part of a global effort to sieve the chaff from the wheat, so to speak, periodically gets to grips with some of the claims appearing in the media and social media. This is important because knowing the facts about COVID-19 symptoms, how the virus spreads and what you can do to stop it will help protect you and your community. This crop of myths was gathered in Southern Africa where the WHO asked community health workers in the region to gather myths and misinformation spreading fast in communities. Other myths were collected from the Johns Hopkins Medical Centre website. Myth: Most people who get COVID-19 get very sick or die FACT: Most people who get COVID-19 will have a mild form of the illness and recover without needing professional medical care. Around eight out of every 10 people with COVID-19 will have mild symptoms. Around one in six people will become severely ill and need hospital care. Scientific modelling suggests that around 1 in 100 people who get COVID-19 will die. Myth: You can always tell if a person has Covid 19 FACT: No. The virus can be in someones body for up to 14 days before they get symptoms, and some people will have such a mild case of COVID-19 that they might not notice that anything is wrong. Thats why its important that everyone follows government advice including hand washing, using tissues to catch coughs and sneezes, and avoiding crowds to stop the spread of the virus, even if they feel healthy. Myth: Black and African people cant get get COVID-19? FACT: Anyone can get COVID-19, regardless of race or skin colour. Older people and people with other health conditions, such as asthma, heart diseases and diabetes, are more at risk of getting seriously ill. Myth: Covid 19 only affects old people so young people dont have to worry FACT: While COVID-19 can be more dangerous in older people, anyone can get it including young people, some of whom become seriously ill. While we dont yet fully understand why some people get more serious symptoms, we do know that young people are more likely to develop serious symptoms if they have certain underlying health conditions, for example asthma, heart conditions or untreated HIV. FACT: If you are living with HIV and on effective treatment there's no evidence that you are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 symptoms. This is because your treatment will be keeping your immune system strong and your body able to deal with infections. If you are worried that you might have HIV, now is a good time to get tested so you can start treatment if you need it. Myth: Antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV will stop people from getting COVID-19? FACT: There is no evidence that taking anti-HIV drugs will stop you getting COVID-19. Although some ART drugs are being trialed for use to treat COVID-19, there is no evidence yet that they are effective for this purpose. Myth: COVID-19 cannot spread in warm sunny weather? FACT: COVID-19 can survive temperatures higher than 25C. You can catch it no matter how sunny and warm it is. So, whatever the weather you should follow the official advice to protect yourself from the virus. Getting out into the sunshine, if you can, is still a good idea as this helps your body produce vitamin D which is important for your immune system. Myth: Drinking lots of hot drinks stop COVID-19? FACT: There is no drink hot or cold that will protect you from COVID-19 or cure the illness. So far, theres no proven cure for COVID-19 but most people recover by themselves. Taking paracetamol, drinking lots of liquids, and getting enough rest can help you manage your symptoms. Myth: Using a strong disinfectant to clean my hands and body will protect myself from COVID-19? FACT: You shouldnt use strong disinfectant to clean your body. Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water or rubbing an alcohol-based sanitizer on them will stop the virus spreading. Using stronger chemicals on your skin can be dangerous. Never drink disinfectant or hand sanitizer as this can do serious damage. Myth: Can Chloroquine cure COVID-19? FACT: At the moment there is no proven cure for COVID-19, but most people will recover on their own without needing professional medical care. If you think you have COVID-19 and are having difficulty breathing, contact your local health facility as you will need professional medical care. As scientists and doctors continue their work to understand and treat COVID-19 our knowledge of, and ability to treat and prevent the virus will improve. For now, it Is important to follow official government advice and get information only from reliable sources like the World Health Organization (WHO) or the government. Myth: You can protect yourself from COVID-19 by injecting, swallowing, bathing in or rubbing onto your body bleach, disinfectants or rubbing alcohols. FACT: These products are highly toxic and should never be swallowed or injected into the body. Call 911 if this occurs. Disinfectants, bleach and soap and water may be used to clean surfaces, an important prevention step in stopping the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19 the disease caused by the coronavirus thats led to the global pandemic. Never attempt to self-treat or prevent COVID-19 by rubbing or bathing with bleach, disinfectants or rubbing alcohol anywhere on your body. Effective hand sanitizers do have alcohol, but they are formulated to be safe for use on hands. Myth: The new coronavirus was deliberately created or released by people. FACT: Viruses can change over time. Occasionally, a disease outbreak happens when a virus that is common in an animal such as a pig, bat or bird undergoes changes and passes to humans. This is likely how the new coronavirus came to be. Myth: Ordering or buying products shipped from overseas will make a person sick from handling the parcel. FACT: Researchers are studying the new coronavirus to learn more about how it infects people. As of this writing, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that the likelihood of becoming infected with COVID-19 from a commercial package is low since it has likely traveled over several days and been exposed to different temperatures and conditions during transit. [email protected] With support from the Media Foundation for West Africa Fact Checking Project From: James J Talerico Jr - SMB Expert - Management Consultant Dallas - Ft. Worth , TX Tuesday, June 16, 2020 The Covid-19 Coronavirus has caused a change in how most small businesses will conduct business in the near-term. Those businesses that pivot are going to weather this crisis better than those that do not. For businesses struggling to adjust to this new paradigm, here are a dozen Covid-19 business development ideas: Post Covid -19 Compliant Signage on your web page and in front of your building announcing that you are "Covid Compliant And Open for Business," in addition to posting timely Covid-19 instructions being practiced in your area for visitors. Change Your Recorded On-Hold Message to a Timely, Covid-19 Supportive One. Engage in Regular Covid -19 Marketing Communications produce Covid-19 Marketing EGC's (Employee Generated Communications,) like YouTube videos and BombBomb video emails illustrating how your employees have adjusted to help customers during this crisis. Introduce New Products & Services to Meet An Immediate Customer Need these approaches could include offering masks or hand sanitizer with your company logo, selling gift cards, offering specials, and/or providing 90-day free financing. Build Stronger Business Relationships by offering pro bono services, through continued communications / support, donations, community service, etc. Reach Out to New Market Niches and Call Back Inactive Customers to See How You Might Be Able to Help Them Through This Crisis. Strengthen Your Existing Marketing Presence by soliciting Covid-19 online reviews, more testimonials, and/or expanding both your social media contacts and content. Learn And Implement A New Sales & Marketing Approach - for instance, by producing Facebook Live sessions, sending out broadcasr text messages or by having your employees produce a Tik Tok video. Utilize Free Time Strengthening Strategic Relationships -- for example, you might be able to work with your strategic partners in some way to promote your industry in some way that could lead to new opportunities Have Your Idle Employees Engage in Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service Training. Create New Relationships by Giving Back to The Community as individuals, as a company, and/or with others (which you can choose to promote or not.) Try Other Value-Added Opportunities -- like starting a community pageon social media to exchange ideas for surviving this crisis. Babe Ruth was quoted as saying "it's hard to beat someone who never gives up." This crisis will pass as others have. The key to surviving this crisis is to adjust to it, so that you grow stronger because of it. Try some of the above ideas they could very well lead to new opportunities you might not be able to see today. Our Small Business Owner's Covid-19 Survival Kit is available through our on-line store on my Square web site https://greater-prairie-business-consulting.square.site/. It contains over two dozen files filled with a plethora of financial, tax, HR, safety, leadership, sales, marketing, and government information to help business owners survive the Covid-19 Coronavirus Crisis. With our 100% Money Back Guarantee if you are not completely satisfied, what do you have to lose ! About the Author A nationally recognized small to mid-sized business (SMB) expert, Jim Talerico has consistently ranked among the "top small business consultants followed on Twitter. With more than thirty - (30) years of diversified business experience, Jim has a solid track record helping thousands of business owners across the US and in Canada tackle tough business problems and improve their organizational performance. A regular guest on the Price of Business on Bloomberg Talk Radio, Jims client success stories have been highlighted in the Wall St Journal, Dallas Business Journal, Chicago Daily Herald, and on MSNBCs Your Business, and he is regularly quoted in publications like the New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Philadelphia Inquirer, and on INC.com, in addition to numerous, other industry publications, radio broadcasts, business books, and Internet media. Jim Talerico is a certified management consultant CMC, an honor bestowed on only 1% of all consultants worldwide. He is also the founder and CEO of Greater Prairie Business Consulting, Inc. For more information about Greater Prairie Business Consulting, Inc., go to: www.greaterprairiebusinessconsulting.com.) Social Media Links: www.LinkedIn.com/in/jamesjtalericojr www.Twitter.com/JamesJTalericoJ www.Facebook.com/search/top/q=small%20business%20expert&epa=SEARCH_BOX www.Instagram.com/James_J_Talerico_Small_Business_Expert New Delhi: Launching a blistering attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday warned its leadership that the Uri terror attack will not be forgotten and the sacrifice of 18 jawans will not go in vain. Ten things of PM Modi speech: # Terrorists should hear out clearly that India will never forget the Uri attack and sacrifice of our 18 jawans will not go in vain. # Every nation is holding only one country responsible for terrorism. Only one country in Asia is safe haven for terrorists. # Be it Afghanistan, Bangladesh or other nations, we have seen whenever the news of terror incidents comes, terrorists have either gone from this country (Pakistan) or have settled there after committing the crime. # Pak got freedom in same year but India exports software & they export terrorists # Pakistan will go against its own Govt to fight terrorism # Pakistan is aiming for Kashmir, they should first look at the land they have already captured # Jan Sangh and BJP Karyakartas from Kerala have seen and faced so much. Today too, party isn't in power but they continue serving: PM # Our Govt is focused on upliftment of poor, downtrodden people of our country: PM # When I visited the Gulf countries, I made it a point to visit the people of Kerala who are based there: PM Modi # I want to assure the party workers in Kerala that their sacrifice and hard work will never go in vain: PM Modi Also Read: (We are exporting engineers all over the world, whereas Pakistan is exporting terrorists in entire world: PM Modi) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. No government has done more to foster democracy and freedom of speech in Nigeria than the Buharis administration, the presidents office said in a statement Tuesday. The president, through his aide, Garba Shehu, said this in response to a June 12 statement by the Coalition of Northern Groups where the Buhari administration was described as having the worst set of incompetent, ineffective, unfocused and generally unwilling leaders. We find it ridiculous for the federal government to be pretending to celebrate a certain democracy day while in the actual sense, the nation is supposed to be observing days of mourning, spokesperson of the group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said in condemnation of the spate of the insecurity in the country, particularly in the north. Counter-attack In response, Mr Shehu said for the group to have been able to transmit garbage to the media in the hope they will be widely reported, it is a testament to freedom of expression and media liberty that exists in our country today. Equally, the fact that the government is issuing this statement, in response to the puerile message is a testament that today Nigeria is a country where disagreements can be aired publicly through the press, not through less gentlemanly methods used in the past. While Mr Shehu said this, critics have accused this administration of repeated disobedience of court orders, disregard for the rule of law as well as gagging of the press. For instance, the government has repeatedly disobeyed court orders for the reinstatement some top army officers who were illegally dismissed four years ago. The federal government, through the State Security Service (SSS), also detained a journalist, Jones Abiri, for over a year without trial, before he was reluctantly charged to court following a local and international outcry. While attacks on Nigerian journalists is no longer a new phenomenon, they appear to have taken a turn for concern under Mr Buhari, a former military leader. But Mr Shehu agreed there are challenges posed by the terrorists Boko Haram, but insisted this that this government has done more than any other elected or not elected to curtail and beat back the terrorists. We hope that CNG will consider the facts and reconsider the unhelpful and inaccurate message their statements contain when issuing them in the future, he added. Nigeria returned to civil rule in 1999 after democratic governments were toppled by military juntas in a period dotted with coups, counter-coups and a brutal civil war where millions were killed. We are living in a maelstrom of hatred, ignorance, and virtue-signaling that is breathtaking to observe. Jewish organizations and synagogues are marching in support of Black Lives Matter. White people are prostrating themselves like slaves "bowing before black people and asking for forgiveness for their 'white privilege' and the 'structural racism' in the deplorable, irredeemable United States of America." Anyone who is appalled at these actions is beginning to wonder about the sanity of this country. Of particular concern is the apparent all-in capitulation by American Jewry as they engage in this feel-good liberal response. An open letter calls on Jewish organizations to endorse Black Lives Matter. The letter asks Jewish organizations, federations ... to commit to fulfilling seven actions within three years. They are endorsing Black Lives Matter; establishing racial justice as an organizational pillar; having a fifth of staff, senior leadership and board seats be filled by people of color; participating in anti-racist education; investing a fifth of all grants in organizations led by people of color; creating racial justice requirements for grant organizations, including 'a commitment to replacing contracts with police departments with alternative structures of community safety'; and developing a five-year, $1.5 million 'communal accountability' initiative. The letter was organized by Lindsey Newman, director of community engagement at the Jewish diversity organization Be'chol Lashon; Aaron Samuels, co-founder and COO of the black media company Blavity; and Rachel Sumekh, the founder and CEO of the hunger relief organization Swipe Out Hunger. 'We chose these proposals because we believe they are achievable and if put into practice would make significant inroads toward making the Jewish community anti-racist[.]' Frankly, a burglar intent on doing well in property appropriation couldn't ask for a better list of demands! Am I the only individual who sees through this self-serving cloth of fabrication and misleading statements? "Make the Jewish community anti-racist." What world are these people living in? Unfortunately, many naive Jews think they are hearkening back to the days when genuine reform was needed to rid the country of legalized discrimination against blacks. Those days are gone. There are no "whites only" fountains. Blacks have entered American political and economic life in ways that could only be imagined in the past. Yet, because so many Americans are historically illiterate, they do not comprehend the enormous strides America has made. That is what makes them perfect bait for the race grievance industry. From the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement, Jews have been at the forefront of fighting for equal treatment under the law for fellow American blacks. In fact, "statistically Jews were one of the most actively involved non-black groups in the Movement. Many Jewish students worked in concert with African Americans ... as full-time organizers and summer volunteers during the Civil Rights era. Jews made up roughly half of the white northern volunteers involved in the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer project and approximately half of the civil rights attorneys active in the South during the 1960s." Moreover, "[t]he murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, also known as the Freedom Summer murders ... involved three activists who were abducted and murdered in Mississippi in June 1964." Two of the three were Jews. On a global scale, Israel was instrumental in saving the lives of black Jews from Ethiopia. Operation Moses refers to the covert evacuation of black Ethiopian Jews from Sudan during a civil war that caused a famine in 1984. Israel has aided Africa and Haiti when natural disasters strike. Developing African nations depend on Israeli technological, humanitarian, medical, ecological, and agricultural advances in virtually every aspect of life. Let's peel back the alleged racial justice demands. Racial justice and other buzzwords such as "equity" pepper the progressive left movement. They are used to camouflage the real motives of social justice programs i.e., "taking money from the haves and giving it to the have-nots. But what it's really about is power. Its advocates want the power to do what they want, and if they say it's for social justice, that's supposed to make it OK." What exactly is "anti-racist education"? America is the least racist country in the world. We have more people from around the globe than any other country. One million immigrants are let in to this country each year. Accommodations are made for them in the way of monetary assistance, language training, and scholarships. But when young people marinate in anti-American indoctrination, and they keep hearing the drumbeat that America is evil because we once had slavery, what do you expect they will parrot back? There is a complete dearth of knowledge about the greatness of this country. Moreover, American Jewry long ago embraced social justice and liberalism over Jewish tenets and Judaic values. It is what makes them such a captive audience for BLM and its ilk. In their ignorance, Jews will be like the fly to the spider. Currently, schools and businesses are mandating that "people of color" fill the seats of power. At no time is excellence the bar, only the melanin level of an individual. This smacks of the One Drop Rule that the Nazis used in the past. It now rears its ugly head in a nicer packaging called diversity and multiculturalism. It is still patently racist. It is language meant to ensnare those who do not use genuine critical thinking skills. Then there is the constant meme of increased police brutality against black Americans. Yet the figures consistently disprove this libel. In fact, "Black Lives Matter as a political movement as distinct from, say, thinking that black lives matter, which most Americans do because they aren't racist isn't interested at all in ameliorating the state of black America, or fighting actual racism, or expanding liberty and justice for all under our constitutional system. This isn't an evolutionary movement but a revolutionary one." As Caroline Glick points out, "[f]or American Jews, the violent riots constitute a challenge on several levels. First, there is the challenge of squaring their political identity with their Jewish identity. As the 2014 Pew survey of American Jews showed, around half of American Jews identify as progressives. As progressives, many American Jews share the views of their non-Jewish progressive counterparts regarding the need to prioritize the interests of minority communities over their own interests." But how can Jews support Black Lives Matter when it is an anti-Semitic organization? In fact, "BLM was formed in 2014 as a merger of activists from the anti-Semitic Nation of Islam, the anti-Semitic Black Panthers and Dream Catchers. In 2016, BLM published a platform that has since been removed from its website. The platform accused Israel of committing 'genocide' and referred to the Jewish state as an 'apartheid' state." Furthermore, "[t]he platform also officially joined BLM with the anti-Semitic BDS campaign to boycott, divest and sanction Israel. BDS campaign leader Omar Barghouti acknowledges that the goal of the BDS movement is to destroy Israel." Moreover, "BDS campaigns on US campuses are characterized by bigotry and discrimination directed against Jewish students." And so, unsuspecting Jews "believe they must fight America's 'structural racism'" even if by doing so they will put their own civil rights at grave risk. This Minneapolis rabbi actually asserts that he will ignore the anti-Semitism of BLM when he states that "[w]e can argue and joust and cry about Israel another day [emphasis mine]. Today, we have a categorical moral imperative to hear the pain of our black brothers and sisters. And I know in my heart of hearts that I have to stand with them. And so now and evermore we must all say Black Lives Matter. And it is high time for the world to wake up to that reality, welcome it and assimilate it." Under the idea of "tikkun olam" or saving the world, Jewish progressives have twisted Judaic ideas to suit their radical progressive ideas. As Rabbi Aryeh Spiro explains, liberal Jewish groups are "manipulating Tikkun Olam to conform to their a priori devotion to liberalism and provide themselves license to socially engineer society" into a socialist welfare state. Moreover, progressives have always been hostile to Israel. Jews, uncertain and often ignorant of their own rich heritage, are choosing those who they believe are less privileged, yet it appears to have escaped their notice that this could result in the cost of their own identity and safety. Add this to the fact that "[b]etween BLM's establishment in 2014 and the publication of its platform in 2016, anti-Israel activists went to great lengths to create an utterly false conceptual linkage between the Palestinians and African Americans. Today, anti-Israel activists in the US have stepped up their efforts to capitalize on the riots. Anti-Israel activists in Bethlehem painted a picture of George Floyd wearing a khaffiyeh and draped in a Palestinian flag on the separation barrier." A clear cut distinction needs to be made to support groups with legitimate grievances as opposed to those groups with ulterior and evil intentions wrapped up in good-sounding verbiage. Such ideological blackmail and pandering will not end well for Jews, because they will be eaten alive by the behemoth of anti-white racism and prejudice and the overt and covert anti-Semitism that BLM, Antifa, and other such groups applaud. Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/16/2020 ADVERTISEMENT DEAVAN AND JIHOON ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT BRITTANY AND YAZAN ADVERTISEMENT ARIELA AND BINIYAM ADVERTISEMENT JENNY AND SUMIT ADVERTISEMENT KENNETH AND ARMANDO ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. : The Other Way's Season 2 episode featured Yazan's brother expressing disapproval of Brittany, Ariela revealing Biniyam's previous marriage to an American woman whom he also got pregnant, Sumit taking a stand for Jenny Slatten , and Jihoon Lee promising Deavan Clegg he'd take care of their family financially during Monday night's episode on TLC.: The Other Way follows American citizens moving to foreign countries for the sake of love and their future spouses, and they must marry within 90 days in order to stay.: The Other Way's second season features a total of six couples, including Season 1 returnees Jenny and fiance Sumit as well as Deavan and husband Jihoon.Jenny, a 61-year-old from Palm Springs, CA, will be shown moving back to India for Sumit, a 32-year-old from New Delhi, India, once and for all after previously uprooting her life only to discover Sumit was married to another woman.Deavan, a 23-year-old from Salt Lake City, UT, will be shown officially moving to South Korea along with her two children to start a life with Jihoon, a 29-year-old from Seoul, South Korea.The four new couples starring on Season 2 of : The Other Way are Yazan, a 24-year-old from Amman, Jordan, and Brittany, a 26-year-old from Palm Beach, FL; Ariela, a 28-year-old from Princeton, NJ, and Biniyam, a 29-year-old from Ethiopia; Kenneth, a 57-year-old from St. Petersburg, FL, and Armando, a 31-year-old from Mexico; and Tim, a 34-year-old from Dallas, TX, and Melyza, a 29-year-old from Colombia.Tim and Melyza, however, have yet to be introduced on the show.Below is what Episode 2 of : The Other Way's second season featured.Deavan was shown dealing with the coronavirus given she said it's very serious where she is in South Korea. South Korea is the second country with the most infected people, and so she and Jihoon were in quarantine.Deavan admitted her daughter Drascilla was going stir crazy and her son Taeyang couldn't play outside."They're predicting 60 percent of the country could get the virus, and that's really scary. Everyone is in panic mode, and I don't know what to do," Deavan told her Diary Cam.Seven months earlier, Jihoon was shown getting a haircut."This year, Deavan move to Korea. It was supposed to be happily ever after, but Deavan just go back to America and heart my broken," Jihoon said."When Deavan go back to America, I feel like I fail, because I'm not ready for our apartment, money. I need change."Jihoon told his barber that he needed to learn a new skill, and the barber called him "stubborn" and said he's not a good listener. Jihoon admitted the barber was right and he wasn't exactly trying to get his life together.So meanwhile, Deavan was in Utah with her two children. She said the past year had been "absolutely nuts" -- "a whirlwind." After meeting Jihoon on an international dating app, Jihoon visited her in America three months later and they got pregnant the very first night they met.Deavan had to win over Jihoon's parents, who had doubts about her, but she ultimately received a blessing to marry their son. Two months later, Taeyang was born.Once Taeyang was old enough to fly, she packed her bags and moved to South Korea with her son and the plan her parents would fly Drascilla out a few weeks later. The time gap allowed Deavan to get settled in her new life with Jihoon before throwing her daughter into the mix.But once she arrived in South Korea, Jihoon was still living with his parents and she found out he was in debt because of a $15,000 legal fee from selling used phones.Jihoon assured Deavan that his past was in the past and she could count on him, so they got married on paper and Deavan could apply for a visa to move to South Korea permanently.But after a few weeks of living in Jihoon's parents' home, Deavan said Jihoon didn't step up and start providing for his family, so she decided to make back to the United States and not return until Jihoon managed to get his act together.Deavan said being back in America was "extremely hard and difficult," especially since she has two kids, and she didn't want to do it alone anymore. Jihoon therefore told Deavan he had enough money saved and only needed one month to get a rental and start providing.With that in mind, Deavan opted to move back to South Korea permanently. Deavan packed condoms because she didn't want to get pregnant again, and her mother was traveling to Korea with her to help her get settled in and talk to Jihoon.Deavan's mom Elicia wanted to make sure Jihoon was going to be the man he said he was trying to be. Elicia thought Jihoon should already have a home and a savings account at age 30, and she didn't think he had any idea how hard it is to be a father.Jihoon's mother apparently wanted her son to marry a Korean woman, and so she decided to rent an apartment for the couple rather than stay with his parents again during her next trip to Korea. She wanted her husband to "grow up and get his sh-t together."Deavan was admittedly worried to go to Korea because while she trusted her husband loved her and their family, she couldn't trust him when it came to their finances and his promises.Deavan, who wanted to be a stay-at-home mom in Korea, was then shown FaceTiming with Jihoon. Deavan revealed Elicia would be staying with them for 10 days and her expectations were going to far surpass what Jihoon was probably going to bring to the table.Deavan and Jihoon only had the rental for one month, so she said it would be up to Jihoon to find them a place of their own after that. Deavan felt she had supported her family financially up to that point and it was Jihoon's turn to take on that responsibility.Jihoon was apparently tired of talking about money, but he told Deavan to not worry because he got a new job involving tile. Jihoon, however, couldn't say how much money he was making.Jihoon said $3,000-4,000, and Deavan pointed out that wasn't enough for their family. Jihoon asked Deavan to stop being grumpy, but Deavan was already paying thousands for their one-month rental.Jihoon said with his other job of "delivery," he was making $6,000-7,000, but Deavan wasn't buying it. Jihoon promised to pay for everything and work hard, and Deavan promised she'd stay in Korea if he could pass the test."If he can't do it, then he's obviously not ready for the family life," Deavan noted, before Jihoon asked her to trust him.Brittany was traveling to Jordan, and Yazan admitted he was a little nervous about her coming since she had done "a lot of inappropriate things" during her first visit to his country.Yazan said when Brittany stepped off the plate, her skirt was very short and she was showing a lot of skin. In fact, he said half her breasts were out and Yazan was apparently told by people he and Brittany didn't seem compatible.The Arab culture doesn't accept sexy outfits like Brittany wears in Florida, and he apparently wanted her to blend in better with a hijab and abaya in Jordan.Yazan is the oldest of his siblings and he works at a fish market, the family business. Yazan's brother Obaida didn't think Brittany was a good match for him, advising Yazan to marry a local Muslim girl who fits his lifestyle and would have good, unquestionable intentions."My family preference would be that I choose a relative. My parents, they are related to each other. A lot of my family members are related to each other," Yazan shared."I don't want that because I truly love this girl and I want her."Yazan told Obaida that he didn't want them to be in conflict with each other, but Obaida insisted his brother's relationship was "a headache" and "family problem."Yazan told Obaida that Brittany was willing to convert to Islam, but as viewers saw during last week's episode, that's not really the case and Brittany didn't plan on changing her religion.Regardless, Obaida was not accepting of Brittany, but Yazan set out to prove Brittany is a good girl."If Brittany does anything to embarrass my family, they might disown me," Yazan told cameras, before Obaida repeated this wasn't a good idea.The day arrived in which Brittany was moving to Jordan, and she knew Yazan's "super strict, traditional Muslim family" was going to try to force her to get married right away. On top of that, Brittany said Yazan's family didn't know she was still married to her ex."I'm really being crazy now, but I love Yazan and I want to be with him... He supports me much more than anyone I've ever dated," Brittany gushed in a confessional.Brittany admitted she didn't want to be rushed into a marriage and it was going to take six to 10 months to "get the divorce done." Brittany's dad advised his daughter to discuss this situation with Yazan first, but he said Brittany should have addressed this problem before flying to Jordan.Brittany's father was worried and sad, and Brittany told the cameras being without her support system in Jordan was going to be really hard. Brittany's dad told her to "be brave and tell the truth," and their goodbye at the airport tugged at viewers' heartstrings."I really want to marry Yazan, and if I know him the way I think I know him, he's going to support me no matter what," Brittany said."But the secret about me still being married could ruin our relationship, and it can put him and I in a lot danger... It's the biggest risk of our lives."Ariela was leaving for Ethiopia in a week, so she enjoyed a last big dinner with her family. While enjoying the big meal, Ariela revealed Biniyam had been married to an American woman before and they have a two-year-old son together."Our story, there are some similarities. She also got pregnant early on in their relationship," Ariela told the cameras.Ariela told her loved ones that Biniyam is not on speaking terms with that woman, who moved back to the United States with her son. Ariela admitted Biniyam hadn't seen his son face-to-face since.Ariela's family questioned Biniyam's motivation and whether he was just using Ariela for a Green Card. Ariela and Biniyam also follow different religions, with Ariela being raised Jewish and Biniyam being an Ethiopian-Orthodox Christian.Ariela, however, said she'd never convert and raising her baby Jewish is very important to her. Ariela wasn't willing to give Biniyam any say in this, adding that some of Biniyam's beliefs seemed "superstitious."Ariela wished her family wouldn't judge Biniyam before meeting him, and she worried her mother wouldn't like him since she'd be accompanying Ariela on her trip to the foreign country."But I'm not going to change my mind about moving to Ethiopia," Ariela said.Sumit said Jenny was about to travel back to India after five months of being apart and he couldn't wait to see her again.Sumit was living in a different town far from the main city. It was an older, cheap house, but Sumit was trying to fix it up and make it look better for Jenny. Sumit's brother Amit therefore helped him move.Sumit's new place was far from home, and his family apparently wasn't happy with that. Amit expressed how the family was concerned about Jenny being older than their own mother.Sumit planned to finish up his divorce and then marry Jenny, but Amit said that Sumit -- being the eldest child on his family -- should be the one to respect his parents and follow the rules above anyone else. An ideal son apparently helps his parents in their old age.Amit suggested Sumit was choosing taking care of Jenny over his parents and so it brought about shame, but Sumit insisted he loved Jenny and wanted to be with her.Sumit told Amit that he struggled for over two years because his parents had forced him into an arranged marriage that he didn't want or agree with. Sumit never felt supported by his parents and said Jenny stood up for him through it all, even despite his lies."I don't want to make them happy and make me suffer once again," Sumit explained, "which I did before.""I agree," Amit conceded.Sumit said he wanted to feel supported by his parents and have them be understanding of his relationship, but if not, he seemed willing to cut ties with them entirely. Sumit was prepared to tell his parents to essentially mind their own business.Amit told Sumit that he would talk to his parents on Sumit's behalf and help them to better understand the situation.The day then arrived when Jenny was leaving for India, and she had hope their relationship was going to work out because Sumit had filed for divorce from his first wife. Jenny was optimistic all would go according to plan, but she had yet to see Sumit's divorce papers.Jenny told her daughter Christina that Sumit wasn't able to get a hold of the papers due to "some holiday or festival." Christina found that suspicious and feared Sumit was stringing his mother along, but Jenny said she was choosing to love and trust Sumit."I'm ready to take a chance and try one more time," Jenny shared, adding that Sumit's decision to file for divorce in India was "a big deal" and Sumit had chosen her as his partner."It's going to work out, and this time, we're going to get married. I know it for sure!"Jenny acknowledged she was taking a tremendous risk and it was hard for her to leave her daughter and grandkids again. She also knew she had put her family through a lot, which was making this trip to India even more of a sacrifice.Christina said she believes people can redeem themselves and she was just hoping Sumit was truly trying to do that and they could all move forward together. Jenny boarded the plane and figured this was her last chance at happiness.Kenneth was moving to Mexico in one week to be with his love Armando, and since he was going to miss Thanksgiving with his family, they all decided to celebrate early in 2019.Kenneth revealed to his family that Armando was only 31 years old but he had already purchased an engagement ring and was going to ask Armando to marry him. Kenneth said he had known Armando for three-and-a-half years.Kenneth's daughters worried Kenneth was taking things too fast because they hadn't spent much time in person together. There was also a chance Armando's parents weren't going to accept Kenneth or his relationship with their Mexican son.Kenneth hoped to "change minds" and "show that love is love," and his kids were just happy that Kenneth was going to be happy. Kenneth had dedicated his adult life to his children, and so he expressed how he was ready to do something for himself.Kenneth was a bit afraid of the unknown and questioned whether he could make Armando happy if his parents didn't approve. Kenneth acknowledged he was taking "a big risk" for love.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! (Photo : Photo by Colin Czerwinski on Unsplash) China's NEW Virus Outbreak Comes From Eating Salmon? Here's What Experts Suggest (Photo : China Daily via REUTERS ) A medical staff in protective suit collects swabs from people who have recently travelled to Beijing for nucleic acid tests, following new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections at the Chinese capital, in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China June 15, 2020. Picture taken June 15, 2020 China is experiencing the virus chaos all over again. A new coronavirus outbreak is now reported in the place of origin of the virus. At the time, experts point finger on bats. Now, a weird source has been reported by the health experts: virus comes from imported salmon fish. China sees COVID-19 outbreak again China sees a new COVID-19 outbreak happening in the country, targeting the Chinese capital, Beijing. After seeing no positive cases for the last months, Beijing has recorded an additional 36 positive coronavirus cases since last week. China's Vice Premier Sun Chunlan warned its citizens regarding the higher COVID-19 risks in the area. The government also advised staying away from the city's largest wholesale market, since the outbreak reportedly started in this area. However, unlike before wherein 'eating bats' became the reason for the outbreak, now, there is still no definite reason behind this, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "As we've seen in many countries, the emergence of new clusters - especially when the origin of the cluster, the driver of the cluster, is not recognized - is always a concern," said Mike Ryan, head of the WHO's emergencies program. "But what we do like to see is an immediate response to that and a comprehensive set of measures." The virus came from imported salmon? If WHO can't identify the reason behind the sudden increase of COVID-19 cases again in China, state-run media reported differently. Several of them reported that one of the main theories of the new outbreak came from salmon fish that were imported from Europe. They told the public that virus strands were found on chopping board, inside the said market. These items were used to chop imported salmon fish that were being sold in the market. Due to these claims, the Chinese government even halted the salmon products and packaging on major supermarkets in the country. Companies that sold salmon to Chinese stores immediately followed this new regulation. "We can't send any salmon to China now, the market is closed," Regin Jacobsen, CEO of Oslo-listed salmon supplier Bakkafrost, told Reuters. "We have stopped all sales to China and are waiting for the situation to be clarified," said Stein Martinsen, head of sales and marketing at Norway Royal Salmon. WHO did not confirm nor deny the 'salmon' claim The WHO clarifies that the 'salmon' theory has a basis; however, it is not enough to prove a point. Therefore, not the 'primary hypothesis' they're investigating. "I think we need to look at what has happened in this case, I don't believe it is the primary hypothesis. But it needs to be explored," said WHO in the interview. ALSO READ: [COVID-19 Update] Early Results of Sinovac's Coronavirus Vaccine Show 90% of Trial Volunteers Developed Antibodies 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hyderabad: The Indian Army officer killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, Colonel Santosh Babu, fulfilled his father's personal dreams of serving the country and was expecting a posting to this city before making the supreme sacrifice. Babu and two soldiers were killed in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night during a clash with Chinese troops in the first such incident involving fatalities after a gap of 45 years, signalling a massive escalation in the five-week border standoff in the sensitive region. The slain officer's father said while he could not live his dreams of serving the armed forces, his son did. "I could not join the army and serve my country. So I wanted my son to join the defence forces and serve our country though my relatives discouraged the idea," B Upender, father of the slain Colonel and a retired banker, said. Expressing his heartfelt condolences over Babu's demise, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, in a statement, said the state government will stand by the bereaved family. He instructed his cabinet colleague Jagadish Reddy, as the state government representative, to oversee arrangements for receiving the body till the last rites are performed. Babu, who hailed from Suryapet district in Telangana, was serving in the 16 Bihar regiment as Commanding Officer, his father said. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son, who are residing in Delhi. The slain officer,who was expecting a posting in Hyderabad soon, had spoken to his mother on Sunday where the conversation centred around the ongoing tensions. "He last spoke to me on Sunday night," Babu's mother said. Though 'crestfallen,' she is "proud that my son sacrificed (his life) for the nation," she said. When asked about the tensions at the Indo-China border, Santosh had said those issues could not be discussed given the sensitivity. Here's a look at his family pictures #SantoshBabu was the only son. But his mother says she is proud of her son's sacrifice for the nation #IndianArmy #IndiaChinaBorder #indiachinastandoff pic.twitter.com/bUGyS20aNl Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) June 16, 2020 "I told him to be careful," the bereaved father told reporters. Babu joined the Indian Army in 2004 and was first posted in Jammu and Kashmir, Upender said. The family was informed about the tragedy this afternoon by senior army officials. Babu's mortal remains are expected to reach his native Suryapet on Wednesday for the final rites, district police chief R Bhaskaran said. "As of now the information available is the mortal remains have to reach Delhi and from there his wife and children will travel to Suryapet, where the final rites are scheduled to happen", the SP told PTI over phone. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in a standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizable number of Chinese Army personnel had even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas, including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row before the differences took a violent and fatal turn on Monday. Click here to read the full article. We are in one world designing for another, Ulla Johnson expressed via Zoom while previewing her resort collection. The designer is one of the first and few who was able, and decided, to design a pre-season collection. Once people come out of this, they want to be inspired, and we need beauty, and have all been so separated and silenced that we really wanted to say something strong and positive and assertively new, she explained. Johnson focused on designing new silhouettes around a message of joy: a tree of life motif depicting rebirth, growth, connectedness was noted as a springboard for the collection. The motif could be seen hand-embroidered on a beautiful handknit sweater made in Uruguay or in a poplin print on the brands signature poufed blouses and airy dresses. While no garments aside from the green and yellow shibori taffeta silk dress the designer was wearing were present for the appointment (the collection was shipped out for market appointments and manufacturing), looks were shown through a digital look book and a packet of fabric and print swatches. The robust array of 100 stockkeeping units included Johnsons take on soft suiting, such as a selection of easy high-waisted crossover trousers, as well as Venetian marbled and shibori printed garb. The designer mentioned that while a lot of conversation has opened up on how COVID-19 is going to impact the way people design and the overall fashion calendar, she and her team have been designing wear-now, seasonless clothes over the years. As a way to expand on artisan partnerships that hold great importance for the brand, Johnson launched accessories into wholesale with recycled brass, hand-hammered and recycled glass jewelry developed in Kenya, with handbags to follow in the spring. Launch Gallery: Ulla Johnson Resort 2021 Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. A 60-year-old village head has been arrested in Akwa Ibom State for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl, the police have said. A statement from the police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, N-nudam Fredrick, Tuesday, said the suspect, Okon Uyoe, who is the village head of Ikot Inyang, Ibesikpo-Asutan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, bought akara (beans cake) from the little girl and then requested her to accompany him to his room for the money. On reaching the room, the suspect grabbed the victim and forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her, Mr Fredrick, a chief superintendent of police, said. The incident, according to the police, happened around 1:12 p.m. on June 13. The police said they have also arrested a pastor, Victor Victor David, in Ntak Inyang, Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of the state, for allegedly raping an eight-year-old girl who was sent by her guardian to deliver a tin of peak milk to the said pastor. The police spokesperson mentioned other rape suspects arrested recently in the state. On 1/4/2020, at about 2:00am, following a distress call, SARS Operatives swung into action and arrested one Peter Emmanuel Ekanem on the basis of an outcry by a victim of a case of rape which prompted a good spirited individual to place a distress call to the Police. Investigation revealed that the suspect conspired with other suspects now at large and forcefully took the lady at gunpoint to a primary school field in Ikot Akpa Ekpuk village, Ikono LGA where she was raped. Suspect confessed to the crime. A locally-made pistol was recovered from the suspect. Investigation is in progress. On 28/5/2020, at about 9:00am, based on reliable intelligence, detectives of Ibesikpo-Asutan Division arrested one Henry Okon Henry m, aged 30 years of Mbokpueyokan, Urue-Offong Oruko L.G.A, but resides at Ikot Ambon, Ibesikpo-Asutan L.G.A. Investigation revealed that suspect forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of his 17-year-old niece, and also threatened to kill the victim if she attempts to escape or raise alarm. Following a complaint on 13/6/2020 at about 5:20 pm, operatives of C Division arrested one Solomon Emmanuel Okon m and Becky Umoretuk f. Suspects conspired and lured a 26-year-old lady to their house and unlawfully assaulted her with fist blow and machete, in the process Solomon Emmanuel Okon m forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of the victim. The police spokesperson said the suspects would be charged after investigations have been concluded. There has been a shocking increase in rape and other sexual offences in Nigeria lately, despite a nationwide outcry and campaign against it. The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said on Monday that the police recorded 717 rape cases between January and May. I moved away from America while on the eve of completing my first book. It was a coincidence, but I couldnt help but fantasise how that small detail connected me with my heroes. I would be a black man reflecting on a black boyhood in America from an ocean away. How could I not consider the most gorgeous of those goliaths who did the same James Baldwin who left Harlem for Paris when he was my age, 24. Cole Brown, author of Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World. In an interview late in life, Baldwin clarified: It wasnt so much a matter of choosing France it was a matter of getting out of America. He felt certain that America would destroy him were he to stick around long enough to let it. His flight was an act of self-preservation. Of survival. Mine, blessedly, was one of exploration. Always prophetic, Baldwin understood. In a 1977 interview, he recalled: A lot of young Americans, white or black, rich or poor, have wanted to get away, as a means of getting closer to themselves. By Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. By Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a series of cases seeking to expand gun rights, showing that even with its conservative majority it remains hesitant about wading into the contentious issue. The court rejected 10 different appeals that had piled up in recent months challenging whether various firearms restrictions violated the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment right to bear arms. Two conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh, said they would have heard one of the cases, a dispute from New Jersey over that state's concealed-carry gun permits. The court has a 5-4 conservative majority. The justices left in place a lower court ruling that threw out a lawsuit challenging New Jersey's law mandating that people who want to carry handguns in public must show they have a special reason before they can obtain a permit. The court also turned down similar cases from Massachusetts and Maryland. The court also declined to take up appeals challenging assault weapon bans in Massachusetts and Cook County, Illinois, a jurisdiction that includes Chicago. The Massachusetts ban, enacted in 1998, was modeled after a federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 and was not renewed, largely because of Republican opposition in Congress. Cook County enacted its ban in 2006. Both measures barred specific firearms including AK-47s and AR-15s. The influential National Rifle Association and others have been seeking to expand gun rights by challenging the legality of firearms restrictions passed at the state and local level. The Supreme Court on April 27 dismissed an NRA-backed challenge to now-repealed New York City restrictions on handgun owners transporting their firearms outside the home, sidestepping a major ruling over the scope of Second Amendment protections. The court's last major gun-rights ruling came a decade ago. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, National and Lagos State chapters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed shock and sadness over the death of Senator Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo. The late senator, popularly called Pepperito, represented Lagos East until his demise. He was 64. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola also mourned Pepperito. A statement by the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said: As a member of the Ninth Senate and a key member of the APC, President Buhari recounts that Senator Osinowo as Chairman of Senate Committee on Industry and member of other committees, worked diligently to advance this administrations objective of building a better and prosperous Nigeria. The President affirms that the senators commitment to meet the needs of his community as a four-time member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, devotion to national development as well as insightful contributions at the floor of the Senate would be fondly remembered and missed. The President prays God Almighty to grant the family of Osinowo, friends and well-wishers the fortitude to bear the loss. In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, the Senate President condoled with Osinowos family, friends, political associates as well as the government and people of Lagos State. Lawan said the late Osinowo served his country creditably at the Ninth Senate, where he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industries. Gbajabiamila described Osinowos death as shocking and saddening. In a condolence message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker said: Senator Osinowos death is a painful loss to Lagosians. Here was a man who dedicated himself to the service of his people. He was always at the forefront of delivering the dividends of democracy to the electorate. As a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly for many years, he endeared himself to his constituents through different laudable projects. And as a senator from June last year until his demise, Senator Osinowo was already proving his mettle. Also, in a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu described Osinowos death as a rude shock, coming at a time the state and the nation were beginning to benefit from his wealth of political and administrative experience. I am saddened by the death of this fine gentleman; a loyal party man and committed democrat with a deep understanding of the states social and political landscape, he said. Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said: We were about to begin the plenary session of the day when the news of his demise filtered in and threw the whole Assembly into disarray and mourning. Not many could believe that the ebullient and ever smiling Pepperito, like a candle in the wind, has been blown out. Even with the evidence that death has done its worst, it is still difficult to come to terms that a political pillar and peace maker is gone. In his condolence message, Aregbesola said: I received with shock and indescribable grief but submission to the will of Allah the passage of my friend, brother and political associate of many decades, Senator Dhikrulahi Adebayo Osinowo. Vivacious, didactic, ebullient, engaging, witty and more: these are befitting epigram for the extraordinarily energetic senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District at the National Assembly. There was no dull moment with Osinowo. He was zestful and full of life. The APC commiserated with the government and people of Lagos State on Osinowos death. The party described the senators demise as a big blow. In a statement on Monday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the ruling party said: We join other Nigerians, the entire National Assembly, the good people of Lagos East in particular and Lagos State in general to mourn the passage of a democrat, who contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State as a lawmaker in the House of Assembly and Nigeria as a senator. Though his tenure in the Senate was brief, our great party appreciates the loyalty of Senator Osinowo to the cause of the APC-led government. The Lagos State APC family commiserated with Osinowos family, the partys National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and party members on this shocking loss. A statement by its spokesman Seye Oladejo recalled that the late Osinowo was at the forefront of the battle to entrench democracy. Senator Gbenga Ashafa, who was the late Osinowos predecessor in Lagos East, expressed sadness at the demise of fellow party chieftain. Senator Osinowo was a committed leader in the APC as he always placed the interest of the party before his. He was also deeply passionate about his constituents, initially in Kosofe I Constituency, which he represented in the Lagos State House of Assembly for 16 years, and then later as the foremost voice representing Lagos East at the floor of the Ninth Senate. Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi described Osinowos death as shocking and unfortunate. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode, the governor said the deceased was a thoroughbred professional and successful businessman who had a career in the public service before joining politics. He prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji AbdulLateef AbdulAkeem, also commiserated with the family of the deceased, the House of Assembly and the late senators constituents on the sad loss. Hundreds of mourners on Monday thronged the Ogudu GRA, Lagos home of the late senator, weeping profusely about the demise of their benefactor. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The Programme for Government contains some hugely ambitions plans, from cutting carbon emissions to rebooting the economy following the coronavirus crisis. But here are 15 features of the plans, drawn up by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens, that you may have missed. Ways to better inform consumers about the carbon footprint of products, including possible labelling, will be considered. Likelihood of happening - 5/10: A nice idea but the retail lobby is likely to resist any measures that could hamper the sales of certain goods that have a high carbon footprint. 2. Tax on vaping A targeted taxation regime to specifically discourage people from vaping and using e-cigarettes is on the cards. Likelihood of happening - 8/10: Successive governments have been strongly anti-smoking and an administration led by Micheal Martin, who pioneered the smoking ban, is likely to make a quick push on this measure. Read More 3. Nationwide network of drinking fountains There are plans to develop a scheme between councils and Irish Water to provide a network of drinking fountains to reduce plastic bottle waste. Likelihood of happening - 2/10: In the short term, there's zero chance of this being rolled out due to the coronavirus pandemic, which is also likely to make people more wary of amenities like drinking fountains into the future. 4. Teen sheds The Programme for Government commits to establishing a national network of teen sheds, similar to men's sheds, which are community-based projects where men come together to learn, share skills and make friendships. Likelihood of happening - 6/10: Men's sheds have been a hugely successful initiative and promote physical and mental wellbeing. It's an idea that could work for younger people, but more detail on the level of Government investment is needed. 5. Regulating e-scooters and e-bikes In the absence of legislation, e-scooters and e-bikes are in legal limbo. These mechanically-propelled vehicles are popular as they give people the capability to whizz through congested streets and roads. There are plans to resolve this situation. Likelihood of happening - 9/10: This is an easy one - work was started by the last government with a public consultation and Fianna Fail has previously proposed legislation. 6. Hemp growing The parties are committing to "fully explore" the potential for growing fibre crops such as hemp. They will consider whether these crops have a viable market. Likelihood of happening - 6/10: There are approximately nine farmers growing hemp - which is a strain of the cannabis plant - in Ireland, and the practice is strictly regulated. Expanding it would seem like a good idea at a time when farmers are being asked to diversify. 7. Reduced speed limits on roads The parties plan to review and reduce speed limits "where appropriate", both for road safety and to help cut carbon emissions. Likelihood of happening - 7/10: It's always hard to argue with a road-safety initiative and it has the added bonus for the Greens that it will cut emissions. Expect 80kmph limits on boreens to go, but the Gardai will need more resources for enforcement. 8. Scrapping the BAI The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is for the chop and will be replaced with a new Media and Online Safety Commission, when new online safety legislation is enacted. Likelihood of happening - 8/10: This proposal has already been flagged by the outgoing Government. A powerful regulator with the ability to force internet companies to takedown harmful content has cross-party support. 9. Cut school-book costs for parents There are proposals to place an emphasis on the rental and re-use of school books, while work books are to be discouraged. Likelihood of happening - 4/10: Parents would support any initiative to reduce costs. Furthermore, generations of children did their homework in copy books, not work books. However, cutting back on work books has been mooted for years and has not happened yet. 10. Linking the Wild Atlantic Way to the Giants Causeway The Wild Atlantic Way would be linked to the Causeway Costal Route in Northern Ireland, in consultation with the executive there. Likelihood of happening - 5/10: Sinn Fein has previously proposed extending the Wild Atlantic Way into the North. It could be a sensitive one for Unionists but then again, the tourism initiative has been massively successful on the west coast so perhaps it's a runner if handled carefully. 11. Explore the possibility of faster rail links between Irish cities There are plans to commission an economic evaluation of higher-speed rail links between Ireland's main cities. Likelihood of happening - 1/10: The likelihood for this should be 9/10. However, it is very unlikely that high-speed rail will happen any time soon. This is due to the massive costs and the current state of the country's finances due to the pandemic. 12. Relief for badgers The vaccination scheme for bovine TB in badgers is to be extended nationwide and culling is to end. Likelihood of happening - 6/10: Farmers will be all for efforts to reduce bovine TB, but badgers don't have a vote so it depends how strong the animal rights lobby is in Government. 13. Nightlife There are a range of proposals to enhance night-time culture, with social distancing due to have a major impact. A task force is to be established to look at modernising licensing laws, and staggering trading hours. Likelihood of happening - 8/10: This will be a crucial element of restarting a sector that has been battered by the Covid-19 crisis. It will also be popular among voters keen to resume their social life. 14. Rules for influencers The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is to adopt a more active enforcement role. It will be directed to ensure that social media influencers disclose their links to brands. Likelihood of happening - 7/10: This makes sense for consumers, but will there be an online backlash from influencers about overly-burdensome rules and regulations? 15. Chickenpox vaccine There is a commitment to examine the inclusion of the chickenpox vaccine in the children's immunisation schedule. Likelihood of it happening - 6/10: The importance of vaccines has been underlined by the Covid crisis, but the chickenpox vaccine is not currently recommended for those who have a weak immune system, which may curtail plans for a broader rollout. Suspects could be tried by a judge and two lay magistrates rather than juries to tackle the backlog of 41,000 Crown court cases, England's most senior judge said today. Lord Burnett, the Lord Chief Justice, said those accused of offences like burglary and less-serious assaults could be covered by the new arrangement to allow smaller courts that cannot accommodate a socially-distanced jury to open. He told BBC Radio 4's Law In Action: 'The disposal of either-way trials in the Crown Court by a judge sitting with two magistrates would retain the lay public involvement in trials but give rise to none of the difficulties of social distancing that are attached to having a jury involved in a trial.' Judges and magistrates must consider how the coronavirus crisis is affecting conditions in prisons when deciding whether to jail offenders, Lord Burnett has said The first jury trials since the lockdown got underway last month after courts were rearranged to accommodate social distancing, but Lord Burnett believes a new approach is needed if judges are to have any hope of clearing the huge backlog. Sittings at many smaller court centres have been suspended since March, although several will reopen this week, including Durham Crown Court and the Moot Hall in Newcastle. New arrangements that see trials at some courts taking place over three room to ensure participants stay six feet apart has also reduced the number of trials that can take place. Jurors, senior barristers and the judge occupy the main courtroom, with an overflow court for the press, public, junior barristers and police, and a third court for jury retirement. Last month, police were told to utilise out of court methods such as community service to try and clear a backlog of court cases caused by coronavirus amid fears thousands of cases could be blocked. On May 18, jurors wore masks at the Old Bailey as a doctor became the first defendant to go on trial in the pandemic. On May 18, jurors wore masks at the Old Bailey as a doctor became the first defendant to go on trial in the pandemic Dr Mohammad Tahir was charged with causing the death by careless driving of a motorcyclist on the Embankment at Chelsea, west London, in 2017. Before being sworn in, Judge Richard Marks QC broke with tradition and used a microphone to address 27 potential jurors in the hallway outside the court. The judge, who is Common Sergeant of London, told them: We are living, are we not, in very challenging times and it would be remiss of me not to address your concerns during the pandemic. Jurors heard how the building had been thoroughly cleaned and inspected before they arrived. None of the jurors raised any objections. Other new trials also began at Cardiff, Bristol and Manchester Minshull Street Crown Courts. After a decade of conflict, destruction, and severe economic contraction, Syrias civil war may be nearing an end. Syrian President Bashar al Assad, thanks to extensive military, economic, and diplomatic support from his Russian and Iranian partners, is as close to vanquishing his enemies as he has ever been. The anti-regime opposition is now boxed into a small, crowded corner of northwestern Syria -- a territory only kept out of Assads reach by neighboring Turkey, a country petrified of even more Syrian refugees spilling over the border. Al Assad has all but won the civil war, but Syria is dangerously close to an economic collapse. While policymakers in Washington are coy, a U.S. policy geared toward regime change in Damascus is exacerbating the suffering and hindering Syrias post-war reconstruction. Syria is at a tipping point. It will take decades before the nation is able to come back to pre-war levels of economic growth. The war has cost the Syrian economy as much as $530 billion between 2011 and 2019. The Syrian armys vicious, barbaric prosecution of the war, coupled with U.S. and EU sanctions on the Assad government, has handicapped everything from health care and public services to education. Syrias product exports have rapidly declined, from $12.2 billion in 2010 to $695 million in 2018. The value of its currency has decreased by 50% this year -- at the same time the price of food has risen by an average of 107% over the past 12 months. Add an internal regime feud between Assad and his wealthy cousin, Rami Makhlouf, and Russias growing impatience with the Syrian governments inability to govern effectively, and Syria is facing a long-term period of deprivation. The imminent implementation of the Caesar Act, a U.S. law that will sanction any foreign entity transacting with the Syrian government across a wide variety of economic sectors, will further delay whatever small window of opportunity the countrys victims have to begin moving on from the conflict. Washington is deliberately hindering Syrias economic and physical reconstruction as it pursues regime change in Damascus. Until Assad makes significant political compromises to his opponents, abides by U.N. Security Council Resolutions weighted against his own government, or agrees to resign -- demands he has shown no willingness to consider -- U.S. sanctions will remain intact and may even tighten. The 83% of Syrians already living in poverty are effectively being punished for the barbarity, corruption, and ineptitude of their government. In addition to utilizing the power of the U.S. financial system, the Trump administration is also dipping into the U.S. military toolkit. Officially, the American people are told, U.S. troops stationed in Eastern Syria are performing counterterrorism operations against ISIS. The reality, however, is hundreds of American military personnel are being used to block Damascus and Moscow from accessing Syrias meager oil fields. The logic is fairly straightforward: If Assad is unable to access these fields and export oil again, the financial pressure eventually will force him to offer political concessions to his Syrian adversaries. Assad has never been open to such an arrangement. Even during the height of the civil war, when Syrian troops were fleeing from the north and rebel groups were approaching the suburbs of the capital, Assad and his inner circle ruled out the prospect of stepping down -- understandably calculating that doing so would result in their death, imprisonment, or exile. Despite Russian airpower turning the tide of the war in his favor, the Syrian strongman has repeatedly resisted Russias entreaties to cooperate diplomatically. If Assad were unwilling to negotiate with his back against the wall, it is naive to expect him to do so when hes winning on the ground. This will result in something the American people have seen too often over the last two decades and are increasingly opposed to: the prospect of endless U.S. military deployments to a strategically unimportant country. U.S. troops were deployed to Syria in 2014 for a very specific purpose: destroy ISISs physical caliphate, a pseudo-entity that stretched from the Baghdad suburbs to Raqqa, Syria, covering an area nearly the size of Great Britain. After more than four years of counterterrorism operations, the White House declared mission success when Kurdish-led forces retook ISISs last sliver of territory in the dusty Syrian town of Baghouz after a months-long siege. Yet 14 months later, hundreds of American servicemembers remain on Syrian soil, dodging an array of factions -- including regular Russian soldiers -- in pursuit of an objective that is at best open-ended and at worst unnecessary to U.S. national security interests. The U.S. mission in Syria always had an anti-Assad component, and it has long since transformed completely from counterterrorism into a pressure campaign against a relatively weak and conflict-ridden foreign government. If this is not an example of mission creep, what is? The strongest, most responsible policy in Syria is to withdraw all U.S. troops from the country, which will encourage all parties to find a tenable settlement. There is no good outcome possible, but every day withdrawal is delayed is one more day the lives of Americans in uniform are needlessly put at risk, and one more day the Syrian people suffer. Daniel R. DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a columnist at the Washington Examiner. The views expressed are the author's own. Two Sydney men arrested in Dubai have been labelled the kingpins of a major drug importation operation that police say brought nearly three tonnes of drugs into Australia. Benjamin Neil Pitt and Matthew Battah were detained in Dubai last Thursday and face charges relating to drug importation. They are believed to have fled Australia as long ago as 2015. Benjamin Neil Pitt was one of two men arrested in Dubai last week. Credit:Facebook On Tuesday, another three men were charged after raids across Sydney. Investigators said the operation was brought forward by three months after they learned Mr Pitt and Mr Battah had made plans to leave Dubai, which forced their hand. A seven-year investigation by the organised crime squad under strike force Millstream has uncovered a major criminal syndicate with links to the outlawed motorcycle group Lone Wolf. Jordans King Abdullah met virtually with several key lawmakers today, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to reiterate his opposition to any unilateral measure to annex lands in the West Bank as laid out under President Donald Trumps peace plan. At meetings held via conference calls with US Congressional leaders and committees, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, King Abdullah stressed the importance of establishing an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Jordanian Royal Court said in a readout. In addition to McConnell, the king spoke with lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee as well as the Senate and House foreign aid panels. Why it matters: Abdullah recently refused a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because of his push to annex Israeli settlements in the West Bank as well as the entire Jordan Valley. While Netanyahu had hoped to move forward with annexation in July, he said Monday that the Trump administration wanted the prime ministers rival Blue and White coalition partners on board first. And in the United States, even pro-Israel Democrats have come out against annexation. Twenty-eight Senate Democrats as well as eight Democratic candidates trying to unseat Senate Republicans in battleground states have come out against annexation. House Middle East panel Chairman Ted Deutch, D-Fla., led four of his colleagues in a letter to Netanyahu warning against annexation Monday. The Democratic opposition intensified after the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) greenlit the pushback last week, so long as the criticism stops there. Whats next: Although Jordan usually enjoys robust bipartisan support in Congress, conservative Republicans who support the Trump peace plan are pushing Amman to extradite a convicted terrorist to the United States by threatening to end the aid-dependent countrys $1.5 billion in American military and economic assistance. A key State Department official implied this week that the aid could be on the chopping block unless Jordan extradites Ahlam al-Tamimi per a law Congress passed in December. Tamimi helped kill 15 people, including two Americans, in a 2001 bomb attack in Israel. Know more: Congressional Correspondent Bryant Harris has the story on how pro-Israel Democrats have ramped up their criticism of annexation following the AIPAC greenlight as well the State Departments potential push to use foreign aid as leverage to secure Tamimis extradition from Jordan. The United Nations (UN) will on June 17, 2020, elect five states from its 193 members to take up the non-permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the period 2021-22. Kenya will be among the country candidates on the ballot paper. The East African country will be vying for the single seat available for Africa, having been endorsed by the African Union (AU) in August 2019 as the AU candidate for the position. READ ALSO: William Ruto meets religious leaders, wants reopening of churches expedited United Nations will on June 17, 2020, elect five states to take up the non-permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the period 2021-22. Photo: CGTN. Source: UGC READ ALSO: List of 11 senators proposed to hear Governor Waiguru's impeachment motion The country has expressed its willingness, readiness and ability to serve in the UNSC and called on all the members of the UN to support Africa by voting Kenya into the Council. The following are Kenyas 10 pledges to the world: 1. Building bridges Kenya has continued to use its diversity to build bridges within the region and globally, guided by a belief in the equality of all states, regardless of size. It promises to be a bridge and consensus builder between the permanent and non-permanent UNSC members, the Peace Building Commission and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). 2. Regional peace and security As an anchor state and guarantor to various peace processes within Africa, Kenya will bring a wealth of experience in peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction to the Security Council. READ ALSO: Coronavirus update: 133 more people test positive, COVID-19 tally jumps to 3,860 3. Peace keeping and support operations Kenya has contributed over 40,000 peacekeepers, including mission leadership in Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and Asia. It believes that inclusive triangular consultations between the Security Council, the UN Secretariat as well as troop and police contributing countries are essential in making peace operations fit for purpose. 4. Counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism Kenya has an impressive track record in the fight against terrorism. As a member of the UNSC, it pledges to continue its push for technical assistance, capacity building and enhanced coordination to strengthen global counter terrorism capacities. READ ALSO: Muigai Wa Njoroge: Kikuyu musician unleashes hit song criticising Uhuru's govt, dynasties 5. Humanitarian action Kenya has hosted over 600, 000 refugees from across Africa and has hosted five of the worlds largest refugee camps for over 20 years. The country reaffirms its commitment towards the protection of refugees, with regards to future large-scale refugee movements, as well as to existing protracted refugee situations, including realization of the social and economic rights of all persons of concern. 6. Justice, human rights and democracy Kenya believes strongly that peace and security, development and human rights are mutually reinforcing. It promises to champion people centred sustainable development approach to securing peace. READ ALSO: Eastleigh, Loresho, Kabete among 13 areas gov't will demolish residences to expand water projects 7. Women, peace and security Kenya acknowledges the crucial link between women, peace and security, particularly as critical change agents and catalysts for peace, and pledges to continue to leverage gender perspectives in seeking lasting solutions to peace. 8. Youth Empowerment Kenya recognizes that the youth play a significant role in maintaining and promoting peace and security and promises to continue promoting the empowerment and inclusion of youth as agents of peace, security and development. President Uhuru Kenyatta is the UNs global champion of the Young Peoples Agenda. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Mahakama Siaya yakataa ombi la familia kufukua mwili wa James Oyugi 9. Environment and climate change Kenya has a long and distinguished tradition in environmental conservation and protection, guided by a strong belief in the sustainable management of the environment and natural resources for socioeconomic development. It pledges to advocate for constructive, consultative and inclusive dialogue on the nexus between adverse effects of climate change and conflict. 10. Sustainable development goals agenda Kenya recognizes that sustainable development and peace, security and stability are mutually dependent. It pledges to work with others to support a reformed UN system that can deliver peace, security and development, and one that will address the challenges of development as central to international peace and security. The writer is Milan Kiplagat, a regular commentator on social, economic and political affairs. Views expressed in this opinion piece are his and do not necessarily represent the position of TUKO Media Ltd in any way. We welcome writers, bloggers, photographers and all sorts of noise makers to become a part of our Blog network Send your opinion, story or both to news@tuko.co.ke. My boss in Saudi Arabia had denied me food for more than 10 days- Miriam Wangari| Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Kylie Jenner and her young daughter Stormi were feeling blue Monday in an Instagram snap shared by the reality star. The 22-year-old makeup mogul and two-year-old Stormi both wore blue outfits in the outdoors snap taken on a deck with a log wall in the background. Kylie in the caption for her roughly 181 million followers wrote: 'woke up in the wild wild west'. Wild west: Kylie Jenner and her young daughter Stormi were feeling blue Monday in an Instagram snap shared by the reality star with her roughly 181 million followers The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star went for a light blue look in a zippered, long-sleeved top with a high cutout and matching pants. Kylie added a pop of color with bright orange stiletto boots. She accentuated her natural beauty with full makeup and accessorized with small hoop earrings and slightly tinted glasses. Stormi complemented her mom in a bright azure dress paired with brown cowboy boots. Feeling blue: The 22-year-old reality star and two-year-old daughter Stormi both wore blue outfits Woke up: Kylie in the caption posted, 'woke up in the wild wild west' Kylie also shared a short video clip of herself on Instagram Stories as she posed with two strands of light brown hair framing her face with a green field and a cloudy sky behind her. She also posted a close-up photo of her orange snakeskin boots on the social media platform. Kylie and Travis Scott, 28, who dated from April 2017 to September 2019, welcomed Stormi in February 2018. Video clip: The makeup mogul also shared a short video clip of herself on Instagram Stories as she posed with two strands of light brown hair framing her face with a green field and a cloudy sky behind her Full makeup: Kylie accentuated her natural beauty with full makeup and accessorized with small hoop earrings and slightly tinted glasses Orange boots: The reality star also shared a close-up of her orange snakeskin boots Travis, real name Jacques Berman Webster II, and Kylie were spotted Saturday night enjoying some post-lockdown freedom at Los Angeles hot-spot The Nice Guy. They were seen leaving separately, but Travis was eyed getting into Kylie's waiting SUV. Kylie and Travis reportedly have been on better terms recently sparking speculation that a romantic reconciliation may be in the works. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 16:39 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf35c0d 1 National coronavirus,virus-corona,COVID-19,virus-korona-indonesia,PSBB,pembatasan-sosial-berskala-besar,large-scale-social-restrictions,Banten,Tangerang,South-Tangerang Free The Banten administration has extended the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Tangerang municipality, Tangerang regency and South Tangerang three regions near Jakarta until June 28. The 14-day extension took effect on Monday, according to a gubernatorial decree signed on Sunday, as reported by kompas.com. The provincial administration has extended the restrictions for the fourth time due to the high number of new COVID-19 cases in the region. First imposed on April 18, the region previously extended the PSBB from May 31 to June 14. "There must be stricter monitoring as well as sanctions, Governor Wahidin Halim said in a statement on Monday. He added that the administration would still call the policy PSBB rather than transitional PSBB as in Jakarta to avoid confusion among residents. The most important thing is that there must be awareness on wearing masks, staying at home and bringing personal healthcare and protection items [whenever going outdoors]. Read also: West Java extends PSBB to June 26 amid second wave concerns Tangerang Mayor Arief Wismansyah said the governor had made the decision because of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in greater Tangerang. According to the Banten administration, there were 1,141 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Banten as of Monday. Of the total cases, 436 were found in Tangerang municipality, while 346 and 234 were found in South Tangerang and Tangerang regency, respectively. Apart from the number of cases, the decision to prolong the PSBB was based on the lack of awareness among residents about health protocol. In South Tangerang, the citys Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) disciplined 12 people found not adhering to health protocol. They were found gathering in a restaurant in Serpong on Monday evening without wearing masks and ignoring physical distancing measures. "They were ordered to sing the national anthem Indonesia Raya and recite five principles of Pancasila," South Tangerang Satpol PP official Sapta Mulyana said as quoted by kompas.com. He added that the 12 had failed to sing the national anthem and recite Pancasila correctly. Read also: Transitional PSBB: A deciding chapter for Jakartas new normal In Tangerang municipality, people living in red zones with high COVID-19 cases are required to obtain an exit and entry permit (SIKM) issued by community unit heads. The Tangerang mayor has issued a decree stipulating sanctions for PSBB violators that range from social sanctions to a maximum Rp 25 million (US$1,784) fine. Wahidin asserted that schools under the authority of the provincial administration would reopen in December or January next year. School activities would remain suspended during the PSBB period. (trn) The controversial lawmaker for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has rejected a GHS 60,000 birthday gift which was meant to celebrate him on his 60th birthday, donating it back to his employees. The maverick politician was born in Assin Dompim in the Central Region of Ghana on 16th June 1960. He has represented his constituency in parliament since 2001. Known to be a firebrand who has never failed to speak truth to power, the honourable MP has won the hearts of many with his ability to chastize even his own political party when they go wrong. Today, as the MP celebrates his 60th birthday, it is his gesture of rejecting a juicy cash gift that has won him even more accolades. According to the controversial lawmaker, he is the one who is supposed to be gifting his employees with cash, hence his decision to turn down the gift. He handed the cash back to the employees to be shared among themselves. VIDEO- Hustle o so that you dont request for momo on your whatsapp status when its your birthday #kennedyagyapong hbd Hon. pic.twitter.com/RBgou4WR3t KorsoNagyimi (@KorSoNagyimi) June 16, 2020 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Human Rights Watch called on Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar on Tuesday to investigate alleged war crimes by his fighters after the discovery of mass graves in territory formerly under their control. The New York-based watchdog said it had yet to receive an answer from Haftars Libyan Arab Armed Forces to a previous request for information about footage posted on social media last month that appeared to show summary executions and desecration of corpses by his men. Haftar needs to urgently hold his forces accountable for any war crimes they are committing and apparently advertising online, HRWs senior Libya researcher Hanan Salah said. Senior LAAF leadership has ignored these crimes, but they should be held accountable by domestic and international courts for complicity in abuses. The allegations have taken on new momentum after forces of Libyas UN-recognised unity government drove Haftars fighters out of all their remaining positions in the west in recent weeks. Government forces say they have discovered eight suspected mass graves, most of them in and around the town of Tarhuna, southeast of Tripoli, which served as the main staging point for Haftars abortive 14-month offensive against the capital. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya expressed horror at the discovery and welcomed a decision by the Government of National Accord to establish a committee to investigate the finds. An AFP journalist on Thursday was granted access to a site where several bodies had been discovered and exhumed by the Libyan Red Crescent for identification the day before. Scraps of clothing were scattered around the site near graves covered with fresh soil. Separately, 160 bodies were discovered in the mortuary of Tarhunas public hospital, according to its director Aburawi al-Buzeidi. It is not the first time that Haftars loyalists have faced allegations of war crimes. In 2017 and 2018, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of a LAAF commander, Mahmoud al-Werfalli, for his role in a series of extra-judicial executions and desecration of fighters corpses in Libyas second city Benghazi. He remains at large. Libya has endured years of violence since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with rival administrations and scores of militias battling for power. The GNA controls the west, including the capital Tripoli, while Haftars LAAF holds the east and some of the far-flung oases and oilfields that dot the south. The United Nations has urged outside powers to respect a deal reached at a January conference in Berlin upholding a much-violated arms embargo, but so far it has had little visible effect. While the GNA is backed by Turkey and its ally Qatar, Haftar is supported by Russia and the United Arab Emirates as well as Egypt. New tool allows civic groups to conduct voter registration drives digitally New tool allows civic groups to conduct voter registration drives digitally JUNE 15, 2020 Online option allows organizations to save time, money on paper registration forms The Michigan Department of State has developed a new tool to allow civic groups and other organizations running voter registration drives to register voters through the states online registration website. Groups with electronic voter registration programs can now connect to the online voter registration system through an application programming interface (API), which allows data to be transferred securely. Civic groups and other organizations that conduct voter registration drives are doing important work to drive engagement in the democratic process, said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Giving them access to another tool that allows them to conduct that work efficiently and securely streamlines the process while reducing waste and saving money. Voter registration drives are typically a paper-based process, but the groups conducting them are increasingly making use of digital options. Organizations interested in using the API to register voters through the states online voter registration portal can do so after completing a security review and working to ensure compatibility with the states platform. Those unable to use the API can instead obtain a unique URL to share with those registering to direct them to Michigans online voter registration website. Voters must still provide all information necessary to register online, including a drivers license number and the last four digits of their social security number. The information is verified through Department of State records in the same manner as an individual attempting to register online themselves. This system has already been implemented in other states like Pennsylvania and Virginia, allowing civic groups to continue their own voter engagement efforts while ensuring applications are complete and can be quickly verified. The API was developed by the Departments Bureau of Elections alongside the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) and Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. Organizations interested in using the API or a URL should contact the Bureau of Elections at elections@michigan.gov. # # # For media questions, contact Tracy Wimmer at 517-281-1876. We welcome questions and comments at the Contact the Secretary of State page. Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424). To help visitors plan a vacation focused on both safety and smiles, Visit Orlando's new webpage, VisitOrlando.com/healthytravel , offers a one-stop resource that is routinely updated with information on what is open and coming soon, and new safety measures throughout the destination from the airport and hotels to theme parks and attractions. "Our theme parks, attractions, restaurants, hotels and shopping centers have worked tirelessly for months to create comprehensive reopening plans, with even more safety measures, to welcome visitors back to Orlando," said George Aguel, President & CEO of Visit Orlando. "Consumers know and historically trust how Orlando takes safety seriously, and many of our attractions and parks do this in a manner that is not only thorough, but also fun, such as social distancing reminders from Stormtroopers at Disney Springs, or a giant Skunk Ape character who roams around Gatorland." THEME PARK REOPENINGS - Orlando's world-famous theme parks began welcoming visitors in reduced capacity while ensuring safety is at the forefront. More information is available here. Universal Orlando Resort Universal CityWalk is currently open with a variety of shopping and dining locations Select Universal hotels are now open Theme parks: Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal's Volcano Bay are now open Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal's Volcano Bay are now open SeaWorld Parks - SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Aquatica Orlando are now open - SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Aquatica Orlando are now open LEGOLAND Florida 's theme park, water park and two resorts are now open 's theme park, water park and two resorts are now open Walt Disney World Resort Disney Springs is currently open with a variety of shopping and dining locations Theme parks: Magic Kingdom Park and Disney's Animal Kingdom opens July 11 ; EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios opens July 15 Magic Kingdom Park and Disney's Animal Kingdom opens ; EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios opens Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World reopens to members and guests and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground begins June 22 ATTRACTION REOPENINGS - Many of the region's independent attractions are open with reduced capacity and enhanced safety measures. A comprehensive list is available here, and includes: Gatorland ICON Park Orlando including The Wheel, Madame Tussauds Orlando and SEA LIFE Aquarium including The Wheel, Madame Tussauds Orlando and SEA LIFE Aquarium Fun Spot America Orlando Science Center Island H2O Live! Water Park Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Andretti's Indoor Karting and Gaming Orlando Starflyer WonderWorks Orlando Chocolate Kingdom Factory Adventure Tour K1 Speed Orlando Nona Adventure Park Wall Crawl Orlando Escape game attractions: Escape game, Escape Game Orlando & Escapology I-RIDE Trolley MAKING SOCIAL DISTANCING FUN - The major theme parks and attractions are incorporating unique health measures to ensure visitors are smiling as they stay safe, such as: Newly opened Disney Springs has Star Wars Stormtroopers encouraging visitors to wear masks and social distance. Walt Disney World also introduced the "Social Distancing Squad" to politely remind guests about the social distancing and safety measures. Universal Orlando has mask-wearing stilt walkers greeting guests at the entrance to Universal Orlando's CityWalk. Gatorland's new "Social Distancing Skunk Ape" - Florida's version of Bigfoot - uses his six-foot arm span to visualize the proper distance. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES - Visitors can also explore a "wilder" side of Orlando by diving into natural springs with crystal-clear water, incredible flora and fauna, and other outdoor activities. More information can be found here. HOTELS & RESORTS - A variety of hotels, resorts and vacation homes are now open, including properties near Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and the International Drive tourism corridor. A full list of Orlando accommodations can be found here, and the new healthy travel page includes information on robust hotel safety programs from trusted brands throughout the destination. DINING - Restaurants are now hosting diners with outdoor seating, or indoors at a 50% capacity to ensure social distance measures, while meeting a host of new health guidelines from federal and local government and health officials. Reservations are encouraged to ensure a seat. SHOPPING MALLS & OUTLETS - Several with "open air" concepts - including Orlando International Premium Outlets, Orlando Vineland International Premium Outlets and Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores have reopened as well as The Mall at Millenia and The Florida Mall. AIRPORT - Orlando International Airport's welcome back signage throughout the terminal joins messaging that encourages social distancing and critical health protocols focused on passenger safety and comfort. These signs are among the visible changes made at Orlando International, including acrylic shields at ticket counters and at security screening checkpoints. For more information about openings and safety procedures, go to VisitOrlando.com/healthytravel. About Visit Orlando Visit Orlando is The Official Tourism Association for Orlando, the most visited destination in the United States and Theme Park Capital of the World. A not-for-profit trade association that brands, markets and sells the Orlando destination globally, Visit Orlando represents 1,200 member companies comprising every segment of Central Florida's tourism community. SOURCE Visit Orlando Related Links http://www.visitorlando.com/media A Council Bluffs woman has died from COVID-19, the 11th death related to the disease in Pottawattamie County. Pottawattamie County Public Health reported the death of the woman, who was 81 or older, on Monday. The department reported 45 new cases 30 cases confirmed on Saturday, 11 on Sunday and four on Monday. Of the newly reported cases, one individual each is from Carson, Carter Lake, and Crescent, and the rest are from Council Bluffs. Three of these individuals were epidemiologically-linked and the others were tested between June 1 and June 13. Pottawattamie County Public Health has said epi-linked cases are individuals whove had contact with a confirmed positive individual and are exhibiting symptoms, but have not been tested. The department provides assistance to those individuals and treats them like individuals who have tested positive. On Monday afternoon, coronavirus.iowa.gov reported 509 positive cases in Pottawattamie County out of 6,450 resident tested, for a positive rate of 7.9%, a drop from the weekend. Including epi-linked cases, Pottawattamie County Public Health reported 568 cases. As of Monday, 291 individuals have recovered, 237 are self-isolating and seven individuals are hospitalized. Pottawattamie County Public Health said based on contact tracing investigations, 150 cases are the result of community spread. Of the Pottawattamie County Public Health-listed cases, 286 are men and 282 women. Young adults between 18 and 40 years old remains the demographic with the highest number of cases at 255, followed by 41 to 60 at 176 cases, 61 to 80 at 83 cases, 17 or younger at 41 cases and 81 or older at 13 cases. Six of the COVID-19 deaths in the county have been among residents 81 or older. Three were 61 to 80 years old, and one apiece were 41 to 60 and 18 to 40. From the county: A TestIowa site is located in Council Bluffs at the Western Historic Trails Center, 3434 Richard Downing Ave. To get tested for COVID-19, residents must complete the health assessment at TestIowa.com and receive a testing date and time. All Care Health Center offers drive-up COVID-19 testing and helps those without transportation and/or health insurance. Call All Care at 712-325-1990 for an appointment. NEWTOWN Sandy Hook families have won another battle in their long-running wrongful death lawsuit charging the nations oldest gunmaker with violating Connecticuts Unfair Trade Practices Act. A judge has permitted the 10 families who are suing Remington over the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting to question the gunmakers executives under oath about its internal organization and procedures questions which Remington considers invasive and improper. The decision reached Monday by state Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis is the latest development in the nations most visible case of families suing a gunmaker over a mass murder. The two sides are preparing for trial 2021. We are pleased that the court rejected the latest in a long line of tactics Remington has tried to avoid scrutiny of its business practices, said the families lead attorney, Josh Koskoff. These legal maneuvers, designed to test the resolve and patience of the families, only have the opposite effect. Remington has maintained for the last six years in court filings that Adam Lanza was responsible for killing 26 first-graders and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School and not the companys AR-15-style rifle. In May, Remington asked Bellis for an order to protect its executives from the families questions about its internal structure and procedures. The motion for protective order, seeking to preclude the deposition of the corporate designee, is denied, Bellis wrote in her order on Monday, with no other explanation. The 10 families argue that Remingtons AR-15 marketing was unethical, immoral, unscrupulous, oppressive and reckless because Remington continued to market AR-15s ... despite evidence of their increasing use in mass shootings. Lawyers for the gunmaker did not immediately respond on Tuesday to requests for comment. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 Authorities in Beijing placed a swath of the city under lockdown Monday and tested tens of thousands of people as they rushed to contain a new coronavirus outbreak that marked an unnerving breach in Chinas capital. President Xi Jinping had said from the outset that Beijing, the seat of Communist Party power and a crowded metropolis, should be a fortress against the pandemic, and local officials have imposed strict measures to keep infections low. Until now, the efforts appeared to have protected the capital against the virus after it emerged late last year in Wuhan, a city in central China. While the dozens of new cases in Beijing seem slight compared to the hundreds and even thousands of infections reported daily in other countries, the fresh outbreak has jolted China, prompting the government to fire local officials and reinstate some recently relaxed restrictions. The resurgence of cases points to the challenges that governments around the world face as they reopen economies while the virus persists. We feel this is dangerous, Chen Xiaoxi, owner of a shop about three kilometres from a market linked to the new outbreak, said by telephone. He said he was awaiting the results of a nucleic acid test to check if he had the virus. It is a worry; everyone is worried, Chen said. This is no ordinary disease. Were waiting at home and cant go out. The city government said Monday it had tracked down 79 coronavirus infections over the previous four days. Early Tuesday, it said it had confirmed another 27 cases on the previous day, bringing the total from the flare-up to 106. The government said another 10 people had the virus but showed no symptoms. Authorities shut down and sealed the market over the weekend. City officials were testing 90,000 residents from neighbourhoods around the Xinfadi market and another market suspected of a role in the infections, the government said Monday. Residential compounds in those neighbourhoods have been sealed. Xu Hejian, a spokesperson for the Beijing government, said at a news conference Monday: We must fully grasp that epidemic containment in the capital is long-term, complex and arduous. Read more about: There will be a shortfall of up to 12,000 new houses in 2020 due to the coronavirus shutdown and the workplace restrictions currently in place, the banking sector lobby has warned. Publishing the latest Housing Market Monitor for Q1, the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) warns that restrictions imposed to halt the spread of Covid-19 will have a huge impact on housing supply this year. Early estimates predicted as many as 26,000 new homes would be built in 2020 but these have been revised to 14,000 to 16,000 due to the shutdown and the existing restrictions on construction sites. Dr Ali Ugur, BPFI chief economist, said housing supply "will take a significant hit this year" due to the construction shutdown from late March to mid-May. He said current activity is "very much limited" due to Covid-19 restrictions on construction sites. "Estimates before the current crisis for total housing completions in 2020 were between 24,000 to 26,000 units," Dr Ugur said. "Assuming that the sector could operate at 50% to 75% capacity for the rest of the year, we estimate total completions would be around 14,000 to 16,500 units in 2020 leaving a gap of between 10,000 and 12,000 units in total this year." While supply may not be as plentiful as hoped, demand has not suffered, Dr Ugur said. He said those on higher incomes have been impacted the least by the pandemic. "Looking at those in receipt of either the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) or the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), we can see that those in the highest income brackets have been impacted the least," he said. "Workers with average gross earnings of more than 950 weekly or about 50,000 per annum account for just 14% of those receiving the PUP payment and 21% of those participating in the TWSS scheme. Looking at these figures in the context of the mortgage market, it is earners in this same income bracket that account for the majority of those drawing down mortgages." First time buyers with an income of less than 50,000 accounted for just 17% of the first time buyer mortgage drawdowns in 2019. Given the increasing share of first time buyers in the market, income losses "may not have had a significant effect on demand for mortgages from this cohort", Dr Ugur explained. This is broadly in line with predictions made by KBC in their latest homebuyer survey. The lender said demand for housing remains robust despite the Covid-19 shutdown. It said demand "may be somewhat softer in the immediate aftermath of the coronavirus" but some 32% of adults are "at least considering purchasing a home in the next two years", the bank said. The index shows the majority (57%) of those planning to buy were first time buyers. This portion has increased at the expense of movers (30%) and investors (13%). "This shift likely reflects an increase in pent-up demand through recent years because of a constrained level of property transactions and strong population growth," KBC Bank said. CLEVELAND, Ohio The state of Ohio has asked the U.S. Department of Labor for more than $3 billion in credit to help keep its unemployment system afloat, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday. Unemployment in the state has been rampant during the coronavirus pandemic, with much of the economy in the state ground to a halt. During his Tuesday briefing on the coronavirus, DeWine said the state asked the federal government for a $3.1 billion line of credit to help pay its unemployment claims. It is essentially a line of credit, DeWine said. We asked for greater authority than we think we will need just in case we do need it. Ohio has logged more than 1.3 million unemployment claims this year, shattering previous records set during the Great Recession, as businesses were forced to close their doors at the outset of the pandemic. Weekly filings for claims have declined as more businesses open up, but the states unemployment rate was still a record 16.8% in April, according to preliminary figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. DeWine said other states, such as California and Texas, have also had to ask Labor for borrowing authority. Ohios unemployment system has been close to insolvency for years as competing interests could not agree on how best to fund the system. DeWine said a fix probably isnt coming in the immediate future given the current economic situation. Well weve known for a number of years that this is a problem that has to be addressed, DeWine said. Its a lot easier to address it when the economy is going up than when the economy is not up. Its difficult, I think, to address at this point. This isnt the first time the state has had to borrow money from the federal government to pay unemployment compensation. The state borrowed $3.39 billion from 2009 through 2014 to fulfill claims. The state paid back the money including $257.7 million in interest in 2016. DeWine said the federal government is currently not charging interest on the federal loans. A previous version of this story identified the loan amount as $3.9 billion instead of $3.1 billion. Read more cleveland.com politics coverage: Summit County declares racism a public health crisis What is Juneteenth and should it be a federal holiday? Lawmaker thinks Ohio could raise more education funding through state lottery Ohio coronavirus cases pass 42,000, total deaths near 2,600: Tuesday update Turkey planning to set up 2 permanent military bases in Libya: Turkish daily Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 7:52 AM Turkey is reportedly planning to set up two permanent military bases in Libya following the Tripoli government's operation to retake areas seized by rebel forces under the command of renegade general Khalifa Haftar. Citing military sources, Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak, reported earlier this week that Ankara was planning to set up a military base in the strategic Misrata port and also use the al-Watiya airbase, located south of the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The report added that the Misrata facility would serve as a naval base with permanent assault and reconnaissance capabilities, where auxiliary aircraft could be stored. Tripoli, it added, would allow Ankara to deploy anti-aircraft systems and drones to the al-Watiya airbase, which has played a key role in the Libyan government's 14-month counter-offensive against Haftar's forces. Ankara will also cooperate in oil drilling and exploration activities with Tripoli, according to the paper. "The tension and Greek provocations in Eastern Mediterranean require the presence of Turkish naval forces in Libyan territory, and that is why Misrata port will be a military base for Ankara," the paper wrote. The internationally-recognized government in Tripoli receives backing from Turkey, while Haftar's rebel forces are supported by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Haftar's forces began their offensive in April 2019 in an attempt to seize Tripoli and unseat the internationally-recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. The Libyan government, however, launched a counter-offensive and has so far managed to retake most of the areas seized by Haftar's forces. The news comes days after Sarraj paid a visit to Ankara, where he announced victory over Haftar during a presser with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. France: Turkey exploiting NATO In another development, France which is widely reported to lend support to Haftar despite its denials has slammed Turkey's "aggressive" intervention in Libya, warning that it "cannot just stand by." A French government official, who was speaking to AFP on the condition of anonymity, accused Paris' NATO ally of violating a UN arms embargo and sending half a dozen ships to Libya's coast. "The Turks are behaving in an unacceptable manner and are exploiting NATO," the official added. Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan held separate talks with US President Donald Trump. The French official said that "exchanges will take place in the weeks to come on this subject with NATO partners." Russia-Turkey talks postponed Meanwhile, Turkey said a planned ministerial-level meeting with Russia on the Libya conflict had been delayed. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov decided to put off the talks during a phone call on Sunday, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. "The two countries' deputy ministers will continue contacts and talks in the period ahead. Minister-level talks will be held at a later date," it said in a statement. Pope urges end to Libya violence Pope Francis on Sunday voiced concerns over the developments in Libya, calling for an "end to the violence" in the North African country. Pope Francis is holding a Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ at St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican on June 14, 2020. (Photo via AFP) The head of the Roman Catholic Church, during his weekly speech, urged political and military leaders in the country to take a path toward "peace, stability and unity." The pontiff added that thousands of migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and internally-displaced people are "more vulnerable to forms of exploitation and violence" in Libya. "There is cruelty," he said. "We all have responsibility. No one can feel exempt." Libya plunged into chaos in 2011 when a popular uprising backed by a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged in the North African country the UN-recognized Sarraj government, and another group based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by Haftar's rebels. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bengaluru, June 16 : Domestic and international returnees as well as infections in contacts of earlier coronavirus patients contributed to 317 new cases in Karnataka, taking the state's total tally to 7,530, an official said on Tuesday. The new cases were reported from 5 pm on Monday till 5 pm on Tuesday, said a health official. On a positive note, 322 patients were discharged. Of the total cases, 4,456 patients have been discharged, 94 have died while 72 are admitted in the ICUs. The number of patients in ICUs was 56 earlier on. Domestic returnees were the biggest contributor to the new infections -- 107 or 34 per cent. In all, 99 or 93 per cent of the returnees have travel history to Maharashtra. Meanwhile, corona cases with international travel history have been rising consistently. As many as 78 such new cases were reported on Tuesday, all returnees from the United Arab Emirates. Among the new cases, 222 are males and 95 females, including 19 children below the age of 10. Covid cases spiked in Dakshina Kannada, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Bengaluru Urban, Dharwad, Udupi, Shivamogga, Yadgir, Raichur, Uttara Kannada, and Hassan. Of the new cases, Dakshina Kannada contributed 79, followed by Kalaburagi (63), Ballari (53), Bengaluru Urban (47), Dharwad (8), Udupi and Shivamogga (7 each), Yadgir and Raichur (6 each), Hassan (5), Vijayapura, Mysuru, Gadag, Ramanagara, Chikkamagaluru and Koppal (4 each), Belagavi (3), Bidar (2), and Tumkur (1). As many as 34 patients are suffering from influenza like illness and six from severe acute respiratory infection. Meanwhile, seven more patients succumbed to the virus -- five from Bengaluru Urban and one each from Ramanagara and Bidar. Currently, Kalaburagi is leading the state's Covid-19 burden with 523 active cases, followed by Yadgir (472), Bengaluru Urban (372) Raichur (270) and Dadkshina Kannada and Shivamogga (217 each), among others. In all, 4.57 lakh samples have been tested so far, of which 4.39 lakh have tested negative. Bengaluru Urban has accounted for 38 deaths, followed by Kalaburagi (10), Bidar (7) and Dakshina Kannada, Vijayapura, and Davangere (6 each), among others. Ohio Connections Academy Celebrates the Class of 2020 This year has been an extraordinary time for all of us and especially our students and their families. I have no doubt the persistence and determination they have demonstrated, not only these two months but through their entire academic careers, will lead them to many successes as they move forward. More than 400 graduating seniors from more than 50 counties across the state received their high school diplomas on Saturday, as members of Ohio Connections Academys (OCA) Class of 2020. The online public charter school typically hosts a traditional in-person commencement to recognize the academic achievement of its graduates. However due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the graduation ceremony was held virtually. Whether in person or thru a virtual ceremony, our faculty and staff is pleased to have the opportunity to show how proud we are of our students as they reach this academic milestone, said Ohio Connections Academy Superintendent Marie Hanna. This year has been an extraordinary time for all of us and especially our students and their families. I have no doubt the persistence and determination they have demonstrated, not only these two months but through their entire academic careers, will lead them to many successes as they move forward. The Class of 2020 is the schools 12th graduating class for the states leading provider of high-quality, tuition-free virtual education for students in grades K12. Nearly half of the 2020 graduates indicated they plan to attend a two or four-year college/university including The Ohio State University, Miami University, University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo, Denison University, Cleveland State University, Yale University, Brigham Young University and the United States Air Force Academy. Among the Ohio Connections Academy graduates honored during the commencement ceremony was 2020 Valedictorian Jessica Nichols of Medina who has been accepted to the Jack, Joseph & Morton Mandel Honors College at Cleveland State University that includes a full tuition scholarship for four years of undergraduate coursework. Jessicas plan is to graduate from CSU in 2024 with her Bachelors in multiple concentrations including English (creative writing track), Women's and Gender Studies, and Journalism & Promotional Communication along with a minor in Spanish. Ohio Connections Academy provided the flexibility and support that I needed to accomplish my goals from kindergarten through senior year, which made it possible for me to pursue college while in high school and earn my Associate degree through College Credit Plus, Jessica said. I'm excited to seek out new opportunities to further my education after I graduate. Thirty of this years graduates are members of the National Honor Society while more than 100 graduated with honors (3.5 GPA or better). Twenty-three of the graduates received an Academic Honors Diploma from the State of Ohio in recognition of high-level coursework completion, college and career readiness tests and real-world experiences. Overall, the Class of 2020 has received more than $3 million in college scholarships and awards. Ohio Connections Academy is a free, fully-online, public school that students in grades K-12 attend from home. Ohio Connections Academy delivers high-quality, personalized education for students that combines certified teachers, a proven curriculum, as well as technology tools, and community experiencesonline and in personto create a supportive environment for children who want an individualized approach to education. Enrollment for Ohio Connections Academy for the 2020-2021 school year is currently open and the school is hosting information sessions for interested families to learn more about virtual education and how teachers support the students. During the information sessions, families will also have an opportunity to learn about the online public schools curriculum and interact with school representatives and other parents. A complete schedule of events with dates is available. More information about Ohio Connections Academy is available at http://www.OhioConnectionsAcademy.com or by calling (800) 382-6010. About Ohio Connections Academy Ohio Connections Academy (OCA) is a tuition-free, K-12 public eSchool that provides a fully accredited, high-quality and highly accountable virtual education experience for approximately 5,000 students from all over Ohio. Ohio Connections Academy combines Ohio-certified teachers and a rigorous, individualized curriculum designed by national education experts and customized to meet the specific standards set by the Ohio Department of Education. For more information, call 8003826010 or visit http://www.OhioConnectionsAcademy.com. New US sanctions on Syria coming into force this week intend to pressure the government of President Bashar al-Assad into enacting human rights reforms much more strongly than previous sanctions. Although UN sanctions on Syria are nonexistent because of Russian and Chinese vetoes against such a move, many countries including the US and EU member states have unilaterally imposed punishing sanctions on the Syrian government since the start of the 2011 uprising. But their effectiveness has been questionable. On the other hand, the new raft of US sanctions, known as the Caesar Act, targets companies, institutions and individuals both Syrian and foreign that do business with the government of President Bashar al-Assad by authorising bans and financial sanctions on current and potential Syrian partners. Named after the pseudonym used by a Syrian military officer who leaked more than 50,000 photos documenting torture and other human rights violations and atrocities in al-Assads prisons, the legislation received bipartisan Congressional support, allowing it to pass in December last year as part of the USs annual defence spending. From Wednesday, the act will target supporters of the al-Assad government in politics, business and banking, reaching all the way to Lebanons Hezbollah and partners in Iran, Russia and even Gulf states and Europe, with individuals potentially facing travel bans or even arrest. The new US sanctions will be far broader in terms of their sectoral targeting, but also, critically, will involve US targeting of other countries and businesses seeking to do business with the Syrian government in a bid to ensure Syrias tightening economic isolation, Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council of Foreign Relations (ECFR), told Al Jazeera. According to Zaki Mehchy, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House and co-founder of the Syrian Centre for Policy Research, the sanctions have an implicit message as well. The act is a direct message to punish the Syrian regimes allies and an indirect message to Gulf countries and some European countries that are trying to normalise their relations with Assad, he said. The Caesar Act was named after the pseudonym used by a Syrian military officer who leaked more than 50,000 photos documenting torture and other human rights violations and atrocities in al-Assads prisons [File: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters] Ineffective previous sanctions US sanctions on Syria go all the way back to 1979, when Washington listed Damascus as a sponsor of terrorism, imposing restrictions on the trade of dual-use products with Syria that can be used for both military and civilian purposes. US pressure on the Syrian government then expanded with a 2011 executive order that banned trade in Syrian oil after it prohibited in 2004 the export of US goods except for food and medicine. More recently, Washington sanctioned specific Syrian individuals and institutions after it held the government responsible for a deadly sarin gas attack that killed more than 80 people, including women and children, in the northern Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun in April 2017. While these sanctions targeted the Syrian military or security personnel, business people, and government and private companies working mainly in the oil and gas and banking sectors, their impact was limited in restricting the al-Assad governments ability to trade and secure external financial support. According to Barnes-Dacey, US sanctions to date, which he described as a combination of both targeted measures against individuals complicit in war crimes and those seen as helping prop up the regime have had a narrower impact compared with the new legislation. Rim Turkmani, research fellow at the Conflict and Civil Society Research Unit at the London School of Economics, cast doubt on the effectiveness of previous sanctions. The main aims of the sanctions were to change the regime or/and to change its behaviour so that it doesnt use excessive violence against civilians. Clearly, both aims were not achieved, she said. Mehchy said the sanctions had not only failed to change the regime or its behaviour but also hit ordinary people the most and led to the emergence of warlords and new cronies that are able to overcome sanctions through their illegal international connections and networks. The act will target supporters of the al-Assad government in politics, business and banking, reaching all the way into Lebanon, Iran, Russia and even Gulf states and Europe [File: Anadolu] Powerful, but concerning When it comes to the Caesar Act, however, experts agreed the new sanctions will have a hugely chilling effect, even though many remained uncertain how they will be imposed. There is still huge uncertainty about how exactly the sanctions will be implemented, said Barnes-Dacey. The end result will be a hugely restrictive environment for anyone wanting to do business in Syria, extending from the private sector all the way across to humanitarian activities despite technical exemptions. The country is already devastated, and these measures will help to push it over the edge in a way that is highly unlikely to deliver a positive outcome in terms of the regime making serious concessions or Russia deciding to suddenly force Damascus in a desired new direction, Barnes-Dacey said. Syrias economy has been in freefall over the past few months with the pound losing about 70 percent of its value, making the price of basic commodities now unaffordable to many Syrians. The economic pinch has led to protests breaking out in government strongholds, such as Latakia and Suweida, which have rarely been seen against al-Assad. Syrias dependence on neighbouring Lebanons banking system for access to financial networks and US dollars has been key in pushing Syria over the edge. Lebanon is in the throes of a parallel fall in the official value of the lira, a full-blown economic crisis, and worsening civil unrest that has pushed thousands of people onto the streets to demand change. Analysts say the impending legislation may be a double-edged sword that might not just impact the al-Assad government and its local and foreign backers, but humanitarian efforts and civilians in Syria and Lebanon whose collapsing economies are closely interlinked. Lebanon will certainly be affected, said Turkmani. Many Lebanese banks and institutions act as an alternative for the Syrian state and also many people. Despite these concerns, analysts say Syrias imploding economy after years of war, mismanagement, and corruption was caused by the government, and civilians are likely to suffer the most from the new US sanctions. The Assad government maintains control over the Syrian economy and its institutions, making it an incredibly difficult task to target it for its war crimes without affecting the people, said Ibrahim Olabi, a lawyer at the London-based Guernica 37 Chambers and founder of the Syrian Legal Development Programme. It is critical that the US puts a huge effort in making sure it affects those who deserve to be affected, he warned, adding, practically, this will not be an easy task due to lack of transparency in Syria and disinformation tactics adopted by the regime and its allies. The untimely death at his residence in Sheehaun, Curraghroe on Thursday, May 28 of Tommy Murphy, both shocked and saddened us all. The suddenness of Tommys death brought a great darkness to our community. Tommy was one of the most dependable, reliable and most humble of people that you are ever likely to come across. He was a kind man who had a very mild manner and he was quietly spoken. Tommy would go to the ends of the earth to assist anyone in their time of need. He always enjoyed the chat and it was a sheer joy being in his company. As a panel beater he had few equals and the quality of his work stood him apart, people came from far and wide to avail of his expertise. Tommy was an ordinary man who loved the simple way of life. He was a great family man devoting his life to his wife Marian and son Stephen. On Saturday, May 30, Tommys remains were removed to St Marys Church, Ballagh for his Funeral Mass and following Mass Tommy was laid to rest in Cloontuskert Cemetery. To his wife Marian, his son Stephen, Stephen's partner Tanya and granddaughter Abbey, brother Malachy (Tarmonbarry), sister Mary (Curraghboy), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many friends we extend our sincere sympathy. Due to the coronavirus funeral regulations we were not able to offer our sympathies personally. It was fitting that a large number of neighbours and friends formed guards of honour before and after his Funeral Mass, along the roadside and also at his burial. Operations Update Perth, June 16, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Blackham Resources Ltd ( ASX:BLK ) ( FRA:NZ3 ) ( OTCMKTS:BKHRF ) is 12 months into a 24-month transitional period towards September 2021 when the commencement of gold production from the Company's higher grade, long dated underground sulphide Mineral Resources is scheduled to begin. During the transition period, the Company is aiming to produce approximately 60kozpa from its existing free milling deposits. This production profile will provide valuable cashflow and production continuity prior to the transition into producing 110kozpa-120kozpa of gold concentrate (Stage 1 Sulphide Project).Over the past six months since December 31, 2019, the transitional period has faced many challenges including the onset of COVID-19 in March. However, despite these challenges, the Company remains focussed on its long-term strategy to develop its large sulphide Mineral Resource base. The Company remains confident that the current issues associated with the transition period at Williamson and Golden Age are nearing a point where steady-state production can be maintained enabling the Company to focus on the delivery of the Stage 1 Sulphide Project.At Williamson, the extensive waste stripping that has occurred during the second half of FY20 is very close to providing access to high grade ore zones which will enable the mine to continue in a production steady-state from July 2020. Delays in getting access to the ore in the June quarter has pushed this expected gold production into July affecting the FY20 guidance. Previous reported below forecast productivity issues have been addressed and production rates are now achieving expectations.At Golden Age, ongoing issues with equipment and manning have meant that certain production areas have not been mined in May and June as planned causing that production to be deferred into FY21. Improved resourcing to provide adequate mining equipment and manning will enable the mine to develop and produce at more sustainable levels on the back of the many significant drill intercepts currently being assessed (see ASX announcement 4 June 2020).The Company is pleased to report that the crushing and milling circuit is operating consistently at 20% above nameplate throughput capacity. The refurbished rod mill is working very well and this will be an integral part of moving to treat the baseload production that will come from Williamson when the mine reaches steady-state production. Construction work on the new tailings dam has been completed.The Company expects FY20 full year production to be approximately 61,500 oz at an approximate AISC of A$1,975/oz and will provide its guidance for FY21 in the June Quarterly.About Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd Wiluna Mining Corporation (ASX:WMC) (OTCMKTS:WMXCF) is a Perth based, ASX listed gold mining company that controls over 1,600 square kilometres of the Yilgarn Craton in the Northern Goldfields of WA. The Yilgarn Craton has a historic and current gold endowment of over 380 million ounces, making it one of most prolific gold regions in the world. The Company owns 100% of the Wiluna Gold Operation which has a defined resource of 8.04M oz at 1.67 g/t au. In May 2019, a new highly skilled management team took control of the Company with a clear plan to leverage the Wiluna Gold Operation's multi-million-ounce potential. Education is a hot topic this Legislative session. Here's what bills we're watching. Here are some of the hot-button education bills were tracking at the Argus Leader. Check back each day to see where they stand as we update. As areas across Ontario prepare to enter the second stage of reopening this Friday as new COVID-19 cases drop, Toronto will not be joining them, with most new cases of the virus happening in the GTA. Thats what new data from the province and city show, and thats likely one of the reasons why Toronto, as well as Mississauga and Brampton, are not joining the seven regions slated to start revving up their economies at the end of this week. Dr. Eileen De Villa, Torontos medical officer of health, said she believes the provinces decision to delay the citys reopening was reasonable given our current circumstances, adding at this time, I cannot give you an exact date for us to move to the next stage of reopening. The overwhelming majority of Ontarios new infections continue to occur in the GTA; 149 of the 211 cases reported on Monday came in the regions five health units. But the rate of new cases is also falling sharply in the Toronto area. On Monday, Toronto Public Health reported fewer than 100 new cases for the fourth straight day. Before that streak, 65 of 66 consecutive days had seen more than 100 reported infections. R is the loneliest number Torontos current reproduction number, known as R, is the lowest its been since the pandemic began 0.65 as of Monday but as many other areas move forward, the city will remain in Stage 1. The R number refers to the average number of secondary infections from one case of COVID-19. If its below one, the infection will die out eventually, says Chris Bauch, a mathematician with the University of Waterloo. When R is above one, infections continue to grow. We can never prevent all secondary infections from happening, says Bauch. But we can ensure that each person infects less than one more person on average. If we can accomplish that, the infection will die out. Toronto Public Health is monitoring the R number and Dr. Vinita Dubey, Torontos associate medical officer of health says in an email that Prior to implementing our strict public health measures in mid-March, each new case of COVID-19 in Toronto went on to infect an average of just over 3 other people. Bauch says the R number can change very quickly, but the provincial guidelines are based on longer trends over two to four weeks, so to meet reopening standards the city must maintain a lower R value over time. Highest in province At 1.71, the Windsor-Essex health unit has the highest current R number in the province. The area is battling an outbreak in farm workers the third time it has had cases escalate in a specific population, after waves in cross-border health-care workers and long-term care homes. Cases on farms have multiplied in recent weeks, said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, the areas medical officer of health, who said 80 to 90 per cent of cases are happening in agriculture. The virus spreads easily there because of shared accommodation among the 8,000 to 10,000 temporary foreign workers at Windsor-Essex farms. In February, the health unit created resources, tools and information to prevent this from happening in the first place, said Ahmed, but workers have been hesitant to come forward or see a doctor when they are feeling ill. Another complication is that workers who have the virus are isolated in hotels in the area and hotels are nearing capacity. If the hotels and everything are full, and we cannot safely isolate these people, what are we going to do about the isolation protocol? said Ahmed. Cottage country The Simcoe-Muskoka health unit has a current R number of 1.22. Dr. Charles Gardner, the areas medical officer of health, said it has typically been below one since late April, but there has been a recent uptick in cases. Institutional outbreaks have declined, says Gardner, but infections are occurring among close-contact and community-acquired cases, which means the source of the infection cant be identified. Simcoe-Muskokas cases have mostly been in the southern part of the unit Barrie, Bradford West Gwillimbury, New Tecumseth and Innisfil not Muskoka. Didnt make the cut In Peel, the current R number is 0.65, which Peel Public Health says is good.. But the province announced on Monday that the region would have to wait to move to Stage 2. We know that over the past few weeks across Peel, up to 50 per cent of our cases are household contacts and there are others that are related to workplace investigations, said a spokesperson for the health unit. Currently, very few cases are linked to outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Halton gets green light Haltons current R is higher than Torontos at 1.2 but the province gave the region the nod on Monday to move to Stage 2. In a letter last week to Premier Doug Ford, Haltons regional chair and four local mayors outlined why Halton had made the cut. The letter noted among other things that the region had no institutional outbreaks, that local hospitals were sustaining adequate capacity, and that 90 per cent of new COVID-19 contacts were being reached by regional public health within one day. Niagara lowers R after outbreaks The region faced a recent outbreak on a farm where the virus spread to 57 people over two days after infected workers didnt report symptoms early enough. Testing controlled it and the health unit is back to its baseline, which has been new cases in the single digits on most days, says Dr. Mustafa Hirji, acting medical officer of health for the region. Niagara now has one of the lowest R numbers in the province: 0.29. Hirji says with a Stage 2 reopening on the horizon, the spread of the virus will depend on whether residents continue to practice preventative measures such as physical distancing and frequent handwashing. Note: Reproduction numbers were calculated for the Star by Ryan Imgrund, who is head of the science department at Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Newmarket, as well as a biostatistician with Southlake Regional Health Centre. Kenyon Wallace is a Toronto-based investigative reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @KenyonWallace or reach him via email: kwallace@thestar.ca Ed Tubb is an assignment editor and a contributor focused on crime and justice for the Star. He is based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @edtubb The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council says that it does not expect the Covid-19 recession to cause the kind of austerity seen in the economic crash, but has warned that Ireland will need large amounts of funding for new borrowing. Representatives of the council were speaking to the Dail committee on Covid-19, as the full scale of the economic fallout of the virus was laid bare. The council's Sebastien Barnes told the committee that fiscal adjustments ranging from "6bn to 14bn over the period 2023 to 2025", but said that the impact of this would be different to the economic crash in the last decade. Mr Barnes told the committee that he believed this could be achieved by slowing the rate of spending, rather than necessarily slashing it. "The adjustment would still be less than a third of what was implemented after the 2008 crisis. This does not mean a return to severe austerity. Fiscal adjustment will be needed but some upward and downward adjustments, either in aggregate terms or on specific items, are a normal part of budgetary management. "The adjustment could be achieved to a large degree by growing spending at a slower pace than the economy grows. We do not expect austerity in the sense of significant increases in unemployment due to severe fiscal adjustments taking place in a downturn as Ireland saw after 2008." However, Rise TD Paul Murphy said that the adjustments represented austerity economics. Dr Eddie Casey, chief economist at IFAC, told Mr Murphy that "year-on-year it would be, in the central scenario, about three-quarters of the average adjustment"of the 2008-2014 period. Mr Murphy said that this was a sign that austerity would be reintroduced in Ireland. "In the event of the economic crisis being deeper than anticipated, the austerity will be even deeper, in line with the austerity imposed by Fianna Fail and the Greens from 2008 on . This austerity flows inevitably from the economic situation and the commitment of the establishment parties to Ireland s position as a corporate tax haven." Mr Barnes also told the committee that he believed that financial supports needed to be given on a regional basis, in order to allow regions stave off the worst of the financial blow. "One does have to think very carefully with regard to the regions because some will be hit much harder than others. That makes the overall adjustment much more difficult. That is definitely a factor that needs to be taken into account both for purely economic reasons and for important social reasons." Later, economist Stephen Kinsella told that the committee that it would not be advisable to "let the market do its thing" when it came to supporting SMEs. "It behoves the Government to support businesses that are in trouble at the moment. We should consider large-scale grant programmes to the extent that we can. We can have claw-backs and bring in equity releases later on. There are many details in the design of policy. As a basic measure, however, we should seriously consider large-scale grant aid to SMEs, particularly medium-sized enterprises, which in my view have been left behind." Six Nigerian nationals have been federally indicted in Nebraska and are being sought for their alleged involvement in elaborate schemes targeting business executives' email addresses to get wire transfers and preying on others by masquerading as love interests. The U.S. Treasury Department said that Americans lost more than $6 million because of these individuals schemes. In a news release Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said the six are Richard Uzuh, Micheal Olorunyomi, Alex Ogunshakin, Felix Okpoh, Abiola Kayode and Nnamdi Benson. According to unsealed indictments, between 2015 and Sept. 26, 2016, Uzuh and Adewale Aniyeloye allegedly spoofed email addresses, posing as real CEOs or other business executives, to direct employees to make wire transfers from business accounts. Two unnamed companies in Nebraska together lost more than $530,000 before realizing it was a scam, prosecutors say. In the documents, prosecutors allege Uzuh often would target more than 100 businesses in a day and got at least $6.3 million from American businesses that way. In another scam, Olorunyomi and his co-conspirators are alleged to have made off with more than $1 million by creating fictitious profiles on dating websites and posing as someone looking for love. Prosecutors say Olorunyomi developed online relationships with victims to either get money directly from them or use their bank accounts to funnel money that he'd gotten fraudulently. Between just two Nebraska victims, Olorunyomi allegedly got $480,000 by pretending to be a love interest who needed help with a legitimate financial transaction. Along with the six still sought, three others charged in the plot Aniyeloye, Pelumi Fawehinmi and Onome Ijomone already have entered guilty pleas in U.S. District Court in Omaha and have been sentenced. Aniyeloye received eight years in federal prison for wire fraud; Fawehinmi got six years for conspiracy; and Ijomone got five years for conspiracy. Each of the Nigerian men also was ordered to pay restitution ranging from $508,934 to $1.57 million. U.S. Attorney Joe Kelly and Kristi K. Johnson, the FBI special agent in charge of the Omaha field office, said the sophisticated cyber crimes included individual victims and businesses both in Nebraska and other states and involved electronic-transfer payments or automated clearinghouse transfers. The six face charges ranging from wire fraud and a conspiracy to commit it to identity theft and access device fraud. The charges carry possible punishments of up to 20 years and $250,000 fines. The Department of Treasurys Office of Foreign Asset Control also has imposed financial sanctions on each of the six fugitives, meaning all property and interests in property held by them and subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and others are blocked from engaging in financial transactions with them, according to a news release. In the release, the Treasury Department called the move a coordinated action with the Department of Justice. The scammers are accused of impersonating business executives to request wire transfers from legitimate business accounts and stealing money from innocent Americans by masquerading as affectionate partners to gain trust from their victims. Officials say the six manipulated their victims in order to gain access to usernames, passwords and bank accounts and used social media and email to carry out the scams. Cybercriminals prey on vulnerable Americans and small businesses to deceive and defraud them, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said in a news release about the Nebraska charges. As technological advancement increasingly offers malicious actors tools that can be used for online attacks and schemes, the United States will continue to protect and defend at-risk Americans and businesses. In Nebraska, Kelly thanked the efforts of the Omaha FBI and its Cyber Task Force and cautioned the public that every day victims fall prey to business email compromise (BEC) schemes, romance schemes, COVID-19 scams and any number of other opportune scams. Johnson said the FBI is working every day to "disrupt and dismantle the criminal enterprises that target our businesses and our citizens." "Todays charges are another successful example of our commitment to working together with our foreign colleagues abroad and were sending a strong message to the criminals who perpetrate these BEC schemes. We will continue coming after you, no matter where you are. And to the public, we will keep doing everything we can to protect you, she said. Johnson asked anyone with information regarding the current whereabouts of the six fugitives to call law enforcement immediately. The FBI investigated the case, and the law enforcement actions taken related to the prosecutions were assisted by the efforts of law enforcement counterparts from Nigeria. FBI wanted posters of suspects Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Mayor London Breed said Tuesday shes proposing a $288 parcel tax for the November ballot that would generate $50 million annually for the San Francisco Unified School Districts teachers. The measure, which Breed has named the Fair Wages for Educators Act, comes amid a punishing budget crisis for the district thats forcing school officials to confront a projected $148 million deficit in the 2021-22 fiscal year a 16% reduction from the districts current budget. The measure would replace a nearly identical parcel tax San Francisco voters passed in 2018. That measure, Proposition G on the June 2018 ballot, was intended to give SFUSD teachers a $5,500 salary boost. Prop G succeeded with more than 61% of the vote. But the measure has been tied up in litigation over the simple-majority voter threshold used to pass it. San Francisco resident Wayne Nowak challenged the citys use of the lower threshold, with the backing of the multinational law firm Greenberg Traurig. The city won the case at the trial court level, but an appeal is pending. The city is collecting the parcel tax, but cannot spend the money until the litigation is resolved. Breed is seeking an end-run around the legal blockade by passing the measure introduced Tuesday with a two-thirds supermajority, insulating it from any potential legal challenge over the voter threshold question. The new measure would replace the old one if it passes in November. City officials could not, however, spend the money theyve already collected under Prop. G, since the simple-majority used to pass that measure is still being disputed in court. Everyone is struggling right now under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic, including our schools, our students, and our teachers, Breed said in a statement. We are currently collecting a tax to support our educators that we cant spend because of a lawsuit, so its time we step up and remove that risk by taking this parcel tax back to the ballot. Since the mid-1990s, any ballot measure that would raise taxes for a specific purpose like teacher pay-raises has required a two-thirds majority for passage. But in 2017, the San Francisco city attorneys office issued a pivotal memo interpreting a state Supreme Court ruling from that same year to mean that tax measures put on the ballot by citizens not government leaders needed only a simple majority to pass. In February, school district officials said San Francisco schools needed to begin planning for a worst-case budget scenario, including staff cuts. The district has not faced staff layoffs since 2013. In recent years, the district has spent up to $20 million more than it received in revenue but made up the difference with excess reserves funds that have long since run out. Creating a stable funding source to maintain salaries for our hard-working teachers and staff is critical, especially as they, like so many others, are facing economic anxiety, said SFUSD Superintendent Vincent Matthews. This measure will also be critical in allowing the district to weather the budgetary crisis that has deepened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The executive board of United Educators of San Francisco, the teachers union, voted unanimously to support the measure. Instead of expecting our students to wait for the final legal outcome in the time of a pandemic, when our kids need more support than ever before UESF supports an initiative that will not only bring much-needed revenue into our schools, but will do so while decreasing property owners taxes, said union President Susan Solomon. Breeds $288 parcel-tax proposal is lower than the current $320 tax. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa JOHANNESBURG (AP) Researchers on Tuesday announced the first drug shown to save lives among severely ill coronavirus patients, offering hope even as infection rates rose in Africa and Asia, and there were worrisome upticks of contagion in countries that had largely contained the virus. The cheap, widely available steroid, called dexamethasone, reduced deaths by 35% in patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20% in those only needing supplemental oxygen, the researches said in England. It did not appear to help less ill patients. This is an extremely welcome result, one study leader, Peter Horby of the University of Oxford, said in a statement. The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients. Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide. The study is a large, strict test that randomly assigned 2,104 patients to get the drug and compared them with 4,321 patients getting only usual care. The researchers said they would publish the results soon. New, record-high infections were registered in South Africa over the weekend despite further loosening of restrictions that opened businesses and houses of worship. The country now has more than a quarter of the cases on the 54-nation African continent with more than 73,000. It is imperative that we do not fall into despair as we combat COVID-19, South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told a briefing. We can never be complacent, never found wanting. Those challenges were magnified elsewhere across sub-Saharan Africa with experts warning that the pandemic's full impact there hasn't been reached. Fragile health systems, a catastrophic" shortage of health care professionals and a dramatic drop in medical imports means that the health and economic devastation anticipated is yet to unfold, officials with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote last week in a commentary for the journal Nature Medicine. Daily coronavirus deaths continued to rise in Egypt, with the health ministry reporting 97 deaths Monday, the countrys highest for a single day. Egypt has over 46,000 COVID-19 infections and 1,672 deaths, but the government has resisted a full lockdown to try to keep the economy functioning. Authorities have shortened the nightly curfew and plan to reopen airports next month. Israel's steady raise in infections since restrictions were eased last month has increased fears of what a top Health Ministry official said looked like the beginning of a wave. The country is reporting 200 new cases daily, a tenfold increase from a few weeks ago, and Israeli leaders warned of possibly reinstating strict lockdown measures if people don't heed calls for people to wear masks, maintain social distancing and wash their hands. Pakistan's steady rise in coronavirus cases have put the country in the top 15 nations globally for infections, with over 48,000. Several hospitals have begun refusing patients because they no longer had available beds. Pakistan's daily number of infections is nearly 6,000, and one official, Asad Umar, warned that they could top 1.2 million by the end of July. After fighting the coronavirus for months, Iran saw its highest single-day spike in reported cases since the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan ended in late May, renewing fears about a potential second wave of infections. Iraq reported 58 deaths Sunday, the most in a 24-hour period since February. According to Health Ministry figures, at least 652 people have died from 21,415 confirmed cases, and the increase in deaths has raised worry that Iraq's frail health system is not equipped to handle the surge of patients. Russia's daily caseload of infections continued to grow, despite a decrease in the city of Moscow, which accounted for about 40% of the country's 545,000 confirmed cases. Discounting Moscow's figures, the daily number of new coronavirus cases in Russia has grown to around 7,000 from 6,000 three weeks ago. Turkey, which has seen an uptick in cases since it eased restrictions in early June, made the wearing of face masks mandatory in five more provinces Tuesday. We cannot struggle against the virus without masks, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted. Chinese authorities locked down a third neighborhood in Beijing to contain a new coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 100 people after the country appeared to have largely contained the virus since it first appeared there late last year. Most of the cases have been linked to Beijing's Xinfadi wholesale food market, and people lined up for massive testing of anyone who had visited the market in the past two weeks or come in contact with them. About 9,000 workers at the market were tested already. New Zealand, which hadnt seen a new case in three weeks, said it is investigating a case in which two women who flew in from London to see a dying parent were allowed to leave quarantine and drive halfway across the country before they were tested and found to be positive. The re-emergence of the virus in the country that earned widespread praise for how it handled infections raised the specter that international air travel could trigger a fresh COVID-19 wave just as countries are reopening airports to stimulate tourism. South Korea reported 34 new cases Tuesday. Half were in densely populated Seoul, where officials are scrambling to stem transmissions linked to leisure and religious activities and low-income workers who cant afford to stay home. The Seoul government has so far resisted calls to reimpose stronger social distancing guidelines, fearing further economic damage. The Philippines reimposed a strict lockdown on the city of Cebu after a rise in cases. Quarantine restrictions were reimposed on Manila for another two weeks as infections continued to spike. The battle with COVID isnt over, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said. Australia's auction market recorded its busiest weekend since the COVID-19 measures were put into place, with the number of scheduled auctions going over the 1,000 mark, according to the latest figures from CoreLogic. Over the weekend, 1,164 homes went under the hammer, returning a clearance rate of 63.3%. During the previous weekend, 711 auctions took place, which returned a final success rate of 56.2%. "While volumes remain lower than one year ago, the gap was less significant this week, with 1,505 auctions held one year ago when 61.8% cleared," said Jade Harling, analyst at CoreLogic. Also read: Buyers, Sellers Starting To Return? Sydney rose as the best-performing capital city for auctions, reporting an activity for 532 homes and a success rate of 67.3%. Strong activity was also recorded in Melbourne, which hosted 474 auctions that returned a 61% clearance rate. This was more than double the volume of auctions held in the previous weekend. Across the smaller auction markets, Canberra was the standout, with a preliminary auction clearance rate of 75.8%, while only 20% of Perth auctions reported a successful result. The table below shows the auction market performance of each capital city: THE sun has set on a Limerick tanning salon reopening after gardai pulled the plug. It is understood they were back open for business last week with lines of people, wanting tan lines, queuing around the corner. Hair and beauty salons - including sunbed premises - and barbers are scheduled to reopen on 20 July, according to the roadmap for easing of restrictions. However, this is expected to be brought forward to the end of June. The business announced their new opening hours on their Facebook page last week. Then on Monday they put up a post to say they were closed and the message "see you soon all customers". The Leader learned that gardai arrived on Monday and turned up the heat on the proprietors. A garda spokesperson said An Garda Siochana do not comment on named businesses or organisations. "However, I can confirm that gardai spoke to the owner of a business in Limerick city on June 15 regarding government regulations and they were asked to cease trading. The owner complied and no further action was required," said the garda spokesperson. It is not known if a sun worshipper had to cut short their tanning session. The garda spokesperson continued: "The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (No.2) Regulations 2020 in accordance with the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020, provide for the carrying on of relevant business or services. "In supporting the Covid-19 public health guidelines and regulations, An Garda Siochana has and will continue to adopt, a graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent. This has seen garda members engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce." Where potential breaches of the Public Health Regulations are identified, and where a person does not come into compliance with the regulations, a file is submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a direction as to how to proceed, concluded the garda spokesperson. The actions of the gardai were not met with universal approval judging by some of the comments on the tanning salon's Facebook page. "When are ye reopening? Raging now, was delighted when opened. That is a pity now," said one. While another commented, "And we were going to go in today - guards are a joke!" When the Leader rang the tanning salon there was no reply. A Facebook message has gone unanswered. The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Tuesday in Benin announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Shaibu made the announcement during a press briefing, saying that his resignation from the ruling party took immediate effect. It is with pain that I am leaving the APC I helped to build. Its very unfortunate that we have to resign from the party we all laboured for. The party we built with our blood, our strength. The party we believed that was built with progress of our land. I resigned today with pains and I am resigning to take my destiny in my hand. But by the grace of God, where Gov. Godwin Obaseki goes I go. And by the grace of God, we shall conquer, he said. The deputy governor said that he was sure that President Muhammadu Buhari would be sad at this development, saying that he was left with no choice than to take his political destiny in his hands. Earlier, Governor Godwin Obaseki had resigned his membership of the APC, saying he will soon announce his next line of action. Mr Obaseki, who made this known after visiting the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said his resignation from the party followed his disqualification from the June 22, APC primaries. (NAN) Jasmine Smith marches down Market street during, Philly's LGBT Pride Parade in Philadelphia Pa.The parade theme was the OStonewall 50,O in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the beginning of the LGBT rights movement. Read more Two weeks after major protests and demonstrations began in Philadelphia, the city has not seen a large spike in COVID-19 cases. Other parts of the country, though, are seeing worrying upticks in cases, with indicators pointing to reopening business, restaurants, and other public places, according to a New York Times report. The Philadelphia region began decreasing coronavirus-related restrictions earlier this month and New Jersey took a major step yesterday. Josh Rosenblat (@joshrosenblat, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that its illegal for an employer to fire someone for being gay or transgender. This will have a major impact in Pennsylvania, one of about two dozen states that didnt have a law protecting LGBTQ workers from employment discrimination. So, what happens next? An advocate told my colleague Anna Orso that Pennsylvanias General Assembly should expand on the Supreme Courts decision by passing legislation that implements and enforces those now-nationwide civil rights protections. In the weeks following the killing of George Floyd, images of tens of thousands of people marching in cities across the country flooded social media feeds. But protests also sprouted up in small towns, where demonstrations rarely, if ever, happen. In Pennsylvania, protests supporting the Black Lives Matter movement have occurred in at least 56 of the states 67 counties. Of the towns in those counties that had demonstrations, at least 40 of them were towns that President Trump won in 2016. Experts who study protests and politics told my colleagues Andrew Seidman and Jonathan Lai the antiracism protests in deeply conservative areas could have an impact on this Novembers presidential election. What you need to know today Through your eyes | #OurPhilly Thanks for sharing, @jwalter211. Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and well pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out! Thats interesting Opinions We cannot expect police to act consistently with constitutional guarantees of equality, fairness, and integrity, without a system that is built on full transparency, oversight, and accountability. The failure of government and the courts to mandate and implement policies that would ensure democratic controls on the police, leaves them with a broad immunity from even the most harmful abuses and does little to incentivize good policing. writes David Rudovsky, a civil rights and criminal defense attorney, about the difference between actions and commissions when it comes to police reform. In 1951, Phillys police brutality was brought to the United Nations. Linn Washington Jr., a Temple professor, writes about whether its any better in 2020. The Inquirer Editorial Board is reminding us that the coronavirus pandemic isnt over, even if we are reopening. What were reading Your Daily Dose of | Brighter days Hita Gupta, a student at Conestoga High School, created a foundation called Brighten a Day with the goal to assist seniors in nursing homes and children in hospitals. The foundation makes goodie baskets, cards, and videos, and also sends smart devices that help seniors stay connected with their friends and families. That release could not be found. Key Highlights 155 Indian companies account for over $22 billion investments in the US Indian firms create nearly 125,000 jobs in the US Texas, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Massachusetts top investment destinations Indian investments in 20 US states stand at over $100 million each 77% companies plan to make more investments in the United States. 83% companies plan to hire more employees locally over the next five years As many as 155 companies with origins in India are responsible for generating over $22 billion in investments and nearly 125,000 jobs across the United States, according to a new survey released today by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The report, "Indian Roots, American Soil 2020" is a state-by-state breakdown of tangible investments made and jobs created by 155 surveyed Indian companies doing business in all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Texas, California, New Jersey, New York, and Florida are home to the greatest number of workers in the U. directly employed by the reporting Indian companies. The surveyed companies disclosed the highest amounts of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Texas, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Massachusetts. The states with top concentrations of Indian companies reporting were New Jersey, Texas, California, New York, Illinois and Georgia. The surveyed companies also provided data regarding their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and research and development expenditures, which totaled $175 million and $900 million, respectively. The top five states in which Indian companies have generated maximum employment are: Texas (17,578 jobs), California (8,271 jobs), New Jersey (8,057 jobs), New York (6,175 jobs) and Florida (5,454 jobs). Similarly, the top five states in which Indian companies have contributed the highest foreign direct investment are: Texas ($9.5 billion), New Jersey ($2.4 billion), New York ($1.8 billion), Florida ($915 million), and Massachusetts ($873 million). The CII survey respondents represent diverse sectors including pharmaceuticals and life sciences, telecommunications, aerospace and defense, financial services, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, design and engineering, automotive, food and agriculture, energy and mining and materials. "As CII celebrates its 125th anniversary this year as well as 25 years of its US operations, the Indian Roots, American Soil 2020 report marks an important milestone, and is a testament to the robust economic partnership between India and the US," Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII said. "The survey results show that the US is a preferred investment destination for Indian companies which are contributing significantly to supporting local jobs. The results in the survey capture a snapshot in time, documenting tangible investments and direct jobs only, so I believe that the actual economic impact of Indian FDI in the US is much larger. It is critical that the US government continues to provide a supportive policy environment for Indian companies to flourish and enhance their operations in the US, especially to aid economic recovery at this time," he added. Also Read: Coronavirus fallout: SoftBank's ride-hailing service Grab lays off over 300 employees Also Read: China's Great Wall Motors signs $1 billion MoU with Maharashtra; border tensions with India escalate Also Read: This pharma share hits fresh 52-week high after Rakesh Jhunjhunwala raises stake Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has been asked by the government to carry out a survey of convention centres and banquet halls in the city that could potentially house COVID-19 patients. The purpose of this survey is to find out how many COVID-19 patients can each of these places accommodate. The government is now scouting convention centres and banquet halls because the number of COVID-19 in Gurugram is expected to reach 1.5 lakh by the end of July. The administration has been looking for places which could be turned into makeshift COVID-19 facilities or quarantine centres if the situation demands so. "In the times to come, we may feel the need for more Covid-19 beds. If that is the case, we will convert conventional halls into temporary hospitals and use them as healthcare facilities," said GMDA Chief VS Kundu to The Times of India. Kundu also said that temporary sewage lines and makeshift toilets would be constructed in such facilities if required. Patients in the makeshift facilities will be provided with a proper water supply at all times. He further said that the administration is monitoring the situation closely and that people should not worry about the shortage of beds for COVID-19 patients. The GMDA Chief clarified that these arrangements are being made keeping in mind the worst-case scenario which is that the number of cases in Gurugram could cross 1.5 lakh by end of July and 2.5 lakh by the end of August. Even if only 12% of these patients need to be admitted to a hospital, the city should have at least 4,200 beds by the end of this month, 18,000 beds by July and 30,000 in August. Data shared last week revealed that Gurugram has 4,600 beds. According to officials, the Haryana government is taking every possible step to brace itself for its fight against coronavirus. According to the daily, the officials further noted that the government may even convert vacant buildings across Gurugram into dormitories for COVID-19 patients. A few hotels in the city are already being used as isolation centres for COVID-19 patients. Also Read: India-China border news live updates: 5 died on Chinese side, 11 injured in Ladakh, reports say Also Read: Coronavirus update: PaisaBazaar lays off half of its workforce; over 1,500 impacted Also Read: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain admitted to hospital due to fever; tested for COVID Eternal Services, owned and operated by Kyle Lessard, has served the greater Las Vegas area since 2016 and grew quickly as the company serviced more than 5,000 calls in its first year. Dubbed the "singing plumber," for his uplifting demeanor on the job, Lessard started the company with just himself and a pickup truck and grew to employ a team of 14 workers who strive to serve their customers with the trademark Eternal ear-to-ear smile. Lessard aims to provide every client with quality, top notch services as he trains his crews to be the best plumbing providers in the market which resulted in Eternal Services being named as Reeves Journal's 2019 Western Contractor of the Year . This latest acquisition allows Goettl to expand its footprint and services even further into the Las Vegas valley where it has established strong brand recognition and maintains a commitment to giving back to the community. As part of the acquisition, Eternal Services will rebrand to Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing and will also merge its customers into Goettl's client base. "The most coveted asset in this acquisition is Kyle Lessard as his innovative business and plumbing strategies coupled with his strong leadership skills will be a differentiator in our continued success," said Ken Goodrich, CEO of Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing. "Partnering with Kyle feels like a natural progression as he shares Goettl's core values and already trains his team to do things the right way, not the easy way." "Joining Ken and his Goettl team will not only allow my team to expand and continue to develop their skill sets through Goettl's extensive training programs, but it will also give me the opportunity to collaborate and move our businesses forward with some of the best professionals in the HVAC and plumbing industry," said Lessard. About Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing is a leading provider of modernization solutions and services that deliver comfort, indoor air & water quality, and intelligent efficiency for residential customers. The company creates value by acquiring established local brands, applying experienced management talent and implementing proven processes. Initially focused on companies in the Southwest, Goettl is expanding nationally. Current operations are located in Arizona, Nevada, California and Texas. Goettl is the winner of Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies in 2017 & 2018. Goettl is a portfolio company of Baum Capital Partners. For more information, visit www.goettl.com About Eternal Services and Plumbing Solutions Eternal Services and Plumbing Solutions is a licensed and bonded plumbing company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Founded by Kyle Lessard in 2016, Eternal Services operates 24/7 providing services for residential and commercial plumbing, drain and sewer cleaning, renovations, water softeners and water heaters throughout the greater Las Vegas area. Eternal Services and Plumbing Solutions has been named as Reeves Journal's 2019 Western Contractor of the Year. For more information, visit www.eternalservices.com SOURCE Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing Related Links http://www.goettl.com India denies entry to US religious freedom panel ahead of investigation Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment New Delhi has denied entry visas to representatives of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom who had planned to investigate reports of persecution of Muslims and Christians following the release of its report that designates India as a Country of Particular Concern. We have denied visas to USCIRF teams that have sought to visit India in connection with issues related to religious freedom, Indias Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar wrote to Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey in a June 1 letter, according to Reuters. The government, Jaishankar said, saw no grounds for a foreign entity to intervene in the state of affairs of India's citizens. We see no locus standi for a foreign entity/government to pronounce on the state of our citizens constitutionally protected rights, Raveesh Kumar, a spokesperson from Indias Ministry of External Affairs, had earlier told India Today. India is a pluralistic society with a longstanding commitment to tolerance and inclusion. The bipartisan U.S. government advisory body told Reuters, As a pluralistic, non-sectarian, and democratic state, and a close partner of the United States, India should have the confidence to allow our visit, which would give it the opportunity to convey its views directly to USCIRF in a constructive dialogue. According to USCIRF, the religious intolerance and violence in India rose with the growth of Hindu nationalism under the current Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government. While Indias constitution does protect an individuals right to religious freedom, national security and public order are often used by the state to promote Hindu nationalism and oppress religious minorities, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern said. The BJP won Indias 2014 general elections and has been governing the country since then. According to Delhi-based Evangelical Fellowship of India, at least 147 violent attacks on Indias Christian community were reported in 2014, and the number increased to 366 in 2019. Open Doors World Watch List ranked India as the 10th worst country for Christians in its latest report. Since the current ruling party took power in 2014, incidents against Christians have increased, and Hindu radicals often attack Christians with little to no consequences, the Christian ministry noted. The view of the Hindu nationalists is that to be Indian is to be Hindu, so any other faith including Christianity is viewed as non-Indian. Also, converts to Christianity from Hindu backgrounds or tribal religions are often extremely persecuted by their family members and communities. Most attacks on Christians are launched under the pretext of the alleged forcible conversion of Hindus. Several Indian states have had draconian anti-conversion laws, termed as Freedom of Religion Acts, for decades but no Christian has been convicted of forcibly converting anyone to Christianity. According to Indias own population data, the conspiracy of mass conversions to Christianity does not hold up, International Christian Concern noted earlier. In 1951, the first census after independence, Christians made up only 2.3% of Indias overall population. According to the 2011 census, the most recent census data available, Christians still only make up 2.3% of the population. India also has the worlds third-largest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan. Hindu nationalist groups also target the Muslim minority. In a seemingly targeted spate of violence in February, at least 53 people, mostly from the Muslim minority, were killed in northeast Delhi. The violence came after months of protests in several Indian cities against a recent controversial citizenship law that excluded Muslims. Muslims and Christians have had cordial relations in India. Journalist Maria Ressa's libel conviction on Monday has raised fresh concerns about press freedom under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has a history of clashing with the media. Here are some notable confrontations: - 'Shameless' Inquirer - The Philippine Daily Inquirer is one of the nation's top publications and brands itself as delivering "balanced news, fearless views". When Duterte launched his deadly crackdown on narcotics in 2016, the paper covered it extensively and published editorials sharply critical of the killings. Duterte repeatedly attacked the paper in speeches -- at one point branding the Inquirer and the nation's top broadcaster ABS-CBN as "shameless... those sons of whore journalists". Months later the paper's owners ended up in talks to sell to a powerful businessman and Duterte-backer, though the deal would later fall through. - ABS-CBN shutdown - The nation's top broadcaster ABS-CBN was forced off the air in May after years of threats by Duterte to shut down the network. Early in his term Duterte accused the network of failing to air his 2016 campaign adverts and not returning the payments, and singled it out for ire in his speeches. "I'm sorry. You're out. I will see to it that you're out," Duterte said in December. The president's spokesman has said he is "completely neutral" on the legislature granting the network a new licence to operate. - Reporters 'not exempted' from killing - Duterte sparked outrage when he endorsed the killing of corrupt journalists as president-elect in 2016, saying "You're not exempted from assassination". The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines described the comments as "appalling" in a nation that is one of the most dangerous for reporters. One of the world's deadliest attacks against journalists took place in the Philippines in 2009, when 32 journalists were among 58 people killed by a warlord clan intent on stopping a rival's election challenge. - Wolf-whistle - While still president-elect, Duterte wolf-whistled at a woman journalist during a nationally televised press conference, sparking criticism from rights groups and the press. He interrupted a question from reporter Mariz Umali before whistling and breaking into a short serenade. While Umali subsequently sought to play down the controversy, her husband, also a journalist, had words for Duterte. "Catcalling my wife is wrong in so many levels," husband Raffy Tima wrote on Facebook. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita and Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 16:40 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf363ce 1 National house-of-representatives,Commission-I,fit-and-proper-test,diplomat,Indonesian-ambassador Free The House of Representatives Commission I overseeing foreign affairs started on Tuesday fit and proper tests for Indonesian ambassadorial candidates to fill numerous diplomatic posts across the globe. Commission I lawmaker Dave Laksono said the screening would examine various factors, including the approach the candidates would use in performing their duties in their respective posts and their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and its counterparts. The fit and proper tests will be conducted over a period of three days, Dave told The Jakarta Post in a text message on Tuesday. On Thursday, we [screening committee] will have another internal meeting to discuss the results of the tests, he added. President Joko Jokowi Widodo submitted to the House the names of 31 ambassadorial candidates last month. While most are career diplomats from the Foreign Ministry some are political appointees, ranging from politicians, to media figures and supporters of Jokowi during his reelection campaign last year. One of the candidates is Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) politician Heri Akhmadi, who is expected to serve as Indonesian ambassador to Japan and Micronesia. A senior politician, Heri has previously been elected as a House lawmaker for three terms. Another candidate is Roem Kono, a Golkar Party politician who has been nominated to serve as Indonesia's top diplomat in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Two other politicians on the list are Crescent Star Party (PBB) deputy chairman Sukmo Harsono, the ambassador candidate to Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, as well as Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) treasurer Iwan Bogananta, nominated to be the top envoy to Bulgaria, Albania and Macedonia. The other political appointees include former trade minister M Luthfi as the ambassador candidate to the United States and former Metro TV chief editor Suryopratomo, who has been proposed to serve as Indonesia's top diplomat in Singapore. Meanwhile, senior career diplomats set to depart for ambassadorial posts include the Foreign Ministrys director general for ASEAN affairs, Jose Tavares, who is expected to assume the diplomatic post in Russia, and the ministrys inspector general, Rachmat Budiman, who is represent the country in Thailand. Lutfi Rauf, currently the deputy head for foreign policy at the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, will fill the ambassadorial post in Egypt, while the ambassadorships to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the European Union will all go to senior career diplomats Desra Percaya, Mayerfas and Andri Hadi, respectively. Sudans public prosecutor announced Monday the discovery of a mass grave containing conscripts allegedly killed after trying to flee a military camp in 1998 under ousted president Omar al-Bashirs regime. The grim discovery came as part of investigations into misdeeds committed under al-Bashir, who ruled the country with an iron fist before the army deposed him amid huge street protests in April 2019. A investigating committee found the mass grave in the past four days after hearing witness accounts, about killings at Ailafoon military camp, public prosecutor Tagelsir al-Hebr told reporters in Khartoum. Some of those suspected of involvement in the incident have fled the country, said Hebr, who did not disclose how many bodies were found. The grave was exhumed and now the committee will continue to work with forensic authorities and examine the evidence, said Wael Ali Saeed, a member of the investigation committee. Ailafoon military camp, located southeast of the capital Khartoum, was used for training new conscripts under Bashirs rule. In 1998, a group of conscripts died as they attempted to escape the base for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holidays. The Sudanese government said at the time that around 55 young conscripts who fled the base drowned when their overloaded boat capsized in the Blue Nile. Opposition groups accused the regime of deliberately killing the conscripts and reported a death toll of more than 100. Other investigations Many Sudanese families reported that their sons went missing and their remains were never found. Bashir used conscripts in the civil war against rebels in the oil-rich south, which seceded in 2011. Following Bashirs ouster last year, the country has since August been led by a civilian-majority administration presiding over a three-year transitional period. Sudanese authorities have vowed to probe violations committed under Bashir as well as violence during last years protests against his rule. Hebr also disclosed on Monday that an investigatory team is looking into the 1989 Islamist-backed military coup that brought Bashir to power. Other ongoing investigations include cases of corruption and violence against demonstrators during anti-government protests that took place from December 2018, he added. Doctors linked to Sudans protest movement said at least 246 were killed and hundreds others wounded during the 2018-19 protests. Since his ouster, Bashir and many of his aides have been kept in Khartoums Kober prison on multiple charges. In December, he was sentenced to two years detention in a correctional facility in an initial corruption case. The ex-president has for a decade been wanted by the Hague-based International Criminal Court, where he faces charges of genocide and war crimes committed in the war ravaged Darfur region of western Sudan. The Darfur conflict, which erupted in 2003 between African minority rebels and Bashirs forces, killed 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million others. Last week, top militia leader Ali Kushayb, who was accused of atrocities in Darfur, handed himself over to the ICC. It can be difficult to hear a whisper-quiet electric vehicle. But, starting this fall, it should be easier to spot eco-friendly cars prowling the streets of Britain. Grant Shapps, the UKs transport secretary, has confirmed that green number plates will be offered to EV drivers later this year. They wont be completely pea coloured, though instead, a small accent will be introduced on the left-hand edge of the currently white (front) and yellow (rear) plates. The UK government hopes the plates will accelerate EV adoption. Local authorities could offer cheaper parking, for instance, discounted toll road access and free entry into zero-emission zones. In theory, the plates will be a quick way for parking attendants and other officials to identify which vehicles should be eligible for such reductions (without having an encyclopaedic knowledge of mass-produced EV models.) Politicians announced the policy and simultaneously launched a consultation last October. The document included a few alternative plate designs a completely green licence plate, for instance, and one that included a small green dot but these were ultimately rejected. The proposal was inspired by a similar scheme in Ontario, Canada. The city allowed EV drivers to use toll roads without being charged, which led to an increase in eligible car purchases. The reaction to the scheme has been mixed, though. Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy for breakdown company RAC, is worried that the badge of honour will cause resentment among owners of fossil fuel-powered cars. David Bailey, professor of business economics at the University of Birmingham, told Wired that drivers could slap a big sticker on their car if they wanted to advertise its green credentials to other road users. In its response to the initial consultation, the UKs Surveillance Camera Commissioner warned that the scheme could encourage cloned plates. Obtaining such a plate would, therefore, need to be tightly controlled, the organization added. Lyes believes that any financial discounts will be short-lived because local authorities desperately need the revenue associated with parking and zero-emission zones. And, given their relatively high upfront costs, only those drivers that could afford to make the switch to an electric vehicle would benefit leaving the vast majority who still rely on a petrol and diesel cars losing out, he said back in October. Instead, he argued that the government should focus on providing better financial incentives at the point of purchase. Alongside the green plates, the UK government announced a 12 million (roughly $15.2 million) fund for eco-friendly vehicle research. Roughly 10 million will be offered through a Zero Emission Vehicle Innovation Competition, organised by quango Innovate UK, for advancements in electric and hydrogen vehicles, as well as charging infrastructure. The remaining 2 million (roughly $2.5 million) will be given to small and medium-sized businesses researching batteries and other zero-emission technology that could be used by larger car manufacturers. Sandra Smith and Dr. Randy Mitchmore "Share a Smile" We want to evoke joy in our patients, raise money for a food bank and promote the importance of healthy teeth and gums. Past News Releases RSS Top Dentist Warns Against TikTok... LifeSmiles by Randy Mitchmore recently opened its dentistry doors again after a long shelter-in-place order in Houston. During lockdown patients had to live with toothaches, painful gum issues and other dental concerns at home until Governor Greg Abbott lifted restrictions on dental practices. Recognizing the impact of Covid-19 on his community, Dr. Mitchmore immediately developed an outreach program, Share a Smile, to help lift spirits and raise money for the Houston Food Bank. The impact of Covid-19 has led to recent economic hardships, which has escalated the demands at local food banks. To help raise money for the Houston Food Bank, Dr. Mitchmore asked his Patient Ambassador, Sandra Smith, to assist him in launching the first-ever Share a Smile program at LifeSmiles. Sandra has worked at LifeSmiles for many years and is in charge of crafting handwritten inspirational messages for the goody bags patients receive when they leave. During Sandras spare time, she plays volleyball for the Special Olympics. I like helping patients smile at LifeSmiles, said Sandra Smith, Patient Ambassador for LifeSmiles by Dr. Randy Mitchmore. Sharing these smiles reminds people to turn their frowns upside down. Each patient who schedules an appointment before August 31, 2020 will receive a hand-crafted smile created by Sandra to share with friends on Facebook. To participate, patients who post a selfie holding the cut-out smile and tag @theHoustonFoodBank and @LifeSmiles.RandyMitchmore will domino a donation from LifeSmiles for $25.00 (equivalent to 75 meals) to the Houston Food Bank. The goal of Share a Smile is to raise enough money to serve over 3,000 meals by the end of the summer. Additionally, LifeSmiles will mail cards to elderly patients who are quarantined and isolated from their families. Smiling is healing, so sharing big-toothy smiles with friends and family right now helps keep us rooted in whats important (pardon the pun), said Dr. Randy Mitchmore, an award-winning dentist at LifeSmiles. We want to evoke joy in our patients, raise money for a food bank and promote the importance of healthy teeth and gums. Dr. Randy Mitchmore has dedicated over thirty years to his dental practice, helping patients feel relaxed, safe and secure in a luxurious, spa-like dentist office with a sparkling pool. LifeSmiles has a reputation for going the extra mile for patients with pampering perks during treatment, goody bags, and hand-written thank you notes. The Share a Smile program is an extension of their unique culture. To contribute to the cause and participate in Share a Smile, contact the LifeSmiles dentist office at 713-592-9300 and schedule an appointment before August 31, 2020. Patients are encouraged to focus on dental health this summer and schedule deep cleanings, X-Rays, periodontal care and fluoride treatments before the fall flu season hits. Bad bacteria, including streptococcus mutans and porphyromonas gingivalis can colonize on teeth and gums, causing potential health problems, which can be eliminated with proper dental care. LifeSmiles is open Monday through Friday by appointment only. For more information about Dr. Randy Mitchmore, please visit lifesmiles.us. BEIJING, China and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative drug candidates to treat underserved medical conditions, announced that it has appointed Carrie Ann Cook to the position of Senior Vice-President/Global Head of Business Development, effective June 8th. CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc. With more than 20 years' experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Ms. Cook has deep international business development experience across multiple markets and disease areas. She came to CANbridge directly from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, in Cambridge, MA, where she was Senior Director, Center for External Innovation, Rare Disease, leading research and development transactions for the rare disease franchise. Prior to Takeda, Ms. Cook was Head of Global Business Development & Licensing, MS, Medical Devices and Global Health at EMD Serono, Inc, in Billerica, MA, where she directed global business development in multiple indications; and Global Business Development Director, Neurology and Rheumatology at Merck Serono SA, in Geneva, Switzerland, where she led licensing initiatives for the neurology and autoimmune business units. Before then, Ms. Cook held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in business development and marketing, including Strategic Marketing Director, Pre-PoC and BD&L, Respiratory at Novartis Pharma AG, in Basel, Switzerland; Manager Business Development, Europe at Baxter Healthcare SA in Wallisellen, Switzerland and Manager Business Intelligence, Europe, also at Baxter. "Carrie's extensive international business development experience and excellent strategic track record make her a standout," said James Xue, PhD, Founder, Chairman and CEO, CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc. "She is ideal to lead the CANbridge global business development team as we advance as a world-class biopharmaceutical company driven by a rare disease-focused strategy." Ms. Cook holds a Masters of Business Administration from INSEAD, in France and Singapore, where she was a Forte Fellow, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biotechnology from Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, from which she graduated cum laude. About CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc. CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company accelerating development and commercialization of specialty healthcare products for orphan diseases and targeted cancers, focusing on products that are unavailable or address unmet medical needs. CANbridge has a global partnership with WuXi Biologics to develop and commercialize proprietary therapeutics for the treatment of rare genetic diseases. In greater China, where it is a recognized leader in orphan diseases, CANbridge has an exclusive licensing agreement to commercialize Hunterase, an enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of Hunter syndrome, developed by GC Pharma and marketed in more than ten countries worldwide. The CANbridge oncology portfolio includes exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Puma Biotechnology's NERLYNX (neratinib), which was recently approved in greater China, as well as rights to other novel candidates. For more on CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc., please go to www.canbridgepharma.com. Contact: CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc. James Xue CEO +8610.8414.8018 781.995.0074 Media Deanne Eagle Planet Communications [email protected] 917.837.5866 SOURCE CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc. Related Links http://www.canbridgepharma.com [June 16, 2020] Belcampo Meat Co. Launches Partner Farm Program to Support Mission to Create a New Certified Humane, Organic and Regeneratively-Farmed Meat Supply Chain Belcampo, pioneer of hyper-sustainable organic, grass-fed and -finished, Certified Humane meats, broths and jerky, has announced the launch of its partner farm program as part of its commitment to revolutionize the meat industry from the inside out. Together with its network of new farm partners, Belcampo is embarking on a mission to enact widespread, long-term change in the meat industry and to help fix the way meat is produced in America, by building a new regeneratively-farmed meat supply chain through a network of Certified Humane and organic farms. "The health crisis of the past few months has shown us the ways in which our meat supply system is in need of transformation," said Anya Fernald, co-founder and CEO of Belcampo. "We're actively working to create positive change in this industry that's struggling to adapt and pivot by working with a network of smaller-scale partner farms to increase the accessibility of humane, organic and regeneratively-farmed meat that consumers are actively seeking to support their own wellness and health." Spearheaded by multigenerational family farmer and Belcampo's farm and procurement director, James Rickert, Belcampo is working hand-in-hand with a new network of family-owned American ranches in Northern California who embody its commitment to animal welfare and delivering superior-quality meat that supports human and environmental health. Through the program, the farmers are given the tools, education, and market opportunities to transition to a more sustainable, humane and regenerative model of agriculture, including Certified Humane animal handling and processing, and USDA Organic Certification. Partners also benefit from Belcampo's strong marketing presence, and selling through the company's seven sales channels, including its restaurants, delivery services, direct-to-consumer, CPG/grocery, specialty retailers and more. Belcampo projects its beef production to double by 2021 with the addition of new cattle rancher partners this summer. "As a fifth generation farmer, I've seen and lived through the changes in this industry and know that regenerative and humane farming practices are not only providing new opportunities for multigenerational farms to carry the family business forward, but also building a more sustainable future for all of us," said James Rickert, farm director atBelcampo. "We've grown our partner farm program from the ground up in Northern California organically through the grassroots farming community, as many ranchers in our area became aware of our mission and wanted to invest in their farms' futures. Together, we're looking forward to building a new supply chain of sustainability-raised meat produced with humane, organic practices and expanding the program across the country." Belcampo is on a mission to revolutionize the meat industry for the well-being of people, the planet and animals by building a supply chain that produces meat with Certified Humane, regenerative and climate-positive farming practices resulting in healthier meat products. Belcampo's animals are raised on its own USDA Certified Organic farms in California (on 25,000 acres of pristine farmland) using Certified Humane and regenerative farming techniques, and from the farmers in its partner farm program. The animals are processed onsite at its own USDA-inspected, Certified Humane processing facility that integrates a strict coding system that allows full traceability from animal birth to butchery to your plate. Its new CPG grocery portfolio includes a variety of beef, poultry, pork and lamb cuts, bone broths and snacks, including whole cuts of beef such as Ribeye, New York Strip and Tri-Tip, ground beef, pork and lamb, beef jerky, sausages, whole Cornish chickens, smoked bacon, eggs and bone broths. Belcampo's meats, broths and jerkies are available at select retailers on the West Coast, in its restaurants and butcheries in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and New York, N.Y., and online at www.belcampo.com. For more information about Belcampo, please visit www.belcampo.com. For more information or to inquire about becoming a part of the partner farm program, contact James Rickert at [email protected]. About Belcampo On a mission to revolutionize the meat industry from the inside out, Belcampo has pioneered a different model of bringing healthy and pasture-raised, free-range meat directly from its own Organic Certified, regenerative California farms, and partner farms with the same guidelines, to consumers through the brand's restaurants, retail shops and new packaged meat line available in select grocery stores and online. All Belcampo meats, including both popular and untraditional cuts, are harvested from grass-fed and -finished herds and pasture-raised flocks of heritage-breed hogs, sheep, cattle and poultry, and processed at the company's multi-species Certified Humane and USDA Certified butchery located in Yreka, Calif. Belcampo products are available in select retailers and online on its website. For more information, visit www.belcampo.com or connect on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005267/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Bengaluru: Two politically southern states, Karnataka and Kerala have little in common. For the communists in Kerala, Karnataka is a saffron state. For the BJP in Karnataka, Kerala is a red state. And many Karnataka BJP leaders dont waste a single opportunity to mock and ridicule the Kerala model. Now, in a strange turn of events, both Karnataka and Kerala are being hailed as model states in their fight against the spread of dreaded pandemic coronavirus. The BJP government led by chief minister BS Yediyurappa and the Communist government led by Pinarayi Vijayan have so far successfully contained the disease in their respective states. The cases are rising at an alarming rate in their neighbouring state Tamil Nadu. The situation is Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is slightly better. In the last 90 days, both Karnataka and Kerala governments have aggressively fought Covid-19, limiting it to small numbers compared to many other states that continue to struggle with the crisis. The ideologically and diagonally opposite BJP and Left governments have even shared the details of medical care and other measures taken by the respective states with each other. Karnataka Medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar has held a video conference with Keralas much celebrated health minister Shailaja teacher to discuss the steps to be taken to combat the spread of virus. Niti Ayogs CEO Amitabh Kant hailed Karnatakas efforts in combating coronavirus, saying, Compared to other metro cities, cases per million in Bengaluru are extremely low. For every confirmed case, they traced 47 contacts. In Delhi it is 2.1. Karnataka has also done large scale testing of patients with influenza like symptoms (SARI & ILI). Great! The Government of India statistics which are in the public domain prove that Karnataka and Kerala have done reasonably well and contained the spread of the disease to a large extent. On Monday, Karnataka had about 7,000 confirmed cases with 88 deaths. Among them, 4,135 who had tested positive have recovered, with a mortality rate of just 1.2 per cent. One of the key factors in Karnatakas largely successful efforts at controlling Covid-19 in the state has been aggressive contact-tracing, quarantining and testing. Researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) who conducted a study of contacts tested of Covid-19 patients in different states between January 22 and April 30 found Karnataka at the top, with 93 on average tested compared to the national figure of 20. On Monday, Kerala reported 82 new cases, talking the total number to 2,543. Out of the new cases, 13 are from Ernakulam district, 11 are from Pathanamthitta, 10 each are from Ernakulam and Kottayam, 7 are from Palakkad, 6 each from Malappuram and Kozhikode, 5 from Alappuzha, 4 from Kollam, 3 each from Thrissur and Kasaragod, 2 from Idukki and 1 each from Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram. Yediyurappas handling of the crisis has won him appreciation from both within and outside his party, since fighting the virus in a huge, highly industrialised state like Karnataka is not an easy job. Much before the lockdown was declared, Yediyurappa was on the ground making plans to fight the disease. When it was declared, the handling of the strictest phase of lockdown was much better than other states. He held several dozen meetings with all stake holders, including the opposition Congress and JDS to make it an all-party, apolitical fight. His warnings against giving a communal colour to the spread also worked well. Many Congress and JDS leaders who criticise his handling of the coronavirus crisis in public admit in private that Yediyurappa has done a fairly decent job. From day one, he made the handling transparent by sharing every detail with the media and public. In the last 90 days, he has spoken to the media on almost every day (sometimes 2 to 3 times a day) and has held several dozen media briefings. A team of dedicated bureaucrats and police officials led by low profile chief secretary to Karnataka Government TM Vijayabhaskar and DGP Praveen Sood have also done a fine job in executing the orders. He has been working non-stop. He chairs half a dozen big and small meetings every day, meets everyone. He listens to them and takes immediate steps to solve their problems, a senior official working with him said. Karnatakas already well-established medical care and other key infrastructures have also helped the state in battling the virus in the last three months. The repatriation of migrant workers to their states was earlier criticised after trains were stopped, but was managed better later and the supply chain of all essential goods was also handled well. When it comes to education, public health, awareness and infrastructure, Karnataka and Kerala have many things in common. But Karnataka is five times larger than Kerala in size and has 6.5 crore people compared to Keralas less than 4 crore population. A highly industrialised Karnataka had to face the huge challenge of sending lakhs of migrant workers back home. Their number was less in Kerala. During the first two weeks of lockdown, Karnataka and Kerala almost came to blows over the closing of state border. Karnataka had closed over 30 entry and exit points with its southern neighbour alleging that Kerala was sending coronavirus infected people from the Malabar region into the northern state. After a war of words, peace was established and borders were opened. In Kerala, over 1,29,971 people have been released from the 14-day quarantine, while another 1,20,727 people are currently in isolation either at home or at corona care centres and include 2,023 in hospitals. Trina Solar Co has signed an agreement with the Yemeni photovoltaic firm Al Raebi for Trading Company to be its authorised distributor in Yemen. The agreement comes as a further commitment of Trina Solars expansion plans and towards increasing its footprint in the Middle East & Africa region, said a statement. Al-Rabeis appointment as authorised distributor will ensure that Trina Solars quality service and products will be available by supplying tier 1 PV modules with high reliability and solid performance to consumers across the Yemeni market. Jimenez Antonio, Head of the Middle East and Africa markets at Trina Solar, said: We are excited to work with Al-Rabei as our authorised distributor in Yemen. We have a very long and prosperous relationship together that has always been successful and fruitful in developing our presence in the Yemeni market. This partnership will allow us to provide the most advanced solar technology to address the current and future market demand. We look forward to working with Al-Rabei to grow the business and play a key role in the already large photovoltaic industry in Yemen. Abdullah M Raebi, General Manager of Al-Raebi for Trading Co, stated: We are looking forward to working with Trina Solar as authorized distributor towards accelerating the adoption of clean energy in Yemen. Trina Solar currently ranks first in terms of market share in Yemen, strongly supporting the countrys efforts in helping ease the power shortage and responding to power needs in the residential and commercial sectors. Yemen is well positioned to benefit from the huge potential of PV applications because it boasts rich light resources. The country is in urgent need of best-of-breed PV products and solutions to address the domestic electricity shortage, the statement said. Trina Solar and Al-Rabei had signed a deal earlier to supply 6MW of Vertex series modules to high-efficiency distributed PV projects in the Middle East. The acquisition of the order signaled the degree to which the Vertex series modules will lead the Middle East solar market into the era of 500W+ ultra-high power output, boosting the local application of photovoltaic clean energy, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Death row inmate Ho Duy Hais sentence for murder was re-affirmed by Vietnams top court in a meeting Monday of the National Assembly, state media reported. Ho was arrested in March 2008 and convicted nine months later of plundering property and murdering two female postal employees in Long An Province. The Peoples Court of Long An province sentenced him to five years for the theft, and gave him the death penalty for the murders. Appealing to the National Assembly is the last recourse for Ho and his family after the Supreme Peoples Court last month rejected a request by the procuracy to reinvestigate the decades-long case that has seen appeals and a 2014 stay of execution ordered by the then president. Two National Assembly deputies petitioned the legislative body to reinvestigate irregularities in how the case was handled. As part of the investigation Supreme Court Chief Judge Nguyen Hoa Binh Monday reaffirmed that Ho was guilty of the crimes. Nguyen was also the judge in last months cassation trial that upheld the sentence, leaving Hos family little option but to hope the assembly would agree to reinvestigate. Judge Nguyen Hoa Binh explained Monday that Ho gave 25 statements to the court admitting his guilt. Nguyen added that at his first testimony, Ho wrote down the details of the case rather than interrogate himself. Nguyen also confirmed Ho's admissions came at lt at several key junctures. For example, Nguyen said, when Ho was set to be executed on Dec. 5, 2014, he petitioned then-President Truong Tan Sang to try to get a reduced sentence. He did not claim innocence in his petition, and was granted a temporary stay of execution the day before it was to be carried out. While the judge reaffirmed the courts belief that Ho is guilty, the National Assembly has not yet indicated that it is close to making a decision on concluding its investigation. Procedural errors Observers have pointed to several procedural errors in Hos case, including that it was largely based on a confession that he later recanted, saying he had been forced to do so by police during his detention. Additionally, prosecutors lacked crucial evidence, as no time of death for the two victims was ever established, fingerprints at the crime scene did not match Hos, and the murder weapons were misplaced by the forensic team. London-based rights group Amnesty International has cited Hos mother as saying that he was tortured in prison, citing his deteriorating health and loss of weight. In February 2015, the National Assemblys Committee on Judicial Affairs declared after a reinvestigation into the case that during both the initial trial and the appeal, there had been serious violations of criminal procedural law. The committee urged that the case be reviewed on appeal, but in Dec. 2017, Long An provinces procuracy pushed for execution. In November last year, Amnesty International sent a petition with 25,000 signatures to President Trong calling for Hos acquittal. Between August 2013 and June 2016, Vietnam executed 429 people, while 1,134 people were given death sentences between July 2011 and June 2016, according to government figures released in 2018. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huy Le. Written in English by Eugene Whong. In some respite, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 52.47 per cent and the country has more number of Covid-19 recoveries than active cases, the health ministry said. Over ten thousand people were cured from Covid-19 or were discharged from hospitals across the country in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health stated. It added as many as 10,215 coronavirus patients were cured in the last 24 hours. With this, the country's tally of cured patients has hit 1,80,012 patients till date. India, so far, has reported 3,43,091 coronavirus cases and is the fourth worst-hit country in the world after the US, Brazil and Russia. The death toll in the country is reaching the 10,000-mark. Maharashtra, has reported over one lakh cases and is the worst-hit state in the country. Financial capital Mumbai accounts for over 50 percent of the coronavirus cases in the state. Reuters Tamil Nadu is at the second spot with 46,000 cases with Chennai reporting close to 70 per cent cases. National capital New Delhi is at the second spot with more than 42,000 cases, followed by Gujarat which has reported over 24,000 coronavirus cases till date. PM Modi interacts with CMs In a meeting between prime minister Narendra Modi and state leaders and governors discussing the COVID-19 situation. PM Modi spoke about the recovery rate shooting past 50 per cent, a good sign for the country. He reiterated that the impact of the pandemic has not been that huge in India as in other parts of the world. AFP "For us the death of even 1 Indian is unsettling but it is also true that India is one of the countries where mortality rate due to COVID-19 is lowest," the prime minister said. During the meeting, the PM said it is impossible to even think of stepping out of the house without a face cover or a mask." Do gaj ki doori, frequent hand-washing and use of hand sanitiser are of utmost importance. With markets opening and more people stepping out, these precautions are even more important," he said. SEOUL, South KoreaNorth Korea has blown up an inter-Korean liaison office building just inside its border. Seouls Unification Ministry said the building in the North Korean border town of Kaesong was destroyed at 2:49 p.m. It said that the detonation of the liason office had already been preannounced by the North, and that Seoul was seeking more details to access the situation, according to Yonhap. South Korean Minister Kim Yeon-chul told the parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs and unification, It is something partly preannounced (by North Korea). Photos from South Koreas Yonhap News Agency showed smoke rising from what appeared to be a complex of buildings. The agency said the area was part of a now-shuttered industrial park where the liaison office was located. Smoke raising in the North Korean border town of Kaesong is seen from Paju, South Korea, on June 16, 2020. (Yonhap via AP) The sister of North Koreas leader had earlier threatened to demolish the useless communication office as it stepped up its fiery rhetoric over Seouls failure to stop freedom activists and North Korean defectors from flying propaganda leaflets across the border. On Saturday night, Kim Jong Uns sister Kim Yo Jong, warned that Seoul will soon witness a tragic scene of the useless North-South liaison office (in North Korea) being completely collapsed. In 2018, the rival Koreas opened their first liaison office at Kaesong to facilitate better communication and exchanges since their division at the end of the World War II in 1945. Earlier Tuesday, North Koreas military threatened to move back into zones that were demilitarized under inter-Korean peace agreements. The General Staff of the Korean Peoples Army said its reviewing a ruling party recommendation to advance into unspecified border areas that had been demilitarized under agreements with the South, which would turn the front line into a fortress. While it wasnt immediately clear what actions North Koreas military might take against the South, the North has threatened to abandon a bilateral military agreement reached in 2018 to reduce tensions across the border. South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged North Korea on Monday to return to the dialogue table, reported South Koreas Chosun Ilbo. Monday was the 20th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit. The Epoch Times contributed to this article. Canberra, June 16 : Australia's widespread easing of COVID-19 restrictions has remained on track despite a dozen new confirmed cases, with state leaders confident that milder distancing measures will be sufficient. Crowds of up to 10,000 people will soon be allowed to attend sporting matches in Australian stadiums with a capacity of over 40,000, as patrons also return to cinemas, gyms and music festivals, reports Xinhua news agency. From July 1, all businesses in the State of New South Wales (NSW), including cinemas, theatres, amusement parks, show grounds and brothels will be allowed to reopen with social distancing measures in place. While in neighbouring Victoria, limits on the number of people allowed in pubs and restaurants will increase from 20 to 50, in line with regulations already in place in NSW, starting next week. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people to remain vigilant and get tested if they felt ill, saying the easing of restrictions was only possible with high testing numbers. "Please don't assume (symptoms are) a cold or a flu, please assume it's COVID," Berejiklian said. On the other side of the country, the state of Western Australia (WA) recorded zero new cases despite widespread testing of roughly 18,500 frontline workers. "It obviously gives us more confidence to be bolder and to be more ambitious, even more so than we currently are," WA Premier Roger Cook said. "We've eased restrictions ahead of all the other states (and) to a greater extent." Queensland was in a similar position to WA, recording no new cases, and officials said that they will resist pressure from elsewhere in the country to reopen their domestic border. "It is very clear where the epicentre of coronavirus is and that is not Queensland," State Treasurer Cameron Dick said. The state of South Australia lifted border restrictions for some parts of the country, with people travelling from Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania to be allowed in as of midnight on Tuesday. Restrictions on those travelling from elsewhere to SA were scheduled to be removed from July 20. Australia has so far reported 7,333 COVID-19 cases, with 102 deaths. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) DENVER, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RxRevu today announced the company reached a number of critical milestones in the success of their Real-Time Prescription Benefit (RTPB) solution, SwiftRx Direct. RxRevu has signed-on over 2,000 hospitals and health systems using Epic or Cerner electronic health record (EHR) systems. In the first five months of 2020, more than 110 thousand healthcare providers have requested coverage and cost information, and over 10 million transactions between RxRevu and PBMs have been successfully completed, displaying patient- and formulary-specific drug alternatives and plan restrictions. "As a company focused on bringing real-time data to providers fingertips, we are proud of our exponential growth and the impact we've made so far this year" said Carm Huntress, CEO and Co-founder of RxRevu. "Patients and providers are asking for accurate pricing information at the point-of-care. Our team is leading the charge in streamlining the prescribing process and helping providers write prescriptions that patients can afford." RxRevu developed SwiftRx Direct to allow providers to view patient-specific coverage information, formulary-driven alternatives, and lower-cost drug options within their native EHR workflow. With connections to the nation's largest payers and PBMs, pricing data surfaced in the EHR is a true representation of what patients pay at the pharmacy, underscoring RxRevu's focus on data accuracy. Since launching SwiftRx Direct in April of 2019, RxRevu has sent over 6 million alternatives and over 3 million restrictions, giving providers key data points to help in their prescription decision making. Care teams using prescription decision support at the point-of-care reduce prior authorization and pharmacy callback volumes, while also reducing cost and improving overall experience for patients. In spite of major market disruptions, RxRevu continues to bring on additional health system, PBM/payer, and EHR partners through 2020. As patients weigh healthcare expenditures more carefully due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital providers offer transparency and access to low-cost medication options. "Our goal is to bring accurate prescription pricing data to every patient in the country," said President and Chief Strategy Officer, Kyle Kiser. "By implementing our solution, we enable more informed conversations between patients and providers, which leads to better outcomes through medication adherence and reduces frictions associated with prescribing decisions for care teams." For health systems using Epic's EHR, SwiftRx Direct can be installed at no cost, in under 10 hours. Health systems using Epic should reach out to RxRevu so our team can walk you through the installation process. Health systems using Cerner's EHR solutions can activate RxRevu's service through their designated Cerner representative. Health systems using other EHR solutions, and EHR vendors interesting in adding SwiftRx Direct to their offering, are encouraged to reach out to discuss partnership potential. About RxRevu RxRevu is a Denver-based company on a mission to improve healthcare through more informed, consistent, and frictionless prescription decisions. RxRevu's Prescription Decision Support technology promotes condition-appropriate prescribing and patient cost transparency to improve safety and satisfaction. The SwiftRx platform helps clinicians quickly and easily find affordable alternatives to more costly medications specific to a patient's health needs and out of pocket cost. It also enables health systems to holistically manage and measure clinicians prescribing performance. For more information about RxRevu, its solutions and innovative advancements, visit rxrevu.com. SOURCE RxRevu Related Links https://rxrevu.com Desperation for a way to keep economies from collapsing under the weight of covid-19 could mean settling for a vaccine that prevents people from getting really sick or dying but doesn't stop them from catching the coronavirus. Although a knock-out blow against the virus is the ultimate goal, early vaccines may come with limitations on what they can deliver, according to Robin Shattock, an Imperial College London professor leading development of an experimental shot. "Is that protection against infection?" Shattock said. "Is it protection against illness? Is it protection against severe disease? It's quite possible a vaccine that only protects against severe disease would be very useful." As countries emerge warily from lockdowns, leaders are looking to a preventive shot as the route to return to pre-pandemic life. Fueled by billions of dollars in government investment, vaccines from little-known companies like China's CanSino Biologics and giants like Pfizer and AstraZeneca are in development. At least one of the fastest-moving experimental shots has already advanced into human trials after showing an impact on severe disease -- but less so on infection -- in animals. Experts say such a product would probably be widely used if approved, even if that's as much as it contributes, until a more effective version comes to market. "Vaccines need to protect against disease, not necessarily infection," said Dennis Burton, an immunologist and vaccine researcher at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California. There are drawbacks, though. While holding the potential to save lives, such vaccines might lead to complacency in lockdown-weary nations, said Michael Kinch, a drug development expert who is associate vice chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis. "My guess would be that the day after someone gets immunized, they're going to think, 'I can go back to normal. Everything will be fine,'" he said. "They're not going to necessarily realize that they might still be susceptible to infection." Covid-19 is already thought to be spread by people without symptoms, and a symptom-preventing vaccine may create even greater numbers of them. Vaccines are among the most effective weapons against infectious disease, and prevent up to 3 million deaths a year, according to the World Health Organization. Yet few, if any, are 100% effective in all people who get them. For example, about 3% of people who get measles vaccine develop a mild form of the disease, and can spread it to others. In their attempts to confront a rapidly growing threat, developers are turning to technologies that have never been used successfully in humans. More than 130 shots are in the works for covid-19 prevention, according to the World Health Organization. Vaccines work by presenting the immune system with a form of a germ -- or a key part of it -- preparing the body to respond when a real exposure occurs. When that happens, immune proteins called antibodies glom onto the virus, halting its entry to cells. Sometimes vaccines ramp up immune T-cells, which don't do as much to prevent infections, but can slow and eventually stop their progression. --- A common approach to raising levels of antibodies is with injection of a virus that's been inactivated or killed. About nine of these are in experimentation: One, made by China's Sinovac Biotech, led to high levels of covid-targeted antibodies in monkeys. Another shot developed at the University of Oxford uses an innovative approach in which covid genes are inserted into a different, harmless virus. Those make proteins that are recognized by the immune system, which raises defenses against a real infection. About a quarter of the experimental shots listed by the WHO, including two already in human studies, follow the same approach as the Oxford vaccine. One of the advantages of the technology is its speed. AstraZeneca, which is partnering with Oxford, has said it will begin delivering doses for the U.K. as soon as September, and will have doses for the U.S., which helped fund development, the following month. Over the weekend, AstraZeneca and four European Union countries said they reached an agreement to distribute hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccine. --- How the shot affects infections and infectiousness still isn't clear. William Haseltine, a former HIV researcher at Harvard University, pointed out in a blog for Forbes that animals had roughly the same amount of viral genetic material, called RNA, in their systems, whether or not they'd received shots. Levels of antibodies against the virus weren't as high as in very protective vaccines, he said. However, clinical signs of severe infection, like high breathing rate and pneumonia, were better in vaccinated monkeys. That might still make such a shot useful, according to Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "That vaccine doesn't look like it's a knockout for protecting against infection, but it might be really very good at protecting against disease," Fauci told the medical news website Stat. The vaccine will be a success whether it heads off infections or severe symptoms, AstraZeneca Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot said in a BBC interview. The vaccine's progress to advanced studies was approved by an independent scientific panel, and the company is waiting to see how it performs, a spokesman said. Fauci's NIAID is partnered with Moderna on a covid vaccine test whose primary goal is to show their vaccine prevents people from developing symptoms, the company said June 11. Preventing infections is a secondary goal. Successful preventives must also bar onward transmission, said Daniel Barouch, a researcher at the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard University. Effective shots may allow some cells to become infected, but control the growth of the virus before it can be passed on to others, said Barouch, who is developing a vaccine with Johnson & Johnson. --- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering options for a vaccine that prevents illness. "We would potentially consider an indication related to prevention of severe disease, provided available data support the benefits of vaccination," FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum said in response to questions. "For licensure we would not require that a vaccine protect against infection." Licensed vaccines including some against whooping cough have not been demonstrated to protect against infection with the pathogen that causes the disease but have been demonstrated to protect against symptomatic disease, Felberbaum said. The notion of using imperfect vaccines and therapies is "fine," Kinch said. "That's just practicality. And we may follow those up with more-perfect. There will never be a truly perfect vaccine." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) The Zamboanga City government is raising concerns on its capacity to let in thousands of Filipino evacuees from Sabah, Malaysia, and is asking the national government for "long-term intervention". "(I) wrote a letter to (Philippine) Ambassador (to Malaysia) (Charles) Jose expressing Zamboanga City's difficulty este tiempo porcausa de (this time because of) COVID," city mayor Maria Isabelle "Beng" Climaco told CNN Philippines in a series of text messages. Climaco is responding to National Task Force on COVID-19 Chief Implementer, Sec. Carlito Galvez's announcement late Monday night that "more or less 5,000" Filipinos are set to be repatriated from Sabah either by "last week June and July". "Nakiusap po ang ating DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) na magkaroon po ng kaunting delay para at least ma-prepare po natin yung ating tinatawag na Zamboanga One-Stop Shop," Galvez said, in his report to President Rodrigo Duterte. [Translation: "The DFA is requesting to delay the process so it can can better prepare the so-called Zamboanga One-Stop Shop."] The "one-stop shop" is a mechanism of different government agencies coming together in one location to expedite the processing of repatriates upon their return to the country, before they are transported to their respective cities and provinces. The same concept was used in mid-2000 when the Malaysian government rounded up thousands of Filipino illegal immigrants in jails and detention centers, then deported them back to the Philippines. One-stop shops were set up in disembarkation points for deportees or "halaws" in Zamboanga City and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. Climaco admits being wary about the plan to bring home the evacuees through Zamboanga City at this time, especially since the city remains under general community quarantine due to a significant number of COVID patients. "DOH (Department of Health) needs to address health concerns with Bureau of Quarantine and DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) will have difficulty, as some areas for repatriation are still on lockdown," Climaco explained. Aside from the paced arrivals of evacuees, Climaco is hoping the capacity of the city's COVID testing centers will be increased, in anticipation of thousands of Sabah repatriates who will need to undergo RT-PCR tests. There is also concern about the city's quarantine facilities to house evacuees while awaiting their test results, as well as the availability of stand-by air, land or sea transportation that could immediately bring them home to their hometowns once they are cleared to travel. "We need to put up a system for testing, database, contact tracing, BHERT (Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams) monitoring and response, as well as border control and management," Climaco added. Climaco said she is in touch with Galvez on how to address the city government's concerns. Among the options is to also set up a processing center in the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) such as Tawi-Tawi. Both Zamboanga City and Tawi-Tawi are known transit points to Sabah. "Since this is an international concern, national government intervention is needed," Climaco pointed out. Republicans Call on Government Accountability Office to Examine CCP Abuse of Investor Visas As a part of the Trump administrations hardline approach to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee are calling for a reevaluation of the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program which they say the CCP could be taking advantage of. Although the EB-5 programs goal of stimulating capital investment and job creation in the United States is laudable, it has become clear in recent years that the CCP may be abusing the program to gain access to U.S. permanent residency for their members, Reps. Member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-Penn.), said in a letter to Gene Dodaro, U.S. comptroller general and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Under the EB-5 program, individuals can apply for lawful permanent residence in the United States if they invest a certain amount of money in a commercial business in the country and create or, in some cases, preserve 10 full-time jobs for legal U.S. workers. In the letter, Jordan and Reschenthaler said that between 2012 and 2018, 80 percent of the EB-5 investor visas went to Chinese-born investors. Once granted, the visa would serve as a way to ensure American residency for the investors entire family. Jordan and Reschenthaler say the request for a review is in line with President Donald Trumps updated strategy on China, which aims to protect the American people, homeland and way of life. Trump has taken a number of steps to curb the spread of the CCP virus and its harmful effects on the U.S. economy, including banning travel from China. In April, the president signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration in an effort to protect American jobs and livelihoods as the country reopens the economy. Republicans in the House and Senate have introduced a variety of measures to increase pressure on China for its handling of the virus. In May, House Republicans formed a China Task Force to reinforce Congressional efforts to counter current and emerging cross-jurisdictional threats from China. Although the GAO has reviewed the EB-5 program for fraud before, Republicans say it did not examine national security concerns associated with the program, noting that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is not currently able to deny or revoke country visas on the basis of a national security risk. As Congress reevaluates our relationship with the Peoples Republic of China, the time is ripe for GAO to again examine the EB-5 program, the letter states. The congressmen are requesting that the GAO report on a number of concerns about the EB-5 Visa program, including on the USCIS procedures to detect fraud and Chinas efforts to avoid fraud detection, the number of times the CCP has used the program to get its members U.S. visas, the gaps in USCIS ability to consider national security when processing EB-5 visas, and how much money has the CCP and its affiliates invested into the visa program. Politician Sanjay Nirupam took to his Twitter account and remembered the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. He also claimed that the industry has let down a talented artist. In the tweet, he said after Chhichhore's success Sushant had signed seven films, which he lost in mere six months. Sanjay Nirupam who tweeted in Hindi, did not reveal which films he was talking about. He also added, "After the smash hit #__ Had signed seven films. In six months, he had all the films out of his hands. Why The ruthlessness of the film industry works at a different level. This ruthlessness killed a talented artist. Humble tribute to Sushant!" Nirupam's tweet comes after director Shekhar Kapur said that he was aware of the hardship Sushant was going through. In a cryptic tweet on Monday, he wrote, "I knew the pain you were going through. I knew the story of the people that let you down so bad that you would weep on my shoulder. I wish I was around the last 6 months. I wish you had reached out to me. What happened to you was their Karma. Not yours. #SushantSinghRajput." Chhichhore Directed By Nitesh Tiwari Released In 2019 Sushant's last film will be Dil Bechara, which is the Hindi remake of Hollywood film The Fault In Our Stars. He was also set to be a part of Paani, directed by Shekhar Kapur, but the film was shelved after producers Yash Raj Films backed out of the project. Dil Bechara Shot In 2019 Is Yet To Be Released After Sushant's untimely death, many B-town celebrities have come forward and called out their fellow celebrities and the A-listers who act as gatekeepers in the industry. After Kangana Ranaut posted a video asking if it was suicide or murder, Abhinav Kashyap also shared that many talent management agency end up as death traps for up-and-coming artists. Vivek Oberoi after attending the funeral also opening up in a post and called for Bollywood to "b***h less and care more." Paani With Shekar Kapur Was Shelved After YRF Backed Out Of The Project Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his home in Mumbai, and the reports by the officials stated that the late actor died by suicide. Very few of Shushant's co-stars and celebrities attended the actor's funeral including Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Vivek Oberoi, filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor and others. Saif Ali Khan Slams Bollywood's Hypocrisy On Sushant's Death: It's An Insult To The Soul That's Gone Dabangg Director Abhinav Kashyap Calls Out Salman Khan: His Family Sabotaged All My Films Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM SAN JOSE, Calif., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's book author Linda Herron releases Mac & Madi's Vacation: About Identical Twins' Exciting Trip to the Shore! She debuted these now beloved twin characters in early 2019 with her first in the series, Mac & Madi's Surprise: A Very Different Twins Birthday! Mac & Madi's Vacation: About Identical Twins' Exciting Trip to the Shore! Mac & Madi have to answer numerous typical twin questions In Mac and Madi's latest adventure, Herron illustrates the connections that the twins form with people they encounter on their trip to the shore. These kinds of exchanges are a unique part of daily life for identical twins, as people see two individuals who appear to be a carbon copy of each other. As an identical twin herself, Herron is all too familiar with the sometimes silly questions that people tend to blurt out, so she uses this fun vacation adventure to feature the light-hearted message that twins are individuals. Rather than confining twins to roles that compel them to be identical in all aspects, she wants to inspire twins to grow individually, just like all other siblings. Readers will follow along as Mac and Madi navigate common twin questions while having fun at the shore. Mac & Madi's Vacation captivate readers as the girls navigate the sometimes-surprising obstacles in their lives as young identical twins. When Mac and Madi set out on their vacation journey, they meet a variety of friendly vacationers who are very curious and have lots of common twin questions for the two girls. Later, however, they also meet an older, wiser woman who is interested in each of them and their individual responses. This connection teaches the others how to communicate more thoughtfully with identical twins, and the girls' responses are powerful, revealing, and expressive as each of them offers an exuberant answer that allows her own personality to shine. The book has been reviewed by Barbara Klein, Ph.D., a psychologist who is known for her research on the development of twin identity. Klein observes, "I was so delighted to read about Mac and Madi's summer vacation and how these twins handled all the questions from the vacationers about being twins. Outsiders or onlookers need to understand that these so-called innocent questions can be hurtful to twins who naturally measure themselves against each other already. Part of growing up as a twin involves developing your individuality and sense that it is good to be different from your twin." For additional information about the Twins, Mac & Madi series, contact [email protected]. About the author: Born and raised in Rhode Island, Linda Herron now resides in San Jose, California, and enjoys sharing children's stories about being an identical twin. Her latest book, Mac & Madi's Vacation, depicts an important, relatable message that will speak to all readers and resonate especially with twins. CONTACT INFORMATION: Contact: Madi Cooper Email: [email protected] Website: www.BigLittlePress.com To arrange an interview with the author, or to request a review copy, contact Madi Cooper at Big Little Press Distribution: [email protected], (408) 8091001. SOURCE Linda Herron Iraq tells Iran it will stick to commitments on OPEC+ supply cuts: IRNA Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 6:23 PM Iraq's oil minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar Ismail has said that his country would stick to commitments made to an alliance of international oil producers to reduce its supplies to the international markets. Ismail made the pledge during a phone call with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, according to a report by Iran's official news agency IRNA published on Monday. The report said that Ismail had ensured Zanganeh, a long-serving delegate to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), that Iraq would maintain its oil exports below 2.8 million barrels per day (bpd) to comply with quotas set by OPEC and allies, a grouping known as OPEC+, in April. OPEC and allies agreed in a meeting held earlier this month to extend the cuts. However, Zanganeh had said after the meeting that OPEC members were discontent with the way Iraq had implemented the cuts and had demanded the Arab country to adopt measures in the upcoming months to compensate for its lack of commitment. Ismail told Zanganeh during the Monday phone call that it would be to benefit of Iraq to comply with the cuts, adding that Baghdad had also asked the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan to contribute to the reduction in output. During the phone call, a first between Zanganeh and Ismail since the Iraqi oil minister was appointed in early June, the two sides also discussed ways to increase cooperation between Iran and Iraq in the field of oil and other energy issues. Iraq relies on Iran for a bulk of the natural gas supplies it consumes in its power plants. The two countries have seen their economic ties expand over the past years despite a series of American sanctions that target Iran's energy sector. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Barry Eichengreen is a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and a former senior policy adviser at the International Monetary Fund. Two weeks of massive, nationwide demonstrations against police violence and racial bias have raised concerns about a second wave of Covid-19 infections in the United States. Its hard to engage in a collective display of righteous anger over George Floyds killing at the hands of the Minneapolis police and remain 2 meters apart from ones fellow protesters. And mask-wearing is less than universal among the demonstrators, just as it is among the U.S. public generally. This doesnt bode well for public health or the economy. But while it has been widely noted that the social turmoil unfolding in the wake of Floyds death may worsen the already-acute Covid-19 crisis, the connection running in the other direction from the pandemic to the demonstrations has received far less attention. Without diminishing for a moment the horror of Floyds death, the question is: why now? After all, before Floyd, there was the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014. The previous month, there was Eric Garner in New York City, who died in a police chokehold, despite pleading, like Floyd, I cant breathe. A recent National Public Radio segment was fronted by the names of nearly 100 African-Americans who died in police custody over the past six years. One explanation for why Floyds killing triggered a national uprising is that an especially horrific recording quickly dominated social media and traditional news outlets alike. But this answer will satisfy only those who have forgotten the equally horrific recording of Garners killing. A more convincing explanation must include the pandemic. It is not incidental that African-Americans work disproportionately in the service sector, where employment has been decimated. It is not incidental that the share of the nonelderly U.S. population lacking health insurance is 1.5 times higher among blacks than among whites. And it is not incidental that the Covid-19 mortality rate is 2.4 times as high among black Americans as white Americans. Even without more images of police brutality, the situation facing many African-Americans, disproportionately affected by the pandemic, was already approaching the unbearable. That is because of Americas threadbare social safety net. Unemployment insurance benefits are typically limited to 26 weeks in the U.S. Certain states in the South provide fewer. Indeed, some, such as Florida, have intentionally designed their bureaucracies to make applying for unemployment benefits as difficult as possible. Other states, again mainly in the South, have not extended Medicaid eligibility to low-income people, as permitted by the Affordable Care Act. Likewise, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (from the Southern state of Kentucky) is leading the fight against another round of pandemic-related emergency support for the poor and unemployed. Notice the regional pattern. The dominant explanation, developed in part by the late economist Alberto Alesina, for Americas lack of a social-welfare state along European lines is its history of racism. Alesina showed that race is the single most important predictor of support for welfare in the U.S., and that opponents of welfare-state policies have long used race-based rhetoric to mobilize their supporters. Alesina also demonstrated that redistributive policies that disproportionately benefit members of minorities are unappealing to members of the majority, who lack a sense of solidarity with the poor. The South, with its history of slavery and Jim Crow, is where this cleavage runs deepest. Some will question an argument linking 21st-century social problems to this ancient history. But researchers have shown that U.S. counties with more lynchings between 1882 and 1930 have more black-white inequality and higher mortality rates today. The difference in mortality rates reflects not just poverty and inequality, but also a lack of trust in the public health system on the part of African-American men. For older African-American men, in particular, mortality rates have been affected by the revelation in 1972 of the pathological experiment conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service in Tuskegee, Alabama. Since 1932, some 400 African-American men suffering from syphilis had been left untreated, supposedly in the name of medical science. Countries with different histories from the U.S. have more extensive welfare states. For this reason, they are less at risk, it would seem, of a social explosion. So argued European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas earlier this month. Schinass assertion, of course, skips lightly over racial grievances in Europe, such as in Frances banlieues. It ignores widespread hostility toward immigrants and refugees, especially those from Africa. No matter, Schinas presumably would reply. The welfare state was created before race became a major issue in Europe. It is a fact on the ground. It is not going away. But recall the British exception. First, in 1942, came the Beveridge Report, the founding document on which the British welfare was erected. But then came successive waves of immigration from the Caribbean and South Asia, which created the perception, if not also the fact, of ethnic fractionalization. And then came Margaret Thatcher, the dismantler of the welfare state. Europe can do better, perhaps, but its leaders should not fool themselves that they wont have to work at it. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2019. The views and opinions expressed in this opinion section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the editorial positions of Caixin Media. If you would like to write an opinion for Caixin Global, please send your ideas or finished opinions to our email: opinionen@caixin.com The address comes at a time when North Korea is artificially ratcheting up tensions over South Korean activists sending helium balloons with propaganda leaflets across the border, threatening to cut all communication and warning of unspecified military action. "The direction the two Koreas should go together is clear," he said in an online address marking the 20th anniversary of the historic inter-Korean summit between former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang on June 15, 2000. "We should not stop the current inter-Korean relations again, which have overcome a longtime severance and the crisis of a war." Moon reminded the North of the promises the two Korean leaders made during two summits in 2018, which constitute a "firm principle that shouldn't be swayed by any change in security conditions." He added the North should not try to put inter-Korean relations "back to the era of confrontation by cutting communication and creating tensions." He acknowledged that international sanctions make cross-border cooperation difficult, but added, "We must continue, even at a slow pace, while trying to gain the cooperation of the international community." "The time has come where we can't wait for conditions to get better. There must be things that the two Koreas can do on their own" to go forward, he added. He did not respond directly to the North's latest threats of military action. He admitted that he faces the 20th anniversary of the summit with a "heavy heart" but urged the North to have patience. "Just as a river curves but ultimately heads into the ocean, the South and North must take one step at a time and move forward with a positive attitude," he said. "I am also disappointed that there has not been as much progress as hoped for in North Korea-U.S. relations and inter-Korean relations," he said. "We hope that the difficulties facing the two sides will be solved through communication and cooperation." Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said the South Korean government will "trudge on silently despite the wind and rain" and urged the North to recall the spirit of the first meeting between then-South Korean president Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il that paved the way for landmark rapprochement two decades ago. This event includes a variety of exciting lease offers, financing rates and MSRP discounts on new Chevy, Buick and GMC vehicles. Carl Black Orlando, a dealership serving Orlando and the entire central Florida region (and beyond), is currently hosting their Summer Sales Event. This event includes a variety of exciting lease offers, financing rates and MSRP discounts on new Chevy, Buick and GMC vehicles. 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Finally, willing individuals may also head out to the dealerships physical location at 11500 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando. T he Government is ready to be flexible in order to secure a trade deal with the EU, Michael Gove said today. The Cabinet Office minister said negotiators from both sides will meet weekly in July with a keen focus on finding an early understanding. He insisted that principles which will underpin a broad agreement will be found. It comes as the Labour Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, Rachel Reeves, warned that leaving on World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms would be a calamity for the UK. Boris Johnson at EU video conference talks at 10 Downing Street / via REUTERS In a statement to the Commons, Mr Gove said: Were looking to get things done in July. "We do not want to see this process going on into the autumn and then the winter. We all need certainty and that is what were aiming to provide. The Tory minister said the UK is ready to be flexible in how it secures a comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU, and also dismissed an extension of the transition period beyond December. The prime minister gesticulates during a video call to the EU / via REUTERS He said there is no intrinsic reason why a deal cannot be concluded in good time, saying: The UKs political will is there, our position is reasonable, based on precedent, and we still have the time to bring a deal home. That is why the Prime Minister has led the drive to accelerate these talks, to reach agreement and to ensure next January we leave the regulatory reach of the EU and embrace the new opportunities our independence will bring. Ms Reeves said Boris Johnsons promised over-ready deal has yet to be delivered. She added: The Prime Minister staked his own authority on having an oven-ready deal, but today in the ministers statement he said that we want to intensify talks in July and to find, if possible, an early understanding of principles underlying any agreement. That doesnt sound like an oven-ready deal to me and is the cause of great concern to all of us. Yet the ingredients of such a deal were published and the country expects them to be delivered upon. Later, Mr Gove sought to reassure Northern Ireland MPs the UK Government is seeking a deal with the EU which protects their constituents. The DUPs Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) asked what further progress has been made on ensuring there will be no additional declaration forms needing to be completed between Northern Ireland sending goods to Great Britain. They will have unfettered access to the rest of the UK, Mr Gove said. Alliance MP Stephen Farry (North Down) asked: Does the minister realise that in the event we fail to secure a deal with the European Union, and the Government opts to trade on its terms, then the impact of a border down the Irish Sea would be more severe with businesses facing more costs and households too? Mr Gove replied: It is the case that we will push to secure a deal and a deal would be in everyones interests. Labour MP Rushanara Ali asked what steps the Government is taking to prevent panic buying in the event of a trade agreement with the EU not being in place at the end of the transition period. She added: Weve seen the spectre of panic buying and stockpiling at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. What preparations has the minister made to prevent stockpiling and panic buying by worried consumers in the event of the disruption and chaos that a no-deal Brexit would cause to the supply chain? Mr Gove replied: It is the case that if we leave without a specific free trade agreement that certain steps will need to be taken by Government and by others in order to make sure not only that we can meet the challenges but also that we can meet the opportunities and the Cabinet Office and others constantly review at all points what we need to do. But I think the spectre that the honourable lady invokes is not one that should bother her or others. Spain is considering imposing a quarantine on British travellers when it reopens its borders next week, the foreign minister said, in response to a similar policy at London's end. Arancha Gonzalez Laya told the BBC she hoped Britain would lift its restriction, making a reciprocal Spanish one unnecessary. "We will be in a dialogue with the UK to see whether or not we should be introducing reciprocity as they have different measures than the rest of the European Union," she said in an advance excerpt from current affairs programme HARDtalk. Britain, with more than 41,000 documented coronavirus-linked deaths, and Spain, with more than 27,000, have been two of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic. Both, along with other European countries, are now easing lockdown restrictions, including border closures. Spanish officials gave no mention of any quarantine curbs on Sunday, when the government moved forward the date for allowing European visitors back into the country to June 21 from July 1. In recent weeks, Spain has caused confusion in neighbouring countries and exasperation in the travel industry by repeatedly changing the date and conditions for lifting the ban on foreign visitors it imposed in mid-March. "I still don't know what I will do with my staff and it's June 16," Jorge Marichal, CEO of Canary Islands hotel group Inversiones Marylanza, said at a business event. "We cannot work this way." Spain counts on tourism for about 12 percent of its economy and more than one in eight jobs, making it essential to try and salvage some of the summer holiday season. Britain's Finance Minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday the quarantine was among measures it would review, saying the government could make changes such as introducing travel corridors with specific countries. Spain's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Search Keywords: Short link: The inter-Korean liaison office that Pyongyang blew up on Tuesday was opened in September 2018 as part of an agreement the North's leader Kim Jong Un and the South's President Moon Jae-in signed at their first summit five months earlier. The office occupied a four-storey building in an industrial zone in the North's city of Kaesong, where companies from South Korea employed Northerners, paying Pyongyang for their labour. It was the first permanent physical communication centre for the two sides, with personnel from North and South staying at the compound to enable face-to-face contact at any time. Southern officials occupied the second floor, with Northern representatives on the top level and meeting rooms inbetween. Around 20 officials from each side were based there, headed by a vice minister-level appointee. When it opened, a rapid diplomatic rapprochement was in full swing on and around the peninsula, with Kim and Moon about to hold their third summit in the wake of Kim's historic meeting with US President Donald Trump in Singapore. At the time Seoul's unification ministry said it would become a "round-the-clock consultation and communication channel" for advancing inter-Korean relations, improving ties between the US and the North, and easing military tensions. The office was open five days a week, with officials on standby for weekends. But inter-Korean ties entered a deep freeze following the collapse of the Hanoi summit between Kim and Trump, and operations at the office were suspended in January because of the coronavirus pandemic. Kaesong, site of the liaison office, was initially part of the South after Moscow and Washington divided Korea between them in the closing days of World War II, but found itself in the North after the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The joint industrial zone was set up in 2004, under the presidency of the liberal Roh Moo-hyun in the South. But president Park Geun-hye shuttered it in 2016 in response to the North's nuclear and missile tests, saying profits generated from it were linked to Pyongyang's weapons development. Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong has been trending in the news today, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, largely due to his 60th birthday celebration. Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Photo source: Instagram/Sweet_maame_adwoa Source: Original REVEALED: Here are photos & details of Ken Agyapong's daughter who dropped out of school But that has not been the only reason why he is trending on social media as part of the trend has been about his daughter, Anell. The Assin Central MP recently narrated how one of his daughters has virtually become a beggar because of her wrong choices. The daughter, Ken Agyapong revealed, was begging for funds to continue her education after squandering many opportunities he gave her. According to Ken Agyapong, his daughter dropped out of California Institute of Technology (CIT) while in her third year of her five-year Architecture programme. The Assin Central MP who was speaking on Oman FM indicated that he was paying $84,000 in school fees every year and was thus not pleased with his daughter's decision. The most painful thing to him was the fact that he had just paid half ($42, 000) right before his daughter called him while he was on a plane to China to inform him that she was dropping out. READ ALSO: Real name, age, school and 11 photos of Apostle Kwadwo Safo's beautiful last daughter He also revealed that her daughter had gone into substance abuse and was living a very promiscuous life. From that time, Kennedy Agyapong added, he cut her off and even used the other half of her school fees for the year to buy a Bentley. While he did not mention the daughter's name, it has turned she is Anell Agyapong, a 25-year-old daughter he had with one Fante lady called Araba Dawson-Williams. YEN.com.gh has gathered more beautiful photos to Anell and she is such a beauty. 1. Anell with a sporty look: 2. Anell on a casual look: 3. Anell looks very hot here: 4. When she went to the stadium: 5. Anell has a beautiful smile: 6. Pose by the bike: 7. Another beautiful smile: Meanwhile, Anell's mother Araba Dawson-Williams has spoken on the statements the Assin Central MP made about their daughter. Ghanaian female accounting graduate and mushroom farmer recounts her experience | #Yencomgh: Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page Source: YEN.com.gh WATERLOO REGION Region of Waterloo council voted unanimously Tuesday to confirm their commitment to combatting racism by supporting policies and programs that address the inequities faced by members of the Black community. Black lives matter and racism in Canada and Waterloo Region is real and requires real action, not a political response, said Regional Chair Karen Redman, who presented the motion. We have heard too many stories of racism in Canada on Black and Indigenous people of colour. While it may seem like racism is a problem south of the border, she said the true nature of systemic racism in Canada has been made clear recently too. We must engage in a conversation with the community, have an open mind and open heart to hear the lived experiences of people of colour in Waterloo Region, Redman said. Equity is a strategic imperative of the region, used as a lens when delivering services to marginalized groups, Redman said. However, we acknowledge we are not where we want to be. We are not where we need to be. She said it was their duty as elected officials and humans to focus their efforts to make progress in the fight against systemic racism, and council has heard from community that meaningful changes are needed. Regional councils plan includes: Engaging in a conversation through the chairs community roundtable focused on anti-racism of Black, Indigenous and people of colour, to listen to stories about community members lived experience and ideas to address racism in our region and integrate anti-racism approaches in regional strategies and policies. Ensure Black-led and social agencies serving Black, Indigenous and people of colour are funded equitably through regional funding mechanisms and breaking down barriers for Black and other marginalized groups to regional funding. Continue councils commitment to fund affordable housing, homelessness shelters, community outreach, employment support, and harm-reduction programming to support marginalized groups through regionally-funded programs. Council also requested updates from regional staff on the five-year diversity and inclusion plan, the internal First Nations, Metis and Indigenous working group, and training opportunities for regional and area councils and staff. They also requested options on the creation of an internal anti-racism secretariat to deliver on councils strategic directions and develop and anti-racism plan with the Region of Waterloo. Council also asked for a report from the Police Services Board on their efforts and initiatives regarding anti-racism at the July committee meeting. Opportunities for community input will be shared publicly on www.engagewr.ca/regional-chair-community-roundtable. The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe tells the tale of Ivandoe, a delusional young prince who has embarked on an epically silly quest to Eagle Mountain, in search of the legendary Golden Feather. Accompanied by his squire and best friend Bert, they travel through the Five Kingdoms, encountering royal rivals and magical fairy tale creatures.Created by Danish animators Christian Bving-Andersen and Eva Lee Wallberg of Copenhagen-based Sun Creature Studio who began their animation careers on Cartoon Networks EMEA-produced global hit series The Amazing World of Gumball the comedy series of 10 x 3-minute shorts now has an order of 20 x 11-minute episodes. It has been such an exciting journey creating The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe and seeing how well people have responded to the show, said Bving-Andersen and Wallberg in a joint statement. We are now very happy to continue Ivandoes quests in a longer format, with even more silly characters and adventures, and we are very grateful to our magnificent team and to Cartoon Network for making this happen.The new series is being produced by Cartoon Network EMEA in partnership with Sun Creature Studio and is being developed and co-written with executive producer Daniel Lennard, who also oversaw development on Gumball and Cartoon Network Studios Apple & Onion.It is the latest European original to be commissioned by Cartoon Network, continuing, said the network, its commitment to investing in talent and content in the region. Added Daniel Lennard: Its been great fun working on this spectacularly silly show, bringing a cast of flawed but loveable characters to life. As with Gumball, weve created a self-contained world for kids of all ages to enjoy. It somehow makes complete sense, whilst at the same time making absolutely no sense whatsoever. The two-day budget session of the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly began on Tuesday amid stringent restrictions imposed by the authorities in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Majority of the members attended the session wearing face masks and special seating arrangements were made in the House to ensure adequate social distancing among the members. Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, some of his cabinet colleagues, however, were seen without the face masks. Members of the opposition Telugu Desam Party, led by N Chandrababu Naidu, attended the session by wearing black dress to protest against the alleged witch-hunting of the party leaders by the state government by arresting senior TDP leaders in the last few days. For the first time in the history of any state legislature in the country, Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan addressed the members of the legislative assembly as well as legislative council through video conferencing from Raj Bhavan. Unlike in the past when the members of the assembly and council used to sit in the same hall to be jointly addressed by the Governor, this time the house authorities ensured that the members of the upper and lower houses sat in their respective houses, as the Governors speech was beamed live on the big screens. The Governor said the state government was committed to the decentralisation of administration so as to ensure uniform development of all the regions in the state. He asserted that the executive capital would be shifted to Visakhapatnam, while Amaravati would be retained as legislative capital and Kurnool would be made judicial capital. At present, the three capitals bill is pending in the legislative process. I am confident that the bill would be approved soon, he said. The states economy, the Governor added, had shown tremendous resilience within the context of a global slowdown, even in pre-Covid-19 times. Andhra Pradesh registered an economic growth rate of 8.16% in 2019-20, the Governor said, adding this is above the national average of 5% over the same period. The Governor also touched upon the development and welfare programmes initiated by the state government in the last one year in tune with the Navaratnalu (nine jewels) a set of nine promises made in the election manifesto of the YSR Congress party. On the steps taken to fight the Covid-19 menace, the Governor impressed upon the house that the government has been taking stringent measures to contain the spread of the disease by stepping up tests and bringing down the death rate. Apart from sanitising every seat in the assembly and council halls, the health department authorities conducted Covid-19 tests on the MLAs and MLCs who had not undergone the tests earlier. Michael Strahan has revealed he felt he couldn't 'speak up or raise his voice' with ABC executives for fear of being seen as threatening as a black man. The Good Morning America host shared his concerns during an anti-racism symposium on June 4 in front of all ABC and Disney employees and Bob Iger, executive chairman of The Walt Disney Company. Strahan didn't specifically name Live with Kelly, on which he served as a co-host from 2012 to 2016, but insiders told Page Six that he was referring to the show. This could shed new light on his falling out with co-host Kelly Ripa when he abruptly left the show and moved to GMA full time. His comments came to light following a bombshell report which claimed that Barbara Fedida, head of ABC News' talent division, had made racist and sexist remarks about black journalists. Michael Strahan felt he couldn't 'speak up or raise his voice' backstage on ABC's Live with Kelly for fear of being seen as threatening as a black man, a new report claims. Strahan is pictured on set with co-host Kelly Ripa in 2012 'Michael said that there were some very tense situations with executives who got argumentative and loud on [Live with Kelly], and he was very aware he couldn't speak up or raise his voice as he was worried he would be seen as threatening,' one source explained to Page Six. Strahan's comments shed new light on his falling out with Ripa when he left Live in 2016. The pair are pictured in October 2015 The company town hall, moderated by Nightline co-anchor Byron Pitts, was called in the wake of George Floyd's death as anti-racism protests roiled the nation. Strahan was joined by several other ABC News journalists of color, including senior justice correspondent Pierre Thomas, Eyewitness News anchor Marc Brown, Chicago correspondent Alex Perez, Dallas correspondent Marcus Moore and Atlanta correspondent Steve Osunsami. The panelists shared their own experiences with racial discrimination while delving into the 'reality of reporting and race'. A link to the meeting was sent to all staff afterward by Disney TV chief Peter Rice, who joined the network from Fox last year. Strahan previously spoke out about his issues on Live with Kelly in a New York Times interview in January. 'I've had jobs where I got there and felt like: "Wow, I didn't know I was supposed to be a sidekick,"' he said. 'I thought I was coming here to be a partner.' Asked if he was referring to Live, Strahan replied: 'It was an experience!' He admitted that communication between him and Ripa had deteriorated significantly, and that she had refused to meet him after he announced his departure from the show. But in an attempt to dispel rumors of tension between the pair, he said: 'I don't hate her. I do respect her for what she can do at her job. I cannot say enough about how good she is at her job.' Strahan is pictured on Monday's episode of GMA, where he addressed allegations that ABC News executive Barbara Fedida made racist remarks against black journalists at the network Strahan's comments in the anti-racism symposium came out hours after the GMA host responded to the allegations against Fedida, who is accused of making racist remarks to black staffers. Fedida has been placed on leave pending an investigation by ABC News. The claims were laid bare in a HuffPost report on Saturday which described how she allegedly called The View co-host Sunny Hostin 'low rent' and quipped that ABC News doesn't make GMA host Robin Roberts 'pick cotton' when questioning a potential pay raise for the her. Fedida (pictured), the head of ABC News talent, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into allegations about her alleged racist remarks 'To say that she's an abusive figure is an understatement,' one source told Huff Post. During Monday's episode of GMA, Strahan read out a defensive statement from the network. 'There are deeply disturbing allegations in this story that we need to investigate, and we have placed Barbara Fedida on administrative leave while we conduct a thorough and complete investigation,' he read. 'These allegations do not represent the values and culture of ABC News, where we strive to make everyone feel respected in a thriving, diverse and inclusive workplace.' Fedida denied all allegations and maintained that she never engaged in 'abusive' or inappropriate behavior during her time with ABC News. 'Throughout my career, I have been a champion for increased diversity in network news. Building a news division where everyone can thrive has been my life's mission,' she said in a statement. 'I am proud of my decades of work of hiring, supporting and promoting talented journalists of color. And, unlike these heartbreaking and incredibly misleading claims about me, that track record is well-documented and undeniable.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 19:20:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, and Mongolia's National Development Agency on Tuesday launched a platform to help resolve investor grievances. The platform - the Systemic Investor Response Mechanism - will enable investors to register and track resolution of grievances at an early stage, according to the WBG. "The Mongolian government recognizes the need for a robust and transparent investment climate that is conducive to Mongolia's economic growth," said Banzragch Bayarsaikhan, chairman of the development agency, at an on-line launching ceremony. "Our collaboration with the WBG will help create a more favorable business environment for investors, retaining and expanding existing foreign direct investment as well as domestic investment in Mongolia," he said. Rufat Alimardanov, IFC's country representative for Mongolia, said: "At a time when economies across the world are impacted by COVID-19, it is even more important to develop innovative ways to attract and retain investment and protect jobs." The new platform affirms the Mongolian government's efforts toward investment climate reforms and restoring investor confidence, Alimardanov added. Enditem By Express News Service NEW DELHI: About 100 intellectuals from around the globe have appealed to President Ram Nath Kovind and Chief Justice of India S A Bobde for the release of differently-abled professor G N Saibaba and octogenarian poet Varavara Rao amid the Covid-19 outbreak. The signatories include academicians like Noam Chomsky, Judith Butler, Nancy Fraser, Indrani Chatterjee, Suvir Kaul, Wendy Brown and Homi K Bhabha, among others. They said Rao and Saibaba were imprisoned on fabricated charges. In view of the duos deteriorating health conditions, the Covid outbreak in prison posed an increased danger to their lives and they should be immediately released on bail, the signatories said. Saibaba who suffers from a number of life-threatening ailments including acute pancreatitis, cardiac complications, hypertension and impacted gallbladder stone, has lost most of the functioning of both his hands since he was imprisoned, the letter said. The continued negligence of jail authorities is effectively a death sentence for him during the pandemic, the letter added. Jail authorities have not permitted him to send or receive letters in his native tongue, Telugu. Even when his mother visited him, they insisted that he speak to her only in English despite the fact that she does not speak the language. Now she is on her deathbed, battling terminal cancer, while her son languishes in jail, a political prisoner denied medical care, the appeal said. Rao, a public intellectual and civil rights activist, has shown a commitment to working for the oppressed, the academics said. With Maharashtra being a Covid epicentre, Rao, who suffers from multiple ailments, should be immediately released, they added. The parents of Trevor Reed, accused of assaulting police officers, say there are irregularities in legal proceedings. The parents of a former US Marine who has been jailed for nearly a year in Moscow on charges that he endangered police officers are urging the court system and government to ensure a fair trial for their son. They spoke out as a Russian court sentenced another American to more than 10 years in prison in an unrelated espionage case. Trevor Reed was charged in August 2019 with assaulting police officers who were driving him to a police station after picking him up following a night of heavy drinking at a party. Russian authorities say Reed, 28, was drunk inside a police car when he grabbed the arm of the driver, causing him to swerve into another lane, and elbowed another officer who tried to intervene. Reeds trial began this year and will continue on June 30. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. His family says besides seeking a fair trial for their son, they also want to ensure that US officials are closely tracking the case, including being mindful of potential irregularities in the Russian criminal justice system that could result in unfair punishment. We want to make sure that people throughout our government, both elected and in the agencies, understand whats going on in case he gets a disproportionate punishment, Joey Reed, his father, said in an interview with The Associated Press news agency on Monday. Which at this point, based on the evidence and the facts of the case, any prison sentence in my opinion is disproportionate. His parents spoke to the AP news agency on the same day another American jailed in Russia, Paul Whelan, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges following a closed trial that the US denounced as a mockery of justice. Missing evidence Whelan, also a former Marine, insists he is innocent, saying he was set up when he was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 while visiting Russia to attend a friends wedding. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US was outraged by the verdict and said the treatment of Whelan while in custody has been appalling. Reeds parents, of Granbury, Texas, say they are concerned about what they see as irregularities in both cases, including missing evidence and contradictory accounts by police officers in their sons prosecution. At the time of his arrest, Trevor Reed was in Moscow visiting his girlfriend and studying the Russian language. He had attended a party one week before he was scheduled to return home, where his family says he was encouraged to drink a large amount of vodka. Reed was sharing a ride home when he became nauseated and got out of the car. After he began running around near a busy boulevard, the police were summoned to help. But instead of taking him for medical care, as the family says is standard protocol in Moscow, officers drove him to the police station. Reed has no memory beyond drinking vodka at the party and no recollection of what happened during the incident inside the car, his family says. Russian authorities say former US Marine Trevor Reed, who was arrested in 2019, was drunk inside a police car when he grabbed the arm of the driver, causing him to swerve into another lane [Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters] When his girlfriend came to pick him up several hours later, he was being questioned by Russian authorities without a lawyer or an adequate interpreter. She was told he was being charged with intentionally endangering the officers, the family says. His parents have seized on what they say are discrepancies. They say traffic video does not show the police car swerving, and that Reeds girlfriend a lawyer who is close with the family and has been helpful to the defence and others who were in a car following close behind did not report seeing the police vehicle swerve on the way to the station. COVID-19 fears Investigators also did not give the defence video from inside the car or the police station video that the family says has since been erased. Reed is housed in a room with about half a dozen other inmates at a detention facility in Moscow and is permitted outside for a brief window each day. His father, who has lived periodically in Russia over the last year, has visited him on multiple occasions. In addition, he has recently experienced abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, said his mother, Paula. I am extremely concerned about him catching COVID-19 more than ever now, she said in a text message. And since social distancing is impossible in a jail situation it compounds my concerns for his health. The US embassy in Russia, meanwhile, has sent representatives to different court appearances, and the family says it wants the embassy to continue sending a Russian-speaking consul to observe Reeds court proceedings and for Ambassador John Sullivan to attend the trial at its conclusion. The family also says it wants the US government to publicly acknowledge that Reed is imprisoned, is on trial and that the case is being monitored. We would hope that Russian law is followed and due process is used in my sons case, Joey Reed said. BALLARI/DAVANGERE: Congress leader and former minister PT Parameshwar Naik and his son Bharat got into trouble after a First Information Report was filed against them at Arasikere police station in Davangere district on Monday after they were charged of flouting COVID-19 guidelines for the marriage held in Davangere. Earlier in April this year, Janata Dal Secular leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumarswamys son Nikhil wedding also ran into trouble over violation of COVID-19 lockdown and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Turuvekere Masale Jayaram was also found violating COVID-19 norms at his birthday bash held at his native village in Gubbi taluk in Tumakuru district. Jayaram had distributed chicken biriyani to the gathering violating social distancing. The FIR was filed against Parameshwar Naik and Bharat at the behest of the Tahsildhar. Bharat has been named accused number one and Parameshwar Naik accused number two in the case. Naik belongs to Harapanhalli in Davangere but represents Hoovinahadagali assembly seat in Ballari district. Though the guidelines stipulates that guest lists need to be capped at 50, an estimated 1,000 odd guests attended the marriage solemnised at Lakshmipura Tanda, which is about 10 kms from Davangere city and the native village of Parameshwar Naik. The marriage was solemnized between 10.20 am to 10.30 am. Bharat is an engineer and Charani is a doctor belonging to Andhra Pradesh. According to sources, social distancing at the marriage event was given no attention nor any efforts were made to contain the crowd getting for the marriage ceremony. VIPs who attended the wedding included former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, former Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar , KPCC president DK Shivakumar, former minister Priyank Kharge, among others from the Congress party. Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Health Minister B Sreeramulu also attended the wedding and Sreeramulu was mute spectator of the crowd gathering in large numbers where social distancing had no meaning. Sources told Deccan Chronicle that care was taken to ensure that guests were wearing face masks, thermal screening was conducted but social distancing was given a go by. The source added that almost all government officials, including police officers from Hoovinahadagali, attended the marriage but took no initiative to ensure social distancing at the event. Sources added that hundreds of cars had gathered at the event and the marriage was held in grandeur. Later, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who was in Davangere, sought a report from the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police on the conduct of the marriage and assured strict action as per law, if found guilty. He, however, claimed that he was unaware of the social distancing not maintained at Naiks son marriage. Naik could not be contacted to elicit his response on the violation of guidelines. NTU's nationwide startup challenge seeks innovations to shape post-COVID-19 world Singapore's Nanyang Technological University has launched a nationwide challenge ideasinc 2020 for innovative ideas to be turned into startups to shape post-COVID-19 world. The initiative by NTUitive, the innovation and enterprise company of NTU, aims to spur young aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their innovative ideas into successful startups that can contribute to Singapores future in the new normal. Photo courtesy: NTU Singapore ideasinc, which began in 2009 as a business plan competition for NTU students, is open to everyone aged 18 and above who is a first-time entrepreneur. Participants must form teams of three with at least one team member being a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident. The top 30 teams will be required to incorporate a business entity, based on the proposal submitted at the start of the semi-final stage of the competition. Up to SGD 35,000 worth of cash prizes await the winners of this startup challenge, in addition to access to various other grants and investment opportunities. Post-COVID-19, companies have to reinvent their business models to manage the disruptions, health and environmental issues to operate in the new normal. This crisis is a good time to look for gaps in the market upon which a sustainable business can be built," said Inderjit Singh, Chairman of NTUitive and a Member of NTUs Board of Trustees. Alex Lin, Interim CEO of NTUitive, added, ideasinc is a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to validate their ideas and develop their business models. Participants will benefit from the mentorship provided by individuals with good domain knowledge and rich industrial experience." Iraq: UN probe into ISIL atrocities making 'real progress', Security Council hears 15 June 2020 - The special UN Investigative Team probing ISIL atrocities in Iraq is making "real progress," its chief said on Monday, as it begins to pinpoint the perpetrators of some of the worst crimes committed by the terrorist group during its years-long occupation of large swathes of the country. Karim Asad Ahmad Khan told the Security Council that the Team has already identified 344 alleged Da'esh perpetrators, the Arabic name for the extremist group, involved in the 2014 massacre of Yazidis in the Sinjar district of northern Iraq. Many categories of crimes The team has also identified at least seven categories of crimes for which Da'esh suspects could potentially be prosecuted in connection with the mass killing of unarmed cadets and military personnel at the Tikrit Air Academy six years ago. Meanwhile, in Mosul, two mass grave excavations that got underway in March, in cooperation with Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Government authorities, are set to form a key pillar for investigations in the months to come, he added. "In the 20 months since our arrival in Iraq, real progress has been made", said Mr. Khan as he presented the Council with the fourth report from the team which serves officially to "Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD)". Breakthroughs in identifying and using new sources of evidence have opened the way to fulfilling international pledges of justice for the victims and survivors of the terrorist group, he said, which imposed a self-styled Islamist Caliphate on both Iraq and parts of Syria, before being militarily defeated. If fully harnessed, these new sources will have the potential to mark a paradigm shift in the prosecution of ISIL members for the crimes they committed in Iraq, he stated. "But we must not allow our focus to shift", he added. "It is essential that we continue to demonstrate the same urgency of action that is being demanded by survivors in Mosul, Baghdad, Sinjar, the Nineveh Plains and elsewhere in Iraq." The Council, through resolution 2379 (2017), established UNITAD to support domestic efforts to hold Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) accountable by collecting, preserving, and storing evidence in Iraq of acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Mr. Khan, a barrister and Queen's Counsel from the United Kingdom with more than 25 years' experience as an international criminal law and human rights lawyer, was appointed by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in May 2018 to lead the effort. 'Creativity and focus' Briefing the Council via video-teleconference, Mr. Khan said that UNITAD "working with creativity and focus" is ensuring that the momentum it has created is not lost even in the face of challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Through close cooperation with the Iraqi judiciary, the Team has obtained more than two million call data records from Iraqi mobile phone service providers relevant to its investigation of crimes against the Yazidi community, he said. Similar data has been gathered in connection with the Tikrit Air Academy massacre, he said, explaining how it can be used to locate where persons of interest might have been at a given point in time, retrace the movements of additional suspects and build a incontrovertible picture of events at major crime scenes. In addition, Iraq mobile phone service providers have also agreed to preserve all call data records from 2014 that might be relevant to UNITAD's investigations. Forensic advances Meanwhile, the forensic extraction of data from mobile phones, laptops and other devices seized from ISIL by the Iraqi military has revealed details and video- about the group's inner workings. But creating an archive of ISIL atrocities is not enough, Mr. Khan emphasized. "Our commitment to the communities of Iraq will only be satisfied when justice is delivered in court, when the survivors of ISIL atrocities are able to see their abusers held accountable in accordance with the rule of law, based on incontrovertible evidence collected in line with international standards." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philadelphia police are guarding the Christopher Columbus statue at Marconi Plaza on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. The statue at the plaza has created heated debate whether is should be removed. Area residents want it to remain where it is. Read more Italian American supporters of the Christopher Columbus statue in South Philadelphia have gone to court to try to block any move by the city to remove the statue, taking a legal step that the Kenney administration says is unnecessary. George Bochetto, a lawyer representing the Friends of Marconi Plaza, where the statue stands, is seeking court rulings barring a move. A judge turned him down Sunday, but he and city lawyers say they have since been working to draw up a court-approved agreement laying out a process to consider the statues future. The court fight started Sunday night after dozens of statue supporters, some with baseball bats whom Kenney called vigilantes, argued with protesters. Observers have said defenders of the statue assaulted others at the park, and a police captain has since been transferred. READ MORE: The Christopher Columbus statue: Why its an issue right now Bochetto asked Common Pleas Court Judge Marlene Lachman for an emergency injunction blocking any move, but did not receive one. On Monday, he tried again, asking Common Pleas Court Judge Paula Patrick for a temporary restraining order to bar any move without due process and public consultation under the Home Rule Charter. She told the lawyers to try to reach an agreement she could approve. City Solicitor Marcel Pratt, the top lawyer in the Kenney administration, appeared at both hearings to oppose Bochetto. While saying Kenney has the right to uproot the statue should a threat to public safety arise, he also said the city has no plans now to move it. In an interview, Bochetto said statues and other public art are in the public trust, whether you are for Columbus or against." We have deliberative panels to decide what art the city should display, he said. Its not mob rule or who has the biggest gun. Bochetto said the plaintiffs include Rich Cedrone, president of the Friends of Marconi Plaza,, and a South Philadelphia resident, Joseph Q. Mirarchi. Frank Kane, an official with Ironworkers Local 405, which represents riggers who set up cranes and scaffolding, testified during the emergency hearing Sunday night that he had heard from a city official details of a plan to move the statue. He would not identity the official in court or to The Inquirer. City officials said there were no such plans. Kenney spokesperson Deana Gamble on Tuesday dismissed Bochettos legal action as based on a rumor. No injunctions or court orders have been issued against the city, she said. Knowing that the mayor had no plans to remove the statue, Mr. Bochetto still filed another injunction Monday morning anyway, Gamble added. READ MORE: South Philly residents surround Columbus statue as demonstrations unfold across the city She said the administration had promised that the statues removal would go through the Art Commission process." She said the city was seeking to reach a court-approved agreement with Bochetto affirming a process to consider the fate of the statue. The city planned to put a protective box around the statue, Gamble said in a statement Tuesday; work on it began later Tuesday. Bochetto said he opposed the box, saying the statue must remain visible because of its historic certification. He said he would challenge the boxing in court. On Monday, Kenney issued a statement calling on the arts panel to review the statue, its location, and its appropriateness in a public park. The statue was presented to the city by Italian American citizens as part of the 1876 Centennial Exposition, and is believed to be the work of Emanuele Caroni, according to Bochettos filing, which adds that the statue was moved, by 1982, from the exposition site at Fairmount Park in West Philadelphia, to Marconi Plaza, at Broad Street and Oregon Avenue. It has become the latest flashpoint in protests that have swept the city after the death of George Floyd when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck. Kenney acknowledged that many are now calling for the removal of the statue, and others believe it should remain. He called Columbus historical record infamous, saying he enslaved indigenous people and punished those who failed to meet his expected service by severing limbs, or in some cases, murder. Kane, of the Ironworkers, said the union thought the citys plan was to use nonunion labor to move the statue. He said he based this on conversations with a nonunion contractor whom he would not name. Earlier this month, the city removed the statue of former Mayor Frank L. Rizzo in the middle of the night. As protesters have marched across Philadelphia since Floyd was killed last month, the Columbus statue has become a focus of activists demanding its removal. Counter-protesters have sprung up, resenting attacks against a landmark statue and a figure long seen as an Italian American pioneer. Dozens gathered over the weekend, some armed with baseball bats and other weapons, to stand guard against any vandalism and the rumors the city would cart the statue away. Kenney called the pro-statue protests vigilantism and said they were inappropriate. READ MORE: After three days of conflict at the Christopher Columbus statue, a South Philly police captain was transferred Columbus, an Italian in the service of Spain, was a hero to generations of Americans, but has more recently been a target for activists who see him as a symbol of imperialist oppression. Columbus was deposed as colonial governor and hauled back to Spain in chains on charges of illegally enslaving natives and executing natives and colonists without authority. He was stripped of his noble titles and properties, but allowed to lead a smaller expedition back to the Caribbean, where he died after failing to rebuild his fortune. Defenders say he brought European civilization to the Americas, took pioneering steps to protect Native Americans, and was falsely slandered by ambitious rivals. In a note sent Monday morning to Italian American lawyers, business owners, the Italian consul (a diplomat) in the city, officials of the Knights of Columbus, and others, Philadelphia lawyer Robert F. Petrone cheered Bochettos effort. Petrone also defended Columbus record against his critics in detail. Recently, a Columbus statue was forcibly removed by activists in Minneapolis, and one in Boston was beheaded. A statue in Camden was also removed. Delaware Gov. John Carney had a Wilmington statue of Columbus and another of Caesar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a slaveholder, removed and hidden to avoid public controversy. Chicago has experienced similar difficulties with excessive ticketing and suspension of drivers licenses over fines and fees. An outdated city sticker came with a $200 penalty and a person could receive a ticket for the same offense multiple times in one day. In February 2018 a Chicago Jobs Council report found that of survey respondents with nondriving-related suspensions, 72% reported owing more than $500, and 31% owed over $3,000 before it was possible to get a valid license. For many residents, setting up a payment plan was impossible due to initial payment requirements reaching as high as $1,000 and would instead file bankruptcy. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The libel conviction for the head of a Philippine news outlet known for its scrutiny of President Rodrigo Dutertes administration is a blow to one of Asias most vibrant media sectors. Its also the sort of headline thats often overlooked by foreign executives and fund managers casting around for fast-growing economies. They would be wrong to gloss over this one. Dutertes rule has already seen institutions eroded and top-level opponents targeted. If fewer questions are asked, that will reduce transparency and drive up the risk premium for investing in the Philippines. Thats something the coronavirus-weakened economy can ill afford when inbound investment is already falling. The case against Maria Ressa whose Rappler site has been directly denounced by the president and often critical of his war on drugs was always about more than the allegedly defamatory article on a local businessman, first published in 2012. The verdict, similarly, has ripples far beyond the online publication. Mondays conviction is no isolated incident. Ressa and her co-accused, Reynaldo Santos, were sentenced to as long as six years in jail, but she faces seven other criminal charges including for alleged tax evasion. Theres more. A month ago, the countrys largest broadcaster, ABS-CBN Corp., shut TV and radio stations after its license wasnt renewed a move repeatedly threatened by Duterte, reportedly because of a disagreement over paid election campaign commercials. Opponents elsewhere, from the human rights commission to the Supreme Court, have fared little better. Meanwhile, lawmakers passed an anti-terrorism bill this month that, while targeting a real problem, could also allow worryingly lengthy detentions without charge. The presidential spokesman says Duterte upholds free speech and played no role in the Ressa verdict. That should offer little comfort to investors, or to a local population facing the deepest economic contraction in decades. Indeed, it suggests weakened institutions are carrying out the presidents whims without needing to be told. The target is one of the countrys best-known journalists, at home and abroad. Ressa was honored by Time in 2018. With other governments behaving badly, there is little reason to hold back. Story continues To be clear, Duterte isnt the first occupant of the Malacanang presidential palace to castigate the press, or indeed other institutions, since the end of martial law in the 1980s. While free and outspoken by the regions standards, the Philippines has also had high rates of violence against journalists. The difference is in what Nicole Curato of the University of Canberra describes as the normalization of attacks on the press, and the sheer volume of vitriol released through spokespeople, political allies, and on social media. Worse, it is done with the language of democracy. At least in openly authoritarian states, as Ressa said Monday, the rules are clear. The economic context is grim. While the Philippines is young, promising and has been an outperformer in terms of headline expansion, its economy remains highly concentrated, unequal and opaque. Foreign direct investment and local stocks were fading even before the pandemic, despite infrastructure spending plans and tax reform efforts. After the coronavirus, an economy that had been projected to expand 7% this year will instead contract. Unemployment and underemployment are high and remittances, which account for about 10% of gross domestic product, have dropped. Ressas verdict brings more reasons for concern. The first is the increasingly arbitrary nature of the attacks, in part because of the disparate coalition behind Duterte vying for favor. This leaves investors vulnerable, says Aries Arugay, professor of political science at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Duterte triggered a more than $2 billion stock rout in December after targeting the Ayala family and another local businessman, demanding the renegotiation of contracts with two concessionaires, Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services Inc., to supply the capital. Companies such as Fraport AG and Suez SA left the Philippines over just such disputes. While the old guard is under fire, a new, Duterte-friendly oligarchy is being created, tilting an already uneven playing field. Aaron Connelly, research fellow at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, points to telecoms as an example of the change: Duterte ally Dennis Uy, with China Telecom Corp., won the countrys third telecoms license in 2018. Partner risk has always been a problem in Southeast Asia, but the shift away from Manila elites is making this less predictable. Lastly, theres the issue of transparency. The simple act of questioning authority, deals and negotiations is becoming more challenging. It could get worse still if, as Arugay posits, the current purge fosters the flourishing of partisan Duterte-friendly media. The Manila Times closed in 1999 after running afoul of then-President Joseph Estrada, only to be bought by one of his close associates. Dutertes enduring popular support, and a term that doesnt end until 2022, create room for plenty more lasting damage. Investors could do worse than to ponder Ressas words after her conviction: This is a precipice. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. A man practices his firing stance on the firing range with an unloaded weapon in Big Pine Keys, FL on March 5, 2014. Andrew Innerarity/Reuters Every year, about 40,000 people in the US die from homicides and suicides involving firearms. Despite some restrictions on gun control research, scientists have evaluated how certain policies affect gun deaths. According to new research, strict child access prevention laws which make it illegal for an adult to store a gun in a place that makes it easy for a child to access and fire it result in a 6% reduction in gun deaths. Strict background checks and prohibiting domestic abusers from owning weapons are also policies associated with reduced rates of gun violence. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Nearly 40,000 Americans die from firearm injuries every year. Most of these firearm deaths are not from mass shootings, but from suicides and homicides, according to the CDC. The number of gun deaths in the US is much higher than in other nations with similar rates of gun ownership (like Switzerland), but certain policies can help prevent these fatalities. According to a study published Monday, stricter laws regulating firearm storage can reduce US gun deaths by 6% resulting in nearly 2,500 fewer deaths per year. These laws, called child access protection (CAP) laws, make it illegal for an adult to store a gun, or ammunition, in a place that makes it easy for a child to access and fire it. The study authors also found that right-to-carry (RTC) laws, which make it easy to carry concealed firearms, and stand your ground (SYG) laws, which limit legal liability of people who use guns in self-defense, were each associated with a 3% annual increase in gun deaths. "These are modest effects, and yet even a small effect in terms of deaths caused is a lot of dead people thousands per year," Terry Schell, lead author of the study and scientist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization, told Business Insider. In this photo taken January 12, 2016, gun regulation activists stand with signs in the Capitol rotunda before Gov. Jay Inslee's annual state of the state address in Olympia, Washington. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File Stricter laws that prevent children from easily accessing guns reduce gun deaths Story continues To reach their conclusions, Schell and his colleagues tracked data of gun deaths in the six years following the implementation of each law. "We're looking at three specific types of laws that don't dictate how you buy a weapon, or who may buy and possess a weapon, but rather dictate what are the restrictions on how people store and use a weapon once they have it," Schell said. They looked at data across different states between 1980 and 2016, and found that CAP laws were associated with 6% fewer firearm-related deaths. Tony Gomez, Violence and Injury Prevention Manager for Public Health in Seattle & King County, demonstrates the use of a gun lock box during a news conference by the Alliance for Gun Responsibility and other activists in Olympia, Washington on January 21, 2016. Elaine Thompson/AP According to Giffords Law Center, 4.6 million minors in the US live in homes with at least one loaded, unlocked firearm. One 2006 study showed that 73% of children in Alabama under age 10 living in homes with guns reported knowing the location of their parents' firearms, and 36% admitted they had handled the weapons without the knowledge of their parents. But only 27 states have enacted CAP laws. A boy inspects a rifle during The International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition on September 14, 2017. Francois New/Getty In 2015, 13 million US households with children contained firearms. Fewer than one in three of those households, however, followed the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations to store all household firearms locked and unloaded. A 2019 study found that up to 32% of youth suicides and accidental firearm deaths (with youth defined as any person 19 years old or younger) could have been prevented if the remainder of these households were to lock up their guns. Specifically, the researchers found that if 20% of households that keep at least one gun unlocked started locking up all their guns within a year, between 72 and 135 youth firearm fatalities could be prevented. Right-to-carry laws and stand-your-ground laws are associated with higher rates of gun deaths Schell's team found that RTC and SYG laws were associated with 3% more gun deaths per year. Not every state has these laws, but states that do experience negative outcomes. After a Florida SYG law passed in 2005, for example, the rate of teen gun deaths by homicide surged 45%. Schell said his group hasn't explored why these laws are associated with such outcomes. "We don't know if that it's because people who carrying concealed weapons are now committing more crimes, or are victims of more crimes, or are more likely to be shot by police because they're carrying a gun," he said. A woman poses with a concealed-carry handbag created by the company Gun Girls, Inc. Joe Raedle/Getty But the study authors did note that states with the most restrictive combinations of these policies places that have a CAP law and no SYG or RTC laws had 11% fewer firearm deaths per year than states without CAP laws that did have SYG and RTC policies in place. That results in an estimated 4,475 fewer firearm deaths annually across the US. Other policies that reduce rates of gun violence While Schell and his colleagues' new study examined only the effects of child-access-prevention, right-to-carry, and stand-your-ground laws, other policies are proven to lower rates of gun violence and injury. Currently, US law only requires background checks when people buy guns from licensed firearms dealers. However, other research from RAND estimates that universal background checks could prevent 1,100 homicides per year. Data shows that states that require background checks on all gun sales had 35% fewer gun deaths per capita between 2009 and 2012. A 2018 study found that states that have stricter background-check laws for gun purchases have fewer school shootings. Though not the most common form of gun violence, school shootings have spiked in the US: There was an average of one per year from 1966 to 2008, but an average of one per week from 2013 to 2015, the same study found. Mourners pray around a memorial in front of Santa Fe High School on May 21, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas. Getty Images/Scott Olson Longer prison sentences for crimes involving a gun like armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon have also been shown to help reduce violent firearm use. Gun-robbery rates have gone down in states that approved longer sentences for assault or robbery with a gun. semiautomatic gun Reuters/Bryan Woolston Barring people convicted of domestic abuse from owning guns also decreases the number of gun deaths. The Lautenberg Amendment to the 1968 Gun Control Act disqualifies people with a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence from buying or owning weapons. According to a 2017 study, gun murders of female intimate partners decreased by 17% as a result of that amendment. Read the original article on Business Insider Chinas insects and other invertebrates are spoilt for choice with the countrys array of deserts, rainforests, mountains and tropical coastlines. The winning photographs of the Wild China Biodiversity Photography Contest hosted by Wild China Film present the countrys sweeping lands and rare plants from unexpected perspectives. Here is a pick of the crop Jan 21, 2022 06:20 PM WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Monday that former national security adviser John Bolton could face criminal liability if his memoir is released, asserting that the book contains classified material. Eight days before Bolton's book was set to go on sale, Trump warned that the administration may "soon be in court." "I will consider every conversation with me as president highly classified," he told reporters at the White House. "So that would mean that, if he wrote a book and if the book gets out, he's broken the law, and I would think that he would have criminal problems. I hope so." Trump's remarks come amid an escalating standoff between the White House and the longtime conservative foreign policy hand who alleges in his memoir that the president committed "Ukraine-like transgressions" in a number of foreign policy decisions, according to details released by the publisher, Simon & Schuster. The president is livid about the publication of the book and has been pushing his staff to take action to block it, White House officials said. Members of the White House Counsel's Office spoke with Justice Department officials Monday about possible legal action, but it was unclear when such an action would happen. Bolton's book, "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir," is due to go on sale June 23 and has been shipped to distribution centers across the country. Bolton's attorney Charles Cooper has said that the memoir does not contain any classified material and that Bolton participated in an arduous review process to vet it for material that could endanger national security. During an exchange with reporters Monday, Trump said it was "highly inappropriate" for his former national security adviser to write the book. He was joined by Attorney General William Barr, who told reporters, "We don't believe Bolton has gone through the process" required to clear books by government officials on topics of national security. "He hasn't completed the process," Barr said, adding that the administration is now trying to get Bolton to do so. "This is unprecedented, really," the attorney general said. "I don't know of any book that has been published so quickly while the officeholders are still in government, and it's about very current events, current leaders and current policy issues, many of which are currently classified." Legal experts said any court challenge by the administration would face stiff odds. "A half-century ago, the Supreme Court rejected a similar attempt by the Nixon administration to block the publication of the Pentagon Papers, and since then, it has been firmly established that prior restraints on publication are unconstitutional and un-American," said Ben Wizner, director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. Last week, the White House warned Bolton, who was an ambassador to the United Nations during George W. Bush's administration, that his book needs further revision to comply with a review process required of government employees writing about national security and intelligence issues. A letter to Bolton from John Eisenberg, a deputy White House counsel, noted that the former national security adviser signed a nondisclosure agreement when he began his White House service in April 2018. "The unauthorized disclosure of classified information could be exploited by a foreign power, thereby causing significant harm to the national security of the United States," Eisenberg wrote, telling Bolton that a redacted manuscript would be returned to him June 19, just days before the already-published book is due to go on sale. In response, Cooper said his client scrupulously complied with national security vetting requirements. He and Bolton have said from the outset that the book did not contain classified material. "Simon & Schuster is fully supportive of Ambassador Bolton's First Amendment right to tell the story of his time in the Trump White House," Julia Prosser, vice president and director of publicity for the publishing house, said in a statement last week. "In the months leading up to the publication of 'The Room Where It Happened,' Bolton worked in cooperation with the National Security Council to incorporate changes to the text that addressed NSC concerns," she added. "The final, published version of this book reflects those changes." - - - The Washington Post's Felicia Sonmez and Ann Marimow contributed to this report. Dear Editor: Whats the objection to the statues at Academy Green? Henry Hudson was an explorer and, except for a small skirmish at Nova Scotia, committed no crimes and did not participate in slavery; the poor guy was set adrift by mutineers. Peter Stuyvesants only conceivable crime was that he followed orders from the Netherlands to procure slaves the Dutch would send no help. It wasnt his idea. And George Clinton? Without the insistence of the New York governor and U.S. vice president, there would have been no Bill of Rights. Leave the statues where they are. Cameron Williams Kingston, N.Y. PHOENIX Rural communities around Arizona were under evacuation orders Tuesday as wildfires raged in the mountains overlooking Tucson, outside metropolitan Phoenix and north of the Grand Canyon. The fires have been fueled by hot temperatures, dry vegetation and winds, with no relief in sight. Sheriffs officials in southern Arizonas Pima County went door-to-door to alert people in about 150 homes that they needed to leave immediately. The order applied to Mount Lemmon and Summerhaven, a heavily wooded community along a ridge, said sheriffs Deputy Marissa Hernandez. A shelter was set up at Sahuaro High School in Tucson. The fire northwest of Tucson in the Catalina Mountains was burning in rugged terrain, sending smoke into surrounding communities. More than 700 people were battling the lightning-sparked blaze that had grown to nearly 23 square miles (59 square kilometers). Its in the general area of one that scorched 132 square miles in 2003, destroying homes and businesses in Summerhaven. In central Arizona, another wildfire prompted evacuations of four rural communities and closed parts of two state highways. Residents of Sunflower and Apache Lake were evacuated Tuesday, one day after the Gila County communities of Punkin Center and Tonto Basin, affecting at least 1,500 people, authorities said. The fire was burning in Tonto National Forest near State Routes 87 and 188 between Phoenix and Payson. Officials said the wildfire had grown to 101 square miles (262 square kilometers) from 59 square miles (153 square kilometers) late Monday. Dee Hines, a spokesman for the fire management team, attributed some of the growth to more accurate data provided by infrared mapping. Fuels and terrain and wind have combined to make a worse-case scenario with this fire, Hines said. It is serious. No structures have been lost in any of the fires, and no injuries have been reported. Residents of Jacob Lake, north of the Grand Canyon, remained evacuated because of a wildfire that has burned 46 square miles (120 square kilometers). Its not like its immediately threatened, but its not out of danger, said fire information spokesman Gerry Perry. Access to the Grand Canyons North Rim also has been cut off as the fire burns near the only highway that leads to it. We must remember that black history is American history, Northam said. He pointed out that July 4 is a national holiday that celebrates freedom, but that freedom did not include everyone. By commemorating it, we push people to think about the significance of Juneteenth, Northam said. It matters now because it says to black communities that this is not just your history, this is everyones shared history. One of the issues the Rockefeller Foundation hopes to address is access to capital and credit for businesses owned by people of color and women. Many minority-owned businesses lack a relationship with larger banks, experts say. During the coronavirus pandemic, some small business owners said the lack of such a relationship made it difficult to access loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, a federal aid program administered through the U.S. Small Business Administration. The CEO of a cosmetics company issued an apology Sunday after a video was widely shared online showing her and her husband confronting a man and threatening to call police because he stenciled Black Lives Matter in chalk on his San Francisco property. The video, which has been retweeted 155,000 times, has sparked accusations of racism and led a cosmetics distributor to cut ties with Lisa Alexander, founder and CEO of LaFace Skincare. There are not enough words to describe how truly sorry I am for being disrespectful to him last Tuesday when I made the decision to question him about what he was doing in front of his home, Alexander said in a statement. I should have minded my own business. The video, which first appeared Tuesday on the Facebook page of James Juanillo, shows a couple asking him whether he lives in the house before asserting that they know he doesnt live there and is therefore breaking the law. Juanillo doesnt answer the couple, but invites them to call the police. The couple then walk away, with Alexander responding: Yes, we will do so. The video stops short of showing what happens next. Juanillo summed up the encounter on Twitter: A white couple call the police on me, a person of color, for stenciling a #BLM chalk message on my own front retaining wall. He added that Alexander lies and says she knows that I dont live in my own house, because she knows the person who lives here. Juanillo, who is Filipino, told KGO-TV he believes the couple accused him of defacing private property because they didnt think he belonged in the wealthy Pacific Heights neighborhood. He said a police officer pulled up several minutes after the encounter and drove away after recognizing Juanillo as a longtime resident. The social media furor over the video led Birchbox, which distributes beauty products via a subscription service, to announce Saturday that it has cut ties with the company over Alexanders racist actions. When I watch the video I am shocked and sad that I behaved the way I did, Alexanders statement said. She said she was committed to learn from the experience and wants to apologize to Juanillo in person. A white couple call the police on me, a person of color, for stencilling a #BLM chalk message on my own front retaining wall. Karen lies and says she knows that I dont live in my own house, because she knows the person who lives here. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/rOpHvKVwgP Jaimetoons (@jaimetoons) June 12, 2020 Juanillo said Sunday that he would be open to talking with Alexander. He said in the last several days neighbors have left flowers and notes expressing support, with many adding chalk art to the retaining wall and sidewalk. For me this experience has left me feeling vindicated and validated. I imagine that she regrets those couple of minutes, he said. Do I believe that her life should be destroyed over this? No. I just hope that she realizes that what she did was racist and she can improve from this incident. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:03:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Keren Setton JERUSALEM, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Israel's national airline El Al and its thousands of employees have been holding their breath in recent weeks as the government contemplates bailing it out from insolvency. El Al was struggling before the COVID-19 pandemic but the global crisis brought it nearer than ever to be nationalized, two decades after it was pushed to privatization. The debate on the future of the company has been going on for weeks with Finance Ministry officials discussing whether El Al needs to be rescued or left to survive and probably disappear. Since Israel closed its borders in mid-March over the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of the 6,500 El Al employees have been on unpaid leave. Currently it is unclear when and how many of the flights will resume and how many workers will return to work. In recent years, the company has been undergoing a costly process of upgrading its aircraft which stretched its financial capability. Globally, there are many airlines struggling, not only due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, only a minority of airlines are considered profitable during normal days, let alone a global crisis. For some Israeli government officials, El Al is considered a strategic asset that must be saved at almost all costs. Currently being debated is a multi-million-U.S. dollar bailout plan together with major reforms intended to pull the airline out of the woods. Israeli media is reporting that El Al is also trying to secure substantial loans from banks that will be guaranteed by the state. In different scenarios, the company will have to fire approximately a third of its employees. In need of union approval, it is difficult to see how such an agreement will be accepted by the workers. El Al's downward spiral began in 2013 when the Israeli government ratified the Open Skies agreement with the European Union (EU), which led to a rapid increase in the number of airlines flying to and from the country. Israeli airline companies, El Al being the largest, struggled to deal with the challenge. "A national airline of a small country in an era of open competition can't survive. It is not big enough and doesn't have enough lines," said Gilad Alper, head of research at Excellence Nessuah Trust Company. "There is no justification to help El Al," Alper said. The salaries in the company, especially those of the pilots, are several times higher than the average Israeli workers. In addition, what is considered a major impediment to its ability to be competitive, El Al does not fly on the Sabbath, which starts at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday. This means the company's planes are grounded for about 25 hours a week. For an airline, this is critical for gaining profit. These are some of the main reasons El Al is in need of major reforms, not just a bail out. "If El Al will be bailed out by the government, which I am convinced will happen, this will probably ensure it will not become more efficient," Alper told Xinhua. Still, there are people who believe El Al must be resuscitated by the state. "El Al supports two major industries in the country, one is tourism and another is hi-tech," said Nicole Adler, a professor at the School of Business Administration at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. While hi-tech is a major part of Israel's GDP, the market for most tech companies is not in Israel, making flight connectivity with foreign countries critical for these firms. Adler said that El Al stands for 30 percent of the air traffic in the country and if it ceases to exist, someone will need to replace it. Israel's connectivity may be damaged if a vacuum remains. In addition, the cyclical nature of the violent outbursts in Israel, due to the rising tensions with the Palestinians and neighboring countries including Syria, often leads to foreign airlines halting their services. As a national carrier, El Al has an obligation to maintain Israel's skies open even under fire. The geopolitical instability that is currently engulfing Israel's neighborhood is not going away in the near future, making this a valid consideration. "The government needs to think very carefully about issues of sovereignty and connectivity in the time of both a pandemic and possibly a war," Adler told Xinhua. It has nothing to do with economics but is related to politics, which is pushing the government to basically renationalize El Al, Adler said. The banks in Israel are very hesitant to loan El Al massive amounts of money, because the company was insolvent even before the pandemic. Conditions have become even less favorable lately. But in the end, the Israeli government is likely to make a decision to bail out the company, Adler said. "The ripple effects are sufficiently important to justify this investment," Adler said, while acknowledging that there are also reasons to let El Al fade away. Enditem Friends Claim Aussie Man on Death Sentence Set Up by Chinese Investors A friend of Australian man Karm Gilespie who is facing a death sentence in China for drug smuggling claims that he was set up by a group of Chinese investors. Friends and family of former actor and entrepreneur Gilespie were shocked to hear of his emergence after vanishing in China 6 years ago. They assert he was wrongly accused of the charges of smuggling methamphetamine, commonly known as ice. Close friend Roger James Hamilton posted on social media a message he received from a friend claiming that the bag Gilespie was caught with containing about 7.5 kilograms of methamphetamine was a gift from a group of Chinese businesspeople he had just met. Karm attended a meeting with a group of Chinese businesspeople who agreed to invest in his project (a storage facility). As a sign of good faith of their intentions, they gave him some gifts to take back to Australia with himbrand name leather goods and luggage that had drugs hidden in the linings. They asked him to carry presents back to their partners in Australia which included handbags. The drugs were in the handbags. It was a set up, the message stated. Hamilton goes on to say that the reason nobody knew of Gilespiess arrest was due to a decision he and his lawyer made to keep silent so as not to jeopardise the negotiations with China for his release. Gilespie was arrested in 2013 as he was about to board an international flight from Baiyun Airport, in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. His first trial after about seven years was on June 10, where a verdict of capital punishment was given. He was given 10 days to appeal the decision. It is heartbreaking to think that for the last six and a half years Karm has been in prison without any of us knowing or having any way to support him, the message on Hamiltons Facebook said. Childhood pen-pal Jill Parris found out about Karm via Facebook. The last time they spoke was in December 2013, she says it was out of character for him to just disappear with no contact for seven years. The Indian army suffered multiple casualties, including that of an officer, in a violent face off with Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday night in eastern Ladakh, the army said in a statement. It added that there were casualties on both sides. These are the first Indian casualties in a clash with the PLA since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. HT learns that the officer is the commanding officer of the unit involved in the scrap, and that one of the other casualties is that of a JCO. The army said the incident took place at a time the de-escalation process was underway in the Galwan valley. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting to defuse the situation, the army said, signalling that the efforts to stablise the situation is still work in progress. Military commanders of the two armies, Major General Abhijit Bapat, commander of the Karu-based HQs 3 Infantry Division and his Chinese counterpart are holding talks at the site of the clash to defuse tensions. All the deaths are from thrown stones and rods that were used by the soldiers, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The army did not comment on this. However, this wont be the first time the two armies have engaged in fisticuffs or used stones as missiles to attack each other in the area. Also Watch: India-China border faceoff: What led to escalation of tensions? In Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the current operational situation after the clash on the LAC, along with the Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar was also present. Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane had cancelled his scheduled visit to Pathankot on Tuesday. The encounter happened along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh where rival soldiers were caught in a standoff that began with a confrontation between rival patrols near Pangong Tso on the night of May 5-6. The Indian Army is said to have suffered three casualties, including a colonel, in the sector on Monday, said one person familiar with the matter. Both sides suffered fatal casualties on Monday, claimed another person familiar with the matter. Both asked not to be named. The number of Chinese casualties wasnt immediately known. The Chinas foreign ministry said it wasnt aware of fatalities on either side. At his media briefing spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry Zhao Lijian spoke about the close communication through military and diplomatic channels before going on to blame Indian soldiers for Monday evenings violent exchange. Our border troops had a high-level meeting and reached important consensus on easing the border situation. But astonishingly on June 15, the Indian troops seriously violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line for illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel which led to serious physical conflict between the two sides, Zhao said. Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of Global Times, a tabloid run by the ruling Communist Party of China, however, tweeted that his information indicated casualties on the Chinese side and asked India not to misconstrue the PLAs restraint for weakness. Also Read: Face-off between India and China in Galwan valley: What we know so far The worrying development comes at a time when India and China are continuing diplomatic and military engagements for an early resolution of the standoff between border troops. The border row seems to have turned from bad to worse even as army delegations from India and China held discussions along the to break the stalemate. Former Northern Army commander Lt Gen DS Hooda (retd) flagged concerns about the serious escalation along the LAC saying that it reflected the heightened tensions on the ground. This will require diplomatic intervention, he said. The talks took place at two locations along the LAC --- brigadier-ranked officers met in the Galwan area and Colonel-ranked officers in Hot Springs --- as part of continuing efforts to resolve the standoff. Army chief General Naravane last week said disengagement of Indian and Chinese forces was taking place in a phased manner along the LAC where the situation was under control. Also Read: Psy Ops: In Ladakh standoff with India, Chinas PLA replays Doklam tactics Limited disengagement of forces at Galwan Valley, Patrolling Point 15 and Hot Springs began after a meeting between Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the Peoples Liberation Army in the South Xinjiang region, on June 6. India is now focused on resolving the situation on the northern bank of Pangong Tso, which has been at the centre of the ongoing border scrap and where troops are still locked in a faceoff. Last months violent confrontations between Indian and Chinese soldiers in eastern Ladakh and north Sikkim triggered a military buildup on both sides of the LAC that stretched from Ladakh to Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, as reported by Hindustan Times on Friday. The Chinese buildup began immediately after clashes between border troops in Ladakh and Sikkim on May 5-6 and May 9, and predated the June 6 meeting between Lieutenant General Singh and his Chinese counterpart. HT was the first to report on May 10 about border tensions between India and China flaring up when 150 soldiers were involved in a tense standoff in north Sikkim a day earlier. Four Indian and seven Chinese soldiers were injured at Naku La during the confrontation. Scores of soldiers from the two countries were also injured near Pangong Tso on the night of May 5-6, with the scuffle involving around 250 men. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rahul Singh Rahul Singh covers military affairs. He has been a journalist for 18 years. ...view detail Pioneering data security company recognized for its contributions in the field of data privacy and security Washington, D.C., June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The World Economic Forum announced its selection of 100 of the most promising Technology Pioneers of 2020, who are shaping industries from agriculture to healthcare while also working on sustainability issues and much more. Enveil, which protects Data in Use to enable secure search, sharing, analytics, and collaboration, was recognized for its contributions in the field of data privacy and security. The full list of recognized Technology Pioneers can be viewed here. (https://widgets.weforum.org/techpioneers-2020/) Enveil, the pioneering data security company protecting Data in Use, was selected from among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum's "Technology Pioneers". The company's business-enabling and privacy-preserving capabilities for secure data search, sharing, and collaboration protect data while it's being used or processed - the 'holy grail' of data encryption. Powered by homomorphic encryption, Enveil is a leader in the category of Privacy Enhancing Technologies, delivering the first and only NIAP Common Criteria-certified Data in Use security capabilities. The World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. Technology Pioneers community is an integral part of the larger Global Innovators community of start-ups at the World Economic Forum. Following its selection as Technology Pioneer, Founder and CEO Ellison Anne Williams will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum activities, events and discussions throughout the year. Enveil will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with policymakers and private sector leaders to help define the global agenda on key issues. "We're excited to welcome Enveil to our 20th cohort of Technology Pioneers," says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. "Enveil and its fellow pioneers are developing cutting edge technologies all over the world. Beyond their innovations, these firms are contributing greatly to improving the state of the world." "We are honored to be acknowledged as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum and look forward to contributing to the Forum dialogues focused on broader privacy and security challenges - issues that are paramount in our increasingly interconnected world," said Ellison Anne Williams, Founder and CEO of Enveil. "Our ZeroReveal technologycan significantly contribute to addressing these issues on a global scale by delivering privacy-preserving capabilities to enable critical business functions. Enveil protects Data in Use where it is and as it is today, allowing organizations to securely search and derive insights from third-party data sources without ever revealing the contents of the interaction or compromising the security or ownership of the underlying data." This year's cohort selection marks the 20th anniversary of the Tech Pioneers community. Throughout its 20-year run, many Technology Pioneers have continuously contributed to advancement in their industries while some have even gone on to become household names. Past recipients include Airbnb, Google, Kickstarter, Mozilla, Palantir Technologies, Spotify, TransferWise, Twitter and Wikimedia. 2020 Tech Pioneer firms are shaping the future by advancing technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology and many more. The diversity of these companies extends to their leadership as well, as over 25% of 2020 Tech Pioneers are female led. The firms also come from regions all around the world, extending their community far beyond Silicon Valley. The full list of Technology Pioneers can be found here. Technology Pioneers have been selected based on the community's selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the company's relevance with the World Economic Forum's Platforms. All info on this year's Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers20 More information on past winners, information on the community and the application link can be found here. About Enveil Enveil is a pioneering data security company protecting Data in Use. Enveil's business-enabling and privacy-preserving capabilities for secure data search, sharing, and collaboration protect data while it's being used or processed - the 'holy grail' of data encryption. Powered by homomorphic encryption, Enveil's ZeroReveal solutions provide Trusted Compute in Untrusted Locations, allowing organizations to securely derive insights, cross-match, and search third-party data assets without ever revealing the contents of the search itself or compromising the security or ownership of the underlying data. Enveil is NIAP/CSfC-certified to deliver nation-state level protection to the global marketplace. Founded by U.S. Intelligence Community alumni with backgrounds in mathematics, algorithmics, and machine learning, Enveil is revolutionizing data security by addressing a Data in Use vulnerability that people have been chasing for more than 20 years. Learn more at www.enveil.com. About World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.). About the Global Innovators The Global Innovators Communityis a group of the world's most promising start-ups and scale-ups that are at the forefront of technological and business model innovation. The World Economic Forum provides the Global Innovators Community with a platform to engage with public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome current crises and build future resiliency. Companies who are invited to become Global Innovators will engage with one or more of the Forum's Platforms, as relevant, to help define the global agenda on key issues. Having newly generated $450 million in funding, Helios Towers has underlined its intention to increase its footprint across Africa. Speaking to Bloomberg, the tower firms CFO Tom Greenwood said that Ethiopia was a highly attractive market to Helios to the extent that it had already approached possible partners to discuss a move into the market. Ethiopias government is breaking up the long-held monopoly of the state-owned incumbent Ethio Telecom by selling a 40% stake in the operator to foreign investors, as well as putting two new licences up for auction. Safaricom recently confirmed its intent to bid for one of these permits. While Covid-19 has slowed the liberalisation of Ethiopias telecoms sector, preparations are now back on track. With new investment and new players on the horizon, Greenwood said that the next five years could see as many as 10,000 new towers required in the market, making it a very large opportunity for Helios. Last week, Helios issued new debt to raise $750 million. While part of this total was designated for paying down its outstanding liabilities, $450 million was earmarked for future expansion. In addition to Ethiopia, the company is weighing its options in Egypt, Madagascar and Morocco. At present, Helios owns and operates 7000 sites across Africa, with markets including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Republic of the Congo, South Africa and Tanzania. As more Americans experience economic shock due to the ongoing coronavirus, there's a growing fear among certain families: how they will pay for college. Roughly two-thirds, or 68%, of parents of college-bound students now say they are more worried about paying for their child's college education in the wake of the pandemic, according to a report by Discover Student Loans. The survey polled 1,500 parents of college-bound teenagers in early March and again in May. "As you would expect, the pandemic has put some strain in families' finances," said Manny Chagas, Discover's vice president of student loans. A separate poll by NitroCollege.com of high school seniors entering college in the fall also found that 69% of parents and 55% of students said Covid-19 impacted their ability to pay for school. More from Personal Finance: Students still don't know what to expect this fall College-bound students to miss out on billions in financial aid As college classes move online, don't expect a tuition discount "I've never seen students and parents this anxious this time of year," said Eric Greenberg, president of Greenberg Educational Group, a New York-based consulting firm. "We have a lot of families talking about starting at community colleges or in-state state schools or taking a gap year." More than half of parents, or 53%, said their child's higher education plans have changed due to Covid-19, Discover also found. By necessity, some students will attend a school closer to home, delay going to college or choose a less expensive public, rather than private, college. In addition, families will need to dip into savings and rely on financial aid more than before. Fifty-five percent of parents said they were concerned their child is not receiving enough in scholarships a 14% jump from the same survey in early March and 54% of parents said they'll need to use their savings to pay for their child's college education, up from 47% before the pandemic. Already, nearly 40% of parents have tapped their child's college fund to help cover expenses due to economic fallout from the pandemic, according to a separate survey by LendingTree. Another 15% of those surveyed said that they don't have a college fund for their kids at all. By Ayya Lmahamad Presidential aide Hikmat Hajiyev has said that Azerbaijan has repatriated 2,976 citizens from Russia through Samur checkpoint since late March when the two countries shut down the border over COVID-19, local media reported on June 16. Hajiyev made the remarks while commenting on the protest staged yesterday by Azerbaijani citizens who have been stranded on the Russian border, waiting for their repatriation. "We express regret over the incident that took place in Magharamkent region at the Kullar post in the Dagestan direction of the state border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, Hajiyev said. The citizens who have gathered at the Samur checkpoint must comply with the established rules, not violate the order and not prevent the relevant state structures from carrying out their duties. In the current situation, we urge our citizens to show understanding," Hajiyev emphasized. Furthermore, he called on citizens to show understanding and comply with the established rules. Hajiyev reminded that a portal I am going home has been set up to oversee repatriation of Azerbaijanis from Russia. Repatriation of our citizens takes place every week in line with the coordinated activities of relevant agencies of Azerbaijan and Russia and in line with specific schedule, Hajiyev said. According to the weekly schedule, 120 people crossed Samursky checkpoint on May 19, 131 people on May 26, 122 people on June 2 and 130 people on June 9, Hajiyev said. Likewise, over 150 of citizens will cross the border on June 16. Moreover, this week citizens registered on the portal "I am going home" will fly to Baku by charter flight Baku-Moscow-Baku, the official said. He reminded that over 20,000 citizens have been repatriated from around the world since mid-March via land borders and through special charter flights. Azerbaijan citizens stranded on the border are staying in temporary tents set up in Dagestan. Earlier, the problem related to the citizens of Azerbaijan stranded on the borders were discussed between the presidents of the two countres on May 18, who agreed on a step-by-step repatriation of citizens across the border. Under the agreement, every 15 days, the embassies prepare lists of citizens wishing to return. In the meantime, Russian Ria Novosi reported today that a delegation of Azerbaijani officials would be visiting Russias Dagestan to discuss the situation around the Azerbaijani citizens. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz SEARCH A minimum of 3 characters are required to be typed in the search bar in order to perform a search. The Supreme Courts decision on Monday in Bostock v. Clayton Countywhich extended employment discrimination protection to LGBTQ people based on Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Acthinged on the briefest of phrases: because of sex. Among those with a taste for historical anecdote, its long been passed down that this language was added to the bill because segregationist Rep. Howard Smith, D-Virginia, thought that it would sound so ridiculous that it would sink the legislations chances. (Its a good story. Look at that racist troll self-own!) Advertisement But that narrative, enjoyable though it may be, is not quite complete, wrote Christina Wolbrecht, political scientist and author of The Politics of Womens Rights: Parties, Positions, and Change, in a Twitter thread. Smith later claimed he introduced the sex amendment as a joke, she wrote. Yes, it was introduced by a segregationist but BECAUSE womens rights advocates had laid the groundwork for DECADES, and BECAUSE women members of Congress were there to shepherd it through the long legislative process. With this added context, Smiths little accident looks a bit more like somebody elses well-laid plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I called Wolbrecht up to find out more. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Rebecca Onion: So Howard Smith, Democrat from Virginia, who inserted because of sex into Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, was a segregationist. But he had other commitments that might have motivated him. What were those? Advertisement Advertisement Christina Wolbrecht: Part of this history is just these stories of long alliances. Howard Smith was around 80 years old in 1964. Like a lot of Southern Democrats, hed been in office forever. His connection with the National Womans Party was that he had often been a sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment in the House. From the time Alice Paul and the National Womans Party proposed the ERA in the 1920s, through when it was passed by both houses of Congress and sent to the states for ratification in the early 1970s, the amendment was introduced in almost every Congress. Why would Smith do this? Between the 1920s and the time Congress was drafting the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the discussion among progressives and womens rights advocates had to do with what the best way was to guarantee womens equality. The National Womans Party thought the way was to say that men and women should be treated exactly the same in front of the law. But there was a long-standing, well-established tradition coming out of the Progressive Movement, saying that groups that suffered discrimination and faced other barriers needed protective laws that treated them differently, so [for example] that women workers didnt have to carry as much weight, or work long hours. Advertisement In the early 20th century, the Supreme Court basically said that all these attempts by labor unions to get the government to limit hours that laborers have to work, or protect health and safety, were not the business of the government, since that interfered with the right to contract. Courts said, If theyre offering x amount of money, for y amount of hours, labor has the freedom to do something else, and it wasnt the governments business to intervene. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Thats the ideology of free labor. Right. But in the early 20th century, despite generally refusing the demands of labor, courts did say that governments could pass laws to protect women workersbecause theyre supposedly more delicate, fragile, and special. [See the 1908 Supreme Court decision Muller v. Oregon.] The Progressive Movement pushed to pass these kinds of laws that treated women workers differently. The idea was, one day, those laws would be the wedge. One day, youd get protections for every worker. Which is what eventually happened. Advertisement Advertisement But in the first half of the 20th century, this was a philosophical difference, right? Between some womens rights organizations and other progressives. Some people thought that something like an Equal Rights Amendment for women, or even just adding because of sex to Title VII, would eliminate those protections for women. Would that be better, or worse, for women? That was a question of belief. Advertisement Advertisement So this was the ongoing argument. In the 1950s and 1960s, some people who didnt support the Equal Rights Amendment werent supportive because they were pro-labor, and the ERA was seen as getting rid of these protections. And to be more cynical about it, some people were in opposition because if women were allowed to compete equally with men in the workplace, that might undermine the idea of the family wage, lower wages for everyone, and increase the size of the labor pool. Advertisement The idea was power might shift from labor to employers, as a consequence. Right. Now the South was traditionally unfriendly to labor, in the first half of the 20th century. There was lots of strong labor power in the Upper Midwest, the Rust Belt; some businesses would move their factories to the South, because the climate was much more favorable there. Advertisement So why would someone like Howard Smith constantly introduce the Equal Rights Amendment? Some of that might have been a commitment, I guess, to womens equality, but it was more about a Southern Democratic coalition that was looking to undermine labor. So when the National Womans Party tried to get Smith to add because of sex to Title VII, they were doing it with the knowledge of his possible motivations to sign on. Advertisement Advertisement Right. The party knew that part of his incentive would be less that he was committed to their cause, and more that this addition might make the bill look ridiculous. Now, they didnt want the bill to look ridiculous or to fail, but they understood the way you make political change. You keep introducing things. You keep pushing the idea, until it becomes more accepted and more successful. There were all sorts of amendments proposed to all sorts of parts of the Civil Rights Act, and one of the interesting things is that the idea of attaching sex to other titles of the Civil Rights Act came up, and went nowhere. Its only this one that Smith introduced for Title VII, specifically about employment, that worked. Advertisement The other person in this story was Martha Griffiths, a lawyer and a representative in Congress, from Michigan. Also a Democrat, like Smithbut a Northern Democrat. Right around the time the party was in its decadeslong process of realignment. Right. Griffiths was the first woman ever to serve on the Ways and Means Committee, and was considered a brilliant strategist who understood the legislative process very well. She was also responsible for tons of womens rights legislation. She had the idea to add sex to Title VII, but she saw an interview where Howard Smith said he was thinking about doing it, and she immediately thought Ill let him be the one to do it. Hes going to bring all his Southern Democratic colleagues. Then Griffiths went around and worked her colleagues to gather their supportthe women in Congress who were concerned about this, men too, some Republicans as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Smith introduced the amendment to Title VII, he read this spoof letter from a woman complaining that there are more women than men where she lives, and arguing, Doesnt every woman have the right to a husband? Everyone was laughingwhat a huge joke, how silly the idea of womens equality is Griffiths stood up and said, If we needed some proof for the necessity of this amendment, this chamber just gave it to us. Pretty much silenced the place. When the bill went to the Senate, and senators were attempting to fight the amendment, Griffiths went to President Johnson to convince him to support it. Which he did. A defining feature of the American legislative process is that there are lots of places along the way where you can stop stuff from getting passed. So having an advocate like Griffiths who really focused on keeping the amendment in, through this very contentious process, made a big difference. Advertisement Why do you think the story of the amendment gets told the way it doeswhy does the addition of those words get characterized as something almost random, a chance of history, instead of the product of advocates work? Honestly, that interpretation comes from evidence from the time period. An example would be that the actual first director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionwhich was convened to enforce that part of the lawcalled the provision a fluke conceived out of wedlock. Something that wasnt supposed to be there. And also, its a great story. Right? Its one of those stories that persist. The idea that these segregationists were trying to kill something, and instead the one addition has been enormous for women. Sexual harassment law is almost entirely based on it. And now its opened up protections for LGBTQ people, as well. But I think the more interesting story is the real story, which is more consistent with what we know about how politics works. Activists who cared about these issues worked on them, proposed them, lobbied for them, developed relationships, made public opinion shift, got people comfortable they made it happen. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. China-bound passengers will have pre-departure temperature checks, and key US airlines will make mask-wearing mandatory. The United States and China will each allow four weekly flights between the two countries, the US Transportation Department said on Monday, easing a standoff on travel restrictions in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The US government still hopes China will agree to restore full US flight rights under their bilateral aviation agreement, the Transportation Department said on Monday in its revised order on China flights. As the Chinese government allows more flights by US carriers, we will reciprocate, it said. The US had threatened to bar Chinese passenger flights on June 16 due to Beijings curbs on US airlines amid simmering tensions between the worlds two largest economies. It has also raised concerns about the number of charter flights Chinese carriers want to fly. Among US airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines had each sought to restart daily passenger flights to China in June but changed their plans in the absence of government approval. Following Chinas agreement to allow four US flights in total, Delta said it would operate two flights to Shanghai from Seattle next week and once-weekly flights from Seattle and Detroit beginning in July, all via Seoul. United said it was aiming to relaunch its service to China in the weeks ahead. Chinese authorities have already agreed to some changes on requirements for US carriers, including allowing temperature checks to be done before flights take off for China, rather than mid-flight as previously discussed, a person briefed on the matter said. The main US carriers are also imposing other health protocols on passengers to keep COVID-19 in check. US airline passengers who refuse to wear face coverings during the novel coronavirus pandemic could have their flying privileges revoked, the industrys main lobby group said on Monday. Major US airlines may prevent anyone not wearing a mask from boarding and provide the coverings to passengers who have none. Once on board, however, flight attendants have little power to enforce the policy if passengers remove their masks. Carriers with the policy include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, Airlines for America said in a statement. The airlines will clearly inform passengers about their individual policies on face coverings before flying, followed by an announcement with specific details on board, it said. Each carrier will determine the appropriate consequences for passengers who fail to comply, up to and including being put on that airlines no-fly list. Airlines offer certain exemptions, including when people are eating or drinking. United, which last week said passengers would have to agree to wearing a face covering on a pre-flight checklist, said any passenger that does not comply with the policy on board beginning on June 18 will be placed on an internal travel restriction list that would prevent them from flying with the airline for a duration of time to be determined pending a comprehensive incident review. Delta said it was doubling efforts to ensure customers are aware of, acknowledge and comply with its mask requirement, which it said is one of the most important ways to stay safe while flying. The measures are expected to remain in place throughout the coronavirus crisis. On Twitter, Senator Ed Markey, who has been vocal along with about a dozen other Democratic senators on airline issues during the pandemic, praised the tougher enforcement policies, adding: But we still need federal action immediately. The US government has not mandated any airline safety requirements since the pandemic hit global aviation, despite calls from unions and industry. The federal government has completely abdicated its responsibility to keep the flying public and aviation workers safe during COVID-19, said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said, adding the industry alone cannot fix this. The administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Stephen Dickson, is expected to be questioned about masks at a Senate hearing on Wednesday. The Jharkhand government is all set to carry out a mega door-to-door Covid-19 identification survey from June 18, state health secretary Nitin Kulkarni said on Monday. Besides Covid-19, people suffering from respiratory diseases, blood pressure, tuberculosis and cancer will also be under the testing scanner. Their sampling will be done on priority basis and tested accordingly, Kulkarni said. The week-long exercise will cover both rural and urban households. I would like to appeal to every citizen of the state to cooperate in the exercise so that the Covid-19 could be checked completely in the state, he said. Also read: Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain in hospital due to high fever, Covid-19 test today He said that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has conducted sero-survey in 200 districts of the country to ascertain if there was any community transmission of coronavirus in any of the districts. The survey included three districts of Jharkhand-Pakur, Latehar and Simdega- where it found negligible possibility of community transmission in the three districts. We have requested the ICMR to conduct sero-survey across the state so that we could know the actual status of transmission in the state. We hope the survey will be completed by the end of this month, he said. The health secretary said Jharkhand witnessed a sudden growth in Covid-19 cases recently due to the influx of migrant workers from across the country. According to the state disaster management department, a total of 5,11,663 migrants workers have arrived in Jharkhand so far. As many as 4,12,357 have returned to Jharkhand on 238 special Shramik trains and buses. The health secretary said sampling of 78,423 migrant workers have been done so far, which is 15.16% of total migrant returnees. Till now, 1,477 migrants have been detected Covid-19 positive. The migrants, who are returning from Delhi, are carrying the highest Covid-19 positivity rate. Of the total Covid-19 positive cases among migrants workers, 2.83% cases are related to the migrants who returned from Delhi, while the same is 2.3% each for the workers returned from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Eighteen persons, who returned from Bangladesh, have been found positive for Covid-19, the health secretary said. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Obscured by the myriad stories of coronavirus global devastation are three headlines from the continent with no shortage of epidemics, man-made and natural disasters. That would be Africa. Of its 54 countries, six are among the top 10 fastest-growing economies in the world this year. The continent is the favorite bazaar for appreciating equity after Eastern Europe and has one of the stock market's best-performing industries: communications. Africa finds itself with fewer Covid-19 cases than other heavily populated regions. Even after testing almost tripled to 1.2 million, the director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, said the continent's percentage is relatively small. Africa has the largest percentage of youth in the world, a higher average temperature and relatively more people outdoors most of the time, according to an April 28 report in the Financial Times. Although South Africa remains an outlier, with surging daily Covid-19 infections similar to the U.S rate, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria reflect the continent's low percentage of cases relative to its population, according to Bloomberg News and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Even as the U.S. daily infection rate based on population declines, the measure is still 24 to 46 times higher than in Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria. The trend has its roots at the beginning of the 21st century, when another pandemic threatened much of the world. Ever since the 2002-2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), when the continent's sole infection was in Cape Town, Africa has leapfrogged the developed world in gross domestic product with a steadily growing share of global GDP, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Most recently, some 38 economists who contribute to Bloomberg cut their 2020 forecasts for the world, from a 3% growth rate to a decline of 3.7%, while simultaneously predicting a much less precipitous slide for Africa: from 3% growth to a decline of 2.5%. If these forecasts prove accurate, Africa would be among the half-dozen best-performing 18 major regions in 2020, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Story continues Africa dominates the list with countries forecast to grow the most in 2020. Rwanda is projected at 3.2%, Ethiopia and Ivory Coast at 3%, Uganda at 2.8% and Ghana at 1.9%, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That helps explain why stocks from North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific contributed 3, 2 and 1 percentage points, respectively, to the world benchmark's 8% loss, and Africa contributed just 0.24 percentage point to the deficit. It remains the best performing region, similar to Eastern Europe (0.2 percentage point), according to data compiled by Bloomberg. While the world equity benchmark declined 4% in 2020, Africa lost just 1%. Communications companies in sub-Saharan Africa so far this year lead all industries in Africa with a total return (income plus appreciation) of 22% more than twice the 9% earned by global health-care companies, the No. 1 performing industry in the world. Africa's appreciation in the stock market coincides with a similar rally by the continent in the emerging market for sovereign debt. After lagging much of the past two years, Africa's sovereign debt gained 24% since the beginning of April, or more than double the entire market's 10%, according to the Bloomberg Barclays Indexes. None of these achievements apparently were anticipated by some of the biggest investors, who retreated from emerging markets earlier this year when the coronavirus became a global pandemic. BlackRock, the largest money manager with $7.4 trillion of assets, allowed its Africa investments to decline 24% to $8.3 billion. Its Asia Pacific investment declined 20% to $115 billion, and its Eastern Europe valuation fell 31% to $9 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. All of which shows that Africa is the biggest economic and financial surprise in these perilous times. -- With assistance from Shin Pei, Richard Dunsford-White and Amine Haddaoui. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Matthew Winkler, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of Bloomberg News, writes about markets. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Chinese President Xi Jinping advocated the vision of building a global community of health in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly (WHA). Implementing this important concept is of great practical and global significance. Since the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide, Shanxi province has resolutely implemented the decisions and arrangements of the central government. Authorities in Shanxi have conveyed condolences, made donations and offered assistance to many affected countries and regions, particularly to its friendship provinces and states and partner governments. These actions have helped further materialize the building of a community of a shared future for mankind. Shanxi stands firmly with overseas Chinese as they are of the same blood and flesh. Meanwhile, it communicates patiently with and provides meticulous services to foreigners entering China through Taiyuan. By doing so, Shanxi is fulfilling its own responsibility to showcase China's commitment as a large country, and making its contribution towards building a global community of health. Providing contributions and full support Meeting the urgent needs of others and exchanging essential supplies with each other are what it means to be in a community. After learning of the scarcity of medical supplies overseas, Shanxi spared no efforts to locate and purchase needed supplies from across China to support the affected countries and regions. It donated 500 protective suits to Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) of Germany on March 23, 45,000 masks to Japan and ROK on March 26, and 100 medical goggles and 500 sets of protective suit to Mantova of Italy on May 31. Local city governments, the provincial development & reform commission, the provincial education department, the Management Committee of Shanxi Transition and Comprehensive Reform Demonstration Zone, the provincial geological prospecting bureau, and Shanxi Coal Import & Export Group Co., Ltd. have all made donations to Shanxi's partner cities and institutions in Tajikistan, France, South Africa and Tanzania, among many others. So far, Shanxi has donated nearly 3.5 million yuan ($494,100) of epidemic prevention supplies to 30 local governments in 20 countries, and nearly 610,000 yuan ($86,116) of supplies to 63 institutions in 30 countries including schools, associations and groups of overseas Chinese students. Its assistance has been fully recognized by the recipients. They have expressed their gratitude and friendship and acknowledged the need of strengthened cooperation in future. Armin Laschet, the governor of Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) of Germany, said, "NRW has been enjoying affinity with Shanxi for more than 30 years. The heart-to-heart connection with each other in difficult times has proven how strong our friendship is." Anatoly Lis, chairman of the Brest State Council of Belarus, said, "Only unity and collaboration can beat such a complex and severe pandemic. Humanitarian assistance from Shanxi is in the spirit of unity and cooperation between our two peoples in fighting against the pandemic and has laid the foundation for our victory in the end." Conveying cordial and warm sympathy Feeling empathy for each other is what it means to be in a community. Letters are often used to convey such feelings and thoughts. Shanxi has sent letters of sympathy to 44 friendship provinces and states, friendly partners and local governments. The letters have been signed by the chief of the provincial CPC committee, the governor of Shanxi and the director general of the province's Foreign Affairs Office. "The virus respects no national borders and is the common enemy of humanity. Shanxi is willing to strengthen cooperation, share information and its experience in fighting against the pandemic and safeguard the lives and health of the people," reads one of the letters, which have shown Shanxi's friendship and willingness to help as much as possible and have enhanced the confidence of beating the pandemic overseas. Many foreign governments also expressed their willingness to collaborate for common development in their replies. Mirzakhmedov Nurbolot, the governor of Jalalabad State of Kyrgyzstan, said, "My sincere thanks to Shanxi for its sympathy and concern. Jalalabad and Shanxi will maintain their efficient exchanges and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields." Hermilando Mandanas, the governor of Batangas Province of the Philippines, replied, "Sincerity and respect from Shanxi have inspired confidence and courage from our people. We'll return to our normal life and develop ourselves even better. We're convinced that with deepened friendship and partnerships, the prospect of our mutually beneficial cooperation will be even brighter." Young people from Shanxi University, Taiyuan University of Technology and agencies of provincial government made videos to show solidarity with Japan and ROK and their people. They conveyed their willingness to help and their confidence and determination to enhance long-term and friendly relations, which will bolster the people-to-people foundation for the long-term development of China-Japan and China-ROK relations. College students and young government officials said in the video that they were ready to work together with Japanese and Korean people as responsible partners to jointly overcome difficulties, which has greatly enhanced ties among youths and people-to-people recognition. Sharing experience through video conferences Sharing experience for common progress is what it means to be in a community. On May 20, public health experts from Shanxi, who represented China, met with their counterparts from Thailand and Singapore through a video conference. They shared the practices China had taken in public health and COVID-19 prevention and control. On May 28, Shanxi hosted an experience-sharing webinar on COVID-19 prevention and treatment with its friendship cities and partner governments. Provincial leaders, representatives of the province's health authorities and local medical experts exchanged experience and measures in COVID-19 treatment with foreign health officials and medical experts from seven international friendship cities and provinces, including the Moravian-Silesian Region of Czech Republic, Mombasa County of Kenya, and Lori Province of Armenia, as well as professors from Nihon Pharmaceutical University, Japan. Jincheng City also held an experience-sharing webinar in which experts and medical workers, who had worked in Wuhan hospitals, met online with their counterparts in Sarah Batman City of South Africa to share epidemic-fighting experience. Shanxi has taken prudent and effective epidemic prevention and control measures ever since Jan. 22 when the first COVID-19 case was confirmed within the province. Now efforts have shifted gradually from mass prevention and control to localized prevention and control. Shanxi's story has been well told through information sharing. We have constantly said that only with concerted efforts, mutual learning and collaboration, can we as a community cope effectively with this global crisis of public health and stop the transmission of the virus. Experience sharing will boost global confidence in fighting the pandemic, explore cooperative programs, and inject new impetus into the endeavor of building a community of health for all in the post-epidemic era. Providing meticulous services to fulfill responsibility Providing undiscriminating and integrated services is also what it means to be in a community. Taiyuan airport is one of the 12 designated ports of entry for inbound international flights redirected from landing at Beijing airports. It has received more than a dozen foreign ambassadors (and their families) and representatives of international organizations in China. Local requirements on epidemic prevention and control were communicated to them in detail. Their reasonable concerns and needs were accommodated, and priority and preferential treatment were provided in line with international practices during medical observation at the designated isolation sites. These services and measures have been well appreciated by foreign guests. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended Shanxi's practice to other provinces and cities as a good example. Recently, a special fund was approved in Shanxi to donate 478,000 masks to seven friendship provinces and states (eg. Ulyanovsk in Russia and Canelones in Uruguay), 12 friendly partner governments (eg. Sao Paulo in Brazil, and Bangkok in Thailand), and seven overseas Chinese societies (eg. Shanxi communities in Toronto, Canada, and the Malaysia-China association in Sabah, Malaysia). Shanxi will continue to make its due contribution in the process of building a global community of health by firmly implementing the decisions and arrangements of the central government, actively strengthening international cooperation and further pushing forward exchanges in various fields. The author is director-general of the Foreign Affairs Commission Office, Shanxi Provincial Committee of the CPC, and director-general and Party secretary of the Foreign Affairs Office, Shanxi Provincial People's Government. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. The French government sent police reinforcements and a top official to the Dijon region Tuesday to quell four nights of unusually violent clashes between rival groups that have left several injured and cars burned and rattled the community. The exact reasons for the unrest are under investigation, but local officials say it appears linked to the drug trade and tensions between members of Frances Chechen community and other groups. Similar clashes erupted in the Mediterranean city of Nice in recent days, which the mayor attributed to tensions over drug territory between local Chechen residents and their rivals. Four people were reported injured there. The unrest in Dijons Gresilles neighborhood began last week after a 16-year-old from Frances Chechen community was attacked by local residents, according to the regional prosecutor. Members of the Chechen community called for revenge on social networks, and a group of 50 descended on the area Friday, according to a local police official. A pizzeria manager was seriously wounded by gunfire, and the next day some 200 people turned out, the official said. After tensions continued through the weekend, the interior minister ordered police reinforcements to the area and announced Monday that the government would take over management of the situation. Images from BFM television showed two cars and several garbage cans on fire Monday, black smoke rising over a leafy neighborhood of low-rise apartment buildings. Young people wearing hoods and masks carried metal bars or bats as they roamed the area, and a makeshift gasoline bomb in a plastic bottle lay on the pavement. A police helicopter circled overhead, and a dozen police vans lined a nearby street as firefighters sought to douse the scattered blazes. People looking out from nearby balconies covered their mouths from the smoke. The local administration says at least 10 people have been injured so far. As of Monday, no one had been arrested. Unidentified local residents told BFM they felt abandoned by police over the weekend. The Chechen community came to make people respect its own laws, Mayor Francois Rebsamen said. There werent enough police to take on such a large, well-armed group, he said. After the government sent reinforcements, Nunez visited the area to show support for the population and insisted that no one should carry out justice themselves. At a time when we ... talk of violent police, racist police, the (officers) proved they are the guarantors of our republican order, he said. He said the national reinforcements would remain in the area as much time as necessary. Graffiti on a nearby shopfront read Long Live Putin, in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military fought Chechen militants in two wars in the 1990s and early 2000s. France offered asylum to many Chechens at the time, and there are now Chechen communities scattered around France. The unrest comes amid tensions between French police and the government. Amid protests around France over racial injustice and police brutality, the government said last week it would ban police from using chokeholds to subdue people. But the government backed down Monday after police themselves protested. France is experimenting with expanding the use of stun guns as a potential alternative. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ZUG, Switzerland, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- EDGE, the leading global certification standard for gender equality in organizations, today announced the expansion of its work in the United States and the appointment of Patricia Milligan as CEO of EDGE Americas. Under the stewardship of Milligan, a renowned business leader and visionary in the advancement of gender equality, EDGE Americas will broaden its engagement with organizations across the United States and Americas region to foster equal career opportunities and inclusive policies for women and men in the workplace. "There has never been a more important time to expand EDGE's transformational approach and proven methodology, to help more organizations achieve gender equality at work," said Aniela Unguresan, Co-founder, EDGE Certified Foundation. "As an innovator and leader in driving organizational change, Pat Milligan brings deep experience, practical know-how, and unwavering passion to help EDGE make gender equality a reality in the workplace for more women and men globally." "I believe deeply that companies must address both gender and racial inequalities head on, if they want to emerge from this crisis stronger, more agile and resilient than before," said Patricia Milligan, CEO, EDGE Americas. "The organizational benefits of gender equal, diverse and inclusive policies are clear, and the demand by investors, job seekers, and consumers continues to grow. I'm thrilled to lead EDGE Americas to help strengthen organizations and drive business growth and progress by advancing workplace equality, diversity and inclusivity." Launched more than a decade ago at the World Economic Forum, EDGE Certification accelerates progress toward gender equality for organizations. EDGE utilizes a world-class methodology to deliver a holistic roadmap for organizations that is proven to enhance performance, improve workplace culture and attract, retain, develop, and motivate talent. EDGE also meets organizations where they are, with a tailored and scalable approach to build on each organization's baseline. EDGE Certification has a diverse customer base consisting of 200 large organizations in 37 countries across five continents, representing 24 different industries. These include global industry leaders such as IKEA, Capgemini, L'Oreal, Accenture SAP and Pfizer, alongside leading financial institutions and multilateral development agencies such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, central banks such as the European Central Bank and UN agencies such as UNICEF. "Being EDGE certified had a strategic value for us at IKEA Switzerland," said Simona Scarpaleggia, Global Head of "The Future of our Work," INGKA Group at IKEA, co-chair UN High Level Panel for Women's Economic Empowerment. "We not only had a measure and a benchmark of what we had achieved in terms of gender equity, but we also got essential elements to draw our roadmap for the years to come. Today gender equity is both embedded in the company strategy and a living reality." EDGE Certification is a tiered system with three levels of certification ASSESS, MOVE and LEAD to enable advancement and recognition of organizations in different stages of their journey towards a gender equal workplace. EDGE engages with organizations to assess and measure four key areas: 1) gender balance at all levels; 2) pay equity; 3) the effectiveness of policies and practices to ensure equitable career flows for men and women; and 4) an inclusive culture. Milligan had multiple leadership roles at Mercer Consulting over her 15-year tenure, and was most recently the Global Leader of Mercer's Multinational Client Group and the architect of Mercer's When Women Thrive program. She also served as President of the North America Region, President of Mercer's Global Talent business, and Chief Marketing and Sales Officer. Before joining Mercer, Milligan led Mellon HR Services and held various leadership roles at Towers Perrin. Throughout her career, she has pioneered and delivered innovative work in the areas of people strategy, talent management and workforce engagement. Her work and thought leadership focuses on leading through disruption and workplace gender equity. Milligan is an advisor to the World Economic Forum and has been recognized by Crain's New York Business in the publication's annual list of Notable Women in Accounting and Consulting (2018) and by Consulting Magazine as one of the nation's top 25 consultants (2012), and named among Women Worth Watching (2010) by Diversity Journal. About EDGE EDGE is the leading global assessment methodology and business certification standard for gender equality. Launched at the World Economic Forum in 2011, EDGE has been designed to help companies not only create an optimal workplace for women and men, but also benefit from it. EDGE stands for Economic Dividends for Gender Equality and is distinguished by its rigor and focus on business impact. For more information, visit: https://edge-cert.org. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1190985/EDGE_Logo.jpg SOURCE EDGE Strategy Related Links https://edge-cert.org Amid the raging debate over the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who is alleged to have been depressed before his apparent suicide on Jube 14, on Tuesday issued notice to the Centre and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) on a PIL seeking direction to all insurance companies to extend medical insurance for treatment of A bench comprising Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman, Navin Sinha and B.R. Gavai issued the notice and sought replies from the Centre and The PIL filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal argues that despite Section 21 of Mental Health Care Act 2017 specifically stating it, followed by an order in August 2018, none of the insurance companies are complying with it. The petitoner has urged the apex court to direct the Centre, to issue direction to all insurance companies to extend medical insurance for treatment of The PIL relied upon the definition of under the law. The petiton contended that despite Sec 21 (4) of Mental Health Act stating it, followed by August 2018 IRDA order, the insurance companies are not complying, and there is no provision yet to extend medical insurance for treatment of mental illness. With the assistance of a large number of local tribal members fighting alongside the Egyptian army, Egyptian authorities have expanded their coordination with the tribes when confronting armed organizations in the Sinai Peninsula. An agreement was reached in May among tribal elders and sovereign security agencies in which the elders would secure the return of tribal members who were involved with Wilayat Sinai, the Islamic States (IS) branch in Sinai, who would then be pardoned upon interrogation. The Sinai Tribal Union, a group of tribesmen cooperating with Egyptian authorities on security operations in the northern Sinai Peninsula, announced June 7 that one of its members had been brutally murdered by Wilayat Sinai in southern Rafah two months after he was kidnapped. The union had revealed in late May the killing of two civilians from the Tarabin tribe during security operations in Sinai [as they fought] members of Wilayat Sinai. Adel al-Munaii, of the Sawarka tribe, told Al-Monitor over the phone that after Eid al-Fitr, tribal youths began assisting security services; this led to the escalation of IS attacks on residents of some villages known to cooperate with the army. Munaii said the military campaign was led by tracking experts from the Sinai Tribal Union. He stressed that the goal of this campaign, whose operations are ongoing, is to besiege the organization's members from the south and the north. A local resident of Sheikh Zuweid told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that participants in this operation are from the Tarabin, Sawarka and Rumailat tribes, in addition to members of several separate families in Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah. The resident said the businessmen who founded the Sinai Tribal Union are funding the campaign and have provided tribes with weapons, vehicles and other necessary support. Asked about the latest developments in Sinai, Munaii said armed forces operations have achieved a qualitative shift in controlling territory, limiting the movement of foreign elements into Sinai and targeting senior IS leaders. He said this hindered the armed organization's ability to carry out major operations and forced them to resort to sniper attacks while kidnapping citizens or detonating explosive devices. According to a tribal source who spoke to the Egyptian online newspaper Mada Masr on June 7, the cooperation included the aforementioned agreement between the leaders of these tribes and sovereign security agencies, according to which the tribes would hand their sons involved in the fighting alongside Wilayat Sinai over to the security services in return for their sons being granted amnesty. The tribal source, who spoke to Mada Masr on condition of anonymity, said 23 members so far have surrendered to security services through mediation by tribal elders mainly from the Sawarka and Rumailat tribes; they were transferred to security headquarters outside Sinai for investigation. The security services had allowed them to see their families as a goodwill gesture, with promises of being released after several months, the source added. Ahmed Kamel al-Buhairi, a researcher at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor over the phone that cooperation with locals who are represented by tribes and clans is the most efficient way to undermine terrorism in border areas such as Sinai. He said tribal elders are an important source of information, as they know the rugged, mountainous terrain well. Buhairi, a specialist in terrorism affairs, said the qualitative shift in the relationship between tribes and the state of Egypt unfolded following the terrorist attack on Al-Rawda Mosque, as the state swiftly developed a plan to care for the local environment, provided a large number of job opportunities in the public sector to citizens and paid substantial compensation to those affected by the operations of the armed forces. In November 2017, Wilayat Sinai carried out an armed attack in the village of Rawda in the northern Sinai Peninsula when its members stormed the village mosque during the Friday prayers and opened fire on worshippers, killing 311 and wounding 120 others. Buhairi said the reason the relationship was tense between the tribes and the state is that the measures taken by the state to establish security have hindered some commercial activities such as smuggling. Also, the residential areas in Sinai have turned into a stage for military operations, and this has affected their herding and cultivation activities, among other economic activities. Add to this that there is a history of a tense relationship between the two sides given the stereotyping promoted in the official media about the inhabitants of the Sinai over the past decades. Asked about reports of the agreement between tribes and the Egyptian army to secure the return of tribal members affiliated with IS, Buhairi said the experience of reviews conducted by Islamic groups to revise their doctrines was one of the most successful methods in combating terrorism during the 1990s. He said the state has the right to pardon a person based on a comprehensive assessment conducted by the competent authorities regarding their willingness to cooperate with the state and provide information. Also, he added, this depends on whether such members participated in previous operations. About 20 years ago, Egypts imprisoned Gamaa Islamiyas leaders issued a series of doctrinal reviews in which they gave up their old ideas and presented new visions, which eventually resulted in the gradual release of some of them. File Image Ramakrishna Upadhya Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has received high praise across India for his handling of the COVID-19 crisis, but is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership pushing him to political irrelevance? He is getting the occasional pat on the back from the Delhi leadership, but it is also keeping him on tenterhooks. Karnataka has managed to keep both the positive cases and pandemic deaths remarkably low thanks to rigorous screening, testing, contact tracing and quarantining of suspected patients. Bengaluru, with 12 million population, has the least number of positive cases and deaths compared to the other metropolitan cities in India. However, Yediyurappa is not being rewarded in any way and the BJPs political thinking seems to be on a different track. Yet to complete one year in office in his fourth term as Chief Minister, he is struggling to establish authority. When candidates were being decided for the four Rajya Sabha seats that were vacant, if Yediyurappa expected some help from the party high command to assuage some of the disgruntled elements in the party, he was in for a rude shock. The Yediyurappa-led state unit recommended three names: Prabhakar Kore, an influential educationist from north Karnataka; Prakash Shetty, an industrialist, and; Ramesh Katti, whose nomination was vital for Yediyurappa to buy peace with the Katti brothers. Ramesh Kattis elder brother Umesh Katti, an eight-time MLA and former minister, has been breathing fire ever since he was kept out of the Cabinet. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The BJP central leadership, however, ignored Yediyurappas the list and nominated two grass-root level workers, Ashok Gasti and Eranna Kadadi, both little known beyond their districts. On June 12, Congress veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda both who lost in the 2019 General Elections along with the two BJP nominees, were elected unopposed. It is not the first time the BJP central leadership has snubbed Yediyurappa, especially since he took over as Chief Minister in July. Yediyurappa was sworn-in in the middle of a crisis triggered by both floods and drought in many parts of the state, and he carried on single-handedly for 25 days as he was not given the go-ahead to expand his Cabinet immediately. When it was done, he had little say in its formation, and was foisted with three deputy chief ministers Govind Karjol, CN Ashwath Narayan and Laxman Savadi, without his asking. When it came to selecting the Speaker of the Assembly, Yediyurappa recommended KG Bopaiah, former Speaker, or Suresh Kumar but the BJP high command chose Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri. Yediyurappa suggested the name of Aravind Limbavali to replace him as state president, but Nalin Kumar Kateel, a lightweight MP from Dakshina Kannada, was selected. Yediyurappa had promised Cabinet berths to all the defectors in recognition of their help to the BJP to come back to power, but the party agreed to the inclusion of only 10, and rejected the names of BJP veterans Umesh Katti, CP Yogeshwara and Limbavali, who were on Yediyurappas list. There are still six vacancies in Yediyurappas Cabinet, but the BJP central leadership has shown no urgency to fill it. Yediyurappa is keen to accommodate AH Vishwanath and MTB Nagaraju, who lost the assembly bye-elections, into the legislative council and make them ministers. It has to be seen if the Chief Minister has his way. Party insiders believe that former RSS member and national general secretary of the BJP, BL Santosh, who is considered to be close to both Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda, is the man behind Yediyurappas troubles. It is said that he has a mandate to diminish Yediyurappas hold over the Karnataka BJP and find a successor to him. Yediyurappa is 77-years-old and the BJP is reportedly keen to superannuate him, and install an acceptable leader in his place well before the 2023 assembly polls. So far, neither of the three deputies appear capable of stepping into Yediyurappas shoes, nor has the Chief Minister given any indication that he might be ready to step aside. Observers say that having experienced Yediyurappas capability to wreck the party when he was removed as Chief Minister in 2010, the BJP leadership should be wary of pushing him too far. After all, he is the tallest BJP leader south of the Vindhyas. With a packed schedule of 12 hours a day during the outbreak, he has shown that he has the energy and willingness to work harder than people much younger to him. Many believe that instead of trying to shove him aside rudely, the best option for the BJP would be to co-opt Yediyurappa in the search for his successor and give him a chance to exit honourably. Trump admin. proposes changing asylum requirements to weed out frivolous claims Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Trump administration on Wednesday announced proposed policy changes that it says would increase the efficiency of the asylum system and make it easier for judges to toss out "frivolous claims to focus on authentic claims of persecution. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice introduced a 161-page draft rule that they plan to publish in the Federal Register next week, starting a 30-day public comment period. Some critics, however, contend that the proposed policies would change the definitions of terminology and could make it more difficult for some especially those facing gang violence and gender-based violence in Central America to qualify to seek asylum in the U.S. The new proposal seeks to expand and clarify what circumstances would require an immigration judge to find an asylum application to be knowingly frivolous. The proposal comes as the Trump administration has held the position that some migrants are taking advantage of the U.S. asylum system. Accordingly, the Departments propose to amend the definition of frivolous to ensure that manifestly unfounded or otherwise abusive claims are rooted out and to ensure that meritorious claims are adjudicated more efficiently so that deserving applicants receive benefits in a timely fashion, the rule reads. The draft states that frivolousness encompasses claims that are without substance or merit. The draft contends that since migrants receive notice of consequence of filing frivolous applications, an immigration judge would not need to provide an additional opportunity to an alien to account for issues of frivolousness with the claim before determining that the application is frivolous, as long as the required notice was provided. The draft states that the only procedural requirement for finding a frivolous asylum application is that the Attorney General determines that an alien has knowingly made a frivolous application for asylum and the alien has received the notice under paragraph (4)(A) [the consequence of filing frivolous applications]. [T]he alien shall be permanently ineligible for any benefits under this chapter, the draft explains. Immigration advocates who oppose the draft rule argue that it would make it more difficult for foreigners to seek asylum in the U.S. if they are fleeing from gender-based violence, gangs or other less severe forms of persecution. The International Refugee Assistance Project, a legal nonprofit that frequently speaks out against the Trump administrations refugee policies, listed several concerns it has with the proposal. In a statement, the group contends that the credible fear screening process will be modified to more easily and quickly deport people seeking protection from persecution and torture through heightened evidentiary burdens and streamlined proceedings. IRAP further argued that the proposal would allow judges to deny asylum without a hearing based on restrictive new policy definitions of the terms persecution, torture, nexus, particular social group, political opinion and internal relocation that are contrary to decades of existing statutes, case law, the Refugee Convention, and international obligations. Under federal law, foreigners are eligible to apply for asylum if they are able to prove that they have a well-founded fear of persecution in their home countries based on race, political opinion, religion, nationality or membership in a particular social group. The draft defines persecution as a threat to the life or freedom of, or the infliction of suffering or harm upon, those who differ in a way regarded as offensive. [P]ersecution requires an intent to target a belief, characteristic or group, a severe level of harm, and the infliction of a severe level of harm by the government of a country or by persons or an organization that the government is unable or unwilling to control, the draft defines. For purposes of evaluating the severity of the level of harm, persecution connotes an extreme level of harm and does not encompass all possible forms of mistreatment. It is thus well-established that not all treatment that the United States regards as unfair, offensive, unjust, or even unlawful or unconstitutional constitutes persecution under the INA [Immigration and Nationality Act], the draft adds. The proposal does not define persecution to include harm from criminal activity, military strife, repeated threats with no actions taken to carry out the threats, property damage, economic harm, brief detentions, intermittent harassment or government laws or policies that are infrequently enforced unless there is credible evidence that those laws or policies have been applied directly to the applicant. IRAP says if the new policy is enacted, U.S. immigration judges would be able to deny asylum cases if the person did not pay taxes, has been in the United States unlawfully for more than one year, or traveled through another country on the way to the United States. The proposed regulation fundamentally and restrictively alters the refugee definition for asylum seekers in immigration court and at the border in contravention of decades of established statutes, case law, and international obligations, IRAP Policy Director Sunil Varghese said in a statement. Few people, if any, will be able to receive the refugee protection they qualify for under this proposal, and the effects will be catastrophic. Galen Carey, vice president for government relations with the National Association of Evangelicals, said in a statement Friday, "we must not abandon" people who have suffered abuses elsewhere at a time in which "the world is closely watching our response to domestic human rights violations." "Decades of humanitarian and civil rights precedents are being ignored or overturned, and our proud tradition as a beacon of hope for those fleeing persecution is at grave risk," Carey said. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, said in a statement that the country's "lament" in the wake of the death of George Floyd and the loss of life due to COVID-19 is "compounded by policy changes that impact asylum seekers and unaccompanied immigrant children." "We ought not forget that our nations nobility is, in large part, measured by how we treat the most vulnerable," Salguero said. The new proposal comes as the Trump administration has tried to enact policies to limit the number of migrants entering the U.S. under fraudulent asylum claims. For example, the administration enacted a policy to ban migrants from applying for asylum in the U.S. if they did not first apply for asylum in other countries before reaching the southern border. That policy was struck down by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Federal law allows immigrants who crossed the border illegally to apply for asylum as a way to block their deportation. In recent years, asylum seekers have been told to go to ports of entry to seek asylum. Many asylum seekers who have gone to ports of entry at the U.S.-Mexico border have been denied entry into the U.S. until their case can be processed through a policy known as metering. Over 1 million people sought asylum in the U.S. last year, and these cases are decided by fewer than 500 immigration judges nationwide. The administration says this new policy, if enacted, would speed up the process, which typically takes two to- to-five-years. Monsoon has advanced into parts of north-western India on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) authorities. It has covered many parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP), western and eastern Madhya Pradesh (MP), they added. IMD scientists are also expecting monsoon to arrive in the national capital, Delhi, earlier than normal, but they will confirm depending on how favourable conditions are for its advancement in the next four to five days. It will be humid and hot with maximum temperature ranging from 40 to 43 degrees Celsius in most parts of north-western India, including Delhi, but there will be no heatwave condition. We are expecting the monsoon to pick up again from Friday due to the formation of a low-pressure system and advance towards western UP, it could even reach up to Noida around Friday or Saturday. But we cannot say if the onset of monsoon can be announced immediately, said Kuldeep Shrivastava, head, regional weather forecasting centre (RWFC). The normal date for the onset of monsoon over Delhi is June 27. The northern limit of monsoon (northernmost boundary up to which monsoon rains have advanced) is passing through Kandla, and Ahmedabad in Gujarat; Indore, Raisen, and Khajuraho in MP and Fatehpur, and Bahraich in UP. Monsoon has reached UP at least four to five days in advance, as compared to its normal track. Monsoon has advanced well so far with help from a low-pressure area, which developed over the Bay of Bengal last week. The low-pressure system had moved inland from the Odisha coast and helped it advance bringing a lot of rain. Another low-pressure system is likely to develop over the north of the Bay of Bengal on Friday. These low-pressure systems move west by north-westwards. If it does develop, it will strengthen the monsoon and help it advance further, said K Sathi Devi, head, national weather forecasting centre (NWFC). The low-pressure system, which had helped the monsoon flow advance all of next week, has weakened. There is unlikely to be any rain in the north-western parts of the country in the next three days, according to IMD. A cyclonic circulation is lying over eastern UP and a trough runs from north-western Rajasthan to the cyclonic circulation over eastern UP across southern Haryana and western UP. Under the influence of these two systems, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Konkan, Goa, and over central Maharashtra during the next two days. Rainfall intensity over eastern parts of the country is likely to increase and heavy to very rainfall is likely over the region, including sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, in the next two days. There will be widespread rain over Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram during the next five days, according to IMDs bulletin on Tuesday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: The Union Health ministry in a statement on Wednesday said that the testing capacity had increased with the number of testing labs rising to 924 across the country. 'The announcement came as India's coronavirus case count reached over 3.54 lakh today,' News18 reported. Auto refresh feeds At a press conference, state Health Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh said the latest casualty has been reported from Katihar district and the man had recently returned from Delhi. The COVID-19 toll in Bihar reached 39 after a 55-year-old man succumbed to the viral infection, as the state's total number of confirmed cases climbed to 6,810 after 148 more people tested positive, an official said on Tuesday. The Health authorities also discharged 261 patients in the past 24 hours, taking the total number recoveries in Telangana to 3,027. Telangana reported 213 new COVID-19 infections and four fatalities, taking the total number of cases in the state to 5,406 and toll to 191 respectively, according to the health bulletin on Tuesday. Beijing has ordered all schools to close and imposed restrictions on visits to all residential compounds in an escalation of measures to halt a fresh outbreak. The Chinese capital city reported 31 local cases for Tuesday. The city reported 1,859 new cases, taking the total to 44,688; Whereas, 520 patients recovered, taking the total to 16,500. There are now 242 containment zones in the city, the bulletin added. The COVID-19 toll in the National Capital was revised from 1,400 to 1,837 on Tuesday, according to a heath bulletin released by the Delhi government. The current pandemic mortality tally for the United States from Johns Hopkins University reached 116,526 on Tuesday. While, the number of Americans who died in World War I is 116,516. The COVID-19 toll in the United States exceeded the number of American service members who died in World War I on Tuesday. Sixteen new deaths were reported, taking COVID-19 toll in Pune to 527, according to health officials. With 442 more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Pune, the total number of confirmed cases in the Maharashtra district climbed to 12,685 on Wednesday The results of the UK-based 'recovery' trial published on Tuesday described the drug as highly-effective on reducing mortality rate, especially on patients requiring the ventilator support to treat severe respiratory complications. In a major breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19, low-cost, anti-inflammatory steroid, Dexamethasone, has emerged as the possible life-saving drug to help cure the coronavirus patients. On Tuesday, Yediyurappa made it clear that COVID-19 lockdown measures were not required in the state anymore. "The lockdown is not required for Karnataka, we will request for more relaxations," he said in response to a question about video conferencing with the prime minister. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is likely to request easing of restrictions in the state during his video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi while discussing the pandemic on Wednesday. The Asian Infra Investment Bank (AIIB) approved loan worth $750 million to India to fight in its against COVID-19 pandemic, reported News18. Students from the containment zone, however, will not have to appear for the SSLC exams, reported Indian Express. The state education minister S Suresh Kumar had said earlier that students from these areas will be treated as fresh candidates and will be allowed to attend the exams later. The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has released the admit card for the SSLC exams scheduled to be held from 25 June onwards. Students can download their Karnataka SSLC admit card from the official website, kseeb.kar.nic.in . The city reported 31 new cases on Wednesday while officials urged residents not to leave Beijing, with fears growing about a second wave of infections in China, which had largely brought its outbreak under control. Beijing's airports cancelled more than 1,200 flights and schools in the Chinese capital were closed again on Wednesday as authorities rushed to contain a new coronavirus outbreak linked to a wholesale food market. With 2,003 fatalities in the past 24 hours, India's COVID-19 toll jumped to 11,903 on Wednesday, according to the latest data released by the health ministry. The total number of confirmed cases crossed 3.54 lakh after 10,974 more people tested positive. India's overall recoveries exceeded the total active coronavirus cases on Wednesday after 1,86,935 patients were cured of the infectious disease. Of the total 3,54,065 confirmed cases, there are 1,55,227 active cases, according to the health ministry. The COVID-19 toll in India inched towards 12,000 on Wednesday after 2,003 patients lost their lives to the viral infection in the past 24 hours. This takes the mortality rate of the nation to 3.36 percent. Two new cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in Nagaland, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 181. The figure includes 78 active cases and 103 recoveries, said state health minister S Pangnyu Phom. The minister said this decision was taken as the number of cases have spiked in the past two weeks. "This will reduce the burden on hospitals and ensure that beds are available for those who need it," he said. Asymptomatic coronavirus-positive patients will no longer be admitted to designated hospitals for treatment in Karnataka. The state government will set up COVID Care Centres to monitor and treat asymptomatic infected persons, said Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar on Tuesday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah will also attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's COVID-19 review meeting with Chief Ministers of 15 states and Union Territories via video conferencing on Wednesday. The Prime Minister has been holding consultations with the chief ministers from Tuesday as the country gradually emerges out of lockdown in the backdrop of the rising number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the country. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee may not attend the virtual meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the coronavirus pandemic with the chief ministers on Wednesday after the state was not allowed a spot as a speaker, reports said. With one more person's death, the COVID-19 toll climbed to 309, said the state health department. After 122 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Rajasthan till 10.30 am on Wednesday, the total number of confirmed cases in the state climbed to 13,338. With the recovery of at least 120 COVID-19 patients on Tuesday, the number has risen to 2,974. 175 more COVID-19 cases reported in Odisha in the past 24 hours take the state's total to 4,338. The figure includes 1,350 active cases, said the state government on Wednesday. The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Centre to issue direction to all states under Section of Disaster Management Act for timely payment of salaries to doctors and healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients. Doctors and healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients should not be denied quarantine facilities, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday. The apex courrt was hearing a petition filed by Dr Arushi Jain for separate facilities and timely salaries for COVID-19 frontline health workers, including doctors and other related staff. Puducherry reported 30 new coronavirus cases for the first time in a single day, reported Times of India on Wednesday. This took the total COVID-19 infections in the Union Territory to 254. As for the safety measures, the CBS show will have an on-set coordinator who will oversee safety for the cast and crew, as well as several precautions. Makers of the long-running American television series The Bold and the Beautiful has decided to resume filming its current season from 17 June, in accordance with safety measures to prevent coronavirus spread. The drug is part of the world's largest trial looking into existing drugs and treatments to see if any of them are also effective against the coronavirus. The study reportedly found that dexamethasone, which is otherwise used to reduce inflammation in diseases like arthritis, also reduced death rates by around a third among the most severely-ill COVID-19 patients that were admitted to hospitals in the UK. An inexpensive and widely-available steroid drug, dexamethasone, has reportedly become the first drug that has saved the lives of patients seriously ill with COVID-19. Scientists in the United Kingdom are touting the drug, which is effective at low doses, as a "major breakthrough" in the coronavirus pandemic. Supreme Court on Wednesday started hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one, Gajendra Sharma, questioning the charging of interest on accrued interest on loans during the period of moratorium announced by the Reserve Bank of India. A special train that was to carry 1,600 migrant workers to Leh from Dumka in Jharkhand for construction work of the Border Roads Organisation gets cancelled, following tensions between India and China in the region, PTI reports. Supreme Court defers consideration of waiver of interest on interest for EMIs during the six month moratorium on loan repayment till August first week, reports Bar & Bench. Banks have said that by that time they will know the burden of moratorium by then. There will be no foreign training of bureaucrats during the ongoing financial year considering the safety and austerity measures being taken by the government to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the Personnel Ministry announces, reports PTI. During a hearing on a plea for waiver of interest during the loan moratorium period on Tuesday, the Centre told the Supreme Court that waiving it off completely wont be easy for banks as even they have to pay interest to depositors. "Don't shoot the messenger; don't threaten doctors and health workers; support them," the apex court told the state government. The Supreme Court pulled up the Delhi government on Wednesday for threatening and suspension of doctors, nurses and health worker for bringing to public knowledge the state of healthcare in Delhi hospitals. The apex court asked if the government indeed suspended a healthcare worker. "Very unfortunate to know this has happened," the Supreme Court said and asked the government to take back all coercive steps taken against doctors and health workers. The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the Delhi government over FIRs, suspension of doctors, medical staff for making a video on the poor health facilities at LNJP hospital The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought response from the Centre on increasing ambulance services to cater to the surging COVID-19 positive cases across the country. Of the total 568 , there are 185 active cases in the state. Eight more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh taking the total confirmed cases to 568 on Wednesday. The COVID-19 toll in the state stood at six. A total of 960 isolation coaches have been deployed so far - 503 in Delhi, 372 in Uttar Pradesh, 60 in Telangana, 20 in Andhra Pradesh and five in Madhya Pradesh, the officials said. The Indian Railways has deployed 33 coaches in Delhi Cantonment, 30 at Adarsh Nagar, 21 at Safdarjung station, 13 each at Tughlaqabad and Shahdara, and 26 at Patel Nagar. Andhra Pradesh registered 351 new COVID-19 infections for the first time in single day, taking the state's total confirmed cases to 7,071 on Wednesday, Times of India reported. Two more deaths in Andhra Pradesh take COVID-19 fatalities in the state to 90 on Wednesday, the Times of India report further added. The two casualties were reported in Kurnool and Guntur districts. On Tuesday, he was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital after complaining of high fever and difficulty in breathing. Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain has been admitted in hospital and tested again for COVID-19, said an official. His test report is expected later in the day. In an order issued on Wednesday, Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar has asked all district and taluk administrations in the state to observe "Mask Day" by organising a march, with the participation of public representatives, dignitaries and medical staff. The Karnataka government has decided to observe 18 June as "Mask Day" to spread awareness about the use of masks, sanitisers, washing hands with soap, and maintaining social distancing among other things aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19. The Court was hearing a petition by a parent Amit Bathla seeking scrapping of exams in the present situation.CBSE has planned to conduct the examinations for remaining papers between 1-15 July. A three-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar asked CBSE to take instructions and inform by 23 June (Tuesday). The Supreme Court on Wednesday told the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider scraping of remaining papers of board exams and to allot marks on the basis of internal assessment. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal held a meeting of Expert Panel with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Principal Secretary (Health) and members of the Advisory Committee on COVID-19 management in Delhi Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday inaugurated a 10-storey COVID-19 hospital set up at Balkum-Saket in Thane. The facility has 1024 beds, including 500 beds with oxygen support, 76 ICU beds and 10 with dialysis units and 10 for trauma, said the chief minister's office. Aam Aadmi Party leaders Atishi and Akshay Marathe have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, News18 reported on Wednesday. Both of the leaders are in home isolation currently. Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking directions to concerned authorities on restriction to evict tenants on grounds of non-payment of rents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the total, there are 1230 recoveries and 25 deaths, said the officials. Uttarakhand registered 1,985 COVID-19 infections on Wednesday after 43 more individuals tested positive for the novel coronavirus, said the state health department. The Tamil Nadu health department said that for the first time, the sample testing for COVID-19 has crossed 25,000 and it stands at 25,463 samples for the last 24 hour period. "The 55-year-old minister was brought to the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) on Tuesday after reporting high-grade fever. He will continue to recieve treatment from the same hospital and symptoms of fever and low oxygen levels is reported to be the same," the report said. Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday tested positive for coronavirus and is having the symptoms of fever and low oxygen levels, News18 reported. The BMC said that 17 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Dharavi area of Mumbai on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 2,106. A total of 77 people have succumbed to the disease in the area so far. Both the matters came up for hearing through video-conferencing before an apex court bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah. Separately, the apex court also stayed the direction passed on June 8 by the high court which had said that if its directives were not implemented by the authorities then it would have no other option but to issue contempt notice for "intentional and willful disobedience" of its orders. The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the May 26 direction of the Telangana High Court which had asked the state authorities to conduct COVID-19 test on dead bodies before they are released from the hospitals. "Beijing cancelled 1,255 domestic flights, tested 3.56 lakh residents, suspended sports events and closed certain gyms as China's capital city reported 31 new coronavirus cases, pushing the tally to 137," News18 reported. A total of 2,414 new coronavirus cases were reported in Delhi on Wednesday, taking the total to 47,102. The toll reached 1,904 after 67 deaths were confirmed. The tally includes 27,741 active cases. "It has been observed that most of the staff working in the Department of Health & Family Welfare are not reporting for duties and are absenting themselves unauthorisedly without any reason or intimation. According to an official order, home-quarantine will be considered only for those officials who furnish medical report of having tested positive for COVID-19. The Delhi Health Department Wednesday said most of its staff are not reporting for duty "unauthorisedly", and threatened salary freeze and disciplinary action if they don't turn up by Thursday. 269 new cases of coronavirus, one death and 151 patients cured were reported in Telangana on Wednesday. The total number of cases in the state rose to 5675, including 192 deaths and 3071 discharged. European nations, which embarked on a wide-scale reopening this week, looked on with trepidation as the Americas struggled to contain the first wave of the pandemic and Asian nations like China and South Korea reported new outbreaks. New infections spiked in India, Iran and U.S. states including Florida, Texas and Arizona as authorities struggled to balance restarting economic activity without accelerating the pandemic. China raised its emergency warning to its second-highest level and canceled more than 60% of the flights to Beijing on Wednesday amid a new coronavirus outbreak in the capital. It was a sharp pullback for the nation that declared victory over COVID-19 in March and a message to the rest of the world about how tenacious the virus really is. Since the virus emerged in China late last year and spread worldwide, there have been more than 8.1 million confirmed cases and at least 443,000 deaths, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. Experts say the true toll is much higher, due to the many who died without being tested and other factors. The partys Global Times said 1,255 flights to and from the capitals two major airports were scrapped by Wednesday morning, about two-thirds of those scheduled. After a push that began 14 June, the city expects to have tested 7,00,000 people by the end of the day, said Zhang Qiang, a Beijing party official. About half of them were workers from the citys food markets, nearby residents and close contacts. The Karnataka government on Wednesday said, "In view of recent increase of COVID-19 cases and to ensure effective surveillance, it is hereby directed that random testing using RT-PCR pooled sample technique to be done for slum dwellers, vendors/bill collectors, delivery boys of food chains and couriers." "Rs 5,000 will be provided to COVID positive with mild symptoms (Hospitalization) and Rupees 25,000 will be provided to COVID positive with severe symptoms (Hospitalization)," the statement added. "The expenditure on account of Welfare Relief and Loan shall be booked to Jammu and Kashmir Police Pariwar Fund and Central Police Welfare Fund respectively," said Police Media Centre, PHQ, Jammu. "All DDOs to ensure financial assistance for #COVID19 positive Police personnel in shape of Welfare Relief depending on virus load; also Welfare Loan (refundable) of Rs 1 lakh can be availed by COVID +ve on willingness to be provided by PHQ on DDO's recommendation," said PHQ, Jammu. Reports said that 44 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district on Wednesday, taking the district's tally to 4,134. The toll rose to 182 with 4 more deaths. Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The Union Health ministry in a statement on Wednesday said that the testing capacity had increased with the number of testing labs rising to 924 across the country. "The announcement came as India's coronavirus case count reached over 3.54 lakh today," News18 reported. The Maharashtra government on Wednesday reportedly asked the Centre for coronavirus treatment drugs remdesivir and tocilizumab "in large quantity and at reasonable rate", News18 reported. State health minister Rajesh Tope was quoted by the report as saying "that the state also wants the Centre to provide additional 500 ventilators for the treatment of coronavirus patients". Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the second round of meetings with chief ministers, on Wednesday reiterated that the number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 till now is more than the number of active cases in the country. He added, "Also, at present, ventilator and ICU care are needed for very few patients across the country. We have been able to fight #COVID19 and control its spread because of the timely measures taken by us." In the meeting with chief ministers on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that "with increase in number of corona patients,expansion of health infrastructure should be our utmost priority". "This will happen when each corona patient will get proper treatment, for this we'll have to emphasize on testing so that we can test,trace and isolate infected person," he added. "Just 3 months back, there was shortage of PPE kitsand diagnostic kits across the world. In India too, we had a very limited stock because we were completely dependent on imports. But today, more than 1 crore PPE kits and equal number of N95 masks have reached the states," he said. Aam Aadmi Party leaders Atishi and Akshay Marathe have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, News18 reported on Wednesday. Both of the leaders are in home isolation currently. The Supreme Court on Wednesday told the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider scraping of remaining papers of board exams and to allot marks on the basis of internal assessment. A three-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar asked CBSE to take instructions and inform by 23 June (Tuesday). The Court was hearing a petition by a parent Amit Bathla seeking scrapping of exams in the present situation.CBSE has planned to conduct the examinations for remaining papers between 1-15 July. Andhra Pradesh registered 351 new COVID-19 infections for the first time in single day, taking the state's total confirmed cases to 7,071 on Wednesday, Times of India reported. Two more deaths in Andhra Pradesh take COVID-19 fatalities in the state to 90 on Wednesday, the Times of India report further added. The two casualties were reported in Kurnool and Guntur districts. The Supreme Court pulled up the Delhi government on Wednesday for threatening and suspension of doctors, nurses and health worker for bringing to public knowledge the state of healthcare in Delhi hospitals. "Don't shoot the messenger; don't threaten doctors and health workers; support them," the apex court told the state government. During a hearing on a plea for waiver of interest during the loan moratorium period on Tuesday, the Centre told the Supreme Court that waiving it off completely wont be easy for banks as even they have to pay interest to depositors. The court defers consideration of waiver of interest on interest for EMIs during the six-month moratorium on loan repayment till August first week, reports Bar & Bench. Doctors and healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients should not be denied quarantine facilities, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday. The apex courrt was hearing a petition filed by Dr Arushi Jain for separate facilities and timely salaries for COVID-19 frontline health workers, including doctors and other related staff. The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Centre to issue direction to all states under Section of Disaster Management Act for timely payment of salaries to doctors and healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee may not attend the virtual meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the coronavirus pandemic with the chief ministers on Wednesday after the state was not allowed a spot as a speaker, reports said. The Prime Minister has been holding consultations with the chief ministers from Tuesday as the country gradually emerges out of lockdown in the backdrop of the rising number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the country. The COVID-19 toll in India inched towards 12,000 on Wednesday after 2,003 patients lost their lives to the viral infection in the past 24 hours. This takes the mortality rate of the nation to 3.36 percent. India's overall recoveries exceeded the total active coronavirus cases on Wednesday after 1,86,935 patients were cured of the infectious disease. Of the total 3,54,065 confirmed cases, there are 1,55,227 active cases, according to the health ministry. With 2,003 fatalities in the past 24 hours, India's COVID-19 toll jumped to 11,903 on Wednesday, according to the latest data released by the health ministry. The total number of confirmed cases crossed 3.54 lakh after 10,974 more people tested positive. In a major breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19, low-cost, anti-inflammatory steroid, Dexamethasone, has emerged as the possible life-saving drug to help cure the coronavirus patients. The results of the UK-based 'recovery' trial published on Tuesday described the drug as highly-effective on reducing mortality rate, especially on patients requiring the ventilator support to treat severe respiratory complications. The COVID-19 toll in the National Capital was revised from 1,400 to 1,837 on Tuesday, according to a heath bulletin released by the Delhi government. The city reported 1,859 new cases, taking the total to 44,688; Whereas, 520 patients recovered, taking the total to 16,500. There are now 242 containment zones in the city, the bulletin added. India registered 10,667 new COVID-19 infections, pushing the nationwide tally to 3,43,091 on Tuesday, while the toll rose to 9,900 with 380 new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting with the chief ministers and Lt Governors of 21 states and Union Territories (UTs). Laying stress on both lives and livelihoods, the prime minister said that the economy has begun to show green shoots as the country emerges from the coronavirus lockdown but urged people not to lower their guard against the lethal virus. The meeting came as the country completed two weeks on the Unlock plan under which restrictions have been eased in most areas, except in containment zones. Maharashtra accounts for highest deaths, infections The number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose 3,43,091 as the country registered over 10,000 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday while the toll rose to 9,900 with 380 new fatalities, according to the Union Health ministry data updated at 8 am. However, a PTI tally at 9.40 pm based on reports from states and UTs said that the toll from the novel coronavirus reached 10,057 on Tuesday. India is currently in the eighth position in the global COVID-19 toll while it's the fourth-worst hit globally in terms of confirmed cases. The number of active cases stands at 1,53,178, while 1,80,012 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, as of Tuesday morning. "Thus, around 52.46 percent patients have recovered so far," an official said. Of the 380 new deaths reported by the ministry on Tuesday, Maharashtra accounted for the highest 178 fatalities followed by Delhi at 73, Tamil Nadu at 44, Gujarat 28, Haryana 12, West Bengal 10, Rajasthan 9 and Madhya Pradesh 6. Of the total 9,900 deaths, Maharashtra has reported the highest with 4,128 fatalities followed by Gujarat with 1,505 deaths, Delhi with 1,400, West Bengal with 485, Tamil Nadu with 479, Madhya Pradesh with 465, Uttar Pradesh with 399, Rajasthan with 301 and Telangana with 187 deaths. Maharashtra has also reported maximum number of cases at 1,10,744 followed by Tamil Nadu at 46,504, Delhi at 42,829, Gujarat at 24,055, Uttar Pradesh at 13,615, Rajasthan at 12,981 and West Bengal at 11,494, according to the health ministry's data updated in the morning. The figures, however are being reconciled with the ICMR's, the ministry said, adding that 7,684 cases are being reassigned to states. Economy showing green shoots, says prime minister In his video interaction with chief ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that while on the one hand health infrastructure should be boosted with emphasis on testing and tracing, on the other hand, economic activity also needed to be increased. Noting that it is important to review the experiences of "Unlock 1" as the graded exit from the lockdown completes two weeks, he said "timing" is very important to deal with any crisis and decisions taken at the right time have helped a lot in controlling the coronavirus infection in the country. 'Unlock 1' was set in motion on 1 June. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with Chief Ministers of states & Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, via video conference. pic.twitter.com/erWrV7k4VS ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 "Today, the recovery rate in India is above 50 percent... Death of anyone from coronavirus is tragic. For us, the death of even one Indian is discomforting. But it is also true that today India is among the countries in the world with the lowest deaths due to coronavirus," Modi said. "We have worked day and night to save the lives of every Indian," he told the chief ministers and Lt Governors during his sixth interaction with them since the outbreak of COVID-19. Modi also said that the economy is showing "green shoots" as the country emerges from the coronavirus lockdown and asserted that the fight against the pandemic is a fine example of cooperative federalism where the Centre and the states are working together. "Rail-road, air-sea, all routes have been opened. But despite this, despite our country being so populous, coronavirus infection in India has not shown the same devastating effect that it has shown in other countries." However, the prime minister struck a note of caution saying the slightest carelessness, laxity, lack of discipline will weaken all the fight against coronavirus. He asked the participants to continuously keep driving home the fact that danger of the virus is not over yet, and the need to remain vigilant while opening up the economy. "We always have to keep in mind that the more we can stop coronavirus, the more it will stop growing, the more our economy will open, our offices will open, markets will open, transport will open, and so will new employment opportunities," he said. On Wednesday, the prime minister is scheduled to interact with chief ministers of 15 states, including Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and the LG of Jammu and Kashmir, which are among the worst-hit states. Testing capacity being continuously ramped up, claims health ministry In the meantime, the Union health ministry said the capacity for testing COVID-19 is being continuously ramped up and now three lakh samples can be tested each day, as scientists and medical experts pushed for ramping up tests to also cover all asymptomatic cases in the identified red zones and hotspots across the country. A network of 907 labs including 659 labs in the government sector and 248 in the private sector have been established as on date, the ministry said, reiterating that RT-PCR is the gold standard frontline test for diagnosis of COVID-19. RT-PCR is a throat/nasal swab test. A total of 59,21,069 samples have been tested for COVID-19 so far with 1,54,935 samples analysed in the last 24 hours, it said. Besides, in order to enhance the testing capacity in Delhi, each of the 11 districts shall now have assigned labs for exclusively testing the samples from the respective districts, the ministry said in a statement. The samples from each district are being sent to these labs to ensure timely testing and getting the results without any delay. Currently, there are 42 labs in Delhi with daily testing capacity of about 17,000 samples. The ministry also said that as part of efforts to provide reasonable healthcare to COVID-19 patients, some states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh have reached an agreement with the private sector. Amid possibilities of a likely shortage of healthcare infrastructure, the ministry had asked states and UTs to proactively engage with private healthcare providers to facilitate enhanced bed availability and critical care health facilities and to ensure fair and transparent charges for services provided. "Some states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have already taken the initiative. They have negotiated and reached an agreement with the private sector on reasonable rates and arrangements to provide critical care for in-patient COVID-19 admissions," the ministry said in a separate statement. As part of US President Donald Trump's offer of assistance to New Delhi, the US handed over to India 100 ventilators, valued at about $1.2 million. US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster handed over the first shipment of 100 ventilators to Indian Red Cross Society Secretary General RK Jain at an event at the IRCS national headquarters in Delhi. Beijing on alert as new cluster emerges Meanwhile, World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that more than 1,00,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported worldwide each day over the past two weeks - mostly in the Americas and South Asia adding that countries that have controlled the contagion must stay alert to the possibility of resurgence, according to news agency The Associated Press. He also took note of a new cluster of cases in Beijing, which went more than 50 days without a new case of COVID-19, and said the origin of that new series of cases is under investigation. Meanwhile in China, Beijings city government raised its COVID-19 emergency response level to II from III in light of the fresh outbreak, where 100 cases have been detected in the past few days, Reuters reported quoting state media. With inputs from agencies MUNSTER, Ind. - A retired sheriffs deputy and psychiatric patient at a northwest Indiana hospital who were involved in a struggle were both killed when another security guard opened fired on the patient, authorities said Tuesday. Authorities initially said the patient, identified by the Lake County coroners office as Jamal Williams, 22, of Lansing, Illinois, disarmed and fatally shot Ryan Askew and was then killed by the second security guard. But they later said Williams never gained control of Askews gun, nor fired the weapon. The incident began when security was alerted that a psychiatric patient at Community Hospital in Munster was threatening staff, said Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter. When security arrived, Williams allegedly attacked a nurse. Askew tried to intervene but was overpowered by Williams, who was described by authorities as standing at 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing 300 pounds (136.08 kilograms). An athletic department spokesperson at Western Michigan said Williams had played football at WMU. Im told he was beating the nurse pretty badly, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez told The (Northwest Indiana) Times. Carter said Benny Freeman, another retired Lake County deputy working security at the hospital, opened fire after Askew begged Freeman to shoot as Williams was choking him to near unconsciousness. The gunfire caused the deaths of both men. Carter said Williams never gained control of Askews weapon or fired shots. Askew, 59, of Crown Point, died at Community Hospital, the coroners office said. Freeman is a former jail warden and Lake County SWAT team member, and previously served as the sheriffs departments sharpshooter and sniper. The sheriff said his department was in shock that one of their own retired officers was gone. Martinez said he said he knew both officers and called them great guys. The other officers name wasnt immediately released. As a young officer myself, I trained under these guys as a rookie. This is just shocking. Our whole department will be suffering from this loss, he said. Gov. Greg Abbott scolded Texans in their 20s for letting their guard down, saying they've refused to wear face masks or practice social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19. "What we're seeing there is that people of that age group, they're not following these appropriate best health and safety practices," he said in an interview Monday with Lubbock's KLBK-TV. "They're not wearing face masks, they're not sanitizing their hands, they're not maintaining the safe distancing practices. And as a result, they are contracting COVID-19 at a record pace in the state of Texas." CORONA RISING: Houston, Texas coronavirus cases continue to climb as economy reopens Abbott did not provide any evidence of an increase in infections among 20-somethings during his TV appearances Monday. However, Texas has seen a steady increase in new COVID-19 cases each day and a recent spike in statewide hospitalizations. Hours later, Austin officials rebuked the governor for not giving local officials the authority to enforce face masks or other social distancing measures. Former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, a key decision maker in the area's efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, called the governor's ability to grant face mask enforcement for local officials "low-hanging fruit." Health officials largely agree that wearing a face covering, in addition to social distancing, can limit the spread of the coronavirus. Abbott regularly urges Texans to wear a mask, even sharing a video from his office Monday that featured Dallas Cowboy Jaylon Smith on the importance of wearing a mask. But Eckhardt said local officials around the state have been unable to change the governor's stance on allowing local enforcement of face coverings. She said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff sent a letter to Abbott last week requesting the authority to enforce face masks, but he denied the request. "Judge Wolff did receive a response from the governor's office that the governor would not provide local authorities (the ability to) enforce face masking," Eckhardt said. "Although he, too, agreed that it was a good adaptation. So, that was disheartening." Local orders are superseded by state orders from the governor, which have allowed restaurants and other businesses to operate. Jail time or fines as punishment for violating any of Abbott's coronavirus-related orders can't be used either. Travis County moved to its Stage 4 guidelines over the weekend, after officials reported a rising number of cases and hospitalizations. Stage 4 recommends lower-risk individuals to avoid gatherings with more than 10 people. Higher-risk people should limit gatherings with more than two people. The guidelines also recommend low-risk people avoid any non-essential travel and limits the opening of workplaces to expanded essential businesses. NFL CASES: Texans, Cowboys players test positive for COVID-19 "The mayor and I, and (Judge Sam Biscoe), completely recognize that the governor of the state of Texas has taken away from us enforcement authority to put into place, adaptive measures that have proven to be effective in COVID-19," Eckhardt said in the Monday press conference. "The governor has also shown every intention of getting back to business as usual, irrespective of the facts that you've just heard from Dr. (Mark) Escott." The daily number of COVID-19 cases in Texas reached more than 2,000 new cases on Friday and Saturday, records for the state. That number dropped to roughly 1,200 Monday, in line with statewide trends that show lower numbers reported on Mondays. A spokesman for the Department of State Health Services told the Dallas Morning News that some local health departments have reported "recent cases/outbreaks in people in their 20s," but said it's too soon to have hard data. Texas COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to climb. Abbott is expected to address the increase in a news conference Tuesday. ATLANTA In the wake of the death of a black motorist by a white Atlanta police officer, the citys mayor announced on Monday a series of changes aimed at dramatically overhauling how the Police Department uses force. De-escalation techniques will now be required before an officer employs deadly force, said Keisha Lance Bottoms, the citys first-term mayor, and officers will be duty bound to intercede when they see other officers engaging in unreasonable applications of force. The citys 2,000-plus officers also will be ordered to use only the amount of objectively reasonable force to protect themselves and others so that they can make an arrest or bring an incident under control. It is clear we do not have another day, another minute, another hour, Ms. Bottoms, who is black, said of the executive orders, which came on the heels of the resignation over the weekend of the citys white police chief and the termination of the officer who shot and killed the 27-year-old motorist, Rayshard Brooks. Ms. Bottoms, like many other U.S. mayors, has struggled to seek a balance between law and order and compassion for the demonstrators that have flooded American streets since the death of George Floyd, an African-American man killed last month when a Minneapolis police officer restrained him with a knee to his neck for nearly nine minutes. This is the man charged with assaulting and seriously in- juring his parents in a knife attack at their home in north Dublin. Conor Dreelan (25) appeared before Dublin District Court yesterday morning charged over the stabbing in Darndale at the weekend. His father and mother, David Dignam and Phyliss Dreelan, suffered serious injuries and are being treated in Beaumont Hospital. Judge Colin Daly remanded the accused in custody after no bail application was made on his behalf. Mr Dreelan is charged with two counts of assault causing harm, as well as producing a large kitchen knife as a weapon at the house at Snowdrop Walk last Saturday. Det Gda Michael McCabe said he was arrested at 7.37am on Saturday and taken to Coolock Garda Station, where he was detained at 8.04am. Following an examination, he was deemed to require medical attention for an injury to his hand and was taken to hospital at 10.26am. Mr Dreelan was returned to the garda station at 1.55pm and detained for two interviews. His period of detention was extended and his interviews concluded at 11.03pm. Mr Dreelan was released from the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at 11.10pm, re-arrested at 11.12pm and formally charged at 11.46pm. He made no reply to any of the charges after caution and was handed copies of the charge sheets. The defence solicitor made no bail application. Silent The accused was initially named Conor Dignam on the charge sheets, but at the request of the defence the judge amended the surname to Dreelan. "He goes by the two names, and during arrest and detention it was Dreelan," the solicitor said. Det Gda McCabe said there was a file to be prepared for the DPP and a possibility there would be additional charges. Judge Daly granted free legal aid after hearing that the accused, a forklift driver, had a two-year-old child and was earning 150 a week. Asked to direct medical attention for the accused in custody, Judge Daly told the defence lawyer that Mr Dreelan had already received attention, had been in custody for two days and he was sure the prison authorities would "look after that in due course". The accused remained silent throughout the brief hearing. He was remanded in custody, to appear in Cloverhill District Court on June 23. Gardai believe the couple were sleeping on a couch in a downstairs room at around 7am before the alleged assault took place. Mr Dignam, who is aged in his 40s, was stabbed at least 10 times in the neck, shoulder and chest, while Ms Dreelan, who is in her 50s, also suffered knife wounds. Mr Dignam had initially been described as being in a critical condition in hospital and Ms Dreelan as having sustained injuries that were not life-threatening. However, Mr Dignam's condition has since been upgraded to stable. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) As the country celebrates its 122nd year as an independent nation, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) stressed the nation enjoys its independence. In an interview with CNN Philippines Rico Hizon, NHCP commissioner Emmanuel Calairo emphasized the country is not dictated by foreign countries in organizing its society. We are independent now as a people because we have our own government. We have our own decision-making process, said Calairo. The countrys independence is also maintained even the current and past Philippine governments are seeking help from superpower countries such as China and the United States over the years. In the present Duterte administration, the country enjoys a strengthened relationship with China despite the latters aggression in reclaiming islands under the Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea. READ: Duterte calls for further strengthening PH-China relations We are still independent because thats part of diplomacy of our country, developing partnerships and our economy. We could not live without collaboration with other countries. There must be a collaboration in the international community, Calairo said. Calairo, who is also the assistant vice chancellor for research at the De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, noted one proof the country enjoys its independence is the provision of basic human liberties in the society. We are operating the 1987 Constitution and we have the Bill of Rights there. We practice the provisions there such as right to expression, freedom of the press, and right to assembly, the historian explained. As the country commemorates Independence Day this year in a different mood due to the movement restrictions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Calairo said this is the perfect time to celebrate the hardships of frontliners who are fighting the spread of the virus. Just like those who fought for our independence in 1898, our frontliners are also in a dangerous situation just to serve the people. It is very timely and very relevant that we dedicate this Independence Day to our frontliners, Calairo said. In his Independence Day message, President Rodrigo Duterte echoed the same comparison in honoring the pandemic frontliners. "As we wage united battle against COVID-19, we now have the opportunity to demonstrate that we possess the same gallantry of spirit and the nobility of character as the heroes of our past. Let us now move forward with courage, hope, and optimism as we overcome this pandemic," he said in his taped address. A health worker carries out a coronavirus test on a citizen at a makeshift clinic at Gangnam public health center, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji The health authorities are struggling to cope with a possible resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic as there are no clear signs of it abating in the Seoul metropolitan area, despite the number of new daily infections staying below 40 for the third consecutive day, Tuesday. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), 34 new cases, including 21 local infections, were detected Monday, which raised the country's total to 12,155. The total death tally increased by one to 278. The daily new infections slightly decreased from the previous day, and most were local transmissions in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, the KCDC said. Among the 21 local cases, 11 were people living in Seoul, four were residents of Gyeonggi Province, two were from Incheon, and one was a resident of South Gyeongsang Province. The number of imported cases also surged to double-digit levels, at 13. The cases traced to a warehouse run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Provice, reached 152, Monday, up five from a day earlier. Infections linked to a door-to-door business establishment, Richway, rose to 172 the same day. The infection cases linked to a care center in Dobong, northeastern Seoul, stood at 22. The KCDC warned that potential mass infections in the Seoul metropolitan area could be on the way as cases in risk-prone facilities could spring up at any time. It called for extra caution after the discovery of the infection clusters tied to religious gatherings and the door-to-door sales company in Seoul. Over the past two weeks, the metropolitan area accounted for nearly 90 percent of newly added COVID-19 cases, with most of them traced to community transmission. The continued rise in infection clusters has forced the health authorities to indefinitely extend strengthened preventive measures in the greater Seoul are following an initial two-week implementation. The new measures were supposed to run through Sunday, but the government decided to have them in force indefinitely, as group infections in the region showed no signs of abating. "Many countries have experienced a second wave of the virus spreading as soon as they eased social distancing measures, and no one knows when an explosive spread will occur in closed collective facilities. The place could be a religious meeting place, medical institutions, workplaces or even schools," KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Joon-wook said in a briefing. "But what is certain is that large-scale virus spreads never occur in places that thoroughly implement infection prevention protocols," he said. "Many cases of infection prevention we have conducted so far, including at churches, schools, medical facilities, and during the April 15 general election, are giving us both hope and lessons." Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education said it has been implementing measures to reduce classroom crowding, as the country continues to see the uptick in infections in Seoul and its adjacent cities. The ministry said the measure to cap the number of students, which was originally scheduled to end last week, will be effective until June 30. Elementary and middle schools are required to cap the number of students in attendance at one time at one-third of the total student body, and high schools at two-thirds. Bangladesh on Monday unveiled a three colour zoning system based on the severity of the COVID-19 cases, as the country reported 38 deaths and 3,099 infections in the last 24 hours. The Cabinet Division order for the first time introduced a zoning system identifying areas as "red, yellow and green"zones based on coronavirus prevalence. It said that offices in particular spots of red zones would remain under general holiday until June 30. Officials familiar with the process said the health authorities in collaboration with municipal bodies, local administrative authorities and law enforcement agencies would chalk up detailed plans to enforce the restrictions particularly in red and yellow zones, allowing limited emergency activities and formulating a standard operating procedure (SOP). They said an official announcement was expected soon but the document they prepared included most parts of Dhaka under the red zone. Thirty eight more deaths in the past 24 hours raised the death toll from the pandemic to 1209. The tally of infections has also surged to 90,619 after 3,099 new COVID-19 cases were detected during the time, a health department spokesman said during a routine media briefing. An official of the department preferring anonymity said expanded testing facilities were likely to yield higher fatality figures, while tests are now being carried out at only 58 facilities across the country. The new government order said that concerned authorities were given extra powers to strictly control people's movement and lifestyle even at neighbourhood and household levels under the Infectious Disease (Prevention, Control and Elimination) Act 2018. In another order, the government extended closure of all educational institutions till August 6, as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus. "All educational institutions will remain close for an extended period until August 6 in view of the situation, Primary and Mass Education Ministry Secretary Akram-Al-Hossain said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that her government has decided to bring the worst-hit areas by coronavirus under lockdown aimed at checking its further spread. She said that her government is trying its best to make people understand the urgency of maintaining health codes to stem the spread of the virus. Hasina told Parliament that they will take effective measures so that people do not die of starvation and their lives and livelihoods are not affected. Governor Denies Widely Reported Massacre Of Iran Protesters In November Radio Farda June 15, 2020 The governor of Khuzestan in Iran has denied that the Islamic Republic security forces killed dozens of protesters during the widespread anti-regime unrest in November in a marshland near the city of Mahshahr. Dismissing the mass killing as "fake news," Gholamreza Shari'ati said, "We have never had such thing as marshland [incident]." "The marshland that they refer to is fundamentally a fake issue; it is an essentially false case in fact. We have never had a marshland issue or similar events," Shari'ati told the state-run Ensaf News on Instagram, Monday, June 15. The mid-November protests shook more than 100 cities across Iran, including the city of Mahshahr in the oil-rich Khuzestan province. Based on the testimony of eyewitnesses, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) forces stormed the township of Chamran and surrounding roads in Mahshahr on November 18, 2019. As the protesters ran away and took refuge in a nearby marshland, the IRGC forces, armed with heavy machine guns, chased and showered them with bullets. Numerous reports have been published so far about the massacre, including by Radio Farda and the New York Times. Even the representative of Mahshahr in parliament rose up screaming and crying during a session in November about the widespread killings. While providing shocking details of the attack, an eyewitness told Radio Farda that none of the people who had taken refuge in the marshland survived. Nonetheless, Shari'ati, the controversial governor of Khuzestan has reiterated that such an event never happened, and there had been no "marshland" clashes. Branding those who have reported about the massacre as "malicious" individuals with "grudges" against the country and its regime, Shariati maintained, "these people have problems with the establishment." Dismissing all accounts and details so far given about the massacre, Shari'ati claimed, "We asked them to name fifty out of the 300 presumed dead in the event; give us forty names, identify thirty of them [but received no response]." However, when Ensaf News interviewer challenged the Governor to disclose the death toll, Shariati notes, "I cannot do that. The relevant and responsible entities will finally announce the number, if necessary. But the event is fake and non-existent." Nonetheless, Amnesty International (AI) notes that the death toll in the November protests is high, adding that it gradually releases the names of people confirmed killed during the protest rallies. So far, AI has published the names of thirty people killed in Mahshahr and said that its investigation is underway to identify the other victims. In the meantime, Reuters cited sources within the Islamic Republic's government as saying that the total number of deaths in November protests across Iran was estimated at 1,500. However, Islamic Republic officials have denied the Reuters report as well as all other reports. Recently some officials mentioned figures around 200 or less, but so far no official numbers have been released. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/governor- %D9%90denies-massacre-of-iran- protesters-in-november/30672378.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Different people and organisations have been assessing the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis in Nepal differently. These evaluations, however, are focused on economic and health sectors only. However, there are many sectors that are affected. Among other problems, the current crisis is likely to result in an increase in the number of street children. Whenever crises such as insurgencies, wars, disasters, epidemics, and pandemics happened in the past, records show they resulted in a rise in the number of homeless children. This age group is highly vulnerable to changes brought by the crises. Though the lockdown has been relaxed now, children are still out of school as formal classes are not starting anytime soon. Hence, the schoolchildren are developing the habit of procrastinating and enjoying their free time with no productive work. Child development and their mental health have been ignored in the government plans and strategies to fight against the crisis. Due to this, it is easy to assume that the children are most likely to drop out or they risk not getting proper guidance because of shifting focus towards freedom. In such situations, some may leave home and end onto the streets once the Covid-19 crisis will be over. The chance of an increase in the number of street children after the Covid-19 crisis can be analysed by considering three particular pictures of reality. First, there is a large number of families in Nepal who rely on daily wages or other unskilled labour activities for their living. Currently, their economic activities are halted, and the lack of alternative job opportunities is ultimately pushing these families towards another family crisis. As a result, there can also be disputes and family violence besides the financial crisis. Such developments directly affect childrens psyche and their development through different routes. Various studies in the past have proved that family violence and disputes are the major factors pushing children towards street life across the globe. The Covid-19 pandemic, likewise, can lead to frustration, stress and tension, and these can probably result in children leaving homes in search of a better life. Secondly, shutting down the entire education sector for months might bring a big impact on childrens development in the near future. Parents in rural areas and urban poor communities have no other option than a school for childrens education and overall development, but we cannot keep an eye away from some private schools, which are conducting online classes for their students. Online classes have operated only in core urban areas, even excluding children from poor urban communities. If children remain out of school for a long time, a long gap in formal education will surely demotivate them to get back to the track of regular schooling. This is not conditional, but already a reality as it has been already three months since the schools conducted their last classes. As a result, the school dropout rate is certain to increase. Lastly, as we can see people in a large number of people including those who do not often visit their villages are getting back home, during this lockdown. These returnees from urban communities are most likely to expose fake charms of urban life like wearing fancy dresses, using gadgets, spending money, and try to expose flamboyant lifestyles. Such behaviours can lure children living in a rural community into developing their desire for adopting similar lifestyles. Adults around children are not careful about protecting them from such fakes. However, their dream lifestyle will have to face a reality check later if they depart from their families for any reason. Without proper guidance and counselling, there will be a limited chance of returning and starting school life again, which might lead them to adopt street life. The government is preparing to declare the country a street children-free zone. Some of the actions put forward by the government for children are highly appreciable, for instance: the formation of National Child Right Council and the operation of toll-free number104 for the rescue of street children and their management. Despite all these positive notes, it is high time the government focused on prevention programmes, simultaneously with rescue programmes, so as to minimise childrens number living on the streets. Currently, local governments are actively participating in child development activities. It is positive as the local leaders know the grassroots of their community. There is a need for a programme specially focused on community for children which helps in preventing them from coming to the streets. The local units should collaborate with schools and local clubs to launch such programmes. Most importantly, parents should be aware of such issues before it is too late. Koirala works for Child Watabaran Centre Nepal, a child rights NGO. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 19:46:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Xu Ke BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Against the backdrop of the novel coronavirus still raging in many parts of the world, China and Africa will hold an extraordinary summit on Wednesday on enhancing anti-COVID-19 solidarity and further promoting ties. It is the latest episode of the two sides' painstaking yet effective efforts in containing the epidemic, and a reflection of their traditional friendship, mutual political trust and a brotherly bond that has stood the test of time, providing important inspiration for the global fight against the virus. At the height of China's battle with COVID-19, African countries extended precious support to China, with over 50 African leaders expressing solidarity and support in phone calls with Chinese leaders or public statements. In return, when the virus was ravaging Africa, China was doing its utmost to provide its African brothers with various forms of support and assistance. From offering urgently needed supplies and sending medical teams, to holding virtual exchanges with medical experts and conducting training sessions for health personnel in Africa, China's endeavors helped the continent effectively and properly respond to the pandemic. China's cooperative mindset and aforementioned approach were highly appreciated by African countries. African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed thanks for China's emergency assistance and described the two sides as "friends and, more importantly, comrades-in-arms." Gao Fei, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, said China always reciprocates acts of friendship and kindness from others, and when its friends and brothers are in distress, it never sits by and does nothing. A case in point is China's assistance to Africa during the Ebola epidemic. As some countries evacuated their personnel from the affected areas, China rushed to Africa's aid despite risks of infection, sending in medical teams and fighting alongside the African people until victory was declared. The joint campaigns between China and Africa on public health security issues also marked a vivid illustration of the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity that demonstrates China's sense of global responsibility. Ruan Zongze, executive vice president at the China Institute of International Studies, said both China and Africa believe no country can beat off the deadly disease alone in this highly connected world. "We need to help those in need to overcome their difficulties and speed up efforts to build a global community of health for all," he said. China-Africa anti-pandemic cooperation is a reflection of China's firm stance on promoting international cooperation against the global crisis. China delivered batches of medical supplies and sent medical experts to African countries, and Chinese medical teams in Africa have been actively helping local people guard against COVID-19. China held nearly 400 training programs for tens of thousands of African medical workers, and has also been taking care of Africans in China, treating them like its family members. Among more than 3,000 African students in Wuhan and in Hubei Province, only one person got infected and was soon cured, while others have all been safe and sound. An old Chinese saying goes that when brothers are of the same mind, they have the power to cut through metal. China and Africa, as good brothers sharing weal and woe together, have fought shoulder to shoulder on many international fronts and made their friendship a model for international relations and South-South cooperation. From supporting each other's fight for national independence and liberation to seeking common development hand in hand, China and Africa have garnered fruitful results in enhancing their national economies, improving people's livelihood and boosting the voice of developing countries in the global arena. It is believed that the upcoming extraordinary summit will provide China and Africa a new chance to enhance mutual trust and solidarity, advance multilateral cooperation, mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and achieve better development for all. Enditem Hilaria Baldwin has defended herself against criticism for using a nanny to help out with her four children. Speaking on the Mom School podcast, the 36-year-old said it was 'not fair' that she has been singled out for getting help with child rearing. 'People will write to you and say, "Ugh, she has a nanny" - but that doesn't mean that you don't take care of your own kids,' said the wife of actor Alec Baldwin. Big task: Hilaria Baldwin has defended herself against criticism for using a nanny to help out with her four children [L-R] Alec Baldwin, Carmen, 6, Leonardo, 3, Hilaria with Romeo, 2, and Rafael, 4 'It literally means I am also working,' continued the yoga instructor, who has also authored a wellness guide. 'I work every single day. And for people to make you feel badly about that is not fair.' 'Neither my family or Alec's family live close,' continued the Spanish-American beauty. 'Right now, my youngest kids are 2, 3 and 4, and I have a 7-year-old. It is okay to accept help, and there is no shame that other people should give you because of that.' She said her Saturday Night Live star husband also lends a hand, revealing '[Alec] does the dishes every day,' as well as checking the lawn for toys, a chore he has apparently dubbed 'Toy Patrol'. Helping hands: Speaking on the Mom School podcast, the 36-year-old said it was 'not fair' that she has been singled out for getting help with child rearing Meanwhile Baldwin put her burgeoning baby bump on full display in a bikini during an at-home workout on Sunday. The personal trainer, who is expecting her fifth child with her husband Alec, has dutifully continued to keep up with her fitness regime during her pregnancy. 'Keeping my body moving with gentle workouts...embracing the curves that come with this amazing experience,' she captioned a video of herself getting her 'circulation moving' in preparation for her expected due date in two months. Baby on board: Hilaria put her burgeoning baby bump on full display in a bikini during an at-home workouts on Sunday 'I feel strong during pregnancy,' she added, while flaunting her '7 month curves.' As she did a series of tiptoe squats and lunges with her fingertips on her bathroom counter, she credited the movements for her smooth deliveries of six-year-old daughter Carmen and sons Rafael, four, Leonardo, three, and Romeo, two. Additionally, she stayed active throughout the day tending to her little ones. Fit: The 36-year-old yoga instructor, who is expecting her fifth child with her husband Alec Baldwin, has dutifully continued to keep up with her fitness regime during her pregnancy. 'Keeping my body moving with gentle workouts...embracing the curves that come with this amazing experience,' she captioned a video of herself getting her 'circulation moving' 'Forgot to take his clothes off first' she wrote on her Instagram Story of her son Rafael swimming in a cute pretzel patterned t-shirt. Meanwhile, her daughter could be seen hosing and spraying down their 'summer stuff' from the garage. The eldest siblings shared a sweet moment by the pool, as Rafael held a water squirter in the shape of a pencil. 'Forgot to take his clothes off first' she wrote on her Instagram Story of her son Rafael swimming in a cute pretzel patterned t-shirt Having fun: Little Leo joined in on the spring cleaning by washing the his toys in a blue bucket, after an afternoon in the pool Little Leo joined in on the spring cleaning by washing his toys in a blue bucket, after an afternoon in the pool. While the family was hard at work, she joked about their rescue pup Diego enjoying 'the finer things in life' and soaking up the sun on a lounge chair. 'I'm so happy that we adopted Diego...I think about how much his life has changed,' she reflected on her Instagram Story. Spring cleaning: Meanwhile, her daughter Carmen could be seen hosing and spraying down their 'summer stuff' from the garage As her due date approaches closer, she's been open about her pregnancy journey and revealed she knew she was with-child even before taking a test. 'I've done this so many times that I really know that feeling,' she told People last month. 'Even though I knew it would be early, I started taking a test every other day to kind of give myself a sense of how far along I would be. And right when I thought it would turn positive, it did!' Big family: She and Baldwin share daughter six-year-old daughter Carmen and sons Rafael, four, Leonardo, three, and Romeo, two Hilaria shared the exciting pregnancy news with fans on April 6, but wasn't so sure how to make the announcement following her two recent miscarriages. 'I was kind of cautious and I didnt really know what to say because it was so soon after when I lost my last baby,' she added to the outlet. But with some encouragement from her friends, she came to the conclusion that 'it's okay to talk about positive things' and that 'people would be excited to hear some good news.' Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy are usually performed on the back of the hipbone, or posterior iliac crest. An aspirate can also be obtained from the sternum (breastbone). For the sternal aspirate, the patient lies on their back, with a pillow under the shoulder to raise the chest. A trephine biopsy should never be performed on the sternum, due to the risk of injury to blood vessels, lungs or the heart. The need to selectively isolate and concentrate selective cells, such as mononuclear cells, allogeneic cancer cells, T cells and others, is driving the market. Over 30,000 bone marrow transplants occur every year. The explosive growth of stem cells therapies represents the largest growth opportunity for bone marrow processing systems. Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3374 Europe and North America spearheaded the market as of 2018, by contributing over 74.0% to the overall revenue. Majority of stem cell transplants are conducted in Europe, and it is one of the major factors contributing to the lucrative share in the cell harvesting system market. In 2018, North America dominated the research landscape as more than 54.0% of stem cell clinical trials were conducted in this region. The region also accounts for the second largest number of stem cell transplantation, which is further driving the demand for harvesting in the region. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period, owing to rising incidence of chronic diseases and increasing demand for stem cell transplantation along with stem cell-based therapy. Japan and China are the biggest markets for harvesting systems in Asia Pacific. Emerging countries such as Mexico, South Korea, and South Africa are also expected to report lucrative growth over the forecast period. Growing investment by government bodies on stem cell-based research and increase in aging population can be attributed to the increasing demand for these therapies in these countries. Get Request for Table of Contents: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/requesttoc/3374 Major players operating in the global bone marrow processing systems market are ThermoGenesis (Cesca Therapeutics inc.), RegenMed Systems Inc., MK Alliance Inc., Fresenius Kabi AG, Harvest Technologies (Terumo BCT), Arthrex, Inc. and others. More Info of Impact Covid19@ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/3374 A lot of our work is to remind and encourage young folks to be invested in themselves as valuable members of our communities, that they are necessary, Hamilton said. "Once you can start to think about yourself in that way, you can also get into the work of Black Lives Matter and into all kinds of liberatory movements that are out here. We do this work to make sure that we all know how valuable and how necessary we are able to be in any place and feel safe, happy, healthy whole you have a right to that. And at any moment when a system, when a process or person tries to strip that from you, then you also have a right to defend yourself against that attack against your humanity. I am inspired by the resilience of our young folks who keep showing up for themselves and each other especially in this moment of health and political unrest. OCEANA COUNTY, MI Three bear cubs recently orphaned when their mother was illegally shot will be released to the wild in about a month, long before young black bears typically are on their own. But thats the best plan for the young bears now being cared for by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, DNR Wildlife Biologist Vernon Richardson told MLive. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Following the mayors announcement that he would like to create a new department of trained, unarmed professionals that would respond 24/7 to 911 calls involving behavioral health, homelessness, addiction, and other social issues, city councilors, advocates and the union seemed to agree that they wanted a lot more information. Mayor Tim Keller, Chief Administrative Officer Sarita Nair and City Councilor Lan Sena were joined by several other city officials as they spoke about the proposal at a news conference Monday, but said they are still in the beginning of the planning process. Keller and Nair had already spoken to the Journal and other news outlets, including the Washington Post, about the plan over the weekend. Nair said the city has some of the groundwork laid out through existing programs and that a lot of the details still need to be ironed out. She said rough estimates suggest the new Community Safety Department would need 32 people for each its six area commands, staffed around the clock, to respond to tens of thousands of calls a year. Now that weve said lets create this third response department, well begin the process of really getting into the weeds of what its going to look like, how its going to affect dispatch, how this is going to look in terms of staffing, what are the (standard operating procedures) going to look like, Nair said. We have to think through all of these issues now, and thats where the input from community and experts is going to be really critical. For example, Keller said the new department could respond to non-violent and non-criminal welfare checks. In late March, two APD officers were dispatched to do a welfare check on a man whose family was worried because he had not shown up for work or answered his phone in several days. The officers realized the man, 52-year-old Valente Acosta-Bustillos, was wanted on a felony warrant for not attending a court hearing and tried to arrest him. The warrant stemmed from an incident earlier in the month in which he got in a fight with a neighbor and was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Lapel camera video shows the officers chased Acosta-Bustillos inside the house to arrest him and after he swung a shovel at them shot him. Acosta-Bustillos was mortally wounded and died at the hospital. When asked about this incident, Keller acknowledged that had the new department been in place in March, its staff could have performed the welfare check instead of police officers. In general yes, thats a big reason why were doing this department, he said. Core police work Albuquerque has made a name for itself in recent years for high levels of violent and property crime and in 2019 the city saw more homicides than any other year in recent history and Keller said that the police department will remain committed to combating violence. He said the city will not divert money from core police work or the years-long reform effort that the police department is undertaking after a Department of Justice investigation found officers had a pattern of excessive force. We know that in Albuquerque we have to respect the core police work that we need in our town, he said. But we also have to include the fact that we have to prioritize non law enforcement alternatives. Peter Simonson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, said the organization thinks a new department is a step in the right direction, but it is not a silver bullet. To achieve the real, lasting change Albuquerque deserves, the City still needs to reduce the number of armed police officers patrolling the streets, Simonson wrote in a statement. The details of how the department would be implemented, how much funding it would need and how it would work remain scarce. Keller said his administration hopes the city can fund it without increasing its overall budget. We can do this with the existing budget because these groups, our Homeless Advisory Council, our Mayors Youth Advisory Council, One Albuquerque Kids Cabinet, they have all been working and talking about this issue for several years, Keller said. Shaun Willoughby, the president of the police union, said hes glad the mayor has recognized APD remains underfunded and needs more officers and he is cautiously positive about the proposal. There are definitely calls where they are not police calls, if we can provide services to the public in circumstances like that, I think it would be better for everyone, Willoughby said. Im concerned aboutthats kind of a robust idea and thats a big projectIn order to really accomplish the mayors vision I believe they are going to have to find additional funding to make it grow and make it work. That funding cant come from the police budget, so its going to have to come from somewhere else, Willoughby added. Everything costs money Some city councilors also expressed concerns about how the city will fund a new department. The City Council passes the budget and allocates funding. Everything costs money, Councilor Brook Bassan said, adding that she needs to know what would happen to other city departments if some of their budget is allocated to the new department. She said the proposal has potential, but that it does not seem fully formed. I still have a lot of questions that are unanswered at this point, and we need to be very hesitant that we suddenly have a new department with no plan, she said. Ive been assured in the next couple of months well learn more and create details for this plan. Its just not the way Im used to working. Councilor Trudy Jones said Kellers administration has done little to explain how it would work, and the lack of specifics gives her pause. She raised questions about sending unarmed city staffers to down-and-out calls or welfare checks that could turn unexpectedly dangerous and about the financial considerations of creating a new department. I believe there are so many missing details, as in all details, Jones said. There are no details that Ive seen. But Councilor Diane Gibson said moving non-emergency calls away from police and fire departments and to professionals who can assess and respond to the specific situation is a good approach. Kellers plan can fill a need the City has had for a very long time, but long-term success will require a sufficient level of resources, she said. City Council President Pat Davis said he doesnt think that the mayors proposal is that different from the ideas he and other councilors put forward last week about taking non-police services out of the police department and providing additional funding for social services. He said the City Council will start hearing community input and ideas in July. If its just limited to homeless and behavioral health outreach its probably quicker and easier to integrate with the fire department and community services programThat might be an easy way to get this started over the summer, Davis said. Short and easy we could do it more quickly, long term it should be its own department outside of public safety but we might not be there yet. Arthur Bell, an activist and life-long New Mexican, said hes hopefully optimistic but he hopes the administration will listen to the community and those who are most affected by excessive use of force. He said its clear that the mayor doesnt plan to follow the rallying cry and defund the police. With that said its just a whole bunch of the same with people saying we care, we care, we care, and then they show us they dont, Bell said. We would hope the mayor will have more action and less talk with regards to this new program. Smoke rises in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, where an inter-Korean liaison office was blown up. (Yonhap ) North Korea on Tuesday blew up a liaison office built with much fanfare two years ago near the border with rival South Korea. The dramatic display of antagonism came after days of increasingly barbed rhetoric and threats against the South. The South Korean military confirmed the building had been destroyed with an explosion at 2:49 p.m. A column of billowing smoke was visible and an explosion was heard across the border from Kaesong, the North Korean town where the four-story liaison building was set up in 2018. North Korea had just days earlier threatened destruction of the "useless" liaison office in a statement carried in state media from Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The statement blamed South Korea for the stalemate in relations between the two sides. Dramatic video from South Korea's Ministry of National Defense showing North Korea blowing up the liaison office with South Koreahttps://t.co/HIMAMG16uE pic.twitter.com/Vn6CCbG9tZ Victoria Kim (@vicjkim) June 16, 2020 The move also came after Pyongyang threatened to move troops closer to the demilitarized zone between the nations and to turn the front line into a fortress. Removing soldiers from the border area was part of previous military agreements between the leaders of the two Koreas. Seoul warned North Korea that it would take measures if hostilities escalated. "The North's destruction of the North-South joint liaison office is an act that let down the expectations of all those who hope for the improvement of relations between the Koreas and peace on the Korean peninsula," South Korea's National Security Council said in a statement. "If the North continues to take steps to worsen the situation, we will strongly respond accordingly." Story continues North Korea in recent days had lambasted the South for the activities of North Korean escapees who send leaflets and flash drives with information into the isolated nation, criticizing Kim Jong Un and accusing the government of being a brutal dictatorship. North Korean state media cited the escapees in a broadcast Tuesday about the explosion, calling them "human scum" and saying the move forced "those who have sheltered the scum to pay dearly for their crimes." Observers say, though, that despite rhetoric directed at the refugees, the real intended audience may be Washington, to get the U.S. back to the negotiating table with North Korea before President Trump's term ends. Talks between Trump and Kim to dismantle North Korea's nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions have netted no substantial agreements despite their three unprecedented face-to-face meetings. The North's already ailing economy is likely to be suffering even further this year after the country closed its border with China, its largest trading partner by far, out of coronavirus concerns. The glass-fronted liaison building, north of the border in a dormant industrial complex that was once a hallmark of economic cooperation between the Koreas, was supposed to facilitate an unprecedented level of cross-border communication. South Korean offices were on the second floor and North Korean ones on the fourth, with regularly scheduled meetings in rooms on the third floor. South Korean media reports said the building and support facilities cost about $15 million and were paid for by Seoul. Dozens of South Korean officials staffing the office decamped in January, out of coronavirus concerns, with no announced plans for a return. Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (25) Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is asking government whether the University of Ghana Medical Center, (UGMC) where the health minister received his COVID-19 treatment is also a delusion. According to him, government is publicly rubbishing the hard work and efforts by the past Mahama-led administration but secretly reaping its benefits. The health minister is my good friend and Ive wished him a speedy recovery publicly on twitter, Facebook and all over but where did he go for his Covid treatment? Isnt it University of Ghana Medical Centre? Is that also a fantasy project? he asked. Speaking on Okay FMs morning show, Mr Okudzeto indicated that the NPP is pretending not to see and give the necessary acknowledgment to the NDC for their unprecedented infrastructural development initiatives. In one breath you tell Ghanaians it's NPPs project and that we dont deserve credit. In another breath, you tell everyone youre finishing NDCs project. Which is which? Lets respect the data. Lets be sincere and truthful. This attempt to take out NDCs contribution is bad. Background President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the commissioning of the Tema Motorway Interchange described claims by NDC that it undertook unprecedented infrastructural development, including roads, as a mere fantasy that was contained in the Green Book of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). We made a pledge to the Ghanaian people to expand and improve the road network while closing the missing links in the network. We had to make this pledge because we know that the so-called unprecedented infrastructure development of the Mahama administration was fantasy; existing in the Green Book and not on the ground, President Akufo-Addo said when he inaugurated the $57-million Tema Motorway Interchange project that is being financed by the government of Japan through the Japanese International Cooperation Agreement (JICA), he stated. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video DEARBORN - One of Michigans biggest tourist destinations will reopen nearly four months after closing its doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn has been closed since March 12. Both the museum and Greenfield Village will reopen in various phases beginning on Thursday, July 2. The highly anticipated Marvel exhibit, which was scheduled to debut in late March, will now open next month. The museum is home to some of the most historic artifacts in U.S. history, including the presidential Limo JFK was assassinated in, the bus Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on and the chair President Lincoln was assassinated in. Beginning July 2, the museum will hold a Members Preview Weekend for current and new members. Nonmembers can begin visiting on Thursday, July 9. This plan emphasizes the safety of our guests and staff in compliance with state, federal and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, the museum wrote on its website. In this first phase of reopening, the museum and Greenfield Village will only be open from Thursdays through Sundays. There will also be limited daily visitation. To ensure a safe environment for our guests and our staff, we will limit and eliminate hands-on activities, and most interactions between guests and staff will have a presence of six feet or more. These steps are necessary to maintain a healthy environment for everyone as we carefully reshape our institution for the future. Operating hours will be 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. As for the Marvel exhibit, Its scheduled to debut on Thursday, July 16 to all guests. Meantime, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Giant Screen Experience will remain closed during the first few weeks of reopening. No official opening date for those has been given yet. We will monitor changing scenarios closely, and our hope is to ramp up as conditions allow. We appreciate your patience during this time, and please alert us regarding concerns during your visit. MORE TRAVEL FROM MLIVE: 20 natural wonders of Michigan to put on your travel bucket list This historic Michigan library looks like something out of Hogwarts Your ultimate MICHIGAN TRAVEL BUCKET LIST: 50 places you need to visit Democrat primary shows Democratic turnout set a new primary record, outpacing GOP voters in what has been a red state. Trump and the GOP could be absolutely crushed in Novembers general election. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that Democrats set a new turnout record for primary voting in last weeks Georgia primary with over 1 million voters. As a result, Democratic voters outpaced Republicans during an election; that was plagued by significant obstacles at polling sites, some of which were imposed by the GOP officials in the state. Democratic turnout in Georgia surpassed 1,060,851 the previous record set during the 2008 presidential primary. Georgia Democrats believe the high numbers are another sign of voter enthusiasm to toss President Trump and other GOP officeholders out of their respective position in public office as we are head towards the November election. Joe Biden appears to have a genuine chance of being the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Georgia since 1992, and the first opportunity in decades to flip not only one but two U.S. Senate seats plus a suburban U.S. House seat. Absentee ballots were a significant factor in the immense turnout after mail-in voting was expanded by ordered by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, amid coronavirus restrictions. A review showed mail-in ballots sent by voters were evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, killing President Trumps narrative that Democrats would get a huge advantage as widespread mail-in balloting would hurt Republicans. The increase in participation in Georgia took place despite an abundance of serious problems created by the GOP officials in the states that acted to prevent countless voters from being able to exercise their franchise. Reportedly tens of thousands never received their absentee ballots in the mail according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation. This was caused by human error, equipment failure, and a complicated, multicomputer voting system that created chaos and hours-long lines in minority voting precincts. Jon Ossoff won the Democratic Nominations for Senate with 52% of the vote, which means no runoff is needed. Ossoff won with a vote total of about 560,000 votes that far surpassed the 310,000 Democrats who voted in the Senate primary in 2016. The Democratic turnout also blew away the heated gubernatorial primary turnout in 2018 between Stacey Abrams, and Stacey Evans, when roughly 550,000 votes were cast. Recent demographic trends are attributing the increase in Democratic votes. An AJC analysis found that More than 320,000 new voters registered in Georgia since 2019, and many are younger and racially diverse blocs of voters who tend to favor Democrats. And top state Democrats hope to channel frustration over the federal and state coronavirus response, as well as the outrage over police brutality thats sparked nationwide protests for racial justice, into votes in November. Stacy Abrams, who is one of the potential running-mates being vetted by former vice president Biden, said shes absolutely certain Georgia will get new attention from the Democrats campaign. Our responsibility is to build on that, to not take it for granted, and to ensure that every voter regardless of party can participate in November elections, she said of the high turnout. When you break democracy, it breaks for everyone. When we fix it, we fix it for everyone. We have the numbers and I think we will win, but I want to win because the playing field is even. Top Republicans recognize that the Democratic turnout in the primary is a huge warning sign that November could be their Waterloo in the peach state. Georgia Senator Perdue sitting in one of the two senate seats to be decided in the upcoming election has long talked of the tight 2018 midterm as a wakeup call for Republicans. In a recent interview, hes eager to expose Democrats radical ideology. Ive lived around the world, and Ive seen where governments become totalitarian. Im happy to start that fight today. The fact is the totalitarian risk is represented by President Trump and the weak GOP senate unwilling to prevent the introduction of the U.S. Military to attack and break up peaceful protests that have shocked the country. The Democratic-run House Judiciary has subpoenaed former Robert Mueller prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky in a hearing featuring 'whistleblowers' who will testify about alleged politicization of Bill Barr's justice department. Zelinsky is one of four federal prosecutors who took himself off the Roger Stone case after the government reversed its decision after recommending a prison term for President Donald Trump's long-time informal advisor. He was also a top prosecutor for Mueller during the Russia probe. He will testify later this month at the committee, providing a counter-point to ongoing hearings in the Republican-run Senate on the origins of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation and alleged FBI misconduct. Roger Stone leaves Federal Court after a sentencing hearing February 20, 2020, in Washington, DC. Aaron Zelinsky is one of four prosecutors who took themselves off the case when top DOJ officials did a 180 on their recommended sentence for the longtime Donald Trump advisor 'The Committee welcomes the testimony of current and former Department officials who will speak to the lasting damage the President and the Attorney General have inflicted on the Department of Justice,' said Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerold Nadler, who was a House impeachment manager during Trump's impeachment trial over his conduct toward Ukraine. The witnesses are 'prepared to describe the unprecedented politicization of the Department under President Trump and Attorney General William Barr,' said Nadler. 'Again and again, Attorney General Barr has demonstrated that he will cater to President Trumps private political interests, at the expense of the American people and the rule of law,' said Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerold Nadler in a blistering statement Aaron Zelinsky was a top prosecutor for former Special Counsel Robert Mueller who had himself taken off the Roger Stone case after the Justice Department changed its posture The hearing will also explore alleged politicization of the Justice Department's handling of the proposed AOL / Time Warner merger Another witness is Justice Department antitrust prosecutor John Elias. Elias served as chief of staff during DOJ's decision to oppose the merger of AT&T and Time Warner. Trump had publicly blasted the merger, and has regularly inveighed against Time Warner-owned CNN for its coverage of him. Elias is acting chief of staff to Makan Delrahim, who head's DOJ's antitrust division. 'Again and again, Attorney General Barr has demonstrated that he will cater to President Trumps private political interests, at the expense of the American people and the rule of law. He has abruptly reversed course on prosecutions against the Presidents allies and friends. He has pursued pretextual investigations against the Presidents perceived political enemies,' said Nadler. John Elias Nadler has tried repeatedly to get Barr to testify before his panel. He was finally set to appear in March, but cancelled the appearance amid the coronavirus outbreak. A third witness, former deputy attorney general under President George H.W. Bush Donald Ayer, is also testifying without a subpoena. Career prosecutors recommended a sentence of up to nine years in prison for Stone, 67, in February, drawing furious tweets from the president. Barr's Justice Department then did a 180 and recommended a lower sentence. Stone was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering. Nadler took a shot at Barr for his failure to appear. 'The Attorney Generalwho cites his busy schedule as a basis for refusing to appear before the House Judiciary Committee but has made time for multiple television interviewsmay have abdicated his responsibility to Congress, but the brave men and women of our civil service have not,' he said. Trump blasted the AOL / Time Warner merger on the campaing trail, and tweeted about it in 2018. 'Why doesnt the Fake News Media state that the Trump Administrations Anti-Trust Division has been, and is, opposed to the AT&T purchase of Time Warner in a currently ongoing Trial. Such a disgrace in reporting!' Trump wrote. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will convene two virtual meetings with chief ministers of states and union territories (UT) on Tuesday and Wednesday. The PM and state heads are expected discuss ways to flatten the coronavirus curve that has risen sharply during the Unlock 1.0. On June 16, PM Modi will interact with heads of 21 states and UTs. These include states that have registered low cases of coronavirus and deaths. Among the 21 states are Punjab, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and all of the Northeastern states. All these states account for only 5.75 per cent of total cases of India according to Monday data. These 21 states had recorded 19,144 total confirmed cases and less than 150 deaths until Monday. On June 17, PM Modi will be interacting with CMs of states with higher density of cases. These states include Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. In India, coronavirus infection has largely hit 15-states. These 15 states account for 90 per cent confirmed cases in the country. Moreover, according to health ministry data, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu have alone reported 217,345 cases out of 332,424 cases, as of Monday. With the medical set up in big cities already stressed, a district-level preparedness plan will be on the agenda in today's meeting. The Prime Minister is likely to emphasise on greater adherence to social distancing protocols and better practices in containment zones. The need to beef up the availability of testing kits and other essentials may also be discussed. The migrant crisis and the ways states handled the situation might also be on the agenda. Since many of the worst-hit states are big employment and economic centers the CMs are likely to finalise their strategy to continue economic activity along with lockdown measures. Meanwhile, several states have clarified that there is not going to be another phase of lockdown, while several states have already created their own methods to improve social distancing. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday through a tweet ruled out the return of a lockdown. However, Tamil Nadu has announced a complete lockdown in four districts, including Chennai, from June 19 to 30 due to spurt in the number of coronavirus cases. Since Unlock 1.0 began this month, India has witnessed a rapid spike, taking the overall number of positive cases to over 3 lakh. At present, India's coronavirus cases have jumped to 332,424, including 9,520 deaths. A total of 169,798 people have recovered/discharged/ migrated. Also read: IndiGo finds demand holding; plans to issue cash refunds by October Also read: Maharashtra government inks MOUs worth Rs 16,000 crore with 12 companies AP rightly condemned killers Regarding the recent letter, AP story on Ga. killing itself bigoted and hateful: The writer describes an Associated Press article on the killing in Georgia of Ahmed Arbery as as bigoted and hateful against white males as anything the KKK published about blacks a hundred years ago. Really? I went back and read the article, looking for the wholesale condemnation of white males and criminalization of them as a class, and could not find it. Additionally, I found his description of what occurred that day incomplete and incorrect. Arbery had been running, slowed and stopped and entered a home under construction, as others had also done per owner videos. When he came out, he immediately started running. When he ran past the home of the suspects, they grabbed weapons and jumped in their truck, and a neighbor soon followed them. This chase apparently included several streets and multiple about turns by Arbery as he tried to avoid confrontation. There is much documentation that has been released about this incident, and it behooves anyone to seek it out and not rely on a single source of information. The dueling efforts come less than five months before Election Day. By almost every indicator, Trumps bid for a second term is in peril, with Biden sprinting out to leads in battleground states and into competition in some conservative strongholds. But in a twist, the economy, which has been a bellwether in the modern history of presidential races, is one major domain where voters still give Trump encouraging marks, bolstered by occasional bright spots like Tuesdays report that retail sales jumped 17.7 percent in May. A Texas police force last night accused Tucker Carlson of stoking 'confusion and bitterness' with an 'absolutely inaccurate' report that charges against rioters had been dropped. Fort Worth Police Department said it it had only dropped charges of 'minor misdemeanors which did not involve property or personal crimes,' stemming from riots at the end of last month. It also rebuked Carlson for his 'gross mischaracterization' of a June 9 statement released by Fort Worth PD Chief Ed Kraus. Last night, Tucker Carlson told viewers: 'Dozens of rioters were arrested for this. Ten days later, the city's police chief Ed Kraus said he was dropping all charges against them.' Last night, Carlson told viewers: 'On May 31, a crowd of Black Lives Matter demonstrators blocked a bridge in downtown Fort Worth. When police arrived to disperse them, they threw rocks and bottles of bleach. Three police officers were injured. 'The mob then went on to loot and vandalize businesses. Dozens of rioters were arrested for this. Ten days later, the city's police chief Ed Kraus said he was dropping all charges against them.' On June 9, Fort Worth PD had tweeted: '@chiefkraus to drop all charges for rioting that resulted from protests in #FortWorth. Each individual will be notified by letter that their charges have been dropped.' However, it clarified the tweet soon after by adding: 'Anyone who protested and was arrested for vandalism, criminal mischief, theft, etc. do not fall under this. Separate cases/charges. This [the dropping of charges] is solely for the charge of rioting.' In his monologue Carlson claimed that Kraus had released a statement which suggested that the 'real criminals in the riot were not the rioters but his own police officers, whom he suggested would be reigned in and perhaps punished, quote, "This is just one step on a long journey," Kraus wrote, sounding more like a therapist than a cop.' On June 9 Fort Worth PD had tweeted: '@chiefkraus to drop all charges for rioting that resulted from protests in #FortWorth. Each individual will be notified by letter that their charges have been dropped.' It clarified the tweet soon after by adding: 'Anyone who protested and was arrested for vandalism, criminal mischief, theft, etc. do not fall under this. Separate cases/charges. This [the dropping of charges] is solely for the charge of rioting.' Fort Worth PD responded in its statement: 'Recklessly releasing such inaccurate, unverified information does nothing for the good of the public and simply creates an environment of confusion and bitterness during a time in which so many are wanting their voices heard.' Several other outlets reported on Fort Worth PD's dropping of the rioters' charges earlier this month and noted the conciliatory tone struck by Kraus in his statement. NPR led with the headline: 'Fort Worth Police Drop Rioting Charges Against Protesters.' Fox News Channel has consistently dominated cable networks in prime time throughout its coverage of the George Floyd riots and demonstrations. Sean Hannity presents the most popular news show and he is closely followed by Carlson. Three key Nile basin countries resumed negotiations on Tuesday over a giant $4.6 billion hydroelectric dam that Egypt fears will constrict its water supply, following months of deadlock, Sudanese officials said. Sudan Irrigation Minister Yasser Abbas told reporters in the capital, Khartoum, that technical talks about Ethiopias contentious megaproject got underway in a positive spirit, though pessimism has grown about the possibility of a deal before July, when Ethiopia has pledged to start filling the dam with water. The dispute over what will be Africas largest hydroelectric dam pits Ethiopias desire to become a major power exporter and pull millions out of poverty against Egypts concern that the dam will curtail its critical share of the river if filled too quickly. Sudan, long caught between the competing interests of Egypt and Ethiopia, had pushed the two sides to resume negotiations, which had been hamstrung since Ethiopia skipped out on the last round of talks brokered by the Trump administration in February. Abbas did not describe the sticking points, but said Egypt hoped for a return to the preliminary agreement drawn up in Washington, while Ethiopia had raised several outstanding issues. Addressing parliament on Monday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reiterated his desire to start filling the dam during the rainy season next month. We dont want to hurt anyone else, and at the same time it will be difficult for us to accept the notion that we dont deserve to have electricity, he said, referring to the countrys ambitions to use the dam to provide badly needed power to 70 million Ethiopians. We are tired of begging others while 70% of our population is young," he said. "This has to change. Egypts national security council, headed by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, said Tuesday that the resumption of talks was long overdue given pressure to reach an agreement before Ethiopia takes action. The dam is already some 75% complete, and Egypt fears that Ethiopia may decide to start filling the reservoir unilaterally if the parties don't arrive at a deal in time. It is important to have a timeframe for the talks, said Egypt's statement, to ensure the talks are not a new tool for stalling or evading obligations. While it brought the U.S. economy to a standstill, COVID-19 has forced certain aspects of the mortgage industry to evolve at hyper speed. Companies have used the last few months of disruption as an opportunity to lean further into digital/contactless innovations by introducing clients to the benefits of e-signature, walking them through their loans in Zoom chats, and setting their employees up for success in a remote working environment. If nothing else, COVID-19 has been a boon to customer service. One further change mortgage companies can take to improve both the experiences and outcomes of their clients involves optimizing their contact centers. There may have been a time years ago when keeping a client on hold for minutes at a time was industry standard, but those days are gone. Clients want answers, and theyre used to getting them quickly. A contact center that cant provide those answers in a smooth and convenient way is a detriment to all involved, and it certainly wont be up to the task if a wave of defaults washes over the industry in the next few months and every phone line and inbox belonging to an American mortgage professional explodes at the same time. A similar spike was already seen when Americans first got wind of mortgage forbearance in March and April. Unfortunately, overwhelmed and understaffed contact centers werent up to the task. Former Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vandepuije has said he will not turn down an offer to be running mate for the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama. Mr. Vanderpuijie said his good working relationship with the former President puts him at ease to be his running mate. That [Selection of a running mate] is the flagbearers decision. I respect the fact that he is the candidate and flagbearer of the NDC. That is his decision in consultation with the party elders but if the President calls me and says Oko I want you to be my running mate, I will respectfully say yes and I will work for him because I have worked with him before and we have a good working relationship, he said in response to a question asked him by Bernard Avle on Mondays edition of Citi TVs The Point of View. Mr. Vandepruijes willingness to be John Mahamas running mate is not surprising, given that he once served as Mayor of Accra under his administration. John Mahama had earlier said there is no use in naming a running mate to contest with him in the general elections amidst the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Ghana. He was elected as flagbearer of the NDC in February 2019 but yet to name a running mate over a year on despite intense political pressure on him. During a live Facebook session to interact with the public on Thursday, April 30, the former President indicated that the NDC will announce his partner at the appropriate time. Rumours of an NDC running mate In past years, there has been speculation about prominent NDC members being selected as Mahama's running mate. A number of names have popped up for the position but the party is yet to make an official announcement. Just a few weeks ago, Mahama, debunked reports suggesting he has selected a running mate for the 2020 general elections. For this year only, there have been reports making rounds indicating that the former president had selected the Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, Eric Opoku as his running mate. Late in 2019, rumours had it that Ghana's longest-serving Finance Minister, Professor Kwesi Botchwey had been chosen as a running mate to Mr. Mahama. ---citinewsroom One of Queensland's oldest pubs has been forced to close its doors, with the owners saying they were driven out of business by the state's strict border closures and social distancing rules. The Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton made the announcement on Tuesday, after nearly 150 years serving customers. Owners Colin and Vickie Bowden issued a statement on Tuesday, blaming a raft of government measures for ending the pub's long history. One of Queensland's oldest pubs - The Great Western Hotel- has been forced to close its doors, with the owners blaming coronavirus for a drop in patronage Owners Colin and Vickie Bowden issued a statement on Tuesday, blaming a raft of government measures for ending the pub's long history 'Due to Covid-19 the Great Western Hotel will not be reopening,' they wrote. 'The Great Western Hotel is an iconic local tourist destination which is heavily dependent on overseas and interstate visitors. 'The social distancing restrictions, border closures and travel restrictions have had a major impact on the Hotel.' 'The inclusion of the Great Western Hotel in the Safe Night Precinct has also had a negative impact.' The Safe Night Precinct introduced in Queensland in 2018 increased police patrols around 'problem areas', introducing 'recovery' hubs for people to sober up, and ID sharing to prevent people going to another pub after being kicked out of a previous one. The venue was established in 1862 and has featured hundreds of rodeos and musical performances The Great Western was established in 1862 and has featured hundreds of rodeos and musical performances. Limitations around public gatherings mean they were unable to continue holding these events, or predict when they may be able resume operating them. The embattled Queensland Premier is facing an uprising from desperate tourism operators who are demanding she opens the state's borders so they can rescue their businesses from ruin after coronavirus lockdown Border closures are costing businesses on the Gold Coast alone as much as $310million a month Federal Member for Capicornia Michelle Landry has described the pub's closure as 'absolutely tragic news'. 'The Great Western Hotel has been a Central Queensland icon since 1862 and it will be sorely missed by locals and visitors alike,' she said. 'This is why I am so vocal on the state borders being reopened. Our businesses provide jobs to locals and they contribute to the economy. They need the certainty that comes with our borders being reopened. The embattled Queensland Premier is facing an uprising from desperate tourism operators who are demanding she opens the state's borders so they can rescue their businesses from ruin after coronavirus lockdown. Border closures are costing businesses on the Gold Coast alone as much as $310million a month. The owners are taking expressions of interest for anyone who wants to buy or lease the property. Falls new normal in ARC core labs: scheduling, online operation, enhanced social distancing and PPE Prepare for PPE: Amy Wilkerson checks out the Dektak XT surface profiler in one of William & Marys Applied Research Center core labs. Wilkerson and her staff are working on a set of adaptations for the social-distancing requirements of the coming fall semester. Photo by Olga Trofimova Photo - of - Hide Caption Things are going to be different this fall in the core labs of William & Marys Applied Research Center. Amy Wilkerson, lab and research manager, says user services at the ARC will necessarily be more scheduled, include more online functions and will be conducted with strict attention to enhanced social distancing guidelines. What wont change, she said, is the dedication of the ARC staff to the research mission of the university and the commonwealth. Undergraduates, grad students and faculty will still have access to a wide range of instruments for analysis and characterization this fall, but social distancing guidelines will come with a necessity for a more deliberate way of doing business. Before, people would come by and look in. If, say, there was nobody using the Hirox microscope, they could come in, Wilkerson said. Drop-in users are not going to be allowed now. Users and staff will be required to don appropriate PPE, of course. And Wilkerson noted that in ARC lab spaces, the guideline is to maintain 10 feet between people, an increase in the usually recommended six feet. And yes, appropriate PPE mask, gloves, face shield will be required in addition to any other gear required for safe instrument operation. Core labs are essentially a library of scientific instruments maintained for common use by the research community of an institution. The ARC is a major part of William & Marys core lab structure. ARC headquarters is in one of the prominent labs looking out onto the atrium of the Integrated Science Center, but there are ARC instruments in Small Hall and in McGlothlin-Street Hall. The ARC serves several hundred users each year, mostly faculty and students of William & Mary. A reciprocal agreement with other Virginia research institutions brings in researchers from across the commonwealth. Wilkerson hopes to have most of a new-normal set of procedures in place by the beginning of the fall semester. She says her most immediate concern as that day approaches is how to conduct training. Standard procedure had essentially been to bring in a group of new users to the lab and everyone crowds around the instrument to learn. Sometimes we have four or five people gathered around, she said. Every once in a while, well get a whole roomful. That cant happen now. Any in-person training is going to have to be one-on-one. Wilkerson has been working with lab technicians Olga Trofimova and Song Vick on ways to replace the ARCs traditional multi-person learning sessions. The plan is to have online training, Wilkerson said. Lets say were talking about our Dektak surface profiler. What we want to have happen is to have an online practice program, because whenever you get even a new word-processing program, the hardest thing at first is learning where everything is. She put Vick in charge of arranging training: I told her to not reinvent the wheel. Look at our equipment. Look at what other universities are doing. A lot of the manufacturers offer online training. The real challenge, Wilkerson said, will be arranging those one-on-one learning sessions on each instrument for each new user. With equipment, she explained, you have to get your hands on the instrument. You have to know what that fine-tuning feels like. Personal, hands-on acquaintance with a spectrometer or scanning electron microscope or indeed any of the other advanced instruments in the ARC is especially necessary if the user will be operating the device remotely. Wilkerson said she will be working with William & Marys Information Technology personnel to set up systems in which users can operate the instruments from their laptops. We can load their sample for them, she said. Or they can come in and load their sample, then take their laptop out into the atrium and run the program. Such remote operation will create space for the other lab equipment to be used during social distancing, but for control-by-laptop to work, the user has to thoroughly understand how the instrument works. If youre going to operate something remotely, youd better know everything about it, Wilkerson said. Because if you dont know what youre doing, you could click a button and crash the whole system. In mid-June, Wilkerson and her staff were determining which instruments are most suitable for remote operation. In general, the newer instruments are friendly with Windows 10, and are most likely to be set up for laptop operation first. But some of our equipment is 10 or 15 years old, Wilkerson said. They might be working on Windows 7 or even Windows 95. Is remote operation going to work on these devices? Well see. Walking Dead actor Khary Payton has introduced his 11-year-old transgender son Karter to his fans and followers on social media. On Monday, the same day that the Supreme Court passed a landmark ruling that offers workplace protections to LGBT Americans, the actor shared a photo of his son smiling and giving a thumbs up. This my kid. One of the most happy, well-adjusted individuals I've ever known. My son, Karter. Karter with a K because it reminded him of my name. He chose it," Payton wrote alongside the photo on Twitter. "You see, he was born female but has always identified as a boy. In a follow-up post, Payton, who plays King Ezekial on the AMC show, explained that Karter thought it would be cool to announce his identity on social media. He thought it would be cool if I announced it on social media. I told him that there would be so many supporters but also a lot of jerks who would be harsh. He said: Yeah, I know about trolls, daddy. I can handle trolls, Payton said. The father-of-two continued the emotional post expressing his support and unquenchable love for Karter. Man, there is nothing more beautiful than watching your child feel the joy of exploring what it means to be true to themselves, the 48-year-old wrote. This is his journey, and I am here for it. I hope you all have the opportunity to feel the unquenchable love that I am feeling right now. Recommended What trans people want you to learn this Transgender Day of Visibility The post, which has since been liked more than 318,000 times, has been met with an outpouring of support for Karter. Hi Karter, welcome to a very big family, one person tweeted. Another wrote: Proud of you Karter! Star Wars actor Mark Hamill was among the hundreds of people to applaud Karter for embracing his identity, writing a thumbs up emoji and right back at Karter! Paytons wife, Stacy Reed Payton, also shared a photo of the couples eldest child on Instagram, where she said she was overjoyed to introduce Karter. I am overjoyed to introduce you to my son, Karter. When he was born we thought he was a girl. We were mistaken. He is a boy. A smart, funny, brave, loving, magnificent boy, she wrote. Karter is so confident in who he is and was thrilled for me to let everyone know that hes finally living as his true self. As a boy. As my son. As Karter. I am so incredibly proud of him and feel blessed every single day to be his mama. In a study published in the journal Addiction, University of Bristol researchers have found evidence for a causal link between prolonged experience of loneliness and smoking. Although numerous studies have shown there is an association, it has been difficult to disentangle whether being lonely leads to substance abuse, or if substance abuse leads to loneliness. By applying a novel research method to the question - Mendelian randomisation - which uses genetic and survey data from hundreds of thousands of people, the team found that loneliness appears to lead to an increased likelihood of smoking behaviour. This method has never been applied to this question before and so the results are novel, but also tentative. We found evidence to suggest that loneliness leads to increased smoking, with people more likely to start smoking, to smoke more cigarettes, and to be less likely to quit, said co-lead author, Dr Robyn Wootton. There was evidence that being lonelier increases the likelihood of starting smoking, the number of cigarettes smoked per day and decreases the likelihood of successfully quitting. This reflects the trends observed during the pandemic - YouGovs Covid-19 tracker suggests 2.2 million people across the UK are smoking more than they were before lockdown. In the other direction, there was also evidence that starting smoking increased individuals loneliness. The study was co-led by the Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group (TARG) in Bristol's School of Psychological Science and the department of Psychiatry of Amsterdam UMC hospital in the Netherlands, part of the Medical Research Council funded Integrative Epidemiology Unit. Our finding that smoking may also lead to more loneliness is tentative, but it is in line with other recent studies that identified smoking as a risk factor for poor mental health. A potential mechanism for this relationship is that nicotine from cigarette smoke interferes with neurotransmitters such as dopamine in the brain, said senior author Dr Jorien Treur from Amsterdam UMC. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action of Smoking & Health (ASH), commented that, If lonely people are more likely to start smoking and find it harder to quit, they are more likely to suffer the harm caused by smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable premature death, with thirty times as many people who die suffering serious smoking-related illnesses such as cancer, heart and respiratory disease. This research highlights the need for smokers suffering from loneliness to be given support to stop, to improve not just their health and wellbeing but also to help reduce their loneliness. The team also investigated the relationship between loneliness and alcohol use and abuse, and found no clear evidence for a causal relationship there. While the method that we used in this study has important advantages, it is also early days for this type of study. We therefore suggest further research is conducted when more is known about the genetics of alcohol dependence and loneliness, said Dr Jorien Treur According to the Office of National Statistics' (ONS) analysis of loneliness in Great Britain during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, during the first month of lockdown the equivalent of 7.4 million people said their well-being was affected through feeling lonely. "Lonely" people were more likely than others to be struggling to find things to help them cope and were also less likely to feel they had support networks to fall back on. Knowing whether there is a causal effect of loneliness on smoking is important for informing stop smoking services and helping people to quit. Suddenly, the whole of the UK has become more socially isolated than ever before, and for many people this will likely increase their loneliness. We were really interested to find that loneliness decreases the likelihood of stopping smoking and we think this is a really important consideration for those trying to stop smoking during the pandemic, said Dr Wootton. We are still yet to see the full effects of the coronavirus pandemic on alcohol and cigarette use in the UK. Whilst our study does not look at the effects of loneliness and social isolation as the result of the pandemic, it can shed some light on the consequences of loneliness in general, said Dr Wootton. Paper: 'Bi-directional effects between loneliness, smoking and alcohol use: Evidence from a Mendelian randomisation study,' by Robyn E Wootton et al., in Addiction, June 2020. For more than 30 years, Cup Foods has been a neighborhood mainstay but also a source of complaints at the corner of Chicago Avenue and 38th Street in South Minneapolis. Cup Foods is the hub, said Rashad West, the owner of Dragon Wok, a restaurant across the street whose surveillance video captured part of Mr. Floyds arrest. This is like their block. It is a lifeline where customers, Mr. Floyd among them, bought cigarettes, fresh produce and more minutes for their cellphones. Neighbors said they swung by to pick up cilantro and limes for tacos, and adults remember spending childhood hours playing the Street Fighter II arcade game there. Mr. Abumayyaleh said his family was on a first-name basis with many customers. But it is also a place where shootings have erupted nearby and undercover officers have surveilled patrons. Amid reports of rising crime more than 20 years ago, the Police Department urged the store to call 911 on people loitering outside. In the 1990s, the police reported spotting a series of drug sales around the store, and the Minneapolis City Council tried at one point in 2000 to revoke Cup Foodss business licenses. As the neighborhood began to gentrify and barbershops and clothing stores closed as a cafe and art spaces moved in, Cup Foods the name originally stood for Chicago Unbeatable Prices did not budge. Mr. Floyds apartment in the suburb of St. Louis Park was about a 20-minute drive from Cup Foods, but he often visited the store to buy cellphone credits at the markets MetroPCS counter. Eric Hardin, a friend, said Mr. Floyd knew many of the stores employees. Hed been going there for years, said Mr. Hardin, who called Mr. Floyd by the nickname Slim. Any problems with his phone he would take it to them and get a resolution. Slim was comfortable with those people. Pakistan does not meet the minimum requirement of fiscal transparency, an official US report has said, alleging the country did not adequately disclose all government-guaranteed debt obligations, including financing to state-owned enterprises for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. In its annual "2020 Fiscal Transparency Report" issued on Monday, the US State Department said Pakistan was one of the countries that made no significant progress in meeting the minimum requirements of fiscal transparency. Bangladesh is the other country from south Asia to figure in the list that also includes Saudi Arabia, Sudan and China. During the review period, the government of Pakistan made its executive budget proposal, enacted budget, and end-of-year report widely and easily accessible to the general public, including online. The government published limited information on debt obligations, the report said. "The government did not adequately disclose all government and government-guaranteed debt obligations, including financing to state-owned enterprises for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Projects," it added. Publicly available budget documents provided a substantially complete picture of most of the government's planned expenditures and revenue streams, including natural resource revenues, the report stated. "The budget of the intelligence agencies was not subject to adequate parliamentary or other civilian oversight," it said, adding that the information in the budget was considered generally reliable and subject to audit by Pakistan's supreme audit institution. While audit reports are made publicly available within a reasonable period of time, the reports did not provide substantive findings, recommendations or narratives on the completeness or correctness of government accounts, the State Department said. It said Pakistan's fiscal transparency would be improved by making complete and timely information on government and government-guaranteed debt obligations publicly available, subjecting the intelligence agencies budgets to parliamentary or other civilian oversight and including substantive findings and recommendations in the supreme audit institution's audit report on the government's annual financial statements. In the report, the State Department concluded that of the 141 countries evaluated, 76, including India, met the minimum requirements of fiscal transparency. A team of researchers from the Lancet Global Health have found that maximum number of coronavirus-related deaths had a strong connection with underlying health conditions. An estimated 170 crore people, that is 22 per cent of the world's population, have at least one underlying health condition that could increase their risk of severe coronavirus if infected, according to the Lancet Global Health journal that was published recently. In India, at least 21.5 per cent of the country's population is estimated to have underlying health conditions that may increase their risk of the severe stage of coronavirus, if infected, Lancet Study said. However, if all individuals aged 50 years or older are counted who do not have any underlying condition, then the share of the global population at risk increases to 34 per cent. According to Lancet, individuals at increased risk of COVID infection were most sensitive to the prevalence of chronic kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory diseases. The study added that the risk of severe COVID-19 was higher in older individuals and those with underlying health conditions. Moreover, males were twice as likely to be at high risk than females for coronavirus infection. As per the study, "There was approximate twice the number of males at high risk than females in all age groups younger than 65 years". Besides, among the estimated 34.9 crore people, 4 per cent of the global population, would require hospital admission if infected. Since there is no coronavirus vaccine, the Lancet study said countries, especially the populated ones, must adopt intensive physical distancing measures. According to the study, "This approach could be especially important at times and places where health systems risk being overwhelmed by cases". The authors based their estimates on disease prevalence data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, UN population estimates for 2020, and the list of underlying health conditions relevant to COVID-19 as defined by current guidelines. As per the latest data by the John Hopkins University, the deadly virus has infected nearly 7.82 million people and has caused 432,000 of deaths. Also read: India-China tensions: One officer, 2 jawans die after clash with Chinese troops Also read: India's small businesses face existential crisis due to COVID-19: CRISIL The mayor of a small town in California's wine country announced Tuesday that she's resigning amid public outcry over her initial dismissal of the Black Lives Matter movement. Healdsburg Mayor Leah Gold voiced support for her community in a statement posted to Facebook and said she's stepping down to give a person of color the chance to take over role on the all-white City Council. "Although I feel positively about my contributions and have many loyal supporters, Im certain there are also many BIPOC members of our community who could serve our city well," she wrote. "As Ive considered how I can help Healdsburg advance in racial justice during this critical juncture, I believe that one of the ways I can contribute is by creating a space for a person of color to join the City Council." Healdsburg is a town of about 12,000; roughly 70% of the population is white and 30% Latino. Gold first came under fire earlier this month when she opted to not make the issue of police reform an agenda item at a City Council meeting. At a June 1 meeting held online, Councilmember Joe Naujokas asked the council to schedule a discussion about police use of force in the community. "We dont have that particular problem in Healdsburg, because we have a very good police chief who is on top of these issues and trains his staff in appropriate conflict-resolution methods," Gold said. "To me, its a solution looking for a problem." In days following the meeting, Gold faced a torrent of criticism, and many residents called her office and wrote letters expressing frustration. Healdsburg resident Elena Halvorsen sent a letter to the mayor, saying, "We need more from our elected officials than a complete denial of an issue that many in our town encounter on a daily basis. To say that racism is not a problem in Healdsburg is putting your white privilege on full display. Our own school district has spent three years working to dismantle the systematic racism in our school system and we are only at the beginning of that journey." Halvorsen received a short response from Gold and shared it in a Facebook post that has been shared more than 200 times. Gold wrote, "Dear Elena, I really dont know how to respond to your misplaced outrage and the hyperbolic tone of your letter. Perhaps after you have cooled down a bit we can arrange a civil phone conversation." After the June 1 meeting, another resident, Jessica Pilling, started a Change.org petition calling for Gold's resignation; it has been signed more than 1,800 times. Gold responded to the outcry with a Facebook statement posted on June 6. "I have reflected on the conversations I have had and the letters I have received, and I understand now that my initial response to this was inappropriate," Gold wrote. "I was speaking off the cuff and within a narrow band at the Council meeting, on the question of whether excessive use of force is an issue in the Healdsburg Police Department. But clearly, the public is engaged in a much broader conversation." She went on: "Systemic racism can take many forms. As a white woman of privilege, I don't experience that racism, and need to be mindful that it gives me blindspots. As the Mayor of Healdsburg, this is a time when I, along with everyone else in our city government, need to be listening, and learning." The call for the mayor's resignation continued at the City Council meeting on Monday, June 15. A letter was read by three people citing multiple reasons why the mayor should resign, including her "silencing of the underrepresented community in Healdsburg," "urging the city to refrain from public demonstration taking place across the country," and "initially silencing an important agenda item on use of force" at a council meeting. "Your subsequent behavior and communications following these events are further evidence your reluctance to lend a humble ear to your constituents," a speaker said. Gold gave her resignation date as June 30. In her statement, she said she signed the Mayors Pledge started by the Obama Foundation to investigate and reform police use-of-force policies. She also said at the Monday council meeting that the police chief offered a plan to fill two open officer positions with licensed clinical social workers. "I fully support the Black Lives Matter movement and am eager to consider and adopt policies that advance its goals," Gold wrote in her resignation statement. "This is what democracy looks like," Pilling said. "This is what happens when people speak up for what is right and demand change. It was clear and disappointing Leah did not want to do the work, so it is right for her to step down and open a space for someone else who does. "We need all white people to step up and do the work. This is a step in the right direction, and should be lauded, although there is still a lot of work ahead." Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe has introduced a resolution calling for the impeachment of Gov. Tom Wolf. Metcalfe, a Butler County Republican, introduced the resolution Tuesday. The resolution has 24 co-sponsors. Republican lawmakers, who control the General Assembly, have clashed with the Democratic governors management during the coronavirus crisis. GOP lawmakers have argued Wolfs actions have crippled the states economy and they say he has regularly exceeded his authority. While these are certainly unprecedented and chaotic times, Gov. Tom Wolf must be held accountable for his actions that have harmed so many of our citizens and violated so many of our rights," Metcalfe said in a statement released Tuesday. Wolfs unconstitutional dictates and Orwellian overreach into our lives and the marketplace has caused immeasurable harm and hardship for far more Pennsylvanians than the virus!" The resolutions title: A Resolution impeaching Thomas W. Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania, for misbehavior in office. Metcalfe began circulating a memo in May to draw support for impeaching Wolf. Other state lawmakers signing on as sponsors of the resolution include Reps. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon; Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin; Dawn W. Keefer, R-York; Mark K. Keller, R-Cumberland/Perry; Dan Moul, R-Adams; Francis Ryan, R-Lebanon; and David H. Zimmerman, R-Lancaster. Bill Patton, a House Democratic spokesman, defended Wolfs leadership in the crisis. The governors doing the job he was elected to do and the last thing the state needs right now is a circus sideshow," Patton said. "House Democrats will give this political stunt no more attention that it deserves. Lyndsay Kensinger, a spokeswoman for the governor, said the steady decline in new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks shows the benefit of Wolfs careful approach to reopening Pennsylvania. She noted other states are seeing spikes in cases due to reopening too quickly. This is just the latest example of the House Republicans wasting time instead of helping to protect Pennsylvanians during this public health crisis," Kensinger wrote in an email. Over the past three months, Governor Wolf has made very difficult decisions to combat this pandemic and to protect the life and health of all Pennsylvanians, she wrote. To reopen our commonwealth, the governor, based on the advice of expert epidemiologists and public health officials, has instituted a measured, phased-in approach so as not to undo our hard work and as outlined in the governors announcement last Friday, this reopening plan is succeeding. Polls have shown strong support for Wolfs leadership during the pandemic, even as he has imposed measures such as shutting down businesses and schools to stem the spread of the virus. Statewide, nearly 80,000 people have contracted the coronavirus and more than 6,200 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. More than two-thirds of those deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. The number of new cases has dropped in recent weeks, which Wolf has attributed to people to practicing social distancing and taking the virus seriously. Nonetheless, Metcalfe said the deaths in nursing homes and the loss of more than 2 million jobs under Wolfs administration are indefensible. His resolution includes five articles calling for Wolfs removal from office. Last week, the GOP-controlled General Assembly passed a resolution that directs Wolf to issue a proclamation or executive order to end the coronavirus disaster emergency. Wolf has vowed to veto the measure, but Republican lawmakers argue he lacks the authority to do so. The battle is expected to be decided in the courts. The measure comes as Wolf has gradually eased coronavirus restrictions in recent weeks. Currently, there are 46 counties in the green phase, the lease restrictive in the Wolf administrations plans to reopen the state. On Friday, Dauphin County and seven other counties move into the green phase. In Pennsylvania, the last person to be impeached was Supreme Court Justice Rolf Larsen, who was convicted of conspiring to obtain drugs via fraudulent prescriptions. That was in 1994, with the next most recent attempt at impeachment dating back to the 1930s. More from PennLive Lawmakers vote to end Pennsylvanias COVID-19 emergency disaster, but Gov. Wolf says its not over We believe theres a clear and present danger: Three Mile Island decommissioning in question One Ohio restaurant named Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf its employee of the month; heres why Highlights Days after TikTok clone Zynn was taken down from Google Play Store, Apples App Store has removed the app. The app was pulled from Play Store over plagiarism issues. Google had also axed a few emerging apps like Mitron and Remove China Apps before Zynn. Days after TikTok clone Zynn was taken down from Google Play Store, Apple's App Store has removed the app. The app was pulled from Play Store over plagiarism issues. Google had also axed a few emerging apps like Mitron and Remove China Apps before Zynn. "We understand this happened due to complaints raised on user-uploaded videos. This is an isolated incident that has triggered a routine investigation from Google's platform. Upon receiving the notice, we immediately removed the problematic video and blocked the user from uploading any additional videos before providing further proof of copyright," a Zynn spokesperson told The Verge As per a report published in Wired, the app was removed from Play Store after the users had alleged that their content was uploaded on Zynn without their consent. Some users have also noticed that their accounts were cloned completely on the Zynn app. Right from their name, pictures to videos had appeared on the clone app and the people had no inkling how their content was transported to the Zynn app. Although Google had removed Zynn from Play Store, Apple still kept it. A spokesperson of Zynn had even told The Verge that the company is "in communication with both Google and Apple to ensure compliance with their guidelines and regulations." Zynn debuted in the US in the first week of May and became the most-downloaded app within days of its launch. The app was made available on Google Play Store and App Store. In both platforms, it featured under the top ten most downloaded app. The TikTok clone also gained followers rapidly due to its reward programme, which was something no app offered. The users apparently got paid for watching videos on the app and for also making other users download the app. As the Wired report, users got $1 for joining the app, $20 for getting another user to join the app, and $10 for making five other users join the app "We didn't want to pay giant corporations like Facebook or Google so we used the exact same amount of money to pay our frontline users instead. Our app will only have value and significance with a large number of users on it," a Zynn spokesperson had told The Financial Times about its reward programme. Apple and Google are yet to issue an official statement about the removal of the app The Court of Appeal has upheld the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Oshiomhole was suspended by the APC in Edo State in what is part of his battle with the state governor, Godwin Obaseki. An Abuja high court, in March, also ruled that his suspension was legal and ordered Mr Oshiomhole to stop parading himself as APC national chairman. The suspension was initially lifted after the appellate court granted a stay of execution of the high courts order. The appeal court, on Tuesday, however, ruled that Mr Oshiomholes suspension was valid. This throws a new twist into the Edo APC crisis as the party prepares for the governorship election. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Obaseki announced his resignation from the APC, a decision that further ehoes the current state of the party in the state. The Ruling In a unanimous judgment on the first appeal delivered by Justice Eunice Onyemanam, the court held that the trial court had territorial jurisdiction to have entertained the suit as it did. The court also withdrew Mr Oshiomholes rights and privileges as national chairman of the party including his security details. The appeal court predicated its decision on the ground that Mr Oshiomhole as the first appellant is based in Abuja while the APC also had its national headquarters in Abuja. In the judgment in the second appeal delivered by Justice Mohammed Lamido, the court held that there was no basis for the two appellants to hold that they were denied fair hearing during proceedings at the trial court. It further held that the suspension of Mr Oshiomhole from Ward 10 of Etsako local government of Edo was ratified at the ward, local government and state level as required by law. The identity of those who suspended Oshiomhole was not in doubt because in there unchallenged affidavit they made it clear that they were party members and officers of the party, therefore the appeal lacks merit, the court held. In the two dismissed appeals, Mr Oshiomhole and the APC were the appellants. On March 4, Danlami Senchi, a judge of the FCT High Court in Abuja, ordered the suspension of Mr Oshiomhole as national chairman pending the determination of a suit filed by one Oluwale Afolabi. Mr Senchi said it was wrong of the APC to have kept Mr Oshiomhole as chairman after he was suspended by the Edo chapter of the party. But Mr Oshiomhole approached the court of appeal seeking a stay of execution of the judgement. Feud The feud between the embattled Edo State governor and his mentor-turned-rival has been on for more than a year with different twists and turns. As envisaged, but in an alleged payback slot, the embattled governor was controversially disqualified alongside two other aspirants by the partys screening committee based on discrepancies noticed in their submitted credentials on Friday. Since he (Oshiomhole) is the judge and the jury in this matter I do not believe that I will get justice because Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is an interested party in the Edo process, Mr Obaseki had told journalists barely 24 hour before his disqualification was announced. While Mr Oshiomhole insisted that the committee has been fair in its judgement, many have accused him of being behind the suspension. Mr Buhari has been silent on the Edo governors plight even after the latter visited him in Abuja. This was followed by Mr Obasekis suspicious visits to a couple of governors from the main opposition party, PDP, in a bid to fly the partys ticket in Edo state. Advertisements Despite the affirmation of Mr Oshiomholes suspension by the court, the fate of Mr Obaseki is much in the wind. Whether he would return to the APC as a result of this latest court injunction or forge ahead in his new alliance with the PDP for the ticket is uncertain. Meanwhile, the Edo State branch of the PDP has maintained its stance of no automatic governorship ticket for the governor even if he joins with his supporters. I can confirm to you that the governor, his deputy and the entire APC structure in the state will be joining PDP soon. However, I am not yet aware that the governor has obtained our partys membership card. I can also say that there is no automatic ticket in the offing for him at all, the Chairman of the PDP in Edo, Tony Aziegbemi, said on Monday. The party had slated June 22 for its direct mode of primary in the state while Nigerias electoral body, INEC, had fixed September 19 for the Edo 2020 governorship election. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Ankara, Turkey Tue, June 16, 2020 08:18 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf01f64 2 World Turkey,coronavirus,COVID-19,novel-coronavirus,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,COVID-19-infection,pandemic Free Turkey's health minister on Monday warned citizens against complacency as daily coronavirus cases doubled compared with figures in early June. The country registered 1,592 new cases and 18 COVID-19 deaths for the past 24 hours, Fahrettin Koca said on his official Twitter account. There were 786 infections in a 24-hour period on June 2. At the height of the pandemic, Turkey recorded over 5,000 daily cases in April. Koca's tweets often remonstrate those ignoring the continued dangers from the pandemic. In capital letters, he wrote on Monday: "The increases are intensifying in certain areas" but did not offer further information. "Will it be complacency or a fight? We will be able to control the spread if we all adhere to the mask and distancing rule," Koca added in lower case lettering. In recent weeks, Turkey has allowed intercity travel including the resumption of domestic flights, reopened cafes and restaurants, and ended weekend lockdowns. With the latest figures, Turkey's fatalities have reached 4,825 and the total number of cases are nearly 180,000. Between April and late May, Turkey was under weekend curfews as the government sought to avoid a full lockdown like in France in a bid to keep the economy going. The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) raised concerns last week over the move to ease restrictions as the reality of the situation in Turkey was not made clear. "We haven't been able to fully overcome the first wave yet," Cavit Isik Yavuz, a member of the TTB's group focused on coronavirus, said during an online press conference. The TTB said on June 12 there was "no evidence" the outbreak had been brought under control, contradicting Turkish officials' statements last month. Interpreting EmotionArt: a captivating book of evoking art that exudes with the resounding yearning to triumph over feebleness and paves a way for wisdom and strength in times of overwhelming doubt and heartache. Interpreting EmotionArt is the creation of published author Monica Ibarra-Robbins, a passionate and expressive writer and artist. Monica shares, What is EmotionArt? Why use art as a form of expression? How do you feel if you do not express your feelings? In Interpreting EmotionArt, Monica shares powerful images and words that depict her emotions during a challenging time in her life. Monica discovered the healing tool of art. Creativity was a healthy alternative to express her hidden feelings. Interpreting EmotionArt illuminates your vulnerable side and touches the deep emotional energy stirring within your being. Monica invites you to browse or study the images and words. You may identify and use them as your personal healing source. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Monica Ibarra-Robbinss new book perfectly captures the deepest hopes of humanity through vibrant, rending strokes and narratives that relate to the heart and enrapture the soul. Readers will surely be touched with emotionally driven images and realizations that greatly articulate the bliss and melancholy in life. View the synopsis of Interpreting EmotionArt on YouTube. Consumers can purchaseInterpreting EmotionArt at traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Interpreting EmotionArt, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. One of the recent new COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba in the past five days involves a person experiencing homelessness now being housed in a coronavirus self-isolation shelter for vulnerable people. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. One of the recent new COVID-19 cases reported in Manitoba in the past five days involves a person experiencing homelessness now being housed in a coronavirus self-isolation shelter for vulnerable people. A source told the Free Press the woman in her 30s tested positive June 10 at the COVID-19 testing site at Thunderbird House on Main Street, and is now isolating. On Monday, Manitobas chief provincial health officer wouldnt confirm nor deny such details. "Well make information public whenever we feel that its putting Manitobans at risk," said Dr. Brent Roussin. "Thats been the message all along." Roussin has thus far in the pandemic refused to identify places or businesses where COVID-19 cases occur, unless theres a problem identifying and contacting those who may have come into contact with an infected person and contracted the virus. "If many Manitobans were exposed, and were unlikely to have a method to reach contacts or identify contacts, then were going to announce that," he said. "In these cases, thats not the case, and thats why any further details arent necessary to protect Manitobans." No new COVID-19 cases were reported Monday. Since the isolation site opened April 10, 140 homeless individuals have used it while awaiting test results, said Main Street Project communications coordinator Cindy Titus. "Of this number, one has tested positive and the isolation site has provided further 14-day quarantine support for this individual," Titus said in an email late Monday. She wouldnt provide any further information about the individual. Roussin said the four most recent COVID-19 cases are all in the Winnipeg region, including a woman in her 30s. He said her case was reported June 12, and she had travelled from Ontario, had limited contact with others and was self-isolating. On the weekend, there were three cases reported: two men in their 30s on Saturday, and one man in his 20s on Sunday all were household contacts of another recent case. When asked if the COVID-19 isolation shelter for those who need a safe place to stay received any more guests in the last week, Shared Health nursing chief Lanette Siragusa said there were, but she didnt have a number. Shared Health said its "alternative isolation accommodation program" provides support for health-care workers and others who cannot safely self-isolate at home, or for vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness awaiting test results or who have tested positive. For the week of June 3-9, the most recent figures available, 13 people were accepted into the shelter program, a Shared Health spokesman said. Occupancy at the end of the week stood at 11. By comparison, 10 people were accepted into the shelter program the previous week, with 11 referrals throughout the week. The isolation shelter is keeping people safe, preventing the possible spread of the virus, and giving people an opportunity to improve their health, Main Street Project officials said. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Several clients have secured housing and several have taken advantage of (Main Streets) withdrawal-management services and transferred into those program," said Titus. The province has been less forthcoming about COVID-19 cases, refusing to identify where a cluster occurred other than by health region, not naming personal care homes with confirmed cases, and not making public data on First Nations people getting tested until the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs agreed to it. That lack of transparency in a public health crisis especially when it comes to vulnerable and marginalized groups was questioned by an out-of-province epidemiologist and legal expert. "Granted, one does not want to further stigmatize the homeless as disease carriers, but one also does not want the elected nabobs obscuring that Winnipegs inequality gambles with their lives," said Amir Attaran, a professor in the faculties of law and School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa. "The rationale of non-disclosure because there is no risk to the public is, however, specious," Attaran said Monday. "The cases in elder care homes present no risk to the public either. But if they disclose those, then why not this?" carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Turkey developed a plan for a possible invasion of Greece named after an 11th century Turkish military commander, Nordic Monitor reported citing secret documents, ARMENPRESS reports, citing the Jerusalem Post. The documents were part of a PowerPoint presentation that was supposedly planned by the Turkish general staff for internal planning review. Titled TSK Cakabey Harekat Planlama Direktifi (Turkish Armed Forces Cakabey Operation Planning Directive), the presentation was dated June 13, 2014. According to the Nordic Monitor report, this suggests the plan was likely updated and finalized after a review of some earlier draft, and that the plan could still be active. Also included in the same document were plans to invade Armenia, the operation in this case being titled TSK Altay Harekat Planlama Direktifi, which was dated August 15, 2000. The documents were exchanged by top general staff commanders via a secure internal email system, the news portal reported. They appear to have been accidentally leaked in a court case file in Ankara that prosecutor Serdar Coskun submitted to the court as part of an investigation into the failed military coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July 2016. All of the general staff's emails from the two months preceding the coup were seized by the prosecution. The general staff had panicked over the possible leaking of the classified documents and urged the court to allow the documents to be screened before being presented. It appears, however, that the prosecutors ignored these concerns, the Nordic Monitor reported. However, while the plans were named in the document, any specific details were omitted, likely being classified and therefore not shared through the network. It is believed that the plans were prepared as a contingency regarding developments in Syria, in order to maintain offensive and deterrence capabilities on the Western front while moving troops, according to Nordic Monitor. The inspiration for the operation's name, Caka Bey, better known as Chaka Bey and Tzachas, was a Seljuk Turk military commander and ruler of an independent state based in modern day Izmir. Chaka Bey was originally a commander in the service of the Byzantine Empire, but rebelled and began seizing power through conquest. At one point, he even declared himself Byzantine emperor. Chaka Bey is a much revered figure in Turkey, with the Turkish Naval Command listing him as the first Turkish admiral and founder of the first modern Turkish navy; there is even a statue of him in their museum in Istanbul, the Nordic Monitor reported. The revelations also come in the wake of renewed anti-Greek rhetoric on the part of the Erdogan regime, which according to the report it has been scaling up since 2013, giving the example of a March 2019 announcement publicly supporting calls to convert the Hagia Sophia from a museum back into a mosque which they announced as a response to US President Donald Trump's recognition of Israeli sovereignty of the Golan Heights and east Jerusalem. The decision sparked backlash from Greece, with the building having had a long history as a Greek Orthodox cathedral before being converted into a mosque following Ottoman conquest of the city. It was converted into a museum in 1935. Greek Foreign Minister George Katrougalos criticized Erdogan's remarks at the time, saying: "Any questioning of this status is not just an insult to the sentiments of Christians, it is an insult to the international community and international law," according the Middle East Eye. They also come amid Turkey's attempts to increase its sphere of influence in the region, including its involvement in conflicts in Syria and Libya. Rise in adoption of handheld devices & smartphones for enterprise computing and increase in demand for virtualization have boosted the growth of the global cloud-based VDI market. The market across North America held the largest share in 2016, contributing to more than two-fifths of the market. Portland, OR, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rise in adoption of handheld devices & smartphones for enterprise computing and increase in demand for virtualization have boosted the growth of the global cloud-based VDI market. The market across North America held the largest share in 2016, contributing to more than two-fifths of the market. As per the report published by Allied Market Research, the global cloud-based VDI market was pegged at $3.65 billion in 2016, and is anticipated to garner at $10.15 billion by 2023, registering at a CAGR of 16.5% from 2017 to 2023. Rise in adoption of handheld devices & smartphones for enterprise computing and increase in demand for virtualization have boosted the growth of the global cloud-based VDI market. However, lack of IT infrastructure in underdeveloped nations hampers the market growth. On the contrary, rise in adoption of hybrid cloud solutions and increase in adoption of cloud-based solutions are expected to create lucrative opportunities for the market players in the coming years. Download Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6267 Covid-19 scenario: The advent of Covid-19 has significantly impacted the global cloud-based VDI industry. The cancellation of Mobile World Congress has hugely affected the market revenue as at such international shows products and solutions get the biggest exposure and companies get a chance to meet new clients and seal new partnerships. During this pandemic, organizations are reluctant to invest big capital on new business models, hiring workforce, rather every addition expense apart from essentials, which will hamper the market growth. However, due to the trend of work from home, cloud-based solutions are expected to witness increased demand. Story continues Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Telecom Analytics Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/6267?reqfor=covid The global cloud-based VDI market is divided on the basis of deployment model, user type, end user, and geography. Based on deployment model, the market is segmented into private, public, and hybrid. The hybrid deployment model segment held the largest share in 2016, owing to the availability of computational infrastructure on the premise. On the basis of user type, the market is categorized into SMEs and large enterprise. The SMEs segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period, owing to rise in demand for unlimited storage, protected networks, and reduced IT expenditure. Based on end user, the market is classified into BFSI, education, healthcare, government, IT & telecom, and others. The global cloud-based VDI market is analyzed across several regions such as North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and LAMEA. The market across North America held the largest share in 2016, contributing to more than two-fifths of the market. However, the market across Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of 18.8% during the study period. For Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/6267 The global cloud-based VDI market report includes an in-depth analysis of the major market players such as Cisco Systems, Amazon Web Services, Inc., Dell Inc., Citrix Systems, Inc., IBM Corporation, HP Development Company, L.P., NComputing Co. LTD, Microsoft Corporation, Rackspace, Inc., and VMware. Access AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Avenue is a user-based library of global market report database, provides comprehensive reports pertaining to the world's largest emerging markets. It further offers e-access to all the available industry reports just in a jiffy. By offering core business insights on the varied industries, economies, and end users worldwide, Avenue ensures that the registered members get an easy as well as single gateway to their all-inclusive requirements. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter About Us: 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. 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. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: 1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on: LinkedIn Twitter The coronavirus pandemic has led to many mandated lockdowns on non-essential businesses, as a result, nail salons nationwide have been closed for the last few months. This has taken a serious toll on many small business owners and their staff. Now, several states, including Colorado, Texas, Georgia, California and New York, have begun the road to recovery in reopening nail salons. This is good news for dedicated customers who are longing to experience the privilege of having their nails professionally groomed again -- but it doesn't come without questions about safety. MORE: Salon owner defends decision to reopen: 'I could create a sterile environment' "Salons need a plan to ensure that they can reopen while minimizing the risks," Nicole Hallett, an associate clinical professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School, told "GMA." Hallett said that all manicurists should be asking their employers how they plan to protect workers and customers from viral transmission. Without a doubt, salons will look different than they did before the pandemic, and they will have a number of safety precautions for employees and clients. How have salons reopened amid COVID-19? While there are many states that have yet to announce a hard date on reopening nail salons, there are others such as Colorado, Texas and Georgia that have already been reopened for the past few weeks. Base Coat Nail Salon has three Denver-based flagship locations that have begun reopening with a host of new guidelines that include (but aren't limited to) keeping stations six feet apart, keeping acrylic guard sets in place and using plastic chair coverings. Co-founder Trans Wills says the decision to open didn't come without hesitation. "I was definitely taken back when the Colorado shelter at-home order was lifted on May 8 for nail and hair salons -- especially before restaurants. Cases in Colorado were still rising at the time and we were also not getting strong guidelines or guidance from the Colorado Board of Cosmetology or our local health department. We were just not comfortable with reopening," said Wills. Story continues "As a company that cares deeply about our guests and employees we made the decision to delay opening on June 1, even though we felt ready to open with all the necessary new safety and health guidelines we put in place and PPE to protect our guests and employees and follow the CDC Guidelines," Wills added. MORE: Here's how hair salons are reopening amid COVID-19 Prior to opening, Base Coat Nail Salon staff also went through "COVID-19 employee training" and have become Barbicide and Milady certified to assure every staffer has the education needed to keep every tool and station as clean as possible. Each guest will now also go through a three-step guest sanitation process which includes a symptom screening, hand sanitizing with 70% alcohol sanitizer and hand washing at a designated sink before being seated with his/her nail artist. Dallas-based Verbena Parlor, which offers nail, facial and waxing services, also released reopening plans which include regular COVID-19 testing for staff. "Each employee must have a negative COVID-19 test result, which we coordinated and paid for," Verbena Parlor founder Ashley Tran told "GMA." She also explained that all staff must now be Barbicide certified, wearing a KN95 mask at all times in the salon and wearing eye protection during services. Staff must also dispose of gloves after each service, sanitize all surfaces prior to the next client in addition to washing and sanitizing hands prior to service. "Employees are not allowed to come to work if they have any symptoms lists on the CDC website," Tran said. MORE: Show your Pride Month spirit with this fun nail art look -- full breakdown included! Additionally, Verbena Parlour's new guidelines will include customer temperature checks prior to service. Many salons are also requiring masks to be worn at all times by employees and staff. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Simone Wildes told "GMA" that it will be difficult to maintain the six feet apart rule for social distancing while in nail salons, and she believes face shields should be worn by employees and customers for additional protection. Wildes also said it would be best to limit the number of areas one touches while in the salon and to wash one's hands frequently or use hand sanitizer when one enters and leave the salon. How to keep safe at nail salons amid COVID-19: - Make an appointment ahead of time as there will be limits on how many people can be in salons at a time. - Wear your mask for the duration of your visit. - Wash your hands before and after salon services. - Practice social distancing while visiting salons. Red flags to watch for: - Overcrowding - Individuals not wearing masks - Surfaces not being cleaned thoroughly between each client - Staff not washing hands or sanitizing between customers "If you feel that the salon is not adequately prepared for reopening, then you should wait to have service done," she said. "It is best to have your self-care when you feel safe and secure in your environment and with the provider of your services." Upcoming openings Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that businesses in several regions of New York are now being given the green light to move toward phase three reopening. This includes nails salons. California's Gov. Gavin Newsom also gained a lot of attention when announcing nail salons, tattoo parlors and hair salons could get back to business starting on June 19, under the California Department of Public Health guidelines. Others states have been rolling out plan as well on a weekly basis. Nail salons are reopening: Heres what to know and how to stay safe originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com SPRINGFIELD Mayor Domenic J. Sarno on Tuesday announced his decision to rescind the reinstatement of five police officers who were suspended without pay after they were criminally charged in the Nathan Bills off-duty cop brawl case. Sarno said the decision was among several steps to to address and better race relations in the city, including the creation of an Office of Racial Equity. I meant no disrespect or any ill intent to our Black Community on the reinstatement of five officers, who were involved in the Nathan Bills incident, because of the shortage in our police ranks due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic this was a mistake, Sarno said in a statement. In turn, I have asked Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood to re-suspend these five officers until their cases are completely adjudicated by Attorney General Maura Healey. The announcement comes two months after Police Commissioner Cheryl C. Clapprood announced her decision to reinstate the officers. All were on-duty in April 2015, when a verbal dispute erupted in the popular city bar which prompted a physical fight between off-duty officers and a group of civilians in a parking lot down the street. The affected five responded to two calls that night; none were accused in participating in the fight. Sarnos announcement came one day after he held a community forum on race relations that was boycotted by Bishop Talbert Swan, president of the Greater Springfield NAACP, and a number of city councilors. The turnabout also comes amid a powder keg international climate over race relations and civil rights following the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police during an arrest over an alleged misdemeanor. Floyds death and other police killings of black man have sparked massive protests in cities across the globe, including in Springfield. Sarno and Clapprood previously rebuffed criticism from the NAACP, Springfield Urban League, and city councilors of color when she reinstated the five officers: Shavonne Lewis, Darren Nguyen, Derrick Gentry-Mitchell, James DAmour and John Wajdula. All were accused of trying to cover up their off-duty colleagues participation in the parking lot fracas, which they deny. Of the five, three are minorities. However, the long-running criminal investigation has been held high as an example of abuse of power by local police. Of the alleged combatants, witnesses said the off-duty officers were white while the civilians were black. Initially, 14 current or former Springfield police officers were indicted in connection with the case. Prosecutions against three were eventually dismissed. The officers accused in the fight remain suspended without pay. Clapprood cited financial hardships for the officers, depleted staffing levels amid the pandemic and the drawn-out nature of the investigation by the state attorney generals office and the FBI. A series of trials was set to begin in the case at the end of March, until the pandemic hit and crippled the court system, delaying jury trials until as late as 2021. Related Content: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it evacuated 16 wounded civilians from the attacks in Monguno and Nganzai, Borno State, to its surgical facility at Maiduguri State Hospital for care. The ICRC, in a statement posted on its website, said the evacuation was done with the support of the Nigeria Red Cross Society. We evacuated 16 wounded civilians, including four women, by helicopter on Sunday to ICRC surgical facility at Maiduguri State hospital for care. The attacks in Monguno and Nganzai in Nigerias Borno State on Saturday are the latest example of the deadly toll the conflict has on civilians. Dozens of people were killed and injured, many of them women and children, and humanitarian infrastructure was destroyed, said ICRC. According to the statement, one of the patients sadly passed away upon arrival and the other 15 were treated on Sunday and Monday and are now in the recovery stage. The statement quoted, Markus Dolder, the ICRCs head of sub-delegation in Maiduguri, as saying: This tragic attack is a stark reminder that the conflict in north-east Nigeria cannot be forgotten amidst the pandemic. Violence continues to drive suffering, death, and displacement, all while our ability to respond is made more complicated by COVID-19. ICRC, however, expressed concerns over the humanitarian situation in the state and that the health facility had been over stressed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The influx of patients injured in the attack adds an additional stress to health care facilities in Monguno that were weakened by the protracted armed conflict and struggle to prepare for the pandemic. Our team in Monguno received reports that a local hospital ran out of essential items to stabilise patients, such as tramadol, gauze and bandages. Among patients treated in Monguno hospital are women and young children. Treating mass casualties is more complicated amidst COVID-19 as hospital beds need to be spaced out to reduce the risk of spreading the disease. The surge in patients yesterday made it extremely difficult for the ICRC to ensure physical distancing in the ward. Many of the civilians injured and killed in the attack were already uprooted from their homes because of the conflict and had been enduring hardship in Monguno for many years, it stated. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 10,300 people with weapon injuries received surgical care from the ICRC in 2019 at Maiduguri State Hospital. The ICRC is supporting a primary health care centre in a displacement camp in Monguno. The clinic was caught in the crossfire during the Saturday attack after surviving a fire that spread in the camp two weeks earlier. (NAN) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Indian stock markets, reeling under the worst bear onslaught in more than a decade, are now battling a growing trend of widely held companies getting delisted as angry promoters take advantage of near record-low valuations and beaten-down stock prices. Four companies metals & mining giant Vedanta, software firm Hexaware, electricity producer Adani Power and manufacturing MNC Ingersoll Rand have informed exchanges and investors of their intention to go private in the past one month alone. There are more in the pipeline, investment bankers, who spoke to CNBC Awaaz on the condition of anonymity, revealed. "The timing is perfect for delisting. The backs of investors have been broken," said one investment banker, who has helped several such promoters over the past two decades. "These objectives were there for many years and todays correction helps the move." Indias main index, the 50-share Nifty has fallen 21 percent from its peak of 12,430 points hit on 20 January. Its sharp fall hides an ugly reality - more than 140 stocks in the Nifty500 are trading at a deep discount to book value, their intrinsic worth, an analysis by CNBC Awaaz showed. Many other indices are quoting at record lows, some exceeding a decade. The economic impact of COVID-19 runs into trillions of dollars and Indias economy hasnt remained untouched over the past three months. Vedanta, owned by billionaire Anil Agarwal, is quoting 78 percent below its all-time high of about Rs 470. Similarly, Adani Power, controlled by billionaire Gautam Adani, has seen better days on stock markets. Adani Power is trading 74 percent below its record high of Rs 141. Hexaware is about 37 percent below its all-time high and Ingersoll Rand, at Rs 630 rupees, is quoting at a 40 percent discount to its record close. Indian markets are replete with blue chips trading at 10-year low valuations, making them attractive for promoters to raise stakes or buyback completely. Adding to the delisting trend are supply-chain disruptions, tepid consumer demand, increasing regulatory oversight and angry shareholders demanding dividend payouts to partially offset falling share prices, one banker said. "Promoters just want out." Many entrepreneurs use their listed stock as a currency to fund new expansions and meet working capital requirements. Pledging shares in lieu of hard cash is a normal business practice. However, with 40 shares in Nifty50 trading below their December 2019 close, this is fraught with risk. "These prices are not reflecting the true and fair value of businesses," another banker with a domestic brokerage, said. "Promoters want better prices." Multinationals are quick to smell a good deal. Global giants, especially if unlisted in their home countries, are salivating at the prospect of getting their cash-generating Indian units delisted. A falling rupee, plunging stock prices and intense regulatory scrutiny have made their decisions easier. These companies were forced to list their Indian subsidiaries in the 1960s-70s. Its payback time now. "MNCs do not want multiple listings in different jurisdictions," a banker working for a foreign brokerage said, elaborating that even a minor event at its listed Indian subsidiary has to be informed to the regulators in their country. "They see no value, only a major headache." These planned delistings and several in the pipeline form the second wave of such goodbyes. A similar tsunami hit Indian markets during 2002-2004, post the dot-com bust when MNCs such as Cadburys, Carrier Aircon, Sandvik India, Wartsila Diesel and many more went into the sunset. This. Too. Shall. Pass. ALBANY Kimani Addison and Desiree Shuman, the local couple arrested after they used their phones to record the arrest of another man two weeks ago, went to City Court Tuesday expecting to have the charges against them formally dropped. But Addison's court date was postpone and Shuman's case isn't even in the court's records system. Neither knew about the status of their case before they headed to court as instructed after their June 2 arrests. Addison said he was frustrated no one had let him know his court date was moved and questioned what happened to the charges against Shuman. "Let's figure out what this due process of law really means," he said after he left the courthouse. According to court documents reviewed by the Times Union, the police department never filed paperwork with the court system to charge Shuman. In the paperwork filed against Addison accusing him of inciting a riot, the arresting officer, Det. Michael Fargione, said Addison screamed, "That's why we need to revolt like last night." The Times Union reviewed three videos of the incident and in none of them was Addison heard saying that phrase. Instead, after Fargione told Addison to shut his mouth, Addison repeatedly yelled at him, "I can say what I want." Judge Joshua Farrell also wrote a letter to Albany police Chief Eric Hawkins telling him that in his June 9 letter to the court requesting that it drop all charges against the two, he didn't indicate that he provided Addison or Shuman with a copy, which meant the court couldn't consider his request. Addison's court date was moved to July 13. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the court system isn't doing arraignments for people who aren't in custody. Dozens of couple's supporters used the court appearances as a reason to rally against police brutality and misconduct with over 60 people gathering to demonstrate outside the Morton Avenue courthouse Tuesday morning. "It's early but we're all out here and that shows we're not going to stop until we get justice," said Legacy Casanova, a Schenectady organizer who joined the protest. Once Addison and Shuman emerged from court, demonstrators marched to the office of Albany County District Attorney David Soares, escorted by city police vehicles. Outside Soares' office, demonstrators chanted, "David, come outside," and promised that the demonstrations and protests would continue until they saw substantive changes, including charging the officers involved in Addison's and Shuman's arrest. The group then marched back to the courthouse for a prayer before breaking up. Albany police said Tuesday an internal review of the incident is still ongoing. Addison and Shuman were arrested shortly after they began recording the arrest of another man near the intersection of South Pearl and Arch streets. The incident took place days after several rallies - including two that featured clashes between police and protesters - were held in Albany to call for police reforms and an end to police brutality after the May 25 killing of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Police told Addison he was too close to the officers who were making the arrest. Addison said he initially backed up several feet to meet a detective's demands but eventually objected when the detective kept insisting he move even further away. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Addison and the detective exchanged words before the detective and several other officers grabbed Addison and arrested him. Charges dropped against man who says he was brutalized while recording an Albany arrest Police accused Addison of inciting a riot and resisting arrest. He says he was simply trying to exercise his rights by recording an arrest during a time fraught with tension over police brutality and used profanity in frustration. Before he was taken into custody, Addison said he was punched by an officer and shocked with a Taser. The incident occurred near the police department's South Station where police and protesters clashed on May 30. Shuman was also accused of resisting arrest. As videos of the arrest surfaced, Mayor Kathy Sheehan said she was troubled by the behavior of police and the city announced the charges would be dropped. The case was referred to the police departments Office of Professional Standards. The video footage does not appear to depict efforts by police to de-escalate a situation, nor it does it depict the sensitivity I expect from all city employees in this moment and every day, she said. The world's largest asset manager says it is deeply concerned about the looming destruction of ancient Aboriginal artefacts by a Chinese coal producer it has invested in with controversial plans for a mine in regional NSW. New York-based asset management titan BlackRock confirmed it holds about 202 million Hong Kong-listed shares in China Shenhua Energy, the world's largest thermal coal producer, worth approximately $474 million at current prices. About 1 million of these shares are held by BlackRock's Australian arm. The Shenhua mine in northern NSW has been opposed by farmers and traditional owners. Credit:Kate Ausburn The Chinese company is planning to mine a site near Gunnedah in northern NSW against the wishes of its traditional owners, the Gomeroi people. The open-cut coal mine site contains ancient grinding grooves that show where First Nations warriors sharpened spears as well as burial sites and sacred trees. "BlackRock is deeply concerned with this matter and will continue to engage with companies on environmental and social issues - including the protection of Indigenous heritage sites across miners operations," a fund spokesman said. President Donald Trump's resumption of his signature campaign rallies this week is intensifying criticism of his response to the biggest domestic crises of his presidency: The deadly coronavirus pandemic and widening protests over police brutality against black Americans. The June 20 rally in Tulsa, Okla., is shaping up as a nightmare scenario for public health officials. Trump plans to address supporters inside an arena that holds nearly 20,000 people, with no special capacity limits, despite concern that crowded, indoor events are ideal for transmitting the coronavirus. The campaign plans to give a mask and hand sanitizer to everyone who attends -- and require them to agree to a waiver absolving the campaign of liability if they get sick. Trump's choice of venue and date are also proving fraught as he confronts the national outcry that has followed the death of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis police custody last month. Tulsa was the site of one of the worst episodes of racial violence in U.S. history -- the 1921 Tulsa massacre, when a white mob sacked a prosperous black neighborhood. While Trump has conceded an error in the scheduling -- he bumped the rally a day to avoid holding it on Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery -- he is pressing ahead undaunted, and has said he plans to hold more of the events in other states with rising coronavirus cases, including North Carolina and Arizona. "To have an indoor rally, intentionally, at this very moment in time, is just not smart," said Michael Mina, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard's T. H. Chan School of Public Health. "It puts people at risk. I think that it is liable to cause deaths." The administration on Monday repeatedly downplayed the rising numbers of cases of covid-19 in states including Texas, Arizona, Georgia and Florida. Both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence attributed the increasing caseload to expanded testing for the virus. "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, if any," Trump told reporters at the White House. On Twitter Pence said that "despite hyperventilating by some in the media, only 11 counties out of over 3,100 are seeing a true acceleration in new Coronavirus cases & less than 2% of counties show any significant increase in cases." Pence told Fox News on Tuesday that the campaign was "looking at outside activities" given the high demand for tickets to the Tulsa event. When pressed on why the rallies aren't being held outdoors, Pence said, "You raise a good point and what I can tell you is it's all a work in progress." He praised Oklahoma for safely reopening, though the state has low but increasing case totals. "It's that common sense that Americans continue to put into practice every day, that I'm sure people will put into practice come this Saturday, that's going to keep Oklahoma and keep all of America on a trajectory of safely reopening America," Pence told Fox on Tuesday. Mina said the growing number of infections is likely due at least in part to states lifting social distancing requirements. "As social distancing measures have been lifted, increasingly in many of these areas we are seeing that no place is immune to this virus, and it will travel where people travel," he said. Oklahoma itself has had reported fewer than 10,000 cases of covid-19, among the fewest in the country and one reason Trump's campaign chose the state. But the head of Tulsa's health department has warned against the rally, and the department said in a statement Monday that it "is concerned about the safety of any large gathering of people in enclosed spaces where social distancing is difficult to maintain." The BOK Center in Tulsa, where the rally will be held, has canceled or postponed a series of other events, including concerts by Bon Jovi, KISS and Justin Bieber, over the next several weeks "in light of the ongoing covid-19 situation and out of an abundance of caution," according to its website. Other than Trump's rally, the next scheduled event is July 30. Trump has boasted about a crowd so big that it'll spill over into the nearby city convention hall, which he said holds 40,000 people. "I'm going to have 22,000 plus 40,000," he said at the White House Monday. Brad Parscale, his campaign manager, has said more than 1 million people have requested tickets. "We're going to talk about out nation, where we're going, where we've come from," Trump said. "And I can tell you on covid or coronavirus or whatever you want to call it, plenty of names, tremendous progress is being made." Though Tulsa hasn't experienced the kinds of protests, riots and looting that have convulsed some U.S. cities this month, the arrest earlier this month of a pair of teenagers who the police said were jaywalking has evoked many of the same questions driving unrest across the U.S. A major in the Tulsa Police Department is also under fire for saying in a radio interview that police shoot black people "less than we probably ought to be based on the crimes." In the same interview, he denied the existence of systemic racism. Trump and his supporters have pointed to the nationwide protests as an excuse for him to resume his rallies, arguing that if it's safe enough for Americans to demonstrate on city streets against the police, he can invite thousands of his supporters to join him in arenas to build enthusiasm for his reelection. Health officials have regularly warned that the virus spreads more easily indoors. Yet the Tulsa World newspaper said in an editorial on Monday that "this is the wrong time and Tulsa is the wrong place for the Trump rally." "We can't see any way that his visit will be good for the city," the paper said. "The public health concern would apply whether it were Donald Trump, Joe Biden or anyone else." Parscale said Monday on Twitter that everyone attending the rally at the BOK Center, which is owned by the city, would have their temperature checked in addition to being issued masks and sanitizer. There's no indication that attendees will be required or encouraged to wear the masks, however -- Trump has never worn a mask in public and has mocked Biden for taking the precaution. Meredith Matone, the scientific director of PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, said in an interview on Monday that political rallies were "something where individuals are going to have to make their own risk assessment." "I myself would not attend a rally without a mask and the ability to physically distance from people," she said. But there's no sign Trump is considering rescheduling the gathering again and it's unlikely anyone else would cancel it. A spokeswoman for the city of Tulsa said the event was the responsibility of Trump's campaign and the firm that manages the arena. "Every entity has the same access and constitutional right to hold events in public spaces," spokeswoman Michelle Brooks said. A spokeswoman for the arena's manager declined to comment. City officials have scheduled a news conference for Wednesday regarding the virus. The city's mayor and Oklahoma's governor, both Republicans, have generally supported the Trump rally, with caveats. Mayor G.T. Bynum encouraged the campaign to have "enhanced hygiene considerations for attendees" but that the city would "protect the free and peaceful exchange of ideas." "I am excited to host the president on Saturday, June 20, as we celebrate restarting our economy and getting Oklahomans back to work," the governor, Kevin Stitt, said in a statement last week. And Oklahoma's lone Democrat in Congress, Representative Kendra Horn, stopped short of criticizing the president for holding the rally. She instead urged him to avoid divisive rhetoric "as our nation faces the health and economic consequences of a deadly pandemic and grapples with the tragic reality of systemic racism." UN calls for end to 'cruel' 'conversion therapy' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The United Nations is urging nations around the world to ban what opponents call conversion therapy, which involves therapy for those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction and gender confusion, saying it can amount to torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. A U.N. report says conversion therapy is an umbrella term to describe interventions of a wide-ranging nature, all of which are premised on the belief that a persons sexual orientation and gender identity, including gender expression, can and should be changed or suppressed when they do not fall under what other actors in a given setting and time perceive as the desirable norm, in particular when the person is lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or gender diverse. The report, released in May, suggests that conversion therapy constitutes cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment when it is conducted forcibly or without an individuals consent and may amount to torture depending on the circumstances, namely the severity of physical and mental pain and suffering inflicted. All practices of conversion therapy, it adds, take as a point of departure the belief that sexually diverse or gender-diverse persons are somehow inferior morally, spiritually or physically than their heterosexual and cisgender siblings and must modify their orientation or identity to remedy that inferiority. The report goes on to say that children most often undergo practices of conversion therapy as a result of the desire of parents or guardians to have them conform to expectations, either theirs or their communities, regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. These therapies, the U.N. says, are, in many cases, a lucrative business for providers around the world. In the United States, the cost for a single episode of conversion therapy may range from no cost to $26,000. American psychological organizations have also rejected it as harmful and several left-leaning states, beginning with California, have banned it for minors. While 20 states and the District of Columbia have passed bans on conversion therapy for youth, which have so far survived legal challenges, some localities that had similar measures have repealed them in light of litigation. New York City decided last September it would move to repeal its ban on the practice following litigation brought by the Alliance Defending Freedom on behalf of a licensed psychotherapist. In May 2018, a small group of former LGBT individuals held a rally in Washington, D.C., to spread awareness of their community days before Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed a bill banning conversion therapy into law. Known as The Freedom March, the event was organized by Jeffrey McCall, who formerly identified as gay and then transgender. This country does not give a platform to people that have come out of the LGBTQ life. They just always talk about conversion therapy and try to make it sound like its all about hurting people, explained McCall in an earlier interview with The Christian Post. But what I want people to know is all of these stories that will be told at the Freedom March are so unique. Every single story is different but its completely wrapped in love. He further stressed, "It's not about conversion therapy. It's about following the Holy Spirit. And as I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, I changed. My ideas of who I was changed. The Lord showed me that He created me as Jeffrey McCall and He showed me how much He loved me specifically as Jeffrey." In an op-ed, Christopher Doyle, a political consultant with Equality And Justice For All and a licensed clinical professional counselor, argued that the media often fail to distinguish between unlicensed pastors operating reform schools for troubled youth, some of whom identified as gay or lesbian, and licensed therapy for youth struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions and gender confusion. He rejected unlicensed practices such as intimidation and isolation. In my clinical experience, I have worked with hundreds of parents and teenagers struggling with sexual and gender identity, he wrote. Not once have I ever allowed a parent to force or manipulate their child to change. Doyle added, As a former homosexual , I understand that same-sex attractions and gender confusion are the results of many underlying factors; and when parents heal the wounds and work through dysfunctional patterns within the family, relational and emotional healing occurs with the child. In some cases, this results in a redefinition or new understanding for the child struggling with sexual and gender issues even a change in the way he or she identifies. NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Net at Work, a full-service technology and business consultancy, today announced a partnership with Palmer Holland, a national distributor of specialty ingredients and chemicals. Net at Work will optimize and support Palmer Holland's Sage X3 ERP and CRM implementations, and provide comprehensive technology guidance and support to better serve their growing customer base and maintain their competitive edge. After an extensive search, Palmer Holland selected Net at Work for its breadth of service and solution offerings and its Sage X3 expertise, plus the depth of its experience and knowledge of the specific business challenges chemical manufacturing and distribution companies face. "Today's announcement further underscores our commitment to providing world-class customer service and efficient delivery, hallmarks that define Net at Work and make them an ideal business partner," said Charlie Laurie, Chief Innovation Officer, Palmer Holland. "We selected Net at Work after a thorough evaluation process because they know this industry, share our focus on service excellence, and offer a complete technology portfolio while maintaining an agnostic approach in recommending and implementing the best solutions. We're confident that they will be a valuable partner in supporting Palmer Holland's growth in the years ahead." Net at Work is a go-to technology partner for companies in the chemical manufacturing and distribution industry looking to streamline their operations and transform their business. Their understanding of the unique business requirements of companies in the space is underscored by its Chem at Work extension of the core Sage X3 solution, which combines the industry insight of chemical manufacturing professionals with the skill and deep experience of Net at Work's team of Sage X3 experts. "Palmer Holland has a stellar reputation in the industry for the consistent quality of its customer service, which is why we're so excited and honored that they selected us to be a cornerstone in their long-term business plans," said Samantha Marshall, Net at Work's Sage X3 Business Unit Director. "When two companies are so well aligned in their values, commitment to delivering on their promises, and their focus on continuous refinement of their business processes, it makes for a durable, mutually rewarding partnership. We look forward to working with Palmer Holland for many years to come and unleashing the power of their business and their people." About Net at Work Net at Work provides their clients and Alliance Partner clients, with the vision, leadership and support of a "Virtual CIO". This allows them to focus on their core competencies knowing they can fully rely on Net at Work to implement technology solutions that unleash new levels of efficiency, performance and success. With experience across virtually every business discipline, the Net at Work team supports over 6,000 organizations in making software, systems and people work together in achieving their core organizational objectives. Their comprehensive range of services and solutions include ERP, CRM, Employer Solutions, eCommerce, Payments, to Cloud and IT Managed Services. From the company's founding in 1996, Net at Work has garnered wide industry recognition as problem-solvers and promise-keepers, which are the foundational principles on which all their client relationships are based, and that their clients say they value the most. For more information, visit www.netatwork.com. About Palmer Holland Established in 1925 as Palmer Supplies Company, today Palmer Holland is a national specialty chemical and ingredient distributor of raw materials with its headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio and 40+ account managers and ingredient consultants stationed across the United States. We are a private, employee-owned company which allows us greater flexibility in the marketplace and a dedicated platform for long-term success. This flexibility allows us to provide our customers and principals with the most effective and efficient solutions. Our partners are rooted in the areas of CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers), lubricants, personal care, agriculture, health & nutrition, and plastics markets. For more, visit https://www.palmerholland.com/ SOURCE Net at Work Related Links http://www.netatwork.com/ The saga between the United States and the Chinese manufacturer Huawei took an unexpected turn after the US Commerce Department announced it will allow American companies to have at least some cooperation with the Chinese company. Although Huawei will remain on the entity list, now an amendment will allow American companies to disclose US technologies to the Chinese telecom giant without requiring a license if it is for the purpose of 5G standards development. The Commerce Department announcement states that this amendment is meant to ensure that while Huawei remains on the entity list, it will not prevent American companies from contributing to important standards-developing activities despite Huaweis pervasive participation in standards-development organizations. Wilbur Ross from the US Department of Commerce said the United States will not cede leadership in global innovation. This action recognizes the importance of harnessing American ingenuity to advance and protect our economic and national security. Analysts revealed that currently leading infrastructure vendors are not from the United States - they are Huawei from China, Ericsson from Sweden, and Nokia from Finland. These three companies made more significant contributions to 5G standards than other companies, said Sue Rudd, director at Strategy Analytics. Via HERNDON, Va., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Geospark Analytics, a world class leader in developing applied artificial intelligence solutions for risk and threat assessment, has been awarded a contract from the NATO for use of the company's Hyperion global threat and risk assessment platform and its API for direct access to its AI-driven risk models and data models. Geospark Analytics' Hyperion cloud-based platform provides analysts and operators unprecedented situational awareness and AI-driven forecast of risk across the globe. Geospark Analytics has also been named selected as a finalist in NATO's Innovation Challenge. Geospark Analytics is proud to be working with the 30 nations of the security alliance to help advance its mission. "Geospark Analytics is excited to be working with the NATO and to bring our artificial intelligence risk assessments to the alliance." said Geospark Analytics CEO and Founder Omar Balkissoon. "Hyperion brings the NATO innovative technologies that will help prepare the alliance for future operations." Hyperion is an immediate and substantial force multiplier for NATO; shifting the Common Operational Picture of current risks to one that is a forecast of the future. In near real-time, Hyperion's AI engine continually analyzes streaming publicly available information across the globe, identifies anomalies in activity levels, assesses stability and forecast future risk to stability for every country, over 1,100 cities and over 8,000 regions covering the entire globe. About Geospark Analytics Geospark Analytics was founded in July 2017 to help our clients make better decisions faster by identifying and forecasting emerging events on a global scale to mitigate risk, recognize threats, and leverage opportunities. Hyperion is an applied machine learning platform conceived from decades of direct mission experience and cutting-edge data science. Hyperion combines data from over 6.8 million sources such as social media, news reporting, economics, and natural disasters with natural language processing and artificial intelligence to deliver insight needed to make informed decisions. The company is based in Herndon, Virginia. More information can be found at www.geospark.io. SOURCE Geospark Analytics Related Links http://www.geospark.io Newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna 112 Agency NATO expects Ukraine to pass five important laws in order to deepen cooperation between them. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna in an interview with Epravda.com. "We are talking about a law on parliamentary control of security and defense, the draft of which was registered in the parliament under 1204, amendments to the legislation on the State Security Service (3196), a law on intelligence (2412-d), on defense procurements (2398-d) and a law on state secret which is still being drafted, Stefanishyna noted. According to her, the law on state secrets occupies a special place even among these important bills because it concerns the "transformation of thinking". The need for the adoption of this law is caused by the fact that most documents relating to state secrets are inherited from Soviet times. As we reported earlier, on June 12, Ukraine was granted membership in NATOs Enhanced Opportunities Program. This status is part of NATO's Partnership Interoperability Initiative, which aims to support and deepen cooperation between Allies and Partners who have made significant contributions to NATO-led operations and missions. India on Tuesday reported more than 180,000 people were cured of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pushing its recovery rate to over 52%, according to data released by the Union health ministry. The country has been reporting a rate of recovery of over 50% for the last three days now. With 180,012 people discharged from hospitals from across the country, Indias recovery rate is 52.46% on Tuesday. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage On Monday, the recovery rate was a little over 51% as 169,797 patients were cured of the deadly infection and it was 50.59% on Sunday. There were 10,667 new Covid-19 cases and 380 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the countrys tally to at 343,091, according to the Union health ministry. The death toll is 9,900. According to the health ministrys dashboard, the number of active cases of the disease in the country stands at 153,178. The dashboard shows 56,049 Covid-19 patients were cured in Maharashtra, which is the worst-hit state and has reported 110,744 infections and 4,128 deaths so far. There are 50,567 active cases of the respiratory disease in the state. Tamil Nadu, which on Monday announced a lockdown from June 19 to 30 in its worst-affected districts, has reported 46,504 infections and 479 deaths till date. The number of those cure stands at 25,344. Its decision to announced the lockdown came after an expert panel warned the government that the state has hit its peak, but may witness another if strict measures arent followed. Delhi has 42,829 Covid-19 cases and reported 1,400 fatalities as Centre stepped up efforts to contain the spread and management of the infections in the national capital. In Gujarat, there are 24,055 infections so far and 1,505 deaths. The Centre wants states witnessing a large number of Covid-19 cases to keep the death rate, or the case fatality rate low. The emphasis on lowering death rates is in keeping with the governments new strategy of not so much flattening the curve of infections, but living with the virus. Top government officials familiar with the thinking said that while aggressive testing, door-to-door surveys to track Covid-19 cases, and efforts to strengthen infrastructure will continue, there will be a renewed focus on keeping the death rate low. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may even raise the issue in his meeting with chief ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the wake of rapidly spreading coronavirus disease. The Prime Minister will hold a video conference with the heads of 21 states and Union territories, including Punjab, Kerala, Goa and northeastern states. On Wednesday, also at 3 pm, he will meet with the 15 worst-affected - including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Delhi. He will discuss the situation in Delhi separately on Wednesday along with Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran and Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov discussed the state and prospects of practical implementation of the Annual National Program (ANP) under the auspices of the NATO-Ukraine Commission. They spoke about this during a phone conversation on June 16, the Defense Ministrys press service reported. "On June 16, 2020, Minister of Defence of Ukraine Andriy Taran had a phone conversation with Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov. Minister Taran stressed the irreversibility of the implementation of the strategic course of the state to gain full-fledged membership of Ukraine in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He expressed gratitude for the decision of the North Atlantic Council, which recognized Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunity Partner (EOP) on June 12," the report reads. During the conversation, Taran and Vinnikov discussed the state and prospects of practical implementation of the Annual National Program (ANP) under the auspices of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, including launching a new cycle of the Force Planning and Assessment Process and refining the Comprehensive Assistance Package, taking into account the preparation and adoption of new strategic planning documents in Ukraine. The parties agreed that the assessment of the implementation of the ANP by Alliance experts this autumn will provide an opportunity for timely adjustments. An important aspect of the conversation was exchange of views regarding the most effective use of NATOs advisory assistance, as an effective mechanism for the defence reform. Taran stressed that in the context of the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ukraine pays special attention to maintaining and conducting all possible national and multinational exercises, thereby improving our interoperability and increasing the operational and combat readiness of the Armed Forces. In addition, the parties discussed the arrangement of a phone conversation between the Minister of Defence of Ukraine and the NATO Secretary General. ish Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 23:29:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUDAPEST, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Parliament on Tuesday terminated the emergency powers handed to the government in March to tackle the novel coronavirus outbreak. With 192 votes in favor, the deputies unanimously approved the proposal submitted by the Prime Minister's Office, requesting the elimination of the emergency situation, the Parliament stated on its official site. The government welcomed the parliament's decision, said Gergely Gulyas, head of the Prime Minister's office, at a press conference following the vote. The Hungarian government aimed to end the state of emergency it had introduced in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak on June 20, Justice Minister Judit Varga said on May 26. The government also said that the number of those currently infected stood at 996 on Tuesday, sliding under 1,000 for the first time. Enditem California started reopening its pandemic-battered economy a little over a month ago, and cases of the coronavirus have picked up statewide but some counties have fared far worse than others. Residents were warned in early May that cases would undoubtedly jump as businesses were allowed to reopen and people began to leave their homes and interact again. Sure enough, new cases statewide have increased about 40% from the counts before reopening. Much of that is due to expanded testing, public health officials say. Testing in California increased by roughly 50% after reopening, and the percentage of people testing positive has remained fairly steady at about 4% to 5% of those tested over the past few weeks. Some counties actually reported a drop in coronavirus cases after reopening. Others have remained relatively flat. But most counties have seen a notable uptick, and a few have reported troubling spikes that cant be blamed entirely on testing. Several counties applied the brakes on reopening plans in response to local surges. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a briefing Monday that 13 counties are being closely monitored after reporting concerning increases in cases, hospitalizations or other local metrics. Were not out of the woods, Newsom said. As we mix, as we reopen, inevitably were going to see an increase in the total number of cases. Its our responsibility to address that and to make sure were prepared for spikes. The state has about 156,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, and more than 5,100 people have died as of Tuesday. More than 17,000 cases and 500 deaths have been reported in the Bay Area. The Chronicle analyzed the average daily case reports in the week before reopening, and the daily average in the weeks since, for all 58 counties. Statewide, an average of 1,755 cases a day were reported in the week before California broadly began reopening, on May 12. Since then, the average has increased to 2,453 a day, with more than 3,000 per day reported over the past week. Case counts dont tell the complete picture, and they can be difficult to decipher because they depend on how widespread testing is, as well as who is being tested. More reliable metrics are the number of people hospitalized and how many have died, but there is a lag time of three to four weeks meaning those reports reflect disease transmission from nearly a month ago, not whats currently happening. Cases are the most frequently used metric because theyre easily reported and tend to be the first signal that a local outbreak is starting to flare. When cases shoot up, thats the time to take a closer look at whos becoming infected and why. Administrator Bay Area Cases across the nine-county region have picked up by about 34% since May 18, which is when most of the Bay Area took its first big step toward reopening and allowed curbside retail, plus warehouse and manufacturing operations, to resume. But three North Bay counties Napa, Solano and Sonoma moved faster, and around that date they started opening indoor dining and retail. Those three counties took the states accelerated path toward reopening. All three counties saw notable increases in cases after easing local stay-at-home orders. Sonoma paused its plans when it saw a sudden spike, though the county now reports a drop in new cases compared to pre-opening numbers. Among the other six counties which were all part of the Bay Areas group decision to shelter in place ahead of the rest of the state, back in mid-March Contra Costa has reported the largest bump in new cases since reopening, and its also moved at a somewhat brisker pace. Alameda County also reported a worrisome increase in mid-May that caused public health officials to stick with a gradual reopening schedule. Only San Francisco has seen relatively stable numbers since reopening. Hospital counts have stayed mostly flat across the region, which public health officials say is encouraging. It may mean that expanded testing is identifying more patients with mild or no symptoms people who would have been missed in earlier case counts. Somewhat concerning are fatality numbers: Deaths climbed recently after falling for several weeks. The Bay Area has reported 504 COVID-19 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon. Administrator Big spike counties Outside the Bay Area, six counties Imperial, Kings, Madera, Placer, San Joaquin and Yolo have seen average new cases triple since the state began reopening. The increase in the Central Valleys Kings County is mostly due to a local prison outbreak and not community spread, though that cluster has resulted in secondary infections among prison staff and others in the county, and put a strain on local hospitals. Kings Countys average daily case count has climbed from about 15 a day before reopening to 54 a day since. The county is one of the 13 being monitored by the state. Meanwhile, Imperial County, located at the southern border, has become one of the most concerning hot spots and has not met California criteria for widely reopening its economy. New cases have increased nearly 300% over the past month, from an average of 34 a day to 132 a day. That county also is under state observation. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Yolo and Placer counties have reported the largest increases since reopening 383% and 454%, respectively but their case counts are much smaller than Imperial. Both counties were averaging roughly one new case a day before reopening; Yolo has averaged three cases a day since then, Placer six. That far outpaces local increases in testing. Cases have climbed about 200% in both Madera and San Joaquin counties from 1.7 to 5.3 a day in Madera, and from 12.7 to 38.3 a day in San Joaquin. Los Angeles County is driving the states overall case count, but new cases have actually dropped about 6% since the county began its more advanced reopening on May 30. Still, Los Angeles also is on the states watch list due to high case rates. Administrator Small counties Two dozen small counties, mostly in Northern California and the Sierra, reported relatively small case counts before and after reopening, so its difficult to identify trends. But several counties stand out as reporting significant increases in recent weeks. Lassen County, which before reopening had no cases, suddenly had several about two weeks after letting much of its local business resume, and shut down again in response. Sutter County had 31 confirmed cases before it decided to open, without permission, ahead of the state schedule in early May; the county has had 55 cases since then. Yuba County also opted for an unauthorized reopening; it reported 19 cases before then, 16 more after. About a dozen small counties have reported more cases since reopening than they did in the weeks before. Del Norte County population 30,000, in the far northwest corner of the state slowed down its reopening after cases spiked. The county had just four confirmed cases before reopening on May 14. In the month since, its had 43. Erin Allday and Mike Massa are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com, mmassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday Heroes-Aid, a voluntary not-for-profit organisation, established in the early stage of Covid-19, to protect and support frontline health care workers, is arranging for the direct distribution today of urgently needed PPE to 200 locations across Ireland. 1,000 masks and 60 gowns will be delivered to sites in Offaly. The delivery includes 250,000 face masks, 10,000 visors, 7,000 gowns and 9,000 high specification FFP2 face masks to hospitals, GP practices, nursing homes, and a number of NGOs. In its first three months, Heroes-Aid has made a number of significant deliveries of PPE nationwide. However, the distribution today marks the largest to-date to Irelands frontline healthcare workers. The PPE deliveries will also include charities with a focus on the homeless sector including Simon Community; The Peter McVerry Trust; COPE Galway; Merchants Quay Ireland; SafetyNet Primary Care; and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Dr Maitiu O Tuathail, Medical Director of Heroes-Aid said: We are still seeing a high demand for PPE from frontline workers, in particular our GPs, who are the first line of defence against Covid 19. These deliveries of PPE will allow our frontline workers and heroes continue to care for their patients safely. Heroes-Aid does not aim to replace HSE PPE deliveries, but to address urgent shortages and act as a bridge between deliveries. Our work is very much complementary to the great work being undertaken by the HSE and every cent raised to date has provided PPE to those on the frontline, he said. If there are frontline workers who are in critical need of PPE, I would urge them to contact us through our website www.heroes-aid.com. We want to help and protect as many frontline workers as we can, said Mary Leahy, CEO of Heroes-Aid. The work of Heroes-Aid has been made possible by the incredible work and fundraising effort of individuals and groups across Ireland. In just two months, donations of 250,000 by members of the public from all over Ireland have been made to help and protect our frontline heroes. A special thanks is due to Bravo Charlie Tango bikers for their help in delivering the PPE, along with Heroes-Aid, throughout Ireland. Heroes-Aid was established on a voluntary basis by Mary Leahy, a Public Health Nurse, and further came to life with a growing committee and Irish band Keywest, who produced a music video aptly called Ordinary Superhero https://youtu.be/ s1XmYHHFClE. The goal of Heroes-Aid is to raise funds to provide practical supports, such as essential PPE and other resources to keep Irelands healthcare heroes safe as they care for us. The voluntary organisation also intends to provide longer-term psychological, educational and practical support for frontline healthcare workers, their children and families who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Advocates and allies in New Mexico on Monday celebrated a Supreme Court decision that a major civil rights law also protects LGBT people from workplace discrimination. In a 6-3 decision, justices found that the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. New Mexico already had such protections under state law, but the decision was nonetheless welcomed here, said Frankie Flores, an education specialist at the LGBTQ Resource Center at the University of New Mexico. This decision helps reinforce a lot of those values that New Mexico holds, Flores said. Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., another Republican-appointed justice, and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, who determined that discrimination because of sex applies to gay and transgender workers. People who (currently) live in New Mexico who are transgender may not always live in New Mexico. And you cant just hope for the best that your state has legal protections for you, said Adrien Lawyer, co-director of the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico. Many were unsure how the court would rule, Flores said. The case marked the first gay rights case that justices had considered since Trump appointed his second justice to the court, according to The New York Times. Whenever any major decision that affects peoples lives goes to the Supreme Court we cant be 100% sure, Flores said. To me, it was really heartening to see six (justices) stood by LGBTQ folks. Thats a really great majority. So it was comforting, but leading up to this it was a little nail-biting, because we live in an era where we are unsure of how safe we can be and how protected we are by the government. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh dissented from the ruling. They argued, in part, that the original 1964 Civil Rights Act wasnt intended to advance gay rights. The New Mexico Republican Party, the Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe did not respond to requests for comment Monday. Some social conservatives throughout the country expressed concern about unintended consequences of the ruling. The state Democratic Party said the ruling marks another step forward for LGBTQ Americans. No one should lose their livelihood based on who they are or who they love. Thank you to all of the incredible activists who have continued to fight for this kind of sweeping change, Democratic Party Chairwoman Marg Elliston said in a statement. Today, were proud to celebrate alongside all those who are free to be themselves without fear of discrimination, and were recommitting to our work to advance LGBTQ+ rights in all areas of life. Equality New Mexico, a political advocacy organization, praised the decision in a fundraising email Monday. In the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis and vitally important nationwide demonstrations in support of Black lives and against systemic racism, todays decision is heartening and encouraging, the organization said. The ACLU of New Mexico called the decision a victory. Although this victory will go a long way toward affirming legal protections in education, housing, credit and health care, our work is not finished. Federal civil rights laws are still insufficient and leave too many LGBTQ people especially Black and brown people vulnerable to discrimination, Ellie Rushforth, an ACLU staff attorney, said in a statement. Well keep fighting until Congress passes laws that will explicitly protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in all areas. Travel giant Tui has cheered a rise in bookings as it restarts holidays across a raft of European destinations, but forecast no quick recovery as trips for Britons remain on hold. The UKs biggest tour operator said it is partially resuming its holiday programme from markets including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland to a small number of destinations from mid-June and the beginning of July. It said it has seen a notable rise in bookings for summer holidays over the past week, in particular among German and Belgian customers. But, with holidays from the UK and other markets not being restarted until later in the summer, the group is still expecting to be operating at just 30% of its capacity in its final quarter. It has sold around a quarter of its 2020 summer holidays so far, while prices have rocketed by 14%. Tui last week extended the suspension of holidays for customers from the UK due to coronavirus travel restrictions as the Government brought in a 14-day quarantine policy for international arrivals. The Anglo-German company cancelled all trips from the UK up to and including July 10, having previously set a date of June 30. In its latest update, Tui said UK bookings for winter 2020/21 are up 6% with selling prices 5% higher on average, while it added that bookings for summer 2021 look promising. The group said: Since the suspension of our programme in mid-March, online inquiries have indicated that holidays remain important to our customers and we have seen our customers committing for future seasons. Following the recent easing of travel restrictions in Europe, we have seen a notable increase in bookings for our summer holidays over the last week, with Germany and Belgium seeing strong recovery week on week. It added: Further source markets and destinations will reopen as government restrictions across Europe or worldwide are lifted. We continue to work through different demand scenarios as we move through the current summer and upcoming seasons. The travel industry has been dealt a hammer blow by coronavirus, with airlines and tour operators axing thousands of jobs. Tui said in May that it is looking to axe up to 8,000 roles worldwide to help slash costs by 30% to weather the pandemic and after-effects of the crisis. Secret Famous Places podcast hosts Judith Schneider and Robin Lachhein are a couple from Germany and they just so happen to be pop culture fanatics. Schneider and Lachhein travel around the world to the film location of iconic TV and movie scenes and try to recreate the image as precisely as possible. That means replicating the clothes, poses and camera perspective. Schneider and Lachhein then post the image on Instagram and share the story behind it on their podcast. The couple traveled to the U.S. last year to remake the Run Forrest Run scene from Forrest Gump. Lachhein took on the title role, originally portrayed by Tom Hanks, wearing a similar hat and jacket. The photo was snapped on location at Monument Valley in Arizona. They even recruited a few people in the area to serve as the crowd standing behind Forrest in the shot. Story continues Schneider and Lachhein had been doing the project for years before they shared it with others. This is our hobby, Schneider told Insider. We just did it because its a lot of fun. But after four or five years, we realized that everybody looking at our pictures is laughing a lot and having fun, so we decided to publish them on Instagram. Mockingjay from The Hunger Games franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence also got a shout out from the duo. Schneider posed as character Katniss Everdeen during a fight with Snows troops. The shot was filmed in a Berlin metro station. Other recreations include Lala Land, Pretty Woman and Game of Thrones. Theyve managed to keep the hobby up so long because the pair usually saves it for vacations. We want to visit the country and want to see great sightseeing spots, Lachhein told Insider. The cool part of this hobby is that we dont just visit sightseeing spots where everyone in the country is, we see spots where movies are filmed, which are so much cooler. If you enjoyed this story, you might also like to read about this woman who gives her boyfriend a celebrity makeover every day. More from In The Know: A 50-year-old shared her flawless beauty routine on TikTok This genius vase will help lengthen the life of your flowers This $20 tightening cream feels like vacation in a jar Band-Aid is launching its first diverse line of bandages in the brands 100 years The post This couple travels the world recreating iconic movie scenes appeared first on In The Know. Church of England urges gov't to allow singing to return to church amid fading COVID-19 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Church of England is urging that singing be allowed in churches as soon as possible in light of the receding COVID-19 pandemic. Current guidance from the government of the United Kingdom states that singing and playing instruments, other than the church organ, ought to be avoided amid official reviews of the latest available scientific and medical advice about which activities can be managed safely, according to The Bristol Live. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick warned last month of the problem of exhalation spreading droplets further during the singing of hymns and thus increasing the likelihood of a further disease spread. Along with the Royal School of Church Music, the Church of England is encouraging the government to be proactive to ensure making music can resume in churches once it is safe. We know that for church musicians this remains a difficult time and many are anxious to know the date it will be possible to sing and play together again," said Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London. We are encouraging the Government to be alert to the consequences of our choirs continued silence and to take a proactive approach to allowing singing to return to our churches and cathedrals as soon as it is possible to do so safely. This way we can safeguard our choral tradition which many believe to be the finest in the world. Royal School of Church Music director Hugh Morris stated: We know from the work we have been doing to support church musicians up and down the land that they are longing to express themselves in music making; and we endorse the encouragement to the Government to be alert to the importance of allowing a safe return of choirs and singing to all our churches. The ministry of music is such a vital part of the life of the church, and choral music is a rich part of the tapestry of worship. Churches and other houses of worship are set to open for private prayer on June 15. Normal services are not expected to resume until at least July 4 or later. Retail stores that were considered nonessential reopened last week in the United Kingdom for the first time since March when widespread lockdown measures were instituted. Prohibitions on singing due to coronavirus restrictions were not exclusive to Great Britain. In the United States, such restrictions appeared in Mendocino County, California. The county public health order, which faced backlash went into effect from Good Friday until May 10, in the west coast state stipulated that only four individuals were allowed to record worship sets from one place and "no singing or use of wind instruments, harmonicas or other instruments that could spread COVID-19 through projected droplets shall be permitted unless the recording of the event is done at ones residence." People hold up placards to protest over the death of George Floyd outside the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct in Seattle, Washington on June 2, 2020. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images) Vermont School Principal Placed on Leave After BLM Facebook Post A K-12 school principal in Vermont has been placed on leave, and is unlikely to return, after she made a post criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement on social media. The Mount Ascutney School District board voted unanimously on June 12 to place Windsor School principal Tiffany Riley on paid administrative leave, saying in a statement to the school community that they were appalled by a post on her personal Facebook page. We are resolved that she will no longer lead our school, said the board members. Riley, who has been the principal at the school since 2015, wrote on Facebook that while she believes that Black lives matter, people should not be made to feel they have to choose black race over human race. I firmly believe that Black Lives Matter, but I DO NOT agree with the coercive measures taken to get to this point across; some of which are falsified in an attempt to prove a point, she wrote. While I understand the urgency to feel compelled to advocate for black lives, what about our fellow law enforcement? What about all others who advocate for and demand equity for all? Just because I dont walk around with a BLM sign should not mean I am a racist, Riley said at the end of her post. Protesters pose in front of a Black Lives Matter sign near the White House following the May 25 death of George Floyd in police custody, in Washington on June 6, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) The schools valedictorian sent an email to the board notifying them of Rileys post. A school district superintendent then asked Riley to remove the post and offered to help her write a retraction and an apology. She did not do that right away and instead, without my input, posted another comment that the board felt did not retract the first and missed the whole point, David Baker, the superintendent, said, reported the VT Digger. Her second post, which said I understand the struggles of the black lives community and stand with them in their fight against racism, was deemed insufficient by the school board. After the ordeal, Riley told the board in an email that her post had been twisted and taken completely out of context. I have been accused of being racist for not hoisting a BLM flag, ridiculed for not attending a BLM rally that the Rockwoods organized last Sunday and accused of being a poor leader and role model, she said in an email obtained by the VT Digger. Rileys comments were shared widely among Windsor community and led to calls for her resignation, according to Valley News. The ignorance, prejudice, and lack of judgement in these statements are utterly contrary to the values we espouse as a school board and district, read the school board statement, emphasizing that Windsor is not a racially diverse school, and it is therefore easy to forget or to be unconscious to the racial inequities that exist in the form of White Privilege in our community and our state. A Windsor official told Valley News that the school is planning to take steps to address racial issues. These include installing a Black Lives Matter flag, creating multicultural components to all classes, and providing staff with information about combating racism. She also suggested the school launch a restorative justice program to help students overcome racist beliefs. Dr Nguyen Manh Hien, former head of the Energy Institute under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, talks about Vietnams energy security. Duyen Hai Thermalpower Plant in Tra Vinh Province. One of the key solutions proposed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to reduce the risks of electricity shortage is to promote renewable energy like wind and solar power. Do you think this is a feasible plan? In recent years, developing wind and solar power aims to encourage renewable energy. Renewable energy has attractive prices, for example, solar power has feed-in-tariffs (FIT) of 9.35 US cents per kWh. Renewable energy brings a lot of environmental benefits. Because of preferential prices, private investors have poured investment into renewable energy. According to the power master plan, several imported coal-fired power plants in the south and some gas power plants in the southwest have been behind schedule and delayed their operations in 2019 and 2020. Although wind and solar power are not as stable as coal-fired and gas power, renewable energy will still make contributions to addressing power shortages. The new FIT rate is 7.69 US cents per kWh for floating solar power projects; 7.09 US cents per kWh for ground-mounting solar panels and 8.38 US cents per kWh for roof-top solar power. These prices are lower than the previously-applied price (9.35 cents). Are they attractive enough for solar power investors? 9.35 US cents per kWh is such an attractive FIT rate. Investors can still make profits from the new rates. However, they must make more careful calculations. The Government has also offered other incentives such as low banking interest for enterprises that invest in renewable energy. I think that rooftop solar panels should be encouraged. This type of solar power does not require a loading grid of 500kV or 220kV. The investment in rooftop solar power does not need to be too big. Besides renewable energy, importing electricity from China has also been proposed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to make up for power shortages in the next few years. What do you think about this? Vietnam is short of power in the southern region, not in the north. The north transmits power to the south. If we import power from China, the north will have to increase its loading transmission to the south. I think instead of importing from China, we should import power from Laos because wind and solar power from Laos are cheaper than in Vietnam. All coal-fired power plants in the 2011-20 power planning list have been delayed, resulting in future power shortages. What changes need to be made in the post-2020 power planning to avoid similar mistakes? The Government has assigned energy corporations to generate power. For example, the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) has been assigned to create not only gas but also coal-fired power. The Government should not assign corporations to implement energy projects which are not their strengths. For example, gas corporations should implement gas power projects only. Those specialising in coal should produce coal-fired power only. The key point to avoid delayed projects is to strengthen supervision. The Ministry of Industry and Trade should establish a steering committee to supervise power projects progress and punish delayed projects. What kind of energy will play a key role in ensuring Vietnams long-term energy security? In my opinion, towards 2025-30, thermal power which consists of coal-fired power and gas power, will still account for the biggest proportion in the electricity structure. The second biggest proportion will be hydropower and renewable energy from sugarcane leftovers, rice husks and straw. Restarting nuclear power projects should also be considered. Vietnam is expected to experience power shortages in 2022-23. Building a nuclear power plant takes about six to seven years. If we restart suspended nuclear projects, in 2022-23, we still wouldn't make up for the shortage. After 2030, Vietnams power shortages will become more serious. Meanwhile, we have to import coal and will have to import liquefied gas. Hydroelectricity has been fully exploited. Without nuclear power, Vietnam will have to import a lot of liquefied gas and coal. That means energy security is greatly limited. To ensure national energy security, combat global climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is advisable to keep nuclear power development sites in Ninh Thuan Province and expand the sites after 2030. VNS/Hai Quan When heat becomes a source of energy The investment in renewable energy is increasing as fossil fuels, including coal, petroleum and natural gas, cannot meet the increasing demand for energy in Vietnam and the world as a whole given the rapid population growth. Pro-Kurdish party members in Turkey are moving towards the capital city Ankara from the southeastern and northwestern corners of the country to stage a protest against government crackdown on the political movement which, officials accuse, has connections to Kurdish militants. According to the reports, around 80 members of the People's Democratic Party, also known as HDP which includes several lawmakers, left the city of Edirne, situated near the Greece border on June 15. On the other hand, another group comprising of 60 members left Hakkari, a border town near Iraq, to demand an end to the government propaganda. READ: Turkey, Iran FMs Meet For Talks In Istanbul READ: Turkey Renews Opposition To US Sanctions On Iran #Buldan: Our march did not start today and will not end tomorrow. We have been marching for a long time and we will continue to march until democracy, peace and justice prevail in Turkey, and our imprisoned comrades and friends are all set free. #EdirnedenHakkariyeHepBirlikte pic.twitter.com/Jwu0wm7t23 HDP English (@HDPenglish) June 15, 2020 #Buldan: We are the voice of the persecuted millions, we do not speak on behalf of a single community. HDP will not compromise or bow down in this long march. Our march aims to bring together the rivers of Hakkari and Edirne, Great Zap and Meric. #EdirnedenHakkariyeHepBirlikte pic.twitter.com/es0JgkaZD1 HDP English (@HDPenglish) June 15, 2020 Co-chair Buldan in Edirne: Kurds, Alevis, Armenians, women, and youths do have problems in this country. But the biggest problem is the AKP government itself. AKPs prohibitive mentality and its style of government have become the biggest problem. #EdirnedenHakkariyeHepBirlikte pic.twitter.com/FKL19qtlL1 HDP English (@HDPenglish) June 15, 2020 HDP to stage protest near Parliament As per international media reports, the group is expected to arrive in Turkey on Saturday where they are planning to hold a demonstration at a park situated near the Parliament. The ruling party led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused that the HDP has links with Kurdistan workers, which the later denied. According to the reports, police dispersed a group of HDP supporters on Monday who gathered near a prison complex on the outskirts of Istanbul and detained at least 10 people. READ: Turkey Says Its Jets Struck Kurdish Rebels In Northern Iraq READ: Turkey Sees Rise In Daily Coronavirus Cases Following Easing Image: @HDPenglish/Twitter WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Gold prices inched higher on Tuesday as the number of global confirmed Covid-19 cases topped 8 million, adding to concerns about a second wave of lockdowns from rising infection rates. Mainland China reported 40 new confirmed coronavirus cases for June 15, down from 49 a day earlier. Two new cases have been confirmed in New Zealand after two women who flew in from London to see a dying parent had tested positive. Spot gold rose 0.4 percent to $1,730.97 per ounce while U.S. gold futures were up 0.6 percent at $1,737.90. The United States still leads the world with the highest number of infections, about 2 million or 25 percent of all reported cases. The number of cases reported in Latin America and the Caribbean now stands at 1,681,378. Gold is also benefiting from a weaker dollar after the Federal Reserve announced it will begin purchases of individual corporate bonds to help the world's largest economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic. 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. AFP via Getty Images Before he was one of the presidents closest allies, Lindsey Graham (RSC) was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump and some members of the Republican Party want voters to remember that come Election Day. A new ad from the group Republican Voters Against Trump features the conservative senator dissing the president along the campaign trail in 2016, as well as discussing his admiration for former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. It starts with Mr Graham saying I want to talk to the Trump supporters for a minute, before he asks: What is Donald Trumps campaign about? Hes a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot, the senator says. You know how you make America great again? Tell Donald Trump to go to hell. The ad then cuts to glowing praise of Mr Biden from the Republican senator, who says: If you cant admire Joe Biden as a person then theres probably youve got a problem. Mr Graham goes on to say Mr Biden is as good a man as God ever created and is the nicest person I think I ever met in politics. The ad concludes with a statement from Mr Graham in 2015, in which he told CNN: This is a defining moment in the future of the Republican Party. He adds: We have to reject this demagoguery, and if we dont reject Donald Trump, weve lost the moral authority to govern this great nation. The ad, which was released over the weekend, has already received over 1.4 million views on YouTube. Republican Voters Against Trump confirmed the ad was set to air in several states across the country on Fox News, MarketWatch reported on Monday. Read more Trumps handling of coronavirus was almost criminal, says Biden Trump says he will go on and do other things if he loses to Biden Biden says Trump was paralysed with fear and hid in his bunker Polarized: Independent voter explains why hes voting for Biden Biden: Military will escort Trump if he refuses to leave White House She's the actress famed for portraying Miss Moneypenny in the most recent James Bond films. And Naomie Harris made the most of her downtime as she ran errands around north London on Monday, while keeping herself busy amid the coronavirus lockdown. The film star, 43, cut a casual figure as she showcased her toned pins in frayed denim shorts while out and about in the capital. Out and about: Naomie Harris made the most of her downtime as she ran errands around north London on Monday, while keeping herself busy amid the coronavirus lockdown Enjoying the fine weather, Naomie displayed her slender pins in the tiny shorts, while she also kept cool in a white tank top featuring an arty face print. The star kept her off-duty look simple, teaming her ensemble with a simple pair of white flip-flops. The No Time To Die star displayed her natural beauty by going make-up free for the outing, while her raven tresses were swept up into a loose bun. Naomie appeared relaxed as she lugged two black expanding storage files across the street. Summer style: The film star, 43, cut a casual figure as she showcased her toned pins in frayed denim shorts while out and about in the capital The Moonlight actress has been keeping herself busy during lockdown, with the star revealing at the beginning of the month that she had been volunteering amid the pandemic. The beauty shared a snap of herself donning a grey apron and holding bags of food as she revealed she had worked with the organisation SpareHand, which connects volunteers with charities who could use some help. Meanwhile, the film star has use her platform to air her hurt at the murder of George Floyd and to share her solidarity to protesters campaigning against racial injustice in America and the world. Looking good: Enjoying the fine weather, Naomie displayed her slender pins in the tiny shorts, while she also kept cool in a white tank top featuring an arty face print Lockdown look: The star kept her off-duty look simple, teaming her ensemble with a simple pair of white flip-flops Radiant: The No Time To Die star displayed her natural beauty by going make-up free for the outing, while her raven tresses were swept up into a loose bun Alongside a video of protesters, she wrote last month: 'After my last post I have had quite a few people ask me about the vandalism and violence taking place on the streets of America. There is a war between Good and Evil happening, regardless of our skin colour we all have to look within our hearts and ask what side we stand on. 'There are people on the streets of America with all kinds of different intentions right now, I stand in unity and full support of my brothers and sisters of all races who have taken to the streets to protest peacefully against racism and injustice. 'To those who ask whether the protests were necessary, I reference the Ahmaud Arbery case... Ahmaud was shot whilst out jogging in February, it took MORE than TWO months for his killers to be arrested and that was ONLY after a public outcry. ' Justice for George Floyd and the arrest of his Murderer was NEVER guaranteed, thats why people felt it necessary to take to the streets to make their voices heard.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 17:24:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TASHKENT, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The opening of the Chinese-Uzbek center for traditional medicine in the capital city of Tashkent is a concrete step to implement the strategic cooperation between Uzbekistan and China, an Uzbek official said Monday. It marks the beginning of a new direction of cooperation between the two countries in the field of healthcare, particularly in traditional medicine, which is most popular in the modern world, Sardor Kariev, director of the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry under the Health Ministry, told Xinhua in an interview. "China has long been famous for its traditional medicine, which is formed over the centuries thanks to the rich spiritual heritage and hard work of Chinese thinkers, scientists and traditional healers, and today it is very popular all over the world," Kariev said. The official believes that the new center will serve as a bridge to further develop mutually beneficial cooperation between Uzbek and Chinese traditional healers. The center will focus on disease diagnosis, treatment, as well as disease prevention and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, Kariev said, stressing the importance of Chinese treatment methods such as acupuncture, various types of massaging, herbal and other environmentally friendly medicines. The center, which opened on Monday, has a traditional Chinese medicine culture exhibition hall, traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment area, Uzbek medical treatment area and remote consultation center. According to Kariev, Uzbek and Chinese specialist are currently engaged in talks to produce medical products using herbs grown in China and Uzbekistan. "Now the negotiations are underway to allocate a land for the cultivation of medicinal herbs, as well as creation of experimental land plots in the territory of Uzbek forestry committee," he said. The center may also play a key role in training highly qualified personnel in traditional medicine and pharmaceuticals, Kariev said, noting that China's Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which contributed to the creation of the center, has also planned to set up a branch at one of the Uzbek universities. Enditem I will never forget that day. It was in 2015, I had just moved to Yellowknife and went out for dinner after finishing work. I walked up to the bar, ordered a beer, and looked around for a place to sit. There was one seat open next to a white gentleman. "Is this seat taken sir?" I asked. He turned toward me, gave me a stare and said, "Don't you get it, people like you are not welcome here, please leave." The first time I ever encountered racism was in my early 20s after moving to Canada. Growing up back in Cameroon, everyone looked just like me and racial discrimination was never a thing. Protests happening across the world, sparked by the gruesome murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a police officer, have once again brought front and centre the conversation surrounding the inequalities and racial discrimination against Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) in Canada. As I reflect on this, I cannot help but put my own experience as a Black immigrant now living in northern Canada into context. I have been told many times to be grateful for being here, or to go back to where I came from. I know of many Black immigrants like myself who have felt the need to change their name to more acceptable "white names" in order to "fit in" and or gain meaningful employment. They would also worry about aspects of who they are like skin colour, accent, race, and religion. Submitted by Ambe Chenemu If you are a white northerner and this is coming as a shock to you, then we've got work to do. White Canadians often justify racism in Canada by comparing our country to the United States. Some even deny that racism happens in this country at all. As northerners, we like to think of ourselves as a diverse, tight-knit community, away from all the southern racism. Yet look around you, how many people of colour are employed at your place of work? How many people of colour are in your circle of friends? Have you ever taken the time to educate yourself and your children about Black and Indigenous history and the racial injustices they have faced? This is not a southern problem. We are not exempt from racism here in the North. Story continues Last Tuesday, hundreds gathered in Yellowknife to rally against anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism. It was the most important march of my life, as we walked down the main street to the RCMP detachment. Seeing so many young people out there marching gave me so much hope. To my local law enforcement: I stood outside the RCMP detachment on Tuesday, addressing you directly, because there are some things I would like you to know. You took an oath to uphold the law but you have lost my trust and have to earn it back. I am scared for my life every time I walk down the street or get stopped by you. If you see something wrong in the force, don't be afraid to call it out. You are saving a Black life, you are doing the right thing. Walter Strong/ CBC To my local community and leaders: We don't need to look far to see systemic racism in our territory. I think it is clear that we are not immune. Just months ago, there was a Nazi flag hanging out of a window above Aurora College in Yellowknife. I have watched our Legislative Assembly meet in the past weeks and not once have I heard our leaders mention how they are going to work with law enforcement, local and Indigenous community leaders on identifying and addressing racism and discrimination across our territory. What specific actions are you going to take to stamp out racism in our territory? Or are you going to stand by and do nothing? Walter Strong/ CBC We can all do better We have to come together now more than ever to support BIPOC, who cannot be the only ones to continue to speak up and speak out. We can all do better. On my walk home from the protest, I was exhausted but my spirit was not broken. In that moment, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, D'Andre Campbell, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Regis Korchinski-Paquet, Chantel Moore, Colten Boushie, Ahmaud Arbery, Michael Brown and many others ran through my head. To me, they're fallen heroes. It has been one week and I already have two more names to add to a list I never wanted to make: Rayshard Brooks and Rodney Levi. I don't want another BIPOC tragedy. I don't want another dead hero. My feet are tired and I don't want to ever have to march again. If you really want to honour him, implement his inclusive ideology: SC Bose's grandnephew At DMs meets, PM calls for direct, emotional connect between administration and public for good governance 'Don't imagine stepping out without it': PM Modi urges 100 per cent use of masks India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, June 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the Chief Ministers to ensure 100 per cent use of masks amid a spurt in coronavirus cases in the country. "To even think of stepping out without a mask or face cover is not right at present. 'Do gaj ki doori', hand-washing and use of sanitisers is of utmost importance. With markets opening and people stepping out, these precautions are even more important," the prime minister said during his online conference with Chief Ministers to discuss coronavirus situation in the country. The Prime Minister's meeting comes amid a worrying surge in the infection over the last fortnight. PM Modi-CMs meet: India records lowest death rate PM Modi is holding a video-conference with chief ministers, Lt governors and administrators of 21 states and Union territories today. These include Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, the northeastern states and some UTs. Civil Aviation Minister says 'decision on the international flights will be taken in July The prime minister will interact with chief ministers of 15 states and the LG of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. These include high case load states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The two-day virtual meet comes against the backdrop of rising number of coronavirus cases in the country. These will be the sixth and seventh meetings between the Prime Minister and various chief ministers on the COVID-19 crisis. New studies have also revealed that face masks may be even more important than originally thought in preventing future outbreaks of the new coronavirus. Without a mask, the risk of transmitting COVID-19 is 17.9 per cent. With face mask that drops to 3.9 per cent. "Our findings continued to support the idea not only that masks in general are associated with a large reduction in risk of infection from SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV but also that N95 or similar respirators might be associated with a larger degree of protection from viral infection than disposable medical masks or reusable cotton masks," noted a study by published in The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal. Kim Kardashian West deleted a tweet with artwork that included an incorrect photo of a slain Black trans woman. (Laura Thompson / TNS) Kim Kardashian West has deleted a tweet that included the incorrect picture of a Black trans woman who was recently killed and a prayerful statement some considered blasphemous to Catholics. "BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER!," the reality TV star and beauty mogul tweeted Saturday along with a drawing that incorporated pictures of two women under the words "Rest in power" and over a prayer modeled after the Catholic church's Nicene Creed. While Kardashian did not identify the women, they were intended to be Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells, 27, and Riah Milton, 25, two Black trans women who were killed June 9 in Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. Their deaths were remembered in All Black Lives Matter demonstrations held Sunday in Hollywood and nationwide. The problem? It wasn't a picture of Milton. Rather, according to Milton's sister, Ariel Shaw, it was a photo of her aunt, who also recently died. "Whoever is tweeting the photo on the right thinking its my sister need to take it down bc THATS. NOT. MY. SISTER. ITS A PHOTO OF SOMEONE ELSE," Shaw tweeted Sunday. "I would also like to add that this makes it much worst bc my aunt passed away in April," Shaw continued. Tweets from people professing to be Milton's friends and family members joined in responding to the tweet with pleas that the photo be taken down. Efforts to contact Shaw on Tuesday were unsuccessful. By Tuesday morning, Kardashian had deleted her post from the weekend. The person who created the original image an Oakland-based artist and poet named Alan Pelaez Lopez, who uses the Twitter handle @MigrantScribble realized the error on Sunday and tweeted out a plea the image be removed. ACTION NEEDED: I used a photo from a statement HRC ran 2 days ago to make an image. The photo is not Riah Milton. Please help me by reporting the tweet with the image that @KimKardashian made as its not a rt but a screen-cap. I don't want my mistake to cause more hurt. https://t.co/MGeekSKcoc Alan ACAB (@MigrantScribble) June 15, 2020 "ACTION NEEDED: I used a photo from a statement HRC ran 2 days ago to make an image. The photo is not Riah Milton," Pelaez Lopez wrote. "Please help me by reporting the tweet with the image that made as its not a rt but a screen-cap. I don't want my mistake to cause more hurt." Story continues The artist tweeted that the Human Rights Campaign had removed the incorrect photo from its website. Efforts to contact Pelaez Lopez on Tuesday were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, other commenters took issue with the prayerful text in the image, which they saw as a blasphemous mockery of Catholics' Profession of Faith. "I believe in Trans Life, the Holy Spirit of Self, the Holy TransFuturistic Church the communion of Grief & Joy, our forgiveness to this society, the resurrection of Transcestors and life everlasting. I believe in Trans Life because we ascended from a Nuanced Possibility and sit at the right hand of Each Other and make our flesh the Kindred Almighty," the text read, echoing the rhythms of the Nicene Creed. "The caption is wayyyy out of control and disrespectful to Catholics," one commenter said in reply to the tweet. Kardashian West is a practicing Christian who was baptized last October, along with her three youngest children, at a church in Armenia. Her husband, Kanye West, reaffirmed his Christianity in January 2019. Kardashian's office did not respond immediately to The Times' request for comment Tuesday. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the virtual opening ceremony of the 127th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as Canton Fair, in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday urged efforts to achieve fruitful results from the 127th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as Canton Fair, which is being held online. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when attending the event's virtual opening ceremony in Beijing. He called for efforts to ensure the security of the industrial chain, maintain stability in foreign trade and investment, and promote cooperation for win-win results. Li inspected online showrooms of enterprises. The event was held online due to COVID-19. Despite the change, the 127th fair drew nearly 26,000 enterprises from home and abroad. While visiting the showroom of China's home appliance giant Gree, Li said the online Canton Fair demonstrated the country's resolve to expand opening-up and jointly ensure the security of international industrial and supply chains. Li also visited ergonomics product manufacturer Loctek. The Ningbo-based firm has tapped into international e-commerce to achieve export growth and is planning to expand its overseas warehouses. The premier urged efforts to develop more overseas warehouse platforms to serve small and medium-sized enterprises, noting that developing international e-commerce can help firms survive and thrive amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During his inspection, Li also highlighted China's commitment to further facilitating imports, increasing the inflow of readily marketable products, and sharing the opportunities presented by the huge domestic market with enterprises around the world. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal With a large crowd watching from both sides of N.M. 68, crews on Monday meticulously removed a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate from its pedestal in Alcalde, just north of Espanola. A petition started days earlier called for the statues removal because of Onates treatment of New Mexicos Native Americans in the 16th century and has gained almost 3,000 signatures. Onate perpetuated cruel and inhumane violence against the Pueblos and was prosecuted and exiled by the Spanish for war crimes, the petition says. However, there is a chance the Onate statue will be reinstalled later. Rio Arriba County Manager Tomas Campos said the statue was removed to protect it from protests that were planned for Monday afternoon. He said that organizers had threatened to tear the statue down and that the Rio Arriba County Sheriffs Office did not have the manpower to protect it all night. The Rio Arriba County Commission did not approve or reject the removal, he said. I texted them that I was doing it; I didnt seek their approval, Campos said. The County Commission will now have to decide whether the statue returns, a decision sure to upset some in the Espanola Valley. The statue, dedicated in the 1980s and located at the former Onate Monument Center which now houses offices of the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area has long been a divisive symbol in Rio Arriba County. While Onate is seen as a heroic figure by some for leading the colonization of New Mexico in 1598, he is viewed by many others as a killer who repressed and enslaved Native Americans ancestors. After an uprising at Acoma Pueblo, he sentenced hundreds of people to 20 years of personal servitude and ordered men over age 25 to have one foot cut off, according to the website of the Office of the State Historian. Those actions are regularly mentioned in protests against Onate. In 1997, someone cut the left foot off the statue, an act Campos said cost around $10,000 to fix. He estimated it would cost more than $1 million to replace the entire statue today. The divisiveness in the community was on full display Monday, as many arrived to the center sporting Spanish family crests and conquistador helmets. Others, especially those from the nearby Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, cheered for the statues removal. After the statue was removed, tribal member Thantsideh danced atop the now-vacant pedestal where Onate once stood. Supporters of the statue berated Thantsideh, and police made him leave the area. The past history with Onate, he was not great with the Natives, said Virginia Cata of Ohkay Owingeh. (He) definitely has a history of murder, rape, a ton of disgrace to the pueblo. Some, though, argued that the statue is a symbol of Spanish heritage and that removing it would erase that history. Other supporters, such as Ruth Ann Galvan-Vargas, said Onates actions could be excused by violence inflicted by Native Americans. It was a war, and (Native Americans) were fighting against us there was retaliation on both sides, Galvan-Vargas said. She also said she viewed Onate colonizing New Mexico as bringing people together and not as someone conquering a group of people against their will. Ryan Begay, a member of the Navajo Nation from Arizona, said he thought the statue was insensitive because it failed to recognize any of Onates brutalities against Native Americans. Statues arent held in such high regard (in Native communities), so when you put something up like that, its just kind of in your face, he said. The statues removal comes as communities across the nation remove statues and memorials dedicated to Confederate generals, slave owners, Christopher Columbus and others with histories of committing atrocities against racial minorities. Albuquerque has its own statue of Onate that has received calls to be removed. The statue, La Jornada, depicts Onate and other colonists traversing across the New Mexico landscape and has been controversial since its inception. The Rio Arriba County Commission will meet again sometime next week, although Campos said it is unlikely to make a decision on the statue. In the meantime, he said, the Onate statue will be kept in an undisclosed location by the county. A New York City police officer wears a body camera during a press conference in New York in 2014. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images) New York Police Department Required to Release Body Camera Footage Within 30 Days New York City police officials must release body camera footage of most incidents involving the discharge of a gun or a taser within 30 days, under new rules issued by the mayor. The old guidelines left the release of bodycam video to the discretion of the police commissioner and only in a small number of cases. The new policy requires the release of all audio and video within 30 days when incidents meet one of three criteria: a police officer discharges a firearm and the bullet hits or could hit someone; a police officer discharges a taser in a way that results in death or substantial bodily harm; or an officer uses force that results in death or great bodily harm. When one of these three criteria is met, it is crucial that the information comes out promptly, that people have faith it will come out, that it comes out objectively, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a June 16 press conference at City Hall in Manhattan. That creates trust, that creates accountability. That says to the many, many good officers that they know the whole truth will come out from what they saw. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio holds up a body camera during a press conference in New York, N.Y. in 2014. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Officers who act improperly will be held accountable, the mayor said. Video footage will be shown to those involved and their family members before being posted online for the public to see. The New York City Police Department includes approximately 36,000 officers and some 24,000 body cameras. De Blasio, a Democrat, said the city and nation are at a moment in history where change is not optional. I understand anyone who feels cynical, anyone who feels that they cant believe that things will happen or happen quickly, but my message today is: I dont think weany one of ushave the option of assuming what cant happen. We have to make things happen, the mayor said. One move that shows change can happen, he said, was the NYPDs announcement that it will dissolve its plainclothes anti-crime units. The 600 or so officers will be shifted to detective assignments and neighborhood patrols, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea told reporters June 15. An NYPD officer stands guard on 5th Avenue in Manhattan on June 12, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) De Blasio called the announcement powerful, saying the decision acknowledged the voices of youth who feel they arent being respected. That is a signature day for this city, that change can happen, he said. Police actions nationwide have come under heightened scrutiny after the death of an unarmed black man in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. Riots and protests sparked by the treatment of the man roiled major cities including the Big Apple, prompting the use of force by officers that is now being examined by state officials. De Blasio has largely been supportive of people joining the gatherings, even though they violate the mandates hes issued to try to curb the spread of the CCP virus. Amid rising criticism of law enforcement, New York police union officials gathered last week to push back and say officers were being limited while district attorneys declined to prosecute looters and rioters. At one point, Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York President Pat Lynch told reporters that crimes have happened because NYPD officers have been pulled back for doing our job. By Lisa Barrington and Alexander Cornwell DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates can work with Israel on some areas, including fighting the new coronavirus and on technology, while still having political differences with the state, a senior official said on Tuesday. Addressing a conference of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) advocacy group, minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash said communication with Israel was important and would yield better results than other routes taken in the past. His question and answer session, described as "historic" by the AJC, occurred days after another senior official made a rare appeal to the Israeli public by having an article published in Hebrew in Israel's leading newspaper. The official said Israel cannot expect to normalise relations with the Arab world if it annexes land in the occupied West Bank. "Can I have a political disagreement with Israel but at the same time try and bridge other areas of the relationship? I think I can and I think this is fundamentally where we are," said Gargash, who has previously said the Arab decision not to have contact with Israel was wrong. He added that cooperation on the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic does not affect the UAE's opposition to the proposed annexation or other political issues. Israel has no diplomatic relations with Gulf Arab countries, but common concerns over Iran's regional influence have led to a limited thaw in ties. In May, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad made the first known flight by a UAE carrier to Israel, carrying coronavirus-related aid for the Palestinians. Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab states that have peace deals with Israel. The Israeli government intends to begin debating on July 1 the annexation plan, which would apply Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank. In the newspaper article, the UAE's ambassador to Washington said annexation would upend Israeli aspirations for improved security, economic and cultural ties with the Arab world and the UAE. Story continues The Jewish community in the UAE has recently taken on a more public profile. A new kosher food delivery service was covered in national newspapers, and a group called the Jewish Community of the UAE opened a Twitter account in late May. The group released a video, shared on Twitter by the UAE ambassador to London, featuring a Hebrew prayer for the UAE leadership. "We want to see a region that is more stable. A region that can resolve its issues over a negotiating table," Gargash said. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington and Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall and Grant McCool) Selbyville, Delaware, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to latest report Aircraft Health Monitoring Market by Platform (Narrow Body Aircraft, Wide Body Aircraft, Regional Aircraft, Business Jet, Helicopter, Fighter Jet), Fit (Line Fit, Retro Fit), System (Hardware, Software, Services), Operation (Real Time Operation, No Real Time Operation), Regional Outlook, Competitive Market Share & Forecast 2026, by Global Market Insights, Inc., the market valuation of aircraft health monitoring systems will cross $6 billion by 2026. Changing government regulations to increase airworthiness in the aviation industry by enhancing connectivity between aircraft and ground operators will support the market growth. The retrofit segment will capture 25% aircraft health monitoring market share by 2026. This market penetration can be credited to changing government regulations toward integration of various communication and navigation devices. Ageing aircraft fleet across the globe and rising requirement to upgrade or replace existing models to match the regulatory norms for operations will boost the segment growth. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4748 The narrow body aircraft segment in the aircraft health monitoring market will generate around USD 2 billion by 2026. The rise in number of inflight passengers in developing economies due to increasing disposable income and improving lifestyle of individuals will augment the market growth. Introduction of Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) model to reduce the cost of flight tickets is supporting the market demand. The software systems segment valuation exceeded USD 1 billion in 2019 and is predicted to witness growth rate of over 7% during the forecast timeframe. Introduction of new technologies in software to streamline scope of operations in aircraft health monitoring will positively impact the market revenue. Major airline manufacturers are collaborating with regional technology providers to accelerate the pace of research and development toward augmentation of new technologies in the aviation industry. The North America aircraft health monitoring market held around 25% market share in 2019 due to presence of major aircraft manufacturers and total number of operational aircraft within the region. For instance, in 2019, the U.S. had a total of 212,335 commercial aircraft, more than 5,000 fixed wing defense aircraft, and approximately 200 rotary wing defense aircraft operating within the country, the highest across the globe. Continuous acquisition activities of the U.S. in commercial and defense verticals with requirements of MRO for existing fleet are influencing the market statistics. Request for customization of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/roc/4748 Long-term service agreements and collaborations to gain access to the latest market technologies are some of the primary strategies practiced by major market players operating in the market. These strategies allow companies to secure their market shares over coming years, supporting market competitiveness. Major players in aircraft health monitoring market include Airbus, Boeing, United Technologies Corporation, Honeywell International, General Electric, Rockwell Collins, Meggitt, Rolls-Royce, Flyht, Curtiss-Wright, Safran, Air France Klm Engineering & Maintenance, Lufthansa Technik, Esterline, and Embraer. Table of Contents (ToC) of the report: Chapter 3. Aircraft Health Monitoring Market Insights 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Industry segmentation 3.3. Industry landscape, 2015 2026 3.4. Impact of COVID-19 3.5. Evolution of aircraft health monitoring system 3.6. Industry ecosystem analysis 3.7. Technology & innovation landscape 3.8. Regulatory landscape 3.8.1. North America 3.8.2. Europe 3.8.3. APAC 3.8.4. LATAM 3.8.5. MEA 3.9. Industry impact forces 3.9.1. Growth drivers 3.9.2. Industry pitfalls & challenges 3.10. Growth potential analysis 3.11. Porter's analysis 3.12. PESTEL analysis Browse Complete Table of Contents (ToC) @ https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/aircraft-health-monitoring-system-market About Global Market Insights, Inc. Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology. The unemployment rate in Oregon fell in May, but remained historically high as the state continued to navigate the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis. Oregon regained 22,500 jobs in May as the unemployment rate fell from a record 14.9% in April to 14.2% last month. Despite the job gains in May, Oregon has still shed 243,500 jobs since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. Oregon reported a historically low unemployment rate of 3.5% in March before the unprecedented pandemic devastated the state economy. Historically, this loss is unprecedented and currently thousands of Oregonians are still suffering the economic realities of being unemployed, said Anna Johnson, senior economic analyst for the Oregon Employment Department. The Oregon Employment Department released unemployment numbers Tuesday for the second time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with reporting the unemployment rate for May, the department clarified that the unemployment rate in April was 14.9%, somewhat higher than the 14.2% the department had reported last month based on data from the first half of April. Oregons April unemployment rate was the states highest since it started keeping comparable records in 1976. While the unemployment rate dropped in May, the jobless rate still topped the worst days of the Great Recession, when Oregon unemployment peaked around 12% in 2009. Oregons unemployment rate in May was one percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate. The national unemployment fell from 14.7% in April the highest since the Great Depression to 13.3% in May due to a limited resumption of economic activity, according to the Department of Labor. The drop came as a pleasant surprise after some economists predicted that the national unemployment rate could balloon to around 20%, but it is important to note that the Department of Labor numbers do not factor in people who have seen their hours cut due to the coronavirus crisis or are not looking for work due to fears and new responsibilities associated with the pandemic. Oregons numbers may understate the unemployment rate as well. Some of the workers who were recorded as employed, but absent from work, should have been classified as unemployed on a temporary layoff, said Johnson, about the national numbers. If they had been properly classified, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the overall unemployment rate would have been about three percentage points higher nationally. We don't know what that percentage is in Oregon, but it's possible that it would be similar." In May, Oregon employers added back nearly one in 10 jobs that were cut in April. The biggest gains came in the leisure and hospitality sector, where nearly 16,000 jobs were added as businesses within the state began to reopen. Still, those gains come after the states lodging sector shed nearly 60% of its jobs and restaurants and bars lost more than half of their jobs, according to the Oregon Employment Departments April report. In May, restaurants added back only about 1 in 5 jobs they lost in April, while accommodations added back about 1 in 10 jobs they had lost in the previous two months, Johnson said. The job gains in leisure and hospitality in May were also countered by losses in the manufacturing and government sectors, which shed nearly 15,000 jobs combined. Oregon is shedding jobs at a much slower rate than earlier in the pandemic and tens of thousands of laid-off Oregonians are being called back to work as the state gradually reopens, according to job numbers released by the state last week. Still, nearly 490,000 Oregonians have filed for jobless benefits since the start of the COVID-19 crisis in March, more than a fifth of the states workforce, and new jobless claims are coming in at twice Oregons average rate from before the pandemic, Johnson said. State economists warned last month that Oregons recovery from the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic could take years. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2020 / Black Tusk Resources Inc. ("Black Tusk" or the "Company) (CSE:TUSK)(OTC PINK:BTKRF)(FRA:0NB) is pleased to announce that the Company has contracted Abitibi Geophysics in Val d'Or, Quebec to undertake their OreVision 3D Induced Polarization Survey (IP) on the McKenzie East gold property located north of Val d'Or. The survey is designed to use the most advanced geophysical applications to produce high resolution results through the overburden on the property. The IP survey will be located within the northwest area of the McKenzie East Gold Property in order to trace possible gold-bearing structures extending eastward from the Monarch Gold- McKenzie Break Property. The cut-line grid is to be prepared within the coming week. The results of the IP survey will be combined with the results of MMI processing of soil samples taken in the last month in order to locate the best targets for diamond drilling. In late May, the Company's contractor VD Geo Service completed the acquisition of 205 soil samples along pre-existing access routes and other areas that were amenable to sampling. The samples were submitted to SGS Mineral Labs for analysis. Results of analysis are expected within the coming weeks. The Company has acquired a permit that allows for the construction of 18 drill pads with supporting water supply stations and access trails. Black Tusk plans to conduct this upcoming drill program in the Summer 2020 exploration season, following the completion of ground surveys. 'We are extremely excited to conduct 3D IP Surveying on the McKenzie East Gold Project- this advanced technology will help us define high-priority drill targets for this Summer's anticipated Drill Program.' said CEO, Richard Penn. The Company also announces that Alexander Tarasov has resigned from the Board of Directors. The Company thanks Mr. Tarasov for his tremendous service to the Company and wish him every success in the future. The Company also advises that it has settled outstanding indebtedness of $31,500 in exchange for common shares at a price of $0.065 per share. The shares are subject to a four month hold period expiring four months from the date of issue. Perry Grunenberg, PGeo, a "Qualified Person" as that term is defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Grunenberg is also a director of the Company. About Black Tusk Resources Inc. Black Tusk Resources is a gold-focused Canadian exploration company with operations primarily based in the world-class Abitibi greenstone belt region of Quebec. Black Tusk currently holds 100-per-cent ownership in five separate gold and palladium projects in Canada. On behalf of the Board of Directors Richard Penn CEO (778) 384-8923 Cautionary Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions as of that date. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development; the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing; the Company's limited operating history; the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations; fluctuations in the prices of commodities; operating hazards and risks; competition and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Prospectus dated September 8, 2017 available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions, and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. SOURCE: Black Tusk Resources Inc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594008/Black-Tusk-Resources-Inc-to-Conduct-3D-IP-Survey-on-the-McKenzie-East-Gold-Project-Val-dOr-Quebec CLEVELAND, Ohio City Council had some pointed criticism Monday about how city police planned for and handled Black Lives Matter protests May 30 that devolved into rioting. Members of councils Public Safety Committee also expressed annoyance over Police Chief Calvin Williams saying a review of his departments performance was still not complete 16 days after the unrest. Mohali: Two 20-year-old men and a minor working at a farmhouse axed its 65-year-old manager to death after he allegedly reprimanded them for drinking. Balkar Singh, the manager of Kahlon Farms in Nada village of Nayagaon for the last three decades belonged to Sohian Kalan village in Amritsar district. The suspects have been identified as Mukesh, aged (20), Manish (20) and a minor, all residents of Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh. They used to work for Balkar Singh and lived in a room next to his. The men attacked Balkar Singh at 11.30 pm on June 14 as he was asleep and fled, leaving him in a pool of blood, said deputy superintendent of police (City-1), Gursher Singh. The farmhouse manager used to reprimand them as they were habitual drinkers, which often led to heated arguments. The injured man was admitted to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, where he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday afternoon, Gursher Singh added. Nayagaon station house officer Ashok Kumar said disagreements over small issues between Balkar Singh and his workers led to the crime. Yesterday we had booked the suspects under Sections 307, 323 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code on the statement of Ajit Singh, the victims son. Today, a case of murder has been registered against them. We have sent the police teams to Hardoi to nab the suspects. We are also getting help from our technical wing to crack the case soon. The axe used in the attack was recovered by the police at the scene of crime. The body has been kept in the mortuary and a postmortem will be conducted soon. Paul Whelan, U.S. ex-marine, who was arrested in Moscow EPA Russias court sentenced American Paul Whelan to imprisonment accusing him of espionage, as Russian BBC reported. To recognize Paul Whelan guilty in the commitment of espionage and impose defendant Whelan penalty of incarceration for 16 years in the high-security prison, judge of Moscow city court Andriy Suvorov delivered the sentence. Due to the fact that the materials of the case are classified, the court sessions took place in a closed regime. Mass media and observers were not admitted to the session. 50-year-old Whelan, who earlier served at the U.S. Marine Corps, believes that the sentence is politically motivated and the accusations are fabricated. Despite the American one, he also has the citizenship of the UK, Canada, and Ireland. That is why he appealed to the leaders of the U.S., the UK, and Canada with a request to respond to the illegal actions of the Russian authorities. On May 25, Whelan asked to justify him. According to the investigation, Whelan worked in favor of the American special services. He was charged with espionage. Whelan stated that an FSB employee might hold a provocation against him and he knew that employee for about ten years. The flash drive confiscated from him contained information, which makes a state secret. According to Whelan, he thought that the flash drive contains photos from vacation, not secret information. His acquaintance gave him the flash drive. U.S. Ambassador in Moscow John Sullivan stated that he is disappointed and furious by the sentence and finds it unfounded. Concerning the possible swap, the American diplomat stated he is not authorized to discuss such issues but he promised to seek justice for Whelan. British Ambassador Deborah Bronnert stated that she will raise the issue of Paul Whelan during the talks with the Russian authorities. Kremlins representative Dmitry Peskov stated that it is not right to consider Whelan as a political prisoner because he is sentenced by the court. Paul Whelan was detained in Moscow on December 28, 2018. He is accused of espionage but he denies all charges. However, if the court finds him guilty, he will face up to 20 years in prison. Later Russian authorities rejected Britains suggestion that it might use the ex-U.S. Marine detained in Moscow on espionage charges as a pawn in the diplomatic game. Besides, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia stated that the news on discussions about a possible spy swap with former U.S. marine Paul Whelan is fake. An NYPD union accused Shake Shack of "intentionally poisoning" its officers on Monday. (Scott Olson / Getty Images) If your typical American consumer got sick after drinking a Shake Shack milkshake tainted with a bleach-based cleaning solution, she would be rightfully upset. If that consumer then accused Shake Shack employees of intentionally poisoning her, publicly decrying that she cannot even take meal [sic] without coming under attack, she would almost certainly be considered paranoid if not outright delusional. But for the typical American police union? Paranoia is beginning to seem par for the course. On Monday night, two NYPD unions the New York Police Benevolent Association and the Detectives Endowment Association issued statements alleging that three New York police officers had been intentionally poisoned at Shake Shack. The NYCPBA tweeted a statement (since deleted) from its president, Patrick J. Lynch, claiming that the officers discovered a toxic substance, believed to be bleach, had been placed in their beverages. If the intent-assigning diction of placed didnt clue you in, Lynch and the PBA made it even more obvious: When NYC police officers cannot even take meal without coming under attack, it is clear that environment in which we work has deteriorated to a critical level. We cannot afford to let our guard down for even a moment. Meanwhile, the detectives association's president released a statement alleging that Police in New York City and across the country are under attack by vicious criminals who dislike us simply because of the uniform we wear. Emboldened by pandering elected officials, these cowards will go to great lengths to harm any member of law enforcement. The us-vs-them, warriors-under-assault party line couldnt have been clearer. In a not-so-shocking twist, however, these claims turned out to be false. The NYPDs own investigation cleared the Shake Shack employees of any criminality Tuesday morning. The bleach was more likely part of a cleaning solution that had been improperly removed from the milkshake machine. Story continues Sloppy consumer protection? Sure. Subpar food safety practices? Yeah, that too. A conspiracy to attack cops? Not in the slightest. And yet the police unions fast food-focused fragility felt pretty familiar. Over the past few months, headlines about cops getting erroneously mad at restaurants have become surprisingly common. Like the cop who accused a fast food worker of taking a bite out of his McChicken because he forgot hed taken the bite himself. Or the cops who threatened to boycott a Philly sandwich shop for the dire sin of not giving officers free lunch. Or the cop who lied about a McDonalds worker writing f---- pig on his coffee cup. While these stories might seem merely stupid, and embarrassing for the officers in question (which, to be clear, they are), this apparent police obsession with the imagined specter of an antifa fast food worker is a sign of a much deeper problem. As police brutality has become a more mainstream source of outrage over the past few years, police have increasingly closed ranks. Blue Lives Matter, Back the Blue, and thin blue line imagery all have their roots in the same idea: The world is full of dangerous, cop-hating criminals, and the poor, persecuted police officers are the only thing standing between order and chaos. Whats so dangerous about these slogans (and, indeed, about the frequent police accusations against restaurants) is how they encourage cops to interact with the rest of the world. Everything from the increase in SWAT usage of tanks and machine guns to warrior-style training that teaches cops they need to either kill or be killed is rooted in the idea that police are always under attack. Seth Stoughton, a law professor at the University of South Carolina and a former police officer, wrote about law enforcement's "warrior problem" for the Harvard Law Review, arguing that this warrior mindset is both common and destructive. Stoughton cites a 2010 article from Police One (a site offering police training, news, and career services) that recommends police "remain humble and compassionate; be professional and courteous and have a plan to kill everyone you meet." Stoughton argues that this mindset "creates a substantial, if invisible, barrier to true community policing," concluding that "the assertive manner in which officers set the tone of encounter can also set the stage for a negative response or a violent interaction that was, from the start, avoidable." The same paranoia that leads a police officer to assume hes been poisoned by a milkshake can lead him to needlessly escalate encounters with civilians. And as we've seen all too often, needless escalation can have tragic consequences. These stories arent frivolous; theyre an illustration of how deep and pervasive the toxic police persecution mindset can be. Excessive police violence isnt going to end as long as too many law enforcement agencies are peopled with or led by fragile, skittish warrior-wannabes who have deadly weapons, qualified immunity and the knee-jerk assumption that the people theyre meant to serve and protect especially Black people are trying to kill them. Until then? Its a lucky break when the only victim of police paranoia is a burger chains reputation. Texas will look into policies to drastically reduce natural gas flaring from the states shale patch as investors become increasingly sensitive to climate change concerns. The call to action from the head of the Texas Railroad Commission, which oversees oil and gas production in the state, marks a stark tone shift for an agency thats been criticized for its laissez-faire attitude toward one of the industrys most harmful environmental practices. After hearing on Tuesday from environmental groups, industry organizations and shale producers on ways the states flaring problem should be addressed, Wayne Christian, the commissions chairman, said he directed staff to consider whether measures could be implemented this fall. I am very concerned by the rate of flaring in Texas, Christian said during the webcast meeting. We cannot continue to waste this much natural gas and allow the practice of flaring to tarnish the reputation of our states thriving energy sector to the general public and investors on Wall Street. Investors growing reluctance to put money into polluting industries adds insult to injury for a shale patch that has fallen from grace on Wall Street after years burning through borrowed cash without giving shareholders the returns they sought. Many explorers were already struggling to stay afloat even before the Covid-19 pandemic pushed the oil market into its worst-ever crash. Flaring is commonplace in Texas oilfields, where natural gas is extracted alongside more valuable crude. A lack of pipeline capacity leaves drillers with too much gas on their hands. To avoid shutting in oil output, producers frequently resort to flaring, which burns off methane but still releases carbon dioxide and other particulate matter into the air. Christian said hes been told that Wall Street is less willing to invest in oil and gas companies because of the volumes of natural gas that theyre flaring. He said he wants Wall Street and the market to understand that the industry is working toward addressing the problem. A variety of proposals were raised during Tuesdays meeting. Latigo Petroleum, a privately held producer in West Texas, said the agency should set allowables to prevent companies without a market for their gas to continue pumping. Listed producers including Occidental Petroleum Corp. and Parsley Energy Inc. highlighted existing practices they have in place that they said show the industry is taking active steps toward reducing flaring. The Environmental Defense Fund called on the Railroad Commission to set a firm goal for an end to routine flaring by 2025. Flaring waste runs counter to Texas values, EDF said in a news release after the meeting. Commissioner Ryan Sitton said on Twitter that environmental groups are urging the agency to weigh economics, while the companies themselves say the Railroad Commission should ignore economics. His comment is an apparent dig at the long list of oil and gas producers that argued in April the commission shouldnt impose oil quotas in a bid to bolster prices, a proposal Sitton had spearheaded. He later called the initiative dead after it was clear that his fellow commissioners had deep reservations about instituting production caps. A young British man has told how he was left with a scarred head and bald spots after undergoing a botched 1,250 hair transplant in Turkey. Luke Horsfield, 26, an IT technician from Bradford, was worried about his thinning hairline and found a clinic in Turkey which would perform a transplant for half the price it would be in the UK. However months after six-hour the operation he underwent in December 2018 at the Clinic Center in Instanbul, he was left with scars and bald patches and his hair had failed to regrow. Luke claims surgeons at the clinic couldn't speak English and took too many follicular units from the back of his head during the op which left him scarred. Luke Horsfield, 26, an IT technician from Bradford, was worried about his thinning hairline and found a clinic in Turkey which would perform a transplant for half the price it would be in the UK (seen now, after corrective surgery) The procedure, known as follicular unit extraction, sees hair follicles removed from the side and back of a patient's scalp and injected into the front where the balding occurs. He claims this lead to further thinning of his hair, scarring and bald patches and he eventually needed it repaired by another clinic. The clinic's website, it promises 'effective and satisfying outcomes' for men experiencing thinning hair and promises the hairline will regrow. Luke has now warned others contemplating the procedure to properly do their research before undergoing treatment. However months after six-hour the operation he went in December 2018 at the Clinic Center in Instanbul, he was left with scars and bald patches and his hair had failed to regrow (seen at the time of surgery) Luke said: 'I did everything they told me to do as aftercare once I had the operation. 'But after four months, I saw literally no growth. I rang them to ask why it hadn't grown, but I was told this was normal. 'It got six months and there was a little bit of growth but not much and after a year it still hadn't grown. I was left with scars and bald patches.' Luke said his complaints fell on deaf ears and when he asked for a refund, they even offered him another operation for half the price. He says they eventually offered Luke a 400 refund, barely a third of what he paid for the botched job. Luke claims surgeons at the clinic couldn't speak English and took too many follicular units from the back of his head during the op which has left him scarred (seen after the operation in 2018) Luke, who began noticing his hairline was thinning at 21, said he thought he had found a bargain deal, but has now urged other men to fully research procedures and clinics. He added: 'I had always been really self-conscious about my hair and I hated it being wet or getting blown in the wind. 'I'd always spend extra time styling it before going out, trying to hide my bald spot. 'It was affecting my confidence and my self-esteem and it was something I'd been wanting to do a few years. 'I looked into it and a lot of the places offering the treatment in the UK charged around 6,000, but they were offering it for 1,250. He claims this lead to further thinning of his hair, scarring and bald patches and he eventually needed it repaired by another clinic (his donor area is seen 12 months after the 2018 op) Luke Horsfield's hairline is seen 14 months after his operation in Turkey 'They had great reviews on sites like Trust Pilot, so I thought I was getting good value for money. 'What I didn't know then was that you anyone can post a review and companies can ask for reviews to be taken down, so I feel like I wasn't getting a full picture.' Luke posted a review of his operation and treatment at the hands of the Clinic Center on YouTube and was contacted by the Hair Dr clinic in the UK offering to repair the botched job for free. Luke went under the knife again at the Hair Dr's clinic in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on March 3, and was left delighted with the results. He added: 'The treatment I got at the Hair Dr was worlds apart. Luke Horsfield is seen in Turkey ahead of his transplant in December 2018 'In Turkey, the surgeons didn't even speak English so I had to communicate through a translator. 'They've done a great job and I've already noticed signs of growth in my hairline. 'I'd just encourage anyone to properly research the clinic and operations first.' Dr Arshad, the lead surgeon at the Hair Dr transplant clinic, who carried out the repair procedure on Luke, said: 'When I was shown Luke's YouTube video and account of what happened with his previous hair transplant in Turkey it really struck a cord with me as I see so many clients in this unfortunate position on an almost weekly basis. 'Before embarking on a hair transplant it is imperative that research is carried out on the clinic and the surgeon. 'Hair transplant is very safe surgery but is not free of potentially serious side effects if it is not conducted by a qualified surgeon in the correct way. 'I would urge clients to check that the surgeon has a credible track record in this field and is indeed a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England before embarking on such a sensitive procedure. 'That way we can try and limit the number of unfortunate stories like Luke's.' The Clinic Center told FEMAIL: 'Clinic Center is registered in the UK and sponsor of Brighton Hove Albion F.C. Every year we treat more than 2000 patients and most of them are from the UK. 'We are the only organization in the world who provides aftercare service in 17 locations in the UK. 'We have been rewarded 5 consecutive years for our services by Whatclinic, visited by Dr. Alex George. 'We ask our patients to leave their comments on Trustpilot and we have more than 640 reviews in Trustpilot with 4,5 stars out of 5. We can not remove any review from there once it is published. ''Luke agreed to get a refund of GBP 400 and we made the refund because he did not wait to complete the healing process'. Complications that can arise from a hair transplant can be seen here. Luke Horsfield's hair 14 months after his operation in Turkey J ason Manford has swapped cracking jokes for delivering food after taking a job in Iceland. The 39-year-old is working as a delivery driver for the frozen-food supermarket chain to do his bit to help his local community during the coronavirus crisis. Donning Icelands red and grey uniform, Manford posed collecting deliveries from the stores warehouse before delivering goods around Cheshire. Sharing some snaps on his Facebook page, the comedian wrote: Thanks to the staff at Iceland Foods for being so welcoming today, was a fun morning delivering to your lovely customers. The comedian posed in a full uniform / Jason Manford In exchange for his shift work, Iceland is giving Manford two generous donations to charities CAFTcharity and The Bread and Butter Thing Manchester with the latter receiving 500 of groceries to help people in need of essential food supplies. Iceland boss Richard Walker told The Sun: Everyone at Iceland is extremely grateful for Jasons contribution today and he has certainly helped to lift spirits with our customers and heroic colleagues. "Our stores are deeply rooted within their local communities, so its a real privilege for us to be in a position where we can work with great people like Jason and donate to some worthy causes at the same time. Meanwhile Icelands official Twitter account joked: Jason Manford is joining us today to help with food deliveries. After all, if theres one thing comedians know about its delivery! Celebrities reacting to coronavirus - In pictures 1 /34 Celebrities reacting to coronavirus - In pictures Gigi Hadid with boyfriend Zayn Malik and sister Bella during her quarantined 25th birthday celebration Instagram / @gigihadid Joe Jonas and Sophia Turner have turned their isolation boredom into hilarious TikTok content TikTok Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok TikTok Gigi Hadid celebrated her 25th birthday with family while in quarantine Instagram / @gigihadid Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have been able to enjoy time with their kids Instagram / @chrissyteigen Katy Perry recorded herself for American Idol in a life sized hand sanitizer bottle Instagram / @katyperry Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were the first celebrities to have a confirmed case and kept us updated on their recovery journey on Twitter and Instagram Instagram / @tomhanks Demi Moore and Bruce Willis in matching pajamas with their daughter and her boyfriend Instagram / @buuski Kaia Gerber adopted a puppy to keep her company Instagram / @kaiagerber Helena Christensen has been having her son take glam Instagram photos for her Instagram Brooklyn Beckham in quarantine with his girlfriend Nicola Peltz Instagram Matthew McConaughey played virtual bingo with seniors The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living/Facebook Kim Kardashian on a flight wearing a face mask and gloves @kimkardashian Naomi Campbell preparing for a flight @naomi Gwyneth Paltrow wearing a facemask during a plane ride @gwynethpaltrow Bella Hadid wearing a face mask on a plane @bellahadid Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas @sophiet Sebastian Stan on a plane in protective gear @sebastianstan Naomi Campbell preparing for a flight @naomi Nicole Scherzinger with Thom Evans @nicolescherzinger Idris Elba announced on Twitter that he had tested positive for coronavirus @idriselba Robbie Williams greets fans with elbow bumps Getty Images Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok TikTok Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok TikTok Joe Jonas and Sophia Turner have turned their isolation boredom into hilarious TikTok content TikTok Katy Perry has taken to dressing up in outlandish costumes Instagram / @katyperry Manfords work comes after he previously joked he was livid at being rejected by retail giant Tesco for work as a delivery driver. He has also kept himself busy working as a volunteer for hospitals driving the elderly and the needy to appointments. Speaking about his time volunteering in his Facebook video diary, Manford said: Youve just got to do your bit, havent you? Make sure everybody is alright. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 18:24:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A bartender performs at a night fair of Sinan Mansions in Shanghai, east China, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) With macro-economic resilience, comprehensive competitiveness, market advantages and domestic demand potentials, China's economic development will remain sound and stable in the long run, which will also help boost global growth amid COVID-19 uncertainties. BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The newly released data from China's National Bureau of Statistics has shown that the country's economic recovery gained momentum in May as positive indicators keep growing. At a time when the world has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, China's steady economic resumption is injecting confidence and impetus into the gloomy global economy. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday that factory activities continued to pick up in May with the value-added industrial output, an important economic indicator, going up 4.4 percent year on year. Other key economic indicators also showed signs of a rebound on the back of supporting policies to coordinate growth and the control of the coronavirus disease. A kid selects drinks at a supermarket in Handan City, north China's Hebei Province, June 10, 2020. (Photo by Li Hao/Xinhua) These clear and positive signals have demonstrated that the impact of COVID-19 on China's economy is only temporary, and China is capable of securing a stable, healthy and sustainable economic development. Just as Deutsche Bank's Chief Economist Michael Spencer predicted, China's economy could have a "very impressive" recovery and achieve growth. First, China's domestic consumption, the primary driving force of the Chinese economy, starts to grow. Official statistics show that China's retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of consumption growth, declined 2.8 percent year on year in May, rebounding from a drop of 7.5 percent in April. Despite a broader consumption downturn, online sales continued to be active as consumers turned to online services when staying indoors, with an increase of 4.5 percent year on year in the first five months, quickening by 2.8 percentage points from the first four months, the data showed. "The Chinese consumer is back, and we are well on a way to a pretty broad consumer recovery," a Fortune magazine report in May quoted Andy Rothman, an investment analyst at the mutual fund company Matthews Asia, as saying. People attend a theme tour activity at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai, east China, June 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) Jeffrey Sachs, a renowned economics professor at Columbia University and a senior United Nations advisor, told Xinhua in a recent written interview that as China is coming out of lockdown ahead of other parts of the world, it will see an economic rebound in the second quarter, which will buoy markets abroad. Second, new forms of economic activities have injected vitality into the market. From online classrooms and online medical care to working from home and selling goods through live broadcast, digital economy has well integrated with traditional industries in the Chinese market with the help of 5G networking technology, big data centers and artificial intelligence. Digital transformation and the development of high-tech industries will surely bring China more sustainable, higher-quality economic growth. Children enjoy themselves under a gate of the Zhengding ancient town in Zhengding County of Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Zhang Xiaofeng/Xinhua) Third, effective monetary and fiscal policies have helped strengthen the resilience of the Chinese economy. In past months, local governments and various departments have issued nearly 100 policies and measures in a bid to ease the difficulties of enterprises, increase credit support, facilitate circulation of supply chains, and back work and production resumption, which provided strong support for revitalizing economy. Fourth, despite the impact of COVID-19, China is still making rapid and steady progress in further opening up. So far this year, China's Foreign Investment Law has been put in place and implemented in an earnest way. South China's Hainan Free Trade Port has inked 35 key investment projects, including eight foreign-funded ones. On Monday, the 127th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as Canton Fair, kicked off online in south China's Guangdong Province. These major moves have demonstrated that the Chinese market continues to open up with larger potentials and more advantages for investments on the basis of a fair and open business, which is conducive to reviving the world economy. At present, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economy continues to unfold, China's economic recovery still faces risks and challenges. Yet with macro-economic resilience, comprehensive competitiveness, market advantages and domestic demand potentials, China's economic development will remain sound and stable in the long run, which will also help boost global growth amid COVID-19 uncertainties. President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a joint military and police operation specifically targeted at combing Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States to rid the areas of bandits. The presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday. The president reassured Nigerians that the nations armed forces are fully capable of dealing with the challenges of banditry and terrorism. He assured that surveillance would be improved, with more night vision aircrafts already deployed under Operation Accord. The operation was launched three weeks ago. He, therefore, called for more patience as the military takes appropriate steps to block gaps being exploited to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens. Nigerias military has displayed its capabilities in the past and will show it again by dealing with the current challenges, the president added. He appealed to the people of Katsina State to be patient and supportive of the ongoing military operations in the state, while sympathizing with those who are bereaved, injured and lost properties. Mr Buhari admonished that taking to the streets for protest could distract the military operations, urging Katsina indigenes not to give up on the military who over the years have a strong track record of quelling crises once given enough time. The major forests in North Western Nigeria have been identified as home to the bandits in the region. The operation will clear all these forests, he further said. (NAN) One day in late May, high school teacher Jessica Macias put away worries about her future and began giving a class by video feed. She was teaching for Castle Park High School in San Diego, California. Macias, who is 26 years old, had attended Castle Park herself as a student. While giving the class, she tried to forget that she would soon be without a job. When the school year ended on June 5, Macias and 204 other teachers in the Sweetwater Union High School District lost their jobs. The night before the class, she said in an interview, I couldnt sleep because I was thinking about not having a job. Macias joined a large number of public school employees across the United States who have lost jobs because of school closures resulting from the coronavirus crisis. A Labor Department economist told Reuters that nearly 470,000 public school employees lost their jobs nationally in April alone. That is more than the nearly 300,000 total during the 2008 Great Recession, based on information from a 2014 Russell Sage Foundation paper. The job losses at public K-12 schools are bigger and coming faster than experts predicted. Michael Griffith is a researcher at the Learning Policy Institute. He said were looking at record cuts in teaching positions. School officials, public officials and teaching experts have warned the job losses will hurt the education of a generation of American students. It also could slow down the U.S. economic recovery since public schools are big employers in the country. Blow to poor areas Research organization The Brookings Institution said the layoffs came at the worst possible time for high-poverty schools. It published a paper in April saying more students will fall into poverty and need more from schools as their parents and guardians lose their own jobs. Public schools in poor areas are especially troubled because of the COVID-19 recession. Since property taxes are lower in poor areas, the schools depend more on state aid for money. With falling revenue and less sales taxes, state aid to public schools is decreasing in many places. A bill passed recently by the U.S. House of Representatives would provide $13.5 billion in aid to K-12 public schools. The House is controlled by the Democratic Party. Republicans, who control the Senate, oppose the bill as written. Many teachers and school officials worry that class sizes will double with fewer teachers. But Robert Hull, chief executive of the National Association of State Boards of Education, disagrees. He told Reuters that because of COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, class sizes will actually get smaller when schools reopen. Different students, he said, could come to school on different days, and possibly receive video lessons other days. More cuts in education April was an especially unkind month to education. The U.S. Labor Department report said that in addition to the layoffs of public schools employees, state-operated universities cut jobs for 176,000 professors and others. And private schools, including well-known universities and K-12 private schools, were down by nearly 460,000 employees. Susanna Loeb is a professor of education at Brown University, a private university in Rhode Island. She said she believes most of the job losses in April were non-teaching positions, as schools tend to lay off teachers last. Like schools across the U.S., San Diegos Sweetwater already had severe financial problems before COVID-19 hit. Sweetwater official Karen Janney did not respond to attempts to reach her for comment. English teacher Macias is out of luck. Because she had been a teacher at Castle Park for only four years, she was among the ones losing jobs. One of my biggest dreams was to teach at Castle Park, Macias said. Im Alice Bryant. Reuters news agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Quiz - U.S. Schools End Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story school district - n. an area or region containing the schools that a school board is in charge of K-12 - adj. from kindergarten through 12th grade layoff - n. the act of ending the employment of a worker or group of workers While many people have left some of their belongings on a train whether it be a wallet, a phone, or even a pair of headphones, the idea of leaving behind a bagful of gold is something that would unlikely happen. In Switzerland, the owner of a nearly $200,000 worth bag of gold bars, which was left on a Swiss commuter train last year, remains a mystery, marking a bigger question: who would commute on a train with a bag of gold? According to CNN, forgetful individual who left something extremely important, a $191,000 worth of package full of gold bars, on a commuter train is being searched and tracked by the Swiss officers. In a statement made by Simon Kopp, the information officer of the prosecutor's office of Lucerne, the parcel was said to be discovered by one of the train workers and up to date there are no claimed crimes related to the bars of golds left on the train ABC 7 also reported that, efforts are being made by the authorities to track down and locate the owner who left the 3-kilogram bag of gold. Authorities said the bagful of gold bars was spotted in October last year in the carriage of a Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) train, whose route is from the Northeastern Swiss town of St Gallen to Lucerne, a city which is located in the center of the country. Read also: Supreme Court Favors LGBTQ+ Workers, Rules They Are Protected from Discrimination by Civil Rights In a published statement of the officials in the local government Lucerne Canton gazette, in spite of the extensive investigations conducted and extreme efforts by the authorities the owner of the high-value parcel is still unidentified and had not been tracked down, Sputnik News reported. In Switzerland, where locals would sometimes purchase their groceries with a 1,000 franc note, it has long attracted to those who wanted to leave no trace on their spending. Amidst a decade-long severe measure on Swiss banking confidentiality, at present, the country is enticing people with a penchant for gold. After the tracking down of the owner of the high-value parcel, which contains gold bars worth 182,000 Swiss francs or around $191,000, failed, the forgotten precious cargo was confiscated by the canton's prosecutor's office. Authorities have decided to announce their investigation to the public to find the owner of the mysterious bounty after a series of efforts of tracking down the owner were unsuccessful. On June 2, officials have published an announcement stating the owner has five years to make a claim for the parcel. In an interview, the spokesperson of the prosecutor's office said that a number of inquiries about the bag of gold had been made and are being thoroughly checked by the authorities. Details regarding the nature of the checks were not provided. Kopp did not give details regarding the process of how police officers or authorities might confirm that the bag of gold belongs to anyone who would come forward and claim the parcel, but uttered that they are looking into new clues and information. Related article: 5 Black Billionaires in the World That Proves Personality is More Than Just a Skin Color @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Karlie Redd may have mourned the death of her relationship with Arkansas Mo during the beginning of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta season 9, but fresh details are just come out about their divorce. Her ex-fiance, whose real name is Maurice Fayne, has been in headlines himself recently for fraud charges. Maurice Mo Fayne and Karlie Redd | Paras Griffin/Getty Images Arkansas Mo was Karlie Redds latest beau on the show Fayne wasnt on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta for long and just was a recurring guest star in the eighth season. As depicted on the show, he is the owner of a trucking company and was engaged to Karlie Redd. The duo broke up and Fayne did not return to the show for its ninth season. For the ninth season, despite Fayne did not appear, Redd held a dramatic funeral that signified the end of their relationship. Love & Hip Hop staple, Alexis Skyy, told Redd that she was also involved with Fayne and that she originally had her engagement ring. Fayne made news outside of Love & Hip Hop in May when he was hit with a federal bank fraud charge that was related to the business loans given to small businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Fayne received $2 million from the Paycheck Protection Program for his trucking company, but spent the money on himself, buying jewelry, other personal items, and making child support payments. RELATED: Love & Hip Hop: Fans Arent Buying Trinas Apology Surrounding Her Controversial George Floyd Protest Comments Details surface about the divorce terms According to The Shade Room, which reported all the details about the settlement, everything isnt complicated at all. There is no alimony and Redd will get a 2019 BMW in the settlement. The publication reports that the settlement reads, Just a week later, the pair signed off on a settlement where neither would give the other alimony, but Mo agreed to transfer a 2019 BMW into Karlies name, the court papers state. There was no property, debts or children from the marriage. RELATED: Love & Hip Hop: Masika Kalysha Says Shows Like It Are Terrible, Exploitive In The Shade Rooms Instagram comments, Fayne threw shade and seemingly insinuated that this news came out in the public for a future Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta storyline for Redd. He said, They lil show must be about to air again, they wanting some attention but hey thanks. With Fayne making news and Redd sure to have a lot of things going in her life, this will surely be brought up during the next season of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. What started as a conversation between an African-American mother and her son about the nationwide protests and calls for change in the wake of George Floyds death has lead to a community-wide discussion focused on local youth, hosted by Lamar University. With the coronavirus (closures), my son was home from Texas Tech, Kathryn Washington, an education professor at Lamar, told The Enterprise. We were already dealing with the pandemic, but then when the George Floyd incident happened, it really affected him. Washingtons son had questions. What could he do? He wanted to know why this keeps happening, and he felt like he didnt really have much power to do anything, the mother said. Washington spoke about this experience with colleague Kelly Brown, who is also an education professor at the university. When she shared that story, I said, You know what? We should try and see if we can do some town hall so that he has a voice, not only to process what is happening, but then to figure out a way to turn that anger and that energy into some positive action moving forward, Brown said. On June 23, a virtual town hall will bring together panelists, teachers, local civil rights leaders and other community members to discuss how young people can contribute to positive change related to the surge of calls for racial equality across the country. My research focus has to do with equity in education, Brown said. And so how I got into it obviously is with all of the unrest that's happening around the country and around the world. I was trying to figure out what is something that I can do to make sure this isn't a moment, but that it actually does become a movement that moves the conversation forward? Lamar University President Ken Evans, Beaumont NAACP President Michael Cooper and Pastor Oveal Walker III will be among the panelists discussing a wide range of issues, with the opportunity for participants to ask questions and engage. The university will post registration information for students and community members in the coming days. The town hall includes multiple breakout sessions focused on specific topics, like the recognition of black women in the movement and how young people can have conversations with friends and family in a constructive way. Other sessions, which will be moderated by professors and student members, include how technology and social media can be responsibly used in the conversation, how students can maintain their mental health while advocating for change, and the importance of voting. Our target focus is high school and college students in the Golden Triangle, Brown said. Sothey have an opportunity to not only get resources here from people who have been through what they're doing and give them kind of paths forward so that they're able to continue it in ways that only they can, because the world is changing. The move comes as a growing number of faculty have signed letters calling on Lamar University to do more than issue statements in response to the national conversation surrounding race, policing and more. Public statements without substantive actions are hollow, and we urge Lamar University to step forward as a leader in these efforts, a recent letter signed by five faculty members said. Another more-expansive letter sent to Evans and other leadership listed specific recommendations, including a town hall similar to the one planned for next week, the creation of an ethnic and gender studies department, and required reading, among others. In this uncertain and fraught present, universities are agents of change, and universities can help to chart a better future for our students and our local communities, the June 10 letter signed by four faculty members said. We hope that by asking and answering these questions and implementing these recommendations, Lamar University will be the catalyst for change in the region and the Texas State University system. Shelly Vitanza, director of public affairs, said the university took quick action to address the concerns in the letter. A contingency of Lamar University faculty have proposed a plan moving forward to address racial issues in light of the death of George Floyd, Vitanza told The Enterprise. A committee of LU faculty, staff, students, and alumni is being convened to address all the issues in the letter. Washington said she hopes the event next week will be an outlet and a way for her son, and his friends, to enact change beyond the moment and be an active part of this moment in history. We have to do something to continue the conversation after we have marched and done all the protesting, she said. We have got to keep having the conversation to make some real change. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes Recipient of a seventh consecutive grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the NEA Big Read Lakeshore organized by Hope College will journey back in time this fall from Nantucket, Massachusetts, to the South Pacific for the 200 th anniversary of the real-life sea story that inspired Herman Melvilles Moby Dick. Running concurrently, the Little Read Lakeshore will travel to the Galapagos Islands supported by a second consecutive grant from Michigan Humanities. This years Big Read will feature Nathaniel Philbricks non-fiction best-seller In the Heart of the Sea, an account of the November 1820 sinking of the ship Essex by an angry whale and the crews struggle for survival afterward. It will also include an age-appropriate adaptation of the book for middle-grade readers, with the Little Read Lakeshore for children featuring the bilingual picture book Galapagos Girl / Galapaguena, written by Marsha Diane Arnold and illustrated by Angela Dominguez. The Big Read Lakeshore has received $15,000 from the NEA, one of 84 grants announced on Tuesday, June 16, for the period running from September 2020 through June 2021. The Little Read Lakeshore has received $15,000 from Michigan Humanities, one of 16 grants announced earlier in the month. Im thrilled that weve received NEA and NEH grants again this year. Our program has grown so much over the past seven years and Im excited for readers along the Lakeshore to participate again, said Dr. Deborah Van Duinen, who is director of both the Big Read and Little Read as well as an associate professor of English education at Hope. During this unprecedented time of COVID-19, I think its more important than ever for our community to come together around a common book, to learn from and listen to each other as we encounter a story from our different perspectives and vantage points. NEA Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest that seeks to broaden understanding of the world, community and self through the joy of sharing a good book. NEA Big Read showcases a diverse range of contemporary titles that reflect many different voices and perspectives, aiming to inspire conversation and discovery. The Humanities Grants from Michigan Humanities award up to $15,000 per project to Michigan nonprofits doing work to support cultural, educational and community-based public programming with a humanities element. The Big Read Lakeshore and Little Read Lakeshore are Hope College programs that are presented in collaboration with 30 community partners including lakeshore libraries, non-profits, businesses and academic institutions, and put on numerous events and book discussions centered on a specific novel between late October and the middle of November. More than 10,000 people participated in last years events. The NEA Big Read Lakeshore, which began in 2014, has received NEA Big Read support during each of the local programs seven years, for a total of $106,500. The Little Read Lakeshore, which began in 2017, has received Michigan Humanities grants during the past two years, for a total of $30,000. In the Heart of the Sea won the 2000 National Book Award for Nonfiction and was on the New York Times bestseller list for 40 weeks. The book tells the harrowing story of the Nantucket-based whaler Essex, which was rammed and sunk by a sperm whale in the South Pacific. The 20 crew members drifted for more than 90 days in three tiny whaleboats, succumbing to weather, hunger and disease, and ultimately turning to drastic measures in the fight for survival. As a survival story, In the Heart of the Sea raises questions about who we are as humans and the choices we make or think we might make in different situations, Van Duinen said. Its a story that encourages us to reflect on life and death and our relationship with the natural world and each other. The bilingual picture book Galapagos Girl / Galapguena centers on young Valentina, who enjoys her life on the Galapagos Islands, where she spends her days outside observing the natural world around her, greeting sea lions splashing on the shore, scampering over lava rocks with Sally-lightfoot crabs and swimming with manta rays. When she learns that her wild companions are under threat, she vows to help protect them and the islands. The story is based on the childhood of Valentina Cruz who will be Skyping in during the program. This years Big Read and Little Read will begin with a kick-off event on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. Details about this years music, art and lecture events will be released in the fall. Van Duinen noted that in light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, implementation will be contingent on conditions at the time, and will be based on the guidance, recommendations and restrictions issued by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Ottawa County Department of Public Health. We are currently exploring virtual and hybrid programming options to ensure that all of our community members will be able to participate in our events, Van Duinen said. The Big Read encourages book clubs interested in reading any of the chosen titles to sign up on the programs website. Book discussion material and information on how to get involved are also available on the website, bigreadlakeshore.com. In addition to Hope, the NEA Big Read Lakeshores community partners include the Allegan District Library, Allendale Township Library, Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony, the City of Holland, CultureWorks, Fellowship Reformed Church, the Fennville District Library, the Gary Byker Library of Hudsonville, the Georgetown District Library, the Herrick District Library, the Holland Museum, the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute, the Howard Miller Public Library, the Loutit District Library, the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, the Outdoor Discovery Center, the Patmos Library, Ready for School, the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, the Spring Lake District Library, Western Theological Seminary, the Womans Literary Club and many individual area residents. Hope and the other participating organizations will match the NEA grant with additional financial and in-kind support, but committee members will also be contacting businesses and individuals in the area for sponsorships of book discussions and main events. Since 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts has funded more than 1,600 NEA Big Read programs, providing more than $22 million to organizations nationwide. Over the past 13 years, grantees have leveraged more than $50 million in local funding to support their NEA Big Read programs. More than 5.7 million Americans have attended an NEA Big Read event, approximately 91,000 volunteers have participated at the local level, and 39,000 community organizations have partnered to make NEA Big Read activities possible. More information about the NEA Big Read, including book and author information, podcasts, and videos, is available at arts.gov/neabigread. Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates Americas rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. More information is available at arts.gov. Arts Midwest promotes creativity, nurtures cultural leadership, and engages people in meaningful arts experiences, bringing vitality to Midwest communities and enriching peoples lives. Based in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Arts Midwest is one of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, and its history spans more than 35 years. More information is available at artsmidwest.org. As one of 56 state (and territories) humanities councils in the country, Michigan Humanities was founded in 1974 as a result of federal legislation. An affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Michigan Humanities also actively seeks grants, sponsorships and individual donations to further support cultural programming for Michigan communities. More information is available at michiganhumanities.org. Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. More information is available at neh.gov. A research study on political attitudes and identities in Northern Ireland has been released today (Wednesday 17 June) by ARK - a joint initiative between Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University. The report entitled 'Political attitudes at a time of flux' used data from the 2019 Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) Survey. It was co-authored by Dr Katy Hayward and Ben Rosher from the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen's University Belfast. Some of the key findings include: -The majority of NILT respondents (from all communities) support the devolved institutions -There is strong support for the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement as the basis for governing Northern Ireland, although most would like to see some change to it -39 per cent of NILT respondents identify as 'Neither' Unionist nor Nationalist, which is the lowest figure for 15 years. Nevertheless, it is still the most preferred of the three categories of political identity -There has been an increase in the proportion of respondents identifying as Unionist compared to 2018, when there had been an unusual shift in the proportion of Protestants identifying as 'Neither' -2019 saw a greater proportion of Catholic respondents identifying as Nationalist (59 per cent) than has been the case since 2003 -The proportion of Nationalists describing themselves as 'very strongly' Nationalist in 2019 is higher than it has been since 1998 -Nationalists are strikingly more expectant and more in favour of Irish unity as a consequence of Brexit. In contrast, the majority of Unionists see Brexit as making no difference to their views regarding the prospect of Irish unification. Commenting on the survey results Dr Hayward said, "2019 was a fascinating year for politics in Northern Ireland. Extraordinary scenes from Westminster as the Brexit deadline was stretched further and further contrasted with the empty chamber in Stormont as we remained without a functioning devolved legislature. "Against this background, three elections in a year saw notable success for the Alliance Party and Green Party. But analysing what this means in terms of wider political attitudes in Northern Ireland requires further evidence. This is what we have with the NI Life and Times (NILT) Survey, as our latest report shows." Ben Rosher, co-author of the report, noted, "NILT has proven a useful tool for tracking changes (and continuities) over time in the political attitudes and identities of people in Northern Ireland and this is particularly true of a year of such significant flux as 2019. "As well as repeating some questions from year to year, in 2019 NILT included new questions to give us more information on how people are responding to this remarkable political context." Dr Paula Devine, co-director of ARK from the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen's, added, "From this data, we can see that support for the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement and the devolved institutions has been maintained among people of all backgrounds. However, it is striking that 2019 also saw a strengthening of unionist and nationalist identities and growing pressure on the so-called 'middle ground'." The ARK NILT survey has been running since 1998 and provides an important source of data on how our opinions have changed over the past 21 years. The survey data has played an important role in shaping and evaluating key public policies, such as those relating to community relations and racial equality, and have consistently informed public and political debate, including in highly contested policy areas. In 2019, a representative sample of 1,203 people aged 18 years or over responded to questions on relations between different communities living in Northern Ireland, including: migrant workers, Brexit, criminal justice system, road safety, and breastfeeding. Full details, including tables of results, from the 2019 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey are available at: https://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt ### Media inquiries to Zara McBrearty at Queen's Communications Office on Tel: 07795676858 or email z.mcbrearty@qub.ac.uk Only a third of the people surveyed, around the world, thought that the US had responded effectively to the pandemic. Far more people around the world think China has responded well to the COVID-19 pandemic than those who think the United States has done a good job, a poll by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation showed on Monday. The survey of more than 120,000 people from 53 countries by the think tank and German polling data firm Dalia Research found that even in democratic countries, 45 percent of people thought their governments had limited too many freedoms during the pandemic. COVID-19 is also a litmus test for democracy, said Anders Fogh Rasmussen, chairman of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation and a former NATO secretary-general. It should act as a wake-up call to democratic leaders that people want more democracy and freedom after COVID-19, he said. More than 60 percent of people surveyed thought China had responded well to the pandemic, while only a third around the world thought the US response had been effective. Just over half of those surveyed in the United States thought their government had responded well, however. The survey found that most Chinese think the United States has a negative influence on democracy globally. Greece, Taiwan, Ireland, South Korea, Australia and Denmark were the countries where the largest proportions of people said their governments had responded well to the crisis. People in Brazil, France, the United States, Italy and the UK felt their governments handled the situation badly. Separately, the study showed that a majority of the world thinks it is likely or somewhat likely that a foreign power will influence the results of their next election. The two countries that worried the least about foreign interference were China and Russia. Ahead of the US presidential election in November, 55 percent of Americans think that interference is very or somewhat likely. (Newser) New Zealand is no longer free from the new coronavirus after health officials say two women who flew from London to see a dying parent have tested positive, the AP reports. But before they were tested, the women had been given an exemption to leave quarantine on compassionate grounds and had traveled from Auckland to Wellington by car. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said that as part of their travel plan, the women had no contact with any people or any public facilities on their road trip. story continues below Nevertheless, the new cases have sparked a round of testing in New Zealand for anybody who might have been close to the women. That includes passengers and staff on their flights, which arrived via Brisbane in Australia, other people at the Auckland hotel they initially stayed at in quarantine, and a family member they met in Wellington. The women remain in isolation in Wellington and have delayed the funeral of their parent until they have recovered. Until Tuesday, New Zealand had gone more than three weeks without any new cases and had declared that everybody who had contracted the virus had recovered, aside from the 22 people who died. (The news comes just days after New Zealanders got a massive reward for eradicating the virus.) The U.S. has no chance of an injunction against the publisher, which did not sign the NDA, Gillers said. It wants the publisher to get the court-ordered notice so that, if it publishes anyway, the U.S. will have some basis then to seek civil or criminal sanctions against it. Trumps fascist right-wing militias are being bombarded with his claims that all the protesters marching around the country are subversive members of an Antifa Army, an evil organization thats part of a conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government. If President Trump thinks his re-election is going to be difficult now that polls are showing him trailing the Former Vice President Joe Biden by as much as 16 points, he isnt factoring more significant civil unrest caused by his hands. President Trump spills propaganda to insight his campaign crowds to believe a false Antifa Army is lurking in the streets of America that could translate into a deadly massacre on U.S. soil. The militia could possibly interpret Trumps message of hate, as a call to duty. The danger of a bloody mass shooting a massacre of hundreds is growing The Washington Post is reporting that while protesters in Albuquerque wrapped a chain around the neck of a bronze statue and began tugging and chanting, Tear it down, shortly before sunset on Monday was suddenly stopped as four shots rang out. Most people instinctively turned toward the noise, videos from the scene show. A few screamed. Just yards away, a group of men sporting military-like garb and carrying semiautomatic rifles formed a protective circle around the gunman. The gunshots, which left one man in critical but stable condition, have set off a cascade of public outcry denouncing the unregulated militias presence and the shooting. On Tuesday morning, the Albuquerque Police Department announced that detectives had arrested Stephen Ray Baca, 31, in connection with the shooting. Police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos Jr. said in a statement that Stephen Ray Baca was booked into the Metro Detention Center on a charge of aggravated battery. The gunshot victim has yet to be identified. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) said in a statement. The heavily armed individuals who flaunted themselves at the protest, calling themselves a civil guard, were there for one reason: To menace protesters, to present an unsanctioned show of unregulated force, To menace the people of New Mexico with weaponry with an implicit threat of violence is on its face unacceptable; that violence did indeed occur is unspeakable. The incident is a flashing red warning signal that there is a potential for a catastrophic mass shooting by right-wing, white nationalist militia shooting motivated by the hate speech that continues to pour from the mouth of Donald J. Trump. Source Washington Post A mass shooting and murder of innocent protesters require just a single shooter as we learned last year in Las Vegas shooting where 60 people were murdered. President Trumps calls on Twitter and in his media interviews to liberate the state capitals of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, where Democrat Governors still have partial shutdowns to prevent the coronavirus from wreaking havoc. This has resulted in thousands of right-wing militia to show up dressed in combat uniforms who are armed to the teeth. The violent rhetoric from President Trump is whipping up these militia members. It foreshadows the increasing likelihood one or more of these individual groups deciding to action by erupting into a murderous rampage. A mass shooting at this point of peaceful protesters would be a horrific violation of protesters' rights of free speech and the right to protest. For Trump, a mass shooting would doom his re-election. Americans of all races and religions, including politicians, clergy, and children, are peacefully protesting. A slaughter by one or more right-wing militia members would also devastate the argument that military weapons should be legal and that public toting of these weapons is a constitutional right. Man shot at anti-racism protest over conquistador statue To no ones surprise, the cruise line industry has been pummeled by the coronavirus pandemic. From the viral outbreak on the liner Diamond Princess, to ongoing headlines along the lines of 40,000 Cruise Ship Workers Trapped at Sea, to the heavy share price declines among the industry stocks, the news has been unrelentingly bad. But nothing lasts forever, not even bad news, and what goes down must eventually come back up. Even cruise line stocks. The industry is down about 60% year-to-date, drastically underperforming the travel segment generally, but in recent weeks cruise line shares have surged 75%. At the macro level, JPMorgan analyst Brandt Montour makes a case for both near-term risk and longer-term recovering among the cruise lines. The risks are obvious: the potential for coronavirus outbreaks on the ships, mitigated by the companies reopening at partial capacity. On the positive side, Montour credits the pent-up demand for vacationing seen broadly, the surprisingly high risk-tolerance of the average American, recapitalizations across the cruise space, the relative resiliency of demand from repeat-cruisers, and of course the broader macro recovery. Getting into specifics, Montour has picked out two stocks that are worth the risk, and one that investors should avoid for now. Using TipRanks Stock Comparison tool, we lined up the three alongside each other to get the lowdown on what the near-term holds for these cruise line players. Royal Caribbean (RCL) Well start with Royal Caribbean, whose management Montour describes as best in class. The upshot is, that RCL shares are still available at a discount and the company has several reasons for optimism going forward. As Montour points out, RCL has a reputation for excellent physical infrastructure and operations the companys cruise ships and crews are generally considered industry leaders. With China opening up and loosening restrictions, RCLs ticket prices have been holding up somewhat better than at peer companies. This is an important point; as the cruise lines are looking at reopening with limited capacity, maintaining ticket prices will be essential to maintaining margins. Story continues All of this is not to say that the company is not feeling the pressure. Last month, RCL extended its suspension of sailings to the end of July, and the Q2 earnings forecast predicts a net loss of $4.43 per share nearly triple the net loss reported in Q1. But these are likely balanced by the companys strong liquidity position it recently renegotiated more than $2.2 billion in debt and its prospects for Q3 resumption of business in China. Montour touches on the points in his comments on the stock: Its relative liquidity position is no longer a concern, while its relative share outperformance and valuation is worth the step up in quality, in our view. Overall, Montour sees RCL as a stock worth the risks. He rates it a Buy, expecting the shares to outperform peers in the near future. His $72 price target implies an upside potential of 18% for the coming 12 months. (To watch Montours track record, click here) The Wall Street view of RCL is still cautious. The stocks recent rebound, despite underperforming the broader markets, has still pushed the share price well above the average price target but even so, 9 out of 15 analysts rate the stock a Buy. With 4 Holds and 2 Sells, this makes the analyst consensus view a Moderate Buy. RCL shares are selling for $62.66; if it continues to appreciate, expect the analysts to adjust their targets upward. (See RCL stock analysis on TipRanks) Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) Next up is Norwegian Cruise Line, the third largest player in the cruise line industry, with a market cap exceeding $5 billion. Norwegians greatest advantage right now is the size and capacity of its cruise fleet. With a smaller fleet of relatively newer ships, and no new vessels scheduled to launch for the next two years, Montour sees the company as well-positioned to weather the coronavirus storm. Montour also takes care to point out Norwegians relative discount and high potential upside. In fact, even though he rates RCL as his best pick, he still sees NCLH as having the greater return potential. Like RCL, Norwegian has suspended sailings through the end of July. While this will badly impact the bottom line, the company has also improved its liquidity position. Subsidiary company NCL announced last month the closing of two investments tranches, one for $400 million and one for $675 million. Norwegians sound cash position and relative share price discount are the main attractors for Montour. He supports his Buy rating for the stock with a $24 price target that implies a healthy 20% one-year upside potential. We like NCLH's positioning with its relatively small, relatively newer fleet, with no new capacity coming on for the next ~2 years NCLHs relative discount and YTD share underperformance yield the most upside to our PT, Montour concluded. Again, Wall Street is more cautious here than JPMs industry expert. The Moderate Buy analyst consensus rating is based on 15 reviews, including 8 Buys, 6 Holds, and 1 Sell. The average price target is only $16.67, while shares are selling for $19.99. (See NCLH stock analysis on TipRanks) Carnival Corporation (CCL) Last on the list is Carnival, the stock that Montour recommends avoiding at least for now. It may strike you as unusual that the worlds largest cruise company (even after the coronavirus hit, Carnival boasts a $15.2 billion market cap. But the company also has a heavy debt load. At the end of March, Carnival announced that it was making available $3 billion in senior secured notes to be due in 2023. In addition, the company also revealed plans to raise $1.75 billion through a sale of senior convertible notes, also due in 2023. In its simultaneous third debt announcement, Carnival also unveiled a public offering of $1.25 billion worth of common stock shares. Along with the debt load, Carnival also suspended its 50-cent per share quarterly dividend, as a move to preserve liquidity. This is a serious blow to the stock, as the dividend, at current prices, would yield over 10%. Montour comments on Carnival, saying, CCL's growth metrics were sluggish heading into the crisis, as older capacity and regional footprints were more impacted... During COVID-19, CCL likely sustained the most direct brand damage The analyst also points out that Carnival lacks any unique growth drivers, and that the companys size makes it less nimble in dealing with the current crisis conditions. With that in mind, Montour hedges on Carnival, giving the stock a Hold rating. His $20 price target suggests a modest 2% downside. (To watch Montours track record, click here) JPMs expert analysis is in line with the Wall Street aggregate view on Carnival. The Hold analyst consensus rating is based 15 reviews, including just 3 Buys, along with 8 Holds and 4 Sells. Shares are selling for $19.44, and the average price of $16.13 implies over 20% downside. (See Carnival stock-price forecast on TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: When Abdalla Sabdow made his way through Mogadishu to check on the US$200 that his cousin Yusuf Ahmed sends him every month from the United States, the money was not there. Ahmed, who is a taxi driver, had been unable to work in the previous weeks because of the lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Without the money, as Sabdow relayed to the AP, he would not be able to pay his rent. Sabdows cash-crunch is shared by millions of families across the globe, especially in regions whose lifeblood relies on the flow of remittances across borders. The World Bank projects a 20 percent decline in remittances in 2020. This drop, which amounts to roughly US$110 billion less in cash flows, could deny 800 million people access to basic needs such as housing, education, food, and healthcare. Countries dependent on remittances are especially vulnerable to the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19. Remittances account for over 10 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 30 countries, according to the UN Secretary-Generals Policy Brief COVID-19 and People on the Move. Without this money, investments and consumption drop, while poverty and inequality become more deeply entrenched. Silver lining In order to prevent further damage, we must do everything to keep remittances flowing in times of COVID-19 and beyond. Here are five ideas on HOW: 1) Deem remittances as an essential financial service: A call to action Remittances in Crisis How to Keep them Flowing, spearheaded by the governments of Switzerland and the United Kingdom supported by UNDP, the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and other organizations, is based on this straightforward idea. We call on policymakers, regulators, and service providers to deem money transfer agents as an essential finance service, so that they can continue operations amidst the pandemic, allowing migrants to continue sending funds. Given the health risks, hygiene and social distancing measures must be in place at agent outlets to ensure that safety is not compromised in this time of crisis. 2) Foster a conducive remittance policy and regulatory environment: Remittance services should be supported by a sound, predictable, and non-discriminatory legal and regulatory framework that will lower remittance costs, improve formal channels of cross-border transactions, mitigate the decline in remittances, and expand the use of digital solutions. An effective regulatory framework should balance innovation and risk during the transition. As providers struggle to maintain operations and sustain business costs, governments could provide concessional lines of credit, and consider temporary tax breaks or waivers on their operating expenses and fees. Governments could become more vocal in advocating the digitization of wage payments, which would avoid precarious in-person transactions and result in time and cost savings. 3) Invest in digital solutions: To encourage the use of digital remittance channels, a number of critical access issues must be addressed first - the most critical of which is the issue of know-your-customer. Today, in order to open a digital account such as a mobile wallet, regulations in many countries require physical IDs and customer signatures. In times of social distancing, these present health and safety risks. Allowing electronic signatures for low-value transaction accounts, would not only reduce compliance costs but would enable migrants to use the service more easily. A digital business model, already making a great difference now. Through a partnership between UNDP, UNCDF, and Vodafone in Fiji, users of the M-PAiSA platform can send and receive remittances at no cost for two months. This system has been introduced to Fijians in the aftermath of the Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold. While pre-COVID remittances averaged around 6,500 transactions per month with a value of a bit over US$900,000, with the fee-free initiative, transaction volumes in April 2020 topped around 12,500, with a value of over US$1.8 million. In May, this has increased to more than 22,000 transactions worth more than US$3.1 million. If this trend continues, it is expected that by the end of June, incoming remittances to Fiji though M-PAiSA will exceed 25,000 transactions in volume and close to US$3.7 million. 4) Enable access to formal remittances channels: Remittances pose a lifeline for many countries, particularly in Africa. In Lesotho and Gambia, for example, they account for 17.5 percent and 15 percent of their respective GDPs. UNDPs Finance Sector Hub in Africa is partnering with a regional FinTech hub to introduce digital solutions that can support migrants and their families to access formal remittances channels at low transaction costs. We are engaging commercial banks to include remittances as a documented and reliable income flow to enhance creditworthiness of small businesses establishing crowdfunding platforms. UNCDF recently launched a call for applications on inclusive digital solutions to support migrants and remittances. UNDP and UNCDF are supporting innovative digital remittance products that also pave the way for migrants and their families to get savings and insurance, which are critical to build their resilience. 5) Strengthen the digital capacity of users: Ensuring senders and receivers access to digital channels is critical to keep remittances flowing during lockdowns and limited mobility. Those with limited digital access are often the ones who rely on remittances the most. These people often depend on informal remittances, carried back by migrants when they travel. To counter this, UNDP and UNCDF are investing in building digital and financial literacy skills of migrants and their families in both sending and receiving countries. Reimagining Human Mobility Migrants represent 3.5 percent of the world's population but contribute an equivalent of nearly 10 percent of gross domestic product. Integrating migrants in destination countries in a safe, orderly and regular manner could add between US$800 billion to US$1 trillion to the global economy every year. As the pandemic reshapes the future of mobility and migration, it is imperative that we mobilize the international community along with the public and private sectors to reimagine human mobility, as suggested by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Together we can create systems that will not only keep remittances flowing during this pandemic, but also build the resilience of countries and communities to future crises. The opportunity must not be missed. IRVINE, Calif., June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a move to support its solid growth trajectory, Ocutrx Vision Technologies, LLC, the maker of breakthrough augmented-extended reality (AR/XR) glasses, Oculenz, ORlenz and the new OR-Bot Surgery Visualization Theatre for operating rooms, today announced that it has added three high-level executives and three new locations. John H. Bluher, J.D. has joined Ocutrx as its new director of finance. Bluher spent many years on Wall Street, including with Prudential Securities, Janus Capital, and Lehman Brothers. He has also served with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. His expertise is in legal management, financial management and operating growing companies. He is also a specialist in capital management, capitalization structuring, merger and acquisition, private equity, and valuations of companies both public and private. His expertise also includes direct raising of capital and developing shareholder value. Bluher's skill set will support Ocutrx's growth within the expanding med-tech and telemedicine industries, as well as help the company develop strategic partnerships with Medical sales companies. He will also assist Ocutrx as it investigates an IPO for 2021. He will work out of the company's headquarters in Irvine and sales office in Laguna Beach, California. Simon G. Prosser has also joined the company in the role of global director of surgical applications. Prosser is an experienced business development executive in the medical device space with success driving research and development initiatives around the world for multinational companies. He possesses an impressive resume in the medical device space with multi-continent successes driving medical device sales initiatives in the U.S., Europe, and South America. A Manchester, England native, Prosser spent his early years in the ophthalmic surgical business mostly developing sales in Europe. He has previously been with some of the largest strategics in the ophthalmic sector, and for previous employers, has established multi-millions sales revenue from his hand-selected surgical marketing teams around the globe. His world-knowledge of the ophthalmic industry and leadership will be critical to Ocutrx as the company begins seeking hospital chains and large clinics who are ready to move to a fully digital operating room and embrace the applications of artificial intelligence for surgery applications. Using Ocutrx technology and its advanced Augmented Reality and artificial intelligence software applications, Prosser will help hospitals and clinics integrate into this next digital quantum-shift with the OR-Bot Surgery Visualization Theatre, featuring the ORLenz, the 3D 8K autostereoscopic (no 3D glasses) monitor, and the microscope-type VR viewing and AI analysis. Prosser will be working with Ocutrx medical advisor Dr. Daniel Ting, M.D., Ph.D. a world leader in AI for Ophthalmic Surgeries, to bring a new level of robotics, visual arrays, and haptic sensors to the OR. He will work out of both the Ocutrx sales office in Orange County and the Ocutrx Technologies, Ltd. subsidiary's Kensington High Street offices in London, England. In addition to Bluher and Prosser, Marc Stenzel has taken the helm as the new director of patient sales and marketing for Ocutrx. With a deep background in low-vision aid sales and marketing, Stenzel has demonstrated a successful career building sales organizations and marketing teams, which has helped bring the ever-advancing technological innovations to people with impaired vision. He has previously worked with low vision companies such as Enhanced Vision, a hardware company, and Telesensory Corp. a leading low vision software products company for visually impaired and the blind. For these past employers he grew their sales into the high multi-millions. His new role will be to lead patient directed marketing efforts for Ocutrx's Low-Vision Oculenz Division. He will kick off a pre-sales campaign in July of 2020 to respond to the myriad of macular degeneration and low vision patients who have already reached out to Ocutrx for how to buy their products. Stenzel will work from the Ocutrx's Silicon Valley Palo Alto offices and the Orange County Sales office. "We are pleased to welcome Simon, John, and Marc to Team Ocutrx. Each of these amazing individuals brings an extraordinary set of skills that will be valuable in our continuing growth strategy over the near- and longer-terms," said Michael H. Freeman, CEO/CTO. "These executives have stood out in their careers and proven themselves in high-growth environments, particularly in the fields of healthcare-related technology and innovation." In addition to the new leadership, Ocutrx is expanding its physical footprint. The company opened new locations in Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, and Laguna Beach, Calif., which will house the company's northern and southern California and western-states sales teams. Further, as support for returning medical manufacturing from China to the United States, Ocutrx has secured a manufacturing and testing facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This high-tech electronic/mechanical design and manufacturing plant is where the circuit boards and electronics production, along with AR headsets and OR-Bot assembly will take place in the future. "By bolstering our sales operation and increasing domestic production capacity across multiple lines, Ocutrx is poised for significant growth for years to come," said Mitchael C. Freeman, Ocutrx COO, "We are confident that this enhanced leadership structure and expanded physical infrastructure will bring us to the next level as an innovator and growth augmented-extended reality mainstay." To learn more about Ocutrx and the company's groundbreaking technology, please visit http://www.oculenz.com/ . About Ocutrx With corporate headquarters in Irvine, Calif., sales offices in northern and southern California; and two research, development and manufacturing labs in the U.S. Midwest, Ocutrx Vision Technologies, LLC is a new breed of Augmented-Extended Reality manufacturing company focusing on the best-connected, lightest-weight, highest-resolution AR headset, housing the largest field-of-vision in the market. The Ocutrx AR headsets boast 60 pixel-per-degree resolution, which is the highest resolution the human eye can see at 20/20. Ocutrx is focused on AR as a medical device for both surgeons and patients alike to deliver an extended reality experience to both. Ocutrx incorporates its AR/XR headsets with a new fully digital OR-Bot Surgery Visualization Theatre for operating rooms. At a time when worldwide applications for easy-to-wear and easy-to-use AR solutions are being touted as the "next big thing after smartphones," Ocutrx is creating impactful, revolutionary ARWear for the medical sector. To learn more about Ocutrx, please visit the company website at http://www.oculenz.com/ . Media Contact: Brenlyn D'Amore Bastion Elevate (for Ocutrx Vision Technologies) 949-899-3135 brenlyn@bastionelevate.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ee4ee4d-fab1-4f1d-b59e-d615700e9f1f Flash China urges the U.S. side to stop all provocative acts against China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, a defense ministry spokesman said on Monday. Ren Guoqiang made the remarks when asked to comment on the flight of a U.S. military aircraft over Taiwan last week. The flight over Chinese territory by a U.S. military aircraft without China's permission seriously infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, said Ren. "It is extremely wrong and dangerous." He urged the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, noting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Chinese People's Liberation Army has the will, confidence and capability to safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, safeguard the common interests of the compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, safeguard peace and stability across the strait, and thwart any attempt to create "one China, one Taiwan," he added. Police in Hanoi have arrested a young man after he broke the motorbike speed limit and hit a pregnant woman while riding under the influence of alcohol, causing the victim to have a miscarriage. The accident happened around 11:30 pm on Saturday on Nguyen Trai Street in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi. At the time, 30-year-old Ngoc was riding a motorbike with two others riding pillion when he rear-ended another motorbike carrying a husband and wife running in the same direction. The wife, who was in her 32nd week of pregnancy, was rushed to the hospital with her fetus in a critical condition following the impact. Although the couple only sustained minor injuries, their unborn child did not survive the accident. Police in Thanh Xuan District said Ngoc had an alcohol level of 0.6 milligrams per liter of breath at the time of the accident. Riding a motorbike with a breath alcohol content at that level is subject to a VND6-8 million (US$260-345) fine and driver's license revocation of 22 to 24 months, according to Vietnamese law. Carrying three or more people on a motorbike is punishable by a fine of VND400,000-600,000 ($17-26). A government decree which entered into effect on January 1 dictates hefty fines on people driving a vehicle after drinking any amount of alcoholic beverages. Car drivers face fines of VND30-40 million ($1,300-1,730) while motorcyclists shall be fined VND6-8 million ($260-345) if they are found violating the regulation. All DUI violators can have their driver's license revoked for up to 24 months. The average Vietnamese earned VND4.2 million ($183) in monthly income in 2019, according to the General Statistics Office. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi, has declared that Governor Godwin Obaseki and all his loyalis... Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi, has declared that Governor Godwin Obaseki and all his loyalists were set to join the party. He said Obasekis deputy, Philip Shuaib, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter would also defect. The party leader made the disclosure in an interview with NAN on Monday in Benin. Aziegbemi said the governor, his deputy and the entire APC structure in the state will be joining PDP soon. The chairman disclosed that they have been in touch in the last few days. Aziegbemi assured that by Tuesday, he would be able to confirm the exact date he (Obaseki) will be joining, along with his team. He added that he was not aware that the governor has obtained our partys membership card. I can also say that there is no automatic ticket in the offing for him at all, Aziegbemi said. The APC had excluded Obaseki from the June 22 Edo governorship primary election. The party cited his certificate as the reason for his disqualification. But Obaseki, whose face-off with his predecessor and APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomole, triggered political crisis, insists he was deliberately targeted. TORONTO, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lydian International Limited (Lydian or the Company) announced today that the Company, together with Lydian Canada Ventures Corporation (Lydian Canada) and Lydian U.K. Corporation Limited (Lydian UK and together, the Applicants), have scheduled a motion (the Motion) before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) (the Court) to be heard on June 18, 2020 in the Applicants Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) proceedings, pursuant to which the Applicants will seek an order of the Court accepting the filing of a plan of arrangement (the Plan), authorizing and directing the Applicants to call, hold and conduct a meeting of the Senior Lenders (as defined below) to vote on the Plan (the Meeting), approving the procedures to be followed at the Meeting, including voting procedures, and setting a date for the hearing of the Applicants motion for an order of the Court approving the Plan. If approved, the Plan will result in Lydian Canada and Lydian UK exiting the CCAA proceedings through a corporate restructuring and a mechanism for the winding up of the Company. The Plan will implement a restructuring which will result in the Companys existing senior secured lenders, Orion CO IV (ED) Limited, Resource Capital Fund VI L.P. and Osisko Bermuda Limited (the Senior Lenders), owning and controlling a restructured Lydian Canada and its direct and indirect subsidiaries including Lydian UK and Lydian Armenia CJSC. The Plan provides for a full and final release of all claims against the Company and its directors and officers, which includes all claims of the Companys Senior Lenders. Claims against Lydian Canada, Lydian U.K. and the other subsidiaries of the Company, including Lydian Armenia CJSC, will not be released and will remain outstanding after implementation of the Plan. As a result, only the Senior Lenders will be entitled to vote on the Plan, while other parties, including unsecured creditors whose claims are unaffected, and equityholders, will not be entitled to vote nor receive any distributions under the Plan. Following implementation of the Plan, the Company will have no assets and the Company will commence proceedings to be wound up under Jersey law, which will include the cancellation and extinguishing of all ordinary shares in the capital of the Company. Access to the Plan and all corresponding materials relating to the Motion will be available on the court-appointed Monitors website, provided below. In addition, as a result of the Companys previous announcement that it has not complied, nor is it planning on complying in the future, with its required continuous disclosure documents, the Ontario Securities Commission has informed the Company that a cease trade order has been issued against the Company. All inquiries regarding the CCAA proceedings, including the proposed Plan, should be directed to the court-appointed Monitor, Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc. (email: lydian@alvarezandmarsal.com or telephone: +1 416-847-5158). Information about the Companys CCAA proceedings, including all court orders made and the Monitors reports, are available on the Monitors website, at: http://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/Lydian. A copy of the Plan will be available on the Monitors website shortly. For further information regarding the Company, please contact: moreinfo@Lydianinternational.co.uk. Caution regarding forward-looking information Certain information contained in this news release is forward looking. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects, is expected, intends, anticipates or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, will, would, should, or occur or the negative or other variations of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements with respect to: the CCAA proceedings and creditor protection and the restructuring process, including the proposed outcome of the Plan and its implementation; whether the Applicants will seek the Motion; certain terms of the Plan and the effects of the implementation thereof on the various stakeholders; and the proposed winding up of the Company under Jersey law. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, without limitation: risks associated with in the Companys ongoing CCAA proceeding; risks associated with implementing the Plan, including whether it will receive the necessary approvals from the court and senior secured lenders entitled to vote on the Plan; whether the Plan will be approved based on the terms described herein; the effects that the implementation of the Plan, on the terms described herein or otherwise, will have on the various stakeholders; the availability and effect of the proposed winding up of the Company under Jersey law, as well as "Risk Factors" included in the disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Editors note: The views expressed in this essay are the authors. Laguna (CNN Philippines Life) A new hashtag poised to be the next #BelieveWomen has recently surfaced on social media: #HijaAko, derived from the Twitter exchange between Frankie Pangilinan, who is known online for being vocal about social issues, and the broadcaster Ben Tulfo. The exchange began when Pangilinan, daughter of Sharon Cuneta and Senator Kiko Pangilinan, reacted to a now-deleted post from the Facebook page of the Philippine National Police station in Lucban, where the police force mockingly told women to dress appropriately to avoid getting harassed and raped. ...huwag kayo magsusuot ng pagkaikli-ikling damit at pag naman nabastos ay magsumbong din sa amin, the post said. Quoting the news report on this PNP post, Pangilinan emphasized that what we need is to educate people not to rape instead of holding girls accountable for not preventing the rape. Tulfo directly tweeted Pangilinan to respond, calling her hija as though a reminder that she is too young to comment on the matter. In the tweet, Tulfo says that a rapist or a juvenile sex offender's desire to commit a crime will always be there. All they need is an opportunity, when to commit the crime. On the Facebook page of his show BITAG Live, Tulfo went on with his tirade against Pangilinan. Hija, iba mag-isip ang mga manyakis at mga rapists. Hindi natin sila matuturuan at mababago ang kanilang pagnanasa at pagiging kriminal, he wrote. Ang tanging magagawa ay manamit ng tama. Huwag nating pukawin ang pagnanasa nila. Ito ang iyong magagawa. Bago natin sila baguhin, baguhin muna natin ang sarili't pag-iisip natin. Gets mo Hija? On Twitter, Pangilinan addressed this by briefly explaining how the way anyone dresses is never an opportunity to sexually harass them, and that rape culture exists, often as a product of the exact line of thinking observed in Tulfos comments. Typically, rape culture thrives in the act of putting the blame on the victim of rape or harassment. Thousands of users online went on to support Pangilinan, birthing the hashtag #HijaAko which went viral. Some of those who used the hashtag were victims of sexual harassment and rape themselves, aptly interpreting the use of hija as they share how they endured abuse as children. Taking on the similar stance of the #MeToo movement, #HijaAko now serves a significant purpose particularly for victims who have now found a platform to speak out. But this hashtag was never meant to be revolutionary. In fact, at this point, it should no longer be necessary. In February 2019, the United Nations Population Fund and UN Women launched an exhibit called Dont Tell Me How to Dress, which displayed the clothing that 11 survivors wore when they were first sexually abused from catcalling and workplace harassment, to child molestation and rape. Featuring the clothing of a girl as young as 13-years-old, the exhibit gained extensive media coverage and was celebrated on social media for breaking the misconception that woman must carry the burden of dressing decently and unprovocatively in order to avoid rape. On top of this, several news reports on rape where victims and survivors were either toddlers or elderly women have surfaced in recent years, some of which were abused by family members and even murdered after, or before, the rape. The debate surrounding the false correlation of a womans clothing and a mans urge to rape has been longstanding, but the truth is that it should no longer even be up for discussion. A myriad of cases should already be enough proof that this so-called prevention by way of dictating women on how they dress is far from the solution that is necessary. In fact, it's almost been a full year since the Safe Spaces Act, which penalizes catcalling and street harassment, has been signed into law. And yet the myth is still perpetuated, by no less than influential people, mostly men, who justify rapists offenses by dismissing them as natural urges that cannot be controlled especially at the sight of a womans flesh. Tulfo, whose name was once synonymous with the concept of social justice for the masses, even shared on Facebook that parents are to blame for the case of a childs rape. Whose fault? The parents or the criminal. If the child is raped, how did the crime happened? Was the child abandoned or neglected because the parents were not paying attention? The post by the PNP Lucban is not the first time that the police force has publicly held women accountable for the very abuse they encounter. In February, the Pangasinan police released a now-deleted publicity material that gave pointers on how to avoid rape, one of which focuses on womens clothing yet again. Womens rights groups such as the Babae Ako movement and even Senator Risa Hontiveros, who was the principal author of the Safe Spaces Act, called out the station for the anti-women post. In light of Tulfos recent comments, Hontiveros re-posted the same graphic she used months prior, which carries an effective anti-rape tip that is huwag mang-rape. Ultimately, the focus of the concern must be shifted. Why are we fixating on what a woman wears and tolerating how an abuser thinks? Why are we normalizing a rapists mindset as if sexual assault is part of our humanity? There is a great gap between how society, particularly in the Philippines, talks about rapist behavior and womens appearance as factors to abuse. At this point, when womens rights have come a long way, campaigns like #HijaAko should no longer be as relevant, because what this implies is that some people are not listening to the plight of women, even when they take the vulnerable position of sharing their stories of abuse. But over 20,000 people still found refuge behind the hashtag, most of which are women who are only beginning to open up about their trauma and if we do not shift our focus soon, this number will only continue to increase, no matter how many anti-rape tips influential men impart online. Otherwise, this will just be another hashtag to trend, whereas victims are left to suffer on their own. Click here to read the full article. The number of freelancers claiming to have gone wholly unpaid for their work for LOfficiel continues to grow and legal action is looming. As WWD reported last month, there are dozens of LOfficiel freelancers, including writers, photographers and stylists, who claim that work they did last year and even the year before has gone unpaid. The numbers of those willing in recent weeks to admit that they were never paid for work they did for the French publisher has grown so much that legal action is now being taken, WWD has learned. A lawyer has been retained by certain unpaid freelancers in London, for a planned class action that includes people seeking payment in the U.S., Paris and Italy. It will also likely include freelancers for Jalouse magazine, who have also gone unpaid. The Jalou family owns LOfficiel as well as Jalouse. Separately, the National Writers Union is planning to take legal action for the at least a dozen LOfficiel freelancers its been representing over nonpayment. More from WWD A representative of LOfficiel could not be reached for comment. One unpaid freelancer, photographer Luc Coiffait, last week started a petition on Change.org titled Pay your freelancers LOfficiel! The petition has close to 600 signatures and Coiffait said hes received numerous contacts from unpaid freelancers with invoices totaling near $50,000. We are aiming to bring all types of freelancers together in one case, as this goes much further than just writers, Coiffait said. We have heard from photographers, stylists, designers, production companies, freelance employees of LOfficiel titles, and even current LOfficiel Paris employees. In addition to being paid, Coiffait said the group wants an admission of wrongdoing on the part of LOfficiel leadership, including chief executive officer Benjamin Eymere and deputy ceo Maria Cecilia Andretta, both part of the Jalou family, as well as a public apology. Story continues It is alleged LOfficiel since late 2018 has largely ignored freelancers who begin requesting payment after the typical three month period for freelancer payment, according to a number of freelancers who have dealt with the company. While initial e-mails to senior editors and even executives are met with claims that they will be paid soon, follow ups get no response. When WWD spoke last month with Eymere, he did not deny that many freelancers for his publications have gone unpaid for completed work, many for more than a year. To him, this is par for the course, as he explained: In any business, theres often a delay in payment for an invoice, it also depends on the reality of the execution of the job. Eymere also cited the coronavirus pandemic as causing a delay in what he said was an ongoing process of addressing each invoice. With the coronavirus pandemic, certainly there has been a disruption to media revenues based on advertising, but LOfficiels issues of nonpayment far predate the pandemic, according to freelancers. Eymere also attempted to blame the lack of payment to freelancers on changes in leadership at the magazine over the last year or so, as well as on having issues in about 30 countries and the logistical hurdle that what he counted as 1,500 freelance assignments a year represents. The Jalou family only directly controls six editions of LOfficiel, including the U.S., France, Italy and Switzerland, each of which have freelancers claiming theyve gone unpaid for work. In response to the pandemic, LOfficiel has also decided to drastically reduce its level of print, Eymere said, with most titles going from 10 a year to four and all mens titles going from eight to two. All licensed editions are expected to reduce frequency as well at Eymeres urging. This also means a major reduction in freelance work, with sources claiming that LOfficiel has actually cut the use of all freelancers for the time being. While Eymere insists that LOfficiels business future is bright, an inability to pay freelancers is not a good sign of a publications financial health. LOfficiel is backed in the U.S. by Global Emerging Markets, or GEM, an investment group run and founded by Christopher Brown. LOfficiel in the U.S. operates out of the GEM offices in New York. When Stefano Tonchi joined LOfficiel earlier this year in a new global role, Eymere said the company had gotten new investment from GEM and he planned to expand with three new directly operated titles. As for payment to freelancers, late last year the NWU is said to have reached terms on repayment to freelancers in installments, because LOfficiel could not afford to pay freelancers what they are owed in one lump sum. The magazine pulled out of the agreement as soon as the coronavirus began having an effect on business. No freelancers were ever paid. Now, the company is said to be planning to offer individual freelancers payment in two installments, in what Coiffait sees as little more than an attempt to undercut a group legal action, like a class action lawsuit. Remember their silence?, Coiffat said in an update to the petition. Now they want to suddenly get in touch days after seeing this petition. For More, See: Anna Wintour Not Leaving Vogue or Conde Nast, CEO Says Nationwide Protests vs. the Looting Narrative Hearst Taps Samira Nasr as Harpers Bazaar Editor in Chief Manoj Bajpayee, who worked with Sushant Singh Rajput in the dacoit drama Sonchiriya, said that he cannot come to terms with the news of his tragic demise. Sushant died by suicide at the age of 34. In an Instagram live with Shekhar Kapur, Manoj said that Sushant touched his feet on the first day of shoot. My mind is not leaving the image of him on the first day, coming to me and suddenly touching my feet. All the perceptions that people were floating about him, that one gesture of his just questioned everything. Not that he touched my feet...it just says so many things about his background, where he came from, he said. The journey of getting to know Sushant as an actor and person started from there, Manoj said. Both of them hailed from Bihar and defied all odds to make it big in the film industry. He started talking about our village and said that he was so glad that we were shooting in the same location where Bandit Queen was shot, Manoj said, adding that he would observe Sushant working on his movements, dialogue delivery and craft from a distance and be fascinated. When Manoj gave Sushant inputs to improve his performance, he would be thankful. Rarely, you see actors feeling so grateful for the small suggestions that you give a co-actor, he said. Manoj said that he would always think of Sushant as the happy and jumpy person on the set, who would read books on quantum physics and excitedly show people his telescope. I am finding it so difficult to come to terms with the fact that those images are going to be of the past, he said. Also read: Saif Ali Khan calls Bollywoods sudden love for Sushant Singh Rajput ultimate hypocrisy, says thats an insult to the dead Expressing unhappiness about the dissection and analysis of Sushants death, Manoj said, When I see the cacophony around me and people trying to find the reason behind the suicide...everyone has their own theory and we are not talking about the contribution that he has made at such a young age, the journey that he took and where he reached...it is leaving a very bad taste in my mouth. Why cant we celebrate the person that he was? After performing as a background dancer at awards shows and events, Sushant got his first break in the show Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil, in which he had a supporting role. He shot to fame with the lead role in his second show, Pavitra Rishta, which made him an overnight sensation. In 2011, Sushant quit Pavitra Rishta to make a career in films. He made his big screen debut with the critically and commercially successful Kai Po Che! in 2013 and acted in films such as Shuddh Desi Romance, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story and Chhichhore. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more PGO to demand in court on June 18 to arrest Poroshenko with alternative of UAH 10 mln bail lawyer Novikov The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) in the Pechersky District Court on Thursday, June 18, will demand for the fifth president of Ukraine, leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko a preventive measure in the form of arrest with an alternative to post a bail of UAH 10 million. "The meeting of the Pechersky court will be held at 15:15 on Thursday, June 18. Today we've received an official notice. The fifth president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko will be tried to take into custody, as it was announced back on June 10. The petition is prescribed for judge Vovk, which does not surprise us at all," Poroshenko's lawyer Ilya Novikov was quoted as saying by the press service of the European Solidarity. A source in the PGO confirmed to the Interfax-Ukraine agency information that they would ask for Poroshenko's arrest with an alternative to post a bail of UAH 10 million. The lawyer also confirmed that Poroshenko would certainly arrive in court. Lawyers for Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese tech firm Huawei, claimed U.S. authorities are trying to mislead the judge overseeing Meng's extradition hearing by providing an outline of the case that is misleading and omitted important details. The lawyers made the remarks in a memo, which was made public after a hearing in Vancouver on Meng's extradition case on Monday. In the case management memo, Meng's lawyers claim that the only key evidence to support Meng's extradition is provided by HSBC, and this evidence presents "deliberate and/or reckless misstatements of fact and material omissions." The lawyers argued the records, filed to justify the U.S. request of extradition on charges of fraud, are "so replete with intentional or reckless error" that the only way to deal with them is a stay of proceedings. Misstatements and omissions Meng's lawyers claim the record in support the accusation against Meng is incomplete on several fronts, starting with the PowerPoint presentation delivered by Meng on August 22, 2013 to a HSBC banker in Hong Kong. The presentation allegedly misled HSBC into continuing to provide banking services to Huawei, including processing U.S. dollar transactions, and exposed HSBC to a risk of civil and criminal monetary penalties in the United States under U.S. sanctions laws against Iran. The ROC asserts that only "junior" employees were aware of Huawei's business in Iran, and did not relay this information to "senior" executives at HSBC. Meng's defence team finds it implausible as HSBC has paid a 1.9-billion-U.S.-dollar fine and entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice related to its own independent misconduct, including in relation to violations of U.S. sanctions law regarding Iran. Meng's defence team also submitted a key disclosure in the above-mentioned slides, where important details were omitted in the version provided by HSBC. Regarding Huawei's ongoing business operations in Iran, there are clear statements in the slides, including "as a business partner of Huawei, Skycom works with Huawei in sales and service in Iran," according to a source acquired by China Media Group. Abuse of process Meng's defence team also argued that Meng's legal rights are being violated by the political interference from the U.S., as U.S. President Donald Trump once indicated shortly after Meng's arrest that he would intervene in the case if it results in a better trade deal with China. Earlier this month, documents released by a Canadian court revealed that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service predicted Meng's arrest in December 2018 would send "shock waves around the world and is certain to be a significant bilateral (Canada-China; U.S.-China) issue." The document indicates that Canada was aware of the political calculation behind Meng's arrest. Additionally, Meng's team argued that the Canada Border Services Agency, the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service conspired with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to mount a covert investigation against Meng when she got off the plane. The authorities have used the extraordinary powers of border agents to detain Meng before she was officially arrested, seizing her electronic devices, compelling her to give over passwords and questioning her without a lawyer about Huawei's activities in Iran. Meng was arrested at Vancouver's international airport on December 1, 2018, on an extradition warrant after arriving from Hong Kong on her way to Argentina, and she was released on a 10-million-U.S.-dollar bail and has been living for the past year and a half under a form of house arrest in Vancouver. The next hearing is scheduled for June 23. Regulatory News: OSE Immunotherapeutics (Paris:OSE) (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE) today announced that all the resolutions submitted to a vote at the Combined General Shareholders' Meeting were approved as proposed by OSE Immunotherapeutics' Board of Directors. The Company conducted the General Meeting virtually following the provisions of the French ordinances related to Covid-19, dated March 25, 2020. The results of each resolution voted on can be found on the Company's website in the "Investor General Shareholders' Meeting" section: https://ose-immuno.com/en/general-shareholders-meetings/. A total of 103 shareholders voted by mail, in accordance with the terms and conditions indicated in the notice of the Meeting. In total, the shareholders who voted hold 9 323 962 shares (representing 61,65 of the share capital) and 14 190 017 voting rights (representing 67,58 of the voting rights). During the virtual meeting, Dominique Costantini, Chairman, and Alexis Peyroles, Chief Executive Officer of OSE Immunotherapeutics, provided an overview of the Company's latest advances and growth strategy. Alexis Peyroles, CEO of OSE Immunotherapeutics, commented: "2019 and the first semester of 2020 were marked by major clinical progress. Specifically, Tedopi showed positive results in Step-1 of its Phase 3 clinical trial in NSCLC patients after failure of checkpoint inhibitor treatments. This confirms the clinical benefit Tedopi can provide in patients with advanced stage cancer and who need new therapeutic options." In 2019, our partnered products also achieved key clinical milestones: BI 765063 entered Phase 1 in advanced solid tumors in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, and OSE-127 has shown positive Phase 1 results in partnership with Servier. The OSE-127 results provide a firm foundation for two Phase 2 trials planned to start in 2020: in ulcerative colitis, sponsored by OSE, and in Sjogren's syndrome, sponsored by Servier. Our cash position, recently reinforced by a 7 million non-dilutive loan agreement granted by the French State, provides us with financial visibility until Q3 2021 to advance our clinical and preclinical programs in immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases, as well as our recently-announced development of a prophylactic vaccine against the pandemic virus SARS-CoV-2. This cash position and flexibility should be further reinforced by the milestone payment which is due at first patient-in in the Sjogren's Phase 2a study, demonstrating the resilience of our business model. We continue to create value for all OSE's stakeholders by advancing our differentiated development programs based on quality science." Latest major clinical advances of four differentiated therapeutic programs in immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases Tedopi is a combination of 10 neoepitopes intended to induce specific T-lymphocyte activation The Company's most advanced product demonstrated positive top-line results for the Step-1 of its 'Atalante-1' Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment failure (PD-1/PD-L1). The Step-1 results show primary endpoint met with at least 12-month survival in Tedopi treated patients. Based on these positive data, OSE Immunotherapeutics will engage in discussions with regulatory authorities to determine the best options for Tedopi. In parallel, given the significant value added by positive Step-1 results, the Company continues exploring potential partnership opportunities for the product. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and its potential impact on Step-2 of Atalante 1, voluntary definitive stop of recruitment was decided early April 2020, motivated by the risks for the patients and on the data integrity of this now cancelled Step-2 part of the study. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and its potential impact on Step-2 of Atalante 1, voluntary definitive stop of recruitment was decided early April 2020, motivated by the risks for the patients and on the data integrity of this now cancelled Step-2 part of the study. Tedopi is also in a Phase 2 clinical trial, called TEDOPaM, in patients with pancreatic cancer in monotherapy and in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab), a trial sponsored by the GERCOR cooperative group in oncology and supported by Bristol Myers Squibb. Due to the COVID-19 situation, patient screening and accrual in the TEDOPaM study has been impacted by the COVID-19 situation and are currently suspended. BI 765063 (OSE-172), a myeloid checkpoint inhibitor being developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim BI 765063 is in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial in advanced solid tumors. The study is a first-in-human dose finding study of BI 765063 administered as a single agent and in combination with Boehringer Ingelheim's monoclonal PD-1 antibody antagonist, BI 754091, a T lymphocyte checkpoint inhibitor. The trial aims to characterize safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and preliminary efficacy of the immunotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors. OSE-127, a monoclonal antibody antagonist of the interleukin-7 (IL-7) receptor being developed in partnership with Servier The Phase 1 clinical study of OSE-127 was completed at the end of 2019. The results demonstrated a good safety and tolerability profile for OSE-127. All pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters were consistent and demonstrated a dose-proportionality across the several dose-levels up to 10 mg/kg. Based on these positive data, two Phase 2 trials are planned to start in 2020: in ulcerative colitis, sponsored by OSE and in Sjogren's syndrome sponsored by Servier. The initiation of both Phase 2 clinical trials is subject to the evolution of the COVID-19 situation and will take place once all preparatory steps are achieved and once hospitals and healthcare professionals are able to ensure safe practices during clinical research and patients' care. Research Development In May 2020, OSE Immunotherapeutics announced its commitment to the fight against COVID-19 through initiation of a prophylactic vaccine program. CoVepiT vaccine technology leverages the Company's expertise in peptide selection and optimization and proprietary Memopi technology to explore a T lymphocyte immune response for COVID-19. First preclinical results are expected in H2 2020 and, if they are positive, clinical trial could possibly start by year's end. Identification of a new myeloid checkpoint target CLEC-1 (a C type lectin receptor) and of the first monoclonal antibody antagonists of CLEC-1 blocking the "Don't eat me" signal represent a novel approach in cancer immunotherapy.These findings come from a research program conducted by OSE 's R&D team in collaboration with Dr Elise Chiffoleau (Center for Research in Transplantation and Immunology, UMR INSERM 1064, Nantes University Hospital) Preclinical progress confirm that bispecific antibody checkpoint inhibitor platform BiCKI and bifunctional therapy targeting PD-1 and IL-7, BiCKI-IL-7 has the potential overcome resistance mechanisms to anti-PD(L)-1 therapies and could potentially address the needs of a patient population in immune escape from checkpoint inhibitor treatment. BiCKI and bifunctional therapy targeting PD-1 and IL-7, BiCKI-IL-7 has the potential overcome resistance mechanisms to anti-PD(L)-1 therapies and could potentially address the needs of a patient population in immune escape from checkpoint inhibitor treatment. Latest data on CLEC-1, BiCKI and BiCKI-IL-7 have been selected for oral and poster presentations at the 2020 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting II to be held end of June. Based on OSE's diverse scientific and technological platforms (neoepitopes, immune response agonist and antagonist monoclonal antibodies), the Company is pursuing new innovative research programs. A dynamic partnership business model based on innovative products to generate non-dilutive revenues and to finance its R&D programs In March 2020, OSE Immunotherapeutics and Servier signed an amendment to the two-step global licensing option agreement for OSE-127. Under this amendment, both companies have agreed to modify the provisions regarding the potential exercise of the option, amending step 2 of the option agreement, making OSE eligible to receive a 5 million milestone payment from Servier upon the enrollment of the first patient in the Phase 2a clinical study in Sjogren's syndrome and the remaining 15 million payment upon exercise of an option at the completion of both Phase 2 clinical trials, and in priority upon completion of the Phase 2a clinical study in Sjogren's syndrome. The previous version of the agreement had the full 20 million milestone payment due upon completion of Phase 2 clinical study in ulcerative colitis. The initiation of both Phase 2 clinical trials is subject to the evolution of the COVID-19 situation and will take place once all preparatory steps are achieved and once hospitals and healthcare professionals are able to ensure safe practices during clinical research and patients' care. The initiation of both Phase 2 clinical trials is subject to the evolution of the COVID-19 situation and will take place once all preparatory steps are achieved and once hospitals and healthcare professionals are able to ensure safe practices during clinical research and patients' care. A new licensing deal was signed in November 2019 with Chong Kun Dang (CKD) Pharmaceutical Corporation for potential registration and commercialization of Tedopi in South Korea. Financial terms of the contract include both upfront and short-term milestone payments of 1.2 million with total milestone payments of 4.3 million, as well as royalties on sales and transfer price in the high twenties percentage. OSE Immunotherapeutics is evaluating the best options for continuing sustainable development of FR104, a Phase 2-ready asset, in autoimmune diseases and/or in transplantation, including worldwide partnering opportunities.The Company is also exploring global partnership opportunities for Tedopi on the heels of positive Step-1 results of Phase 3 in NSCLC and with an ongoing Phase 2 in pancreatic cancer. ABOUT OSE Immunotherapeutics OSE Immunotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and partnering therapies to control the immune system for immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The company has several scientific and technological platforms including neoepitopes and agonist or antagonist monoclonal antibodies, all ideally positioned to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases. Its first-in-class clinical and preclinical portfolio has a diversified risk profile: Tedopi (innovative combination of neoepitopes): the company's most advanced product; positive results for Step-1 of the Phase 3 trial (Atalante 1) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer post checkpoint inhibitor failure; due to Covid-19, voluntary definitive stop of new patient accrual in the Step-2 initially planned in the trial. In Phase 2 in pancreatic cancer (TEDOPaM, sponsor GERCOR) in combination with checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo. BI 765063 (OSE-172, anti-SIRPa monoclonal antibody): developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim; myeloid checkpoint inhibitor in Phase 1 in advanced solid tumors FR104 (anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody): positive Phase 1 results; Phase 2-ready asset in autoimmune diseases or in transplantation OSE-127 (humanized monoclonal antibody targeting IL-7 receptor): developed in partnership with Servier; positive Phase 1 results; two independent Phase 2 planned in ulcerative colitis (OSE sponsor) and in Sjogren's syndrome (Servier sponsor) to start in 2020. BiCKI: bispecific fusion protein platform built on the key backbone component anti-PD-1 (OSE-279) combined with new immunotherapy targets; 2nd generation of PD-(L)1 inhibitors to increase antitumor efficacity. Additional innovative research programs CoVepiT: a prophylactic vaccine against COVID-19, developed using SARS-CoV-2 optimized neo-epitopes. First preclinical results expected start of H2 2020, possible clinical trial by year end Due to the COVID-19 crisis, accrual of new patients in the clinical trial TEDOPaM is temporarily suspended and initiation timelines for both Phase 2 trials of OSE-127 could be impacted during the coming months. For more information: https://ose-immuno.com/en/ Click and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn Forward-looking statements This press release contains express or implied information and statements that might be deemed forward-looking information and statements in respect of OSE Immunotherapeutics. They do not constitute historical facts. These information and statements include financial projections that are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by OSE Immunotherapeutics' management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements include statements typically using conditional and containing verbs such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "target", "plan", or "estimate", their declensions and conjugations and words of similar import. Although the OSE Immunotherapeutics management believes that the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, the OSE Immunotherapeutics' shareholders and other investors are cautioned that the completion of such expectations is by nature subject to various risks, known or not, and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of OSE Immunotherapeutics. These risks could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by OSE Immunotherapeutics with the AMF. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This press release includes only summary information and should be read with the OSE Immunotherapeutics Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on 15 April 2020, including the annual financial report for the fiscal year 2019, available on the OSE Immunotherapeutics' website. Other than as required by applicable law, OSE Immunotherapeutics issues this press release at the date hereof and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information or statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005709/en/ Contacts: OSE Immunotherapeutics Sylvie Detry Sylvie.detry@ose-immuno.com +33 153 198 75 French Media: FP2COM Florence Portejoie fportejoie@fp2com.fr +33 607 768 283 U.S. Media: LifeSci Communications Darren Opland, Ph.D. darren@lifescicomms.com +1 646 627 8387 U.S. and European Investors Chris Maggos chris@lifesciadvisors.com +41 79 367 6254 The drought is continuing to bite across the midlands, south and east, despite heavy rainfall in many areas over the last few days, writes Declan OBrien. Cereal crops remain under severe pressure along the east coast and into the midlands, although growers report a marked improvement in areas that got sizeable falls of rain. Dairy farmers and vegetable growers are also in need of heavy rain over the coming week, with grass growth plummeting in drought-affected districts, and irrigation required for vegetable crops. Tipperary-based tillage consultant PJ Phelan warned that cereal crops were still under severe stress and badly needed rain. He said some winter barley crops on lighter land were burning in, while spring barley was starting to head out. Mr Phelan said growers were now praying for a repeat of 1984, when crops were in a similar position at this time of the year but had excellent grain fill and yielded a lot stronger than expected. On the positive side, Mr Phelan noted that fields were remarkably disease-free, and that oilseed rape crops were outstanding. Bobby Miller of Irish Grain Growers (IGG) predicted that spring barley yields will be range from 2t/ac to 2.5t/ac. He said the big imponderable for growers was the impact of the rain on crops at this stage. All is not lost; there is a mixed bag of crops out there. It all depends now on grain fill, but we certainly wont have bumper yields, Mr Miller said. Our photo shows Damien Power, a dairy farmer from Ballybar, Co Carlow, who has been feeding his cows a little extra because grass is in short supply. Photo: Roger Jones President Donald Trump has clashed with plenty of US allies. But toward German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he appears to hold special enmity. Trump's abrupt announcement that he will reduce US troops in Germany by half to 25,000 -- a decision that has brought concern across NATO -- is the culmination of mounting tensions between the leaders of the Western alliance's two most populous nations. Trump called Germany a "delinquent" to NATO -- a reference to its failure to meet a target of spending two percent of GDP on defense -- and said, "they treat us very badly on trade." The latest episode came after Merkel, a scientist before entering politics who acted early on the coronavirus pandemic, snubbed Trump's plan to convene the Group of Seven leaders in Washington this month. Trump postponed the summit -- and said he would expand it to other leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was kicked out over the takeover of Crimea. While Merkel's spokesperson cited public health concerns, Trump had been hoping to show a return to normal in the United States as he seeks a second term in November 3 elections. - No patience for Trump - Trump's 2016 election shocked US allies but most tried to deal with him. Japanese, British and French leaders all flattered Trump with invitations, even if French President Emmanuel Macron was also vocal on disagreements over issues from climate change to Iran. Merkel from the start did little to hide her disdain for Trump, who ran on a platform of closing US borders and had explicitly criticized Germany's welcome to millions of migrants. Several months after Trump took office, Merkel made waves when she said that the United States under Trump and Britain, which voted to leave the EU, were no longer reliable partners and that Europe should "take its fate into its own hands." Trump in turn shattered norms of polite behavior between allies. In 2018, he wrote on Twitter that Germans were "turning against their leadership" over the "big mistake" on immigration and incorrectly said that crime was "way up" in Germany. Trump -- himself of German ancestry -- has frequently clashed with powerful women, taking sharply personal tones with domestic rivals including Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi. Sudha David-Wilp, a senior transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said that while gender could be a factor, Merkel had also been "joined at the hip" with Trump's predecessor Barack Obama toward the end of his presidency. For Obama, "Germany was seen as the indispensable partner, especially in light of Brexit," David-Wilp said. "So I also think President Trump of course was probably wary of Angela Merkel and the other way around," she added. And in personality, "President Trump and Chancellor Merkel are diametrically opposite," she said, with Trump likely realizing immediately that she had no patience for attempts to charm her. David-Wilp noted that Trump's talk of Germany "free-riding" on US security is not new, with the real estate mogul criticizing the major auto exporter as far back as the 1980s. - Better under Biden? - David-Wilp said that US-German relations may improve if Trump loses to presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who was vice president under Obama. But she noted that US-German differences, if expressed more subtly, were not absent under Obama, who had faulted Germany for not doing more for the whole of the European Union. Germany, which took a harsh stance during Greece's economic crisis, has recently shown a softer side in supporting a post-pandemic relief package for the continent. "The issues are longstanding and they are not going to go away. But under a Biden administration, there will certainly be an effort to repair the damage that's been done," David-Wilp said. Ivan Krastev, chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies, a research group based in Bulgaria, told a conference at the Brookings Institution that the mood had appeared to shift in Germany, "once the most pro-Atlantic country." He believed that opinions could change. But he said that Europeans, even if they liked Obama, did not entirely approve of his policies. "I do believe people are going to make a mistake if they believe that simply because Biden is back, Europe is back in its relations with the United States." German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks with US President Donald Trump as they attend a Group of Seven summit in Taormina, Italy in May 2017 France's President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel look as US President Donald Trump walks past them during a family photo as part of the NATO summit in London in December 2019 German Chancellor Angela Merkel confers with US President Donald Trump following a family photo session during the G7 Summit in La Malbaie, Canada in 2018 Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (19) Supporters of the Brazilian president have taken to the streets almost weekly to challenge coronavirus lockdowns. Brazilian police raided the homes and offices of President Jair Bolsonaros allies on Tuesday as part of an investigation into the financing of anti-democratic rallies in support of the right-wing leader. Bolsonaros supporters have taken to the streets almost weekly to challenge coronavirus lockdowns and call for military intervention to close Congress and the Supreme Court, which they see as obstacles to his agenda. Bolsonaro, a former army captain and apologist for Brazils 1964 military coup, has attended several of the demonstrations, but he is not a target of the federal police investigation. The presidents escalating confrontations with the Supreme Court come as Brazil suffers the worlds worst COVID-19 outbreak outside the United States. Bolsonaros handling of the health crisis has drawn criticism from health experts as he minimised the severity of the disease, sidelined specialists and challenged social distancing orders from governors and mayors. Among those targeted by 21 search warrants on Tuesday were federal legislator Daniel Silveira and conservative blogger Allan dos Santos, both of them said on social media. People participate in a protest against the government of the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, defending democracy, and condemning racism and fascism, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. [Antonio Lacerda/EPA-EFE] Tuesdays operation followed the arrests on Monday of pro-Bolsonaro activists behind the far-right group Brazils 300 which held a torch-bearing march outside the Supreme Court last month. Among those arrested was Sara Fernanda Giromini, better known as Sara Winter, who was ordered held for five days while she is investigated. Brazils top prosecutors office said in a statement: The objective of the arrests is to hear the investigated and gather information on how the criminal scheme works. A post on Girominis Twitter account on Monday said the arrest means: It is official: to support Jair Bolsonaro is a crime. On May 30, Giromini led a few dozen people on a torchlit march to the Supreme Court to protest an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to spread defamatory and threatening social media posts about justices. Giromini was among the people named in the probe. On Saturday, members of her group set off fireworks in the direction of the court building, hours after police cleared away one of the groups encampments from the area. Prosecutors said, in their request to remove the camp, that Girominis group is a risk. The presence of armed militias in the central region of the countrys capital represents unequivocal damage to order and public security, the Brasilia-based prosecutors said. The latest: Sen. Harris dismisses executive order on policing: 'We don't need empty promises' Sen. Kamala Harris said "we don't need empty promises" after President Donald Trump signed a police reform executive order, addressing a growing national outcry over police brutality. "We need to fix the system, and to do that, it's not about commissions," the California Democrat told CNN. "It's not about conversations. It's literally about requiring accountability and consequence of the system and those in the system who break the rules and break the law." The senator tweeted Tuesday evening that Trump's policing executive action was "meaningless." "The package of bills that I put together with Sen. Cory Booker and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus put together, the Justice in Policing Act would require real accountability," Harris said. The bill will include: "Things like an independent investigation of police departments. It would require that there would be pattern and practices investigations by the United States Department of Justice, looking at patterns and practices of discrimination in law enforcement agencies. It would require that we have a national standard for the use of excessive force by police officers," she said. President Trump signs executive order on police reform after weeks of protests across the country Following weeks of national protests since the death of George Floyd, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on policing Tuesday that would encourage better police practices and establish a database to keep track of officers with a history of excessive use-of-force complaints. In Rose Garden remarks, Trump stressed the need for higher standards and commiserated with mourning families, even as he hailed the vast majority of officers as selfless public servants and held his law-and-order line, while criticizing Democrats. Reducing crime and raising standards are not opposite goals," he said before signing the order flanked by police. Trump and the GOP have been rushing to respond to the mass demonstrations against police brutality and racial prejudice that have raged for weeks across the country in response to the deaths of Floyd and other black Americans. It's a sudden shift for the Republican Party and one Democrats are watching warily that shows how quickly the protests have changed the political conversation and pressured Washington to act. But Trump, throughout the crisis, has continued to emphasize his support for law enforcement and even on Tuesday railed against those who committed violence during the largely peaceful protests. Trumps executive order would establish a database that tracks police officers with excessive use-of-force complaints in their records. And it would give police departments a financial incentive to adopt best practices and encourage co-responder programs, in which social workers join police when they respond to nonviolent calls involving mental health, addiction and homeless issues. Trump said that, under a new credentialing process, chokeholds will be banned "except if an officers life is at risk. Chokeholds are already largely banned in police departments nationwide. Trump framed his plan as an alternative to the defund the police movement that has emerged from the protests and which he slammed as radical and dangerous." Americans know the truth: Without police there is chaos. Without law there is anarchy and without safety there is catastrophe," he said. Trump's audience included police officials and members of Congress, and came after he met at the White House with the families of men and women who have been killed in interactions with police. To all of the hurting families, I want you to know that all Americans mourn by your side," Trump said. "Your loved ones will not have died in vain. Yet Trump made no mention of systemic racism in his comments. The Rose Garden announcement comes as Senate Republicans are preparing their own package of policing changes. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the sole African American Republican in the Senate, has been crafting the GOP legislative package, which will include new restrictions on police chokeholds and greater use of police body cameras, among other provisions. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., declared that Republicans are developing a serious proposal to reform law enforcement." The Senate Judiciary Committee was to conduct a hearing Tuesday afternoon on Police Use of Force and Community Relations," drawing testimony from leading civil rights and law enforcement leaders. Now is the time to reimagine a more fair and just society in which all people are safe, Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, was to tell senators, according to advance testimony obtained by The Associated Press. The nationwide outcry "is anything but a reaction to one isolated incident or the misconduct of a few 'bad apples, Gupta says. The outcry is a response to the other horrific killings of black people by police. While the emerging GOP package isn't as extensive as sweeping Democratic proposals, which are headed for a House vote next week, it includes perhaps the most far-reaching proposed changes to policing procedures from the party long aligned with a "law and order approach. Scott, who said he spoke with Trump about the legislation over the weekend, warned Monday that delaying voting until later this summer would be a bad decision. The weekend shooting death of Rayshard Brooks by a white officer in Atlanta led to a renewed public outcry, more street protests and the police chiefs resignation. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York is among those urging Republicans not to settle for minor changes. Now is the time to seek bold and broad-scale change, Schumer said Monday. With the political debate fluid, it is unclear whether the parties will be able to find common ground. The proposals emerging from Democrats and Republicans share many similar provisions but take different approaches to address some of the issues. Neither bill goes as far as some activists want in their push to defund the police by fully revamping departments. Central to the Republican package would be the creation of the national database to improve transparency so officers cannot transfer from one department to another without public oversight of their records. The Democrats have a similar provision. Yet the Republican bill does not go as far as the Democrats do on the issue of eliminating qualified immunity, which would allow those injured by law enforcement personnel to sue for damages. The White House has said that is a step too far. As an alternative, Scott has suggested a decertification process for officers involved in misconduct. One large police union, the influential Fraternal Order of Police, said in a statement it is working with Congress and the White House on the proposals, having provided feedback on the Democratic bill and substantial input on the emerging GOP package. FBI director visits Minneapolis, briefed on federal civil rights investigation into officers involved in Floyd death FBI Director Christopher Wray visited the bureau's Minneapolis field office on Tuesday to check in on employees and get briefed on the federal civil rights investigation into the officers involved in the death of George Floyd. Minneapolis FBI spokesman Kevin Smith said Wray came to the local office on Tuesday morning for a quick welfare check on employees who have been working on the civil rights investigation, as well as investigations into violent protests and civil unrest. Smith said Wray offered his support and acknowledged the offices hard work. Smith said Wray also got a thorough briefing on the civil rights investigation, and underscored that investigators need to move swiftly but correctly as they determine whether to charge former Minneapolis police officers Derek Chauvin, J. Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao with violating Floyds civil rights. Chauvin has been charged in state court with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. The other three men are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter. All four officers were fired. The federal investigation is ongoing. Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training plans to review death of George Floyd A Minnesota board that licenses and sets training standards for all peace officers in the state plans to review the death of George Floyd. The Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) is required to review all misconduct complaints against licensed police officers. If the complaint is ruled justified, the board can revoke any officers license, the Star Tribune reported. All four Minneapolis police officers who have been charged in the May 25 death of Floyd were fired from the department, but they are still licensed Minnesota peace officers. The POST Board has asked the court for copies of the criminal complaints against former officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, as well as former officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Kueng, who are all charged with aiding and abetting. A witness video captured Chauvin, who is white, pressing his knee against Floyds neck before the handcuffed black man died in Minneapolis. In a statement, the board said Chauvins actions do not reflect any training that officers receive. The video is troubling and disturbing and it is the Boards position that sanctity of life must be the guiding principle for all law enforcement officers, the statement said. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Colleen Long, Michael Balsamo and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report. ROME When three people in the northern Italian region of Liguria tested positive for the coronavirus last week, they gave their doctors permission to punch into a national server anonymous codes generated by a new contact tracing app on their phones. Moments later, the phones of people who had also voluntarily downloaded the app and had come into contact with them buzzed with an alert. Italy expanded that pilot program on Monday, to join the first European countries using national contact tracing apps. France has also activated its own app, Germanys is available for downloading as of Tuesday morning, and Britain is testing one, too. The launch of the apps comes as more European countries loosened restrictions and opened borders to each other this week, hoping to revive their societies and economies without reigniting the contagion. But as they turn to unproven technology to avoid a second wave of infection, European nations are setting off widespread debate about how best to fight the virus while safeguarding privacy rights. By Trend Armenia has recently been defeated in all spheres in the field of diplomacy regarding the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. After Germany announced the decision to close the office of the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" (NKR) in Berlin, another decision was adopted in the European Parliament. In accordance with this decision, the European countries called on Armenia to acknowledge the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. The European Parliaments statement was made in response to Yerevans intention to begin construction of a new highway from Armenias Kapan city to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region through Gubadli and Jabrayil districts of Azerbaijan. According to a joint statement signed by the European Parliament rapporteurs on Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the co-chairman of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, the decision on construction of this highway was made without the consent of the Azerbaijani competent bodies by violating the international law. Moreover, this may symbolically consolidate the illegal occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the surrounding districts. The European Parliament further calls on Yerevan to strengthen its diligent commitment to the negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the conflict within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. The concrete instructions to Armenia were mentioned in the statement of the European Parliament. This is a good lesson for Yerevan to know how to behave. No matter how hard Yerevans "false analysts" have tried to disavow the lesson of Europe, it is obvious that the EU clearly stands for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. The European Parliaments decision not only is a "diplomatic catastrophe", but also a "physical defeat" of the Armenian occupiers. The German government has recently declared illegal and expelled the representatives of the so-called "NKR" from its territory. Berlin has banned representative of a "non-existent state" Harutyun Grigoryan, whose activity has been recognized as a "criminal offence", to stay in Germany. In accordance with Germanys law, the use of titles and foreign official ranks, including the titles that may be confused with them, is a criminal offence. The profile of the so-called "ambassador of the Republic of Artsakh to Germany" was deleted from the internet, as well as from Facebook. The website www.arzach.de, created and financed by Yerevan on behalf of the puppet occupation regime in Nagorno-Karabakh, ceased to operate in the German and Armenian languages. Reportedly, the German authorities offered the organizers to close the office of the "European Artsakh Research Center" in Berlin. Furthermore, the German Foreign Ministry issued an official statement saying that Berlin denounces the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories and does not recognize the legality of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied Azerbaijani districts. The latest statement made by the European Parliament, as well as the measures taken by the German authorities to prohibit the activity of the office of a "non-existent state", which was created in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, in the country, are not accidental. Europes history is full of territorial disputes, border issues, separatism and world wars. In the past, Germany has repeatedly urged to expand the living space by making territorial claims against neighbouring countries. In its history, Germany was the initiator of ethnic conflicts, calls for the right of the nation to self-determination, and at one point, it acted as a centre of propaganda of "fascism". All this subsequently led to the war, "Anschluss" and ethnic cleansing. However, having experienced the bitterness of defeat and having recognized their mistakes, the peoples of European countries created the European Union from the ruins of World War II. Through the bitter experience of their history, Europeans realize that modern Armenia, repeating the mistakes they have made, will ultimately lose. Europes position is clear and concrete. It "denounces the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and does not recognize the legality of the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" on the territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied districts of Azerbaijan. The German Foreign Ministry has recently published a document calling on German citizens not to visit the occupied Azerbaijani territories; otherwise, they will be prosecuted. The European experts, in particular German experts, voice a thesis at the international venues that the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh region are an ethnic minority in Azerbaijan, for whom the international "right to self-determination" cannot be extended. The European Parliaments decision was conditioned not only by the example of Catalonia; it was also prompted by the endless flow of the Armenians to the European countries, in which they are trying to stay under the guise of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh region. Having committed bloody crimes against Azerbaijanis in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, inclined to terrorism, armed robbery and theft, the Armenians created the organized criminal structures in Europe. Armenian mafia is involved in theft, racketeering, car theft, robbery and other crimes in Weimar, Erfurt and Eichsfeld cities in Thuringia. Fourteen criminal cases were filed against 42 people of Armenian nationality in Erfurt city. The organized criminal network of Armenians operates throughout Europe, namely, in Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and other countries. Thus, the Spanish media reported the biggest special operation, the purpose of which was to suppress the illegal activity of one of the "biggest Armenian criminal groups organized in Europe." As many as 140 members of the Armenian mafia were arrested as a result of more than 70 search operations involving thousands of policemen, which occurred simultaneously in six regions of Spain, France and Germany. They were convicted of a number of transnational crimes, namely, weapons smuggling, drugs, money laundering, fraud and theft. It was revealed that criminal gangs were connected with each other and their activity was coordinated not only from the so-called "NKR" offices but also from the Armenian embassies in the European countries. The German media even reported that Armenian ambassador to Germany Ashot Smbatyan offered Yerevans assistance to the German authorities in the fight against the Armenian mafia. Berlin refused from the Armenian ambassadors offer, suspecting the availability of the ties between the Armenian mafia and the official authorities of this country. The European Parliaments recent decision will not remain unnoticed by Baku. Of course, this step creates a favourable background not only for punishing the aggressor but also for further developing the relations between the European countries and Azerbaijan. Germany will take over the presidency of both the UN Security Council and the European Council in a few weeks. Berlin will play a key role in curbing Armenias aggression against Azerbaijan and restoring Azerbaijans territorial integrity. Elkhan Alasgarov, PhD, Head of the Expert Council of the Baku Network Join us on the official website http://bakunetwork.com Join us also on Twitter and Facebook https://twitter.com/BakuNetwork and https://www.facebook.com/BakuNetwork YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp5ic7mhc6rZF6w0TQWqtmg Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:44:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 economists on Tuesday urged U.S. Congress to immediately pass a "multifaceted relief bill of a magnitude commensurate with the challenges our economy faces" as the COVID-19 fallout continues to ripple through the country. "The novel coronavirus outbreak has unleashed a recession that is unprecedented in the speed and severity of its decline. Since February, 1 in 5 workers has applied for unemployment benefits," the economists said in a statement to congressional leaders released by the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. "These parallel health and economic crises are especially damaging to many communities of color in the United States. Black, Latinx and Native American families are bearing a greater share of COVID-19 deaths and also face higher rates of unemployment than their White counterparts," the statement said. While policymakers in Congress and the Federal Reserve responded to this crisis with unprecedented levels of economic support for those affected, more needs to be done, noted the economists, led by former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Washington Center for Equitable Growth CEO Heather Boushey and Cecilia Rouse, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. "If Congress fails to act, state and local governments face potentially disastrous budget shortfalls, and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the unemployment rate will likely be more than 11 percent at the end of the year," they warned, adding "insufficiently bold congressional policy responses to the Great Recession" unnecessarily prolonged suffering and stunted economic growth. The economists urged Congress to pass another COVID-19 relief bill by this summer, which should at least provide "continued support for the unemployed, new assistance to states and localities, investments in programs that preserve the employer-employee relationship, and additional aid to stabilize aggregate demand." "We all agree that an adequate response must be large, commensurate with the nearly 16 trillion dollar nominal output gap our economy faces over the next decade, according to CBO estimates," said the economists. The statement is endorsed by more than 100 scholars, including two former chairs of the Federal Reserve, three former chairs of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, and two Nobel laureates, among others. The U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) confirmed last week that the U.S. economy officially entered a recession in February, ending the longest expansion in U.S. history. "The unprecedented magnitude of the decline in employment and production, and its broad reach across the entire economy, warrants the designation of this episode as a recession, even if it turns out to be briefer than earlier contractions," said the NBER, an association of the nation's top economic researchers. The U.S. economy contracted at an annual rate of 5 percent in the first quarter this year, according to the Commerce Department. That figure, however, still does not fully capture COVID-19's economic damage, and many analysts believe that the decline in the second quarter is expected to be much deeper. Enditem President Donald Trump has claimed doctors working on a coronavirus vaccine are the same that produced a non-existent Aids vaccine. During a White House briefing - which was ostensibly held for him to discuss his executive order on police reform - Mr Trump made a prediction that some kind of coronavirus remedy would be available by the end of the year. "Before the end of the year I predict we will have a very successful vaccine, therapeutic and cure," he said. "We're making tremendous progress. I deal with these incredible scientists, doctors very closely," he said. Mr Trump praised the scientists, and then mistakenly credited them for a non-existent Aids vaccine. "I have great respect for their minds. They have come up with things. They've come up with many other cures and therapeutics over the years," Mr Trump said. "They've come up with the Aids vaccine." Apparently realising his mistake, he added: "Or, the Aids, and the as you know there's various things, and now various companies are involved and the therapeutic for Aids. Aids was a death sentence and now people live a life with a pill," Mr Trump said. While there is currently no vaccine or cure for Aids, the development of anti-retroviral drugs has succeeded in slowing the disease and prolonging the lives of patients. On the same day, White House officials pledged to make any future Covid-19 vaccines free to "vulnerable" Americans who could not afford the treatment. "For any American who is vulnerable, who cannot afford the vaccines, and desires the vaccine, we will provide it for free," an anonymous Trump administration official said on a conference call with journalists. According to Stat News, officials on the call also said that insurance companies were discussing covering the cost of vaccines at no cost to their beneficiaries and that - once a vaccine becomes available - the government will use a tiered distribution approach, prioritising high-risk individuals and frontline medical workers before a wider vaccine release to the general public. In a break from Mr Trump's predictions, the officials on the call stressed that they could not guarantee a vaccine by the end of the year. Creating a meaningful experience that still captures the spirit of his brand is front-of-mind for Bertony Faustin, the winemaker and owner of Abbey Creek Vineyard. Based in North Plains, Ore., Abbey Creeks tasting room, The Crick, was never centered around traditional wine tasting, with its family-style dinners and brunches, and monthly art nights featuring D.J.s and hip-hop performers. The Crick has always been a community space where people connect with each other, Mr. Faustin said. Were about hip-hop, wine and chill, in that order. He said he hopes to do the same thing, with fewer people. Making use of the Cricks outdoor patio, Mr. Faustin is planning on offering three reservations-only seatings on Saturdays and Sundays, for 20 to 25 people each. There will be a half-hour window between seatings, allowing time to wipe down surfaces and sanitize restrooms. This approach will also apply to Abbey Creeks new tasting room in downtown Portland, which Mr. Faustin is opening in July. Jester King Brewery, just outside Austin, Texas, is utilizing a similar, staggered reservation model to safely get guests placed and seated at its 165-acre brewery and ranch; it reopened on May 29. We have tables in our hopyard and vineyard, even by our goat pen, said Jeffrey Stuffings, the founder and owner. Guests book online for one of three two-hour sessions. Food and beer orders are also placed online and picked up at one of two tents. Everyone is requested to wear masks when not eating or drinking; all cups, utensils and food service items are disposable and compostable. Between each session, the brewery sanitizes tables. One thing that isnt in the cards yet, said Mr. Stuffings, are tours of the brewing operation and farm. Harvard will not require next year's applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores due to the coronavirus pandemic's impact on access to testing. The prestigious university in Boston announced the updated admissions policy on Monday, explaining that the pandemic 'has created insurmountable challenges in scheduling tests for all students, particularly those from modest economic backgrounds'. A post on the Harvard website noted that the change is temporary, so the requirement could be reinstated if and when the health crisis passes. 'In the face of unprecedented uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the coronavirus and the economy, we want to be helpful in any way we can,' the school said. Six other Ivy League schools had already removed their standardized testing requirements due to the pandemic, while Princeton has yet to do so. Harvard University will not require next year's applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores due to the coronavirus pandemic's impact on access to testing (file photo) Standardized tests are just one factor in Harvard's 'whole-person admissions process', according to the school, which had an acceptance rate of just 4.9 percent last year. 'Accomplishments in and out of the classroom during the high school years including community involvement, employment, and help given to students' families are considered as part of our process,' the policy states. 'However, students who find themselves limited in the activities they can pursue due to the current coronavirus outbreak will not be disadvantaged as a result, nor will students who are only able to present pass/fail grades or other similar marks on their transcripts this spring.' In other words, students applying for a spot in Harvard's class of 2025 will be evaluated based on what is presented in their application, not what is missing. The school said applicants are 'encouraged to send whatever materials they believe would convey their accomplishments in secondary school and their promise for the future'. Fellow Ivy's Columbia, Yale, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown and Cornell previously announced their decisions to make standardized tests optional for the Class of 2025. While Princeton is still requiring scores, the university posted a letter to applicants saying it did not expects students to take the tests more than once and that scores will only be part of the evaluation process. The College Board, which administers the SAT, initially said that it would offer the tests online for students to take home but later shelved that plan. May and June test dates for the SAT have been canceled. The College Board, which administers the SAT, initially said that it would offer the tests online for students to take home but later shelved that plan (file photo) Harvard said it will not be changing application deadlines at this time, but it expects fewer students will apply in the early action round, which closes on November 1. The university plans to be 'open' for the fall semester, but some or all instruction will continue to take place online. Provost Alan Garber said it would be up to each individual school to determine how to teach undergraduate and graduate students. Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School have already said their fall term will be online only. Officials also emphasized that Harvard's 'revolutionary financial aid program will not be compromised in any way' by the new admissions policy or the pandemic. 'The majority of Harvard students receive need-based financial aid and loans are not required,' the policy states. 'Our office stands ready to help, and students can use our net price calculator to get an estimate of the aid their family would receive.' Harvard faced fierce criticism in April after it received an $8.6million grant from the federal government's coronavirus stimulus package, despite boasting a $40.9billion endowment. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) The Cebu City government will appeal for a reclassification of the COVID-19 quarantine measure imposed in the area, its mayor said Tuesday. In a press conference, Mayor Edgar Labella said he believes Cebu City which was reverted to the stricter enhanced community quarantine can be placed under more relaxed lockdown measures given the improvement in the citys mortality rate. Today, I will appeal to the Inter-Agency Task Force to reconsider their decision based on the information we have gathered through the weeks, Labella said. I still believe that a general community quarantine is justified. The data I see do not warrant restrictions set forth by an enhanced community quarantine, so to speak and with all due respect, he added, citing low percentages of coronavirus-related deaths as well as a high recovery rate in the area. However, Labella noted the local government will abide by and accept the final decision of the IATF and President Rodrigo Duterte, if they deem it best for the city to stay under ECQ. GCQ and modified GCQ measures will continue to take effect in majority of the country, with Duterte approving the task forces new recommended quarantine rules on Monday. Aside from Cebu City, Talisay a component city under Cebu province will also face tighter lockdown protocols, as it was placed under the modified ECQ until June 30. Health officials said the move to escalate Cebu Citys quarantine status was due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and widespread community transmission in the area. When you have more tests available, you expect an increase in the number of those cases, Loreche told CNN Philippines Rico Hizon. Loreche stated the three COVID-19 testing laboratories in Cebu City combined can conduct 3,000 tests per day, a fact she attributed to the increase of positive cases. Malacanang which labeled the development as alarming also pointed out that the critical care capacity in the city is reaching dangerous levels, with some hospitals running out of beds for COVID-19 patients. However, local officials assured they are working to expand healthcare capacities including providing additional beds and hiring health workers for the COVID-19 fight. Labella added that around 25,000 Cebu City residents were tested of COVID-19 and emphasized 80 to 90 percent of the positive patients are asymptomatic. The asymptomatic patients were also placed in 52 barangay isolation centers which can accommodate 3,000 persons, the mayor noted. It is our moral and legal duty to really test, trace, isolate, and treat. Thats why we have this number, said Labella. The Cebu City Mayor touted they recorded almost 52 percent recovery rate, higher than the 23 percent national recovery rate of COVID-19. Enforce strict border protocols With figures rising, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also advised the province of Cebu to enforce strict protocols along its borders to avoid the spread of the infectious disease to other cities and municipalities. One good news though going for the Cebu province itself is that the numbers seem to be concentrated in Cebu City and Talisay right now; it hasnt actually spread throughout the province, Roque told CNN Philippines The Source earlier in the day. Which is why inter-city and province borders will have to be secured because we dont want the cases to spread all over the province right now. Labella, for his part, promised to enforce tighter quarantine protocols around the city with police, military, and barangay (village) officials manning the frontlines. Talisay City decries 'Incorrect data' However, Talisay Mayor Samsam Gullas said he was surprised by the governments decision to place the city under modified ECQ, when other places in Cebu province registered more cases but remain in a GCQ. The city currently has 118 confirmed COVID-19 infections. Of this number, only 59 are active cases, after 43 recovered and 16 died. According to Gullas, the data submitted by the regional health department to the IATF, which became the basis for the move to tighten restrictions, was incorrect. Today, I was told that the data given by DOH-7 was that I have no recoveries, so maybe that was a big reason why they decided to put [the city] in an MECQ, he told CNN Philippines' News.PH. The mayor also noted a Facebook post by Dr. Tony Leachon, the special adviser to the National Task Force on COVID-19, which erroneously showed that Talisay City has zero recovered patients. Gullas said he already pointed out the error and is hoping that the decision be reconsidered. For us, were really taking a step back, he added. But I talked to the governor, and I told her the details, so since [we] are a component city under the province of Cebu, the governor will have to concur if ever there will be an appeal. Stringer Dale Israel contributed to this report. Hurricane season combined with COVID-19 pandemic could create perfect storm ORLANDO, June 16, 2020 - When extreme climate conditions interact with stressors to social systems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences could be severe unless experts from diverse backgrounds work together to develop comprehensive solutions to combat their negative impacts. That's the recommendation of a new article in Nature Climate Change published Monday and co-authored by a University of Central Florida researcher. Thomas Wahl, an assistant professor in UCF's Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering and a member of UCF's National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, is one of 14 experts with diverse backgrounds who authored the article. "In the perspective article my input mainly focused on the impacts of connected extremes on the water sector," Wahl says. "With my research group at UCF, we have extensively worked on many different projects focused on compound flooding, when, for example, storm surges coincide with extreme rainfall or high river discharge." The article brought together scientists and stakeholder representatives with different backgrounds, ranging from the natural sciences to social sciences, public health and engineering. The authors focused on four main sectors - food, water, health and infrastructure - where connected extremes often lead to unforeseen impacts. Examples of connected extremes include the impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017 on Puerto Rico's under-maintained infrastructure, limited budget and aging population, and the spring 2011 Mississippi River floods in which water was released to protect urban areas at the detriment of agricultural lands. A present example could be the COVID-19 pandemic and the current hurricane season, Wahl says. "The COVID-19 crisis will very likely increase the impacts associated with the climatic extreme events that will inevitably occur somewhere across the globe over the next weeks or months or already have occurred," Wahl says. "For example, shelters cannot operate at full capacity, health care systems are already under pressure, and emergency funds are depleted." The researcher says many of the most impactful natural hazards experienced over the past decade could be considered connected extremes, where either different factors in the physical climate system combined in unfortunate ways or the impacts were made worse by interactions between physical and societal systems. "It's important to recognize and treat connected extremes as such, and for scientists from different fields to engage directly with stakeholders and decision makers to develop new, robust and flexible policies to better combat their negative impacts," Wahl says. ### Article co-authors were Colin Raymond, lead author, with California Institute of Technology and Columbia University; Radley M. Horton with Columbia University; Jakob Zscheischler with the University of Bern; Olivia Martius with the University of Bern; Amir AghaKouchak with the University of California; Jennifer Balch with the University of Colorado-Boulder; Steven G. Bowen with Aon; Suzana J. Camargo with Columbia University; Jeremy Hess with the University of Washington; Kai Kornhuber with Columbia University; Michael Oppenheimer with Princeton University; Alex C. Ruane with the Goddard Institute for Space Studies; and Kathleen White with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Wahl earned his doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Siegen, Germany, and joined UCF in 2017. CONTACT: Robert H. Wells, Office of Research, 407-823-0861, robert.wells@ucf.edu This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China on Tuesday accused the Indian army of provoking and attacking Chinese soldiers after a border meeting to de-escalate the ongoing tension, leading to a physical conflict between the two sides on Monday. These are the first Indian casualties in a clash with the PLA s ince 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. HT learns that the officer is the commanding officer of the unit involved in the scrap, and that one of the other casualties is that of a JCO. The Indian army said the incident took place at a time the de-escalation process was underway in the Galwan valley. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting to defuse the situation, the army said, signalling that the efforts to stabilise the situation is still work in progress. The Chinese foreign ministry said it was not aware of Indian soldiers being killed in the exchanges. Neither did it say anything about casualties on its side. Also Watch l India-China border faceoff: What led to escalation of tensions? A violent face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers near the line of actual control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, where rival soldiers were caught in a standoff that began with a confrontation between rival patrols near Pangong Tso on the night of May 5-6, has led to multiple casualties on the Indian side, New Delhi said in a statement on Tuesday. Responding to a query on the development, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, said he wasnt aware about the fatalities. I am not aware of the information you provided. Recently to ease the situation on the India, China border, the two countries have been in close communication through military and diplomatic channels on June 6, Zhao said at the regular ministry briefing on Tuesday. Zhao then put the blame squarely on Indian soldiers for triggering the violent exchange. Our border troops had a high-level meeting and reached important consensus on easing the border situation. But astonishingly on June 15, the Indian troops seriously violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line for illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel which led to serious physical conflict between the two sides, Zhao said. China has lodged strong protest and representation with the Indian side, Zhao added. Last week, when asked about the reports of the troops on both sides disengaging and moving back to their previous positions, spokesperson Hua Chunying said that both sides were taking steps to ease the situation along the borders. Recently the diplomatic and military channels of China and India held effective communication on the situation along the border and reached positive consensus, she said. The two sides are following this consensus to take actions to ease the situation along the borders, Hua added. The Chinese foreign ministry had earlier said the situation along the border was stable and controllable. HT was the first to report on May 10 about border tensions between India and China flaring up when 150 soldiers were involved in a tense standoff in north Sikkim a day earlier. Four Indian and seven Chinese soldiers were injured at Naku La during the confrontation. Michael Edwards stood in his driveway and watched as car after car honked their horns and waved signs calling for justice and defunding police, eventually parking in front of the house of his neighbor Contra Costa County Sheriff Dave Livingston. The noisy but peaceful Black Lives Matter protest didnt bother 73-year-old Edwards, who moved next door to the East Bay sheriffs two-story home on a quiet Danville street about a year ago. Here in the middle of this protest we have another dead man in Atlanta, said Edwards, standing on his driveway and referring to the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks by an Atlanta police officer. I think if anything is going to happen, we need a change of police union leadership. Dozens of protesters met in a parking lot in the affluent suburb Monday afternoon and a caravan slowly drove a few miles to Livingstons quiet street. A sheriffs office helicopter circled, as well as three department drones, monitoring the queue of cars that parked on the street. A few emus and goats watched from another neighbors small ranch. We can no longer wait on individuals like the sheriff to come to us, we need to go to them and make them feel uncomfortable, said Tamisha Walker, a 38-year-old Antioch resident who helped organize the event. I think we need a new sheriff, a more progressive sheriff. Melvin Willis, a Richmond city councilman and protest organizer, said the sheriffs budget keeps ballooning, while important programs arent funded. We have been to the county board of supes, weve been to the streets of Martinez, weve been to his office before, Willis said. We feel like our voices are not being heard. Willis wants funding to be shifted to fight homelessness, youth programs, mental health and other community programs. As protesters spoke outside the sheriffs home, Livingston was in his Martinez office, sheriffs spokesman Jimmy Lee said. I think today was a win-win, Lee said, praising the peaceful protest. I think the only objection by the sheriff is its one thing to protest his role as the sheriff, but to take it to his home, it starts to affect his family, community and neighbors, Lee said. He felt that was offensive and wrong. Lee said a significant amount of sheriff funding goes to community programs, but the department is discussing policy changes internally Its safe to say law enforcement is listening. Lee said he would look into the cost of dispatching the department helicopter to monitor Livingstons house, but said the aircraft is often used during protests. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Now Playing: Protesters drive by in a car caravan and make speeches outside Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingstons home. Video: Matthias Gafni It wouldnt be any different than any other protest, Lee said, comparing it to recent Walnut Creek protests. No uniformed officers were visible at the protest, but the helicopter and drones were noticed by Walker. Were highly surveilled already, she said. I expected that from law enforcement. The No. 1 priority is protecting property, not black people. Damon Owens, pastor of Genesis Church in Antioch, said the department needs to improve. I do have a problem with the lack of proper policing when it comes to people who look like me, said Owens, who is black. Change your behavior. Change your view with how you deal with people who look like me. Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni Three years after she started at the Montgomery County Food Bank, Allison Hulett has left her position as president and the organization has started its search for new leadership. The Board of Directors extends its eternal gratitude to Allison Hulett for three years of passionate leadership and great progress, according to a release from the food banks board of directors. Words cannot express our appreciation for her stewardship through two major crises, Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her vision in developing a comprehensive strategic plan and building a strong team for the future. Kelly Holmes, chairman of the board, said that Hulett had done great work over the past three years, seeing the food bank through some incredibly tough times, but that her heart had always been in working more directly with clients. Now, she has taken a new position with Tri-County Services. Hulett declined to comment for this article. The search for the new president is expected to last between one and three months and in the interim, board members will be splitting up and taking on some of the tasks the presidents position usually carries. The strong team that Hulett formed will help the food bank get through this time while the food bank is without a president, Holmes said. I think their work just continues, they werent necessarily dependent on her for day-to-day, Holmes said. Because she had a strong team underneath her, their work on the blocking and tackling of sourcing food and getting it out to our various food pantries and mobile markets, that work just continues and has been somewhat seamless. What the board is looking for in the next president and CEO of the food bank is leadership and nonprofit experience. But beyond the obvious necessities, Holmes said the next leader needs something extra. We really want someone who has a passion about that, about hunger and about food insecurity, Holmes said. You have to have a wide range in ability to manage and lead, but I think its important that whoever we select has a real passion about this. Right now, Holmes said, the food bank is in string shape financially, and he believes the current board is the strongest it could be. As the organization moves forward without a president for the time being he is not concerned that the food bank wont be able to fulfill its mission. He credits Huletts leadership for the food banks stability. Theres a great opportunity from a great organization that has a great board, a great staff to lead, and a really strong financial foundation, Holmes said about the now open position for CEO. The search is being headed by board members Ann Snyder (former President and CEO of Interfaith and currently a member of The Woodlands township board) and Kathy Pepper (former Chief Information Officer for ExxonMobil). jamie.swinnerton@chron.com " " One flower from the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) plant typically yields just three stigma that must be extracted by hand, one of the main reasons this highly sought-after spice is so expensive. Jean-Luc PETIT/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images Its origins are shrouded in mystery. Some say the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) plant hails from Iran, others say Greece. When picked, harvested from the flowers and dried, a pound of saffron can cost up to $5,000, according to MoneyInc.com. Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Here's what makes it so valuable. A spice like rosemary can be harvested and dried at home with a piece of parchment paper and an oven. All you need for red pepper flakes is a food processor. It is estimated that it takes up to 170,000 individual flowers to yield just 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) of saffron, according to Business Insider. Like buying a tailored suit or piece of fine art, the wildly high cost of this innocuous red spice comes from the sheer manpower it takes to harvest it correctly. Advertisement Postdoctoral research associate at the University of Vermont, Arash Ghalehgolabbehbahani, explained to Business Insider how the journey of saffron doesn't end when the flower is picked. "Saffron is dehydrated or dry stigma," said Ghalehgolabbehbahani. "The stigma is the female part of flower. You have to separate that stigma, dry that. And for all of these procedures, you need hand works, laborers." " " Afghan workers separate saffron threads from harvested flowers at a processing centre in Herat province. HOSHANG HASHIMI/AFP/Getty Images In the countries where saffron provides a source of income for farmers, from Iran to Afghanistan to Morocco, saffron flowers are harvested at dawn, because overexposure from the sun degrades the quality of the flower. On top of that, saffron flowers (which need to be hand picked) only bloom one week per year and typically produce just three usable stigma threads per flower. After the flowers are harvested, the labor-intensive work of removing the stigma begins. It can take laborers up to 40 hours of handpicking stamens to produce 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) of saffron. Not only is it difficult to harvest the spice, but growing it is a challenge in itself. Flowering only during the months of October and November, saffron needs hot weather, direct sunlight and well-drained soil to thrive. Italy, Iran and Spain are amongst the world's largest saffron producers with Iran itself producing 90 percent of the world's supply. " " Farm laborers harvest saffron in Iran in November 2019. Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Now That's Interesting Pound for pound, saffron is literally more expensive than gold. Advertisement Originally Published: Jun 16, 2020 24 Hour Fitness has announced that 12 of its Houston-area health clubs have closed and is asking members to switch to one of its remaining locations. 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide Inc. has filed for bankruptcy, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Parent company San Ramon, unable to keep up with debt payments amid the coronavirus pandemic, will permanently close about 130 gyms, including 12 in Houston. SAFETY MEASURES: Humble, Kingwood gyms reopen with new rules in place If it were not for COVID-19 and its devastating effects, we would not be filing for Chapter 11, said CEO Tony Ueber in a statement. With that said, we intend to use the process to strengthen the future of 24 Hour Fitness for our team and club members, as well as our stakeholders. During a Chapter 11 filing on Monday the company said it had secured approximately $250 million in financing from its creditors to resume business at around 300 locations, most of which will reopen by the end of this month. Its debt totals about $1.4 billion plus lease obligations. The company temporarily closed its more than 400 gyms on March 16 and introduced a virtual fitness experience on YouTube. It is not charging membership fees while locations are temporarily closed. The $100 billion fitness industry has been left struggling during the pandemic, with many people having turned to at-home equipment. Golds Gym filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 5 and has permanently closed about 30 of its 700 gyms, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Here are the Houston locations that are set to shutter, according to the gyms website: Atascocita 7068 FM-1960 East Humble, TX 77346 Bingle 12708 Northwest Freeway Houston, TX 77092 Friendswood 130 West Parkwood Avenue Friendswood, TX 77546 Fry Road & Saums Rd 19734 Saums Road Houston, TX 77084 Highway 249 (Compaq) 21614 Tomball Parkway Houston, TX 77070 Houston FM 1960 4425 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77068 Katy 1550 S. Mason Road Katy, TX 77450 League City 2765 Gulf Freeway South League City, TX 77573 Pasadena East 5946 Fairmont Parkway Pasadena, TX 77505 Richmond 5721 Westheimer Road Houston, TX 77057 Spring-Cypress 25632 Highway 290 Cypress, TX 77429 West Woodlands 10860 Kuykendahl Road The Woodlands, TX 77381 On Sunday 7th June, 2020, while waiting for a friend at a location in Lagos, I sat very close to three friends. They were at that moment involved in a very deep political conversation. I later discovered that the one I considered brightest among them was a Deltan on a visit to Lagos and has to remain in state for some time because of the ordered inter-state lockdown. I could not resist his political knowledge because he has a way of penetrating the fog of accounts and expressing with unique clarity the issues of our time and ways to tackle them. On that day, at that time, and in that place, the first comment that got me glued to this young man who for the purpose of this writing is referred to Clement, was his claim that the reason so many misunderstood issues is not that these issues are so complex, but that people do not want factual or analytical explanation that leaves them emotionally unsatisfied. Though, at the beginning, I pretended not to be listening to the conversation. I, however, took a keen interest in his analysis of the political similarities between Lagos and Delta state. Indeed, he was open, honest and factual in his presentations. While noting that Lagos state is controlled by the All Progressive Congress (APC), and Delta state led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he however, stated that despite their being located in different geopolitical zones and led by different political parties; there exist also more instances of resemblance between the two states. Since 1999, when democracy re-emerged on the nations political sphere, the two states have variously demonstrated a unique attribute. There exist in both states two political families (in each of the states) that emerged right from May 1999, where in tribe and tongue may differ but united in fighting a common course to protect the political and economic interests of its members within the large enclave and have remained relevant in the last 21years. Most importantly, Lagos and Delta are controlled by two unshakeable personalities who created and regulate zoning and sharing political booties in such a way that promotes rancor-free and seamless transition of power from one senatorial zone to another. Take Delta state as an example, James Onanefe Ibori of Delta central spent 8 years (May 1999 to May 2007), Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, South, (2007 to May 2015). The current governor, Dr. (Senator) Ifeanyi Ekwueme Arthur Okowa is the first Anioma son (Delta North Senatorial zone) to assume the governorship of the state. That was on the 29th May, 2015. And upon completion of his second term come May 2023, power will travel back to Delta central where Olorogun David Edevbie, a former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Delta State, and, the current Chief of Staff to the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, is positioned to take over as the next governor of the state. Alas! With this last declaration, I could not pretend for too long that I was not flowing with the conversation as this particular guy soon observed the utter interest raging in my mind. And to douse the nagging helplessness enveloping me as regards what he was dishing out, I quickly pulled close. To understand more fully his position, I got bold and found my voice, and with some courtesy, I rained out a torrent of questions. Sir, who is this much talked Mr. David Edevbie? How intimidating is his credentials to dwarf, and secure him automatic governorship ticket in the face of other political bigwigs from the same political party, and within the same Senatorial district? And in the face of other notable politicians from the opposition partys currently holding influential positions at the Federal Levels has been able to build bridges of relationship and support across other senatorial zones? What is Edevbies financial capacity? Can he execute such a project knowing very well that seeking political position in Nigeria is capital intensive? How did you know that he will be next when party primaries is years ahead? And when Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, had recently barred members of People Democratic Party (PDP), especially political appointees, from constituting consultation groups ahead 2023 general elections, describing their early politicking as hasty and premature? What is and who is rented the air as I was eager to know everything at the same time. Just immediately, he responded furiously to the barrage of questions- and his response was particularly loaded with disdain. From his response, it is obvious that he was offended not only by the cacophony of questions but my claim of ignorance of a personality he described as a major-man from Afiesere in Ughelli North local government area of Delta state. A man that is according to him a leader-manager and among the few in the state capped with political and managerial sagacity needed to help get the answers and deploy the resources the state needs to move into the future. To prove to me that he came prepared and full of conviction, he narrated to me how Edevbie joined Barclays Bank Plc, UK as a trainee and 1988 and 1992, rose to the position of Managers Assistant, Corporate Lending while in late 1992, joined Hill Samuel, a U.K. Merchant Bank, as an Investment Banking Executive. He called my attention to the fact that in 1995, David, joined the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), UK (CDC Group) as an Investment Officer responsible for Asia & Pacific Regions. And was in 1996, promoted to Deputy Country Head, and was responsible for establishing the CDC Philippines Office. Again, in March 1998, the Edevbie returned to the London Office and was promoted to Investment Manager. This time around capped with significant project finance expertise having participated in several high profile project-financing transactions. Continuing, he noted that in June 1999, he was appointed Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Delta State. Where he transformed work attitudes and computerized the operations of the Ministry. And at the end of Chief James Iboris first tenure in office in 2003, took a break to attend the prestigious Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme to prepare himself for higher responsibilities. At this point, I recovered myself from the stimulation of reality accomplished in me by his narrative prowess. And I asked; is that all Deltans need to move the state to the next level? He responded; not at all! To buttress this position, he again gave a vivid account of how Edevbie was invited in late 2006, by one of the PDP Presidential Aspirants, Umaru Musa YarAdua to join his small campaign team as Director of Finance and Strategy and YarAdua was elected President in April 2007. In recognition of the significant role played in the Presidential Campaign Organization, President YarAdua, in 2008, appointed him as Principal Secretary to the President (PSP) to take over the responsibilities of the out-going Chief of Staff. And performed prominently well in the Presidency until shortly after President YarAduas death in April 2010. Remember! As the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Edevbie, going by the reported responsibilities of the Chief of staff; coordinated the activities of all Principal Staff Officers, managed the flow of information; protected the interests of the president; negotiated with other members of the executive branch, and extra-governmental political groups to implement the president's agenda; and advised the president on various issues, including telling the president what he did not want to hear. At this point, Mr. Clement posed but rhetorically the following question; Tell me, who among the bunch/gladiators in the state have functioned at this level? Or have you forgotten that leadership is both nature and nurture? Just reflect and point at one deltan that can equal such experience/talent/profile? Utomi Jerome-Mario,( [email protected] ), is a Lagos-Based Media Consultant Flash The year 2020 marks the ASEAN-China Year of Digital Economy Cooperation. To further strengthen international cooperation and explore the potential of economic cooperation between ASEAN countries and China under the conditions of normalized COVID-19 prevention and control, the ASEAN-China Media & Think-Tank Online Forum was held on June 9 with the theme of "New Growth Points of ASEAN-China Digital Economy Cooperation." The event was jointly hosted by China International Publishing Group (CIPG), ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and Science and Technology Daily (STD), and co-organized by China Report Press (CRP) and the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS) under the CIPG. CIPG President Du Zhanyuan, ACC Secretary-General Chen Dehai, STD President Li Ping, Ambassador of the Philippines to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana as well as CIPG Deputy Editor-in-Chief and CRP President Chen Shi addressed the meeting. The event also invited around 70 other guests from information authorities of China and ASEAN countries, AMS embassies in China, academies, media and international organizations, including Bruneian Ambassador to China Pehin Dato Rahmani Dato Basir, Malaysian Ambassador to China Raja Dato' Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, Thai Ambassador to China Arthayudh Srisamoot, Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun, Chairman of Thailand-China Research Centre of the Belt and Road Initiative Gen. Surasit Thanadtang, President of Confederation of ASEAN Journalists Thepchai Sae Yong, Associate Editor and ZB CUM Editor of Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobao Han Yong Hong, Senior Researcher of International Liaison Bureau of the State Council Information Office of China Dong Guoping, STD Vice President Fang Hanting and ACCWS President Yu Yunquan and Vice President Yang Ping. Du Zhanyuan pointed out in his speech that in the face of the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, China and ASEAN countries worked together to pull through the trying time, setting the standard for international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. He also noted that the white paper Fighting COVID-19: China in Action recently published by China's State Council Information Office highlights the commitment of the Chinese government to put people's lives and health first. Du stressed that the epidemic did not change the overall trend of globalization, with the digital economy as a major driver. Focusing on cooperation in digital economy will help elevate ASEAN-China cooperation to a new level and futher accelerate regional integration, he added. Chen Dehai said that since the COVID-19 outbreak China has fought shoulder to shoulder with ASEAN member states, which demonstrated the long-standing friendship between the two sides. He approved of the special significance of this online forum which echoes the theme of ASEAN-China Year of Digital Economy Cooperation and provides a new platform for media outlets and think tanks from both sides to exchange views with the help of digital technology on how to promote bilateral cooperation in digital economy and better share digital information as COVID-19 continues. Li Ping remarked that in the context of global fighting against COVID-19, developing digital economy is quite essential as it will stabilize employment and investment and will promote the digital transformation and intelligent upgrade of industries. He also pointed out that working together to overcome the ongoing difficulties and maintaining regional stability and development is an urgent task for regional cooperation at this moment. As the digital economy has become a new engine for innovation-driven development, ASEAN-China cooperation in this area enjoys a bright prospect and media and think tanks can contribute to such cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. In his speech, Amb. Romana recognized the concerted efforts made by China and ASEAN countries in combating the unknown disease. He believed promoting digital economy can help hedge the impact of the epidemic on the global economy. To adapt to the current situation and achieve development goals at national, regional and global levels, ASEAN countries should learn from China's experience in developing e-commerce and mobile payment and strengthen bilateral cooperation in this field. When addressing the forum, Chen Shi said that with their advantages in communication, platform building and talent, media organizations and think tanks have an important role to play in pooling resources for expanding ASEAN-China cooperation in digital economy. In the following session discussion, eight Chinese and ASEAN speakers shared their views on two topics: "opportunities and potentials for ASEAN-China digital economy cooperation in the post COVID-19 era" and "facilitate information sharing between ASEAN and China by media and think-tanks." In the first session moderated by Dino Kusnadi, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, Gen. Surasit Thanadtang believed that the strategic cooperation between Thailand and China in the field of digital economy is crucial and ASEAN countries can learn from China's experience in national governance and epidemic prevention and control. Liu Zhengfu, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Development Research of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), suggested the two sides should enhance policy coordination and deepen practical cooperation by tapping the potential of trade and investment promotion organizations and chambers of commerce. As a senior journalist, Han Yong Hong gave a brief analysis of the prospect of ASEAN-China digital economy cooperation, noting that collaboration in personnel training and data connection between the two sides should be strengthened. Gu Qingyang, an associate professor of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of National University of Singapore, shared his insights on smart city construction. He believed bilateral cooperation in this area has a promising future. Arianto Surojo, Director of ACC Information and Public Relations Division, chaired the second session. Fang Hanting, Vice President of Science and Technology Daily said that China and ASEAN countries enjoy broad prospect in their digital economy cooperation, adding that both sides should carry out complementary research and development (R&D) cooperation, jointly promote technological progress and share R&D achievements with each other. Yang Ping, Vice President of ACCWS, expounded on the role of think tanks in enhancing digital information sharing between ASEAN and China, which she summarized as intellectual support in the field of international communication. Thepchai Sae Yong believed that media outlets and think tanks should play an active role as the COVID-19 pandemic brought both challenges and opportunities. Irfan Ilmie, head of Beijing Branch of Antara News Agency of Indonesia, shared a touching story of Indonesian policemen writing a song to cheer up the Chinese people in their fight against the virus, which moved all participants of the forum. The ASEAN-China Media & Think-Tank Online Forum was the first of its kind in using digital technology, receiving support from the AMS embassies in Beijing and attracting widespread media attention. During the forum, ACCWS President Yu Yunquan also had an online release of a multilingual E-book titled Keywords to Understand China: The Fight Against COVID-19. The event was livestreamed on June 16 on media platforms including China.com.cn, Bilibili.com, Sina.com.cn and V.qq.com, etc. A schoolboy who ditched his homework to take a walk along the edge of a lake got a surprise when he stumbled upon the wreck of an ancient longboat. Cathal McDonagh, from Lisacul in County Roscommon, Ireland, spotted the boat as he was wading in the shallows of Cloonacolly Lough at the back of his family home. Due to recent dry weather, the water level in Irelands rivers and lakes has dropped very low, so the 12-year-old was only ankle-deep when he made the find. Cathal McDonagh (right) found the boat in Lisacul, County Roscommon, when he was supposed to be studying. He is shown with mother Eileen Greene and Peter McDonagh Dry weather had caused the lake's level to drop, revealing the ancient logboat 'He was bored and went for a walk down to the lake which is behind our house,' said his mother, Eileen. 'He had his wellies on so he was only in above his ankles when he hit upon this. It was that easily found. 'He was all excited and ran back up to the house to tell us, but I just presumed it was a fencing post, which could easily end up in the water as it's surrounded by farmland.' With the help of his parents, the lad dragged the wreck out of Cloonacolly Lough and began to realise the scale of his find. The family then alerted the National Monuments Service, who advised them to submerge the boat once more in order to preserve it. Now, archaeologists have collected a small wood sample for carbon dating. The results are awaited, but the family have been told the vessel could date back to 2000BC. The family called the National Monuments Service which quickly arrived to survey the boat. Two archaeologists are shown above measuring the ancient vessel The boat, pictured being pulled from the lake, is due to be dated. It is thought to date back to 2000BC as an ancient settlement from the time is based 300 feet away, but archaeologists have warned that it could be even older In a statement, the monuments service suggested a huge age range for the vessel. 'It is not possible to determine the date of the boat without scientific dating,' the statement said. 'There is an early medieval crannog an artificial island settlement just 328 feet away in the lake. 'So it is tempting to say that the logboat dates from that period and was used by the inhabitants of the island to ferry back and forth. 'It could be even more recent, from the later medieval period, or indeed much, much older, dating to prehistory logboats have been used on our lakes and rivers since 8,000 BC. 'And they were still in use as late as the 18th century AD. In all that time, they didnt change much in how they were built.' The boat is the third to be pulled from the lake. However, the other two have been lost. One was used to fill a gap in a ditch and a second to repair the roof of a house Pictured above is the lake in Lisacul, County Roscommon, where the boat was found The boat is roughly 18 feet long and just over three feet wide. While its front and back have not survived, the sidewalls survive to a height of 9.4 inches. Two similar vessels were found in the lake almost 100 years ago in 1922. But neither was preserved, with one being used to fill a gap in a ditch and the other to help roof a house. 'Thats what makes Cathals discovery so important to us,' said the monuments service. 'This boat will be protected and dated to let us be able to tell the full story of the lake and those who lived on and around it. 'The boat is being kept underwater and was returned to its original environment in the lough which is the safest place for it. 'The water levels in the lake will be monitored in the future and, if the logboat is under threat of uncovering or drying out, we will take the appropriate actions to ensure its preservation.' Democrats are calling the officials whistle-blowers, suggesting they are covered by federal laws that prohibit reprisals against civil servants who give information to Congress. The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York, said in a statement that Mr. Barr has refused to testify himself, so the committee was moving forward with oversight of his actions without him. The attorney general who cites his busy schedule as a basis for refusing to appear before the House Judiciary Committee but has made time for multiple television interviews may have abdicated his responsibility to Congress, but the brave men and women of our civil service have not, Mr. Nadler said. The committee welcomes the testimony of current and former department officials who will speak to the lasting damage the president and the attorney general have inflicted on the Department of Justice. Kerri Kupec, a Justice Department spokeswoman, declined to comment. The ability of lower-level officials to testify about internal executive branch matters without permission can be subject to dispute. The executive branch sometimes claims that such matters are privileged. Still, it has limited ability to block officials who have been subpoenaed by Congress and who want to comply with those legal demands to testify. A third expected witness at the June 24 hearing is Donald Ayer, who served as deputy attorney general in the first George Bush administration when Mr. Barr led the departments Office of Legal Counsel in 1989 and 1990, before Mr. Barr succeeded him as deputy attorney general and then ascended to his first stint as attorney general. PHILIPSBURG:--- Slave passes, also called certificates or tickets, were written notes granting slaves permission to leave the plantations on which they lived. Almost all slave societies in the New World required slaves to have written permission from their owners to leave the plantation, and they could not leave without it. Slave passes contained the slaves name, the destination, the trips duration, the expiration date of the pass, and the masters signature. Passes were most commonly given to male slaves who ran errands and performed transportation work beyond the plantation. Depending on the master, slave men might also be given passes to visit their wives on weekends. Thus reads an excerpt from the Historical Encyclopedia of World Slavery in reference to Slavery in late 1600s America. Today, after almost 500 years since the start of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and just short of two centuries since the abolition of Slavery and Emancipation, followed by landmark actions such as the Civil Rights Movement (USA), Majority Rule (Bahamas), abolition of Apartheid (South Africa), and so many others around the world where people of African descent have fought and died to be recognized as humans, for their liberation and advancement in all areas of human engagement, it is instructive how in the middle of a pandemic, vestiges of Slavery have emerged as symbols of managing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis in 2020. The fact that governments around the globe have had to scramble to come up with policies and structures to manage a new coronavirus disease that left no corner of the world untouched is remarkable. And while people loathed and were affected by measures that severely restricted their movement, it seemed that, for the most part, the restrictions were or are generally accepted as legitimate, and were or are complied with, albeit in different degrees. From the confusion of distinguishing quarantine from self-isolation, to orders like shelter-in-place, to mandated wearing of gloves, masks, and face-coverings, to travel bans and passes, most people made adjustments. But there were those who vehemently protested some or all the restrictions; for still others there was something ominous about the two most salient symbols of the pandemic: masks and passes. Though at the onset of the outbreak, not all countries required the wearing of masks, eventually some version of face-covering became a requirement everywhere. In some countries and territories, masks were either issued freely or at least made easily accessible, and in some countries, like The Bahamas, people were encouraged by their governments to support local entrepreneurship by purchasing locally made masks. In other countries, like the USA, masks were in short supply, and people were left to their own creativity to secure them. With different states having different levels of restrictions, and a US presidential election looming in the year of the pandemic, mask-wearing became politicized. In the US state of Michigan, armed White men and women, most without masks, were among the protesters of the stay-at-home orders, and some, emboldened by the Republican president in the White House, stormed the states capital demanding the Democratic governor to reopen the state. A few days later in the same state, a Black Democratic lawmaker had to be escorted to work by armed Black men because she feared for her safety. During another demonstration outside the Humboldt County Courthouse in the state of California on May 16, protesters at an anti-lockdown rally could be seen carrying signs comparing the stay-at-home measures to modern-day slavery, and making references to individual freedoms and violation of constitutional rights. One image quickly made international headlines. It was an image of two White women holding up placards, on which were the words: Muzzles are for dogs and slaves. Im a free human being. Next to the words was a drawn image of Escrava Anastacia (a African woman who was enslaved by Whites in Brazil), wearing a muzzle and a metal collar forced on her by her enslavers. Covering the incident, a Newsweek reporter later wrote, The image of Anastacia wearing a muzzle and a metallic collar has made her both an iconic image of slaverys dehumanizing cruelty and a venerated unofficial saint in Brazil, noted for her defiant beauty despite attempts to silence her. Worshippers see her as a saint who can heal the sick, strengthen the oppressed and forgive oppressors. Needless to say, the image drew the ire of people around the world, but it was especially painful to people of African descent and a stark reminder of the value of their humanity in some quarters. Many people took to social media to vent their outrage, with one Twitter follower, @primetime32, tweeting, Well wait for their apologies!! Because I know its coming. And, true to form, a few days later, one of the women in the photo, Gretha Stenger, issued an apology: Holding that sign up at the lockdown protest was a grave mistake and I ask forgiveness from all those who I have caused pain, she said in a statement to The Times-Standard. As I had no sign of my own, it was handed to me by another protester and a photographer took the picture before I considered the racist implications. (Newsweek) See, this is the thing with privilege. Like the men in Michigan, Stenger and others (like her fellow protester who was captured holding the sign and later identified in social media as Larkin Small) see themselves as being entitled to do whatever they want to uphold their privileges, without much thought, regardless to who gets affected, because their privilege is supreme. And every time the public backlash comes, they either cite naivete, ignorance, or belligerence, and they can expect to be let off the hook either way. On the other hand, the apologies have become so common that when they do come, theyre almost always brushed aside as insincere. This is not to say that people do not genuinely make mistakes and feel regret afterwards. But there is a pervasive sense of entitlement and privilege that (some) White people take for granted, no matter where they are. In 1850, a New York Tribune reporter covering a slave auction wrote, All these humiliations were submitted to without a murmur and in some instances with good-natured cheerfulnesswhere the slave liked the appearance of the proposed buyer, and fancied that he might prove a kind masr. Like Stenger, the reporter was purportedly trying to do good by exposing the barbarity of Slavery to the newspapers readers. What the Stenger situation shows is that despite the strides that have been made in some places like the USA since the auctioning of enslaved Africans, the humanity of people of African descent is still not regarded as equal to the humanity of others, particularly White people. Sadly, colonialism and Slavery have left the world with an anti-humanity hierarchy, with White at the top and Black at the bottom. However, its not just White people who have this sense of White supremacy; other racial groups, including Africans and people of African descent, recognize and embrace it as well. The global discussion surrounding world population and mandatory vaccines to treat the pandemic reek of White supremacy and privilege. And 26 years after the collapse of the Apartheid regime (a system of legal segregation designed by descendants of the Dutch in South Africa), one of its prominent symbols, the passbook, emerges in my homeland of St. Martin during the pandemic. The local governments of the Caribbean island, consisting of two territories controlled by France and the Netherlands, invoked the pass as part of the islands response to the pandemic and another reminder of the ugliness of colonialism that prevails in parts of the world. On the Dutch-controlled southern part, people were required to go to the governments website, download, print, and have signed by the prime minister either a Professional Travel Proof Form A, B, or C, while authorities on the French-controlled northern part required people leaving their homes to have an attestation form. In stepping up efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, authorities of both parts of St. Martin agreed to close the border between the two territories on March 29. By April 6, iron trailer containers at two locations blocked the frontier, which has generally been unguarded for centuries, and the two main roadways were jointly patrolled by police authorities and soldiers, physically separating St. Martiners who, notwithstanding the realities of colonialism, had lived as one people for over 200 years. The pass policy was later modified as follows: residents of the Dutch-controlled half had to request permission from the prefet, the French state representative in Marigot (capital of the French controlled part), while those living in the French part needed to obtain authorization from the prime minister or chief of police in Great Bay (traditional name for the capital of Dutch-controlled part) to move across the island. Thus, the pass effectively became a form of travel visa, affecting the vast majority of people on land, while a minority of residents with access to boats did not experience the same restrictions. The mobility issues escalated when the authorities in the Dutch territory removed the barriers, iron trailer containers, they had placed at two border points, and the authorities in the French territory did not. An example of the escalation, before the four border crossings at the frontier would become free of any blockade on June 2, occurred when a beloved St. Martin doctor of French nationality, who had worked for over 30 years on the Dutch-controlled part, was questioned at the Union Road border crossing by the (maskless) French authorities about the authenticity of his C-waiver. A number of people immediately took to social media to express their outrage. The argument that restrictions were necessary to prevent the spread of the virus and severely overwhelm ill prepared healthcare systems seemed reasonable enough to most. For others, even when reasonable adjustments were madeincluding a number of the islands poets, such as Lasana M. Sekou in the following poem posted on Facebook after an elderly person was stopped at the border when attempting to leave the French territory to go and buy familiar medicine in the Dutch territorythe pass requirements conjured up images of plantation Slavery and privileges: and so the disease reason for blocking the border that is owned by france and the netherlands, on the occupied land of st. martin, begins to pitter to its political raison detre, all the pieces of reason that weve been bawling bout &battling off some way or tnudder since the divide & since when we come to know how to walk through kosha hill&diamond estate run &belvedere pass/ages since, for petit marronage&lohkay-like looking freedom from which ever way&side &smugglin, demijohnrum&medicine&thing & so it be then, like each generation must come to not hear till we butt up on the gun-toting line, it drawn &buried open in the sand. i wonder if the blow to we haadn forrid each time is like we marching pon a long road to union marching to feel up way pass their frontier marching ... marching ... marching ... till jericho wall come bruckin dong ... dong ... dong ... ? The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the best and the worst of humanity. What has been particularly instructive is the level of insensitivity and racist implications of so many of the responses. Whether they are carried out in ignorance by individuals like Gretha Stenger or intentionally by governments, including those made up of descendants of formerly enslaved Africans, a number of these measures have caused anguish in a people who often do not have the voice to express their anguish. Like the Africans forced to endure humiliation on the auction block and on the plantation during Slavery, today their offspring continue to suffer indignity in the middle of a pandemic. Imre Arakas was jailed for six years in December 2018 An Estonian hitman who was jailed for his role in a Kinahan cartel murder plot and is wanted over the murder of a Lithuanian pop star's lover will challenge a bid to extradite him in October. Imre Arakas (62) was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018 after he admitted conspir- ing with others to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. He is currently serving his sentence in a segregated block in Portlaoise Prison. Affair Lithuanian authorities suspect ex-wrestler Arakas was part of a three-man gang who conspired to murder a man who had an affair with pop star Vita Jakutiene. Lithuanian police are seeking the surrender of Arakas, whose last address was Sopruse, Tall-inn, Estonia, to face charges that include a count of murder as well as firearms and conspiracy-related charges in relation to the shooting of Deimantas Bugavicius. There is also another warrant for the sole charge of criminal damage. Arakas was arrested by gardai in a holding cell at the Criminal Courts of Justice building in Dublin in February 2018 on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities. However, he was jailed by the non-jury Special Criminal Court for six years the following December after he pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder Mr Gately. Yesterday, Aoife O'Leary BL, responding for Arakas, told Mr Justice Paul Burns that additional information from the Lithuanian authorities had been sought and received. Affidavits had been filed in respect of her client, and two other men had now been charged in Lithuania. Arakas appeared by video link from Portlaoise Prison for the brief hearing. Mr Justice Burns fixed October 9 for the hearing, with the matter in for mention on July 20 to resolve any outstanding matters. As parliamentary debates resume, this Friday, Zambias Catholic Bishops are calling for the withdrawal of unpopular Constitutional amendments. Paul Samasumo Vatican City Zambians will be waiting with bated breath to see if their legislators will push through with unpopular and polarising amendments to the countrys Constitution. The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) says that the Constitution Amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 should be withdrawn because it is dividing the nation and the proposed changes make for bad legislation. Changes to the Constitution are very radical ZCCB Secretary-General, Father Cleophas Lungu, this week repeated the call of the Catholic Bishops directed at the ruling Patriotic Front Government. Fr. Lungu told Vatican News English Africa Service that the Patriotic Front is, in fact, singlehandedly rewriting whole sections and making profound changes to the Constitution. There is also widespread suspicion that the amendments to the Constitution, especially the electoral system, seek to perpetuate the ruling party stay in power. To begin with, in terms of the main objectives: When we were embarking on this journey, it was our understanding that the aim was to address the lacunas (gaps) in the amended Constitution of 2016. It was our view that the law needed some refinement. Alas, we see now that the Patriotic Front Government has gone beyond the original objective. Some wholesale changes are being proposed that will radically change the nature of the Constitution and even the nature of our young but maturing democracy, said Fr. Lungu. When you mention Bill 10, emotions rise According to Fr. Lungu, the Bishops are alarmed that such an important process which should have been guided by dialogue and consensus had been hijacked by the party in power. We see a Zambia that is more divided now. Next year the country has presidential elections. The Bishops believe that this is not the place where Zambians want to be. When you mention the issue of Bill 10, emotions rise, said Fr. Lungu. Civil society and law fraternity also want Bill withdrawn It is not just the Catholic Bishops who are against the proposed constitutional amendments. Zambias opposition parties, civil society groups and the law fraternity say the Bill does not mean well for the country. A leading Zambian Constitutional law expert, Professor Muna Ndulo, described the Constitution (Amendment) Bill No. 10 as too broad, manipulative and overreaching. Bill 10 is manipulative and attempts to deceive the people of Zambia and create a dictatorship under the guise of constitutional reform. Bill 10 is designed to remove parliamentary oversight over the presidency and thereby install a constitutional dictatorship. It attempts to manipulate the electoral system to ensure that the ruling party remains in power in perpetuity, said Professor Ndulo. Chapter One Foundation Executive Director and former Law Association of Zambia president, Linda Kasonde, described the amendments as destructive to the fabric of Zambias democracy. The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) which is the umbrella organisation for mainstream Protestant Churches is also on record, urging the PF led government to completely withdraw Bill 10. CCZ General Secretary, Rev Canon Fr Emmanuel Chikoya observed that the proposed amendments do not serve the interests of the majority Zambians. He appealed to members of parliament to side with the people. Justice Minister says Zambia is not a Theocracy This week, a Zambian newspaper, The News Diggers, quoted the countrys Justice Minister, Mr Given Lubinda criticising the Zambian Catholic Bishops for urging the withdrawal of Bill No.10. Mr Lubinda told a local television channel, in an interview, that Zambia was not a theocracy. The Catholic Church should not seek to be at the helm of the Constitution-making process, said the Justice Minister. For its part, Zambias Daily Nation newspaper, in an Opinion column, rebuked the Zambian Catholic Bishops. The newspaper accused the Bishops of highhanded magisterium that has no place in modern politics. Those who hunger for justice will be satisfied Zambias Fourth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly which adjourned abruptly on 18 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic resumed operations on 9 June 2020. Parliamentary debates are scheduled to begin in earnest, this Friday. Regardless of what happens in parliament, the Bishop of Chipata Diocese and ZCCB President, George Lungu said history is always on the side of those who hunger for justice. We genuinely believe the words of our Lord Jesus Christ that those who hunger and thirst for justice will, in the end, be satisfied! We further call on all well-meaning and God-fearing Zambians to pray that the Almighty God, not only blesses this nation but also let justice flow like a river and integrity like an unfailing stream (Amos 5:24), said the ZCCB President. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 17:03 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf372fd 1 World Chinese-fishing-vessel,Chinese-flagged-ship,human-trafficking,fishing-boat,abuse Free The National Police have named three people as suspects in a case of alleged human trafficking on Chinese-flagged fishing vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu 901. The case came to light after two Indonesian crewmen jumped off the vessel into the Malacca strait earlier this month because they could no longer stand the mistreatment on board. We have named three suspects, SF, HA and MHY, Riau Islands Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Harry Goldenhardt said in a written statement on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com. SF was apprehended in his house in Cileungsi district in Bogor regency, West Java, on Thursday while HA was arrested in North Jakarta on Friday and MHY in Bekasi city, West Java, on Saturday. The three were charged with violating articles 2, 4 and 10 of Law No. 21/2007 on the eradication of human trafficking. Harry said the suspects recruited Andri Juniansyah and Reynalfi, the crewmen who jumped overboard, to work as factory workers in South Korea and lured them with promises of monthly salaries ranging from Rp 25 million (US$ 1,775) to 50 million. The victims were also required to pay a registration fee of Rp 50 million. Read also: Indonesia reiterates concern about alleged mistreatment of crewmen on Chinese vessels Instead, Andri and Reynalfi were employed as crew members of Lu Qing Yuan Yu 901 and endured poor working conditions, threats and physical abuse all while receiving no wages for months. Following the interrogation of the three suspects, the police also apprehended four other people who allegedly made fake training certificates for the crewmen. The four men, identified as DT, RAS, SY and ST, were taken into custody by the North Jakarta police and charged with forgery. Harry added that the crewmen were registered to the Chinese vessel by placement company PT Mandiri Tunggal Bahari, whose two commissioners have previously been named suspects in another case of mistreatment on Chinese vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu 623. In May, a video appeared on Facebook showing a group of sailors on the Lu Qing Yuan Yu 623 throwing the body of an Indonesian sailor into the sea. Prior to that, there was public outrage at the death of four Indonesian sailors registered to another Chinese fishing ship. According to data from Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW), at least 30 Indonesian crewmen were victims of alleged exploitation aboard Chinese fishing vessels between November 2019 and June 2020, seven of whom died while three others have gone missing. (aly) The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday revoked its emergency use authorisation for hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19, but quickly came under fire from President Donald Trump, who said only US agencies have failed to grasp its benefit in fighting the coronavirus. Based on new evidence, the FDA said it was no longer reasonable to believe that hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine may be effective in treating the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The FDA also warned that the drugs have been shown in lab studies to interfere with Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir - the only medicine so far to show a benefit against Covid-19 in formal clinical trials. The move comes after several studies of the decades-old malaria pills suggested they were not effective either as a treatment for or to prevent Covid-19. British scientists earlier this month halted a large trial after deciding that hydroxychloroquine was "useless" at treating Covid-19 patients. Hydroxychloroquine's anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties suggested it might help Covid-19 patients, and the FDA authorised its emergency use in March at the height of a pandemic for which there were no approved treatments. The early enthusiasm was partly based on laboratory experiments in which the drug appeared to neutralise the virus. Chloroquine, which is not approved for any use in the United States and has more side effects, has not fared any better in human clinical trials. In March, Trump said hydroxychloroquine in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin had "a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine," with little evidence to back up that claim. He later said he took the drugs preventively after two people who worked at the White House were diagnosed with Covid-19, and he urged others to try it. I took it and I felt good about taking it. I dont know if it had an impact, but it certainly didnt hurt me, Trump said on Monday. Trump said there had been "great reports" out of France, Spain and other places, without offering any evidence or further explanation. France is one of the countries that has already stopped using the drug for Covid-19 patients. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said the drug is still being studied for possible use at an earlier stage of the disease. A lot of the data that has come out that was more negative was people who were quite ill in the hospital, he said. The drug can still be used with a doctor's prescription, Azar noted. Any drug with US approval can be used in any way a doctor sees fit regardless of what it has been approved for. DRUG'S USE ALREADY IN DECLINE Doctors in recent weeks had already pulled back on the use of hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19, after several studies suggested it is not effective and may pose heart risks for certain patients. The Infectious Diseases Society of America on Monday backed the FDA decision "to revoke emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine." Half of hospitals responding to a mid-May survey conducted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) reported excess supplies of hydroxychloroquine that they expected to return to wholesalers. Current US government treatment guidelines do not recommend its use for COVID-19 patients outside of a clinical trial. France, Italy and Belgium late last month halted use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients. But the United States last month sent 2 million doses to Brazil, which has emerged as the pandemic's latest epicenter. Hundreds of trials testing hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine as interventions for COVID-19 are still underway, including a US study designed to show whether hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin can prevent hospitalisation and death from COVID-19. 2 | Next crop of COVID-19 vaccine developers take more traditional route: The handful of drugmakers dominating the global coronavirus vaccine race are pushing the boundaries of vaccine technology. The next crop under development feature more conventional, proven designs. The world will need several different vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, given the sheer size of global need, variations in effects on different populations, and possible limits of effectiveness in the first crop. Many leading candidates now in final-stage testing are based on new, largely unproven technology platforms designed to produce vaccines at speed. China National Biotec Group (CNBG) said on Tuesday its experimental coronavirus vaccine has triggered antibodies in clinical trials and the company plans late-stage human trials in foreign countries. No vaccines have been solidly proven to be able to effectively protect people from the virus that has killed more than 400,000 people, while multiple candidates are in various stages of development globally. The vaccine, developed by a Wuhan-based research institute affiliated to CNBG's parent company Sinopharm, was found to have induced high-level antibodies in all inoculated people without serious adverse reaction, according to the preliminary data from a clinical trial initiated in April involving 1,120 healthy participants aged between 18 and 59. CNBG said it is proactively seeking opportunities for late-stage and large-scale Phase 3 trials overseas. "[We] have secured cooperative intent with companies and institutes in many countries," the company said in a statement. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show State media reported that the vaccine candidate, along with a different experimental shot developed by Sinopharm's unit, has been offered to Chinese employees at state-owned firms travelling overseas as developers seek more data on their efficacy. China has five vaccine candidates for COVID-19 in human trials, the most in any country. China's vaccine maker Sinovac Biotech (Sinovac) released over the weekend positive preliminary clinical trial results for its potential vaccine candidate, which is expected to be tested in a Phase 3 trial in Brazil. The Board of Regents of the University of California spoke as one when it scrapped the Scholastic Aptitude Test in a virtual meeting last month. I believe the test is a racist test, said one regent, Jonathan Sures, whose day job is co-president of the United Talent Agency in Beverly Hills. There's no two ways about it. Graduation Day: A faculty study found that many minorities who gained admission to the University of California system did so because of their SAT scores, not despite them. But the Board of Regents voted to scrap the test anyway. Unsurprisingly, given comments like that, the regents voted 23-0 to eliminate the SAT over the next five years -- a victory for the system's president, Janet Napolitano, who has long called for scrapping its use in university admissions. But very surprising to some at UC was this: The regents' decision flouted a unanimous faculty senate vote a few weeks earlier to retain the SAT for now -- after a year-long study by a task force commissioned by Napolitano herself found the test neither racist nor discriminatory nor an obstacle to minorities in any way. The 228-page report, loaded with hundreds of displays of data from the UC's various admissions departments, found that the SAT and a commonly used alternative test, ACT -- also eliminated actually helped increase black, Hispanic, and Native American enrollment at the system's 10 campuses. The report recommended that their use be continued. To sum up, the task force report determined, the SAT allows many disadvantaged students to gain guaranteed admission to UC. The contradictory, lopsided votes raised the question: How could the liberal governing board of a major university system reject the imprimatur of its own liberal faculty researchers and kill a diversity accelerator in the name of the very diversity desired? Jonathan "Jay" Sures, United Talent Agency co-president and California regent: I believe the test is a racist test. There's no two ways about it. University of California Board of Regents The answer, according to numerous interviews with people concerned, is that the urgency of political momentum against the tests -- reflecting a wider national mood of racial grievance -- proved irresistible and swept away the research and data. Now the university system faces the challenge of mollifying public opinion while coming up with a solution -- a test alternative or none at all -- that isnt worse than the perceived problem, much in the way Black Lives Matter-inspired moves to defund the police raise obvious challenges of ensuring public safety. Eddie Comeaux, a professor of education at UC-Riverside and co-chair of the faculty task force, said in a Zoom interview that many of us thought that the process might be a political one. There were several very prominent figures whose public statements made pretty clear their opposition to tests even before the task force started its undertaking, he said. The regents' vote was kind of preordained. There wasn't even much debate at the regent's meeting. We know their minds were already made up because they said so publicly, Kip Tellez, a professor of education at UC-Santa Cruz and one of the drafters of the task force report, said. The regents, with ultimate authority over the governance of UC, are made up of unpaid political appointees, all but two of them on the current board named to their posts by Democratic governors, several of them by current incumbent Gavin Newsom, who has made no secret of his opposition to the SAT. Last year, for example, Newsom vetoed legislation that would have allowed school districts to use the SAT, instead of the state's own 11th grade tests, saying the SAT exacerbates inequalities for under-represented students. Requests for interviews sent to the Board of Regents and to Napolitano's office were declined. At the meeting last month, regents were given five minutes each to present their views, and a few did express some interest in the special task force's findings, but all of them in the end went along with the anti-test mood, testament perhaps to the power of the progressive, racialized narrative to sweep away opposition. A restive mood of racial grievance: California protester outside the governor's office, 2015. I very much appreciate the task force's work and the database it put together, one regent, Maria Anguiano, said, making the kind of argument that won the day, but I also believe in peer review as part of the research process, and there's been decades of research showing that SAT scores are mostly correlated with wealth and privilege, so I can't support this use of this tool. It's an exclusionary and filtering mechanism. Perhaps ironically, standardized tests were originally created about 100 years ago by what became the College Board to provide qualified Jews, Italians, Irish and others a better chance of getting into elite institutions dominated at the time by privileged, well-connected, mostly Protestant families. The idea was that the test created a national standard by which all students from all parts of the country and backgrounds could be compared. But over the years some minority groups have scored significantly lower on the test than others. This has led many educators, civil rights activists, and some academic researchers to argue that the tests are racially biased obstacles to the goals of opportunity and diversity. They say the tests favor affluent families, most of them white, who are able to pay for things like private tutoring and summer enrichment programs of the sort that are out of reach for poorer families. This was the prevailing view among the UC regents. The strongest correlation is with wealth, not success in college, Eloy Ortiz Oakley, the chancellor of California's huge network of two-year community colleges, told the regents. The debate, far from new, is complicated and something of a scholarly maze with numerous research studies seeming to support one or another side of the question. There is research that finds private tutoring gives rich kids an unfair leg up, and research showing that tutoring actually has an almost negligible effect on scores. While there is no doubt some correlation between scores and family wealth, an even stronger correlation may be between scores and the level of educational advancement within a students family. That would be one reason why many Asians from modest economic backgrounds have been acing the test and getting into UC in numbers far above their proportion of the population. Sherry Lansing, ex-film producer and California regent, on scrapping the SAT: Why wouldn't we just be exchanging one evil for another? But there was little ambiguity in the findings of the rebuffed UC faculty task force scholars from different fields who in almost any context would be considered solidly liberal, and who studied the SAT specifically as it is used in the University of California system. According to their report, the UC system in 2018 admitted 22,613 applicants with weak grades but strong SAT scores. A quarter of those students were members of under-represented minorities, or URMs, and nearly half were low-income or first-generation students. Breaking down these numbers, 24% of Hispanics, 40% of blacks, and 47% of Native Americans who gained admission to UC did so because of their SAT scores, not despite them, the task force found. The original intent of the SAT was to identify students who came from outside relatively privileged circles who might have the potential to succeed at university, the report said. This original intent is clearly being realized at UC. A far greater barrier to admissions than a student's performance on standardized tests, the task force determined, is the low numbers of minority students who attend high school without completing the college prep coursework required to even be considered for admission at UC. But among those who do qualify for the applicant pool, it's more often their low grades rather than their test scores that get them rejected. UC doesn't cut anybody any slack on his grades, Andrea Hasenstaub, an associate professor and neuroscientist at UC-San Francisco and one of the drafters of the task force report, told the regents' May meeting. Students with lower grades are just not let in. This appears to be where URMs are getting cut out in the admissions process. University of California President Janet Napolitano: Opposes the SAT, but says, Our admissions process is better with testing than without it. Despite this finding, many opponents of tests, including several of the regents who spoke at the May meeting, advocate using high school grades as the key admissions measure, rather than test scores. The task forces report rebuts another frequently made criticism of standardized tests that they are poor predictors of college success. Test scores don't just help predict freshman grades, Hasenstaub said. They also help to predict retention, graduation rates and final GPA, and this is true of students subdivided by income, race and family educational history. Ironically, even though the regents seemed to be against testing altogether, their decision technically left open the possibility that testing will continue at UC. Napolitano even told the meeting, Our admissions process is better with testing than without it. The proposal adopted by the regents requires a feasibility study to determine if a new and better test can be devised within five years, one that, as Napolitano put it, would more closely align with what we expect incoming students to know to demonstrate their preparedness for UC. Only if the university fails to come up with such a test would standardized testing be eliminated altogether. Some members of the task force and most of the regents certainly seemed to think a new test was a good idea. I don't think we'll have a perfect test, said Patricia Gandara, an associate professor of education at UCLA, but I do think we have the technology to enable students to do better in a test that they can actually learn from. Andrea Hasenstaub, faculty task force: Students with lower grades are just not let in. This appears to be where URMs [under-represented minorities] are getting cut out in the admissions process. But others on the task force and even a few of the regents asked how a new test would avoid the flaws of the old ones, among them that it would still give advantages to the rich over the poor, that it would be expensive to create and administer, and that it would cause the same anxiety among students as the SAT and ACT. Why wouldn't we just be exchanging one evil for another? asked Sherry Lansing, the former Hollywood movie producer and a member of the Board of Regents. Li Cai, a UCLA psychologist and statistician, said creating a new test, or modifying the existing test California students now take to measure their progress, would be very expensive. You'd spend $150 [million] or $175 million, and at the end of the day, you'd end up with more or less the same thing, Cai said in a Zoom call with RCI conducted after the regents meeting. It's just a smoke screen, Haim Weizman, a chemistry professor at UC-San Diego and a member of the task force, said during the same Zoom call. The regents didn't want to make a new test. They wanted to make a statement. At bottom, the debate has to do with something indisputable, which is that, with the notable exception of Asians, there are far fewer minorities and low-income students admitted to UC than their proportion in the population. According to the task force report, 37% of UC's students are under-represented minorities, but they make up 59% of California's graduating high school classes. Years ago in California, the main way of redressing the balance was affirmative action, giving preferential treatment in admissions, especially to black applicants. But in 1996, a constitutional amendment known as Proposition 209, which banned consideration of race, was adopted by voters. For a while, minority enrollment at UC did decline as a result of Prop 209, but in recent years it has actually gone up, thanks to what's known as comprehensive or holistic evaluation, by which the various UC admissions departments can use up 14 factors in an applicants' profile, test scores being only one of them. Theoretically, race is not one of those factors, but in actual practice the admissions departments give preferential treatment to students from low-performing high schools and less affluent neighborhoods or to applicants who would be the first in their families to go to college, which often translates as black, Latino, or Native American students. Scores are interpreted differently for different groups, Hasenstaub said. In fact, she noted, the average SAT scores of admitted black students is 200 points lower than their white and Asian counterparts on a scale of 1600. Low scoring applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds are admitted when applicants from advantaged backgrounds wouldn't be, Hasenstaub said. Many students who would not qualify for admission because of their low grades get places in the UC system because their SAT scores are over a certain threshold, even if those scores are lower on average than students from more privileged backgrounds. This explains the task force findings, as the report put it, that the SAT allows many disadvantaged students to gain guarantees of admission to UC. Regional Medical reimbursement facility to be provided to all retired employees of HPBSE: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurates Dharamshala Skyway Rains are likely in Punjab Haryana and Chandigarh on January 31 to 23 Twenty members of the Indian armed forces were killed in a clash with Chinese forces along the disputed border in Ladakh, the Army said on Tuesday, making them the first fatalities on what is known as the Line of Actual Control in 45 years. The troops were apparently killed in close-quarter combat in the Galwan Valley as more than a month-long hostilities along the border went into a full-blown conflict. The Indian Army said both sides suffered casualties. Beijing did not confirm any deaths, but observers in China appeared to corroborate that information. Seventeen Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand-off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high-altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information said in a statement. Earlier on Tuesday, the Army had said that commanding officer Colonel B Santosh Babu, and two soldiers - Havildar Palani and Sepoy Ojha had lost their lives in the incident. The Army said both Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area after the clash, adding that it is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation. Chinese Side Departed From Consensus The government said the violent face-off was due to Chinas attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the area, and accused the Peoples Liberation Army of breaking the agreement struck the previous week with respect to honouring the LAC. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, referring to the commander-level talks on June 6 and the subsequent flag meetings. The foreign ministry spokesperson said the senior commanders had agreed on a process for de-escalation in a productive meeting on June 6. While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control in the Galwan Valley, he added. China in turn, in an aggressive statement, blamed India as the instigator, accusing the Indian Army of crossing the border onto the Chinese side. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said India had crossed the border twice on Monday, "provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides," AFP news agency reported. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met union home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh twice as India discussed a response to the development. Singh briefed the PM about last night's clash as well as the overall situation in eastern Ladakh after he held a high-level meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishankar and the military chiefs. What Happened in the Clash? Tensions between India and China had been escalating since early May, after Chinas encroachment of thousands of troops into the disputed territory along the Line of Actual Control. The Chinese forces set up camps and brought over artillery and vehicles. They ignored repeated verbal warnings to leave, triggering shouting matches, stone-throwing and fistfights in key border areas. On 6, June there was a meeting of senior Indian and Chinese military commanders and a commitment to disengagement was made on both sides. However, tensions remained high as Chinese troops had still not withdrawn from certain areas, including the Galwan Valley. The fatal clashes late on Monday night took place at Patrolling Point 14 of the Galwan Valley, when an Indian commanding officer had reportedly approached Chinese troops, who stood their ground. The Colonel was reportedly assaulted with stones and Indian soldiers retaliated, which led to close unarmed combat for several hours, but no shots were fired, according to various reports. The soldiers disengaged after midnight. It has been reported, but not confirmed by Chinese officials, that at least seven Chinese soldiers were also killed. The only admission of casualties on the Chinese side so far came from the editor of their government mouthpiece Global Times. "Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, don't be arrogant and misread China's restraint as being weak. China doesn't want to have a clash with India, but we don't fear it," tweeted Hu Xijin, Editor-in-Chief of Global Times. Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong said Monday he believes there is a compelling case to be made for the removal and relocation of the Confederate monument outside the courthouse in downtown Huntsville. Whether a committee established by state law to remove such request agrees remains to be seen. Strong listed off several mitigating factors that he believes could add up to a convincing case to move the monument erected in 1905. The commission last week unanimously voted to submit an application to the Committee on Alabama Monument Protection for permission to remove the monument. The Huntsville city council also voted without dissent to support the commissions effort. "There's a lot of things there," Strong said. "Our thing is to petition this committee, say this is where we're at in Madison County, maybe we a have a better option there for preservation of history and artifacts and those are options being looked at. We are looking at every option within the law to see what options are there." The committee is scheduled to meet July 9 in Montgomery and Strong said it was the commissions intention to have its case heard at that meeting. The committee would then have 90 days to render a decision. That application will also include a recommendation on where to relocate the monument. Strong on Monday mentioned Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville as an option because of its historical significance. Hundreds of Confederate soldiers are buried at the city-owned cemetery. "We've got a plan in place that I think is a good resolution for everyone involved," Strong said. "This is the process by law that we have to go by and that's what we're going to do." Still, the law does not appear to be on the commissions side. The law does not permit the review committee to consider historical structures that have been in place for more than 40 years. And its unclear if the few exceptions spelled out in the law would apply to the monument in Huntsville. "I understand what the law says," Strong said, "but there are also some mitigating factors in that law thats something that may need to be looked at." One of the more dramatic considerations raised by Strong are plans to expand the courthouse located in the tight-fitting downtown square. The monument is located only a couple of feet from the walkway around the courthouse on the west side and should the courthouse be expanded on that side, the monument would seemingly be affected. Such an expansion project is not imminent, though, as work continues on the 60,000 square foot Madison County Services Center on Oakwood Avenue a project designed to ease overcrowding in the courthouse and make high-traffic courthouse offices more accessible in the new building with hundreds of parking spaces. "Everybody knows that we're now in a construction project of the Madison County Services Center, 60,000 square feet with one objective: To make it better public access," Strong said. "But we also have a problem with not enough judges, not enough room in the courthouse right now. The 23rd (Judicial) Circuit is strapped for space. Even if we were awarded another judge right now, we have nowhere to put them. "We have dealt with ADA compliance in past years and one of the things everybody knows, as soon as we deal with Madison County Services Center that we've got to renovate the exterior and interior the Madison County Courthouse to better service the people. There's a lot of moving parts there that we're having to look at. Those are some of the things we're trying to evaluate." Among the law's exceptions are if, in this case, the monument interferes with utility service or the building of a roadway. Expansion on the courthouse's west side the main entrance to the courthouse could also result in a shifting of West Side Square, the two-lane road nearest the courthouse. Strong also raised concerns about maintenance of the monument, which is largely obscured by a magnolia tree on the courthouse grounds. Asked about the fact that the upper part of the monument a statue of an unnamed soldier being destroyed in a construction accident in the 1960s could be a mitigating factor, Strong said, " It is being included in this petition. I dont know if it will make it less historical." The commission would face a fine of $25,000 if it removed the statue without permission, according to the law. A grassroots organization, Tennessee Valley Progressive Alliance, said it has raised the money to pay for the fine. Removing the statue has received widespread support from the community in recent days. What were trying to say is, I think this is the safest way to preserve history in finding a better location than where it is located right now and that is the objective, Strong said. Archbishop in Peru had the entire cathedral filled with the self-portraits of over 5,000 victims of COVID-19 on June 15 in a bid to criticise the countrys health system. According to Archbishop Carlos Castillo while the coronavirus cases continue to be at an upswing in Pery and South America as a whole, the medical facility in the region is based on egotism and on business and not on mercy and solidarity with the people. With the World Health Organisation (WHO) calling South America as the new epicentre of COVID-19 pandemic, Peru has recorded over 232,992 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 6,860 deaths. According to an international media agency, hundreds of people who died of coronavirus infections have lost their lives without receiving any medical assistance while some did not have the financial resources to afford the treatment. Moreover, an economic contraction of at least 12 per cent in 2020 has been predicted for Peru. Amid these trying times, the cleric called for solidarity with the poor. Castillo noted that apart from COVID-19 pandemic, a more challenging time is approaching the nation that is famine. An even harder moment is coming, Castillo said. It would be terrible if in the times to come we have thousands of these photos, but dead of hunger. Read - Peru: Machu Picchu To Allow Limited Number Of Visitors After Reopening In July Reportedly, it was the church workers who spent several days to attach the portraits of the victims that included frontline fighters, children, grandparents and some were even infants. At least 84 pews were already filled with the images after which Castillo ordered thousands of photos to be attached to the base of the columns in the cathedral. Among these images, there were stills of children hugging grandparents or woman dancing with her son. Image Source: AP Read - Peru Reports 4,383 New Coronavirus Cases And 190 More Deaths In 24 Hours Second in Latin America Meanwhile, Peru has emerged as the second worst-hit country in Latin America, just after Brazil. According to John Hopkins University, Brazil has reported 888,271 COVID-19 cases till now with 43,959 deaths. Although, Peru was one of the first nations on the continent to announce stringent precautionary measures to curb the spread of coronavirus including stay at home orders, lockdown and border closings. Perus nearly 20 per cent population is below the poverty line and has failed to contain the virus till now. Read - Peru Producer Makes Taxi Dividers For Passengers Read - Necessity Forces Many In Peru To Flout Virus Rules (Inputs/Image: AP) CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- In addition to scheduling a June 25 virtual forum on police accountability and possible reforms, City Council will be drafting legislation declaring racism as a public health crisis. The resolution comes in response to the latest wave of African Americans killed by law enforcement and on the heels of two peaceful protest marches this month in Cleveland Heights. The June 3 Protest for Peace, featuring a march around Severance Circle and ending outside City Hall, led to the forum being called by Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg and City Manager Tanisha Briley to create a dialogue with demonstrators and residents. Times and means of accessing the meeting online or over the phone were to be announced soon by city officials. Sunday's (June 14) March for a Safer Heights started and ended at Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Park, heading through the business district to Mayfield Road, over to Superior Road and back. Among those speaking along the way was the sister of Ralkina Jones, who died in 2015 after two days in the Cleveland Heights Jail, leading to an undisclosed federal court settlement with the city. Her family's lawsuit alleged that she may have been improperly medicated by staff, who also did not check on her for over six hours after she returned to her cell from urgent care. Both protests had over 500 people and were very peaceful and very powerful, Briley told council Monday night (June 15). And many of them were the young people of this community. I am anxious to hear their thoughts on their fears and frustrations. For the second regular City Council meeting in a row -- not just the Committee-of-the-Whole session immediately prior -- Mayor Jason Stein asked Mecklenburg to provide an update to the public on the department. "That will be a continuing agenda item going forward," Stein said. Mecklenburg said the department will be undergoing its annual recertification next week through the Ohio Collaborative Police Advisory Board, including Cleveland Heights' policies on the use of force. And beyond that, the department is now drafting a policy on employee misconduct, over and above the current investigative review conducted anytime force is reportedly used by an officer. These high-profile events involving police are not only deplorable, Mecklenburg said, they breed mistrust in the community. And we have more work to do on systemic racism. Stein also called for the creation of a task force to study race relations -- and not just in the police department. Draft legislation Councilman Mike Ungar said he was impressed with Shaker Heights recent resolution condemning the Memorial Day death of George Floyd while in the custody of four Minneapolis police officers. One of them used his knee for a choke hold that lasted over 8 minutes. "I think we need to move with some dispatch on this," Ungar told council, having drafted legislation modeled after Shaker's. "We should not be laggards in speaking out about these horrific events, this scourge in and upon our society." Councilwoman Davida Russell thinks Cleveland Heights should draft its own legislation, which she had been working on with colleague Melody Joy Hart, who agreed that "it's not just police." Their draft calls for the creation of the task force, "so that we're not only acknowledging the racism; we're doing something about it." Impressed with the passion and insight of the rallies, Vice Mayor Khalil Seren agreed, saying that while a council declaration is laudable, city officials need to rise to the challenge with further action and initiatives, along with concrete recommendations from the community on things we can change. Councilwoman Mary Dunbar said racism goes deeper than just a public health crisis in terms of its societal implications. Ungar asked if council would consider a recommendation from former Mayor Carol Roe to write a letter in support of the Ohio legislature's initiatives. Council also received letters from at least two residents who advocated the initiatives put forth by the Citizens for a Safer Heights, including calls for the demilitarization of the police force, removal of police from schools, suspensions for officers who turn off their body cameras, and a civilian-led review of the police training academys curriculum. Back at the pandemic On the coronavirus front, Briley said the city stands to receive as much as $1.76 million from the State of Ohio for expenses related to COVID-19, adding that she would like to see those funds distributed soon to smaller cities out of the $1.2 billion that is available statewide. Also, the City Economic Development Department will be rolling out some temporary outdoor dining policies that could remain in effect until Nov. 1, creating additional space on both private and public property, allowing businesses to reopen but still encouraging social distancing. Meanwhile, City Recreation Director Joe McRae said the Cuyahoga County Health Department and other officials did not look favorably on a proposal from the city to close off streets, such as North Park Boulevard, to traffic to allow for more walking and biking at designated times. We were told it would probably be considered a prohibited use by the county, and they advised against it, given the fact that we are still a 'hot spot for coronavirus cases, McRae said. He added that county health officials viewed the proposal as something akin to a block party, which the city has already banned for this summer. "They feel strongly about limiting such activity," McRae said. Stein said he was confused with that assessment, since people would be using the extra space to spread out more and run, walk, roll or ride their bikes. "And I just want to remind people that our parks are still open and we have some wonderful multi-use paths," McRae noted. Briley added that while City Hall will likely remain closed to the public through July, some employees who have been working from home may be returning to the building soon. Read more from the Sun Press. The government has found sufficient evidence that China is dumping a key medicine -- ciprofloxacin hydrochloride -- below cost in the Indian market and hurting the domestic pharmaceutical industry, two officials aware of the development said. The medicine is used to treat bacterial infections, including skin, bone, respiratory and urinary tract infections, and certain types of diarrhoea. After a thorough investigation, the government has found that the volume of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride imported from China has increased significantly and at a pace that is undercutting prices in the domestic industry, the officials cited above said, requesting anonymity. China alone accounts for about 98% of the total Indian imports of the medicine. Domestic medicine had a price disadvantage of up to $3.3 per kg over Chinese products, an official of a pharmaceutical association said on condition of anonymity. Even as domestic manufacturing capacity of the medicine has increased, actual production and sales of local industry have declined and the market share of Chinese ciprofloxacin hydrochloride in India has increased, causing losses to the Indian pharma industry, the officials said. DGTR (Directorate General of Trade Remedies) on June 15 provisionally concluded that the domestic industry has suffered material injury and its preliminary findings favoured the imposition of an anti-dumping duty on Chinese import, one of the officials said. DGTR may take a final view on the matter after hearing all interested parties again next month, he added. DGTR, previously known as the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties, is an arm of the ministry of commerce and industry and acts as a single-window agency providing a level playing field to domestic industry against unfair trade practices. The finance ministry will consider imposing an anti-dumping duty on the Chinese medicine if DGTR recommends such a step, the second official cited above said. DGTR had initiated the investigation against the dumping of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride from Chine in January after domestic manufacturers accused the neighbouring country of engaging in an unfair trade practice. Dumping is an unfair trade practice that entails the export of a product at a price lower than its value and is countered by a punitive duty, which is an acceptable measure under multilateral trade agreements, the second official said. Complaints have been received by domestic industry that China was dumping several products . All such complaints are being investigated, he said. HT reported on May 11 that India could extend anti-dumping duties and safeguards on more than two dozen Chinese goods ranging from calculators and USB drives to steel, solar cells and Vitamin E amid concern that a flood of imports would kill domestic manufacturers who will lose duty protection soon against such products. Anti-dumping duties on these products were imposed five years ago and are expiring this year. India has taken a tough position against unfair Chinese trade practices as it is committed to protecting domestic industry under the governments Make in India campaign, the officials said. India-China bilateral trade is heavily tilted in favour of China. According to trade figures released by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) in mid-January 2020, Indias trade deficit with China was $56.77 billion in 2019; bilateral trade amounted to about $92.68 billion last year, a 1.6% annual increase. Dumping of goods below their actual cost harms the domestic industry, and anti-dumping duty is one of the means to protect local manufacturing from such unfair trade practices, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) executive director Ashok Madan said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable about America's seniors, in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2020, in Washington. AP U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that his administration will halve the U.S. troop presence in Germany amid speculation that he could try to do the same with American troops in South Korea. Trump blamed the drawdown on Germany's failure to meet its commitments as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to spend at least 2 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. "It's a tremendous cost to the United States, and Germany, as you know, is very delinquent in their payments to NATO," he told reporters at the White House. "And they're paying 1 percent, and they're supposed to be at 2 percent, and the 2 percent is very low. It should be much more than that." Trump has long complained that U.S. allies do not pay enough toward shared defense, leading to his demands on South Korea to initially pay more than five times what it paid last year for the upkeep of 28,500 American troops stationed on the peninsula. The two countries have yet to renew their cost-sharing deal, with the U.S. recently requesting $1.3 billion a year down from $5 billion and South Korea maintaining that it can only pay 13 percent more than last year's $870 million. "So I said until they pay, we are removing our soldiers ... by about half and then when we get down to 25,000, we'll see where we're going," Trump said, putting the current number of U.S. troops in Germany at around 52,000. "And I'm not only talking about Germany, by the way," he added. "I'm talking about plenty of other countries." Asked about reports of a planned drawdown in Germany, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told reporters last week that Trump is "continually reassessing the best posture for the United States military forces and our presence overseas." She also said the U.S. remains committed to working with "our strong allies." There have been reports that the U.S. could consider reducing troop levels in South Korea as a means to pressure Seoul in the cost-sharing negotiations. Asked to comment in April, Trump told reporters at the time that "it's not a question of reduction." "It's a question of will they contribute toward the defense of their own nation," he said. But in December Trump questioned the need for keeping 28,500 troops in South Korea, saying he "can go either way" on the issue. Just last week, Trump's former ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, told the German newspaper Bild that Trump was "very clear" about wanting to bring troops home from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, South Korea, Japan and Germany. (Yonhap) Credit: Claire Marie Vogel/@oclaireMy Chemical Romance's North American reunion tour has been postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The outing, which was scheduled to kick off this September, was to be MCR's first full U.S. run since breaking up in 2013. "As a band, we are deeply aware of the profound problems and crucial issues the world is facing right now," the "Helena" rockers write in a statement. "These issues are all life-changing, and we have them in the forefront of our minds on a regular basis. All of our focus should be on making the world better in every way we can." "We would never want to distract from the challenges we are facing right now," they continue. "But we feel it is the right thing to let people know that we have rescheduled our shows, so that we can offer people a refund on tickets in these difficult financial times." Previously purchased tickets will be honored at the rescheduled dates, which will now kick off September 2021. Refunds are also available at point of purchase. For more info, visit MyChemicalRomance.com. Additionally, MCR has also been announced as a headliner for Riot Fest 2021 in lieu of the canceled 2020 event. Other artists on the 2021 bill include The Smashing Pumpkins, Coheed and Cambria, Run the Jewels, Pixies, Taking Back Sunday, Sublime with Rome, Dirty Heads, The All-American Rejects, K.Flay, FEVER 333, L7, Living Colour, Meg Myers, New Found Glory and Simple Plan. Tickets purchased for Riot Fest 2020 will be valid for the 2021 festival. Ticket-holders may also request refunds until July 16, 2020. Riot Fest 2021 takes place September 17-19 in Chicago's Douglas Park. For more info, visit RiotFest.org. By Josh Johnson Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Despite the global pandemic disturbing regularly scheduled high school and college classes, area organizations are working with students to provide opportunities to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). One local company which is accepting interns is Midland-based Impact Analytical, a contract testing laboratory which works with over 600 companies around the world. The company has offered internships in the past, but only once a year. This year, it tripled its internship program, welcoming biochemistry majors Brianna Ecton, Paige Prime and Alexis Samalik. If were truly interested in supporting students, then we have to do it at a higher rate, said President Neil Chapman. When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Michigan, there were talks about not hosting in-person internships. Chapman, however, understood the importance of having an interactive experience for students. With rigorous safety requirements in place, Impact Analytical was able to welcome all three interns to its facility. Their schooling has been interrupted enough, Chapman said. Prime, an incoming junior at Saginaw State University, plans to enter the medicinal chemistry field to research and develop medicine or perhaps become a forensic scientist. I hope to gain experience prepping samples and learning how to use different analytical machines, Prime said. Samalik, a senior at SVSU, hopes to gain real-world lab experience during the internship. Thus far, she has learned about using instruments including nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Biochemistry gives me a broad science education and allows for many opportunities. I plan to enter the field of clinical biochemistry, Samalik stated. Ecton, a senior at Central Michigan University, has had an aptitude for math and science since she was young. She developed an interest in biochemistry after talking with healthcare workers who worked to cure her moms breast cancer. Ecton hopes to enter to the research career field, eventually becoming a college professor. (At Impact Analytical) I have had the opportunity to shadow a variety of intelligent, amazing people and have the freedom to learn more about certain experiments I am interested in, Ecton said. The internship lasts for three months, but the interns will have the opportunity to return while theyre in school and even apply for jobs once they graduate. Further summer research experiences are available through MSU St. Andrews. During the five years it has offered fellowships, it has increased its acceptance capacity; last year, it accepted 78 students, and this year, it increased to 124. We took a few more on this year because it is virtual, said Melanie Kauffman, senior communications manager. Research experiences are open to high school students across the Great Lakes Bay Region with the goal of encouraging them to follow a STEM career track, said Kauffman. The fellowships are also made possible through local institutions including the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow, Rollin M. Gerstacker and Charles J. Strosacker foundations. Theres clearly a need. Many of todays great problems will need STEM to solve them, Kauffman said. Our goal is to expose students to research and how research leads to innovation to solve todays problems. AMSTERDAM, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Norgine B.V. (Norgine) today announced that Christopher Bath has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) effective 1stJuly 2020. Chris, who has been Norgine's Chief Financial Officer since 2014, will report to Peter Stein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Norgine. He will be responsible for all global operations. Chris succeeds Peter Martin as COO, who will continue his 16-year career with Norgine in a non-Executive capacity. Peter Stein, CEO of Norgine, commented: "In his previous role as Norgine's Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Executive Team, Chris has demonstrated strong leadership, driving robust organic growth as well as acquisitions, including the transformational acquisition of Merus in 2017 and most recently the acquisition of Azanta in 2020. Under Peter Martin's long-term leadership, Norgine saw a sustained period of year on year growth and today we are proud to be able to help 22 million patients every year. I am confident that Chris will further develop the company enabling us to help more patients worldwide in the years to come. I look forward to continuing to work with Peter Martin in his new non-Executive role." Christopher Bath, said: "Our commitment to transforming people's lives drives everything we do at Norgine and I am pleased and honoured to be appointed as the company's Chief Operating Officer. I am looking forward to building on our exceptional foundation as a leading European pharmaceutical company so we can bring innovative healthcare products to patients in Europe and around the world." Chris joined Norgine in 2014 from Shire plc, where he was Head of M&A. His career in healthcare started at Rothschild in 2000, where he spent 10 years in the healthcare investment banking team. Chris is a Chartered Accountant and read Physics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. About Norgine Norgine is a leading European specialist pharmaceutical company that has been bringing transformative medicines to patients for over a century. Our commitment to transforming people's lives drives everything we do and our European experience, fully integrated infrastructure and exceptional partnership approach enables us to quickly apply creative solutions to bring life-changing medicines to patients that they may not otherwise be able to access. Norgine is proud to have helped 22 million patients around the world in 2019 and generated more than 419 million in net product sales, a growth of 6% over 2018. Norgine has a direct presence in 12 European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand. We also have a strong global network of partnerships in non-Norgine markets. We are a flexible and fully integrated pharmaceutical business, with manufacturing (Hengoed, Wales and Dreux, France), third party supply networks and significant product development capabilities, in addition to our sales and marketing infrastructure. This enables us to acquire, develop and commercialise specialist and innovative products that make a real difference to the lives of patients around the world. In 2012, Norgine established Norgine Ventures, a complementary business which supports innovative healthcare companies through the provision of debt-like financing in Europe and the US. For more information, please visit www.norgineventures.com . www.norgine.com Follow us @norgine Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1180065/Christopher_Bath.jpg Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/597589/Norgine_Logo.jpg Sushant Singh Rajput's tragic death left the entire film industry in deep sorrow. The 34-year-old actor died by suicide on June 14 at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. After the news broke, many celebrities from Bollywood as well as TV expressed their grief over the Kai Po Che actor's sudden demise. However, his dear friends and actresses like Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, Rhea Chakraborty and Ankita Lokhande didn't post anything on social media due to the shock and directly came to Sushant's last rites to see him for one last time. Dil Bechara Trailer Sushant Ex Girlfriend Kriti Sanon , Kriti Sanon, Rhea Chakraborty and Shraddha Kapoor were seen at the last rites of Sushant Singh Rajput, which was held at Pawan Hans Crematorium in Vile Parle, Mumbai on June 15. Now, after two days of Sushant's death, devastated Kriti Sanon finally expressed her emotions for her dear friend and Raabta co-star on Instagram. Posting multiple pictures with Sushant Singh Rajput, Kriti Sanon wrote, "Sush.. I knew that your brilliant mind was your best friend and your worst enemy.. but it has broken me completely to know that you had a moment in your life where Dying felt easier or better than Living. I so wish you had people around you to get you pass THAT moment, i wish you hadn't pushed the ones who loved you away.. i wish i could have fixed that something which was broken inside you..I couldn't.. I wish so so many things.... A part of my heart has gone with you..? and a part will always keep you alive.. Never stopped praying for your happiness and never will.. ." Well, this post of Kriti Sanon has left fans emotional. After all, they were like besties of each other. Reports were also suggesting that Sushant and Kriti were dating each other. But, they never spoke anything about their relationship rumours. Also Read : Sushant Singh Rajput's Death: Shraddha Das Bashes B-Town Celebs For Showing Fake Nature Sushant Singh Rajput's last film, Dil Bechara opposite newcomer Sanjana Sanghi will release on Disney+Hotstar. It's directed by Mukesh Chhabra and marks his directorial debut. Also Read : Saif Ali Khan Slams Bollywood's Hypocrisy On Sushant's Death: It's An Insult To The Soul That's Gone Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM In the weeks after the killing of George Floyd, tens of millions of dollars have flowed into small nonprofit organizations in Minnesota. Now many donors would like to know how those funds will be distributed. The Minnesota Freedom Fund, a bail fund that earlier this month only had one full-time employee, has raised more than $30 million alone since Mr. Floyds death on May 25. Its name became ubiquitous on social media as activists and celebrities posted screenshots of their donations to the fund and implored their followers to match them. (Bail funds raise money to release those who have been jailed, so that they can await trial freely.) On Monday, the fund announced that it had contributed well over $200,000 to bail payments in the weeks since the protests began. That revelation followed an open letter addressed to two other organizations that had seen a surge in donations, Black Visions Collective and Reclaim the Block, asking that the nonprofits be more transparent about fund-raising and the allocation of funds. After the Minnesota Freedom Fund shared the $200,000 figure, several commenters on Twitter expressed disappointment that such a small portion of the donations had been distributed. Some also noted that the funds board, as it had been depicted on its website, appeared to be composed entirely of white people. (The web page that lists the organizations staff has been removed at least twice this month as the boards membership has shifted; there are currently seven members.) C ompanies that were forced to shut restaurants, cafes and pubs when the Covid-19 lockdown started in March are facing a number of headaches as they work towards reopening. As different operators have pointed out, there are costs linked to getting new health and safety measures in place, such as heightened cleaning procedures or putting screens at till points which some bar owners are looking at. On top of that, food and drinks need to be ordered and rotas need to be sorted for staff, many of who were furloughed. There is plenty to do ahead of July 4, the date the hospitality sector is hoping to reopen, in line with government guidelines. But there is one major thing chief executives are waiting to hear about: whether a two-metre social distancing rule will be relaxed. The Prime Minister has previously said he hoped the two metre social distancing rule could be reduced, and some countries have adopted a one-metre distancing guidance. UK firms are urgently seeking more details on social distancing plans. Companies are calculating whether their sites can serve enough customers, with social distancing measures in place, to make them financially viable. They are also looking at how practical it is to open under certain conditions. There are firms that have sites ready and able to cope with the current guidelines. However, the British Beer & Pub Association, which represents pubs and brewers, said it estimates that if the current distancing rules were to remain in place when sites reopen, only a third of Englands pubs (12500) would be ready to start serving again. Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fullers who wants the rules to be relaxed to one-metre, said: We are planning in the dark here and it is not acceptable. Ben Stackhouse at PubLove, which runs sites in London, said: We must have clarity now or we will lose more and more brilliant companies who would otherwise be driving the economic fight back. The chief executive of Youngs, Patrick Dardis, told the Evening Standard earlier this month that having a one metre guideline would allow us to open more pubs and employ more staff. In the restaurants sector there are also concerns about how realistic it is for sites to open with two-metre rules in place. Mexican restaurant chain Wahacas co-founder Mark Selby thinks under the current two-metre rule, businesses would need large sites, with extensive outside space and flexible rent terms available, to make reopening economically viable. Selby said: The economics of producing fresh food, in our case with over 200 ingredients cooked every day, with a team of chefs, managers, waiters and bar teams cannot work if you are effectively reducing your number of covers by nearly 75%. The fixed costs are just too rigid. Selby said his message to the government would be: Trust those of us in hospitality to get on with it and get the economy going. We will create safe but equally uplifting places for people. A spokeswoman for Pizza Express, which has started to open some branches for delivery and click and collect, said: Whilst our current reopening plans adhere to the two-metre rule, there are certain limitations that come with this. Clear guidance is essential for us and the industry-at-large to plan properly. The spokesman added: The optimal solution would be for social distancing to be reduced to one metre if it was safe to do so. We remain committed to operating safely while at the same time supporting economic recovery. Will Hawkley, global head of leisure and hospitality at KPMG, said if a one-metre guidance came in firms can operate at around 70% capacity, which he said is about break even, but at least brings in cash and keeps people employed and outlets open. Firms are eagerly waiting to digest the latest updates from the government. VICTORIABritish Columbias COVID-19 restrictions are under further review this week, but the limit on gatherings to a maximum of 50 people will not change, says provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. Henry said Monday she is pleased with the results of B.C.s reopening for schools and some businesses, but there is no official date for moving into the next phase, other than it is being considered this week. Maybe, she said at a news conference when asked about moving to the third phase this week. Were continuing to watch, looking at the numbers. But, you know, its not yes, were in phase three. Its a gradual increase of the things that were doing. Restaurants, hair salons and personal services including dentist offices and physiotherapy clinics were permitted to reopen on May 19. Schools in B.C. have been open on a reduced attendance schedule since June 1. The next phase of the governments reopening plan would include film and television productions, movie theatres, spas, hotels, resorts, overnight camping in parks and travel. Henry said any easing of the restrictions this week would be on a lighter scale, which she described as a dimmer switch. Any further lifting of the restrictions also should not be interpreted as a sign there is no longer a COVID-19 resurgence threat, she added. Saying that were in phase three does not mean we have licence to stop our physical distancing, she said. It doesnt mean that were stopping our hand washing and covering our cough and staying home if were ill. It does not mean, in any way, and Ive said this a number of times, that gatherings can increase. Henry reported 36 new COVID-19 cases in B.C. since Friday and no additional deaths. The province has a total of 2,745 cases and 168 deaths. Henry said 2,395 people have recovered from COVID-19. Read more about: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 17:58 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf3a1ce 1 National novel-baswedan,KPK,Corruption-Eradication-Comission,West-Jakarta,District-Court,acid-attack,investigator Free The lawyers of two police officers on trial for their alleged roles in an acid attack against Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan in 2017 have demanded that their clients be cleared of the charges. They stood up for Chief Brig. Ronny Bugis and Brig. Rahmat Kadir Mahulette tried in separate hearings at the North Jakarta District Court on Monday maintaining that their clients had had no intention of harming the antigraft investigator. State prosecutors had earlier demanded a one-year prison sentence each for Ronny and Rahmat of the National Police's Mobile Brigade Corps headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java, for alleged torture out of a maximum 12-year sentence based on the multiple charges pressed against the two officers under Article 355 Paragraph 1, Article 353 Paragraph 2, and Article 351 Paragraph 2, coupled with Article 55 Paragraph 1 (1) of the Criminal Code. The lawyers said in Mondays hearings that Rahmat and Ronny had not planned the attack, describing it as a "spontaneously inclusive act", despite evidence suggesting that Rahmat had googled Novel's home address two days prior to the attack, rented a motorbike for their action and mixed the acid with water in advance. "The defendant [Rahmat] did not have the intention to seriously injure the victim," one of the lawyers said while reading their defense statement for the suspect during a court hearing conducted online on Monday. "Rahmat was anxious on the night before the attack. The perpetrator of a planned crime would likely have a more calm heart." According to the lawyers, Rahmat acted independently, without any influence from superiors. They went on explaining that the motive behind the attack was merely hatred, while reiterating Rahmats statement in public that denounced Novel Baswedan as a cowardly former police officer lacking solidarity with fellow police officers. Novel was accused of shooting a swallow nest robbery suspect during his tenure as the Bengkulu Police detective chief in 2004. Even though he was never proven guilty, police reopened an investigation into the case in 2012, after the KPK had named then-National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo a graft suspect. Read also: 1-year prison sentence demanded for cops who allegedly attacked Novel Baswedan The lawyers said the Bengkulu case was the reason behind Rahmats attack against Novel. "The defendant only wanted to teach Novel a lesson, using acid sulfate liquid mixed with water," the lawyer added. In a separate hearing, lawyers for Ronny maintained that Ronny had not been directly involved in the attack, as he was just "a loyal friend who was being used as a tool" by Rahmat. "Rahmat only told Ronny to take him to deliver medicines for a sick relative in Kelapa Gading. Ronny did not know a thing about what Rahmat was about to do," the lawyers said in their defense statement. The lawyers explained that, during the early morning attack on April 11, 2017, Ronny was riding the motorbike while Rahmat sat at the back. The motorbike swayed to the right as Rahmat attempted to throw the acid using his left hand. The acid water hit Novels face, while Rahmat initially aimed it at Novels body, they said in the defense statement. Novel's left eye sustained third-degree burns and it is now completely blind. Meanwhile, his face sustained second-degree burns. However, the lawyers went on to claim that the injury to Novel's eye had been caused by improper treatment, not by the attack. "The acid water concentration used by the suspect was below the usual acid liquid. According to the health expert named I Made Agus Gelgel Wirasuta, acid water of such a low concentration only causes a light effect, such as skin irritation, which could be easily treated using flowing water," the lawyers said. Read also: House to question attorney general on 'light' sentence sought for suspects in Novel case After the early morning attack, Novel was taken to the Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, before being referred to the Jakarta Eye Center (JEC). "Right before the 10-day observation period ended, Novel was taken to Singapore for medication without the doctor's recommendation. Doctors regretted his hasty decision and uncooperative attitude during the medical treatment," the lawyers said. "His condition had worsened by the time he returned from Singapore. What had been done by the medical staff at Mitra Keluarga Hospital was, in fact, correct. In their closing statement, the lawyers asked for the release of both Rahmat and Ronny. "The suspects are still young, patriotic, have been cooperative throughout the trials, have admitted their faults and asked for forgiveness from Novel and his family," the lawyers pleaded. Novel Baswedan's lawyers are scheduled to deliver their statements on June 22. Meanwhile, social media users have aired their disappointment and disbelief at the one-year prison sentence sought by prosecutors for the two police officers on Thursday. Comedian Bintang Emon, who gained popularity for his satirical video questioning the light sentence demand, has been verbally attacked online by other social media users accusing him of being a drug addict. Yet, those reverse attacks only led more people to voice their support for the comedian and for Novel Baswedan. The city witnessed moderate showers, but negligible rainfall was recorded in the suburbs despite partly cloudy conditions on Tuesday two days after the onset of monsoon in the city was declared. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) retained an orange alert for Tuesday in its updated district-wise forecast issued at 1pm. It issued heavy rain warning for Wednesday, but downgraded the forecast to light to moderate showers for Thursday and Friday. Between Tuesday, 8.30am and 8.30pm, the Colaba weather station recorded representative of south Mumbai recorded 13.8mm rainfall, while the Santacruz weather station representative of the suburbs recorded 0.8 mm rainfall. However, in 24 hours (between Monday 8.30am and Tuesday 8.30am), south Mumbai recorded 52.6mm rainfall, while the suburbs recorded 37.4mm rainfall, both falling under the rather heavy category. IMD classifies 2.5mm - 7.5 mm as light rain, 7.6 mm - 35.5 mm as moderate rain, 35.6 mm - 64.4 mm as rather heavy rain, and 64.5 - 124.4 mm as heavy rain. IMD director-general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra explained that associated weather systems, enhancing the monsoon current, had weakened. The low pressure area that had developed off Bay of Bengal towards the east coast lost intensity as it moved over the central parts of the country. The orange alert is always issued to ensure the city is prepared in case of heavy rain. We expect monsoon currents to strengthen as another low pressure system is expected to develop over Bay of Bengal by June 19. Meanwhile, the monsoon current is stronger over south Konkan, and may enhance rain activity over north Konkan, including Mumbai on Wednesday, said Mohapatra. Private weather forecasters Skymet, which had also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall for Monday and Tuesday, said the offshore trough (weather system) did not intensify and its impact remained confined to south Konkan and Goa. We expect moderate to heavy showers (60-70mm) on Wednesday, with a further reduction in intensity on Thursday of 20-30mm, said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president (meteorology and climate change), Skymet. Independent meteorologists said heavy rain alerts for a city like Mumbai must be issued only when there is a high confidence in model predictions. Alerts need to specifically mention whether the expected heavy rain is going to be persistent or transient due to thunderstorms. In such a critical scenario, daily heavy rainfall alerts or forecasts can distract the local administration which is dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak, said Akshay Deoras, independent meteorologist and PhD researcher at the University of Reading, United Kingdom. Deoras added that showers were expected to increase in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region on Wednesday. Compared to Monday and Tuesday, rain intensity on Wednesday expected to be more persistent due to the proximity of a localised circulation (a weather system). Since monsoon has arrived, the usual intermittent shower pattern will be seen in Mumbai on Thursday and Friday, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two police officers showed up and told us we had to leave, saying we were on private property. We reminded them of our rights and that they should be helping us to protect democracy and care for the voters. Our team included several lawyers from All Voting Is Local but before we knew it, six police cars arrived, their lights flashing. The police officers barked orders through their car speakers to try to intimidate us. The trauma and stress nearly broke us. Police encounters like this can lead to injury and death for black people just trying to live their lives. One gesture, or one word, could have added supporting voters while black to a deadly list that already includes jogging while black, sleeping at home while black and shopping while black. Days later, and no more than 25 miles away, Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by the police after they found him sleeping in his car. We knew how to de-escalate the situation, and we were able to fulfill our commitment to seeing every person vote. The last person didnt vote until 12:37 a.m. She didnt even get to vote on Election Day, a symbol of the dream deferred that Langston Hughes told us about. Whether by gross negligence or intentional malfeasance, the secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, failed in his leadership. He has to resign. To address these failures and be better prepared for the November elections, there must be accountability. In 2018, Brian Kemp, then secretary of state, effectively stole our votes and was rewarded with the governors mansion. A lack of consequences is partly why our democracy is broken, not only in Georgia but also across the nation. Protests against police violence have resulted in a few high-profile resignations and firings, including Atlantas chief of police. We need similar accountability for election officials. If Mr. Raffensperger does not resign, then he must be recalled by voters in August. Bengaluru, June 17 : The opposition Congress has shortlisted six names for the June 29 biennial elections to seven seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council, an official said on Tuesday. "Though 40 members applied for tickets to contest in the Council bypolls, the party's state unit has shortlisted six of them for selection by our high command in New Delhi," party official M.A. Saleem told IANS here. The shortlisted persons are Muddahanumegowda, S. Manohar, Saleem Ahmed, H.M. Revanna, M. R. Seetharam and Naseer Ahmed. "The names were shortlisted by the party's state unit president D.K. Shivakumar in consultation with senior leaders Mallikarun Kharge and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah," said Saleem. Kharge, 77, was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on June 12 as the party's lone candidate. Siddaramaiah is the Congress legislative party (CLP) leader in the Assembly. Of the seven outgoing Council members, five are from the Congress and one each from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and an Independent. The five outgoing Congress members are Naseer, Jayamma, M.C. Venugopal, N.S. Bose Raju and Revanna. Revanna and Naseer have sought re-nomination, while Seetharam is a former Council member, who was a minister in the Congress government from 2013-18. Muddahanumegowda is the party's former Lok Sabha member from Tumkur (2014-19), who could not re-contest in the May 2019 general elections, as the ticket was given to JD-S supremo H.D. Deve Gowda under a pre-poll alliance between the former coalition partners. Gowda, however, lost to BJP's G.S. Basavaraj. Saleem is the party's state unit working president. "As the last date for filing nominations is June 18, the high command will select the two contestants on Wednesday to enable them file the papers on Thursday," said Saleem. With 68 legislators in the 225-member Assembly, the party will be able to ensure the victory of its two candidates as each requires 28 votes to win the contest. With 34 members, the JD-S will be able to ensure victory for only one candidate to replace its outgoing member T.A. Sharavana, who is keen to re-contest. "Our party high command will decide the candidate on Wednesday as our former MLC Y.S. Dutta is also in the race for the ticket," a JD-S official said. Of the 75-member Council, the opposition Congress has 37 members, BJP 19, JD-S 16, two Independents and one Chairman. Some credit institutions (CIs) that have not yet completed their restructuring roadmap will have to speed up the process to meet the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)s deadline this year. The bad debt ratio of the credit institution system was below 2 per cent by June 2020. The SBV issued Decision 1058/Q-TTg in 2017 to implement a scheme to restructure the CI system in the 2016-20 period, which includes settling bad debts, meeting Basel II international banking standards and dealing with cross ownership. Some CIs with large amounts of bad debts almost completed the settlement of bad debts by the end of last year, but now they are facing a risk of bad debt returning due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on some of their borrowers. Experts said the bad debt rise due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the implementation of the targets set in Decision 1058. According to banking expert Can Van Luc, chief economist of Commercial Joint Stock Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), the increase of bad debts has been slowing down CIs restructuring process. Tran Dang Phi, deputy chief inspector of the SBV, said that bad debts have been on the rise since March, but in general it is still under control. The SBV is focusing on reviewing CIs, which are likely to see bad debt increase due to COVID-19, to direct them to comprehensively assess the results of the implementation of Decision 1058, and at the same time building a new scheme on restructuring CIs, said Phi. According to Phi, although bad debts are at risk of increasing, until now, almost all important criteria of Decision 1058 have been implemented by CIs. The SBVs statistics showed that by June 2020, the bad debt ratio of the CI system was below 2 percent so the ratio of the whole year may reach the target of below 3 percent set in Decision 1058. From 2012 to the end of March 2020, the entire CI system handled more than 1,000 trillion VND (43.48 billion USD) of bad debts. As for the implementation of Basel II international banking standards, 20 domestic joint stock banks have so far applied Basel II standards, more than the 12-15 bank target set in Decision 1058. In addition, the cross-ownership among CIs is also handled thoroughly. The direct cross-ownership between pairs of CIs was removed from the end of 2019 while there is only one pair of a CI and a firm directly owning shares of each other compared with 56 pairs in 2012. However, experts said the bad debt ratio under Decision 1058 may reach the target this year thanks to the SBVs issuance of Circular 01/202/TT/NHNN which allowed CIs to restructure debts for firms affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they warned that without the policy, the bad debt ratio would have exceeded 3 percent. This means that the risks of bad debts accumulated in the coming years is fairly large, they said. VNS Vietnam to allow EU credit institutions to hold 49% shares at two banks Vietnam is committed to allowing credit institutions of the European Union (EU) to hold up to 49% shares at two joint stock commercial banks in Vietnam when the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) takes effect. The Changeling by Victor LaValle uses as its inspiration the stories of changelings, false doubles left in place of human children who are stolen by fairies. Fairy tales can be dark spaces and LaValles tale is more horror than Disney, as it weaves a tale of parenthood and violence. It also marries together the real and the fantastic so well that by the time the protagonist tumbles down the rabbit hole it seems not shocking but inevitable. Fairy tales, after all, follow certain beats. While The Changeling is told from the point of view of a distraught father, The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue is narrated by both the human child and the changeling, and it serves as a melancholic meditation on adulthood. Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, says he has failed in protecting the residents of the state from bandits. Speaking with reporters... Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, says he has failed in protecting the residents of the state from bandits. Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, says he has failed in protecting the residents of the state from bandits. Speaking with reporters at the government house in Katsina, Masari said he is a very unhappy person because the people have never had rest since he came on board as governor. He said the bandits were worse than animals because they kill indiscriminately. I dont know what to tell them. I cannot look at them in the face because we have failed to protect them, contrary to our pledge to ensure the security of lives and property throughout the state, he said. I never expected the behaviour and the attitude of people living in the forests, the bandits, whose behaviour is worse than that of animals. In the forest, a lion or a tiger kills only when it is hungry and it doesnt kill all animals, it only kills the one it can eat at a time. But what we see here is that bandits come to town, spray bullets, kill indiscriminately for no purpose and no reason whatsoever, like the recent massacre of people at Faskari and parts of Dandume local government area. They just killed the people. How can a human being behave the way an animal cannot behave? The governor added there are no innocent people in the forests. Our role is to complement efforts of the security agencies for which I believe we are doing nothing less than 90 per cent in terms of whatever is expected of us, based on resources available to us, he said. Masaris comment comes after the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari and northern governors have failed in their responsibility to protect lives. Masaris administration had pulled out of a peace deal with bandits. One of the first national coronavirus contacts-tracing apps to be launched in Europe is being suspended in Norway after the country's data protection authority raised concerns that the software, called "Smittestopp," poses a disproportionate threat to user privacy -- including by continuously uploading people's location. Following a warning from the watchdog Friday, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) said today it will stop uploading data from tomorrow -- ahead of a June 23 deadline when the DPA had asked for use of the app to be suspended so that changes could be made. It added that it disagrees with the watchdog's assessment but will nonetheless delete user data "as soon as possible." As of June 3, the app had been downloaded 1.6 million times, and had around 600,000 active users, according to the FHI -- which is just over 10% of Norway's population; or around 14% of the population aged over 16 years. "We do not agree with the Data Protection Agency's assessment, but now we have to delete all data and pause work as a result of the notification," said FHI director Camilla Stoltenberg in a statement [translated via Google Translate]. "With this, we weaken an important part of our preparedness for increased spread of infection, because we lose time in developing and testing the app. At the same time, we have a reduced ability to fight the spread of infection that is ongoing. "The pandemic is not over. We have no immunity in the population, no vaccine, and no effective treatment. Without the Smittestopp app, we will be less equipped to prevent new outbreaks that may occur locally or nationally." Europe's data protection framework allows for personal data to be processed for a pressing public health purpose -- and Norway's DPA had earlier agreed an app could be a suitable tool to combat the coronavirus emergency. Although the agency was not actively consulted during the app's development, and had expressed reservations -- saying it would closely monitor developments. Story continues Developments that have led the watchdog to intervene are a low contagion rate in the country and a low download rate for the app -- meaning it now takes the view that Smittestopp is no longer a proportionate intervention. "We believe that FHI has not demonstrated that it is strictly necessary to use location data for infection detection," said Bjrn Erik Thon, director of Norway's DPA, in a statement posted on its website today. Unlike many of the national coronavirus apps in Europe -- which use only Bluetooth signals to estimate user proximity as a means of calculating exposure risk to COVID-19 -- Norway's app also tracks real-time GPS location data. The country took the decision to track GPS before the European Data Protection Board -- which is made up of representatives of DPAs across the EU (and the EEA, of which Norway is a member) -- had put out guidelines, specifying that contact-tracing apps do not require tracking the location of individual users; and suggesting the use of "proximity data" instead. Additionally, Norway opted for a centralized app architecture, meaning user data is uploaded to a central server controlled by the health authority, instead of being stored locally on device -- as is the case with decentralized coronavirus contacts-tracing apps, such as the app being developed by Germany and one launched recently in Italy. (Apple and Google's exposure notification API also exclusively supports decentralized app architectures.) The FHI had been using what it describes as "anonymised" user data from the app to track movement patterns around the country -- saying the data would be used to monitor whether restrictions intended to limit the spread of the virus (such as social distancing) were working as intended. The DPA said today that it's also unhappy users of the app have no ability to choose to grant permission only for coronavirus contacts tracing -- but must also agree to their personal information being used for research purposes, contravening the EU data protection principle of purpose limitation. Another objection it has is around how the app data was being anonymized and aggregated by the FHI -- location data being notoriously difficult to robustly anonymize. "It is FHI's choice that they stop all data collection and storage right away. Now I hope they use the time until June 23 well, both to document the usefulness of the app and to make other necessary changes so that they can resume use," said Thon. "The reason for the notification is the [DPA]'s assessment that Smittestopp can no longer be regarded as a proportionate encroachment on users' basic privacy rights." "Smittestopp is a very privacy-intensive measure, even in an exceptional situation where society is trying to fight a pandemic. We believe that the utility is not present the way it is today, and that is how the technical solution is designed and working now," he also said. Commenting on the developments, Luca Tosoni, a research fellow at the University of Oslos Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law, suggested the Norway DPA's decision could lead to similar bans on contacts-tracing apps elsewhere in Europe -- should contagion levels drop to a similarly low level. (And rates of COVID-19 continue declining across the region, at this stage.) "To my knowledge, this is the first instance in which a European DPA has imposed a ban on a contact-tracing app already in use in light of national developments regarding contagion levels," he told us. "It is thus possible that other European DPAs will impose similar bans in the future and demand that contact-tracing apps be changed as soon as contagion levels substantially decrease also in other parts of Europe. Norway has currently one of the lowest contagion levels in Europe." "The ban was not only related to the app's use of GPS data. The latter was probably the most important feature of the app that the Norwegian DPA has criticised, but not the only one to be seen as problematic," Tosoni added. "Another element that was criticised by the Norwegian DPA was that the app's users are currently unable to consent only to the use of their their data for infection tracking purposes without consenting to their data being used also for research purposes. "The DPA also questioned the accuracy of the app in light of the current low level of contagion in Norway, and criticised the absence of an appropriate solution for aggregating and anonymising the data collected." Tosoni said the watchdog is expected to reassess the app in the next few weeks, including assessing any changes proposed by the developer, but he takes the view that it's unlikely the DPA would deem a switch to Bluetooth-only tracing to be sufficient for the app's use of personal data proportionate. Even so, the FHI said today it hopes users will suspend the app (by disabling its access to GPS and Bluetooth in settings), rather than deleting it entirely -- so the software could be more easily reactivated in future should it be deemed necessary and legal. BOISE Albertsons Cos. has eliminated a $2 an hour pay raise for employees placed at potential risk for working through the coronavirus pandemic. But the Boise-based company, the nations second-largest grocery chain, says it will award in-store workers a separate Appreciation Pay bonus payment equal to $4 per hour for hours worked from March 15 through last Saturday, June 13, when the temporary pay raise ended. Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7 in Denver, which represents workers at Albertsons and Safeway, condemned the end of the $2-an-hour premium. Grocery companies, including Safeway/Albertsons, have seen record profits during this pandemic as customers who stay at home buy more groceries, Cordova said in a statement to KDVR-TV in Denver, which first reported the end of the hourly bonus. Taking away these Essential Heroes hourly bonus of $2 an hour shows a complete disregard for the dangers these workers face every day just to do their jobs. Jack Caldwell, president of Boise-based Local 368A of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, did not immediately return a call for comment. The union represents Albertsons workers in Southern Idaho, Eastern Oregon and Western Wyoming. Albertsons said workers will be credited for a minimum of 15 hours per week even if they worked less, and will receive at least $90 a week. We are deeply grateful for how our front-line associates served their neighbors in an extreme time of need, Albertsons spokesperson Chris Wilcox said by email. Not only did they ensure everyone had access to essential goods, they enacted numerous proactive measures to protect the health and safety of everyone walking into the store. Albertsons, Fred Meyer and many other grocery chains instituted temporary pay increases in March as the pandemic swept the nation. Food stores were declared essential services that could remain open while states including Idaho ordered nonessential retailers to close their doors. Fred Meyer, owned by Kroger, the nations largest grocery chain, provided its workers with an extra $2 an hour through May 17. At the onset of the pandemic, Fred Meyer gave full-time workers $300 and part-time workers $150 in bonus pay. More recently, it offered an additional one-time bonus of $400 for full-time workers and $200 for part-time workers. Walmart paid $300 to full-time workers and $150 to part-time workers in April. It plans to pay out an equal amount to workers on June 25. Both Albertsons and Fred Meyer extended their temporary pay increases past their original sunset dates. Sales boomed for the two chains as shoppers stocked up on goods because of the pandemic. Albertsons, which employs 270,000 workers under several different store banners across the country, said last week that same-store sales increased 30% in the first 12 weeks of its fiscal year that began March 1. That was a slight decrease from the 34% increase Albertsons reported during the first eight weeks of the fiscal year. Kroger is scheduled to report its earnings on Thursday. Analysts expect a first-quarter increase of 44%, compared with the first quarter of 2019. Walmart has reported pandemic same-store sales increases of 10% and online increases of 74%. WALLDORF, Germany, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As companies all over the world face unprecedented challenges, they are turning to technologies that provide reliable insights to help them better support their employees, customers and suppliers. Stepping up to fulfill these needs, SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) is innovating with more than just technology and software. SAP is helping companies improve supply chain and industry-specific processes, connect through the business network and embed sustainability as a critical measure of business success. The announcement was made at the SAPPHIRE NOW Converge conference, held online June 1519, 2020. "In uncertain times, companies need a trusted partner to help them make confident decisions to enhance agility and resiliency during and beyond the current COVID-19 crisis," said Thomas Saueressig, member of the Executive Board of SAP SE for SAP Product Engineering. "In today's hyperconnected world, it's even more important for businesses to quickly react to environmental and market changes. We're helping to address these challenges with new ways for customers to address sustainability, lead in their industry and grow their business networks. SAP has the strategy, expertise, solutions and partner ecosystem to enable customers to run their business as an intelligent enterprise." Climate 21 SAP announced the Climate 21 program to support customers in pursuing their climate-related objectives. In a multiyear road map, SAP will work with co-innovation partners to embed sustainability metrics across SAP's solution portfolio. This will help customers understand, analyze and optimize the carbon footprint of their products and operations along the value chain. The SAP Product Carbon Footprint Analytics application is now available as the first solution in the Climate 21 program. The application uses data from SAP S/4HANA and third-party sources and calculates this information within the SAP Analytics Cloud solution. This helps customers understand their carbon footprint and provides a foundation for analyzing and optimizing greenhouse gas emissions. To learn more, read "Our Decade of Delivery for Climate" by Saueressig. Also read "SAP Launches Carbon Emissions Accounting System to Address Climate Change." Industry Cloud Intelligent enterprises strike the balance between optimizing their current business models and innovating at the vertical edge to develop new revenue streams and growth potential using digital technologies. SAP and its partners are offering industry cloud solutions that extend the end-to-end processes of SAP's intelligent suite to help drive customer's core business in their industries. SAP's industry cloud strategy will deliver innovative, vertical solutions from SAP and its partners. These solutions will be built on technologies in the Business Technology Platform portfolio and use an open API framework, open process model, open domain model and common business services to create a better customer and user experience. The interoperability with SAP's intelligent suite will enable rapid development, deployment and integration. Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and other advanced technologies from SAP will be available to help developers to accelerate development and deliver greater business value, enabling improved business practices and business innovation at the vertical edge. To learn more, read "Innovation at the Vertical Edge: New Business Models for a Digital Economy" by Peter Maier, president, Industries and Customer Advisory, SAP. SAP Increases Investment for Industry 4.0 Across the Supply Chain SAP brings significant innovations across the supply chain from design to operations to deliver greater insights, automation and responsiveness with the Industry 4.Now initiative. These innovations can help companies design and manufacture intelligent products and assets that can capture and analyze the increased tide of information from sensors across the supply chain. This enables customers to move Industry 4.0 from a factory-focused initiative to a company-wide business strategy. With Industry 4.Now, SAP will deliver innovations that companies need to create and capture a digital thread of these intelligent products and assets throughout their lifecycle to provide real-time insights back into the business processes, from design to operations. With embedded analytics and predictive capabilities, this intelligence can empower people to make better business decisions and drive new business models and revenue streams. To learn more, read "Why the Time for Industry 4.0 Is NOW" by Richard Howells, vice president, Solution Management for Digital Supply Chain, SAP. SAP Announces a Strategy for a Unified Business Network SAP announced a strategy to bring end-to-end visibility, increased efficiency and collaboration across the entire supply chain processes, including design, planning, sourcing, procurement, manufacturing, logistics and asset operations. By creating a network of intelligent enterprises, SAP can help companies digitalize multienterprise business processes for better visibility and collaboration across the supply chain ecosystem. This initiative spans across SAP, using insights from real-time ERP, advanced analytics and successful networks solutions such as Ariba Network, SAP Asset Intelligence Network, SAP Logistics Business Network and SAP Fieldglass solutions to deliver the collective intelligence through an open and interoperable business network. With more than US$3.3 trillion flowing through these business-to business powerhouses, SAP will help enable sustainable and resilient supply chains, transform business models and provide the agility to safeguard against global disruptions. To learn more, read "Creating a Unified, Open and Intelligent Business Network" by Chris Haydon, president, SAP Procurement Solutions, and Paige Cox, senior vice president and head of Digital Supply Chain Networks, SAP. Visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @SAPNews. About SAP As the Experience Company powered by the Intelligent Enterprise, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, helping companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 77% of the world's transaction revenue touches an SAP system. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables more than 440,000 business and public customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com. Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. 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SOURCE SAP SE Related Links http://www.sap.com Germany and NATO on Tuesday underlined the importance of US troops in Germany for security on both sides of the Atlantic, a day after President Donald Trump announced he would slash the number stationed there. "We think that the US presence in Germany is important for the security not just of Germany but also for the security of the United States and especially for the security of Europe," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said during a visit to Poland. Trump said he was reducing the numbers because Germany was "delinquent" in contributions to NATO and had treated the United States "badly" on trade. Trump said there are 52,000 US soldiers stationed in Germany and he will bring this number down to 25,000. But according to the Pentagon, there are only between 34,000 and 35,000 US soldiers permanently stationed in Germany. Rotation of units means the overall number can only temporarily top 50,000. Maas said Germany had not been given any details on when and how the redeployment might take place. "Neither the State Department nor the Pentagon has been able to provide any information about this," he said, adding that any changes to Europe's security architecture "definitely need to be talked about". NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also said that US troops in Europe made both sides of the Atlantic safer. Defence ministers from the alliance will discuss Trump's plans during video talks on Wednesday and Thursday. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in a statement to AFP that the US presence in Europe was "the foundation of NATO deterrence". "We expect that some of the troops that the United States plans to relocate from Germany will stay in Europe," he said, adding that Lithuania "would be glad to host US troops on a regular basis". - Permanent US presence in Poland? - The move has been criticised as weakening America's commitment to European defence as well as its ability to wield influence in the Middle East and Africa. US troops have been stationed in the geopolitically vital country since the end of World War II, forming the bulk of NATO's conventional defence against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The resurgence of Russia's military ambitions under President Vladimir Putin has given the US presence new importance in the last two decades, with central and eastern European states leading the way in pressuring for stronger US defences. Speaking at a joint press conference with Maas, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said his government had been in discussions about boosting the number of US troops in Poland, but the two issues were separate. Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz and his German counterpart Heiko Maas (L) stressed the importance of the US military presence in Germany / AFP "I want to underline that these talks (with the US) have no connection with the recent US declarations and US-German relations concerning the presence of, or reduction of, US forces in Germany," he said. "From our standpoint, US forces in Germany also serve our security. We would want that presence in Germany to be continued." A country of 38 million people on NATO's eastern flank, Poland has long campaigned for a permanent US troop presence on its soil to ward off Russian adventurism. Trump has already upped his country's troop rotations in Poland to 5,500 personnel as part of a wider NATO response to concerns in the region triggered by Russia's 2014 annexation of territory from neighbouring Ukraine. Having spent decades under Soviet rule before 1991, Baltic NATO ally Latvia also hailed the possibility of fresh US deployments to the sensitive region bordering Russia. "We would welcome more American involvement in the safety of Baltics, including permanently stationed US troops here," Latvia's defence minister Artis Pabriks told AFP in Riga. In a day-long drama, two Indian High Commission staffers who had gone missing while on official duties on Monday morning in the Pakistani Capital Islamabad in what is believed to be retaliatory action by the Pakistani establishment were released late in the evening and handed back to the Indian High Commission after claims by the Pakistani police that they were involved in a road accident or hit-and-run case. Sources confirmed to this newspaper that an FIR filed against them by the Pakistani Police mentions that they caused injuries to a person and were also in possession of fake currency to the tune of Rs 10,000. The fake currency charge against them is being seen as the serious one that will make it untenable for them to stay in that country further. There were also some reports that the two staffers may have sustained some injuries while being in the custody of the Pakistani establishment. Hours before their release, India in the evening had summoned Pakistani Charge dAffaires Syed Haidar Shah and issued a demarche, demanding their immediate return along with the car of the Indian High Commission, with Government sources saying the demarche made clear that there should be no interrogation or harassment of the Indian officials and that the responsibility for the safety and security of the concerned diplomatic personnel lay squarely with the Pakistani authorities. The Pakistani action is being seen as retaliation by Islamabad after two Pakistan High Commission officials were asked to leave India late last month after being caught carrying out espionage activities. According to some reports, the two Indian High Commission staffers belonged to the paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and were on deputation. A few hours before their release, Indian Government sources had on Monday evening said, The Pakistan CdA was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs and demarched on the reported arrest of two officials of the High Commission of India in Islamabad as reported in the Pakistani media. The demarche to the Pakistan CdA made clear that there should be no interrogation or harassment of the Indian officials. The responsibility for the safety and security of the concerned diplomatic personnel lay squarely with the Pakistani authorities. The Pakistan side was asked to return the two officials along with the official car to the High Commission immediately. It may be recalled that earlier this month, the vehicle of Indias Charge d Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia was chased in the Pakistani Capital Islamabad by a motorcycle-borne person suspected to belong to Pakistans spy-agency ISI. This was after two Pakistani officials of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi were caught for espionage late last month and asked by India to leave the country after being declared persona non grata. Indian Government sources had earlier this month said the two Pakistani officials had been caught red-handed carrying out espionage but had not been subjected to any torture as alleged by Pakistan. Sources had then said Pakistan appeared to be making the false allegation that its two officials had been tortured in order to create grounds for torture of Indian embassy officials in Islamabad. The worst apprehensions of India on expected retaliatory action by Pakistan seem to have come true. The onslaught of two-year-old qualifiers continued on Tuesday (June 16), as Magical Acres in New Jersey played host to a 20-race session that saw ten dashes devoted to the aspiring youngsters. 'Baby races' comprised the first ten dashes on the docket, as trotters and pacers of both sexes and gaits took turns on the 'fast' five-eighths-mile course. The fastest of Magical Acres' Tuesday baby races was won by the Linda Toscano-trained and Scott Zeron-driven Crunch Hanover, a Captaintreacherous--Code One Hanover colt that sold for $115,000 as a yearling last fall in Harrisburg. Crunch Hanover left out from Post 3 in Race 9, cut all the fractions (:29, :59.4, 1:28.4), and recorded a one and a half-length win in 1:57.2 off of a :28.3 final quarter. Crunch Hanover is owned by Enviro Stables Ltd., South Mountain Stables, R And I Farms LLC, and The Bays Stable LLC. The fastest of the session's pacing filly miles was recorded by the Noel Daley-trained and Andrew McCarthy-driven Farady Hanover, who is a full sister to 2017 Little Brown Jug winner Filibuster Hanover. In Race 5, Farady Hanover, who was a $275,000 Harrisburg yearling sale purchase last fall, started from Post 2, cut all of the fractions (:30.1, 1:01.2, 1:32), and hung on for a nose win in 1:59.4 off of a :27.4 final quarter. Farady Hanover is owned by Bruce Edward of Australia. The fastest of the session's trotting miles was recorded by a filly, as the Linda Toscano-trained and David Miller-driven Lady Chaos earned the distinction in 1:59.1 Lady Chaos, who was a $125,000 yearling sale purchase last fall in Lexington, was a wire-to-wire winner in Race 10 on Tuesday. The daughter of Cantab Hall--Strong Legacy did all of the work on the front end (:30.1, 1:00.4, 1:30.2) and kicked home in 28.4 seconds for the 1:59.1 victory. Lady Chaos is owned by Richard Gutnick, Thomas Pontone, Joseph Lozito Jr., and Enviro Stables Ltd. In terms of the session's fastest male trotting performance, that distinction was held by the Per Engblom-trained and Yannick Gingras-driven Ethan T Hanover, the Bar Hopping--Emmylou Who colt that sold for $130,000 at the Harrisburg auction last fall. Ethan T Hanover, who is out of the same mare as the great Emoticon Hanover, started from Post 1 in Race 2 on Tuesday. The bay colt did all of the work on the engine (:30.3, 1:02.1, 1:32.3) before finishing things off with a :28.2 final quarter. The win time was 2:01 and the margin of victory was three and a half lengths. Ethan T Hanover is owned by Engblom Stable LLC, Douglas Sipple, and Mal And Janet Burroughs. Returning Dan Patch Award winner Lyons Sentinel was also in action during the qualifying docket, and the three-year-old Canadian-owned miss proved to be a tactical and sharp winner for trainer Jim King Jr. and driver Tim Tetrick. After having started from Post 2 in Race 13, Lyons Sentinel, who is a Captaintreacherous filly, took a pocket ride through the fractions (:27.2, :57.4, 1:25.3) and bravened up in the final quarter. The 2019 Shes A Great Lady winner tipped out, fired home with a 26-second final quarter and posted a neck win in a sharp 1:51.4. Lyons Sentinel, who won nine of her 14 races at two and banked $920,000, is owned by Threelyonsracing of Brantford, Ontario. M arcus Rashford has said he is "grateful" that Boris Johnson made a U-turn to provide free school meal vouchers to eligible pupils over the summer holidays. The Manchester United striker, 22, was praised by the Prime Minister for his highly personal campaign, which forced the Government to change its policy. Downing Street on Tuesday announced a one-off 120 million fund which will benefit some 1.3 million children in England over the six-week summer period. Rashford since since said he was "shocked" by the decision. Government U-turns on free summer meals for pupils after Rashford campaign In an interview released on Tuesday evening, he told BBC Breakfast's Sally Nugent: "It's a big decision for someone to make and I'm just grateful that the Prime Minister did change his decision and he understood. "I spoke to him earlier on today and just thanked him for that - it was a nice conversation to have with him." Mr Johnson congratulated Rashford for the campaign , saying the policy change was the "right thing to do". The PM told the daily Downing Street press conference: "Clearly free school meals should generally apply in term time, that's what they are there for. "But we have to understand the pressures families are under right now and that's why we've responded as we have. "As I say, I think it is the right thing to do and it will help the kids from the families who really need it." Rashford wrote an open letter on Monday asking the Government to reverse its decision not to award free school meals vouchers to vulnerable children outside of term time. A Department for Education spokesman said later that day that the national voucher scheme was not being extended. TODO: define component type apester But amid mounting pressure, Number 10 said on Tuesday that the Government would provide a Covid Summer Food Fund to reflect the fact families face an "unprecedented situation" over the holidays. It is understood payment will be through a one-off six-week voucher given to eligible families at the end of term to use in supermarkets. The scheme will not continue beyond this summer, Downing Street said. The vouchers will amount to 15 a week per child and some 1.3 million children in England will be eligible, the Prime Minister's spokesman said. Police in the Asante-Akim North District has cautioned persons in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to refrain from any act of violence during the Partys upcoming primaries in the constituency on June 20. The District Commander, DSP Jerry James Ameka who was speaking on Salt 95.9 FM with Prof Sam said the police will deploy enough men to ensure that no violence erupts from the elections on Saturday. He has therefore assured all delegates to remain calm ahead of the elections and trust the police to do their job in maintaining law and order in the upcoming primaries. If the NPP as a party does not call off the elections in this constituency, then I want to assure all delegates that they will be protected by not just the District police but other forces deployed from elsewhere he said on Anopa Bosuo His comments come on the back of a press conference by some aggrieved NPP delegates who have expressed anger over the removal of their names from the constituencys delegates album. The group who gave the Constituency executives an ultimatum to restore their names before Saturday said if that is not done, blood will spill during the elections. Concerning New Directives on COVID-19 The Commander assured residents in the District that the police will continue to ensure strict adherence to all safety protocols outlined by health officials and the President. According to him, per directives from the President, drinking bars and pubs are to remain closed. He has therefore warned owners of such facilities who have opened their businesses to desist from the act because the Police will arrest them and ensure they face the full rigours of the law. DSP Jerry James Ameka added that following the Presidents directive that the wearing of nose masks have become mandatory, the district police will begin to arrest persons who flout this law. He concluded by saying that the Agogo Traditional council despite the president easing restrictions for burials to take place, has maintained that no one-week commemoration or funeral rights must be organised in this period. ---SaltfmOnline.com U.S. "outraged" by Russian court's conviction of U.S. citizen WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Department of State said on Monday that it was outraged by a Russian court's decision to convict U.S. citizen Paul Whelan, who was sentenced to 16 years in jail earlier in the day. "The United States is outraged by the decision of a Russian court today to convict U.S. citizen Paul Whelan after a secret trial, with secret evidence, and without appropriate allowances for defense witnesses," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The Moscow City Court on Monday sentenced U.S. citizen Paul Whelan to 16 years in jail after finding him guilty of spying in Russia, local media reported. Whelan's lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov told reporters that after the appeal they will decide whether to request a pardon or an exchange for Russian nationals Konstantin Yaroshenko or Viktor Bout jailed in the United States. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Monday that Moscow has repeatedly offered options for prisoner swaps to Washington and its position now remains unchanged. Whelan, 50, was detained in Moscow by the Russian Federal Security Service on suspicion of espionage on Dec. 28, 2018, although his family said he traveled to Moscow only to attend a friend's wedding. Before his detention, Whelan was head of the security service of a U.S. firm producing automobile parts. He also has British, Irish and Canadian citizenships. When the instructor asked him to describe his life in two words, Walter Enriquez chose carefully: fear and violence. He had spent decades as a policeman in Peru during the bloodiest days of armed conflict between government forces and guerrilla fighters that killed nearly 70,000 people. But he said that nothing could have prepared him for the extreme isolation and loneliness that come with quarantine. Having lost a handful of his friends and neighbours to the coronavirus pandemic, the 75-year-old retiree has turned toward art therapy programs offered by the Queens Museum in New York to improve his mental health. We cannot go outside and enjoy our lives like before, Enriquez said in Spanish, translated by his daughter. But art helps us capture the past and relive positive experiences to get through pain and sadness. Every Thursday, he waits patiently at the computer for class to begin. For 30 minutes, he fidgets with the coloured pencils, pens and papers at the desk inside his daughters apartment in Richmond Hill, Queens. And with those tools he creates scenes from his life based on prompts from his instructor: portraits of his mother and friends; images of Goyaesque, nightmarish demons representing disease that when rendered on paper feel less threatening. Participants share their creations through Zoom, using their drawings and poetry (also part of the classes) to discuss life before and after the pandemic. Like thousands of other older New Yorkers, Enriquez has recently learned to use the internet to connect with the outside world. La Ventanita, one of the museums initiatives in response to the coronavirus pandemic, provides him a chance to socialize with other Spanish speakers through guided art lessons about self-expression. Before the program, I felt very alone; now I can learn to produce art, he said, adding that the program has revived his childhood aspiration of becoming a poet through the weekly prompts that ask him to create poetry based on his youth. Although psychologists have long recognized the benefits of art therapy, which decades of scientific research suggests can improve moods and reduce pain, few American museums have devoted resources toward creating programs. But the demands of a grief-stricken public are now compelling cultural institutions around the country to create trauma-aware initiatives that put their art collections and educators at the forefront of a mental health crisis created by the pandemic and the worldwide protests over police brutality and racism after George Floyds killing. And faced with plummeting revenue projections, industry leaders say they wouldnt be surprised if museums turned toward art therapy for a new source of revenue or other funding opportunities. Art therapy is typically funded by insurers, said Dina Schapiro, assistant chairperson for the Pratt Institutes Creative Arts Therapy Department. You already have patrons coming into museums and paying a fee. It would be especially good for people who are resistant to the traditional venues of therapy like an office. Although it doesnt plan to charge for such programs, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is looking to start art-therapy based initiatives. We are adjusting to a new reality and looking into how we can use art history to reflect on shared experiences of isolation and trauma, said Rebecca McGinnis, the museums senior managing educator for accessibility. The Met plans to reopen as a safe space for New Yorkers in much the same way it did after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Curators are beginning to think about how exhibitions can be designed as trauma-aware to avoid triggering visitors. McGinnis has also prepared a running list of artworks that can help visitors soothe their post-COVID anxieties, including scenes of domestic tranquility like Honore Daumiers The Laundress (1863), depictions of resilience like Faith Ringgolds Street Story Quilt (1985), and memorials to the dead like a fifth-century B.C. Greek grave stele of a little girl. And in May, the museum revamped a teen event to focus on self-care and communication during the coronavirus crisis. Organized with the Bronx Museum and the Museum of Chinese in America, participants discussed the effects of the pandemic through writing prompts, dance workshops and zine-making. Art has a therapeutic impact for everybody, McGinnis said. People will be coming to us after experiencing loss; some for whom the disease has permanently impacted their bodies. How can we continue to reflect all those human experiences? At the Rubin Museum of Art, employees have started to ask similar questions of their own collection of Tibetan and Nepalese objects perfectly suited for the art of self-contemplation. For now, the museum plans to restart its meditation podcast and gear some of its learning programs to those affected by COVID-19 with pensive artworks like a 13th-century gilded statue of the Hindu goddess Durga or a 16th-century cloth painting of the Buddha meditating as demonic hordes assail him from below. Taking another approach, the Cincinnati Art Museum in Ohio plans to train more than a hundred volunteer docents on art therapy techniques that will help them greet visitors when it reopens this summer. That museums are taking art therapy more seriously than ever is due in large part to a program at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts that allows physicians to prescribe free access to its galleries. The museum was also one of the first in North America to hire a full-time art therapist in 2017. Stephen Legari, who took the job, normally sees about 1,200 participants each year, but demands for his services have increased as Montreal the epicentre of Canadas coronavirus outbreak reopens. In quarantine, youre looking at the same things in your apartment every day, he explained. The repetition is grinding down your capacity to concentrate. By contrast, museums are places for wonderment, beauty and awe. Katerine Caron joined the art therapy program about three years ago. For much of her life, the 52-year-old writer has dealt with neurological damage and severe trauma after being hit by a speeding car while walking her children across the street. She eagerly awaits Wednesday group sessions. I hadnt created art since I was a child, Caron said, but art therapy has helped me externalize what Im feeling and express my gratitude for life. For her, the therapy has created a space outside the pandemic for her to process difficult emotions. Im less anxious and agitated, she said, adding, When I see the works of other artists, I know that Im not alone. When sorting through the museums collection for inspiration recently, Legari has shied away from contemporary works. Instead, he is drawn to images of natural beauty rendered by the Romantics and impressionists. He also likes to incorporate more abstract works by artists like Henri Matisse and Georges Braque into his sessions. Looking at what Montreal has accomplished, Sally Tallant, executive director of the Queens Museum, hopes that her institution can replicate that same sense of refuge for people. In the meantime, the museums educators are testing out a variety of initiatives. There are weekly conversations with homebound seniors about the institutions collection, a program for caregivers to learn about art, and several live-video artmaking sessions for recent immigrants who dont speak English, which are also offered in Mandarin. This is a time to consider museums as places of care, Tallant said. There is a need to develop porous cultural institutions that are open, inclusive and empathetic as we recover from living through a prolonged period of isolation and loss. Two Virginia Tech teams received awards from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design Challenge, made even more difficult this year because students completed their projects and competed remotely after the COVID-19 quarantine forced them to return home. The Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition comprising 10 contests that challenge student teams to design and build highly efficient and innovative buildings powered by renewable energy. The last two months are super critical, usually requiring quite a few all-nighters. All of this had to be done online, said Georg Reichard, associate professor of building construction and associate director of research in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction. Reichard and Robert Dunay, director of the Center for Design Research (CDR) in the School of Architecture + Design, co-led the winning project. Reichard has served as faculty for the design-only net zero student competitions since 2015, and Dunay was a lead faculty for three solar decathlon design/build competitions, including the 2010 international competition winner, LumenHAUS. From 45 finalists in the commercial design category, their Blacksburg-based team of 30 students placed third in the Office Building Division and was awarded an honorable mention for the Eco-Park Learning Center and office complex situated in the Prince William County landfill in Virginia. The competition project was based on earlier CDR research for an interpretive science-technology- engineering-math (STEM) education center and included a major office expansion. The student team lead, Dominick DeLeone, said that what he learned from working to meet the net-zero energy requirement for last years project made it easier to anticipate challenges and effectively manage such a large group online. DeLeone graduated in May 2020 with a masters degree in building construction science. While the online transition certainly impacted our project, we took this hurdle in stride. We had an amazing core group of sub-team leads who were able to keep communication flowing, said DeLeone. In the process, we all learned new online collaborative tools and virtual teamwork tricks, which will be valuable as we enter post-COVID industry. Police reported two violent muggings which took place on Sunday evening in Luxembourg City. The first victim was robbed at around 8pm at the Kinnekswiss. She was approached by a young man in his twenties who addressed her in French, before hitting the victim and grabbing her necklace. The thief was accompanied by several other individuals who all fled in the direction of the city centre following the mugging. The perpetrator is described as being a young man aged 22 to 26, with blonde hair (short on the sides and longer on the top). He was wearing a blue jacket with the inscription "Italia". Anyone with information should contact the police by phone at (+352) 244-401000 or by email: police.luxembourg@police.etat.lu. Later, around 1.30am, two men attacked a person on Montee de la Petrusse, near the viaduct. They stole the man's wallet and left him with minor injuries before escaping in the direction of the station. The empty wallet was later found nearby. Police located the two attackers not long after the incident, on Place de la Gare and Rue Adolphe Fischer. NEW GLASGOW, N.S.Youre looking pretty good, said Marilyn Petrie from her car. Youre looking pretty good yourself, said her husband Wayne, from his wheelchair across the laneway, three metres away. I love you, she said. I love you, too. So began the first face-to-face meeting in four months for a couple who have been married for 55 years. The venue was the 202-bed Glen Haven Manor long-term care facility in New Glasgow. The occasion was the Nova Scotia government loosening coronavirus restrictions enough so that, for the first time in months, families could visit their loved ones at care homes, in person. The Petries had to speak loudly, to cover the distance between them. But for the first time in months, Marilyn Petrie was able to gaze at the face of her husband as they spoke; watch him laugh, watch him frown. The emotions flitting across her face made it clear how much that meant. I havent seen him since three weeks before the COVID lockdown started, said Petrie afterward. Wayne has a condition that precludes the use of video chats, she said, but he calls her every day. He looked good. I didnt expect him to look so good. The visits Monday were still socially distanced, and only 20 minutes in length. But for residents starved for the sight of their family, and vice versa, that 20 minutes was a really good place to start. Residents at Glen Haven and their families have been waiting longer than most. In late February, there was a small outbreak of a mild respiratory virus at the facility and, as a precaution, Glen Haven cancelled family visits. Before they could resume, the Nova Scotia government cancelled all long-term care facility family visits in the province. Perhaps because of its early lockdown, Glen Haven, was spared any COVID-19 cases. The provinces Northwood facility in Halifax was not so fortunate. Over the past few months, the facility saw 345 cases of COVID-19 and 53 deaths, representing 85 per cent of all the coronavirus deaths in Nova Scotia. As of Monday, however, Northwood has no active cases and it, too, is now scheduling family visits. Last week, Dr. Robert Strang, the provinces chief medical officer of health, announced that the province would permit outdoor visits to long-term care facilities as of Monday. Within 24 hours, the family of every resident at Glen Haven had been called and told the news, and preparations had begun. On a warm and breezy afternoon, the driveway carried a steady stream of families arriving for their scheduled visits with residents. At 20 minutes per visit, and three stations set up on the grounds, Glen Haven Manor CEO Lisa Smith said the home can accommodate 21 family visits per day, or about 125 per week. Visits are already booked up for the next three weeks. Weve had the full spectrum of emotion, said Smith, midway through the first day of visits. Weve been doing a lot of FaceTime and Skype with (the residents), but its not the same as being able to see your family. SM Steve McKinley is a Halifax-based reporter for the Star. Reach him via email: stevemckinley@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @smckinley1 Read more about: People caught vandalising public memorials should be sent to 'battle camp' to learn about the Armed Forces, a senior minister has said. Penny Mordaunt said the scenes at the Cenotaph and other sites during Black Lives Matter and Far Right demonstrations had been 'disturbing'. In a letter to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland seen by her local Portsmouth News paper, Ms Mordaunt said: In desecrating such memorials some protesters sent a message to veterans and all those in uniform today: your life doesnt matter to me. Whatever the motivations for such acts, they should be condemned in the strongest terms and are totally against the values of the people of our country, of every creed and colour. Penny Mordaunt said the scenes at the Cenotaph and other sites during Black Lives Matter and Far Right demonstrations had been 'disturbing' The statue of Churchill was daubed with the word 'racist' during protests earlier this month I would like to suggest that for some found guilty of vandalising such memorials they might benefit from some time spent with our service personnel perhaps at a battle camp. That might give them a new appreciation of just what these people go through for their sakes. They are their armed forces. They should be respected and treasured. The intervention comes after both Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel condemned violence during protests, saying the race equality demonstrations in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minnesota had been 'hijacked'. The government has pledged that those who attack the police or carry out vandalism will face the full force of the law, with magistrates ordered to fast-track cases. A campaign has been under way to take down monuments to historical figures accused of having views that would be unacceptable today. There was an outcry after an attempt was made to burn a flag on the Cenotaph, while the statue of Churchill was daubed with the word 'racist'. It was then covered up at the weekend to protect it from damage, provoking further anger. Amid mounting cultural tensions, Mr Johnson vowed to fight with 'every breath' to keep the statue of the famous wartime leader safe. He insisted statues represented the country's history and should not be removed or defaced without any democratic process. NEW DELHI - Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in clashes with Chinese troops high in the Himalayas, the Indian army said Tuesday, marking the most serious conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in decades. The deaths occurred in the mountainous region of Ladakh where India and China share a disputed - but largely peaceful - border. No Indian soldiers have been killed in clashes on the frontier between the two countries since 1975, experts say, and no casualties of this magnitude have occurred since 1967. The world's two most populous nations, India and China are both rising powers that view each other warily. Apart from a war in 1962, they have tended to resolve periodic flare-ups along the border through negotiation. In recent weeks, however, tensions between the two countries have spiked. Indian and Chinese troops engaged in physical brawls that left dozens injured at two points along their 2,200-mile frontier. Analysts say that Chinese troops have also moved to establish a presence in four areas claimed by India near the unofficial border in Ladakh, leading to a tense standoff involving thousands of troops from both countries. Senior military officials have held meetings in the area to try to resolve the issue. Instead, the clash Monday night marks a grave escalation. India at first said that three soldiers had died in a "violent faceoff" that caused "casualties on both sides." Later Tuesday, the Indian army said in a statement that 17 more Indian troops who were "critically injured in the line of duty" and exposed to subzero temperatures had "succumbed to their injuries." It did not say how they were killed. The troops of the two armies in the area subsequently "disengaged," the statement said. Col. Zhang Shuli, a spokesman for the Chinese military, said there had been a "fierce physical conflict, causing casualties." He accused India of crossing the unofficial border between the two countries - known as the "Line of Actual Control" - to "launch a provocative attack." India blamed the conflict on China's attempt to "change the status quo" in the area. The United States is "closely monitoring the situation between Indian and Chinese forces along the Line of Actual Control," a State Department spokesman said on the condition of anonymity under State Department rules. "Both India and China have expressed a desire to de-escalate, and we support a peaceful resolution of the current situation." The clash comes at a time when China is flexing its muscles across the region amid a global pandemic. In recent weeks it has confronted Malaysian and Vietnamese vessels in the South China Sea and twice sailed an aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait. China also unilaterally moved to seize new powers over Hong Kong. Like other countries in the region, India views China's rise with disquiet. In recent years, India has drawn closer to the United States, partly due to shared concerns over China's growing influence. With the killing of 20 of its soldiers, India faces a "serious crisis," said Ajai Shukla, an Indian defense analyst and former army officer who has written extensively about the recent tensions with China. The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prides itself on toughness in matters of national security. After dozens of Indian soldiers were killed in an attack last year by a terrorist group based in Pakistan, the government launched a retaliatory cross-border airstrike. Now India must decide if and how it will to respond to the clash with Chinese forces, Shukla said. Both countries Tuesday expressed a willingness to resolve the border conflict through dialogue. Most of the lengthy frontier between India and China is neither marked in real life nor delineated on any maps shared by the two countries. Instead, the Indian and Chinese armies send patrols up to what they claim is the Line of Actual Control and then retreat. Altercations have ensued but rarely serious ones. What occurred last month is qualitatively different, analysts say. Instead of expanding patrol arcs deeper into Indian-claimed areas as they have done in the past, Chinese troops have "taken physical possession by occupying territory," said Ashley Tellis, a former senior George W. Bush administration official and longtime India expert. Chinese troops have crossed several kilometers into territory that India claims at multiple points in Ladakh, according to analysts and media reports. In particular, reports say, they have occupied an area in the Galwan River valley that overlooks a strategically crucial road for India. Monday night's deadly clashes took place in the Galwan valley, the Indian army said. India has limited options for responding to what it considers Chinese incursions. "Any attempt at physical eviction is going to lead to major conflict," said Tellis. Instead, India is likely to try to negotiate a withdrawal while blocking any future intrusions, he said. The last standoff between the two countries occurred in 2017, when China began extending a road near a spot where India, China and Bhutan meet. Several hundred Indian troops blocked the construction of the road. Two months later, after talks between the two countries, the soldiers retreated. Unlike that flare-up, there is no immediate local trigger for the current conflict, said D.S. Hooda, a retired general who previously commanded the Indian army forces in Kashmir. While India is building a road in the area, it has been under construction for a decade, Hooda said, and is already in use. Instead, China's recent moves are part of a "bigger game plan," he said. "They obviously want to pressurize India." Last month, President Donald Trump said that the United States was "ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate" what he described as a "raging border dispute" between India and China. Neither country accepted the offer. It is unclear exactly what prompted Monday's conflict or how the injuries were caused. Weapons were not fired, said an Indian military official speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter. Indian media outlets, citing anonymous sources, suggested the clash involved rods and stones and that some of the injured may have fallen off cliffs to their deaths. One of the Indian soldiers who was killed was a father of two serving in an artillery regiment, according to his family. Hu Xijin, editor of the nationalist state-run newspaper Global Times, said on Chinese-language Weibo that his sources told him there had been Chinese casualties in the clash, but he did not specify if there were any deaths or give further details. "I want to tell Indians: do not misjudge China's restraint as weakness, and never be arrogant before China," he said. "China does not want conflict with India, but it is never afraid of conflict." Song Zhongping, a Chinese military analyst and former lecturer at the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force University of Engineering, accused India of engaging in premeditated escalations "to distract from their domestic political situation." China needs to "try the best methods to resolve the issue by diplomatic means, but also prepare militarily for the worst outcome." This month the Chinese military staged a drill that moved thousands of paratroopers "within hours" from central Hubei province to a remote Himalayan mountain range. The exercise, which was publicized by the People's Liberation Army, was designed to send a message that China was able to rapidly deploy reinforcements to the Indian border and fight in low-temperature and low-oxygen conditions, according to state media. Indian analysts said that China's actions were another sign of its aggressive intentions in the region. There is a "new edge" to China's attitude, said Nirupama Rao, a former Indian ambassador to China. "This assertiveness, this readiness to throw [away] internationally accepted behavior to advance their claims and interests, it's worrisome for so many countries." - - - Shih reported from Seoul. The Washington Post's Lyric Li in Beijing contributed to this report. When Olga Huiles Tunays daughter Ashley starts sixth grade at Portlands Roseway Heights Middle School this fall, the mother of three is confident her eldest child will be familiar with her new schools structure. Ashley will also be ready to jump right into her next math class with little if any refreshers and she wont suffer from the dreaded summer slump. Thats because Ashley, 11, and her younger sister Ivonne, 8, have taken summer courses through Portland Public Schools migrant program for the last three years. This summer, the district expects 126 migrant children entering kindergarten through eighth grade in the fall will take part. This years four-week summer program began Monday. Students start each day with a teacher-led social emotional learning exercise. Daily lessons focus on literacy and math. And families will have one-on-one check-ins with their childrens teacher each week. But it wont be the same as in previous summers, when Ashley and other students filed into a classroom for in-person instruction. Ongoing physical distancing mandates in Multnomah County mean Huiles Tunays children and their peers will get their lessons digitally. Those social-emotional check-ins will happen via a district-issued Chromebook. Ashleys makeshift classroom is a small table that sits on the edge of the family kitchen. Ivonne studies in her bedroom. Ashley said its more difficult to focus when class is taught at a distance. She hopes in-person instruction makes a return in the fall. This isnt the same, Ashley said, her Chromebook cracked open in front of her. I miss my teacher. I miss my friends. Parents can also sign their children up for weekly one-hour group lessons once the four-week program ends. Ashley and Ivonnes lessons will be taught primarily in Spanish. Huiles Tunay and her husband immigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala in 2008, first settling in Los Angeles before moving to Portland in 2011. They dont speak much English. And Huiles Tunay said the dual-language immersion program at Scott Elementary, where Ivonne just finished second grade, has helped the family cultivate a sense of community in their slice of Northeast Portland. I feel like I can be very involved in my girls education, Huiles Tunay said. I, myself, can help them with their homework. If I have any questions, I know theres someone I can ask for help, too. The lack of a language barrier Scott students in the dual-language program get 90% of their instruction in Spanish has helped Huiles Tunay track her childrens academic progress. When Ashley was in first grade, Huiles Tunay noticed her oldest child was somewhat easily distracted and a little forgetful. From left to right: Melvin Huiles, Olga Tunay Huiles, Ivonne Huiles, Samantha Huiles and Ashley Huiles on the afternoon of Friday, June 12, 2020. Dave Killen / StaffThe Oregonian Thats how Huiles Tunay found out about the summer learning program. Summer instruction would help Ashley retain more information, the girls teacher told Huiles Tunay, and also prepare her for the expectations her second-grade teacher would have. The Huiles Tunay children have been taking summer classes ever since. The program has been very important for us, Huiles Tunay said. It keeps my children engaged so I know theyre well prepared for the next grade." In Marion County, Ronda Johnson has spent the last couple of months developing the Woodburn districts digital summer programs by trial and error. When the novel coronavirus shuttered public schools across the state, Johnson, who coordinates the districts migrant programs, was thrust into a world where the spread of a deadly pathogen meant shed have to upend the way she educated first-graders at Woodburns Nellie Muir Elementary. In the pre-coronavirus days, Johnson could watch students for facial expressions or fidgets that told her they might not understand a given days lesson. Now, she painstakingly revises video scripts to make sure her instructions are extra clear. You have to teach even better than you do in-person, Johnson said. Tracking attendance was also much simpler. Every day, 24 children marched into her classroom in the morning and scurried out in the afternoon. During the first week of distance learning, Johnson averaged 11 students during Zoom lessons. She spent the next 14 days calling parents to find out why she didnt see their childrens names on the screen. Sometimes it was because the family couldnt figure out how to navigate the district-issued Chromebooks menus. If the household lacked internet access, she helped the family navigate the process to get online. After the fourth week of distance learning, Johnson averaged one, maybe two absences per week. You just have to be flexible, she said. Sometimes the internet goes out and its nobodys fault. You follow up and do everything you can to help. Johnson said the approaches shes developed since Gov. Kate Brown ordered Oregons public schools to close will inform how other Woodburn educators teach about 500 migrant children in the coming weeks. In previous years, about 20 teachers led classes of 22 to 25 children. But students require more individual attention under distance learning, Johnson said. Youll hear that teaching kids in-person takes a lot of energy, and it does, Johnson said. But youve got a lot more control and room to move around. This year, 12 Pacific University students will join seven Woodburn teachers to run summer learning programs for children entering grades six through eight. Students will spend half an hour at the beginning of each week in class meetings in which their instructors will lay out the lesson plan for the coming days. Theyll receive a half hour in reading instruction one day, math for a half hour another day and have two days of science and technology instruction. Children entering the elementary grades will also attend class meetings on Mondays, with a mix of pre-recorded videos and synchronous class sessions covering different subjects throughout the week. Teachers will send notes directly to parents each Friday detailing where their child has excelled and where they may need to improve. Ronda Johnson checks in with her first grade class at Woodburn's Nellie Muir Elementary over Zoom. She also coordinates the district's migrant summer programs, which begin this week.Photo courtesy Ronda Johnson Over the last few weeks, Johnson has spent hours training both university students and Woodburn faculty in approaches that have worked for her since school closures led districts to adopt distance learning programs. The main thing shes stressed for those educators in the lead up to summer classes, which start next week, is that theyll need to be more deliberate with their time. Johnson had six months to establish a personal relationship with her 24 students before they had to start on distance learning. Educators teaching summer classes wont have that luxury. If this is your only 30 minutes with them, you have to be that much more effective with them in those 30 minutes, otherwise its just time lost, she said. In the Forest Grove district, which serves approximately 6,100 children in the westernmost reaches of Washington County, instruction for migrant students will similarly be online-only. District officials only made that call recently, Program Coordinator Leonard Terrible said, citing uncertainties in programming and limits of just 10 students per class for in-person sessions brought on by the novel coronavirus. We really wont know what the population is going to be until the first week of school, Terrible said. Its a bit touch-and-go. On an average year, Forest Grove has between 300 and 400 migrant students enrolled in summer programs in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The district employs two teachers per grade, putting the average class size at between 20 and 25 students. This year, Terrible said, nine teachers will begin summer programming June 22 with others ready to go online depending on how enrollment shakes out. Children who enroll in summer classes will keep the district-issued Chromebooks they received at the outset of the statewide school closures. As soon as schools were ordered closed in mid-March, Forest Grove educators front-loaded their new distance learning outreach to migrant households to ensure students had a device and access to the internet. In March, everyone was thrown into a reality they werent comfortable with, Terrible said. The majority of people parents and teachers had to learn something they did not know how to do well. One particular hurdle Forest Grove teachers had to overcome with migrant parents was their hesitancy to sign off on their children borrowing a district computer as paperwork indicated theyd be on the hook if their kid broke the machine. What we have been finding, especially with some populations, is that technology is really, really, really remote for some of the parents involved, Terrible said. They feel comfortable using their smartphone but dont really trust, say, a laptop computer. In Woodburn, Johnson said some families preferred to use their smartphone to dial into Zoom sessions or to video conference with her outside of regular class times. Johnson answers calls from parents as late as 9 p.m., sometimes 10 p.m. She knows distance learning has introduced a level of stress to the lives of families shes worked and built trust with over months. And even though Johnson feels confident in her lesson plans and that her kids are learning something from week to week, she misses the face-to-face interactions that have kept her teaching for nearly three decades. I know its a drag. Its not what we signed up for and its not what we want to do, Johnson said of distance learning. But if you show up excited, even the parents are getting excited about the learning and what they have to do. Huiles Tunay, whose daughters are enrolled in Portlands migrant education programs, said her familys own transition to distance learning went smoothly due in large part to the help she got from Scott staff who helped her set up internet services and configure her childrens district-issued Chromebooks. They told me not to worry, Huiles Tunay said. And they really helped us. They took care of us. --Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano Olga Huiles Tunay was interviewed in Spanish for this story. This article is the result of a partnership among Oregon news outlets The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon Public Broadcasting, The Bulletin, The Ontario Argus Observer and the Medford Mail Tribute, designed to give Oregonians a broader and deeper look at Oregon students and the public education system amid the pandemics unprecedented impacts on schools. Earlier stories: A suspect has been charged in the double homicide of two women reported missing this month in Tallahassee. Aaron Glee Jr. was charged with murder and kidnapping, the Tallahassee Police Department said Tuesday, a day after the department announced that Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau, 19, and Victoria Sims, 75, were found dead. During an investigation of their disappearance, information led police to Glee's home in southeast Tallahassee on Saturday night, where both women were discovered, police said. PHOTO: Aaron Glee Jr. is seen in a police booking photograph after he was taken into custody in connection with the killings of Black activist Oluwatoyin Salau and AARP volunteer Victoria Sims, at Orange County Jail in Orlando, Florida, June 14, 2020. (Orange County Corrections via Reuters) Glee, 49, had fled to Orlando on a bus before the police arrived at his home, the department said. He was arrested early Sunday by the Orlando Police Department, court records show. Based on evidence recovered at the scene and other information gathered by Tallahassee police in Orlando, Glee was charged with murder and kidnapping, police said. He currently is incarcerated in the Orange County Jail and will be extradited back to Leon County, a Tallahassee Police Department spokesperson told ABC News. MORE: Missing teen Oluwatoyin Salau found dead, homicide investigation underway Glee was also recently arrested twice in recent weeks in unrelated battery cases. Court records show Glee was arrested in Leon County for aggravated battery on May 30 and was released on June 1 on a $2,500 bond. ABC News has reached out to his public defender in that case. He was also accused of battery in connection with a May 28 incident and charges were filed on June 9, court records show. Salau was last seen on June 6, according to police. The teen was active in the city's Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality, calling for justice for black people recently killed at the hands of police, including Tony McDade of Tallahassee and George Floyd of Minneapolis. PHOTO: A missing poster released by Tallahassee Police of Oluwatoyin Salau. (Tallahassee Police Department) Her missing person flier drew national attention, and misinformation had spread throughout the investigation, "including false tip line numbers," police said Tuesday. Story continues A team of more than a dozen Tallahassee Police Department investigators were looking for Salau, who did not have a permanent address, including checking locations she frequented, police said. The grassroots organization Tallahassee Community Action Committee also held search parties for Salau, whom they described as a local activist, after she was reported missing on June 9. MORE: Man shot during Albuquerque protest over Juan de Onate statue, police say The same day she was last reportedly seen, Salau had shared details of an alleged sexual assault on Twitter, according to Tallahassee ABC affiliate WTXL. Salau had contacted the Tallahassee Police Department to report a "possible sexual battery" that occurred on June 5, police said, but added that at this time there is no indication it is related to her death. "The information and description Salau provided to police and posted on social media prior to her disappearance does not match the person ultimately found to be responsible for her murder," police said in a news release on Tuesday. Sims was last seen on June 11, according to police. Her home had been ransacked and burglarized, and her car was missing, police said Tuesday. PHOTO: A missing poster released by Tallahassee Police of Victoria Sims. (Tallahassee Police Department) Sims was a long-time AARP volunteer, according to AARP Florida, which described her in a statement as a "passionate, fully engaged citizen" and "dedicated advocate for older Americans." Suspect charged with murder, kidnapping in Oluwatoyin Salau case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com On Tuesday, the border liaison office of North Korea gets blown up as the South Koreans still allowed sending of propaganda material by activists at the border. According to Reuters, after North Korea demanded an end to leaflets sent over the border, decisive action will be taken. North Korea's aggressive tactics North Korea decided to blow the unoccupied office, as proof of their intention to not be trifled with. Witnesses say the building was ruined and destroyed to send the message clearly, which was unheeded. The KCNA state news agency, reported the utter and complete demolition of the liaison office, at the border of Kaesong that has been abandoned since January. A video that was recorded by South Korea's Ministry of Defence captured the demolition and explosion that brought down the four-story building a pile of rubble. Indication of the strong explosion which nearly collapsed the nearby 15-story housing for the staffers who manned the liaison office at the Kaesong Border. Records state that when used, it functioned as an embassy for North and South Korea, but its ruin and demolition punctuates how displeased North Korea is. The incident also serves as a setback to good relations between the two. One of the problems now is how to pull the North into an amicable arrangement as before and North Korea is not so easy to bring in too. Demolition of the liaison office sent South Korea's national security council into an unplanned caucus on Tuesday, later adding that South Korea will respond in kind should North Korea cause more tensions. Deputy national security advisor Kim You-Geun stated that the demolition of the liaison office was a disappointment for all who has hoped for better North-South Korean cooperation. This will further complicate their efforts for a lasting peaceful co-existence. The drastic North's response was unexpected too, he stressed in the briefing reported in CGTN. Also read: Kim Jong-Un Reappears: North Korea Wants New Policies for 'Nuclear War Deterrence' Tension builds up between North and South Korea He added as a precaution to North Korea's violent act that whatever happens next will be on Pyongyang's conscience and consequences too. North Korean, being one of the most secretive regimes, has nuclear capability and missile programs. This is why US and North Korean talks are at a standstill. Historically, since the Korean War, North and South are not united, thus called two Koreas on the peninsula and peace is held by a 'truce' instead of a solid treaty. For a long time, there have been threats to cut relations with the South. One cause is leaflets that are critical of North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un that has riled up some Northern officials. The South was warned before the demolition, but the North decided definite action. In a statement from the KCNA, the office was blown up to make 'human scum' and their supporters pay for their crimes. Human scum is what the North calls defectors. According to Reuters, the South Korean military said North Korea will be demolishing the building as retaliation, real-time monitoring captured the exact time the building was destroyed. Operations of the office were to smoothen relations between the two Koreas but were shut down in 2016 over the North's nuclear ambitions. Last Saturday, Kim Yo Jong sister to Kim Jong Un, gave the signal to blow it up. She later stressed that the useless north-south joint liaison office will be seen, as mentioned in The New York Times. Related article: Kim Jong Un's Sister Told South Korea Border Protest to Stop or Negotiations Will End @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Vehicles are seen outside a hangar at Al-Watiya airbase also known as Okba Ibn Nafa airbase, which was seized by forces loyal to Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), southwest of the capital Tripoli, on May 18, 2020. (Mahmud Turkia/AFP via Getty Images) Turkey Eyes Libyan Bases for Lasting Military Foothold, Source Says ANKARATurkey and Libyas internationally recognized government are discussing possible Turkish use of two military bases in the North African country, a Turkish source said on June 15, with a view to a lasting Turkish presence in the south Mediterranean. No final decisions have been made over possible Turkish military use of the Misrata naval base and the al-Watiya airbase, which was recently recaptured by the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). A more permanent air and naval presence in Libya could reinforce Turkeys growing influence in the region, including in Syria, and boost its claims to offshore oil and gas resources. Turkey has also flagged possible energy and construction deals with Tripoli once the fighting ends. The GNA has in recent months driven back Khalifa Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA)supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Franceturning the tide on a 14-month conflict that has displaced an estimated 200,000 people. While all sides say they want a truce, heavy clashes have emerged near the LNA-held coastal city of Sirte, which is close to major energy export terminals on the Mediterranean seaboard. Russia and Turkey postponed high-level talks on Libya, scheduled for June 14 in Istanbul, due to discord over the GNAs push to retake Sirte, another Turkish official said. Turkey using al-Watiya is on the agenda, said the first source, speaking on condition of anonymity. It could also be possible for the Misrata naval base to be used by Turkey. Turkey has a military base in Qatar and in 2017 added troops there amid a row between Doha on the one hand and Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain on the other. Ankara threw its support behind the government in Tripoli in 2019 after the GNA signed a maritime demarcation accord that it says gives Turkish drilling rights near Crete, but that is opposed by Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and the European Union. A Libyan naval base, in particular, would institutionalize Turkeys influence in the Eastern Mediterranean and give it leverage over Arab and European adversaries, said Galip Dalay, fellow at Robert Bosch Academy. Discord Over Sirte Russias foreign ministry said on June 14 it was pursuing a prompt ceasefire and that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would reschedule the meeting that was set for June 14 with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu. A result was supposed to come out (of the meetings), but that stage could not be reached. There are issues where the two countries are on opposing sides, the second Turkish official told Reuters. One of the main issues for the postponement of the Lavrov visit is the (GNAs) plan for an operation into Sirte which has emerged as a target. The Kremlin didnt comment on the postponement; Cavusoglu said on June 15 it was unrelated to any issues on core principles. The United Nations said last week the warring sides had begun new ceasefire talks in Libya after GNA forces, helped by Turkey, repelled a protracted LNA assault on the capital Tripoli. Sirte, about halfway between GNA-held Tripoli and LNA-held Benghazi, is the closest city to Libyas main energy export terminals. Haftars forces seized the city in January and the conflicts new front line has emerged just to the west. Russia wants Turkey and the GNA to halt military operations, particularly not attacking Sirte, Jufra, and the oil crescentand Ankara has rebuffed this demand, said Dalay. If Turkish-Russian talks dont bear fruit, we might then see escalation both in Libya and in Syrias Idlib region, where Ankara and Moscow also back opposing sides, he said. By Orhan Coskun & Tuvan Gumrukcu lawyers defending its representative in the country said yesterday. A company that is at the centre of a US$60 million coronavirus supplies procurement storm, was cleared by permanent secretary in the Finance ministry, George Guvamatanga,lawyers defending its representative in the country said yesterday. This comes as 36-year-old Nguwaya who represents Drax Consult SAGL and Drax LL, also known as Drax International is facing two counts of fraud. His lawyers Tafadzwa Hungwe, Admire Rubaya and Ashiel Mugiya told Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti Guuriro during yesterdays bail hearing that Nguwaya was being falsely accused by the State; and that there was no shred of evidence linking him to the alleged offences. Nguwaya, the lawyers argued, signed contracts between Drax Consult SAGL and NatPharm as a witness, and was not a shareholder of the company. The lawyers tendered before the court a letter which was written to then Health ministry permanent secretary Agnes Mahomva by Guvamatanga dated September 30, 2019, giving them the green light to enter into an agreement with Drax. I write following up on my letter of even reference dated 25 September 2019 regarding an expression of interest in the supply of medicines up to the value of US$20 million by Drax Consult SAGL. Please be advised that Treasury has received additional information indicating that Drax Consult SAGL has no adverse record regarding its operations. In this regard your ministry can proceed to engage the company on its offer to supply medicines, Guvamatanga said in his letter apparently clearing Drax. The State is, however, opposing bail on fears that Nguwaya could flee the country. Nguwayas lawyers dismissed this. The State further argued it was yet to recover US$2 million which the Zimbabwe government paid into a Hungarian bank account owned by Drax. The money is at the centre of an Interpol money laundering inquiry. Nguwayas lawyers argued that Nguwaya was a clean man with no pending cases and had no reason to flee the country. Guuriro is set to make a ruling on the bail application today. The State alleges that Nguwaya misrepresented to the government that the two companies were capable of supplying drugs to the country, although they were just mere consulting firms. The court was told that sometime in 2019, Nguwaya allegedly connived with one Illir Dedja who is still at large and tendered an expression of interest to supply medicines through a US$20 million facility under a company called Papi Pharma, which was turned down after a vetting process by the relevant government departments. Later, the ministry of Health and Child Care received another expression of interest from Nguwaya for a similar US$20 million supply facility, but now under a company called Drax Consult SAGL. The letter was addressed to Health minister Obadiah Moyo. It was also alleged that in the expression of interest documents, the accused persons misrepresented that Drax Consult SAGL was a pharmaceutical company based in Switzerland, whereas it was a consulting company with no experience in the manufacture and supply of medicinal products. Acting on the misrepresentation, the State alleges, Moyo initiated a process through his then permanent secretary Agnes Mahomva, which involved the Finance ministry, the Procurement Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) and NatPharm. The process culminated in a contract of supply of medicinal products between NatPharm and Drax Consult SAGL. It was also alleged that in November 2019, Nguwaya presented himself before NatPharm managing director Nancy Sifeku and introduced Dedja as the owner of Drax Consult SAGL. On December 19 2019, a written contract was eventually agreed between Drax Consult SAGL and NatPharm, which Nguwaya signed as the companys local representative, with Dedja identified as the owner of the company. State says Nguwaya prejudiced the nation, as government officials acted on his misrepresentation to process contract papers. Further allegations are that after being successful in the first encounter, Nguwaya tendered another expression of interest to supply medicines worth US$40 million using a slightly different name, Drax International LLC. Based on trust from the previous engagement, the government allegedly entered into a contract with Drax International LLC, the court was further told. The misrepresentations are said to have come to light after a noted variance on the prices charged by Drax International LLC, vis-a-vis those prevailing on the market. The issue of Drax has caused a storm in the country, and it has since forced the government to pull the plug on both the US$20 million and US$40 million deals. Last week, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and the police also questioned senior officials at PRAZ, Natpharm and the Finance ministry as part of their probe into the controversial deals. Former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper apologized Monday for remarks he made in 2014 comparing elected officials to slaves being whipped aboard an "ancient slave ship." The apology from Hickenlooper, a Democrat who is running for U.S. Senate, came after Tay Anderson, a Denver school board member, circulated a video of his remarks on Twitter. "Well, once that happens, then the schedulers, who really - if I was to describe a scheduler, a political scheduler, imagine an ancient slave ship," the video shows Hickenlooper saying at an event, drawing laughs from some in the crowd. He continued to describe the imaginary scene, making a whipping gesture with his hand as he spoke of "the guy with the whip, and you're rowing - we elected officials are the ones that are rowing, and they have nothing but hard, often thankless things to do." Anderson, who is the youngest African American ever elected to public office in Colorado, said in a tweet that Hickenlooper has "some explaining to do." "Referencing my ancestors pain of being brought over here in chains to a political scheduler is utterly disgusting," he said. Anderson is supporting Hickenlooper's rival, former state House speaker Andrew Romanoff, in the June 30 Democratic primary to face Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., in the fall. Hickenlooper apologized for the remarks. "Taking a look at this video from six years ago, I recognize that my comments were painful," he said in a statement provided by his campaign. "I did not intend them to be. I offer my deepest apologies." The video is the latest stumble for Hickenlooper. The former two-term governor, who also pursued a short-lived bid for president last year, was fined $2,750 last week by the Independent Ethics Commission. The five-member panel found that Hickenlooper violated a state gift ban in 2018 when he accepted a ride in a Maserati limousine at a conference in Turin, Italy, and traveled on a private jet owned by a home builder to Connecticut for the commissioning of the USS Colorado submarine. The U.S. Senate seat in Colorado is crucial to Democratic hopes of wresting the majority from Republicans, who hold a 53-to-47 advantage but are playing defense in more seats - 23 - including several in Democratic-leaning and swing states. Anderson said in a follow-up tweet Monday that Hickenlooper's apology was insufficient. "Will @Hickenlooper commit to going through an equity and implicit bias training? - an apology isn't good enough for me, because it should've been common sense not say things like that," he said. - - - Jennifer Oldham in Denver contributed to this report. "There were places where Lincoln had visited the home of Colonel William Jones in Gentryville still stands and is a house museum," Ammeson said. "It was Jones who had Lincoln take a flat boat down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River to New Orleans to deliver goods. It was there Lincoln saw the horrors of slavery and it is thought that experience was one of the driving forces for his Emancipation Proclamation. A variety of other stories culled from local sources guide road-trippers to places important in Lincoln's life, and the people who occupied them. "I just kept following leads and connecting Lincoln in one way or the other to locations in those states," Ammeson said. "This is a destination book loaded with history and anecdotes, and I hope it shows people not only places where Lincoln visited, lived, etc., but also is a picture of his life, the people who knew him, his family and what life was like then." Among Ammeson's other books is "A Jazz Age Murder in Northwest Indiana," published by History Press, about a murder that took place in 1923 in Indiana Harbor that involved families she knew. She is also author of an Arcadia Image of America book titled "East Chicago." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 "I've had access to some really incredible people over the years through my work with Vice President Biden, and that has enabled me to instigate systemic change in non-conventional ways. My goal is to bring these innovative approaches to government engagement to G2G and the clients they serve, and most especially to Cleveland," says Collins of her new position at G2G and her move back to the Greater Cleveland community. G2G's staff of 10 has been working since 2007 on the following: Assisting bioscience, healthcare and high-tech entrepreneurs, research institutions, companies and nonprofits in accessing non-dilutive government funding such as DOD, NIH and BARDA grants all totaling $277 million Lobbying Congress, federal departments, the Statehouse and the City of Cleveland to make introductions, position for relationship development, craft legislation and influence the legislative process to make introductions, position for relationship development, craft legislation and influence the legislative process Leading advocacy campaigns and building coalitions to maximize impact across the country from Washington, D.C. to Columbus, Ohio to Matching clients with Department of Defense program managers looking for novel innovations to help the military Says Founder and President Liz Powell, "By making connections between local level needs and federal decision-makers and assessing the best positioning and messaging, Katie will be an invaluable contributor to the G2G team and for our clients across the country as well as in Cleveland." With her wide network of relationships in Washington, deep understanding of federal policy-making processes and strong Cleveland roots, Collins is prepared to meet the needs not just of Northeast Ohio's innovation community, but of the bioscience, healthcare and technology industries nationally. "Frankly, I don't know how you could have a job in Cleveland and not make an impact in Washington. People look to the institutions in Cleveland as a source of innovation going back to the Edison Institute in the mid-80s and early '90s," says Greg Simon, former president of the Biden Cancer Initiative. It's not without plenty of precedent: For instance, Simon helped facilitate a connection between Case Western Reserve and Georgetown University researchers that later grew into a national smoking cessation program. "I think Katie would be very productive in terms of connecting the region." During her tenure at the White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force, Collins excelled at bringing the private sector together with major health centers and universities in their efforts to find a cure. KeyBank Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Responsibility and Community Don Graves, who formerly served as Deputy Assistant to President Obama and Counselor to Vice President Biden and worked directly with Collins at the White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force, agrees. "The experience Katie brings back to Cleveland is something we as a region don't have enough of," says Graves. "For us to be able to attract someone of her talent and caliber is a huge win, not just for the institutions but for the region as a whole; she will help to show others who may not be from Cleveland that this a place where smart, talented, capable people are flocking." This is particularly true in the wake of the coronavirus crisis as highly skilled workers begin to relocate from densely populated urban centers to mid-sized cities like Cleveland and surrounding areas, Grave emphasizes. And as the bellwether state, having strong political connections and understanding how politics and policy intersect can be key to effectively navigating government for companies and nonprofits. "Interestingly, half the [former] Vice President's staff was from Cleveland," says Simon, including campaign manager Greg Schultz, who served a leadership role in the Obama campaigns in 2008 and 2012. Collins says she's particularly interested in access-to-care policies and issues affecting Cleveland's minority and economically distressed communities, issues she explains are very prevalent and yet very local. "Cleveland is unique in many ways, but the problems that it has exist in other cities around the country. Things that work in Cleveland can also serve as a toolkit for success elsewhere," she says. "There's so much cutting-edge, life-saving work happening in Cleveland, but access to that care for many in the Cleveland community doesn't exist. That's a big problem especially today, in Cleveland and elsewhere." With her mom heading up foundation development for the MetroHealth System for decades, Collins understands that closing these gaps is key to regional and statewide economic growth a particular focus as we emerge from the coronavirus crisis in 2021. "Katie knows how to connect the dots in ways few can," Powell says. "I'm looking forward to seeing her deliver high-quality government affairs services to our clients, some of whom are outside Ohio, and make connections to foster more innovation, collaboration and growth that ultimately makes a difference." About G2G G2G provides comprehensive government affairs, public relations and economic development services with a specialty in securing non-dilutive government funding. Since 2007, G2G has secured $277 million in non-dilutive funding. With offices in Washington, D.C., Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, G2G has a strong Midwest focus but serves clients across the country by bringing together a bipartisan team of experts with experience working for and with government on the federal, state and local levels. G2G's clients are bioscience, healthcare, high-tech and nonprofit innovators that have included Philips, Invitae, BioOhio, American Heart Association, Cleveland Diagnostics, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Meggitt, Akron General, University of Cincinnati, Boys & Girls Clubs, the PAST Foundation and more. To learn more and schedule a free consultation, visit G2Gconsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter @G2Gconsulting. SOURCE G2G Related Links https://www.g2gconsulting.com Three people landed behind bars for attempting to circumvent a federal checkpoint and smuggle 10 immigrants who had crossed the border illegally, according to an arrest affidavit filed on Friday. READ MORE: Laredo churchs van inside locked gates damaged by vandals Pedro Gaitan, Parvaneh Hunt, and Patrice Hunt were charged with transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport the immigrants. They are expected to make initial appearance in court on June 22. At about 5 p.m. June 10, U.S. Border Patrol received information regarding a white Chevy Tahoe attempting to break the locks that secure the Cerrito Prieto Ranch gate located off of U.S. 83. The Cerrito Prieto Ranch is frequently used by transnational criminal organizations to circumvent inspection at the Border Patrol checkpoints on U.S. 83 and Interstate 35. The Cerrito Prieto Ranch has entrances that connect U.S. 83 with I-35 and (transnational criminal organizations) utilize it to blend with legitimate ranch traffic, states the affidavit. Agents responded to Cerrito Prieto Alleyway, which is the road that leads to the east entrance of the ranch of the Cerrito Prieto Ranch. Authorities said this is the only to merge onto I-35 from the ranch after circumventing the checkpoints on I-35 and U.S. 83. An agent then observed the Tahoe approaching his location. The agent pulled over the vehicle. The agent identified the driver as Gaitan, a U.S. citizen. Two other passengers were identified as Parvaneh Hunt and Patrice Hunt, both U.S. citizens. The agent saw multiple people in the backseat area laying down and attempting to hide. One passenger was from El Salvador and the other nine from Mexico. All entered the country illegally, according to court documents. Patrice Hunt and Parvaneh Hunt invoked their right to an attorney upon their arrest. Gaitan, however, allegedly agreed to provide a post-arrest statement. He stated he arrived in Laredo from San Antonio on June 10 at about 3 p.m. He stated he went straight to Home Depot to buy bolt cutters. He added he picked up the immigrants in some apartments on San Francisco Avenue. READ MORE: 33 immigrants found held in south Laredo stash house Gaitan stated he knew they were illegal (immigrants) and was going to get paid $5,000 upon arrival at a gas station in San Antonio, Texas. Gaitan stated he entered the Cerrito Prieto Ranch in order to avoid the immigration checkpoints, states the affidavit. This seven-year-old fintech company is one of the first virtual banks established in Hong Kong and now operates in three markets Hong Kong, mainland China and Indonesia. It has 42 million individual users and 300 enterprise customers. View the FULL LIST: 2020 DISRUPTOR 50 WeLab's CEO, Simon Loong, co-founded the company after finishing his master's degree at Stanford University in 2012. He had already spent the prior 15 years in banking on the risk management side but was noticing the rise of fintech around the world. He believed that if technology could be combined with the best of what banking had accumulated in risk and portfolio management, along with their experiences from years of credit and financial crises, he had a winning strategy for a new company. Today WeLab offers customers a full-service, branchless bank that allows them to open a bank account in a matter of minutes, all from their mobile phone. Last year the company launched a new virtual credit card that lets users get instant credit approval within the app. This lets customers use the app for spending without having to go to a bank and apply for a credit card. On the enterprise side, WeLab is partnering with more than 300 financial institutions in Asia to help them better serve their customers. For example, it recently created a custom-designed integrated mobile lending solution for one of China's leading banks so that its 500 million customers could access credit online. The company has raised $580 million in funding, including a $156 million round in December from investors such as Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund and China Construction Bank. Like nearly every company in Asia, WeLab quickly sent employees home after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and says it was operating at 95% capacity after just three days. The company also launched a tech-driven initiative that helped distribute government stimulus payments more quickly to residents in Hong Kong. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Jakarta, Indonesia Tue, June 16, 2020 22:01 584 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf4061b 2 City American,FBI,fugitive,Fraud,Bitcoin,Child-sexual-abuse,child-sex-offenders,crime Free A US national wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation over a bitcoin scam has been arrested in Indonesia and charged under a child protection law for suspected sex crimes, Indonesian police said on Tuesday. Russ Albert Medlin was arrested at his residence in Jakarta on Monday after police questioned three minors, and he was suspected of sex crimes, Jakarta police spokesman Yusri Yunus told a streamed news conference. Indonesia's child protection law carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Reuters was unable to contact Medlin or to find out whether he had legal representation. The US Embassy in Jakarta did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Another police officer said that Medlin could also face extradition to the United States. Medlin has been on an Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) wanted list for crimes related to an investment scam in bitcoin stocks, Yunus said, adding the scam totaled $722 million. Reuters was unable to independently confirm Medlin was on the FBI's wanted list. Indonesian authorities said they were coordinating with the American embassy. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2020) - Sweet Earth Holdings Corp. (CNX: SE) (FSE: 1KZ1) (the "Company" or "Sweet Earth") is pleased to announce that Mr. Amrik Virk has agreed to join the Board of Sweet Earth and assume the role of President. Mr. Virk has held a variety of senior positions in Canadian government including Minister of Advanced Education and most recently Minister of Technology and Innovation in British Columbia ("BC"). Under his tutelage BC rapidly expanded its sustainability technology sector to become the 15th largest, globally. As Minister, Mr. Virk launched the BCTECH Strategy, which still currently forms the backbone of the province's technology economy. Some notable milestones in his tenure include the instalment of the $100 million dollar BCTECH Fund to support profitable growth of this business community. Mr. Virk's comprehensive mandate included various International Trade Missions, over a dozen technology accelerators, all of governments' cyber security, real estate portfolio, as well as a large portion of all public building construction. In both of his portfolios, he managed budgets nearing $2 billion dollars. He has served as a director in several public and private organizations and was previously a board member of Seaway Energy Services, which successful completed the three-cornered amalgamation with Sweet Earth Holdings. Mr. Virk brings to his role as President, three decades of extensive governance, fiscal and strategic leadership. Prior to entering government, he served over 26 years as a senior officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Peter Espig, Sweet Earth Holdings, commented, "Mr. Virk is a natural fit to Sweet Earth and knows our team very well. As a board member he will augment corporate governance and as President he will assume key management responsibilities." About Sweet Earth Sweet Earth is a vertically integrated "farm to shelf" hemp grower with a farm in Applegate, Oregon, that maintains a full line of hemp and CBD products for the US and global market. Its products combine CBD with herbal and organic ingredients, all of which are selected for their beneficial properties to soothe, rejuvenate, and reduce inflammation. In addition to high-end finished products, Sweet Earth prides itself on sustainability by minimizing the use of plastics in both production and packaging. Sweet Earth's in-house genetics team has been working on its own proprietary hemp strain. This strain has been grown in its indoor greenhouse resulting in high yielding CBD rich flower. Sweet Earth looks forward to planting this new strain outdoors for the 2020 season. Its products are sold on its website: www.sweetearthcbd.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Peter Espig" Peter Espig Director For additional information contact: Peter Espig Telephone: (778) 385-1213 Email: info@sweetearthcbd.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57961 Hong Kong: Security law guiding principles clear (To watch the whole media session with sign language interpretation, click here.) Chief Executive Carrie Lam today reiterated that the National People's Congress (NPC) will be guided by five main principles in drafting the national security legislation for Hong Kong. Speaking ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning, Mrs Lam said: "About comments made by the deputy director of the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office yesterday on an occasion to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law, without the details about the provisions in the legislation and how they are going to be applied, it is not possible for me - and not appropriate because I am not party to the lawmaking institution - to comment on the individual comments made by my Mainland counterparts." She pointed out that the important principles guiding the lawmaking process are laid down in the explanatory statement to the draft decision discussed by the NPC leading to the approval on May 28. "Included in the five main principles are the principles to ensure that there is full compliance with this very important principle of 'one country, two systems', that everything has to be done in accordance with the law, and the legitimate rights and freedoms of the Hong Kong people are being safeguarded and protected." Mrs Lam added that subsequent to the explanatory statement, the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office issued on May 29 another statement elaborating on the important principles and reiterating that the legislation will not change Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and will not affect judicial independence, including that of final adjudication. This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Mazzoni Center has been distributing at-home HIV tests via its mobile testing unit. Read more When the COVID-19 pandemic sparked the stay-at-home order in Philadelphia in March, sexual health centers across the city were allowed to remain open as long as they stopped elective procedures, and adhered to social distancing measures to protect patients and staff. But those safety measures have led to an interruption in walk-in testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) at some centers many of which serve mainly patients without health insurance because of the risk of COVID-19 exposure to staffers and other patients. So fewer people are getting tested, officials said. Thats particularly worrying in Philadelphia, where rates for syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia have far exceeded national averages. Across the country, a survey by the National Coalition of STD Directors found that 83% of STD programs have paused services and community visits, and 66% of clinics reported a decrease in sexual health screening and testing due to COVID-19. But the stay-at-home order has not stopped people from having sex, noted Eric Paulukonis, prevention services director at the Mazzoni Center, Philadelphias largest LGBT health-care provider. The Mazzoni Center stopped in-person HIV testing and sexually transmitted infection screenings on March 16. We know from hookup apps and conversations with patients that people are still sexually active with partners they are not quarantined with, Paulukonis said. That means theres a demographic out there that doesnt know their status in terms of STIs. Currently, the Mazzoni Center distributes free HIV test kits for people to take home at its South Philadelphia location and through a mobile testing unit. The kits, which were developed with the citys Department of Public Health, include FDA-approved oral swabs that patients use on their upper and lower gums before inserting the swabs into a vial containing a developer solution, also included, that provides a result in 20 to 40 minutes. Paulukonis said Mazzoni is working with the city health department to resume STD screenings as quickly as possible. Over a three-month period, we would usually identify anywhere between 150 and 250 cases of syphilis and gonorrhea, for example, Paulukonis said. When our testing stopped, those individuals potentially dont know that theyre infected with something. Now that the city has moved into the yellow phase of reopening, he anticipates a large spike, potentially. People are feeling a lot freer, Paulukonis said. Social networks are going to widen, the numbers of people mingling are going to increase, and all that raises the possibility for infection. READ MORE: COVID-19 has exposed mental health needs within Philadelphias Latino communities At the Y-HEP Adolescent and Young Adult Health Center in Center City, walk-in STD screenings stopped once the shutdown went into place. However, patients can make appointments to get tested, said Elaina Tully, medical director of the Y-HEP Health Center. Any time we limit access to walk-in patients, we are certainly limiting access to care, Tully said. And routine STI testing has been on hold because it doesnt make sense right now. For patients who are higher risk or maybe have COVID symptoms, the benefits of coming in for testing do not outweigh the risk of exposure. Tully said that while its important to follow the citys guidelines on COVID-19, young people still should pay attention to all aspects of their health. I understand why preventative health and sexual health have been put on the back burner in peoples minds, she said. But the reality is that just because COVID hit doesnt mean that the astronomical rates of STIs in Philly have gone away. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health normally offers free STD screenings at health centers in South Philly and North Philly. But the North Philly location has been closed since the shutdown. Appointments to get tested are still available in South Philly, but patients should call ahead to keep the waiting room from getting crowded, said Cherie Walker-Baban, manager of the citys STD Control Program. READ MORE: A guide to making sense of coronavirus studies Overall testing has been lower for us during this time, Walker-Baban said. But I wouldnt say its concerning because of whats going on. We expect what were seeing now, and as we go through the phases, there will be an increase in testing. At Bebashi, a full-service HIV/AIDS organization in North Philly that focuses on low-income people of color, fewer patients came in for sexual health screenings during March and April, said prevention supervisor Keira Ragsdale. Since then, theres been a small uptick in people coming in with complaints about STD symptoms, she said. People were still meeting people and hooking up, Ragsdale said. They were entering into new relationships through dating and hookup apps. I dont think the pandemic stopped that, honestly, and a lot of individuals had a lot of free time on their hands since they werent in school or employed. Like many other health clinics, Bebashi spent the first few weeks of the pandemic making adjustments so it could keep operating. The demand for the food pantry services they offer increased by 600%. By the second week of May, the organization began mailing out free at-home HIV test kits. Individuals are constantly requesting test kits, Ragsdale said. The Y-HEP Health Center is also working with the city health department on a protocol that will allow patients to complete STD screenings at home, which will likely ask patients to collect blood or urine samples to be analyzed at a lab, Tully said. She said at-home testing could be a game changer for increasing access to care for many patients. The pandemic took us all by surprise, Tully said. An incredible amount of our organizations resources have been diverted to keeping patients safe. But at this point ... were able to start thinking more broadly about incorporating preventative health into our operations as the yellow phase begins. TDT | Manama The Ministry of Interior in a tweet yesterday cautioned the citizens of Bahrain against a scam Facebook page called Anti-Cyber Crime that is allegedly spreading fake and unverified information. The Ministrys tweet said that Anti-Cyber Crime is a scam Facebook page, managed from outside Bahrain, which promotes a fake grant to exploit the telephone numbers of Bahraini citizens for advertisement purposes and malicious programming. Kindly seek information from official sources and avoid dealing with scam links and messages and report them through the hotline 992, advised the Interior Ministry Poroshenko Blames Yanukovych For Ukrainian Army's Weak State When Russia Seized Crimea By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 15, 2020 KYIV -- Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says that only 20 percent of the country's armed forces were combat-efficient when Russia annexed Crimea following the toppling of Russia-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in early 2014. Poroshenko told the Kyiv Court of Appeals on June 15 during his testimony at a hearing into an appeal by Yanukovych against his high-treason conviction that the Ukrainian Army at the time of the invasion was extremely weak, a state Poroshenko blamed on Yanukovych. "The army did not have enough gasoline, batteries, clothes, bulletproof vests," Poroshenko said, adding that Yanukovych bears full responsibility for the situation in 2014. Yanukovych's lawyers filed the appeal challenging a Kyiv court's January 24 decision to sentence the former leader in absentia to 13 years in prison on a high-treason charge. In early February, they also filed a lawsuit against the State Bureau of Investigation, alleging crimes by government officials, including judges who took part in trials against Yanukovych. Yanukovych has called the sentence "illegal" and denied guilt in several other probes launched against him after he fled Ukraine for Moscow in late-February 2014 in the wake of deadly pro-European rallies known as the Euromaidan, during which more than 100 protesters were killed. Weeks after Yanukovych's flight to Russia, Moscow seized and illegally annexed Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and fomented unrest and backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, where some 13,200 people have been killed in the ensuing conflict since April 2014. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/poroshenko-blames -yanukovych-ukrainian-army-weak-state- russia-seized-crimea/30671818.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Imagine that your comfort zone, your safest place on earth, your safe haven where you take out all your anxieties, worries and fears, the warmest place for you imagine that this turns into a source of toxicity, danger and insecurity. Imagine that you are trapped in it with no other place to go to. Many women around the world are living this reality during crises and pandemics that are associated with high rates of domestic violence. The rates of domestic violence increased in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. In Japan, sexual and physical violence against women occurred during the 1997 and 2010 earthquakes. After Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005, the rate of rape among women who moved to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailer parks was 53.6 times higher than the highest base rate for the state of Mississippi in 2004. In Uganda, the rates of domestic violence, child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) have increased during prolonged droughts. Due to the spread of the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone some years ago, the rates of child marriage increased during school closures. An unprecedented increase of 75 per cent in maternal deaths occurred due to complications of pregnancy and delivery within 18 months of the Ebola crisis in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The UN childrens fund UNICEF reported that many adolescent females had left school and married during the period of the health emergency and more than 14,300 girls had become pregnant and mostly could not return to school. As we face the threat of the global Covid-19 pandemic today and the importance of staying at home to limit its spread, mental disorders are occurring worldwide due to home quarantine accompanied by feelings of disappointment and boredom and causing a state of tension and anger. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for the enhanced protection of women and girls from domestic violence under the economic and social pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic. He has urged all governments to make the prevention and redress of violence against women a key part of their national response plans to Covid-19. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a report showing increasing rates of violence against women during disasters. The increase in violence against women during the Covid-19 pandemic may be due to measures of social distancing and staying at home, fears and worries at losing jobs, a lack of money and rare contacts with family and friends who can offer support and protection from violence. The physical stress resulting from bearing the heavier burdens of looking after the family, particularly after school closures, as well as the psychological stress due to the fear of family members getting infected, have added further pressures on women. In April, a global report issued by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), in association with Johns Hopkins University in the US, Victoria University in Australia and Avenir Health estimated that there could be 15 million additional cases of domestic violence in 2020 if the average period of lockdown reached three months, 31 million cases if the lockdown reached six months, 45 million cases if the lockdown reached nine months and 61 million cases if the lockdown reached one year. The report also warned that 47 million women in 114 low and middle-income countries could lose access to contraceptives, possibly resulting in more than seven million unwanted pregnancies. The report suggested that Covid-19 could seriously undermine the progress being made towards achieving a number of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including ending the unmet need for family planning and ending violence against women. The report estimated that the Covid-19 pandemic could slow down progress towards ending FGM by 33 per cent, with an around two-year delay through 2020-2021. It expected that the total impact of the Covid-19 pandemic could lead to 13 million additional child marriages, as well as to negative impacts on ending preventable maternal deaths and lower resources to offer support, counselling and care for violence survivors. Those facts have led countries worldwide to take measures to protect women from domestic violence during the Covid-19 pandemic. EGYPTIAN MEASURES In Egypt, the Egyptian Centre for Public Opinion Research (Baseera), a NGO, in collaboration with the National Council for Women (NCW) and UN Women conducted a survey on women and Covid-19 in Egypt from 4 to 14 April. The survey revealed that 11 per cent of married women in Egypt had been subject to spousal violence during the week before the survey and after the Covid-19 outbreak. It indicated that less-educated women were the most exposed to violence, given that the proportion declined from 14 per cent among women of below-intermediate education to four per cent among women of university education or above. Exposure to violence also declined with a higher economic level, given that the proportion declined from 14 per cent among the lowest economic level to six per cent among the highest. There were no clear discrepancies between different areas. Women aged 30 to under 50 were the most vulnerable to spousal violence compared to other age brackets (12 per cent and nine per cent among younger and older women, respectively). Among the victims of violence, seven per cent had never been subject to spousal violence prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, while four per cent had been subject to spousal violence. It is striking that the proportion of those who were exposed to spousal violence in the week before the survey and had never been exposed to spousal violence before was four per cent for women aged 19 to 29 and rose to eight per cent for women aged 50 and above. The survey said that family problems had increased by 33 per cent and violence among family members by 19 per cent. The National Council for Women Complaints Office, mandated to handle womens complaints, has also been monitoring different forms of violence against women. The Office received 9,887 complaints through its hotline 15115 and via its branches all over Egypt from 1 March to 20 April, including 370 complaints of violence. The complaints included 241 requests for debt repayment, the postponement of loans received by women and threats to take legal procedures against them in case of failure to pay installments. The office took the necessary actions to help the complainants in collaboration with the concerned bodies. A decision was issued to postpone the payment of loan installments. The provision of financial assistance to women was discussed in coordination with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and NGOs. A total of 129 complaints at physical, verbal or social violence was received, including complaints from women who had been exposed to assault or verbal abuse by husbands or fathers. Such incidents may often include fathers threatening to kidnap children. Preliminary actions were taken to offer legal and psychosocial support to women victims of this type of violence. The NCW Complaints Office received 8,587 requests to meet economic and social needs nationwide, including requests for financial assistance. Groups of irregular workers were assisted to register their data on the website of the Ministry of Manpower. The Egyptian policy paper The Rapid Response to Womens Situation during the Covid-19 Outbreak was the first of its kind published by any government in the world. This was done through the NCW on 30 March, and it suggested response measures on both the immediate and medium terms and post the Covid-19 response under four main pillars, among them Women, Voice and Agency that focuses on violence against women and leadership and decision-making during crises. The pillar looks at how womens participation in decision-making processes can enhance health security control mechanisms and ensure womens access to relevant information. It also considers how response measures can provide psychosocial, legal and advisory support for women who may be subject to violence during this time. PROTECTION AND REPORTING The National Council for Women also established the Women Policy Tracker on Responsive Policies and Programmes during the Covid-19 Pandemic and documented 52 measures taken by the government in response to womens needs during the outbreak. Work on this is in progress. Egypt has also applied many protection and reporting mechanisms, including the hotline of the NCW Complaints Office, which has been extended to receive more complaints and offer legal and psychosocial support. The hotline receives complaints for 12 hours a week, and these are addressed by legal experts, social workers and psychologists. There is also a child helpline, 16000, operated by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, the Human Rights Sector of the Ministry of the Interior, the cabinet complaints line, 16528, the complaints line of the Ministry of Social Solidarity, 16528 and the hotline of the General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment at 0800880700. The Ministry of Social Solidarity has also intensified its precautionary measures and published more awareness-raising materials in womens shelters. A service package has been launched for women and girls subject to violence. It includes medical protocols, case-referral pathways, a standards handbook for judicial proceedings, a manual on procedures, a handbook on effective police responses, a manual for the Womens Complaints Office, a procedural manual for establishing anti-violence units in Egyptian universities, a trainers guide for medical service providers and a guide on the provision of social services and processes in survivor shelters. These have been provided in partnership with the NCW, the national concerned bodies and the United Nations. Egypt is also committed to protecting women from all forms of violence in its 2014 Constitution. The penal code identifies the crimes of physical and moral violence, and it criminalises verbal abuse, harassment, sexual harassment and any acts that target defamation or humiliation including when using the media. All acts of assault from beating, to FGM, to indecent assault and rape are criminalised. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, cases of domestic violence have increased in many countries, including China, Spain, the UK, Belgium, Turkey, France, Australia, Mexico, Kenya, Singapore, Argentine, Chile, Brazil, India and Uganda. Countries that have taken measures regarding the protection of women from violence under present circumstances include Spain and France. Both have developed violence reporting mechanisms using special codes to be given to women in pharmacies. France has also established a number of instant counselling centres in shopping malls. Canada, Australia and Finland have allocated budgets to identify the mechanisms behind such violence. We should not underestimate violence against women, and precautionary measures should be taken in parallel with measures to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Violence against women is a crime, whether or not during pandemics. It is a betrayal of our humanity, and we have to end it to protect women once and for all. The writer is president of the National Council for Women. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Had the museum not been shuttered for COVID-19, Gov. Ned Lamonts press conference at the Connecticut Science Center last week could have been an interactive exhibit, a display of a businessmans continuing struggle to understand and master politics and governing. On a rooftop deck, Lamont glossed over the good news of the day: All signs are that COVID is on the wane, and the Science Center is among the attractions that can reopen Wednesday in the second phase of easing the restrictions he ordered to fight the pandemic. Ninety-five percent of the states economy can be open in Phase 2, a comforting talking point in the unsettled age of the novel coronavirus. But Lamont pivoted to a grievance that gnaws, the resistance of Hartford to outsiders. He complained once again about the ingratitude of lawmakers and the criticism they directed to business executives and academics who volunteered to craft a plan to reopen Connecticut. Who are these corporate talking heads? Who are these academic elitists? Who are these people coming in and telling us what to do? Lamont said, recounting the gibes he heard directed at the volunteers, some his friends. I said, Thank you. And I say it again. Lamont is a Democrat and wealthy Greenwich businessman who took office in January 2019 with visions of governing amiably by consensus: If you dont like my ideas, fine; bring me yours, and well work it out. The approach contributed to Lamonts fall into a joyless slog over highway tolls in his first year, one that left him among the lowest-rated governors in the U.S. at the end of 2019. It also helped make the past 12 weeks a triumph: his handling of the pandemic was approved last month by 78 percent of voters. The question now is which period provides the best measure of Lamonts political and leadership skills. On the horizon are two monumental challenges: Coping with the economic and societal impacts of the pandemic, while simultaneously addressing new, pressing demands for police accountability and social justice after the wrenching death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Notably, Lamonts best days have come in the absence of lawmakers. They are a breed that still mystifies and often miffs the governor as he made abundantly clear at the Science Center and later in an interview. He couldnt understand the suspicion and resentment directed at the Reopen Connecticut volunteers. It was alien to me, Lamont said. Happily for the governor, legislating proved to be a non-essential activity during the pandemic. Since March 10, Lamont has ruled under a state of emergency that grants him wide latitude in doing what he deems necessary to protect the health and safety of his 3.5 million constituents. But the lawmakers are coming back, intent on proving themselves essential workers in the run up to November. They are up for re-election, and the governor is not. Re-election worries contributed to the Democratic majorities refusal to vote on any version of the Democratic governors first-year priority: returning some form of tolls to Connecticuts highways, a step towards modernizing a creaky and underfunded transportation infrastructure. It was a year that seemed to diminish everyone. Lamont was exposed as being ill-equipped for legislative dealmaking, and a compromise crafted by the House majority and allegedly supported by the Senate majority died comically. Unwilling to trust other chambers vote counts, Democratic leaders each insisted the other go first with a vote. The governor finally lost patience on Feb. 19, bringing down the curtain on what had become an embarrassing burlesque. Declaring the bill dead at a press conference in his office, he was the picture of a man adrift. I guess the only thing that disappointed me a little bit was if you dont like my idea give me something better, Lamont told CT Mirror last week. Thats how I always negotiated. At the end of the day, they couldnt vote on any transportation plan. They couldnt vote on mine. They couldnt vote on their own. They couldnt vote on anything. Now Ive got a transportation fund that, you know, is out of money, but you keep trying. Cue the novel coronavirus. Suddenly, the feckless governor was a man with a plan, a steady voice in daily televised briefings, even if some parents chafed at the ban on graduations, which now can take place in July. Wedding planners try to gauge what might be possible in the fall, based on the status of his oldest daughters nuptials. (Her September wedding has been postponed.) But on May 6, the Quinnipiac Poll found voters giving him the strongest overall rating of any Connecticut governor since M. Jodi Rell, with approval by 65 percent and disapproval by 26 percent. On the narrow question of the pandemic, the margin was even better, 78 percent to 17 percent. I think the pandemic changed everything, Lamont said. Last year, the substance of the issue was just overwhelmed by politics. And this year the substance of COVID took over. We had to deal with it, and the legislature went home. The pandemic gave Lamont an opportunity to lead in the fashion he imagined in his inaugural address, when he quoted John F. Kennedys call for voluntarism. Lamont described his office as a place with a big table and an open door. I got the best and the brightest I could from the private sector, from the academic community, Lamont said. I got them to the table, and I worked with fellow governors. And I think we made a difference. I think we had a thoughtful response. Thoughtful, but not without controversy. On two days notice, he changed his mind about allowing barbers and hair stylists to reopen on May 20, the start of Phase 1. He pushed them back to June 1, a 10-day delay that seemed more about bowing to noisy voices than heeding public-health experts, and which created another round of protests from those who disagreed with the delays. More significant was the criticism from the ACLU and others that the administration was too timid about releasing some inmates with health conditions. And he was reminded by state employee unions that his view of government as a big table where everyone comes to reason has limits. He asked them to forgo raises due at months end, something he saw as a reasonable request given the fiscal challenges now facing the state. It was a request made without bargaining leverage, and he admitted at the Science Center that he had failed to convince them. The previous day, one of the unions, SEIU1199, released a biting commercial featuring heroes of the pandemic and ridiculing Lamonts request. Overall, he sees his consensus-driven approach as validated by the cooperation he received from Connecticuts hospitals, which bitterly fought and sued his predecessor over tax policy, and the working relationship he nurtured with the regions governors before the pandemic. He is one of several governors whose stock rose during the pandemic, aligning themselves with public-health experts a contrast to President Donald J. Trumps initial dismissal of the health threat. Lamont, of course, could not be more different than Trump. The governor is a conciliator, not a counter-puncher. He is averse to burning bridges. But, like the president, Lamont ran as an outsider. Rather than promise to drain the swamp, Lamont suggested opening a closed ecosystem. I tried to, A, change the tone of this building, Lamont said of the State Capitol. And, B, see if I could get a wider variety of people weighing in on the decisions we make. That means people from the world inhabited by him and his wife, Annie, a successful venture capitalist. Their circle is wide, and Lamont is an inveterate networker. To lead his Reopen Connecticut group, he recruited Indra Nooyi, a classmate at the Yale School of Management and former CEO of PepsiCo, and Dr. Albert Ko, a prominent epidemiologist at Yale. This is a pretty closed eco system here. And you generally have governors who are politicians and legislators who were maybe lawyers or real estate brokers and a lot of people who come from in and around this world. And theyre great folks. When I say the best and the brightest, I say folks who can complement the folks who are here. But when it came to a highly infectious germ called COVID I thought wed be much better off by taking all the resources from around this state and beyond and channelling them to make a real good response. Lamont was slow to grasp that George Floyds death under a police officers knee in Minneapolis would mean a legislative response, not merely the governor promising to redouble his efforts at diversity. On June 2, he was noncommittal about police reforms. Its just too vague, Lamont said. I dont know what police reform legislation means, but Im happy to find out. Within days, he had endorsed police accountability measures and then accompanied legislators on a walking tour of a black neighborhood in Hartford, escorted by Rep. Brandon McGee, D-Hartford, the chair of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. Monday, he issued an executive order aimed solely at state police that bans chokeholds and places other restrictions on the use of force. One prominent caucus member called Lamonts embrace of police accountability measures a start but only a start. He has to change the people he is talking to, said Rep. Toni Walker, D-New Haven, the co-chair of the Appropriations Committee and a strong advocate of criminal justice reforms. Hes got to get a different kitchen cabinet on this issue. Understanding the complexity of an inner city community isnt the strength of a hedge fund person. Lamont suggested that the power of Floyds death lay in how it may change the hearts of police, not necessarily legislation it might inspire. Other than pledging diversity in future judicial nominations, Lamont has stepped lightly, leaving some fellow Democrats to privately question if he recognizes the potential of the moment, such as the possibility to address housing segregation reinforced by local zoning or education disparities. I mean, I understand the legislators are going to pass a lot of bills and maybe get a task force, have a couple of commissions, Lamont said. Thats fine, and Im with you on that. But Lamont said he was most moved by the Connecticut State Police leaderships challenge to fellow officers to consider another line of work, if they were not horrified by the video of Floyds mistreatment: If you wear a badge and arent appalled by that what you saw, please turn it in and find a new profession; we dont need you. Lamont said that showed good faith. That resonated with me more than five resolutions coming out of the legislature this week or this month. It was very powerful to me, and its a part of how I try to respond. Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said Lamont has shown little sign of learning how to deal with the legislature. I probably still am where I always have been. I like Gov. Lamont as a person. It takes a lot to get very upset with the guy. I dont think he does anything mean-spirited or mean from the heart, Fasano said. But he listens to voices who dont know this building, and they havent served him well. Fasano, a lawyer and a businessman, said he is not talking about the governors senior staff. Lamont intends to stay the course, on consulting from his friends and associates outside the Hartford ecosystem. He still is bullish on the idea of somehow marrying philanthropy to government, despite the high-profile failure of the model for the governors vision: the Partnership for Connecticut. He was stung by dissolution of the Partnership, which was to provide at least $200 million for creative ways to reach disconnected young people. The philanthropy founded by the hedge fund billionaire, Ray Dalio, and his wife, Barbara, pledged $100 million, with a match from the state. It was hampered by transparency issues, if not a clash of cultures that Lamont as of yet seem to fully comprehend. Legislators saw the partnership as an abrogation of public responsibilities, ceding control of $100 million in public money to a quasi-public entity that was allowed to play by its own rules. On the same day he complained about legislatorss treatment of the academics and business executives recruited to help with the pandemic, Lamont said was intent on trying to find a way to make public-private partnerships more palatable in Hartford. I have to figure out how we do better to put together a structure that is transparent, that gives you confidence they are acting in the public interest, Lamont said. Then we can leverage their amazing resources, their intellectual resources and their financial resources. To head that effort, Lamont said he is tapping a Republican and a Democrat. Both are legislators, and the Republican is Len Fasano. Tammy Spears, a resident of Idaho, filed the lawsuit against American Airlines A lawsuit has claimed that American Airlines flight attendants told a blind woman with one leg to 'hop' or 'scoot' down the aisle to use the aircraft lavatory. Tammy Spears, a resident of Idaho, filed the lawsuit against American Airlines and CheapOAir booking service on Monday in federal court in Utah, claiming infliction of emotional distress. The lawsuit claims that Spears' four-hour flight from Salt Lake City to Charlotte, North Carolina was not equipped with an aisle chair for her to use to get to the lavatory. In a statement to DailyMail.com, American Airlines said: 'We take the safety and comfort of our customers very seriously and we're committed to providing a positive experience for everyone who travels with us. 'We have been in contact with Ms. Spears and her family on multiple occasions, and we will address the allegations in the lawsuit in due course.' An American Airline flight flies in to Salt Lake City International Airport in a file photo. Spears claims in a lawsuit that the airline failed to provide an aisle chair on her August 2019 flight According to the suit, Spears was traveling from her home in Idaho to visit relatives in Richmond, Virginia in August 2019. Spears is legally blind, and her left leg was amputated in 2018 for unspecified health reasons, the lawsuit says. She did not have a prosthesis at the time of the flight, and relied upon a wheelchair for mobility. The suit claims that American Airlines advised her to fly out of Salt Lake City due to the airport's accessibility accommodations, and that Spears' family advised the airline at least four days before the flight that she would need access to an aisle chair on her flight. However, once the plane was in flight and Spears asked for assistance getting to the lavatory, flight attendants informed her that no aisle chair had been loaded for the flight, the lawsuit says. The flight attendants suggested that Spears 'hop' on her right leg to get to the facilities, but Spears became exhausted and was unable to hop, the suit claims. 'So they came up with the idea of having first class on the right hand side get up out of their seats and stand back in the plane and hoping I could scoot from chair to chair to chair,' Spears told KMTV. Spears is legally blind, and her left leg was amputated in 2018 for unspecified health reasons, the lawsuit says. She did not have a prosthesis at the time of the flight 'I tried to explain to her, I can't walk to the chair, I'm an amputee. So then, they said okay well, how about getting on the floor, and that's what I did. I crawled or scooted on my bottom all the way through first class, people staring at me looking at me, this nurse did get up, she was a passenger, she was wonderful.' The lawsuit claims that Spears' ordeal did not end there, however, as she was too exhausted to raise herself upon reaching the forward lavatory. The passenger who had been helping the flight attendants stacked up some luggage to raise Spears up, and flight attendants began disrobing her in front of the first class passengers, according to the suit. Then, the attendants insisted that she use the lavatory with the door open, the suit states, for reasons that are unspecified. The complaint says that Spears 'was too humiliated and exhausted, and her need had become too urgent, to resist'. After Spears had finished using the bathroom, she advised the flight attendants that she was too exhausted to get back to her seat. The complain lays out Spears' claims in her lawsuit against American Airlines and CheapOAir The complaint states that flight attendants 'devised another scheme' to get Spears back to her seat which involved Spears 'sitting on a flat of some kind and being dragged inch by inch back to her seat.' Alarmed by these developments, a first class passenger offered to trade seats with Spears for the remainder of the flight, obviating the need for the alleged dragging scheme. The suit accused American Airlines of subjecting Spears to 'pushing, lifting, dragging, falling, crawling, scooting, dropping and humiliation.' Spears purchased her plane ticket through CheapOAir. A representative for the parent company, Fareportal, told the Dallas Morning News in a prepared statement, 'We sympathize with Ms. Spears experience, but the conversation in this regard must be between her and the airline.' 'I can't be the only one who has a handicap you know, it's like I think about what if my mother or something was on that plane, she can't crawl on the floor, I could barely do it,' Spears told KMTV. She expressed her gratitude to the passengers on the plane who tried to assist her, but says that American is at fault for not providing an aisle chair. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages in excess of $75,000. New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Tuesday (June 16) arersted a man from Haryana's Faridabad for allegedly making a hoax call about an impending bomb blast at India Gate in the national capital. The man, identified as Rakesh Mehta, is a labourer who lives with his mother and two brothers in Faridabad's Deepali Enclave. During interrogation, the police found that he was under the influence of alcohol when he made the call. It was also learnt that he was frustrated about not being married even at the age of 40. The police said that the call was made at around 1.40 pm on Monday. The caller said that within the next five minutes, there would a bomb blast at India Gate. Within minutes, a police team along with emergency officer and PCR staff reached the spot. Since it was a critical call, bomb disposal team, water bowser and fire tenders were also alerted to reach the spot immediately, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Eish Singhal. Meanwhile, the police also made several attempts to establish contact with the caller, but he could not be reached, he said. Initially, it was found that the caller lived in Govindpuri in Kalkaji area of Delhi. But when a police team reached the Govindpuri address, it found that the person had shifted to another place five-six months ago, Singhal said. The police team then managed to trace his current location to Vinay Nagar, Faridabad but he was not found there as well, he said. Later, a team of Delhi Police's Special Cell apprehended Mehta from his residence at Deepali Enclave. He was brought to Tilak Marg police station in Faridabad for a joint interrogation in the early hours of Tuesday. Preventive action under relevant sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is being taken against Mehta. He was taken to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for a medical check-up, the police said. (With PTI inputs) If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here New York-based fintech startup Wahed (meaning "One" in Arabic) describes itself as a digital Islamic investment platform and as the worlds first "halal robo adviser." It has now closed a $25 million investment round led by Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Ventures (also known as Waed Ventures), a venture capital investment arm of oil giant Saudi Aramco. Existing investors BECO and CueBall Capital participated, as well as Dubai Cultiv8 and Rasameel. The funds will be used to expand internationally, including developing the companys subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. The platform is currently running in the U.S. and U.K., and has more than 100,000 clients globally. It plans to grow in the largest Muslim markets, including Indonesia, Nigeria, India and the CIS. The three-year-old company has already received a license to operate in Saudi Arabia, and aims to get regulatory approval in 20 countries. According to Crunchbase, Wahed has raised a total of $40 million in funding since its 2015 founding by Junaid Wahedna. Last October, Wahed launched in Malaysia after the Malaysian Securities Commission awarded the company the countrys first Islamic Robo Advisory license. The firm is also considering listing its Islamic ETF on the Saudi stock exchange. Ethical investment and Islamic finance is growing in popularity in Muslim countries so long as it is in line with Islamic ethics, so Wahed looks set to benefit. Commenting on the investment, Junaid Wahedna, CEO of Wahed, said: Were excited to have the support of Aramco Ventures as we foray into the Saudi market. We consider Aramco a strategic long-term partner in both the Kingdom and the rest of the world. Wassim Basrawi, managing director at Waed Ventures, said: We believe in Waheds mission to provide ethical investing. The company has taken the lead in delivering investment services to one of the worlds fastest-growing sectors -- Islamic Finance. Wahed is also, in the true spirit of fintech, helping to broaden the investment landscape. This latest funding round will enable Wahed to make Saudi their regional MENA hub and contribute towards a fast-growing fintech ecosystem. A hair stylist is opening a new business where a salon closed two months ago after 16 years in operation. Deanes Hair Design in Kildare town went into liquidation in April due to a number of trade including loss of business due to Covid-19. The business was founded by sisters Michelle Murray and Karen Fennell who celebrated 15 years trading last year. Jonathan Gayson said he has signed contracts today to lease the vacant premises on Claregate Street for his salon, Lotus Kildare. Hair salons and barbers are due to open during Phase 4 stage of the Government's reopening roadmap from July 20 onwards. Dublin native Jonathan, who is living in Monasterevin, said he was sad to hear that Deane's was closing but he said he hoped to build up his own business in the premises. He said: "I know that Deane's worked very hard to build up a loyal base of customers. "I will be hoping to be open as soon as Government restrictions allow. "The premises is spacious with a ground floor and first floor so there will be room to implement social distancing and make staff and customers comfortable and safe. Deane's Hair Design on Claregate Street also had a training academy. The premises won several awards including salon of the year last year at the Irish Hair and Beauty awards in 2018. In a statement announcing the closure in April, the owners thanked the community of Kildare town for welcoming them and supporting them. Explaining the closure, the statement said: "It was out of everybodys control but being closed for a number of weeks means that without any income our bills are going unpaid and will only get worse in the next few weeks, so we are left with very little option but to close." Mnuchin Vows to Discuss PPP Loan Oversight With Lawmakers On Bipartisan Basis Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday he would talk to Congress about oversight of the governments $660 billion small business relief Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), after earlier resisting calls to disclose the names of recipients and loan amounts. Mnuchin wrote in a tweet he would engage with lawmakers on a bipartisan basis to discuss oversight arrangements that would balance disclosure with appropriate protection of small business information. I will be having discussions with the Senate @SmallBizCmte and others on a bipartisan basis to strike the appropriate balance for proper oversight of #ppploans and appropriate protection of small business information. @SBAgov Steven Mnuchin (@stevenmnuchin1) June 15, 2020 The treasury secretary sparked controversy when he told Congress last week that he would not disclose the names of PPP loan recipients or the amounts disbursed on grounds of it being confidential and proprietary information, in part because data about employee pay is used to calculate loan eligibility. He told the Senate Small Business Committee on June 19 that while we absolutely believe in transparency in regards to the variety of economic relief programs launched to help businesses weather the COVID-19 crisis, as it relates to the names and amounts of specific PPP loans, we believe thats proprietary information, and in many cases for sole proprietors and small businesses, is confidential information. Mnuchin was responding to a question by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) about why the data of businesses receiving the PPP funds was not disclosed on the website of the Small Business Administration (SBA), which administers the program, while comparable information of businesses seeking loans under a similar 7A program is disclosed. Coons said the SBA said it plans to make loan-specific information available for the PPP funds at a future date, but pressed Mnuchin on clarification as to why such data hasnt yet been disclosed. He also sought assurances that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would get access to the data it needs to do its oversight job. So the reason why were not disclosing the names and individual amounts, unlike in the 7A program, is because of that issue, Mnuchin said, referring to the problem of disclosing proprietary information of small businesses, sole proprietors, and independent contractors, including data about salaries. But we are working with the GAO, from an oversight to make sure theyre comfortable and they do have access to information, Mnuchin said. Mnuchins resistance was met with blowback from both Republicans and Democrats, who said it is difficult to appropriately guide government aid during the pandemic without knowing where the money is going. Furthermore, they added the public has a right to see where taxpayer dollars are spent. Given the many problems with the PPP program, it is imperative American taxpayers know if the money is going where Congress intendedto the truly small and unbanked small business. The administrations resistance to transparency is outrageous and only serves to raise further suspicions about how the funds are being distributed and who is actually benefiting, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in a statement Friday. According to the Washington Post, nearly a dozen news organizations have sued the SBA in federal court for the release of PPP loan records. Coons on Monday announced that Democrats have officially introduced the Coronavirus Oversight and Recovery Ethics (CORE) Act (S. 3855), which a news release described as legislation that would ensure stronger oversight, accountability, and transparency in the federal governments response to the COVID-19 crisis. We have to ensure that aid is going to workers and businesses who need it most, not just the businesses with the most political connections. This important legislation will ensure that inspectors general can do their jobs and provide real accountability for the trillions in taxpayer dollars were investing to keep our economy afloat, Coons said in the release. The official introduction of the CORE Act comes as Democrats said they are not receiving enough information about the loan disbursements and fear the Treasury Department has favored large, well-funded companies over smaller businesses in underserved communities. Now 10 weeks after the PPP was launched, the SBA says it has processed 4.5 million loans worth $511 billion. The loans can be forgiven if businesses use the money to keep employees on payroll or rehire workers who have been laid off. - The EPRA announced a litre of kerosene will from Monday, June 15, retail at KSh 62.46 from KSh 79.77 - Super petrol increased by KSh 5.77 to retail at KSh 89.10 from KSh 83.33 it sold at in Nairobi between May 14 and June 14 - The cost of diesel dropped by KSh 3.80 and the product is set to sell at KSh 74.54 from KSh 78.37 Kerosene users in the country have a reason to smile after the recent fuel price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) saw its price slashed by KSh 17.31 per litre. The EPRA announced on Sunday, June 14, that a litre of kerosene will from Monday, June 15, retail at KSh 62.46 from KSh 79.77 as the price of super petrol increased by KSh 5.77 to retail at KSh 89.10. READ ALSO: Raila Odinga denies meeting Waiguru at night in discussion to save her from impeachment Photo: Daily Nation. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Kenyans raise KSh 55K, donate food to widow who cried after Uhuru extended movement cessation The cost of diesel dropped by KSh 3.80 and the product is set to sell at KSh 74.54 from KSh 78.37. "The changes in this months prices are as a result of the increase of average landed cost of imported super petrol by 31.54% from KSh 18,800 cubic metre in April 2020 to KSh 24,800.21 per cubic metre in May 2020," the regulator said in a statement. READ ALSO: Nakuru: Waalimu wa shule za kibinafsi kupata usaidizi kutoka kwa serikali The latest fuel price review in the country could be marking the end of a period when petrol users enjoyed cheaper rates. This was courtesy of the historic plummeting global demand of the product-driven by the coronavirus pandemic which slammed the brakes on both local and international travel. Global oil prices are, however, recovering from unprecedented volatility witnessed globally between March and May. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly Kamotho's mother disowns Tabitha, tells her to set her son free | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke Oregon Gov. Kate Brown will call the Legislature into a special session on June 24 to pass police accountability legislation and adopt some of her coronavirus executive orders into law. Law enforcement oversight will be the focus of the session, Brown said in a statement. Before demonstrations erupted nationwide over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the governor had planned a special session to rebalance the state budget and tackle coronavirus policies. That budget work can wait until a second special session later in the summer, Brown said Tuesday. The publics call for significant police reform is too urgent to wait until the next regular legislative session, the governor said. "Its imperative that the Legislature take action on these issues right away. Brown said she also wants lawmakers to pass into law several pandemic-related policies that I have implemented via executive order, including the temporary eviction moratorium and protecting CARES Act payments from garnishment ... In Oregon, special legislative sessions typically last just one or two days, after the governor and legislative leaders agree ahead of time on what legislation they will consider and check to see that they have the votes to pass it. The Legislature needs a two-thirds quorum in each chamber to conduct business and a simple majority to pass bills other than tax increases. A preliminary list of police reform policies lawmakers are discussing includes: Making it more difficult for arbitrators to overturn discipline of law enforcement officers Creating a statewide database of police officials who have been disciplined Putting the Oregon attorney general in charge of use-of-force investigations Requiring law enforcement officers to intervene and report when colleagues use unreasonable force, under so-called duty to intervene policies Demilitarizing the police by prohibiting or limiting use of certain equipment, for example Banning officers from using chokeholds. Other items on the special session list Brown and legislative leaders are discussing include a grab bag of nearly two dozen proposals, some of which appear targeted to secure Republican support. Among them: a change to aerial spraying regulations that timber companies and environmentalists agreed to earlier this year, tweaks to the states new business tax sought by businesses and a plan to launch a state meat processing plant inspection program that Republicans sought earlier this year. That and several other proposals mentioned for a special session died after Republicans in both chambers walked out of the 2020 short session. Legislative leaders are still working out the logistics of how the Legislature will hold the session amid coronavirus social distancing guidelines. Danny Moran, a spokesman for House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, said they are consulting with public health officials to find a safe way for lawmakers to return to the Capitol. In the state Senate, Majority Leader Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, said in a statement that We have the opportunity to listen to our colleagues in the People of Color Caucus and the tens of thousands of Oregonians calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism. We must start that work now. Black lawmakers have proposed police accountability bills for years but they largely went nowhere because white leaders did not appear to believe they were urgent, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported over the weekend. Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod of Stayton did not share his Democratic colleagues enthusiasm for Browns special session plans. I fail to understand why the governor is calling the Legislature in for a special session, an expensive undertaking for taxpayers, in the middle of a pandemic, when it is not intended to address the state budget deficit," Girod said. The intent of this special session should be to balance the state budget, which is the fundamental job of the Legislature, and provide relief to Oregonians suffering from the ongoing COVID-19 economic disaster. Instead, the Governor is prioritizing policy bills. Girod pointed out the Oregon Supreme Court recently upheld Browns coronavirus executive orders, meaning she does not need lawmakers to vote to keep them in effect; he did not mention police accountability legislation. Other Republican lawmakers said police reforms are a priority for a special session. Last week, Republican Sen. Lynn Findley of Vale and Reps. Rick Lewis of Silverton and Ron Noble of McMinnville joined issued a joint press release with Democrats stating their support for a bill to make it more difficult for arbitrators to overturn police discipline. Lewis and Noble are both former police chiefs. On Tuesday, Republican Rep. Cheri Helt of Bend said in a statement that she wants to strengthen police accountability starting with outdated union contracts that protect bad cops and give our many good cops a bad name during the special session. She also wants to do something to fix the states notoriously clunky and unresponsive unemployment insurance system and protect workers, businesses and non-profits from COVID-19 related lawsuits. Brown, who has repeatedly called on the federal government to give states more coronavirus aid, appears to have made the decision to delay the budget rebalance only in the last day or so. Legislative leaders had scheduled committee meetings this week to discuss potential budget cuts, and House Speaker Tina Koteks spokesman Danny Moran wrote in an email Tuesday that those meetings will now be canceled. The speaker supports this approach, hoping that the federal government will pass a fourth coronavirus relief package before the Legislature convenes to rebalance the budget, Moran wrote. Although Brown, Kotek and others are holding out hope Congress will send rescue funds to patch states budgets, Brown said she will announce a plan by the end of the week to cut $150 million from the states general fund budget. Oregon is halfway through a two-year budget cycle and economists on May 20 predicted that the revenue hit from the coronavirus crisis could put the states general fund $664 million in the red by June 30, 2021. The states general fund and lottery budget is roughly $25 billion. -- Hillary Borrud: hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. TORONTO, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: PFIA) Picton Mahoney Asset Management announced today that it has declared the June 2020 monthly cash distribution of $0.0366 per unit for the ETF units (ETF Units) of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Alternative Fund. Unitholders of record of the ETF Units, at the close of business on June 23, 2020, will receive a per-unit cash distribution payable on June 30, 2020. About Picton Mahoney Asset Management Picton Mahoney Asset Management specializes in differentiated investment solutions and rules-based volatility management. Picton Mahoney helps its clients fortify their portfolios based on experience honed over the years through different market cycles and investing environments. Founded in 2004 and 100% employee-owned, Picton Mahoney is a portfolio management boutique entrusted with over $7.4 billion (as at May 31, 2020) in assets under management. Pioneers of Authentic Hedge investment principles and practices in Canada, the firm offers a full suite of investment solutions, including mutual and alternative funds, to institutional and retail investors across the country. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Alternative funds can only be purchased through a registered dealer and are available only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale. For further information please contact: Arthur Galloway Picton Mahoney Asset Management Tel: (416) 955-4108 Web site: www.pictonmahoney.com Email: service@pictonmahoney.com Grub has made an entry into the UAEs food delivery marketplace today, launching its services across Dubai. Offering a flexible and easy to manage system, the platform offers simple flat-rate mobile food delivery for local restaurants and wholesalers. The mobile app has arrived at a critical time and is offering venues 0 per cent commission for the first six months if they sign up in the launch month, the new app is intended to help outlets that are struggling to manage costs, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Grub concept has been in the pipeline for the past 18 months, during this time all of the integrations have undergone rigorous testing by restaurant owners. The app is set to soft launch this week in the Beta phase. Unlike most delivery platforms, Grub will begin operations while only taking a AED1 ($0.2) success fee per order, which is a game changing rate amongst the current delivery aggregators. Conceptualised by the restauranteur and COO of Grub, Edgar Jimenez, Grub aims to support restaurant owners amidst a monopolised delivery world. He commented: "Ive experienced first-hand the struggle to connect with a client base via food aggregators. At Grub, were extremely passionate about helping our restaurant community not only navigate through the public health crisis, but also take control of the customer experience, so restaurants can thrive as the industry begins to recover. Further extending relief to the restaurant community, restaurants have the creative control of their pages, whereby they can upload all their content and control discounts and offers themselves. Additionally, restaurants can map their delivery areas and use their drivers or, at an affordable cost, they can opt to use a third-party driver as an option from the app. For customers, Grub is designed to be user-friendly and is a free to use mobile food-ordering application available on iOS and Android that offers a variety of quality restaurants and wholesalers from which to choose. Knowing that your food and community is being handled with care and honesty makes the whole dining experience that much better. From our customer satisfaction to our partner restaurants level of control and accessibility, we want to enhance the standard of delivery services in the UAE and ensure that the right people are being rewarded for their hard work, said CEO of Grub, Michael Andersen. - TradeArabia News Service As one who's had a number of journalistic disputes with The New York Times, I've long been mystified at the newspaper's lofty reputation among educated readers. The Times' woeful performance during the 2016 presidential election alone -- from its promotion of the Breitbart-inspired Uranium One "scandal" to its obsession with Hillary Clinton's accursed emails and James Comey's grandstanding -- ought to have put people on warning. What's more, if expressing crackpot views were an obstacle to being published on the Times opinion pages ... Well, let's just leave it at that, shall we? One farce at a time. What's different this time has been a staff rebellion against Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton's authoritarian call to arms in "the newspaper of record." Also the Times' admission that "the essay fell short of our standards and should not have been published" and the subsequent resignation of opinion editor James Bennet. That should be no surprise, given that Bennet admitted that he hadn't even read, much less edited, Cotton's factually deficient, inflammatory essay before it appeared on the newspaper's website. Everybody says that Bennet, whose older brother is Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colo., is a fine fellow and a talented editor -- characterizations I have no reason to doubt. But such a dereliction of duty would be shocking at a high-school weekly. Meanwhile, on balance, things have worked out awfully well for the author. The disputed column remains on the Times website under the staff-written but accurate headline "Tom Cotton: Send in the Troops." True, editors have appended a prefatory note to the effect that the essay's tone is "needlessly harsh" and its factual assertions questionable. At best. Dear reader, do you believe that during an outbreak of looting and arson in New York City in response to George Floyd's murder, wealthy people in "exotic cars" went sightseeing in midtown Manhattan? "The riots," Cotton solemnly informs us, "were carnivals for the thrill-seeking rich as well as other criminal elements." Ah, those decadent East Coast liberals. Do you reckon any of those fancy cars Cotton heard about might have been stolen? But more about Cotton's lurid imagination later. The Arkansas senator is sitting pretty with the Trumpist far-right. No less an authority than Boss Trump himself inaccurately asserted that editor Bennet had resigned in protest over Cotton's article, and tweeted that "The State of Arkansas is very proud of Tom. The New York Times is Fake News!!!" Three exclamation points. That's a lot. All this for a labored exercise in soft-core fascism that calls for combat troops to occupy American cities to violently suppress demonstrators in blatant disregard of the U.S. Constitution. That's right, I used the dreaded "f-word." Not every far-right authoritarian nationalist is a would-be Hitler. That's why I wrote "soft-core." Iraq War veteran Cotton, however, appears to get a thrill out of envisioning combat soldiers like him beating up civilians. Following up on Twitter, he called for "No quarter for insurrectionists, anarchists, rioters, and looters." Or as Trump himself has put it, "When the looting starts, the shooting starts." In military parlance, "no quarter" means killing. On Twitter, fellow Iraq War veteran David French cites the U.S. Army's "Commander's Handbook on the Law of Land Warfare," to the effect that such orders constitute a war crime. Cotton may have used the phrase purely for its political shock value. Also, however, maybe not. Times staffers also objected to his assertion that "cadres of left-wing radicals like antifa [were] infiltrating protest marches ... for their own anarchic purposes." The newspaper's own reporting, citing FBI and police sources, says there's no evidence of that. Indeed, I have my doubts about the dread antifa, in the sense of its being an organization that actually exists. Who are its leaders? Where do they meet? "Antifa isn't even real," one Minneapolis law student told a reporter, adding that anarchists aren't much of a threat, either: "As an actual person who identifies with the political label of anarchist, the only thing anarchists do is have meetings where they argue for five hours and get nothing done." Sounds like every bunch of academic leftists I've ever known. But what really sticks in the craw of career soldiers who resist having the Pentagon drawn into domestic politics has to be Sen. Cotton's malicious misreading of the U.S. Constitution. He appears to envision an America whose president can send combat soldiers into any civil disorder whether mayors or governors like it or not. He sneers at "delusional politicians ... [who] refuse to do what's necessary to uphold the rule of law." But that's not what Section 4 of Article 4 of the Constitution says. Governors and legislatures may petition the federal government for help, yes, but the president has no authority to dispatch troops against their wishes. Nobody countenances arson and looting, but local authorities across the U.S. have brought the situation under control -- a credit to the discipline and seriousness of protest organizers, as well. Despite his exemplary military record, Sen. Cotton appears to have panicked. Arkansas Times columnist Gene Lyons is a National Magazine Award winner and co-author of "The Hunting of the President" (St. Martin's Press, 2000). You can email Lyons at eugenelyons2@yahoo.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Kington, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/16/2020 -- QuickBooks Desktop possesses a multi-currency features that allows businesses to track income and expenses in multiple currencies while tracking previous exchange rates. There are several benefits to using the multi-currency feature including the ability to reconcile foreign accounts like banks and credit cards in their native currency, without having to worry about the exchange rate, invoicing customers in their native currency, purchasing orders to vendors in their native currency and the call to QuickBooks to automatically calculate gains or losses on foreign exchange as well as track the exchange rate on foreign currency transactions. The Multiple Currency feature was introduced to the QuickBooks US Editions in 2009 and International Editions in 2010. Using the multi-currency feature in QuickBooks does not always turn out as expected, however. For example, only current exchange rates can be downloaded. Online payment of invoices cannot be enabled for multiple currencies and automatic memorized transactions cannot be set up in foreign currency. With the Multi-Currency feature, it is very important to remember that once the feature is enabled, it cannot be turned off and once the home currency is set, it cannot be changed. Enabling this feature also hinders the migration of data from QuickBooks Desktop to Online and being unable to select multiple customers in invoices for Time and Expense windows. "We highly recommend a backup be made of the QuickBooks company file before turning on the multicurrency feature. As an alternative you can also convert amounts to Microsoft Excel and then paste your calculations into QuickBooks records," John Rocha, Technical Services Manager of E-Tech, said. E-Tech promises an end to the multicurrency dilemma by offering a money-back guaranteed service to replacing multiple currencies from QuickBooks with only a single currency so the data file can be converted to QuickBooks Mac or QuickBooks Online. This service is offered with the US, UK, and Canadian versions of QuickBooks. For more information, visit: https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/quickbooks-data-conversions/multiple-currency-removal-service/ About E-Tech E-Tech is the leading service provider of QuickBooks File Repair, Data Recovery, QuickBooks Conversion and QuickBooks SDK programming in the UK and Ireland. In their 20 years plus of experience with Intuit QuickBooks, they have assisted over 1000 satisfied customers with their requirements. E-Tech UK covers US, UK, Canadian, Australian versions which include Reckon Accounts, and New Zealand versions of QuickBooks through PC and Mac platforms. For media inquiries regarding E-Tech, individuals are encouraged to contact Media Relations Director, Melanie Ann via email at Melanie@e-tech.ca. To learn more about the company, visit: https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/ Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Jakarta, Indonesia Tue, June 16, 2020 17:50 584 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf39e2f 2 National Indonesia,FBI,fugitive,child-sex-offenders,Child-sexual-abuse Free An American fugitive wanted at home in connection with a $700 million cryptocurrency scam has been arrested in Jakarta on sex charges, Indonesian authorities said Tuesday. Russ Medlin, who entered the Southeast Asian nation on a tourist visa last year, was nabbed in the capital Monday after three teenage girls alleged he paid to have sex with them, police said. If convicted under Indonesia's child protection laws, Medlin could face up to 15 years in prison, police said, adding that they confiscated more than $20,000 in cash from the suspect. "After the arrest, we checked his identity," Jakarta police spokesman Yusri Yunus told reporters on Tuesday, adding Medlin was sought by foreign law enforcement agencies. According to the Nevada State sex offender public website, a Russ Albert Medlin was listed as a "non compliant" tier-two offender -- the second most serious -- with a Las Vegas address. In December, the US Justice Department said three men had been arrested in an alleged fraud that raised $722 million from investors lured by fake bitcoin mining earnings. Prosecutors in the United States allege Medlin headed the "BitClub Network," which took money from investors in a "high-tech Ponzi scheme". From April 2014 through December 2019 the group attracted unsuspecting investors using fraudulent earnings purported to come from the network's mining pool, according to prosecutors. It was not immediately clear if US authorities would seek Medlin's extradition in the cryptocurrrency case. "We are still waiting for a request from the US Embassy," Jakarta police's special investigation director Roma Hutajulu said Tuesday. The US embassy did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Black people are under the same duress of hate and racism in Illinois from private homes, government systems and businesses in the Land of Lincoln, Ford said. The death of George Floyd was hateful and racist. The killing of George Floyd created a moment in time where the world stood up against racism and hate. The killing of innocent people of any kind is hateful. Its the wrong choice to use your free will for. The mistreatment of people for the color of their skin or the person they love is hateful and racist. Today, we speak with one voice to condemn hate and racism in Illinois. Fort Bend ISD With the start of the new school year fast approaching, the question for many Fort Bend ISD parents remains: what will school look like next year? Administrators outlined tentative plans Monday for elementary students through sixth-graders to return to the classroom with adjusted schedules alongside plans still under development for a combination of continued virtual classes and classroom instruction for middle and high school students. We understand there is a lot of hard work ahead of us, board president Jason Burdine said during trustee discussions. In addition to logistical challenges created by new COVID-19 social distancing requirements, districts across the state will be challenged by higher costs to provide much smaller student-to-teacher classroom ratios and unravel the complicated issue of transporting students to and from school next year. Administrators are also challenged by continued uncertainty as they await direction from Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which is expected to announce new guidelines later this week. A night club has been fined $10,000 for breaching COVID-19 social distancing rules only 12 months after a fatal drive by shooting at the same venue. The Love Machine club at Prahan, in Melbourne's south-east was shut down after being raided by Victoria police on Saturday night. The club had been advertising a live-stream event 'Diamond Saturdays' in the lead up to the weekend. The Love Machine nightclub at Prahan, in Melbourne's south-east was shut down after being raided by Victoria police on Saturday night (Pictured: police tape cordons off Malvern Street after a drive by shooting at the same venue on April 14 2019) The nightclub allegedly held an illegal gathering of more than 50 patrons, resulting in a $10,000 fine by Victoria police (stock image) Victoria Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia the night club breached the Chief Health Officer's COVID-19 directives. According to the Age, the misdemeanor related to hosting a function of more than 50 people. The venue operator will be fined $9,913 for the beach, in addition to another $991 for breaching liquor laws. Police returned to the club on Monday morning to request CCTV footage from inside the club as part of investigations. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Love Machine for comment. The venue has been surrounded by controversy after two people died outside the club during a drive by shooting 12 months ago. The venue has been surrounded by controversy after two people died outside the club during a drive by shooting 12 months ago A security guard and an innocent bystander were killed on April 14 last year when bullets were allegedly fired out of a passing car towards the Love Machine nightclub in Prahan (pictured: blood covers the floor outside the venue after the 2019 shooting) A security guard and an innocent bystander were killed on April 14 last year when bullets were allegedly fired out of a passing car towards the Love Machine nightclub in Prahan. Four others were injured after being struck by bullets in the attack. The venue has reportedly been struggling to attract patrons after the attack despite replacing the security firm and appointing new promoters since the incident. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has given the green light for pubs and clubs to reopen for up to 50 patrons from June 22. However they must abide to directions around providing four square metres per patron. After the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta and other recent cases of fatal police encounters, the public clamor for changing the culture of policing is running up against powerful opposition in the form of police union leadership. But in cities like St. Louis, Miami and New York, some of the calls for significant reform are coming from another place: within police departments themselves, among smaller pockets of officers who don't necessarily feel heard by their police unions or the department brass, which are largely white. While these mostly Black police officers' organizations aren't as big and so don't wield the same influence as unions and fraternal orders with bargaining power and political pull, they do exist in dozens of communities and often share the same views as the residents they serve on issues of racial discrimination, inequality and overaggressive policing. "This is a new era in America, and we have to embrace the change," said Charles Billups, president of the Grand Council of Guardians, a Black law enforcement association in New York whose membership includes about 3,000 New York Police Department officers. "If you keep recycling those same people in leadership positions, you'll never get real change. We have to get out of the past and move into the future." But that can prove to be difficult in places like Chicago, where John Catanzara, the newly elected president of the police union, the Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge 7, said last week that any officer in uniform seen kneeling alongside protesters would be subject to discipline, and in Minneapolis, where union boss Lt. Bob Kroll has defied demonstrators' calls to resign over his divisive comments about the Floyd case. Image: Protesters march near the Minneapolis Police 1st Precinct on June 13, 2020. (Kerem Yucel / AFP - Getty Images) While Billups said he doesn't support efforts to completely abolish the law enforcement structure, he said the need for addressing racial injustice within policing and the militarization of policing in communities of color are issues that can no longer be ignored. Story continues Until police departments more accurately reflect their communities and, in turn, union leadership represents the diversity of a department, Billups added, legislation that seeks to revamp police procedures will continue to be impeded by an "old guard." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed police reform bills that include banning the use of chokeholds and repeal of a law that has kept police disciplinary records secret for decades legislation that had for years failed to budge under heavy pressure and strong tough-on-crime rhetoric from law enforcement lobbyists. As mighty as police unions present themselves, they have historically veered away from the larger organized labor movement, which has been outspoken in recent years in support of investigations into fatal police shootings. The Fraternal Order of Police, the largest police union in the United States, for example, is not affiliated with the AFL-CIO. In a statement Monday, the national FOP said it is optimistic about police reform efforts under President Donald Trump and the Senate GOP and has provided feedback to the House's bill, which would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants in drug cases. "In our view, President Trump and Congressional leaders are working constructively with law enforcement and community stakeholders to undertake earnest law enforcement reforms that will make our officers and the public they protect safer," the organization said. The death of Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police has been a major catalyst for reform. A Black officers' organization in Miami renewed its complaints about racism within the department and highlighted incendiary remarks by a former police chief in the 1960s "When the looting starts, the shooting starts" that were echoed by Trump in recent weeks. "We're talking about Black men dying. We're talking about systemic racism in police work," Ramon Carr, the vice president of the Miami Community Police Benevolent Association, which has 300 members and represents about 60 sworn officers, said Friday. The association has clashed with Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina, a 30-year veteran of Florida's largest municipal police department, and on Friday demanded he resign after he confirmed using racist language in 1997 during what he said was a training class. "We believe Chief Colina harbors implicit biases and it reflects today on the department," Sgt. Stanley Jean-Poix, the association's president, said. "Whenever we talk to him about our issues, he's tone deaf." But Colina on Friday defended himself in a video, admitting to using "offensive" words, but as a teaching moment. According to internal documents shared by the Miami Community Police Benevolent Association, Colina had used a racial epithet to describe Overtown, a historically Black neighborhood of Miami. "In 1997, I was an undercover police officer ... and I was teaching a class," Colina said. "I started the class by saying that I was going to be using language that could be very offensive. And that was the point. When you're working undercover, you may have to act and say things you may not normally say otherwise, whether they make you uncomfortable or not. And then I gave many examples of what they could be." Colina added that the police chief at the time did raise concerns to him about some of the language he used and he was issued a reprimand. "Not because I'm a bigot or racist, but because they weren't happy with some of the language I used," Colina said. Related: He also touted the increased number of Black employees now working for the department during his tenure, and accused a "group of individuals" of using Floyd's death for "self-severing purposes" to push their own agenda. But members of the Miami Community Police Benevolent Association said they would continue calling on city commissioners to dismiss Colina, saying they believe he has neglected to act sufficiently against officers known to have a pattern of racist complaints against them. Related: The demands for reform from within are playing out differently in other cities where the racial dynamics all depend on who holds power. St. Louis' police union, which represents about 1,300 rank-and-file members of the Metropolitan Police Department, has sparred with Police Chief John Hayden, who is Black, over his handling of protests this month related to Floyd's death. In a letter to Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, the St. Louis Police Officers' Association said that officers had lost confidence in Hayden for failing to squelch unrest, and that the state should deploy the highway patrol and the National Guard. Among the violence that roiled the city was the shooting of four police officers and the killing of David Dorn, a retired St. Louis police captain who was shot while responding to looting at a friend's pawn shop. But in a retort to the union, Hayden took a swipe at union business manager Jeffrey Roorda, saying in a tweet that Roorda "feels a need to thrive on crisis, attempts to invoke panic, and is accustomed to an environment wherein he can control the Chief of Police. A person who is as controversial and divisive as he is, through his words and actions, has no seat at my table, and I am not alone in this sentiment." Download the NBC News app for breaking news and alerts Roorda did not immediately return a request for comment about how the union views calls for police reform. Roorda, who is white, has been an outspoken proponent of officers' rights and incited a controversy last year when he posted on Facebook "Happy Alive Day" to Darren Wilson, the former Ferguson, Missouri, police officer on the fifth anniversary of the day Wilson, who is white, fatally shot Michael Brown, a black teenager. Roorda has also been at odds with Kim Gardner, the city's first black chief prosecutor, who earlier this year grabbed headlines for suing the city, the police union and others for what she called a "racially motivated conspiracy" to prevent her from doing her job. Roorda has dismissed Gardner's claims, saying that she wants to "persecute cops instead of prosecuting criminals." Hayden has found some support from the city's mostly Black police organization, the Ethical Society of Police, which is not a traditional union like the Police Officers' Association but does offer legal representation for its roughly 315 members. Homicide Sgt. Heather Taylor, the society's president and a 20-year St. Louis police veteran, said the Police Officers' Association should be expected to defend officers in the face of disciplinary action or accusations of wrongdoing, but she believes that white officers, who make up about 65 percent of the department, are given preferential treatment over Black officers. The number of Black officers, she added, has fallen in recent years, from 36 percent to 30 percent of the department. "The POA has never filed a lawsuit about discrimination when we know there's systemic racism," Taylor said. "If representation hasn't been equal for all officers along racial lines, what do you think it's going to be like for the community that encounters these bad officers?" The Ethical Society of Police is supportive of legislation introduced last week by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen to reform use-of-force policies, although Taylor said city leaders for years have lacked the conviction to act, particularly after the fatal police shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, a Black man, in 2011 and the violent unrest that followed in 2017 after the white officer who killed him was acquitted of murder. Marcia McCormick, a law professor at St. Louis University who has researched the police union's role in the city, said St. Louis has a long, complicated history of people holding on to power to the benefit of their social circles and to the detriment of Black citizens who have historically endured the effects of segregation and higher arrest rates. Until change comes to these institutions, sweeping police reform will likely remain out of reach, McCormick added. "That's the challenge," she said, "is that it doesn't happen." This story has been updated with comment from the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality and the Michigan Sheriffs Association. As the nation moves toward police reform, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Tuesday proposed a list of ideas to make the states police more accountable. Nessels plan stops short of calling to defund the police," which some reformers have said would mean cutting or re-prioritizing police budgets, one of the largest taxpayer expenditures in most municipalities. Nessel received some blowback after a June 6 post she made to Twitter, sating she was saddened by the demonization of all police officers and calls to defund law enforcement. Calls to abolish police departments and destroy their funding sources are not the solution, she said in a response to the ensuing threat. My heart breaks for those who have been the subject of police brutality and officers who engage in such conduct should be held fully accountable. Accountability, not defunding, is at the heart of Nessels proposed plan. Protesters continue to march the streets of Detroit after 10 days of protesting on Sunday June 7, 2020. This protest is in response to police brutality and the death of George Floyd, who was held by a Minneapolis police officer.Mikayla Carter | MLive.com The attorney generals ideas range from streamlining investigations, creating a publicly accessible police misconduct registry" and taking away retirement benefits from bad officers to creation of an independent process for investigating civilian deaths involving police. At the foundation of Nessels plan is a call to grant more oversight powers to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES), the agency that licenses police. But, in many respects, MCOLES lacks sufficient authority to oversee law enforcement professionals and to revoke the licenses of police officers who demonstrate poor moral character or violate the public trust, a statement issued by Nessels office said. The proposals aim to create oversight for law enforcement agencies and their officers similar to many of the professions and professional licenses required across the state, along with a comprehensive approach to evaluating misconduct complaints and imposing disciplinary actions by a single agency, MCOLES. Nessels proposed reforms include: Allowing MCOLES to suspend or revoke a police license if the officer engages in conduct that adversely affects the ability and fitness of the police officer to perform" their job duties, or conduct that is detrimental to the reputation, integrity or discipline of their police department. Mandating the retention of all disciplinary records in an officers personnel file Creation of a public misconduct registry" including verified misconduct claims. Forfeiture of retirement benefits by officers found guilty of felony misconduct while on duty. Requiring orderly reporting of use-of-force incidents that identify: race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion and age. Creation of an independent investigative and prosecutorial process for deaths that involve the actions of law enforcement officers." Required continuous police training as a condition of retaining a license in the education Efforts to improve and standardize "police policies and training, including de-escalation, cultural competence and implicit bias training. Currently, MCOLES may only revoke a police officers license if they are found to have lied during the licensing process or if they are found guilty of certain felonies or misdemeanors. Unfortunately, these limitations coupled with the added protections of collective bargaining agreements can make it very difficult to strip a law enforcement officer of his or her authority until it is too late, a summary of the proposed reforms said. According to the Attorney Generals Office, due to union contracts and rules, disciplinary records are often purged from an officers personnel file after a period of time, which can make it harder for agencies to fire bad cops and it deprives the public of complete information about an officers disciplinary history. There should be a centralized registry of misconduct that is accessible by the public and to law enforcement agencies across the state to make it more difficult for a bad officer to move to another jurisdiction, Nessels office said. Chris White, the director of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, an organization thats often critical of law enforcement, said problematice cops seem to easily hop from department to department and by the time theyre finally driven out of law enforcement, they damages lies sometimes in three or four different municipalities." White supports the proposed changes but believes the public has to play a larger role. He likes the idea of MCOLES taking on more power to fire and suspend officers but worries law enforcement bias could remain, since nearly everyone who sits on the MCOLES board is current or former law enforcement. Our views are not being represented adequately, he said. Its just a law enforcement organization ... In order to eliminate police brutality we have to have a fair representation of community leaders. " ... As advocates, we cant trust the police to police the police." White said he was impressed with some of Nessels bold proposals, since he expects she;; receive a large amount of resistance from the powerful police unions. "Its hard to reform policing because its an industry with agencies that dont really want to partner with communities ... "White said. They have no problem doing public relations stunts, but real, community-led policing, thats a problem with reforming police departments. " ... Police departments inability to be transparent ... also leads to problems with reforming. They want reform on their terms, if they want reform at all." While many officers continue to receive retirement benefits or other perk, regardless of their conduct, Nessels office said officers who severely injure or kill a member of the public in the course of duty through misconduct or excessive force" should not receive ongoing financial benefits from the public. Requiring agencies to report use-of-force incident data is of public interest and can be critical to identifying issues of systemic racism, bias or inadequate and improper training, Nessels proposal summary said; and requiring an independent investigation into police-involved civilian deaths can help ensure the investigations and prosecutions are impartial and will help bolster public confidence in the process." Signs are held while protesters march the streets of Detroit on Sunday, June 7, 2020. Protesters continue to march the streets of Detroit after 10 days of protesting on Sunday June 7, 2020. This non-violent protest is in response to police brutality and the death of George Floyd, who was held by a Minneapolis police officer.Mikayla Carter | MLive.com The Police Officers Association of Michigan, a union that represents hundreds of departments across the state, isnt ready to weigh in on Nessels specific proposals. They would, however, like to be part of the reform process, said Kenneth E. Grabowski, legislative director for the union. The attorney general and many other elected officials are issuing press releases with proposed language and they are doing it without conferring with the stakeholders, such as a Police Officers Association of Michigan, Grabowski said. "The Attorney Generals statement said that they are going to ... work with some of the different groups that it affects, so we look forward to working with her and trying to resolve some of the issues. Some of the stuff is good, some of it is bad and some of it is already being done. Grabowski declined to elaborate. We still have to look it all over, he said. Similar to Grabowks, Michigan Sheriffs Association Director Matt Saxton, the former sheriff of Calhoun County, said non of Nessels proposals were shared with discussed with his organization. There is some merit to her ... seven proposals and we have actively been working with legislation on training reform, community police options, so were here to be a leader in reform and work with the communities we serve to best keep them safe, Saxton said. "They are all a great starting point for the conversation. I think some of them need legislation to be enacted. Some of them need all parties to sit down together ... and some of them are already being done. More on MLive: What defund the police means to reformers Ann Arbor to radically rethink, possibly disarm police Detroit protesters to discuss 23 demands with Mayor Duggan on Monday Protesters cause chaos overnight in downtown Kalamazoo Callers to Grand Rapids town hall on policing talk about defunding, militarization Grand Rapids policing town hall Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The world's largest proxy adviser has advised Tesla investors should vote against the re-election of its Australian chairwoman Robyn Denholm, citing high compensation for board members as well as billions of dollars worth of shares board members have pledged as security for personal loans. Tesla under Ms Denholm's stewardship has failed to give reasonable rationale for consecutive years of high director pay, Institutional Shareholder Services said in a report ahead of the electric carmaker's shareholder meeting on July 7. Ms Denholm, and company founder and chief executive Elon Musk are two of the three directors facing re-election at the meeting. The recommendation against Denholm is a setback to Tesla. Credit:Tesla ISS also flagged "significant concerns" about the increase in the number of shares Mr Musk and other board members have used as collateral for loans. To convey the profound friendship between the people of China and France, and as the European Music Festival unfolds, the China Cultural Center in Paris joined hands with China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater, along with Chinese artists in France and students at the center and successfully held Poetic Fragrance from China: Traditional Chinese Music Concert, an online concert of traditional Chinese music. Chinese ambassador to France Lu Shaye and former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Artists from both home and abroad stepped onto the same stage and performed online for audiences of both China and France, sending out prayers for a winning battle against COVID-19 and best wishes for the safety of the people. It marked a new chapter of friendship between China and France. As put by Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye in his speech, Chinese folk musical instruments are the crystallization of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, and a gem in world culture. As 39th French Musical Festival opens, artists from the China National Opera & Drama Dance Theater and teachers and students from the China Cultural Center in Paris are joining hands to present nine classic Chinese and French pieces played with traditional Chinese instruments. He praised the long-held cultural exchanges between China and France. Ever since the onset of COVID-19, China and France have kept watch and helped one another. The two have shared weal and woe, worked closely with one another and jointly pushed forward international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19. As the phrase "Unis nous vaincrons" goes, China and France have penned a new chpater in friendship. He also stressed that even though viruses know no borders, neither does love. This unprecedented pandemic once again proves humans share a common future. Only if countries around the world work together can we build a better and more beautiful world. The pandemic allowed us to feel closer to the people of the world, and a deeper understanding of one another is more important than ever. Former Franch prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin opened his speech with "xiexie", the Chinese term for "thank you". He expressed gratitude toward artists who have contributed to make this music festival possible and toward friends who have helped nurture the cultural relation between China and France. He stressed that culture lies at the core of the Sino-French relationship. China and France are both ancient civilizations. Culture is an indispensible part in both countries for mutual understanding and respect to deepen communications and exchange at an emotional level. "COVID-19 has harmed the health of human beings, and forced us to distance ourselves from others and close ourselves up. Nevertheless, we all know that this global challenge can only be conquered through cooperation. Culture plays a vital role in the promotion of the cooperative spirit in global development. I want to thank the artists. Thank you for your thoughts and creativity. I also want to thank us, for having a shared passion for beauty. Music is a celebration, and culture is friendship," he added. Prince William, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were seen out in public for the first time in months today as they returned to royal duties after lockdown. Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, who were in isolation at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, made an unannounced visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital this afternoon, where they observed strict social distancing while speaking to frontline workers. During a conversation with one healthcare worker, Charles revealed he lost his sense of taste and smell while suffering from coronavirus in March and said it hasn't yet fully returned. Later Prince William, 37, paid a visit to King's Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Norfolk, close to his and Kate Middleton's country home of Anmer Hall, to thank staff for their dedication - and admitted he's looking forward to a pint in the pub. The duke also admitted he's been busy baking during lockdown, and joked he's 'worried about the waistline of the nation'. The visits mark the first public outings for any member of the royal family since the start of lockdown on 23 March. Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, who were in isolation at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, made an unannounced visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital this afternoon, where they observed strict social distancing while speaking to frontline workers (pictured) Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall appeared in excellent spirits during the visit (left). Right, the prince raised his hands in a namaste gesture as a non-contact greeting Just hours later Prince William, 37, paid a visit to King's Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to thank staff for their dedication The hospital is close to William and Kate Middleton's country home of Anmer Hall, on the Queen's Sandringham estate During the hospital visit, Prince Charles spoke to Jeff Mills, 47, a healthcare assistant from Cheltenham General Hospital, about contracting Covid-19 in March, after developing mild symptoms. Mr Mills said: 'He [Prince Charles] did speak of his personal experience, so first-hand experience for him. He also spoke about his loss of smell and taste and, sort of, still felt he's still got it now.' Charles and Camilla were careful to maintain social distancing during the visit today and remained on a path while workers - including nurses, cleaners, consultants and care workers - were positioned at 2m intervals on the grassy bank along one side. Prince Charles, dressed in a grey suit, waved to workers and put his hands together in the Thai 'wai'. He used the gesture in his final royal engagements before the start of lockdown. Camilla, who wore a long-sleeved blue dress in a light summer fabric, appeared in equally good spirits and spent time speaking to the healthcare workers. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall maintained social distancing as they spoke to key workers outside the hospital this afternoon (pictured) Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall took part in a socially distant TV interview Hospital workers stood two metres apart on the grassy bank (pictured) while the royals walked along the path outside the hospital Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, who are used to being greeted by tightly packed crowds, instead spoke to hospital workers at a distance The Duchess of Cornwall appeared animated as she spoke to staff on her first public engagement since the start of lockdown Camilla talked about a recent family reunion, seeing her grandchildren for the first time since lockdown, saying: 'First time last weekend. Not hug them, but see them - a great treat.' Asked if the country's appreciation of the NHS has changed for good, the duchess replied: 'I think it has, you can tell by all the people coming out every week to clap - they've done the most remarkable things. 'The way they've looked after people, the way they've sort of kept control of the whole thing, you know, it's a question of not panicking and getting on with it and I think they are Britain at its best.' In a lighter moment, Prince Charles quipped about the arrangement: 'I was just thinking we should tell them to fall out, shortly,' while his wife joked: 'I feel they're going to take a salute or something.' Prince Charles appeared in excellent spirits during the engagement at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital today The Duchess of Cornwall is shown a knitted tribute to NHS staff by Chief Executive Officer, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation, Deborah Lee The couple were careful to maintain social distancing on their visit to the hospital today Prince Charles was in a jovial mood as he spoke to hospital staff in the grounds today After meeting the staff, Charles said: 'It's been a marvellous opportunity just to have a chance of seeing people I know have been doing so much - literally on the front line. 'And having to endure an awful lot of stress and strain in their wonderful way - how they do it I don't know. But delivering everything in the most effective way. 'And the great thing they were all saying is it's brought different departments together in a way that hadn't always happened before, so there's been a great deal of marvellous co-operation I think.' With lockdown restrictions being eased, the royal family have chosen this week to take a step towards a return to normality - with a series of face-to-face public engagements. The Duchess of Cornwall chats with NHS staff and front line key workers who who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic Prince Charles looked engaged as he heard more about the work carried out at the hospital At one point the royal used a handkerchief to wipe something away from his face, pictured Prince Charles gave a huge goodbye wave to staff members following the visit On Thursday, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to the UK. The Princess Royal was also due to visit the nearby Duke of Gloucester Barracks to see military personnel being tested for Covid-19 before heading overseas. On Saturday the Queen attended a mini Trooping the Colour ceremony at Windsor Castle - the first time any member of the royal family had attended a national event since lockdown. Charles and Camilla have spent almost three months at Birkhall in Scotland, where the prince recovered from Covid-19 after contracting the virus in March, suffering with mild symptoms. Prince William met paramedic staff, maintaining social distancing, from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust during a visit to the Ambulance Station in King's Lynn The Duke of Cambridge, 37, thanked staff from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) for their work and dedication responding to the COVID-19 outbreak During the visit he took the opportunity to ask about their experiences over the past few months Prince William maintained social distancing while speaking to ambulance crew members Later the Duke of Cambridge, 37, thanked staff from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) for their work and dedication responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. During the visit he took the opportunity to ask about their experiences over the past few months. He heard about the work that has been carried out to ensure that the EEAST has been able to continue to provide its services throughout the pandemic, including working collaboratively across blue lights services, and the personal measures which staff have taken to support these efforts. The crew also spoke to the Duke about the support they have received from members of the public, local businesses and volunteering networks. William paid tribute to the NHS as a whole, and spoke about the weekly applause for health and care workers that recently came to an end. The Duke of Cambridge places a thermometer in his ear to check his temperature as he arrives at the Ambulance Station in King's Lynn, Norfolk He said: 'Was Clap for Carers a big deal for you? It was powerful wasn't it? We are very busy and when everyone stops and finds a way to acknowledge, very publicly and very visibly, what the service does (that's) very important. 'Everyone appreciates the NHS, we have an amazing system, it's a great health service and many countries around the world envy what we have. It's not until you have a big crisis, a pandemic, and everyone realises we have to really make sure we value and we show our appreciation.' In a lighter moment the duke joked: 'I look forward to messages when we can drink more and go out to the local pub and have a pint.' He added: 'I'm worried about the waistline of the nation as well, with all the chocolate and cakes. I've done a lot of baking at home. Chocolate goes down very well.' During the visit, Prince William took the opportunity to ask about the staff's experiences over the past few months The duke was told staff had enough masks and other items during the Covid-19 outbreak, but the personal protection equipment was a 'barrier' to treating terrified patients - although they found a way to cope. William is likely to know the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk, as he worked as a helicopter pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity. Some paramedics at King's Lynn, which is close to William's Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, had been away from their families for three months to keep them safe, and he thanked them for their 'sacrifices'. Staff told the duke that managers had been given three hours of 'Spot the Signs' training to support workers. The duke also met an old colleague, Carl Smith, a critical care paramedic who worked with William at the air ambulance charity. Mr Smith described the distress patients, especially the elderly, showed when crews first arrived at the scene in their protective outfits to treat Covid-19 patients in their homes. In a lighter moment the duke joked: 'I look forward to messages when we can drink more and go out to the local pub and have a pint,' and added that he's been busy baking in lockdown He said: 'It was a really difficult time. We were the first people (on the scene) and they were frightened and a lot of them were frail. It was upsetting to see the look on their faces when we had the PPE on.' Before leaving William turned to all the staff and said: 'Thank you for all your hard work.' Mr Smith said after the visit: 'It was really exciting to get the opportunity for him to see exactly what the NHS is doing. He has always been very keen with his role in the air ambulance. 'He is used to wearing PPE and appreciates the barrier it puts up for patients, they can't see our faces and elderly people are scared and not able to see us talking. He has an appreciation of the impact on our job.' Before leaving William turned to all the staff at the station and said: 'Thank you for all your hard work' EEAST provides round-the-clock accident and emergency services to 6.2 million people living in the east of England. The service operates over 130 sites and works closely with other blue lights partners, including air ambulances, to ensure that every patient receives the best possible care. During the visit, Prince William also heard about the impact that the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the mental health and wellbeing of first responders. The vice-chairman of Shelleng Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Kama Bakta, has been kidnapped. An official of the local government said Mr Bakta was kidnapped in the early hours of Tuesday in his hometown, Bakta. So sad, the vice has been kidnapped by the kidnappers today about 1:20am of 16th June 2020 a black day. Hon.Kama Lazarus Bakta. Vice chairman shelleng LGA, the source said in a message to this reporter. Another resident of the community said the kidnappers came in their numbers brandishing guns and made their way into the house of the politician at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday. They fired shots into the air to announce their arrival and immediately whisked the politician away. The whole thing was so scary as no one could muster the courage to challenge the kidnappers who looked ready to waste anyone who dared them. The town is right now overtaken by grief because if the number two citizen in the local government is not safe, who is safe, the resident, who is close to the politician, asked. Confirming the kidnap, the police spokesman in the state, Sulaiman Nguroje, said the police have mobilised local hunters and are currently on the trail of the kidnappers. READ ALSO: I can confirm to you that the police as well as the local hunters have mobilized and are on the trail of the kidnappers. We will do our best till victim is released and the perpetrators brought to justice, the deputy superintendent of police said. Kidnap for ransom has become rampant in Adamawa and many other parts of Nigeria, same as other forms of criminality such as attacks by bandits and communal violence. Filmmaker Punit Malhotra in an Instagram post has called for people to be kind to each other in real life, as opposed to expressing concern on social media. Punit is a frequent collaborator of filmmaker Karan Johar, who had condoled Sushant Singh Rajputs death on social media. Many on social media, however, alleged that the filmmaker had mocked the actor on his show, Koffee with Karan, in the past. On Instagram, Punit shared a picture of a message that read, You can post a suicide prevention phone number all you want but if you really want to help prevent suicide, depression and self-harm, stop being such a**holes to each other online and in real life. So true, one person wrote in the comments section. Amen to that, wrote another. Earlier in the day, actor Saif Ali Khan had said that the film industry is famously competitive and the pretence of caring for Sushant was an insult to him. I mean, we dont care about anybody. You know, its a very cutthroat line of work. But to pretend that you do care is like the ultimate hypocrisy and I think thats an insult to the dead, you know, its an insult to the soul thats gone, he said in an interview to The Times of India. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs Sonchiriya co-star Ranvir Shorey blasts Bollywood hypocrisy, recalls story from awards show Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur had tweeted after his demise: I knew the pain you were going through. I knew the story of the people that let you down so bad that you would weep on my shoulder Kangana Ranaut shared an angry video, in which she said that the late actor was not given his due as he was an outsider, and was constantly told that he was worthless. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs US-based sister reveals what her son said when she told him Mamu is no more Sushant was cremated at Mumbais Vile Parle crematorium on Monday, and the service was attended by the likes of Shraddha Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Abhishek Kapoor and others. The actor was known for his acclaimed performances in films such as MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Sonchiriya, Kai Po Che, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, among others. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indian military sources said no firearms were used in the clashes and that most of the injuries were sustained following stone-pelting and use of rods by the Chinese side. Twenty Indian Army personnel including a colonel were killed in a fierce clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, the biggest military confrontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated the already volatile border standoff in the region. The army initially said on Tuesday that an officer and two soldiers were killed. But in a late evening statement it revised the figure to 20 saying 17 others who "were critically injured in the line of duty and exposed to sub-zero temperatures at the standoff location succumbed to their injuries." Government sources said the Chinese side too suffered "proportionate casualties" but chose not to speculate on the number. However, ANI reported that Indian intercepts reveal that the Chinese army suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured in the violent face-off. It is the biggest confrontation between the two militaries after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La when India lost around 80 soldiers while over 300 Chinese army personnel were killed in the confrontation. The casualties take both sides into uncharted territory at a time when the government's attention is focused on fighting the COVID-19 crisis that appears to be ballooning by the day. "Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020, the army statement said. It did not say how the casualties occurred and did not mention any firefight between the two sides. Indian military sources said no firearms were used in the clashes and that most of the injuries were sustained following stone-pelting and use of rods by the Chinese side. The officer killed in the clash was identified as Colonel Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of the 16 Bihar regiment, and a native of Telangana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah in the evening where he carried out a comprehensive review of the situation in eastern Ladakh where the two armies have been in a standoff for over five weeks. It is understood that India decided to continue with a firm approach in dealing with China's aggressive behaviour along the nearly 3,500 km de facto border. Military sources said major activities by Chinese air force were observed along the areas in eastern Ladakh, adding that the two armies held Major General-level talks at the site of the clash. In a statement, the external affairs ministry said the violent face-off was the result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo in the region and that both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided if the agreement arrived earlier was scrupulously followed by the Chinese side. "Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control. We expect the same of the Chinese side," MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. China's official media on Tuesday quoted the Chinese military as claiming that it "always" owned sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region and alleged that "provocative attacks' launched by the Indian troops resulted in "severe clashes and casualties." In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry officials were silent on the casualties suffered by the PLA troops, but Hu Xijin, the editor of the ruling Communist Party-run Global Times tabloid, tweeted to say that there are casualties on Chinese side too. "Chinese and Indian military personnel broke out in a severe physical conflict in the Galwan Valley. The Indian side stated that three people died in the Indian Army. According to my urgent knowledge of people familiar with the situation, there are also casualties on our side?, she said. However, the Global Times later tweeted that the "official Global Times accounts have NEVER reported the exact casualties on the Chinese side. The Global Times CANNOT confirm the number at the moment. In its reaction, China alleged that the Indian troops twice crossed the de-facto border on June 15 for "illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel" which led to serious physical conflict. A large number of Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks, including. in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row. In their first serious efforts to end the row, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held a nearly seven-hour meeting on June 6. The meeting was followed by two rounds of Major General-level talks. The Indian side has been pitching for restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from the areas which India considers on its side of the LAC. Monday's clashes came two days after the Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane said both sides have begun disengaging from Galwan Valley. He said on Saturday that both sides are "disengaging" in a phased manner. "We have started from the north, from the area of the Galwan river where a lot of disengagement has taken place. It has been a very fruitful dialogue that we have had," he had said. Following the standoff in eastern Ladakh, the two sides have deployed additional troops along the LAC, the de-facto Sino-India border, in North Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh in the last few days, the sources said. After the standoff began early last month, the Indian military leadership decided that Indian troops will adopt a firm approach in dealing with the aggressive posturing by the Chinese troops in all disputed areas of Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie. The Chinese army has been gradually ramping up its strategic reserves in its rear bases near the LAC by rushing in artillery guns, infantry combat vehicles and heavy military equipment. The trigger for the face-off was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley. The road in the Finger area in Pangong Tso is considered crucial for India to carry out patrols. India has already decided not to stall any border infrastructure projects in eastern Ladakh in view of Chinese protests. The situation in the area deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. Uttarakhand reported 67 fresh coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive cases on Tuesday, as the overall tally in the hill state rose to 1,912. A Covid-19 positive patient (56) also died at Haldwani-based Susheela Tiwari Government Hospital on Monday. So far, the viral infection has claimed 25 lives in Uttarakhand. A bulletin issued by the state health department on Tuesday said the deceased Covid-19 patient was referred to Susheela Tiwari Government Hospital from Base Hospital in Haldwani. The deceased woman had returned from Delhi to Almora by bus on May 26 amid the easing of nationwide lockdown restrictions, which were imposed to contain the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak, and was advised to remain quarantined at her home. Of the 67 fresh Covid-19 positive cases reported on Tuesday, seven were local residents and four were primary contacts of those who had earlier contracted SARS-COV-2, which causes the disease, and two were healthcare workers from Dehradun. The rest of the Covid-19 patients have returned to Uttarakhand from Maharashtra, Delhi-national capital region (NCR), Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. The new Covid-19 positive cases were reported from the following districts: Almora (10), Dehradun (12), Haridwar (8), Nainital (2), Pauri Garhwal (2), Tehri Garhwal (14), Pithoragarh (7), Udham Singh Nagar (8), and Uttarkashi (4). On Tuesday, five Covid-19 patients, including Dehradun (4) and Almora (1), were discharged from hospitals after they recovered from the viral infection. Uttarakhand has tested over 47,000 swab samples of which the results of over 4,600 are still pending. Dehradun district has reported the maximum number of Covid-19 positive cases at 493, followed by Nainital (340), Tehri Garhwal (308) and Haridwar (219). While Uttarkashi district is the least affected by the viral outbreak, as it has reported 38 Covid-19 positive cases to date. The hill state has a recovery and an infection rate of 62.45% and 4.61%, respectively. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON DENVER A Denver neighborhood is on track to change its name, possibly ending a decades-long debate over its association with a former mayor known for his Ku Klux Klan connection. The 11 elected neighborhood delegates of the Stapleton Master Community Association said Sunday they plan to vote to recommend changing the name at a meeting Wednesday, The Denver Post reported. The neighborhood was named for former Denver Mayor Benjamin F. Stapleton and built beginning in 2001 on the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. Stapleton was the Denver mayor for 20 years between 1923 and 1947 and a member of the KKK. The death of George Floyd and the ensuing unrest has heightened the discussion of a possible name change for the neighborhood. Floyd, a black man, died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck while he was handcuffed and lying on the ground. His death prompted protests across the U.S. and around the world against police brutality and racial injustice. More than 65% of voting property owners opted to retain the Stapleton name in a referendum last summer. The community associations recommendation will be followed by a vote by a community board of directors. Brookfield Properties Development, the communitys master developer, and the city and County of Denver need to approve a name change. Former gubernatorial candidate and state treasurer Walker Stapleton, the great-grandson of the former mayor, tweeted Sunday that he was disappointed the democratic process represented by previous resident votes was being overlooked. But Stapleton said he supported the name change if it brings more equity, fairness and opportunity for Denver residents and Colorado residents of color. skaman306/Moment, Getty Images People who drink large amounts of alcohol have nearly fivefold odds of experiencing a potentially deadly type of stroke compared with those who drink very little or not at all, a new study finds. But researchers didn't rely on people to self-report how much alcohol they consumed. Rather, they looked at blood concentrations of phosphatidylethanol (PEth), a biomarker reflecting alcohol consumption over the past month. The study, published Tuesday in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke, included 277 middle-age men and women in Sweden. The odds of having an intracerebral hemorrhage, or ICH, during the 22-year study was nearly five times higher for those with the highest PEth blood concentrations than those with the lowest concentrations. ICH is a type of stroke caused by a blood vessel rupture that leads to bleeding in the brain. The strokes occurred, on average, within seven years of the blood test. PEth measurements don't indicate frequency or volume of drinking, only whether alcohol was in the system in recent weeks. Researchers used PEth results to divide study participants into groups: heavy drinkers, moderate drinkers and those who drank very little or not at all. For those who drink alcohol, the AHA recommends men limit it to one or two drinks per day and women one drink per day. "We had expected that a high alcohol consumption would predict risk for ICH, but I was surprised at the magnitude of the increased risk," said the study's lead author, Dr. Kristina Johansson of Umea University in Sweden. "I was also surprised that the biomarker PEth was so much better at predicting risk for ICH, compared to alcohol consumption measured by questionnaire," she said. Previous studies linking alcohol consumption to increased risk of ICH have relied on self-reported alcohol use. The new study, however, found self-reported alcohol use was not effective at predicting risk for future strokes. "Patients tend to underreport how much alcohol they routinely drink," said Dr. Hugo J. Aparicio, an assistant professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine and an investigator with the Framingham Heart Study. He was not involved in the new study. "This is a relatively small study, but their findings do confirm that high alcohol use is associated with a higher risk of ICH. As we move toward more personalized medicine, biomarkers may have a role in helping people assess their true risk," he said. ICH is the second most common type of stroke in the United States, with an estimated mortality rate of about 40% within one month of the stroke. It also can cause severe disability in those who survive. One thing biomarkers don't tell you, cautioned Aparicio, is whether a person is binge drinking or has chronic, daily drinking habits. "The biomarker only tells you so much. It does not show you the type of alcohol a person is drinking or show you their drinking patterns." Johansson said using the biomarker in addition to asking patients about their alcohol consumption could give doctors valuable information about someone's disease risk. "PEth analysis could be part of a regular health exam," she said, "where the health care provider could use the patient's PEth level as a starting point for discussing the possible implications of heavy alcohol consumption. It's important for both patients and health care providers when discussing lifestyle changes and when treating other risk factors for ICH, such as high blood pressure." It is those doctor-patient conversations that are key, Aparicio said. "If you have a good relationship with your primary care provider, you might be able to have a more forthcoming discussion about your alcohol habits. A good interview and the time to have that interview are just as important." Explore further Even 'low-risk' drinking can be harmful American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org. The life of billionaire Jeffrey Epstein was laden with luxury. He owned a multi-storey townhouse in Manhattan, an apartment in Paris, a ranch in New Mexico, an island in the Caribbean, a private jet. Yet for all its opulence, Epstein's world was an ugly place: a corrupt and exploitative environment where girls were routinely sexually abused. Spending time in the world of the financier, as two recent documentaries do, is likely to leave a viewer feeling grubby, queasy and angry. But Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (Netflix) and Who Killed Jeffrey Epstein? (Foxtel ID), two quite different productions, also demonstrate why streaming services have become such an important home for documentaries. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in New York in 2005. Credit:Getty Images Epstein died in August last year, soon after being taken from his cell in New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center, the official verdict being suicide. Yet his story lives on and not just because the circumstances of his death have proved fertile ground for conspiracy theories. The sordid story has a range of reliably intriguing elements: sex, class and powerful people. It's also about the protective cloak that money can buy. As both shows attest, the moneyman was a master manipulator who wormed his way into the upper echelons of business and society with well-connected English socialite Ghislaine Maxwell by his side. Despite a conviction in Florida in 2008 for procuring an underage girl for prostitution and allegations of financial misdeeds, he hobnobbed with political leaders and corporate barons, with scientific, academic and technology chiefs, and with a prince, who enjoyed his hospitality and largesse. India castigated Pakistan on Monday for raising the issue of Kashmir at the United National Human Rights Council (UNHRC). First Secretary of India's Permanent Mission, Geneva, Senthil Kumar, exercised his Right of Reply at the 43rd session of the UNHRC, to reply to the statement Pakistan made on Kashmir. "Its unfortunate that Pakistan continues to maintain its track record of misuse of the Human Rights Council and its mechanism. It's a matter of serious concern that Pakistan being the only country in South Asia of effecting a state-sponsored genocide would have the audacity to accuse others of it," he said. Kumar said it was dangerous that Pakistan attempts to destabilise the well-established of the council, to pursue its "narrow political agenda" against India. Before giving advice to anybody, Pakistan should first look at its own human rights track record, Kumar said. "It's questionable that a country of serious credibility issues would talk about human rights and self-determination. This country emerged out of religious fundamentalism and bloodshed and its history rigged with assassinations, coups and puppets running," he said. "Enforced disappearances, state violence and forced mass displacements, harassment, extrajudicial killings, army operations, torture, kill-and-dumps, torture camps, detention centres, military camps are regular features in Baluchistan," he pointed out. He drew further attention to Pakistan's track record of human rights, saying - "Nobody knows the fate of missing 47,000 Baloch and 35,000 Pashtuns till date. Sectarian violence has claimed more than 500 Hazaras in Baluchistan and more than 100,000 Hazaras have fled Pakistan." According to Kumar, India's move to revoke Article 370 of the state of Jammu and Kashmir does not have external ramifications. "Systemic misuse of Blasphemy in Pakistan has terrorized the minorities in Pakistan. The recent fate of two Hindu girls in Sindh, one Christian girl in Lahore, one Ahmadi lady in Chaleki, two professors from Khairpur are the examples of systemic targeting of minorities through blasphemy laws. The state of Pakistan is well manifested in the impunity in the murder of 65 transgenders in Pakistan since 2015," Kumar said. New Delhi, June 16 : The Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet on June 23 and will discuss the issue of stand-offs with China and Nepal. The meeting was decided upon after 3 Indian army personnel were killed by Chinese forces in Galwan Valley and Nepal adopted a resolution to print a new map which has Indian territory. Sources in the party said that the incident at the LAC is unacceptable to the party and the relationship with Nepal is at an all time low. Congress Chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on the killing of Indian soldiers: "Shocking, Unbelievable & Unacceptable! Will the Raksha Mantri confirm?" Three Indian Army personnel, including an officer, were killed on Monday night during a violent face-off with Chinese People's Liberation Army troops at Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh region. India and China are engaged in a diplomatic resolution of the stand-off. But on Nepal, Congress leader Karan Singh slammed the government for mishandling India-Nepal ties over a resolution in Nepal's House of Representatives to adopt a new map claiming Indian territory. The Nepal House of Representatives on June 13 unanimously adopted the Constitution Amendment Bill, paving the way for accommodating the updated political-administrative map in the national emblem which includes Indian areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura. The CWC will also discuss the Covid pandemic and its handling by the central government. The European Union has opened two competition investigations into Apples (AAPL) App Store and its Apple Pay service. The European Commission announced the twin probes on Tuesday, saying it would investigate whether the services broke EU competition rules. A spokesperson for Apple said the investigations were disappointing and founded on baseless complaints. Apple iTunes and App Store vouchers. (Matthew Horwood/Getty Images) We follow the law in everything we do and we embrace competition at every stage because we believe it pushes us to deliver even better results, the spokesperson said. The App Store investigation concerns a requirement that developers use Apples in-app purchase system when building apps for its platform. Investigators are concerned this could artificially increase prices for consumers and decrease choice. Apple sets the rules for the distribution of apps to users of iPhones and iPads, EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. It appears that Apple obtained a gatekeeper role when it comes to the distribution of apps and content to users of Apple's popular devices. We need to ensure that Apple's rules do not distort competition in markets where Apple is competing with other app developers, for example with its music streaming service Apple Music or with Apple Books. The investigation follows a complaint from Spotify and an unnamed e-book distributor, which claimed Apples rules hurt their ability to compete against the Californian tech giant. Spotify first complained in March last year, with the e-book publisher complaining in March 2020. A spokesperson for Spotify said: We welcome the European Commissions decision to formally investigate Apple, and hope they'll act with urgency to ensure fair competition on the iOS platform for all participants in the digital economy EU competition watchdog executive vice-president Margrethe Vestager. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images) Separately, Vestager said she would investigate Apple Pay, the digital wallet and payment service introduced by Apple on its devices in 2014. The European Commission has concerns that Apple Pays terms and conditions may limit competition. It is also investigating whether Apple restricts access to tap and go technology on its devices, denying rival payment services the opportunity to benefit. Story continues It is important that Apple's measures do not deny consumers the benefits of new payment technologies, including better choice, quality, innovation and competitive prices, Vestager said in a statement. A spokesperson for Apple said: It's disappointing the European Commission is advancing baseless complaints from a handful of companies who simply want a free ride, and don't want to play by the same rules as everyone else. We dont think thats right we want to maintain a level playing field where anyone with determination and a great idea can succeed. In a separate release on Monday (15 June), Apple said its App Store facilitated more than half a trillion dollars in sales in 2019, with 85% of money going to developers and app owners. The European Commissions investigations are the latest in a string of major competition and tax probes involving US tech giants. In 2016, Vestager ordered Apple to pay Ireland 13bn (12bn, $15bn) in back taxes the largest corporate tax fine in history. Apple is contesting the decision. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Wellington, New Zealand Tue, June 16, 2020 10:05 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf122e1 2 World New-Zealand,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,pandemic Free New Zealand reported two cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, ending a three-and-a-half week spell without any fresh infections, health authorities said. Both the new patients were recent arrivals from the United Kingdom, the health ministry said. "The ministry can confirm today two new cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand related to the border as a result of recent travel from the UK. Both cases are connected," it said in a brief statement. New Zealand's borders are open only to returning Kiwis and their families, besides some exceptions for business and compassionate grounds, with everyone undergoing two weeks mandatory quarantine. The South Pacific nation, which has recorded only 22 deaths among a population of five million, declared last week that it had eliminated community transmission of the virus. As a result, domestic restrictions including social distancing requirements and limits on public gatherings were lifted, although strict border controls remain. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that she had not declared the country virus-free because "New Zealand will have cases again in the future". "Of course, our hope and expectation is that should be at the border... if they've quarantined, of course, that's a very different story than in the community," she told reporters, adding "it's an ongoing campaign". When Finished, the 24 Storey Building Will Feature a Total of 226 Flats LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2020 / The founders of Spot Blue International Property are pleased to announce that a city-centre building which would rise to 24 storeys and include 226 apartments has been given approval by Birmingham City Council at a remote meeting on Thursday 4 June. To contact Spot Blue International Property and learn more about buying or selling a property, please visit https://www.spotblue.com/contact/ Land on the corner of Summer Hill Road and Goodman Street in Birmingham has been set aside for the proposal which would feature 226 flats in total. A council document published ahead of the meeting said: "The BDP encourages residential development in the city centre where it provides well-designed high quality living environments. "Greater Ickneild is changing and the proposed development would help its further regeneration, providing much needed housing and a large investment on this area. "It signals a confidence in the area, as a location for residential development, an aspiration that the city is supportive of. "The justification for a tall building in this location is accepted, the design is to a good standard and subject to safeguarding conditions the scheme would provide a high standard of residential accommodation. "Furthermore the public benefits of the scheme outweigh the less than substantial harm caused to the setting of nearby heritage assets." A document submitted to the council on behalf of the applicant added: "This development will create valuable new housing stock in an area of known demand which is close to local retail and other amenity facilities, local employment centres and transport links. "The building is comfortable within its context, adopting some of the historic principles from the existing street patterns as well as considering the contemporary surroundings, relating well to the adjacent buildings. Story continues "In addition to this, there is a focus on high-quality design and materials which will contribute to the street scene and make this a striking addition to the townscape improving the general quality of the built environment in the area." Just launched to the sales market, this development comprises of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments with prices from 199,995 Pounds for 1 bedroom to 449,995 Pounds for duplex penthouses. For further details see https://www.spotblue.com/property-for-sale/united-kingdom/west-midlands/birmingham/ or Contact Spot Blue on +44 (0)20 8339 6036 or email them on info@spotblue.com. About Spotblue.com: Spot Blue International Property is one of the UK's leading international property agencies, with hundreds of properties regularly listed and updated on its website. As well as helping developers promote their projects to the UK and other foreign markets, Spotblue.com features properties for sale by private individuals. Spot Blue only promotes property of developers that pass its due diligence assessment. It also specialises in matching buyers with suitable properties. Countries where it operates include Turkey, Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, Barbados and the UK. The company's high profile in the UK means it is regularly quoted in the national press and invited to appear on panels at leading seminars and exhibitions. For more information, please visit https://www.spotblue.com/. CONTACT: Mr Julian Walker info@spotblue.com +442083396036 SOURCE: Spot Blue International Property View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/593998/New-Iconic-Development-is-Approved-in-Birmingham-B1-UK-Postcode Black Lives Matter protesters have marched through the streets of Oxford today as senior college board members prepare to discuss the future of a monument to Cecil Rhodes. The ardent imperialist and mining magnate in southern Africa is one of dozens of names appearing on a list of statues protesters want to see removed for their links to racism and colonialism. Today at 2pm board members at Oriel College, which opened in the Rhodes College in his name in 1911, will meet to discuss the future of the 19th century politician, for whom Rhodesia, present day Zambia and Zimbabwe, was named after. Protesters marched through Oxford on Tuesday ahead of a vote that will decide the future of a statue of Cecil Rhodes Black Lives Matter protests took to the streets on Tuesday, with around 200 people thought to be in attendance The Rhodes Must Fall movement started in 2015 in South Africa, where students managed to have a statue of Rhodes removed from their campus - attempts to do the same in Oxford have so far been unsuccessful Protests were peaceful as students and Oxfordians marched from Union Street to Oriel College, which opened its Rhodes Building in 1911 after receiving a 100,000 from the former student, who died in 1902. One of the orange high-vis clad organisers was father-of-four James Kimani. He said: 'This is the first time I have protested, I am doing it for my four sons. I moved here to Oxford in 1998 and I have experienced racial inequality. 'Police in the USA are worse but it still happens here. There was a time when there was a policeman who stopped me for no reason and I was kept in a police cell for 24 hours. It just proves it does happen here. 'For me it is less about the statue of Rhodes than the movement itself, if people want to tear it down and decolonise I'm all for it. Let's see what we can do,' the 46-year-old added. A petition with 180,000 signatures calling for the statue to be removed is the latest rallying cry in five years of campaigning. In 2015 students at the University of Cape Town successfully lobbied to have a statue of the imperialist taken down. However attempts to change the name of Rhodes University were unsuccessful. The Cecil Rhodes statue outside Oriel College in Oxford is facing fresh calls to be removed Oxford was the latest scene for Black Lives Matter protests on Monday, as demonstrators took to the streets to make their voices heard Today's protesters took place ahead of a meeting tomorrow between Oriel College board members, who will discuss the future of the Rhodes statue Protesters threw salutes as they marched towards Oriel College in Oxford on Tuesday The Rhodes Must Fall campaign soon arrived at Oxford. In January 2016 students voted to remove the statue in a poll not affiliated with the university. To date the statue still stands, but recent Black Lives Matter protests have brought up feelings the statue should be removed - particularly in the wake of a monument to Edward Colston being pulled down and dumped in the harbour in Bristol. On Sunday Oriel Middle Common Room - the college's student body - passed a motion to endorse the removal of the Rhodes statue. In total 124 students voted for it 62 against, and 17 abstained. The statue of Cecil Rhodes was erected in his honour by Oxford University's Oriel College after he made a donation for a new building. Earlier today the Rhodes Must Fall Oxford movement tweeted: 'Oriel College Governing Body will meet tomorrow 17th June 2020 to decide the fate of the statue. Join #RhodesMustFall at the #BlackLivesMatter march TODAY - lets remind Oriel the world is watching. #Decolonise you heard right this is #FreedomSummer' Protests in Oxford following growing unrest over racial inequality, following the death of George Floyd in police custody in the US Protests were peaceful as Black Lives Matter groups marched through Oxford on Tuesday Speaking from today's March was 38-year-old Vkeana Bastita who was FaceTiming her niece in the Dominican Republic. 'I think it's brilliant. I've been FaceTiming my niece because she loves to see this, we are making a change. 'I was only visiting Oxford but I felt I needed to get involved in such a necessary cause. She loved it, she was chanting along,' she said. Critics argue Rhodes paved the way for the apartheid in southern Africa, and raise issue with his time as leader of the Cape Colony, from 1890 to 1896, when government restricted black Africans' rights by increasing the financial criteria people required in order to vote. Police were out to make sure there was no disorder, following recent clashes during protests in London and elsewhere in the country Rhodes Must Fall: A timeline of events March 2015: Students at University of Cape Town begin protest to remove statue. April 2015: After a vote by the university's council, the statue is removed May 2015: A vote is held at Rhodes University, South Africa, to change the name of the university. The vote is defeated. January 2016: Vote held by Oxford students in Oxford Union, not affiliate to Oxford University, vote to remove the statue. January 2016: Leaked report reveals the university faces huge funding loss if it removes the statue. June 2020: The Rhodes Must Fall campaign is thrown into the spotlight among growing anti-racism protests by the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of American George Floyd. It gains particular attention following the toppling of a statue to slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol. Advertisement In 2003, Nelson Mandela joined forces in 2003 with the Rhodes Trust - the charity set up by Cecil Rhodes' widow to fund educational scholarships - to form the Mandela Rhodes Foundation to help build a 'better future' for disadvantaged Africans. Standing in London's Westminster Hall at its launch, anti-apartheid leader Mr Mandela declared it a 'symbolic moment in the closing of the historic circle'. 'In this, I am certain, Cecil John Rhodes and I would have made common cause,' Mr Mandela said at the time. The University of Oxford's Chancellor, Lord Patten, accused protestors of 'hypocrisy', stating that a scholarship created by Rhodes had benefitted hundreds of scholars, with a fifth coming from Africa. 'For me there is a bit of hypocrisy in Oxford taking money for 100 scholars a year, about a fifth of them from Africa, to come to Oxford, and then saying we want to throw the Rhodes statue in the Thames,' Lord Patten told the BBC. 'For all the problems associated with Cecil Rhodes's history, if it was all right for Mandela, then I have to say it's pretty well all right with me.' Last week Oriel College issued a statement, which read: 'As a college, we continue to debate and discuss the issues raised by the presence on our site of examples of contested heritage relating to Cecil Rhodes. 'Speaking out against injustice and discrimination is vital and we are committed to doing so. 'We will continue to examine our practices and strive to improve them to ensure that Oriel is open to students and staff of all backgrounds, and we are determined to build a more equal and inclusive community and society.' Topple the Racists, which has listed dozens of statues it wants to see removed across Britain, describes Rhodes as a 'white supremacist'. Listing Mr Rhodes on its website, the group wrote: 'Oriel College, University of Oxford, has refused to take down this statue of Rhodes despite protests. Most signs being waved during today's protest bore Black Lives Matter slogans, while there were also chants of 'decolonise' and 'Rhodes must fall' A 'hit list' of 78 statues and memorials to some of Britain's most famous figures has been created by an anti-racism group urging local communities to remove them because they 'celebrate racism and slavery' 'Oxford claims to be in support of creating an equal space for students of all backgrounds, but how can they with a glorified white supremacist as a figurehead for one of their colleges? 'Oxford needs to take down the statue of Cecil Rhodes if they are ever to prove that the University is truly dedicated to equality and racial justice.' An Oxford student - who did want to be named - said: 'I believe in freedom of speech but I don't believe in defacing property. To me that is a violent protest and I really hope it doesn't end that way here. 'They're drowning out other voices which is something we should value. If there is violence it would be totally ironic.' Another Oxford local, a pensioner calling herself Hoonie said: 'I am bearing witness. It's the third protest I've been to in a week. I don't think it will make any difference to black lives to be frank but the point is to get it off their chests. 'Saying that, I have written to the university because I want that statue to come down. I won't be telling you why but I have a great story.' The activists behind Topple the Racists have said they were inspired by the 'direct action taken by Bristolians', referring to the tearing down of slave trader Edward Colston's statue on two weeks ago, before it was thrown into the harbour. The next in line? BLM supporters have pinpointed a list of their next targets, but the most widely shared are (top left to bottom right) 1) Lord Nelson tried to stop abolition (Nelson's column) 2) Sir Thomas Picton 3) Thomas Guy - London, Guy's Hospital 4) Sir Robert Peel 5) Sir Francis Drake 6) William Beckford 7) Henry Dundas 8) Clive of India 9) John Cass 10) General Sir Redvers Buller 11) Lord Kitchener 12) Ronald Fisher 13) Lord Grey - Grey's Monument - Newcastle Upon Tyne, Grainger Street 14) Oliver Cromwell Statue - London, Houses of Parliament 15) Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde Statue - Glasgow, George Square 16) William Ewart Gladstone 17) William Leverhulme Statue - Wirral, outside Lady Lever Art Gallery 18) William Armstrong - Memorial - Newcastle Upon Tyne, Eldon Place 19) King James II Statue - London, Trafalgar Square 20) General James George Smith Neill, Wellington Square, Ayr In details showing how statues are chosen, the website says the hit list includes 'cases where there is responsibility for colonial violence', adding that 'judgement calls' had been on cases where history is more 'complicated'. Memorials to monarchs such as King Charles II and King James II make appearances on the list, as well as Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. Monuments have been targeted in 39 towns and cities, with 12 located in London, and six in Bristol. Five of the one in Bristol celebrate Colston, including two schools, a tower and a renowned music venue which is set to change its when it reopens in the autumn. Responding to the suggestions that some buildings built with the profits of the slave trade could be torn down, the group said they can 'just be renamed'. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, June 11, 2020 07:38 590 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf0dcc0 1 National Prabowo-Subianto,anies-baswedan,Ganjar-Pranowo,ridwan-kamil,2024-presidential-election,2024-presidential-candidate,Agus-Harimurti-Yudhoyono,COVID-19,coronavirus Free Being the governor of a capital city like Jakarta could certainly help Anies Baswedan remain in the limelight, and his strong leadership in the fight against COVID-19, which involved a high-profile squabble with the central government, could have easily won him support from the public. But a new public opinion poll conducted at the height of the pandemic has shown that Anies has struggled politically, and in terms of electability rating, he is lagging behind his peers in West and Central Java. Jakarta-based pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia found that Anies' electability rating was down from 12.1 percent in February to 10.4 percent in May. Anies' slump in the polls took place against the backdrop of the trending upward of Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil as potential candidates for the 2024 presidential race. The electability ratings of Ganjar and Ridwan increased 2.7 percent and 3.9 percent in the May survey. Of the 1,200 people Indikator Politik Indonesia interviewed for the latest opinion poll, 11.8 percent said they would vote for Ganjar if the election were held today, and another 7.7 percent said they would vote for Ridwan. Read also: It's Prabowo vs. Anies in 2024, survey says Also struggling is defense minister and chairman of the Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto, who is also expected to run in the 2024 presidential election. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's term will expire in 2024 and he will be barred from seeking reelection. Prabowo's electability rating has dropped more than eight points in the past months. The Gerindra chairman gets the approval of just 14.1 percent of the respondents, a steep drop from 22.2 percent in February. In the February survey, both Anies and Prabowo came out as the two strongest contenders for the 2024 presidential election. Political analysts, however, said it was not the end of the road for Anies. Indonesia Political Review executive director Ujang Komarudin said the improved electability ratings of governors amid the COVID-19 pandemic tended to be temporary because the latest poll had yet to reflect a stable number and who dominated the headlines. Their electability ratings are all below 15 percent. This means that the others still have plenty of time to improve their image and jack up their numbers, Ujang told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, adding that the Indikator Politik Indonesia survey did not specifically assess how governors were dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Ujang also said that other factors could be at play in driving down Anies' electability rating. Its strange because Anies has received positive responses to his policy in handling the COVID-19 crisis. We need other polls to compare the result, he said. Executive director of Indikator Politik Indonesia Burhanuddin Muhtadi said that Anies suffered in the polls due to his tough stance against the central government in his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Burhanuddin argued that Anies continued to have a hard time wooing supporters of Jokowi from the 2019 presidential election who continued to harbor suspicion against the Jakarta governor. In fact, the perceived discord between Anies and Jokowi could in fact be good news for the other potential candidates. "Jokowi's supporters think of Anies as a challenger to the central government or Jokowi's policy and vice versa. Thats why the votes from Jokowi's supporters are split between Ganjar and Ridwan, he said, suggesting that Anies could improve his electability rating if he could expand his base to voters outside of the capital. As for Prabowo's slumping approval rating, Burhanuddin said his position as defense minister did not give him direct access to policies on handling COVID-19. Regional governors who preside over large populations could turn the media spotlight on the way they handle COVID-19 into an electoral incentive because the public now is concerned only with COVID-19, Burhanuddin said. Ujang of Indonesia Political Review said that although Prabowo remained on top, it would be better if Gerindra could find another figure to nominate for the 2024 presidential election. So far, only Prabowo himself is ready to run again. He said that other parties such as Golkar and the Democratic Party should also find new figures to nominate, given that their leaders had suffered in the polls. "For now, the leaders of these parties have low electability ratings. They have problems with the party and the individuals. Agus [Harimurti Yudhoyono] has no position in the government. Its difficult to increase his electability. While Airlangga [Hartarto], despite his position as a minister, continues to run into problems like his support for the omnibus bill on job creation, Ujang said. Read also: Jokowi says Sandiaga may succeed him in 2024 Anies, Ganjar and Ridwan are among the regional leaders who have been in the spotlight over their COVID-19 policies. Anies, who won backing from the NasDem Party, has heavily criticized Jokowis administration several times. For example, when he requested permission to implement large-scale social restrictions in Jakarta in April, he accused the central government of stonewalling his efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus by issuing a ministerial regulation that prevented him from directly imposing stricter measures to limit peoples mobility. Meanwhile, in Central Java, Ganjar prepared a Heroes Cemetery to bury medical workers who died after handling COVID-19 patients, as some locals were opposed to their bodies being buried near their homes. Ridwan conducted massive COVID-19 rapid testing and random swab test sampling on commuter lines and at markets in West Java. He also criticized a number of the central government's policies, questioning the validity of its COVID-19 data and its decision to raise Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) premiums. On Tuesday, Ganjar, an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician said he would leave the decision to nominate a candidate for the 2024 presidential election to the party central board and that he would only focus on the current COVID-19 situation. We will still face the excesses of the [pandemic]; for example, its social and economic aspects," he said. As a world waits with bated breath for a coronavirus vaccine, a recent claim by a leader of the Oxford University coronavirus trials, comes as a huge relief. Sir John Bell is Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University. He is leading a team working on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, and he spoke to Matt Frei on the possibility of a vaccine being available by Autumn. Image For Representation/AP "When will you know for certain when this candidate vaccine is the right one?" Matt asked the vaccine developer, to which he said that "It's realistic to think we can get a pretty good signal by the end of August," reports a media outlet called Leading Britain's Conversation (LBC). He added that the Oxford researchers have worked on overdrive on the development of the vaccine, sharing that it "normally takes 8 years to develop a vaccine, we've been working on this about 18 weeks." YouTube/Said Business School, University of Oxford The professor predicts that if everything goes well as planned, vaccinations can begin as early as September, reported Express.co.uk. He said that clinical trials can be conducted in the way that the Jenner Institute scientists have done, which are much faster and much more efficient than the usual approaches to vaccine development. Image For Representation/Reuters The Oxford-AstraZenecas vaccine candidate against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, AZD1222, is currently in Phase 2/3 clinical trials in the UK. The vaccine will be tested in Brazil in July, where some 2,000 Brazilians will participate in the trials. There are a lot of wise people in the vaccine business who turned the problem across to the standard development programme for vaccines, which gave them a read-out in mid-2021, Sir John Bell was quoted as saying. "What I dont think they acknowledged is that you can speed lots of the bits of the process up. You could manufacture in anticipation of regulatory result. That saves you three months at least, and maybe more," he said. I think even if the Oxford vaccine fails, well have changed the approach to development vaccines forever. All the other vaccine manufacturers are now following exactly the plant that we put into place back in January, he said. Sir John told LBC: "By September/October, I suspect there'll be vaccinations occurring in the developing world, but also in the US and possibly the rest of Europe" He added that there's likely to be a similar programme of running vaccinations by late September, globally. Disclaimer: While there have been several different types of treatments being given to COVID-19 patients across the world, there isnt any one drug that has worked as a sure-shot treatment yet. Dont self medicate/stock up and always consult your doctor/medical health professional. The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Asutifi South in Ahafo Region, Honourable (Hon) Robert Dwomoh Mensah, has urged Circuit Supervisors (CS) in the region to help improve the standard of education because their major challenge is tackled by the government. Hon. Robert Dwomoh Mensah said this at a brief ceremony where COVID-19 protocols were keenly observed to present nine new registered motorbikes with helmets to circuit supervisors in his district on behalf of the government under the auspices of the Ministry of Education. According to him, for education which is key to development to reach the standard the country expects, the government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo - Addo has decided to furnish circuit supervisors in the country with the needed items to undertake intensive supervision at basic schools often irrespective of locations of schools. He explained, Ahafo Region has many schools at the hinterlands where accessibility is extremely difficult and due to this circuit supervisors are unable to visit schools often to assess heads and other staff to enhance education so with these motorbikes at their disposal such genuine challenge is solved. He revealed that with the absence of motorbikes for circuit supervisors, most heads and teachers at schools in remote communities underperform because they are confidently aware that their officers can not visit to assess them as expected. " It's pathetic to see how heads and teachers at schools where circuit supervisors don't visit often " he lamented. Hon. Robert Dwomoh Mensah said, to whom much is given, much is expected, so henceforth circuit supervisors in the region especially in his jurisdiction have no excuse not to enforce teachers to deliver for pupils to have the best of education just like those in urban areas in the country. " The habit of lateness, truancy among others on the part heads and teachers must come to an end now that government has adhered to your call," he told the circuit supervisors. He stated, the New Patriotic Party(NPP) government has education at heart that is why many initiatives are been commenced so circuit supervisors who are part of the government must also ensure discharge their role for effective results for Ghana. On whether the availability of the motorbikes will bring positive results in the educational sector, the DCE confidently said yes. In his explanation to support his stance, now directors of education at the district level will compel the beneficiaries to visit schools to check heads and teachers knowing there are no challenges as compared previously. The Director of Education for Asutifi South District, Mr. Ekow Quansah, on behalf of the directorate, thanked the government and Ministry of Education for responding to the major challenge facing circuit supervisors in their line of duty. To him, the government wants education in the country to be best and for such an idea to be achieved, all stakeholders must be equipped with the needed materials just like how circuit supervisors have received theirs today. He said, recently directors of education in the country have received new pickups from the government to help them perform well showing clearly that the government is down to earth when it comes to uplifting the country's education. He said the presence of the motorbikes will assist them to keenly monitor the activities of heads and teachers at communities where vehicles can not reach due to poor nature of roads therefore the government needs commendation. He advised them to practice the culture of maintenance for the bikes to last. " Take them as your own properties because keeping the bikes in good shape will make your work easy," he told the beneficiaries. Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the government and explained that discharging their duties was not easy at all with the absence of the bikes but now that the government has made provision for that they have no excuse. Representative photo by Khanak Arodia on Unsplash An Indian Army officer and two jawans were killed in a violent face-off with Chinese troops on June 15. This happened during the de-escalation process in Ladakh's Galwan Valley. The area has seen escalating border tension between India and China since early May. Notably, this came just days after China said Indian and Chinese troops had started implementing the "positive consensus" reached by the senior military officials of the two countries aimed at "easing" the border tension. Heres what we know so far: > Senior military officials from India and China are trying to defuse the situation, the Indian Army has said in its statement. > The Indian Army has also said there were casualties on both sides. > An Indian army officer in the region told Agence France Presse (AFP) that there had been no shooting in the incident, on precipitous, rocky terrain. "It was violent hand-to-hand scuffles," the officer said on condition of anonymity. > While Beijing has not confirmed casualties on its side so far, it has accused Indian soldiers of crossing the border. Read Also: Significance of Galwan Valley in Ladakh, the site of current face-off > Chinese governments mouthpiece, Global Times, quoted Chinas foreign minister as saying Indian troops on Mon. seriously violated the consensus of the two sides by illegally crossing the border twice and carrying out provocative attacks on Chinese soldiers, resulting in serious physical clashes. > News agency ANI quoted Chinese foreign ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian as saying China has lodged solemn representations and protests to India. Here, we are sternly demanding India to earnestly abide by the relevant agreement and strictly restrain their frontline troops. They should not cross the borderlines. > Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation and is likely to meet him later in the day. Singh had also held discussions with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs and External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the India-China border tensions The background The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers engaged in a violent face-off on the evening of May 5 that extended into the next day before the two sides agreed to "disengage" following a meeting at the level of local commanders. Over 100 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in the violence. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in North Sikkim on May 9. Local commanders from both sides had held at least five meetings in May during which the Indian side took strong note of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) erecting large numbers of tents in areas in the Galwan Valley which India felt belonged to its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) the de-facto border between the two countries in the region. On May 22, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane had paid a quiet visit to the headquarters of 14 Corps in Leh and reviewed with the top commanders the overall security scenario in the region including in the disputed areas along the LAC. In pictures | Explained: India-China border dispute through rare maps Days later, President Xi Jinping ordered the Chinese military to scale up the battle preparedness, visualising the worst-case scenarios and asked them to resolutely defend the country's sovereignty. It was unclear if the comments were linked to the rising tensions between India and China. In a surprise move, United States President Donald Trump on May 27 offered to "mediate or arbitrate" the raging border dispute between India and China, saying he was "ready, willing and able" to ease the tensions, amid the continuing standoff between the armies of the two Asian giants. However, on May 29, China rejected Trump's offer to mediate between India and China to end their current border standoff. After a heated, 14-hour debate, Tunisia's parliament on Wednesday rejected a motion calling on France to apologize for crimes permitted during the colonial era and pay reparations. Opponents argued that such a move would spell economic disaster, given that France is Tunisia's top trade partner and No. 1 foreign investor. It's also home to 1 million Tunisians. But proponents of the motion said an apology is necessary to ``turn the page on this dark period'' in the history of the two countries and put their relations on a more equal footing. The debate came amid renewed anger in some European countries about colonialism's crimes, stemming from protests in the U.S. over racial injustice and police violence after George Floyd's death. France occupied Tunisia as a protectorate for 75 years, from 1881 until 1956. French soldiers only left Tunisian territory in 1963. The motion to demand an ``official and public apology from the French state for crimes, assassinations, torture, rape, forced deportation and looting of natural resources'' was presented by the Islamist nationalist party Coalition Al Karama, which has just 19 lawmakers in the 217-seat assembly. The debate was rejected early Wednesday after 14 hours of debate, with 77 legislators voting in favor, 46 abstentions and five votes against. To be adopted, it needed an absolute majority of 109 votes. The bill also demanded ``compensation to the Tunisian state and to all those who suffered the pain of colonization.'' ``We are not animated by any bitterness or hatred, but such apologies will heal the wounds of the past,'' argued the president of Al Karama, Seifeddine Makhlouf. He used the example of Germany, which apologized to France after the Nazi occupation, noting that the two countries ``are now allies and the leading partners in Europe.'' However, he provoked an outcry when he attacked the first president of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, calling him ``the servant of France.'' Lawmaker Mustapha Ben Ahmed of the Tahya Tounes party said, ``We are for the most part the children of Bourguiba, who led the liberation struggle of the country after long years of imprisonment and deportations and built modern Tunisia by generalizing education and by emancipating women.'' The leader of moderate Islamist party Ennahdha was among those who said the motion could harm Tunisia's economic interests and its most important international alliance. Others noted Tunisia's years-long economic crisis and 15% unemployment rate and said the motion was too hastily prepared. ``We are not going to feed Tunisians with such motions,'' said Osama Khelifi of the Qalb Tounes party. Search Keywords: Short link: Ross Brawn has let it be known that Formula 1 is quietly looking at possibilities to allow fans back into Grands Prix, but that there is no rush to do so. Furthermore, the top man of Liberty Media states that the 2020 season will most likely end with games in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. "We won't rush that. I think some of the later European races are optimistic, but I think we would rather not plan on that. I think when we go to the flyaway races, we can start to hope that we will have fans, but even that's not absolutely guaranteed," said Brawn, who believes that racing in a safe environment is the top priority. At the FIA eConference he further states that Formula 1 has the role of the fans extremely important. "The fans for us are critical. We do want to see them as they do add a lot of atmosphere. I think we'll take that very gradually." However, it is crucial that the pinnacle of motorsport is not thrown back as far as it has been in recent months. No news yet about follow-up F1 calendar Brawn was with his team that it was better to organize Grands Prix without an audience and then broadcast it on television, than to wait for the moment that spectators would be admitted again. "That gave us most the bulk of the European season. Of course we can adjust that as we progress and we come to understand where we are with this pandemic. Our first half of the season is European-based. We're still pretty fluid on the second half. I think we're confident we're going to finish in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, but we're filling in the spaces in-between", the 65-year old Brit concludes. An Indian Army Colonel, the Commanding Officer of an infantry battalion, and two soldiers were killed during a clash with Chinese troops, at one of the stand-off points in the Galwan Valley. New Delhi: Three Indian Army men, including an officer, were killed on Monday night during a violent face-off with Chinese People's Liberation Army troops, at Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh region. The Indian Army in a statement said that during the de-escalation process which is underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place on Monday night with casualties. "The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers," the Indian Army said. The force further stated that senior military officials of both the countries, are currently meeting at the face-off site to defuse the situation. On Monday, Brigade Commander and company level talks happened in Eastern Ladakh between India and China. The talks are happening near patrolling point 14, near the mouth of Galwan Valley and patrolling point 17 at Hot Spring Area. On June 13, Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane had assured that the entire situation along the borders with China, is under control and the process of disengagement has started. General Naravane had said, "I would just like to assure everyone that the entire situation along our borders with China is under control. We're having a series of talks which started with the Corps Commander level talks on June 6, and has been followed up with meetings at local level between Commanders of equivalent ranks." "As a result, a lot of disengagement has taken place and we are hopeful that through the continued dialogue that we're having, all perceived differences that we (India and China) have will be set to rest. Everything is under control," he had said. The Army chief further stated that both sides (India and China) are disengaging in a phased manner. "We have started from the north, the area of the Galwan River, where a lot of disengagement has happened. It has been fruitful dialogue we had, and it will continue and by and by the situation will improve as we go on," he had said. The Central Bank of Ireland has today published the first Financial Stability Review (FSR) of 2020. The FSR outlines the Central Banks assessment of the key risks facing the financial system, the resilience of the economy and financial system to adverse shocks, and the policy actions being taken to safeguard financial stability. The review states the COVID-19 pandemic has been an exceptional shock triggering the materialisation of long-identified risks to financial stability and a collapse in global economic activity. The Central Bank warns that the full transmission of these risks to the real economy and the financial system will take time. In response to the shock, it says policymakers have reacted with a range of fiscal, monetary, macroprudential and microprudential actions to mitigate the risk of further amplification of the shock and enable the financial system to support households and businesses through this crisis. The main findings of the Financial Stability Review are: 1. The risks posed to domestic financial stability stem from the sudden halt in domestic economic activity, further financial market stresses and the structural vulnerabilities of Irelands small, open economy being exposed to the downside risks in the recovery of global demand. 2. The macro-financial outlook is intimately linked to the pandemic itself, including the success of the public health measures and medical advances to tackle it. 3. Companies will require access to liquidity and, in some cases, solvency support to reduce the risk that the productive capacity of the economy is permanently damaged. 4. The domestic banking system has already played a role in supporting liquidity needs of households and businesses so far in this crisis, including through payment breaks. 5. COVID-19 will put pressure on banks financial position, but improved resilience, supported by recent policy actions, results in a banking system that is now better able to absorb, rather than amplify, such a shock. 6. Market developments in light of COVID-19 underline the need to understand and address any structural vulnerabilities from parts of the market-based finance sector at a global level. Commenting at the launch of the FSR (opening statement attached), Governor Gabriel Makhlouf said, "Todays publication sets out the implications of COVID-19 for domestic financial stability. The economic shock has quite simply been unprecedented in scale and speed, and the medium to longer-term impact has yet to fully materialise. However, going into this period, households businesses, and the domestic banking system were in a significantly stronger position compared to the onset of the financial crisis a decade ago." He added, "Unlike the experience of a decade ago, the financial system is not the origin of the current challenges but, like the rest of the economy, it is affected by them. We are perhaps only at the end of the beginning of seeing those challenges emerge." Source: www.businessworld.ie The explosive growth in the fintech space shows how many companies are trying to grab business from legacy players. And one of the services they all seem to want to offer is a new, more convenient version of a credit or debit card. That's where Marqeta comes in. The 10-year-old firm provides the tools to companies of all kinds to offer a new, more convenient version of a credit or debit card cards, wallets and other payment mechanisms. Customers include DoorDash, Instacart, Uber and Affirm. View the FULL LIST: 2020 DISRUPTOR 50 The company says the total addressable global market for card payments has reached an astounding $45 trillion and is expected to grow to $80 trillion by 2030. The growth is coming from digital banks and other disruptors that are using Marqeta's card-issuing platform to offer payment programs to their customers, something not even possible just a decade ago. There was a lot of talk that Marqeta would be going public this year, but an IPO has been put on hold because of the global pandemic. Instead, it raised $150 million in late May, giving it a $4.3 billion valuation. As the pandemic began to unfold, the company was able to react quickly. Its partnership with Square the company uses Marqeta to power its Cash App allowed it to help Square disburse stimulus checks to millions of Cash App users faster and easier. In part because of this, Marqeta saw its two largest-ever months in March and April. Protesters attach a chain to a statue of Spanish conquerer Juan de Onate in Albuquerque, N.M., Monday, June 15, 2020. One man was shot during an exchange between protesters and armed members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, a civilian group trying to protect the monument. (Anthony Jackson/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) A 31-year-old man has been arrested over a shooting that happened as protesters in New Mexicos largest city tried to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador, police said. The shooting occurred near a confrontation between demonstrators and a group of armed men vowing to protect the statue of Juan de Onate outside Albuquerque Museum, before protesters wrapped a chain around it and began tugging on it. One protester repeatedly swung a pickaxe at the base of the statue. Moments later, gunshots rang out down the street and people shouted that someone had been shot. The shooting on Monday night prompted the city to announce that the statue will be removed until officials determine the next steps. Expand Close Albuquerque police detain members of the so-called New Mexico Civil Guard (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Albuquerque police detain members of the so-called New Mexico Civil Guard (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal/AP) Police said detectives arrested Stephen Ray Baca on suspicion of aggravated battery. Authorities had said earlier that several people had been detained for questioning. Baca had been among those trying to protect the statue when protesters appeared to maliciously pursue him, according to a criminal complaint filed by police. Video posted on social media showed protesters hitting him with what police described as a skateboard and punching him. Then he opened fire with a handgun. After the shooting, other armed people encircled Baca in an apparent attempt to protect him, the video showed. The man who was shot was taken to hospital and was listed in critical but stable condition late on Monday, said Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos. Officers used tear gas and stun grenades to protect the officers who intervened and detained those involved in the shooting, Mr Gallegos said. He said they were disarmed and taken into custody for questioning as police worked to secure the scene. He said detectives were investigating with the help of the FBI. The shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city, mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. Our diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us. Our hearts go out the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight. This sculpture has now become an urgent matter of public safety. Democrat governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement saying the armed people were there to menace protesters, adding that there is no room in New Mexico for any sort of escalation of reckless, violent rhetoric. The instigators this evening will be rooted out, they will be investigated, and they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, she said. The violence came hours after activists in northern New Mexico celebrated the removal of another likeness of Onate that was on public display at a cultural centre in the community of Alcalde. Rio Arriba County officials removed it to safeguard it from possible damage and to avoid civil unrest ahead of a scheduled protest. Expand Close Workers remove the bronze statue in Alcalde (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Workers remove the bronze statue in Alcalde (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal/AP) A forklift pried the massive bronze statue from a concrete pedestal. Cheers erupted among bystanders who viewed the memorial as an affront to indigenous people and an obstacle to greater racial harmony, though several people also arrived to defend the tribute to Onate. The statues have been a source of criticism for decades. Onate, who arrived in present-day New Mexico in 1598, is celebrated as a cultural father figure in communities along the Upper Rio Grande that trace their ancestry to Spanish settlers, but he is also reviled for his brutality. To Native Americans, Onate is known for having ordered the right feet cut off of 24 captive tribal warriors that was precipitated by the killing of his nephew. The confrontation occurred outside the Albuquerque Museum in the heart of the city's Old Town district. "The heavily armed individuals who flaunted themselves at the protest, calling themselves a 'civil guard,' were there for one reason: To menace protesters, to present an unsanctioned show of unregulated force," New Mexico Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement. "To menace the people of New Mexico with weaponry - with an implicit threat of violence - is on its face unacceptable; that violence did indeed occur is unspeakable." This bronze statue of Don Juan de Onate stands outside the Albuquerque Museum in New Mexico. Credit:AP Albuquerque Democratic Mayor Tim Keller said the statue would now be speedily removed as an "urgent matter of public safety" until authorities determine a next step. The militia, which identified itself to a New York Times reporter covering the protest on Monday, has a controversial history. The right-wing group has repeatedly shown up at Black Lives Matter protests in recent weeks with guns and military-like garb. On Facebook, the group has shared materials encouraging people to arm themselves, promoted military training on infantry tactics and "ambushing," and shared multiple posts opposing the levelling of monuments to Confederate figures in the South and Onate in New Mexico. Members of the group recently told the Eastern New Mexico News that their aim was to protect businesses from damage during protests. They claimed they had been in contact with police and were following guidance given to them by officials. According to the Journal's account, one man involved in a physical altercation with the protesters appeared to draw a gun and fire five shots after he was pushed onto the street, sending members of the crowd scurrying for cover as one person yelled, "Somebody got shot." Video footage posted to social media from the scene appeared to show one man lying on the ground as several other people tried to render assistance. A separate clip showed three men lying face down and spread eagled on the pavement as police in riot gear stood over them, apparently making arrests. Another officer appeared to be on the ground as well. Anti-racism protesters venting anger over last month's death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis, have taken to destroying statutes honouring the US Civil War's Confederacy, as well as sculptures of imperialists, conquistadors and other historical figures associated with subjugation of indigenous populations around the world. The statue at the centre of Monday's protest in Albuquerque is part of a controversial sculpture called La Jornada, which depicts Onate, known for the 1599 massacre of a pueblo tribe, leading a group of Spanish settlers into what is now New Mexico. La Jornada in bronze: Don Juan de Onate leads a group of Spanish settlers from Mexico in New Mexico. Credit:AP Earlier, another statue of Onate was removed from public display at a cultural centre in Alcalde, northern New Mexico, to safeguard it from possible damage and avoid civil unrest, hours before scheduled protests at the memorial. The Red Nation advocacy group for Native American rights was planning a protest to urge authorities to remove the statue from outside the heritage education centre. It has been a source of criticism for decades. Monuments to European conquerors around the world are being pulled down amid an intense re-examination of racial injustices in the wake of the death of African American man George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. Onate, who arrived in present-day New Mexico in 1598, is celebrated as a cultural father figure in communities along the Upper Rio Grande that trace their ancestry to Spanish settlers. But he's also reviled for his brutality. To Native Americans, he is known for having ordered the right feet cut off of 24 captive tribal warriors after his soldiers stormed Acoma Pueblo's mesa-top "sky city". Onate's order was precipitated by the killing of his nephew. In 1998, someone sawed the right foot off the statue - an incident that weighed in the decision to stash it away. Elena Ortiz, a Red Nation organiser in Santa Fe with family ties to indigenous Ohkey Owingeh Pueblo, said conquistadors including Onate were symbols of violence and detracted from efforts towards mutual aid and support. Loading "This is an issue of colonisation and the elevation of these individuals conquerors and conquistadors into heroes when they were murderers," Ortiz said. "This is a universal issue." Titled La Jornada, the sculpture depicts Onate leading a group of Spanish settlers to what was then the northernmost province of New Spain in 1598. The artwork includes an indigenous guide, a priest, women settlers and soldiers. The names of the families who accompanied Onate are listed on plaques below as part of the "Wall of Spanish Ancestral Heritage". La Jornada is one of two installations on museum property that reflect part of New Mexico's history, city officials said. The other by New Mexico artist Nora Naranjo Morse of Santa Clara Pueblo is meant to be a place of solace and reflection that was commissioned as a response to the caravan artwork. According to Neale Ferguson of Birtinya (Qld), the description of Mascot, or anywhere, as "Venice of the south" is merely "code for 'frequently underwater' or 'infested by pigeons'." Peter Holland of Killarney Heights claims to have found another of the four corners of the Earth (C8) in Fogo Island in Newfoundland. There is even a sign at the top of Brimstone Head that says as much, or a version of it at least. "Warning. You are nearing the edge of the Flat Earth. One false step could be your last. Number of people lost to date '0'." In case anyone is curious, the other three corners are identified on the sign as the Bermuda Triangle, Papua New Guinea and Hydra (Greece). "When I joined NSW Police in 1990, my boss told me not all people with blue eyes are mad, but all mad people have got blue eyes," writes Michael Petras of Thornleigh. "I don't know how many people he had confronted or arrested to draw that conclusion!" While we are on the topic of Aussie colloquialisms (C8), George Manojlovic of Mangerton remembers that when he was a lad "it was commonplace to describe someone who was in a particularly bad mood as having 'shit on the liver'. I haven't heard the expression for quite some time, which is a pity, because it's certainly much more colourful than 'grumpy'." Going by the plethora of ads for liver pills in the pages of the Herald from the early-to-mid 20th century, perhaps Australians were an even more bilious mob back then? Clearing up any confusion about what Bill Gibson's barista (C8) meant, George Wolfgramm of Elizabeth Bay points out that "'Too easy' is Kiwi for 'no worries'." New Delhi: Congress criticized the Rs 59,000-crore Rafale fighter jet deal on Saturday while raising several questions on it. Further, the party claimed that the absence of any provision of technology transfer has the ability to cost India "very heavily". Former Defence Minister A K Antony also demanded that the inter-governmental agreement with France should be made public. He wondered how India would bridge the gap with respect to China and Pakistan by acquiring just 36 aircraft when the original plan was for 126. Addressing a press conference along with party spokesman Manish Tewari at the AICC headquarters, Antony lamented that the idea of 'Make in India' which was there in the original plan has also "gone" in the present deal. "During UPA, we had planned to buy 126 aircraft to strengthen IAF which was its urgent operational requirement considering security situation in the country," Antony said wondering why only 36 aircrafts were being bought. "Is it enough to meet operational requirement of the IAF which has a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons and.... at present there are just 32 squadrons?", Antony asked. A squadron has generally 18 aircrafts. Suggesting that more aircrafts were necessary for the operational requirement of the IAF, he said, otherwise, by 2022 the squadron available with IAF would be reduced to 25. "I don't want to comment on the present price before I know the exact details. Government must publish the details of the final contract," Antony said "Today we read inspired pieces in some media, which claim the present Government has saved money by hard negotiations. That's not true!", he said adding, "You can't compare the Rafale deal price during UPA Government's time and now." India yesterday inked a Euro 7.87 billion (approx Rs 59,000) deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons and equipped with latest missiles that will give the IAF greater "potency" over arch rival Pakistan. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Gettyimagesbank South Korea plans to call on the United Nations cultural agency to make "multilateral efforts" to ensure Japan keeps its promise to honor victims of wartime forced labor in a new information center on its industrial revolution sites, a foreign ministry official said Tuesday. The ministry will send a letter to the U.N. Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to make the request, after Tokyo didn't keep its promise to ensure that a newly opened information center on Meiji-era industrial sites offers explanations stating that forced labor was used at those sites. The center in Tokyo, which opened to the public this week, offers information on 23 sites registered in 2015 on the UNESCO's World Heritage list, including the notorious Hashima Island, also known as Battleship Island, and six others where many Koreans were forced into labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. Upon the heritage designation, Tokyo pledged to establish the center to remember the victims, recognizing "Koreans and others who were brought against their will and forced to work under harsh conditions in the 1940s at some of the sites." But Japan did not install any exhibitions at the Industrial Heritage Information Center that showcase the suffering of Korean forced labor victims or properly remember them. "We are considering sending a letter to UNESCO to request multilateral efforts to ensure Japan faithfully delivers on its pledge and exhibits commemorative materials for the victims at the center," the official told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity. The ministry will send the letter "at the earliest date," he added. Hours after the center opened following a monthslong closure due to the new coronavirus, the ministry called in Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita and voiced "deep regrets" over Tokyo's failure to honor the victims at the center. The latest flare-up of tensions came as Seoul and Tokyo have already been mired in a protracted row over trade and wartime history. (Yonhap) MOVE member Delbert Africa surrenders 8/8/1978 to police after a shoot out at MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia. James G. Domke / Inquirer Staff Photographer Read more Delbert Africa, a longtime member of MOVE who was released from prison in January after serving 41 years for his part in the groups 1978 clash in Powelton Village with Philadelphia police, has died. Africa, 73, died at his home in Philadelphia Monday surrounded by family and fellow MOVE members, Pam Africa, also a MOVE member, said Tuesday. He died of prostate and bone cancer, said his daughter, Yvonne Orr-El, who was among a handful of speakers at a news conference during which she and others alleged that he did not receive medical treatment in prison for 18 months after first noticing symptoms. Had my father received the treatment he needed, the healthy, strong, smiling, humorous, sarcastic man that I called my father would still be here today, Orr-El, of Chicago, said in front of a MOVE-owned home in the 4500 block of Kingsessing Avenue. What happened to Delbert was just another example of George Floyd. Delbert was deliberately, methodically, calculatedly murdered by prison officials, said MOVE member Janine Africa. When he came out here to these doctors and hospitals on the streets, they even said that the prisons did a lot of wrong things to Delbert. A spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections said she could not discuss a specific inmates medical care, but said that in general, DOC officials provide medical care that is in line with community standards. Pam Africa said Delbert Africa would be remembered as an uncompromising, revolutionary freedom fighter who fought for the lives of all. Delbert Africa was one of nine MOVE members imprisoned after the 1978 clash. After being released, he said he looked forward to reuniting with the surviving MOVE members to continue the work of challenging what he called an unjust criminal justice system. I want to keep on pushing the whole front of fighting this unjust system. I want to keep on pushing it and do as much as I can in my time here," he said. MOVE was created in 1972 by West Philadelphia native Vincent Leaphart, who called himself John Africa and preached an ideology centered on black revolutionary ideas and back-to-nature philosophies. The members considered MOVE their religion, adopting anti-technology and anti-government beliefs while taking on issues ranging from police brutality to animal rights. In 1978, after a year of legal wrangling between MOVE and the city, police raided MOVEs Powelton Village home. Firefighters flushed the house with fire hoses, and police violently removed people. In the end, one MOVE member shot and killed Officer James Ramp. Eighteen police officers and firefighters were hurt in the incident. Delbert Africa maintained that he did not fire a gun that day, but was charged with third-degree murder and eventually sentenced to 30 to 100 years in state prison. After surrendering with his arms outstretched, a moment captured in a harrowing Inquirer photograph, he was beaten by officers, he recalled. Im unconscious, and thats when one cop pulled me by the hair across the street, one cop started jumping on my head, one started kicking me in the ribs and beating me," he said in January. Their excuse later on is they thought I was armed. I was naked from the waist up. He added: Nothing could have been done differently to stop and curtail that assault by the police on us. It wouldnt have stopped." In 1980, MOVE relocated to the 6200 block of Osage Avenue, and quickly came into conflict with neighbors, who complained to the city about trash, loudspeaker speeches and suspicions of child abuse and neglect. On May 13, 1985, the city flew a helicopter over the groups home and dropped a bomb that left 11 people dead, including John Africa, as well as Delbert Africas 13-year-old daughter. An additional 61 homes were destroyed by the bombing and the resulting fire, and the incident became international news. Pam Africa said that while Delbert Africa had less than six months of freedom at the end of his life, it was time well spent. He had a full six months on the street, because he was very well loved by everyone. When he was in the hospital, people wrote him letters. When he came home from the hospital, he came with letters from doctors and nurses. They knew who he was. He was respected, she said. BELLINGHAM, Washington - On 1 July, Sean Shaheen, associate professor of optics, nanostructures, and bioengineering in the University of Colorado Boulder's Department of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, will become the new editor-in-chief of the Journal of Photonics for Energy (JPE). He succeeds the journal's founding editor-in-chief, Zakya Kafafi, who has served since 2011. "JPE has become a valuable platform for the dissemination of knowledge generated in laboratories around the world working on new photovoltaic and related energy-harvesting devices," Shaheen noted. "I look forward to leading its future efforts in publishing emerging science and technology concepts and in showcasing the talents of researchers with a variety of diverse and interdisciplinary backgrounds." "The topic of photonics for energy remains as relevant to environmental sustainability as it was when JPE was launched ten years ago," said Chair of the SPIE Publications Committee David Sampson. "In warmly welcoming Professor Sean Shaheen as editor-in-chief, I am impressed by his excellence and eminence as a scholar and excited by the energy and fresh ideas he will bring to JPE. SPIE aspires to enhance its journal publishing to better serve the global optics and photonics community, and Sean's appointment will undoubtedly help drive that." JPE covers fundamental and applied research areas focused on the applications of photonics for renewable energy harvesting, conversion, storage, distribution, monitoring, consumption, and efficient usage. Shaheen is also an associate professor by courtesy in the University of Colorado Boulder's Department of Physics; a Fellow of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), joint appointee to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); and director of the university's Authentic Research Experiences for Teachers (ARETe) Program, which matches faculty from Colorado two-year colleges with research laboratories in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU Boulder for in-depth, collaborative research experiences. Prior to his current role, Shaheen held a faculty position in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Denver and was a Senior Scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. ### About SPIE SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves more than 255,000 constituents from 183 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2019, SPIE provided more than $5.6 million in community support including scholarships and awards, outreach and advocacy programs, travel grants, public policy, and educational resources. http://www.spie.org. Contact: Daneet Steffens Public Relations Manager daneets@spie.org +1 360 685 5478 @SPIEtweets 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. KHOST, Afghanistan A tribal posse in southeast Afghanistan burned down the houses of four families whose male members are accused of murdering seven members of a rival family. On June 16, hundreds of members of Mangal, a large Pashtun tribe, burned houses in Manduzai, a district in the southeastern Afghan province of Khost, which borders Pakistan. Everyone who commits an atrocity will meet the same fate, Toor Mangal, one of the participants in the mob, told Radio Mashaal. Participants said the act was part of an ancient tribal custom in which members of a tribe collectively move against anyone seen as committing a grave atrocity. The burnings took days after local officials said that gunmen killed seven members of a family and injured three others inside a house in Manduzais Dehgan region late on June 14. Adil Haider, a spokesman for Khosts police, said the killings were the result of a land dispute. He said the police know the perpetrators but did not identify them by name. Authorities have also not identified the victims by name. The accused men had fled their houses before setting the fires. Women and children in their families were protected by the villagers. It was not possible to reach the accused in the remote region. Hazratullah, another participant, said members from all clans of the Mangal tribe had gathered to take part. We will not let anyone else commit such atrocities within the Mangal tribe, he told Radio Mashaal. He called on members of neighboring Pashtun tribes to hand over the accused to their tribe or government. Shamal Khan Managal, a tribal leader, said they burned down the houses after establishing that the accused were involved in the recent murders of a family. Killing all members of a family is locally called Mirat a Pashto word indicating the status of a family as heirless. We burned down four or five houses after asking around and establishing that they were involved in the killings, he said. The burnings took place after a jirga or council of Mangal tribal leaders met. They invoked an ancient custom to mobilize a Cheegha or tribal posse against a real or perceived atrocity. The burnings, however, have raised questions over the role of the Afghan government. On June 16, scores of Afghan troops were present in Manduzai, but instead of preventing the mob from burning houses, they focused on preventing a clash between local residents and the crowd. Manduzai abuts the provincial capital, also called Khost, a major city in the region. When contacted, security officials in Khost said they had successfully rescued the women and children of the accused families. But all refused to comment on whether invoking tribal customs was appropriate. Zahid Shah Angar, a local journalist, justified the burnings. Until we can pave the way for imposing the rule of law in our society, implementing ancient tribal customs can contribute to strengthening social cohesion, he said. The incident and the larger issue about the role of local communities in todays Afghanistan is expected to rekindle a debate over the role of tribes in the country facing a major transition. Kabul is expected to soon begin peace talks with the Taliban after the hard-line movement concluded an agreement with the United States in February that paves the way for a complete withdrawal of international forces. Abubakar Siddique wrote this story based on Radio Mashaal correspondent Najibullah Alokhels reporting from Khost, Afghanistan. With reporting by the BBCs Pashto Service. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan seeks to increase the capacity of renewable energy sources, including large hydroelectric plants, from 17 percent to 30 percent by 2030, chief of staff of the Ministry of Energy Zaur Mammadov said during the videoconference between the Ministry of Energy and the German Energy Agency held on June 13, the ministrys website reported. For the purpose of increasing the capacity of renewable energy sources, preference is given to applying international experience and attracting foreign investment, and cooperation with the German Energy Agency in this field can promote renewable energy sources, the ministrys website said. During the video conference, the sides discussed application of renewable energy technologies in energy systems of Azerbaijani cities. The sides noted the fact that the vast majority of the Azerbaijani population lives in urban areas, making it necessary to provide cities with sustainable and quality energy. Furthermore, Mammadov stated that the ministry currently plans to implement a project on the development of small renewable energy systems in Azerbaijan with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. It was also noted that city-based energy planning based on renewable energy sources required important integrated scenarios and the support of German experts in this field would be useful. High on the agenda of the meeting was also the development of a Small Renewable Energy Roadmap for Baku and other major cities. The videoconference was attended by representatives of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Germany, the Ministries of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, EMTA, ABEMDA, Azerenergy, Azerishig and Azeristiliktechizat. The Portuguese bank has chosen Finastra's treasury, risk management and regulatory reporting solutions to support and enhance its business LONDON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Caixa Geral de Depositos, the largest commercial bank in Portugal, has chosen Finastra to power its end-to-end treasury and capital markets business. It has selected Fusion Kondor, Fusion Risk and Regulatory Reporting as a Service to support this front-to-back-to-risk transformation. The bank's users will have access to automated and standardized interfaces which will improve day-to-day operations and will benefit from an enhanced user experience and better reporting functionalities. Caixa Geral de Depositos offers a selection of corporate services, including commercial banking, investment banking, asset management, brokerage and venture capital. To keep up with market trends and changing regulations, the bank was looking to transform its current technology landscape to make it more user friendly and more efficient. The chosen solution includes front-to-back treasury, straight-through processing for all asset classes, accurate pricing from the front office to risk, including structured products, collateral management and regulatory cloud reporting. Fusion Kondor will standardize and integrate the bank's trading and risk services, whilst Fusion Risk will manage its risk and compliance functionalities. Regulatory Reporting as a Service will enable the bank to manage its reporting in a more automated way, whilst making sure it is keeping up to date with changing regulations such as the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) and the Securities Financing Transaction Regulation (SFTR). Jose de Brito, Executive Board Member and CFO at Caixa Geral de Depositos, said, "Quality and customer service are the driving forces behind our bank. With business growing, we were looking for an innovative solution that would help us optimize our treasury function whilst still ensuring a focus on our core commitments and regulatory compliance. We spent a lot of time looking at different market offerings but, in the end, Finastra was able to offer us a solution that aligned closely to our vision and approach. Fusion Kondor and Fusion Risk will enable us to drive innovation into our operations, digitizing previously manual-intensive tasks to help us manage risk and continue our growth. We also believe its open architecture will ease development for us and are impressed with the transparent approach to implementation. We're looking forward to developing this relationship over the next years." "Caixa Geral de Depositos was seeking the best solutions to optimize its treasury and capital markets functions, together with a trustworthy partner to provide seamless integration and support," said Pedro Porfirio, Global Head of Treasury and Capital Markets at Finastra. "The treasury, risk management and regulatory reporting solutions chosen by the bank will help support its targets for cloud enablement, digital transformation and future growth as it seeks to expand to new markets." Finastra Global Services team is working with Caixa Geral de Depositos to deliver the services through the Fusion Adopt best-practice implementation program. The bank has chosen Finastra's recommended configuration and process models to deliver the solution. About Finastra Finastra is building an open platform that accelerates collaboration and innovation in financial services, creating better experiences for people, businesses and communities. Supported by the broadest and deepest portfolio of financial services software, Finastra delivers this vitally important technology to financial institutions of all sizes across the globe, including 90 of the world's top 100 banks. Our open architecture approach brings together a number of partners and innovators. Together we are leading the way in which applications are written, deployed and consumed in financial services to evolve with the changing needs of customers. Learn more at finastra.com For further information please contact: Harriet Pickering PR Manager, EMEA T +44-(0)20-3320-5317 Eharriet.pickering@finastra.com Caroline Duff Global Head of PR T +44-(0)20-3320-5892 Ecaroline.duff@finastra.com Corporate headquarters 4 Kingdom Street Paddington London W2 6BD United Kingdom T +44-20-3320-5000 finastra.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/967510/Finastra_Logo.jpg Representational Image (Wallpaper Flare) Manisha*, a 34-year-old homemaker, attempted suicide by consuming mouthwash in April. She was saved, as she was hospitalised on time. She was later referred to a psychiatrist for further treatment and counselling. She was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. She is now on anti-depressant pills and counselling. People who knew her for years were stunned and couldn't believe that she tried to kill herself. Her family life is stable, with a 5-year-old child and hardly any signs of financial difficulties. In this case, Manisha is lucky to survive and to get proper medical attention. But many are not so lucky. The death of Bollywood's rising star Sushant Singh Rajput by suicide has brought to the fore the lurking mental health problem that never got the attention it deserved. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show According to National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), about 1,34,516 suicides were reported in the country during 2018, showing an increase of 3.6 percent in comparison to 2017. The data for 2019 is not yet released. Experts say the figures could be higher as many cases go unreported. Suicide is an extreme manifestation of mental health problem and is considered as a grey area medically. Even psychiatrists find it difficult to identify a suicidal person beforehand. "Suicide is a fluctuating state, the number of people who have suicidal thoughts versus the number of people who die is very small. There are 20 people who have suicidal thoughts, maybe two or three of them attempt, and less than one of the 20 may die of suicide," says Dr Soumitra Pathare, one of India's leading psychiatrists and Director at Pune-based Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy. Mental health during pandemic Pathare says there is a lot of anecdotal evidence or media reports that suggest suicide numbers have gone up during COVID-19 pandemic, but no hard data. "In the initial phase of the lockdown there were media reports about alchohol-related suicides, there were suicides committed on suspicion of acquiring COVID-19 infection and there were also reports about people ending their lives in quarantine; these are unusual and suicides directly linked to COVID-19," Pathare said. Pathare finds fault with the whole communication of COVID-19. He says it created panic around the disease. "The whole COVID-19 communication is based on fear. If you make people afraid they will stay at home, this has unintended consequences on mental health," he said. Problem gets complicated With almost three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, fears, worries and uncertainty about health, financial matters and job losses have only exacerbated. The isolation during the countrywide lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic just made matters worse for many. For instance, Tanuja Sable, whose livelihood depends on a clothing store in Mumbai, suffered a series of panic attacks triggered by a payment default by a vendor, had to approach a therapist for the first time in her life. The number of first-timers like Sable seeking professional help for their mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic is rising exponentially. The online doctor consultation platform Lybrate said it witnessed over 110 percent rise in online patient consults around mental health conditions on its platform. Women who seek help saw 150 percent jump in online consultations, compared to 85 percent growth in males. Lybrate came up with the insights after analysing data gathered in the period between March 1, 2020, and May 25, 2020. The platform has more than 3,000 psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors from across the country. The queries mainly revolved around stress, isolation, claustrophobia, being unproductive, anger, irritation, loneliness, mood swings, not being able to cope with family members around, rifts between spouses, coping mechanisms, uncertainty and helplessness. Of late, there has been a substantial rise in queries from working people around job losses and related stress, fear and worry on resuming offices at a time when COVID-19 cases are rising in the country. The online consults are going up possibly because people are unable to physically go to psychiatrists and counsellers during the lockdown due to risk of infection and social distancing. But psychiatrists say that more people are seeking help now. Samir Parikh, psychiatrist and head of Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare, told Moneycontrol that there is also an added mental health concern around the pandemic. "There is fear, anxiety, uncertainty, there is also an economic impact," he said. "It is not just affecting first-timers; people with pre-existing mental health issues are seeing their condition relapsing," said Dr Alpes Panchal, a Mumbai-based consultant psychiatrist and de-addiction specialist. According to US Center for Disease Control (USCDC), mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia affect a persons thinking, feeling, mood or behaviour in a way that influences their ability to relate to others and function each day. These conditions may be situational (short-term) or long-lasting (chronic). The agency suggests that people with pre-existing mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. While the situation has eased in terms of availability of medicines, in the initial month during lockdown, due to supply chain disruption people couldn't continue with their medications. Identifying mental health issues Panchal says whenever one feels that they have any primary symptoms of loss of sleep, loss of appetite, not able to concentrate, repetitive thoughts and suicidal ideation, they need some sort of help. "I would say talk to people around you before taking the help of a mental health professional. It could be your friend, colleague, psychologist, psychiatrist, family doctor, or even your boss, please talk to someone," Panchal says. Panchal warns that anyone could be at risk of suicide. "Somebody who by societal norm should be happy can have depression, this is due to internal chemical changes," he said. One can't help but think of many pictures of a smiling Sushant Singh Rajput. If you or someone you know needs help for mental health issues, call any of these helplines: NIMHANS toll-free number 0804611000, Mpower and BMC joint helpine 1800-120-820050, Vandrevala Foundation 1860-2662-345 or Aasra 9820466726 *Name changed to protect identity. ANDOVER, Mass., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Navisite announced today that following a fast deployment of its desktop as a service (DaaS) solution, AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) has successfully enabled hundreds of employees to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic, while ensuring continued, uninterrupted service to its more than 880,000 members in Upstate New York. The accelerated project took place in March in response to a work-from-home state mandate that forced the member services association to find a solution for its entire workforce within days. With the help of Navisite, AAA WCNY created a highly scalable virtual desktop environment and proven model that can scale to meet future demand. "Our coronavirus response planning began in early March and expanded quickly as work-at-home mandates swept the state," said Peter Balisteri, vice president of information technology at AAA WCNY. "We had to quickly scale to support remote workers and challenged Navisite to meet an aggressive implementation timeline. Within a week, their team was deploying virtual desktops to our employees across 11 Travel and Insurance Centers and other facilities with minimal impact, which was crucial to our success." As part of its DaaS solution, Navisite manages the virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) for AAA WCNY in its hosted data center, including building out desktop images and supporting end users. Because the operating system and applications are in a private cloud, rather than on physical computers, AAA WCNY has much greater security management and control over its data and access to corporate resources. "Navisite did an amazing job of pulling together the resources and expertise to get the solution up and running in days," said Frank D'Arrigo, director of information technology at AAA WCNY. "We now have the ability to scale up or down as needed, which will be invaluable to us in the months ahead. As we think about what the 'new normal' will look like, we now have a model in place that shows how many of our essential roles can successfully operate remotely." Today, AAA WCNY supports over 200 of its employeesinsurance agents, dispatchers, travel agents, administration and other staffthrough Navisite's DaaS solution. These are employees whose roles were traditionally conducted on-premises and were not previously equipped to operate remotely. The rest of the organization's approximately 750 employees are supported through remote routers and virtual private networks (VPN). "AAA WCNY is a great example of an organization that did not hesitate to shift gears and do what was needed to support their employees and, ultimately, their members," said Gina Murphy, COO of Navisite. "Cloud-based VDI, whether deployed via private or public cloud, can provide immediate benefits in terms of scale, security and flexibility that businesses need to address the new working reality. We're pleased that AAA WCNY entrusted us to support them on this initiative, and we'll continue to look at ways to help them navigate IT change." Additional resources: About AAA Western and Central New York As Upstate New York's largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 887,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com or www.NewsRoom.AAA.com or download our mobile app at www.AAA.com/mobile. About Navisite Navisite is a modern managed cloud service provider that accelerates IT transformation for thousands of growing and established global brands. Through our deep technical knowledge and strategic relationships with the world's leading cloud providers, proven delivery methodologies, platform-agnostic approach and worldwide network of highly specialized experts, we provide the capabilities and practical guidance customers need to successfully embrace IT change and move their businesses forward. Let us partner with you to navigate the nowlearn more at navisite.com. SOURCE Navisite Related Links https://www.navisite.com/ Manila: A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Saturday but there was no threat of a tsunami or any casualties reported, seismologists and disaster officials said. The offshore quake hit at 6:53 am (04:23 am IST Saturday) and woke people from their sleep in Davao, a major city of about 1.5 million located 100 kilometres to the northwest, said officials. There was no report of damage yet but since the quake was offshore... we expect no significant damage, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology chief Renato Solidum told AFP. (There is) no tsunami threat related to the quake, he added.In its preliminary impact assessment, the US Geological Survey also said there was a low likelihood of casualties and damage from the tremor, which had a depth of 62 kilometres. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat from the strong quake. In Davao, the quake awakened locals but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, local civil defence spokesman McAdrian Covero told AFP. A milder aftershock was detected shortly after the first tremor, the Philippine seismology institute reported. The Philippines is regularly hit by quakes due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire where tectonic plates collide, and magnitude-6 temblors are not uncommon. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: The export of steel from Turkey to Croatia grew by 80.01 percent from January through May 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, having surpassed $17.8 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend. In May 2020, Turkeys steel export to Croatia decreased by 52.78 percent compared to May 2019 and made up $1.8 million, the ministry said. From January through May 2020, the steel export from Turkey to the international markets dropped by 22.9 percent compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to $4.8 billion. The export of steel from Turkey amounted to 7.9 percent of the country's total export for the reporting period. Turkey exported $817.8 million worth of steel to the world markets in May 2020, which is 39.7 percent less compared to the same month of 2019. The export of steel from Turkey in May 2020 amounted to 8.2 percent of the country's total export. From May 2019 through May 2020, Turkey exported steel in the amount of $12.4 billion abroad. ---- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The Madhya Pradesh government will use pulse oximeters in every locality and colony in urban areas across the state to enhance survey and screening of people for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), a release from the government said on Monday. A pulse oximeter is a device used to monitor the amount of oxygen carried in the body. According to the release, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said the supply of pulse oximeters at mohalla and colony level is being considered for the control of Covid-19 to make survey work easier. It will prove to be of help to rush any person found with disease symptoms to the health centre immediately for treatment. The general public will be made partners in corona control along with the administration, the release said quoting the chief minister. The chief minister said that order to make the general public aware of the importance of social distancing, conscious representatives will be selected from the public and given the responsibility. In order to free our state, the country and the whole world from corona, collective efforts are must, so that all of us can live a normal life, I would like to say to the people of the state that even God helps those who help themselves, Chouhan said. Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, the principal secretary of the health department, said the state government will enrol volunteers who will have the pulse oximeters to check the oxygen level of people during survey and screening in localities and colonies. If oxygen level of any person is found below the prescribed level, the details of the person will be entered in an app by the volunteer in his mobile phone so that the person concerned could be treated immediately, Kidwai said. The government is working on details and modalities of the plan as to how to implement it in the best possible manner, he added. In reply to a question, he said initially the facility would be available in urban areas of the state. Madhya Pradesh has 10,935 Covid-19 patients, out of whom 465 have died, so far, according to the states health department bulletin released on Monday night. Indore tops the chart with 4,069 patients and 174 deaths followed by Bhopal with 2,235 patients and 72 deaths and Ujjain with 801 patients and 66 deaths. Till now, 7,903 patients have recovered from the disease and been discharged from hospitals. Senate President Ahmad Lawan says the demise of Adebayo Osinowo, lawmaker representing Lagos east senatorial district, will be felt by l... Senate President Ahmad Lawan says the demise of Adebayo Osinowo, lawmaker representing Lagos east senatorial district, will be felt by lawmakers and the national assembly in general. Osinowo, known as Pepperito in political circles, died after a brief illness on Monday. He had been reportedly admitted at the hospital for weeks. He died at the First Cardiology Consultants Hospital, where prominent Nigerians are receiving treatment for COVID-19. In a statement, Ola Awoniyi, Lawans special adviser on media, said the senate president is shocked at the news of Osinowos death. He condoled with the family of the deceased as well as the government of Lagos state over the loss. President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has received with shock and sadness the news on Monday of the death of Senator Adebayo Osinowo, the statement read. Lawan condoled with Senator Osinowos family, friends, political associates and also the government and people of Lagos State over the loss. Lawan said Osinowo served his country creditably as a Distinguished Senator at the Ninth Senate which marked its first anniversary only last week. Osinowo was the Chairman of the Committee on industries. The Senate President said the pains of Senator Osinowos untimely departure will be felt by his Distinguished colleagues and the National Assembly in general. and for God to grant those he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss. Lawan prayed for sweet repose of his gentle souland for God to grant those he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss. Osinowo made the headlines after defeating Gbenga Ashafa, then an incumbent senator, in the 2019 primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos east. He was a four-term member of the Lagos house of assembly, where he represented Kosofe constituency. Until his death, Osinowo chaired the senate committee on commerce, industries and investment. Osinowo is the fourth senator to die in the current senate inaugurated last year. Benjamin Uwajumogu of Imo north died in December followed by Ignatius Longjan who represented Plateau south. Rose Oko, senator who represented Cross River north, died a month after Longjan. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will face the biggest test of the impression his government has made on the international stage when elections for non-permanent seats to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) are held on Wednesday. Trudeau has personally spearheaded the countrys campaign to secure a place on the council and even during the Covid-19 pandemic made multiple calls to leaders of several nations to secure their support ahead of the June 17 vote for the 2021-2022 term. On Monday, it tried to shore up its global image announcing that Canadian Armed Forces will provide airlift support to transport urgently needed medical and humanitarian supplies and these will be transported from distribution hubs in Africa, Europe and the Middle East on behalf of the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization (WHO). On Saturday, Canadas foreign minister Francois-Philippe Champagne was dispatched to New York, where the United Nations is headquartered, and he will remain there and lobby Permanent Representatives of countries. Trudeau will participate in a virtual event with Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, to highlight and conclude Canadas campaign for a Security Council seat on the eve of the vote, according to a statement from his office. Canada is vying for one of the two seats from the Western European and Others Group or WEOG. However, it is facing a close contest, according to analysts, because the challengers are Norway and Ireland, both of which have been campaigning for a seat longer than Canada. Trudeau will also call several world leaders on Tuesday, including his counterparts in Spain, Ethiopia and Saint Kitts and Nevis. But the most significant could be his call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India is near-certain to be elected to UNSC as it is running unopposed from the Asia-Pacific Group. However, as things stand, it is unlikely to vote for Canada despite Ottawa having assured New Delhi of its support. The reason, Indian officials explained, was not a difference with Canada but simply how international diplomacy is conducted with reciprocal arrangements in place with Ireland and Norway even before Canada entered the UNSC race. Both those nations have been in the running for a decade, while Canada only entered the contest in 2016, months after Trudeaus Liberal Party was elected to form the government for the first time. If India does, in fact, not support Canada it will be a replay of the 2010 elections when it chose Germany and Portugal instead. Canada lost that election and has not figured on the UNSC since. Trudeau personally announced Canadas candidacy in 2016, and now is trying to change New Delhis outlook by reaching out himself to Modi. The Canadian prime minister will hope that recent history does not repeat itself after he has invested so much capital in the campaign. Fianna Fail stalwart Eamon O Cuiv has definitively stated he will oppose the move to have party members approve coalition with Fine Gael and the Green Party. Mr O Cuiv, a former deputy leader and grandson of party founder Eamon de Valera, said coalition will lose Fianna Fail many loyal members and mainly benefit Sinn Fein who will take many of his partys votes. In a lengthy interview on Raidio na Gaeltachtas flaghsip Adhmhaidin programme, he said Fine Gael had failed the Irish language, Gaeltacht and islands over nine years in power and he would not choose the Green Party as partners because he doubts their vision for rural Ireland. Read More The Galway West TD said there were other members of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party who shared his views but they would not speak out publicly. He repeated his opinion that the draft government programme failed the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the islands. But he said that government programmes came and went and it was their implementation which mattered. He was not so much against this draft document and saw merits in a lot of it. Im opposing the proposal that we join in Government with Fine Gael and the Greens. I laid out a lot of reasons at the parliamentary party meeting for that, he told RnaG presenter, Gormfhlaith Ni Thuairisg. I have huge doubts about the Greens plans and their outlook on the future of rural Irish life and the changes they would wish to see in it, he added. But the man who was minister responsible for community, rural and gaeltacht affairs from 2002 until 2010, conceded he was likely to lose his battle to prevent coalition. He argued it would damage Fianna Fail. At the end of the day the ones who will be most satisfied with this is the Sinn Fein party, he said. Deputy National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kweku Boahen, has urged members of the ruling government to be truthful in their 2020 manifesto and not repeat the lies told in the 2016 handbook. According to him, the NPP government in power had the chance to convince Ghanaians to vote them into power in 2016 but they have failed in delivering the promises they made that led to their victory. He explained further that the ruling government does not have the skills and zeal to embark on developmental projects like the previous NDC government led by former President John Dramani Mahama did, the reason why they have fulfilled only 86 out of the 631 promises made in their 2016 manifesto. "NPP is a manifesto poor party, always performing below promises made in their manifesto and needs not to be given a second chance to remain in government," he said on UTV's 'Adekye Nsroma' programme. Kweku Boahen mentioned that the detestable part of this government is how they have destroyed a lot of private businesses but have also increased taxes yet they claim to have promoted the private sector Source: Elizabeth Semiheva Bedi, peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Donald Trump listens as Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in March. (Associated Press) What would a President Pence do? Its a question no one is asking, so I guess it falls to me. In January 2020 it was almost as if God, the universe or our Lizard People overlords were giving the Republicans one last chance to separate their fate from Trumps. The Higher Power couldnt actually tell the GOP, If you dont choose wisely, youll be stuck with him during a time of trials, tribulations and even a plague. But its not like they werent warned that the president would one day be tested beyond his abilities. Prophets dont predict, they warn. And such warnings have been thick in the air for a very long time. But few Republicans heeded, and a complaisance just shy of Stockholm syndrome finally set in. After all, the economy was humming, the normal rules of politics had not applied to this president for so long, and the base was so invested in Trump, best to keep your head down. Sodom and Gomorrah were fun towns while they lasted too. Like a TV drama that needs to foreshadow the plot twists of the next season, the plague actually started as a subplot of the impeachment drama. Tom Cotton left the Senate trial at one point to lobby the White House to take the strange illness plaguing the Chinese city of Wuhan seriously. It all seems so foreordained in hindsight. Isnt that always the way? Of course, one might argue that the president shouldnt have been removed from office because he wasnt guilty. But few Republicans, outside the president and his coterie, actually took this position. Most hid behind the claim the prosecution hadnt made its case, even as the Senate moved to block the prosecution from fully making its case. A handful of senators, led by Lamar Alexander, conceded that Trump did abuse his power by pressuring Ukraine to muddy up Joe Biden, but that his missteps werent worth impeaching him over. As Marco Rubio put it, "Just because actions meet a standard of impeachment does not mean it is in the best interest of the country to remove a president from office." Story continues Fair enough. But here we are. And that raises the question: Would we be better off today without President Trump? Those who claimed, quite angrily that impeachment would have overturned an election always ignored the fact that the 12th Amendment prevents that. Removal would have delivered a President Pence, not a President Clinton. Its self-evident that Pence would have handled the pandemic better. His stewardship of the White House coronavirus task force was marked by quiet, assured and reassuring, professionalism. If he hawked hydroxychloroquine or bleach as potential miracle cures, I missed it. It is true, of course, that whenever given the opportunity to put distance between himself and the president, Pence never does. It feels to me, though, that this is because he is in hostage mode, stoically reciting into the camera whatever his captor has demanded he say. I always look for signs that he is trying to blink the Morse code for TORTURE into the cameras, but so far I havent seen it. With Pence as president, its unlikely the White House would have launched the Battle of Lafayette Park, nor would Pence have floated conspiracy theories about Joe Scarborough being a murderer or a 75-year-old Buffalo man being an Antifa provocateur. More broadly, the policies that Trump enablers claim are the benefits that come with the transactional costs of tolerating or even celebrating the self-destructive drama of his presidency would disappear. While the country would be in better shape, its hard to know if the GOP would be, at least in the short term. On one hand, post-impeachment Pence surely would have gotten the rally-around-the-leader bump that Trump frittered away (and that nearly all state governors are still enjoying). On the other hand, Trumps rage-tweeting from his Mar-a-Lago Elba certainly would have created problems for the Republican senators who voted to convict. But though the contrast between the staid President Pence and his predecessor might actually help Pence attract the Republican-friendly voters Trump has scared away. More importantly, the same binary choice logic constantly used to justify support for Trump would apply. Do you want to give the Democrats total control of government or do you want to hold your nose and vote for the lesser evil? Obviously, its all spilled milk now. But its a useful mental exercise nonetheless. Because if the suggestion that we would be better off had the Republicans removed Trump from office enrages you beyond your pet theories of the impeachment case against him it might indicate your support of Trump is less transactional than you like to claim. @JonahDispatch Here are todays leading news stories: Society -- Vietnam reported no new cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Monday morning. The countrys tally still stands at 334, with 323 having recovered. -- The medical bill of a 43-year-old British pilot for his COVID-19 treatment at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases from March 18 to May 22 has been paid by his insurance company. The exact amount has yet to be revealed but it is estimated at VND3 billion (US$130,200). -- Many streets in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City were seriously flooded after it rained heavily for nearly an hour on Monday afternoon. -- A 23-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly murdering and stealing from the owner of a coffee shop in the Mekong Delta province of Long An after paying her for sex on June 9. -- A suspect has turned himself in after fatally stabbing a man in front of An Suong Bus Station in Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday, a source close to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper confirmed on Monday. -- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has requested the administration in southern Dong Nai Province to disburse VND23 trillion ($998 million) worth of investment capital to speed up site clearance for the construction of the Long Thanh megaairport. -- A project costing about VND2.5 billion ($108,500) is expected to be carried out to restore an intelligent transportation system (ITS) along Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway, which connects the metropolis with the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang. Business -- Exports of vegetables and fruit have fetched more than $1.5 billion in the year to date, a year-on-year decline of 14.5 percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. -- PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) has approved an investment plan worth approximately $1.39 million to build Nhon Trach 3 and 4 thermal power plants with a combined capacity of between 1,300 and 1,760 megawatts in the southern province of Dong Nai. World news -- Over 8.1 million people have caught COVID-19 around the world, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. Nearly 438,500 have died of the disease globally while over 4.18 million have recovered. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The coronavirus has struck the worlds most powerful economies first, leading countries in Europe, North America and East Asia to carry out an array of strategies to help control its spread. But as the virus picks up speed across the global south, those policies may not be applicable there. Low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia and Nigeria should not blindly follow strategies that are sensible for richer nations. Europe, the United States and Canada can offset the economic losses caused by social-distancing policies with stimulus payments to businesses and individuals. China can mobilize the power of its state apparatus to enforce compliance with lockdown orders. South Korea and Taiwan can deploy technologically sophisticated tracking methods to test and isolate cases. But the developing world simply cant replicate these measures. In addition, universal social distancing and work closures may do more harm than good in places where a disproportionate number of people depend on a days or weeks labor to feed their families. In many countries in the global south it is also not unusual to have 15 people or more living in a small structure, making social distancing virtually impossible. Fortunately, there are simple measures that poorer countries can take that will slow the spread of the virus. It is urgent that such countries begin to take them. Press Release 16 June 2020 Global tourism has never been more united than it is now. Both in assessing the impact of COVID-19 and in looking at how we can restart tourism in a responsible way, based on the best that our sector has to offer: sustainability, innovation, collaboration and solidarity. Advertisements It's more than three months since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis continues to threaten jobs and livelihoods in tourism and beyond. Changing gears to #RestartTourism The UNWTO led Global Tourism Crisis Committee supported our guidelines to restart tourism, and we are now transforming this determination into concrete actions for recovery. Our efforts are being rewarded at the highest level, from heads of state to landmark support from the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Antonio Guterres identified the sector as a pillar of economic growth, recognizing UNWTO's leadership as he told the citizens of the world that "tourism can be a platform for overcoming the pandemic". Now, as each of the UNWTO Regional Commissions is coming together virtually during these weeks, we will pool our expertise and influence to restart tourism and so get the Decade of Action towards the Sustainable Development Goals back on track. This round of meetings enjoyed the strongest possible start as Ministers of Tourism from across Africa met to back our plan for action. The UNWTO Agenda for Africa has been realigned to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and to accelerate recovery. Building on this, ahead of their Regional Commission meeting this week, members from across the Americas will further their determination to advocate for tourism as a pillar of post-COVID-19 recovery. We are always #StrongerTogether Such a commitment to international cooperation will be important as we move forward and rebuild confidence and trust. The World Committee on Tourism Ethics, an independent body convened by UNWTO, has stressed the importance of safeguarding the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism as travel restrictions are eased. Restarting our sector must be done in a timely and responsible manner, avoiding at all costs coming at the expense of fair and equal treatment of tourists. As we join the world in celebrating this year's Sustainable Gastronomy Day, chefs from every global region have given us a first taste of what to expect when we travel again, and highlighted the unique potential of gastronomy tourism to preserve unique culture and create opportunities for rural communities. At the same time, our celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship makes clear that this restart offers the opportunity to reimagine not only how we travel, but how tourism can help build a better future for people and planet. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili Delegates attend a side-event during the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), co-sponsored by the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG) African Group and the Permanent Mission of China, in Geneva, Switzerland, July 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan) By Ren Tianze By Ren Tianze To prevent lawsuits against the US military personnel involved in the Afghanistan War, the United States announced sanctions on officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The news has invited widespread criticism from the international community. JosepBorrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, recently expressed serious concern, and Rupert Colville, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed profound regret over the US sanctions. Dutch Foreign Minister Steve Bullock said that he was extremely disturbed by the US move. The international community once again witnessed in shock how the US, the world's sole superpower, overrides international law and tries to evade legal trials with hegemony. After a decade of research and review, the ICC prosecutors requested in November 2017 to open a formal investigation into the war crimes and crimes against humanity that may have occurred during the Afghanistan conflict. The move has encountered various obstructions from the US government. However, no matter how the US government tries to evaderesponsibility, it can't blind the eyes of the world-- the 18-year-long AfghanWar, which the US spent 2 trillion dollars on, caused significant trauma to the Afghan people. A 2018 EU survey found that 85% of the current Afghan population has experienced or witnessed at least one traumatic event with an average of four, and one in five Afghans havegot hit by mental health issues. At the same time, the war caused the collapse of Afghanistans industrial base and economy, resulting in a severe shortage of production and living materials. To date, 39.1% of the Afghan population still lives below the poverty line. On May 6, 2020, the Pentagons congressionally mandated annual report found that in 2019, US military operations abroad killed 132 civilians, 108 of which were in Afghanistan, accounting for 82% of the total death. The frequent ground fighting and aerial bombardments by the US military have seriously violated the Afghan peoples rights to survival and development. At present, the death of the American African-American man Freud from the violent law enforcement of the US police has triggered the most massive anti-racist demonstration since 1968. People chanted "Black lives matter", accusing social injustice in the US. If racial discrimination is a chronic disease deeply rooted inAmerican society, then hegemonism and militarism are the pathogens parasitizing American foreign policies. The US politicians who did not hesitate to impose sanctions to evade its "blood debt" obviously did not realize that lives of Afghans also matters. People around the world have known clearly that ignoring or even wantonly trampling on human rights is the true face of the US, a "human rights defender". Former US President Jimmy Carter starkly pointed out that in thehistory of more than 240 years, the USwas not in war with any country for only 16 years, and the US can be called "the most warlikenation in the history of the world". After the Cold War, the US has been the culprit of most overseas military interventions. From the Gulf War to Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, from the 1992-1995 civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Kosovo War, from the invasion of Iraq with an "unwarranted" charge to the airstrikes in Syria countless people have diedfrom the US militarism. Paul L. Atwood, an American historian and a Vietnam-era veteran, pointed out in War and Empire, that the US has brought disaster to millions of people, but there are few voices to condemn. Every time those who can defend the law dominate the holocaust in the name ofdefeating the forces of darkness with freedom and democracy, the author said. The US sanctions on the ICC may be able to escape the legal trials for a while, but after all, they will not escape the moral trials. In facing an exposed human rights defender, people could no longer tolerate the self-styled moral empire who employs cruise missiles to deliver freedom and democracy to the world. Once again, President Donald Trump is taking heat for treating the presidency like a branding exercise. This time, instead of brandishing a Bible he doesnt read next to a church he doesnt attend, the president is resuming huge, made-for-TV campaign rallies. The first is set for Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It will take place in a 19,000-seat arena that, in deference to the coronavirus pandemic thats still raging, had canceled all other events through the end of July. For Trumps triumphal return, his campaign has decided that no social distancing is required. He wants this to be a spectacle, packed with as much noisy adoration as possible. But whatever risks those attending might incur, Team Trump is taking steps to ensure that it bears none. All rally attendees must sign a liability waiver holding the campaign legally blameless in the event that people subsequently fall sick. Or drop dead. Over the weekend, Tulsas top health official, noting that coronavirus cases are spiking in the state, implored the campaign to postpone the party. But what is the health of his followers to Trump compared with a mass show of affection especially after he has endured so many sad weeks without such affirmation? It is important to stress that there is nothing wrong with presidential photo ops per se. Politics is a performative business, especially the presidency. With skillful staging, presidents can signal their priorities, inspire the nation or simply model good behavior. Think about Ronald Reagan at the Berlin Wall; George W. Bush throwing out the first pitch in Game 3 of the World Series in Yankee Stadium not long after the Sept. 11 attacks; Barack Obama sitting alone on the Rosa Parks bus. As tacky as it may sound, using people as props is also a presidential staple. What are the guests at the State of the Union address but a way to convey priorities? And bill signings not infrequently feature regular Americans affected by the legislation. Now and then, the messaging goes sideways. Jimmy Carter donning a cardigan for a fireside chat about the energy crisis depressed Americans more than it roused them to conserve. And George W. Bush most likely had second thoughts about the Mission Accomplished fiasco of 2003. But, on the whole, presidential theater is a powerful tool of the trade, one that Trump should understand better than most. He is, after all, a former reality TV star, long obsessed with image and ratings. Three-plus years into office, however, he rarely (if ever) aims for anything more than making himself look important. Whether posing in a tractor-trailer, using Air Force One as campaign prop or ordering up a martial pageant for July 4, complete with tanks and fighter jets, no higher purpose is on display. While such performances carried a whiff of Il Duce, most did not put the public at direct risk. The same cannot be said of Trumps public relations stunts of late. The Lafayette Square episode of June 1 was chilling. The White Houses damage-control efforts aside, the basics are clear: Attorney General Bill Barr directed federal law enforcement agencies to clear peaceful protesters from the area directly across the street from the White House. Smoke bombs, pepper balls and rubber bullets were among the weapons used. This was done as the president and his entourage including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, in combat fatigues were preparing to walk across the park so Trump could wield a Bible in front of the parish house of a historic church for a photo op so impious it would make Beelzebub blush. Current and former members of the military expressed their dismay. Milley later apologized for letting himself be used. I should not have been there, he said in a video statement. None of them should have been there. Trumps disregard for public health and safety isnt limited to people he considers hostile. On Saturday, he delivered the commencement address in person at West Point to a crowd of cheering cadets. Footage from the event will, no doubt, make for vivid campaign ads. To give the president his moment complete with a 21-gun salute some 1,100 young men and women, all of whom had been sent home in March because of the pandemic, were summoned back to campus to quarantine together for two weeks before the ceremony. More than a dozen initially tested positive for the coronavirus. The graduates friends and family were not allowed to attend the ceremony, which drew protesters carrying signs with messages such as Cadets Arent Props. Now Trump is thinking even bigger and demanding greater risk from his most faithful followers. From a public health standpoint, resuming large, crowded, indoor rallies is madness. But the president is not content simply to endanger the lives of his supporters. He is demanding they sign away their rights for the privilege. As promised, Trump continues to disrupt and redefine presidential norms. Downward. Michelle Cottle c.2020 The New York Times Company Opendock Many warehouses have experienced a significant increase in demand due to the pandemic. While this spike has created chaos for some warehouses, those that use the Opendock dock scheduling platform have reported that their operations have remained efficient and orderly. Certain sectors have seen a considerable jump in business during the pandemic. Examples include medical supplies and paper products. When the need to move more product surges in a warehouse, it can cause established processes to fall into disarray. This is especially troublesome for warehouses that use the first-come, first-served method. In this system, trucks that arrive earlier get served before those that arrive later. The practice of first come, first served, is workable during normal conditions. However, during extremely busy times, the process breaks down. One of the most visible results is long lines of trucks waiting to drop off or pick up. At one Procter & Gamble facility that makes Bounty paper towels and Charmin toilet paper, images and videos recently surfaced of trucks lined up for miles. This is painful for the drivers and the freight carriers that employ them carriers and drivers make money while their trucks are moving, not while they are waiting. But its also challenging for the warehouses. Finding additional staff, then asking them to operate at breakneck speed, is difficult. Its not only hard on those in charge of hiring and managing people; its stressful on the workers. The constant pressure to move faster can cause mistakes and accidents. But warehouses that have used the Opendock platform have not experienced these problems. Theyre extremely busy, to be sure. But their processes have remained intact. Lawrence Dillworth, inbound supervisor at healthcare distributor Owens & Minor, stated, Without Opendock during the pandemic volume surge, it would have been a catastrophic failure. Opendock requires that every truck have a specific appointment time to deliver or pick up goods. So even if a warehouse chooses to expand hours of operation, trucks are still required to have an appointment time. This allows for more effective staff planning and a more organized and efficient operation. Bob La Loggia, Opendocks CEO noted, Timely delivery of critical products to grocery store shelves or to institutions like hospitals is of utmost importance right now. We are so fulfilled to know that Opendock is playing such a central role in making this happen. Opendock is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its platform serves some of the largest companies in the world, including Pepsi, ADM, Unilever, Cargill, Ecolab, and many others. It is also used by all major carriers and brokers every business day. Nearly a million dock appointments are scheduled every month through the system. For more information, visit http://www.opendock.com. Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Ahafo Region on Tuesday benefitted from the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and Zoomlion Ghana Limited disinfection programme against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The schools were Boakye Tromo Senior High Technical School, in the Tano-North District, Presbyterian Senior High Shool, Bechem, Bebusco SHS, Serwaa Kesse SHS, Duayaw Nkwanta, Bechem School for the Deaf and Blind etc., all in the Ahafo Region. While some of the headmasters expressed their readiness to welcome back their students, others contended that it would be difficult for them to observe, especially the social/physical distancing protocol. According to the Headmaster of Boakye Tromo STS, Mr. Benjamin Kwarteng, his was ready to receive the final-year and Form Two students. ...and I must stress that we have adequately prepared very to welcome them back to school," he said. However, he pointed out that the school would have a challenge with the social distancing protocol. "It will be difficult for us to observe the social distancing protocol," he admitted. The reason, Mr Kwarteng explained, was because the school did not have enough space in the various dormitories to be able accommodate all the final-year students which government has directed that there should be 25 in each dormitory. He, therefore, used the opportunity to appeal to the traditional council and the municipal chief executive for the area to come to their aid. That notwithstanding, he commended Zoomlion for the exercise. At the Presbyterian SHS, the Assistant Headmaster, Domestic, Mr. Michael Boamah Gyamfi, admonished the students who were scheduled to come on Monday, June 22, to comply with all the Covid-19 protocols. He advised parents against visiting their children while in school for the eleven weeks that they would be in school. He also highlighted that his school would have some difficulties enforcing social distancing. For her part, the Principal of Bechem School for the Deaf and Blind, Mrs. Alice Oppong Adubia, made a passionate appeal to the central government to assist them with Veronica buckets, hand sanitizers, nose masks, etc. "...Because we use signs to communicate, we are appealing to the government to help provide us with special face masks without which it will be very challenging for us to teach," she said. BELLEVUE, Wash., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, is pleased to announce the resumption of its Tahiti and French Polynesia small-ship voyages starting in July 2020 and extensive "COVID-Safe Protocol." French Polynesia is officially re-opening to international tourism on July 15, 2020. Paul Gauguin Cruises will offer 7-night Tahiti & the Society Islands voyages departing July 11 and July 18, 2020, for the local French Polynesian market. The Tahiti & the Society Islands itinerary highlights the natural wonders and rich culture of the islands, departs and returns to Papeete, Tahiti, and features visits to Huahine and Motu Mahana (the line's private islet off the coast of Taha'a), along with two days in Bora Bora (with daily access to a private beach), and two days in Moorea. Paul Gauguin Cruises will welcome both local and international guests on its 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus voyage departing July 29, 2020, from Papeete, Tahiti. In addition to sailing the islands of Huahine, Bora Bora, Motu Mahana, and Moorea, this itinerary also features calls at the atolls of Rangiroa and Fakarava in the Tuamotu Archipelago which are known for their stunning lagoons that teem with marine life. In August 2020 and beyond, Paul Gauguin Cruises resumes its previously scheduled 7- to 14-night Tahiti, French Polynesia, and South Pacific sailings. As always, the safety and security of guests and crew members remains Paul Gauguin Cruises' top priority. The small size of The Gauguin, the medical infrastructure and teams on board, protocols and the professionalism of crew, ensured that there were no cases of COVID-19 contamination. To prepare for the resumption of activity, Paul Gauguin Cruises and PONANT are collaborating with the IHU (Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire) Mediterranee Infection of Marseilles, one of the world's leading centers in the field of infectious diseases, as well as with the Battalion of Marine Firemen of Marseilles. The "COVID-Safe" health protocol has been developed by Paul Gauguin Cruises and PONANT and is based on health standards that exceed international regulations. This protocol is built on the principle of double protection: 100 percent monitoring of people and goods before boarding, then once on board, strict health protocols are applied. In addition to strict cleaning procedures advised by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), implementation of social distancing requirements and enhanced employee training, Paul Gauguin Cruises' new measures include: Pre-Boarding Prior to boarding, all guests and crew members will have to present a signed doctor's medical form, complete a health questionnaire, and undergo a health check and screening by the ship's medical staff. All luggage will pass through a disinfecting zone by sanitizing mist or UV lamps. Surgical and cloth masks, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer bottles will be provided to guests. On-board experience 100 percent fresh air in staterooms, through non-recirculating air conditioning systems. Ventilated air will be renewed in the common areas at least five times per hour. Restaurant layouts have been redesigned and will only offer contactless a la carte dining options. Public spaces, such as the fitness room and theater will be capped at 50 percent occupancy. Hourly disinfecting of high-touch points, such as door handles and handrails, with EcoLab peroxide, which eliminates 100 percent of germs, bacteria and against biological contamination. Crew members are required to wear a mask or protective visor when in contact with guests. Guests will be asked to wear a mask in hallway corridors and will be recommended in public spaces. The Gauguin is equipped with advanced hospital equipment, including mobile laboratory terminals that enable testing on site for infectious or tropical diseases. Advanced diagnostic equipment such as ultrasound, radiology and blood biological analysis is available, and one doctor and one nurse are present on every sailing. Shore excursions Zodiacs will be thoroughly disinfected after each stopover. Re-boarding after shore excursions will only be permitted after temperature check and disinfection procedures (individuals and personal belongings). The complete "COVID-Safe Protocol" manifesto that has been developed is available online here. Designed specifically to sail the pristine lagoons of French Polynesia, The Gauguin provides an up-close, authentic experience of the South Seas and luxurious accommodations, exceptional service, gourmet dining and trademark Polynesian hospitality. For more information or reservations for Paul Gauguin Cruises, contact a professional travel advisor, call 1-800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com. About Paul Gauguin Cruises Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the luxury cruise ship, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. Paul Gauguin Cruises has been recognized by notable publications in travel and lifestyle and was voted "#1 Midsize-Ship Ocean Cruise Line" by readers in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2019. The line was recognized as one of the "Top Small Cruise Lines" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2019 Readers' Choice Awards and is honored on the publication's 2018 "Gold List." Paul Gauguin Cruises was selected as "Best Small-Ship Cruise Line" in Global Traveler's Leisure Lifestyle Awards from 2016 to 2019, and has received top honors in BRIDES Magazine's Honeymoon Awards for the past three years. And recently the line was recognized for the third time for having the "Best French Polynesia Cruises" in the AFAR Travelers' Choice Awards. In September 2019, Paul Gauguin Cruises joined PONANT's family, the world leader of small ship cruising. Media Contact: Vanessa Bloy Paul Gauguin Cruises | Director of Public Relations (425) 440-6255|[email protected] Photo Library: https://www.pgcruises.com/press/library/photos SOURCE Paul Gauguin Cruises Related Links http://www.pgcruises.com Indian army soldiers rest next to artillery guns at a makeshift transit camp before heading to Ladakh, near Baltal, southeast of Srinagar, on June 16, 2020. (Stringer/Reuters) India, China Troops Clash at Himalayan Border, With 20 Indian Soldiers Dead NEW DELHI/SRINAGARIndias army said on June 16 that 20 of its soldiers had been killed in clashes with Chinese troops at a disputed border site, in a major escalation of a weeks-long standoff between the two Asian giants in the western Himalayas. Chinas foreign ministry confirmed there had been a violent physical confrontation on June 15 in the border area. It made no mention of casualties, but Indias foreign ministry said there had been casualties on both sides. An Indian government source said the troops had fought with iron rods and stones, and that no shots had been fired. The deaths were the first since the last major border clash in 1967 between the nuclear-armed neighborsalso the worlds two most-populous countrieswhich have been unable to settle the dispute along their lengthy frontier. China and India have traded accusations over who was to blame for the June 15 clashes in the snow deserts of Ladakh, which came after military commanders held meetings to resolve the situation. Since early May, hundreds of soldiers have fronted up against each other at three locations, each side accusing the other of trespassing. During the recent conflict, the Chinese have erected 80 to 100 tents, brought in heavy vehicles and heavy weapons, and have started building bunkers in the Galwan Valley. The Chinese regimes act of building bunkers is a tactic it has used with other countries it shares borders with, Aparna Pande, a research fellow and director of Hudson Institutes Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia in Washington, previously told The Epoch Times. On the night of June 15, a group of soldiers came to blows in the Galwan Valley, the Indian army said in a statement, adding that the two sides had now disengaged. The two sides had been discussing ways to de-escalate but at some point, an Indian government source said, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army had turned on a group of Indian soldiers that included an officer. They attacked with iron rods, the commanding officer was grievously injured and fell, and when that happened, more soldiers swarmed to the area and attacked with stones, said the source, who had been briefed on the matter. The Chinese side brought in reinforcements and the brawl went on for a couple of hours, the source said. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said in a statement. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said there had been a serious violation of a consensus reached by the two countries. India and China fought a brief but bloody border war in 1962 and distrust has occasionally led to flare-ups ever since. Border guards have had skirmishes and fist fights when patrols have confronted each other, but there has been no loss of life from clashes at the border since 1967. This is extremely, extremely serious, this is going to vitiate whatever dialogue was going on, former Indian army commander D. S. Hooda said. Military experts say one reason for the face-off is that India has been building roads and airfields to improve connectivity and narrow the gap with Chinas far superior infrastructure. At Galwan, India completed a road leading to an airfield in October 2019. China has asked India to stop all construction. India says it is operating on its side of the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border. U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 27 that the United States would be willing to mediate between India and China to help them resolve their ongoing border dispute, but thus far, neither India nor China has sought any intervention from the United States nor the international community. By Devjyot Ghoshal, Fayaz Bukhari, and Huizhong Wu Epoch Times reporter Venus Upadhayaya contributed to this report. Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center resident Jose Velasquez was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26. About three weeks later, he was dead from the virus. Up until an hour before his death, Southeasts staff assured Velasquezs family that he was doing fine and showed no symptoms of the disease, his two adult children allege in a wrongful death lawsuit. Their suit accuses the facility of gross negligence by exposing Velasquez to an extreme degree of high risk in light of the near certainty of his exposure to COVID-19 as a result of (its) malfeasance. Velasquez, 79, is among 18 Southeast patients who have died from the coronavirus the most deaths of any nursing home in San Antonio. His heirs lawsuit is the first brought against Southeast over a resident dying from COVID-19. Filed Wednesday in state District Court in San Antonio, the suit seeks unspecified financial damages. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio nursing home accused of negligence, retaliation At least 75 residents and 29 workers at the 116-bed facility at 4302 E. Southcross have tested positive for the virus. One worker died from the disease. Southeast has had a long history of problems and a long history of infection control (issues), said Beth Janicek, a San Antonio lawyer representing Velasquezs children. They were understaffed and undermanaged going into (the pandemic). And so, when something like this happens, everything really goes out of control. Janicek has two other pending lawsuits against Southeast. She represents a Southeast licensed vocational nurse who alleges that Southeast fired her in retaliation after about 12 years of employment for reporting patient abuse and neglect, along with safety violations. The other lawsuit is unrelated to COVID-19. In that wrongful death complaint, Southeast is accused of negligence after the 2018 death of a resident who suffered pressure injuries. A lawyer who is representing Southeast in that case didnt respond to a request for comment. But in the case, as well as two other pending cases filed before the virus outbreak, Southeast filed responses denying liability for health care-related claims. Defendant would show that any occurrence in question was the result of events and/or conditions wholly beyond the scope and control of defendant and for which it is not responsible, Southeast said in an April court filing in the pressure injuries case. Southeast is managed by Arlington-based Advanced Healthcare Solutions, which didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Southeast has not yet filed an answer to the Velasquez complaint. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases Velasquez suffered from dementia and diabetes, Janicek said. The latter is an underlying medical condition that can increase the risk of contracting COVID-19. Dementia-related behaviors, such as failing to remember to wash hands, may increase the risk for coronavirus, according to the Alzheimers Associations website. The lawsuit by Velasquezs children Annie Marie Gibbs and Joe Edward Velasquez cites an October federal inspection report that found that Southeast failed to provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported incidents where staff failed to wash or sanitize their hands to prevent the spread of infection. The lawsuit alleges that Southeast systematically understaffed in March 2020 in an effort to maximize profits. Based on staffing data from 2017 and 2018, the suit says, Southeast is believed to have been understaffed by 20 percent from CMS-expected staffing levels. This understaffing was extremely dangerous to both the residents and staff of the facility, the suit adds. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which helps regulate the states nursing homes, has launched an investigation into potential violations at Southeast. The agency didnt respond to a request for comment Monday. On ExpressNews.com: Texas, San Antonio launch investigations of nursing home overrun with coronavirus The Velasquez childrens suit coincides with efforts by health care facilities in the state and nationally to gain immunity from legal action related to COVID-19. The immunity requested would not cover litigation alleging injury or death caused by reckless conduct, intentional, willful or wanton misconduct. Janicek believes that the understaffing at Southeast was intentional, but she also said it had limited personal protective equipment and failed to provide hand sanitizer. One question that gnaws at Janicek: Why were some patients dying from COVID-19 including Velasquez not taken to the hospital? She doesnt have an answer. But Im certainly going to find one, she said. Patrick Danner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering banking and civil courts. To read more from Patrick, become a subscriber. pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD Not all Australian businesses will recover. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images) Australia could face an avalanche of business failures in 100 days when the JobKeeper stimulus ends, new analysis has found. Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a bleak forecast on Monday, stating that not all businesses will make it to the other side of coronavirus after the stimulus package ends on 27 September. Without these [JobKeeper] measures businesses would have simply fallen over, never to open again. This still may ultimately be the experience for some. But for many more, these measures will have provided the bridge they needed, Morrison said. That is why these supports are only temporary. Left in place for too long they will dull the dynamism of the economy and prevent the adjustments that must necessarily take place to enable new jobs to be created and our economy to move forward. Now, fresh analysis from Money.com.au has found as many as two-in-three businesses are on thin ice. A survey of Australian business owners found 62 per cent of small business owners have been on the brink of failure in the past, while 78 per cent of owners have had to make major sacrifices to ensure their business survived. Understanding the fragility of Australian small businesses can help us gain insight into the potential devastating consequences the pandemic will have on the sector, financial adviser and Money.com.au spokesperson Helen Baker said. It is important that our governments understand how vulnerable small businesses are to external influences, and yet how crucial the sector is to our economy. Small businesses deliver 35 per cent of Australias Gross Domestic Product and employ 44 per cent of our workforce. The survey respondents listed financial issues as the largest challenge that led them to consider shutting up shop, while issues with people in the business including employees and partner concerns also ranked highly. With cash flow and low income bringing major ongoing challenges, there is no way all small businesses can absorb losses from enforced closures, Baker said. Story continues The government should continue to prioritise small business in its support measures throughout the coming months, closely monitoring how the sector is responding to those measures, as well as the shutdowns, along the way. Around 844,000 businesses have accessed JobKeeper, subsidising or replacing the wages of 3.5 million Australian workers. What can businesses do to prepare for the end of JobKeeper? Nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of businesses have suffered a revenue hit due to coronavirus and 73 per cent have accessed support measures in the form of JobKeeper, deferred loan repayments or negotiated rent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. According to insolvency solutions firm Jirsch Sutherland, thats why now is the time for businesses to consider their post-JobKeeper plan and question how they will stand without the support. As a business owner, you know your strengths and abilities well, but you should also know when to call on the expertise of others, Jirsch Sutherland partner Andrew Spring said. Were experiencing an economic event thats both macro and micro in nature and company directors need to be proactive about assessing the impact on their business and the changes required to get back on the right course. That includes getting your accounts in order, meeting taxation and superannuation obligations and, if necessary, seeking professional help from a qualified adviser. Spring said owners should calculate their current and projected cash-flow and assess staffing needs and other costs. The next step is to communicate with staff, suppliers, creditors and customers and consider renegotiating rental terms or loan repayments. Then, reinvent, restructure or put your hand up. Spring said its critical to monitor whether your mental health is taking a battering and address that. Are you a struggling small business? Join us on Thursday 18 June to find out how to get through this period. Yahoo Finance Breakfast Club Follow Yahoo Finance Australia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Iran Threatens 'Appropriate Response' If IAEA Adopts 'Unconstructive Decision' Radio Farda June 15, 2020 Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Monday said any "unconstructive decision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will receive an "appropriate response" from Iran. The Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog's governing body will hold a virtual meeting on Monday morning and Iran is likely to be the focus of the meeting. A resolution against Iran if the IAEA governing body decides to take such a step would be the first in Iran's case since 2012. Speaking to reporters, Seyed Abbas Mousavi also said the "current attitude" of the IAEA is not acceptable to Iran and alleged the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Gutteres of being influenced by "certain countries". Referring to the IAEA's most recent report Mousavi accused the U.N. nuclear watchdog of "opening a closed dossier" on the basis of the information that Israel claims to have acquired through its spies. "Iran has until now cooperated with the IAEA at a high level. The IAEA must appreciate this cooperation and not be influenced by certain regimes and countries and their unjustified allegations," the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said. IAEA has expressed "serious concern" about Iran's nuclear activities and refusal to allow inspections of two sites where nuclear activities may have occurred as far back as two decades ago. The UN nuclear watchdog wants to verify that all activities at these sites were declared and all materials were accoutred for. Iran has alleged that the IAEA queries were based on information fabricated by Israel, the United States and other western powers. The United States unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in May 2018. Since then, Iran has in several steps abandoned the commitments it made under the deal in retaliation for the re-introduction of U.S. sanctions. The setbacks include surpassing the allowed stockpile of enriched uranium by eight times and increasing the level of enrichment in its nuclear facilities. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/spokesman-threatens- appropriate-response-if-iaea-adopts-unconstructive- decision-against-iran/30671357.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK charities are moving more services online as they try to survive the multi-billion pound hit they have taken during COVID-19 crisis. Many are starting to reopen their high street shops this week but the scale of the losses through the pandemic means they are also innovating to survive. The Charity Retail Association has calculated that charity shops lost 285m during the pandemic - the equivalent of 3.4m every day they were closed. Charities though have also had to scale back fundraising and research from the charity Pro Bono Economics shows the sector is facing a 10.1bn funding gap - just at a time when more families need to rely on them for help. The British Heart Foundation is now starting a new postal donation service making it easier for people to support the charity. Items that weigh up to 10kg can be posted by printing off a freepost label that can be emailed out to people who wish to donate items. The charity's chain of 750 shops is also starting to reopen from today with new measures to keep staff, volunteers and customers safer. Louise Ball who is a regional manager for the charity in the north of England and Northern Ireland told Sky News: "We have taken all the right measures to allow us to reopen - we can now do contactless drop offs for donations, we've limited people in store, hand sanitisers and everything else you would expect. "We are so grateful for the public supporting us during this time and we are all going to need the support of the public more than ever." Government guidelines say that donated items have to be stored by charities for 72 hours to minimise the small chance that they may be contaminated with COVID-19. The charity Sense which supports people living with different disabilities is also ready to reopen its shops. Head of Retail at Sense, Darryl Neville, told Sky News: "We don't know what customers are going to do. Are they going to come back into shops in the same level and volume? Story continues "So we're looking at how to expand online operations and give people an opportunity to support the charity by buying online. "We feel that we could get approximately 25% of our trade online with some smart working and plans that we're working on." :: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker He added: "We've got tree sites at the moment, an eBay shop selling antiques and collectables, Amazon shops and also a Depop (app) shop for fashion..it's very fast moving as it's designer and vintage clothes." Investors who owned stocks in the 2010s generally experienced some big gains. In fact, the SPDR S&P 500's (NYSE: SPY) total return for the decade was 250.5%. But theres no question some big-name stocks did much better than others along the way. MGMs Difficult Decade: One underperformer of the last decade was casino operator MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). The first big headlines of the 2010s for MGM was Chinas 2014 crackdown on gambling corruption in Macau, China. MGM Resorts has a 56% ownership stake in MGM China and its subsidiaries MGM Cotai and MGM Macau. In addition, MGM reduced its debt by more than $4 billion in 2016 when it spun off 10 of its U.S. casino properties into a new real estate investment trust called MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE: MGP). MGM shares started the 2010s trading at $9.73 and spent the first three-plus years of the decade trading mostly in a wide range between around $9 and $16. MGM shares then went on a tear starting in 2013, peaking at $28.75 in early 2014 before the Macau crackdown derailed the rally. From there, MGM spent the two years drifting steadily lower, eventually bottoming at $16.18 in early 2016. The stock finally broke out to the upside in late 2016. MGM ultimately peaked at $38.41 in early 2018, its high point of the decade. 2020 And Beyond: MGM shares were hammered in early 2020 when casinos were shut down due to COVID-19, and the stock dropped to as low as $5.90, its low point of the past decade. While the stock has since rebounded to around $19, it has still delivered underwhelming overall performance over the past 10 years. In fact, $1,000 worth of MGM stock in 2010 would be worth about $1,700 today, assuming reinvested dividends. Looking ahead, analysts expect MGMs struggles to continue in the coming months. The average price target among the 19 analysts covering the stock is $18, suggesting 5.7% downside from current levels. Related Links: Story continues Here's How Much Investing ,000 In Adobe Stock Back In 2010 Would Be Worth Today Here's How Much Investing ,000 In Marathon Oil Stock Back In 2010 Would Be Worth Today See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. The Scarborough hospital system is taking over the troubled Extendicare Guildwood nursing home that has lost almost one-third of its 169 residents to COVID-19 in a continuing outbreak. A management agreement will see the Scarborough Health Network, which has been supporting the long-term-care facility with infection control and staff since mid-April, take further steps to stabilize care. Local Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough-Guildwood) applauded the move but said it should have happened much sooner with a provincial takeover order that sends hospitals in to run a home for 90 days. The measure is long overdue for the 54 residents who have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the home and their loved ones, she said. Extendicare Guildwood is one of 67 Ontario nursing homes still struggling with the highly contagious new coronavirus that has killed 1,794 residents in long-term care, an increase of two fatalities in the last day, according to Ministry of Health figures released Tuesday. We are not in the clear yet, said Christine Baigrie, national director of long-term-care operations for Extendicare. The most important thing we can do together is to remove this virus from the home so that we can better protect our residents and staff. The company has three Ontario nursing homes still in outbreak and 14 no longer in outbreak with about 100 deaths in total, more than half at the Guildwood home where there are 26 residents and 27 staff still infected with COVID-19. The virus has hit more than 34,000 people and killed almost 2,600 in the province to date. While Premier Doug Fords government has issued mandatory takeover orders for a number of nursing homes hard-hit by the virus and staff shortages, the agreement involving the Guildwood facility is voluntary. It comes weeks after opposition parties and unions representing nursing home workers began calling for the province to take over more struggling nursing homes to save lives including at Guildwood. As recently as three weeks ago, Extendicare Guildwood had 27 resident deaths and Sharleen Stewart, president of the SEIU Healthcare union sounded an alarm saying, We dont know who is in charge. The company then revealed two of its management team at the home were sidelined by COVID-19. Scarborough Health Network experts will now manage the homes day-to-day operations with on-site leadership in addition to the doctors, nurses and personal support workers that have been assisting with specialized geriatric care. At its heart, this is about helping the people of Scarborough and their families, which is always our goal at Scarborough Health Network, said Elizabeth Buller, the hospital systems chief executive officer. A mandatory order was not issued in this case because the hospital was already assisting at the nursing home. In the legislatures question period Tuesday, Ford said the government acted as quickly as possible to protect nursing homes including takeover powers approved May 13 and repeated that his heart breaks for families who have lost loved ones in long-term care. A broken heart isnt good enough for all those seniors who lost their lives, replied NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, noting more than 70 per cent of Ontarios deaths from COVID-19 were in nursing homes. Ford has promised an independent commission into the impact of the virus on nursing homes will begin in July, but has not yet named a commissioner or terms of reference. Horwath is calling for a full judicial inquiry to look into the more than 5,300 nursing home residents and 2,060 staff including seven dead who contracted COVID-19 despite Fords pledge to build an iron ring of protection around them. There were 187 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ontario as of Tuesday at 5 p.m., according to a Star compilation of data from health units in the previous 24 hours, raising the total number of cases to 34,418 since January. Another 16 deaths raised the fatality count to 2,595. The number of active cases of the virus fell 2,585, a drop of 45 since Monday as more Ontarians recovered. Hospitalizations declined by six to 413 but the number of patients in intensive care on ventilators increased by one to 70. Read more about: People walk at the Mumbai sea front June 8 after the government eased a lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus. Malls and temples re-opened in several cities across India on June 8 despite the country recording a record daily number of new coronavirus infections, with the pandemic expected to ravage the country for weeks to come. (Punit Paranjpe/AFP via Getty Images) Josep Borrell says members must provide additional support to operation Irini, aimed at halting arms shipments to Libya. The European Unions chief diplomat has called on the blocs member states to increase their support for a recently launched military mission aimed at enforcing a collapsing arms embargo on Libya. Speaking during a video conference on Tuesday, Josep Borrell urged EU defence ministers to provide all necessary assets and intelligence in order to strengthen the operation. We need navy and air assets, he said at a news conference at the meetings conclusion, pointing out that the mission had only two boats and three aeroplanes at its disposal. The operation, dubbed Irini after the Greek word for peace, was launched in late March with a view to halt arms shipments to the war-wracked North African nation. A major oil producer, Libya has been mired in turmoil since 2011, when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in a NATO-backed uprising. An arms embargo was imposed in the same year but it has been repeatedly violated by several countries backing Libyas rival factions, according to the United Nations. Since 2014, the country has been split between two rival administrations. Currently, they are the Tripoli-based, internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and the House of Representatives allied to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar and his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) in the east. Borrell said more than 30 ships have been checked since Irini became operational early last month, before adding: But we can do more. The operation has come under heavy criticism for what some analyst perceive as a flawed approach that mostly targets Turkeys delivery of arms to GNA. Critics say Haftars forces, who mostly rely on shipment through air and land most notably through the Libyan border with Egypt which the LNA controls are hardly affected by the mission. Haftar, whose forces are backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Russia, has been unable to make significant progress since launching a military campaign in April 2019 to wrest control of the capital. GNA forces in recent months were able to recapture large swaths of territory in western Libya, including Tarhuna, Haftars last stronghold in the region. Last week, GNA forces said they had discovered eight suspected mass graves, most of them in and around Tarhuna, southeast of Tripoli. On Tuesday, an official with Libyas Red Crescent said the organisation had recovered 37 bodies found in the mass graves in Tarhuna. Faisal Jelwal told a news conference in Tripoli the 37 bodies recovered were taken to a hospital in Misrata. Another 106 bodies were found at the Tarhouna hospital, Jelwal said, adding that specialised teams are trying to identify them. LNA forces still control eastern and southern Libya, including most of the countrys oil facilities, and the city of Sirte, at the centre of a recent military escalation. Over 400 Vietnamese people return home on repatriation flights More than 340 Vietnamese citizens from Canada and 69 others from Africa landed safely in Vietnam on June 16 on repatriation flights arranged by the authorities. 69 Vietnamese citizens return home from Africa on June 16. 343 people from Canada returned on a Vietnam Airlines flight while those from South Africa, Mozambique, and Eswatini were brought home by South African Airways. Passengers on the flights included under-18 children, the elderly, people with severe illnesses, stranded tourists, labours with expired visas and students without accommodations after their dormitories shutdown. Right after landing at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, all passengers and crew members were given health check-ups and quarantined in line with regulations. Also on June 16, a total of 266 Vietnamese citizens returned home on a repatriation flight from Kuwait, Qatar, and Egypt. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has assigned the ministries of transport, health, defence and foreign affairs to decide the licensing of flights to bring Vietnamese citizens abroad to home based on specific conditions of each country and the global Covid-19 situation. The priority is given to some groups of people, including those aged below 18, the elderly, the ill, and those facing visa expire. By ANI NEW DELHI: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that several Indian scientists and institutions are working to develop a vaccine to fight COVID-19. "I have heard that a lot of experiments in the US have been successfully implemented. In India also a lot of institutions and scientists are working on it. We are waiting for the vaccine," he said while addressing MSME and Infrastructure-Paving the growth path in Post-COVID World event. "At the same time, we are facing an economic war. Not only India but the whole world is facing this problem. I feel that the way in which the whole world now has a lot of reaction about China..the whole world is now interested to find out some new option for them," he added. "I feel that India is definitely going to be a very good, viable option for all the investors in the world," Gadkari added. Commenting upon the decision to hike the Minimum Support Price (MSP), Gadkari had stated "Union Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership had decided to hike MSP. I have not made any statements about decreasing MSP. This has been falsely attributed to me and I feel bad about it. Farmers should stay away from the wrong news. The Central government has always protected farmers and will continue doing so." This comes in the backdrop of media reports quoting him that the government's minimum support prices for agriculture crops are way higher than domestic market prices and international rates which can create an "economic crisis" in the country. British pig producers continue to benefit from firm farmgate prices around 10% higher than a year ago, according to the latest market commentary. Producer prices have also been remarkably stable throughout 2020, but this firmness in the domestic market has not been repeated elsewhere, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) said. The red meat levy body said European pig farmers were typically seeing prices 7-8% lower than this time year with larger falls reported from Brazil, the USA, Canada. As a result, UK pig producers are getting a price well above the EU average which is in sharp contrast to the position at this time last year when the UK price was lower than the EU average when quoted in Euro. According to Stuart Ashworth, director of economics services with QMS, the general firmness in the UK market has been achieved despite slaughter statistics showing a small increase in both the numbers slaughtered over the first third of the year and increased prime pig carcase weights. He said: Market firmness has been helped by firm retail demand particularly for bacon and sausages, although the market for pork roasts has been more challenging. Market sentiment has also been helped by continuing firm demand from China and reduced imports. Looking at the major pig meat exporting countries, all have reported considerable growth in exports to China despite the coronavirus outbreak. The EU, for example, reported exports to China in the first quarter of 2020 75% higher than the same period last year. Similarly, and despite trade tensions between China and the USA, the US reported exports to China in the first quarter of the year nearly five-fold higher than a year earlier, Mr Ashworth explained. The longer-term effects of African swine fever in China are expected to result in continued firm demand from China for pig meat well into 2021. However, according to QMS, recent indications are that import prices paid may not remain as firm as they currently are as Chinese producer prices, although about double the levels of a year ago, have fallen more than 20% over the past quarter. As attention once again turns to Brexit negotiations, the importance of global trade patterns and access to markets is a key area of concern for the sector. The UK has published its new import tariffs to apply from January 1 2021 and they include import tariffs on pork and pork products, said Mr Ashworth. With no indication of any new quotas in the document, this would mean that all pig meat imports from the EU, and elsewhere, would face import tariffs unless negotiated otherwise. The EU report that, historically, around 20% of the bloc's pig meat exports come to the UK making the UK the second most important export market for the EU, although growth in trade with China has reduced the importance of the UK market to Europe more recently. In the same way, the European Union is an important export market for the UK - as is the Chinese market. While import tariffs would offer some protection to producer prices, without tariff-free access to export markets for cuts less popular in the UK, the benefit would be less robust, said Mr Ashworth. According to QMS, tariffs are only one part of trade terms and conditions, of equal importance are the non-tariff barriers. These can include, for example, abattoir operating standards, the level microbiological and medicine residues and border control inspections. As the UK exits the EU, it will bring current EU food safety and hygiene standards into UK law maintaining the status quo, explained Mr Ashworth. However, when the UK then enters into trade negotiations with the EU and other countries, concerns have been raised that the UK may revise the non-tariff barriers to trade with the potential for imports from third countries that are produced to lower standards than are currently applied in the UK. An example in the pig sector is the use of growth stimulant ractopamine in the US pig sector, which, in turn, could compromise our trading position with the EU and other countries. The implications of trade disruptions can be considerable not only for the pig sector but also for the cattle and sheep sectors. Historically, agreeing the terms and conditions of trade take considerable time to negotiate and inevitably involve compromise, said Mr Ashworth. However, that compromise should not result in the high standards of animal welfare and food safety demanded of Scottish producers being compromised by relaxation of non-tariff barriers to trade. Video captured at a Seattle Black Lives Matter protest on May 30 showed a young boy who was said to have been sprayed with mace by the police. Screenshot/Evan Hreha A Seattle protester who captured video of a distressed young boy who was said to have just been maced in the face by the police at a Black Lives Matter demonstration on May 30 was himself arrested a week later. Evan Hreha had posted the video to social media. The video caused 11,000 complaints to be filed to Seattle's Office of Police Accountability, Seattle's Komo News reported. Hreha attended another peaceful protest in Seattle on June 7. Following the protest, he told The Guardian, he was confronted by several officers who told him he "had been identified as someone who pointed a laser in an officer's eye." He was denied bail and held for two days in jail but was not charged with a crime. Hreha told the outlet that he believed his arrest was in retaliation for the video he captured of the young boy. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Video footage captured at a Seattle protest on May 30 showed a small child in distress. The footage was posted online by a man named Evan Hreha, who attended the Black Lives Matter demonstration and said the child in the video had just been maced by the police. "First person maced is a little girl," Hreha wrote in a caption alongside the video, originally mistaking the young child for a girl. "What the f--- is wrong with you people." Several days later, after he had attended another Black Lives Matter protest, Hreha was arrested on suspicion of unlawful discharge of a laser. He was held in jail for two days before being released, according to King County Jail records. Hreha, who was not charged with a crime, told The Guardian that he believed his arrest was in retaliation for the video. "It just kind of shattered that false narrative that was in my head that cops always protect and serve," Hreha told the outlet. What happened at the protests Protesters shouting at law-enforcement officers on May 30 in Seattle. Karen Ducey/Getty Images Hreha had been attending a Black Lives Matter protest in Seattle on May 30. Mando Avery was also there with his family, including his 7-year-old son, he told The Guardian. Story continues Mayor Jenny Durkan announced a 5 o'clock curfew that night to quell protests inflamed by the death of George Floyd, who was killed following an arrest in which a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. According to The Seattle Times, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington activated the National Guard shortly after the curfew began. The day began with several peaceful rallies, though police officers used flash bangs and tear gas to break up crowds that continued protesting into the evening. There were reports of break-ins and looting in downtown Seattle. Seattle's police chief, Carmen Best, said in a statement that 27 people were arrested that evening. Hreha told Komo News that around the time he shot his video, roughly 50 people were "facing off against the cops" at about 3 p.m. during a peaceful protest at Seattle's Westlake Park. But Avery told The Guardian the police turned on the protesters seemingly unprovoked. He said his 7-year-old son was hit in the face with mace. "I would say that you were targeting my boy," Avery told The Guardian, addressing the police. He said he didn't know whether the police "were trying to set an example and strike fear" into his son but was most upset that no officers or medical technicians stepped in to help. Hreha's video begins with the young boy clutching onto his father while screaming. Several protesters attempt to spray the boy with water, while another appears to douse him in milk to try to stop the burning. According to Komo News, Hreha's video caused 11,000 complaints to be filed to Seattle's Office of Police Accountability. Andrew Myerberg, the director at the Office of Police Accountability, told Komo News the agency would be "actively investigating" an officer believed to have been involved in the incident. On June 7, Hreha attended another protest, where he told The Guardian he helped hand out free hot dogs to demonstrators. Hreha told the outlet he was surrounded and arrested on his way home by several officers and "had been identified as someone who pointed a laser in an officer's eye" during the protest, an allegation he denies. The King County prosecuting attorney said in a tweet on June 8 that charges were not filed against Hreha but that the Seattle Police Department would be sending the case to Seattle Municipal Court "for consideration of a misdemeanor charge." The Seattle Office of Police Accountability did not immediately respond to Insider for comment about the macing allegation and Hreha's allegation of retaliation. Read the original article on Insider Chinese authorities have locked down a third area in the capital Beijing as they rush to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus outbreak which has infected more than 100 people. The resurgence in China, which appeared to have largely contained the virus, highlights public health experts calls for vigilance as many nations move forward with easing virus restrictions to revive their economies. Officials in New Zealand, which had not seen any new cases in three weeks, said they are investigating after two women who flew in from London to see a dying parent were allowed to leave quarantine and drive halfway across the country before they were tested and found to be positive. The Philippines has also reimposed a strict lockdown on the city of Cebu after a rise in cases. China reported 40 more coronavirus infections nationwide on Monday, 27 of them in Beijing, bringing the citys total to 106 since Thursday. At least one patient is in a critical condition and two are in serious condition. Four cases were also reported in neighbouring Hebei province, with three linked to the Beijing outbreak. Most of the cases have been linked to the Xinfadi wholesale food market, and people lined up around the city for a mass testing campaign targeting anyone who had visited the market in the past two weeks or come into contact with them. About 9,000 workers at the market had been tested previously. Expand Close Commuters in Beijing (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Commuters in Beijing (AP) The initial spread happened among market workers, according to Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. He told state broadcaster CCTV that authorities detected the outbreak early enough to be confident they can contain it. For those who were infected, they will start showing symptoms either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, he said. So, if theres no sharp increase of newly reported cases tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, the outbreak this time will basically stay at the current scale. Authorities locked down seven residential compounds in Beijings Xicheng district, where the first case was confirmed on Thursday. They also barred residents of areas considered high-risk from leaving Beijing and banned taxis and car-hailing services from taking people out of the city. Expand Close Medical staff conduct a test for the new coronavirus on the passengers who arrived from Doha, Qatar to the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Medical staff conduct a test for the new coronavirus on the passengers who arrived from Doha, Qatar to the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens (AP) The number of passengers on buses, trains and subways will also be limited and all are required to wear masks. Fresh meat and seafood in the city and elsewhere in China is also being inspected, though experts have expressed doubt the virus could be spread via food supplies. Nonetheless, Chinese media reports said that salmon had been pulled from shelves in 14 cities including Beijing after the virus was found in a sample taken from a salmon chopping board at Xinfadi market. The market has been closed for disinfection, as has a second market where three cases were confirmed. Residential communities around both markets have been placed under lockdown, affecting 90,000 people in a city of 20 million. China had relaxed many of its coronavirus controls after the ruling Communist Party declared victory over the virus in March. The infection was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. The two women in New Zealand had travelled from Auckland to Wellington by car. Director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield said that as part of their travel plan, the women had no contact with any people or any public facilities on their road trip. The women remain in isolation in Wellington, and tests are being conducted on passengers and staff on their flights, others at the Auckland hotel they initially stayed at in quarantine as well as a family member they met in Wellington. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) South Korea has also been battling to prevent a resurgence of the virus, reporting 34 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday. Half were found in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where health officials have been scrambling to stem transmissions linked to leisure and religious activities and low-income workers who could not afford to stay at home. Hundreds of recent cases have been linked to nightspots, church gatherings, a huge e-commerce warehouse and door-to-door salespeople amid an erosion of citizen vigilance. Despite concerns, the Seoul government has so far resisted calls to reimpose stronger social distancing guidelines after they were eased in April, fearing further damage to the fragile economy. Expand Close Holidaymakers in Palma, Mallorca (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Holidaymakers in Palma, Mallorca (AP) Philippine officials, meanwhile, have reimposed a strict lockdown on the central city of Cebu and retained quarantine restrictions in Manila for another two weeks as infections continue to spike. President Rodrigo Duterte said: The battle with Covid isnt over. The epidemic continues to grow sharply in India, which recorded 10,667 new cases, taking the tally to 343,091. Health services in the worst-hit cities of Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai have been swamped by the rising infections. Nearly 10,000 people have died. In the United States, vice president Mike Pence encouraged governors to highlight the good news around efforts to fight the virus despite several states reporting a rise in infections, which could intensify as people return to work and venture out during the summer. Mr Pence said in a private call with governors that except for a few areas, the US is seeing strong drops in virus-related hospital admission and mortality rates. In audio of the call obtained by The Associated Press, Mr Pence urged governors to make it clear to residents that theres a lot of really, really good news. From the earliest days of our Administration, President @realDonaldTrump has fought tirelessly to protect our Nations most vulnerable. Today, we strengthened our commitment to fighting for Americas Seniors as we continue our whole-of-America response to the Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/5d300Xl6xF Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) June 16, 2020 White House officials have played down the severity of the virus surge in places like Arizona and Texas. On Monday, the nations second-most-populated state set a one-day high in hospital admissions for the seventh time in eight days. Arizonas hospitals were at about 82% capacity. Meanwhile, Germany and France dropped border checks nearly two weeks after Italy opened its frontiers. Greece welcomed visitors, with passengers on flights from other European countries not having to undergo compulsory coronavirus tests. The European Unions 27 nations and other European states are not expected to start reopening to visitors from outside the continent until at least the beginning of July and possibly later. Spain allowed thousands of Germans to fly to its Balearic Islands without a 14-day quarantine in a pilot programme designed to help authorities gauge what is needed against possible virus flare-ups. NATOs colonization of Ukraine under guise of partnership By Scott Ritter June 15, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - NATO has extended yet another in a long line of incentives designed to tease Ukraine with the prospects of joining the transatlantic alliance, while stopping short of actual membership. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has designated Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunity Partner, making it one of six nations (the others being Georgia, Sweden, Finland, Australia and Jordan) rewarded for their significant contributions to NATO operations and alliance objectives by having the opportunity for increased dialogue and cooperation with the alliance. A main objective of this enhanced interaction is for NATO and Ukraine to develop operational capabilities and interoperability through military exercises which will enable Ukrainian military personnel to gain practical hands-on experience in operating with NATO partners. Seen in this light, the Enhanced Opportunity Partner status is an extension of the Partnership Interoperability Initiative designed to maintain the military interoperability between NATO and Ukraine, developed after more than a decade of involvement by Ukraine in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Thus Kiev keeps open the door for the possibility of military cooperation in any future NATO operational commitment, ensuring that Ukrainian military forces would be able to fight side by side with NATO if called upon to do so. The designation of Enhanced Opportunity Partner is the latest example of NATO outreach to Ukraine, which fosters the possibility of full membership, something that the Ukrainian Parliament called its strategic foreign and security policy objective back in 2017. The current president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has likewise expressed his desire to put engagement with NATO at the top of his policy priorities. The dream of Ukraine becoming a member of NATO dates back three decades. Dialogue and cooperation between NATO and Ukraine began in October 1991, on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union, when a newly independent Ukraine joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC). NACC was envisioned as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between NATO and the non-Russian members of the former Warsaw Pact. Then came the Partnership for Peace program in 1994, giving Ukraine the opportunity to develop closer ties with the alliance. In July 1997 Ukraine and NATO signed the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership, which established a NATO-Ukraine Commission intended to further political dialogue and cooperation at all appropriate levels. In November 2002 Ukraine signed an Individual Partnership Plan with NATO outlining a program of assistance and practical support designed to facilitate Ukraines membership in the alliance, and followed that up in 2005 with the so-called Intensive Dialogue related to Ukraines NATO aspirations. In 2008 NATO declared that Ukraine could become a full member when it was ready to join and could meet the criteria for membership, but refused Ukraines request to enter into a formal Membership Action Plan. The lack of popular support within Ukraine for NATO membership, combined with a change in government that saw Viktor Yanukovych take the helm as President, prompted Ukraine to back away from its previous plans to join NATO. This all changed in 2014 when, in the aftermath of the Euromaidan unrest Yanakovych was driven out of office, eventually replaced by Petro Poroshenko, who found himself facing off against a militant minority in the Donbas and the Russian government in the Crimea. The outbreak of fighting in eastern Ukraine since 2014 prompted Poroshenko to renew Ukraines call to be brought in as a full-fledged NATO member, something the transatlantic alliance has to date failed to act on. There is a saying that if something looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck. Given its lengthy history of political and military interaction with NATO, including a decade-long military deployment in Afghanistan, Ukraine has achieved a level of interoperability with NATO that exceeds that of some actual members. US and NATO military personnel are on the ground in Ukraine conducting training, while Ukrainian forces are deployed in support of several ongoing NATO military commitments, including Iraq and Kosovo. Ukraine looks like NATO, talks like NATO, acts like NATO but it is not NATO. Nor will it ever be. The critical question to be asked is precisely what kind of relationship NATO envisions having with Ukraine. While the status of enhanced opportunity partner implies a way toward eventual NATO membership, the reality is that there is no discernable path that would bring Ukraine to this objective. The rampant political corruption in the country today is disqualifying under any circumstances, and the dispute with Hungary over Ukraine curbing minority rights represents a death knell in a consensus-driven organization like NATO. But the real dealbreaker is the ongoing standoff between Kiev and Moscow over Crimea. There is virtually no scenario that has Russia leaving it voluntarily or by force. The prospects of enabling Ukraine to resolve the conflict by force of arms simply by invoking Article 5 of the UN Charter is not something NATO either seeks or desires. Which leaves one wondering at NATOs true objective in continuing to string Ukraine along. The answer lies in the composition of the six nations that have been granted enhanced opportunity partner status. Four of them Ukraine, Georgia, Sweden and Finland directly face off against Russia on a broad front stretching from the Arctic to the Black Sea. Jordans interests intersect with Moscows in Syria. Australia provides NATO with an opening for expanding its reach into the Pacific, an objective recently outlined by NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. NATO aspires to be a political organization, but in reality it is nothing more than a military alliance with geopolitical ambition. Its effectiveness rests in its ability to project military power, and in order to do this effectively, the military organizations involved must possess a high level of interoperability across a wide spectrum of areas, including command and control, logistics and equipment. By extending the status of enhanced opportunity partner to Ukraine and the other five nations, NATO is expanding its military capabilities without taking on the risks associated with expanding its membership; Ukrainian troops can be sacrificed in some far-off land void of any real national security interest to the Ukrainian people, and yet NATO will never mobilize under Article 5 to come to Kievs aid on its own soil. In many ways, the relationship mirrors that of a colonial master to its subjects, demanding much while delivering little. At the end of the day, the status of enhanced opportunity partner is little more than that of a glorified minion who trades its own flesh and blood for the false promise of opportunity that will never materialize. Scott Ritter is a former US Marine Corps intelligence officer. He served in the Soviet Union as an inspector implementing the INF Treaty, in General Schwarzkopfs staff during the Gulf War, and from 1991-1998 as a UN weapons inspector. Follow him on Twitter @RealScottRitter - " Source " - Post your comment below Travelodge are still committed to running a new hotel on the site of Stratfords former Picturehouse cinema, despite the company entering into a company voluntary agreement (CVA). Like most in the hospitality industry, Travelodge has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and last week entered into a CVA, which outlined plans to negotiate temporary rent reductions with its landlords. Despite the financial challenges facing the chain, Travelodge has confirmed that new developments are not affected by the CVA, meaning the hotel on the Picturehouse site will still be run by the firm. Unlike in many other CVAs, Travelodge is not planning to close any of its hotels, meaning Stratfords Birmingham Road Travelodge is also safe. A statement from the company explained that they are expecting to make revenue losses of 350million this year, but by temporarily reducing rents at the majority of its sites until the end of 2021, the chain will save up to 144million. The former Picturehouse cinema is currently shrouded in scaffolding and fencing in preparation for its demolition, though there is no news yet on when this work will start. German officials lined up to condemn President Donald Trump's latest verbal attack on the country, after the U.S. leader confirmed his plan to withdraw troops from the NATO ally unless Chancellor Angela Merkel's government boosts defense spending. The move to cut troop strength by more than a quarter to 25,000 is the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the two countries. Trump has dwelled on what he sees as Germany's failure to contribute more to North Atlantic Treaty Organization defense, on the country's perceived trade advantage and on gas shipments from Russia. The method of communicating the troop move was seen as an affront in Berlin, with Merkel's government in the dark for more than a week after the plan was leaked to the media. The German leader has countered the U.S. president on defense by insisting that Germany has bolstered weapons spending and is committed to achieving a NATO target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense, even if it takes more than a decade. Last month, she snubbed Trump's plan to hold an in-person Group of Seven summit in June. "We expect our leading ally to act as a model, with orientation and balance -- not maximum pressure," Johann Wadephul, a deputy caucus leader for Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, told Bloomberg, evoking a term used by the U.S. toward Iran. "You don't treat partners like this." The U.S. is backing away from Germany at a time of potentially significant integration in Europe. Momentum is building for a recovery fund that would leverage the borrowing capabilities of the whole bloc, while European Union defense ministers on Tuesday are discussing a Franco-German plan for more joint capabilities in areas such as peace-keeping, cyber security and space. "Germany's delinquent. They've been delinquent for years," Trump told reporters at the White House Monday. "They owe NATO billions of dollars and they have to pay it. Until they pay, we're removing a number of our soldiers, by about half." U.S. troop strength in Germany has dwindled to about 34,500 from a peak of 274,000 during the 1960s, but the numbers can vary widely depending on military exercises and troop transfers. In his comments Monday, Trump estimated the U.S. presence at about 52,000, a figure that may include Department of Defense civilian employees. Addressing Trump's "delinquent" comments, Wadephul rejected the accusation as false and said that the troop withdrawal will damage NATO security interests. Another senior official in Merkel's government compared Trump's comments with hate speech. The U.S. president's comments will only serve to erode the post-World War II transatlantic bond to the delight of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the official, who asked not to be identified by name. Germany has a positive relationship with U.S. soldiers and military families, "and we assume that this will continue to be the case in the future," a spokesman for the Defense Ministry in Berlin said by email. A spokesman for Merkel's office declined to comment. Ralph Hechler, mayor of the city of Ramstein-Miesenbach, home to one of the largest U.S. military bases overseas, said Tuesday that "there's been no sign anywhere that anything would be halted, closed or reduced." He referred to construction plans in and around the base, including a new military hospital. The U.S. presence amounts to a cash injection of around $2 billion per year in the region, including salaries, investments, and procurement contracts, Hechler told Bloomberg. "Of course it would be a blow for us if it hits us as a base," he said. "I can't imagine that scenario. Ramstein is an important hub for the Americans. A lot was invested in the last 15 years and continues to be invested." Roderich Kiesewetter, a senior CDU lawmaker on the Bundestag foreign affairs committee, said American troops are "very welcome" in the country and attributed Trump's comments to electoral campaigning. "Trump is wrong," Kiesewetter told Bloomberg. The U.S. leader "is conveying the impression that he's sacrificing the German-American friendship for his doubtful reelection." The Social Democrats, the junior partners in Merkel's ruling coalition, also condemned the move and the way it was communicated. Norbert Walter-Borjans, SPD co-leader, told N-TV the decision is another example of Trump's America First policy. "It's rather annoying," he said, adding that typically the U.S. president would discuss such an issue with allies before taking action. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he expected the troop reduction to be discussed at a June 17-18 video conference of the alliance's defense ministers. The U.S. military presence in Europe generally serves American interests, Stoltenberg said. He hailed increases in recent years in such forces and said that he spoke with Trump last week about his decision regarding Germany and the details still have to be worked out. "The U.S. has made it clear that no final decision has been made on how and when," Stoltenberg told reporters on Tuesday in Brussels. "Therefore, I look forward to a dialogue within NATO about this issue." Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today released the program with agenda and speakers for the June 18, 2020, virtual Small Business Forum. The event will begin at 12 p.m. ET and, as always, will be free and open to the public. The full program, with the complete agenda and bios of speakers, is available on the Forum webpage. "Access to capital is more critical now than ever for small businesses across the country, from startups to small cap public companies," said Martha Miller, the SEC's Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation. "The Forum is an opportunity to highlight success stories from businesses and their investors, as well as to address challenges faced in the current environment." The event will begin with spotlight sessions featuring thought leaders from across the capital formation marketplace: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs - Insights from investors who support women-founded companies Rural and Thriving - Overcoming the unique challenges of building companies in rural communities Stories from Founders of Color - Building minority-owned companies and raising capital Building Tomorrow's Public Companies - Exploring the pathway to IPO and the future of public offerings Small Cap Today - How smaller public companies handle challenges in today's market climate These 20 minute spotlight discussions will be interspersed with keynote addresses from SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza, Pete Flint (Managing Partner, NFX and founder of Trulia and lastminute.com), Arlan Hamilton (Founder and Managing Partner, Backstage Capital), and Susan Tynan (Founder and CEO, Framebridge). The spotlight discussions and keynote addresses will be webcast live at SEC.gov. Following the spotlights and keynotes, participants will engage in collaborative policy sessions to craft suggestions to improve securities policy impacting how companies raise capital from investors. The first collaborative session will discuss policy recommendations to improve the framework by which companies raise capital from investors in the exempt, or private, markets. The second session will focus on policy recommendations to address challenges faced by companies seeking to go public or that are smaller public companies. The collaborative policy discussions will be open to the public and accessible by video conference to anyone who pre-registers online by June 17, 2020. Visit the Small Business Forum webpage for more information about the event, including a highlight video that showcases how the public input received at the Forum positively impacts the rules that the Commission is responsible for creating and updating. Representatives for California-based utility PG&E Corp. (NYSE:PCG) will plead guilty Tuesday to 84 counts of felony manslaughter stemming from its role in the 2018 Camp wildfire, The Wall Street Journal reports. The Camp Fire destroyed the town of Paradise and was the deadliest wildfire in California's history. PG&E filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2019 after liabilities related to California wildfires, including the Camp Fire, grew to an estimated $30 billion. The utility recently agreed to increase the amount of company stock it gives victims as it works on a plan to exit bankruptcy, according to The New York Times. A guilty plea to the 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter would make the utility one of only a few companies publicly traded in the U.S. to face homicide charges, according to the Journal report -- others include Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) related to a Ford Pinto explosion found to be due to flawed gas tank design and BP (NYSE:BP) after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill. Ford was later acquitted by a jury. PG&E has acknowledged its responsibility after state investigators determined the Camp Fire started by a failure in PG&E's aging equipment. The yearlong investigation determined that a worn metal "C-hook" failed and dropped high-voltage transmission lines onto dry grasses below. Sentencing is likely to occur later in the week after the guilty plea, according to the report. No individual was implicated in the indictment, as the investigator found the neglect of the equipment went back decades. The company has already agreed to pay the maximum statutory penalty of $3.48 million. A man was fighting for his life last night after a gunman opened fire during clashes between militia and demonstrators trying to tear down a conquistador statue in New Mexico. The protest outside the Albuquerque Museum began peacefully before activists took a pickaxe to the 'La Jornada' sculpture, which depicts a 16th-century Spanish colonial governor notorious for massacring natives. Members of the heavily armed New Mexico Civil Guard stepped in to protect the statue of Juan de Onate, but it was not immediately clear who was responsible for the shooting. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham condemned the militia who were 'there for one reason: to menace protesters, to present an unsanctioned show of unregulated force.' Demonstrators in downtown Albuquerque attempt to haul the statue of Juan de Onate down with a chain after a cloth was put over its head and a sign draped round its neck Attendees help a man who was shot and wounded during clashes between protesters trying to pull down a statue of Juan de Onate and armed members of civilian militia group New Mexico Civil Guard in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque police detain members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, an armed civilian group, following the shooting of a man during a protest over a statue of Spanish explorer on Monday Albuquerque Police Department confirmed a man had been taken to hospital and was in a critical but stable condition. It did not identify him. Police Chief Michael Geier said his force was 'receiving reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence.' Protesters at the statue of Juan de Onate, moments before a man was shot and wounded, in downtown Albuquerque According to the Albuquerque Journal's account, one man involved in a physical altercation with the protesters appeared to draw a gun and fire five shots after he was pushed onto the street, sending members of the crowd scurrying for cover as one person yelled, 'Somebody got shot.' Video footage posted to social media from the scene appeared to show one man lying on the ground as several other people tried to render assistance. One EMT worker who was acting as a medic at the protest said he was the first to approach the victim. He told the paper that the stricken man had a single bullet wound. Gov. Grisham said: 'Although we are still learning more about the situation, I am horrified and disgusted beyond words by the reports of violence at a protest Monday night in Albuquerque. 'The heavily armed individuals who flaunted themselves at the protest, calling themselves a "civil guard," were there for one reason: To menace protesters, to present an unsanctioned show of unregulated force. 'To menace the people of New Mexico with weaponry - with an implicit threat of violence - is on its face unacceptable; that violence did indeed occur is unspeakable.' Mayor Tim Keller tweeted that the statue would be removed 'until the appropriate civic institutions can determine next steps.' Protesters attach a chain to a statue of Spanish conquerer Juan de Onate in downtown Albuquerque on Monday night Demonstrators start to run away from the scene as they hear gunshots ringing out on Monday night Demonstrators try to pull down the statue last night just moments before the shooting erupted He wrote: 'The shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city. Our diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us.' Several hours before the shooting erupted around 300 demonstrators had gathered in Tiguex Park at around 6pm to listen to speeches by indigenous activists. Afterwards the protesters marched towards the statue in front of the museum where the face off with the militia started. People clambered onto the statue and began chanting for its removal, but it wasn't until a pickaxe was unleashed on the sculpture that the militia stepped in, the Journal reported. Albuquerque police detain members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, an armed civilian group, Monday Demonstrators climb the statue of Juan de Onate in Old Town while armed members of the New Mexico Civil Guard stands by during a protest Demonstrators attacking the controversial sculpture last night. In January 1599, Onate condemned the Acoma for their 'uprising' and ordered the destruction of their settlement. During the ensuing siege, known as the Acoma Massacre, an estimated 800-1,000 Acoma were killed. Protesters haul on the sculpture with a chain while a pickaxe is taken to the base of the statue Around ten minutes later the friction escalated into the brawl which then led to gunfire. The crowd quickly dispersed thereafter as heavily armed police officers detained people at the scene. Officers were seen taking around six men dressed in military uniforms into custody. Anti-racism protesters venting anger over last month's death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis, have taken to destroying statutes honoring the U.S. Civil War's Confederacy, as well as sculptures of imperialists, conquistadors and other historical figures associated with subjugation of indigenous populations around the world. The statue at the center of Monday's protest in Albuquerque is part of a controversial sculpture called 'La Jornada,' which depicts Onate, known for the 1599 massacre of a pueblo tribe, leading a group of Spanish settlers into what is now New Mexico. Nursing home workers hold a vigil outside of the Downtown Brooklyn Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in New York on May 21, 2020. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) Lawmakers Demand Answers From Governors Who Forced Nursing Homes to Accept CCP Virus Patients Republican lawmakers on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis sent letters on June 15 to the governors of five states that mandated that nursing homes take in COVID-19 patients despite federal pandemic guidance to the contrary. The letters, signed by five Republicans on the CCP virus committee, were sent to the governors of New York, Michigan, California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The letter demands records on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths at nursing homes, executive pandemic orders and directives on nursing homes, and other relevant documents and communications. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the elderly, especially those living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, the letters state. We write seeking information, at a granular level, about the science and information used to inform your decision to mandate nursing homes and long-term care facilities admit untested and contagious COVID-19 patients from hospitals. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order on March 25 prohibiting nursing homes from denying admission to patients solely on the basis of having been infected with the CCP virus, also known as the novel coronavirus. Cuomo issued a companion executive order on May 10 that blocked hospitals from sending infected patients to nursing homes, but continued the mandate against denying residents admission to nursing homes based on testing results. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a similar order on April 15. The state health departments in California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania issued similar guidance and directives in mid-to-late March. All five of the governors are Democrats. Rich Azzopardi, senior adviser to Cuomo, said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times, These craven political hacks sent this same partisan document to several other statesall of which happen to have Democratic governorsapparently seeking some sort of election-year boost and to misdirect attention away from the oversight committees investigation into the federal pandemic response. Azzopardi pointed out that current New York state law prohibits nursing homes from accepting patients for whom they cant provide adequate care. The states law is similar to the federal guidelines issued (pdf) on March 13, which advised that nursing homes only take in patients with actual and suspected CCP virus infections if they were capable of following the quarantine guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The same federal guidance called on nursing homes to restrict all nonessential visits, among other measures, to protect elderly Americans, who faced the greatest risk of a fatal outcome in case of an infection. The offices of the governors of the four other states didnt respond to requests for comment by press time. Some 6,360 nursing home residents in New York died from the CCP virus, more than a quarter of the states total pandemic death toll, according to the letter (pdf) sent to Cuomo. More than 15,500 nursing home patients died from the virus in California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Just about the worst possible thing to do is knowingly introduce coronavirus to the most vulnerable populations, yet thats exactly what several states did by mandating nursing homes accept infected patients, Select Subcommittee member Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) said. These misguided policies deserve close scrutiny, and the leaders who put them in place have a lot of tough questions to answer. New Jersey suffered the greatest nursing home death toll in the nation, with 6,432 deaths, accounting for 10 percent of the states entire nursing home population. Florida, which banned COVID-19 transfers to nursing homes, lost just 1 percent of its sizable nursing home population, according to ProPublica. Michigan and Pennsylvania lost 3 percent of their nursing home populations to the virus. California, which quickly changed course after adopting guidelines similar to New York, lost 1 percent of all nursing home residents, according to the letters from the committee. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Company Profile for VectorMax Corporation VectorMax's pioneering of technologies that increase the efficiencies in delivering IP video over large scale, fully developed, and imperfect networks, solves the evolution of live linear broadcast television to on-network online delivery. The Company holds 102 worldwide patents grounded in software-based IP transport delivery technologies. Supported with $73 million of R&D and twelve years of intensive research and development, conducted by a development team with MIT, IBM Labs, Bell Labs (News - Alert), DARPA & MPEG credentials, the Company delivers a complete end to end platform comprised of multiple modules designed to work together to deliver IPTV (News - Alert) to large scale audiences over less than optimal networks within bandwidth constrained and limited infrastructure environments. The carrier requires no other third-party component to ingest, encode, manage and deliver the immersive experience that 2020 subscribers expect. Company: VectorMax Headquarters Address: 135 Madison Avenue 8th Floor New York, NY 10016 Main Telephone: 9178439300 Website: www.vectormax.com Type of Organization: Private Industry: Telecommunications Key Executives: President: Peter von Schlossberg CTO: Allan Krebs Public Relations Contact: Bryan Aoyama Phone (News - Alert): +1 (310) 403-2579 Email: [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005660/en/ British scientists initially thought two-thirds of cases coming from abroad were going undetected, but the latest data suggests the number was nearer 90 percent AFP/Tolga AKMEN Here are some of the reasons offered to account for Europe's heaviest official toll. LATE LOCKDOWN The most frequent accusation levelled at Boris Johnson's government is that it took too long to announce a lockdown. Government adviser and epidemiologist Neil Ferguson told a parliamentary committee on Jun 10 that locking down a week earlier than Mar 23 would have reduced the death toll "by at least half". "We frankly had underestimated how far into the epidemic this country was," said the scientist. At the time, the official Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), of which Ferguson was a member, told the government not to lockdown. "Sage was unanimous that measures seeking to completely suppress spread of COVID-19 will cause a second peak," said minutes of the group's Mar 16 meeting. Ferguson resigned from the panel in May after breaking lockdown rules. James Naismith, Director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute at Oxford University, said "during the exponential phase of the virus, even a few days can make a big difference". "The UK, like many other countries, struggled to properly understand the true extent of viral infection and were, as a result, slower to act," he said. UNDETECTED IMPORTED CASES British scientists initially thought two-thirds of cases coming from abroad were going undetected. But the latest data suggests the number was nearer 90 per cent, according to Ferguson. According to official figures, only 273 of the 18.1 million people who entered Britain by air in the three months prior to lockdown were quarantined. Most travellers were instead just given a leaflet detailing the symptoms of the disease and the steps to be taken if they thought they might have it. Almost two thirds of cases in Britain came from just over 1,000 people travelling from Italy, Spain and France, who then infected others, found a study by researchers from the universities of Oxford, Edinburgh and Birmingham. Scientists traced the genetic fingerprint of the virus and estimated that 34 per cent of the cases came from Spain, 29 per cent from France, 14 per cent from Italy and 23 per cent from the rest of the world - with less than 0.1 per cent coming from China. Travellers including British residents arriving in the country from Jun 8 are now subjected to a mandatory 14-day quarantine - a measure heavily criticised by the aviation and tourism sectors, which have been devastated by the pandemic. The government's scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, admitted to the press that the quarantine was more political than scientific. RETIREMENT HOMES Around 30 per cent of deaths linked to the virus have occurred in British nursing homes, according to official data, although Ferguson claims it could be nearer 50 per cent. Although comparable to other European countries, there are accusations that official decisions helped spread the disease in care homes. Not all of the 25,000 patients who were transferred from hospitals to nursing homes at the height of the pandemic - between mid-March and mid-April - were tested for the disease, according to a report by the National Audit Office, an independent parliamentary body. Unison union official, Christina McAnea called it "simply scandalous and accelerated the spread of the virus among an obviously high-risk group". The government insists that it made these establishments a "priority" from the start of the crisis. A person wears a protective face mask outside McDonald's in Union Square during the coronavirus pandemic on April 30, 2020 in New York City. McDonald's said Tuesday its U.S. same-store sales fell just 5.1% in May as the chain reopened dining rooms in its home market. But outside of the United States, the global fast-food giant has had to reckon with more widespread temporary closures that shut down drive-thru and delivery service. The United Kingdom, for example, only began reopening all of its drive-thru locations in June. While U.S. same-store sales shrank 12% this quarter as of May 31, global same-store sales plunged 29.8%. CEO Chris Kempczinski said at the end of April that same-store sales declines in the second quarter will be steeper than the previous quarter's. Global same-store sales shrank 3.4% in the first three months of the year after plunging 22% in March. Across all three of its segments U.S., international operated markets and international developmental licensed markets same-store sales improved sequentially from April to May. International operated markets, which was the hardest hit segment by restaurant closures, saw its same-store sales plunge 66.7% in April and improve to fall just 40.5% in May. The segment includes the U.K., France, Italy and Spain, all of which were hit hard by the coronavirus and restaurant closures. Australia, on the other hand, saw positive same-store sales, thanks to drive-thru lanes. As of Monday, 90% of the segment's restaurants were open again. In the international developmental licensed markets segment, same-store sales shrank 32.3% in April and 20% in May. Temporary restaurant closures, particularly in Latin America, hurt sales. And same-store sales in China, where the virus first hit, remained negative, although Japan saw same-store sales growth. Roughly 90% of the segment's restaurants are operating, as of Monday. In the United States, about 1,000 out of 14,000 locations have reopened with reduced seating capacity, and only about 100 restaurants are closed entirely. Still, McDonald's U.S. traffic and same-store sales remain negative, with breakfast being particularly hard hit. Consumers working from home are also making their own early morning meal, a trend that is reviving categories like orange juice and cereal. McDonald's calculations for same-store sales include locations that were temporarily shuttered due to the pandemic. Shares of McDonald's, which has a market value of $146 billion, has fallen 4% this year, as of Monday's close. A 16-year-old shot and killed while visiting a friend Monday night. According to Toledo Police, Najah Hasim was killed near on the 3200 block of Elm, near Streicher. The call came in around 6:38 p.m. Hasim was transported to St. Vincent Hospital, where she died due to her injuries. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111. Will Smith is set to play a runaway slave in an action thriller film titled Emancipation in collaboration with director Antoine Fuqua. The 51-year-old actor will play the role of Peter in the historical motion picture, which is based off a true story from an 1863 photo titled The Scourged Back. The image, according to History.com, depicts Peter showing off a heavily scarred back after a treacherous journey to freedom. (The photo, which was in Harpers Weekly in July of 1863, was critical in changing the beliefs of white Northerners looking to abolish slavery.) New role: Will Smith, 51, is set to play a runaway slave in an action thriller film titled Emancipation in collaboration with director Antoine Fuqua, 54 In the film, Smith's character must scramble through swampland and other rough environments in a run for freedom and to join the Union Army, Deadline reported. The film - its script was penned by Willam N. Collage - is expected to commence production beginning next year, and will be made available in the forthcoming virtual Cannes market later this month. The Philadelphia-born Smith was in the middle of making King Richard - playing Richard Williams, the father of at the Venus and Serena Williams - at the time the COVID-19 pandemic led Hollywood to shut down all productions. He was also in the $419 million hit Bad Boys For Life earlier this year. Smith famously turned down the role of the lead character of the slave Django in Quentin Tarantinos 2012 motion picture Django Unchained (Jamie Foxx wound up in the role). In the works: The film directed by Fuqua is expected to commence production beginning next year. The filmmaker was snapped last year in Italy Career arc: Smith famously turned down the lead role in Django Unchained, with Jamie Foxx stepping into the part In 2015, he told The Hollywood Reporter that his decision to pass on the blockbuster, which also featured Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christoph Waltz, 'was about the creative direction of the story.' 'To me, its as perfect a story as you could ever want: a guy that learns how to kill to retrieve his wife that has been taken as a slave. That idea is perfect.' He added: 'I wanted to make that movie so badly, but I felt the only way was, it had to be a love story, not a vengeance story ... I just couldn't connect to violence being the answer. Love had to be the answer.' With new funding, Sorcero is expanding its team and extending its capabilities as a language intelligence platform to serve more customers at scale. Sorcero is delighted to announce that we have successfully raised $3.5M from a consortium of international and domestic investors led by Leawood Venture Capital and WorldQuant Ventures, amongst others, as well as participation by existing investors. The funds will be used to support the creation of a language intelligence platform for insurance and life science companies. The new investment round is already enabling Sorcero to expand in the language intelligence sector, both in the US and internationally. Building an innovative team is a key area of focus for Sorcero, which transforms how enterprises make critical decisions based on technical content ranging from medical science to building codes to insurance policies. With this round, Claiborne Deming joins the board along with Karl Gemperli of Leawood VC. This investment will enable us to move closer to our goal of transforming how technical experts work, said CEO Dipanwita Das. We have already seen remarkable traction in life sciences and insurance and are excited about expanding our impact. We cannot be more grateful to have secured resources to make that happen in the midst of such tragic instability. The funding will drive our capacity to serve more customers and expand the team. Today, we are excited to announce that Ben Kubic joins us as VP, Finance and Operations; Seetal Patel as Director, Product Management; Nnaemeka Osakwe as Director, Customer Success; and Jonathan Dodge as Lead Product Designer. Sorceros newest team members further strengthen the companys proven product, customer experience, and finance teams and continue the acceleration of revenue-generating opportunities. Keeping the focus on the purpose of the company has made this expansion of the team possible, said Das. Sorceros mission is to augment subject matter experts with the language intelligence tools they need to transform the way they work and make decisions. In choosing our customers, we focus on applications that will create a massive impact for those customers and their stakeholders. This investment will help us further our vision of a world where understanding underpins artificial intelligence applications. About the Company: Sorcero was founded in Washington, DC in 2018 by Dipanwita Das, Richard Graves, and Walter Bender. Sorceros Language Intelligence Platform uses domain understanding to power mission critical decision-making across enterprises in life sciences and insurance. By Daniel Itai The Zimbabwe Daily Windhoek, Namibia Embattled state owned airline Air Namibia could soon find itself out of the radar following President Hage Geingobs proclamation that the state owned airline should be liquidated. Air Namibia must be liquidated we have a very serious problem with Air Namibia, it is not making any profits. Just being bailed out, bailed out. No, we must do something about it, said the President. However, chairperson of the Shop Stewards Committee Ndapewa Amupanda, said they plan on writing to the President to request an investigation into the national airline. It does not make sense for the government to make such astronomical investment in the airline only to abandon it without an investigation to find out what has transpired. - Advertisement - The airline for the past years has failed to account for money allocated to it by not producing audited financial reports as requested by the act hence, we strongly request for a probe into the airlines management before liquidation furthermore, no retrenchments should be made until the probe is completed, said the chairperson of the Shop Stewards Committee. Air Namibia is not the only state owned airline that is facing liquidation in the region, South African Airways is also facing the same fate with Air Botswana and Air Zimbabwe hanging by a thread. Like this: Like Loading... A view from Clwyd Souths Member of Parliament This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 16th, 2020 Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here). Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes writes Two weeks ago, I returned to the House of Commons along with other MPs from all parties although my team is still working from home and we continue to be very active in helping people across Clwyd South with enquiries and problems, particularly arising from the Coronavirus crisis. The dedication of frontline workers is amazing in keeping the most vulnerable people in our communities safe and I send my deepest sympathy to those who have lost a loved one to Covid-19. However, hopefully, we are now turning a corner with the pandemic and better times lie ahead. Parliament is working well with appropriate social distancing, proxy voting for those MPs who cannot attend for health reasons and continued remote access to meetings when required. Over the last fortnight we have discussed many important issues, not least the tragic death of George Floyd in the US and the need to be ever vigilant against racism in the UK and across the world. I have raised important local issues for Clwyd South on the floor of the House of Commons including, on 3rd June in Welsh Office Questions, the need for investment in step-free access at Ruabon train station. This is building on the work of my predecessor Susan Elan Jones, other local representatives, Councillors and organisations in Ruabon. On the same day I took part in a conference call with the Prime Minister in which I emphasised the importance of improving broadband and mobile connectivity in parts of Clwyd South, fully utilising the new 5bn fund set up by the UK government and BT for this purpose. On 10th June I signed up to support the cross-party Local Electricity Bill in Parliament which would allow small, community-scale energy generators to become local electricity suppliers, benefitting local communities and environmental projects. Corwen is a good example of a community that would benefit as they are already at the forefront, having launched their own renewable energy project pooling power from a local hydro scheme and domestic solar panels. I paid tribute on 11th June in the House of Commons to Wrexham and Denbighshire County Councils and to all Town and Community Councils across Clwyd South who have done an incredible job from day one of this crisis. The Cabinet Office Minister, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, joined in praising them and emphasising how important the role of local Councils has been in assisting the UK and Welsh governments work during the crisis. This month also saw the fire at Hafod Quarry Landfill site in Johnstown and I am very sorry for the local residents who have not only had to put up with the smoke and fumes from the fire but also adverse effects of the landfill site over many years. I fully support the residents and Johnstown County Councillor David Bithell who believe that the site should not have re-opened until completion of the enquiry by Natural Resources Wales and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service into the causes of the fire. I have also been very active as a member of the Welsh Affairs select Committee which has been taking evidence from a wide range of organisations in Wales about the effect of the Coronavirus crisis and ways in which we can get the economy moving again as restrictions are gradually lifted. This was also the main topic of a recent meeting that I held remotely with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Waterways of which I am a Vice-Chairman. The Llangollen Canal is vital for Clwyd South, not only for our tourism and hospitality businesses but also for the quality of life and well-being of local residents. As the MP for Clwyd South, my team and I are always here to provide advice and support. I can be contacted by email on simon.baynes.mp@parliament.uk or by phone on 01978 269386. Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here). The latest campaign ad by Senator Kelly Loeffler, a freshman Republican from Georgia fighting to keep her job, is entitled CLEARED. It recounts how she fought back against charges that she improperly traded stocks based on a confidential briefing she received in January about the looming coronavirus crisis. In late May, the Justice Department confirmed that an investigation into the trades did not find evidence that she broke the law. But if she was exonerated, Ms. Loeffler paid a heavy political price, as her choice of campaign message vividly illustrates. She burned almost three months of her campaign time she had planned to use introducing herself to voters fighting accusations that she traded on insider information to help avert thousands of dollars in losses to her portfolio. Even now, she is struggling to regain the trust of voters. The story of Ms. Loeffler and a handful of other senators whose trades drew federal scrutiny has become a cautionary tale in Congress this spring, as lawmakers are battling to maintain the publics trust as they try to respond to a pair of national crises, one a lethal pandemic and the other a national outcry over systemic racism in policing. Markets may have moved on, but the storm of scrutiny has left a lingering question: Why do lawmakers, who have easy access to nonpublic information and the power to shift markets, allow themselves to buy and sell financial stakes in companies in the first place? And should they continue to do so? Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to hold his first fundraiser alongside Joe Biden, his former VP, on the heels of a joint Biden-Elizabeth Warren fundraiser that brought in $6 million to go toward the Democrat's presidential campaign. Obama and Biden will appear together on June 23, which was first reported by Axios, and then announced on Biden's Twitter account. Obama's appearance will coincide with what will likely be a very bad day for Biden's rival President Trump, as his former national security adviser John Bolton's book will be released that Tuesday. Former President Barack Obama (left) will joined Joe Biden (right0, his former vice president, at a virtual fundraiser on June 23, which will mark Obama's first foray into fundraising for Biden in the 2020 campaign cycle Axios first reported the joint fundraiser, which was then confirmed by a tweet sent out Monday night on Joe Biden's Twitter account. The fundraiser is aimed at small-dollar donors who can watch the livestream if they 'chip in any amount' The Obama announcement comes on the heels of Elizabeth Warren (right) raising $6 million for Joe Biden (left) on a Zoom call Monday night, as she continues to be in the running to be his vice presidential pick The Biden-Obama event is being billed as a 'grassroots fundraiser,' and will be used to attract more small-dollar donors to the presumptive Democratic nominee's campaign. To sign up, supporters are asked to 'chip in any amount' in order to be invited to watch the livestream. Obama endorsed Biden in April - the same week he was endorsed by former rivals Warren and Bernie Sanders. Previously, the Biden campaign brought in $1 million from around 36,000 donors using campaign surrogate Pete Buttigieg, a former 2020 candidate and ex-mayor of South Bend, Indiana, as an attraction. Warren, a senator from Massachusetts who also ran against Biden in the Democratic primary, brought in six times as much, with only 629 people in attendance - with her appearance meant to attract the more moneyed Democratic set. Biden has committed to choosing a female running mate and Warren continues to garner attention in that way as well. While there have been calls for Biden to choose a woman of color in the wake of George Floyd's death and the subsequent 'Black Lives Matter' protests, Warren remains in the running because of her outreach to the black community. The Associated Press reported Monday that Warren was engaging with groups like Higher Heights for America, which invests in getting black women plugged into the leadership pipeline. And while she pulled just 5 per cent of the black vote during the Democratic primaries - in comparison to Biden's 61 per cent and Sanders' 21 per cent - about 7 in 10 black voters said they would be satisfied had Warren won the Democratic nomination. Neither DNC Chairman Tom Perez or Warren took herself out of the running on a call with reporters Tuesday. A journalist asked both Perez and Warren if they thought Biden should choose a woman of color as his running mate due to the current political climate. 'I think the vice president has an embarrassment of riches,' Perez responded, not answering the question as it was posed, as a yes or no. Warren answered in a similar manner. 'I'll just add to what Tom said - every woman being considered for vice president is extremely qualified and would be an asset for Vice President Biden, both in his campaign and in the White House,' she said. Biden is considering a number of black women including Sen. Kamala Harris, who also ran against him for the 2020 nomination, former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rep. Val Demings, the first female black police chief of Orlando, Florida. A Gippsland council has voted against removing two monuments honouring a Scottish explorer linked to the massacre of Indigenous people in the area. A Wellington Shire councillor on Tuesday night called for cairns recognising pastoralist Angus McMillan to be torn down in response to demands around the world for removal of monuments to oppressors as part of the Black Lives Matter protests. Angus McMillan in about 1860. Credit:State Library of Victoria Cr Carolyn Crossley's motion to remove the cairns from public land in Sale and Stratford links McMillan to seven massacres within the council borders in the 1840s. At this time, many local government areas around the world are taking stock and removing statues and monuments to colonial figures that had dark and ruthless histories in relation to the First Nations they encountered, the motion says. A never-before-seen global unity against police brutality has been sparked by the death of George Floyd, his brother has said in his first UK broadcast interview. Philonise Floyd said his brothers death and the protests that have followed worldwide are changing peoples live, adding that now is the time for reformation in the US Mr Floyd said he has had to get used to seeing his brother on television, in newspapers, and people talking about him. He added: its just life for me right now. He told ITV News: "As time goes by, you realise that he is changing people's lives, not just our lives but other people's lives around the world. His death has sparked unity right now and that's something this world has never had." Unarmed black American Mr Floyd, 46, was filmed gasping that he could not breathe while pinned by the neck under the knee of a white police officer as he died in Minneapolis on May 25. His brother and family lawyer Benjamin Crump, said his death - which has sparked outrage across the world - highlights a need for police reform. Mr Crump said: "There are two justice systems in America, one for black America and one for white America, but we need equal justice for the United States of America". George Floyd funeral in Houston - In pictures 1 /32 George Floyd funeral in Houston - In pictures REUTERS REUTERS POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images AP REUTERS REUTERS AP Family members react as they view the casket AP Mourners pause by the casket of George Floyd POOL/AFP via Getty Images The Reverend Al Sharpton arrives for the funeral service AFP via Getty Images Reverend Al Sharpton enters the church for the funeral for George Floyd REUTERS Quincy Mason Floyd, son of George Floyd, enters the church for his father's funeral REUTERS Actors Channing Tatum (C) and Jamie Foxx (R) attend the funeral service of George Floyd Getty Images Terrance Floyd, brother of George Floyd, exits his car before Floyd's funeral AFP via Getty Images he family of George Floyd prepares to enter the the Fountain of Praise church Getty Images Philonise Floyd, brother, of George Floyd pauses at the casket during the funeral POOL/AFP via Getty Images Philonise Floyd, brother, of George Floyd pauses at the casket during the funeral POOL/AFP via Getty Images The Reverend Al Sharpton prepares to lead the family of George Floyd into the sanctuary Getty Images Family members of George Floyd pauses at the casket during the funeral service AP The Reverend Al Sharpton prepares to lead the family of George Floyd into the sanctuary AP Despite the coronavirus pandemic ruling out large public gatherings, huge protests have been held in the US and globally since Mr Floyd's death. They have included people of different races calling for justice and marching against brutality under the banner of Black Lives Matter. Mr Crump told the same programme: "We believe this is the best time we have ever seen in the wake and aftermath of the killing of his brother, that will get this change which will prevent people and particularly black people from being killed by police unjustifiably." He was speaking after another black man, Rayshard Brooks, was gunned down while fleeing two police officers following a struggle with them in a restaurant car park in Atlanta late last week. The local medical examiner declared his death a homicide on Sunday. (Sharecast News) - London stocks were firmly in the black in early trade on Tuesday despite weak UK jobs data, amid reports US President Donald Trump is considering a $1 trillion infrastructure package and after the Federal Reserve launched a corporate bond-buying programme. At 0850 BST, the FTSE 100 was up 2.5% at 6,219.03. Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said: "The Fed 'will purchase corporate bonds to create a corporate bond portfolio that is based on a broad, diversified market index of U.S. corporate bonds', the central bank said. "The Fed is stepping things up after its statement last week left investors more than a little concerned about the pace of recovery. The move suggests that the Fed, as was clear last week, is worried about the economy enduring a protracted downturn. Meanwhile the White House is again said to be mulling a $1tn infrastructure plan to stimulate the economy. The two horsemen of risk sentiment recovery - monetary and fiscal stimulus - riding to the rescue again." On home shores, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the number of hours worked in the UK fell at a record pace as an extra 6m people stayed off work during the Covid-19 crisis. Total weekly hours in the three months to the end of April fell by 94.2m, or 8.9%, to 959.9m a year earlier. The number of workers on payrolls dropped by more than 600,000 between March and May and job vacancies fell to a record low as the Covid-19 crisis continued to hit the labour market. ONS figures indicated vacancies plunged 60% between March and May. Total pay fell in real terms for the first time since January 2018. The unemployment rate surprised economists by holding steady at 3.9% versus an average forecast for an increase to 4.5%. But experts warned the figures showed the government's furlough programme doing its job while delaying the long-term damage once state support for workers' wages ends in October. Samuel Tombs, a UK specialist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the headline rate showed employment held "in suspended animation" by the government's job retention scheme. "The true damage from Covid-19 will emerge in the autumn," he said. In equity markets, Ashtead shares rocketed to the top of the FTSE 100 after the construction equipment hire firm said fourth-quarter profits had halved but paid a dividend despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Building materials company CRH was also a high riser, with traders pointing to a potential boost from US infrastructure spending. Travel stocks IAG, Carnival and easyJet were also up, while housebuilders advanced after heavy losses in the previous session. Outsourcer Capita racked up strong gains as it said it has been awarded a five-year, 10m contract by Irish Water for the transformation and operation of its customer contact centre services. Cineworld surged after saying it will reopen its cinemas by 10 July, with social distancing measures in place, while travel company TUI was on the rise after saying it plans to partially restart its Summer 2020 programme. Market Movers FTSE 100 (UKX) 6,219.03 2.54% FTSE 250 (MCX) 17,509.82 2.46% techMARK (TASX) 3,746.09 2.07% FTSE 100 - Risers Ashtead Group (AHT) 2,743.00p 13.49% CRH (CRH) 2,900.00p 7.73% International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 284.60p 7.52% Carnival (CCL) 1,345.50p 6.83% Melrose Industries (MRO) 123.20p 6.30% easyJet (EZJ) 812.20p 5.81% Ferguson (FERG) 6,348.00p 5.13% Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 340.00p 5.00% Persimmon (PSN) 2,379.00p 4.94% Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 152.85p 4.84% FTSE 100 - Fallers Admiral Group (ADM) 2,266.00p -0.48% Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,365.00p 0.25% Ocado Group (OCDO) 1,948.50p 0.57% BAE Systems (BA.) 501.60p 0.72% Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.) 7,014.00p 0.92% Unilever (ULVR) 4,335.00p 1.05% GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 1,619.80p 1.19% Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 184.30p 1.21% SEGRO (SGRO) 891.00p 1.25% Severn Trent (SVT) 2,438.00p 1.29% FTSE 250 - Risers Capita (CPI) 44.20p 8.23% Cineworld Group (CINE) 84.66p 7.25% TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 484.30p 7.12% Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 74.10p 6.24% BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust (BRSC) 1,330.00p 6.23% Redrow (RDW) 498.00p 6.23% Wood Group (John) (WG.) 224.00p 6.21% Investec (INVP) 175.50p 6.01% 4Imprint Group (FOUR) 2,550.00p 5.81% Elementis (ELM) 72.10p 5.72% FTSE 250 - Fallers Apax Global Alpha Limited (APAX) 133.40p -2.63% Contour Global (GLO) 183.00p -0.87% NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red (NESF) 105.90p -0.47% Avon Rubber (AVON) 3,065.00p -0.33% Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS) 1,265.00p -0.20% Centamin (DI) (CEY) 156.30p -0.03% Gamesys Group (GYS) 860.00p 0.00% PureTech Health (PRTC) 240.00p 0.00% Vivo Energy (VVO) 91.00p 0.00% Hilton Food Group (HFG) 1,160.00p 0.00% Press Release June 16, 2020 De Lima asserts innocence, moves for bail On 15 June 2020,Senator Leila M. de Lima filed a Motion for Bail before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC)-Branch 205 in Criminal Case No. 17-166 for alleged conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading, which is punishable under Section 26 (b) in relation to Section 5 and Section 3 (jj) of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2012". For more than three years and a quarter, the Senator has been in detention at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since her arrest on 24 February 2017. "Instead of proving her guilt, the prosecution itself provided strong evidence of accused De Lima's innocence and the regularity of the performance of her duties as then Secretary of Justice," De Lima emphasized in her 47-page motion. De Lima claims that she should be allowed to post bail because the evidence of the prosecution on her guilt is not strong, using the standard laid down in the Constitution and the Rules of Court for the allowance of bail in capital offenses. The case where the motion was filed involves the allegation that De Lima supposedly demanded for money and vehicles for her 2016 senatorial campaign from NBP inmate and alleged drug lord Peter Co. The prosecution contended that the money and vehicles were asked from Co by Jose Adrian Dera on behalf of De Lima. De Lima maintains that the evidence against her is hearsay, since Peter Co only dealt with Dera and admitted that he never met with or talked to De Lima. Co said he only dealt with Dera who is De Lima's co-accused and who did not testify as a state witness during the hearings. De Lima, through her lawyers, told the court that the government lawyers simply did not prove anything that will link her to Co's transaction with Dera. De Lima's lawyers further point out that the prosecution story is also full of holes and contradictions. While the prosecution claims that the money and vehicles given to De Lima were her alleged share in the proceeds of the drug trade, Co himself has repeated several times on the witness stand that he is not and was never engaged in the illegal drug trade. Co also claimed that the money and vehicles given to Dera were not De Lima's share in the drug trade but was ransom paid by his niece who was kidnapped by members of Dera's PNP anti-drugs unit, the so-called RAID unit. Police officers who sell confiscated drugs or kidnap suspected drug traders for ransom are also known as "ninja cops". Apparently, according to Co, what happened to her niece was a "ninja cop" operation. Co narrated on the witness stand that it was her niece who sourced the ransom money from a Chinese acquaintance. Both Co's niece and her Chinese acquaintance were not presented as witnesses by the prosecution. Co, however, admitted that the vehicles delivered to Dera belonged to him. However, he failed to identify these vehicles, including their motor vehicle and license plate numbers. The prosecution was also not able to present the LTO registration of said vehicles to prove that they even existed. During the hearing, the prosecution banked on being able to prove the link between Dera and De Lima, and that Dera is De Lima's relative or staffer. However, the prosecution failed to show any relationship between the two, or that they even knew each other. De Lima maintains that she does not know Dera, while Dera claims in an affidavit and motion filed in court that he just used De Lima's name to gain access to the drug network inside the Bilibid while working as a confidential agent of the PNP-NCRPO-RAID. More tellingly, prosecution witnesses from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and a commercial bank uniformly testified that certain bank accounts they identified had no links to De Lima. "Despite its numerous witnesses, the prosecution miserably failed to prove a veritable link between accused De Lima and Dera, much less the alleged conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading among De Lima, Dera, and Peter Co," De Lima noted. De Lima further pointed out that she should be allowed to post bail because the testimonies of the other witnesses against her have questionable probative value for being irrelevant, hearsay, incredible, biased, and self-serving, and that she is not a flight risk. "Certainly, the granting of bail to accused De Lima will result in upholding her constitutional presumption of innocence, recognizing her right to due process, and guarantee her appearance in court for the remainder of the trial, and allow her to serve her mandate as a duly-elected senator of the country," she said. "It cannot be stressed enough that Accused De Lima has consistently and fervently professed her complete and unconditional innocence of the charges falsely filed against her. She was not (as she has never been) involved in the illegal drug trade. Neither has she ever obtained any benefit from the proceeds thereof," she added. B eing the CTO of Amazon is a demanding job at the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic when digital services are in more demand than ever. But Werner Vogels has been taking it in all in his stride, from getting stuck during the quarantine period in his native country of Holland instead of in Amazons home state of Seattle, to ensuring the company is making the right investments to keep Amazon Web Services, the cloud platform which millions of companies rely on to stay online, functional and serving its customers at such an unprecedented time. Vogels is in charge of driving technological innovation inside one of the worlds most valuable companies. Ahead of the annual AWS Summit EMEA, an educational event for new and current AWS customers which is taking place digitally this year, we spoke with Vogels to see how he was getting on in lockdown and which technologies are going to be driving the post-coronavirus world. On navigating lockdown: Vogels has been isolating in Amsterdam after getting stuck in Europe a few months ago and says hes been enjoying the beautiful European weather, which essentially means grey and raining. When Amazon was forced to send all its employees home, it took a few weeks to get everyone into the new rhythm, whether that was using the AWS Workspaces, the platforms virtual desktop environment for remote access, or Chime for video calls and other collaboration features. But it wasnt just about getting everyone used to the tech. People were very anxious and didnt know what was going to happen, says Vogels. The company is thinking about how it can encourage employee interaction, for those impromptu water cooler conversations. But for now, its working ok. Most of our employees are really comfortable with it, weve found a good rhythm there. Prepping for a pandemic: AWS works across different 24 geographic zones across the world including Asia Pacific, Mainland China, Europe, South America and the US, so the company was forced to prepare for coronavirus almost from the start. It helps that there is an in-house AWS Disaster Response Team that looks for disasters around the world from earthquakes to floods and pandemics, who seek out the customers who might be particularly affected by the disaster. This team then reaches out and sees the way it can help. In this case we had some customers that had enormous increases and scaling needs. For example, Netflix. In March they saw a massive increase in streaming during the day, not just in the evenings. Many of our customers in that particular space saw an enormous increase, explains Vogels. Vogels on stage at Amazon's Re:Invent conference last year (Amazon ) / Amazon The AWS teams had to ensure that each customer had the right architecture support so they could handle the increase in demands and scale up if they need. But its not just tech companies that take advantage of these services. Vogels tuned into Comic Reliefs The Big Night In event in April and the website, donations system and business analytics all runs on AWS. During the night, Comic Relief was able to transact up to 350 donations per second. This is the ideal example for high-scale, one night where thousands of people donate something close to 27 million. Its the ideal use case for AWS where you can build highly scalable, highly reliable [platforms] because you dont want it to go offline when you can take donations. Its an ideal cloud computing story. Keeping health customers online: AWSs health-focused customers faced their own type of manageability problems during the pandemic. Swedish telehealth start-up KRY, which operates the LIVI platform in the UK, allows people across Europe to videochat with their GPs. To facilitate the Covid-19 demand, KRY created LIVI Connect, a free platform on AWS to allow doctors and healthcare professionals to continue consultations and speak to patients who were isolating. The organisation saw a tremendous increased need to scale, says Vogel. Imperial College London draws on AWSs machine learning technologies for disease modelling, which is instrumental to the universitys work on modelling Covid-19. The response team at Imperial can store more data, share information with public health agencies and governments around the world in real-time and experiment with different methods to help propel its research. And then for the World Health Organisation, another AWS customer, traffic to its website has increased eightfold since the start of 2020, understandably as people go to the site for information. The WHO has established a Covid-19 situation dashboard, or interactive map, which gives a daily update on the latest globaland country-specificnumbers of cases. "Thanks to support from tech companies, WHO was able to enhance the Covid-19 situation dashboard," said the organisations CIO Bernardo Mariano in a statement. "Countries rely on this data to see how well certain interventions are working in other countries, to help them decide whether to do the same. AWS is also providing the WHO with machine learning (ML) and media services to reduce the time it takes for its educational training videos to be translated into multiple languages, from a few days to a few hours, as well as developing a tool using the tech to help differentiate between 'reliable' and 'unreliable' Covid-19 content. "This is where we are really seeing the power of AWS", added Mariano. The tech to help us prepare for the future: The world is a very different place to what it was a mere few months ago. Now, companies need to prepare for this new normal and tech is going to be integral to that, which for Vogels means data and analytics. One thing the cloud has done is its made IT egalitarian. From the smallest company to the largest enterprise, suddenly everyone has access to the same IT. Theres no competitive differentiator between how many services you have, what has become competitive is the data. The data a company has that is unique for your particular company and making sure to use that data to make decisions, he explains. Other tech to keep an eye on is how the digital and physical worlds blur together, from autonomous vehicles to robot repair vehicles or home automation and voice assistance. "IoT technology [internet of things] is definitely something on the rise. The whole mixture of digital and physical is a line that's going to be blurred so we no longer know when they are digital or when they are physical." And dont forget about the power of collaboration software. Amazons employees are set to work from home until October 2 at least, but it could be many months before offices return to being in-person rather than remote. In the past, there have been concerns about the productivity of working from home but after a few months, were seeing teams are getting into the rhythm and its not terribly different to when they were together in the office. Everyone wants to find ways to make it work as well as possible. AWS Online Summit EMEA will take place on June 17. Its free to register and attend here Special Iran envoy says UN arms embargo on Iran expiring in October should be extended indefinitely. The United States would like a in-person meeting with Iran to discuss prisoner releases and it wants the UN Security Council to impose an indefinite arms embargo on the Islamic Republic, a senior US diplomat said on Tuesday. The two adversaries disagree on many issues, including US President Donald Trumps decision two years ago to abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under which Tehran limited its nuclear programme in return for economic sanctions relief. Trump has since restored US sanctions that have choked Irans oil exports, the countrys main source of revenue, while Iran has accelerated its nuclear programme. Washington believes Iran may seek a nuclear weapon, something Tehran denies. Despite the tensions, the two sides struck a deal under which Iran on June 4 freed a US Navy veteran it had imprisoned since 2018 and the US allowed an Iranian-American physician to visit Iran. Speaking at a virtual event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said he hoped for further prisoner exchanges and talks on a wide array of issues. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook: The Iranian regimes threats are designed to intimidate nations into accepting Irans usual violent behavior for fear of something worse. We refuse to play by Irans rules. https://t.co/zMKQdtgHK2 pic.twitter.com/DGffzM3VKT Department of State (@StateDept) June 16, 2020 Tehran has been reluctant to deal with officials in Washington since the Trump administration abandoned the nuclear agreement, demanding the US return to it. Wed love to have an in person meeting to have a consular dialogue so that we can move faster than we have, Hook said. The door for diplomacy on our side is wide open, not just on these matters but on all the issues that have been bedevilling the US-Iran bilateral relations for 41 years, he said, saying Trump would like to get to the negotiating table. He also said the administration, which criticises Tehran for backing proxies in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, believes a UN arms embargo on Iran expiring in October should be extended indefinitely. President Moon Jae-in / Yonhap President Moon Jae-in convened an emergency meeting of top security officials Tuesday, hours after North Korea demolished the inter-Korean liaison office in its border town of Kaesong. The National Security Council meeting was set to open at 5 p.m. When we say no one has Kim Sun Young's range, we're not kidding! This multifaceted superstar won the Best Supporting Actress at the 2020 Baeksang Arts Awards for her role in "Crash Landing On You," and she deserved her trophy for being one of the most laudable versatile actresses in the Korean film and drama industry. In "Crash Landing on You," Kim Sun Young portrayed the role of a villager, and now, she is a company director in "Kkondae Intern." In the first half of 2020, she already starred in three series, including the upcoming "Backstreet Rookie." But take note, she was busy as a bee for playing a total of six characters in different dramas in 2019. In case you missed her dramas, get into the list we made for you below! Crash Landing On You Character: Na Wol Sook She holds as one of the NK village "ahjummas," or an elder auntie, that helped Se Ri in her stay. Due to their elder squad, the drama became enjoyable for viewers and was an absolute delight. The role she portrayed bagged her the Best Supporting Actress award. Vagabond Character: Gye Sun Ja Her role may have only appeared in a couple of scenes, yet she still portrayed it cool. A secret agent in disguise as a simple restaurant owner in Vagabond, she is part of helping the NIS as an undercover. When The Camellia Blooms Character: Park Chan Sook Her role in this drama is one of the "ahjummas" who comes around to help and protect Dong Baek in an indifferent village that knows everybody in a fictional town called Ongsan. The drama's lead actor Kang Ha Neul also snatched the Best Actor award at the 2020 Baeksang Arts Awards. Her Private Life Character: Uhm So Hye No one dares to question Kim Sun Young's versatility as in this drama, she portrayed a fun, insensitive, and flamboyant director of a museum, where Deok Mi (played by Park Min Young) works. In this role, seeing her act makes the viewers hate her or laugh at the same time. Reply 1988 Character: Kim Sun Young Her real name is the same as her on-screen title in the hit series "Reply 1988," a family drama that takes life, romance, and friendship that captivated the viewers' hearts. Here, Kim Sun Young plays as the mother of Sun Woo (Go Kyung Pyo). Kim Sun Young currently stars as one of the antagonists in "Kkondae Intern," a comedy and life drama that talks about overcoming challenges and success in work and life. Kim Sun Young's comical ability and switching to an effortlessly from being a rich woman in high fashion to an "ahjumma" makes any drama awesome. - Kennedy Agyapong recently disclosed that one of his daughters had gone wayward - According to him, the girl had dropped out of school and living an unacceptable life - Following Ken Agyapong's revelations, photos and details of the lady have popped up Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong recently narrated how one of his daughters has virtually become a beggar because of her wrong choices. Anell and her father Kennedy Agyapong Photo source: Instagram/Sweet_maame_adwoa Source: Original The daughter, Ken Agyapong revealed, begging for funds to continue her education after squandering many opportunities he gave her. According to Ken Agyapong, his daughter dropped out of California Institute of Technology (CIT) while in her third year of her five-year Architecture programme. The Assin Central MP who was speaking on Oman FM indicated that he was paying $84,000 in school fees every year and was thus not pleased with his daughter's decision. The most painful thing to him was the fact that he had just paid half ($42, 000) right before his daughter called him while he was on a plane to China to inform him that she was dropping out. From that time, Kennedy Agyapong added, he cut her off and even used the other half of her school fees for the year to buy a Bentley. While Ken Agyapong did not mention the name of the daughter he was talking about, YEN.com.gh checks have revealed the identity of the young lady. She is Anell Agyapong. READ ALSO: Real name, age, school and 11 photos of Apostle Kwadwo Safo's beautiful last daughter YEN.com.gh has gathered Anell is the daughter of Kennedy Agyapong and one Araba Dawson. She was born in 1994. Anell got admitted into Southern California Institute of Technology in 2014 to study for a Bachelor of Architecture but she left in 2016 without completing. Before going to America, Anell studied at SOS Hermann Gmeiner College for her International Baccalaureate which she passed with distinction. From the photos, Anell is a very pretty young lady and we pray that she resolves whatever difficulties and get her life back on track. Ghanaian female accounting graduate and mushroom farmer recounts her experience | #Yencomgh: Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page Source: YEN.com.gh Registration is open for SIUs Innova-ship online program by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. Great business ideas and innovative thinking are intrinsic to Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the surrounding region, and SIU wants to help people take their creative concepts to the next level. The Innova-ship program, offered at no cost by the SIU Research Park, is designed to help people advance their ideas for products, services or programs toward commercialization. Beginning June 25, innovative thinkers can participate virtually in a four-week training program, geared especially toward those who are focusing on the STEAM areas of science, technology, engineering, agriculture, math and business. In addition, people who have any viable concepts outside of those areas are also welcome to participate. Comprehensive, shortened program The accelerated program is completely online and bridges the gap between innovation and commercialization. The training sessions start June 25 and are held each Thursday through July 23 and on Tuesday June 30 and July 21. The sessions are from noon to 1:30 p.m. Topics covered will include: Developing ideas and testing business models. Defining target markets, conducting market research then entering and capturing the market. Building a team. Protecting intellectual property. Developing a pitch presentation. Exploring financing options and identifying potential investors. Planning for financial success. Funded by a grant Program funding is through a grant from the Small Business Administration's Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. The SIU Research Park is one of just 60 award recipients nationwide selected to provide support for STEAM-related innovations, entrepreneurs, and startups, potentially enabling participants to apply for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding. Program participants will have access to consultation, along with information on the SBIR/STTR funding programs and how to apply. Sign up now There is no cost to participate in the program but space is limited. Those interested in participating can find the application online. Additional information is available at researchpark.siu.edu/ or by contacting Barnett at dbarnett@siu.edu. Spring session drew much interest The spring 2020 Innova-ship initiative, created as a nine-week in-person training program, drew a diverse group including community members along with SIU faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students. The training moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic but 10 participants completed the session and four expressed interest in seeking SBIR funding for their projects. Moving ideas forward As a former epidemic intelligence service officer for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state epidemiologist for Missouri and South Dakota, Sarah Patrick has ample experience and knowledge pertaining to public health. Patrick, an assistant professor of public health and doctoral program director for the School of Human Sciences at SIU, saw a need for a class focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship for people who are working in public health or who are masters and doctoral students. Innova-ship was able to connect Patricks expertise, plans and goals with the vocabulary, tools and skill sets to increase innovation and entrepreneurial thinking in other fields. The program also gave her the opportunity to work alongside others who were developing their ideas and introduced Patrick to successful entrepreneurs. While in the cohort, I was working on COVID-19 response in a national workgroup, reviewing technology and apps to help public health with quarantine and isolation follow-up. I found myself in a conference call with the former innovation officer for IBM not the usual contact most people in public health practice meet, Patrick recalls. Thanks to Innova-ship, I was more confident and competent discussing the roll-out of such technology with him. I came to the next Innova-ship class all excited that I was able to apply what we were learning as we were learning it! Providing business know-how Jamie and Shannon Green purchased a historic property on Murphysboros Walnut Street with a plan in mind. During the training, Jamie Green said she received invaluable information and guidance on how to move forward with their concept for creating The Mercantile on Main, a shared retail space. Retailers will pay a monthly fee for the retail space to cover rent, utilities and marketing assistance and then keep 100% of their sales proceeds. The class was so comprehensive and helpful, Jamie Green said. It helps you think of what you need to do and in what order. There are so many things that enter in when you get involved in starting a business and all of the classes were so good. The marketing instruction proved especially helpful, as Green learned the importance of effectively selling her business to retail clients as well as to customers and techniques to aid with marketing. She found the staff and classmates encouraging and motivating and said it was exciting to be part of a group where people were sharing feedback, thinking outside the box and where the common goal is to be successful. Interest remains strong The Illinois Small Business Development Center and Business Incubator programs are continuing to get requests for assistance with starting new businesses, according to Deborah Barnett, associate director of the Research Park and director of Business Incubator Programs. "COVID-19 has caused people to think differently, and we've noticed a lot of creativity and innovation rising up in the region as a result, Barnett said. This is a perfect time to bring those innovative ideas to life and learn about ways to help fund those ideas through SBIR." MONTREALQuebec plans to have all elementary and high school students back in the classroom this fall with a backup plan should the number of COVID-19 cases spike, the provinces education minister said Tuesday. Jean-Francois Roberge said the province has the green light from health officials for elementary and high schools to open at full capacity, with distancing and sanitary measures in place. Roberge said it is important for students to return to a classroom environment. A lot of specialists and pediatricians say of course, the virus is dangerous, but not going to school is dangerous too, Roberge said. Its dangerous for our success rate, its dangerous for the kids, its dangerous for their mental health. Students from preschool through Grade 9 will return full time to classrooms that will include bubbles groups of six students within the class that wont require any distancing at all. Otherwise, a one-metre distance will have to be maintained between students and a two-metre distance between students and staff. While teachers will move from classroom to classroom, students will stay put. Such bubbles have been used in other countries, said Dr. Richard Masse, an adviser to the Quebec Health Department. The risk between children and between children and adults is limited but its not absent, Masse said. Thats why were trying to limit the spread, and the use of bubbles ... is first for limiting transmission, but also if theres an outbreak, its much easier to control a small group or a class than controlling a whole school. Those in their final two years of high school will have flexibility to take some online classes at home while taking at least half their courses in the classroom. Junior colleges and universities will be permitted to reopen with a hybrid option of classroom instruction with physical distancing and distance courses online. Many universities have already announced they are pivoting to online courses for the fall. The province shut down schools in March and later reopened elementary schools outside greater Montreal in May the first province in the country to do so but high schools across the province remained closed. Roberge says despite some COVID-19 cases, the return to school for hundreds of thousands of students has gone reasonably well. The education minister noted that most COVID-19 cases reported in schools occurred at home, not at school. The success we had in May opening half of our elementary schools ... without any pandemic explosion, I think this could reassure parents, Roberge said. But Roberge adds authorities are also putting together an emergency protocol in the event of a second wave of the virus to ensure instruction continues online even if schools are again forced to close. The plan must include a way to quickly distribute tablets or laptops to students needing them and an established digital platform plan to continue courses and maintain communication. Roberge said the province wasnt ready to employ distance learning when schools abruptly closed, but adds they will be ready for the fall and have learned much during the past three months. Associations representing the school administrators in Montreal and the rest of the province welcomed Roberges announcement. We are very much in favour of full-time return to class for all students from all sectors, youth and adult, said Nicolas Prevost, head of the association. There will still be big challenges for school administrators, but we are convinced it will be for the good of all the students. Helene Bourdages, head of the association of Montreal school administrators, said using bubbles will make for an almost normal school experience and completely manageable situations. A union representing 125,000 education sector employees called for more funding. Sonia Ethier, president of the Centrale des syndicats du Quebec (CSQ), said in a statement the back-to-school plan will require additional resources across the education sector. She noted that before the pandemic hit, resources were already lacking, particularly for vulnerable students. The education announcement came as the province reported 27 additional deaths linked to COVID-19 on Tuesday. The number of confirmed infections in the past 24 hours was 92, bringing the total confirmed cases to 54,146. Authorities said of the deaths, six occurred before June 8, with the provincial total standing at 5,269. The number of hospitalizations dropped to 718, with 77 people in intensive care. Read more about: Photo credit: Jason Reed - Getty Images From Popular Mechanics Scientists discovered strange structures at the boundary between Earth's mantle and molten iron outer core. The structures, called ultra-low velocity zones, lie about 1,800 miles beneath our feet. Scientists are able to develop a rough picture of Earth's interior thanks to seismic waves. Roughly 1,800 miles below Earth's surface, at the boundary between our planet's mantle and molten iron outer core, lurk strange, giant structures. So what are they? Doyeon Kim, a post-doctoral student at the University of Maryland, and his colleagues used an algorithm to analyze over 7,000 seismic readingsspecifically shear waves generated during an earthquakerecorded between 1990 and 2018. All of the earthquakes, which had a magnitude of 6.5 or greater and were more than 125 miles or deeper below Earth's surface, occurred in the Pacific Ocean Basin. Kim and his colleagues published the results of their study last week in the journal Science. Photo credit: D. KIM, V. LEKIC, B. MENARD, D. BARON AND M. TAGHIZADEH-POPP The analysis revealed a massive, previously undiscovered structure beneath the Marquesas Islands in the Pacific, as well as a newly discovered structure below Hawaii. The structure perched below the Marquesas measures about 620 miles in diameter and is 15 miles thick. Researchers are still puzzling over what makes up these structures, dubbed ultra-low velocity zones because seismic waves pass through them more slowly. They seem to have a different composition and density from the molten iron-nickel outer core and the slushy rock that makes up the mantle. These aren't the first such structures that scientists have discovered. Since the 1970s, geologists have used seismic tomography to piece together what Earth's interior looks like. When an earthquake erupts, the seismic waves it generates travel through Earth's interior. Some, like S-waves, can't pass through certain layers beneath the surface, such as Earth's liquid outer core. This helps paint a picture of what's happening deep below Earth's surface. Story continues The more information we have about this peculiar place, the better chance we'll have at understanding how our dynamic planet formed. You Might Also Like Photograph: Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images The Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, warned on Tuesday that the US economy faces significant uncertainty in the months ahead, and that the recession that has followed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic could widen income inequality for minorities and those on lower incomes. Related: Nato chief: no firm plan agreed for pulling US troops from Germany Powell said in testimony presented to the Senate banking committee: Much of that economic uncertainty comes from uncertainty about the path of the disease and the effects of measures to contain it. Until the public is confident that the disease is contained, a full recovery is unlikely. Powell said recent job losses had fallen hardest on low-income workers, minorities and women and the current downturn further exacerbate income inequality. If not contained and reversed, the downturn could further widen gaps in economic wellbeing that the long expansion had made some progress in closing, Powell said. Unemployment has shot up since the coronavirus hit the US but has disproportionately hurt low-income workers, minorities and women. Powell also warned the downturn posed acute risks to small businesses. He said: These businesses are the heart of our economy and often embody the work of generations. Congress is weighing further temporary relief for businesses and unemployed workers following its approval of the nearly $3tn Cares Act emergency bailout. Powell warned that without that aid, the long-term consequences for the economy could be severe. The longer the downturn lasts, the greater the potential for longer-term damage from permanent job loss and business closures, said Powell. The Cares Act and other legislation provide direct help to people, businesses and communities. This direct support can make a critical difference not just in helping families and businesses in a time of need, but also in limiting long-lasting damage to our economy. The Fed chair was speaking amid signs that the US is bouncing back from the worst of the pandemics initial impact. On Tuesday, US stock markets rose sharply after the commerce department announced that retail sales had risen 17.7% last month following weeks of lockdown. The rebound erases only a fraction of the historic drops in March and April and comes as coronavirus infractions are picking up across the US. PORT COLBORNE, ON The New Humberstone Speedway returned to racing on Saturday, June 13 with the Lockdown Showdown. The DIRTcar 358 Modifieds headlined the show and the JC Auto Thunderstocks also took centerstage to a worldwide audience on GForceTV.net and will be seen on REV TV Canada. 2019 Super DIRTcar Series Champion Mat Williamson from St. Catharines, Ontario won the $2,300 to win Lockdown Showdown for the DIRTcar 358 Modifieds. Belleville, Ontarios Justin Ramsay scored the $1,3j00 to win the JC Auto Thunderstock feature event. GALLERY COURTESY OF DEREK SMITH / WWW.RACEPULSE.COM 1 of 59 - + 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. The DIRTcar 358 Modifieds saw the best drivers of Eastern Ontario and Quebec make the trip to take on Saturday night to take on the best of Southern Ontario on the tight Humberstone oval for 50-laps. Dalton Slack and Mat Williamson were on the front row for the 358 Modified Lockdown Showdown with Williamson jumping into the lead. Steve Bernier would challenge Slack for second place. Mike Bowman would lose positions early as Austin Wood, Gary Lindberg, and Todd Gordon were able to get by Bowman to go into positions four, five, and six. Williamson would hit lap traffic. Simon Harvey-Perreault spun in turn three to bring out the races first caution of the event on lap 13. Off the restart, both Bowman and Lindberg began their marches towards the front. Bernier would be able to move into second with Bowman and Lindberg entering the top five. Williamson would lead Bernier to the line at the end of the first 25-lap segment. The second 25-lap segment would see Williamson and Bernier battle for the lead as Bowman and Lindberg raced for third place. Bernier would look to the outside of Williamson with 10 laps remaining but went over the edge of the track and lost ground to the leader. Williamson would go on to score the win over Bernier and Mike Bowman. Gary Lindberg would finish in fourth and Todd Gordon would complete the top five. Tyler Humphreys and Dave Bailey were on the front row for the JC Auto Thunderstocks 25 lap feature with Bailey taking over the lead as Ken Sargent entered the top three after passing Jason Fontaine. The caution would fly for the first time as Rob Murray spun in turn three. Chris Hale, Go Fast Teeple, Zach Bleich, and Adam Plazek all got together. Off the restart, Bailey would take off in the lead as Ken Sargent and Justin Ramsay raced inside the top three. Ian Blanchards night would come to an end after his engine expired on the front straightaway. Ken Sargent and Ramsey would take over the top two positions off the restart and Ramsay would battle Sargent for the lead. Ramsey would take off in the lead off an early restart as Humphrey would challenge and pass Sargent to take over second. Chris Hale and Rob Murray both recovered from an early race caution to battle for third place with Logan Schwedyk and Ken Sargent. Chris Hale would challenge Schwedyk for second place as Ramsay would go on to score the win. Schwedyk and Hale would complete the top three. Racing took place without fans in the stands and all drivers and crews practiced social distancing as guidelines and recommendations were in place by the Ontario Ministry of Health. Marketing partners of the Lockdown Showdown included Bicknell Racing Products, Maxima Racing Oils, and Shadow Auto.com. The speedway would like to thank all our marketing and media partners for their continued support of racing at the historic Port Colborne, Ontario oval. The Club 54 Weekly Racing Series features the Cosco Haulage DIRTcar Sportsman, Pro Fabrication Late Models, JC Auto Thunderstocks, and the Glo & Go Tanning Mini Stocks. In 2020, the Pro 4 Trucks will be racing with the Mini Stocks. For more information about Humberstone Speedway and the 2020 racing season, find us on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as www.humbrstonespeedway.com LOCKDOWN SHOWDOWN AT NEW HUMBERSTONE SPEEDWAY DIRTcar 358 Modifieds: MAT WILLIAMSON, Steve Bernier, Mike Bowman, Gary Lindberg, Todd Gordon, Austin Wood, Dalton Slack, Mark Dllario, Ryan Arbuthnot, Brad Rouse, James Michael Friesen, Adam Leslie, Simon Perreault, Tom Neale, Darren Peters, Tanner Podwinski, JF Corriveau, Fred Carleton(DNS) // Qualifying Heats: Mike Bowman, Mat Williamson, Austin Wood JC Auto Thunderstocks: JUSTIN RAMSAY, Logan Schwedyk, Christopher Hale, Rob Murray, Tyler Humphreys, Ken Sargent, Mike Thorne, Dave Bailey, Steve Shaw Jr, Barry Beck Jr, Clinton Nicholls, Tyler French, Brian Pescetti, Kyle Quinn, Jeff Bean, Jeff Roelofs, Matt Nuell, Matt Wilson, Marcel Gaudet, Zach Bleich, Rob Disher, Steve Shaw Sr, Ian Blanchard, Jason Fontaine, Jeff Larmet, Adam Plazek, Go Fast Teeple, Brian Brady (DNS) Failed to Qualify: Todd Shaw, Kevin Damore, Kasey Huffman, Gord Grant, Rob Hoskins, Tate OLeary // Qualifying Heats: Logan Schwedyk, Dave Bailey, Mike Thorne, Justin Ramsay // Last Chance Showdown: Barry Beck Jr. T ensions remain high in the French city of Dijon after police scrambled overnight to restore calm and order in the area amid a spate of violence from Chechen groups. The unrest saw more than 150 people, some hooded and armed, take to the streets on Monday evening as tensions over the alleged assault of a Chechen teenager earlier this month boiled over. Members of the Chechen diaspora have set out on so-called punishment raids seeking to avenge the attack on June 10, according to police sources. A number of incidents had rocked the city over the weekend, and the violence began again on Monday with people setting fire to rubbish bins and a car. Dijon: Chechan Revenge Attack - In pictures 1 /14 Dijon: Chechan Revenge Attack - In pictures AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images That came after some 50 Chechens entered the district of Gresilles overnight on Saturday, according to local authorities, and a man who owns a pizzeria was badly wounded by apparent gunfire. Then on Sunday, more than 200 people returned to the streets in the district with violent intent, police said. In a bid to quell the unrest, 37 anti-riot police members were sent to the area on Sunday, while 110 additional gendarmes were due to be deployed on Monday. The events of the last few days in the Gresilles district of Dijon, where there had been gatherings of youths which had led to vehicles and dustbins set on fire, only leads to more insecurity and worries for the local population, following on from the events of the weekend, the local police force said in a statement on Monday on Twitter. Police walk carrying a shield and a tear gas canister launcher in the Gresilles area of Dijon, eastern France, on June 15, 2020 / AFP via Getty Images The local prefect Bernard Schmeltz - the top state official in the region - meanwhile said in a separate statement that the violence "appeared to be part of a settling of scores between members of the Chechen community in France and residents of Dijon". In an interview with local daily Le Bien Public, a man claiming to be a Chechen, who was not identified by name, said the raids aimed to avenge an assault by local drug dealers on the 16-year-old. "There were about a hundred of us from all over France but also from Belgium and Germany. We never intended to ransack the city or take it out on the people," he said. Police said those taking part in the so-called punishment raids set fire to a car on Monday / AFP via Getty Images Dijon prosecutor Eric Mathais said a total of six people had been injured in the three incidents on the successive nights, but no one has yet been arrested. A probe has been opened into attempted murder by a criminal gang, he added. French deputy interior minister Laurent Nunez is due to visit Dijon later on Tuesday to monitor the ongoing situation. THE LATEST: After decades in the shadows, Joseph DeAngelo confesses he is the Golden State Killer --- Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., the man prosecutors say is the prolific and ruthless Golden State Killer, will reportedly plead guilty to 88 charges in exchange for life in prison Monday, the Sacramento Bee reported. DeAngelo, 74, is facing the death penalty if convicted in the murders of 13 individuals in five California counties. But sources told The Bee that DeAngelo barring a change due to his "unpredictable nature" will plead guilty at a hearing on June 29 in order to receive life in prison instead. If he does so, a sentencing hearing in August will hand down life without the possibility of parole. The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be available to stream on YouTube (when the streaming video goes live, it will also be added to this page). Prosecutors from each county are expected to read off the 88 charges, and DeAngelo will have to say "guilty" to each one in turn. He is currently facing over two dozen charges in the Sacramento Superior Court, which means some 60 more charges would be added. The Golden State Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist, is suspected in the violent rapes of over 50 women from 1975-86. DeAngelo has already been charged in the murders of Brian and Katie Maggiore, Lyman and Charlene Smith, Keith and Patrice Harrington, Manuela Witthuhn, Janelle Cruz, Claude Snelling, Robert Offerman, Debra Manning, Cheri Domingo and Gregory Sanchez. Investigators believe he is linked to crime scenes around the state, which likely explains the additional charges. Capital punishment is currently suspended in California due to a 2019 executive order signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The order put a moratorium on executions for the duration of Newsom's governorship. In order to fully repeal the death penalty, state voters would have to weigh in. Given DeAngelo's age and the death penalty moratorium, it's highly unlikely he would ever be executed by the state. But the plea bargain would allow for an expedited legal process, something both DeAngelo's public defenders and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office have previously pushed for. Taking the enormous case to trial would result in one of the state's largest-ever criminal prosecutions. Death penalty trials are long and arduous. Prosecutors told The Bee they have 150 witnesses, many in their 80s or older, and the trial alone could take 10 weeks, not counting any appeals. In March, CBS13 reported the Sacramento County public defender's office sent a letter to victims and their families saying they were seeking a way to shorten the process. "Criminal cases often take many years to resolve by trial," the letter obtained by CBS13 reads. "The trial process is often very stressful for victims and their families. This particular case is exceedingly complex due to the number of charged crimes and the diverse locations of the charged crimes. We would like to reach a resolution of the case that avoids a trial, satisfies all parties and provides a more immediate resolution of the case." Investigators believe the former California police officer may have raped over 50 women. The crime spree, which spanned Sacramento, Contra Costa, Orange, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties, created panic in the Sacramento area as dozens of women were victimized. The Golden State Killer was known for creating violating, personal connections to victims, including telling one woman he had seen her at the lake. It's hard to know if the killer really had links to his victims, however. He broke into victims' homes before he attacked, giving him ample access to family photos, letters and other identifying details. The terror did not end with rape, however. In some cases, the rapist called his victims afterward. One woman, at the request of police, kept her phone number for years in the hopes the attacker would call and reveal identifying information. Decades after the last case went cold, investigators announced DNA led them to a break in the case. Detectives say they submitted the killer's DNA to an open-source genealogy website called GEDmatch, where it found a match with a relative who also used the service. Detectives were then able to narrow their list of suspects, eventually arresting DeAngelo, who once worked as a police officer in Auburn and Exeter. DeAngelo has been incarcerated in the Sacramento County Main Jail since his arrest in April 2018. Katie Dowd is the SFGATE managing editor. Email her: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd The results are not expected for weeks, leaving businesses hanging Britain's two-metre social distancing rule is based on no evidence, leading scientists have claimed amid mounting calls to drop the measure. Two University of Oxford experts argue there is little proof to support the restriction, after reviewing a World Health Organisation paper on the contentious topic. Of 38 studies, only one looked specifically at coronavirus infections in relation to a specific distancing measure of two metres and it found it had no effect. The pair of scientists claimed the evidence in favour of the two-metre rule is of 'poor quality' and impacting Britain's chance to go about normal daily life. A senior statistician at the University of Dundee also found the data for two-metre guidelines which informed experts at the WHO is flawed. It comes as Tory MPs and the hospitality sector have begged Boris Johnson to make an urgent decision on whether to ease the social distancing rule. The Prime Minister confirmed at the weekend that he had ordered a 'comprehensive' review of the measure, in light of dwindling infection rates. Results are not due until at least July 4 the date when pubs, restaurants and salons are expected to open, giving businesses no time to prepare for changes. Other scientists say ministers are balancing public health with the economy, and the infection rate across the UK is still too high to relax the rule. Professors at the University of Oxford said there is little evidence to support the restriction after reviewing 172 studies on the topic. Pictured, a poster warning to stay two metres away on the London Underground The pair of scientists said the evidence in favour of the two-metre rule is of 'poor quality' and is impacting our ability to go about daily life. Pictured: A social distancing sign is seen on the first day of reopening for places of worship, June 15 What is the science behind two-metre social distancing rule? The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a one metre distance between two people from separate households. The reason for this, as stated on its website, is that: 'When someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person has the disease.' But other countries have taken advice from their own health experts and social distancing varies from two metres (in the UK) down to one metre (in France) The two metre rule can be traced back to research in the 1930s that showed droplets of liquid from coughs or sneezes would land within a one-two metre range. Social distancing varies between different countries: TWO METRES: UK, Switzerland, US, Spain, Italy 1.5 METRES: Germany, Poland, Netherlands ONE METRE: Austria, Norway, Sweden, Finland SO, WHAT HAVE THE STUDIES SHOWN? ONE METRE Number 10's chief scientific adviser - Sir Patrick Vallance - has said that the one metre rule is up to 30 times more risky than the two metre rule. He told MPs earlier this month the risk of spending a minute next to a Covid-19 patient for two minutes was 'about the same' as being within a metre of a Covid-19 case for six seconds. The latest evidence, published in The Lancet, found there was roughly a 2.6 per cent chance of catching the virus when one metre from a Covid patient. But doubling the gap cut the risk to only 1.3 per cent. However, other scientists have called the data used in the study into question. Oxford professors Carl Heneghan and Tom Jefferson said the data was 'poor quality', while Dr Mike Lonergan at The University of Dundee said: 'These data give no indication that two metres is better than one metre.' TWO METRE One of the top scientific advisers to the British Government said the two metre social distancing rule is based on 'very fragile' evidence. Professor Robert Dingwall, a member of Nervtag, referred to it as a 'rule of thumb' rather than a scientifically proven measure. Other experts have said the distance may be a non-scientific estimate that just caught on in countries around the world. IS TWO METRES ENOUGH? The UK's coronavirus social distancing limit is four times too short and the gap should be 26 feet, said experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in March. They found viral droplets expelled in coughs and sneezes can travel in a moist, warm atmosphere at speeds of between 33 and 100ft per second. This creates a cloud in the atmosphere that can span approximately 23ft to 27ft (seven metres to eight metres) to neighbouring people, the team said. Another study by scientists in Cyprus, published a fortnight ago, added to the evidence when it found the two-metre rule may not be far enough. Researchers found even in winds of two miles per hour (mph) - the speed needed for smoke to drift - saliva can travel 18 feet in just five seconds. And scientists from the universities of California Santa Barbara and Stanford last week said the two metre rule may have to be trebled when winter strikes. They found droplets that carry SARS-CoV-2 - the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 - can travel up to 20feet (six metres) in cold and humid areas. Advertisement Writing for The Telegraph, Oxford professors Carl Heneghan and Tom Jefferson said: 'Social-distancing has become the norm. 'The two-metre rule, however, is also seriously impacting schools, pubs, restaurants and our ability to go about our daily lives. 'Handwashing and encouragement are what we need, not formalised rules. 'This means trying to keep a distance from each other where possible and avoiding spending time indoors in crowded places. Much of the evidence informing policy in this outbreak is poor quality.' The pair, who work at Oxford University's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, combed through an influential review of research published in the medical journal The Lancet on June 1. It was conducted to inform World Health Organization (WHO) guidance and reviewed data from 172 existing studies on the spread of Covid-19, SARS and MERS. All 38 studies focused on the effect of social distancing supported one metre which what the WHO says is substantial enough to avoid infection or more. The researchers said keeping one metre apart can slash the risk of catching coronavirus by 80 per cent. There was roughly a 1.3 per cent chance of contracting the virus when two metres from an infected patient. But halving this gap raised the risk to only 2.6 per cent. Now, Professor Heneghan and Jefferson have said the studies are unreliable because they use data which suffer recall bias, which is when there is a possibility participants studied can't remember events accurately. In this case, it's not possible to rely on someone's memory for how closely they stood to other people, and therefore what measure of distance is safe to avoid infection. An independent review of 15 studies also showed some inconsistencies in the data, numerical mistakes and unsound methods in 13 of them. The most concerning, the professors said, was only five studies reported specifically on Covid-19 exposure, with only 477 participants and 26 cases of infection. In only one study was a specific distance measure reported 'came within six feet of the index patient' and it didn't show an effect on contracting Covid-19. This means the distance didn't make any impact on whether people got the virus or not. A senior statistician and epidemiologist at The University of Dundee has also cast doubts on the research after reviewing the data. Dr Mike Lonergan found avoiding contact with others is very important, and that staying one metre away may offer slightly more protection but the difference is unlikely to be much. He said their conclusion - which essentially said two metres was better than one - was 'based on misunderstandings of the datasets'. 'These data give no indication that two metres is better than one metre,' he said. Former Cabinet ministers Iain Duncan Smith and Greg Clark were among the senior figures calling for an overhaul to the social distancing guidelines in the Commons yesterday. They pointed out that other countries were using lower limits - including Germany and the Netherlands following 1.5 metres, and Austria and Sweden following one metre. Chancellor Rishi Sunak hailed the 'positive impact' it would have on business and jobs. Businesses are waiting on tenterhooks for the findings of a 'comprehensive review' of the two-metre rule by Downing Street - confirmed by Mr Johnson at the weekend. If reduced, it means a significant proportion of the hospitality and retail sector could reopen on July 4 - the earliest date for the next phase of lockdown. For example, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association figures show that, with the current two metre rule, only 20 to 30 per cent of premises will be able to open at a sustainable level. However, if the rule was reduced to one metre, 70 per cent would be able to open. The hospitality sector has welcomed the review, warning that it will simply not be viable for them to reopen unless the social distancing rule is cut to no more than one metre. But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the Government would not make any decision until July 4 at the earliest, after No10 yesterday said the result may take 'weeks'. Speaking on BBC Breakfast today, Mr Shapps said: 'We need to make sure that what we do next doesn't mean that we end up in a situation where the virus comes back in a very big way again. 'We've just had this big unlock of non-essential shops yesterday, we know the next big date is not before July 4. Two professors at Oxford University's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine said research published in the medical journal The Lancet on June 1 was based on 'poor quality' data. It was conducted to inform World Health Organization (WHO) guidance. The researchers said keeping one metre apart can slash the risk of catching coronavirus by 80 per cent. There was roughly a 1.3 per cent chance of contracting the virus when two metres from an infected patient. But halving this gap raised the risk to only 2.6 per cent A sign on the ground reminds people of the 2-metre social distancing guidelines in Belfast, on June 15 as some non-essential retailers reopen from their coronavirus shutdown A sign reminds customers of the 2-metre social distancing guidelines at Utopia women's wear store in York, northern England on June 15 London Zoo opened yesterday with two-metre markings on the floor ahead of a new decision on whether the rule is needed 'At that time we will be expected to take a judgement call on things like the social distancing rules.' MINISTERS WILL DECIDE ON TWO-METRE RULE. BUT COULD IT COST THEM THE CHIEF SCIENTISTS? Senior ministers fear the top scientists advising the Government could quit over plans to ease the two-metre rule. Professor Chris Whitty, the popular Chief Medical Officer, and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance have made it clear they believe the current guidance on safe distancing should stay. But Boris Johnson will tomorrow pave the way for it to be relaxed amid fears it could spark millions of job losses, with hospitality particularly badly hit. And Chancellor Rishi Sunak said ministers are 'urgently' looking at whether it can be relaxed to boost shops and allow more pubs and restaurants to reopen. He said it would be a decision for ministers rather than scientists as to when the change comes. The Sunday Times claims Downing Street is concerned at the scale of opposition among scientists, who fear it could lead to a second spike in coronavirus infections. 'The worry is that Whitty and Vallance could resign,' a source told the newspaper. 'It is getting to the stage where they are threatening to minute their opposition to moving from two metres. Those minutes get formally released.' The insistence of the Government's Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) on maintaining the two-metre rule has caused an intense political backlash, with Tory MPs and the Treasury joining forces to express concern about the economic damage it is wreaking. Figures released last week showed the economy suffered a 20 per cent drop in GDP in April, the largest ever monthly collapse. Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the party's backbench 1922 Committee last week that three-quarters of pubs could open if the distance was cut to one metre, and cited the fact that 24 countries had introduced the flexibility to reduce it. Mr Johnson's new review will take advice from a range of experts, including the Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance but also behavioural scientists and economists. It will operate in addition to a rolling review of the guidance being carried out by Sage. Prof Whitty has public spoken of the importance of the two-metre rule. He has said social distancing - as well as hand washing, 'good cough etiquette', the use of face coverings - will be in place 'for as long as this epidemic continues'. Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, has said there was 'relatively little room for manoeuvre' in easing the lockdown measures. A source told the Sunday Times that they were worried the scientists would 'minute' their opposition to any change, meaning it would be published in records of Sage meetings. Advertisement Katie Nicholls, chief executive of trade union UKHospitality, called for the Government to provide urgent clarity for the hospitality sector, a call echoed by Labour's shadow business minister Lucy Powell. Ms Nicholls told BBC Breakfast: 'It employs 2.3million people, so it's a huge industry that doesn't have certainty about an opening date, doesn't know when it can take bookings, doesn't know what guidelines it will be opening under, and potentially could be opening within three weeks. 'With all of that uncertainty it makes it a very anxious environment for our teams and our staff members, and we can't reassure them about their jobs.' Shadow business minister Lucy Powell said: 'We urge the government to publish an action plan which maximises economic viability, whilst minimising the risk to the health of customers and staff. 'If they fail to act, our communities will lose much-loved pubs, bars and restaurants, and we'll see a wave of closures and unemployment which will damage villages, towns and cities across the country.' Health minister Ed Argar said yesterday the two metre rule may be relaxed if changes are made to the rules around face coverings - which evidence is beginning to suggest is more protective than any other disease control intervention. He said the possibility of compulsory face coverings in shops and the like was one of a menu of options that was being considered in the review. The two-metre review announcement comes as the WHO urged the Government not to lift the lockdown until it is proven its widely criticised coronavirus contact-tracing system works. There are doubts in government over whether the test and trace system is ready to deal with the potential increase in cases. Mr Johnson said falling numbers of diagnosed coronavirus cases has given the Government 'more margin for manoeuvre' in easing the two-metre rule. But only last week Professor Catherine Noakes, part of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said it was not safe at this time. She said coronavirus transmission is still too high in Britain to relax the social distancing two-metre rule. There were around 8,000 people still being infected every day two weeks ago, which has dropped to about 5,500 now, according to the Office for National Statistics. Dr Michael Tildesley, infectious disease scientist at the University of Warwick, said reducing the social distancing restriction from two metres to one 'will result in an increase in risk'. He told the BBC: 'The evidence is still slightly unclear - depending upon the studies, it could be anything from about twice the risk to 10 times the risk.' Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said it would be ministers, not scientists, who would make the decisions on any easing. It is feared this could rub top scientists advising the Government the wrong way, considering their focus is on protecting public health. But the PM's spokesman said the review 'will draw on advice from scientific and medical experts as well as economists and papers from Sage'. Chennai: Tamil Nadu on Tuesday (June 16) reported 1515 new COVID-19 cases pushing the tally to 48,016 in the state, which also witnessed 49 19 deaths in a single day, the highest in a day so far, according to a health department bulletin. The health bulletin further stated that tally of positive cases in the state stood at 48,019 out of which Chennai's count was 34,245. The active cases were 20,706. The state also saw the highest number of 19,242 samples tested and recoveries (1,438 people) in a single day today. Of the 1,515 new cases, Chennai accounted for 919 while three were foreign returnees. Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami, however, said that COVID-19 recovery rate is high and deaths were low in the state, adding that adequate relief was also being provided to poor people, a PTI report said. Palaniswami reportedly said that over 13 lakh differently-abled people in the state will get Rs 1,000 cash relief to help them during the ongoing lockdown phase. A day after announcing another round of Rs 1,000 cash assistance to rice ration card holders and workers of unorganised sector, he said there are about 13.35 lakh people with differently-abled identity cards in Tamil Nadu. Pointing out that Tamil Nadu has been implementing lockdown till June 30 with relaxations, he said considering the livelihood options of differently-abled during these times, the CM has ordered disbursement of Rs 1,000 cash assistance to 13.35 lakh persons with identity cards in the state. As the COVID-19 lockdown commenced from March 24, the Tamil Nadu government has reportedly provided cash assistance to ration cardholders and several others including workers and artisans. The Abubakar Shekau faction of Boko Haram, Jamaatu Ahlussunnah Liddaawati Wal Jihad, has invited bandits to join them. The sect ma... The Abubakar Shekau faction of Boko Haram, Jamaatu Ahlussunnah Liddaawati Wal Jihad, has invited bandits to join them. The sect made the call in a new video. The faction wooed armed groups terrorising the North West and North Central. The regions have been under unabated attacks by bandits who kill, rape, injure the people, burn houses and rustle cattle, sheep, etc. The insurgents specifically urged outlaws in Zamfara and Niger States, to partner with Boko Haram. The footage shows four masked men speaking in English, Hausa, Fulfulde and French, HumAngle reports. One of them said brothers in Lake Chad, my brothers in Cameroon, my brothers in Sambisa, my brothers in Niger State, my brothers in Zamfara Stateto strive harder for the sake of Allah. He said everything being done is for the cause of Allah, and I encourage you to keep doing it. Strive harder, because Allah instructed us in the Holy Quran to strive harder for His cause. You feel we kill. You feel we destroy. Allah has instructed us to kill everyone that is unbelieving, the speaker declared. He added that they were fine and we hope you are also in a good state of health. We thank God who put us on this path, in this time, to promote His words and institute His law. The insurgent said his second message was to the people of Nigeria, Cameroon, and the whole world. We call you to join us to institute Sharia globally. When you come, we will accept you according to (Shariah) law, and we (will) worship Allah as He commands us. Plans for the transformation of Edenderry into a Smart Town through the provision of free Wi-FI, CCTV installation and provision of state of the art solar bins, have been warmly welcomed by Fine Gael councillor, Noel Cribbin. A new initiative by Offaly County Council, led by Ray Bell, will see the installation of Wi-Fi transmitters which will enable free, on the street, internet connectivity from the Corner House to the School of Music at the corner of Francis Street, including the Harbour area. Commenting on the plans, Cllr. Cribbin said: "Following my discussions with business owners in the town, they have all now kindly given their permission to allow transmitters to be installed on their premises allowing the transfer of Wi-Fi out onto the street, making it free and usable for all." Cllr. Cribbin went on to say: "To drive Edenderrys positioning as a Smart Town I am working closely with the Gardai in Tullamore and Edenderry and Ray Bell in Offaly County Council in bringing the long-awaited CCTV to the town. In the last week, both Ray and I have drawn up locations for the cameras which would start at the Tesco roundabout on the Dublin Road up to the junction at Francis Street. "We have identified locations for 15 cameras which will pick up every vehicle and action in those areas. The Gardai now have to approve the locations and then all thats left is the paperwork and application to Garda HQ. Funding is available and we have a pot of 15,000 provided by the last Town Council members in 2014," Cllr Cribbin explained. "I gave an undertaking at that time that I would continue the campaign to have CCTV installed in Edenderry. We are now on the cusp of that commitment being honoured. I look forward to Edenderry being one of only four locations in Offaly included in this CCTV installation project and to seeing the cameras in place in the coming months," Cllr. Cribbin said. Other plans included in the bid by Offaly County Council to see Edenderrys transformation to a Smart Town include the provision of solar compacting litter bins which hold up to ten times more litter than the average bin and send out alerts when full. The technology associated with the bins prevent overflows and save on collections and costs. Cllr Cribbin said: "Bins in busy areas can be very unsightly and cause litter problems when full or overflowing. The bins also look modern and will add to the visual appeal of our streets. I am hopeful of acquiring the funding from various streams and complementing the new bins with modern street furniture for the main street. "I am delighted to continue to assist Offaly County Council in the progression of these exciting plans. New bins will make the town cleaner and CCTV cameras will make it safer. The provision of free Wi-Fi will do much to increase the towns appeal as a business hub. I am very much looking forward to providing my ongoing support in the delivery of these projects in the coming months," Cllr Cribbin concluded. If there ever was a perfect moment for Premier Brian Pallister to revamp pandemic support to small businesses, it is this upcoming week. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion If there ever was a perfect moment for Premier Brian Pallister to revamp pandemic support to small businesses, it is this upcoming week. The week started out with the province confirming it was extending the state of emergency until mid-July, which means at least another 30 days of restrictions on businesses to keep COVID-19 at bay. For many business owners, that is disheartening news. But take note: this is a key week in the high-level operations of the Tory government. Treasury Board, the internal body that oversees government spending, meets Tuesday; provincial cabinet meets Wednesday. Any new rules for pandemic support would have to go through those two entities. Could the stars be aligning? Perhaps, but the premier already has a lot on his plate. This is the week that many inside and outside government believe Pallister will identify which Manitobans are eligible for a federal-provincial, cost-shared bonus for essential workers. Even so, multiple government sources indicated the premier may also use these key gatherings of senior finance department officials and cabinet ministers to discuss changes to eligibility requirements that could get more money from support programs into the pockets of business owners. To date, the Manitoba Gap Protection Program (MGPP), the provinces main business support initiative, has seen very modest uptake; out of a total budget of $120 million, $36 million in actual support has been paid. With current eligibility rules in place, the program should pay out less than half its total budget. Sources confirmed Pallister would ultimately like to see at least $100 million in MGPP funds paid out when all is said and done. There is growing support inside and outside the Tory government for revised eligibility requirements. Pallister currently has the lowest approval rating of any premier when it comes to pandemic responses. Ineffective or late-developing economic supports are certainly a key factor in his plummeting support. However, the sources added that only Pallister can approve changes and, to date, he has sent out conflicting messages. In late May, Pallister dismissed suggestions that there should be changes to eligibility rules for the Manitoba Summer Student Recovery Jobs Program, another $120-million initiative that to date has paid out only about $15 million. The premier said he had no major concerns and was not looking at revising the rules. However, a week later, Pallister said he was open to revamping the eligibility rules for both programs depending on the level of uptake. Since then, however, there has been no sign of forthcoming changes to eligibility rules. The premiers vague and somewhat leisurely approach prompted the provinces major business lobbies the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and Canadian Federation of Independent Business to urge Pallister to redefine the program or divert unspent funds to other programs that help business. Other groups, such as the Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservices Association, have asked the government to declare a three-month moratorium on commercial property evictions as the governments of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C., Quebec and Nova Scotia have already done. The concern now for smaller and medium-sized businesses is the delay in response from Pallister. Some of these requests are more than two weeks old and were originally timed to coincide with the June rent crunch that came for many business owners. More intriguing is Pallisters failure to seize a political advantage by moving to plug holes or augment federal programs. Federal and provincial programs meant to support businesses have limited effect because they are poorly designed, poorly timed and, in many instances, are not well aligned with each other. Ottawa has offered $40,000 in potentially non-repayable loans, a 75-per-cent wage subsidy and up to 50 per cent rent assistance to business owners. Uptake has been steady on the first two programs but problems persist with the wage subsidy. Similar concerns exist with the rent assist program, which excludes businesses that have suffered significant, potentially fatal losses but still have not lost at least 70 per cent of normal revenue, a key eligibility requirement. Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The lack of co-ordination between federal and provincial programs has been another source of concern. The MGPP program was unveiled weeks after federal support to businesses. For the entire $6,000 Manitoba loan to be non-repayable, applicant businesses must not have received support from Ottawa. And small and medium-sized businesses are very reluctant to take on too much debt while it is unclear when normal operations can continue. The flaws and blind spots in federal programs has created a huge political opportunity for the provinces. Some premiers Ontarios Doug Ford, for one have seen their popularity soar after moving quickly and confidently to augment federal benefits or provide provincial benefits exceeding what Ottawa was offering. In Manitoba, however, Pallister seems content to brag about the size and scope of economic benefits, which he routinely refers to as "the most generous" in the country. By now, however, business owners have realized that Manitobas programs are only the most generous on paper. This week provides Pallister with a gaping door of opportunity. It will be fascinating to see if he walks through it. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Brueckner was first publicly linked to Madeleine two weeks ago when Braunschweig police made an appeal for more information on his whereabouts the night she went missing. But they have repeatedly refused to share specific details with her family of what the evidence is until they are able to charge their prime suspect, Christian Brueckner. Police in the northern city of Braunschweig are investigating the disappearance of the British three-year-old and have said they have "concrete evidence" she is dead. Braunschweig: German prosecutors have written to Madeleine McCann's parents to say "getting the culprit is more important than putting our cards on the table". The authorities are unable to charge the 43-year-old convicted paedophile with Madeleine's murder with the evidence they currently have, but have insisted their case against him is "90 per cent" there. British girl Madeleine McCann before she went missing from a Portuguese holiday complex in 2007. Hans Christian Wolters, one of the German prosecutors leading the investigation into Madeleine's case, said he "sympathises" with Kate and Gerry McCann's desire to know what new evidence has been recovered on their daughter's fate, but a successful case against Brueckner is "more important". Speaking in his Braunschweig office on Monday, Mr Wolters said: "We have written to the McCanns again because we are closely following and monitoring what has been going on in the media. We have really considered the fact that it is going to be very hard for the family when we tell them that we assume Madeleine is dead. "But we can't say why she is dead. It is more important that we are successful and we are able to get the culprit as opposed to just putting our cards on the table and tell them why we think she might be. I know it would be of relief to the parents to know how she died but it would hamper the investigation if we give away too much information." Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 23:01:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Tuesday stressed the importance of stability as Hong Kong was ranked three places down globally in terms of competitiveness. Hong Kong was ranked fifth globally in the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook 2020 published by the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD), down from second last year. IMD attributed Hong Kong's lower ranking to factors including lackluster economic performance and the social unrest since last year. In response to the ranking, a spokesperson of the HKSAR government noted that the social unrest dealt a severe blow to inbound tourism, local consumption activities and investment sentiment in the second half of 2019, pushing Hong Kong's economy into recession. The social unrest involving violence, vandalism and intimidation of people holding a different political standpoint has also affected how Hong Kong was perceived, as certain survey indicators of the IMD report showed that survey respondents were deeply concerned about Hong Kong's social and political stability, the spokesperson added. "For Hong Kong to be able to leverage on our competitive advantages, law and order, and social stability are of paramount importance," the spokesperson said. "In view of the emerging threats and organizations advocating 'Hong Kong independence', it is clear that without adequate safeguards for national security, Hong Kong's stability will be at risk." It is thus critical, essential and urgent for the National People's Congress, China's top legislation, to adopt the decision to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security from the state level in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, the spokesperson said. The national security legislation aims to prevent, curb and sanction an extremely small minority of criminals who threaten national security, the spokesperson noted, adding that this ensures the continuous successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle and helps maintain an environment that is conducive to business and investment, thereby safeguarding the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Stressing that the national security legislation will not affect Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy under "one country, two systems," the spokesperson pointed out that under the principle, on the contrary, Hong Kong's economic integration with the mainland will bring economic opportunities to Hong Kong. "The HKSAR government is committed to enhancing the competitiveness and vibrancy of the Hong Kong economy," the spokesperson said, adding that faced with further economic setbacks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the HKSAR government has implemented various packages of initiatives to protect jobs, support enterprises and revive the economy. "We will strive to maintain our competitive advantages, and at the same time step up investment in infrastructure, and innovation and technology in order to add growth impetus to our development," the spokesperson said, adding, "Hong Kong is poised to be both an active promoter and a beneficiary of important national development strategies such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative alongside the further opening up and deepening of economic reform in the mainland." "We have every confidence in Hong Kong's long-term economic development," said the spokesperson. Enditem Insurance firms that specialise in policies for the over-50s have revealed they are now offering travel cover against customers contracting coronavirus. Both Staysure and Saga say they will pay the medical expenses and repatriation fees for customers if they fall ill with the virus during a trip abroad, a major concern particularly for an age group most vulnerable to it. However, the companies will only do so if the customers are travelling to a country that has been deemed safe by the Government which is currently none, as it has advised against all non-essential travel and it's not clear when this will change. This cover still also excludes any coronavirus related cancellation claims which is where the large majority of problems are likely to arise. Staysure and Saga have now introduced cover for its customers who get the virus abroad Most insurers stopped selling new travel policies when the pandemic spread to Britain and hit the holiday industry, stating they needed to prioritise their existing customers. Saga introduced cover ensuring that all existing customers including those with underlying health conditions - will be covered for their medical expenses and their travel costs home if they fall ill with the virus when taking a trip abroad. This will be included as standard as part of its travel insurance policies for all trips from 1 June for Saga holiday and cruise customers, many of whom have annual policies. It will also offer the same protection to new customers, if they purchase the insurance as soon as they book - but crucially, it won't cover cancellations. It claims it made the decision to add coronavirus cover after the Government has confirmed it is working on plans to allow Britons to travel abroad from the end of June with some airlines, including EasyJet, now resuming flights. Some 74 per cent of Saga customers told the company they would be unlikely to take out travel insurance if it didn't cover coronavirus risks. Saga said it was 'concerned' other insurers were not 'following suit' despite a rise in consumers resuming booking trips abroad. The insurer added it was worried that some customers would assume their travel insurance, if it comes as an add-on with their bank accounts, will cover any virus related incidents. However, this is unlikely unless specific changes have been made to the policy. Saga has said the cover will extend to customers who are looking to take a cruise in the future Kevin McMullan, head of product at Saga Health and Travel Insurance, said: 'Understandably, the current crisis has put travel plans on hold for many people. 'However, with the UK's strict lockdown measures beginning to lift, more people may be planning both exciting and much needed trips away over the coming months. Looking to book? For those who are tempted to book a holiday abroad for this summer or later in the year, there are several things to consider. This includes: 1. Is the trip protected? 2. Can you get insurance? 3. Could it be worth paying by credit card? 4. Can you cancel for free? Read more about this in depth here. 'We recognise that this may be a daunting process, particularly for customers with underlying health concerns. 'We want to give people the confidence and reassurance that if they were to fall ill abroad, we're there to help and get them back home safely.' Alex Cross, Saga's product and proposition director, added: 'Ever since the coronavirus started, we have been pushing for as much cover as possible for future holiday plans. However, it hasn't been an easy journey.' He confirmed that there has been an increase in enquiries with demand increasing daily. However, there are still more enquiries than actual sales. 'We have had a good level of enquiries from customers who are planning ahead for trips this winter or autumn time. 'Enquiries are up about 50 per cent from last week but demand is still low compared to the pre-covid days across all age groups as many feel like it is not a good time to travel abroad. 'We haven't increased our prices for the corona cover and this cover includes cruises. We're intending to start cruising in the future as cruise bookings are proving to be pretty robust.' Britons heading abroad are encouraged to take out travel insurance to ensure they are covered He confirmed there has also been a high number of people rebooking their cancelled cruises, with around 70 per cent choosing to reschedule. Staysure, another insurer that specialises in policies for the over-50s, is also covering customers who contract the virus when on holiday. The policy for Covid-19 is at no extra cost to existing or new policy holders and will ensure that UK citizens travelling overseas are covered for emergency medical and repatriation expenses if infected with the virus. However, the cover will only apply to trips taken to countries that the British government has said are safe. Currently, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is advising against all but essential international travel. This new inclusion is now standard for anyone booking travel insurance with Staysure. Anyone who has already booked a travel insurance policy before the month of May will also benefit from automatic cover on their existing policy. Ryan Howsam, the group chief executive and founder Staysure, said: 'We need to look at all our options at this time of the coronavirus and keep moving ahead. 'The coronavirus will be with us for some time and so we needed to put this into place as soon as possible'. Other major insurers have said they have still not started selling policies again but suggested they are constantly reviewing the situation. An Axa spokesperson said: 'Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Axa has covered claims for customers who contracted Covid-19 abroad so long as they didn't travel against government/medical advice, and our policies will continue to do so going forward.' Tom Bishop, head of travel insurance at Direct Line Group added: 'In these rapidly changing times we are constantly reviewing the best ways we can serve our travel customers. 'Our priority is to focus on providing customers with the appropriate protection they require. 'Direct Line and Churchill will resume the sale of new travel Insurance policies once we are confident that we can provide cover that meets the needs of our customers.' All customers travelling abroad are encouraged to take out travel insurance to ensure they are covered for all eventualities. But, at the moment, this is proving problematic. If you book a holiday in Europe now, for example, for July, August or September, it is incredibly hard to get cover. Some may be tempted to swerve insurance and believe their European Health Insurance Card will protect them medically, but, this could prove costly if they need to be flown home on health grounds. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) confessed Tuesday to killing 84 people in a devastating 2018 wildfire that wiped out the Northern California town of Paradise in November 2018. PG&E CEO Bill Johnson, who will be stepping down on June 30, entered guilty pleas on behalf of the company for 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the fire, which was blamed on the companys crumbling electrical grid. The blaze, dubbed the Camp Fire, killed 85 people in the town of Paradise, but prosecutors weren't certain they could prove PG&E was responsible for one of the deaths. 'Our equipment started that fire,' said Johnson, who apologized directly to the victims' families. 'PG&E will never forget the Camp Fire and all that it took away from the region.' Although the admission was part of a plea deal, it came during a dramatic court hearing designed to publicly shame the nation's largest utility for neglecting its infrastructure. Butte County Superior Court Judge Michael Deems read the name of each victim aloud in the courtroom while the images of the dead were shown on large screen as Johnson entered a plea for each of the counts. Johnson also pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to one felony county of unlawfully starting a fire. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) confessed Tuesday to killing 84 people in a devastating 2018 wildfire that wiped out the Northern California town of Paradise in November 2018 (the town of Paradise pictured December 3, 2018) The blaze, dubbed the Camp Fire, killed 85 people in the town of Paradise, but prosecutors weren't certain they could prove PG&E was responsible for one death. Christina Taft, the daughter of Camp Fire victim Victoria Taft, displays a collage of photos of her mother in 2019 PG&E CEO Bill Johnson (pictured in October 2019), who will be stepping down on June 30, entered guilty pleas on behalf of the company for 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the fire, which was blamed on the company's electrical grid Later Tuesday, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey is expected to release a long-awaited grand jury indictment detailing the corporate misconduct that ignited the November 2018 wildfire that destroyed Paradise, California, located about 170 miles northeast of San Francisco. No executives will be charged, leaving no one to imprison for the crimes. PG&E has agreed to pay a maximum fine of $3.5million for its crimes in addition to $500,000 for the cost of the investigation. The San Francisco company won't be placed on criminal probation, unlike what happened after its natural gas lines blew up a neighborhood in San Bruno, California, killing eight people in 2010. That tragedy resulted in a criminal conviction that put San Francisco on a five-year probation that ends in January 2022. With no prospect of jail time for a corporation, Ramsey tried to use Tuesday's hearing to force PG&E to confront the death and destruction stemming from its its corporate culture of placing a greater priority on profits for its shareholders than protecting the safety of the 16 million Northern Californians who rely on the utility for power. PG&E is hoping to emerge from its nearly year-and-half-long bankruptcy. The company has agreed to pay $25.5billion for losses from the 2018 fire and other blazes in 2017 blamed on its crumbling equipment. The company says it has already made changes that will create a more reliable and safer electrical grid, although it still expects to rely on deliberate power outages during the next few years to minimize the risks of causing more fires. More than 20 family members of people killed in the 2018 wildfire are expected to appear before Deems in a proceeding Wednesday. The proceeding unfolded as PG&E approaches the end of a complicated bankruptcy case that the company used to work out $25.5billion in settlements to pay for the damages from the fire and others that torched wide swaths of Northern California and killed dozens of others in 2017. The bankruptcy deals include $13.5billion earmarked for wildfire victims. A federal judge plans to approve or reject PG&Es plan for getting out of bankruptcy by June 30. 'We want this to be impactful because this can't go on any longer,' Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said. 'There is going to have to be a sea change in PG&E's method of operation.' The judge will formally sentence PG&E on Thursday or Friday. Rescue workers are seen during a search for human remains on November 13, 2018 Despite PG&E's pledge, critics fear more danger looms during an upcoming wildfire season after an unusually dry winter in Northern California. Firefighters are seen battling the Camp Fire on November 9, 2018 The judge will formally sentence PG&E on Thursday or Friday, according to Ramsey. The plea agreement also spares PG&E from being placed on criminal probation for a second time. The company is in the midst of a five-year probation under the withering supervision of US District Judge William Alsup for a 2010 explosion in its natural gas lines that blew up a neighborhood in San Bruno and killed eight people. The probation lasts until January 2022. Since filing for bankruptcy early last year, PG&E says it has been dramatically altering a corporate culture that prioritized profits for its shareholders over the safety of the 16 million people who rely on the utility. The company says it is being more vigilant about trimming trees around its power lines and replacing outdated equipment before it crumbles, although Alsup has repeatedly scolded PG&E for not doing even more to ensure its grid doesnt cause more tragedy. As part of a deal with California power regulators, PG&E will replace 11 of its 14 board members. CEO Bill Johnson will step down June 30. Despite PG&E's pledge, critics fear more danger looms during an upcoming wildfire season after an unusually dry winter in Northern California. TRENTON No more threats. One of Trentons worst nightmares is now a reality, as Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced the state is suing Trenton Water Works for failing to hold up its end of the bargain to improve water quality, including replacing thousands of lead service lines throughout its distribution system, for nearly a quarter a million customers in the region. The court action, announced Monday, comes after Catherine McCabe, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, warned the city last month that her state agency was left with no choice but to sue TWW after the legislative body rejected millions in bonds for water improvement projects. State officials tried diligently and repeatedly to convince defendants to comply with their obligations to protect consumers from lead exposure and to make other required improvements within the drinking water system, the lawsuit says. After years of mismanagement, and after the Trenton City Council recently failed to take necessary steps to address the serious shortcomings in the Citys water system, the State was left with no choice but to file this suit, Grewal said in a statement. Our lawsuit demands that TWW meet its obligations to reduce the risk of lead exposure by replacing lead service lines, and to comply with a range of other environmental laws that go directly to the health of the public and especially of Trentons children. New Jerseys public water systems must be held to the highest standards and must live up to their environmental and public health obligations. McCabe praised the efforts of the Mayor Reed Gusciora administration after it put forward a six-year $405 million capital improvement plan, laying much of the blame at the councils doorstep. DEP recognizes that Mayor Gusciora has made progress in improving TWW and protecting public health, and recently proposed plans that would enable the system to meet its Safe Drinking Water Act obligations, she said in a statement. Unfortunately, in light of the Trenton City Councils recent refusal to adequately fund drinking water system improvements, it has become all the more clear that TWW will not meet its obligations under the Safe Drinking Water Act and DEPs orders. The water utility, which provides more than 29 million gallons of drinking water daily, is under administrative consent orders with DEP that spelled out benchmarks it was supposed to reach by certain deadlines. Among those was the incremental replacement of thousands of lead service lines in the distribution system. The consent order required Trenton to replace more than 2,500 lead services lines by last December, but the city of Trenton has replaced only 828 to date, according to the lawsuit. Thats less than 2.2 percent of lead service lines, the lawsuit points out. Trenton was previously fined $13,000 by the DEP in 2018 for delays in lead service lines as part of an ACO that Gusciora signed upon taking office. Gusciora said hes worried about TWW remaining in the citys control given the court action, fearing a special master being appointed to oversee the public utility that would effectively tie Trentons hands on major decisions. Its not like were surprised, Gusciora said. DEP fulfilled their promise that if we didnt fulfill the administrative consent order they would file suit. We still have to go through the expense of defending it, whether I agree with it or not. The DEP said it was required to take action against the city after the legislative body rejected $83 million in funding for a number of improvements and enhancements to TWW, required by state consent orders and the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Councils unreasonable action has left DEP no choice but to seek judicial intervention to help ensure that the City will comply with the requirements of the ACOs and the Safe Drinking Water Act, McCabe wrote in a letter to city officials last month. Regrettably, DEP has requested that the Attorney General take appropriate action before the courts. Ensuring safe and reliable drinking water is a critical public health priority, and it is imperative that the Citys recent progress toward meeting its obligations not be lost. At the May 7 meeting, some legislators expressed concerns about plunging the city into more debt and balked when they werent given assurances by the Gusciora administration that the city would conduct a forensic audit of the 200-year-old public water utility. The governing body shot down two bond ordinances 4-3, needing a five-vote supermajority for them to pass. The $50 million was to replace the Pennington Reservoir with a network of up to five storage tanks and to replace thousands of antiquated meters throughout the system. Another $33.5 million would have gone toward improvements at the water filtration plant, which Smith estimates as a $300 million asset, and TWW headquarters. Legislators Kathy McBride, Santiago Rodriguez, and Robin Vaughn voted against those bonds. The legislative body approved $25 million in bonds for lead service line replacement 5-2, the most pressing of the funding. The project is part of Trentons plan to spend $150 million in the coming years replacing tens of thousands of lead service lines in the water system in the city and surrounding suburbs. But it wasnt enough to keep DEP from taking the city to court, and state officials said, without the $83 million, the city doesnt have sufficient funding to fully meet their SDWA obligations. The AGs office is asking a judge for an injunction to force the city to meet an expedited deadline to replace the required 2,500 lead lines by December 31, 14 percent of lead service lines by March 31, 2021 and 21 percent of lead service lines by June 30, 2021. The state also wants the city to pay fines each day it violates the consent orders. Leaders from around the region applauded Grewals action. I am mystified as to why the Trenton City Council chose not to take the necessary actions to provide safe drinking water to City residents as well as the residents of Hamilton, Lawrence, Ewing and Hopewell, said Rick Tighe, president of the Hamilton Township council. I am hopeful that thanks to the Attorney Generals leadership, we will start to see progress in resolving the issues at Trenton Water Works. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 17:41:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GENEVA/UNITED NATIONS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The UN Human Rights Council has decided to hold an urgent debate on "current racially inspired human rights violations" Wednesday during its resumed 43rd session. In a statement, the UN rights body said on Monday that the debate will focus on "the current racially inspired human rights violations, systemic racism, police brutality and the violence against peaceful protests," following a request made by Burkina Faso on behalf of the African Group, a UN regional group of African states. In a letter to the UN rights body, Burkina Faso said that the death of George Floyd in the U.S. city of Minneapolis "did not amount to an isolated incident." In the meantime, more than 20 senior officials in the United Nations who are African or of African descent have put their names to a personal and hard-hitting statement, expressing their outrage at pervasive and systemic racism, UN News reported Sunday. Among the signatories are World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Executive Director of the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS Winnie Byanyima, and Executive Director of the UN Population Fund Natalia Kanem. The statement recalled the death of African-American George Floyd, who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. His death has triggered protests against racism and police brutality across the globe. The leaders called on the UN to "step up and act decisively to help end systemic racism against people of African descent and other minority groups," citing Article 1 of the UN Charter, which stipulates that the intergovernmental organization shall promote and encourage "respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion." The expression of solidarity with peaceful demonstrations is "well in keeping with our responsibilities and obligations as international civil servants to stand up and speak out against oppression," the officials said, adding "we share the core beliefs and the values and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations that do not leave us the option to keep silent." Enditem Twenty Indian soldiers were killed on Monday evening in a clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakhs Galwan valley where troops from the two countries have been locked in a face-off for 40 days, people familiar with the development told Hindustan Times. The encounter happened along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh where rival soldiers were caught in stand-off that began with a confrontation between rival patrols near Pangong Tso on the night of May 5-6. Here is what we know so far: The Indian casualties include a commanding officer of an infantry battalion. The Indian Army, in its initial statement early on Tuesday, had announced that an officer and two soldiers had been killed in action. However, by evening, an update said 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand -off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high-altitude terrain had succumbed to injuries. The army statement issued on Tuesday evening also said the Indian and Chinese troops at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed have disengaged. The Chinese army also suffered casualties in the face-off but there was no immediate confirmation of the numbers. India said Mondays violent clash happened when the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the LAC (Line of Actual Control) and attempted to unilaterally change the status quo. Hindustan Times has learnt rival soldiers exchanged blows, threw stones at each other and Chinese troops even attacked Indian soldiers with rods and nail-studded clubs during the brawl that went on for over six hours. Defence minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Modi on the developments at the LAC after holding two meetings with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs. The external affairs minister S Jaishankar was also present in one of these meetings. Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane cancelled a scheduled visit to Pathankot on Tuesday. This is the first casualties for India in a clash with the PLA since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. The Chinese foreign ministry has called on India to not take unilateral actions or stir up trouble, news agency Reuters reported. India and China have been locked in a stand-off in the Ladakh region for weeks. Five Star Movement rejects Spanish newspapers allegation that it received secret financing from Maduro in 2010. Italys ruling Five Star Movement has denied allegations published by a Spanish newspaper that it received 3.5 million euros ($3.9m) in secret financing from Venezuelas current President Nicolas Maduro in 2010. Spanish conservative newspaper ABC on Monday published what it said was a Venezuelan intelligence document dated July 25, 2010, proving Maduro, at the time then-President Hugo Chavezs foreign minister, sent the funds to Italy in a diplomatic bag. The money was allegedly destined for Gianroberto Casaleggio, who founded the anti-establishment Five Star along with comedian Beppe Grillo. Casaleggio died in 2016. The allegations appeared on the front page of Italian newspapers on Tuesday. The Five Star, currently in a coalition government with the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and the main backer of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, dismissed the Spanish papers story as fake news. Venezuelas embassy in Rome also rejected the accusation as false and counterfeit and said it might take legal action, Italys AGI news agency reported. The alleged cash was reportedly to finance Five Star, which was founded in 2009 and has what would be considered both left- and right-wing policies. Intelligence document The Venezuelan intelligence document published by ABC said the money was sent in a secure and secret way via the diplomatic bag. The head of Venezuelan intelligence at the time was Hugo Carvajal, who was arrested in Madrid in 2019 for alleged drug trafficking before being freed on bail. Spain in November authorised his extradition to the United States but he has since disappeared. Five Star won 32 percent of votes in 2018s election before entering a coalition government with the far-right League. That coalition collapsed and a new government was formed with the PD last year, but opinion polls suggest just 15 percent of Italians would currently vote for the Five Star. While Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Gujarat continue to witness a rapid rise in coronavirus cases, states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are also struggling with a surge in infections. Uttar Pradesh recently overtook Rajasthan as the fifth worst-hit state in the country and has reported over 13,600 cases till date. In West Bengal, the Covid-19 tally recently breached the 10,000-mark and now stands at 11,494. Together, the two states account for nearly 900 Covid-19 fatalities in the country. Also read: 1 in 5 people at risk of severe Covid-19 due to other illnesses With 343,091 coronavirus cases, Indias is the fourth worst-hit country in the world. While 180,012 people have recovered from the deadly contagion across the country, Indias death toll stands nears 10,000 with 9,900 fatalities till death. Heres a look at the statewise numbers Worst-hit states Maharashtra Covid-19 tally here jumped to 110,744 on Tuesday. As many as 4,128 people have died of coronavirus in Maharashtra while 56,049 have recovered. Tamil Nadu Covid-19 cases have jumped to 46,504 in the southern state. Four hundred and seventy-nine people have died of Covid-19 in the state, over 25,344 people have recovered. Delhi In the national capital, the Covid-19 tally rose to 42,829 on Tuesday, 16,427 patients have recovered here while 1,400 have died due to Covid-19. Gujarat PM Modis home state saw the Covid-19 rise to 24,055 on Tuesday. The state has seen 16,664 people recover from coronavirus while 1,505 people have died. Uttar Pradesh The state has reported 13,615 cases of coronavirus so far. As many as 8,268 people have recovered in the state while the death toll stands at 399. States with rising numbers Madhya Pradesh saw its Covid-19 tally jump to 10,935 on Tuesday while in Rajasthan Covid-19 cases have increased to 12,981. In West Bengal, Covid-19 cases have zoomed beyond the 11,000-mark. Covid-19 cases in Bihar stand at 6,650 while Andhra Pradesh has reported 6,456 Covid-19 cases till date. Karnataka has reported 7,213 coronavirus cases till date. Telangana has 5,193 coronavirus cases while in Jammu and Kashmir the tally has crossed the 5,200-mark. Haryana have sen more than 7,700 Covid-19 cases. In Odisha, cases stand at 4,055 while Assam has reported 4,158 cases till date. Punjabs Covid-19 tally has crossed the 3,000-mark. States with less than 3,000 cases States and Union territories where coronavirus cases are less than 3,000, but more than 500, include Uttarakhand, Ladakh, Kerala, Jharkhand, Tripura, Goa and Himachal Pradesh. Manipur, Chandigarh, Nagaland, Puducherry, Mizoram have reported under 500 Covid-19 cases or less. Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Dadra Nagar Haveli have less than 100 Covid-19 cases. Note: Figures are from official data released by the Ministry of Health, and may differ from realtime numbers released by various state governments subject to confirmation from the Centre. BOULDER, Colorado, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Rocky Mountain Institute's (RMI's) latest report describes four core principles of stimulus and recovery. Together, the principles lay a framework for decision makers, regional agencies, and financial institutions that demonstrate how the Caribbean region can build back better and advance their economies for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future. "I've partnered with many Caribbean island stakeholders seeking to effectively transition to distributed, resilient energy for both the immediate and long-term benefits they offer. It's critical to consider what the most suitable option is for each unique island and what leads to economic development at the local level," said Kaitlyn Bunker, principal at RMI. The four core principles for a Caribbean green stimulus and recovery are: The Power of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs): Incorporating DERs into island energy systems to create jobs now, and support a diversified economy. Incorporating DERs into island energy systems to create jobs now, and support a diversified economy. Near TermFocus on Jobs: Highlighting opportunities across the solar photovoltaic, wind, vehicle electrification, and energy efficiency sectors. Highlighting opportunities across the solar photovoltaic, wind, vehicle electrification, and energy efficiency sectors. Long TermFocus on Increased Resilience and Economic Diversification: Examining undergrounding and critical facilities as ways to build local resilience, and clean energy to support upcoming sectors such as agriculture. Examining undergrounding and critical facilities as ways to build local resilience, and clean energy to support upcoming sectors such as agriculture. Immediate Stimulus Recommendations: Outlining next steps for decision makers. "Having worked as a leader of the Anguilla utility for over a decade, I'm extremely passionate about the growth and development of island states. I view the opportunity to create a clean energy job hub across the region as a differentiator. This is how the Caribbean can build back better and be viewed globally as an example of resilience," said David Gumbs, senior consultant at RMI. To download the Green Stimulus in the Caribbean paper, visit https://rmi.org/insight/green-stimulus-in-the-caribbean-resilient-distributed-energy-resources-can-support-job-creation-and-economic-diversification Media Inquiries please contact: Nick Steel, Media Relations Manager, T: +1 347-574-0887, E: [email protected] Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) RMI transforms global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future. For more information, visit www.rmi.org or follow us on Twitter @RockyMtnInst. Read RMI's Stimulus Series SOURCE Rocky Mountain Institute Related Links http://www.rmi.org LONDON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Elements of Green (the "Company") is pleased to announce the launch of its premier hemp-based CBD eCommerce marketplace; www.elementsofgreen.com. The Company's extensive lineup of premium hemp-based CBD products are available in 27 countries across Europe, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. Elements of Green's responsive web and mobile experience includes carefully curated products from hundreds of leading brands from around the world. From tinctures, capsules, topicals, gums, vapes to CBD for pets and more, the Company offers consumers one of the largest selections of hemp-based CBD products available in Europe. Millions of Europeans are discovering the benefits of CBD and the various ways it can be introduced into health and wellness routines. 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"By providing an unrivaled customer experience on both web and mobile devices, Elements of Green is quickly becoming the largest CBD community in Europe. Our mission is to offer products that meet the highest standards in industry in terms of quality, purity, potency, safety, and consistency. Our team has invested heavily into creating an innovative education platform so that consumers can shop with confidence and we proudly display product lab results," continued Brody. Elements of Green carries the following premier brands; Heidi's Naturals Endoca Dutch Natural Healing Hiatus Vapes Kaneh B Vetri Vital Pure CBD Vital Janus Organics (Coming Soon) Janus Zero (Coming Soon) And more To provide consumers with an added level of comfort, Elements of Green exclusively offers hemp-derived CBD products that have been lab-tested for potency, harmful substances, and heavy metals. The Company tests for cannabinoids and offers 0.0% THC products for sale in more restrictive countries such as France, Norway, and Sweden, and for athletes that test under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or other regulatory bodies. The Company is offering for a limited time 15% off all first time orders by using the code: "FIRST15" at checkout. Hemp-based CBD Brands looking to apply to be carried on Elements of Green's platform can send an email to hello@elementsofgreen.com. ABOUT ELEMENTS OF GREEN Elements of Green is Europe's premier eCommerce marketplace for lab-tested CBD products. The Company's extensive lineup of premium hemp-based CBD products are available in 27 countries across Europe, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. Elements of Green's responsive web and mobile experience includes carefully curated products from hundreds of leading brands from around the world. Visit us today at www.elementsofgreen.com. New to CBD? Take the Elements of Green quiz here. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1191408/ElementsofGreen_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1191409/EGreenImage.jpg Email: hello@elementsofgreen.com, Web: www.elementsofgreen.com Michelle Kenney, center, mother of Antwon Rose II, speaks to members of the media following the closing arguments in the homicide trial of former East Pittsburgh Police officer Michael Rosfeld, Friday, March 22, 2019. at the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh. The mother of an unarmed Black Pennsylvania teen who was fatally shot by a white police officer blasted President Donald Trump on Tuesday for what she called his lack of "empathy," his disrespect and what she said was a media ploy by the president in signing an executive order pushing for police reform. "I can't stand the lies!" wrote Michelle Kenney, the mother of slain Antwon Rose II, in a scathing Facebook post after Trump said that he had met with Rose's family and the families of other Black men killed by police. She also denied that her family met with the president, as he claimed Tuesday. "I am not in the White House, I chose not to meet their president!" Kenney wrote in her post, which was first reported by WPXI-TV. "I came to Washington to meet and speak with senators that could have an impact on this movement!" "I will not have a conversation with anyone who disrespects us as individuals!!! I will not have a conversation with someone that clearly will not have any empathy!!!" wrote Kenney, whose 17-year-old son's killing and its aftermath received national media attention. CNBC has requested comment from the White House on Kenney's comments. In a statement released later Tuesday, Kenney said her family didn't meet with Trump and had no plans to. "Contrary to reports, I did not meet with the President today at the White House. I came to Washington with one sole intention to meet and speak with the Senators that are devoted to establishing legislation that will encourage better police practices," Kenney said. "While my family and I appreciate that the President referenced Antwon's name in his speech, we wanted to clarify that we never met with the President under any circumstances and do not plan to." BJP President JP Nadda on Tuesday asserted that Indias borders are and will remain intact under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stated that the Indian Army had given a befitting reply to Chinese soldiers who had clashed with Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh last night resulting in deaths of three personnel including one officer and two soldiers. Borders of India will remain intact and are intact under the leadership of the PM. During the de-escalation process that was underway in Galwan Valley in Ladakh, a violent face-off took place with Chinese Army. Indian Army gave a befitting reply. Unfortunately, we lost our 3 army men, Nadda was quoted as saying by BJPs official twitter handle. Naddas comments came close on the heels of the external affairs ministry accusing China of attempting to unilaterally change the status quo of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley in a departure from the consensus achieved in ongoing talks between the two sides to respect the LAC. Official spokesperson of the ministry Anurag Srivastava said on Tuesday afternoon that both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side. A Commanding Officer (CO) of the Colonel rank was killed along with two soldiers in the violent encounter. The statement from the foreign ministry further said that India holds a responsible approach to border management and is convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity, it added. Nadda, while paying homage to the sacrifice of the army personnel, said that Indias territorial integrity will not be compromised. I pay homage to them for their sacrifice and I can assure you that under the leadership of PM Modi, Indias territorial integrity will not be compromised. We now have the political will and our army is fully equipped to take on any adversary, Nadda said. The Chinese foreign ministry and the PLA had earlier issued statements claiming Indian soldiers had crossed the LAC and launched provocative attacks which led to a fierce physical confrontation between the two sides Naddas comments come amid demands by opposition parties, particularly the Congress, to disclose the circumstances of the clashes that led to the deaths of Indian personnel during the de-escalation process. The de-escalation process had begun after the two armies were locked in a 40-day standoff at four locations in Ladakh since early May. Dr. Manny Sethi said Monday In Chattanooga that he is running for the U.S. Senate to make a difference for the people of Tennessee. He told the Chattanooga Pachyderm Club he is a first-generation American who has been living the American Dream. It began with his parents who overcame abject poverty in India and became doctors. They stood in line, and waited, and came to this country legally 40 years ago. They first lived in Ohio and retrained as American doctors. The family moved to Hillsboro, Tennessee in rural Coffee County where they were the only doctors in the area and had two sons. One of those sons, Dr. Manny Sethi, got an undergraduate degree from Brown University and received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He then moved back to Tennessee and has been a trauma surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for the past 10 years. He said after the early death of his father, he turned to Christ and was saved. It was then he realized that he too would become a doctor. He has lived by what his father taught him which is it doesnt matter whats in your bank account, but the difference you make. Realizing the razor thin line between life and death, he said he wants to help the most people that he can. One way he can do it is representing residents of Tennessee in the Senate. He was introduced by Fred Decosimo who said he supports Dr. Manny as a candidate who doesnt need the job and who would actually be making a sacrifice to get it. Dr. Sethi told the Pachyderm Club members that in the Senate he would represent Tennesseans as a conservative outsider rather than a Washington insider. He said in his profession where surgeons that he works alongside have differing opinions, he is used to making quick decisions or someone dies. He said he is accustomed to compromising and working with people and that he can make decisions without owing anyone anything. His platform includes a change in health care by replacing Obamacare with patient-focused policies. He said government should not get between a patient and their doctors and their health insurance. He advocates for a free market plan for insurance with pricing transparency, an individual insurance market with more options, and believes there should be competition beyond state lines. He also thinks that the cost of insurance should be a tax deduction for small businesses. He thinks insurance should pay for prevention before having to treat the disease, comparing it to paying for an oil change rather than replacing a cars engine. And he said from being on the front line during the COVID-19 pandemic, he saw that the country is too reliant upon China which the U.S. was depending on to supply masks and medicines to treat the virus. We need to end our dependence on China. We need a second industrial revolution to bring jobs back, he said. Addressing the opioid crises, he believes that treatment is not a one size fits all situation and that local officials should be given power to create solutions. Faith based, 12 step recovery programs are another way to approach the problem as opposed to treating addiction with more medications, as is now being done and not working, he said. And his view on abortion is that life begins at conception. An end should be put on illegal immigration, he said. He has lived the American Dream because his parents came here legally. He supports President Trump and building a wall. He also said there should be an end to chain-based immigration, which he termed as not fair. People coming to this country need to make meaningful contributions. The country is now $26,000 trillion in debt, created partially by career politicians and the culture of Washington, he said. We need to get spending under control, he said. The problem worsened with the recent stimulus packages described as throwing cash out of helicopters, hoping it would land in the right place. He said that a stimulus package should be strategic. He also believes that discretionary programs should be cut. In response to a question on his view about police reform in the current climate of what is happening in our cities, he said his position is that 99 percent of police officers are not bad. After treating officers who have taken bullets, he said, I will always stand with the police. All the garbage about defunding police is wrong. Protests are American, he said, but rioting is terrorism. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:59:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday asked for support for migrants to help keep family remittances flow. In a message on the International Day of Family Remittances, which falls on June 16, Guterres highlighted the impact of shrinking remittances as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remittances to low- and middle-income countries reached a record 554 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, more than three times the amount of official development assistance and surpassing the level of foreign direct investment, said Guterres. Yet this year, the World Bank projects that remittances will fall by about 20 percent, or 110 billion dollars, causing hunger, lost schooling and deteriorating health for tens of millions of families, with an especially heavy impact on women and girls, he said. "At this time of global crisis, I appeal to people everywhere to support migrants, who are among the engines of the global economy and make crucial contributions to well-being across the world," said Guterres. "I call on all stakeholders to take steps to reduce remittance transfer costs, provide financial services for migrants and their families, particularly in rural areas, and promote financial inclusion for a more secure and stable future," he added. Enditem A former California lawyer was found guilty on Monday of strangling his ex-wife and throwing her body off a cruise ship in the Mediterranean in 2006 in a plot motivated by greed. Jurors in federal court in Santa Ana deliberated for less than an hour before convicting Lonnie Loren Kocontes, 62, of Safety Harbor, Florida, the US attorney's office said in a statement. He was convicted of first-degree murder with a special circumstances enhancement of murder for financial gain and faces life in prison without possibility of parole when he is sentenced in September. Lonnie Loren Kocontes, 62 (pictured left in court in February 2020), has been convicted of first-degree murder in the May 2006 strangulation death of his ex-wife Micki Kanesaki, 52, during a cruise Kocontes told authorities that the couple were working to rekindle their failed marriage and during their Mediterranean cruise in May 2006 hadn't fought but instead discussed getting remarried that November (file photo) Prosecutors said Kocontes killed his ex-wife during an Italian cruise in order to inherit more than $1million from their bank accounts and the sale of a Ladera Ranch home they jointly owned. Kocontes divorced from Micki Kanesaki in 2002 after seven years of marriage, but the two continued sharing a home while working to untangle their assets. That same year, Kocontes met Amy Nguyen on a dating website, and the couple tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2005. By the time he booked the Mediterranean cruise, Kocontes had divorced Nguyen and returned to Kanesaki. He testified at trial that the couple had reconciled and were planning to remarry in November 2006. But Kocontes actually was plotting to kill Kanesaki, 52, and make it appear to be an accident, prosecutors said. Kocontes opted for a cruise that departed from Spain, requiring him and Kanesaki to take a flight to Minnesota, then to London, according to CBS Los Angeles. Once abroad the vessel, prosecutors said he was adamant about getting a cabin with a balcony. Kocontes claimed that he last saw Kanseki leaving their cabin to get a cup of tea. He suggested that the woman may have been suicidal. Pictured: A souvenir photo taken during the cruise 'It was very important to him,' a prosecutor told the jury. The cruise from Spain to Italy began on May 21, 2006, and Kanesaki was last seen alive the night of May 25, authorities said. Kocontes told police that Kanesaki left their cabin around 1am for a cup of tea but never returned. He later suggested she may have been suicidal - a claim her family vehemently denied. Kocontes reported his ex-wife missing and returned to California, where he resumed his relationship with Nguyen. Her body was found floating off the coast of Paola, Italy, on May 27, prosecutors said. An FBI investigation into possible illegal activity began in 2008 after Kocontes tried to transfer $1million between various bank accounts, according to the US attorney's office. Kocontes was indicted for murder in 2013 and has been jailed since then. The Orange County Register reported that the case was delayed for years over questions of jurisdiction because the alleged murder took place in international waters. At trial, Kocontes said he had taken an Ambien sleeping pill on the ship and woke to find Kanesaki missing. The couple who divorced after six years of marriage in 2002 continued to live together in this Southern California house they both legally owned and later fought over its sale 'I absolutely did not kill my wife,' Kocontes testified from the stand. Nguyen testified that Kocontes told her he planned to kill his ex-wife on the cruise because she had evidence that he had embezzled money from a client. Nguyen previously lied on Kocontes' behalf to a federal grand jury to help derail an FBI investigation into his financial transactions involving his and Kanesaki's bank accounts. Kocontes, who has been in jail since 2013, is also accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill his other ex-wife 'The defendant thought he committed the perfect crime by throwing the victim overboard from the balcony of a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean,' Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. 'But he made a mistake. Despite all of his painstaking planning to pick the perfect ship, the perfect room and the perfect time to commit a murder, the fact that he strangled her before throwing her overboard gave us the very evidence to convict him of murder. 'She couldnt breathe in water because she was dead long before her body ever hit the ocean and when authorities found her, her cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation not drowning,' Spitzer said. Kocontes is awaiting a separate trial in connection to a failed murder-for-hire plot targeting Nguyen, in which he allegedly tried to solicit a fellow inmate to kill the woman to prevent her from testifying against him. He faces a life in prison without the possibility of parole for the Kanesaki murder when he is sentenced on September 18. Kosovo's president on Tuesday hailed the United States' leadership role in the negotiations to normalise ties with their long-time war foe Serbia. President Hashim Thaci said he was optimistic the White House June 27 meeting would be successful. A day earlier Richard Grenell, US President Donald Trump's envoy, invited both countries to go to the White House June 27 in hopes of advancing negotiations toward normalisation of still-bitter relations following Kosovo's breakway. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also has said he will be at the Washington meeting. EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak was going to Kosovo Tuesday, "courtesy to the Swiss military," after his commercial flight from Zurich, Switzerland, was cancelled a day earlier. Lajcak plans "to discuss timing and modalities for a swift resumption of the dialogue and concrete dates for a swift resumption," according to his spokeswoman Katharina Kandt. Thaci conditioned his visit's success whether he addressed two issues: visa liberalisation and recognizing Kosovo as an independent country in the talks. Thaci complained when Lajcak was nominated in the post saying that while he was the foreign minister for Slovakia he had not shown any sign of trying to recognise Kosovo. Slovakia is one of five EU member countries not recognising Kosovo. The Kosovar president said Lajcak should come with concrete steps to make the talks with Serbia easier. "If not then his mission would definitely be not successful," he added. Kosovo was part of Serbia until an armed uprising by the ethnic Albanian majority population in 1998-1999 triggered a bloody Serb crackdown. This in turn prompted a NATO bombing campaign against Serbia to force its troops out of Kosovo. Belgrade refuses to recognise Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. By PTI NEW DELHI: US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Tuesday handed over the first tranche of 100 ventilators to India to assist in the country's fight against COVID-19, the Indian Red Cross Society said. President Donald Trump had announced in May that the US will donate ventilators to India to treat COVID-19 patients and help it fight the "invisible enemy". Indian Red Cross Society Secretary General R K Jain accepted the first tranche of the US Agency for International Development-funded ventilators from Ambassador Juster at the IRCS national headquarters. The Indian Red Cross said it extends its heartfelt thanks to the US government for gifting the state-of-the-art ventilators to assist India's fight against COVID-19. This life-saving resource will benefit critically ill patients immensely during this pandemic, the IRCS said. The first tranche of ventilators to support India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the country on Monday, the USAID said. These high-quality machines have been produced by Massachusetts-based Zoll Medical Corporation to respond to India's needs in this time of crisis, it said. "Great to see that this 1st shipment of 100 USAID-funded ventilators produced by @MedicalZoll has reached India, another country hit hard by COVID-19. @usaid_india is working with the Indian government to see that these ventilators reach those in need," acting USAID Administrator John Barsa tweeted. An American official had said last month that the US government is planning to "donate" 200 ventilators to India as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The USAID has announced USD 5.9 million in funding for India to combat COVID-19, including USD 2.9 million to help the country provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, strengthen case finding, contact tracing and surveillance, a USAID official had said last month at a briefing organised by the US Embassy here. In Ukraine, severe orthopaedic children pathologies have been effectively treated for several years. It is possible after the invention of a rotationally stable intramedullary telescopic retainer with a growing part for the femoral neck. Invention supported by a Kharkiv businessman and founder of the Renaissance Medico charity foundation Vladimir Manukian . Until 2004 Ukrainian children with orthopaedic pathologies connected with deformations of the limb bones could not live a normal life. Genetic diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta were just like a sentence for them, because domestic medicine could not help them. 15 years ago, the situation has changed a bit. In that times appeared a special technology that allowed to correct this genetic error, it was Canadian Fassier-Duval system with a growing core. Fassier-Duval grew along with the natural growth of the childrens limb. This system is considered to be the world gold standard for treatment of orthopaedic pathologies, but it had a serious drawback. The Fassier-Duval is rotationally unstable. Moreover, it does not have a femoral neck fixation and this could cause some serious complications during the treatment, for example, spiral fractures and rotational deformities, - said the head of the pediatric orthopaedic department of the Institute of Spinal Pathology, MD Sergey Khmyzov. Joint invention of Vostok-N factory and the Institute of Spinal Pathology was made possible by the financial support of Kharkiv businessman Vladimir Manukian. Ukrainian-made intermedullary telescopic clamps have received ISO_3485 certification and now it is the most successful technology of their kind. Our invention has been actively applied since 2009, and its effectiveness can hardly be overestimated. We can see the results: children with really difficult diagnosis can now walk independently. I think this is the highest reward for our efforts. By the way, our invention was chosen by the Ukrainian Association of people with a brittle bone disease and the Ministry of Health as a gold standard for the treatment of this patients, - concluded the founder of the Renaissance Medico charity foundation Vladimir Manukian. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Both Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) and Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) have continued to update their policies for women giving birth during the coronavirus pandemic to both accommodate and support women while also keeping all staff and patients safe. Both SIUH and RUMC are allowing a support person throughout the labor, delivery, and postpartum periods as long as they are asymptomatic for COVID-19 and have not been sick or suspected to have been sick with the coronavirus. Dr. Adi Davidov, associate chair of the department of obstetrics at SIUH, told the Advance/SILive.com that a doula is also permitted during labor and delivery in addition to the support person. We are still in a pandemic. We are allowing a support person for labor and in the postpartum period but not in and out because it increases potential exposure, Davidov said. Additionally, a support person is permitted to stay overnight if the mother is staying in a private room. If the room is shared, the support person is asked to leave at 10 p.m. At RUMC, the support person must wear a mask and will receive a temperature check every 12 hours after entering the clinical area. A support person is permitted into the Mother and Baby Unit, however, they are encouraged to go home at night to limit exposure in the postpartum area; they are permitted to return the next day. In circumstances such as in the triage room where spacing may not allow for social distancing for the patients and the OB care staff, the support person may possibly be asked to step into a separate waiting area during this brief assessment, a RUMC spokesman explained. CAN MOTHERS AND BABY ROOM TOGETHER? At RUMC, if a mother is COVID-19 positive, the recommendation is to separate mom and baby. Physicians are encouraged to discuss this topic with patients prior to delivery, the spokesman said. Davidov said a COVID-positive asymptomatic mother is now allowed to room-in with her newborn after the hospital was previously separating the two. We believe the risk of transmission is much lower, Davidov said about the policy change. These women are likely non-infectious and theres more literature to suggest that any shedding of the virus after recovering is likely non-infectious. CAN I VISIT MY CHILD IN THE NICU? Davidov said both mother and father are permitted to visit a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) only after both mother and father have been confirmed negative for COVID-19. Initially this was not permitted but the hospital has since changed its policy. Mothers and fathers couldnt see their babies for weeks, which was crazy, but we arranged to have the fathers tested as well., he said. Time limits on visitations are determined by pediatricians, he said. At RUMC, only one parent or support person is permitted at a time at the bedside in the NICU for a limited time frame, the spokesman said. ARE VISITORS PERMITTED? On June 16, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that visitors would be permitted at hospitals across the state at the hospitals discretion. At this time, both hospitals said they are aware of the governors announcement and will make changes to visitation policies as needed to ensure the safety of patients, doctors, and staff. Updated visitation information can be found here. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has scrapped the "virus free" health benchmark she previously set southern states for a border reopening. On Tuesday morning, Ms Palaszczuk said the border would remain closed "while there is active transmission" but later said there was no hard and fast rule about how many virus free days in a row southern states would have to record before interstate travel could resume. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has lowered the bar for a border reopening. Credit:Glenn Hunt/AAP Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young previously set the benchmark of two incubation periods, or 28 days, of no new locally acquired cases in Victoria and New South Wales before the borders would be opened. That yardstick has been scrapped and the government will now wait to see what affects Black Lives Matter protests have had on levels of community transmission. Dear President Moon, We respectfully urge you to uphold your country's democratic principles and refrain from violating the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association of South Korean citizens who have chosen to be vocal and to demonstrate their discontent with North Korea's totalitarian regime. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Unification on June 10, your government will file official complaints against, and revoke the incorporation registrations of, Fighters for a Free North Korea and Keunsaem, two North Korean defector organizations whose mission is to send information to fellow North Koreans still suffering under the Kim regime. If your government proceeds with these actions, it would be a concerning violation of the rights of Korean citizens and would represent an alarming shift in the state of fundamental freedoms and democracy in the Republic of Korea, and a violation of the universally recognized right to receive information. In 2018, your government stated its vision for South Korea as that of an "Innovatively Tolerant" nation one that "innovates itself to guarantee a humane life to all Koreans, regardless of gender, background, social class, or age." In 2019, you announced further plans to implement this vision by "guaranteeing equal opportunity and justice, and ensuring not a single Korean citizen is subject to discrimination." To be clear, this includes the approximately 33,500 South Korean citizens of North Korean origin. It's important to remember that North Korea is defined as a fully authoritarian regime, in which there is no separation of powers between the judiciary, legislature, and executive branches of government. There is no freedom of association, expression, press, or religion. The 2014 United Nations Commission of Inquiry found extensive violation in fundamental freedoms, such as the right to life, food, residence, and employment as well as the right to be free from arbitrary detention and torture. North Koreans have no access to outside information except for what is reported on state television, which consists of purely propaganda praising the Kim regime. Organizations such as Fighters for a Free North Korea and Keunsaem, run by defectors Park Sang-hak and Park Jun-oh, are two of the few civil society groups focusing on bringing outside information into the world's most closed and intolerant society. Defectors are the only ones capable of representing the voices of the 25 million North Korean people living without access to the internet, outside mail, or any piece of uncensored information. Not only are they exerting their democratic right to freedom of expression, they are helping the people of North Korea reclaim their right to receive information. The policy interest behind your government's decision to prevent these organizations from operating without interference does not seem to be a policy that correctly weighs the government's legitimate interest to protect its national security with the key democratic interest to protect the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association of all South Korean citizens, especially those who devote their lives to doing something about the horrors occurring on the other side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). We are appalled and alarmed by this recent decision. South Korea has been one of the few countries in Asia that has been able to achieve true democracy, and with it, individual freedom. Stripping two important defector-run organizations of their legal status would suggest that the current administration is not holding itself to the standard of a liberal democracy, in which individual freedoms are protected and valued, but instead sliding dangerously into authoritarianism, in which civil activism and free speech are routinely suppressed. Additionally, revoking the registration of defector-run organizations violates both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which clearly outline the fundamental right to freedom of expression and the right to seek, receive and impart information. As a member state of the United Nations and home to one of the few U.N. Human Rights Offices in Asia, South Korea must safeguard these rights for all its citizens, including those of North Korean origin. As someone who has personally fought on the frontlines of South Korea's battle to democracy against dictators Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan in the 1970s and 1980s, you must understand the importance of civil society participation as well as the inclusion of the most disadvantaged populations in a nation. South Koreans once again showed their dedication to liberal democracy during the 2016 protests against Park Geun-hye, resulting in South Korea's first-ever impeachment of an incumbent president. North Korean defectors, who are recognized as citizens from the moment they arrive in South Korea, should enjoy the same basic rights as any South Korean citizen. As people who have suffered and escaped tyranny, it is their right to enjoy their newly found freedoms, to criticize and undermine the dictatorial regimes that led them to leave their home country in the first place, should they wish to. Instead of prohibiting it, Seoul should encourage the principled work of North Korean defectors who, at huge peril to their lives, were able to make it into the democratic part of the Korean Peninsula, and now, as South Korean citizens free from the Kim regime's oppression, refuse to normalize and forget the horrendous predicament facing millions of their fellow Koreans. The Human Rights Foundation believes that the persecution of Fighters for a Free North Korea and Keunsaem in observance of their freedom of association and expression will set back South Korea's record as a democratic nation. As a human rights lawyer, and as the President of Asia's leading democracy, your repression of the voices of North Korean defectors who speak for their 25 million fellow countrymen will go against South Korea's history as a country that has innovated its path to a more tolerant and just society. We respectfully urge you to uphold the democratic principles valued highly by the South Korean people and refrain from conducting any action that might obstruct the work of Fighters for a Free North Korea and Keunsaem, as well as any future actions against North Korean defector-activists fighting to expose the horrors of the Kim regime. Sincerely, Garry Kasparov Thor Halvorssen Kasparov is chairman of the Human Rights Foundation. Halvorssen is president of the foundation. Their letter does not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times. A young girl who was found wandering the streets alone in north west London has been reunited with her family. Officers were called to Byron Road in Wembley on Monday evening to reports of a young child walking by herself. She was unable to give her name or address, and was taken in by officers. Police officers posted an appeal on social media, urging anyone with information to help reunite the girl with her family to come forward. The young child has now been reunited with her family, police confirmed to the Standard on Tuesday morning. "We had appealed for help after a young child was found alone in the street in #Wembley #Brent," the Met Police said on Twitter. "Happy to report she has now been reunited with her parents." Indiana Connections Academy Celebrates Class of 2020 Graduation marks an incredible milestone for our students and the Class of 2020 has shown a tremendous amount of perseverance, dedication and grit during these trying times. More than 650 students recently graduated from Indiana Connections Academy as part of the Class of 2020. The cohort of diverse and accomplished graduates collectively earned more than $3 million in scholarships and awards. While students from across the state attending the full-time, online public school were not able to participate in an in-person graduation ceremony, graduates were honored with a virtual ceremony. During the commencement, family members, friends, teachers and administrators were still able to gather in the digital setting to commemorate the milestone and celebrate the many achievements of the Class of 2020. With the schools full-time virtual curriculum, seniors at Indiana Connections Academy were able to maintain their education consistently and without interruption during the public health crisis. Fortunately, however, since our school is 100 percent online, we have had an advantage over many other schools adjusting to the situation, said Andrew Moore, valedictorian of Class of 2020. That being said, our teachers, family members and staff have been working as hard as ever to ensure that students are getting the support they need. That, along with many of the graduating students today have shown remarkable resilience and perseverance. The majority of graduates, 66 percent, plan to attend two- or four-year colleges or universities. Additional graduates have plans to attend vocational training programs (10 percent), join the military (two percent) or enter the workforce directly upon graduation (18 percent). Graduation marks an incredible milestone for our students and the Class of 2020 has shown a tremendous amount of perseverance, dedication and grit during these trying times, said Chandre Sanchez Reyes, Executive Director, Indiana Connections Academy. While the world was adjusting to sudden changes, our graduates were able to complete their senior year academically uninterrupted. I am confident that these seniors are graduating with the skills and knowledge needed to lead successful lives. Standout graduates include: Valedictorian Andrew Moore, from Noblesville, Ind., who will attend Indiana University Purdue University - Indianapolis to study web development and design. Salutatorian Maia Talbert, from Lafayette, Ind., who will attend Purdue University on a Presidential Scholarship to major in biochemistry and minor in astronomy. Talbert credits Indiana Connections Academy with helping her find her passion for mathematics, science and foreign languages. Trinity Neumayr, from Lafayette, Ind., who will attend a four-year college or university to major in education or nursing. During her senior year, Neumayr created the Out of the Shadows program to help students talk about their past experiences with bullying. With the ability to work anywhere there is an Internet connection, students hail from small and large cities in Indiana including Evansville, Fort Wayne, Franklin, Indianapolis, Martinsville, Shelbyville, South Bend and more. In total, more than 3,000 students have now received a diploma from Indiana Connections Academy. The complete graduation ceremony can be viewed online. Enrollment is currently underway for Indiana Connection Academys 202021 school year. Details about upcoming information sessions and other events including dates and locations are available online or by calling 1-800-382-6010. For more information about Indiana Connections Academy, visit http://www.IndianaConnectionsAcademy.com. About Indiana Connections Academy Indiana Connections Academy is a K-12 virtual charter school authorized by Ball State University that offers students statewide a high-quality, highly accountable, tuition-free, public education option. Founded in 2010, Indiana Connections Academy delivers superior, personalized education for students, with the freedom and flexibility to experience the online learning community from anywhere. The combination of state-certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools and community experiences create a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. For more information, call 1-800-382-6010 or visit http://www.IndianaConnectionsAcademy.com. ISTANBUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkish secondary school students have been increasingly preferring to learn the Chinese language for their future career, according to the China-Turkey Cultural Association based in Istanbul. "The high school entrance exam will be held on June 20 across the country, and students are in a rush to make their preferences while considering their future careers," Mustafa Karsli, vice president of the association, told Xinhua on Monday. In Karsli's view, most of the high school candidates in the country are very well informed that Asian countries are on the rise in the international arena. "Therefore, they show great interest in schools that offer Asian languages education," he said. Karsli observed that the interest among Turkish parents and students in the Chinese language started to grow when the Belt and Road Initiative was launched in 2013. The Sehit Mehmet Guder Anatolian Religious High School on the European side of the city launched Chinese language courses this year with the assistance of the association and has already shown notable achievements. "Its students started to speak Chinese within a very short period of time," Karsli noted. He said they would reach a proficiency level at the time of their graduation that they can get an undergraduate education in China. For Serdar Gulluer, an educational guidance counselor of the association, the most important factor behind the trend is the awareness of the parents and students on the importance of Asian languages. "A significant number of parents are now giving advises to their friends and relatives to consider sending children to schools with Chinese language education," Gulluer said. The association said it would continue to give the necessary support to other private and public schools across Istanbul, which consider launching Chinese courses. A statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate was removed from its pedestal in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 15, after a man was shot during anti-racism demonstrations. Following the incident, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller announced the statue would be removed due to the public safety risk. A petition calling for the removal of the statue gained almost 3,000 signatures. The removal was requested due to Onates treatment of New Mexicos Native Americans in the 17th century. Video shows the statue being removed with a police escort. Credit: Ryan Begay via Storyful Before the coronavirus pandemic, Chowbotics salad-making robot named Sally was mostly seen in the food world as a quirky, non-essential gadget capable of stealing headlines for any business using one. But in a new dining landscape shaped by social distancing and increased sanitation practices, Sally is a necessity. The same can be said for a Bay Area robot called Chef B, which makes more than three dozen 12-ounce smoothies in an hour without human assistance. Similarly, a state-of-the-art indoor farming startup is gaining traction in San Jose, and a San Francisco burger restaurant is making waves for serving takeout orders through a pressurized transfer chamber, which incorporates a miniature conveyor belt. Its the first of its kind in the city. As Bay Area residents focus more on cleanliness during the pandemic, food automation, which removes a significant amount of human contact with food in the preparation process, has jumped from a niche commodity to a pillar of the regions dining culture. And much of the innovation can be traced to the Bay Area. Sally from Chowbotics in Hayward is an autonomous kiosk capable of mixing dozens of salad combinations with little human interaction. And considering buffet-style meals are, for now, a thing of the past, the future of salad bars exists within Sally, according to Rick Wilmer, the Chowbotics chief executive officer. We were selling into higher education spaces, hospitals, and then grocery stores were the new market for us before the pandemic, Wilmer said. The pandemic forced universities to shut down but the hospital market has accelerated. We were one of those lucky companies that had the solution ideally suited for the circumstances that changed the way people function as result of COVID-19. Chowbotics isnt alone in its recent uptick in popularity. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle 2019 Among the other food and tech companies that have seen opportunities for growth is Blendid, the Sunnyvale company that created the smoothie-making machine called Chef B. After mostly being found on school campuses like the University of San Francisco and Sonoma State University before the pandemic, Blendid is now available on DoorDash, a popular delivery app. A 12-ounce drink on the app from Blendid costs $6. The smoothies on DoorDash are made at Blendids Plug & Play location in Sunnyvale and will be delivered within a 10-mile radius. Blendids presence on the delivery app is indicative of the growing demand for the companys smoothies during the pandemic, according to Blendids CEO Vipin Jain. And while Chef B proved popular on college campuses before the pandemic, the company is now being courted by airports across the country. Theres obviously a lot of pain in the small-business segment and its going to take a long time to recover. People arent working, and theyre going to have less spending power for a while, Jain said. One of the things that helps us is were providing something thats affordable. Creator, San Franciscos automated burger restaurant, is gaining attention in the fast food world not by expanding its brand, but by pioneering in-restaurant food delivery systems. The restaurant, which opened in 2018 and featured a 14-foot burger machine with more than 350 sensors that is capable of making at least 130 burgers in an hour, recently unveiled a new transfer window for takeout orders. Creator The chamber acts the same as a miniature airlock, which means it is pressurized and it keeps outside from entering the restaurant. The chamber also has a self-sanitizing conveyor belt. An order is placed on one end of the belt inside of the restaurant and it slowly moves to the exterior of the restaurant to the customer. What makes the venture more unique is Creator opened-sourced the design, which means the restaurant is sharing it freely and any retailer, including the burger restaurants competitors, can create their own Creator transfer chamber. According to the Creator team, multiple businesses around the country have shown interest in the chambers designs. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The restaurant industry was already under a lot of pressure to implement technology to improve working conditions and greater access to food quality, and the crisis were in is just exacerbating that pressure, Creators founder Alex Vardakostas said via email. Traditionally, the restaurant and retail industry has been slow to adopt tech solutions to their own detriment, especially in comparison to other industries (think: self-driving cars, robotic surgery, etc.). The transfer chamber took us only four days from ideation to deployment but has a huge impact on staff safety by sealing off airspace and eliminating exposure. The automation of the food industry due to the pandemic isnt relegated to just meal delivery systems. Willo, an indoor vertical farming startup out of San Jose, recently unveiled a direct-to-consumer delivery program for people living within 20 miles of Santa Clara. Willos indoor farming technology relies on automation and artificial intelligence to grow various produce year-round in otherwise unsuitable climates. People can subscribe to a plot in Willos farm for prices starting at $99 per month to receive customized packaged salads starting in August. San Franciscos Simbe Robotics created a robot that roams the aisles of supermarkets, counting items on shelves and reporting back to its human controllers. And there are a growing number of restaurants working with tech companies on automation regarding temperature checks for diners and employees. Companies like Blendid, Chowbotics and Creator represent the bustling intersection of food and tech, much of which is being spurred along by the dining publics needs during the coronavirus pandemic. People are really starting to think about the future now, Jain said. So, innovation is going to increase but youre also going to see adoption of this technology grow as well. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips The City of Midland Health Department is currently conducting their investigation on 21 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Midland County, bringing the overall case count to 222. The 202nd confirmed case is a male in his 50s who was tested by a private provider. The male is currently self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is contact to a known case. The 203rd confirmed case is a female in her 20s who was tested by Martin County Hospital. The female is currently self-isolating at home. The confirmed case is an employee at KMID, who last worked June 9, 2020. The female was not in a customer facing role. The source of exposure is community acquired. The 204th confirmed case is a male in his 30s who was tested by a private provider. The male is self-isolating at home. The confirmed case is an employee at Drilling Tools International, who last worked June 10, 2020. The male was not in a customer facing role. The source of exposure is community acquired. The 205th confirmed case is a male in his 40s who was tested by Midland Health. The male is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is community acquired. The 206th confirmed case is a male in his 30s who was tested by Midland Health. The male is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is contact to a case in Houston, TX. The 207th confirmed case is a male in his 30s who was tested by a private provider. The male is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is travel to San Angelo, TX. The 208th confirmed case is a female in her 30s who was tested by a private provider. The female is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is travel to New Braunfels, TX. The 209th confirmed case is a female in her 30s who was tested by a private provider. The female is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is community acquired. The 210th confirmed case is a female in her 20s who was tested by a private provider. The female is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is community acquired. The 211th confirmed case is a male in his 30s who was tested by a private provider. The male is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is community acquired. The 212th confirmed case is a male in his 30s who was tested by Midland Health. The male is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is community acquired. The 213th confirmed case is a female in her 20s who was tested by a private provider. The female is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is community acquired. The 214th confirmed case is a male in his 20s who was tested by a private provider. The male is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is travel to Concan, TX. The 215th confirmed case is a female adolescent (10-19) who was tested by a private provider. The female is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is community acquired. The 216th confirmed case is a male in his 30s who was tested by a private provider. The male is self-isolating at home. The confirmed case is an employee at Borets, who last worked June 12, 2020. The male was not in a customer facing role. The source of exposure is community acquired. The 217th confirmed case is a male in his 50s who was tested by Midland Health. The male is self-isolating at home. The confirmed case is an employee at Stallion Oilfield Services, who last worked June 8, 2020. The male was not in a customer facing role. The source of exposure is household contact to known case. The 218th confirmed case is a female in her 30s who was tested by a private provider. The female is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is contact to a case in Odessa. The 219th confirmed case is a male in his 40s who was tested by Midland Health. The male is self-isolating at home. The confirmed case is an employee at West Texas Auto Brokers, who last worked June 10, 2020. The male was not in a customer facing role. The source of exposure is travel to Caddo, TX. The 220th confirmed case is a male child (0-9) who was tested by Midland Health. The male is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is household contact to a known case. The 221st confirmed case is a female in her 40s who was tested by a private provider. The female is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is household contact to a known case. The 222nd confirmed case is a female in her 50s who was tested by a private provider. The female is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is household contact to a known case. The City of Midland Health Department will continue to monitor the individuals in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fairness to Trump, anyone over a certain age is cautious going down a ramp or a set of stairs. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury for people over 65, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This reality is nothing to sneeze at or make fun of. In his own defense, Trump tweeted that his slow gait was because the ramp had no handrails and was slippery. Naturally, some in the media contested this explanation, noting that the weather was fine and video didnt reveal a slippery surface. Besides, the uniformed officer walking along with Trump seemed to manage just fine. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during an interview with Reuters in Wellington, New Zealand, Dec. 11, 2019. Reuters New Zealand said on Tuesday that it has two new cases of the coronavirus, both related to recent travel from the UK, ending a 24-day streak of no new infections in the country. New Zealand lifted all social and economic restrictions except border controls last week, after declaring it had no new or active cases of the coronavirus, one of the first countries in the world to return to pre-pandemic normality. However, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned that new cases may come up in the future as New Zealanders return home, and some others were allowed in under special conditions. This the moment a toddler is left in fits of infectious giggles as he meets two bleating baby goats. Two-year-old Ray Berger was filmed petting the two kids at the farmhouse of relatives in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. While being held in the arms of 25-year-old cousin Jamie Weidman, Ray bursts out laughing every time the animals gently bleat. Ray's face becomes expressionless until the animals let out a tiny cry at which point he begins giggling all over again and sets off all the adults in the room. Two-year-old Ray Berger laughs hysterically as he pets two baby goats at a relative's farmhouse in Myerstown, Pennsylvania Ray's face becomes expressionless after each fit of giggles, only for him his to burst out laughing again when the newborn goats let out another tiny cry Ray's mother Holly, 29, said: 'The baby goats had just been born within the past day or so my mother-in-law Fay [Berger] brought them in to see his reaction. 'He loves animals, I don't know if it was the first time he had heard a goat bleat but he just got such a kick out of them. 'That deep belly laugh is one of the most intense bouts of laughing I've ever seen him have. 'He has one of the most contagious laughs, we were all just about crying from laughing so hard.' The footage was originally filmed back in October when Holly and family physician husband Travis, 32, were visiting family out of state, but was recently shared online by Holly who wanted to raise people's spirits during the coronavirus lockdown. Ray's hysterical giggling leaves all the adults in the room laughing too, including 25-year-old cousin Jamie Weidman (pictured holding Ray) The adorable footage was recorded by mother Holly, 29, (pictured) while she and husband Travis, 32, (pictured) were visiting family. Ray is seen sitting on his father's lap while Holly holds three-month-old son Michael Holly, a speech therapist, said: 'Ray had been laughing like that for close to ten straight minutes every time they bleated. 'We have a lot of family out of state and I filmed it because he had been laughing for so long so intensely. 'It was such a heartfelt, innocent child's experience that animals were able to have that kind of effect on him. 'Family and friends love the clip.' Since being posted on Facebook, the adorable clip has been viewed more than 4.3million times and has more than 243,000 likes, shares and comments. Holly, who is also mother to three-month-old Michael, said: 'One lady messaged me saying that one of her relatives had recently passed away and she hadn't been able to smile or laugh. 'She said she saw his video and that was the first time she laughed, I was almost in tears when I read that. 'To have someone reach out saying this innocent child brought some sort of joy back to their life for just a couple of moments has really been an amazing experience.' Nearly one out of every 10 African Americans has a genetic variant that puts them inherently at an increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Writing in the journal Heart Rhythm, the official publication of the Heart Rhythm Society and the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, published by Elsevier, investigators observe that along with socioeconomic and cultural factors, this genetic risk factor may contribute to the racial health disparities that have been documented in victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also note that the unwanted effects of therapies such as hydroxychloroquine may put African Americans with the variant at increased risk of drug-induced ventricular arrhythmias. Therefore, they urge particular caution. Without a definitive explanation for the increased COVID 19-related mortality rates observed among individuals of African descent, we need to consider all potential contributors, including the possibility of genetic predispositions. The African-specific p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A common ion channel variant is a reasonable place to start, as its proarrhythmic potential is awakened by risk factors observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients - namely, hypoxemia, electrolyte abnormalities, and QT-prolonging drug use." John R. Giudicessi, MD, PhD, First Author, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine (Clinician-Investigator Training Program and Division of Heart Rhythm Services), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA The investigators note that the proarrhythmic potential associated with p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A can be enhanced by drugs that can cause irregular heartbeat (QTc-prolonging medications), including some antiarrhythmic drugs but also, importantly, some antibiotics and antifungal medications. Direct and/or indirect myocardial injury or stress has emerged as a prominent, prognostic feature in COVID-19. Acute myocardial injury in patients with COVID-19 may be caused by a direct SARS-CoV-2 myocardial infection; the exaggerated immune response known as the cytokine storm; or hypoxia, dangerously low levels of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. African American infants with the p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A variant are over-represented in sudden infant death syndrome, and mechanisms underlying hypoxia may be responsible. The profound hypoxia observed in many COVID-19 patients, raises reasonable concern that p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A could produce a similar, African-American susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death from the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Taken together, the data suggest that one in 13 African Americans may be at substantially increased risk for potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether population-specific genetic risk factors are contributing to the spike in sudden deaths and racial health disparities observed in COVID-19 epicenters remains to be proven, and given the lack of banked DNA in these epicenters, the investigators question whether the speculation may even be testable. "The genetic variant p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A, is a potentially proarrhythmic, sudden cardiac death marker for African Americans, and seeking its presence and respecting it is long overdue," asserted senior author and genetic cardiologist Michael J. Ackerman, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine (Division of Heart Rhythm Services), Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (Division of Pediatric Cardiology), and Windland Smith Rice Cardiovascular Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. As recent studies have shown that hydroxychloroquine is not effective in the treatment of sick, hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the authors advocate against its use in that setting. Nevertheless, if COVID-19-directed, QTc-prolonging agents such as hydroxychloroquine are to be used, the investigators recommend careful cardiac monitoring, preferably in a way that spares personal protective equipment. The authors call for research into the link between p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A and rates of sudden death and COVID-19-related mortality, suggesting the use of existing DNA biobanks such as the United Kingdom Biobank, a study that investigates the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the development of disease, and the Jackson Heart Study, a large, community-based investigation into the causes of cardiovascular disease in African Americans. Point-of-care genetic testing for p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A should be investigated. And finally, the authors recommend studies of medications that may better protect at-risk individuals, especially African Americans, in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Introduction: apropos of everything here is a spreadsheet of conde employees sharing their salaries and statshttps://t.co/79vGfAx9FH UNIONIZE CONDE, FAST (@tammieetc) June 12, 2020 But before we get into the nitty-gritty, we need to lay out some things first. [ Boring (but important) statistical disclaimers. ] 1. Analyses were conducted using a three-way interaction linear regression analyses. 2. 4 entries were excluded due to exceedingly low salary ( < 10000 USD) without clarification in the notes/comments (e.g., salary reported by day/week), as it's unclear what the intended salary is for those entries. 3. Gender non-binary/gender fluid was excluded from analyses due to issues with low sample size for this group in the context of conducting analyses (Long story short, the interactions/intersectional identities we're looking at requires a sizable sample across all combinations. However, non-binary/gender fluid only had a sample size of 7, so I strictly looked at man/woman for gender identity. Similarly, analyses with non-binary/gender fluid by itself is also not feasible due to sample size. 4. The following variables were used as covariates to control for confounds: transgender, years in role, years of experience, number of indirect reports, and number of direct reports. 5. Unfortunately, I was unable to categorize titles/job roles and control for it as a confounding variable due to unfamiliarity with the field and how jobs should be grouped together. 6. Data reflects what was on the Google Sheets as of 3:04PM PST 6/15/2020. The results: Conclusion: As previously reported, Bon Appetit (and their larger parent company Conde Nast) underpaid BIPOC (black + indigenous and persons of color) workers and had issues with workplace toxicity including sexism, homophobia, and racism . Now, the source that broke the news about former Bon Appetit editor-in-chief Andy Rapoport in brownface also posted a Google Sheets of Conde Nast staff reporting their salaries.After obtaining funding from Russian ad revenue, ONTD University'sconducted a research study to determine whether Conde Nast is underpaying BIPOC, LGBQ, and women.I hypothesized the following:1. BIPOC get paid less relative to white counterparts.2. Sexual minorities get paid less relative to straight counterparts.3. Women get paid less relative to men.4. The degree in which BIPOC are underpaid is dependent on whether they are also women and/or sexual minorities.1. The three-way interaction is marginally significant (= 0.98), indicating a trend such that there is a difference in salaries between whites and BIPOCs that is dependent on gender and sexuality. Although this is not statistically significant, it should be noted that three-way interactions require lots of power to detect a significant difference. The fact that a sample size of 198 already reached marginal significance would suggest that it may simply be a sample size issue rather than a lack of findings.2. The first thing to note from the graph is the blue dot on the far left side. This is the average salary of a straight white man, and it is much higher compared to everybody else.3. There is a large gender gap between straight men and straight women if they're white. However, this gap diminishes if they're both BIPOC (but either way, significantly underpaid compared to white straight men).4. There is a general trend of a pay gap between white and non-white counterparts. The only exception is non-heterosexual BIPOC men. However, a deeper analysis of why this is occurring is interesting. Below is a chart of the average salary for men by sexuality and ethnicity with standard deviation.Although non-heterosexual men generally made less than straight counterparts, Asian/Pacific Islander and African American/Black men did not follow this trend. Next, I looked at the job title of African American/Black men and Asian/Pacific Islander men.For African American/Black men, it appears that the unusual pattern is largely attributed to a director with a much larger salary compared to everyone else. It also looks like fact checkers don't get paid well.For Asian/Pacific Islander, it appears that the lower salary among straights can be attributed to including a fact checker and photo editor: two roles that are paid less compared to other roles. It is exactly what we expected: Conde Nast is underpaying those who are not white straight men. Are we really surprised? On the one hand, a limitation to consider from this study is that we did not control for title/role because OP is too stupid when it comes to the corporate world. On the other hand, I would argue that even if including title/role as a confounding variable would make our findings non-significant, it would indicate that there is still a problem with underpaying POC, women, and sexual minorities due to restricting the highest roles to white straight men. Regardless, this provides supporting evidence that these pay discrepancies are not imagined by those speaking out. It should also be noted that this is simply self-reported salary and does necessarily include video appearance costs that Sohla mentioned. In other words, this discrepancy may be even greater if we account for income outside of base salary.Also, apparently fact checkers don't get paid much in Conde Nast. HurlyBurly, X. (2020). ONTD original - ONTD university investigates the Bon Appetit/Conde Nast salary gap.(2), 87-94.Get the citation right Buzzfeed Buzzards (Copyrighted by Carly Rae Jepsen), I need the h-index, and ONTD needs the impact factor score. Iraqi security forces stopped rockets from being fired near US troop positions north of Baghdad yesterday. It was the latest of such attacks on US forces over the months and a notable success for the Iraqi military in preventing them. Iraq's Security Media Cell, an official military body that reports on security matters, said they seized a group of rockets in the Rashidiya area north of Baghdad yesterday, just east of Camp Taji where US troops are located. Two rockets that did go off during the terrorist act landed in a remote area and resulted in no casualties, according to the Cell. Our forces were able to obtain important information leading to knowledge of those who carried out this terrorist act, the Cell said in a series of tweets. The Cell did not provide further information on who carried out the attack. There have been several attacks on US forces in Iraq so far this year and in 2019. The US military is in Iraq to help the country fight the Islamic State (IS) as part of the global anti-IS coalition. One of the most notable attacks targeting US forces was at the Taji base in March and led to US service members being killed. Many such attacks go unclaimed, but the United States suspects Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) are the culprits. Tensions escalated even further between the United States and Iran after Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack in Baghdad in January following attacks by militia supporters on the US Embassy there. The conflict between the United States and some armed PMU aligned with Iran has put Iraq in a difficult position. Iraq receives help from the United States against IS, which is still active throughout the country. Neighboring Iran, which backs some PMU groups, is also a major political and economic ally of Iraq. The PMU also wield considerable power and was helpful in defeating IS. The news of the thwarted rocket attacks is significant because it shows Iraq is able to stop such incidents from occurring. Many previous attacks, while not always causing considerable damage or casualties, successfully hit where US troops are based in Iraq. The Security Media Cell said this attack targeted Iraqi forces and was without losses. There are no exclusively US bases in Iraq, and US troops stay alongside Iraqi and other international coalition forces. The successful Iraqi operation follows dialog between Iraq and the United States on reducing American troop levels in the country. The Iraqi parliament voted to expel US forces in January following the air strike against Soleimani. The United States has removed troops since then during the coronavirus pandemic. In a joint statement last week, the United States and Iraq said the former would continue to pull out forces due to Iraqs success against IS. Iraq also promised to protect US forces during the talks. The United States granted Iraq a lengthened waiver to Iran sanctions allowing them to import Iranian electricity after speaking to Kadhimi. A mother-of-two has died after accidentally running into a glass door in a bank, shattering the pane and causing a shard to pierce her stomach. Video footage shows Beena Jiju Paul, 46, inside the Baroda bank branch in Perumbavoor, India. She approaches the counter before suddenly turning around and dashing back towards the door after realising she has left the keys for her scooter outside. But witnesses say she didn't realise the door was shut. Beena Jiju Paul, 46, dressed in a pink sari, rushes towards the closed bank doors She fails to notice the doors are closed as she races to retrieve keys left outside CCTV video from the bank shows Paul, dressed in a pink sari, as she smashes into the door. Glass shatters around her and she collapses in a heap on the floor. The stunned woman then tries to stand up as she cradles her stomach in agony. She staggers to the left of the door while customers leap out of their seats to help. The mother-of-two collapses to the floor as glass shatters around her and pierces her stomach She manages to stand up and clutches her stomach as she staggers to the left of the door Paul keels over and and is soon surrounded in a pool of her own blood as shop customers usher her into a nearby seat before she appears to lose consciousness. Authorities soon arrived and rushed her to a nearby hospital, but the married mother-of-two succumbed to her injuries. A group of people from inside the shop rush towards the woman as she begins to weaken and keels over They drag a chair close and help her into it while waiting for emergency services to arrive, but the woman later died in hospital A local source said: 'After about four minutes, people at the bank were seen taking the woman to the hospital and a police officer is seen entering inside the bank. 'The woman, who appeared to have fainted, was carried out of the bank. 'According to the Perumbavoor police, she was taken to Perumbavoor Taluk Hospital, but Beena passed away a little later. 'Perumbavoor police have registered a case of unnatural death.' If theres anything we know about the Duggar family, its that Jim Bob and Michelle Duggars lives are deeply rooted in religion. And, of course, all of the major decisions they made for their 19 kids had religious roots as well. While Jill Duggar has seemingly stepped out of the Counting On spotlight due to an alleged family rift, she and husband Derick Dillard still follow their path as Christians. It looks like Jill and Derick may be ready to continue missionary work and leave the U.S. completely behind, too. Derick continues to tell publications about Jills drama with her family. And hes now stating he and Jill may flee the country to be missionaries. Heres whats happening. Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard have done a number of mission trips together Jill Duggar Dillard (L) and husband Derick Dillard visit Extra | D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra RELATED: Jill Duggars Husband, Derick Dillard, Just Made a Stab at Jim Bob Duggar Again The Duggars are no strangers to traveling the world for the sake of spreading the word of the Lord. And we cant forget that Jill and Derick started their relationship while Derick was doing work in Nepal. After the couple married, they continued on their mission trips via Cross Church in Arkansas, which has taken them to several beautiful countries. According to In Touch Weekly, the couple spent two years in Central America and came back to the U.S. in 2017. And in March 2018, Jill and Derick went on another trip with Cross Church to Mexico. This trip was just a few days, though, as Jill and Derick were sent there to help a local resident of Guadalajara promote his church. Jill and Dericks missionary work hasnt always been well-received, though. Theyre reportedly not licensed missionaries, and theyve had to ask fans for donations to get them to where they need to go. Derick keeps spilling the tea regarding Jills family Jill and Derick have caused quite a stir amongst Counting On viewers over the years. But now, Dericks getting more attention than ever. At the end of 2019, he took to his Instagram to tell a follower that he and Jill rarely see the other Duggars, as Jill needs permission from Jim Bob to enter the family home. And he also condemned TLC for pressuring Jill, whom he called an abuse victim, for continuing to film Counting On when she didnt want to. Dericks still not finished telling everyone about the family drama, either. More recently, Derick told The Sun that Jim Bob also restricts Jills access to her siblings. Because our visitation to the Duggar house has been restricted and that is where they and their spouses hang out, we have not been able to see other family as much as we would like, so that is difficult, Derick noted. He now says he and Jill are considering moving abroad amidst controversies It looks like Jill and Derick might consider leaving all the drama behind and moving their family out of the U.S. Derick told The Sun that future missionary trips are definitely on the table. Our original plan from the time we married was to serve permanently on the international mission field, he told the publication. So, yes, we are definitely open to moving wherever God would lead us. Not only that, but Derick also mentioned that he and Jill might be open to coming back to Counting On if they could renegotiate a contract they agree with. And the couple moving out of Arkansas for missionary work during this feud might be the perfect storyline to bring to the show. Well have to wait and see what happens. Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkeys export of leather goods to Israel dropped by 23.9 percent from January through May 2020 compared to the same period of 2019 and amounted to $11.7 million, Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend on June 16. In May 2020, export of Turkish leather goods to Israel plunged by 69.2 percent compared to the same month of 2019 and equaled to $920,000. Turkeys export of leather goods to world markets from January through May 2020 shrank by 28.7 percent, compared to the same period of 2019, and made up $530.2 million The export of leather goods from Turkey made up 0.9 percent of the country's total export over the reporting period. In May 2020, Turkey exported leather goods worth $61.3 million to foreign markets, down by 62.2 percent compared to the same month of 2019, the ministry said. Turkeys export of leather goods in May this year amounted to 0.6 percent of the country's total export. During the last twelve months (from May 2019 through May 2020), Turkey exported the leather goods in the amount of over $1.4 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu [June 16, 2020] CancelCovid Launches to Educate Public That Sudden Loss of Smell is a Key Predictor of COVID-19 Infection BOSTON, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CancelCovid , an all-volunteer collaboration of individuals from MIT , Kings College , ViralGains , Mavrck , and Science Bounty launched today to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by educating people who have suddenly lost their sense of smell that it is a common symptom of the virus, and that they should stay at home and self-isolate. CancelCovids first initiative consists of two key pillars a social media awareness campaign titled the #CancelCovidSmellChallenge, driven by leading influencer marketing platform Mavrck, and a ViralGains survey gathering anonymous population-level data that will allow public health professionals, researchers, and others to aid in predicting, treating, and managing the virus. Leading ad technology company ViralGains conducted a survey of nearly 2,500 Americans in early May and determined over 141,000,000 American adults did not know that sudden loss of smell can be a symptom of COVID-19. CancelCovid was formed by scientists, entrepreneurs and artists to amplify the work of doctors in stopping the spread of COVID-19, said Tod Loofbourrow, Chairman and CEO of ViralGains. By teaming up with individuals at MIT for our scientific survey we quickly learned that 55% of Americans are unaware that sudden loss of smell is a COVID-19 symptom that they sould be monitoring. One major European study called it a better predictor of COVID-19 infection than fever. This means there are silent spreaders out there advancing the infection. Were determined to change that. To get the word out that the loss of sense of smell is an early symptom of COVID-19, leading influencer marketing platform Mavrck activated influencers using their advanced technology to create for good. Were seeing significant spikes in influencers social media post engagement right now so we knew it was critical to activate those influencers to drive awareness of this message, said Lyle Stevens, Mavrck CEO. The team at Mavrck strategically focused on TikTok creators to use a light-hearted campaign the #CancelCovidSmellChallenge to capture the attention of their audience. Influencers demonstrate themselves sniffing something smelly, reacting to that smell, then challenge their audience to do the same and log their results at CancelCovid.org . Utilizing our extensive index of social media influencers, weve been able to garner over 5.5 million views within just a few weeks of launching the campaign, said Stevens. This clearly demonstrates the potential effect this campaign can have on educating the public and reducing the spread of COVID-19. Getting the sudden loss of sense of smell listed as an official symptom of COVID-19 by health authorities in the US and UK was just the initial step in combating this virus were all working hard to better understand and control, said Claire Hopkins, President of the British Rhinological Society. Im excited that my work is being supported and accelerated by CancelCovid through their creative campaign to educate the public about this early symptom. This will be an asset in driving awareness of loss of smell as an early symptom of COVID-19 to help prevent wider infection and even potentially help save lives. The social media campaign drives viewers of all ages to frequently monitor whether they have lost their sense of smell. The critical next step of the campaign requests individuals to visit CancelCovid.org and anonymously submit their smell results. ViralGains: ViralGains is the leader in bringing the voice of the customer into advertising and marketing through intelligent ad journey orchestration. Our proprietary software as a service platform, ViralGains Odyssey, enables marketers to create unique ad journeys on leading demand-side platforms that improve brand trust, drive customer action and reduce wasted ad spend by making ads relevant to real-time customer sentiment and behavior. ViralGains is headquartered in Boston, with offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, and New York. For more information, please contact us at www.viralgains.com . Mavrck: Mavrck is the leading all-in-one influencer marketing platform enabling companies such as P&G, Kraft Heinz, and Express to harness the power of social proof that consumers trust today. Marketers use Mavrck to identify and activate influencers, influential employees and consumer advocates to create authentic insights and content for customer experience touchpoints at scale. Using its self-service influencer manager, marketers can also take an automated and performance-based approach to influencer marketing. Founded in 2014, Mavrck is headquartered in Boston, MA, with offices in Denver, New York City, and Chicago. The platform has been recognized for its superior offering by the Shorty Awards and Retail TouchPoints Retail Innovator Awards, honored as Best Influencer Marketing Platform by Digiday in 2018, and named to the 2019 Inc. 5000, awarded to Americas fastest-growing private companies. Mavrck was also named a Leader among the top emerging influencer marketing platforms in Forresters evaluation, The Forrester New Wave: Influencer Marketing Solutions, Q2 2020. Media Contact Brook Terran 805-570-3309 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Were taking baby steps to ensure everyones safety, because all of this is new to everyone, and we think its best to navigate this in a way that surpasses the federal, state and local guidelines, said DeJong, 36, who said his business was allowed to re-open during Phase 3 of the Illinois Department of Public Healths recovery program. The court ruled that he must be brought for trial by force. Ukrainian Security Service officers have reportedly detained the head of the regional council in Kherson and are bringing him to Kyiv, where his pretrial arrest will be decided in a case where he is suspected of ordering a deadly attack on anti-corruption activist Kateryna Handziuk in 2018. A member of Kherson's Dniprovsky district council, Oleksandr Vlasov, said on June 16 that Vladyslav Manger was detained while at a hospital early in the morning and is being transported to Kyiv, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) said. Read alsoHandziuk case: Kyiv court authorizes compulsory delivery of suspect Manger Manger, who has denied any involvement in the attack, has failed to show up at the Pechersky district court in Kyiv twice since last week, citing his own health problems, as well as those of his daughter. On June 15, after Manger's representatives told the court that he was at a Kherson hospital and therefore unable to attend the hearing, the court ruled that he must be brought by force. Handziuk, a 33-year-old civil activist and adviser to the mayor of the Black Sea port city of Kherson, died in November 2018, three months after she was severely injured in an acid attack. Prosecutors arrested Manger in February 2019 and charged him with ordering the attack. Manger was later released on bail. In June 2019, five men were sentenced to prison terms of between three and 6.5 years for organizing and executing the attack, after they made plea deals with investigators. Human rights activists have accused Ukrainian law enforcement agencies of failing to thoroughly investigate the growing number of attacks on activists, and even of collusion with the perpetrators in some cases. Protesters hold signs outside a Manila courthouse during a hearing where Rappler chief editor Maria Ressa and former reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr. were convicted of a cyber-libel charge, June 15, 2020. Updated at 6 p.m. ET on 2020-06-16 The international community on Tuesday expressed disapproval of a Manila courts conviction of two Philippine journalists on cyber-libel charges that could carry prison sentences of up to six years, and called on the government to uphold press freedom. A U.N. envoy, the European Union and the United States all issued statements supporting Maria Ressa, the CEO and executive editor of the online Philippine news site Rappler, and Reynaldo Santos Jr., a former staff writer there. The conviction marks a new low in the Philippines protection of the freedom of expression and, in particular, the ability of an independent media to function in the country, said David Kaye, the U.N.s special rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The verdict, which was handed down Monday, stemmed from a 2017 complaint filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng who said he was libeled in a report written by Santos and published by the Philippine news portal in 2012. The law used to convict Ms. Ressa and the journalist who authored the article which led to their prosecution is plainly inconsistent with the Philippines obligations under international law. I urge the higher courts to reverse this conviction and correct this injustice, Kaye said. He noted that the Philippine government had targeted Ressa and her news site, Rappler, for years because of its reporting on the government. Among other issues, Rappler has reported critically about the Duterte administrations war on drugs, which has left thousands of suspected addicts and dealers dead. The EU, meanwhile, noted that the Philippines was a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which enshrines the right to free expression. The conviction of Ressa and Santos raises serious doubts over the respect for freedom of expression as well as for the rule of law in the Philippines, the EUs diplomatic service said in a statement. Freedom of opinion and expression, online and offline, are essential parts of any democracy worldwide. The European Union will always stand up for these fundamental rights, the European bloc added. In Washington, the U.S. State Department issued a one-sentence statement in support of Ressa, who holds dual Philippine and American citizenship, and Santos. The United States is concerned by the trial courts verdict against journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos and calls for resolution of the case in a way that reinforces the U.S. and Philippines long-shared commitment to freedom of expression, including for members of the press, the State Department said. After Mondays verdict, Keng said he had been vindicated although the damage was done. Rappler reported in 2012 that Keng owned a vehicle seen being used by the then chief justice of the Philippine Supreme Court, and described Keng as having connections to the criminal underworld. An affront to the rule of law Ressa and Santos each were sentenced to serve six months to six years in prison, according to the ruling read out by the clerk of the court but were not jailed pending appeal to a higher court. They were both prosecuted and convicted under the 2012 Cybercrime Law, which was enacted after Rappler published the report that landed the news site into legal trouble. Also weighing in on the verdict were attorneys Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher, who were part of the London-based legal team representing Ressa. This conviction is an affront to the rule of law, a stark warning to the press, and a blow to democracy in the Philippines. I hope that the appeals court will set the record straight in this case, Clooney said in a statement. And that the United States will take action to protect their citizen and the values of their Constitution. In Manila on Tuesday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Ressa could apply for probation to avoid being sent to jail, or she could appeal the verdict. When she appeals, she will lose the privilege of avoiding jail time. And if she loses her appeal, she will be jailed, Roque said, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency. Roque, a lawyer, blamed Ressas attorney, Theodore Te, for the verdict. Maria Ressa was convicted because they did not introduce evidence that would prove that there was no malice, Roque said. This version of the story clarifies that a U.N. envoy, not the U.N. itself, reacted to the verdict in the Philippines. Zaporizhia and Lviv international airports, the Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise (UkSATSE), Azur Air Ukraine and SkyUp Airlines have sent a joint letter to the president, the prime minister and the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine with a request for state support for the aviation industry amid pandemic. "Already today, judging by the losses incurred by the entire aviation market, it is possible to predict not only a complicated recovery process, but also the non-return of many participants to work in principle. The industry itself may be in danger of extinction," the report says. The companies note a serious lack of resources for fulfilling financial obligations to pay wages, service loans, make lease payments, under agreements with foreign partners, etc. The airlines have compiled a list of measures adapted to Ukrainian realities that, in their opinion, must be taken to preserve the aviation industry. In particular, they ask to provide the industry with irrevocable financial assistance for the payment of wage arrears and tax holidays for taxes paid in connection with its payment. In addition, they ask for targeted, non-repayable assistance to pay off debts that have formed since the quarantine began in the country for services provided to aviation businesses by state enterprises and organizations. Senior ministers may be hauled into court and forced to give evidence as part of the massive robo-debt class action brought against the federal government. In a directions hearing in the Federal Court on Tuesday, lawyers representing Centrelink recipients who were sent more than 500,000 unlawful debt notices said they are considering bringing a misfeasance in public office claim by alleging some ministers, including Government Services Minister Stuart Robert, were acting in bad faith. Government Services Minister Stuart Robert might have to give evidence. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The robo-debt scheme was scrapped in May, with the Commonwealth announcing it would pay back $721 million to about 373,000 people. The saga could also become even more expensive for the government, with Federal Court judge Justice Bernard Murphy suggesting at the hearing it was likely the government would also have to refund the interest it made on debts collected. Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) said it had completed over 63,700 transactions for different segments of its customers in Dubai since the activation of the remote work platform until the resumption of in-house operations, in line with the implementation of government directives. The achievement reflects the efficiency of its smart channels and the quality of its e-services to ensure uninterrupted district cooling services to the company's 120,000 customers across Dubai, said a statement from Empower. It also strengthens its pursuit of smart transformation and dispensing with internal and external paper transactions by 2021, it added. Empower pointed out that this feat also highlighted its success in ensuring the best services with international quality standards even during the most extreme and severe conditions, such as the Covid-19 crisis. "We have succeeded in delivering 100 per cent automated services across its operations to enable customers to obtain the best service without any need to visit our headquarters or customer service centres," remarked CEO Ahmad Bin Shafar. Also, its success in applying of remote work system proved the soundness of the proactive strategy developed and implemented by Empower years ago as part of its investment in smart platforms, he added. Empower stated that all customer transactions will continue via their personal accounts on its website. Personal accounts do not require individuals, tenants, landlords or development firms to reach the company's headquarters or customer service centres to register a project or real estate unit with Empower, obtaining district cooling services and completing related transactions. This new service ensures online registration and completion of transactions from home through the website. "We always strive to contribute to the various national strategies that support environment preservation, including the Dubai paperless strategy, which aims to finalise the smart transformation and shifting to paperless transactions across Dubai government departments by 2021, along with achieving the goals of Dubai Smart Initiative to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world," he added. According to him, the company's remote working teams have completed more than 8,100 online applications, handled more than 5,600 phone calls from customers, and completed more than 1,100 electronic registration requests, in addition to more than 48,900 bill payments through smart services, mobile applications and bank transfers. Empower provides various services through its website, including online reviewing and payment of bills, obtaining electronic receipts upon payment, making final settlement, paying all dues, and obtaining clearance certificates. The company also provides options to complete transactions through mobile phone applications including Dubai Now app, in addition to the e-services provided by its strategic partners, including banks and financial institutions such as Emirates NBD Bank, Al Ansari Exchange, Noor Bank, and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank.-TradeArabia News Service With passengers gradually returning to Bradley International Airport, there are new measures in place to keep travelers safe in the age of the coronavirus pandemic. The Connecticut Airport Authority has announced the rollout of "BDL Cares," a readiness and safety program. "Our number one priority is always the well-being of our passengers and the entire Bradley International Airport community," Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, said in a release. "With that in mind, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented additional cleaning and sanitization protocols to prevent the spread of germs at Bradley International Airport. Now that we are starting to anticipate the gradual return of passengers, we are taking it a step further with the implementation of this comprehensive program to include additional cleaning, physical distancing procedures, and other measures intended to keep everyone safe." Passengers who are considering traveling in the near future can expect to see the following changes to facilities and operations: A recent report talks about a Sian Roadster that Lamborghini is currently working on, but other details are pretty much nonexistent. Lamborghini loves to churn out as many derivatives out of its exotic-looking supercars and in a move we honestly didnt see coming, the Sian FKP37 will return to the limelight as a roadster. A roadster version for the Sian will turn up the exclusivity to eleven for the hybrid hypercar LISTEN 02:29 With roof or without roof, that is the question According to The Supercar Blog (quoting unnamed sources), Lamborghini is brewing a roadster ethos for the Sian FKP37 electric hypercar. Thats all we know so far, and SantAgata Bolognese will likely remain tight-lipped until an official reveal takes place. That said, were being left with a lot of blank space to fill with speculation on what a roadsterized Sian might look like. The big dilemma here is whether it will flaunt a removable roof - like the Aventador Roadster, for example - or no roof at all, a la Veneno Roadster. Given that the Sian is actually based on the Aventador, we feel the first avenue is the most probable, but we wont hold our breath just yet. If it does come without any sort of roof, then the Sian will join an exquisite club with members such as McLaren Elva and Bentley Bacalar. In the powertrain department, Lamborghini could leave the Sian recipe unaltered. If thats the case, then the Sian Roadster will be good for 807 horsepower coming from a hybrid setup that twins a naturally-aspirated, 6.5-liter V-12 and a 48-volt supercapacitor system The V-12 internal combustion engine alone cranks out 774 horsepower while the electric bits and bobs add 33 horsepower to the tally. 0-62 mph takes less than 2.8 seconds, and a 217-mph top speed can be reached provided theres enough space for the hybrid bull to stretch its legs properly. Other details such as price and the number of units slated for assembly are unknown, but the exclusive air of a Lamborghini roadster should see the open-top Sians production limited to just a handful of cars (the Sian coupe has a production cap of just 63 units), each priced at around $4 million or even more. Time will tell. 2020 Lamborghini Sian specifications Engine V12, 60, MPI (Multi Point Injection) Displacement 6,498 cm (396.5 cu in) Bore x Stroke 95 mm x 76.4 mm (3.74 x 3.01 in) Compression ratio 11.8 0.2 Max power 774 hp @ 8,500 rpm Max torque 720 Nm @ 6,750 rpm + 40 Nm electric Electric motor Operating tension 48V Max operating current 600A Max Power 34 HP Max Torque 38 Nm Combined power 808 hp Weight to power ratio <1,98 kg/CV Transmission Electronically controlled all-wheel drive system (Haldex gen. IV) with rear mechanical self-locking differential Gearbox ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) gearbox with 7 speeds, shifting characteristic depending on drive select mode, electric motor works during the shifting and as boost Top Speed >350 km/h (217 mph) 0 to 62 mph <2,8 s Note: renderings Aksyonov Nikita Source: The Supercar Blog Representative Image Motilal Oswal's report on Precious Metals Weekly Gold prices were very volatile in the past week marking high of ~$1740 and low of ~$1710. Yellow metal has got an advantage from the Federal Reserve announcements and thereby triggering volatility in US stock markets. Last week, US equities rose near its all-time levels after Fed announced to hold rates low until 2021. Many nations across the globe have eased restriction and at the same time some positive breakthrough on the Covid vaccine has kept gains capped for the yellow metal. Although losses were capped by the ongoing US-China tension, lower yield curve and central bank announcements increasing pressure in the market. Outlook This week well be keeping an eye on the US-China trade relationship a narrative which was strangely quiet last week but which we expect to have a louder drumbeat as we get closer to the election in November. BOE and BOJ will be releasing its policy statement later in the week. Focus will also be on what more measure are taken by the leader in order to combat the COVID-19 as it remains a core driver for highly risksensitive markets like gold. For all commodities report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 03:20:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ANKARA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday accused France of inciting the crisis in Libya by supporting Khalifa Haftar, commander of the eastern-based army of Libya. "The support of France to the putschist and pirate Khafter, who attempted to establish an authoritarian regime in the country by overthrowing the legitimate government of Libya and publicly declared that he was not in favor of a political solution, fueled the Libyan crisis," a written statement by the ministry said. The approach of France encouraged Khafter to insist on military methods and increased the "suffering and distress" of the Libyan people, said the statement. The French foreign ministry's recent statement about Turkey's position in Libya "is a new indicator of France's dark and unexplained policy towards Libya," read the statement. The biggest obstacle to the establishment of peace and stability in Libya is the support given by France and some countries to the"illegitimate" administration which is contrary to the UN Security Council resolutions, the Turkish ministry emphasized. Turkey supports a government, recognized by the international community within the framework of the UN resolutions, upon its request, said the statement. "While our country is with the legitimate government, France stands by a coup and an illegitimate person to the UN and NATO decisions," read the statement. The French foreign ministry on Monday said Turkey's "aggressive" role in Libya was unacceptable. The ministry said that "foreign interference, in particular the intensification of Turkish support," including what it said was a violation of the UN's arms embargo, was thwarting efforts to secure a cease-fire. Turkey backs the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and has signed a military cooperation agreement to support its fight against Haftar. Turkey sent troops to Libya as part of this accord. Since the uprising which killed former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, Libya has been divided between the powers of GNA and the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) of Haftar. Enditem Classes for standards IX, X in schools located in non-red zone areas and junior college for XII would begin in Maharashtra from 1 July, the state government said on Monday. Classes of 6th to 8th standards would begin from August, as per the government. Mumbai: Classes for standards IX, X in schools located in non-red zone areas and junior college for XII would begin in Maharashtra from 1 July, the state government said on Monday. Classes of 6th to 8th standards would begin from August, as per the government. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and attended by School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad and officials. A circular issued on Monday stated that "schools not located in the red zone can commence classes of Standard 9, 10 and 12 from 1 July" while "classes of 6th to 8th standards would begin from August". "Though in some areas schools could not be opened, the process of teaching cannot be stopped. The use of digital technology to reach out with students should be adopted," it said. "Classes of Standard 1 and 2 are exempted from online teaching. However, for remaining standards, certain hours per week have been defined by the government. We are trying to use All India Radio (AIR) network as well to reach out to students with the curriculum," Gaikwad said. Some of the teachings can be broadcast, she added. However, some teachers' and principals' unions have demanded that all schools in the state open from August. North Korea on Tuesday demolished an inter-Korean liaison office in a town on the border with South Korea in an escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The North Korean state news agency, KCNA, reported Tuesday that the office was "completely ruined." South Korea's vice unification minister, Suh Ho, who co-headed the liaison office, said the incident was "unprecedented in inter-Korean relations," calling it "a nonsensical act that should have not happened." "We express deep regret and strongly protest against it," Suh said. South Korea's Ministry of Defense said it was monitoring North Korean military movement around the clock after the demolition and maintaining a "resolute military posture." "We are making full effort to manage the situation stably so that the situation does not escalate into a military crisis," the ministry said in a statement. "If North Korea carries out military provocation, our military will respond with powerful force." North Korea's move to destroy the office, set up in 2018 in the North Korean border town of Kaesong to foster better ties with South Korea, coincides with the 20th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit. Held June 13-15, 2000, the summit included a historic visit between South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung and the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, and resulted in a joint peace declaration in which the two countries committed to promoting unification, and to humanitarian and economic cooperation. Image: South Korean soldiers (Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images) Earlier this month, North Korea threatened to permanently shut the liaison office as it condemned the South for failing to prevent activists from sending anti-North Korean leaflets across the border. And just last week North Korea axed all communications with South Korea, citing the same anti-North Korean leafleting. On Sunday, South Korea convened an emergency security meeting after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, one of his top aides, threatened military action against South Korea. Story continues She also threatened to demolish the "useless" inter-Korean liaison office at the time. Then on Tuesday, before South Korea's announcement that the liaison office was demolished, North Korea's KCNA reported that the Korean People's Army of North Korea had threatened to move back into recently demilitarized zones that had changed status under recent inter-Korean peace agreements as the country dialed up pressure on Seoul amid stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration. The general staff of the Korean People's Army said it is reviewing a ruling party recommendation to advance into unspecified border areas that had been demilitarized under agreements with the South, which would "turn the front line into a fortress." 'One of the greatest symbols of inter-Korean rapprochement since 2018' The joint inter-Korean liaison office was meant to be a symbol of cooperation and a permanent channel of communication between the North and South Korea. It was established in 2018 amid a flurry of efforts to end the decades-old confrontation between the two rivals. "It is significant from a symbolic point of view," said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, lecturer in international relations at King's College London. "The office was one of the greatest symbols of inter-Korean rapprochement since 2018. North Korea is now signaling that this period is over and it is going to take a more confrontational approach for the time being." From a practical standpoint, he said, it will make lower-level inter-Korean communication more difficult because that's where inter-Korean conversations were taking place on a regular basis. But strategically the impact is minimal; there are many alternative ways to restore inter-Korean links when the time is right. What is North Korea's motive for the escalation? The latest escalation is a way for North Korea to express displeasure with the lack of progress in the removal of harsh U.S.-led international sanctions set up to push North Korea into handing over its nuclear arsenal, Pacheco Pardo said. "North Korea knows that South Korea won't move ahead with full-scale economic cooperation as long as the sanctions regime remains in place," he said. "But ramping up tensions with the U.S. with an ICBM or nuclear test would be too risky." Last week, North Korea said it was pulling away from its relationship with the U.S. saying there had been no actual improvement in ties. It has been two years since a historic handshake between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Singapore and nearly a year after Trump took an unprecedented step onto North Korean soil. The Trump and Kim 2019 summit ended without a deal. By increasing tensions with South Korea, Pacheco Pardo said Pyongyang can push Seoul to put pressure on Washington to resume diplomacy once the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic is over and, particularly, after the presidential election in November. What will the North do next, and how will the U.S. respond? The destruction of the liaison office shows that North Korea wants to escalate the crisis in order to compel Seoul into giving concessions, said Edward Howell, a researcher and North Korea specialist at the University of Oxford. "The question remains as to how far the DPRK will have to escalate tensions before it gets any acceptable response, on the North's terms, from the South," Howell added, using the initials of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Responding to NBC News' request for comment on the incident, a senior Trump administration official said they "remain in close coordination" with the South Korean officials. And a U.S. State Department spokesperson told NBC that the United States "fully supports" the South's efforts on inter-Korean relations and urges North Korea "to refrain from further counterproductive actions." But the U.S. reaction is likely to be capped at the usual condemnation, Howell said. "The U.S. does not want to provoke North Korea to engage in further bellicose behavior with the upcoming presidential election, and especially given the increasingly threatening rhetoric from Pyongyang toward Washington, as of late," he added. Pacheco Pardo said it wouldn't be surprising to see North Korea move its troops closer into the areas of the border that were previously demilitarized, perhaps even initiating a cross-border shooting. "But I don't think that we will see a clash such as the 2010 Yeonpyeong shelling or the ROKS Cheonan sinking," Pacheco Pardo said, referring to two major escalations between the two countries a decade ago, the first when North Korea fired artillery shells at a South Korean island and the second involving the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel costing 46 lives. "That would compel South Korea to take a tougher response than it will with lower-level military actions." As for South Korea, it's unlikely Seoul will move away from its current position of asking for diplomacy to resume and condemning Pyongyang's actions, Pacheco Pardo said. "Unless North Korea takes a very serious action, it is very likely to maintain this approach," he said. YONHAP NEWS AGENCY SEOULU.S. President Donald Trump is so fixated on protests sweeping the U.S. and his plans for razzle-dazzle campaign rallies that he seems oblivious to the scary turn of events in the land he claimed to have rescued from nuclear war by sucking up to North Korea's despot. While Trump has been absorbed elsewhere, Kim Jong Un on Tuesday literally blew up the glistening liaison office in the Kaesong Industrial Complex the South Koreans had built for cozy tete-a-tetes resolving differences with their North Korean counterparts. North Korean troops took over the zone despite entreaties from South Koreas President Moon Jae-in. The despots high-profile sister, Kim Yo Jong, had earlier denounced the useless North-South joint liaison office. Smoke from the building was visible across the line in South Korea, and the sound of the blast was audible several miles away. North Korea state radio said the building was tragically ruined by a terrific explosion. South Korea was both angered and worried by what appeared as the death knell for whatever was left of a peace process. "We sternly warn we will strongly respond if North Korea takes any action that further worsens the situation," said an official with Moon's national security office after an emergency session. Kim Jong Un Dumps Trump The North Korean leadersKim, his sister and those closest to themhave concluded Trump is not going to win reelection, says Shim Jae-hoon, long-time analyst for Yale Global, so in the short window between now and November they want to saber-rattle as much as possible to press him to make concessions. North Korea wants to maintain control of escalation and avoid a large-scale conflict, said Dan Pinkston, professor at Troy University here. The North Koreans will continue to see what concessions they can get from the South and/or the U.S. through coercion Buckle up. The Norths aggressive action added teeth to a torrent of invective, much of it from Kim Yo Jong, leading the charge against the South in ostensible retaliation for a barrage of balloons bearing anti-North leaflets wafting over the North Korean countryside. The leaflets bare the excesses of the Kim ruling family along with denunciations of the Norths nuclear and missile program for sapping vital funds needed to feed the countrys hungry, impoverished people. Story continues The policy-makers up in Pyongyang were totally unimpressed by South Korean pledges to close down the leaflet campaign, which the Norths leading paper Rodong Sinmun blasted as merely a measure to escape from crisis. The paper pledged in an orgy of rhetoric before the blow-up of the liaison office that the world shall see how our people will give a lightning strike on south [sic] Korean authorities as punishment and exterminate these scums. Of course, theres a considerable gap between the demolition of a single building and the extermination of scums, but Pyongyang appears to be leaving the door wide open to escalation. South Korean officials, from Moon on down, hardly knew how to respond beyond bland pleas to honor previous commitments. Moon, speaking on Monday with what he said was a heavy heart, expressed his hope North and South would not stop the current inter-Korean relations again. Having overcome a long-time severance and the crisis of a war, he said, we cannot wait any more for the conditions to improve. Both the Pentagon and South Koreas defense ministry promised to remain ready for any military moves by North Korea, but they were totally helpless to stop North Korean troops from taking over the Kaesong complex 40 miles north of Seoul above the North-South dividing line on the western side of the Korean peninsula. Nor would they be able to stop North Korean troops from reoccupying several guard posts that they had given up on their side of the demilitarized zone in a show of goodwill when Moon also shut down guard posts on the South Korean side. All this comes in the wake of statement Friday by North Koreas foreign minister, Ro Son Gwon, marking the second anniversary of the Singapore summit, when he said flatly that personal relations between our Supreme leadership and the U.S. President were pretty well over. Trump appeared oblivious to this rude rebuff from the man with whom he had once professed in a flight of fancy to have fallen in love, but North Korea appears determined to get his attention if not his affection. North Korea has decided the nuclear issue is strictly between them and the U.S., said the veteran analyst Shim Jae-hoon. The atmospheric summits between Trump and Kimfirst on June 12, 2018, in Singapore, then at the end of February 2019 in Hanoi and, finally, an impromptu session between Trump and Kim four months later at Panmunjom at which the two clasped hands on the linegot nowhere in the process of denuclearization. But the prestige that accrued to Kim from such one-on-one summitry was considerable The Norths desires are well knownan end to sanctions, reduction in the number of U.S. troops in South Korea, now standing at 28,500, and marked decrease in Washingtons support for the Moon government. To achieve these objectives, Kim wants to raise tensions, said Shim. He knows he cannot expect a full-scale war without blowback, but he is going to resort to provocations. As a dramatic example from the past, Shim cited the torpedo attack on the South Korean navy corvette the Cheonan 12 years ago in which 46 South Korean sailors died. Other scenarios include a possible launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile or a submarine launched ballistic missile and another nuclear test. The last one was conducted by North Korea in September 2017 . But is Trump concerned about any of this? Trump right now could care less about Korea, said Tom Coyner, a long-time business consultant here. That is, he added, unless something explodes in his lap. North Korean planners are well aware that Trumps concerns lie elsewhere, Coyner observed, so one may argue the timing may be excellent for a military provocation. But then again, these planners must also be considering that Trump may respond in a ham-handed manner to deflect Americans focus from domestic issues to Korea. A South Korean businessman had some pointed advice for Trump: Come here and test the atmosphere within range of North Koreas heavy guns. For Trump to know how serious the situation is in Korea, he needs to live in Seoul, said Michael Kim. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smart Employee Benefits Inc. (SEB or the Company) (TSXV: SEB) today reports its financial results for the first quarter of 2020. States John McKimm, President/CEO/CIO of Smart Employee Benefits Inc.: Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA improved significantly for the first quarter, 2020 over the comparable period the previous year. The gross margin percentage quarter over quarter declined 1.2%. Operating costs reduction initiatives led to the year over year improvement of over $1.089M in cost structure, which is expected to be over $4.0M annually. EBITDA improved by $0.937M in the first quarter to a negative $0.072M from a negative $1.009M. Adjusted EBITDA for the year improved by $0.870M to a negative $0.056M from a negative $0.926M. The improvement is the result of cost reduction initiatives across the company. SEB has made significant investments in both the Technology and Benefits Divisions since the Companys inception. Building the infrastructure, while a time consuming and costly process, has created significant contract backlog with blue chip and government clientele and strong strategic partnerships in both divisions. As a result, the Technology Division (TD) currently experienced a positive $0.524M of EBITDA in the quarter versus $0.492M the previous year. The Benefits Division (BD) experienced a positive $0.03M versus a negative $1.032M the previous year. From January 2020 to April 2020, the company has won over $20.0M of net new contracts. This represents a win rate of approximately 50% of opportunities bid, well above industry averages and the companys previous track record. Submitted proposals and bids outstanding for net new business total approximately $74.0M with decisions pending in the near future. Additionally, the Company has signed agreements per its Channel Partner White Label TPA initiatives, to add approximately 150,000 new plan members to its benefits processing business. The Benefits Division has under contract over 96% of its 2020 budget and is expected to be cash flow positive in 2020. The signed new business to date, in 2020, is materially ahead of our business development budget. The Technology Division has historically been cash flow positive and net new business wins remain strong. Signed contracts (backlog, evergreen, option years), based on a 5-year time frame are valued at over $400M. COVID-19 has led to demand for our BD solutions, including our online medical care partnerships. In our TD, a portion of our revenues are at risk near term, primarily those related to the project driven portion of the business and the delay of government renewals of existing contracts and the onboarding of new contracts. Budget allocations have not changed, but the expenditures have been delayed. The remaining business is largely multi-year managed services driven contracts for mission critical infrastructure and systems. On a consolidated level the company applied for COVID-19 government relief which offset the profitability loss from the decline in revenue in the TD. The remaining business has experienced stable and growing revenue and is not eligible. The sales pipeline is the strongest it has ever been. At a 50% win rate in the past four months this win rate is well above our historical 30% to 35%. The cost savings initiatives taken over the past several years should be fully experienced in 2020. We are anticipating improved consolidated financial performance in 2020 fiscal year vs. 2019, particularly in the BD. Quarterly Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) Dec 1, 2019 to Feb 29, 2020 Sep 1, 2019 to Nov 30, 2019 June 1, 2019 to Aug 31, 2019 Mar 1, 2019 to May 31, 2019 Dec 1, 2018 to Feb 28, 2019 Sep 1, 2018 to Nov 30, 2018 (Note 1) June 1, 2018 to Aug 31, 2018 (Note 1) Mar 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018 (Note 1) Revenue $ 16,520,977 $ 17,326,306 $ 16,974,918 $ 17,675,478 $ 16,506,330 $ 18,559,118 $ 17,990,986 $ 20,019,485 Cost of revenues 11,198,629 11,689,312 11,403,091 12,224,037 10,989,649 12,803,253 12,272,162 14,061,863 Gross Margin 5,322,348 5,636,994 5,571,827 5,451,441 5,516,681 5,755,865 5,718,823 5,957,622 Gross Margin as a % of Revenue 32.2% 32.5% 32.8% 30.8% 33.4% 31.0% 31.8% 29.8% Salaries and other compensation costs 3,805,798 3,520,013 4,008,953 4,427,102 4,486,090 4,886,028 4,363,734 3,868,546 Professional fees 169,443 303,312 111,674 315,072 137,112 580,742 60,214 553,123 Office and general 1,403,431 1,946,928 1,275,940 1,235,608 1,819,528 1,723,510 1,159,385 1,269,466 Adjusted EBITDA (56,324 ) (133,259 ) 175,261 (526,341 ) (926,049 ) (1,434,415 ) 135,490 266,487 Investment income - (181,424 ) (34,077 ) - - - - - Gain on sale of assets - (153,461 ) (1,894,514 ) - - - - - Write down of assets - - - - - 6,671,890 - - Transition and decommissioning costs - - - - - - - 161,750 Change in fair value of contingent consideration - (36,094 ) - - - (480,374 ) - - Share- based compensation 15,576 11,903 35,675 63,151 76,158 (171,152 ) 216,998 425,270 Transaction costs - (117,856 ) 136,021 50,000 6,437 - - - EBITDA (71,900 ) 343,673 1,932,158 (639,493 ) (1,008,644 ) (7,454,779 ) (81,508 ) (320,533 ) Interest and financing costs 725,580 783,599 994,527 608,487 531,528 (400,582 ) 618,939 878,706 Income tax expense (recovery) (3,928 ) (141,521 ) (451,128 ) (556 ) 556 (1,267,024 ) (42,983 ) 22,706 Depreciation and amortization 633,171 744,460 623,321 1,120,003 655,231 768,493 777,520 757,185 Deprecation charge 161,077 - - - - - - - Net income (loss) from continuing operations (1,587,800 ) (1,042,865 ) 765,438 (2,367,426 ) (2,195,959 ) (6,555,666 ) (1,434,984 ) (1,979,130 ) Income (Loss) from assets held for sale, net of tax - - (93,799 ) 35,890 (312,776 ) (1,432,309 ) 128,204 (312,934 ) Net comprehensive income (loss) $ (1,587,800 ) $ (1,042,865 ) $ 671,639 $ (2,331,536 ) $ (2,508,735 ) $ (7,987,974 ) $ (1,306,780 ) $ (2,292,064 ) Attributed to non-controlling interest (241,535 ) (50,105 ) (50,776 ) (184,035 ) 155,922 (136,312 ) 167,478 (8,158 ) Attributed to common shareholders (1,346,265 ) (992,760 ) 722,415 (2,147,501 ) (2,664,657 ) (7,851,662 ) (1,474,258 ) (2,283,910 ) Total $ (1,587,800 ) $ (1,042,865 ) $ 671,639 $ (2,331,536 ) $ (2,508,735 ) $ (7,987,974 ) $ (1,306,780 ) $ (2,292,068 ) Note 1 - Historic quarters have been restated to reflect the operations of Paradigm Consulting Group as income from discontinued operations Segmented Results for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2020 and 2019 Smart Employee Benefits Inc. Segmented Income Statement Detail for the quarter ended February 29, 2020 (in C$) Technology Benefits Corporate Inter-company Sales/COS Total Continuing Operations Discontinued operations Total Company Revenue $ 13,603,083 $ 3,338,835 $ - $ (420,942 ) $ 16,520,977 $ - $ 16,520,977 Cost of revenues Cost of revenues 11,495,798 123,773 - (420,942 ) 11,198,629 - 11,198,629 Gross margin 2,107,285 3,215,063 - - 5,322,348 - 5,322,348 Expenses Salaries and other compensation costs 1,138,985 2,410,565 256,248 - 3,805,798 - 3,805,798 Office and general 433,310 769,448 200,674 - 1,403,431 - 1,403,431 Professional fees 10,719 5,031 153,692 - 169,443 - 169,443 1,583,014 3,185,044 610,614 - 5,378,672 5,378,672 Adjusted EBITDA 524,271 30,019 (610,614 ) - (56,324 ) - (56,324 ) Share-based compensation - - 15,576 - 15,576 - 15,576 EBITDA 524,271 30,019 (626,190 ) - (71,900 ) - (71,900 ) Amortization of intangible assets 3,035 76,520 500,564 - 580,119 - 580,119 Depreciation 27,546 24,679 827 - 53,052 - 53,052 Depreciation of right-of-use assets 58,512 - 102,565 - 161,077 161,077 Interest and financing costs 263,397 73,340 388,842 - 725,580 - 725,580 Income tax expense 8,512 - (12,440 ) - (3,928 ) - (3,928 ) Net income (loss) $ 163,268 $ (144,520 ) $ (1,606,548 ) $ - $ (1,587,800 ) $ - $ (1,587,800 ) Segmented Results for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2020 and 2019 Smart Employee Benefits Inc. Segmented Income Statement Detail for the quarter ended February 28, 2019 (in C$) Technology Benefits Corporate Inter-company Sales/COS Total Continuing Operations Discontinued operations Total Company Revenue $ 14,067,434 $ 3,005,821 $ - $ (566,925 ) $ 16,506,330 $ 5,604,238 $ 22,110,568 Cost of revenues Cost of revenues 11,309,164 152,522 - (472,038 ) 10,989,649 4,497,148 15,486,797 Gross margin 2,758,269 2,853,299 - (94,887 ) 5,516,681 1,107,090 6,623,771 Expenses Salaries and other compensation costs 1,384,146 2,882,842 313,989 (94,887 ) 4,486,090 512,459 4,998,549 Office and general 813,049 987,523 18,957 - 1,819,528 450,833 2,270,361 Professional fees 69,402 15,933 51,777 - 137,112 53,850 190,962 2,266,596 3,886,298 384,723 (94,887 ) 6,442,730 1,017,143 7,459,873 Adjusted EBITDA 491,673 (1,032,999 ) (384,723 ) - (926,049 ) 89,947 (836,102 ) Transaction costs - - 6,437 - 6,437 91,641 98,078 Share-based compensation - - 76,158 - 76,158 - 76,158 EBITDA 491,673 (1,032,999 ) (467,319 ) - (1,008,645 ) (1,694 ) (1,010,338 ) Amortization of intangible assets 52,497 64,463 480,611 - 597,572 - 597,572 Depreciation 30,258 26,575 827 - 57,659 - 57,659 Interest and financing costs 328,365 9,625 193,539 - 531,528 251,082 782,611 Income tax expense 556 - - - 556 60,000 60,556 Net income (loss) $ 79,997 $ (1,133,662 ) $ (1,142,295 ) $ - $ (2,195,959 ) $ (312,776 ) $ (2,508,735 ) Comparative Consolidated Results for First Quarter 2020 and 2019 For the Quarter Ended Feb 29, 2020 Feb 28, 2019 Revenue $ 16,520,977 $ 16,506,330 Cost of revenues 11,198,629 10,989,649 Gross Margin 5,322,348 5,516,681 Gross Margin as a % of Revenue 32.2% 33.4% Operating costs 5,209,229 6,305,618 Professional fees 169,443 137,112 Adjusted EBITDA (56,324 ) (926,049 ) Share based compensation 15,576 76,158 Transaction costs - 6,437 EBITDA $ (71,900 ) $ (1,008,644 ) Net loss from continuing operations (Note 1) $ (1,587,800 ) $ (2,195,959 ) Note 1 - During Fiscal 2018, an LOI was signed with Golden Opportunities Fund to sell Paradigm, leading to a change in financial presentation. In compliance with IFRS, the results of Paradigm and its associated assets/liabilities have been disclosed as assets held for sale in the financial statements. During Fiscal 2019, the transaction was completed. Reconciliation of Consolidated Net income (loss) to EBITDA For the Quarter Ended Feb 29, 2020 Feb 28, 2019 Net loss from continuing operations $ (1,587,800 ) $ (2,195,959 ) Interest and financing costs 725,580 531,528 Income tax expense(recovery) (3,928 ) 556 Depreciation and amortization 633,171 655,231 Deprecation charge 161,077 - EBITDA (71,900 ) (1,008,644 ) Share- based compensation 15,575 76,158 Transaction costs - 6,437 Adjusted EBITDA $ (56,325 ) $ (926,049 ) Revenue During the first quarter, 2020 consolidated revenues from continuing operations was a $16.521M compared to $16.506M in the prior year. In the TD, revenues decreased by $0.464M, while the BDs revenues increased by $0.333M. The differential is due to intercompany revenue elimination difference of $0.146M resulting from consolidation. Most of the revenue reduction in the TD is due to non-recurring project revenue. This project revenue has transitioned to managed services revenue, smaller in amounts, but higher in profit margin. The Company is focused on the higher margin business within the Benefits Division. Gross Margins and Gross Margin % The Company generated $5.322M in gross margin during the first quarter February 29, 2020 vs. $5.517M the previous year. Gross Margin % (GM %) for continuing operations was 32.2% in 2020 compared to 33.4% in 2019. TD gross margins were 15.5% vs. 19.6% the previous year, largely due to one-time revenue. BD gross margins improved by $0.362M and 1.4% of sales. Operational Costs: Salaries and Other Compensation - salaries decreased by $0.680M during the quarter over the comparable period the prior year. The reduction is a result of the cost reduction initiatives. The cost reduction was across the company. Additional savings are targeted for 2020, as the full impact of 2019 cost saving initiatives flow through for the complete 2020 year. salaries decreased by $0.680M during the quarter over the comparable period the prior year. The reduction is a result of the cost reduction initiatives. The cost reduction was across the company. Additional savings are targeted for 2020, as the full impact of 2019 cost saving initiatives flow through for the complete 2020 year. Office and General Costs Normalized office and general costs decreased by $0.416M quarter over quarter. This cost reduction was across all divisions and expected to prevail throughout 2020. Normalized office and general costs decreased by $0.416M quarter over quarter. This cost reduction was across all divisions and expected to prevail throughout 2020. Professional Fees - Professional fees increased by $0.032M, quarter over quarter. Professional fees vary with the amount of financing or acquisition/disposition activity during the period. Given the major transactions in process, these fees will increase in 2020 as transactions close. Non-Cash Expenses: Non-Cash expenses include amortization, depreciation and share-based (options) compensation increased $0.078M over the quarter ended February 29, 2020 compared to the previous year. The largest component is amortization of intangible assets (mostly related to acquisition). These costs are expected to be largely amortized by the end of Fiscal 2020. Interest and Financing Costs and Interest Accretion: Interest and financing costs increased approximately $0.194M during the first quarter compared to prior year with approximately $0.726M being expensed in the first quarter. The increase is due largely to refinancing costs during the year and is expected to decline as short-term financing is converted to longer term financing in the third quarter. KEY DEVELOPMENTS DURING AND SUBSEQUENT TO THE YEAR Update on Scotia Capital Strategic Review Process Scotia Capital Inc. was engaged in March 2019 to assist the Company in identifying and negotiating a transaction with a strategic investment partner. The SEB Board and Management believes this process will provide the optimal immediate value for shareholders, be operationally strategic to SEB, and provide the working capital to expedite the many growth opportunities. The Company is currently in the final stages of the refinancing process with negotiations at advanced levels on 5-year convertible notes of $20M and operating credit facilities in the $10.0M range. Business Development to Date Relationships have been consolidated and grown with multiple new consulting partners. The Companys Channel Partner strategy has gained strong traction with more than a dozen active negotiations with Channel Partner opportunities including brokerage organizations, MGAs, TPAs, insurers, unions, and corporate entities. Several LOIs and LOAs have been executed with revenue growth expected in 2020 and beyond from the Channel Partner business initiatives. Channel Partner white label TPA agreements have been recently signed with organizations representing approximately 150,000 plan members. The Company has gained significant traction with its online medical care partnership with EQ Care, recently adding clients representing over 100,000 plan members. In addition, the company is launching FlexPlus Worksafe, a fully integrated module for collecting, aggregating, and analyzing and managing workforce data to manage the complexities of returning workforce to the workplace. The Companys RFP sales pipeline is the largest it has ever been, in both corporate and government opportunities. In the TD the Company won or renewed in 2019 over $90.0M of new multi-year contracts and added over $20.0M of contracts value in the first quarter 2020. Total contract value for both TD and BD including backlog, option years and evergreen remains strong. Cost Reduction and Integration In the first quarter, the Company reduced its cost structure by over $1.089M, with the full annualized amount expected to be reflected in Fiscal 2020 and beyond. Technology infrastructure represents more than half of the savings. This amount brings total cost reductions to in excess of $4.0M per annum since Fiscal 2017, over 60% attributed to technology infrastructure. The Company is targeting additional cost realignment and reduction in Fiscal 2020 as new technology systems improve efficiencies. States John McKimm, President/CEO/CIO of Smart Employee Benefits Inc.: SEB has been in an investment mode since its inception in both the TD and more significantly in the BD. The TD, historically, has strong profitability. The BD has required significant investment, the majority of which has been expensed. This has penalized cash flow, net earnings, and EBITDA. Going forward, the capital expenditures are minimal, the cost structure from acquisitions and integrations has been largely realigned and both the TD and BD are anticipated to show strong growth and positive cash flow in 2020. The contract values including backlog, option years and evergreen remain strong, with the Company continually renewing or winning sufficient new business to replace annual revenues. The Company has established strong traction in multiple new business initiatives and is well positioned to win new business going forward. The RFP win rates in the first quarter have been over 50% of submitted bids and proposals, well above the industry average and the companys past experience in the 30%-35% range. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS Date/Time: Wednesday June 17, at 11:00 AM ET. Canada & USA Toll Free Dial In: 1-800-319-4610 Toronto Toll Dial In: 1-416-915-3239 Callers should dial in 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and simply ask to join the call. Webcast Link access at http://services.choruscall.ca/links/sebIR20200617.html Conference Call Replay Numbers: Canada & USA Toll Free: 1-855-669-9658 Code: 4749 followed by the # sign Replay Duration: Available for one week until end of day Wednesday June 24, 2020. ABOUT SEB SEB is a technology company providing Business Process Automation and Outsourcing software, solutions and services to a national and global client base. SEB has a specialty growth focus in cloud enabled SaaS processing solutions for managing employer and government sponsored health benefit plans on a BPO (Business Processing Outsourcing) business model, globally. SEB currently serves corporate and government clients across Canada and internationally. Over 80% of SEBs revenues derive from government, insurance and health care organizations. SEBs technology infrastructure of over 650 multi-certified technical professionals, across Canada and globally, is a critical competitive advantage in supporting the implementation and management of SEBs benefits processing solutions into client environments. SEBs Benefits Processing Solutions can be game changing for SEB clients. The core expertise of SEB is automating and managing business processes utilizing SEB proprietary software solutions combined with solutions of third parties through joint ventures and partnerships. SEBs client acquisition model in benefits processing is Channel Partnerships where SEB processing solutions both improve cost structures and enable new revenue models for Channel Partners and clients. All SEB solutions are cloud enabled and can be delivered on a SaaS platform. SEB solutions turn cost centers to profit centers for our Channel Partners. The forward-looking information contained in this release represents the Companys current expectations and, accordingly, is subject to change. However, the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Media and Investor Contact John McKimm President/CEO/CIO Office (888) 939-8885 x 2354 Cell (416) 460-2817 john.mckimm@seb-inc.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Satyendar Jain New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's health has deteriorated. He has a high fever and is having difficulty in breathing. He has been admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital. He informed about this through his Twitter account. Satyendar Jain tweet Advertisement Satyendar Jain's coronavirus has been tested and we are now awaiting his report. CM Arvind Kejriwal's statement has also come to light after Satyendar Jain's health deteriorated. "You have been serving the people 24 hours a day without taking care of your health," Kejriwal said. Take care of yourself and get well soon. It may be recalled that Satyendar Jain had come to Amit Shah's meeting on Sunday in the car of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and has also attended the meeting. CoronavirusMeanwhile, coronavirus continues to wreack havoc in the country. As a result, large numbers of people are being affected by the corona. More than 10,500 cases of coronavirus infection were reported in India yesterday. Advertisement Similarly, the death toll from the corona has risen to 9,900. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The daunting sway zika virus had held over the populace in recent past has a far-reaching impact on governments in terms of initiatives undertaken. FDA had recently made it mandatory for zika virus testing of all the blood testing done across the U.S. in hospitals and laboratories just to keep the virus at bay. Get Free Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5662 Borne by Aedes genus of mosquitoes, this disease can be easily transmitted to another person even via sexual intercourse and pregnant women, if affected, can forward that to her newborn child as well. These initiatives have resulted in the growth of zika virus testing market, and the market is all set to witness a considerable hike during the forecast period (2017-2023), asserts Market Research Future (MRFR) in an extensively analyzed report. FDA and the U.S. government have taken considerable steps to outclass this disease by having it properly tested and developing drugs that can contain the virus. The outcome is quite overwhelming. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also quite aware of the impacts of the virus and has taken steps accordingly. For instance, in 2016, it had declared a health emergency in the Americas, where the disease was spreading its wings. Subsequently, testing kits for the disease found a significant Zika Virus Testing Market Growth and started growing in leaps and bounds. These precautionary decisions can act like a global market booster for the zika virus testing. Industry Trend: Researchers from Brigham and Womens hospital have recently come out with their discovery where they have used nanotechnology and digital health systems to detect zika virus. In the process. They have involved smartphones as necessary equipment for the testing. The method is known as nanomotor-based bead-motion cellphone (NBC) system, which can have considerable impacts in afflicted regions. Technology firm Inovatech, in collaboration with the Sao Paulo Research Foundation, developed a test at the Butantan Institute that can detect antibodies against zika virus in samples with great precision to declare infection, if any, caused by the virus previously. Zika Virus Testing Market Segmentation: The global zika virus testing market can be segmented by tests and end-users. By tests, the market can be further sub-segmented into serological/Zika virus antibody and molecular/nucleic acid amplification. The latter is the most commonly used test for zika virus detection. Based on end-users the market includes diagnostic units, hospitals, pathology labs, and others. Zika Virus Testing Market Regional Analysis: Region-specific analysis of the global market has regions Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Americas, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) under its coverage. The Americas are in-charge of the market and Latin American countries, where the outbreak of the disease hit massively, are contributing more than the regions far in the distance. Projects initiated by Health and Human Services (HHS), and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to deter the disease from further growth and cure the affected populace can be seen as a market influencer. Brazils National Development Bank (BNDES) has also infused USD 136.6 million for further researches that can help the market grow considerably. Zika Virus Testing Market Competitive Analysis: The market is witnessing constant evolution owing to companies launching innovative technologies to detect the virus and cure the effects. However, collaborations are also abounding such as technology firm Inovatechs collaboration with Sao Paolos Research Foundation. Prominent companies playing a significant role in the zika virus testing market are Luminex Corporation, ARUP Laboratories, Roche Molecular Systems, Hologic, and Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. Access Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/upcoming-reports/zika-virus-testing-market-5662 Related Report Medical Tourism Market Laser Therapy Market About Market Research Future: MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. The burgeoning demand for digital financial services in Africa has brought about an unparallel increase in the size of the population with access to formal financial services on the continent in Egypt, home of the biggest banking sector in North Africa and also the banking powerhouse of the region for more than a century, the adoption of digital financial services is enhancing financial inclusion in the country. According to the World Bank, adults with bank accounts in Egypt increased from less than 20% in 2014 to close to 33% in 2017[1]. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) the expansion of digital financial services to the unbanked and underserved particularly in rural communities is ameliorating financial inclusion. In a report published by the European Investment Bank[2] in 2016, the share of the population with mobile bank accounts in SSA was 11% in 2014 the highest in the world. Mobile banking is widely adopted in SSA, especially in rural communities, where the largest proportion[3] of the population resides low cost of transaction, high mobile phone penetration and a growing innovation by service providers has encouraged low-income households to subscribe to the services of mobile banking operators. With the region hosting 27 out of the 28 poorest countries in the world as revealed by the World Bank[4], the tremendous growth of digital financial services in Sub-Saharan has established a newfangled market for accessible, affordable, reliable and sustainable financial services. As highlighted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC)[5], access to mobile money services in SSA has increased daily per capita consumption levels of households many poor households have been lifted from extreme poverty and standard of living has improved. In SSA, where women constitute almost 50% of the labour force[6] in the agriculture sector, mobile money services have played a pivotal role in the transition of women from subsistence farming to business occupations and sustainable livelihoods. Digital financial service is constantly improving the rate of financial inclusion on several accounts in SSA - in 2014[7], 12% of the population in the region had mobile money accounts as compared to the global average of 2% with the area hosting almost 50% of the world's mobile money providers. Source: Global Financial Inclusion Database (Findex) data. SSA is also performing extremely well in innovation and knowledge-sharing through the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), Kenya shares knowledge in digital financial services with universal banks and regulators in Latin America. However the level of financial inclusion brought about by digital financial services is not the same for all countries in the region. In countries such as Mauritius and Botswana, the services of traditional banks are widely available in both urban and rural communities. Conversely, in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) the rural account gap for digital financial inclusion is largely untapped. Data from the World Bank[8] indicates that financial inclusion in SSA between 2014 and 2017 has been largely driven by mobile money. Source: Global Findex Database. Between 2014 and 2017 the share of the population (adults) with an account with a financial institution (excluding mobile money account) increased by four percentage points within the same period, ownership of mobile money accounts had increased by nine percentage points. In countries such as Cote d'Ivoire and Uganda, bank account ownership has been low but mobile money penetration continues to soar. The use of mobile money has spread from East African countries to West African countries three years prior to 2014, the percentage of adults with mobile money accounts in Senegal was 6% but currently the share of mobile money account ownership is 32%. The rapid growth in mobile phone penetration has heavily influenced the spread of mobile money in SSA with more than 130 live mobile money services provided largely by mobile operators and a network of more than 1.4 million active agents, there were 395.7 million registered mobile money accounts in the area during the last quarter of 2018. As revealed in the report of Global System for Mobile Communication[9], 456 million unique mobile subscribers were recorded by the end of 2018 in SSA, representing a penetration rate of 44% an increase of 20 million subscribers over 2017. The report indicates that SSA will remain the fastest growing region in the world with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.6% and an additional 167 million mobile subscribers by 2025 with Ethiopia and Nigeria projected to record the highest growth rates of 11% and 19%, respectively. Mobile phone penetration has a tremendous effect on economies in SSA in 2018, mobile technology and services accounted for 8.6% of GDP in SSA, amounting to over $144 billion of economic output with the mobile ecosystem supporting about 3.5 million jobs and raising close to $15.6 billion via taxation. The Global System for Mobile Communication projects that by 2023, mobile technology and services will account for 9.1% of GDP in SSA, representing almost $185 billion countries in the region will benefit from an increase in productivity for using mobile services. One of the sectors that could benefit more from digital financial services in SSA is agriculture according to McKinsey Global Institute[10], although agriculture employs more than 60% of the population and contributes about 23% of GDP in SSA; growth in agriculture is precarious in the region. The World Bank estimates that SSA has 200m hectares[11] of land suitable for agriculture that has not been cultivated this arable land is more than the cultivated land size in the United States and also close to half of the cultivated land in the world. The major challenge for smallholder farmers in SSA is the difficulty associated with securing financial products and services for agriculture farmers have been able to access only 20% out of the $33 billion[12] required for agriculture with more than 90% of the 48 million smallholder farmers lacking access to formal credit, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations[13]. This egregious condition has been influenced by the high cost of credit risk assessment in SSA. Inadequate financial information from farmers, insufficient credit bureaus and limitations in legal institutions makes it a daunting task for financial institutions to extend credit to many farmers. Through financial technology, this perennial problem in the agriculture sector is gradually being solved in Eastern Africa, specifically Kenya, FarmDrive[14], a FinTech startup that uses mobile phones, data and machine learning to make financial services accessible to the unbanked and underserved smallholder farmers by closing the data gap that discourages financial institutions from lending to farmers has increased the agriculture loan portfolio of financial institutions and currently has the capacity to make financial services accessible to more than 3 million smallholder farmers. Evidently, the digital footprint of mobile money transactional history will not be sufficient to qualify a farmer for loans from financial institutions but Virtual City[15], a technology firm that focuses on developing and delivering supply chain automation solutions in East Africa has partnered with a bank to collect relevant data such as Know Your Customer (KYC) of farmers in the value chain the company is digitising. This arrangement has made it possible for agribusinesses with access to Virtual City's digital solutions to offer bank loans to the farmers they work with. In SSA, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises[16] (SMEs) represent an integral component of economies in the region SMEs account for more than 90% of all businesses but the travail in accessing finance has been the utmost drawback in the development of SMEs. Data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey and a survey of banks in Sub-Saharan Africa by the European Investment Bank in 2018 shows that lack of access to finance[17] is the predominant challenge to the growth of SMEs in SSA between 2011 and 2017, 26% of respondents to surveys, cited access to finance as the main snag hindering the development of SMEs. To curb the sluggish growth of SMEs as a result of lack of finance, financial institutions in SSA are relying on digital financial services to make credit accessible to SMEs five banks in Kenya have launched a lending service via mobile phone. The SME lending service[18] adopted by the Commercial Bank of Africa, NIC Group, Cooperative Bank of Kenya, KCB Bank Kenya and Diamond Trust Bank has the capacity to reach out to more than 3,500 businesses. An additional 10,000 businesses will be enrolled in the second phase of the project. Other companies such as Branch International[19], a FinTech that uses machine learning algorithm to assess the credit worthiness of applicants via their mobile phones has presence in SSA, with offices in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania more than 75% of the loans accessed in Nigeria have been have been invested in businesses, making credit accessible to the unbanked[20] and underserved in the country. About the Authors Kwaku Asiedu-Nketiah Jr is an entrepreneur with a profound understanding of the intricacies of African markets. Kwaku holds a master's degree in finance and management from Heriot-Watts University and a bachelor's degree in accounting and management from the Mount Royal University. He is also a member of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Production Accountants (CAPPA). Alexander Ayertey Odonkor is a chartered financial analyst and a chartered economist with a stellar expertise in the financial services industry in developing economies. He has completed the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) program on Financial Programming and Policies with a master's degree in finance and a bachelor's degree in economics and finance, Alexander also holds postgraduate certificates in entrepreneurship in emerging economies and electronic trading on financial markets from Harvard University and New York Institute of Finance, respectively. References [1] Oxford Business Group ''The Report: Egypt 2019'' London, United Kingdom. Available at: [2] European Investment Bank (2016) ''Banking in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent Trends and Digital Financial Inclusion. Economics Department, Luxembourg. Available at: [3] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2017) ''A first atlas on rural migration in Sub-Saharan Africa'' 2 November, Rome. [Online]. Available at: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1054009/icode/ (Accessed: 28 April, 2020). [4] World Bank ''Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2018: Piecing Together the Poverty Puzzle'' 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433. Available at: [5] International Finance Corporation (2018) ''Digital Access: The Future of Financial Access in Africa'' Available at: [6] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2011) ''The Role of Women in Agriculture'' Available at: [7] European Investment Bank (2017) ''Digital Financial Inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa'' Availableat:[8]World Bank Group ''The Global Findex Database 2017'' Available at: [9] GSMA ''The Mobile Economy: Sub-Saharan Africa 2019'' The Walbrook Building, 25 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AF. Available at: [10] McKinsey & Company (2019) ''Winning in Africa's agriculture Market'' Available at: [11] The Economist (2018) ''Africa has plenty of land. Why is it so hard to make a living'' Available at: [12] Wendle, J. (n.d) ''Closing the Smallholder Financing Gap'' Grow Africa. Available at: [13] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2017) ''FarmDrive improves access to credit for smallholder farmers'' Available at: [14] EWB Canada (2019) ''FarmDrive receives additional investment to provide credit to 3 million smallholder farmers in Kenya'' Available at: https://www.ewb.ca/en/news-and-events/news/farmdrive-additional-investment/ (Accessed: 1 May, 2020). [15] GSMA (2019) ''Improving Financial Inclusion through Data for Smallholder Farmers in Kenya'' 27 June [Online]. Available at: [16] International Finance Corporation (n.d) ''SME Initiatives'' Available at: [17] Gandhi, D. (2018) ''Figures of the Week: Financing for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa'' Brookings Institution. 30 November. [Online]. Available at:https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2018/11/30/figures-of-the-week-financing-for-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-in-sub-saharan-africa/ (Accessed: 1 May, 2020). [18] Obulutsa, G. (2019) ''Kenyan banks to test mobile lending app to ease SME squeeze'' Reuters, 20 May [Online]. Available at: [19] Adepetun, A (2018) ''Branch International facilitates N1 billion loan in Nigeria'' The Guardian, 18 June [Online]. Available at: [20] Bradshaw, T (2019) ''Fintech start-up Branch raises funding for EM lending push'' Financial Times, 8 April [Online]. Available at: Remains of a burnt-out property in Bruthan South in Victoria State on 4 January 2020 (ANSA) Several Catholic institutions in Australia dole out grants for groups providing spiritual and psychological assistance to those affected by widespread bushfires earlier this year. By Devin Watkins The Church launched Catholic Emergency Relief Australia (CERA) in February to serve as a coordination point for Catholic agencies responding to natural disasters. On Tuesday, CERA announced that 15 Catholic organizations have received funding to support their efforts to help those affected by this years nationwide bushfires. Black Summer Large portions of Australia were scorched during the 2019-2020 bushfire season, which has come to be known as the Black Summer. Fires ravaged over 18 million hectares between June 2019 and May 2020. At least 34 people were killed in the blazes, with over 400 others killed indirectly through smoke inhalation. Nearly 6,000 buildings were destroyed, and an estimated 1 billion animals died as a result of the flames. The bushfires burned nationwide, but the Northern Territory and New South Wales were the worst-affected areas. Grant recipients In response, Catholic Emergency Relief Australia invited organizations to apply for grants. Twenty-four groups applied for funding, seeking around AU$400,000. Thanks to donations from Catholic communities across the country, 15 of those organizations will receive a total of AU$110,000. Recipients include several parishes, an aboriginal mentoring program, projects aiming to support children, and counseling programs to help people cope with the pain of loss. Spiritual and emotional recovery Susan Pascoe, chairperson of CERA, said the funding focused on projects and programs to support peoples mental health and trauma management. She said the government and NGOs met most peoples immediate, material needs in the wake of the bushfires. What will take much longer, though, is the spiritual, emotional and psychological recovery, she said. The funding we have awarded will focus especially on those aspects of peoples journey back to some sense of normalcy. Grant recipients, she added, hail from all parts of Australia. We once again thank those who have supported Catholic Emergency Relief Australia by donating to this long-term recovery plan, said Ms. Pascoe, and we are confident that the funding we provide will make a difference in the lives of people affected by the bushfires. Catholic Emergency Relief Australia CERAs founding members include the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Catholic Religious Australia, Catholic Social Services Australia, and the National Catholic Education Commission. The St. Vincent de Paul Society later joined in the initiative. Visit the link for more information on grant recipients. Slain Army officer fulfilled his father's personal dreams India pti-PTI Hyderabad, June 16: The Indian Army officer killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, Colonel Santosh Babu, fulfilled his father's personal dreams of serving the country and was expecting a posting to this city before making the supreme sacrifice. Babu and two soldiers were killed in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night during a clash with Chinese troops in the first such incident involving fatalities after a gap of 45 years, signalling a massive escalation in the five- week border standoff in the sensitive region. India China face-off: Why are there frequent clashes at the Line of Actual Control | Oneindia News The slain officer's father said while he could not live his dreams of serving the armed forces, his son did. "I could not join the army and serve my country. So I wanted my son to join the defence forces and serve our country though my relatives discouraged the idea," B Upender, father of the slain Colonel and a retired banker, said. Expressing his heartfelt condolences over Babu's demise, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, in a statement, said the state government will stand by the bereaved family. He instructed his cabinet colleague Jagadish Reddy, as the state government representative, to oversee arrangements for receiving the body till the last rites are performed. India-China standoff: Violence result of China's attempt to change status quo, says MEA Babu, who hailed from Suryapet district in Telangana, was serving in the 16 Bihar regiment as Commanding Officer, his father said. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son, who are residing in Delhi. The slain officer, who was expecting a posting in Hyderabad soon, had spoken to his mother on Sunday where the conversation centred around the ongoing tensions. "He last spoke to me on Sunday night," Babu's mother said. Though 'crestfallen,' she is "proud that my son sacrificed (his life) for the nation," she said. When asked about the tensions at the Indo-China border, Santosh had said those issues could not be discussed given the sensitivity. "I told him to be careful," the bereaved father told reporters. Babu joined the Indian Army in 2004 and was first posted in Jammu and Kashmir, Upender said. The family was informed about the tragedy this afternoon by senior army officials. Babu's mortal remains are expected to reach his native Suryapet on Wednesday for the final rites, district police chief R Bhaskaran said. "As of now the information available is the mortal remains have to reach Delhi and from there his wife and children will travel to Suryapet, where the final rites are scheduled to happen", the SP told PTI over phone. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in a standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizable number of Chinese Army personnel had even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas, including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row before the differences took a violent and fatal turn on Monday. The US on Tuesday handed over to India 100 ventilators, valued at about USD 1.2 million, as part of President Donald Trump's offer of assistance to New Delhi in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster handed over the first shipment of 100 ventilators to Indian Red Cross Society Secretary General R K Jain at an event at the IRCS national headquarters here. The US government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), donated the first shipment of 100 brand-new, state-of-the-art ventilators to India to assist its fight against COVID-19, the American Embassy said in a statement. Track live updates on coronavirus here The ventilators, produced in the United States by Massachusetts-based Zoll Medical Corporation, reflect leading-edge technology, are compact and deployable, and provide India with flexibility in treating patients affected by the virus. USAID is working closely with the Indian government's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Indian Red Cross Society, and other relevant stakeholders in India and the United States to assist in the delivery, transportation, and placement of ventilators in select health care facilities throughout the country. Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented global health threat. It is only through partnership and cooperation that we will be able to ensure a healthy future for people across the world," Ambassador Juster said at the event. "In this spirit, the United States is pleased to provide the people of India with a donation of ventilators, made possible by the generosity of the American people and the innovation of American private industry," he was quoted as saying in the statement. The 100 ventilator units are valued at almost USD 1.2 million, it said. USAID is also funding a comprehensive package of support, which includes accompanying equipment and medical supplies, technical assistance, and service plans. COVID-19 Pandemic Tracker: 15 countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases, deaths This donation builds on the USD 9.5 million that USAID and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have committed to India in response to the pandemic, and this is helping to strengthen clinical care, disseminate essential health messages, improve disease surveillance, and more. For decades, the United States has been the world's largest provider of bilateral assistance in health, the statement said. Since 2009, American taxpayers have generously funded more than USD 100 billion in health assistance and nearly USD 70 billion in humanitarian assistance worldwide, it said. President Trump had announced in May that the US will donate ventilators to India to treat COVID-19 patients and help it fight the "invisible enemy". The Indian Red Cross said it extends its heartfelt thanks to the US government for gifting the ventilators to assist India's fight against COVID-19. CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH This life-saving resource will benefit critically ill patients immensely during this pandemic, the IRCS said. The first tranche of ventilators to support India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the country on Monday, the USAID said. "Great to see that this 1st shipment of 100 USAID-funded ventilators produced by @MedicalZoll has reached India, another country hit hard by COVID-19. @usaid_india is working with the Indian government to see that these ventilators reach those in need," acting USAID Administrator John Barsa tweeted. An American official had said last month that the US government is planning to "donate" 200 ventilators to India as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. NEW DELHI: Congress parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday paid homage to the three Army personnel who were martyred during a violent faceoff with the Chinese troops in Ladakhs Galwan Valley. The Congress leader took to Twitter and said, Words cannot describe the pain I feel for the officers and men who sacrificed their lives for our country. My condolences to all their loved ones. We stand with you in this difficult time." Words cannot describe the pain I feel for the officers and men who sacrificed their lives for our country. My condolences to all their loved ones. We stand with you in this difficult time. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 16, 2020 Rahuls party Congress also termed as as "shocking" and "unacceptable" the death of an Indian Army officer and two soldiers in Ladakhs Galwan Valley. The party even asked Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to confirm the development and issue a statement. "Shocking, Unbelievable and Unacceptable! Will the Raksha Mantri confirm," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter. The main opposition party, however, said that "India stands behind the armed forces". Congress leader Anand Sharma said that the entire country stands behind its Army in the situation. "The violent clash between the Chinese and Indian Army in Galwan valley of Ladakh causing the death of an Indian Commanding Officer and Jawans is a matter of serious national concern. India's security and territorial integrity are non-negotiable," Anand Sharma tweeted. "India stands united behind our armed forces. The country must be taken into confidence urgently. In a Parliamentary democracy, it is expected of the government to brief the leadership of the political parties of the ground situation, considering the grave implications," he added. The reactions from Rahul Gandhi and his party came after an Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night during a violent face-off with the Chinese troops. The Indian Army further said that senior military officials of the two sides are holding a meeting in Galwan Valley to defuse tensions. Meanwhile, Beijing's state-controlled Global Times also alleged that there have been fresh clashes today. Global times quoted the People's Liberation Army Western Theater Command spokesperson as saying Tuesday that "Indian troops again crossed the line of actual control in the Galwan Valley region and purposefully launched provocative attacks, leading to severe clashes and casualties." Former European Council President Donald Tusk - REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw Donald Tusk and the president of Poland have exchanged blows on Twitter after Mr Tusk accused his fellow Pole of ruining Poland's reputation. The heated public exchange happened after Andrzej Duda, the Polish president, claimed LGBT "ideology" was worse than communism while on the campaign trail for Polands presidential elections, due to be held on June 28. Apparently riled by the comments Mr Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, vented his anger in a tweet. "The president of Poland should protect its reputation. Andrzej Duda is doing everything to ruin it. His campaign has brought shame on Poland from around the world." Mr Duda responded by mocking Mr Tusk for not running for the presidency and instead hiding behind the backs of other candidates from the centre-right Civic Platform, the ex-prime ministers old party. Poland's President Andrzej Duda - Grazyna Marks/Agencja Gazeta via REUTERS In response Mr Tusk, who now works as the president of the European Peoples Party in the European Parliament, said he had wanted to run against Mr Dudas supervisor, a veiled reference to Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of Law and Justice, the party the president once belonged to. An MP holding no public office, Mr Kaczynski is regarded by many as the most powerful political figure in Poland, with critics accusing him of exerting huge levels of influence both over the countrys government and president. The exchange of Twitter blows continued with the president reminding Mr Tusk that he had once run against Lech Kaczynski, Jaroslaws late twin brother, for the presidency in 2005 and had lost badly. The heated argument came as Poland prepared itself for what could be a fractious and bitter presidential election. Mr Duda had been a clear favourite to win the election, which was postponed from May 10 owing to the pandemic, but has since lost ground to Rafal Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw, who is the main opposition candidate and once served with Mr Tusk in government. The presidents comparison of LGBT ideology to communism, and a pledge to protect Polish families from it, are designed to appeal to Polands conservative voters. Internet 'toll collector' Stripe wasn't the first successful start-up idea for Irish brothers Patrick and John Collison. They had already founded and sold their first company, which made software to help eBay users manage inventory, before their 20th birthdays. The idea for Stripe came when the brothers were both in Cambridge, Massachusetts, attending MIT and Harvard. The problem with payment platforms, as they saw it, wasn't on the finance side. Difficulties were more often because of coding and design issues. The brothers decided to build a developer-focused, instant setup payment platform that any company could use and scale. They spent two years building the software, which has been applauded for its simplicity. In the earlier versions, it required websites to add less than ten lines of code to a website to handle payments. "While the success of many leading consumer fintech companies hinges upon stealing customers from incumbent financial institutions, Stripe's biggest competition is incumbents' complacency," said CB Insights fintech analyst Conor Witt. "Given the acceleration of online commerce, combined with Stripe's expansion into emerging markets, the company is well positioned to serve as a global toll operator for internet commerce." Stripe co-founders Patrick and John Collison Source: Stripe Stripe makes money from that role as a toll collector: It charges customers a swipe fee of 2.9%, plus 30 cents for every transaction it processes, similar to PayPal's revenue model. But it also has a venture capital war chest. Given the acceleration of online commerce, combined with Stripe's expansion into emerging markets, the company is well positioned to serve as a global toll operator for internet commerce. Conor Witt fintech analyst at CB Insights The company has a star-studded roster of investors. In April the company brought in an additional $600 million in equity from Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz and General Catalyst all existing investors. In addition to Thiel and Musk, the company has also raised money from Google's venture arm Capital G and Kleiner Perkins. Former Google Cloud CEO Diane Green sits on the board. To date it has raised $1.6 billion at a $36 billion valuation, according to PitchBook. The latest cash buffer ensured the company would be able to provide reliable service, and keep investing, during the pandemic, Collison said. "A huge part of the internet economy is relying on Stripe to provide stable, reliable service and to make the internet economy work," Collison said. "We're trying to make sure that we are just there for the businesses that are on Stripe, regardless of what happens over the next year or two." Covid expansion Like Stripe, many of its customers have seen rapid growth during Covid. Zoom, a new Stripe customer this year, saw a 20x surge in usage between December and March, according to the company. Instacart saw a 300% increase in customer demand year-over year, while Slack, another Stripe customer, saw an 80% increase in paid customers this quarter. Stripe is also moving beyond payments into new areas of finance. In November the company announced the launch of a lending arm called Stripe Capital. The new venture is meant to help online companies borrow money to grow their businesses which in turn helps Stripe's business. It did not apply to be a part of the government's emergency lending program, like fellow fintech players Square and PayPal. Its Stripe Atlas platform, used for founding and registering a new business, saw a 220% rise in new companies being registered in April than the prior year. George Kavallines Some energy companies are slowly re-opening their offices, welcoming employees back as stay-at-home restrictions are eased and new social distancing measures are put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Many have put up plastic shields around desks, established rules for the number of people that can ride together in elevators and devised new disease detection protocols, including taking the temperature of workers each day. The first waves of workers will help to bring some life back to downtown and to the Energy Corridor, which have become ghost towns as offices emptied out in mid-March when most workers who could began working from home. The Houston area has about 237,000 energy workers. Oklahoma pipeline operator Williams divided its employees into two teams. One team works at home for a week while the other works at the office and then they switch the following week. Williams said it plans to keep that plan in place through the end of June. Other companies are sending employees back in waves. The Houston oil-field services company Halliburton adopted a phased approach for employees to return to work sites beginning Monday with no more than 30 percent of the workforce, spokeswoman Emily Mir said. Each phase will last at least three weeks to assess adherence to social distancing rules, the effectiveness of prevention measures and community transmission levels, Mir said. Centerpoint Energy, the regulated utility in Houston, also is taking it slowly. The company plans to begin bringing back employees who have been working remotely on July 6. Initially, capacity in office buildings wont exceed 20 percent, according to spokeswoman Alicia Dixon. The timing of the return of other employees will depend on what the company learns from the first employees who return, she said. The company also understands that some employees may have concerns about vulnerable family members, child care and transportation and will work with them individually. Managers will consider staggering start times, alternate work schedules or a continuation of telecommuting, CenterPoint said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Office space: How to keep Texas workers safe as they return Weatherford International, the Irish oil-field services firm with principal offices in Houston, reopened its Houston locations June 15. Employees will return in phases and be required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing. The Greater Houston Partnership recommends that employers establish measures so on-site workers can maintain a distance of at least 6 feet while they work. The business group also suggests that businesses close communal areas such as lunch rooms, break rooms, conference rooms and other places where people gather to avoid unnecessary exposure. The partnership recommends that companies remove any workplace rules that discourage employees from revealing that theyre sick so that workers who have symptoms of the coronavirus or flu stay home to prevent contamination. It is to a companys advantage for sick employees to stay home, according to the partnerships guidance. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston companies prepare for return to office after Abbott reopens Texas economy Energy companies, as well as grocers, hardware stores and others, were considered essential by state officials from the beginning of the pandemic. Those companies never closed their headquarters but sent upwards of 95 percent of their workers home to work, leaving behind only those critical to plant operations. At NRG Energy, one of the biggest generators of electricity in Texas, that included employees in the power plants and real-time trading desks who continued to report to work as normal while adhering to safety protocols. Now NRG is targeting September to begin a phased return of most employees, NRG spokeswoman Pat Hammond said. While many companies are bringing employees back into the fold, some are opting to wait, preferring to keep their employees working from home for the foreseeable future. Houston oil-field services company Schlumberger has told its employees who can work from home to continue to do so. So are Houston oil-field services company Baker Hughes and British oil major BP. Our guiding principle is that staff should only come into the office if it is more effective for them to do their roles there, BP spokeswoman Megan Baldino said. Sergio Chapa and Paul Takahashi contributed to this report. lynn.sixel@chron.com twitter.com/lmsixel On June 10, 2020, the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Florida entered a final judgment against relief defendant Rhoda Burkholz of Boca Raton, Florida, who has agreed to pay over $250,000 to resolve the SEC's action against her for allegedly receiving proceeds from a Ponzi scheme conducted by her husband and others that defrauded at least 55 investors. The SEC's complaint, filed on November 14, 2019, alleged that Neil Burkholz, his business partner, Frank Bianco, and their companies Palm Financial Management, LLC and Shore Management Systems, LLC solicited investors by falsely representing that their proprietary options trading strategies were highly profitable. In reality, as alleged in the complaint, the defendants invested less than half of investor funds and those investments resulted in near-total losses. The complaint alleged that the defendants misappropriated the remaining funds by using them to repay other investors and by transferring approximately $880,000 of investor funds to Ms. Burkholz and to Mr. Burkholz, Bianco, and Bianco's wife, Suzanne Bianco, for personal use. According to the SEC's complaint, the defendants sent false reports to investors to conceal their fraudulent conduct and give the investors the false impression they were generating positive returns. Without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC's complaint, Ms. Burkholz consented to the entry of a final judgment ordering her to pay $258,821 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest on a joint and several basis with Mr. Burkholz, representing the amount of investor funds he shared with her. The settlement concludes the SEC's litigation in this matter. In May, the court ordered Mr. Burkholz and the Biancos to pay more than $2.7 million combined in disgorgement, civil penalties, and prejudgment interest. In February, the court ordered Palm Management and Shore Management to pay over $1.2 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest. The SEC intends to seek approval from the court to establish a fair fund to distribute money received from the defendants and relief defendants to harmed investors. The SEC's litigation has been handled by Daniel Maher and Brianna Ripa under the supervision of Jan Folena, Amy Friedman, and Carolyn Welshhans. French startup Molotov is better known for its TV streaming service in France. The company has attracted millions of users that use it to watch live TV, record movies and TV shows in the cloud, play past TV content and access on-demand channels. The company is launching Molotov Solutions, a B2B division that will build and operate the TV platform of other companies. Molotov is a sort of YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV for French TV except that Molotov launched before those other services. In many ways, Molotov has been a trailblazer when it comes to over-the-top TV streaming, often featured at Apple keynotes and on Googles Play Store. Instead of relying on a set-top box, Molotov works more like Spotify . You download a client on your devices, connect with your login and password and access all your TV content. You can start watching on one device and finish on another. You can record something from your phone and watch it on your TV. The company is using its technical experience in this field to help other companies build their own streaming services. Molotov Solutions plans to work with media companies as well as telecom companies. In many ways, it reminds me of BAMTech, a spin-off company from Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM). It built the streaming service of MLB .tv and then built other streaming services, such as HBO Now in 2015. In 2017, Disney acquired BAMTech and the company has been busy building ESPN+ and Disney+ since then. Molotov Solutions offers a complete OTT platform. It can operate the backend, ingest live and on-demand video and distribute your content on many different platforms, such as iOS, Apple TV, Android, Android TV, smart TVs from Samsung and LG, desktop browsers and soon video game consoles. Image credits: Molotov We take advantage of the excellent product that is Molotov. Except that its a service business this time. Its another team and another way to work. We had to create a service company within Molotov, an internal agency, Francois Le Pichon, who is going to head Molotov Solutions, told me. Story continues By default, Molotov Solutions operates as a white-label service provider. When you choose Molotov Solutions for your streaming service, you get your own apps with your own logo. Molotov runs the servers, but everything is compartmentalized between each client. The company is already working with a few clients, but theres nothing to announce just yet. Theres a telecom company with clients in multiple countries, a media company that wants to distribute its own content and some early talks with various telecom companies those companies usually work with traditional IT consulting firms to outsource those projects. Theres also the interesting example of a media company that runs multiple services in multiple countries. This company in particular wants to simplify its offering by switching everything over to Molotov Solutions one streaming platform for multiple subsidiaries. I hope Molotov is going to communicate about those partners and their names in the near future. Molotov expects clients to sign multi-year contracts. The company will provide ongoing support and updates to those clients. Eventually, were thinking about spinning off this business, raising funds and expanding internationally, Molotov co-founder and CEO Jean-David Blanc told me. And for now, it represents a good opportunity to add a revenue stream. A mother has paid tribute to her 'little chic hippie' daughter who was shot and killed with an AR-15 by a man who was allegedly angry about her and her boyfriend yelling at her dog. Isabella Thallas was fatally shot during the dispute that took place shortly before noon last Wednesday near Coors Field in Denver, just days after celebrating her 21st birthday. Her boyfriend, clothing designer Darian Simon, 26, was wounded in the shooting but survived. Heartbroken Ana Thallas, a mother-of-three, has paid tribute to her daughter, calling her 'a beautiful soul' with a 'pure heart'. Mother Ana Thallas has paid tribute to her 'little chic hippie' daughter Isabella (pictured together) who was shot and killed with an AR-15 by a man who was allegedly angry about her yelling at her dog In an emotional interview, Ana told how her 21-year-old daughter had wanted to be a mother and that she and her boyfriend were planning a future together Isabella Thallas was shot and killed during the dispute that took place shortly before noon last Wednesday near Coors Field in Denver, In an emotional interview with CBS, Ana told how her 21-year-old daughter had wanted to be a mother. According to court documents, suspect Michael Close, 36, (pictured) fired on Isabella and her boyfriend with an AR-15 'She really did want to be a mom. And she wanted to have a family. She and Darian were planning a beautiful future together.' Ana had been driving to pick up Isabella's birthday present when she received the devastating news that her daughter had been fatally shot. Speaking of her pain, she said: 'I'm just waiting for this dream to end and for me to wake up. 'All I know is that a piece of me died that day.' Describing her daughter's passions, Ana said: 'She loved to travel. Fashion, make-up and travel. 'She was my little chic hippy.' Isabella was a second year student at Metro State University of Denver, where she was majoring in finance, at the time of her death. Boyfriend Darian is the co-owner and co-founder of the clothing label Be a Good Person, which specializes in streetwear. Boyfriend Darian Simon (pictured with his mother) is the co-founder of the clothing brand Be A Good Person. He suffered gunshot wounds to the back and leg According to court documents, suspect Michael Close, 36, fired on Isabella and her boyfriend with an AR-15. Close has been charged with first-degree murder in Thallas' killing. According to a probable cause affidavit cited by The Denver Post, Simon told investigators he and Thallas were taking his dog, purportedly a rescue named Rocco, out for a walk in the 3000 block of North Huron Street at around 11.42am when he yelled at the animal to poop. Simon said he then heard a stranger's voice from a ground-level apartment asking if they were going to train their dog to go to the bathroom, or just yell at it instead. The dog owner said he tried to ignore the man's comments but then saw him point a gun at him, which he initially mistook for a pellet gun. Thallas was pronounced dead at the scene. She is survived by her parents, a sister and a younger brother Moments later, a volley of gunshots rang out, hitting Simon and Thallas. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Simon fled but could not get far because of his injuries. He was taken to a hospital suffering from gunshot wounds to the back and leg. According to the description of a GoFundMe campaign, one of the rounds 'completely shattered' his femur, which will require multiple surgeries to repair. Police who responded to reports of shots fired learned that the suspected gunman was 'headed for the mountains,' Denver Police Department Division Chief Joe Montoya said during a press briefing. Neighbor Ronan OShea told The Denver Post he heard six to 12 gunshots, followed by a massive police presence. O'Shea recounted how officers with guns drawn were running through the streets, warning residents of an 'active shooter' and urging them to shelter in place. Law enforcement officials in Jefferson County later contacted Close, tracked him down to a location near Pine Junction and US 285, and took him into custody at 1.25pm local time. Thallas had just turned 21 years old earlier this week (pictured at her celebration) Her mother, Ana Thallas (left), wished Isabella (right) and her sister, Lucia (center), who turned 19, a happy birthday in a Facebook post According to the probable cause statement, officers found an AR-15 and a handgun in the floorboard of the Mercedes SUV that Close was driving. A gun belt and magazines were also recovered from the vehicle. Close made his initial court appearance on Thursday and was ordered held without bond. He has no prior criminal record in Colorado. Meanwhile, several hundred people gathered last Thursday evening at the spot where Thallas was shot for a candlelight vigil. Just two days before the killing, Ana posted a touching Facebook message wishing happy birthday to her two daughters, Isabella and Lucia, who had just turned 21 and 19, respectfully. Last Thursday evening, a candlelight vigil was held to honor Thallas at the spot where she was shot and killed on Wednesday Her father, Josh Thallas (left), spoke to the crowd of his overwhelming heartbreak She wrote of Isabella: '21 years ago God Blessed me with you, then came your sister. I believe came along to hold your hand through hard times, when I couldnt be there for you, so you have a friend for life. You have grown to be a beautiful, smart, amazing woman and I love all 3 of you so very much.' The proud mother also shared photos from her daughters' joint birthday festivities, complete with an elaborate pink cake, cupcakes and an oversize balloon arrangement. She wrote in a follow-up post: 'I love you so much and I dont know what I would do with out you.' A separate GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family with Isabella's funeral expenses. As of Tuesday, it has raised $69,364. A glass of champagne onboard a flight. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider Airlines are limiting alcohol sales as they begin to welcome back more passengers. The decision is intended to further limit the exposure of cabin crew to passengers. Passengers flying on domestic flights will be the most affected with international flights largely keeping their alcoholic offerings. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Airport bars are about to get more crowded. The world's airlines are adjusting their in-flight offerings as they begin to welcome more passengers and for some, begin operations again for the first time in months. Each airline is approaching the task differently in an attempt to reduce the exposure of flight crew to passengers but one common approach is limiting alcohol sales to passengers, according to CNN. The two largest airlines in the US Delta and American are not offering alcohol to economy passengers on domestic flights, CNN reported. American will serve alcohol on request to first-class passengers when flying domestically while Delta will not. As Business Insider found on recent domestic flights, American is completely restricting its economy in-flight service on domestic flights to "on request" and Delta is providing passengers with a sealed plastic bag containing a water bottle, snacks, napkin, and single-serving packet of hand sanitizer. Both will serve alcoholic beverages in all cabins on long-haul international flights. Delta Air Lines' pandemic adjusted in-flight serving. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider In the US, it's illegal for passengers to consume alcohol not served by flight attendants. The fine for doing so, Business Insider reported, can be up to $11,000. In Europe, some of the continent's largest airlines are also scaling back on alcohol, according to CNN, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, EasyJet, and Ryanair. British Airways will only be suspending alcohol sales in short-haul economy, according to its website, while Virgin Atlantic is completely suspending alcohol service on its flights, CNN reported. Read the original article on Business Insider The Zacks Aerospace-Defense industry comprises companies that primarily design and manufacture heavy-built products like commercial as well as military jets and helicopters, tankers and other combat vehicles, missiles, combatant ships as well as auxiliary ships, submarines, bombs, guns, space transportation vehicles, military satellites and a few more. The industry also includes cyber security players who offer information technology (IT) services and C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) solutions. A portion of revenues comes from defense contractors, offering spare parts, aircraft modification, ship repair and overhaul services and supply chain management services. Some of the prominent stocks in this industry are Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), General Dynamics (GD) and Textron. Here are the three major industry themes: The rapid spread of coronavirus outside China around middle of March 2020 forced governments to implement stringent travel restrictions and as a result global air traffic was hit badly. Per a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as of early April, the number of flights globally was down 80% from 2019. This hurt prominent jet makers like Airbus and Boeing (BA) since airlines drastically lowered aircraft orders and in some cases canceled them altogether. This has affected the order growth trend for premier jet makers in the recent months and in turn forced a handful of them to cut down or even halt production in some parts of their operation. While the production halt is likely to weigh on future revenues, the plane makers are expected to incur expenses associated with the storage of the finished products that are ready for delivery. Moreover, reduced flights indicate lower revenues from the services that the aerospace-defense stocks offer to airlines. Since the majority of the nations are still struggling with the pandemics impact, aerospace-defense stocks woes are unlikely to subside in the near term. While the coronavirus outbreak dealt a big blow to the commercial aerospace market, the defense side of the industry remains relatively cushioned by steady government support. An expansionary budgetary amendment adopted by the U.S. government for defense further reflects this. Notably, President Donald Trump allocated generously to 2020 defense budget, ramping up Pentagon's spending power by 30% from 2019 to $738 billion. With the United States being the largest supplier of defense products, the nations aerospace and defense stocks continued to witness a smooth flow of orders from Pentagon and other U.S. allies even amid the pandemic. This indicates modest revenue generation for industry players who are more focused on defense business in the coming days. In January 2020, the Trump administration announced plans to expand its existing tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, stating that from Feb 8, steel and aluminum derivatives will also come under the tariff mandate. Now this tariff expansion is expected to deal a heavy blow to the U.S. aerospace and defense industry, which relies heavily on imported aluminum. In 2018, when the initial tariff was imposed, the AIA had expressed concern by saying that such a tariff will raise cost and disrupt the supply chain. Now that tariffs are being imposed on derivatives as well, the growth prospects for defense stocks seem bleak. Story continues Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dismal Prospects The Zacks Aerospace-Defense industry is housed within the broader Zacks Aerospace sector. It currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #151, which places it in the bottom 40% of more than 250 Zacks industries. The groups Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates dull near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. The industrys position in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is due to a negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts have lost confidence in this groups earnings growth potential over the past few months. Evidently, the industrys earnings estimates for the current fiscal year have gone down 33.8% to $6.19 since February 2020. Before we present a few aerospace-defense equipment stocks that you may want to add to your portfolio, lets take a look at the industrys recent stock market performance and valuation picture. Industry Lags S&P 500, Tops Sector The Aerospace-Defense industry has underperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite but outperformed its own sector over the past year. The stocks in this industry have collectively lost 21.7%, while the Aerospace sector has plunged 22.6%. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has however risen 7.2% in the said timeframe. One-Year Price Performance Industrys Current Valuation On the basis of trailing 12-month EV/Sales ratio, which is used for valuing capital intensive stocks like aerospace-defense, the industry is currently trading at 1.58, compared with the S&P 500s 2.97 and the sectors 1.57. Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 1.97X, as low as 1.07X, and at the median of 1.76X, as the charts show below. Bottom Line Like a silver lining in the cloud, a gradual rise in air travel has been observed in the United States since mid-May. This brought some relief to companies that serve the commercial aftermarket. However, considering the fact that only domestic flights are allowed and that too at a reduced capacity, the aerospace-defense industrys recovery still seems far off. Nevertheless, we must keep in mind fact that the aerospace and defense industry still remains one of the biggest manufacturing sectors in the United States, and will rebound once the impact of the outbreak wears down. Considering this, investors may want to hold a few dominant stocks in this space that have a strong earnings outlook. We are presenting four aerospace-defense stocks with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Lockheed Martin (LMT): For this Bethesda, MD-based company, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 EPS indicates year-over-year improvement of 9.6%. This stock came up with average positive earnings surprise of 7.40% in the trailing four quarters. Northrop Grumman (NOC): For this Falls Church, VA-based company, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 EPS indicates year-over-year improvement of 4.3%. This stock came up with average positive earnings surprise of 9.31% in the trailing four quarters. L3Harris Technologies (LHX): For this Melbourne, FL-based company, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 EPS indicates year-over-year improvement of 12.2%. This stock came up with average positive earnings surprise of 6.24% in the trailing four quarters. Leidos Holdings (LDOS): For this Reston, VA-based company, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 EPS indicates year-over-year improvement of 0.6%. This stock came up with average positive earnings surprise of 6.65% in the trailing four quarters. Just Released: Zacks 7 Best Stocks for Today Experts extracted 7 stocks from the list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys that has beaten the market more than 2X over with a stunning average gain of +24.1% per year. These 7 were selected because of their superior potential for immediate breakout. See these time-sensitive tickers now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) : Free Stock Analysis Report General Dynamics Corporation (GD) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Boeing Company (BA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Tuesday, June 16th, 2020 (1:01 am) - Score 37,384 Cable and full fibre ISP Virgin Media UK could be about to make a number of significant service changes for July 2020, such as making their existing 516Mbps (36Mbps upload) broadband bundle available to non-TV (standalone) customers and then boosting their TV Oomph plan to a top download of 600Mbps! At present nearly all of Virgin Medias customers both via the operators Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) and Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based networks are still covered by their existing EuroDOCSIS 3.0 platform (i.e. the communication standard for cable networks) and this currently offers a maximum tier of 516Mbps (i.e. max profile speed of 575Mbps download and 38.5Mbps upload) via their old HUB 3.0 router. On top of that the operator is also rapidly deploying a new DOCSIS 3.1 upgrade which, using the new HUB 4.0 router, will make 1Gbps (50Mbps upload) speeds available across their entire network by the end of 2021 (latest roll-out update). But in the meantime the best that most subscribers can get is still their 516Mbps plan that has so far only been available alongside their TV bundles (Oomph). However feedback from existing customers and other sources have enabled ISPreview.co.uk to uncover two imminent changes. Firstly, the 516Mbps plan will no longer be exclusive to their TV bundles and can soon be purchased as a normal broadband package. Secondly, the 516Mbps Oomph TV bundle will at the same time be upgraded for free to offer 600Mbps (probably with the same upload as before) you wont be able to get this speed without TV (most likely to keep Oomph subscribers happy, given what they pay). NOTE: The c.600Mbps plan will work over VMs existing EuroDOCSIS 3.0 network and thus HUB 3.0 router, although the HUB 4.0 is starting to see wider distribution ( The c.600Mbps plan will work over VMs existing EuroDOCSIS 3.0 network and thus HUB 3.0 router, although the HUB 4.0 is starting to see wider distribution ( here ). The changes are expected to be announced at some point around the end of this month or perhaps during July. At the same time Virgin Media will probably make a few other changes to their packages, such as possibly switching from 12 to 18 month contract terms (minimum terms do change from time-to-time, at all ISPs) and removing the install cost of a v6 / TiVo TV service etc. But we dont know for certain if those will occur at the same time. We should point out that, based on past experience, speed boosts for existing customers usually take a few months to complete (i.e. we wouldnt be surprised if this took until around the end of 2020 to finish). We did ask Virgin Media to comment on all this but no reply had been received by the end of play yesterday. UPDATE 7:25am We just had a no comment response from Virgin Media. (Credit: Gabriel BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images) Will Smith is to team up with director Antoine Fuqua for Emancipation, a drama based on real story of a slave who escaped a Louisiana plantation to freedom during the American Civil War. Smith is to play the character of 'Whipped Peter', a picture of whom shocked America and the world when it was originally published in 1863 in the Independent and Harper's Weekly. Read more: Spike Lee says sorry for defending Woody Allen The picture, called 'the scourged back', showed him covered in welts from the beatings he had suffered, and was later distributed by abolitionists as an illustration of the horrors of slavery. Peter escaped the plantation barefoot and after an arduous 10-day journey across the swamps of Louisiana, he joined and fought with the Union army. The Scourged Back (Credit: McPherson & Oliver) It was the first viral image of the brutality of slavery that the world saw, which is interesting when you put it into perspective with today and social media and what the world is seeing, again, Training Day director Fuqua told Deadline. You cant fix the past, but you can remind people of the past and I think we have to, in an accurate, real way. We all have to look for a brighter future for us all, for everyone. Thats one of the most important reasons to do things right now, is show our history. We have to face our truth before we can move forward. On working with Smith, he added: Hes focused and is a serious actor and producer. Will cares about every aspect of it, from storyboards to the characters and the technique. Wills a solid producer, which helps. Antoine Fuqua (Credit: Selcuk Acar/NurPhoto via Getty Images) He went on: Its almost two years now from when I first read the script. It hit my heart and my soul in so many ways that are impossible to convey but I think you understand. Were watching some of the feeling that I had, in the streets right now. Read more: Oscars and BAFTAs postponed Screenwriter Bill Collage has penned the script from documents of the era, as well as Peter's own diaries. It's due to begin production in 2021, and is said to be among the hottest projects on sale at the forthcoming Marche du Film at this year's 'virtual' Cannes Film Festival. By RICK MENDENHALL Like most Americans, the recent protests have been on my mind. In the wake of George Floyds and Breonna Taylors deaths, our country is trying to figure out how to prevent tragedies like theirs from happening. A lot of the focus has been on local police reform, and there are several good options on the table, many of which are likely pieces to the puzzle. But there is a simple thing that Congress could do to reform police departments across the nation: end qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that (Supreme Court) Justice Sonia Sotomayor has described as tell(ing) officers they can shoot first and think later. You may have never heard of qualified immunity, but it affects you and every United States citizen. We all have a constitutional right thats supposed to protect us from excessive police force, like the force used against George Floyd (and) Breonna Taylor, and like the force used against peaceful protesters. Congress even created a way for people to enforce that constitutional right by seeking compensation through lawsuits against the police department: the Civil Rights Act specifically, 42 U.S.C. 1983. But, in the 1980s, the Supreme Court determined that, to win your lawsuit, it wasnt enough to show that a police officer violated your constitutional rights, you had to show that your right was clearly established. That means it is not enough to point at the Constitution or the long line of cases saying we have the right to be free from excessive police force. Rather, to show your right is clearly established you need to point to a Supreme Court or federal appeals case almost factually identical to your case. The result is that, in almost every case, law enforcement officers are going to win, even if everyone agrees the officer violated your constitutional rights. Why? Because in the real world, nearly factually identical cases dont happen; there are always tiny differences. In this case, there were bystanders, but in that case there werent. In this case, the victim was 40 feet away, but in this one the victim was 6 feet away. In this case an officer shot a man in the leg, but in that case, the officer shot him in the arm. Those differences are enough for a court to decide that your constitutional right was not clearly established. How would changing qualified immunity meaningfully reform law enforcement nationwide? Right now, because of qualified immunity, any law enforcement officer can use excessive force with little fear of repercussion. Most cases do not get the attention or the criminal charges that George Floyds has. The heart-wrenching truth is that, in the face of qualified immunity, most peaceful protesters who have had their constitutional rights violated over these past couple weeks will never see their rights vindicated in court. Ending qualified immunity immediately pressures law enforcement to act with more care in every single encounter with every single citizen in this nation. Unfortunately despite a broad-based critique on both sides of the ideological spectrum the Supreme Court doesnt appear to be changing its mind on qualified immunity any time soon. It recently declined to review several cases calling on it to reverse its decades-long approach. Luckily, we dont need to wait for the Supreme Court. Though some unelected judges made up this rule look through the U.S. Code and you wont find qualified immunity anywhere Congress can change it. In fact, U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, L-Mich., has introduced legislation to end qualified immunity. If youre looking for another way to prevent tragedies like Breonna Taylors or George Floyds or all of the injustices inflicted on peaceful protesters, you can. Call Rep. Deb Haaland. Call Sens. Tom Udall or Martin Heinrich or any of our representatives and ask them to support Amashs bill. Its time to end qualified immunity. Multiple Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee said this week that they will oppose the nomination of retired Army Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata as the Pentagon's under secretary of defense for policy after Islamophobic and offensive tweets from him surfaced. Why it matters: The position is the Defense Department's top policy job and third-highest role. It oversees its national security and nuclear deterrence policies among numerous other responsibilities and closely advises the secretary of defense on policy matters. The state of play: Tata tweeted Islamophobic and inflammatory claims against prominent Democratic politicians, including falsely calling former President Obama a Muslim and "terrorist leader" who harmed the U.S., CNN reported last week. He also falsely accused Obama of supporting Russia's election meddling efforts in 2016, saying in a tweet: "Never a doubt. Among dozens of clues, Obama supported Russian meddling in 2016 election & influenced Israeli elections to try to oust Netanyahu & help Hamas & Muslim brotherhood U.S. really did have Manchurian Candidate in White House - Washington Times." He also called Islam the "most oppressive violent religion I know of." What they're saying: Chip Unruh, the press secretary for the committee's ranking Democratic member, Sen. Jack Reed, said the Rhode Island senator will oppose Tata's appointment, Politico reports. "Senator Reed's preference is to wait for the hearing process before commenting on nominees. But in this case there are real warning signs flashing and, if this nomination moves forward, Sen. Reed will oppose it," Unruh said. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) all told CNN they will oppose his nomination. "An Islamophobic conspiracy theorist who called President Obama a 'terrorist leader' should not be #3 at the Pentagon," Warren told CNN. "Anthony Tata is by far Trump's most unqualified and ill-suited senior defense nominee a high bar." The other side: White House spokesman Judd Deere told CNN that Tata is a "distinguished public servant." Public health officials reported 99 new coronavirus cases in Union County on Monday, a sharp increase from the 22 cases identified as of Sunday. And they say they expect the spike to continue Tuesday. The countys outbreak was a primary contributor to Oregon recording its highest single-day count of coronavirus cases on Monday, 184, since the state began tracking case numbers. The state is still waiting on results for many of the 365 Union County residents tested over the weekend. Tim Heider, a public information officer with the Oregon Health Authority, said the 99 positive cases could have been among about half of those people, suggesting more than half the county's recent COVID-19 tests came back positive. Were expecting that tomorrow, well probably have a lot more cases, Heider said. The Center for Human Development, a nonprofit charged with coordinating test results and contact tracing in the small northeast Oregon County, said that a number of cases have been associated with Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church, which recently hosted a testing clinic. A video of a recent worship service, published on the churchs Facebook page on May 24 but since deleted, showed worshippers by the hundreds standing as closely together as was normal in pre-pandemic times as they sang, clapped and moved to the music. At that time, Union County was in Phase 1 of reopening, under which faith communities were not allowed to convene in large groups. A person who answered the phone at the church Monday hung up when The Oregonian/OregonLive asked about the Union County coronavirus outbreak. Oregon Health Authority officials said they did not know how many positive cases were linked to members of the church. County Commissioner Matt Scarfo said the county is prepared for this outbreak and that the Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande was not full by any means. Mardi Ford, a spokesperson at Grande Ronde Hospital, said the hospital can care for 40 patients in-house, with an additional off-site location that has capacity for 200 patients. Were feeling very confident that we can handle this and anything that comes out of this, Ford said. This is what weve trained for. Scarfo said neighboring Umatilla County has offered its resources to help with the outbreak. Carrie Brogoitti, the public health administrator for the Center for Human Development, said Union County has at least five individuals to help with contact tracing. Union County moved into Phase 2 of reopening on June 5. The second phase of reopening loosens restrictions on bars and restaurants and allows for venues such as churches to reconvene, following public health guidelines including a requirement to separate people from different households by at least six feet. Union County has a population of nearly 27,000, according to the U.S. Census. The city of La Grande holds more than half the countys population. Rising COVID-19 cases across the state last week led Gov. Kate Brown to pause all applications for further reopenings last Friday. Union County has not recorded any deaths from the virus. Its current rate of positive tests for coronavirus, 14%, is the highest in Oregon. -- Celina Tebor ctebor@oregonian.com @CelinaTebor Braunschweig: The Madeleine McCann suspect has denied involvement in her disappearance in his first public comment on the case. The statement came as it emerged he could walk free from prison in a month if the European Court of Justice (ECJ) overturns his conviction for raping an American pensioner. British girl Madeleine McCann before she went missing from a Portuguese holiday complex in 2007. Christian Brueckner emerged as a prime suspect two weeks ago after German prosecutors said they had launched a murder investigation and could place him in Praia de Luz, Portugal, on the day Madeleine disappeared. Lawyers defending Brueckner on Tuesday said their client "denies any involvement" in the case. Los Angeles: Five people were killed on Saturday in a shooting at a mall in the US state of Washington with police searching for at least one gunman described as a Hispanic male. Police are searching for at least one shooter and are sweeping stores in the mall, Sgt Mark Francis said about the shooting at the Cascade mall in Burlington, about a 100 km north of Seattle. 4 confirmed deceased in the mall, shooter(s) left scene before police arrived, unknown of shooter, possibly just 1, police clearing mall now, Spokesman Washington State Patrol Francis tweeted. The suspect was last seen walking toward the Interstate 5 highway from the mall before police arrived, Francis said.Were actively searching for suspect, tracking leads, etc, he added. According to local media reports, the shooter apparently entered the mall about 7 PM (local time Friday) through one of its stores Macys. Local police described the suspect as appearing between 20 to 25 years old, with a skinny built, black messy hair and wearing a black shirt. Francis described the shooter as a Hispanic male.Brandi Montreuil, who was at the mall, said she was at the movies when they were told to leave. I didnt know anything. The theater attendant came in and apologised for stopping the movie and said they (theater staff) were asked to have everyone leave immediately, she was quoted as saying by CNN. She said at first she thought it was a drill. But you immediately think about what happened in Aurora, Colorado, so you start moving faster, Montreuil said, referring to the shooting in 2012 that left 12 dead. When they got outside, they saw numerous police vehicles, but with no officers in sight. We didnt know if it was a fire so we were looking for smoke of some kind. Then a few officers started canvassing through the crowds asking if anybody saw anything, Montreuil said.She said an officer with a large gun started yelling for people to leave, and fast. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP government in Gujarat on June 16 over the state's high COVID-19 mortality rate, saying it had "exposed" the "Gujarat model". Gandhi has also been attacking the Centre over its handling of the coronavirus crisis. "Covid-19 mortality rate: Gujarat: 6.25 percent, Maharashtra: 3.73 percent, Rajasthan: 2.32 percent, Punjab: 2.17 percent, Puducherry: 1.98 percent, Jharkhand: 0.5 percent, Chhattisgarh: 0.35 percent," he tweeted comparing the COVID-19 mortality rate of Gujarat with that of states where the Congress is in power. "Gujarat Model exposed," Gandhi said. He also tagged a media report analysing the high death rate in Gujarat. Gujarat has the fourth-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country at 24,055 with 1,505 deaths. On Monday, taking a swipe at the government using a quote of world-renowned physicist Albert Einstein, Gandhi had said the only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show He had also shared a graph that showed how the four phases of lockdown have flattened the curve of the economy instead of COVID-19 deaths, which are rising in the country. Pharma giant AstraZeneca struck a deal Saturday with Europe's Inclusive Vaccines Alliance to supply up to 400 million doses of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine, as efforts to boost manufacturing capacity continue at pace. The alliance, which was forged by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands to speed up production of a vaccine, is set to take delivery of the vaccine being tested by the University of Oxford by the end of 2020. The agreement with AstraZeneca also aims to make the vaccine available to other European countries that wish to take part. The cost is expected to be offset by funding from the governments. ``This agreement will ensure that hundreds of millions of Europeans have access to Oxford University's vaccine following approval,'' AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said. ``With our European supply chain due to begin production soon, we hope to make the vaccine available widely and rapidly.'' The agreement is the latest in a series to make the vaccine _ even though it is not certain it will work. But so desperate is the need that scaling up of manufacturing continues despite the risk. The Anglo-Swedish company recently completed similar agreements with Britain, the United States the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance for 700 million doses. A license also has been agreed with the Serum Institute of India for another 1 billion doses. The vaccine was developed by Oxford University's Jenner Institute, working with the Oxford Vaccine Group. Testing of the experimental COVID-19 vaccine began in healthy volunteers in Britain in April with over 1,000 people aged 18 to 55. Another round with 10,000 volunteers began last month. Other companies, including Moderna and Sanofi, are racing to develop and produce a vaccine against the new coronavirus, a step experts say will be crucial to allowing countries to ease their lockdowns and restrictions on public life. Search Keywords: Short link: Minister: All indicators point to unemployment on a scale not seen in Wales or across the UK for decades This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 16th, 2020 A stark warning about the future of the Welsh economy and indicators of unemployment on a scale not seen in Wales or across the UK for decades was made by today by the Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates. Todays Labour Market Statistics suggest that employment levels have been maintained in Wales at 74.4% over the past three months. However Welsh Government say it is now accepted these will deteriorate as UK Government wage support schemes such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are reduced. Today the Welsh Government announced that is developing a comprehensive employability and skills support package, which will offer everyone over 16 in Wales, advice and support to find work, pursue self-employment or find a place in education or training. The proposed package will also support employers to recruit and prioritise those people who are most likely to be economically affected by coronavirus, including young people, people from BAME communities and disabled people. The Minister today repeated his calls for the UK Government to provide further support for the more than 316,000 people in Wales who are currently furloughed and the 102,000 self-employed people in Wales who are accessing the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, to ensure they can return to work after the outbreak. Mr Skates said: We know todays Labour Market Statistics do not reflect the entire economic picture with economists predicting the full impact will not be felt until October. We are doing all that we can to mitigate the effects of this horrible disease and our 1.7 billion package of support means Welsh businesses have access to the most generous package of help anywhere in the UK. We are taking steps to do exactly that by developing a comprehensive package of support that will allow people to upskill and find new employment so we can protect a generation and particularly the most vulnerable in our society from the potential scarring of unemployment. If required, we will use up to 40 million from our Economic Resilience Fund to deliver this. We need to ensure this package will add value to any initiatives the UK Government might introduce and there is no duplication. This would be similar to the way our Economic Resilience Fund works. Its also absolutely crucial that the UK Government provides further support for people who are currently furloughed and those at risk of losing their jobs. He added: The impact of coronavirus is vast and wide reaching but it could be a moment for fundamental change in our economy so we can build back better to ensure our future is fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable. At the end of March Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister, Ken Skates gave assurances that if you had a good business in 2019, you will have a good business in 2021 when he announced a 1.4 billion package of business support. However Mr Skates today acknowledged that all indicators point to unemployment on a scale not seen in Wales or across the UK for decades. He said: These are, of course, incredibly challenging times. But this should be a moment for fundamental change in our economy, so that we can build back better and ensure our future is fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable than our past. Well also continue to call on the UK government to provide further support for the 316,000 people in Wales who have been furloughed and for the 102,000 are some people who have benefited from the self employment support scheme to ensure that they are able to return to work after the break is over. Mr Skates was pressed on his statement from March and was asked what the Welsh Government will do to help safeguard as many jobs in Wales as possible. The Minister said: The first thing that could be done to protect those jobs is to avoid any sort of cliff edge in the support thats offered through the job retention scheme. A second course of action could be for the UK Government to carefully consider the five recommendations of the UK Select Committee has proposed just yesterday. These will be hugely beneficial to thousands upon thousands of people. A huge number of businesses in Wales face the prospect of an autumn in which there is uncertainty regarding government support for their businesses, and considerable disruption and uncertainty being caused because of Brexit, there is a potential of a perfect storm if youd like in the autumn, that must be avoided. UK Government must ensure that it offers that support to businesses thats required to avoid the uncertainties, that could be faced by too many. Welsh Government will also do what it can to support businesses and people through these turbulent times. Weve already provided around about 1.4 billion pounds to businesses. We have a remaining sum of money for the Economic Resilience Fund, which will be spent strategically to support businesses across Wales that provide good jobs to people who face severe difficulty because of Coronavirus. But weve also spent a significant sum of money, an additional, 40 million pounds, over and above what we spend in terms of employment support and skills, to ensure that people who face and employment or who indeed become unemployed can get the skills advice and training and have that pathway back into employment so that by 2021, they will be back in a good job. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Reza Mardian (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 13:35 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf237da 3 Entertainment Spike-Lee,Netflix,Movie,movie-review,Netflix-movie,Vietnam-war,Racism,united-states,Da-5-Bloods Free When you hear that director Spike Lee has just released another movie after his groundbreaking Blackkklansman (2018), in the middle of the worldwide Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests and during the dearth of new releases amid the coronavirus pandemic, it becomes an instant must-see. Just like Lee's last release, Da 5 Bloods tackles an important societal and political issue amid the current turmoil around the world, especially in light of the ongoing BLM movement that has resurged and gained ground as a global movement, prompted by the May 25 killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, in the US state of Minnesota. The film opens with a montage of African-American veterans talking about the unfair treatment they received when they fought for the US in the Vietnam War, underlining how racial segregation was a problem back then and that action needs to be taken today. The footage is from 40-60 years ago, and its both shocking and humiliating to realize that it is as relevant now as it was then. Establishing the gravity Lee intended at the outset, we are then introduced to the four protagonists: African-American Vietnam War veterans Paul (Delroy Lindo), Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), Otis (Clarke Peters) and Eddie (Norm Lewis) as they reunite in Hoi Chi Minh City in present-day Vietnam, along with Paul's son David (Jonathan Majors). As the film rolls, we learn that the only reason they go back to Vietnam is to collect the remains of their leader, Norman (Chadwick Boseman), and the gold they hid during the war. Using flashbacks to reveal the backstory layer by layer, Lee patiently reconstructs every puzzle through the 2-hour, 30-minute runtime toward a near-perfect culmination at the end. While the first half of Da 5 Bloods might be slow-paced, this is deliberate technique to ensure that we grasp the context without too much of an information dump and for solid character development. These include how African-American soldiers slept with Vietnamese women, and how these women and their mixed children are discriminated against for "sleeping with the enemy"; how the Vietnamese never forgot the destruction and damage they suffered; and how live mines and bombs are still everywhere in the country and still being disarmed or detonated to this day. The latter also sets up tension for the quartet's mission to retrieve the gold they hid. We also cant be sure that there aren't other parties wanting to snatch the treasure, never mind the mines. In other words, Lee succeeds in portraying a war that has never really ended, (https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/06/12/spike-lee-tackles-racism-from-vietnam-to-present-day-in-da-5-bloods.html) but on a deeper level, it talks about the war in terms of humanity. What makes this movie more relevant at this time is that it addresses racial segregation and power imbalance, and features African-Americans characters as the central story of a war film. Da 5 Bloods is likely the first war film to do so in the last decade. The film also raises a variety of discourses on these issues that are still current today. For example, African-Americans soldiers comprised 32 percent of the US force during the Vietnam War and yet, they were still discriminated against even after they came home from the war, just because of their race. In contrast, white American soldiers come home, get office jobs and tend to create a workplace environment of toxic masculinity, with female employees forced to face the fact that these men deserve to be promoted for their wartime service. As infuriating as this may be, the same doesn't apply to a black man, furthering the message that even after equally sacrificing their lives, African-American veterans still dont have equal opportunities. Vietnamese director Pham Thu Hang's award-winning documentary, The Future Cries Beneath Our Soil (2018), also exposes how toxic masculinity is established in households. Veteran husbands dont have to work while their wives work extra hard and also do the housework. Da 5 Bloods is a wake-up call that war never ends, that everything lives on, lingering in our memories that can conjure us back to those days at the tiniest incidence even if we weren't born yet. Its a healthy discourse for our society that more movies should attempt to tackle. Many directors argue that the gore and epic war scenes should frighten you into maintaining order and peace, but Lee has taken a different approach. Da 5 Bloods has no epic war scenes (at least compared to 1917 or Dunkirk), but the hidden aftermath of the war in the present teach us that no war is worth investing in. You might think that you have to be American to feel the urgency of the movie's message, but Indonesia is no different. We have fought a war of independence, a battle over West Irian to claim it as part of our country only to realize now that theyd been left abandoned for so long and our treatment toward Papuans are no different from how white Americans treat African-Americans. The lack of discourse and the negligence of both the government and the public in Papua, and the nagging conscience of the #PapuanLivesMatter movement should also be a wake-up call for us to start educating ourselves and supporting healthy discourse. Even though it might seem that were at peace today because of the absence of war, we should remember that war always leaves behind a hidden aftermath of unresolved issues that takes just the tiniest event to set off. (kes) Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Wrexham businesses gear up for reopening of town centre but warning sounded over how long it could take This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 16th, 2020 Businesses and council officials are gearing up ready for when Wrexham is allowed to re-open for trade. However, a note of caution has been sounded over how long a return to normality could take. Shops, cafes and other enterprises in the town centre have been hit hard since lockdown measures were put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in March. The Welsh Government is set to review whether the rules could be eased on Friday with many local business owners hoping it will follow in Englands footsteps by allowing non-essential retailers to open. Speaking at a virtual Town Centre Forum meeting held on Friday, Wrexhams town centre manager announced a number of steps designed to make sure people feel safe to return. Amanda Davies said it would include the introduction of social distancing wardens to remind the public of government guidelines, along with signs and floor markings. A one-way system for pedestrians will be implemented on narrower streets, such as Bank Street, while click and collect parking will made available on the High Street. She said: The idea is that we will have some staff who will be very visible because theyll have hi-vis jackets on to reinforce to the public that Wrexham town centre is safe. Its very important to say this they will not be there dealing with it in a harsh way this is a positive action were going to put in the town centre just to remind people. We have to rely on the public and the shops to follow guidelines. When lockdown does finish, we need to be very careful and very aware that it will open slowly because some people will be confident to come back and others wont. She added: Ken Skates (Welsh economy minister) said that hes expecting 60 per cent of people will be uncertain to return. Our role is not to expect an influx of loads of people straight away but to provide the message that if you do come into Wrexham town centre then youll be safe. During the meeting, traders raised concerns over whether owners of smaller premises could be prevented from re-opening due to the guidelines. Ms Davies encouraged them to talk to the council for advice, including those who want to create seating areas outside their shops. The local authority also revealed hand sanitiser bottles, one-way systems and manned entrances and exits would be rolled out in the towns markets. Wrexhams Senedd member Lesley Griffiths was among those who attended the meeting held via the Zoom video conferencing platform. She urged businesses to take advantage of the opportunity to make money once restrictions are eased in case there is a second wave of COVID-19. She said: I believe weve really got to make the most of these next few months before winter comes. We hope we dont get a second spike, but we could so I think its really important that we look at how were going to rejuvenate our town centres. Were very lucky that weve got pedestrianised areas and weve got wide streets in some places. Now is the time to make hay while the sun shines. Her views were supported by town centre forum chair Wayne Price, who said: Its obviously essential that us as businesses and the council work together to make sure its safe. If done correctly, it could be a promotion to say we are so much ahead of the Chesters and Shrewsburys. By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme) *Pictured: Wrexham town centre during lockdown Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas and Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 18:08 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf3b54f 1 Business digital-tax,Indonesia,united-states,USTR,OECD,Netflix,Google,Facebook,tax-collection Free The government will press ahead with collecting digital tax despite a recent announcement by the United States Trade Representatives (USTR) to investigate such a policy, which the US said was aimed squarely at its technology giants. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Tuesday the government was only requiring internet companies to pay value-added tax (VAT) on sales of digital products and services starting July 1, adding that the companies would only have to act as tax collector as consumers would have to pay for the taxes. Indonesia can collect the VAT because there is no dispute about this, Sri Mulyani told reporters in a livestreamed news conference. The USTR is only investigating the income tax policy as we have yet to settle on how to charge the companies income tax. The government has been struggling to collect more revenues to fund its cash-strapped budget as the COVID-19 pandemic hits almost all business sectors. Ministry data show that state revenue reached Rp 664.3 trillion (US$47.41 billion) as of May, down 9 percent year-on-year (yoy), as tax income dropped 10.8 percent yoy to Rp 444.6 trillion. Law No. 2/2020 stipulates that the government is able to charge VAT on taxable intangible goods and/or services sold through e-commerce platforms and charge income tax or electronic transaction tax on e-commerce operated by foreign individuals or digital companies that have a significant economic presence. The significant economic presence will be determined through the companies gross circulated product, sales and/or active users in Indonesia. The new Finance Ministerial Regulation No. 48/2020 states that the tax authority will impose 10 percent VAT on digital products, including streaming services and digital games, sold by non-resident internet companies with a significant economic presence in Indonesia starting July 1. The finance minister previously said services provided by streaming platforms such as Spotify and Netflix, as well as video conference platform Zoom, would be among those subject to the tax. We were previously unable to charge the VAT even though many people have turned to digital services during the coronavirus pandemic, she said on Tuesday. We are doing this to maintain our tax base. United States President Donald Trump's administration earlier this month announced investigations into foreign digital services taxes it says are targeting American technology companies. The US Trade Representative office is now looking into taxes in Britain and the European Union, as well as Indonesia, Turkey and India following a similar trade investigation into France last year. Washington opposes the efforts to tax revenues from online sales and advertising, saying they single out US tech giants like Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Netflix. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries are negotiating the first major rewriting of income tax rules to take better account of the rise of big tech companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Netflix and Google that often book profit in low-tax countries. The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS (base erosion and profit shifting) has yet to reach a consensus on how to tax digital companies. In the meantime, it allows its members to pursue their own initiatives before a global consensus is reached, but the initiatives should be revoked by the members if they contradict the measures agreed to later by the framework. Indonesias digital tax is an anticipatory move if the OECD fails to reach an agreement by the year-end deadline, Danny Darussalam Tax Center (DDTC) research partner Bawono Kristiaji said recently. "I think retaliation from the US is very likely to happen, it is just a matter of how the Indonesian government wants to do a cost-benefit calculation when the digital tax is in place." A researcher at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), Nailul Huda, projected that Indonesia could earn up to Rp 7.2 trillion by requiring internet firms to pay taxes, but warned that it might find difficulties as other countries look to do the same. New Delhi: Opposition parties on Tuesday questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh and asked them to take the nation into confidence on the matter, while the ruling BJP asserted that India's borders will remain intact under Modi's leadership. An Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed during a violent clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley on Monday night, in the first such incident involving fatalities after a gap of 45 years and signalling a massive escalation in the five-week border standoff in the sensitive region. The Army said India lost an officer and two soldiers during the violent face-off, while there were casualties on the Chinese side as well. The extent of casualties on the Chinese side is not immediately clear. The Congress termed the death of the Indian Army officer and two soldiers in the LAC face-off with China as "deeply shocking, horrifying and unacceptable" and demanded answers from Prime Minister Modi on how this happened. The party also demanded that the government take the nation into confidence and convene a meeting to brief the leadership of political parties about the ground situation. Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said reports of brazen Chinese transgressions at three points in Ladakh into Indian territory since April or May have caused grave concerns as the Modi government remained a "mute spectator". "To the distress and dismay of the entire nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh remain absolutely 'mum'," Surjewala said. He said the prime minister and the defence minister must come forward and answer whether it is true that Chinese have killed an officer and soldiers of the Indian Army in the Galwan Valley and whether Indian soldiers have also been critically injured. "If so, why are PM Modi and Defence Minister maintaining absolute silence?" he asked. The Congress remains firm that the entire country stands as one to protect India's security and its territorial integrity at all costs, Surjewala said. "Let Modi government remember that in our Parliamentary democracy, 'secrecy or silence' are unacceptable on part of our government," he said. Punjab Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh said it is time now for the Centre to take some stringent measures as each sign of weakness makes China's reaction more "belligerent". Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said words cannot describe the pain he feels for the officers and men who sacrificed their lives for the country. "My condolences to all their loved ones. We stand with you in this difficult time," he tweeted. Reacting to the border clash, BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda asserted that the borders of India will remain intact under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Addressing the 'Kerala Jan-Samvad' virtual rally, he referred to the India-China face-off and said during the de-escalation process a violent clash took place with the Chinese army on Monday night. "Indian Army gave a befitting reply, but unfortunately, we have lost our three army men. I pay homage to them for their sacrifice and I can assure you that under the leadership of PM Modi, India's territorial integrity will not be compromised," he said. "We now have the political will and our Army is fully equipped to take (on) any adversary," he said. Senior BJP leader B L Santhosh said Indian forces were resolute in forcing Chinese troops to "retreat" in a violent face-off in Ladakh, claiming that the loss on the adversary's side could be "still more huge". "Our forces were resolute in forcing Chinese troops to retreat. In the process yesterday we have lost 3 brave Deshbhakt soldiers. 'Veer Sadgati' to the departed souls. The picture on the Chinese side is yet to emerge. It is still more huge," the BJP general secretary (organisation) tweeted. In a guarded reaction to the border face-off, Left parties said India and China should initiate talks to defuse tensions between the two countries in eastern Ladakh. The CPI(M) called on the government to come out with an "authoritative statement" to explain what happened in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley, and said that high-level talks should be initiated between the two nations to defuse the situation. The CPI, in a separate statement, said that it is believed that the present standoff can be resolved through talks and established frame-works agreed by both the countries. "Any military confrontation between the two major Asian countries not only impacts the cooperation and friendship between the two countries but also can jeopardise the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region," it said. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda termed as 'disturbing' the violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops and said the government should offer a clearer picture to the nation on the border issue. The Janata Dal (Secular) leader sought to know as to how Indian soldiers lost their lives during a de-escalation process and said Prime Minister Modi and Defence Minister Singh should come out with a clearer picture. CHICAGO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- North Park University (North Park) has awarded scholarships to a cohort of 17 students recognized by the nation's largest college scholarship program for DREAMersundocumented students/persons brought to the United States as children. As a new partner institution with North Park, TheDream.US provides college scholarships to academically motivated DREAMers. "This initiative provides students with the opportunity to achieve their academic and career goals, and in turn benefit society as they become contributing members of the workforce in their communities," said Mary K. Surridge, President, North Park University. The organization partners with institutions like North Park who believe in providing access to college-bound DREAMers. "North Park is excited to welcome the academically-driven DREAMers' cohort into the Fall 2020 class where they are now officially accepted and have the opportunity to pursue their college aspirations," said Anthony Scola, North Park's Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing. Recipients of the privately funded scholarship program for undocumented students are eligible for grants covering up to 100% of tuition, fees, and books when qualifying to attend one of 20 participating partner institutions. "We are excited to announce our new partnership with North Park as part of our expanded efforts to support Chicago-area DREAMers in their pursuit of a college education," said Candy Marshall, President, TheDream.US. An early supporter of providing DREAMers access to a college education, TheDream.US looks forward to the new partnership. "We thank North Park President Mary K. Surridge and her dedicated team for the opportunity to forge a valuable Partner College relationship, the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, and the Pritzker Foundation for their support in helping provide more Chicago-area DREAMers access to a college education and, eventually, a meaningful career," Marshall said. As a Christian, city-centered, and thoroughly intercultural institution, North Park embraces a diverse student population. "We recognize the many positive contributions of our nation's undocumented students and their families and support DREAMers in pursuing their goals without fear that comes with temporary status," Surridge said. North Park has been named a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, a designation that recognizes North Park's commitment to equitable outcomes for Hispanic students. ABOUT NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY North Park University is a city-centered, intercultural, and Christian university located in Chicago. https://www.northpark.edu/ SOURCE North Park University Related Links http://www.northpark.edu Moustafa Mariam, 35, is wanted by police in response to breaching his parole for being caught carrying an automatic pistol A cross-eyed criminal who was charged over the shooting murder of a truck driver is now on the run from police. Moustafa Mariam, 35, was charged with possessing drugs earlier this month and has since been ordered back to custody. But the heavily-tattooed criminal has allegedly gone into hiding and police are looking for him to carry out the warrant for his arrest. Mariam was on parole after serving a four-and-a-half year term for possessing a pistol and then coercing someone else to claim they owned the weapon. As well as the standard parole conditions, Mariam was banned from associating with both the Bandidos OMCG and notorious Brothers 4 Life gang. Mariam was previously convicted for his involvement in the shooting death of truck driver Bob Knight (pictured) who died in June 2009. Moustafa Mariam's older brother Mahmoud fired the fatal shot that hit Mr Knight as he drove past in his truck But he was charged earlier this month with possessing a prohibited drug and police issued a warrant for his arrest. After being unable to track him down, a public appeal was made for information, but members of the public were warned not to approach him if seen. Mariam was on parole after serving a jail sentence for possessing a .45 automatic calibre self-loading pistol which was found during a raid on a Parramatta apartment in January 2014. Those charges saw him sent to Silverwater Prison during which time he attempted to convince his cellmate to 'take the rap for him'. He offered the man $35,000 and a Toyota car - his choice of a Corolla or Sportivo. Mariam's cellmate accepted and went about forging a false statutory declaration and admitting to owning the gun in phone calls, which he knew were being recorded. A Toyota Sportivo was delivered to the home of his cellmate's sister in April 2014. During a gunfight between two rival groups, a bullet from the gun of Mahmoud Mariam struck Mr Knight who was unfortunately driving past the scene and had no involvement in the dispute Among his parole conditions, Moustafa Mariam is banned from associating with the Bandidos OMCG or the notorious Brothers 4 Life crime gang which was the brainchild of the notorious criminal Bassam Hamzy (pictured) Mariam pleaded guilty to the crime but later appealed against his sentence, but failed to prove the judge was excessive in his punishment. THE HISTORY OF 'BROTHERS 4 LIFE': - The Brothers 4 Life gang was founded by Bassam Hamzy from his prison cell - Blacktown and Bankstown chapters were involved in a bitter feud, involving multiple shootings - The gang is alleged to have links to the shooting death of Brayden Dillon, 15, in 2017 - Despite being in Australia's highest security prison, Hamzy has been able to access phones to control the gang - At one point he was found to be running a drug ring from prison and made 19,523 calls in just a few weeks Advertisement Five years before those offences, Mariam had been convicted over the death of truck driver Bob Knight. Mariam, his older brother Mahmoud and 10 other men had gathered in the carpark of Hungry Jack's at Milperra, in Sydney's west, to resolve a dispute between two rivals. Almost instantly after both groups arrived at the fast food outlet, Mahmoud Mariam opened fire. During the skirmish that followed, a bullet fired from his gun hit Mr Knight who was driving past on a nearby road. Mahmoud was jailed for at least six years, while Moustafa - who was initially charged with murder but later pleaded guilty to affray - was jailed for his role in driving some of those involved in the fight to the carpark. Moustafa found himself in hot water again not long after his release from jail in 2014, when he was caught up in a wild brawl at the Stereosonic music festival. Video showed the scuffle unfolding, with Moustafa - in a black singlet, blue shorts and grey shoes - front and centre. He was eventually found not-guilty of any wrongdoing, with his lawyer arguing that he had been acting in self-defence. The San Francisco District Attorneys Office sued delivery company DoorDash Tuesday, alleging the company is misclassifying its delivery workers as contractors and failing to pay benefits like overtime and workers compensation insurance. The civil lawsuit filed by District Attorney Chesa Boudins office alleges DoorDash is refusing to comply with the states AB5 law. The law formalizes a landmark 2018 California Supreme Court decision and presumes workers are employees entitled to benefits and protections, instead of contractors, unless a company can prove otherwise under a three-part test. The action filed in San Francisco Superior Court seeks restitution for workers, an injunction requiring DoorDash to properly classify its delivery workers as employees, and civil penalties, Boudins office said. Todays action seeks to disrupt the essential services Dashers provide, DoorDash Global Head of Public Policy Max Rettig wrote in an email, using a company term for delivery workers, stripping hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, parents, retirees and other Californians of valuable work opportunities, depriving local restaurants of desperately needed revenue, and making it more difficult for consumers to receive prepared food, groceries, and other essentials safely and reliably. We will fight to continue providing Dashers the flexible earning opportunities they say they want in these challenging times, Rettig added. The lawsuit was filed by the newly formed Economic Crimes Against Workers Unit, helmed by Assistant District Attorney Scott Stillman to prosecute crimes committed by employers against workers. Boudin said during a news conference that DoorDash puts law-abiding companies in a disadvantaged position in competing against employers like DoorDash who do not pay into state insurance funds. Misclassification deprives California of payroll taxes and contributions to unemployment insurance and workers compensation funds, Boudin added. The lawsuit is the first of its kind brought against a gig company by a local district attorney, according to Veena Dubal, an associate professor at UC Hastings in San Francisco. AB5 provides for the district attorneys of certain cities, including San Francisco, to take such action on behalf of workers. We have seen city attorneys and the state attorney generals office sue Uber, Lyft and Instacart, Dubal said. This is the first action where Ive seen a DA civilly sue one of these companies. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The company, along with San Francisco ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft, has steadfastly opposed the AB5 law. A group backed by the companies succeeded last month in gathering enough signatures to put a measure on the November statewide ballot asking voters if they should be exempted from the law. Dubal said Boudin and other authorities moving forward with misclassification lawsuits against gig companies despite the ballot initiative underscores their importance. We have been increasingly reliant on these essential workers in the face of the pandemic, she said. That reality is suddenly more meaningful to all of us, including the DA. Boudin left the door open to his office filing further lawsuits of the kind, noting that he did not hire Stillman to file just one lawsuit. Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice North West Migrants Forum in Derry has criticised the PSNI for what it views as inconsistent policing between Black Lives Matter rallies and protect our statues protests. Black Lives Matter (BLM) rallies were held in Derry and Belfast on June 6 following pressure to cancel them from police, political parties and the Unity of Purpose group. At the BLM rally in Derry 57 fines were handed out by the PSNI, as well as 11 fines and three Community Resolution Notices (CRN) in Belfast for breaches of the current Coronavirus regulations. Statues have been torn down during anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US - most notably that of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol. On June 13 hundreds of people took part in protect our statues protests across Northern Ireland, including one outside City Hall in Belfast. Police officers took no action against those protestors. Lilian Seenoi-Barr, Director of Programmes at North West Migrants Forum said Saturdays events confirmed what the BAME community have known all along, there is no equality under the law. She commented: The PSNI policing tactics on Saturday exposed the double standards in the enforcement of the Coronavirus regulations, whereby a far right gathering protect our statues rally on the 13th of June 2020 in Belfast attended by a few hundred people with no masks, no hand sanitizers and without following the two metres rule of social distancing was treated differently from a socially distanced peaceful protest against institutional racism. That shopping in Ikea is treated differently than a peaceful protest organised by victims of racism. That the police will stand beside a far-right group protecting memorial statues that were not under any threat here in NI than to stand against racism. Mrs Seenoi-Barr added: On the 6th of June 2020, the PSNI harassed and intimidated participants and issued fines to selective attendees for what they believed to be a breaching of public health regulations. But on Saturday the 13th they stood watching the far right break the same rules and did absolutely nothing about it. How on earth can you justify that the police were proportionate and fair to us BME? These are the kind of injustices that are causing mass protests across the world at the moment. The PSNIs actions undermined our trust and confidence in the police and they also revealed the degree of institutional racism that exists in our justice system. We have written to the policing board, the justice minister and the local PCSP to convey our anger and hurt. It is important that we all stand up for fairness, equality and justice. All we are asking is for racial equality, transparency, fair policing and a justice system that everyone in this country can trust in. At the moment there is zero trust. NO FINES The PSNI said no fines or CRNs were issued on June 13 and instead an engage, explain and encourage approach was adopted. Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said: On Saturday 13 June 2020 I was faced with a situation involving many different groups of people, at a wide variety of locations across Northern Ireland, demonstrating about a number of different causes. The largest number of people gathered close to the City Hall in Belfast. I understand that these are difficult times for many communities and my focus was very much on public safety. I was extremely mindful that this was the first weekend businesses were able to open across Northern Ireland and anticipated large numbers of shoppers and members of the public would be in the area. She continued: Information we received indicated that people from a number of different groups would be present in the area. These challenges presented a very different environment to that of the protests last week. To be consistent across such a range of issues yesterday we maintained our approach of engaging, explaining and encouraging. Enforcement will be considered following the substantial evidence gathering operation that was in place to record any potential offending. While no fines or Community Resolution Notices were issued yesterday at the City Hall (or in any other location), all evidence gathered will be reviewed to detect offences and we will work with our partners in the Public Prosecution Service to bring offenders to justice. Today I got in the mail a new book by our friend David Horowitz: I havent had time to read it yet, of course, but David is one of the most perceptive observers of the current scene. You can order Blitz from Amazon. Politico is on the other side of the aisle and is much less friendly to the president. So it was a little surprising to see this headline: Were thinking landslide: Beyond D.C., GOP officials see Trump on glide path to reelection. Interviews with more than 50 state, district and county Republican Party chairs depict a version of the electoral landscape that is no worse for Trump than six months ago and possibly even slightly better. According to this view, the coronavirus is on its way out and the economy is coming back. Polls are unreliable, Joe Biden is too frail to last, and the media still doesnt get it. *** This year, [Phillip Stephens, GOP chairman in Robeson County, N.C.] said, Were thinking landslide. I dont know about a landslide, but I too think the ground is shifting in Trumps favor. In January, I thought he was a 99% lock for re-election on a record of peace and prosperity. Then the Wuhan virus came along, and state shutdowns devastated the economy. Next, while peace reigns abroad, left-wing rioters, looters and arsonists have destroyed it at home. But as usual, the Democrats cant help themselves. They have gone much too far with absurd proposals to abolish the police, and with essentially insane attacks on white peoplewho, last time I looked, comprise two-thirds of the electorate. And I do think you have to get outside of D.C. to get a sense of the electorates mood. The current environment reminds me of 1972, and a conversation I had then with a friend who was, like me at that time, on the left. The contest then was between Nixon and McGovern, and my friend said, Nixon will win because he is for America, and McGovern is against America. He and I didnt see it that way, but we knew that was how the race was coming across to most voters. That is true in spades this year: McGovern was wrong about a lot of things, but he was a sincere patriot. Todays Democrats, in contrast, really are against America. The country has slipped since 1972, but I still dont think that hostility to ones own country is a winning platform. Watch for it: on November 4, it will once again be Republicans singing Happy Days Are Here Again. Police and the Army bomb squad attended the scene. Presseye A viable device has been discovered after a security alert in Broughshane. Police said a public safety operation was implemented after receiving a report of a suspicious object that was found in the Rocavan Meadow area of the village at around 5pm on Monday. Police and the Army bomb squad attended the area while a number of residents were evacuated from their homes. The object was examined and declared to be viable, and taken away for further examination. Detective Sergeant Crothers said: "Id like to thank local people, who had their evening disrupted, for their patience as we worked to make the area safe. "This reckless act was beyond irresponsible and the people behind this cowardly act have no regard for human life. "This could have had potentially devastating consequences. "We are working to establish a motive and identify those responsible, and I would urge anyone with information is asked to call us on 101, and quote reference number 1576 of 15/06/20. "You can also submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/" Himachal Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (HPBOSE) will not declare the class 12th result today. Refuting the speculations and media reports doing the rounds on internet, board chairman Suresh Kumar Soni on Tuesday told Hindustan Times that the result will not be announced today as the evaluation of answerscripts is still going on. The date will be announced only after the evaluation is complete. HPBOSE 12th exams were scheduled to be conducted from March 4 to 27. However, some of the papers were cancelled after the government announced a nationwide lockdown in view of preventing the spread of coronavirus. This year, the evaluation process was delayed due to the lockdown. Students will be able to check their results online at hpbose.org after it is declared. Students are advised to check board website regularly for updates. HPBOSE has already declared its class 10th exam results on June 9. Over 70 thousand students passed the examination making a total pass percentage of 68.11. Tanu of Kangra district has topped the state with 98.71% in class 10th exam. How to check HPBOSE 12th result 2020 after it is declared: 1. Visit the official website at hpbose.org 2. On the homepage, click on the HPBOSE 12th result 2020 link 3. A new page will appear on the display screen 4. Key in your credentials and log in 5. HPBOSE Class 12 results will be displayed on the screen 6. Download the results and take its print out. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Beijing, June 16 : Beijing's municipal government on Tuesday tightened its control and prevention measures to contain the fresh COVID-19 outbreak in the biggest wholesale food market of the Chinese capital, state media said on Tuesday. People considered to be high risk, including those who came into contact with the 106 infected individuals detected since June 11, will not be able to leave the capital and those who have already left must inform the authorities, Efe news quoted the state-run Global Times newspaper as saying. In addition, Beijing authorities have banned taxis and other transport services from leaving the city, the Municipal Commission of Transportation said on Tuesday. So far, more than 29 neighbourhoods around the Xinfadi market and Yuquandong have been sealed off and its residents remain confined under strict security controls, Global Times reported. Beijing's municipal government announced on Monday that the city was in "war-time mode" to tackle the new outbreak, and more than 100,000 workers are monitoring 7,120 neighbourhoods to prevent the spread of the infection. Health authorities reported 27 new confirmed cases on Monday in the city, which is testing anyone who has had contact with confirmed cases or who have visited the Xinfadi food market, which has been closed since Saturday. Around 200,000 people visited the market since May 30 and have been interviewed through home visits, calls and social media platforms along with other measures, Xinhua news agency reported. In addition to the 27 cases detected in the capital, China recorded another five locally transmitted infections: four in the northern Hebei province, adjacent to Beijing, and one in the southwestern Sichuan province. The situation has prompted local governments of other regions of the country impose quarantine on those coming from Beijing, the Chinese media reported, adding that a confirmed case in Sichuan had traveled from the capital. The secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, Cai Qi, on Tuesday said that city is in a "critical situation" and that the control and prevention measures against the virus should be the highest priority, state broadcaster CGTN said. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Sunday urged decisive measures to stop the spread of the fresh outbreak, along with strict epidemiological investigations and comprehensive tracing to identify and control the source of infection. He also called on residents to strictly comply with the prevention measures and quarantine for suspected cases. The city has also intensified the inspection of markets for fresh produce, frozen pork, beef, lamb and poultry products, and other businesses, including supermarkets and restaurants, are being examined to ensure that no products contaminated with the virus are circulating. The National Health Commission of China said Tuesday that 40 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the country the previous day, including the 27 the capital. Eight of the cases were detected in travellers returning from overseas while 32 were locally transmitted. The NHC did not report any new deaths due to virus and said that three serious cases were added, while seven patients were discharged. The total active cases in China stands at 210 with five of them in critical condition. The country has reported a total of 83,221 cases, with 4,634 deaths. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. Miles strategic partnership with East Japan Railway and MS&AD (Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance) We couldn't be happier to partner with East Japan Railway, one of the largest transportation companies, and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, one of the largest insurance companies, as we move forward with entering the Japanese market. - Jigar Shah, Miles CEO and Co-founder Miles is excited to announce a strategic partnership with East Japan Railway Company (the largest passenger railway in Japan) and MS&AD (Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance - leading insurance co.) respectively, to provide New Mobility Services that will lead to regional revitalization in Japan. It will further strengthen their cooperation to improve customer service, develop local governments and local services, and will contribute to the sustainable development of society and the community by providing safe and secure public transportation. Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance is actively expanding partnerships with local governments and its regional network in view of such smart cities and new mobility societies. East Japan Railway Company is also promoting regional revitalization by taking advantage of the railway network. The two companies have agreed to work together with Miles for the first time in Japan, as part of efforts for regional revitalization. As Miles continues to grow, we have identified Japan as an important new market as we expand outside of the US. We couldn't be happier to partner with East Japan Railway, one of the largest transportation companies, and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, one of the largest insurance companies, as we move forward with entering the Japanese market. - Jigar Shah, Miles CEO and Co-founder The Miles app is the first smartphone-based application in Japan that automatically identifies travel modes and assigns unique travel points to users automatically. The app was localized for the Japanese market including translation into Japanese and it successfully tested the effectiveness in providing customer insights related to travel, transportation, and lifestyle activities. Urban design that uses AI and big data to fundamentally revolutionize society is rapidly advancing in Japan and around the world. Miles is excited to be a contributor to this advancement and have a positive impact on economic environment change. Looking forward, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance and East Japan Railway Company will work together using Miles technology with local governments and partner companies. Utilizing Miles algorithm for the accumulation of users transportation methods and ranges, the companies, along with local governments and partners, will provide users with added value through rewards. These rewards will provide users with convenient services in the area, such as shopping and lodging, and will contribute to the development of safer and more secure communities. Miles is the first universal rewards app that delivers value for every mile of commute & travel across every mode of transportation - with greener forms of travel rewarded even further. Using the miles you earn, enjoy redeeming rewards that range from free products and services to credits and discounts on over 200 top brands such as Garmin, Chewy, Postmates, and more. The Miles app is available to download on iOS and Android. Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd. offers insurance services. The company offers fire insurance, casualty insurance, automobile insurance, allied insurance, life insurance, and other insurance products. Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance provides its services to individuals and groups domestically and overseas. East Japan Railway Company is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies and provides rail transportation services in the Kanto and Tohoku regions, including Tokyo. East Japan Railway services include the bullet train network and the Tokyo metropolitan network. East Japan Railway also leases real estate and operates hotel, travel, and restaurant businesses. STOCKHOLM, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 70% of all chemicals used and manufactured in Europe are hazardous to human health and/or the environment, according to Eurostat. Despite this, investors and other stakeholders have very little information about the companies involvement in the production and use of these chemicals. ChemScore is a corporate benchmark tool - released today by the environmental NGO ChemSec - that looks at the level of sustainability in the product portfolio of the 35 biggest players in the chemical industry. ChemScore aims to capture and rank the world's largest chemical companies' efforts to reduce their production of hazardous chemicals, and to boost investments in safer, greener alternatives. "For investors, a better understanding of companies' involvement in hazardous chemical production is crucial. Many of these chemicals not only pose a threat to human health and the environment, they also threaten the return of an investment", says Anne-Sofie Backar, Executive Director at ChemSec. Persistent chemicals, such as PFAS, are an illustrative example. These chemicals have been building up in humans and nature over decades and the levels are now critical at many places around the world. In the US, several chemical companies producing such substances are now facing litigation with estimated costs ranging from USD 25 billion to USD 40 billion. "It's not a coincidence that their stock prices have taken a nosedive compared to the industry average", comments Anne-Sofie Backar. About the ranking Through ChemScore, investors are shown the best and worst performers in the chemical industry. The 35 largest stock-listed chemical companies (based on their 2018 revenue) are ranked in four different categories. 1. Hazardous Product Portfolio - each company's total production of hazardous chemicals, weighted on the basis of the company's total revenue. Lower production of hazardous chemicals gives a higher category score. 2. Development of Safer Chemicals - the strategy towards safer products, including design stage, marketing of safer products, R&D and green chemistry. 3. Management & Transparency - the companies' transparency with product ingredients, and public commitments to phase out certain substances. 4. Controversies - the companies' track record of accidents and controversies such as fines and liability cases. Top performer in this year's ChemScore is Dutch chemical company DSM. "I'm very proud that DSM has topped the ChemScore ranking. This resonates strongly with DSM Resins & Functional Materials' ambition to phase out all chemicals of high concern from our finished products by 2025. This ranking reflects the importance of chemical safety as one of the many aspects of sustainability. Chemical safety is taken very seriously by our industry and this ranking encourages us to maintain our focus on this topic. Moving forward, we must work together to accelerate the sustainable transformation of our industry and create brighter lives for all!", comments Helen Mets, Executive Vice-President of DSM Materials. ChemScore has been developed with input from chemical industry representatives. It has also consulted the investment community, including Aviva Investors, a global asset manager with 346 billion in assets under management. "Understanding which companies are leading on sustainable management of chemicals, or lagging behind their peers, is a very important part of the larger sustainability puzzle and we are proud to take the lead in this issue within the investment community. ChemScore broadens our understanding of how companies are managing the risks involved in manufacturing chemicals. These include litigation, lack of preparation for new regulation and reputational risk. ChemScore also gives us valuable insight into how we can encourage companies to improve", says Eugenie Mathieu, Senior ESG Analyst with Aviva Investors. Facts & figures from the ranking Dutch chemical companies DSM and AkzoNobel have the highest and third highest scores in the ranking. In general, European companies perform the best. None of the 35 companies fully disclose what kind of chemicals they produce in regions outside of the EU and US (where regulation forces them to disclose it). Only three companies score more than ten points (out of 18) in the category that looks at the hazardous chemicals in the companies' portfolios. These are Linde, Air Liquide (both gas companies) and Indorama Ventures (produces mainly polyester). Three companies score 0 points in this category, indicating that they have portfolios full of toxic chemicals. Four companies are ahead of the rest when it comes to green chemistry and development of safer chemicals: DSM, AkzoNobel, Sherwin-Williams and LG Chem. 14 of the companies produce persistent chemicals. While still flying under the regulatory radar in many regions, these chemicals have proven to be problematic as the levels build up in nature and humans over time. All companies have been given a seven-week window to give feedback on their respective score to potentially raise it. 18 of the 35 companies replied. Costs associated with ChemScore The overall grades for all companies are publicly available at https://chemscore.chemsec.org/. However, the in-depth analysis can only be viewed in full for the top scoring company - DSM. The rest are behind a paywall. ChemScore is created by the non-profit organisation ChemSec. ChemSec aims to publish a new ranking each year to be able to follow the chemical companies' progress. However, it is costly to update and maintain something as comprehensive as this ranking. ChemSec therefore charges a small fee to cover parts of the project. For more information, contact: Peter Pierrou Head of Communications ChemSec [email protected] +46-739-984-901 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Public/15709/3135085/a3f742674fd705c8_org.jpg Winnerslosers 800x450 SOURCE ChemSec OMAHA, Nebraska -- Shortly after 2 p.m. Monday, the news came. The nearly 30 people standing outside the federal courthouse in Omaha gathered around Tanya Hindsley as she lifted her megaphone. We made a big impact today you guys, the Ho-Chunk woman said. Justice for Kozee! Hes going to stay in jail! Tanya Hindsley, the sister of slain HoChunk woman Kozee Decorah, speaks outside the federal courthouse in Omaha during a rally held June 15, 2020. Photo by Kevin Abourezk Hindsley words came near the end of a nearly four-hour rally for justice for her sister, Kozee Decorah , a 22-year-old Ho-Chunk woman whose burned body was found May 16 on the Winnebago Reservation in northeast Nebraska. Her boyfriend and the father of her children, Jonathan Rooney, a 25-year-old Winnebago man, was arrested and charged with manslaughter for his alleged involvement in her death. On Monday, Rooney was scheduled to appear in federal court but waived his appearance, meaning he wont be released on bail immediately. According to a federal criminal complaint filed May 29 against Rooney, Decorah called Winnebago tribal police just before 8 p.m. May 16 saying she, Rooney and their infant son had gotten stuck on a muddy road in a remote area of the reservation. Friends and family of slain HoChunk woman Kozee Decorah stand with MMIW activists outside the federal courthouse in Omaha, Nebraska, during a rally held June 15, 2020. Photo by Kevin Abourezk Two tribal conservation officers were sent to find Decorah but couldnt find her. They found a vehicle, a GMC Yukon, before driving to Walthill to see if Decorah had made it home. Later that night, two Winnebago conservation officers noticed a fire inside an outhouse next to a cabin. Inside the cabin, they found Rooney lying naked under a blanket on a mattress on the floor with his infant son next to him. A tribal conservation officer and a tribal firefighter then found bones, including a human skull, in the fire burning in the outhouse next to the cabin. Rooney was found with a smear of blood or bruising on his arm and scratches on his left shoulder, as well as an injury to his right cheek. FBI special agent Samuel Roberts and a tribal officer went to the cabin and outhouse on May 17 and found a skull and ribs in the embers of the fire. They also found droplets of blood on the floor and door of the cabin, as well as blood on a piece of wood on top of a gas grill. The blood on the wood appeared to be a handprint, Roberts wrote in the criminal complaint against Rooney. Roberts then interviewed Rooney, who admitted that he and Decorah had argued that night after she had asked him if he was using drugs. He said Decorah hit him, and he pushed her out of the cabin and shut the door. He then lay down on the mattress. He told Roberts that he thought he had been drugged and was set up by Decorah to go to prison for murdering her. Asked if things had gotten out of control that night, Rooney told Roberts that he had been backed into a corner. He then asked for an attorney, ending the interview with Roberts. An FBI evidence response team later found a gas can and chainsaw in the Yukon. A forensic dental consultant later concluded the bones in the fire were the remains of Decorah. Women hold signs during a rally for slain HoChunk woman Kozee Decorah outside the federal courthouse in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 15, 2020. Photo by Kevin Abourezk On Monday, Decorahs friends and family, as well as activists with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement, held signs and banners that read: Justice for Kozee, No More Stolen Sisters and Speak Sisters! Stand and Rise! It Is Time! They wore T-shirts emblazoned with Decorahs image and the words Rest in heaven. They handed out cards with information about Decorah to pedestrians and motorists in downtown Omaha. No bail, keep him in jail! they yelled. They gathered for more than four hours in nearly 100-degree heat to send a message to authorities and to the state of Nebraska that they wanted justice for Kozee and they wanted harsher criminal charges to be filed against Rooney. Decorahs family has criticized U.S. Attorney Joe Kellys decision to only charge Rooney with manslaughter, which carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. We came here to get justice for our sister, and thats what we want, Hindsley said. Marisa Cummings, left, and Terry LaMere stand outside the federal courthouse in Omaha, Nebraska on June 15, 2020, during a rally for justice held for Kozee Decorah, a 22-year-old HoChunk woman who was found murdered May 16 on the Winnebago Reservation. MMIW activist Marisa Cummings blamed a racist colonial justice system for failing to seek justice for Native women. If Kozee was a white woman killed by a Native man on Indian land, the charges would have been felony murder, she said. Its not fair and its not right, but it seems like were always on the streets fighting for the lives of our people. Omaha activist Renee Sans Souci, whose niece Ashlea Aldrich was found dead on the Omaha Reservation in January, called on Native men to stop abusing Native women. No one was ever charged in connection with Aldrichs death, though her family has contended that she was murdered by her boyfriend and left in a field. There was no justice there carried out in the way that should have been done, Sans Souci said. Our men need to stand up. They need to be healed. Take that responsibility to heal and to help us. Stop the violence. Stop killing us. A young man holds a sign outside the federal courthouse in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 16, 2020, during a rally for justice for Kozee Decorah, who was found murdered May 16 on the Winnebago Reservation. Photo by Kevin Abourezk In a meeting on Monday morning, FBI representatives assured Decorahs family that harsher charges would be filed against Rooney, Hindsley said. She said she couldnt understand why Rooney would commit such a heinous act against her sister. She said Rooney had threatened to kill Decorah in the past. But Hindsley said her family isnt seeking revenge, only justice. I dont know what happened to him when he was growing up, but Im pretty sure some pretty awful things had happened to him to make him the way that he was, she said. She said the family has struggled to continue seeking justice for Decorah, while also fighting to get her remains and her children returned to her family in Wisconsin. A woman holds a sign with a photo of Kozee Decorah, a 22-year-old HoChunk woman who was found murdered May 16 on the Winnebago Reservation, during a rally June 15, 2020, in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo by Kevin Abourezk Speaking through tears Monday, Hindsley described her sister as a fancy dancer who loved to run. She loved to feel free, she said. She loved life. She missed her dad a lot, but she knew that the Creator was there. And she said her sister could be annoying as well. She would make people wait for her," she said. "Youd be honking, Cmon Kozee. Lets go. Shed just be in there doing her hair or whatever. Shes making us wait now. Shes still making us wait," she said, fighting back tears. And its so hard to think that Im never going to see her again. Two people hold a banner during a rally in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 15, 2020, hosted by the family of Kozee Decorah, a 22-year-old HoChunk woman who was found murdered May 16 on the Winnebago Reservation. Photo by Kevin Abourezk Join the Conversation Related Stories BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Turkmenistan and Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have discussed measures to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The mentioned topic was discussed during an online consultative meeting of the National Coordinators of CAREC on June 16, 2020. The Turkmen side was represented by the heads of the Ministry of Finance and Economics of Turkmenistan. The discussion of the impact of COVID-19 on economy of CAREC member countries, providing updated information on the ADB's response to the pandemic, evaluation the activities and results of the CAREC program were the main objectives of the aforesaid meeting. The parties got acquainted with the implemented projects of the CAREC program in economy, trade, energy, tourism, as well as the measures taken by the ADB in response to COVID -19. Previously, in May, Turkmenistan and CAREC discussed issues of developing the regulatory framework for e-ommerce in the CAREC region in May, 2020. During the previous meeting, Turkmenistan has presented main directions of state policy in the financial and economic sphere aimed, among other goals, at improving national legal framework, bringing it in compliance with international standards and introducing modern management methods. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 18:19:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- A high-level video conference on Belt and Road international cooperation will be held on Thursday, with the theme of "strengthening the Belt and Road international cooperation and jointly fighting COVID-19," foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian announced Tuesday. The meeting will be presided over by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Foreign ministers or ministerial officials from 25 countries will attend, along with senior officials from the United Nations and the World Health Organization. The meeting, jointly organized by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce and the National Health Commission, aims to implement the consensus of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, promote Belt and Road partners to strengthen international cooperation in fighting the pandemic, carry out experience exchange and policy coordination for the resumption of work and production, and promote high-quality joint pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative. Enditem Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Click here to read the full article. Vince Holding Corp., seeing COVID-19 cut short momentum at the Vince brand, reported an operating loss of $21.9 million in the first quarter ended May 2, compared to an operating loss of $6.23 million in the year-ago period. Total sales decreased 47.3 percent to $39 million last quarter compared to $74 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. More from WWD Vince brand net sales decreased 47.7 percent to $28.8 million. Vince brand wholesale segment sales decreased 60.8 percent to $10.7 million compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Vince brand direct-to-consumer segment sales decreased 34.9 percent to $18.1 million compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2019. At Rebecca Taylor and Parker, which were acquired last year, net sales decreased 45.8 percent to $10.2 million. Vince Holdings temporarily closed all of its stores in mid-March due to the coronavirus but currently has reopened 10 five in Florida, three in Texas and one each in Atlanta and Scottsdale, Ariz. The company ended the first quarter with 69 company-operated Vince and Rebecca Taylor stores. The results are preliminary and subject to change following the completion of quarterly financial closing procedures. The preliminary results do not include the non-cash impact of goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, long-lived asset or other finite-lived intangible asset impairment charges, which are expected to have a material impact on the results. In addition, preliminary results exclude any benefit from the re-measurement of the liability related to the companys tax receivable agreement, the TRA. Like other brands and retailers, business at Vince was fine until the coronavirus outbreak. The momentum in the Vince brand full-price retail and e-commerce channels continued into February 2020. Beginning in March, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent temporary store closures, we had to respond quickly to the downturn in our business, Brendan Hoffman, chief executive officer, said Tuesday. Through this crisis our teams have demonstrated incredible resiliency, agility and creativity executing under pressure and with limited resources. Our near-term priorities have been shifted toward actions necessary to reduce costs and enhance liquidity through the difficult environment. We also quickly elevated efforts toward Vinces e-commerce channel to serve and engage with our customers. We remained active in e-mail, Instagram and social media providing content relevant to the current environment, which contributed to strong growth in traffic and conversions. Story continues Despite the near-term challenges related to COVID-19, I am no less excited about the long-term opportunities for our business. The Vince brand has steadily gained market share over the last five years and has a proven track of growth in our direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels. The brands distinct aesthetic of effortless luxury and its comfortable casual essentials offering aligns well with the strong trend toward comfort as we move toward a work-from-home lifestyle. Rebecca Taylor has strong brand equity and its own modern luxury aesthetic where we see white space opportunity in the contemporary fashion landscape. We continue to believe that we can create the success we have achieved at Vince by executing a similar strategic playbook. We look forward to fully resuming our multiple growth strategies as we emerge from the pandemic. In other results, gross profit was $16 million, or 41 percent of net sales, compared to gross profit of $37.9 million, or 51.2 percent of net sales, in the year-ago quarter. The decrease in the gross margin rate was primarily due to year-over-year adjustments to inventory reserves, increased promotional activity and deleveraging of supply chain costs. This was partially offset by lower sales allowances and a channel mix shift at the Vince brand. Cash and cash equivalents were $26.6 million at the end of the first quarter compared to $1 million for the same period last year. The increase in cash reflects borrowings on the companys revolving credit facility as part of its efforts to protect liquidity during the COVID-19 crisis. Total borrowings under the companys debt agreements totaled $88.4 million, reflecting an increase of $25.8 million since the same period last year. Net inventory at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2020 was $68.1 million compared to $66 million at the year-ago quarter. Due to the uncertainty related to COVID-19, the company did not provide an outlook for fiscal 2020 but warned, The COVID-19 pandemic remains volatile and continues to evolve on a daily basis, which could negatively affect the outcome of the measures intended to address its impact and/or our current expectations of the companys future business performance. By Tessa Vikander and Karen Freifeld VANCOUVER/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou is raising a new argument in a Canadian court in a bid to fight extradition to the United States on bank fraud charges, court documents released on Monday showed. Meng's lawyers claim the case that the United States submitted to Canada is "so replete with intentional and reckless error" that it violates her rights. Meng, 48, was detained in Vancouver on Dec. 1, 2018, at the request of the United States, where she is charged with bank fraud and accused of misleading HSBC Holdings Plc about Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's business in Iran. Meng, the daughter of billionaire Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, has said she is innocent and is fighting extradition. The arrest has strained China's relations with both the United States and Canada. A PowerPoint presentation that Meng gave to a HSBC banker in Hong Kong in 2013 has been cited as key evidence against her. In that presentation, Meng said that Skycom Tech Co Ltd - a firm that operated in Iran - was "a business partner of Huawei," while the United States has described it as an unofficial subsidiary. Meng's lawyers argued the prosecutors omitted key disclosures Meng made in the presentation regarding Huawei's ongoing business operations in Iran and that Skycom worked with Huawei in sales and service in Iran. Without those disclosures, the lawyers said, the U.S. summary of the PowerPoint was "materially misleading." Meng's lawyers also pointed out that the case said only "junior" HSBC employees knew of the relationship between Huawei and Skycom. Meng's lawyers said it is implausible that HSBC senior management was unaware of the relationship, given Huawei was one of HSBC's biggest clients. The lawyers also said that a $900 million credit facility that the United States said HSBC had extended to Huawei did not exist. Rather Huawei was in a $1.6 billion credit arrangement with 26 banks, and HSBC's total contribution was limited to $80 million, they argued. Story continues In addition, the lawyers said, the credit facility was never drawn on by Huawei and was canceled in June 2017. Assistant Chief Justice Heather Holmes of British Columbia Supreme Court said in a case conference on Monday that she wanted to be fully apprised of the U.S. case before turning to Meng's claims that her rights were violated when she was arrested. A spokesman for U.S. prosecutors declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Canadian Justice minister declined to comment as the case remains before the courts. "We are not a party to this case, so it is not appropriate for us to comment on any particular evidence," said HSBC spokesman Rob Sherman. Last month, a Canadian judge allowed the extradition case to continue, rejecting defense arguments that the U.S. charges against Meng do not constitute crimes in Canada. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York and Tessa Vikander in Vancouver; Additional reporting by Moira Warburton in Toronto and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Denny Thomas and Cynthia Osterman) Rajendra K Bandi By The world is facing an unprecedented pandemic, demanding responsible behaviour from people and preventive measures from governments. In India, the lockdown introduced on March 24 saw four phases, resulting in a jolted economy, with over millions losing their jobs and a substantial GDP drop. With no vaccine or cure in sight, the country has moved into an unlocking phase where the authorities have started relaxing the pandemic mitigation measures. Digital solutions like dashboards, contact-tracing apps and data analytics models are being used to better predict and control the infection spread. EdTech tools for remote learning, ICT tools that enable remote working, and many others have gained wide adoption. However, trust, which is crucial in adopting such technologies, is seen fading from peoples minds due to the new ways of surveillance. Be it the orders for home quarantined people to send time-stamped geolocated selfies every hour, threatening legal charges against defaulters, de-facto mandate to download contact tracing apps, or managers monitoring employees stringently through attention-tracking toolsthe nation is moving towards a surveillance regime. One state has even mandated salon owners to collect Aadhaar numbers, name, address and mobile numbers of customers just for a haircut. With a range of digital technologies bolstering under-the-skin surveillance, the country is increasingly becoming a panoptic society. With such a society comes a variety of issues related to security, lack of trust, and loss of privacy. Digital dashboards and contact tracing apps acquire data from users through self-reporting. They collect way more privacy-intrusive information than required, like location, profession, etc., violating the core privacy principle of data minimisation. These tools depend on the self-disclosure of accurate personal and health information by the citizens, which are aggregated for the data reporting of the pandemic and to take necessary measures. Allaying privacy concerns is crucial for accurate self-disclosures. With hordes of data gushing into digital systems, privacy concerns are centred around how much control users have over their data, which parties have access to it, to whom it is disclosed (confidentiality) and how it is used (transparency). Mandating privacy-intrusive measures and irresponsible handling of the users personal and health data without clear guidelines can be detrimental to the users trust in these applications. Recalling the initial phases of lockdown, a list of home quarantined citizens returning from foreign countries was published on a public website. Though the list excluded names, it had sufficient personal information to identify the individual. While this is a severe privacy concern in itself, there were several other ethical issues, contributing to the social stigma associated with it. Lack of transparency on data storage, management, protection, and security as well as lack of corrective measures for compromised data elevates security concerns in the citizens minds. Will the apps be withdrawn after the pandemic, or would the data be used for secondary purposes? These are some of the fears. Loss of users trust may only lead to citizens withdrawing from accurate data disclosure, thus impacting the efficacy of these digital initiatives. Adding to the existing woes are the new forms of inequities, marginalisation and denial of services due to the stark digital divide. Senior citizens, with higher chances of comorbidities, are not so tech-savvy, facing significant barriers in accessing digital services. Similarly, migrant workers and daily wage workers, for whom social distancing is a luxury, are more vulnerable to the disease. With low digital literacy and a lack of access to smartphones, they form a significant chunk of digital have-nots. Over-reliance on technology to provide healthcare assessment and services might lead to the exclusion of such segments due to the digital divide, thus portraying an incomplete and inaccurate picture. Digital tools, social media and ICT play a key role in keeping the people informed about the pandemic. People rely on information from these digital platforms to decide on their post-lockdown lifestyle and movements. Access to accurate and timely information is crucial to fight the pandemic. Peoples experience with the digital tools during the four-phased lockdown, and their perceptions about the efficacy and reliability of the tools influence how much they trust them and how accurately they disclose their personal information. Completely open-sourcing the digital applications coupled with timely action on the vulnerabilities and feedback reported by experts can win the trust of the people to confide their personal information. Sharing completely de-identified pandemic data along with test results on the public domain will protect user privacy. Employing principles of privacy by design while developing new digital applications and focusing on data minimisation, transparency, and openness for existing applications are some ways to win back public trust.Techno-centric solutions in isolation cannot be a panacea in controlling the spread of the pandemic. Participation by citizens and multi-stakeholder engagement are essential for the effective functioning of these solutions. Rajendra K Bandi Professor of Information Systems at IIM Bangalore (Sowmya Kini and Shubha Krishnamurthy, research scholars at IIM Bangalore, contributed to the article) By Jessie Blaeser First of all, it should be said that there are many essential workers still going into their places of work and operating for longer than 8-hour shifts. These people are heroes and deserve additional compensation, rest and gratitude. But for those who have started working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, the idea of working an 8-hour day somehow seems even more daunting than it did before. Without built-in breaks spent conversing with coworkers, some say the day just feels longer. Others still say they operate best while working from home and feel they can even work overtime in a controlled setting. What do you think do you feel like your capacity to work has gone down? If youre looking for a way to help those in need during the Coronavirus outbreak, check out the Center for Disease Philanthropys COVID-19 Response Fund. Months into the coronavirus pandemic, those working from home have experienced a number of different waves. First was shock. Then was home improvement. Then came a new routine of waking up minutes before the work day began. Now, some are feeling the weight of months without regular human contact, making productivity (at work or otherwise) a nearly impossible state of mind. Vox's Rani Molla refers to Nicholas Bloom, an economics professor at Stanford who has done research on working from home and productivity. According to Bloom, working from home under pandemic conditions does not increase productivity; it hurts it. Based on Bloom's research, working from home consistently can be "lonely and isolating," and when not balanced by weekly visits to an office, creativity can suffer. So with Covid-19 you have a couple of things: One is theres no choice. Everyones being forced to work from home....And then, finally, just the intensity. So I think coming in at least one day a week but typically two or three gets you connectivity to the workplace, helps with creativity. Most creativity is done in face-to-face environments. It encourages you to be ambitious and motivated. Full-time at home can be pretty miserable. Most people dont enjoy it, you know, week in week out. Even so, some are finding their home office set-up quite enjoyable. Their capacity to work has shot up, and they never want to change. As the New York Times' Maria Cramer and Mihir Zaveri put it: People who have never liked schmoozing with colleagues have found new heights of productivity away from meetings and office chitchat. People worried about climate change are eager to reduce their carbon footprints by avoiding commutes by car. And while many parents are desperate for schools and day care centers to reopen, some working parents are appreciating more time with their children. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say. The eating regimen called "intermittent fasting" first caught my attention last year when my friend Reid Freeman, 61, who runs a factory in Kentucky, US, told me he'd been using it to lose weight. He hoped weight loss would help with his obstructive sleep apnoea, which is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and abnormal heartbeats (known as atrial fibrillation, or AFib). Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? Credit:Getty Now three years into intermittent fasting, Freeman recently told me he has shed 20 kilograms thanks to it and even more important, his sleep apnoea is gone, which likely reduces his risk of a cardiac event. I had followed up with Freeman because I'd recently learned that I was at high risk for a heart attack not because of sleep apnoea but because I have metabolic syndrome. That's a catchall disorder that includes obesity, insulin resistance or hypertension, or a combination of them, that increases the risk of heart disease and heart attack. Based on those risks, my cardiologist, Arthur Agatston, an associate professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, had recommended intermittent fasting to me. I thought my heart attack risk was low. A coronary calcium scan told me otherwise. You know all those snacks and personal-care items you need or want, at say, 11 p.m. but don't want to go out to get? That's why there's goPuff. The Philadelphia-based company was started in 2013 by Yakir Gola and Rafael Ilishayev, two college students at Drexel University who got tired of having to jump in their car whenever they got a late-night craving for M&Ms or soda. To disrupt the $230 billion-a-year convenience-store industry, the pair created an app where a user places an order (there are over 3,000 items listed) and, for a flat $1.95 delivery fee, has their selections delivered in under 30 minutes. The company operates in more than 500 cities across the U.S. and works with distributors to deliver snacks, drinks, ice cream, personal-care items, home essentials, baby products, alcohol, over-the-counter medicine and more. Last year goPuff opened its 150th distribution facility, nearly tripling the number in one year. There are 3,000 employees. Investors are on board with the concept. In August the company closed a $750 million round of funding led by the SoftBank Vision Fund and Accel Partners, bringing its total funding to $1 billion. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the company has hired additional drivers to meet the demand for items such as toilet paper, cleaning supplies and over-the-counter medicine. The company even partnered with a distillery to source and distribute hand sanitizer. To help customers feel safe, goPuff launched noncontact delivery as an in-app option so that orders can be left on a customer's doorstep. It's also committed $1 million in orders to hospital workers through its Health Care Support Initiative, donated 50,000 masks to hospitals and municipalities and partnered with Roc Nation to donate 200,000 meals to Feeding America. Daniel Shiplacoff and his partner didn't know that their Spanish-style home at the foot of Hollywood Hills had a dark secret until after they had purchased the four-bedroom house in late 2000. The mixed-race couple were shocked to receive a copy of the original deed to the Los Angeles property, which dated to the 1920s. The document clearly stated that no one of African or Asiatic descent could remain on the property after 6 p.m., unless that individual was a caregiver to someone living in the home. In other words: Blacks and Asians were barred from ever purchasing, renting, or otherwise living in the house. It just became very real in that moment, the ugliness of racism and classism," says Shiplacoff, now 43, who is half-Jewish and half-Filipino. His now-husband is white. Being the son of a woman from the Philippines and considering myself brown, it was a little painful. At the same time, it felt gratifying that a brown, gay man was buying this home and giving it a new chapter in its history. In recent weeks, following several widely publicized killings of black Americans by police officers, frustration with and rage over centuries of racial injustice have erupted into passionate protests across the country that in turn have set off a round of apologies and a national reckoning. "Systemic racism" has become a catchphraseand historically, one of its most powerful and harmful tools has been housing segregation. The discrimination helped to widen the gulf between blacks and whites in wealth, quality of life, and economic opportunity that persists today. Although they are now illegal to enforce, racial covenants like the one Shiplacoff discovered can be found even now on deeds in just about every corner of the country. Daniel Shiplacoff and his former home in Los Angeles Photos courtesy of Daniel Shiplacoff First appearing in the early part of the 20th century, these so-called deed restrictions legally prevented people of certain races from buying, renting, or living in individual homes in white communities well before the practice of redlining officially marked those areas as off-limits to minority buyers. Racial covenants were finally outlawed by the Fair Housing Act of 1968. But as the document that legally transfers title of a home from one owner to the next, a deed is typically not easily changed without getting lawyers involved. So in many cases the language remains as an unpleasantand, to a new owner, often wholly unexpectedreminder of the legacy of segregation. The covenants were "the most powerful tools to segregate American cities and determine who could own properties," says Kirsten Delegard, director of the Mapping Prejudice project based at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The project looks at historic housing inequality in the Minneapolis area, where George Floyd was killed. "Even though racial covenants have been officially illegal since 1968 ... the segregation theyve established continues today." White families who bought homes during that time saw huge price appreciation, allowing them to build wealth and pass it down to future generations. Black Americans, however, were restricted to purchasing homes in less desirable neighborhoods, with fewer resources. Those homes were often sold at inflated prices to buyers given shadier, more expensive mortgages. Meanwhile, price appreciation in nongentrified minority communities has been significantly lower than in white communities. These disparities may help to explain why nearly three-quarters of white Americans, 73.7%, owned their homescompared with just 44% of blacks in the first quarter of 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Meanwhile, the median net worth of a white family is almost 10 times that of a black family$171,000 compared with $17,600, according to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Fed's Survey of Consumer Finances looked at 2016 data. "It's had a disastrous impact on African Americans," says Evan McKenzie, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "The symbolic statements that these covenants make is a national disgrace. "Its a legacy of shame. Language from racial covenants in various deeds Public records How racial covenants segregated America Racial covenants began appearing in deeds around 1910. Their usage picked up during the great migration, which began shortly after and extended for decades, as black Americans left the Southeast for better opportunities and a better quality of life in the rest of the country. Cities and suburbs in the Northeast, Midwest, and West responded with racial covenants. When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down discriminatory zoning laws in 1917, many communities turned to these covenants to ensure that segregation would continue. "Black people were viewed as a threat to white people's property values," says McKenzie. "There was a widespread [belief] in the real estate industry that white people do not want to live around African Americans." The restrictions exploded in popularity in the 1930s and the 1940s, especially after World War II. New suburban communities were cropping up on the outskirts of cities and beyond. White families were abandoning urban areas for this new version of the American dream: a single-family house with backyard in the suburbs. But many developers couldn't get loans to build new homes and communities during this time without including the exclusionary clauses. Covenants and restrictions in a 1950 deed Public record The covenants, coupled with the federal policy of redlining implemented in the mid-1930s, worked. Racial segregation flourishedand even though the racist restrictions have been illegal for the past half-century, their impact remains. America's suburbs remain predominantly white todayaccording to the Pew Research Center, 90% of suburban counties have a majority-white population. "The racial covenants created the racial disparities you have today," says Delegard. "Racial covenants, in some ways, reveal the origins of the structural racism that is so pronounced in Minneapolis. "Racial covenants determined who had access to affordable, safe, stable housing over time," she continues. "They determined who could become a property owner, which in the United States is central to who can accumulate wealth." Delegard's group, Mapping Prejudice, has found about 30,000 deeds in Hennepin County. The county includes the city of Minneapolis, the epicenter of the most recent Black Lives Matter protests, which have since spread throughout the world. Minneapolis has one of the largest homeownership gaps in the country, with whites about three times more likely to own their homes. Only about a quarter of black residents are homeowners, compared with roughly three-quarters of white residents. "We are always dealing with the repercussions of the past," says Delegard. "In the life of a property, 50 years is not very long. Many houses stay in the same family for that amount of time," says Delegard. "Once racial covenants lock in these patterns of where people live, that is very hard to change. Once a neighborhood becomes exclusively white, it's very hard to be the first person of color to live there. There's all kinds of signals people get about whether theyre welcome in a neighborhood. Racial covenants were declared illegal, but community racism persisted Kim Wrench had a particularly ugly experience when he bought a Colonial-style home in the tree-lined neighborhood of Greenway Fields in Kansas City, MO, in 1989. The original owner of the 1920s home, who was white, hadn't realized Wrench was black until he showed up at the property with an inspector. "I overheard her say that 'If I had known Mr. Wrench was black I would have never sold my house to him,'" says Wrench, now 64, who works in sales at Tiffany & Co. Her agent and his agent were "appalled," and explained to her that it was too late to back out of the deal. "I hope no one has to experience what I did," Wrench says. Kim Wrench and his former home in Kansas City, MO Photos courtesy of Kim Wrench In line with the previous owner's sentiments, the deed to the three-bedroom house stated blacks, Jews, and other minorities were prohibited from buying homes in the community. And while the language was no longer legally enforceable, Wrench felt that the racist sentiments it expressed were alive and well in his new community. "It was very difficult living in that neighborhood because I always felt profiled," says Wrench. Security patrol cars, paid for by the local homeowners, would slow down considerably and even follow him initially when he was walking down the street. Neighbors were concerned because a black homeowner had moved into their enclave. "At first I was shocked, and then I was appalled," he says. "Then I thought, 'You know what? To hell with it. It's their problem.'" He earned the neighborhood's respect by restoring the home to its former glory. In 2012, he sold it after he and his partner split up. He never told the new buyers about the deed. The fight to remove racial covenants continues Chris Fullman in front of his home in Henrico, VA Courtesy of Chris Fullman About 1,000 miles away from Wrench, web developer Chris Fullman, 37, who is white, also found a racial covenant attached to the deed for his Henrico, VA, home. He was so disturbed that he started a grass-roots project, MakeBetterDeeds.org, to lobby the state to make it easier to have the discriminatory language struck from the documents. And he won. On July 1, Virginia residents can file a certificate with their jurisdiction to have the restrictions removed without having to retain an attorney, go to court, and pay fees. In Minnesota, California, and Washington, homeowners can have a document attached to their deed saying the racist stipulations are illegal. In much of the rest of the country, this stain of legalized discrimination is difficultand costlyto remove. Homeowners in many cities and states must hire a lawyer and appear in court to have the covenants removed. Fullman bought his three-bedroom, ranch house, built in 1952, in a quiet, blue-collar neighborhood near Richmond, VA, in 2016. After he'd completed all of the paperwork at the closing, his attorney told him there was just one last thing. Fullman was handed a document that stipulated only Caucasians could reside in the neighborhood, except for live-in servants. Although his attorney explained it was unenforceable, Fullman was so appalled, he took action. In April, Gov. Ralph Northam signed into law the bill simplifying the removal of such covenants. "It's just part of the healing and moving forward," says Fullman, whose organization will offer information on how other states can move against legacy racial covenants. "It's an important gesture. We're officially saying this neighborhood is welcome to anyone, this house is welcome to anyone." A visualization produced for MakeBetterDeeds.org showing subdivisions with identified historic racial covenants (yellow) combined with the original plan drawing of the Oakmont subdivision in Henrico County, VA. Chris Fullman / MakeBetterDeeds.org The post 'Legacy of Shame': How Racist Clauses in Housing Deeds Divided America appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Port Byron, N.Y. A Port Byron man was arrested Monday and charged with engaging in sexual acts with a child. William C. Evans III, 36, was charged with second-degree criminal sex act, a felony. New York State Police said Evans subjected a child younger than 15 to sex acts. Evans is currently being held in Cayuga County Jail pending arraignment in Cayuga County CAP Court. Anyone with information about Evans is asked to contact State Police Inv. Gregory Cool at 315-539-3530 or gregory.cool@troopers.ny.gov. As researchers across the globe work together to find a coronavirus vaccine, pharma companies have also intensified their efforts to find a drug that can help in the treatment. Latest vaccine-related developments include Moderna saying the efficacy results of its COVID vaccine could be out by Thanksgiving and Chinese company Sinovac entering Phase 3 of its trials. As for medicinal treatment, IISc in Bengaluru has said that there are 29 drugs that can be used for the virus. In the US, the US drug regulator has revoked its decision to treat coronavirus patients with hydroxychloroquine. Here are the latest updates from across the world on the development of coronavirus vaccine and drug: CORONAVIRUS VACCINE Moderna: US biotech firm Moderna has said that it will enter the final stage of clinical trials with 30,000 people participants in July. Moderna's framework for the study was approved by the US FDA. Moderna has received $483 million (382 million pounds) in US government funding. AstraZeneca: British drugmaker AstraZeneca has reached a deal with New Jersey-based Catalent to help with the final stages of the manufacturing of coronavirus. As part of their agreement, Catalent will help AstraZeneca to produce millions of doses in August 2020, if the vaccine receives full regulatory approval. Last week, AstraZeneca and Emergent BioSolutions signed a deal for $87 million to manufacture the Oxford University's adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine. Sinovac: Chinese pharma firm Sinovac Biotech has reported positive preliminary data from the Phase I/II clinical trials of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, named as CoronaVa. Sinovac Biotech chairman, president and CEO Weidong Yin also stated that the Phase I/II study shows CoronaVac was safe and could induce an immune response. Last week Brazil announced that Instituto Butantan had signed a deal with Sinovac to produce an experimental coronavirus vaccine. The tests would begin in July. If proven effective, the corona vaccine would be produced in Brazil. Pfizer: US Pharmaceutical firm Pfizer has claimed the coronavirus vaccine will be ready by the end of October 2020. The pharma firm is conducting clinical trials in the US and Europe for the BNT162 vaccine programme. Johnson & Johnson: Johnson and Johnson (J&J) human clinical trial of the coronavirus vaccine is likely to begin by the end of July. The company is hopeful of getting the green signal for its Covid-19 vaccine by early 2021. J&J has received funds from the US government's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development (BARDA) to expedite its vaccine development programme GSK-SANOFI: UK-based GSK, in collaboration with Sanofi has planned to roll out a billion doses of coronavirus vaccine in the second half of 2021. The company said it will be using, 'adjuvant' technologies along with Sanofi's protein-bases antigen technology both to scale vaccine doses. GSK has invested 4 billion pounds in its vaccine over the last 10 years. CORONVIRUS DRUGS The US FDA withdrew the emergency use authorisation of anti-malarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The FDA said these drugs might not be effective to cure the virus infections and lead to greater risks than any potential benefits. Antiviral remdesivir has been placed on top of the possible contenders for coronavirus drugs. According to experts, Remdesivir has helped people recover faster, and is lowering the death rate among critically ill patients. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April, Remdesivir mimics the genetic material of the coronavirus. When the virus copies its RNA or genetic material, the drug replaces some of the pathogen's building blocks. Intial results had shown that patients who received remdesivir experienced a 31 per cent faster recovery time. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine: UK to begin trial of latest candidate this week Also read: Coronavirus vaccine, drug: Patanjali claims to find cure; Johnson & Johnson nears human trials Second tranche of 10M from 25M growth capital loan signed with the European Investment Bank in May 2019 New funds will be used to accelerate the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of in vitro diagnostics for infectious diseases Mobidiag Ltd. (or the "Company"), a revenue generating, molecular diagnostics company with complementary platforms that address antimicrobial resistance and other areas of unmet diagnostic need, today announces that it has received the second tranche of 10M from the 25M growth capital loan signed with the European Investment Bank Group (EIB) in May 2019. These new funds will be used to advance Mobidiag's research and development and facilitate further validation and commercialisation of new molecular diagnostics tests using the Company's Amplidiag and Novodiag platforms. The loan is supported by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the main pillar of Investment Plan for Europe, through the European Growth Finance Facility (EGFF) initiative. This is the second operation between Mobidiag and EIB, following the first loan in 2016 for 15M. Tuomas Tenkanen, CEO of Mobidiag, commented, "Thanks to the EIB's continued support and endorsement of our strategy, Mobidiag has developed an extensive portfolio of innovative diagnostic solutions for gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, such as COVID-19, healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance management. The continued adoption for routine use of our Amplidiag and Novodiag platforms by key laboratories throughout Europe means that we are constantly working to ramp up our manufacturing capacities in order to meet this growing demand. The EIB has contributed significantly to the growth of Mobidiag since 2016 and this second loan is invaluable in helping us to facilitate our rapid growth, enabling us to become a key player in the diagnostics market." Amplidiag and Novodiag solutions are currently available through Mobidiag's sales teams and local distributors. Notes to editors About Mobidiag Ltd Mobidiag is a commercial stage, fast growing molecular diagnostics company whose fast, cost-effective, widely applicable and robust technology makes the power of molecular diagnostics available to address the spread of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by rapid detection of pathogens and their potential resistance to antibiotics. Through its Amplidiag and Novodiag solutions, Mobidiag offers a comprehensive range of molecular diagnostic solutions for the detection of infectious diseases to laboratories of all sizes. Mobidiag is headquartered in Espoo, Finland, with subsidiaries in France, UK and Sweden. To learn more, visit www.mobidiag.com About the EIB The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. The EIB helps the economy, create jobs, promote equality and improve lives for EU citizens and for people in developing countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200615005564/en/ Contacts: Mobidiag Dorothee Allard, Marketing Communications Manager +33 1 55 25 17 13 marketing@mobidiag.com Consilium Strategic Communications Chris Gardner, Matthew Neal, Chris Welsh T: +44 (0)203 709 5700 mobidiag@consilium-comms.com The Burial cairn. Credit: UiB This April, researchers from the University Museum of Bergen excavated the remains of a small Early Iron Age grave cairn at Ytre Fosse, Western Norway. The location is spectacular, overlooking Alversund and the "Indre Skipsleia," a part of the old shipping lane, Nordvegen, which gave Norway its name. The whole area is dotted with monumental grave mounds on both sides of Alversund, symbols of an Iron Age political landscape and the power and control of goods and travels along the Norwegian coast. The grave turned out to be a cremation patch containing three ceramic pots, a bronze pin, burnt glass and 18 gaming pieces and an elongated dice. The dice is of a very rare type, exclusive for Roman Iron Age (AD 1400). In Scandinavia, similar dice are found in the famous Vimose weapon-offering site at Fyn, Denmark. At Vimose, the gaming board was also preserved, giving a unique view into Early Iron Age board games among the Germanic tribes in Scandinavia. Board games, inspired by the chess-like Roman game Ludus latrunculorum, seems to have been played amongst the elite in Roman Iron Age Scandinavia. These games are also the forerunner to the more famous Viking Age (AD 7501050) strategy board game, Hnefatafl. The results from the Ytre Fosse excavation will undoubtedly contribute with more precise data on the chronology of dice and gaming pieces in Early Iron Age Norway and the significance and social impact of gaming amongst during these times. Excavation of the burial. Credit: UiB Shards of pottery. Credit: UiB One of the 18 game pieces (over and underside). Credit: UiB The four faces of the dice. Credit: UiB Explore further Roman bronze cauldron unearthed in central Norway burial cairn More information: University Museum of Bergen: University Museum of Bergen: www.uib.no/en/universitymuseum The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the Southwest Monsoon has advanced further to cover more parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh which is likely to result in an increase in rainfall intensity over eastern India. An official statement by the national weather forecaster said that a low pressure area was likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal & neighbourhood areas around June 19. Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of West Madhya Pradesh, most parts of East Madhya Pradesh, and some more parts of East Uttar Pradesh. The Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) now passes through Kandla, Ahmedabad, Indore, Raisen, Khajuraho, Fatehpur and Bahraich, said the statement. It added that a cyclonic circulation was present over east Uttar Pradesh and areas in the vicinity. This circulation extended up to 3.6 km above mean sea level and a trough was running from northwest Rajasthan to the cyclonic circulation over east Uttar Pradesh across south Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh, which extended up to 0.9 km above mean sea level. It said that under the influence of these two systems scattered heavy to very heavy falls and isolated extremely heavy falls over Konkan & Goa was likely during the next two days and isolated heavy to very heavy rain falls were expected over central Maharashtra during the next 48 hours. The advance of the Southwest Monsoon was likely to result in increased intensity of rainfall in east India along with isolated heavy to very rainfall over the region between 17th and 19th June. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during the next 5 days it added. The forecast said that widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls were likely to continue over Assam & Meghalaya and Tripura & Mizoram during the next 5 days with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over west Assam & Meghalaya during the next 3 days. A few places in West Rajasthan, however, will continue to reel under heat wave conditions for the next 2 days and there was little likelihood of any significant change in maximum temperatures over most parts of the country during the next 3 days, according to IMDs prediction. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Is a big push by the EU for organic farming the answer for the politicians grappling with Ireland's emissions' conundrum? Brussels' CAP regime is readying itself to roll out a massive package of supports to convert a quarter of Europe's farmland to organic by 2030. The Commission's director general of agriculture, Wolfgang Burtscher, is now confirming what the organic community have been preaching for decades: organic is more sustainable than conventional farming. It might also be the easiest way for the Government (whatever coalition takes shape) to achieve significant cuts in emissions from Irish farms. Expand Close Reform: Wolfgang Burtscher, the EU Commission's director general of agriculture, is leading the drive for a switch to convert 25pc of Europe's farmland to organic production by 2030. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Reform: Wolfgang Burtscher, the EU Commission's director general of agriculture, is leading the drive for a switch to convert 25pc of Europe's farmland to organic production by 2030. The switch to organics would cut out bag fertiliser and slash stocking-rate capacity on many farms overnight. The consequent reduction in belching bullocks and frantic fertiliser spreaders would have an immediate impact on emissions, and nobody would be blaming the dairy sector or beef barons for forcing anyone out of business. On the contrary, it might even provide a boost in income for many low-input drystock farms that are effectively organic in all but name. We've had plenty of agonising within the industry about how to brand and win a premium price for Irish beef and dairy through Origin Green and grass-fed schemes. But a ready-made branding opportunity like going organic was sitting on the shelf all along. Of course it's never that easy. I remember the shock I got a few years ago when an organic sheep farmer explained to me that up to 70pc of his lambs ended up being sold at conventional prices because there just wasn't enough demand for his stock as organic. The shock was the realisation that this leakage of premium product was fairly wholesale across the sector. Part of the problem is that there hasn't been enough of an incentive for the big players to drive growth in this area. The likes of ABP, Dawn, Kepak, Glanbia and the rest don't want either the hassle of aggressively chasing organic markets, or the drop in volume that a switch to organic would inevitably create. This has fed into the apathy within the Department of Agriculture and Teagasc about driving on the organic sector. The stop-start nature of the Department's organic schemes highlights the lack of commitment. The last time the scheme was open to applicants was back in 2018, when it opened for four weeks and accepted only one in four of the 255 applicants. It will take a major change in mindset to get from the current level of just 2.6pc of land in organic status to the EU target of 25pc in 10 short years. But Austria has proven that where there is a will, there is a way. They are setting the standard in the EU for organic conversions, with a quarter of its farming area - similar in size to Ireland's - now in organic status. Low output With a population approaching 9m, the Austrian domestic market is almost twice as big as ours, but they are still heavily dependent on exports to shift the vast majority of their product. In many ways, Irish farms are tailor-made to fit the organic story: small and low output compared to their UK and Continental counterparts, complete with a 40 shades of green backdrop. The alternative appears to be unfolding across the Irish sea as Britain procrastinates over jumping into bed with US farming standards. Boris Johnson and his henchmen have themselves in a nice pickle. They promised that a vote for Brexit would open a multitude of trading opportunities with the likes of the US and beyond. But now reality is biting with the US insisting that any trade deal must allow its chlorinated chicken, hormone-treated beef and genetically modified foods onto British supermarket shelves. That's created a backlash, and while the British government will be keen to cater to their citizens' anti-GMO preferences, they won't want to risk losing a deal with the US. At the same time, the UK is now able to write its own farming support policy, free of the historical payment nonsense that bogs down every EU CAP payment negotiation. It's unlikely that they'll just turn off the subsidy tap for British farmers, but the payments are much more likely to be entirely dependent on the farmer producing an environmental 'good'. It could all make the average British farm look very different by 2030, with dedicated wildlife corridors side by side with fields of GM wheat and hormone-powered bullocks. As ever, the consumer will decide what the mix ends up being between industrial cheap-as-chips food or super-premium organic options. We will watch with interest. Editors note: The Star is taking a broad look at what entering the second phase of reopening after COVID-19 lockdowns will mean for Ontario. Every day, well try and answer a different question about post-lockdown life. You can read a recap of all of the questions weve answered here. If your child is sick even with a cold should they be kept home from daycare? And what does that mean for parents who are heading back to work? Anna Banerji, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with the University of Toronto, told the Star that parents should be pulling their children out of daycare if they become ill. Because its a time of pandemic, if your child gets sick with a cold you should take the child out of daycare so that the child doesnt expose other kids, she said. This is an important measure even if the child is experiencing only mild symptoms, she added, since COVID-19 does not always present in the same way. Parents should also look to isolate if they pull their child out of daycare, since COVID-19 is the largest threat at the moment, Banerji said. This will be a difficult question in the fall and winter when there are so many circulating viruses around, and it may be difficult to know what is (COVID-19 or) other common respiratory viruses. Banerji said she believes public health officials will need to address these policies in coming months. Currently, isolating depends on symptoms, test results and the probability that the virus someone is experiencing is in fact the novel coronavirus. It is easier to keep parents home now as many people are still working from home, but it may be more difficult in the fall, she said. There is a high probability that children could become infected with the virus in a daycare setting, Banerji said. Kids get viruses and in most situations, even where they may have no symptoms with it or it could be really mild, they may bring it home and people at home may get sick, she said. And its really hard to prevent that in daycares. Banerji noted that many parents returning to work depend on daycares for their livelihood. Theres a lot of people having difficulties I think its trying to find that balance between trying to protect people from COVID, and trying to protect people from the consequence of not having daycare and not having an income, she said. We cant ask people to self-isolate forever. If there is a high-risk family member at your home, then they should be isolated from the family for the next little while as the kids are going to daycare and possibly being exposed, Banerji said. I think I worry about the vulnerable people that the child or the family could be exposed to more than the child. Teaching older children about physical distancing, handwashing and mask use could help prevent spread, but kids by their nature, theyre going to play with each other, she said. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patagonia Gold Corp. (Patagonia or the Company) (TSXV: PGDC) announces its audited results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (YE 2019). The financial statements together with the managements discussion and analysis (MD&A) are available on the Companys website and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Highlights Revenue of US $21.9 million and gross profit of US $5.5 million in YE 2019. In February 2019, the heap leach operations at Lomada and Cap Oeste were placed on care and maintenance. Residual production at Cap Oeste of 7,796 ounces of gold and 237,727 ounces of silver and at Lomada of 3,969 ounces of gold. Production at Mina Martha of 232 ounces of gold and 65,620 ounces of silver. Completion of the Reverse Takeover transaction with Hunt Mining Corp. on July 24, 2019. At Calcatreu, the exploration program during 2019 was mostly focused on surface work, with a total of 41.28 line kilometers of Pole-Dipole geophysical surveying over the Nelson, Castro Norte, Fiero, Sabrina and Viuda de Castro areas, plus 121.5 line kilometers of gradient IP geophysics over Nelson, Sabrina and Mariano. An additional 1,687.2 km of ground magnetic surveying, covering 55.44sq km, were completed in the project covering several targets including V49 and Nelson. Initiated a pre-feasibility study at Cap Oeste to assess the potential technical and economic extraction of the higher grade portion of the current mineral resources 1 . . Received the final approval closure plan for Lomada on November 2019 and started with the works of remediation in late 2019. 1. Please refer to the December 2018, Capo Oeste technical report, on file at www.sedar.com , for further information. Christopher van Tienhoven, CEO commented: Despite the closure of Lomada and Cap Oeste in February 2019, the projects continued to generate residual production from the heap leach pads which helped the Company to reduce its commercial indebtedness. In addition, the successful completion of the Reverse Takeover with Hunt Mining will enable the Company to advance the development of the high-grade Cap Oeste Underground Project with processing at the Martha plant. First Quarter 2020 Financial Results Release The Company continues to rely on the temporary blanket relief (the Relief) for market participants from certain regulatory filings published by Canadian securities regulators on March 23, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Relief provides the Company with a 45-day extension to file its financial statements and MD&A for the period ended March 31, 2020 (the Q1 Filings). Patagonia expects to file the Q1 Filings on or before July 16, 2020. There have not been any material business developments that are not otherwise disclosed in this news release. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Companys news releases dated April 16, 2020 and May 15, 2020 for more information on the filing extension. Qualified Persons Statement Donald J. Birak, an independent geologist and Registered Member of SME and Fellow of AusIMM, is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical content of this press release. About Patagonia Gold Patagonia Gold Corp. is a mining and development company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company seeks to grow shareholder value through exploration and development of gold and silver projects in the Patagonia region of Argentina. The Company is primarily focused on the Calcatreu project in Rio Negro and the development of the Cap Oeste underground project. Patagonia, indirectly through its subsidiaries or under option agreements, has mineral rights to over 360 properties in several provinces of Argentina and Chile and is one of the largest landholders in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina. For more information, please contact: Dean Stuart T: 403 617 7609 E: dean@boardmarker.net Christopher van Tienhoven, Chief Executive Officer Patagonia Gold Corp T: +54 11 5278 6950 E: cvantienhoven@patagoniagold.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to, among other things, anticipated results of production and processing, assumptions with respect to advancing and defining the Calcatreu project and possible results of metallurgical testwork, advancement and development of gold and silver projects in the Patagonia region of Argentina, anticipated growth in shareholder value and when the Company expects to file the Q1 Filings. Wherever possible, words such as may, will, should, could, expect, plan, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict or potential or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, 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. Advertisement New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the city should 'allow some space' for protesters who flout social distancing rules to gather in mass, despite cracking down on residents hanging outside of bars amid fears coronavirus cases will spike across the city. Hundreds of New Yorkers flocked to the streets to enjoy the sunshine this weekend, with photos showing large groups of people, many without masks, congregating outside bars and restaurants in a blatant disregard for social distancing guidelines. It comes amid three weeks of protests in the city over police brutality and racial injustice sparked by the death of George Floyd on May 25, which saw thousands of people take to the streets amid the pandemic. During the mayor's daily coronavirus briefing on Tuesday, de Blasio responded to questions about the city's conflicting approaches on the two forms of mass gatherings, saying they were like 'apples and oranges.' Scroll down for video Grand reopening: New York City has entered its first phase of reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic which allows for curbside pick up and shopping An attendant wearing a mask stands outside Wempe, Manhattan, as it offers curbside pickup during the phase one reopening of New York Phase two of New York City's reopening plan will allow outdoor seating at restaurants. Pictured: People dining outside on Madison Avenue. Pictured: A female employee at Uniqlo in Manhattan gives two thumbs up It comes amid three weeks of protests in the city over police brutality and racial injustice sparked by the death of George Floyd on May 25, which saw thousands of people take to the streets amid the pandemic. Pictured: Protests marching across Canal Street on June 13 'I think we just have to keep in perspective history, he told reporters. 'We're seeing a social movement growing before our very eyes addressing 400 years of structural racism. 'This movement has developed organically. It's huge, it's urgent. You have to recognize a historical moment and allow some space. 'That's a very, very different reality to people going to a bar or restaurant to pick up a drink and pick up food knowing that for months and months the rule has been: get your food and go home.' De Blasio said the authorities will continue enforcing social distancing among those who choose to gather outside bars until the city enters phase two of reopening that will give way to outdoor dining. 'But I just think we have to be honest about that these are just apples and oranges, and sometimes things don't fit within clean lines and you have to recognize a historical moment and its meaning when you see it,' he added. A spokesperson for the mayor's office later confirmed people who test positive for coronavirus won't 'be asked proactively if they attended a protest' and the decision to disclose that information is entirely up to the individual. Scenes of crowds gathering outside bars prompted Governor Cuomo, his state hardest hit along with New Jersey by the coronavirus pandemic, to urge local officials and businesses on Monday to strictly honor reopening guidelines. 'To the local governments I say, "Do your job,"' Cuomo told a news conference. Over the weekend he criticized New York City street crowds outside bars and demanded people adhere to social distancing rules of six feet (two meters). A male employee dons a protective mask as he stands at the entrance of a Dior store in Manhattan Restaurants and bars are allowed to offer takeaway food and drinks but are not permitted to offer outside seating until phase two, expected later this month. Pictured: Customers use curbside pickup at a Best Buy store in Manhattan on Monday Sanitizer and masks are offered by Ramy Brook on Madison Avenue, Manhattan, which is offering curbside pickup and styling Ramy Brook on Madison Avenue, Manhattan. Under social distancing guidelines, gatherings are meant to be capped at ten people A crowd of people are seen above outside a bar in NYC's East Village this weekend - many were not wearing masks People drink outside a bar in the East Village neighborhood of New York City on Saturday NYC contact tracers WILL NOT ask people who test positive whether they recently attended protests despite fears cases could spike New York City contact tracers have been instructed not to ask anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 if they have recently attended a protest, officials have confirmed. Mayor Bill de Blasio, who unveiled his 'test and trace' program last month, on Tuesday revealed authorities are now tracking over 4,300 cases and contacts that have emerged over the past 14 days - following weeks of protests that saw thousands of people gather in mass across the city. However, the mayor's office said 'No person will be asked proactively if they attended a protest' and the decision to disclose that information is entirely up to the individual, The City reported. Health officials revealed more than 5,000 new cases have been identified since the start of the program on June 1 Spokeswoman Avery Cohen said those who test positive instead will be asked to 'recall contacts' or anyone who they may have exposed. Tracers will ask about 'close contacts', which include people who were within six feet of the infected person for at least 10 minutes. During de Blasio's daily coronavirus press briefing on Tuesday, health officials revealed more than 5,000 new cases have been identified since the start of the program on June 1. Dr Ted Long said officials have been unable to contact 15 per cent of those cases because they did not have a phone number to reach them. 'However, for everybody we did have a phone number for, we have now reached 94 per cent of them. Of the 94 per cent that we've reached, more than 1800 have shared with us contacts, or people they may have exposed to the coronavirus,' Dr Long said. As of early Tuesday, 383,944 people had tested positive for COVID-19 in the state, with the New York's death toll at 24,579. Advertisement Both Cuomo and neighboring New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said they were keeping open the option of reimposing restrictions if local officials fail to stop large public gatherings that risk spreading infection. Cuomo said his office had received 25,000 complaints of reopening violations by businesses as New Yorkers flocked to streets to enjoy a weekend of sunshine. 'Lots of violations of social distancing, parties in the street, restaurants and bars ignoring laws,' he tweeted. 'Enforce the law or there will be state action,' Cuomo warned local authorities. New York City, the epicenter of America's coronavirus outbreak, is in phase one of Cuomo's four-phase reopening plan. It started reopening Monday. Restaurants and bars are allowed to offer takeaway food and drinks but are not permitted to offer outside seating until phase two, expected later this month. People drink outside a bar during the first weekend of reopening on Saturday in Manhattan's East Village Under social distancing guidelines, gatherings are meant to be capped at ten people. It is also illegal to drink alcohol in public places in New York. The governor retweeted a video showing hundreds of people partying in a street in Manhattan's East Village on Friday evening, many of whom were not wearing a mask, with the words, 'Don't make me come down there.' At his daily briefing Sunday Cuomo said: 'To these people who are now violating it. It's illegal. It's also wrong. It is just disrespectful not to wear a mask. 'It's disrespectful to the health care workers and the essential workers who sacrificed themselves for 100 days, some of whom died and gave their life to crush this COVID virus. 'They gave their life. It is disrespectful not to have the courtesy, the decency, to wear a mask. We all celebrate them, demonstrations, TV ads, God bless the health care workers. Yeah, good, act that way. Act that way. Show a modicum of respect and wear a mask.' New York and New Jersey between them account for more than a third of the nearly 116,000 U.S. deaths. Both have followed health guidelines for reopening businesses while all measures of infection drop - new cases, deaths, hospitalizations and positive rates among those getting tested. Cuomo said on Sunday his state received 25,000 complaints of violations of social distancing and other emergency requirements, mostly in Manhattan and in the Hamptons - affluent beach communities on the east end of Long Island. Cuomo said the state, which issues liquor licenses, would enforce the rules by sending inspectors to restaurants and bars flouting the guidelines, adding: 'You can lose your liquor license.' LONG BEACH, Calif., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Laserfiche a leading global provider of intelligent content management and business process automation today announced a new partnership with Ellucian, the leading provider of software and services built to power higher education. Institutions have chosen Laserfiche's award-winning solutions for more than three decades to drive digital transformation and student success. This partnership demonstrates Laserfiche's continued commitment to the higher education industry. Ellucian develops solutions that power the essential work of colleges and universities in more than 50 countries, enhancing operations and enriching experiences for over 20 million students. The company provides student information systems (SIS), finance and HR, recruiting, retention, analytics and advancement software solutions. Through Ellucian Ethos, the higher education data model, institutions are able to connect people, processes and applications to break down silos and drive modernization, agility and growth. "Students expect their institutions to provide services that are responsive and intuitive, especially as online service delivery becomes the norm," said Laserfiche Director of Strategic Marketing Linda Ding. "Beyond achieving cost and operational efficiencies, this modern digital approach provides crucial business intelligence to inform institutional strategy around retention and completion. We're excited to partner with Ellucian to empower campuses to reimagine the student experience." Laserfiche has also achieved Ethos Connected Status, allowing for a seamless flow of data across applications through the use of standard integrations and APIs. As a result, institutions will be able to more rapidly deploy electronic forms and process automation that reduce manual data entry, improve information transfer between the SIS and Laserfiche, and streamline key processes including: Scheduling and registering for classes Verifying that graduation requirements are met Processing grades Managing academic records "We are excited that Laserfiche is now Ethos Connected," said Ellucian Senior Director of Partnerships Andrea Henry. "Through Ethos and the Ellucian partner community, institutions are able to use the solutions needed to create an empowered campus where people, processes and technology are all connected and powering coordinated, data-informed programs designed for student success." The Laserfiche platform empowers colleges and universities to accelerate service delivery with electronic forms and workflow solutions; inform strategic decision-making with reporting dashboards; and strengthen campus-wide information governance with document management and DoD-certified records management tools. To learn more about Laserfiche solutions for higher education, visit the Laserfiche website. About Laserfiche Laserfiche is the leading global provider of intelligent content management and business process automation. Through powerful workflows, electronic forms, document management and analytics, the Laserfiche platform eliminates manual processes and automates repetitive tasks, accelerating how business gets done. Laserfiche pioneered the paperless office with enterprise content management more than 30 years ago. Today, Laserfiche is innovating with cloud, machine learning and AI to enable organizations in more than 80 countries to transform into digital businesses. Customers in every industryincluding government, education, financial services and manufacturinguse Laserfiche to boost productivity, scale their business and deliver digital-first customer experiences. Laserfiche employees in offices around the world are committed to the company's vision of empowering customers and inspiring people to reimagine how technology can transform lives. Connect with Laserfiche: Laserfiche Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook SOURCE Laserfiche Related Links https://www.laserfiche.com/ By Long Island Published: June 18 2020 Are businesses taking the time to consider whether their operations are insured for COVID-19 claims by the public? Businesses are currently in the throes of reopening from the imposed government shutdowns. But are businesses taking the time to consider whether their operations are insured for COVID-19 claims by the public? Unfortunately, due to the virus contagiousness in close quarter settings and its potential deadly nature, it is likely that businesses will be forced to confront these claims before a viable vaccine is available. This period of vulnerability may last several more months at best, but more likely up to a year. In addition, there is no legislation in New York that insulates businesses from liability for COVID-19 claims and businesses are relegated to standard liability insurance for protection.[i] Thus, businesses need to properly analyze their insurance policies now in order to determine whether coverage exists for the inevitable third-party COVID-19 claim and, if necessary, implement measures to minimize their liability as best as possible. The standard Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance policy is written to provide a business with a defense and indemnity for third-party personal injury claims stemming from the alleged negligence of the insured. Such claims can arise due to slip and fall hazards at the business or often in the case of restaurants, due to alleged food poisoning. Upon reopening, it is anticipated that businesses who depend on the publics patronage, such as restaurants, hotels, bars, movie theaters, gyms and other popular social gathering enterprises may be faced with lawsuits seeking damages due to COVID-19 exposure. These lawsuits will likely allege a variety of theories, including, but not limited to, negligence in failing to adhere to and follow mandatory guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and/or state and local health departments, improper screening of employees and/or customers for COVID-19 and failing to adequately disinfect the premises and its public surfaces. Although it may be difficult for plaintiffs to establish that they contracted COVID-19 at the establishment due to the negligence of the insured, this will not prevent such lawsuits from being brought especially where the alleged exposure results in a life-long debilitating injury or death. Thus, it is critical that prior to reopening their doors to the public businesses should have their insurance policies reviewed by a knowledgeable attorney to ascertain whether there is insurance coverage for these lawsuits. Though many CGL policies contain standard policy forms and endorsements drafted by the Insurance Services Office (ISO), some CGL policies include forms and endorsements that others do not. Furthermore, not all insurers use the standard ISO forms and endorsements, but instead, use manuscript policies, which are specifically generated for a particular insured and typically differ from the policies that utilize the standard ISO forms. Additionally, some insurers that use the standard ISO forms and endorsements may include certain manuscript forms or endorsements. This article analyzes language contained in CGL policies that utilize the standard ISO forms and endorsements. The current standard CGL policy coverage form (ISO Form CG 00 01 04 13) provides coverage for those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of bodily injury or property damage to which this insurance applies. Furthermore, bodily injury is defined in the standard CGL policy coverage form as bodily injury, sickness or disease sustained by a person, including death resulting from any of these at any time. Additionally, in order for coverage to apply, the bodily injury must be caused by an occurrence during the period the policy is in effect. The term occurrence is defined in the standard CGL policy as an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions. Thus, the issue for coverage will be whether contracting COVID-19 constitutes an occurrence. Undoubtedly, many insurers will argue there is no occurrence, though this is likely a fact intensive inquiry that will depend on the facts of each particular case. For instance, if a plaintiff alleges that a business failed to properly screen its own employees or customers, such allegation could arguably constitute an accident. If a plaintiff alleges that a business failed to properly disinfect commonly encountered surfaces, this as well could arguably constitute an accident and continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions. Regardless of the specific factual scenario of each case, it is anticipated that insurers may look to disclaim on the ground that there is no occurrence within the meaning of a CGL policy. An insured receiving a disclaimer will then be forced to commence a declaratory judgment action against its insurer to challenge the validity of the disclaimer, while at the same time defending the third-party COVID-19 injury lawsuit out of pocket. This is a costly scenario for any business. Even if there is an occurrence, there are several exclusions contained within the standard CGL policy that may preclude coverage for the business. The first exclusion under Section I Coverage A is known as the Expected or Intended Injury Exclusion. In relevant part, coverage is precluded under this exclusion for bodily injury that is expected or intended from the standpoint of the insured. The troubling part of this exclusion is the term expected, since a seasoned plaintiffs attorney will be careful to draft a complaint that avoids allegations of intended conduct/injury, since intentional conduct is not covered by a CGL policy. Thus, the battle insofar as the Expected or Intended Injury Exclusion is concerned, will center around whether the insured business expected the bodily injury. Depending on the factual scenario presented by a given lawsuit, insurers may look to disclaim coverage on the ground that the bodily injury ( i.e. , contracting COVID-19, which constitutes a sickness or disease) was expected from the perspective of the insured business. For instance, if a business is alleged to have neglected to properly screen or monitor its employees for COVID-19 or was lax with regards to disinfecting/cleaning procedures, an insurer could disclaim on the ground that bodily injury was expected because the insured business should have known or expected that the public was likely to contract COVID-19 due to its acts and/or omissions. Another exclusion under the standard CGL policy coverage form is the Pollution Exclusion. This exclusion provides in relevant part that there is no coverage for bodily injury: arising out of the actual, alleged or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of pollutants: (a) [a]t or from any premises, site or location which is or was at any time owned or occupied by, or rented or loaned to, any insured. The term pollutants is defined in the standard CGL policy coverage form in relevant part as: any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste. The definition of pollutants does not include the terms disease or virus. Accordingly, it is anticipated that insurers may issue disclaimers stating that COVID-19, which is a disease or virus, constitutes a contaminant such that coverage would be barred pursuant to the Pollution Exclusion. However, if an insured is forced to commence a declaratory judgment action challenging the validity of a disclaimer based on this argument, such a disclaimer is unlikely to be upheld by a court for several reasons. First, the Pollution Exclusion was developed to apply to industrial and environmental pollution and was not intended to encompass a disease or virus. Indeed, the overwhelming majority of cases in which the Pollution Exclusion is litigated typically involve environmental or industrial pollution claims, not claims involving a disease or virus. Additionally, the word contaminant is not defined and can arguably be interpreted several ways such that it can be deemed ambiguous. Moreover, one of the core principles of insurance coverage is that ambiguities in an insurance policy are construed in favor of a policyholder. Furthermore, the insurance industry has a specific exclusion applicable to communicable diseases, which was written into policies years ago based on the SARS and Swine Flu epidemics. An argument can be made that since a communicable disease exclusion is available, an insurer that fails to include such an exclusion in a policy evidences its intent to cover communicable diseases such as COVID-19 and the insurer should not be able to rely upon the Pollution Exclusion to preclude coverage based upon a disease or virus. In light of the foregoing, it would seem that it will be difficult for an insurer to successfully disclaim coverage for a COVID-19 related claim based upon the Pollution Exclusion, unless the insurer issued an endorsement modifying its CGL policy to include the terms disease or virus within the definition of pollutants. CGL policies should be reviewed for these exclusions as well as any other modifications to standard coverage. The most relevant exclusion developed by the insurance industry is the Communicable Disease Exclusion (ISO Form CG 21 32 05 09), which, excludes coverage for any bodily injury arising out of the actual or alleged transmission of a communicable disease and is applicable: even if the claims against any insured allege negligence or other wrongdoing in the a. Supervising, hiring, employing, training or monitoring of others that may be infected with and spread a communicable disease; b. Testing for a communicable disease; c. Failure to prevent the spread of the disease; o d. Failure to report the disease to authorities. Though not every CGL policy contains the Communicable Disease Exclusion, and though such exclusion does not contain a definition of what constitutes a communicable disease, if an insured challenged a disclaimer based upon this exclusion, a court would likely look to the commonly understood use of the term, such as a dictionary definition. For example, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines communicable disease as follows: an infectious disease (such as cholera, hepatitis, influenza, malaria, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmissible by contact with infected individuals or their bodily discharges or fluids (such as respiratory droplets, blood, or semen), by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, by ingestion of contaminated food or water, or by direct or indirect contact with disease vectors (such as mosquitoes, fleas, or mice).[ii] There is little doubt that a court will determine that COVID-19 is a communicable disease. Thus, any CGL policy that includes the ISO Communicable Disease Exclusion, will exclude insurance coverage for any COVID-19 related lawsuit. It is anticipated that as CGL policies come up for renewal at the end of the current policy period, many insurers that do not already include the ISO Communicable Disease Exclusion will look to include the exclusion in the renewal policies.[iii] Many CGL policies also include the Fungi or Bacteria Exclusion (ISO Form CG 21 67 12 04). In essence, such exclusion, in relevant part, precludes coverage for bodily injury: which would not have occurred, in whole or in part, but for the actual, alleged or threatened inhalation of, ingestion of, contact with, exposure to, existence of, or presence of, any fungi or bacteria on or within a building or structure, including its contents, regardless of whether any other cause, event, material or product contributed concurrently or in any sequence to such injury. Additionally, such exclusion adds the definition of fungi to the Definitions section of the CGL policy form and states that fungi: means any type of fungus, including mold or mildew and any mycotoxins, spores, scents or byproducts produced or released by fungi. COVID-19 is a virus, not fungi or bacteria. Thus, the presence of the Fungi or Bacteria Exclusion will not preclude coverage for COVID-19 claims and should not factor into the insurers decision whether to disclaim coverage. The foregoing includes the most common CGL policy provisions that bear upon a coverage analysis for third-party COVID-19 claims. However, some CGL policies may have one or more unique or manuscript endorsements and some insurers issue manuscript policies for certain insureds. Thus, it is a key component of any business reopening to have an insurance professional and/or attorney with experience in the area of insurance coverage review existing and renewal policies. This review will determine the extent of coverage for potential COVID-19 claims and how to address any lack of coverage. Though there may be instances where insurance coverage potentially exists for COVID-19 claims, rather than simply relying upon the CGL policy, businesses that currently do not use liability waivers should give consideration to having patrons execute them as a means of potentially limiting their exposure for a COVID-19 claim. In addition, businesses that currently utilize such waivers should consider modifying them to specifically include COVID-19. However, there are caveats. Under New York General Obligations Law 5-326, a liability wavier cannot be enforced if the person signing the agreement did so in conjunction with some sort of payment to take part in recreational activities at gymnasiums, swimming pools, theme parks, and other similar establishments.[iv] If taking part in an activity involves a payment like paying for a ticket, membership, or another fee at the venue then a liability waiver may not be enforceable. Moreover, liability waivers are designed to protect organizations from the legal ramifications that come into play when a person is hurt by ordinary negligence. However, the waiver does not exempt businesses from injuries that result from gross negligence or recklessness. It is expected that plaintiffs counsel will be all too familiar with New York law concerning liability waivers and will be able to craft a complaint that at least succeeds in overcoming a business pre-answer motion to dismiss based on waiver. Though businesses are reopening into uncertainty they should take the initial step of reaching out to counsel to inquire whether their current CGL policies will likely cover COVID-19 claims when they arise and what available measures should be implemented to limit their exposure where their insurance proves inadequate during this unprecedented time. The attorneys at Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP are here to advise businesses at this critical juncture. Article written by Anthony P. DeCapua, Partner, and John M. Comiskey, Associate, Attorneys in Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP's Construction and Litigation practice groups The Anhui provincial government signs a strategic cooperation agreement with e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and its affiliate Ant Financial Services Group on June 15, 2020 in Hefei, capital of the eastern Chinese province. (Photo by Xu Guokang) The Anhui provincial government signed a strategic cooperation agreement with e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and its affiliate Ant Financial Services Group on Monday in Hefei, capital of the eastern Chinese province. Under the agreement, the three sides will deepen cooperation to promote the clustering development of high-tech industries such as the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence and blockchain in Anhui and set an example of government-enterprise cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta. Li Jinbin, Party chief of Anhui province, attended the contract-signing ceremony. Li Guoying, governor of the province, and Zhang Yong, CEO of Alibaba Group, delivered speeches at the event. The two groups also signed cooperation agreements with municipal governments of Hefei, Bengbu, Chuzhou, Wuhu, Huangshan and Suzhou. BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's National Press and Publication Administration has released a document, requiring strengthened regulation of online literature publishing. Online literature publishers should support high-quality, innovative works and resist literary output with duplicated and homogeneous contents, said the administration in the document. The administration stressed strictly regulating online literature publishing, and ordering a real-name registration system for literature writers. LOreal Middle East has launched a UAE solidarity programme to support stakeholders involved in the fight against Covid-19. More than 84,000 essential and personal care products worth AED4 million ($1.08 million) have been donated to NGOs and hospitals, with the group also supporting its employees, suppliers and salon partners through a series of initiatives. In solidarity with the nations wider relief efforts, LOreal Middle East has implemented the following measures: Hospitals: La Roche-Posay, the brand recommended by dermatologists worldwide for sensitive skin, has donated skincare packages to doctors and nurses at hospitals across the UAE. With round the clock hand washing and personal protection gear worn all day, those providing the countrys first line of defense are increasingly prone to skin damage and irritation. The brand is supporting them with skincare products to help alleviate any resulting physical or emotional distress, and as a token of appreciation for their devotion and sacrifice. Impacted communities: LOreal Middle East has partnered with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority to support the Emirates Humanitarian Fund campaign to assist communities impacted by the economic crisis that has resulted from the pandemic. More than 58,000 essential care products were distributed to those in need, including families and laborers both in the community as well as those at the Groups key supplier partners. Salon partners and suppliers: LOreal Middle East has shortened payment terms for all suppliers exposed to the crisis with systematic immediate payment in addition to freezing the payments of 740 independent salons when their operations were suspended. The group is also conducting training sessions on concrete safety guidelines to ensure the safest conditions possible for the reopening of salons, as well as, supplying 15,000 protective masks and 4,000 bottles of purifying cleaning gel. The group has also prioritised education to support hairdressers and expand their knowledge through the worlds largest e-learning platform, LOreal Access. Solidarity with our employees: With people at the core of its business, LOreal Middle East has maintained full salaries and employment to date. Meanwhile, the company has taken all safety measures to ensure the health and wellbeing of its employees who have been working from home since March. The initiative complements LOreal Groups global solidarity program that supported key workers at the front line in striving to curtail the spread of Covid-19 and donated 1 million ($1.1 million) to its partner non-profit organisations to help impacted communities, in Europe. Commenting on its UAE solidarity initiative, Remi Chadapaux, LOreal Middle East Managing Director, said: We want to express our appreciation to all front-line workers who, day after day, put others first to fight the pandemic. We are truly humbled and inspired by their commitment to the common good. We also want to show solidarity to all those individuals and businesses impacted as a result of Covid-19 and do what we can to help them through these challenging times. A crisis such as this requires everyone to work together in support of the wider relief efforts. That is why we have introduced our UAE Solidarity Programme: a set of actionable initiatives that will make a tangible difference to peoples lives. Mohammed Abdullah Al Zarooni, Director of the Emirates Red Crescent in Dubai, commented: We are pleased to collaborate with LOreal Middle Easts UAE solidarity programme and are grateful for the groups ongoing support which helped impacted communities during the crisis. We also recognise the efforts made by our diverse community, both as institutions and individuals, and thank the volunteers who continuously extend unwavering support to our society." - TradeArabia News Service "The police have clearly used this bail condition to prevent me from attending and supporting protests calling for the refugees to be freed." Cr Sri said he believed he was arrested ahead of the police moving in to break up the blockade on Monday afternoon, when they arrested some activists, citing "anxiety" from neighbours and guards. The Queensland Police Service was contacted about the number of arrests since Friday at the blockade. Activists blockading the hotel said they wanted refugee transfers to high-security facilities to be halted, for the refugees being held at the motel to have access to exercise, and for all of them to be processed and released into the community by Christmas. They have also expressed concern that the refugees are medically vulnerable and at a high risk if a coronavirus outbreak occurs in the hotel. On Monday night, Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram issued a statement saying he was "concerned by the actions of some protesters" at detention facilities and the "subsequent impact on detainees, my officers and staff, and the general public". "The ABF has successfully prevented any cases of COVID-19 among detainees by implementing a range of essential measures," he said. "People gathering in large numbers outside detention facilities, interfering with deliveries and encouraging detainees to breach social distancing requirements puts detainees and staff at risk. "Access to essential medical appointments and the delivery of meals were impacted due to the protest activity." Mr Outram said detainees had access to family, friends and legal representatives through telephone and email, and that claims any detainees were being moved because they had spoken to the media or advocates were "incorrect". "The individuals residing in the alternative places of detention in Brisbane and Melbourne were brought to Australia temporarily for medical treatment," he said. Loading "They are encouraged to finalise their medical treatment so they can continue on their resettlement pathway to the United States, return to Nauru or PNG or return to their home country." He said none would be resettled in Australia under federal policy. Acting federal Immigration Minister Alan Tudge told ABC Radio Brisbane the men were niether prevented from, nor being punished for, speaking to the media. Labelling the protesters "Green and Labor activists", Mr Tudge said their single objective was "to ensure that no-one is in detention facilities and effectively to reopen our borders". "We've had to take out some of the health professionals from that facility because they have been at risk," he said. "So these protesters are actually putting at greater risk these detainees, the very people who they say they care about." Cr Sri has been an active member of the protests in the past week, urging more people to join and help stop further refugees from being moved from the motel. A council spokeswoman said it was "expected that councillors will always act in a responsible and respectful way and ensure their conduct does not reflect adversely on the reputation of council". "Based on media reports it appears the behaviour of Greens councillor Jonathan Sri has now become a matter for the Queensland Police," she said. Any complaints made about a councillor's behaviour are now referred to the Office of the Independent Assessor, which investigates suspected misconduct. Cr Sri said he will fight the charge in court and would donate part of his salary to pay the legal costs of others charged during the protests. "I intend to fight this charge, and the undemocratic bail conditions on human rights grounds, not simply for my own sake, but because these attacks on the right to peacefully gather in public spaces must be stopped," he said. Cr Sri said several activists were injured on Saturday night and police claims of no injuries were "misleading". Last year Cr Sri was heavily criticised by the LNP council administration, including lord mayor Adrian Schrinner, for participating in Extinction Rebellion protests, including allowing climate activists to host meetings in his ward office. A 50-year-old statue of Captain Cook is under threat after activists petitioned for it to be torn down over his links to 'colonialism and genocide'. The statue in Cairns has attracted controversy over the British Royal Navy captain's treatment of Aboriginal people when his ship landed in Australia. The petition claims the statue is a 'slap in the face to all indigenous people', saying Cook's legacy was one of 'forced removal, slavery, genocide and stolen land'. Two other statues of the explorer, both in Sydney, have already been defaced as Black Lives Matter protests shine a light on racial inequality. The global movement has prompted scrutiny of Australias history of colonialism, with growing calls for statues of Captain Cook to be removed. The Captain Cook statue in Cairns (pictured) has stood since 1972, but protesters want it to be taken down Black Lives Matter protests in Australia (pictured on June 13 in Perth) have also focused on the inequalities faced by indigenous Australians The petition on Change.org has already been signed by more than 12,000 people (pictured) who say the Captain Cook statue should be removed Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended Cooks legacy and controversially declared there was 'no slavery in Australia' - something he has since apologised for. The petition for the Cairns statue to be removed, signed by more than 12,000 people as of Tuesday morning, reads: 'Since 1972, the James Cook statue on Sheridan Street has stood as a symbol of colonialism and genocide. 'Its a slap in the face to all indigenous people. 'For us it represents dispossession, forced removal, slavery, genocide, stolen land, and loss of culture - among many other things. 'I am calling on Cairns Regional Council and Cairns Mayor Mr Bob Manning to take action today and remove this statue. This would be a huge step forward in uniting the community and honouring our First Nations people. Protesters show their support during the Black Lives Matter rally at Sydney Town Hall on June 12 (pictured) A worker paints over graffiti on a Captain Cook statue in Sydney (pictured on June 15) after the second such act of vandalism amid recent anti-racism protests 'I also call on non-indigenous Australians to stand with us. The #BlackLivesMatter movement is as urgent here on your own doorsteps as it is on the streets of Minneapolis. 'For you to demand the removal of this offensive and outdated statue shows your willingness to look Australias ugly history right in the eye, and say no more.' Dozens of statues linked to slavery and racial inequality have been torn down across the world during the Black Lives Matter protests. In the UK, officials were even forced to board up a London war memorial to protect it from activists during a recent protest. But many fear the removal of the statues would erase a part of history. A young woman who joined the Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne on June 6 (pictured) holds a sign which reads 'Aboroginal Lives Matter' Statues of Captain James Cook, including this one in Sydney's Hyde Park (pictured on June 14) have been graffitied by those who believe they should be torn down One woman who signed the petition wrote: 'We can learn Australian history in books. 'There are no statues of Hitler in Germany yet we still were taught the horrible things he did without statues. Tear it down.' 'Its atrocious that this is still standing!', another added. 'Such a slap in the face to the indigenous Australians that have to see this horrific reminder of the genocide of their people.' Home affairs minister Peter Dutton has already told 9News he wants the statues to stay. 'I dont think ripping pages out of history books and brushing over parts of history you dont agree with or you dont like is really something the Australian public is going to embrace,' he said. 'There are good and bad parts of our history. You learn from that.' This Cook statue in Sydney's Hyde Park was also vandalised (pictured on June 14), leading to two people being charged Captain James Cook (pictured) opened the door to colonisation and a collapse in the indigenous population caused by massacres, disease and forced removal from their land Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has also voiced his support for the statues to stay. 'You cant rewrite history, you have to learn from it,' he told Sydney radio 2GB. 'The idea that you go back to year zero of history is in my view, just quite frankly unacceptable.' Mr Morrison has previously said he wanted to help the public to gain a better understanding of Captain Cooks historic voyage. 'That voyage is the reason Australia is what it is today and its important we take the opportunity to reflect on it,' Mr Morrison said. Protesters show their support during the Black Lives Matter Rally at Langley Park on June 13 in Perth (pictured) Capt Amarinder Singh and Narendra Modi Appreciating Punjabs Covid micro-containment and house-to-house surveillance strategy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, asked all other states to adopt the model, which was helping Punjab successfully in controlling the spread of the pandemic. The Prime Minister intervened as Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was describing the states model to combat Covid-19 and suggested that all states should follow the same strategic approach to effectively counter the pandemic. Advertisement Amarinder writes to PMPrime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a video-conference meeting with the Chief Ministers as part of his scheduled two-day interactions to review the Covid-19 situation and management strategies of all states. During the meeting, Captain Amarinder Singh suggested to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to set up a group which should include a few Chief Ministers to discuss and formulate a coordinated Centre-State response to the devastating impact of the pandemic on the economy and governments across the country. During the video conference, which was joined by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh requested that the Centre should work closely with the states to ease the distress caused by the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. Advertisement Punjab Government While living with the pandemic was the new normal since the lockdown could not continue indefinitely as the cycle of the economy, once broken, took a long time to restart, the need of the hour was to take care of both lives and livelihoods, as the Prime Minister had himself said in his video-conference in April, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh pointed out, the press release by the state government further read. Calling for urgent steps to mitigate Punjabs financial stress, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said a detailed memorandum had already been sent to the Government of India, listing out the impact of Covid-19 and also seeking fiscal and non-fiscal assistance. Even as he thanked the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister for the release of GST payment of around Rs 2,800 crore in early June, Captain Amarinder said while he appreciated that the Government of India was also under financial stress, he had to request for release of the states pending share of taxes to tide over the fiscal crisis. Advertisement The crisis in Punjab was likely to be acute with around Rs 25,000 to 30,000 crore shortfall in revenue collection on various counts, he said. Capt Amarinder and Narendra Modi Even though Punjabs contribution to the all-India cases was less than 1 per cent (at 3,140 cases) at present, with a mortality rate of 2.1 per cent and recovery rate of 75 per cent, the curve was rising as a result of the inbound travellers and the easing of restrictions and more mixing of people, the Chief Minister said, giving a status update on the Covid-19 situation prevailing in the state. On the states preparedness to tackle the further spread of the pandemic, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh informed the meeting that 5,000 isolation beds were ready in Government Level 2 and 3 facilities, in addition to 10,000 to 15,000 beds in Level 1 Covid Care Centres for mild patients. Advertisement These Level 1 beds could be scaled to 30,000 if the need arose, he said, adding that for tertiary level care, the state government had also secured the participation of private hospitals for tertiary level care. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said the state government was working on a multi-pronged strategy to fight the pandemic. Some restrictions had been imposed over the weekends and holidays, and strict enforcement of all protocols was being ensured through fines. Capt Amarinder SinghThe focus was currently on the micro-containment strategy to isolate small mohallas or village wards rather than close down larger areas, he said, adding that a special app had also been launched for house-to-house surveillance to detect any possible cases and persons with co-morbidities to catch high-risk patients early. Captain Amarinder also spoke about the Mission Fateh launched to generate public awareness and the focus on facilitating a behavioural change through celebrity endorsements, videos, on-ground activities and through fines. AKRON, Ohio Summit County Council has voted unanimously to declare racism a public health crisis and will dedicate a committee to examine ways to promote racial equity in the county. Summit County joins Akron, Cleveland, Columbus and Franklin County, among other places, in declaring racism as a public health crisis. The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus has also introduced state-level legislation. The moves have come in response to concerns about police brutality, recently highlighted by the May 25 killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minneapolis, and health disparities, including studies showing the coronavirus is disproportionately infecting and killing black people. Summit Countys declaration mentions racial disparities in income, wealth and health, and says racism is a cause of disproportionately high rates of homelessness, incarceration, economic hardship and poor outcomes in education and health for black residents. District 5 Councilwoman Veronica Sims, the only black council member, sponsored the resolution and will chair a committee to explore the countys next steps. Under guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, municipalities are required to take action to eliminate disparities causing the public health issue. The committee will determine the best way to promote racial equity in Summit County, and is expected to report its recommendations to council and County Executive Ilene Shapiro by the end of the year. I can assure you that the work that lays ahead of us is not always going to be the easiest, but without question, I believe that itll be very much worth it, Sims said during Mondays virtual council meeting. There will be hurdles large and small to jump and conversations to be had that are far, far less than comfortable, but I think leap we must and converse we must. But ultimately, its about actions that support the peoples will, and thats whats most important. It has to prevail. The second chalk of Joint Task Force Ukraine, Rotation 9 troops arrived in Ukraine on June 14. The Honorary Consul of the Consulate of Canada in Lviv, Ukraine, Mrs. Oksana Wynnyckyj-Yusypovych, the Task Force Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Ryan Stimpson and Task Force Sergeant Major Chris Rigby greeted approximately 90 soldiers arriving via Trenton, Ont. at the Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport Sunday afternoon, the Command of the Canadian Armed Forces in Ukraine posted on Facebook. As noted, the second chalk of troops (the bulk of which are from 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery #1RCHA) will augment the 60 already in theatre to support the resumption of Security Force Capacity Building with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The command team is taking appropriate measures to protect the force in the COVID-19 environment and Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to Ukraine will be subject to a 14-day quarantine upon arrival. ol Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday addressed the Kerala Jan Samvad rally via video conferencing and said that the entire country has stood by PM Modi in fight against Covid-19. Janata Curfew was an example. The entire country came together to follow PM Modi, he said. Nadda added that the prime minister took various state governments in cooperation and, together with the citizens of the country, he chalked out the countrys battle plan against Covid-19. Nadda underscored the importance and efficacy of technology and digital platforms in facilitating virtual events amid the Covid-19 crisis. The party was mobilised and galvanised to the very grassroot level amid Covid-19 crisis with the help of digital tools and virtual events, he said. Nadda started his address by saying that the entire world, including India, is facing the corona crisis. He paid his respects and homage to those who lost their lives to Covid-19 and wished a speedy recovery to ones who are recovering or suffering from the contagion. The BJP president also lauded the tireless fight put up by thousands of corona warriors of the country. This comes after defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday addressed Uttarakhand Jan Samvad virtual rally. During the virtual event, Singh talked about Indias ties with Nepal and said any misunderstanding between the nations will be resolved via dialogue. India-Nepal ties are not ordinary, we are bound together by roti-beti and no power in the world can break it, Singh said on Monday. Naddas Kerala virtual rally comes in a series on rallies addressed by senior BJP leaders. Amit Shah addressed the first such virtual event earlier this month - Bihar Jan Samvad rally - which took place on June 7. RIO DE JANEIRO - Weeks ago, when this seaside metropolis had recorded fewer than 10,000 cases of the novel coronavirus and there still appeared to be time, some of Brazil's most respected scientists made their last-ditch appeal. The country had reached a pivotal juncture. Cases were skyrocketing. The hospital system was teetering at capacity. Thousands had already died. So Carlos Machado, a senior scientist with Brazil's prestigious Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, wanted the language to be strong. At the request of Rio officials, his team was assembling a list of recommendations. He needed to make clear what would happen if they didn't immediately impose a complete lockdown. "It would result," the team warned in the early May report, "in a human catastrophe of unimaginable proportions." But the officials never instituted a lockdown. Cases and deaths soared. People stopped isolating, choosing instead to pack beach boardwalks on weekends. And the warning turned out to be just one more exit ramp that Brazil declined to take on its way toward becoming the second-most disease-ravaged country in the world. Latin America's largest country has so far registered more than 888,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 44,000 deaths, second on both counts only to the United States. But while other countries have been through steep curves and are now focused on preparations for a possible second wave, Brazil can't even get past its first. What's happening here appears to be unique on a global level. Despite soaring numbers, officials never implemented measures largely successful elsewhere in the world. There has been no national lockdown. No national testing campaign. No agreed-upon plan. Insufficient health-care expansion. Instead, the hardest-hit cities are now deciding to open up, throwing open the doors to malls and churches, at a time when the country is routinely posting more than 30,000 new cases a day - five times more than Italy reported at the peak of its outbreak. The inaction has pushed the country onto a path that scientists call uncharted. "We are doing something that no one else has done," said Pedro Hallal, an epidemiologist at the Federal University of Pelotas. "We're getting near the curve's peak, and it's like we are almost challenging the virus. 'Let's see how many people you can infect. We want to see how strong you are.' Like this is a game of poker, and we're all in." Brazil is on a trajectory to register more than 4,000 deaths per day and overtake the United States in both cases and deaths by the end of July, according to researchers at the University of Washington. But just as the pandemic is magnifying the similarities between the United States and Brazil - two continent-sized countries with extreme inequality and populist presidents - it is also revealing the chasm between them. Brazil has neither the world's biggest economy, nor one of its strongest health-care systems, nor the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Limited resources always meant that Brazil had far less room for error - less room for political disagreement in the face of an outbreak - than its more developed peers. But despite the stakes, the country never found unity. President Jair Bolsonaro, who continues to dismiss the disease and its victims, has urged a policy of doing nothing. He has attacked governors who advocated restrictive measures as corrupt liars, waded into crowds of supporters in defiance of his advisers' admonitions and threatened to host a large barbecue to spite public health recommendations. He never empowered health experts and scientists to lead a response. Instead, they were undermined and ignored, sidelined and pushed out. He fired his first health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, whose sober briefings had calmed anxious Brazilians, after they'd clashed over the need for social distancing. Then he pushed out his replacement, Nelson Teich, who failed to share his zeal for using chloroquine as a coronavirus treatment. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week revoked its emergency authorization to use the anti-malarial drug to treat the coronavirus, saying it was unlikely to be effective but carries "potential serious side effects.") Bolsonaro has now replaced Teich with a military man who isn't a doctor. The unfolding disaster underscores the limits of scientific persuasion in a country where faith in institutions has plunged for years. It's not just federal officials who have declined to follow the experts' guidelines. Large portions of the population, either because of poverty or apathy, are now living their lives largely as before - going to the beach, attending parties and other get-togethers, riding crowded buses. "It was a failure," said Ligia Bahia, a professor of public health at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. "We didn't have enough political force to impose another way. The scientists alone, we couldn't do it. There's a sense of profound sadness that this wasn't realized." Having decided to open up despite scientific consensus that it should not, the country is now lurching down a path that so far only Sweden has attempted to navigate - but in a much less tactical, methodical fashion. In some pockets of the country - particularly the north - one-fourth of people have already developed antibodies to the disease. If herd immunity is to happen in any country, it might happen in Brazil first. "The question is, 'Where will this go?' " said Theo Vos, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington, whose models are used by the White House. "It could be that in Brazil, you could start reaching saturation, where so many people in the population have been in contact with the virus that it starts to come down." He paused. "But it comes at an enormous toll. It's the sort of situation that we're advising governments to try and avoid. "We don't have another example of where for the moment it is looking bleaker." One city in the throes of this wrenching process is Boa Vista, in the underdeveloped and isolated Amazonian state of Roraima. More than one-fourth of its 277,000 residents have developed antibodies to the disease, according to Brazilian scientists conducting an ongoing study. The public system has stopped testing people. Promised field hospitals never materialized. The situation has grown so grave that patients are being flown to Manaus, itself a global symbol of the damage the virus can inflict on the developing world. But most of the country is far from achieving herd immunity, which occurs when between 60 and 70% of the population has been infected by or exposed to a disease or vaccine and can now resist it. By early June, less than 3% of the population had covid-19 antibodies. In Rio, where 5,000 people have died, the rate was less than 8%. "No end in sight," read a large headline in the O Globo newspaper last week. When Machado, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation scientist, was asked how much could have been averted if his warnings had been heeded, he looked pained. "From the point of view of public health, it's incomprehensible that more rigorous measures weren't adopted," he said. "We could have avoided many of the deaths and cases and everything else that is happening in Rio de Janeiro." "It was an opportunity lost." - - - The Washington Post's Heloisa Traiano contributed to this report. The US food and drug regulatory body on Monday withdrew the emergency use authorisation of anti-malarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19 patients after concluding that they may not be effective to cure the virus infections and lead to greater risks than any potential benefits. The Food and Drug Administration's decision came weeks after President Donald Trump called hydroxychloroquine a "game-changer" drug in the fight against the COVID-19 in America, the world's worst-hit nation by the pandemic. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said its decision is based on new information, including clinical trial data results, that have led it to conclude that the drugs may not be effective to treat COVID-19 and that its potential benefits for such use do not outweigh its known and potential risks. According to AP, FDA, citing reports of heart complications, said the drugs pose a greater risk to patients than any potential benefits. The drugs can cause heart rhythm problems, severely low blood pressure and muscle or nerve damage. FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton, in a letter dated June 15 to Gary Disbrow of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), said as of the date of this letter, the oral formulations of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and (chloroquine) CQ are no longer authorised by the FDA to treat COVID-19. On March 28, FDA had issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for use of oral formulations of chloroquine phosphate (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) to be distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Hinton said that FDA now believes that the suggested dosing regimens for CQ and HCQ are unlikely to produce an antiviral effect. "Earlier observations of decreased viral shedding with HCQ or CQ treatment have not been consistently replicated and recent data from a randomised controlled trial assessing probability of negative conversion showed no difference between HCQ and standard of care alone," he said. Current US treatment guidelines do not recommend the use of CQ or HCQ in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial, and the NIH guidelines now recommend against such use outside of a clinical trial, the FDA said. "Recent data from a large randomised controlled trial showed no evidence of benefit for mortality or other outcomes such as hospital length of stay or need for mechanical ventilation of HCQ treatment in hospitalised patients with COVID-19," the letter said. Hinton said that while HCQ, that has been distributed from SNS, is no longer authorised under the EUA to treat hospitalised patients for COVID-19, FDA-approved HCQ can be distributed in interstate commerce. Hydroxychloroquine is one of the oldest and best-known anti-malarial drugs. US President Donald Trump had called hydroxychloroquine a "game-changer" drug in the fight against COVID-19. At Trump's request, India in April allowed the export of 50 million HCQ tablets to treat COVID-19 patients in America. Trump had on May 18 disclosed that he was taking hydroxychloroquine daily to ward off the deadly coronavirus. Defending the drug, he had said that hydroxychloroquine was a "line of defence" against the coronavirus. "It is a very powerful drug I guess but it doesn't harm you and so I thought as a frontline defence, possibly it would be good, and I have had no impact from it," Trump had said, adding that the antimalaria drug has received tremendous reviews from doctors all over the world. According to the Johns Hopkins University data, US has over 2.1 million COVID-19 cases with more than 115,000 deaths. Also read: Here's how govt wants Indian pharma to replace Chinese imports To the editor: Annette Glenn is miffed because she wanted to speak at Midland's Rally for Racial Justice. She wanted to unequivocally condemn the unconscionable acts of violence in Georgia and Minnesota and talk about her concerns for the safety of her Hispanic son-in-law and grandson. Did Glenn speak out when Trump began his campaign by calling Mexicans rapists? Or when his administration caged Hispanic children, many of whom died in custody or were permanently separated from their parents with little hope of ever being reunited again? Did she speak out when 500 of these children were quietly shipped out to countries that were not equipped to deal with them, especially if they had COVID-19? Minorities have died during this pandemic in much greater numbers than whites. Will she ask to speak at the Gladwin PRIDE event on June 27 to explain why she and her husband, Gary member of the hate group American Family Association actively work to deny LGBTQ+ citizens the same rights and protections that her family has? Does she have any idea what it is like being black and gay in America? Did she speak out when the Snyder administration allowed for the poisoning of black, Hispanic and white children in Flint and ordered the cover up of lead levels which have caused irreparable damage to their brains? Did she speak out when Betsy DeVos diverted COVID-19 stimulus money to private and charter schools and has done more harm than good for public schools serving children of color? Glenn seems like a very nice lady who has worked hard in Lansing. However, she still supports a racist president who gassed peaceful protesters for a photo op. She supports a president who has been officially endorsed by the KKK. Sarah Schulz listens before she speaks out and then she not only speaks out, she actively and tirelessly works with others Republicans, Democrats and Independents on behalf of those who have not been heard. Sarah Schulz did not ask to speak at Sundays march, as she knew it was time to listen. Thats the kind of leadership we need in Lansing. CHERYL LEVY Midland Click here to read the full article. When New Jerseyite Gabrielle Bove had to postpone her big June wedding due to COVID-19 restrictions, she went ahead with the ceremony, downsizing to just 20 guests in an outdoor event. With many special occasion events remaining up in the air these days, dress shoe sales are also being put on hold. Coupled with consumers growing preference for more casual dressing even at the office, the category is being challenged more than ever. More from Footwear News [Dress shoes] have been among the hardest hit segments this spring sales were down about 70% in March and April combined, said Beth Goldstein, industry analyst, fashion footwear and accessories for NPD Group. Now, without offices to go to and special occasions to attend, the demand will remain low in the coming months. Dress shoe brands, if they havent already, should be pivoting to focus more on more casual offerings. At Walking Cradles, known for its offering of comfort-driven looks, theres been a decline in dress shoe sales since March, according Lisa Schmitz, director of marketing and creative development for the company. Last year, we responded to retailer and consumer requests for more dress shoes, she said. Were finding theres little or no interest in the category at this time. Even those returning to work seem to be dressing more casually. As we quarantine, everybody has been wearing yoga pants and flip-flops. [However], if people are able to get out and have larger gatherings, they might want to be a little more dressed up and celebrate. Since the pandemic hit, sales of dressier heeled shoes have come to a near standstill at French Sole New York, according to Nisim Frank, head of wholesale sales. I think if people now are spending their money in a more limited way than before, they are looking for shoes with more purposes, said Frank, noting steady business in the brands signature ballet collection that can be worn with jeans or dresses. Why spend on a new heel they may not need to wear as they continue to work from home?And, just because things are opening up again, doesnt mean people are ready to be in a room with 50 others at an [event]. Story continues Dress shoe business has also taken a hit at J. Renee Group, reported Glenn Heidkamp, president of sales, noting retailers have been requesting orders be postponed from June to August. Since theres not as much holiday business as there used to be, we do more of our special occasion business in summer for weddings, proms and graduations, said Heidkamp. Our biggest months are March through June. Like J. Renee Group, Something Bleu, has seen a dip in dress shoe sales, reporting a 30% decline in March and April. However, according to Dennis Comeau, president and designer of parent company Butter Shoes Italy, there were still signs of activity in the formal footwear category. I was actually surprised that we were still seeing as many bridal and special occasion shoes as we did, he said. It was mostly bridal, so people were still moving forward with their plans. May sales actually increased from last year, and we have gotten a lot of reorders from retailers that have e-commerce sites, like BHLDN. Looking ahead to spring 21, Something Bleu is introducing a range of Italian-made wedding shoes, including a soigne sneaker, opulently decorated sandals, elegant flip-flops and debonair, but casual bridal shoes, said Comeau. While the brand is moving ahead with its occasion footwear offering, for sister labels Butter and Golo, high heels have come to a screeching halt, and dress shoes have slowed down. The vast majority of what we are selling are either casual or Zoom-friendly footwear, said Comeau. On social media and e-mail promotions, we have focused almost exclusively on flats and casuals. Despite a slip in dress shoe business, brands remain optimistic. If youre going to have a wedding and wanted it to be fancy, you expect [guests] to get dressed up, said Heidkamp, who expects consumers will once again be craving a pair of formal shoes. The ladies who buy our dress shoes wear them for certain purposes and arent going to change over to gym shoes or flip-flops. For designer Sophia Webster, wedding shoes and bags are still performing relatively well, even if these events have to be postponed. Interestingly, weve seen our bridal flats business, including closed-toe [styles] and sandals, increase since the pandemic, according to Bobby Stockley, CEO. Pre-lockdown we had very personalized, fun shopping events for our bridal customers that can no longer take place, but we keep up this conversation with them in different, digital ways. Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Credit: Shutterstock IndiGo chief Ronojoy Dutta has said the private airline wasn't expecting to turn a profit and was negotiating terms of new planes with lessors, underscoring the stress the aviation industry faces.Talking to CNBC-TV18, Dutta also expressed hope that the government would lift the cap on airfares by August, saying the airline was trying to cover variable costs and still fly but it would not be able to meet all leasing expenses."Urging the government to lift travel restrictions on international flights as soon as possible," Dutta, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of InterGlobe Aviation , which operates budget carrier IndiGo, told the news channel.The government allowed domestic flights to resume on May 25 after a gap of two months but capped ticket prices. International flights are likely to take time as flying restrictions are in place in several countries."Best guess is Attaining 85 percent capacity by next year," Dutta said.The airline would be able to cover fixed costs only with 100 percent utilisation, which at present was only at 30 percent, Dutta said.The current situation demanded course-correction, said Dutta. We really need to open up economy more sooner than later. We now see consequences of lockdown, he said. It was hurting the job situation and young parents with young children were impacted.India's biggest airline and other air carriers had last month cut salaries, as severe cash crunch hit their businesses.Dutta said the airline was negotiating terms on new planes with lessors."We will return around 120 planes in two years and around 120 new planes will join," he said.IndiGo were working with lessors to reach an amicable solution and was looking to making its fleet more efficient.He added that the company did not have any debt on its balance sheet, except for its lease obligations.According to Dutta, air travel is becoming more affordable than earlier. "Airlines will be more cost competitive with railways going ahead," Dutta said. Original Source: Comal County officials warned Tuesday that extensive community spread of COVID-19 was occurring for the first time in the area. The county confirmed 38 new cases and 11 new probable cases, for a total of 240 confirmed and probable cases. More than 20 of the new cases are individuals in their 20s, officials said. "Its clear we are seeing a spike in cases driven by a lack of social distancing and the emergence for the first time of widespread community transmission in Comal County, said Cheryl Fraser, director of public health. "To protect your health and the health of your loved ones and community, everyone should practice social distancing, wear a face covering if they must go out, and continue frequently washing hands and using hand sanitizer." READ ALSO: S.A.'s 'alarming' COVID-19 data on younger population makes national news The majority of both the new and total cases are residents of New Braunfels or the immediate area. The county's positivity rate the percentage of tests with a positive result now stands at 5.66 percent, up from 4.77 percent on Saturday and 3.81 percent one week ago. Seven residents have died from the virus. Both Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg have also noted an alarming rise in cases and hospitalizations among young people. On Monday, Guadalupe County officials reported 22 new cases since Friday, bringing the total to 203. Multiple cases were in the same households. Atascosa County reported two active cases and 45 total cases Monday. Two residents have died from COVID-19. Hays County reporting 142 new cases Saturday, by far the most the county has reported in a single day. Chokeholds and other tactics that restrict breathing are now banned from use by Connecticut State Police under a sweeping executive order Gov. Ned Lamont signed Monday in the post-George Floyd racial reconciliation. The order also ends or pauses the purchase of military and military-style equipment from the federal government by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; requires every uniformed state police trooper and marked vehicle be equipped with a camera by Jan. 1, 2021; and revises the states use-of-force policy. Lamont, in remarks delivered outside his residence in Hartford Monday afternoon, said he knows lawmakers expect to address policing issues in a special session this summer, but I dont want to wait another minute to increase police accountability and transparency in Connecticut. Its been a couple of weeks since George Floyds murder, Lamont said, pausing to recognize the peaceful protests that have occurred across the state and country in recent weeks. Police accountability is about trust and good police work doesnt work without trust and trust doesnt work unless police has the word community in it. Lamonts order is a response to protests and demonstrations following Floyds death in Minneapolis as a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Lamont also said hes moving to diversify the state police force, which is 80 percent white male. A new class is 60 percent white male still not good enough, he said, but it represents progress. It appears many of the initiatives in the executive order such as a web portal documenting police acts of force were already underway in the state police, but Lamonts order codifies them as orders. He and three lawmakers, including the co-chairmen of the General Assemblys public safety committee, said they hoped to see legislation locking in the orders as soon as this summer. The order only applies to the state police, but Lamont and the legislators said they will work to make the new rules apply to municipal departments. State Sen. Dennis Bradley, D-Bridgeport, praised Lamonts executive order and pledged the support of the legislature in future reforms, while Rep. Joe Verrengia, D-West Hartford, a retired police officer, called the announcement significant. This is the first step of many I look forward to working with the governor and my fellow legislators in working on police reforms, Verrengia said. I think its important to take a moment to recognize that Connecticut has been a leader when it comes to reforms and weve implemented major changes as a result ... but what this incident makes us realize is that we can do more. A reform bill last year, for example, restricted but did not ban choke holds and other maneuvers. Brandon McGee, D-Hartford, chairman of the legislatures Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, said that group and others will work with Lamont on further legislation that really hears the community voices that we hear at the rallies and the protests and not just a policy that were passing to pass something. The work really starts, yall, today, and theres a lot of work we need to get done to prepare for a special session, McGee said. Asked whether he had worked with Republican legislators on the order, Lamont said he believed it had broad support. The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut slammed the executive order in a written statement, saying it does nothing to end police violence or racism. The people of Connecticut deserve much better than Lamonts order, which amounts to lukewarm heat and no light, said Melvin Medina, public policy and advocacy director for the ACLU of Connecticut. The Connecticut General Assembly must come back into session to accomplish the things Lamont has refused to do, including reducing the role and size of policing in our state, creating an equitable COVID-19 response plan, and decarcerating prisons and jails. Many advocates for reform favor removing incident review powers from local police departments with new boards that would have subpoena powers. That change could not be done in an executive order and would require significant debate, state officials said. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt Possibly his dumbest statement about COVID-19 ever Surprise! Donald Trump said something stupid again today about COVID-19. "If you don't test, you don't have any cases." Impeached United States President Donald J. Trump. .@realDonaldTrump, in a meeting at the White House, repeats his contention that if the US stopped testing for #coronavirus, there would be few if any cases left. pic.twitter.com/zJ0ZVJVErd Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) June 15, 2020 All you have to do is not test anyone. Then nobody has coronavirus. Trump: If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, if any pic.twitter.com/ipdOf7Yrgi Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) June 15, 2020 More from the same crazypants dispatch of DARVO and lies, below. Trump's response to his own government determining that hydroxychloroquine is not effective as a coronavirus treatment is to push back with unscientific anecdotes: "I've had a lot of people tell me that they think it saved their lives." pic.twitter.com/NcdDEduDfn Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 15, 2020 Trump also insinuates here that an increase in Texas of "covid or coronavirus or whatever you want to call it" can be blamed on prison populations https://t.co/zPhQqaAV3D Mark Follman (@markfollman) June 15, 2020 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks during the State Commemoration for the 10 year anniversary of the 2009 Victorian bushfires in Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 4, 2019. (Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Victorian Government Rocked by Allegations of Corruption and Branch Stacking The Victorian Labor government is facing allegations of corruption and branch-stacking within the Victorian Labor party. The states Premier Daniel Andrews has now lost three ministers from his cabinet as increasing scrutiny grows over their roles in the developing scandal. A year-long joint investigative report released by Channel Nines 60 Minutes program on June 14 and The Age newspaper on June 15, accused the former Victorian Minister for Local Government and Small Business Abed Somyurek of branch stacking, corruption, and taxpayer-funded rorting. A member of the Australian Labor Partys (ALP) national executivethe governing and policy-making body of the ALPSomyurek was allegedly exposed in a series of tape and video recordings, working with parliamentary staffers to flood Victorian branches of the Labor party with new members who would support his party faction. Known as branch-stacking, factions in political parties attempt to influence who is the preselected candidate in a seat by flooding local branches with newly recruited members. Utilising what is called warehousing, branch stacking is often hidden away by utilising fake addresses for those signing up, and then once they are accepted moving them to different district branches. In the case of Somyurek, The Age alleges that the former Victorian minister utilised both branch stacking and warehousing to appear to recruit hundreds of new members to his faction in the ALP throughout Victoria. According to the reports by 60 Minutes and The Age, Somyurek targeted ethnic groups, like the Victorian Indian community, registering and paying for ALP memberships in exchange for their support of his candidates. The Age reported that Somyurek wanted to use his branch stacking to become a powerbroker within the Australian Labor Party. The Age reported on June 15 that Somyurek said: Ill be just running the joint, like, its who I say is going to be the [expletive] premier. Maybe we do just have a big [expletive] stackathon. Thats all theyre doing, stacking Anglos. Anglos just [expletive] off after a while. The Indians are [expletive] we can put a thousand in. Theyre all [expletive] fully resourced. They know the Indians can turn up, Somyurek is purported to have said. Our people have been putting like industrial-scale numbers, you know, just [expletive] masses for a year, Somyurek is purported to have said. Somyurek is also accused of threatening to remove fellow cabinet ministers like Gabrielle Williams, who he allegedly described in the recordings as a stupid, stupid [expletive]. Daniel Andrews Removes Somyurek from Ministerial Post Premier Andrews responded to the reported allegations by removing Somyurek from his ministerial post. In a media release on June 15, Andrews said: Mr Somyureks comments are derogatory and offensive and are unacceptable to the government. His threatening language towards Gabrielle Williams, the Minister for Women, is a disgrace and cannot be tolerated. The Premier went on to say that he contacted the Governor and recommended that Somyureks ministerial commission be terminated, and the Governor had accepted. Andrews noted he had referred the allegations made by the reports to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and the Victorian Police for investigation. Andrews said he had also contacted the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party asking that Somyureks membership be terminated. Supporting Andrewss actions, national leader of the ALP Anthony Albanese said in an interview on Studio Ten on June 16: Daniel Andrews showed strong leadership as the Premier of Victoria by immediately removing Mr Somyurek as the minister. The real tragedy here is most people join political parties for all the right reasons, in order to improve their kids education or improve health outcomes, make climate change action happen, or other issues of concern. They dont join just to try to secure power for its own sake. And that is what we saw on display on Sunday night. It was inappropriate, said Albanese. Victorian Government Loses More Ministers The 60 Minutes program and The Age report also mentioned several Victorian ministers and ALP officials who allegedly aided Somyurek in the alleged activities. Victorian Ministers Robin Scott and Marlene Kairouz were named by the report as close allies of Somyurek. The reports allege both provided parliamentary staffers to aid in the alleged branch stacking and corruption. On June 15 former Assistant Treasurer for Victoria Robin Scott announced via a media release that he would be resigning his commission to focus on clearing his name. The Australian Labor Party has played an enormous part in my life and champions values that I hold particularly dear. Because of this, I found the recent reporting of matters relating to the administration of the Party, especially confronting, said Scott. To the extent that these matters relate to my conduct, I look forward to the opportunity to clear my name. I am very confident that the investigative process will do so, Scott said. Former Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming, and Liquor Regulation Marlene Kairouz also resigned her ministerial posting on June 16. In a media release, she said she would stand aside because she no longer wanted these matters to be a distraction to the government. They have placed enormous pressure on my family and caused them great distress. I look forward to the opportunity to clear my name and am confident any investigative process will do so, said Kairouz The Nathans Famous hot dog eating contest, which has become appointment viewing for some during Fourth of July celebrations in the U.S., will be held after all in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic. Multiple media outlets reported Tuesday that the competitive eating event, which is typically held on Coney Island in New York with thousands of spectators, will instead take place in a private, undisclosed location without fans this summer. Were ecstatic to make the announcement that the Hot Dog-Eating Contest will take place this year, James Walker, Nathans Famous Senior Vice President, Restaurants, said according to ABC7 in New York. 2020 has been a year for the history books, and the realization that this storied July 4 tradition would be able to occur, is a great feeling. With that being said, our country and our world has endured so much in the last couple of months, that wed be remiss if we didnt use this moment to honor those that have done so much for each of us during this time. Other COVID-19 mitigation practices will also be in place, according to CBS New York. In addition to no fans, the row of eaters that usually features 15 competitors each in the mens and womens division will be reduced to five at a time. Held since 1916, the annual Nathans Famous event gives contestants 10 minutes to down as many hot dogs and buns as they can. Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, the defending champs in the mens and womens division, respectively, will return for this years event, according to CBS New York. More coronavirus coverage: YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Leader of the Prosperous Armenia party, MP Gagik Tsarukyan again has been invited to the National Security Service. I am now going to the National Security Service, there are new cases, I have again been called for investigation, the lawmaker said during the debate of the motion on pressing charges against him in the Parliament. During todays session in the Parliament Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan presented the motion on approving to launch criminal proceedings and press charges against MP Gagik Tsarukyan. On June 14 leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan was taken to the National Security Service for questioning. He stayed there until 23:30. Tsarukyans supporters organized a rally outside the NSS demanding to stop the actions against the lawmaker. Earlier the NSS issued a statement according to which a company, that is included Gagik Tsarukyans Multi Group Concern, has caused tens of billions of drams in damage to the state. In another statement, the NSS said it revealed numerous cases on giving bribes to voters by the Prosperous Armenia party members, as well as candidates to vote in favor of the party during the April 2, 2017 parliamentary elections. On June 16 he National Security Service of Armenia issued another statement announcing about new discoveries about the activity of the Prosperous Armenia party. According to the information collected by the NSS, during the May 14, 2017 Yerevan City Council elections, state officials persuaded nearly 100-120,000 eligible voters in Armenia, both materially or illegally, to formally move from their actual places of registration and register temporarily in different addresses of Yerevan administrative districts in order to include these persons to the voters lists of local self-government bodies, thus providing the necessary number of in favor votes during the elections. In addition, it was also revealed that the members of the Prosperous Armenia political party, founded in 2004, distributed bribes during various elections for voting in favor of their party, candidate in order to receive their desired result. Criminal case has been launched over the incident. Based on the preliminary investigation of the criminal case, respective facts were collected according to which Prosperous Armenia party MP, chairwoman of the parliamentary standing committee on human rights and public affairs Naira Zohrabyan repeatedly insulted numerous citizens during her conversations with the supporters when summing up the results of the elections which were held in Armenia after the 2018 Revolution. It was also revealed that during her talks with the same supporters Naira Zohrabyan also repeatedly accepted the fact that the Prosperous Armenia party managed to receive the necessary number of votes during the previous elections exclusively by distributing bribes to the Armenian citizens. Meghan Markle was the first ever mixed-race British royal family member in the history of the monarchy. However, her time in the monarchy didn't last long, as she and her husband Prince Harry departed from The Firm after just a couple of years. Now, there are reports that she was not happy and was full of grief throughout her stay with the British royals. After Meghan married Harry in 2018, she automatically became the center of criticisms thrown by the media and some royal watchers. Despite that, she never let her guard down and performed her duties well. However, royal experts suggested that everything that happened tortured the Duchess of Sussex, and she just handled it professionally so no one saw her weeping over the issues and criticisms that she has received. During the latest "Pod Save the Queen" episode, podcast host Ann Gripper, body language expert Judi James, and Daily Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers discussed how Meghan went through a lot of grief without showing it to the public. "She clearly played it very well. Full marks to her, because she said she'd gone through a lot of grief, but she never showed it," James said when asked if she noticed that Harry and Meghan were both unhappy. "And, I think the actress side helped her get through that." James added that in all footages before Megxit, the duchess always flaunted a smile on her face and engaged with the royal watchers through eye contact. Interestingly though, during their first post-Megxit appearance, the happiest photograph of the two was captured. When the royal couple attended the Endeavour Awards at Mansion House in London, royal photographer Samir Hussein snapped the two as they stepped out arm-in-arm and walked through the rain. "I spoke to some of their team, and they were really happy about it and talking about it," Hussein told Us Weekly, referring to the image where Harry and Meghan gazed and smiled at each other in the rain. Despite the happy image they projected before that, the body language expert and royal commentators insisted that Meghan, as well as Prince Harry, were both in pain and in the end, Megxit saved them from the royal family. Meghan, Harry Went Through Worse In the same interview, the experts pointed out that Meghan always looked lovestruck with Harry, which made their pain a little less obvious. Meanwhile, unlike Meghan, the Duke of Sussex failed to hide his grief during their last engagement. "But, I think he was looking way too unhappy, way too serious, way too annoyed, really," James explained. "Clearly he had a very, very difficult decision to make." Aside from the special moment during the Endeavour Awards, royal biographer Katie Nicholl pointed out that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were already "feeling it" since the beginning of the tour in South Africa -- which was featured in an ITV special documentary. During that time, things were not happening according to their plans as they struggled with unwanted and negative media attention. Nicholl highlighted that Meghan "made everything look easy" even when nothing was easy for her in the first place. "They projected a very happy image of themselves - Meghan and Harry - but scratch beneath the surface and all wasn't what it seems," Nicholl uttered. "They were both unhappy, Meghan particularly, there were big parts of her new life that she was finding hard to adjust to." Now that she is living her LA dream with Prince Harry and Archie, royal supporters hope that she no longer feels tortured anymore. India on Monday ripped into Pakistan for raising the Kashmir issue at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and expressed "serious concern" over Pakistan's audacity to accuse others of "effecting a state-sponsored genocide." Exercising its Right of Reply after Pakistan raised Kashmir at the 43rd session of UNHRC, Senthil Kumar, the First Secretary of India's Permanent Mission called out Islamabad for misusing the rights forum and its mechanism and asked the neighbouring country to introspect on its grave human rights situations before extending ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-15 20:21:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Members from Young People Against Corona campaign work in a hotel in Libya's capital Tripoli on June 10. (Xinhua/Mohamed Arhomah) Young Libyan volunteers are pitching in with the fight against #COVID19 pandemic in their war-torn country by raising public awareness of #coronavirus and helping sterilize facilities. TRIPOLI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Ali Durman, 25, never thought he could help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in his country Libya as a member of an important anti-coronavirus volunteer team. Durman spends two days every week working with a campaign called Young People Against Corona, where he meets the rest of the members for a plan to sterilize a certain location in the capital Tripoli. "About four months ago, I saw on Facebook an advertisement for volunteer work related to fighting the novel coronavirus. I was excited about the idea and contacted the campaign's officials. The next day, I joined them," Durman told Xinhua. Their mission started with raising the public awareness of the coronavirus outbreak, before expanding to help sterilize public and private locations, according to Durman. A young member of Young People Against Corona campaign helps another member wear the face mask in Libya's capital Tripoli on June 10. (Xinhua/Mohamed Arhomah) "We form a team of five and sterilize the entire facilities, despite the hardship of the work and no financial compensation," he noted. Launched in early March by young Libyan volunteers, the Young People Against Corona campaign now tasks itself with cleaning streets and providing meals for foreign workers and freelancers who were economically affected by the shutdown of the government since mid-March. "After we posted an advertisement for volunteers, more than 600 wanted to join, from whom we chose 120 young people, including 54 women ... from different orientations, cities and affiliations," Wasim Al-Kabir, the campaign's executive director, told Xinhua. "It is true that the war caused a social rift and left scars between the Libyans," Durman said. "But such voluntary actions enable the Libyan youth to demonstrate love for their country." Asma Al-Darhoub, another volunteer in the campaign, said participating in the volunteer work is a humanitarian action. "I am a doctor and I try to present my experience to this group of young people. We want to reflect an important image that we stand with people in this hard work ... with no goals except serving and mitigating Libya," Al-Darhoub told Xinhua. Members from Young People Against Corona campaign discuss a plan of sterilizing a hotel in Libya's capital Tripoli on June 10. (Xinhua/Mohamed Arhomah) War-torn Libya has so far confirmed 418 COVID-19 cases, including 62 recoveries and eight deaths, according to the National Center for Disease Control. The first coronavirus infection in Libya was reported in March, while the first death was in April. In order to fight the deadly virus, the Libyan authorities closed the country's borders as well as schools and mosques, banned public gatherings, and imposed a curfew. A member from Young People Against Corona campaign sterilizes a hotel in Libya's capital Tripoli on June 10. (Xinhua/Mohamed Arhomah) The UN-backed government and the east-based army had been engaged in a deadly armed conflict over the capital Tripoli for more than a year, before the UN-backed government recently announced its takeover of the entire capital city and all western Libya by expelling the rival east-based army. Libya has been suffering escalating violence and political instability since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, making it difficult for the authorities to provide proper healthcare for the public. Revel Systems, a cloud-based point of sale (POS) and complete business management platform, today announced new product offerings and rolling feature updates designed to specifically address many of the challenges introduced by COVID-19, including new requirements, regulations and changed customer expectations. In response to the tremendous impact of the ongoing pandemic on restaurants and retailers, Revel continues to fast-track solutions for its clients to help them survive, and hopefully thrive, in the new normal. These solutions include powerful features across the ordering experience, pickup and delivery, customer marketing, and the remote monitoring of devices. Even before the pandemic hit, restaurants were already undergoing a transformation due to new consumer expectations, including online ordering, which increased 23 percent annually from 2013 to 2018. Recently, MasterCard reported a 40 percent jump in contactless payments as shoppers look to avoid germs associated with cash and physical credit cards. As a cloud-based platform, Revel is able to accommodate rapid change and remote technology updates. This helps merchants meet new requirements for health and safety, enable contactless payments, and provide more seamless online ordering and delivery capabilities. The restaurants and retailers we serve are working to better understand what the world is going to look and function like on a daily basis moving forward, and they are searching for the tools to help them adapt to these new conditions," said Chris Lybeer, Chief Strategy Officer, Revel Systems. "We are seeing many rush to update their POS systems to help process off-premise orders. Revel quickly shifted our research and development spend in March to double down on improving capabilities in our POS platform to assist merchants in optimizing order pickup, curbside practices, delivery and contactless payments. Over 20 new features are now available in an update release, and more will be announced throughout the summer. Online Ordering By reducing friction between merchants and customers during the order process, restaurants can better meet expectations for customers throughout the experience. New features and functionalities include direct messaging to consumers and the ability for merchants to customize messages on their online ordering site. This helps businesses communicate critical information such as listing modified hours, instructions for curbside pickup and delivery, and more. In addition, merchants can actively control wait times and set expectations for order completion times, allowing them to proactively manage estimated pickup and delivery windows from the POS. Order Pickup Facilitating the handoff of orders between merchants and customers, Revels new Order Ready customer-facing screen allows merchants to differentiate between third-party pick-ups and to-go takeout orders. Order types can be color-coded to clearly match ordering channels including to-go, curbside, delivery, and more. Revel has also completed an integration with Twilio SMS, which enables merchants to send SMS notifications when an order is marked as done on the kitchen display system (KDS). These new SMS notifications allow for contactless communication, as theres no need for customers to be in-store to receive updates on their order status. Delivery Focused on improving merchants ability to provide efficient deliveries and creating a positive customer experience, Revel offers solutions for operators to effectively manage their own delivery operation as well as optimize the experience with third-party delivery providers. Revel clients managing their own delivery fleet can now provide customers with the ability to request no-contact deliveries. Further updates to delivery features include pass-through service fees, allowing merchants to easily manage third-party charges incurred from online ordering and delivery aggregators. Merchants using Revels delivery management module can now mark drivers as assigned and en route, eliminating delays that occur when a driver returns to pick up new orders. Customer Marketing Revel now enables merchants to offer new options for the digital purchase and redemption of gift cards including a buy now, pay later contactless revenue-generating option. Merchants using third-party gift integrations through FreedomPay, Worldpay StoreCard or Givex will be able to support enhanced gift card options for consumers. Options include the ability to purchase, reload, check balance and/or email gift cards to others. Remote Device Monitoring Revel Guard XT provides the ability to remotely monitor app versions on all POS devices, including iPads, printers, and payment terminals. By receiving proactive alerts, merchants can stay ahead of maintenance costs and schedule and coordinate Revel app and iOS updates, as well as resolve common issues with a single click. Revel Guard XT supports heightened security measures and control with the ability to remotely lock iPad access to a single app and restrict website activities to business-relevant sites. This product is especially efficient for chains, and helps all merchants keep up with an increased frequency of changes to technology in response to the ongoing pandemic developments and general consumer needs. About Revel Systems Revel Systems powers the ambitions of restaurants and retailers with a robust cloud-based point of sale (POS) and business management system. The Revel Essentials solution, which has been deployed at thousands of customer locations, is designed for the needs of small chains or single sites. The Revel Enterprise solution is tailored for large chains and leads the industry with a broad footprint of national, big brand customer implementations. Improving day-to-day operations and fueling merchant growth, Revels streamlined ecosystem helps customers seize their future by pairing an intuitive POS with powerful management tools on a single platform. Founded in 2010 with major offices in Atlanta, Lithuania, and San Francisco, Revel is a leading member of the Apple Enterprise Mobility Program. For more information, please visit http://revelsystems.com/ or call (415) 744-1433. The NPD Group MasterCard CBRE Dortmund, June 16 : Borussia Dortmund manager Lucien Favre conceded there remains a possibility that winger Jadon Sancho and full-back Achraf Hakimi could leave the club in the summer. Sancho has been subject to intense transfer speculations in recent times with clubs in England and Spain reportedly interested. As for Hakimi, his loan deal at Signal Iduna Park is set to get over at the end of current campaign and he is likely to head back to Real Madrid, who have reportedly set a price tag of 50 million pounds on his head. Favre stated he doesn't know 'definitely' that they will remain at the club next season but admitted it would be good for him and the club that they do. "Obviously players will go and we hope that they stay but it's possible that they may also leave," Favre was quoted as saying by Daily Mail. "You have spoken about two players (Sancho and Hakimi) who we don't know definitively what will happen -- they could stay with us, that's clear and that would be good for me. We'll see what we'll do in defence, midfield or attack." Dortmund's reported asking price for Sancho remains a sticking point for potential suitors as clubs are likely to find it hard to spend in excess of 100 million pounds in the transfer market due to the implications put forward by the coronavirus pandemic. Dortmund currently remain second in the Bundesliga after 31 matches, seven points behind leader Bayern Munich (73). RB Leipzig complete the top-thee with 62 points. SIOUX CITY -- In the days immediately after the May 25 death of George Floyd, news loops contained a steady stream of photos, videos and stories from racial justice protests in major cities across the country. Rallies and chants of "Black Lives Matter" were common in much smaller cities, too. For three nights in a row, protesters gathered outside Sioux City's police headquarters. Rallies have taken place in Spencer, Storm Lake and other Siouxland communities. The emotions of all those protests for racial equality will cool, as we've already begun to see. Many of us will move on, figuring that the activists made their point, the Legislature took action, everything's good. But the effort is far from over, local activists say. They're challenged to make sure the issue doesn't become yesterday's news. The outpouring of support was great, but it's the work that is done in the weeks, months and years ahead that will lead to change. "My personal perspective is now we must look forward, we cannot let the past keep us hostage. We have to move forward with focus, tenacity, courage and hope for the future," said Monique Scarlett, a Sioux City school board member and founder of Unity in the Community, a group that encourages partnership with community members and law enforcement. She and Ike Rayford, president of the local chapter of the NAACP, are encouraged by what they've seen in Sioux City and beyond since Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. In addition to the aforementioned protests outside the Sioux City Police Department, community and faith leaders have gathered for peaceful, public events at the Law Enforcement Center and at Cook Park. Similar events have taken place across the country. Some included violence; many did not. There's a sense of enough is enough, Scarlett said. "This time people are saying we've begged. We've been martyred. This time we're going to make change happen," she said. The result, Rayford said, seems to be that police chiefs, mayors, governors and other elected officials are now giving more than lip service to those seeking change. "It feels like finally they're listening," said Rayford. "It feels different. Before, there was no hope. Now I do feel like people are truly listening." What changed? Rayford believes the video of Floyd's death made an impact. Past incidents that led to protests in cities such as Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore were never seen. This time, there was no deniability. "We saw a man dead. This time we saw it," Rayford said. "Now people are starting to see it. They're seeing it and believe it." And now that the movement has their attention, it's time to hold it. The noise from the protests will fade, but the call for change must remain loud and clear. The challenge is: how? There are many ways, of course, and they begin as early as elementary school, Scarlett said. As a school board member, she said she'll continue to promote education so children understand civics, understand what's going on in the world around them, so that, as they get older, they have a sense of direction. That leads to involvement. Scarlett urges people of all ages to join and become active in organizations seeking change. It also includes registering to vote, learning what candidates stand for and then casting a ballot. Public officials, Rayford said, must be held to their word. If they promise to meet with community groups to find solutions, to take action, Rayford said he'll continue to ask them about it until it's done. Fortunately, Rayford and Scarlett said, good things already are happening in Sioux City. Police leaders and officers show up for block parties and public forums. Civil rights groups and police Chief Rex Mueller all want every officer outfitted with body cameras. Rayford said the NAACP continues to push for a citizen review board to not only review applicants to the police department but also to hold officers accountable in cases of alleged misconduct. "The only thing we've always said is we want the police to police themselves," Rayford said. "In Sioux City, I am so fortunate to have a police chief that's willing to sit down and have a conversation. I am happy to live in a city where I can brag on our police department and I can brag on our city council." Sioux City has a chance to be an example for bigger cities, Scarlett said. "It starts in our home town and then grows abroad," she said. She and Rayford are encouraged by what they've seen in the days since Floyd's death. Police departments are outlawing choke holds and other tactics. Mayors and city councils are discussing reorganizing police departments. "In my gut I feel that a change is coming and we're in the process of it," Rayford said. All those protests that we witnessed the past couple weeks may just have been the beginning steps of that process. It's nearly certain they won't be the last. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Monday launched the "Holiday at Home" campaign to encourage Hong Kong residents to explore their home place and boost local consumption. Hong Kong residents are unlikely to travel overseas in the short term as many countries and regions have issued entry restrictions at different levels due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the HKTB said in a statement. In response to the travel restrictions worldwide, the board begins with revitalizing local market as the first step to revive Hong Kong tourism. The campaign provides Hong Kong residents with information on local venues and activities to facilitate the in-depth exploration of Hong Kong. Local hotels, restaurants, attractions, shopping malls and credit card networks offer promotions to boost spending. Residents can also redeem local tours through spending. "By doing so, we hope to rebuild the city's vibrant atmosphere and give the world a positive impression so that visitors will feel confident about coming to Hong Kong again," Chairman of the HKTB Pang Yiu-Kai said. Once it is possible for visitors from a certain market to travel to Hong Kong, the HKTB will extend to them the travel and local spending information and offers featured in the campaign, together with flight-and-hotel packages, Pang said. The HKTB also announced that the provisional figure for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in May was 8,100, a drop of nearly 100 percent from the same time last year. It is believed that most of these visitors came to Hong Kong for real needs, such as studies and daily living, the board said. by Paul Wang A year ago, Marco Leung was hanging a banner against the extradition law and fell. A kilometer long line, for over 4 hours, paid homage in front of the young man's simulacrum. The government asks state employees and students not to participate in the June 20 popular referendum on national security law, but teachers and schoolchildren are ready to challenge the threat. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Thousands of people gathered at Pacific Place shopping center yesterday evening to commemorate one year since the death of Leung Ling-kit, a demonstrator who fell as he tried to hoist a banner against the extradition law. His death preceded by one day the great march of over two million people. Also this time, as for several weeks, people challenged the anti-coronavirus ordinance, which prohibits rallies with more than eight people. "Marco Leung", 37 years old, had climbed a high scaffolding outside the Pacific Place (in Admiralty) and was hanging a banner that underlined the requests to withdraw the law, free the arrested young people, not define anti-extradition demonstrations as "revolt". His requests then became the movement's "five demands". "Marco" wore a yellow raincoat, which has become a symbol. Last night from 7pm to 11pm a long queue formed in front of an altar with white flowers and candles in memory of the young man. The people in procession stopped to bow before the simulacrum that remembered the deceased. The police issued warnings saying the rally was illegal, but they went unheard. Many young people waved flags inside Pacific Place and with their arms raised and their hands open - to indicate the "five demands" - they sang the hymn "Glory to Hong Kong". The Hong Kong government appears increasingly unheeded. A popular referendum on the national security law, planned by Beijing for the territory, which many fear will lead to the end of the free society of Hong Kong, is scheduled for June 20. The executive warned that civil servants and students should not participate in the referendum. But teachers and students are ready to challenge the warning. The referendum has no legal value, but is a sign of how much the population of Hong Kong rejects Beijing's law. Photo: HKFP Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 18:54:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's ministry of health on Tuesday said it has registered 19 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 724. Out of the 2,212 samples from cross-border cargo truck drivers and community tested over the last 24 hours, six Ugandan truck drivers and 13 contacts and alert cases tested positive for the virus. According to the ministry, 25 foreign truck drivers who tested positive for COVID-19 at Uganda's points of entry were handed over to their countries of origin. A total of 52 patients were discharged from various hospitals after successful treatment, bringing the total number of recoveries to 351. The country has not registered any virus-related death. Enditem Former Goa minister Achyut Kashinath Sinai Usgaonkar died at a hospital near here on Tuesday following age-related ailments, family sources said. He was 92. Usgaonkar was a leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the oldest regional outfit in Goa. He served as a cabinet minister from August 13, 1977, to April 27, 1979, in the then Shashikala Kakodkar government of Goa, Daman and Diu. "Usgaonkar died at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (located near Panaji) around 7.30 am," his son-in-law Dinar Tarcar told PTI. He is survived by three daughters, including noted film actor Varsha Usgaonkar. Before serving as a minister, Achyut Usgaonkar was the deputy speaker of Goa during the Dayanand Bandodkar-led government. Bandodkar was the first chief minister of the coastal state. Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, whose office oversees the Alamo, issued a warning to anyone targeting the San Antonio landmark. "The Alamo is the Shrine of Texas Liberty. And it will be defended," Bush tweeted Saturday. "My office is close watching the social media posts and rumors from protestors who are threatening to come to The Alamo." Bush, the grandson of former President George H.W. Bush, noted that Alamo Rangers have been deployed at the site in recent weeks along with San Antonio police and the National Guard. The Alamo installed a temporary fence on June 3 amid protests against police brutality that followed the death of George Floyd. "My message to the protesters is simple: Don't Mess with The Alamo," he wrote. Bush repeated his warning during an appearance Monday on Fox & Friends, noting that anti-white supremacy slogans were sprayed on the Alamo Cenotaph on May 29. He said that the landmark had recently faced "an elevated threat from antifa." The San Antonio Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for information about any such threats. Protesters gathered at the Alamo on Saturday, but they were not there to voice opposition to racial injustice. The group was demonstrating against a plan to relocate the Cenotaph. The 58-foot-tall monument to the fallen Alamo defenders is slated to be moved to the south end of Alamo Plaza later this year as part of $450 million overhaul of the plaza. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick responded to Bush's comments Monday, tweeting, "Nobody has put the [Alamo] at more risk than [Bush] with the outrageous 'reimagining' plan, lousy management, lack of transparency and moving the cenotaph." After more than a week, Santa Fe police have identified the man shot by police officers in the parking lot of the Big R store on St. Michaels Drive. In a news release, Santa Fe police said that 23-year-old Joseph Galassini is now facing charges of aggregated battery and assault and shoplifting stemming from an incident on June 7. After being confronted by store employees for shoplifting, Galassini allegedly armed himself with a bladed weapon and injured a store manager and another employee. When police arrived, Galassini allegedly threatened officers with the same weapon. Two police officers fired their weapons at Galassini and at least one of them struck him, resulting in a non-life-threatening injury. Galassini was treated at a local hospital and was booked into the Santa Fe County jail on Friday. He is being held without bond. New Mexico State Police is investigating the incident. As restaurants around the country look to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic, outdoor seating is becoming a survival option, and local governments are helping by cutting red tape. If a restaurant in Louisville, Ky., for instance, had wanted to offer dining service on a patio before the pandemic, it would have had to apply for a permit, pay fees of $1,150 and then wait, for up to six months. Not so today. To help restaurants get back on their feet after the coronavirus-induced shutdown, the city has waived its fee for outdoor dining and substantially shortened the processing time for applications. The approval for outdoor seating, which involves neighborhood review of a restaurants plans, used to take three to six months. Now, the wait is a couple of days. Were loosening up a bit, said Louisvilles mayor, Greg Fischer. This scenario is being repeated across the country as local governments rapidly rewrite the rules about how restaurants can operate when they reopen after quarantine shutdowns battered their businesses. And the cost for restaurants to open outdoor seating can be as low as a few thousand dollars. France attracted 8 new job-creating investment decisions by companies from countries in the Middle East region, creating or maintaining more than 200 jobs, a report said. These investments came from the United Arab Emirates (4 projects), Kuwait (2), Saudi Arabia (1) and Lebanon (1), said the Foreign Investment Report for 2019 by Business France, the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy. Most of these projects involved production/manufacturing facilities (5 projects; 84 jobs) and logistics (2 projects; 110 jobs). Investments by Middle East countries were made in a variety of different sectors, with 2 projects in the transport/storage sector responsible for more than half of the jobs generated by Middle Eastern investment. France attracted 1,468 new foreign investment decisions in 2019, an 11 per cent increase since 2018. Jobs created or maintained by foreign subsidiary investments also picked up significantly, growing by 30 per cent to 39,542 jobs created and 4,778 jobs maintained in 2019, it said. Prior to the crisis, France boasted a number of key strengths including growth which was above the euro zone average, more than 500,000 jobs had been created in two years, and business investment was at an all-time high and acted quickly and decisively to safeguard these key strengths. France then attracted 19% of investment projects in the European market. Foreign investment in Europe was mainly focused on business services (42%) and industry (23%); being the leading European destination for industrial investment projects, home to 26% of manufacturing investments. France was also the leading European destination for R&D investment. The business creation rate reached a new record in 2019 with 815,300 businesses (including 428,900 microenterprises) created in France, 18 per cent more than in 2018. The number of business failures has fallen sharply since July 2016, symbolizing the strength of, and the confidence in, the French economy, as well as the improvement in Frances attractiveness. Frances attractiveness has remained high with 87 per cent of executives abroad (including business leaders from the Middle East) considering France to be attractive, which saw a 13-point increase on 2016, according to Kantar-Business France survey. Frederic Szabo, Managing Director, Business France Middle East, commented: In the coming years, France will continue to promote investment from foreign businesses across our regions so that they can create jobs, make the most of our talent and participate in the construction of this new French economy. Amine Chaehoi, Director Inward Investments, Business France Middle East, added: We are delighted to highlight the contribution made by Middle Eastern companies to the French economy. From an overall perspective, there are currently more than 500 companies from the region established in our country, employing 30,000 personnel for an FDI Stock of 9.7 Billion (Banque de France). We are committed to build bridges between Middle East and France, support business setting up and provide key investment opportunities. On the impact of Covid-19, he said the substantial and immediate support measures of the French government has helped cushion the shock of the crisis. They were effective, ranging from short-time working, which protected more than 12 million workers, loans guaranteed by the state, which enabled businesses to avoid bankruptcy due to cashflow problems, and help for nearly 2 million businesses from the solidarity fund. We have protected the economy; we must now support its recovery. It will be slow and gradual, and it will be particularly difficult for sectors which have been severely weakened by the health crisis, such as tourism, aeronautics, and the automobile. We will protect, support, and revive soon. In the coming years, France will continue to encourage investments by foreign companies in all regions so that they can create value, jobs, develop talent and participate in the construction of this new French economy while benefiting investors, added Szabo. TradeArabia News Service Britain has appointed a former top envoy to Hong Kong during the "umbrella movement" as its next ambassador to China, a move that comes as London hardens its stance on Beijing amid the row over its former colony. The appointment of Caroline Wilson " who was consul general to Hong Kong and Macau between 2012 and 2016 " was announced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Monday. She is expected to take up her ambassadorial role in September, succeeding Barbara Woodward. Wilson is currently the FCO's Europe director, in charge of Britain's new diplomatic relationship with the continent in the wake of Brexit. Barbara Woodward (left, with then prime minister Theresa May in 2018) is the current British ambassador to China. Photo: AFP alt=Barbara Woodward (left, with then prime minister Theresa May in 2018) is the current British ambassador to China. Photo: AFP "It is an incredible opportunity to be asked to represent the UK in China at this critical time," said Wilson, 49. "As major economies and leading members of the global community, the UK and China must continue to work together to develop our partnership. I look forward to returning to China to take the relationship forward," she added. The relationship is more stormy than she paints, as the stance on China is taking a hard turn within the British Parliament and Downing Street over issues such as 5G technology, coronavirus and most recently the situation in Hong Kong. "This is an important juncture in the UK's relationship with China, with both opportunities and challenges," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, praising Wilson as "an outstanding diplomat who will help us navigate the path ahead". While top envoy to Hong Kong Wilson reportedly suggested Hong Kong's pan-democratic lawmakers accept the universal suffrage plan proposed by the Hong Kong and Beijing authorities. That plan, however, was vastly unpopular with the public, as it allowed Beijing to decide who could and could not run for the job of chief executive, despite giving all eligible voters a vote. Story continues The proposal was ultimately voted down in the Hong Kong legislature, after 70-odd days of the Occupy Central movement, more commonly known as the umbrella movement. At the time when Wilson was finishing her diplomatic posting in Hong Kong, she expressed optimism about "one country, two systems". "In any place, there are challenges," she told an audience of Hongkongers in 2016. "I am absolutely confident that Hong Kong and China will overcome any small challenges and Hong Kong will continue to prosper and flourish." The China that Wilson will return to is different from the one she left four years ago, with Beijing expected to impose a national security law on Hong Kong. Under a new British government visa plan " which will be put in place when Beijing formally enacts the law " all of the 3 million Hongkongers who qualify for a British National (Overseas) passport and their dependents can relocate to the United Kingdom to stay, work or study for extendable periods of 12 months, creating a path to citizenship. "This would amount to one of the biggest changes in our visa system in British history," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last month. "If it proves necessary, the British government will take this step and take it willingly." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. The Texas Historical Commission is no longer expected to vote on Wednesday whether to accept the donation of a statue of Richard Dick Dowling bound for the Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site. The statue of the Confederate lieutenant has been displayed at Houstons Hermann Park since 1958. But it seems, based on comments from Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie and a representative of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, that a committee of the Historical Commission recommended it would go to Sabine Pass. A full commission vote was set for Wednesday. On Monday, Historical Commission spokesman Chris Florance said the vote is off. He said he couldnt guarantee commissioners would not mention the statue during the meeting, but the agency is working to have it removed from Wednesdays meeting agenda. If it cant do so in time, a commissioner is expected to move to table the item. Related: Plans to move a Confederate statue to Port Arthur appears stalled Florance said he didnt have many details about the situation, but the city of Houston was expected to make a statement regarding its proposed donation. Turners office, which on Thursday was the first to announce the planned move, declined comment Monday afternoon. Bartie said it appears that the Houston mayors staff has informed the Historical Commission of its decision to retain the statue in storage in Houston, as I suggested, until a later date. Bartie said late last week that the decision to put the statue in storage came after state Rep. Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, brought Barties concerns to Turner. Turners office still has not confirmed the change. On Friday the office released a statement saying it was assessing the situation with the Historical Commission, but that it was committed to removing the statue from its current public display in Houston. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox The Dowling statue and another monument, the Spirit of the Confederacy in downtowns Sam Houston Park, are planned to be moved as a part of the commemoration of the Juneteenth holiday this week. The Spirit of the Confederacy is planned to go to the Houston Museum of African American Culture in Houston using a grant from the Houston Endowment. Turner, in a news release last week, touted the moves as an opportunity for his city to heal. But it was met with an outcry from Bartie and other Port Arthur residents who were worried that the statues arrival would do the opposite for the city. Kaitlin Bain is the Government Reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. Contact her at Kaitlin.Bain@BeaumontEnterprise.com or on Twitter by clicking here. Don't miss a thing: Sign up for our Daily Headlines newsletter. A 911 dispatcher who watched George Floyd's arrest in real-time spoke to her supervisor over concerns regarding the four officers' behavior at the scene. In audio released Monday the unidentified woman tells her boss: 'I don't know, you can call me a snitch if you want to' before telling him 'all of them sat on this man'. She made the comments after watching the arrest unfold in real-time on security cameras position around Minneapolis. Floyd's death at the hands of police on May 25 has sparked protests against police brutality across the US. Additional audio from two 911 calls made on the day of his death revealed an off duty firefighter told a dispatcher: 'Hello, I am on the block of 38th and Chicago and I literally watched police officers not take a pulse and not do anything to save a man.' He tells the call handler: 'I literally have it on video camera. I just happened to be on a walk so, this dude, this, they...killed him so.' Another bystander told the emergency line officers 'pretty much just killed this guy that wasn't resisting arrest'. In audio released Monday the unidentified woman tells her boss: 'I don't know, you can call me a snitch if you want to' before telling him 'all of them sat on this man' George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police on May 25 has sparked protests against police brutality across the US Video of the arrest shows officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, using his knee to pin down the neck of George, who was black and handcuffed, for several minutes as Floyd pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. The three other officers, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao, have been charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter. All four officers were fired. In audio released Monday the 911 dispatcher tells her supervisor: 'We have the cameras up for (squad) 320's call, and...I don't know if they had to use force or not, but they got something out of the back of the squad, and all of them sat on this man. 'So I don't know if they needed you or not, but they haven't said anything to me yet.' Her boss replies: 'Yeah, they haven't said anything yet ... just a takedown, which doesn't count, but I'll find out.' Video of the arrest shows officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, using his knee to pin down the neck of George, who was black and handcuffed, for several minutes as Floyd pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter The three other officers, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao, have been charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter. All four officers were fired The dispatcher replies: 'No problem, we don't get to ever see it so when we see it we're just like, well, that looks a little different.' 'Sounds good, bye,' her boss replies. The widely seen video recorded by a bystander shows Chauvins actions and Floyds anguish as he gasps for air. It also shows Thao, who was facing the bystanders. According to the criminal complaints, the officers were arresting Floyd for suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a nearby store. FILE PHOTO: European Union flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's contribution to the European Union budget would rise by 42%, or 13 billion euros (12 billion) annually in the coming years, based on proposals from Brussels, the newspaper Die Welt said on Monday, citing government calculations. Welt said the latest proposals from Brussels required member states to pay around 1.075% of their gross domestic product into the budget over the next seven years, based on 2018 GDP, meaning a total volume of 1.1 trillion euros. EU leaders are due to hold a virtual meeting on Friday to discuss the bloc's budget for 2021-27, called the Multiannual Financial Framework, as well as the planned coronavirus recovery fund. German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said the 27 EU nations will have a first exchange on Friday. "It's of course too early to float specific numbers now," he said at a regular news conference in Berlin. Seibert added it had been clear even before the coronavirus pandemic that German contributions would rise substantially. (Reporting by Michelle Martin, additional reporting by Thomas Seythal; editing by Larry King; Editing by Paul Carrel) How many people could be at increased risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions? Credit: The Lancet Global Health An estimated 1.7 billion people, 22% of the world population, have at least one underlying health condition that could increase their risk of severe COVID-19 if infected, according to a modelling study that uses data from 188 countries, published in The Lancet Global Health journal. "As countries move out of lockdown, governments are looking for ways to protect the most vulnerable from a virus that is still circulating. We hope our estimates will provide useful starting points for designing measures to protect those at increased risk of severe disease. This might involve advising people with underlying conditions to adopt social distancing measures appropriate to their level of risk, or prioritising them for vaccination in the future," says Associate Professor Andrew Clark from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UK. Although the estimates provide an idea of the number of people governments should prioritise for protective measures, not all individuals with these conditions would go on to develop severe symptoms if infected. The authors estimate that 4% of the world's population (349 million of 7.8 billion people) would require hospitalisation if infected, suggesting that the increased risk of severe COVID-19 could be quite modest for many with underlying conditions. Guidelines published by the WHO and by public health agencies in the UK and USA identify risk factors for severe COVID-19, including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease. The new study provides global, regional and national estimates for the number of people with underlying health conditions. The authors caution that they focused on underlying chronic conditions and didn't include other possible risk factors for COVID-19 that are not yet included in all guidelines, such as ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation. Their estimates are therefore unlikely to be exhaustive, but serve as a starting point for policy-makers. The authors based their estimates on disease prevalence data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, UN population estimates for 2020 and the list of underlying health conditions relevant to COVID-19, as defined by current guidelines. The authors point out that the GBD prevalence estimates are likely to be higher than those from national databases, because they're designed to capture cases that might be undiagnosed or not severe enough to be included in electronic health records. They analysed the number of people with an underlying condition by age group, sex and country for 188 countries. To help determine the degree of increased risk, the researchers also provided separate estimates of the proportion of all people (with and without underlying conditions) who would require hospitalisation if infected. The authors calculated those at high risk using infection hospitalisation ratios for COVID-19 and made adjustments for differences between countries. Countries and regions with younger populations have fewer people with at least one underlying health condition, while those with older populations have more people with at least one condition. For example, the proportion of the population with one or more health condition ranges from 16% in Africa (283 million people out of 1.3 billion) to 31% in Europe (231 million out of 747 million). However, Associate Professor Clark cautions that the evidence needs to be carefully communicated to avoid complacency about risk in Africa: "The share of the population at increased risk of severe COVID-19 is generally lower in Africa than elsewhere due to much younger country populations, but a much higher proportion of severe cases could be fatal in Africa than elsewhere." Small island nations with high diabetes prevalence, such as Fiji and Mauritius, have among the highest proportion of people with an underlying condition. In Africa, countries with the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence, such as eSwatini and Lesotho, have a greater proportion of people with an underlying condition than countries with lower prevalence, such as Niger. Globally, less than 5% of people aged under 20 years, but more than 66% of those aged 70 and above, have at least one underlying condition that could increase their risk of severe COVID-19. Among the working age population (15 to 64 years), 23% are estimated to have at least one underlying condition. The prevalence of one or more condition listed on current guidelines is similar between the sexes, but the authors assumed males were twice as likely as females to require hospitalisation if infected. The authors estimate that 349 million people worldwide are at high risk of severe COVID-19, meaning they would require hospital treatment if infected. This risk varies from less than 1% of people under 20 to nearly 20% of those aged 70 or older, rising to more than 25% in males over 70. In all age groups under 65, around twice the number of men as women would require hospitalisation. Above 65 years, the ratio becomes less marked because women are over-represented in older age groups due to longer life expectancy. "Our estimates suggest that age-based thresholds for shielding could play a role in reducing deaths and reducing the number of people who require hospital treatment, but the choice of threshold needs to be balanced against the proportion of people of working age affected, as well as the health and economic consequences that might be associated with long periods of isolation," says Dr. Rosalind Eggo from LSHTM. [21] Writing in a linked Comment, lead author Professor Nina Schwalbe, MPH, (who was not involved in the study) from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, USA, says: "An increased understanding of risk factors, including the effects of social determinants and their interplay, provides an opportunity to target mitigation strategies and helps to allay the popular misconception that everyone is at equal risk of severe illness. As the authors note, it is time to evolve from a one-size-fits-all approach to one that centres on those most at risk. This will need to happen at both the individual and community level. Considering the relevance of social determinants, such an approach requires urgently improving communication about COVID-19; increasing access to health services, including palliative care, for those already socially vulnerable; and providing economic support to cope with the mitigation." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Andrew Clark et al, Global, regional, and national estimates of the population at increased risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions in 2020: a modelling study, The Lancet Global Health (2020). Journal information: The Lancet Global Health Andrew Clark et al, Global, regional, and national estimates of the population at increased risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions in 2020: a modelling study,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30264-3 Credit: Murdoch University Researchers from Murdoch University are using Fitbit-like technology to monitor the activity of flatback turtles to inform better conservation management practices. Flatbacks turtles are a much-loved Australian species, but they are considered vulnerable and poorly understood. Ph.D. candidate at Murdoch University's Harry Butler Institute, Jenna Hounslow is leading research to understand the foraging behavior of flatback turtles in Roebuck Baylocated near Broome, Western Australiato better manage and conserve the populations. Ms Hounslow said the project is providing valuable information to help identify unique foraging strategies and protect important resting and feeding habitats of the species. "The tag captures the turtle's 3-D body movements, such as flipper beats, and monitors underwater activity in great detail almost like an electronic diary. They also include a high-definition camera that lets us see life from the turtle's point of view like never before," she said. "This technology allows us to learn more about the behavior and ecology of free-ranging wild animalslike flatback turtlesthat would have previously been limited to studies on captive animals," said Ms Hounslow. Ms Hounslow explained we need to assess the anthropogenic threats, and the extent of them, faced by flatback turtles, such as marine debris, coastal industrial development, recreational vessel use and the effects of climate change, to help ensure they are not disturbed at critical foraging habitats. "This is why we first need to understand their behavior. However, as with any animal that spends most of its life underwater, it is difficult for us to observe their behavior for extended periods without disturbing them or biasing our observations," she said. Credit: Murdoch University Ms Hounslow said most scientific research to date has been done on nesting female turtles and hatchlings, due to ease of access from nesting beaches. "This represents only a tiny period of a turtle's life. They spend most of their life at sea away from nesting beaches and only the adult females return to their nesting beaches every 2-3 years," she said. "The project is in its early stages but we have already tagged 29 flatback turtles at Roebuck Bay, both males and females. In 2018, in collaboration with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and Yawuru country managers sharing traditional knowledge on Yawuru sea country, we caught the first adult male flatback turtle for scientific research. This male turtle weighed over 80 kg and was the first turtle tagged for my Ph.D. research." She explained, "We released the turtle where we caught him, and the tag popped off after a couple of days recording continuous activity and environmental data, giving us over eight hours of video and a turtles-eye-view of underwater life in Roebuck Bay for the first time." Ms Hounslow first gained experience using the biologging technology with other aquatic species, including sharks, through volunteer work throughout her undergraduate and honors degree at Murdoch's Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems. Ms Hounslow's research with the Harry Butler Institute is part of the North West Shelf Flatback Turtle Conservation Program (NWSFTCP), a much larger multi-year project administered by the DBCA aiming to conserve and protect flatback turtles in Western Australia. "Each day we're learning more about where and how much time flatbacks allocate to different behaviors, what the flatbacks are eating, as well as how they interact with other turtles and their habitat," said Ms Hounslow. "However, we still very much lack an understanding of what flatback turtles are doing at-sea, which is why we need to study all stages of an animal's life history, so we can continue to design effective conservation and management tools to keep these beloved underwater creatures around." Explore further New threat revealed for baby turtles The original run of NBC's "Star Trek" lasted only three years, far short of the Enterprise's five-year mission. The hour-long space opera was a morality play shaped by a mixture of genres, both science fiction and western. And while it may not have been beloved by TV executives, it certainly caught on with fans. With this in mind, it makes sense that its enduring cult popularity would have an effect on those fans, even 20 years after the original show's last episode. That's how long actress Nichelle Nichols -- Lt. Nyota Uhura on the show -- recruited for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (NASA) "Star Trek" first hit the airwaves in 1966, during one of the most tumultuous times in American cultural history. In the late 1960s, the United States experienced the sexual revolution, the Civil Rights Movement, draft riots, race riots, assassinations, anti-war protests -- you name it. The country was in the middle of complete social upheaval. "Star Trek" offered a world that transcended all of that without denying it. The social unrest of the 1960s was as much a part of the show's history as the war with the Romulan Empire. The show itself was created by Gene Roddenberry, who had served as an Army Air Forces B-17 pilot during World War II and then as a Los Angeles Police Department officer. He named the vessel in the show "Enterprise" for the ship that turned the tide of the war for the Allies in the Pacific. The bridge of the Enterprise was filled with cultural, racial -- and alien -- diversity, working together toward a common goal. Japanese-American actor George Takei was the ship's helmsman, Hikaru Sulu. Russian Pavel Chekov, played by Walter Koenig, was the navigator. And of course, the communications officer, Nyota Uhura, was portrayed by Nichols. But when she almost left the show after the first season, it was none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who convinced her to stay in the role. She met the Civil Rights leader at an NAACP fundraiser in Beverly Hills after telling Roddenberry she was leaving the show. "He complimented me on the manner in which I'd created the character," Nichols told NPR. "I said something like, 'Dr. King, I wish I could be out there marching with you.' He said, 'No, no, no. No, you don't understand. We don't need you on the march. You are marching. You are reflecting what we are fighting for.'" Nichols thanked King and told him she would be leaving the show. His face, she said, became very grave. "He stopped me and said, 'You cannot do that. ... Don't you understand what this man [Roddenberry] has achieved? For the first time, we are being seen the world over as we should be seen. ... Do you understand that this is the only show that my wife Coretta and I will allow our little children to stay up and watch?' I was speechless." Uhura was depicted as one of the ship's most capable and necessary bridge officers, not as a maid or other black stereotype. Nichols stayed on, finishing the show (including television's first interracial onscreen kiss), and then voicing the character in "Star Trek :The Animated Series," and portraying her in six films and a slew of video games. She, like many of the cast, became icons of the space race and NASA's astronaut programs. But it was Nichols who was actually employed by NASA to recruit new candidates for the upcoming Space Shuttle missions. Nichelle Nichols with Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space. (Nichelle Nichols/Twitter) When NASA first approached the actress, she gave the space agency one caveat. "I am going to bring you so many qualified women and minority astronaut applicants for this position that if you don't choose one ... everybody in the newspapers across the country will know about it," she told a crowd in Seattle. And choose they did. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Nichols' efforts were responsible for recruiting Guion Bluford, the first African American astronaut; Sally Ride, the first female American astronaut; and Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to fly the space shuttle. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. The House is poised to pass a D.C. statehood bill next week the first time in U.S. history either chamber will approve legislation granting the District full representation and voting rights in Congress. In announcing the historic vote Tuesday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer cheered the move as a victory for black residents in particular, as the nation undergoes a racial justice reckoning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police on May 25. This is not just an issue of local governance and fairness, it is a major civil rights issue as well, Hoyer (D-Md.) said. This was an appropriate time to bring a bill forward to show respect for the citizens of the District of Columbia of whatever color, but also to show respect to a city that has a very large African American population. The District has long been predominantly black, although the demographics have shifted significantly in recent years due to rapid gentrification and white residents moving into the city. The House will vote on the legislation June 26, one day after it considers a sweeping police reform bill that Democrats put together in the wake of Floyds death and the nationwide unrest that followed. While the bill already has enough Democratic cosponsors to pass the House, it is expected to go nowhere in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has expressed staunch opposition to D.C. statehood and even compared it to full bore socialism in an interview last year. President Donald Trump has also dismissed the idea, saying Republicans would be very, very stupid to grant D.C. statehood because of the Districts overwhelmingly Democratic leanings. So we can have two more Democratic Democrat senators and five more congressmen? No thank you. Thatll never happen, Trump told the New York Post last month. The House has considered D.C. statehood before, with a failed floor vote in 1993. Since then, there have been occasional rumblings about making the District the 51st state but no concrete action until Democrats took back the House and held the chambers first hearing on the issue in more than 25 years in September. Story continues But Democratic leaders said its even more important to put the bill on the floor now, especially after peaceful protesters were violently cleared from LaFayette Square by National Guard troops for a presidential photo op earlier this month. "For more than two centuries, the residents of Washington D.C., the District of Columbia, have been denied their right to fully participate in their democracy," Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Tuesday. "And in recent days, we have seen a disturbing physical manifestation of that injustice when federal agents and out of state National Guard troops were deployed against peaceful protesters in the District without residents' approval." Trump attacked D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Twitter after the incident and threatened to deploy more federal troops in the nation's capital. Statehood fixes it all. And now, the American people have a clear idea of what can happen without it, Bowser said at the news conference on Tuesday. Eleanor Holmes Norton currently represents the District as a nonvoting delegate. But if it were granted statehood, its citizens would be represented by two senators and one representative in the House, not five as Trump incorrectly speculated. For the first time, statehood will put an end to our oldest slogan taxation without representation,' Holmes Norton said Tuesday, noting the city's residents pay the highest federal taxes per capita and yet dont have voting representatives in Congress. Statehood ensures that living in the nations capital is about pride, not prejudice, she added. KILLOUGHEY based Cllr Danny Owens has taken the helm at Tullamore Municipal District Council succeeding Cllr Frank Moran from Clara. Cllr Owens was unanimously elected to the post at Thursday's AGM of the body with his Fianna Fail party colleague, Cllr Tony McCormack also elected unopposed to the Leas-Cathaoirleach position. Fianna Fail, with four out of the seven seats, have overall control of the body and were asked to consider electing a member from the other side of the house during the council's five year term. Tributes to the outgoing Cathaoirleach were led by Independent member, Cllr Sean O'Brien who noted he had to deal with a few very obstreperous members after the local elections. But you were very fair and patient with us in a year when a lot happened, said the councillor. Indentifying himself as one of the obstreperous new councillors, Fine Gael's Neil Feighery said the outgoing chairman had been mindful of the fact that it was the new members first term. We got a fair crack of the whip always, he added. Cllr Ken Smollen, Irish Democratic Party, who described himself as one of the three newbies, agreed the outgoing Cathaoirleach had been very fair and represented Tullamore and district very well. Cllr Declan Harvey observed that the first year of a new council meant a tough job for the chair but Cllr Moran had filled the role with great success. The outgoing Chairman fought tooth and nail for the people of Clara noted Cllr McCormack while Cllr Owens said a lot had been achieved during the past 12 months. Director of Services, Tom Shanahan thanked the outgoing chairman for the courtesy and co-operation he and the officials had received during the year. Reviewing his term of office, Cllr Moran said he had been delighted to see the second phase of the Clara Renewal Scheme and the first phase of the Village Renewal Scheme in Ballycumber come into effect. He also welcomed the extension to Clara graveyard and said he was delighted that new, fully tarmaced car parking facilities will be provided there. One of the major developments was the purchase of the priests house in Clara which has huge potential going forward, outlined Cllr Moran who also welcoming works on the New Road in Clara Bog. Welcoming the construction of houses at Raheen, he said it would be the first local authority housing estate to be developed in Clara in 20 years. Cllr Moran also paid tribute to the other members and officials for their co-operation and work during the year. Prior to Cllr Owens unopposed election, Cllr O'Brien said he had no doubt that in the five years of the council you [Fianna Fail] will give us the chair for one year out of the five. Cllr Feighery noted that Fianna Fail had the numbers but hoped that in future years in the interests of democracy that members of this side of the house will have a chance to fill the position. He said he was glad to see a fellow Killoughey man take the position and wished Cllr Owens well for the coming year. Cllr Owens, in a brief acceptance address, promised to be a impartial chairman at all times. We're in challenging times of staying at home and social distancing, he pointed out adding: We're living in a new normal that will affect the council in what we do. Cllr Owens said he looked forward to the completion of the Tullamore Town Enhancement Scheme and also referred to the Tullamore 400 celebration which will be marked during the coming year. If you really want to honour him, implement his inclusive ideology: SC Bose's grandnephew PM Modi-CMs meet: India records lowest death rate India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jun 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held discussions with Chief Ministers and Lt Governors of 21 states and union territories on ways to check the spread of novel coronavirus as thousands of fresh cases are being reported daily. This was Modi's sixth interaction with the Chief Ministers since the outbreak of the deadly virus. The Prime Minister claimed that the impact of coronavirus in India is not as worse as in several other parts of the world. The death rate is also low as compared to most other nations, he added. The PM also stressed that the economy has started to look up. 'Don't imagine stepping out without it': PM Modi urges 100 per cent use of masks Civil Aviation Minister says 'decision on the international flights will be taken in July "Because of the efforts made in the last few weeks, green shoots have begun to be visible in our economy," said the PM. Here are the Highlights: 2 weeks have passed since Unlock1, our experience during this time could be beneficial for us in future. Today I will get to know ground reality from you, your suggestions will help in chalking out future strategy In last few weeks, thousands of Indians returned to India from abroad & hundreds of migrant workers reached their home towns. Almost all modes of transport have resumed operations, still COVID19 impact has not been that huge in India as in other parts of world The recovery rate has gone above 50 per cent in India For us the death of even 1 Indian is unsettling but it is also true that India is one of the countries where there have been least deaths due to COVID19 To even think of stepping out without a mask or face cover is not right at present. 'Do gaj ki doori', hand-washing & use of sanitisers is of utmost importance. With markets opening&people stepping out, these precautions are even more important When India's fight against COVID-19 will be analysed in future, this time will be remembered for how we worked together and served as an example of cooperative federalism Because of the efforts made in the last few weeks, green shoots have begun to be visible in our economy Hawaii nursing homes have the lowest coronavirus infection rate in the US with only one person testing positive, officials said as the number of deaths in long-term care facilities nationwide climbs toward 51,000. State health department Director Bruce Anderson announced late last week that a single patient on Maui has been the only confirmed case in the state's long-term care facilities. That figure is stunning when compared to nationwide tallies, which indicate that some 250,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 at nursing homes and long-term care facilities. A Wall Street Journal analysis published Tuesday showed that at least 50,919 residents and staff at such facilities have died to date. That's about 40 percent of the more than 116,000 total deaths in the US - despite nursing home residents making up less than one percent of the US population. Healthcare Association of Hawaii CEO Hilton Raethel credited community efforts with keeping the infection rate in state facilities so low. 'Hawaii's long-term care facilities have been protected from COVID-19 because we've been successful as a community in keeping instances low in the state,' Raethel told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Hawaii nursing homes have the lowest coronavirus infection rate in the US with only one person testing positive, officials said as the number of deaths in long-term care facilities nationwide climbs toward 51,000. Pictured: A patient is wheeled into Cobble Hill Health Center by emergency medical workers in Brooklyn, New York on April 17 Hawaii officials credited community efforts with keeping the care home infection rate low. As of Tuesday the state has reported just 736 coronavirus cases and 17 deaths As of Tuesday Hawaii has reported just 736 coronavirus cases and 17 deaths - fewer than all but two other states, Montana and Alaska. Across the US at least 2,114,180 cases and 116,130 deaths have been confirmed to date. Hawaii's encouraging record at care facilities came to light as a grim blame game with partisan overtones is breaking out on the national level over COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents, a tiny slice of the population that represents a shockingly high proportion of Americans who have perished in the pandemic. The Trump administration has been pointing to a segment of the industry - facilities with low federal ratings for infection control - and to some Democratic governors who required nursing homes to take recovering coronavirus patients. Homes that followed federal infection control guidelines were largely able to contain the virus, asserts Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, which sets standards and pays the bills. 'Trying to finger-point and blame the federal government is absolutely ridiculous,' she says. Verma says data collected by her agency suggest a connection between low ratings on safety inspections and COVID-19 outbreaks. But several academic researchers say their own work has found no such link. Advocates for older people say the federal government hasn't provided needed virus testing and sufficient protective gear to allow nursing homes to operate safely. A White House directive to test all residents and staff has been met with an uneven response. 'The lack of federal coordination certainly has impeded facilities' ability to identify infected persons and to provide care,' Eric Carlson, a long-term care expert with the advocacy group Justice in Aging, told lawmakers. Pictured: Emergency medical technicians transport a patient from a nursing home to an emergency room bed at St Joseph's Hospital in Yonkers, New York, on April 20 Democrats have been critical of the Trump administration's handling of the virus on the whole - but particularly when it comes to care homes. 'We need a plan from CMS and we need resources to stop the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes,' says Sen Bob Casey (D - Pennsylvania). Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) asserts that care homes that followed federal infection control guidelines were largely able to contain the virus It's a sensitive election year issue for President Donald Trump, who's trying to hang on to support from older voters. With more coronavirus legislation possible this year, congressional Democrats are pressing for a national testing plan and additional resources for nursing homes. Republicans are mainly seconding the administration's arguments. During a recent briefing for lawmakers, Rep Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican, blamed New York Democratic Gov Andrew Cuomo for the high numbers of deaths in his state. A since-rescinded state directive that nursing homes had to accept recovering coronavirus patients 'ended up being a death sentence' in New York and several states with similar policies, Scalise said. On Monday, Scalise sent letters to Cuomo and the Democratic governors of California, Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania demanding they justify their policy. He echoed earlier, less forceful, comments from CMS head Verma, who has said state orders requiring nursing homes to take recovering COVID patients were 'not appropriate' and 'may have contributed to this issue as well'. Across the US at least 2,114,180 cases and 116,130 deaths have been confirmed as of Tuesday But Harvard researcher David Grabowski, who serves on a nonpartisan commission advising Congress about Medicare, says neither state policies, nor 'bad apples' among nursing homes, have driven the outbreak. Instead, Grabowski says it's simpler: Because the virus can be spread by people who show no symptoms, that means if it's already in a community, the staff can unwittingly bring it into the nursing home. Once inside it easily spreads among frail residents living in close quarters. 'The secret weapon behind COVID is that is spreads in the absence of any symptoms,' Grabowski told lawmakers at a recent briefing. 'If COVID is in a community where staff lives, it is soon to be in the facility where they work.' He proposed a federal effort to regularly test nursing home staff and residents, along with greater supplies of masks, gowns and other protective gear. 'The federal government needs to own this issue,' said Grabowski. He said his own research, along with studies by experts at Brown University and the University of Chicago did not find a relationship between facilities with low federal ratings and COVID-19 outbreaks. CMS head Verma said her agency has been on top of things from the beginning, issuing numerous safety guidelines, setting new coronavirus reporting requirements, and providing Medicare payment for testing residents. She says states have money from the federal government that they can use to support testing of nursing home staff. The nursing home industry says just one-time testing for every resident and staffer would cost $440million. Rep James Clyburn of South Carolina, the third-ranking House Democrat and chairman of a special panel on the pandemic, says the crisis in nursing homes should not be a partisan issue. 'Nursing home residents have died from the coronavirus in states governed by Republicans and Democrats, in big cities and in small towns, in rural and urban communities,' Clyburn said. Appearing before Clyburn's committee last week, Alison Lolley of Monroe, Louisiana, told of losing her 81-year-old mother, Cheryl, to COVID-19 in a nursing home outbreak this spring. The family was not allowed to be with her. 'My family was robbed,' Lolley said. 'Mama was trapped in a petri dish, and we were shut out. Mama died alone and our family will forever be scarred by this tragedy.' Aides said the executive action is the result of months of deliberation by a policing commission Trump established in late December, well before the killing of George Floyd, the black man whose death three weeks ago at the hands of Minneapolis police sparked nationwide protests. Trump intends to use a White House event Tuesday to call on Congress to pass legislative reforms, but he felt compelled to act to turn the anger in the country now into action and hopefully bring some unification and some healing, another administration official said on the briefing call. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 15:35:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BISHKEK, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan confirmed on Tuesday 100 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 2,472. The country's Deputy Health Minister Nurbolot Usenbaev told a news briefing that 3,624 laboratory tests were conducted in the country in the last 24 hours, which detected the record number of new cases in the country per day since the outbreak of the pandemic. He said that the number of new cases is growing every day, adding that it is directly related to non-compliance with sanitary standards and mask regimen. The official noted that of the new confirmed cases, 53 were identified due to contact with infected persons, 38 are unknown sources and nine are imported cases. One new death was also reported, raising the total number of fatalities to 28. Among the new infections, 14 are medical workers, bringing the total number of infected medical workers to 474. Usenbaev said that 34 people were discharged from various hospitals after receiving treatment in the country, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,847. Currently, 597 people have been hospitalized, and six patients are in intensive care. A total of 1,671 people who have had contact with infected patients are under medical observation and another 10,446 people are in home quarantine under the supervision of doctors. Enditem It also appears that Apple set conditions on how Apple Pay should be used in merchants apps and websites. (Photo | Wikimedia Commons) Brussels: The EUs powerful competition authority opened a series of cases against Apple on Tuesday, in a sign that Brussels was not backing down in its efforts to rein in US-based tech giants. The cases put Apple back into the crosshairs four years after Brussels ordered the California-based giant to repay 13 billion euros ($14.7 billion at current rates) in back taxes on antitrust concerns. The claimswhich Apple angrily rejectsland as Brussels is preparing historic changes to EU law that would beef up Europes ability to limit the size and power of so-called digital gate-keepers that also include Amazon, Google and Facebook. In the EUs first case, the European Commission followed a complaint brought by Sweden-based Spotify and others that accused Apple of making unfair use of its app store to promote its own Apple Music. The commission also launched an in depth investigation into Apple Pay based on concerns that the fast-growing and easy-to-use payment system is shutting out rivals. Gate-keeper Spotify filed a formal complaint in 2019 that took issue with restrictions by Apple on apps that dont use its payment system on its App Store. Apple takes a 30 percent cut from businesses using its store, which Spotify says amounts to a violation of fair competition rules. It appears that Apple obtained a gatekeeper role when it comes to the distribution of apps and content to users of Apples popular devices, said EU Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager in a statement. We need to ensure that Apples rules do not distort competition in markets where Apple is competing with other app developers, for example with its music streaming service Apple Music or with Apple Books. The European Unions in-depth investigations do not necessarily mean a fault has been found, and there is no deadline for the commission to complete its case. But the commission said it would pursue the case as a matter of priority amid complaints that the EU moves too slowly in clamping down on the fast-changing tech business. Apples anticompetitive behaviour has intentionally disadvantaged competitors, created an unlevel playing field, and deprived consumers of meaningful choice for far too long, Spotify said in a statement. We welcome the European Commissions decision to formally investigate Apple, and hope theyll act with urgency to ensure fair competition on the iOS platform for all participants in the digital economy, it added. Free ride Vestager also opened a full-scale probe into Apple Pay where authorities are worried that the company could take a commanding lead in a booming business. Launched in 2014, Apple Pay allows iPhone users to make payments at retailers by touching their devices to the same terminals currently used for credit and debit cards. But any company wanting to use the technology on an iPhonewhether a bank or the London metro systemmust pass through Apple Pay for a fee. Apple rejected the legality of the cases and hit out at its rivals. Its disappointing the European Commission is advancing baseless complaints from a handful of companies who simply want a free ride, and dont want to play by the same rules as everyone else, Apple said. We dont think thats rightwe want to maintain a level playing field where anyone with determination and a great idea can succeed, the company added. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. WASHINGTON After three Republican members of Congress charged that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was needlessly delaying distributing Medicaid funding to New York counties, the governor's administration announced it will soon hand out the money. Congress's first coronavirus relief bill that was passed in mid-March increased the share of Medicaid spending that the federal government will cover, called the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), by 6.2 percent. According to the New York State Association of Counties and U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, John Katko, R-Camillus, and Peter King, R-Seaford, that change to enhance FMAP reimbursement makes $2.5 billion in federal funds available to New York to be split between state and county governments. But a New York Division of Budget official said their office is not sure how much total reimbursement New York will get and that the state and counties are still totaling up eligible Medicaid spending. "After the federal government repeatedly changed the guidance related to these funds, were now making final determinations on how much each county will receive in enhanced FMAP and will release it as soon as possible," said Freeman Klopott, a spokesman for the state Division of the Budget. Klopott said the Division of Budget estimates counties will receive about 15 to 20 percent of the total reimbursement that the state gets from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In the state's financial plan, New York estimated it would draw $1.45 billion in enhanced FMAP funding for the first six months of 2020. County reimbursement would be on top of that. "Counties and New York City, based on the amount of county tax dollars allocated to Medicaid during this period, are expected to receive about $500 million of these funds when the state releases the local share of FMAP," said Mark F. LaVigne, deputy director of the New York State Association of Counties. "New York counties and the City of New York together pay $7.5 billion for the states Medicaid program each year." Stefanik, Katko and King wrote to Gov. Andrew Cuomo Monday expressing "deep concern" that counties have not yet received the funds although states could access the money as early as March. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "Counties in our congressional districts have yet to receive any supplemental FMAP funding despite the dire financial circumstances they currently face," they wrote. "This delay is unacceptable." Counties are not going to receive an FMAP payment from the state, an state budget official said. Instead, counties pay the state for their share of Medicaid expenses every year and this year, they will pay the state for a smaller portion of their spending. Each county must pay the States Medicaid bill first, before funding any local program or service, including the costs of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, LaVigne said. Both state and county governments have seen increased costs due to the pandemic along with drastic declines in tax revenue. Cuomo has repeatedly advocated for more federal aid to New York to help the state dig out. In past elections in Belarus, political battles have played out on the streets, with the government cracking down on protesters who were calling for free and fair votes or crying foul when the official results handed President Alyaksandr Lukashenka yet another term. The fight over an August 9 election is shaping up in a similar way: More than 100 activists, bloggers, and other foes of Lukashenka have been detained amid protests around the country, including potential candidates like popular vlogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski and opposition politician Mikalay Statkevich, who challenged the authoritarian leader in 2010 and was imprisoned for protests that followed that disputed vote. But this time, the threat to Lukashenka appears greater, as he struggles to tamp down anger over what critics call a disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic and growing concerns about the economy in a country whose government has long relied on subsidies from Russia in the form of discounts on oil supplies. And this time he is casting the net wider, analysts say, targeting a banker whose campaign to unseat the president in power since 1994 has been gaining momentum. On June 15, the Belarusian authorities took control of Belgazprombank, an almost entirely Russian-owned commercial bank that was led for 20 years by Viktar Babaryka before he stepped down to seek the presidency. That move came a day after law enforcement officers carried out searches and arrested 15 of the bank's executives, citing suspicions of tax evasion and money laundering. Babaryka, 56, who has not been arrested, has denied any wrongdoing at the bank and called the actions part of an intimidation campaign conducted on "political orders." Before a crowd of some 300 people at a signature-gathering event in the city of Babruysk on June 15, he hammered home one of his campaign messages: a claim that Lukashenka's government has covered up the full scope of the COVID-19 crisis in Belarus. The COVID-19 Factor "The truth is that each of us, when we leave our home, confronts what is really going on in the country -- the real mess we are in," Babaryka said. He accused the government of "deceiving its own people" by "telling us everything is fine." In March, Lukashenka dismissed the coronavirus pandemic as a product of "mass psychosis," and declined to impose measures meant to rein it in, such as lockdowns and social-distancing rules. Now the nation of 9.5 million has one of Europe's highest per capita infection rates, with more than 55,000 confirmed cases according to an official count. The economy has been hit by COVID-19 as well as simmering tension with Russia, which has moved to tighten the financial screws on Belarus as Lukashenka has appeared to resist Moscow's calls for closer integration, which many in Belarus fear could mean a loss of sovereignty. The World Bank is predicting that the Belarusian economy will contract by at least 4 percent in 2020, which it said would be the largest decline in 25 years. Against this backdrop, several would-be presidents are seeking to challenge Lukashenka, who has retained power through series of elections and other votes that international observers say have fallen short of democratic standards in every case. Well-attended signature drives in cities across Belarus have pointed up what may be unprecedented public dissatisfaction with his rule. Babaryka says he has gathered more than 300,000 signatures, three times the amount required to get on the ballot. That is probably an unpleasant surprise for Lukashenka, according to Kamil Klysinski, a senior fellow at the Warsaw-based OSW Center for Eastern Studies. Meet The 'Beetles'? "More than 300,000 is unprecedented in Belarusian terms for any alternative candidate," Klysinski said. "Lukashenka may fear Babaryka as a too-popular candidate, with quite a decent budget, a big and well organized [campaign] committee, and -- last but not least -- many connections with the Belarusian nomenklatura." Babaryka is not the only Belarusian businessman seeking to challenge Lukashenka. Valer Tsapkala, a former ambassador to the United States and the ex-head of a high-tech incubator in Minsk, is also a presidential hopeful. Lukashenka, 65, has largely dismissed potential rival candidates, comparing them to "beetles" feeding on fodder laid down by others. Public support for Lukashenka is hard to gauge because no widespread polling has been done in five years, Ihar Ilyash, a Belarusian political analyst, told Current Time, a Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. He asserted that informal online polls have put Lukashenka's ratings in the single digits and far below Babaryka's. Although Babaryka has not been charged with any crimes, the Department of Financial Investigation of the Belarusian State Control Committee claimed on June 12 it had proof of his involvement in illegal activity. Then came the June 15 announcement that the state had taken control of Belgazprombank, which is majority owned by Russian state-controlled natural-gas giant Gazprom and Gazprombank, an affiliate. The Russian owners had criticized the Belarusian authorities' searches and arrests at Belgazprombank the previous day, calling the actions a "gross violation" of Belarusian law and the rules of the Eurasian Economic Union, a trade grouping that includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. Facing challenges on several fronts, Lukashenka can little afford now to further escalate tensions with Russia, said Klysinski. He predicted the situation would be discussed when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visits Minsk on June 19. "I believe that Lukashenka is not interested in a new stage of conflict with Moscow, so they will look for some solution on that," Klysinski said. Lukashenka's actions have also raised concerns in the West, which has improved ties with Minsk in recent years to temper Russia's influence. On June 5, a group of UN experts expressed "serious concern about an intensified crackdown on civil society in Belarus." In May, at least 195 people -- notably human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers, medical workers and other members of civil society -- were arrested for having expressed their views, the experts said. U.S. Sanctions "We are gravely concerned that these arrests that are connected with the exercise of the fundamental freedoms of peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression have a chilling effect on civil society, independent journalism, and the unhampered expression of dissenting views," said Anais Marin, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus. On June 11, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration announced it was extending sanctions on several Belarusian officials, including Lukashenka, for another year. "The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons to undermine Belarus's democratic processes or institutions, to commit human rights abuses related to political repression, and to engage in public corruption continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States," a White House statement read. The move comes despite a recent warming of ties. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Minsk in February, the most senior U.S. official to travel to Belarus in more than two decades. In April, the two countries formally reestablished diplomatic relations when Julie Fisher was nominated U.S. ambassador to Belarus -- a position that has been vacant for more than a decade. Belarus has also bought U.S. oil in a historical first. So far, there has been no letup in the pressure on businesses and people associated with Babaryka. Independent Belarusian media reported June 16 that Svyatlana Kupreyeva, a member of Babaryka's campaign team, was detained on June 11 and is now being held at a KGB detention center. It was unclear what charges or allegations she could be facing. Ilyash said that Lukashenka was trying to keep Babaryka on a "short leashso that he does not convert his high electoral rating into protest activity on the streets -- that is, he does not try to organize mass protests." "This is exactly what the government is afraid of," he said. "This is Lukashenka's main fear." With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarus Service and Current Time Government-funded Imperial College COVID-19 vaccine moves into first human trials Details Category: Vaccines Published on Tuesday, 16 June 2020 10:00 Hits: 1670 Clinical researchers will begin human trials of a new coronavirus vaccine developed by researchers at Imperial College London. Clinical researchers will begin human trials of a new coronavirus vaccine developed by researchers at Imperial College London. LONDON, UK I June 15, 2020 I Beginning this week, the study will be the first time the vaccine has been trialled in humans and will test whether it is well-tolerated and produces an effective immune response against COVID-19. This latest milestone follows 41 million in government funding towards the development of Imperial College Londons vaccine. A further 5 million of philanthropic gifts, including from hundreds of members of the public, has accelerated the work. The trials will be the first test of a new self-amplifying RNA technology, which has the potential to revolutionise vaccine development and enable scientists to respond more quickly to emerging diseases. The vaccine has undergone rigorous pre-clinical safety tests and has been shown to be safe and produced encouraging signs of an effective immune response in animal studies. Over the coming weeks, 300 healthy participants will receive two doses of the vaccine. Many traditional vaccines are based on a weakened or modified form of virus, or parts of it, but the Imperial vaccine is based on a new approach. It uses synthetic strands of genetic code (called RNA), based on the viruss genetic material. If the vaccine shows a promising immune response, then larger Phase III trials would be planned to begin later in the year with around 6000 healthy volunteers to test its effectiveness. Ultimately, the researchers hope that if clinical trials are successful, the vaccine could provide protection against COVID-19 both in the UK and around the world. Professor Robin Shattock, from the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial and who is leading the work, said: The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed thousands of lives and had a huge impact on daily life. In the long-term, a viable vaccine could be vital for protecting the most vulnerable, enabling restrictions to be eased and helping people to get back to normal life. Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, said: I am incredibly proud the vaccine being developed by Imperial College London is one of the worlds front-runners. We are fully backing its research with over 40 million government funding, as part of our wider vaccines development programme. The fast progress of Imperials vaccine is testament to the ingenuity and tenacity of Britains researchers. If these trials are successful a vaccine will not only help us tackle coronavirus but also emerging diseases now and into the future. Kate Bingham, Vaccine Taskforce Chair, said: I am delighted that Imperial College have so quickly advanced to the clinical trial stage. Their self-amplifying technology has the potential to be a real game-changer, not only for a COVID-19 vaccine but for the development of future vaccines. Its a great example of the world-leading life sciences sector in this country. By backing Imperial College London and their alternative vaccine platform, we have enhanced the UKs vaccine portfolio, increasing our chances of identifying a successful vaccine. Notes to editors Key points: this is the first time the vaccine will be tested in humans the vaccine is based on synthetic strands of RNA, rather than a part of the virus the final vaccine consists of RNA strands packaged inside tiny fat droplets when injected, it instructs muscle cells to produce virus proteins. It does not create copies of the virus and does not cause changes to the cells own DNA the vaccine will be trialled in 300 healthy volunteers aged between 18 to 70 participants will receive 2 doses of the vaccine (1 dose at 2 visits) participants will not be intentionally exposed to live SARS CoV-2 virus at any point of the trial Imperial has founded a social enterprise VacEquity Global Health (VGH) to distribute the vaccine. For the UK and low-income countries abroad, Imperial and VGH will waive royalties and charge only modest cost-plus prices to sustain the enterprises work, accelerate global distribution and support new research SOURCE: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy CARMEL, Ind., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KAR Auction Services, Inc. d/b/a KAR Global (NYSE: KAR), a global vehicle remarketing and technology solutions provider, announces the launch of the company's new buyer and seller insights available on KARglobal.com. The site is powered by DRIVIN, KAR's data science and analytics engine, and features interactive dashboards displaying retail and wholesale trends from across the remarketing ecosystem. The insights were developed using DRIVIN's proprietary algorithms and KAR's broad portfolio of retail, wholesale and other industry, economic and behavioral data sources. Originally intended for internal use, the company is making this real-time information public to help customers navigate the ongoing recovery and keep their businesses moving forward. "KAR wants our wholesale customers to make the best, most informed buying and selling decisions possible," said Peter Kelly, president of KAR. "There's a lot of data floating around out therebut it doesn't have any real value if it's not actionable. We've distilled our insights down to several key state and national metrics to help customers determine where there is buyer demand, where there is seller inventory and which markets are the most vibrant and active at any given time." The site's interactive maps and graphs allow users to view state- and date-specific statistics, or to animate aggregate trends over time. Retail used vehicle insights include average days of used vehicle supply, retail used vehicle listings and sales as well as a comparison of 2020 inventory to 2019 levels. Wholesale insights focus on buyer engagement, displaying both aggregate and state-level buyer activity versus 2019 levels. Each dashboard includes a brief description of how to view, interpret and use the data displayed, and a more detailed how-to guide is also available through the site. "Data science and analytics are the backbone of KAR Global's progressive technology infrastructure," said Tom Fisher, chief digital officer of KAR. "By leveraging our exclusive upstream closed channel data representing 80% of North America's off-lease inventory, our insights provide the most comprehensive picture of market activity possible. We hope the simplicity and power of these insights help our customers in the weeks, months and years to come." The current suite of dashboards is updated weekly and provided free of charge to all KAR Global website visitors. The company intends to supplement the site with additional tools and insights over the next several months. The new KAR Global insights page can be accessed directly at www.karglobal.com/dashboards. KAR Contacts Media Inquiries: Analyst Inquiries: Tobin Richer Mike Eliason (317) 249-4521 (317) 249-4559 [email protected] [email protected] About KAR KAR Auction Services, Inc. d/b/a KAR Global (NYSE: KAR), provides sellers and buyers across the global wholesale used vehicle industry with innovative, technology-driven remarketing solutions. KAR Global's unique end-to-end platform supports whole car, financing, logistics and other ancillary and related services, including the sale of nearly 3.8 million units valued at approximately $40 billion through our auctions in 2019. Our integrated physical, online and mobile marketplaces reduce risk, improve transparency and streamline transactions for customers in more than 80 countries. Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, KAR Global has employees across the United States, Canada, Mexico, U.K. and Europe. For more information and the latest KAR Global news, go to www.karglobal.com and follow us on Twitter @KARspeaks . SOURCE KAR Global Related Links https://www.karglobal.com New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the birth centenary celebrations of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya in Kozhikode, Kerala. Addressing the function, part of Bhartiya Janta Partys national council meet, PM Modi said, A PM of this country was once asked for how long will you remain PM? He answered that the one who goes to Everest of this country was once asked for how long will you remain PM? He answered that the one who goes to Everest does not go there to reside but to make history. Here are the live updates: # A country such as ours - full of young people, should have youthful dreams and youthful pace: PM Narendra Modi # BJP's original character is based on principles of welfare of people. We have never compromised on our ideals: PM Modi # Other parties might have good ppl but have more good people than them. All our senior leaders made us what we are today: PM Modi # Deendayal Upadhyaya ji said, Muslims shouldn't be treated as substance for votes or looked down upon, they should be considered equal-PM Modi # Deendayal Upadhyaya has said, 50 years back, "Dont reward Muslims, dont rebuke Muslims, empower them,": PM Modi # Our Govt is committed to the welfare of the last person in the society: PM Modi # Today people discuss about Global warming, but Deendayal Upadhyaya ji back then used to say that we should respect our resources: PM Modi # On Mahatma Gandhi birth anniversary, we will ratify the decisions that were made during COP21: PM Modi # Our party was formed for poor section of society & all our initiatives today are focussing on down trodden people only: PM Modi # It is not true that all hope is lost; ideals are still alive: PM # There is a need for a discussion to bring in change in the procedure for elections in our country: PM Modi # BJP members should be converted into cadres: PM Modi # It is time for electoral reforms in the country, says Modi # Lack of credibility of political institutions a big worry: PM Modi # BJP's next National executive meeting scheduled to take place on January 7 and 8 in Delhi For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The price of pork in the domestic market has been experiencing a downward trajectory in recent days after the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) granted permission to local firms to import live pigs from Thailand. As a result of the move, the prices of live pigs in the northern region fell to between VND88,000 and VND93,000 per kilo on June 15, while those in the central region fluctuated between VND84,000 and VND91,000 per kilo. Elsewhere, the prices of live swine in the southern region hovered around VND87,000 and VND93,000 per kilo, while Dong Nai province, a southern husbandry centre, saw the price of live pigs drop sharply to VND87,000 per kilo. It is anticipated that the falling prices will continue into the coming weeks when the import of Thai pigs grows massively. Despite this, many local people remain concerned that the import of live pigs may serve to increase the risk of a reoccurrence of the African swine fever. Pham Van Dong, director of the MARDs Department of Animal Health, said the plan aimed at importing live pigs was originally deployed late last year, and Thailand was the only country that provided sufficient documents for Vietnam to fully assess the risks of importing live pigs from the market. Nguyen Van Trong, deputy director of the MARDs Department of Livestock Breeding, revealed that a number of businesses have registered to be able to import live pigs, one of whom plans to import between 100,000 to 200,000 pigs. In addition, the selling price of live swine will not be publicised, but the figure will hover at around VND50,000 per kilo. According to several local firms, since Thailand granted permission for the export of live pigs to the country, the price of its live hog nationwide has increased. Pham Tran Sum, Director of Hanoi-based Viet Duc International Nutrition Company, one of the main importers of live pigs from Thailand, said that the past three days has seen the price of live swine in Thailand rise by VND8,000 VND per kilo to over VND60,000 per kilo following a surge in demand. Sum expressed concerns regarding the sharp rise in the selling price of imported pork, which could reach VND80,000 kilo in the local market due to the various costs that exist in terms of transportation and taxation. According to the MARD, the total figure for imported pork during the first five months of the year reached more than 67,638 tonnes, representing an annual increase of 298%, with the majority of imports coming from Canada, Germany, Poland, Brazil, the United States, Spain, and Russia. A business representative also expressed his hope that the boost in imports from Thailand will serve to reduce domestic pork prices, noting that imported pigs from the neighbouring country will not lead to major changes due to the supply source of pigs back in Thailand remaining limited. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien forecast that pork prices will continue to fall due to a sufficient supply source locally, the restocking of herds nationwide since June, and the import of frozen pork. VOV Iran has said it will soon send France the black boxes of a Ukrainian jetliner its forces mistakenly shot down in January, Canadas prime minister said Tuesday. The black boxes are supposed to be sent to France soon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a daily briefing, adding that the coronavirus pandemic had delayed the handover. Were going to continue to put pressure on the Iranian regime alongside our international partners to get answers, to get justice, to get compensation for the families, he added. The prime minister said he raised the analysis of the black boxes in a telephone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky a couple of days ago. Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was struck by two missiles and crashed shortly after taking off from Tehrans airport on January 8. The Islamic republic admitted days later that its forces accidentally shot down the Kiev-bound jetliner, killing all 176 people on board. Tehrans air defenses had been on high alert at the time in case the US retaliated against Iranian strikes hours earlier on American troops stationed in Iraq. Those strikes were carried out in response to the killing of a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport. The black boxes are expected to contain information about the last moments before the aircraft was struck. Many of those on board the downed airliner were Canadian, and Ottawa has demanded for months that Iran, which does not have the technical means to decode the black boxes, send the items abroad so that their content can be analyzed. On Monday, Iran said the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen most international flights canceled, had slowed its plans to send the black boxes overseas. From the first days of this painful incident, we announced our readiness to cooperate in investigating the black boxes of the Ukrainian plane, Iran government spokesman Ali Rabiei said. He said they would be sent to either Ukraine or France to be read, adding: We will resume this process with the gradual resumption of international flights and the clarification of the results of the negotiations between Iran and others involved in the process. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to a new research published by Polaris Market Research, the ultrasound devices market is anticipated to reach over USD 12,556 million by 2026. In terms of revenue, the diagnostic devices segment dominated the global market. Geographically, North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue in 2017. The rapidly increasing geriatric population with several chronic diseases and the lower cost and relative safety of ultrasound devices are together boosting the market growth. Increasing awareness among patients regarding early diagnosis coupled with government initiatives aimed at spreading awareness among the masses regarding breast cancer, regular check-up during pregnancy and other health related issue are boosting the market growth. Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/ultrasound-devices-market/request-for-sample Several technological advancements such as enhancing image quality and increasing portability has made ultrasound devices accessible to a larger user base. Also, several private and public institutions are investing in research and development in the field of ultrasound imaging. Improving healthcare facilities and increasing disposable incomes in developing countries is further fuelling the market growth. However, stringent FDA regulations and lack of trained professionals have limited the market penetration of this technology. Furthermore, several developing countries prohibit the use of ultrasound for gender determination which in turn impedes that industry growth. Identification of newer fields of application and untapped markets in developing countries would provide several opportunities for growth in the near future. North America was the highest revenue generating region in 2017 and is expected to head the global market during the analysis period. The large patient pool, favorable reimbursement policies, well-defined government and healthcare policies, widespread adoption of remote patient monitoring and healthcare services drive the market growth in the region. Asia-Pacific is expected to exhibit the fastest growth during the forecast period owing to improving medical facilities, increasing disposable income and rapidly increasing patient pool in emerging countries such as China, Japan, and India. The types of ultrasound devices include diagnostic and interventional devices. In 2017, the diagnostic devices segment accounted for the highest market share owing to government initiatives to carry out routine check-ups and increasing adoption of fetal health monitoring. The improving medical facilitates and increasing demand due to rising number of patients, especially in developing countries, supports the market growth in this sector. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/ultrasound-devices-market The key players profiled in this report include Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, SonaCare Medical, Analogic Corporation, GE Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips Healthcare, Siemens AG, FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation Hitachi Medical Corporation, Esaote S.p.A. Samsung Medison, Shimadzu Corporation and Mindray Medical International Limited among others. These companies have adopted new product launches to gain a competitive edge in the market. Ultrasound Devices Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Product Type Diagnostic Devices 2D Imaging Systems 3D & 4D Imaging Systems Doppler Imaging Interventional Devices High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy Ultrasound Devices Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Portability Compact/Handheld Devices Cart/Trolley Devices Ultrasound Devices Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Application Obstetrics and Gynecology Radiology/General Imaging Cardiology Urology Vascular Others Ultrasound Devices Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by End-users Hospitals Diagnostic centers Others Ultrasound Devices Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Region North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany UK France Asia-Pacific China India Japan Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East & Africa Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/ultrasound-devices-market/request-for-discount-pricing About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com In brief: Following the Vive XR Suite announcement, HTC revealed its first 5G phone at an event in Taipei, Taiwan. The U20 5G is the successor to last year's U19e and is joined by the Desire 20 Pro, an updated version of the Desire 19+. For several years, HTC remained a top pick in the Android phone market and even gave the iPhone a good run for its money, thanks to a combination of beautiful, well-built hardware, complemented by an elegant, bloat-free custom Android skin with useful features and neat touches throughout, a bit like OnePlus' Oxygen OS of today. The company's golden era peaked around six years ago when the One M8 came out with its premium unibody design and punchy BoomSound speakers. Sadly, it all went downhill from there, and neither Google's acquisition of most of HTC's assets nor the latter's more interesting ideas of late have managed to save it from smartphone oblivion. The Taiwanese brand is now looking to make a comeback in its home market with the launch of its first 5G phone, the mid-range U20. Powered by the Snapdragon 765 5G SoC, the device features a 6.8-inch FHD (2,400 x 1,080) LCD, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. The exterior isn't exactly unique like the HTCs of old and could be mistaken for any recent Android phone. It has a quad-camera array on the back with a 48MP main lens, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensor, alongside a dual-LED flash. There's also a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and a USB Type-C connector on the bottom. The front, meanwhile, has a punch hole cut out for the 32MP selfie cam with the huge display around it running Android 10 underneath. It's all powered by a sizable 5,000mAh battery that supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 4.0 for 18W fast charging. Pre-orders for the HTC U20 5G are said to open on July 1. The phone will be available in Quartz Green or Crystal White and cost NT$18,990 (~$640). The company's second handset for this year is the Desire 20 Pro. This model uses Snapdragon's 665 chip and has 6GB of RAM with 128GB internal storage expandable via microSD. The display is a smaller 6.5-inch FHD LCD panel with a 25MP selfie cam. The rear borrows the U20 5G's quad-camera array and fingerprint scanner but looks slightly more interesting due to its striped pattern design. It also has the same 5,000mAH battery as its bigger sibling but is rated for 15W fast charging with Quick Charge 3.0. Other specs include USB Type-C at the bottom, alongside a 3.5mm audio jack and Android 10 out of the box. This model will be available in Crystal Black and Clear Blue colors with a price tag of NT$8,990 (~$300) for when preorders go live next month. North American Leader in Retail Solutions Officially Launches Regulated Pop-Up Cannabis Locations Across Canada "POPCANN's turn-key prefabricated approach provides retailers with a cost-efficient, secure, tech-driven, and ultra-efficient retail solution. This unique retail concept can be implemented anywhere in the world. Says Jake Neiman, Co-Founder and CEO of POPCANN POPCANN, the North American leader in prefabricated retail solutions, officially launches its unique turn-key cannabis retail stores in Canada. POPCANNs expansion includes Alchemy Canna Corp., a cannabis retail location which recently opened in Toronto, and several First Nations cannabis stores with the Peguis in Manitoba, and the Shawanaga in Ontario. Designed for pop-up and permanent installations, POPCANNs are a new type of real estate asset designed for the dynamic retail market. POPCANNs minimize overhead costs while empowering retailers and entrepreneurs to monetize in non-traditional locations. Engineered for maximum security, regulatory compliance and ultra-efficient operations, POPCANN enables legal cannabis to be more accessible in contemporary locations such as First Nations communities, seasonal towns, ports of entry, events, festivals and parking lots. These state-of-the art, tech-enabled, and environmentally-friendly retail structures can be installed in under 90 minutes. Richard Browne, President of Alchemy, says the current challenging retail environment begged this type of solution for the Cannabis Retailer. We pride ourselves on being Canadas first immersive cannabis retail experience, offering safe access to cannabis as COVID-19 lockdown measures are slowly lifted, he says. Through POPCANNs customized, prefabricated approach, we were able to open our store despite current lockdown measures, without having any additional worries about security or compliance. Jake Neiman, Co-Founder and CEO of POPCANN adds,Its time to rethink retail with smaller footprints and modern technology that complement online shopping. Our turn-key prefabricated approach provides Alchemy, and the First Nations Cannabis Retailers with a cost-efficient, secure, and ultra-efficient retail solution. This unique retail concept can be implemented anywhere in the world. Modular, secure, and tech driven, POPCANNs are customizable to every environment and customer-type. POPCANN retail stores can be developed, installed and operational in less than 3 months. About POPCANN POPCANNs are prefabricated retail stores designed to bring modern, efficient & sustainable retail footprints to all types of permanent & pop-up retail environments. POPCANNs are an entirely new type of Real Estate Asset Class, providing tech-driven, highly secure & environmentally friendly retail solutions. POPCANN enables all types of retailers and brands to monetize non-traditional environments, using a combination of small footprints, interactive technology, and plug and play installation options. Optimal sizes and layouts enable POPCANN to bring functional, high-end & efficient real-estate solutions to all types of seasonal towns, northern communities, parking lots and First Nations. The POPCANN Corporation, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, was co-founded in 2019 by veteran marketing and technology entrepreneurs Michael Girgis and Jake Neiman. http://www.popcann.com, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. For more information, please contact: Jessica Moran Principal and Founder, JESSCO (519) 494-5379 jess@jessmco.com New Delhi/Beijing, June 16 : China has asked India to restrain from crossing the border after three Indian soldiers were killed in action during violent clashes with the Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh where both sides have been locked in a face-off since May. The Chinese media quoted China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying that he has lodged "solemn representations with the Indian side and urged it to strictly restrain its frontline troops from crossing the border or taking any unilateral action that may complicate the border situation". China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian earlier said that Indian troops had crossed the LAC twice on Monday, "provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides". While Beijing mentioned that three Indian Army soldiers were killed, it did not specify whether People's Liberation Army suffered any casualties in the clashes. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the Indian troops on Monday had seriously violated the consensus between the two sides by illegally crossing the border. "China and Indian side agreed to resolve the bilateral issues through dialogue to ease the border situation and maintain peace and tranquility in border areas," the ministry said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office(SANTA CRUZ, Calif.) -- BY: EMILY SHAPIRO and LUKE BARR Steven Carrillo, the man suspected of killing a Santa Cruz, California, sheriff's sergeant this month, has now been charged in the May slaying of a federal officer in Oakland, authorities announced Tuesday. Authorities had said earlier they were investigating possible links between the two shootings. Carrillo, a 32-year-old active duty Air Force sergeant, was first arrested for allegedly gunning down Santa Cruz Sheriff's Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller in Ben Lomond, California, on June 6. Gutzwiller, a 38-year-old husband and father, had been responding to a call about a suspicious van and saw someone with guns and bomb-making devices, sheriff's officials said. The van driver fled, and when deputies tried to follow, they were ambushed with gunfire and multiple improvised explosives, officials said. Gutziller was killed and another officer was injured. Carrillo allegedly carjacked residents at gunpoint before he was captured, sheriff's officials said. On Tuesday, David Anderson, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, announced that Carrillo is accused of killing Patrick Underwood about one week before Gutzwiller was killed. On the night of May 29, Underwood, a 53-year-old federal law enforcement officer, was shot dead while providing security at a federal building in Oakland, near a Black Lives Matter protest. A second officer was shot and survived. The FBI launched a manhunt and released photos of the van they believed the shooter was driving. Authorities said Tuesday they believe the same van was used in the Oakland and Ben Lomond shootings. Carrillo allegedly shot Underwood while his alleged accomplice, Robert Justus Jr., 30, drove the van, Anderson said. FBI Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco field office, John Bennett, said Tuesday, "We believe Carrillo and Justus chosen this date because the planned protest in Oakland provided an opportunity for them to target multiple law enforcement personnel." "They came to Oakland to kill cops," he said. Oakland interim police chief Susan Manheimer said over 500 officers were on the ground in the city. Authorities also claim Carrillo used "his own blood to write phrases associated with the Boogaloo movement on a car he allegedly carjacked. "The 'Boogaloo' term is used by extremists to reference a violent uprising or impeding war in the United States," Anderson said. Carrillo is charged with murder and attempted murder while Justus, who was arrested June 11, is charged with aiding and abetting, prosecutors said. Carrillo also faces state charges in the Gutzwiller case. Justus made his initial appearance Monday and is due to return to court Friday. Carrillo has not entered a plea for the state charges and has not yet appeared in federal court. Last week, while the search for Underwood's killer was ongoing, Underwood's sister, Angela Underwood Jacobs, testified at the House Judiciary Committee hearing on police reform. "Patrick was a good man who only wanted to help others and keep his community safe," she testified. "I want to ensure the memory of my brother, Patrick, is a catalyst against injustice, intolerance and violence of any kind," she said. "Please do not let my brother Patrick's name go in vain." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Fandom and How Streaming Music Needs A New Future [MARK MULLIGAN] Fandom. Its the driving force behind all success in music. But how Western music companies drive fandom differs greatly from its Chinese counterparts and needs to change , says MIDiA analyst Mark Mulligan. By Mark Mulligan of MIDiA and the Music Industry blog While doing some research on the Chinese streaming market I came across this fantastic UX tear down of Xiami Music. I recommend you read it in full. The day before I found this also must-read article on Beyonces streaming strategy, which explains how she uses different platforms to segment her fanbase (Tidal super fans, Spotify engaged fans, Netlix, passive fans). These two articles may seem entirely unrelated, but they are in fact two sides of the same coin: fandom. Regular readers of MIDiAs output will know that we have made fandom one of our central research themes, most recently identifying it as one of the next five growth drivers for the music business. We have also discussed at length how Chinese streaming services have built businesses around monetizing fandom while Western streaming services instead simply monetize consumption. a new way to consider how to segment the music consumption journey Now I am going to take this thinking one step further by proposing a new way to consider how to segment the music consumption journey and how Western companies can become part of this new vision. Consider music consumption as three key steps: The song The (artist) story The fan no one digitally is owning the fandom Streaming services now own the song. Social is doing an okay, but far from perfect job of owning the artist story. But no one digitally is owning the fandom. Music fans have to hop from one place to another to join the dots. This of course contrasts sharply with Chinese streaming services which own all three steps in the music journey. Lets take a look at Xiami Music to illustrate the point. I have written a lot in the past about Tencent Musics portfolio of apps. Alibabas Xiami Music is one of the smaller players and its end-to-end value proposition is all the more impressive for that: this sort of functionality is table stakes for competing for audience attention in the Chinese market. Delivering the music is almost just the starting point for Xiami Music, wrapping the music with endless additional context and features including (but by no means limited to): music videos, lyrics, commentaries, reviews, news, comment streams, virtual tipping, badges, trophies, lyrics poster, you can even grow your own Tamagotchi. As Siew writes in his UX tear down: Every piece of music has its own entourage live versions, videos (the official one and the live ones), behind-the-scene footage, outtakes, remakes or covers, reviews etc. Xiami has taken a leaf out of WeChats playbook. Everything you need about a song, an album, or an artiste/band, you can get it on Xiami. No need for you to google for lyrics, head to YouTube for a video, or launch Twitter/Weibo for news. Time to stop leaning back Another insightful observation that Siew makes is that Xiami Music as with other Chinese streaming apps has a white background to make it easier to read and interact with lots of content. Whereas Western streaming apps have dark backgrounds as they behave as largely passive vehicles for delivering music: find your playlist, press play, close screen. There is a fundamentally different UX ethos: Western apps: lean back, listen with minimal friction Chinese apps: lean forward, dive in, interact Years ago (11 to be precise) I laid out a vision for lean forward music experiences, where interactive context and social features were built around the music. Now is the time for Western streaming services to push themselves out of their UX comfort zones and start to own stages two and three of the music journey. Lead, dont follow It is important that they do not all follow the same path. Differentiation or the abject lack of it is the Achilles heel of Western streaming services. The hope here is that they each pursue their own path and use this blank canvass to develop their own unique identities. Which will make it easier for record labels and artists to follow Beyonces approach of segmenting their audiences across different platforms. Of course this will take time. It may even take another 11 years (though hopefully not). In the meantime radio companies should be seeing this as a great opportunity to carve out a role for themselves in step two (artist story telling). Most have realised by now that they cannot compete with streaming but instead should compete around it. Get it right and radio could become the home of artist storytelling, a genuine complement to streaming consumption. Meanwhile, TikTok may well be best placed to act fast to own step three (fandom) before the Western streaming services can get their respective acts in gear. There is nothing quite like some fierce competition to focus the mind. Share on: GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Authorities in Guyana were under international pressure on Tuesday to certify an opposition victory in national elections even as the head of the Elections Commission argued that the March 2 vote was badly flawed and should be thrown out. The commission was meeting Tuesday to consider the report by Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, who said hundreds of people who were dead or has emigrated were recorded as having voted and that some ballot boxes were stuffed only with votes for the main opposition party. He said over the weekend that an audit found so many irregularities that the vote in the small South American nation cant be described as credible. But the Organization of American States issued a statement Monday dismissing his report, adding, His contention that the entire election be set aside on this basis alone is astonishing. It suggested that he has displayed partisan behaviour. It called on the government of President Davide Granger to begin the process of transition, which will allow the legitimately elected government to take its place. The U.S.-based Carter Center, which promotes fair elections, also noted that observers from the Caribbean Community found that the recount results are acceptable and provide the basis for a declaration of results from the March 2 election. The vote was widely seen as the most important elections since independence from Britain in 1966 due to the discovery of sizable oil deposits off the shores of the English-speaing nation of some 750,000 people. Following a recount of some districts, Grangers party was almost 160,000 votes behind the main opposition Peoples Progressive Party. Pro-government commissioner Vincent Alexander said Tuesday that the lead is made up of fraudulent votes that if scrubbed from the tally would see the governing coalition winning by about two seats. The leader of the party that wins the most seats in parliament becomes president. The governing coalition wants nearly 12,000 votes in 47 boxes from eastern coastal villages invalidated, complaining they contained only votes for the PPP and none for any other parties, which it said is a clear case of fraud. Lowenfield also reported that required supporting documents such as poll books and poll statements were missing. The PPP said allegations of fraud were fiction and accused Lowenfield of endorsing the wild, reckless and baseless allegations made by coalition. Guyanas parliament has not met for more than a year and the country is basically running with a caretaker Cabinet, unable to spend on large projects because there are no legislators to vote on appropriations. Guyana could become one of the richest nations in the hemisphere in a decade due to oil exports. U.S. supermajor ExxonMobil and partners began oil production and exports in December. The country has already earned $100 million from two shipments of a million barrels of oil each this year. Guyanese traditionally vote along racial lines, with coalition backeds by the 34% of the population of African descent and the PPP backed by the 38% of Guyanese of Indian descent. In is unclear who will govern the country if the polls are annulled. YouTube Back to top button Our first list of Black-owned restaurants and bakeries was so popular, were following it up with a second round. Many of you shared suggestions including bakeries, caterers and breweries operating in central Pa. Weve always written about the diverse food scene in the area, from Mexican, Italian and Asian establishments to fine dining, pizza joints and blue collar bars. During the coronavirus pandemic, weve highlighted hundreds of restaurant owners as they navigate these trying times. In the wake of protests over the death of George Floyd, many people want to support Black-owned establishments. Across the country, publications including newspapers are sharing similar lists in their cities. So for those who want to show their support, here are a few more establishments to check out. Harris Family Brewery Partners Shaun Harris, Jerry JT Thomas and Tim White have reason to celebrate. They recently raised more than $26,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to help their urban craft brewery - and the first Black-owned craft brewery in Pennsylvania - become a reality. One step into our taproom and you will be immersed in hip hop culture in an experience unlike any other craft brewery in Pennsylvania, reads their website. Last year, the partners received zoning approval from Harrisburg for a 3,000 square foot industrial building at 1721 Holly St. It will first operate as a wholesale brewery as they sell to bars and restaurants. Eventually, they will search and develop a second spot for a taproom. Mellie Bellies Harrisburg area, 717-805-5228 Mellie Bellies mobile catering brings southern soul food and barbecue to central Pa. Hit it up for hickory smoked beef brisket, smoked baby back ribs, southern brined grilled chicken and Blackened shrimp and cheddar grits accompanied by sides like cornbread, grilled corn cobs with honey, pasta salad and roasted red herbed potatoes. Mellies also hosts pop-up dinners with dates announced on Facebook. Owner/chef Bryan Sanders named the business after his late daughter, Melanie Brynn Sanders, who was born premature. The fight she showed day in and day out while battling in the NICU is the same fight I have in my heart to not only produce the BEST Southern Barbecue in Harrisburg, PA, but to let EVERYONE see and hear her name through, according to the website. Mels Rock N BBQ Harrisburg-based, 717-608-6535 Mels food truck zips around neighborhoods and business parks. Owner Felton Monroe brings his barbecue including Anna Maes smoked chicken, Uncle Rays smoked sausage and Big Daddys baby back ribs to the masses. Several years ago, Monroe fell into barbecue after working in Baltimore in property management as well as operating a concession stand selling funnel cakes and lemonade. He and a friend started selling barbecue at a portable stand along North Front Street in Susquehanna Township. The business is named after Monroes 8-year-old daughter, Mel, and incorporates his love of music. He plays old school rock music and blues. More Than Sweets by Kiah Hummelstown, 717-614-9589 Cakes from More Than Sweets are works of art. Owner Kiah has been creating the decorated masterpieces for weddings, 1st birthdays, baby showers and gender reveals since 2016. Her repertoire includes cookies, brownies, pies and other treats. I get to let my imagination run wild, and help others celebrate beautiful moments in life at the same time, she says on her website. One Love Barbecue & Catering 346 Hershey Road, Elizabethtown, 717-366-4184 One Love doesnt operate under the tagline Love comes in all shapes and flavors for nothing. The barbecue restaurants diverse menu gives diners ample options, from meats sold by the pound to platters, sandwiches and sides. Homemade sauces such as Carolina, Kansas City, Russian, Mumbo, Boom Boom, Kansas City and Georgia allow for countless combinations. The sauces also sell by the pint and quart. Treat yourself to burnt ends, the prized crispy ends of brisket. Dont forget sides such as coleslaw, BBQ beans, mac-and-cheese, sweet potato fries, collard greens and broccoli salad. Word is they are opening a second spot in Steelton at Petes East End Pub in Steelton. Its open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Raising the Bar Broad Street Market, Third and Verbeke streets, Harrisburg Bakers and partners, Casey Callahan and Timishia Goodson, opened the full-service bakery in 2016 inside the market. Everything is made from scratch using natural ingredients. Dessert bars are a hallmark item, but Raising the Bars inventory extends to other specialties including homemade breads. Pick up croissants, baguettes, cheddar and pepper boule or tomato focaccia, depending on the day. Its hard to resist seasonal desserts such as lemon tarts, pies and strawberry shortcake. They also sell picnic boxes for two with sandwiches, salads and desserts. For now, all items are available by pre-order for curbside pickup Thursday-Saturday. The full menu can be found here. Soul House Cafe 1852 North St., Harrisburg, 717-236-3500 Owner Andre Young puts his heart and soul into the city takeout cafe. Everything is cooked from scratch and a lot of love, he said. Its a small restaurant but does a hearty volume. From seafood such as shrimp and crab cakes to wings, burgers, subs and fried chicken, the restaurant attracts long lines, depending on the day of the week. Regulars know its worth the wait. During the coronavirus pandemic, Young said business hasnt slowed down and hes implementing online ordering. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and 1-11 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday-Monday. Texas Roadhouse - Susquehanna Township Talond Luckette is the 33-year-old Harrisburg High grad and owner of Texas Roadhouse on Union Deposit Road. Earlier this spring as the coronavirus pandemic hit, Luckette put smiles on faces when he shared free meals for Harrisburg police and fire employees and school district employees. Im from this community, he said. And I just wanted to find a way to give back in a time like this. They cooked nearly four cases of sirloins. "Probably over 150 pounds of pulled pork, 200 pounds of grilled chicken, 200 pounds of mashed potatoes, maybe 100 pounds of corn and our legendary rolls, too, he said. That Cupcake Lady Harrisburg area, 717- 557-1345 Alisha Perry is the Cupcake Lady. Throughout central Pa. she brings a celebratory flair to birthday, retirement and graduation parties through custom dessert tables. Perry sets up tables with centerpieces, balloons and cupcakes. Her signature cupcake cakes are decorated with candies, cookies and flowers to suit any theme or occasion. Her services also include photo booths, backdrops, balloon decorations and favors. Not having a party? You can still order cupcakes in a jar in flavors like banana pudding, orange creamsicle and vanilla sprinklelicious. The single mother of three boys launched the business by accident while helping a friend create an emoji theme party. The orders didnt stop. The nurse by trade took it full-time, forming True Story Events, LLC in 2017. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Western Union Business Solutions collaboration with ELITE offers business support and capital raising for fast-growing private companies Western Union, a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, has partnered with ELITE, part of London Stock Exchange Group, to offer a portfolio of services to companies in the U.K. through Western Union Business Solutions enabling them to propel growth, raise capital and access global and local networks. The collaboration under ELITE's partner programme enables Western Union Business Solutions to offer FX, cross-border payments expertise, access to a network of industry experts and relationship managers to navigate the global marketplace. Western Union Business Solutions will share leading global compliance expertise, help develop strategies to manage international payments, currency risk and get payments where they need to be in the most effective and efficient way. "We are excited to collaborate with London Stock Exchange Group's ELITE platform, to support fast-growing companies" said David Prendeville, head of UK foreign exchange services, Western Union Business Solutions. "The opportunity to assist these businesses in formalizing their payments strategies as their trusted partner is very exciting." ELITE is an international business platform for over 1,500 fast-growing private companies, both in the U.K. and across over 43 countries, to help them scale up, whatever their stage of growth. ELITE provides companies access to the skills, capital and networks they need to expand. ELITE offers education, business support, mentoring, networking and access to a community of U.K. and global investors, as well as ELITE's own funding platform. Paola Cuneo, Head of Advisors and Investors, ELITE, said, "We are delighted to be partnering with Western Union to help ambitious high-growth businesses in the ELITE ecosystem. This collaboration supports ELITE companies in their journey to expand their presence nationally and internationally. Accessing Western Union's substantial expertise will be critical in order to achieve their growth plans." For organizations seeking a partner to optimize cross-border payments, Western Union Business Solutions equips businesses with solutions to send, receive and manage international payments. Our extensive global network, spanning over 200 countries/territories and 130 currencies combined with our knowledge of local markets helps to enable businesses to manage international payments simply, effectively and efficiently. About Western Union The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. Our omnichannel platform connects the digital and physical worlds and makes it possible for consumers and businesses to send and receive money and make payments with speed, ease, and reliability. As of March 31, 2020, our network included over 550,000 retail agent locations offering our branded services in more than 200 countries and territories, with the capability to send money to billions of accounts. Additionally, westernunion.com, our fastest growing channel in 2019, is available in over 75 countries, plus additional territories, to move money around the world. With our global reach, Western Union moves money for better, connecting family, friends and businesses to enable financial inclusion and support economic growth. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005176/en/ Contacts: Cristina Hoole Western Union Mobile: +44-(0)7766 070978 Cristina.Hoole@wu.com Upgraded S-400s May Get Anti-Hypersonic Capabilities, Air Defence Specialists Say Sputnik News 17:56 GMT 15.06.2020(updated 18:08 GMT 15.06.2020) Entering into service with the Russian military in 2007, the S-400 remains the most advanced road-mobile anti-aircraft weapons system in Russia's arsenal, capable of shooting down everything from enemy aircraft and drones to ballistic and cruise missiles at ranges between 40 and 400 km. The S-500 missile system may not be the only Russian mobile air defence system with the ability to shoot down hypersonic projectiles, says Yuri Knutov, military historian, retired colonel, and director of the Museum of Air Defence Forces outside Moscow. "We can say with a great deal of certainty that the S-500 Prometheus, the upgraded S-400 Triumf and the Peresvet self-propelled laser system will be able to cope with the interception of hypersonic targets," Knutov suggested, speaking to RT. Dmitry Kornev, director of the Russian military portal MilitaryRussia.ru, agreed, saying that while "the ability to defeat hypersonic targets was laid down" into S-500's design, "with a certain amount of tweaking, other air defence systems, such as the S-400 and the Buk-M3, will also be able to shoot down hypersonic targets." 'Pleasant Surprise' The defence observers' comments follow remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a television interview Sunday in which he hinted at Russia's ongoing work to develop anti-hypersonic missile defence capabilities even before potential adversaries field the deadly new class of weapons. "I think that we can pleasantly surprise our partners with the fact that when they [get] these weapons, with a high degree of probability, we will have a way of combating against them," Putin said, speaking to Russia-1's Vesti Nedely programme on Sunday, while commenting on his government's work to gain a leading edge in the field of new strategic systems. Kornev explained that the ability to intercept hypersonic targets is a complex task, especially if they are capable of maneuvering in flight. This requires a powerful radar, digital signal processing system, high-performance computing equipment, high-speed interceptor missiles, as well as complex computers capable of separating genuine targets from decoys. Knutov, for his part, suggested that Russian air defence forces already have technologies in their possession capable of detecting and destroying hypersonic targets, including the powerful Protivnik-GE radar, which went into service in the mid-2000s, and the A-135 anti-missile missile system designed during the Soviet era to protect the skies above Moscow. At the same time, the retired officer emphasized that "a great deal of information on promising developments in the field of hypersonic systems is not announced publicly. However, the data we do possess allows us to conclude that the Russian defence ministry and military industry have a clear idea on how to properly concentrate resources into the creation of defensive and offensive weapons that outperform their foreign analogues in characteristics by at least 5-10 years," he concluded. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Drive: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Health Minister Simon Harris and Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority (NTA), launch a campaign to encourage the wearing of face coverings on public transport. PHOTO: Keith Arkins Up to 1.7 million people are now wearing face masks - but 66pc of adults are still not covering up. Men are most reluctant to wear face coverings or masks to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission, a new poll has revealed. Although there has been a slight increase in usage in the past week, most people are still ignoring the official public health advice to wear a face covering or mask in shops, on public transport or in other areas where two- metre physical distancing is difficult. Read More Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: "Face coverings are also strongly advised when visiting vulnerable people." It comes as grandparents are to get more guidance this week on the issue of minding grandchildren. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris yesterday refused to rule out making face coverings compulsory, as they launched a campaign to improve uptake on public transport. Commenting on how difficult it could be to make them mandatory, the Taoiseach said: "Some people have phobias, some people have breathing difficulties." Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the Department of Health's tracking poll showed a slight increase in usage in the past week, up from 28pc to 34pc. Speaking He was speaking as no deaths from the coronavirus were reported yesterday. A further 18 new cases of the virus were confirmed, bringing the total number of cases to 25,321. There have been no admissions of patients with the virus to intensive care since last Tuesday. There are 78 patients with the virus in hospital, including two admissions in the 24 hours before yesterday evening's briefing. The poll also showed there has been an increase in the numbers of people who fear there will be a second wave of the virus - up from 57pc to 61pc in the last week. Dr Holohan said that if people returned to mixing in the way they did before the restrictive measures were imposed, there was a risk of another flare-up of the virus. Other tracking evidence shows that more people are driving rather than taking public transport. Asked about the debate on the two-metre rule, and whether it should be relaxed in schools for the next term, Dr Holohan said the advice did not relate just to physical distancing. It is part of a package of elements that also includes ventilation, the size of the classroom and how long the school day was. Talks are currently under way between Department of Education officials and public health experts on guidance around infection control. It will include guidance on mixing between classes and what to do in relation to measures such as hand-washing facilities. Dr Glynn said: "It's too simple really to break it down to say it's one metre or two metres. "That is ... ultimately part of the decision-making of the Department of Education, but it's too early to say, and it's not for us to say." Questioned on reports about where Ireland stands in relation to fatalities from the virus, in comparison to other countries, Dr Holohan said it was too early to measure it. There has been no excess mortality here since the beginning of May, he added. Update In an update since last Thursday, he said there had been another six clusters in residential facilities. Five of these clusters occurred in nursing homes. There had been no rise in the number of clusters or in the number of cases in the Roma community, the Traveller community, in direct provision or among the homeless, he said. Meat factories reported one additional cluster with a further 11 newly diagnosed staff. Meanwhile, figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show an ongoing rise in the numbers of clusters in private homes. They rose by 25 over a day, up from 240 to 265 between last Thursday and Friday, according to the figures. Top Gear presenter Paddy McGuinness says hes fine after he was involved in a road accident while shooting the BBC car show in North Yorkshire on Tuesday. The former Take Me Out host was driving a classic Lamborghini Diablo when it ran over some oil and spun off the road, ending up in a field. The car, capable of top speeds of up to 200mph, is believed to be worth around 250,000. The presenter was taken for medical checks following the crash, but was confirmed to be unharmed in the incident. LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: Paddy McGuinness attends the ITV Palooza! held at The Royal Festival Hall on October 16, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/WireImage) In a video posted on Instagram, McGuinness said it had been a mad old day of filming in difficult weather conditions. He added: I finally got to drive one of my fantasy childhood cars, the Lamborghini Diablo, but it turns out 32-year-old supercars dont like torrential rain. Whod have thought? If you have ever owned a Diablo or driven one, you will know just as well as me, oh my God, she can be a cruel mistress. He added: I am totally fine and fingers crossed we get the car up and running again because it is an absolute beauty. McGuinness said that he was going to have a cup of tea, a paracetemol and a cry following the incident. A BBC statement to The Sun said: During Top Gear filming in North Yorkshire today presenter Paddy McGuinnesss car skidded and left the road, coming to an almost immediate stop. "Paddy was quickly taken to the production unit base for medical checks and is unhurt. Top Gear filming in the Lancashire/Yorkshire counties tomorrow. Cars being prepared for tomorrows filming.. #Team1TacOps #HO46 pic.twitter.com/CvQzASFBuU Lancs Road Police (@LancsRoadPolice) June 15, 2020 "No other vehicles were involved and the Police, who had been monitoring filming, were quickly on the scene to assist. Story continues "Safety on Top Gear is always the production teams priority and the vehicles speed at the time was within the roads limit of 60mph. Read more: McGuinness has therapy for fear of flying A video shot at the crash scene showed the supercar being covered up with a tarpaulin afterwards in a field. McGuinness Top Gear co-presenters Andrew Flintoff and Chris Harris were not believed to be at the site of the crash. Photos shared by Lancs Road Police on Twitter showed the Lamborghini would be appearing alongside a Jaguar XJ220 and a Ferrari F40 in the sequence for the show which will be broadcast later this year. LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Paddy McGuinness, The Stig and Chris Harris attend the "Top Gear" World TV Premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on January 20, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) Following the crash, a North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police attended a collision involving a Lamborghini Diablo, which crashed into a field after the driver lost control on the B6255 near Ribblehead. "The incident happened at around 3pm today. A Roads Policing Group officer noticed the incident while patrolling the route, which has a high number of serious and fatal collisions. "Fortunately, nobody was injuries and no other vehicles were involved." Paddy McGuinness joined Top Gear as host for the 27th series in 2019. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UKs Up Close and Socially Distant Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed an order to release the newly-revised regulations on the education in military academies. Focusing on nurturing a new type of high-quality and professional military talents, the regulations aim to regulate every aspect and the whole operation process of the education in military academies. With 11 chapters and 90 provisions, the regulations have implemented the requirements of enhancing the political loyalty of the armed forces, defined the roles and tasks of the academies' teaching and scientific research work, and specified the requirements for the leaders, faculty members and cadets in the academies. The regulations will also help focus all teaching activities on improving the capabilities to fight and win, and offer a strong guarantee to cultivate revolutionary officers and soldiers of the new era with faith, ability, courage and integrity. With an emphasis on reform and innovation, the regulations will boost the modernization of military academies' educational ideas, policies, content, methods and administration. The regulations will go into effect on July 1, 2020. Senior Labour ministers are playing down any influence coalition partner New Zealand First had on changes to firearms law, soon to be ushered through Parliament. After months of negotiating with the coalition partner, Police Minister Stuart Nash now appears to have the numbers to progress the second tranche of reforms it had hoped to have passed by March 15. The Arms Legislation Bill includes a firearms registry, harsher penalties and a warning flag system around a fit and proper person test. Last year, a law making most semi-automatic firearms illegal passed with near-unanimous political support in the wake of the mosque attacks that left 51 people dead. National has refused to support this second bill, saying it goes too far. It is not yet clear whether that position will change with the new amendments. National's opposition meant Nash had to work to get New Zealand First on board. That party had been calling for an independent arms agency, rights for farmers dealing with pest control, and exemptions for sporting shooters. Today, Nash released a raft of changes which he says are in response to concerns raised during the select committee process. "The coalition government has further agreed to establish an independent entity to take over firearms licensing and administration", he says, an idea that was proposed by Justice Sir Thomas Thorp in 1997 when he reviewed the firearms laws. Farmers will now not have to set up a company to request an endorsement "to use prohibited firearms for pest control". The national register will be delayed by a year, both to ensure good design and allow for time for the independent entity to be set up. Nash was asked whether the changes were made under pressure from New Zealand First. "Oh I wouldn't say pressure at all, I think we've worked constructively actually." It was "purely hypothetical" to comment on whether the legislation would have ended up like this without input from the coalition partner, he says "I'm very happy with where we landed," he told reporters. When asked how much credit New Zealand First could take, Nash said he was "more than happy for them to say we worked absolutely constructively, in coalition form, to come up with a piece of legislation that I think is fantastic". Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was also asked whether the changes had been made to get New Zealand First on board. "Ultimately for every piece of legislation... we will work through issues where there are different perspectives", adding many of the changes had been flagged in previous reviews and were supported by those who made submissions. She was "not going to diminish the role that support parties play in highlighting issues they think should be dealt with in a particular way". "Of course they had a voice that made a difference, but it so happened it was on areas where there was agreement as well". Ardern acknowledged New Zealand First had been involved in the process but says the government had "never moved on anything we felt undermined the ultimate goal of the legislation." Jane Patterson/RNZ EgyptAir CEO predicts occupancy rates at 20-30 percent upon the resumption of regular air traffic if no surge in infections is reported EgyptAir will not hike ticket prices in the current period or after the coronavirus crisis ends, the chairman of the national carrier said on Tuesday. Speaking at a press conference, Roshdy Zakaria said there would be no surge in fares, adding that such increases would have been implemented if social distancing rules were applied, which the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has opposed. He said recent reduction packages to boost inbound tourism upon the resumption of flights in July would allow for higher passenger turnout, helping to lower prices. He predicted occupancy rates at 20-30 percent upon the resumption of regular air traffic, if no surge in infections is reported, with occupancy rates edging up gradually to 50 percent by the end of 2020. The national airline is mainly operating flights to repatriate Egyptians abroad and has returned around 57,000 nationals since the outbreak. Limited flights have been operated to a few international destinations this month. That week, Egypt said it will introduce a number of incentives to encourage inbound tourism upon the gradual resumption of international flights. It will offer a 50 percent discount on landing and parking fees and a 20 percent discount on ground services in South Sinai, Hurghada and Matrouh airports, according to an official statement. Zakaria said some trips would be combined in case of no demand, depending on booking rates, but it was too early to determine if such a move would be implemented. The airline has opened booking for all European destinations it normally flies to, as well as the US, the Middle East, the Gulf, China and, in Africa, Sudan only, he said. Egypt will gradual resume regular international flights at all its airports starting from July 1, with exemptions for foreign tourists, who will only be allowed into three coastal governorates as part of tour groups, to help offset the vital sectors losses amid the pandemic. It also announced a number of measures, including requiring travellers from countries with high rates of coronavirus infections to submit PCR test results before traveling to prove they are coronavirus-free, amid other health protocols on board. New loan The air travel sectors losses, which amount to billions of Egyptian pounds, have pushed private and national airlines to seek government aid. Zakaria said EgyptAir has started talks with the National Bank of Egypt and Banque du Caire on a EGP 3 billion loan, with the deal set to be finalised next month. The loan aims to help the carriers repay external loans in the coming months amid a stall in revenues due to the crisis, Zakaria said, estimating losses by the company at EGP 3 billion since the outbreak began. Leasing of the airlines fleet has been delayed for three to six months until the end of the crisis, he said. Egypt said in May it would provide EGP 2 billion to EgyptAir to deal with the pandemic's repercussions. In addition, the executive chairman of Egyptian Holding Company for Airport and Air Navigation (EHCAA), Mohamed Said Mahrous, said the losses suffered by its subsidiaries due to the suspension of air traffic for the past three months amount to EGP 696 million. Egypt hopes that the resumption of regular flights starting next month will boost its ailing tourism sector, an essential source of foreign currency. The government has so far allowed over 200 hotels nationwide to reopen at reduced occupancy rates and while adhering to new safety protocols, as part of efforts to revive the sector. The permitted occupancy was initially set at 25 percent of usual capacity, but was increased to 50 percent earlier this month. * 1 USD = 16.12 EGP according to the exchange rate of the Central Bank of Egypt on Tuesday Search Keywords: Short link: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) The government eyes completing the distribution of cash assistance to the beneficiaries of the social amelioration program by June 23, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Tuesday. The distribution began in Benguet province on Tuesday, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya told a Laging Handa briefing. Sunod-sunod na po ito hanggang sa (This will go on until) June 23, Malaya added. In a separate briefing, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista said nearly 500 waitlisted beneficiaries have received their cash aid. "Ang unang payout ay sinagawa sa Cordillera Administrative Region kung saan 266 na pamilya mula sa Kapangan, Benguet at 290 na pamilya mula sa Baguio City ang nakatanggap ng kanilang 5,500 na ayuda," Bautista said Tuesday. [Translation: We did the first payout in the Cordillera Administrative Region, where 266 families from Kapangan, Benguet and 290 families from Baguio City received their 5,500 cash aid.] The government will tap an online cash system called ReliefAgad for beneficiaries who wish to have their subsidy transferred to their bank accounts, PayMaya or GCash accounts. "Hinihikayat namin ang mga benepisaryo na nakatanggap ng unang tranche na may smartphone at connection sa internet na i-encode ang kanilang mga detalye sa sinasabing plataporma kapag sila ay nakatira sa mga inanunsiyong ECQ areas noong April 30 at May 2," Bautista said. [Translation: We encourage beneficiaries who received the first tranche of cash aid, who have a smartphone and internet connection, to encode their details on the said platform if they live in the announced areas under ECQ last April 30 and May 2.] Meanwhile, financial assistance will be delivered to the houses of those without online payment accounts. Malaya said some 4.2 billion families in the waitlist qualified for the subsidy. Malacanang announced last month the inclusion of five million more low-income families who were left out in the distribution, while most parts of the country were still under the enhanced community quarantine. Initially, the government sought to provide 5,000 to 8,000 each to 18 million low income families a month for two months. The amount will depend on the prevailing minimum wage in their respective regions. President Rodrigo Duterte said in his 11th report to Congress that as of June 12, 98 percent of the beneficiaries have been able to receive the first tranche of cash aid, whose implementation was marred with delays and corruption allegations. The DILG reported that 649 individuals are facing criminal complaints for supposed anomalies in the distribution of financial assistance from the social amelioration program. Of this number, 260 are local officials. The department also ordered some mayors to explain why they failed to deliver aid on time. Nakapaglabas din po kami ng show cause orders laban sa mga mayors dahil sa ibat ibang dahilan," Malaya said. "Iyong iba, dahil sa kabagalan sa pamimigay ng cash aid. [Translation: We issued show cause orders, some over the delay in delivery of cash aid.] Lawmakers seek probe on delayed cash distribution House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and other House leaders filed a resolution to investigate the distribution of cash assistance to families considered to have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Representatives Cayetano, Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Jr., Abraham Tolentino, Raneo Abu, Dan Fernandez, Neptali Gonzales II, Cristal Bagatsing, Ruth Mariano-Hernandez and Manuel Luis Lopez noted complaints from local governments against the DSWDs implementation of the social amelioration program. Complaints were not limited to the speed of distribution, but also to the number of recipients, they said in House Resolution No. 973. WESTLAKE, Ohio -- The Community West Foundation appointed Martin Uhle as its president and CEO in January. What a time to take hold of a non-profit and try to help people. How to decide who to help, and will there be ramifications for helping one or not helping another in this unusual time? To answer questions like this right now, let alone function with a myriad of decisions to make when so many are suffering, takes someone quite special. The CWF board of directors, it appears, was lucky to get a yes to the elevation of a fellow board member -- an 11-year board member, no less. Uhle has a super productive background in the non-profit field, but that isnt where he started; its just where he finally realized he needed to be. He is Ohio born and bred (West Park and Fairview Park). He has a masters degree in business administration from Baldwin Wallace University and also a bachelors degree in business from Wittenburg University. At Wittenburg, he followed in the footsteps of his dad and brother, and also watched his sons graduate from there. All that business education took him into the for-profit world in a big way. He held senior leadership positions, such as president and CEO of Vantage Financial Group, president and COO of Heartland Payment Systems and senior vice president with KeyBank. Perhaps the business education was only preparing him because, clearly, something else was propelling him in a different direction. Perhaps it was his father, a Lutheran minister from West Park. At one time, Uhle said, he considered a divinity degree. Or perhaps it all led to him giving it all up -- the for-profit world, that is. He took time off that his success in business allowed him to do. He rented a small office above Martins Deli on Detroit Road in Rocky River just so he could take time to think. I took a year of thought and planning, he said. I knew I had enough of the hard, cold business world. I would never knock it. It was very good to me. But, given the chance, I was happy to move away from generating profit for shareholders and take a chance on pursuing a desire to be of service. Uhle took a part-time position at Messiah Lutheran Church at West 215th Street and Lorain Avenue in Fairview Park. With his business and financial knowledge, he ran the Pierstorf Memorial Fund established by the Pierstorf brothers. One died, he said, and left $5 million to a fund. The only thing the church could do with it was to make loans for Lutheran kids to go to college interest free," Uhle said. The other brother died in 2016 and left the fund another $17 million. Now we were able to make more and more loans. Last year, about $800,000 worth," Uhle said. The desire to provide service was growing in Uhle -- and others were recognizing it in him. They then asked me to be superintendent of Lutheran East and West, he said. I worked harder there than ever in my life, with a salary about a third of what I normally would make. But I loved every minute of it. It was part of opening myself to service to the community. And there it is. His fathers influence as a minister, the cobbling together of a temporary life of financial success in order to, he finally realized, truly be of service to others. Now he knows for sure where he is. I will do this for a very long time, I think, he said. As fortune would have it, the former board president and CEO of the Community West Foundation decided to retire last year. I am so fortunate to be at Community West, Uhle said. I was on the board for 11 years and learned so much from the prior director, who was here for 20 years -- David Dombrowiak. He was the original director of the foundation. To follow in his footsteps was a real honor. He set us up for a very long future. So, the Community West Foundation continues to provide grants to countless organizations that need funding. But Uhle is always looking for something more, something related to, more intensely, even the Bible verses he quotes over and over again as the mission of the foundation: Matthew 25:35-40. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Now Uhle is turning his sights on prisons. He would probably say, because he was told to. Regarding the new effort, Uhle said: We were not doing anything with prisons. Now we just made a grant to True Freedom Ministries. We help fund a program to help pre-releases, within 3 to 6 months, to help them get jobs and job training. He said the foundation is now working with Lorain County prisons, as well as those in western Cuyahoga County. He notes: They were led to them. Indeed. They are also working on a bail project, Uhle said. If we can help poor people make small bail and stay out of jail, then we dont have to fund homeless problems later. Before we ended the interview, Uhle made sure to tell me he wanted only one thing for sure in the story: "to acknowledge my outstanding board. They are the fuel for our fire here and keep us motivated, he said, and provide funding, and are generous with their time and talents in their churches and other groups. The staff at Community West is also very active, and I appreciate them welcoming me to the team. The board members include Mark Bacon, Rocky River Mayor Pam Bobst, The Rev. David Buegler, Fred DeGrandis, Vicki Foster, Michael Fruchey, Christopher Harrington, David Hessler, Barbara Jacobus, Steven Lamb, Amy McMaken, George Miller, Jeffrey Moritz, William Oatey, Joyesh Raj, Victor Rauser, Steven Rini, Michael Romanello, Edmund Sabanegh and Robert Warren. Uhle has been married to his high school sweetheart, Laura, for 34 years. They are members of Messiah Lutheran Church in Fairview Park and reside in Rocky River. The couple have two adult sons, Ryan and Steven. Community West Foundation is located at 800 Sharon Drive in Westlake. For more information, visit https://www.communitywestfoundation.org/ or phone 440-360-7370. Read more from the West Shore Sun. Grab's plan to discharge several hundred employees is meant to deal with the impact that the pandemic has caused According to CEO Anthony Tan, the coronavirus outbreak has caused such great damage to the company's performance, that Grab has been carrying out these adjustments to deal with the consequences. In addition to diminishing its personnel, the Singapore-based firm also intends to eliminate some unnecessary projects, aiming to restructure the staff members for its delivery business. Over the past few months, we reviewed all costs, cut back on discretionary spending, and implemented pay cuts for senior management. Despite all this, we recognise that we still have to become leaner as an organisation to tackle the challenges of the post-pandemic economy, Tan noted in an announcement. During the pandemic's peak in April, Tan said that COVID-19 is the biggest catastrophe Grab has ever seen in its eight years of operation. At the time, Tan warned about possible future decisions related to financial restructuring and capital management of the company. In the announcement, Tan said that the axed staff members received the related news via email. Moreover, information regarding insurance and severance packages are specified in the emails. I assure you that this will be the last organisation-wide layoff this year and I am confident, as we execute against our refreshed plans to meet our targets, we will not have to go through this painful exercise again in the foreseeable future, said Tan. Grab's decision to cut personnel is hurting one of its investors, SoftBank, who is also in trouble with the inefficient $3-billion investment in WeWork as well as billions of US dollars it poured into Uber and Didi Chuxing. Last March, Grab received a $1.46 billion investment from SoftBank's Vision Fund. The added amount raised its total capital mobilisation to more than $4.5 billion. Grabs other investors include Toyota Motor Corporation, Oppenheimer Funds, Hyundai Motor Group, Booking Holdings, Microsoft Corporation, Ping An Capital, and Yamaha Motor. With the huge investment, SoftBank assessed Grab at a high value and had big expectations for the future. However, the pandemic landed and swept away its hopes as Grab has been struggling to recover from the health crisis. SoftBank recently reported losses of $12.7 billion in the latest fiscal year. Meanwhile, Uber and WeWork are the biggest names causing financial damage to the Japanese investor. Ukraine's Supreme Court has reversed a lower-court decision in favor of the government in a landmark case related to state-owned PrivatBank. The top court's ruling on June 15 means the government does not have to pay back more than a billion hryvnyas ($37 million) to two brothers who lost their savings in the 2016 nationalization of Ukraine's largest lender. The victory comes days after Ukraine struck a $5 billion agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that was partly contingent on its handling of the PrivatBank issue. Resolving lingering issues over PrivatBank and securing the IMF deal are viewed as key tests for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to deliver on promised reforms and tackling deep-rooted vested interests. Ukraine's central bank had recognized the tycoon brothers, Ihor and Hryhoriy Surkis, as related parties and included money from their deposits at PrivatBank in a bail-in. The Surkis brothers, known as associates of the former owner of PrivatBank, Ihor Kolomoyskiy, challenged that decision in court, forcing the central bank to defend its actions. Kolomoyskiy lost control over PrivatBank in 2016, when the central bank took it over after it failed stress tests and was deemed to be undercapitalized. An independent audit later concluded that PrivatBank had conducted "large-scale and coordinated fraud" for at least 10 years before its takeover by the state. U.S.-based corporate investigative firm Kroll and attorneys at AlixPartners also found a hole of at least $5.5 billion in the bank's balance sheet. Kolomoyskiy has denied wrongdoing and maintains that he is the rightful owner of the bank, which he has vowed to regain control over. The central bank and PrivatBank had worried that a victory for the Surkis brothers would have opened up other claims, particularly from Kolomoyskiy. Kolomoyskiy lived in self-imposed exile for nearly two years and returned after Zelenskiy's election in April 2019. His ties to Zelenskiy, who rose to fame as an actor on a TV channel owned by Kolomoyskiy, had raised concerns over the president's independence from the oligarch. In May, Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, approved a banking bill that prevents the former owners of banks that were nationalized from regaining ownership rights or receiving monetary compensation. Although the legislation was implemented to improve the financial sector, its main purpose is to prevent Kolomoyskiy from regaining ownership rights to the bank. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Reuters Sadness has been felt three times the average towards bushfires that raged through Queensland last summer while the fear of COVID-19 was also significantly high, according to CSIRO data. The data has been analysed through tweets that have shed light on how Queenslanders are feeling from experiencing a joyful spike during Valentine's Day to hope as COVID-19 cases dropped and restrictions were relaxed. CSIRO has been monitoring the mood of the nation through tweets. Credit:Glenn Hunt CSIRO's Data61 chief scientist Cecile Paris said the fact that a higher level of sadness was shown during the bushfires compared with COVID-19 events was startling. "Nothing much surprised me with the data but I did think that the level of fear with COVID-19 would match the level of sadness with bushfires but it didn't," she said. As coronavirus border restrictions ease across Europe, a nettlesome fence on the Italy-Slovenia border came down Monday, reuniting a town that had been divided for months. The mayors of Gorizia in Italy and Nova Gorica in Slovenia cut a symbolic ribbon and hugged each other across the border to mark its full reopening. "This is a symbolic day. Both Goricas have overcome the epidemic... and proved they share a common reality, unity," Nova Gorica Mayor Klemen Miklavic said before removing a section of fence on Europe Square. "We are like a table with four legs, two are in Italy and two in Slovenia. If we lose two legs, the table can't stand anymore," added Gorizia Mayor Rodolfo Ziberna. The fence was installed by Slovenian authorities in March after the country closed its borders, and was particularly symbolic as it ran along a part of the old Iron Curtain and evoked unpleasant memories among older residents. The original "Gorizia wall" only came down in 2004, the year Slovenia joined the European Union, and since then the town has experienced extensive integration, with residents crossing the border daily to shop, commute to work or go to school. The border closure in March was particularly disruptive for town residents, but neither Rome nor Ljubljana were prepared to give much leeway. Ziberna said local co-operation had remained excellent however. "We believe this is a model of collaboration we could export to all of Europe," he said. After declaring the end of the epidemic last month, Slovenia has eased travel restrictions with its neighbours. The border with Italy -- one of the countries hardest hit by the virus -- was the last to come down, and people were finally allowed to cross into Slovenia on Monday with no restrictions. Italy has recorded almost 4,000 cases per million inhabitants, while Slovenia has had just over 700. With a population of around two million people, Slovenia has registered just under 1,500 COVID-19 infections and 109 deaths, while more than 34,000 people have died in Italy. Slovenia now allows restriction-free travel to 19 European countries, though controls remain in place for those arriving from Britain and Sweden, among others. The US Food and Drug Administration came under fire from US President Donald Trump for revoking its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus COVID-19. Trump said only US agencies have failed to grasp its benefit in fighting the virus. Based on new evidence, the FDA said it was no longer reasonable to believe that hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine may be effective in treating the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The FDA also warned that the drugs have been shown in lab studies to interfere with Gilead Sciences Inc`s antiviral drug remdesivir - the only medicine so far to show a benefit against COVID-19 in formal clinical trials. The move comes after several studies of the decades-old malaria pills suggested they were not effective either as a treatment for or to prevent COVID-19. British scientists earlier in June halted a large trial after deciding that hydroxychloroquine was "useless" at treating COVID-19 patients. Hydroxychloroquine`s anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties suggested it might help COVID-19 patients, and the FDA authorized its emergency use in March at the height of a pandemic for which there were no approved treatments. The early enthusiasm was partly based on laboratory experiments in which the drug appeared to neutralize the virus. Chloroquine, which is not approved for any use in the United States and has more side effects, has not fared any better in human clinical trials. In March, Trump said hydroxychloroquine in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin had "a real chance to be one of the biggest game-changers in the history of medicine," with little evidence to back up that claim. He later said he took the drugs preventively after two people who worked at the White House were diagnosed with COVID-19, and he urged others to try it. I took it and I felt good about taking it. I dont know if it had an impact, but it certainly didnt hurt me, Trump said on June 15. Trump said there had been "great reports" out of France, Spain and other places, without offering any evidence or further explanation. France is one of the countries that has already stopped using the drug for COVID-19 patients. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said the drug is still being studied for possible use at an earlier stage of the disease. A lot of the data that has come out that was more negative was people who were quite ill in the hospital, he said. The drug can still be used with a doctor`s prescription, Azar noted. Any drug with U.S. approval can be used in any way a doctor sees fit regardless of what it has been approved for. DRUG`S USE ALREADY IN DECLINE Doctors in recent weeks had already pulled back on the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 after several studies suggested it is not effective and may pose heart risks for certain patients. The Infectious Diseases Society of America on Monday backed the FDA decision "to revoke emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine." Half of the hospitals responding to a mid-May survey conducted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) reported excess supplies of hydroxychloroquine that they expected to return to wholesalers. Current U.S. government treatment guidelines do not recommend its use for COVID-19 patients outside of a clinical trial. France, Italy and Belgium late in May halted use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients. But the United States in May sent 2 million doses to Brazil, which has emerged as the pandemic`s latest epicentre. Hundreds of trials testing hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine as interventions for COVID-19 are still underway, including a U.S. study designed to show whether hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin can prevent hospitalization and death from COVID-19. YEREVAN. A short while ago, the police apprehended Armenias world-famous Greco-Roman wrestler Roman Amoyan from nearby the National Assembly (NA); Amoyan was telling them that he could not breathe. To note, police are apprehending parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader, MP, and business tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan's numerous supporters since the morning. As reported earlier, after the deployment of a large number of police forces and the subsequent apprehension of several people, Tsarukyan's supporters, who had gathered in front of the NA since this morning, had moved to the aforesaid park. The police have blocked all the entrances to this park, and formed a human wall in front of the gates of the parliament. Numerous police forces are stationed in the areas adjacent to the NA. The National Assembly is currently debating on the prosecutor generals petition to strip Gagik Tsarukyan of his parliamentary immunity. At a time when Rajasthan Congress MLAs are camping in JW Marriott hotel in Jaipur, to prevent the alleged poaching threat from rival camp in view of ensuing Rajya Sabha polls on June 19, the BJP has also decided to shift its MLAs to another plush property of the city, Crowne Plaza from Tuesday onwards. With three days left to go for polling, the term 'political quarantine' seems to be gaining ground with over 190 MLAs out of 200 seem to be going under 'lockup' till Rajya Sabha polls. Speaking to IANS, BJP state president Satish Poonia said, "We decided to shift our MLAs to a resort a month back for their training and other such purposes in mind. The decision was taken quite early." On Tuesday, we have a meeting at 12 noon and then we shall be staying in the hotel for two days. Our MLAs shall be trained on voting and legislation issues for the next two days. This way, training and monitoring of the progress will be done at the same time, he said. Official sources confirmed that former chief minister Vasundhara Raje will reach Jaipur on June 18 and will join the MLAs. Meanwhile, political workers confirmed that the threat of cross voting looms large both on the BJP and the Congress as both have around 20-30 fresh MLAs winning elections. They have never voted in Rajya Sabha polls and hence they need proper training so that no goof up takes place on the D-Day. A rehearsal on the voting pattern shall be done here and the BJP Alliance partners RLP MLAs shall also be joining the camp, confirmed BJP workers. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Since work on Amazons last mile facility in Bloomfield was deemed essential construction during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, opening of the new warehouse will occur as planned later this month, the Advance can exclusively report. Amazons new 450,000-square-foot warehouse, leased in Staten Islands West Shore Matrix Global Logistics Park, will open in late June, said Emily Hawkins, an Amazon spokesperson. The former Atlanta police officer who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks in a Wendy's parking lot faced disciplinary action in 2016 for a use-of-force incident involving a firearm, according to department records. Garrett Rolfe, who was fired after the Brooks shooting, was reprimanded in the September 2016 firearms incident, according to records from the Atlanta Police Department shared with NBC News. No other details were provided. Rolfe, who was hired by the department in 2013, also has four citizen complaints on his record, none of which resulted in disciplinary action. Of five vehicular accidents that records show he was involved in, one resulted in an oral admonishment and one a written reprimand. The rest had no disciplinary action. Image: Garrett Rolfe (Atlanta Police Dept / via AFP - Getty Images) Rolfe's record also shows one additional use of firearms incident, in 2015, without note of any disciplinary action. Brooks, 27, a Black man, was shot twice in the back on Friday night, and the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide. Police had been called to the Wendy's on a report of a man sleeping in his car in the drive-thru. Brooks struggled with the officers after they administered a field sobriety test and tried to take him into custody. Surveillance video appears to show Brooks running away from the officers with a stun gun that he'd taken from one of them, Vic Reynolds, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, said. While running, Brooks appeared to turn around and point the weapon at police, he said. "At that point, the Atlanta officer reaches down and retrieves his weapon from his holster, discharges it, strikes Mr. Brooks there on the parking lot, and he goes down," Reynolds said. Neither Rolfe nor a second officer involved in the incident, Devin Brosnan, have been charged. Fulton County District Attorney, Paul L. Howard has said that he will announce this week whether charges would be brought. "The question that we have to decide is at that precise moment whether or not Mr. Brooks was in the position to cause imminent bodily harm to that officer or some other member of the public," Howard told NBC News on Monday. Story continues Brosnan, who had no disciplinary record, was hired June 13, 2019, almost a year to the date of Brooks' shooting. He has been placed on administrative leave. Vince Champion, the southeast regional director for the International Brotherhood of Police Officers who is speaking on the officers' behalf, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. On Monday, Champion said: "To allude to the fact for people to look at the video and say the officer just shot him in the back, I think thats improper to make that decision right at this point. Again, thats why you have investigations." The killing renewed protests in Atlanta that began weeks ago with the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police on May 25. Brooks' family attorney L. Chris Stewart said there was no reason for the use of deadly force on a man who was running away from officers. "That mans life should not have been taken so callously simply for running away with a nonlethal weapon," he said. Two law enforcement experts told NBC News that the shooting was not justified, although a police union president outside Atlanta called the use of deadly force "legitimate." Atlanta police Chief Erika Shields resigned less than 24 hours after the shooting, saying in a statement, "It is time for the city to move forward and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve." IAEA chief says it continues verification of Iran's nuclear program IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency London, June 15, IRNA -- Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi said that the agency continues to verify non-diversion of Iran's declared nuclear material and evaluate the absence of undeclared materials and activities in accordance with the safeguards agreement. Speaking in the IAEA's Board of Governors virtual session on Monday, Grossi said that the Agency has not observed any changes to Iran's implementation of its nuclear-related commitments in connection with its announcement in January that its nuclear program would no longer be "subject to any restrictions in the operational sphere". As Iran had also announced that it would continue to cooperate with the Agency "as in the past", Grossi said that IAEA has observed no changes in the level of cooperation by Iran in relation to Agency verification and monitoring activities under the JCPOA. "The Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement. Evaluations regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities for Iran continue," he went on to say. The IAEA chief also raised concern that, for over four months, Iran has denied the agency's access to two locations and that, for almost a year, it has not engaged in substantive discussions to clarify questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities. Iran, in its fifth step to reduce its commitments under the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers, announced last year that it would ignore all limitations in the operational arena set by the agreement. The announcement by Iran was a reaction to the United States' withdrawal from the JCPOA and resumption of all sanctions lifted under the deal On May 8, 2018, US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the international deal between Iran and the six world powers. Then, he re-imposed illegal sanctions against Iran in November 2018, the sanctions which as he said were at the highest level. Reciprocally, Iran started reducing commitments to the JCPOA from the first anniversary of the US withdrawal. Tehran's decision to reduce its commitments to the JCPOA was taken based on Articles 26 and 36. Then, Iran set a deadline for Europeans to remedy breaches. 9416**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 23:25:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MALE, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives government has said that it will re-open schools for students in grade nine and above in all COVID-19 free islands starting July 1, local media reported here Tuesday. Minister of Education Aishath Ali was quoted in local media as saying that the decision to re-open schools was made in consultation with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and planned with the assistance of UNICEF. Ali said that schools would be equipped with hand-washing facilities and disinfection materials, while all students will have their temperature scanned before entering. The maximum capacity for classrooms has been reduced from around 30 to 16 to maintain social distancing. The Ministry of Education has been training teachers to provide psychological support for students who may have difficulties adjusting to the new normal. Under the new normal, all students will have to wear face masks and the regular breakfast program will be temporarily halted. Classes for students below grade nine will continue online, while students in quarantine and isolation facilities will have special classes arranged for them, Ali said. Maldives has 2,065 confirmed cases of COVID-19, out of which 1,540 have made full recoveries, and eight have died. A lockdown imposed on the capital region of Greater Male since April 15 is being relaxed in phases, with shops and public parks re-opened to the public since Monday. Enditem Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a reaction of the people to the situation in Kashmir as he criticised India for blaming Pakistan without any evidence. The Uri attack can be the reaction of the atrocities in Kashmir, as the close relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded over the last two months were hurt and outraged, Sharif told reporters on Friday in London, where he had stopped on his way back from New York after attending the UN General Assembly session. Sharif said that India hastily blamed Pakistan without any investigation. He said India behaved in an irresponsible way when it blamed Pakistan without any evidence. How could India accuse Pakistan only hours after the Uri incident without holding any inquiry or investigation, Sharif was quoted as saying by Pakistani media reports. Also read: Pakistan found no support from UNGA united against terrorism, says Akbaruddin The whole world knows about the Indian atrocities in Kashmir where around 108 people have so far been killed, over 150 blinded and thousands injured, he alleged. Stressing on alleged brutalities being perpetrated against innocent Kashmiris, the Pakistani Prime Minister said that before accusing Pakistan, India should have looked at its atrocious role in Kashmir. He called on India to also conduct a probe into the killings of Kashmiris. Sharif said the achievement of lasting peace in the region was impossible without the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute. 18 soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that those behind the despicable act will not go unpunished. Also read: Russia denies any military exercise with Pakistan in Occupied-Kashmir The incident triggered a diplomatic dust-up with both India and Pakistan hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Schibsted ASA has on 15 June 2020 sold 2,186 treasury B-shares to participants in the Employee Share Saving Plan at a price of NOK 213.40 per B-share (the price is set according to standard procedure for the program two days after the release of Schibsteds Q1 2020 report, the closing price 08 May 2020). The shares will be transferred to the participants in the coming days. The transaction is related to the first enrollment window in the Employee Share Saving Plan for 2020 for non-Norwegian employees which closed in February 2020, and based on savings made during March 2020. Shares sold and transferred to primary insider employees are disclosed in the attachment. After these transactions, Schibsted ASA holds 3,543,657 treasury A-shares and 1,356,851 treasury B-shares. For more information on the employee share saving plan please refer to the disclosure published 09 April 2014. Oslo, 16 June 2020 SCHIBSTED ASA This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Attachment The ruling All Progressives Congress has appointed an acting national chairman after the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole. The party said the former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, will be its interim leader. Guided by advice from the Partys legal department in line with the provisions of Section 14.2. (iii) of the Partys constitution, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Sen. Abiola Ajimobi will serve as the Partys Acting National Chairman, the party spokesperson, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said in a statement Tuesday night. According to Section 14.2. (iii),of the APC constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, North/South Shall act as the National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman from his zone. Suspension A three-member panel of the appeal court had earlier affirmed the suspension of Mr Oshiomhole on Tuesday in Abuja. In a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Lamido, the panel dismissed Mr Oshiomholes appeal for lacking in merit. The panel accordingly affirmed the decision of an Abuja high court which had in early March ordered the suspension of Mr Oshiomhole as APC national chairman. Mr Oshiomhole was earlier suspended by the APC in Edo State in what is part of his battle with the state governor, Godwin Obaseki. A Federal High Court also ruled that his suspension was legal and ordered Mr Oshiomhole to stop parading himself as APC national chairman. The suspension was initially lifted after the appellate court granted a stay of execution of the high courts order. The appeal court on Tuesday, however, ruled that Mr Oshiomholes suspension was valid. This throws a new twist into the Edo APC crisis as the party prepares for the governorship election. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Obaseki announced his resignation from the APC. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced it would delay the Oscars ceremony by nearly two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The awards night -- which was initially scheduled for February 28, 2021 -- will now be held on April 25 next year at the Dolby Theater. The move was the first time the filmdom's biggest night was rescheduled in over four decades, CNN reports. In a joint statement, Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson said moving the ceremony will allow filmmakers to finish their work. The Academy also extended the eligibility window for films. For next year's ceremony, the new window will be extended until the end of February. Submission deadlines were also pushed back. For the upcoming awards night, feature films bearing a release date between the beginning of January 2020, and the end of February 2021 are qualified. For this year, the Academy has also made an exception and decided to include movies that premiered on streaming platforms. Diversity and Inclusion Apart from delays, the Academy announced its decision to expand its diversity and inclusion within the industry after it faced criticism over a lack of representation, NPR reports. The initiative, named "Academy Aperture 2025," would include Oscar films and nominees to meet specific diversity and inclusion criteria. The Academy will create a task force of leaders in the film industry to help develop new representation standards for the Oscars. The new rules will be effective on July 31 and are expected to encourage equitable hiring practices. The Best Picture category will also be expanded to ten films beginning 2022 in the 94th Oscars. The move aims to maximize the diversity of movies nominated for the top category. Whoopi Goldberg is set to lead a series of panels called Academy Dialogue designed to focus on racist tropes and harmful stereotypes in Hollywood-produced films. The conversations will lead to systemic changes in casting, screenwriting, directing, and financing to provide opportunities to women and people of color. Previous Delays The award ceremony has been postponed only four times in Oscars history, according to USA Today. In 1938, the Academy delayed the awarding after Los Angeles suffered massive flooding. Two storm systems swept through South California and inundated parts of L.A, Orange, and Riverside. The storm killed more than 100 people and destroyed 5,600 homes in Los Angeles County, causing an estimated $70 million in damages. In 1968, the Oscars were postponed after Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister and civil rights activist for African-Americans, was struck by a sniper's bullet in the neck while standing on the second-floor balcony of a Memphis hotel. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 39. In 1981, a deranged drifter identified as 25-year-old John Hinckley Jr. shot President Ronald Reagan in the chest following a labor meeting at the Washington Hilton Hotel. The suspect also hit three of the president's attendants -- one in the head, one in the neck, and another on the side of the body. The Academy delayed the broadcast for 24 hours just four hours before it was set to begin. Want to read more? By AFP MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Tuesday called for restraint following a sharp escalation in tensions after North Korea blew up a liaison office near its border with South Korea. "This is a concern, we urge all parties to show restraint," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Russia would be closely monitoring the situation. The Kremlin, an ally of the Stalinist regime, was not planning any talks at the highest level for the moment, he said. After days of increasingly virulent rhetoric from Pyongyang, North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border on Tuesday. The demolition came after Kim Yo Jong -- the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- said over the weekend that the "useless north-south joint liaison office" would soon be seen "completely collapsed". Analysts say Pyongyang may be seeking to manufacture a crisis to increase pressure on Seoul while nuclear talks with Washington are at a standstill. Related Corona Hackathon picks three innovations tackling coronavirus challenges in Egypt Egyptian Communications and Information Technology Minister Amr Talaat has said that the country ranks first in the Middle East and North Africa in terms of the number of deals regarding innovation and entrepreneurship in 2019 and 2020, and is ranked second in the region for investment size. Talaat made his comments at a virtual meeting organised by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Egypt, and attended by Ahram Online. The minister said that there were 113 investment deals in 2018, 142 in 2019, and 40 during the first quarter of 2020. He also said that the size of investment in the sector surged to $107 million in the first quarter of 2020, up from $95 million in 2019 and $84 million in 2018. The minister said the coronavirus pandemic had been a blessing for the ICT sector and for innovation and entrepreneurship, as businesses have shifted to working from home, creating new challenges that need innovative solutions. Talaat said that the delivery and transport sector had attracted the largest investment value in 2019 with 47 percent, followed by advertising and marketing with 13 percent and e-commerce with 11 percent. He said that there had been an increasing use of online solutions and apps amid the quarantine, with mobile internet usage increasing by 35 percent, fixed internet by 99 percent, a doubling of peak hours to 15 hours, and international calls increasing 19 percent. The Zoom app had the lions share in terms of increased usage with an increase of 3,465 percent, while Telegram was up 1,100 percent and YouTube 115 percent. Speaking about the ministrys Digital Egypt Project, which, in light of Egypts plans for a digital transformation, aims to provide all government entities with fibre-optic cable connections, Talaat said that the work had been completed in 5,300 government buildings nationwide so far, with a total cost of EGP 6 billion. Regarding training provision, Talaat said that the ministry has adopted Egypts Future Work in Digital initiative with a market size of $380 million, and targeted to reach $580 million. He also noted that six planned tech hubs in public universities outside Cairo and Alexandria will start operations soon, seeking to boost entrepreneurship, innovation and start-ups. Within a few weeks all procedures of obtaining licences or renewing them, and all public notaries, will be carried out digitally through call centres using the one-time password system (OTP), Talaat said. He added that the ministry is working to ensure that SMEs have a fair share in the market and the ministry has launched an online platform in order to provide training courses for them, allocating EGP 100 million for the first phase. Search Keywords: Short link: Maharashtra government has signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 16,000 crore with 12 companies across sectors, as part of its Magnetic Maharashtra initiative aimed at attracting investors to the state amid the coronavirus pandemic. Companies include ExxonMobil, UPL, Great Wall Motors, PMI Electro Mobility Solutions, Futon Motors and Varun Beverages, from sectors such as logistics, auto, chemicals, electric mobility and oil. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the government would fast-track approvals and offer all assistance to new investors. As per the MoU, Chinese automakers Great Wall Motors will invest Rs 3,770 crore through its recently-acquired General Motors Pune plant, and PMI Electro Mobility Solutions and Foton Motors will jointly invest Rs 1,000 crore towards manufacturing of electric vehicles in Pune. UPL has pledged Rs 5,000 crore over five years in Raigad district for manufacturing of pesticide ingredients, while ExxonMobil has agreed to Rs 760 crore for lubricant manufacturing, and Varun Beverages will invest Rs 820 crore, it was announced. The land has already been allotted to nine of the 12 companies. The companies have held talks with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) over the past six months, Business Standard reported. We expect the investment to materialise, and manufacturing to commence in two years, Bhushan Gagrani, principal secretary, the Chief Minister's Office. B Venugopal Reddy, Principal Secretary of the states Industries Department told the paper that three more investments worth Rs 8,000 crore in the pulp and paper, electronic system design and steel sectors are hoped to be finalised soon. Seamless coordination ensured that there are just 38 local terrorists active in Kashmir 27 terrorists gunned down in past 17 days India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 16: Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh said 27 terrorists have been killed by security forces in the past 17 days, causing frustration among militants who are now targeting innocent people. "Ensuring peace (in Kashmir), we have killed 27 terrorists in the past 16 to 17 days. These terrorists belonged to LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba), JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammed) and Hizb (Hizb-ul-Mujahideen). They have been frustrated. They are now targeting innocents," Singh told reporters in Doda district. The DGP, who was in a security review meeting in Doda district, said these terrorists are hitting innocent and soft targets. This has not only annoyed the government but also the people of the Kashmir Valley, he said. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain hospitalised, to take COVID-19 test| Oneindia News 3 terrorists shot dead in encounter at Shopian, J&K On being asked about the lack of security to a Kashmiri Pandit sarpanch, who was shot dead by terrorists in Anantnag district last week, he said security is subject to the daily drill. "The concerns of the people, who feel insecure, are being addressed. Individual security is subject to the review of the security review committee of the union territory. They are examining this issue," Singh said. He said that Doda will soon be free from terrorism as only one terrorist is alive in the district. "Only one militant is surviving in Doda district. Soon we will eliminate him too and the district will become militancy free," he said. The DGP also hit out at Pakistan for aiding and abetting terrorists by infiltrating them into Jammu and Kashmir to continue violence. "Large number of militants, including top commanders, have been killed in the past five months. But they (Pakistan) try to increase the pitch of violence by carrying out infiltration into J&K,' he said. Singh said that launchpads were not even closed during winters. "They tried to infiltrate terrorists in winters too. First batch of terrorists was sent to this side in March itself from Keran. They were killed within five days. They carried out infiltration bids in Poonch-Rajouri and the International Border. They too were neutralised," he said. The DGP said the security grid on the Line of Control (LoC) is perfect to foil their designs. "If anyone crosses into the hinterland, they are eliminated there," he added. The first confirmed heartbeat of a supermassive black hole is still going strong more than ten years after first being observed. X-ray satellite observations spotted the repeated beat after its signal had been blocked by our Sun for a number of years. Astronomers say this is the most long lived heartbeat ever seen in a black hole and tells us more about the size and structure close to its event horizon - the space around a black hole from which nothing, including light, can escape. The research, by National Astronomical Observatories of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, and Durham University, UK, was published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The black hole's heartbeat was first detected in 2007 at the center of a galaxy called RE J1034+396, which is approximately 600 million light years from Earth. The signal from this galactic giant repeated every hour and this behavior was seen in several snapshots taken before satellite observations were blocked by our Sun in 2011. In 2018, the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton X-ray satellite was able to finally re-observe the black hole and to scientists' amazement the same repeated heartbeat could still be seen. Matter falling on to a supermassive black hole as it feeds from the accretion disc of material surrounding it releases an enormous amount of power from a comparatively tiny region of space, but this is rarely seen as a specific repeatable pattern like a heartbeat. The time between beats can tell us about the size and structure of the matter close to the black hole's event horizon. Prof. Chris Done, in Durham University's Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy, collaborated on the findings with colleague Prof. Martin Ward, Temple Chevallier Chair of Astronomy. "The main idea for how this heartbeat is formed is that the inner parts of the accretion disc are expanding and contracting," said Prof. Done. "The only other system we know which seems to do the same thing is a 100,000 times smaller stellar-mass black hole in our Milky Way, fed by a binary companion star, with correspondingly smaller luminosities and timescales. This shows us that simple scalings with black hole mass work even for the rarest types of behavior." "This heartbeat is amazing! It proves that such signals arising from a supermassive black hole can be very strong and persistent. It also provides the best opportunity for scientists to further investigate the nature and origin of this heartbeat signal," said Dr. JIN Chichuan from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, lead author of the study. The next step in the research is to perform a comprehensive analysis of this intriguing signal, and compare it with the behavior of stellar-mass black holes in our Milky Way. ### The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Strategic Pioneer Program on Space Science of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Embassy of Japan in Hanoi have announced the provision of basic support to poor and vulnerable households in the Vietnamese provinces of Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, and Ca Mau for battling novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), UNDP said in a press release on Monday. The support includes the provision of 1,300 packages of personal protective equipment and 1,300 water tanks for storage of clean water. The initiative is part of the financial support from the people of Japan under the Japan Supplementary Budget to 11 countries in Asia and the Pacific, including Vietnam. The UNDP is responsible for technical support and overall management and delivery of this assistance. Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan are located along Vietnams south-central coast, while Ca Mau is the countrys southernmost province, situated in the Mekong Delta region. All three provinces have suffered months of severe drought and saltwater intrusion. Resident representative of UNDP in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen expressed his agency's delight to work with the Embassy of Japan and the government of Vietnam to provide some of the urgent COVID-19 protection needs for the people in the three provinces. This support is part of an integrated response to enable vulnerable households to meet their basic needs as they recover from the pandemic and ensure no one is left behind, she stated in the press release. Meanwhile, the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam was happy to be a part of the effort to provide basic requirements for the prevention of COVID-19. We hope that our contributions will be used to help vulnerable households affected by COVID-19 and to make a real difference, especially, in the three provinces in Vietnam, the embassy said. The most recent UNDP assessment of the multiple impacts of COVID-19 and droughts on Vietnams south-central coastal and Mekong Delta provinces shows the poor, near-poor, and vulnerable households, including small-holder farmers and informal workers, are among the most affected. In detail, the combination of COVID-19 and drought or saltwater intrusion reduced household-level revenues by 55 percent, with an average of 54 percent of the households in Bac Lieu, Binh Thuan, and Ca Mau facing extreme impacts. Also, during COVID-19 social distancing periods, poor households spent significantly more on water, electricity, and food, leading to some having to sell their livestock for money. As a result, the poor and near poor currently have limited ability to provide for the basic needs of their families, including their capacity to prevent COVID-19. They lack the resources to procure water storage or hygiene items that are essential for protection against the novel coronavirus. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A large coronavirus outbreak in a small northeast Oregon county grew by 119 new cases Tuesday, yet again pushing the state to a new record number of cases confirmed in a single day, state and county officials said. At least 236 coronavirus cases have been linked to an outbreak at Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church in Union Countys Island City, a small town near La Grande, confirmed Deputy State Epidemiologist Tom Jeanne. The outbreak accounts for 47% of the 462 cases reported statewide since Monday. That does make this the largest single outbreak of COVID-19 in Oregon to date," Jeanne said. The outbreak comes as Oregon gradually starts to reopen, and its spread could serve as a test case for how Gov. Kate Brown will respond to a resurgence of coronavirus cases. Union Countys COVID-19 case count is now ten times what it was on Sunday, after leaping from 22, to 121, to 240 cases. Its current rate of positive coronavirus tests is the highest in the state, at 22%. Charles Boyle, a spokesman for Brown's office, said Tuesday that the governor is waiting to see whether additional contact tracers sent to Union County by the Oregon Health Authority will be enough to prevent further spread of the virus, before deciding whether to revive stricter stay-home restrictions. All options are on the table, however OHA is still assessing what targeted interventions can be implemented before we consider moving the county backwards in the reopening process, Boyle said. Union County moved into Phase 2 of Brown's reopening plan June 5. The second phase of reopening loosens restrictions on restaurants and allows venues such as churches to reconvene while adhering to social distancing measures. A now-deleted video from the churchs Facebook page showed hundreds of worshipers singing, dancing, and jumping around during a service on May 24, before faith communities were allowed to convene in large groups. Jeanne said the county and state had already received coronavirus test results for 356 members of the Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church, and had tested most members of the congregation. But, he said, public health officials were just beginning the process of contact tracing to track how far the virus might have spread throughout Island City and La Grande. The city of La Grande holds more than half the countys population of 27,000 people. Jeanne said state officials believe they have enough contact tracers to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Union County has five contact tracers, and the state is sending 10 more staffers to help with contact tracing, Jeanne said. He said neighboring counties are providing support, as well. At this point, we would hope there wont be a lot more (cases), Jeanne said, but thats what contact tracing, quarantine and close follow up will be important for. If there are any secondary cases or additional cases, well see. Union County public health officials said the church has been very responsive and is taking appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of their congregation. A person who answered the phone at the church ended the call when asked about the outbreak by The Oregonian/OregonLive Monday. A faith leader declined an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive Tuesday. The La Grande Observer reported the church recently held a wedding and a graduation ceremony that had over 100 people at each event. Jeanne said five people have been hospitalized as a result of the outbreak tied to the church. Hospitalizations are a lagging indicator and so, were keeping a close eye on that, Jeanne said. Union County has not recorded any deaths from COVID-19. The outbreak in Union County comes a week after 132 coronavirus cases were linked to an outbreak at Pacific Seafood in Newport. The outbreak at Pacific Seafood has threatened to create a public health and economic crisis in the small coastal town of Newport. -- Celina Tebor ctebor@oregonian.com @CelinaTebor -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Cobra hit the ground running with AstraZeneca and other manufacturing organisations to provide large scale manufacturing capacity of AZD1222 vaccine. Cobra, along with other consortium members, will be manufacturing the vaccine with first deliveries to begin in the UK in September 2020. The agreement is a further development of Cobra's announcement in March 2020, that the Company is working as part of a consortium with the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, and others, to rapidly develop, scale-up and produce the recombinant adenovirus vector ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. Peter Coleman, Chief Executive at Cobra Biologics, said: "I am extremely proud of the contribution made by the Cobra team alongside our consortium partners and despite the current restrictive requirements in place, the progress being made with demanding timelines is outstanding. Cobra's considerable expertise in GMP viral vector scale up and manufacture will be critical to a successful manufacturing campaign. The agreement with AstraZeneca comes at an opportune time for us as we bring three additional viral vector suites online as part of our ongoing advanced therapies expansion programme." About Cobra Biologics www.cobrabio.com Cobra Biologics, together with its parent company Cognate BioServices, is a leading international contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) providing the highest quality development and manufacturing services for the cell and gene therapy fields, ranging from early stage development and pre-clinical services to clinical and commercial supply. Cobra and Cognate service an international customer base from its manufacturing and development facilities in the UK, Sweden, and the US. Each of the Company's GMP approved facilities are tailored to serving our customers around the world. We offer a broad range of integrated and stand-alone contract development and manufacturing services for the clinical trial and the commercial markets. As a trusted provider and a key partner in the drug development and commercialisation process, we take pride in our manufacturing excellence and comprehensive range of services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Cobra is supported by leading shareholder EW Healthcare Partners, as well as Medivate Partners, a Middle Eastern Sovereign Wealth Fund and Blackrock, who continue supporting the business and its expansion activities. SOURCE Cobra Biologics; Cognate BioServices Related Links https://www.cobrabio.com It is almost a euphemism to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted havoc upon individuals, businesses, governments, and economies worldwide. Furthermore, the coronavirus continues to confound; in some US regions where it once seemed to abate, it has accelerated, whereas in others it seems to have unexpectedly leveled off. As businesses reopen following state and local government allowances, employers face challenges as a result of this viral uncertainty. Business leaders must also sift through guidelines, suggestions, and mandates that provide conflicting information or sometimes insufficient guidance. For both ethical and legal reasons, however, employers must act decisively, thoughtfully, and cautiously if they are going to bring employees back and cannot rely on remote work options. The following suggestions may, at minimum, help you and your business prepare to make the transition in as safe a manner as possible, while providing an environment that reassures its workers. Use Federal Reference Points Companies start with a business plan and continue to function based on spelled-out rules and procedures. You have emergency and health and safety plans in place already. You have to decide how much is relevant to the current situation. A focus of the plan should be to choose carefully the prescription to follow. The template standard for reopening is the Centers for Disease Control guidelines that aim to apply a one-size-fits-all approach. In fact, the White House references the CDC as part of its reopening guidance. The procedures outlined in the guidelines are detailed and extensive. To ensure accountability for the plans you implement, you must take the time to digest the points in the guidelines. It is important to note, however, that the guidelines may change; in fact, the current CDC recommendations contain at least two updates that have been added since the initial document creation. On these and more, you must be clear; according to legal experts Oberheiden P.C., a law firm that specializes in federal cases, compliance missteps and oversight can lead to severe consequences. Understand Where You Fit In While both sets of guidelines may be considered standard, they point to distinctions based on categories of businesses. Here you must drill down further as you pour over them, to so that you are clear where your business fits before moving forward - in fact, the CDC notes that your preparedness, response, and control plans be workplace specific. For example, you will need to identify not only whether your business is a high-risk venture, but which workers are most at risk. If you are a business that can adapt, can you open using measures that reduce risk, such as a restaurant offering outdoor seating while also accepting fewer reservations? Take These Specific Steps The most important thing you can do is to show employees you care about their welfare and that of their families. However detailed your safety and response plan is, project simplicity so that it is clear and understandable, using presentations and signage to present at least the following: Change the workspaces to ensure social distancing. Create barriers between customers and employees. Eliminate gathering spaces. Require mask-wearing if possible. Keep point-to-point contacts short. Encourage sick days as necessary so that symptomatic workers do not come to work. These actions are all doable. Other actions may be more involved and costly. For example, if you cannot provide fresh ventilation, can you change your mechanical systems to pump in fresh air? As 2019 came to an end, you and your employees likely looked toward the New Year with optimism. A once-in-a-century pandemic drastically altered the outlook for virtually all companies around the world. Making plans to reopen business so that your employees return to the safest environment possible will protect both them and your business. Backyards filled with non-native plants may be at the heart of declines in backyard birds, according to a Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute study. Researchers placed nestboxes in more than 160 yards in the Washington, D.C., area and collected data from homeowners monitoring them for Carolina chickadee nests, eggs and nestlings. They also studied adult and juvenile survival by gathering data from the homeowners on individually marked birds they had resighted. The researchers found that the only yards able to produce enough chickadees to sustain a stable population were those with a plant composition made up of more than 70 percent of native plants. Chickadees depend on the availability of high-calorie, high-protein prey, such as caterpillars, for a healthy breeding season. And, more than 90 percent of herbivorous insect caterpillars will only eat one or a few native plants. Backyards landscaped with even a small portion of nonnative plants, however, lack the appropriate cuisine, leading to a decline in the breeding success and population growth of the bird species, according to a new SCBI study. Landowners are using nonnative plants in their yards because theyre pretty and exotic, theyre easy to maintain, and they tend to have fewer pests on them, said Desiree Narango, a graduate student researcher at the institute. But it turns out that a lot of those insects they see as pests are actually critical food resources for our breeding birds. For landowners who want to make a difference, our study shows that a simple change they make in their yards can be profoundly helpful for bird conservation. The researchers speculate that native plants are likely just as critical for other resident birds, endangered species and migratory species, and not just in backyards on the East Coast. The study is the first to directly link the decline of a common resident bird species to the lack of insect prey resulting from the use of nonnative plants in backyard landscaping. These novel, artificial suburban landscapes are found across the country, Narango said. But a gingko that you plant in D.C. and a gingko that you plant in L.A. are doing the same thing for bird conservation nothing. By using native plants, we can provide food for not only our common North American species, but were also providing vital stopover habitat and resources for migratory birds during their perilous journeys. More than 80 percent of land in the U.S. is privately managed and conservationists are trying to get a handle on the ways human-dominated landscapes threaten wildlife, and how they can be managed in a way that can help. Urbanization is one of the primary ways were losing natural habitat around the world, and it remains essential that we figure out how we minimize our impacts while maximizing the protection of biodiversity, said Pete Marra, director of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and co-author of the paper. The study was conducted in partnership with the University of Delaware and funded by the National Science Foundation. It relied on data collected by landowners participating in the Smithsonians Neighborhood Nestwatch program, a citizen-science program that engages communities in monitoring the annual survival and reproductive success of specific bird species. If quality nature and outdoor journalism like this is important to you, please consider supporting our work. We need your support. Have an outdoor or nature question, or something to share? Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com. Kolkata, June 16 : Shimon Sharif, the organiser of the proposed online shooting league that is set to start from July 4, is looking at the possibility of fielding a team comprising former Indian shooters to take part in the first-of-its-kind competition if the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) sticks to its decision of not allowing active Indian shooters to participate in it. Since former India shooter Sharif proposed the idea of organising a month long online shooting league aimed at helping shooters worldwide be in touch with the sport during the COVID-19 crisis, the NRAI had said it will take disciplinary action against any Indian shooter who takes part in the competition. Sharif, last Saturday, wrote to NRAI President Raninder Singh asking him to reconsider the decision but is yet to get a reply. "There has been no reply from NRAI till now. The league is on as planned and several international teams have registered with some of the best shooters of the world. "I am still hopeful that NRAI will overturn its decision and allow shooters to take part in the online league. If they do, that's brilliant. Otherwise, just to ensure Indian presence I am in talks with a few former shooters," Sharif told IANS on Tuesday. "This is being done to keep our sport alive at a time when there is no other competition happening in the world. The format is also very short and exciting," he added. Sharif also said for the inaugural edition, only rifle shooters will take part. "Many European countries are struggling with equipment during this lockdown and they have more rifle shooters," he explained. Every team will comprise of 3 rifle shooters now. The format used will be the same as announced earlier "Race to 10" in which the shooters of the two teams will take a shot each. The team with the higher total of 3 shots takes the point and whichever team reaches 10 points first wins that match. There will only be one match between two teams in a day. CAIRO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese book on countering the COVID-19 pandemic has become available in Arabic with the translation recently completed, Ahmad Al-Saeed, chairman of the Cairo-based Chinese institution Wisdom House for Cultural Industries said Monday. The 96-page Arabic version of the Chinese book on anti-coronavirus A to Z is titled "Advice of Professor Zhang WenHong on controling COVID-19," said Al-Saeed, who is also the translator of the book. The book provides the scientific understanding so far about the novel coronavirus and its outbreak, as well as guidelines on the virus prevention and control, and its translation aims to share China's rich experience in dealing with the virus, he said. According to Al-Saeed, the book not only shares China's clinical experience and public health responses, but also offers advice to people on how to protect themselves from coronavirus infection, with details of what home-quarantine, self-isolation, mask wearing, and social distancing, among others, are intended for. It also includes anti-virus recommendations including how to wash hands, take elevators, use air conditioners, and deal with pets. Al-Saeed said the recommended practices are a better and simpler way to protect people's health. "If each person manages to protect himself, the contagious disease won't build new circles of infection," he added, citing the book. Zhang, 51, lead author of the Chinese book, is the head of Shanghai's COVID-19 clinical expert team, and director of the Center for Infectious Disease at the Shanghai-based Huashan Hospital of Fudan University. The Chinese book was published in March in China, with its English, Spanish and French editions launched in early June. Zhang and his team have made the book royalty-free for editions in many languages. Mohan Kalsi, chairman of Royal Collins, which is the publisher of the book's Spanish and French editions, has said he believes the book could help more doctors save more lives, thus benefiting people around the world. Well, you never get thrown by a joke not going as well as you thought it would go. And you can do jokes that you're confident would not go well in front of an audience knowing that you don't have to suffer through their awkward reaction to it. Like we had a "Frasier" joke the other day about the fact that Bhutan's graph [of its pandemic curve] looked like the "Frasier" logo. Now, I don't know if we would have taken that journey with an audience. [Laughs.] But it was a joke we all liked a great deal. And I do think, if you're watching at home and you hear an audience laugh really hard at one joke and then not laugh at another joke, it influences your judgment of the joke. Whereas here, there's this nice thing of, "Hey, no one's taste but me and the staff who have chosen these jokes." And everyone at home can judge them accordingly. It's like a blind taste test, to some degree. KYODO NEWS - Jun 16, 2020 - 17:32 | All, Japan Fire broke out Tuesday on the Asuka II, one of Japan's biggest cruise ships, while it was docked at the port of Yokohama near Tokyo, the Japan Coast Guard said. The 3rd Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, based in Yokohama, said it received a report by radio from a crew member around 1 p.m. that the ship's crew were trying to extinguish the fire. No passengers were on board at the time, and there were no injuries, it said. Nippon Yusen K.K., parent company of the cruise ship's operator, said the fire broke out on the top floor used to store materials. Smoke was visible as the city's fire department joined efforts to put out the blaze, which was extinguished at 4:15 p.m. The city said Asuka II has been anchored at Osanbashi Pier since April 1 following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Asuka II, which has been in service since February 2006, is 241 meters long and weighs around 50,000 tons. It has a passenger capacity of 872 and a crew of 150. One of the first edtech firms to foray into full-fledged online blended degree programs, upGrad has announced bachelor's and master's programs with Jamia Hamdard University and O P Jindal Global University. upGrad will be offering online-offline blended three years bachelor of business administration (BBA) and bachelor of computer application (BCA) and two years master of business administration (MBA) and master of computer application (MCA) with Jamia Hamdard as well as two master's programs including a one year LLM in corporate and financial law and two years MBA in ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor A Delhi court granted two months to the Special Cell of the Delhi police to file the charge sheet in an FIR they have registered to prove the conspiracy behind the riots in north-east Delhi. The Delhi polices special cell had named students, social activists and a local ward councillor as main accused persons of the case. Some of them were Ishrat Jahan, Khalid Saifi, Safoora Zargar, Gufisha Fatima, Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita and Tahir Hussain who had been arrested under the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act (UAPA) and are lodged in jail. The police, in the FIR, had also named former JNU student Umar Khalid, however, he had not been arrested till now. Khalid has been denying the charges against him. The police had approached the court seeking more time, saying that they were unable to complete the investigation due to the lockdown and would require more time to file its report in the court. According to the Special Cells submissions in the court, Umar Khalid along with the accused had hatched conspiracy to orchestrate riots just before the visit of the US President Donald Trump on February 24-25. Besides, the case by the Special Cell, the crime branch and the local police have already filed nearly 100 charge sheets in connection to the riots. While in general cases, the charge sheets are filed within 90 days, in cases related to the UAPA, the final report can be filed within 180 days of arrest of the accused failing which the accused person is entitled to bail. .I am of the opinion that the reason cited by the additional public prosecutor in the case at hand are of valid reasons.., Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana said. The court noted that the investigation by the police and the application seeking extension mentioned that large number of call detail records and emails of the accused have to be analysed. It also said that the contention of the defense that the report of the prosecution fails to meet the requirement is bereft of merit and thus deserves to be dismissed. On Monday, the Public Prosecutor Irfan Ahmed, appearing for the Special Cell, told the court that some of the key conspirators are yet to be arrested and efforts are being made to identify and arrest the other accused. He said that due to the lockdown, the relevant data from mobile phone of one of the accused, Khalid Saifi could not be recovered as an expert technician could not be reached due to the lockdown. He also stated that efforts are being made to get the mobile phone opened through authorized service station so that data could be extracted and examined to complete the chain of investigation. He said that so far the investigation reveal that there was a deep rooted conspiracy and to unearth that, arrests of remaining accused is important to investigate the case from all possible angles so that a fair, logical and impartial charge sheet could be filed before the court. He said that the certified copy of call detail records of the accused are still awaited and it is to be examined for the purpose of investigation. Ahmed also told the court that it is also yet to obtain sanctions from the Department of Prosecution of the Delhi government to prosecute the accused (seven) under the UAPA Act. Delhi police is required to take sanctions from the city government before prosecution under the UAPA act. He sought that the police be granted time till September 17 to file the charge sheets. Opposing the plea, the counsels for the accused contended that their clients have been implicated and there is no evidence with the Delhi police which is why it is seeking time to file the charge sheets. Advocate Mahmood Pracha, who appeared for one of the accusedGulfisha Fatimasaid that even the FIR does not mention the name of her client, and this is a false case by the prosecution. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has designated four special courts at the Karkardooma Court complex for hearing the cases related to the riots. In a circular, the high court has designated two sessions and two magisterial courts for trial. Also on Tuesday, a city court posted the cognizance of charge sheet against former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain for Wednesday following the HCs order. The city police had charged Hussain for leading and instigating the murder of Ankit Sharma, IB official. The matter would be now heard on Wednesday. In a one-story brick building in suburban Dallas, between a dentist office and a family medicine clinic, is a medical laboratory that has run some of the most expensive coronavirus tests in America. Insurers have paid Gibson Diagnostic Labs as much as $2,315 for individual coronavirus tests. In a couple of cases, the price rose as high as $6,946 when the lab said it mistakenly charged patients three times the base rate. The company has no special or different technology from, say, major diagnostic labs that charge $100. It is one of a small number of medical labs, hospitals and emergency rooms taking advantage of the way Congress has designed compensation for coronavirus tests and treatment. Weve seen a small number of laboratories that are charging egregious prices for Covid-19 tests, said Angie Meoli, a senior vice president at Aetna, one of the insurers required to cover testing costs. Rome, June 16 : Vittorio Colao, the head of Italy reconstruction task force, said that he would recommend an economic plan resting on three main pillars: innovation, environmental sustainability, and inclusion, for the country's post-pandemic era. On Monday, Colao said the strategy his task force recommends for relaunching the Italian economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic includes support for small- and medium-sized businesses as well as for the unemployed, reform of the way government contracts are awarded, and the inclusion of additional aid for export-driven companies, reports Xinhua news agency. He said the plan focuses on rebuilding and modernizing infrastructure, protecting the environment, reforming the public administration, rethinking education, and reinforcing the tourism sector. Colao's remarks were part of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's multi-day "Estates General" talks and the "Progettiamo il Rilancio" (We Are Planning the Relaunch) plan, which started on June 13. The talks include in-person and virtual conferences with ministers, European Union officials, and representatives from the corporations, the financial sector, and trade unions. On Monday, Conte praised Colao's proposal as "an important contribution to the debate taking place for the preparation of the government's plan". The plan comes amid dire economic news for Italy, with the Bank of Italy, the country's National Statistics Institute, and the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development all predicting the Italian economy will contract by at least 9 per cent this year. Italy, one of the most hard-hit countries by the COVID-19 pandemic, has so far reported 237,290 confirmed cases, with 34,371 deaths. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 18:31 584 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf3c11f 1 Politics pancasila-ideology-bill,PDI-P,house-of-representatives,megawati-soekarnoputri,BPIP Free The government has rejected a plan to deliberate a bill initiated by the House of Representatives on Pancasila Ideology Guidelines (HIP) amid outcry from members of the public questioning the urgency and some of its contentious articles. Coordinating Legal, Political and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD announced on his Twitter account @mohmahfudmd that the government had decided to postpone deliberation of the bill, arguing that it would focus more on handling the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked the House as the initiator [of the bill] to have more dialogue with the public and take their wishes into account, he tweeted on Tuesday adding that he was assigned to deliver the news. Terkait RUU HIP, Pemerintah menunda utk membahasnya dan meminta DPR sbg pengusul utk lbh bnyk berdialog dan menyerap aspirasi dulu dgn semua elemen masyarakat. Pemerintah msh lbh fokus dulu utk menghadapi pandemi Covid-19. Menko Polhukam dan Menkum-HAM diminta menyampaikan ini. Mahfud MD (@mohmahfudmd) June 16, 2020 The decision came in light of growing criticism from scholars and various organizations lamenting the House for endorsing the HIP bill amid the current pandemic. The bill, supported by the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), aims to regulate the values of the Pancasila ideology and the functions of the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education (BPIP). The party's chairwoman and former president Megawati Soekarnoputri serves as the steering committee head. Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) chairwoman Asfinawati expressed concerns that the bill could harm freedom of expression, alleging that there was an effort to monopolize the interpretation of the Pancasila in Article 45 of the draft bill, which regulates the BPIP's tasks. She also highlighted Article 48 of the draft bill on BPIP steering committee elements that could be filled by the active TNI and police personnel. "As if the meaning of the Pancasila is merely a matter of state security as the TNI and police could have the right to interpret it, she told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. Constitutional law expert from Jakarta-based Jentera School of Law Bivitri Susanti suggested the House drop the bill, saying the bill could reduce the value of Pancasila in the 1945 Constitution. I dont think we need the bill. I cant see its urgency by looking at the contents. The lawmakers should focus on handling COVID-19 and the problems following the pandemic instead, she said. Read also: Pancasilas biggest enemy is religion: Indonesias ideology chiefs comment sparks outcry Discussions of the bill, led by deputy chairwoman of the House Legislative Body (Baleg) Rieke Diah Pitaloka, who is a PDI-P politician, has also sparked an outcry among Islamic organizations, which questioned the draft bill's failure to include the Temporary Peoples Consultative Assembly Decree (TAP MPR) No. 25/1966 on the banning of communism in Indonesia. Islamic organizations, ranging from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah to the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI), have called on the House to drop the bill, saying it would open the door for communist ideology to reemerge in the country. Retired military and police personnel have echoed similar sentiments against the Houses plan to endorse the bill. House deputy speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said that seven out of nine factions at the House had agreed to continue the deliberation of the bill. The House is still waiting for the presidential letter (Surpres) to give the green light for the deliberation. We are still waiting for the Surpres. We havent begun the deliberation process [] We also need to hear the public opinions," the Gerindra Party politician said on Tuesday. MUI secretary-general Anwar Abbas said the MUI rejected the entire contents of the draft bill, saying the main concern was not only the absence of the 1966 decree, but it was also deemed to be secular and atheistic as it degraded the Pancasila ideology itself. Anwar noted Article 7 of the bill, which stipulates the trisila (three principles) concept as the basic characteristic of Pancasila, which consisted of socionationalism, sociodemocracy and cultural divinity. All the values should also be crystallized in ekasila (one principle) of gotong royong (mutual cooperation), according to the draft. "Those concepts have degraded the main belief in the Almighty God in the first principle of Pancasila. The bill stipulates a cultural concept of God instead while the only cultured creature is humankind. In the trisila, we must obey human authority rather than God, he said in a written statement on Monday. Degrading Pancasila into trisila and ekasila is a betrayal of the nation. Pancasila consists of five principles that cannot be separated and changed, he added. Muhammadiyah secretary Abdul Mu'ti also questioned the bills urgency and significance, noting that especially there were several existing laws as the legal basis of Pancasila, namely MPRS Decree No, XX/MPRS/1966, MPR Decree No. IX/1978 and MPR Decree No. III/2000. Pancasila doesnt need a legal basis anymore, he said. Factions at the House are divided over the bill, with only the PDI-P and the Gerindra Party that do not share the concerns of the others about the exclusion of the anti-communism stipulations based on the 1966 TAP MPR. Press Release Nokia to provide DCI networks to Tencent and Baidu Nokia to provide optical data center interconnect (DCI) infrastructure for two of China's leading cloud service providers The Nokia webscale DCI solution is now present in 13 of China's webscale providers, supporting applications from e-commerce to search and online gaming 16 June 2020 Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced that it has been awarded two contracts with China-based webscale giants, Tencent and Baidu, for data center interconnect (DCI) network solutions. Tencent and Baidu will strengthen their already strong relationship with Nokia to build out their software-defined DCI infrastructure, providing them with the dynamic, massive-scale optical bandwidth needed to support growing cloud operations in China and the US. Tencent and Baidu are two of the top four China-based webscale operators. Baidu is the number one search engine and Tencent leads in social media and online gaming. They have large cloud operations in China and abroad to support their global businesses. Connecting their very large data centers around the world requires ultra-high optical bandwidth and software-defined networking (SDN) that are highly responsive to the fast-shifting nature of cloud services. China's webscale networks support hundreds of millions of consumers as they shop online, search for information, share photographs and online game. Nokia's webscale DCI solutions, which are based on the Nokia 1830 Photonic Service Interconnect (PSE), are also enabling webscale operators in China to support edge cloud applications such as Industry 4.0, AI, machine learning and autonomous driving. Nokia's DCI and SDN solutions maximize capacity and agility, while simplifying and automating key operational functions for lower costs. Nokia is a world leader in the DCI market with its solutions used worldwide by many webscale networks and large enterprises in the financial, healthcare, government, energy, transportation, consumer and industrial sectors for business and mission-critical DCI applications. Markus Bochert, President of Nokia Greater China, said: "We continue to expand our relationship with China's webscale giants. Our leading DCI product portfolio and technology innovations in photonics and SDN controllers are key, as well as our strong R&D capabilities, globalized supply chain and highly responsive service teams. These latest contracts with Baidu and Tencent consolidate our presence in the webscale market in China, which we are confident will continue to flourish in the coming years." About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Only Nokia offers a comprehensive portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing opportunities across the globe. With our commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we are a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks. Our communications service provider customers support more than 6.4 billion subscriptions with our radio networks, and our enterprise customers have deployed over 1,300 industrial networks worldwide. Adhering to the highest ethical standards, we transform how people live, work and communicate. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia. Contact tracing by public health officials is done on newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients to track the spread of the disease. How did they get it, and whom did they give it to? It's a stopgap measure because there isn't much of a cure for the pandemic. Now we have this: Democratic New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio's "contact tracing team" won't be allowed to ask COVID-19 patients if they attended a George Floyd protest recently, The City reported. The "contact tracing team" is tasked with finding an infected patient's recent contacts and informing them about their exposure to the virus so they can self-isolate. However, the team is not allowed to ask people if they attended one of the many recent demonstrations where thousands of people gathered closely together to protest the death of George Floyd, The City reported. So much for science and public safety. Of what use is this information gathered if they can't pin it on an illegal protest gathering or lootfest, with zero social distancing? New York mayor Bill de Blasio and all his leftist allies in public health have been eager to pin church meetings, barbershop chairs, nursing homes, cruise ships, beauty parlors, spas, bars, and restaurants as key spreading points of contact, and some of these places really have been critical nodes in the spread of the disease. And the pieties flow. According to WebMD: "One of the most important steps to take to reopen the economy as safely as possible is to create a system of contact tracing. When social distancing is relaxed, contact tracing is our best hope for isolating the virus when it appears and keeping it isolated," former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is helping lead the effort, said in a statement. But somehow, protests get a pass. Nothing to see here, move along... This is rather a corruption of the whole idea of contract tracing. The concept has generally been subject to bad press because it can get so Orwellian. Norway scrapped its contract trace program on the grounds that it violated patient privacy. Singapore told Google no, it didn't want the tech giant to be mining data from its participation in contract traces. New York's contract trace program is being run by former mayor and failed presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, whose very participation draws questions as to what he really might use all that data-mining for. But now we see a swing in a different direction, not in an intrusive collection of data, but in a selectively filtered collection of data designed to give rabid mobs a pass. If the inconvenient truths can be filtered out, the data are worthless. So much for "science." Democrats always say they are the party of science, but, well... This is just the kind of politicization we are seeing around this coronavirus crisis as it intersects with the George Floyd protests. If there was any match for the Centers for Disease Control's endorsement of social justice protests after all its fuss in favor of lockdowns, it might just be in de Blasio's instructions to contact tracers to not ask newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients if they've been to the protests (or the lootings) that followed. To leftists, every aspect of science is subordinate to advancing leftism. While it may make leftists feel good to do it, it's pretty much the end of public health as a science. What member of the public is going to trust them when they call for another lockdown? Call this bad decision another pork-barrel program, good only if it validates the left. That's what happens when just leftists are at the helm, as they are in one-party blue cities and in the public health establishment in general. Any questions as to why the public doesn't trust them much? Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of Twitter screen shot and Pixabay public domain image. Capt. Emily Thompson, call sign Banzai, made U.S. military history in early June by becoming the first female stealth fighter pilot to fly into combat, the Air Force announced. Launching from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, Thompson flew a sortie into the central command area of responsibility, though specific locations were not provided due to operational security, Task and Purpose reported. Thompsons historic flight also featured an all-female maintenance crew during her launch. U.S. Air Force Capt. Emily Thompson, 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot, dons flight equipment recently at the Aircrew Flight Equipment shop at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. (Tech. Sgt. Kat Justen/U.S. Air Force) This is my first deployment so for me it was a pretty big deal, the first combat sortie for me, she said, now part of the 388th Fighter Wing. Of course being the first female, its a pretty big honor. Thompson had initially wanted to be an aircraft engineer, she said. Once she got the chance to fly a plane instead of repairing one, however, she had a change of heart, and steered a new direction toward becoming a pilot. She trained on F-16 Fighting Falcons during her college training and then flew the F-16 for a year-and-a-half before moving on to the stealthy F-35A Lightning II, which is also capable of vertical landings and short takeoffs. U.S. Air Force Capt. Emily Thompson, 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot, dons her helmet recently prior to a mission at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. (Tech. Sgt. Kat Justen/U.S. Air Force) Thompson noted that a lot of female pilots were already flying combat sorties on other platforms, and having honor meant a lot. The captain is one among several recent females assigned to fly F-35s in recent months, and she is optimistic about whats next for women flying the stealth fighters. I think its a bright future, she said. There is a number of us already in the F-35 and I think the number is just going to continue to grow. Its a very supportive community, its very open, I think the opportunity for women to really excel in the F-35 is definitely there. U.S. Air Force Capt. Emily Thompson launches an F-35A Lightning II while Airman 1st Class Ashlin Randolph, a 380th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, gives the signal to proceed recently at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. (Tech. Sgt. Kat Justen/U.S. Air Force) Know theres a lot of supportive people out there, she added. Just stay positive, work hard, and you can achieve whatever you set your mind out to do, you can get it done. A member of Thompsons all-female maintenance crew, Airman First Class Ashlin Randolph, a weapons load crewperson, described the mission as very empowering, Air Force Times reported. I would definitely say be confident and never let anyone tell you that you cant do something because you can, she added. Preceding Thompson, the first female fighter pilot to fly the F-35 was then-Air-Force-Lt. Col. Christine Mau, who joined the program in 2015 after previously flying F-15s. Mau also partook in the first all-female combat sortie in Afghanistan in 2011, providing air support for coalition and Afghan forces. The U.S. Marine Corps F-35A Lightning II demonstrates its refueling capabilities on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 30, 2017. (Lance Cpl. Ryan Kierkegaard/U.S. Marine Corps) We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc A raft of EU nations reopened their borders to fellow Europeans Monday, but a new coronavirus outbreak in China and surging death tolls in the Americas underlined the bleak struggles still ahead in the pandemic. More than eight million people have now been infected with the virus worldwide since it emerged in China late last year, and more than 435,000 have died, according to an AFP count based on official figures. The virus is surging in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the death toll passed 80,000 -- the majority in Brazil, which has the second-highest number of infections and deaths in the world, after the United States. Iran, India and Saudi Arabia have also reported worrying increases in deaths and infections, adding to concern the world still faces a long fight against COVID-19. - 'It's been five months' - Caseloads have declined recently across many parts of Europe, and governments are keen to ease lockdowns that have saved lives but devastated economies and taken a psychological and emotional toll. Belgium, France, Germany and Greece were among the countries that lifted border restrictions Monday. In Spain, a planeload of German tourists flew to the Balearic islands in an experimental pilot project. The European Union launched an app, "Re-open EU" -- available in 24 languages -- to help travellers find out which EU countries they can enter. At Brussels Zaventem airport, Joy Kamel, a student travelling to join her father in France, waited to board a flight to Marseille. "It's been five months since I've seen him," she told AFP. "I'm in the middle of an exam, but since I'm taking them online, I might as well take advantage." In England, shops and outdoor attractions welcomed their first customers since March. Britain, which has the highest virus toll in Europe, is anxious to get back to work after figures last week showed the economy shrank by one-fifth in April. In Paris, cafes and restaurants were allowed to fully reopen after three months of lockdown, catching up with the rest of France. "The question now is whether clients will come back," said Albert Aidan, manager at L'Ami Georges, in the heart of Paris. - Mass testing in Beijing - But fears of a "second wave" remain -- fueled by news from China, which has locked down parts of Beijing to battle a new outbreak. On Tuesday, Chinese authorities reported another 27 domestically transmitted cases in the capital, bringing the number of infections over the last five days to 106. The new cluster, linked to a wholesale food market, has led city officials to lock down more than 20 neighbourhoods and test tens of thousands of people. - Americas reeling - The crisis has upended countless lives and ravaged the global economy -- and has yet to peak in many places. In Latin America, the latest epicenter, the grim death toll has been accompanied by devastating economic news. Peru reported its economy shrank by more than 40 percent year-on-year in April. Chile meanwhile extended its state of emergency by three months, two days after the health minister resigned amid controversy and confusion over the country's rising death toll. There was mixed news from the United States, which recorded its lowest daily death toll since March: 385, according to Johns Hopkins University. It was the second consecutive day the US toll came in below 400. However, the United States remains the hardest-hit country in the world by far, with more than 116,000 deaths. Some states have seen new flare-ups recently, but President Donald Trump's administration insists there will be no new economic shutdown even if a second wave arises. A return to normal still looks distant. Organizers postponed the Oscars by two months, until April 25, and Major League Baseball's commissioner said he was no longer confident the 2020 season would be played. Wall Street stocks shook off early weakness and finished higher Monday as fresh Federal Reserve announcements of emergency lending. The US also withdrew emergency use authorisations for two antimalarial drugs touted by Trump for use against coronavirus, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ), over studies that found them ineffective in treating COVID-19. - Morgues overflowing - Iran, the Middle East's worst-hit country, warned it might have to reimpose tough measures to ensure social distancing, after reporting more than 100 deaths for a second straight day. And the total number of deaths in Saudi Arabia topped 1,000 amid a new rise in infections just weeks before the annual hajj pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites. In India, officials said 15 million people in the city of Chennai and neighbouring districts would go back under lockdown, as cases surged there. The rise in infections in the country of 1.2 billion people has highlighted the precarious state of its healthcare system. In the capital, Delhi, morgues are overflowing. burs-jhb/bgs The ruling NPP has slammed the Opposition NDC over claims that the ruling party has only achieved about 14% of its 2016 manifesto promises. Addressing journalists in Accra on Monday, June 15, 2020, Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah described the claims by the NDC as distortion of facts one that the leading opposition party is engaging in to serve their own parochial partisan interest. Mr Nkrumah slammed the opposition party for parading dishonesty about the current state of affairs. As we get into the 2020 national conversation period, one of the narratives that the NDC seek to carve is a narrative of dishonesty and in order to give life or credence to that narrative, they have to create scenarios that if indeed we made 388 promises, they will find some ways of adding some 235 and claim that we made 631 and in the end say therefore that we have been dishonest He said part of the NDC strategy is increasing the NPPs promises from 388 to 631 to enable the opposition party make a claim of dishonesty against the Akufo-Addo administration. They make this argument because what they seek is to downplay our achievement as a country and as a people he added. The NDC in the third edition of their weekly press conference Monday rated the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) 14 percent in their manifesto promises prior to the 2016 general elections. The press conference which was by led by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described governments accomplishment of its promises as woeful. Responding to the claims, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah who is also Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi stated that what they have always forgotten is that if Ghana succeeds, and the Government of Ghana, regardless of which administration is in power, gets the credit, it insures to the benefit of all Ghanaians including them. When Ghanaian leadership is respected and appreciated across the continent or the world, they too, regardless of their partisan political Colour benefit from the collateral credit. The Minister however admonished that despite this year being an election year, the country should be focused on conversations that will help bring development. We are clear in our minds that this year being an election year, despite the expectation that our attention as a nation even on politics should be focused on leadership in times of crisis, it comes as no surprise that the group will resort to such attempts. We do not believe that Ghanas progress record should be undermined in those attempts to be partisan. Government assures the people of Ghana to set and defend the nations record of growth straight even in this trying times, he added. ---starrfmonline One morning about two months ago, before coffee had even entered the body, I ordered a medical device that, the day before, hadnt even been on my radar. Its called a pulse oximeter. Its a simple little gizmo, a little larger than a cigarette lighter, and it measures your blood oxygen levels with infrared light when you clip it on to your finger. As an added bonus, you get your pulse reading, too. This impulse purchase was prompted by a New York Times piece written by Dr. Richard Levitan, an emergency room doctor who volunteered at the Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for 10 days at the end of March, to help Americas oldest public hospital cope with the crush of COVID-19 patients. There, Levitan observed that many COVID-19 patients had silent hypoxia, which means they had low oxygen levels, despite the fact that they felt alert and were breathing perfectly normally. By the time patients showed symptoms, the infectious disease could have done potentially irreversible damage to their lungs. To combat silent hypoxia and start treatment before the damage set in, Levitan recommended monitoring oxygen levels in all patients who tested positive for COVID-19. Despite the fact that Ive never had a test, I went online and bought one, on the grounds that it was clear we were going to be dealing with this for a long time and my partner is in a high-risk category. If we saw oxygen levels dropping, I reasoned, it would be time to go to the hospital. Plus, at the time, I was still trying to get my hands on a digital thermometer, which were all sold out. And dont even get me started on hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol and masks. So, since it was about $60 and still available, I decided to order first and ask questions later. Turns out I probably should have done it the other way around. First of all, it took a month, since I wasnt nearly as ahead of the curve as I thought I was. Chris Cuomo, Andy Cohen, Real Housewives of various cities and at least one Silicon Valley prepper had already been talking them up as an important part of a COVID-19 survival kit. Also, it turned out that experts didnt really think it needed to be a medicine cabinet staple, like a thermometer. Its really meant more for people with very specific problems or risks. Oximeters are super for people with chronic conditions like emphysema, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or lung fibrosis, since it gives them very good guidance on what they can and cant do, says Dr. Martin Kolb, director of the division of respirology at McMaster Universitys department of medicine. If those people are exercising and they put an oximeter on, they can see their oxygen levels are low and they need to slow down, or are reassured to keep going or adjust their oxygen. But for an otherwise healthy person it might be overkill. Kolb says that the use of oximeters under the supervision of medical authorities is an interesting research question and that, after studies are conducted, it might turn out to be a useful tool in the fight against COVID-19. Several hospitals in Ireland, for example, are sending patients home to self-isolate with wireless pulse oximeters, which medical staff can monitor from the hospital. That means less pressure on hospitals and a lower risk of exposure for everyone. If oxygen levels start to dip, the hospitals can call their patients back in. They also might be useful in long-term care homes. But whether or not the public should be interested in buying these things is a totally different question, he says, Its not something everyone in the public should have at home because you wouldnt really want healthy people to be monitoring oxygen levels every two hours. This is not what theyre made for. My oxygen levels, in case anyone is wondering, are excellent. My last reading was 98 and, for reference, you want to be in the 95 to 100 range. My resting pulse rate probably could use a little work to bring it in line with my pre-isolation vitals. Im trying to fix that with early morning walks. So maybe its good I bought the pulse oximeter after all. And I kind of enjoy checking my oxygen levels every couple of hours. I asked Kolb, though, if I might be taking one away from a person who really needed it. He said that was certainly a possible scenario, like the situation that came up with the N95 masks, thermometers, rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide that people panic-shopped for. Looks like I was a part of the problem, not the solution. The main point he wanted to get across, though, was that its use as a tool for general members of the public wasnt supported by any scientific research at this point. Thats a common refrain with basically everything connected to COVID-19, from vitamins D and K to hydroxychloroquine. The pulse oximeter might work. But we just dont know yet. So any recommendations, especially ones coming from reality TV stars and Silicon Valley preppers, should be taken with a grain of salt. Good impactful medical knowledge really needs time, says Kolb. And we understand that time is pressing and everyone wants answers yesterday, but its just like a good bottle of wine, it takes a few years time to really come into its full flavour and have full impact. If you get it out too early you might just have grape juice. The Irish Medical Organisation has blasted the new Programme for Government health strategy document as a disgrace. The plans include baby boxes for all new parents, cheaper hospital parking, more free GP care and more nurses. The sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under 18 will be banned, and planning restrictions on shops selling junk food near schools will be introduced. They are among a raft of measures the new government believes will deliver A Healthier Future, one of a number of catchphrase goals from its Universal Health Care mission. Others include A Health-led Approach to Drugs Misuse, which will see greater use of Adult Cautions for people caught with drugs for their own personal use. And the health policy also calls for An Age-friendly Ireland, with a promise to take a look at establishing a gated village for people with dementia. The IMO says the Programme for Government has ignored the countrys 100 or so public health doctors who, the IMO says, are among the real heroes of Covid-19. hey were pivotal in all decisions and advice with regard to public health throughout the country, including the government's roadmap. However, while pay and other promises for nurses - another cohort of health workers lauded as frontline heroes during the crisis - are mentioned, public health doctors arent. Indeed, in the run-up to March, they had been engaged in negotiations with the government over them getting consultant status, something they have sought for years. Its a disgrace, Dr Denis McCauley, chairperson of the Irish Medical Organisations GP committee, said.After everything they did during this crisis, I am shocked that they were not even mentioned in the document. There is a long-standing issue about giving them consultant status. They have been working night and day since March to keep the country safe and the only public health thing they say in the Programme For Government is they will protect our public health. The first thing I would have expected the government to do is to show respect to them and to finish up the discussions they were having about consultant status. Dr McCauley said public health doctors should get "what they deserve and what they have definitely earned over the past three months". He described the Programme For Government health strategy document in general as fluffy, fluffy, vague and vague. He said: They are just throwing the Slainte Care blanket over everything but in no way actually saying what Slainte Care is...It has no substance at all. It is filled with such soft, lovely, reassuring words that - at the present minute - mean very little to me and our members. Le Huu Minh Tuan, an independent journalist and member of the Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam (IJAVN), was arrested on June 12. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on authorities to release Le Tuan and cease suppression of freedom of speech in Vietnam. Le Tuan is the latest journalist in Vietnam to be arrested on allegation of the creation and distribution of anti-government propaganda under Article 117 of the Criminal Code. He is the fourth and, at the age of 30, the youngest IJAVN member to be detained after the arrests of high-profile journalists, Pham Chi Dung and Nyugen Tuong Thuy in May this year. Le Tuan has been a member of the IJAV, an organization that aims to provide a shield for independent journalists to voice dissent, since 2015. He has written several articles which critique the states actions and is a supporter of democracy. While media in Vietnam has always been strictly controlled, the recent IJAVN arrests are symptomatic of the states increasingly aggressive tactic to silence any opponents to their rule. Vietnam currently holds 277 activists in prison. Article 117 of the Criminal Code is just one of the many censorship laws that restrict the publication of media that does not circulate state propaganda. Le Tuan has been charged for making, storing, spreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the State.Under Article 117, Le Tuan could face between 5 to 20 years in jail, depending on how severe the state determines his crime to be. According to an activists Facebook post, Le Tuan was still studying at the Hanoi University of Law prior to the arrests and had been co-operating with security agencies affiliated with the government. He is currently being held under detention. IFJ said: The arrest of Le Huu Minh Tuan is a clear demonstration of the how the state continues to abuse of its powers to violate the rights and freedoms of its people. IFJ urges the authorities to stop the mistreatment of journalists and to release the media workers who have been unfairly locked up. The National Association of Residents Doctors (NARD) has explained why it embarked on an indefinite strike action while Nigeria is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic which has infected more than 16, 000 infected and killed over 400 since it arrived in the West African nation in late February. The NARD president, Aliyu Sokombo, said doctors downed tools over unpaid salaries, non-payment of hazard allowance, and a dearth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in hospitals among several other reasons. He said the association has explored several other options before arriving at their decision. While we are battling with inadequate PPE, many states are owing doctors for months even in this COVID-19 period. In Imo State, for instance, no resident doctor has received a salary in four months since the new government assumed office Mr Sokombo said in a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday. We can no longer continue like this. We felt we needed to sit back and review this situation of offering health service under such an unsafe condition. The resident doctors announced that they have commenced a nationwide indefinite strike on Monday morning in a communique issued at the end of its virtual extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting. Following the announcement, health minister, Osagie Ehanire, said the doctors decision may lead to loss of lives. Mr Ehanire, while responding to questions at the daily Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing on Monday, urged the doctors to show empathy by calling off the strike. Today we had a meeting with the House Committee Chairman of Health. NARD was also in attendance. At that meeting, they had not yet declared their position on the strike I requested them to show enough empathy to know that we will continue to work on their demand and they should not down their tools because the lives that may be lost in that process are not replaceable, he said. But during the phone conversation with this newspaper, the NARD president said doctors treating people with COVID-19 are exempted from the strike. We have exempted doctors working in isolation and treatment centres just to prove we are not trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to make our demands, the doctor said. Unresponsive Government The NARD president said their demands date back to 2017. We have tried to use dialogue, ultimatums and all other possible means but the government has not demonstrated sufficient commitment in solving the challenges. They have not made PPE available in various institutions across the country, we dont have life insurance and our residency program has remained unfunded and worst still many governors are not paying salaries. Some doctors have not received a kobo since January and they are still working and treating people. How do you continue like that? Resident doctors are certified doctors undergoing residency to become consultants. They make up a large bulk of doctors in Nigerias tertiary hospitals. Health workers, being the first respondents to patients have continued to be at risk of exposure to COVID-19 virus. Although health workers have been advised to use full PPE before attending to patients, many do not have access to this equipment. The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, earlier said the centre is distributing enough PPE to health workers who are front liners in the fight against COVID-19. Hazard Allowance, Life Insurance The Nigerian government had promised a special COVID-19 hazard and inducement allowance of 50 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to all health workers in Nigerian Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres (FMCs), and designated COVID-19 centres. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said about 5,000 frontline health workers have been given life insurance by the Nigerian insurance industry, NHIS. But Mr Sokombo said no dime of hazard allowance has been paid to any doctor. I dont think they have intentions of paying us. The NARD president said no life insurance has been issued to any resident doctor, noting that no less than 10 doctors have died of COVID19. I have lost count of those infected by the virus. As of June 2, about 812 health workers had tested positive for COVID-19 in Nigeria. Advertisements We left the treatment for COVID19 uninterrupted to make the government see reasons with us and find a lasting solution to our demands in the shortest possible time, Mr Sokombo noted. The Minister of State for Health, Olurunnimbe Mamora, disclosed this at the daily Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19 on Monday. He said the Federal Government agreed to shelve the payment of the current N5,000 hazard allowance, which had been in existence since 1991. Emmanuel Ugboaja, the general secretary of the Nigerian Ministry of Labour, did not respond Tuesday to Calls and text messages seeking the governments response to the situation. MIDDLETOWN Citizens are reacting for and against the citys decision to remove the Christopher Columbus statue at Harbor Park Saturday, which the mayor said was due to happen for a construction project, as well as a measure to prevent vandalism. Across the country recently, demonstrators have defacing and knocking down statues of the Italian explorer, including in Boston, where a statue was found beheaded last week. Others have taken place in Providence and New Jersey. Former common councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski took a short video at Harbor Park that day, showing a crew, using a flat-bed truck and ladder, placing straps around the monument before it was taken away. The passersby she spoke to stopped to take photos and express their discontent. They were very upset about history being destroyed at the whim of so few, she quoted them as saying. Lifelong Middletown resident Madelyn Hart acknowledged many have a negative connotation of Columbus. The city has spent thousands of dollars in the past three years on restoration of the statue; 2017 and 2019 incidents required significant repair, she said. She would like to see the monument installed in a private location. I do not believe that the appropriate place for a statue that evokes feelings of racism and antiquated understandings of colonization, is a public park within a highly diverse city, she said. William Corvo, whose family was among Italian-American community members who raised funds to erect the statue in 1996, has been vocal about vandalism that has taken place several times in the past four years. In 2016, a vandal or vandals crossed out the description of Columbus as discoverer of America on the base of the statue. The words looter, murderer, and genocidal and more were written on the base. . In 2018, Columbus nose was chipped away. And in October 2019, the statue was spray-painted with the words lies, and more in red on the base of the granite statue. None of the vandals were ever arrested, Corvo said. Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim announced the statue would be moved on his Facebook page Sunday. He explained why the sculpture was taken down, referencing the Change.org petition. Permanently remove Middletowns Christopher Columbus statue, created Sunday, has garnered almost 180 signatures. First, it has been slated for a temporary move for a while, Florsheim wrote. Maintenance work at Harbor Park, scheduled to start in early July, requires the removal and storage of the statue. The plan was approved at the last meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Columbus Quincentenniel Committee of Middletown, whose members were either Italian immigrants or children of immigrants, established the monument of a Columbus clutching closed his floor-length cape with a scroll in hand. It was a gift to the city from a number of Italian-American families. There is a story behind the monument, the idea of which was prompted by the 500th anniversary, Corvo said. Italian-Americans, mostly from Sicily, Melilli, wanted to mark the occasion with a celebration. Being consistent with the Italian-American across the country taking pleasure in their participation in America, thats what it was all about, said Corvo, also a historian. He would like to see the monument installed at the Italian Society of Middletown. I want it to stay positive, he said. I have received a large number of calls, emails, and texts in recent days from residents pointing out that statues of Columbus are being taken down in other places across the state and country, either temporarily or permanently, and that they would like to see Middletown do the same, Florshiem said. To the hundreds of people who were involved in the creation and placement of the statue, it has less to do with the historical figure of Columbus and more to do with their own families history in Middletown, Florsheim added. Corvo believes the mayors suggestion would allow an organization to best keep it safe and intact. Presently, the monument is being housed in an undisclosed location. J. Kehaulani Kauanui, professor of American Studies and an affiliate faculty member in anthropology at Wesleyan University said she is relieved by the actions. I hope it remains permanent, since a monument to Columbus glorifying colonialism and slavery has no place in our society, Kauanui said. The inscription at the base of the statue explaining that it was erected ... in celebration of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, but this begs the question: Why should Columbus serve as a symbol for those overcoming hardship, given his role in colonial violence and slavery in this hemisphere? Surely the Italian-American community in Middletown has other figures in their history ones which are worthy of pride, Kauanui said. The history of Christopher Columbus needs no explanation, and has no place in such a diverse loving city, like Middletown, it reads. Columbus does not represent the Italian communitys values and morals, the petition said. There are other ways to attribute to culture and heritage. The riverfront belongs to the people of Middletown, and should always be a welcoming and safe space, the petition concludes. YEREVAN. . Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan mentioned this in his concluding speech Tuesday during the parliament debates on his petition to strip parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader, MP, and business tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan of his parliamentary immunity in order to launch criminal proceedings against him, and take Tsarukyan into custody. "In fact, the speeches that were made were mostly political, emotional, and I think that was probably an attempt for me to present a corresponding speech. But my professional ethics do not allow me to follow that temptation. If yesterday, today, tomorrow whichever prosecutor comes with such an initiative, the very subjective assessment of political persecution will be made by any side of the hall. I have always acted and will act in accordance with the law. And the law requires that everyone is equal before the law, and anyone who has committed a crime is subject to criminal liability. The petition is exclusively a legal document, the process is exclusively legal, Davtyan added. He called on the National Assembly to give consent to start criminal proceedings against Gagik Tsarukyan. "It will give an opportunity to Mr. Tsarukyan, giving him the appropriate judicial status by involving him in the criminal litigation procedure, to conduct a full, objective, comprehensive investigation which will be as public as possibleboth in its course and its results," the attorney general said. Data from the research firm Nielsen that tracked Americans grocery buying from March to May bore this out. Campbells reaped a 93 percent increase in sales of its canned soup before settling back to a still-amazing 32 percent growth. At General Mills, breakfast cereal jumped 29 percent in late March, and jumped again to 37 percent in the third week of April. Deep into the pandemic, we were still buying 51 percent more frozen waffles, pancakes and French toast from Kelloggs. And so on. To help gauge what we might do once social distancing ends, Ms. Howard also took an early measure of how the pandemic changed our eating habits. A survey by her firm, done on April 2 of 1,052 consumers who were representative of the U.S. population, found that six in 10 adults were cooking more of their meals from scratch, a trend that broke fairly evenly among different age groups. But there were some generational splits on other matters. Not quite one in three people said the virus had caused them to eat healthier, which older people tended to define as helping them lose weight or control diabetes, and younger adults defined as real food with simple ingredients. By contrast, one in four people said they were eating more salty and sugary snacks, and these people were dominated by the same group that had given Big Food a hard time back in 2014: young adults ages 18 to 29. Amy Trubek, chair of the nutrition and food sciences department at the University of Vermont, said that when her students had to flee campus in March, they cooked up a healthy storm. But she has her doubts about whether they or the rest of us can keep this up without some concerted effort. American habits die hard, she said. I dont think sourdough starter is going to make everybody into a home cook of whole foods. Its the everyday relentlessness of figuring out how to feed yourself that is always the problem. And as things ease up, we have a habitual system in our society where you dont have to cook, you can have other people cook on your behalf, or you buy food thats prepared for you in some way, shape or form. Enter the processed food companies and their plans to capture the moment were in, building on strategies they employed even before the pandemic began. In listening to their marketing executives and pitches to Wall Street, we might expect to see a game plan that looks like this: Keep their foods in our heads through ads on our mobile phones. This started out silly, with bags of Doritos measuring six feet between people. They went deeper into our isolation with pick your quarantine house from Skittles and played on our social distancing with virtual hugs from M&Ms. But even when not tied to the pandemic, their pitches are staggeringly effective. Taco Bell has 1.9 million followers. Fight harder for shelf space. Mondelez employees, known as direct store distribution agents, go into supermarkets to stock the companys products themselves, which became a huge advantage in the pandemic. When grocers focused on restocking staples like flour and meat and let the snacks aisles sit empty, Mondelez agents kept the Oreos and Ritz crackers coming. Look for fierce shelf wars among companies going forward. Focus on new markets. In China, the pandemic hurt sales initially, but Mondelez bounced back in part by refocusing their marketing efforts. We started to realize that cooking with Oreo was something that they really like to do, said Mr. Van de Put. So, we switched our communication to cooking with Oreo, and it had a great effect on our sales. Recapture impulsiveness. The pandemic has accelerated the industrys efforts to get us to buy things not on our shopping list. One trick thats getting renewed attention: the full basket. With free shipping on orders of $35 or more, for example, shoppers just short of that sum get prompted to add impulse items. And finally, food companies are hoping to regain our trust about the health risks of processed foods by reducing their use of sugar, salt and saturated fat, and by taking steps to help consumers avoid overeating. A Mondelez spokesman said the company is vigorously pursuing these goals, that its snacks include savory products like Triscuits and Ritz, and pointed to a survey released June 9 by an industry-funded group that found some people are using snacks to replace meals. Last month, Mondelez was back in front of Wall Street analysts with a report about its snacking made right campaign, which promotes mindful snacking with portion control and eating advice. A company video has six tips when it comes to the Oreos that weve been gobbling up at home with our kids, including this one: Instead of just grabbing a handful, place just three on a plate and try to resist the impulse to gobble. Take a small bite from one cookie and put it back. Attention, fast food taco lovers: Taco Bueno has officially arrived in Houston. This is Taco Bueno's first location in the Greater Houston area. It opened for the first time this morning. The fast food chain based in Dallas-Fort Worth specializes in tacos, burritos, quesadillas and favorites like MexiDips and Chips and its Party Tacos for under $1. Find the new Taco Bueno location at 20995 Katy Freeway, Katy. If youre debating what to do for your familys summer vacation, Camp Cullen on Lake Livingston could be your ticket. Beginning Friday, June 19, Houston-area families can spend time outdoors but enjoy air-conditioned cabins and provided meals at the YMCA of Greater Houston camp, all while staying close to home. The camp is about 93 miles north from downtown Houston off of I-45 in Trinity. Top hits: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox According to a news release, Escape to the Woods is a unique and contactless outdoor experience, where children and parents will participate in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) activities, sports and more together. Camp Cullen has been offering overnight camps for teenagers for more than 45 years but chose to suspend those traditional camps this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Families will be greeted with 500 acres of piney woods overlooking Lake Livingston and be able to enjoy a true summer camp experience, said Mish Hood, YMCA Camp Cullen executive director, in the release. Parents can control the environment and exposure while still having an incredible time outside of the home enjoying each other and connecting with nature. Activities and entertainment Families can enjoy a range of outdoor adventures. Traditional camp activities like fishing, campfires, horseback riding and sports like soccer, kickball, volleyball and disc golf are just some that are available. Lawn games such as cornhole, horseshoes and slacklines can also be fun. Campers can explore the area through scavenger hunts, geocaching, hiking and taking part in a daily photo challenge. If it rains or gets too hot, there are board games. Arts and craft activities projects and kits such as friendship bracelets and a solar system are a great way to spend time. Science kits include metal detectors, a dinosaur egg excavation and a shark tooth activity. Service kits include appreciation cards, seasonal planting materials and a birdhouse kit. Medical school: Katy resident earns $10,000 scholarship for med school Daily evening programming will include bingo, trivia and other socially distanced entertainment. Feeding time at the barn will likely be a highlight. If one parent needs to work while the other family members play, the cabins, the lodge and a few outdoor spaces have WiFi. Quiet workspaces, remote desks, and coworking spaces will also be on-site. Meals and Accommodations Families choose their meal selections online, and then their meals will be delivered to their cabins during set times. Grilling kits that include meat, tongs and charcoal are available. Families will stay in their own private cabins that have air conditioning and in-cabin bathrooms and showers. Cabins have twin and/or full beds that depend on availability. Campers should bring their own bedding, towels and toiletries. The cabins have mini-fridges and a coffeemaker, but families should bring their own snacks and beverages. The camp store has some to purchase. Thanks: Katy students art encourages front-line workers Cost The cost of the camp is $99 per person, per night, which covers meals, lodging and most of the activities. Children 0 to 3 years are free. Some activities, kits and items from the camp store are additional costs. A maximum of eight people per family can stay in each cabin, with a minimum two-night stay. As additional days are booked, the cost per day decreases. YMCA members receive a 25 percent discount on registration costs. To make sure safety, capacity and social distancing measures are met, the maximum number of families is 24 at one time. Safety Measures The YMCA wants your family getaway to be a peaceful, relaxing and healthy experience, according to the release. The program design revolves around catering to families and maintaining social distancing from other guests for peace of mind for all. To that end, the camp strongly campers adhere to safety measures, including social distancing at six feet; basic health measures like washing hands; and wearing masks and gloves, which is recommended but not required. Staff members will wear masks. The camp encourages families to wear masks when in close quarters with others. Cabins and in-cabin bathrooms will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before each check-in. Families will arrive to a fresh, clean environment and will be completely in control of exposure during their stay. With 500 acres to play and explore, there is plenty space for everyone, the release stated. Breaking News: Get email alerts from Chron.com sent directly to your inbox Stephen Ives, President and CEO of YMCA of Greater Houston, said in the release that the camp is an excellent place this summer to work, play and relax while still managing your environment. The YMCA has been a family organization for more than 130 years and encourages families to escape the walls of their homes to head to the woods of Camp Cullen, he said in the release. Registration Families can register for the camp at www.ymcahouston.org/programs/camps/camp-cullen. To learn more about YMCA Camp Cullen, please email campcullen@ymcahouston.org or call 936-594-2274. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com [June 16, 2020] NetFoundry Zero Trust Networking API Is Now Available at the World's Largest API Marketplace - RapidAPI CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Envisioning a future in which users can spin up zero trust, high performance networking, NetFoundry's API is now available in the world's largest API marketplace - RapidAPI. Developers can now implement zero trust, cloud-orchestrated, programmable networking between any set of cloud applications, edge applications, user devices and IoT devices. The resultant private networks eliminate dependencies on MPLS or VPNs. "We've been using the NetFoundry APIs to integrate private networking into our DevOps cycles in a simple, secure and reliable manner, with excellent results improving our automation and agility," said Sergio Sancez, CEO AGT Idit Oryon, Head of partnerships at Rapid API says, "RapidAPI is excited to collaborate with NetFoundry to offer its cloud native zero trust, programmable networking APIs on the world's largest API Marketplace. RapidAPI enables developers to easily find, connect to, and manage the APIs they need for building diverse applications without duplicating efforts by building complex code. By making NetFoundry's software-only zero trust models accessible to our development community, they can now add zero trust security and optimized performance to their next-generation applications." "We are delighted to enable developers to simply and programmatically spin up zero trust networking without doing network engineering, leveraging our RapidAPI marketplace API," said Galeal Zino, Founder & CEO of NetFoundry. Galeal continued, "This is the second wave: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) APIs gave developers the abstractions and controls necessary to leverage cloud native compute; now Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) enables developers to easily leverage cloud native networking." "The NetFoundry platform with their programmable endpoints and APIs enables multi-cloud automation and automates networking inside DevOps constructs," says Ananda Das, CEO of Technilium, Australia. "Our partnership with RapidAPI enables developers to build next-generation secure-by-design applications that require secure transactions, smart automated digital services," says Sreelakshmi Sarva, Head of Product at NetFoundry. Developers may now subscribe to the NetFoundry API via the RapidAPI marketplace to spin up application-specific networks termed "NetFoundry AppWANs". AppWANs provide micro-segmented, software-only, high-performance access to applications. These apps can be made to be invisible to the internet, accessible only via the private, zero trust AppWAN overlays. Because the solution is app-specific, software-only and cloud-orchestrated, it can be used to provide security and performance for any application, without disrupting any existing WANs or networks, and without impacting other applications. About NetFoundry NetFoundry Inc. is the leader in providing zero trust, high performance, cloud native networking. Customers use NetFoundry's turnkey, software-only NaaS services and APIs to spin up private, zero trust networks in minutes, securely connecting any application on any device via any Internet access. Partners also build their own solutions, leveraging the software which NetFoundry built, open sourced and is the leading contributor to, available at Ziti.dev. NetFoundry is a Charlotte, NC headquartered company with locations across the world. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122676/NetFoundry_Logo.jpg Media Links Twitter: @NetFoundry LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/netfoundry/ Web: https://netfoundry.io/ View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netfoundry-zero-trust-networking-api-is-now-available-at-the-worlds-largest-api-marketplace---rapidapi-301077968.html SOURCE NetFoundry [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] All my sources used the same word to describe the state of the factory trade: "steady". I'm more inclined to use the term "becalmed" as yet again yesterday quotes for bullocks ranged from 3.55-3.60/kg, with heifers continuing on 3.60/kg. Although 3.65-3.70/kg was paid by various plants over the last three weeks, I'm told those prices are becoming harder to achieve. It's the same story on the cull cow side. R-grades are reported as being priced from 3.00-3.10/kg, with O-grades on 2.80-2.85/kg, while better Ps continue on 2.70-2.75/kg. On the bull side prices are also unchanged at 3.60/kg for Us with Rs on 3.50 and better O-grades 3.40/kg. With factory kill numbers now north of 32,000, supply and demand appear almost in balance. And while the reopening of various fast-food outlets and barbeque season have helped soak up those extra numbers, the trade awaits a further relaxation of Covid restrictions. The question of how many fit cattle are in the system exercises the minds of farmers and factories constantly, particularly in June, July and August. One man I spoke with made a clear distinction between how well stock are thriving and the number of actual fit cattle in the system: "Everyone is talking about how well cattle are thriving but that's not the same as saying there are heaps of fit cattle around." He also felt that as the Covid crisis bit, a lot of men who traditionally target stock for slaughter in the mid-summer months held off feeding meal. "Now they have started but those cattle are probably still a month away from being finished." The figures however tell a different story. The number of cattle slaughtered for the week ending June 7 was 32,281, indicating that factories are still getting a growing supply when compared to the 31,772 they got in the same week last year. The number of young bulls slaughtered was back 1,917 to 2,868 when compared to 2019 while the number of steers slaughtered at 11,029 was up 1,724. As the drought-like conditions took hold, are some farmers weighing up their options and moving stock ahead of time? The suspicion remains that numbers may yet steady and with the Covid restrictions easing, demand may continue to rise - exports for direct slaughter from the Republic to plants in Northern Ireland have risen dramatically in recent weeks. Could it be that with beef prices in the UK well ahead of the Republic, the draw of cheaper raw material from the South is helping fill Northern orders that require the Union Jack to be stamped on the side of the delivery box? The coronavirus count in Gujarat grew to 24,104 after the state added 514 new cases on Monday., while the death toll rose to 1,506 with 28 new fatalities, 23 in Ahmedabad, said the state health department. The health department added that with 339 more patients discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, the number of recoveries in the state increased to 16,672. AFP The active cases in Gujarat stand at 5,926, of which 76 patients are on ventilators and the condition of other 5,855 is stable. Gujarat has highest mortality rate Government-run hospitals in Gujarat have made headlines stating the crumbling infrastructure and lack of medical staff as the number of COVID positive cases continue to rise. Additionally, Ahmedabad, home to more than seven million, is the worst-affected city in the state, accounting for more than 75 per cent of the state's caseload, and nearly all of its deaths, reports the BBC. With more than 24,000 confirmed cases, Gujarat also has the country's fourth highest caseload. But the state's fatality rate - the proportion of Covid-19 patients who have died - is the highest at 6.2 per cent. This is more than double the national average of 2.8 per cent. AFP Vijay Rupani, the state's chief minister, has repeatedly blamed international travellers and those who attended Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, which later turned into one of biggest hotspots. Reports suggest that massive stigma associated with COVID is making people reluctant to seek help, in case they develop symptoms. Low testing in many parts of the city is another contributing factor to rising cases. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Gujarat over a news report which stated that the state has the highest mortality rate. Covid19 mortality rate: Gujarat: 6.25% Maharashtra: 3.73% Rajasthan: 2.32% Punjab: 2.17% Puducherry: 1.98% Jharkhand: 0.5% Chhattisgarh: 0.35% Gujarat Model exposed.https://t.co/ObbYi7oOoD Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 16, 2020 In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi quoted mortality rate figures from the report from across the states in the country and said the highest fatality rate has "exposed the Gujarat Model". Tweeting a news report on a state in India with the highest mortality rate, Rahul Gandhi said, "Gujarat: 6.25%, Maharashtra: 3.73%, Rajasthan: 2.32%, Punjab: 2.17%, Puducherry: 1.98%, Jharkhand: 0.5%, Chhattisgarh: 0.35%. Gujarat Model exposed." Clinical researchers at Imperial College London will start human trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine this week with strong backing from the UK government. The public research university will soon be recruiting more participants for the first phase of the vaccine trial, commencing at its West London study facility. The team of researchers at Imperial College won 41 million funding from the government and 5 million in philanthropic donations. According to the university, the trial is supported by UK government, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Medical Research Council (MRC), the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Imperial Colleges donor-backed COVID-19 Response Fund. Professor Robin Shattock, who has been leading the research work, said in a statement that a viable vaccine could be vital for protecting the most vulnerable, enabling restrictions to be eased and helping people to get back to normal life. He said that the team has been able to produce a vaccine from scratch and take it to human trials in just a few months which has never been done before with this type of vaccine. If our approach works and the vaccine provides effective protection against disease, it could revolutionise how we respond to disease outbreaks in future, he added. Read: COVID-19: Nitin Gadkari Says 'Scientists In India Working To Develop Coronavirus Vaccine' Gradually increase volunteers Scientists in China isolated samples of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from COVID-19 patients and sequenced its genetic code. The team, led by Professor Shattock, focused on the part of the sequence that holds the blueprint for the spike protein. They were able to recreate the sequence using enzymes in the lab and generate copies of the RNA without the need for animal cells or human stem cells. During the first phase of the trial, the scientists will be gathering data from a small group of participants to understand how the immune system responds to the candidate vaccine. The study team will initially start with a very low dose and it will be administered to a single individual and will slowly increase the dose and the number of volunteers until all the remaining participants have been vaccinated. Read: Brazil Signs Agreement To Produce Chinese Coronavirus Vaccine, Trials To Begin July Read: Tuberculosis Vaccines Could Offer Certain Degree Of Immunity To COVID-19: Study (Image: AP) Relations between Moscow and Beijing include both cooperation and competition. The Russian Arctic scientist was placed under house arrest in February, charged with passing information on Russian submarine detection technology. For Andrey Kortunov, the overall bilateral strategic partnership between the two powers is too important to both sides. Moscow (AsiaNews) Russia plans to put on trial Valery Mitko, one of its foremost Arctic scientists, on charges of passing state secrets to China, Mitkos lawyer, Ivan Pavlov, said yesterday. Valery Mitko, president of Russias Arctic Academy of Sciences, has been under house arrest since February. He could get up to 20 years in prison for high treason. Russian investigators accuse the 78-year-old academic of sharing information about Russian submarine detecting technology during a lecture visit to China, charges that Mitko rejects. Pavlov says that his client travels to China twice a year for conferences where he presents documents and information that are in the public domain. In recent years, several Russian scientists have come under investigation for alleged contacts with foreign governments, including Chinas. According to many observers, Mitkos trial highlights Russian concern over Chinas global rise, this despite developing closer ties with Beijing against the United States. The Arctic, Mitkos speciality, is one of the areas in which China and Russia both cooperate and compete. Ice melting in the polar regions due to global warming could facilitate navigation across the Arctic Ocean, which would be a new and shorter route between Europe and Asia. China and Russia also want to develop the region's enormous energy resources; however, Moscow needs Chinese investments to develop Arctic ports and infrastructures, yet fears that Beijing might challenge its leadership in the region, as it is doing in Central Asia. Some analysts point out however that the Sino-Russian alliance "quasi-alliance" has not been affected by any fallout over the pandemic crisis, which broke out in the Chinese province of Hubei causing some friction between the two governments. The overall bilateral strategic partnership between the two powers is too important to both sides or, at least, to their [respective] national leaders said Andrey Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, speaking to AsiaNews. As we speak the Officer Commanding Bulawayo Province and the Officer Commanding Harare Province have received some of those complaints and concerns which are being addressed. We urge members of the public who might face movement challenges, especially those with exemption letters to contact the local police. They can contact the local Officer Commanding District, Officer Commanding Province and if there is no joy, they can contact police Headquarters, said Asst Comm Nyathi. Sudanese displaced women gather at the Zam Zam refugee camp just outside the town of El-Fashir in the Darfour region of Sudan, during a visit by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. (Karel Prinsloo, File/AP) Alleged Darfur Militia Leader Appears Before ICC Judge THE HAGUE, NetherlandsAn alleged Sudanese militia leader charged with more than 50 crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Darfur conflict appeared June 15 before a judge at the International Criminal Court for the first time since his transfer to the court last week, and said the charges against him were untrue. CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, restrictions meant that Ali Mohammed Ali Abdul Rahman Ali, known as Ali Kushayb, appeared via a video link from the courts detention center near The Hagues North Sea coastline. When the judge, Rosario Salvatore Aitala, asked Kushayb if he had been informed of the charges against him, he replied, speaking through an interpreter: Yes, I was informed of that, but this is untrue. He wasnt required to enter pleas to the charges at the preliminary hearing. Kushayb was flown to the court last week, more than 13 years after judges issued an international arrest warrant for him. He earlier surrendered to authorities in a remote corner of northern Central African Republic, near the countrys border with Sudan. In the Darfur conflict, rebels from the territorys ethnic central and sub-Saharan African community launched an insurgency in 2003, complaining of oppression by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. The government responded with a scorched-earth assault of aerial bombings and unleashed militias known as the Janjaweed, who are accused of mass killings and rapes. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes. Prosecutors say Kushayb was a senior Janjaweed leader. During the hearing, Kushaybs lawyer, Cyril Laucci, told Aitala that Kushayb wanted the court to observe a minute of silence in memory of all the victims of Darfur and more extensively in Sudan. Aitala declined the request, saying: We all do this individually. At the ICC we do this very often. According to the ICCs arrest warrant, Kushayb is accused of commanding thousands of Janjaweed militia in 20032004 and acting as a go-between for the militia and Sudanese government. The ICC says he personally participated in some of the attacks against civilians and allegedly enlisted fighters, armed, funded and provided food and other supplies to the Janjaweed militia under his command. Among offenses listed on his arrest warrant are murder, rape, persecution, and pillage. He initially was charged with 50 offenses, but judges subsequently added two new murder charges linked to the alleged slaying of about 100 civilians in early March 2004 and a charge of inhumane acts committed around the same time. He faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. A court official read out all the charges during the hearing that lasted just over an hour, and Aitala read Kushayb his rights. Aitala said the next major step in the case, a hearing at which prosecutors attempt to persuade judges that they have enough evidence to merit sending the case to a trial, will be held on Dec. 7. In Sudan, Gibreel Hassabu, a lawyer at the Khartoum-based Darfur Bar Association, said Kushaybs arrest was a sign that justice will be delivered to the Darfur people. He added that the case could pressure the transitional government to quickly hand over to The Hague ousted President Omar al-Bashir and two other suspects wanted by the ICC who have been imprisoned in Khartoum. Kushaybs trial is a starting point to bring justice to the victims. His arrest restored hope that the government could go forward and hand over other wanted, including al-Bashir, to The Hague, he said. The Khartoum-based bar association was established by a group of lawyers in 1995 to advocate for victims of violence. The Darfur conflict took place under the three-decade autocratic rule of al-Bashir, who has been charged with genocide by the ICC for allegedly masterminding the campaign of attacks. Al-Bashirs rule ended in April 2019 when the military ousted him after mass street protests by a pro-democracy movement that began in late 2018. Sudans top prosecutor said Kushayb fled to Central African Republic after Sudanese authorities ordered him arrested in December 2019 as part of their own investigation into the Darfur conflict. Taj al-Ser Ali al-Hebr told reporters in Khartoum that the fate of the other Sudanese suspects wanted by the ICC is a complex issue that could involve amending some Sudanese laws. He didnt elaborate. He said the transitional government has announced that the suspects would be tried before the ICC, but the trial venue is a matter for negotiation between the government and the court. ICC judges can decide to stage trials at locations other than the courts headquarters in The Hague, although they have never done so. Its not necessary (for the trial) to be in The Hague. This is a matter of the negotiations with the (ICC) public prospector if the decision is made to try them (before the court), he said. By Mike Corder The Epoch Times contributed to this report. A trio of papers describes several newly discovered human antibodies that target the SARS-CoV-2 virus, isolated from survivors of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infection. Several of these antibodies showed protective, neutralizing capabilities, offering promising therapeutic leads, and eight antibodies from one analysis were discovered to cross-react with a related bat-specific coronavirus - with implications for the identification of broadly neutralizing antibodies to protect against potential new coronavirus outbreaks in the future. Philip Brouwer and colleagues isolated 403 monoclonal antibodies from 3 convalescent COVID-19 patients, showing that the patients had strong immune responses against the viral spike, a protein complex that binds to the ACE2 receptor to facilitate entry into human host cells. A subset of these antibodies neutralized the virus by targeting diverse epitopes on the spike, with the two most potent ones targeting the domain that binds the host receptor. In another study, Thomas Rogers and colleagues used a high-throughput pipeline to isolate and characterize monoclonal antibodies from convalescent donors, selecting for antibodies that bind to the viral spike. Several of the isolated antibodies bound to the receptor binding domain (RBD) and demonstrated neutralizing capabilities, with the most potent ones binding at a site that overlaps the ACE2 binding site. Two of these neutralizing antibodies gave protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection when tested in Syrian hamsters. In a third study to identify broadly protective, cross-reactive antibodies, Anna Wec and colleagues isolated and characterized hundreds of antibodies against the viral spike of SARS-CoV-2 from the memory B cells of a SARS-CoV survivor. Both of these closely related viruses rely on the spike to gain host cell entry by binding the ACE2 receptor. Of nine antibodies that showed strong cross-neutralization of both viruses, eight target the domain that binds the ACE2 receptor - and also neutralized a closely related species of bat coronavirus. Taken together, the trio of studies offers several new human antibodies to help inform the design of therapeutic antibody drugs and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, as well as the design of broadly protective vaccines against a range of related coronaviruses. An Air Force sergeant who was arrested in the fatal ambush of a Santa Cruz County deputy was charged Tuesday in connection with the killing of a federal security officer during George Floyd protests in Oakland last month, authorities said. Staff Sgt. Steven Carrillo, 32, was charged with murder and attempted murder in the killing of federal officer Dave Patrick Underwood, 53. Underwood was one of two officers who were shot May 29 while guarding the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building. The other officer was critically wounded in the drive-by attack. Both were members of Homeland Security's Federal Protective Service. Authorities said Carrillo and a second man traveled to Oakland with the intent to kill police and believed the large demonstrations spurred by the death of Floyd in Minneapolis which they were not a part of would help them get away it. "They came to Oakland to kill cops," said John Bennett, special agent in charge of the San Francisco division of the FBI. Steven Carrillo. (Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office) Carrillo's alleged accomplice, Robert Justus, was also charged with murder and attempted murder. The killing of Underwood set off a massive manhunt. Eight days later, officers showed up at Carrillo's home after they discovered an abandoned white van that belonged to him and contained ammunition, firearms and bomb-making equipment, authorities said. Carrillo ambushed the officers, killing Santa Cruz County Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and critically injuring another deputy, according to authorities. Carrillo suffered a gunshot wound but managed to flee the scene on feet, authorities said. He carjacked a vehicle but was ultimately taken into custody, bleeding from his hip, authorities said. He was charged with multiple offenses, including murder and attempted murder, in the attack on the Santa Cruz County officers. Federal authorities said an AR-15 was recovered at the scene where Carrillo was arrested and linked to the Oakland federal courthouse shooting. The assault rifle used by Carrillo was privately made, had no markings and had a silencer attached to the barrel of the weapon, authorities said. Story continues Investigators found inside Carrillo's vehicle a ballistic vest with a patch on it that featured an igloo and a Hawaiian-style print symbols associated with the far-right extremist "Boogaloo" movement, according to his federal complaint. Carrillo, prior to his arrest, used his own blood to scrawl the word boog and I became unreasonable on the hood of the vehicle he carjacked, the complaint says. Both phrases are also associated with "Boogaloo," a term used by extremists to reference a violent uprising or impending civil war in the U.S., the complaint says. Carrillo's lawyer Jeffrey Stotter said his client was a father of two who was "left deeply shaken" by his wife's death by suicide in 2018. "At this point, all of these allegations are just that, accusations and allegations," Stotter said. The complaint alleges Carrillo met Justus on Facebook, and that Justus gave him a ride to the rally in a white van. According to the complaint, Carrillo wrote in a Facebook group on May 28 that the unrest is on our coast now, this needs to be nationwide and that its a great opportunity to target the specialty soup bois." In Boogaloo groups on Facebook and Reddit, soup bois is shorthand for government agencies that are abbreviated in acronyms like alphabet soup" such as the FBI and ATF. Online Boogaloo communities frequently post memes about targeting federal agencies in advance of another civil war. In response to Carrillos message, the complaint alleges Justus wrote lets boogie, another reference to the Boogaloo movement. In Boogaloo Facebook groups, the complaint says, Carrillo was even more explicit about taking advantage of protests to stir up unrest and violence against police. Go to the riots and support our own cause. Show them the real targets. Use their anger to fuel our fire. Think outside the box. We have mobs of angry people to use to our advantage, Carillo wrote in one Facebook group, according to the complaint. Carrillo believed that the Boogaloo, or second civil war, was kicking off now and if its not kicking off in your hood then start it, according to the complaint. Boogaloo groups are actively allowed on Facebook. Earlier this month, Facebook told NBC News it would stop recommending the groups in its recommendations algorithm, but the groups would be allowed on the site. COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) today announced the closure of its previously announced sale and leaseback transactions with affiliates of Oak Street Real Estate Capital, LLC ("Oak Street") relating to its four company-owned distribution centers. Gross proceeds from the transactions were $725 million and net proceeds, after expenses and taxes, are expected to be approximately $550 million. Prior to closing, the company used $120 million of cash on hand to pay down all of its outstanding borrowings on its revolving credit facility. The company intends to use the net proceeds from the transactions to provide additional liquidity and, as market conditions normalize, for other corporate purposes, including potential share repurchases pursuant to future authorizations from the company's Board of Directors. Commenting on today's announcement, Bruce Thorn, President and CEO of Big Lots said, "We are pleased to have closed the transactions with Oak Street. On top of our recent positive business trends, the proceeds from the transactions provide us with a strong liquidity position. As we continue to see a return to a more normal operating environment, we expect to use this liquidity to take additional actions to drive shareholder value, including share repurchases and high-return growth initiatives, while remaining highly focused on growing free cash flow from ongoing operations." As previously communicated, the transactions involve the company's distribution centers in Columbus, OH, Durant, OK, Montgomery, AL, and Tremont, PA. Initial lease terms are fifteen years for the Columbus, OH and Montgomery, AL facilities, and twenty years for the Durant, OK and Tremont, PA facilities. The company will pay base cash rent under each lease subject to an annual 2% escalation. The company also reported that comparable sales for the second quarter to date, including the first two weeks of June, have continued to be up strongly and well ahead of expectations. As previously communicated, the company expects these trends will moderate over the balance of the quarter due to a number of factors, including competitors and other retailers reopening, the planned cancellation of the July Friends and Family event, potential inventory constraints in certain categories, and the abatement of stimulus-driven demand. The company expects to provide a business update and updated outlook at the end of the fiscal month. About Big Lots, Inc. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a discount retailer operating 1,403 BIG LOTS stores in 47 states with product assortments in the merchandise categories of Furniture, Seasonal, Soft Home, Food, Consumables, Hard Home, and Electronics, Toys & Accessories. The company's mission is to help people Live BIG and Save Lots. The company strives to be the BIG difference for a better life by delivering unmatched value to customers through surprise and delight, being a "best places to work" culture for associates, rewarding shareholders with consistent growth and top tier returns, and doing good in communities as the company does well. For more information about the company, visit www.biglots.com. About Oak Street Real Estate Capital, LLC Oak Street Real Estate Capital, LLC ("Oak Street") is a Chicago-based real estate investment firm focused on acquiring properties net-leased to investment grade rated tenants. Oak Street specializes in providing unique and flexible real estate solutions to a variety of organizations including corporations, healthcare systems, universities, and government entities. For more information, please email [email protected]. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and such statements are intended to qualify for the protection of the safe harbor provided by the Act. The words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "objective," "goal," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "may," "target," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to the expectations of management as to future occurrences and trends, including statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or events and projected sales, earnings, capital expenditures and business strategy. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Although the company believes the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of knowledge, forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, any one or a combination of which could materially affect business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Forward-looking statements that the company makes herein and in other reports and releases are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, current economic and credit conditions, the cost of goods, the inability to successfully execute strategic initiatives, competitive pressures, economic pressures on customers and the company, the availability of brand name closeout merchandise, trade restrictions, freight costs, the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other factors discussed from time to time in other filings with the SEC, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. This release should be read in conjunction with such filings, and you should consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures the company makes on related subjects in public announcements and SEC filings. SOURCE Big Lots, Inc. Related Links http://www.biglots.com International Runners Return To British Horseracing Published June 16, 2020 by Sol FH British horse racing will be open to international runners this week, which should help renew action. Punters should be thrilled by the recent announcement by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), who confirmed, last week, that as of Monday 15, 2020, all Listed and Pattern races in the UK will be open to international runners. Horses that have been trained internationally and the professionals that care for them will be granted entrance to Britain, but those entering the country must adhere to UK Government rules and regulations, and, BHA's procedures for horse racing behind closed doors. Teams from abroad will need to consider their participation as anyone arriving from other jurisdictions must observe a 14-day self-isolation period, with the exception of those coming from Ireland. A declaration of arrival must be made by all foreign visitors and they also must provide supporting documentation to support this declaration. More Ponies, More Bets Punters will be able to see a lot more action on the track, as racing chiefs have already changed this weeks fixture from Bath to Lingfield Park, to accommodate the higher number of entries. The BHA said it was also concerned about the Bath track because of the recent dry weather and that there is no irrigation system therein that is usable. The racing director at Arena Racing Company, Jon Pullin, commented: Since the publication of the new fixture list, we simply havent seen the rainfall at Bath that would be needed for the ground to move from anything other than Firm, Hard in Places. Whilst this going description is acceptable for flat racing, it generally suits a relatively small pool of horses. At a time when the focus is on maximizing the opportunities for horsemen, and despite an unsettled forecast for this weekend, we have taken the decision to move the fixture to Lingfield Parks Polytrack surface. There are competitive odds posted for each of the races this month, as online bookmakers like bet365 Sport, 888Sport, and 10bet Sport get back into the swing of things. Hanoi metro trouble back on agenda, illustration photo No noise of construction work has been heard and no progress has been seen at the 12 stations along the 13 kilometre stretch of the Cat Linh-Hadong metro line, while unused carriages are weathering the scorching sun and heavy rains. This is the situation that has been plaguing Hanois first ever metro system in 2020. The stagnation actually lasting for a decade now has dimmed the locals confidence. Pham Dinh Nghinh, an elderly man living in Cat Linh ward since the first days of construction said, We have been hearing promises of starting operations and test-runs for years. But every day you look at the project, it is still at a standstill. The project has given us nothing but disappointment. A ray of hope came from the prime minister at a June 9 meeting, who ordered relevant agencies to work on allowing foreign experts to return to Vietnam. The PM ordered the commercial launch to take place within the year. The metro remains derailed because the general Chinese contractor does not have enough experts in the country due to COVID-19. They might arrive in Vietnam later this month to deal with the problem, a senior official of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) told VIR. Despite this, the future commercial launch of the metro line remains uncertain as among the 13 safety indexes the project has to satisfy, one can only be evaluated by a French consultant when the trains are actually running. There is no clear timeline for reopening commercial flights between Vietnam and France. Worse still, the project is facing many other unsolved complications, including the payment mechanism and conclusion of the financial audit. Moreover, the Chinese contractor has asked Vietnam to arrange an additional $50 million to put the project into operation and to pay the rest of the capital before it can receive the metro line. Over the past decade, the metro line has been under supervision of three municipal Party Committee secretaries and four transport ministers, with the investment almost doubling from $550 million to nearly $900 million, and dozens of deadlines missed. The numbers continue to rise, with no specific operation timeline in place. Discussions once again heated up when its key problems were analysed at last weeks discussions of the National Assemblys (NA) ongoing month-long session after 2019 deadlines were not met. Costly lesson Transport expert Nguyen Huu Duc said, The project failed in the preparation stage. Can such rocky development process bring about smooth operations? We are very concerned. Another transport expert Bui Danh Liem emphasised the responsibility of the agencies and individuals involved in this project. We should take a closer look at commitments in the engineering, procurement and construction and other contracts to allocate culpability. No economic contracts are dealt without possible punishments. So far, about 1,000 staff have been trained to operate the metro. However, 28 per cent have already quit. More painfully, each year, the country has to pay interest of VND650 billion ($28.3 million) for debts owed. Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong blamed the sluggish progress on the weaknesses of the general contractor and its lack of practical experience. This is an entirely new kind of project in the country and so there are no comprehensive standards or regulations applicable. We have to apply international standards and take time to make adjustments on the go, he explained. According to Hanois People Committee, the city sets up a railway group to take over the project when it is put into operation. It plans to borrow nearly $100 million to operate the line. A joint working group between Hanoi and the MoT has been set up to deal with the problems. It is expected to submit a master scheme soon. Ngo Tri Long, a senior economist said, The Cat Linh-Hadong metro line is a costly lesson for us about selecting a partner, official development assistance (ODA), the selection of a contractor, technology, the supervision of implementation, and the settlement of violations. This is a failure in public investment that has consumed a great deal of time and money. International issues Under the approved planning by 2030, with a vision towards 2050, the capital will develop eight metro lines with total length of 318km. In light of these designs, it is essential that the expensive lesson is learnt thoroughly. It remains unclear what will happen if the two sides do not reach an agreement on the $50 million or when the metro can begin operations, despite direction to the MoT to work with relevant state management agencies to put the line in operation this year. Many other countries are having similar issues with Chinese contractors. For instance, the Indonesian government has begun discussions on the possibility of Japanese participation in the high-speed Jakarta-Bandung railway, hoping to spur progress on the delayed Chinese-led project as costs mount. The new proposal would combine the rail link which Japan lost out on in 2015 with a Japanese-Indonesian project upgrading the existing 750km connection between Jakarta and Surabaya. Meanwhile, Ethiopia is also deep in debts because of a big loan from Export-Import Bank of China to build the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit project. Despite the said fast development and low investment cost, the urban railway project is not operating efficiently. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. (Bloomberg) -- France will consider proposals to protect gig workers after pandemic lockdowns pushed the status of people who rely on tech platforms for their income to the forefront. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has appointed a group of nine experts to suggest increased protection for platform workers, such as Uber Technologies Inc. and Deliveroo drivers, and others by October, according to a copy of the request made public by one of the members. The virus crisis has made the situation of frontline people visible and politicians see the need to respond to it, said Nicolas Brien, chief executive officer of France Digitale, an industry group that represents more than 1,500 French and European startups and is part of the group drafting proposals. We are talking about invisibles, and there are very few documented studies or estimates about them across the continent. The groups been asked to examine opportunities to enhance social protections, transparency from companies about their agreements with workers and workers access to profits. It wont write a new bill for workers, but will suggest a series of measures to modify labor rules, Brien said. A representative for the French government didnt respond to a request for comment. The debate on the status and conditions of activity of the self-employed is a subject to which we have been contributing in France and throughout the world for several months, an Uber spokesperson said. We are committed to continuing to guarantee the independence and flexibility so much appreciated by drivers and delivery drivers while developing their social protection and existing mechanisms for dialog. Read More: Gig Economy Companies Are Facing Twin Crises: Fully Charged Riders who choose to work with us tell us that they want the freedom and flexibility to choose when, where and whether to work, balanced with security. Deliveroo provides security to riders in France in the form of free accident insurance and sick pay, but we would like to go further, a spokesman for Deliveroo said. Deliveroo has long argued that we want to provide more protection to riders without this impacting the flexibility that comes with self-employment. We look forward to continuing to work with the French government on this issue. Story continues The results may also be presented to the European Commission, the blocs executive body, as it prepares its own initiative to improve the labor conditions of platform workers set to be unveiled as early as 2021. The EU in early June opened up a public consultation, inviting comments from the public about its plans for platform regulation as well as their views on the challenges faced by self-employed platform workers. Frances initiative feeds into a broader push back against gig-economy platforms, which historically insist that theyre providing technology for self-employed freelancers. Officials in California have sued Uber and Lyft Inc. for denying employee benefits to their drivers, relying on a law that went into effect this year that could force the companies to reclassify workers as employees. With delivery drivers on these platforms dropping off food, necessities and parcels while their countries were in lockdown, risking exposure to Covid-19 and providing essential services, some platform companies have increased the rights they offer workers. But tensions remain. Philippe said in the letter to the experts, published by Brien on his LinkedIn account, that twofold impact of the health and economic crisis makes it more necessary than ever to raise the issues of social and economic protections. France Digitales Brien said the goal is to have European rules that will apply even if the platforms are from outside the bloc. In March, Frances highest court ruled that since Uber drivers cant build their own customer bases, dont set their rates and have itineraries imposed on them, the Silicon Valley ride-sharing giant unilaterally determines its terms and rules and drivers are treated more like employees than freelancers. Europe wants to keep a lead in the protection of its citizens, like with GDPR, Brien said, referring to Europes landmark data-protection legislation. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. A Harvard University professor has pleaded not guilty to charges that he lied to U.S. authorities about his ties to a China-run recruitment program and funding he received from the Chinese government for research. Dr Charles Lieber, 61, the former chair of Harvard's chemistry and chemical biology department, entered the plea during a videoconference held before a federal magistrate judge in Boston Tuesday. Lieber's lawyer, Marc Mukasey, told the court the 61-year-old will fight the charges and that the 'government has this wrong.' Lieber was arrested in January following a U.S. Justice Department investigation into Chinese influence within universities. The professor was indicted earlier this month on two counts of making false statements to authorities. He faces five years in prison if convicted. Dr Charles Lieber, 61, the former chair of Harvard's chemistry and chemical biology department, entered the plea during a videoconference held before a federal magistrate judge in Boston Tuesday. He is pictured in January The case largely centers on China's Thousand Talents Program, established in 2008. According to Lieber's indictment, 'China's Thousand Talents Plan is one of the most prominent Chinese talent recruitment plans designed to attract, recruit, and cultivate high-level scientific talent in furtherance of China's scientific development, economic prosperity and national security.' The U.S. government has designated the program as a danger to national security, due to concern about spying and intellectual property theft by Chinese authorities. The program has been dubbed 'academic espionage'. Prosecutors allege Lieber became a 'strategic scientist' at Wuhan University of Technology in China in 2011, and from 2012 to 2015 contractually participated in the Thousand Talents Program. Under his contract, Lieber was paid up to $50,000 per month and living expenses of up to $158,000, prosecutors said. He also was awarded more than $1.5 million to establish a research lab, prosecutors said. In exchange, Lieber allegedly agreed to organize international conferences, publish articles and apply for patents in the university's name. Lieber has been working at Harvard since 1991. He was placed on indefinite paid leave following his arrest in January Prosecutors allege Lieber became a 'strategic scientist' at Wuhan University of Technology in China in 2011 However, at the same time, Lieber was serving as the Principal Investigator of the Lieber Research Group at Harvard University, which received more than $15 million in research grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). As part of that funding arrangement, Lieber was required to disclose potential financial conflicts of interest and all foreign collaboration. Prosecutors allege he did not follow through with this. During a 2018 interview with federal investigators, prosecutors say Lieber falsely stated that he was never asked to participate in the Thousand Talents Program. When the U.S. National Institutes of Health, which funded his research, asked Harvard whether he had failed to disclose his ties to the program, Lieber allegedly had the Ivy League school falsely claim he had not participated in it. Harvard officials also allegedly told NIH that 'Wuhan University of Technology continued to falsely exaggerate' Liber's involvement with them. Lieber, pictured in 2012, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of making false statements to authorities Lieber has worked at Harvard since 1991. A biography on the school's website - which is still publicly accessible - states that the acclaimed professor has published over 340 papers in peer-reviewed journals and is the principal inventor on more than 35 patents'. Lieber was placed on 'indefinite' paid leave following his arrest in January. Harvard University spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain released a statement at the time, which read: 'The charges brought by the U.S. government against Professor Lieber are extremely serious. Harvard is cooperating with federal authorities, including the National Institutes of Health.' A group of people call on Britain to put pressure on Beijing during a protest outside the British consulate in Hong Kong on October 1, 2019. (Mohd Rasfan/RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images) Britain Warns at UN Rights Forum Against Security Law for Hong Kong GENEVABritain said on June 16 that Chinas plan to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong would undermine the autonomy and freedoms of the former British colony. Britain returned the Asian financial hub to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of freedoms, such as an independent judiciary and right to protest, for 50 years. The imposition of the proposed law lies in direct conflict with Chinas international obligations under the Joint Declaration, a treaty agreed by the UK and China and registered with the United Nations, Julian Braithwaite, Britains ambassador to the UN in Geneva, told its Human Rights Council. He urged China to engage with the territorys people, institutions, and judiciary to ensure it maintains Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms. A protest against Beijings proposed National Security Law on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong on May 24, 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images) Jiang Duan, human rights minister at Chinas Geneva mission, took the floor to say that Braithwaite had interfered in Chinas internal affairs which we firmly reject. Chinas enactment of laws in the Hong Kong special administrative region to safeguard national security is aimed at plugging loopholes and effectively safeguarding national sovereignty and security, he said. This is legitimate, legal, and imperative. Riot police mass detain pro-democracy protesters during a rally in Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong, on May 27, 2020. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) Pang Kwang Hyok, deputy ambassador at North Koreas mission, voiced concern at certain countries attempt to use Hong Kong-related issues to interfere in Chinas domestic affairs. Hong Kong is an inseparable part of where Chinas sovereignty is exercised and its constitution is applied, he said. Hong Kongs national security legislation would not punish people retroactively, a senior Chinese official said on Monday, touching on a key question raised by local residents, diplomats, and foreign investors over the disputed measure. Beijing last month moved to directly impose the legislation on Hong Kong in a bid to tackle secession, subversion, and foreign interference in the financial hub. Hong Kong was rocked by months of sometimes violent anti-China, pro-democracy unrest last year, with protesters angry at what they see as meddling by Communist Party rulers in Beijing in Hong Kongs affairs. China denies interfering and accuses Britain and the United States of fomenting the unrest. By Stephanie Nebehay Jae Hyun called an emergency meeting with the shareholders and labor union leaders. He requested for their votes to outcast Chairman Jang in the presidency and created new management for the Hyung Sang Corporation. Seo Kyung went to Ji Soo's house and gave her a copy of the divorce paper with her signed signature. She requested Ji Soo to help her persuade Jae Hyun to stop his plans to change the company's management. But to her surprise, Ji Soo insisted that Jae Hyun would not abuse any power and corrupt her family's money. She knew that the real Jae Hyun has good intentions. On the day of the emergency meeting Jae Hyun facilitated, he started to convince the committee to cast their votes and change the president of the company. He will also resign once all are coordinated. Chairman Jang is in the prosecutor's custody as they found many illegal transactions under his management. They subject him for arrest under a warrant and to face the court in due time. The committee accepted Ja Hyun's proposal, and all agreed as they cast their votes. Seo Kyung will step down as the president of the company. Chairman Jang already ousted due to his criminal charges. Jae Hyun will use all his shares to a foundation of his choice, and he placed an agreement that it will never be applied to the advantage of the Hyun Sang Corporation. Seo Kyung talked to Jae Hyun about how she felt about losing her job and start living without her father. She gave him the divorce paper with her signature. She agreed to divorce Jae Hyun and take the rights of raising their son Jun Seo. Meanwhile, Lee Se Hoon's charges of conspiracy with Kwon Pil Ho is dismissed. Jae Hyun did not file any charges with Kwon Pil Ho, responsible for putting him almost to the deathbed. Therefore, Kwon Pil Ho thanked Jae Hyun for his kindness and decided not to proceed with any charges with Lee Se Hoon. Jae Hyun invited his son Jun Seo for their bonding time. He explained to him that he will always support him and love him with all his life. Jun Seo felt sad but agreed with his father's plan. Ji Soo agreed to meet Jae Hyun in Young Woo's bar that night. Little did she know, all her friends were there and gave her a surprise birthday celebration. Ji Soo felt her body shiver and in trauma about at that particular moment. She never celebrated her birthday since her mother and sister died on the same day. They bought a cake and went to the mall, which caught a fire accident. Jae Hyun, Hwa Jin, Young Woo, and Dong Gin with Mr. Kang encouraged her to blow the candle. She cried and closed her eyes while she did it. Jae Hyun advised her that her mother and sister are now in happy seeing her in good health. That night, Ji Soo dreamt of her mother and sister smiling and waving at her. She cried and felt relieved for them. The next day, Jae Hyun and Ji Soo went back to the old places they stayed back in 1994. Ji Soo finally set up her dream starting "Bright Piano School." Jae Hyun started his foundation and working with Mr. Kang - his secretary. Seo Kyung enjoyed traveling to new places with her son Jun Seo. Chairman Jang served imprisonment of his inhumane act with his employees. "In this world of 7 billion people, there are 7 billion kinds of love that bloom. That means everyone has a love that blooms. When my love blooms, there is no need to be sad. That the moment when life turns into a flower, all of yesterday is in today, and I am connected to you as you are connected to meLife is always flowing, and the flower is always ready to bloom." The happy ending we all deserve. In terms of overall satisfaction of graduates, SKEMA moved up to the second place on the world podium with a score of 9.71 out of 10. The programme stands out particularly in the criteria of its graduates' career progress ("Alumni career progress") and the programme's international exposure and research ("International experience & research"). Alumni Career Progress: SKEMA ranked second, owing to the objectives achieved by its graduates, tying with HEC Paris. In the school's ability to support the career of its students, SKEMA ranks third. International Experience & Research: In the criteria of the international exposure of students throughout the programme ("International Course Experience"), SKEMA has been ranked second in the "International Experience & Research" category. "Our third place is a testament to the success of our graduates, the added value of our programme on the international scene and the continued support of our professors to our students until they enter the job market. With French schools grabbing the Top 5 spots, France has once again demonstrated the excellence of its Grandes Ecoles in terms of financial training," asserted Alice Guilhon, dean of SKEMA. Taught in English in Paris, Sophia Antipolis and Raleigh (United States), SKEMA's MSc Financial Markets & Investments programme gives students solid practical expertise in global financial markets. They work in a Bloomberg terminal-equipped trading room connected to global stock exchanges, allowing them to better understand the correlation between geopolitics, the economy and the financial markets. The programme taught in Raleigh also delivers the CFA Institute's American certificate, a highly sought-after skill by international recruiters. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1191038/SKEMA_NewYork.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/931024/SKEMA_Logo.jpg SOURCE SKEMA Business School Israels Knesset (Parliament) plans to ratify the Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine in the coming weeks. The corresponding statement was made by Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi in a conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs. "At the request of the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, the Foreign Minister of the State of Israel assured that the new [convocation of] Knesset of Israel intends to ratify the Israel-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement in the coming weeks," the statement reads. It is also noted that Kuleba congratulated his Israeli counterpart on the appointment to the post of the Foreign Minister of the State of Israel. The ministers agreed to maintain friendly personal relations, further develop trade between the two countries, maintain a high level of political dialogue, and continue mutual support in international organizations. Kuleba invited his Israeli counterpart, who had never visited Ukraine before, to pay a visit to our country as soon as circumstances allow. Ashkenazi accepted the invitation. In turn, Kuleba accepted the invitation of his Israeli counterpart to make a working visit to Israel. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Israel-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement was concluded on January 21, 2019. The Ukrainian side completed the ratification procedure on August 6, 2019, and the ratification by the newly elected Knesset (Parliament) of the State of Israel is expected in the near future. According to experts, the full functioning of the Free Trade Agreement will double the trade turnover between the countries in the short term. In 2019, the total trade turnover between Ukraine and Israel amounted to USD 1.1 billion. The new Israeli Government was sworn in on May 17, 2020. ol Residents of Tin Ma village tract, Kyauktaw township, in western Myanmar's Rakhine state say government soldiers continue to detain their their family members, at a press conference in Sittwe, June 15, 2020. Families of villagers from Rakhine state held by the Myanmar military since March for suspected ties to the rebel Arakan Army on Monday demanded the release of the men, telling reporters that some detained civilians are being forced to perform hard labor for the army. The 18 captives residents of strife-torn Kyauktaw township were arrested in mid-March, when Myanmar soldiers entered the region amid fighting and burned down dozens of homes in the 500-home ethnic Rakhine village tract. Relatives of the 18 detainees told a news conference in the Rakhine capital Sittwe that about 10 of the captives from Tin Ma village tract are being forced to perform hard labor in a military battalion. Oo Than Yee, wife of a Tin Ma village tract administrator, said she confirmed that her son Nay Lin Oo is among the detainees when she sneaked into the Taung Shay mountain area near Tin Ma Gyi village. Her son, who has hearing and speech impairments, was working in a military camp with others. I recognized my son there, she said. I saw other villagers, too. They were forced to work. Some were shoveling dirt, and others were carrying bags of soil on their shoulders. Win May Oo, wife of detained villager Maung Kyi Linn, appealed to the authorities to release her husband, who is the familys breadwinner. I rely on my husbands earnings. I dont have a job. I am gravely concerned about his safety, she said. Aye Yee, mother of 14-year-old Tun Tun Wai who is being detained, said she filed a complaint with police and education officials, but nothing has been done to help free her son. I have reported it to the education officials, but they said they dont have any weapons to take on a fight, she told RFA. They said the authorities who detained the villagers are too powerful to touch. The police also said they can do nothing but will inform us when the military has transferred the detainees to them, she added. Ma Hla Aye, wife of one of the detained residents from Tin Ma Thit village, said she does not want to see others like her husband detained. Weve got three children. Every day they ask when their dad will be home. Ive got no answers, she said. I want to appeal to the authorities not to treat Rakhine civilians cruelly, she added. Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun was not available Monday for comment on the 18 detained villagers. When RFA asked him about the fate of the residents on June 10, he said he did not have specific information on the case but would review the status of the detained men. Myint Than, director general of Myanmar's General Administration Department, speaks during a press conference in Naypyidaw, June 15, 2020. Credit: RFA No martial law in Rakhine Despite ongoing fighting and an increasing number of civilians caught up in the hostilities, Myint Than, director general of the General Administration Department in Naypyidaw, told RFA Monday that the situation in northern Rakhine is not severe enough for the state to be placed under martial law. People are talking about martial law out of fear based on the resignation of 51 village administrators last week, he said, referring to dozens of local officials in Myebon township, one of several areas in northern Rakhine hit by heavy fighting. The village and ward administrators filed resignation letters on June 5, fearing arbitrary arrest by the Myanmar military after the recent detention of three of their colleagues on terrorism charges. The Rakhine state government is working on getting peace and having a smooth administration in the region, Myint Than said. RFA could not reach Major General Tun Tun Nyi, vice chairman of the militarys True News Information Team, for comment. Myint Thans comments came after political analysts predicted that the 18-month-old war between the government military and the AA would spread to urban areas following a knife attack on a military officer and the abduction of his colleague by assailants believed to be Arakan fighters in a Ponnagyun town market on June 11. The atmosphere of lawlessness hit home again when four unknown men robbed a Kanbawza Bank branch in Rakhines capital Sittwe on June 10, with the government military and AA blaming the other side for the theft. In another brazen daytime attack, a police officer was stabbed to death by two people on motorcycles in downtown Kyauktaw on June 13, striking fear in local residents who remained indoors, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported. Clashes continue in rural areas of Rakhine as well, with fighting in Ann township on June 13 forcing about 100 predominantly ethnic Chin residents from Mingaladon village to flee to Myatheintan monastery in Dalet Chaung Anauk village. Villager Maung Pe said the residents left Mingaladon because they faced a food shortage with land and water routes blocked by Myanmar forces preventing them from getting to markets. [We] cant go anywhere, [and] we have no food to eat, so we came to this monastery because of a lack of food and because we faced bombs and bullets, he told RFA. Weak controls Rule of law in Rakhine in under stress where fighting is taking place, said Khin Saw Wai, a lawmaker from Rathedaung township about the recent incidents. The current government and security officials have also been weak on controlling the situation in Rakhine, she said. AA spokesman Khine Thukha noted that Rakhine had been under martial law in the past and that it is under a military administration now. The military has forced the government to run an official military administration in Rakhine in order to cover up its actions in this region, he said. We will have peace in Rakhine only if Rakhine people can govern it. The AA, branded an outlawed organization and terrorist group by the Myanmar government, demanded on May 29 that all government administrative offices and the military immediately leave Rakhine state, where the predominantly Buddhist force seeks greater autonomy for ethnic Rakhine people. The fighting, most of which has taken place near villages outside urban areas, left 260 civilians dead and injured about 570 others during the period from December 2018 to June 11 of this year, according to figures compiled by RFAs Myanmar Service. The armed conflict also has displaced more than 160,000 civilians, according to the Rakhine Ethnics Congress, a local relief group. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Mying Maung, Khet Mar, and Nandar Chann. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. The dates have been extended in view of the hardships faced by candidates in filling the application forms due to COVID-19 pandemic. National Testing Agency (NTA) has once again extended the deadline for submission of online application forms for various examinations. As per the latest notification, students can now fill the application form for IGNOU Ph.D. and OPENMAT (MBA) entrance exam-2020, ICAR AIEEA 2020, JNUEE-2020, UGC NET June 2020, CSIR-UGC NET June-2020, AIAPGET- 2020 till 30 June. The dates have been extended in view of the hardships faced by candidates in filling the application forms due to COVID-19 pandemic. According to a report by Hindustan Times, earlier, the deadline to apply for the entrance examinations this year was till 15 June. Willing and eligible candidates can visit the official website of NTA - nta.ac.in and enroll themselves for the exams. Submission of online applications will be accepted till 5 pm, while the submission of application fee will be accepted only till 11:50 pm on 30 June. The application fee can be paid through credit/debit card/net banking/UPI and Paytm. A report by The Times of India mentions that the detailed schedule mentioning the revised dates of downloading admit cards and of the examination will be put up separately on respective examination website and on NTA official website later. The NTA said that it would keep students updated about the developments and inform about changes with adequate time. Candidates are advised to keep checking the official website of these exams and NTA for the latest update on the same. Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishak also tweeted about the extension of these examinations. "In view of many requests received from the students and the hardships faced by them due to #COVID19 epidemic, I have advised @DG_NTA to further extend the last dates of submission of Online Application Forms for various examinations," the minister wrote. Open source Hungary has continued blockade of the meetings of Ukraine-NATO commission after the provision of the new status in NATO. NATO provided Ukraine with the status of a partner of enhanced opportunities, as Yevropeiska Pravda reported citing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Yes, really, the allies decided to provide Ukraine with the status of a partner of enhanced opportunities. Ukraine proved that it can be a valuable partner of NATO, Stoltenberg said. He added that the new partnership is the way to deepen the cooperation of NATO with Ukraine. The decision of the adherence of Ukraine to the Extended Opportunities Program in NATO was made by consensus. It means that Hungary provided its agreement, despite the fact that it blocks the meeting of NATO with Ukraine. Concerning this issue (the Hungarian blockade of the meetings, - 112.international), it is not solved yet. I hope that we will find the solution, the Secretary-General said. As we reported, Ukraine was granted membership in NATOs Enhanced Opportunities Program. This status is part of NATO's Partnership Interoperability Initiative, which aims to support and deepen cooperation between Allies and Partners who have made significant contributions to NATO-led operations and missions. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. 100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. If you value this reporting, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate. We all get them, those annoying calls from telemarketers, scammers, and even those that are legitimate but we do not want to receive. While the U.S. has focused on calls generated by automated dialers (robocalls), the real problem goes well beyond that. Other countries have more accurately labeled this problem as nuisance calls, pesky calls, or even just unwanted calls. There is one characteristic between all of these: they use the Session Initiation Protocol (News - Alert) (SIP) feature of being able to change the number displayed as the calling party. The issue is that many of these calls are legal, from licensed telemarketers who are playing by the rules. They have a huge lobbying presence defending their rights to interrupt our dinners. The current legislation will not prevent those calls from getting through. Make sure your number is on the Do Not Call Registry, and these calls will be greatly reduced. Its the other class of calls that we are battling as an industry: Call centers that do not play by any rules and consistently find new ways around filters and firewalls designed to stop their calls. There is so much money to be made by these call centers that they will do anything to stay in business. The problem is actually in the technology itself. When the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) developed SIP, there was a feature that allowed for the alteration of the calling party parameter. This was by design, and there were a lot of good reasons for allowing this feature. Women calling from battered womens shelters for example would not want the true number (and, therefore, location) displayed when they called family. Yet, even good intentions sometimes carry consequences. The criminal society quickly learned of this capability and began taking advantage of the feature. Today, it has become so prolific that even phone companies are providing services where call centers can route their outbound calls to a softswitch and change the calling number to make the call appear as if it is a call from a local caller, rather than from across the nation (or from another country). Telephone companies now complain that fixed-line services are on the decline. This is because fixed-line numbers are the most often hit by fraudulent, illegal nuisance calls. It has become so easy that criminal organizations are flooding the country with fraudulent calls. The problem is not just in the U.S. Many other countries suffer from fraudulent calls being made by changing the calling number. In Europe, this is often referred to as CLI Spoofing (Calling Line Identifier). Regulators in other countries have approached the problem differently, and many have not found a means for dealing with the problem at all. OFCOM, the regulator in the UK, has created a blacklist of numbers known to generate fraudulent calls. Telephone companies are then allowed to block these calls. This has been fairly effective, but not entirely. It does not capture every call, especially when the number being spoofed is a legitimate number assigned to a real subscriber. What we see today is a scenario where someone will use a real number, assigned to a real subscriber, and make thousands of fraudulent calls. If they do not receive an answer, they may leave a message or just simply hang up. The called party later sees they missed a call and they attempt to call back, but they are ringing the phone of the real subscriber, who unfortunately receives hundreds of call backs from angry callers insisting they were called by this number. There are many other different flavors of how these scams work. The IETF has been working over the last several years to resolve this problem. It is too late to simply prevent the number from being altered, but it is not too late to provide for a means of authenticating the calling number with some form of certificate. The Secure Telephony Identifier Revisited (STIR) working group created a means where a telephone company can digitally sign a SIP call before sending it to its destination. When the SIP call is generated in their network, if they are the owner of the number (the calling number falls within the range of numbers they have been allocated), they can add a digital certificate into the SIP header. When the destination network receives the SIP INVITE, they can verify the certificate is authentic and provide some form of identifier to the called party to signify that the call probably is legitimate. The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) defined a standard for implementing STIR, and defined a certificate framework. This framework allows telephone companies to receive a certificate and for receiving networks to authenticate the certificate. This framework is called the Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information using toKENs (SHAKEN). Collectively, this duo of standards is referred to as STIR/SHAKEN (enter James Bond with a martini, and you get the joke). Kudos to the engineers who must have worked overtime to figure out what words are needed to create this acronym. Now that STIR/SHAKEN is out and ready for implementation, the FCC (News - Alert) put forth regulation requiring the telephone companies to implement STIR/SHAKEN. There was a lot of pressure from Congress for the FCC to enforce this, and after seeing only a few companies move forward to implementation Chairman Pai finally issued the regulation. Canada CRTC had already required this a year earlier. The problem will be that this alone will not stop the calls. Analytics, and other measures must be implemented as well to put a dent in the calls. This is a positive first step, but it creates many challenges. Small telephone companies do not have the resources to implement STIR/SHAKEN, and they are left wondering when the mandate will be applied to them (they have been given a small reprieve). Another problem is how to deal with calls that originate in a SIP network (like from a call center in India) but eventually get converted to an SS7 ISUP call. The IETF has begun looking into this problem as well, working on a standard for out-of-band STIR. The idea is to still digitally sign the call in the originating network, but passing the certification outside of SS7 through another channel (simply an IP circuit where telephone companies can still receive the certificate and authenticate it). There are other problems that need to be worked out (too complex to cover in this short article) but industry is looking into how to resolve those problems as well. STIR/SHAKEN is only mandated in North America, but as other countries become familiar with the concept (Australia, India, and many countries in Europe have been watching closely) we may see widespread deployment of the technology, but not overnight. The most eloquent solution for all operators would be a cloud service supporting STIR/SHAKEN, removing the CAPEX requirement for implementation. If this were offered as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS (News - Alert)), it would greatly reduce the cost for all operators, and may accelerate the implementation of STIR/SHAKEN. Couple this with a cloud-based analytics platform, and we could be well on our way to mitigating the scourge of nuisance calls ringing our phones. About the author: Travis Russell has been in telecommunications more than 35 years, with experience in radio, voice and data networking. As a cyber security professional and technologist, Mr. Russell has a long career focused in telecommunications cyber security and fraud, with expertise in SIP, SS7, and Diameter technologies. He participates in a number of standards bodies and trade associations, including the GSMA (News - Alert), IETF, CTIA, ATIS, and is currently the chair for the FCC Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) working group 3, focused on security. Mr. Russell has authored several technical books, including Signaling System #7, Session Initiation Protocol, IP Multimedia Subsystem, and LTE Signaling With Diameter, all published through McGraw-Hill. His book, Telecommunications Protocols is still used in colleges and universities today for teaching the fundamentals of telecommunications, and is printed in four languages. Mr. Russell holds several patents and patents pending focusing on cyber security and fraud solutions, and has lectured at colleges, universities, and industry events all over the world. He is currently Director of Cyber Security at Oracle (News - Alert) Communications. Edited by Erik Linask Fire and smoke in Siberia in Summer 2019. Credit: Greenpeace Russia After Australia, Siberia is burning, indicating that the frequency of such events is on the rise, with myriad dire consequences: devastated ecosystems, risk of desertification, CO 2 emissions, toxic particles, further climate impacts... An expert in atmospheric processes at EPFL, Athanasios Nenes shares his views about it. For weeks, the huge fires that consumed Australia at the beginning of this year were front-page newsand a major cause of global concern. Now, SiberiaRussia's northernmost regionis experiencing wildfires after record spring heat, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 30 degrees in May and an average of 10 degrees above seasonal standards. In 2019, unusually widespread fires swept through a million hectares of forest in the region. And there are indications that so-called "zombie" fires, which survived the winter, are re-emerging across the Russian Arctic. Climate scientists warn that this kind of event will become increasingly commonplace in the future, and studies have even shown that climate change had greatly increased the risk of the massive fire event in Australia. But what about the long-term consequences for the environment, the climate and our health? We asked Athanasios Nenes, who leads EPFL's Laboratory of Atmospheric Processes and their Impacts (LAPI), for his views. Nenes is one of the world's foremost experts in atmospheric processes and suspended particulate matter (aerosols). His current research, which is funded by the European Research Council, focuses on the impact of biomass-burning aerosols on health and climate. What do these new fires in Siberia tell us about how the climate is changing? "These fires are perhaps even more concerning than the ones in Australia. They have the potential to accelerate warming in the Arctic, which is already heating up much more quickly than the rest of the planet. The vast Arctic peatlands, which are sustained by permafrost, are now thawing. This can release huge amounts of carbon back into the atmosphere. Peat is also flammable. Once ignited by a lightning strike, it can burn for weeks to months. The embers can even survive the winter, reigniting a large fire the following summer. Fires have a dual effect: as well as melting permafrost directly, they also darken the surface. This further accelerates the melting of permafrost and ice because a darker surface absorbs more of the sun's heat. Decaying peatlands can also emit large quantities of methane, which is a very potent greenhouse gas. How does the vegetation influence the kind of plumes and gases released into the atmosphere? The vegetation is quite different according to the regions, and variations in carbon content can affect emissions. But combustion temperature is a much more important factor in determining what's emitted into the atmosphere. We talk about two types of fire: flaming (high-temperature) fires and smoldering (low-temperature) fires. Emissions of toxic compounds, aerosols and precursors tend to be higher in the smoldering phase because the combustion is incomplete. Flaming fires tend to emit more CO 2 and black carbon (soot), both of which can warm the climate. Peat fires tend to be smoldering, meaning they can burn for weeks or months on end. The vast amount of smoke they produce causes regional haze, and of course they release large amounts of CO 2 and methanetwo greenhouse gasesinto the atmosphere. We know that these fires release toxic particles that can affect our respiratory systems. Does this mean people might be more vulnerable to the virulent version of the COVID-19? Absolutely. The populations in urban environments and other locations that are exposed to high levels of pollutants are more likely to have compromised respiratory, cardiac and immune systems and even conditions like dementia and diabetesand are therefore more vulnerable to infection from the coronavirus. Biomass-burning smoke is particularly toxic, containing a large number of carcinogens, as well as compounds that cause oxidative stress upon inhalation. Besides, the effects of smoke aren't only felt near the sourcewhere's it most apparent to peoplebut also much further away, where the particles have become diluted and indistinguishable from the background. So even if you don't see the smoke, its effects are still thereon both health and climate. A recently published study showed that this old, background smoke can have just as big an effect on climate as freshly emitted smoke. Is the next big fire event likely to be in the Amazon rainforest again? Credit: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne The real question is whether climate change will place increasing stress on the planet's large forested areas. And the answer is yes. The Amazon in particular is suffering from many decades of severe deforestation, which, together with wildfires, is vastly accelerating the rate of loss. It's estimated that, at some point, the rainforest will collapse because it won't be able to maintain the rainwater needed to sustain it. What are the long-term effects of the huge fires we're seeing in many parts of the world? There are many effects. First, on the ground, these fires can dramatically alter ecosystems. When trees are seriously damaged, they take a long time to regenerate and may never recover. Because forests store water, they act like a buffer. Once they're gone, that bufferand the associated wateris eventually lost, leading to desertification. This is certainly possible for Australia, and for other drought-prone parts of the world. And also because of land-use change from human encroachment. We see that a lot in Brazil: after forest fires, the "free land" is used for agriculture, cattle farms and other uses.. Forest fires also release a lot of particulate matter into the atmosphere, where it can remain for weeks on end. These particles are transported all over the world, affecting air quality over vast regions. They contain soot and brown-colored molecules that absorb sunlight, thereby accelerating climate warming. And if they fall on ice and snowas we've seen in the Arctic from fires in Siberiathey can darken these normally highly reflective surfaces and cause them to melt more quickly. Smoke from the fires in Australia turned the surface of some glaciers in New Zealand orangey-brown, and there's evidence to suggest that it even reached coastal areas of the Antarctic. And of course, the CO 2 trapped in these forestssome of which is relatively ancientgets released back into the atmosphere. Smoke also contains nutrients like nitrogen and iron. Eventually, these nutrients are deposited on the ground or over the oceans, where they act as a fertilizer. But in general, burning biomasseither in forests or in grasslandscan alter the climate in many different ways. Some are immediate, while others are much more long-term. Why will this kind of event be more frequent in the future? Because of changes in precipitation and temperature, land-use change, and other effects associated with climate change and human activities. Many areas are already experiencing extended droughts and are much more susceptible to vast fires. But fires aren't always a bad thing. They're part of the natural cycle of ecosystems, some of which have evolved to need fire to germinate seeds. But the problem is that climate change could throw ecosystems "off balance" and lead to catastrophic fires, like the ones we've seen in Australia and Siberia, but also in the Mediterranean, for example. Biomass burning, which is a persistent seasonal feature in the region, will likely get worse. Can we offset the loss by planting large numbers of trees? Forest management can indeed help mitigate some of the effects of climate change. It isn't an easy task either, and dealing with the disappearance of a forest the size of a city is a very different proposition from one the size of Switzerland. The magnitude of the problem is the big deal here. And these aren't just onetime events. They'll happen again and again, and in areas of the world that have rarely seen them before. You only have to look at the Sweden fires in the summer of 2018, or the fires in Greenland, to see the direct consequences of climate change in action. How do the effects differ if the smoke stays in one area or spreads in the atmosphere? It depends how much smoke is produced, and how often. Large fires tend to generate considerable amounts of smoke, which persists for weeks in the atmosphere. You can see it in satellite images. It interacts with sunlight, affects clouds and impacts the climate. Fortunately, particles don't stay in the atmosphere forever. But if you have more frequent fires, you basically have a lot more particles in the air all the time, with impacts on the climate, visibility, and the health of living beings. In Europe, for instance, sometimes half or more of the particle mass we breathe can be attributed to fireseither forest fires in summer or wood burning in winter. In other words, we're continuously breathing smoke. Now imagine if forest fires become more frequent and prevalent. That will clearly mean we will breath unhealthier air. For humans and many ecosystems, having more fires is just not a good thing." Explore further Air quality and health impact from the 2018 Saddleworth Moor Fire in Northern England Close Trump claims that Oklahoma has a very low coronavirus number Donald Trump's administration sued to block the release of John Bolton's upcoming White House memoir, saying it was "rife with classified information." The White House defended Trump's executive orders on police reform as Democrats critised the measures as "weak" and "inadequate". Mike Pence, meanwhile, defended the president's upcoming rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, insisting Trump has the right to gather supporters after falsely claiming the state successfully "flattened the curve." Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load NEW DELHI: In view of an unprecedented rise in the coronavirus cases in the national capital, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has written a letter to the Centre calling for ramping up testing for COVID-19 in Delhi containment zones and hospitals by use of rapid antigen detection test. According to reports, the letter has been written by ICMR Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava to the Union Health Ministry in which he had called for "ramping up testing for COVID-19 in containment zones and hospitals in Delhi by use of rapid antigen detection test". It may be noted that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on Monday held an all-party meting over COVID-19 situation in the national capital during which it was decided to ramp up testing for COVID-19 and preparing more beds for treatment of coronavirus-infected patients. In view of the ICMR letter, it has emerged that the Delhi government is likely to use rapid antigen kits for COVID-19 testing in containment zones and healthcare settings from June 20. The kits will allow faster diagnosis without laboratory examination. There are around 240 COVID-19 containment zones in the national capital and the government has decided to conduct door-to-door survey in these zones. "The Delhi government will use the rapid antigen kits in containment zones and healthcare settings from June 20 in Delhi," an official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. On Monday, Delhi recorded 1,647 fresh coronavirus cases taking the COVID-19 tally in the city to 42,829, and the death toll due to the disease climbed to 1,400. Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection kit (rapid antigen test kits) is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for qualitative detection of specific antigens to SARS-CoV-2. It has been developed by SD Biosensor, a South Korea-based company, the Indian Council of Medical Research said in an advisory issued earlier in the day. Suspected individuals who test negative for COVID-19 by rapid antigen test should be tested sequentially by RT-PCR to rule out infection, whereas a positive test should be considered as a true positive and does not need reconfirmation by RT-PCR test, the ICMR said in its letter to the Health Ministry . The Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection can be interpreted as positive or negative after 15 minutes of putting the sample into the well by appearance of test and control lines, which can be read with a naked eye, requiring no specialized equipment, it said. The maximum duration for interpreting a positive or negative test is 30 minutes. After that the test strip should be discarded, it said. MSF Ends Afghan Hospital Operation Following Deadly May Attack By Ayaz Gul June 15, 2020 A global medical humanitarian organization has withdrawn from a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, a month after unknown gunmen raided the facility's maternity ward and "systematically" killed 16 women. Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, announced its decision Monday, noting that the May 12 "horrifying" assault on the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital in the Afghan capital remained unclaimed, nor has there been any information about the perpetrators or motive. A midwife working for MSF, two young children and six other people present at the time of the attack were also killed. The statement explained MSF has run the maternity ward at the hospital since November 2014 and provided free-of-charge maternity and neonatal care. It said the humanitarian mission was "deeply concerned" that similar attacks targeting its staff and patients may be repeated in the future. "We were aware that our presence in Dasht-e-Barchi carried risks," said Thierry Allafort-Duverger, MSF's general director. "But we just couldn't believe that someone would take advantage of the absolute vulnerability of women about to give birth to exterminate them and their babies." Five of the slain women were in labor and were minutes, or at most hours, from giving birth, according to MSF. In a previous post-attack statement, MSF had called for an investigation into the bloodshed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Afghan officials at the time vowed to investigate the attack thoroughly, but they have since not discussed the probe's fate. From the outset, the government blamed Taliban insurgents for plotting the carnage, while others suspected Islamic State terrorists were behind it. The Taliban denied its involvement and instead strongly condemned the attack, as well as government officials, for pointing fingers at the Islamist insurgent group. The United States publicly blamed Islamic State for the violence, saying the terror group was opposed to Washington's efforts aimed at peacefully resolving two decades of conflict between the Taliban and other Afghan groups. The ill-fated Kabul hospital is located in the western part of the city where most of the residents are from the Hazara community. The historically marginalized minority Shi'ite group's gatherings and worship places have routinely come under attack. Islamic State has claimed credit for plotting almost all recent bombings on the community. "This attack cannot be classified as a tragic, isolated incident, as the Hazara population living in the area has been subject to a series of attacks, as have various aid organizations," MSF said. The aid group lamented the end of its operation, saying it was a "necessary but painful" decision. It noted that its maternity ward in the hospital was serving a population of more than 1 million people who already face limited access to health care. "With almost 16,000 deliveries in 2019, the Dasht-e-Barchi maternity ward was one of MSF's biggest such projects worldwide," the statement said. "By pushing MSF to end its work in the hospital, the assailants have also left women and babies without access to essential medical care in a country where maternal and neonatal mortality remain high." While the security conditions have forced MSF's withdrawal from the hospital, the organization said it was looking into ways to support local initiatives aimed at improving access to health care in the region. MSF said that more than 70 of its personnel and patients admitted into its health care programs in Afghanistan have been killed over the past 16 years. They include the killing of 42 patients and medical staff in an airstrike the United States military mistakenly carried out against an MSF hospital in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz in October 2015. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By Daniel Itai The Zimbabwe Daily Harare, Zimbabwe On Friday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a further relaxation of stringent restrains under lockdown alert level two. The two most important relaxations were the ability of informal traders to get back to their business provided they have a permit and adhere to the countrys COVID-19 safety measures as well as interprovincial travel provided its necessary. However, most of the opposition parties criticized the announcement by the President rather calling for the complete removal of the national lockdown. Relaxation of lockdown regulations by the government is a necessary evil. In as much as relaxing the regulations poses a greater danger to the populace, we need to understand the level of poverty our people have become exposed to. Most families last had a decent meal before lockdown and continuing with these regulations is a threat to their livelihoods. - Advertisement - The government is not ready to assist its suffering citizens and so the only option they have is to allow people to live their lives freely. We should know that Zimbabwe is a highly informal economy and as such I support the idea of opening up all sectors of the economy so as to ensure that our people have sustainable decent livelihoods, said LEAD leader, Linda Masarira. Moreso, leader of ZimFirst, Dr. Maxwell Rusike labeled the current national lockdown as draconian which needed to be removed with immediate effect. The lockdown that was instituted is clearly a draconian lockdown because it does not take into account the citizens welfare. The world all over where lockdowns where put in place, the governments clearly communicated how the effects of the lockdown would be mitigated. This was not done in Zimbabwe. However, I am of the view that all sectors of the economy should be opened with clear guidelines on how to minimize the spread of the virus taking into account that the virus thrives in winter, which we are in. In addition, stern measures such as wearing masks, regular hand-washing, use of sanitizers and observing social distancing should still be strictly adhered to. This will most definitely minimize transmission. To ensure that infections dont result in fatalities, the government should focus on the following, capacitating the treatment centers by providing ventilators, immune boosters, procurement of adequate Personal Protective Equipment and to ensure the health sector is fully functional and that the service providers are taken good care of. Hopefully the government, tone deaf as it is known to be will finally listen to the peoples plight and take cognizance of our local circumstances, said Dr. Rusike. However, MDC Alliances national Youth leader, Stephen Chuma said there was nothing new from the announcement as most of the people had now resorted to their normal livelihoods. Emmerson Mnangagwa simply confirmed what is already happening. People in ghettos had already set themselves free from the tight lockdown regulations because they survive on hand to mouth yet the government did not do anything to cushion them during that time. Our people as we all know survive on vending hence, they went back to their normal daily routines way back before Mnangagwas pronouncement. This is no secret and Mnangagwa himself knows people do not take his word for he is not for the people, said MDC Alliances national Youth spokesperson. To date, the country has just under 400 COVID-19 cases with the majority of the cases associated with returnees from other countries and four fatalities. Like this: Like Loading... [June 16, 2020] Stamus Networks Announces Availability of SELKS 6 INDIANAPOLIS and PARIS, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stamus Networks, a fast-growing cybersecurity software company, today announced the general availability of SELKS 6 the turnkey system based on Suricata intrusion detection/prevention (IDS/IPS) and network security monitoring (NSM) with a network threat hunting interface and graphical rule manager. The distribution is built on the live Debian operating system with five key open source components that comprise its name Suricata, Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana and Scirius Community Edition (Suricata Management and Suricata Hunting from Stamus Networks). In addition, SELKS includes components from Moloch and EveBox, which were added after the acronym was established. "We are excited to make SELKS 6 officially available," said Peter Manev, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Stamus Networks. "This moment represents the culmination of efforts from many within the open source community, to whom we are very grateful. The new capabilities really highlight the power of threat hunting using IDS events correlated in real time with Suricata-generated metadata derived from live network traffic." First introduced in 2014, the release of SELKS 6 represnts the latest milestone for the open source system. This version includes a number of enhancements over its predecessors, including: New threat hunting interface. Improved new GUI with drill down and click-based filters based on Suricata alert data. Improved new GUI with drill down and click-based filters based on Suricata alert data. New dashboard views. Twenty-six (26) new/upgraded Kibana dashboards and hundreds of visualizations that correlate alert events to NSM data and vice versa. Examples of the new dashboards include updates to application layer anomalies, alerts, TLS and JA3/JA3S views. Twenty-six (26) new/upgraded Kibana dashboards and hundreds of visualizations that correlate alert events to NSM data and vice versa. Examples of the new dashboards include updates to application layer anomalies, alerts, TLS and JA3/JA3S views. Updated versions of each component. These include ELK stack (7.7.0), Suricata (6.0.0-dev), Debian (Buster), EveBox (1:0.11.1), Moloch (2.2.3), and Scirius Community Edition (3.5.0) SELKS is a Stamus Networks contribution to the open source community and is released, at no cost, under the GNU GPLv3 license as ISO images or as source code. In addition to its open source efforts, Stamus Networks develops and supports Scirius Security Platform (SSP), a commercial enterprise-scale solution. Scirius Security Platform combines real-time network traffic analysis with enhanced threat detection and an advanced analytics engine to create an entirely new class of enriched threat detection and hunting solution. This unique combination of capabilities in SSP lowers costs by eliminating the need for an additional standalone network traffic analysis (NTA) system. Visit the Stamus Networks website to learn more about Scirius Security Platform: https://www.stamus-networks.com/scirius-platform. Kelley Misata, PhD, president and executive director of the Open Information Security Foundation (OISF) also believes SELKS 6 is an important milestone. "The OISF is thrilled to see the continued evolution of this important industry platform. We've been using SELKS exclusively in our training courses for many years because its capabilities really showcase the power of Suricata for both IDS and introductory network threat hunting," said Misata. "And these additional capabilities included in SELKS 6 will further demonstrate the value of Suricata to the community." To download SELKS 6 and find additional information, visit the Stamus Networks open source site: https://www.stamus-networks.com/scirius-open-source. About Stamus Networks Stamus Networks believes cyber security professionals should spend less time pouring though noisy alerts and more time investigating true indicators of compromise (IOC). Founded by the creators of the widely deployed open source SELKS platform, Stamus Networks offers Scirius Security Platform solutions that combine real-time network traffic data with enhanced Suricata threat detection and an advanced analytics engine to create an entirely new class of enriched threat hunting solution. With Scirius, you get unprecedented visibility and meaningful insights into your organization's security posture, giving you the tools to rapidly detect and respond to incidents. For more information visit: stamus-networks.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stamus-networks-announces-availability-of-selks-6-301077571.html SOURCE Stamus Networks [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 16, 2020] Bitcoin Association Announces Bitcoin SV DevCon 2020 in Partnership with WeAreDevelopers and nChain LONDON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bitcoin Association, the international industry body that works to advance business with Bitcoin SV, today officially announces that Bitcoin SV DevCon 2020 a two-day virtual developer conference - will be held on July 18-19 in partnership with WeAreDevelopers and nChain. The weekend-long virtual event will feature leaders from across the Bitcoin SV ecosystem teaching sessions to educate and upskill developers interested in working on the Bitcoin SV blockchain. The presentations will cover topics designed to provide a foundational knowledge of the Bitcoin network and its programming language (Bitcoin Script), as well as the practical understanding necessary to begin building powerful applications on the blockchain. Attendees will also be treated to a fireside chat with Dr. Craig S. Wright, who will discuss the origins of Bitcoin Script and the potential it represents for future blockchain endeavours. A full agenda for the Bitcoin SV DevCon 2020 is available at bsvdevcon.net Bitcoin Association supports the Bitcoin SV blockchain because it is the only blockchain that adheres to the 'Satoshi Vision' and protocol of Bitcoin's creator Satoshi Nakamoto. That vision includes massive scaling to support higher volumes of transactions and diverse data use enabling Bitcoin to function both as a digital currency and a global public ledger for enterprise applications. The Bitcoin blockchain has seen application development explode globally, with over 400 known ventures and projects already making use of BSV's greater scaling, data and micropayments capabilities. To meet the growing interest in Bitcoin SV development, Bitcoin Association are proud to partner on this fist Bitcoin SV DevCon with WeAreDevelopers, a leading online community platform for developers, with a track record of producing best in class educational resources and events, and nChain, the global leader in research and development of enterprise-grade blockchain solutions. The Bitcoin SV DevCon 2020 is free to attend and registration is open now on the WeAreDevelopers website. Speaking on today's announcement, Jimmy Nguyen, Founding President of Bitcoin Association, said: "I'm delighted that today we are able to announce our first ever Bitcoin SV DevCon will be held completely virtually next month. The immense potential that the Bitcoin SV blockchain has for enterprise-grade applications can only be realized with the developer talent there to capitalize on it. That's precisely why we're so excited to be running this event and doing so in partnership with WeAreDevelopers and nChain, both of whom bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will ensure that Bitcoin SV DevCon is both an enjoyable and educational experience. There's never been a better time to learn to build on the Bitcoin SV blockchain and there's never been a better place to start that journey than with the Bitcoin SV DevCon 2020." Also commenting was Steve Shadders, CTO at nChain and Technical Director of the Bitcoin SV Node project, who said: "The opportunities for developers with the skillset required to build applications on the blockchain are only going to continue to expand. I expect that in the coming years, we will see a new class of specialist developers or "Bitcoin engineers" emerge as businesses look to harness the power and potential of blockchain technology. Bitcoin SV is the only blockchain with the capabilities to fulfil the needs of enterprises and the Bitcoin SV DevCon 2020 is the perfect place to start learning how to work with and develop on it." For more information on Bitcoin SV DevCon 2020, visit bsvdevcon.net In August 2020, Bitcoin Association intends to host a China-focused version of the Bitcoin SV DevCon; more information about the China DevCon will be forthcoming. About Bitcoin Association Bitcoin Association is the global industry organization which advances Bitcoin SV. Based in Zug, Switzerland, the non-profit Association brings together enterprises, start-up ventures, developers, merchants, exchanges, service providers, blockchain transaction processors (miners), and others in the Bitcoin SV ecosystem to advance the growth of Bitcoin commerce. The Association seeks to build a regulation-friendly ecosystem that fosters lawful conduct while encouraging digital currency innovation. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bitcoin-association-announces-bitcoin-sv-devcon-2020-in-partnership-with-wearedevelopers-and-nchain-301077650.html SOURCE Bitcoin SV [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NYUs Susan Dodes Discusses Music Business, Music Tech College Programs Music industry veteran Susan Dodes joins Michael Brandvold and Jay Gilbert on the Music Business Weekly podcast to discuss the various music business and music tech college and degree programs that are available. What do they teach? How are they relevant? Are they necessary for young people who wish to work in the Music industry or on the recording and engineering side of the business? They look at a myriad of important and sometimes amusing questions. Dodes is a 30 year plus music executive including major label A+R, major publisher, producer management and Professor of Music Business Studies at NYUs Steinhardt School. She has been a professor of Music Business Studies and music history) for 11 years and has taught in the UK as well as running the Music Business program at University of New Haven for five years. She is also the co-chair of Global Mentorship for She Is The Music, the womens education and empowerment organization founded by Alicia Keyes and Jody Gerson of Universal Music Publishing. Share on: Calls are mounting in Europe for member states of the EU to enact legislation demanding that European diplomats, journalists, and researchers be granted access to travel in Tibet, a region largely restricted to outsiders while Chinese nationals can freely travel throughout European countries, a Tibet advocacy group said in a new report on Monday. Writing in an op-ed on Monday appearing in European media outlets and newspapers, 57 parliamentarians from 19 European countries called on their governments to pass a law barring access to Europe to Chinese officials who block foreign travel in Tibet, a formerly independent Himalayan country now ruled from Beijing. Government officials, journalists and tourists who seek to enter Tibetan areas are routinely denied, and the few who do get in are forced to stay on strictly controlled official tours, the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet said in a statement on Monday. [There], they are shown Potemkin villages that hide the truth about Chinas horrific repression of the Tibetan people, ICT said, adding that by denying unfettered access to Tibet, Beijing seeks to shut down criticism of what the rights group called its atrocious human rights record in Tibet. There is now a growing awareness in Europe of the dangers of an asymmetrical relationship with China, building on recent statements by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell that Europes relationship with China should be based on trust, transparency, and reciprocity, ICT said. It is now incumbent upon European governments and the European Union to insist on reciprocity in their dealings with the Peoples Republic of China, said Tsering Jampa, executive director for ICT Europe, in a statement Monday. This principle should not be limited to trade and investment but should also include fundamental freedoms in order to address the asymmetry of Chinas authoritarian influence not only in Tibet, which has been isolated from the rest of the world for the past six decades, but also on our own societies, Jampa said. The privilege and right to travel We know that Tibet is closed to foreignersto analysts, to members of parliament, to lawmakers, and so on, said ICT-EU policy director Vincent Metten, speaking on Monday to RFAs Tibetan Service. But the opposite is not true. Chinese officials, journalists, and so on have the privilege and right to travel and to visit Europe. Recent U.S. legislation denying access to the United States to Chinese officials blocking travel by Americans to Tibet could now serve as a model for European policymakers, Metten said, noting at the same time that the institutional architecture across the EUs many member states is different. So we need to have imaginative ways for the EU to think of how they could do this. But this is their job, Metten said. In December 2018, President Donald Trump signed the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, a law under which Chinese officials responsible for excluding U.S. citizens, including Americans of Tibetan ethnic origin, from Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), could be banned from entering the United States. The law also requires the State Department to provide to the Congress each year a list of U.S. citizens blocked from entry to Tibet. Reported by Tashi Wangchuk for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Richard Finney. [June 16, 2020] Hollyland Technology Announces MARS X, a New Wireless Video System for iOS and Android Devices Monitoring SHENZHEN, China, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hollyland Technology, the world's leading wireless video and audio transmission systems manufacturer for filmmaking, live broadcasting, is pleased to announce the launch of an entry-level wireless HDMI transmission system, MARS X Born for Stability. The new MARS X steps forwards from a traditional wireless video transmission system with a full set of transmitter and receiver to a single transmitter wireless video transmission system. ONE TO THREE MARS X turns your Phones/Tablets into external monitors by the HollyView App. It supports up to three iOS and Android devices APP monitoring. With this single transmitter product, YouTubers or small production teams that do not need to use an external monitor can easily cut down the cost and add this device to their setup to enable App monitoring for themselves, the client or director. NEW APP FUNCTIONS ADDED Firmware Upgrade and Channel Scan are added to the HollyView App on MARS X. Now, users no longer need to use a USB flash and their computer to do the update. While he channel helps users to find out which channels are clean and which ones are with interference in sophisticated WiFi surroundings. VIDEO & AUDIO SYNCHRONIZATION MARS X has a transmission range over 300ft with a clean line of sight (LOS), and a 150ft suggested best performance range with less than 0.07s ultra-low latency. It has eight frequency channel options that can be switched to avoid interference and to ensure a stable wireless transmission. COLLAPSIBLE ANTENNAS As previously mentioned, MARS X is designed with collapsible antennas, which provides enhanced transmission performance with the antennas and the portability and convenience without the antennas. PRICING AND AVAILABILITY The portable and compact new wireless system is priced with only $179. It is under pre-order until June 10th, 2020 when we plan to have the ready products for the market. ABOUT HOLLYLAND TECHNOLOGY Hollyland Technology, a technology company that focuses on wireless video transmission and wireless intercom products, aims to provide all our customers with the most economical and efficient wireless solutions and services. Our full product line is divided into THREE categories, 1. Prosumer Level - MARS SERIES 2. Professional Level - COSMO SERIES 3. Systems Integration Level - SYSCOM SERIES Learn more about Hollyland, Website: http://www.hollyland-tech.com/ E-mail: [email protected] Hollyland Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollylandTech/ Hollyland Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollylandtech/ Hollyland FB User Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hollylandtech/ CONTACT: Kiko.Lee, +86 13058190167, [email protected] Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsNx-uOc844 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] TBILISI -- Georgia's Service for State Security (SUS) says a Russian citizen who was arrested in Tbilisi last week allegedly planned to kill a Georgian journalist who used vulgar words to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin in a broadcast last year. Nika Gvamaria, director of the television station Mtavari Arkhi, said on June 15 that 38-year-old Vasambek Bokov, a native of Russia's North Caucasus region of Ingushetia, was arrested in the Georgian capital three days earlier. After Gvamaria's statement, Georgia's SUS confirmed that a Russian citizen, identified as V.B., had been arrested and charged with obtaining and using counterfeit documents and that he is suspected of plotting an ordered assassination. Gvamaria alleged that Bokov was sent to Georgia by the Moscow-backed leader of Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, to kill Giorgi Gabunia, a journalist with Mtavari Arkhi. In July 2019, Gabunia called Putin a "stinking occupier" and used a string of obscenities to curse the Russian president, as well as Putin's mother and father -- and vowed to defecate on Putin's grave. Gvamaria's controversial on-air tirade, which came while he was working for another TV channel, was condemned by the authorities in Russia and Georgia at the time. Kadyrov publicly vowed to "punish" Gabunia at the time, saying that "Gabunia now has to hide behind seven fences because any of the millions of young men, who deeply respect Vladimir Putin, can do to Gabunia what he deserves." In recent years, several Kadyrov critics were killed outside Russia, and many believe that either Kadyrov himself or Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) were behind the apparent assassinations. Rights groups say Kadyrov, who has ruled the volatile region since 2007, uses repressive measures and has created a climate of impunity for security forces in the region. They allege Kadyrov is ultimately responsible for the violence and intimidation of political opponents by Chechen authorities, including kidnappings, forced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings. ATLANTA, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company Gas announced three new leadership positions and the creation of two new departments, Sustainability & Innovation and Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), to support the company's continued commitment to addressing climate change and reinforce the importance of natural gas in a sustainable energy future. "While Southern Company Gas has long been an industry leader in methane reductions, infrastructure modernization and strategic partnerships, we recognize that there is still more to be done to guarantee clean, safe, reliable, affordable energy for generations to come," said John Hudson, executive vice president of external affairs. "We are positioned now to focus our efforts more closely on how we operate, invest and innovate to address the climate crisis while maintaining value for our customers and our shareholders." The Sustainability and Innovation Group will be led by Joanne Mello, who has been named director of sustainability and energy policy. In this role, Mello will oversee the company's sustainability and innovation strategy by aligning efforts conducted across the business and strengthening partnerships with external industry groups and stakeholders. As part of this effort, Southern Company Gas is committed to continuing to play a leadership role in reducing the carbon emissions associated with natural gas usage and promoting broader sustainability efforts, supporting the key role that natural gas plays in a clean energy future. Most recently chief of staff to Southern Company Gas President and CEO Kim Greene, Mello supported the business's strategic goals, industrywide sustainability initiatives and the creation of an enterprise wide Innovation Council, which she chairs. After starting her career in corporate law in private practice, Mello joined the company in 2007 as an attorney and has served in various Legal Department roles, including associate general counsel for SouthStar Energy Services. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from Emory University and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School. Mello is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel and the Women's Energy Network. Greg Jones has been named director, Climate & Environmental Policy. In this role, he will lead the company's greenhouse gas emission initiatives and will direct the company's participation in environmental rulemaking, legislation and policy initiatives. Previously Southern Company Gas' manager of Environmental Affairs, Jones has decades of experience engaging with energy industry leaders to develop collaborative positions on rulemaking and legislation at the state and federal level. After serving in environmental compliance roles for other companies, Jones joined the company in 2009 as a senior environmental specialist, supporting sustainability programs, policies and procedures. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Georgia. He serves as chair of the American Gas Association's (AGA) Environmental Regulatory Action Committee, vice chair of the Georgia Industrial Environmental Coalition (GIEC), and he was a past chair of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL). The RNG Group will be led by Robin Lanier, director, RNG. In this role, she will develop and execute an effective strategy for growing Southern Company Gas' RNG capabilities, a critical component in the company's sustainability strategy. Lanier will plan, monitor and manage the company's RNG advancements. RNG is a sustainable and interchangeable substitute for geologic natural gas. It is a carbon neutral energy source, not a fossil fuel, that can be derived from existing waste streams, such as those at farms, landfills and water resource recovery facilities, or produced with renewable electricity. RNG sourced from agriculture and waste management provides cross-sector environmental benefits. "Expanding our portfolio further into the RNG sector can reduce Southern Company Gas' environmental impact while also creating new revenue streams," said Hudson. "We are adding dedicated staff to explore RNG's potential not only because it is a societal imperative, but because it is a business imperative, as well." In Lanier's most recent role, she was manager of Environmental Regulatory Strategy for Georgia Power. She first joined Georgia Power during college as a distribution engineering co-op and has since served in roles of increasing responsibility focused on renewable energy and regulatory strategy. A University of Georgia graduate with a degree in Agricultural Engineering, Lanier received her Engineering In-Training license in the state of Georgia and is also a certified energy manager through the Association of Energy Engineers. She serves on the Atlanta Audubon Society Board and previously served on the Young Professional Board of Atlanta Children's Shelter. Lanier is a mentor in GPC's Women in Engineering program and a graduate of Leadership Walton. For more information on Southern Company Gas' environmental efforts, visit SouthernCompanyGas.com/environment. About Southern Company Gas Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America's premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 700,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com. SOURCE Southern Company Gas Asaduddin Owaisi led All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has taken the lead in announcing the list of its candidate in the forthcoming and very crucial elections in Bihar. The Hyderabad based party that aims to turn itself into a pan-India party and has been trying to get a toehold in Bihar, has announced the first list of candidates for the forthcoming elections in Bihar. The party has said that it will contest on 32 seats in the polls scheduled for later this year. Reports suggest that these constituencies are spread out in 22 districts of the state. The decision must have sent shockwaves within the RJD-Congress camp that was hoping to defeat the JDU, BJP combine and force it out of power. The AIMIM that had drawn a blank in the last assembly elections, sneaked into the state assembly thanks to the success of Qamrul Huda from the Muslim dominated seat of Kishanganj. In the by-polls conducted last year, he was able to romp home with a margin of around 19,000 votes, squarely defeating BJPs Sweety Singh, forcing the congress candidate to the third spot. All the 22 districts where the firebrand Hyderabadi MPs party has decided to fight elections have sizeable Muslim population and an overwhelming number of the seats where AIMIM has decided to field its candidates are being represented by Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) led Grand Alliance. The Grand Alliance has not just the RJD and the Congress in its fold, but smaller regional parties like Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). A local activist was quoted by the NewsClick as saying that there were apprehensions about the intent of the AIMIM as more than 95 percent of the 32 seats from where the Hyderabad based party has announced its candidates were actually won by the Grand Alliance constituents in the last assembly elections held in the year 2015. He goes on to add that the BJP could win merely a single seat out of the 32. It must be kept in mind that in the last assembly elections, the RJD and the Congress had fought the polls in alliance with the JDU of Nitish Kumar. However, Kumar ditched the alliance two years later and marched away with the BJP. While the AIMIM leaders claim that they want to defeat the BJP and the JDU combine in the state, it is not actually hard to find as to whose prospects they will hurt. Many analysts believe that the intent of the Owaisi led party is not to beat the BJP but to ensure the victory of the BJP and the JDU alliance in the crucial North Indian state by dividing the Muslim votes. A senior Patna based political analyst tells me that AIMIMs entry will benefit no one but the NDA in the state. He goes on to add that this is not the first time that the party with a limited appeal in Hyderabad city wants to destroy the chances of the Congress party. They have repeatedly done the same in the past. They fought assembly elections in Maharashtra. While they could win just about two seats, they garnered a couple of thousand votes from many seats. At a time when elections are won and lost by wafer thin margin, it is not very surprising that they adversely impacted the chances of Congress-NCP in several states. Not just in Bihar, the AIMIM has also decided to field candidates in all the 294 assembly constituencies in West Bengal, another state where the BJP is trying to topple Mamta Banerjee led TMC government. Elections in the state are slated to be held next year and there are apprehensions among political pundits that the entry of the Owaisi led fledgling party may cut into Muslim votes. Owaisi is a rabble rouser who touches the raw emotions of the common Muslims, especially the Muslim youth in many places. In the given political atmosphere his narrative of discrimination against Muslims seems all the more appealing to the Muslim youth. What is surprising is the fact that the Owaisi brothers who rant against the Congress and the perceived discrimination against the Muslims by successive Congressi government in states and at the center actually keep mum about many issues of paramount importance to the Muslim community. He largely kept out of the limelight when anti-CAA protests were being held across the country modeled on Shaheen Bagh protests led and organized by Muslim women. He never visited the protest site either in Jamia Millia Islamia or Shaheen Bagh where thousands and thousands of women sat on indefinite dharna for several weeks. The same happened during the Delhi riots of February this year when the Owaisi brother did precious little to put pressure on the government to stop the riots that consumed the lives of at least 53 people, most of them Muslims. He has kept studied silence over the witch hunting of the Muslim youth who were part of the anti-CAA protests, for falsely implicating them in organizing Delhi riots. There are also many questions about the real intentions of the party and its leadership. Why, instead of expanding in Telangana outside Hyderabad, it is trying to fight elections where it has little or no base. Soroor Ahmed, a Patna based journalist while writing in one of his columns says, The irony is that the AIMIM does not expand its base outside Hyderabad in Telangana, where there is organizational scope for it. In at least four districts of erstwhile Nizam state (besides Hyderabad) in Telangana there is palpable Muslim population. Instead Owaisi prefers to put up candidates in Muslim pockets in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and is now planning to field his partys nominees in Jharkhand and Bengal. He says that the real intent of the Owaisi brothers and AIMIM is to further weaken the secular parties. Curiously, in Telangana Owaisi does not talk about empowering Muslims when his party is in alliance with the ruling Telangana Rashtriya Samiti. It is a well-known fact that TRS is inclined towards the BJP and voted in its favour in Parliament recently, for example on the issue of Triple Talaq. Thus, it is obvious that AIMIM wants to target and weaken the secular parties in different states as therein he finds his voters he writes further. More Columns by Syed Ubaidur Rahman: Despite muted denials, NRC will target Muslims Bhagwat, Madani meet: End of the maddening divide Ahmadullah Shah: Hero whose head and body are buried Muslim women's entry in mosques: What is the truth? Syed is a New Delhi based author and commentator. His forthcoming book 'Ulema's Role in India's Freedom Movements with Focus on Reshmi Rumal Tehrik will be out in October ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Well-above average rainfall in some of Ivory Coasts cocoa-growing regions last week raised fears of plantations flooding and poor quality beans, farmers said on Monday. The worlds top cocoa producer is in the middle of its rainy season and farmers across the country said there were enough pods on trees for the April-to-September mid-crop harvest. However, in the eastern and southern regions of Abengourou and Agboville, farmers said it had rained so much it was difficult to dry the beans properly. "The sky is cloudy and it keeps raining. Some plantations are at risk of flooding," said Faustin Anvo, who farms on the outskirts of Agboville, where 134.4 millimetres (mm) fell last week, 75.1 mm above the five-year average, according to data collected by Reuters. Abengouroun received 114.4 mm of rain, 56.9 mm above the average. In the western region of Soubre and southern region of Divo, farmers said abundant rains would boost the development of small and average-sized pods for harvesting from mid-August. "It will boost the yield around the end of the mid-crop," said Kouassi Kouame, who farms near Soubre, where rainfall was 32.5 mm above average last week at 87.4 mm. Divo received 45 mm last week, 4.4 mm above average. In the centre-western region of Daloa and central regions of Bongouanou and Yamoussoukro farmers said plantations still needed regular and abundant rains to develop the crop. Bertin Tiemele, who farms near Bongouanou, said farmers would start seeing the development of the main crop at the end of this month. Rainfall in Bongouanou was 17.6 mm above average last week at 47.6 mm, while Yamoussoukro received 30.3 mm or 2.7 mm above average. Farmers in Daloa said more downpours were needed after just 10.8 mm fell last week, 16.6 mm below the average. Temperatures ranged between 24.9-28.7 degrees Celsius. (Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Editing by Juliette Jabkhiro, Kirsten Donovan) Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN) is seeking more volunteer mentors as it continues to provide a Both Sides of the Gate support service to people leaving prison in Norfolk. Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN) is seeking more volunteer mentors as it continues to provide a Both Sides of the Gate support service to people leaving prison in Norfolk. New chief executive for Aylsham Care Trust Philip Macdonald has been appointed chief executive of the Aylsham and District Care Trust (ACT) which has been providing care and support for older people in the community for over thirty five years. Read more Pandemic drove Norfolk church community online New figures show that across the height of the pandemic lockdowns in 2020, churches across the Diocese of Norwich saw their in-person congregations halve but they retained 94% of their worshippers with the help of online and church-at-home services. Read more Why we need the water of life Regular columnist James Knight explains why water is so important in our lives, especially the spiritual variety. Read more Norwich church needs Outreach Weekend Cafe Manager St Stephens Church is seeking an Outreach Weekend Cafe Manager to become part of its successful and dynamic Cafe team, serving the community and city. Read more Trustee treasurer role at King's Lynn foodbank Kings Lynn Foodbank are urgently seeking a new Trustee Treasurer to work with a fun, friendly, team who are all passionate about combating food poverty in Kings Lynn. Read more Christian pregnancy charity gets Yarmouth hub TimeNorfolk, the Christian pregnancy loss charity, has opened a space dedicated to counselling for bereaved parents in Great Yarmouth. Read more Family days at Norwich Cathedral The schools and families learning department at Norwich Cathedral are holding two sessions morning and afternoon for a Family Activity Day at the Cathedral on Wednesday February 16. Read more Churches prepare Queen's Platinum Jubilee plans Churches, Christian charities and youth organisations are working together to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee over the four-day Bank Holiday from June 2-5 and a new website has been created to celebrate the Queen's 70 years of faith and service. Read more Eckling Grange cares for the elderly Despite some bad press, there are some Care Homes where 'Care' really does mean 'what it says on the tin', and a star example of this is the Norfolk Christian residential care home, Eckling Grange, at Dereham. Read more New Commission to look at use of Norfolk churches A new Church Buildings Commission has been launched with the purpose of looking at the church buildings across Norfolk and Waveney in terms of their use and sustainability. Read more Norfolk link to teaching opportunity with TCKs A Norfolk couple working in Asia have been helped by teachers of Third Culture Kids, and a programme is now inviting more people to get involved with it. Read more Norfolk charity seeks mentors for prison leavers Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN) continues to provide a Both Sides of the Gate Mentor support service to people leaving prison in Norfolk. Read more Prayer and Worship week for Sheringham church Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham has launched a Prayer and Worship week as they seek Gods guidance for 2022 Read more South Norfolk church schools are set to merge The Diocese of Norwich St Benets Multi Academy Trust has been given the green light to amalgamate Harleston CE Primary Academy and Archbishop Sancroft High School into one All Through School. Read more Norwich conference looks at how to tackle spiritual abuse Following a series of revelations about high-profile Christian leaders, a group of Norfolk churches is organising a conference to look at spiritual abuse and godly leadership. Read more Revelation vacancy for Centre Manager The Revelation Christian Resource Centre and Cafe is seeking to appoint a Centre Manager. Read more Gardening morning at N Norfolk Christian centre The Pleasaunce Holiday Centre in Overstrand is holding a work-party morning on Saturday February 5 and would like as many people as possible to join in to help get the gardens ship-shape. Read more Watertown, NY (13601) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 21F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Periods of snow. Low near 15F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Japan is on Wednesday scheduled to release May numbers for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Imports are expected to drop 4.5 percent on year after falling 7.2 percent in April. Exports are called lower by an annual 17.9 percent after sinking 21.9 percent in the previous month. The trade deficit is pegged at 970.8 billion yen following the 930 billion yen shortfall a month earlier. New Zealand will provide Q1 current account data; in the previous three months, the current account deficit was NZ$2.657 billion, while the capital account deficit was NZ$2 million and the financial account surplus was NZ$1.067 billion. Australia will see May results for new home sales and for the leading economic index from Westpac Bank. In April, home sales fell 1.1 percent on month, while the index dipped 1.5 percent on month. Singapore will release May numbers for non-oil exports and trade balance. Exports are expected to fall 8.5 percent on month and 0.1 percent on year after losing 5.8 percent on month and gaining 9.7 percent on year in April - when the trade surplus was $2.63 billion. 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. Photo: The Canadian Press Greg Fergus, Liberal candidate for Hull-Aylmer and chair of the black caucus in Parliament, speaks to reporters during a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. A group of Black parliamentarians and their allies are calling on all levels of government to take action to reduce systemic racism in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang A group of Black parliamentarians and their allies are calling on all levels of government to take action to reduce systemic racism in Canada. The request came in a statement Tuesday from the Parliamentary Black Caucus, which was created in 2015 and includes members of Parliament and senators from various political parties. The statement included calls for concrete reforms to policing, justice and corrections; targeting economic aid in the COVID-19 pandemic to Black-owned businesses and Black entrepreneurs; and supporting Black artists and institutions devoted to Black culture. "While Canada is a great country, for many Black Canadians it has yet to achieve its full potential," the group said. "For more than 400 years, Black Canadians contributed to what all Canadians enjoy today, in spite of the legal, social, and economic barriers. "In order for Canada to fully realize its potential, we must work to eradicate the consequences of systemic discrimination faced by Black Canadians." The list also includes ending mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes. The Liberals promised to look at repealing some in their successful 2015 campaign but have not done so. Liberal MP Greg Fergus, who chairs the Parliamentary Black Caucus, said he doesn't know why the government has not delivered on that promise. "I can't change the past, I just want to influence the present and the future," he said in an interview. "I'm pushing for it to be done now and I think there's an appetite, I think there's a big political appetite to do it." Besides eight MPs and senators who identify as Black, the statement was signed by dozens of other parliamentarians from the Liberal party, NDP and Greens, and multiple factions in the Senate. In a statement of their own, the Conservatives accused the Liberals of playing "disgusting partisan games" by not inviting MPs from all parties to join. "Conservatives acknowledge the existence of systemic racism in Canada; we condemn it and support calls to eliminate it," spokeswoman Kelsie Chiasson said. The Tories accused the Liberals of hypocrisy, noting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's history of donning blackface, his treatment of Indigenous former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, and the presence of former Toronto police chief Bill Blair in the cabinet as public-safety minister. Fergus said he didn't seek out support from Conservatives for the statement because their leader, Andrew Scheer, refused to recognize the existence of systemic racism when asked about it multiple times during a recent television interview. "I figured there was no starting point at that point," he said. No Conservative MPs or senators have joined the Black caucus but Fergus said they are welcome to sign onto the statement regardless, as some 160 non-Black parliamentarians had done by Tuesday afternoon. The caucus's statement follows a wave of protest across North America against racism and police brutality sparked by the killing of a Black man, George Floyd, by police in the U.S. last month. The Parliamentary Black Caucus said non-Black people are only now realizing the scope of systemic racism in Canada, and the group is proposing a series of measures to cut down on what the group calls a "pernicious and widespread phenomenon." "The members of the Parliamentary Black Caucus are heartened to see so many of their fellow citizens taking to the streets to peacefully express their desire for Canadian society to stamp out racism," the group wrote. "However, to rid our society of racism will require concrete actions by all levels of government to begin to make a difference." Those measures include improving the collection of race-based data, which the group identified as a priority, as well as reforming the police and the justice system to eliminate bias and discrimination against Black Canadians and Indigenous people, who are, respectively, three to four times and eight times more likely to be incarcerated than white Canadians. But Fergus said the needed reforms go well beyond ridding the justice system of unconscious bias. The group wants to see that Black Canadians have equal economic opportunities, including access to financial institutions that support businesses. "We want to create jobs and create wealth and create prosperity," he said. Trudeau welcomed the calls without committing to implementing any of them in particular. "We are committed to moving forward on a huge range of measures. We're working with communities, we're working with leaders like members of the Parliamentary Black Caucus to identify what exactly we need to move forward on first in priority on," he said in his daily appearance outside his residence at Rideau Cottage. "I think it's really important that we all come forward and look at bold ideas that we can take on very soon to fix the systemic discrimination that continues to exist in our country." He said many of the calls are things his government is already working on, such as on targeting economic support to Black-owned businesses and young Black entrepreneurs. "We will be moving forward on a number of those recommendations," Trudeau said. The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed a needed face transplant for a New Hampshire woman. Carmen Tarleton hopes to become the first person in the U.S. to receive a second full face transplant. She was attacked 13 years ago by her ex-husband, who beat her with a bat before dousing her with lye. She forgave him and, seven years later, received a new face. But it's now dying. "I lost my eyelids," Tarleton said. "I don't have eyelids." She has been on the transplant list since October, but the coronavirus pandemic took her off. She's now back on the active list and optimistic. "It's all going to end with my surgery," she said. "All this going on, all the pain will go away." Tarleton said she wants people to see her, to see the sores from the contracting skin, the skin that's dying, the lips that won't move. She knows it's graphic. "When organs fail, your heart or your kidney fails, people know that. You tell them, but you don't see it," she said. "You've got to see it. It's hard to look at sometimes, and it's painful." Tarleton was a sought-after inspirational speaker. Her talks now take place on Zoom. She focuses on topics such as forgiveness and overcoming difficulties. She lives alone, and, until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, solitude is critical. "Because my immune system is low, because I'm a transplant patient, I will probably be isolated for another year until there is a vaccine," she said. Her condition is not fatal. Tarleton said doctors could patch her together with skin grafts. "What a face transplant gives me is an incredible lot of quality of life, compared to not having one," she said. "You've got to be tough, and I'm tough, so I'll be patient." This moment in America is different than what many of us have ever experienced before. While we are in the midst of a global coronavirus pandemic, we are also watching live on television the people of our nation stand up against the continued problem of police violence in black communities, and in other communities of color such as Hispanic, Asian, and Native American, which occurs more than it does in white neighborhoods. This is truly a unique moment. And what is important is that we not simply recognize this moment for what it is, but that we also recognize the call to action of this moment. Signaling our support by donning a t-shirt, holding a sign or joining a protest is easy. The difficult part for elected legislators is actually doing the work of justice. But that is the work we must do in Connecticuts State Capitol, creating through new public policy what years of old public policy has torn apart and inflicted on our society. It is to these noble ends that we look inward to our own Senate Democratic Caucus and the entire state legislature to once again refocus our thoughts, actions and votes to ensure that all lives truly matter in this great Constitution State of ours by ensuring that Black Lives Matter in public policy and in law. We demand that a special summer session be focused on righting the social inequities that have brought out so many people across Connecticut who may never have protested in their lives, but are now out on the streets and town greens of their communities, with white, brown, Asian and Native American allies standing behind black leadership and alongside the black community, to voice the message of our time. What are those public policy issues? Police accountability and greater absentee voting are important, but this unique moment in American history demands that our legislative response examine systemic racism and inequities in all areas. For example, how is economic opportunity structured in Connecticut? Businesses and financing opportunities must be available to everyone, including people of color. The location of and access to affordable housing across Connecticut must be equitable. We must close the opportunity gaps in our public school system, especially when it comes to the digital access and literacy divide that the COVID-19 crisis has exposed. The COVID-19 crisis has also exposed dangerous gaps in health care policy; a majority of the essential workers who have direct contact with the public (retail service and nursing home workers, to name just two groups) are people of color. We must improve their access to health care and better medical outcomes. The same can be said about the environmental injustice of the power plants, trash facilities and carbon-spewing manufacturing plants that impact so many communities of color. We need a bold agenda around health equity in Connecticut. We need better rules and protections for nursing home residents and employees. Connecticut needs to tackle systemic health inequities, protect telehealth insurance coverage and access for Medicaid recipients, create a workers compensation presumption for employees who regularly face coronavirus exposure on the job, make the Connecticut Access Health insurance exchange more affordable and competitive, allow working adults with disabilities impacted by COVID-19 to buy Medicaid, allow undocumented families to purchase private healthcare and receive Medicaid, thereby shifting those costs (which are going to occur anyway) off of hospitals and taxpayers in general. The impact of criminal convictions. Reducing homelessness. Expanded economic opportunity zones. Diversifying our community and state college system. The list goes on. The Connecticut legislature has remained in neutral for far too long on basic, vital changes to our existing public policies, changes that can make a real and substantive difference in the lives of a third of our population. It is the 21st century, yet we have remained stalled on real progress. But we hear the voices of those in the streets, on the greens, in places of worship and on the steps of town halls and police departments. The moment is now. Let us capture it, and move forward together, equal and united at last. The Connecticut Senate Democratic Caucus members are Sen. President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, Sen. Majority Leader Bob Duff, Sen. John Fonfara, Sen. Doug McCrory, Sen. Saud Anwar, Sen. Steve Cassano, Sen. Derek Slap, Sen. Matt Lesser, Sen. Gary Winfield, Sen. Christine Cohen, Sen. Mary Abrams, Sen. James Maroney, Sen. Joan Hartley, Sen. Cathy Osten, Sen. Marilyn Moore, Sen. Dennis Bradley, Sen. Julie Kushner, Sen. Will Haskell, Sen. Carlo Leone, Sen. Mae Flexer, Sen. Norm Needleman and Sen. Alex Kasser. (ANSA) - Rome, June 15 - The 5-Star Movement (M5S) on Monday denied a report in Spanish daily ABC that it took funding from Venezuela in 2010. Sources at the Venezuelan embassy in Rome also dismissed the report as "false and absurd" adding that the Venezuelan authorities would take legal action. The sources said that the movement was "totally unknown in Venezuela" in 2010. The M5S was founded in 2009. According to the report, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who at the time was foreign minister under Hugo Chavez, sent 3.5 million euros to the late Gianroberto Casaleggio, who co-founded the M5S with comedian-cum-politician Beppe Grillo, via the country's consulate in Milan. The embassy sources said that was implausible because, at the time, the Venezuelan Consul to Milan had only just taken up the post. M5S political leader Vito Crimi said the story was "ridiculous fake news" adding that "we'll consider taking legal action". Casaleggio's son Davide said "I will not allow the name of my father to be covered in mud. "He founded the M5S in a transparent way and never had public funding". The M5S Senators said the report was a "dirty political operation". The report is set to cause further tension for the M5S after a clash at the weekend between Grillo, who has now taken a backseat, and M5S bigwig Alessandro Di Battista. The M5S has performed badly in local and regional elections since winning over 32% of the vote in the 2018 general election after which it supported two coalition governments led by Premier Giuseppe Conte - the first an alliance with the rightwing Northern League and since last year the current coalition featuring the centre left Democratic Party (PD) and other smaller groups. The M5S's support has shrunk to well below 20%, according to opinion polls, and, in the light of this, on Sunday Di Battista proposed that the movement should hold a "constituent assembly". Grillo dismissed that idea, saying it came from people with a sense of timing like a character from the film Groundhog Day. The row has led to speculation that the M5S could split. A German interior minister has said that Syrian criminals and supporters of Bashar al-Assad could face deportation for the European nation reports Resala Post. On Sunday, the Interior Minister of the German state of Bavaria hinted at a resumption of deportations of rejected asylum seekers in the coming half year, including Syrians who were criminals and supporters of the Assad regime. The states Interior Minister Joachim Herrman said he believed that deporations to Syria should continue, adding that it is not possible in Wednesdays upcoming conference of interior ministers to extend the moratorium on deportations. Deportations to Syria should be made available again, Herrman said, especially for criminals, noting that a form of distinction should be applied in the future allowing deportations for Syrians who commit crimes or admit to being supporters of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. He told German media, We have a new framework of conditions due to the coronavirus crisis, and deportations have been suspended for the time being as their home countries do not accept returnees due to the risk of infection. Hermann anticipated that conditions, will be eased in the second half of this year, and air traffic will increase again. The German states interior ministers are expected to hold a conference with federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer that will last from Wednesday to Friday, when they will discuss the matter. A statement issued recently by the German Foreign Minister indicated that the situation in Syria is still unsafe for refugees due to the regimes practices and the ongoing conflict. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. What started out as a 13-year-olds hobby to feed his passion for technology has turned into a business for Skyler Ficklin, operator of the QuitZoom website and iSkyler YouTube video channel. Ficklin, stuck at home while his Ohio high school is closed due to COVID-19, spends his days and nights completing online learning assignments to end his sophomore year. Then he diverts attention to hands-on activities to learn more about journalism, audio and video production techniques, Web design and cinematography. At the end of each day, he reflects on his self-taught success and ponders what comes next. High School Sophomore Skyler Ficklin Although hes on a continuous learning curve, Ficklin already sees his efforts paying off. His viewership is growing. He is learning key lessons on how to handle negative reactions to his sometimes unpopular opinions. He is discovering what it takes to become business-minded as he searches for product samples to review, and sponsors to advance his journalistic reach. TechNewsWorld recently met with Ficklin on a Skype conference call to discuss his interest in helping both his peers and tech-curious adults understand todays world of mobile gadgetry. TechNewsWorld: How did you get started on this technology journey? Skyler Ficklin: For as long as I can remember, I have always had technology be a part of my life. I have always had access to computers in my house. My interest grew from there. Since I was 13, I had an interest in making little websites. I made a website for my IT class last year. Not Zoom! TechNewsWorlds Jack Germain joins a Skype call with young entrepreneur Skylar Ficklin to discuss his QuitZoom website and iSkylar tech review channel on YouTube. TNW: How much of a role has your high school experience so far played in your interest in technology? Ficklin: A D V E R T I S E M E N T Last year I took a programming class. This year was very active. I made a big website for my Web design class. Zoom has become pretty central for me. I became aware of some problems with using Zoom so I shifted to other products for comparison since there are so many of them. I wanted to find a way to explain to people why I wasnt using Zoom. So I put that together. TNW: What kind of comments have you gotten about your opposition to Zoom? Ficklin: Most people were very confused about why I wouldnt use Zoom. A lot of people told me they just dont care about the issues. They just want to use it. Some people continually denied that there were issues with using Zoom. They saw the Zoom bombing issues as separate from other problems. They were not worried about bombing intrusions since they used passwords for their video session invitations. Still, the Zoom security is not as good as it could be. I did make headway with a few people who recognized that the issues I raised did make sense. So they tried to work around the problems. Skyler Ficklin designed his own website QuitZoom.com to caution users about Zoom security concerns. TNW: Do you plan to add other potential controversial technology topics to your QuitZoom website? Ficklin: Nothing is in the works yet to expand the topic discussions. But I always wanted to have a website to support my YouTube channel where I make reviews on various tech products that I use. What got me started on that idea was seeing a domain name for QuitZoom. I actually bought the domain name. I am also hosting a WordPress site on a hosting platform. A D V E R T I S E M E N T TNW: What got you started with the YouTube channel? Ficklin: I have had that channel for about three years. I use it to talk about products that I really want to use and have an interest in. For example, I really wanted a pair of AirPods. I couldnt afford to buy them. I read reports about fake AirPods coming in from China. So I bought them and did reviews about them. I got some earphones for Christmas so I reviewed them. I mostly review things that I have. I am a big user of iPads and iPhones. I review iPhone software a lot. Skylar Ficklin is growing a YouTube following for his mostly iOS product reviews. TNW: Have you had to deal with adverse reactions to your product comments? Ficklin: I once did a review of the iOS Safari browser. A lot of people really did not like that. I had some glowing opinions that apparently upset many people. I got some push back from people telling me to use the Chrome browser instead. TNW: What is your favorite mobile platform? Ficklin: I tend to favor iPhone. I have an Android phone that I mostly use for comparison purposes in discussing the features of the iPhone platform. There are some things I dont like about Android. Mainly, I use an iPhone and focus my reviews on its products. TNW: How did you learn the technology to produce your own content? Ficklin: One of my first videos involved comparing an older iOS operating system to a current release. I had been looking for such a comparison online for my own knowledge. Not finding any articles, I decided to make my own. That movie I made was pretty heavily edited in iMovie. After that I moved towards trying to just record my reviews live and uploading without editing. My goal was to do just one take to upload. After that experiment, I went back to using iMovie on my phone. I concentrated on adding overlays and doing better editing to smooth out the final version. TNW: It sounds like you had to create your own process. How did you handle those challenges? Ficklin: I had gotten other editing software for a Christmas gift. I used it to experiment with editing some clips. I started adding some transitions and text overlays to the editing process. I got a camera and learned how to get better quality images with it. I added lighting equipment and a microphone to get better sound results than the internal microphones produced. I used to use just the camera audio and the phone audio. TNW: What were the biggest challenges you met that brought you the most satisfaction with your progress? Ficklin: It was a very gradual process of learning by doing. It is a very bad comparison between the beginning videos and my videos now. My quality now shows so much of a big difference. Some of my videos have music now as well. Time is also a big factor. I spend a lot more attention on pre- and post-production tasks. Both of those processes are very time consuming and get much more attention now. TNW: So far you have been motivated by your passion for technology and sharing your insights with your viewers. Have you thought about the monetizing aspect of what you are doing on your websites and your YouTube channel? Are you seeing a cash flow yet? Ficklin: Not yet but I am hoping to get there very soon. For YouTube, in order to get monetization you have to have 500 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. Im getting very close to that. I am about 80 percent of the way there. I am also contacting retailers and smaller companies to get products sent to me for review. I have not gotten any replies yet, but I am hoping to eventually get to a point where I can get that support. TNW: What about sponsors? Have you considered that approach? Ficklin: I havent done that yet. I hope to eventually get to that point. It would be awesome! Recently, I have had a lot of growth. That makes me optimistic that I could get there eventually. Originally, I started doing these activities as a hobby. After I did my first OS comparison for the iPad, I began doing more of that type of content. TNW: Have you noticed your viewer base growing as you continue to transition from hobby to business? Ficklin: It is definitely growing. I started with a few people watching. They are still around, but many more are regularly coming to view the new content. I have had a large uptick in uploads this month alone since I have more time at home to work on the projects. My future career plans include some form of technology. I was initially interested in computer programming. Now I am leaning towards cinematography and video editing and journalism also. Do You Know a Tech-Savvy Student? Do you know a tech-savvy student youd like to suggest for a TechNewsWorld feature? Are you a student whos ready to leap into the spotlight yourself? Pleaseemail me, and Ill consider scheduling an interview. And use the Reader Comments feature below to provide your input! Three construction workers have been arrested on Monday for allegedly assaulting a 24-year-old man with plastic pipes to death at Andheri (East) after they suspected him to be a thief. The accused have been identified as Ashad Shaikh, 24; Danish Shaikh, 21; and Tapaskumar Rai, 31. The police are on the lookout for one more accused in the case. The victim Satish Rajbhar was a resident of Chandivli. He had been for a walk and reached a commercial construction site at Sakinaka in Andheri (East) around 11 am, when the four accused, working there, spotted him. The four accused thought that Rajbhar was a thief. They tied his hands and legs and assaulted him with plastic pipes and asked him why he had entered the premises. Rajbhar repeatedly told the accused that he had come for a walk and inadvertently reached the construction site. However, the accused assaulted him for around four hours, said Kishor Sawant, senior inspector, Sakinaka police station. When Rajbhar passed out, the accused thought that he had died and fled the spot, said Sawant. A site supervisor who later visited the spot saw Rajbhar lying unconscious and immediately informed the police, following which a team of officers rushed him to Rajawadi Hospital at Ghatkopar, where he was declared dead on admission. We learnt that the accused were migrant workers and immediately sent our teams to Bandra, Kurla and Andheri railway stations to trace them. The trio were arrested from Andheri station while they were buying tickets to return to their homes in Bihar, said Sawant. The accused have been booked under sections 302 (Punishment for murder), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. New Delhi: Bollywood actor and bundle of talent, Sushant Singh Rajput died of suicide. His body was found hanging at his Bandra pad on June 14, 2020, leaving behind his grieving family, fans, friends and film fraternity. His death has once again raised questions on Bollywood's appreciation for the non-industry, 'outsider' actors being actually welcomed in the 'so-called' elite club. Netizens are debating on nepotism, favouritism one more time and with utmost anger after Sushant's untimely and shocking demise. Reports suggest he was battling depression for past few months. His last rites were held at Pawan Hans Crematorium on Monday, June 15, 2020. After paying his last respects to the rising star, actor Vivek Oberoi penned an emotional note throwing light on the functioning of Bollywood and how he wished he talked to Sushant once about his own journey. Read his post here: Several Bollywood celebrities such as Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Sharma, Abhishek and wife Pragya Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi and Jackky Bhagnani amongst others paid their last respects to the departed soul. EU regulators have launched two antitrust investigations into the tech giant Apple amid concerns over its app store and payment system. The probe was launched following allegations from competitors that Apple's mobile app store and payment platform practices distort competition. Apple has slammed the investigations as 'disappointing' and criticised complaining companies who 'simply want a free ride'. The investigations signal a new front in the EU's battle against the dominance of big tech companies. The EU's executive Commission said it launched the investigations over concerns that Apple's way of doing business hurts consumers by limiting choice and innovation and keeping prices high. A second investigation has been opened into the mobile App Store over concerns Apple forces developers to use the company's own in-app purchasing system The first investigation is looking into Apple Pay over allegations that the company in some cases refuses payment system access, and amid concerns that it limits access to the 'tap and go' function on iPhones. A second investigation has been opened into the mobile App Store over concerns Apple forces developers to use the company's own in-app purchasing system. Doing so charges them a 30 per cent commission and restricts them from letting iPhone and iPad users aware of other ways to pay for digital services like music subscriptions. The investigation follows complaints from music streaming service Spotify and an e-book distributor on the impact of the App Store's rules on competition. EU Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, who is the competition commissioner, said 'it appears that Apple obtained a "gatekeeper" role when it comes to the distribution of apps and content to users of Apple's popular devices.' She also said that Apple appeared to have set conditions on how Apple Pay should be used in merchants' apps and websites. 'It is important that Apple's measures do not deny consumers the benefits of new payment technologies,' she added. Vestager noted that the coronavirus crisis has accelerated the growth in mobile payments as more people make online payments or 'contactless' payments in store. The EU's competition commissioner said Apple appeared to have set conditions on how Apple Pay should be used in merchants' apps and websites Apple responded to news of the investigations by saying: 'It's disappointing the European Commission is advancing baseless complaints from a handful of companies who simply want a free ride, and don't want to play by the same rules as everyone else. 'We don't think that's right - we want to maintain a level playing field where anyone with determination and a great idea can succeed.' Vestager has earned a reputation as one of the world's toughest technology regulators. EU Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, who is the competition commissioner, said 'it appears that Apple obtained a "gatekeeper" role when it comes to the distribution of apps and content to users of Apple's popular devices.' Four years ago she ordered Apple to pay 13 billion in back taxes linked to a deal with the Irish government - a ruling that the company is currently challenging. She has also led antitrust investigations into other Silicon Valley giants including Google, which resulted in multibillion dollar fines. Apple has been working to expand revenue in its services business to offset slowing growth from sales of iPhones and other hardware, but the EU investigation suggests Apple's growing dominance has made it a fresh target for regulators. Democratic lawmakers demanding a strong legislative response to the death of George Floyd called President Donald Trumps executive order on policing nothing more than a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. Trumps proposal to credential police departments and set up a database to track officers who disproportionately use force falls far short of the steps needed to stop the deaths of unarmed Blacks at the hands of police, according to U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and other Democratic sponsors of legislation introduced last week. Trumps executive order does not go nearly far enough to create the kind of change our country is demanding to see, tweeted Booker, D-N.J. Americans are taking to the streets in all 50 states for widespread, systemic changes to our system of policing. We must sign into law our Justice in Policing Act. Trump signed the order Tuesday at the White House, accompanied by representatives of police organizations and congressional Republicans, after first meeting with families of victims. Americans believe we must support the brave men and women in blue who police our streets and keep us safe, Trump said. Americans also believe we must improve accountability, increase transparency, and invest more resources in police training, recruiting, and community engagement. He acknowledged that congressional action was needed, but his order was a first step toward addressing the problem. Beyond the steps were taking today, I am committed to working with Congress on additional measures, Trump said. And hopefully theyll all get together and theyll come up with a solution that goes even beyond what were signing today. But this is a big, big step a step that hasnt been taken before. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., said Trumps order should have been stronger. To have a chance at changing the systemic issues in police departments nationwide, we need to eliminate qualified immunity, we need to change the standards for use of force, we need to eliminate no-knock warrants, and we need measures that promote transparency and accountability," Watson Coleman said. Trumps order is a Band-Aid on a gaping wound useless and just for show. We know what we need, and this isnt it. Booker and other Democrats spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday calling for far-ranging legislation. This is not a time for half steps and half measures, Booker said. It is not a time to nibble around the edges. Its not a time to find the lowest common denominator. This is a time for us to do what is right and necessary to end the kind of violence and murder and unaccountability that we see that is too endemic in our nation. Trumps executive order would ban chokeholds except when deadly force was warranted, and provide federal grants to hire social workers and have them accompany police on calls regarding homelessness, drug abuse and other social problems. It would condition other federal grants on whether a police department was certified by an independent credentialing agency, and have such agencies look at such issues as use of force, de-escalation techniques and community engagement. Its overall vision is nested in strengthening community-law enforcement relationships and restoring public trust, sad House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. But Trumps order did not answer Democratic calls to ban racial and religious profiling, make it easier to prosecute or sue officers accused of wrongdoing, allow deadly force only as a last resort, ban no-knock warrants, require bias training, and change the standard for using deadly force to necessary rather than reasonable. Nor did he move to reduce the military hardware going to local police departments. President Barack Obama announced such a policy during his 2015 visit to Camden but Trump reversed that step two years later. And Trump did not address the anti-lynching provision that Democrats added to their bill after U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blocked separate legislation on the Senate floor. JaRon Smith, deputy assistant to the president, told reporters later that Trump first focused on issues that had support on all sides. Its just like criminal justice reform, he said, according to White House pool reports. A lot of the criminal justice reform elements didnt move because law enforcement didnt agree with a lot of the pieces. So lets start on all of the things that we agree with. The president signed the order a day before the House Judiciary Committee prepared to debate the Justice in Policing Act introduced last week in response to the death of Floyd and other unarmed Blacks at the hands of law enforcement officers. While the president appears to embrace our emphasis on national standards, a police misconduct registry and mental health intervention, the executive order fails to address back-end accountability measures for police misconduct which nearly every expert agrees are urgently needed to prevent continuing police misconduct and violence, said committee chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y. While 62% of Americans in the most recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll said protests against Floyds death were legitimate, Trump on Tuesday came down on the side of the 28% who said the demonstrations mostly were people acting unlawfully. Americans want law and order, Trump said. They demand law and order. They may not say it, they may not be talking about it, but thats what they want. Some of them dont even know thats what they want, but thats what they want. On the Senate floor Tuesday, Booker and other Democrats spoke on the need to pass far-ranging legislation. This is not a time for half steps and half measures, Booker said. It is not a time to nibble around the edges. Its not a time to find the lowest common denominator. This is a time for us to do what is right and necessary to end the kind of violence and murder and unaccountability that we see that is too endemic in our nation. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. She may be a MasterChef favourite, but Poh Ling Yeow can't wait to return to her old life, away from the TV cameras. In an interview with TV WEEK on Monday, the 47-year-old artist and chef admitted her experience on this year's MasterChef Australia: Back To Win hadn't been as enjoyable as she'd hoped. 'I don't like living in a goldfish bowl,' she told the magazine, hinting she was ready to quit her life in the limelight. Quitting fame: She may be a MasterChef favourite, but Poh Ling Yeow can't wait to return to her old life, away from the TV cameras 'When I finish this season of MasterChef, I'm going to get right back into my painting and only do things that bring me joy.' While Poh has proven to be a talented cook, landing herself in the show's top eight, she often struggles with the tight deadlines and has come under fire from fans. 'I'd want to be in the driver's seat. I think the next stage for me is producing my own content on my own terms,' she added. Doing it tough: In an interview with TV WEEK on Monday, the 47-year-old artist and chef admitted her experience on this year's MasterChef hadn't been as enjoyable as she'd hoped After closing her Adelaide cafe, Jamface in October last year, Poh said she returned to MasterChef hoping to 'reignite my passion for cooking'. But it seems that hasn't been the case, and in an interview with The Project in April, she called the experience 'horrible'. 'It was really hard. I forgot how horrible it was to run around and get your equipment. That's the thing - it's so stressful,' she said of returning to the series after 11 years. 'When I finish this season of MasterChef, I'm going to get right back into my painting and only do things that bring me joy,' she said And she confessed that although she'd been through the experience previously, she was no wiser coming back into the competition. 'Nothing's changed. I really thought that 10 years of experience was going to make me calmer and more methodical, but I am just as chaotic and nutty in there!' she added. Poh first appeared on MasterChef back in 2009, and came runner-up behind Julie Goodwin, before appearing as a mentor on last year's season. Charlevoix man denies wrongdoing despite signing illegitimate election document Charlevoix resident John Haggard is among a group of Republicans who signed an Electoral College certificate attempting to award the states 16 votes to Donald Trump following the 2020 election a document now under federal investigation. Oluwatoyin Salau, the 19-year-old activist and speaker, was found dead on Saturday, June 13, in Florida, the Tallahassee Police Department said in a statement. Her death is being investigated as a murder. Her final days were spent asserting the value and dignity of Black and trans lives. "At the end of the day, I cannot take my fucking skin color off," Salau, who went by Toyin, said in a clip of a speech at a Florida protest that has been viewed more than 6 million times. "Wherever the fuck I go I'm profiled. Look at my fucking hair, look at my skin. I can't take this shit off. So guess what? Imma die by it. Imma die by my fucking skin. You cannot take my fucking blackness away from me." But her final days were also spent apparently trying to warn the world about a threat against her lifeSalau tweeted on June 6 that she had been "molested" by a man who picked her up in his car and told her he would help her find somewhere to sleep. She described being assaulted and wrote that she had called the police. She even provided an address that she said belonged to her attacker. That was the last day that she was seen. "Toyin, she was like a light in a dark room. That was Toyin," Dayana Hemphill told the Tallahassee Democrat]. WCTV reported on Monday, June 15, that the Tallahassee Police Department identified Salau as a murder victim. They searched for her for a week before finding her body on Sunday, along with the body of 75-year-old Victoria Sims, whose death was also ruled a murder. The suspect in this case, Aaron Glee Jr., has been arrested. Glee, a 49-year-old, had been arrested recently for a violent offense. Story continues Sims, like Salau, was a person who made others' needs the focus of her life. She was a celebrated volunteer, who, after a career devoted to advocacy for elderly people, continued to serve the elderly for over a decade for the AARP, and gave her time to Second Harvest food bank, as well as local Democratic political causes. A mother and a grandmother, she is remembered as someone who "worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others." The murder of Salau, which seemed to play out in horrifying real time over Twitterfirst her soul-shaking protest speeches, then her tweets describing being sexually assaulted, followed by friends and strangers asking her to get in touch, and finally, the discovery of her bodyhas set off a new wave of anguish in a populace grieving seemingly endless news stories of the killing of innocent Black people. Between Salau's story and that of Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed in her own bed on March 13 by police officers (who still have not been arrested), "Black Women Matter" has been taken up alongside "Black Lives Matter" once again as a rallying cry. For Salau, "Black Lives Matter" meant all Black lives. She was a fierce advocate for trans people, propelled to viral fame by her words after the killing of Tony McDade, a Black trans man killed by police in Tallahassee. "We're doing this for him," she says in the video, adding, "The same energy that we have when we're walking the fucking streets, keep that with you at all fucking times. Don't let nobody take away your blackness from you." Oluwatoyin Salau, who, at 19, was a powerful orator, a clear moral voice, and a dynamic forcewas a leader who should have been just at the beginning of a historic career. Her death is an injustice. Her life mattered. Jenny Singer is a staff writer for Glamour. xsYou can follow her on Twitter. Originally Appeared on Glamour In recent years, a new generation has discovered the many benefits that come with unionized workplaces. Thanks to unions, workers are able to collectively organize against office problems like racism and sexual harassment, they can more easily demand higher wages, and have increased bargaining power. Notably, the media industry including the editorial staff at Refinery29, which is part of the Writers Guild of America, East has seen a wave of unionization campaigns, with journalists finding power and strength in solidarity. Over the last few weeks, influenced by the revolutionary uprisings against police brutality and anti-Black racism proliferate around the country, many workers are coming forward with their stories about racism in their respective industries. They seek to hold racist aggressors accountable and they are sometimes doing so through the power of their unions. At Refinery29, former and current staffers came forward with their experiences of racism at the company. The editorial union stood in solidarity with everyone who came forward, and demanded accountability from management, including requests for diversity in leadership and anti-racism training. Power in solidarity is not just about this moment in time, of course: For decades, labor unions across the country have often been at the forefront of the most radical demands and changes that not only affect their workers, but also their communities. The Chicago Teachers Union, which went on strike for 14 days in 2019, were able to negotiate demands for more nurses, counselors, and other support staff. But through their work, they also demanded affordable housing assistance for families and took a stand against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). When standing together, workers have much more power to enact change, and now is a great time to do just that. So, if you are looking to unionize your workforce, here are some tips to consider and how to get started. Story continues Build relationships with your colleagues. One of the most important steps toward organizing a union is getting to know the people with whom you work. Organizing efforts (whether its a labor union or otherwise) have always relied on building relationships, because were collectively stronger when we are in relationships with one another. People should feel comfortable speaking up and also making space for colleagues to be seen and heard. Dont be afraid to talk to people and open up, Molly Katchpole, who has been organizing with the Writers Guild of America, East for about three years, told Refinery29. One big benefit [to unionizing] is that you get to know people that you didnt know before and it breaks down silos that the company has in place, to its benefit. Opening up a space for dialogue about what issues people are having, what they want to change in the workplace, and what they want to remain the same is a good place to start, and then forming an organizing committee from there. Pick an organizing committee that represents the whole staff. Staffers have different life and professional experiences based on gender, race, ability, title, and more. Any union organizing committee has to be representative of a multitude of staff experiences, with a priority around amplifying the voices of Black workers and workers of color. Unions can grow solidarity among workers, said Katchpole. Make sure your organizing committee is really representative of the workplace and is lifting up peoples voices. Similarly, everyone should be as involved as possible throughout the entire unionization process from talking to people about their concerns, to the bargaining table. After youve settled on a contract, you should be constantly exercising your organizing muscle, and not be afraid to take on fights, said Katchpole. After all, you have the union behind you. Be prepared for pushback from your bosses. Management will likely fight back against your efforts to unionize, and you should prepare for this in advance. Bosses tend to use the same union-busting tactics across industries and theyre often based on fear, but if you prepare people ahead of time, these tactics will be much less effective, said Katchpole. Most of these tactics involve some level of manipulation, and your boss might even cry at a bargaining meeting. Its so predictable, said Katchpole. Union-busting managers might tell you that the union is a third party that doesnt represent employees, for example. In that case, Katchpole says that you should remember always that you are the union and you work together to decide what you want to organize and demand. You all, as the workers, are the ones who decide what to prioritize and what you want to fight for. Another anti-union management tactic might be telling you that the company cant afford it, or that unionizing could cause layoffs. But your union wouldnt bargain for a contract that will force that to happen, and, as Katchpole stresses, you all deserve more than what youre getting. At the end of the day, unions cannot protect workers against everything a precarious economy might throw our way. Layoffs can still happen to unionized workers but they will be better protected in that event than workers who arent unionized. And besides, standing in solidarity with colleagues will make everyone stronger when combating ongoing workplace issues, from pay disparities to systemic racism and beyond. The unionization process might be hard, and it will be a lot of work, but, Katchpole told us, one of the most important things to remember along the way is this: Youre doing this not just to lift up yourself and your colleagues now, but for everyone who is going to be working there in the future. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here? How To Negotiate Over Zoom What No One Tells You About Being Your Own Boss Why Black Women Still Face Workplace Inequity Former Bundesbank Board Member to Provide Strategic Counsel to the Firm's International Business Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, announced today that Dr. Andreas Dombret has joined the firm as an International Senior Advisor, effective June 1. In this role, he will provide strategic counsel to Houlihan Lokey's leadership team to help further develop the firm's business both in Europe and internationally. Between 2010 and 2018, Andreas Dombret served as a member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank, the German central bank; from 2014 to 2018 he was a member of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank (ECB); and from 2012 to 2018, he was a Board Director at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). "Due to his outstanding reputation within the financial services industry, Andreas brings a wealth of expertise and an abundance of deep relationships in both the private and public sectors," said Scott Adelson, Co-President of Houlihan Lokey. "His background and experience perfectly complement the culture within our firm and will not only be invaluable to our senior colleagues, but also to clients across our global network." Andreas Dombret added, "In choosing my advisory mandates, I put the highest priority on reputation of the firms I advise. Reputation is based on capabilities and character. At Houlihan Lokey, I have met a team and a corporate culture which has impressed me. I am familiar with the business model of an independent M&A boutique, and I am a fan of it." Over the past five years, the firm has grown its European Corporate Finance business through a series of acquisitions: McQueen Ltd. and Leonardo Co. in 2015; BearTooth Advisors and Quayle Munro in 2018; and Fidentiis Capital in 2019. Houlihan Lokey now has more than 260 bankers in Europe, up from 80 in 2014. Matteo Manfredi, Head of Corporate Finance, Continental Europe, commented, "We are delighted to welcome Andreas to the firm. His appointment underscores our commitment to continue the development of our European business, and we look forward to benefitting from his insight and extensive knowledge of the banking sector." During his time with the Deutsche Bundesbank, Andreas Dombret was responsible for Bank Supervision; Financial Stability; Markets; Statistics; Risk Controlling; Economic Education; the Bundesbank's University; and the Bundesbank's representatives abroad. He was also a member of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) and the German Financial Stability Committee, as well as the Bundesbank deputy to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prior to joining the Bundesbank in 2010, he was Vice Chairman of European Investment Banking at Bank of America. From 2002 to 2005, he served as a Partner at Rothschild Co. in Frankfurt and London. He joined Rothschild after 10 years with J.P. Morgan, where he was a Managing Director covering the financial institutions sector in Germany and Austria. He began his career at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt in 1987. Since leaving the Bundesbank in 2018, Andreas Dombret has taken on a number of international advisory positions, is a lecturer at Columbia University in New York and the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel in Germany, and is a member of the Supervisory Board at ESMT Berlin business school. 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 five consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past six 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 (formerly Thomson Reuters). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005374/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations 212.331.8225 IR@HL.com Media Relations Richard Creswell +44 (0) 20 7747 1480 PR@HL.com RICHMOND, Va. - Richmonds mayor said Tuesday that he has asked for and accepted the resignation of the citys police chief, saying Virginias capital needs a new approach to public safety after repeated violent clashes between police and protesters. Mayor Levar Stoney announced Chief William Smiths departure at a news conference and said a police major will serve as the interim chief. Richmond is ready for a new approach to public safety, Stoney said. There is work to be done, and were ready to do it. Stoney praised Smith as a good man who has served the city with grace but said it was necessary to move in a new direction. This has been a difficult couple of weeks. The change is because I believe we have to find ways to re-imagine the way we keep the public safe, Stoney said. The announcement came after confrontations between Richmond police and protesters during more than two weeks of protests over the police killing of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes as he pleaded for air. Tensions exploded Saturday after a police SUV struck several protesters blocking its path near the Robert E. Lee statue, a Confederate monument that has become a symbol for the oppression of black people and a main gathering place for protesters. No one appeared to be injured in the incident. Stoney has called for the officer driving the SUV to be placed on administrative leave and asked a state prosecutor to investigate. That incident was followed by two nights of confrontations between protesters and police, who used tear gas and pepper spray on demonstrators. One protester was arrested after an overnight demonstration Monday outside police headquarters turned violent and three officers were injured. Smith, a 25-year veteran of the Richmond Police Department, took over as chief a year ago. Stoney said Maj. William Jody Blackwell will serve as interim chief. The mayor also outlined a series of police reforms he hopes to put in place, including the establishment of an independent civilian review board to investigate complaints about police misconduct and an alert system so that behavioural health specialists will be the first to respond rather than police when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. Stoney said he believes police should only use tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets as the last resort. We aspire to be a city where you can come here and peacefully protest ... and people, all people involved law enforcement and those peaceful protesters go home uninjured, he said. Gov. Ralph Northam has announced that the state plans to take down the Lee statue, a move that was widely praised by protesters. Several lawsuits have been filed to try to stop the removal. Stoney has said he plans to ask the City Council to approve the removal of four other Confederate statues on Richmonds famed Monument Avenue. Contractual employees held a protest at Panjab University on Tuesday over non-payment of dues since February. The contractual employees include those working for PUs construction office, including plumbers and carpenters. They protested outside the universitys administration block and then outside vice-chancellor Raj Kumars office. We have taken up the issue with authorities many times but we have not been paid yet. We have submitted a representation seeking bills to be passed for the release of dues, one of the contractual employees said. Salaries of about 55 workers have been held back since February, many of whom have been working since last 15 years. Amid the Covid-19 lockdown, they are living under financial strain, the representation which they have submitted to the registrar states. PU executive engineer RK Rai said, The issue is being looked after and it will be resolved. We are discussing with the contractors and their salaries will be released. [June 16, 2020] No Safety without Security: AUTOCRYPT to Showcase at Shanghai AutoCS 2020 SHANGHAI, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AUTOCRYPT Co., Ltd. will be exhibiting at this year's Automotive Cybersecurity (AutoCS) conference, taking place in Shanghai from 18-19 June, 2020. As well as showcasing a booth at the much-publicized AutoCS event, Shanghai PanQi CEO Clark Jin will also be hosting a presentation detailing real-world cybersecurity scenarios in the automotive industry. With the ever-growing landscape of autonomous and connected vehicles, leading minds and corporations are seeking to collaborate and discuss crucial automotive cybersecurity regulations, latest testing methods, good practices and real applications. AUTOCRYPT has established a joint venture with Shanghai PanQi Information Technology Co., Ltd. and the two corporations will move forward to navigate these issues in China. AUTOCRYPT and PanQi bring forward the solutions these situations requre through security offerings ranging from V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything), V2D (Vehicle-to-Device), V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) security, as well as Fleet Management. As leading players for automotive cybersecurity in Asia, the two companies prioritize progressive action in bringing these offerings to market, and will be showcasing the solutions at AutoCS. AUTOCRYPT CEO, Daniel ES Kim remarked, "We are very much looking forward to exhibiting at AutoCS because the private and public sector must work collaboratively to move past the status quo when it comes to automotive cybersecurity. As the number of connected and autonomous vehicles increases in China, so must the discussions on security regulations and implementation of security measures. It is essential that we not only minimize, but also negate the risks involved and put safety first, and AUTOCRYPT brings forward a comprehensive set of solutions to the table to negate those risks." ----- AUTOCRYPT is the leading player in transportation security technologies. Beginning in 2007 as an in-house venture at Penta Security Systems Inc., AUTOCRYPT spun off as a separate entity in 2019 as its presence expanded worldwide. Recognized by TU-Automotive as the Best Auto Cybersecurity Product/Solution of 2019, AUTOCRYPT continues to pave the way in transportation and mobility security through a multi-layered, holistic approach. Through security solutions for V2X/C-V2X, V2G (including PnC security), in-vehicle security, and Fleet Management, AUTOCRYPT ensures that security is prioritized before vehicles hit the road. Visit www.autocrypt.io for more information, and contact [email protected] for partnership inquiries. SOURCE AUTOCRYPT [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] DPRK appears to have blown up inter-Korean liaison office in border industrial complex: media SEOUL, June 16 (Xinhua) -- An explosion was heard from the region of the inter-Korean factory park in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s border town of Kaesong, multiple South Korean media reported on Tuesday citing an unnamed military source. The military source was quoted as saying that the DPRK appeared to have blown up the inter-Korean liaison office in the Kaesong Industrial Complex region. The source told local media that the explosion was heard and smoke was seen rising up from Kaesong on Tuesday afternoon. An official at the South Korean defense ministry told Xinhua over phone that the ministry had nothing to confirm over the issue. Wellington: A bombshell report claims the Christchurch mosques terrorist was wrongly granted a firearms licence by New Zealand police, allowing him to compile the weapons used to murder 51 people. Australian man Brenton Tarrant was convicted of terrorism, 51 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder earlier this year when he pleaded guilty to the attacks. The Dominion Post, a Wellington masthead owned by NZ's Stuff, reported that Dunedin police did not subject Tarrant to the usual regulatory regime when he applied for a firearms licence. In this image made from a video, Brenton Harrison Tarrant appears in court via video link in March. Credit:AP Instead of interviewing a family member, as required, senior police sources say police questioned a father and son, living more than 1000 kilometres away in Cambridge, North Island, whom Tarrant met through an internet chat room. Srinagar, June 16 : The National Conference (NC) on Tuesday expelled four of its corporators for defying the party whip during the Srinagar Municipal Corporation voting in which the mayor Junaid Azim Mattu was ousted. Mattu lost as the no-confidence motion brought against him during the voting was carried by 42 votes in a total 70 members present during the voting process. The no-confidence motion was supported by the BJP while the NC and the Congress had asked their members to abstain during the voting process. A statement issued by the NC said four corporators of the party including Neelofar, Danish Bhat, Majid Shulloo and G.N. Sofi were expelled for defying the party whip to abstain from the voting process in the SMC. These four NC corporators had participated in Tuesday's voting and voted against the sitting mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu. Undermined: Mary Trump was the source for papers that showed Donald Trump was not a self-made millionaire. Photo: Reuters Donald Trump's niece has reportedly written a book containing "harrowing" stories about the US president. The Daily Beast, a US news website, reported that 'Too Much And Never Enough' by Mary Trump, the daughter of the president's late brother Fred Trump Jr, will include a number of damaging revelations about her uncle. She will admit she was the primary source for 'The New York Times' investigation into Mr Trump's tax affairs, according to The Daily Beast. The newspaper found Mr Trump received more than $400m (353m) in today's money from his father's real estate empire - undercutting Mr Trump's claim of being a self-made millionaire. Mr Trump denied the report, which won the newspaper a Pulitzer Prize. Ms Trump (55) reportedly will say she handed over tax returns from her grandfather, Mr Trump's father, and other documents to the newspaper. She is also said to have detailed alleged comments by Mr Trump's sister, the retired federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry, which are unflattering to the president. The Daily Beast quoted sources with knowledge of the project saying the book will detail "harrowing and salacious" stories about the president. It said publication has been set for August 11 - less than three weeks before Mr Trump is formally adopted as the Republican presidential nominee at the party's convention. Simon & Schuster, the book's publisher, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 'The New York Times' did not comment. Although Mr Trump is accustomed to fierce critiques of his presidency by former advisers in books, 'Too Much And Never Enough' would be the first time he has had to contend with public criticism from a close family member since taking office in January 2017. Steve Bannon, Mr Trump's former chief strategist, was widely quoted discussing the chaotic first year of the Trump presidency in Michael Wolff's 'Fire and Fury'. Lawyers for the president had tried to stop the book being published in a move Mr Wolff publicly welcomed, saying it would boost sales. John Bolton, the former US national security adviser, is locked in his own battle with the White House over a book about his time in office, due out later this month. The White House has yet to approve the draft text, submitted for review to ensure it breaches no security rules. Reports have suggested Mr Bolton will publish the book even if the White House does not sign off the text. Little has previously come to light about Mary Trump's views of her uncle. Her father died in 1981 after struggling with alcoholism. The president has spoken about how he decided not to consume alcohol after watching the devastating impact drink had on his older brother. "He was so handsome, and I saw what alcohol did to him even physically, and that had an impact on me, too," Mr Trump said of Fred Trump Jr in August 2019. Meanwhile, people attending President Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday will receive temperature checks, masks and hand sanitizer before entering the arena, Republican campaign organisers said. It claimed there have been more than one million ticket requests for the indoor rally, Mr Trump's first in the three months since the coronavirus crisis curbed travel and shut down the economy. People lining up to get into the venue will face temperatures forecast to be up 35C. Precautions will be taken against the heat and there will be bottled water, campaign spokesman Brad Parscale said yesterday on Twitter. The rally was postponed from Friday after a public outcry because it coincided with Juneteenth and would be held in a city where one of the largest black massacres took place a century ago. African Americans mark June 19 as the day in 1865 that slaves in Texas found out they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation made two years previously. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Union MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy and leaders of several parties on Tuesday condoled the death of Army officer Santosh Babu, who hails from Suryapet district in the state, in a violent face-off with Chinese troops, and hailed his supreme sacrifice. Rao said the Army officer has sacrificed his life for the nation. An official release said Rao conveyed his condolences to the family members of Santosh Babu and announced that the state government would extend all support to them. He instructed Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy, who hails from Suryapet, to be present as the state governments representative, for receiving the mortal remains of the departed Army officer and till the completion of the funeral. Kishan Reddy spoke to Santosh Babus wife who is in Delhi and also his father over phone and offered his condolences, official sources said. Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatreya also conveyed his condolences to the father of Santosh Babu over telephone, an official release said here. BJP president in Telangana and Lok Sabha member Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Congress MP Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, TDP president in Telangana L Ramana and other leaders have also expressed grief over the death. Babu and two soldiers were killed in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night during a clash with Chinese troops in the first such incident involving fatalities after a gap of 45 years. New Delhi: Search engine giant Google may launch its next Nest-branded smart speaker codenamed prince, several media reports have said. Reports further added that the Google Nest-branded smart speaker will be built on the lines of Sonos speakers, speculating a better and more robust audio quality. Though the reports didnt mention anything on the launch time, they said that the launch could be anytime after that of the Pixel 4a. It may be recalled that Sonos had in January this year sued Google for allegedly copying its wireless speaker design, urging the International Trade Commission (ITC) to ban Google products like laptops, phones and speakers. Sonos, the maker of high-end wireless speakers, accused Google of infringing on a total of 100 patents. In early June this year, countersued Sonos for patent infringement, alleging that the tech giant contributed "substantial Google engineering resources" to help Sonos in the past. Google launched the Nest Mini, a successor to Google Home Mini, in India in 2019. The Nest Mini has the same design as the original Mini, with soft rounded edges that blend in with the interior of homes. Iran has said it will "soon" send France the black boxes of a Ukrainian jetliner its forces mistakenly shot down in January, Canada's prime minister said Tuesday. "The black boxes are supposed to be sent to France soon," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a daily briefing, adding that the coronavirus pandemic had delayed the handover. "We're going to continue to put pressure on the Iranian regime alongside our international partners to get answers, to get justice, to get compensation for the families," he added. The prime minister said he raised the analysis of the black boxes in a telephone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky "a couple of days ago." Many of the passengers on board the downed airliner were Canadian, and Ottawa has demanded for months that Iran, which does not have the technical means to decode the black boxes, send the items abroad so that their content can be analyzed. Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was struck by two missiles and crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran's airport on January 8. The Islamic republic admitted days later that its forces accidentally shot down the Kiev-bound jetliner, killing all 176 people on board. Tehran's air defenses had been on high alert at the time in case the US retaliated against Iranian strikes hours earlier on American troops stationed in Iraq. Those strikes were carried out in response to the killing of a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport. The black boxes are expected to contain information about the last moments before the aircraft was struck. On Monday, Iran said the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen most international flights canceled, had slowed its plans to send the black boxes overseas. "From the first days of this painful incident, we announced our readiness to cooperate in investigating the black boxes of the Ukrainian plane," Iran government spokesman Ali Rabiei said. He said they would be sent to either Ukraine or France to be read, adding: "We will resume this process with the gradual resumption of international flights and the clarification of the results of the negotiations" between Iran and others involved. Story continues According to sources close to the investigation, the Iranian envoy to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal last week said the Islamic republic had enlisted the help of France's BEA air accident agency to download and read the data on the flight recorder. BEA initially denied that it had been asked. Questioned by AFP on Tuesday, the BEA said it was awaiting a formal request from Iran, adding that it was "ready to provide technical assistance." By Express News Service TIRUMALA: Sending the district administration and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials into a tizzy, a 32-year-old resident of Balaji Nagar in Tirumala went missing as soon as his Covid-19 confirmatory test result returned positive. Officials are now searching for him in Tirumala and Tirupati. They say he even undertook darshan of Srivaru during the TTDs three-day trial run with staff and locals before the temple was opened to devotees. The resident of Balaji Nagar worked for a private TV channel in Chennai, officials said, adding that he was in Tirumala for the past two months and is said to have recently visited Chennai. On Sunday morning, while coming to Tirumala from Tirupati, the person gave his samples for testing at the Alipiri checkpost. The result returned confirmatory positive at the VRDL at SVIMS, Tirupati, and the result was sent to the mobile phone of the infectee. Tirumala health wing officials and vigilance staff rushed to the persons residence but could not find him there or contact him. Officials said he had darshan of Srivaru on June 10 and again later. As many as one in five people globally have underlying medical conditions that put them at an increased risk of severe COVID-19, according to a study which may help develop strategies to shield the most vulnerable individuals. The study, published in the journal The Lancet Global Health, noted that 1.7 billion people across the world, comprising 22 per cent of the global population, have at least one underlying condition that puts them at increased risk of severe COVID-19 if infected. These people range from less than 5 per cent of those younger than 20 years to greater than 66 per cent among those aged 70 years or older, the study noted. Researchers, including those from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the UK, said 349 million people (about 4 per cent of the global population) are at high risk of severe COVID-19, and would require hospital admission if infected. They said as much as 6 per cent of males could be at high risk compared with 3 per cent of females. According to the researchers, the share of the population at increased risk was highest in countries with older populations, African countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence, and small island nations with high diabetes prevalence. Estimates of the number of individuals at increased risk were most sensitive to the prevalence of chronic kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory disease, the scientists said. In the study, the scientists calculated the number of individuals at increased risk of severe disease -- defined as those with at least one condition listed as "at increased risk of severe COVID-19" in the current guidelines. They estimated the risk based on age (5-year age groups), sex, and country for 188 countries using prevalence data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017 and UN population estimates for 2020. The scientists determined the list of underlying conditions relevant to COVID-19 by mapping the conditions listed in GBD 2017 to those listed in guidelines published by WHO and public health agencies in the UK and the USA. They also estimated the number of individuals at high risk -- defined as those that would require hospital admission if infected -- using age-specific infection-hospitalisation ratios for COVID-19. The researchers calculated the number of individuals without an underlying condition that could be considered at increased risk because of their age, using minimum ages from 50 to 70 years. Based on these estimates, the scientists said about one in five individuals worldwide could be at increased risk of severe COVID-19, should they become infected, due to underlying health conditions. However, they added that this risk varies considerably by age. Since physical distancing measures vary in intensity across different places worldwide, and there is substantial uncertainty about the transmissibility of the virus, the scientists said attempts to calculate the number of individuals that will eventually be infected in different countries will be highly uncertain. "Our estimates are uncertain, and focus on underlying conditions rather than other risk factors such as ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation, and obesity, but provide a starting point for considering the number of individuals that might need to be shielded or vaccinated as the global pandemic unfolds," the researchers concluded in the study. Marcus Davis, 35, has been sentenced to five years and nine months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm A convicted felon from Oregon who accidentally shot himself in the groin and blamed it on a homeless man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison. Marcus Davis Jr, 35, who has an extensive history of gun and drug offenses, learned his fate on Monday after pleading guilty to a count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Davis, who is black, falsely claimed that he was robbed and shot by a white homeless man at a TriMet bus stop at Southeast Powell Boulevard and 82nd Avenue in Portland on January 8, 2020. But according to prosecutors, Davis was unable to provide a description of the suspect, and police found no evidence of a shooting at the location indicated by Davis, reported The Oregonian. Investigators later discovered the .40-caliber handgun that injured Davis hidden in his bloody clothing inside his girlfriend's car. Davis accidentally shot himself in the groin with this stolen .40-caliber handgun (pictured) in Portland in January, then stashed it inside his girlfriend's car A gunshot hole was also found in the back of the man's sweatpants. Police believe Davis had the gun in his pocket, or tucked into the waistband of his pants, when it accidentally discharged. The bullet traveled through the top of the man's penis, through his right testicle, and into his right thigh. Following the shooting, Davis was treated for his injuries at a local hospital. As a convicted felon who was on federal supervision at the time of the incident, Davis was not allowed to be in possession of a firearm. On top of that, the handgun recovered by the police had been reported stolen in 2018. 'He paid a significant price with his physical injuries and the sentence hes now going to receive,' Assistant US Attorney Lewis Burkhart said. 'I dont think anything the court can say or the government can say can top the injuries he gave to himself to stop him from possessing firearms. Hopefully this is the last time we will see Mr. Davis.' The bullet traveled through the top of Davis' penis, through his right testicle, and into his right thigh As she sentenced Davis to five years and nine months in federal prison, US District Judge Karin Immergut expressed hope that he would turn his life around and 'make a change'. Davis, described in court documents as a member of the Rolling 60s street gang, has a lengthy criminal record that includes prior convictions for attempted murder, assault, cocaine trafficking and firearm possession. Appearing in court via video conference, Davis told the judge he is determined to become a 'better role model' for his two children, the youngest of whom was born shortly after his shooting in January. 'Mr. Davis has taken stock of his future,' Assistant Federal Defender Francesca Freccero told the judge. 'He resolved his new charges very quickly.' Metformin, a prescription drug for people with type II diabetes, helps maintain blood glucose levels. Apotex Inc., a Canadian pharmaceutical corporation, is voluntarily recalling some batches of its metformin drug, sold under the brand name APO-Metformin ER (extended-release). The pharmaceutical company issued the recall upon discovering that the said batches of the drug had elevated levels of a contaminant linked to cancer. Image Credit: ThomasMaroulis / Shutterstock Containing impurities The recall came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended recalling the drug because testing revealed excessive levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). N-nitrosodimethylamine is a volatile, combustible, oily liquid form of nitrosamine that decomposes when exposed to light. It emits toxic fumes of nitrogen when heated. In laboratory settings, the chemical is used to induce tumors in experimental animals and is considered a human carcinogen, a substance that could cause cancer. When the FDA issued the warning to Apotex, the company immediately agreed to recall the Metformin Hydrochloride Extended-Release 500 mg tablets. Aside from the batch tested, the company extended its recall to all lots of Metformin HCL E.R. tablets in the United States. Apotex has stopped selling the product in the U.S. in February 2019, but some products remained in the market. To date, Apotex has not received any reports of adverse events related to the use of the product, the U.S. FDA said in a statement. Currently, the FDA has notified five pharmaceutical companies that they have detected NDMA in their metformin preparations. The regulatory agency has recommended all five firms to recall the NDMA-containing metformin formulations voluntarily. The FDA has strict standards for safety, effectiveness, and quality, and the agency makes every effort based on science and data to help keep the U.S. drug supply safe, Patrizia Cavazzoni, acting director of the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said. As we have been doing since this impurity was first identified, we will communicate as new scientific information becomes available and will take further action, if appropriate, she added. Health Canada has shared a list of the affected lots, which contains the impurity that has increased over time to a level of above the acceptable limit. In February, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals in Canada also recalled six lots of its prescription RAN-Metformin drug for NDMA. Also, in March, JAMP Pharma Corporation has recalled 26 lots of its Metformin drug due to NDMA. Apotex, Inc. has recalled the nine lots, including PK3968, PK3969, PX5336, PY7174, PY7175, RF6463, RF6464, RF6465, and RF6466. What patients can do The patients who received the affected lots or those who have questions regarding the recall may contact their local pharmacy on how to return the items. They should not stop drinking their medicine; hence, they should visit their health care provider for medical advice. FDA said that the risks from not having proper diabetes treatment outweigh any potential effects of exposure to the levels of nitrosamines found in the recalled products. Many people are exposed to low levels of nitrosamines from food, vegetables, drinking water, and air pollution. FDA said a person taking a medicine containing NDMA at or below the acceptable range every day for 70 years is not expected to have a heightened cancer risk. The affected Metformin Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets were distributed nationwide in the USA to Warehousing Chains. Apotex Corp. is in a process of notifying its affected direct account Wholesaler, Distributor, Chain Distribution and Warehousing Chains via mail (FedEx Standard Overnight) by mailing a recall notification letter and is arranging for return of all recalled product, the FDA said. Metformin and diabetes Type 2 diabetes affects how the body metabolizes glucose. It reduces the ability of the pancreas to produce enough insulin. Insulin acts as the gateway of glucose into cells, which is turned into energy. When the cells resist insulin, the glucose circulates in the blood, leading to hyperglycemia or excessive glucose levels in the body. Metformin is an oral medicine for diabetes. It helps control glucose levels in the blood, and it can be used in conjunction with other drugs, such as insulin. Metformin works by decreasing hepatic glucose production, decreasing intestinal absorption of glucose, and enhancing insulin sensitivity in cells. UK Finance CEO Stephen Jones. (UK Finance) The head of UK bankings industry group has stepped down over historic sexist comments he made that had recently come to light in a court case. UK Finance confirmed late on Tuesday that its board had accepted the resignation of Stephen Jones. Jones, who has headed the powerful industry group since 2017, tended his resignation after coverage of comments he made in 2008 while at Barclays (BARC.L) bank. The High Court heard earlier this month that Jones made deeply unpleasant personal comments about Amanda Staveley, a high-profile financier. READ MORE: Vegan restaurant, wind farm, and soft drink maker get Future Fund backing The court was told on Friday that Jones referred to Staveleys firm as a bunch of scumbags and f*****s, according to The Times. The comments came to light in a High Court case between Staveleys firm, PCP Capital Partners, and Barclays related to a financing deal struck at the height of the financial crisis. Jones is expected to be called as a witness. Stephen Jones allegedly made 'deeply unpleasant' comments about financier Amanda Staveley in 2008 while he worked at Barclays. (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images) I have apologised to Ms Staveley and to my colleagues for the comments made in 2008 and feel at this time it is right I step down from my role at UK Finance, Jones said in a statement on Tuesday evening. I am very proud of what we have achieved since the formation of UK Finance in 2017. Our current work with the banking and finance industry, government, business and consumer groups and regulators to coordinate the provision of financial support during the COVID19 crisis shows UK Finance at its best. I am confident UK Finance will continue to be an effective advocate and agent for the banking and finance industry and would like to thank all my colleagues and the Board for their commitment to build an effective and appropriate voice. Bob Wigley, chairman of UK Finance, said: Stephen has rightly acknowledged that the comments he made in 2008 were inappropriate and do not meet the standards expected of leaders in our industry. He has characteristically taken a difficult personal decision in the interest of UK Finance and the industry and we accept his decision. Story continues READ MORE: City watchdog sounds the alarm on rising debt levels I and the Board of UK Finance want to thank Stephen for all of his vision and hard work in building UK Finance over the last three years. His commitment and passion to raise standards across the industry and ensure our work was always focussed on meeting the needs of consumers and businesses has never been more apparent than in the way UK Finance and our members have responded to the challenges of recent months. Here are some of the notable fires or building collapses in the lower Naugatuck Valley in the past 10 years. South Korea's global competitiveness ranking rose by five notches this year due to an improvement in the efficiency of the government and companies and expanded infrastructure, an international institute said Tuesday. The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) said in its annual report that South Korea ranked 23rd in terms of world competitiveness among 63 countries surveyed, up from 28th the previous year. IMD is a Switzerland-based organization that releases annual competitiveness rankings based on a country's economic achievements, infrastructure, and government and corporate efficiency. It has been issuing the report since 1997. In terms of economic performance covering the domestic economy, international trade and employment South Korea placed 27th, unchanged from last year. In the infrastructure sector, South Korea rose by four notches, to 16th, on a gain in technology and education. South Korea jumped to 28th place in business efficiency in 2020 from 34th a year earlier due to the improved labor market and entrepreneurship. South Korea's standing in government efficiency also rose by three notches to 28th this year. In a statement, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said efforts to halt the spread of the new coronavirus have helped South Korea see a rise in the competitiveness rankings this year. South Korea saw hundreds of daily new infections in late February and early March, but it appeared to bring the outbreak under control. Still, concerns persist as cluster infections have continued to emerge in Seoul and the neighboring areas. Singapore retained the top spot this year, while Hong Kong fell by three notches to fifth. The United States fell to 10th place from third a year earlier. China fell to 20th from 14th a year ago, and Japan fell to 34th, down four notches from a year ago. (Yonhap) Nearly half of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients in Detroit, Michigan, infected with the novel coronavirus died, a new study suggests. Researchers found that, of about 140 people, 80 percent needed mechanical ventilation and 40 percent passed away within 30 days. What's more, roughly three-quarters of all COVID-19 patients were African American. The team, from Henry Ford Hospital System, says the findings show that minorities are at higher risk of serious complications and death not just from pre-existing conditions but socioeconomic factors such as a large number of non-white Americans working in essential jobs, putting themselves at greater risk of falling ill. Of 141 patients who needed to be placed in the ICU, 80% needed mechanical ventilation and 40% passed away within 30 days. Pictured: Medical staff turn a COVID-19 patient onto his stomach in the ICU at Stamford Hospital intensive care unit in Connecticut, April 24 About 72% of all patients studied were African American as were three-quarters of those who were in the ICU. Pictured: Dr Zafia Anklesaria removes a tracheostomy tube from COVID-19 patient Vicente Arredondo, 65, in the ICU at CommonSpirit's Dignity Health California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, May 18 For the study, published in JAMA Network Open, the team looked at 463 patients with coronavirus evaluated at Henry Ford Health System from March 9 to March 27. Of those patients, 72 percent were black and 94.0 percent had at least one chronic disease, the most common being hypertension, kidney disease and diabetes. Results showed that 355 people needed to be hospitalized, 141 of whom needed ICU management and 114 required invasive mechanical ventilation. ICU patients were more likely than those on the general floors to be men, above age 60, and have pre-existing conditions, mostly obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Length of stay between the two groups was also different, about 15 days for ICU patients compared to five days for general patients. Additionally, those in the ICU were five times more likely to die than people in the general practice unit at 40.4 percent compared to seven percent. A little more than 11 percent of those discharged from the hospital were readmitted and, overall, 20 percent died within 30 days. Researchers found the majority of patients who died were male, older than 60 years old and African American. However, the team says race was not significantly associated with mortality, whereas the first two were. Researchers note they were socio-economic factors that affected hospitalizations such as people in essential jobs lower wage position and reliance on public transportation. This likely affected their ability to socially distance or even self-isolate and quarantine from sick family members. 'In Michigan, 27 percent of African American residents lived in poverty compared with 11 percent of white residents in 2019,' the authors wrote. 'These social determinants of health result in lack of health insurance and access to care, which may put patients at a disproportionately greater risk of acquiring infection and higher rates of complications from COVID-19.' In the US, there are more than 2.1 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 116,000 deaths. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had warned that new cases may come up in the future as New Zealanders return home. (AFP Photo) WELLINGTON: New Zealand said on Tuesday that it has two new cases of the coronavirus, both related to recent travel from the UK, ending a 24-day streak of no new infections in the country. The new infections are a set back to New Zealand, which lifted all social and economic restrictions except border controls last week, declaring it had no new or active cases of the coronavirus, one of the first countries in the world to return to pre-pandemic normality. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had warned that new cases may come up in the future as New Zealanders return home, and some others were allowed in under special conditions. The two new cases were women aged in their 30s and 40s who visited a dying parent in Wellington, the director general of health said in a news conference. Both women arrived in New Zealand on June 7 from the UK, via Doha and Brisbane and were in an isolation facility in Auckland. They were given special permission to leave the facility to visit the dying parent in Wellington. Both are self isolating now, Ashley Bloomfield said. This takes the total number of cases recorded in the country to 1,506 cases, deaths from the disease remain at 22. New Zealands 5 million people emerged from the pandemic while big economies such as Brazil, Britain, India and the United States continue to grapple with spread of the virus. This was largely due to strict restrictions in which most businesses were shut and everyone except essential workers had to stay home. Ardern has been wary of saying the country was COVID-free as the global pandemic raged around the world and new cases were likely to come to the country. I dont want New Zealanders to believe that the battle is over when it is not, she said earlier this week. The European Commission launched a special web platform called Re-open EU, which will help to track the safe renewal of tourism all over Europe, as the commission reported. The European Commission launches 'Re-open EU', a web platform containing essential information for a safe relaunch of tourism in Europe in the post-COVID period, the message said. The platform provides real-time information about borders, vehicles, restrictions for travels, measures of public health and safety such as physical distancing or wearing of the facial masks. The information is constantly updated and it is available in 24 languages. As we reported, the European Union plans to lift the restrictions for movement through internal borders until the end of June and allow the citizens to move without urgent necessity through external borders from the beginning of July. Besides, the EU outlined the criteria for cancelation of the restrictions of the travels for the citizens of non-EU countries, including Ukraine. Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air have announced plans to resume international flights as soon as theyre allowed to. Bamboo Airways, the latest addition to Vietnamese carriers, is set to resume its international operations from July 1 with routes to Northeast Asia, connecting Hanoi with Taiwan and the South Korean capital of Seoul, deploying seven round-trip flights per week for both routes. The carrier also plans to fly from Da Nang City and Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa Province to Seoul in September, with the frequency of 14 round-trip flights per week, while routes connecting Vietnam with Japan and Europe will resume in October. Starting October 25, Bamboo Airways plans to resume flights between Vietnam and other Asian countries. The routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Taiwan and Seoul will return to seven round-trip flights per week; while those connecting Hanoi and HCMC with Kansai region in Japan will have 14 round-trip flights per week. The airline also plans seven round-trip flights per week on the Ho Chi Minh City - Tokyo and Hanoi - Beijing routes, while those connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Thai capital Bangkok will have 14 roundtrip flights per week. For its October schedule, Bamboo Airways is also hoping to reconnect with European countries and Australia. The plan is to operate three round-trip flights per week on the Hanoi - Prague (the Czech Republic) route as well as on the Hanoi/HCMC - Munich (Germany) routes, starting October 25. The same day, the carrier will restart Hanoi/HCMC Melbourne/Brisbane (Australia) with a total frequency of eight round-trip flights per week. Nguyen Ngoc Trong, Deputy General Director of Bamboo Airways, said the carrier has been working with the related agencies and authorities to complete the flight protocols to operate international flights as soon as the situation in other countries returns to normal. National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has also announced plans to revive international operations from July 1. Some of the first international flight routes operated by the carrier will connect Hanoi and HCMC to regional destinations like South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Laos, and Cambodia. A Vietnam Airlines representative said they will announce the official plans after finishing due procedures with related authorities. Meanwhile, a VietJet Air representative said they were drawing up a plan that follows instructions from the government and related authorities and will soon resume its commercial international flights to countries that have contained the Covid-19 pandemic well. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had previously assigned the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control the task of identifying safe destinations where no new Covid-19 infection has been spotted for 30 days. The preliminary destinations being considered are Seoul, Chinas Guangzhou, Tokyo, Taiwan and Laos. The Bao Viet Securities Company (BVSC) has estimated that the number of international visitors to Vietnam in 2020 will decrease by about 69 percent year-on-year and gradually recover from 100,000 visitors per month in July to 600,000 visitors per month in December. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 19:23:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- A team of researchers has demonstrated secure quantum communication between two ground stations, with a record distance of 1,120 km and no intermediate security relays. This is seen as a new step forward toward the practical application of quantum communication. Quantum key distribution (QKD) is taken as a secure way to allow the exchange of encrypted messages between remote users. In previous studies, scientists have demonstrated QKD in a laboratory over optical fiber, and between a satellite and a ground station. But QKD between two users on the ground needs trusted relays, or quantum repeaters, to avoid signal loss and extend the distance, which poses security risks. In the satellite-ground QKD test, for instance, a quantum key was generated, distributed by China's quantum satellite from Quantum Experiments at Space Scale. The satellite, nicknamed Micius, had all the information of the quantum key. If Micius is hacked, there is a risk of information leakage. In the latest study published online by the journal Nature, the satellite Micius sent pairs of entangled photons to two ground stations 1,120 km apart; in Delingha in Qinghai Province, and Nanshan near Urumqi in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A secured quantum link between the two ground stations was established with no trusted relays, and the satellite Micius had no information about the secure key. Pan Jianwei, renowned quantum physicist and corresponding author of the research, said that the study increases the secure distance of QKD without trusted relays on the ground tenfold, and ensured secure communication, even when the satellite is compromised. This is a significant improvement in the practical application of quantum secure communication. Entanglement is a peculiar phenomenon that happens in quantum mechanics. If two particles are entangled, their properties are in a single quantum state, so that once their properties are measured, they remain correlated, no matter how far apart they are. Enditem Bob Odenkirk and David Cross have defended their show W/ Bob & David after Netflix removed a sketch featuring blackface from its platform. Titled Know Your Rights, the 2015 sketch featured Cross as Gilvin Daughtry, the leader of Citizens Against Unlawful Abuse!, who stops at a DUI checkpoint and encounters a friendly policeman played by Keegan-Michael Key. Daughtry repeatedly tries to provoke the officer and ultimately applies blackface in an attempt to prove that every race has equal rights in the US. The policeman then attacks him with a taser and pepper spray. Cross announced the removal of the sketch on Twitter, writing: Hey all, Netflix is going to pull this sketch from With Bob & David because the ridiculous, foolish character I play puts on black face at one point. "The point of this was to underscore the absurdity. Odenkirk retweeted Crosss post, adding: We considered every choice we made doing our show, and always aimed to make you laugh and think, and never make an obvious or easy point that very much includes this sketch. Our comedy is always about the human element, never about making a political point. "Our comedy is always about the human element, never about making a political point. The sketch originally appeared in the third episode of the shows one and only season. When it came out, the use of blackface was criticised on social media, with some fans calling it "grotesque". Netflix confirmed that it had been taken down, but declined to comment further. Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more In what could be a trial run for more of the same, Red Hat last week held a first-ever virtual technical summit to spread the word about its latest cloud tech offerings. CEO Paul Cormier welcomed online viewers to the conference, which attracted more than 80,000 virtual attendees. The company made several key announcements during the online gathering and highlighted customer innovations around Kubernetes, hybrid cloud and next-generation computing. As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, numerous tech events around the world have been canceled, postponed or turned into online-only events. This years Red Hat Summit was the biggest yet, according to Cormier. Cormiers keynote focused on the history of open source, virtualization, and hybrid and cloud technologies. While all of those concepts began as ideas, they now are integrated deeply into our daily lives, he said, especially hybrid cloud. One of his prevailing themes was the role innovation plays in the operations of tech companies. Cormier emphasized Red Hats pursuit of innovation in the use of hybrid technology, which he said is essential in order to scale. To that end, he detailed the growing partnerships with industry leaders including Ford Motor Company, Verizon, Intel, Microsoft and Credit Suisse. Hybrid requires a common development, operations, security and automation environment. This is essential in order to scale. Hybrid isnt a trend. Its a strategic imperative, he said. Innovation Is Key Red Hat made three major announcements during a virtual panel discussion: the companys latest OpenShift 4.4 release, Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes, and OpenShift virtualization. All three announcements focused primarily on hybrid cloud, which garners about 31 percent of Red Hats customer base. OpenShift 4.4 is the latest release of Red Hats enterprise Kubernetes platform. Based on Kubernetes 1.17, it features a developer-focused view of platform metrics and monitoring for application workloads. It also provides monitoring integration for Red Hat operators along with cost management for financial planning associated with specific applications in the hybrid cloud. OpenShift 4.4 brings new capabilities that include pipeline support, new infrastructure functionality on HAProxy and DNS, and improved developer experience use cases, according to Matt Hicks, executive vice president of product and technologies at Red Hat. The new features enable serverless use, and the general path and foundation Red Hat is building on with Linux and Kubernetes. Red Hat announced its Advanced Cluster Management platform for Kubernetes to make it easier to run cloud-native applications at a large scale. The platform enables organizations to manage their Kubernetes clusters with consistency across the hybrid cloud. It works with Red Hat OpenShift deployed on-premises, on bare metal, and on major public cloud providers to native clusters from Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, IBM Cloud and Microsoft Azure. Red Hats third opening day announcement was the availability of OpenShift virtualization a new feature built from the KubeVirt community project. The virtualization feature enables IT organizations to bring standard VM-based workloads to Kubernetes, helping eliminate the workflow and development silos that typically exist between traditional and cloud-native application stacks, explained Joe Fernandes, Red Hats vice president for products, in the cloud platforms business unit. OpenShift virtualization makes it easier to migrate and modernize existing applications and services on the industrys most comprehensive enterprise Kubernetes platform, he added. Broader Demographic Reached Moving the event from physical to virtual was a success, said Leigh Day, vice president for marketing communications and brand at Red Hat. It allowed event organizers to reach a much broader demographic than ever before. By the end of the event, we had more than 82,000 people registered and 56,000 attendees, she told TechNewsWorld. Without the usual travel costs and time constraints, the conference opened up a lot of opportunities for creative interaction between attendees and Red Hatters from around the globe. The virtual event also drew more customers and partners to viewing sessions than ever before because there were no physical space limitations. Furthermore, with an increase in attendees, Red Hat was able to gather more feedback so it can build even stronger events in the future, Day noted. Door-Opening Feat To say that the virtual summit was a huge success could be an understatement. Turning a physical event with an expected 10,000 attendees to a virtual event in less than two months was not easy, said Day. The engagement within the environment has to be one of the most notable successes of the Red Hat Virtual Summit 2020, she said. The virtual event had more than 64,000 unique visitors to the Ask the Expert and Chat sessions. It drew 118,000 unique total views to the General Sessions and more than 322,000 unique visitors to all the session content. One really unique thing we did was running virtual labs, noted Day. This is something that has never been done before, and we were able to deploy more than 1,500 labs for customers successfully. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Good Overtook Bad With any big event, you are going to expect to see some hiccups. Red Hats first virtual conference was not the exception. The problems ranged from speakers going over their allotted time to Internet outages in attendees homes. Still, most of the glitches were minor, and the event staff was ready to handle them, Day said. The bottom line is that Red Hat is not rejecting the notion of holding more virtual events. This will open the door for more hands-on experiences to be offered more broadly, Day said. Announcement Summaries During the second day of the summit conferences, Red Hat provided details about its ongoing developments in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the course of the changing data center, the open hybrid cloud, and the importance of edge computing. The running theme reinforced Red Hats belief in the role open source technologies and the communities behind them play in driving new innovations. The role of data in our lives is evolving rapidly to fit the unique challenges tech companies face today, noted Chris Wright, Red Hats chief technology officer. The amount of amassed data has resulted in rapid changes to the concept of the data center. Managing the cost and complexity of this new architecture at scale is a challenge for any business. It is not just about the quantity of data, but the quality of information derived from it, he said. Red Hat believes an open hybrid cloud is the best way to handle all this data into the future. Similarly, edge computing is vital to delivering the compute and data-intensive parts of the rendering pipeline offloaded to the cloud. To that end, Red Hat is working with the open source community, customers and partners to help organizations looking to accelerate their edge computing strategies. The company also has been working closely with members of its Open Data Hub community in developing a blueprint for building an AI as a Service platform on OpenShift and Red Hat Ceph Storage. Beyond Upstream First Perhaps one of the most significant announcements from Red Hat involved its heightened efforts to go beyond upstream first performance. An open hybrid cloud can meet the needs to bring operational models of a cloud. However, no upstream equivalent currently exists for operations. Red Had introduced the Operate First program to assist open source communities and its own cloud products with building operational knowledge directly into software. It hopes to leverage tools such as Ansible and the Operator SDK to glean insights into operational needs as a part of the software development cycle. When we operate first, we share operational knowledge, which can be as important as the code itself, said Wright. Also, Red Hat last week announced that Vodafone Idea Limited won the Innovator of the Year award. Vodafone Idea builds a Universal Network Cloud that reduces deployment times. Red Hat also announced other 2020 Red Hat Innovation Awards winners: BMW Group, Edenor, Ford and the Argentine Ministry of Health and Social Development. Unproven Path It is not yet a given how the tech industry in general will respond with future conferences. The actual effectiveness of virtual gatherings is still an uncharted course, suggested Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. In order of effectiveness, tech conferences have three primary values: They develop personal networks that are helpful with projects and careers. They allow sales to initiate and close deals. They convey information on products, services, and capabilities for both the companies that hold them and the companies that showcase at them. Virtual conferences, so far, dont help with personal networks. Nor are they good at closing sales, but they can be used to generate leads, Enderle told TechNewsWorld. Conferences also convey information well if the presentations can attract and hold an audience. That result depends a lot on the presenters execution. The majority of folks dont know how to do virtual conferences well, Enderle noted. Unless conference organizers can find a better way to meet all three critical requirements, the tech industry will go back to physical conferences once it is safe to do so, he predicted. That gives the industry around a year and a half to fix virtual conferences. Now, given we have no choice at the moment, there is a reasonably good chance someone may figure out how to do this right by the time the mandatory aspect of these things expires, Enderle concluded. Whats Next for Red Hat? At this point, company officials do not want to make any predictions for next year. It is still too early to say. However, Red Hat is considering how to leverage what officials learned from this experience to make 2021 even better, Day said. The future could bring a hybrid sort of model that combines digital components with in-person events and meetings. We know that face-to-face interaction is still so important for customer and partner engagement, said Day. But we are also learning a lot about the appetite for content and the desire for connection from an expanded global audience. We will want to continue expanding on that in the future. A series of just-released 911 calls chronicle the stress, confusion and fear in a South Jersey neighborhood that followed the shooting of a New Jersey State Police trooper on April 25. One neighbor at the Harding Woods mobile home park in Pittsgrove Township was in tears as she sheltered on the floor of her residence. Another call came from the trooper himself. My names Rick Hershey. Im a trooper. Ive been shot, the detective tells a dispatcher. He patiently provides information, but the urgency in his voice is clear. He was struck in the leg and the wound was bad enough that he required surgery and a lengthy hospital stay. Please hurry, Hershey says to the dispatcher. He groans in pain at one point during the call. He explains he was by himself and interviewing a witness when he was shot and that the shooter left the area. New Jersey State Police Detective Richard Hershey was wounded in a shooting at a mobile home park in Salem County last month. As help arrived for Hershey that night, investigators were already on the trail of those responsible. What has been described by authorities as a hostile mob descended on Hershey around 10:30 p.m. as he was investigating a home invasion that occurred hours earlier at the park in which a woman was beaten and robbed. The incident allegedly stemmed from derogatory comments the victim made about the family of one of those involved in the assault, according to police documents. Five women were charged in the home invasion. A group of about 15 people returned to the scene of the assault to continue the dispute that evening, police allege. They pulled up in a caravan of five vehicles and confronted Hershey, who was driving an unmarked vehicle and wearing plainclothes at the time. He identified himself to the group and told them to leave, authorities said, and as the cars drove off, some members of the caravan allegedly fired shots at Hershey. The wounded trooper returned fire. One woman with the caravan suffered a minor leg wound in the exchange of gunfire. Najzeir J. Naz Hutchings, 21, Tremaine M. Hadden, 27, and Kareen Kai Warner Jr., 19, all of Bridgeton, are charged with attempted murder and other offenses in the shooting of a New Jersey State Police detective. As the bullets flew, neighbors sheltered in their homes. A panicked mother called 911 in tears to report she was hiding with her family. She said she thought some of the shots struck her home and wasnt sure if her kids are injured. Were all on the floor, she said. Something came through my house, I believe. Nobody was hit or shot or anything were they? the dispatcher asked as she tries to keep the woman calm. I dont know, the caller sobbed. The dispatcher asked her to call out to her children, which she did. No one was injured. In another call, a resident who sounded out of breath told a dispatcher that someone was shot. My husband just told me that somebodys shot up at the office. There was a ton of gunfire, she said, adding that members of the community watch were helping the victim. Three people were ultimately charged in the troopers shooting, while 18 have been charged overall in connection with the investigation, which included the home invasion. Najzeir J. Naz Hutchings, 21, Tremaine M. Hadden, 27, and Kareen Kai Warner Jr., 19, all of Bridgeton, were each charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault on a police officer and weapons offenses. They remain jailed pending trial. Ten others in the caravan were charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and rioting. Hershey, who was hospitalized for about two weeks, continues to recover, a New Jersey State Police spokesman confirmed last week. No date has been set for his return to duty. Five woman were charged in the home invasion at a Pittsgrove mobile home park that occurred hours before a state police detective was wounded while investigating that incident. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. No Criminality Found After Police Officers Sickened by Shake Shack Milkshakes: NYPD A probe of what happened to police officers who said they became sick after ingesting milkshakes from Shake Shack turned up no evidence of illegal actions, police officials said. After a thorough investigation by the NYPDs Manhattan South investigators, it has been determined that there was no criminality by shake shacks employees, the departments Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison said in a statement early Tuesday. Harrison didnt disclose further details. Three officers were taken to Bellevue Hospital late Monday after purchasing and drinking milkshakes from a Shake Shack location in New York Citys Manhattan borough. They were expected to recover. Several police unions said what happened appeared to be intentional. Officers discovered that a toxic substance, believed to be bleach, had been placed in their beverages, Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, said in a message to members of the union. Officers should carefully inspect any food items they purchase while on duty for possible contamination, he said. Whenever possible, officers shouldnt get meals alone. We cannot afford to let out guard down for even a moment, Lynch warned. NYPD officers in Brooklyn, New York City on June 11, 2020. (Scott Heins/Getty Images) Paul DiGiacomo, president of the Detective Endowment Association, in an urgent safety message to officers said the three cops were intentionally poisoned by one or more workers at the Shake Shack and claimed that officers across the country are under attack by vicious criminals who dislike us simply because of the uniform we wear. In an update Tuesday morning, the association said that initially it was reported that whatever made the officers ill was intentionally put into the drinks. Evidently, however, the toxic substance, a cleaning solution, accidentally made its way into the officers shakes. If so, we are all relieved to hear that this was not an intentional attempt to harm our officers and are pleased to report they will make a full recovery, it stated. Shake Shack said in a social media statement that company officials were horrified by reports of what happened and said the company was helping police with the investigation. After Harrison said no criminality was found, the company added: Our team is working hard to get the full picture. In the meantime, were relieved to hear the officers are all okay. Shake Shack earlier this month shared a document containing articles and other media intended to serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work. One of the articles linked in the document stated: First and foremost, police officers and the National Guard themselves are initiating violence. Violence. Take that innot the destruction of property, but violence against people; these are two very different things. Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report. FILE PHOTO: Crew of the Iranian tanker ship "Fortune" are seen at the deck during the arrival at El Palito refinery in Puerto Cabello By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin LONDON (Reuters) - Iran could send two to three cargoes a month in regular gasoline sales to ally Venezuela, sources say, helping offload domestic oversupply but risking retaliation from U.S. President Donald Trump who has sanctions on both nations. Iran has since April sent five tankers totalling about 1.5 million barrels to the leftist government of fuel-starved Venezuela, though the shipments have done little to alleviate hours-long lines at gas stations. The Trump administration, which is seeking both to block Iran's energy trade and bring down Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has threatened reprisals and warned ports, shipping companies and insurers against facilitating the tankers. But Tehran plans to keep up the shipments, according to five trading and industry sources close to the Oil Ministry. Two of the sources said Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards military unit, which answers to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were determining policy on Venezuela. "This is a long-term strategic decision made by the state to expand influence," said one Iranian trader familiar with the policy, likening it to Iran's cargoes for Syria. Requests for comment from Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Oil Ministry, and from Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, Oil Ministry and Information Ministry, were not answered. A State Department spokesman said the United States would not tolerate "meddling" or sanction-breaking to support Venezuela, but did not specify what actions could be taken. "The international business community should already be aware of the legal risk of any transactions with the illegitimate and tyrannical regime of Nicolas Maduro," he said. "It is no surprise that the deeply corrupt and oppressive Iranian regime would find a kindred spirit with Maduro's brutal kleptocracy." Iran gasoline https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/yzdvxdggovx/FGE.JPG Story continues A net gasoline importer for decades, Iran announced self-sufficiency last year with the third phase of its newly-constructed 350,000 barrels per day (bpd) Persian Gulf Star refinery in the port of Bandar Abbas. But the coronavirus pandemic cut demand to almost 450,000 bpd in the first quarter of 2020 from about 650,000 last year, according to energy consultancy FGE. Even before the virus, oversupply had reached 84,000 bpd of gasoline in the last quarter of 2019, but it soared to 172,000 in the first three months of this year, according to FGE. 'VENEZUELA ONLY VIABLE OPTION' With insufficient storage capacity, Iran was unprepared for the glut, the trading and industry sources said, meaning Maduro's appeal for help fell on ready ears. "Iran's gasoline oversupply equals 15 to 20 medium cargoes every month. Iran exports only five cargoes a month to Asia and Africa. So Venezuela is the only viable option," said one of the sources. They all asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject. Iran is also helping the fuel-starved South American country restart its mostly idled 1.3 million bpd refining network. An Iranian-flagged cargo ship is currently making its way toward Venezuela, according to an analysis of the vessel's trajectory by oil industry data provider TankerTrackers.com, which added it was carrying refining equipment. Refinitiv Eikon data show the vessel, the Golsan, is navigating west across the Atlantic Ocean after departing Iran's Bandar Abbas - the same port where the gasoline cargoes came from - in May. The shipment comes after Iran sent refining equipment to Venezuela through more than a dozen flights by sanctioned airline Mahan Air earlier this year. Even when the pandemic has passed and domestic demand picks up to an estimated 550,000 bpd in the second half of this year, Iran will still have the capacity to send two to three cargoes to Venezuela per month, according to traders and FGE data. A medium tanker, of the sort Iran has been sending to Venezuela, can carry between 190,000-345,000 barrels. Though the political solidarity is evident, with Maduro due to visit Tehran soon to "thank the people", Reuters has not been able to establish the financial details of Iran's trade with Venezuela. The deal could, however, help Iran stem potential losses at the production end from storage reaching capacity, according to the head of one oil products trading firm in Tehran. "For every single day that a refinery is shut down, the loss will be far greater than exporting cheap gasoline to Venezuela," he said. Tehran has not been hiding its trade with Caracas. Unlike most Iranian tankers that turn off transponders for shipments skirting U.S. sanctions, the five ships delivering to Venezuela kept their automatic identification system (AIS) on. In the last two years, Trump has quit a nuclear deal with Tehran and reimposed sanctions on Iran's energy and bank sectors plus the Revolutionary Guards. (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in London; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington and Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Chizu Nomiyama) When purchasing this kit, consumers will give back twice. First when 100% of the profits are donated to The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, a worldwide federation of more than 1,600 organizations from over 150 countries and territories campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex human rights. They give back a second time to the planet as by going reusable they will avoid single-use plastic waste. "We at SodaStream are proud to celebrate Pride," said Matt Kahn, Chief Marketing Officer- U.S. at SodaStream. "We are committed to supporting the LGBTIQ community and even more so this year when their public events are cancelled. Our company mission is to leave a better world for our children." SodaStream has been supporting Pride across the world for many years. Last year the brand released an emotional video featuring same-sex couples throughout time with the message "what if we never had to hide." The star of this video was a strong, transgender woman from the Bedouin village of Rahat where the Company's global factory is located. SodaStream also took part in the Amsterdam 2019 Pride in partnership with ILGA World. The company had its own float at the Parade, which was featured last as it also served to clean the canal waters of all the waste from the celebrations. The 2020 "For the Love of Tomorrow" kit includes SodaStream's newest 0.5L reusable bottle (dishwasher safe), a reusable bag and a reusable straw in bright Pride colors. The kit itself is also made of recycled carton. The limited-edition kits are sold exclusively online (in US, Canada and Germany) for $24.99 and all proceeds will be donated to ILGA World. About SodaStream SodaStream, part of PepsiCo, is the world's leading sparkling water-maker brand. SodaStream enables consumers to enjoy endless good bubbles at home, without hassle, and help save the planet. Sodastream bubbles are better for the consumer - healthy, easy to make, light to carry - and better for the planet - replacing thousands of single use plastic bottles with one reusable SodaStream bottle. Products are available at more than 80,000 retail stores across 46 countries. To learn more about SodaStream visit www.SodaStream.com and follow SodaStream on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube. About ILGA ILGA World the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association - is a worldwide federation of more than 1,600 organizations from over 150 countries and territories campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex human rights. They are committed to a world where the human rights of all are respected and where everyone can live in equality and freedom: a world where global justice and equity are assured and established regardless of people's sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). Established in 1978, ILGA World has ECOSOC consultative status at the United Nations. Members are based in our six regions: Pan Africa ILGA, ILGA Asia, ILGA-Europe, ILGALAC (Latin America and the Caribbean), ILGA North America and ILGA Oceania. Governed by an elected Board of 19 activists representing our global family, ILGA World is queer democracy in action! Contact: Alison Brod Public Relations, [email protected]. SOURCE SodaStream Related Links http://www.SodaStream.com The video conferencing service Zoom has gained a following in China in recent months. The program lets users have video meetings or make video calls to friends or family. Users in China include people and organizations, from underground religious groups to womens rights activists. They see the service as a rare window to the rest of the world. But some Chinese fear that window to the world may be closing. Last week, Zoom said it had suspended accounts of three U.S. and Hong Kong activists at the Chinese governments request after the activists tried to honor the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square killings. But the accounts have since been reactivated. The company also said it was developing technology to enable it to remove or block users in some parts of the world. Zoom is based in the U.S. and also has employees and operations in China. The Chinese government heavily restricts the internet in a system widely called the Great Firewall. The government says this is needed to keep social order. All Chinese social media websites are required to remove public posts the government considers illegal. Zhou Fengsuo is the U.S.-based founder of Humanitarian China, a nonprofit group that pushes for the growth of civil society in China. His Zoom account was suspended. He told Reuters news agency that the biggest challenge has been how to reach people within China because of the firewall, and that Zoom once seemed to offer hope. Chinas Zoom user numbers quickly began to grow around the time of the COVID-19 health crisis. This was unusual because popular programs such as WhatsApp, Google Meet and Facebook are blocked on Chinas internet. Zooms mobile program has been downloaded 5.4 million times from Apples China store since January 1. That is eleven times the number from the same period in 2019, based on research from the company SensorTower. While most Chinese users turn to Zoom for conference calls and friendly conversations, some have seized the chance to discuss important topics, such as patriotism and womens rights. Some state-approved and underground churches use Zoom to hold services. Xiao Meili, an activist, held a talk over Zoom about #MeToo, a worldwide movement for womens rights. She told Reuters she understands Zoom is not the only software. But we feel its rather more accessible she said. Xiao said in the past some friends suggested using Tencent for conferencing. But people worried they had to be too careful about what they said on Tencent. Tencent is a video conferencing tool offered by the same Chinese technology company as WeChat. In March, Youth Lectures launched a series of Zoom talks, the first of which was led by Chinese University of Hong Kong professor Chow Po Chung. The talk was about freedom of speech in China. Chows mainland China account on the website Weibo has been removed many times. Other unknown groups held talks from a #MeToo activist and a gender-activist on their work in mid-May. New York-based Lu Pin said Zoom was a way to connect Chinese people to the outside world. Her Feminist Voices accounts on Weibo and WeChat were shut by authorities in 2018. You dont have to climb the firewall, she said about Zoom. People in China and outside of China both can connect to it. Zooms users in China have already been subject to new restrictions since last month. At that time, the company announced that free users would not be able to hold meetings, and new users would be limited. Im Alice Bryant. Reuters news agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story underground - adj. secret and sometimes illegal firewall - n. a computer program that keeps people from using or connecting to a computer or a computer network without permission post - n. a text, image or video on the internet, especially on social media download - v. to copy data (such as text or images) from one computer system to another over the Internet. church - n. Christian religious services or the building these services are held in accessible - adj. able to be used or obtained gender - n. the state of being male or female Agartala/Jaipur, June 16 : Mired in grinding poverty and thus 'sold' into marriage at a tender age, a 14-year-old girl trafficked from Tripura to Rajasthan stares at a bleak future even as authorities mull over their next course of action to reunite her with her family back home in northern Tripura. The teenager is lodged at Swadhara Women Home (SWH) shelter at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan even as the State Commission of Protection of Child Rights' (RSCPCR) senior member Shailendra Pandya has taken up up her case with the National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). To add to her woes, the girl is said to be two-and-a-half months pregnant, a result of her 'marriage' with a Rajasthan resident who claims to be her 'husband'. Pandya said that once legal formalities are taken care of in Rajasthan, the Tripura Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TCPCR) or other such organisations can take the teenager back and ensure her well-being. However, the Tripura Police, the TCPCR besides her poverty-hit family living in Uttar Ratacherra village in Unakoti district of northern Tripura are allegedly not proactive in ensuring her return. Pandya told IANS over phone from Jaipur that the girl had alleged in her statement to authorities that she had been sold for Rs 1.5 lakh. "According to the girl, a Rajasthan man had claimed to have married her and keeping her at his home. I came to know about the case of purchase of the girl for Rs 1.5 lakh on June 1. The girl is pregnant. As the issue is serious, I informed the NCPCR," Pandya said. "The case was unearthed when she fled the man's house. On May 2, the man filed a missing complaint in Mandawa police station, claiming that his 'wife' had gone missing. Police traced her on May 4, but the teenager refused to go with the person and sought protection, leading to Jhunjhunu Sub-Divisional Magistrate to order her lodging at the Jhunjhunu shelter home," Pandya said. The Jhunjhunu SDM had also directed the Mandawa police to reinvestigate the matter while the Rajasthan State Commission of Protection of Child Rights directed the Child Welfare Committee to file an FIR against the accused under the Juvenile Justice Act, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and anti-trafficking law. Tripura's Unakoti District Superintendent of Police Ratiranjan Debnath said that after the NCPCR ordered, he send a detail factual report to the panel on the case. "The girl's family is extremely poor. Before sending the report, we talked to the family but they are not so serious to take her back. They never informed police about the girl going missing," the district police chief told IANS. When contacted, Tripura Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Nilima Ghosh told IANS that she is "not aware" of the matter and would talk to police and Child Welfare Committee in Unakoti. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) Germany's Heiko Maas Not Surprised by Uncoordinated US Move to Pull Troops, Sees Relations as Tough Sputnik News 06:51 GMT 15.06.2020(updated 06:52 GMT 15.06.2020) BERLIN (Sputnik) - German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas expressed the belief on Monday that it was not surprising that the United States had not coordinated with Berlin the decision to withdraw troops, qualifying the bilateral relations as "difficult". "I would say it [US-German relations] is difficult ... As we see that the decision has not been 100 percent coordinated in the US government, it is not surprising that it has not been coordinated with us, either" Maas said, as aired by the broadcaster ZDF. Earlier, more than 20 Republicans from the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to reject reported plans to draw down the number of US troops stationed in Germany. In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry has warned that the already complicated relations between Moscow and NATO might become even worse if the US moves its troops from Germany to Poland, in line with the recent suggestions. Earlier in June, reports emerged in US media about President Donald Trump's alleged plan to withdraw 9,500 servicemen from Germany, of the almost 35,000 military currently staying there. German cabinet spokesman Steffen Seibert said that the county had not received any official notification from Washington. At present, 34,500 US troops are stationed in Germany, along with 17,000 US civilians and 12,000 German citizens who work at military bases in that country. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TORONTO, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 12 Exploration Inc. (CSE: TWLV), doing business as 79North (the Company or 79North) is pleased to announce that common shares of the Company will commence trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE) under the symbol TWLV tomorrow, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. 79North is led by a team with extensive mineral exploration expertise and a track record of discoveries and exits in South America and globally. 79North currently holds an indirect interest in mineral concessions in northern Suriname (formerly Dutch Guiana), and aims to become the premier junior exploration company in this underexplored district of the prolific Guiana Shield. The Companys strategically located land package is located in close proximity to both the Merian Gold Mine of Newmont Corporation and the Rosebel Gold Mine of Iamgold Corporation which have a substantial gold production history. 79Norths growing portfolio of high-quality targets which have not undergone modern exploration or drilling have a long history of artisanal mining and are strategically located within close proximity to modern gold mines operated by major mining companies. Our public listing is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our portfolio of high-quality gold exploration projects in Suriname. The Nassau Gold Project has had more than a century of artisanal gold mining and is in the same sequence of gold-bearing rocks that contain the Merian Gold Mine of Newmont Corporation and the Rosebel Gold Mine of Iamgold Corporation. In spite of this, there has not been sustained modern gold exploration or diamond drilling at the Nassau Gold Project, stated Jon North, President, CEO and Chairman of 79North. Subscription Receipt Financing As previously announced, the Company completed non-brokered private placements, resulting in the sale of an aggregate of 30,481,655 subscription receipts (the Subscription Receipts) for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$4,572,250 million (the Offering). The proceeds from the Offering were placed into escrow on completion of the Offering and have now been released from escrow to the Company less certain transaction fees and expenses. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to fund exploration and development of 79Norths Nassau gold project, the acquisition of additional gold projects, and for general corporate purposes. Further Information on the Company For further information regarding the Transaction, please contact: Jon North, President and Chief Executive Officer 12 Exploration Inc. d/b/a 79North Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the use of funds; the timing of the commencement of trading on the CSE and the business and operations of 79North. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, 79North assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) - The Department of Health is proposing a 182.10-billion budget in 2021 for the Universal Health Care law, with the bulk of the amount allocated for its implementation and for strengthening the healthcare system against viral diseases. Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde told the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Tuesday that the DOHs budget for next year is aligned with the UHC law. You can see here that Priority 1 is related to the implementation of UHC and linked to this is our proposal for health system resiliency, particularly in terms of responding to emerging infectious diseases, said Villaverde. These are interrelated and most of the provisions of the Universal Health Care can be adopted to in terms to our response to emerging infectious diseases. The DOH said 53.20 billion would be allocated for the implementation of UHC law-related proposals while 20.89 billion would be earmarked for the strengthening of the health system against viral outbreaks. Second in the list of priorities are for other health law-related items which would get 35.11 billion. The third priority is for other urgent and compelling needs, like tuberculosis control and anti-rabies programs, with a proposed fund of 37.83 billion. Meanwhile, 35.08 billion was allocated for other operations of the department. Signed into law in February last year, the UHC aims to provide easier and equal healthcare access to Filipinos. The laws implementing rules and regulations were released eight months later. [June 16, 2020] Todos Medical Enters Into Exclusive Distribution Agreement With NLC Pharma for Saliva-based Onsite COVID-19 Diagnostic Test NLC Pharma has patented and developed 3C protease platform for SARS and other viruses 3C protease measures viral replication, as a rapid detection method for COVID Todos to develop At-Home Saliva test kit w/ digital analysis & software REHOVOT, Israel, and NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Todos Medical Ltd. (OTCQB: TOMDF), an in vitro diagnostics company focused on the distribution of a comprehensive suite of solutions for the screening and diagnosis of COVID-19 and the development of blood tests for the early detection of cancer and Alzheimers disease, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive worldwide distribution agreement with Israel-based NLC Pharma to commercially develop its patented virus-focused 3C Protease diagnostic platform for the diagnosis of COVID-19. 3C Protease quantitation presents a unique approach to viral replication monitoring, and could prove to be a significant tool in the fight against COVID-19, said Jorge Leon, PhD, Senior Medical Advisor to Todos. The 3C Protease is a novel target for COVID-19 drug development. It has properties that make it a strong saliva-based biomarker candidate for viral load measurement because it binds to full length viral RNA and is required prior to coronaviruses exiting host cells before going to infect other cells, and it secretes into the saliva for measurement of viral load. Because only full-length RNA is detected, it overcomes potential limitations of technologies that detect viral fractions, such as antigen testing and certain polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based tests that often yield false positives post-infection. Todos intends to develop an At-Home (or Onsite) COVID-19 diagnostic 3C Protease-based test kit for use as a diagnostic for COVID-19, using existing cell phone camera technology and proprietary software to complete the data analysis. The companies will work together towards filing an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application with the FDA in the United States and the Ministry of Health in Israel. NLC previously developed working prototypes from its 3C Protease platform for rapid detection of HRV (common cold), HMV (viral meningitis), and SARS. As we build Todos into a niche provider of COVID-19 testing solutions to laboratories, healthcare providers and policy makers worldwide, we have identified areas in the diagnostic testing space that require significant innovation, including the development of an Active Infection test that is convenient to use and can be deployed at the point of screening prior to gaining access to transmission-risky settings, said Gerald E. Commissiong, President & CEO of Todos. We believe this technology gives us a proprietary foothold in a space that is screaming for novel solutions to overcome the biological limitations of current approaches. As we begin the commercialization of our COVID-19 molecular and antibody portfolios, this proprietary technology will give us a marketing advantage as customers look to align with long-term partners. The imbedded cell phone analysis technology will allow for privacy-compliant integration with various contact tracing, telehealth, and employer-based health solutions coming to market. We are excited to have an opportunity to bring our 3C Protease technology into the marketplace to address the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dr. Dorit Arad. 3C Protease offers the first platform for rapid detection of SARS-nCoV-2 in saliva, at thereproduction stage of the virus, and will developed to be used in airports and public places, as well as in the convenience of your home to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. About the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can lead to respiratory illness, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). Coronaviruses can be transmitted between animals and people and evolve into strains not previously identified in humans. On January 7, 2020, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the cause of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, and additional cases have been found in a growing number of countries worldwide. COVID-19 is the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. About NLC-Pharma NLC Pharma was created in February 2020 to manifest the IP and products that have been the subject of R&D by Dr. Dorit Arad for over 30 years, aimed to be utilized to treat and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. NLC platform is focused on inhibiting and detecting the 3C protease that is responsible for viral reproduction. It includes a very effective natural product 3C protease inhibitors, to be used as a supplement to treat and prevent corona, and a 3 minute detection kit, that is the subject of the collaboration with Todos. About Todos Medical Ltd. Headquartered in Rehovot, Israel, Todos Medical Ltd. (OTCQB: TOMDF) engineers life-saving diagnostic solutions for the early detection of a variety of cancers. The Company's state-of-the-art and patented Todos Biochemical Infrared Analyses (TBIA) is a proprietary cancer-screening technology using peripheral blood analysis that deploys deep examination into cancer's influence on the immune system, looking for biochemical changes in blood mononuclear cells and plasma. Todos' two internally-developed cancer-screening tests, TMB-1 and TMB-2, have received a CE mark in Europe and are currently in a pre-commercial study with its distribution partner Orot+ (a division of Luces-Orot). Todos recently entered into an exclusive option agreement to acquire U.S.-based medical diagnostics company Provista Diagnostics, Inc. to gain rights to its Alpharetta, Georgia-based CLIA/CAP certified lab and Provista's proprietary commercial-stage Videssa breast cancer blood test. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020. Through Breakthrough Diagnostics, Inc., its joint venture with Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. (OTC: AMBS), Todos is also actively involved with the development of blood tests for the early detection of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Todos expected to complete the remaining unowned interest in Breakthrough in the second quarter of 2020. Todos recently entered into distribution agreements with companies to distribute certain novel coronavirus (COVID-19) test kits. The Company has entered into distribution agreements with multiple international suppliers of PCR testing kits and related materials and supplies, as well as antibody testing kits from multiple manufacturers after completing validation of said testing kits and supplies in its partner CLIA/CAP certified laboratory in the United States. Todos has formed Corona Diagnostics, LLC, a strategic collaboration with Emerald Organic Products, Inc. (OTC: EMOR), to support telemedicine and virtual pharmacy aspects of the commercialization of its COVID-19 return to work testing programs in the US. For more information, please visit https://www.todosmedical.com/ Forward-looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. For example, forward-looking statements are used when discussing our expected clinical development programs and clinical trials. These forward-looking statements are based only on current expectations of management, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including the risks and uncertainties related to the progress, timing, cost, and results of clinical trials and product development programs; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval or patent protection for product candidates; competition from other biotechnology companies; and our ability to obtain additional funding required to conduct our research, development and commercialization activities. In addition, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; delays or obstacles in launching our clinical trials; changes in legislation; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; lack of validation of our technology as we progress further and lack of acceptance of our methods by the scientific community; inability to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of our products; unforeseen scientific difficulties that may develop with our process; greater cost of final product than anticipated; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition; and laboratory results that do not translate to equally good results in real settings, all of which could cause the actual results or performance to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, Todos Medical does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Todos Medical, please refer to its reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investor and Corporate Contact: Kim Sutton Golodetz LHA Investor Relations Senior Vice President (212) 838-3777 [email protected] Corporate Contact: Daniel Hirsch Todos Medical (347) 699-0029 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] June 16 (Reuters) - Three New York City police officers fell ill and were hospitalized on Monday after drinking beverages at a fast-food outlet that a police association said were believed to have been contaminated with bleach. A representative of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) said the three had been taken to hospital after consuming an unknown substance at a Shake Shack Inc outlet and police were investigating. "At some point during their meal period, the MOS (members of service) discovered that a toxic substance, believed to be bleach, had been placed in their beverages," the New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association said in a statement. The officers had been assigned to a protest in Lower Manhattan, the association said. Like most U.S. cities, New York has had daily protests demanding racial justice since the May 25 killing of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis. Shake Shack said on Twitter the outlet was horrified by reports of injured officers. The officers were being treated and their illness was not life threatening, police said. (Reporting by Aishwarya Nair and Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru Editing by Robert Birsel) Publicly listed mobile telecom company Zain Group has become the first Middle Eastern firm to join Hedera Hashgraphs governing council. Zain Group is listed on the Kuwait Boursa and serves 49.5 million customers in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa. It joins the likes of Boeing, Deutsche Telekom, DLA Piper, Google, IBM and University College London as well as the recently reported LG Electronics. Through its participation on the Hedera Council, Zain Group will gain extensive early insights into the trends and applications in the distributed ledger technology (DLT) space and will be able to assess opportunities to develop services within its own field of operation. The Hedera Hashgraph patented technology platform addresses the universally important issue of the environment as its power usage is super-efficient, utilising a fraction of the electricity that blockchain platforms use. This is in line with Zain Groups membership of and commitment to the Carbon Disclosure Project, which provides a reporting framework and guidance to address climate change. "" " " .https://t.co/ZorI40cHFu pic.twitter.com/dRCUw2iP6z Zain Group (@Zain) June 14, 2020 Zain Vice-Chairman and Group CEO, Bader Al Kharafi commented: We feel a sense of purpose in joining the Hedera Governing Council, which has numerous blue chip, innovation-driven organisations all interested in driving the development of blockchains and the wider DLT space, which we have already noted has phenomenal potential. He continued: From our own perspective, the growing list of new services and applications we have and continue to develop in areas such as the Group API platform; mobile money and fintech; e-health; drones; the Internet of Things; and 5G all lend themselves to further enhancement through blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies. Story continues Mance Harmon, CEO of Hedera added: We are delighted to have Zain Group join the Council, given the companys sound track record of innovation, and professionalism in the development and delivery of cutting-edge mobile services and applications. We hope Zain will take full advantage of the opportunity to immerse itself in hashgraph and distributed ledger technologies and gain first-hand knowledge of new technologies and use cases developed on the Hedera network. For more news, guides and cryptocurrency analysis, click here. Two Taoisigh are set to lead the country through the lifetime of the next government. For the first time in the history of the State, the Office of the Taoiseach will be rotated between two party leaders. Four months after the General Election, a landmark agreement signed off by the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party will result in significant overhaul of the administration of power. The parties also agreed on a radical programme for government which makes significant commitments on climate change, housing and transport. Last night, Micheal Martin was in touching distance of becoming Taoiseach - but will have to first convince his party membership to back the deal. However, if finally elected Taoiseach, he will have to step aside on December 15, 2022, and allow Leo Varadkar to take over. Mr Varadkar is set to become Tanaiste, but the office will be given increased powers and functions. The Fine Gael leader said he will also choose a Cabinet ministry which he will oversee while serving as Tanaiste. Eamon Ryan will also have a new office in the Department of the Taoiseach which will give him oversight of the government decision-making process. The three leaders all made major concessions to sign off on a programme for government. Mr Varadkar gave up on Fine Gael's demand that the State pension age increase to 67 next year after Mr Martin insisted the hike should be stopped. The increase will now be delayed for a year pending the outcome of Commission on Pensions. Yesterday, Mr Varadkar said the decision to delay the increase will cost 400m. However, Fine Gael did secure a commitment that the next government will cut income tax if the economy begins to improve, despite resistance from the other parties. The Green Party dropped its demand on banning imported goods from Israeli occupied territories. Contentious The future of Covid-19 unemployment payments and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme will be among the first tough decisions taken by the proposed new government. Decisions on both schemes brought in to help people who lost their jobs in the coronavirus crisis and shield those who kept them, will be highly contentious. Their prioritisation in the programme for government underlines the challenges that will face the new coalition from day one of a new administration. Also included in the July stimulus will be new taskforces, including ministers, independent experts and stakeholders for each sector of the economy. The enactment of legislation for a new 2bn Credit Guarantee Scheme is also listed among "immediate actions". A National Economic Plan is to be set out in October on the same day as Budget 2021 for charting the "longer-term jobs-led recovery". "Underpinning the National Economic Plan will be the need to protect the Irish workforce and economy to the greatest extent possible from future shocks due to another public health crisis, Brexit, digital transformation and climate change," the document says. The National Retrofitting Plan is also set to be announced on Budget Day - with an aim to increase energy efficiency in at least 500,000 homes by 2030. Homes will be grouped together to reduce costs and retrofitting will start in the midlands. The proposed new government is promising jobs-led recovery from the economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic. There are 12 'missions' in the proposed programme for government agreed between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party. Under plans for "re- igniting and renewing the economy", the focus will be to "get people back to work as soon as possible". There is a target of 200,000 new jobs by 2025 "as well as helping people currently unemployed due to Covid-19 back to work." The aim is to create a "stronger, fairer and more sustainable economy prepared for the next phase of disruptive technologies and on a pathway to a low-carbon future". The jobs-led recovery will depend on Ireland's ability to secure markets for our goods and services and attract investment into the country. The document also highlights the importance of a "just transition" as fossil fuel dependence is ended and there is an ambition to "create economic opportunity through climate action". Fairer Meanwhile, a group of more than 50 Fianna Fail councillors and 1,000 party members has launched a campaign to "defeat" the newly agreed programme for government. In a statement, the group calling itself 'Fairer Future' insisted the agreement will not deliver change. The councillors from Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Leitrim, Louth, Meath, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford said the document "confirmed their fears" that the new government will be a "continuation of status quo politics". File Photo WhatsApp has launched its 'WhatsApp Pay' in Brazil, two years after it began testing the payments service in India. In 2018, the Facebook-owned company had started testing the service in India, which allows users to utilise the messaging platform to send and receive money. Advertisement WhatsApp In a Facebook post on Monday, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Brazil is the first country where it is widely rolling out payments in WhatsApp. "Today we're starting to launch payments for people using WhatsApp in Brazil. We're making sending and receiving money as easy as sharing photos," he said, adding that small businesses will also be able to make sales right within WhatsApp. "To do this, we're building on Facebook Pay, which provides a secure and consistent way to make payments across our apps," he said. Advertisement Mark ZuckerburgZuckerberg said WhatsApp is working with local banks, including Banco do Brasil, Nubank, Sicredi as well as Cielo, the leading payments processor for merchants in Brazil. In a blogpost, WhatsApp said it has built payments with security in mind and a special six digit PIN or fingerprint will be required to prevent unauthorised transactions. WhatsApp"To start, we will support debit or credit cards from Banco do Brasil, Nubank, and Sicredi on the Visa and Mastercard networks -and we are working with Cielo, the leading payments processor in Brazil. We have built an open model to welcome more partners in the future," it added. Advertisement WhatsApp has about 400 million users in India. It has been testing its payments service in India - based on UPI - with about a million users. Sushant Singh Rajput's sister-in-law passes away after not being able to bear the loss India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, June 16: Late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's sister-in-law passed away in Bihar, multiple media reports stated. According to a TOI report, Sudha Devi, wife of Sushant's cousin, passed away at his native, Purnia in Bihar. She died when Sushant's last rites were being conducted in Mumbai. The report said that she could not bear the loss of the 34-year-old actor and had stopped eating after the news of his demise broke. Devi died when Sushant's last rites were being conducted in Mumbai. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain hospitalised, to take COVID-19 test| Oneindia News Sushant Singh Rajput had spoken to his sister at 9 am, hours before taking such a drastic step The actor breathed his last on June 14. The actor was found dead at his Bandra home on Sunday morning. He was suffering from depression from the last six months and was undergoing treatment. He was cremated at the Pawan Hans crematorium here in the presence of family members and close friends from the film and TV industry. Sushant was the youngest in his family with four elder sisters. His death has left the fans and his family members in shock. Not being able to bear the loss of the actor's death, according to reports in TOI, his sister-in-law passed away at his native, Purnia in Bihar. To beat the heat this summer, Coca-Cola India has introduced Spiced Buttermilk, a refreshing offering under its dairy beverage brand- VIO. Made from curd, VIO Spiced Buttermilk offers pure goodness of the traditional homemade chhaas with a spicy twist, crafted to suit the palate of Indian consumers. The product contains no preservatives or added color and comes in a convenient 180ml Aseptic packaging, at an attractive price point of INR 15. VIO Spiced Buttermilk further expands Coca-Colas existing portfolio of beverages, providing more choices to the consumers. The introduction of VIO Spiced Buttermilk is a part of the companys hyper-local strategy that focuses on developing localized products in India to suit consumer preferences specific to a region. Speaking on the emerging buttermilk category in India, Vijay Parasuraman, Vice-President Marketing, Coca Cola India and South West Asia said, India is the largest dairy production and consumption market in the world. Through our history, dairy products have evolved with our culture to suit our palate and cuisine. And buttermilk is unique among them. Its versatile with taste and ingredients that has adapted locally across every region of our country. In the present times when consumers are looking for functional beverages, VIO Spiced buttermilk is our offering that aims to refresh drinkers while providing that daily dose of goodness. This launch is our attempt to recreate the magic of spiced buttermilk that appeals to the certain regional tastes. Talking about innovation behind the launch, Sunil Gulati, Vice President, Technical & Supply Chain, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia said, We have ramped up our focus on product innovation with an aim to build a localized consumer-centric portfolio. Dairy as a category is deep-rooted in Indian tradition, having been consumed as a refreshment or digestive drink for centuries, with an ever-growing mass appeal spanning the length and breadth of the country. Our intent with the launch of VIO Spiced Buttermilk was to create something for the community we operate in, to adapt to the local flavors of the country and expand our beverage portfolio to provide our consumers a beverage of their choice. A key offering in The Coca-Cola Companys beverage portfolio, VIO was introduced by Coca-Cola India in the year 2016 with the intent to make a ready-to-drink, value-added dairy beverage option available to the consumers. VIO Spiced Buttermilk can be conveniently ordered from the comfort of ones home through leading e-commerce platforms. It will also be available in stores across Delhi and Chennai, and major towns in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Maharashtra. A demonstrator at a protest over the death of George Floyd holds her hands up while she kneels in front of the police at City Hall in Anaheim, Calif., on June 1, 2020. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images) Southern California Works Toward Police Reform, Responds to Calls to Defund ORANGE, Calif.As protests sparked by George Floyds death continue in Southern California, demands for reforming and defunding the police have ramped up. A petition on the Black Lives Matter website reads, We call for a national defunding of police. We demand investment in our communities and the resources to ensure Black people not only survive, but thrive. Los Angeles is looking at a major cut to police funding, spurring pushback from the police union. In Orange County, city councils are fielding public comments about reform, and debating a course of action. Kings County Sheriff David Robinson, who has stepped up as the new head of the California State Sheriffs Association, encourages officers to keep their spirits up through the changes to come. We will always be held to a higher standard than most professions, Robinson told The Epoch Times. We recognize that and must embrace it. A Stab in the Back Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti supported a June 3 motion, proposed by city council members including council President Nury Martinez, to cut funding to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) by more than $100 million. The police union took issue with the reasoning. [They] basically said that the LAPD is one of the systems thats harming our minority communities, union head Robert Harris told The Epoch Times. And so a lot of officers felt like that was a stab in the back, at a time when they were literally on the line trying to hold the city together. Harris is director of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, a labor union representing nearly 10,000 officers. The union released its own blueprint for national police reform on June 12, in collaboration with police unions in San Jose and San Francisco. Los Angeles Police Department officers kneel during a rally led by Baptist Ministers to City Hall in memory of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Weve been at this for two decades in Los Angeles, and we are decades ahead of where other agencies throughout the country are, Harris said. Some of the things the community [is] rightfully calling for have already been in place in Los Angeles. A statement released by the union on June 5 said the mayor has touted reforms in the past, only to condemn and sanction us when it suits [his] political agenda. Harris said the budget cut is a political posturing move, and warns about the repercussions. Every dollar that goes to a police budget, when you remove that dollar, it will have a real, tangible impact somewhere down the line on the level and quality of service that you provide, he said. It will just also trickle down to [cause] less personnel. Then, youre looking at slower response times to 911 calls. Were looking at a slowdown in the investigative process for violent crimesour rapes, our murders, and our assaults. What Defunding Means Joe Vargas, who spent 30 years in the Anaheim Police Department, has asked Orange County protesters in recent weeks to elaborate on what they mean when they hold signs saying Defund the Police. They really cant say what that means, he told The Epoch Times. Does that mean that your sexual assault investigation is not going to be investigated? Does that mean that your burglary case is not going to be looked at? Protesters march past LAPD officers during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., on June 6, 2020. (Kyle Grillot/AFP via Getty Images) Vargas also is a columnist for Behind the Badge, a news site that offers commentary from law enforcement experts in Southern California. Police work has its shortcomings [and] its failings, but when you call 911, by and large across the country, somebody picks up the phone, and people do come out and respond, which you dont find everywhere in the world, he said. Public safety has always been the largest part of any municipal or county governments budget, he said. Ensuring the safety and security of the citizens is the primary function of government. And that is why such a big expense goes into it. In Anaheim, 42 percent of the citys unrestricted general fund is currently dedicated to the police department. That figure was under scrutiny at a June 9 budget session. Anaheims Police Budget The Anaheim City Council received about 100 comments asking for police funding to be reallocated to education, homelessness, affordable housing, and mental health. It is unconscionable that 1/3 to 1/2 of the citys budget is going to the police department. This does not align with the values that I have as your constituent, reads part of the email template used by the majority of the commenters. Councilman Trevor ONeil told The Epoch Times via email, I will not be supporting policies that make our city less safe. I wont be supporting policies that take police officers out of our neighborhoods and business areas. During the session, he had opposed withdrawing funds from the police, since across-the-board cuts will already be made as a result of pandemic budget strains. Irvine Discusses 8 Cant Wait Meanwhile, Irvines city council held a special meeting June 9 on police conduct, with the national 8 Cant Wait campaign a central topic. It calls for eight immediate reform measures to reduce fatal interactions with law enforcement. According to the 8 Cant Wait website, the Irvine Police Department satisfies three of the eight criteria. However, Chief Mike Hamel gave a presentation illustrating how the departments policies align with 8 Cant Wait. I do believe weve fulfilled these eight policy issues, Hamel said. We had 26,023 arrests in the past five years, and of those arrests, there was a use of force in only 40 of those encounters. Thats 0.15 percent. The 8 Cant Wait campaign has recently apologized for detracting from other groups aiming for more paradigmatic shifts. It clarified the end goal for all of us should be absolute liberation from policing. Irvine Councilmember Melissa Fox told The Epoch Times, I am in strong opposition to defunding our Irvine Police Department. Not only has the Irvine Police Department made Irvine Americas Safest City for 14 years in a row, Irvine was one of only 11 major police departments in the nation that did not use deadly force from 20162018. Orange County Sheriffs Response The Orange County Sheriffs Department reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and maintaining the publics trust in a June 9 press release. The release notes that in 2019, out of about 360,000 interactions between officers and the public, 421 resulted in the use of force. Each use of force is subject to a multilevel review. Nine were referred to Internal Affairs as being potentially inappropriate. Thats 2 percent of all uses of forceor 0.002 percent of all public interactionsflagged as potentially inappropriate. Huntington Beach SWAT team members stand ready for protesters, after violent demonstrations in response to George Floyds death, in Huntington Beach, Calif., on May 31, 2020. (Brent Stirton/Getty Images) Effective immediately, the department has suspended the carotid control hold to evaluate its use and effectiveness as a compliance tool. Vargas said he sees how the carotid hold could be an effective tool in rare cases, especially if an officer is at a physical disadvantage in a dangerous situation. Im 5-foot-7, and when I was a brand new cop, I was all of 145 pounds out there, he said. But, he added, the carotid hold is worth giving up as a step forward in developing trust with the community. Well adapt. We always have, he said. Robinson said, People need to remember we are all human beings. As such, we will make mistakes. We have to learn from those and move forward. A lot of attention has focused on the potential negative impacts on our industry of the EU's Farm to Fork strategy. But perhaps that's missing the point of the document. It is surprisingly clear to comprehend and easy to access online. I would advise anyone involved in agriculture to download it and read it. Chapter 2 (pages 8-16) is the meat and potatoes of the document - eight pages that outline where your income is coming from over the next 20 years. Why should we be so focused on what the EU say? Well for one thing, the EU is in control of the Common Agricultural Policy, the main vehicle of keeping agriculture in business. Also, MEPs are elected by the consumers of our produce. The MEPs represent our customers and reflect what our customers feel. Section 2.1, 'Ensuring sustainable food production', is where attention has focused. This outlines a reduction in chemical fertiliser and pesticide usage. If the system was operating as it should, there should be no issue with this. We can halve, quarter, even eliminate altogether all inputs into crop production if our customers demand it. With one proviso: if they demand it, they pay for it. This is not always the case. Take the loss of old pesticide chemistry. Our customers, working through the EU, wish to eliminate old, cheaper but effective chemistry due to concerns under a raft of headings, including environment and bystander toxicity. That's fine. We as producers now have to use more expensive new chemistry with better profiles to do the same job. Our costs go up, so the costs to the consumer who demands the change should also go up. Look at the way the tractor market has gone: new regulations impose extra costs, so the price of tractors goes up. Unfortunately, the price we receive for our grain is not determined within the EU, it's determined primarily by the output of the North American and South American maize grain market. So in effect, costs go up, output stagnates or reduces, but the price we receive stays the same. The producer is paying for the demands, not the consumer. That is what has happened in the industry over the last 20 years. Consumers have been in a Goldilocks position of demanding ever more from their food, but never having to pay any more for it. It's not quite as simple as that, but that's the general idea. Where the document gets interesting is in Section 2.2. 'Ensuring food security'. There is a helpful infograph, showing a head of grain transforming into a loaf of bread. Now we're on to something. Ireland, for all the guff about food production and the food island, does not produce any grain for loaves of bread, a basic staple food. All flour used in Ireland is imported into this country as flour, with the exception of a small amount of wheat imported to be milled for retail pack flour. What is really interesting is that we import this flour (230,000 tonnes) from the UK, a country not even in the EU. The Farm to Fork document has placed food security as the second most important issue to be addressed in food production. Things get really interesting in section 2.3. In effect it's a direct hit at the dominance of food processors, food service operators and food retailers. It is asking nicely (using a big stick) for the food industry to address healthy eating, environmental footprint and energy consumption of the food chain. The food supply chain in the EU is operated the same way as the toilet roll supply chain: cheaper cost trumps everything. That is why we get staples such as cabbage and onions grown in far-flung places using scarce water reserves, trucking them across continents to be sold cheaper than locally produced produce. Labour costs are the biggest production cost of vegetables. The place where the labour costs are the cheapest, for whatever reason, gets the order. But if the supply chain has to account for the full cost of these supply lines - the environmental costs, the energy costs - the balance may well be helped shift towards more local supply chains. The Farm to Fork strategy is a discussion document that has yet run the gauntlet of many hours of negotiations, of clarifications, of costings and 'realpolitik'. It has a long way to go before it comes to fruition and will be changed many times before we see it implemented. However, if the hard bits of the document (2.2 and 2.3) survive as well as the easy bits of arbitrary cuts to pesticides/ fertiliser and handouts for token environmental schemes, it is a document that should be used as a springboard to a more sustainable food production system across the EU. It should be embraced, promoted and used as a blueprint for the entire agricultural industry in Ireland. Richard Hackett is an agronomist based in north Co Dublin and is a member of the ITCA and ACA A federal judge ruled today in favor of voters and organizations who claimed several Alabama voting restrictions violate their voting rights because of hardships and risks created by the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon of the Northern District of Alabama granted in part a preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs, who include four individual voters, the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, Greater Birmingham Ministries, and People First of Alabama. The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program represent the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, filed on May 1. Kallons ruling applies to the July 14 runoff and limits enforcement of certain voting restrictions on certain voters, including those at risk of serious illness from COVID-19 because of age or medical condition and those with disabilities. The judge limited enforcement of the requirement that two witnesses or a notary sign absentee ballots and the requirement that voters provide a copy of their photo ID with their absentee ballot. Kallons ruling also blocks enforcement of a prohibition on curbside voting at polling places. Deuel Ross, senior counsel at the Legal Defense Fund, said in a press release, No one should have to risk their health to vote. Were happy that the Court removed Alabamas needless barriers to voting and that many tens of thousands of vulnerable people will now have a safe means of voting in July. It was not clear if Kallons ruling applies statewide. The press release from the Legal Defense Fund and the Southern Poverty Law Center said it applies to at least three counties -- Jefferson, Mobile, and Lee. Voting officials in those three counties were named as defendants. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, who is also a defendant in the case, said he and his staff and lawyers from the attorney generals office will discuss the ruling and decide how to proceed. Gov. Kay Ivey postponed the runoff from March 31 to July 14 because of the pandemic. Final phase of Dewey Blvd. work happening Butte-Silver Bow Department of Public Works will begin the final phase of the Dewey Boulevard construction project, of which includes the water main replacement and road reconstruction along Dewey Boulevard. Work is anticipated to begin Monday June 29, with traffic control measures being implemented for asphalt milling and water main excavation throughout the intersection of Dewey and Busch St., as well as along the south-bound lane and shoulder of Dewey Blvd. from Busch St. to Wynne Ave. The Department of Public Works will be hosting a public presentation for the Dewey Blvd. Phase III water and road Construction at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 23, in the Butte Civic Center for questions regarding this project. Fifth Annual Pete Sorini Trail Day rescheduled Due to chance of bad weather this weekend, the meet-up location for the 5th Annual Pete Sorini Trail Day Pete Adopt a Trail Day has changed. Organizers of the event are asking volunteers to meet at Camp Host Eagles Nest in Thompson Park at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20. Volunteers will split into groups to work on trails that need to be cleared and maintained. They will also need to follow social distancing and safety rules, which will be discussed at the start of the event. For details, call Gina Evans, 406-498-9653. MYCA commencement forges ahead DILLON The graduation ceremony for class 42, Montana Youth Challenge Academy, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at Vigilante Field in Dillon, MT. Seventy cadets are scheduled to graduate. The commencement will look different from previous ceremonies, with an outdoor location and social distancing measures in place, in order to meet recommended health guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The keynote speaker for this event is Montana Attorney General Tim Fox. Major General Matthew Quinn, Adjutant General for the state of Montana, will also address the graduates. The residential program was temporarily suspended from March 28 through June 1, for the first time in its 21-year history, in order to reduce the risk of cadets and staff exposure to the Novel Coronavirus. However, the interruption did not detour the cadets of Challenge Class 42. More than 70 cadets returned to complete their initial mission and another 30 have committed to re-enrolling in Class 43, which is scheduled to begin July 21. Students continue to display perseverance as they progress towards graduation and toward the goals they set for themselves at the beginning of the program. The Montana Youth Challenge Academy, sponsored by the State of Montana and the Montana National Guard, is a preventive program designed to improve life outcomes for its participants. The program assists youth who have dropped out of high school or who are not progressing satisfactorily toward graduation. The twenty-two week Residential Phase of Challenge increases opportunities through job skills training, service to the community, and leadership positions. Graduates transition into the 12-month Post-Residential Phase by gaining placement in one of the following options: high school completion, higher education, employment, military enlistment, or volunteering at least 25 hours a week. Mentors, who have been matched with cadets during the Residential Phase, play a critical role in ensuring their continued success. For more information about the Challenge program to include enrollment opportunities, please contact 406-683-7534 or visit their website at www.youthchallenge.mt.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Citing "positive progress" and a decision by Beijing to allow U.S. airlines to resume service to China, the Trump administration on Monday eased plans to further restrict flights by Chinese carriers to the United States. The announcement means Chinese airlines can continue offering four weekly round trips to the United States, but any increase in service will be subject to negotiation. The decision, announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation, came after the Civil Aviation Authority of China issued the necessary permissions to allow Delta Air Lines and United Airlines to restart service between the two countries. The airlines had been among the U.S. carriers that had stopped flying to the region in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, which began in Wuhan. Monday's ruling is the latest action U.S. officials have taken to ensure that China is abiding by a 1980 agreement over air service between the two countries. This month, the Trump administration announced that it would ban all flights to the U.S. by Chinese carriers beginning June 16. The move was in response to rules issued by China's Civil Aviation Authority in March, which largely blocked American carriers from resuming service to China. U.S. officials, however, pulled back plans for a full ban after Beijing announced changes that would allow U.S. carriers to resume some service to China, but said Chinese carriers would only be able to operate two weekly round trips - the same number of flights that U.S. carriers were allowed to operate to China. Before the order, Chinese airlines had been flying four weekly round trips between the two countries. U.S. officials suggested Monday that China is in violation of the agreement governing air service between the two. "We find that while the [Civil Aviation Administration of China's] recent actions continue to preclude U.S. carriers from fully exercising their rights under the Agreement and remain a significant concern to the Department, these latest actions represent positive progress and an important first step toward restoring a fair and equal opportunity for U.S. carriers to compete in the U.S.-China passenger market," Transportation Department officials said in the revised order. But officials also said they remain open to negotiation. "Our overriding goal is not the perpetuation of this situation, but rather an improved environment wherein the carriers of both parties will be able to exercise fully their bilateral rights," the order said. "However, should the [Civil Aviation Administration of China] adjust its policies to bring about the necessary improved situation for U.S. carriers, the Department is fully prepared to once again revisit the action it announced in Order 2020-6-1 and the present order." If Mondays agenda session is anything to go by, a place which once housed clothes may become a place of learning. The Hamilton County school Board discussed finding CSLA a new home during the meeting, and the old Sears and JC Penny buildings in Northgate were discussed as a possibility. One sticking point was the price of the buildings, which were previously thought about being valued at $3.5 to $4 million. However, after these initial discussions, Bassam Issa bought the buildings. He is now offering the school the buildings for around $8 million (or a little more). Rhonda Thurman said, I have a problem with somebody going out and buying a lot of buildings cause they can get funding from someone else, outside of the country, and holding them hostage. A few of the other school boarders questioned how worthwhile spending millions of dollars on such a building is in an economy thats been slowed by COVID-19. Jenny Hill lamented the rising prices, saying that taxpayers are stuck in the middle as the price goes up. She also wondered is this the month to put properties in our back pocket? According to the school board, one plan for these buildings was to have CSLA, and possibly other schools also moving into this space if it is bought. This is not set in stone, however. How much money are we talking about spending to build two different things, asked one of the board members. We are looking at CSLA kindergarten through eighth grade, and CSLA eighth grade through twelfth grade. One of the participants said the county will do their due diligence. He said that even though buying the Northgate properties might be expensive, it would still most likely be cheaper than buying a piece of land and building another school from scratch. Any bids or purchase will need to be approved by the school board first. Superintendent Bryan Johnson also said the board is not beholden to that site at Northgate, and that the department can look at various options before deciding on a place. I will be very frank with you all. I am a superintendent with 6,000 employees and 44,000 students, said superintendent Johnson, and Im trying to think about how we create as much operational efficiency to create more resources for our schools and learning environments for our students. Were in the business of bringing you options. But part of the challenge is that were a lot different from a private entity. Because we are public, everything comes from the public, so we cant turn on a dime. Once we get to a number, it may go up or down, or we may get to a number that seems right to both parties, and the board ups it or downs it. The school board is set to discuss the possibility of buying the Sears and JC Penney buildings during Thursdays meeting. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) speaks to members of the media at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on March 13, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Pelosi Keeping House Out of DC to Give Dems More Campaign Time as Constituent Services Suffer, House GOPer Claims Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is keeping the House of Representatives from joining the Senate in the nations capital full time because she fears Democrats could lose their majority in November, according to a key congressional Republican. I think its pretty telling, if she doesnt want her members coming back to D.C., she really believes there is a need for them to be back in their districts, Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) told The Epoch Times on June 16. And that tells me she is more worried about keeping their majority than what many prognosticators have given her the chance to do, Davis said. Davis is the ranking Republican on the House Administration Committee, which oversees the daily operations of the House of Representatives. A spokesman for Pelosi didnt immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. Democrats regained the House majority in the 2018 congressional elections after losing it in 2010; Republicans hold the majority in the Senate. Davis and two Republican colleagues on the panelReps. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) and Mark Walker (R-N.C.)challenged Pelosi in a June 12 letter first reported on June 15 by The Epoch Times to immediately expedite the roll-out of support assistance to offices, making it possible for staff and members to work in a safe environment and to return the House to Capitol Hill to work alongside the Senate. Davis rejected fears of the CCP virusalso known as the novel coronavirusas justification for not bringing the House back to the Capitol. Weve already demonstrated we can safely return the House the Senate has been in D.C. almost weekly since the beginning of May, Davis said. We have not seen a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Senate even though the average age of a senator makes them much closer to the most vulnerable population we been told about by the professionals than House members. In early May, Pelosi brought the House back to Washington temporarily to vote on her $3 trillion Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act economic recovery package and a proposal to allow House members to vote by proxy. Davis said the ability of representatives staffs to help constituents with problems with the federal government is also hurt by keeping the House out of the Capitol. With the Capitol staff, many of whom are longtime employees and have connections to the bureaucracy, working at home and being more difficult to reach, the district staff has had a harder time getting the information they need to help constituents. We have seen an exponential increase in the number of cases that were dealing with in district offices, Davis told The Epoch Times. In my office alone, weve had 784 constituent cases related to travel restrictions, economic impact payments, unemployment, and others, and that is almost double the next highest amount handled in the first five months of any year since 2013. Caseworkers in other congressional offices on both sides of Congress told The Epoch Times of similar experiences in recent interviews. We are inundated every single day with calls from Where is my IRS refund, to I never received my stimulus, and I did receive my [unemployment] debit card but it didnt come in a government envelope, so I shredded it thinking it was a credit card offer, said the chief caseworker for a congressman representing a suburban southern district. Also, we get a very big bulk of calls from people who have not received their unemployment benefits. They say they cannot get through to talk to anyone and cannot get through on their website, added the caseworker, who asked not to be named. Similarly, the constituent services staff chief for a senator representing a midwestern state, who also requested anonymity, told The Epoch Times their caseload has increased from approximately 300 to more than 1,400 since March, necessitating the temporary diversion of six staffers to help the six regular caseworkers. Democratic campaign strategist Jim Manley, former communications director for then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, told The Epoch Times on June 16 that he is skeptical of the idea that Pelosi is worried about November. If the Senate isnt going to do much of anything, and [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell (R-Ky.) has made it abundantly clear that they are not, Im not sure how much the Democratic leadership needs to worry about keeping the House in session if the Senate wont take up what they are passing. Because the only thing McConnell cares about is confirming [Trump] nominees, Manley said. Similarly, Democratic strategist Jimmy Williams questioned the connection between keeping the House out of Washington and the November election. Being back in the district is good for any member of Congress if they are popular. If they arent, because theyve tied themselves to Trump with plummeting poll numbers, now would be a good time to isolate, Williams said. But Republican strategist Brian Darling pointed to the voter profile difference between the 2018 and 2020 elections. There are 31 House districts in seats that President Trump carried in 2016, therefore Speaker Pelosi has a strong incentive to get House Democrats out of D.C. and into their districts to save themselves, Darling said. In 2018, when President Trump was not on the ballot, many Trump voters stayed at home and Democrats had some big pickups in Trump districts. In this election, the Trump voters will be back and expect many nervous Democrats residing in Trump districts to head into the unemployment lines. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc. WASHINGTON (June 16, 2020)The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the following contract awards that pertain to local Navy activities.No applicble data., is awarded amodification on an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity delivery order N001781-70-D-2053 for additional quantities of Advanced Tactical Navigation units as well as various upgrades, repairs and associated support. Work will be performed in Niceville, Florida, and is expected to be complete by April 2022. This modification raises the contract ceiling to $22,259,073. This modification is being awarded on a sole-source basis in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency (see 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(2)). No funds are being obligated at the time of award, and will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The, is the contracting activity.No applicble data., is awarded amodification (P00174) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-14-C-0067. This modification procures integrated logistics support for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon warfare aircraft for the Navy, the government of Australia, and the government of the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington (68%); Jacksonville, North Carolina (16%); Whidbey Island, Washington (4%); Sigonella, Italy (3%); Kadena, Japan (2%); Bahrain, Bahrain (2%); Misawa, Japan (2%); Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (2%); and various locations within and outside the continental U.S. (1%). Work is expected to be complete by March 2023. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,391,473; Royal Australian Air Force cooperative program funds in the amount of $256,187; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $133,083 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.No applicble data., is awarded acost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-20-F-0817) against a previously-issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0008. This order procures support to manage diminishing manufacturing sources in support of the F-35 program for the Air Force, Navy and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be complete by June 2020. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $6,545,775; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,545,774; and non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $2,897,939 will be obligated at time of award, $6,545,775 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00008) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00019-19-D-0015. This modification increases the ceiling to produce and deliver Ancillary Mission Equipment (AME)/Pilot Flight Equipment (PFE) and associated AME/PFE initial spares in support of F-35 Lot 14 aircraft deliveries for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, non-Department of Defense participants and Foreign Military Sales customer's operational aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be complete by September 2023. No funds are obligated at time of award and funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00006) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00421-20-C-0003. This modification exercises options to provide engineering and technical services for integrated communications and information systems radio communications on Navy ships in support of the Ship and Air Integration Warfare Division, Naval Air Warfare Center, Webster Outlying Field, Maryland. Work will be performed in Saint Inigoes, Maryland (60%); California, Maryland (30%); Bath, Maine (5%); and Pascagoula, Mississippi (5%), and is expected to be complete by June 2025. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds for $2,000,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00006) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00019-18-C-1063. This modification provides for Group 5 unmanned air system intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services. These services are in support of outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS) Task Force Southwest and Marine Corps operations utilizing contractor-owned/contractor-operated MQ-9 unmanned air systems. Work will be performed in Yuma, Arizona (35%); Poway, California (15%); and various OCONUS locations (50%), and is expected to be complete by July 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,432,050 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded amodification (P00286) to previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract N00019-06-C-0081. This modification provides logistics, program management, training, configuration management and sustaining engineering support for the H-53K system demonstration and test article aircraft. Work will be performed in Shelton, Connecticut (57%); New River, North Carolina (35%); Patuxent River, Maryland (5%); and Bohemia, New York (3%). This modification includes pre-initial operational test and evaluation scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and software updates as well as product support packages, repair of repairable analysis and identification and interim supply support provisioning. Additionally, various pieces of peculiar support equipment and common support equipment may be identified and procured under this modification. Work is expected to be complete by December 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,500,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded afirm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-20-F0009) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0031 that procures labor, equipment and material to produce, install, integrate and test KGR-72 very low frequency receiver A and B-kits into 14 E-6B aircraft and associated training systems. Work will be performed in Richardson, Texas, and is expected to be complete by September 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,804,005 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that the Defense Department does not play politics and has distanced himself from suggestions by President Donald Trump that the military could be used to quell domestic unrest under the two-century-old Insurrection Act. "The option to use active-duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. We are not in one of those situations now. I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act now," Esper said at a news conference. James Mattis, a former Marine general, said in a statement to reporters, Militarizing our response, as we witnessed in Washington, D.C., sets up a conflicta false conflictbetween the military and civilian society." In fact, the death of George Floyd is not an isolated case of racism. There is a long history of racism and discrimination against blacks in the U.S, while Asians, Latin Americans and Arabs are also subjected to hate and discrimination. However, since President Trump took power, a White Supremacist policy has been seen to emerge. Some of his policies, especially in immigration, have proven to be extremely discriminatory. Access to American universities and R&D institutions have been restricted for many deserving youths based on their nationality, color, race, religion, and ethnicity. The same applies in the job market. Tensions have been brewing for some time, and George Floyd's death was just the spark that led to the explosion. I believe it is a political issue, or at least has turned into one, and must be addressed politically. One possibility is that the brutal police officers involved in his murder are punished severely and immediately. An exemplary punishment could ensure that crimes like this are prevented from happening again. The victim's family may also receive compensation. All protesters who have been arrested must be released, and cases registered against them must be dropped. Police reforms should be introduced to avoid similar incidents happening again in the future. President Trump has a reputation as a hardline leader and is known for his unpopular decisions. To some extent, unpopular decisions can turn out to be good. But sometimes, they backfire too. Unfortunately, most of his unpopular decisions have turned out to be counter-productive. His orders to suppress the protests by force could be disastrous for the U.S. It's not only Mark Esper, but many retired military figures who have also expressed concerns. Ex-defense Secretary Mattis added: "Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American peopledoes not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us." Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey wrote on Twitter that "America is not a battleground. Our fellow citizens are not the enemy." Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has sharply criticized President Donald Trump's handling of anti-racism protests, saying he has "drifted away" from the Constitution. A situation where the military and civilian leadership are not on the same page is a very delicate one. It could turn out to be a turning point in the modern history of the U.S. and could also decide whether America remains a superpower or becomes a scattered power. In either case, we pray for the lives of the common man and for the minimum or no loss of human lives. Both sides should observe constraint and patience, and protesters should also avoid violence. The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to People's Daily Online. Zamir Ahmed Awan is a senior fellow with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected] Most of us who have lived through the spring of 2020 will remember this season as a time of pandemic, quarantine, bungling experts, over-reaching government mandates, riots and mayhem in our cities, preposterous if not insane proposals for change in our laws, massive virtual signaling, and some politicians and members of the mainstream media, whose policies and opinions strike the rest of us as deranged. As a consequence, ordinary Americans have lived through three months of fear and uncertainty. Many remain unemployed because their businesses were closed as non-essential. Graduations and weddings were postponed. Government policies prevented families from saying goodbye to their dying loved ones. People due for elective surgery, which simply means a scheduled operation, found their medical treatment delayed for weeks. Then, came the riots in various cities over the death of a black man at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis. Across the country, looters and vandals sacked thousands of stores and businesses, set fires, and attacked the police trying to protect these establishments. In the wake of these disturbances, radicals have proposed defunding police departments or eradicating them altogether. Dark Clouds Some are wondering whether the country will survive such a beating. The owner of an auto repair shop here in Front Royal, Virginia; a young dad with a family of three young boys; a close friend; my daughter: All have raised the question, Is America finished? That possibility fills these family members and friends with sorrow and hopelessness. They feel alone, ignored, and irrelevant. For most of us, the only tangible way of fighting against the ugly mess is to vote in the November elections. We can write or call our mayors, governors, and representatives in Congress to express our frustration, but the ballots we cast this election year are vital. Theyll mean the difference between freedom and socialism. But what about now? How do we fight off the darkness that surrounds us and often threatens to engulf us? How do we personally cope with the lunatics and barbarians who openly announce plans to bring America to her knees? How do we stay sane in a time of insanity? Here are some ways that have worked for me. Friends Because of their politics, two men I know feel shut down, unable to express themselves freely to their wives and grown children. Any discussion of national issues opens a can of worms, leading to hurt feelings and estrangement. Another man familiar to me told me in passing that he often felt deeply disheartened by national events. He would watch the evening news, follow events on his laptop, and sink into a dark and lonely place. We can fight these bleak moods by finding some like-minded men or women with whom we can vent about current events. My friend John and I have talked three or four times a week since the lockdown, grousing about the impositions of our government and laughing at some of the banalities. Those conversations are therapeutic, allowing us to blow off some pent-up steam and get on with living. Limit the News One of my friends told me recently that she hadnt watched any news for a week. Given the dangerous upheavals in our country, it is, I think, imperative to stay abreast of the turmoil. We need to find trustworthy news outlets and online sites, and keep informed about the dangers threatening our country. On the other hand, if we watch television news for hours at a time, with its repetitive negativity and drumbeat of gloom and doom, we risk sinking into depression and fear. Moderation in all things, including televised news, is key to maintaining our balance. Fake It Till We Make It If we have children or grandchildren, it behooves us to conceal our pessimism and wild conjectures from them. A Pennsylvania mother I know rarely takes her younger children to the grocery store because she doesnt want them to think masks are normal. She doesnt exclude them from discussions with her husband about the riots, but both Mom and Dad are careful to keep check on their emotions and opinions whenever the kids are around. Whatever our emotional take on current events, we owe those close to us a guarded optimism. Were going through some very tough timesthe crazies wont simply disappearand we cant tackle the future by falling into despair. By putting on this armor of optimism, however feigned, we not only give courage to others, but also find the strength to battle our own demons of depression. Counting Our Blessings Many of us, including me, have trouble with this one. We get so wrapped up in disasters large or small that we forget the good in our lives. In my case, I am in reasonable health, have four children who are married and with children of their ownof course, those grandkids are the best in the worldand I love the work I do. And yet one small foul-up can send me into a tailspin. Just this week, for example, I bought some weed-killer, stowed the plastic jug in the trunk of my car, and drove home. When I went to retrieve the bottle, I found the top had fallen off the jug, and about a gallon of weed killer was sloshing around the plastic lining of the trunk. It took me half an hour to clean everything up, but it took me another three or four hours to get over my funk. A friend of mine, Frankie, once told me of an acquaintance who urged him to play the lottery. You win the lottery, Frankie, and youll be rich. I already won the lottery. What do you mean? I was born in America in the middle of the 20th century. Now theres a man who understands gratitude. Remembering Who We Are Whether we are newly minted citizens or whether we can trace our family tree to Plymouth Rock and Jamestown, we all share one thing in common: We are Americans. We are the sons and daughters of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, of Booker T. Washington and Martin Luther King, of Abigail Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and a host of others whose names are recorded in our history books or who lie in anonymous graves after sacrificing their lives for their country. As Americans, we have natural rights no government may take away. Our country has its flawslately, some contend those flaws run so deep that the country must be destroyedbut America remains the envy of much of the world, as may be seen by the number of immigrants who wish to live here. A few months ago, I was sitting on the front porch of my daughters house when a car pulled into the driveway and two women, evangelicals going door to door as it turned out, walked up the sidewalk to greet me. Though I politely declined their desire to read the Bible with me, one of them asked, Sir, are you pessimistic about the future? I thought for a moment, and then said, I have grandchildren. I cant afford the luxury of pessimism. She nodded approvingly. I have grandchildren too, and feel the same way, she said. God bless you. Lets reject despair over our present difficulties. Lets do battle together and put this nation back on its feet one person at a time. Jeff Minick has four children and a growing platoon of grandchildren. For 20 years, he taught history, literature, and Latin to seminars of homeschooling students in Asheville, N.C. Today, he lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. See JeffMinick.com to follow his blog. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Tuesday met Rashmi Thackeray, the wife of chief minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray and conveyed his condolences on the demise of her father Madhavrao Patankar, who died early on Monday morning after prolonged illness at a suburban hospital. Koshyari visited Patankars home, which is located at Kalanagar in Bandra (East), near Thackerays residence Matoshree. The development comes amid reports of an ongoing tussle between the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and the Governor on a series of issues. On June 2, the Governor took strong objections over the CMs decision to scrap the final-year exams for universities this year owing to the coronavirus outbreak. Koshyari said the CMs announcement on the exams was unprecedented and made without any profound thinking on legal repercussions. He also asserted that he is the chancellor of all the universities and the final authority, as far as the affairs of the universities is concerned and so the decision over exams will be taken in consonance with the provisions of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act. Prior to the issue of university exams, MVA government criticised the Governor for the delay in nominating Uddhav Thackeray as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC), despite a request by the state cabinet to avoid constitutional crisis in Maharashtra. Koshyari also did not appointed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Shivajirao Garje and Aditi Nalawade as members of the state legislative Council despite the two being recommended by CM in December last year. NCP is a part of the MVA alliance. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BRISTOL, Tenn. The Bristol, Tennessee school currently under construction finally has a name: Bristol Tennessee Middle School. At a livestreamed meeting Monday night, the Bristol Tennessee Board of Education voted unanimously to select the name of the school, which will total 154,000 square feet and house all the classrooms for sixth through eighth grades. Annette Tudor, interim director of schools, said the name selection is an important milestone. I think thats a great celebration for our community and [a] great celebration for our school district, certainly, especially in such challenging times, Tudor said. Ed Depew, supervisor of facilities and maintenance for the school system, previously said the school is expected to be completed by the start of the 2021-22 school year. However, he added that construction will probably not be complete until December 2021 because the current Vance Middle School cant be demolished and the land used for a parking lot until the new school is complete. The present schools gym is the only part that will be repurposed for the new building. Currently, BurWil Construction crews are building the area where the majority of classrooms will be housed. Once that building is further along, a corridor will be built connecting the classrooms to the gym, which will be refurbished and upgraded. Vance Middle School, which was built in 1958, isnt air-conditioned, is heated with a hot water radiator, has no room for sixth grade students and doesnt work for many modern teaching practices. For more than a decade, school system officials have discussed replacing it. Bristol Tennessee Middle School classrooms will be built to enable collaboration with neighboring classes. The connecting corridor will house a small theater, cafeteria, kitchen and media center, which will include the library. In addition to refurbishing the gym, there will be a one-story addition to house the schools art programs. The total cost of the middle school is estimated to be more than $36.1 million, including property acquisition, design, site preparation and construction. Roughly $27 million of that cost will be paid for through Sullivan County school construction bonds and the rest covered by the school system budget and contributions by the city. Several board members thanked Bristol Tennessee City Councilman Vince Turner, the City Council liaison to the board, for a resolution council passed last week that commits $2.5 million from the city budget toward construction of the school. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Sometime this week, a line of rusting rail cars will pull into a coal mine in eastern Ukraine for a fresh load of the black fuel that has helped sustain the region's Kremlin-backed rebellion for nearly six years. It is a rare kind of coal, a shiny metallic rock called anthracite that burns relatively cleanly and fetches high prices even in tough economic times. It is also contraband that can't be legally sold abroad. And so, once loaded, the train cars head east toward Russia, where the coal effectively disappears. In a pattern that has played out hundreds of times, the coal is hauled away by a network of Russian companies that, according to Treasury Department documents, often simply resell it to foreign buyers who have no idea that they are getting outlawed coal from a war zone. But lately, with energy prices crashing amid a global pandemic, even this coal is attracting few customers. And that is potentially disastrous news for Ukraine's rebellious eastern provinces - and for the Russians who support them. While the illicit trade continues, far less coal has been moving across the Ukraine-Russia border in recent months, according to documents and independent analysts, and the market price per ton of anthracite is plummeting. In eastern Ukraine, the shift has translated into skipped paydays for miners, declining revenue for the separatist leadership and growing instability for a region that has been a perpetual flash point for U.S. relations with Moscow. "This is an export channel that by definition is smuggling stolen products from one country to another," said Brian Milakovsky, a Ukraine-based analyst who specializes in the economics of the eastern provinces. "Now, money that should land in the pockets of people in the republics isn't going there, and it's causing social tension. And covid-19 only exacerbates it." The collapse threatens a source of revenue that has helped offset the vast sums - estimated at between $1 billion to $3 billion a year - spent by Moscow to sustain the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics. The two provinces have been under the control of pro-Russian separatists who have waged a low-grade civil war with the Kyiv government. Collectively known as the Donbas region, both are home to highly productive, privately owned coal mines and steel factories, which were seized by the rebellion's leaders in 2017. Since then, an endless line of rail cars has moved millions of tons of Ukrainian anthracite and steel into Russia, part of what U.S. and Ukrainian officials describe as an elaborate shell game that turns illegal contraband into hard currency. Until recently, a single businessman sat atop the enterprise. Ukrainian billionaire Sergey Kurchenko and his small network of companies controlled the bulk of the coal coming into Russia from eastern Ukraine, customs records show. The same network sells ordinary Russian coal to buyers around the world and, along with it, anthracite that originated in the mines of eastern Ukraine, according to U.S. and European officials and investigators. Russian media reported that Kurchenko recently lost his monopoly on imported Ukrainian coal, a claim borne out by official trade documents. But companies associated with Kurchenko's network continued to move tons of Ukrainian anthracite into Russia as least as recently early April, according to customs records obtained by C4ADS, a Washington nonprofit group that specializes in data-driven analysis of illicit trade in conflict zones. Kurchenko, 34, is a longtime family friend of Viktor Yanukovych, the former Ukrainian president who was driven from office during that country's 2014 popular uprising and now lives in exile in Russia. Kurchenko, who also now lives in Russia, has been accused by Ukrainian authorities of tax evasion and multiple other criminal offenses related to his energy companies, and he is the subject of U.S. economic sanctions. Attempts to reach Kurchenko through two of his Russian companies were not successful. In 2014, he issued a statement through one of his companies denying wrongdoing, saying, "I am an honest businessman." Since then he has declined interviews and rarely speaks publicly. "He has been holed up in Moscow throughout the course of all of this, because in Ukraine he's a wanted man," said C4ADS senior analyst Jack Margolin. "But as we see in trade data, that certainly hasn't stopped him from doing business." Before 2014, Ukraine's Donbas region accounted for 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product, mostly because of coal and steel. The anthracite mined there is notoriously hard to reach, located mainly in narrow seams more than a half-mile beneath the surface. But the coal's unusual value has provided a livelihood for tens of thousands of miners and a dependable base for Ukraine's economy. Two private companies owned nearly all the region's mines, which continued to operate even as civil war broke out in the region. Then, in 2017, after the Kyiv government imposed an economic blockade on the rebellious provinces, separatist leaders seized control of the mines and steelworks and claimed the coal for themselves - only to be frozen out by international energy traders reluctant to purchase anthracite that is legally regarded as stolen property. Since then, the region has become utterly dependent on Russia, which has spent billions of dollars propping up budgets "just to keep the elementary things going," said Anders Aslund, a Swedish economist and expert on Eastern European economies. "It's an economic hellhole," Aslund said. "It's really awful. The big enterprises are standing still." Eventually, Moscow was obliged to supply the separatists with markets as well as subsidies. European buyers might shun stolen coal from the Donbas, but most are willing to trade with Russia, a global giant in the export of all varieties of fossil fuels. So, with the help of rail cars and corporate sleight of hand, Donbas coal simply becomes Russian coal, U.S. officials and analysts say. "They call it exports," Milakovsky said, "but it's really laundering." Moscow's trade with its Donbas clients is kept relatively quiet, but it is not exactly hidden. Imports of coal and steel from the provinces are documented in Russian customs data and court records. Ukrainian activists opposed to the region's pro-Kremlin leaders use Twitter and other social media to display images and videos of coal-laden trains heading toward the Russia border. Most of the trains enter Russia at a small border crossing called Uspenskaya. Satellite photos on Google Earth routinely show long lines of coal cars in Uspenskaya's train yards, where they await further passage along a railway that continues south toward Rostov-on-Don, the port city that serves as one of southern Russia's main transportation hubs. From 2016 until late last year, at least 3.5 million tons of Donbas coal crossed the Russian border, according to a C4ADS analysis of Russian customs data. During the same period, trains moved more than 360,000 tons of steel and metal products, according to the report, an advance copy of which was provided to The Washington Post. Ukrainian coal-industry officials say the amount exported to Russia is much higher, with at least 6 million tons of anthracite crossing the border by early 2019. In customs records, nearly a third of the coal shipments were linked to companies controlled by Kurchenko. In late 2018, Russian media reported that one of Kurchenko's companies, Gaz-Alyans, had been given exclusive control over all coal exports from Ukraine. Repeated efforts to reach Kurchenko through his companies in Russia and South Ossetia were not successful. There are few publicly available records for what happens to the coal once it enters Russia. DTEK, the Ukrainian energy company whose mines are now controlled by the separatists, asserts in company documents that about half of it is being relabeled as Russian coal and transported by rail - or on ships traversing the Black Sea and Mediterranean - to markets in Asia and Europe. Because the chemical makeup of coal differs from region to region, DTEK officials have been able prove forensically that some Russian-labeled coal is actually from DTEK-owned mines in the Donbas, company officials say. DTEK documents obtained by The Post listed 20 countries as recipients of Donbas coal, with Turkey, Romania, Belgium and Poland receiving the biggest share. Some customs records explicitly list European companies as the ultimate destination for Ukrainian coal transiting through Russia. The Ukrainian company, which has furloughed 30,000 of its non-Donbas workers amid falling coal prices, has lodged formal protests with several European governments in an attempt to halt the import of contraband coal. Exactly how much Donbas coal is consumed outside Russia is difficult to independently assess. Russia uses some of it, customs records show. But Moscow has no need for foreign coal, being one of the world's biggest producers and exporters of the fuel. And without extensive forensic testing, it would be difficult to prove whether any given coal shipment originated in Russia or Ukraine or is a mix of the two, analysts say. "It is a reasonable assumption that some of that [Russian] coal originated from eastern Ukraine," Margolin said. Lately, however, demand has plummeted for coal, regardless of where it comes from. A steep decline in prices began last year and accelerated with the spread of the coronavirus. In November, the Russian business news site RBC reported that a dispute had erupted between Donbas leaders and Kurchenko's companies because of the shrinking volume of coal being purchased from the region's mines. Instead of the promised 400,000 tons per month, Russian trains were hauling away about a quarter of that amount, RBC reported. As a result, Kurchenko's companies had lost their exclusive access to the region's coal, while amassing debts to the breakaway republics in the hundreds of millions of dollars, the news site said. Falling revenue has quickly translated into unrest in a mining region that experts say was already afflicted by chronically low wages and deteriorating conditions, with local mines seeing few repairs or equipment upgrades since 2017. Donbas miners and family members have taken to Facebook and other social media to complain of wage cuts and long delays in the payment of salaries, according to a report by the Digital Forensic Research Lab, a unit of the Washington think tank Atlantic Council. The report displayed a photograph of a pay stub posted by one anonymous miner showing monthly earnings of less than $80, just over half the legal minimum wage in Ukraine. "Claims like these are widespread across Donbas miner groups," the report said. A strike in early May that shut down a mine in Zorinsk, a coal town in Luhansk, was led by workers who said they had not been paid in months, according to accounts of the work stoppage posted by miners on the social media platform Telegram. The workers ended the walkout on the sixth day after being promised back wages, which, as of late May, still had not arrived, mine workers said. In the past week, the province's leaders imposed a blockade around a coal mine in Antratsyt - a town about 40 miles southeast of Zorinsk named for its abundance of anthracite - after more than 100 miners locked themselves underground in a new outbreak of labor unrest, according to postings on the Russian social media site VK. Rescue workers were being refused permission to bring food and water to the striking miners, according to the reports. It is unclear how the unrest will affect the region's civil war. Analysts say it is unlikely the Kremlin will do more to prop up the Donbas region's industries at a time when Russia's economy is being squeezed by a global pandemic and tumbling oil prices after a brief but punishing price war with Saudi Arabia. Among Russia's powerful coal barons, opposition to discount imported coal from the Donbas was already building before energy markets crashed. "It was always clear that the Russians didn't want to let Donbas become a cheap competitor within the Russian Federation," said Nikolaus von Twickel, a former official with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the agency that deploys international monitors to conflict zones, including in eastern Ukraine. Yet, if the region's workers cannot find employment in the mines or steel mills, some may see separatist militias as the best alternative to earn a living, he said. "People say the best business is the military," von Twickel said. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Georgias primary election last week was hardly an exemplar of democratic efficiency. Equipment malfunctioned, backup ballots went missing, lines stretched interminably and many voters waited for hours to cast a ballot sometimes in vain. One reason for the chaos? Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, hundreds of poll workers didnt turn up. That should serve as a warning for Novembers presidential election: All states need to offer no-excuse mail voting this year, and Congress should help them do it. Even before the coronavirus, the share of votes cast by mail had been increasing in recent years, reaching about one-quarter in 2018. The practice has long been helpful for those who cant get to a polling place due to disability, work or other concerns. It may also have broader advantages. In Colorado, which instituted all-mail voting in 2013, researchers found that turnout has increased and that voters of color have benefited in particular. Although mail voting isnt without risks, these shouldnt be overblown. Misconduct is one reasonable concern. Yet research suggests its extremely rare: Over the past two decades, with some 250 million votes cast by mail nationally, there have been only 143 confirmed cases of fraud. Nor does increased vote-by-mail appear to favor one political party over the other. Moreover, with 2 million U.S. coronavirus infections and counting, the case for voting remotely is especially strong in 2020. While no one can predict how the pandemic will look by November, its reasonable to expect that many voters especially older ones will still want to isolate themselves and that state officials will still be discouraging large crowds. That makes mail-in voting desirable purely on public-health grounds. Ideally, then, states should be sending ballots to all registered voters well ahead of Election Day. Yet obstacles remain. Several states still require a valid reason for voters to mail in ballots and havent made accommodations specific to the coronavirus. That should change. Even areas that have made good-faith efforts this year have run into trouble. While Georgia tried to ensure that all registered voters could easily get absentee forms, for instance, many never received their ballots. A similar foul-up marred the primary in Washington, D.C. Story continues Congressional action could ensure better execution. Quickly expanding vote-by-mail capacity will in many states require new equipment, added training, expanded voter education, many more printed ballots and an awful lot of postage, placing an added burden on governments that are already under extreme budget pressure. Legislators have rightly proposed to help with this effort. But Congress shouldnt create a permanent handout to states: The key is to treat this election as a one-off experiment. Nor should the benefits of in-person voting be overlooked. Going to the polling booth offers a regular reminder that American democracy requires active participation. Its a visible expression of civic duty. And many people have fond memories of accompanying a parent to the ballot box as a child an evocative ritual that may in fact have lifelong effects on voting behavior. Such benefits need to be balanced against the extraordinary circumstances the country now faces. When the act of casting a ballot becomes a threat to public health, seeking alternatives makes sense. If widespread mail-in voting turns out to have salutary effects more broadly by increasing participation, say then all the better. In a year of unprecedented turmoil, casting a vote is one thing that should be made as painless as possible. Editorials are written by the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Madrid, Spain Tue, June 16, 2020 16:18 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf33cbd 2 World Spain,reopening,Britain,visitors,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-quarantine,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Spain is considering imposing a quarantine on visitors from Britain when it re-opens its borders next week, Spain's Foreign Minister said, in response to a similar policy introduced last week for travellers to Britain. Arancha Gonzalez Laya told the BBC she hoped Britain would lift its restriction, making a reciprocal Spanish one unnecessary. "We will be in a dialogue with the UK to see whether or not we should be introducing reciprocity as they have different measures than the rest of the European Union," she said in an advance excerpt from current affairs program HARDtalk. Britain, with more than 41,000 documented coronavirus-linked deaths, and Spain, with more than 27,000, have been two of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic. Both, along with other European countries, are in the process of easing lockdown restrictions that have included border closures. Spanish officials gave no mention of any quarantine curbs on Sunday, when the government moved forward the date for allowing European visitors back into the country to June 21 from July 1. In recent weeks, Spain has caused some confusion in neighboring countries by repeatedly changing the date and conditions for lifting the ban on foreign visitors it imposed in March in response to the epidemic. Spain counts on tourism for about 12 percent of its economy and more than one in eight jobs, making it essential for the country to try and salvage some of the summer holiday season. Britain's Finance Minister Rishi Sunak told Sky News on Sunday that the quarantine was among measures it would review, saying the government could make changes including introducing travel corridors with specific countries. Spain's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is not going to attend the virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday as her name is reportedly missing from the list of speakers. Sources at the state secretariat Nabanna said that Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha will attend the meeting to be held at 3pm to discuss the coronavirus crisis. Beside Bengal, other states who will have their representatives during are Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Hitting out at the Centres decision for not letting Banerjee speak during Wednesdays meeting, state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said the Centre has once again humiliated Bengal and tried to silence the chief minister. The consultation in the name of video conferences is mere hogwash if the Chief Ministers arent allowed to put forth their concerns, he wrote on Twitter. Senior Trinamool Congress leader and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said the Centre is yet to release Rs 50,000 crore for the state and hence, trying to stop Banerjee from raising the issue. So far, they have given only Rs 1,000 for Amphan. They purposely omitted our chief ministers name from the list of speakers so that she could not demand the money that Bengal should get from the Centre. This BJP-ruled central government is anti-people. This government is only for the rich and anti-poor, Hakim said. Party MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said the Centre simply refuses to listen to the states grievances. Bengal is facing a double crisis. We are struggling with coronavirus pandemic and the cyclone aftermath. But they simply removed our CMs name from the list of speakers so that they dont listen to our grievances. If you dont want our CM to speak then what is the point of holding such meetings, she said. Taking to Twitter, former Union Railways minister Dinesh Trivedi wrote, It seems that the Centre is so worried about exposing itself to Mamata Banerjees constructive criticism on Covid-19 response that our hon'ble CM's been reduced to just a mute spectator for the latest round of VCs with the PM. People of Bengal won't forgive this! Banerjee has been repeatedly slamming the Modi government for not giving the state its share worth Rs 53,000 crore, including Rs 36,000 crore for central schemes. She has also alleged that the economy is nose-diving due to the inefficient handling of the BJP dispensation. Recently, she also hit out at the Centre over the plight of migrant workers who she said were suffering due to the mismanagement of the government. BJP's Rahul Sinha said it has became a habit of the state ruling camp to find out faults in all of Centre's moves and decisions. The number of COVID-19 cases in Chhattisgarh increased to 1,784 on Tuesday after 78 people, including two Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, tested positive in the last 24 hours, a health official said. Besides, a total of 102 patients were discharged from different hospitals across the state on Tuesday following their recovery from the infection, he said. The fatality count remained unchanged at nine. While 31 cases were reported on Tuesday, 47 people found to have contracted the infection on Monday night," he said. Of the new cases, 31 were reported from Balodabazar district, 11 from Raipur, six each from Durg and Rajnandgaon districts, five each from Korba and Gariaband districts, four from Balrampur and two each from Narayanpur and Mahasamund districts," the official said. "A case each was reported from Kabirdham, Koriya, Bilaspur, Balod, Janjgir-Champa and Surajpur districts," he said. The Naxal-hit Narayanpur district recorded COVID-19 cases for the first time with two ITBP personnel, belonging to the 45th battalion of the central force, testing positive for the viral infection on Tuesday, a police official said. A head constable and a constable, both aged 33, had returned to their duty place in Narayanpur on June 7 from their native towns in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, respectively, after availing leave and were kept in a quarantine centre," he said. After they fell ill, they were shifted to an isolation centre in Narayanpur district hospital on June 10, he said. Earlier, five ITBP personnel had tested COVID-19 positive in Rajnandgaon and Kondagaon districts. The ITBP has been deployed in the state for anti-Naxal operations. The number of active cases in the state now stood at 842 as 933 people have been discharged after recovery, while nine others have died due to the infection so far. Chhattisgarh's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 1,784, new cases 78, deaths 9, discharged 933, active cases 842, people tested so far 1,10,062. NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Haley Guiliano LLP has announced that, as part of its continuing expansion, Laurence S. Rogers is joining the firm as Of Counsel in its New York office. Rogers brings more than 40 years of IP transaction and patent litigation experience to Haley Guiliano. He has received a multitude of accolades and has been recognized as a leading patent law practitioner, including being voted an "IP Star" by Managing IP and being recognized by Best Lawyers in America. Laurence S. Rogers "We are very pleased to welcome Larry to the firm. His depth of expertise in the practice of patent law and client-focused approach dovetails perfectly with our firm's commitment to providing exceptional client service," says Joseph Guiliano, Haley Guiliano's Managing Partner. Added Rogers, "I have known and worked with many of my new colleagues at Haley Guiliano for decades. I am extremely excited to be able to join a firm with such a high-quality legal team and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the firm's growth." Rogers is the most recent addition to Haley Guiliano, which has increased its legal professional headcount by 20% across its offices in the past six months. The firm has demonstrated that, despite the economic contraction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is well-positioned to continue its growth. Prior to joining Haley Guiliano, Rogers was a partner in the IP Litigation practice of Ropes & Gray LLP and at Fish & Neave, which merged with Ropes & Gray in 2005. He received a B.S. from Cornell University in Electrical Engineering, and a J.D. from New York University School of Law. Media contact: Frank DelCore [email protected] 646-973-2562 SOURCE Haley Guiliano LLP Using human cell and mouse models, City of Hope scientists demonstrate that the cancer inhibitors they're developing could destroy acute myeloid leukemia and tumors from brain, pancreatic and breast cancers DUARTE, Calif. -- City of Hope scientists have identified and developed two potent small molecules that appear to suppress tumor growth in multiple cancers even when other treatments cease to work, possibly due to the development of drug resistance. Called CS1 (or bisantrene) and CS2 (or brequinar), these cancer inhibitor compounds are part of a protein known as "fat mass and obesity-associated protein." Nicknamed FTO, the protein plays a critical role in cancer development and progression, primarily because it regulates cancer stem cells and immune evasion. In other words, FTO promotes the growth, self-renewal, metastasis and immune escape of cancer cells. "The cancer inhibitors we developed are at least 10 times more effective in killing acute myeloid leukemia cells than several previously reported FTO inhibitors," said Jianjun Chen, Ph.D., the Simms/Mann Family Foundation Chair in Systems Biology at City of Hope and corresponding author of the new study. "In the near future, we should use these two compounds alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents such as targeted therapy, standard chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy to treat patients with FTO-high cancers." Examples of FTO-high cancers include acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive brain cancer called glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer. The study, published in the journal Cancer Cell on June 11, provides new insight into how cancer stem cells replenish and visibility into how cancer evades our immune system. It highlights the possibility that targeting FTO with potent inhibitors could eventually become a treatment for certain cancers. In the study, City of Hope scientists demonstrated that the two new FTO inhibitor compounds they created had potent anti-tumor effects and substantially improved overall survival in mice with AML or a solid tumor such as breast cancer. An estimated 11,200 people are expected to die due to AML in 2020. The five-year survival rate is 29%, according to National Institutes of Health SEER data. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among U.S. women. Chen and his colleagues saw the need to address these big problems. The Chen lab has been conducting research on RNA modification in cancer for eight years and is a pioneer in this field -- developing personalized treatments that will enable the practice of precision medicine. The lab began working on the CS1 and CS2 project three years ago when Chen first arrived at City of Hope. Chen's team noted that many cancer patients either do not respond to treatments that are currently available such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy, or that they responded to the therapeutics in the beginning but relapse later due to cancer-regenerating stem cells and the escape of cancer cells from our immune surveillance. It turns out that modifying FTO or using small molecules to inhibit FTO interrupts the supply chain that enables cancer to develop and progress. Studies showed that treatment with a relatively low dose of CS1 or CS2 (5 mg/kg/day 10 times every other day) could, at the very least, double the median survival in mouse models with AML. CS1 became more potent after Chen's lab put a sort of sleeve over it so that it could bypass certain barriers that do not like water-based molecules. "Our study suggests that combining FTO inhibitor treatment with other therapies will improve patient outcomes because this method will eradicate cancer stem cells and mechanisms that suppress the immune system," said Rui Su, Ph.D., lead author of the study and assistant research professor in the Department of Systems Biology at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope. CS1 and CS2 prevent FTO from connecting with target messenger RNAs, including cancer-causing genes MYC and CEBPA, as well as immune checkpoint gene LILRB4. Because CS1 (bisantrene) and CS2 (brequinar) have been tested in multiple clinical trials under the guises of other objectives, Chen and his colleagues believe this basic research has access to a freeway entrance that will fast track it into clinical trials. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has already funded the next step: The Chen lab is working to further optimize CS1 and CS2 to develop improved FTO inhibitor compounds that are more efficacious with minimal side effects for humans. ### Scientists from Harvard Medical School, China Medical University, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Tianjin University, the Shanghai branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Houston Methodist, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Midwestern University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine also contributed to this research. The study used the Hematopoietic Tissue Biorepository core at City of Hope, which is supported by the National Cancer Institute of the NIH (P30CA33572). Other supporters include NIH grants (R01 CA243386, R01 CA214965, R01 CA236399, R01 CA211614, R01 DK124116, R50CA211404, R35CA197628, U10CA180827, R01CA137060, R01CA157644, R01CA172558 and R01CA213138), The Margaret E. Early Medical Research Trust, and American Cancer Society Cancer Research Scholar grant. About City of Hope City of Hope is an independent biomedical research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy such as CAR T cell therapy. City of Hope's translational research and personalized treatment protocols advance care throughout the world. Human synthetic insulin and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs are based on technology developed at the institution. A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope is the highest ranked cancer hospital in the West, according to U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals: Specialty Ranking. Its main campus is located near Los Angeles, with additional locations throughout Southern California. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram. Deus Ex and Tomb Raider developer Eidos Montreal has opened a new research and development studio called Eidos Sherbrooke with parent company Square Enix. Based in the southern Quebec city of Sherbrooke, the new opening has been described as a "regional chapter" of Eidos Montreal, and will initially be staffed by a 20-strong team before scaling up to around 100 employees over the next five years. The fledgling studio has been tasked with supporting research and development by "exploring, testing, and applying new technologies to create the video games of tomorrow." "The studio will capitalize on the almost endless possibilities of new processes such as cloud computing, real-time geo-morphing, voxel-based raytracing and multi-node game engines," said Julien Bouvrais, CTO of Eidos Montreal and new head of studio at Eidos Sherbrooke. "These technologies in a video game context will allow creating infinitely customizable, highly realistic and real-time environments, in addition to testing high-performance simulations for several users simultaneously. With our establishment in Sherbrooke, we want to offer something else, an environment and working conditions that foster creativity and innovation." To achieve that aim, Eidos Sherbrooke will collaborate with various institutions including the University of Sherbrooke, with the pair having already planned several research and development projects. To the Times: The deliberate killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer was a horrendous crime. As a pro-life advocate, I believe in the right to life both before and after birth. This poor mans death has brought together in peaceful protests not only black but white, Latino and people of other races. Tragically, in the early days after Mr. Floyds killing there was some violence, when rioters threw bottles at the police, burned down neighborhood businesses, and looted. But fortunately those who engaged in violence were a very small minority, and police reform and racial justice are now major issues. Rightfully so. It so happens that the great majority of my co-workers over the years were black. Did I like them all? Of course not. Im white, but neither do I like all the white people I meet. But I try my best to follow Rev. Martin Luther Kings exhortation to judge people not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Years ago, I took part in peaceful demonstrations against legal abortion. I no longer do for health reasons. Otherwise, I would be happy to join in protests for police reform. In my opinion, such reform would include a nationwide ban on police holds (such as was used in the killing of Mr. Floyd) and more oversight by the police by ordinary citizens. Further, there is sometimes (perhaps often) bad relationships between the police and minorities. It is essential that there be reconciliation between the police and the communities that they serve. Tim Donovan, Prospect Park Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has announced providing AED641 million ($174.5 million) support to Abu Dhabis citizens, farmers, livestock breeders and small-scale producers in the first quarter of 2020. This support has covered five main programs, including rice, flour, improving farmers income, animal feed and compound feed programs, reported state-run news agency Wam. About 138,000 families, 30,632 breeders and farmers, and 259 small-scale producers and commercial animal farms in Abu Dhabi have benefited from these programs. Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of ADAFSA, said that ADAFSAs support programs offered to farmers, livestock breeders and small-scale producers aim at realizing agricultural sustainability in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, increasing production to enhance the emirates food security and biosecurity system, and improving quality of local produce. In addition, ADAFSA is promoting the concept of knowledge and innovation-based production by embracing integrated plans and support programs based on research, review and development, thus contributing to achieving the goals of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and National Food Security Strategy 2051, Al Ameri stated. During the first quarter of 2020, ADAFSA offered over 16,300 tons of flour and rice to 138,228 families benefiting from rice and flour support programs in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Through these programs, ADAFSA seeks to enhance food security and improve the quality of life of these families. Meanwhile, ADAFSA supported 17,060 livestock breeders with AED 261.2 million as part of feed support program. It also offered over AED 271.4 million to 13,572 farmers benefiting from farmer's income improvement program, while about AED 55.4 million was given to small-scale producers and broiler and layer farms. This support has resulted in great and continuous milestones achieved by the agricultural sector in Abu Dhabi, as livestock numbers have amounted to about 3.5 million head, holdings numbers reached to 48,000 agriculture and animal holding, and the cultivated land reached to 749 million square meters producing thousands of tons of crop varieties that contribute efficiently to meeting an important part of local markets needs. ADAFSAs programs are part of an integrated support system targeting the agricultural sector. There are biosecurity-related programs, such as those dedicated to control palm pests and combat invasive insects and pests. In addition, ADAFSA provides farmers with technical and extension programs to improve their expertise. Furthermore, ADAFSA offers several services to farmers, including soil tillage and levelling, buying submersible pumps, extension farms that aim at introducing them to the best agricultural techniques and practices, providing irrigation water, and product marketing programs through which ADAFSA aims at creating effective channels to market farmers produce and enhance its competitiveness in markets. Additionally, ADAFSAs indirect support programs for livestock breeders include vaccination and biosecurity programs, veterinary treatment services and laboratory tests, camel fertility assessment and treatment services, livestock registration and identification services, and seasonal markets that aim at supporting breeders and farmers market their products. Throughout the year, ADAFSA also organizes extension and awareness activities targeting animal breeders, to introduce them to the best practices of relevancy to farm management and animal farming. During the first quarter of 2020, ADAFSA has provided 142,063 agricultural and food services to the public through its digital channels and customer service centres across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. ADAFSA is keen to provide high-quality services to the public using its service system, which includes 49 different services. Best friends and cousins Penelope Disisk, seven, and North West are known for celebrating their birthdays together. And despite lockdown restrictions, sisters Kim and Kourtney Kardashian made sure their girls would still be together this year for North's special day. 41-year-old Kourtney took to social media on Monday to wish her niece on her seventh birthday while sharing photos of her spending time on her Wyoming farm with Penelope. Proud Aunt: Kourtney Kardashian shared a sweet dedication to niece North West on her seventh birthday on Monday 'my Northie birthday girl,' she captioned the darling photos. North and Penelope were seen twinning in unique tie-dye style shirts for the photo. Kim Kardashian's eldest sported white joggers and pink boots while Penelope was dressed in grey pants and neon orange shoes. BFF cousins: North and Penelope were seen twinning in unique tie-dye style shirts for the photo Good morning! Kourtney Kardashian appeared to be having a happy Sunday morning when she took to social media to share a photo of herself cuddling up to a baby lamb while in Wyoming The girls are believed to be staying at Kim and Kanye West's $14 million ranch in Wyoming along with their siblings and some of their other cousins. Kourtney is with Mason, 10, Penelope, seven, and Reign, five, Kim and Kanye have North, seven, Saint, four, Chicago, two, and Psalm, one. According to Us Weekly, joining them are Kylie Jenner and daughter Stormi Webster, two, as well as Khloe Kardashian and her daughter, True, two. Kourtney shared a photo from the farm on Sunday morning while posing with a baby lamb for her social media followers. The 41-year-old took to Instagram to flash a smile in her laid back country style ensemble. 'mornin,' she captioned the high spirited photo. Kourtney rocked an oversized plaid shirt and a loose fitting pair of jeans for the outdoor photo. Her dark tresses were styled back and she appeared to be wearing a minimal amount of makeup. Country girl: Kourtney rocked an oversized plaid shirt and a loose fitting pair of jeans for the outdoor photo Bathroom chic: Kourtney Kardashian shared a series of photos to Instagram on Saturday taken in a bathroom by her youngest Reign Kourtney's appearance comes after she reminded her followers to wash their hands last week while in Wyoming. The 41-year-old clearly looked to be in relaxed vacation mode in the photo. She threw up a peace sign with her fingers while puckering her lips into a kissing face. For a simple look, Kourtney wore black pants, a plain white tee with a black backpack strapped on. Her brunette locks were tucked under a blue headscarf and she covered her eyes with black rectangular sunglasses. Don't forget: 'Reminder from Reign to please wash your hands,' the Poosh founder wrote in the caption. The reminder comes as the coronavirus pandemic continues to see rising cases and deaths in the U.S In awe: Kourtney took a snap of her youngest child looking at the rugged mountains on Saturday In a three photo slideshow, a sign hanging on the wall in the bathroom read 'please wash your hands.' 'Reminder from Reign to please wash your hands,' the Poosh founder wrote in the caption. The reminder comes as the coronavirus pandemic continues to see rising cases and deaths in the U.S. Earlier in the week she shared photos of beautiful sights in Wyoming. Kourtney's sister Kim and her husband Kanye own a $14 million 6,713-acre ranch in Wyoming and regularly visit the beautiful state when they want to escape Los Angeles. The former couple spent time in Utah with their brood to celebrate Scotts 37th birthday last month and sources say the pair had 'so much fun'. A Us Weekly insider explained: 'Kourtney and Scott had so much fun with the kids in Utah, and the kids want them to do family trips all together more often.' As U.S. meat production plummeted in April following a rash of coronavirus outbreaks and closures at processing plants across the country, industry and political leaders sounded an alarm. Factory closures were pushing our country perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply, Kenneth Sullivan, CEO of Smithfield Foods, the countrys largest pork producer, warned in a public message April 6. As closures worsened three weeks later, John Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods, put his name on a full page ad in The Washington Post and The New York Times warning that Americas food supply chain is breaking. Our plants must remain operational so that we can supply food to our families in America, Tyson said. The next day, President Donald Trump threw the industry a lifeline. He invoked the Defense Production Act to declare it was crucial to keep meat plants open and operating. He had used the authority just once before: to ramp up production of personal protective equipment. The move elevated American meat processing into a privileged position. It is important that processors of beef, pork, and poultry in the food supply chain continue operating and fulfilling orders to ensure a continued supply of protein for Americans, Trump wrote in his executive order. But Americans were never at risk of a severe meat shortage, a USA TODAY investigation found, based on an analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture data and interviews with meat industry analysts. Instead, some critics say, the fear was used to justify the executive order, which provided some liability protection for meatpacking plants. It also created a uniform system of rules, set by the federal government, to keep plants open rather than leave the closure of meatpacking plants to a patchwork of state and local health authorities. Amid concerns of the spread of COVID-19, a worker restocks chicken in the meat product section at a grocery store in Dallas, Wednesday, April 29, 2020. Weve been very skeptical about these claims around shortages, said Ben Lilliston, a co-executive director of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, which advocates for fair and sustainable food systems. I think they were able to use the idea of food shortages as leverage to get those two things. Story continues Federal data reviewed by USA TODAY show that although American beef and pork production did tank in a six-week period stretching from mid-March to the executive order, exports of hundreds of millions of pounds of meat continued. The amount of beef and pork products exported over that time period actually exceeded the amount of lost production when compared with 2019 levels. Lilliston pointed out the industry also never drew down meat supplies sitting in cold storage warehouses in the middle of the supply chain, which he said would have indicated faltering supply. In fact, red meat and poultry products in cold storage grew by about 40 million pounds from March to April, reaching 2.5 billion pounds, USDA data show. Cold storage can tell you something. If the levels are still pretty high there, that tells you they havent tapped into that, Lilliston said. Other experts also made a distinction between the spot shortages of meat temporary shortages of some products in some places that spiked in early May and a truly critical lack of protein-rich products. Were not going to run out of meat, Steve Meyer, an economist for Kerns & Associates, an agricultural commodities firm in Iowa, told USA TODAY in late April. Buy what you need, and leave some for somebody else, and I think well all get through this OK. Others say its more complicated. Economists warn that a sharp curtailment of exports to shore up domestic supplies could harm long-term trade relationships and possibly backfire as companies lose a profit motive to slaughter more animals. And Sarah Little, a spokeperson for the industry group North American Meat Institute, said efforts to stabilize the industry were to ensure that a serious shortage never arrived. While there was less variety to consumers, or certain regional areas may have experienced shortages of meat, it wasnt a widespread shortage, Little said. It never got to a point where we thought Americans would not have access to food. That is never something our companies would want to see. And thats why it was so important to be able to continue operations. But Tony Corbo, a senior government affairs representative of the nonprofit Food & Water Watch, said he saw a disconnect between the alarming language the industry used in April and the continued exports. Theres this incongruity between the Tysons of the world and the Smithfields of the world wringing their hands, saying this is going to cause all kinds of disruptions to the domestic meat supply, while at the same time behind everybodys back theyre exporting, Corbo said. Production drops as exports rise In the crucial month leading up to Trumps executive order, USDA data show beef and pork production was in sharp decline. From March 20 to April 24, the industry produced 171 million fewer pounds of beef and pork than during the same stretch last year. But the industry exported about 636 million pounds over the same time span, nearly four times the deficit. That number has since grown to more than 1.3 billion pounds exported through early June. And while the U.S. does export significant quantities of variety meat products such as feet and tails that most Americans dont eat, data from the U.S. Meat Export Federation shows those products accounted for less than 25% of the weight of exports in April. Joe Schuele, vice president of communications for the federation, said that even among non-variety meats, some pork and beef products are more popular overseas. That includes exports of beef short plate, a tough and fatty meat, to Japan, and pork picnic, a shoulder cut popular in Mexico. Federal export figures do not detail which cuts are being exported. Data does show that the overall trends of meat production and export began to diverge by early April and grew further apart leading up to Trumps executive order. During those several weeks, production of beef and pork dipped below 2019 levels, but exports soared above the amounts seen a year earlier. In the week ending April 23, the industry exported 98.6 million pounds of pork overseas, the second-highest total of 2020. Lilliston said the continued push to export wasnt surprising. The nations largest meat companies, which also include JBS and Cargill, are now global operations, with products flowing to wherever the most value is to be had, he said. It's not their mission to feed U.S. citizens, Lilliston said. They view the U.S. as a really important market, perhaps their most important market. But it's not 'Our job is to fill their grocery stores so people have enough to eat. Hli Yang, a Tyson spokesperson, said the criticism was unfair. We export responsibly and assess market dynamics, such as COVID-19s impact in the U.S., before making decisions, Yang said. Yang added that the company had been prioritizing beef and pork sales in the U.S. market. We also voluntarily curtailed beef and pork exports that fit the tastes of domestic consumers to try to meet U.S. demand during this challenging time, Yang said. Keira Lombardo, executive vice president of corporate affairs and compliance for Smithfield, said theres a delay between production and export that meant food exported at the height of the pandemic was ordered and processed months before. More recently, U.S. exports have declined as a result of lower production amid COVID-19, Lombardo said. The White House did not respond to questions about Trumps executive order for this story, referring the matter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA did not respond to requests for comment. Exports explosive growth Agricultural economists say that improving domestic supply by limiting exports may not be as simple as it seems. Over the past several decades, Americas meat industry has increasingly relied on exports for growth and profits. The U.S. now exports more meat than ever before, growing from less than 2% of production in 1960 to about 23% of pork, 16% of chicken, and 11% of beef in 2019, USDA data show. Most of the demand for meat has not been inside the United States, said Jayson Lusk, head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. Its been outside the country, so its not surprising U.S. producers looking to grow their markets have looked elsewhere to try to find additional customers. Buoyed most recently by the Trump administrations reworking of trade agreements with China and Mexico, 2020 was expected to be a banner year for exports, particularly pork. Farmers had expanded their herds in anticipation, leaving a glut once COVID-19 struck, which required some farmers to do traumatic mass cullings and placed additional pressure on plants to reopen. Experts also say exportation has become deeply ingrained in the supply chain, down to the farm level. Some animals are primarily raised to send specific cuts overseas, with the remainder of the animal heading to U.S. supplies. Lombardo, the Smithfied representative, said meat processing facilities are typically equipped to produce specific products, whether for retail, restaurants or exports. Converting them for another use takes time. Food supply chains are complex and products for one market cannot always be immediately reconfigured for another, Lombardo said. Without an export incentive, domestic supply could also dip, others said. I think those considering restricting exports overestimate the extent it would increase domestic consumption and underestimate the adverse economic impact, said Glynn Tonsor, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University. Some remain skeptical that curtailing exports would hurt domestic supply. Roger Horowitz, a history professor and meat industry expert at the University of Delaware, said he believes companies would find a way to make use of all animals parts domestically or transfer costs to consumers, although perhaps for less money. Export restrictions could hurt profits, but not American consumers, Horowitz said. But Lusk added that any short-term domestic gains realized by curtailing exports could also result in long-term damage to trade relations. The issue is that there are real people and real relationships on the other end of those trade deals, Lusk said. If one cancels a contract today, do they lose that customer next month? What does that do to the profitability of the packing plant and the pork producers? The risks to workers At the mercy of the economic equation are the nations meatpacking workers, who risk contracting COVID-19 in the workplace. While the Trump administration and industry leaders say conditions have improved for employees after workplace safety guidelines were implemented last month, workers continue to fall ill. By tracking public reports, the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting found that 10,000 meatpacking workers had fallen ill by May 5, with at least 45 deaths. Those numbers have since grown to more than 24,000 infections and at least 90 deaths. For one plant inspector within the USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), it didnt sit well that administration officials raised the specter of meat shortages while exports continued. The FSIS employs several thousand inspectors who visit meatpacking plants daily; at least four have died from COVID-19. According to the inspector, who spoke with USA TODAY under condition of anonymity, FSIS officials initially addressed inspectors in April and said there was an urgent need to remain on the job, despite the risks of COVID-19. Tyson Foods installed plastic barriers between worker stations at its meat and poultry plants to protect against transmission of the coronavirus. Because the meat supply to all Americans, including the inspectors families, kids, and grandkids could fail, leading to widespread meat shortages and malnutrition, the employee recalled officials saying. Agency officials later changed the tone of communications and are now simply thanking inspectors for doing their job, instead of citing concerns about food shortages, which the USDA inspector said was appreciated. But USDA leadership is still using the argument publicly. In a June 9 statement announcing that meat production had returned to 95% of 2019 levels, USDA secretary Sonny Perdue again justified the push to keep meatpacking plants open by citing risks to the domestic food supply. I want to thank the patriotic and heroic meatpacking facility workers, the companies, and the local authorities for quickly getting their operations back up and running, and for providing a great meat selection once again to the millions of Americans who depend on them for food, Perdue said. Debbie Berkowitz, who spent six years as chief of staff and senior policy adviser at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and is now director of the National Employment Law Projects worker health and safety program, criticized the administration, saying worker safety has been jeopardized on a false premise. They just decided those lives were OK to sacrifice and for what? Berkowitz said. So many of (the) plants sent their pork to China. It wasnt about feeding America. Lilliston said the tension between worker safety, domestic supply and export highlights a potential weakness of the modern-day U.S. meat industry. He advocates a reevaluation of how much power rests in the hands of just a few meatpacking companies whose primary mission is to grow exports. Theyre not ready to give it up. Even when there are problems here domestically, Lilliston said. It really shows the power I think in some ways, of that sort of export-above-all mentality. No export restrictions, but May dip anyway Although it was within his power to curtail exports under COVID-19, Trump declined to do so under the April 28 executive order. That broke from an earlier order on personal protective equipment, which invoked the Defense Production Act while telling manufacturers such as 3M that it is the policy of the United States to prevent domestic brokers, distributors, and other intermediaries from diverting (PPE) material overseas. On May 1, CNBC cited current and former Trump administration officials in reporting that Trump was asked about the prospect of restricting meat exports on a private call with meat industry CEOs. Trump responded that he was not interested in restricting exports at this time, CNBC reported. The White House declined to comment to USA TODAY. While U.S. meat production rallied, exports destabilized through May. The amount of pork sent overseas crashed in the week after Trumps executive order, dropping below 2019 levels. It has since moved back into year-over-year growth, but beef and pork exports have been on a downward trajectory since the executive order. As meat production now nears 2019 levels, signaling a return toward some semblance of normalcy, the White House did not say if Trump has made any determination under what circumstances he would rescind the order. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meat shortages were unlikely despite warnings from Trump, meatpackers (Natural News) According to Carmen Best, chief of the Seattle Police Department (SPD), the existence of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) has prevented the police from responding to 911 calls of rapes, robberies and all sorts of violent acts that have been occurring near Seattles East Precinct, which city officials abandoned. If that is your mother, your sister, your cousin, your neighbors kid that is being raped, robbed, assaulted or otherwise victimized, youre not going to want to have to report that it took the police three times longer to get there to provide services for them, said Chief Best in a speech made to East Precinct officers on Thursday. Seattle Police Chief: "Rapes, robberies and all sorts of violent acts have been occurring in the area and we're not able to get to [them]." #capitolhillautonomouszone #antifa #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/Oe5YfVz3uL Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) June 12, 2020 Best said that response times to 911 calls in the East Precinct area have tripled from just under five minutes to about 18 minutes since the abandonment of the precinct on Monday afternoon and the subsequent establishment of the autonomous zone. She also noted that it should never have been an option to abandon residents who live near the precinct, many of whom, according to her, belong to some of Seattles most marginalized communities. This is especially regrettable given the fact that Best and the SPD have been receiving reports of armed individuals in CHAZ serving as enforcers of the zone and that they may be demanding payment from business owners in exchange for their protection. Furthermore, her office has also heard that these same armed individuals may be demanding identification from people who live in the area. (Related: Antifa releases list of demands after capturing 6 blocks of downtown Seattle.) Best also mentioned how she believes most of the people in Seattle are very supportive of the SPD and its officers, even if they havent been as vocal about their support on social media as the anti-police mob. They and I will continue to have your backs, she added. Police chief at odds with Seattle mayor over CHAZ Best has recently been at odds with Mayor Jenny Durkan. In a press conference with the chief of police, Durkan said that the illegal occupants of the Capitol Hill neighborhood were engaging in an act of patriotism. This completely flies in the face of the fact that the rioters have been fighting with the SPD over control of the area since the beginning of the engineered riots. Best explained to reporters that the city ordered the evacuation of the precinct after Durkan and other officials received reports that the building could be burned down by rioters. However, in a separate interview, the chief of police clarified that the SPD did not, in fact, abandon the precinct and that the removal of personnel from the area was only temporary due to security concerns. She further said that her office was working to get police officers back into the precinct. Best says that the correct approach to reoccupying the East Precinct would be to take it methodically. Both Best, Durkan and some SPD officers were able to visit the East Precinct; however, the SPD has yet to fully move its personnel back into the building. Best has been critical of Durkans policies concerning CHAZ. She has gone on record saying that it feels like an insult to Seattles police officers and to the community that the East Precinct was abandoned after nearly two weeks of protecting the area from rioters. But, ultimately, Best said that the city had relented to public pressure. In an interview, Mayor Durkan was unable to say when the armed occupation of parts of her city might end. She said that this weird period of Seattles history may turn into Summer of Love, and that CHAZ has a block party atmosphere to it. She has also denied calling the occupation of the Capitol Hill neighborhood an armed takeover. Durkan has further stated that CHAZ presents no threat to the public of Seattle. Other members of Seattles police force have criticized the citys decision to leave the precinct and to allow the establishment of CHAZ. Michael Solan, head of Seattles police union, called the decision the closest Ive seen to our country becoming a lawless state. Since the beginning of the George Floyd engineered riots, the neighborhood surrounding the East Precinct had become a hotbed of violent confrontations between rioters and police officers. Officers have been forced to use flash-bang grenades, pepper spray and tear gas to disperse violent protesters that have assaulted them with projectile weapons. Stay updated on Antifas current actions against the United States at AntifaWatch.news. Sources include: Breitbart.com KIRO7.com CNSNews.com NationalReview.com ABCNews.go.com RealClearPolitics.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices rose on Tuesday to extend gains from the previous session after reports that the Trump administration is preparing a nearly $1 trillion infrastructure proposal as part of its push to spur the world's largest economy. Benchmark Brent crude rallied 1.5 percent to $40.30 a barrel, after having gained 2.6 percent on Monday. U.S. crude futures were up 1.3 percent at $37.59 a barrel, after rising 2.4 percent in the previous session. The Trump administrations plans to spend nearly $1 trillion on roads, bridges and 5G mobile broadband, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Investors also cheered the Federal Reserve's latest move shore up the financial markets. The Fed said Monday it will start buying individual corporate bonds to support market liquidity and the availability of credit for large employers. Earlier today, the Bank of Japan increased the nominal size of its lending packages for cash-strapped firms to $1 trillion from about $700 billion announced last month. Meanwhile, the number of global confirmed Covid-19 cases topped 8 million, adding to concerns about a second wave of lockdowns from rising infection rates. Mainland China reported 40 new confirmed coronavirus cases for June 15, down from 49 a day earlier. Two new cases have been confirmed in New Zealand after two women who flew in from London to see a dying parent had tested positive. The coronavirus pandemic will hammer global growth and oil demand this year but output cuts by OPEC+, shutdowns in the U.S. and a record rebound in demand in next year will help rebalance the oil market, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly report. 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. GE picks Embraer planemaking chief to run aviation unit David Joyce, President and CEO of GE Aviation listens to a question at a news conference during the first day of the Dubai Airshow (Reuters) - General Electric Co on Monday tapped the planemaking head of Brazil's Embraer to run its key aircraft engines division on Monday, as the global aviation industry grapples with disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Irishman John Slattery, 51, succeeds influential veteran David Joyce, retiring after 40 years with the U.S. conglomerate. The appointment comes weeks after the collapse of a planned aerospace alliance between Embraer and Boeing Co , which Slattery had defended, and marks what one observer referred to as a shift of culture as the industry faces its worst crisis. GEs once-high-flying Aviation unit has been hit by the drop in air travel, adding to the toll from hundreds of grounded Boeing 737 MAX jetliners. GE said last month it planned to cut the global workforce of its aviation unit this year by as much as 25%. Slattery will become president and CEO of GE Aviation on Sept. 1. Joyce will then be non-executive chairman of GE Aviation through December 31. GE shares were down 2.7% in early trading, underperforming a weaker market. Industry sources had predicted Slattery would quit Embraer if the alliance with Boeing, for which he lobbied amid scepticism from European Union regulators, did not materialise. Boeing terminated the deal in April, sparking an arbitration battle between the two companies. Despite that spat, industry sources said Slattery has forged close relations with Boeing's management. The arrival of a European at the helm of the world's largest engine maker could also help reset relations between GE and Airbus , whose biggest jets are powered by UK rival Rolls-Royce . Together with France's Safran , GE co-owns engine maker CFM International which supplies all engines for Boeing 737s and powers about half of the medium-haul Airbus A320s. Embraer's Arjan Meijer will succeed former lessor Slattery, who was named commercial CEO in 2016 as Embraer prepared its new E2 jets. In February, when many executives shunned the Singapore Air Show at the pandemic's outset, Slattery was seen aggressively marketing the E2 to airline bosses. But sales have lagged against the Canadian-developed Airbus A220 amid uncertainty over the Boeing deal, leaving Embraer under pressure to consider an alternative partner. (Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru, Marcelo Rochabrun in Sao Paulo, Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Aditya Soni, William Maclean) In creating a plan for the 2020-21 academic year and considering the COVID-19 pandemic, Grinnell College has canceled all off-campus study (OCS) opportunities for Fall 2020. This decision adds a new layer of uncertainty for students who were planning to study abroad during the upcoming fall semester. It has been a little strange going from, Im going to go abroad to a foreign country and immerse myself in the language and the culture and all the different classes there and just have a completely new experience to Im gonna stay at home and be on my laptop for 14 hours a day, said Ashton Aveling 22, who was approved to spend the fall of his third year studying in Argentina. Since the May announcement that OCS was canceled, the College has released a tentative plan proposing the academic year be split into five 7.5-week terms that will initially bring roughly 500 of the 1700 students enrolled back to campus. According to an email sent by Director of OCS Alicia Stanley to students approved to study off-campus in the fall, all students were automatically withdrawn from their OCS program. No appeals or exceptions will be granted, regardless of each individual OCS providers approach to reconfiguring their services or the state of the pandemic in the countries where students planned to study. Yesenia Mozo 22 is a political science major who was approved to study abroad for the full academic year, spending one semester in South Korea and the other in Mexico. In Korea, they have the pandemic kind of handled. And even if there is a second wave, Korea has a good healthcare system, unlike the United States, so I felt like Grinnell didnt really think that through, you know? she said. Why would you keep your students in the U.S. when theyd probably be safer somewhere else? Professor David Harrison, Chair of the French Department, also noted that the Colleges decision was disruptive and disappointing, especially in light of the fact that there are countries that have done a better job handling the pandemic than has the United States, and arguably our students would be safer in those countries than if they remained in the U.S. Studying off-campus, either internationally or through domestic programs, is a staple of the Grinnell experience for most students. According to the Colleges OCS website, Over 50 percent of each graduating class of Grinnell students participates in semester- or year-long off-campus study. A semester away from Grinnell gives students the opportunity to participate in language immersion programs, pursue an academic interest outside of Grinnells offerings, or gain a global perspective different from that of small-town Iowa. Clare Newman 22 was planning on spending Fall 2020 in Nantes, France, enrolled in an IES Abroad program. Being a French major, she would have been able to transfer 12 credits from this semester to satisfy the 32 required by the department to graduate. Im worried that because of COVID semester and the summer, Im going to lose a bunch of my French, said Newman. But then I was like, Oh, Im going to study abroad, after the first two or three weeks Im gonna be much better at French, Now Ill go back to school and just wont know anything, and I might have to graduate a semester late or something. According to Professor Harrison, roughly 80 percent of French majors spend a semester abroad in a French-speaking country. Its critical to learning a languagethough by no means mandatory for our majorsto spend time living and studying in an environment where the language is used for everyday life, he wrote in an email to The S&B. Mozo was planning to transfer at least twelve credits over from both programs. Now, she said, its difficult for her to figure out which classes to take at Grinnell this year. Third-years whose OCS plans were canceled now have the option of deferring their Fall 2020 programs enrollment to the spring or fall semesters of 2021. Those semesters OCS programs are planned to proceed as usual. These students now face the decision of either missing out on another spring in Grinnell, not being present for the fall of their final year or not studying abroad at all. I really do want to go abroad, but fourth year being the last year and having to fit in all my classes and the last chance I get to see my classmates, its a little less alluring, said Mozo. Being gone for a semester of fourth year also makes renting housing off campus more difficult, which many students choose to do in their final year. Given the uncertainty of the current plan for the upcoming academic year, some third-years are weighing whether or not to take a leave of absence for the fall. However, to be granted approval to study off-campus, students must spend the semester immediately before they go abroad taking classes at Grinnell College full-time. The College reiterated this requirement in the section of the 2020-21 academic year plan that provides guidance to students considering a leave of absence. Fourth-year students who were planning to study off-campus in Fall 2020 will no longer have another chance to do so, given that the College requires the final semester to be completed on campus. The support provided by the Institute for Global Engagement, such as reimbursement for first-time passports and the transfer of financial aid to OCS programs, makes international travel much more accessible than arranging it on ones own. The College really pulls out all the stops to make sure that people who wouldnt otherwise be able to have that kind of experience can do it the easy way. Now that thats locked off for a lot of people, its disappointing, said Aveling. It doesnt look like Im going to be able to study abroad at all during undergrad. Ive been thinking about post-graduation, still trying to get out of the country and immerse myself in a foreign culture, but I dont have anything lined up yet. Honestly, at this point, Id be grateful if I can just be back at Grinnell. Though many students were upset by the cancelation, Aveling, Newman and Mozo all expressed that they felt the College made the right decision given the uncertain circumstances amid the COVID-19 pandemic. I think that the College has been very cautious. For the most part, I think that its really a good thing and theyre doing a good job. Knowing the risks that off-campus study imposes and the nature of a pandemic, off-campus study is just so particularly problematic, said Amelia Zoernig 21, Vice President of Student Affairs for the Student Government Association. I think the place where it gets a little more touchy is the spring, because were in such a weird time right now where we cant plan for anything. The further out it is, in terms of time, the more difficult it is to plan for, because we know the state of the world right now, but we dont know what its going to be. Harrisons said hes hopeful students whose fall programs were cancelled will be able to travel abroad in the spring. At this point, my colleagues and I are making the case to IGE that we need to have OCS for the spring semester, he wrote. Though the College has not solidified OCS plans for future semesters, the effects of this canceled semester will likely play out long-term. Without students enrolling at other institutions for the semester, demand for Fall 2020 classes went up during registration and more students will likely be taking classes through the College than in any recent semester. I have been thinking also about what this means for years to come. Were going to keep everyone on track for their degree as much as possible, but I know a lot of people in [the Class of 2022] are going to want to go abroad, said Zoernig. Youre not all going to be able to go abroad in the spring, even if it happens. The ripple effects of COVID will hit so many areas. By Lee Kyung-min A Korean statistics expert has been appointed to lead a group of representatives from countries in East Asia to help United Nations (U.N.) member states strengthen their statistics data analysis and management capability, Statistics Korea (KOSTAT) said Monday. This is the first time for a Korean to exercise leadership concerning the field of statistics on the global stage. Park Young-shil, head of the Data Center for the SDGs Research Planning Division, affiliated with KOSTAT, will lead the group comprised of Korea, Japan, China, Mongolia and North Korea. SDG stands for Sustainable Development Goals, a U.N.-led inclusive initiative seeking to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Representing five countries, Park will participate in the inter-agency and expert groups on SDG indicators, composed of statistics agencies from 28 countries to develop and implement a global indicator framework for SDGs. She will make recommendations to improve statistical accuracy, indicator development methods and overall statistical quality to better achieve SDGs. Also to be shared are a slew of studies conducted jointly by KOSTAT and many international organizations to set up a "global reporting system," a standardized method for data management and storage including and not limited to SDGs. According to Park, what is most crucial is to ensure that no one is left behind, a mandate to be achieved via greater and more accurate representation of minority groups. "Statisticians have struggled with ways to bolster better representation of the physically challenged, people living in remote rural areas and immigrants in datasets collected, a task that cannot be achieved without fine-tuned, detail-oriented indicators, backed by overall data management capacity. I plan to focus on identifying ways to make progress in this area," Park said. SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Coursera, a leading online education platform, will team up with Costa Rica over the next 6 months to train 50,000 people in the strategic and technical skills required for Industry 4.0. This initiative is one part of a reskilling and retooling strategy that Costa Rica currently has underway, which defines three main areas for talent development: career management, soft skills, and technical skills. The project offers different learning routes, designed according to each user profile, to enable free access to courses from some of the most prestigious universities and companies in the world. The project is the result of a collaborative effort between Coursera and the Ministries of Labor and Foreign Trade and CINDE (the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency), with the support of the International Development Bank (IDB), to energize the Costa Rican economy post-COVID-19 and insert itself into the economy of knowledge. In addition to thanking Coursera for trusting in the skills and abilities of the Costa Ricans, the President, Carlos Alvarado, mentioned that this plan is one of the efforts being carried out by the government to reactivate employment, since it will allow thousands of people to access courses facilitated by prestigious international universities, from their homes. He added that the nearly 40 learning routes that were defined "have been reviewed by different companies in the country, according to the profiles with the highest demand, which will allow the beneficiaries to improve their digital, strategic and technical skills to strengthen their profiles." "The pandemic has affected hundreds of millions of jobs around the world, including the livelihoods of many Costa Ricans," said Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera. "We are proud to partner with President Alvarado, CINDE, the Ministry of Labor, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide displaced workers with access to job-relevant skills needed to reenter the workforce." Jorge Sequeira, Managing Director of CINDE, added that "this project is the first of many we expect to carry out, in collaboration with Coursera over the coming years. Its implementation reinforces the country's commitment to innovate and provide a favorable climate for local and foreign investment, with a human talent trained both in digital areas and in strategic skills for employability." Each program user will receive support to complete their plan of study and certify their knowledge. Plans include digital, strategic, and technical skills, including programming, cybersecurity, sustainability, blockchain, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and data science, among others. Learning path construction has been reviewed and validated by leading companies from various sectors, including multinational companies, with the goal of honing new knowledge and skills in key areas of business transformation, from Costa Rica and into the world. According to the World Economic Forum, Costa Rica is the Latin American leader for human capital ratios and digital skills, which make successful implementation of platforms like Coursera a natural fit. In addition, the country stands out for its dynamic ecosystem of multinational companies and local businesses, which together promote skill-development initiatives in their workforce, as a response to the current crisis. In this way, Costa Rica strengthens its competitiveness and ability to attract investment, and positions itself as a key figure in Industry 4.0, in order to achieve a significant boost in economic recovery and job creation, for everyone affected by the pandemic, in sectors such as services, digital technologies, and tourism. About CINDE CINDE is a private, nonprofit organization committed to Costa Rica's sustainable development and social progress for over 38 years, through the attraction of foreign direct investment in manufacturing industries and high value-added services that generate quality employment, knowledge transfer, and productive linkages. CINDE also collaborates to strengthen the Costa Rican business climate in a way that fosters the growth of valuable activities throughout the country, improving the preparation of local talent and generating both employment and greater opportunities for its population, in various communities throughout the country. About Coursera Coursera was founded by Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng with a vision of providing life-transforming learning experiences to anyone, anywhere. It is now a leading online learning platform for higher education, where 62 million learners from around the world come to learn skills of the future. More than 200 of the world's top universities and industry educators partner with Coursera to offer projects, courses, Specializations, certificates, and degree programs. 2,400 companies trust the company's enterprise platform Coursera for Business to transform their talent. Coursera for Government equips government employees and citizens with in-demand skills to build a competitive workforce. Coursera for Campus empowers any university to offer high-quality, job-relevant online education to students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Coursera is backed by leading investors that include Kleiner Perkins, New Enterprise Associates, Learn Capital, and SEEK Group. SOURCE CINDE Russian Foreign Ministry Summons Czech Ambassador Over Diplomatic Row Sputnik News 06:49 GMT 15.06.2020(updated 09:25 GMT 15.06.2020) The Czech ambassador has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry in connection with a diplomatic scandal, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Czech Ambassador to Russia Vitezslav Pivonka, who had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry, said Monday that the start of bilateral talks was discussed at the meeting. "We discussed the beginning of consultations between the Czech side and the Russian side on all bilateral issues," the ambassador told reporters. According to Pivonka, Moscow gave Prague last names of two people it planned to declare personae non gratae, following a similar diplomatic incident in the Czech Republic. In late April, Czech magazine Respekt reported that a Russian diplomat had brought ricin deadly poison into the country for allegedly killing Czech politicians involved in the dismantling of a statue to a Soviet war hero in Prague. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis accused the two diplomats of hoaxing the plot to bring ricin into the country and announced their expulsion on 5 June. The Russian Embassy in the Czech Republic said that the accusations were a provocation. At the same time, not only Moscow has refuted all claims related to poisoning, but Czech President Milos Zeman has also expressed doubts regarding the relevant reports. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OAK BROOK, Ill., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Delta Dental Plans Association announced that Delta Dental companies continue to launch a wide range of programs and funding initiatives across the country in response to the COVID-19 outbreak to support America's oral health and overall health. To ensure continued access to oral health care and address health care disparities throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Delta Dental companies are engaged in a variety of support efforts. These efforts, which meet the unique needs of each community, include providing critical funding for community health centers, safety-net dental clinics, non-profits focused on health and wellness, and food banks. Delta Dental's commitment to community resiliency also includes support to ensure that dental offices, many of which are small businesses, can continue to safely deliver oral health care as offices reopen for non-emergency services across the country. "The COVID-19 pandemic has ignited a new level of national dialogue concerning health care disparities and the urgent need to address these disparities head-on. As the nation's leading dental insurance provider, our priority is to ensure the oral health and safety of the communities in which we live and serve, and our System's COVID-19 response efforts are just one part of a dedicated effort to expand access to oral health care because we believe everyone deserves a healthy smile," said Steve Olson, President & CEO of the Delta Dental Plans Association. To date, Delta Dental companies have committed more than $385 million to these types of community and public health efforts and continue to develop innovative and impactful ways to support and serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest information on what Delta Dental is doing in your community can be found here . For more information on oral health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit Delta Dental's COVID-19 webpage . About Delta Dental Plans Association Delta Dental Plans Association, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the non-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest provider of dental insurance, covering more than 80 million Americans, and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 156,000 participating dentists. In 2018, the Delta Dental companies provided approximately $79 million in direct and in-kind support to improve the oral health of adults, children, and infants in local communities across the country. For more information, visit: deltadental.com . Follow us on Twitter @DeltaDental and Facebook: Delta Dental Plans Association SOURCE Delta Dental Plans Association Related Links http://www.deltadental.com The actor and writer chats to Chloe Brennan about sundowners in Venice, good underwear, and his Communion outfit. The person My partner, Gabriele. We've been together seven years, dividing our time between Dublin, Connemara - where I film Ros na Run - and his hometown of Venice. We've a cat, Prince, who's a ginger Persian rescue cat. He's certainly well-named, as he rules with an iron claw! The memory Getting accepted into the actor training programme at Trinity College back in 2000. It was a very competitive audition process and, somehow, I managed to convince the department to give me a place on the course. Those were probably the three most challenging, informative and rewarding years of my life. The moment of the day In Venice, they live for their aperitifs after work; a glass of Prosecco or an Aperol Spritz. Those moments, looking out on to the lagoon as the sun sets above St Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace, are to die for. Not even the mosquitoes, feasting on Irish blood, can sully the moment. The song My friends joke that when my coffin leaves the church, Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road will be blasting from the sound system. I discovered the song - nay, anthem - during a summer abroad in 2002. As it was the only CD in the bare apartment, I kept playing it on repeat. In fairness, even if the entire contents of HMV had been at my disposal, I'd probably still have opted for that one particular Elton track. Once I like something, I love it! The movie Video of the Day I adore screwball comedies from the 1930s and 1940s. A definite highlight from this era is Frank Capra's It Happened One Night, with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. It was the first of just three films ever to sweep the five major Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. And deservedly so. The book I arrived a little late to the party, but I just finished Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, and devoured it in almost one sitting. Someone recently asked me, 'What book do you wish you'd written?' This delight would definitely be high on my list. As would Jonas Jonasson's The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. I do enjoy a giggle! The hero During the pandemic, I've been incredibly humbled by all of the many men and women keeping the country running - those working in hospitals, supermarkets, public transport or the newsrooms, for instance. I hope these sectors will be rewarded with better working and pay conditions in the future. The outfit My First Holy Communion outfit was rather spiffy, if I do say so myself - white chinos with a red cardigan, complete with white shoes and a matching bow tie. A few years later, however, I went through an ill-advised phase of wearing socks and sandals, so my sartorial output hasn't always been 'on point' as the kids say. The accessory Late last year, I visited Portugal, where a fortune-teller told me 2020 was going to be a chaotic year for the world - little did we know! - and that everyone would need to find ways of rooting and grounding ourselves. Inspired, I bought a necklace made from local Portuguese cork. Silly as it sounds, it has comforted me whenever things have gotten a little overwhelming during recent months. The gadget As much as I love print books, Kindles and various other electronic reading devices are a godsend - particularly when you're on the go and want to travel light but also want to read. I'm rarely without my Kindle. The friend My best friend is Ruth Keane, and we met in playschool. Thirty-three years later, we still haven't left each other's side, and I hope we never do. The holiday My father always insisted that before we got to know another country, we should know our own first. And so, before reaching double digits, I'd visited all 32 counties on the island of Ireland. Our family's favourite spot was Valentia Island, off the coast of Kerry. There's a good reason why Kerry is called the Kingdom. The advice An elderly countrywoman once advised me to 'always wear good underwear as you never know who'll be seeing them!' She later clarified that she was referring to the mortician, unsurprising given her vintage, but it's also sound advice for lotharios and those mindful of personal hygiene. @Domhnall1982 Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:37:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SKOPJE, June 16 (Xinhua) -- All political parties in North Macedonia must respect COVID-19 protocol measures during the election campaign for the early parliamentary polls scheduled for July 15, Health Minister Venko Filipce stated on Tuesday. Via a Facebook message, Filipce said that political party officials and party activists are obliged to be an example of continuous adherence to the measures. "I expect all political parties to agree on the way of campaigning where full priority will be given only to activities that will not endanger the health of citizens," Filipce said. Filipce expressed his confidence that the election process can be safely organized for all participants. According to him, a safe election process is possible if everyone adheres consistently to the clearly defined measures of the Infectious Diseases Commission. On Monday evening, Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi said that he signed the decision amending the agreement on scheduling early elections on July 15. "This year's elections will be special as parties won't hold typical election campaigns and citizens will have to adhere to the health safety measures and recommendations amid the COVID-19 situation," Xhaferi said. On Monday night, President Stevo Pendarovski announced the decision to declare a nationwide state of emergency for eight days starting from June 15. "The decision to declare a state of emergency is to enable the smooth preparation of elections and especially the implementation of measures to protect public health during the election process, amid a coronavirus pandemic declared by the World Health Organization," the president said. Party leaders Zoran Zaev of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and Hristijan Mickoski of the VMRO-DPMNE reached an agreement on Monday on early parliamentary elections to be held on July 15. As of Tuesday, the Health Ministry reported 134 new coronavirus cases, raising the total confirmed COVID-19 cases to 4,289, with 1,757 recoveries and 201 fatalities. Enditem A Donegal woman has been speaking about her incredible journey back to health - after spending 71 days in hospital with Covid-19. Gail Lafferty was admitted to Sligo University Hospital in March. In an emotional interview, she explained how she did not realise that she had Covid-19, but could have had it for four or five days before the ambulance was called. Her remarkable story has been recorded and posted online by the Saolta University Healthcare Group, whose hospitals include Sligo and Letterkenny. 'An incredible journey for an incredible lady'. Gail Lafferty from County Donegal was admitted to Sligo University Hospital #SUH last March with #COVID19 Gail spent 71 days in hospital. Here is her remarkable story pic.twitter.com/jWrQtHecAc saoltagroup (@saoltagroup) June 12, 2020 She does not remember being in ICU for three and a half weeks. Not surprisingly, she was full of praise for the staff in the hospital and the treatment she has received. And she added: "If anyone is feeling ill, they should not worry about coming into hospital, they (the staff) are amazing and they are here to look after you. Sligo hospital is amazing. I am so grateful, they have saved my life. At the end of the video, she is pictured leaving the hospital as the staff applaud her and she applauds them. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 16:32:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENNA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) daily basket price stood at 35.09 U.S. dollars a barrel on Monday, compared with 35.06 dollars on Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations released on Tuesday. Also known as the OPEC reference basket of crude oil, the OPEC basket, a weighted average of oil prices from different OPEC members around the world, is used as an important benchmark for crude oil prices. Enditem Minneapolis police officers deploy to disperse protesters after a demonstration for George Floyd on May 26, 2020. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii / Star Tribune ) One of the appalling aspects of the George Floyd killing is its sense of deja vu. Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis policeman now charged for the murder of Floyd, had received at least 17 prior complaint citations. He was disciplined only once, for pulling a woman out of her car after stopping her for driving 10 mph above the speed limit. Jason Van Dyke, who was convicted for shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times while he was walking away, in Chicago in 2014, had 20 citizen complaints, at least 10 of them for excessive force. None resulted in disciplinary action. One reason for the persistence of misconduct is the outsized influence of police unions. Since the 1960s, state laws have increasingly allowed disciplinary procedures to be determined in collective bargaining with police unions. Courts have liberally interpreted unions bargaining authority. And unions have reinforced their clout by lobbying state legislatures for various statutes that impede supervisors from conducting investigations and imposing discipline. Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis, said recently that police collective bargaining agreements and arbitration requirements have kept the city from holding officers accountable. A task force reviewing police misconduct in Chicago, where only 2% of complaints result in disciplinary action, said collective bargaining agreements essentially turned the code of silence into official policy. Evidence of union influence is supported by an impressive body of academic research. A 2017 article in the Duke Law Journal by Stephen Rushin makes for chilling reading now: The relationship between union contracts and police accountability is an issue of serious national concern warranting additional empirical examination. Rushin studied police contracts in 178 cities and found that nine out of 10 contained one or more clauses that could thwart legitimate disciplinary action. Records of misconduct are typically sealed, and in cities from Baltimore to Cleveland, union contracts permit officers to expunge evidence of past misconduct. Many contracts forbid questioning of officers accused of misconduct for anywhere from several hours to several days allowing officers to change their recollections and, if multiple cops are involved, to coordinate stories. Story continues Although many cities have civilian review panels, union contracts weaken their authority, for instance by prohibiting them from considering anonymous complaints. Many bargaining agreements also demand that cities indemnify officers against civil litigation, further reducing officer accountability. Researchers have found a higher rate of police misconduct on unionized forces, which include about two-thirds of all officers. A University of Chicago Law School study found that in Florida, after county sheriffs deputies won the right to collective bargaining, violent incident complaints rose 40%, compared with a control group. Collective bargaining agreements are not the unions only shield. Unions have lobbied states for highly problematic officers bills of rights. Delawares statute bars cities from compelling disclosure of personal assets (thwarting corruption inquiries). State civil service laws throw up another layer of protection. These multiple screens create powerful disincentives to even attempt to discipline misconduct. Typically, officers found culpable by supervisors can appeal; four layers of appeals are not uncommon. Ultimately, most appeals are resolved by an arbitrator. Arbitrators who hope to be rehired have an incentive to compromise. Moreover, collective bargaining agreements give unions significant say in choosing the arbitrator. Little wonder that arbitrators almost invariably reduce the severity of discipline. In Washington, according to a Washington Post report, 45% of dismissed officers were subsequently reinstated. In Philadelphia, the rate was 62%. Collective bargaining agreements even restrain the federal government. When the Justice Department entered into a consent decree with Pittsburgh to compel it to enact police reforms, it was forced to state that nothing in this Decree is intended to alter the collective bargaining agreement. Police union representatives frequently object to reform efforts by citing officers rights. They correctly point out that many accusations are unfounded, and in a politicized climate (such as now), they are likely to be targets. Moreover, lethal police misconduct remains relatively rare. Of roughly 700,000 officers in the U.S., about 3,000 or so per year are involved in shootings, about 1,000 of them fatal. The majority of the victims were armed. Police officers are entitled to due process. But regard for officer rights is no excuse for creating a web of procedural red tape or turning every disciplinary action into an endless adversarial struggle. It is not an excuse for gutting transparency. Traditionally, police did not have collective bargaining rights. Partly as a response to citizen campaigns against police brutality in the 1960s, unions began to demand, and win, more protections. This dovetailed with rising public sector organization. Police, firefighter and teacher unions now wield tremendous clout. Unlike private sector unions, they can influence elections and vote their bosses out. Their influence extends to both political parties, but particularly to Democrats. (Fear of the unions political muscle results in legislatures repeatedly approving unaffordable public sector pensions.) Police unions also have a singular weapon they can play the public safety card. In effect, they equate any police demand with the public interest. As Katherine Bies wrote in the Stanford Law & Policy Review, police unions frame any opposition to their agenda of secrecy as endangering public safety. Its easy to say that cities should stand firm against these contract provisions, but they will need support from legislatures. At a minimum, lawmakers should mandate that bargaining on wages and benefits and on disciplinary procedures be handled in separate contracts. That would make it harder for cities to trade away disciplinary control in return for constraints on wages and benefits. Another strategy is to make collective bargaining with police unions open to the public and to welcome community groups and other stakeholders into the process. That would create political pressures to offset the pressure from unions. Public officials would not be so quick to, say, rule out anonymous civilian complaints if they knew the public was watching. To go further, legislatures should enact laws that explicitly remove police disciplinary procedures from collective bargaining, while allowing for public participation in crafting those procedures. Unions will fight such remedies, but given the urgent need for accountability, they may see that change is inevitable. To regain control of policing, cities have to distinguish between the private interests of police unions and the public interest. Roger Lowenstein is the author, most recently, of Americas Bank: The Epic Struggle to Create the Federal Reserve. Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. A four-year-old girl in Texas has died after she slipped into a swimming pool and drowned. Leena Arredondo was part of a group of other children being watched by adults at a family gathering on Sunday night in south east San Antonio. But the little girl is said to have drowned after their swimming session had finished and they were all called out of the pool. 'They all got out,' the girl's aunt Amanda Uvalle told Fox San Antonio. 'They literally got out. All of the kids were out of the pool. Scroll down for video Leena Arredondo, who turned 4 in April, was swimming with a group of children on Sunday The little girl is said to have slipped and drowned after they had all left the pool during a family gathering in San Antonio, Texas 'They were getting ready to eat. All of the kids were running and playing around. Leena slipped inside. She was not left unattended.' Uvalle explained in an interview with the station that her brother and his wife had trouble conceiving. 'Leena was everything,' Uvalle said. 'She just turned four in April. 'It's just crazy that she's not here and my brother is suffering and it hurts. It hurts so bad.' The family has set up a crowdfunding page to help pay for the child's funeral. In a description on the page which had raised $825 of a $4,500 goal by Tuesday morning, the author asks for help and explained that Leena was her adopted brother's daughter. Her aunt said: 'All of the kids were running and playing around. Leena slipped inside. She was not left unattended' 'She has left us too soon,' the GoFundMe page states. Adding, 'she was the light of her brother and his wife's lives and calling her their 'little hero'. The family also plans on having a food plate sale on Saturday at 11am to raise funds for a funeral. Uvalle cried to Fox San Antonio: 'My brother is torn apart. She was daddy's angel. She was their world and nothing can replace her. For her to be gone, it's hard, really hard.' The SAPD has received 14 drowning calls so far this year. Four of the incident have been labeled 'severe'. The number is down from 10 severe incidents in 2019. Her aunt Amanda Uvalle (pictured) said the girl's father is 'suffering' and 'torn apart' Cartier's boutique in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul / Courtesy of Richemont Korea Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton still unwilling to disclose financial statements By Kim Jae-heun Richemont Korea, the Korean branch of the Switzerland-based luxury goods holdings company that operates global watch and jewelry brands including Cartier, Montblanc and IWC, recorded annual sales of over 1 trillion won ($828.22 million) in the local market. It is the first luxury firm that has disclosed an audit report here. According to the financial statement it gave to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), Monday, Richemont Korea generated 1.38 trillion won revenue between April 2019 and March 2020. The number soared by 18.6 percent from 875.6 billion won ($725.31 million) recorded in the previous year. In the same period Richemont Korea's profit also increased by 7.9 percent from 57.2 billion won to 61.7 billion won. Richemont was able to manage its "quite impressive performance" thanks to the ongoing consumer preference for luxury items. The group owns nearly 10 luxury brands including Piaget, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Roger Dubuis, Officine Panerai and A. Lange & Sohne. Richemont is considered one of the world's largest luxury watch groups. Richemont Korea has been keeping its status as a stock company to reveal financial statements every year, while most top-tier luxury fashion brands such as Hermes, Chanel and Louis Vuitton have been maintaining "limited company" status helping them avoid external audits. If they release their audit reports to the public here, investors will have better access to "keen factors" such as how much they earned and how much in dividends they transferred to their headquarters. It is hard to say Richemont Korea is setting a good example for international luxury firms operating here by disclosing its financial statements, given the large amount of dividends it sends to its Swiss headquarters. The Korean branch of U.S. luxury jewelry brand Tiffany publicized recently it sent 45.2 billion won of dividends to its U.S. headquarters despite earning 10.7 billion won as net income. Tiffany Korea received much criticism for the 444 percent dividend payout ratio. But Hermes, Chanel and Louis Vuitton have been reluctant to talk about their financial performances including how much tax they pay to the government, and some experts have used the comparison to praise Richemont and Tiffany. Last year, the National Assembly revised the law to force international firms operating as limited companies here to undergo external audits run by the FSS. All the limited companies now have to submit their financial statements but many luxury brands including Hermes, Chanel and Louis Vuitton are rumored to be preparing to turn into limited liability companies to avoid audits. When The Korea Times asked the three brands about their plans to change their company type, all refused to comment. People watch a television news screen showing an explosion of an inter-Korean liaison office in North Korea's Kaesong Industrial Complex - AFP North Korea destroyed an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border on Tuesday, in a sudden escalation of tensions after days of threats against the South over anti-Pyongyang leaflets that were being sent by defectors into its territory. North Korea blew up the inter-Korean liaison office, the South Korean unification ministry confirmed shortly after the explosion at 2:49pm local time. Smoke was observed rising from an area close to the industrial park in the North Korean border city of Kaesong, the Yonhap News Agency said. The first diplomatic mission of its kind, the inter-Korean liaison office was established in September 2018 as part of a series of projects aimed at reducing tensions between the two Koreas. South Korea spent at least 9.78 billion won (US$8.6 million) in 2018 to renovate the building, which stood as a gleaming blue glass structure in the otherwise drab industrial city. South Korean military footage of the explosion at the inter-Korean office in the border town of Kaesong. Total destruction by the looks of it... pic.twitter.com/0BLGlsC5dv Laura Bicker (@BBCLBicker) June 16, 2020 Its destruction came after Kim Yo Jong, the increasingly powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said at the weekend: "Before long, a tragic scene of the useless north-south joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen." North Korea confirmed the explosion via state media late on Tuesday afternoon, stating the office was targeted corresponding to the mindset of the enraged people to surely force human scum and those, who have sheltered the scum, to pay dearly for their crimes, reported Reuters. Since early June, North Korea has lashed out at Seoul over defector groups sending anti-Pyongyang messages and supplies over the border, issuing a series of threats against South Korea unless it takes action to stop the long-running activist activities. Story continues Last week, Pyongyang cut off communications with the South, refusing to pick up a phone line that had been used for a regular twice daily courtesy call. In an effort to placate the North Koreans and get stalled peace talks back on track, the South Korean authorities, under President Moon Jae-in, stepped up border controls to block activists and took legal action against defector groups for sending messages into the North via balloons and other means. However, their efforts which have been criticised by human rights groups as sacrificing freedom of speech at the behest of an authoritarian regime appear to have been in vain. On Tuesday morning, hours before destroying the office, the North issued a warning that its army was ready to go into action against the South and may advance into demilitarised zones and turn the frontline into a fortress. "Our army is keeping a close watch on the current situation in which North-South relations are turning worse and worse," the General Staff of the Korean People's Army said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, reported by Yonhap. The KPA is studying "an action plan for taking measures to make the army advance again into the zones that had been demilitarised under the north-south agreement, turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten the military vigilance against the south," it said. Analysts believe the scale of the Norths vitriolic threats suggest that the activities of defector groups are not the main point of contention, but that Pyongyang is acting on its simmering anger over the collapse of denuclearisation talks with the United States. Kim Jong Un and President Trump failed to reach a deal at the 2019 Hanoi summit - Evan Vucci/AP Talks over the dismantling of North Koreas nuclear and weapons programme in exchange for the lifting of severe international economic sanctions against the regime have not recovered since Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump abruptly ended a failed February 2019 summit in Vietnam. "The blowing up of the liaison office shows how the DPRK followed through on one of Kim Yo-jong's threats issued a few days ago. North Korea's statements are not all bluster, and they want the international community to take them seriously, said Edward Howell, a North Korea expert at the University of Oxford. We must watch in anticipation as to further moves: Kim Yo-jong ambiguously said the next step would be a military maneouvre. After the September 2018 inter-Korean summit, the two Koreas signed a key military agreement to reduce tension: will the North renege on it? It is not unlikely." Following the explosion, President Moon convened an emergency meeting of top officials from the National Security Council. Kim Yeon-chul, the unification minister told members of the parliaments foreign affairs committee that the explosion had been partly preannounced and that "(The country) needs to study more details of the situation. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) The Bureau of Immigration has perpetually banned Spanish national Javier Salvador Parra from reentering the country on the ground of undesirability. In April. Parra had an altercation with policemen just outside his home in Dasmarinas Village, Makati City, the video of which went viral on social media. He almost got arrested over alleged quarantine violations. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente ordered the inclusion of Parra in the Immigration blacklist, and is now perpetually banned from reentering the country. "Now that he has been placed in our Immigration blacklist, he is now perpetually banned from reentering the Philippines for being an undesirable alien," Morente said in a statement Tuesday. "Foreigners who disrespect our laws and persons of authority do not deserve the privilege to stay in our country," he added. The BI has filed deportation charges Parra on the ground of undesirability since he reportedly failed to submit his counter-affidavit to answer the allegations against him. RELATED: Bureau of Immigration files deportation charges vs. Spanish national who violated quarantine measures The Spanish national flew out of the country on April 29 and has not returned, according to BI intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. Even when he was out of the country, he could still file his answer to the allegations by engaging the services of a lawyer who could submit a counter-affidavit on his behalf, Manahan said. It was obvious that he really intended to disregard the notice by just ignoring it." W indows honouring the 17th century slave trader Edward Colston are being removed from Bristol Cathedral and another prominent church in the city. Work was carried out on Monday to cover up parts of the cathedrals large Colston Window, ahead of its removal. Panes from a window at St Mary Redcliffe Church were also taken down on Monday, with other references to Colston also covered up at the sites. It is the latest trace of the merchant to vanish from the city after Black Lives Matter protesters tore down his statue earlier this month and dumped it in Bristol's harbour. The Diocese of Bristol hailed the toppling of the Colston statue on June 7 as a symbolic moment and signal for change. Bristol Cathedral is preparing to remove its window tribute to Colston / PA The dedications to Colston, in two significant places of worship, has prevented many people from finding peace in these beautiful buildings, it said in a statement. Most of these dedications have now gone and the rest will follow, The removal or covering of window panes is also a symbolic moment. It doesnt change history and it doesnt change the fact that black people in Bristol, Britain and the world still face discrimination, injustice and racism. We must not let it distract us from the work that needs to be done. The diocese said it hoped the move demonstrated its renewed sense of urgency to address these issues. Discussions and work around the transatlantic slave trade, racism, identify and justice will continue at Bristol Cathedral, St Mary Redcliffe Church and the Church of England in Bristol, it added. Protesters throw statue of Edward Colston into Bristol harbour 1 /13 Protesters throw statue of Edward Colston into Bristol harbour PA Keir Gravil via Reuters PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Protesters used ropes to rip a statue of Colston from its plinth earlier this month, following years of debate over its resented presence. It was thrown into the water to the roars of huge crowds at Peros Bridge named in honour of enslaved man Pero Jones who lived and died in the city. Bristol City Council retrieved the statue and plans to house it in a museum, but it prompted anti-racist activists to draw up a target list of 78 other British statues with links to slavery. Since the removal of the statue, music venue Colston Hall and high-rise building Colston Tower have both removed lettering from their facades. Both Colstons Girls School and the separate Colstons School are considering a name change. The way it works is simple. Users of its Dip.io smartphone app receive an at-home kit. After urinating on a test strip, they take a 60-second scan guided by a chatbot with the phone's camera, then Healthy.io uses computer-vision techniques to detect early signs of kidney disease, UTI infections, bladder cancer and pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia risk. This Israeli company uses smartphone technology to make remote urinalysis possible. Healthy.io's FDA-cleared home urinalysis kit aids in the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease, urinary track infections and prenatal testing and is used by leading health-care systems worldwide. The company's core goal is to improve the patient experience by bringing testing from hospitals and doctors' offices to the home. Patients with kidney transplants use the company's home-testing kit to avoid a visit to the doctor, and women with UTIs can get their infection tested and treated without leaving home . Healthy.io expanded to the U.K. last year in partnership with Boots UK. The service offers women with uncomplicated UTIs the ability to test themselves for signs of infection, share results with a doctor online and get antibiotics delivered to their home, if appropriate. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the company is offering the service at a significant discount. In December the company expanded to digital wound management, and its solution was registered with the FDA. It's currently being used in the U.K. by the North East London NHS Foundation Trust and Modality Partnerships in Wokingham. Whereas traditional wound management relies on subjective visual assessment, the Healthy.io app turns the smartphone camera into a wound documentation and measurement tool and even builds a 3-D image of the wound, eliminating human error and discrepancies common in today's methods. The company raised $60 million in Series C financing in September, bringing its total funding to $95 million. Investors include Corner Ventures, Joy Capital, Ansonia Holdings, Aleph and Samsung Next. At a press conference in Oakland Tuesday, the Department of Justice announced federal charges against the Ben Lomond shooter for his involvement in a fatal shooting in Oakland. According to David L. Anderson, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Steven Carrillo was the shooter who killed a federal security guard and injured another at the federal building in Oakland. Three months after the Covid-19 pandemic forced bars and restaurants to close in Florida, some businesses have shut within one week of reopening as coronavirus cases spike in the state. At least six bars in northern and central Florida have now announced their closures amid new Covid-19 cases, which peaked on Sunday. The states health department has since confirmed two consecutive days with more than 2,000 new cases, breaking records set when the pandemic began in March. That announcement came almost one week on from Floridas second reopening phase permitting bars, cinemas and tattoo shops to welcome customers with some restrictions, as mandated under governor Ron DeSantis reopening plan. Still, increased Covid-19 transmission in Florida has forced some businesses to shut down. One bar on Jacksonville Beach said on Sunday that it needed to close because customers had been who were Covid-19 positive. Our establishment has become aware of positive tests for COVID-19 and have visited our business, wrote Wreck Tiki Lounge owner Fernando Meza on Facebook, local reports said. We will be closed the next few days to sanitize the bar and send our staff to get tested. Another business in the area, Lynchs Irish Pub, also announced its closure this weekend after 15 people contracted Covid-19 there. A woman among those infected told Action News Jax on Monday that all 15, who were friends, had tested positive following a 6 June gathering at the pub. Lynchs Irish Pub also told the local news outlet that among 49 employees, seven had tested positive for Covid-19 since the bar reopened on June 5. It is now closed to sanitise the premises. Action News Jax reported at least six Jacksonville Beach businesses to be closed on Monday, including Tavern, The Wreck, Lynchs Irish Pub, The Wine Bar, Mellow Mushroom and Graffiti Burger. Another bar, in Floridas Altamonte Springs, also said on Friday that it needed to close due to Covid-19 cases. On Facebook, said Newsweek, the Kiwis Pub & Grill wrote: It saddens me to say that Kiwis will be closing temporarily effective immediately. We have been informed by 6 different people today that they have been infected with the coronavirus and they have been inside Kiwiss within the last week The bar added: This may seem like an extravagant step, however we are taking no chances with the health of our staff and our customers. Florida has now seen almost 76,000 Covid-19 infections since March, which include Saturdays highest daily increase, at 2,587 new cases. Governor deSantis denounced new coronavirus concerns on Sunday, as Donald Trump plans on staging this summers Republican convention in the state. I think its important for people to understand who is being tested now compared to who was being tested in March and early April when we had kind of our peaks then, said deSantis. New Delhi, June 16 : For the past 25 years, millions of migratory waterbirds that link Africa, Europe and parts of Asia have benefitted from the collective work being carried out by countries and other actors under the framework of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA). Signed on June 16, 1995 in The Hague in the Netherlands, the intergovernmental treaty dedicated to conserving migratory waterbirds across Africa and Eurasia has a geographical range that stretches across 119 countries. With currently 80 contracting parties, including 38 from Africa and 42 from Eurasia, including the European Union, AEWA is the largest legally binding instrument concluded under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). "For a quarter of a century, AEWA has successfully established and implemented internationally agreed conservation measures for a range of migratory waterbirds in an area that stretches from the northern reaches of Canada and the Russian federation to the southernmost tip of Africa. "In doing so, AEWA has helped foster the international cooperation that is essential to protecting and sustainably managing migratory waterbird populations and their habitats across borders," says AEWA's Executive Secretary Jacques Trouvilliez. AEWA allows countries across the African-Eurasian flyway to work together to better conserve and sustainably use more than 550 populations of a total of 255 species of birds ecologically dependent on wetlands for at least part of their annual cycle. These include many species of divers, grebes, pelicans, cormorants, herons, storks, rails, ibises, spoonbills, flamingos, ducks, swans, geese, cranes, waders, gulls, terns, tropic birds, auks, frigate birds and even the southern African penguin. Countries that have joined AEWA have committed to a series of measures intended to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the waterbirds covered by AEWA. These measures include a series of actions geared towards protecting and restoring waterbird habitat, managing human activities, engaging in research and monitory as well as carrying out education and capacity-building initiatives that support international conservation efforts. "While AEWA's successes have been significant, the pressures on waterbirds and the wetland and coastal habitats they need to survive continue to grow across the flyway. We must redouble our efforts and we must reach out and engage those whose activities may still be harming waterbirds. The time to invest in and step up our action for nature is now," says Trouvilliez. Numerous pressures resulting from a growing human population as well as pollution, unsustainable use and illegal killing continue to threaten waterbirds and their habitats across Eurasia and Africa. Climate change is compounding existing threats and is increasingly affecting habitats and migration routes, causing a shift in both migration range and timing. To mark the anniversary of the treaty, the AEWA Secretariat has developed a dedicated 25th anniversary webpage, which brings together some of the history and highlights of the past 25 years of international waterbird conservation under the Agreement. It also features an exciting new film that is being launched globally to coincide with the anniversary, which highlights the importance of a few of the critical waterbird sites found across the African-Eurasian Flyway. The anniversary page also features messages of support and a growing collection of statements made by people that have helped shape and guide the work of the treaty to date. BUFFALO, N.Y. - In research led by a University at Buffalo pediatric endocrinologist, a drug called golimumab showed that it preserved beta-cell function in children and young adults with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes, according to findings from a Phase 2 study. The study also demonstrated that golimumab, an anti-tumor-necrosis-factor (TNF) therapy, reduced the amount of injected insulin required by children and young adults with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes by preserving their ability to produce insulin on their own, called endogenous insulin. The World Without Disease Accelerator, through Janssen Research & Development, LLC, funded the study. Golimumab, marketed as Simponi, is currently used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and other autoimmune conditions, however it is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes. The findings were presented on June 13 at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association by the lead investigator, Teresa Quattrin, MD, UB Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, senior associate dean for research integration in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB and attending pediatric endocrinologist at the Diabetes Center at UBMD Pediatrics and John R. Oishei Children's Hospital. "This study shows that golimumab is a potential disease-modifying agent for newly diagnosed patients with Type 1 diabetes," said Quattrin. "The main goal of the study was to see if golimumab could preserve beta-cell function in these newly diagnosed patients." Measuring how well the pancreas is working This was assessed by measuring the amount of C-peptide in patients' blood during a four-hour mixed meal tolerance test. Because C-peptide reflects only insulin made by the body and not injected insulin, C-peptide levels reveal how well the pancreas is producing insulin. Patients treated with golimumab had a higher C-peptide level at week 52 compared to placebo. "This was statistically significant, thus the study met its primary goal," Quattrin said, "in fact, 41.1% of participants receiving golimubab had an increase or less than 5% decrease in C-peptide compared to only 10.7% in the placebo group." Good control with less insulin Nearly 43% of those who received golimumab were in partial diabetes remission (also known as the honeymoon phase) versus 7.1% of those receiving placebo. The definition of partial remission was based on insulin dose and blood sugar control levels as indicated by hemoglobin A1C, a measurement of average blood sugar levels over three months. Quattrin explained that a child with Type 1 diabetes requires about 1 unit of insulin per kilogram of body weight per day. That means that a child weighing about 65 pounds typically requires about 30 units of injected insulin per day once they are out of the partial remission period, about 3-6 months after diagnosis. "In this study, both golimumab and placebo groups achieved good blood sugar control, but patients treated with golimumab achieved it with less insulin," said Quattrin. "During the 52 weeks, insulin dose increased only slightly for those on golimumab, 0.07 units per kilogram per day, versus 0.24 units per kilogram per day for those on placebo study. Moreover, in a post-hoc analysis, an analysis conducted after the conclusion of the clinical trial, those who were younger than 18 years had 36% fewer episodes where blood sugar was less than 54 mg per deciliter, designated by the American Diabetes Association as level 2 hypoglycemia," Quattrin said. This is important clinically because low blood sugar reactions are dangerous and can even be fatal if untreated. Low blood sugars require immediate attention, often causing the child to be removed from class or recreation activities compromising quality of life. The drug is self-administered as a subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks. No serious side effects related to the study drug, such as serious infections, were reported. The randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted at 27 centers throughout the U.S., including at the Diabetes Center at UBMD Pediatrics and Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo. It involved 84 patients, aged 6 to 21 years, with two-thirds receiving golimumab and one-third receiving placebo starting within 100 days from diagnosis. Throughout three decades as a leading researcher in pediatric endocrinology, Quattrin has been interested in finding ways to preserve beta-cell function in newly diagnosed patients with Type 1 diabetes. The current study took place on the basis of positive findings in animal models, as well as Quattrin's work with patients treated at the Diabetes Center at UBMD Pediatrics and Oishei Children's Hospital. It confirms results published by her team in 2009 where in a randomized pilot study 10 patients received another TNF inhibitor and 8 received placebo starting within 28 days from diagnosis. The results of this small proof of concept study strongly suggested that this class of drugs might be able to preserve beta-cell function in newly diagnosed patients with Type 1 diabetes. ### UB co-investigators in the clinical trial presented at the ADA are Lucy Mastrandrea, MD, PhD, Kathy Bethin, MD, PhD, Indrajit Majumdar, MD, John Buchlis, MD and Christine Albini, MD PhD. Quattrin noted that they were supported by an outstanding pediatric diabetes-endocrinology research team led by Amanda House. Co-authors from other institutions include Michael J. Haller of the University of Florida; Andrea K. Steck of the University of Colorado ; Eric I. Felner of Emory University; and Yinglei Li, Yichuan Xia, Jocelyn H. Leu, Ramineh Zoka, Joseph A. Hedrick, Mark R. Rigby and Frank Vercruysse, all of Janssen Research & Development, LLC. WILMINGTON, Del., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nemours Children's Health System has announced the appointment of Kara Odom Walker, MD, MPH, MSHS, to serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer (CPHO), effective September 1, 2020. In this new role, Dr. Walker will report to Nemours President and CEO R. Lawrence Moss, MD, and be based at the Nemours National Office in Washington, D.C. Dr. Walker currently serves as Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) under Governor John Carney. The agency, with 11 divisions, more than 4,000 employees and a budget greater than $2 billion, is responsible for meeting the health and social service needs of Delawareans by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency and protecting vulnerable populations. At Nemours, Dr. Walker will oversee the Nemours National Office, Advocacy and Public Policy, as well as all aspects of Population Health Strategy, Research, Innovation, and Implementation. Her scope of responsibility includes advancement of the overall health and well-being of children, both broadly and among the populations served by Nemours. Dr. Walker will collaborate with operational leaders and share accountability for managed care initiatives, to include medically complex case management, school-based wellness programs, and other services for specific populations. Working closely with Dr. Moss and the Chief Executives of Florida and the Delaware Valley, Dr. Walker and her team will develop and implement the organization's national and state-specific advocacy strategies to help achieve outcomes tied to health and value. She will also lead Nemours' policy agenda. "For much of the past two years, I have had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Walker to improve the health of children in Delaware," said Dr. Moss. "This allowed me to appreciate her enormous talent and passion in population health and inspired me to work with her to create this next step in her distinguished career. I am extremely grateful to Governor John Carney for supporting Dr. Walker in this transition and for his ongoing partnership in our shared goal of improving the health and well-being of Delaware's children." Dr. Walker's many accomplishments at DHSS include developing first-in-the-nation health care spending and quality benchmarks in Delaware; creating a state reinsurance program that reduced premiums in its first year and increased the number of people covered; and shaping new Medicaid managed care contracts that include quality metrics and embed paying for value not volume in health care. Dr. Walker's contributions to the broader Delaware community include serving as Chair of the Health Fund Advisory Council, Co-Chair of the Governor's Commission on Community-Based Services, as a member of the Delaware Health Care Commission, and on the Board of the Delaware Center for Health Innovation. Dr. Walker is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including membership in the prestigious National Academy of Medicine. When reached for comment, Dr. Walker stated, "I am passionate about transforming our health care system into one that truly creates a healthier population and meets the needs of all citizens. Nemours' focus on redefining health in children as the pathway to overall health resonates deeply with me. I am grateful to Governor Carney for believing in me and providing the mentorship and support to position me for this special opportunity." A graduate of Thomas Jefferson University (Sidney Kimmel) College of Medicine, Dr. Walker earned her MPH at the Johns Hopkins University (Bloomberg) School of Public Health. She completed her residency in family and community medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Following residency, Dr. Walker served a fellowship in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program through which she received a master of science degree in Health Services Research at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health. She is board-certified in family medicine and continues to practice on a volunteer basis at Westside Family Health Care in Wilmington, DE. Rachel Salis-Silverman Enterprise Director, Public Relations 302-256-7566, [email protected] SOURCE Nemours Children's Health System The man accused of committing a series of murders and rapes in California during the 1970s and 80s crimes that spawned widespread fear and the sobriquet Golden State Killer is expected to accept a plea deal that would allow him to avoid the death penalty, one victim and close relatives of two other victims said on Monday. As part of the agreement, the man, Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., is expected to plead guilty later this month to dozens of criminal counts, including murder and kidnapping, that would send him to prison for the rest of his life without the possibility of parole, a victim and victims family members said. They said that prosecutors had briefed them about the likely plea agreement, which still must be approved by a judge. It was not immediately clear if there was unanimity among the group of prosecutors involved in the case, the victims and their families. The plea agreement was widely reported by the news media in California, where the case has become a phenomenon and inspired an upcoming HBO documentary series. It was the first high-profile case to be cracked with genetic genealogy. The oft-misquoted mantra of Det Sgt Joe Friday in creaky old US cop show Dragnet, an ancient relic from the days when television naively portrayed all police as flawless knights in shining white skin, was: All we want are the facts, maam. The writing duo responsible for The Salisbury Poisonings, Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, whose backgrounds are in journalism and factual television (they met while working on Panorama), appear to have taken it to heart. Their three-part drama, concluding tonight, about the 2018 poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, which put the lives of tens of thousands of people in the Wiltshire city at risk, is scrupulously faithful to the facts. Read More Were informed at the top of each episode that its based on first-hand accounts and extensive interviews. Its authenticity is never in doubt, then. Its probably as close as a TV drama will ever get to recreating the day-by-day, hour-by-hour reality of what happened after the Skripals were found unconscious on a public bench in the city centre, having been poisoned with Novichok, a nerve agent so powerful, one teaspoonful would be enough to kill thousands. But sometimes just the facts by themselves arent enough. Sometimes you need something more not so much dramatic licence as dramatic impetus. Despite a solid production and some dependably fine acting, especially from Anne-Marie Duff, The Salisbury Poisonings is, at least in the first two episodes, missing the urgency that made last years Chernobyl horrifically, heartbreakingly believable as factual drama, yet as gripping and powerful as any fictional thriller. The weakness is the approach the writers decided to take. They basically push the bigger picture the reasons behind the assassination attempt, the GRU agents allegedly responsible, the political fallout that resulted in 23 Russian diplomats being expelled from the UK into the background, and the Skripals along with it. They barely feature at all after the opening minutes. Instead, the focus narrows to a small number of people whose lives were upended by the crisis. Very much the hero of the hour and an unsung one at the time is Wiltshires then director of public health and safety Tracy Daszkiewicz, played by Duff with low-key conviction. Overnight, Daszkiewicz went from dealing with food poisoning to dealing with a deadly weapon of chemical warfare. As she tussles tenaciously with patronising Whitehall types who, in the manner of skin-saving bureaucrats everywhere, interfere with her doing her job properly it takes a toll on her family life. Video of the Day Her relationship with her young son and only child, who feels abandoned when she starts spending her nights sleeping in her office, suffers particularly badly. Its also a testing time for the family of Det Sgt Nick Bailey (Rafe Spall), who becomes infected after going into the Skripals home and ends up fighting for his life in intensive care. Bailey survived. Its no secret that Dawn Sturgess (MyAnna Buring plays her), a young mother with alcohol problems whos the subject of tonights final episode, wasnt so lucky. In a tragic twist of fate that came four months after the attack on the Skripals, she sprayed herself with the same Novichok-spiked perfume the would-be killers used and discarded. Last nights episode closes with Dawns partner Charlie (Johnny Harris) finding the perfume bottle in a skip. The Salisbury Poisonings has some striking moments; the effects of poisoning on Bailey are powerfully conveyed. As a whole, though, its a frustratingly disjointed affair in which the various strands compete rather than cohere. The drama is further diluted by irrelevant scenes featuring Sergei Skripals friend and next door neighbour Ross Cassidy (Mark Addy). PALMER Philip J. Hebert is a member of Palmer Town Council again. He was elected during last weeks election as a write-in candidate, getting 15 votes. No one was on the ballot for the District 1 council seat. Incumbent Michelle T. Sikes, who was elected in 2017, did not seek reelection. Sikes replaced Hebert three years ago when he did not seek reelection. Councilor at-large Robert B. Lavoie was reelected. He was unopposed. Official results from town clerk show a voter turnout of 4.5% for the June 9 election, with 390 casting ballots out of 8,600 registered voters. Joseph Nompleggi, with 77 votes as a write-in, was elected to the school board. He replaced Lisa J. Murray, who did not seek reelection. Bonny B. Rathbone, who was on the ballot, won reelection unopposed. Kathleen M. Burns and Thomas S. Skowyra were reelected to the Planning Board, running unopposed. The opposition NDC has hinted that the manifesto on which its campaigns ahead of the December polls will be based on is ready and will be outdoored in the coming weeks. This was revealed by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who spoke on behalf of the party at the just ended weekly press briefing held on Monday, June 15 2020. Okudzeto Ablakwa said the party has concluded its research and consultations into developing a manifesto which resonates with the needs of the ordinary Ghanaian. Thus, the party in the coming days will embark on facts and data-backed campaign across the country, aimed at reclaiming the lost presidential seat. Our manifesto is ready and well outdoor it in the coming days. I dont want to take the wind out of the sails of the manifesto team so I wont speak about it...well embark on fact, data-backed campaign soon..., Ablakwa said. The flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama has in recent engagements said the party will adopt and campaign strictly according to a bottom-up manifesto for the electioneering campaign. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video After yesterdays announcement that Zambias UZI has finally abandoned its attempts to roll out a network, it looks like another long-running saga involving a cash-strapped operator is coming to an end with an announcement from Brazils Oi. Admittedly Oi did actually have a business up and running, but it has long been looking for buyers for its mobile assets. Now, in what is referred to as an Amendment to the Judicial Reorganisation Plan published on 15 June, Oi has made clear that it plans to sell its mobile assets via what it describes as a competitive process. The company wants interested parties to submit sealed bids for 100 percent of its mobile unit. The minimum bid will be $2.9 billion. The mobile assets will be awarded to the bidder that offers the highest price above the minimum price, unless the second highest bid (assuming it is no more than five percent lower than the highest bid) provides greater legal assurances and certainty for the closing of the sale. To pave the way for the sale, Ois mobile business along with its tower unit, data centre business and InfraCo arm will be converted into distinct isolated production units, which will be formed as special purpose stock entities. Ois hunt for cash to deal with its debts has been going on for some while. As we reported in January, Oi has already sold its 25 percent stake in Unitel, the leading operator in Angola, to Sonangol, the group that oversees petroleum and natural gas production in Angola, for one billion dollars. In fact as far back as October rumours were flying that Telefonica, America Movil and Telecom Italia had begun talks to jointly purchase Ois mobile division and then divide the assets between them. The new sale plan would, presumably, mean that there is still a fourth mobile operator in the country. The sale of Ois mobile division and other core operations is part of a plan to guarantee the survival of its fixed-line business. The issue of race and attitudes towards people of colour has been at the forefront of public discourse in recent weeks. The death of George Floyd sparked protests all over the world, many of them in this country, in our cities and towns. And as a result we have been forced to reflect on whether we, as a nation, have an issue with racism, whether our behaviour needs to change along with that of our American cousins. One man uniquely placed to discuss this issue is Fr Martin Pender. Currently the Parish priest in Ballymitty, Fr Martin has spent a large portion of his career in South Africa, a country with a long and complicated history of racial tension. And Fr Martin disputes claims that Ireland is a racist country. 'We need to get clarity on the issue at hand. Do we have an issue with racism in Ireland? No. I don't think so. Do all people think equally in this country? No, we do not,' he says. 'We're basing this opinion on individuals, certain people who think that way. You will always have racial problems in every country because of individuals. It's worrying and absolutely dangerous to stamp an entire people as racist, as a nation we have no control over how a person lives.' During his time in South Africa Fr Martin experienced prejudice based on the colour of his skin, but he says he refused to let that taint his opinion of the South African people. 'At the moment we have white people in America falling on their knees saying "forgive me" as if they are to blame for what's happening. From my time in Africa, if I was to use the same logic then all black people are racist against white people.' 'I had an accident in my car one day and when I got out of the car the people there told me I had no right to be driving on their roads. Another time I was coming out of the supermarket one day and had my shopping bags dragged out of my hands and when I went to the police station they said "what do you expect, you're a white man?"' 'But I don't see that as typical of South Africa, the people there are not like that; these are just individuals, not everyone is like that.' As if to prove his point, Fr Martin went on to fund education programmes for children in South Africa and has even brought students to Ireland to help them further their career prospects. And he believes the key to overcoming racism and discrimination is gaining a greater understanding of cultures which may be unfamiliar to us. 'What's happening at present is based on a lack of knowledge, a lack of insight and a lack of reflection. Racism is an attitude of mind, not based on skin colour, or white versus black. 'The way it's being portrayed at the moment is that all black people are innocent because of their skin colour. But in South Afica there is hatred for other black people based on their tribe, where they live, this is black against black, they are racist against one another. 'Black people kill one another, is blacks killing blacks acceptable? The Black Lives Matter movement is an ideology, there's no reflection or analysis involved. You grow as a person when you experience other cultures. 'Africa taught me a lot about human nature, about suffering and about living a life with a lack of education, of health, a lack of everything. If you are open-minded you can gain a deeper understanding of these issues,' says Fr Martin. And the Ballymitty priest believes younger people of colour who were born in Ireland can help to educate their peers, but only if society allows them to. 'The younger generation of black people here feel much more at home, but still, we've judged them by their colour, we need to eradicate that way of thinking. This is another issue which needs to be addressed.' A fervent opponent of the Direct Provision system, Fr Martin says newcomers to this country should be integrated into our communities rather than locked away for an indefinite amount of time. 'Direct Provision treats people without respect. A lot of people in those centres were not given the correct information when the pandemic struck and they were living in fear as a result. 'I had to go and translate for some of them so they would understand it better. There was a total lack of awareness there. Those people have already been to hell and back, and they arrive here asking for protection and in some cases they were forgotten about. 'We need to look at the Swedish model of integrating immigrants. You should never put people into detention centres, you need to integrate them. At the moment they are suddenly expected to integrate into society after spending three or four years in Direct Provision. The centres create a them and us mentality, and we need to break that down.' The US central bank will start buying corporate bonds from Tuesday in its latest bid to shore up the economy. Asian shares and Wall Street futures rallied on Tuesday as the formal start of the United States Federal Reserves corporate bond-buying programme boosted global investor sentiment and calmed earlier worries about a second wave of coronavirus infections. MSCIs broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 2.2 percent, its biggest one-day gain since June 1. Australian stocks rose 3.0 percent, while shares in China rose 1.2 percent. Japans Nikkei stock index and shares in South Korea posted their biggest daily gains in nearly two months. US stock futures, the S&P 500 e-minis, were up 0.98 percent following a late rally on Wall Street on Monday. US Treasury yields rose as investors sold bonds. The Stoxx Europe 600 index of leading European shares opened higher on advances in travel and construction companies. Crude oil futures erased gains and fell amid persistent doubts over whether supply cuts would be enough to reduce an oil glut. US crude fell 1.2 percent to $36.68 a barrel. Brent crude declined by 1.2 percent to $39.23 per barrel. The Fed said it will start purchasing corporate bonds on Tuesday in the open market, one of several emergency facilities launched in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The US central bank also announced eagerly-awaited details of its programme to lend funds directly to companies. Global equities had fallen sharply from late last week due to worries about the US economy and confirmation of a new coronavirus cluster in Beijing. However, the Feds corporate bond purchases and data showing new infections in Beijing are under control helped equities quickly reverse course and head higher. Equities were overbought and corrected lower, but the S&P 500 has bounced off support because of the Fed, said Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy and chief economist at AMP Capital Investors in Sydney. The markets will continue to go higher as long as economies continue to reopen, and as long as the number of coronavirus cases is not large enough to stop the reopening. Sentiment in Asia got a boost after health officials said there were 27 new coronavirus cases in Beijing, down from 36 new cases the previous day. But other developments could once again cast a shadow over the rebound. Beijing city officials have described the coronavirus outbreak centred on the Xinfadi market as very grim, according to the Global Times newspaper. The Times said nine of 11 districts in Beijing have reported confirmed cases, with the area of Fengtai, which is around the market, the worst affected. And Shanghai says it will impose a 14-day quarantine on all people arriving in the city from medium to high-risk COVID-19 areas elsewhere in China. Unstable job market Dutch bank ING said even though recent economic data such as a smaller contraction in retail sales in May compared with April suggest a recovery is under way, China could still experience a choppy ride in the months to come. We believe that the unstable job market and healthcare concerns are the main factors slowing down the recovery. This means that even during the long holiday month of May, people were still spending carefully, Iris Pang, INGs chief economist for Greater China, said in a research note sent to Al Jazeera. The Australian dollar rose 0.31 percent to $0.6942. The Aussie is often traded as a liquid proxy for risk because of its close ties to Chinas economy and global commodities. The yen was little changed at 107.32 per dollar before a Bank of Japan meeting ending later on Tuesday. No major policy moves are expected, but some investors will focus on any comments about the global debate on capping government bond yields. Lakeview College of Nursing congratulates nearly 40 students who recently received their academic degree. Graduates were celebrated during the College's recent virtual commencement ceremony. Graduates from the local area include the following: Abby Erickson of Neoga graduated from Lakeview's Charleston Campus. She is a 2014 graduate of Neoga Junior Senior High School in Neoga. She is the daughter of Rae Ann Hille of Neoga. Justine Funneman of Effingham graduated from Lakeview's Charleston Campus. She is a 2016 graduate of Teutopolis High School in Teutopolis and a 2018 graduate of Lake Land Community College in Mattoon. She is the daughter of Craig and Laurie Funneman of Effingham. Abby Marxman of Effingham graduated from Lakeview's Charleston Campus. She is a 2016 graduate of Effingham High School in Effingham and a 2018 graduate of Lake Land College in Mattoon. She is the daughter of Jill and Brian Marxman of Effingham. Sydney Morgan of Charleston graduated from Lakeview's Charleston Campus. She is a 2014 graduate of Charleston High School in Charleston. She is the daughter of Tracy Morgan of Charleston and Jim Morgan of Charleston. Keiko Ripley of Effingham graduated from Lakeview's Charleston Campus. Kaitlyn Taylor of Charleston graduated from Lakeview's Charleston Campus. She is a 2011 graduate of Charleston High School in Charleston and a 2015 graduate of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She is the daughter of Michael and Susan Taylor of Charleston. She is married to Albert Adkins. A British man, Vietnams most critically ill COVID-19 patient, has recovered most of his leg muscle strength and is able to practice walking with help from doctors at a Ho Chi Minh City hospital. A representative of Cho Ray Hospital confirmed on Monday that the Briton has been able to stand up and walk with his doctors' assistance. This is a significant improvement as doctors previously believed it would take a few more weeks for the patient to start walking again. The muscular strength of his legs was graded 2/5 a few days ago. However, a test on Monday showed that his leg muscle strength has increased to 4/5. The British patient has regained most physical function of his arms and is able to speak and communicate normally. The 43-year-old man, a Vietnam Airlines pilot, was confirmed as the countrys COVID-19 patient No. 91 following his diagnosis in mid-March. After being cleared of the coronavirus following his treatment at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, he was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital on May 22 with severely damaged lungs. He has been making a remarkable recovery in the past weeks. On June 3, doctors gave the green light to disconnect the patient from ECMO life support, which he had been on for nearly 60 days. He was taken off his ventilator on Saturday, the Ministry of Health said, adding that a lung transplant, once considered his only lifeline, is no longer necessary. Doctors stopped giving him antibiotics used to treat his other conditions on Monday. The Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases has announced that the medical expense of his COVID-19 treatment at the infirmary from March 18 to May 22 had been paid by his insurance company. The exact amount has yet to be revealed but it is estimated at VND3 billion (US$130,200). Vietnams COVID-19 tally stands at 334, with 323 having recovered as of Tuesday morning. It has been 61 days since Vietnam last documented an infection in the community. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! North Macedonia's political parties have agreed on parliamentary elections to be held on July 15, despite a constant number of coronavirus infections. The elections are seen as a crucial step for the country's European Union membership bid. The elections in the newest NATO member will also be a test of support for the pro-EU policies of the Social Democrats of former Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Zaev resigned in January after the EU failed to announce a date for accession talks. The EU subsequently said in March that membership talks could begin with North Macedonia and Albania. A transitional government had initially scheduled an early parliamentary poll for April 12 but postponed it due to the outbreak. Zaev reached the agreement on June 15 with opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski, head of the main opposition party, the nationalist conservative VMRO-DPMNE. In a Facebook post, Mickoski said his party would participate in the elections. North Macedonia's economy is forecast to contract 3.5 percent this year and is expected to return to growth in 2021. "We cannot bear a bigger crisis than this with a technical government and without a parliament," Zaev told reporters. North Macedonia is grappling with a resurgence of infections that occurred after restrictions were recently relaxed. Health Minister Venko Filipce announced 103 new confirmed cases and five deaths on June 15, bringing the total number of infected people to 4,157 and the death toll to 193. Sushant Singh Rajputs death due to suicide has stung the entire film industry. Reports claim that the actor was depressed and hence took the drastic step to end his life on Sunday. Condolences from his industry colleagues started pouring in as soon as the news broke. His last rites were performed yesterday at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbais Vile Parle area. Sushants death has stoked several discussions and debates about his reasons for taking this fatal step. The actor hasnt left any note behind explaining his motives. Vicky Kaushal took to Instagram to post a special message praying for positivity and strength. He captioned an image of himself at Golden Temple writing, Jo hai... jo chale gaye, saareyaan nu sukh shaanti bakshyo. New Patriotic Party (NPP) Polling Station Executives in the Asante Akyem Constituency are calling on the Partys National Executives to call constituency Executive Officers to order following the alleged removal of 145 names from the delegates album for the upcoming parliamentary primaries. The aggrieved Polling Station Executives were elected in 2018 in an election supervised by Opoku Mensah, popularly referred to as OMENS to serve for a period of four years. For their mandate as polling station executives, they are to take part in the election of constituency executives and also the election of a parliamentary candidate who will lead the NPP in the constituency in the 2020 General elections. According to the group numbering about 145, they are saddened to learn that all of them have been removed from the delegates' album and replaced by people who are alien to the respective polling stations. Some of us got a hint of this undemocratic act when we were deliberately denied our Christmas packages from our party by our constituency executives. Enquiries were made and we followed up to the Constituency Chairmans house, Mr. Sampson Agyei of which he confirmed to us that he has removed our names from constituency delegates album because according to him, it is his right to do that as a constituency chairman. He also confirmed to Kessben FM in an interview he granted that he has suspended 200 delegates from the party without inviting them to any Disciplinary Committee. Our suspicion was confirmed when the delegate album to be used for the primaries was given to one of the aspirants by our National Executives and our names, duly confirmed as expunged and replaced, a press statement from the aggrieved polling stations executives in the Asante Akyem Constituency has said. According to the delegates, what they are witnessing is an attempt by the constituency executives and the current Member of Parliament, Andy Appiah Kubi to destroy the partys foundation thereby dwindling the electoral fortunes of the party in future elections. The blatant disregard for the partys constitution and its dictates is very alarming and we are calling on our National executives to call our constituency executive officers into order. We are calling on our National executives to revert this anomaly for peace to prevail in the parliamentary primaries, another portion of the statement said. The Polling Station Executives describe what has been done as dangerous while noting that they have every right to protect their office. They have stressed that they are determined to resist the attempt to disenfranchise them in the June 2020 Parliamentary elections and will even use the last drop of their blood. Read the full press statement below: PRESS CONFERENCE BY POLLING STATION EXECUTIVES (DELEGATES) OF NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP), ASANTE AKYEM NORTH CONSTITUENCY DATE; 15TH June 2020. Invited press, ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today as New Patriotic Party polling station executives (delegates) to register our displeasure and voice out our resentment on the exclusion from the Asante Akyem North delegates album of one hundred and forty five (145) polling station executives by our constituency Executives Committee thereby disenfranchising us from casting our votes in the parliamentary primaries slated for this Saturday, 20th June 2020. As polling station executives in the Asante Akyem North Constituency, we were elected on the 18th of January 2018 in an election supervised by Opoku Mensah, popularly referred to as OMENS who happens to be the current head of the National Service in the Ashanti region to serve for a period of four years. Our mandate as polling station executives requires of us to take part in the election of our constituency executives, as we did to elect the current constituency executives at Domeabra on 24th February, 2018 and also the parliamentary candidate who will lead our great party in the 2020 General elections. We are saddened to announce that having exercise our first mandate, that is, participating in the elections that brought our current constituency executives into office, and currently preparing to cast our votes in an election that will determine who becomes the NPPs Parliamentary candidate in our constituency, one hundred and forty five polling station executives have been removed from the delegates album and replaced by people who are alien to our respective polling stations. Some of us got a hint of this undemocratic act when we were deliberately denied our Christmas packages from our party by our constituency executives. Enquiries were made and we followed up to the Constituency Chairmans house, Mr. Sampson Agyei of which he confirmed to us that he has removed our names from constituency delegates album because according to him, it is his right to do that as a constituency chairman. He also confirmed to Kessben FM in an interview he granted that he has suspended 200 delegates from the party without inviting them to any Disciplinary committee. Our suspicion was confirmed when the delegate album to be used for the primaries was given to one of the aspirants by our National executives and our names, duly confirmed as expunged and replaced. Invited Press, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a shame that our constituency executives in the Asante Akyem North Constituency will resort to this crude and undemocratic acts which is alien to the democratic principles and basis upon which the foundations of our great party was built. Our partys regulations (point no.34) concerning the conduct of the Parliamentary elections scheduled for 20th June, 2020 is explicit on the kind of people who are supposed to take part. The Photo Album/Register which was used to elect the Constituency Executives in February 2018, SHALL be the same album that will be made available to the National Parliamentary Vetting Committee (NPVC) and the Electoral Commission of Ghana for the conduct of the Parliamentary primaries. The question we are asking as affected delegates is, why the variance in the directives as given by our General Secretary with regards to the use of the Photo Album/Register in our constituency? Press present, ladies and gentlemen, the backbone of any political party is its grass root; the political fortunes or otherwise of any political party depends on the preparedness of its grass root members to actively champion the partys affairs at the polling station level. What we are witnessing today is an attempt by our constituency executives and our current Member of Parliament, Andy Appiah Kubi to destroy the partys foundation thereby dwindling the electoral fortunes of our party in future elections. It is sad to note that, our polling station executives whose names have been removed have been replaced with people who are alien to these polling stations with some even not registered voters in our constituency. How can someone who is not a registered voter in our constituency and at the same time does not even stay in that polling station area be made a party executive in our great party? Our 2nd National Chairman, Mr. F. F. stressed on this particular point at the Constituency executives elections at Domeabra in 2018 that, no one can be a polling station executive at where he or she does not vote. Going into specifics, let us take the DA Primary school, Kansanso polling station with F280101 as its polling station code into perspective, the Chairman, Samuel Kulakes name has been removed and replaced with James Obeng, who is a registered voter at the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH JUANSA which has F280102 as its polling station code. Frederick Dzimado, the secretary has his name removed and replaced with Theresah Okai who also happens to be a registered voter at Court house polling station Juansa with F280201 as its polling station code. Frank Yevor, the organizer has been removed and replaced with Naomi Asiedu who is a registered voter at the Roman Catholic church Juansa with polling station code F280102. Christian Dzimado Lisa, the youth organizer has been removed and replaced with Kwadwo Paul who is a registered voter at the M D C CHURCH AGOGO with F280701B as the polling station code. Awoyo S. wonder, the women organizers name has been removed and replaced with Ofori Christiana who is a registered voter at the OLD METH CHURCH AGOGO with F280902A as the polling station code. Press present, ladies and gentlemen, this is just an example of the numerous illegality committed by our constituency executives. Does our constituency executives and our Member of Parliament have the interest of the greater NPP at heart? How can a known NDC activist Pellas Gyasi Herve who is also a branch executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), be made a polling station executive at the Temporary Booth polling station Kwadwamena, in the NPP? The blatant disregard for the partys constitution and its dictates is very alarming and we are calling on our National executives to call our constituency executive officers into order. We are calling on our National executives to revert this anomaly for peace to prevail in the parliamentary primaries. What they have done is very dangerous since as duly elected delegates, we have every right to protect our office and our partys constitution hence it is our resolve to resist this attempt to disenfranchise us even with the last drop of our blood. We are also respectfully calling on Nananom in the Asante Akyem North enclave to as a matter of urgency come in to avert this impending calamity come the 20th of June 2020. The Kumi preko demonstrations in the 90s led by no other person than our President Nana Akufo Addo has thought members of the NPP to resist all forms of Non Democratic and dictatorial tendencies with all our might and so will we do! THANK YOU. Cc The National Executive Committee (NPP) The Agogo Traditional Council All Media houses. Kwabena Frimpong 0241057607 Thompson Gyamerah 0209470210 Festus Enyan 0246221223 Ntim Enock Otuo 0249834007 Patrick Appiah Kubi 0246581995 Boakye Yiadom 0249823591 Stephen Tayoo 0241837156 Obeng Akrofi 0240336356 (Alliance News) - The UK oil and gas industry has announced a target to halve its greenhouse gas emissions within a decade as part of efforts to become net-zero by 2050. Deirdre Michie, chief executive of Oil & Gas UK, said the industry body is committed to "ambitious milestone targets" to reduce emissions associated with offshore production. It is now aiming to halve greenhouse gas emissions arising from exploration and production work on the UK Continental Shelf by 2030 and then delivering a 90% emissions reduction by 2040. Oil & Gas UK also restated its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. A new report sets out how changes to operations are needed, as well as reductions in flaring a the controlled burning of gases a and "major capital investment programmes to decarbonise production operations". Michie said the "challenging targets" have been developed after "detailed assessment of the measures needed to deliver them". But environmental campaigners branded the industry's plans "disingenuous". Lang Banks, WWF Scotland director, said: "The oil and gas industry needs to take responsibility for the use of its products, not just how green its operations are. "Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is the only fair and sustainable way to address the climate emergency." Oil & Gas UK published its Pathway to Net Zero report amid the Covid-19 pandemic and after a slump in oil and gas prices that have had a "devastating impact" on the industry. A total of 18.3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases were emitted from upstream oil and gas operations in 2018 a 4% of total UK emissions. Report author and Oil & Gas UK emissions improvement manager Louise O'Hara Murray said: "These targets would remove over nine million tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions from our operations over the next decade; the same as taking nearly two million cars off the road for a year." UK energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng said: "The offshore oil and gas sector's commitment to halving operational emissions over the next decade is a welcome step for an industry that has a vital role to play in our energy transition in the years to come." Scottish energy minister Paul Wheelhouse said: "I welcome this report from the UK oil and gas industry and the ambitious targets committing it to halving operational emissions over the next decade. "This is not only an important commitment from one of Scotland's key sectors, but a significant step to support Scotland's just transition to net-zero which helps us move at pace." Scottish Greens energy spokesman Mark Ruskell criticised the report. He said: "Extracting every last drop of oil and gas using renewable electricity does not tackle the climate emergency. What next, solar powered coal mines? "At a time when governments should be putting in place fair transition plans for workers in the sector, UK ministers are putting their fingers in their ears. "The UK is showing a disgraceful lack of leadership ahead of the Glasgow COP26 climate summit, countries like New Zealand and France are putting limits on oil and gas expansion allowing time to transition. "Instead the UK government is letting industry rather than climate science set the pace." By Katrine Bussey, PA Scotland Political Editor source: PA Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.M A Baloch woman, identified as Kulsoom Baloch, was killed by robbers at her home in Dazen, Tump on Sunday night, Baloch political activists alleged. According to sources, her throat was slit in front of her children. The family members of the victim posted on social media that after the inhuman killing of Kulsoom, her children are still in grave shock and they are still unconscious. The Baloch political and social media activists believe that these incidents are not just simple cases of robberies but pre-planned attacks by state-backed death squads to send a message to Baloch political activists if they are out of the reach of the state, they can attack their families. Baloch Journalist Sohaib Baloch tweeted, Is there more to just robbery in the incidents of Dannuk and Dazin? It seems death squads are being used to give a message to the Baloch activists that their families can be targeted too and the state will get away with the brutality by just calling it a robbery? Is there more to just robbery in the incidents of Dannuk and Dazin? It seems death squads are being used to give a message to the Baloch activists that their families can be targeted too and the state will get away with the brutality by just calling it a robbery? Sohaib Baluch (@Sohaib_Baluch) June 15, 2020 Also Read: Balochistan registers 5 new cases of enforced disappearance in 2 days Similarly, representative of Baloch Republican Party to the UNHRC, Abdul Bugti tweeted, It is a clear message that they can target the families using non-state actors or more appropriately called death squads. It is also a threat to the female activists since they are the ones at the forefront now after the men have been systematically targeted and removed from the surface. Talking to ANI, president of Baloch National Movement (United Kingdom Zone), Hakeem Baloch said, These incident of robberies are not so simple and these are not just thugs or junkies jumping into the houses of Baloch people and killing women and injuring children. These are calculated act of state oppression against the Baloch. The Pakistani state, with the last night incident, has sent a message to the Baloch and to those people who are protesting and demanding justice for Bramsh, that this is the only justice Baloch can get under Pakistani occupation, Hakeem Baloch said. Hakeem Baloch also said the robbers not just killed a woman, but it was a brutal act. We have reports that the so-called robbers, the members of death squads, have cut both her ears and slit her throat and took all the valuables. The incident of Dazan is a continuity of Pakistani war crimes in Balochistan. We have been telling the world that the Pakistani state is using collective punishment as part of their counter-insurgency strategy. We hope soon the world seriously stand with the people of Balochistan in their struggle against oppression and for their freedom, Hakeem Baloch. A spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Special Task Force Turbat, Makran strongly condemned the incident in Dazan, Tump. It is to be noted that is the second incident of killing of a woman in District Kech. Previously, a Baloch woman named Maliknaz had been shot dead at her home and her four-year-old daughter Bramsh injured on May 26. Since then, the people of Balochistan are protesting in and outside Balochistan against that barbaric act. Baloch political activists living in Europe and other parts of the world have also organised protests against rising incidents of crimes against women in Balochistan. They allege Pakistan army and spy agencies, the ISI and MI, for supporting these armed criminals against the Baloch. Also Read: India slams Pak for raising Kashmir issue at UNHRC For all the latest World News, download NewsX App Ind-Swift Laboratories hit an upper circuit of 10% at Rs 33.15 after the company said it will commercially launch anti-histamine drug, Fexofenadine, in the US market. Fexofenadine is an anti-histamine drug used for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis and urticaria. The company has tied up with a reputed generic player in USA, which had filed the ANDA using the IndSwift Laboratories DMF (drug master file). The company has received the commercial orders and the supplies are beginning from the current quarter. USA is a significant market for anti-histamine product. Over 14% of the total turnover of the company is contributed by the US market. Ind-Swift Lab supplies 7-8 products commercially to the US market. The company has been successfully inspected by the USFDA (United States Food & Drug Administration) in March 2020 for the sixth time since its inception, without any 483 observations. It has also received EIR (establishment inspection report). On a consolidated basis, the company reported a net loss of 9.03 crore in Q3 December 2020 as against a net profit of Rs 40.29 crore in Q3 December 2019. Net sales rose 2.6% YoY to Rs 203.72 crore during the quarter. Ind-Swift Laboratories manufactures bulk drugs and intermediates. The company's product portfolio includes anti-infective, anti-allergy, analgesic and cardiovascular medicines. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Federal civil rights law protects gay, lesbian and transgender workers, the Supreme Court ruled Monday. The landmark ruling will extend protections to millions of workers nationwide and is a defeat for the Trump administration, which argued that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act that bars discrimination based on sex did not extend to claims of gender identity and sexual orientation. The 6-3 opinion was written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump's first Supreme Court nominee, and joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's four liberal justices. "An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids," Gorsuch wrote. "There is simply no escaping the role intent plays here: Just as sex is necessarily a but-for cause when an employer discriminates against homosexual or transgender employees, an employer who discriminates on these grounds inescapably intends to rely on sex in its decisionmaking," the opinion read. "Today's decision is one of the court's most significant rulings ever with respect to the civil rights of gay and transgender individuals," said Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law. "On its terms, the decision is only about discrimination in the workplace," Vladeck added. "But it inevitably opens the door to a host of other challenges to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or transgender status on the ground that it, too, is impermissibly based upon sex. In that respect, only the court's 2015 ruling recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage may be equally as significant." Speaking at the White House, Trump called the decision "very powerful" and acknowledged it was surprising to some. "They've ruled and we live with the decision," Trump said. "We live with the decision of the Supreme Court." Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden called the ruling "a momentous step forward for our country." "The Supreme Court has confirmed the simple but profoundly American idea that every human being should be treated with respect and dignity. That everyone should be able to live openly, proudly, as their true selves without fear," Biden said. The LGBTQ community is made of up of approximately 1 million workers who identify as transgender and 7.1 million lesbian, gay and bisexual workers, according to UCLA's Williams Institute. Twenty-two states, plus the District of Columbia have statutes protecting workers based on sexual orientation, according to the Williams Institute. Twenty-one states plus DC have statutes protecting workers from discrimination based on gender identity. Justice Samuel Alito, one of the court's conservatives, wrote in his dissent that "even if discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity could be squeezed into some arcane understanding of sex discrimination, the context in which Title VII was enacted would tell us that this is not what the statute's terms were understood to mean at that time." Meanwhile, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, another conservative on the bench, acknowledged the social and political progress achieved by members of the LGBTQ community, but nonetheless dissented. "They have advanced powerful policy arguments and can take pride in today's result. Under the Constitution's separation of powers, however, I believe that it was Congress's role, not this Court's, to amend Title VII. I therefore must respectfully dissent from the Court's judgment," Kavanaugh wrote. A number of LGBTQ groups celebrated the court's ruling on Monday, including the Human Rights Campaign, whose president, Alphonso David, said in a tweet that the decision is a "landmark victory for #LGBTQ equality." Sarah Kate Ellis, the president of the LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD, said in a statement that the decision "is a step towards affirming the dignity of transgender people, and all LGBTQ people." But the ruling was also sharply criticized by the conservative Judicial Crisis Network, whose president issued a blistering statement about Gorsuch, who replaced the late Justice Antonin Scalia. "Justice Scalia would be disappointed that his successor has bungled textualism so badly today, for the sake of appealing to college campuses and editorial boards," said Carrie Severino, a former clerk of Justice Clarence Thomas. "This was not judging, this was legislating -- a brute force attack on our constitutional system." Gorsuch grounded his opinion in the plain text of the law. He acknowledged that when the law was passed, Congress may not have been thinking of gay, lesbian and transgender rights. The conservative justice said Congress might not have "anticipated their work would lead to this particular result," but, he said, the "express terms of the statute give us one answer." "Only the written word is the law, and all persons are entitled to its benefit," he wrote in the ruling. An historic ruling The court's ruling was on separate cases: one concerning whether the law encompasses claims of sexual orientation brought by Gerald Bostock, and the estate of Donald Zarda, and the other concerning a transgender woman, Aimee Stephens, whose challenge marked the first time the court heard arguments regarding the civil rights of a transgender individual. Stephens, who died in May, mustered the courage back in 2013 to tell her co-workers about something that she had struggled with her entire life: her gender identity. Not long after, she was fired as the director of a funeral home. Stephens' former boss, Thomas Rost, testified in the lower court that she was fired because she was "no longer going to represent himself as a man." (Rost refused to address Stephens with feminine pronouns). A lower court ruled in her favor, holding it is "analytically impossible to fire an employee based on that employee's status as a transgender person without being motivated, at least in part, by the employee's sex." Aimee Stephens' wife, Donna Stephens, also welcomed the court's ruling on Monday, saying in a statement that Aimee was "a leader who fought against discrimination against transgender people." "I am grateful for this victory to honor the legacy of Aimee, and to ensure people are treated fairly regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity," Donna Stephens said. Bostock, a gay man from Georgia who claimed that despite receiving good performance reviews as a child welfare services coordinator, argued he was fired because of his sexual orientation. Another plaintiff was the estate of Donald Zarda, who had been employed as a sky diving instructor. Zarda has since died but he too claimed to be fired because he was gay. This story has been updated with comment from President Trump. India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent 20 Indian soldiers martyred in Ladakh border clash with China India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, June 16: At least 20 Indian Army personnel were killed in violent face-off in Ladakh's Galwan Valley, escalating the already volatile border standoff between the two sides. India China face-off: Why are there frequent clashes at the Line of Actual Control | Oneindia News Earlier it was reported that one Indian Army officer and two jawans were martyred and three to four Chinese troops were killed in the face-off. However, highly-placed sources have told ANI that as many 20 soldiers on the Indian side have been killed in the face-off. The fatalities, the highest in decades, may go up further, they said. The report said the Chinese side also suffered "proportionate casualties" but chose not to speculate on the numbers. "Indian intercepts reveal that Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured in face-off in the Galwan valley," Sources told ANI. Further, there is increase in Chinese chopper activity observed across the LAC to airlift casualties suffered by them during face-off with Indian troops in Galwan valley. In the morning, the Army said India lost an officer and two soldiers during the violent face-off, while there were casualties on the Chinese side as well. The officer killed in the clash is Colonel Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of the 16 Bihar regiment, while the two soldiers were K Palani and Ojha. India-China standoff: Violence result of China's attempt to change status quo, says MEA India said the clashes happened "as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there", rebutting China's claims that Indian soldiers cross the border. This is the first fatal clash since 1975 between India and China, who fought a border war in 1962. We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy Redmi 9A Tipped To Feature MediaTek Helio G80 Processor: Expected Launch, Features News oi-Sharmishte Datti Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi is gearing up for a couple of launches, including the Redmi 9A smartphone. While the phone has been doing rounds of the rumor mill for a while, the Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station has revealed fresh details. As one of the budget smartphones, it would feature the MediaTek MT6969T processor. Redmi 9A Specifications Revealed Redmi is one of the popular brands in India, especially for its budget-friendly devices. The upcoming Redmi 9A will add to the list of budget smartphones. Multiple reports had claimed that the Chinese company would likely feature the MediaTek Helio G8X series processors, which claim to provide smooth and fast performance. Accordingly, reports from the tipster Digital Chat Station notes that Redmi 9A could feature MediaTek MT6969T processor under the hood. It should be noted that the exact marketing names of these processors are unknown yet. Another speculation reveals that this processor packs inferior specifications when compared with the Redmi 10X 4G phone. Redmi 9A Expected Features Presently, nothing else is known about the upcoming Redmi 9A device. A recent FCC listing has revealed it could run MIUI 12 out-of-the-box. It is said to be a dual-SIM smartphone with a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network support. A few other reports had noted a 5,000 mAh battery capacity with 18W fast charging support and a 10W charger. The other aspects of the Redmi 9A gathered from the leaks and speculations include support for 4G LTE networks. The schematic sketch of the smartphone's rear as leaked by the FCC certification listing reveals that the Redmi 9A could flaunt a dual-camera setup at its rear. It is believed to measure 164mm x 77.07mm in terms of dimensions. Redmi 9A Launch Presently, the launch details of the Redmi 9A are unknown. The company recently launched the Redmi 9 with a 6.53-inch IPS LCD screen with a Full HD+ panel. The Redmi 9 is powered by the Mediatek Helio G80 SoC and Mali-G52 MC2 GPU and packs a 5,020mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. With the launch of the Redmi 9, we can expect to see the unveiling of the Redmi 9A in the coming days. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Hollo Team members, Cameron van Breda (Final Year, Bachelor of Science), Ajit Krishna Namakkal Raghavendran (Year 3, Bachelor of Engineering) and Piyush Jha from India (Final Year, Bachelor of Engineering) met at HKU. The team noticed that mental health aid was not reaching the younger generations in their communities effectively and envision a future of tech-based, accessible, and comprehensive mental health management tools. With this in mind, Team Hollo developed a mental health companion web application leveraging Azure analytics and AI services to advance youth therapy practices. Over 28,000 students from more than 200 countries registered to take part in the Microsoft Imagine Cup and only 10 teams were selected for the Asia Regional Final. Earlier in February this year, Hollo had won the title of World Finalist in the Asia Regional Final with their impactful solution. In winning the World Champion, the team won USD100,000, a mentoring session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and USD50,000 in Azure grants. The Microsoft Imagine Cup aims to empower students to use their imagination and passion for technology to develop innovative and inclusive solutions that tackle key societal issues. Held online this year due to the pandemic, it is the first time a Hong Kong team took home the Cup, often called the "Olympics of student tech competitions." Piyush is an HKU Final Year Engineering student from Delhi Public School, Indore who majors in Computer Science and minors in Finance. With a 97% score in the All India Senior School Certificate Examination, Piyush received the HKU Foundation Scholarship with a full tuition fee waiver and living allowance which is renewable for his entire undergraduate study at HKU. With HKU's extensive global exchange network, Piyush was able to go on a summer exchange programme at the University of British Columbia in 2017. His outstanding GPA also won him the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund The Reaching Out Award for the exchange in Vancouver, Canada. On top of that, Piyush is a two-time recipient of the HKSAR Government Talent Development Scholarship for his extraordinary performance in international competitions involving technological innovation challenges and computer science hackathons. Ajit is currently a Third Year Engineering student who majors in Computer Science at HKU. Originally from Chennai, he was raised in Hong Kong from a young age and has always been curious and innovative growing up. Since studying at HKU, he participated in various international competitions and was a Finalist in the Global Legal Hackathon for which he went to New York City to pitch in the finals. He is also a recipient of the Funding for Experiential Learning Projects from the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing of HKU. He has recently completed a 1-year internship in Asia's leading digital asset company, BC Group. When asked about how HKU has supported the team in pursuit of their tech aspirations, Team Hollo said, "iDendron at HKU has been a huge help to Hollo. It organised workshops for industry leaders and entrepreneurs to share with us their experiences and perspectives. We were also given networking opportunities to connect with potential elite founders from a wide spectrum of fields who have a common vision to create an impact to the world." Team Hollo added, "The Faculty of Science's new minor, Science Entrepreneurship, has brought us insights via critical analysis of enterprises and taught us the connection of academic knowledge with the real world. It is this minor that has enlightened us on how to create something impactful and feasible at the same time." HKU Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Yiwu HE congratulates Team Hollo, "It demonstrated the growing culture of innovation and entrepreneurship on campus among both academics and students here at HKU. We should think not only in terms of pursuing a new idea or concept for discovery, but to facilitate excellent research that results in products that impacts the world. we hope HKU will incubate many successful companies with innovative products to help grow the high-tech industry and provide the younger generation with more opportunities in Hong Kong." About HKU iDendron iDendron, HKU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub, was launched in 2017 with the aim of nurturing entrepreneurial and innovative spirit on campus, incubating HKU early-stage startups, establishing interdisciplinary cooperation and engaging the community to support human endeavors and society developments. For more details, please visit: https://idendron.hku.hk/ Media Contact: Tiffany Cheung [email protected] Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200616/2832223-1-a Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200616/2832223-1-b Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200616/2832223-1-c Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200119/2696381-1LOGO SOURCE The University of Hong Kong Steven Carrillo, shown in a booking photo, is a leader in an elite military security force. (Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office) When sheriffs deputies searched a white van on June 6 in a wooded hamlet in Santa Cruz County, they found ammunition, firearms, bomb-making equipment and a ballistic vest with a curious patch. The patch contained an igloo and Hawaiian-style print, markings associated with a growing, extremist, anti-government movement aimed at fomenting unrest and civil war. On Tuesday, federal law enforcement officials announced that they were charging Air Force Sgt. Steven Carrillo, 32, the alleged owner of that vest, and suspected accomplice Robert A. Justus Jr., 30, of Millbrae in the May 29 shooting death of a federal security officer in Oakland. Officials said Carrillo, who also faces state charges in the June 6 killing of a Santa Cruz sheriff's deputy, was a follower of the boogaloo movement, which a federal complaint said is not a fixed group but includes people who identify themselves as militia and target perceived government tyranny. Justus social media posts also show support for boogaloo memes. One post reviewed by the Times names people who have been killed by law enforcement, including Oscar Grant, shot by transit police at Oaklands Fruitvale station in 2009, and Vicki Weaver, wife of white supremacist Randy Weaver, killed by an FBI sniper during the 1992 Ruby Ridge siege in Idaho. The federal government charged Carrillo with killing federal security officer David Patrick Underwood, 53, a resident of the small East Bay city of Pinole, and the attempted murder of Underwoods partner. The charges qualify for the death penalty, but officials said no decision has yet been made on whether to seek it. Justus is charged with aiding Carrillo in the killing and attempted killing. The security officers were shot while guarding a federal building in downtown Oakland during a protest over the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. The pair used the protest as a cover for their plans to attack law enforcement, said FBI Special Agent In Charge Jack Bennett. Story continues There is no evidence that these men had any intention to join the demonstration in Oakland, Bennett said at a Tuesday news conference. They came to Oakland to kill cops. Federal officials said Carrillo fired the shots and Justus drove him around in a white van. Surveilance video showed that Carrillo slid open the vans side door to fire his weapon, officials said, and Justus acted at the getaway driver. The two men were linked through cellphone records, officials said. Carrillo used a privately made, unmarked machine gun a so-called ghost gun with a silencer to kill Underwood, Bennett said. The federal complaint against Carrillo said law enforcement found similarities in fired cartridge cases at the shootings in both Oakland and Santa Cruz. The Oakland killing sparked an eight-day manhunt that led to Carrillos arrest after someone reported a white van containing firearms and bomb-making equipment in the small, mountainous Santa Cruz County community of Ben Lomond. Evidence in the van led authorities to Carrillos Ben Lomond home. There, in the early afternoon, Carrillo allegedly opened fire on the deputies, killing Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and injuring another deputy. An explosion rocked the property, the Sheriffs Office said. Carrillo was shot during the gunfire, ran away and then hijacked a car on a nearby highway, according to the federal complaint against him. When he was arrested, he was bleeding from his hip. Carrillo apparently used his own blood to write messages on the hood of the hijacked car, the complaint said. It identified the writing as BOOG, I Became Unreasonable, and Stop the Duopoly. He was part of an elite Air Force security unit at Travis Air Force Base in the city of Fairfield. He served as a team leader trained to protect aircraft at air strips from insurgents and terrorists. Brian Levin, executive director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, said Carrillos posts on social media, including Facebook, became increasingly disturbing in the days before the Oakland shooting. Levin said the centers research shows there have been 27 homicides connected to far-right extremists in the U.S. since 2019. That number doesnt include the most recent Bay Area killings. The FBI arrested three devotees of the boogaloo movement in Nevada recently, and they were charged with inciting violence with the use of Molotov cocktails at protests. Levin said boogaloo followers include ultra-libertarians and white supremacists, but they all share a belief in a coming second civil war. They are 2nd Amendment insurrectionists, Levin said. The boogaloo boys believe in armed insurrection and include attacks on the police. Other experts on extremists said the boogaloo movement was still evolving, and its philosophy varied depending on geography and the underlying beliefs of individual members. While followers all want a second civil war to reset American society, their desired new society varies from embracing racism to one focused on armed libertarianism, the experts said. Many followers discovered the movement on internet chat sites. It then migrated to more mainstream social media, including Facebook and TikTok, where young adherents post videos of themselves dancing in their trademark Hawaiian shirts. Devin Burghart, executive director of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, which tracks far-right extremist activity, said alt-right groups, including the boogaloo movement, increased their online presence dramatically when governments ordered shutdowns to protect people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adherents attended reopen protests and later shifted to the Floyd demonstrations, he said. Following President Trumps call for MAGA night on Twitter after protesters demonstrated in front of the White House, Burghart said, he saw an uptick in alt-right participation in Floyd rallies. We only saw a handful of instances before that, Burghart said. We saw more boogaloo boys showing up at rallies with their Hawaiian shirts. Members of the New Mexico Civil Guard militia group, one of whom shot a protester recently over the removal of a statue, also have ties to the boogaloo movement, he said. A number of boogaloo boys started in different elements of the far right and have been drawn to the more confrontational stance of the boogaloo over time, Burghart said. Justus was under surveillance when he and his parents entered the federal building in San Francisco on June 11, nearly a week after Carrillos arrest, and asked to speak to an FBI agent. His mother said they wanted to tell the FBI about the white van used in the Oakland killing. Justus told an agent he met Carrillo on Facebook, and they agreed that Carrillo would pick him up at a transit station in Oakland for the May 29 Floyd protest; At the station, Carrillo turned over the wheel to Justus. According to the criminal complaint against him. Justus said he did not want to participate in the killing but he was trapped in the van with Carrillo. After shooting the officers, Justus said, Carrillo was thrilled. "Did you see how they ... fell!" Justus said Carrillo exclaimed. An FBI agent who wrote the criminal complaint called Justus' statement "a false, exculpatory narrative carefully crafted to fit what Justus believed to be the state of evidence." Richmond-Julia Creek Vanadium Project Resource Update Perth, June 16, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX: HRZ ) ("Horizon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce drilling results and an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Richmond - Julia Creek ("Richmond") vanadium project located in Central North Queensland (Figure 1*).HIGHLIGHTS- Highly successful infill drilling completed at the Lilyvale deposit, part of the Richmond - Julia Creek Vanadium Project in Central North Queensland 400km east of Mt Isa- The project is a Joint Venture between Horizon Minerals Ltd and unlisted Richmond Vanadium Technology Pty Ltd ("RVT") with RVT earning up to 75% by spending $6 million to March 2021 inclusive of a Feasibility Study- Lilyvale mineralisation sits within a shallow band of oxide marine sediments from surface to 15m depth enabling cost effective low impact mining, significant upgrade potential at the site followed by conventional concentrate treatment to produce electrolyte or flake- A total of 333 AC holes for 7,817m of resource drilling were completed in 2019- Typical significant intercepts received included:o 9m @ 0.69% V2O5 from 2m (L234)o 10m @ 0.60% V2O5 from 3m (L186)o 9m @ 0.64% V2O5 from 4m (L150)- Results demonstrated excellent grade continuity across the entire strike length- Updated independent Mineral Resource estimate now compiled for Lilyvale and stands at:o 560Mt grading 0.48% V205 for 2.6Mt V205 at a 0.30% V205 lower grade cut-off- Over 76% now in the Indicated Resource category- Updated global Mineral Resource estimate for Richmond - Julia Creek stands at:o 1.8Bt grading 0.36% V205 for 6.7Mt V205 at a 0.30% V205 lower grade cut-off- Commercial scale metallurgical testwork on 1.5 - 2% Lilyvale concentrate well advanced- Pre-Feasibility Study centred on commercial evaluation and ore reserve generation from the updated mineral resource will be completed in June for review and expected release in the September Quarter 2020Commenting on the Richmond - Julia Creek project, Horizon Managing Director Mr Jon Price said:"Infill drilling at Lilyvale has demonstrated the improved scale and quality of the resource that can be readily upgraded on site for conventional downstream processing. Lilyvale alone can provide globally significant electrolyte and flake product to meet the increasing demand for both the steel and emerging energy storage markets. We look forward to the completion of the commercial evaluation as part of the Feasibility Study"In March 2017, the Company entered a strategic development Joint Venture ("JV") with Richmond Vanadium Technology Pty Ltd ("RVT"). The JV covered Horizon's 100% interest in the Richmond vanadium project comprising 1,550km2 of Cretaceous Toolebuc Formation (Figure 2*).RVT completed the initial earn in period (A$1 million to earn 25% interest) in March 2018 and have commenced the second stage expenditure commitment of A$5 million over 3 years inclusive of a Feasibility Study to earn a further 50% interest in the project.Since commencement of the JV, RVT have conducted extensive metallurgical test work initially focussed on upgrading the run of mine ore prior to downstream processing of the concentrate. Results from the concentration tests using simple screening, gravity and flotation mineral dressing techniques produced excellent results with the concentrate comprising 21% of the original mass at an improved grade of 1.6% V2O5 and a 73% recovery. The concentrate produced also had a greatly reduced calcium content enabling a number of downstream processing options to be pursued.Downstream pilot plant testing utilising conventional proven roasting and acid leaching techniques produced commercial grade vanadium pentoxide with acceptable recoveries.With the success of the pre-concentration and downstream test work, work has now advanced to simulated production tests. These tests are to be conducted with semi-industrial scale samples through the entire process flowsheet from samples to final product. An additional 3-4t of new samples have been dispatched to the metallurgical laboratory to ensure the most representative samples. Results from these advanced tests are expected in the September Quarter 2020.To view tables and figures, please visit:About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Bengaluru, June 17 : The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shortlisted 4 names, including two defectors from the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) for the June 29 biennial election to contest 4 of the 7 Karnataka legislative Council seats falling vacant, an official said on Tuesday. "The state core committee shortlisted 4 names and sent them to New Delhi for our high command's approval so that they can file nominations by Thursday to contest in 4 of the 7 Council seats," party official G. Madhusudhana told IANS. The 4 are H. Vishwanath, M.T.B. Nagaraj, M. Shankar and Sunil Velyapure. Vishwanath, former JD-S leader, and Nagaraj, former Congress minister, lost in the assembly by-elections on December 5 from Hunsur in Mysuru district and Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural district. "As Vishwanath and Nagaraj resigned from their assembly segments in July 2019 with 15 other rebels, which led to the fall of the 14-month-old JD-S-Congress coalition government on July 23, 2019, the committee recommended their names for the Council seats," said Madhusudhana. Shankar, who was an Independent and a minister in the former coalition government, was not given the BJP ticket to contest in the December assembly bypolls though he too resigned from the Ranebennur assembly seat in Haveri district, about 340 km northwest of Bengaluru, along with former Congress and JD-S rebels. Vishwanath, Nagaraj and Shankar are also aspiring to become ministers in the 10-month-old BJP government after getting elected to the Council, as there are 4 vacancies in the 34-member Yeduiyurappa cabinet. Velyapura is the party's grass-root leader from Chincholi in Gulbarga district in the state's northern region, about 586km from Bengaluru. "He (Velyapura) extensively campaigned in the May 2019 general elections and ensured the victory of our candidate Umesh Yadav from the reserved Gulbarga Lok Sabha seat, defeating Congress senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge," recalled Madhusudhana. As the party has 116 legislators in the 225-member Assembly, all its 4 candidates will need 28 votes each to win the contest. Of the 7 outgoing Council members, 5 are from the Congress and one each from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and an Independent. With 68 lawmakers, the Congress will be able to retain 2 seats and the JD-S one as it has only 34 legislators in the lower house. Of the 75-member Council, the opposition Congress has 37, BJP 19, JD-S 16, two Independents and one Chairman. In a week when high-level meetings were convened to discuss developments on the ground in Libya, videos of Egyptian workers being held hostage by militias allied to the Government of National Accord (GNA) have added a further complication to an already complex situation. GNA forces have been advancing steadily eastward, and though they still remain some distance from Egypts borders with its north African neighbour, Egyptian officials say that whichever way Cairo looks, it cannot but see serious reason for worry given the situation across its border. The possible dismantling of the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Khalifa Haftar, is a serious concern in Cairo. It means that the hard work that has gone into helping former Libyan generals and officers assemble a skeleton national army has come to nothing, said one source. It means that Libya would be left in thrall to mostly Jihadi militias. Egypt, like many other countries with a direct interest in Libya, has expressed repeated concern over Turkeys transfer of jihadists from Syria to Libya to support the GNA-led militias war against the LNA. Egyptian officials have declined to comment on any equivalence between the presence in Libya of Syrian and other Jihadists on the side of the GNA, and the presence of Russian mercenaries on the side of the LNA. According to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity, Egypt cannot accept having Jihadis on its borders. We know from our experience with the Islamic State (IS) that their modus operandi is to constantly attempt to gain more ground, and that would leave Egypt in the position of having to deal with terrorists in Sinai in the east, and militants just across our western border. We have already suffered enormously because of the infiltration of arms and militants from Libya into Sinai. Another Egyptian national security concern is that Libya will fall into a spiral of tribal disputes, something officials in Cairo say is inevitable if tribes from the west of the country wrest control of Libya and marginalise Libyas eastern tribes. This, says the source, was one of the points Egypt stressed in the Cairo Initiative last week when it appealed for a new presidential council to be formed with representatives of all Libyas tribal and political forces, with the exception of the countrys Jihadists. We cannot be expected to sit and watch Libya inching closer towards a civil war that could lead to the division of the country. Egypt is not Turkey. Turkey is miles and miles away from Libya and if things take a nasty turn in Libya it can just leave. Egypt does not have that option, he added. None of the Egyptian officials who spoke on Libya failed to add that for Turkey to have a strong foothold in Libya poses a threat to Egypts national security. The highest levels of the Egyptian administration believe wreaking havoc in Egypt is a top policy objective of Turkeys president. The depth of the animosity between Ankara and Cairo is an open secret. There are over a million Egyptian workers in Libya, and their safety is clearly an issue, say officials in Cairo, given the video that was broadcast this week on social media. But what can Cairo do? According to the officials who spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly, it will keep pushing its initiative, pressing forward with the content, even if the format changes. The important thing, says the anonymous source, is to have the clear targets, and chief among them are a presidential council that represents all Libyans, the removal of foreign forces from Libya, and a viable political process. Though official sources declined to comment on the possibility of an Egyptian military response, they all confirmed that Egypt will act to protect its borders. Meanwhile, Cairo was also immersed in a last-ditch diplomatic attempt to secure an agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the reservoir of which Addis Ababa says it will start filling next month, with or without an agreement with downstream states. Following a Sudanese initiative, Egypt engaged in three-way negotiations via video conference with Ethiopia and Sudan to try and iron out the differences that have blocked an agreement despite seven years of on-again, off-again negotiations including one round sponsored by the US. This weeks talks were based on a Sudanese draft text that attempted to bridge the gaps between Ethiopia and the agreement that was being hammered out in the US capital until, in mid-February, Ethiopia decided to forgo the entire Washington/World Bank-sponsored process. The talks, which were supposed to conclude on Tuesday and as the Weekly went to print, have been described as very complicated in official statements released by Egypts Ministry of Irrigation. The difficulties, according to sources, involve not just the technicalities involved in filling and operating the dam, but are focused on Egypt and Sudans insistence on a legally binding agreement, while Ethiopia wants a set of non-binding guidelines. What is at issue for Egypt is water security, and Egyptian officials say that cannot be left to a non-binding agreement. Egypt cannot leave the fate of its population subject to the good will of Ethiopia, said one concerned official. This would be to gamble with our national security. Ethiopia began building the mega-dam on the Blue Nile, which provides close to 80 per cent of Egypts already inadequate annual quota of Nile water, in April 2011. Cairo has faced an uphill diplomatic battle to get Ethiopia to abide by the Declaration of Principles that it signed in 2015, which states unequivocally that Ethiopia must reach an agreement with Egypt and Sudan before it starts the filling of the reservoir. On Monday, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said that the latest round of negotiations will not yield positive results as long as Ethiopia remains intransigent. Should Ethiopia continue on its present course, Shoukri said Cairo will have no choice but to explore other options, including asking the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibility to protect international peace and security by stopping Ethiopia from taking unilateral action that negatively affects Egypts water rights. On Monday evening Sudans Ministry of Irrigation announced a one-day extension of the talks to allow legal teams to try and hammer out a solution to ongoing differences over the legal status of any agreement and dispute settlement mechanism. If Egypt lets Ethiopia have its way, officials say it would be an open invitation for more problematic situations to arise in the future. Water, after all, is an existential issue for Egypt. Failure to reach an agreement on GERD also has national security dimensions, impacting the balance of power in the Nile Basin and across east Africa. Egyptian officials say it would have been difficult to miss the message Ethiopia was sending when its deputy army chief told state media that Egypt should be aware of Ethiopias military capabilities as it continues to oppose Addis Ababas plans to start filling the hydroelectric dam next month. Egyptians and the rest of the world know too well how we conduct war whenever it comes, said General Birhanu Jula, as reported by Associated Press. Egypt, say officials, has made it clear that it is more than willing to opt for participatory choices when it comes to the management of water and the security of the Nile Basin and east Africa. Ethiopia, they add, has spurned such an approach. As far as Cairo is concerned, the same officials argue that Addis Ababa is simply trying to create a fait accompli in east Africa, whether about the Nile, the management of Nile Basin relations, east African security measures or a possible initiative for Red Sea security, to which Ethiopia has no direct access. If things take a turn for the worse it will not just be Egypt that pays the price. The entire region will be dragged in, said one concerned Egyptian official. This is not a situation that anyone who cares for the security and stability of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea would want to see. They have to do what it takes to prevent it. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The family of Dreasjon Reed, who was fatally shot by Indianapolis police in early May, has filed a lawsuit against the city, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and individual officers for using excessive and deadly force. IMPD and the city have not properly trained and supervised officers on the use of excessive force, the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit names as defendants IMPD officers Dejoure Mercer, who shot Reed, and Steven Scott, who was heard on a Facebook Live video saying Reeds funeral would be a closed casket. IMPD has said Reed fired a gun at Mercer, who then returned fire, during a chase on foot near Michigan Road and 62nd Street. The lawsuit alleges Mercer lied about Reed shooting at him in order to cover up this heinous act. At no time prior to fatally shooting Reed did Officer Mercer command Reed to drop any weapon or warn Reed that he [Officer Mercer] was going to shoot, the lawsuit says. None of the police officers involved in the chase did anything to intervene or prevent the fatal shooting of Reed. The lawsuit says there is objective evidence that contradicts IMPDs claims. The familys attorneys have also said there is evidence Reed didnt shoot at Mercer, but that evidence hasnt been presented. Chief Randal Taylor and Deputy Chief of Police Kendale Adams are also named as defendants. They started the chase with Reed on a highway around 6 p.m. but eventually called for backup. It is unclear whether Chief Adams or Chief Taylor were acting in their official capacities as IMPD officers and whether either or both could have initiated a traffic stop, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of Southern Indiana on June 16, which would have been Reeds 22nd birthday. Read the lawsuit here. Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick. Dreasjon Reeds mother, Demetree Wynn, walks with Elder Lionel Rush of Greater Anointing Fellowship Church before a press conference June 2 near Michigan Road and 62nd Street. (Photo/Tyler Fenwick) Challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic have required businesses across the U.S. and the world to rethink procedures that have been the norm for many years. According to a report by Fox Business, a Walmart in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is reimagining the shopping experience because of the global health crisis by using self-checkout counters only, in lieu of traditional cashier lanes. A spokesperson for the company told Fox Business that in order to find out if the increased use of self-checkout will speed up purchases, while providing a safer experience for shoppers through less interaction, Walmart Supercenter Store #359 is removing its conveyor belt lanes and replacing them with self-checkout counters, the report said. According to the company, employees will be available to help with self-checkout and will also check out groceries like normal for those who want the traditional shopping experience. The report said the new design could be rolled out to stores across the country, if the test run is successful. However, according to the company, the timing will depend on customer and employee feedback. The news comes a few weeks following the announcement by Americas largest retailer that it would be streamlining the companys apps to allow customers to shop online for everything from groceries to apparel and electronics, the report said. In an attempt to mitigate the spread of the virus while customers shop in-store, the report said that last month the company also launched its touch-free payment system, Walmart Pay. Walmart Pay touch-free payment is easier than ever. Download our app today, register for Walmart Pay, and head to the store with peace of mind. Plus, earn 5% back when you use your Capital One Walmart Rewards Card with Walmart Pay for the first 12 months after approval. pic.twitter.com/hS7YrwS54T Walmart (@Walmart) May 13, 2020 How has the pandemic affected Walmarts online sales? According to the companys first quarter earnings report, Walmart saw a 74 percent increase in its online sales year-over-year as demand has soared due to the pandemic, the report said. READ MORE: xxxxx Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. A young woman with Down's syndrome has presented a petition to Number 10 against an abortion law which makes her feel like she would be 'better off dead'. Heidi Crowter, 24, and 18,000 signatories have demanded that MPs do not pass a Bill endorsing regulations that allow the abortion of babies with non-fatal disabilities until the point of birth in Northern Ireland, in a petition which was delivered on Tuesday. Under the regulations, which came into effect in March, abortions are permitted at any time up to birth when there has been a diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality or where the child is likely to suffer severe mental or physical impairment, including Down's syndrome. A majority of Stormont Assembly members voted to support a motion rejecting this 'imposition' of abortion regulations by Westminster on June 2. Heidi Crowter, 24 is leading the movement to urge MPs not to pass a bill allowing abortions of babies with non-fatal disabilities up until the point of birth The outcome of the vote has no impact on the law, but the DUP insisted it sent a message to the Government highlighting the need for changes to the regulations. Speaking at Downing Street on Tuesday, Ms Crowter said: 'I'm asking them (MPs) to respect the vote of Northern Ireland and make sure that it stands, and to allow equality in the womb for every baby. 'I want this to happen because I'm someone who has Down's Syndrome and I feel that the law makes me upset, it makes me feel like I'm better off dead. 'I think it sends a really negative message. And in the words of a classic song, you are amazing just the way you are.' Ms Crowter, from Coventry, added: 'I think the law which allows abortion up to birth for non-fatal disabilities such as mine is downright discrimination in the womb.' In May Ms Crowter told the Mail on Sunday the difference in the way unborn babies with Downs are treated under the law makes me feel upset and sad. 'It makes me feel that I should not be alive. I feel like crying inside,' she added. DUP MP Carla Lockhart, who headed up the petition with Baroness O'Loan, said the Bill is 'wrong' both constitutionally and morally. Heidi with her mother, Liz Crowter (left) and DUP MP Carla Lockhart (right) outside Downing Street on Tuesday as the petition of 18,000 signatures was delivered She said: 'The words that ring out in my mind is that it makes Heidi feel like she shouldn't exist, and that's just wrong. 'The most basic human right is the right to life and everyone has that right to life. 'If you have a cleft palate, a club foot or Down's syndrome, you can be aborted. That's just wrong, so we want to stop that.' She added: 'The people of Northern Ireland do not want these extreme abortion laws imposed upon them. 'They are the most liberal in all of Europe, and it's important that the Government get the message before the vote tomorrow that MPs recognise that the people of Northern Ireland do not want them. 'Constitutionally it's wrong from a devolution point of view, so we're asking them to stop with these laws and listen to the people of Northern Ireland.' Ms Crowter made a heartfelt plea to MPs to 'to allow equality in the womb for every baby' A police officer delivered the petition on Tuesday, and was pictured entering Downing Street Approximately 40,000 people in the UK have Down's syndrome, according to the Down's Syndrome Association, who have also voiced support for Heidi's petition. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) has voiced support for the Bill, saying the 'extremely difficult decisions are best left to a woman.' The head of external affairs at BPAS, Clare Murphy, said: 'Women making these decisions are not casting judgment on Heidi and the value of her life they are trying to do what is best in the most challenging circumstances many of us could imagine.' 'Rather than being forced into a decision, the current legal framework gives women time to understand the severity of a condition and to come to the right decision for her and her family based on the individual circumstances of herself and her pregnancy,' she added. ClearVision AV (ClearVision), a leading professional design and integration services company for video conferencing, media management, streaming video and digital signage, is announcing that it has entered into a relationship with Thasis LLC (Thasis), a consulting and marketing agency that helps growth-stage companies refine their corporate strategy, modernize their brand, increase customer satisfaction, and accelerate go-to-market results. The audio/video industry is undergoing significant changes as a result of smart technologies, migration to the network, and lower cost barriers, said Chris Platt, president of ClearVision. And now, amid changing times, the design of everything from remote office spaces to large boardrooms will need to be rethought. It is the right time for ClearVision to show its market leadership with a new and exciting brand. Thasis will work with ClearVision to update its messaging, evaluate the addition of new services and offerings, and develop a new corporate identity that clearly represents the market changes. The agency will also implement a social media program, update ClearVisions website, produce the appropriate collateral, and increase their offerings around the modernization and changes that are occurring within the audio/video industry. We couldnt be more excited to work with ClearVision, said David Moss, CEO/founder of Thasis. Meeting the need to modernize capabilities, adapt to new market dynamics, and provide leadership is a service at which ClearVision has always excelled. This new brand will help the company continue and better capitalize on that tradition. In coming weeks, ClearVision and Thasis will survey existing and prospective customers as an initial step toward benchmarking current awareness and appreciation for the ClearVisions brand and desired offerings. On that foundation the two teams will collaboratively build a refreshed image that more effectively expresses the expertise and comprehensive offerings that distinguish ClearVision in the A/V market. ClearVision helps companies leverage the latest technologies and strategies for sharing sights and sounds. We look forward to creating a more contemporary image for the company, one that broadcasts a clear, consistent message about our leadership in the A/V field, Platt said. About ClearVisionAV Founded in 2013, ClearVision AV is a professional services company that was created to allow Value Added Resellers and A/V Integrators the ability to expand their installation and service footprint nationally. Headquartered in Noblesville, Ind., and with strategic offices in Illinois, California, and Texas, ClearVision AV strives to work closely with clients, providing superior response time, project management, engineers, technical, and programming services. For more information, visit http://www.clearvision-av.com or contact Chris Platt at cplatt@clearvision-av.com. https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-platt-b79145/ About Thasis LLC Founded in 2019, Thasis is a consulting and digital marketing agency that helps early- to mid-stage companies perfect the strategies and tools they need to raise funds, go-to-market and accelerate growth. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company also serves as the U.S. extension of the Lisbon Project Group, a Portuguese creative design and digital marketing agency. For more information, visit http://www.thasis.com or contact David Moss at david.moss@thasis.com. https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmoss59/ My wife woke up this morning and thought she might have COVID. We called the Hamilton County Heath Department hotline and someone answered on the third ring. Not a voice mail, a real person. She told us they they were already out of their supply for rapid testing but recommended two pharmacies, one on Highway 58 and one on Hixson Pike. We chose the one on 58. A pharmacist ... (click for more) Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who was admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital on Tuesday with high fever and breathing trouble, has tested negative for coronavirus. The health scare came just two days after Jain participated in a meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which was also attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal among others. Earlier in the morning, Jain tweeted: "Due to high grade fever and a sudden drop of my oxygen levels last night I have been admitted to RGSSH. Will keep everyone updated." Due to high grade fever and a sudden drop of my oxygen levels last night I have been admitted to RGSSH. Will keep everyone updated Satyendar Jain (@SatyendarJain) June 16, 2020 Replying to Jains status, Kejriwal wished him a speedy recovery. "You kept serving the public 24*7 without taking care of yourself. Please take care of your health and get well soon, he tweeted. This was the second Covid-19 scare in the Delhi government after Kejriwal quarantined himself last week with flu-like symptoms of fever and a sore throat. His Covid-19 test, however, turned out to be negative. With over 42,000 Covid-19 cases, Delhi has the third-highest number of infections in India. The Centre on Monday constituted three teams of experts to inspect Covid-19 care facilities and patient care services in the national capital and suggest measures to improve them. According to the Delhi government's estimates, the national capital is likely to record around 5 lakh cases by July-end and one lakh beds will be needed for Covid-19 patients. Migrants are huddled in a holding pen last year beneath a bridge at the El Paso crossing. (Los Angeles Times) As leader of one of the most confused, inconsistent and impulsive administrations in American history, President Trump has at least managed to be consistent in one area: his drive to reduce immigration to as thin a trickle as he can. Last week, he took yet more steps to limit access to the U.S. by people fearing for their safety in their own countries and once again moved against our history as a nation of refuge, while also seeming to defy U.S. and international laws protecting the rights of the desperate to seek asylum from persecution in their home countries. The most recent steps come in 161 pages of proposed changes in rules covering a wide swath of asylum law, including potentially barring relief to anyone who has passed through two countries before reaching the U.S. or who spent 14 days or more in one other country prior to arriving here. The administration also wants to bar asylum to anyone who has failed to timely pay taxes due the U.S. government or who has been unlawfully present in the U.S. for a year or more. It wants immigration judges to weigh someone's illegal presence in the U.S. against them even though federal law specifically says people can seek asylum by crossing any part of the border and asking for it. And in addition to making fewer people eligible for asylum, it would give officers more power to deny initial asylum claims preemptively, with no need of a court hearing. That would shift an important determination about asylum eligibility from immigration courts to the front-line screeners and is likely a violation of the due-process guarantees that protect everyone in this country, citizen or not. And on the changes go. The unifying theme here is that Trump, who effectively closed off cross-border access to the U.S. in March as a defense against the spreading coronavirus (too little, too late), wants to permanently limit asylum. Beyond the inherent inhumanity of closing our ears to people asking for protection, the administration is unilaterally undoing decades of U.S. asylum law. Whether Trump has that authority is a matter for the courts, where his lawyers have been spending an awful lot of time defending cockamamie and outrageous moves by the would-be emperor. Story continues The immigration system in this country has been problematic for decades, marred by outdated laws that do not properly address the changing demands of immigration and inconsistent enforcement that, under Trump, has often been inhumane. There are sincere policy discussions to be had over whether we should rebalance the entry criteria to allow more employment-based admissions and reduce the focus on family reunification. Another thorny issue is what to do with people who have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade in most cases while playing a vital role in the economy, forging community bonds and often raising, with partners who are U.S. citizens, American-born children. Then there are the Dreamers people who have lived in the U.S. since arriving as children, who were educated and raised as Americans, and who face deportation often to countries where they dont speak the language. Congress has failed for years to address that problem the Dreamers deserve a path to citizenship and President Obama sought to give them temporary protection through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which Trump has ordered ended despite pledges to do something for the Dreamers. The Supreme Court is expected to rule in the next few weeks on whether DACA will survive. The proper fix here is comprehensive immigration reform. That Congress well before Trump has failed to enact such reform is a testament to its general dysfunction. Trump has, incongruously enough, displayed how badly the system needs reforming, but he's also shown no interest in teaming with Congress to do it. As we have made clear, this president needs to be ousted. We can only hope that the next administration not only undoes these horrific policies and regulations, but also works with Congress to get the progress on immigration reform the nation has been clamoring for for decades. Renters wanting to live in a major city centre are in prime position to secure a bargain, with the level of empty properties in central business districts either doubling, tripling or quadrupling in just a year. Residential vacancy rates in the heart of Sydney have continued to increase, rising from 13.8 per cent in April to a new record high of 16.2 per cent in May, new data from SQM Research showed. The level of empty investment apartments in the centre of Australia's biggest city is now double what it was a year ago. Residential vacancy rates in Sydney's central business district have continued to increase, rising from 13.8 per cent in April to 16.2 per cent in May, new data from SQM Research showed. The level of empty investment apartments in the centre of Australia's biggest city is now double what it was a year ago. Pictured is an apartment at Haymarket At Palm Beach, an ultra-expensive enclave on Sydney's Northern Beaches, the vacancy rate stands at 16.7 per cent Median unit rents across greater Sydney have plunged by 5.2 per cent during the past year to $476.50 a week. At Palm Beach, an ultra-expensive enclave on Sydney's Northern Beaches, the vacancy rate stands at an even higher 16.7 per cent. City centre rental vacancy rates in May 2020 versus May 2019 SYDNEY: 16.2 per cent (8.1 per cent) MELBOURNE: 9.3 per cent (2.2 per cent) BRISBANE: 13.3 per cent (4.5 per cent) ADELAIDE: 7.8 per cent (2.6 per cent) CANBERRA: 7.7 per cent (3.5 per cent) PERTH: 6.0 per cent (unchanged) HOBART: 2.7 per cent (0.9 per cent) DARWIN: 5.0 per cent (6.3 per cent) Source: SQM Research rental vacancies for May 2020. Brackets denote May 2019 figure Advertisement Brisbane's CBD also offers plenty of choice with 13.3 per cent of rental properties lying empty - triple the level of a year ago. Downtown Melbourne also had a high rental vacancy rate of 9.3 per cent in May, up from 7.6 per cent in April and at a level four times higher than May 2019. Southbank, across the Yarra River from the Melbourne CBD, has an even more elevated 16.8 per cent vacancy rate. The mid-point price for rent across the Victorian capital has fallen by an annual pace of 4.5 per cent to $404.90 a week. SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher said renters were likely to keep having plenty of choice as Australia's national border remained closed. 'Still no imminent opening of the international border, I still think rental vacancy rates are going to remain elevated for 2020,' he said. City centre areas also suffered the most from the coronvavirus shutdowns, Australian Bureau of Statistics payroll data showed. Between March 14, before the COVID-19 trading restrictions, and the end of May, the number of jobs in central Sydney and Melbourne both plunged by 10.6 per cent, a level significantly deeper than the national average of 7.5 per cent. CommSec chief economist Craig James said the central business districts of Australia's biggest cities had suffered the most from the shutdowns. 'Inner-city Melbourne and Sydney have been hardest hit regions in terms of job losses as more people work from home,' he said. Brisbane's CBD also offers plenty of choice with 13.3 per cent of rental properties lying empty - with the level tripling in a year. Pictured is a view of the city centre from South Bank 'The knock-on effect has been felt by cafes, restaurants and a range of service businesses like gyms and hairdressers.' The Reserve Bank of Australian noted in the minutes of its June board meeting that 'economic activity in Australia had contracted very significantly in late March and April'. But it said 'more recent data had suggested that it had begun to recover over the course of May'. In the lead-up to the coronavirus shutdowns, capital city property prices had risen by 1.6 per cent in the March quarter to be 7.4 per cent stronger over the year, new ABS data showed. Downtown Melbourne also had a high rental vacancy rate of 9.3 per cent in May, up from 7.6 per cent in April and at a level four times higher compared with May 2019. Pictured is the view of Flinders Street from Docklands Sydney property prices had surged by an annual pace of 10 per cent while Melbourne saw an even bigger 10.4 per cent increase. Sydney house prices rose by 2.6 per cent in the opening months of 2020 while Melbourne's equivalent values rose 2.3 per cent over the quarter. ABS chief economist Bruce Hockman said the COVID-19 shutdowns in the final week of March had not affected real estate values. 'The majority of restrictions relating to COVID-19 came into effect in late March and therefore did not have a noticeable impact on property prices in the March quarter 2020,' he said. By Trend The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved a grant to support the humanitarian action titled Solidarity with Uzbekistan, Trend reports referring to the British-Uzbek Society. The action was initiated in early April 2020 by the Society with a purpose to raise funds to help medical institutions and the most vulnerable groups of the population in Uzbekistan in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The EBRD is ready to allocate up to 50,000 euros to double the number of funds raised during the charity event. The funds will be provided as part of the EBRD's Community Initiative program aimed at supporting the charitable activities of the Bank's employees. If the organizers raise 50,000 euros, the total amount of the assistance, including the matching grant from EBRD, could thus reach 100,000 euros. To date, more than 21,000 euros have been raised by the Uzbek diaspora in Europe, the USA and Canada. In order to raise funds, the organizers held a number of charitable masterclasses, in particular, on Uzbek folk dances and preparation of Uzbek national dishes. The organizers plan to continue holding such events. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz [June 16, 2020] Socialbakers Reports on the State of Influencer Marketing Effects of COVID-19 NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Socialbakers, the leading social media marketing platform, today released its State of Influencer Marketing Report, which examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the influencer industry over the last three months. Among the key findings are a decrease in sponsored content among influencers that are partnering with brands and a pivot toward influencers with smaller, more niche followings that may offer greater value to brands with tighter marketing budgets. "Despite the economic impact of COVID-19, brands are still investing in influencer marketing to reach their target audiences but with a distinctly different approach," said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, CEO, Socialbakers. "Nano and micro-influencers are now seen as high-value resources, bringing high impact without the big price tag of macro and mega influencers. As budgets remain tight, savvy brands will likely continue to expand partnerships with these smaller influencers as part of a smarter social media strategy in the wake of the continuing worldwide pandemic." Influencer marketing slows as budgets tighten Socialbakers data shows that both the amount of sponsored content posted by Instagram influencers, and the number of brands who partner with influencers, dropped significantly compared to last year. The decrease of ad usage in 2020 was likely tied to the worldwide pademic. At the same time, the number of brands on Instagram cooperating with influencers in April 2020 dropped by 37% compared to April 2019. Influencer efficiency also drops, as extra-small brands gain traction There was also a sharp drop in Influencer Marketing Efficiency, which is the ratio of average interactions on an influencer's post mentioning the brand compared to a post published by the brand itself. In April 2020, Influencer Marketing Efficiency decreased by 41% compared to April 2019, reaching its lowest point since at least January 2019. Following the rise and fall of this metric during the holiday season, efficiency decreased again in the spring likely because of the pandemic. Among the industries with high-performing Influencer Marketing Efficiency are Healthcare (4.2X), Finance (3.9X) and Telecom (3.8X). However, extra-small brands seem to be the big winners when partnering with influencers. They achieved the highest efficiency from their influencer campaigns when they partnered with small or larger influencers. Brands move to smaller influencers for less costly campaigns As brands cope with tighter marketing budgets, the data shows they are increasingly investing in influencers with smaller followings. Over the last 16 months, about 40% of all brand partnerships were with micro-influencers. The next largest share was micro-influencers with fewer than 10,000 followers. This points to a belief among brands that positive campaign results can be achieved with smaller, more authentic influencers that are closer to their real public. The Socialbakers State of Influencer Marketing Report is now available for download. Media Contact: Claire Wilson [email protected] Related Images socialbakers.png Socialbakers Socialbakers logo View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/socialbakers-reports-on-the-state-of-influencer-marketing-effects-of-covid-19-301077856.html SOURCE Socialbakers [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] I will consider every conversation with me as president highly classified, he told reporters at the White House. So that would mean that, if he wrote a book and if the book gets out, hes broken the law, and I would think that he would have criminal problems. I hope so. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 20:15 584 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf3f0e7 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,ventilator,UI,University-of-Indonesia,Universitas-Indonesia,trial,health-ministry Free A ventilator developed by the University Indonesia (UI) has passed clinical trials and is ready for distribution to hospitals, the university announced on Tuesday. In a statement on Tuesday, UI spokesperson Amelita Lusia said a joint team from UIs School of Medicine and School of Engineering was in the process of producing 200 of the ventilators, dubbed COVENT-20, to be distributed to a number of COVID-19 hospitals and emergency hospitals. The device has two ventilation modes - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Continuous Mandatory Ventilation (CMV) - both of which have undergone clinical trials on humans in the past few weeks. The CPAP mode was tested on patients in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital and the universitys hospital during May, while the CMV mode was tested in Persahabatan Hospital on June 3. The result on Monday showed that both modes of ventilator were recommended for use, UIs School of Engineering dean Hendri Budiono said in a written statement obtained by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. Andi Ade Wijaya Ramlan, one of the doctors who tested the ventilator, said the CMV mode could be used for patients who had difficulty breathing and needed a time-triggered breathing intervention. Meanwhile, the CPAP mode could supply oxygen to patients who were still conscious and breathing on their own, Andi said. School of Medicine dean Ari Fahrial Syam said a lack of ventilators was one factor leading to COVID-19 deaths. Now that the COVENT-20 has been clinically tested and received a license from the Health Ministry, we can provide more ventilators to prevent fatalities, Ari said. According to the official government count, Indonesia has 40,400 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 2,231 deaths as of Tuesday. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. While life in South Korea is slowly returning to normal, its film industry is still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. From Seoul, Jason Strother tells us why audiences arent coming back to movie theaters. North Korea destroyed the Inter-Korean liaison office building just north of the border with South Korea on Tuesday. Some considered the act a show of anger that calls for answers from the United States and South Korea. It comes as nuclear talks between the North and the U.S. have mostly stopped. The building was empty, and the North had made clear plans to destroy it. The move, however, is still provocative. It is also a serious problem for efforts by South Korean President Moon Jae-in to negotiate with the North. North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said the country destroyed the office because its enraged people want to force (the) human scum to pay dearly for their crimes. South Korean experts believe the statement is talking about North Korean defectors who are active in anti-North Korea propaganda. The news agency did not give details about how the office in the North Korean border town of Kaesong was destroyed. South Koreas government later released military video showing clouds of rising smoke. The liaison office was located at a now-closed industrial area near the border between the two Koreas. South Korea issued a statement expressing strong regret over the destruction of the building. It also warned of a strong reaction if North Korea continues to hurt relations. The statement was released following an emergency National Security Council meeting. It said the destruction was an act that betrays hopes for an improvement in South-North Korean relations and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula. The North said last week that it was cutting off all government and military communication with the South. It also threatened to end peace agreements it had reached during North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns three meetings with Moon in 2018. Some outside experts believe the Norths economy is getting worse because of US-led restrictions and the effects of the coronavirus. As a result, it is using provocative actions to push for an easing of the sanctions. South Koreas answer to Tuesdays destruction was strong compared to past provocations. The liaison office has been unoccupied since late January because of the coronavirus. The office was opened in September 2018 to aid communication between North Korea and South Korea. It was considered an important part of Moons policy of reconciliation. On Saturday night, the sister of the North Korean leader warned that Seoul would see the liaison office being completely collapsed. Kim Yo Jong also said she would leave North Koreas military to take the next step. On Monday, Moon urged North Korea to stop creating problems and return to talks. He said the two Koreas must not cancel the 2018 inter-Korean summit deals. Leif-Eric Easley is a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. He said it is hard to see how the act of destruction will help the Kim regime get what it wants from the world, but clearly such images will be used forpropaganda. Inter-Korean relations have been strained since the breakdown of a second summit between Kim and Trump in Vietnam in early 2019. Disputes over what restrictions would be lifted in return for North Korea closing its main nuclear complex caused the talks to fail. Im Jonathan Evans. The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story liaison - adj. meeting or communicating provocative - adj. an act meant to cause a reaction enrage - v. to make very angry scum - n. the remains of soap and dirt betray - v. to be disloyal reconciliation - n. a meeting of two former enemies summit - n. a meeting of world leaders to discuss international relations Mr. Osei Assibey-Antwi, the Mayor of Kumasi, has entreated the management of basic schools in the metropolis to embrace the virtual classroom model and adopt it as an effective learning platform in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic. This model, he said, had become the most effective educational platform underpinning teaching and learning as the society dealt with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. For over three months now, Ghanaian basic schools have remained closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which had seen the country recording 12,193 confirmed cases and 58 deaths as of June 16, this year. Mr. Assibey-Antwi, who was interacting with the heads of basic schools at Manhyia sub-metro in Kumasi, observed that classroom work was becoming more difficult and dangerous as the pandemic continued to spread across the country. He said virtual learning, which explored computer software, the internet, or both to deliver instruction to pupils and students was critical in minimizing the need to share classrooms. This was required under the present circumstances to reduce the spread of COVID-19, he noted, urging Ghanaian schools to strive to be innovative in order not to create a backlog relating to their academic work. Mr. Assibey-Antwi, touching on how computers and internet technology were transforming the way pupils and students learn, said there was the need for schools in the country to work harder in staying active. They should learn to cope with the changing times and take a paradigm shift from the traditional way of doing things for the benefit of the people. ---GNA Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. After the Great Recession, Congress failed to provide enough relief to schools to shield them from devastating consequences, witnesses told a House committee Monday. And as the country confronts another economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers should ensure they dont repeat that mistake, they said. Unless the federal government provides immediate relief, it wont be a question of whether education will be cut, but how deep those cuts will be, said Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee. The discussion came as Congress, and the Trump administration, weigh whether to pass another relief packageand whether it should include more funding to shore up state and local budgets amid steep revenue declines. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said Congress will assess the need for additional aid in July. Meanwhile, Republicans on the committee suggested reopening the country, including its schools, would help boost tax revenues. And some questioned the need for additional federal funds. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the committees ranking member said there has not yet been an analysis of how previous federal aid provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Actwhich President Donald Trump signed in late Marchhas been spent. Yet here we are, with Democrats pushing those same taxpayers to dole out more of their hard-earned money at a time when many Americans are tightening their belts, she said. Witnesses outlined an array of financial challenges facing schools as they reopen buildings following extended closures: increased student needs, continued demands for increased internet and technology access, and pending massive state budget shortfalls. Most pushed for additional designated federal education aid that goes beyond what was provided in the CARES Act, which directed $13.5 billion for public school budgets. Thats far too little to meet the extreme fiscal challenges that schools face, said Michael Leachman, a vice president for state fiscal policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The left-leaning think tank estimates that state budget shortfalls will surpass those triggered by the 2008 recession, totalling $615 billion over the next three state fiscal years. That could force schools to make drastic cuts in staffing and programs as they scramble to meet new needs created by school closures, and to adopt precautions recommended to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Leachman said. In the last two months, states and local governments have furloughed or laid off more than 1.5 million workers, about half of them employed by school districts, he said. After the last recession, 17 states had cut per-pupil funding by more than ten percent by 2011, Leachman said. Yet nine years later, as COVID-19 closed buildings, schools still hadnt fully recovered, he said, noting that they had 77,000 fewer total employees than they did before the 2008 recession, even though they enrolled about 1.5 million additional children. Eric Gordon, the CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, told the committee of potential factors that could force him to cut his districts budget by 25 percent. These include a forecasted $23 million reduction in state aid; the elimination of $12 million in state funds designed to provid wrap-around services; a projected loss of $67 million local tax renewal, and a drop in local tax collections in the district returns to recession-era collection rates. Such a massive budget cut would force him to eliminate positions mid year in the high-poverty district, which has become one of the states fastest improving school systems, which would essentially wipe out the 10 years of growth my team and I have achieved, Gordon said. When schools were forced to close under a March state order, Cleveland worked quickly, he said. More than 40 percent of students had no internet in their homes, and 68 percent had no device other than smart phone. So teachers provided remote lessons on phone apps, like Instagram, and they sent materials home. The district redirected funds to buy devices and hotspots for students, and it set up telephone hotlines for homework support and family crisis. Re-opening will depend in part on state guidelines, Gordon said. Some children may continue to learning remotely for portions of the week, and the district will likely return kids with the highest needsstudents with disabilities, English-language learners, and young studentsto buildings for the most in-person instruction. North Carolina State Superintendent Mark Johnson, invited by Foxx, did not focus on his states financial need in his testimony. But, like other members of the panel, he encouraged federal support for broadband expansion, noting that inconsistent internet access has been a big challenge for students. He called solutions like wireless hotspots band-aid fixes. States also led the switch to remote learning practically overnight, Johnson said. North Carolina is a leader in digital education strategies, but even as advanced and fortunate as we are, no state was ready for the switch from 0 percent remote learning to 100 percent remote learning over a weekend. Johnson said districts in his states have not yet started spending CARES Act funds. He said North Carolina intends to use its funding for professional development to help teachers strengthen remote teaching and materials to help support personalized learning to help students get on track academically. Now, this innovation is more important than ever, Johnson said. Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa . WASHINGTON - The House Judiciary Committee issued subpoenas Tuesday for the testimony of two Justice Department officials, including one of former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's top prosecutors, in its probe of what panel Democrats call the agency's "unprecedented politicization" under President Donald Trump and Attorney General William P. Barr. The committee's chairman, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., issued a summons to Aaron Zelinsky, who worked on the team prosecuting Trump's friend Roger Stone and resigned from the case in protest after being forced to seek a lesser prison sentence following the president's complaints. In a statement, Nadler said that Zelinsky would appear at a hearing scheduled for June 24 alongside John Elias, acting chief of staff of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, to whom the committee also issued a subpoena Tuesday. Nadler said they want to hear from Zelinksy, now with U.S. Attorney's Office in Maryland, about the handling of Stone's case. Elias is expected to face questions about "improperly motivated activity by the Antitrust Division," the news release said. The New York Times, which first reported on the subpoenas, noted he had purview of the department's now-abandoned inquiry into a pact between the state of California and several automakers - a deal similarly attacked by the president. Robert Litt, an attorney for Zelinksy, said his client intends to comply with the subpoena "and testify to the extent appropriate." Attempts to reach Elias were not immediately successful. Donald Ayer, a former deputy attorney general who preceded Barr in that role during the George H.W. Bush administration, also will testify, though he was not subpoenaed, Nadler said. Ayer has publicly called on Barr to step down. In an interview Tuesday, he said he plans to detail for the committee how, as attorney general, Barr has been "increasing the powers of the president to the point that he's almost an autocrat," noting that "it's not too strong to say that Mr. Barr is working to dismantle many if not most of the reforms" put in place after the Watergate scandal that led to Richard M. Nixon's resignation as president. Barr always had those ideas, Ayer added. "It's just that now with the president being who he is, [Barr] is in a position to move ahead." A spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined to comment. Nadler's announcement comes as two Republican-led Senate committees conduct investigations into the Justice Department, inquiries focused on the origins of the FBI's probe of Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia's interference in that year's election. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to give its chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., sweeping power to issue subpoenas to former Obama administration officials in the course of its probe; earlier this month, the Senate Homeland Security Committee gave its chairman, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., authority to do the same. While the Senate investigations are focused on highlighting the biases of and mistakes made by career law enforcement officials, Nadler's probe concerns what Democrats consider efforts by the White House and by Barr to compromise the Justice Department's independence. Nadler accused Barr of catering to "President Trump's private political interests, at the expense of the American people and the rule of law." He also criticized the attorney general for having "abdicated his responsibility to Congress" by failing to appear before the Judiciary Committee. A March hearing with Barr to discuss politicization at the Justice Department was scrapped due to the coronavirus crisis. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-15 22:41:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam is seen speaking in a video on national security legislation in Hong Kong, south China. Carrie Lam said Monday that the national security legislation will help restore stability in Hong Kong, and protect the life and property, basic rights and freedoms of the overwhelming majority of residents. Lam reiterated in a video on national security legislation in Hong Kong that the legislation will only target a small number of people who commit serious crimes endangering national security. (Xinhua) HONG KONG, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said Monday that the national security legislation will help restore stability in Hong Kong, and protect the life and property, basic rights and freedoms of the overwhelming majority of residents. Lam reiterated in a video on national security legislation in Hong Kong that the legislation will only target a small number of people who commit serious crimes endangering national security. Over the past year, violence by rioters has escalated, with illegal firearms and explosives posing a terrorist threat. Groups and individuals advocating "Hong Kong independence" and colluding with foreign forces to interfere with Hong Kong's affairs have seriously undermined national interests and security, Lam said. Hong Kong has become a gaping hole in national security and its prosperity and stability are at risk, Lam said. As there is little hope of the HKSAR enacting local laws to safeguard national security, the central authorities have no option but to exercise their constitutional power to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, Lam said, stressing that this is a decision not taken lightly. Lam appealed for the full understanding and staunch support of Hong Kong residents for putting in place national security legislation in Hong Kong. Enditem ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. Company NMLS Identifier #2110672 Copyright 2021 Consumers Unified LLC. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. Healthe's "cleanse portal." Healthe Some businesses are starting to install portals that use ultraviolet light to zap away germs as part of an effort to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. New York City's Magnolia Bakery is among the businesses that have installed a portal that's intended to zap away bacteria and viruses in about 20 seconds. UVC light is considered harmful to humans, but these portals use a different type of UV light known as far-UVC, which is said to be safe. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. As cities across the US have gradually begun reopening over the past several weeks, some venues are taking a new, high-tech approach to getting rid of germs: zapping them away with ultraviolet light. "Cleanse portals" that get rid of bacteria and viruses on surfaces are beginning to appear in places such as bakeries, homeless shelters, and offices. New York City's Magnolia Bakery announced last month that it was installing a portal made by a company called Healthe that emits far-UVC rays. The machine is capable of cleaning bacteria and viruses on skin, clothing, and goods in about 20 seconds, according to the company. Lars Eller of the Washington Capitals also donated one of Healthe's cleanse portals to a homeless shelter in Washington, DC, and a digital-marketing firm in northern Virginia has also installed a germ-killing light portal, according to NBC. Related: How Far Your Sneeze Can Actually Travel While UVC light is considered dangerous for use on people, as it can damage eyes and skin, far-UVC light the type used in Healthe's portals is said to be safe for humans. Far-UVC rays aren't capable of penetrating the dead-cell layer of human skin or the eyes, meaning it can't damage living cells in the body, according to the Columbia University Center for Radiological Research. There's been uncertainty as to whether such rays are powerful enough to kill coronavirus germs. But an upcoming paper published by the journal Scientific Reports said far-UVC could eliminate 90% of coronaviruses in the air in about eight minutes, The Wall Street Journal reported. That's according to findings from David Brenner, the director of Columbia's Center for Radiological Research. Story continues The idea of using ultraviolet light for sanitation is far from a new concept. Hospitals and medical facilities have used the tech for sanitation purposes, and companies like PhoneSoap sell accessories that resemble miniature tanning beds with the purpose of cleansing mobile devices. As businesses look to safely reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, there's been an increased interest in sanitation machines that can cleanse surfaces with UV light. In addition to the far-UVC portals like those made by Healthe, dental offices are considering the use of UV equipment to disinfect air, surfaces, and equipment, according to CNBC. UV light machines are only one way in which businesses and companies will likely use technology for increased sanitization throughout the pandemic, according to Pieter den Hamer, the senior director for artificial intelligence at the market-research firm Gartner. Sophisticated cleaning robots that can sanitize frequently touched surfaces like door handles are likely to become more prominent. These machines will be capable of doing more than your average Roomba, den Hamer said. "If you have a treatment room in a hospital, after the treatment is over, you want to send in a cleaning robot that is able not just to clean the floor or well-defined areas but is able to move around, identify objects that may be in one place at some time and in another place the next time," den Hamer said. Read the original article on Business Insider (Alliance News) - Banknote printer De La Rue PLC on Tuesday said the UK's Serious Fraud Office has decided to end its investigation into the company. Shares in De La Rue were up 6.5% at 155.00 pence in London in morning trading. The investigation, now discontinued, was announced in July 2019 with the SFO at the time looking into possible corruption in South Sudan. Basingstoke-headquartered De La Rue said it was "pleased that the SFO has closed its investigation and that the SFO is taking no further action in respect of this matter." By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. The US embassy in South Korea has removed banners celebrating the Black Lives Matter movement and gay pride after running afoul of President Donald Trump's administration. The embassy had unfurled a banner on the building reading "Black Lives Matter" at the weekend in solidarity with the increasingly global movement that has emerged after the killing of African American George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody. In a Facebook message on Saturday, the embassy said the banner "shows our support for the fight against racial injustice and police brutality as we strive to be a more inclusive & just society". On Twitter, the US ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris said he believed that from "diversity we gain our strength" and quoted late president John F. Kennedy. Harris is Japanese-American and previously told embassy staff that he was "deeply troubled about the events surrounding the brutal killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and the ongoing aftermath". "As an Asian American who was raised in the segregated South of the 1960s, I never thought I would see this happening again, especially in the 21st century," he added in a message. But the BLM banner was taken down on Monday, with CNN quoting an anonymous source saying that the request to do so came from the office of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The embassy also removed a rainbow flag, a symbol of the LGBTQ equality movement -- hours before a landmark US Supreme Court decision that outlawed discrimination against workers based on sexual orientation. On Tuesday a huge banner commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War covered the space previously occupied by the two emblems, featuring a black and white photograph of a bugler in a military cemetery and a Korean-language message reading: "We don't forget." In a statement, an embassy spokesperson said the removal of the BLM banner "in no way lessens the principles and ideals expressed by raising the banner, and the embassy will look for other ways to convey fundamental American values in these times of difficulty at home". Pompeo, an evangelical Christian who in the past has said that he defines marriage as between a man and a woman, last year restricted the flying of rainbow flags, as some embassies had been doing each June for Pride Month, which celebrates the movement for LGBTQ equality. Pompeo had ordered that only the US flag should fly from embassy flagpoles. The pride flag in Seoul was on the building facade near the Black Lives Matter sign, not on the pole. Trump and Pompeo have both condemned the killing of Floyd and spoken in general terms of the need to reform law enforcement. But Trump has described himself as bringing "law and order" and vilified the protest movement. The 'Black Lives Matter' banner was displayed at the US embassy in Seoul before being taken down on Monday Opinion Article 16 June 2020 The last few months have been unprecedented difficult times for the hospitality and travel industry employees who were severely impacted. Hotel closures as well as travel halts have naturally forced companies to take measures that have resulted in furloughs, terminations, and salary cuts. Conventional wisdom holds that "when the going gets tough, the tough gets going" and this might be the perfect time to evaluate the core strength of companies, teams, and individuals. This presentation summarises the findings of the "HVS Hospitality Executives Sentiment Survey". The objective of the survey was to understand current employee sentiment, confidence levels, loyalty, and most importantly the current state of mind of the employees' decision-making process. It is indeed worth evaluating and taking stock of where we stand today and how do we take our most valuable resource forward. We would like to highlight that this survey is limited to the hospitality executive work-force in the Middle East region. The survey findings confirm and challenge certain current and prevalent beliefs. We would highly recommend that employers and leadership teams engage with their employees to further evaluate and formulate strategies that would help the hospitality sector as it enters the recovery zone. The survey was carried out between 20-31 May 2020. Advertisements Question 1: What is your role? Source: HVS Photo: HVS The sample data was 100 Hospitality Executives primarily General Managers, Executive Committee members such as Director of Rooms, Executive Chefs, Director of Food and Beverage, and Executive Housekeepers. Approximately 30% of the respondents surveyed are General Managers of leading hotels in the Middle East region, 29% of the respondents surveyed work as Executive Committee members at unit level, 24% of the respondents surveyed work at hospitality corporate offices primarily in Dubai, and about 17% of the respondents surveyed belong to the other category, such as Learning and Development Managers, Revenue Managers, Sales Managers, and Digital Marketing Managers. Question 2: Has your employment been impacted by COVID-19? Source: HVS Photo: HVS Combined, 87% of respondents' employment was impacted by COVID-19 and approximately 56% of the respondents confirmed that there was a reduction in their salary in the form of monthly cash compensation and/ or allowances. At the time of survey in end-May 2020, approximately 15% of the respondents confirmed that they had lost their jobs and additional 9% of the respondents were worried that they may lose their jobs. Approximately 7% of the respondents confirmed that they have been put on furlough. Question 3: Do you think you were treated fairly? Source: HVS Photo: HVS This was one of the most impactful findings of the survey. It is interesting and indeed heartening to note that 53% of respondents feel that they were treated fairly although close to 87% of respondent's employment was impacted. Most employees are cognizant of the fact that hospitality business is amongst the most effected under the current scenario and they would like to be as adaptable as possible. Most respondents have also commented that they appreciated the transparent and honest communication and were emotionally looked after by their leadership teams. Going forward most employees are watching to see whether their employers and leadership teams would "walk the walk and talk the talk". The fact that "we are all in this battle together and fighting the same enemy" would ultimately be the key to overcome employee anxiety and dissatisfaction. Question 4: How loyal do you feel to your current employer? Source: HVS Photo: HVS Our survey reflected that combined, 68% of respondents feel a sense of loyalty to their employers. While close to one-third or approximately 32% of the respondents are seeking new opportunities. About 38% of the respondents feel very loyal towards their current employer which indicates that they are committed in contributing towards successful future business initiatives. It is our opinion that Leadership and Human Resource teams must work on further improving employee loyalty and act as a catalyst on improving employee morale. The fact that "we are all in this together" would not only foster a sense of "shared ownership" but can make the onward journey easier. Collaborating, engaging and celebrating "small wins" together will all go a long way. Question 5: During the lockdown period, were you kept engaged/ motivated by your organization? Source: HVS Photo: HVS About 43% of the respondents felt that they were kept motivated by their organisations, while clearly the majority of employers, approximately 57%, were totally caught unaware with a lack of a clear sense of direction as to how to manage the employees in this unprecedented situation. Approximately 22% of the respondents felt highly let down and/or demotivated by their current organisation while close to 35% felt somewhat disappointed or let down by their employers. As per a recent report in Harvard Business Review, "Because of reduced travel and better communication tools, many of the C-suite leaders in our study reported greater involvement as teachers and change managers within their organizations. They reported being actively engaged in developing talent and ensuring organizational alignment. Most of the leaders believe that lifelong learning and a growth mindset will be crucial for employees of the future, especially as work continues to move on-line." Question 6: How optimistic are you about the recovery in the hospitality sector ? Source: HVS Photo: HVS Close to 60% of the respondents are optimistic about the recovery in the hospitality sector. 23% of the respondents are very optimistic, while close to 40% are somewhat optimistic about the recovery and immediate future of the sector. Approximately 18% of the respondents are not optimistic about the future and are likely to look for an alternate career or opportunities in alternate industries in near future. Question 7 & 8: Do you consider your team will require retraining to adapt to the new norm? What are they key trainings that you are currently looking to roll out? Source: HVS Photo: HVS The fast-changing nature of business today requires the hospitality industry to enhance their capabilities and indicates that employees' retraining would be imperative for organizations to survive and eventually succeed. Close to 97% of respondents acknowledge the same and have confirmed that they would require to retrain in order to be completely on-board and be fully prepared to successfully face the challenge that lies ahead. Key Training Needs highlighted: Health and Hygiene, Digital Marketing, Virtual Operations, Training Teams, Improving staff morale. "It would be now critical to note how hospitality companies and their teams function in the face of an unprecedented global pandemic while also navigating an accelerated shift to remote and digital operations." Question 9: In the "new-normal" and post COVID-19, if given an opportunity would you like to retrain/ reskill yourself? Source: HVS Photo: HVS The prevailing sentiment to this question is that 94% of the respondents would like to reskill themselves in the near future. This clearly suggests an immediate need that has to be addressed. This could be an area that could compensate a furlough, or a pay cut to an employee. For instance, An Executive Chef can reskill and multi-task as Head of Food Production and Services after a period of comprehensive training. Sales and Marketing professionals would certainly need to to train in digital marketing and revenue management. Some jobs could be virtually managed such as Marketing, Revenue Management, Reservations and Accounting. Remote working was rarely practiced or supported in the hospitality sector in the pre-pandemic era. Many employees would require training to be effective at their new self-supervised work from home job roles. "Employers would need to encourage a results and outcome focused approach over the traditional presence-driven model" Question 10: What are the key challenges that lie ahead? Source: HVS Photo: HVS The pandemic has not only shaken the hospitality industry but has also posed serious challenges for the future pertaining mainly to regaining guest confidence, as stated by 77% respondents. As health and safety have become major concerns, hotels will need to find new ways to ensure both guest safety (60%), as well as the safety of employees (70%). Other internal challenges that hotels will need to face are hiring (27%) and training (29%). An external challenge that hotels will need to face and adapt to are government regulations, based on 49% of respondents, and the new policies that they put in place to ensure that social distancing is practiced, and curfews are adhered to. This will in turn hugely impact the hotel's occupancy rates and their amenities, as well as their F&B outlets. Question 11: Given the state of hospitality, how soon do you think that people would be ready to travel again? Source: HVS Photo: HVS Even as governments start to ease restrictions locally, and people feel a sense of boredom, fear is still instilled in people and dominates their behavioral patterns. Only 7% of respondents are ready to travel in less than 3 months, while the majority of respondents would either wait for 3 to 6 months (41%) and even more so, 44% would be willing to travel in 6 to 12 months. Only 8% of people would still feel unsafe to travel before one year. Question 12: Would you be willing to work on a reduced pay in the next 6 months should that be the case? Source: HVS Photo: HVS 75% of employees would be willing to work on a reduced pay for the upcoming 6 months, as opposed to 25% who would refuse a deduction in their salary. With an ongoing challenge, not only affecting one industry, or even one country, most employees realize that a salary cut is the more secure option at this point in time. Employee loyalty, the fear of the unknown and the unclear timeline as to when they will be able to find another job during these difficult times, play a big role in an employee's decision to compromise and settle. Question 13: Are there any other benefits that you would seek from your employer against the pay deduction? Source: HVS Photo: HVS The survey revealed several positive point of views. While 75% of the respondents are open to a pay-cut, they would value certain benefits. 58% of the respondents voted training in other verticals or training for multi-skilling as a key benefit. Higher Education for some key employees could benefit the employer and the employees in the very near future. This could also be effectively used to retain furloughed employees. 63% of the respondents consider that insurance (life and health insurance) would be critical going forward. Clearly, this is the need of the hour? 17% of the respondents suggested that additional meals or meal allowance could be provided by the employers. ESOPs and performance linked bonus are amongst the other benefits suggested by the respondents. Question 14 : Would you prefer to relocate to your home country? Source: HVS Photo: HVS Clearly, most of the employees, approximately 60% of the expat workforce would prefer to continue to stay in the region rather than relocating back to their home countries. The reasons are career and financial aspirations. It is also heartening to note that the recovery in the region both from COVID-19 and its financial implications could be much faster than the rest of the world. While about 40% of the respondents would prefer to relocate back to their home country as most certainly those employees who have lost their jobs would not be able to sustain themselves in the region over the coming weeks or months. "Here in the UAE, since it is heavily dependent on expat community towards workforce, post-C19 situation there might be a heavy shortage of employees as many of front-line staff have expressed desire to return to their home countries as regulation get lifted. The best possible solution is to retain existing team members, furloughed them until signs of reopening are visible. Tough times & trying times ahead! All the best!" - Quote from one of the respondents in the survey. Question 15: Would you like to suggest anything for the overall benefit of the hospitality employees in the Middle East region? Source: HVS Photo: HVS Author's Note Nobody is saying it is going to be easy. The way forward to rebuild and realign the hospitality industry would require "all hands on deck" and the support, intellect, and hard work of the employees. Hospitality industry employees have been amongst the most severely impacted of all industries and seek out strong leadership support. There is an immediate need for transparent, constant and clear communication, engagement and collaboration, training to improving hygiene and safety standards, training to reskill, and, most importantly, rebuilding confidence. The survey results highlight that most hospitality industry employees in the region continue to stay positive, flexible, and loyal and are willing to press the restart button with courage and confidence. It is now over to the employers to outline a clear, cohesive, and capable plan in place. Disclaimer HVS does not provide legal or other regulated advice or guarantee results. The survey findings reflect general insight based on information available to us by the participants. These findings should be viewed as indicative only and not relied upon for future course of action. These findings may be subject to change and therefore HVS has no obligation to update these findings and makes no representation or warranty and expressly disclaims any liability with respect thereto. Former Bachelor Nick Cummins has finally found love. According to The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, the 32-year-old is apparently smitten with Sydney socialite Alexandra George. The report says the new couple have been spending lockdown together in Seal Rocks, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Found love! Former Bachelor Nick Cummins is 'dating' Sydney socialite Alexandra George, according to The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday Despite Nick not confirming the romance, the report goes on to say they have been sharing photos and video from the location. It goes on to say 'friends' of the couple said the pair met on a trip to the Kimberley region in Western Australia more than a year ago. Alexandra is believed to work for the high-fashion brand Zimmerman, where she is an accessories designer. Going strong: It goes on to say 'friends' of the couple said the pair met on a trip to the Kimberley region in Western Australia more than a year ago. Pictured: Alexandra George This is the former rugby union player's first serious relationship since he caused an uproar by not choosing a winner in the finale of The Bachelor in 2018. Nick unforgettably caught the ire of the nation when he left finalists Brittany Hockley and Sophie Tieman heartbroken after he chose no-one in the finale. 'Right now, I can't give 100 percent to you. My head is very clouded. Right now, I'm a little bit lost,' he told Brittany. Beauty: Alexandra (pictured) is believed to work for the high-fashion brand Zimmerman Moments earlier, he delivered a similar break-up speech to Sophie. In the months that followed his popularity plummeted, as rumours swirled he only signed-up for The Bachelor as a 'publicity stunt'. More recently, Nick used his experiences from The Bachelor and the emotional toll it took on him to launch a new business, the Rogue Gentleman's Club. Whoops! Nick's public image as a 'likeable Aussie larrikin' was shattered after he dumped both women in the Bachelor finale in 2018. Pictured with Sophie Tieman The project helps men find 'passion and purpose' through outdoor activities while retreating into the outback with Nick and other guides. 'Blokes these days are walking on eggshells,' Nick told Stellar magazine last June of the project. Science/Medicine The Pandemic Claims New Victims: Prestigious Medical Journals New York Times COVID 19 is the worst disease process Ive ever worked with in my 8 years as an ICU nurse. When they say recovered they dont tell you that that means you may need a lung transplant. Or that you may come back after d/c with a massive heart attack or stroke bc COVID makes Cherie Antoinette (@sheriantoinette) June 14, 2020 From Ignacio: WHO is considering human challenging with SARS CoV2 for vaccine development. Challenging humans to test the efficacy of vaccines against SARS CoV 2 is being seriously discussed. It is discussed if it would be ethical to do so with volunteers around 18-30 years old for which mortality rates habe been reported to be about 0,03% according to the second link given. The WHO core protocol doesnt specify the size of treatment groups to receive control/placebo vs. vaccine candidates. This is the subject in focus in WHO Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Situation Report147 (Link: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200615-covid-19-sitrep-147.pdf) and the ethical considerations in Key criteria for the ethical acceptability of COVID-19 human challenge studies (https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331976/WHO-2019-nCoV-Ethics_criteria-2020.1-eng.pdf) To grasp whos dying of Covid-19, look to social factors like race STAT (Dr. Kevin) What we know about #SARSCoV2 transmission, as graphically depicted by @Mikepeeljourno and @jburnmurdoch https://t.co/gDOSLLNvBq @FT outdoors v indoors, close and repeated, prolonged contact, poor air circulation, and superspreaders pic.twitter.com/4JnhSlQKKF Eric Topol (@EricTopol) June 15, 2020 Israel Set to Invest in High-priced, Unapproved Coronavirus Vaccine Haaretz Dozens of Mexico City police officers and personnel from the city's prosecutor's office protested on Monday in support of their detained colleagues and to demand a stop to the criminalization of police work. The demonstrators gathered at Zocalo main square and marched to the city hall. Police officer and protester Alejandro Castro Gonzalez described current working conditions as "appalling" and said the Mayor of Mexico City Claudia Sheinbaum was "defending anarchists more than the police themselves". In addition to demanding improvements, they requested the immediate release of the officers detained in the case of Melanie, the minor who was beaten on the floor by police during a march in Mexico City. Another officer and demonstrator, Jose Alberto Penaloza Saturnino, said police felt "powerless". Sheinbaum claimed during a press conference not all of the protesters were from Mexico City and formal complaint had not been made to the government. She also affirmed she will "stand firm" for a police without corruption or abuse. Dr Terry Teo (far left) and his fellow volunteers in protective gear at a swabbing area. (Photo courtesy of Dr Terry Teo) SINGAPORE What do you do if a swab sample from someones nose has a booger on it? Somebody in my group was like Erm, flick it away? And my instructor went what? recalled Ms Jane Lee, a certified volunteer swabber. The 43-year-old recently underwent a full-day training course where participants learned how to swab a person using three different methods, the protocols guiding the swabbing and how to put on protective gear. Lee, the founder of content marketing agency Lede Collective, took Yahoo News Singapore through her training at Nanyang Polytechnic, which included practising to take a swab sample from the life-sized head of a mannequin. While the training session had its light-hearted moments, other aspects of volunteering have placed volunteers under challenging circumstances. Another volunteer found himself donning several layers of protective gear in sweltering conditions while taking swabs from patients, while another faces 12-hour shifts caring for patients at the community care facility in Singapore Expo, which was set up as a temporary isolation facility to house migrant workers in April. Of the four healthcare volunteers who shared their stories with Yahoo News Singapore, three are under the SG Healthcare Corps Scheme, while one a dentist volunteered as part of a company-led effort. The SG Healthcare Corps Scheme, which calls for experienced healthcare workers as well as inexperienced members of the public, began on 7 April and has seen more than 16,500 sign-ups since. Of these, 6,200 are healthcare professionals, such as doctors, dentists and oral health therapists, and support care staff. The remaining participants do not have experience in the healthcare industry and ranged from retirees to fresh graduates. The scheme matches participants to suitable opportunities. Singapore has seen more than 40,600 cases of COVID-19, with a majority of these coming from foreign workers living in dormitories. 12-hour shifts at Singapore Expo Story continues One volunteer who helps take care of affected migrant workers is 32-year-old Joy Tan Xiang Zhou, a cruise ship nurse who had to stop work since the virus hit. She chose not to stay at home. Joy Tan in her volunteer work attire. (Photo courtesy of Joy Tan) As a trained nurse, I prefer to look after patients than to remain at home to rest during this time. When the COVID-19 situation in Singapore escalated, I felt that I could contribute and give back to society at the same time, said Tan through an email interview. She volunteers in 12-hour shifts four days a week, looking after patients with mild or no symptoms at the community care facility at Singapore Expo. As part of her volunteer work, Tan also teaches patients to measure their blood pressure and temperature, and input the data into a laptop for monitoring by healthcare workers. Although worried that her family might be infected through her, Tan said that she would shower once right after her 12-hour shift and again upon she reaching home. I am vigilant on the safety precautions. Besides the constant reminders from our seniors, we also look out for and remind one another on the PPE (personal protective equipment) and other safety guidelines, said Tan, adding that volunteers were also required to check their temperatures twice daily and to remain at home if they were unwell. My mother was very worried at first. But she accepted my decision after listening to my explanations and assurances that I would protect myself, said Tan. From SARS to COVID-19 A fellow nurse who immediately responded to the call for help was Herbert Phoon Yew Chong, a retiree who now trains other volunteers in putting on their PPE. The 66-year-olds nursing career spans more than 40 years, including through the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) period in 2003. Herbert Phoon Yew Chong teaching a class of volunteers during a training session. (PHOTO: Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth) Speaking to Yahoo News Singapore via a conference call, Phoon said that the SARS phase gave him valuable learning points, including how safety and precaution must be maintained. It is not a one-time measure that we should only think of when we have a pandemic... So I always emphasise to the trainees... that after this period, we still need to maintain (these measures). Phoons training sessions span four hours and involves 10 to 20 students who are usually young adults who have little experience in the medical industry, who would go through a practical session to be certified. While the government has been encouraging the elderly to stay at home, Phoon noted that he was not working at the frontline. Phoon, who retired between sometimes between 2014 and 2015, said, As long as we keep to the essentials of safety and take precautions, the risk is lower much lower than if we do not keep (to them). I still have the breath and the strength to go on and to serve the community. I dont want to, as what people say retirees do, just sit back, he added. He had been volunteering at day care centres and providing para-counselling, even before COVID-19 came about. Phoon, who has no children, said that his wife is supportive of his efforts. She knows the risk that I have been facing, but we have been through the SARS period... so she is not that worried. Sweltering heat in three layers of cloth, gear Another volunteer who stressed that transmission could be close to nil with the right precautions was Dr Terry Teo, a dentist who swabbed migrant workers in dormitories in April. Dr Terry Teo conducting a swab on a patient. (Photo courtesy of Terry Teo) Dr Teo volunteered with his company, Q&M Dental Group, after the groups chief executive officer approached the Ministry of Health to offer the services of its staff to swab migrant workers. The company then sourced for protective equipment and conducted in-house training for volunteers such as Teo. While Teo feared contracting COVID-19, especially with its potentially fatal consequences as he has severe asthma, he said dentists practice what they term universal precaution in their work. He stressed that no cases had arisen in his volunteer groups or dental clinics. The company had also taken extra precaution by having its staff don two layers of protective gear over their own clothes. However, this came with its own challenges as the swabbing work was at times under the sun, with a fan blowing away from everyone. Wearing full personal protective equipment under such conditions, your goggles will fog up, you will be extremely hot and dehydrated, and by the time you can remove everything after finishing your allocated number of patients (about 30 or 60), you are literally drenched in sweat and your clothes can be dripping wet, said Teo, adding that rest, hydration and general health and fitness was of utmost importance. Another challenge was in communicating with migrant workers who did not speak English. It was extremely difficult under such circumstances to explain what the process would be like, which resulted in a few even pulling back in fear or using their hands to push the swab sticks away during the swabbing process, said Teo. However, Teos skill as a paediatric dentist aided him as he managed to calm them down with his tone of voice to perform a good swab. Being familiar with the region to swab also helped him do the work fast. It was really the best use of our skills as dentists during this time of national crisis, where the medical doctors and nurses were stretched treating the positive cases elsewhere. Practiced hands also meant easy and painless swabbing. What to do with that booger For Lee, who has yet to be deployed as a volunteer swabber, volunteering had been a way of helping beyond doing charitable acts such as donations. Lee underwent a full day of training at Nanyang Polytechnic on 14 May which included a swabbing practice session, a lecture about patient-handling and controlling the infection, how to don safety gear, and a mask-fitting session. Jane Lee in protective gear during her training session and a certificate of her training course. (Photos courtesy of Jane Lee) So far, Lee has only tried her hand at swabbing mannequins. Her class of about 14 volunteers was made to practice obtaining a sample through a nasopharyngeal swab, which involves sticking a long plastic swab deep into a persons nostril to obtain the nasal secretions from the back of the nose and throat. Said Lee, I think for most of us, were not used to poking things into peoples noses. She added that some of her classmates hands shook a lot. I think they were quite nervous, but the lecturer was very good. She gave us a tip, saying, you just tell the person to close their eyes, so they cannot see you shaking as well. She recalled a comic moment during practice when someone pushed (the swab) in so deep, and the instructor went, You went into his brain. Such scenarios are unlikely to happen patients who have had head injuries or surgeries before could have a thinner barrier between the nasopharyngeal and brainstem. Volunteers were taught to ask for patients medical history beforehand to prevent such situations. The class was also taught how to react if a patient they were swabbing sneezes. Some people asked if they should just stand in front of the person and show concern, (and the lecturers said)... No, you have to stand as far away as you can, said Lee. She also learned to ask the patient to blow their nose first. But what if you still get a booger on a patients swab? Said Lee, You close one eye because you cant really remove it. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore A Utah man accused of choking and stabbing a woman he met on the dating app Tinder pleaded not guilty to murder on Tuesday. The lawyer for Ethan Hunsaker, 24, said hes planning to get a psychological evaluation done on his client. Attorney C. Markley Arrington didnt elaborate on the reasons for the evaluation during a virtual hearing held online, but authorities have said previously that Hunsaker had been diagnosed with an unspecified mental illness. Hunsaker is accused of killing 25-year-old Ashlyn Black in an unprovoked attack on May 24 after the two met on Tinder. They met for a few drinks at a bar before going to his apartment in Layton, authorities have said. He called 911 to report the slaying early Sunday morning and told police to shoot him, according to court documents. Hunsaker told police he choked and then stabbed her unprovoked as they cuddled, according to the document. Police found Black lying on the floor, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Emergency workers tried to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead of her injuries at the scene. If convicted, Hunsaker faces at least 15 years and up to life in prison. He didnt speak during the hearing other than answering a few basic questions from the judge. Hunsaker appeared wearing a mask and jail scrubs from inside the Davis County jail, where hes being held without bail. Blacks parents have called Hunsaker a monster who killed their daughter in a crime as senseless as it was evil. Black had worked during her life to be a voice of those who could not speak out for themselves and had a gift for working with special needs people, her family has said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The French government has sent police reinforcements to the eastern city of Dijon after it was hit by a fourth night of unrest linked to score-settling by members of Frances Chechen community. Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nunez travelled to Dijon on June 16, vowing an "extremely strong response" with more than 150 police and paramilitary gendarmes mobilized to halt any new unrest. At least 10 people were injured in the violence, which began last week after a teenager from the Chechen community was assaulted in Dijons low-income district of Gresilles -- an area with a large population of North African origin. The attack prompted reprisals by dozens of Chechens, who reportedly travelled to Dijon from across France, as well as from neighboring Belgium and Germany. Late on June 15, dozens of hooded men carrying arms and crowbars gathered in Gresilles, shooting in the air, destroying video surveillance cameras, and setting fire to garbage cans and vehicles, police said. But officials said the rioters were this time Dijon residents. Chechnya is a predominantly Muslim region in the North Caucasus. There are no precise figures on the number of Chechens living in France as they are included with other Russian passport holders. Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Michigan small businesses haves until June 30 to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan to help with payroll, utilities, rent, and other expenses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June 12, a total of 115,043 Michigan small businesses had received PPP loans totaling $15,722,896,546, according to the SBA. The average loan totaled $136,669. Around $130 billion in program funds remain available to small business owners across the country. We have around $130 billion left and you have until June 30 to apply for a PPP loan, said Robert Scott, regional administrator for the SBA, during a Facebook Q&A hosted by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin. After that, the SBA will not be taking any more PPP loan applications unless Congress decides otherwise. Have a conversation with your lender or find a local lender at sba.gov. There is still time left, but not a lot. Slotkin thanked all the Michigan business owners listening into the social media conversation for their fortitude and leadership in the middle of tremendous uncertainty. Although businesses are beginning to reopen, she added that consumer confidence will play a big role in the success of these businesses. We know that your livelihood and passion and your work and your sweat are all tied into your business, she said. It has a been a painful and difficult time for all of us, but particularly for our business ownersI know the road ahead is not going to be easy. A lot of people have been laid off and a lot of people have less money in their pockets. Oakland County shares safety toolkits to help reopen small businesses Scott said he highly doubts that the $130 billion in funding will be exhausted by June 30. He added that once the SBA approves an applicants request for a loan, the lender has up to 10 days to disperse the money and close the loan. The reason why its lasted as long as it has is because the overall loan amounts are a lot less, on average, than in the first round, he said. Most of the loans are now below $100,000. The money is going a lot farther. Earlier this month, Congress passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which gave small business owners more time to use the loan, expanded from 8 weeks to 24 weeks, and more ways in which to use the loan. Details of PPP Flexibility Act Extends the time businesses have to use PPP funds from eight to 24 weeks. Under previous PPP rules, the small business loan converts to a grant only as long as the business uses the loan within eight weeks. Increases the percentage of the small business loan that can be used for non-payroll expenses from 25% to 40%. This change will help many small businesses, especially restaurants, cover expenses like rent, mortgage interest, and utilities, which are often more than 25% of their expenses. Extends loan terms from 2 years to 5 years, to better match the average recovery times that many of our businesses needed to recover after 9/11 and the 2008 recession. Prohibits the current mutual exclusivity of PPP loans and payroll tax deferments, so that businesses can take advantage of both payroll tax deferments and PPP loans a huge help to many local businesses. Includes a rehire safe harbor pathway for employers who try but are unable to rehire 100% of their employees, if some employees decline to come back on payroll. Those employers must provide proper documentation that they tried to rehire all employees, but were unable to, and may still qualify for loan forgiveness. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 87 percent of small businesses are anticipating a sales decline of at least 10 percent, according to a new survey by the Small Business Association of Michigan. The survey showed that sales and future profitability are the top concern among small businesses. The survey, conducted between May 26 and June 2 of nearly 600 Michigan small businesses, also showed that 90 percent of businesses are confident in their ability to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Additionally, 75 percent of businesses say they already have their COVID-19 Preparedness and Response plan in place, as required by executive order to operate. For more information about PPP loans, including how to apply, visit https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/mi/detroit. Resources for Michigans small business can also be found at https://www.michiganbusiness.org/pure-partnership/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhfat-Z6E6gIVjpOzCh35vAr0EAAYASAAEgJqXvD_BwE. U.S House approves changes to PPP at urging of Michigan business owners MDHHS now requiring nursing home COVID-19 testing and reporting; announces 1,947 nursing home virus deaths US revokes emergency use of malaria drugs vs. coronavirus Paul Whelan sentenced to 16 years in Russia on spying charges There is a new FDI capital flow heading for Southeast Asian countries, but analysts say it is not easy for Vietnam to grab the opportunities. Pham Chi Lan, a respected economist, while affirming that Vietnam now has the golden opportunity to attract new FDI, commented that it would be not easy to and that if Vietnam 'cannot sift for gold, it will just get clay'. Agreeing with Lan, Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, director of the Center for WTO and Integration Studies under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) said whether to grab the golden opportunity will depend on the person who cleans gold out of black sand. If foreign investors simply relocate their production bases and move all machines and equipment to Vietnam, the country will still continue doing outsourcing for foreign companies. Trang went on to say that many foreign investors move to Vietnam because they target the large 100 million consumer market. In other words, the presence of foreign investors in Vietnam would put pressure on domestic businesses and increase the competition between foreign and Vietnamese producers. Many foreign investors move to Vietnam because they target the large 100 million consumer market. In other words, the presence of foreign investors in Vietnam would put pressure on domestic businesses and increase the competition between foreign and Vietnamese producers. Do Thi Thuy Huong, chair of Viettronics JSC, an electronics manufacturer, said she still cannot see the opportunities from the new FDI wave. Phan Huu Thang, a renowned experts on FDI, former director of the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), said there are signs of land shortage as the IZs in the north and the south dont have large land funds and have not prepared enough premises for new projects. We need to draw up a detailed plan to attract FDI which projects and which business fields Vietnam needs to attract foreign investments to. From this information, we will design the strategies to attract high technologies, prepare land, software base and labor force for the FDI flow, Thang said. Thang recalled the story about inviting Intel to make investment in Vietnam. Government leaders had to negotiate directly with Intel. Similar great efforts are needed now to attract high-quality FDI. According to Trang of VCCI, Vietnams economy has returned to normal sooner than other countries. Vietnam has had high GDP growth rates for many years and it is expecting a positive GDP growth rate this year despite the pandemic. However, she stressed that Vietnam needs to have a methodical and timely strategy, or the golden opportunity, which comes only once every 100 years may be missed. Vietnam is not the only country that lusts for FDI, Trang explained, adding that Vietnam would have to compete with neighboring countries which also show strong determination to entice foreign investments. Mai Lan Redirection of FDI flows opens up opportunities for HCM City FDI inflows to HCM City rose to nearly 70 million USD in the first quarter of 2020 thanks to the gradual redirection of investment flows due to COVID-19. Preparations to provide beds for patients of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in city hotels, which have been attached to hospitals in their neighbourhood, began in full swing from Tuesday, a day after the Delhi High Court allowed the Delhi government to take over two hotels for running extended Covid care centre for asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms. Hotel Crowne Plaza, Okhla and Hotel Suryaa, New Friends Colony, had moved the court against the move but after a two-member court appointed committee submitted that there are spaces in the two hotels which can be appropriately equipped and converted into dedicated Covid health centres, the High Court gave the go ahead to the government. The Delhi government had on May 29 ordered five hotels to be used as Covid facilities to meet the requirement for beds in view of the spike in coronavirus cases. The hotels are Crowne Plaza (attached with Batra Hospital; Hotel Suryaa (Apollo ); Hotel Siddharth (B L Kapur Memorial Hospital); Hotel Jivitesh (Sir Gangaram Hospital); Sheraton Saket (Max Super Speciality Hospital). Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, previously attached to Jivitesh hotel, was attached to a second hotel - Taj Mansingh - on Tuesday. The hospital said it has started surveying the hotels assigned to it. A lot of changes will have to be made because hotels as such are not designed to act as a backup for hospitals. But, these are extraordinary times. We are working closely with the hotel to decide on the separate entrance and exits, sanitising and screening areas at the entry and readily available dedicated ambulances to shift the Covid patient immediately to the hospital if the situation deteriorates, said Dr Ajay Swaroop, honorary secretary, board of management, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. These hotel-hospitals will be equipped with oxygen cylinders and concentrators, medicines, bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP), intravenous (IV) fluids and stands, pulse oximeters and so on. Hospital managements will also have to ensure a conducive air-conditioning at these hotels because they have to ensure the air flow does not spread infections. A senior official of Apollo hospital, which has been attached to Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels in Mayur Vihar among others, said one of the important tasks at hand is to study the airflow at these hotels. Typically for Covid positive patients, we need either a negative pressure or a uni-directional airflow so that the common areas and corridors do not get infected. If it is a Covid care centre then it is much easier because you just have to create a good exhaust system. Even rooms which have natural airflow will create a negative pressure. For something more severe, one would need a higher grade of air-conditioning to create a negative airflow, which will be a bit difficult to achieve, said the official. A negative pressure room includes a ventilation system that decreases the viral load of the aerosolised space by throwing out the infected air out of the building using a negative pressure. On June 14, HT had reported on the government requisitioning as many as 40 hotels having a total capacity of 4,628 beds to be attached with private hospitals. All the attached hospitals that HT spoke to said the HC order on Monday has caused confusion whether the hotels have to be turned into Covid Care Centres (CCCs), primarily meant for asymptomatic (with no facility of home quarantine) patients and mild cases, or makeshift hospitals. They said the government has to clarify whether the HC order of setting up CCCs in the two hotels will be applicable to all other hotels as well. If it is CCC, the job is much easier and quicker. But if they have to turn into makeshift hospitals, as the government orders also state, then more equipment and arrangements will be required. But, it is totally doable, the hospitals said. Despite government orders on requisitioning various hotels, only Sheraton in Saket is currently operational as an extended Covid facility. It is because all other hotels and the hospitals were waiting for the verdict of the high court in the matter, said a government official. Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket Complex, which has been running the facility in Sheraton said they identified space and created a medical store within the hotel.This medical store is adequately equipped with medicines, consumables and equipment at all times. This is a must-do for all the hospitals that have been attached to hotels. Spaces also have to be earmarked for the clinical staff such as doctor and nurse duty rooms. Since medical staff also need to be quarantined at defined intervals, manpower planning is the key, said Dr Gurpreet Singh, vice president and unit head, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket Complex. The hotels said they would provide their staff for all hotel-related services including rooms, housekeeping, disinfection and food for the patients. The orders state that the hotel staff will be trained by the concerned hospitals. Right from our chefs to the housekeeping staff, workers will have to be taught how to wear protective gear and how to dispose them. We are also arranging for a lot of disposable plates, water bottles and cutlery. The charges are to be collected by the hospital and the hospital will pay the hotel, said an official of hotel Crowne Plaza in Mayur Vihar, which has been attached to Indraprastha Apollo hospital in Sarita Vihar. ITC Hotels, which runs the Sheraton hotel in Saket, said it is following a stringent hygiene protocol. Stringent hygiene protocol is being observed at the hotel. All necessary safety precautions are being taken, a spokesperson of ITC hotels said. The list of hotels also includes two top hotels in South Delhi, Vasant Continental and Hyatt Regency; Maidens Hotel of the Oberoi Group in Civil Lines (supervised by Sant Parmanand Hospital); Hyatt Regency in Bhikaji Cama Place (Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj); Park Inn by Radisson in Lajpat Nagar (Moolchand hospital) and Hotel Ramada in Pitampura (Jaipur Golden Hospital). Patients opting for the beds in hotels will have to pay a minimum of Rs 63,000 a week if its a three- or four-star hotel. For a five-star hotel, the weekly charge may go up to at least Rs 70,000. In addition, patients needing oxygen support will have to pay Rs 2,000 a day. The charges will vary with medical investigations, which private hospitals overseeing these facilities will bill at their own rates and the duration of treatment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature Latin America Argentine rubber workers strike for 24 hours over COVID-19 concerns The Unique Tire Workers Syndicate of Argentina (SUTNA) called a strike on June 11 at the Bridgestone-Firestone plant in Llavallol, a city in Buenos Aires Province. The main demand of the one-day stoppage was to demand concrete improvements in the preventive measures regarding the COVID-19, according to a SUTNA statement. Four cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at the plant, but the company continues requiring [workers] to work at close contact with infected persons and refuses to make a quarantine. A SUTNA communique stated that, though the walkout was for 24 hours, upon not receiving positive responses, the measures will continue to increment. The statement ridiculed the absurd argument that there was social distancing in the plant, when not only do workers labor close together, but there is no separation between shifts. The statement concluded that the goal of the strike was so that management will listen to the workers just complaint and that the provincial and national authorities intervene in favor of the employees. Mexican health workers protest sanctions and threats against those demanding supplies Members of the National Union of Health Workers of Mexico held a protest in front of the federal Health Secretariat June 12 to denounce threats and sanctions against health workers who demand quality medical equipment and supplies, as well as better labor conditions. The protesters brought documented proof of harassment and firings of nurses demanding better supplies for protecting themselves and patients as the COVID-19 pandemic rages. For the moment, We are not calling a strike; were calling a gathering, said one nurse and union spokesman, but if there are more firings, if instead of dialogue we have repression ... this peaceful mobilization can be converted to the call for a national strike. Mexican truckers, construction workers strike to demand overdue pay from photovoltaic cell company Workers at a solar power generation project in Cuyoaco, a municipality in Puebla in southeastern Mexico, struck June 10 to demand payment of up to 12 million pesos (US$540,000) for truckers who haul materials to the project. The truckers, who number about 100, are members of the Workers Confederation of Mexico (CTM) and the National Liberty Syndicates. Another 200 work installing solar panels. The CTM stated that, since the signing of the contract for the project by the Spanish photovoltaic cell manufacturer Iberdrola in October 2019, the company has not covered costs of operations, manpower and materials transport. Workers protested in March but returned to work after an agreement was reached that Iberdrola would resolve the debt. However, the payments were not completely delivered, so the truckers have gone back on strike. Workers livelihoods have also been negatively impacted by delays caused by stay-at-home measures and closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a meeting on June 11, Iberdrola negotiators and CTM bureaucrats claimed that they had reached an agreement, though they did not reveal major details other than that they were going to call the strikers back to work. That morning Pueblas governor stated that the Labor Secretariat would intervene to find a solution to the conflict, but that the agencys participation will be of an institutional character, not as representative of either the truckers or the employer, reported Milenio. Mexican news agency forced to recognize legitimacy of workers strikes after 108 days Workers at Notimex, Mexicos state news agency, went on strike February 21 against spending cuts and over 200 layoffs. The cuts and firings were in line with the austerity agenda of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), who had appointed the agencys director, Sanjuana Martinez, a close ally, the year before. Many of the laid-off workers were critical of the AMLO administration, and they accused Martinez of violating principles of independence and freedom of expression. A collaborative study by human rights organization Article 19 (a reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights section regarding press freedom) and the Interdisciplinary Laboratory of the Technological Institute of Higher Studies of the Occident Institute found, in the months that followed, harassment and selective attacks against journalists, editorialists, and intellectuals [opposed to] Lopez Obrador and his government. Also, against workers of the State News Agency NOTIMEX, through accounts on the social network Twitter with atypical activities and systematized behavior against users in opposition with the director of the state agency Sanjuana Martinez Montemayor, appointed by AMLO. The Federal Board of Conciliation of the Ministry of Labor ruled the strike legitimate and ordered an end to the harassment campaign, but Martinez and the Notimex board stonewalled. Strikers set up an encampment in front of the newsroom to demand that the laid-off workers be reinstated and that Martinez be dismissed. On June 8, the board announced that it would cease activities temporarily on June 9 and negotiate with the workers union, SutNotimex, to resolve the conflict. Mexican students and teachers protest elimination of posts About 200 teaching students and teacher training professors in Morelia, capital of Michoacan, Mexico marched to the state Congress June 11 to demand that the legislature convene to maintain the enrollment at the states eight teacher-training colleges and not eliminate 44 positions that education authorities had announced. The march and demonstration were called by the CNTE teachers union, which organized a commission of students and teachers to meet with the legislatures education commission. The demonstrators also demanded the release of seven people, six of whom are students, arrested for blocking train tracks and confronting state police. CNTE said that the protests will continue until the State Education Secretariat agrees to participate in dialogue over the issues; so far it has adamantly refused. Protests over Colombian governments shortchanging of health resources, labor conditions Workers in the health, education and other sectors in Colombia protested the broken promises and premature reopening plans of the government of right-wing president Ivan Duque last week. On June 9, health organizations called for protests against the governments failure to deliver on promised resources to meet the anticipated peak in COVID-19 infections. The government had promised 13.7 trillion pesos (UD$3.8 billion) in the last three months, but only delivered about 11 percent: 1.5 billion pesos (US$420 million), according to La Silla Vacia, a political news website. Colombian health workers, tired of the broken promises of aid, acts of aggressionincluding death threatsand horrendous working conditions, have held wildcat strikes and protests. Others have resigned en masse. On June 11, members of FECODE, the Colombian Education Workers Federation, protested and held an encampment at Bogotas Parque Colon to protest the Education Ministrys plans to reopen schools in August without adequate measures to ensure the health of students, teachers and parents. FECODE sent a letter to parents explaining their position. FECODE was joined by about 50 labor and social organizations at the protest. Speakers also denounced violence against teachers and labor union leaders and criticized the nations anti-worker labor reforms, as well as the hikes in public service and transportation fees. United States California walnut workers demand hazard paycheck Workers held a demonstration during the afternoon shift change at Diamond of Californias walnut processing facility in Stockton, California, to demand hazard pay. The workers are demanding that they receive compensation similar to workers at other food processing facilities such as an extra $100 a week or an additional $2 an hour compensation. Teamsters Local 856 representative Ashley Alvarado told recordet.com that when she met with the company, they told her they are not interested in paying more. The Teamsters did not call the protest from the standpoint of uniting all food processing workers to oppose the homicidal coronavirus working conditions, but as an appeal to politicians to pass legislation to implement uniform rules across California. Canada Grocery store chains end special COVID pay for workers Several large grocery store chains including Metro, Save-On Foods, Loblaw and Walmart have ended a temporary $2 per hour COVID-19 wage increase provided to their frontline retail employees. Billed by the companies as a reward for their brave service in the essential food distribution business, the wage top-ups were in reality meant as a way to stem the flow of the minimum-wage staff who had been absenting themselves as the coronavirus spread into the population even as the companies were slow to provide adequate protections for the workers. The move comes as Canadian provincial governments prioritize a staggered return to retail business re-openings across the country. A New Jersey police department paid a local barber to set up shop and give haircuts to police officers inside the station as well as paying members of the public, despite an executive order from Gov. Phil Murphy that has banned similar personal care services for the past three months. Woodbridge Township Police Director Robert Hubner told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday that the department paid the local barber for the first round of haircuts, totaling $1,605 for time and supplies, using funding from the federal Cares Act and that he was hired so the officers could comply with the departments personal grooming standards. Hubner and Woodbridge spokesman John Hagerty said the operation had the blessing of the township health department. The health department was consulted early on about the propriety of it. And it was determined that it would be fine to do so by the health department by following the regulations that we put in place for social distancing and face masks, Hagerty said. The barber, whom Hubner identified only as Jose from a local shop, set up a makeshift station in the sally port area, where suspects are generally taken in and out of the building. A photo of the area reviewed by NJ Advance Media shows a barber chair set up in an industrial-looking area. A folding table nearby holds cleaning supplies, a mirror and a tip jar, and a ring light is set up behind the chair. The barber came on back-to-back days on three separate occasions, for a total of six visits. He also gave haircuts to non-members of the department, Hubner said, although its not clear to whom or how many people. Personal care businesses have been shuttered in New Jersey since March 19 when Gov. Phil Murphy ordered them closed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. At least one salon owner in Brick Township was cited in April for violating the governors emergency orders for opening and serving clients at the business. The Attorney Generals office and director of the local health department, Dennis Green, did not immediately return requests for comment on Tuesday. When asked how social distancing, generally understood to be a six-foot distance, could be maintained during the haircuts, Hagerty said, It is what it is. It was a haircut. And obviously you have to be close, wearing a face mask, for a haircut. Funds distributed under the Cares Act, which was used to pay the barber, are required to be used for direct coronavirus-related expenses, the U.S. Treasury Department said. While the first round of hair cuts was covered by the department, additional haircuts were paid for by officers out of their own pockets, Hubner said. No department funds were used to cover haircuts for anyone outside the department, he said. Salons and barbershops will be allowed to resume operations starting June 22, but must adhere to social distancing and other strict guidelines. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Around one-third of companies registered with the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) have not submitted their statutory provident fund (PF) dues for April. The firms have highlighted an extensive decline in their finances as revenues drained overnight due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The latest data from EPFO shows that only 321,800 firms paid PF dues for April to their employees. The number is 178,000 fewer than the companies that paid the said dues in the previous month (March, 2020). A total of 4,99,895 companies paid PF dues for March, 2020. In February, 520,566 companies paid PF dues. Also Read: 12 lakh EPFO members withdraw Rs 3,360 cr retirement savings during lockdown: FM A total of 654,421 establishments registered with EPFO submitted PF deductions directly to the retirement fund body in the past year. In addition, there are 2,557 exempt firms that handle their own retirement fund corpus with guidance from EPFO. Muralidharan Thyagarajan, chairman of TMI Group, a Hyderabad-based staffing company told Mint that although the government has allowed the companies some exemptions due to the lockdown, such a high number of them not submitting dues "shows that their revenues are in bad shape." Following massive withdrawals by employees from the retirement fund, and payment defaults since the nationwide lockdown began on March 25, the situation has only gotten worse due to the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent lockdown. Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: EPFO settles 36 lakh withdrawal claims worth Rs 11,540 crore in April-May A source told the news daily that despite EPFO's announcement that it won't penalise those who don't submit PF dues on time, 178,000 fewer companies contributed to the same - both theirs and their employees' share. This indicates that the damage has been done to the formal sector. The source further stated that the months of May and June will possibly affect the formal sector and jobs creation all the more. MIAMI, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- eMerge Americas, a platform which fosters innovation and investment throughout the Americas, has signed on with Wyncode Academy, a premier technical training academy to host a virtual hackathon scheduled for July 2, 2020. The hackathon, titled Unite & Fight, is in response to recent events throughout the U.S. that have reiterated the systemic racism and social injustices that have afflicted communities of color. Code Fever has signed on to be a community partner. The objective of the hackathon is to develop tech solutions to combat racism, such as apps, which will be presented at the upcoming eMerge Americas conference. City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez will hold a meeting with the final project creators. "Leaders in the tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem have a unique vantage point to steward innovation as a tool for systemic change," said Felice Gorordo, CEO of eMerge Americas. "eMerge Americas is committed to taking action to combat systemic racism and leveraging tech to fight social injustices." The hackathon will kick off with a virtual webinar highlighting the Black community's experience encountering racial discrimination, which will inform the project creators on the problems they will solve using technology. The teams participating in the virtual hackathon will be tasked with designing and building a solution that combats racial injustice. "The impetus for this initiative is to create a framework to learn and educate our community about racism and channel our collective brain trust for tangible solutions to dismantle systemic racism," said Johanna Mikkola, co-founder of Wyncode Academy. "By design, we're extending the initiative to continue after the hackathon for multiple months because we want an ongoing solution-oriented dialogue." Following the hackathon, project developers and designers will meet weekly to continue development on their solutions leading up to a final presentation before a panel of judges in September. The winner of those presentations will meet with Mayor Suarez prior to the eMerge Americas conference. "We use technology to create solutions to problems, and it really can be a driving force to end systemic racism and equity issues," said Felecia Hatcher, Founder of Code Fever. "Partnering with eMerge Americas and Wyncode creates actionable first steps that can lead to tangible solutions." Software developers and product designers interested in participating may register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unite-fight-hackathon-tickets-109014218462?ref=eios For more information or to register to attend the eMerge Americas 2020 conference, visit www.emergeamericas.com . About eMerge Americas eMerge Americas is the premier technology event connecting the Americas held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center. By connecting global industry leaders and investors with corporate business executives, government leaders, and entrepreneurs, eMerge Americas is transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. In 2019, eMerge Americas attracted over 16,000 attendees and more than 400 participating companies from over 40 countries. eMerge Americas serves as a catalyst in order to foster innovation and investment in South Florida and Latin America. The eMerge Americas founding partners include: Medina Capital, A Rod Corporation, Greenberg Traurig, Knight Foundation, Miami-Dade County, and the Miami Herald. The upcoming eMerge Americas conference is scheduled for November 4-5, 2020. For more information about eMerge Americas, please visit: www.emergeamericas.com . About Wyncode Academy Wyncode Academy is the premier accelerated learning provider in South Florida. Wyncode currently offers in-person and remote/online courses for Full Stack Web Development, User Experience & User Interface (UX/UI) Design, Front End Web Development, and Digital Marketing with a campus in Wynwood, Miami, Florida. Wyncode has graduated over 850 technologists and maintained a 90% job placement rate for job seeking graduates. Wyncode also has the ability to create custom cohorts and corporate training programs in addition to our newest venture Wyntalent, a consulting service for mid and senior-level dev talent. Wyncode is proud to be licensed by the Florida Department of Education, for more information visit their website. About Code Fever Code Fever is a nonprofit committed to getting our communities up to code. The mission of Code Fever is to inspire more underserved minority students between the ages of 13 to 21 to code, build and create technology enterprises within their communities, close the gap in technology education, and become leaders in STEM fields by increasing the number of young startup founders. For more, visit www.CodeFeverMiami.com SOURCE eMerge Americas Related Links https://www.emergeamericas.com NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tyto Care, the healthcare industry's first all-in-one telehealth platform and modular device for AI-powered, on-demand, remote medical exams, today announced the appointment of Colleen Sellers as VP Marketing and Anat Eitan as Chief Financial Officer. Sellers will lead Tyto Care's B2B and B2C brand strategy efforts from New York and Eitan will oversee the expansion of the company's global business operations from Tyto Care's office in Israel. Sellers comes to Tyto Care from Johnson & Johnson, where she served as Senior Director of Global Marketing. During her tenure, she oversaw global marketing for Tylenol and Motrin, Neutrogena, Zyrtec, Benadryl and Visine. Her extensive experience in brand planning and research and her commercial insight will propel Tyto Care's marketing efforts forward as it continues to expand into new consumer markets while growing and maintaining retail and health system partner relationships. "I am thrilled to join the Tyto Care team as we focus on expanding the reach of Tyto's industry-leading telehealth solution," said Sellers. "Tyto Care has such an important and immediate impact on people's lives, and I look forward to helping bring the convenience and accessibility Tyto offers to more people around the world, especially during this critical time." Throughout her career, Eitan has amassed more than 15 years of experience across all aspects of financial management for global companies. Prior to joining Tyto Care, Eitan served as CFO of Stratoscale, a company providing software-defined cloud infrastructure solutions, and as the CFO of Waze for over four years, including during its acquisition by Google. "Tyto Care's impact on the telehealth industry has been substantial, and yet it's just the beginning," said Eitan. "I am thrilled to join the company at such a crucial junction in its journey and look forward to helping Tyto achieve its goal of putting health in the hands of consumers around the world." "We are honored to welcome both Colleen and Anat to the Tyto Care team. Their vast experience and deep insights will help drive the company to new heights as we rapidly expand in the US and around the world," said Dedi Gilad, CEO of Tyto Care. "Their invaluable knowledge in their respective industries will strengthen Tyto Care's position as the leading telehealth innovator, delivering convenient, clinic-quality remote care during this critical time." Tyto Care witnessed threefold growth in 2019 and is now working with hundreds of hospitals and over 100 health organizations in North America, Europe, Asia and Israel.The company's continued growth and recent funding has enabled it to expand commercialization and widen its strategic focus on key market verticals and product capabilities. The Tyto Care team is growing and is currently hiring for positions in engineering, account management, customer success, marketing, and implementation. About Tyto Care Tyto Care is a telehealth company using AI to transform primary care by putting health in the hands of consumers. Tyto Care seamlessly connects people to clinicians to provide the best virtual home examination and diagnosis solutions. Its solutions are designed to enable a comprehensive medical exam from any location and include a hand-held, all-in-one tool for examining the heart, lungs, skin, ears, throat, abdomen, and body temperature; a complete telehealth platform for sharing exam data, conducting live video exams, and scheduling visits; a cloud-based data repository with analytics; and built-in guidance technology and machine learning algorithms to ensure accuracy and ease of use for patients and insights for healthcare providers. Co-founded by Dedi Gilad and Ofer Tzadik in 2012, Tyto Care has FDA and CE clearances and has partnered with over 100 major health systems, health plans, and strategic partners in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Israel. To watch a demo video, click here. For more information, please visit www.tytocare.com. Tyto Care Press Contact Allison Grey Headline Media [email protected] +1-323-283-8176 SOURCE Tyto Care The Spanish government will provide incentives to purchase new, low-emission vehicles as part of its efforts to stimulate the economy, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday unveiled a 3.75 billion plan with 21 measures aimed at helping the automotive industry. Part of the amount will be direct aid, while close to 2.7 billion will be provided through soft loans for the sector through the state-owned bank Instituto de Credito Espanol (ICO). Sanchez, of the Socialist Party (PSOE), said the goal is to mitigate the enormous consequences of Covid-19 in 2020 while we look to the future. The direct aid aims to get the more-polluting vehicles off the roads while boosting motor vehicle registration. Buyers will receive between 400 and 4,000 from the government for purchasing a new car that meets certain requirements, and this subsidy must be matched by manufacturers and dealerships. The direct aid aims to get the more polluting vehicles off the roads while boosting motor vehicle registration The amount of the aid will depend on the vehicles emissions: the more polluting ones will receive the lowest subsidies, while zero-emission cars will attract the maximum amount. In order to be eligible for the subsidies, it will also be necessary to first scrap a car that is more than 10 years old. Scrapped vehicles more than 20 years old will qualify for more funds for their owners. The initiative was drafted by several ministries and includes two sets of subsidies. One involves electric cars and the infrastructure required to charge them; this part of the scheme will receive 100 million in public funding. The second set of subsidies is more controversial, as it provides incentives for the purchase of all kinds of vehicles, including those that run on gasoline and diesel. The automotive sector had been demanding to include them in the aid program, and the government will contribute 250 million to this plan, of which 20 million is earmarked for trucks, according to the document. According to the government, the vehicles on Spains roads are 13 years old on average, and the older gasoline and diesel models are more polluting than the newer versions coming out on the market now. We were asking for an orderly and fair plan, and this one has both ingredients Gerardo Perez, Faconauto Another requirement is that the new vehicle must be among the 45% more fuel-efficient ones on the market. Subsidies will not apply to vehicles emitting more than 120g/km of carbon dioxide, which leaves out most sport utility vehicles (SUVs). And the total purchase price of the vehicle cannot be in excess of 35,000, or 45,000 for cars adapted to the needs of people with disabilities or for zero-emission cars. The Spanish executive, made up of a coalition of the PSOE and the leftist Unidas Podemos, has also allocated funds to upgrade the fleet owned by state agencies and other public bodies and to replace the older cars with electric vehicles whenever possible. Local governments may also use any budget surplus toward the same goal. Meanwhile, the automotive industry has pledged to make between 700,000 and 800,000 electric vehicles in Spain, which would represent 12% of the European market share. Next year there will be around 15 models produced at the 12 existing assembly plants in Spain. Industry leaders have expressed satisfaction with the scheme. We were asking for an orderly and fair plan, and this one has both ingredients, said Gerardo Perez, president of Faconauto, the car dealership industry association. It protects jobs and the environment. Jose Vicente de los Mozos, president of Anfac, the car manufacturer industry association, said the plan puts people at the center. The labor unions CC OO and UGT backed the plan and asked for support for the 3,000 workers at the Nissan plant in Barcelona that is due to shut down in December. Isabell Buschel, Spain director of the European federation Transport & Environment, said the plan goes in the right direction but lamented the fact that the scheme includes incentives for the purchase of gasoline and diesel vehicles. The green group Ecologists in Action expressed similar views and said that public funds for transportation and mobility should be invested in infrastructure and measures prioritizing trips on foot and bicycle, and in aid for public transportation. English version by Susana Urra. The UAE, through its ambassador to the US, has reached out, for the first time, directly to Israeli public opinion. Will the message be heard We need to make our stand clear that we are supporting Palestinian peoples rights and are against any further consolidation of occupation the message needed to be directed to those concerned directly, an Emirati source stressed. This is the UAEs explanation of an unprecedented article by its ambassador to the US, Youssef Al-Otaiba, published in the widely-distributed Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth last Friday. Titled Annexation or Normalisation, the op-ed article was published in Hebrew with an explanatory video in English by Al-Otaiba, who is also a minister of state in the UAE government. Its the first such direct public communication from an Emirati official with the Israeli public. It stirred a lot of reactions inside Israel, in the US and across the Arab world. Yet, the article just emphasised the Emirati position on the central Middle East issue, containing the same messages that have been conveyed to the US administration and other parties since the Israeli government announced its plans on extending sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley. The same message is to be reiterated by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash this week at the annual global forum of the major Israel lobby group the American Jewish Committee, where he is scheduled to speak. The core message of Al-Otaibas article is a warning that planned annexation would be a major impediment to Israels hope of establishing ties with the Arab world. Annexation will certainly and immediately upend Israeli aspirations for improved security, economic and cultural ties with the Arab world and with the UAE, he wrote. The article stressed that, all the time, we (the UAE) remain an ardent advocate for the Palestinian people and a long-time champion of the Arab Peace Initiative the initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002 and that stipulates the two-state solution in return for the normalisation of relations between Israel and the Arab world. Al-Otaiba said that as well as jeopardising Israeli efforts to build relationships with countries in the region, annexation would also strain Israels ties with the Arab states with which it already has peace deals: Egypt and Jordan. He singled out Jordan as bearing the brunt of any such decision. It will send shockwaves around the region, especially in Jordan whose stability often taken for granted benefits the entire region, particularly Israel, adding: There will be tremendous pressure on countries like Jordan, that has demographic and economic challenges. This will make it more difficult. The article went on that, Jordan is a partner of ours. This will put them in a very uncomfortable situation. There could be unrest. A decision like this could have as much impact on Jordan as Palestine and Ramallah. Al-Otaibas article comes just after an op-ed by World Jewish Congress head Ron Lauder was published in the Saudi English daily Arab News in May. But this article in Hebrew by an Emirati official got more notoriety. It is still the subject of reactions and analysis, especially in Israel. A majority of reader comments were not positive, but the Israeli elite had mixed reactions. Some saw it a bold step to appeal to the Israeli public the concerned party directly. Others saw it a face-saving lip-service from the Gulf so no one would blame them later if Israel went on with its plans. An analysis piece in The Jerusalem Post reflected the main theme of popular Israeli reaction: Let us say that Israel heeds Otaibas advice, and does not extend its sovereignty over the lands in question. Then what can it expect from the UAE in return? Wouldnt it be significant, for example, if Otaiba would now address his own public, in Arabic perhaps in the widely circulated UAE paper Al-Khaleej and both tell them how the two states cooperate, and why it is important for the UAE? Wouldnt it be dramatic if he wrote there and in Arabic that Israel is an opportunity, not an enemy? That suggestion is probably unlikely, and the Emiratis stress that the message was meant to clarify its position as stated in the article. In a tweet praising the piece, Gargash wrote: The UAE, through its deliberate actions, refutes Netanyahus statements regarding relations with the Arab world and warns of the repercussions and dangers of expanding the occupation. Al-Otaiba himself explained the whole thing in an interview with Emirati English daily The National, saying that he was inspired by Egyptian President Sadats trip to Jerusalem in 1977. Anwar Sadat went to Jerusalem to make a point, and he was very emphatic about it because it was in the best interest of his country, he said in the interview, adding: While I am not going to Tel Aviv to give a speech, I think this has the same kind of value of speaking directly to an audience to make sure your message gets across. But the most important point he mentioned in the video interview is that another risk of pressing ahead with annexation is that it would give a platform for extremists and allow people to try to manipulate the Palestinian issue for their own benefit, and would constitute a setback for a lot of the progress that we have seen. The UAE is an ardent opponent of political Islam and definitely dont want the Israeli decision to give groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and Hizbullah, or countries like Iran and Turkey, fuel to inflame the region. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved a grant to support the humanitarian action titled Solidarity with Uzbekistan, Trend reports referring the British-Uzbek Society. The action was initiated in early April 2020 by the Society with a purpose to raise funds to help medical institutions and the most vulnerable groups of the population in Uzbekistan in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The EBRD is ready to allocate up to 50,000 euros to double the amount of funds raised during the charity event. The funds will be provided as part of the EBRD's Community Initiative program aimed at supporting the charitable activities of the Bank's employees. If the organizers raise 50,000 euros, the total amount of the assistance, including the matching grant from EBRD, could thus reach 100,000 euros. To date, more than 21,000 euros have been raised by the Uzbek diaspora in Europe, the USA and Canada. In order to raise funds, the organizers held a number of charitable master classes, in particular, on Uzbek folk dances and preparation of Uzbek national dishes. The organizers plan to continue holding such events. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini Encompass Health Corp. EHC has announced that its plans to build a free-standing, 60-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital on American Way in Libertyville, IL The new unit will be named Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Libertyville. The facility is expected to be opened in the spring of 2022 and complement other local units of the area. The hospital will provide care for patients recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries including strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. The hospital will offer physical, occupational and speech therapies as well as 24-hour nursing care for better patient health outcomes. This will bring the much-needed intensive rehabilitation services to Lake County and the surrounding area. Encompass Health has nationwide presence with a strong portfolio of 135 hospitals, 245 home health hubs, and 83 hospice centers in 38 states apart from Puerto Rico. With this new unit, the company will continue to deliver high-quality, cost-effective, integrated services across the healthcare continuum. It seeks to address the hugely unmet demand for facility-based and home-based post acute-care services by constructing or acquiring new hospitals and purchasing or opening home health and hospice agencies in the extremely fragmented industries. Revenues at Encompass Health have been consistently increasing since 2010, driven by the rising contribution from its inpatient rehabilitation plus home health and hospice segment. Its revenues witnessed a CAGR of 14.2% from 2014 to 2019. Demographic trends, such as aging population should spur long-term demand for the companys solutions on offer. While it treats patients of all ages, most belong to the senior-citizen age bracket of 65 years and above, and the number of Medicare enrollees are expected to grow approximately 3% per annum for the foreseeable future. This demographic trend will fuel demand for the companys services and aid revenue growth. Year to date, Encompass Health has lost 4% compared with its industrys decline of 4.4%. Story continues Encompass Health presently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the some space are Addus Homecare Corp. ADUS, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated DGX and Avita Medical RCEL, each currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Estimates for Addus Homecare current-quarters earnings have been revised 12.5% upward. Quest Diagnostics bottom line surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 5.58%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Avita Medicals 2020 earnings has moved 7.69% north. Just Released: Zacks 7 Best Stocks for Today Experts extracted 7 stocks from the list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys that has beaten the market more than 2X over with a stunning average gain of +24.1% per year. These 7 were selected because of their superior potential for immediate breakout. See these time-sensitive tickers now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Addus HomeCare Corporation (ADUS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Avita Medical Ltd. (RCEL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 3 NYPD Officers Hospitalized After Milkshakes Potentially Contaminated Please find an update on this story here. Original article below. Three NYPD officers were hospitalized late Monday after buying and drinking drinks at a Shake Shack restaurant on Broadway in Manhattan. The officers were taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital and are in stable condition. They are expected to recover. Police are investigating the incident. We are horrified by the reports of police officers injured at our 200 Broadway Shack in Manhattan. We are working with the police in their investigation right now, the casual dining restaurant announced in a statement posted to Twitter late Monday. We are horrified by the reports of police officers injured at our 200 Broadway Shack in Manhattan. We are working with the police in their investigation right now. SHAKE SHACK (@shakeshack) June 16, 2020 The police department is still investigating the incident and cannot yet make any conclusions as to the substance or substances in the drinks, or if the drinks were contaminated, reported Fox News. No arrests have been made as of late Monday, and a shake sample has been taken to a lab for testing, police said, according to CBS New York. The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York (NYC PBA) the largest police union representing police officers of the NYPDsaid in a statement speculating that the drinks were contaminated and characterized the incident as an attack. At some point during their meal period, the [officers] discovered that a toxic substance, believed to be bleach, had been placed in their beverages, Patrick Lynch, president of the NYC PBA said. The contamination was not discovered until the [officers] had already ingested a portion of their beverages. #BREAKING When NYC police officers cannot even take meal without coming under attack, it is clear that environment in which we work has deteriorated to a critical level. We cannot afford to let our guard down for even a moment. pic.twitter.com/fbMMDOKqbV NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) June 16, 2020 The statement was issued as a safety warning for other PBA members. All PBA members are advised to carefully inspect any prepared food item they purchase while on duty for possible contamination. Whenever possible, take meal in groups of two or more, and remain vigilant for the duration of the meal period, Lynch wrote. Paul DiGiacomo, the president of the Detective Endowment Association Board of Directors, a police union, characterized the incident as an intentional poisoning by one or more workers that caused the officers to become ill. Police in New York City and across the country are under attack by vicious criminals who dislike us simply because of the uniform we wear. Emboldened by pandering elected officials, these cowards will go to great lengths to harm any member of law enforcement, the statement from DiGiacomo and the DEA Board of Officers read. URGENT SAFETY MESSAGE Tonight, three of our fellow officers were intentionally poisoned by one or more workers at the Shake Shack at 200 Broadway in Manhattan. Fortunately, they were not seriously harmed. Please see the safety alert https://t.co/D8Lywivhdu Detectives Endowment Association (@NYCPDDEA) June 16, 2020 We must be more vigilant than ever. We urge you to not buy food from locations unknown to you. Keep your eyes open and be alert at all times. Make sure you always stay with your partnerand back one another up. Inspect your vehiclepersonal and departmentbefore you drive. This is the dramatic moment American military aircraft are intercepted by Russian fighter jets over the Baltic Sea. Russian jets can be seen approaching what appears to be an American B-52 bomber and a Lockheed P3 Orion aircraft in the skies above neutral waters of the Baltic Sea on Monday. An official statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence said: 'The air defence duty personnel of the Western Military District revealed the actions of the US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers and foreign reconnaissance aircraft over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea and they were escorted by Russian fighters.' The incident comes after Russian fighter jets were accused of buzzing a US spy plane in an 'unsafe manner' over the Mediterranean Sea last month. In the video, Russian fighter jets can be seen flying close to either side of the bombers during the 'interception' This is the dramatic moment American military aircraft are intercepted by Russian fighter jets over the Baltic Sea In the most recent incident, Moscow said state borders had not been violated and that the Russian fighter jets carried out their actions in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace. In the video, Russian fighter jets can be seen flying close to either side of the bombers during the 'interception'. US and NATO aircraft were taking part in the annual BALTOPS exercise which has involved 28 ships and submarines, 28 aircraft and 3,000 personnel this year. The 49th iteration of the Baltic Operations exercise was focused this year on naval warfare at sea, partly by design and partly in response to COVID-19 pandemic. The week-long drills conclude today. The incident comes after U.S. fighter jets intercepted and escorted four Russian nuclear-capable bombers during a routine flight over neutral waters near Alaska last week. Russian jets can be seen approaching what appears to be an American B-52 bombers and a Lockheed P3 Orion aircraft in the skies above neutral waters of the Baltic Sea on Monday Moscow said state borders had not been violated and that the Russian fighter jets carried out their actions in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace Russia said the 11-hour flight, carried out by its Tupolev Tu-95MS bombers, complied with international law and that U.S. F-22 Raptor tactical fighters had accompanied its planes during some stages of their flight. The interception of the bombers, which can carry nuclear missiles, came weeks after two Russian fighter jets were accused of flying in 'an unsafe and unprofessional manner' while intercepting a US spy plane over the Mediterranean Sea. The Russian jets 'flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner' while intercepting a U.S. spy plane on Tuesday, May 26, over the Mediterranean Sea, the U.S. Navy said in a statement. The fighters 'took close station of the spy plane' over a period of 65 minutes, the statement read. It added: 'While the Russian aircraft was operating in international airspace, this interaction was irresponsible. Two Russian fighter jets were accused of flying in 'an unsafe and unprofessional manner' while intercepting a US spy plane over the Mediterranean Sea last month(pictured) 'We expect them to operate within international standards set to ensure safety'. The proximity of the two planes made it impossible for the US aircraft to 'safely manoeuvre'. 'The unnecessary actions of the Russian Su-35 pilots were inconsistent with good airmanship and international flight rules, and jeopardized the safety of flight of both aircraft,' the statement said. The encounter marked the third time in two months that Russian pilots buzzed U.S. aircraft. Places in History Standing for Nearly 170 Years, This Yangon Monastery Has Been a Key Site for Two Religions in Myanmar The Norman Monastery in June 2020. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy Built in 1852, the 168-year-old Norman Kyaung Kyi Htaik, or Norman Monastery, in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon (then Rangoon) is one of the citys oldest surviving buildings and played a key role in the educational and religious development of Myanmar. It was built just after the Second Anglo-Burmese War, before King Mindon, the second-last king of Burma, ascended the throne. Though a number of Christian missionary schools had already been established by that time, there was not yet a government education department. The building predates even famous Christian missionary schools like St. Pauls and St. Johns. Constructed mainly of teak and supported by 58 timber columns, the two-story wooden building measures 100 feet (30.5 meters) by 50 feet. It was built by British engineers, according to historical records. A boarding school, it trained teachers for Christian missionary schools. Though it was convenient for the trainees to live at the school, it was located far from downtown, and wild animals posed a constant danger. At the time, Yangon remained largely a forest and residential wards and roads were still being built. Wild animals, including tigers, roamed the city. Pazundaung, where the Norman Monastery is located, was home to tigers and todays U Wisara Road near Shwedagon Pagoda was then called Tiger Alley. As a result, the schools principal and trainees asked authorities to relocate the school. The current abbot of Norman Monastery, U Tezita, said the school moved partly because of the smell of burning corpses that emanated from a nearby cemetery. The abbot said he heard that the school moved to Insein. After King Thibaw was sent into exile in 1885, wealthy Burmese merchant Sir Pho Tha bought the building at a government auction for 20,000 rupees and donated it to Ashin Pyinnyar from Monywa in Upper Myanmar on June 17, 1888. The monk converted the building into a monastery and became its first presiding monk. Ten monks have been in charge of the monastery since his tenure. The monastery then expanded thanks to donations from knighted Burmese merchant U Pho Tha and various other wealthy donors. Another two-story building that measures 100 by 25 feet was built in 1889 to link with the main building. An additional structure was built on a 2-acre [0.8-hectare]-wide compound in 1917. The building has architectural significance, featuring traditional Myanmar arts and crafts. The decorations were designed by architect Saya Khin Gyi of Mandalay, the last royal capital of Myanmar, and carried to Yangon by train. Throughout the colonial period, the monastery played an important role in preserving Buddhism, instructing monks in Buddhas teachings and organizing religious examinations. The building was a landmark, brightly lit with kerosene lamps and, after the city was electrified, with electric bulbs. Inside, the monastery was also fully furnished. On one side that was close to residential buildings, it was covered with tall corrugated iron sheets to protect it from fire. During World War II, British troops forced Yangon residents to leave the town and set many houses on fire. The troops spared the monastery as the abbot promised that he was moving out shortly. Every day, sparks from burning houses in the surrounding area rained down on the monasterys roofs, forcing monks and monastic students to brush them off. During the Japanese invasion, they also defended the monastery against attackers and looters. The building continued to serve as a monastery after independence, and celebrated its centenary in 1988the year that marked the height of the pro-democracy uprising in Myanmar. The monastery, which is now the abode of over 30 monks, survives in all its glory with teak stairs that date back to the time of the Christian school, and featuring arabesque-style ornamentation, a steeple and sculptures that were added when the building was turned into a monastery. It has been 168 years since the building was first established as a Christian school, and it has been a monastery for 132 years. Even the monasterys thick walls are 114 years old. Despite its long history and architectural importance, the monastery has not been properly conserved over the years. It is not yet on the governments list of heritage buildings and has not received official protection. Some timber columns and other parts of the monastery are in ruins, and the monastery is short on maintenance funds, said abbot U Tezita. Some of its upper structures have had to be removed due to strong winds, and some timber columns have been replaced with concrete pillars, he said. Yangon Heritage Trust program officer U Thurein said the group undertook site assessments and offered basic guidelines and advice to the abbot a few years ago on how to maintain the building. The group said it plans to eventually install a blue plaque at the building to recognize its historic and architectural significance, but only after more historically significant buildings have been designated. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko San Francisco's district attorney has filed a lawsuit against food delivery company DoorDash, accusing the company of misclassifying its drivers as contractors instead of employees. Why it matters: This is the latest attempt by elected officials to force gig economy companies to relabel their workers. In May, California's attorney general, along with DA's from three cities sued Lyft and Uber over similar issues. From DoorDash: "Now more than ever, Californians from all walks of life look to DoorDash for flexible earnings opportunities, working on average a few hours per week. Throughout the pandemic, DoorDash has supported Dashers on and off the road with free safety equipment, telemedicine, earnings replacement, and more. Todays action seeks to disrupt the essential services Dashers provide, stripping hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, parents, retirees and other Californians of valuable work opportunities, depriving local restaurants of desperately needed revenue, and making it more difficult for consumers to receive prepared food, groceries, and other essentials safely and reliably. We will fight to continue providing Dashers the flexible earning opportunities they say they want in these challenging times." Max Rettig, DoorDash global head of public policy Go deeper: Mexico is ready to sell crude oil to Venezuela should it need it, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said, as quoted by Latin American media during his regular Monday press conference. If they requested it and it was a humanitarian necessity, we would do it (...) No one has the right to oppress others, Lopez Obrador said, adding that "Mexico is an independent, sovereign country, we make our own decisions and we do not interfere with the other countries' policies. It is people's self-determination," Argus Media noted that Lope Obrador had made clear Venezuela had not extended such a request at this time. However, the media reported, a Caracas official had said the request would be made soon. As sovereign as it is, Mexican companies could still face U.S. sanction action if they try to trade with Venezuela. Washington has bee tightening the sanction noose around Caracas lately, especially after the first of five Iranian tankers carrying fuel for Venezuela arrived at the country. Whats more, as Argus Media points out, Mexico itself imports most of the gasoline it consumes, which suggests the consequences of any help for Venezuelawith U.S. gasoline, no lesscould aggravate relations with Mexicos northern neighbor. Venezuela is in the grips of a major gasoline shortage as refineries are unable to operate at run rates higher than 10 percent because of a shortage of diluents necessary for the production of fuels as well as an urgent need for repairs. Soon after the start of tanker arrivals, Washington announced plans to blacklist tanker owners and users of vessels that had travelled to Venezuela over the past 12 months. Already, media reported, some tankers sailing for Venezuela had turned around. According to a ship brokerage there were as many as 77 tankers that have called at Venezuelan ports over the past 12 months, which puts them at risk of being blacklisted. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Land animals are, on the whole, smarter than marine creatures and scientists now believe this is because complex landscapes sped up the evolution of intelligence. Animals first left the seas and colonised land around 385million years ago but their brains were far more primitive than modern-day species. This, scientists say, is because the simplicity of the ocean's landscape does not require animals to have to plan ahead and predict what may happen in the future. When an animal hunts another in the water, the contest is purely about speed, with few other factors playing a part. However, on land, there are obstacles such as rocks, trees and bushes, which make the environment trickier to navigate in a hunt. It is this which 'poured jet fuel on brain evolution' of land animals, scientists believe, as animals could gain a survival edge by planning and trying to predict future events. It turned survival into a chess match, with the complex environment and its various features acting as the board on which the animals duelled. Pictured, the Okavango Delta. its patchy landscape is a good example of the 'Goldilocks landscape' where the ability to plan results in a huge survival payoff, the researchers say Researchers found the perfect environment for nurturing cognitive development is one that is not too empty and not cluttered, such as a Savannah. This was dubbed the Goldilocks-zone of terrain in which being able to plan and devise strategies is a real benefit and therefore the animals evolved to be smarter. In simple landscapes like open ground or packed landscapes like dense jungle, there was no advantage. This was similar to what was seen in the seas. All of Earth's most intelligent animals are land-dwelling creatures, including humans, chimps and elephants, with the notable exception of dolphins and whales. However, the researchers say these marine mammals actually evolved their intellect on land before moving to a water-based existence around 50 million years ago. 'All animals - on land or in water - had the same amount of time to evolve, so why do land animals have most of the smarts?' says Professor Malcolm MacIver, who led the study from Northwestern University. 'Our work shows that it's not just about what's in the head but also about what's in the environment.' The presence of features on land makes it more complex than the blank abyss of the sea, and this meant animals that evolved the ability to plan and develop hunting strategies were at an advantage. This separated land animals from sea creatures Researchers found the perfect environment for nurturing cognitive development is one that is not too empty and not cluttered. But in simple landscapes, like open ground, or packed landscapes, like dense jungle, there was no advantage Chimps smack their lips together to talk to each other at almost exactly the same speed as chattering humans Chimpanzees smack their lips together at almost the same speed as chattering humans, a study has revealed. Primatologists found the striking similarity after watching videos of the African apes during grooming sessions. The results suggest human ancestors had at least some of the tools for language as early as five million years ago - when the lineages split. Primatologists from the universities of Warwick and St Andrews watched clips of our closest relative at Edinburgh and Leipzig zoo. They compared this to two wild troops in Uganda, finding they could move their lips two to four times a second. This closely matches humans, who are able to move their lips two to seven times a second. Advertisement Previous research from the team found that eyesight was a factor in helping animals become smarter. In water, eyesight is restricted and often poorly developed, with little to look at and the water physically limiting how far an animal can see. When life moved to the land, this restriction was lifted. But the scientists found improvements to eyesight was not enough to explain the boost to intelligence. Instead, something else was needed to nourish the brain. 'We speculated that moving onto land poured jet fuel on the evolution of the brain as it may have advantaged the hardest cognitive operation there is: Envisioning the future,' Professor MacIver said. 'It could explain why we can go out for seafood, but seafood can't go out for us.' The team used computer simulations to replicate what happens when animals with varying levels of smarts are put in different situations. Professor MacIver said says: 'In the open aquatic environments, you just need to run in the opposite direction and hope for the best. 'While in the highly packed environments, there are only a few paths to take, and you are not able to strategise because you can't see far. 'In these environments, we found that planning does not improve your chances of survival. ''With patchy landscapes, there is an interplay of transparent and opaque regions of space and long-range vision, which means that your movement can hide or reveal your presence to an adversary. 'Terra firma becomes a chess board. With every movement, you have a chance to unfurl a strategy.' The research is available in the journal Nature Communications. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:35:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to firmly support Ecuador in the battle against COVID-19, do its best to provide necessary assistance and explore cooperation in areas such as vaccine and drug research and production, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone conversation with Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno on Tuesday. Noting that the COVID-19 epidemic is spreading in Ecuador, Xi offered sincere sympathies on behalf of the Chinese government and people. Xi stressed that at the most demanding stage of China's fight against COVID-19, the Ecuadorian government provided timely anti-epidemic supplies to China. After the epidemic broke out in Ecuador, the Chinese government, local authorities, enterprises and civil organizations quickly reached out to help Ecuador, which illustrated the two countries' friendly tradition of helping and supporting each other, Xi said. Xi said he believes that under the leadership of President Moreno, Ecuador will prevail over the epidemic at an early date, and get back to the track of sound development. Xi said he hopes the Ecuadorian side will continue to protect Chinese companies and citizens who work and study in the South American country. He pointed out that as the pandemic is still spreading in the world, only with solidarity and cooperation can all countries finally win the battle against the disease. China is willing to continue cooperation with other countries to fight the disease and jointly promote the building of a community of common health for mankind, Xi said. China firmly supports enhancing macro policy coordination among countries to stabilize the global economy and improve global governance, he said. Xi stressed that many important consensuses were reached during President Moreno's successful state visit to China in 2018. With joint efforts, the two countries have achieved fruitful results in their pragmatic cooperation in various fields, Xi added. China attaches importance to developing its relations with Ecuador and is willing to communicate actively with the Ecuadorian side to overcome difficulties brought by the epidemic so as to resume and advance their pragmatic cooperation, promote their comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level after the epidemic and better benefit the two peoples, Xi said. For his part, Moreno said that the Chinese government and people provided valuable assistance and support to Ecuador in combating COVID-19, which greatly contributed to his country's response to the pandemic. Noting that China is Ecuador's important comprehensive strategic partner, Moreno said the bilateral cooperation is based on friendship and mutual benefits. He said that Ecuador hopes to learn from China's successful experience in fighting the disease and strengthen cooperation with China to help his country overcome difficulties, prevail over the epidemic, and revitalize its economic development. Moreno said he is willing to keep close contact with Xi and jointly promote the development of the Ecuador-China relationship. Enditem Many workers will be starting the clock again on their super savings after taking advantage of the government's early-release super scheme to empty out their retirement accounts. Since the scheme for those suffering financial hardship because of COVID-19 started on April 20, almost $15 billion worth of applications for early release have been approved. Much of that has been withdrawn by young workers, who dominate the hard-hit tourism, hospitality and retail sectors. Young people's retirement will be hardest hit by the scheme. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Those who have lost their jobs or whose hours have reduced by at least 20 per cent are able to withdraw up to $10,000 from their super this financial year and another $10,000 next financial year. Modelling by Super Consumers Australia shows early access of $20,000 by a 30-year-old could cost their retirement balance the equivalent of about $50,000 in todays money by age 67. New Zealanders aren't great at saving, a survey of 2000 people by the Financial Services Council has found. The survey also found that more than a third of the public would not be able to pay its mortgage or rent and bills beyond a month if it lost jobs. The study is the first of a three-part research project. Financial Services Council chief executive Richard Klipin told RNZs Morning Report talking about money needed to be a national conversation. "Being good with money is a special language and we need to get to speak it a whole lot more effectively because when the rainy day comes we need to be able to tap into our savings and resources. Sadly, there has not been too much improvement." He hopes the COVID-19 pandemic would get people to "rethink, relearn and restart the conversation". "The research found that only 21 per cent of us actually feel like we're in control of our finances." He says there was a link between relationships, overall health, wealth and wellbeing. As the pandemic took off, he says spending had dropped. "It hopefully gave us all an opportunity to pause and reflect what do we actually spend our money on, what gives us happiness ... and maybe it is not going out every night or getting those takeaways. Maybe it is about paying ourselves first, saving first." In March, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said a universal basic income was one of the options being considered to help people who lose their jobs or face uncertainty. RNZ. Enhancing product value Phu Cu District has about 800 hectares of lychee, of which 100 are devoted to a variety known as egg lychee, owing to their size often being as big as chicken eggs, in the communes of Phan Sao Nam, Minh Tan, Doan Dao and Tran Cao Township. In 2019, the Hung Yen Department of Science and Technology (DST) introduced a project to create, manage and develop the brand of Hung Yen egg lychee as a way to enhance the value of and offer market protection to the product. In May 2020, the National Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (NOIP) granted protection for Hung Yen egg lychee, with the DST as the owner and management agency of the Hung Yen egg lychee certificate, and the Quyet Tien Agricultural Cooperative as the agency entitled to use the product code for Hung Yen egg lychees. When the brand of egg lychee was created and widely promoted, hundreds of tonnes of egg lychee produced in Phu Cu District was quickly sold at relatively high prices, about 1.5 times greater compared with the previous season. Le Van Tien, owner of an egg lychee orchard in Phan Sao Nam, said that With a recognised brand, merchants are now buying Hung Yen egg lychee right in the field for as high as VND60,000 per kilogram, and we farmers are very happy about that. Dong Thanh Commune in Kim Dong District is rapidly transforming its crop structure, with about 200 hectares of low-yielding rice paddies converted to growing oranges. Local farmers have applied technological advances to their production to ensure the oranges have both a good appearance and high quality while meeting all relevant food safety standards. In 2018, the NOIP issued a collective brand certificate for Dong Thanh oranges produced by the Dong Thanh Fruit, Vegetable and Trading Services Cooperative, helping to make Dong Thanh oranges more widely known as well as selling at higher prices. Some enterprises signed agreements with the cooperative to distribute Dong Thanh oranges in supermarkets and shopping malls. In recent years, Hung Yen Province has implemented various measures aimed at developing collective brands so as to enhance the quality and value of local goods, especially agricultural produce. To date, the province has granted collective brand certificates for 19 products, such as Hung Yen longan, Ban soy sauce, Van Giang ornamental kumquat trees, Khoai Chau bananas, Dong Tao chicken, Hung Yen lychees, Chi Tan turmeric and Van Giang oranges. The province is also famous for such handicrafts as Hue Lai silverware, Long Thuong bronzeware and Cao Village incense. The owners of collective brands are usually associations, cooperatives and trade villages, which are responsible for managing and promoting the recognised brands and products so that they become more widely known and achieve stronger sales. Protecting and promoting collective brands Phan Sao Nam Commune Chairman Nguyen Dinh Duc stated that the commune has 78 hectares of egg lychee and local authorities will encourage growers to employ technological advances and good practice, especially VietGAP, in their farming so that the trees will produce a higher yield and quality. The commune is also taking measures to manage the brand properly, promote trade activities and conserve this variety of lychee. According to DST Director Tran Tung Chuan, the province is implementing various measures to enhance the public awareness of brand management and development, especially for agricultural goods. The producers of protected products need to enhance their quality; use logos, labels and other brand recognition marks in their production and business, considering them as an integral part of the value. In the future, the province will continue to assess the brand development potential of other products with high economic value, especially those in the One Commune One Product programme, so as to work out an appropriate developmental direction. The province will also look to improve farming practices in line with national and global standards, and enhance product traceability, while continuing to apply for brand protection to prevent counterfeit products or loss of brand value; step up advertising and provide complete and transparent information about the products, including recognition characteristics and awarded food safety certificates. Other measures to promote collective brands include applying new technology to create clean, safe and quality products; enhancing the capacity for intellectual properties officers; increasing the responsibility of those in charge of managing and developing protected brands in facilitating producers to use such brands. The untimely and shocking death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput has brought the subject of mental health into sharp focus. Actor Parno Mittra, who works primarily in Bengali films, has now revealed that she has struggled with depression for a while now. Taking to Twitter, she wrote: Mental health is important! I have been suicidal and have thought of it a number of times. The pain doesnt go away. We slowly move into a shell that becomes unbreakable! Its not easy to open up or just talk to someone. It becomes a part of your being. Mental health is important! I have been suicidal and have thought of it a number of times. The pain doesn't go away. We slowly move into a shell that becomes unbreakable! It's not easy to open up or just talk to someone. It becomes a part of your being . P (@parnomittra) June 15, 2020 I just want to tell anyone out there suffering please seek help.I have and I have been dealing with it . Its not been easy but I have friends and family who have been there for me. My doctors have been a huge support . So please dont let this just be a social media trend, she continued. She ended her tweet series on a note of wisdom. Be kind and watch out for your loved ones. Also read: There are many Sushant Singh Rajputs in the industry, Karan Johar doesnt decide their success or failure: Koena Mitra Parno Mittras tweets on mental health. Only on Monday, Tamil actor-turned-politician, Khushbu Sundar had come out with her fight against depression. Tweeting about it, she too had mentioned how, at one moment, she wanted to end it all. Everyone goes through upheaval n depression. I would be lying if I say I havent. I did and wanted to end all. But I fought the demons in my head bcoz I wanted to prove I am stronger than them. Stronger than those who wanted to fail me. Stronger than those who waited for my end. She also mentioned how she fought her demons and won. I do not fear failure. I do not fear dark. I do not fear unknown force. I know I have come this far bcoz I had the guts to fight back. To wear my courage on my sleeves. To learn to turn every failure into success. To be able to jump over the hurdles and sprint to my winning point. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more Black Minnesotans may be doing better than some other communities, but the reality is that the white people in Minneapolis are doing so incredibly well, in terms of homeownership, income. We have the No. 1 parks system in the country. We have the No. 1 education system in the country. We have some of the best health care. This is the home of the Mayo Clinic. People here are working on curing the coronavirus, right? We got it going on. So the heights are so high, that it really exacerbates the gap. But the gaps are real, make no mistake. People are desperate for change. People are fighting for change. People are willing to put their lives on the line for change. People are laying out in the middle of the street, in the middle of the freeway for change, standing in front of militia-type armies of police law enforcement, sustaining shots of tear gas and rubber bullets. People are ready for change. What could change look like in the community in the next few years? I really hope that change can and will look like a reimagined approach to public safety, where we are engaging community members and being able to respond to mental health crises, to domestic violence crises, to some of these heated situations where police officers encounter very, very difficult times. We want to see a new approach to public safety. We want to see a fair and equitable living wage, for people who all are considered now essential workers. Here in Minneapolis, we do have a $15 minimum-wage requirement. But you cant live off that in this community. So we need corporations to share the benefits that the work force has been providing for them for years. If you work eight hours a day, you should be able to pay your rent. We need to change the way we approach health care in this country, as we can see as evidenced through the coronavirus, when, if you lose your job, you lose your health care. New Delhi: South Korean tech giant Samsung on Tuesday launched new online range of TVs, the next edition of its Frame TV 2020 and 10 new Smart TV models in India. The new TVs sale will go live at midnight on June 19 via Flipkart, Amazon and Samsung's official online store Samsung Shop, said the company. The Frame 2020 will be available on Flipkart and Samsung's official online store Samsung Shop while the new online Smart TV range - 4K UHD, FHD and HD Ready TVs - is being launched under the 'Get More from TV' campaign on Flipkart and the 'Wondertainment' campaign on Amazon. The Frame 2020 TVs will be available in three sizes - 50-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch - for Rs 74,990, Rs 84,990 and Rs 1,39,990, respectively. The Frame 2020 will come with a 10-year, no screen burn-in warranty, and one-year comprehensive warranty and one-year additional warranty on the panel. Among the new range of online Smart TVs, Samsung's 4K UHD Smart TV models will range from Rs 36,990 for the 43-inch version to Rs 89,990 for the 65-inch version, while FHD and HD Ready Smart TV models will start from Rs 14,490 for the 32-inch model and go up to Rs 31,990 for the 43-inch model. The new range of TVs will come with one-year comprehensive warranty and one-year additional warranty on the panel. Consumers can also avail exciting no-cost EMI options, with EMI starting Rs 3,125 for 24 months for The Frame 2020, and Rs 805 for 18 months for the new range of online Smart TVs. The Frame 2020 and the 10 new Smart TV models will also provide native support for a wide range of OTT platforms. Consumers purchasing Samsung's new Smart TVs will get access to content with attractive offers worth Rs 1,095. They can also avail up to 50 per cent discount on subscriptions of OTT platforms such as ZEE5 and Eros Now. Moreover, consumers can get free subscription for music streaming apps such as Gaana Plus for one-year and Apple Music for 3 months. Consumers purchasing The Frame 2020 will also be offered a free three-month subscription to the Samsung Art Store worth Rs 897, housing curated artworks from around the world, said the company. The TVs come with Auto Hotspot technology, USB 3.0 and support voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa in addition to Samsung's native Bixby. On the productivity front, based on recent consumer insights, Samsung has added free subscription to Office 365, along with 5GB of cloud storage space. The TVs are secured by multi-layered Knox for unmatched security and provide seamless access to Office 365 services over the cloud, said the company. Photo taken on April 22, 2020 shows the medical face masks donated by China Railway Group Limited at the stockhouse of Lao Health Ministry in Vientiane, capital of Laos. [Xinhua] Xi said he is deeply gratified to know that China's assistance has played a positive role in Laos' fight against the coronavirus disease. He also said he believes that with joint efforts of China and Laos as well as the international community, a final victory will surely be achieved in the battle against the pandemic. BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Laos in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, said General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. In a verbal message sent to Bounnhang Vorachith, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos, Xi said he believes that with joint efforts of China and Laos as well as the international community, a final victory will surely be achieved in the battle against the pandemic. File photo shows Xi Jinping (R), General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President, holding talks with Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit, who is also General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2019. [Xinhua] Expressing his pleasure to receive a warm and friendly letter from Bounnhang, Xi said he is deeply gratified to know that China's assistance has played a positive role in Laos' fight against the coronavirus disease. On behalf of the CPC and the Chinese government and people, Xi extended sincere congratulations to the Lao side on the initial victory the neighboring country has achieved in COVID-19 prevention and control under the strong leadership of the LPRP Central Committee headed by Bounnhang. Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two parties and countries, and stands ready to work with Bounnhang to push for sound implementation of the important consensuses the two sides have reached, and steadily carry forward the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future, so as to create more benefits for the two countries and their people. Lao Minister of Health Bounkong Sihavong (2nd L) sees off the Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team at the Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, April 12, 2020. [Xinhua] In a letter of gratitude sent to Xi earlier on China's support for Laos' fight against COVID-19, Bounnhang noted that the CPC and the Chinese government, at the request of Laos and under Xi's instructions, swiftly sent a team of medical experts to Laos, and have provided a large amount of anti-epidemic supplies and therapeutic drugs, in order to help Laos contain the virus outbreak and treat the patients. China's assistance, he added, fully reflects the time-honored close friendship and the brotherly and comradely relationship of cooperation and mutual assistance between the two parties, countries and peoples, vividly demonstrates the spirit of the Laos-China community with a shared future, and has made important contributions to Laos' effective response to the COVID-19 epidemic and protection of people's lives and health. Representatives from Lao Ministry of Health and designated hospitals attend a video conference on COVID-19 prevention and control with medical experts from China's Shanghai in Vientiane, Laos, April 13, 2020. [Xinhua] On behalf of the LPRP Central Committee, the Lao government and the Lao people of all ethnic groups, as well as in his own name, Bounnhang extended sincere gratitude and high respect to Xi and, through Xi, to the CPC Central Committee, the Chinese government and the brotherly Chinese people, who have for long attached great importance to, cared about and supported the revolutionary and construction causes undertaken by Laos' party, government and people of all ethnic groups. He wished the brotherly Chinese people continuous and greater successes in advancing the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and realizing China's two centenary goals under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at its core. He also expressed his hope that the traditional Laos-China friendship, the long-standing and stable Laos-China comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation and the building of the Laos-China community with a shared future will continue to flourish and bring more tangible benefits to both peoples. (Source: Xinhua) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States responded to North Korea's blowing up of a joint liaison office with South Korea on Tuesday by saying it fully supports Seoul's efforts on inter-Korean relations and urging Pyongyang to "refrain from further counterproductive actions." North Korea blew up a building set up in 2018 in a border town as a joint liaison office to foster better ties with South Korea after threatening action if North Korean defectors went ahead with a propaganda leaflet campaign. "The United States fully supports the ROKs efforts on inter-Korean relations and urges the DPRK to refrain from further counterproductive actions," a spokesman for the U.S. State Department said, using the official acronyms for the two Koreas. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Editing by Franklin Paul) Prince William resumed his public duties today with a socially distanced visit to the Kings Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The Duke of Cambridge, 37, thanked staff from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) for their work and dedication responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. During the visit he took the opportunity to ask about their experiences over the past few months. He heard about the work that has been carried out to ensure that the EEAST has been able to continue to provide its services throughout the pandemic, including working collaboratively across blue lights services, and the personal measures which staff have taken to support these efforts. Prince William resumed his public duties today with a socially distanced visit to the Kings Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (pictured) The crew also spoke to the Duke about the support they have received from members of the public, local businesses and volunteering networks. EEAST provides round-the-clock accident and emergency services to 6.2 million people living in the east of England. The service operates over 130 sites and works closely with other blue lights partners, including air ambulances, to ensure that every patient receives the best possible care. During the visit, Prince William also heard about the impact that the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the mental health and wellbeing of first responders. The crew also spoke to the Duke about the support they have received from members of the public, local businesses and volunteering networks In April, he and Kate, 38, launched Our Frontline - an initiative which was created to provide round-the-clock mental health and bereavement support to frontline staff and key workers. Supported by The Royal Foundation, Our Frontline - www.ourfrontline.org - is run in partnership with Mind, Samaritans, Hospice UK and Shout85258. During lockdown, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been conducting virtual meetings via Zoom while homeschooling their children Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, one. Earlier this week William surprised a mother and her son with a video call from his country home. He spoke to Leanne and five-year-old Kaydyn, who has cystic fibrosis, at their home in Northamptonshire. The Duke of Cambridge surprised a mother and son with a video call from his country home. The conversation will broadcast on BBC1's The One Show tonight (pictured) Prince William, 37, spoke to Leanne and Kaydyn, who has cystic fibrosis, at their home in Northamptonshire. Pictured, the mother and son Due to Kaydyn's condition, which can be life-threatening, the family has been shielding since lockdown measures were announced in March. Leanne was shown covering her mouth with her hands in shock as the duke called, and during the conversation he praised Leanne and Kaydyn for keeping to the government guidelines despite the difficulties of remaining inside. Their conversation will be broadcast on BBC1's The One Show tomorrow night. It forms part of a film focusing on extremely vulnerable people being advised to remain at home as much as possible, and the challenges they are facing. Earlier today Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall returned to public duties today in their first royal engagement since lockdown - the first public outing for any member of the royal family since March 23. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have returned to work today in their first public outing since the start of lockdown Prince Charles put his hands together in a gesture similar to the Thai 'wai' as he greeted workers outside the hospital Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall maintained social distancing as they spoke to key workers outside the hospital this afternoon (pictured) The royal couple, who have been in isolation at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, for three months, made an unannounced visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital this afternoon. Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, were careful to maintain strict social distancing as they met NHS workers in the grounds of the hospital. During the brief conversations, Charles revealed he lost his sense of taste and smell while suffering from coronavirus in March. A 19-year-old girl, Lilian Benedict of Bwaranji ward, Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa, died on Sunday after giving birth to triplets. Josephine Geoffrey, Assistant Director, Nursing Services, Yola Specialists Hospital, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) on Tuesday in Yola. Mrs Geoffrey said the teenager died as a result of Post Partum Haemorrhage. She died as a result of bleeding after delivery and all the three babies are in good health condition. Poverty and lack of early antenatal attendance also contributed to her death. We, therefore, advise parents whose young daughters are pregnant to, as a matter of urgency, attend early antenatal to avoid unnecessary complications during child birth, Geoffrey said. The assistant director called on government, non-governmental organisations and public-spirited individuals to assist the babies by providing food and drugs, to ensure their survival. Kolostiki Benedict, the mother of the deceased, said Lilian lost her father when she was eight years old, and pleaded with the Adamawa government to assist her to nurse the babies. Taliba Kanakuru, 26, the deceaseds boyfriend, expressed shock over her death and said they had concluded arrangements to get married after she delivered. (NAN) General view of an empty cinema foyer at Cineworld in Hemel Hempstead as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world By Tanishaa Nadkar (Reuters) - Cineworld is aiming to open most of its theatres in the United States and Britain on July 10, with additional cleaning and social distancing measures in place to try to reassure film fans before high-profile summer releases. The London-based operator expects the first of its theatres to reopen in the last week of June and for all of them to be back in business the following month. Some of its rivals including the world's largest theatre operator AMC Entertainment expect to reopen globally in July. Cineworld's sites in Britain are expected to operate at a maximum capacity of only around 50% because of national rules aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Cineworld, which closed its cinemas globally three months ago, also plans additional cleaning and to adapt movie times to help manage queues and avoid crowds forming in lobbies. It has updated its booking system to ensure audiences are spread around auditoriums but did not give details of how that would work. It did not say if popcorn and other snacks would still be on sale in foyers. The operator of about 9,500 screens globally, with more than 7,000 in the U.S. last week abandoned its $1.65 billion deal for Canada's Cineplex, which had raised concerns about its growing debt pile which stands at $3.5 billion. Shares in Cineworld, which have fallen around 64% so far this year, were up 6% at 83.7 pence by 1230 GMT. Director Christopher Nolan's thriller "Tenet" will debut in cinemas on July 31, its distributor Warner Bros. said last week. Walt Disney Co's action epic "Mulan", another of the summer's highly anticipated U.S. releases, is scheduled to reach theatres on July 24. (Reporting by Tanishaa Nadkar in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Keith Weir) Oppo is looking to develop its own mobile phone processors to minimise the reliance on its existing suppliers. Liu Bo, president of Oppo China, has confirmed the company plans to step into making microprocessors but it will not be easy. For Oppo, the chip-making business will be "the crucial driving force" for its future and the one it wants to tackle to become self-dependent, much like companies such as Huawei that uses self-made processors on the smartphones. The alleged confirmation comes months after it was reported that Oppo has a "Mariana Plan" for in-house mobile phone chipsets. Bo told Caixin, a China-based publication, that Oppo will step into the chip-making business by working with key suppliers that will "develop and design" chips for its smartphones. The suppliers Oppo's Bo is talking about include the US-based chip-making behemoth Qualcomm and Samsung. Over and above the intel Oppo is seeking from its suppliers, the Chinese company has reportedly been hiring chip engineers and other high-level executives from the second-largest chip-making firm MediaTek and Spreadtrum, a company owned by Tsinghua Ungroup that makes smartphone processors. Oppo was reported to have filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for what is said to be its first proprietary mobile phone chipset called Oppo M1. There is not much available about the chipset or when it will enter mass production if Oppo proceeds with the plans. The primary reason behind Oppo's move to become self-reliant in the processor manufacturing industry is said to be the current standoff between China's biggest tech company Huawei and the US government over trade practices. Huawei has been in a deadlock with the US over the business that has so far majorly relied on the resources provided by the US-based companies. While Huawei has been making its own chipsets, the chip design licensing firm ARM was asked to suspend the business with the company for a brief period. Huawei has also relied on Google's Android software for its smartphones, over and above other necessary equipment that it requires for smartphone assembly. The US gave some relief to Huawei but that may be short-lived -- something that forced Huawei to work on its own operating system. Much like Huawei, Oppo too wants to become self-reliant by entering the chip-making business but that might increase the overall costs of manufacturing a smartphone. The readily-available chipsets from Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Samsung are cost-effective, on the other hand. However, the Chinese companies are looking to increase the market share by lessening their dependence on third-parties and offer more competition. Previously, Xiaomi forayed into the chip-making business with its custom chip for smartphones back in 2018. Called the Surge S1, the chipset was touted as the replacement for the ones sourced from Qualcomm and MediaTek -- something that could give Xiaomi better stability in the market. But Xiaomi never outed a smartphone that ran Surge S1. Earlier this year, Xiaomi was reported to have abandoned its chip-making plans. India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff New Delhi, Aug 27: Three months after the stand-off at the Galwan valley, a survey was conducted on India-China relationship by the Chinese mouthpiece, Global Times, and the results show that the Chinese citizens are not happy with the actions of their leaders. In this survey, it has been revealed that the Chinese citizens like India with more than 50 per cent holding a favorable impression of China. Almost 51 per cent respondents appreciate the Modi government. Newest First Oldest First For India, the LAC runs along 16 districts across one union territory (Ladakh) and four states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh). Chinas biggest tech company Huawei is trying to woo India by running big advertisements on all leading dailies of India. More than 30 per cent feel the ties will improve, and almost nine per cent of the respondents said they see improvement in the short term, while 25 per cent feel things will improve in the long term. Nearly 70 per cent believe the anti-China sentiment in India is excessive. As efforts are on to de-escalate ongoing tension at Line of Actual Control, China on Wednesday said that it sees India as a partner instead of a rival and an opportunity instead of a threat. Relations between India and China have been tense after Indian troops clashed with PLA soldiers at Galwan Valley on June 15 leading to the death of 20 Indian soldiers, although Chinese troops also suffered casualties but China's foreign ministry has refused to divulge figures. Chinese ambassador to India Sun Weidong speaking at the China-India Youth webinar said that China sees India as a "partner instead of a rival and an opportunity instead of a threat." Darcha is 147 kilometres from Manali and lies on the highway to Leh after Jispa and Keylong across Rohtang La. The Darcha-Padum-Nimu route requires only a single 4.5 km tunnel through the 16,570 feet Shingo La between Darcha and Padum to ensure that the road is closed only for two months in winter. According to military commanders, the need to build the third axis was felt as tunnelling would be required under four more high mountain passes on the existing Manali-Leh route if the road has to be kept open throughout the year. In an effort to ensure that the project meets its two-year deadline, Gadkaris ministry has proposed that the task to build the tunnel should be given to the company that constructed the 9.02 km tunnel at Rohtang La on the condition that it meets the timeline. The project, which has been in the pipeline for a decade, is scheduled to be completed by the defence ministry within two years. Officials said the third route requires upgrading the Darcha-Padum-Nimu trekking route into a metalled road and building a 4.5 kilometre tunnel under Shingo La on the Darcha-Padum route. New Delhi perceives Beijings reluctance to disengage despite reminders as an effort to set a new normal at the border. The defence ministrys road project is being given its hardest push by road and highways minister Nitin Gadkari and his colleague Gen VK Singh after China provoked a standoff along the Line of Actual Control in East Ladakh and started mobilising troops in depth areas. Senior military commanders said the third route to feed Ladakh by road is urgently needed given how Pakistan and its all-weather friend, China were eyeing the Siachen Glacier and Daulat Beg Oldie. Nimu is 35 kilometres from Leh town and headquarters of XIV Corps responsible for the defence of East Ladakh and Siachen Glacier. Indias national security planners are pushing hard to complete an all-weather strategic route to Ladakh that will link Darcha in Himachal Pradesh to Nimu via Padum in Kargils Zanskar valley, people familiar with the matter said The Chinese ambassador also said that they will encourage language learning and communication. With the help of Indian colleges and universities, Chinese colleges and universities carry out the study of Hindi, Tamil and Bengali. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India 70 years ago, Sun said, bilateral relations have withstood tests and become more resilient. He said Chinas President Xi Jinping has said that Beijing will neither import foreign models of development, nor export the Chinese model and ask other countries to copy its practice. On a question on support to Indians aspiring to learn Chinese language, Sun said a strong team of Chinese teachers will help cultivate more Indian students who understand Chinese and love Chinese culture. China and India, neighboring countries, should live in peace and avoid conflicts, he said. Sun said that in order to achieve development goals, both countries need a peaceful and favourable external environment. In the webinar, Sun said, As two rising major neighbours, China and India should abandon the old mindset of drawing lines by ideology, and get rid of the old game of ones gain is anothers loss and zero-sum game. The CMC, which is the overall high command of the Chinese military is headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. On August 14, Misri met Maj. Gen. Ci Guowei, Director of the Office of International Military Cooperation of Chinas Central Military Commission, (CMC) and briefed him about Indias stance vis-a-vis the situation on the borders in eastern Ladakh Union Territory. On August 14, Misri met Maj. Gen. Ci Guowei, Director of the Office of International Military Cooperation of Chinas Central Military Commission, (CMC) and briefed him about Indias stance vis-a-vis the situation on the borders in eastern Ladakh Union Territory. In recent weeks, Misri met a senior official of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and senior General of Chinese military and briefed them on Indias stance on the situation at the borders in eastern Ladakh Union Territory. Indian Embassy officials told PTI here that the closed-door meeting was part of the continuing outreach activities with all shades of Chinese opinion on the state of relations between the two countries. The Indian Army officer killed the clash was the commanding officer of a battalion at Galwan. There was no firing. Apparently the two sides clashed with stones and rods. There are various accounts on the number of casualties on the Chinese side. Some accounts suggest 5, while the others say it is 3. However there is no official word on the same. The visit by Army Chief General M M Naravane to Pathankot has been cancelled. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said if the Chinese can "shoot dead" three Indian soldiers during the 'de-escalation process', one can imagine how serious the situation must have been in the first place. Earlier in the day, the Indian Army said an officer and two soldiers were killed in a violent confrontation with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley on Monday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be discussing the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a short while from now. Singh has already met Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs and External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar. We will eventually learn about the details of what happened in Ladakh. That is our right. But right now, we must grieve with & stand by the families of our martyred soldiers. And stand solidly in support of our armed forces. anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 16, 2020 Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra's tweet: Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation along the Line of Actual Control. Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter to say that the nation wants to know why there is no talk of retaliation. Taking to Twitter, Mufti wrote,''Seems like China has hijacked the aggressive ghar main ghuske marengay militaristic approach. Nation deserves to know why there is no talk of retaliation to avenge the death of three Indian army personnel!.'' Congrress leader Shashi Tharoor: The tragic news from Ladakh is shocking & calls for resolute handling by our Govt. Meanwhile, let us bow our heads in tribute to the three martyrs who gave their lives to protect India, and honour those who serve on our borders every day, risking their lives for our nation. Both sides have been ascertaining that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is important to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. China has lodged solemn representations and protests to India. Here, we are sternly demanding India to earnestly abide by the relevant agreement and strictly restrain their frontline troops. They should not cross the borderlines says Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh has met with External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar and Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat and discussed the situation along the LAC. Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that China has lodged solemn representations and protests to India. Here, we are sternly demanding India to earnestly abide by the relevant agreement and strictly restrain their frontline troops. They should not cross the borderlines, Lijian said. "Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash", tweets Editor In Chief of Chinese Newspaper Global Times The happening in the #Galwanvalley is a continuation of violations by China. It is time now that the country stands up to these incursions. Our soldiers are not fair game that every few days officers and men are being killed and injured defending our borders. (1/2) Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) June 16, 2020 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said the happening in Galwan Valley is a continuation of violations by China and added that it is time now that India stood up to these incursions. The talks are being held between Major General Abhijit Bapat, the commander of the Karu based HQ3 Infantry Division and his Chinese counterpart. The talks are being held at the site of the clash. Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav took to Twitter and wrote, "Received the report of a commanding officer and two soldiers of Indian Army being killed in a 'violent face-off' with Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh. Heartfelt condolences." He also said that he expects a clarification on the ground reality of situation. UPA LAC ? ? Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) June 16, 2020 Congress leader Kapil Sibal slammed the Union government for failing to respond to Chinese action in Ladakh. He also took pot shot on Prime Minister's 56-inch chest. Indian troops seriously violated consensus of the two sides by illegally crossing the border twice and carrying out provocative attacks on Chinese soldiers. This resulted in serious physical clashes, Chinas Global Times said while quoting foreign minister, Wang Yi. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday termed as 'disturbing' the violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley and said the government should offer a clearer picture to the nation on the border issue. He sought to know as to how Indian soldiers lost their lives during a de-escalation process and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh should come out with a clearer picture. "Saddened by the news of the martyrdom of our boys in the Galwan Valley. I salute their indomitable courage, selflessness and sacrifice," said VK Singh. The editor of Global Times posted on Twitter, based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, dont be arrogant and misread Chinas restraint as being weak. China doesnt want to have a clash with India, but we dont fear it. The talks between the two sides are still continuing and efforts are on to defuse tensions between India and China after a violent clash occurred. The situation still remains fluid in Ladakh. Hectic talks are on to defuse the tensions along the Line of Actual Control. The Congress has termed as "shocking" and "unacceptable" the death of an Indian Army officer and two soldiers in a violent face-off with the Chinese troops, and asked Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to confirm the development. "Shocking, Unbelievable and Unacceptable! Will the Raksha Mantri confirm," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter. Saddened by the news of the martyrdom of our boys in the Galwan Valley. I salute their indomitable courage, selflessness & sacrifice. Jai Hind!! Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) June 16, 2020 Saddened by the news of the martyrdom of our boys in the Galwan Valley. I salute their indomitable courage, selflessness and sacrifice, Union Minister, General V K Singh said. AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi took to Twitter to condemn the killings of three Indian army personnel. "India stands with the 3 brave martyrs who were killed by China today in Galwan. My thoughts are with families of Colonel & 2 brave soldiers. The commanding officer was leading from the front. The government must avenge these killings & ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain," Owaisi tweeted. Weve covered how not to be an Australian cliche abroad, travellers guiltiest Instagram habits and New York slang only locals understand. But theres one skill that, if you dont master it, could render your pigeon French and frequent flyer points null: the ability to be in the moment. Otherwise known as immersive travel, this aptitude for, say, enjoying a coffee without fretting about the million sights youve got to see this afternoon, is as useful as it is elusive. Thats according to Pico Iyer, an iconic author who Outside Magazine once called arguably the greatest living travel-writer and whose recent piece in the BBC made us consider how immersive travel could be the difference between returning home with souvenirs and returning home inspired. How to do it? Well allow the essayist, novelist and adventurer to take it from here. Referring to a sublime moment in Antarctica when he felt a deep sense of clarity after standing amongst penguins and orcas, Iyer asked his readers: What was it that had transported me so profoundly? Of course, theres a special clarity in sailing through a noiseless world where theres often no sign of human habitation. And nearly all my fellow passengers seemed as liberated as I by the fact that phone calls were almost impossible on the ship Yet the deepest reason why I was moved, I came to realise, was that I spent so much of each day sitting still. So far so cliche, you cynics might think. But give him a chance; theres real insight for everyone here: Its a relationship that has come to haunt me more and more over 46 years of travel: my capacity to be stirred is in direct proportion to my ability to be quiet, Iyer continued. Thats one reason why, whenever I visit Midtown Manhattan, I reflexively seek out St Patricks Cathedral to inhale, in silence, everything Ive just experienced and to prepare myself for the honking horns and noisy meetings to come. Its also the reason so many of us try to sit on a rock in Petra before the tour buses arrive, or walk along the treeless emptiness of Iceland at 02:00 in mid-June when the sun is just beginning to sit on top of the sea. Were most transported when were least distracted. And were most at peace ready to be transformed, in fact when most deeply absorbed, Iyer added. Id much rather converse with one sight for 60 minutes than 60 places for one minute each. When I travel with the Dalai Lama as Ive done for 10 recent Novembers across Japan Im convinced that the wide-awake responsiveness he brings to every last convenience store and passing toddler is partly the result of the three hours he spends at the beginning of every day in meditation. Destinations can only be as rich as what we bring to them. Though wed argue an epic destination can awaken something ~better~ in even the most grey porridge travellers, its a point well made and (here at DMARGE, at least), well taken. It would also be quite ironic if, coming out of lockdown, we saw an uptick in silent retreat bookings. Your Himalayan Airbnb booking awaits. Read Next (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The house arrest of pandemic lockdowns seems to have thrown open the gambling switch in our brains. How else to rationalize the frothy frenzy across asset classes globally, a madness so complete that the bankrupt car rental firm Hertz Global Holdings Inc. is raising up to $500 million by selling new shares after warning investors of the significant risk that their purchases will be worthless? A bizarre markets rally is under way amid the worst unemployment scare since the Great Depression. Its being led by day trading gurus for the coronavirus era, like Barstool Sports Dave Portnoy, whod bought only one stock in his life before the quarantine but thinks Warren Buffett is washed up. The hysteria isnt limited to the U.S., or shares. Take the latest Singapore residential property data, which showed a 75% jump in new private home sales in May from the previous month. This at a time when new projects couldnt be brought to the public and all viewing galleries were shut. What was going on here? Singaporeans weren't leaving home and the citys two casinos were closed, along with other outlets for spending money and relieving stress. So many went online to buy and sell stocks at a pace not seen since a 2013 crash in penny stocks. But that wasnt enough, for the asset class that stands head and shoulders above everything else in the imagination of the space-constrained Asian financial center is property. And thats where people shifted their attention. Or, as broker PropNex Realty CEO Ismail Gafoor says, buyers and investors adapted to digital modes of property marketing. Theres a danger of reading too much into the Singapore numbers. The overall sales figure of 486 units is the worst May for developers since 2008. And its entirely possible that many of the 56 buyers of Treasure at Tampines the bestselling condo development in the eastern suburbs had done their on-ground research beforehand. Besides, the Singapore regulator has rules against dodgy tricks such as very large balconies combined with tiny interiors that give a certain credibility to what prospective customers see in virtual galleries. Story continues Still, the real surprise is that the buyers paid a median S$1,360 ($979) per square foot, 2% more than when the units were first launched in March 2019. The more expensive Florence Residences, another suburban property that first started sales at the same time, saw a 6% higher median price per square foot across the 54 units that sold in May. PropNexs characterization of this unusual month as the new normal may be an exaggeration. Its perhaps a not-so-new abnormal, in which people feel compelled to conclude transactions. In March, when the Covid-19 scare was beginning, I wrote about the Black Death in medieval Europe and how it had brought in a wave of consumption (and consumption taxes) because of a sudden feeling among survivors that life was indeed short. Is something similar going on here? There werent many choices for asset purchases in pre-capitalistic times, but now there are. An apartment scooped off an online gallery in Singapore, or Hertz shares bought on the Robinhood Markets Inc. trading app, seem to be playing the role that Venetian womens platform heels did back then. In Hong Kong, where there are serious question marks about the citys future after Beijing imposes a national security law, dozens of would-be buyers wearing face masks stood in rain. All but one of 94 apartments on sale by China Vanke Co. in its Campton project in central Kowloon was sold in just eight hours. The pandemic came to us in an epoch of extreme inequalities in incomes and wealth. The poor everywhere are anxious about livelihoods. The affluent are nervous about their cramped lifestyles. The middle class, the typical buyer of Treasure at Tampines, shares both concerns, though perhaps not to the same extent. For the sandwiched classes, writing a down payment check and taking a 15-year mortgage are expressions of optimism in hopeless times, and a chance to scratch the gambling itch. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Andy Mukherjee is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies and financial services. He previously was a columnist for Reuters Breakingviews. He has also worked for the Straits Times, ET NOW and Bloomberg News. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. McPherson College Announces Wheels of Change: How the Automobile Shaped Our Lives Webinar Registration HERE MCPHERSON, KS- June 15, 2020: McPherson College, the only college in America offering a four-year bachelors degree program in automotive restoration technology, announces the launch of a webinar series called Wheels of Change: How the Car Automobile Shaped Our Lives. This six-week summer series focuses on the people, innovations, and the art that helped shape the automotive industry and will feature car-world insiders from around the country. The first webinar is June 25 at 12 p.m. CDT, with the topic, Four Epic Road Trips that Upended the World. Space is limited, so each weeks webinar will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Online registration is on the college website. McPherson Colleges automotive restoration program started in 1976 and has become a nationally recognized and award-winning leader in automotive education. The program offers students experience outside of the classroom at some of the most prestigious car events, with 85% of students participating in internships at museums, private collections, and shops across the United States and Germany over the past five years. These institutions include Hagerty, Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, Rad Rides by Troy, and RM Sothebys, among others. Wheels of Change will spotlight our colleges uniqueness as a leader in the auto industry, while providing participants dynamic conversation with special guests, said Amanda Gutierrez, vice president for automotive restoration at McPherson College. Professor Yohn is well-known for his knowledgeable, engaging, and fun instruction on the evolution of the automobile and its impact on our social and cultural development. Yohn, chair of McPherson Colleges Department of History and Politics, will serve as host and instructor for the six webinars. For more than 20 years, Professor Yohn has taught courses on the social history of the automobile at McPherson College and has led student study trips to Europe and South America. His next teaching adventure is a Cars and Castles tour of Europe. Everyone knows that automobiles completely changed how we live life, but not too many people realize just how many areas of our lives were revolutionized by four wheels and an engine, said Yohn. And thanks to our alumni and McPhersons extensive industry connections, we will have expert guests from all parts of the industry help me unpack it all. Wheels of Change will cover a wide variety of topics, including how the automobile liberated women, the creation of mega auto corporations, and how the former General Motors executive Harley Earl revolutionized and democratized automotive designs. The full schedule can be found here. About McPherson College: Automotive Restoration McPherson College is a four-year liberal arts college, with a 27-acre campus set in McPherson, Kansas. McPherson College offers over 30 areas of study including pre-professional programs and the unique option to create a student-designed major allowing students to combine select courses throughout the curriculum to meet their specific personal and professional goals. Learn more about McPherson College here: https://www.mcpherson.edu/. The McPherson College Automotive Restoration program began in 1976 and has evolved into the only award-winning four-year bachelors degree program for automotive restoration technology in the country. The program offers student experience outside of the classroom at some of the most prestigious car events in the United States, like Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, where the program was featured in a spotlight on Fox Business. The college also has a growing alumni base who work in all facets of the car collecting world including Hagerty, Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, Historic Vehicle Association, RM Sothebys, in their own shops, at museums, and private collections. Learn more about the program here: https://www.mcpherson.edu/programs/auto-restoration/. Wheels of Change June 25: Four Epic Road Trips that Upended the World July 2: Paving the Way for the Automobile July 9: Thar be Giants in Them Thar Hills! July 16: The Road to Perdition July 23: The Great War July 30: Art for the People Webinar Registration HERE Saudi Arabia is expected to scale back or call off this year's hajj pilgrimage for the first time in its modern history, observers say, a perilous decision as coronavirus cases spike. Muslim nations are pressing Riyadh to give its much-delayed decision on whether the annual ritual will go ahead as scheduled in late July. But as the kingdom negotiates a call fraught with political and economic risks in a tinderbox region, time is running out to organise logistics for one of the world's largest mass gatherings. A full-scale hajj, which last year drew about 2.5 million pilgrims, appears increasingly unlikely after authorities advised Muslims in late March to defer preparations due to the fast-spreading disease. "It's a toss-up between holding a nominal hajj and scrapping it entirely," a South Asian official in contact with Saudi hajj authorities told AFP. A Saudi official told AFP: "The decision will soon be made and announced." Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, withdrew from the pilgrimage this month after pressing Riyadh for clarity, with a minister calling it a "very bitter and difficult decision". Malaysia, Senegal and Singapore followed suit with similar announcements. Many other countries with Muslim populations -- from Egypt and Morocco to Turkey, Lebanon and Bulgaria -- have said they are still awaiting Riyadh's decision. In countries like France, faith leaders have urged Muslims to "postpone" their pilgrimage plans until next year due to the prevailing risks. The hajj, a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, represents a major potential source of contagion as it packs millions of pilgrims into congested religious sites. But any decision to limit or cancel the event risks annoying Muslim hardliners for whom religion trumps health concerns. It could also trigger renewed scrutiny of the Saudi custodianship of Islam's holiest sites -- the kingdom's most powerful source of political legitimacy. A series of deadly disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 worshippers, has prompted criticism of the kingdom's management of the hajj. "Saudi Arabia is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea," Umar Karim, a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, told AFP. "The delay in announcing its decision shows it understands the political consequences of cancelling the hajj or reducing its scale." - 'Buying time' - The kingdom is "buying time" as it treads cautiously, the South Asian official said. "At the last minute if Saudi says 'we are ready to do a full hajj', (logistically) many countries will not be in a position" to participate, he said. Amid an ongoing suspension of international flights, a reduced hajj with only local residents is a likely scenario, the official added. A decision to cancel the hajj would be a first since the kingdom was founded in 1932. Saudi Arabia managed to hold the pilgrimage during previous outbreaks of Ebola and MERS. But it is struggling to contain the virus amid a serious spike in daily cases and deaths since authorities began easing a nationwide lockdown in late May. In Saudi hospitals, sources say intensive care beds are fast filling up and a growing number of health workers are contracting the virus as the total number of cases has topped 130,000. Deaths surpassed 1,000 on Monday. To counter the spike, authorities this month tightened lockdown restrictions in the city of Jeddah, gateway to the pilgrimage city of Mecca. - 'Heartbroken' - "The hajj is the most important spiritual journey in the life of any Muslim, but if Saudi Arabia proceeds in this scenario it will not only exert pressure on its own health system," said Yasmine Farouk from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "It could also be widely held responsible for fanning the pandemic." A cancelled or watered-down hajj would represent a major loss of revenue for the kingdom, which is already reeling from the twin shocks of the virus-induced slowdown and a plunge in oil prices. The smaller year-round umrah pilgrimage was already suspended in March. Together, they add $12 billion to the Saudi economy every year, according to government figures. A negative decision would likely disappoint millions of Muslim pilgrims around the world who often invest their life savings and endure long waiting lists to make the trip. "I can't help but be heartbroken -- I've been waiting for years," Indonesian civil servant Ria Taurisnawati, 37, told AFP as she sobbed. "All my preparations were done, the clothes were ready and I got the necessary vaccination. But God has another plan." burs-ac/sls/hc STAMFORD About 17,800 personal-injury claims have been filed by people who believe they or loved ones were harmed by Purdue Pharmas opioids more than double the total from a few weeks earlier, according to a new report compiled as part of the OxyContin makers bankruptcy case. The total, as of June 11, marks a sharp escalation from the roughly 6,800 personal-injury forms that had been filed by May 21. In addition, about 5,300 potential personal-injury claims have been submitted through other documentation against the Stamford-based company. Everyone who has a claim has the opportunity to file a claim, and we will see how many claims are filed by July 30, Purdue said in a statement Tuesday. The deadline for filing was recently extended a month due to the coronavirus pandemic. Among those who filed personal-injury forms, about 15,500 said they had been injured by opioids. About 2,400 said they were submitting claims related to another persons opioid use. Approximately 240 submitted claims on behalf of minors with neo-natal abstinence syndrome, which refers to complications caused by babies withdrawal from drugs to which they are exposed while in their mothers wombs. Another 657 said they were not currently aware of any injury but they wanted to file now to retain the ability to seek payment in case they suffered future adverse effects related to opioid use. Among the states, Connecticut accounts so far for 202 claims. In line with being the most-populous state, California has produced the most, with 4,265. Private citizens claims are being processed in federal bankruptcy court alongside the approximately 3,000 lawsuits that allege Purdue fueled the opioid crisis with deceptive marketing of its opioids including OxyContin. The company denies those claims, although it has offered a settlement of the complaints that it has valued at more than $10 billion. Individual payouts would not change the total settlement value. The amount paid out to individuals would be determined through the bankruptcy process. More Information For more information on the process for filing claims against Purdue Pharma, visit https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/purduepharma/EPOC-Index See More Collapse On June 3, the judge overseeing the bankruptcy agreed to push back the claims-filing deadline from June 30 to July 30. Purdue had argued for the 30-day extension, while a Sept. 30 deadline had been recommended by 24 non-consenting states, including Connecticut, that have not agreed to settlement terms. Purdue said the July 30 deadline balances our compassion for anyone who may have been impacted by COVID-19 shutdowns with the goal of providing the public benefits from a Purdue settlement as soon as possible. After having allocated approximately $24 million for a national advertising campaign launched in February that has notified people about the opportunity for claims filing, Purdue has estimated it would incur another $700,000 for the notices with a July 30 deadline. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said, this (July 30 deadline) is less than we had requested, but an important extension giving all who have been harmed by Purdue additional time to file claims and seek justice. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter; @paulschott Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 03:47:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COPENHAGEN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- One participant of the June 7 "Black Lives Matter" demonstration in Copenhagen has tested positive for COVID-19, Demark's health minister said Tuesday, urging all demonstrators to get tested. "We do not know, and probably will never know if the person was infected during the demonstration," said Magnus Heunicke, Minister for Health and Senior Citizens, during a press conference. However, nine days after more than 15,000 protesters gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, shouting slogans and holding banners, the minister urged all participants to get tested whether they have symptoms or not. "If more people from the demonstration are revealed to have been infected, then we will offer help with infection detection," said Anette Lykke Petri, the acting director-general of the Danish Patient Safety Authority, also speaking at the press conference. The three-hour demonstration on June 7 was part of a huge wave of protests worldwide ignited by the death of George Floyd, an African-American man, at the hands of white police officers in the U.S. city of Minneapolis on May 25. As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Denmark stood at 12,250, with 598 deaths, according to the latest official figure published by the Statens Serum Institut. Enditem The tragic irony of this propaganda machine was that the South bore the weight of it. The attempt to break up the United States through secession was a human and economic disaster for the South. The men who led that self-destructive project, men like the fire-eating Georgian Henry Benning and the relentless Texan John Bell Hood, did far more lasting damage to their own states physically and psychologically than they ever did to the North. Nostalgia for those men and their era left the region trapped and backward for a century, until the end of Jim Crow at last enabled the rise of a New South. A peaceful protest is planned for this Saturday, June 20, in support of immigrants in ICE detention centers. Melissa Andrea Sutton and Deyanira Rios are spearheading the protest, slated for 3 p.m. MISSING FORT HOOD SOLDIER GAINS NATIONAL ATTENTION: Salma Hayek, Houston rapper Baby Bash join efforts to find Vanessa Guillen The protest will begin in front of City Hall, and from there Sutton and Rios along with organizations such as Familias Inmigrantes y Estudiantes en la Lucha (FIEL) are planning to march to Emancipation Park and back to City Hall, according to Rios. "So far we are expecting around 1,000 people going and 3.4k interested in attending, all within a week of starting up our group/protest "Justice for Immigrants," said Rios. "We are protesting against the abuse going on to immigrants in the detention centers, specifically kids," said Sutton and Rios. "For all the DACA students that have worked so hard to be someone in this country because they are the future of this country too, and for all the kids left behind that are being mistreated by their guardians." A previous Houston Chronicle article cited a pending lawsuit an immigrant filed against an ICE contractor at a Houston detention facility stating, she "was sexually assaulted and impregnated on the eve of her scheduled deportation, on June 1, 2018." ON HOUSTON.CHRONICLE.COM: Abbott says 20-somethings let their guard down amid coronavirus Working alongside organizations such as FIEL, which is also involved in the disappearance of Fort Hood Soldier Vanessa Guillen's case, the duo hopes to bring attention to the injustice they describe. "It's important for me because there are thousands of immigrants that are scared to speak out because of their immigration status," said Rios. "We want to let them know that there are people here supporting them." STAY INFORMED: Sign up to receive breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. North Korea on Tuesday blew up the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, just three days after leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong had warned that the "useless" office would be demolished. According to the Unification Ministry, the North blew up the office at around 2:50 p.m. in an explosion that could be heard for miles around as smoke drifted over the border town. The official [North] Korean Central News Agency shortly afterward reported that the regime "completely ruined" the office after cutting off all the communication lines between the two Koreas. Cheong Wa Dae convened an emergency meeting of top security officials a couple of hours after the demolition. Only a day earlier, President Moon Jae-in had pleaded with North Korea to return to the dialogue table, ironically in an address marking the 20th anniversary of the historic inter-Korean summit between former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang on June 15, 2000. LEWISBURG Black lives do matter at Bucknell, members of the university community have been assured by top officials in an email. But, President John Bravman and Chris OBrien, chair of the board of trustees said: Bucknell can and must do more when it comes to issues that focus on justice, equity and human rights. They announced the creation of a fund by reallocating existing resources to support campus-wide anti-racism and anti-bias efforts, including facilitator training, resource materials, curriculum development, faculty, staff and student education, and programming. By coincidence their email was sent at the same time a coalition of students supporting the Black Lives Matter movement submitted letters to the trustees demanding changes, Bucknell spokesman Mike Ferlazzo said Tuesday. The email was in the planning stage before the letters were received, he said. Bravman and OBrien pledge to create more opportunities to listen to individuals and groups concerning their experiences at Bucknell and how our work must evolve to make Bucknell better. Similarly, and at least annually, the board of trustees will, as a whole, directly engage with diverse members of the community on critical issues concerning the university. Resources must be allocated to do all we can as a university to cultivate an academic environment that is socially just, equitable, inclusive, accessible and diverse, they said. Severing ties with the Buffalo Valley Regional Police and defunding the universitys Department of Public Safety are among the demands of a coalition of students. The students call for the defunding and demilitarizing the Department of Public Safety and replacing it with something that addresses the safety of all the students. Their other demands include: More transparency and accountability of cases of racist acts by students and professors. Releasing data and detailed information on how much of Bucknells budget is allocated towards serving the needs of Black, indigenous and people of color. An explicit breakdown of students who identify as Black/African-American, Asian/Asian-American, Latinex/Hispanic and so on. (Bucknell says 3 percent of the student body is African-American.) The students also submitted a letter to the trustees outlining their safety concerns and requirements about returning to campus related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their demands include: Walter Luebcke, who led the regional administration in the central Kassel region, was shot on June 1, 2019 - DPA A suspected far-right sympathiser went on trial in Frankfurt on Tuesday for shooting dead a pro-immigration politician last year in a case that raised questions about whether Germany is doing enough to tackle right-wing radicalism. Walter Luebcke, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, was found dead in a pool of blood outside his house in the western state of Hesse in June 2019. He had been shot in the head at close range. The defendant, identified only as Stephan E. to conform with German privacy laws, is charged with the homicide of Mr Luebcke in Hesse by shooting him on the night of June 1-2 2019, the court said. A second defendant, Markus H., is charged with aiding and abetting the killing. "Both defendants are charged with having committed these crimes based on extreme right-wing political convictions," the court said. Co-defendant Markus H. is accused of aiding and abetting the crime - Getty Images Europe Mr Luebcke was a figure of hate for the far-right because of his outspoken support for Merkel's open-doors migrant policy. Stephan E. initially confessed to shooting Mr Luebcke dead but later changed his statement. Earlier this year he said he and Markus H. had gone to the house with a gun intending to threaten Luebcke but the gun went off while his friend was holding it. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has warned that the biggest threat facing Germany comes from the right and fears have mounted since February when a racist attack in Hanau left 11 people dead. In 2018 Beate Zschaepe, a member of a neo-Nazi gang, was jailed for life for her part in the murders of 10 people during a campaign of racially motivated violence. Viruses respect no border, and the world should unite as one to fight them. In the fight against the rampant COVID-19 pandemic, nongovernmental actors have played an indispensable role. The Green Ribbon Initiative donates materials to Italy to help the latter better cope with the COVID-19 epidemic, March 25. Photo from the official account of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation on WeChat In China, NGOs have taken an active part in the global battle against the pandemic, offering mutual assistance with people around the world. What they presented was the glorious humanity that elevated the love for individuals to one that cares for all in the world, their devotion to their country and families, as well as the traditional character of the cultural inheritance of the Chinese nation. Working together to tide over the difficulties, people around the world are filling the globe with love. The touching stories they have written well explained their profound relations that enabled them to return a favor with greater kindness. Chinese NGOs have always shared weal and woe and fought together with other countries. The Silk Road Community Building Initiative launched by China Association for NGO Cooperation has facilitated cooperation with dozens of countries regarding material donation, experience sharing and volunteering services. Besides, a campaign titled the Green Ribbon Initiative was jointly initiated by over 150 social organizations and other units, and has donated anti-epidemic materials to around 20 countries, including Italy, Iran, Sri Lanka and Russia, as well as the United Nations Human Settlements Program. The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation set up hand wash stations in Nepal, and has been offering food packages to impoverished children in Ethiopia and Myanmar on a monthly basis. The donation made by China Foundation for Peace and Development also went to over 10 countries. The Myanmar office of the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) distributes food to local children under its Smiling Children Project. Photo courtesy of the CFPA Their kind deeds are an epitome of the sincere friendship and mutual assistance between the Chinese people and the people in the rest of the world. Pakistani Ambassador to China Naghmana Alamgir Hashmi noted that the selfless assistance offered by Chinese NGOs fully demonstrated great love, friendship and trust. Chinese enterprises also demonstrated a sense of responsibility in pandemic response. Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation delivered materials to 150 countries and regions, and donated to the World Health Organization 100 million surgical masks, 1 million N95 masks and 1 million nucleic acid test kits. Chinese tech giant Tencent launched a $100 million Global Anti-Pandemic Fund, offering 7.7 million pieces of medical equipment for 15 countries. The virus testing laboratories built in Saudi Arabia and the United Arabic Emirates by Chinas BGI, one of the worlds leading life science and genomics organizations, have made key contribution to local epidemic response. Besides, working around the clock, Chinese enterprises exported anti-epidemic materials to 200 countries and regions and injected huge positive energy into the global battle. What they did showcased the kindness, bravery and responsibility of the Chinese, winning high reputation and appreciation from the world. Some foreigners said that they are confident in defeating the virus because they are fighting together with their Chinese friends. When infodemic of misinformation threatened the global cooperation on pandemic response, the Belt and Road News Network (BRNN) joined by 205 media organizations from 98 countries around the world issued an open letter, calling for its members to play their due roles as media, report reliable information, convey solidarity and support to the public, fulfill the responsibility of media and uphold human justice, so as to promote mutual assistance and unity among Belt and Road countries. The people-to-people bond maintained by the Belt and Road brought kindness and warmth from China to the people in Belt and Road countries. Iqbal Surve, Executive Chairman of South Africas Independent Media and member of the First Council of the BRNN, remarked that the Belt and Road is full of confidence, trust and hope. Its not difficult to discover the reason for Chinas nongovernmental actors to actively join the global pandemic response, as it is something that are genetically coded in the culture of the Chinese nation. The Chinese people have a kind of patriotic sentiment that compels people to share responsibility for the fate of the nation, believe that a just cause should be pursued for the common good, and carry a fine tradition of developing themselves to help others with the well-being of the world in their mind. In the global efforts to contain the pandemic, Chinese scientists selflessly shared experiences; Chinese enterprises offered active assistance; Chinese NGOs helped other countries by different means; and Chinese media also shouldered their responsibility and upheld justice. The Chinese people well understand that mankind is a community with a shared future, and only when people around the world join hands can their well-being be protected to the maximum and human civilization progressed. Small streams gathering together in global pandemic response have generated a magnificent power of unity, justice and advancement against the virus, writing a touching chapter in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. NGOs are conveying a great love beyond borders, and bringing hope and power to the people around the world in defeating the virus. MASON CITY -- Vice President Mike Pence will travel to North Iowa today, heading to Forest City to tour Winnebago Industries and speak with its employees. Pence will land at the Mason City Airport at around 10:45 a.m. and head to lunch at an as yet undisclosed location with Gov. Kim Reynolds. The governor's staff did not immediately return requests for information on the governor's Tuesday schedule so it's unclear whether she will accompany him to Forest City. The vice president is scheduled to address Winnebago's employees around 2 p.m. Winnebago Industries public relations specialist Sam Jefson said on Monday that Pence is interested in learning how the company handled the economic impact from COVID-19. "We did have to postpone manufacturing for a time period there and suspend that while keeping some other areas of our company open, but we did postpone some manufacturing," he said. The company had stopped production near the end of March, and production in facilities like the one in Forest City did not resume until the beginning of May. During that period, Winnebago Industries provided base pay and benefits to its 5,000 employees for the first two weeks. Winnebago Forest City employees also made medical masks for MercyOne North Iowa, using its Stitchcraft facility, which houses industrial sewing capabilities to produce soft goods for Winnebago Motorhome production, such as seats, pillows, and draperies. Though production in Forest City resumed May 4, about seven weeks after it was suspended, production employees did not have their wage payments extended, but the company still paid for their medical and dental insurance. Employees are required to follow safety protocols, such as social distancing, strict sanitization practices and daily employee health checks, whether working physically on campus or offsite. Now that the heat of summer is moving in, Jefson said the company is seeing some momentum and interest in its consumer base with people wanting to get outdoors and "enjoy the RV lifestyle." Jefson said they're excited to show the vice president what they do and tell him how they got through the economic and health impact of the pandemic. "Obviously, [this is] quite a historic event for a company to have the sitting U.S. vice president come to our facility, and we're excited to showcase what we do and share our story," he said. Focus on Rural America co-founder and former Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge said on Monday that Pence's visit to Iowa, including a stop at Winnebago Industries, would be a "fantastic opportunity" for him to see what is happening to the rural economy, more specifically to struggling ethanol plants across the state. "A Winnebago tour to rural communities could take him to ethanol plants that are suffering thanks to small refinery waivers for oil and gas, coupled with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic," she said. "I'm certain that struggling ethanol plants would welcome the (vice president) and any support to end the waivers and help the rural economy." Rural economies remain particularly vulnerable to the pandemic as small refinery waivers and the coronavirus have forced 150 biofuel facilities to scale back or shut down. Pence is scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., Tuesday evening. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Its something we havent done before, so were still determining visually what it will look like, said Rich. Parkside and CLC were used to doing things live on stage. We are exploring what this is going to be, what the possibilities are. Its kind of exciting to know well be doing this and a little scary. But were determined. Regulatory News: Carrefour (Paris:CA) and Google are launching today in France a new voice-based e-commerce grocery shopping experience within the framework of their strategic partnership signed in June 2018. As the first retailer in the world to offer its customers the new integrated voice shopping service on the Google Assistant, Carrefour continues to build on its multichannel offering. Based on a combination of advanced technologies, this innovative service simplifies and personalizes the grocery shopping experience while protecting the personal data of users. An innovative new service that simplifies and personalizes the grocery shopping experience As it accelerates in n the e-commerce market, Carrefour is expanding the range of services it offers customers by adding a new channel: voice. A technology already adopted by 46% of French people (source: CSA and Hadopi study, Voice Assistants and connected speakers, May 2019), this is a rapidly growing sector. The new voice-enabled grocery shopping service launched today with Google is based on the Google Assistant: a digital assistant available on smartphones and compatible smart speakers and connected screens. Carrefour is the first retailer in the world to integrate with the Google Assistant's voice-based shopping service, developed by both partners. This integration enabled a triple innovation: - The Google Assistant allows the user to add items to their shopping list by voice using common words such as butter, milk and cheese. Because the Assistant is connected to Carrefour's e-commerce inventory, it is then able to convert that list into a cart of products available for sale on carrefour.fr; - the conversion is customized, so the specific items added to the shopping cart by the Google Assistant reflect the user's product preferences as closely as possible, while leaving the userfree to delete, modify or add products as they wish; - once the shopping cart is confirmed on the Google Assistant, the customer moves seamlessly to Carrefour's e-commerce site to finalize their order, confirm their slot and delivery method (drive, drive pieton or home delivery), pay and take advantage of their loyalty benefits. Building on the technological integration between the two partners, Google and Carrefour, as well as advances in voice recognition and artificial intelligence, this new and constantly evolving service simplifies and customizes the e-commerce grocery shopping experience. Three key user features for users Voice command: simply say "Ok Google, je veux faire les courses" (French for: "Ok Google, I want to go grocery shopping") to start the experience on the Google Assistant and build a shopping list using natural language. Thanks to its advanced voice-recognition technology, the Google Assistant can handle generic words such as "fromage" ("cheese"), product names like "Comte 18 mois" ("Comte 18 months") or brand names such as "Comte Carrefour bio" ("Carrefour Bio comte"). Shared shopping list: at any time, the customer can share their list with people of their choosing, such as family members, who can add the items they want. If the customer wishes to remain the only user who can access the list, the optional "Voice Match" feature on the Google Assistant can be configured to respond only to that customer's voice. Preferred product recognition: The Google Assistant converts the shopping list into a shopping cart proposing specific and personalized items that most closely reflect the customer's preferences, either because they are known (the customer has already purchased the product at Carrefour) or because the Google Assistant deduces those preferences (based on the general purchasing habits of the customer at Carrefour if the customer already shops with Carrefour ex. preference for organic products, own-brand, etc. as well as the best price available and the best sellers out of the 27,000 items available on Carrefour.fr). If the customer has never bought items from Carrefour before, the Google Assistant only takes into account the last two criteria to suggest items for their cart. The Google Assistant learns as people use it and improves its recommendations to continually provide better service. The customer is not required to accept the products recommended by the Google Assistant and can modify or delete items, or add new items to complete their cart. Safeguarding users' personal data The user must associate their Google Account with their Carrefour Account for the shopping experience to work and for the user to be offered relevant product recommendations. When the user agrees to associate the two accounts, they also authorize Carrefour France to share the history of their purchases at Carrefour with Google. If the customer already has a purchase history at Carrefour, Google will use it to recommend products. Otherwise, Google Assistant will initially base its recommendations on the best available prices and the best sellers on carrefour.fr. The user can withdraw their consent at any time and disassociate their accounts. Carrefour will no longer share the customer's purchase history with Google, and Google will delete any data transferred. This happens automatically if the voice-based grocery shopping experience is not used for 30 days Lastly, Carrefour, in accordance with the General Regulations on the Protection of Personal Data in France, provides users with a dedicated area where they can exercise their rights of access, rectification, blocking, erasure and objection, etc. A digital campaign to support the launch From 16 June, an advertising campaign created by the agency Marcel will appear on YouTube, display and social media. It will also appear on all Carrefour channels, including carrefour.fr, CRM, catalogues, and stores. "The partnership developed with Google gives Carrefour a head start in terms of technology and customer experience.Carrefour is the first retailer in the world to integrate with the new voice-based grocery shopping experience on the Google Assistant.This innovation, developed with Google, will further accelerate the trajectory of e-commerce at Carrefour," explains Amelie Oudea-Castera, Carrefour Group's Executive Director of E-Commerce, Data and Digital Transformation. "Google's core business is to provide information and technology that are helpful on a daily basis, and we are proud to have been able to offer an iconic retailer like Carrefour with the best of our technology and expertise to rethink and simplify the grocery shopping experience," says Francois Loviton, Director of Brands Commerce, Google France About the Carrefour Group With a multi-format network of some 12,300 stores in more than 30 countries, the Carrefour Group is one of the world's leading food retailers. Carrefour welcomes 105 million customers throughout the world and recorded revenue of 80.7 billion in 2019. It has more than 320,000 employees who help to make Carrefour the world leader in the food transition for everyone, providing everybody with access to high-quality, affordable food every day, no matter where they are. For more information, visit www.carrefour.com, or find us on Twitter (@GroupeCarrefour) and LinkedIn (Carrefour). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005452/en/ Contacts: Carrefour Press Office Tel.: +33 (0)1 58 47 88 80 Email: presse_groupe@carrefour.com CLEVELAND, Ohio A former Westlake attorney was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for stealing more than $60,000 from his clients. U.S. District Judge Dan Polster ordered John Gold, 46, to prison for embezzling more than $49,000 in a bankruptcy case and fraudulently endorsing a check for more than $15,000. In January, Gold pleaded guilty to charges of embezzlement against an estate, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors said the embezzlement charge stems from Gold taking money in a complicated financial case that dragged on for years. His client filed for bankruptcy in July 2010, and the case was closed later that fall. The client then hired Gold to help him obtain more than $51,000 in unclaimed funds from the state that arose from an insurance claim. The client obtained the money, and Gold put it into his attorney-trust account. The bankruptcy case later re-opened, and questions arose over whether the money belonged in the estate, according to court records. A bankruptcy judge ruled in April 2014 that the money belonged in the estate. Authorities said Gold spent more than $49,000, mostly on personal expenses between October 2013 and January 2015. In a separate case, Gold endorsed the check in 2016, using a clients name and signature on the back of a check and taking the money. He placed it in his attorney-trust account. The Ohio Supreme Court suspended Golds law license in 2018. His attorney, Michael Goldberg, said it is doubtful his client will ever practice law again. He said Gold returned the money to his clients well before the federal criminal investigation began. The case, however, turned when Gold left Cleveland in the middle of plea negotiations in 2018 and fled to Thailand. Authorities arrested him in August, and he has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since then. He sought to be released because of the coronavirus, but Carmen Henderson, an assistant U.S. attorney, cited Golds past as a flight risk. Polster agreed, and Gold remains at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center near Youngstown. Goldberg said Gold expressed contrition for what he had done. Gold suffered from anxiety and depression and, he spiraled downward when he became pressed financially, Goldberg wrote in a court filing. The Midlands Regional Transition Team (MRTT) has received over 150 projects as a result of the Midlands Engagement Process which sought to identify viable projects to create alternative employment opportunities in the wider Midlands Region as it moves away from peat production. The Midlands Engagement Process ran for a period of three weeks and closed on Friday last, June 12. Mr Kieran Mulvey, Commissioner for Just Transition remarked: The quality and quantity of project ideas that have come forward are testament to the communities, public sector and businesses of the wider Midlands that have engaged and are ready and willing to create and secure alternative employment opportunities for the residents of the wider Midlands. "The projects proposed come from the community, public and private sectors and range across areas which will contribute to the realisation of many of the opportunities I outlined in my first Progress Report to Government." The MRTT with technical assistance from the EU START Team will seek to assist these projects realise the regional ambition and to identify potential funding sources to progress as many of these projects as possible. The first opportunity that will present itself is the launch of the Just Transition Fund Stage 2 this week by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, which will publish fund criteria on its website. Ms Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council stated: On behalf of the MRTT, I wish to thank the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and his Department for their support in this process to date and we look forward to progressing projects in the coming weeks and months ahead. Mr Mulvey expressed his thanks to Cllr Peter Ormond, Cathaoirleach of the MRTT and to each member of the MRTT, the wider Local Authority network, Irish Rural Link and to local radio and the print media, that assisted greatly in the promotion of the START Engagement Process. Latest News Westpac makes first fixed rate move of 2022 New year, same rate action as major lenders continue rate hikes Inside the property market explosion in regional Australia Regional broker explains just how crazy the property market has been in one NSW town Research from NAB has suggested that, despite the predictions habits will remain permanently altered due to the introduction of social distancing measures, very few Australians are considering a lasting departure from their pre-pandemic norm. For example, NAB examined the widespread expectation that large swathes of the population will take advantage of new opportunities to work remotely, contributing to a general move away from big cities to regional areas. When surveyed, on average, Australians scored just 1.9 points out of a possible 10 when asked about the likelihood of making such a lifestyle change. According to the bank, human behaviour does not change quickly and the more sensationalist predictions of the largescale reshaping of daily life are likely to be highly inaccurate; rather, Australia will see adaptations and modifications to daily life on a much smaller scale. The survey sought to give firmer shape to the ways in which Australians foresee the pandemic changing the way they live, work and shop in the future. Respondants indicated improved personal hygiene, such as more frequently washing hands, is expected to be the most lasting change, with the second most frequently cited shift being taking overseas holidays and travelling by plane. They also communicated they plan to make more of their purchases online moving forward. Additionally, Australians plan to spend less time on public transport, in major, local and neighbourhood shopping centres and eating out at restaurants. Rather, they indicated they plan to save more for emergencies. However, even with NAB's doubts around the predictions of a complete overhaul of daily life, Australians scored on average only 6.5 points out of a possible 10 when asked to rate the extent to which they agreed with the statement I want my life to return to exactly how it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. The most commonly cited factors which contributed to this score were more environmental impacts/pollution and the faster pace of life. Other considerations included the fear of spending less time with family and the undesirability of spending more time commuting to work. Dearborn Heights City Clerk Walter Prusiewicz formally announced his resignation June 3 in a short letter to the City Council. The letter, which read Please accept this formal notification of my resignation as city clerk of Dearborn Heights. My last day with the City will be August 1, 2020, was accepted at the June 9 council meeting. Prusiewicz had previously announced his intention to resign on May 13 during a city budget review hearing, but hadnt formally submitted the resignation. At that time, Prusiewicz said he wasnt comfortable working on-site during an election. He said election workers would be compelled to accept absentee ballots that were hand-delivered on election day, and he wasnt comfortable handling those without leaving them quarantined for at least a day like he currently does with mail, both at his house and in the office. Mayor Daniel Paletko said he is concerned over the loss of Prusiewicz since it comes so soon after Treasurer John J. Riley retired. He was recently replaced by Zouher Abdel-Hak who will serve through the November election before being replaced by either Councilman Bob Constan or Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton. The city only has three full-time elected officials, Palteko said. What we need right now is some stability with our leaders. The City Council is currently accepting applications for a replacement for Prusiewicz. To be considered for the vacancy, a candidate must have lived in the city for at least two years and be a registered voter. Candidates should prepare a letter of interest stating their reasons to be considered, along with a resume including at a minimum educational background, work history and any public service experience. The letter of interest and resume must be received in the Human Resource Department by emailing eperry@ci.dearborn-heights.mi.us no later than 3 p.m. June 18. Candidates will be considered at a council meeting set for 5 p.m. June 22. The replacement will be named the next night during the regularly scheduled 7 p.m. council meeting. Both meetings will take place online. West Bengal will not participate in the virtual meeting to be held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with chief ministers on Tuesday (June 16) and Wednesday (June 17) on ways to check the spread of the virus as India exits the lockdown. The PM is expected to seek suggestions from the chief ministers and draw up a common strategy in deciding the future course of action to deal with the strategy. The meeting will continue for two days in which CMs of 36 states were to participate but now only 13 CMs have been allowed to speak. This could possibly be the reason why state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will not be present in this meeting and the presence of the Chief Secretary is least likely. The two-day virtual meet comes against the backdrop of a rising number of coronavirus cases in the country. This would be the PM Modi's sixth round of consultation with the chief ministers, the last being on May 11. On Tuesday afternoon, PM Modi will hold a video-conference with Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of 21 states and Union territories. These include Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, the northeastern states, and some Union Territories. A day later on Wednesday, PM Modi will interact with Chief Ministers of 15 states, some bring worst-hit by the infection, and the LG of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. These include high caseload states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. The total number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 343,091 including 153,178 active cases, 180,012 recovered cases, and 9,900 deaths as per the Union Health Ministry data. Advertisement CCNA is an associate-level credential offered through the Cisco certification program. Before the drastic changes on February 24, 2020, it had multiple tracks. However, the whole program has been overhauled. And today, there is only one compound CCNA badge that covers the domains of almost all the previous paths. In addition, instead of the multiple exams required to earn CCNA, the candidates now have to pass only one comprehensive test - 200-301. In this post, we will talk more about it. But first of all, let's look at the changes that were recently made by the company. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement https://www.exam-labs.com/ Important changes to Cisco certification program CCENT has been retired and is no longer the requirement for obtaining the associate-level certificate. Instead of the availability to choose a specialization in CCNA, you can now specialize in CCNP. Currently, CCNA gives you the foundational knowledge of the domains that you will need during your work, and CCNP offers you to get core professional skills and learn about the additional domain you are interested in. The specialization options have been narrowed to six. As for CCIE, it has the same core exam as CCNP. And another important change is that all the credentials of the new program don't require the badges from the previous levels. In other words, if you have mastered the topics of the tests that you need to take, it may be enough for you to pass. https://exam-labs.com/vendor/Cisco The reason why Cisco made these changes is that the organization sees these prerequisites as a barrier to the experienced professionals who want to get certified. Many of those who have been working for years, especially the network engineers, have already developed their competence, skills, and knowledge required in the content of the CCNA certification level. Therefore, requesting, for example, that they take the CCNA exam before pursuing CCNP is like a waste of time and resources for them. With the new program, they can go ahead to study for CCNP and combine their knowledge with their hands-on skills to pass the prerequisite CCNP tests. Detailed overview of Cisco 200-301 exam Talking about the 200-301 certification test, it is important to remember that there is no official prerequisite for taking it. Apart from passing it, you don't have to fulfill any other requirements. Most applicants have one or more years of experience in the IT industry and also have a good grasp of network fundamentals. However, a full understanding of all the exam topics is the main factor for achieving success. https://exam-labs.com/certification/DevNet-Associate Cisco 200-301 is a 120-minute exam that evaluates the students' knowledge and skills associated with network administration, configuration, and implementation. It covers a wide range of topics and subtopics. You must understand all these domains before you attempt the test. The areas you need to explore are as follows: Network Fundamentals (20%); Network Access (20%); IP Connectivity (25%); IP Services (10%); Security Fundamentals (15%); Automation and Programmability (10%). https://www.exam-labs.com/certification/DevNet-Professional It is important to state that the number of questions is not officially stated by Cisco, but most examinees talk about 100 questions. The test has a range of question types, for instance, multiple choice, testlets, simlets, fill-in-the-blank, and drag and drop. You can check the tutorial videos available on the official website to get complete information about the formats that will be administered during your exam. The passing score has also not been disclosed but it will likely be within the standard mark of 825 points on a scale of 1000. The 200-301 CCNA test is available in English and Japanese. Registration is done through Pearson VUE and the exam can be taken in one of its testing centers across the world or online. You should check the available one at the point of registering for the exam to find one that is nearest to you. To be able to cover all the exam objectives, you need reliable resources and a great study plan to use all of them the right way. Frankly speaking, there are various preparation options available for Cisco 200-301. Thus, Cisco recommends the official training course. By completing it, you will get the training badge and you can display this on your LinkedIn profile. There are other platforms that you can explore. When choosing the best study materials, you must be careful about the websites you choose for your preparation. Make sure that prep tools on these sites align with the domains of the test. That is why go for the ones that you can trust, such as YouTube, ExamSnap, PrepAway, Exam-Labs, and others. https://exam-labs.com/certification/CCNP-Enterprise Career prospects for Cisco CCNA certification holders The CCNA badge provides you with numerous career opportunities in the IT field. Some job roles you can take up with your certification include network engineers, network administrators, and network support specialists, among others. The average salary ranges from $59,000 to $130,000 per annum. https://exam-labs.com/certification/CCNA Conclusion To sum it all up, we can say that the changes that Cisco recently made have increased the chances of different specialists to get the desired certification. Thanks to this, you can start your IT career with one of the most popular and sought-after credentials in this area. Good luck! The bickering in Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP coalition in Maharashtra came out in open on Tuesday (June 16) with the Shiv Sena taking a dig at the Congress saying that the grand old party is like an old cot that starts to squeak every now and then. Saamana, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece has written in its editorial, When a CM is elected, his decision is final in all matters. Sharad Pawar himself abides by this rule and meets the chief minister every now and then and gives suggestions. Even Congress is doing good work but every now and then like an old cot it starts to squeak. It is an old party with history but in this cot there are many party heavyweights which is the reason why the old cot is making sound. CM should be ready to face this from Congress, the Saamana article added. The Saamana article asserted that when Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took oath as Maharashtra chief minister six months ago, he was welcomed in the entire nation. However, the opposition raised several questions on the governments duration after the three parties with different ideologies joined hands to give a stable government to the state. The Congress president and Balasahib has measured way of showing displeasure and he says he will talk to chief minister. Ashok Chavan too was balanced. Both will meet the chief minister as they feel bureaucrats are creating problems in the Maharashtra government, read the Saamana article. The editorial further said, There are reports of problems with chief secretary Ajoy Mehta and Nagpur municipal chief Tukaram Munde. They are all under the CM and the matter can be discussed. The Saamana article defended the coalition government and added that Thackeray-led government is busy with the coronavirus fight but it will still listen the grievances of the Congress. Seat sharing was done among these parties as per the strengths and the discussions on postings and will always continue but no one should think that there are problems with the stability of the government, said the Saamana article. It added, Uddhav Thackeray isnt attracted to power but Shiv Senas sacrifice is all there. Irrespective of the differences, the government will last. Edwina Bartholomew surprised her Sunrise colleagues on Tuesday morning when she revealed she'd been tested for coronavirus just two days after returning to work from maternity leave. During a panel discussion about the pandemic, the 36-year-old newsreader said she'd decided to get tested earlier this month because she was afraid of 'catching something'. Despite the low rate of infection in Australia, Edwina said she was concerned that some people still weren't practising social distancing and good hygiene. Overly cautious? Newsreader Edwina Bartholomew (right) surprised Sunrise host David Koch (left) on Tuesday morning when she revealed she'd been tested for coronavirus 'I had two days back in here at work and I took myself off to get a COVID test because I was so afraid of catching something,' she said. Sunrise host David 'Kochie' Koch appeared unimpressed by Edwina's admission, playfully scolding her for being overly cautious. 'Eddy, Eddy,' he said, looking flabbergasted. 'There was only one community case out of 7.5 million people yesterday.' Better safe than sorry? During a panel discussion about the pandemic, Edwina (left) said she'd decided to get tested earlier this month because she was afraid of 'catching something. Pictured with Mark Beretta (centre) and Kylie Gillies (right) A Sunrise spokesperson later clarified Edwina had been tested because of a sore throat, which is a symptom of coronavirus. 'Edwina came down with a sore throat after a few days back at work. As a precaution she went [for a test],' they told Daily Mail Australia. During Tuesday's broadcast, Edwina was quick to point out that not everyone was taking the pandemic seriously. Scolding: David (top right, with Sam Armytage) playfully scolded Edwina for being overly cautious. 'There was only one community case out of 7.5 million people yesterday,' he said 'Not everyone is taking it seriously the whole time. I don't understand why they don't encourage everyone to get tested,' she said. Edwina added that the best course of action would be to test 'as many people as possible'. Kochie then suggested compulsory testing for all Australians 'once a week', which Edwina stopped short of agreeing with. Explanation: A Sunrise spokesperson later clarified Edwina had been tested because of a sore throat, which is a symptom of coronavirus 'Not once a week. But if everyone got tested then [it would help] open everything up,' she replied. Edwina returned to Sunrise earlier this month after the birth of her first child, Molly, in late December last year. On her first day back at work, the former weather presenter shared two photos to Instagram: one of herself in the office and another with her baby daughter. 'Home and Away. Thanks to my family for the welcome back. Thanks to my actual family for having me back too. Don't think I've ever left the office so quickly. Sorry,' she wrote. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 16:30:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkish prosecutors on Tuesday issued detention warrants against 167 suspects over their alleged links to a group accused of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2016. Police launched simultaneous operations to arrest the suspects, including 119 soldiers in active service, upon the order of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the NTV broadcaster said. The report said that police had so far detained some 100 suspects in operations conducted across 56 provinces across the country. The Turkish government accused U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the coup attempt in July 2016, in which 250 people were killed. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denies any involvement, while Ankara has been pushing for his extradition since the failed coup. Enditem (Newser) It's a harrowing story, so we'll start right now by telling you it has a positive ending. San Diego police Officer Jonathan Wiese was searching for a man early Saturday who was said to be suicidal. The man had left home with his twin 2-year-old daughters around 4:30am, and his wife said he planned to drive off a bridge. (CBS 8 reports she had filed for divorce in April, citing domestic violence.) But Wiese was nearly at Sunset Cliffs when he got the radio call that the man had driven off the cliffs instead, as an officer got close. Within moments, he was at the scene, and saw the man holding onto the two girls amid the wreckage in the rocks and water below. Then Wiese jumped into action. story continues below Wiese, a K-9 officer, grabbed the 100-foot leash used for SWAT missions and tied one end around his body, NBC San Diego reports. Handing the other end to other officers on the scene, "I said, Hey, hang on. Im going,'" Wiese recounts to the San Diego Union-Tribune. He rappelled about 30 feet, at which point he got in the water and swam to the partially submerged truck. He got underneath the man, who was treading water while holding both girls, and swam under them to push them ashore while keeping them above water. Though one toddler appeared "lifeless" when Wiese got to the trio, all are expected to survive after being hoisted up the cliff and taken to the hospital; a GoFundMe for the girls says they are in stable condition. The 47-year-old father faces charges including attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary, and child cruelty, 10 News reports. (Read more San Diego stories.) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed a public rally in Calicut of Kerala. Touching on several subjects, PM Modi gave out a strong message to Pakistan against terrorism. Challenging Pakistan, Modi asked the neighbouring country to declare war on poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. This is PM Modis first speech since the Uri attack in which he lashed out at Pakistan and warned its leadership that the terror attack will not be forgotten. Also Read: (10 big highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally) Here are the big things PM Modi said about Pakistan: #There is one nation in Asia whose aim in this century does not become Asia's and is associated with terrorism. #Question is not only about India, everywhere this is one country which is exporting terrorism everywhere. #Wherever terrorism is happening across Asia, the affected nations are blaming only 1 nation. #Whenever news about terrorism comes, news also comes either the terrorist came from there or like Osama went there after the act. #Our 18 soldiers had to sacrifice their lives because of terrorists exported by our neighbouring country. #There's anger in entire country post Uri attack.18 of our soldiers sacrificed their life after our neighbour exported terrorists there. #Leaders of neighbouring country used to say that they will fight for 1000 years, but where are they lost now. # In the last few months, our neighbour tried to destroy our country by exporting terrorists more than 17 times but our army defeated them. # I want to inform Pakistan that before 1947 even your leaders used to salute this land. #You can imagine, our neighbour was successful in one incident and our 18 soldiers had to sacrifice their lives, if they would have succeeded in the other 17 times, what would have happened? #Pakistan is aiming for Kashmir, they should first look at the land they have already captured ie PoK, Gilgit and Balochistan. #We are exporting engineers all over the world, whereas Pakistan is exporting terrorists in entire world. # I want to tell Pak people, India is ready to fight you. If you have strength, come forward to fight against poverty. # Lets see who wins? who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India? #A day will come when people of Pakistan will go against its own Govt to fight terrorism. #India has been successful in isolating Pakistan, and will intensify that so that you are are completely isolated. #I call upon people of Pakistan to come forward,fight a war on who defeats unemployment, poverty, illiteracy first. Lets see who wins. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Philippine journalist Maria Ressa was convicted Monday of cyber libel and faces up to six years behind bars in a case that watchdogs say marks a dangerous erosion of press freedom under President Rodrigo Duterte. Ressa, 56, and her news site Rappler have been the target of a series of criminal charges and probes after publishing stories critical of Duterte's policies, including his drug war that has killed thousands. The award-winning former CNN journalist was sentenced to up to six years' jail in the culmination of a case that has drawn international concern. It was not immediately clear how long she would actually have to serve if the conviction becomes final, and Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa allowed Ressa to remain free on bail pending an appeal. "We are going to stand up against any kind of attacks against press freedom," a defiant Ressa told journalists after the conviction in Manila. "I began as a reporter in 1986 and I have worked in so many countries around the world, I have been shot at and threatened but never this kind of death by a thousand cuts," she said. Monday's verdict decided a trial that stemmed from a businessman's 2017 complaint over a Rappler story five years earlier about his alleged ties to a then-judge on the nation's top court. Ressa, who Time magazine named as a Person of the Year in 2018, did not write the article and government investigators initially dismissed the businessman's allegation. But state prosecutors later filed charges against her and Reynaldo Santos, the former Rappler journalist who wrote it, under a controversial cyber crime statute aimed at online offences such as stalking and child pornography. Santos was also found guilty on Monday and allowed to remain free on bail. The law they are accused of violating took effect in September 2012, months after the article was published. But prosecutors say Rappler's typographical correction to the story in 2014 to change "evation" to "evasion" was a substantial modification and the article was thus covered by the law. - 'Assault on independent media' - Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque said the president backs free speech and has never filed a libel case against a journalist while in government. "The president supports freedom of expression and freedom of the press. I hope that's clear," Roque said. But rights groups and press advocates say the libel charge along with a series of tax cases against Rappler, and a government move to strip the news site of its licence, amount to state harassment. "Ressa... and the Rappler team are being singled out for their critical reporting of the Duterte administration," Amnesty International said. "With this latest assault on independent media, the human rights record of the Philippines continues its free fall." Human Rights Watch said the case "will reverberate not just in the Philippines, but in many countries that long considered the country a robust environment for media freedom". The Philippines has fallen in the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index to 136 out of 180 nations and territories. Ressa's verdict comes just over a month after government regulators forced off the air the nation's top broadcaster ABS-CBN, following years of threats by Duterte to shut down the network. Both Rappler and ABS-CBN have reported extensively on Duterte's anti-drugs campaign in which police have gunned down alleged dealers and users in operations condemned by rights groups. Some of the crackdown's highest-profile critics have wound up behind bars, including Senator Leila de Lima, who is serving three years in jail on drug charges she insists were fabricated to silence her. In 2018, Duterte denounced Rappler as a "fake news outlet" and subsequently banned Ressa and her colleagues from his public engagements. Philippine journalist Maria Ressa has vowed to fight after a libel conviction that activists say marks a dangerous erosion of press freedom The award-winning former CNN journalist was sentenced to up to six years' jail While fans, colleagues and the family of actor Sushant Singh Rajput is still reeling under the news of his tragic demise, it is being reported that a fan of his has also died by suicide. Times of India reported that a fan of the late actor took his own life by hanging himself at his home in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The boy was in 10th standard, and he left a note which read, 'If he can do it, why can't I.' Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging in his home at Bandra, Mumbai, on June 14. Although the reason for this drastic step is yet to be ascertained, it is speculated that it may be because he was suffering from depression. The police found pills for depression in his house, and it was also reported that Sushant had been undergoing treatment for this, for the last six months. ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister Told Her Son That His 'Mamu Is No More'; His Reply Will Win Your Heart His death has sparked conversations around mental health and the importance of seeking help when it's necessary, with even more emphasis than before. Sushant's funeral was held at Pawan Hans crematorium in Vile Parle, Mumbai, on Monday afternoon. Sushant's father and two of his sisters attended it by travelling from their hometown Patna. His colleagues from the industry, such as Rajkummar Rao, Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Sharma, Vivek Oberoi, Abhishek Kapoor, Mukesh Chhabra and others also attended and paid their last respects. ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput Had Donated Rs 1.25 Crore To Nagaland 'Without Fanfare' Says Charudutt Acharya Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM Thought Leaders Livia Eberlin Assistant Professor University of Texas An interview with Livia Eberlin, Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, discussing the development of mass-spectrometry based techniques for cancer diagnosis and improved clinical outcomes. Why is there a need for alternatives to cytological analysis in the field of oncology? Within the context of cancer surgeries, the method that has been in the clinic for analyzing tissues that are being removed from the patient to make sure that all the cancer has been removed is called a histopathology. That's done through the analysis of frozen sections. These are pieces of tissue that are sent to a laboratory and then they're frozen, sectioned, and stained. The pathologist then looks at the stained tissue section under a microscope to determine if all the cancer has been removed or not during that surgical procedure. The problem is that this procedure can take a long time. Sometimes the surgeries are extended by 35 to 40 minutes because you have to wait for the frozen section analysis to be done. It can also be quite subjective because this process of freezing the tissue quickly during surgery to be able to get a section for the pathologist to look at using a microscope can cause some changes to the tissue histology and the cytology. It can be hard for a pathologist to precisely evaluate if there's cancer or not in that region of the tissue section. There's an incredible need for new technologies that could be applied in the clinic, preferably in the operating room, to help the surgeons by providing them with information on the presence or absence of cancer at certain positions of the body. This would guide the surgical resection so that they would know, at specific positions when they're removing the cancer, if all the cancer has been removed or not, and if that's a region of healthy tissue that can remain or diseased tissue that still needs to be removed. Image Credit:Shutterstock/Komsan Loonprom How can mass-spectrometry based techniques be used to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with cancer? Mass spectrometry is one of the analytical technologies that can provide the highest level of sensitivity and specificity for chemical analysis. With mass spectrometry, we can really dig deep into the molecular composition of complex samples and say, These are the specific metabolites that are present in this sample. These are the lipids that are present, and the proteins as well. With that kind of detailed molecular information, we can then evaluate if a sample, let's say a clinical sample such as a piece of tissue, is diseased or if its healthy tissue in a manner of seconds. That's because the profiles of these molecules are very characteristic of cells that are healthy or cells that are sick i.e. cells that have cancer. If we can adapt mass spectrometry technology, which is still mostly a research and development technology that requires relatively complex instrumentation, to translate it to the clinic and put these technologies in the hands of the clinicians, let's say the surgeons or the pathologists who are the clinical professionals making these decisions, we can empower them with molecular information that can be highly accurate in regards to the diagnosis of a clinical specimen. In that way, we can provide new information that's currently unavailable to help clinicians make better treatment decisions for their patients. How do these techniques compare to gene and RNA sequencing? Mass spectrometry techniques are normally used to analyze molecules such as metabolites, lipids, and proteins. In particular, for the technology that I've been developing, we've mainly focused on small molecules, which would be metabolites, fatty acids, and lipids. When you compare to DNA and RNA-seq, you're looking at completely different types of molecules. Also, what I think is appealing about metabolic information is that it's providing a real-time picture of the processes that are going on in the tissue. With DNA and RNA, you're looking at the overall mutations or expression patterns of genes and the transcription processes that are going on in cells. With metabolites, you are looking at the end products of these reactions, things that are happening in real-time in the cell related to metabolism, and so on. Both approaches have incredible value. It is remarkable how DNA and RNA sequencing technologies are increasingly being incorporated within the clinic. It can provide information on the likelihood that someone will develop, let's say, a certain type of breast cancer, and that has incredible value in managing patients. With mass spectrometry, what we're trying to do is to help improve clinical decisions in nearly real-time. Especially with the type of mass spectrometry that my lab does, the analysis that we can provide is completed in a few seconds. If you compare this with DNA and RNA sequencing, that normally takes a longer time. With mass spec, we could be providing this information with high throughput to hopefully expedite and improve the treatment decision for the patient. Please can you tell us about your recent research into thyroid neoplasia? Our research with thyroid cancer is focused on helping patients that come into the clinic with a thyroid nodule to know if the nodule is a cancerous nodule that needs to be removed, or if it's a benign nodule that does not necessarily require surgery. Thyroid cancer incidence is rapidly increasing in the USA and around the world, and ~50% of people by the age of 60 will find a nodule in their thyroid. The good news is that the majority of thyroid nodules are benign, so these are not cancerous lesions that need to be removed. Now the problem is that current cytology methods that are used to evaluate cells from a thyroid biopsy under a microscope are often inconclusive. It can be hard for a clinician to say if a nodule is benign or malignant. So a lot of the time, patients go into surgery without even knowing if they have cancer. You can determine if it is cancer during surgery, but in the majority of the times for the follicular type of neoplasms the patient does not have cancer, so the surgery was likely unnecessary. ,. What we're trying to do is use mass spectrometry before surgery to analyze these cells from a minimally invasive biopsy of the nodule to accurately determine if the individual does have cancer, and thus surgery, or if the nodule is benign and thus help prevent unnecessary surgeries, which are terrible for the patient, but are also costly and a burden to the healthcare system. Image Credit:Shutterstock/ jovan vitanovski What were the conclusions of this study, and were the findings significant? We started this study in thyroid cancer using banked tissues. These are tissues that have been already collected from patients and they're available as resources for researchers. We analyzed 178 tissues and acquired over a hundred thousand mass spectra. It was a really large data set. We used that information to build statistical classifiers that could determine if a nodule was cancer or if it was just a benign tumor. We tested that and we did well for a specific type of thyroid cancer, papillary thyroid carcinoma. We had over 90% accuracy. For follicular types, we had 83% accuracy, which is really good considering that this type of thyroid nodule cannot be determined with cytology alone. Then we started a prospective trial study in the clinic, where patients were coming in for a routine biopsy and we got an additional biopsy for our study. Weve done that with over a hundred patients so far, and we have kept our accuracy in diagnosis at just about 90%. These results are really exciting because, in a lot of these cases, we had information that could have prevented patients from going into a potentially unnecessary surgery. But we need to do a much larger validation study which we're planning to do as a multi-center project to validate these findings and prove its value for patient care. Pittcon 2022: March 5-9 Learn More about Pittcon 2022 You also developed a MassSpec Pen to improve the accuracy of diagnoses. What is this device, and how does it work? The vision in developing the mass spec pen was to provide a handheld, easy to use device based on mass spectrometry analysis that could be routinely used by surgeons and pathologists. We wanted it to be something that they could handle, to empower them to do the analysis and take advantage of the high accuracy and sensitivity of mass spectrometry analysis in helping them make clinical decisions. I look at the MasSpec Pen device, it looks pretty simple, and that was the intention. It's a handheld tool, and although we called it a pen, of course, it doesnt function as pen, but it works by providing a single droplet of solvent to extract molecules from a tissue. Most of the time, we use water for the pen tip, and weve automated the process so that once you touch the tissue and trigger the device with a foot paddle, everything happens without any more user input. Water is an incredible solvent. Once that water droplet interacts with the tissue, it extracts metabolites, lipids, and even small proteins from the tissue. Then we have a tubing system that transfers that droplet all the way to the mass spectrometer. Using this setup, we get molecular analysis of these molecules in nearly real-time Based on the pattern of these molecules, we can then tell the surgeon or the clinician using the device, this place where you analyzed this tissue region is cancer or normal tissue. We do that in a timeframe of about 10-15 seconds. The time can be a little shorter or longer mostly depending on how far your mass spectrometer is from the tissue site and the tubing system that we use. We've looked at over a thousand tissues in the lab and our accuracies for cancer diagnosis are pretty exciting, around 96%. We've been in the clinic testing this device in the operating room in vivo and on freshly excised tissues with over 100 surgeries now, and the intraoperative results are really promising as well We are in the process of publishing this pilot study, which really shows that mass spectrometry technology has incredible value in guiding clinical decisions. With the mass spec pen, I think the simplicity and ease of use in the way that we designed the technology is really appealing. It can be well incorporated into a clinical workflow with minimal training requirements Image Credit: Mass Spec Pen from Livia S. Eberlin Research Group Why did you choose to focus on ovarian cancer? We have been working on ovarian cancer in my lab for a few years since I started my laboratory, and the focus on ovarian cancer was driven by our desire to help patients and women that are suffering from this disease. We also had an ongoing project looking at the various aspects of clinical diagnosis of ovarian cancer and treatment outcomes. When we developed the mass spec pen, we knew that in ovarian cancer surgery it can be really hard to identify regions of metastasis, which is where the ovarian cancer is spreading, which is very common for high grade ovarian cancer. You normally find ovarian cancer throughout the abdominal cavity of a patient. For a surgeon, it can be really important to have a tool that will help them to identify these potential regions of metastasis in order to remove all of the cancer. We know from clinical data that there have been extensive studies that show that removing all of the cancer from the patient will give them a higher chance of disease-free survival. It was a scenario where we had access to these patients and tissues and there was an important clinical need. We are extremely passionate about helping ovarian cancer patients. Image Credit:Shutterstock/David A. Litman The technique involves the use of machine learning. Do you think AI and machine learning will form a vital part of the future for clinical diagnostics? I believe that AI and machine learning will be essential parts of the clinical decision, and that will happen sooner than we expect. They are essential technologies, especially as we are constantly moving towards big data and incorporating molecular data with clinical and imaging information. Once you start to get to these complex data sets and try to make decisions based on this complex information, there's a limit to what the human brain can do rapidly and automatically. Incorporating AI and machine learning will be critical to achieve that level of throughput and certainty. But I have to say that there's a lot of hype in this field as well. It's really important for researchers like myself, and I'm constantly trying to learn more about AI and machine learning, to select the right tools to make sure that our models are not over-fitting. Validating your models, testing your models, and the use of independent data sets and clinical samples will be crucial to show the value and the robustness of this type of technology to help clinical care. Do you think that these techniques will one day overtake histopathology, or work alongside it? I think that new technologies like mass spectrometry and other modalities will be complementary to what pathologists are already doing. The human aspect of the evaluation of tissue for diagnosis is crucial to patient care. The thought, or at least my goal, is to empower clinicians with newer technologies that can help them to make decisions. Not to replace them, but to help them to make more informed and better decisions, especially based on the molecular information that is reliable and can be highly predictive of the disease state. Why did you feel it was important to share your work at Pittcon 2020? I've been to Pittcon several times. It's a conference that I enjoy very much because it combines several areas of chemistry and analytical chemistry. There is this cool edge and aspect to it, which is all the new technologies that is launched during the conference every year. I think that seeing the scientific talks and getting this new information about what people are working on and developing, is really exciting and motivates me to also pursue new areas of research. The exposition is also really cool. Being able to see the vendors and the new products that are being launched to help researchers in academia and industry is something that is special and unique to Pittcon. It is great avenue for networking as well. Events like Pittcon are really important for me to talk to other scientists and researchers, and to share ideas and see if they have any input. How can we better develop what we're doing? How can we think of new ways to reach our goals and help patients? That interaction with other people who are leading in the field is very important for researchers and for students as well. Again, seeing the technology and the products that are being launched by the industry in the companies is also something that is appealing and can help our research and instrumentation. Events like Pittcon are really important for me to network, to talk to other scientists and other researchers, and to share ideas and see if they have any input. How can we better develop what we're doing? How can we think of new ways to reach our goals and help patients? That interaction with people who are leading in the field is very important for researchers and for grad students as well. Again, seeing the technology and the products that are being launched by the industry in the companies is also something that is appealing and can help our research and instrumentation. Where can our readers find more information? Sans M., et al. (2019). Performance of the MasSpec Pen for Rapid Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. Clinical Chemistry. 65;5. DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2018.299289. DeHoog, R. J., et al. (2019). Preoperative metabolic classification of thyroid nodules using mass spectrometry imaging of fine-needle aspiration biopsies. PNAS. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1911333116. https://eberlin.cm.utexas.edu/ About Livia Eberlin Livia Schiavinato Eberlin was born and raised in Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Her passion for mass spectrometry (MS) started as an undergraduate research assistant at the Thomson Laboratory of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). She received her B.S. in Chemistry from UNICAMP in 2007 and then moved to the USA in 2008 to start a PhD program in Analytical Chemistry at Purdue University under the mentorship of Prof. R. Graham Cooks. During her PhD, Livia developed and applied ambient ionization MS imaging to human cancer diagnosis. In recognition of her innovative PhD work, Livia received many awards including the Nobel Laureate Signature Award from the American Chemical Society. In 2012, she started her postdoctoral work at Stanford University under the guidance of Prof. Richard N. Zare, where she continued to develop MS technology for biomedical research. During that time, she received the LOreal for Women in Science Fellowship, a K99 pathway to independence award from the NIH/NCI and was listed in the Forbes 30 under 30 list in Science and Healthcare. In 2016, Livia started her independent career as an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department at the University of Texas at Austin. Since then, Livia and her group have received several recognitions for their research. Japan Drops Plan to Deploy US Missile System By VOA News June 15, 2020 Japan's Defense Minister announced Monday the country will cancel plans to deploy a costly, land-based U.S. missile defense system designed to counter escalating threats from North Korea. Defense Minister Taro Kono told reporters he has decided to "stop the deployment process" of the Aegis Ashore missile system after discovering safety concerns regarding two communities near where the system would be based. Kono said the way the system was currently designed, they could not guarantee that the rocket booster from the missile system would not fall outside the Ground Self-Defense Force's Mutsumi base in Yamaguchi, southwestern Japan. The defense minister said he consulted with U.S. officials and realized it would take a hardware repair, as well as a software modification, to fix the problem, which he says would be too time-consuming and costly. The Japanese government had approved adding the $3.2 billion missile defense systems in 2017 to bolster the country's current defenses Aegis-equipped destroyers at sea and Patriot missiles on land. Defense officials said the two Aegis Ashore units could cover Japan entirely from one station at Yamaguchi in the south and another at Akita in the north. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government will now have to reconsider Japan's missile defense program. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York: Six-year-old Alex wrote to President Obama asking for a young Syrian refugee to be resettled in his home. Referring to Omran Daqneesh, the five-year-old Syrian boy whose photo went viral all bloodied and covered in dust, sitting on a chair, Alex shown the highest level of empathy by asking for Obama's help to bring him home. President Obama reads ten letters from Americans each day, a new method unveiled in August. Alex's innocent letter got worldwide attention and went viral on social media. Obama in his speech at the United Nations Leaders' Summit on Refugees and Migrants in New York. He said he would teach him how to speak English, to ride a bike and added that his sister Catherine would share her toys with him. Obama read Alex's words aloud in a speech he gave at the United Nations earlier this week, before posting a video of Alex reading the letter himself to Facebook. In his message, Obama asked people to read the letter to "understand why he had decided to share it with the world." "Those are the words of a six-year-old boy -- a young child who has not learned to be cynical, or suspicious, or fearful of other people because of where they come from, how they look, or how they pray," the President wrote. "We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were," he added. The post has collected more than 100,000 "likes" and been shared more than 60,000 times, with many Facebook users praising the compassion shown by Alex. One Facebook user wrote: "A six-year-old who has more humanity, love, and understanding than most adults. Kudos to his parents and I know the world will see more great things coming from Alex." Another added: "I heard this earlier today, as read by my president. Even with that pre-conditioning, made me cry while reading it just now. Neither of these sweet little boys, someone's sons, are Skittles." Donald Trump Jr., the son of the Republican presidential nominee, had sparked controversy on Monday when he compared Syrian refugees to a bowl of Skittles candies. The generous offer from Alex comes as Syria, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Somalia have each produced more than 1 million refugees due to ongoing crises, according to the UN. Earlier this year, the world body's refugee agency said that the number of refugees and displaced people worldwide had surpassed 60 million for the first time. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. With the recent easing of work and travel restrictions in Australia as the nation begins to heal from the COVID-19 pandemic, our good friend John Parker at Warbirds Online was able to visit Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR) in Scone, New South Wales, Australia to see how they are progressing on the Supermarine Spitfire restorations they are presently involved with. We will let John continue the story here We have finally been able to travel again in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic and decided to make our first trip back to Scone NSW for an update on activity at Pays Air Service and Vintage Fighter Restorations. Following the completion and shipping of Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX MH415 to the UK recently, attention has now turned to the completion of Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603, with many of the systems and details now in the final phases of their installation, including the hydraulic systems. On the day of our visit, the technicians were testing the fighters main undercarriage retraction system a milestone in any Spitfire restoration. The restoration team was finalizing a host of electrical, hydraulic and fuel system items on MH603 as well. Many of the fairings are now completed, and the cowlings are ready for final fitting once everything else is done. The Spitfires Rolls-Royce Merlin engine is believed to be almost ready for shipping from the USA; it will be air-freighted to Australia and fitted to the airframe as soon as possible. Fitting the powerplant to the airframe is a pivotal time in any restoration, as the engine is connected to almost all of the aircrafts systems. This period also allows for the refitting of numerous other items, along with fettling the cowlings and fairings prior to final completion. All being well, it should not be long before MH603 is complete and ready to commence engine runs building towards her maiden flight. the first post-restoration hop should take place before the end of the year, and will be an event we all look forward to with great anticipation! Speaking of Supermarine Spitfires, we can also report excellent progress being made on the restoration of Spitfire Mk.IX BS548. The fuselage of this crash-recovered, combat-veteran Spitfire is under rebuild in England presently, as a dual control, two-seater variant. This work is now largely complete, structurally-speaking, and once finished, the fuselage will make the long journey by sea to Vintage Fighter Restorations in Scone. VFR will build new wings for the project on site and fit a Grace Spitfire style two-seater canopy set rather than the original, clunkier, bulbous canopy configuration. BS548 will eventually join the VFR fleet, making Warbird experience flights and advanced warbird pilot training possible at the company. Indeed BS548 will be a fantastic addition to the growing Vintage Fighter Restoration fleet! It was great to get back to Pays Air Service and Vintage Fighter Restorations Scone to view the progress on the Spitfire collection, and the next twelve months or so should be an exciting time for these warbirds. There is much to look forward to! Many thanks indeed to John Parker for this fascinating update. We wish our fellow Australians good luck in coping with the current health crisis. Be safe, and be well everyone! Anunt de selectare a participantilor si participantelor la cel de-al doilea curs de instruire din cadrul Programului educational pentru dezvoltarea competentelor lucratorilor de tineret Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on June 16, 2020 2020/06/16 The High-Level Video Conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation will be held on June 18 under the theme of "Belt and Road International Cooperation: Combating COVID-19 with Solidarity". The meeting will be chaired by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and attended by foreign ministers and ministerial-level officials from 25 countries and leading officials from the United Nations and the World Health Organization. This meeting is co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce and the National Health Commission, with the aim to implement the consensus of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, promote stronger cooperation on COVID-19 between BRI cooperation partners, conduct experience-sharing and policy coordination for resumption of work and production, and advance high-quality BRI cooperation. TASS: Today the DPRK has announced its plan to deploy forces to the zones that have been demilitarized under the inter-Korean agreement. How do you comment today's situation between the DPRK and the ROK and their bilateral relations? Zhao Lijian: The DPRK and the ROK share the same ethnic origin. As a close neighbor, China always remains committed to sustained peace and stability on the Peninsula. Xinhua News Agency: The Foreign Ministry announced a forthcoming Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 this morning. What's the consideration behind China, South Africa and Senegal's joint initiative to host this summit? What's expected of it by China and Africa? Zhao Lijian: President Xi Jinping will host the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 in Beijing on June 17 and deliver a keynote speech. The Extraordinary Summit, jointly proposed by China, South Africa as the rotating chair of the AU and Senegal as the co-chair of the FOCAC, will be held via videolink. Leaders of African countries including the members of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and the rotating chairs of Africa's major sub-regional organizations and the Chairperson of the AU Commission will attend the summit upon invitation. The Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of the World Health Organization will also attend the meeting as special guests. China attaches high importance to growing friendly cooperative relations with Africa and stays committed to forging with African countries a closer China-Africa community with a shared future. Since COVID-19 broke out, this relationship has been further elevated as the two sides stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight. As the pandemic continues to afflict the world, including the African continent, convening this extraordinary summit at this crucial moment demonstrates once again the China-Africa brotherhood through thick and thin. It will not only consolidate the two sides' consensus on solidarity against the virus and promote fresh development in China-Africa cooperation, but also bolster multilateralism and boost international cooperation against COVID-19. China stands ready to work together with other participants for a successful summit. Global Times: Foreign media reported that with the rapid increase of new COVID-19 cases in some of the world's most vulnerable regions, more than 20 international aid organizations and some African countries expressed their "growing concern" that there was "little or no" US assistance on the front lines. The US has pledged $10 billion for vaccine research, humanitarian assistance and emergency response, but most of it has not been delivered. Some people say it is big on promises and short on action. What is China's comment? Zhao Lijian: I have also read relevant reports. I believe that you should ask the US side about how much of its promise of assistance has been acted upon. COVID-19 has posed grave challenges to many countries, especially those in vulnerable regions. We hope that all members of the international community, especially those in a more capable position, will pitch in more and do a better job in fulfilling responsibilities. Reuters: Two questions about the on-going outbreak in Beijing. One is, there have been several Chinese experts and officials who were talking about the coronavirus strain and specifically saying that this strain is different from what was found in Wuhan at the beginning of the outbreak. And there's one Beijing CDC official just said that's European strains. So does the Chinese government believe the latest infections are from a foreign origin? And then related to this outbreak, China has stopped imports of salmon and we understand that it's also stepped up inspection of certain food-related goods and other goods. Does China plan to impose further restrictions on goods, on foreigners and travelers from abroad? Zhao Lijian: These are very technical questions. I would refer you to competent authorities. China National Radio: From January to April 2020, customs officials in Shijiazhuang, Nanjing, Shanghai, Dalian and Shenzhen detected harmful organisms from imported Canadian logs. Can you confirm this information? What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: Recently, the customs of China's relevant ports have detected such live quarantine pests as longhorned beetles and bark beetles in imported Canadian logs. In order to prevent the introduction of these pests, China has treated the logs in accordance with relevant Chinese quarantine laws and regulations. At the same time, in accordance with international standards, the competent authorities of China informed the Canadian side of this situation in a timely manner and required the Canadian side to investigate into the cause and take improvement measures. I want to stress that it is the responsibility of the Chinese government to protect China's agricultural, forestry and ecological security. The measures taken by the competent Chinese authorities on Canadian logs are normal quarantine safety precautions, which are science-based, reasonable and consistent with relevant Chinese laws and regulations and international customary practices. AFP: Do you have any specific response to the news from a few minutes ago that the DPRK has blown up a liaison office with the ROK? And, the Russian scientist Valery Mitko has been accused of spying for China by the Russian government. Do you have any comment on this? Zhao Lijian: On your first question, I have no relevant information. The DPRK and the ROK share the same ethnic origin and are parties directly concerned to the Korean Peninsula issue. As a close neighbor and friend, China always supports the reconciliation and cooperation between the DPRK and the ROK and remains committed to sustained peace and stability on the Peninsula. On your second question, I am not aware of the situation you mentioned. Beijing Daily: As the Australian tech website iTWire reveals on June 14, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) was the main force behind Twitter's removal of more than 20,000 "pro-China" accounts. This institute claims to be an independent think-tank, but in reality, is a lobby group among whose sponsors are big defense and tech firms including US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, US defense supplier Northrop Grumman, the Australian arm of American defense contractor Raytheon and MBDA Missile Systems. Arms dealers provided 57 percent of the institute's funds for the year 2018-19, with $4 million coming from the Federal Government. Besides, it also received a donation of over $440,000 from US State Department's Global Engagement Centre. In light of the above, the ASPI adopts a consistent anti-China position. Would you like to comment on this? Zhao Lijian: This is not the first time that the media dug up ASPI's "independent" background. My colleagues have responded many times to the fact-distorting and ridiculous reports this institute churned out. The international community is the fair judge on whether such an institute has any academic credibility and independence to speak of. AFP: Do you have any new information today on the talks between US and Chinese diplomats in Hawaii? Zhao Lijian: I have nothing further to add. I have some clarifications to make regarding yesterday's press conference. First, it was brought to our attention yesterday by an AFP journalist about what seemed to be a foreign ministry notice saying foreigners with valid visas and residence permits won't be able to enter China starting from June 15. After verification, we found that this is just a rumor spreading online. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not issue such a notice recently. The screenshot on social media was made by someone who deliberately altered and edited a previous notice. Once again we would like to remind friends of the press to verify information online to avoid reporting on false information. As we speak, the COVID-19 situation overseas remains grave and so there can be no letup in our efforts to guard against case import. Based on my information, Beijing's effective prevention and control mechanism concerning international arrivals currently in place will remain unchanged to forestall risks of imported cases. For international travelers entering Beijing directly, far-end screening including nucleic acid testing and post-entry nucleic acid testing will be conducted. In principle, all international travelers need to undergo a 14-day period of medical observation. For those arriving via a first point of entry, they may enter Beijing after receiving 14-day medical observation and passing nucleic acid testing at the first point of entry. Second, I was asked whether consular visits were arranged for foreign detainees in China during COVID-19. China protects their legal rights in accordance with law and provides necessary assistance for foreign consular officials in accordance with international conventions and bilateral consular agreements with relevant countries. In order to ensure the safety of those detained during COVID-19, relevant authorities on the Chinese side have suspended consular visits in person. But phone calls and video chats were arranged in light of the real needs. As the situation changes regarding to the epidemic prevention and control, the Chinese authorities will also make adjustments to their current measures. Two Taoisigh are set to lead the country through the lifetime of the next government. For the first time in the history of the State, the office of the Taoiseach will be rotated between two party leaders. Four months after the General Election, a landmark agreement was signed off on by the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party. The parties also agreed on a radical programme for government, which makes notable commitments on climate change, housing and transport. Read More Last night, Micheal Martin was in touching distance of becoming Taoiseach but he will have to first convince his party membership to back the deal. If finally elected Taoiseach, he will have to step aside on December 15, 2022, and allow Leo Varadkar to take over. Mr Varadkar is set to become Tanaiste, but the office will be given increased powers and functions. Despite stepping down for now, a new poll shows that Mr Varadkars personal satisfaction rating has soared an astonishing 45 points, up to 75 since the General Election. Eamon Ryan will have a new office in the Department of the Taoiseach, which will give him oversight of the government decision-making process. Support for Fine Gael and Mr Varadkar has risen spectacularly since the General Election, signally a positive public response to the handling of the coronavirus crisis. However, there is an indifferent view on the proposed Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Green Party coalition according to the poll by Ipsos MRBI for The Irish Times. The three leaders all made major concessions to sign off on a programme for government. Mr Varadkar capitulated on the Fine Gael demand to increase the State pension age to 67 next year after Mr Martin insisted the hike should be stopped. Yesterday, Mr Varadkar said the decision will cost 400m. However, Fine Gael did secure a commitment that the next government will cut income tax if the economy begins to improve - despite resistance from the other parties. The Green Party dropped its demand on banning imported goods from Israeli occupied territories. But Mr Ryan secured a significant increase in carbon taxes which will now go up to 100 per tonne by 2030 in a yearly 7.50 hike. The money raised by the tax will be ring-fenced in a 9.5bn fund for climate-action measures. There were also major commitments on ending direct provision over the lifetime of the new government. The future of the Covid-19 unemployment payments and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) will be among the first tough decisions taken by the proposed new government. Decisions on both of the schemes, brought in to help people who lost their jobs in the coronavirus crisis and also to shield those who kept them, will be highly contentious. All three parliamentary parties met last night to ratify the agreement with their TDs and senators. Fianna Fail passed the government formation deal with very little dissent. John McGuiness - who has been sceptical of going into government with Fine Gael - was said to have stopped short of saying whether or not he supported the deal. After a Fianna Fail meeting that lasted three hours, Mr Martin said the deal will now be put to the party's members in a postal vote in the coming days. "Overall it was a very constructive meeting with a very strong endorsement of the programme for government," he told reporters. Asked about a coalition of party councillors who want to see the deal scrapped, he said that finding universal acceptance is a "challenge in any party". Ahead of the meeting, he had faced a backlash from a group of 50 councillors who were calling on party members to vote against the deal. The group, calling itself 'Fairer Future', said the programme for government document "confirmed their fears" that the new administration will be a "continuation of status quo politics". Senior Fianna Fail TD Eamon O Cuiv also urged Irish language supporters of the Gaeltacht to reject the proposed three-party coalition. However, Mr O Cuiv said he was not involved in the 'Fairer Future' group. Fine Gael's meeting was broadly supportive of going into government. Rural Development Minister Michael Ring was a notable exception. He hit out at Fianna Fail and the Greens, recalling the last economic crash and the Troika coming to Ireland. Abstentions Separately, Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin voted in favour of the programme for government being put to her party's membership. However, her husband Francis Noel Duffy was among a group of party members who abstained on the vote. Ms Martin, who was the Greens' lead negotiator during the talks, told the meeting that her team fought hard for the deal. She said it was not a perfect deal but said she supported putting it to a vote of the membership. Ms Martin last night spoke publicly about the deal for the first time. She issued a statement saying there was never going to be "outright winners" in the government talks and she was satisfied the deal negotiated was the "best achievable, and that it includes some worthwhile and transformative policies." In a statement released after the meeting, the party said: "The TDs took a decision to accept the programme for government by nine votes in favour with three abstentions. "Indicative votes were also taken of the Green Party senators, MEPs and one MLA. "The group, including indicative votes, recorded 13 votes in favour and four abstentions." Twenty Indian soldiers including the commanding officer of an infantry battalion were killed on Monday evening in a clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakhs Galwan valley where soldiers of the two countries have been locked in a tense stand-off for 40 days, people familiar with the development told Hindustan Times. In its initial statement early on Tuesday, the army had announced that an officer and two soldiers had been killed in action. By evening, an update by the army said 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high-altitude terrain had succumbed to injuries. The army statement issued on Tuesday evening also said the Indian and Chinese troops at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed have disengaged. The Chinese army also suffered casualties in the face-off but there was no immediate confirmation of the numbers. The army statement came hours after the external affairs ministry rebutted the China that pointed fingers at Indian soldiers for provoking the clash. External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said Monday evenings violent face-off took place in Galwan valley where the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the LAC (Line of Actual Control) and attempted to unilaterally change the status quo. Also Read: India blames China for violent face-off in eastern Ladakh, says PLA tried to change status quo The external ministry ministry did not elaborate how the Chinese troops had tried to alter the status quo. Officials later said it could be a reference to an observation post set up by the Chinese troops on the Indian side of the LAC that was removed by Indian soldiers. These are the first Indian casualties in a border skirmish with the Peoples Liberation Army since October 1975 when Chinese troops ambushed an Indian patrol in Arunachal Pradeshs Tulung La sector and shot four soldiers dead. However, no shots were fired this time. Hindustan Times has learnt rival soldiers exchanged blows, threw stones at each other and Chinese troops even attacked Indian soldiers with rods and nail-studded clubs during the brawl that went on for over six hours. However, this wasnt the first time the two armies engaged in fisticuffs or used stones and rods to attack each other in the area. The ongoing border scrap began with a confrontation between rival patrols near Pangong Tso on the night of May 5-6. The border row appears to have turned from bad to worse even as army delegations from India and China have held a series of discussions along the LAC to break the stalemate. The deadly clash came on a day army delegations from India and China held talks at two locations along the LAC - brigadier-ranked officers met in the Galwan Valley and Colonel-ranked officers in Hot Springs - as part of continuing efforts to resolve the standoff. As news of the border clash reached New Delhi last evening, Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane cancelled a scheduled visit to Pathankot and spent most of Tuesday at strategy meetings in New Delhi. Defence minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the developments along the LAC and also held two meetings with chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs to assess the ground situation and review options. External affairs minister S Jaishankar was also present in one of the meetings. The external affairs ministry, which firmly pinned the blame for the clash on the Chinese side, linked the face-off to an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side, Srivastava said. The limited disengagement of forces at Galwan Valley, Patrolling Point 15 and Hot Springs had started after a meeting between Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the Peoples Liberation Army in the South Xinjiang region, on June 6. Referring to the June 6 meeting where the two sides had agreed on a process for de-escalation, Srivastava said India had expected this would unfold smoothly but the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the LAC. The situation remains tense at Pangong, which has been at the centre of the ongoing border scrap and where troops are still locked in a face-off. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A sadistic killer who stabbed his teenage victim 133 times before cutting off his head and using it as a bowling ball has been released from jail and deported to the UK. Christopher Clark Jones, 36, was sentenced to life behind bars after the horrific murder of 17-year-old homeless teenager Morgan Jay Shepherd at Sandgate, north of Brisbane, in 2005. Jones served 15 years of that life sentence and was released on parole earlier this month. He was booted from the country and sent back to the UK on Monday. Jones was born in Tyneside and moved to Australia as a child. He lived in Sandgate with his parents and infant daughter at the time of the killing. However, he never took up Australian citizenship and has now had his visa cancelled because he is 'considered to not be of good character'. Scroll down for video Christopher Clark Jones (pictured being put on a private jet on Monday), 36, was sentenced to life behind bars after the horrific murder of 17-year-old homeless teenager Morgan Jay Shepherd in 2005 Morgan Jay Shepherd (pictured) was murdered by Christopher Clark Jones and James Patrick Roughan in 2005 British convicts deported from Australia after visas cancelled Christopher Clark Jones was booted from Australia and sent back to the UK on Monday. He never took up Australian citizenship and has now had his visa cancelled because he is 'considered to not be of good character'. All Brits need a visa before they visit Australia, and after four years in the country you can apply to become a citizen. Jones return is one of a string of cases where Australia has sent back British criminals. In 2005, 66-year-old Robert Excell returned after spending 37 years in jail in Australia for a string of child sex convictions. Then in March 2008 prolific paedophile Raymond Horne, 61, was deported from Australia, where he had lived for more than 50 years. In 2018 Arthur Greer was deported to the UK after he was granted parole from an Australian prison after serving 25 years for the murder of 14-year-old Sharon Lee Mason in Western Australia in 1992. He moved to Australia in the 1960s and was deported It was suspected that Greer, who was originally from Belfast, killed the girl and then dismembered her body in the bathroom at the rear of the shop. Her body parts were put into plastic bags and buried under the garden shed. Prosecutors argued during his trial that Greer had buried the teenager's body by pulling up the floor of a shed in his back yard and digging a deep grave. Convicted, despite his plea of innocence, he was jailed for life in 1994. His visa permitting him to stay in Australia was revoked while he served his prison sentence. Advertisement Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton cancelled Jones' visa on character grounds before he was eligible for parole, The Courier Mail reported. Mr Dutton said it was one of the most 'abhorrent crimes' in Queensland's history and that there was no place in Australia for foreigners who murder locals. Jones was put on to a private jet on Monday by the Australian Border Force as security contractors took him to London. Video shows the killer removing a black cap and holding it toward the camera as he was escorted to the private jet, apparently trying to hide his identity. ABF acting Commander for Enforcement Command Dean Church described the crimes he committed in 2005 as 'particularly abhorrent'. 'Non-citizens who commit crimes have no right to remain in Australia and will be removed from the country as soon as possible,' he said. The judge who presided over the trial said the teenager's murder was the worst case she had ever heard. Jones had been drinking at a house rented by his co-accused James Patrick Roughan on March 29, 2005, when they got into a drunken argument with the teenager. Mr Shepherd was living at a Brisbane youth hostel at the time and was drinking with the two older men the night he was killed. The 17-year-old was stabbed repeatedly and was decapitated with an axe before the pair used the head as a bowling ball and a puppet. Witnesses said the men bragged about the murder and put the victim's head on a pawpaw tree stump. Another friend was tricked into helping dispose of the body under the guise of selling furniture. He only realised it was a dead body after he got out of the car and saw two legs hanging from the boot. The 17-year-old's headless body was found in a shallow grave in bushland at Dayboro in April 2005. He had been wrapped in carpet, while his head was placed in a plastic shopping bag. After burying the body the men threw their shovels off a bridge on the way home. An anonymous tip-off days led police to the body. They also found a woodsaw, carpet and bloodstained clothes at the home where Mr Shepherd was murdered. The 17-year-old was stabbed repeatedly and had his head cut off with an axe before the pair used the head as a bowling ball and a puppet Video shows Jones taking off a black cap and tipping it toward the camera as he walks towards the private jet An anonymous tip-off lead police days after the murder led police to the body. They also found a woodsaw, carpet and bloodstained clothes and the home where Mr Shepherd was murdered While neither man admitted to killing Morgan, a witness testified that Jones bragged about his crime. 'Chris said he stomped on him a bit and then grabbed a knife from the kitchen, stabbed him in the back, stabbed him a few times and then gave the knife to James and James stabbed him a few times,' the witness told the Supreme Court in 2007. 'Then James cut the head and Chris pulled it off. James was nodding (he) had a little smirk on his face. Chris was making a joke of the situation.' In 2007 a court was told the men had discussed chopping up the teenager's body and selling it over a Woolworths supermarket meat counter. Jones threatened his mates and said they 'would be next' if they did not help him bury Morgan, the court heard. Jones was put onto a private jet on Monday by the Australian Border Force as security contractors took him to London Roughan told a friend he and Jones were discussing what to do with the body when Jones said: 'We're gonna chop this fella up and sell him off as Woolworths meat'. The pair also discussed cutting up the body and feeding it to sharks, but decided it was too big. Both men were jailed for life and three other men were sentenced for helping to dispose of the corpse. Jones unsuccessfully turned to the High Court to appeal against his conviction in 2008. The majority of Irish people believe independent journalism is important to proper functioning of society according to a new report, and three quarters of those surveyed said they trust brands like the Irish Independent. According to Reuters Digital News Report Ireland 2020, Irish people still value independent journalism as the most trustworthy source of news. In terms of digital media, Independent.ie is the second most popular main news source for people (19pc), a slight increase from 2019, despite a premium subscription service being introduced earlier this year. RTE News Online is the main news source for 20pc of people, TheJournal.ie was the third most popular (18pc). Participants were asked about the role of independent journalism in society and more than 66pc of people believe that it is either very or extremely important for the proper functioning of society. Overall trust in the news media remains quite high in Ireland. Internationally, Irish news consumers are among the more trusting of news media. In 2020, 48 per cent of people agreed they could trust most news most of the time while Three quarters of people, however, said that they trust the major journalism brands in Ireland, with 73pc trusting news from the Irish Independent, compared to just 10pc who dont. This compares with just over half of people, 51pc, who say they do not trust news via social media most of the time. This, according to the report, highlights challenges for news publishers distributing on social platforms as the medium can detract from the quality of the journalism. Only 18pc of people who responded to the comprehensive survey professed a trust in news found on social media. When it comes to the sources of misinformation people are exposed to online, Irish people are most concerned about Facebook. More generally, 62pc of Irish people said they were concerned about what was real and fake on the internet. For the last five years, Irish consumers interest in news has remained at consistently high levels. Just under 70pc declare themselves either extremely or very interested in news. He's no stranger to showcasing his love of dancing on his social media page. But Gianluca Vacchi may have pulled off his best moves yet as he danced in a red hooded crop top and gold heels in a fun new Instagram video on Monday. The Italian playboy millionaire, 52, was accompanied by his pregnant Sharon Fonseca, 25, in the clip as they promoted her fashion range. Look at him go! Gianluca Vacchi may have pulled off his best moves yet as he danced in a red hooded crop top and gold heels in a fun new Instagram video on Monday The hilarious video sees Gianluca don a red cropped hoodie with the words 'sexsi' emblazoned on the front, with the top allowing him to show off his taut abs. Gianluca teamed his top with impossibly tight grey skinny jeans and towering gold stilettos. And the businessman certainly knew what he was doing in the heels as he confidently strutted in the video and moved his hips to the music. He put on a very confidently display as he swayed and led the choreographed routine in the fun video. Looking good: The Italian playboy millionaire, 52, was accompanied by his pregnant Sharon Fonseca, 25, in the clip as they promoted her fashion range Backing him up was his partner Sharon, who showcased her growing baby bump in her own matching red hoodie. The couple were also joined by fellow 'backing dancers' Delfina Pietri and Raffaella Zardo. Captioning the fun clip, Gianluca asked: 'Who is the sexiest girl?' Earlier this month Gianluca said his 27-year age gap with pregnant girlfriend Sharon doesn't 'concern' him. Work it: The hilarious video sees Gianluca don a red cropped hoodie with the words 'sexsi' emblazoned on the front, with the top allowing him to show off his taut abs So funny: The businessman certainly knew what he was doing in the heels as he confidently strutted in the video and moved his hips to the music The businessman and stunning model are expecting their first child and candidly discussed their romance in a new interview. In the chat, Gianluca revealed he has the energy of a 15-year-old boy and Sharon made him 'suffer' at the start of their relationship to win him over. The couple spoke from their lavish mansion in Bologna, Italy, which boasts three swimming pools and 38 acres of land, after returning from their penthouse in Miami, Florida. Smitten: Earlier this month Gianluca said his 27-year age gap with pregnant girlfriend Sharon Fonseca, 25, doesn't 'concern' him Parents-to-be! The businessman and stunning model are expecting their first child and candidly discussed their romance in a new interview Asked about whether the 27-year age gap concerns him, Gianluca told HELLO! magazine: 'Not at all, if it doesn't bother her. Even though I have this white beard, my enthusiasm is that of a boy of 15.' While Sharon added: 'Gian is an open book, a man from whom I can learn something different every day. And then there's his spirit and energy [like a 15-year-old's].' To which Gianluca joked that they should increase it to 18-years-old as he can drive at that age. Candid: In the chat, Gianluca revealed he has the energy of a 15-year-old boy and Sharon made him 'suffer' at the start of their relationship to win him over The couple met two years ago on the set of one of his music videos and the Italian millionaire admitted he was struck by the 'incredibly sexy' Sharon. Although Gianluca revealed that the model played hard to get at the start of their romance, he joked: 'She made me suffer a lot, that's for sure. I thought that same night she would fall into my net, but I was wrong!' Sharon is currently three-months pregnant with their first child and shared that she hopes to give birth in America to a little girl. They will find out the baby's sex at a later scan. Internet services suspended, as a joint team of forces launch a cordon-and-search operation in Turkwangam early morning triggering an encounter and killing three militants. A top commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen along with his two colleagues, one of them the nephew of a former PDP MLC, were killed in a gunfight in Turkwangam area of South Kashmirs Shopian district on Tuesday. Sources said that a joint team of Police, Armys 44RR and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Turkwangam early morning. As the joint team approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them. The fire was retaliated by the team, triggering off an encounter in which three militants were killed. While police said that the identity of the slain militants was yet to be ascertained, official sources identified the slain as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen district Commander Zubair Wani of Turkawangam, Kamran Manhas, nephew of former PDP MLC Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, a resident of Sharaab Kareena and Muneeb-ul-Haq of Sugan Zainapora Shopian. Three terrorists were killed in the encounter. We will ask people, who are claiming to be their parents, to come and identify the bodies. It was a clean operation, there was no collateral damage: IG Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar on encounter in Shopian. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/xNPSCjRpYx ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 Read also: India summons Pakistans envoy after two Indian officials go missing in Islamabad Kamran Manhas had announced joining the Hizb ranks in January 2019 and a picture showing him holding an AK-47 rifle went viral on social media then. Reacting to it then, Zaffar Manhas said he was in absolute disbelief and that he and his family could never imagine such a thing even in dreams. Since then Zaffar Manhas left PDP and joined Jammu and Kashmir Apni party. Kamran was the first youth from the Sharaab Kareena village to join militancy in more than twenty years. It could not be ascertained immediately if any other youth has joined the militant ranks since then. With the fresh killings, 19 Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants have been killed in Shopian and Kulgam district this month alone. Meanwhile, internet services have been suspended in Shopian district to prevent protests, sources added. Read also: India slams Pak for raising Kashmir issue at UNHRC For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Guido Gryseels has been getting calls for a week, asking if hed give some statues a new home. Hes the director of the Africa Museum in Tervuren, Belgium, and his institution, originally founded by Leopold II, might seem like a logical place to house monuments to the 19th-century king whose reign in Congo saw the murder and mutilation of at least 10 million Africans. He is pretty tentative about the offers. After protesters dumped paint on a statue of Leopold II in the city of Antwerp and then set it afire two weeks ago, other Leopold statues have been vandalized and more than 78,000 signatures have been added to a petition to remove all of the monuments to the king in Belgium. Gryseels estimates that there are somewhere between 300 to 400 of them, and he is worried about turning his museum, which has tried to work through its own colonial associations in recent years, into a cemetery of Leopolds. I could maybe take a few of these statues here and make some kind of contemporary art out of them, he said in an interview. But I dont want to have the opposite effect and make this a place where Leopold admirers come to pray. Since June 11, when a British monument to the 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston was toppled by protesters and tossed into the harbour in Bristol, England, dozens of statues of historical figures associated with colonialism and slavery have been pulled down, beheaded, scorched or removed from their plinths in Britain, Belgium, New Zealand and the United States. Confederate statues, which have long been a source of tension in American cities, have also come under renewed attack as Black Lives Matter protests have swept the country. As statues fall around the world in symbolic revolt against the histories of slavery and colonialism, city and town leaders, museum officials and historians faced with these toppled monuments are asking, Now what? Should they be cleaned up and moved into the safety of a museum? Should their scars be kept or cleaned off? Or should we make new artworks out of them? The answers to these questions will have implications for how future generations remember both the history the statues were designed to represent and this current moment. Julian Maxwell Hayter, an associate professor at the University of Richmond, in Virginia (where protesters have assailed a monument of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee), said its crucial that we use this time to discuss what the statues represent. It would be a missed opportunity not to have a discussion about what these statues represented and how what they represent resonates profoundly in the present, he said in an interview. You can do it all kinds of ways. You can leave them where they are and do it with signage; you can do some kind of artistic re-creation; you can have artists re-render them. The ultimate aim would be to tell a story that moves beyond the lionization of these figures. British artist Hew Locke has for decades been calling for colonial-era statues to be augmented in ways that call attention to their problematic histories. In his series Natives and Colonials, he proposed painting statues of Oliver Cromwell and Captain Cook in bright colours, and in another, Patriots, he designed gaudy ornamentation to drape over statues of Colston and Christopher Columbus. But everything hes done to the sculptures so far has been fantasy: The alterations only exist in his artworks. For years, Ive been of the mind that we need to keep these things but we need to talk about them, he said in an interview. If you remove them, theyre gone and theres nothing to talk about. But now that theyve been vandalized and dethroned, hed like to see them displayed on their sides, he said, with all their new markings visible. The paint shouldnt be removed to elevate the statues to perfect museum objects, he said. They should be covered in paint, with burn marks, because thats part of their history now. Locke added that he also liked the idea of melting the bronze statues down and turning them into commemorative coins that could be distributed to the residents of the town or city where the statue once stood. There is precedent for that idea, said Claudine van Hensbergen, an associate professor at Northumbria University in Britain, who studies public statues. She said that after an angry mob in Newcastle, England, threw a bronze equestrian statue of the deposed King James II into a river in 1688, it was retrieved, melted down and transformed for use in the citys All Saints Church. It was torn down for its Catholic associations, and it was recast as church bells for an Anglican Church, she said. It was a really political act. That carries huge symbolic meaning. The Bristol City Council has already dredged the statue of Colston out of the harbour, and the citys mayor, Marvin Rees, announced that it would be put in a museum. But what should museums do with the statues when they get them? I dont think its our place as museum officials to decide, said Taco Dibbits, director of the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, in Amsterdam. This is a cry from communities who havent been heard, and the museum shouldnt be telling people what we do. We should listen. Dibbits said one possible way to deal with a problematic statue would be to treat it like a bronze likeness of the deposed former president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah. A statue of him was beheaded during a 1966 military coup, and later placed next to its body on a plinth, with a plaque explaining the history of its desecration. He said it was a way to simultaneously present both the history of Nkrumahs regime and of the revolution that removed him. Another option, said Valika Smeulders, who leads the Rijksmuseums history department, would be to gather several overturned statues in a single place, like a park, as some countries that were once in the USSR have done with monuments to Stalin and Lenin. Youd have to put it, as they did in the Soviet Union, not in the city centre, but somewhere outside, she said. I think then you send a message that this is not what you want in our city centre, but it was a period of time and we look back on it now, and the craziness of it becomes really clear. Fallen statues mean empty plinths, Smeulders added. Now we must also think about what should go on those. Cedar Lewisohn, an artist and curator at the Southbank Centre in London, and a member of the organization Museum Detox, which campaigns for the interests of people of colour in the art world, said this was a chance to think about who chooses what gets valorized. We will be seeing some contemporary responses, for sure, to these voids that have been created, he said. There will be contemporary art commissions to replace these things. Those will have to be very thoughtful and thought-out processes and lets hope they are better than what they replace. The "Media Advocate" initiative has posted the following on its Facebook page: "Journalists were subjected to violence by the police while implementing their professional work after Gagik Tsarukyan left the National Security Service (NSS) building. Thus, Gagik Tsarukyans press conference failed to take place, which meant that journalists were not able to carry out their professional activities, and the society was deprived of its opportunity to receive information. As a result of the incident, many journalists were injured and the equipment of journalists was damaged. Media Advocate initiative urges the journalists not to hesitate against police violence. The journalistic community must be united now. In fact, by allowing the police to put pressure on journalists, the government is trying to create a pro-government news coverage and hinder the freedom of speech. The use of force by the police contradicts the principles declared by the government itself. Media Advocate initiative supports the journalistic community. We will apply to international organizations based on the case of violence against journalists. Furthermore, we will raise the issue on the platform of international human rights organizations. Media Advocate initiative describes all this as a manifestation of the authorities incompetence and urges the society to support the media community." " " Hundreds of protesters flooded the streets of Crown Heights in Brooklyn to demand the defunding of the NYPD and to demonstrate against police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death. Erik McGregor LightRocket via Getty Images Amid the anger and widespread unrest over the death of George Floyd while being arrested in Minneapolis May 25, 2020, (and then the shooting of Rayshard Brooks by an Atlanta police officer a mere 25 days later) many weren't satisfied just to see officer Derek Chauvin charged with second-degree murder and three others charged aiding and abetting the crime. (Brooks' death is still under investigation.) Instead, there's been a growing outcry in Minneapolis and other cities across the United States to "defund the police," a slogan that protesters boldly have painted in yellow letters on streets in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. Beyond outrage over allegations of police misconduct or excessive use of force, calls to defund the police also reflect discontent about the vast amount of funding and resources that go into their budgets. Proponents of defunding question whether heavily armed police really make communities any safer, while arguing police departments are ill-equipped to deal with the real problems that many urban residents particularly chronically impoverished neighborhoods face. Instead, advocates want to see tax money diverted from departments and spent on other services such as housing for the homeless, mental health clinics, drug treatment programs, education and job training. Minneapolis city council member Jeremiah Ellison and other Minneapolis council members unanimously passed a resolution commencing a yearlong process "to create a transformative new model" for public safety in Minneapolis, where the city currently spends $193 million a year 36 percent of its total budget on cops. Advertisement What Does Defunding the Police Mean? Defunding the police can mean a range of things, depending on whom you talk to. Some argue for keeping departments but drastically scaling back the job they do. Instead of calling upon cops to deal with everything from public intoxication and domestic quarrels to armed robberies and homicides, reformers would have police focus on a narrow range of the most violent threats to citizens' safety. But others see police departments as too dysfunctional to fix and want to eliminate them entirely and entrust public safety mostly to residents who would maintain order in their own neighborhoods, using nonviolent methods of persuasion, turning to armed force rarely and only as a last resort. One big problem with police departments as they currently operate is that they're expected to do far too much, explains Rashawn Ray. He's a University of Maryland sociology professor and a Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. He has spent a lot of time studying police interactions with civilians and how to improve them. Ray wants cities to do a systematic analysis of its 911 calls. He believes that in most instances, they'll find that the requests involve non-criminal matters such as potholes and cats stuck in trees, or problems like mental health issues or drug addiction. Relatively few likely involve serious crimes. The endless grind of dealing with these non-criminal issues can cause police to become overburdened with paperwork, Ray says. And if officers sent to those calls primarily are trained to use aggressive physical tactics, their skillset may be poorly matched for the situations. To solve the dilemma, Ray says he'd like to see cities take a data-driven approach and reallocate some funding to agencies that could better handle the problems those areas face. "Allow for social services to step in and take some of the stress off law enforcement, and they can spend more time focusing on violent criminal activity," Ray says. The reallocating and refocusing formula would vary, depending on a particular community, Ray says. A big, well-funded suburban police department might have its own mental health unit, while a smaller town or city might find that it works better to shift money to its social services department. "There are 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the U.S., and there's not one size that fits all of them," Ray says. To curb use of excessive force by police, Ray also says he would change how cities cover the cost of settling lawsuits against officers accused of going too far. Instead of simply paying settlements out of cities' general funds, he says cities should have to carry insurance and pay premiums. That would give officials an economic incentive to get rid of officers who cost taxpayers a lot of money by racking up complaints. " " The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held a protest march June 15, 2020, in Atlanta after the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks by a white police officer. The death was ruled a homicide by the county medical examiners office. WES BRUER/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Replacing the Police Entirely But others aren't satisfied merely to divert a portion of police funding to social programs. In Minneapolis, the community organization known as MPD 150 is working to abolish the entire department. "Our goal is a completely police-free city, so in that context defunding is a part of that process," explains MPD 150 member Martin Sheeks, who emphasizes that it's important to give a wide swath of the community a say in how the system will evolve. "The long-term idea is that we create the systems we need to address the underlying causes of crime namely social inequities and unmet community needs and then have appropriate emergency responses when people call 911," Sheeks says in an email. "We don't need armed police officers responding to mental health crises." While Sheeks admits that solving underlying problems won't prevent all crime, he notes that in most cases, police don't actually prevent crime, either; instead, they document it and try to catch the perpetrators. But policing isn't working that well to protect minorities and the poor, "for whom it often causes more harm than it solves," Sheeks says. "If we're going to have a service that responds to those kinds of calls, they should be equipped to document the events and connect people with the supportive services they need, which is just not something our current policing model does. There are a very, very small number of situations in which you need an armed person ready to kill, and we will have to discuss what our solution to those problems as a city, but it doesn't make sense to shape our entire public safety system around those few edge cases when we could be spending that money on better solutions to more frequent problems." Another critic in favor of abolishing the police is Jason Sole, an adjunct professor in criminal justice at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a former director of the city government's Community First Public Safety Initiative in Minneapolis. "$193 million is going to a department that doesn't know how to stop killing black people," he says. Instead of relying upon police to catch offenders after the fact, Sole would focus on creative solutions for crime prevention for example, local residents who are licensed to carry firearms and insured to act as "peacekeepers" could provide a local emergency response team, though similar measures turned deadly in the case of Trayvon Martin. In Washington, D.C., a coalition called Defund MPD is pushing the District government to reject proposed budget increases for police, and gradually reduce the department's budget and invest more money "in programs that keep our communities live and well," explains activist CAM Morris in an email. Morris, current organizing director of the D.C. chapter of Black Youth Project 100, says that "defunding the D.C. police looks like directly impacted communities being able to make decisions about what resources they would like in their communities." That might include more funding for after-school programs, mental health treatment, drug programs and education programs aimed at preventing gender-based violence "essentially, whatever communities feel they need to be supported and uplifted." People in the community also could receive training on how to de-escalate potentially violent situations, which might eliminate a lot of the incidents to which police currently must respond. " " Hundreds marched in NYC to protest the 2012 acquittal of George Zimmerman, who was exonerated of all criminal charges in connection with the shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. Viviane Moos/Corbis via Getty Images Advertisement Downsides to Defunding the Police Though George Floyd's death has made many Americans take a more critical view of the police, the defund movement faces some big obstacles. A June 12, 2020, ABC News Ipsos poll found that both defunding and diverting police funding to social programs are still opposed by a majority of the public. And the idea of defunding has been rejected by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, although he does advocate police reform and for making federal aid to departments contingent on whether they meet "certain basic standards of decency and honorableness. " Bill Sousa, director of the Center for Crime and Justice Policy and a criminal justice professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is concerned that cutting funding for police could make policing worse instead of better. He explains that departments strapped for resources will be forced to fall back into what he calls a "reactive mode of policing," in which bike patrols and other crime-prevention tactics will have to be eliminated, and officers in cars who are scrambling to keep up with 911 calls will quickly bounce from call to call. Research over the past several decades indicates that when police are in reactive mode, "they're not very effective at managing problems in communities," Sousa explains. Sousa also cautions that even if police funding is shifted to mental health and other programs, the professionals trained to provide those services may find themselves dealing with dangers they're not equipped to face without police backup. In domestic abuse calls, for example, "sometimes de-escalation won't work. The question then is are you now going to train counselors to use force if necessary, and will they want to use it?" Sousa says he's also concerned that if police are replaced with local citizen patrols, those could turn vigilantism, or else find themselves dangerously overmatched against gangs and other violent criminals. Defunding or abolishing police aren't the only potential solutions for police problems, Sousa says. Another option is maintaining police departments but instituting reforms, such as mandating that police wear body cameras, provide training on de-escalation tactics, rewrite policies on use of force and give administrators more authority to fire problem officers. In law enforcement, "I think everyone agrees, you look at policies and make them better," he explains. "In fact, there's been a fair amount of reform that already has occurred in the past few years." But such efforts take time to have an effect, he cautions. However, some activists think the time is past and the situation too grave to rely on slow, incremental reform. Sweeping change is needed now. Sole says that while some people can't envision a society without police, "for those of us who've always seen them as oppressors, we don't have a choice but to dream big." " " Roosevelt Nesmith, 53 at the time this photo was taken, poses for a portrait on Aug. 16, 2013 in Camden, New Jersey, the same year that the Camden County Police Department was officially created and the unionized Camden Police department was disbanded. The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Images Now That's Interesting In 2013, the city of Camden, New Jersey, dissolved its existing police department and created a new, countywide law enforcement agency to replace it, according to National Public Radio. Police who were rehired had to undergo psychological testing, and the department put more officers in the street on a regular basis to get to know neighborhood residents and build cooperative relationships. Excessive force complaints dropped from 65 in 2012 to just three in 2019, and the homicide rate was reduced by more than half. Ernies educated and intelligent devotion to justice and compassion is unparalleled, and my hope has always been that the next generations can learn from him. I now have hope in my heart that things will actually get better. Thank you, Ernie! Helen Jordon, Omaha This board has lost its way It was really sad to read about the Nebraska Environmental Trust defunding wetlands and other projects for ethanol pumps for gas stations. I feel like the trust has lost its way it has become beholden to the governor and special interests. I believe we should directly elect board members so that they are accountable to the people of Nebraska and not some shadow lobby or governor. We can stamp out this grift if we can recall the people that vote for it. What will this unaccountable board vote for next? Maybe some ethanol storage tanks for gas stations or perhaps some ethanol billboards telling people about how great ethanol is? Perhaps they could update those billboards to LED lighting you know, for the environment. Jordan Scupien, Omaha Whos worthy of respect? Who isnt? Bowing out: Private equity baron Jon Moulton Private equity baron Jon Moulton has, for years, been one of the titans of the industry. But he has become a major casualty of the coronavirus crisis, and is de-listing his two Better Capital funds. His second fund, launched in 2012, has been troubled for years and has plumbed disastrous new depths during lockdown. Since the pandemic struck, two of the companies owned by the 2012 fund have gone bust. That fund, and a separate one launched in 2009 that has performed rather better, are being de-listed from the stock market. And, after 40 years in the industry, Moulton thinks it's finally time for him to pack in private equity. He will certainly not be quitting while he is ahead. Unfortunately for him and his backers in the 2012 vehicle, it has made large losses. In its most recent full-year accounts, the 2012 fund reported a total decline in the value of its net assets of nearly 52 per cent including payouts to shareholders. Even Better Capital's chairman, Richard Crowder has repeatedly described the state of affairs as 'frustrating'. Perhaps, unsurprisingly, Moulton says he has had enough. 'I won't be launching a new private equity fund I'm damn near 70,' says the 69-year-old. He has had a long, roller-coaster of a career, which has won him admirers but also vicious personal criticism. In 2014 he was excoriated after City Link, a firm owned by Better Capital, collapsed on Christmas Eve. Another famous name, fashion firm Jaeger, also came to grief after five years of ownership by a Moulton fund, collapsing into administration in 2017. More recently, he had a bit part in the Neil Woodford affair. In his four decades in the business, he has set up two of his own firms. He launched Better Capital after falling out with colleagues at Alchemy Partners, saying he was going to do the same thing again, only better. It didn't quite turn out that way. The last few months have thrown out new and harrowing challenges, not least trying to organise the administration of two firms, including double-glazing business Everest, over Zoom. Business fell off a cliff for Everest after it was forced to down tools due to the lockdown in March. What had been a strong start to the year in terms of customer orders rapidly turned into a disaster. The company couldn't borrow a significant amount of money under Government lending schemes because its performance last year wasn't strong enough. Better Capital put Everest through administration to shake off creditors, and bought it back for a much-reduced price. It is now the last company left in the 2012 fund. Office supplies firm Spicers-Office Team Group was put into administration last month, and bits of it were sold. Moulton admitted that overall, Better Capital's equity investment in the business had been rendered completely worthless. 'Do I wish I'd never started the second fund? I think that would still be a fair statement. It's definitely been one of the less successful parts of my career, to put it mildly,' he says. The whole fund has been a nightmare. He points to Airbus supplier Northern Aerospace, which Better Capital eventually sold to a Chinese conglomerate, as another investment where the firm only just scraped its money back. And then there was the car-crash investment in courier firm City Link, which earned Moulton the nickname 'Grinch' when it went under over the festive season and a tabloid newspaper ran a picture of him with a set of devil horns on his head. He admits: 'There were all kinds of different mistakes made in the fund. A degree of unluckiness in one or two, but generally poor selection, poor industries when you look back at it you wonder why we really did that.' Moulton, who is chairman of the stock exchange in Guernsey, where he lives, has also faced criticism over the implosion of Woodford's investment empire last year. Some theorised that Woodford had used his connections with Moulton the two have co-invested in several companies to gain access to the Guernsey exchange where he listed some of his stakes in unquoted companies. But Moulton says he has 'barely ever spoken' to Woodford. 'I was never approached by Woodford regarding the listings of companies on the Guernsey stock exchange.' Now he plans to keep his head down, investing his own wealth through his family office one of his top investments is in London-listed litigation funder Manolete Partners. 'We've made a fortune on that. We own about 26 per cent which didn't cost us very much.' The company is now worth around 240m. Better's worst investments: Jon Moulton had to put courier firm City Link and fashion business Jaeger (inset) into administration His interest in medical science has also kept him busy during the pandemic. This stems from his early days as a 'very sickly child' in Stoke-on-Trent, during which time he was plagued with illnesses including tuberculosis, aplastic anaemia and amoebic dysentery. It prompted him to set up a charitable foundation which is now helping fund more than 100 clinical trials. One of them is the Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Imperial College London. Moulton is hopeful that if trials go well, a vaccine could be ready by the end of the year. He was on holiday in Botswana when the virus struck and only just managed to get back to South Africa, by way of a helicopter and medical aircraft, in time for a flight home. He feels lucky to have evaded the virus so far. Before he and his wife Pauline made their way down to Botswana, they were on a cruise of the Nile in Egypt, where they subsequently learned a passenger had tested positive. On the next boat along, 40 out of 50 passengers caught the virus. Guernsey has begun to ease lockdown after recording no new cases in more than a month. 'We're in a relatively privileged position,' he says. 'The weather's been gorgeous, we've got a nice house here, I can walk along the clifftops and look at the sea. Worse things happen to you.' That aside, his outlook for the UK's future is somewhat bleak. 'The whole economy's going to come out of this back where it was 25 years ago,' he says. He is due to give evidence tomorrow to MPs on the Treasury committee about the economic impact of the virus. He has mixed views on the Government's response to the pandemic so far. Over the long term, the piles of debt, which many companies have taken on, will become a problem. Lenders have already provided 35billion in taxpayer-backed coronavirus loans to 830,000 businesses, and Moulton adds: 'If the Government's not careful we'll see a tremendous wall of insolvencies.' Private equity firms will have a role to play in helping some of these companies restructure, he adds. But that will be a battle he'll be watching from the sidelines. Getty Images/iStockphoto T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint all received spikes in reported outages beginning at around midday eastern time on Monday. Customers of the major carriers took to Twitter to complain that despite having full bars, they had no cell service. The outages did not appear to be complete outages though, as some users claiming to live in the same city using the same carriers reported different results. Despite customers calling in from across the country, it appears the outage may be linked specifically to a problem occurring on T-Mobile's network, as the other carriers are denying massive issues on their networks. At 4.18pm, T-Mobile's president of technology, Neville Ray, tweeted out an acknowledgement of the problem and told customers it was being examined. "Our engineers are working to resolve a voice and data issue that has been affecting customers around the country. We're sorry for the inconvenience and hope to have this fixed shortly," he wrote. Our engineers are working to resolve a voice and data issue that has been affecting customers around the country. Were sorry for the inconvenience and hope to have this fixed shortly. Neville (@NevilleRay) June 15, 2020 Many T-Mobile customers called for refunds or an application of phone credit to their accounts as compensation for the disruption to their service. One user, going by the name Middlemontana, said the company could not be susceptible to widespread outages if it intended to be a major carrier. "It's 2020 a major outage like this nationwide simply cannot occur. You are essentially a utility company. If you don't have redundancy you aren't prepared to be the major data provider for the US with 5G," the user said. Mike Murphy, editor of tech news outlet Protocol, originally reported that the outage might be limited solely to T-Mobile and theorised as to why the other companies were receiving outage calls from their customers. Story continues "Interesting update: I've just been told that *one network* (appears to be TMO, waiting for confirmation) is having an issue, but because other people are calling people on that network, they think the issue is on their end, which is why downdetector looks like this," he wrote. According to Down Detector, a website that monitors cell service and website outages, the carriers have collectively received more than 112,000 reports of outages today, with the majority - more than 100,000 - coming from T-Mobile customers. New York City, Texas, Florida, Georgia and California all reported significant outages. Read more Google postpones new Android update because 'now is not the time' Statues of Columbus are starting to go away. Whats next? How do we make the stone-tablet version of our history more representative of the actual history Indian Country Today Around the world statues are coming down. Civil War generals. Mass murderers. And Christopher Columbus. In every case there are far more stone monuments remaining than are removed. A survey by the Southern Poverty Law Center found some 1,800 named memorials honoring confederates. Add to that union generals. And military leaders from the American Revolution, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. The generals are men of course. One study said there is a staggering lack of public statues of women. A database in the New Statesman in the U.K. and the Washington Post in the U.S. found only 13 and 7 percent of statues in these countries depict historical women as opposed to historical men. And just like that, a long controversial statue of Spanish colonizer Juan de Onate is gone. A symbol of racism, genocide and oppression of the Pueblo people came down in northern #NewMexico on June 15, 2020. Ryan Begay captured the historic moment: https://t.co/yQcnQRy3AS pic.twitter.com/l5XMuSgtwT indianz.com (@indianz) June 15, 2020 So whats next? How do we make the stone-tablet version of our history more representative of the actual history? Wednesday President Donald Trump nixed the idea of renaming military bases to make the country more reflective. These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom, Trump tweeted. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations. Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with. Respect our Military. All Minnesotans should feel welcome at the Minnesota State Capitol, and our state is long overdue for a hard look at the symbols, statues, and icons that were created without the input of many of our communities. pic.twitter.com/O7SP2jSAkm Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (@LtGovFlanagan) June 11, 2020 There are a few statues of American Indians and Alaska Natives spread out across the country. In fact: Some of the most representative locations are Congress and a few state legislatures. In the U.S. Capitol (standing alongside Andrew $%!* Jackson, colonizer Junipero Serra, would-be dictator Huey P. Long and missionary murder Marcus Whitman) there is Kamehameha I, PoPay, Will Rogers, Sakakawea, Sarah Winnemucca, Standing Bear Washakie and Sequoyah. So at least 4 percent scoundrel (certainly could have added more names to that side of the ledger) and 8 percent Indigenous. On top that there are 11 statues of Confederate leaders. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that states make that call. "They can trade them out any time, McConnell said. A number of states are trading them out now, but I think thats the appropriate way to deal with the statue issue. The states make that decision. A statue of Kamehameha I represents the state of Hawaii in the US Capitol. During his reign in the late 1700s & early 1800s, Kamehameha unified the Hawaiian islands into one kingdom (which was later overthrown by US). Design by Thomas R. Gould. Installed in 1969. #NativeCongress pic.twitter.com/G6CZT5n0Qn indianz.com (@indianz) January 15, 2019 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has asked for the removal of the Confederate leaders from Statuary Hall. Lets play what if? What if the rest of the country was like that? Who should we be honoring? Imagine the 20th century and the Native leaders that could be honored on civic plazas, in front of city halls or on university campuses. (Yes, there are a few now, but we are talking numbers. At least 2 percent of all the statues. And even better is the 7 percent goal set by Congress own example.) The list could include: , Standing Rock. Its hard to chronicle Vine Deloria in terms of his importance to the country and to Native America. He was a thinker. An architect of change. And, always, a writer. When it comes to honoring the past, Custer Died For Your Sins, defines the possible. "Crazy Horse never drafted anyone to follow him. People recognized that what Crazy Horse did was for the best and was for the people," Deloria wrote. "When Crazy Horse was dying, having been bayoneted in the back at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, Crazy Horse said to his father, 'Tell the people it is no use to depend on me any more.' "Until we can once again produce people like Crazy Horse, all the money and help in the world will not save us. It is up to us to write the final chapter of the American Indian upon this continent." Deloria could have been writing about himself. Ernie Stensgar, Coeur d'Alene Tribe, addresses #NCAIMY16 about the legacy of termination fighter, Lucy Covington. pic.twitter.com/hIMaXaNN1N National Congress of American Indians (@NCAI1944) June 30, 2016 , Colville. She was a rancher-turned-politician who led the fight against the failed policy of termination in the 1960s. Termination was an idea to save money by ending the federal governments relationship with tribes. (She would sell a cow to pay her way to Washington.) One of the tools that she used in this fight: a tribal newspaper. She started Our Heritage, a newspaper with the mission of informing tribal members about the issues. She would lead a quiet campaign to quell what she called the "present fever and fervor for termination. , Inupiat. He was the legendary founder and editor of The Tundra Times. He once called his newspaper an "unselfish venture. The Tundra Times was essential reading for anyone and everyone interested in Alaska issues. Rock maintained a nonpartisan editorial position but endorsed individual candidates based on Native issues. He also wrote about Native culture, and the newspaper carefully followed and reported on the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act developments until the legislation became law in 1971. Annie Dodge Wauneka, 1910-1977, was the first woman to serve on the Navajo Nation Council. , Navajo. She became a nurse caring for patients during an influenza pandemic. She had the flu when she was young and gained enough antibodies to be immune. Later she traveled door-to-door on the Navajo Nation explaining tuberculosis. She was the first woman member of the Navajo Nation Council. And she was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. , Nez Perce, born as Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn. He was a champion rodeo rider who became a folk hero because of his performance in the 1916 Pendleton Round-Up. , Tlingit. She championed equal rights for Alaska Natives. She is credited for convincing lawmakers to pass the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945, the first anti-discrimination law in the United States. Every year on Feb. 16, Alaska celebrates Elizabeth Peratrovich Day. Billy Frank Jr., 1931-2014. Photo: Ecotrust , Nisqually. Frank was a tribal leader who fought for treaty rights, and that included defying the state of Washington on the river. He said: "I was not a policy guy. I was a getting-arrested guy. But those arrests led to something. He became friends with those who shackled him. He was appointed to offices by the same governors who once had him arrested. He persuaded the entire establishment in the Pacific Northwest that he was, indeed, right and that folks were better off joining him in his cause. And because of Billy Frank Jr., the salmon survive today and have returned to streams where they were once extinct. And the tribal communities of the Northwest are stronger in so many ways. , Cherokee. She was the first woman elected as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. In a speech at Emory University, she told a story about the United States sending a negotiation team to meet the Cherokees and draft a treaty. One of the initial questions was: "Where are your women?" Cherokee women often accompanied their leaders at important ceremonies and negotiations and it was inconceivable that the representatives from the federal government would come alone. How can you negotiate anything with only half your people or half a way of thinking? Mankiller was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. , Cheyenne and Lakota. She was the long-serving executive director of the National Congress of American Indians during much of the termination era. But that was her second career. Before that, she was an expert in Latin America, promoting human rights for farm workers and other Latin Americans. In 1949 she represented the United States at an international conference in Peru. She was a friend of Eleanor Roosevelt, who encouraged her to move to Washington, D.C. The Indians are their own best spokesmen, their own best diplomats; but they can exercise these roles effectively only in proportion to their opportunities to exchange information and to use their combined strength and concerted voice, she wrote in an article calling for more participation by Native people in elections. Her son, Max Peterson, put Helen Petersons career in perspective when she died. During those times, there were no women in power, really, he said in the Denver Post. Her accomplishments dont sound like much now because a lot of women are doing the same things, but back then, doing those things were a big deal. She went to Washington as a lobbyist. That was an exclusively male area, and she managed to do a great job on behalf of Indian legislation and Indian rights. , Blackfeet. Gerard was one of the first American Indians to work on Capitol Hill and helped guide the Senate past the policy of termination into tribal self-determination. He worked for Sen. Henry Jackson and the Interior Committee where the golden era of Indian policy bills rolled off a legislative assembly line, the Indian Finance Act, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. This list, of course, is not the end. Only the beginning. Because in a country of this size and diversity it makes little sense to cling to statues that honor only a few, including historical figures unworthy of such acclaim. There remains a richer story that has yet to be told, chapter by chapter, stone by stone, and generation by generation. Mark Trahant is the editor of Indian Country Today . He is a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes . Follow him on Twitter @TrahantReports Note: This article originally appeared on Indian Country Today LLC, a nonprofit, public media enterprise . Reader support is critical. We do not charge for subscriptions and tribal media (or any media, for that matter) can use our content for free. Our goal is public service. Please join our cause and support independent journalism today. We have an audacious plan for 2020 and your donation will help us make it so. #MyICT Join the Conversation WASHINGTON (AP) The parents of a former U.S. Marine who has been jailed for nearly a year in Moscow on charges that he endangered police officers are urging the court system and government to ensure a fair trial for their son. They spoke out as a Russian court sentenced another American to more than a decade in prison in an unrelated espionage case. Trevor Reed was charged in August 2019 with assaulting police officers who were driving him to a police station after picking him up following a night of heavy drinking at a party. Russian authorities say the 28-year-old Reed was drunk inside a police car when he grabbed the arm of the driver, causing him to swerve into another lane, and elbowed another officer who tried to intervene. Reed's trial began this year and continues June 30. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. His family says that besides seeking a fair trial for their son, they also want to ensure that U.S. officials are closely tracking the case, including being mindful of potential irregularities in the Russian criminal justice system that could result in unfair punishment. We want to make sure that people throughout our government, both elected and in the agencies, understand what's going on in case he gets a disproportionate punishment," Joey Reed, his father, said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. Which at this point, based on the evidence and the facts of the case, any prison sentence in my opinion is disproportionate. His parents spoke to the AP on the same day another American jailed in Russia, Paul Whelan, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges following a closed trial that the U.S. denounced as a mockery of justice." Whelan, also a former Marine, insists he is innocent, saying he was set up when he was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 while visiting Russia to attend a friends wedding. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. was outraged by the verdict and said the treatment of Whelan while in custody has been appalling. Reed's parents, of Granbury, Texas, say they are concerned about what they see as irregularities in both cases, including missing evidence and contradictory accounts by police officers in their son's prosecution. At the time of his arrest, Trevor Reed was in Moscow visiting his girlfriend and studying the Russian language. He had attended a party one week before he was scheduled to return home, where his family says he was encouraged to drink a large amount of vodka. Reed was sharing a ride home when he became nauseated and got out of the car. After he began running around near a busy boulevard, the police were summoned to help. But instead of taking him for medical care, as the family says is standard protocol in Moscow, officers drove him to the police station. Inside the car, police say, Reed grabbed the arm of the driver and struck an officer with his elbow. The police car swerved into another lane during the altercation, the authorities said. Reed has no memory beyond drinking vodka at the party and no recollection of what happened inside the car, his family says. When his girlfriend came to pick him up several hours later, he was being questioned by Russian authorities without a lawyer or an adequate interpreter. She was told he was being charged with intentionally endangering the officers, the family says. His parents have seized on what they say are discrepancies. They say traffic video does not show the police car swerving, and that Reed's girlfriend a lawyer who is close with the family and has been helpful to the defense and others who were in a car following close behind did not report seeing the police vehicle swerve on the way to the station. Investigators also did not give the defense video from inside the car or the police station video that the family says has since been erased. Reed is housed in a room with about a half-dozen other inmates at a detention facility in Moscow and is permitted outside for only a brief window each day. His father, who has lived periodically in Russia over the last year, has visited him on multiple occasions. In addition, he has recently experienced abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, said his mother, Paula. I am extremely concerned about him catching COVID-19 more than ever now, Paula Reed said in a text message. And since social distancing is impossible in a jail situation it compounds my concerns for his health." The U.S. embassy in Russia, meanwhile, has sent representatives to different court appearances, and the family says it wants the embassy to continue sending a Russian-speaking consul to observe Reed's court proceedings and for Ambassador John Sullivan to attend the trial at its conclusion. The family also says it wants the U.S. government to publicly acknowledge that Reed is imprisoned, is on trial and that the case is being monitored. We would hope that Russian law is followed and due process is used in my sons case, Joey Reed said. South Korean army soldiers patrol along the barbed-wire fence in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Monday, June 15, 2020. AP North Korea's military said Tuesday it is reviewing plans to reenter border areas disarmed under inter-Korean agreements, days after the North threatened to take military action over the sending of leaflets by activists from South Korea. The General Staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA) also revealed that the North would send its own propaganda leaflets into the South, saying it is considering opening front-line areas and waters off the southwest coast to cooperate for a "large-scale leaflet scattering struggle against the enemy." "Our army is keeping a close watch on the current situation in which the north-south relations are turning worse and worse, and getting itself fully ready for providing a sure military guarantee to any external measures to be taken by the Party and government," the General Staff said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. The KPA is studying "an action plan for taking measures to make the army advance again into the zones that had been demilitarized under the north-south agreement, turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten the military vigilance against the south," it said. It did not elaborate on where the border areas would be, but they seem to be referring to regions around the western border town of Kaesong and Mount Kumgang on the east coast from which the North previously withdrew troops where the now-shuttered joint economic and tour projects were under way. "We also accepted an opinion on opening many areas in the ground front and southwestern waters and taking a thorough-going security measure for positively cooperating with our people from all walks of life in their large-scale leaflet scattering struggle against the enemy that is expected to take place," it said. "We will map out the military action plans for rapidly carrying out the said opinions to receive approval from the Party Central Military Commission," it added. In a 2018 editorial with the headline Reason as Racism, Burris defended President Trumps infamous comment about immigrants from shithole countries, arguing that calling someone a racist is the new McCarthyism and that such a label should be confined to the likes of Bull Connor and Dylann Roof. Plus, he added, there are nations that are hellholes in this world. Appalled readers, including current and former staffers, wrote letters in response. Leaders of major foundations said the paper has done our community and the cause of justice a grave disservice. Sixteen members of the Block family owners of the paper for nearly a century called it an attempt to justify blatant racism. Scene: Friday, late afternoon, Bloor Street West and Runnymede Road, five white police officers and four police vehicles on the scene to apprehend one Indigenous man in a wheel chair. Someone complained he was begging and insulting passers by. Officers backed him up against a storefront, while one officer completed three summonses in his car. More than one passerby stopped to witness, some with cameras at the ready. Time to defund or redirect police funding? Iran has criticized a plan to put forward a resolution at a meeting of the UN's nuclear watchdog urging the country to allow inspectors access to two disputed sites. European states are expected to submit the resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board of governors meeting in Vienna this week. During a visit to Moscow on June 16, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country "will not allow the IAEA to become a tool for destroying the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement signed between Iran and world powers, according to state news agency IRNA. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi said Iran would respond "adequately" if the UN agency does not reach a "constructive decision." He did not elaborate. The United States pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement in May 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions that have battered the Iranian economy. In response, Tehran has been progressively breaking the restrictions laid down in the agreement, saying that it can reverse them if the remaining parties to the deal -- Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia -- comply with the deal. U.S. sanctions make it difficult for other parties to abide by their commitments. Iran has been open about the violations and continues to allow IAEA inspectors access to certain facilities to monitor their operations. However, Tehran has refused for more than four months to provide access to two sites where nuclear activity may have occurred in the past. The two locations are not thought to be directly relevant to Iran's current nuclear program, but the IAEA wants to know whether activities going back almost two decades have been properly declared and all materials accounted for. U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA believe Iran had a secret, coordinated nuclear weapons program that it halted in 2003. In 2018, Israel revealed what it said was evidence that Iran had pursued nuclear weapons nearly two decades ago. Much of the intelligence gathered from a Mossad operation in Iran confirmed what was already known. In a statement on June 16, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Kazem Gharib Abadi, claimed that the agency's access requests were based on allegations from Israel, Iran's archenemy. Additional information provided by the IAEA in support of its requests "were merely some commercial satellite imageries that contained no convincing underlying reason" to provide access, Gharib Abadi added. Speaking at a joint press conference with Zarif, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would stand by Tehran, while referring to "developments taking place right now in Vienna." Lavrov also criticized the United States for wanting to extend the UN arms embargo against Iran that is set to expire in October. With reporting by dpa AFP, Reuters, ISNA, IRNA, and TASS Above ground, the villages and farms are home to some of the last surviving communities linked to the sects that populated this part of the world in the earliest years of Christianity Assyrian Christians and Syriac Orthodox, as well as non-Christian Yazidis and Kakai. But as in so much of Iraq, there is untold damage here too. Less than 75 years ago, Christians made up 12 percent of the Iraqi population, and there were still Jews in the country. Today, barely 1 percent of Iraqis are Christians. Mr. al-Kadhimi has made a point of reaching out to them, and visited two Christian villages, Bartella and Hamdaniya, sending a reassuring signal to the beleaguered community. A measure of their excitement was visible in the group of 20 young Christians from Hamdaniya who dressed up in the embroidered local dress used for important religious occasions. For the first time since 2003, we feel safe, said Nicodemus Dawood Sharif, the Syrian Orthodox bishop of Mosul, who met with Mr. al-Kadhimi in Hamdaniya. But, he added, We have no confidence in the government. Our people have left, Your Excellency, the bishop said. Once upon a time, the Iraqis said, Saturday has gone, and next we will get rid of Sunday. The reference was to the Sabbaths of Jews and Christians. I say, if Sunday goes, there will be no Friday, he said, referring to the Muslim holy day. For Friday gets its strength from Sunday, and Sunday gets its strength from Saturday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently revoked the emergency use authorization for malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, citing severe adverse events and other harmful side effects, the CBS News reports. The federal agency concluded that the drugs were not effective at preventing the coronavirus after reviewing a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Results showed that hydroxychloroquine did not do any better than placebo treatments. FDA officials claimed the potential benefits could not outweigh the risks, including dangerous abnormalities in heart rhythms. According to the New York Times, the review revealed severe heart disorders occurred in 100 cases of patients taking the drugs-25 of which were fatal. The researchers also found 113 instances where anti-malarial drugs led to liver abnormalities, kidney problems, and renal diseases. Four patients also developed methemoglobinemia-a blood disorder that prevents oxygen from getting to cells. However, Alex M. Azar II-the secretary of health and human services-claimed the revocation of the emergency use approval only took away the authorization for hospitals to use federal stockpiles of hydroxychloroquine. Doctors are still allowed to prescribe the drugs, he said. Remdesivir On Monday, the FDA released a warning that COVID-19 patients taking both the anti-malaria and antiviral drug Remdesivir could weaken the effectiveness of the latter treatment. In a report by CNBC, the FDA will release a revised fact sheet for health-care providers claiming the co-administration of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir could reduce the antiviral activity of the latter. Controversies and Timeline In March, the FDA allowed medical institutions to use chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients after several laboratory tests conducted in the early days of the pandemic showed the drugs, specifically hydroxychloroquine, interfered with the coronavirus pandemic's ability to enter healthy cells. However, the reports came from small studies that did not stand up well to more extensive studies, as reported by NPR. Dr. Peter Lurie, the president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said evidence from completed clinical trials show the drug is not effective against the virus. In April, Rick Bright-the director of the health department's biomedical research unit-claimed he was removed from his post after he pushed for rigorous vetting of the anti-malaria drug that the government touted. In a statement, Bright alleged the government pressured him to direct money to hydroxychloroquine and believed his transfer was in response to his insistence that funds be allocated into scientifically vetted solutions to the virus. Anti-malaria drugs garnered much attention and excitement earlier in the pandemic after U.S. President Donald Trump championed the drug during multiple press conferences. His support for the drug was echoed by Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, who also promoted the unproven treatment. Bolsonaro reportedly ordered the mass production of hydroxychloroquine in Brazil's military pharmaceutical laboratory. Bolsonaro's government also received over two million doses from the White House in mid-May. Want to read more? The surge of the novel coronavirus across the San Antonio region continued unabated Tuesday, as new cases increased steeply and other indicators pointed to a worsening of the pandemic. Bexar County reported 436 more COVID-19 cases the largest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 4,873. Were in the worst crisis weve had since this started, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said at a televised briefing with Mayor Ron Nirenberg. Were going to be in a lot of trouble if we dont do something to cure this. Its a dangerous situation, Wolff said. The number of COVID-19 patients in San Antonio-area hospitals reached 212 on Tuesday, the highest level yet. Thats more than twice as many as on June 1, when there were 93. Eight-two patients were in intensive care as of Tuesday, up from 72 the day before and 39 on June 1, the Metropolitan Health District reported. Forty-one of those patients were on ventilators compared with 20 at the beginning of the month. Nirenberg pointed to another worrisome trend: a rise in the percentage of coronavirus tests that come back positive. The percentage has more than doubled over the last week from 4.5 percent to 9.3 percent, the mayor said. The coronavirus also is reaching younger age groups. Before Memorial Day, the average age of people who contracted the virus was about 43. Now, its about 36. More than half of Bexar Countys cases now involve people younger than 40, according to Metro Health data. Younger folks: Youre not immune to this, Nirenberg said. Public health officials attribute the spike in infections to the reopening of many businesses and other activities that were shut down during the early days of the pandemic. Josie Norris, The San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer Residents no longer are as vigilant about precautions such as wearing face coverings and keeping a 6-foot distance from others, said Anita Kurian, assistant director of Metro Health. So far, the city hasnt seen an uptick in cases attributable to the recent street protests over the killing of George Floyd, an African-American, by a white police officer in Minneapolis. But Metro Health Director Dawn Emerick said she expects to see such an increase in about five days. Eighty-nine people have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic struck San Antonio in March. No new deaths were reported Tuesday. The recent surge in cases isnt limited to San Antonio. In nearby Comal County, officials reported 38 new cases, bringing the total there to 197 since the start of the pandemic. In Hays County, 155 more people have contracted the virus, for a total of 1,093 confirmed cases. On Tuesday, the mayors of nine Texas cities called on Gov. Greg Abbott to mandate that Texans wear masks or allow local officials to require it. The mayors, including Nirenberg and Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston, made the request in a letter to the governor. This one step could prove to be the most effective way to prevent the transmission of this disease, they wrote. Yet many people in many of our cities are still refusing to wear these face coverings, even though these coverings are scientifically proven to help prevent the disease from spreading. On ExpressNews.com: Gov. Abbott responds to alarm as Texas hospitals swell with coronavirus patients At the start of the pandemic, San Antonio and other cities required residents to wear masks while out in public or in settings such grocery stores where it could be difficult to maintain social distancing. But Abbott later issued his own executive orders governing the states coronavirus response, overriding local restrictions. The governors orders said local officials could recommend masks but couldnt cite or fine people for failing to wear them. Now, the mayors want that power back. A one-size-fits-all approach is not the best option, the mayors wrote. We should trust local officials to make informed choices about health policy. And if mayors are given the opportunity to require face coverings, we believe our cities will be ready to help reduce the spread of this disease. In addition to Nirenberg and Turner, the letter was signed by the mayors of Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Arlington, El Paso and Grand Prairie. Responding to a similar demand by Wolff last week, Abbott said requiring masks would deprive someone of their liberty. On Tuesday, Abbott said local officials can enforce the restrictions he has imposed on the size of gatherings, as well as capacity limits on restaurants, shops, theaters and other businesses. But those officials havent lifted a finger to do so, the governor said. In San Antonio and Bexar County, officials were hesitant to impose fines on those who violated limits on business operations, preferring to issue warnings. The city identified 2,724 violations of its orders from April 1 to June 12 but issued just 67 citations. Nirenberg said the city has enforced with the tools that weve had but neither he nor Wolff showed much appetite for increasing enforcement. Instead, the mayor urged residents and business owners to continue to use hand sanitizer, wear masks and practice social distancing. If we want to enjoy life again here in San Antonio as we knew it, then weve got to do our part, Nirenberg said. Still, the mayor expressed frustration with Abbotts stance. We can only say wear a mask so many times if we dont have the tools at our disposal to make sure that people are, he said. Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics. To read more from Joshua, become a subscriber. jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports Read the full article on Motorious Theres more to this story than you might have heard. Last week, a story of how a man named Austin A Owens who claimed to have saved a Mazda RX-7 FD from floodwaters came out. Owens said he did it because the Mazdawas a dream car of his. Naturally, people assumed he was just a great guy lending a helping hand to other car people, but apparently all isnt as it seems with this story. Photo credit: Facebook Owens posted his story on the Forza Horizon (Xbox One) Official Community. Not only did people praise his selfless actions, automotive websites lauded him for being an admirable good Samaritan and saving the rotary engine, some even going so far as to compare him to Superman. You just cant make this stuff up. Photo credit: Facebook Then, controversy erupted and Owens post disappeared. Thankfully, its been screenshotted. The post is brief, with him stating he didnt know who the Mazda belonged to but that he couldnt let it get flooded. Photo credit: Facebook This is where the story gets interesting. According to two Facebook users, Sonny Trinh and Mimi Lsx LingLing, the FD RX-7s owner braved floodwaters in Biloxi, Mississippi to rescue the car and a Ferrari parked in the Golden Nugget garage after seeing on a social media post the cars were both at risk. They loaded the Ferrari on a trailer and jacked the RX-7 up, putting it on bricks and orange wheel mats, stating it was 6 inches off the ground and safe from the rising water. Photo credit: Facebook LingLing said as the group was leaving with the Ferrari in tow, Owens called asking for the location of the Mazda. He had seen the same social media post and was determined to save the car. They gave him the location but claim they told him the RX-7 was already safe, but that Owens said he didnt want to have braved the floodwaters without doing something for the car. They claim Owens replaced the bricks they had used with cinderblocks he brought, despite the owner of the Mazda RX-7 asking him to not touch the car. With high winds there as a concern about the Mazda being up too high and possibly getting blown over and into the water. Story continues Photo credit: Facebook In enthusiast circles theres an unspoken rule you dont touch someone elses ride without permission. If this is indeed what Owens did, its understandable why the RX-7 owner wasnt too happy after seeing stories of how this other man claimed to have singlehandedly saved the car. Trinh and LingLing admit it was nice that Owens was so concerned about the Mazda RX-7 that he took a risk to reach it. However, they say the whole truth should be known. Hopefully, this doesnt turn into some ongoing feud and all the parties simmer down. However, this goes to show that everyone needs to be careful about making claims on social media, taking credit for what others have done, and touching another persons beloved car without permission. So, what do you think? Is anyone in the wrong or is everyone in the wrong here? Leave a comment and let us know. Sign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you thought a global pandemic unprecedented in scale in recent history, claiming 118,000 lives in the U.S. and counting would cause Americans to make permanent behavioral changes for the good of public health, we have some bad news for you. As it turns out, some Americans, New Yorkers included, can only go so long wearing a face mask in public, keeping their distance from friends or foregoing a pedicure. As each region in New York moves further into the various stages of reopening keeping a watchful eye on states that have reopened only to see coronavirus cases spike it seems clear that while some activities, like going to the pool, eating at a restaurant or getting a haircut are coming back with significant modifications, others, like going to a live concert or movie theater, will be remain verboten for the foreseeable future. Here are some routine activities that public health experts say may go away for good or at least until an effective vaccine is widely available. Handshakes For all the condescending advice young people receive about how to make a good impression with a firm handshake, youd think more people would be sad to see an end to the gesture. But unlike some of the other activities might change drastically because of the coronavirus, some public health experts think the handshake is one that could actually go extinct. Ive got no problem with the handshake going away, Barron Lerner, a professor of medicine at New York University Langone Health, told City & State. Shaking hands is an easy thing to say, You know what, we've just realized that in a world where there's viruses and transmission, we should just develop other gestures. It remains to be seen whether New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson will be able to settle on the next fiscal budget without the customary "budget handshake" agreement. Perhaps a budget head nod? Instead An elbow bump, or better yet, a head nod could become the norm. Coffee culture Curbside pickups and drive-thru windows for those outside of New York City may be popular options under social distancing, but it could be a while before you can wander into a coffee shop to spend a couple hours reading, working or hanging out. I think one thing that will change is lounging spaces, where anyone can come in, said Dustin Duncan, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health. I think the Starbucks coffee culture is effectively dead for a long time. Instead Freelance workers who used to cozy up in the corner of a coffee shop may instead choose to rent private space at a shared work space like WeWork assuming they can afford to do so. Swiping right If handshakes are to be a thing of the past, just how soon will it be before New Yorkers can hit the dating scene? Call it what you want blind dating, internet dating or checking the apps but meeting up with a stranger for drinks at an intimate bar is one activity that epidemiologists are worried about. The New York City health department recently released guidelines for safe sex during the coronavirus; the bummer for singles is that warns against close contact with anyone outside your household. Instead Physical contact with new acquaintances may be off-limits, but that doesnt mean you cant experiment with video-conference dates. Carefree travel It may be summer, but anybody with plans to travel in the next few months either had to change them or take drastic precautions. In some places, air travel done only when absolutely necessary has been accompanied by temperature checks, no-contact check-ins and other measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus. But its not just air travel that could change at least in the medium-term. I probably won't travel by train or plane for the rest of this year (at least), Melody Goodman, associate dean for research at New York Universitys School of Global Public Health, wrote in an email. And while car trips might be preferable to trains or buses, road warriors might want to limit their breaks at rest stops, too. Instead If youre taking a trip, arm yourself with a face mask, hand sanitizer and a detailed plan to limit potential exposure wherever possible. Going to work while sick New Yorkers who once worked in offices have spent three months getting accustomed to working from home, and some predict more flexible work schedules will be normalized even after social distancing restrictions end. But after observing the devastating effects of a virus spreading quickly in indoor spaces, its possible one distinctly American behavior toughing out a day at work, even while sick could also change in the long term. It may be too optimistic to hope that expanded sick leave policies will be available to all workers in the post-pandemic future, and may be even less likely for low-wage or gig work. But if the coronavirus is any teacher, some may think twice before coming to work or asking employees to do so with the sniffles. Instead If youre sick and you have the option to work from home, do it. Or better yet, take a real sick day off, if you can. President Donald Trump (front) signs a proclamation formally recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heightsin 2019. Others attending were (from left) acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, White House adviser Jared Kushner, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. special envoy Jason Greenblatt, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. Read more Under cover of COVID-19 and the U.S. convulsion over racism, the White House is promoting a policy that spells disaster for Israel. Too few are paying attention. As part of President Donald Trumps so-called peace plan for the Palestinians and Israel, the Israeli prime minister is free to annex around 30% of the occupied West Bank as of July 1. This is a move that will end any pretense of peace negotiations, endanger Israels peace with Jordan, and undercut promising advances in normalization with the Gulf States. So why on Earth is U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman working tirelessly to promote unilateral annexation? And why did first son-in-law Jared Kushner green light annexation in the first place? The answer is domestic politics in the White House, which ignores the likely consequences to Israel in order to please Trumps evangelical base. Inside Israel, too, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus annexation urge is focused on securing support from right-wing settlers rather than the security of the Jewish state. This move is a real strategic danger to Israel, says Americans for Peace Nows Vice President, Ori Nir, a former West Bank correspondent for Haaretz. The only gains I can see are domestic political gains for Netanyahu. The whole agenda is to create an irreversible situation under Trump. All previous U.S. presidents supported a two-state solution based on 1967 lines, adjusted with land swaps but including the removal of most of the 132-plus Jewish settlements. True, the peace process was moribund. But rather than wait for more promising times, the Kushner plan endorsed Netanyahus demand for an ersatz state-minus-minus that would consist of disconnected cantons of land with most functions still controlled by Israel. Not surprisingly, the Palestinians rejected this plan. READ MORE: Kushner plan undermines prospects for Mideast peace | Trudy Rubin Many Israeli security experts fear that if Netanyahu moves ahead as Friedman is urging him and his coalition partners to do Israel will pay dearly at multiple levels: on the West Bank and Gaza, with its Arab neighbors, and with the rest of the world. Without any security gains. When Israel will annex unilaterally, we shall see [renewed] Palestinian violence start in the West Bank, says retired Admiral Ami Ayalon, former head of Israels internal Shin Bet security service. His biggest fear, he said on an Israel Policy Forum call, is that the Palestinian Authoritys security forces, which now provide critical assistance to Israel, will stop cooperating and do nothing to stop the violence. Hamas, which now controls Gaza, would feel compelled to compete, and the violence would ultimately penetrate into our cities. Ayalon, like many current and former Israeli security officials, fears annexation would lead to the collapse of the weak Palestinian Authority, forcing Israel to reoccupy the entire West Bank. Since [Israelis and Palestinians] arent going to live peacefully together [or Israel grant equal voting rights to Palestinians], we are talking about perpetual civil war, added Nimrod Novik, an executive board member of Commanders for Israels Security. Already, many have compared the Kushner peace plan which calls for permanent overall Israeli control over disenfranchised Palestinians in disconnected cantons to a version of South African apartheid. This is a term already used by two former Israeli prime ministers, Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert. And annexation let alone full reoccupation risks convincing many countries, including European trading partners, to view Israel as they did South Africa. READ MORE: Will the Trump peace plan hasten the end of Israel as a Jewish state? | Trudy Rubin Even more daunting is the risk annexation holds for Israels relation with key Arab states. Retired Major General Gadi Shamni, a former commander of the Israel Defense Forces Central Command, fears the impact on the peace treaty with Jordan, a key neighbor whose armed forces and intelligence services buffer Israel from a chaotic Syria and an aggressive Iran. This [annexation] is an irresponsible step for whoever cares about the state of Israel, Shamni says. Annexation of the West Banks Jordan Valley, he argues, would vanquish any hope of a Palestinian state, creating unrest inside the Jordanian kingdom, where more than half the population is Palestinian. In the worst-case scenario, this might lead to the collapse of the Hashemite regime, whose stability is essential to Israel. Israeli hawks, including Netanyahu, tend to brush off the risks to Jordan (or foolishly claim Jordan should become the Palestinian state). They also imagine that sharply improved relations with Arab Gulf states will be unaffected by annexation. That dream was put to rest by the first-ever op-ed for an Israeli newspaper by a key Gulf diplomat, Yousef al-Otaiba, who is the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States and reportedly a friend of Kushner. Its Either Annexation or Normalization, the headline of his op-ed published in Hebrew read in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. Annexation will definitely, and immediately, reverse all of the Israeli aspirations for improved security, economic and cultural ties with the Arab world, and the United Arab Emirates. In other words, the annexation ploy not only threatens Israels security but also its future acceptance by the Arab world. And all to please Trumps and Netanyahus hardest-right voters. Cant get more cynical than that. With Covid-19 cases increasing in neighbouring states, the Rajasthan government has offered testing facilities of up to 5,000 samples daily to neighbouring states. In times of this crisis, neighbouring states which are overloaded with patients and short of testing facilities can get tests done in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said at a meeting to review the pandemic situation in the state. Gehlot said States such as Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh could get tests for their patients done in Rajasthan. If the government has testing facilities then why dont they use it for people of Rajasthan first before trying to win cheap popularity by offering it to other states, he said. He said if 25,000 tests were actually being carried out, Rajasthan would have been able to control coronavirus till now. Jitendra Chaudhary, head of the lab technicians association at SMS hospital, said using the CB-NAAT machines and pooled testing technique has helped to ramp up testing capacity in the state. There are 72 CB-NAAT machines being used for Covid testing. ICMR approved these diagnostic machines which are used for testing TB to be used for Covid testing. Dr Virendra Singh, a member of the CMs advisory committee on Covid-19 said that Rajasthan has more capacity to test than the samples received and so for a limited time period, testing facility can be extended to other states He said while the testing capacity is adequate, the government should try to shorten the time lag in testing and providing reports. Reports should be available to patients within 6-8 hours instead of 2-3 days. While the state is increasing testing capacity across districts, it is declining in Jaipur because there is pressure of testing from other neighbouring districts in the Covid-19 testing centres. Of the total samples, 34% are those from other districts such as Tonk, Dausa, Karauli, Alwar and Bharatpur. Till now, some 1.3 lakh Covid-19 samples have been tested in five centres in Jaipur. Of these, 89,000 tests were of Jaipur and the rest were from other districts. Currently testing is being carried out in 16 districts in the state though the chief minister and health minister have said that testing facilities will soon be developed in all 33 districts. FOUR former Henley students are backing a national campaign to make teaching the history of the British Empire compulsory. India Burgess, Sally Kupisz, Finsu Gurung and Harriet Parfitt have urged Gillotts School, which they attended between 2009 and 2014, to join them in supporting Fill in the Blanks. Their call comes after about 300 people staged a protest in Henley in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on Tuesday last week. Demonstrations have taken place in 16 countries following the death of George Floyd, a black American, at the hands of a white police officer. Protesters in Bristol tore down a statue of merchant Edward Colston, whose wealth built many of the citys institutions but was founded on slave labour, and threw it in the River Avon. It has also been confirmed by Public Health England that a disproportionate number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic were among non-white people, which has been blamed on gaps in the quality of housing, work and other living conditions. Fill in the Blanks was launched earlier this year by a group of sixth-formers from London whose families originate from former British colonies. It calls for all pupils in years 7 to 11 to be taught a balanced assessment which acknowledges technological and economic progress under imperialism but also points out the violence, slavery and oppression carried out in its name. It says the empire is rarely taught in some schools while others play down the less favourable aspects, which it argues has repercussions in the present. The Henley women say they learned about the slave trade at Gillotts but their classes, in which they watched historical dramas like Roots, emphasised Americas involvement without explaining the role Britain played. Although slaves didnt work in this country, Britain imported products like sugar, cotton and tobacco which were grown in the States and the Caribbean using their labour. It then exported them to Africa, where slaves were captured and frequently killed in the perilous journey across the Atlantic. The women also didnt learn about race relations in Britain after the Second World War, when large-scale immigration from Commonwealth and former Empire territories began, and they say this is especially important because more Henley residents are white compared with the national average. The quartet, who have all gone on to study history, law or international development at university, were taught about racism in America but say this allows pupils to assume it was never a problem here. They say Britains colonial past means there is still prejudice against black, Asian and other ethnic minority citizens and this harms their educational and professional prospects. Miss Burgess, who took part in the Henley protest with Miss Gurung, said: We cant understand modern Britain without acknowledging that our economic development depended on extracting labour and resources from enslaved black men and women from the 17th to 19th centuries and the colonies in Africa until the 20th century. Our growth depended on slavery and involved the oppression and murder of millions of individuals. Failing to teach students about British involvement in this enables students to feel emancipated from responsibility. They leave Gillotts without understanding how structural and institutionalised racism continues to benefit white people. Henley is not very diverse so its even more important that students understand why their opportunities to go to good universities, to get good jobs and live comfortable lives are the result of colonialism and slavery. Its essential that the next generation understands and takes responsibility for racial injustice, both historically and today. The women, all aged 21 or 22, were in the same year at Gillotts and their families all still live in the area. Miss Burgess grew up in Sonning Common, Miss Parfitt in Shiplake and the other two in Henley. They became aware of the gaps in their teaching after finishing school and would often discuss it when they met in the university holidays. They found out about Fill in the Blanks following recent events. Miss Burgess, who read history at Manchester and is now finishing a masters in international development at Cambridge, said: The protests have definitely been a call to action. They echo views that Ive held for some time, particularly since I studied the ongoing impact of colonialism on developing countries. I felt increasingly despondent that people werent being educated so I was very excited to discover a movement that wants to change that. Catharine Darnton, headteacher of Gillotts, said she supported the campaign in principle but hadnt yet received the womens correspondence so couldnt comment further. She said schools must teach to the National Curriculum, which is set by the Government. WASHINGTON - It took minutes for the video of President Donald Trump's slow and halting descent down a ramp at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to begin circulating online on Saturday, accompanied by a blunt hashtag that now doubles as a campaign slogan for his opponents: #TrumpIsNotWell. The viral clip, which has since been repackaged into Twitter barbs and a political attack ad directly challenging Trump's vigor and vitality, highlighted how questions over physical and mental health have become a leading attack line in the 2020 presidential race. For Trump, who has tried to cast his Democratic rival Joe Biden as "sleepy" and mentally absent, the attacks over his own wellness appeared to hit close to home. The president defended himself by offering an explanation for his unsteady gait, describing the standard-looking ramp as "steep" and "very slippery." In the first presidential race in which the combined age of the two leading candidates exceeds 150 years, mental acuity and physical health have become a central theme as the 77-year-old Biden and the 74-year-old Trump compete for votes. While previous presidential contests have included whisper campaigns and rumors about candidates' health, the open charges of senility flying between the two camps sets the 2020 contest apart, said Barbara Perry, a presidential historian at the University of Virginia's Miller Center. "These kinds of rumblings used to happen behind the scenes," she said. "And now, because of both social media and the attack style of campaigning that Trump uses, there's been this turning point." The Trump campaign's eagerness to focus on Biden's verbal gaffes could be a "double-edged" sword as attention turns back to the president's own behavior, she said. Neither campaign nor its allies has provided anything to back up the attacks on the two men's health beyond their observations on Trump and Biden's public comments and physical appearance at times. Physicians for Biden and Trump have released letters declaring the two men healthy. As the video of Trump on the ramp trended online Saturday, the president took to Twitter to explain his cautious stroll. "The ramp that I descended after my West Point Commencement speech was very long & steep, had no handrail and, most importantly, was very slippery," Trump wrote. "The last thing I was going to do is 'fall' for the Fake News to have fun with. Final ten feet I ran down to level ground. Momentum!" But the explanation was belied by the video - which showed the president pursing his lips while looking down as he gingerly made his way down the ramp. Trump only slightly increased his gait to a more normal speed for the final two steps of the journey. The general at his side seemed to have no trouble walking down the ramp. Trump often has attacked Biden over his mental fitness for office, accusing his fellow septuagenarian of losing "his fastball" and having to rely on staff members to function. "I honestly don't think he knows what office he's running for," Trump said during a campaign rally in March, telling supporters that Biden would only be a figurehead if he became president. "They're going to put him in a home and other people are going to be running the country and they're going to be super left radical crazies." As Biden has mostly stayed at his home in Delaware in recent months due to the coronavirus pandemic, the president and his campaign have sought to depict him as doddering in his basement and ill-equipped to lead the country through challenging times. "Any honest voter juxtaposing President Trump and the Democrat candidate can see the stark difference in mental acuity and wit," said Ken Farnaso, a spokesman for the Trump campaign. "It isn't their age that is in question here, it's their track record and ability to go head-to-head with foreign leaders, friend or foe." But the campaign and some of the president's allies have at times explicitly made Biden's age an issue. In March, the Trump campaign ran ads on Facebook depicting Biden as a spoon-fed invalid in a nursing home, with the caption "Too Old?" Some Trump advisers have said Biden's age and long record in Washington will allow Trump to again run as an insurgent outsider, recapturing the energy and enthusiasm that helped him win in 2016. Last week, Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale released a statement calling on the news media to air all of Biden's public remarks. It's not clear if the strategy is working, as polls continue to show Biden leading Trump nationally and in key swing states. Biden's significant lead among older voters, a group Trump carried in 2016, offer an indication that the president's attacks alluding to his 77-year-old rival's age could be backfiring. John Anzalone, Biden's pollster, has said the former vice president's long track record and familiarity with older voters has boosted his standing even as Trump has tried to brand him as senile. "We'd be happy to be dead even with seniors. Or even lose them by a couple points because it would be a total game changer," said Anzalone, who noted that Trump won seniors by seven percentage points according to 2016 exit polls and Mitt Romney won them by 12 percentage points in 2012. He highlighted states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Florida as home to large numbers of seniors. Given Biden's relatively moderate record on many issues, he is "not scary" to a lot of seniors, Anzalone said. He added that Trump's erratic response to the coronavirus pandemic has weakened his position with voters over 65, who are more vulnerable to the contagion. Trump, who has held several events at the White House in recent weeks catering to senior citizens, participated in a roundtable on Monday to tout his administration's record. "We have to keep all of our seniors safe, this is a very perilous time," Trump said. A Washington Post-ABC News poll released May 31 found Biden leading Trump among older registered voters by 10 points, 54% to 44%. The poll also found that 46% of voters thought Trump had the "mental sharpness" necessary to serve effectively as president. For Biden, the number was 51%. In a statement, Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said the nation was "crying out for leadership" while Trump is "trampling on our highest values." "But instead of finally doing his job, Donald Trump - who weeks ago encouraged drinking disinfectant on national TV - somehow decides it's a good idea to again raise the subject of mental acuity," Bates said, referring to an instance in which Trump publicly mused about the effectiveness of injecting disinfectant to treat coronavirus patients. Trump's opponents, who have long criticized his mental sharpness, are now seizing on his physical fitness as well. In addition to the video of Trump struggling to walk down the ramp, another viral clip circulated Saturday in which Trump used a second hand to lift a glass of water to his mouth. As outside groups began crafting campaign ads featuring the videos, Republican operatives working on the Lincoln Project - an anti-Trump group whose ads have provoked the president's ire - amplified the hashtag #TrumpIsNotWell over the weekend. Biden has avoided directly challenging Trump over his age - though he has sharply criticized the president for his handling of the pandemic and seized on some of Trump's questionable claims to cast doubt about his fitness to lead. Perry said Biden is following a more traditional political playbook, avoiding making untoward direct attacks on an opponent's age, health or appearance - allowing outside actors to bring such issues into the public debate. "He is old-school and that's one reason that that would not come naturally to him," she said. "But you do have to be careful not to bring a knife to the gunfight, if your opponent is not following the old gentlemen's agreement and the old rules." Some Biden supporters have pushed him to take Trump on more directly and more aggressively on the issue of mental and physical fitness. Some have highlighted how Trump effectively raised doubts about Hillary Clinton's health in 2016. Philippe Reines, a former top Clinton adviser who prepped her for the debates with Trump, publicly pleaded with Biden to take Trump on over his health. "PLEASE force the TRUTH about donald trump's physical & cognitive health into the open," he wrote on Twitter on Saturday. "BEFORE his LIES about YOUR health harden any further." While the Biden campaign avoided directly criticizing Trump on his foibles over the weekend out of what campaign officials describe as a desire to take the high road and avoid cheap shots at the president - Biden's allies had no hesitation poking at Trump. "Trump can talk the talk, but literally - literally cannot walk the walk," said South Carolina state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a longtime Biden pal. "He's been so vociferous in his attacks on Joe Biden - calling him Sleepy Joe - and here's a guy who, who obviously had trouble holding a glass of water walking down a ramp," he added, joining a growing call for Trump to release his full medical records. "There's something here," Harpootlian said. "How many metaphors can I use? Where there's smoke there's fire." The federal government in Ottawa is planning to extend the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) that provides $2,000 a month to people whose jobs have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. A total of 8.4 million Canadians, about 40% of the countrys total workforce, are currently receiving the $2,000 a month benefit, according to government data. But the program, as currently structured, only allows people to claim CERB for 16 weeks The socialist New Democratic Party (NDP) said on Monday that in the next couple of weeks two million people will max out their benefits, and a further six million will hit the ceiling a few weeks later. If there's no plan to keep CERB going, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said his party won't back a massive spending proposal due in the House of Commons on Wednesday. A vote on the spending plan, representing about $87 billion, is a confidence motion -- as are votes on all government spending -- so in theory the opposition parties could bring down the government if they refuse to support it. Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal Party is in a minority government situation and needs the support of the NDP to remain in power. Read: The Liberal government tried last week to pass a bill that would change CERB as part of broader legislation that would have also expanded benefits for Canadians with disabilities. The CERB-related elements were designed to address concerns that the benefit is discouraging people from returning to work. Under the proposed changes, people would have seen their benefits cut off if they failed to return to work when it was reasonable to do so, and their employer asked them to come back, or if they were able to work but declined a reasonable job offer. But that legislation failed to pass because none of the opposition parties would support it. "Post Reports" is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you've come to expect from the newsroom of The Post - for your ears. - - - In this episode: Robert Barnes walks through the Supreme Court decision that protects gay and transgender people from discrimination in the workplace. Karla Adam explains why minority and immigrant doctors are feeling the brunt of the coronavirus burden in Britain. And Eugene Scott describes how it feels to be a black journalist right now. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2020) - Sweet Earth Holdings Corp. (CNX: SE) (FSE: 1KZ1) (the "Company" or "Sweet Earth") is pleased to announce that Mr. Amrik Virk has agreed to join the Board of Sweet Earth and assume the role of President. Mr. Virk has held a variety of senior positions in Canadian government including Minister of Advanced Education and most recently Minister of Technology and Innovation in British Columbia ("BC"). Under his tutelage BC rapidly expanded its sustainability technology sector to become the 15th largest, globally. As Minister, Mr. Virk launched the #BCTECH Strategy, which still currently forms the backbone of the province's technology economy. Some notable milestones in his tenure include the instalment of the $100 million dollar #BCTECH Fund to support profitable growth of this business community. Mr. Virk's comprehensive mandate included various International Trade Missions, over a dozen technology accelerators, all of governments' cyber security, real estate portfolio, as well as a large portion of all public building construction. In both of his portfolios, he managed budgets nearing $2 billion dollars. He has served as a director in several public and private organizations and was previously a board member of Seaway Energy Services, which successful completed the three-cornered amalgamation with Sweet Earth Holdings. Mr. Virk brings to his role as President, three decades of extensive governance, fiscal and strategic leadership. Prior to entering government, he served over 26 years as a senior officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Peter Espig, Sweet Earth Holdings, commented, "Mr. Virk is a natural fit to Sweet Earth and knows our team very well. As a board member he will augment corporate governance and as President he will assume key management responsibilities." About Sweet Earth Sweet Earth is a vertically integrated "farm to shelf" hemp grower with a farm in Applegate, Oregon, that maintains a full line of hemp and CBD products for the US and global market. Its products combine CBD with herbal and organic ingredients, all of which are selected for their beneficial properties to soothe, rejuvenate, and reduce inflammation. In addition to high-end finished products, Sweet Earth prides itself on sustainability by minimizing the use of plastics in both production and packaging. Story continues Sweet Earth's in-house genetics team has been working on its own proprietary hemp strain. This strain has been grown in its indoor greenhouse resulting in high yielding CBD rich flower. Sweet Earth looks forward to planting this new strain outdoors for the 2020 season. Its products are sold on its website: www.sweetearthcbd.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Peter Espig" Peter Espig Director For additional information contact : Peter Espig Telephone: (778) 385-1213 Email: info@sweetearthcbd.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57961 Twenty Indian Army soldiers were martyred in a skirmish with People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops at Galwan valley on Monday night, Indian Army has confirmed. In a statement late on Tuesday, Indian Army confirmed that 17 more soldiers have succumbed to their injuries, taking the death toll to 20. Earlier, Indian Army had confirmed that Colonel B Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment, and two jawans were martyred in altercation with Chinese forces. "Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June, 2020. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand-off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20," stated the official statement by the Indian Army. Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation, the statement further said. ALSO READ: India-China border news live updates: 20 Indian soldiers killed in clash with PLA troops in Galwan Valley Meanwhile, news agency ANI reported that Indian intercepts reveal that Chinese side suffered 43 casualties, including dead and severely injured, in the face-off at Indo-China border in Ladakh. In statements during the day, PLA blamed India for initiating hostilities at Galwan, but did not disclose the details of the casualties on their side. In a statement released in the evening, Ministry of External Affairs stated that China attempted to unilaterally change the status quo in Galwan valley on June 15 after agreeing to de-escalate during a meeting on June 6. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side, the Ministry said. After meeting Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army chief General Manoj Naravane, External Affairs Minister and Defence Minister S Jaishankar briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on developments following the skirmish between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Galwan valley. Later, the Prime Minister also met Home Minister Amit Shah for a two-hour long deliberation on the Galwan valley stand-off. ALSO READ: China's Great Wall Motors signs $1 billion MoU with Maharashtra; border tensions with India escalate ALSO READ: India-China border dispute: No gunshots fired; stones, batons, hand-to-hand clashes in Ladakh Syracuse, N.Y. Amie Estrella drops off coffee and doughnuts from Dunkin for her 17-year-old disabled son, Jack, every weekend at his group home in Oneida County, but cannot go inside to visit him. Estrella, of Sherrill, has not seen him since March 24 when the state banned visitors at all group homes to keep the coronavirus out. Jack has autism and does not speak. He is one of six residents in the group home. He used to come home every Friday for the weekend before the pandemic. Estrella and her husband, Matt, have explained to Jack over FaceTime why they have stopped bringing him home and visiting, but they are not sure he understands. Thats why they call the group home before they drop off the coffee and doughnuts to make sure Jack is not outdoors. The Estrellas dont want him to see them because they know that will upset him. The Estrellas and other families with loved ones in group homes are frustrated because the state has not told them when and if the visitation ban will be lifted. Everyone else has a plan for reopening businesses, beaches, casinos, but we dont have any indication of what the plan is for group homes, Estrella said. There are about 38,000 New Yorkers living in 7,250 group homes regulated by the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. As of June 10, 2,396 residents had tested positive for Covid-19, including 38 in the agencys Central New York region which includes Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga, Cortland, Oneida, Herkimer and Lewis counties. Statewide there have been 375 group home resident Covid-19 deaths, including one in Central New York. A Syracuse woman whose 19-year-old brother lives with five other young people in a group home started an online petition demanding that OPWDD communicate with parents about resuming visitation at the facilities. More than 5,000 people statewide have signed the petition. Madelyn Smith said her brother Caleb Smith, who has autism, does not understand why she and her parents have stopped visiting on weekends. The fact he hasnt been able to see my family is making him upset and confused, Smith said. Its hard on my family. Syracuse woman thrilled NY will let her visit brother in group home OPWDD said it understands the concern of families. The agency said in a statement it is working with the state Health Department to develop a process and timeline to safely resume group home visitation. We hope to announce those new guidelines soon, the agency said. OPWDD recently told families it will allow window visits between group home residents and their loved ones. Visitors and residents can see each other through a window and talk by phone, a practice common at nursing homes which have also banned visitors. But Estrella said she and some other parents fear window visits could backfire. He (Jack) will think we are there to bring him home, she said. Im afraid he will come out the door and run to us. The staff will have to restrain him. That would be traumatic for him and us. Arc of Onondaga, which runs 22 group homes in Onondaga County for the developmentally disabled, has seen residents become more frustrated during the pandemic, said Ellen Gutmaker, the agencys executive director. In addition to family visits, many of the residents day habilitation programs and other community activities have been suspended. Gutmaker hopes OPWDD allows family visitation to resume. She believes it can be done safely if people wear masks, visit outdoors, keep a safe distance from each other and have time limits on visits. I do think as our communities open up, this is something we need to look at for families and for the people we support and try to do this in a way that is reasonable and safe, Gutmaker said. Arcs group homes are for adults ranging in age from their 20s to 80s. Each home has anywhere from three to eight residents. Many of the residents have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, immune deficiencies and heart conditions that increase their risk of Covid-19, Gutmaker said. A recent study by Syracuse researchers found people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are at greater risk of dying from Covid-19 because they often have underlying health problems and live in group homes. Gutmaker said none of Arcs group home residents have been infected with the virus. She attributes that to group home workers who have been diligent about cleaning, screening residents, wearing masks and social distancing. New York does not make group homes regularly test employees for Covid-19 like nursing homes are required to do. Group home employees must take their temperatures every day. They cannot come to work if they have a temperature over 100 or have any other Covid-19 symptoms. Gutmaker said every residents temperature is taken twice a day. Estrella said there have been no positive cases reported at her sons group home run by Upstate Cerebral Palsy in Rome. Shes very pleased with the care he gets there. But she worries that her son has become depressed during the lockdown. On Facetime hes not as responsive as usual and often has a solemn look on his face, she said. One of his favorite things to do is go for car rides, but he cant do that now, Estella said. He has not left that patch of earth in three months. We miss him dearly. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Syracuse mom with coronavirus chooses hospice over ventilator: The finality of it Cuomo to bars, restaurants: If your crowds are too big, NY will yank liquor license Youth sports can restart in Central NY early next month, Cuomo says Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com James T. Mulder covers health news. Have a news tip? Contact him at 315-470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com One in five people across the world has an underlying health condition that could increase their risk of severe coronavirus if infected, a new study suggests. Using data from 188 countries, a modelling study estimated 1.7 billion people, 22 percent of the world population, have at least one underlying health condition that puts them at increased risk. Researchers say that although estimates give an indication of the number of people who should be prioritized for protective measures, not all of these individuals would go on to develop severe symptoms if infected. According to the study, four percent of the world's population - or 349 million people - would require hospitalization if infected. The authors say this suggests the increased risk of severe Covid-19 could be quite modest for many with underlying conditions. Associate Professor Andrew Clark, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said: 'As countries move out of lockdown, governments are looking for ways to protect the most vulnerable from a virus that is still circulating. Globally, one in five people are at increased risk for coronavirus - shown in dark blue in the top map, while nearly nine percent of people in Russian and the Balkan Peninsula at 'high' risk due high rates of multiple underlying health issues (shown in bottom map, dark green) 'We hope our estimates will provide useful starting points for designing measures to protect those at increased risk of severe disease. 'This might involve advising people with underlying conditions to adopt social distancing measures appropriate to their level of risk, or prioritising them for vaccination in the future.' The World Health Organisation (WHO) and public health agencies in the UK and US identify cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease as risk factors for severe coronavirus. The new study, in The Lancet Global Health journal, provides global, regional and national estimates for the number of people with underlying health conditions. The authors caution that they focused on underlying chronic conditions and did not include other possible risk factors that are not yet included in all guidelines, such as ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation. They say that the estimates are therefore unlikely to be exhaustive, but serve as a starting point for policy-makers. Regions of the world with large older populations and high rates of cardiovascular disease (bright red) kidney disease (pink) and especially with many residents with multiple underlying diseases (dark red) had the greatest number or people at high risk (orange) The authors based their estimates on disease prevalence data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, UN population estimates for 2020 and the list of underlying health conditions relevant to Covid-19, as defined by current guidelines. To help determine the degree of increased risk, the researchers also provided separate estimates of the proportion of all people with and without underlying conditions who would require hospitalisation if infected. They calculated those at high risk using infection hospitalisation ratios for Covid-19 and made adjustments for differences between countries. Countries and regions with younger populations have fewer people with at least one underlying health condition, while those with older populations have more people with at least one condition. In Europe, the study authors estimate 30 percent of the population is at-risk for coronavirus, while 27 percent of the population carries similar risks due to chronic health conditions. Globally, less than five percent of people aged under 20 years, but more than 66 percent of those aged 70 and above, have at least one underlying condition that could increase their risk of severe coronavirus, researchers say. Among the working age population (15 to 64 years), 23 percent are estimated to have at least one underlying condition. While the prevalence of one or more condition listed on current guidelines is similar between the sexes, the authors assumed males were twice as likely as females to require hospitalisation if infected. Dr Rosalind Eggo, from LSHTM, said: 'Our estimates suggest that age-based thresholds for shielding could play a role in reducing deaths and reducing the number of people who require hospital treatment, but the choice of threshold needs to be balanced against the proportion of people of working age affected, as well as the health and economic consequences that might be associated with long periods of isolation.' Greece reopened its main airports to more international flights on Monday, hoping to kick-start its vital tourism sector after three months in lockdown. Tourism employs about 700,000 people and accounts for some 20% of Greeces economic output, so how the sector fares is significant for the countrys recovery. Greece emerged from a decade-long debt crisis two years ago. Well its great, its like freedom, U.S. tourist Chris Saye said, speaking through a mask at Athens main airport after arriving from Paris with his wife. Passengers arriving from airports deemed high-risk by the European Unions aviation safety agency, including airports in the Paris region, are tested for the coronavirus on arrival and quarantined up to 14 days, depending on the result. Arrivals from other airports are randomly tested. People are still barred from flying in from Britain and Turkey. Seasonal hotels and museums also opened on Monday. Restrictions on movement imposed in March helped Greece contain the spread of COVID-19 infections to just above 3,000 cases, a relatively low number compared with other EU countries. But it brought the economy to a standstill. The conservative government now faces the tough task of opening the country to foreign visitors while allaying public concerns about a new virus outbreak. From the picturesque island of Santorini, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told reporters on Saturday that his priority is to make Greece the safest destination in Europe. You can come to Greece, you will have a fantastic experience, you can sit on a veranda with this wonderful view, have your nice Assyrtiko wine, enjoy the beach, Mitsotakis said, with a stunning sunset in the background. But we dont want you crowded in a beach bar... There are a few things that we wont allow this summer. About 33 million tourists visited the Mediterranean nation last year, generating revenues of 19 billion euros ($21.42 billion). (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Karina Serrano Rodriguez was being escorted to a computer terminal at the South Louisiana Detention Center two weeks ago to prepare for her asylum case before an immigration judge when she learned that she would finally be paroled. Rodriguez, 27, an asylum-seeker from Cuba, had spent eight months at the detention center, located in Basile, after having waited three months in Ojinaga, Mexico, for her turn under the Trump administration's Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the Remain in Mexico policy. Rodriguez was ecstatic when she learned the news until she found out that the parole came with a $10,000 bond. "It was like a bucket of cold water over my head," said Serrano, who is now living with relatives in Tampa, Florida. "I was desperate, because I didn't know where my family would come up with the money." Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics Lawyers and advocacy groups say Serrano is part of a small but growing number of asylum-seekers in Louisiana detention centers who are being paroled with condition of bonds something unusual for "arriving aliens," the official term for immigrants who present themselves at ports of entry and request asylum from authorities. Karina Serrano Rodriguez (Courtesy Rolando Lopez Turruellas) "It's an unorthodox move," said Mich Gonzalez, a staff attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center who has been working on litigation against the New Orleans field office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for its constant refusal to parole asylum-seekers. "Now that they're granting some paroles, they're placing as many hurdles as possible," Gonzalez said. Immigration judges and ICE officials routinely require bonds for people with specific circumstances, like criminal histories or having entered the country in unauthorized ways, Gonzalez said. They are not traditionally issued as a condition for releasing lawful asylum-seekers on parole, according to a 2009 ICE directive. Immigration judges have no jurisdiction over the custody of such asylum-seekers, and only ICE decides whether they get parole. Story continues "The 2009 Parole Directive explicitly states that absent adverse factors, such as an indication that someone is a flight risk, ICE should grant release on parole," Gonzalez said. But ICE officials are issuing bonds from $10,000 to $30,000, a hefty price for relatives and friends of detainees to come up with. Asylum-seekers and lawyers say they are not telling detainees why they are being released with a bond. In an email, Bryan Cox, the public affairs director for ICE's Southern region, told NBC News that he is not sure whether ICE tracks that type of data, and he said that if it does, he is not sure he could provide it because of ongoing litigation. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union have brought a slew of cases against the New Orleans ICE field office for what they call a "blanket policy" of keeping asylum-seekers locked up. The groups won an injunction in September, when a federal judge ordered ICE to report each month the number of asylum-seekers paroled in the New Orleans field office. Although ICE began releasing numbers after the lawsuits, Gonzalez criticized it, saying it is inconsistent. "We don't think they're accurate. We feel they're underreporting the number of applications they're receiving," Gonzalez said. The New Orleans ICE field office has become notorious for being at a virtual standstill with the number of parole approvals. In 2016, over 75 percent of asylum-seekers under its jurisdiction were granted parole. The number dropped dramatically, to 1.5 percent, in 2018, and in 2019, it paroled three people out of thousands in detention. 'It's extremely unusual' There are no recent figures for the number of asylum-seekers who have been released on bond. The evidence is anecdotal, based on interviews with attorneys and people who have been released. When Serrano was notified of her parole, three other women were granted parole, as well, also on $10,000 bonds. According to Serrano, the three women, like her, were Cuban, had no criminal histories and had family in the U.S. claiming them. Homero Lopez, executive director of Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy in New Orleans, said he has seen some asylum-seekers paroled with high bonds. "It's extremely unusual," said Lopez, who said he has seen it only a handful of times in his 10 years of experience. He recently handled what he called a strong case for an LGBTQ person from El Salvador with family and friends in the U.S. She was released on $15,000 bond, which a nonprofit in Texas helped pay. A detainee sits in a room to use a telephone inside the Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield, La., on Sept. 26, 2019. (Gerald Herbert / AP file) Lara Nochomovitz, a private lawyer with a large client base in Louisiana who helps coordinate post-release services, told NBC News, "I see an uptick in releases, but most are coming with a bond attached." Nochomovitz said she has seen up to a dozen paroles in Louisiana with $10,000 and $15,000 bonds. "That's obviously a lot of money for people to have to come up with," she said. Coming up with money is complicated. With many people out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic, families are finding it difficult to gather the money. Bond funds have been depleted across the country and now have very limited resources. "The National Bail Fund Network's referral system currently has $1.5 million of requests that no bond fund can meet at this time," said Elizabeth Nguyen, the immigration bond coordinator for the National Bail Fund Network. Nguyen added that no matter how strong the fundraising is, bond funds cannot get everyone out because of the large number of people in detention whose paroles come with bonds. Yaneici Pena Torres, 29, from Cuba, was paroled from South Louisiana Detention Center on June 3 after 10 months in detention and having been denied parole twice. Pena Torres signed a contract with a bond company to pay the $10,000 that was attached to her parole. Pena Torres, now in Miami, is filing paperwork so she can start looking for a job, but she worries that with the pandemic, she will not be able to find one. She owes the bond company $300 a month. "This is an abuse of power. They don't care about us," Pena Torres said. But her mind is also on the detainees she left behind. "There are women who have been detained for over a year that are going crazy in that hell." Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. People who visited or live near Xinfadi Market as they use mobile phones to make an appointment for COVID-19 testing at Youan Hospital in Beijing, China, 15 June 2020. Beijing conducted COVID-19 tests on more than 76,000 people on 14 June. According to media reports, over 50 people tested positive for COVID-19 on 14 June. EPA - Scientists struggle to track source of cluster linked to massive food wholesale centre - Mass testing and strict lockdowns imposed in some parts of the capital while other cities order isolation for travellers from Beijing Beijing is battling an "explosive outbreak" of the coronavirus, with health authorities reporting 36 new local infections in the city in one day all linked to a food market. As scientists try to track how the latest outbreak in Beijing emerged, the capital and neighbouring regions have stepped up emergency measures, including renewing lockdowns. The capital has had 79 new local cases since last Thursday, all of which are linked to the Xinfadi wholesale market in the city's southwestern district of Fengtai. Covering 112 hectares, the centre is the biggest of its kind in Asia and supplies food to northern provinces. Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist with the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, told Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily on Monday afternoon that the situation was very serious. Local residents, who visited or live near Xinfadi Market, queue for a COVID-19 test at Guang'an Sport Center in Beijing, China, 15 June 2020. Beijing conducted COVID-19 tests on more than 76,000 people on 14 June. According to media reports, over 50 people tested positive for COVID-19 on 14 June. EPA A man wearing a face mask walks with a bicycle past a one-day closure sign at the entrance of a convenience store that sells produce from the Xinfadi wholesale market, following new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in Beijing, China June 15, 2020. REUTERS GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman, June 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Levolution (LEVL-BTC), trading at HitBTC, Livecoin, and P2PB2B, is now live on TradingView, a social networking service that provides a series of charting features to investors and traders; granting them amazing financial visualization and communication options to share their trading ideas and strategies. Copy stating that LEVL is live on TradingView https://levolution.io/ In late May, HitBTC made an announcement that the digital asset exchange is partnering with TradingView, allowing HitBTC users to place buy or sell orders of the LEVL Token directly on the TradingView platform. With a simple API key, LEVL Traders and holders on HitBTC can manage all of their trades on TradingView's web-trading interface, rather than logging into HitBTC. This partnership opens up the opportunity for the LEVL community and traders to more effectively communicate, discover, and share valuable trading ideas and strategies. With over 8 million active users and 92 million monthly visitors, TradingView is undoubtedly the most interactive social platform for investors and traders to share information. TradingView is known for its intuitive charts, allowing participants in both the traditional finance and crypto sectors to effortlessly and collaboratively make decisions based on their findings. With the integration of TradingView's API Keys, LEVL traders on HitBTC can take advantage of an extensive list of features. Some of these features include server-side alerts when markets meet the users' custom criteria, asset screeners to filter assets based on predefined metrics, HTML5 charts, customized technical analysis, and broad market data coverage among many others. Being one of the few crypto exchanges that have been issued this integration, HitBTC users have the ability to leverage the TradingView platform in ways which they may otherwise not have. For example, the integration allows HitBTC's more experienced traders to have the algorithmic trading systems on TradingView operate their trades. LEVL traders are now able to trade with more speed, accuracy, and at a reduced cost; issuing our community members more time to communicate on the TradingView platform, and collaboratively develop more effective trading strategies. Following LEVL's listing on HitBTC, there has been a tremendous increase in the trading activity of the LEVL Token. With the development of HitBTC and TradingView's partnership, we project that there will be another momentous swing in trading activity. Our recent endeavors continue to pique the interest of our users, so we're very excited to see what comes of the partnership. About Levolution Levolution marries the latest blockchain technology with a groundbreaking token offering platform. Overall, our mission is to aid blockchain startup companies in breaking through barriers to entry. Relying on social incubation and the team's core internal competencies, the Levolution platform aims to help companies attack these barriers. This is done by sourcing innovative strategies from community members and token offering participants. Stay up to date with Blockchain's best token offering platform, Levolution. Media Contact: Marquese Dillon Email: [email protected] levolution.io Related Images levl-is-live-on-tradingview.jpeg LEVL is Live on TradingView Copy stating that LEVL is live on TradingView https://levolution.io/ Related Links Levolution SOURCE Levolution Related Links https://levolution.io/ WASHINGTON - The left flank of the Democratic Party has long eyed next week's House primaries in New York as a prime opportunity to put an unabashedly liberal imprint on Congress, targeting several seats in one of the country's most Democratic states to shift the party further in its direction. But as the June 23 primary approaches, many liberal activists are scrambling to avoid a different outcome: A pair of relatively moderate candidates could emerge and end up being elected later this year in overwhelmingly blue districts - thus, they warn, squandering the chance to send new liberal standard-bearers to Washington. The fears persist despite increasing optimism on the left that middle school principal Jamaal Bowman could unseat veteran Rep. Eliot Engel, a Democrat, on June 23, with some openly warning of a one-step-forward, two-steps-back scenario. The anxiety is especially acute in the 15th Congressional District - a South Bronx seat frequently rated as the most Democratic in the nation - where a veteran politician with a long history of anti-gay and antiabortion rhetoric has put many party officials and activists on red alert. Many fear that the candidate, New York City Council member and former state senator Ruben Diaz, could represent a persistent thorn in the side of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other national Democrats - not only for his taste for controversy but for his willingness to speak fondly of President Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and other Republican officials. "People are finally beginning to realize what is at stake: There's a real risk that a Trump Republican could represent the bluest congressional district in America, which would represent a profound embarrassment for the Democratic Party and progressive politics nationwide," said Ritchie Torres, a city councilor who is running against Diaz to fill the seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Jose Serrano. Meanwhile, in the suburban 17th Congressional District, liberal worries center on the campaign of state Sen. David Carlucci, who shares none of Diaz's conservative social views but who spent the first seven years of his legislative career as a member of the Independent Democratic Conference - a splinter group of lawmakers elected as Democrats but who entered into a power-sharing agreement with Republicans. At times before its 2018 dissolution, the group effectively helped keep the GOP in power despite New York voters electing a majority of Democrats. "If you can't elect a progressive in a district like this, then you can't elect a progressive Congress," said Mondaire Jones, who has the backing of Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., as well as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Jones said the notion of Democratic voters replacing 16-term incumbent Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., a sponsor of Medicare-for-all legislation, with a more moderate candidate "is unconscionable to me, and it is freaking people out who are progressive-minded in Washington." In both districts, a crowded field and New York's single-stage, no-runoff primary has raised the possibility that a nominee could emerge with 30% of the vote or less. Jones and Carlucci, for instance, are among a seven-candidate field that includes former Obama administration defense official Evelyn Farkas, state Assemblyman David Buchwald and self-funding former federal prosecutor Adam Schleifer. The field is even more crowded in the 15th, with Diaz and Torres facing off against 10 candidates, including former city council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, state Assemblyman Michael Blake and councilman Ydanis Rodriguez. A key player in sounding alarm bells on the left has been Data for Progress, a group led by activist Sean McElwee that conducted polls in both districts. The surveys, released this month, furthered a dual objective - to raise awareness that Diaz and Carlucci were in position to win and to identify their strongest challengers. Besides nudging influential interest groups to take sides and, in some cases, spend money, the polls also activated online communities of small-dollar liberal donors, such as Daily Kos, whose members sent more than $85,000 to Torres and $12,000 to Jones. "It's important for progressives to unite behind the best candidate to stop either a Carlucci or a Diaz," said David Nir, a New Yorker and political director for Daily Kos. "The difficulty is that there are a lot of good options." McElwee said he believed that the threat posed by Diaz and Carlucci was "understated" by national Democratic groups and that while there have been moves to coalesce support behind Torres and Jones, respectively, they remain threats to win. "A lot of bad things can happen, so I still think that outside groups should be keeping their foot on the gas," he said. Those efforts remain somewhat at cross purposes, however. In the 17th, for instance, Jones won $100,000 in backing from the political arm of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, while Farkas has significant backing from Emily's List, a national group that exclusively supports women. Meanwhile, in the 15th, amid a flood of endorsements for Torres and an anti-Diaz campaign led by a union-backed group, Sanders endorsed democratic socialist activist Samelys Lopez, who had previously won support from Ocasio-Cortez. Diaz, a Puerto Rico-born Pentecostal minister, has spent decades winning Bronx elections by pairing a close attention to constituent needs with conservative social views - much to the chagrin of fellow Democrats. Barely a year ago, Diaz again inflamed city politics when he declared the city council "controlled by the homosexual community" in a radio interview - sparking a firestorm in city politics. Diaz's campaign did not respond to several messages seeking comment. But his council office sent out a letter last week written by a longtime ally, lawyer Christopher Lynn, defending Diaz's record and criticizing Torres for accusing the council member of having Trump sympathies "when his legislative record is anything but, with the two exceptions being abortion and gay marriage." "No one could ever accuse Diaz of not making his thoughts known or not keeping his word, despite great pressure for him to retract, or give in once he has made a promise," Lynn wrote. Torres appeared to consolidate support in recent weeks, winning the backing of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus's political arm, several LGBT rights groups, and a rare stand-alone endorsement from the New York Times editorial board - which specifically called on Democrats to rally around Torres to beat Diaz. Jones also won a Times endorsement - expected to be influential in the affluent towns of northern Westchester County - but Farkas has raised roughly as much money and has support from several pillars of the Democratic establishment. Carlucci, meanwhile, brings a decade of name recognition from his state legislative service. In an interview Monday, Carlucci bristled at being compared with Diaz and defended his decision to join the IDC, saying the group helped win Republican support for liberal policies such as a minimum-wage hike and the legalization of same-sex marriage. Voters, he said, should rest assured that he would fully support the Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill if elected. "I've never been the go-along-to-get-along politician. I've been the guy that has always had to deal with very difficult political situations in this district and in the state Capitol," he said. "It's easy to look back in time and say, 'Oh, you should have done this, you should have done that.' Well, where were you when we were getting marriage equality passed? . . . Where were you when we were raising the minimum wage, when we got paid family leave done?" Carlucci has positioned himself as a pragmatist who would carry on Lowey's record of bipartisan dealmaking, which made her the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee. But Jones said Monday that the times demand a different kind of Democrat in a solidly blue district. A win by a more moderate Democrat, he said, "would be devastating to the prospects for change in our society." "We urgently need a Democratic Party that lives up to its truest ideals and fights tooth and nail for the things that we say we believe in," Jones added. "We need more people who are not just going to be one of 435 members of the House, but who can provide transformational leadership." Dancehall artiste, Shatta wale has disclosed international artists set to be featured on his forthcoming album, The Gift of God. Speaking with King Lagazee on the YaadSettingz show on his Hitz FM, Shatta wale disclosed that his album is going to be a world album. He said, The Gift of God, this is an album where I am going to have a couple of collaborations. People know me to create albums with me alone. I am talking to the likes of Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Gramps Morgan, and Vybz Kartel." When asked, why wont he feature any Ghanaian act on the album, he responded that In Ghana probably, I might feature a couple, surprise artistes to be precise. People that people might not think I will feature, those are the people I will feature. Watch Video below: KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda will hold a presidential election between Jan. 10 and Feb. 8, 2021, authorities said on Tuesday, introducing restrictions it said were aimed at slowing the spread of the new coronavirus. Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the election commission chairman, said the commission had banned campaign rallies and urged candidates to use media instead to get their messages to voters. Opposition parties have previously complained about restricted access to broadcast media, especially in rural areas where they say security agencies bar them from appearing on political shows. The commission will set the exact date of the election, also for parliament and local governments, later this year, Mugenyi said. Uganda's health ministry has reported 823 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no deaths. It began easing a 45-day lockdown, one of the strictest on the continent, in mid-May. Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni had said it would have been "madness" to hold the elections if the coronavirus persisted. In power since 1986, former rebel fighter Museveni has not confirmed whether he would run again, but the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has already asked him to stand. The strongest opposition presidential aspirant is pop star and lawmaker Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, whose angry, political music has made him a sensation. On Monday, Wine announced an alliance with veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who has challenged Museveni for the presidency three times. But the substance of the agreement was unclear, including whether the two opposition parties would field joint candidates. In a potential taste of things to come, the public broadcaster Uganda Broadcasting Corporation refused to air Besigye's advertisements during the 2011 presidential campaign despite being paid for the airtime. Dr Besigye later sued the public broadcaster for bias and won $21,000 in damages in 2018. (Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Alex Richardson, Katharine Houreld, William Maclean) Local food producers have received a boost following the announcement that Taste Wexford is to receive 12,987 in funding from the 2020 Rural Innovation and Development Fund. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed announced County Wexford as one of 11 projects that will receive funding to promote and develop agri-food tourism in rural areas. The Taste Wexford Agri-Food Tourism project will build on work funded by the Department and Wexford County Council over the last three years. It will focus on working with accommodation providers and food producers, creating new events for the national Failte Ireland 'Taste the Island' campaign. Through its new self-guided map, this campaign will aim to help Ireland rediscover why Wexford is one of the best spots to holiday in the country. Taste Wexford will also work on building contacts with the international market and tour operators for 2021/2022. On the announcement of the funding, Minister Creed said, 'During these unprecedented times I am pleased to support these initiatives in the agri-food tourism sector and build on progress already made. He said that Food Wise 2025, the 10-year plan for the agri-food sector, highlights the natural synergy between agri-food and local tourism. 'Agri-tourism is of great importance for rural areas in order to showcase their people, landscape, history and culture through agricultural produce, food and drink and local cuisine.' In addition, Minister Creed said agri-tourism provides opportunities for rural businesses, including farmers, producers and artisans, to 'develop their products and services and connect with the community'. Anthony O'Toole, co-founder of Taste Wexford and an international food and tourism advisor, said, 'Before Covid-19 restrictions came into force on March 12, Wexford County Council, alongside Visit Wexford, was preparing to further develop and improve Wexford's agri-tourism offering this year. 'It is now more important for producers, craft makers, restaurants, retailers, accommodation providers, networks and communities - based locally, regionally and nationally - to work together and support each other. With the help of funding and support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and state agencies such as Failte Ireland, he said it is becoming 'easier' for people across the island to enjoy Ireland's food and drink 'experiences'. The County Wexford Food Tourism plan will be led by Jean O'Connell and Anthony O'Toole with support from the Taste Wexford Steering Group: Liz Hore, head of Enterprise at Wexford County Council; Billy Byrne, Visit Wexford's tourism officer; Tom Bermingham, Wexford Local Development; Lorraine O'Dwyer, Gallivanting Tours; Maura Bell, manager of Irish National Heritage Park; Paula Asple, owner of The Wilds in Enniscorthy; and Andrea Molloy, chair of Wexford Food Family and co-owner of Drew Fox Brewing. In total, funding of 197,500 has been made available to projects across the country, with Carlow County Council (Ireland South East Agri Food Tourism Cluster) receiving 12,987 and Waterford County Festival of Food receiving 24,802.75. STOCKHOLM, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Business trips are increasing again after the Corona pandemic. Since mid-April, travel has doubled but is still well below last year's level, according to travel data from employee safety software company Safeture, which analyzed data from more than 140,000 international business travelers. Safeture, based in Lund, Sweden, has reviewed 140,000 of its customers' business trips during the spring and looked at how many kilometers a business trip was before the pandemic and during the most serious period when restrictions were at their peak. The data were taken from Safeture's cloud-based software security platform where all customers' actual travel patterns can be followed using both bookings and positioning via mobile phones. Business travel increased sharply just before the rigid restrictions were imposed. One explanation may be that many companies brought their employees home ahead of the upcoming travel ban, but also companies rushed to complete ongoing projects, leading to a spike in trips. When the pandemic struck and country after country began to apply strict restrictions, almost all travel came to a grinding stop, even for businesses who often depend on personal meetings for education or sales. In just 10 days, between March 13 and 23, two out of three trips were canceled, bottoming out on April 6 when global travel was only a mere 10 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. It was mainly the stop in international flights that dramatically restricted how far an employee traveled on average, but now the trend towards longer journeys once again happening is very clear. Even before the major countries around the world loosened their restrictions, the number of kilometers per business trip doubled and, as further easing and air routes are restarted, there is likely to be a very rapid increase in travel length, despite much of the world entering the summer holiday season. As we start planning our next trip, it is important to keep track of what restrictions still apply to avoid any unpleasant surprises. On our site openupforbusiness.com you will find continuously updated information for all countries in the world. "The past months have been tough for everybody, and we have to expect a difficult year where all travel will be closely considered," said Magnus Hultman, CEO of Safeture. "In a way, all countries will have to be considered high-risk countries, which will require companies, organizations and authorities to take responsibility for who books what and where in cooperation with security platforms, travel companies and company security officers, travel managers and HR managers." At the same time, it is already important for travel companies, hotels and conference facilities to prepare for the massive increase of business travelers when all of the deferred meetings and events rescheduled. For additional information: Visit www.safeture.com or contact: Safeture CEO Magnus Hultman +46-706-00-81-66 [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/safeture-ab/r/business-travel-doubles-from-april-lows-as-economies-rebound,c3135221 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Safeture AB Finding ways to offer consumers easy, quick and cheap access to their money is the focus of a growing number of banking start-ups, but Chime is managing to stand apart from the rest. This so-called challenger bank, based in San Francisco, targets customers with no-fee accounts, free overdrafts and early direct deposits on their paychecks. That formula has led to rapid growth. The company claims 8 million accounts, up from just 1 million in 2018. Over the past two months, the company has been helping members get faster access to their stimulus checks in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It quickly launched a program called ChimeCARES that gives members early access to their stimulus payment funds before the money actually arrives from the government. To date the company has made over $1.5 billion of stimulus payments available to members, and it's continuing to focus on helping members speed up the delivery of their stimulus payments and avoid the long wait for a paper check. CEO and co-founder Chris Britt says he's been hearing feedback from members about how getting their stimulus funds a few days early is impacting their lives, enabling them to buy groceries or pay bills. One of the more beloved features of Chime is SpotMe. Members who have total monthly direct deposits of $500 or more are eligible for the service. If a member makes a debit card purchase that exceeds their balance, Chime will spot them the money up to a predetermined limit. The money spotted is deducted from the member's next direct deposit without any additional fees or penalties. This is in sharp contrast to the fees that legacy banks charge for overdrafts, many of which can be as high as $35 per transaction. In a crowded field, Chime is being noticed by investors. To date the company has received a total of $805 million in funding, giving the company a valuation of $5.8 billion. OwensImaging/iStockBy MORGAN WINSOR, ABC News (CARSON CITY, Nev.) -- Nevada is "not ready" to move into the next phase of reopening due to a rise in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations, Gov. Steve Sisolak said. "We're in the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic, we're right dead smack in the middle of it," Sisolak told reporters at a press conference Monday. "Nevadans have made enormous sacrifices to get us to where we are today ... I don't want to let that all go for naught by us having to take a giant step backwards." Since signing a directive in late May allowing Nevada to enter the second phase of its reopening plan, the governor said the state has experienced an "upward trend" in the number of new cases per day over the past three weeks. Although he noted that testing capacity has increased and the daily cumulative positivity rate is "holding steady or continues to decline," Sisolak said the seven-day percentage of positive results is climbing. There has also been a "consistent increase" in hospitalizations of patients with confirmed COVID-19 cases across the Silver State since June 5 but not enough to overburden the health care system, according to Sisolak. "We had the expectation that, as a result of reopening and an increase in testing, our positive cases were likely to increase," he told reporters. "We have seen an increase in positive cases, but that has yet to negatively impact capacity of our hospitals. We're taking this seriously as we have all along and will allow our medical experts the time to monitor and make assessments." So far, the state has reported more than 11,200 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with at least 465 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest data from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Bars, churches, gyms, movie theaters, spas, tattoo parlors and other businesses have been allowed to resume limited operations from May 29. Casinos were able to reopen on June 4 after two months of state-enforced lockdown. Other businesses, including nightclubs and adult entertainment establishments, have remained closed during the second phase of reopening. Sisolak concluded that he will extend Phase 2. "Before expanding our reopening and entering into Phase 3, we must continue to allow ourselves the time to evaluate this new medical information along with the impact of reopening to make sure were doing all we can to protect ourselves and the capacity of our health care system to respond to the virus," he added. The governor emphasized that the timeline of reopening "will be dictated by the virus." "We were able to enter Phase 1 and Phase 2 because Nevadans were staying home as much as possible and generally wearing face coverings, washing hands frequently and maintaining six feet of social distancing," he said. "Now is not the time to abandon these protective measures. It is the time to double down on them. We can only stay open if we stay safe." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. It's been estimated that up to 88% of survivors of rape or molestation suffer from persistent nightmares that can occur multiple times per week, seemingly at random. A new study from psychologists at the University of Kansas just published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress attempts to shed light on triggers of post-trauma nightmare occurrences - a topic that has received scant study. The research is the first to show that having difficulty getting to sleep, along with thinking about the trauma or other negative events prior to sleep, could boost the odds of a post-trauma nightmare occurrence. We found both 'sleep latency,' or the time it takes someone to fall asleep, and 'pre-sleep cognitive arousal,' or worrying or ruminating prior to going to bed, were the two significant predictors of a nightmare occurring." Westley Youngren, lead author, doctoral student in clinical psychology at KU In the study, Youngren and co-authors Nancy Hamilton, KU associate professor of clinical psychology, and Kristopher Preacher of Vanderbilt University, recruited 27 female college students who reported frequent nightmares tied to sexual trauma. In addition to interviews and questionnaires to assess general depression and anxiety-related symptoms, these participants were asked to complete pre- and post-sleep diaries for six days. "If someone took 60 or 90 minutes to fall asleep and during that time they were worrying or thinking about the trauma, they were then most likely to have a nightmare," Youngren said. "It tended to be the interaction of the two that predicted the occurrence of a nightmare. It's really priming the mind to have dream content of the trauma, which is then going to result in a nightmare." Youngren said he hoped the findings could be used in a clinical setting to help survivors of sexual trauma reduce or avoid nightmares. "Recurrent nightmares are pretty frequent in trauma survivors, and they're distressing - often manifesting as nightmares of the exact same event that happened," he said. "If an individual is raped, they can have nightmares of being assaulted again, much the way people who have been in combat have nightmares of combat again." Post-traumatic nightmares are linked to insomnia and can occur simultaneously with depression, anxiety, cardiovascular risk factors, alcohol abuse, suicidal ideations and suicide attempts. Currently, interventions include prescribing a heart rate medication called Prazosin and a therapeutic technique where a survivor "re-scripts" nightmares to prime themselves into dreaming differently. Youngren said a more specific grasp of what triggers nightmare occurrences could lead to more effective treatments. "Re-scripting based therapy does have more effects than using the Prazosin, but it's still not as high as other kinds of treatment options for other psychological disorders," Youngren said. Youngren's research interest in traumatic nightmares stems from his time as a U.S. Marine. "While in the military, I was kind of like, 'All right, well, I want to get a job where I can sleep all the time.' Because I wasn't sleeping at all in the military. So, I wanted to do sleep research. I did my undergraduate education at the University of Tulsa with a creator of one of the nightmare treatments. I started working with her and getting involved in trauma work -- and really saw nightmares were the perfect combination of sleep research and trauma work. So, I really fell into that and sought out a graduate experience where I could investigate these post-traumatic nightmares, which brought me to KU." Youngren plans to earn his doctorate by 2022 and hopes to make a career out of research into post-traumatic nightmares. "Currently, we just got a research grant from American Psychological Association's Division 19 -- their military psychology unit -- in order to continue the kind of study we've just published," he said. "We're going to make it bigger and use physiological monitors as the second step." Before the coronavirus, I was standing in line for confession at our church. It was a long line, so I started a conversation with the young family standing in front of me. I asked one of the young ones about school, and he pointed at Mom. In other words, he said Mom was his teacher, or "homeschooling." According to estimates, 150,000 families and 350,000 kids are completing their education at home in Texas. The kids get educated, interact with other kids, and probably learn a few things about U.S. history no longer taught at public schools. Over the last few weeks, we've confirmed why so many parents have decided to keep the kids home. This is from Denver: Two members of the Denver school board on Friday called for the removal of police officers from the citys public schools by the end of the year, saying law enforcement personnel not only are unnecessary on campuses, but detrimental to students of color. Detrimental to students of color? Aren't some these officers of color? I'm sure that other school programs are doing the same thing. Then we learn that a public school teacher was arrested vandalizing a Columbus statue. Okay. I don't want to say all public school teachers are committing felonies, but this guy should not teach again. What view of world history does he have? More liberal school administrators. More teachers teaching that the country is racist. Sooner or later, parents will fight back with homeschooling. My guess is that this week's events will increase those numbers. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. UPDATE, June 24: Most Marshalls stores in New Jersey are now open. Non-essential businesses are allowed to reopen in New Jersey with 50% capacity starting Monday, June 15. Many retail stores across the state are now beginning to reopen after being temporarily closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here are details on Marshalls reopening in New Jersey: When are Marshalls stores reopening in New Jersey? As of June 15, Marshalls remains closed in New Jersey. A company spokesperson said customers should check store locators on Marshalls website for up-to-date information on reopenings and hours. The spokesperson said the store locators are expected to be updated daily. Once stores reopen, a face covering will be required to shop. We care deeply about the health and well-being of our valued Associates and customers, and for this reason, expect all customers who shop in our stores to wear a face covering, CEO Ernie Herrman said in a statement. As associates return to our distribution centers and offices, we are also implementing new safety protocols designed to help protect their health as well. While youre waiting, you can shop at Marshalls online. RELATED STORIES ABOUT RETAIL: Nordstrom reopening in N.J.: Stores, dates, hours, capacity U.S. retail sales: See how major chains have been impacted by coronavirus Under Armour face masks for athletes sell out in under an hour. Heres how to preorder one. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Nicolette Accardi can be reached at naccardi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips By PTI MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief secretary Ajoy Mehta on Tuesday said as many as 1,328 deaths, that took place due to COVID-19, were not reported as fatalities caused by the viral infection in the state. As many as 862 of these deaths occurred in the areas falling under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits, he said here, citing a fresh review of COVID-19 fatalities in the state carried out by authorities. This has now been corrected and fatality figures have been updated accordingly, he said. In an official statement in the evening, Mehta said, A fresh review of all the deaths reported in Maharashtra in last some months have found that additional 862 deaths in BMC areas and 466 in the rest of Maharashtra (total 1,328) have taken place, where the cause of death is COVID-19. "In all those cases, the swab samples of these people have tested positive for COVID-19. All these deaths have been (now) reported as COVID-19 deaths." Mehta, however, insisted that the state government is following prescribed guidelines while reporting coronavirus- related deaths. The official reporting of COVID-19 deaths has been done as per the guidelines issued by the ICMR and the National Centre for Disease Control. "Though a change has been seen in the (fatality) figure, there should not be any doubts on the states intension," the top bureaucrat asserted. Out of the 466 freshly added deaths which were reported outside the BMC limits, 146 were from Thane, 85 from Pune, 34 from Jalgaon and 33 from Aurangabad, among other districts, the statement said. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed what it will take to reopen the state's borders, casting doubt on the scheduled July date. Speaking in State Parliament on Tuesday, Ms Palaszczuk said the border would remain closed "while there is active transmission". Queensland's borders were closed in March during the height of the coronavirus crisis. Credit:Paul Harris New South Wales has recorded three cases with no known source in the past three days, while two people in Victoria tested positive after attending a mass rally last weekend. "We want to see NSW and Victoria get on top of their community transmission," Ms Palaszczuk said. MSF Withdraws From Kabul Hospital After 'Horrific' Attack On Maternity Ward By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan June 15, 2020 KABUL -- Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has announced that it has decided to cease activities at the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital in Kabul, following a deadly attack at the facility's maternity wing last month, saying that similar "horrific" attacks may occur there in the future. In a statement on June 15, the Geneva-based charity said 16 mothers were "systematically shot dead" during the May 12 attack, while an MSF midwife, two children aged 7 and 8, and six other people were also killed. Afghan authorities have put the blame on the Taliban, which has denied involvement, while representatives of foreign governments pointed the finger at Afghanistan's Islamic State (IS) affiliate. "We were aware that our presence in Dasht-e-Barchi carried risks, but we just couldn't believe that someone would take advantage of the absolute vulnerability of women about to give birth to murder them and their babies," said Thierry Allafort-Duverger, MSF's director-general. "Today, we have to accept reality: higher walls and thicker security doors won't prevent such horrific assaults from happening again," said Allafort-Duverger. "To remain would mean to factor in such loss of human lives as a parameter of our activity, and this is unthinkable." MSF has been working in Dasht-e-Barchi in collaboration with the Afghan Ministry of Public Health since 2014, providing free-of-charge maternity and neonatal care. A large population belonging to the mainly Shi'ite Hazara community lives in the area and has been targeted by IS militants in the past. More than 70 staff and patients in MSF health-care programs have been killed in Afghanistan over the past 16 years, according to the aid organization. MSF, which first started working in the country in 1980, continues to run medical programs in the provinces of Helmand, Herat, Kandahar, Khost, and Kunduz. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/msf-withdraws-from- kabul-hospital-after-horrific-attack-on- maternity-ward/30671981.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A Swiss flag is pictured during the sunrise on the Commercial and Financial District in Geneva By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland's economy will suffer its worst downturn in decades during 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic damages output and jobs, the government said on Wednesday, but the downturn will be less severe than initially feared. Swiss gross domestic product will fall 6.2% this year, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said, the worst downturn since 1975, when the country was hit by the aftermath of the oil price shocks. Unemployment is forecast to rise to 3.8% this year, as foreign trade suffers, consumer spending shrinks and companies emerge slowly from shutdowns imposed to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Still, the forecast was a slight improvement from the 6.7% downturn in GDP foreseen by the Swiss government's economists in their April statement, and compares favourably with other European countries. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and (OECD) says Britain could suffer an 11.5% slump this year. Downturns of 11.4% are expected in France and 11.3% in Italy. The Swiss government expects a gradual recovery during the second half of 2020, provided a massive second wave of the disease along with severe restrictions does not occur. In 2021, SECO forecasts underlying economic growth of 4.9%, although unemployment will remain high by Swiss standards at 4.1%. "Switzerland's economy has been fairly resilient in an international comparison," said Gero Jung, chief economist at Mirabaud bank. "Switzerland has been very quick to respond to the crisis, with the government's stimulus package being massive, totaling more than 60 billion francs ($63.22 billion) or close to 10% of domestic GDP," he said. More than 15 billion Swiss francs in emergency loans have also been handed out to nearly 130,000 business. Some 1.9 million people - or 37% of the workforce - have applied for short-time working compensation. The Swiss lockdown to prevent the disease's spread was also less severe than in other countries, while the country's large pharmaceuticals sector has continued to thrive. ($1 = 0.9490 Swiss francs) (Reporting by John Revill; editing by Silke Koltrowitz, Larry King) The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa, has appeared before the Special Budget Committee of Parliament to respond to questions relating to the forthcoming compilation of a new register of voters ahead of this years December 7 elections. He appeared before the committee on Tuesday, 16 June 2020 in Parliament. Mr Haruna Iddrisu told journalists after the meeting that the revelations made by the EC Chair at the meeting were worrying for Ghanas democracy. We have just had some briefing from the chairperson for the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Mrs Jean Mensa. She appeared before the special budget Committee of Parliament. Having listened to her, I feel profoundly troubled in my heart for the future of Ghanas democracy and I feel disappointed that in her answers to questions at the committee-level, she made two significant worrying statements that the people of Ghana must know, Tamale South MP said. According to the Minority Leader, Mrs Mensa said the EC intends to phase out the registration exercise in some 6,300 registration centres out of the 33,000 registration centres across the country. That troubles my heart because Article 42 will not be observed in essence through making available to Ghanaian people a legitimate and guaranteed right they are entitled to under Article 42. A phased-out registration exercise is not absolute, not countrywide, not in every registration centre and not in their 33,000 gazzeted polling stations, so, it means that the number they are giving today contradicts what has been officially gazzetted. The second matter, which is even more worrying is that she does not seem to understand the essence of data synchronisation and data harmonisation, Mr Iddrisu said. In her answers to a simple question, she stated that they do not intend to use the data of the national identification authority. So, what will they do with the NIA card? Recently, Mrs Jean Mensa said acquiring a new voter management system without compiling a new voter roll would mean that the quality of the biometric details of voters would be compromised or completely lost during the migration of those details from the old system onto the new system, thus, the need for a new register to go in tandem with a new voter management system. Speaking at a forum organised by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Ghana in Accra, Mrs Mensa said critics have been saying that: If you are going to buy a new system, buy it; what does it have to do with compiling a new voter register but noted that: Experts advised us, right from the outset that in acquiring the new system, youll be changing the system operating the biometric voter management system and it meant that you had to migrate the data from the old system to the new system. The result was that you could risk, and we did stand to risk losing a lot of data of citizens who have registered, she said, adding: The result would be that youd go on voting day and your names were missing from the register and this was not a risk that we wanted to take because it meant that several people, and you could not tell who, because as you migrated from the old system onto the new system, you risked losing a lot of data and I can imagine the fury, the uproar that will go on in this country if people go on voting day and their names were not captured. She said in the view of the experts, this was a big risk and we felt that we didnt want to go forward with this risk. In their view also, the quality of the fingerprints raised issues. The capturing of the fingerprints was poorly done in several instances and even as you migrated, you risked losing even the images, the quality of the images and the result was that youd end up with high incidence of manual verification, which we have come to observe. And, I mean because the fingerprint quality is so low, when you go on election day and youre trying to verify, youd realise that your fingerprint cannot be captured, we cannot verify you using your unique identity which is your fingerprints. What happens then is that, well, you come with a card and we allow you to vote, she pointed out. According to her, This could lead to manipulation in the sense that the card may not belong to you and because we dont have the feature of facial recognition, you could come in with a card and youre allowed to vote. And, if theres collusion at the polling station level, it could lead to a high incidence of manual verification, she noted, saying: Indeed, it was something we were beginning to witness and if you look at even the 2019 district-level elections, a litter over 5.4 million persons who were verified to vote, 35,000 of them were manually verified and thats a significant number if you come to look at the fact that in 2008, the difference between the winner and the runner-up was less than 40,000 and here we are only talking about 5.4 million people who were verified during the district-level election and of that number, 35,000 were manually verified. But if you look at the situation in 2012, the difference between the winner and the runner-up it was less than 40,000. So, this is significant and these are risks. If we really want to ensure the credibility of our elections and ensure that the will of the people really stands, then these are issues of concern that we should look at. And, so the main reason, as Ive mentioned, for our decision was that changing the operating system, migrating the old data to the new data, you were going to risk losing a lot of data. Secondly, the fingerprints capture was poorly done and it meant that it would even lose its quality and in the end youd have a biometric register where the fingerprints that you have become useless and a lot more people will be manually verified, she reiterated. The Commission felt that it was important that its foundation document, that is the voter register, was credible and robust. These are some of the reasons that we chose to compile the register. ---classfmonline EASTPOINTE, MI / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2020 / Resgreen Group (OTC PINK:RGGI) Resgreen Group (RGGI), a leading mobile robot company, is pleased to announce that its CEO Parsh Patel and Director Brian Kistler will cancel a total of 12 million shares of common stock of the fast-growing company. CEO Parsh Patel and Director Brian Kistler have instructed RGGI's transfer agent to cancel six million shares each and return them to the company's treasury effective immediately. "I am deeply committed to the vision of our company and our plan of action to grow as the premier provider of automation solutions," said Parsh Patel, CEO of RGGI. "My goal in cancelling my own six million shares is to show the investment community my enthusiasm and dedication for where we are headed as a company in the rapidly growing automation industry where there are endless opportunities to help companies increase flexibility, reduce downtime and improve bottom lines." RGGI recently announced its commitment to developing an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) equipped with ultraviolet-C (UVC) light for disinfecting facilities and a corresponding human presence sensor to ensure the vehicle's safe operation. The Eastpointe, Michigan-based company also offers a variety of automation consulting services. About Resgreen Group International, Inc. (RGGI) RGGI is a leading developer of Artificial Intelligence Robotics (AIRs), Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), and Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs). RGGI's highly skilled engineers have years of experience in the material handling and robotics industries, which has led to significant intellectual property for the company. RGGI also provides consulting services including backend operational oversight, material handling assessment, work-flow analysis, and steady state yield management using artificial intelligence, technology and management systems. For more information visit http://resgreenint.com. Contact: Sarah Carlson scarlson@companystorytellers.com 248.755.7680 cell SOURCE: Resgreen Group International Inc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594003/Resgreen-Group-Announces-Return-of-12-Million-Shares-of-Common-Stock LONDON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dorae has been recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. Dorae is the physical trade cloud, a software platform that brings technology to the heart of supply chain and business processes. The World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. "We're excited to welcome Dorae to our 20th cohort of Technology Pioneers," says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. Dorae is developing cutting edge technologies all over the world. Beyond their innovations, these firms are contributing greatly to improving the state of the world." Aba Schubert, Co-Founder and CEO of Dorae says, "Thank you, World Economic Forum, for this honor. As the leader in supply chain technology, Dorae delivers the latest tools to help our users achieve value, reliability and sustainability. Dorae serves a market at the core of global economic activity, with a magnitude in the trillions of dollars. The insights and relationships that we will gain as a Technology Pioneer will enable us to push further and serve our global private and public sector client base even better." Ricardo Santos Silva, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Dorae says, "We received news of this award by the World Economic Forum with great humility and great excitement. Dorae's ability to grow and to expand its market, especially during the last months that have been so challenging for the world, show that our impact is huge and growing. Dorae will make the world a better place." This year's cohort selection marks the 20th anniversary of the Tech Pioneers community. Throughout its 20-year run, many Technology Pioneers have continuously contributed to advancement in their industries while some have even gone on to become household names. Past recipients include Airbnb, Google, Kickstarter, Mozilla, Palantir Technologies, Spotify, TransferWise, Twitter and Wikimedia. About Dorae: Dorae is the physical trade cloud. It has offices in UK, US and Portugal. Dorae serves and connects it userbase around the world. (www.dorae.com) About World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org). SOURCE Dorae Related Links http://www.dorae.com/ Valkea is Fortums new growth club supporting and accelerating the growth of the next generation of mission-driven startups. Over the next three years, Valkea will invest over 50 million ($56.63 million) into innovative B2B and B2C digital solutions in the energy, sustainability and resource-efficiency sectors. In addition to funding opportunities, Valkeas startups will benefit from access to expertise and networks, industrial partnerships, pilot opportunities and co-working spaces. Valkeas first premises are within the largest startup hub in the Nordics. Operating out of Maria 01 in Helsinki, its starting portfolio of six companies has offices in six European countries and serves a global customer base. One of Valkeas first portfolio companies, Recharge, is now a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the Nordics. Recently valued at 140 million. Recharge is an excellent example of the scalable and mission-driven businesses that Valkea is building. In addition to Recharge, there are currently two more electric mobility startups in Valkeas portfolio. The Digital Mobility Platform, comprised of Plugsurfing and Charge & Drive, makes car charging easy for EV drivers by connecting them to 195.000 charging points across Europe and by partnering with leading car manufacturers, such as Polestar, Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover to provide public charging solutions. eFleetly is helping companies manage the battery lifecycle of electric fleets. Outside of the electric mobility sector, Valkeas startups are innovating in the areas of CO2 removal (Puro.earth), smart power consumption at home (Barry), and industrial virtual reality (eSite). Puro.earth is the worlds first voluntary carbon removal marketplace for businesses, whereas eSite has been instrumental in effective remote site management in power plants, industrial premises and the real estate sector throughout restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19. Working to grow these existing and future startups to the scale of Recharge and beyond, Valkea connects startups with world-class experts and partner networks to create new success stories for a cleaner future. Our aim is to facilitate growth by using our internal expertise as well as external networks. Its a truly remarkable opportunity to support clean future entrepreneurs in their path to success that will benefit everyone on this planet, describes Ilkka Lassila, Chief Operating Officer of Valkea. Valkea builds on the learnings from Fortums previous innovation initiatives; its founding follows a 2018 commitment to invest 150 million into socially or environmentally beneficial technology companies through the VC fund Valo Ventures. Valkea is a great example of Fortums commitment to support both internal and external innovation and startups. This commitment has resulted in new services, improved operational efficiency and significant organisational learning. But most importantly, new innovations help us build a cleaner world and that is what we strive for, emphasises Arun Aggarwal, SVP of Fortums Business Technology unit. Valkea is actively collaborating with international startup communities and is looking for ambitious startups to join them in innovating towards a cleaner future, as well as investors and partners with shared interests. Tradearabia News Service If flying during the COVID-19 era, would you agree to wear a mask throughout your flight and expect that fellow passengers would do the same? Several weeks ago, major airlines all issued new policies requiring passengers to mask up during their flights, but those policies lacked an essential element: teeth. Stories quickly spread on social media and in regular news outlets about passenger non-compliance and airline non-enforcement, and it quickly became obvious to the airlines that they had a big public relations problem on their hands. So this week, the industry announced plans to get tough, and some carriers have already followed through with new sanctions for the unmasked. But whether those sanctions are enough to keep all passengers compliant is still up in the air. Airlines for America (A4A), the airlines trade organization, announced this week that from now on, its member carriers will be vigorously enforcing face covering policies for both passengers and employees who work directly with customers. Member airlines include United, Delta, American, Alaska, Southwest, Hawaiian and JetBlue. A4A said those airlines will now clearly articulate their mask policies to customers, perhaps even requiring them to acknowledge the policy during check-in; and will make in-flight announcements about details of the policy and the penalty for non-compliance. But the industry group did not set a uniform policy for enforcing face-mask rules. Each carrier will determine the appropriate consequences for passengers who are found to be in noncompliance of the airlines face covering policy up to and including suspension of flying privileges on that airline, A4A said. Regrettably, the federal government appears to be hesitant to make facial coverings mandatory, something that flight attendant and pilot unions are calling for. United and American were the first to announce new enforcement measures. Starting June 18, United said, any passenger who doesnt wear a mask in flight will have their name put on an internal travel restriction list. Once that happens, Customers on this list will lose their travel privileges on United for a duration of time to be determined pending a comprehensive incident review, the airline said, adding that it expects its mask policy to remain in place for at least the next 60 days. Uniteds flight attendants will be required to report non-compliant passengers if they cant, after three interventions, convince them to put on a mask which United will provide if they didnt bring one. What about those plastic face shields? If a passenger does have a medical condition or disability that prohibits the use of a cloth face covering, they would be exempt so if a passenger is looking to wear a face shield in lieu of a cloth face covering for a medical reason, that would be acceptable, a United spokesperson tells us. Don't miss a shred of important travel news! Sign up for our FREE bi-weekly email alerts. United didnt say anything about denying boarding or removing an unmasked passenger, and a spokesperson says that customers who cite medical reasons for not wearing a face covering will not be required to show a doctors note to back up their claim. The threat that an unmasked traveler could be barred from future travel seems like small comfort to a passenger who ends up seated next to one of these people. American Airlines said that effective immediately, passengers who show up at the gate without a mask wont be allowed to board. AA said it also might deny future travel for customers who refuse to wear a face covering. Alaska Airlines said in an online update last week before A4As get-tough statement came out that passengers who refuse to wear a face covering at the gate will be denied boarding. But it added that those passengers will be allowed to rebook their trip at the airport or online. All airlines allow exceptions to their mask rules for certain categories of passengers like young children and individuals with a disability or a medical reason for not being able to wear one (but no proof of such a condition is required). And of course, passengers are allowed to take the mask off when they are eating or drinking. The airlines obviously had to do something after stories became widespread about non-compliance with their mask rules like this incident reported in the New York Post, about a first-class, at-risk traveler on American Airlines who was seated next to a young woman who wouldnt put on a mask despite repeated requests by flight attendants. Two weeks ago, The New York Times ran a story with the headline: Airlines say everybody on board must wear a mask. So why arent they? The newspaper said it received large numbers of reports from travelers who encountered seatmates without masks and airline reluctance to do anything about it. This left them feeling they had to choose between confronting fellow passengers and possibly encountering hostility and sitting on a flight for hours potentially being exposed to the coronavirus. The patchwork enforcement of policies has left passengers uncomfortable, confused about whether they should be wearing masks or not, and concerned about their safety. Does the airlines' new "get tough" attitude make you feel safer flying during a pandemic? Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., has chosen June 26 to hold the first floor vote in a generation on District of Columbia statehood, hoping to harness a national reckoning on race and capitalize on widespread outrage over the federal response to street protests in the nation's capital. Officials expect legislation making the District the 51st state to pass the House of Representatives with an overwhelming majority of Democrats, which would be a watershed moment for pro-statehood activists and the first time in U.S. history that either chamber of Congress has advanced a statehood bill. Forty of 100 senators have announced they support D.C. statehood. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., strongly opposes the legislation, and has said it would not get a vote in the Senate as long as he's in charge. "Statehood is the only way," D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) said at a news conference Tuesday morning, where she was joined by Hoyer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the District's nonvoting representative in the House. Making the District a state would not only give the 700,000 citizens of the nation's capital a vote in Congress, Bowser said, it would prevent National Guard troops from other states coming into the city without the city's consent and could prevent the federalization of local law enforcement. Pelosi called the political situation in the District "unjust, unequal, undemocratic and unacceptable." Norton said statehood would "put an end to our oldest slogan: Taxation without representation." The officials insisted that the effort is not about partisanship but about citizenship. At the same time, however, Hoyer and others said "some" opposition to statehood over the years has stemmed from the perception of the District as "too Democratic, too black and too liberal" - an old shibboleth referring to the city's voting patterns and its racial makeup. "There's no doubt in my mind if this were a Republican city and a white city that this would have happened some time ago," Hoyer said in an interview Monday. "And it should happen. I've decided that this is the time to fully engage the reality of the moment as to whether we are going to treat people with the respect and dignity and the rights they should have under the constitution of the United States of America." President Donald Trump says Republicans would be "very very stupid" to allow the District to become a state, since its overwhelmingly Democratic voter base would be granted the power to elect two new senators and a voting member of the House. Hoyer dropped his long-standing opposition to D.C. statehood last year and promised to schedule a vote on the statehood bill before this summer. After coronavirus relief bills began to dominate the congressional calendar, he moved the deadline to the end of the year. But protests over the police killing of George Floyd - and denunciations of Trump's efforts to seize control of the response from the D.C. government - thrust statehood back into the national consciousness, Hoyer said. The announcement of the vote comes just over two weeks after federal authorities pushed peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square outside the White House before Trump traversed the area to have his photograph taken. Bowser has since argued that the intervention illustrates the need for the District to become a state and control its own affairs. "This blatant degradation of our home right before my own eyes offered another reminder - a particularly powerful one - of why we need statehood for the District. Another reminder that the fight for statehood cannot be separated from the fight for racial justice," she wrote Sunday in an op-ed in The Washington Post. The statehood bill, introduced by Norton, would shrink the seat of the federal government to a two-square-mile enclave, encompassing the White House, Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court and other federal buildings. The rest of the District would become known as the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth. Norton, with Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio,, also introduced a bill this month that would designate Bowser as a governor and council members as legislators to emphasize that the District already operates as a state despite bmeing denied voting rights. The last time the House held a vote on statehood in 1993, it failed 277-153, with support from 60 percent of Democrats and one Republican. At the time, D.C. was grappling with a high murder rate and was on the verge of bankruptcy, and the statehood movement had far less support in Congress than it has today. (HealthDay)Back off, Mom and Dad: Teens who feel their parents are overly controlling may have more difficulty with romantic relationships as adults, a new study suggests. The study, which followed 184 teens, found that those with domineering parents had a future that was different from their peers: On average, they did not go as far in their education, and they were less likely to be in a romantic relationship by age 32. The researchers said the study cannot prove cause and effect. But it does add to evidence that "helicopter" parenting may end up doing kids more harm than good. "Most parents have the best intentions," said lead author Emily Loeb, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. And certainly, she added, "setting rules and structure for kids is a good thing." The problem seems to come when parents try to dictate what their children do, not only through rules, but also manipulation. Loeb said they may attempt to "control through guilt," for example by giving the silent treatment until their child does what they want. And there are reasons to believe that could affect children's relationships later in life, according to Loeb. Research shows that kids with controlling parents can have difficulty developing autonomythe ability to think for themselves and act independently. And young people with a healthy sense of autonomy tend to be better-liked and have an easier time forming relationships. They are more likely, for example, to feel that they can "express their feelings without getting shot down," Loeb said. In contrast, kids with controlling parents may struggle when it comes to expressing their emotions or asking for what they need. Beyond that, Loeb said, they may also get the message that close relationships are "risky." The study, published June 16 in Child Development, involved 184 teenagers who were first assessed at age 13. The participants answered questionnaires about parental control, their own psychological and social maturity, and depression symptoms. The researchers also observed them in videotaped interactions with a friend. Years later, when participants were age 27, those in romantic relationships were taped in interactions with their partner. Overall, the study found, those interactions were less supportive among participants who had rated their parents as domineering at age 13meaning there was less eye contact between partners, less interest in what the other person was saying and more talking over each other. People with controlling parents were also less likely to be in a relationship at age 32. The pattern was similar when it came to educational attainment: Young adults with overbearing parents did not go as far as their peers. The precise reasons are not clear, according to Loeb. But two key characteristics seemed to account for the adulthood issues. As teenagers, kids with controlling parents were typically less mature and less popular than their peers, the study found. Ming Cui, a professor at Florida State University in Tallahassee, has worked on several studies examining the effects of helicopter parenting on college-age kids. Her team has found that when parents are still hovering over their young-adult children, it may boost the odds for depression and anxiety, drinking and college "burnout." Cui pointed to similar potential explanations. Domineering parents, she said, may undermine their kids' "self-regulatory" capacitythe self-control, problem-solving skills and other abilities people need to navigate relationships. None of that means those young people are doomed, Loeb said. "Many do not have these issues," she noted. Perhaps even more importantly, they can unlearn relationship habits they developed as kids. "There's plenty of evidence people can change these patterns," she said. As for parents, Loeb said it's important to set age-appropriate rules. "But treat your child as a separate person who has their own opinions," she said. "Let them have a voice and have a say." It may take some self-reflection to recognize you are a controlling parent, Loeb noted. For many parents, she said, the habit may come from anxiety over what could happen to their kids if they don't control their behavior. And some, Loeb said, may have learned it from their own parents. Explore further Teens who say their parents are overcontrolling struggle with relationships, educational goals as adults More information: The American Academy of Pediatrics has advice for parents on helping their Journal information: Child Development The American Academy of Pediatrics has advice for parents on helping their college-bound teens Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. In support of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's letter to President Donald Trump on Monday requesting a major disaster declaration for Michigan after devastating flooding in May in Midland County and four other counties, a bipartisan group of 15 members of Congress from Michigan on Tuesday also sent a letter to the president. Tuesday's letter was written by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters; U.S. Representatives John Moolenaar and Dan Kildee, who combined represent the flooded counties of Saginaw, Midland, Gladwin, Arenac and Iosco; and U.S. Representatives Fred Upton, Bill Huizenga, Tim Walberg, Debbie Dingell, Brenda Lawrence, Jack Bergman, Paul Mitchell, Andy Levin, Elissa Slotkin, Haley Stevens and Rashida Tlaib. According to a news release from Stabenow's office, federal major disaster declaration would allow for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Managment Agency to individuals, small businesses, local governments and the community. This would include individual assistance for families and small businesses, public assistance for local governments, and the hazard mitigation grant program to prevent damage that might occur in the future. The following is the entire letter from the Michigan members of Congress to the president: "Dear Mr. President, "We are writing in support of Gov. Whitmer's request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Michigan. This request comes after federal, state, and local officials worked together to complete the Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment in Arenac, Gladwin, Iosco, Midland, and Saginaw counties and determined federal assistance is necessary. "In mid-May, mid-Michigan received four to seven inches of rainfall, which had a devastating impact on homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. This significant rainfall caused the Edenville and Sanford Dams along the Tittabawassee River to fail, flooding the surrounding area with billions of gallons of water overnight. Federal, state, and local officials working on the ground conducted assessments from May 26 to June 13 and determined the level of damage requires federal assistance. This disaster response has been complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as residents sought non-congregate sheltering and officials navigated virtual damage assessments. "In total, the flooding affected over 3,700 properties and the estimated private loss is over $190 million. More than 2,300 homes were directly affected causing structural damage, electrical damage, furnace and water heater damage, and extensive mold. These homes are not safe to live in and without assistance, families cannot afford to make critical repairs. As noted in the governor's request, only 14% of affected households in the five counties had insurance policies covering flood damages. The governor has requested Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and activation of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Nonprofits are doing their best to assist homeowners but without sufficient federal resources, it will be nearly impossible to hire the contractors needed to make the repairs quickly enough and ensure each displaced family has a safe home before the weather becomes inclement. In addition, the impact of the ongoing pandemic on state government, local governments, businesses, and homeowner's financial well-being intensifies the need for support from the federal government. "The people of the State of Michigan are resilient, and we commend the work of federal, state, and local officials to provide much needed assistance. However, there is still much more work to be done to ensure the safety of all those affected by the flood. We urge you to accept the Governor's request and swiftly provide assistance, so the residents and business owners in these communities can recover from this disaster. Thank you for your consideration of our request." AUSTIN, Texas, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Acunetix, a global leader in automated web application security, has incorporated a brand new feature, the Business Logic Recorder (BLR), into the product. The Business Logic Recorder is a unique Acunetix feature that is designed to enable effective testing of particular scenarios, especially multi-step web forms, which would otherwise make it impossible for a scanner to reach all areas of a web application. Web applications process user input data in the background but an automated scanner cannot recognize the meaning of this data. In many cases, the application may behave differently depending on the data that the user selects or enters. BLR essentially allows the security engineer to record a number of sequences, ensuring that the scanner can reach all valid variations for vulnerability testing. "Many web applications, including those with shopping carts, use multi-step forms," said Nicholas Schiberras, Acunetix Chief Technology Officer. "Acunetix is the only automated web vulnerability scanners that allows security professionals to quickly and easily overcome constraint barriers and test all corners of these web applications without extensive manual work." The Business Logic Recorder is designed to enable effective testing of particular scenarios. It allows administrators to define multiple input sequences to ensure the scanner: Reaches and tests all variations of multi-step web forms or other web application workflows. Fulfills particular constraints to reach parts of a web application, which an automated scanner would otherwise not be able to test. The Business Logic Recorder is available for every target in the latest release of Acunetix v13. Related: How to Use the Acunetix Business Logic Recorder Acunetix v13 Release Introduces Groundbreaking Innovations About Acunetix Over 3,000 companies worldwide trust Acunetix to protect their assets, align with their policies, and integrate with the development lifecycle. Acunetix brings an extensive feature-set of automated penetration testing tools, enabling security analysts to perform a complete vulnerability assessment, and repair detected threats. With global headquarters in Malta and North American headquarters in Austin, Texas, Acunetix customers include many Fortune 500 companies and include banking, education, healthcare, government, defense, and technology industries. Acunetix is part of Invicti Security , the leading global provider of dynamic application security testing products. For more information visit https://www.acunetix.com . SOURCE Acunetix Related Links https://www.acunetix.com Three members of the NYS Assembly held a news conference in front of Destiny USA this morning to call on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to allow shopping malls in Upstate New York to open. Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, Assemblywoman Pam Hunter and Assemblyman Al Stirpe, all Democrats, said it is time to get thousands of mall employees back to work, especially as other restaurants and stores have been allowed to reopen. The mall and thousands of non-essential businesses shut down in mid-March to stop the spread of the coronavirus. About 5,000 mall employees are waiting for an answer, Magnarelli said. We just feel that its time, Magnarelli said. Its time to reopen. No one at the press conference had a copy of a plan for Destiny USA to reopen safely. Destiny has not released one to the public. Magnarelli said he thought he read one two weeks ago and would provide a copy. The Assembly members argued that the mall should reopen because it is unfair to the stores and restaurants whose competitors outside the mall have been allowed to reopen. They also said infection rates are low in the Syracuse area even after thousands of people have attended Black Lives Matter rallies. Thousands of people have been shopping in grocery stores and big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes businesses deemed essential from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, they said. Cuomos staff has said the mall is unlike any other retailer because people window shop and congregate in common spaces for longer periods of time than a shopper who runs into a grocery store. Central New York entered phase three of the states reopening strategy last Friday. If the infection rate remains low, the region is expected to enter phase four in two weeks. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus pandemic means no July 4 fireworks for most Central NY communities CNY autistic teen in group home cant understand why family stopped visiting Update: Coronavirus spreads slowly in Onondaga County, new data shows Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186. On June 7, the EPIC-MRA firm released a poll that showed Donald Trump trailing Joe Biden by 12 points among likely voters in Michigan . It seemed like the kind of outlier survey that would probably, in retrospect, turn out to have been random statistical variation. On Tuesday, EPIC-MRA released the results of another poll that it conducted in early June, which, for logistical reasons, used a completely different sample of voters. And this poll shows Trump trailing Biden in Michigan by 16 points. Advertisement Caveats: FiveThirtyEight currently has Biden leading Trump in Michigan by 10 points in its average, not 16. (FiveThirtyEight does give EPIC-MRA a B-plus quality rating and lists it as actually having a very slight tendency to overrate Republicans odds.) EPIC-MRAs analyst also pointed out that the newly released poll was conducted during the period in which the administrations tear-gassing of protesters in front of the White House was the top national story. If protests fade out of the news cycle and/or the economy keeps improving and the coronavirus disappears (by magic, I guess), Republican-leaning swing voters could snap back toward Trump. Biden could lose support by getting tangled up in an extended riff about Strom Thurmonds integrity and keeping oleo in your ice box during a debate, etc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Nonetheless, folks! Thats still a credible polling operation finding twice that Donald Trump is trailing his own 2016 pace in Michigan (which he won over Hillary Clinton by a quarter-point) by double digits, a predicament that could be due in part to a violent stunt that he thought would improve his public image by projecting authority. Hes getting routed in the home of Reagan Democrats, weird militia guys, and a state Legislature that takes an official break every year during deer hunting season. What happened? Data suggests that, as with the dip in his national approval rating Trump has experienced since the Lafayette Square incident, what were seeing in Michigan is a reactionary bet gone wrong. In the early days of the coronavirus crisis, the states Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, was critical of the federal governments failures to provide ventilators and personal protective equipment for medical personnel. Rather than ignoring her needling or trying to overwhelm it with staged photo-op deliveries of supplies, Trump repeatedly insulted Whitmer in public remarks and on Twitter and threatened to withhold aid from the state if she didnt praise him more. Then, later in the lockdown period, he tweeted his support for the liberation activists who were protesting public health measures by brandishing weapons in and around the Michigan Statehouse. But by wide margins, Michigan residents supported Whitmers relatively tight and long-lasting lockdown and believed the protesters actions sent the wrong message. (A majority of self-identified Republican women, even, said that they did not support the protests.) Advertisement Advertisement Now, while a number of U.S. states have reopened themselves into COVID-19 surges, Michigans case numbers are trending way downward; the state only reported 31 new positive tests on Monday. It hasknock on woodbeen able to reopen many public spaces without creating a second wave. As Michael Dukakis can tell you, a big polling lead in the summer is worth exactly zero electoral votes. But Trump has a long way to go to earn back the trust of the Camouflage Moms and COVID-19 Mask Dads hell need if he wants to win Michigan again. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. DUBLIN, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "CAR-T Therapy Market Global Report 2020-30" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global CAR-T therapy market was worth $611.31 million in 2019. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 51.10% and reach $3,186.23 million by 2023. North America is expected to be the largest region in the forecast period. The CAR-T therapy market is driven by the increasing financial support provided by different organizations to promote the development and consumption of CAR-T therapy. The government and non-government organizations provide financial support to the companies in CAR-T therapy market for research and development and to the patients for their treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). For instance, in 2019, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment of New Zealand announced its contribution of $4.9 million over 5 years to its partnership scheme with Malaghan Institute (MI), in order to support the development of CAR T-cell manufacturing in New Zealand. Further, governments in some countries provide subsidy to patients undergoing CAR-T therapy owing to the high cost of the treatment. For example, in 2019, the government of Australia included the CAR-T therapy on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). The inclusion of (Kymriah) CAR-T therapy in MBS reduces the cost of the treatment for almost 30 paediatric and young adult (ALL) patients per year in Australia. The financial support provided by different organizations towards CAR-T therapy positively drives the growth of CAR-T therapy market. The limitations on the application of CAR-T therapy limits the growth of the market. The limitations on CAR-T therapy includes its failure to treat other types of cancer, side effects and the high cost of treatment. CAR-T therapy is widely used as a treatment for a particular type of blood cancer and fails to treat other types of cancers such as lung cancer or breast cancer. Further, in many cases the application of CAR-T therapy results in cytokine release syndrome (CRS). CRS is severe flu like condition causing high fever, nausea, chills, headache, rash, and troubled breathing. Further, the high cost limits the growth of the market. According to an article in HealthLeaders in 2019, the cost of one CAR-T therapy session can be up to $375,000 excluding the overhead charges such as hospital bills. Thus, the growth of the CAR-T therapy is restricted by the various limitations on the application of CAR-T therapy. The companies in the CAR-T therapy market are conducting clinical trials to assess the ability of CAR-T therapy to treat multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a type of white blood cell cancer where the cancer cells accumulate in the bone marrow and surrounds the healthy blood cells. CAR-T therapy is being tested as a treatment for multiple myeloma. CAR-T cells are modified to target the multiple myeloma causing cells to treat the relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). For instance, Sorrento Therapeutics, a USA based developer of therapeutic approaches to treat different types of cancer, developed CAR2 anti-CD38 CAR-T cell therapy to treat RRMM. The CAR2 anti-CD38 CAR-T cell therapy is in phase 1 of its clinical trial with 72 participant recruitments made by the end of 2019.The aim of the clinical trial is to evaluate the efficiency and safety of CAR2 anti-CD38 CAR-T cell therapy. The trial is expected to be completed in 2020. In 2019, Novartis, a Switzerland based global medicines company, acquired CellforCure for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is aimed to increase Novartis' internal production capacity for cell and gene therapies. CellforCure is a French based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that provides manufacturing facility for cell and gene therapy. CellforCure assisted Novartis in 2017 to manufacture CAR-T treatment named Kymriah. Major players in the market are Novartis AG, Kite Pharma, Pfizer Inc, Juno Therapeutics, Celgene Corporation, CARsgen Therapeutics, Sorrento Therapeutics and Legend Biotech. Report Scope The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider car-t therapy market, and compares it with other markets. The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market and forecasting the future. Drivers and restraints looks at the external factors supporting and controlling the growth of the market. Market segmentations break down market into sub markets. The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth. It covers all the regions, key developed countries and major emerging markets. It draws comparisons with country populations and economies to understand the importance of the market by country and how this is changing. Competitive landscape gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified. The trends and strategies section highlights the likely future developments in the market and suggests approaches companies can take to exploit this. The car-t therapy market section of the report gives context. It compares the car-t therapy market with other segments of the car-t therapy market by size and growth, historic and forecast. It analyses GDP proportion, expenditure per capita, car-t therapy indicators comparison. Key Topics Covered 1. Executive Summary 2. CAR-T therapy Market Characteristics 3. CAR-T therapy Market Size And Growth 3.1. Global CAR-T therapy Historic Market, 2015 - 2019, $ Billion 3.1.1. Drivers Of The Market 3.1.2. Restraints On The Market 3.2. Global CAR-T therapy Forecast Market, 2019 - 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 3.2.1. Drivers Of The Market 3.2.2. Restraints On the Market 4. CAR-T therapy Market Segmentation 4.1. Global CAR-T therapy Market, Segmentation By Target Antigen, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion CD19 CD22 Others 4.2. Global CAR-T therapy Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Follicular Lymphoma Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Multiple Myeloma Others 5. CAR-T therapy Market Regional And Country Analysis 5.1. Global CAR-T therapy Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 5.2. Global CAR-T therapy Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion Companies Mentioned Atara Biotherapeutics Aurora Biopharma Inc. Autolus Therapeutics PLC bluebird bio Carina Biotech CARsgen Therapeutics CARTherics Celgene Corporation Endocyte, Inc. Eureka Therapeutics F1 Oncology, Inc. Fate Therapeutics Inc. Fortress Biotech. Gilead Immune Therapeutics Juno Therapeutics Kite Pharma Legend Biotech Mustang Bio Novartis AG Oxford BioMedica PLC. PeproMene Bio Inc. Pfizer Inc Sorrento Therapeutics Tessa Therapeutics Pte Ltd. TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d7jbji Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Egypt has arrested a veteran journalist who has been openly critical of the government after he appeared on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Mohamed Monir, 65, was arrested by plainclothes police officers early on Monday, the New York-based advocacy group said. "Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Mohamed Monir and drop these baseless charges," it said. "Monir is already in failing health, and to detain him pending trial during a pandemic is exceptionally cruel." Monir has been remanded in custody for 15 days on charges of joining a terrorist organisation, spreading false news and misusing social media. His arrest comes as Egypt steps up a crackdown on the press that it has been waging since Abdel Fattah al-Sisi became president in 2014, a year after he led the army's overthrow of his Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi. The government regards Monir as a mouthpiece for Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, now blacklisted as a terrorist organisation. Police had previously raided Monir's apartment on Saturday. He was not home at the time but he obtained footage of the raid from a camera in his building which he shared online. In a defiant video message he posted on Facebook, Monir vowed that the authorities' attempt to arrest him would not stop him speaking out. In a family statement posted on Monir's Facebook page, his daughter Sara said: "He was merely exercising his freedom of speech and his words did not contain any incitement against the nation." In May, the CPJ documented the arrests of at least four Egyptian journalists, including Sameh Haneen, a Coptic Christian who also faces charges of joining a terrorist organisation. The interior ministry later published video footage of an alleged confession by Haneen, in which he claimed he had been paid thousands of dollars for producing videos critical of the goverment for Al Jazeera at the request of members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt and its Gulf allies -- Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- have boycotted Qatar since June 2017, accusing it of supporting radical Islamists and being too close to Iran, charges it denies. Egypt ranks as the third worst jailer of journalists behind China and Turkey, according to the CPJ. KEY WEST, Fla. Officials have solved the killing of a teenager in the Florida Keys who was raped and strangled with her bikini top on Valentines Day 1991. The victim has finally been identified as 18-year-old Wanda Deann Kirkum of Hornell, New York. The Monroe County Sheriffs Office says her killer was Robert Lynn Bradley, who was murdered a year later in Texas at the age of 31. Officials used DNA technology to identify both the victim and the suspect. DNA obtained from the 1991 crime scene in the Florida Keys matched DNA from Bradleys own homicide scene in April 1992. The Tarrant County, Texas, investigation also indicated that Bradley had lived in Miami in late 1990. The case became known as the Valentine Jane Doe Homicide. Kirkum was seen hitchhiking out of Key West that evening. Windsurfers found her body the following morning off a dirt road in an area known as the Horseshoe. She was face down, nude and had been strangled with her bikini top. Sheriffs officials said Kirkum was never reported missing, and both her parents are now dead. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-15 22:00:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Employees work at the workshop of a technology company at Xingtai Economic Development Zone in Xingtai City, north China's Hebei Province, May 14, 2020. The economic development zone has adopted various measures to support its companies in production resumption. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) will hold a virtual meeting on work and production resumption on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting, which aims to facilitate information sharing and business discussions, will also launch an online platform to facilitate cooperation between the SMEs of the two sides, and release information of participating enterprises, spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a press conference. More than 300 enterprises from China and CEECs are expected to seek cooperation opportunities in different fields such as industry and industrial manufacturing, trade and investment, agriculture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, and healthcare, according to Zhao. Citizens interact with a performer dressed as clown at a shopping festival in a park at Pujiang Town of Minhang District, east China's Shanghai, June 7, 2020. The shopping festival featuring livestreaming sales and enabling visitors to do shopping while strolling in the park was held here to boost local production resumption and economic recovery. (Xinhua/Huang Anqi) China has made major strategic achievements in prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, and the epidemic in CEECs has been effectively brought under control, Zhao said, noting that accelerating work and production resumption and restoring economic and social development become the common goals of all governments. For China and CEECs, SMEs serve as not only an important source of economic vitality but also a major force of job creation, Zhao said. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the Chinese government has adopted effective measures to support its SMEs, including expanding aggregate demand and increasing financial support for market players, said the spokesperson. China is willing to take the advantage of the China-CEECs cooperation platform to enhance information exchanges with CEECs, so as to create more opportunities for SMEs from both sides to resume work and production and conduct cooperation, and help minimize the pandemic impact on SMEs to the minimum, Zhao said. The share of the population at increased risk (with at least one underlying health condition relevant to COVID-19) is highest in countries with ageing populations, African countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence, and small island nations with high diabetes prevalence. The share of the population with an underlying health condition varies by age, from less than 5% of those under 20, to over 66% of those aged 70 and above. As lockdown restrictions are eased, governments could use the new estimates to understand how many people should be prioritised for enhanced physical distancing measures [1] and vaccination (if available) The authors estimate that fewer individuals worldwide would actually require hospitalisation if infected - around 4% of the world population - suggesting that for many with underlying conditions, the increase in risk may be modest. An estimated 1.7 billion people, 22% of the world population, have at least one underlying health condition that could increase their risk of severe COVID-19 if infected, according to a modelling study that uses data from 188 countries, published in The Lancet Global Health journal. "As countries move out of lockdown, governments are looking for ways to protect the most vulnerable from a virus that is still circulating. We hope our estimates will provide useful starting points for designing measures to protect those at increased risk of severe disease. This might involve advising people with underlying conditions to adopt social distancing measures appropriate to their level of risk, or prioritising them for vaccination in the future," says Associate Professor Andrew Clark from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UK. [2] Although the estimates provide an idea of the number of people governments should prioritise for protective measures, not all individuals with these conditions would go on to develop severe symptoms if infected. The authors estimate that 4% of the world's population (349 million of 7.8 billion people) would require hospitalisation if infected, suggesting that the increased risk of severe COVID-19 could be quite modest for many with underlying conditions. Guidelines published by the WHO and by public health agencies in the UK and USA identify risk factors for severe COVID-19, including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease. The new study provides global, regional and national estimates for the number of people with underlying health conditions. The authors caution that they focused on underlying chronic conditions and didn't include other possible risk factors for COVID-19 that are not yet included in all guidelines, such as ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation. Their estimates are therefore unlikely to be exhaustive, but serve as a starting point for policy-makers. The authors based their estimates on disease prevalence data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, UN population estimates for 2020 and the list of underlying health conditions relevant to COVID-19, as defined by current guidelines. The authors point out that the GBD prevalence estimates are likely to be higher than those from national databases, because they're designed to capture cases that might be undiagnosed or not severe enough to be included in electronic health records. They analysed the number of people with an underlying condition by age group, sex and country for 188 countries. To help determine the degree of increased risk, the researchers also provided separate estimates of the proportion of all people (with and without underlying conditions) who would require hospitalisation if infected. The authors calculated those at high risk using infection hospitalisation ratios for COVID-19 [3] and made adjustments for differences between countries. Countries and regions with younger populations have fewer people with at least one underlying health condition, while those with older populations have more people with at least one condition. For example, the proportion of the population with one or more health condition ranges from 16% in Africa (283 million people out of 1.3 billion) to 31% in Europe (231 million out of 747 million). However, Associate Professor Clark cautions that the evidence needs to be carefully communicated to avoid complacency about risk in Africa: "The share of the population at increased risk of severe COVID-19 is generally lower in Africa than elsewhere due to much younger country populations, but a much higher proportion of severe cases could be fatal in Africa than elsewhere." [2] Small island nations with high diabetes prevalence, such as Fiji and Mauritius, have among the highest proportion of people with an underlying condition. In Africa, countries with the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence, such as eSwatini and Lesotho, have a greater proportion of people with an underlying condition than countries with lower prevalence, such as Niger. Globally, less than 5% of people aged under 20 years, but more than 66% of those aged 70 and above, have at least one underlying condition that could increase their risk of severe COVID-19. Among the working age population (15 to 64 years), 23% are estimated to have at least one underlying condition. The prevalence of one or more condition listed on current guidelines is similar between the sexes, but the authors assumed males were twice as likely as females to require hospitalisation if infected. The authors estimate that 349 million people worldwide are at high risk of severe COVID-19, meaning they would require hospital treatment if infected. This risk varies from less than 1% of people under 20 to nearly 20% of those aged 70 or older, rising to more than 25% in males over 70. In all age groups under 65, around twice the number of men as women would require hospitalisation. Above 65 years, the ratio becomes less marked because women are over-represented in older age groups due to longer life expectancy. "Our estimates suggest that age-based thresholds for shielding could play a role in reducing deaths and reducing the number of people who require hospital treatment, but the choice of threshold needs to be balanced against the proportion of people of working age affected, as well as the health and economic consequences that might be associated with long periods of isolation," says Dr Rosalind Eggo from LSHTM. [21] Writing in a linked Comment, lead author Professor Nina Schwalbe, MPH, (who was not involved in the study) from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, USA, says: "An increased understanding of risk factors, including the effects of social determinants and their interplay, provides an opportunity to target mitigation strategies and helps to allay the popular misconception that everyone is at equal risk of severe illness. As the authors note, it is time to evolve from a one-size-fits-all approach to one that centres on those most at risk. This will need to happen at both the individual and community level. Considering the relevance of social determinants, such an approach requires urgently improving communication about COVID-19; increasing access to health services, including palliative care, for those already socially vulnerable; and providing economic support to cope with the mitigation." ### NOTES TO EDITORS This study was funded by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) and the Wellcome Trust. It was conducted by researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the University of Edinburgh, Sun Yat-Sen University, the University of Washington, Imperial College London and the University College London. The labels have been added to this press release as part of a project run by the Academy of Medical Sciences seeking to improve the communication of evidence. For more information, please see: http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/AMS-press-release-labelling-system-GUIDANCE.pdf if you have any questions or feedback, please contact The Lancet press office pressoffice@lancet.com [1] For example, self-isolating, avoiding workplaces and using home-delivered food and medical care [2] Quote direct from author and cannot be found in the text of the Article. [3] https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30243-7 Peer-reviewed / Modelling study / People **Country-level data and infographic available below - with interactive embeddable map available on request** Chinese Vice Premier Liu He (L) and President Donald Trump during the signing of the phase one trade deal, surrounded by officials, in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 15, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) The Phase One Trade Deal Is DeadWhats Next? Where do USChina relations go from here? Commentary President Donald Trumps trade deal with China is dead. Hailed as a good first step when it was signed on Jan. 15, the phase one trade agreement was more about posturing than purchasing. Still, as we know, much has transpired since then that has made it difficult to imagine Beijing honoring its U.S. import quotas in the deal. A Deal No One Could Refuse? The phase one deal called for China to buy $200 billion worth of U.S. goods and services over the next two years. Thats compared to $186 billion worth bought by China in 2017. The deal also called for China to purchase another $77 billion in manufacturing goods over 202021, for what would have been about a $33 billion increase in U.S. exports to China this year, and about a $45 billion rise next year. Energy buys were to rise to more than $52 billion in 2020 from a $9.1 billion baseline in 2017. Just as importantly, the phase one deal required China to follow through on earlier promises to stem forced technology transfers and targeting U.S. firms for intellectual property theft. Those two activities have been the lifeblood of Chinas technological sector growth and innovation. Beijing also agreed to refrain from currency manipulation and cut its 25 percent retaliatory tariffs on American cars. For its part, the United States was to lower tariffs by half, to 7.5 percent, on $120 billion worth of Chinese goods and to suspend tariffs on Chinese cellphones, laptop computers, toys, and clothing. Making Beijing promise to fulfill its earlier promises should have been a red flag, so to speak, for U.S. negotiators. No Surprises In the first week of June, to no ones surprise, Beijing broke the phase one agreement by ordering state-owned enterprises to cancel plans to buy U.S. soybeans, which were part of the $200 billion in U.S. products. In reality, phase one was never really a solid deal. It was full of empty promises that few believed would actually come about. The goals were lofty and unrealistic in the best of times. The world is now in very different economic and diplomatic conditions than it was when the deal was signed just five months ago. In any case, it was more of a face-saving gesture for both sides and a basis, however minimal, from which to conduct future negotiations. But the deal was over before it ever got started. Events and Actions Overshadow Trade The CCP virus pandemic and ensuing lockdowns have crippled economies around the world and raised tensions with Washington. Beijings deceptive pronouncements and actions surrounding the pathogen were as damaging to the world as they were inexcusablefrom denying its origins and human-to-human transmission capabilities, to allowing infected citizens to travel abroad while imposing domestic travel restrictions, and other actions. Then, with sweeping new sedition laws aimed at the democracy protesters in Hong Kong, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has effectively subjugated the once autonomous city that is Asias most dynamic financial center. The U.S. response was predictable. In the wake of the new laws from Beijing, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suspended the special trade treatment it had granted Hong Kong back in 1997 as a separate entity from China. The United States may also apply sanctions and other economic penalties against China and Hong Kong. But Chinas behavior goes much further than its absorption of Hong Kong. While the U.S. Navy has been dealing with CCP virus infections in its Pacific fleet, China has been claiming and militarizing disputed islands in the South China Sea, conducting military maneuvers near Taiwan, and conducting mock battles in critical sea lanes. Whats more, while the U.S. Navy was in quarantine for the CCP virus in Guam, Chinas air force increased its harassment of U.S. military aircraft in the South China Sea. Where Do USChina Relations Go From Here? While global demand for Chinas goods remains low, so does Chinas domestic consumption. In addition, a growing second wave of the CCP virus, as well as rising outbreaks in the Southern Hemisphere, may well mean that Chinas economic malaise could deepen. And, of course, the economic downturn in both the United States and China make cooperation more difficult. Clearly, Beijing is playing a different hand now than in 2019. If domestic propaganda and diplomatic rhetoric targeted at Japan and Taiwan are an indication of Beijings intentions, it would appear that China is overtly challenging U.S. security guarantees in the Asia-Pacific region. Beijings military escalation has been apparent for several years, and yet received minimal pushback from the prior U.S. administration. Its possible that Beijing applied its expectations from the Obama administration to the current one as well. If so, that raises the risk of miscalculation on either side, but in particular, with China. Beijing isnt about to give up what its gained in the South China Sea or from its ongoing actions in Hong Kong. Nor can Beijing politically afford the continued existence of Taiwan. With its relatively liberal republican political system and its deep military ties to the United States, Taiwan represents a real alternative to the Chinese people, which threatens the legitimacy of the Party. This is an ongoing and very serious problem for the CCP, which spends more money on suppressing its people than it does on external defense. The quick reaction from the Trump administration, however, does pose a dilemma for Beijing. Washingtons decision to send three aircraft carriers to the Pacific is an obvious and necessary response, but one to which China must also react. In other words, military escalation in the region is underway, making direct military confrontation between the United States and China more likely than it was before. As for the future of U.S.China trade, the current developments likely undercut the potential for any meaningful trade agreement between the two in the near future. They will likely widen the existing diplomatic gulf. Or perhaps theyre just exposing the wide gap between Chinas goals and those of the United States that was already there. James R. Gorrie is the author of The China Crisis (Wiley, 2013) and writes on his blog, TheBananaRepublican.com. He is based in Southern California. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. China: Hong Kong security law will apply to extremely rare cases Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 10:22 AM A senior Chinese official has assured Hong Kong's residents that the national security legislation, which has sparked fresh protests in the semi-autonomous territory, will grant the mainland special jurisdiction over "some extremely rare" security cases there. Deng Zhonghua, deputy head of China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said enforcing the new anti-subversion law would largely fall to Hong Kong's local authorities and police. "However, the central authorities should also reserve jurisdiction over some extremely rare cases when an offense takes place in Hong Kong and poses a serious threat to China's national security," Deng said speaking at a Basic Law seminar in Shenzhen on Monday. The official also said the legislation will not punish people retroactively. Deng highlighted the similarities and differences between the legal systems of mainland China and the semi-autonomous business hub. "Although there are differences in the legal systems of Hong Kong and the mainland, the principles followed by the Hong Kong and mainland criminal laws are not that great," Deng said. "Both laws include principles such as presumption of innocence, the right for criminal suspects and defendants to have legal defense, and laws not being applied retrospectively. All these principles can be stipulated in this legislation," he added. Deng's comments came as the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, prepares to unveil the new legislation for Hong Kong. Following months of calm, unrest returned to Hong Kong last month after Beijing announced the plan to introduce new national security laws that are expected to forbid sedition, secession and subversion against the mainland. It will also pave the way for Chinese national security institutions to operate in the city for the first time since 1997, when Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule. The law was drafted after months of massive and sometimes violent anti-Beijing protests last year. Critics view such a measure as a blow to the semi-autonomous region's autonomy and civil liberties. Proponents, however, believe the proposed legislation will return stability and leave political freedoms intact, and that Hong Kong's local legislature has failed to pass its own national security laws over the years. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address June is Pride Month in the United States, timed to celebrate the birth of the American LGBTQ rights movement, which burst out of the underground on June 28, 1969, during a rebellion at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, where patrons fought back during a police raid. It has been an eventful Pride month already, with Pride celebrations canceled to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the continued protests of the Black Lives Matter uprising. There have already been many highs and lows: In the same week two black trans women were found murdered, "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling received criticism for a transphobic essay, and just a couple of days after the Trump administration sought to reduce protections for transgender people in health care, the Supreme Court ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ folks in the workplace. It's been a roller coaster of a month and a reminder that the fight for LGBTQ rights still needs to be fought. The president of the Cambodian Association of Victoria is Youhourn Chea, the brother-in-law of former Labor MP Hong Lim, who has been named in secret tapes as being a factional ally of Mr Somyurek. There is no suggestion that any multicultural grants were used to fund branch stacking. There is also no suggestion the organisations are not legitimate organisations. The grants are a fraction of the total number of grants awarded during Mr Scotts stint as minister for multicultural affairs. Mr Scott signed off on a grant to a group run by Youhorn Chea, the brother-in-law of Mr Lim, who Mr Scott previously worked for, a senior Labor source confirmed. The source also said he acted on advice and never varied any applications. Mr Scott defended the process by which he approved grants. All grants provided were recommended by the Victorian Multicultural Commission, after review by an expert panel, said Mr Scott. Funding has been provided to these organisations by both Liberal and Labor Governments over many years, and enables them to celebrate their culture and the contribution their community has made to a stronger Victoria. Loading Australia Light Foundation, an Islamic community charitable group, headquartered in Tottenham, received about $700,000 in several large grants from the Department of Multicultural Affairs while Mr Scott was in charge of the portfolio. This has included grants from Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund, Multicultural Events & Activities Program, Community Harmony Program, Security Infrastructure Fund, Community Infrastructures and Cultural Precincts program, Community Building and Partnership Program and a program to stamp out graffiti. The foundation counts ALP electorate officer Mr Koyu as a committee member; all seven other members of the committee are ALP members. Mr Koyu, a lieutenant of Mr Somyurek, is employed in the office of Labor upper house MP Ms Vaghela, an ally of Mr Somyurek, who is a former adviser to Mr Scott and the first Indian-born member of Victorian Parliament. There is no evidence to suggest Ms Vaghela was involved in branch stacking. Secret recordings show Mr Somyurek viewed Mr Koyu as important to his plans to extend his branch stacking operation into the Indian community. Adem Somyurek outside his home on June 16. Credit:AAP On one tape, Mr Somyurek alleges that "Hamdi [Koyu] will be good because hes got the Indians anyway, hes working with the Indians in Kaushaliyas office so he knows them." Loading On another recording, he describes using Mr Koyu to take over Labor branches. Mr Koyu and Ms Vaghela were at the infamous Lalor branch meeting in January in outer Melbourne in which 100 people gatecrashed the home of a Jasvinder Sidhu, a member of a rival faction who was punched during the heated gathering. Mr Somyurek was later recorded as saying ALP operatives aligned to him had taken over that branch. Mr Koyu was filmed at the meeting on his phone talking to Mr Somyurek - Mr Somyureks name is filmed on his phone - as the meeting descended into chaos. "Our little operation, as acrimonious as it was, has been very successful. We are about to take over that branch easily, Mr Somyurek said on one recording. Mr Koyu denied being involved in branch stacking when contacted by The Age. I am not a branch stacker and have been a member of my local branch for over 10 years. I have not held a position in my branch, he said. For all funding applications, the ALF deals directly with the relevant departmental officials and other than support letters from local representatives, we have not sought or received assistance from ministers. He said the organisation had received grants from Liberal and Labor governments and pointed to the good charitable work of the foundation, which The Age is not disputing. Another group to have received grants from Mr Scotts office that had committee members working for Mr Somyurek is the Heidelberg West-based Somali Australian Council of Victoria (SACOV). The organisation had up until 2018 counted Mr Somyureks ally Dr Haraco as its secretary and longtime spokesman. Dr Haraco was accused of branch stacking in mid-2018 when the ALP recorded a large increase in Somali members based in Heidelberg joining the party. At the time of the allegations, Dr Haraco was president of the Heidelberg branch of the ALP. Records show he is currently a delegate for the ALPs Federal Electoral Assembly, a key body within the party. Dr Haraco is also mentioned by Mr Somyurek in the secret recordings on more than one occasion as being linked to his stacking plans, though these claims are not supported by any further evidence in the recording. "Dr Hussein works for me, his daughter works for me... they are self-sustaining in Jagajaga," Mr Somyurek tells members of his branch stacking "flying squad". Mr Somyurek is also asked on the tape who will pay for the Somali memberships, to which the former cabinet minister replies: Ill have to. SACOV was the beneficiary of grants signed off by Mr Scott during his time as minister for multicultural affairs, though it received far less than the ALF. SACOVs accounts show that between 2014 and 2019 it received $191,330 in government grants. This included several large awards to the association even when only a handful of grants were given out to community organisations under a particular program across the entire state. SACOV was one of seven groups in 2018 to receive a large anti-racism grant of more than $16,000. The organisation was also linked to a $200,000 grant awarded to the Banyule City Council to revamp the Bell Street Mall in West Heidelberg. Dr Haraco is also vice-president of the Bell Street Mall Traders Association. Loading Dr Haraco did not respond to emails after refusing to talk to The Age because he was driving his car. The Cambodian Association of Victoria in Springvale also has strong links to Mr Somyureks factional allies. It has long been tied to former Moderate Labor MP Mr Lim, who was in Parliament until the 2018 election. Mr Lims brother-in-law, Mr Chea, who is not the subject of branch stacking allegations, describes himself as the president of the organisation on LinkedIn. Mr Lim was a founding member of the association and has been president, according to association documents. Mr Lim has previously faced allegations of branch stacking, which he denied at the time. He was replaced as the MP for Clarinda by Meng Heang Tak who is also of Cambodian background and features in the Somyurek tapes. "Whereas Hong used to be this f---ing whingeing turd, Heang's not like that. It's like, 'I got you in [to Parliament], you gotta do as I say,' " Mr Somyurek said in the secret recordings. "So I rang Heang up, I said, 'Mate, what's going on? ... We support you for preselection and you hand your votes over.' " Mr Tak denied any involvement in branch stacking when contacted by The Age. The group does not produce accounts after its charity status was revoked in 2015. A review of major grants shows the Cambodian Association of Victoria received $93,741 in 2018 under two programs, including $74,993 for community infrastructure and cultural precincts. In the 2017 financial year it received $70,000 for a number of events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Cambodian settlement in Australia. Mr Chea, who is also a City of Greater Dandenong councillor, adamantly rejected any suggestion that he was ever involved in branch stacking and said the association had done a lot of work to help the Cambodian community. GUILDERLAND I never expected to ignite such a spirited debate on Twitter when I posted a snippet of a witty feature story by James Hookway published June 4 on the front page of the Wall Street Journal beneath the headline: The Typographical Space Race Tightens Up. I think people longed for a brief pause after so many days of pain, anger, darkness, hurt and rage anywhere you cared to turn. Hookway described a split between people who put one space after a sentence and those who prefer two spaces. I am going to share some of the amazing responses I received. They reminded me once again of the wisdom of crowds and that the Capital Region is an intellectual rarity, one of the most highly-educated, literate areas per capita in all of America. With a dozen or so colleges and universities and several research facilities, we are awash in academics and scientists. Super-smart people. And if youre looking for writers, Ive never lived in a place with so many authors of quality and quantity a number I would equate roughly to our voluminous baristas and bartenders. Perhaps theyre all one and the same. Are you a one-spacer or a two-spacer? I inquired. Novelist Reif Larsen of Troy: First novel written with two spaces. Second with one. Times change. Commenter who goes by Ralph Glob and says hes from the Bronx: Two. Why do others try to limit people to one space. End spacism. I am going to let all the emoji comments pass. Its hieroglyphics to me. Im dating myself. I just turned 61. We diagrammed sentences over and over on chalk boards in elementary school. I graduated high school in 1977 and the most practical course I took was typing. The Gregg Typing Manual and dictated two spaces after a sentence. It was drilled into us. People of my generation who learned to write on a typewriter were two-spacers. I two-spaced all my college papers. It seemed to infer a sheen of academia, leather elbow patches on a tweed blazer. Meanwhile, the next generation, who started writing with personal computers and laptops and were less formal, zoomed right past two and were trained as one-spacers. They began to carry gravitas as the years marched on. Typographers have been arguing about this since Gutenbergs time. The space controversy roiled printers and publishers across France in the late 1800s. U.S. magazine, newspaper and book publishers tried to strike a compromise in the 1950s by using one and a half interword spaces creating the awkward en quad typographical space sliver. The commenters kept tweeting at me. Albany restaurateur and sommelier Dominick Purnomo: 2. Anything else is wrong. Period. Im always shocked that there are still two spacers out there in 2020. Drives me crazy, said Dennis Poust, a spokesman for NYS Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the states bishops. It became immediately clear that there is no middle ground or compromise on this matter. Two-spacers are beginning to have that sad look of MySpace and AOL dial-up users in the final stretch. Dr. Christopher Ames, President, The Sage Colleges: I thought that ship had sailed w/MLA, APA and Chicago all now agreeing on one space. I learned two, but see the logic that it is a relic of the typewriter world and not useful for publishers. Schenectady City Council member Carmel Patrick: One. One. One. For Gods sakes, its ONE. By that point, the Twitter thread had grown to several dozen comments and tempers were flaring between the one-spacers and a rather solid cohort of two-spacers who said they refuse to give up their extra space. Author Tim OToole: I still prefer two spaces. Why be in such a hurry getting to the next sentence. Take the time to savor powerful words. If they are not powerful, stop reading them. WNYT News anchor Benita Zahn: 2 spaces for me. Helps move thoughts a moment to digest. My 2 cents. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Albany lobbyist Amy Kramer: Two! Always two. Albany Industrial Refrigeration Technician UA Local 7 Danny Harrington: I was taught to two- space. I immediately ignored that because I was a teenager who thought that was dumb. LOL. No real reason. David Rooney, Principal DMR Group of Albany: Taught two spaces. Trying to transition to one. Old habits... Novelist Karl Luntta: One space, purely on aesthetics. Two spaces makes it look like an ellipsis is somehow missing. Writer and editor Donna Behen: People, its 2020! Why are we still having this debate? One space! This lively exchange on my Twitter thread made it feel like another "OK, Boomer" moment. For myself, I had a hybrid approach. As a newspaper reporter, I always used one space. But if I was writing something formal or with gravitas like a speech or a eulogy or formal introduction to a famous author, I reached back to that two-space academic formality. Of course, I have not even dipped a toe into the Oxford comma contretemps. That is a scalding cesspool of vituperation. I considered it totally pretentious and never used it unless required by a professor or editor. I know academics and editors who view the Oxford comma like Charlton Hestons closing remarks at the 2000 NRA annual meeting: From my cold dead hands. At one of our recent daily Writers Institute Zoom team meetings, I brought up the one-space, two-space debate and the Oxford comma. They were all one-spacers. A few are fans and regular users of the Oxford comma. Jennifer Kowalski, our stalwart program coordinator, quietly mentioned that while proofreading my fundraising letters, grant applications and other formal correspondence that go out under my signature she did a stealthy search-replace that rendered all my two spaces into one. I howled. I had no idea I was doing it. A subconscious act. Thanks, Jen. Everyone needs a good editor. Paul Grondahl is director of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany and a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmal.com Chief minister Nitish Kumar Monday asked bankers to ramp up the annual credit plan (ACP) with a view to improving the credit flow in the state to aid governments efforts to create adequate job opportunities for migrant workers who wish to stay back and work here. The chief minister, who was addressing bankers at the 72nd state level bankers committee meeting, said people of the state are inclined to deposit their savings with the banks. But against a deposit mobilization of Rs 3,71,783 crore in 2019-20, banks have disbursed loans worth Rs 1,52,257 crore in Bihar and deployed the rest in developed states. Bankers must reverse the trend and contribute in bolstering economic activities and job creation by pushing up the dismal C:D ratio of 43.03% somewhere near the national average, he said. The first step would be to increase the ACP target and, at the same time, augment their branch presence at the panchayat level to ensure that none of the 8,386 panchayat remains without a bank branch. We are ready to provide space in panchayat bhawans and government buildings as banking presence will help boost credit flow into labour intensive micro, small and medium enterprise sector, along with agriculture and allied activities (animal husbandry), handicraft and handloom sectors for creating job opportunities, he said. The chief ministers remark came in the backdrop of a continued slide in C:D ratio, from 45.38% in 2017-18 to 44.04% in 2018-19, and, now, to 43.03% in 2019-20 and a stagnation in the ACP targets for financial year 2020-2021--the same as FY 2019-20--at Rs 1,45,000 crore at a time when the state was in the midst of a pressing need to accommodate its non-resident workers in the wake of a reverse migration triggered by Covid-19 induced lockdown. Kumar said banks must take up the task to open an account for everybody and also increase the credit limit for over 9.5 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) to Rs 3-10 lakh from the current limit of Rs 1-5 lakh. Similarly issuance of kisan credit card (KCC) should be stepped up as only 50,000 new KCC have been issued, against 3.70 lakh fresh applications. The access to subsidized credit invariably goes a long way in spurring agriculture-related activities, he said. The CM appreciated bankers for carrying out banking operations, during the lockdown period, which, he said, helped the state in ensuring direct benefit transfer into the accounts of beneficiaries to the tune of Rs 8,500 crore. Deputy chief minister-cum-finance minister Sushil Kumar Modi, in his video interaction with media persons, said the government has laid down its expectations from the banks, as it was the first SLBC meeting of the current fiscal and major part of the first quarter remained under lockdown. As for the loan disbursal of Rs 1,05,400 crore that stood at 72.69% of the ACP target of Rs 1,45,000 crore for 2019-20, Modi said that the bankers attributed it to prevailing slowdown and beginning of the imposition of lockdown in the month of March. We are in the process of mitigating their concern regarding verification of land possession by providing then direct online access to land records for loan purposes, he said. Deputy CM said that as many as 17 banks have been identified as laggards in loan disbursal and the ACP achievement in 27 districts have been found to be way behind the average performance. We will keep a close watch and also ensure that nearly 12 lakh dairy farmers, who are also the members of COMPFED, are provided KCC to have access for soft loans for expanding their business, Modi said. Besides them, 74,000 street vendors have been identified for providing financial assistance of Rs 10,000 and 23,951 collateral free loan beneficiaries are being sanctioned Rs 638 crore as part of the initiative to provide them 20% additional working capital to tide over the crisis caused by lockdown. The extension in moratorium period for farmers, from June to August 31, will benefit 11.39 lakh KCC holders, the deputy CM said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON File image: Indian Army soldiers guarding the border Political reactions came in thick and fast after tension escalated between India and China in Ladakh's Galwan Valley, where an Indian Army officer and two jawans were killed in action in a violent face-off with Chinese troops. Reacting to the incident, former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, "Since heard no shooting took place. The deaths were the result of violent scuffles & stone pelting. Regardless of the how & the way three Indian army personnel were killed by the Chinese in the line of duty". To an earlier tweet by news agency AFP, in which it had reported of Beijing accusing India of "crossing border" and "attacking Chinese personnel", Abdullah had reacted with, "Ulta chor kotwal ko dantey", which, translated into English, means "the pot calling the kettle black". Former Indian Prime Minister HD Devegowda called the reports coming in from Galwan Valley "disturbing". "Why did our soldiers lose their lives during a de-escalation process? In national interest, the PM and RM should offer a clearer picture to the nation on the border issue with the Chinese," Devegowda said in a tweet. Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, meanwhile, said that India's soldiers are "not fair game that every few days officers and men are being killed and injured defending our borders". "The happening in the Galwan Valley is a continuation of violations by China. It is time now that the country stands up to these incursions. Our soldiers are not fair game that every few days officers and men are being killed and injured defending our borders," the Punjab CM tweeted. "It is time now for the Govt of India to take some stringent measures. Each sign of weakness on our part makes the Chinese reaction more belligerent. I join the nation in paying tribute to our brave martyrs. The nation stands with you in your hour of grief," Singh added. Congress member and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, meanwhile, called the Chinese aggression "unscrupulous". "Our Army Jawans including Colonel have been fallen victims to unscrupulous Chinese aggression. @PMOIndia we need befitting retaliation, retaliation, retaliation! I pay my homage to the brave souls who have laid down their precious lives for the sake of Our Motherland," Chowdhury said. Senior Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill, meanwhile, said China "must be sent a strong message registering India's protest and anguish". Follow our LIVE Updates here. "Salute the courage & sacrifice of brave officers/soldiers who laid their lives protecting territory of our Nation, condolences to their families -China must be sent a strong message registering Indias protest & anguish," Shergill tweeted. Chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra, said that while the details of what happened will eventually be revealed, at this point, "we must grieve with & stand by the families of our martyred soldiers. And stand solidly in support of our armed forces". "We will eventually learn about the details of what happened in Ladakh. That is our right. But right now, we must grieve with & stand by the families of our martyred soldiers. And stand solidly in support of our armed forces," Mahindra said. "Dear @PMOIndia @narendramodji...Request you with folded hands! Please call an All-Party Meeting immediately. Since 1962 we have never heard of such distrubingly chilling news. Martyrdom of forces have a story to tell to the nation. Please!!" tweeted Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson and Member of Parliament (MP) Manoj Kumar Jha. Senior military officials from India and China are trying to defuse the tension. During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation, an official statement said. New York's Mayor Bill de Blasio has a problem with Jews. It surfaced during the lockdown when he targeted Williamsburg's orthodox community. Since then, he's wholeheartedly supported mass protests in his city, while locking down all Jewish activity. At the end of April, Williamburg's Hasidic Jewish community approached the police for permission to have an open-air funeral for their rabbi, complete with social distancing rules. The funeral was more crowded than expected, so the police started dispersing the mourners, who immediately complied. That wasn't enough for Comrade de Blasio, who attacked the Jews in tweets. "Something absolutely unacceptable happened in Williamsburg tonite: a large funeral gathering in the middle of this pandemic." De Blasio was so outraged, he ordered the police to go after the mourners and promised future arrests. Aside from the problems inherent in trying to shift the blame for disease onto Jews, an ancient anti-Semitic practice, de Blasio's attack reeked of hypocrisy: We didn't hear anything from de Blasio about the huge crowds that gathered in Central Park when the sun came out in recent days no threats of arrests nor did we hear anything from him regarding the city's packed subway cars, which spread COVID-19 pretty significantly without anyone doing anything about it. It may even be something de Blasio can't do anything about, even if he were a creative man instead of a comrade. Worse still, he didn't say anything as the mayor of a city when his state was forcing New York's nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients in the name of "fairness." That's the biggest reason for New York's high coronavirus death toll: the man-made government-caused disaster at the nursing homes. The mayor has since gotten worse. With the Black Lives Matter protests, de Blasio ignored the Wuhan Virus. In early June, when unmasked protesters and looters were burning New York, de Blasio again went after the Jews: NYC is burning and guess where @BilldeBlasio has his cops tonight! In Williamsburg Brooklyn warning Orthodox Hasidic Jews that they will be arrested for attending evening prayers. Not rioting, not looting, not beating, not killing, just praying. pic.twitter.com/FVuaenCaLP Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) June 3, 2020 Then, this past weekend, de Blasio escalated his war against the Jews. The background is that, on Sunday, thousands of people poured into Brooklyn to support trans black lives. Although some people wore masks, social distancing was nonexistent: Live from the Brooklyn Museum. Massive protest. Seen Boomers, Millennials, Gen X, Gen Z, etc. Seen Black, White, Asian, Native you name it. Every type of New Yorker. Gathered to say #BlackTransLivesMatter. Power to the people. pic.twitter.com/Iv1qHZhjr4 Jibreel Jalloh (@JibreelJalloh) June 14, 2020 Beautiful, huge crowd at the Black Trans Lives Matter rally at the Brooklyn Museum. #BlackTransLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/RbEvnBjvKv Julie Ann Pietrangelo (@JulieAnnPie) June 14, 2020 Mayor de Blasio was silent. No scolding, no nothing. De Blasio did, however, take other action to stop the spread of the Wuhan Virus in the same city that crammed its elderly people into nursing homes and watched them die. He welded shut the gates of the biggest park in Brooklyn's Jewish community: Yes. This is actually happening now! Bill de Blasio is Welding the gates at the biggest park in the Jewish community, (Borough Park, Brooklyn) So your child shouldn't try to break in. While Hundreds of thousands of people gathered yesterday at Brooklyn Museum.#deBlasioMustGo pic.twitter.com/Q02ew5O5nZ Joel Fischer (@JFNYC1) June 15, 2020 The neighborhood Jews, whose deep-running fear of pogroms means they're always loath to oppose the local government, finally had enough. On Monday, they took their bolt-cutters and re-opened the playground: The park lock cut open with a bolt-cutter. pic.twitter.com/UZTFrQbQyg NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) June 15, 2020 Now that the city's orthodox Jews recognize de Blasio for an enemy, I suggest they take their anger at the mayor (or to any communist who wants to control New York) to the polling place in the next election. They do have power. Remember that, in the last election, out of a total population of 8,336,817, only 1,092,746, or 13%, bothered to show up. Of that 13%, 726,361 voted for de Blasio. The ones who didn't bother to vote effectively voted for de Blasio, too. That means that over 95% of New York's population handed him his second term. Perhaps the 77% of New Yorkers who didn't vote should show up next time. That might be what it is needed to oust de Blasio from Gracie Mansion. The disparities between whites and blacks are longstanding in Charleston, a city that has operated beneath the cloud of racism for centuries. When a self-avowed white supremacist entered Emanuel AME Church five years ago and murdered nine black congregation members, the city's white and black communities joined hands in united efforts to overcome the racial divide. Prayer vigils and marches were held. Studies were conducted. A clergy advisory council was formed. A local project aimed at building trust between police and the community was organized. Spiritual leaders crossed religious and denominational lines to hold joint services in a demonstration that God loves all people. But some suggest these attempts to build bridges haven't gone far enough into addressing the impacts of systemic racism in housing, jobs, education, policing and elsewhere. "Do we go deep enough?" asked the Rev. Kylon Middleton, one of the forum's committee members. "When you go back to your suburban home and privileged life, Im still going back to my same plight and same struggles," he said. "I still go back to being afraid of the blue lights pulling me over. Middleton, who serves as pastor of Mount Zion AME Church, recently won the Charleston County Council Democratic District 6 primary. The results The results of the Charleston Forum, a survey commissioned to collect residential input on racial relations in the Lowcountry, shows a general willingness among people to engage in constructive dialogue on improving race relations. The survey, conducted last month before George Floyd's death in Minnesota sparked a wave of protests against white supremacy, comes as Charleston marks the fifth anniversary of the tragedy at Emanuel. Charleston Forum leaders hope the results coincide with efforts over the next year to raise policies aimed at addressing injustices. Among the results, a majority of respondents said they would be very or somewhat willing to join others in building bridges to improve race relations. Most people also agreed the massacre at Emanuel helped bring communities together and that the majority of Americans, regardless of race, are interested in having improve relations. Additionally, Lowcountry residents were mostly willing to volunteer or donate to nonprofits dedicated to helping minorities, and noted a willingness to attend a forum on improving racial relations. While there was a general consensus on the need to improve race relations, whites were somewhat less willing to attend forums on the matter. The reasons included: I dont like interacting with people I dont know, I dont like confrontation, work or family commitments, dont know enough about race relations, differing views are sometimes considered racist, and I dont see race relations as a problem in our community. Forgiveness and unity The display of unity among the region took place after some family members of those slain in the house of worship expressed forgiveness to Dylann Roof, the mass killer who currently sits on death row for the crimes. The Rev. Anthony Thompson said God worked through the display of forgiveness to bring about peace throughout the Charleston region. Thompson's wife, Myra Thompson, was among the nine killed at Emanuel. Rev. Thompson was among the family members who expressed forgiveness toward Roof. He's witnessed what appeared to be moments of internal transformation. Thompson recalled several years ago when he spoke at a mostly white congregation in Mount Pleasant. While the minister spoke about the matter at a church in 2016, a white woman stood before the crowd of about 900 people and admitted she was racist and asked Thompson to forgive her. Several others in the congregation followed suit with similar expressions. The minister said it was the first time a white person had uttered such words to him. It was a very moving night," Thompson said. "People are trying to build bridges. People are doing a self-examination. However, African Americans are reminded by the lack of true progress in a variety of socioeconomic inequalities. After the Emanuel shooting, a 2017 report released by the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture showed a range of disparities between blacks and whites in Charleston County. The report noted the "economic gulf between black and white residents that was present fifty years ago has not disappeared." Dr. Millicent Brown, former director of exhibits and public education at the center, criticized the forum for asking the same questions "that were being asked in the '60s and '70s. She said the 2017 report offered the tools needed to begin steps towards transformation. The problem is black people keep having to start at square one," said Brown, who helped integrate Charlestons public schools. Important issues The Rev. Marshall Blalock, pastor of First Baptist, said he was pleasantly surprised to see the willingness among people to build bridges. However, pointing to the legacy of discrimination experienced by African Americans, Blalock said he wasn't surprised by the level of mistrust that may exist among African Americans when it comes to strengthening relationships. "It's understandable there'd be some reticence to believe that everyone is moving in the same direction," he said. Spiritual leaders point out a gentrifying Charleston peninsula that's displaced black families and the coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately impacted minorities among the impacts of systemic injustice. The Rev. Eric Manning, who arrived to the church in 2016, said his perspective on the area's progress has changed over the years, noting "the blinders began to come off" as he interacted with more people across the city who were being impacted by these sort of issues. While he feels 2015 tragedy made way for conversation, he said "hearts have not necessarily been changed" because, if so, more action would have been taken to address systemic issues and there would be a greater understanding of the pain being felt by African Americans. Manning said he is reminded by the lack of progress each time he writes the return address on a letter from the historic church. "It's an insult," he said. Emanuel is located on a street named after John C. Calhoun, a 19th century slave advocate. A statue in Calhoun's honor stands several blocks from the AME church. China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Laos in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and steadily advance the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future, President Xi Jinping said on Monday. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark in a message to Bounnhang Vorachith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of Laos. Xi said he is pleased to learn that China's aid to Laos has played a positive role in the country's fight against the contagion, and he extended heartfelt congratulations to the Laotian leader on the country's victory in epidemic prevention and control at the current stage. He said he believes that with the joint efforts of China and Laos as well as the international community, a final victory will surely be secured in the battle against the pandemic. Xi said he considers the development of relationships between the two Parties and the two nations to be very important. He stated that he is willing to work with Bounnhang to push for the implementation of the consensus reached by both sides to deliver more benefits to the two countries and the two peoples. In a letter sent to Xi earlier, the Laotian leader thanked China for its support and assistance to his country in combating the novel coronavirus epidemic. He mentioned the team of medical experts that China sent to Laos as well as the large amount of anti-epidemic materials and medical supplies China provided soon after his country was hit by the disease. China's anti-epidemic assistance to Laos has fully demonstrated the long-standing pr ofo und friendship between the two Parties, countries and peoples as well their brotherhood and comradeship of cooperation and mutual assistance, Bounnhang said, adding it also vividly shows the spirit of the Laos-China community with a shared future. China's assistance has made important contributions to Laos effectively responding to the epidemic and protecting its people's lives and health, he said. Bounnhang said he hoped that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core, China will make new and greater achievements in advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and realizing the Two Centenary Goals. He also expressed his wishes that the traditional friendship between Laos and China, the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, featuring long-term stability between them, and the building of the Laos-China community with a shared future will continue to develop and consolidate to deliver more substantial benefits to the two peoples. Prince William joked about returning to the pub and a widening waistline as he carried out his first in-person engagement in weeks. William, 37, visited the Kings Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Norfolk to thank East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) workers who have been on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic. During the visit, he joked with staff about being worried about the waistline of the country owing to the chocolate and cakes which have been eaten during lockdown, saying were all going to have dentist appointments for fillings and all sorts. He revealed he had been baking at home, saying chocolate goes down well at any time and told staff he is looking forward to the government message to support his local pub. William and Kate, 38, have been in lockdown in Norfolk at their home in Anmer Hall since the beginning of restrictions on travel in the UK. Their last public engagement was in Croydon in March, when they paid a secret visit to the London Ambulance Service 111 control room. Kensington Palace said the Duke of Cambridge heard from staff about the measures they had put in place to ensure work could continue during the pandemic, and the support they had from the public. The Duke of Cambridge talking to paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust. (PA Images) The duke joking with staff during a visit in Norfolk. (PA Images) He also spoke to staff about the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health, and asked about how they had felt about the weekly Clap for Carers. One staff member told him it was overwhelming to have the applause each week. He said: Everyone appreciates the NHS and we have a great system over here, many countries envy it. Its not until we have a big crisis that everyone goes OK, we need to make sure we really value and we show our appreciation. Encouraging them to look after themselves, the duke said: Heed that warning, I know where you all are. Remember your mental health, have that little version of me in your head. He also joked that he was looking forward to the government messages encouraging Britons to go to the pub. Story continues Im looking forward to getting that government message that we all have to drink more. Go support your local pub, he joked. William is likely to know the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as he worked as helicopter pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity. The duke spoke to the staff about mental health. (PA Images) William used a thermometer to check his temperature when he arrived. (PA Images) The duke used a thermometer in his ear when he arrived at the ambulance station. He was not wearing a mask during the engagement but did follow social distancing rules. Posting about the visit on social media afterwards, Kensington Royal wrote: Thank you to the staff of Kings Lynn Ambulance, Queen Elizabeth Hospital for welcoming The Duke of Cambridge to their ambulance station, and sharing so candidly their experiences over recent months in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. The duke and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, launched Our Frontline in April to help those who had to continue working out of their homes throughout the pandemic. It provides round the clock mental health and wellbeing resources. Read more: Charles reveals he lost sense of smell and taste with coronavirus during first post-lockdown engagement He spoke to them about how they had been supported by the public since the pandemic began. (PA Images) They have been in Norfolk with their three children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, who have been homeschooled throughout the lockdown. Princess Charlottes year group is back to school in England, but the family has stayed in Norfolk. George, six, and Charlotte, five, both go to Thomass in Battersea, south London. Earlier on Tuesday, Williams father Prince Charles made a socially distanced visit to a hospital in Gloucestershire, where he and his wife Camilla have returned after nearly three months in Scotland. And his aunt, Princess Anne, visited the Duke of Gloucester barracks, meeting personnel who have been involved in the coronavirus response. Its a signal that while the royals will continue to carry out many engagements from home, they are keen to get back to in-person visits. The Prince of Wales remains socially distanced as he a performs a namaste to Professor Mark Pietroni during a hospital visit. (PA Images) The Princess Royal, Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Logistics Corps, today visited the Duke of Gloucester Barracks, where she met personnel who have been playing their part in the @BritishArmy response to the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/49hxzsytOX The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 16, 2020 Read more: Queen misses Royal Ascot for first time in her 68-year reign On Saturday, the Queen marked her official birthday at Windsor Castle with a small, socially distanced military ceremony, a reduced version of the usual Trooping the Colour spectacular. On Thursday, Charles and Camilla will host Emmanuel Macron, the French president, in a meeting in Clarence House. However its understood they will be staying in their Gloucestershire and Wiltshire homes and not moving back to London full-time. LIVE Updates | File image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation Amid an unabated rise in coronavirus cases in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a fresh round of consultations with chief ministers on ways to check the spread of the virus as India exits the lockdown. The Prime Ministers meeting with the chief ministers will be held on two days -- June 16 and 17. On June 16, Modi will hold a video-conference with chief ministers, Lt Governors and administrators of 21 states and Union territories including Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, the northeastern states and some UTs. The Prime Minister will interact with chief ministers of 15 states and the LG of Jammu and Kashmir on June 17, including Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh among others. The two-day virtual meet comes against the backdrop of rising number of coronavirus cases in the country. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show But what is the basis of this division of states? The interaction on June 16 will include Chief Ministers of Punjab, Assam, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Nagaland, Ladakh, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim. On June 17, the PM will hold talks with the Chief Ministers of 15 states including Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. These 15 states are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana and Odisha. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic From the list, it can be seen that in the first set of states and UTs, those are included which are not severely impacted by COVID-19, while in the second set of states and UTs, those have been taken which are gravely impacted by the deadly disease. In India, Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of cases at 1,10,744 followed by Tamil Nadu at 46,504, Delhi at 42,829, Gujarat at 24,055, Uttar Pradesh at 13,615, Rajasthan at 12,981 and West Bengal at 11,494, according to the health ministry's data updated in the morning. All these states fall in the second set of meeting. This would be the Prime Minister's sixth round of consultation with the chief ministers, the last being on May 11. Ahead of his meeting with chief ministers, the Prime Minister had on June 13 reviewed the steps being taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in areas with high case load and the road map for effective management of the situation. PM Modi had suggested that the Home Minister and the Health Minister convene an emergency meeting with the Delhi Lt Governor and chief minister and other officials to plan a "coordinated and comprehensive response" to handle the challenge posed by rising cases of COVID-19 in Delhi. (With inputs from PTI) Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here PSCUs LGBTQ+ employee resource group, PSCUnity, had planned to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month, which is recognized in the month of June across the world. However, amid the suffering and turmoil happening right now across America, we realized the message everyone needs right now is not one of celebration or excitement, but one of unity. In fact, we celebrate Pride every June because of demonstrations by our marginalized LGBTQ+ community. In June 1969, the Stonewall riots emerged as demonstrations by the LGBTQ+ community against unfounded police raids and brutality. This June, as we honor Pride Month, we are specifically spotlighting people of color that have made a difference in our community. It was activist Marcia P. Johnson, an African American transgender woman, who led the charge for so many during that time. Those riots and protests, both peaceful and otherwise, led to genuine progress and change. We believe the same will be true as we come out on the other side of this together. Driving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Employee Success At PSCU, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strengthens the company by inviting a diverse range of experiences, valuing those differences so that employees can bring their whole selves to the workplace, and acknowledges different needs, experiences and opportunities. It has been proven that employees are more successful and engaged when they feel their uniqueness and authenticity are embraced at work this drives innovation, collaboration, and the attraction and retention of a high-performing workforce. Panaji, June 16 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice, returnable in three weeks, to Goa Speaker Rajesh Patnekar in a case linked to disqualification proceedings against 10 Congress legislators. The apex court action came while hearing a petition by Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar who prayed for direction to the Speaker to expedite disqualification proceedings against Congress MLAs, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last year. Chodankar had filed the petition through senior advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal. "We have inter-alia prayed that direction be issued to the Goa Speaker to decide the pending disqualification petitions within one month and till the time it's decided those 10 MLAs be restrained from functioning as legislators and Ministers," Chodankar said. Chodankar said the Goa Speaker had "violated the deadline of three months set by the Supreme Court in the Manipur case." "The petition also relies on another order concerning Manipur where due to delay by the Speaker in deciding the disqualification petition, the Supreme Court had declared that the MLA would cease to be a Minister," Chodankar said referring to the March 18 order. The Manipur case referred to a disqualification petition filed by the Congress against Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh, who had joined the BJP. Ten Congress MLAs split from the party in July 2019 and merged the breakaway group into the BJP later. In all, 13 Congress MLAs in Goa have quit the party and joined the BJP since 2017. (Photo : Exclusive HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/SCHOTT SCHOTT AG/Handout via REUTERS ) A vial made with borosilicate glass, the material which will be used in vials or syringes to hold the eventual coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, is pictured with a syringe at an undisclosed location in this undated handout image courtesy of Schott AG. (Photo : REUTERS/Anton Vaganov) A scientist dilutes samples during the research and development of a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a laboratory of BIOCAD biotechnology company in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 11, 2020. (Photo : REUTERS/Thomas Peter) People line up to get tested at the Guangan Sport Center after an unexpected spike of cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Beijing, China June 15, 2020. The Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech Ltd. claims they have positive early data from the human trials of its vaccine to prevent the coronavirus. In a press statement published on Sunday, June 14, Sinovac's vaccine, called CoronaVac, is claimed to be safe and triggers an immune response in participants. According to a Daily Mail report, the company said more than 90% of trial participants have developed antibodies after two weeks of receiving the vaccine; none of them developed any severe side effects. Coronavirus vaccine in development Conducted at the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in eastern China, Sinovac uses randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trials. Currently, 743 healthy participants aged 18 to 59 years old have either received two shots or a placebo. In phase 1, there were 143 volunteers who tested the safety of the immunization which uses a dead strain of the virus. The other volunteers participated in Phase II and were under observation to see if they would develop antibodies after they received two shots in 14 days. Meanwhile, another group in the study will be given the shots on a 28-day interval to see if that is more effective. "Our Phase I/II study shows CoronaVac is safe and can induce immune response," said Sinovac CEO, chairman and president Weidong Yin in a statement. Weidong also said their clinical trials show encouraging results and prove to be a "significant milestone" in the fight against the coronavirus. Weidong said the company is currently building a manufacturing facility to begin making doses when succeeding trials prove to be successful and if they get approval for the vaccine. "Like with our other vaccines, we are committed to developing CoronaVac for global use as part of our mission of supplying vaccines to eliminate human diseases," Weidong added. As soon as the Phase II results are available, Sinovac will soon submit them to China's National Medical Products Administration together with their Phase III trial applications in China and other countries. Sinovac announced last week it was partnering with Instituto Butantan to start its Phase III CoronaVac trials in Brazil. The CoronaVac and the international market Sinovac began its COVID-19 vaccine development in January 2020 in partnership with leading Chinese academic research institutes. In April, it received approval from China's NMPA to conduct phase I/II studies in China for its inactivated vaccine. Currently, the World Health Organization has listed over 130 trials for the COVID-19 vaccine in various stages of development in different countries worldwide. Sinovac is one of five Chinese companies that is currently conducting human testing, which is the final step before getting a green light for public distribution. Aside from the CoronaVac, the company is also developing new products for the prevention of some illnesses such as a Sabin-strain inactivated polio vaccine, pneumococcal polysaccharides vaccine, and a quadrivalent influenza vaccine. While Sinovac primarily sells its vaccines in China, it is also seeking for future expansions in international markets as it registers its products in over 30 countries. As of this writing, confirmed COVID-19 cases have already reached more than 8 million with at least 436,306, according to John Hopkins Resource Center. In the U.S., there are at least 2,111,622 cases and over 118,000 deaths. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Darian Garcia on Unsplash) New Zealand's First Cases of COVID-19 in 24 Days Came From UK: Here's How NZ Took on Coronavirus (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @NewsBFM) New Zealand's First Cases of COVID-19 in 24 Days Came From UK: Here's How NZ Took on Coronavirus The first COVID-19 cases of New Zealand after 24 days of having none came from the United Kingdom. According to BBC News' latest report, two new cases of coronavirus ended the country's more than 3-week streak of no new coronavirus infections were confirmed by New Zealand coming to have come from the UK. This ends a 24-day streak of no new infections in the country. Last week, New Zealand lifted all domestic restrictions and declared that the country was virus-free New Zealand confirms 2 new Covid-19 cases. Both cases recently travelled from the UK and are connected.This ends a 24-day streak of no new infections in the country.Last week, New Zealand lifted all domestic restrictions and declared that the country was virus-free pic.twitter.com/4qHvjAYYe0 BFM News (@NewsBFM) June 16, 2020 Special permission to attend the funeral of a parent was provided to both patients who are women from the same family and had traveled from the UK. Last week, New Zealand declared that the country was virus-free, lifting all its domestic restrictions. However, the country retained its strict border restrictions, allowing only essential workers and citizens to travel. Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand's director-general of health, said that there was an agreed plan in place as part of the approval process, including travel arrangements and allowing exemptions to be granted. The women infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus, one in her 40s and another one in her 30s, entered quarantine after arriving in New Zealand from the UK on June 7, via Brisbane and Doha. The individuals stayed in Auckland in a managed isolation hotel. They applied for an exemption on June 12 to visit their dying parent. Permission to travel to Wellington was given to them on June 13. Two women become New Zealand's first cases of COVID-19 after 24-day-streak The report stated that one of the women had mild symptoms of the virus. They used a private vehicle and did not use any public facilities during their journey going to Wellington. Dr. Bloomfield said that the single-family member in Wellington, with whom both women stayed, is currently in self-isolation. The women were confirmed to have been positive with the virus on Tuesday, June 16, after they were tested on Monday, June 15. "Anyone being released for compassionate exemption [to be] tested and [have] a negative result before they are released," said Dr. Bloomfield. According to a previous report of BBC News, New Zealand was able to have a free-coronavirus status because the government and its prime minister put people's health first, while other countries' imposition of social distancing measures were delayed because of the fear of economic damage. "Surely, a dead or a dying population is bad for the economy," said Dr. Siouxie Wiles, Associate Professor at the University of Auckland. She is also responsible for regularly updating the New Zealand public on the latest coronavirus research and has also been advising the government. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. RTHK: Canada accused of abuse of process with Huawei Lawyers for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on Monday accused Canadian police and border agents, in collusion with the FBI, of abuse of process in her arrest on a US warrant. At a British Columbia Supreme Court hearing to set the timetable for extradition hearings, defence lawyer David Martin argued that Canadian officials purposely delayed her arrest by several hours during a December 2018 stopover in Vancouver in order to gather evidence for the FBI. In court filings, the defence said this "pre-planned scheme" allowed authorities to snoop through her electronic devices under the pretence of a customs inspection. The court heard previously that the FBI had asked for Meng's devices to be stored in "signal-blocking" bags, which the Canada Border Services Agency did. The FBI also asked for electronic serial numbers and images of Meng's devices. The daughter of the billionaire founder of Chinese telecom giant Huawei, Ren Zhengfei, is wanted in the US for fraud linked to Iran sanctions. Martin called the US extradition request "an extravagant extraterritorial jurisdictional reach." He pointed to a Canadian Security Intelligence Service memo outlining that the FBI would not be present at Meng's arrest "in order to avoid the perception of influence" as proof that CSIS was "conscious of obscuring the involvement of the FBI." The heavily-redacted memo was released by a federal court on Friday. In it, CSIS warned that Meng's arrest would be "highly political" and likely to "send shock waves around the world." It would also certainly become "a significant bilateral issue" for Canada and China, it said. Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily briefing the memo "shows once again that the whole Meng Wanzhou case is a serious political incident." "It speaks volumes about the US political calculations to purposefully suppress Huawei and other Chinese high-tech companies," Zhao said, adding that Canada had acted as an "accomplice." "We once again urge Canada to take China's solemn position and concerns seriously, immediately release Meng and ensure her safe return to China, and not to go further down the wrong path," he said. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Voorhees held its 2020 graduation last Friday, June 12, and sent its seniors off with a parade and drive-through procession that ended at the Hunterdon County high school. The graduation was set up to adhere to social-distancing measures at the end of a school year that was severely changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Seniors decorated their cars for the June graduation, which started at 9:45 a.m. at Memorial Park in Lebanon Township. Throughout the drive, community and family members lined up on the side of the street to send off the Class of 2020. Once they arrived at Voorhees, the seniors were greeted by faculty and staff as they received their diplomas. There was also a virtual ceremony later in the day that included speeches from class president Jason Solomon, valedictorian Madison Ogorzalek and salutatorian Rebecca Garison. I know this is definitely not the graduation we have all been looking forward to, but hey at least the Class of 2020 will be remembered, Ogorzalek said in her virtual speech. "I mean I know we have already made a pretty memorable reputation for ourselves here at Voorhees, which we were reminded of every single year at our class meetings, but now theres NO way they can forget us. I know our situation right now is not ideal, but if anyone had to go through this, it would be us. *Check out the gallery above to see photos from Voorhees drive-through graduation* Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Brandon Gould covers Hunterdon County news for NJ.com and may be reached at bgould@njadvancemedia.com. [June 16, 2020] Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company Moves to Increase Size of Esports Gaming Centers Boca Raton, Florida, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company ( OTCQB:WINR ) (Simplicity Esports), an owner and manager of multiple esports teams, host of online tournaments and franchisor of esports gaming centers, announced today that it has received multiple proposals from commercial property owners to open 8,000 to 12,000 sq. ft. esports gaming centers. The proposals include tenant improvement allowances to offset the buildout cost of each center. The lease proposals do not require a specified fixed rent, but instead rent is calculated as a percentage of gross sales, a signal of the landlords belief in the appeal of Simplicity Esports gaming center business model, and growth potential. Roman Franklin, President of Simplicity Esports, stated, The disruption in commercial real estate, as a result of COVID-19, has created more attractive opportunities for us to expand our footprint of gaming centers with a larger floorplan that provides space for social distancing. The average size of existing franchisee-owned gaming centers is 2,500 sq. ft. As we previously announced, we are partnering with Ecolab, Inc. to supply our esports gaming centers with disinfectants, soap, sanitizr, and other cleaning products. Additionally, we are pivoting to more spacious Simplicity Esports owned gaming centers that will position us to provide venues for everyday gaming, as well as larger scale tournaments with accommodations for social distancing guidelines. The success of our online tournaments has also created an opportunity for future in-person finals that will serve as the culmination of multiple weeks of online tournaments, in which the top performing gamers will qualify for the in-person finals. About Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company: Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company (WINR) is an established brand within the esports industry, competing and streaming in popular games across different genres, including Apex Legends, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, League of Legends, and various EA Sports titles. Additionally, Simplicity Esports operates as a franchisor of Esports Gaming Centers that provide the public an opportunity to experience and enjoy gaming and esports in a social setting, regardless of skill or experience. Apex Legends, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, League of Legends, Fortnite and EA Sports are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond Simplicity Esports control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Simplicity Esports Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on August 29, 2019 and our subsequent SEC filings, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies of Simplicity Esports filings with the SEC are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Simplicity Esports undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Simplicity Esports Contact: Roman Franklin President [email protected] 561-819-8586 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A man accused of being the rapist and killer who terrorized California residents in the 1970s and 1980s has agreed to plead guilty to dozens of crimes in return for being spared the death penalty, a law enforcement source and a victims relative said Monday. Joseph DeAngelo, a former police officer accused of being the Golden State Killer, is expected to plead guilty on June 29 and be sentenced in August to life without the possibility of parole after the surviving victims and relatives of those killed confront him in court. We are so totally supportive of the death penalty and yet we are totally supportive of this decision to let the Golden State Killer plead to life without possibility of parole, said Ron Harrington. His younger brother, Keith, and new sister-in-law, Patti, were beaten to death in their Orange County home in August 1980. Almost 40 years have passed and literally some of the victims have passed away, there are foundational issues from an evidentiary standpoint, he explained. Youve got victims who have now passed away, how are they going to testify? Sacramento County public defenders did not respond to telephone and email requests for comment about their 74-year-old client, who appeared increasingly frail at his last court appearance in March. District attorneys in six counties that had been seeking the death penalty issued a joint statement that did not address that issue, but noted the scope of crimes that started more than four decades ago and involved dozens of victims across 11 counties over more than a decade. DeAngelo was identified only when investigators secretly collected DNA more than two years ago that they say proves he is the one who broke into couples suburban homes at night. The armed and masked rapist would tie up the man and pile dishes on his back, threatening to kill both victims if he heard the plates fall while he assaulted the woman. Victims of a crime are entitled to finality in their criminal cases, as well as the expectation that the person convicted of committing the crime will be punished, the prosecutors said. They said their offices are working closely with the victims in this case to ensure their statements are considered by the Court prior to sentencing. The prosecutors said they have a moral and ethical responsibility to consider any offer from the defence, given the massive scope of the case (and) the advanced age of many of the victims and witnesses. Gov. Gavin Newsom has halted executions so long as he is governor, though the death penalty remains legal in California. Harrington said the decision was made about two weeks ago after prosecutors consulted with survivors and swore them to secrecy until the news was first reported by The Sacramento Bee. He expects a day-long hearing just to read all the charges, and for the hearing to be held in an as yet undetermined venue larger than any courtroom just to keep the dozens of victims and spectators at a safe distance during the coronavirus pandemic. DeAngelo is suspected of at least 13 murders and more than 50 rapes across California. In many of the rapes, Harrington said, the statute of limitations has run and he could not be formally charged with them, but its my understanding he is going to formally acknowledge or plead to them as well. Sentencing may well span several days in mid-August, Harrington said, because each survivor or family member will have a chance to confront DeAngelo in person, by video or writing. There was a consensus among survivors to go along with the plea deal, Harrington said he was told. Too many victims have passed and theres a lot of other people not just our case that wanted closure, Harrington said. Were getting closer to as much closure as we can obtain. 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According to the party, despite making 45 promises of strengthening the economy and improving the lives of Ghanaians, the NPP has achieved only 12, representing 27% of what it promised. Former Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who led the presentation of the NDCs tracking of the governments promises at a press briefing in Accra on Monday said: On the economy, 45 promises were made. Only 12 have been delivered, so we scored the NPP 27%. 33 [of the promises on the economy] were not delivered. For instance, you will realize that there are a lot of failed promises here like the other sectorsThey promised to grow the economy and create wealth and prosperity for the vast majority of Ghanaians through private sector empowerment, they failed [to do that], Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said. He said other promises such as reducing the cost of doing business had not been fulfilled. According to Ablakwa, the NPP government had only worsened the situation of businesses and caused many to collapse. The few businesses they came to meet they are destroying them. The opportunity is for just a few peopleThe cost of doing business, empirical data shows that we are not doing well, he insisted. The economy has been a major theme for performance comparison between the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress. While the NDC insists that its economic performance, while it was in power, remains superior, the NPP insists that it has been a better manager of the economy. The NPP on a website it launched in February 2020 to enable Ghanaians to track its promises indicated that it made 30 promises on the economy and had delivered on 24 of them, including those they are in the process of executing, representing 80% of delivery. ---citinewsroom As police officers across the country deployed brutal tactics in response to protests over the killing of George Floyd, the former secretary of labour Robert Reich announced that his old vocabulary crowded already with harsh words for Donald Trump was making way for a new addition. I have held off using the f word for three and a half years, but there is no longer any honest alternative, Mr Reich tweeted. Trump is a fascist, and he is promoting fascism in America. Mr Reich wasnt alone. Until last week, journalist Masha Gessen was also a sceptic. Mr Gessen had just published Surviving Autocracy, a book which lists fascism among the words that get thrown about in the American political conversation without sufficient precision. The day after the books publication date, Mr Gessen wrote a short essay for The New Yorker commenting on what it meant when the president enamoured already of military parades and masked men in combat attire told governors to crack down on protesters. Whether or not he is capable of grasping the concept, Mr Gessen wrote, Trump is performing fascism. It was a notable turn. The word fascism is so loaded that even some of the presidents most vociferous detractors had long been reluctant to use it. Derived from the Italian for bundle or group, fascism was born at the end of the First World War in Italy, adopted by the Nazis in Germany and soon became such a widespread epithet that George Orwell decided the closest synonym to this much-abused word was bully. Ever since Mr Trump became the Republican Partys standard-bearer in 2016, the term has been floated and then dismissed for being too extreme and too alarmist, too historically specific or else too rhetorically vague. But when Jason Stanley, a philosophy professor at Yale, published How Fascism Works in 2018, he suggested that not being worried enough was itself a worrying sign. Mr Trumps rhetoric was alarming, yes, but his administration was also separating migrant children from their parents and placing them in detention centres that were hidden from public view, which Mr Stanley compared to concentration camps in Germany in the 1930s. The word fascist has acquired a feeling of the extreme, like crying wolf, Mr Stanley writes not because Americans are so unfamiliar with fascist tactics but because we are becoming inured to them. Normalisation of fascist ideology, by definition, would make charges of fascism seem like an overreaction. Our senses have been dulled by exposure. The United States has had a long history of pro or proto-fascist sentiment, including the terrorism of the Ku Klux Klan, the America First movement of the interwar years and the Jim Crow laws that Hitler cited as an inspiration. Fascism is not a new threat, Mr Stanley writes, but rather a permanent temptation. Writing in The New York Review of Books last month, the historian Samuel Moyn took issue with Mr Stanleys book, and with fascism analogies in general. Mr Moyns argument, like a recent op-ed by Ross Douthat in The New York Times, rests on a straightforward premise: If the president were truly keen to crush democracy and impose a dictatorship, then a global pandemic should have provided him with the ideal opportunity. The president, they argue, had chosen instead to do basically nothing. It is surely fodder for some future ironist that, after our era of fearing Trumps actions, Mr Moyn writes, he appears set in the current pandemic to go down in history for a worse sin of inaction. But the critique of fascism analogies runs deeper than whatever it is the president says or does. Mr Moyn suggests that crying fascism obscures the extent to which Mr Trump is a thoroughly American creature while also exonerating the establishment rot that allowed him to flourish in the first place. Corey Robin, in an updated edition of his book The Reactionary Mind, has argued something similar. Both Mr Robin and Mr Moyn seem animated by a similar suspicion that fascist analogies ultimately serve centrists trying to gin up fear among the left, pushing progressives to settle for expedient political choices by overstating the strength of a floundering right. Mr Robin cites a modern classic by the historian Robert O Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism, to attest that what made the fascism of Mussolini and Hitler so potent was its youth and its novelty, an advantage forsaken by a lumbering and nostalgic Mr Trump. But one of the most striking aspects of Mr Paxtons book, which was published in 2004, is how much attention he shines on the circumstances that allowed for fascisms emergence in the early 20th century and its subsequent rise. Mr Paxton was not labouring under the same conditions as current writers, who get drawn into endless debates over whether the president is a fascist. Historically, fascist movements hardened into fascist regimes when given the opportunity by enfeebled conservative elites trying to cling to power, who resort to bringing in an outsider to rile up the base. It was only after the Nazis started losing electoral support that Hitler cut a back-room deal to be appointed chancellor. Like a vampire, Hitler had to be invited into the house. And maybe it is telling that Americans have traditionally been so preoccupied with a nightmare scenario that has the coverlet of European fascism draped over it, as Gerald Early put it recently in the journal The Common Reader. Mr Early was reflecting on the novelist Sinclair Lewis, whose fictional depiction of Nazism in the United States with all its brutal and arbitrary violence, police state surveillance and unrelenting incarceration bore more than a passing resemblance to the historical reality of American slavery. Lewis had a keen awareness of race in America and was probably thinking ironically when he decided to call his 1935 novel It Cant Happen Here, Mr Early writes. He knew, as any aware American must, that it already had. The New York Times MONTREAL, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier (TSX: BBD.B) will host its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("Meeting") on June 18, 2020 at 10:30 EDT in a virtual format due to the ongoing public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Corporation previously announced in its 2020 Notice of Meeting that, subject to public health conditions and concerns, it would host a hybrid Meeting format, whereby registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders could attend and participate either in person or via a live webcast. However, given the continued risks associated with hosting gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has made the decisions to adopt a pure virtual format with no in-person participation. Bombardier therefore welcomes all registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders who wish to participate to the online Meeting to do so by joining the live webcast available at https://web.lumiagm.com/122776078 . As usual, only registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders will be allowed to vote and intervene during the live Meeting. Unregistered shareholders, guests and media will be able to watch the online Meeting via the live webcast available at the same link. Instructions to vote and participate in the online Meeting, including submitting questions to management and to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bombardier, will be available on the Corporation's website here and on the online Meeting platform. Bombardier encourages shareholders to vote and submit their proxies prior to the Meeting. About Bombardier With nearly 60,000 employees across two business segments, Bombardier is a global leader in the transportation industry, creating innovative and game-changing planes and trains. Our products and services provide world-class transportation experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier has production and engineering sites in over 25 countries across the segments of Aviation and Transportation. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchangeor follow us on Twitter @Bombardier. Bombardier is a registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. (Natural News) A nuclear attack is terrifying, that much is certain. Both the United States and Russia have pulled out of a decades-old nuclear weapons pact; North Korea continues to test their missile program; and tensions in Iran are putting a lot of people on edge. However, theres another threat that the world needs to look out for that can be just as deadly as a nuclear bomb: hackers and cyber attacks. Unlike nuclear-capable countries, deadly hackers have fewer inhibitions. The idea that any incoming nuclear attack can be detected, and a retaliatory strike can easily be conducted, prevents the United States and Russia from launching nukes at either Moscow or Washington, D.C. Hackers, however, are much more difficult to pinpoint. Their digital footprints are very easy to disguise. With enough resources, a group of hackers can even trigger a nuclear grade cyber attack. Nuclear grade cyber attacks Nuclear grade or nuclear rated cyber attacks are the kind that, as their name suggests, can cause as much devastation as a nuclear strike. There are three scenarios when a nuclear grade cyber attack could happen. Firstly, a nuclear grade cyber attack can develop slowly. One country might steal anothers data. If the country that got attacked retaliates, it could cause a chain of retaliation that would expand the scope of the attacks and the toll they would cause on human life. Secondly, a nation or a well-funded terrorist organization could launch a massive, destabilizing cyber attack. This destructive attack could target a nations infrastructure, such as power grids, water treatment facilities or industrial plants. This would lead to a lot of people dying from a variety of reasons like corrupted traffic lights or a lack of power or gas for heating. Thirdly, and perhaps most worryingly, a nuclear grade cyber attack could occur because of a simple mistake. A bug or an error in a nations software and hardware might lead them to believe they are getting attacked and retaliate with full force, leading to the deaths of thousands possibly millions of people. How to protect against a cyber attack Cybersecurity and government watchdog groups have shown that not only is American infrastructure vulnerable to cyber attacks, but this vulnerability extends to the United States weapons systems. (Related: U.S. cybersecurity experts scrambling to thwart major attacks on power, water, gas infrastructure by bolting on fixes to old vulnerable systems.) Americas crumbling infrastructure has been targeted before. In 2016, hackers attempted to change the chemical mixture used to purify water in a water treatment facility. If the change had not been noticed, people would have been poisoned. In June 2019, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) warned that a major hacking group with Russian ties was looking for vulnerabilities in the networks of electrical utilities. To protect against a cyber attack, government, businesses and organizations and regular people need to make sure their systems are secured. One analysis found that only around a fifth of companies in the U.S. that use computers to control their industrial machinery monitor their equipment for potential cyber attacks. You can also do your part to make your own data less vulnerable to hackers by taking some preventative steps. (h/t to LaTrobe.edu.au) Install reliable anti-virus software. Regularly update computers. New updates may contain security upgrades. Do not click email attachments sent by strangers. Similarly, delete any links sent to your social media from people you dont recognize. Only purchase software from reputable sources. Change passwords regularly and use multi-factor authentication. Browse the internet using new-generation browsers that are less vulnerable to cyber attacks. For more information about cybersecurity and Americas vulnerability to a large-scale cyber attack, read up on the articles at CyberWar.news. Sources include: LiveScience.com CyberSecurityIntelligence.com SecurityBoulevard.com 1 ForeignPolicy.com CSIS.org LaTrobe.edu.au SecurityBoulevard.com 2 Belgian police today released an old photo of a man carrying a military assault weapon, to try to solve the decades-old mystery of the country's bloodiest series of murders. Known as the 'Crazy Brabant Killers', the assailants killed 28 shoppers and wounded hundreds more in attacks on supermarket car parks in the Brussels area between 1982 and 1985. Photographed in a forest, the man is wearing dark glasses and a military-style shirt and trousers and holds a semi-automatic combat shotgun made by Italian brand Franchi. This handout picture released on June 16, 2020 by Belgium's Federal Police shows a man holding a weapon in a forest. The man is wanted in connection to a series of murders in Brussels which took place between 1982 and 1985 View of the parking lot of a Delhaize supermarket in Alost November 10, 1985, the day after an attack by the 'Brabant killers' Pictured: Sketches of the 10 men wanted for a series of slayings in Brussels between 1982 and 1985 Federal investigators who took over the case more than two years ago are 'committed to start from scratch', said spokesman Eric Van Duyse. 'The call for witnesses was part of that process, he added. A tipster who claimed the man was 'very important' handed over the photo to investigators in 1986, but never said anything more and nothing came of it, Duyse said. Over the decades, investigators have considered various theories, including that the group was part of an attempt by the far left or far right to undermine the state. The gang's equipment and ability in handling weapons raised suspicions at the time that there was a link to the Belgian security forces. Investigators have also looked for links to local shooting clubs. Van Duyse said investigators were taking another look at 3,000 names mentioned in the massive case file and had begun DNA testing for hundreds of them. A crime scene picture taken on September 27, 1985 shows the body of a man killed during a hold-up at the Delhaize supermarket in Overijse by the Brabant killers In 2017, a former policeman revealed on his deathbed that he was the ringleader of the robbery gang. The retired officer revealed himself to be 'The Giant', the gang's notorious leader. The identity of the gang's fearsome members has remained a mystery that has troubled Belgium for almost 40 years. But officials have now confirmed reports that detectives have been working on the new lead for months and were optimistic about finally identifying the group, also called the 'Nivelles Gang'. As well as The Giant, other members included 'The Killer' and a getaway driver known as 'The Old Man'. Among their crimes, the gang robbed a grocery store at Nivelles in 1983, killing a couple who stopped at an all-night fuel station next door and then shooting police who arrived at the scene. In November 1985, they stormed into a supermarket in Aalst brandishing pump-action shotguns. The frenzied shooting of people cowering on the floor and a nine-year-old girl waiting in a car outside helped fix the gang's 'crazy' image in the public imagination. But it was also their last. The Exomars orbiter detected a glow above Mars (ESA) An orbiting spacecraft has detected a strange green glow on Mars that had previously only been seen on one planet Earth. The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) spotted glowing green oxygen in Marss atmosphere similar to the northern lights seen on Earth. Its something scientists had been hunting for four decades until the European Space Agency (ESA) satellite spotted it, according to a study published in Nature Astronomy. On Earth, glowing oxygen is produced during polar auroras when energetic electrons from interplanetary space hit the upper atmosphere, creating a distinctive green glow. Read More: Starlink, everything you need to know about the satellite network But the atmospheres of Earth and Mars also glow constantly during both day and night as sunlight interacts with atoms and molecules within the atmosphere. On Earth, green night glow is quite faint, but is visible in some of the spectacular images taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This green glow has now been detected for the first time on Mars by the ExoMars TGO, which has been orbiting Mars since October 2016. Similar airglow seen from the International Space Station (NASA) Jean-Claude Gerard, of the Universite de Liege in Belgium, said: One of the brightest emissions seen on Earth stems from night glow. More specifically, from oxygen atoms emitting a particular wavelength of light that has never been seen around another planet. However, this emission has been predicted to exist at Mars for around 40 years and, thanks to TGO, weve found it. Read more: Life on Earth could have arrived on a comet Gerard and colleagues were able to spot this emission using a special observing mode. One of the orbiters advanced suite of instruments, known as NOMAD (Nadir and Occultation for Mars Discovery) and including the ultraviolet and visible spectrometer (UVIS), can observe in various configurations, one of which positions its instruments to point directly down at the martian surface also referred to as the nadir channel. Story continues Co-author Ann Carine Vandaele, of the Institut Royal d'Aeronomie Spatiale de Belgique, said: Previous observations hadnt captured any kind of green glow at Mars, so we decided to reorient the UVIS nadir channel to point at the edge of Mars, similar to the perspective you see in images of Earth taken from the ISS. The emission was strongest at an altitude of around 80 kilometres and varied depending on the changing distance between Mars and the Sun. This understanding is key to characterising planetary atmospheres and related phenomena such as auroras. By deciphering the structure and behaviour of this green glowing layer of Mars atmosphere, scientists can gain insight into an altitude range that has remained largely unexplored, and monitor how it changes as the Suns activity varies and Mars travels along its orbit around our star. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 17:35:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The newly released data from China's National Bureau of Statistics has shown that the country's economic recovery gained momentum in May as positive indicators keep growing. At a time when the world has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, China's steady economic resumption is injecting confidence and impetus into the gloomy global economy. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday that factory activities continued to pick up in May with the value-added industrial output, an important economic indicator, going up 4.4 percent year on year. Other key economic indicators also showed signs of a rebound on the back of supporting policies to coordinate growth and the control of the coronavirus disease. These clear and positive signals have demonstrated that the impact of COVID-19 on China's economy is only temporary, and China is capable of securing a stable, healthy and sustainable economic development. Just as Deutsche Bank's Chief Economist Michael Spencer predicted, China's economy could have a "very impressive" recovery and achieve growth. First, China's domestic consumption, the primary driving force of the Chinese economy, starts to grow. Official statistics show that China's retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of consumption growth, declined 2.8 percent year on year in May, rebounding from a drop of 7.5 percent in April. Despite a broader consumption downturn, online sales continued to be active as consumers turned to online services when staying indoors, with an increase of 4.5 percent year on year in the first five months, quickening by 2.8 percentage points from the first four months, the data showed. "The Chinese consumer is back, and we are well on a way to a pretty broad consumer recovery," a Fortune magazine report in May quoted Andy Rothman, an investment analyst at the mutual fund company Matthews Asia, as saying. Jeffrey Sachs, a renowned economics professor at Columbia University and a senior United Nations advisor, told Xinhua in a recent written interview that as China is coming out of lockdown ahead of other parts of the world, it will see an economic rebound in the second quarter, which will buoy markets abroad. Second, new forms of economic activities have injected vitality into the market. From online classrooms and online medical care to working from home and selling goods through live broadcast, digital economy has well integrated with traditional industries in the Chinese market with the help of 5G networking technology, big data centers and artificial intelligence. Digital transformation and the development of high-tech industries will surely bring China more sustainable, higher-quality economic growth. Third, effective monetary and fiscal policies have helped strengthen the resilience of the Chinese economy. In past months, local governments and various departments have issued nearly 100 policies and measures in a bid to ease the difficulties of enterprises, increase credit support, facilitate circulation of supply chains, and back work and production resumption, which provided strong support for revitalizing economy. Fourth, despite the impact of COVID-19, China is still making rapid and steady progress in further opening up. So far this year, China's Foreign Investment Law has been put in place and implemented in an earnest way. South China's Hainan Free Trade Port has inked 35 key investment projects, including eight foreign-funded ones. On Monday, the 127th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as Canton Fair, kicked off online in south China's Guangdong Province. These major moves have demonstrated that the Chinese market continues to open up with larger potentials and more advantages for investments on the basis of a fair and open business, which is conducive to reviving the world economy. At present, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economy continues to unfold, China's economic recovery still faces risks and challenges. Yet with macro-economic resilience, comprehensive competitiveness, market advantages and domestic demand potentials, China's economic development will remain sound and stable in the long run, which will also help boost global growth amid COVID-19 uncertainties. Enditem An Estonian hitman, who was jailed for his role in a Kinahan cartel murder plot and who is wanted over the murder of a Lithuanian pop star's lover, will challenge a bid to extradite him in October. Imre Arakas (62) was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018 after he admitted to conspiring with others to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. He is serving his sentence in a segregated block in Portlaoise Prison. Passing sentence at the Special Criminal Court in 2018, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said Arakas had agreed to the "vital role" of pulling the trigger for financial gain and he was prepared to offer his "own detail" on how the murder of Mr Gately was to be performed. The Estonian separatist told his associates in a text message that he would take out his target with "one shot to the head". The judge said the married father of two was "ready, willing and able" in his dedicated role. Lithuanian authorities also suspect that ex-wrestler Arakas was allegedly part of a three-man gang that conspired to murder a man who had an affair with famous Lithuanian pop star Vita Jakutiene. Lithuanian police are seeking the surrender of Arakas - whose last address was in Sopruse, Tallinn, Estonia - to face charges that include a count of murder as well as firearms and conspiracy-related charges in relation to the shooting of Deimantas Bugavicius. There is also another warrant for the sole charge of criminal damage. Additional Yesterday, Aoife O'Leary BL told Mr Justice Paul Burns that additional information from the Lithuanian authorities had been sought and received, that affidavits had been filed in respect of her client and that two other men had been charged in Lithuania. Arakas, a former freedom fighter who was previously part of a movement to separate Estonia from the former USSR, appeared by video link from Portlaoise Prison for the brief hearing. Ms O'Leary told the court she would be seeking a senior counsel in the case, because it was a "very significant matter of murder, firearms and criminal damage". Arakas expressed a desire to be present in the court for his extradition hearing. Mr Justice Burns fixed October 9 for the hearing with the matter in for mention on July 20 to resolve any outstanding matters. An earthquake measuring 5.8 on Richter scale struck Jammu and Kashmir at 7 am on Tuesday (June 16). This was the third earthquake to hit the union territory in three days. According to officials, the epicentre of earthquake was in Tajikistan at a depth of around 100 Km. People living in most parts of the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar, Kishtwar and Doda districts felt the tremors. Mild tremors were also felt in Jammu. An earthquake of magnitude 3.6 hit Jammu and Kashmir on Monday (June 15) night too. On Monday (June 15), an earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter Scale struck 83 km northwest (NW) of Gujarat's Rajkot at 12:57 pm. Tremors were also felt in Bhachau region of Kutch. It is learnt that tremors were felt twice within five minutes leaving the residents in a state of panic with many rushing out of their homes to save their lives. This was the second earthquake to struck Rajkot in less than 24 hours. An earthquake measuring 5.8 magnitudes on the Richter Scale struck 122 km north-northwest of Rajkot, Gujarat at 8:13 pm on Sunday. Gujarat has witnessed three major earthquakes in the past with the most devastating in 2001, another in Anjar in 1956 and the third in 1918 in the Rann of Kutch. The earthquake that struck Gujarat on January 26, 2001, measured 6.9 on the Richter scale and lasted for a little over 100 seconds. By Ayya Lmahamad The volume of trade turnover between Italy and Azerbaijan increased by 13.82 percent year-on-year in January-April, amounting to $2.5 billion, the official website of Azerbaijans Energy Ministry has reported with reference to the videoconference of the two countries Joint Intergovernmental Commission on economic cooperation. It was noted during the video conference that the volume of import and export also increased by 14.50 and 13.77 percent in 2020 respectively. Between January-April 2020, Italy's share in Azerbaijan's foreign trade turnover was 26.36 percent (1st place), including 38.15 percent in exports (1st place) and 4.39 percent in imports (6th place). The videoconference was held in a bid to discuss the tasks set by the president during his visit to Italy in February this year, as well as the status of execution of the signed documents. The videoconference was attended by Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and State Secretary of Italy for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Manlio Di Stefano, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC, AZPROMO, State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as International Cooperation of Italy and several Italian companies. During the conference, views were exchanged on the current situation and prospects for international cooperation, bilateral relations during the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, the sides discussed measures taken in the country to fight COVID-19, allocation of $10 million by the Azerbaijani government to the World Health Organization, as well as provision of humanitarian aid to the countries suffering from the pandemic, including Italy. Co-Chairman of the Commission and Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov noted that the state visit of Azerbaijani President to Italy on 20-21 February was historic in terms of further development of relations between the two countries. "During this visit, which further strengthens the strategic approaches to political and economic relations of friendly partner countries, agreements were reached that will allow to see the benefits of Azerbaijan-Italian partnership in all areas, as well as in regional and global spheres. Despite the difficulties associated with the pandemic, we must continue our efforts to implement the action plan on strengthening the multidimensional strategic partnership, he said. Furthermore, it was considered expedient to hold the first meeting on Azerbaijan-Italian strategic dialogue in the third quarter of 2020 and to hold regular political consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries, as well as to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and contacts within international organizations. State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Manlio Di Stefano expressed his gratitude to the president and the government of Azerbaijan for their assistance in a difficult period. He assessed this support as an indicator not only of the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy, but also of sincere friendship. He also expressed Italy's support to the Azerbaijani president's initiative to hold a special session of the UN General Assembly at the level of heads of state and government on the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Manlio Di Stefano noted that Azerbaijan is an important partner of Italy. "Last year Azerbaijan was the largest supplier of crude oil to Italy. The state visit of the President of Azerbaijan is a solid foundation for multilateral development of relations between the two countries at a new stage, based on strong energy cooperation, he stated. Likewise, during the meeting was touched upon an issues of strengthening economic cooperation, including the expansion of investment cooperation, as well as Issues arising from the documents on cooperation signed with Ansaldo Energia, Snam S.p.A., Cassa Depositi Presti SpA, Leonardo, IMA, Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and Simest. The importance of timely coordination of the projects of "Agreement on Protection and Promotion of Mutual Investments between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Italian Republic" and "Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Guardia di Finanza of Italy" was also noted. The incident happened at Patrolling Point 14 in Galwan Valley, which comes under the 16 Bihar regiment of the Indian Army. New Delhi: In a massive escalation between India and China, at least 20 Indian Army soldiers, including a Colonel, have been martyred in a violent clash on Monday night with Chinese troops at the Galwan Valley in the Ladakh sector. Initially, the Indian Army had confirmed only three casualties. However, in a statement issued late on Tuesday, it added that 17 soldiers later succumbed to critical injuries and the sub-zero temperatures. According to official sources, an unknown number of Indian soldiers, including officers, who were reportedly in the captivity of the Chinese Army were released after a high-level meeting between the two sides. The two sides used batons, iron rods and stones to attack each other, with the Chinese Army too suffering casualties. However, Chinese government did not release its casualty figures. This is for the first time in 45 years that Indian soldiers have been killed at the line of actual control (LAC), with last such incident recorded in 1975, when four soldiers from the Assam Rifles were ambushed in Arunachal Pradesh. The incident happened at Patrolling Point 14 in Galwan Valley, which comes under the 16 Bihar regiment of the Indian Army. As per initial reports, Indian troops were there to see the disengagement from the area by the Chinese Army when they were suddenly attacked by PLA soldiers. Soon back-up patrols from both sides also joined. The clash between the two armies, which included hundreds of soldiers from both sides, went on the mountainous area till mid-night, said sources. Colonel Santosh Babu, Commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment, was killed during the clash. Indian army said that no firing happened during the clash. Major Generals from both the armies met on Tuesday morning on the issue. During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers, said a statement issued by Indian Army. In a revised statement, it added, 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20". Earlier, during another clash on May 5 at Pangong Tso, Commanding Officer (a Colonel) of 11 Mahar of the Indian Army was seriously injured. A late night meeting of top government ministers, including defence minister, home minister and external affairs minister, was held at Prime Ministers home in 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, said sources. Defence minister Rajnath Singh also reviewed the current operational situation in Eastern Ladakh with the CDS General Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar was also present during the meeting in the morning. However, Modi did not mention Ladakh incident during a speech delivered during a meeting with the chief minsters on COVID-19 situation which was telecast live. A Chinese military spokesperson said that Indian troops had broken their promises and crossed the line of actual control in the Galwan Valley region on Monday evening and launched provocative attacks, leading to severe clashes and casualties, according to Chinese state-owned media Global Times. People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theater Command spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Shuili said China had always owned sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region, and the Indian border defense troops were inconsistent with their words and seriously violated the consensus made during the army commander-level talks to harm the relations of the two militaries and the "feelings of the two countries' peoples". India should stop all provocative actions, meet the Chinese side halfway and come back to the right path of solving disputes through talks, Zhang said. The clash has taken place just two days after army chief General MM Naravane had said that Indian and Chinese troops were disengaging in a phased manner starting from Galwan river area at the LAC in Ladakh. Both armies are involved in a stand-off at a number of places in Ladakh including Galwan, Hot Springs and Pangong Tso where Chinese troops have violated the LAC. SACRAMENTO California lawmakers approved a placeholder budget Monday as negotiations continued with Gov. Gavin Newsom over how to close a projected $54.3 billion deficit that has opened up during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite a constitutional requirement to pass a balanced budget by June 15 or go without pay, the Legislature was unable to reach a deal with Newsom, who must sign or veto the bill. Both the Senate and the Assembly instead passed a separate budget framework they crafted and plan to amend it later through follow-up measures. Legislative leaders remain at odds with Newsom about how to avoid severe cuts to public services that they argue would disproportionately harm the states neediest residents. Both sides are counting on a bailout from Congress, but disagree about what to do should none materialize. Further complicating matters, tax collection deadlines were delayed until July 15, after the start of the new fiscal year, leaving the state without a clear picture of how much it will have to spend. This is a time of great uncertainty. This is a very different budget than we thought wed present, Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, said on the Assembly floor. There are a lot of things that we are assuming but I cant really say we know for certain what will happen. The budget passed along nearly party-line votes of 61-13 in the Assembly and 29-11 in the Senate, with Republicans largely opposed. While lawmakers adopted many of the strategies Newsom proposed last month including tapping reserve accounts, temporarily limiting corporate tax credits and borrowing from special funds they balked at his steep cuts to education and safety net programs. Instead of letting about $14 billion of spending reductions take effect at the start of the fiscal year on July 1, the Legislature seeks to hold off on any cuts until October on the assumption that the federal government will come through with a bailout before then. If the money does not materialize, lawmakers want to dip further in the states reserve accounts and defer some payments into future years to avoid most of the cuts altogether. We learned tough lessons during the last downturn, Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, said on the Senate floor, and cuts to programs that our states vulnerable populations depend upon oftentimes exacerbate the problems we are trying to address. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said that although there would be changes in the final agreement with Newsom, it would not deviate from the principles we have outlined in the budget to avoid wreaking further havoc on Californians lives. During a news conference, Newsom said negotiators were making real progress on a deal and he remained confident that something will happen at the federal level to help mitigate the impact of cuts at the state level. Tensions over the governors handling of the pandemic have underscored the negotiations. Newsom issued dozens of executive orders and spent billions of dollars while the Legislature was sidelined by an emergency recess early on in the pandemic. During several recent budget hearings, lawmakers complained that the Newsom administration had not consulted enough with them on its coronavirus response. They pushed backed against a proposal to put nearly $3 billion more into a contingency fund for the governor to deal with potential future outbreaks. This budget rejects the governors attempt to usurp the Legislatures authority to oversee state spending, said Assemblyman Jay Obernolte, R-Big Bear Lake (San Bernardino County). I would also like to express my hope that we will continue to hold the line as negotiations with the governor proceed. The Legislature also passed several budget trailer bills that dictate how the spending plan will take effect, including one that would raise more than $4 billion in new revenue next year by temporarily limiting corporate tax credits. Republicans criticized Democrats for raising taxes on businesses hit hard by the pandemic, saying they werent dealing with structural problems in state spending. We have no idea where the rest of this budget is going to go, yet were voting for more revenue to start the whole debate, said Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber (Tehama County). My fear is, as usual, thatll be revenue that goes down a dark hole and in another year, well be on the precipice of another deficit. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff (TNS) Walla Walla Public Schools is implementing a one-to-one technology program for middle and high school students beginning this fall.Each student will be issued a Chromebook for the school year that can be used at home as well as the classroom. The district will also supply each student with a case for the Chromebook to protect it from damage.Overwhelming feedback from recent teacher, parent and student surveys revealed a strong desire to implement a one-to-one deployment, said Superintendent Wade Smith.This transition will allow us to pivot current and future curriculum adoptions to more online versions, ensure equity of technology for all students when at home and minimize the amount of textbooks students are currently required to bring back and forth every day to school.The one-to-one technology initiative will also help the district navigate the uncertainty of operating schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.The district has developed a low cost, optional insurance program for families that will help cover damage as well as lost and stolen devices.Before deployment this fall, staff is working to ensure robust internet safety measures, technology help desk provisions and devices to support families who lack internet connectivity at home. Statue defenders have been mocked for standing between Black Lives Matter protesters and a sculpture of writer George Eliot . A group of men, including veterans, stood guard over the George Eliot statue in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, just yards away from a BLM protest on Sunday afternoon. However, photos of them surrounding the statue have triggered scorn online, with many pointing out that Eliot was a vocal opponent of slavery and anti-semitism. 'Protect the statue' groups have started to form all over the country after BLM protesters pulled down a monument to slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol. There have been calls for the statues of other British historical figures involved in the slave trade to also be pulled down. Eliot - being a critic of slavery and oppression - was not targeted in a list of statues of slavers published by BLM supporters last week. A group of men stood guard over the George Eliot statue in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, just yards away from a BLM protest on Sunday However, this has spawned statue defenders, who have since appeared at BLM protests and clashed with both them and police officers. In Nuneaton, the protest and subsequent counter-protest remained peaceful, with a throng of 'protectors' surrounding the statue of Eliot. Particularly in her later years, Eliot appeared to be a strong supporter of anti-slavery. In essays, Eliot lavished praise on the anti-slavery works of Harriet Beecher Stowe, who depicted the struggles of African-American slaves and championed the abolition of slavery. She also explored the topic of 'conflict between races' with her novel Daniel Deronda exploring racial identity and shocking Victorian Britain with its sympathetic view of Jews - she also wrote about the 'debt' Western people had towards Jews. Corry Bates, formerly of the first batallion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was one of the men who 'protected' her statue in Nuneaton on Sunday. He said: 'I heard about the protest on Friday and obviously what has been going elsewhere, I'm here purely to protect our history. George Eliot: Author of 'greatest novel in the English language' George Eliot (1819-1880) pen name of Mary Ann Evans Mary Ann Evans, known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She wrote under a pen name because she wanted to escape the stereotype of women's writing being limited to lighthearted romances. Some believe she also wanted to avoid her private life being scrutinised, and she later had a relationship with married journalist George Henry Lewes. Her works includes the novels Middlemarch, Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss and Daniel Deronda, among others. Middlemarch has been described as the greatest novel in the English language. Her novels are celebrated for their realism and psychological insights. She was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, the third child of a mill owner. Eliot was shunned by friends and family for her relationship with Lewes, who encouraged her to write. It was during this period that she wrote her famous novels. The popularity of Eliot's novels brought social acceptance, and Lewes and Eliot's home became a meeting place for writers and intellectuals. After Lewes' death Eliot married John Cross, who was 20 years her junior. She died on 22 December 1880 and was buried in Highgate Cemetery in north London. Particularly in her later years, Eliot appeared to be a strong supporter of anti-slavery. In essays, Eliot lavished praise on the anti-slavery works of Harriet Beecher Stowe, who depicted the struggles of African-American slaves and championed the abolition of slavery. She also explored the topic of 'conflict between races' with her novel Daniel Deronda exploring racial identity and shocking Victorian Britain with its sympathetic view of Jews - she also wrote about the 'debt' Western people had towards Jews. Advertisement 'I'm not against the protest whatsoever, everyone has the right to do it, I'm purely here to protect our history.' Around 200 people attended the BLM protest, which passed peacefully, according to officials. Many people turned out with homemade signs with statements including 'Black Lives Matter' and 'I will never understand but I stand' and 'took a knee' as speeches were given. JB Benjamin, of the Nuneaton Bedworth Bulkington Black Lives Matter (NBB BLM) who organised the protest, said: 'It has gone pretty well, apart from one minor incident with an agitator at around 2.30pm, the people at the protest have been peaceful and socially distanced. 'I was pleased to see so many people and also pleased that the young socialist party had also come to show their support.' Other statue defenders were spread across four memorials - the Gurkha memorial, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the Boer War and the main war memorial. Social media users mocked the George Eliot defenders after photos were shared online. One said: 'Oh my god ... they are ... *rubs eyes* they really are guarding the statue of George Eliot in Nuneaton.' A second added: 'A group of men, including veterans, stood watch over the George Eliot statue in Market Place. 'I really hope the Jane Austen crew doesnt turn up looking for trouble.' While a third commented: 'Good to see #GeorgeEliot being protected this morning from the threatened attacks by the fierce loyalists of the Bronte Liberation Front, Gaskells Characters Matter, and the Austen Supremacy Party.' Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter activists have named Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris, the man who oversaw allied bombing raids on Nazi Germany, on a list of statues they want pulled down, for being a 'colonial warmonger in Rhodesia'. Commander in Chief of RAF Bomber Command, Sir Arthur was in charge of 'area bombings' - targeted raids on German cities that were typically highly populated and working class areas. Following the recent toppling the Edward Colston in Bristol, and the defacing of Winston Churchill's statue in Parliament Square, English Heritage is understood to be speaking with Met Police about the safety of its monument to Sir Arthur in The Strand, London. The WWII commander was not on the original list of 78 statues listed on the Topple the Racists website over their links to 'colonial violence', but has now been added alongside figures ranging from King Charles II and Oliver Cromwell to Robert Peel, founder of the Metropolitan Police. The campaign, and in particular the boarding up of Churchill's statue in Westminster prior to protests this weekend, sparked a strong popular reaction from people wanting to preserve the monuments. This led to groups of people claiming to be defending statues, which included football hooligans and Far Right activists, counter-protesting a BLM rally in London on Saturday. This quickly descended into violence, with fights between the rival groups as the police tried to disperse the crowds for a 5pm curfew. Their were also protests in cities including Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton and Glasgow as BLM activists - spurred on by the removal of 18th Century slave dealer Robert Milligan from outside the Museum of London in West India Quay. The addition of Sir Arthur Harris to the list of targets is likely to provoke further debate. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has set the task to strengthen negotiations on the international arena on cooperation in the acquisition of a vaccine against COVID-19, when it is manufactured. "Ukraine should get access to the vaccine on an equal basis with other countries as soon as it is manufactured. We have good relations with the European Union. Carefully monitor the development of the vaccine against coronavirus and keep Ukraine high on the agenda," the head of state said at a meeting on the fight against coronavirus. DUBLIN, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Perrigo Company plc ("Perrigo" or the "Company") (NYSE; TASE: PRGO), a leading global provider of Quality, Affordable Self-Care Products, today announced that Perrigo Finance Unlimited Company, an indirect wholly-owned finance subsidiary of Perrigo (the "Issuer"), commenced a registered public offering of senior notes (the "Notes"). The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company. The exact terms and timing of the offering will depend upon market conditions and other factors. Perrigo intends to use the net proceeds of the Notes offering to fund the redemption of the Issuer's 3.500% Senior Notes Due March 15, 2021 and 3.500% Senior Notes Due December 15, 2021, with the balance, if any, for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment or redemption of additional indebtedness. BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan and Wells Fargo Securities are the joint book-running managers in the offering. The offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement relating to the offering and the accompanying base prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting: BofA Securities, Inc. at [email protected] or toll-free at (800) 294-1322; or by calling J.P. Morgan Securities LLC collect at (212) 834-4533; or by calling Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at (800) 645-3751 or emailing [email protected]. About Perrigo Perrigo Company plc (NYSE; TASE: PRGO) is dedicated to making lives better by bringing Quality, Affordable Self-care Products that consumers trust everywhere they are sold. The Company is a leading provider of over-the-counter health and wellness solutions that enhance individual well-being by empowering consumers to proactively prevent or treat conditions that can be self-managed. Visit Perrigo online at http://www.perrigo.com. No Offer or Solicitation This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or an invitation to subscribe for, purchase or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale, issuance, exchange or transfer of the securities referred to in this announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains so-called "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of, and subject to the safe harbor created by, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's, or its industry's, actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In particular, statements about the Company's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events or future performance contained in this press release, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "predict," "potential" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Risks and uncertainties include risks relating to the successful completion of the transactions contemplated herein. These and other important factors, including those discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in the Company's subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, and in any subsequent filings with the SEC and in other investor communications of the Company from time to time, may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this document are made only as of the date hereof, and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Perrigo Company plc Related Links http://www.perrigo.com UofG researchers collaborate with international partners to mitigate global impacts of COVID-19 The University of Glasgow has committed to supporting international partners with a series of high-impact research collaborations to help mitigate the global health impacts of COVID-19. Researchers from across the University have been awarded funding totally 710,330 from the Global Challenges COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Fund to undertake short-term research projects to urgently assist partners in Colombia, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi respond to COVID-19. The awards are funded by the Global Challenges Research Funds (GCRF), allocated to the University from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The COVID-19 global pandemic has brought health inequalities across the world into sharp focus, highlighting the disparity between nations capacity and capability to test and treat COVID-19, and the University is committed to helping global partners respond to the effects of this unprecedented crisis. Projects include: evaluating the risk to healthcare workers in Malawi (led by Dr Antonia Ho); tracking COVID-19 in Uganda (led by Dr. Jennifer Serwanga); hospital based COVID-19 response capacity development in Tanzania (led by Dr Jo Halliday); and building community-led capacity to respond to COVID-19 in Colombia (led by Dr Mo Hume). Prof Dan Haydon, chair of the GCRF Coordination Group and Director of Glasgow Centre for International Development, said: The University of Glasgow is proud to be able to fund urgent research with our international partners in response to this unprecedented global health emergency. The University is committed to world-changing research addressing inequalities and tackling One Health and these issues are highlighted in the global impacts of COVID-19. We hope our researchers working closely with collaborators and partners from around the world on these projects can make a real difference in the global efforts against COVID-19. Dr Toni Hos project, in collaboration with the University of Malawi College of Medicine, aims to validate existing COVID-19 diagnostics and evaluate a novel point-of-care test in Malawi, whilst assessing healthcare worker exposure to SARS-CoV2 in parallel. In Malawi, a substantial number of COVID-19 infections have been reported in Healthcare Workers; and the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities is thought to contribute to the increased risk of infections. In Uganda, with the true incidence of COVID-19 infection unknown, Jennifer Serwanga, Betty Oliver, Bernard Kikaire and colleagues at the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Uganda Virus Research Institute and Uganda Ministry of Health are creating a framework to track and sample COVID-19 cases and establish a biorepository of serum obtained from those that have recovered from the virus. Prof Brian Willet from the University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research will support local efforts to identify immunoassays for countrywide surveillance to detect population exposure. Dr Jo Halliday will be working with Professor Blandina Mmbaga, from the Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute (KCRI), to lead a project aligned to Tanzanias national COVID-19 response, which will provide critical infection prevention and control support and epidemiological capacity strengthening for the local COVID-19 response. Dr Mo Humes project will work with SCIAF and Diocese of Quibdo to work toward community-led understanding and responses to the challenges of COVID-19 within indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities in Choco. Communities in Choco are already affected by a pre-existent humanitarian crisis and ongoing armed conflict, so they face increasing challenges in the context of the pandemic. The project will build awareness of public and environmental health among communities, and document learning from the emergency response. Bonnie Dean, Vice Principal for Corporate Engagement & Innovation, said: The University has a strong focus on international development research, so we are proud to help address the global challenge of COVID-19 through our world-class researchers. One of UofGs great strengths is the international links we have with our international partners and collaborators; and by working together, with our expertise and their local knowledge, the University hopes to contribute meaningfully to united efforts to manage the effects of this new coronavirus pandemic. Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk / 0141 330 6557 or 0141 330 4831 NWS With hot temperatures and windy conditions in the weather forecast, the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning from Tuesday to Thursday for a large swath of Northern California stretched along the Central Valley. In the Bay Area the warning is in effect for Solano County. (See the maps above for a look at the entire area under a warning.) These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Coronavirus risk is higher for Native Americans especially on remote reservations where overcrowded housing makes social distancing less feasible. Many Native American communities lack adequate health care and regularly face shortages of food, water and other supplies that are vital to sheltering at home to minimize the spread of the virus. Several major donors have responded to this humanitarian emergency with generous contributions to PWNA: Latter-day Saint Charities, the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made a significant donation to PWNA's COVID-19 response and nutrition support to tribes, as part of a $5.5 million contribution to relief projects around the globe. of Latter-day Saints, made a significant donation to PWNA's COVID-19 response and nutrition support to tribes, as part of a contribution to relief projects around the globe. Kliff Kingsbury , head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, made a $50,000 personal donation after learning about the high infection rates impacting the Navajo Nation. , head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, made a personal donation after learning about the high infection rates impacting the Navajo Nation. Kate Farms, a plant-based, organic medical nutrition company provided 10,000 meal replacement shakes for Elders of Navajo and other Southwest tribes impacted by COVID-19, as part of its 250,000-meal commitment to serving those most in need. Catena Foundation, a private grantmaking foundation, donated $100,000 to support COVID-19 response efforts to tribes in the Four Corners and Colorado River Basin area. "We're incredibly grateful to the many individuals and organizations who sincerely stepped up to help Native communities grappling with spread of the coronavirus," said Joshua Arce, president and CEO of PWNA. "These donations have been instrumental to our ongoing emergency response and we cannot thank donors enough for helping us ensure Native Americans are not forgotten during the pandemic." PWNA has also received contributions from long-time individual donors and more than a dozen other groups, including: Monetary donations from: Arizona Community Foundation Center for Disaster Philanthropy Hoch Drug Foundation Lush Cosmetics Museum of Native American History South Dakota Community Foundation Synchrony Financial Verizon Walmart Foundation In-kind donations of food and water, sanitizers, infant products, personal care products and PPE from: Baby2Baby Boomer Naturals Convoy of Hope Feed The Children Global PPE Matthew 25: Ministries To learn more and donate, please visit NativePartnership.org/COVID or call 800-416-8102. About Partnership With Native Americans PWNA is a Native-led nonprofit committed to championing hope for a brighter future on under-resourced reservations. Established in 1990, PWNA collaborates with reservation programs to serve immediate needs and support long-term solutions for strong, self-sufficient Native American communities. Follow PWNA on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, or visit NativePartnership.org. Contact: Helen Oliff Director of Communications Partnership With Native Americans O: 540-825-5950 Ext 205 [email protected] SOURCE Partnership With Native Americans Related Links http://www.nativepartnership.org By Christine T. Tjandraningsih, KYODO NEWS - Jun 16, 2020 - 09:34 | World, All, Coronavirus Indonesia, in cooperation with a Chinese drug maker, will launch the final stage of testing for a new coronavirus vaccine candidate next month and hopes to enter production early next year if the upcoming trial is successful. Kusnandi Rusmil, a professor at the Padjadjaran Public University in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung, disclosed the plan to Kyodo News in an interview over the weekend. The vaccine candidate has been developed by Chinese drug maker Sinovac Biotech Ltd. along with a team of Indonesian scientists and researchers led by Rusmil, as well as Indonesian state-owned drug maker PT Bio Farma, according to the professor. "The vaccine (candidate) has passed through the Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials well," he said, explaining that the first two phases took place in China beginning in March, with about 700 volunteers getting involved. He added that the vaccine candidate has been "proven safe" with regard to potential side effects and has shown effectiveness so far. The Phase 3 clinical tests will take place in Bandung and two cities in China, including the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the initial epicenter of the virus outbreak. "The results of the tests in the three cities must be consistent. If they are inconsistent, the vaccine can't be used," Rusmil said. In Indonesia, volunteers between 18 and 50 years of age will participate in the clinical tests. Of the 1,620 total participants, 540 will have blood taken and vaccinated to check their immunogenicity, or the ability of a foreign substance to provoke an immune response in the body, and the effectiveness of the vaccine taken from deactivated SARS-COVID-2 virus. The remaining volunteers will be vaccinated immediately to observe any local reaction to the vaccination, such as fever. Each participant will be vaccinated twice, according to Rusmil, with the second conducted a month after the first. "We will then follow their development for another eight months," said the 70-year-old professor, who is also a pediatrician at Bandung's Hasan Sadikin General Hospital. "If the clinical test is successful, hopefully we can immediately produce vaccine massively in March 2021, or earlier," he said. Last week, Indonesian researchers of the Airlangga Public University in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency and the State Intelligence Agency announced they had found five combinations of drugs that could potentially cure patients with the new coronavirus. The drugs in the five combinations are usually used for treating patients with conditions such as HIV or AIDS, infections caused by bacteria, respiratory and gastric problems, or malaria. "We use drugs that have been circulated in the market...(because) during this pandemic time, we need something urgently but still consider the safety of the drugs on patients' bodies," said Purwati, head of Airlangga University's Stem Cell Research and Development Center. Countries and pharmaceutical companies around the globe have been in a race to develop vaccines and therapeutic drugs for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Research and Technology Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro has said Indonesia would need at least 250 million to 350 million ampoules of a potential vaccine to cover two-thirds of the country's population of 266 million people. As of noon Monday, Indonesia reported 1,017 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to 39,294 with 2,198 fatalities. Related coverage: U.S. regulators revoke emergency use of malaria drug for coronavirus Beijing confirms new virus cluster at biggest wholesale market Japan scholars urge fair treatment of foreign students over handouts WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday removed a major obstacle to the construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a long-delayed and multibillion-dollar project meant to carry natural gas through some of the most mountainous scenery in central Virginia. The court ruled that the U.S. Forest Service has authority to grant the pipeline right of way under the Appalachian Trail in the George Washington National Forest. The 7 to 2 opinion was written by Justice Clarence Thomas. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline begins in West Virginia and would cross Virginia before completing its 600-mile path in North Carolina. It has been delayed as builders contend with a host of setbacks handed down by federal courts. None is more crucial than the question of whether the pipeline may cross under the Appalachian Trial. Judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit threw out a Forest Service permit in December 2018, saying federal law prohibits any agency from approving a pipeline on "lands in the National Park System." That includes the trail, the judges said. The pipeline's builders, led by Dominion Energy, appealed to the high court, saying the ruling could create an impenetrable wall along the trail's course, which runs from Georgia to Maine. "Simply put, there is no basis in any federal statute to conclude that Congress intended to convert the Appalachian Trail into a 2,200-mile barrier separating critical natural resources from the Eastern Seaboard," the company told the court. The plaintiffs note that existing pipelines cross the trail at 34 locations. The Trump administration weighed in on behalf of the project, arguing that even though the National Park Service administers the trail, the land beneath it is controlled by the Forest Service. Environmentalists opposing the construction argued that no pipeline has been granted a right of way across the trail on federal land since it became part of the park system. Other crossings are on private or state lands or on easements that predate federal ownership. Trying to separate the land from the trail is an "elusively metaphysical distinction" that "contradicts the government's own long-standing approach to administering the trail," the groups told the court in their briefs. Thomas said the land the Appalachian Trail crosses still is under control of an agency that can approve the right of way. "The lands that the trail crosses are still 'federal lands' and the Forest Service may grant a pipeline right of way through them - just as it granted a right of way for the trail," Thomas wrote. "Sometimes a complicated regulatory scheme may cause us to miss the forest for the trees," he wrote. "But at bottom, these cases boil down to a simple proposition: A trail is a trail, and land is land." Sotomayor said the decision was "inconsistent with the language of three statutes, long-standing agency practice, and common sense." The Park Service is in charge of the land the trail traverses, and federal law does not permit pipelines "across such federally owned lands. Only Congress, not this court, should change that mandate," she wrote. Environmental groups condemned the decision. "This is not a viable project," D.J. Gerken, program director of the Southern Environmental Law Center, said in a statement after the decision was announced. "It is still missing many required authorizations. . . . It's time for these developers to move on and reinvest the billions of dollars planned for this boondoggle into the renewable energy that Virginia and North Carolina customers want and deserve." Kelly Martin, director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign said the "decision is just plugging . . . one hole on a sinking ship. . . . The fracked gas [in the] Atlantic Coast Pipeline is a dirty, dangerous threat to our health, climate and communities, and nothing about the ruling changes our intention to fight it." Ann Nallo, a spokeswoman for the pipeline and Dominion Energy, backed the ruling. "Today's decision is an affirmation for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and communities across our region that are depending on it for jobs, economic growth and clean energy," she said in a statement. "We look forward to resolving the remaining project permits," she said. "For decades, more than 50 other pipelines have safely crossed the Trail without disturbing its public use. . . . The pipeline will be installed hundreds of feet below the surface. . . . There will be no construction activity on or near the Trail itself." West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, also hailed the ruling, saying it "will help put back to work thousands of men and women." The controversial project has drawn national attention from environmentalists, including former vice president Al Gore. Approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2017, the pipeline initially was projected to cost about $5 billion but has ballooned in price with multiple delays. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, filed a brief on behalf of the project's opponents, arguing that the pipeline threatens "several of Virginia's most cherished places." Earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit threw out a state permit for a compressor station in a historic African American community in Buckingham County, Va., saying the builders failed to consider whether the facility needed to move the gas along its way would unduly harm a minority group. And the lower-court ruling on the Appalachian Trail crossing had three other elements that are not part of the appeal to the high court. Those judges also said the permit didn't comply with mandatory standards for protecting soil, water and wildlife; that the agency didn't take a hard enough look at landslide and erosion risk; and that the Forest Service rejected alternate routes without fully analyzing them. The consolidated cases at the Supreme Court are U.S. Forest Service v. Cowpasture River Preservation Assn. and Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC v. Cowpasture River Preservation Assn. - - - The Washington Post's Gregory S. Schneider and Michael E. Ruane contributed to this report. In this article AZN-GB Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus around the world has now topped 8 million as the World Health Organization continues to warn that while the virus has slowed in parts of Europe it is gaining speed in other parts of the world, including parts of Africa and the Americas. The coverage on this live blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's U.S. team. Global cases: More than 8.15 million Global deaths: At least 441,407 U.S. cases: More than 2.13 million U.S. deaths: At least 116,905 The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Germany's CureVac to launch human trial of experimental vaccine, regulator confirms 11:00 a.m. London time: German biotech firm CureVac is to begin human trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine, Germany's vaccines regulator said Wednesday. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Germany's Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, authorized the clinical trial of the potential vaccine developed by CureVac after "a careful assessment of the risk/benefit profile of the vaccine candidate." On Monday, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier confirmed that the German government would acquire a 23% stake for 300 million euros ($337.4 million) in CureVac. Holly Ellyatt Sweden says 'wounds' have been created by it being excluded from Nordic travel area The decision to exclude Sweden, from the lifting of travel restrictions between Nordic countries Finland, Denmark and Norway, following the coronavirus pandemic, "has created wounds that will take time to heal," the country's Foreign Minister Ann Linde told CNBC. A decision not to implement a strict lockdown like its neighbors has meant that Sweden, which has seen a far higher number of coronavirus cases and deaths, has been left out of an easing of travel restrictions between the countries. Minister Ann Linde said "people that have been very used to working as if there were no borders, have been given a very clear wake-up call that different nations (are being treated differently) and I think this will, in many people, create wounds that could be difficult to heal." Holly Ellyatt Russia's President Putin has a 'disinfection tunnel' Russian President Vladimir Putin has a "disinfection tunnel" installed at his residence to protect him from contracting the coronavirus, Russian news agency Ria Novosti reported Tuesday. Tweet The chamber has been installed at the president's residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, according to the news agency. Anyone entering the residence has to pass through the chamber that uses a fine mist of disinfectant solution that covers clothing and exposed areas of the body. Holly Ellyatt Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Victory Day military parade marking the 74th anniversary of the end of World War II. Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Honduran president says he has coronavirus 12:48 p.m. Singapore time Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said he has been diagnosed with coronavirus and will work remotely as he is being treated, Reuters reported. He is experiencing mild symptoms and his wife and two of his aides have also been diagnosed with the disease, according to Reuters. Honduras has confirmed 9,656 cases of coronavirus and 330 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Christine Wang Reemergence of coronavirus in Beijing highlights challenges ahead for China's economy 9:06 a.m. Beijing time China's capital city had gone more than 50 days without domestically transmitted cases when a new cluster of cases emerged late last week, and were traced back to a major wholesale produce market in Beijing. As of Tuesday, China's National Health Commission reported another 31 confirmed cases of local transmission in Beijing. The city has started to reinstate some restrictions that had been relaxed in recent weeks. While these measures are less strict than the blanket bans imposed in February, they are still likely hit economic activity again. Evelyn Cheng, Christine Wang Amazon tests wearable device that notifies workers if they're violating social distancing rules 7:20 p.m. ET Amazon is testing a wearable device at its Seattle-area warehouse that lights up and beeps if workers aren't following social distancing rules, according a memo obtained by CNBC. Starting Wednesday, the device will be rolled out at Amazon's Kent, Washington facility. The device is a clear plastic sleeve with a clip that features an LED light and audio system, according to a memo seen by CNBC. When workers are too close to one another, the wearable emits a loud beeping noise and the light flashes. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the company recently began a small-scale pilot of the wearable device at one of its warehouses. The spokesperson added that the company will use feedback from teams testing the device "to continue to iterate." It comes as Amazon has also experimented with cameras equipped with social distancing software. On Tuesday, the company announced it's rolling out "Distance Assistants" at a handful of facilities across the U.S. A camera is hooked up to a monitor and a local computing device that alerts users as they walk by whether they're maintaining proper distancing. Annie Palmer Dexamethasone is a 'good first step,' lead researcher says 6:25 p.m. ET Dexamethasone, a steroid that one study says effectively reduced death among Covid-19 patients, is a "good first step" to finding a cocktail of drugs that can treat the disease, Oxford University professor Martin Landray told CNBC. "It's very likely that we'll end up with a situation where a combination of drugs are used, just as we see in HIV, just as we see in heart disease, in many other areas of medicine," said Landray, who co-led the study that found the drug to improve survival among patients. "But this is the first step. It's a good first step." The drug is cheap, widely available in most countries and appears to be effective in treating some symptoms of the disease, Landray said. He said he hopes that researchers find other drugs that also attack other aspects of the virus and the disease it caused. Will Feuer Texas governor says residents who were not social distancing increased cases since Memorial Day Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the US Army Corps of Engineers and the state are putting up a 250-bed field hospital at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas during a press conference at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Sunday, March 29, 2020. Tom Fox | Getty Images 5 p.m. ET Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that the state has seen an increase in coronavirus cases since Memorial Day most likely due to people who didn't follow recommended social distancing practices. The state reported an additional 2,622 cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, a new daily high, he said. Abbott pointed to an increase in testing in state nursing homes, correctional facilities as well as some reporting delays as reasons behind jumps in daily case numbers. However, he added that some counties have reported higher positivity rates stemming from people under 30 years old, indicating they may be going to "bar-type settings" or were infected at Memorial Day celebrations, Abbott said. "We think we can also accurately say there has been an increase especially beginning around the Memorial Day time period and going through a few weeks after that an increase in people testing positive because they may not be practicing all these safe standards," he said. He reminded residents to continue wearing face masks, washing their hands and maintaining a distance from other people. Noah Higgins-Dunn Missouri, Georgia make big strides in reopening Tracy Collie styles Roberta Skivicki's hair at Three-13 Salon, Spa and Boutique, during the phased reopening of businesses and restaurants from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in the state, in Marietta, Georgia, April 24, 2020. Bita Honarvar | Reuters 4:20 p.m. ET Both Missouri and Georgia have made major progress in easing coronavirus-related restrictions. Missouri has lifted all statewide coronavirus restrictions to "be fully open for business," according to Gov. Mike Parson. However, local officials can still put health measures in place. Georgia now allows gatherings of up to 50 people as long as guests remain 6 feet apart. Restaurants no longer have capacity limitations and bars can now have up to 50 people or 35% of their total capacity, whichever is greater. For more on states' reopening progress, click here. Hannah Miller Van's U.S. Open of Surfing canceled in California People enjoy the beach amid the coronavirus pandemic in Huntington Beach, California on June 14, 2020. APU GOMES | AFP | Getty Images 3:30 p.m. ET The 2020 Vans U.S. Open of Surfing has been canceled this year in Huntington Beach, California and will return in 2021 because of safety concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, event organizers announced this week. The Vans U.S. Open of Surfing brings together the international board sports community for the largest professional sports competition and festival in the world, the event website said. "The Vans US Open of Surfing has always been about bringing people together in a healthy, fun and interactive environment, and given the size and scale of the event, we can't see a way to do that this year without sacrificing the very thing that makes it so special," said Jennifer Lau, vice president of Action Sports at IMG in a press release. Suzanne Blake Apple to reopen New York City stores Customers visit the Apple store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Eduardo Munoz | Reuters 1:49 p.m. ET Apple will reopen 10 stores in New York City this week, but many of them will be "appointment only," meaning that customers need to schedule a time to buy products or get service for their computers. It's the first time stores in New York City will be open since March, when the company shuttered its locations amid the pandemic, and a sign that business is picking up in the city. By the end of the week, more than 200 of the company's 271 retail stores will be open. Apple requires customers to wear face masks inside its stores, and will provide masks to customers who don't have one. Kif Leswing U.S. Open to be held without fans 1:43 p.m. ET New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the U.S. Open tennis tournament will be held on schedule but without fans in attendance. Cuomo said players and staff will be subject to robust testing, additional cleaning, extra locker room space, and dedicated housing and transportation. While tennis fans may be happy to have a live sporting event to look forward to, some top players are voicing their concerns about their safety. "I'll get my hazmat suit ready," Nick Kyrgios tweeted, calling the push to hold the tournament "selfish." The iconic Queens tournament is a big money generator for both New York state and the U.S. Tennis Association, generating $400 million annually. Jessica Golden New York to lift suspension on visitors at hospitals, group homes as outbreak eases 1:38 p.m. ET New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state will allow hospitals and group homes to accept visitors at their discretion after limiting access to the facilities at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in mid-March. The order does not apply to the state's nursing homes, Cuomo said. Visitors will be required to follow state guidelines, which include limiting time with patients, requiring personal protective equipment and requiring symptom and temperature checks. On Monday, the state reported its lowest three-day average of Covid-19 deaths and its lowest level of hospitalizations since the outbreak began in mid-March, Cuomo said. Noah Higgins-Dunn Emerald City Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration canceled Fans attend Emerald City Comic Con at Washington State Convention Center on March 1, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. Suzi Pratt 1:30 p.m. ET With the coronavirus pandemic still looming, a number of prominent fan conventions have been canceled. ReedPop announced that the previously postponed Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle was canceled due to safety concerns related to Covid-19. All tickets that were transferred from ECCC's March 2020 date to the August 2020 date will be automatically refunded by June 29. The next ECCC will take place in March 2021. Disney also revealed Monday that its upcoming Star Wars Celebration, which was set to take place in August, was canceled. The company cited public health guidelines and concerns over attendees' safety. The next Star Wars Celebration will take place in August 2022 in California. Sarah Whitten Cisco offers solutions to customers as remote life continues 1:20 p.m. ET Cisco said that after helping some customers deploy remote collaboration technology and other solutions to address remote work during the pandemic, it will now offer those products and consulting services to more of its clients as solutions for faster adoption. Though some parts of the world have begun permitting companies to reopen their offices to employees, CEO Chuck Robbins said it's still early. Cisco has solutions that prisons can use for virtual inmate visits and technology to monitor adherence to social distancing in offices, Robbins said. Jordan Novet Texas hospitalizations up 66% since Memorial Day COVID unit nurse Anita Pedy (left) and medical student volunteer Alan Araiza (right) check bruises on the back of COVID patient Melquiades Cervantes. In Houston, Texas. Carolyn Cole | Los Angeles Times via Getty Images 1:04 p.m. ET Texas Covid-19 hospitalizations are up roughly 66% since Memorial Day as the state continues to reopen. There are now 2,518 patients hospitalized with a coronavirus infection across the state's hospitals, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. At least 10 states in total are showing a rise in hospitalizations, according to a CNBC analysis of data from the COVID Tracking Project. In recent weeks, some state and federal leaders have downplayed a recent rise in cases and hospitalizations across the U.S., tying it to an increased in testing. Infectious disease specialists note that the U.S. and other parts of the world will likely continue to see a rise in cases until there is a proven drug or effective vaccine. Berkeley Lovelace Jr. Some Americans will get vaccine for free, officials say 12:28 p.m. ET Americans who can't afford the vaccine to prevent Covid-19 will get it for free, Trump administration officials announced. Some commercial insurers have also expressed "eagerness" to cover the vaccine without a co-pay, a senior administration official told reporters during a press briefing, meaning those with insurance may also not have to pay anything out of pocket. U.S. health officials and researchers have been fast-tracking work on vaccine development, aiming to produce 300 million doses of a potential vaccine by January. Because of the pandemic, U.S. officials are investing in multiple stages of research even though doing so could be for naught if the vaccine ends up not being effective or safe. Berkeley Lovelace Jr. Former FDA chief Gottlieb says new steroid treatment could have 'immediate impact' 11:40 a.m. ET Dexamethasone, a cheap and widely available steroid, could have an "immediate impact" on how doctors treat Covid-19 patients, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said. A new study found the drug to effectively improve survival among severely sick Covid-19 patients. "It's going to probably have an immediate impact on what doctors are doing in the ICU setting," Gottlieb said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" in response to the news. "This is an important finding. It's going to change dogma." The researchers of the study said it is the first drug to appear to improve survival among Covid-19 patients. There are still no treatments approved by the FDA to treat the disease, though Gilead's remdesivir has received an emergency use authorization. Will Feuer Tenet Healthcare says new virus spikes are manageable A medical worker puts a sample for COVID-19 antibody testing into a test tube. Gavriil Grigorov | TASS via Getty Images 11:23 a.m. ET Tenet Healthcare says the spike in Covid-19 cases in states like Arizona is not impeding the rebound in elective surgery at its hospitals, which are back to 95% of pre-coronavirus levels this month. "We're busy with Covid, but we're not overwhelmed.... and we've put a lot of focus on really insuring Covid care zones are being separated from coded safe zones, and communicating that actively into the community and to the physician community, in particular, so they feel comfortable," said Tenet COO Saum Sutaria on an update call with analysts. Sutaria noted that new Covid-19 patients in markets where cases are rising tend to be younger, in their mid-30s to mid-60s, and require less intensive care treatment. Tenet shares rose nearly 6% in opening trade but gave up those gains late morning. Bertha Coombs Homebuilder sentiment surges, showing a rebound from lockdown 11:06 a.m. ET Homebuyer demand is up following a sudden drop at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, CNBC's Diana Olick reports. Homebuilder sentiment went up 21 points in June to 58, the biggest monthly increase ever in the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Readings above 50 indicate a positive market. In April, the reading diminished 42 points to 30. Under the homebuilder index's three elements, current sales conditions rose 21 points to 63 in June meanwhile sales expectations rose 22 points to 68. Buyer traffic went up from 22 to 43. "As the nation reopens, housing is well-positioned to lead the economy forward," said NAHB Chairman Dean Mon, a homebuilder and developer from Shrewsbury, New Jersey. "Inventory is tight, mortgage applications are increasing, interest rates are low and confidence is rising." Suzanne Blake One in five people worldwide is at risk of developing 'severe' cases of Covid-19, scientists claim Doctors wearing face masks and gloves as a preventive measure attend to a coronavirus patient at the intensive care unit of Albert Schweitzer Hospital. Robin Utrecht | SOPA Images | LightRocket via Getty Images 9:50 a.m. ET One in five people worldwide is at risk of developing severe cases of Covid-19, scientists have estimated. A team of researchers from the U.S., the U.K. and China estimated that 1.7 billion people or 22% of the global population are at "increased risk" of developing severe symptoms if infected with the coronavirus. People were considered to be at increased risk if they had one or more chronic health conditions associated with greater vulnerability to the virus, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In North America, 28% of the population, or 104 million people, had at least one underlying condition that put them at increased risk of developing severe Covid-19 if they caught the virus, according to the study. Chloe Taylor Steroid dexamethasone reduces deaths from severe Covid-19, trial shows 9:41 a.m. ET Treating Covid-19 patients with the generic steroid dexamethasone cut death rates by about a third for those with the most serious cases of the virus, according to data from a UK-led clinical trial. Scientists have called the results a "major breakthrough" and the study's researchers said the generic drug should become standard care in hospitalized coronavirus patients, Reuters reports. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the coronavirus. Hannah Miller, Reuters CNBC Disruptor 50 list features companies focused on coronavirus economy George Kavallines 9:22 a.m. ET This year's CNBC Disruptor 50 list includes at least 18 companies that say demand for their core products has more than doubled since the coronavirus crisis unleashed itself across the world. That's because many use artificial intelligence and machine learning, which are speeding the development of medical treatments to fight the virus. Others are in the health-technology field supporting at-home testing, such as Healthy.io, which provides FDA-approved remote urinalysis, and Heal, a six-year-old start-up that provides at-home doctor visits through telemedicine. C3.ai, a company that is so defined by artificial intelligence that it changed its name from C3 IoT a few years ago, has taken a leading role in using the technology to fight Covid-19. The three-time Disruptor 50 company teamed up with Amazon Web Services in April to create a Covid-19 "data lake," which unifies data sets, updates them in real-time and offers researchers a clearer starting point for generating usable insights. Tempus built a drug discovery-and-development platform designed to be disease-agnostic. So when the pandemic hit, it was in a strong position to pivot and support efforts to slow the spread and to find short-term and long-term treatments. Tempus brought a test to market in April and launched a research project examining 50,000 coronavirus-positive patients to find the most effective treatments and other insights. Lori Ioannou AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine protects for one year, CEO says AstraZeneca's building in Luton, Britain. Tim Ireland | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images 8:58 a.m. ET AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine would provide protection from contracting Covid-19 for around one year, CEO Pascal Soriot told Belgian radio station Bel RTL Tuesday. The company has contracts with France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the U.S. and Britain to provide doses of the vaccine, Reuters reported. Soriot said the vaccine could be ready, beginning October, "if all goes well." Soriot told the station, in an interview curated by Reuters, that the company has already begun a phase III trial and has a phase I trial ending soon. Alex Harring Coronavirus could usher in cashless casinos Guests play roulette at Excalibur Hotel & Casino after the Las Vegas Strip property opened for the first time since being closed in mid-March because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on June 11, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller | Getty Images 8:32 a.m. ET Concerns around Covid-19 could soon usher in cashless payment technologies at Nevada casinos, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending "tap-and-pay to limit handling of cash" to decrease the spread of the virus. A hearing on cashless payments will be held for Nevada gaming regulators on June 25, CNBC's Contessa Brewer reports. Sightline Payments founder and CEO Kirk Sanford said contactless payments may even replace the chips at casino tables. While some say digital payments increase the risk of problem gambling, others see the benefit in increased hygienic practices in fighting the virus as well as the possibility to attract a younger generation of customers. "Any customers uneasy about using cash on the gaming floor due to health or safety concerns should have an alternate payment option available to them," the gaming industry's trade group said. Suzanne Blake Ad spending decline won't be as steep this year as it was in 2009 financial crisis, GroupM forecasts 8:27 a.m. ET Though the advertising industry has seen spending decline drastically in recent months as a result of the pandemic, a new forecast from GroupM says the impact won't be quite as steep as it was during the 2009 financial crisis. The new U.S. mid-year report from the media agency arm of advertising holding company WPP says it expects U.S. advertising to decline 13% during 2020 (excluding political advertising, which varies greatly on election years), compared with the 16% drop seen during the 2009 financial crisis. Megan Graham McDonald's U.S. same-store sales fell just 5.1% in May 8:21 a.m. ET McDonald's U.S. customers are coming back to restaurants for their Big Macs and fries. In May, the fast-food chain's U.S. same-store sales fell just 5.1%. That's in comparison with a 19.2% plunge in April, its steepest monthly drop during the pandemic. Roughly 7% of McDonald's U.S. locations have reopened with reduced seating capacity, and only about 100 restaurants in the country remain closed entirely. But outside of the U.S., widespread temporary closures shuttered even drive-thru and delivery service, leading same-store sales of its two international segments to plunge. As of Monday, 90% of its international restaurants are operating again. Amelia Lucas The latest on U.S. hot spots Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards national Sanofi to invest more than $670 million in vaccine research centers The logo of Sanofi is seen at the company's research and production centre in Vitry-sur-Seine, France, August 6, 2019. Charles Platiau | Reuters 7:21 a.m. ET French drugmaker Sanofi will invest $679.4 million in two French facilities to turn them into a "state-of-the-art vaccine production" site and a new vaccine research center, the company announced. Sanofi said the investment was made possible by "close collaboration with French authorities" over the past few months and will help the company respond quickly to any future pandemic viruses. "Sanofi is a major healthcare player in France, in Europe, and worldwide," Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson said. It is our responsibility to focus our resources and expertise against the current pandemic, but also to invest in preparing for future ones." Sanofi and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline announced in April plans to join the race for a Covid-19 vaccine. Will Feuer German demand for potatoes down amid pandemic A customer stands beside a chilled meat cabinet inside a Rewe supermarket, operated by the Rewe Group, in Berlin, Germany. Krisztian Bocsi | Bloomberg | Getty Images The newly formed Vernon County Energy District (VCED) elected officers and created an organization with a vision of retaining energy dollars in Vernon County, by promoting the wise and efficient use of energy and encouraging the transition to locally owned and operated renewable energy sources. The nonprofit was founded on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, as a response to increasing vulnerability of a fossil fueled energy platform. The idea of an energy district comes from the soil conservation districts founded in 1933 in Coon Valley to protect water and soil, the lifeblood of rural agricultural economies. Farmers and ecologists joined forces to protect the resources that are the foundation of agricultural production. That model was repeated across the country, in what is known today as soil conservation districts in nearly 3,000 counties across the country. Newly elected board members are Rob Danielson (La Farge), Jim Olson (Viroqua), Alicia Leinberger (Viroqua), Toby Grotz (Viroqua), Samantha Laskowski (La Farge) and Al Buss (Readstown). According to a statement released June 11, We believe the cost of doing nothing is much greater than acting now. Coupling energy savings with efficiency measures, and new renewable energy generation, we will lower electricity costs and bring new jobs into our economies. And most importantly, our energy dollars stay here, either in savings or lower long-term costs of local renewable energy resources. The groups mission is to implement the vision through energy planning, public engagement, market transformation, encourage and facilitate infrastructure investment and collaboration in Vernon County and the surrounding area, while considering reliability and cost. We will also catalyze and support an energy district movement in Wisconsin and beyond. If we act now, we can maintain a reasonable life quality and leave something for our children to live on too. VCED has two main tasks in the first few years. On the one hand, it will work with utilities and electricity users to reduce and shape the demand for power. At the same time, the energy district will create online short courses to raise awareness and help everyone take control of energy usage. If you find yourself wondering about how much energy you use, and where it comes from, what it costs, join us. Newly elected chair Al Buss and be contacted at 608-606-2619 or vced@heybuss.us. Love 5 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 Australians could soon be holidaying in Bali if a 'travel bubble' with Indonesia goes ahead. The Indonesian government is reportedly planning a 'travel bubble' with Australia, China, South Korea and Japan in a desperate bid to boost tourism. Odo Manuhutu, deputy co-ordinating minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, said Indonesia would open its borders to those four countries before extending the offer to others. Travellers would face 'strict health protocols' but the move would ideally revive domestic tourism (pictured: Passengers wear protective masks as they depart Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali in March) The Indonesian government is reportedly planning for a 'travel bubble' with Australia, China, South Korea and Japan in a desperate bid to boost tourism (pictured: An empty beach in Bali) He said they were formulating criteria for foreign travellers to enter the country, local media reported. Travellers would face 'strict health protocols' but the move would ideally revive domestic tourism. 'After the criteria is made, negotiations will be held with those countries for two, three or four weeks. When agreements are reached, the travel bubbles will be opened,' the deputy minister said. 'In addition to the high level of tourists, there are also business interests with these four countries as well.' The plan has been slammed as premature by some critics as the number of coronavirus cases in Indonesia continues to climb. There are more than 39,000 COVID-19 cases in Indonesia and 2,198 people have died but the country is willing to get tourists back sooner rather than later to bolster a flagging economy. Formerly bustling tourist locations have been replaced by empty streets after visitor numbers diminished rapidly. Airport security check the health documents of traveller before entering domestic departure terminal in Kuta An estimated 2,000 Australian expats have chosen to stay in Bali rather than return home during the pandemic. Pictured: Old Man's club in Canggu before reopening Foreign tourist arrivals into Indonesia plunged more than 60 per cent in March, compared to the same month last year, with Chinese arrivals sliding more than 97 per cent. Last year, 1.23million Australians visited Bali - a rise of 5.24 per cent on 2018 figures. Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association chairman Rai Suryawijaya told the Financial Review said Bali's economy was on the brink of collapse with tourists. 'My prediction is July. Even if we could get 10 flights to land each day, with social distancing restrictions on-board, there may be only 150 people on board each flight so thats just 1500 arrivals each day. We know occupancy rates will remain low, at least until next year.' Even if Indonesia does open its borders, the Australian tourists will not be able to come until at least October. The government has extended its ban on Australians travelling overseas until the end of September, and the policy of forcing all those returning to Australia to spend two weeks in hotel isolation will continue indefinitely. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2020) - Clean Air Metals Inc. (TSXV: AIR) (the "Company" or "Clean Air Metals") is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced private placement of an aggregate of 13,400,000 common shares of the Company that will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66 (15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) ("Flow-Through Shares") at a price of C$0.50 per Flow-Through Share (the "Issue Price"), for aggregate gross proceeds of C$6,700,000 (the "Offering"). In connection with the Offering, Paradigm Capital Inc. acted as lead agent (the "Lead Agent"), on behalf of a syndicate of agents, including Clarus Securities Inc. and Beacon Securities Limited (together with the Lead Agent, the "Agents"). The gross proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's projects in Canada. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the Flow-Through Shares effective December 31, 2020. As consideration for the services provided by the Agents in connection with the Offering: (a) the Agents received a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering (and reduced to 3% with respect to certain subscribers on the "President's List"); and (b) the Agents received that number of compensation options (the "Compensation Options") as is equal to 6% of the number of Flow-Through Shares issued under the Offering (and reduced to 3% with respect to certain subscribers on the "President's List") on the closing date of the Offering (the "Closing Date"). Each Compensation Option is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company, issued on a non-flow through basis (each, a "Compensation Option Share") at a price of $0.50 per Compensation Option Share, for a period of twenty-four (24) months after the Closing Date. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the Closing Date. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Offering remains subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Clean Air Metals Further to its press release of May 22, 2020, Clean Air Metals Inc. has initiated a Phase 1 drill program of 10,000m on the Escape Lake Intrusion and PGE-Cu-Ni mineralized horizon on the Thunder Bay North Project. "The proceeds of this flow-through financing will allow the Company to accelerate the pace of exploration at the Thunder North Project" said Chief Executive Officer Abraham Drost. Clean Air Metals Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Ltd. acknowledge that the Escape Lake Property is on the traditional territory of the Fort William First Nation and the Red Rock First Nation, signatories to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Abraham Drost" Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc. For further information, please contact: Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc. Phone: 807-252-7800 Email: adrost@cleanairmetals.ca Website: www.cleanairmetals.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 Information The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation that relates to use of proceeds, tax treatment of the flow-through shares, closing of the offering and receipt of TSXV approval. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to the TSXV approval, risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57976 A slew of Democratic Senate candidates hoping to unseat Republican incumbents in key battleground states came out today against Israeli efforts to annex parts of the West Bank. The left-leaning lobby group J Street touted their warnings as part of its ongoing campaign to deter annexation. The rival American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) took the unusual step of greenlighting Democrats to push back against annexation without fear of repercussion, so long as the criticism stops there, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported last week. Unilateral Israeli annexation of territory in the West Bank undermines efforts to achieve a two-state solution, said Jon Ossoff, who hopes to unseat Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., in November. Ossoff said, A sustainable and humane resolution of conflict can only be achieved by diplomacy. Annexation would represent an abandonment of the peace process established in Oslo in 1993, and it would confirm the failure of contemporary Israeli and Palestinian political leaders to resolve these disputes diplomatically. The other Democratic Senate candidates in competitive states to come out against annexation include Cal Cunningham of North Carolina, Jaime Harrison of South Carolina, Amy McGrath of Kentucky, Al Gross of Arkansas, MJ Hegar of Texas, Sara Gideon of Maine, Theresa Greenfield of Iowa and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a failed 2020 presidential candidate favored to win the states primary against progressive Andrew Romanoff later this month. The two-state solution remains the best way to achieve long-term peace and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians, said Hickenlooper, adding, I oppose unilateral actions that move us away from this goal, including annexation of the West Bank. In the Senate, I will continue to advocate for advancing Israels security and stability and work with J Street toward achieving lasting peace in the region. Hickenlooper, who has historically boasted warm ties with AIPAC, joins 28 Democratic senators who have issued similar warnings. The confluence of AIPAC-friendly centrists, such as Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, adapting J Streets position on annexation illustrates the extent to which annexation has become a partisan issue within both the United States and Israel. Unlike J Street, AIPAC has not taken a formal position on annexation. However, AIPAC President Betsy Berns Korn praised President Donald Trumps peace plan, which calls for Israel to annex its West Bank settlements and the entire Jordan Valley, at the organizations annual conference in March. But recently, the Donald Trump administration has sought to dissuade Israel from moving forward with annexation next month amid ambivalence from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition partners in the Knesset. Netanyahu said today that the Trump administration wants Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who leads the rival Blue and White faction as part of a power-sharing deal, on board with the annexation plans before proceeding. His remarks came after he met with US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Gantz over the weekend. The prime minister also hinted that he may not proceed with annexation next month despite previous reports that he had initially pushed for July in case former US Vice President Joe Biden defeats Trump in November. J Street made its first-ever presidential endorsement in April and backed Biden, who also opposes annexation. Despite increase in cases of novel coronavirus in Nigeria, the Oyo state government has announced the relaxation of curfew in the state while also directing secondary schools within the state. However, only students In primary six, and students in junior secondary school three and senior secondary school three would resume on the said date while others would continue staying at home until further notice. This was made known via a statement by Taiwo Adisa, chief press secretary to the governor, after a meeting of the states COVID-19 task force presided over by Seyi Makinde on Monday. He said, The schools are to observe the COVID-19 protocols as released by the task force, ensure that stations for washing of hands are provided in all schools, while all students are to compulsorily wear face masks. Advertisement Read Also: Ajimobi In Coma From COVID-19 Complications Schools are to provide hand wash points with the support of their Parents/Teachers Associations (PTA). The resumption of critical classes at the end of June 2020, would be two clear weeks ahead of the states drop-dead date of July 15. By that date, it would be decided whether other categories of students will return to the classes. Mosques and churches have also been allowed to reopen while adhering to the compulsory use of face masks. Worship centres are expected to operate at not more than 25 percent capacity, and the situation will be reviewed within the first two weeks. Night clubs, however, are to remain shut in the state. The task force will not mind shutting down everywhere if evidence emerges that the COVID-19 safety protocols are being violated, or should there be an explosion in the number of cases; however, the state government will intensify enlightenment campaigns to ensure the safety of our people, he added. Oyo has recorded a total of 507 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far. Lake Erie is the source of fresh drinking water for 11 million people. Tourism-related spending for the Ohio counties bordering Lake Erie is $15.1 billion, supporting 127,000 jobs and generating $1.9 billion in taxes. The Lake Erie Foundation supports the state of Ohios decision to require carefully thought-out conditions for the Icebreaker wind power project and all utility projects proposed for Lake Erie. That is consistent with our support for clean alternative energy. Icebreakers developers state they plan to build only six wind turbines in Lake Erie. Yet their executives have been quoted in the media on multiple occasions acknowledging that Icebreaker is merely the first step in their long-term goal of erecting what would equate to more than 1,000 wind turbines in Lake Erie. The cost of constructing and maintaining offshore wind turbines is roughly three times that for onshore wind turbines, according to reference examples in the U.S. Department of Energys 2015 Cost of Wind Energy Review. Furthermore, the number of permanent jobs created and potential economic benefits claimed by Icebreakers developers demand much closer scrutiny. The state of Ohio has an obligation to protect its greatest natural resource for current and future generations who seek its use and enjoyment. Jim Stouffer, Lakeside Jim Stouffer is president of the Lake Erie Foundation. Hyundai Motor India's second generation Creta, which was launched before the coronavirus lockdown, has received over 30,000 bookings so far. Hyundai also stated that Creta's diesel model constitutes around 55 per cent of the total bookings. In March 2020, before the implementation of nationwide lockdown, Hyundai had sold 6,706 units of the compact SUV, which accounted for around one-fourth of total sales garnered by the car manufacturer during the same month. In CY2020, South Korean auto major launched its compact sedan Aura, followed by the Creta and facelifted Verna. Hyundai also plans to launch the facelifted variant of SUV Tucson which made its domestic premiere at the Auto Expo 2020. Also Read: Second-gen Mahindra Thar with BS-6 engine to be launched in October 2020 Hyundai Creta comes with three engine options - a 1.5L petrol, 1.4L turbo petrol, and a 1.5L diesel engine. Hyundai said that the new SUV Creta gets its power through the company's new BS-6 complaint 1.4-litre Kappa Turbo GDi petrol engine with seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). The SUV also has several Drive Modes like - Eco, Comfort and Sport, along with Traction Control Modes for Snow, Sand, and Mud. New 2020 Creta prices: 1.5L petrol: Rs 9.99 - 16.15 lakh 1.4L turbo petrol DCT: Rs 16.16 - 17.2 lakh 1.5L diesel: Rs 9.99 - 15.79 lakh 1.5L diesel AT: Rs 15.99 - 17.2 lakh Hyundai's new SUV Creta features the latest version of company's BlueLink technology for connectivity features and comes with a BlueLink Integrated Smart Watch App for connected car features like as Engine Start/Stop, Door Lock/Unlock, Geo-Fence, Speed, Time Fence, Valet, Vehicle Status and more. The new-gen Creta is likely to play an important role in the company's progress moving forwards after the COVID-19 crisis. However, it will be interesting to see how the new Hyundai Creta would fare against the segment leader Kia Seltos when the economic and social conditions in the country get back to normal. (Edited by Vivek Dubey) Also Read: Car sales register steep decline in May, tractors lead road to recovery Also Read: Hyundai Motor India exports over 5,000 units in May Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 18:52:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAMAKO, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) confirmed Monday night that an attack against Malian soldiers on Sunday at Diabaly town, in the central region of Segou, had killed at least 24 soldiers. "Following the ambush in Bouka Were, 24 members of the FAMa were killed," the Malian army said on its website, adding that eight soldiers had been rescued. The assessment of the situation was still in progress, the army said, indicating that the death toll might continue to rise. Local sources said the attackers detonated an explosive device before attacking the military convoy. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. But according to some independent observers, the attack was likely carried out by terrorist group active in the region. Enditem The site of the troubled Geelong oil refinery has been earmarked for a major transformation that will include the construction of a new shipping terminal to import natural gas into Victoria and a solar farm. As the 65-year-old refinery heads towards a loss of as much as $42.5 million in the first half of the year, down from an $18 million profit, Viva Energy unveiled an ambitious proposal to investors on Tuesday to turn the refinery site into an "energy hub" while retaining existing refining operations. Viva Energy operates the Geelong oil refinery. Credit:Craig Sillitoe The liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal planned for the site to import gas from elsewhere in Australia and overseas would be the second such project for Victoria, as AGL fights to gain environmental approval for a controversial floating gas-import facility in Western Port Bay. Viva chief executive Scott Wyatt told The Age that diversifying the Geelong refinery's 235-hectare site to house new energy technologies would provide ongoing employment for the refinery's 700 workers and "potentially support the development of new jobs and skills in a key regional centre". remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The Schwarzwaldhalle of Messe Karlsruhe offers space for up to 249 examinees at the same time with distancing rules being observed. (Photo: Markus Breig, KIT) Normally, the Schwarzwaldhalle, a public exhibition and concert hall of Messe Karlsruhe, is crowded by many visitors. From May 18 to July 4, 2020, however, students of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) meet there to pass their written exams. After academic education operations at universities in Baden-Wurttemberg had been suspended by the 1st Corona Ordinance, postponed written examinations can now take place again. For this, KIT worked out a comprehensive concept to ensure observation of hygiene and distancing rules. Today at 10 oclock, time had finally come for the 209 registered students of the Chair of Network Economics: By participating in the written examination on the lecture Wettbewerb in Netzen (competition in networks), examinees were enabled to prove their knowledge acquired during the past winter semester. Originally, the examination had been planned to take place on March 18, but had to be postponed due to the Corona pandemic. The plan of KIT for gradual resumption of academic education operations now is the basis for catching up with postponed examinations. We are very happy that our students can now proceed with their studies thanks to our comprehensive room and hygiene concept and excellent collaboration of all parties involved, says Professor Alexander Wanner, KIT Vice-President for Higher Education and Academic Affairs. Protection of our students and teachers against an infection with the virus continues to be of highest priority, Wanner emphasizes. Among others, the concept defines hygiene measures to be taken and distances to be observed during written examinations. As a result of distancing, for instance, places in the largest lecture hall of KIT, the Audimax, decreased from 750 to 36 only. Hence, some examinations have to take place in parallel at several lecture halls. To extend spatial capacities, KIT rented additional rooms of Messe Karlsruhe. The Schwarzwaldhalle, part of the Karlsruhe Convention Center, offers space for around 250 desks with sufficient distance. In the neighboring Gartenhalle, about 360 students can write their exams simultaneously. At the entrances, hand disinfectants are provided for the examinees and supervisors. In addition, a plan defines how to ensure sufficient ventilation and regular cleaning of the halls and sanitary facilities. For direct contact with the students, the supervisors are given protection masks and sit behind a plexiglass shield when handing out or collecting the exams. The students are asked to wear masks that can be taken off during the exams, however. Perspectives for Academic Education Operations in Corona Times Between May 18 and July 4, 2020, KIT organizes about 170 written examinations of this kind for all departments. We are happy to support KIT in organizing studies as normally as possible in spite of the special situation. This also includes a perspective for examinations and appropriate rooms, says Britta Wirtz, Managing Director of Karlsruhe Messe- und Kongress GmbH. Only cooperation and the willingness to develop individual solutions will help us cope with this situation, Wirtz says. Oral examinations in the presence of a maximum of five persons or by video conferencing started on April 20 already. Depending on the Corona situation, KIT will also prepare a concept for the examination phase following the already started summer semester. Then, the number of written examinations will presumably be even higher. Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. Criminal justice advocates with Oakland's Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a group of former San Quentin State Prison inmates and the families of current inmates called on state officials Tuesday to take decisive steps to end what they say is a COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak at the prison. The coalition demanded the state take eight different steps to reduce overcrowding, ramp up testing and improve conditions at the prison to ensure that the virus does not spread further than it already has. The demands include a call for Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to release some inmates and end inmate transfers between prisons to reduce San Quentin's population, which is already roughly 122 percent of its maximum capacity, according to CDCR data from April. The groups also demanded that the state make testing available to all inmates, provide free hygiene supplies and stamps and expand access to credit-earning opportunities, free phone calls and tele-visiting privileges. "It's just a matter of time before (coronavirus) is running rampant throughout all of San Quentin," said Arlethia King, the mother of an inmate at the prison. "I'm just praying that the governor is able to step up and do something quicker." A spokeswoman for the CDCR said San Quentin's testing rate is roughly three times the state and national coronavirus testing rates and state correctional officials are working to secure the capacity for mass testing both at San Quentin and the state prison system at large. The state has also installed alcohol-based hand sanitizer stations in areas where sinks and soap are not available and prison facilities are being routinely cleaned and sanitized. Mandated staff testing is also underway at San Quentin and four other state prisons, according to CDCR spokeswoman Dana Simas. "CDCR takes the health and safety of our incarcerated population and the community-at-large very seriously and have taken unprecedented steps to address this public health crisis," Simas said via email, noting that prisons have also reduced dorm density, provided temperature screening and masks and suspended in-person visiting. "We will continue to expand on our efforts to safely and securely increase physical distancing within our institutions," she said. According to the CDCR, 33 inmates at San Quentin have tested positive for the coronavirus, to date, and 3,219 inmates across the state's prison system have tested positive. Some of those cases at San Quentin, the coalition of criminal justice activists said, stem from a May 30 transfer of 121 inmates from the California Institution for Men, a Southern California facility that had roughly 500 active cases at the time and had reported 13 coronavirus-related deaths. San Quentin had zero confirmed cases prior to the transfer, according to the coalition. At least four inmates transferred from the California Institution for Men have since tested positive, the group said. Although some 3,500 inmates at state prisons have been released early to reduce the strain of overcrowding, the quickest way to control the virus' spread throughout the prison system, the group argued, is to reduce the prison population even further. Until that time, inmates will seldom be able to follow now-common public health guidelines such as physical distancing. "Well-meaning public health proposals devised for people in the outside world cannot and will not help the spread inside San Quentin because the central problem is that the prison needs to be nearly empty before these measures can be successful," said Sue Chan, a health care worker and the mother of an inmate at San Quentin. The coalition plans to hold a day of action to demand changes to the conditions in state prisons during the pandemic and call for state officials to prevent the pandemic from spreading any further. The Ella Baker Center and the non-profit organization Restore Justice will also hold a virtual town hall at 6 p.m. Tuesday for family members of inmates at San Quentin State Prison and to discuss the state of the prison system in relation to the coronavirus pandemic. People can RSVP to the event at facebook.com/events/695253174383349. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KEMET Corporation (KEMET) (KEM) today announced the completion of the acquisition of KEMET by Yageo Corporation (Yageo) (TAIEX:2327). In accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, Yageo has acquired all of the outstanding shares of KEMETs common stock for US $27.20 per share in an all-cash transaction with an equity value of approximately US $1.6 billion. As a result of the transaction, KEMET is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yageo, and KEMETs common stock is no longer listed on any public market. Established in 1919 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, KEMET is a leading global supplier of high-end electronic components with a global footprint that includes 21 manufacturing facilities and approximately 12,500 employees located in 21 countries in the Americas, Asia and Europe. KEMETs main products include tantalum capacitors, ceramic capacitors, magnetic, sensors and actuators, and film and electrolytic capacitors. KEMETs products serve a number of applications, such as advanced automotive electronics, industrial applications, aerospace, medical, as well as smartphones, cloud/networking equipment, wireless communications, alternative energy and 5G technology. Holding more than 1,600 patents and trademarks worldwide, KEMET has established a leading position for its products via its advanced R&D and technical staff and design-in capabilities. Together with KEMET, Yageo will be well positioned as a one-stop provider of passive electronic components, including a leading portfolio of polymer, tantalum, ceramic, film and electrolytic capacitors, chip resistors, circuit protection as well as magnetics, sensors and actuators, all addressing a full range of end market segments. The combined company will have an enhanced global footprint and be better able to partner with long-standing, blue chip customers worldwide through a combined 42 manufacturing plants and 14 dedicated R&D centers. Story continues William M. Lowe, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of KEMET, said, The closing of this transaction is the culmination of an extensive process by the KEMET board in an effort to enhance value for KEMETs stockholders. KEMET as part of the Yageo family will be well positioned to continue as a leading global provider of passive electronic components. Advisors Citi served as financial advisor to Yageo, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Tsar & Tsai Law Firm in Taiwan served as legal advisors. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisor to KEMET and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and LCS & Partners Law Firm in Taiwan served as legal advisors. About KEMET KEMET offers our customers the broadest selection of capacitor technologies in the industry, along with an expanding range of sensors, actuators and electromagnetic compatibility solutions. KEMET operates manufacturing facilities, sales and distribution centers around the world. Additional information about KEMET can be found at http://www.KEMET.com. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws about KEMETs financial condition and results of operations that are based on managements current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets in which KEMET operates, as well as managements beliefs and assumptions. Words such as expects, anticipates, believes, estimates or other similar expressions and future or conditional verbs such as will, should, would and could are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. This communication includes forward-looking statements relating to the merger between KEMET and Yageo, including financial estimates and statements as to the completion and effects of the merger. These estimates and statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. Such estimates and statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the merger, including future financial and operating results, the combined companys plans, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of KEMETs management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties outside of KEMETs control. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to: (i) potential adverse effects or changes to relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or other parties resulting from the completion of the merger; (ii) the effect of any lawsuits against KEMET and its directors relating to the merger and potential lawsuits that could be instituted against KEMET or its directors and officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; (iii) the risks and uncertainties associated with, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic or (iv) possible disruptions from the merger that could harm KEMETs business, including current plans and operations. Discussions of additional risks and uncertainties are contained in KEMETs filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect KEMETs judgment only as of the date hereof. KEMET undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise. More information about The Global #MeToo Movement book is available at www.globalmetoobook.com Full Court Press, the publishing arm of legal publisher Fastcase, along with the Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law today published The Global #MeToo Movement, which details how women on every continent are using the new tools of social media to confront one of the oldest barriers to equality: the threat of violence, including sexual harassment, as a tool of male supremacy. The 48 authors, from every continent except Antarctica, include leading university professors, NGO activists, and government officials. The first chapter is written by acclaimed feminist legal scholar Catharine MacKinnon. Other contributing authors include a justice of the Israeli Supreme Court, a member of the Irish Senate, and a broad global representation of a new generation of young women. Each chapter documents the #MeToo narrative from a different global perspective, and brings new insights to the fight against discrimination and harassment. A softcover version of the book will soon be available for $16 in the Full Court Press online bookstore and is available for preorder at https://www.fastcase.com/store/fcp/global-me-too/. An eBook edition is also immediately available for download for a suggested $5 contribution to the Berkeley Center for Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law. Contributions may also be made directly to the center here. The book was recently featured at a global conference on sexual harassment, which included a panel discussion by several of the authors on the reach of the #MeToo movement. A recording of the panel discussion is available here. In addition to reports from multiple countries, the compilation discusses how other factors, such as class, caste, disability, race, gender, and sexual orientation, intersect with issues of harassment, and affect the agency of victims to speak out. This timely book discusses effective techniques to fight harassment: real, not symbolic, compliance, abolishment of defamation laws and non-disclosure agreements (hush clauses) that silence victims, better corporate governance, and effective workplace investigations. More information about The Global #MeToo Movement book is available at http://www.globalmetoobook.com. To view the catalog of publications available from Full Court Press, visit http://www.fastcase.com/product-category/fcp About Fastcase Fastcase is a leading legal publisher that democratizes the law, making it more accessible to more people. Fastcase is a comprehensive research suite of primary law, treatises, legal blogs, analytics, workflow tools, and legal news. Founded in 1999, the service has more than 900,000 subscribers from around the world. Fastcase is an American company based in Washington, D.C. For more information, follow Fastcase on Twitter at @Fastcase or visit fastcase.com. About the Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law The Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law brings together academics, advocates and activists from around the globe to address the issues of inequality and discrimination as global problems requiring global solutions. It is a project of the School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. For more information, visit https://www.law.berkeley.edu/research/berkeley-center-on-comparative-equality-anti-discrimination-law. Naval Forces Europe, Africa Commander Discusses European Picture, Arctic Challenges Navy News Service Story Number: NNS200615-07 Release Date: 6/15/2020 1:52:00 PM By Jeanette Steele, U.S. Naval War College Public Affairs NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Adm. James G. Foggo III, commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples and U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, spoke to the U.S. Naval War College audience June 9 via a video conference link. His comments ranged from the geopolitics of Europe to U.S. and NATO efforts in Africa to the changing landscape in the Arctic. He later addressed the meeting of the Newport Arctic Scholars Initiative, which is holding a two-day virtual workshop June 9-10. Foggo spoke about the strength of the NATO alliance. "We just celebrated our 71st birthday and don't let anyone tell you any different, we're going to be around for another 71," he said. Foggo discussed what he has called the "Fourth Battle of the Atlantic," which refers to Russia's increasing military activities in the North Atlantic. He mentioned Russia's buildup of submarine operations in the Arctic. As a counterpoint, Foggo described the October 2018 deployment of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), the first time an American aircraft carrier had operated above the Arctic Circle since 1991. The carrier was "operating the F-18 in 12-to-18-foot seas, doing cat (catapult) shots," Foggo said, adding that the carrier strike group did a good job handling the harsh and unfamiliar Arctic conditions. Despite the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Foggo said, "We're still open for business here. We're still operating." He mentioned the May deployment of a naval surface action group, consisting of four U.S. ships and a British frigate, to the Barents Sea, which borders Russia and Norway. It was the first deployment of that kind to the Arctic since the early 1990s, he said. "We operated, and we learned a lot," Foggo said. "I think it sent the right message to the Russians. Then, in deference to them, we left on the 8th of May, before their nine-day victory celebration," he said, referring to the Russian holiday that commemorates the 1945 surrender of Nazi Germany. Looking farther south, Foggo discussed the importance of the Black Sea. "There's a lot of economic traffic that goes over and under that sea. Pipelines and lines of IT communication there," he said. He mentioned that the United States will participate in the annual Sea Breeze exercise, which in 2019 included 19 nations, 32 ships, 24 aircraft and more than 3,000 troops in and around the Black Sea. "These exercises are important. Presence is important. Power projection is important," Foggo said, adding that this is especially true since Russia has worked to close off the Sea of Azov, which borders Ukraine, from the rest of the Black Sea. Between U.S. and NATO partners, "There's about 240 days of coverage or presence there, and the rest of the time we rely on our friends and partners and allies like the Turks, the Bulgarians and the Romanians," he said. He also described the command's training mission in Iraq and efforts to build peace and security in Africa, including helping to form an early warning system for natural disasters. Great-power competition has arrived in Africa, Foggo said, citing as one example the Chinese military base opened in Djibouti in 2017. Foggo discussed maritime assistance provided by the United States in Africa over the past decade on issues such as anti-piracy, including the summer 2019 deployment of the expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Carson City to work with Western Africa nations. These efforts, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, potentially laid the groundwork for the successful rescue of a Chinese fishing boat last month by the Nigerian navy, he said. "It is very important for us to continue to have presence in Africa," Foggo said. Finally, Foggo addressed what he called the current crisis surrounding equality, both in the United States and in other places around the world. "I charge the leaders out there not only to go out and do your jobs to the best of your ability and enjoy every minute of it, but be cognizant of the problem we have in our own ranks and our own country, and do something about it," he said. "Take advantage of this awakening period to make life better for everyone and be inclusive." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The United States on Tuesday urged North Korea to avoid further counterproductive steps after it blew up a liaison office on the border with the South. The United States fully supports the ROKs efforts on inter-Korean relations and urges the DPRK to refrain from further counterproductive actions, a State Department spokesperson said, referring to the South and North by their official names. North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border on Tuesday, triggering broad international condemnation after days of virulent rhetoric from Pyongyang. The demolition came after Kim Yo Jong -- the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- said at the weekend the useless north-south joint liaison office would soon be seen completely collapsed. Footage of the explosion released by Seouls presidential Blue House showed a blast rolling across several buildings just across the border in Kaesong, with a nearby tower partially collapsing as clouds of smoke rose into the sky. Analysts say Pyongyang may be seeking to manufacture a crisis to increase pressure on Seoul while nuclear negotiations with Washington are at a standstill. After an emergency meeting, the National Security Council said it would react strongly if Pyongyang continues to take steps that aggravate the situation. All responsibility for repercussions stemming from this action falls squarely on the North, it added. The US, European Union and Russia all called for restraint. The EU warned Pyongyang against taking further provocative and damaging steps. The liaison office -- in a dormant industrial zone where Southern companies once employed Northern workers -- was opened in September 2018, days before the Souths President Moon Jae-in flew to Pyongyang for his third summit with Kim. Around 20 officials from each side were stationed at the office during subsequent months. But inter-Korean relations soured following the collapse of the Hanoi summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in February last year over sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return. Operations at the office were suspended in January because of the coronavirus pandemic. And since early June, North Korea has issued a series of vitriolic condemnations of the South over activists sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets over the border -- something defectors do on a regular basis. Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday the liaison offices destruction was in line with the mindset of the enraged people to surely force human scum and those who have sheltered the scum to pay dearly for their crimes. Last week Pyongyang announced it was severing all official communication links with Seoul. North Korea has started a provocation cycle with stages of escalation, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, calling the destruction of the office a symbolic blow to inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation. The Kim regime is also signalling the United States wont have the luxury of keeping North Korea on the back-burner for the remainder of the year, he added. - Relations soured - Since Pyongyang condemned the leaflet launches -- usually attached to hot air balloons or floated in bottles -- the Unification ministry has filed a police complaint against two defector groups and warned of a thorough crackdown against activists. On Monday, the left-leaning Moon urged the North not to close the window of dialogue. The two Koreas remain technically at war after Korean War hostilities ended with an armistice in 1953 that was never replaced with a peace treaty. Last week the North criticised Trump in a stinging denunciation of the US on the second anniversary of the Singapore summit, with its foreign minister Ri Son Gwon accusing Washington of seeking regime change. US diplomats insist that they believe Kim promised in Singapore to give up his nuclear arsenal, something Pyongyang has taken no steps to do. The North is under multiple international sanctions over its banned weapons programmes. It believes it deserves to be rewarded for its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and the disabling of its atomic test site, along with the return of jailed US citizens and remains of soldiers killed in the Korean War. Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise, Ri said in his statement, carried by the official KCNA news agency. Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Sejong Institutes Center for North Korean Studies, said: North Korea is frustrated that the South has failed to offer an alternative plan to revive the US-North talks, let alone create a right atmosphere for the revival. It has concluded the South has failed as a mediator in the process. As the programme for government negotiations comes to an end, all three parties will be designated a number of Taoiseach's nominees to the Seanad. The agreed split of the 11 nominations is four for Fine Gael and Fianna Fail and two for the Green Party. The 11th candidate will be agreed by the parties and drawn from the north. Although previous Fianna Fail and Fine Gael governments have often chosen private citizens to represent the second house, this year's picks are likely to be much more along party lines as the two traditional parties attempt to recoup some ground lost in a bruising election. Here are some of the contenders in the running from each party. Fine Gael After a bruising election and a further Seanad election which saw no party women elected to three of the five vocational panels, Leo Varadkar has hinted that in order to remedy the issue, women would make up all if not a majority of his nominees. Regina Doherty The former Minister of Social Protection has been touted by many of her party colleagues as the first choice for nominees. "The job is Regina's if she wants it," one senior party source said. Cllr Sharon Tolan She is said to be "very close to a shout" with five years in council, and a member of the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board, and the Board of Boyne Valley Tourism. Cllr. Eimear Currie. From the Taoiseach's own Dublin constituency and his running mate in the February election, she is the daughter of civil rights leader Austin Currie. Tom Neville The former TD for Limerick lost his seat in a shock upset in February and is tipped to return to the Oireachtas. Fianna Fail Micheal Martin is likely to reward his TDs and senators who were unsuccessful in this year's elections with a clear aim of bringing them back to his parliamentary party. Timmy Dooley Long time TD and Senator Timmy Dooley lost his seat in Clare in February after being mired in a voting scandal with two of his colleagues. He was seen as a loss to the party in the area and many believe he will be first tipped back into the second house. Lorraine Clifford Lee Ex-senator Lorraine Clifford Lee failed to get elected in February and is seen as a strong representative with a bright future in the party. Many believe she was unlucky in the last two elections and is seen as a loss to the parliamentary party. Sean Kelly It's understood the party will want to ensure they have representative geographical spread and a Louth candidate will be high on the list of priorities, it's imagined the active councillor in Dundalk will fill that gap for the party. Mary Fitzpatrick Known to be favoured by the party leader, the Dublin City Councillor who lost out on the final seat in Bertie Ahern's old constituency. It's understood Mr Martin campaigned consistently for Fitzpatrick as the party were keen to win back the seat, and is expected to nominate her to the Seanad to fill the Dublin gap. The Green Party Cllr. Roisin Garvey The Clare councillor was involved in government formation negotiations on rural development, due to her experience in rural economics and passion for local communities. The party is seeking to bolster its votes in the more rural regions of the country, and Garvey would be a signal to that they mean business. Cllr. Hazel Smyth The qualified barrister from Mullingar has been tipped as a rising star in the party, and had been supportive of government formation and previously stated her support for Eamon Ryan in any leadership contest. TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund - Notice of AGM TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited (a closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey with registration number 57985) (The "Company") LEI Number: 549300P9Q5O2B3RDNF78 16 June 2020 NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited Trafalgar Court, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey on 9 July 2020 at 12.30pm. The Notice of AGM has been posted to shareholders. In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.3, the Notice of Annual General Meeting, proxy form and accounts have been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM Enquiries: Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited The Company Secretary Trafalgar Court Les Banques St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 3QL Tel: 01481 745001 The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, who had been arrested by Hazratganj Police on charges of fraud and forgery in the list of 1,000 buses submitted to the Yogi Adityanath government for ferrying migrant labourers. Lallu was denied bail by the high court last Friday, as it demanded that the case diary be presented before it on June 16. The UP Congress leaders had held several protests demanding the release of Lallu, who had been arrested on June 3. The AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had also written a letter for a Hindi daily in this regard, praising the UP Congress chief. A case was filed against Sandeep Singh, private secretary of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Lallu among others for cheating and fraud. The case was registered at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow, after a written complaint by UP Roadways officer RP Trivdei, under sections 420, 467 and 468 of the Indian Penal Code. The Yogi Adityanath government had alleged that two-wheelers, three-wheelers and a few cars were also included in the list of 1,000 buses. As per a UP government spokesperson, 79 out of the 1,000 vehicles were unfit while the fitness and insurance forms of 279 buses were expired. He further alleged that there were 100 buses whose numbers were registered in the name of ambulance, three-wheelers, auto rickshaws, trucks and other vehicles while there were no records found of 70 other buses. KYIV -- Ukrainian Security Service officers have reportedly detained the head of the regional council in Kherson and are bringing him to Kyiv, where his pretrial arrest will be decided in a case where he is suspected of ordering a deadly attack on anti-corruption activist Kateryna Handzyuk in 2018. A member of Kherson's Dnipro district council, Oleksandr Vlasov, said on June 16 that Vladyslav Manher was detained while at a hospital early in the morning and is being transported to Kyiv. Manher, who has denied any involvement in the attack, has failed to show up at the Pechera district court in Kyiv twice since last week, citing his own health problems, as well as those of his daughter. On June 15, after Manher's representatives told the court that he was at a Kherson hospital and therefore unable to attend the hearing, the court ruled that he must be brought by force. Handzyuk, a 33-year-old civil activist and adviser to the mayor of the Black Sea port city of Kherson, died in November 2018, three months after she was severely injured in an acid attack. Prosecutors arrested Manher in February 2019 and charged him with ordering the attack. Manher was later released on bail. In June 2019, five men were sentenced to prison terms of between three and 6 1/2 years for organizing and executing the attack, after they made plea deals with investigators. Human rights activists have accused Ukrainian law enforcement agencies of failing to thoroughly investigate the growing number of attacks on activists, and even of collusion with the perpetrators in some cases. Michael Pack speaks at his nomination hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Sept. 19, 2019. (Screenshot of hearing video/U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations) USAGM Publishes Rule to Prevent Outside Interference as Trump Ally Takes Helm The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) published a rule on Monday to fend off potential intervention from the White House into newsrooms operated by the USAGM. According to the rule, firewalls exist between the newsroom of a USAGM network, everyone else in the organization, and the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government. This firewall is understood to be violated when any person within the Executive Branch or a Network, but outside the newsroom, attempts to direct, pressure, coerce, threaten, interfere with, or otherwise impermissibly influence any of the USAGM networks, including their leadership, officers, employees, or staff, in the performance of their journalistic and broadcasting duties and activities, read the rule. It is also violated when someone inside the newsroom acts in furtherance of or pursuant to such impermissible influence. USAGM, formerly known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), is an independent establishment of the federal government that currently operates five networks: Voice of America (VOA), the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN). USAGM said that the rules were intended to maintain the editorial independence and adherence to the highest standards of professional journalism. The firewall is critical to ensuring that the editors, reporters, and other journalists of the USAGM network make the decisions on what stories to cover and how they are covered, it stated. The Voice of America building in Washington, on June 15, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo) The rule was published after Michael Pack, a Trump ally, was confirmed by the Senate to be the head of the USAGM. Its unclear when the agency started to work on the new rule. USAGM didnt reply to a request for comments at the time of publication. Trump has been a vocal critic of VOA, lambasting the networks coverage as pushing propaganda for Americas adversaries. If you heard whats coming out of the Voice of America, its disgusting. Whatthings they say are disgusting toward our country, Trump said at an April 15 White House news briefing. And Michael Pack would get in and do a great job. Pack affirmed during his confirmation hearing that he will maintain the agencys journalistic independence. The whole agency rests on the belief the reporters are independent, that no political influence is telling them how to report the news and what to say, Pack said. Without that trust, I think, the agency is completely undermined. So, I think that is a bedrock principle. But he indicated that there is a need to make some decisions that keep the work of this agency in line with what the U.S. global interests are. VOA director Amanda Bennett and Deputy Director Sandra Sugawara resigned on Monday as Pack is set to take over as the head of USAGM. Michael Pack swore before Congress to respect and honor the firewall that guarantees VOAs independence, which in turn plays the single most important role in the stunning trust our audiences around the world have in us. We know that each one of you will offer him all of your skills, your professionalism, your dedication to mission, your journalistic integrity and your personal hard work to guarantee that promise is fulfilled, Bennett told VOA staff in a farewell message. Tom Ozimek contributed to the report. TULSA, Okla. - In the real world, 74-year-old Donald Shaw is walking on the empty, parched grass slope by Tulsas noisy crosstown expressway. Hes on the other side of the citys historical white-black dividing line from where President Donald Trump will hold a rally Saturday with his overwhelmingly white supporters. But Shaw can conjure stories and images of so much more the once-thriving black community that stood on this same ground, destroyed nearly a century ago by white violence and ensuing decades of repression. Just imagine, in your mind, all these homes, Shaw said one morning this week, describing the black-built, black-owned houses and churches that once covered dozens of blocks where hes walking, the site of Tulsas 1921 race massacre. Just picture that. Hotels, movie theatre, roller rink, said Shaw, a retired man who spends his mornings sitting in the shade of an engraved stone memorial to the Home Style Cafe, A.S. Newkirk photography studio, and literally hundreds of other African American-owned bakeries, barber shops, attorney offices and businesses razed in the massacre. Burned bricks and a fragment of a church basement are about all that survive today of the more than 30-block historically black district. On May 31 and June 1 in 1921, white residents and civil society leaders looted and burned Tulsas black Greenwood district to the ground, and used planes to drop projectiles on it. The attackers killed up to 300 black Tulsans, and forced survivors for a time to internment camps overseen by National Guard members. Historians say the trouble began after a Tulsa newspaper drummed up a furor over a black man who allegedly stepped on a white girls foot. When black Tulsans showed up with guns to prevent the mans lynching, white Tulsa responded with overwhelming force. A grand jury investigation at the time concluded, without evidence, that unidentified agitators had given Tulsas African Americans both their firearms and what was described as their mistaken belief in equal rights, social equality and their ability to demand the same. Everything they had downtown, Shaw said of the white-owned business district where Trump will rally, we had here. Trumps choice to resume his giant rallies in Oklahoma, a loyal Republican state, and in Tulsa, an oil centre, has brought a surge of national interest in the Greenwood district once called Tulsas Negro Wall Street. His rally at the 19,000-seat BOK Center will be Trumps first since the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the U.S. by late March. Trumps initial plan to hold the rally on Friday Juneteenth also sparked interest in the turbulent racial legacy here, although he later pushed back the rally date to Saturday. So has a spring of nationwide street protests over police killings of George Floyd and other black Americans. Despite the Oklahoma heat, visitors of all races drive up to the site of the destroyed black community. They take photos of themselves in front of the inscribed memorials to whats now called Black Wall Street. They raise a defiant fist in the air for other photos in front of a mural to Black Wall Street painted on the side of the overpass. For Shawn-Du Stackhouse, a barber from the Washington, D.C., area and one of those visiting the Tulsa massacre memorials, the proof that cellphone videos provide of killings of African Americans today somehow make the killings of the past, like Tulsas, more real as well. For black Americans, the cellphone videos show what they have already known, Stackhouse said. It gives more confidence to speak up about all the killings, past and present, he said. The Tulsa rampage was part of a surge of white attacks on black communities from Washington, D.C., to Chicago to the Pacific Northwest at the time, said Scott Ellsworth, a historian who has worked for decades to bring the Tulsa massacre to light. The Ku Klux Klan was surging as well, putting many of its members in public office and other influential positions. In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson gave a White House screening and praise to The Birth of a Nation, a tremendously influential and viciously racist film on the South. Today, opponents say Trumps statements and actions embolden white supremacist sentiment in the country. That includes Trumps opposition to renaming military bases named after Confederate Civil War figures, and his emphasis on a tough law and order response to recent protests. Trump denies any racism, and said his administration has been beneficial to African American citizens. Asked Monday about any concerns that Trumps rally may fan racial tensions in Tulsa, Oklahoma Republican Party chairman David McLain said, I would like to invite all nationalities into the Republican Party. We are a party of great opportunity for anybody, race, creed or colour. Black community groups are organizing a Juneteenth ceremony and justice rally for Friday on the grounds of the memorial district. The Rev. Al Sharpton will speak alongside family members of Terence Crutcher, a black motorist killed by Tulsa police in 2016 while unarmed, Sharptons publicists said. Tulsas Republican mayor, G.T. Bynum, has formed a commission for marking the 100th anniversary of the massacre next year. Although expressing doubts about calls for reparations to Tulsas African Americans, Bynum has supported the search for unmarked burials of victims of the massacre. Next month, experts plan painstaking examination and excavations of an existing Tulsa cemetery to look for such unmarked graves, said Ellsworth, who teaches African American history at the University of Michigan. After generations of determined public silence on the massacre long referred to by white Tulsans dismissively as a race riot black and white Tulsans increasingly are trying to tell the story of Black Wall Street, including its fiery, deadly end. Teaching about the massacre is being added to state and city school standards, so that this fall third graders will learn about it. Even preschoolers in some districts are being told about Black Wall Street not about how it ended, but what it was, said Danielle Neves, deputy chief of academics for Tulsa public schools. Four-year-olds can understand that people like them once owned movie theatres and hotels and ... had a thriving community, Neves said. At the areas Greenwood Leadership Academy school, classrooms are named after the Dreamland movie theatre and other black businesses that white Tulsans burned down, said Kristi Williams, operation manager at the school. Williams great aunt fled with her date from one theatre when the armed whites came to destroy the black part of town in 1921. Williams, whose family descended from African Americans enslaved by the Oklahoma-based Muscogee (Creek) Indian nation, emphasizes to pupils the joint power and financial resources that communities like Tulsas Black Wall Street once embodied. I just always imagine what would Greenwood look like if the massacre never happened? We had an economy within an economy, says Williams. What could have happened? What would we be? ___ Follow @knickmeyerellen on Twitter. AP Writer Sean Murphy contributed from Oklahoma City. An Australian filmmaker who was arrested and jailed in Nepal after filming a protest has been released. Kalani Gacon, 24, was arrested with six other foreign nationals in Nepal on Saturday. He claims authorities were trying to deport the group for being involved in the rally, which was protesting against the government's response to the pandemic. Foreigners are not allowed to protest in Nepal. Kalani Gacon (pictured), 24, was arrested with six other foreign nationals in Nepal on Saturday However just three days later Mr Gacon, from the Blue Mountains, 50km north west of Sydney, announced his release (pictured) He took to social media to beg friends and family for help and to be put in contact with lawyers. 'We are not being allowed to use our phones. They said they will keep us in New Road Police Station tonight but I am not sure if that is true.' However just three days later Mr Gacon, from the Blue Mountains, 50km north west of Sydney, announced his release. 'Thanks for everyone's hard work, prayers and love we are out of jail,' he posted on Facebook. 'Some magic was manifested thanks to everyone who worked for us.' He said the Nepalese police were good to the group and nights were spent swapping stories. Mr Gacon was released on Monday afternoon after handing over a bond worth $120. His mother, Alexandra Gacon, told the ABC he had been denied legal representation and had been charged with 'documenting internal affairs'. His mother, Alexandra Gacon, told the ABC he had been denied legal representation and had been charged with 'documenting internal affairs' 'He wasn't actively involved,' she said. 'He's an avid filmmaker. That's his life. He's been making films since he was nine years old. 'He's really scared of being banned from Nepal, because it's his second home. He loves the people. He loves it there.' Hundreds of young people Nepal have defied lockdown laws since Tuesday to protest the country's response to the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Gacon has been volunteering in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu to help feed the poor He took to social media to beg friends and family for help and to be put in contact with lawyers when he was arrested (pictured) Nepal has recorded more than 5,000 cases of COVID-19 and 16 fatalities. Mr Gacon was volunteering in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu to help feed the poor during the pandemic. A Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said: 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to an Australian man detained in Nepal. 'Owing to our privacy obligations we will not provide further comment.' The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the church. Governmental guidelines have introduced the practice of social distancing, which resulted in many local churches closing their buildings until those policies are released. Some have observed that the church has moved online. Instead of meeting in person, pastors and other church leaders have effectively utilized social media platforms and other internet-based technologies to broadcast their services and other ministries online to their various constituencies. Now that authorities are relaxing their shelter-in-place policies, churches are facing a programming dilemma. Church members of all generations have reported that they enjoy staying at home to watch pastoral sermons online. Several pastors have indicated their desire to keep live streaming their services even after the current coronavirus crisis has passed. People are used to watching church services on the internet. Plus, the potential number of people who can connect with the church via social media outlets provides a growing and lasting outreach opportunity for the church. Some pastors are now also vocalizing a growing desire to open their buildings immediately. They are wondering how this extended time of social isolation will impact their churchs long-term attendance. They understand that believers are designed by God to gather with each other in local churches that are committed to biblical truth and biblical priorities, but they wonder if some will resist coming back into the church building. Some are now questioning the logic and rationale of closing church buildings even for relatively short periods of time. Certainly, they want to keep their people safe, and they understand the importance of respecting governing authorities (Romans 13:1). But they also know that the Bible teaches the imperative and the necessity of believers gathering in person and then spreading out to fulfill the God-given mission of the church. Churches undoubtedly desire to assemble together for public worship services. However, throughout the chronicles of church history, there have been numerous times when the church has not been able to gather physically in person due to a variety of reasons. Situations When the Church Cannot Meet The most common reason for the church not meeting together was probably persecution. From the first century until the present day, the church of Jesus Christ has faced times of severe persecution that has limited the ability of Gods people to meet. The New Testament records times of severe harassment for the church including the brutal martyrdom of Stephen in Acts 7 and the stabbing death of the Apostle James in Acts 12. As a result, Gods people scattered (Acts 11:19) or were forced to meet secretly in believers homes (Acts 12:5-19) to escape the violence. Historically, believers responded to times of affliction by choosing to worship privately or to hide from torment by meeting in secret locations that were known only to other church members. There are still places in the world today where the church is persecuted. Reports regularly surface from places where believers are not allowed to meet in public and are forced to find imaginative solutions to practice their faith. There have been periods of time in the history of the church when the church has not been able to gather due to factors such as governmental regulations, racial or ethnic segregation, disinterest, and occasions of other illnesses such as the plague, Yellow Fever, and the Spanish Flu. In each of these situations, the difficult circumstances of the times forced individual local churches to respond with initiative and creativity. The current COVID-19 pandemic has done the same. The Biblical Model for the Church Is to Gather Together Ultimately the church needs to gather to fulfill its mission (Hebrews 10:25). The Scriptures contain many examples of the importance of the church assembling together (Acts 12:12; Acts 14:27; Acts 15:30; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 11:17-20; 1 Corinthians 14:23, 26; James 2:2). The church may have moved online because of the current pandemic, and church leaders have gained a new appreciation for the importance of having a continuing presence in internet-based delivery systems, but to truly function as a biblically-based church, the local community must gather. Of course, there are multiple examples in Scripture of churches meeting in homes (Acts 2:46; Acts 5:42; Acts 12:12; Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 2). However, the Bible is clear that even house churches require a gathering of Gods people to accomplish the God-given functions of church life. Why Should the Church Gather in Person? There are at least four basic church functions, which would be difficult at best to fully accomplish online. Each of these four things necessitates the gathering of Gods people in person to truly be effective. 1. The teaching of Gods Word (Ephesians 4:11-16). The preaching and teaching of Gods Word can certainly be accomplished online. Modern technology has made this process quite easy for most pastors. All they need is a smartphone, probably a tripod, and internet access to connect to the churchs social media outlets. The majority of churches utilized were able to make their weekend services available to their people and to the community via the internet. In fact, many churches reported a spike in attendance numbers during the coronavirus quarantine because of the ease of watching messages online. However, churches should evaluate this practice on a long-term basis. The number of viewers reported on social media platforms, such as Facebook Live, do not tell the whole story. Pastors have no idea if these numbers indicate people who watched the entire sermon, or if they tuned in for only a few seconds. It may be a good idea to continue live streaming church services once the pandemic restrictions have been fully lifted because many people will have very valid reasons why they cannot attend the Sunday church services in person. But people probably need to be physically present to fully engage with the message from Gods Word. There are likely to be fewer distractions in the building, and other creative communication and interactive methods can be used when the audience is there in person. 2. Worship in music (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). It is obvious from these two important passages that the early church must have had a music ministry as a part of their gatherings. Both texts use the phrase one another to signify the connection music makes with other believers. Of course, todays churches can obtain the licenses necessary to showcase their worship teams online, but that is never the same as joining with other believers to sing praises to the Lord together. 3. The equipping of Gods people to serve (Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12). Another key function of any local church is the importance of pastor-teachers to equip Gods people for for the work of ministry, which, in turn, builds up the body of Christ. The writer of this Epistle, the Apostle Paul, makes the point that this process is imperative for the entire church community and is not only for individual believers. This entire passage emphasizes the church as a whole with terms like unity and whole body. Training people for ministry is something that is quite difficult to accomplish in a virtual way with individual Christians who may be sitting at home alone or with just with their families. God designed His people to serve Him and He distributed spiritual gifts for His people to use within the structure and operation of a local church. The COIVD-19 crisis has forced believers to isolate themselves from each other and the practice of ministry has suffered because of it. 4. Fellowship and the practice of communion (Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34). The Bible places a great deal of importance on the body of Christ coming together in unity. One example of true fellowship in the Scriptures was when the early church gathered to celebrate the Lords Supper or Communion. Many churches have attempted to lead believers in this ordinance online, but the current practice of people gathering their own crackers and juice for individual observances rings hollow when compared to these biblical passages. Why Does This Matter? Todays pastors are to be commended for their ministry initiative and innovation during a difficult time, but Gods people need to gather either in church buildings or in homes. Obviously, churches will need to keep a strong presence online and must use technology to communicate Gods Word to their people and to the community at large. However, the future of the church will always need to gather to fulfill its God-given mission and functions. iStock/Getty Images Plus/Daniel A'Vard Mel Walker is the president of Vision For Youth, Inc., an international network of youth ministry, and he is currently in the process of raising financial support to serve with VFY on a full-time basis. Mel has been actively involved in various aspects of youth ministry for over 45 years. He is also an author, speaker, and consultant with churches. Mel has written 13 books on various subjects relating to youth ministry. More information about his speaking and writing ministry can be found at www.YouthMinistryQuestions.com. Mel & Peggy Walker are the parents of 3 adult childrenall of whom are in vocational ministry. You can follow him on Twitter: @vfyouth. Molly-Mae Hague's late Pomeranian puppy has been immortalised in a bracelet. The Love Island star, 21, took to Instagram to flash her new accessory on Monday - a silver band with a paw print engraved on it. Gifted to her, she claimed it was 'the most special and thoughtful gift ever'. In loving memory: Molly-Mae Hague's late Pomeranian puppy has been immortalised in a bracelet Molly-Mae had been quiet on social media since the ordeal with the dog, Mr Chai, after he died just six days after she and boyfriend Tommy Fury adopted him from Russia. The traumatic situation was met with backlash from followers, forcing the pair to take a break from the public eye for a few days. But they returned to Instagram on Sunday to give fans a glimpse of their lavish new home. Molly-Mae showcased her luxurious living room as Tommy stretched out on their suede corner sofa, telling fans that she didn't want 'to dwell' in the past couple of weeks. She added a lengthy caption that read: 'I don't want to dwell on the last couple of weeks but what I do want to say is thank you. Gone but not forgotten: The Love Island star, 21, took to Instagram to flash her new accessory on Monday - a silver band with a paw print engraved on it Loss: Gifted to her, she claimed it was 'the most special and thoughtful gift ever' 'Thank you to every single person that sent me such thoughtful messages asking me how I am and making sure I'm okay, it has meant the world to me. 'I've enjoyed a much needed break from my phone but I'm back now and ready to get stuck into some really exciting things I have coming up.' Molly-Mae then proudly flaunted her spacious marble bathroom before posing in front of the mirror in nothing but an over-sized purple T-shirt. She wrote: 'Also had a much needed change of location. Didn't realise how much I needed a fresh start.' The TV personality finished with a snapshot of a messy room piled high with boxes of clothes and Louis Vuitton bags, saying 'although this is the reality now'. Fresh start: The former Love Islander showcased her luxurious living room as boyfriend Tommy Fury stretched out on their suede corner sofa Insight: Molly-Mae then proudly flaunted her spacious marble bathroom before posing in front of the mirror in an over-sized purple T-shirt It comes after YouTube star Molly has taken a temporary break from her social media channels after facing a barrage of criticism surrounding her puppy's death. The reality TV star was gifted the pooch by Tommy as part of her lavish birthday celebrations - but the pair were left devastated by his sudden death just days later. A source recently told The Sun: 'Molly-Mae is taking a break to have time to herself for a few days.' MailOnline have contacted a representative of Molly-Mae for comment at the time of publication. In the wake of the puppy's passing, both fans and celebrities spoke out about the importance of researching when buying a dog. 'He didn't have a single white blood cell in his body': Molly-Mae recently addressed the backlash from importing Mr Chai from another country Former Made In Chelsea star Ashley James, 33, wrote: 'Please please do your research before getting a pet. 'Do not import dogs from other countries unless they are rescues from charities. Please look into #lucyslaw and if you do go to a breeder then always make sure you see a fit and healthy mum!' Love Island's Olivia Buckland, meanwhile, shared a lengthy statement to her account, urging her followers not to support 'third-party breeders' or buy dogs from other countries. Stipulating that her discussion was 'in no way towards my lovely Molly' as she was 'devastated' for the reality star, Olivia explained that she was speaking out 'to make sure this doesn't happen again and to raise awareness.' Heartbroken: The reality star announced Mr Chai had died in a heartbreaking statement posted just six days after welcoming the pup into her home On Wednesday, Molly-Mae discussed the tragic death of her dog and addressed the backlash from importing Mr Chai from another country. She stated: 'Whilst we completely understand everyone's opinions about being shipped over from Russia, what you need to understand is that is not what made him die. 'He was going to die regardless. The autopsy results showed his skull wasn't fully developed and part of his brain was exposed. He didn't have a single white blood cell in his body'. 'If we had the time again we would have got a dog from the UK or got a rescue dog from the UK.' Tommy bought the dog through Cheshire-based business Tiffany Chihuahuas & Pomeranians, which is licensed by Cheshire Council but not a Kennel Club assured breeder. Breeder Elena Katerova has denied breaking the rules, insisting that clients see the mother with their puppy via videos. She said: 'I'm truly devastated to learn about the death of Mr Chai. He was a beautiful young dog with a loving, playful temperament. I'd watched him grow up, having regular video calls with his birth family. 'My heart goes out to Molly-Mae and Tommy. Mr Chai was a healthy dog, I only work with trusted people and have a small network of reputable breeders who care for their dogs to the very highest standards and and see animals as part of their family.' Molly-Mae told her viewers: 'Neither of us wanted to film a video or talking about this but after everything we've seen today and reading everyone's opinions, I think it's really important that we actually do sit down and talk about it and explain how we are feeling and what we now know after receiving the autopsy results.' Tough times: Mr Chai's death prompted several stars to speak up about the importance of researching when buying a dog (they set up an Instagram account for him last month) After describing how Mr Chai was energetic in his first few days with them 'as a puppy should be', they soon noticed he started showing symptoms, with the sportsman explaining: 'His poo was runny, he was vomiting, he wasn't running.' They took him to the vet and Molly recalled that while waiting outside, she could 'tell something was wrong', adding Mr Chai was 'wriggling' and said dogs 'almost know when they are about to die'. Molly-Mae said 30 minutes later, the vet rang and informed them Mr Chai had had a seizure and died. 'We were both utterly shocked', she explained. 'Tommy literally just threw up everywhere'. 'You do not need a puppy from that far away!' Love Island's Olivia Buckland urged her followers not to support 'third-party breeders' or buy dogs from other countries A representative of Molly-Mae and Tommy confirmed Mr Chai had died of 'a seizure and neurological issues.' A statement read: 'Chai died of a seizure and neurological issues. This probably relating to the puppies skull not being fully formed (see note on anterior fontanelle below). 'Chai passed away with a number of health issues outlined below and the puppy clearly was not at full health and potentially had been carrying an infection and fighting it for some time before reaching Molly and Tommy.' It then listed a number of ailments the dog suffered from, including: 'no white blood cells present in blood, anterior fontanelle not completely ossified, body condition 3/5, liver congested, spleen enlarged congested, adrenal glands enlarged, kidneys congested, colon congested, lungs congested and Heart right ventricle dilated.' With hairdressers having been closed for nearly three months, Nadia Sawalha decided it was time to take matters into her own hands on Tuesday. The Loose Women presenter, 55, took to Instagram to share a snap of her unruly lockdown hair, telling her followers it was time to dye her grey roots. A make-up free Nadia looked a little skeptical about the job in hand in the selfie and said she was prompted dye her hair after a friend said it 'looks rank'. Makeover: With hairdressers having been closed for nearly three months, Nadia Sawalha decided it was time to take matters into her own hands on Tuesday by dying her roots Nadia wrote: 'Its time ...... Im coming to getcha ROOTs !!!! Hate doing my roots ?? I cant get round the back ! I skip the colour everywhere and I miss the chat?!! Anyone else missing the hairdressers ???? Share your pain with me!!! 'My dear friend @lisamejuto gave it to me straight after she watched me on @loosewomen last week Get the back of you hair sorted it looks rank!' DIY job: The Loose Women presenter, 55, took to Instagram to share a snap of her unruly lockdown hair, telling her followers it was time to dye her grey roots (pictured this month) Earlier this month, Nadia revealed she is planning a 'sober' wedding vow renewal in Cornwall. The Loose Women star- who married Mark Adderley in 2002 - had arranged to renew her vows in a romantic ceremony in Greece this year before the coronavirus pandemic hit. The happy couple will now have a ceremony in the UK to celebrate their love and mark her husband's 16 years of sobriety. Double celebration: Earlier this month, Nadia revealed she is planning a 'sober' wedding vow renewal in Cornwall Mark has previously spoken openly about his battle with alcohol addiction, and was caught drink-driving in 2003, leading to a 28 month driving ban and a stint in the Priory. Nadia told The Mirror: 'What we thought we might be able to do is go to Greece and do it in a nice villa on the beach. But I think what we're going to do now is do it in one of our favourite places on earth and that is Cornwall. 'My husband has been 16 years sober, which at weddings can be very, very tough sometimes. So what I want to do is, I want to have a tee-total wedding. I don't want to drink anything.' Nadia - who shares daughters Kiki, 12, and Maddy, 17, with Mark - had asked him to to remarry her during a podcast shortly after Valentine's Day this year, because their original wedding was planned by her mum and sister Dina whilst she was pregnant. Workers remove a statue of John Sutter, a Swiss settler who built the first European settlement on the site of the city of Sacramento, outside Sutter Medical Center on Monday. (Daniel Kim / Sacramento Bee ) A statue of John Sutter, a colonizer of California during the Gold Rush and the founder of Sutter's Fort, was taken down Monday at Sutter Medical Center amid complaints of racism, according to officials. Last week, as monuments were being removed across the globe sometimes forcibly the statue of Sutter was vandalized with red paint , according to reports. Officials decided this week to remove the statue out of respect for some community members viewpoints, and in the interest of public safety for patients and staff, a Sutter Health spokesperson said. There are important conversations happening across the country about the appropriate representation of statues and monuments, and we look forward to listening to and participating in future conversations about how our own community may display artwork from the different communities and individuals that have played important roles in Sacramentos history, a news statement said. The 8-foot-tall statue was created in 1987 and donated to then-Sutter General Hospital by the United Swiss Lodge. The statues inscription noted it was to commemorate a man of vision and compassion. The origins of Sutter Health are linked to John Sutter. Its first hospital was named after neighboring Sutters Fort, which cared for Gold Rush pioneers as Sacramentos first hospital, according to the hospital system. Though much of Sacramento is named after Sutter, he has been a controversial figure for decades. Historians have written about the German-born Swiss immigrant who enslaved hundreds of Native Americans, forcing them to work and defend the territory. A History Channel article called Sutter a shrewd businessman and a key player in the genocide of Native Americans, many of whom he reportedly sexually assaulted. Diana Tumminia, a founding member of Statewide Coalition Against Racist Symbols, said the reinvigoration of the Black Lives Matter movement made the removal of Sutter's statue possible. "For five years we've been planning demonstrations at Sutter's Fort, but [the statue] never actually came [down] because [Sutter] was such a powerful symbol," said Tumminia, a retired professor who taught race relations. "This is a long time coming." The statue will be kept in storage and returned to its original donors at a later date, a Sutter Health spokesperson said. The man arrested in connection with the death of a Black Lives Matter protester and a 75-year-old woman in Florida was out on bail at the time of their killings. Aaron Glee Jr., 49, was identified by police as a suspect after the bodies of Oluwatoyin Salau, 19, and Victoria Sims were found in Tallahassee on Saturday night. Salau was last seen on June 6 in the area of Orange Avenue and Wahnish Way in Tallahassee. On that same day, she shared a series of disturbing tweets about being molested by a black man who offered her a ride. Records show Glee, who has been taken in custody over the killings, is said to have assaulted a woman when she rejected his sexual advances on May 29. He was charged aggravated battery after police say he kicked the woman but released on a $2,500 bond on June 1. Glee reportedly told authorities that he often helps homeless people. He was also charged with battery after an alleged fight over 'racial differences' on May 28. Police have not said whether or not Glee is the same man Salau accused of molesting her on June 6 before she disappeared. It is unclear how Salau, the second victim and Salau are each connected. Aaron Glee Jr., 49, pictured, was identified by police as a suspect after the bodies of Oluwatoyin Salau, 19, and Victoria Sims were found in Tallahassee on Saturday night Black Lives Matter protester, Oluwatoyin Salau, left, 19, was found dead in Florida along with a 75-year-old Victoria Sims, right, after tweeting that she had been sexually assaulted by a man Timeline of the murders of Oluwatoyin Salau and Victoria Sims There are many gaps to fill in surrounding the murders of Oluwatoyin Salau and Victoria Sims beginning on June 6 with the Salau's disappearance. June 6: Richview Road and Park Avenue area Salau shares a series of tweets Saturday afternoon accusing a man of molesting her at his home earlier in the morning around 5.30am. At 4.40pm, Salau sent her last tweet. June 6: Last sighting of Salau Salau was last seen in the area of Orange Avenue and Wahnish Way. June 9/10: Tallahassee Police Department announces Salau as missing person In a statement drafted on June 9 but shared on Facebook by the department on June 10, police urged the public to report any sightings of Salau to the department's Special Victims Unit. The statement said Salau could be in the area of Jakes and Patterson Street. June 8 - June 14: Salau's name trends on social media for a week Salau's name continued to trend on social media as people called on police to investigate her disappearance. June 11: Victoria Sims reported missing Sims was first reported missing on June 11. She was last seen on Blairstone Road, near Monday Road, driving a Toyota Camry. June 13: Missing person alert for Victoria Sims is issued at 8.50pm Authorities issued a missing person alert for Sims. June 13: Police find two bodies while following up on missing persons case Authorities discovered two bodies around 9.15pm in the 2100 block of Monday Road. June 14: Police arrest suspect Authorities announced on social media that they arrested a suspect believed to connected to the murders of both women. June 15: Identities confirmed Police confirm the victims as Salau and Sims. No other details about their murders have been released. Authorities also identified the suspect as Aaron Glee Jr, 49. Advertisement Police said Salau was last seen on June 6 in the area of Orange Avenue and Wahnish Way in Tallahassee. On that same day, she shared a series of disturbing tweets about being molested by a black man who offered her a ride. 'Anyways I was molested in Tallahassee, Florida by a black man this morning at 5:30 on Richview and Park Ave. 'The man offered to give me a ride to find someplace to sleep and recollect my belongings from a church I refuged to a couple days back to escape unjust living conditions,' Salau tweeted. She said the man, who she described to be in his mid-40s, 'came disguised as a man of God and ended up picking me up from nearby Saxon Street'. 'I entered his truck only because I carry anything to defend myself not even a phone (which is currently at the church) and I have poor vision. I trusted the holy spirit to keep me safe,' she wrote. 'When we arrived at his house he offered me a shower and I thanked him and shower and he gave me a change of clothes. 'He exposed himself to me by peeing with the bathroom open obviously knowing I was out of it. I told him about a sexual assault situation that happened...' Several people took to Twitter early Monday morning and started sharing the '#RIP Toyin' hashtag. The hashtag came after Tallahassee police reported finding two bodies on Monday Road around 9.15pm Saturday night. 'TPD investigators arrived in 2100 block of Monday Road in the course of a follow up investigation in a missing person case. During the course of the investigation, two deceased people were located in the area,' police said in a press release. Police identified Sims as the second victim after issuing a missing person alert for her Saturday night. She had been missing since June 11 and was last seen driving along Blairstone Road. AARP Florida also announced her death on Facebook and Twitter on Sunday evening. 'AARP Florida deeply regrets the death of Vicki Sims, a long-time AARP volunteer. We understand that the Tallahassee Police Department is pursuing an investigation into her death,' the group wrote. According to the organization which is 'dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older' Sims is survived by two daughters, Brenda and June, and several grandchildren. She was a member of the Tallahassee Heights United Methodist Church. Sims retired several years ago from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. 'Vicki worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others as a dedicated advocate for older Americans; a committed volunteer for AARP, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Big Bend and other community causes; a devoted mother and grandmother; and a passionate, fully engaged citizen, helping our nation to achieve its highest ideals. 'Her life is an example of the great principle laid out by AARP's founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus -- 'to serve, not to be served'.' Just hours before she went missing on June 6, Salau shared on Twitter that she had been molested by a man earlier that morning She said the man, who she described to be in his mid-40s, 'came disguised as a man of God and ended up picking me up from nearby Saxon Street' Salau had tweeted about telling the man she accused of molesting her about another man who 'tried to force me to give him oral sex and then continued to harass me thru text and knocking at my door for days'. 'Going back to the situation that happened to me this morning, I did not fall asleep. 'He then asked me if I wanted a massage at this moment his roommate who was in the house was asleep. I was laying on my stomach trying to calm myself down from severe ptsd. He started touching- 'My back and rubbing my body using my body until he climaxed and then went to sleep. Before I realized what happened to me I looked over and his clothes were completely off. Once I saw he was asleep I escaped from the house and started walking from Richview Road to anywhere else. 'All of my belongings my phone my clothes shoes are all assumably at the church where I've been trying to track since I sought spiritual guidance/ refuge. I will not be silent. 'Literally wearing this man's clothes right now DNA all over me because I couldn't locate his house the moment I called the police because I couldn't see.' Under her thread, several people asked Salau if she was safe and even offered help, but she never responded. Just hours after posting the tweets, Salau disappeared. Several people took to Twitter early Monday morning and started sharing the '#RIP Toyin' hashtag Police have not said whether or not Glee is the same man Salau accused of molesting her on June 6 before she disappeared Salau was vocal in the Black Lives Matter protests that that broke out in the wake of George Floyd's death on May 25. In a video, shared on Twitter, Salau recently spoke at a protest. 'Can't nobody silence me. It's not that all lives don't matter, but right now our lives matter. Black Lives Matter. 'Black trans lives matter,' Salau said in the video, referring to the recent death of black trans man, Tony McDade, who was shot dead by police in Tallahassee. 'We're doing this for him, we're doing this for our brothers and sisters who got shot [and] for every black person because at the end of the day, I cannot take my f**king skin color off. Everywhere I f**king go, I'm profiled whether I like it or not.' Police identified Sims (left) as the second victim. AARP Florida announced her death on Facebook and Twitter Sunday night Salau's statements were met with applause and cheers from dozens of people standing behind and around her. It's unclear when exactly that protest took place. She was also vocal about racism and police brutality on Twitter. In a May 31 tweet, Salau wrote: 'If you're Black trying to silence other black voices please stay tf home there is no negotiating with racism. No Justice no justice no peace.' Tallahassee police have not released any other details surrounding the case. It's unclear if the two women were targeted by Glee. An investigation is ongoing. Tiling retailer Floor & Decor has opened a new superstore at Elizabeth Center. A grand opening was held June 11, an employee told NJ Advance Media. The 98,000-square-foot store is located at 900 Ikea Dr. in Elizabeth, right off Exit 13A on the NJ Turnpike. Floor & Decor, which doubles as a showroom and offers warehouse pricing, replaces the shuttered Toys 'R' Us and Big Lots buildings in the Elizabeth Center. They were joint tenants. Other tenants located in the shopping center are Ikea and Raymour & Flanigan, which opened last year, replacing the vacant RexPlex. Floor & Decor is allowing in-store shopping at all of its New Jersey locations. The company says it is practicing social distancing guidelines, monitoring the number of customers and encouraging everyone to wear a face mask, or requiring where mandated by local order. There are currently three other Floor & Decor stores in New Jersey: Moorestown, Paramus and Wayne. RELATED STORIES ABOUT RETAIL: U.S. retail sales: See how major chains have been impacted by coronavirus Fathers Day 2020: Gift cards you can send via email Face mask options to wear in the summer heat, reasonably priced and available Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Nicolette Accardi can be reached at naccardi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Tuesday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available. 9:30 p.m.: Even as Mexico announced plans for reopening churches and religious events, the country posted near-record numbers of newly confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday. The countrys health department reported that confirmed cases rose by 4,599, the second-highest daily increase to date, to reach an accumulated total of 154,863, while deaths rose by 730, the third-highest daily confirmation number. Both case and death total which now stands at 18,310 are clearly undercounts, because Mexico does very little testing. Health care professionals now account for about 24 per cent of Mexico's cases; 32,388 doctors, nurses and technicians have been infected, and 463 have died. On Tuesday, the Interior Department published guidelines for reopening religious activities and churches, which had been ordered closed. in about half the country, churches will be allowed to open at 25 per cent of capacity; once case numbers and hospital saturation and other indicators fall, that capacity will be allowed to rise to 50 per cent. 9:25 p.m.: Arkansas attorney general on Tuesday sued Missouri-based TV pastor Jim Bakker over his promotion of a product falsely touted as a cure for the illness caused by the coronavirus. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed the lawsuit in Arkansas against Bakker and Morningside Church Productions, less than three months after the state of Missouri filed a similar lawsuit. Rutledges lawsuit says 385 Arkansans made purchases from Bakkers company totalling approximately $60,524 for colloidal silver, a product often sold on the internet as a dietary supplement. Jim Bakker has exploited Arkansas consumers by leveraging COVID-19 fears to sell over $60,000 worth of their products that do nothing to fight the virus, Rutledge said in a statement released by her office. Bakker was convicted of fraud in 1989 and served several years in prison. 7:27 p.m.: A new report released by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention finds that people with underlying health conditions are 12 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than people who have none. In its latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC analyzed coronavirus infections and deaths from the beginning of the pandemic until the end of May. The CDC data analyzed cases from Jan. 22 until May 30 and found that people with underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, were hospitalized six times more often than otherwise healthy patients and died 12 times as often. About 45 per cent of patients with known reported underlying conditions were hospitalized, compared with 7.6 per cent of patients with none reported. 6:09 p.m.: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. extended a suspension of global cruising through the end of September, dashing the stock markets hopes for a return to service months after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the industry. The company said the few exceptions were Seattle-based Alaska cruises set to sail in September. The company also is cancelling some voyages in October, including Canada and New England trips. Cruise stocks had been staging a remarkable recovery in recent weeks on prospects that the industrywide shutdown could come to an end as soon as August. But a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in places such as South Florida, home of the worlds largest cruise port, could be weighing on prospects for a return. 5:45 p.m.: Ontario has once again seen fewer than 200 new COVID-19 cases amid a steep fall in infections, according to the Stars latest count. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the provinces regional health units had reported a total of 34,418 confirmed and probable cases, including 2,595 deaths, up a total of 187 new cases in 24 hours the second day in the last three with fewer than 200 new cases, down again after a brief jump Monday. Before the recent downturn, the last day in which the units reported fewer than 200 cases was March 26, back in the early days of rapid case growth before the COVID-19 epidemic first peaked in the province. As has been the case in recent weeks, the overwhelming majority of new COVID-19 infections in Ontario continue to occur in the GTA; just 56 of Tuesdays cases outside in the regions five health units. But the rate of new cases is also falling sharply in the Toronto area. On Tuesday, Toronto Public Health reported fewer than 100 new cases for the fifth consecutive day. Meanwhile, the 16 new fatal cases reported since Monday evening was up slightly from a downward trend that has seen the rate of deaths fall from a peak of 90 deaths in a single day, seen in early May. Earlier Tuesday, the province reported that 413 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19, including 98 in intensive care, of whom 70 are on a ventilator. Those numbers have also have fallen sharply since early May. The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of total deaths 2,538 may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date. The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test. 5:32 p.m.: Brazil reported a record number of daily cases from coronavirus as the pandemic continues to rage across Latin Americas largest nation. The country, which trails only the U.S. in cases and deaths, reported 34,918 new cases, bringing the number of infections to 923,189. The data compiled by Brazilian states also showed 1,282 new fatalities, pushing the total toll to 45,241. The pandemic shows no signs of wavering as cases that were concentrated in capitals and the Southeast have spread inland and to poorer regions of the country of 210 million people. At the same time, several states and cities have started to lift quarantine orders in the past few weeks, sparking concern about a new wave of infections. Estimates from PUC University in Rio de Janeiro show cases will likely surpass 1.3 million by late June, with more than 60,000 deaths. 4:59 p.m.: The City of Toronto on Tuesday afternoon reported 82 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, as well as seven new deaths and 97 new recoveries. The 70 new cases tallied as reported on June 14 would make it the slowest day for new cases since April 5, barring a late arrival of improperly recorded cases discovered on Monday. Active cases in the city, recently passed over for entering Stage 2 of the provinces reopening, drop by 22 and now stand at 1,315. 4:28 p.m.: The Bold and the Beautiful plans to resume production Wednesday, becoming the first network scripted show to start shooting again after the long layoff brought on by the coronavirus. The popular CBS daytime drama consistently among the top-rated soaps on television will begin production again at CBS Television City in Los Angeles with strict COVID-19 protocols in place as mandated by the state and county, the shows publicist Eva Basler said Tuesday. California and Los Angeles County officials gave a conditional go-ahead for productions to resume starting June 12. The shows safeguards include an independent COVID-19 co-ordinator on the set, regular testing of everyone involved in production, a staggered and minimized crew, and the requirement of masks and social distance for all except actors when the cameras are rolling. The show has not yet announced when the first new episode will air. Its the first network scripted show, and among the first scripted shows of any kind, to resume shooting after the months-long halt in production across the industry. 3:57 p.m.: Saskatchewan is doubling its limit on indoor gatherings to 30 people. The province says the change is to take effect on Monday and only applies to situations in which people can maintain two metres of physical distancing. The province also plans to allow day camps, outdoor pools and sports for kids to go ahead on Monday. Saskatchewan is reporting one new case of COVID-19 in Saskatoon, bringing the provinces total to 684. Of those cases, 40 are considered active and many of them are in the far north. 3:27 p.m.: On Tuesday, Chile announced 5,013 new cases, bringing total infections to 184,449 and said a further 31,412 previously unreported cases would be added in the next few days. That would take its infection rate well above 10,000 per million people, more than any other country besides Qatar. Some 3,383 people have died. Two months ago, Chile was admired for its surgical approach to the pandemic testing widely and quarantining by neighbourhood. Today it has among the worlds highest rates of per-capita infections and its once-praised health minister has been forced to resign. Initial assessments suggest that Chile followed the lead of wealthy nations only to realize once again that a large percentage of its citizens are poor, an echo of last years disconnect between government and nation when a subway fare increase led to massive riots. There are areas of Santiago where I had no awareness of the magnitude of poverty and overcrowding, Jaime Manalich, the health minister who quit on Saturday, told a local TV station on May 28. It came as no surprise to everyday Chileans who have long complained about the divide between the foreign-educated elites who run the government and the rest of the society. 3:12 p.m.: Quebec plans to have all elementary and high school students back in the classroom this fall with a backup plan should the number of COVID-19 cases spike, the provinces education minister said Tuesday. Jean-Francois Roberge said the province has the green light from health officials for elementary and high schools to open at full capacity, with distancing and sanitary measures in place. Roberge said it is important for students to return to a classroom environment. A lot of specialists and pediatricians say of course, the virus is dangerous, but not going to school is dangerous too, Roberge said. Its dangerous for our success rate, its dangerous for the kids, its dangerous for their mental health. 2:03 p.m.: School will be back in-person in New Brunswick for the fall with some adjustments and Saint John parents have mixed feelings. Minister of Education Dominic Cardy announced the plan at a press conference on June 12, and said while younger grades will be put in bubbles of 15 people, high school students will stagger their schooling and go to school every other day. Temperature checks will most likely be implemented. Gyms or other rooms that arent typically classrooms may have to be used to ensure physical distancing. There will also be staggered start times. Transportation to and from school is one of the last pieces of the puzzle, he said. Patty Hebert, whose daughter and son attend Princess Elizabeth School, is concerned that the governments plans arent taking into consideration the inability for younger students to physical distance and keep clean, even in smaller classes. They are not going to think like older students would, she said. All it takes is one person to be infected. 1:55 p.m.: Cases of the coronavirus in prisons and jails across the United States have soared in recent weeks, even as the overall daily infection rate in the nation has remained relatively flat. The number of prison inmates known to be infected has doubled during the past month to more than 68,000. Prison deaths tied to the coronavirus have also risen, by 73% since mid-May. By now, the five largest known clusters of the virus in the United States are not at nursing homes or meatpacking plants, but inside correction institutions, according to data The New York Times has been collecting about confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic reached U.S. shores. And the risk of more cases appears imminent: The swift growth in virus cases behind bars comes as demonstrators arrested as part of large police brutality protests have often been placed in crowded holding cells in local jails. 1:30 p.m.: Prince Edward Island has announced an exemption that will allow Canadians with family in need of support to travel to the Island on compassionate grounds. Dr. Heather Morrison, the provinces chief public health officer, says applications will be open later today for the new family support category. Morrison says the category includes travel for emotional and psychological support, personal care, respite care, home support and child care. She says the new set of applications will be processed as quickly as possible over the next two to three weeks. Morrison says applicants will have to prove their visit will provide needed and welcome support to a family member in P.E.I., including a parent, child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent. People who travel to the Island will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. P.E.I. has already opened its borders to seasonal residents from other parts of the country. 1:18 p.m.: New Brunswick is reporting three new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 163. Public Health says all three cases are in the Campbellton region, known as Zone 5, in the north of the province. They include a person in their 20s and two people in their 50s. Two of the cases are health-care employees at the Campbellton Regional Hospital and the other is linked to a close contact of a case. 1:05 p.m.: An executive board member of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee says another delay should be sought if the games cant be held next year. The Tokyo Olympics were to be held this year but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The suggestion comes from Haruyuki Takahashi in an interview published Tuesday in the Japanese sports newspaper Nikkan Sports. The main priority is to make a united effort to hold them (Olympics) in the summer of 2021, Takahashi said. He said if that is not possible we should start action once again to get another delay. 12:47 p.m.: The Scarborough hospital system is taking over the troubled Extendicare Guildwood nursing home that has lost almost one-third of its 169 residents to COVID-19 in a continuing outbreak. A management agreement will see the Scarborough Health Network, which has been supporting the long-term care facility with infection control and staff since mid-April, take further steps to stabilize care. Local Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough-Guildwood) applauded the move but said it should have happened much sooner with a provincial takeover order that sends hospitals in to run a home for 90 days. The measure is long overdue for the 54 residents who have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the home and their loved ones. Read the full story from the Stars Rob Ferguson here. 12:35 p.m.: The City of Windsor says it is expanding an isolation centre to help migrant workers who have tested positive for COVID-19. The city council has voted to expand an isolation and recovery centre it initially created to help its homeless population. Mayor Drew Dilkins says the measure will help address logistical issues created as the region ramps up testing among migrant workers. Dozens of migrant workers in Windsor-Essex have tested positive for COVID-19 and two have died. 12:30 p.m.: Premier Doug Ford announces new COVID-19 safety guide, a tool kit for businesses, employees and customers as more businesses reopen. The premier also encouraged everyone to shop local and plan local vacations to help the economy recover. 12:23 p.m.: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that the U.S. Open tennis tournament will held in late August as part of the states reopening from shutdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Tennis Association had decided to go forward with its marquee event in New York City without spectators, pending an OK from the state. Like many sports leagues, the professional tennis tours have been suspended since March because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Were excited about the U.S. Open, (which) is going to be held in Queens, Aug. 31 through Sept. 13. It will be held without fans, but you can watch it on TV and Ill take that, Cuomo said at his daily briefing in Albany. The tennis authorities are going to be taking extraordinary precautions, but thats going to take place. 12:13 p.m.: Germany called on its citizens to download a delayed app designed to help prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus, betting that civic duty is enough to get people to use the software and rejecting criticism that it will be ineffective. The goal for the new tracing app a joint project between telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom AG and software developer SAP SE is to help break infection chains early and allow the country to manage the return to normality more effectively. 12:00 p.m.: Torontos bid to become a hub city for the NHLs return to play this summer got a huge boost on Tuesday, backed by the federal and provincial governments. We have indicated that we are comfortable with moving forward on an NHL hub in one of three Canadian cities that asking for it, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in his daily briefing. Obviously the decision needs to be made by the NHL and the cities and the provinces in the jurisdiction. Canada is open to it as long as it is okay by the local health authorities. Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver are all hoping to be one of two hub cities that will host 12 teams of the 24 teams that remain alive in an expanded playoff format that is the result of the season being paused on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read the full story from the Stars Kevin McGran here. 11:53 a.m.: Scientists at the University of Oxford said Tuesday that they had identified what they called the first drug proven to reduce coronavirus-related deaths, after a 6,000-patient trial in Britain showed that a low-cost steroid prevented the deaths of some hospitalized patients. The steroid, dexamethasone, a well-known anti-inflammatory drug, appeared to help patients with severe cases of the virus: It reduced deaths by a third in patients receiving ventilation, and by a fifth in patients receiving standard oxygen treatment, the scientists said. They found no benefit from the drug for patients who did not need respiratory support. Read more about the drug here. 11:22 a.m.: Ontarios regional health units continue to report their lowest sustained period of new COVID-19 cases in months, according to the Stars latest count. Ontario saw an average of 231 cases reported in the last seven days, the lowest for any seven-day period since March and down more than 60 per cent from an average of nearly 600 cases a day reported in mid-April. As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, the health units had reported a total of 34,270 confirmed and probable cases, including 2,579 deaths up a total of 236 new cases since the same time Monday morning. Meanwhile, the six new fatal cases reported in the last 24 hours is also in line with a downward trend that has seen the rate of deaths fall from a peak of 90 deaths in a single day, seen in early May. Earlier Monday, the province reported that 413 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19, including 98 in intensive care, of whom 70 are on a ventilator. Those numbers have also have fallen sharply since early May. The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of total deaths 2,538 may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date. The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test. 11:13 a.m. (updated): Quebec is reporting 27 additional deaths linked to COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 5,269. The number of confirmed infections in the past 24 hours was 92, bringing the total confirmed cases to 54,146. The number of hospitalizations dropped to 718 while the number of patients in intensive care dropped to 77. Meanwhile, the Quebec government announced today it plans to have all elementary and high schools reopen this fall. Education Minister Jean-Francois Roberge says junior colleges and universities will be able to offer hybrid classes. 11:10 a.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his governments signature benefit for people whose jobs have vanished amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be extended by eight weeks. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit pays up to $500 a week and was slated to last 16 weeks starting in mid-March, meaning that people who signed up for it immediately would soon run out. Trudeau says the economy is recovering from the mass closures ordered to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus but theres a long way to go. Extending the CERB has been a demand from the New Democrats in exchange for the partys support for the minority Liberals in an upcoming confidence vote. The prime minister also announced the Canada-U.S. border will remain mostly closed for at least another month, until July 21. To try to limit the spread of COVID-19 between the two countries, they have limited crossings to essential workers and trade since March 21. The restrictions have been extended twice already, for 30 days at a time. 10:48 a.m.: Stage 2 of Ontarios economic recovery plan contains numerous guidance documents for sectors cleared to resume or expand their operations. The guidance prepared for restaurants and bars states that both singing and dancing are banned in the outdoor seating areas where customers are currently allowed to gather in limited numbers. Documents state singing is also banned in child-care settings and discouraged in places of worship that were given the green light to open their doors across Ontario last week. 10:36 a.m.: A shortage of election workers because of coronavirus concerns has Alaska officials searching for solutions and warning the state could close some polling sites. The shortage is particularly severe in Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, The Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday. Alaska communities have up to three forthcoming elections. The statewide primary is set for Aug. 18, while municipal elections across much of the state, excluding Anchorage, will be Oct. 6. The national general election will be held Nov. 3. Two months before the statewide primary, none of the states House districts have enough election workers. 10:27 a.m.: Spoiler alert: 2020 has been rough on the American psyche. Folks in the U.S. are more unhappy today than theyve been in nearly 50 years. This bold yet unsurprising conclusion comes from the COVID Response Tracking Study, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago. It finds that just 14% of American adults say theyre very happy, down from 31% who said the same in 2018. That year, 23% said theyd often or sometimes felt isolated in recent weeks. Now, 50% say that. 10:22 a.m.: Researchers on Tuesday announced the first drug shown to reduce deaths among severely ill coronavirus patients, offering hope even as infection rates rose in Africa and Asia, and there were worrisome upticks of contagion in countries that had largely contained the virus. The cheap, widely available steroid, called dexamethasone, reduced deaths by 35% in patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20% in those only needing supplemental oxygen, the researches said in England. It did not appear to help less ill patients. This is an extremely welcome result, one study leader, Peter Horby of the University of Oxford, said in a statement. The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients. Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide. 10:06 a.m.: A survey conducted in Italy on the psychological impact of coronavirus lockdowns on children has quantified what many parents observed during weeks cooped up at home: kids were more irritable, had trouble sleeping and for some of the youngest, wept inconsolably and regressed developmentally. Those symptoms were more pronounced in families in which the parents were particularly stressed and in families with elderly relatives at high risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, the national survey by the Giannina Gaslini Pediatric Hospital in Genoa in conjunction with the University of Genoa found. 9:41 a.m.: The parliamentary budget officer says new spending estimates tabled by the Trudeau Liberals dont provide a complete picture of how much the government will spend on COVID-19-related aid. The supplementary spending estimates detail roughly $81 billion in already approved spending and about $6 billion more in measures MPs are set to vote on. But budget officer Yves Giroux notes in a report this morning that a number of measures promised by the government arent included because they dont come out of whats known as the consolidated revenue fund. Left out of the estimates are cost details on the $45-billion wage subsidy program delivered through the tax system, and a loan program to small- and medium-sized businesses that will open applications to a wider number of companies on Friday. 9:34 a.m.: Peel police have confirmed they are investigating allegations of abuse at Camilla Care Centre, a long-term health care (LTC) centre in Mississauga. We were contacted in regards to allegations of abuse at a long-term health care centre in Mississauga, Const. Danny Marttini confirmed. It is being investigated. There is no additional information at this time. Camilla Care has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 deaths of any LTC in Ontario, with 67 recorded resident deaths as of June 15. Weeks ago, the province announced it would be taking control of four LTCs that were the subject of a scathing Canadian Forces report. Camilla Care, which did not get visited by the military, was chosen as the fifth LTC to be taken under provincial control. Despite this, Camilla has declared its COVID-19 outbreak, which began on March 30, over as of June 7. 9:14 a.m.: If you shopped at the Home Depot at Highway 7 and Yonge Street in Richmond Hill between May 30 and June 9, you may have been exposed to COVID-19, York Region Public Health says. The health department is investigating 14 Home Depot employees who tested positive for COVID-19 at the store located at 50 Red Maple Dr. While the risk to the general public is deemed low, anyone who visited this location and interacted with employees closer than two metres for more than 10 minutes is advised to seek testing at one of the regions three assessment centres and self-monitor for 14 days after you visited the store, watching for symptoms of COVID-19. 8:55 a.m.: The wife of Ukrainain President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been hospitalized with double pneumonia after contracting the new coronavirus, joining the ranks of several first ladies around the world who got infected with COVID-19 earlier this year. Zelenskiys office said in a statement Tuesday that Olena Zelenskas condition was stable and the president himself and the couples children tested negative for the virus on Monday. Zelenska, 42, said she tested positive for the virus on Friday. In an Instagram post that day, she said she felt good, was receiving outpatient treatment and isolated herself from her family in order not to put them in danger. Zelenskiy, also 42, has limited his contacts to a very small circle of people and started conducting meetings and talks via teleconference, but continued going to the office, as some of his duties cant be fulfilled remotely, the presidents spokeswoman Yuliia Mendel told the Ukrainska Pravda news outlet. 8:39 a.m.: Provinces have been releasing plans for easing restrictions that were put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. From gyms and movie theatres in Alberta to restaurants and bars in Saskatchewan, here is what some of the provinces have announced so far. 8:14 a.m.: Merchant ship crew members stranded at sea for months due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions could now start refusing to further extend their contracts and stop working, potentially disrupting global trade, the International Transport Workers Federation said late Monday. The ITF, a global federation of transport workers unions, said in a statement it would now assist hundreds of thousands of seafarers to exercise their right to stop working, leave ships, and return home. With more than 80% of global trade by volume transported by sea, the worlds more than 2 million merchant seafarers play a vital role in keeping countries supplied with everything from raw materials and fuel to food and consumer goods. But lockdowns and travel restrictions imposed by countries across the world to curb the spread of the new coronavirus are preventing crew members who have reached the end of their contracts from leaving the ships and returning home. Many have been on board, without the possibility of setting foot on land even briefly, for several months beyond their original contracts. 7:45 a.m.: There are 99,147 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada (including 8,175 deaths, 61,042 resolved) as of 4 a.m. on June 16, according to The Canadian Press. Note: The Star compiles its own numbers for Ontario, which were posted at the 11:22 a.m. time slot. Quebec: 54,146 confirmed (including 5,269 deaths, 22,213 resolved) Alberta: 7,453 confirmed (including 151 deaths, 6,862 resolved) British Columbia: 2,745 confirmed (including 168 deaths, 2,395 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,061 confirmed (including 62 deaths, 996 resolved) Saskatchewan: 683 confirmed (including 13 deaths, 629 resolved) Manitoba: 293 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 292 resolved), 11 presumptive _ Newfoundland and Labrador: 261 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 257 resolved) New Brunswick: 163 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 131 resolved) Prince Edward Island: 27 confirmed (including 27 resolved) Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved) Yukon: 11 confirmed (including 11 resolved) Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved) Nunavut: No confirmed cases 6:35 a.m.: Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister Dr. John Haggie sings a familiar refrain each week when asked about changes in public health policy on COVID-19 from one day to the next: There is no playbook. Its a point stressed by health officials across the country and around the world as new information continues to develop about the deadly strain of coronavirus that has already killed more than 8,000 Canadians. Perhaps the most striking change of policy in Canada came Friday, when the federal government announced airports will start testing airline passengers for fever as part of its multipronged screening process. The practice of taking temperatures at borders during a pandemic has been used before, but its effectiveness is hotly debated. Canadas chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, rejected the idea in the past and she had good reason to. She was one of the authors of a 2005 study that examined the results of temperature screening for the SARS virus during the 2003 outbreak. Despite costing millions, the program didnt detect a single case. Newfoundland and Labrador Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald is also skeptical. The evidence on temperature screening is not unanimous, so there is still some debate as to the effectiveness of using such measures, she said last week. 5:54 a.m.: Outside a back door to a New York hospital where the coronavirus hit like a hurricane, a half-dozen staffers gathered recently to look back, and look inward. I am still scared, Dr. Gwen Hooley told her colleagues at Elmhurst Hospital, which was swamped with patients in late March as the virus rampaged through New York. Physicians assistant Diane Akhbari recalled her husband leaving food on the cellar stairs while she isolated herself for months for fear of infecting her family: I felt like an animal, she said, her voice cracking. Co-workers talked about how terrifying it felt early on, not knowing whether theyd have enough protective gear. How one endured his own case of COVID-19 and others saw young and healthy people like themselves get critically sick. How colleagues discussed drawing up wills. And how haunting it is to think it may all happen again. 5 a.m.: Shutting down a broad range of Albertas environmental monitoring over pandemic fears wasnt necessary, says the head of a group responsible for such work. Most monitoring could have been done safely, says Jay White, president of the licence-granting Alberta Society of Professional Biologists. Were trained to deal with dangerous, toxic biological hazards in our day-to-day work, White said Monday. The virus is no different. Albertas own chief scientist says he wasnt consulted before the government temporarily shut down much land, air and water-monitoring requirements in the oil and gas industry in what it said was an attempt to keep workers and communities safe from COVID-19. It should have been up to the people who actually do the work to decide how safe it is, White said. 3:32 a.m.: A new water park in the Smoky Mountains foothills of Tennessee is preparing to open to visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 50-acre Soaky Mountain Waterpark in Sevierville said its slated to open June 27, with preview days on June 25 and 26 for guests of Wilderness at the Smokies and season pass holders. Masks will be optional in the park and not allowed in or on water attractions. Social distancing requirements and other precautions will be in place. 1:44 a.m.: China increased testing and lockdown measures in parts of the capital Tuesday to control what appeared to be its largest coronavirus outbreak in more than two months. The 40 new cases reported Tuesday included 27 in Beijing, bringing the citys total to 106 since Friday. Many of the recent cases have been linked to Beijings Xinfadi wholesale market and authorities have been testing market workers, anyone who visited the market in the past two weeks and anyone who came into contact with either group. Fresh meat and seafood in the city and elsewhere in China was also being inspected on the unlikely chance that was how the virus spread. Monday 10:40 p.m.: Mexico wont send any more temporary foreign workers to Canada until it has more clarity on why two died due to COVID-19, the countrys ambassador to Canada said Monday. That means as many as 5,000 temporary foreign workers expected to arrive in Canada in the coming months are being held back, for now. Its so we can reassess with the federal authorities, provinces and farmers why this happened and if there is anything to correct, Juan Jose Gomez Camacho said in an interview. The two men one died this month and the other in late May were employed by different farms in the Windsor, Ont., area, a farming heartland in southwestern Ontario that has seen ongoing outbreaks. The outbreaks were cited Monday as the reason Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the region cant follow in the footsteps of others and loosen restrictions designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Monday 9:30 p.m: British Columbias COVID-19 restrictions are under further review this week, but the limit on gatherings to a maximum of 50 people will not change, says provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. Henry said Monday she is pleased with the results of B.C.s reopening for schools and some businesses, but there is no official date for moving into the next phase, other than it is being considered this week. Maybe, she said at a news conference when asked about moving to the third phase this week. Were continuing to watch, looking at the numbers. But, you know, its not yes, were in phase three. Its a gradual increase of the things that were doing. Monday 8:55 p.m.: The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority, the provincial agency that governs Ontarios retirement homes, has issued an order to revoke the licence of Rosslyn Retirement Residence, the site of Hamiltons worst COVID-19 outbreak. The Rosslyn is owned and operated by members of the Martino families, which also operate seven other retirement homes and residential care facilities in Hamilton, along with the Greycliff Manor retirement home in Niagara Falls. Brothers Aldo Martino and the late John Martino previously owned the Royal Crest Lifecare chain of care homes until it collapsed into bankruptcy in 2003, leaving Ontario taxpayers on the hook for $18 million. Fourteen residents of Rosslyn have died from the outbreak and more than 60 residents had to be hospitalized when the home was evacuated on May 15. A Hamilton Spectator investigation last week revealed horrifying conditions and alleged mismanagement at the home. Former staff members and families of former residents of the Rosslyn made shocking allegations of chronic problems with rodent and bedbug infestations, understaffing, poor living conditions, and a lack of proper care for residents with dementia. Monday 7:24 p.m.: After seeing fewer than 200 new COVID-19 cases for the first time in more than two months on Sunday, Ontarios regional health units reported a slight bump in cases Monday, according to the Stars latest count. As of 5 p.m. Monday, the health units had reported a total of 34,231 confirmed and probable cases, including 2,582 deaths, up a total of 211 new cases in 24 hours up 32 cases from the previous day. Before Sunday, the last day with fewer than 200 new reported cases was March 26, back in the early days of rapid case growth before the COVID-19 epidemic first peaked in the province. As has been the case in recent weeks, the overwhelming majority of new COVID-19 infections in Ontario continue to occur in the GTA; just 62 of the 211 cases reported Monday came outside in the regions five health units. But the rate of new cases is also falling sharply in the Toronto area. On Monday, Toronto Public Health reported fewer than 100 new cases for the fourth straight day. Before that streak, all but one of the previous 66 consecutive days had seen more than 100 reported infections. Meanwhile, the 11 new fatal cases reported since Sunday evening is also in line with a downward trend that has seen the rate of deaths fall from a peak of 90 deaths in a single day, seen in early May. Earlier Monday, the province reported that 419 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19, including 104 in intensive care, of whom 69 are on a ventilator. Those numbers have also have fallen sharply since early May. The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. Monday 4:21 p.m. The Ontario government is proposing all health units begin collecting race-based data on COVID-19. The province announced the change today after saying earlier this month it was considering the move. The health minister says the government has made the proposal after requests from community leaders and public health experts. Monday 1:04 p.m. All regions of Ontario except for Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex will be in Stage 2 of the provinces phased reopening plan as of Friday. Most areas of the province were allowed to enter the second stage last Friday, except for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, some regions that border the United States and those with COVID-19 outbreaks among migrant workers. Premier Doug Ford announced today that the regions that can join them this Friday are: Durham, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton, Lambton, Niagara and York. Read More from the Stars Queens Park Bureau Chief, Robert Benzie: Province easing COVID-19 restrictions in Durham, York and Hamilton, but Toronto and Peel will have to wait Read More from the Stars Josh Rubin: Toronto businesses frustrated as neighbours open sooner: If this goes on another month, Ill probably have to close Read more of Mondays coverage. Read more about: TDT |Manama Efforts are being made to enhance cultural cooperation between Bahrain and China. These were discussed in a meeting yesterday between Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) president Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa and Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain Anwar Habibullah. The meeting was held at the National Theatre, which has hosted many Chinese shows, as a result of the great cooperation between BACA and Chinese cultural institutions. Among the topics tackled was the progress of work on the Bahrain Cultural Centre in China, which will serve as a beacon to promote Bahraini civilisation and its cultural features. Shaikha Mai and Ambassador Anwar also discussed strengthening Chinas cultural presence in Bahrain through the establishment of a Chinese Cultural Centre, in addition to the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between the two countries. Shaikha Mai lauded the strong relations between the two countries, stressing that the Kingdom has been and still is an important linking point between various civilisations, which has strengthened its status in the Silk Road project. She noted that despite the circumstances from the coronavirus (COVID-19), cultural communication between Bahrain and China continue through various channels, in order to implement joint cultural projects. Ambassador Anwar expressed his appreciation to Shaikha Mai for her efforts to enrich the cultural movement in Bahrain, and to enhance cultural cooperation with China. He pledged cooperation with BACA in the future to ensure common goals and aspirations. Ambassador Anwar was also delighted by BACAs invitation to take part in the virtual Bahrain Summer Festival in August. Valery Mitko, charged with treason earlier this year, has been one of Russia's most prominent Arctic researchers - Felipe Dana/AP One of Russias best-known Arctic researchers is facing 20 years in prison on charges of treason. Valery Mitko, a 78-year old former naval officer and president of the prominent Russian Arctic Academy, is accused of passing state secrets to China during a trip in 2018, his attorneys said on Wednesday. The elderly man is one of several scientists in recent years to face charges of treason related to routine academic work in what has been described as an intimidation campaign by the Russian intelligence. Mr Mitko, who served in the Navy for 30 years before retiring in 1994, was detained in February this year and charged with treason, according to the lawyers association Team 29 that recently took up his case. The 78-year old scientist who has survived three heart attacks has been granted bail and placed under house arrest. A court in St. Petersburg earlier this month extended his detention until October. Attorney Ivan Pavlov who leads Mr Mitkos defense team says treason cases in Russia are notoriously fraught with abuse by law enforcement. Criminal cases like that represent the quickest career path for police officers, investigators and prosecutors since most of the case files are classified, he said in a statement. The shroud of secrecy makes it extremely difficult to get a fair trial. Charges against Mr Mitko, who was a guest lecturer on hydrophysics at Chinas Dalian Maritime University, relate to his trip to China in 2018. Investigators say that Russian intelligence agents found a document in his luggage with technical details of submarines including a Russian one. Mr Mitko in recent years has been leading the Arctic Academy of Sciences that he co-founded in 2003, shaping Russias policy of tapping the Arctics vast resources. Like in other treason cases, defense attorneys for Mr Mitko say that they have no information about the information deemed a state secret that he was accused of passing to China. Story continues Mr Mitko is at least the third septuagenarian scientist to have been slapped with treason charges in recent years. 76-year old Viktor Kudryavtsev, a prominent researcher at a Russian rocket and spacecraft design institute, was charged in 2018 with passing state secrets about Russias hypersonic weapons to Belgian colleagues via an email. The scientist insists that he was sharing publicly available research. He was released from jail last year after he was diagnosed with lung cancer and now awaits trial. The number of treason cases surged in Russia in the past decade, fed by state media demonizing Western countries, and scientists have made an easy target for the FSB intelligence agency. But while most of the recent treason cases have named EU countries and the U.S. as being anxious to buy Russias secrets, China, Russias ally, has only recently begun to appear in case files as the interested party. Just last week, 79-year old space scientist Vladimir Lapygin was granted early release after serving four years of the seven-year sentence imposed on him in 2016 for passing state secrets about hypersonic aircraft to China. Seeing the suffering and struggle around us, many people want to reach into their wallets and help. For some putting their money where their mouth is becomes a way they can help organizations and movements bring about the change they want to see. Making the decision where to donate is complicated, with thousands of organizations and groups to give to, so how do you decide? Kelsey Gardipee, charity review manager for Better Business Bureau Northwest & Pacific, says, Donating to a cause you support is a great way to help make a difference. To make sure that your donation makes the greatest impact, do a quick bit of research first to ensure that you know who youre donating to. While most that are gathering donations have good intentions, not all groups and organizations are equal in how they distribute and manage the funds you give. Research is vital, so you know how your money will lend support and help. Often, an established charity will have the capacity and experience to address the situation and has a track record that can be evaluated. Gardipee also clarified, BBB accredits charities to help donors find trustworthy organizations to support, but we recognize that there are other avenues out there to support racial equality. When dealing with crowdfunding campaigns, social welfare groups (501(c)34s), and newly formed organizations, youll have to take different steps to verify their accountability before donating. No matter the group or organization you want to support, its vital that your money is used the way you want it to be used. Better Business Bureau gives these tips to donate thoughtfully. Research: Get familiar with the organization and its mission. Visit the organizations official website to learn about their mission and their practices. Visit the official website: The official website will clearly state what forms of donations they accept, and you can find other resources for getting involved. Double check donation method: Paypal, Venmo, and Cash App are easy ways to give, and many social media posts are directing people to use these methods. Before donating, ensure you have the correct account. Check their social media: Some organizations gave received so many donations recently that they recommended people donate to other charities. The most up to date information can usually be found on their social media page. Consult outside sources: Websites like Give.org, Charity Navigator, and Charity Watch can help you decide where to give. Also, charity tax status and financial information is available from the IRS at app.ir.gov/app/eos. While now all organizations are listed, these sources can help you make more informed giving decisions. See if the posting describes how funds will be used. Vague descriptions of how the collected funds will be used should also be a yellow caution light. For example, will the funds be used to assist funeral expenses, medical expenses, reconstruction, or other activities? Thoughtful requests for funding will take the added step of identifying and verifying needs before money is raised. As your heart moves you to help and bring about change, taking the time to ensure your well-intentioned help is going to the right place will help you as an individual feel more confident in your donation and encouraged to donate again. ABOUT BBB WISE GIVING ALLIANCE: BBB Wise Giving Alliance is a standards-based charity evaluator that seeks to verify the trustworthiness of nationally-soliciting charities by completing rigorous evaluations based on 20 holistic standards that address charity governance, effectiveness reporting, finances, fundraising, appeal accuracy, and other issues. Learn more about the 20 BBB Charity Standards and about local charity review at local Better Business Bureaus at Give.org. Jeremy Johnson is the Eastern Idaho marketplace manager for the Better Business Bureau Northwest + Pacific. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PARIS - Workers are preparing the Eiffel Tower for reopening next week, after the coronavirus pandemic led to the iconic Paris landmarks longest closure since World War II. Frances tourism industry is opening back up, but the 324-meter (1,063-feet) tall wrought-iron tower wont immediately welcome visitors the way it did before the country went into lockdown in March. Only limited numbers of people will be allowed in when the Eiffel Tower opens again on June 25. Elevators to the top will be out of service, and only the first and second floors will be accessible to the public. At first, only visits by the stairs will be available, Victoria Klahr, the spokeswoman for the towers management, said Tuesday. Everyone over 11 years old will be required to wear face masks, and crowd control measures will be in place. We are optimistic that visitor numbers will pick up, even if it will likely be local tourists who visit the monument in the first weeks, Klahr said. A stringent cleaning operation is in place and that will continue daily from next week. There is a new protocol. (One) novelty is that the day cleaning teams will be able to clean all the points of contact every two hours, from the opening of the site to its closing, said Eiffel Tower hygiene consultant Alain Miralles. Tourists planning trips to the City of Light are advised to book tickets to visit the Eiffel Tower online. The online ticket office is set to open Thursday. Paris tourism officials have expressed muted optimism about the citys reemergence as a travel destination. Tourism levels have dropped by around 80% compared to the same month in previous years, they say. To visit Paris now is quite exceptional, as we of course dont have many visitors and we dont expect this summer to be at the same level as previous ones, said Corinne Menegaux, the director of Pariss businesses and tourism office. She said the French capital remains welcoming and charming despite all the restrictions still in place. Lets also not forget that Paris is one of the greenest cities around so there are plenty of outdoor activities available that can be done with families, Menegaux said. ___ Oleg Cetinic and Masha Macpherson in Paris contributed. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Hong Kong and Macau Affairs official explicates that the new law will be local to Hong Kong but cases involving acts against national security will be dealt by the central government, while other countries express "deep concerns". Hong Kongs contentious national security law will aid China in muzzling voices of dissent against the Chinese government and, according to a senior official, it will give Beijing jurisdiction over some extremely rare national security cases in Hong Kong. South China Morning Post on Monday cited a senior official saying that Beijing will have jurisdiction over some extremely rare national security cases in Hong Kong under the new law. Beijing has signalled that the new national security law, which has triggered a fresh wave of protests in Hong Kong, needs to be passed quickly following a year of pro-democracy protests. Deng Zhonghua, deputy head of Chinas Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said enforcing the law would largely fall to Hong Kongs local authorities and police. But under very special circumstances, the central government retains jurisdiction over some cases involving criminal acts that seriously endanger national security, Deng said in a speech in Shenzhen to the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think-tank. Since last year, the city has been grappling with protests against China. The demonstrations were triggered by extradition law. Fresh protests began after Chinas parliament passed last month the proposal to impose a new national security law in Hong Kong. In a joint statement, the US, UK, Canada and Australia had expressed their deep concern over the move stating that it would undermine the one country, two systems framework and lies in direct conflict with its international obligations under the principles of the legally-binding UN-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration, and it would undermine the One Country, Two Systems framework. Read also: China accuses Hong Kong activists of brainwashing young students fighting for democracy Read also: China imposes martial law over detection of new Covid-19 cluster The legislation has sparked fears that it would eventually leading to erosion of Hong Kongs autonomy as stated under the Sino-British joint declaration of 1997. The Sino-British joint declaration on the question of Hong Kong was signed in Beijing on December 19, 1984, by the Prime Ministers of China and Britain, Zhao Ziyang and Margaret Thatcher. The two governments agreed that China would reassume control of Hong Kong from July 1, 1997. Reacting to Dengs speech, pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok said he believed the jurisdiction plan would breach the citys mini-Constitution, which says Hong Kongs judiciary is independent from China. I think this is clear evidence that they are using this law as a label to quash political opposition, he told reporters. Read also: India-China Standoff: Talks continue at Galwan and Hot Springs, de-escalation in sight For all the latest World News, download NewsX App Outrage: Marchers protest against racial inequality and the death of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: USA Today Network Relatives of black American Rayshard Brooks, many of them in tears, called for justice and "drastic change" in policing yesterday in the wake of his death after an Atlanta officer fatally shot him in the back. The city's mayor has called for a shake-up in the force. The death of Mr Brooks (27), which the Medical Examiner's office ruled a homicide, was the latest killing of a black man to kindle nationwide outrage at police brutality and racial injustice. The post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Brooks died from blood loss and damage to internal organs after being shot twice in the back. Officer Garrett Rolfe, who fired the fatal shots, has been fired, and the other officer at the scene, Devin Brosnan, has been placed on administrative duty. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shield resigned a day after the shooting. A decision on whether to charge either of the officers is expected tomorrow. "We're tired and we are frustrated. Most importantly, we're heartbroken, so we need justice for Rayshard Brooks," his cousin, Tiara Brooks, said at a family news conference. "The trust that we have in the police force is broken. The only way to heal some of these wounds is through a conviction and a drastic change in the police department," she added. Family members spoke of Mr Brooks as a warm family man who loved to take his daughter skating. One man, after breaking down in tears, left distraught, shouting, "Somebody took my cousin!" More than 1,000 people marched on the state capitol in Atlanta calling for justice for Mr Brooks and for other African Americans killed. "We are going to take over the Capitol every single day until they do their job," the Reverend James Woodall, president of a state civil rights group, told the crowd. As protesters chanted for justice, the Georgia Assembly rebooted its 2020 session with a renewed call to pass a hate-crime law. Georgia is one of four US states without a hate-crime law on the books. The laws add punishments to offences deemed racially motivated. The death of Mr Brooks, and the separate shooting of the unarmed black jogger Ahmaud Marquez Arbery (25) near the coastal town of Brunswick on February 23 involving a former officer, have driven calls for racial justice in the state. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms said she would issue a series of administrative orders to accelerate a review of policing. She told a city council meeting yesterday there was a need to review the department's use of force and training. Meanwhile, President Trump yesterday said he will sign an executive order on police reform and hold a news conference today after weeks of nationwide protests sparked by the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody. Mr Trump also said the shooting by police of Brooks in Atlanta was a terrible situation and very disturbing. No details of the executive order were released. One in five adults in the United States report they have experienced change - mostly a decrease - in their sexual behavior during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study by Indiana University researchers. The study, co-authored by Devon Hensel, associate research professor of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine, and Debby Herbenick, professor in sexual and reproductive health at the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington, examined changes in solo and partnered sexual behaviors from about mid-March to mid-April, when most of the country was subject to stay-at-home guidance, in an effort to learn more about Americans' sexual lives and relationships during the first month of social distancing. The study has been published via preprint in medRxiv. Herbenick and Hensel will present preliminary findings of the study at a virtual conference of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists on June 4. "Understanding how sexual behavior changes during a pandemic, specifically COVID-19, is necessary to continue to adapt public health COVID-19 management in ways that are consistent with people's sexual health and well-being," said Hensel. "Our data illustrates the very personal ways in which different pandemic-associated factors may create or inhibit opportunities for solo and partnered sex." The study used a U.S. nationally representative probability survey of adults to look at changes in 10 solo and partnered sexual behavior categories. Researchers looked at factors such as how knowledgeable individuals are about the virus; mitigation measures such as social distancing and recommended hygiene; if participants had children in the home and their ages, and mental health variables including depressive symptoms and loneliness. Across all 10 behaviors studied, 50 percent of participants reported no change or stability in their sexual behaviors over the past month. Another third of participants reported that they had either increased or decreased in some behaviors. The most common behaviors to increase and decrease were the same. Among the participants reporting an increase in sexual behavior, the most common increases were hugging, kissing, cuddling or holding hands with a partner. Similarly, those reporting decreases said the same sexual behaviors--hugging, kissing, cuddling, or holding hands--were the most common to decline. "In the first month of social distancing and stay at home guidance, many people experienced substantial change in their relationships," said Herbenick. "While some people found themselves spending time constantly with their romantic or sexual partners, others found themselves separated from partners or unable to date or meet up with potential partners." The study found that participants with any children at home under the age of five were three times more likely to report increased hugging, kissing, cuddling or holding hands with a partner in the past month, while having elementary-aged children was often linked to decreased reports of these behaviors. Those findings could be attributed, Herbenick said, to parents of smaller children being able to better maintain pre-pandemic schedules and routines. Likewise, parents of small children could have reported an increase in hugging, kissing, cuddling or holding hands because it is part of group/family interactions such as family cuddles. In terms of mental health factors, the study found that depressive symptoms and loneliness were associated with both reduced partnered bonding behaviors, such as hugging, cuddling, holding hands and kissing, as well as reduced partnered sexual behaviors. These mental health factors could be attributed to social distancing measures, the researchers said, that while necessary, can exacerbate feelings of depression and loneliness for some people. Consistent with existing research, the study also found that people who perceived they were at greater odds for COVID-19 medical consequences (they or a loved one getting sick) or for COVID-19 social consequences (job loss or missing medical appointments) were more likely to report decreased partnered sexual behaviors. Those with greater COVID-19 knowledge were more likely to report stability in partnered sexual behaviors. However, the study could not assess whether greater knowledge increased people's comfort to maintain existing habits, or how greater knowledge might lead some people (particularly single adults) to risk reduction behaviors that also affected their sexual behavior - for example, refraining from meeting up with new partners. Individual circumstances, and access to resources such as health care and services, impact decisions about how and when to have sex, Hensel said. Pandemics cause interruptions in resources that can lead to adverse outcomes such as unintended pregnancies. Unwanted abstinence, Hensel said, could also result in mental and sexual health consequences. "This study is a reminder that pandemics impact every aspect of the human experience, including sexuality," Hensel said. "Better understanding of how real-life pandemic management - such as childcare, mental health challenges, and worries about getting sick - impacts solo and partnered sex aids professionals in helping people tailor solutions to any sexual challenges they may have. " ### Molly Rosenberg, assistant professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics at IU Bloomington, Maya Luetke, a doctoral student at IU Bloomington and Tsung-chieh Fu, a postdoctoral fellow at IU Bloomington, also contributed to the study. After running around in circles for two plus years to get a waste incineration project going, my Japanese partner and I gave up. Nguyen Dang Anh Thi It was six years ago that I met Takeshi. I had been invited to speak at a climate change conference in Ho Chi Minh City and Takeshi, a development representative for a Japan based world-leading corporation in waste incineration, was in attendance. By then, he and his business partners had spent several months promoting investment for a project that would help the city treat its waste in an environmentally friendly manner. They were stuck at the step of completing procedures for the investment proposal. After several exchanges, Takeshi suggested that I work as an independent consultant for the project. I said yes. I wanted to be a part of turning such a meaningful project into reality for Vietnam. Generating energy from waste is a field that is managed by both the environment and energy agencies in the country. Accordingly, for project location and permission to get the waste for burning, we have to work with the citys Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Then, to send electricity to the national power grid, we have to work with the Department of Industry and Trade and the state-run power monopoly Vietnam Electricity (EVN). Then, for the next step, we have to work with the city's Department of Planning and Investment on the procedures for submitting and getting the investment proposal approved. The city's Department of Natural Resources and Environment comes into the scene then, in order to evaluate the projects environmental impact. Then, the project should be subjected to technical appraisal by the Department of Science and Technology. Then, even though the citys power development plan allows the construction of a waste incineration plant, we still have to acquire a written confirmation from the industry-trade department saying that the proposed project was in line with the plan. And, for good measure, the investors may have to work with related ministries on issues outside the city's jurisdiction. As I listed the procedures, Takeshi rubbed his eyes and told me he felt dizzy. I told him Id rather let him know up front the rough path ahead than leave him clueless, picking up pieces along the way later. I would not say it was prescience, of course, but what I had prepared Takeshi for came true. For almost a year, his group and I repeated the loop of filing reports, submitting reports, attending meetings, making records of those meetings, again and again. During that journey, I found myself admiring the Japanese for their patience and carefulness. Everything that happened in every meeting was carefully recorded by Takeshi before his partners took a look of his notes for reporting to their superiors. "We would not go anywhere if we keep circling around like this," I told Takeshi one day when I sat down with him for dinner. "I know," he replied. "But this is my responsibility and I have to fulfill it. There have been some people suggesting I give bribes to this person and that to get things done, but my career and our companys dignity does not allow me to do so." Takeshi then asked me if the path he had taken was a mistake. I apologized. "There is nothing wrong with the path youve taken. Its just that it will not lead you to where you want to be. And I feel ashamed for that." A few months later, his company summoned him back to Tokyo, leaving behind his ambition and dream for an environmentally friendly project that could have worked as an icon not just for waste treatment but also for bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Japan. I wonder how many foreigners like Takeshi have had their hands tied by the complicated investment procedures in Vietnam when they want to choose the path of no corruption. I believe its not a small figure. To be fair, Takeshi and I had met and worked with officials who were exemplary and willing to support investors, but that did not prevent us from being trapped in a maze of procedures. Having worked several years for an investment fund in Vietnam, I have met with many people who brought their project over, asking to be funded. Their so-called projects were basically a piece of paper green-lighting their projects. They did not have a team of technical experts, they could not prove their experience in the field they wanted to invest in, and most importantly, they had zero sources of investment. However, they had one very important thing. They had connections. And I came to realize that in the mindset of many people, investment basically meant "investing in relationships." Connections, connections One of the latest examples for this mindset is the case of the Hoa Thang Nam One Member Ltd Company. The firm was given a plot of prime land at 8-12 Le Duan Street in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 1 in 2018 for doing business, just four months after its establishment, despite its zero experience or capacity, not having completed a single real estate development project. In this case, former HCMC vice chairman Nguyen Thanh Tai is facing charges of causing losses of VND250 billion ($10.7 million) to the state exchequer by violating land regulations. Investigators from the Ministry of Public Security have told prosecutors to indict Tai for "violating regulations related to the management and use of state-owned property that caused losses or wastefulness," a crime that carries a jail term of 10-20 years. Another example is a major loophole in the "askinggiving" mechanism during the process of energy development. Many investors with weak capacities have still been able to acquire large-scale renewable energy projects that they quickly transfer to foreign investors for handsome profits. The government last month requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to look into a case in which Hanoi-based HLP Invest had got permission to invest in the $4.4 billion Co Thach sea wind farm project in the south-central province of Binh Thuan, but transferred it to a Chinese investor. As I typed the Vietnamese key words "chay du an" which means getting a quick investment approval through relationships and bribery, almost 52 million results came up. That figure is almost half Vietnams population. A woman files for administration procedures at the office of Ho Chi Minh City's District 12 People's Committee, June 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. It is common knowledge that when one cannot reach the destination via a direct path, a detour is taken. Several solar power projects in Vietnam have been transferred to the hands of foreigners via merger and acquisition deals, a move that the trade ministry has described as "normal in the market mechanism." These are detours taken. After decades of working in the field of energy and environment, Ive seen many people who do not want to have any direct involvement or invest in a project when it is still on paper, and many only want to be a part of it once they know it can succeed. Then there are people like Takeshi, who give a project their all from the very beginning and want do it right. Popular modus operandi There are people and institutions out there with both experience and financial ability that have to struggle unduly to become an investor in Vietnam. Then there are those in the nation who have in their hands a series of projects, but are focused on just on thing: selling them as soon as they can do so for a profit. What this means is that many quality investment opportunities that could benefit both Vietnam and the investors have been missed. What this also means is that the market is distorted and the notion of an open investment environment in Vietnam is belied. This is not to mention that such distortion can have negative impacts on the infrastructure planning, causing losses for the state and making citizens pay a higher price than needed for infrastructure services. Meanwhile, the money silently flows into the pockets of those trading on relationships. On May 22, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc gave the nod to establish a special working group headed by the Minister of Planning and Investment to prepare Vietnam to catch capital inflows from foreign investors who are diversifying investment locations and repositioning manufacturing facilities after the Covid-19 pandemic. This has kindled hope and excitement, but I think that is unwarranted at this point. Attracting investment is not like harvesting an agricultural crop. It is a long-term strategy that takes a lot of serious, careful effort. Need for transparency is clear What Vietnam has to do has been said for many years now. We have to completely abolish the asking-giving mechanism in project investment and ensure absolute application of public and competitive bidding to choose investors. Of course, the bidding mechanism must be made transparent in accordance with the best standards applied in the world. Internationally, competitive bidding has proven to be an effective tool to reduce electricity prices. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) said that bidding to select investors has been applied in more than 100 countries, but Vietnam is still one of a few countries that has not used this method to promote renewable energy. Consequently, the country is buying solar and wind power at prices that are more than twice the price that many countries are paying. Just last month, India selected a solar investor that sells energy for 3 cents per kWh, compared to Vietnam's buying price of VND1,644 (7 cents) per kWh. Bidding to select investors has only been applied on a pilot scheme in the past few years and this process has just been adjusted in a decree issued on February 28, 2020. But this mechanism can become efficient only when it is widely applied to all infrastructure projects and not limited to the public-private partnerships (PPP) or other investment forms. As long as the asking-giving mechanism exists in many forms and becomes more and more "sophisticated," corruption and bribery will continue to remain issues to be discussed. *Nguyen Dang Anh Thi is an expert on energy and environment issues. The opinions expressed are his own. Pressure is mounting on ministers to ditch UK's quarantine policy as the first German tourists jetted off on their summer holidays. London-listed tour operator Tui has started flights from Germany, Switzerland and Benelux countries. Since June 8 British tourists have been required to quarantine for two weeks after returning from overseas, effectively cancelling summer holidays abroad. Holiday hopes: London-listed tour operator Tui has started flights from Germany, Switzerland and Benelux countries Tui's first two flights went from Germany to Majorca. A second route to Portugal, will soon open before flights to ten other countries start in July. It piles pressure on the Government to find ways to save thousands of aviation and tourism jobs. Ministers are trying to negotiate 'air bridges' allowing Britons to return from countries such as Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece without self-isolating for two weeks. Last month Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye said: 'It is going to be untenable for people to see German citizens going to Greece while Brits are stuck at home.' That Expert Show host Anna Canzano discussed race issues with her featured guest on Monday, Deena Pierott. Pierott is the founder of the award-winning and nationally recognized STEM+Arts program called iUrban Teen. She speaks on topics like every day biases in the workplace, the art of leadership, women and the hidden color barrier, and diversity recruiting and retention. WATCH VIDEO Canzanos guest explained how implementing equitable policies within organizations has to be sustainable, thorough, and well understood. Somebody has to be the champion within that organization to start making those changes...it has to come from the top. Even the line staff has to be involved but the messaging has to come from the top. But they really have to know the why and the how of it, not just do it for photo ops," Pierott said. Pierott most recently presented in Prague, Czech Republic for the Linux Foundation. She has served on several boards and commissions including a Gubernatorial appointment to the Commission on African American Affairs in the State of Washington. In 2013, she was honored as a White House Champion of Change in Technology Inclusion. She has also served as an Equity Strategic Advisor for the City of Seattle. That Expert Show is a weekly interview show hosted by Canzano in partnership with The Oregonian/OregonLive. It utilizes input from the audience and is streamed live every Monday at 11 a.m. Pacific Time via Facebook, Twitter and the shows website. Its also available as a podcast (Apple or GooglePlay) and on IGTV. WATCH THE INTERVIEW Washington: The United States will reduce its troop strength in Germany from the nearly 52,000 at present to 25,000, President Donald Trump has said here. In an interaction with reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump attributed the move to high costs and Germany being "delinquent" in its payment to NATO. "We have 52,000 soldiers in Germany. That's a tremendous amount of soldiers. It's a tremendous cost to the United States and Germany, as you know, is very delinquent in their payments to NATO. "They are paying one per cent and they're supposed to be a two per cent. And then two percent is very low. It should be much more than that. So they are delinquent of billions of dollars," Trump alleged. "So, we're putting the number down to 25,000 soldiers. We'll see what happens, but Germany has not been making payments. In addition to that, I was the one that brought it up. Everybody talks about Trump with Russia. Well, I brought this up a long time ago. Why is Germany paying Russia billions of dollars for energy and then we're supposed to protect Germany from Russia? How does that work? It doesn't work," the US president said. US soldiers, he said, are paid well. "They live in Germany. They spend vast amounts of money in Germany. Everywhere around those bases is very prosperous for Germany. So, Germany takes. And then on top of it, they treat us very badly on trade. We have trade with the EU, Germany being the biggest member, and very, very badly on trade and we are negotiating with them on that. But right now, I'm not satisfied with the deal they want to make," Trump said. "They've cost the United States hundreds of billions of dollars over the years on trade," he said. The US protects them and then they take advantage of America on trade, the president said. "So we are working on a deal with them, but it's very unfair and I would say by far, the worst abuser is Germany," he said. With only 44, Meghalaya has the least number of COVID-19 cases among all the states, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Tuesday. The state has also not registered any spike in the number of coronavirus cases for the last six days. Two more persons recovered from COVID-19, reducing the number of active cases in Meghalaya to 15 on Tuesday, and the total number of cases reported in the northeastern state is 44 -- most of them returnees -- with one casualty. "Meghalaya has the least number of cases in the country and has adopted the best model to break the virus chain in the northeastern region and in the country," Tynsong told reporters. The last COVID-19 case was detected in the state on June 10. The deputy chief minister said the state government has set up camps at railway stations and the Guwahati airport to ensure that all returnees are tested for the disease, quarantined and tracked. The state has recorded an over-63 per cent recovery rate, which is higher than the national average, a health department official said. "Two more persons have recovered from West Garo Hills district after testing negative twice. Total Active cases 15. Total recovered 28," Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said in a tweet earlier in the day. Of the 11 districts of Meghalaya, East Garo Hills, East Jaintia Hills and South West Khasi Hills have not reported a single coronavirus case till date. The state recorded its first COVID-19 case on April 13. Meanwhile, the state government decided on Tuesday that IewDuh, the largest traditional market in Meghalaya located near the heart of the city, will resume operations from June 22. "We have decided that IewDuh will re-open from Monday," Tynsong said. The deputy chief minister said 1,222 shops have been identified for reopening and of these, only 30-33 per cent will be operationalised on a rotational basis in a day. However, the shopkeepers selling vegetables, fish, meat, books and betel nut and leaves in the market will not be allowed to operate now to avoid crowding, he said, adding that these items are available across the state. The state government has also decided to reopen the weekly markets across the state from June 29, Tynsong said. He said the flea markets along the Indo-Bangladesh border and markets operating along the Assam-Meghalaya border are not allowed to start functioning. PTI JOP NN RC His relationship with top military officials strained, President Donald Trump on Saturday will address the graduating class at the U.S. Military Academy against a backdrop of urgent questions about the role of soldiers in a civil society. Trump's commencement speech to the 1,100 graduating cadets during a global pandemic will be delivered as arguments continue to rage over his threat to use American troops on domestic soil to quell protests stemming from the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Tensions between the White House and the military have escalated since nationwide protests began over the death of Floyd, a black man who was pinned by the neck by a white police officer for several minutes despite saying he couldn't breathe. In the past two weeks, Trump yelled at Defense Secretary Mark Esper for publicly opposing Trump's call to use active-duty troops to crack down on the demonstrations. Trump then shut down Esper's attempt to open a public debate on removing the names of Confederate Army officers from military bases. Gen. Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, further risked Trump's ire Thursday by declaring it had been ``a mistake'' for him to accompany Trump on a June 1 walk through Lafayette Square. The trip ended with the president holding up a Bible and posing for the news media outside St. John's Church, which was damaged by fire during the unrest. Milley's comments amounted to an extraordinary expression of regret by Trump's chief military adviser, who said his appearance led to the perception of the military becoming embroiled in politics, which in his view _ one shared by Esper _ is a threat to democracy. The events have stirred debate within the military and among retired officers. More than 500 West Point graduates from classes spanning six decades signed an open letter reminding the Class of 2020 of its commitment to avoid partisan politics. The letter, published this week on Medium, also alluded to the problems Esper and Milley encountered at the White House after Floyd's death. "Sadly, the government has threatened to use the Army in which you serve as a weapon against fellow Americans engaging in these legitimate protests,'' they wrote. "Worse, military leaders, who took the same oath you take today, have participated in politically charged events. The principle of civilian control is central to the military profession. But that principle does not imply blind obedience.'' They added: "We are concerned that fellow graduates serving in senior-level, public positions are failing to uphold their oath of office and their commitment to duty, honor, country. Their actions threaten the credibility of an apolitical military.'' Trump announced in April that he would deliver the commencement address at West Point. Neither Esper nor Milley is expected to accompany Trump. Esper will deliver videotaped remarks. "Saturday's graduation is about these incredible cadets and their amazing accomplishments, and as the commander in chief, President Trump wants to celebrate that and thank them for their service to our country,'' said White House spokesman Judd Deere. Trump's appearance had been criticized as a political move that would put the graduates at risk in order to put Trump on a grand stage in a picturesque part of New York, the one remaining military service academy where he had yet to give a graduation address. Historic West Point is located 40 miles (65 kilometers) up the Hudson River from New York City, the epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak. Army officials defended the move, saying the cadets would have had to brave the health risks of traveling back to campus anyway for their final medical checks, equipment and training. The cadets had been home since spring break in early March, just before the coronavirus was declared a pandemic and Trump announced a national emergency. They returned to campus in late May. A group called Veterans For Peace announced a protest outside West Point's main gate Saturday against what it called ``Trump's dangerous narcissistic Photo-Op Stunt at the West Point Graduation.'' Meanwhile, the ceremony Saturday will look drastically different from past years' events. The recently commissioned second lieutenants will wear masks as they march onto West Point's parade field, instead of into Mitchie Stadium, the longtime commencement venue. They will sit 6 feet (1.8 meters) apart, in keeping with federal guidelines to practice social distancing during the outbreak. Instead of shaking hands with the president, graduates will step up on a platform before the main dais and salute. Guests are not allowed; family and friends will have to watch online. Some cadets said they welcomed the chance to see their classmates again. "We're going to be scattered all across the world, and it might be years, or tens of years, until we get to see some of our classmates again,'' said 2nd Lt. Daine Van de Wall, of West Friendship, Maryland. "And so coming back and getting to have closure for our West Point experience, I think, is extremely important.'' The graduating class immediately underwent coronavirus testing when they returned to campus in late May. More than 15 class members who tested positive were isolated for two weeks before they were allowed to rejoin their classmates. Cheryl Connors, a 1983 West Point alum whose son Cameron graduates Saturday, said the moment is "bittersweet.'' Her three older children graduated from the academy, too. "I'm super proud of him and his classmates. It's a great accomplishment," she said. "And it's heartbreaking at the same time to not be able to be there and celebrate with him.'' Search Keywords: Short link: Gandhinagar, June 16 : Amid the coronavirus havoc in Ahmedabad, doctors at the CIMS hospital have successfully replaced the damaged liver of 2-year-old 'Hirva', the daughter of an auto rickshaw driver. Hirva is the youngest recipient of such transplant in Gujarat so far. Her mother, who furnished a part of her organ for her daughter, was discharged on Tuesday, while the daughter will get discharged 8-10 days later, doctors said. "We replaced the entire damaged liver of Hirva with 230 grams portion (20 per cent) of left lateral portion of her mother's liver. Both the mother and daughter are absolutely fine. The mother was discharged today while the operated baby will still have to be hospitalized for another 8 to 10 days. Hirva will now lead a normal and healthy life just like any other kid," said surgeon Dr Anand Khakhar. Hirva had an inherited congenital liver disease called 'Citrullinemia', basically an urea cycle disorder, where the body is unable to metabolise ammonia. This fatal disorder leads to patient slipping off into coma frequently. The team of doctors led by liver transplant surgeon Khakhar carried out on last Thursday. Doctors said that the surgery was difficult as the blood groups of both the donor (her mother) and the recipient (daughter) were incompatible. The mother's group was A positive while the daughter was O. But by carrying out additional procedures, like exchange of the white blood cells plasma, special additional medication and following the protocols for immuno suppression, specially tailored for this condition, such transplantation can be carried out," Khakhar told IANS. "So now the blood group match is not an absolute and if the situation warrants, then it can be crossed in cases of organ transplantation," he added "As the family was poor and could not afford the cost of this operation, which amounts to Rs 18-19 lakh, the entire operation was carried out by the CIMS hospital, with individual monetary help from the CIMS chairman. We have also received an approval of Rs. 4.3 lakh grant from the Gujarat government for this operation," added Khakhar. Besides the government aid, the operation was also helped by crowd funding organisation MILAP and some individual donors also. Gujarat government, as a special case, had granted permission for Corona tests to be carried out on the entire team involved in the operation as well as the donor and recipient. "The successful completion of Hirva's surgery restores our faith in the dauntless human spirit to fight and succeed against any odds. It also sends a much-needed message of hope and triumph during these tough times," said Dr. Keyur Parikh, Chairman, CIMS Hospital. The CIMS hospital, an NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) and NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited hospital, has carried out six liver transplants successfully in the state during the six months old transplantation programme. People have taken to social media to share images of the heartwarming statues that enhance their local area. Historian and author James Barr, from London, encouraged Twitter users to share monuments they believe 'enhance their surroundings' in a thread. His plea comes after a number of 'racist' monuments were torn down in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests. On Friday, statues in Parliament Square - including those of Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi - were boarded up to prevent them being targeted. People from across the world shared images of their favourite statues in the thread. Some posted snaps of the stone tribute of Hachiko, a Japanese Akita dog remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, for whom he continued to wait for over nine years following Ueno's death. Others cited statues of Paddington Bear that can be found around London; one sees him sat on a bench eating a sandwich in Leicester Square while another shows the character at Paddington Station. A monument to Chekhov's dogs in Moscow also received praise as people agreed that statues of animals were always pleasing. Here FEMAIL brings you some of the most treasured statues from around the globe. People are sharing their favourite statues that 'enhance their surrounding' amid a global conversation on statues and their historical significance. Pictured: TV detective Columbo and his dog, located in Budapest Conversation with Kermit: A statue of Jim Henson, the creator of The Muppets, sits proudly in front of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland The statue of Hachiko, known as the most loyal dog in history, can be found in front of the Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Hachiko famously waited for his owner at the station before dying in 1935 Passersby in Leicester Square in London can find this adorable statue of Paddington perched eating a sandwich on a bench In Moscow, this cute statue shows a mouse knitting a DNA sequence. It commemorates the unique way the animal has contributed to advancing science throughout the years These statues of playwright Anton Chekhov's two dogs can be found in the Melikhovo estate of suburban Moscow In Missouri, people have erected a statue celebrating the life and work of psychic dog Jim 'The Wonder Dog' who passed away in 1937 The Hometown of cartoonist Charles Schulz - St Paul, Minnesota - is peppered with statues commemorating his character Peanut, including this monument A statue of Star Wars spiritual guide Yoda located in San Francisco was cited by one of the participants for bringing them joy This funny statue (right) of stray cat Tombili (pictured left) relaxing in Istanbul was shared in the same Twitter thread This statue of a 'slightly judgmental sloth' located at LA Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles was also shared in the Twitter thread Lily, a goose who settled herself near a tram's final stop in Vienna in the 1970s, also got a statue which is beloved by locals In Boston, Make Way for Ducklings, by Nancy Schon, is rightfully one of the city's favourite works of arts (HedgeCo.Net) The U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Florida entered has entered a final judgment against relief defendant Rhoda Burkholz of Boca Raton, Florida, who has agreed to pay over $250,000 to resolve the SECs action against her for allegedly receiving proceeds from a Ponzi scheme conducted by her husband and others that defrauded at least 55 investors. The SECs complaint, filed on November 14, 2019, alleged that Neil Burkholz, his business partner, Frank Bianco, and their companies Palm Financial Management, LLC and Shore Management Systems, LLC solicited investors by falsely representing that their proprietary options trading strategies were highly profitable. In reality, as alleged in the complaint, the defendants invested less than half of investor funds and those investments resulted in near-total losses. The complaint alleged that the defendants misappropriated the remaining funds by using them to repay other investors and by transferring approximately $880,000 of investor funds to Ms. Burkholz and to Mr. Burkholz, Bianco, and Biancos wife, Suzanne Bianco, for personal use. According to the SECs complaint, the defendants sent false reports to investors to conceal their fraudulent conduct and give the investors the false impression they were generating positive returns. Without admitting or denying the allegations in the SECs complaint, Ms. Burkholz consented to the entry of a final judgment ordering her to pay $258,821 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest on a joint and several basis with Mr. Burkholz, representing the amount of investor funds he shared with her. The settlement concludes the SECs litigation in this matter. In May, the court ordered Mr. Burkholz and the Biancos to pay more than $2.7 million combined in disgorgement, civil penalties, and prejudgment interest. In February, the court ordered Palm Management and Shore Management to pay over $1.2 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest. The SEC intends to seek approval from the court to establish a fair fund to distribute money received from the defendants and relief defendants to harmed investors. SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dairy Council of California, a nutrition education organization, is proud to announce the launch of Lets Eat Healthy, a movement that activates the organizations cause of elevating the health of children and families through the pursuit of healthy eating habits. For over 100 years, Dairy Council of California has championed the health of children and families in California and beyond, working with multisector partners at all levels to teach nutrition education and ag literacy, and supporting food access programs that help ensure all children have access to wholesome, nutritious foods from all food groups, including milk and dairy, said Tammy Anderson-Wise, CEO of Dairy Council of California. Through shared values, Lets Eat Healthy invites people and organizations to come together to prioritize the health and health outcomes of children and families, collaborating to accomplish more than any one person or organization can do on its own. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below: The Lets Eat Healthy movement aims to bring educators, health professionals, change-makers and community leaders together to champion community health. Through coordination, collaboration and co-creation, the movement aims to teach, support and inspire healthy eating habits and help make healthy, wholesome foods accessible and affordable to all. By inviting cross-sector collaboration, the movement intends to empower healthier communities by finding realistic solutions to address disparities in access to education and high quality, wholesome foodstwo areas that can impact lifelong health and successwhile appreciating the influence diversity in ethnicity, culture, religion and education has on food choices. Disparities exist in all disciplines, including education and food access, disproportionately impacting children who live in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Children are our future, said Shannan Young, program director of food systems and access at Dairy Council of California. Every child deserves to be able to grow healthfully. Every child deserves access to nutritious food and knowledge of how to eat healthfully, which supports optimal growth and development, academic success and lifelong health. The launch of the Lets Eat Healthy movement is accompanied by the official launch of Dairy Council of Californias newly refreshed website, HealthyEating.org , which is home to the new movement. The refreshed website is easy to navigate and provides innovative, science-based nutrition education resources, Mobile Dairy Classroom assemblies, training programs, nutrition science translated into actionable behaviors and online resources to teach students and families how to eat healthfully and establish eating habits for lifelong health. Today, more than ever, it is important to make sure our communities are supported, continued Young. We support those who are hurting, worried about their safety and concerned about how to feed their children. We remain committed to equitable access to nutrition education and healthy foods, including lending our support to federally funded food access programs like school breakfast and lunch, as well as summer meals and privately funded food banks that provide free, healthful foods to children and families in need. Advocates for healthier children, families and communities through nutrition and education are invited to join the movement to help empower healthier communities. Learn more at HealthyEating.org/AboutUs . About Dairy Council of California For over a century, Dairy Council of California has empowered stakeholders, including educators, health professionals and community leaders, to elevate the health of children and families through the pursuit of lifelong healthy eating habits. Funded by Californias dairy farm families and local milk processors and under the guidance of California Department of Food and Agriculture, Dairy Council of Californias free science-based nutrition education resources, Mobile Dairy Classroom assemblies, training programs and online resources educate millions of students and families in California and throughout the United States. Learn more at HealthyEating.org . She has been spending time in Idaho with her family during the coronavirus lockdown in Los Angeles. But as the city eases restrictions, Scout Willis has returned home and on Monday was spotted running some errands. The 28-year-old daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore brought her dog along on her shopping trip, carrying the small pooch in a canvas sling. Shopping trip: Scout Willis, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, was seen running errands in Los Angeles on Monday, carrying her beloved dog in a canvas sling The tan and white pup poked its head out of its carrier as Scout walked along. She was dressed in a red short-sleeve top and baggy blue jeans along with black ballet flats. She also carried a black designer purse over one arm and had on a cloth face mask as required in LA for trips to the supermarket. Casual: The celebrity offspring was dressed in a red short-sleeve top and baggy blue jeans along with black ballet flats and she also carried a black designer purse over one arm Grocery run: Scout stopped by a supermarket to pick up some supplies and wore a face mask as required for trips to the supermarket in LA Scout is one of three daughters that Hollywood stars Willis and Moore share from their 13-year marriage that ended in 2000. Scout's sisters are Rumer, 31, and Tallulah, 26. Her dad also has two daughters with his second wife Emma Heming - Mabel, eight, and Evelyn, six. The blended family spend several weeks together at the Hailey, Idaho, estate where Moore raised her girls as they self-isolated together as a result of the pandemic. Family: Scout is one of three daughters that Demi Moore has from her 13-year marriage to Bruce Willis that ended in 2000. Scout's sisters are Rumer, 31, and Tallulah, 26 RICHMOND, Va. - Mayor Levar Stoney said he had requested and accepted the resignation of Police Chief William Smith after two nights of tense demonstrations that involved chemical gas and rubber bullets outside the city's police headquarters. Those standoffs marked a violent deterioration in relations between police and the community, which had already been strained by more than two weeks of protests sparked by national outrage over police brutality against African Americans. "One thing is clear after the past two weeks - Richmond is ready for a new approach to public safety," Stoney, a Democrat, said Tuesday afternoon in a hastily called news conference at City Hall. Even as Stoney spoke, police were installing a massive barricade around their headquarters building consisting of enormous concrete pipes standing on end like a medieval wall. Asked about the contrast of calling for more community engagement while turning the building into a fortress, Stoney said the city had to guard against violence from people trying to hijack peaceful Black Lives Matter protests to cause mayhem. "There is a small contingent who are bent on another agenda . . . that doesn't involve looking out for the black men and women who the cause was originally about," said Stoney, who is African American. Stoney named Maj. Jody Blackwell, a 23-year department veteran, as interim chief and said he would conduct a nationwide search for a permanent replacement. The mayor praised Smith, who rose up through the ranks to become chief last year, calling him "a good man." But after 18 days of protests and multiple reports of violence between demonstrators and officers, "I thought it was time for a new direction." The confrontations Sunday and Monday night were sparked by an incident Saturday in which a police SUV drove through a crowd of protesters and bumped several people, though there were no serious injuries. Stoney had previously asked the local commonwealth's attorney for a "full investigation" into the Saturday incident. In a statement after Sunday's standoff, Smith said the demonstration had "escalated into rioting and violence" and that officers had shown "great restraint in response to these attacks." Richmond police said that three officers were injured and several vehicles and buildings were damaged or vandalized, and that pepper spray was deployed after demonstrators ignored warnings to disperse. Earlier this month, Stoney also called for a disciplinary review of officers who tear-gassed peaceful demonstrators at the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue. Smith, who is white, had struggled to project a consistent tone to the city's African American community during the recent protests. On June 1, he urged residents to come out to demonstrate and pledged police sympathy, but that evening officers tear fired tear gas without provocation. The police department initially blamed protesters for endangering the officers, but then Smith apologized and said the officers involved would be disciplined. He appeared with Stoney the next day before an outraged crowd of more than 1,000 outside City Hall and took a knee to show his support. But he seemed at a loss for how to calm those gathered. After the SUV incident last weekend, and Williams's defense of the aggressive use of pepper spray and irritant gas during the recent standoffs at police headquarters, the police chief apparently lost Stoney's support. At a news conference Tuesday to announce Smith's departure, Stoney said the priority for the chief should be to engage with the community and resolve issues of police use of force and oversight by citizens. "We don't begin that progress without the buy-in of people - all people from all walks of life," Stoney said. The NiSource Charitable Foundation, NIPSCO's charitable arm, provided a $10,000 grant to Habitat for Humanity. On behalf of every staff member and volunteer at Habitat, we are very grateful for the generous support from the NiSource Charitable Foundation. Especially at this time, when the COVID-19 pandemic has created a heightened need for the security a home provides families, said Dawn Michaels, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana. Habitat for Humanity has helped provided permanent, affordable homes to low-income families earning between 30% to 80% of the average income to more than 110 families since it started in 1986 with the help of volunteers and donors. NiSource's donation will be used to complete a living area of a home built for a needy family. We have a long history of working with Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana to strengthen local neighborhoods and build better communities," NIPSCO Director of Public Affairs Rick Calinsk said. Jason Manford swapped his microphone for a delivery van as he spent the day dropping off groceries. The comedian surprised shoppers by spending the day with an Iceland delivery driver helping customers in his local community in Cheshire. His temporary career change comes after he said he was turned down for a job at Tesco. Expand Close Jason Manford (Iceland) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jason Manford (Iceland) The comedian said on social media that he applied for a job as a driver when he had been made recently unemployed as he wanted to feel useful. However, a spokesman for the supermarket said that Manford missed the deadline for applying to the job. Absolutely livid @Tesco. I was only trying to do my bit I hope the better person got and enjoys the job, Ill be watching pic.twitter.com/ZvBJeqMziN Jason Manford (@JasonManford) May 4, 2020 After he shared screenshots of the rejection on social media, rival supermarket Iceland offered him the chance to work a shift. During his delivery round, for which he donned a red and grey uniform, he also visited local charity The Bread And Butter Thing, to deliver 500 of groceries that will support those in need with essential food supplies. Iceland has donated 7.8 tonnes of food equating to 18,500 meals to the charity in the last six months. Video of the Day Manford said: Massive thanks to Iceland who have offered me this opportunity to not just deliver some food to their loyal customers, but also for making a generous donation to charities that are close to my heart. The supermarket also donated to The Childrens Adventure Farm Trust in Cheshire, which charity provides holidays and days out for terminally ill, disabled or disadvantaged children from across the north west of England. Richard Walker, managing director at Iceland, said: Everyone at Iceland is extremely grateful for Jasons contribution today and he has certainly helped to lift spirits with our customers and heroic colleagues. Our stores are deeply rooted within their local communities, so its a real privilege for us to be in a position where we can work with great people like Jason and donate to some worthy causes at the same time. NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum. AJC delegations have regularly met with the prime minister, twice in Tirana and several times at the global Jewish organization's New York headquarters and office in Jerusalem. In his conversation with Brussels-based AJC Transatlantic Institute Director Daniel Schwammenthal, Prime Minister Rama discussed Albania's courageous rescue of Jews from the Nazis, the current resurgence of antisemitism in Europe, relations with the United States and Israel, aspirations to gain membership in the EU, and security challenges from Iran. Albania was the only Nazi-occupied country in Europe that saw its Jewish population grow during the war. "It was a shining moment in our history when Albania became a shelter for Jews during the brutal persecution by Nazis. The story of Albanian protection and rescue of Jews is, I believe, an essential story of humanity," said Rama. The Albanian tradition of besa, "honor you give to someone else," underlined why Albania's Muslim majority population adopted and hid Jews. "The Nazis were tricked," said Rama. "We are proud to acknowledge there are 75 Albanian families recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations." The prime minister spoke forcefully against continuing hatred of Jews. "The new surge of antisemitism in Europe, in countries where you would not expect it, is one of the strongest signs of alarm for everyone," said Rama. Rama, who currently serves as Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said combatting antisemitism is a priority for the 57-member state organization. He reappointed Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC's Director of International Jewish Affairs, to be the Personal Representative on Combating Antisemitism for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a position he held since 2009. And, in February 2020, Rama hosted in Tirana an OSCE conference that he called "a modest effort to renew the effort of 'never again'." Explaining why Albanians are staunchly pro-American, Rama said, "The United States has represented the most shining star in the sky in our dreams of liberty, when we were totally isolated under a very brutal communist regime which made Albania the North Korea of Europe." On Albanian-Israeli relations, the prime minister expressed admiration. "Israel is a shining example of a country that has made a miracle. It's not about what you have, it's about what you know," said Rama. As an example, he noted that Israel, a country without water, has developed "the most excellent water supply on earth," while Albania, with plentiful water, faces challenges. While Israeli tourists have been coming to Albania in growing numbers, the prime minister said, "It's important to bring more and more Israelis to Tirana, and to build cooperation in different fields." Turning to his country's efforts to fulfill EU requirements for membership, Rama said he is "optimistic," considering Albania's transformation since a rigidly communist regime fell three decades ago. "It was just 30 years ago when we were totally isolated, when we thought we would never see light in the tunnel for nearly half a century, and today we are a country that is preparing to open negotiations with Europe. We need time. We need patience." On Iran, the foreign minister expressed dismay over the Islamic regime's "hostile and malicious" activities targeting Iranian dissidents residing in Albania. Two years ago, the Iranian ambassador to Albania was expelled, and, earlier this year, more diplomats were sent back to Tehran. "Iranian refugees in Albania are here to be safe. It's not a statement against a regime in Tehran, but opening our doors to people whose lives were at risk. It was a humanitarian stance," said Rama. 'We are very proud to have helped these people like we helped the Jews during WWII, with no interest or hidden agenda but offering shelter when those who were richer or had more to offer turned their backs on them. This is who we are and how we see it. I'm proud." The prime minister also discussed another threat, citizens returning to Albania after fighting with ISIS and other extremist groups. "We passed tough legislation to harshly punish" them, but now Albania has "a big problem" with dozens of women and children, who remain in camps in Syria and Iraq and need to be repatriated." We're trying to bring them back," he said. The AJC Global Forum is the global Jewish advocacy organization's signature annual event. Originally scheduled to take place this week in Berlin, Germany, the venue was changed to an online meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 7,500 people have now registered for the AJC Virtual Global Forum, June 14-18. SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 (systolic/diastolic). In healthy runescape gold people, low blood pressure without any symptoms is not usually a concern and does not need to be treated. But low blood pressure can be a sign of an underlying problem especially in the elderly where it may cause inadequate blood flow to the heart, brain, and other vital organs. I like to think I have learned a lot and part of that is the value of good friends, dark humour and a dose of sarcasm. 2004/5 can't have been long after I left home I did not realise how much I had yet to grow as a person and at 18 though that was it I was all grown up Ah good days! "The Nightingale" is set in Tasmania in 1825, where Clare (Aisling Franciosi), a young Irish convict, is desperate to be free from Lieutenant Hawkins (Sam Claflin), the cruel soldier she works under. Hawkins and a few of his men leave their post after inflicting unspeakable crimes and harrowing abuse on Clare. She decides to pursue them and reluctantly hires an Aboriginal tracker named Billy (Baykali Ganambarr), setting off through an unforgiving terrain. Clare and Billy must overcome their own suspicions and misconceptions about each other on their way to a shared trust and understanding. Uncategorized News Briefs, News Brief, news briefs examples, dallas morning news briefing, latest news briefs, world news briefs, world news briefing, News Briefing, news briefing app, news briefing today, abc business news, Citi Business News, IN BUSINESS NEWS, CBC Business News, tunisie business news, tanzania business news, kuwait business news, chronicle business news, chennai business news, insurance business news, business cloud news, indianapolis business news, healthcare business news, business travel news, business traveller news, business traveler news, travel business news, tv business news, us news business school rankings If you want a good camping vacation and want to find gold I have just the spot for you. Princton BC was noted for the gold found in the late 1880's. You will find Granite city which is now a ghost town. Lots of gold and platinum was found in the area. Tim Buckley Five major financial institutions in Asia have over the past six weeks announced plans to move away from financing coal fired power plants, signalling an accelerating trend across the region out of coal towards renewables. Singapore big three banks DBS Group Holdings (DBS), United Overseas Bank (UOB), and the Oversea Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), Southeast Asia second largest lender have each announced ending financing for new coal fired power plants in the last month. This builds on ground breaking moves by State Development Investment Corporation (SDIC), the first major domestic Chinese financial institution to completely exit the coal industry in March 2019, and Japan Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), the biggest bank in the world outside China, that announced a coal exit in April 2019. Echoing what was originally a largely European phenomenon, the recent Asian exodus highlights growing regional concerns over [Read more.] about Global trends see Asian powers quitting coal As half the year has passed, up to 7% discount for RuneScape gold, OSRS gold and all other products is available on RSorder for Mid-Year Big Offers until June 19, 2020. Notes: 5% off code "BMY5" for All orders. 7% off code "BMY7" for $120+ orders. Besides, 5% off code "RSYK5" is also offered for Runescape 3 Gold / Osrs gold and all other products. Buy from https://www.rsorder.com/rs-gold at anytime. DHgate.com ("the Company"), China's largest small-scale business-to-business cross-border e-commerce marketplace and the official cross-border e-commerce partner of the 127 th Canton Fair, launched a dedicated landing page: https://www.dhgate.com/activities/promotion/tradeshow.html . It has brought over 10,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and over ten million SKUs, enriching Canton Fair's product portfolio. Further, leveraging its affluent small business customers in 220 countries generated over the past 16 years, DHgate.com has further enhanced the fair's customer base with about 28 million high-quality small business customers. As one merchant in DHgate.com, Zhejiang Pujiang County Shengkai Textile Factory ("Shengkai Company") is the first time joining the virtual fair after ten years' offline exhibition in the Canton Fair. Mr. Tiantian Zhang, sales manager of Shengkai Company, said, "Due to the pandemic, the number of large orders has decreased, and we have to proactively look for small orders, hoping to attract small businesses through DHgate.com. Identifying online buyers has become an issue for us. But DHgate.com provides clear portraits of international buyers, traceable transaction information, and risk control mechanism, which is quite helpful for us to tap into global opportunities." Live streaming has been a popular sales channel for DHgate.com's merchants. It has set up several 24-hour live streaming channels, which is the only platform that can provide ten-language live streaming services, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Korean, and Turkish. The Company launched a trial live broadcast from 20 to 30 May, attracting more than 2 million viewers. The largest number of viewers in one live broadcast program reached 12,000, and the highest transaction amount in one program was about US$1 million. For a long period, the Canton Fair has been an essential platform for enterprises to explore the international market. Affected by the pandemic, the virtual format has become a vital channel and a new norm to promote international trade. Apart from this virtual expo, DHgate.com will collaborate with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) China to organize a virtual seminar on the last day of the Canton Fair on June 24. ABAC members and representatives of leading digital economy enterprises will share experiences and trends on the digital transformation and supply chain upgrade of MSMEs in and after the pandemic, providing recommendations to help MSMEs survive and thrive. About DHgate.com Founded in 2004, DHgate.com has become one of the leading cross border e-commerce marketplaces in China. In 2019, DHGate.com served more than 28 million registered buyers from over 220 countries and regions, by connecting them to over 2.2 million suppliers in China and other countries, with over 23 million products. For more information, please visit dhgate.com and follow @DHgate.com. About Canton Fair The China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, was established in 1957. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of PRC and the People's Government of Guangdong Province and organized by China Foreign Trade Centre, it is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou, China. Canton Fair is a comprehensive international trading event with the longest history, the largest scale, the most complete exhibit variety, the largest buyer attendance, the broadest distribution of buyers' source country and the greatest business turnover in China. For more information, visit https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/. SOURCE DHgate.com Related Links https://www.dhgate.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - Read more about increased tensions between North and South Korea, what caused a massive cell network outage, get the latest coronavirus updates and check out more stories trending online today. Top trending news North destroys inter-Korean liaison office as tensions rise (AP) T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon customers report cellphone outages across the United States (MassLive) Atlanta mayor orders police reforms following fatal police shooting of Rayshard Brooks (Fox News) Latest coronavirus news from around the globe Coronavirus recommendations ignored as case numbers rise (Washington Post) Coronavirus outbreak linked to Beijing wholesale food market could impact Chinas meat imports (CNBC) DeSantis defies critics as coronavirus spreads in Florida (Politico) 55% Of U.S. Coronavirus Cases In CDC Analysis Are Black And Hispanic (Forbes) 24 Hour Fitness files for bankruptcy, closes over 130 gyms amid coronavirus pandemic (Fox Business) European stocks surge after US Federal Reserve move calms markets (Yahoo) Reimagined buffet first to open on Vegas strip (Fox Las Vegas) Other top trending stories today Manfred now less confident about 2020 season; players disgusted by backtracking (ESPN) WNBA Plans to Play 2020 Season in Florida Starting Late July (Fox Chicago) Supreme Court extends federal civil rights protection in workplace to all LGBTQ employees (LA Times) 14-year-old boy sentenced in Tessa Majors stabbing death in New York City (CBS News) Feds to review investigations into two Black men found hanging in Southern California (NBC News) Weird green glow spotted in atmosphere of Mars (Space.com) The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) for not following its order permitting the sale of limited BS-IV vehicles after March 31, after which BS-VI emission norms came into force. A bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra, observed that the court allowed the sale and registration of 1.05 lakh BS-IV vehicles, but it seems 2.55 lakh vehicles were sold. Seeking details of sale and registration from the FADA by Friday, the court said: "Where is the affidavit? What will happen to the vehicles that you have already sold? Do you think this is a game?" The court also asked the Centre to provide information on the sale and registration of BS-IV vehicles. On March 27, the apex court had allowed the sale of BS-IV compliant vehicles for 10 days, barring Delhi-NCR, after the lifting of the nationwide lockdown, which was announced by the Prime Minister due to the outbreak of coronavirus. The apex court had fixed the deadline of March 30 for the sale of BS-IV compliant vehicles across the country but made it clear that no BS-IV vehicles will be allowed to be sold in Delhi-NCR from April 1. The bench had given this extension to clear 10 per cent of the unsold inventory after the lockdown. The FADA moved the court, seeking relaxation on this deadline. In a plea before the court, the association urged the court to extend the deadline for the sale of their unsold inventory, as the sales have literally gone dead amid coronavirus scare besides the ongoing economic slowdown in the country. Bharat Stage (BS) emission norms are standards instituted by the government to regulate the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles. The BS-IV norms came into force across the country in April 2017. The FADA urged the court to extend the deadline for a considerable period, which may allow dealers to fill the gap on sales, lost due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown. It cited the possibility of large bankruptcies and loss of jobs if the inventory is unsold. Also Watch: As FADA contended that 15,000 passenger cars, 12,000 commercial vehicles, and seven lakh 2-wheelers are already at stake due to BS-IV deadline, Justice Mishra said: " We should have sympathy for BS-VI, protecting the environment is important." The FADA insisted that BS-IV stock worth 7,000 crore is still lying unsold, and sought 30 more days to sell BS-IV vehicles. By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan has seen the rise in COVID-19 since the relaxation of nationwide lockdown on May 18. As of June 16, the nation of ten million, has registered 10,324 COVID-19 cases and 122 coronavirus-related deaths. The country introduced weekend lockdown on June 6-7 and another two-day weekend on June 14-15 to curb the spread of the disease. The head of working group on infectious diseases under the Azerbaijani Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) Vasif Aliyev warned on June 12 that in case of further spike in infection cases, the country may transition from weekend lockdowns to long- term tightened quarantine regime. Vasif Aliyev said that if citizens fails to comply by social distancing rules, the surge in COVID-19 cases is inevitable. If this continues, the two-day tightened quarantine will not work and the infection will increase. The treatment of asymptomatic patients at home, including the transition to a long-term tightened quarantine regime, may become relevant. In Europe and other countries of the world such services were provided to asymptomatic patients, Aliyev said. Aliyev noted that the weekend lockdowns will not be helpful if citizens do not wearing face masks during week days. Furthermore, he said that case of surge in coronavirus cases, asymptomatic patients may have to be treated at home due to shortage of beds in clinics whereas currently all coronavirus patients in Azerbaijan are being treated in hospitals. If the disease becomes more widespread in the future and there is a shortage of beds after placing patients in clinics, mildly ill patients will stay at home and district doctors will provide them with outpatient care. The relevant protocols have already been developed and are in the final stage of study, he added. Naturally, the clinical condition of patients who were asymptomatic in the first days may deteriorate later. Therefore, we are in favor of treating asymptomatic patients in hospitals as much as possible to reduce the risk of mortality, he said. Furthermore, he touched upon the issue of lack of places in Bakus pandemic hospitals. Taking into account the density of population and expectation of such problems, hospitals of modular type are created. Doctors work 24 hours a day. We are trying to increase the number of places in hospitals and receive patients. In general, the highest percentage of overcrowding is observed in the pandemic hospitals of Baku, he emphasized. "We may witness a critical situation not only in Ganja, but also in Baku and other places. Some stay at home, hide the disease, which leads to more serious problems. In this regard, doctors have asked the population in Ganja to stop hiding the presence of the virus. I know many people who hide the infection of family members with coronavirus. And such cases increase the infection rate. If there are many cases of infection, patients with mild form of infection will have to stay home, Aliyev stressed. Additionally, he said that the coronavirus test results usually come out after 24 hours, but due to the large number of tests, there may be slight delays. Aliyev stressed that despite the application of a special quarantine regime, the rules must be followed throughout the week. If during the week no masks are used, no social distance is observed, the number of cases of infection will increase again, he stated. Likewise, it was stated that if a person does not comply with the requirements of the police during quarantine and poses a threat of infection, he is criminally liable and may be taken to the police station. As it was already stated the purpose of the special quarantine regime at the end of the week is to minimize contacts and reduce the level of contamination. Azerbaijan first introduced special quarantine regime on March 24 and the fourth stage of quarantine regime easing came into force on May 31. On June 14-16 a two- day nationwide special quarantine regime were imposed in Baku, Ganja, Lankaran, Sumgayit, Absheron, Yevlakh, Ismailli, Kurdamir and Salyan regions, with the ban for citizens to leave the place of residence. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Over a year into the war in Tripoli, Egypt proposed June 6 a political initiative to resolve the Libyan crisis. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stated during a joint conference with Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Gen. Khalifa Hifter and Speaker of the Tobruk-based Libyan parliament Aqila Saleh that the initiative will be the beginning of a new stage toward a return to a normal, safe life in Libya, warning against insisting on the military option to resolve the crisis. The initiative includes a cease-fire that went into effect June 8, returning to negotiations and compelling all foreign parties to remove mercenaries and the LNA to shoulder its responsibilities in combating terrorism. It also suggested a proposal to reconstitute the Presidential Council, which was formed in 2015, and urged each of the eastern region, the western region and the southern region to form an electoral system; each region to choose a representative for the Presidential Council; and each region to obtain a proportional number of ministerial portfolios according to their population. The initiative set a transitional period of 18 months, which can be extended with a maximum of six months, during which all Libyan state institutions, especially the main economic institutions, will be reorganized. Immediately after Cairo announced its initiative to solve the Libyan crisis, Egyptian army forces moved from the Mohamed Naguib military base near the port city of Alexandria to the western borders with Libya. On June 10, the Egyptian Army's Chief of Staff Mohammed Farid visited the army forces in the western area, and noted during his meeting with a number of officers that the Egyptian army is on high alert to combat all dangers. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia welcomed the Egyptian initiative, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised Egypt's efforts to solve the Libyan crisis politically during a June 8 phone call with Sisi. Russian President Vladimir Putin also praised the Cairo initiative during a June 8 phone conversation with Sisi, stressing that the initiative is working to undermine illegal foreign interventions in the Libyan issue that contribute to fueling the crisis. On June 10, US President Donald Trump phoned Sisi to welcome the Egyptian efforts to achieve a political settlement and end the violence by supporting the cease-fire in Libya. However, the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) did not adhere to the proposed cease-fire, and it continued to fight to control the strategic coastal city of Sirte and the Jufra base. On June 7, GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha told Bloomberg, Upon retaking the Mediterranean city of Sirte and the Jufra base in central Libya, the internationally recognized government in Tripoli will be open to entering into political talks. On June 8, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted during an interview with TRT Arabi, The successes achieved by [Fayez] al-Sarraj government have driven Hifter over the edge, and the GNAs efforts to liberate Sirte and control the Jufra base are ongoing. According to my point of view and recent developments, Hifter will be out of the equation in Libya at any moment now. On June 15, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that his country is working with Russia to end the fighting in Libya. The Cairo initiative followed LNA field losses, as it withdrew from the city of Tarhouna June 5 after the GNA forces took control of al-Watiyah base May 18. During a June 9 press conference, Erdogan ruled out a military solution to the Libyan crisis, stressing, however, that Ankara would continue to support the GNA militarily. On June 11, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that Ankara rejected the Egyptian initiative, stressing it is possible that the cease-fire in Libya could be sponsored by the United Nations. At a June 8 press conference, LNA spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Mismari commented on the GNAs failure to adhere to the Cairo cease-fire proposal, saying, The militias' refusal to Cairos proposal is cutting off the voices calling for peace, and the military operations will thus continue until they either commit to the initiative or they are eliminated. Although the cease-fire was not implemented, the UN Support Mission in Libya announced June 10 the resumption of the third round of Libya's 5+5 military talks with the participation of both the GNA and the LNA. Ramzi al-Rumaih, adviser to the Libyan Organization for National Security Studies, told Al-Monitor, The Egyptian initiative received Arab and international support because everyone realized that the continuation of the war in Libya threatens the stability of the region and that Turkish violations threaten European interests and affect Egyptian national security. He added, Turkey and the GNA are opposed to the Egyptian initiative because it requires the dissolution of the militias, and the political decision within the GNA is subject to the approval of the militia lords and mercenaries. Rumaih noted, Turkey wants to control the city of Sirte and the Jufra base before agreeing to any negotiations, due to their proximity to the countrys oil crescent, and thus allows it to control Libyan oil. In the same context, Libyan parliamenarian Ziad Daghaim told Al-Monitor, The Cairo initiative is important in terms of content and timing, and so it has imposed itself on the international community as an appropriate solution to the Libyan crisis. He added, Turkey does not want to hold elections as the Egyptian initiative proposed, because Ankara wants to keep GNA Prime Minister Sarraj alone in power with his control over oil revenues, so the political track will be disrupted by setting obstacles to military negotiations. Daghaim added, Sarraj understands that his fate is threatened if the elections are held in Libya, so Turkey will not commit to a political solution so it can preserve its gains. (TNS) - Midland County and surrounding areas are one step closer to possibly receiving federal financial help after the devastating flooding in May.On Monday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer emailed a 16-page letter and 34 pages of supporting documents, including maps and photos, to President Donald Trump, requesting a major disaster declaration for the State of Michigan in response to the flooding in Midland, Saginaw, Gladwin, Arenac and Iosco counties.A major disaster declaration would make Michigan eligible for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).The flooding in Midland and Saginaw counties and northern Gladwin County resulted from the failure of the Edenville Dam and the consequent failure of the Sanford Dam.Whitmer's email was sent through the office of FEMA Regional Administrator James Joseph, who is based in Chicago and who visited Midland shortly after the flooding. The letter begins as follows:"Dear Mr. President:"Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR 206.36, I request that you declare a major disaster for the State of Michigan as a result of widespread and severe flooding and dam failures that struck the counties of Arenac, Gladwin, Iosco, Midland, and Saginaw, starting on May 17, 2020.""Without significant assistance from the federal government, residents will suffer financial hardships for years as they attempt to repair and restore their damaged homes to pre-flood condition, repair or replace mechanical and electrical systems, take measures to ensure their homes are free of mold and other health hazards, and replace personal belongings. The inability to afford repairs could ultimately lower the property value of residences and, subsequently, regional tax revenue. Residents may need to devote their discretionary income and savings to unplanned expenses for removing debris, restoring their homes, and replacing personal belongings instead of supporting area businesses."Whitmer also addressed the impact of the flooding on roads and bridges:"One of the most significant impacts to the community were the effects of the flooding on road travel throughout the disaster area. Many segments of road were inaccessible due to damages and standing water, and the biggest challenge for travel across the area arises from the impacts that river flooding had on many bridges, which had to be temporarily closed, have been permanently damaged or were destroyed. These damages have created the challenge that long stretches of rivers could not be crossed. For example, in Gladwin County, there was no crossing over the Tittabawassee River for a stretch of 30 miles. In Saginaw County, the impacts to all four bridges crossing the river caused detours of up to one-and-a-half hours for trips that might normally only take minutes. The bridge outages separated entire county areas from each other, impacting travel for commutes, business and commerce, and day-to-day activities of residents, and increased emergency vehicle response times."The flooding has resulted in more than $190 million in losses for residents and over $42 million in damages to public buildings and infrastructure, according to Whitmer's office.The flood damage assessments sent to Whitmer's office by Midland County alone totaled $175 million in damage to homes, businesses and nonprofits, and $34 million in public property damage and emergency response costs.Last months flooding and dam failures upended the lives of thousands of Michigan families and business owners at a time when we were just beginning to reopen our economy following weeks of working to mitigate the spread of COVID-19," Whitmer said in a news release. This natural disaster, coupled with a global health pandemic, has created enormous stress and emotional trauma for these residents, and they need the federal governments help to begin rebuilding their lives.In May, Whitmer declared a State of Emergency for Midland and Gladwin counties and requested and received aid from FEMA to help in the cleanup effort.This 500-year disaster has impacted everyone from homeowners and renters to businesses and farmers throughout mid-Michigan, and I urge the federal government to provide the resources necessary to ensure they dont suffer financial hardships for years as they attempt to repair and restore their damaged homes and businesses, Whitmer said. We will get through this together and will emerge stronger on the other side.U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, whose Fourth Congressional District includes Midland and Gladwin counties and part of Saginaw County, released the following statement in a news release Monday right after Whitmer had sent the request to Trump:"The devastation caused by this historic flooding destroyed homes and upended the lives of so many residents. These residents need assistance that goes beyond what local and state government can provide, and I hope that the federal government will quickly approve the request so additional resources will be available for those in need. I have been communicating with federal officials throughout this process and I am encouraged by what I have heard from FEMA."Finally, I want to thank all of the residents who filled out the property damage assessments. Their documentation was vital to our state and local leaders in making this request to the federal government."The release states Moolenaar is leading an upcoming bipartisan, bicameral letter from members of the Michigan Congressional delegation in support of Whitmer's request for a major disaster declaration.2020 the Midland Daily News (Midland, Mich.)Visit the Midland Daily News (Midland, Mich.) at www.ourmidland.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. T he Duke of Cambridge has joked that he is looking forward to the pubs reopening as he made his first royal appearance in person since lockdown. William also said he was worried about the nation's waistline as he ended three months in lockdown to thank hardworking ambulance crews. The Duke greeted heroes at King's Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. Williams visit follows others made earlier on Tuesday by his father the Prince of Wales and aunt the Princess Royal, as the royal family began returning to normal duties as the lockdown eased. The Duke of Cambridge places a thermometer in his ear to check his temperature / PA He passed a Covid-19 temperature test and washed his hands before stopping himself from shaking hands with hard-working staff from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) The Duke, 37, said: "I'm still fighting the urge to shake hands. I'm keeping my hands by my side." Staff told the Duke how they had been deep cleaning ambulances every 24 hours at the station during the crisis. William said: "I imagine you are very thorough." He tahnked ambulance crew workers / PA William was told ambulance crews had enough PPE during the crisis but described how the wearing the masks were a "barrier" to treating terrified patients - but found a way to cope. Some paramedics at King's Lynn had been away from their families for three months to keep them safe, he was told. The ambulance station had put out an appeal for volunteers and received a "huge response", Carl Smith, critical care paramedic, revealed. "The call to arms has been fantastic", Mr Smith added. William praised the staff, saying: "How was it for dealing with the unknown. Most jobs you have experienced and done for a long time but this was completely new for the NHS." The prince said he missed the pub / PA "You guys have managed extremely well organised extremely well. I imagine the complexities involved have been quite challenging." Mr Smith described the distress patients, especially the elderly, showed when crews arrived first at the scene in their protective outfits to treat Covid-19 patients in their homes. He said: "It was a really difficult time. We were the first people (on the scene) and they were frightened and a lot of them were frail. "It was upsetting to see they look on their faces when we had the PPE on." William and Kate launched Our Frontline initiative to support mental health of frontline workers during the pandemic. Supported by The Royal Foundation, Our Frontline is run in partnership with Mind, Samaritans, Hospice UK and Shout85258. He added: "I imagine there's going to be a big impact in terms of mental health for frontline workers "A statistic I read the other day was that male paramedics were 75 per cent higher risk of severe mental health issues. "How do we get guys to talk about issues?" Staff told the Duke managers had all been given three hours 'Spot The Signs' training for staff. The Duke of Cambridge meets paramedic staff while maintaining social distancing / PA William added: "You are the first people on the scene so by osmosis you take in emotions around you it's how best you make sure the training is there from the beginning." William told staff he enjoyed the weekly Clap For Carers initiative during the crisis. "It was powerful wasn't it," he said. "We are very busy, and when everyone stops and finds a way to acknowledge very publicly and very visibly what the service does, [that] is very important. "Everyone appreciates the NHS. We have an amazing system, it's a great health service and many countries around the world envy what we have. It's not until you have a big crisis [like a] pandemic and everyone realises we have to really make sure we value, and we show our appreciation." However he later joked: "I look forward to messages when we can drink more and go out to the local pub and have a pint." Staff laughed and told the royal morale had been high at the ambulance station. He thanked paramedics working away from their families for their "sacrifices". But joked again, adding: "I'm worried about the waistline of the nation as well with all the chocolate and cakes. I've done a lot of baking at home. Chocolate goes down very well." The Royal Family working from home 1 /10 The Royal Family working from home Kate and Prince William video chatting with NHS workers BBC Queen Elizabeth working from home Royal Handout Meghan Markle video calling with the women from the Hubb Community Kitchen Zoom Prince Harry video calling with several people associated with his patronage WellChild Zoom The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their Zoom call with pupils Kensington Royal Kate Middleton and Prince William (bottom right) video calling Public Health England Kensington Palace/PA Prince Charles in his work from home setup Clarence House Camilla with her work from home setup Clarence House Afterwards, Aimee Horton paramedic said: "He understood the pressures we were under." The visit came exactly three months since the duke's last public engagement at London Ambulance NHS 111 centre in Croydon, on March 16. The Duke of Cambridge, 37, a former air ambulance pilot, has been in lockdown with Kate, 38, George, 6, Charlotte, 5, and two-year-old Louis. They have been restricted to making telephone and video calls during royal appearances. Kate with midwives in Kingston - In pictures 1 /5 Kate with midwives in Kingston - In pictures The Duchess of Cambridge has praises midwives Kensington Palace via Getty Images The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to staff during the time in November she spent at Kingston Hospitals Maternity Unit Kensington Palace via Getty Images Kate alongside a baby and parents during her visit in November Kensington Palace via Getty Images Kate joined staff in November Kensington Palace via Getty Images William worked as an air ambulance pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance between March 2015 and July 2017. EAAA provides round-the-clock accident and emergency services to 6.2 million people living in the east of England. The service operates over 130 sites and works closely with other blue lights partners, including air ambulances, to ensure that every patient receives the best possible care. The British pilot, Vietnams 91st COVID-19 patient, is able to stand and is undergoing physical therapy with the support of medical workers, according to HCM Citys Cho Ray Hospital. The British pilot is undergoing physical therapywith the support of medical workers atHCM Citys Cho Ray Hospital. Photo zingnews.vn The development is a miracle, said doctors from the hospital on Tuesday. Several days ago, the patient, Stephen Cameron, could sit up in a wheelchair and enjoy the fresh air on the balcony of the hospital. He could move his hands and legs, press key on a keyboard, and use a mobile phone. Doctors said he still needed time to regain use of his leg muscles. He has been disconnected from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for 13 days and come off the ventilator for three days, said Associate Professor Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the health ministry's Department of Medical Examination and Treatment and deputy head of treatment unit under the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control. The patient is in a stable condition and is able to talk. Hand and arm muscles have gradually recovered. About four fifths of his leg muscles have recovered. He undergoes physical therapy twice a day. The committees treatment unit said the British pilot needs many weeks to recover. During the recovery period, there might be new phases of infections. According to Dr Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, director of HCM Citys Hospital of Tropical Diseases, the company which sold insurance to the patient agreed to cover expenses for 65 days he was treated at the hospital. The expenses were estimated to reach VN3.5 billion (US$152,000). The 91st patient has been treated at hospitals for 89 days. He was moved from the Hospital of Tropical Diseases to the Intensive Care Unit of Cho Ray Hospital on May 22 with severely damaged lungs. He was the most critical COVID-19 patient in Viet Nam and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 at least six times. As of Tuesday morning, 323 out of 334 COVID-19 patients in Viet Nam have recovered. Among 11 active cases being treated at six healthcare facilities nationwide, two tested negative once; three tested negative at least twice. Landing home About 266 Vietnamese citizens in Kuwait, Qatar and Egypt have been repatriated to Viet Nam on Monday and Tuesday and quarantined upon arrival. Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Tran Thanh Cong and Vietnamese citizens about to board the flight back home. The Bamboo Airways flight bringing them back home safely landed at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCM City. The passengers are pregnant women, those under 18 years old, critically-ill people and workers whose labour contracts have expired or who are on unpaid leave due to the pandemic. Under the Prime Ministers directions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transport, domestic agencies and Viet Nams overseas representative agencies have arranged a number of flights to bring Vietnamese citizens home. On the basis of the pandemics developments in the country and the world, citizens aspirations and local quarantine capacity, more flights are set to be conducted to repatriate Vietnamese citizens. VNS TECUMSEH, MI - Parents who recently visited a Tecumseh Public Schools building have been told they were potentially exposed to a staff member who recently tested positive for COVID-19. The district was notified Monday, June 15, that a staff member from its South Early Learning Center tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The staff member was assisting June 8 and 9 when people picked up items left behind by students after Gov. Gretchen Whitmers executive order closed schools in mid-March, district officials said. All individuals who were identified as close contacts - within six feet of the staff member for 10 minutes or more - have been directed to quarantine, Superintendent Rick Hilderley said. Those affected are being monitored for symptoms by the Lenawee County Health Department and have been provided with an opportunity for testing, school officials said. Because contact between teachers and students during the event was brief and happened outside, district officials said the risk of contracting COVID-19 is low. Teachers followed Center for Disease Control precautions during the pick-up event, wearing masks and maintaining distance while encountering parents and students who pulled through the bus drop off area to pick up their items, Hilderley said. All Tecumseh Public Schools buildings are being sanitized and cleaned using CDC guidelines, Hilderley said. New safety protocols currently are being developed as the district looks to return to teaching and learning in the fall, Hilderley said. Tecumseh Public Schools has established a committee to work out details on how to best conduct in-person learning, but will continue to look to the governors advisory group for further guidance on safe conduct in the fall, he said. Everybody who sits in the chair that I sit in at districts around the state of Michigan is either working on a plan, has a plan worked out or is waiting for more information from the state level, Hilderley said. It isnt going to be easy. There arent any guidebooks or rules for this situation, so we have to see what works and what doesnt and keep safety at the forefront of all of our decisions. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. READ MORE: Tuesday, June 16: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan mandates testing after confirming nearly 2,000 coronavirus deaths in nursing homes The Tecumseh School Board wanted to make its district great again. What it got was a meltdown In the sprawling refugee camps of Darfur, the war-scarred western region of Sudan, officials say the elderly are falling sick and dying at astonishing rates. In North Darfur's provincial capital of El Fasher, some say they scroll through a dozen death announcements each day: Another old friend, relative, community leader lost with dizzying speed. Doctors in the region's few functioning hospitals report an influx of patients with symptoms like a lost sense of taste, breathing troubles and fevers. The official causes of their untimely deaths remain ``unknown.'' Humanitarian workers and medical personnel believe the coronavirus is spreading unchecked and untracked through Sudan's most marginalized territory, where medical facilities are few and far between and where years of conflict have left some 1.6 million people crammed into refugee camps. Nationwide, Sudan has reported 6,879 coronavirus infections and 433 deaths, according to the Health Ministry. Of those, 193 cases and 54 fatalities have been confirmed across Darfur _ a figure experts believe is a vast undercount. Since the beginning of the pandemic, public health officials have sounded the alarm that the coronavirus will take a disastrous toll on the world's most vulnerable regions, particularly refugee camps, where social distancing, even hand-washing, prove impossible. ``People in the camps are suffocating, they can't breathe,'' said Mohamed Hassan Adam, director of Abushouk displacement camp in North Darfur. Just a corner of the camp saw 64 unexplained deaths in one month, he said. His four neighbors, all in their sixties, grew feeble and vanished one by one. ``They get exhausted then they die. There is no way to tell what happened,`` he said. Authorities are scrambling to curb the spread of contagion amid a fragile democratic transition after massive protests last year toppled longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. ``We are in the eye of the storm,'' said Ashraf Issa, spokesman for the U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, referring to the country's exponential surge in infections. Sudan's health care system is in disarray after years of war and sanctions. Dire shortages of protective equipment and staff nationwide prompted strikes by medical workers as infections rise in their ranks. A drastic undersupply of drugs and hard currency forces the sick to purchase essential medicine out of pocket. A lack of fuel has made it increasingly difficult for doctors and patients to reach hospitals. ``These are the problems that Sudan faces everywhere, but in Darfur it is more severe,'' said Dr. Babikir El Magboul, director of the Health Ministry's Emergency and Epidemiology Department. ``It's like a separate continent.'' Many in Darfur's camps are undernourished and weakened by infectious diseases like malaria and acute watery diarrhea. At Abushouk camp, each bathroom is shared by dozens of people. Around the territory, markets and mosques _ along with a growing number of funerals _ continue to draw crowds. Darfur, with a population of 9 million, has only around 600 health facilities, or one per 15,000 people. With facilities scattered over an area the size of Spain, residents in rural areas must travel long distances to reach one. Doctors say quarantine centers have no more than a few dozen beds, two or three ventilators and cheap gowns and surgical masks for protection equipment. Before a new testing center opened this month in Nyala, South Darfur, testing was centralized in one laboratory in the capital, Khartoum, which processes just around 270 samples each day. Health workers in Darfur say that results can take a week to come through. To fill the gap, some local doctors are working to grasp the virus' toll. When El Fasher saw a spike in over 200 ``mysterious'' fatalities in just two weeks, officials launched an investigation. Dr. Taher Ahmed, deputy dean of El Fasher University's medical college, attributed around 50 fatalities to COVID-19, but said it was still likely an undercount. Doctors in West and Central Darfur provinces also reported an unusual increase in deaths. Dr. Abdullah Adam, a radiology doctor, said he knew of 47 acquaintances who died the past month after showing coronavirus symptoms in villages around Kabkabiya, near El-Fasher. Among them were two of his uncles, he said. One family he knew lost a brother and sister in the same week. Some camps in the north saw 10 to 15 people a day dying the past week, compared to the normal rate of 5 to 10 a month, said Adam Regal, spokesman for a local organization that runs some camps. ``We're losing a whole generation,'' said Gamal Abdulkarim Abdullah, director of Zam Zam camp. He said he documented 70 dead the past week. ``The sharp mortality increase in Darfur is mostly linked to COVID-19, although not purely,'' said Dr. El Magboul. Amid the pandemic, people with other illnesses are struggling to find treatment. Yousef Saleh, the 70-year-old leader of El Fasher's Great Mosque, died earlier this month because he couldn't receive his usual diabetes care. Darfur's violent past has bred distrust that further corrodes government health efforts. Conflict flared in the territory when African minority rebels launched a revolt in 2003 over oppression by al-Bashir's Arab-dominated government. Al-Bashir waged a brutal counterinsurgency campaign, including mass rapes and killings. The trauma remains even after al-Bashir's fall. Camp residents think the coronavirus is a conspiracy to ``keep people in their homes where the old regime can come and kill them,'' said Abdullah, Zam Zam's director. Hassan Adam of Abushouk scoffed when asked whether people call the government hotline to report suspected cases. ``The government barely knows we exist,'' he said. It hasn't helped that local authorities have clamped down on reporting. After two female journalists published an article about the high mortality rate in El Fasher and lack of protective equipment for doctors, they were promptly harassed and threatened with arrest by a military officer, according to the Darfur Journalist Association. Many saw the incident as an ominous sign. ``When people are in the dark, they don't take things seriously,'' said Dr. Abdullah Adam. ``I fear the worst is yet to come.'' Search Keywords: Short link: Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The Global Candles Market is expected to register noteworthy growth during the forecast period. One of the significant reasons for the growth of the candles market is the rising use of scented candles as a homecare product. Increasing per capita disposable incomes have affected consumer spending behavior. Consumers are more likely to spend on home furnishings, such as candles, which is expected to drive demand. Scented candles find widespread application in aromatherapy which includes pain management and the treatment of cardiovascular disease, insomnia, and colds and coughs. Major Key Players: Some of the key players in the global candles market are Diannes Custom Candles, LLC (US), Dandong Everlight Candle Industry Co., Ltd (China), ZHONG Nam Industrial (International) Co., Ltd (Hong Kong), Empire Candle Co., LLC (US), BeCandle (Hong Kong), SC Johnson & Son, Inc. (US), Bolsius International BV (Netherlands), The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. (US), Candle-lite (US), Armadilla Wax Works, Inc. (US), Colonial Candle (US), Vollmar GmbH (Germany), Gies Kerzen GmbH (Germany), Bath & Body Works Direct, Inc. (US), and LVMH Moet Hennessy-Louis Vuitton (France). Get a Free Sample Copy Now @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7761 Industry Segments: The Global Candles Market has further been segmented by Material Type, Category, and Distribution Channel. The global candles market has also been segregated, on the basis of Material Type, into synthetic wax, paraffin wax, vegetable wax, and animal wax. The paraffin wax segment accounted for the majority market share in 2017; however, the vegetable wax segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. By Category, the global candles market has also been segregated into luxury candles and economical candles. The economical segment accounted for the larger market share in 2017, while the luxury candles segment is projected to register the higher CAGR during the forecast period. The global candles market has also been classified, on the basis of Distribution Channel, as store-based and non-store-based. The store-based segment accounted for a larger market share in 2017. However, the non-store-based segment is expected to exhibit higher CAGR during the forecast period. Regional Analysis: North America is expected to be the largest market for candles and the regional market is projected to register a substantial CAGR of 3.83% during the forecast period. The US is the major contributor to the growth of the North American candles market, followed by Canada. In North America, the shape, color, and scent of candles are the most important factors affecting sales in the region. Pillar, votive, and container candles are the most widely purchased candle types in the US. According to the National Candle Association, economical candles range between USD 1.99 to 35; however, luxury candle prices can go as high as USD 200. Moreover, the majority of candle sales, i.e., nearly 35% of annual sales, in the US, occur during Christmas time. In Canada, the trends for the candle industry are similar to that of the US. However, due to a smaller population, the market size is lower. However, the Canadian market is expected to register the highest growth rate due to the high immigration rate and increasing expat population size. Europe is also expected to account for a significant share of the global candles market and the regional market is projected to grow at a moderate pace during the forecast period. In 2017, the demand for candles in Europe was higher than production, according to the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI). The major candle importing countries include Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands. Spain and the UK represent lucrative growth opportunities for candle manufacturers mainly due to the popularity of aromatherapy and awareness of the health benefits of essential oil-infused candles. Access the full market data and information @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/candles-market-7761 Asia-Pacific held a prominent share of the global candles market in 2018 and the regional market is projected to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period. China is one of the leading markets in the region, accounting for the largest projected market share during the review period. However, the Indian market is expected to exhibit the highest growth rate of 5.78% during the forecast period. The major candle producing countries in the region include China, Vietnam, and India, with the bulk of production exported across the world. China and Vietnam together accounted for nearly 35% of all exports in 2017, according to MRFR analysis. South America accounted for the largest share of the market in the rest of the world in 2017 and the regional market is expected to register a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Moreover, the Middle East is a potential market for candles and is expected to register the highest CAGR of 5.03% during the forecast period. For the past 29 spring seasons, The Bread of Life Food Drive (BOLD), organized by The University of Notre Dame Alumni Club of Staten Island, has appealed to teachers and students in 131 Staten Island schools for donations of non-perishable food items, which students bring to school over a two-week period. The food would be collected by an army of 300 volunteers, who would then sort, pack and deliver nearly 70,000 food items to 26 not-for-profit organizations on Staten Island that serve people and families in need. You could say the collection of food was the annual Rite-of-Spring. The Staten Island tradition began back in May 1992 when alumni clubs of the University of Notre Dame across America and around the world were asked to give a gift of service to their community and do it in the name of Notre Dame. The Staten Island Club believed a spring-time food drive would be their one-time gift to the Staten Island community. However, as Joe Delaney, the current executive of BOLD stated, What we thought would be a one-and-done project turned into a 29-year commitment to fight hunger on Staten Island. As the years progressed, BOLD added more schools, that donated more food to more recipient food pantries and food banks. In 1992 BOLD collected 5,000 items of food from six schools, and delivered the food to three food banks. In 2019, BOLD collected almost 70,000 food items from 131 schools and donated the food to 25 not-for-profits serving people in need. The original leaders of BOLD included Delaney, with Pat McLaughlin and Dr. Bob Griswold. McLaughlin said, When we originally began BOLD, we thought we were addressing a homeless problem, but this was not just a homeless problem. Fighting hunger on Staten Island meant helping people disadvantaged by age, health issues, injuries, unemployment, domestic abuse or other personal crisis. In 2020 the Notre Dame Club and the BOLD Food Drive would confront a challenge called COVID-19, one that threatened to cancel this years endeavor. According to Delaney and club president Tom Ventrudo, Cancelling the 2020 Bread of Life was not an option. As early as January 2020, the clubs BOLD leadership team of Delaney, Griswold, Ventrudo, McLaughlin and Meg Ventrudo, Don Reilly and Liz Venditto, began the distribution of thousands of boxes to schools that were prepared to begin their BOLD Drive earlier than usual. Schools such as St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School did a late February food drive focused around Ash Wednesday. The Sea students filled hundreds of boxes with more than 2,000 food items for Catholic Charities food pantries. Paulo Intermediate School, PS 41 and 42 also received boxes and filled them with food during the first week of March. By March 21, thousands of boxes provided to BOLD through a City Council grant from Staten Island Council members Debi Rose, Joe Borelli and Steve Matteo and administered through the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) were filled and food distributed to food pantries across Staten Island. Yet, with the closing of public and private schools by the end of March, the BOLD food drive began to brainstorm new ways to support food pantries that were being overwhelmed by the demand. On April 22 the Notre Dame Club launched an on-line appeal for funding, with the collection of every dollar going to Staten Island food banks and pantries. The appeal for funding raised a whopping $95,000. Other ways BOLD managed to assist food banks, other than the on-line fundraising, was by filling hundreds of boxes with food from a Drive-Bye, Drop-Off Food Drive held in Our Lady of Pity R.C. Church parking lot. Organized by Deacon Mike Venditto, his wife Susan and son James, individuals drove into the parking lot and dropped off thousands of items of food and cash donations for local food banks. Students who run the Bread of Life Food Drive at Moore Catholic High School did on-line appealing and collection of food for pantries at Staten Islands North Shore communities. Joe Delaney, executive director of the Notre Dame Bread of Life Food Drive with Orit Lender, assistant executive director of the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island. (Courtesy/Joe Delaney)Staten Island Advance Please understand that BOLD had never publicly solicited funding for our food drive," Delaney said. This spring of COVID-19 the circumstances were exceptional and the need urgent and ongoing. Cancellation of BOLD was not an option. Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) The Nigerian Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday expressed disgust at the poor level of compliance of safety measures prescribed by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the basis of which the lockdown was partially lifted The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has filed letter patent appeal in Gujarat High Court (HC) against the decision of a single-judge Bench before another Bench of the same court. The appeal comes after the HC issued a stay order on e-voting by unit holders in the six schemes of Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund (MF) that were wound up. ALSO READ: Amrapali group auditor sent to 7-day custody by ED special court The matter is also likely to come up for hearing in the Supreme Court this week, where FT MF has filed an appeal against the HCs stay order. The ... Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more The next generation of Intel mobile processors will include malware protection built into the chip, the company announced Monday. The protection, provided by Intels Control-Flow Enforcement Technology (CET), will first be available in the companys Tiger Lake mobile processors, Vice President of Intels Client Computing Group Tom Garrison revealed. CET is designed to protect against the misuse of legitimate code through control-flow hijacking attacks, which is widely used in large classes of malware, he explained. Of the 1.097 vulnerabilities Trend Micro discovered through its Zero Day Initiative from 2019 to today, 63.2 percent were related to memory safety. As more proactive protections are built into the Windows OS, attackers are shifting their efforts to exploit memory safety vulnerabilities by hijacking the integrity of the control flow, noted David Weston, director of Enterprise and OS Security at Microsoft. As an opt-in feature in Windows 10, Microsoft has worked with Intel to offer hardware-enforced stack protection that builds on the extensive exploit protection built into Windows 10, he explained, to enforce code integrity as well as terminate any malicious code. Chip-Level Attacks With control-flow protections built into Intels hardware, it will be possible to detect memory attacks earlier in the process, noted Ray Vinson, senior product manager atSpirent, a telecommunications testing company in Sunnyvale, California. The attacker is making chip-level calls to initiate the memory attack. Software sees those calls, but only after theyre made, he told TechNewsWorld. By addressing the attack at the chip level, youre preventing the calls from ever taking place and preventing any resources from being taken up by the attack, Vinson explained. Memory overflow and software overflow attacks have been around as threats for years. By addressing this at the chip level, it starts to take this out as an option for the hacker, he added. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Among the leading malware attacks currently mounted by hackers are fileless attacks, where malicious code is loaded directly into memory, noted James McQuiggan, security awareness advocate for KnowBe4, a security awareness training provider in Clearwater, Florida. This style is difficult for antimalware applications to detect, since they look for binary, executable applications running from a hard drive, he told TechNewsWorld. Having the hardware join the fight against malicious software can decrease the successful attacks against endpoints in an organizations infrastructure, McQuiggan said. It adds another layer of protection between the human and the operating systems protective software to secure the endpoint and prevent a malware attack. Building security into the hardware architecture makes it much harder for an attacker to write successful exploits, said Nilesh Dherange, CTO of Gurucul, a risk intelligence company at El Segundo, California. This is a good move, potentially mitigating entire families of malware threats, he told TechNewsWorld. No Silver Bullet There can be advantages and disadvantages to baking security into hardware, noted Malek Ben Salem, Americas Security R&D lead for Accenture, a professional services company based in Dublin. Software is more flexible. You can deploy it on more architectures, and you can deploy it faster, she told TechNewsWorld. In hardware, though, you get less performance degradation, and its more effective in these kinds of attacks, Ben Salem continued. Organizations should take care not to embrace the technology too rapidly, cautioned KnowBe4s McQuiggan. What impact will the hardware have from falsely stopping instructions because it was considered an attack? he asked. While this is a new technology, organizations will want to make sure its adequately configured for their environments and not just expect it to stop all malware. A D V E R T I S E M E N T CET is no silver bullet against all attacks, warned Chris Clements, vice president of solutions architecture at Cerberus Sentinel, acybersecurity consulting and penetration testing company in Scottsdale, Arizona. Attackers routinely find ways to circumvent security protections, and depending on Intels implementation, the safeguards may turn out to be trivial to bypass, he told TechNewsWorld. Further, many breaches and ransomware attacks come not from cybercriminals exploiting vulnerable software, but rather from configuration errors like open S3 buckets, weak user passwords, and social engineering attacks like phishing, Clements continued. In these cases, no advanced exploit development is necessary to compromise their victims systems or data. Living in a Software-Defined World Added security in silicon is always a welcome addition, especially when dealing with memory re-use and buffer overflows, but it needs to be put in perspective. There is a long history of chipmakers over-reaching on embedding security in the chip and promising security gains that havent been there. McAfees acquisition by Intel was such a case, observed Greg Young, vice president of cybersecurity atTrend Micro, a cybersecurity solutions provider headquartered in Tokyo. So, hardware-assisted control flow is good, especially for embedded devices, but not a game-changer, as infrastructure and endpoints have never been self-defending and the bulk of attacks dont involve this vector, he told TechNewsWorld. Its a software-defined world, and with so much software in the stack, theres a lot of vulnerabilities to go after that dont involve the chip, Young said. Theres another potential snag for CET, Dherange pointed out. The implementation, as described, is an opt-in solution, which means that some developers wont expend the effort needed to integrate with CET, he said. That would leave their applications potentially vulnerable. Nevertheless, given the prevalence of memory safety vulnerabilities that CET addresses, this could be of huge benefit. The challenge will be how tightly developers adhere to it, Dherange maintained. CET isnt the only way to combat memory-based attacks, said Joe Saunders, CEO of RunSafe Security, an embedded systems security company in McLean, Virginia. Once developers start deploying on such hardware, they will need to consider the tradeoffs in performance overhead when considering enabling these protections at the hardware level, he told TechNewsWorld. There are alternative approaches, such as function-level load time randomization, that eliminate memory-based attacks without overhead performance impact or trade off, Saunders said. CET wont eliminate software protections and malware and antivirus tools, Accentures Ben Salem explained. This is another layer of defense thats monitoring whats happening in real time, she said, compared to software tools that are looking at malware files upline or in a sandbox environment. Chinese consular officials monitored and filmed an anti-Chinese Communist Party rally held outside of Western Australia's Parliament House, according to organisers. The rally to mark the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre held on June 4 was the first public commemoration in Perth in memory of the demonstration in 1989 in which hundreds of protesters died. Protesters hold anti-CCP signs during the protests on June 4. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola The event attracted about a dozen protesters, who gathered around the steps at Parliament House with anti-CCP signs displaying the slogans "time is up for CCP" and "time to say no to tyranny". But event co-organiser Tshung Chang said attendees had since raised concerns about their safety after Chinese consular officials Bin Xu and He Yifan were spotted monitoring and filming the event from the sideline. TDT | Manama Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) will be ready if a plan goes ahead to host a proposed second Formula 1 Grand Prix this year along its Outer Track, says BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa. Formula 1 managing director of motorsports Ross Brawn revealed last week that two different layouts of the Sakhir circuit could be used if two events are held in Bahrain later this year. The first would take place along BICs regular 5.412-kilometre Grand Prix Track, while the second will take place on the 3.664km Outer Track. Speaking with leading motor racing website motorsport.com, Shaikh Salman confirmed that the proposal is achievable. This idea of a different configuration was new, especially with the details that Ross went in to; but its interesting, and it is doable, Shaikh Salman was quoted as saying. It would be the first time the Outer Track is used for an international racing event. Weve never used it for a race, Shaikh Salman said. It was mainly designed so that you can run the inner track and the outer track at the same time. What weve done in the past is use it for corporate events. BIC chief operating officer and Bahrain Grand Prix clerk of the course Fayez Ramzy Fayez added: As far as homologation and safety are concerned, Ive walked that circuit with Charlie Whiting; hes the one who homologated it back then. So from the FIA circuit commissions point of view its pretty much the endurance circuit minus a bit, with a small straight connecting it. Marshalling wise, sporting wise, operationally, timing loops, its ready to go. Shaikh Salman said that BIC is still waiting for official confirmation from Formula 1 about hosting two Grands Prix in Bahrain this year, and that the circuit is working closely with the government on all health and safety measures should the events push through. Were still waiting for certain things to be announced, he said. Its still broad in terms of our race and Abu Dhabi. Its still not set. Last month, reports circulated that, based on a draft provisional calendar of the revised 2020 Formula 1 season, a pair of Bahrain Grands Prix could be held on back-to-back weekends, with the first between November 27 and 29 and the next between December 4 and 6. Unemployment at the beginning of the year was at eight per cent, the highest in Indias history. This was before the lockdown. Today it is around 20 per cent. PTI Photo Bhakt means devotee, someone wildly enthusiastic about someone or something. Hindi defines it as anuragi, someone offering unconditional and eternal love. The word bhakt is used to define the followers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They consider him a messianic figure, who will produce the change that India needs. In this manner of thinking, the Indian nation is being held back by other people (corrupt and incompetent politicians) and Narendra Modi is so different from them that he will reverse this and make India great again. I said manner of thinking, but it is not clear if this bhakti is thinking. Devotion is not a product of the intellect but that of passion. It is religious, and like in religion the bhakt here is also not concerned with the material world, and what happens in reality. The question is whether it is accurate to classify Modis supporters as bhakts. We must look at it objectively. The first item on the agenda of the Gujarat Model was supposed to be the economy. Indias economy will contract this year, meaning gross domestic product in 2020-2021 will be less than it was last year. This is something which has not happened in four decades. The contraction comes at the back of the consistent slowing of the economy each quarter for the last nine quarters. That has not happened anytime since 1947. This was before the lockdown. Ratings agency Moodys has downgraded India back to where it was in 2003. This will affect our creditworthiness and the cost at which India can raise money. It is not just a mark on a report card. We will all pay for this. The chief economic adviser to the government says he does not know whether the recovery will happen in the second half of the year or in the next year. Unemployment at the beginning of the year was at eight per cent, the highest in Indias history. This was before the lockdown. Today it is around 20 per cent. On Saturday, June 13, the Economist carried the headline: Indias lockdown has failed to stop the virus, but it has succeeded in halting the economy. The Economist is so close to Modi that it had reported in 2013 that he would contest in 2014 from Uttar Pradesh. I wrote then that it was wrong, and that Modi would contest only from Gujarat, but it was I who was wrong. The second item on the agenda was nationalism. Londons Telegraph revealed on Thursday what everyone in India knows but cannot be discussed -- that China has captured 60 sq km of Ladakh. On Friday, the French news agency AFP reported an unnamed senior Indian military officer stationed in the region as saying: The Chinese are refusing to move back from their newly captured positions, both in Pangong and Galwan Valley. They are consolidating the new status quo. I woke up on Saturday to the headline: 4 terrorists killed in Kulgam and Anantnag, encounter underway. This was the fourth time in the week that such a thing had happened. The long decline in fatalities in Kashmir starting in 2002 and bottoming out in 2014 has been reversed and violence is again on the way up. Meanwhile, not a single Kashmiri Pandit has returned to the Valley. The Line of Control with Pakistan has remained where it has been; the Line of Actual Control with China has been crossed by the Chinese. Having announced that India would fight under his leadership a Mahabharat against the coronavirus that would last three weeks, Prime Minister Modi has gone silent on what the next phase of the battle would be. The lockdown is gone, and cases are on the rise. As many have said before, Gujarat under Modi ignored healthcare and education. Today Gujarat has 10 times the number of Covid-19 cases as Kerala. Meanwhile, as if oblivious to the reality of the decline of India, Modi continues with his political games. Madhya Pradesh was toppled in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and now Rajasthan seems to be going under as a result of horse-trading. The capture of total political power seems to be the only aim. There is no real expectation of achieving something with it. This is the reality of India under Modi after six years, surely enough time for a messianic leader to produce the miracle. If he hasnt produced it, it is because he was never capable of producing it as many have been saying for a long time. His diagnosis was wrong, and his cures have been proved to be worse than the disease. The interesting thing is that it has made no difference to his supporters. They continue in their adulation. Real, concrete, verifiable damage to India inflicted under Mr Modi and inflicted because of him is acceptable to them. We can only conclude that it is indeed right to call them bhakts, meaning mindless devotees. Mutated strain that caused outbreak appears to have European origins Experts said it is extremely unlikely for seafood like salmon to be the carrier of the novel coronavirus, which was found on cutting boards for imported salmon at Beijing's Xinfadi wholesale market, China's new hot spot of COVID-19 infection. Beijing reported 36 new domestically transmitted cases on Saturday, all having direct or indirect links to Xinfadi market, the biggest wholesale food and vegetable market for the city. The market has been shut down to curb the spread of COVID-19. Zeng Guang, a senior researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Sunday that, based on preliminary analysis of the two early cases, the coronavirus strain in the latest outbreak is different from the ones found in China, and early data suggest it is a mutated variety from Europe. However, Zeng stressed that people should take this finding with a grain of salt as more testing is being conducted to confirm the origin of virus. Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiologist at the CDC, said in a statement on Saturday that fish in their natural habitat cannot catch coronavirus, however, they can be contaminated by workers during capture or transportation. China imports about 80,000 tons of cooled and frozen salmon each year, according to news site Jiemian.com. Chile, Norway, the Faeroe Islands, Australia and Canada are the main sources of salmon imports. Wu said that it cannot be concluded that salmon is the source of infection just because novel coronavirus was detected on cutting boards. "Our seafood products are typically stored and transported in cold containers, thus it is possible for the virus to be preserved for a long time and increase the likelihood of infecting people," he said. Wu said Beijing's new outbreak could have two possible explanations. The first may be the influx of meat and seafood to the market from all over the country and around the world. Some of it may have been contaminated by workers during processing and transportation, then the virus jumped from produce to people. The second possibility is person-to-person transmission. "The infected person who brought the virus into the market might be asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms, and the hustle and bustle of the market led to the cluster of new infections," he said. Wu said there is no need to panic as Beijing has moved swiftly to contain the outbreak. "The know-how accumulated over the last few months, and with the use of advanced technologies like big data, has served us well in our contact tracing and diagnosis initiatives," he said. "The valuable information we are collecting will be instrumental in Beijing's prevention efforts, and may even reveal new insights into the mysteries of the virus' mode of transmission," he added. Gao Xiaojun, spokesman for the Beijing Health Commission, said on Saturday that of the 40 environmental samples collected from the market that were later tested to contain the virus, only some came from salmon cutting boards. A preprint study by the University College London last month found that the novel coronavirus strain can infect humans and a broad range of mammals, but not fish, birds or reptiles. In April, a study published on the journal Asian Fisheries Science stated that the novel coronavirus is a type of betacoronavirus that can only infect mammals. Moreover, the virus mostly impacts the respiratory system, which most fish do not have. This means the virus is extremely unlikely to infect and multiply in fish. Desmond Walker is a graduate from Norfolk State University. He has served on five ships, the OPNAV staff, and as Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations. He will next return to sea for assignments as XO/CO in the USS Chafee (DDG-90). This article by Lt. Cmdr. Desmond Walker originally appeared in Proceedings. In 23 years of naval service, I have learned that candid and open discussions that welcome dissenting or different opinions can be an effective catalyst for change; it is no different for racial injustice. If the Navy truly believes that inclusion and diversity are critical to warfighting readiness, now is the time for real progress, building on the foundation laid by Admiral Elmo Russell Bud Zumwalt Jr., 19th Chief of Naval Operations. In 1970, in the wake of Secretary of the Navy John Chafees ALNAV 51 on equal opportunity, Admiral Zumwalt released a trailblazing document, Z-Gram 66: Equal Opportunity in the Navy. In this message, he noted, What struck me more than anything else was the depth of feeling of our Black personnel that there is significant discrimination in the Navy. Fifty years later, I was both encouraged and disheartened to read the 3 June statement from the 32nd CNO, Admiral Michael Gilday, where he said, I cant imagine the pain and disappointment and anger that many of you felt when you saw that [the choking of George Floyd]. I was encouraged because Admiral Gilday said what he said; disheartened because I doubt anyone expected this conversation to carry forward to 2020. After five decades of Navy innovation, progress, and change, we find ourselves back where we started. Some may feel things have gotten better, but Im certain a great number of black officers in the Navy feel little has truly changed. Also from the U.S. Naval Institute: The foundations of naval leadership are laid through commissioning programs and are built on through other training and experiences over the full span of an officers career. However, this training and experience have never considered the black officers additional burden. Imagine standing in front of your team. Division, department, commandit does not matter the scope. You are standing in front of them as you prepare to head into harms way: a deployment to a part of the world with global competitors who actively oppose what your team represents. You stand in front of that team because your oath to the Constitution is the burden you chose, bearing true faith and allegiance to it, freely, without mental reservation, to faithfully discharge the duties of your office. Now consider the perspective of the black officer standing in front of his or her team today. Individually, we carry the burden of the Black American experience as a generational post-traumatic stress disorder that has gone untreated for more than 400 years. Imagine not only leading your sailors in daily freedom of navigation operations on a $1.8 billion warship in the South China Sea, but also dealing with the exhaustive mental drain of cumulative questioning. Black officers often bear the weight of being labeled examples of black excellence or black incompetence. Imagine not only having to fly a $100 million aircraft over an adversarys country to drop ordnance or conduct operations at risk of being shot down, but also experiencing the persistent emotional drain of questioning whether you are being judged on the content of your character and performance or the color of your skin. This is happening behind the mask that Coast Guard Commander Marcus Canady discusses in his recent article. Ironically, we wear the mask as a form of protection; in reality, we want to be seen and heardas equal. We want the earned opportunity to qualify in a primary warfare designator without prejudice because of where we went to school or our commissioning source. We need our commanders and commanding officers to challenge, counsel, and mentor us months before a fitness report debrief that reflects that we are below average. Like any sailor, we want divisional or departmental leaders to get to know us beyond any preconceived notions that prevent them from being involved in our professional development. Within the last year, the Navy has introduced the Culture of Excellence, Signature Behaviors of the 21st Century Sailor, and U.S. Navy Inclusion and Diversity Goals & Objectives. The three documents provide an outstanding framework to aid commanders and commanding officers in the difficult task of building an enduring culture of excellence. However, the deep and complementary conversations are long overdue. Progress requires engagement on this issue at every level of the chain of command. We will get there only when leaders are willing to listen, reflect, learn, and adaptthrough action. For far too long, black officers have seen top-down inclusion and diversity policy revisions that commanders and commanding officers are just expected to implement. The Navy at all echelons of leadership should take the opportunity presented at this critical moment to generate real momentum for concrete action toward a more inclusive fleet. This will require more sustained effort than having a cup of coffee, small group discussions, all-hands calls, emails to the crew, or monthly ethnic celebrations. One idea is to hold type commanders accountable for measurable inclusion and diversity benchmarks across the leadership continuum, from midshipman to flag officer. We already know what it looks like when our top admiral communicates an expectation and the institution does not follow his lead. In 1972, two years after Z-66, Admiral Zumwalt addressed more than 80 admirals and Marine Corps generals on their resistance: I am speaking to you. Through you, to the Navys entire command structure to emphasize again that this issue of discrimination must be faced openly and fully. Assignment as a minority affairs officer, for example, was merely a collateral duty. This and other initiatives mandated in 1970 were never fully implemented by the Navy, contributing to conditions that resulted in 130 men assigned to the Constellation refus[ing] to board their ship . . . accusing the ships officers of calculated racism. Similar racial disturbances occurred on two other ships during this period. And what about the conversations that have happened and are continuing to happen in wardrooms, the chiefs mess, on mess decks, or behind closed doors? Recently, a retired naval officer and member of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees inadvertently communicated his biases to the world through social media. Although he apologized, his words reflect his thoughts at the time. When I was a young petty officer, a chief petty officer publicly embarrassed me by using his positional authority to put me at attention. He refused to believe a black petty officer would know more than him about the ships equipment. As an officer candidate in ROTC, one of my white peers, out of anger and jealousy, told me I was selected for Seaman to Admiral-21 only because I was black. As a lieutenant, I was told that because I went to a Historically Black College and University and with my test scores, I probably wouldnt make it as a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer. There are stories like this all across the Navy. Racial bias can be deceptive. Let me be clear. If any officers are not performing up to the strictest standards of naval excellence, it is our duty to them individually and to the Navy as a whole to evaluate them accordingly. Black officers are not looking for a handout. We just want access to the same opportunities without senior officers in positions of influence impeding our progresseven if they do so unknowingly or unintentionally. Regardless of motive, an opportunity denied is denied just the same. The Navys efforts must be transparent and intentional, without any hint of a willingness to sacrifice quality for quantity in achieving our organizations inclusion, diversity, or warfighting readiness objectives. Leaders may need more training to show empathy or compassion. However, formal training is not required to personally care about this issue by applying the same level of leadership that one would any issue of this magnitude. All naval officers should display the same will and determination for mission accomplishment, and they should mirror that focus in the areas where it is desperately needed: listening, empathizing, learning, and adapting. Our One Navy Team of today has a moral obligation to ensure we are not talking about this issue in another 50 years. Since 1873, the U.S. Naval Institute has championed intellectual debate on key issues for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. For more go to usni.org. -- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. [June 16, 2020] DHgate.com Brings over 10,000 Sellers and 28 Million Buyers to Virtual Canton Fair BEIJING, June 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At 0 o'clock on June 15, Beijing time, with thousands of companies introducing their products through live streaming at the China Import and Export Fair ("Canton Fair") website, the 10-day Virtual Canton Fair officially started. This fair, which is the barometer of China's international trade, has been moved online from offline for the first time after 63-year history, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. DHgate.com ("the Company"), China's largest small-scale business-to-business cross-border e-commerce marketplace and the official cross-border e-commerce partner of the 127th Canton Fair, launched a dedicated landing page: https://www.dhgate.com/activities/promotion/tradeshow.html. It has brought over 10,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and over ten million SKUs, enriching Canton Fair's product portfolio. Further, leveraging its affluent small business customers in 220 countries generated over the past 16 years, DHgate.com has further enhanced the fair's customer base with about 28 million high-quality small business customers. As one merchant in DHgate.com, Zhejiang Pujiang County Shengkai Textile Factory ("Shengkai Company") is the first time joining the virtual fair after ten years' offline exhibition in the Canton Fair. M. Tiantian Zhang, sales manager of Shengkai Company, said, "Due to the pandemic, the number of large orders has decreased, and we have to proactively look for small orders, hoping to attract small businesses through DHgate.com. Identifying online buyers has become an issue for us. But DHgate.com provides clear portraits of international buyers, traceable transaction information, and risk control mechanism, which is quite helpful for us to tap into global opportunities." Live streaming has been a popular sales channel for DHgate.com's merchants. It has set up several 24-hour live streaming channels, which is the only platform that can provide ten-language live streaming services, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Korean, and Turkish. The Company launched a trial live broadcast from 20 to 30 May, attracting more than 2 million viewers. The largest number of viewers in one live broadcast program reached 12,000, and the highest transaction amount in one program was about US$1 million. For a long period, the Canton Fair has been an essential platform for enterprises to explore the international market. Affected by the pandemic, the virtual format has become a vital channel and a new norm to promote international trade. Apart from this virtual expo, DHgate.com will collaborate with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) China to organize a virtual seminar on the last day of the Canton Fair on June 24. ABAC members and representatives of leading digital economy enterprises will share experiences and trends on the digital transformation and supply chain upgrade of MSMEs in and after the pandemic, providing recommendations to help MSMEs survive and thrive. About DHgate.com Founded in 2004, DHgate.com has become one of the leading cross border e-commerce marketplaces in China. In 2019, DHGate.com served more than 28 million registered buyers from over 220 countries and regions, by connecting them to over 2.2 million suppliers in China and other countries, with over 23 million products. For more information, please visit dhgate.com and follow @DHgate.com. About Canton Fair The China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, was established in 1957. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of PRC and the People's Government of Guangdong Province and organized by China Foreign Trade Centre, it is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou, China. Canton Fair is a comprehensive international trading event with the longest history, the largest scale, the most complete exhibit variety, the largest buyer attendance, the broadest distribution of buyers' source country and the greatest business turnover in China. For more information, visit https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dhgatecom-brings-over-10-000-sellers-and-28-million-buyers-to-virtual-canton-fair-301077377.html SOURCE DHgate.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] HOUSTON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rawson/Industrial Controls, an ERIKS North America company, announced that it is the exclusive distributor for Clarke Valve products to oil and gas and other industrial companies in the Texas, Oklahoma and the greater Gulf Coast region. The new partnership will enable Rawson/Industrial Controls to provide quick access to local product stock and expedited, high-level service support for Clarke Valve's state-of-the-art Shutter Valve technology. Clarke Valve Using innovative design principles derived from the aerospace industry, Clarke Valve's proprietary Shutter Valve technology enables oil and gas companies to slash valve fugitive emissions, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says are responsible for 60% of all the fugitive emissions in that industry, by 98%. It also offers lower total cost of ownership, reduced footprint, lower weight and improved performance. Clarke Valve products are fully interchangeable with traditional globe control valves. David Wilken, vice president, Rawson/Industrial Controls, said the partnership with Clarke Valve supports his company's mission to deliver a full range of best-in-class solutions to industrial valve customers, including those with specialized requirements in the oil and gas market. "We have an experienced staff of more than 40 control-valve specialists, and they are thrilled with the opportunity to deliver Clarke Valve's proven technology and expertise to customers in the Gulf Coast region, as well as Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Regardless of industry, our goal is to solve problems and help our customers run their businesses more efficiently and profitably. Clarke Valve has a track record for helping their customers do just that." Kyle Daniels, chief executive officer, Clarke Valve, said the alliance is key to providing the support that oil and gas customers demand. "With installations at oil majors throughout and beyond the Gulf Coast, our goal is to make sure our customers are matched with top-notch sales and service professionals within driving distance of their plants," he explained. "Rawson/Industrial Controls' vast network will provide us with that capability, and we are confident that their experience and service infrastructure will help leverage our position in the Texas, Oklahoma, the Gulf Coast and other markets." Learn more about Rawson/Industrial Controls and the benefits of its partnership with Clarke Valve, visit (www.rawsonlp.com) or (www.industrialcontrolsonline.com), call 1-800-779-1414 or email [email protected]. About Rawson/Industrial Controls Created by joining two industry-leading companies in 2019, Rawson/Industrial Controls offers more than 100 years of combined experience serving customers in the oil and gas, chemical, refining, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, food and beverage, water and wastewater, and power generation industries. With a team of in-house engineers, along with instrumentation and valve customization services, Rawson/Industrial Controls designs and customizes product solutions to help customers solve complex problems. The company currently has partnerships in 31 states across the Gulf Coast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest regions of the U.S. About Clarke Valve Founded in 2011, Clarke Valve provides high quality industrial control valves to organizations worldwide and is a portfolio company of Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures, and OGCI Climate Investments. The company's advanced valve technology is deployed in a diverse spectrum of markets, including oil and gas, aerospace, chemical, power plants, and water management. Media Contact: Katie Oswald +1-724-213-1211 [email protected] Related Images clarke-valve-exclusive-distributor.jpg Clarke Valve Exclusive Distributor SOURCE Clarke Valve African countries are pushing for the UN's top rights body to launch a high-level investigation into "systemic racism" and police violence in the United States and beyond, according to a draft resolution seen Tuesday by AFP. The text was being circulated to diplomats for consultations ahead of a so-called urgent debate on the topic at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday. The debate was called for following unrest in the United States and elsewhere over George Floyd's death in police custody. In the draft resolution, the African group strongly condemns "continuing racial discriminatory and violent practices perpetrated by law enforcement agencies against Africans and people of African descent and structural racism endemic to the criminal justice system, in the United States of America and other parts of the world recently affected." The draft resolution, which could still be revised before it is tabled later Tuesday, calls for the establishment of an independent international commission of inquiry (COI) -- one of the UN's highest-level probes, generally reserved for major crises like the Syrian conflict. The commission, the text said, should "establish facts and circumstances related to the systemic racism, alleged violations of international human rights law and abuses against Africans and of people of African descent in the United States" and elsewhere by law enforcement agencies, especially those incidents that resulted in the deaths. The aim, it said, should be "bringing perpetrators to justice." 'Excessive force' The investigators should also probe "the federal, state and local government responses to peaceful protests, including the alleged use of excessive force against protesters, bystanders and journalists," it said. It urges the US government, as well as governments in other relevant countries, to "cooperate fully" with the COI, which it said should present its findings to the rights council in a year's time. The urgent debate was requested in a letter last week from Burkina Faso's ambassador to the UN on behalf of Africa's 54 countries. By Fabrice COFFRINI (POOL/AFP) The text also calls on UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet to include updates on police brutality against people of African descent in the United States and elsewhere at each future council session. The final text must be tabled at least 24 hours before a vote by the rights council's 47 members on the resolution, which is due to happen following the urgent debate scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm (1300 GMT) Wednesday. The urgent debate was requested in a letter last week from Burkina Faso's ambassador to the UN on behalf of Africa's 54 countries, and was accepted Monday when the council resumed its 43rd session, which had been interrupted in March due to the coronavirus crisis. Both the letter and the draft resolution make reference to the killing of Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died in Minneapolis on May 25 after a white police officer, who has since been charged with murder, pressed his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. His death, which was caught on video and has sparked massive protests across the United States and around the world, "is unfortunately not an isolated incident." "Many other cases of persons of African descent (have) faced the same fate because of their origin and police violence," Burkina Faso Ambassador Dieudonne Desire Sougouri told the council Monday. New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma are all currently battling fires with tens of thousands of acres burned. Temperatures are set to soar across the American Southwest and Southern Plains, reaching the low 40s Celsius. The Central and Northern Plains, while not as hot, will see temperatures as much as 10C above average. The heat, gusty winds over 65km/h (40 mph), and low humidity are favourable conditions for fires to grow and spread. The National Weather Service has issued red-flag warnings across five states, telling residents to avoid any activities that involve open flames or could produce sparks. Lightning sparked a wildfire in the Catalina Mountains of Arizona in the first week of June, which is only 22-percent contained, as the dry, windy conditions fuelled the ongoing blaze. The Bringham Fire, also in Arizona, began on June 6 and is now at nearly 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres) and only 5-percent contained. The National Park Service was forced to close the North Rim of the Grand Canyon as the Magnum Fire continues to rage, with only 2 percent contained and more than 10,000 hectares (24,200 acres) burned. The fires in Arizona have so far burned nearly 34,500 hectares (85,250 acres). New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma are all currently battling wildfires. The National Interagency Fire Center reported 11 wildfires throughout the three states with 18,000 hectares (44,475 acres) burned. As the hot, dry and windy weather continues this week, the fire danger will remain at critical levels. "At 7-Eleven, our top priority is the safety of customers, Franchisees and employees," said 7-Eleven Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Marissa Jarratt. "Gathering nine million of our closest friends in stores on one day just didn't feel right, but I am heartened that we now have the opportunity to help the communities and neighborhoods that have been the lifeline of our business since 1927." "The Feeding America network of food banks has been on the ground addressing the increased need in their communities," said Lauren Biedron, vice president of corporate partnerships at Feeding America. "We are thankful for 7-Eleven's generous donation during this challenging time for many of our neighbors in need." Fear not 7-Eleven is still giving away free Slurpee drinks this summer. On July 1, 7Rewards loyalty app members (yep all 33 million of them), will receive one FREE MEDIUM Slurpee coupon in their account. The personalized offer is redeemable the entire month of July, allowing customers the opportunity to treat themselves when it's convenient for them, while helping us practice physical distancing in stores. As a bonus, 7Rewards loyalty app members will find offers on yummy foods and beverages, like a Big Bite Hot Dog for just $1, from July 1 to July 12. If you're skipping the store altogether, you can still find birthday-worthy delivery deals during the month of July on the 7NOW delivery app. From July 7 to July 11, whole pizzas are only $5**, and a FREE Slurpee drink is redeemable with your order.*** "For nearly two decades, July 11th has been the busiest day of the year for 7Eleven stores as millions of customers visit us to kick off summer with their favorite frozen drink" said Jarratt. "But this year, we have to make changes for the greater good. I hope you'll join us for the in-person party next year." And as the world continues to reconfigure everyday life in response to the pandemic, 7-Eleven has enhanced its standards and procedures for hygiene, handwashing, sanitation, food handling and preparation in stores, including increased frequency of cleaning high-touch surfaces. All store associates are encouraged to wear masks and gloves when serving customers. Customers now have access to disposable gloves, tissues and sanitizer stations while shopping in stores. As an extra precaution to help reinforce physical distancing and safer transactions, 7-Eleven has installed sneeze guards and visual floor markers at the front sales counter. In addition, 7-Eleven continues to offer contactless payment at participating stores at the register with Apple Pay and Google Pay. And, one more important detail . . . always bring your 7Rewards member account to the party. It's the proprietary loyalty program in the 7-Eleven app that gives customers the power to earn and redeem points on most purchases, as well as take advantage of offers, exclusive discounts and interactive features. The 7-Eleven app is available for download on smartphones via the Apple App Store or via Google Play. *$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of member food banks. 7-Eleven commits to a donation of 1 Million Meals ($100,000) in conjunction with 7-Eleven Day. **Limit 2 pizzas per order. ***Limit 1 Slurpee drink per customer. About 7-Eleven, Inc. Are you still reading this? Awesome. Most people stop when they get to the small print. But not you! You get to read the cool stuff. 7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience-retailing industry. They don't like to brag, but they invented convenience stores. For real. Google it. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 70,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. Mmmmm, tacos. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products under the 7-Select brand including healthy options, decadent treats, and everyday favorites, at an outstanding value. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards loyalty program, place an order in the 7NOW delivery app in over 35 participating markets, or rely on 7-Eleven for bill payment service, self-service lockers and other convenient services. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com, via the 7Rewards customer loyalty platform on the 7-Eleven mobile app, or on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Also, they trademarked the word "Brainfreeze." No lie. Thanks for sticking with this. You're unstoppable. About Feeding America Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org , find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter . SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc. Related Links http://www.7-eleven.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 22:36:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Africa's confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed the 250,000-mark to reach 251,866 with 6,769 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon, maintaining a mortality rate far below the global average, beating forecasts from experts. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in its latest update on Tuesday said that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Africa rose from 242,105 on Monday afternoon to 251,866 as of Tuesday afternoon, while disclosing that the death toll from the pandemic also rose from 6,464 on Monday to 6,769 as of Tuesday. So far, Africa's anti-epidemic efforts have achieved unbelievable positive results despite the rising figure of confirmed cases, thanks to strict preventive measures, a young population and COVID-19 cooperation with China. Amid the rising COVID-19 caseload across the continent, some 43 African countries are under full border closure due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, according to the Africa CDC. In addition to the 43 countries under full border closure, night-time curfew has been activated across 35 countries in an effort to halt the spread of the infectious virus, it was noted. The Africa CDC also noted that 54 African countries are practicing limited public gathering, some 38 countries have exercised country-wide closure of educational institutions, while limited prison and hospital visits has been also ordered across 20 countries. Some seven countries have imposed international air traffic closures, while two countries have imposed travel restrictions to and from specific countries, and two others have also activated entry/exit restrictions, according to the Africa CDC. When population is taken into consideration, Africa has a youthful population which makes the COVID-19 less catastrophic with comparatively mild symptoms to this population. Africa's more youthful population with a median age of below 20 years, when compared with Europe and the United States (median age above 38 years), may have contributed to the low numbers of severe COVID-19 cases and deaths, media reports quoted a paper authored by experts in Kenya and Britain as saying. China's support also plays a key role for Africa to deal with the pandemic, given China and African countries have offered assistance to each other and joined hands in fighting COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic. Faced with the sudden attack of COVID-19, China and Africa have been supporting each other and making concerted efforts, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying at a press conference on June 12, 2020. "China delivered batches of medical supplies and sent medical experts to African countries. Our medical teams in Africa have been actively helping local people guard against COVID-19. We held nearly 400 training programs for tens of thousands of African medical workers," said Hua. China and Africa are good brothers and partners tiding over difficulties together. As AU Commission Chairperson Faki said, "Africa and China are friends and, more importantly, comrades-in-arms. Nothing can change or damage this friendship." Both sides have proven by concrete actions that our friendship is deep and unbreakable. China attaches high importance to growing friendly cooperative relations with Africa and stays committed to forging with African countries a stronger China-Africa community with a shared future. Since COVID-19 broke out, this relationship has been further elevated as the two sides stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian at a press conference on Tuesday. China will host a forthcoming Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 in Beijing on June 17. The Extraordinary Summit, jointly proposed by China, South Africa, the rotating chair of the AU and Senegal, the co-chair of the FOCAC, will be held via videolink. Leaders of African countries including the members of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and the rotating chairs of Africa's major sub-regional organizations and the Chairperson of the AU Commission will attend upon invitation. The Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of the World Health Organization will also attend the meeting as special guests. "As the pandemic continues to afflict the world, including the African continent, convening this extraordinary summit at this crucial moment demonstrates once again the China-Africa brotherhood through thick and thin," said Zhao. "It will not only consolidate the two sides' consensus on solidarity against the virus and promote fresh development in China-Africa cooperation, but also bolster multilateralism and boost international cooperation against COVID-19." Zhao added. The Africa CDC, which noted that the virus had spread into 54 African countries, said Tuesday that some 114,308 people who were infected with COVID-19 had recovered across the continent as of the stated period. The Africa CDC also said that the Southern Africa region is now the most affected area across the continent in terms of positive COVID-19 cases, overtaking the Northern Africa region. Western Africa region is the third-most affected area in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases. Amid the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the African continent, the highly affected African countries include South Africa with 73,553 confirmed cases, Egypt with 46,289 confirmed cases, Nigeria with 16,658 confirmed cases, Ghana with 11,964 confirmed cases, and Algeria with 11,031 confirmed cases, it was noted. Enditem TREASURY is taking caution not to upset the market through increased money supply by delaying the introduction of the $20 note and other higher denominations. Following the introduction of the $10 note at the end of May, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) had initially announced that the $20 note would be in circulation by the first week of June. However, despite helping ease cash shortages and enhancing consumer convenience in the market, the move has been followed by a wild exchange rate spiral against the local dollar, which now trades at 1:60 and above against the US$1 on the parallel market at a time when the fixed exchange rate remains at 1:25. The trend has worsened pricing distortions and further weakened consumer spending. This is happening at a time when earnings for workers have remained stagnant amid limited business activity with employers also feeling the pinch in view of the adverse impact of Covid-19. In a recent interview, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, said Government was cognisant of the prevailing manipulation of the market and the exchange rate, stating that concrete measures were being put in place to stem the tide and ease the burden on ordinary citizens. At the moment we have allowed citizens to use free funds (forex), as a way to also manage growth of money supply. So, we said we will bring it ($20 note) but we need to ease pressure and we want to manage the introduction of whatever currency we have so that again we dont balloon growth of money supply, he said. We use the swapping mechanism where we are swapping RTGS balances for cash and we have kept that approach and thats the right approach to do it, said Prof Ncube. He said Treasury through the Central Bank was determined to clamp down on currency speculation tendencies on the market, which have been blamed for parallel market distortions. We said at the beginning of the year that one of our challenges is going to be exchange rate stabilisation and we are working on it. We are dealing with those in the speculation business in the parallel market, said Prof Ncube. He said the RBZ had taken measures to deal with deviants in terms of the law and in regulating the mobile platforms in transmitting money. Prof Ncube said tackling the tide of speculation was critical in restoring currency stability and exchange rate challenge. He also said Treasury was keeping its focus in taming budgetary deficits, which have a huge bearing on currency stability. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. A former server at Smith & Wollensky is suing the famed New York City restaurant over sexual harassment claims that include being told by managers to perform sexualized acts to receive her tips. Brenna Gonzalez joined the Third Avenue restaurant as a server in November 2018 but claims that she was frequently subjected to sexual harassment by customers and staff in a hostile workplace, according to New York Daily News. Then an 18-year-old college student, the lawsuit alleges that Gonzalez was groped approximately three times per shift in the restaurants to-go section. Gonzalez filed a lawsuit Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court after claiming she was ignored by management when she spoke to them about the allegations. Famed New York City steakhouse Smith & Wollensky is being sued by a former server over sexual harassment claims. Brenna Gonzalez alleges she was groped approximately three times per shift by customers and staff and had her tips withheld until she'd perform sexualized acts Brenna Gonzalez joined Smith & Wollensky as a server in November 2018 but claims that she was frequently subjected to sexual harassment by customers and staff in a hostile workplace According to the lawsuit, Gonzalez managers and supervisors would withhold her tips until she did a sexualized performance such as pouring water over her white uniform. A coworker told her that she was targeted for harassment because 'you look like a schoogirl', the suit claims, placing the blame on her for 'riling everyone up'. Gonzalez also claims a regular customer kissed her with no warning but that management told her to allow them to do it. And she alleges she also felt threatened by harassment from staff citing an incident with a dishwasher at the restaurant. Gonzalez said the dishwasher left her a note telling her he knew what train she rode home and what stop she got off at, adding that he wanted to ride the subway with her. She said she spoke to management about feeling unsafe but was still scheduled on the same shifts as the dishwasher. The suit adds that on one occasion a manager told her that she should drink alcohol or take drugs so that she would smile more. Whenever Ms. Gonzalez endured egregious sexual harassment in her workplace, management looked the other way, her lawyer Eric Baum said. Ms. Gonzalez turned to management for help and they ignored her. The steakhouse Smith & Wollensky has shown no remorse and taken no disciplinary action against her aggressors that we are aware of, condoning a work environment in which Ms. Gonzalez feared for her safety. Instead, they forced Ms. Gonzalez out of the job she was relying on to help pay her way through college. A representative for Smith & Wollensky said that they investigated Gonzalez's claims months ago when she first reported them but claimed their investigation found they were not true Ms. Gonzalez hopes to shed light on a systemic problem that exists in the restaurant industry and particularly at Smith & Wollensky so that hopefully no other woman or female employee of Smith & Wollensky will have to endure such horrible treatment in the future, Baum added. A representative for the steakhouse said that Gonzalez brought her claims to management months ago but that their own investigation concluded that they were not true. 'At that time, we investigated and found them to be completely without merit,' restaurant spokeswoman Allison Good told New York Daily News. The iconic New York resultant opened in 1977 and is famed for its prime rib. It has since opened further steakhouses in Chicago, Boston, Columbus, Houston Miami Beach and London. The restaurant counts billionaire Warren Buffett among its regulars and has been used as a filming location in movies such as American Psycho and The Devil Wears Prada. In the lawsuit, Gonzalez is seeking unspecified damages over the sexual harassment claims. She also seeks an order that employees at the restaurant are trained on sexual harassment prevention and that it overhauls its policies on handling complaints. According to her Facebook account, Gonzalez left her job as a server the restaurant in June 2019. [June 16, 2020] ParkMobile Brings Smart Mobility to Little Rock, Improving Transportation and Travel Infrastructure with Contactless Payments LITTLE ROCK, Ark., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ParkMobile, the leading provider of smart parking and mobility solutions in the U.S., today announced a partnership with the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, to implement the company's smart mobility app at approximately 1,400 on-street parking spaces around the city. With the recent COVID-19 crisis, many city leaders are encouraging residents to use the app versus the meter to prevent the spread of the virus. This marks ParkMobile's first entry into the "The Natural State," following expansion into cities throughout the region including St. Louis, Missouri, Memphis, Tennessee, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. "As we navigate this uncertain time, we want to do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus and maintain everyone's health and safety," said Jon Ziglar, CEO of ParkMobile. "As ParkMobile's reach expands and integrates with more cities, we are seeing a rise in contactless payments for parking. We are thrilled that the people of Little Rock will now have this option as well." Within the ParkMobile app, users are able to quickly create an account and register multiple vehicles. When parking, users can simply enter the zone/space number found on nearby signage, set duration of time they want to park, and touch the "Start Parking" button to begin their session. From their devices, ParkMobile lets customers pay for parking on-the-go and, if available based on city parking requirements, users are also able to add time to their parking sessions right from the app rather than having to go back to the meter. "We're committed to supporting the efficient and safe movement of daily traffic in our city, and ParkMobile enhances that mission by providing customers with contactless payments," says Little Rock Public Works Director Jon Honeywell. "Residents and visitors can now more easily travel downtow, whether for work or to explore Little Rock's landmarks and attractions." ParkMobile is a free app available for iPhone and Android devices, and users can additionally register on parkmobile.io. Stickers and signage will be posted around Little Rock to provide information to drivers on how to pay for parking using the new app. As the most widely used mobile parking solution in the country, the ParkMobile app is used over 60 million times per year by 18 million people in over 400 U.S. cities. Nationwide availability enables more consumers to use the same parking app at home or while traveling in other ParkMobile markets. That coupled with an intuitive app experience, ParkMobile now ranks #3 in the navigation category of the app store, behind only Google Maps and Waze. About ParkMobile ParkMobile, LLC is the leading provider of smart parking and mobility solutions in North America, using a contactless approach to help millions of people easily find, reserve, and pay for parking on their mobile device. The company's technology is used in thousands of locations across the country, including 8 of the top 10 cities as well as college campuses, airports, and stadiums. People can use ParkMobile solutions to quickly pay for on-street and off-street parking without having to use a meter or kiosk. Additionally, ParkMobile offers parking reservations at stadium venues for concerts and sporting events. Reservations are also available in metro area garages, allowing people to drive into the city without having to worry about finding parking. ParkMobile has been named to the Inc. 5000, Deloitte Fast 500, Smart Cities Connect "Smart 50," and the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Top Workplaces. Additionally, the company won the 2020 Stevie Awards for Achievement in Product Innovation and the 2019 Stevie Awards for Most Innovative Tech Company and Best Travel App. For more information, visit ParkMobile.io or @ParkMobile on Twitter. ParkMobile Contact: Jeff Perkins, CMO, [email protected] Little Rock, AR Contact: Jon Honeywell, Public Works Director, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parkmobile-brings-smart-mobility-to-little-rock-improving-transportation-and-travel-infrastructure-with-contactless-payments-301077220.html SOURCE ParkMobile, LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BURLINGTON, Mass., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadia (arcadia.io), a widely-recognized leader in population health management, today announced the promotion and addition of two value-based care performance and operations leaders, a further investment in the success of its customers in at-risk value-based care contracts. Debbie Conboy has been promoted to Vice President of Risk Adjustment and Quality Products. In addition, Catherine Turbett has joined the company as Vice President of ACO and Health Plan Account Operations. The promotion of Conboy and addition of Turbett reinforce Arcadia's commitment to ensuring its payer and provider customers can achieve strong economic success under challenging risk-based payment models. Both leaders have deep, hands-on operational experience driving performance improvements under value-based contracting arrangements for accountable care organizations (ACOs) and health plans. Debbie Conboy is a key strategic partner for healthcare organizations implementing successful risk adjustment programs Debbie Conboy joined Arcadia in 2019 and had an immediate, substantial impact on the company's product development and customer implementations. As Vice President of Risk Adjustment and Quality Products, she leads development of a portfolio of products that enable health plans and their provider networks to succeed under complex risk-based payment models. Conboy is a key strategic partner for Arcadia customers implementing successful, technology-driven risk adjustment programs, and provides guidance in the development of their analytics and financial projections. Before joining Arcadia, Conboy had 30 years of experience at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA), where she directed risk adjustment strategy and operations across all lines of BCBSMA and led risk adjustment initiatives that resulted in $50 million in revenue. She is widely recognized as an industry expert and is an in-demand speaker for national audiences. "The healthcare industry today is at an exciting inflection point when technology is accelerating at a rapid pace and enabling new advancements in how payers and providers are compensated for delivering quality care," said Conboy. "I am delighted that Arcadia is enabling me to draw on the deep experience I've gained with health plans to help payers better manage risk and enhance their operational stability." Catherine Turbett brings deep operational experience to optimize the transition to value-based care At Arcadia, Turbett will drive operational performance improvements under value-based contracting arrangements for ACOs and health plans. She will oversee Arcadia's account management team to ensure that customers are able to develop the right strategies to address the fundamentals of financial performance in value-based contracts. Previously, Turbett served as Executive Director of National Performance Operations for Steward Health Care, one of the largest risk-bearing provider organizations and ACOs in the country. Turbett oversaw a team of 300 in Steward's managed services organization that was responsible for delivering all performance operations for Steward's health plans and ACOs, including risk adjustment, quality, patient and member experience, provider enrollment and credentialing, and referral management. "Success under value-based care requires healthcare organizations to have an analytics platform that can provide comprehensive population-level and patient-level data, but they also need insights and understanding of how to use that data," said Turbett. "It is exciting to have the opportunity to leverage my experience in operations to help healthcare organizations take value-based care to the next level and achieve long-term economic sustainability. I look forward to ensuring our clients are equipped with the right data at the right time to impact patients." "We are extremely fortunate to have Debbie and Catherine on board," said Heather Trafton, Chief Operating Officer at Arcadia. "These leaders have strong track records of driving operational performance at some of the largest healthcare organizations in the country. Their hands-on experience will help our teams and our customers as we navigate a challenging path forward through the current COVID-19 crisis." Arcadia and Highmark to speak at RISE National 2020 on leveraging technology to reduce provider abrasion At RISE National 2020, the industry's premier annual Medicare Advantage conference, Conboy and Alan Whittington, Director of Risk Adjustment Programs and Portfolio Management at Highmark, will present "Breaking Down Barriers Between Providers and Health Plans." Highmark Inc. is one of America's largest healthcare organizations, operating health insurance plans serving 5.6 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia. In this session, Conboy and Whittington will discuss best practices health insurers can implement to collaborate with provider partners to increase transparency, innovate in data sharing, reduce administrative burdens, decrease provider abrasion, and provide ongoing, curated support at the practice level. RISE National 2020 will take place virtually, with workshops June 26, and live streaming content June 29 and 30. More online education from Arcadia's Value Based Care Leadership Series Thought leaders from Arcadia customers around the country are sharing case studies and insights in the Arcadia Value Based Care Leadership Series. Register for upcoming presentations and access a library of recordings at arcadia.io/vbcls. About Arcadia Arcadia (arcadia.io) is the only healthcare data and software company dedicated to healthcare organizations achieving financial success in value-based care. We work with health systems, providers, payers, and life science companies positioning themselves to win in value-based care, including some of the largest, most complex, and influential health systems and health plans in the country. Our purpose-built population health platform enables our customers to consistently overperform industry average outcomes by reducing medical expenses, improving risk coding accuracy, and improving quality and patient health outcomes. Our software continuously aggregates and curates the highest quality, most complete and up-to-date data foundation, provides relevant, timely and predictive analytics, and enables action through care management tools and in-workflow insights that present at the point of care. Arcadia has off-the-shelf integration technology for more than 50 different physical and behavioral health EHR vendors, powered by machine learning that combs through variations in over 93 million longitudinal patient records across clinical, claims, social determinants of health, and operational data sources. Founded in 2002, Arcadia is headquartered outside Boston in Burlington, MA, with offices in Seattle, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Rockford, IL. Arcadia has been recognized as a leading vendor by analysts Chilmark, Frost & Sullivan, IDC, and KLAS, and we have been awarded Best in KLAS for Value-Based Care Managed Services in 2019 and 2020. Media Contacts: Alyssa Drew Director, Strategic Marketing Arcadia 781.202.3775 [email protected] Christopher Currington Senior Account Director Amendola Communications for Arcadia 314.799.1987 [email protected] SOURCE Arcadia.io Related Links http://www.arcadia.io She is usually seen perfectly made up in her endless Instagram selfies and raunchy photo shoots. But Tammy Hembrow was unmasked on Tuesday when she stepped out on the Gold Coast makeup free. And the 26-year-old refreshingly proved she is just like the rest of us, by revealing a couple of blemishes on her gorgeous glowing skin. Au natural: Tammy Hembrow was unmasked on Tuesday when she stepped out on the Gold Coast makeup free She is just like us! The 26-year-old refreshingly proved she is just like the rest of us, by revealing a couple of blemishes on her gorgeous glowing skin The mother-of-two went casual in designer sweatpants after recording her Hanging With The Hembrows podcast. Tammy covered her famous curves with a designer black T-shirt by vintage outlet 'Coal N Terry', which is based in Los Angeles. She paired the top with oversized black sweatpants along with a high-end pink handbag by Prada and a pair of Fendi slides. The fitness star strolled to her white Mercedes G-Wagon while sipping a caffeinated drink. Covering up her curves: The mother-of-two went casual in designer sweatpants after recording her Hanging With The Hembrows podcast. Tammy covered her famous curves with a designer black T-shirt by vintage outlet 'Coal N Terry', which is based in Los Angeles Tammy wore her blonde extensions up in a low-maintenance ponytail. She only appeared to be wearing a lick of mascara. The Instagram star was much more covered up than she was in one of her recent Instagram pictures. Tammy posed in a G-string swimsuit on Friday that showed off a generous amount of underboob and her six-pack abs, for which the beauty has become known. While Tammy has previously admitted to airbrushing some of her photos before posting them to Instagram, she insists she never edits her body. Speaking on her Hanging With The Hembrows podcast last November, Tammy said: 'The only thing I do is whiten my eyes a tiny bit, and then sometimes some smoothing if the skin is breaking out. Raunchy! The Instagram star was much more covered up than she was in one of her recent Instagram pictures Leaving little to the imagination: Tammy posed in a G-string swimsuit on Friday that showed off a generous amount of underboob and her six-pack abs, for which the beauty has become known 'I feel like a lot of people use it. I do not go crazy with Facetune. There's people who edit their whole body and change so much.' In May last year, Tammy was accused of editing a photo of herself perched on the side of her swimming pool. Fans noticed several warped tiles in the background. Atlanta police officer who shot Rayshard Brooks had past reprimand for use of force Former Atlanta Police Department officer Garrett Rolfe questions Rayshard Brooks in a Wendy's restaurant parking lot (Reuters) - The former Atlanta police officer who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks last week was previously reprimanded for use of force involving a firearm, according to records released to Reuters by the city's police department on Tuesday. The records show Garrett Rolfe received a written reprimand in October 2017 for a firearm incident in September 2016, his sole use-of-force complaint in seven years on the force prior to Friday's shooting. No further details were disclosed. Rolfe was fired from the department after the shooting in the parking lot of a Wendy's fast-food restaurant, which was captured by body and surveillance cameras. A second officer at the scene, Devin Brosnan, who is also white, was placed on administrative duty. The death of 27-year-old Brooks, which came after he tussled with Rolfe and Brosnan and took off running with one of their Taser guns, was the latest killing of a black man to spark nationwide outrage at police brutality and racial injustice. An autopsy conducted on Sunday showed that Brooks died from blood loss and organ injuries and ruled the death a homicide. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has said he would decide by midweek whether to bring charges against the officers, a call that he indicated would hinge on whether they felt Brooks posed a threat. Justin Miller, an attorney for Brooks' family, told CNN on Tuesday he did not think the officers' defense could rest on a Georgia law that allows them to shoot if they were in imminent threat of bodily harm, even though Brooks had a Taser. "If you look at the tape closely, you can see that police officer was already going for his gun before Mr. Brooks turned around," Miller said. "I don't think in this situation that's going to come up." Rolfe's disciplinary file lists 12 incidents, composed of five vehicle accidents, four citizen complaints, and three involving firearms, including one in 2015, the 2016 matter for which he received a written reprimand and the Brooks' shooting. Story continues Internal investigations exonerated him in eight of the incidents. He received a written reprimand and an oral admonishment for two vehicle accidents. The file does not indicate any conclusion for the 2015 firearm incident. Vince Champion, southeast regional director for the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, said two firearm incidents over seven years prior to the Brooks' shooting did not represent a pattern given the inherent dangers of the job. "It doesn't raise any flags for me," Champion said, noting that Rolfe was not charged in any of the firearm incidents, which he said would have been vetted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and internal affairs before being resolved. Brosnan, who joined the police force in 2018, has no disciplinary history. (Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut, and Gabriella Borter in New York; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Jonathan Oatis) Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 13:05:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW YORK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Wold Health Organization (WHO) remains "the world's best hope for fighting pandemics," a New York Times opinion piece has said, calling for more investment than less. The article, titled "Don't Leave the WHO. Strengthen It" and released on Saturday, said that as the world is battling the most serious pandemic in a century, "the United States is in the process of withdrawing from the only international organization equipped to lead that effort." In May, U.S. President Donald Trump said that his country is "terminating" its relationship with the WHO, days after the White House, in a letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, threatened to make the temporary freeze of U.S. funding "permanent" and reconsider its membership in the organization. The U.S. withdrawal from the organization "will leave the United States and the rest of the world in a much worse position to tackle health threats like this coronavirus," said the article, noting that some things cannot be done by the United States alone. "It was only through the WHO, for example, that American scientists were able to visit China to see the country's coronavirus response firsthand," it said, adding that "the United States Agency for International Development has funneled much of its pandemic response funding through the WHO for exactly this reason." "Further siloing public health efforts will only add confusion and complexity to a crisis response that's already desperate for better coordination," the article said. The global tally of coronavirus cases topped 8 million on Monday, with over 400,000 deaths, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The United States has been hardest hit with 2,110,791 cases and 116,090 deaths, according to the tally. Enditem. Bollywood is an industry that has always been questioned for its mere existence as a credible place that involves launching new talents. Time and again, the dark and ugly truth has been uncovered that outsiders have to work way too hard and the star kids get it all easy, however questionable that might be. All the "outsiders" crave a perfect launchpad and every time, the counter-argument that comes is star kids might get the first big platform easily but they need to keep proving themselves. At least, they know where to start. But outsiders, even if they have oodles of talent, keep looking for that start as they have no godfathers to take them ahead in the journey. Sushant Singh Rajput had no godfather and did make it big, inspiring other outsiders to chase their dreams. On Sunday, we woke up to the tragic news of his demise as he completely lost hope. He died of suicide and left all of us questioning Bollywoods hypocrisy. According to reports, its believed that his movies were taken away from him by big banners of this ruthless industry. Not just that, even when he was alive, he wasnt very dearly accepted by our Bollywood 'gangs', so to say. MensXP After his demise, everyone started saying he is gone too soon and suddenly those who earlier didnt even acknowledge his existence, started sharing stories, wishing they were there to do something to ease his pain. Suddenly, there was love for the star who lost his life. Now, Saif Ali Khan, the Nawaab of Bollywood, has spoken the bitter truth as he thinks this sudden Bollywood love for Sushant is nothing but hypocrisy. MensXP These are the 5 points mentioned by him in a recent interview with Times Of India: 1. According to Saif, there were many people who were somewhere gaining mileage from this big tragedy. He said, There are so many people whove made comments so quickly. And it just seems to me that people are somewhere gaining some mileage from this poor fellows tragedy, you know, whether its to show compassion or to show interest or to show some political stance. So many people are talking rubbish in this nonstop kind of barrage on social media and its just embarrassing, really, I think. 2. He thinks a day of silence and introspection is required as people who outpour love for him on social media didnt actually care for him. Out of respect for him, for Sushants tragedy, maybe a day of silence or introspection would be a little more becoming than this outpouring of love an outpouring of love from people who obviously didnt care about him and people who famously dont care about anybody else, he said. 3. Saif, fearlessly, exposed the ugly reality of the industry where people are just eyeing for competition and no one cares about anyone. I mean, we dont care about anybody. You know, its a very cutthroat line of work. But to pretend that you do care is like the ultimate hypocrisy and I think thats an insult to the dead, you know, its an insult to the soul thats gone, he said. 4. He also attacked the people who wrote long posts for him but in reality, they will never show any compassion. We live in an age where people write 10 lines for you on Twitter and will walk past you on the street - wont even touch you or shake your hand. You know, you get wished for your birthday, but people dont actually call you. Theres no contact, he said. 5. He also raised one more valid point wherein he feels that people are manipulating the situation and somewhere exploiting his name. People are failing people constantly. Everyone talking about him, even those saying who failed you or didnt fail you is, I think, somewhat exploiting his name. To take any stand at the moment, apart from just sorrow, and just saying that Im really sad that he had no way out except this - any other comment is somewhere manipulating the situation, I feel. You have come across this as an opportunity to take a shot at somebody, and youre taking a shot, he added. In the end, he also mentioned that its wrong to blame anyone for that matter as we still dont know the truth. Well, Saif did make some valid points. Its time that we let him go in peace and only talk about the good things he did in his life. You will be remembered for all your happy moments, Sushant. Japan should not cover up wartime forced labor Japan has again raised the ire of South Koreans over its attempt to cover up wartime forced labor. This attempt comes less than a year after Tokyo imposed trade restrictions last July in retaliation to a ruling by Seoul's top court that ordered Japanese firms to pay compensation to surviving Korean victims of such forced labor. At the center of the new dispute is Japan's 23 Meiji-era industrial locations which are listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. In order to put the locations on the list in 2015, Japan promised to set up an information center to remember those forced into labor during World War II and publicize the facts about its war crimes. Regrettably, however, Japan has broken its promise. On Monday, the country opened the Industrial Heritage Information Center in Tokyo to the public. But the center holds no material about Japan's shameful history of forced labor. The center only posted remarks by Kuni Sato, Japan's ambassador to UNESCO, that a large number of Koreans and others were forced to work against their will under harsh conditions in the 1940s at some of the sites. But the center is full of material aimed at distorting and covering up the forced labor. It publicizes the testimony of about 30 residents who denied Japan's crimes against humanity. All are filled with denials of force labor. One of them reads: "The working conditions were good." Another says: "There was neither abuse (of workers) nor discrimination (against them)." These testimonies are sheer lies, considering the well-documented fact about the horrendous exploitation of forced laborers. More surprising is that the center juxtaposes a copy of the 1965 basic treaty between the two countries with other fact-distorting materials. Japan is apparently trying to send the wrong message that all reparations claims related to Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea were settled with the treaty that normalized diplomatic ties between Seoul and Tokyo. One of the most notorious sites is Hashima Island, better known here as "Battleship" Island, where many Koreans and some Chinese were forced to work in a coalmine run by Mitsubishi. It was estimated that at least 33,000 Koreans were mobilized for forced labor as coalminers, steelworkers and shipbuilders in Japan during WWII. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately called in Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koji Tomita to protest Tokyo's failure to honor forced labor victims at the information center. The Japanese government should not try to provide a lame excuse for this incident. It must stop its egregious attempts to distort its shameful history and crimes against humanity. It should not be engrossed in glorifying its past industrial achievements, while turning a blind eye to the dark side of its imperialism and colonialism. We urge Japan to acknowledge the wartime forced labor and apologize for having inflicted untold pain and suffering on the victims. The first step is to place correct material and documents in the center about its brutal mobilization of forced labor. Then Japan and its companies should comply with the Korean Supreme Court's order to compensate the victims. Most entrepreneurs would be thrilled if a VC told them they had a billion-dollar idea. Not Winston Chen. A longtime tech executive in Boston, Chen first came to my attention not for his work but for not working at all. I wrote a story back in 2013 about a yearlong sabbatical he took with his family on a tiny Norwegian island in the Arctic. In the midst of that long, dark Nordic winter, Chen had built a text-to-speech app called Voice Dream Reader. When we spoke, it was a modest success, helping those with visual impairments and learning differences and supporting the Chen family. Today, it's doing a whole lot better. The original app, as well as related additional products, have won Chen both hundreds of thousands of loyal users and a prestigious award from the National Federation of the Blind. He's far from a billionaire, he told me recently, but he's making a tidy living off the app. But soon after Chen returned to Boston, a local VC, whom Chen was talking to about a potentially much larger startup idea, said Voice Dream Reader could be much more. "He showed me his phone," Chen recalled. "He said, 'Look, your app made it to my front page. Do you know what every app that made it to someone's iPhone's front page is worth? That's worth a billion dollars.'" Chen, being human, was tempted by the idea of taking his niche product mainstream and building a billion-dollar business. But, in the end, he decided to stay niche. He thinks more entrepreneurs should consider doing the same for three reasons. 1. The right niche means no advertising. The visually impaired and learning disability communities are globally connected and extremely tight knit, avidly passing around any product that helps their members thrive. Chen quickly realized that operating in such a self-referencing niche has huge advantages. "I knew that by sticking to these niches I didn't need to spend anything on marketing, because word-of-mouth is strong enough," Chen said. Today, his company is just him and two part-time freelancers. That ratchets down the pressure and allows him to use all his time improving the product, satisfying users, and driving even more word-of-mouth love. 2. You get to see your kids. As a seasoned technologist in Boston's startup scene, Chen was no stranger to the demands building a VC-backed business puts on your lifestyle. After his sabbatical, he considered whether even a billion dollars was enough to lure him back to that. The answer turned out to be that he'd rather see his kids more. "Having gone through the trials and tribulations of getting a VC-backed startup going, I asked myself, 'Is that the life I want?'" he told me. Now he owns 100 percent of his business, sets his own schedule, takes summers off, takes pride in the difference he makes in his users' lives, and sees his middle school-aged kids as much as they allow Dad to hang around. 3. You avoid the dangers of unicorn dreams. At the end of the day, Chen also questioned whether, despite the encouraging noises he was hearing from VCs, his text-to-speech app could really become a mainstream hit. "Speech synthesis has a lot of imperfections, and mainstream users are less tolerant than specialty users," Chen explains. Ruining a solid niche business in pursuit of unicorn dreams isn't something Chen alone is tempted by. "One big piece of advice I always tell other people trying to start things is niche is good. Niche is great. I love niche!" Chen enthuses. "So many businesses implode because they think niche is not good. An otherwise perfectly healthy business gets destroyed because they fall for this idea, go big or go home." Meanwhile, as if oblivious to the reality of the decline of India, Modi continues with his political games Unemployment at the beginning of the year was at eight per cent, the highest in Indias history. This was before the lockdown. Today it is around 20 per cent. PTI Photo Bhakt means devotee, someone wildly enthusiastic about someone or something. Hindi defines it as anuragi, someone offering unconditional and eternal love. The word bhakt is used to define the followers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They consider him a messianic figure, who will produce the change that India needs. In this manner of thinking, the Indian nation is being held back by other people (corrupt and incompetent politicians) and Narendra Modi is so different from them that he will reverse this and make India great again. I said manner of thinking, but it is not clear if this bhakti is thinking. Devotion is not a product of the intellect but that of passion. It is religious, and like in religion the bhakt here is also not concerned with the material world, and what happens in reality. The question is whether it is accurate to classify Modis supporters as bhakts. We must look at it objectively. The first item on the agenda of the Gujarat Model was supposed to be the economy. Indias economy will contract this year, meaning gross domestic product in 2020-2021 will be less than it was last year. This is something which has not happened in four decades. The contraction comes at the back of the consistent slowing of the economy each quarter for the last nine quarters. That has not happened anytime since 1947. This was before the lockdown. Ratings agency Moodys has downgraded India back to where it was in 2003. This will affect our creditworthiness and the cost at which India can raise money. It is not just a mark on a report card. We will all pay for this. The chief economic adviser to the government says he does not know whether the recovery will happen in the second half of the year or in the next year. Unemployment at the beginning of the year was at eight per cent, the highest in Indias history. This was before the lockdown. Today it is around 20 per cent. On Saturday, June 13, the Economist carried the headline: Indias lockdown has failed to stop the virus, but it has succeeded in halting the economy. The Economist is so close to Modi that it had reported in 2013 that he would contest in 2014 from Uttar Pradesh. I wrote then that it was wrong, and that Modi would contest only from Gujarat, but it was I who was wrong. The second item on the agenda was nationalism. Londons Telegraph revealed on Thursday what everyone in India knows but cannot be discussed -- that China has captured 60 sq km of Ladakh. On Friday, the French news agency AFP reported an unnamed senior Indian military officer stationed in the region as saying: The Chinese are refusing to move back from their newly captured positions, both in Pangong and Galwan Valley. They are consolidating the new status quo. I woke up on Saturday to the headline: 4 terrorists killed in Kulgam and Anantnag, encounter underway. This was the fourth time in the week that such a thing had happened. The long decline in fatalities in Kashmir starting in 2002 and bottoming out in 2014 has been reversed and violence is again on the way up. Meanwhile, not a single Kashmiri Pandit has returned to the Valley. The Line of Control with Pakistan has remained where it has been; the Line of Actual Control with China has been crossed by the Chinese. Having announced that India would fight under his leadership a Mahabharat against the coronavirus that would last three weeks, Prime Minister Modi has gone silent on what the next phase of the battle would be. The lockdown is gone, and cases are on the rise. As many have said before, Gujarat under Modi ignored healthcare and education. Today Gujarat has 10 times the number of Covid-19 cases as Kerala. Meanwhile, as if oblivious to the reality of the decline of India, Modi continues with his political games. Madhya Pradesh was toppled in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and now Rajasthan seems to be going under as a result of horse-trading. The capture of total political power seems to be the only aim. There is no real expectation of achieving something with it. This is the reality of India under Modi after six years, surely enough time for a messianic leader to produce the miracle. If he hasnt produced it, it is because he was never capable of producing it as many have been saying for a long time. His diagnosis was wrong, and his cures have been proved to be worse than the disease. The interesting thing is that it has made no difference to his supporters. They continue in their adulation. Real, concrete, verifiable damage to India inflicted under Mr Modi and inflicted because of him is acceptable to them. We can only conclude that it is indeed right to call them bhakts, meaning mindless devotees. Three New York City police officers fell ill and were hospitalized on Monday after drinking beverages at a fast-food outlet that a police association said were believed to have been contaminated with bleach. A representative of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) said the three had been taken to hospital after consuming an unknown substance at a Shake Shack Inc outlet and police were investigating. At some point during their meal period, the MOS (members of service) discovered that a toxic substance, believed to be bleach, had been placed in their beverages, the New York City Patrolmens Benevolent Association said in a statement. The officers had been assigned to a protest in Lower Manhattan, the association said. Like most US cities, New York has had daily protests demanding racial justice since the May 25 killing of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis. Shake Shack said on Twitter the outlet was horrified by reports of injured officers. The officers were being treated and their illness was not life threatening, police said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Yes, There Is Now an Exploding Whale Park in Florence, Oregon Coast Published 06/15/2020 at 6:24 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Florence, Oregon) The central Oregon coast of Florence is celebrating a new addition with a particularly famous name. Exploding Whale Memorial Park. Named after the famed and infamous incident in 1970, the park is actually a somewhat new park with an even newer name. It was opened up officially last year as Siuslaw River Beach Access Park and recently acquired the new name after a contest was held by the city. (Photos courtesy City of Florence) It is not, however, the actual site where the town got to experience the blasting of blubber beyond all believable bounds. That spot is a few miles away closer to the south jetty of the Siuslaw River. This new park is located along the Siuslaw River on the south side of Rhododendron Drive (612 Rhododendron Drive). These days, November 12 is unofficially a holiday called Exploding Whale Day, after state highway authorities attempted to get rid of a beached whale that date in 71 by blowing it up with dynamite. The actual footage of this was hilariously put down for posterity by KATU-TV back then, reported by a young Paul Linnman. It was a bit of a media stir at the time, and although periodically talked about over the next decade was largely forgotten until humorist Dave Barry picked up on it in 80s and made it nationally famous. It wasnt until advent of the Internet in the early 90s when the KATU footage was uploaded and it became what was for many years the most viewed video in the world. See Wacky Oregon Coast History: Nov. 12 is Happy Exploding Whale Day, New Facts , including footage In actuality, the exploding whale incident occurred outside of city limits. Fast forward a few decades, and there has been an unmarked beach access to the river in the central Oregon coast town that has gone largely unnoticed. Now, with great pride Florence takes on its incendiary heritage and it was planning a massive whoop-de-doo for the 50th anniversary of the incident. Blast from the Past was the theme of this years Rhody Fest, but COVID came along and blew that idea out of the water. As part of the planned party, the city held a contest for the new name of the park over the year. We received 124 unique suggestions that were narrowed down to 9 options for a community survey, said city project manager Megan Messmer. Of the 856 votes received on that survey, 439 of them went to Exploding Whale Memorial Park. We had great ideas for unveiling the park name with a celebration. Unfortunately, 2020 swept in and blew those plans out of the water. It may be a little less of a spectacular announcement, but it is fun all the same. The City of Florence hosted the Siuslaw River Beach Access Park grand opening on May 14, 2019. Exploding Whale Park had simply been undeveloped land owned by the Port of Siuslaw. It was purchased by the city in recent years and refurbished last year with numerous new features. The grassy, tree-smothered area features hiking opportunities, picnicking possibilities, kayaking along with two ADA parking spots and places for 11 bicycles to lock up. Its a wildlife hotspot and accessible by boat, and the massive dunes of the area are in full view from the riverside beach. A gate was installed to prevent vehicles from driving down what is now a gravel, multi-use path, yet open enough to allow wheelchair access or those taking canoes down. More or the park below. Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours Staying in Florence? Oregon Beach Vacations. Literally over 260 homes available as vacation rentals all quite distinctive and carefully selected to be special. Available in Yachats, Waldport, Newport, Nye Beach, Otter Rock, Depoe Bay, Gleneden Beach, Lincoln Beach, Lincoln City, Neskowin, Pacific City, Tierra Del Mar, Rockaway Beach, Manzanita, Cannon Beach, Seaside, Florence and Astoria. 1-800-723-2383 More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted A coronavirus outbreak at a West Virginia church has caused at least 17 virus cases, prompting the governor to call in the National Guard for decontamination work, state officials said Saturday. The Greenbrier County church has closed for 14 days, and health officials started contact tracing to try to contain the viruss spread, the Department of Health and Human Resources said. Its the most recent of five confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks at churches in West Virginia, officials said. I want to strongly encourage all West Virginians, especially when in church settings, to follow the guidelines and use every other pew, maintain social distancing and please wear masks, Gov. Jim Justice said in a release. A lot of the attendance at our churches are those that are elderly and at higher risk, so we are cautioning everyone to strictly follow our guidelines. The governor warned that things will only get rougher if people dont follow health guidelines until a vaccine becomes available. Justice ordered the National Guard to go immediately to the site to begin decontamination, the state said. The guardsmen were at the site on Sunday. The governor also directed officials to host two additional free testing events in Greenbrier County. The other counties where coronavirus outbreaks have occurred in churches are Boone, Hampshire, Jefferson, and Marshall counties, state officials said. To protect the possibility of identifying people, they said, the churches will not be named by the health and human resources department. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics COVID-19 Virginia As a superyacht captain, Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Mediterranean always has to be two steps ahead. She has to consider the weather, anticipate the guests needs, and have the inside track on the best and hottest locations. Captain Sandy Yawn |Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Yawns intuition and vision are likely coming into play again as she looks to the future and what could come after Below Deck. As a result, she is laying the groundwork for a thrilling project that allows her to return to her home state of Florida. Girlfriend Leah Shafer offered some insight into the future move. Shafer recently shared on Instagram that she purchased a home in Denver, Colorado. But she plans to only live there until her daughter graduates from high school in four years. Then she and Yawn are Florida bound. We will be between LA and Florida, Shafer told Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Shafer is also considering business ventures in Florida as the couple looks to lay down roots. Yawn is opening a restaurant in a historic Jacksonville firehouse Yawn proudly shared the news about her purchase on Twitter. Downtown JAX is becoming a Superyacht destination! The history is rich w a vibrant culture. Im personally invested in the city. I just bought a 106 year old firehouse downtown to convert into a restaurant w a rooftop lounge. Now the journey begins! she shared. The journey will be a labor of love for Yawn. Her sister lives in Jacksonville and started a school in the area for children with autism. Yawn was likely looking at real estate in the area for a while and ended up scoring a great deal on the property. SOLD! Working on the details & plans for my new project in JAX. Need a name for the restaurant & rooftop bar! And Go #BelowDeckMed #Bravo #Florida pic.twitter.com/eo0adi3SJP Captain Sandy Yawn (@CaptSandyYawn) June 11, 2020 RELATED: This Cause Hits Home For Captain Sandy From Below Deck Med She purchased the historic 7,600 square foot, two-story firehouse for $185,000, which was originally listed for $295,000, the Jacksonville Business Journal reports. James Angelo brokered the deal and said Yawn was the ideal buyer for the property. He said the firehouse, is not a fit for your average investor and requires someone with vision. He added, This needs someone with a larger-than-life vision of what can happen. Shes a person of great vision. Girlfriend Leah Shafer also made a big purchase Shafer also has a real estate purchase she is proud of and shared it on Instagram. She shot a video of her home in progress and revealed this was the very first home shes purchased as an independent woman. Bought my first place ever, she revealed. This is the first time ive ever bought a home on my own. The end of July it will be done and brand new!! So exciting ! The workers invited me to take a look and it was so surreal. RELATED: Below Deck Med: Captain Sandy and Leah Shafer Recall the Camping Disaster That Left Them Eating Donuts and M&Ms The Cabinets will be white and all grey white washed wood flooring, creating a happy peaceful sanctuary while we are in colorado, she shared. Its been a long year waiting. Amazing the things you can do with focus and determination. Cant wait to show you all the final results and the sunsets here in parker colorado. Hard work WORKS @restoration.hardware Then after Lolo graduates, (4 years) , Florida time!!! You learn a lot when journalists pose questions to President Trump. The insights dont often come from Trumps answers, given how frequently he deflects, shades the facts, or lies outright. But we learn a great deal about the reporters doing the interviews. There are the sycophants, such as Fox Newss Lou Dobbs (The country owes you a great debt on so much, he told Trump in 2017) and Maria Bartiromo (You made a bold decision on Iran, I mean this was incredible, she told Trump in 2018). And there are the defiant, including CBSs Weijia Jiang, who sparred with Trump about Americas performance on battling COVID-19 and rebutted his comment about China by responding, Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically? But when Harris Faulkner, a longtime Fox News correspondent and anchor, met with Trump last week, she carved an entirely different path from that followed by many of her colleagues. She was neither antagonistic nor admiring. She put herself into the interview, framed in her roles as a Black woman and a parent, in a way that journalists rarely do with her skill and care. Faulkner began her twenty-minute interview by asking Trump to place the protests over George Floyds death into whatever sweeping context he could muster. Here was her opening question: You know, Mr. President, with all thats happened in the last couple of weeks, I feel like we are at one of those historical moments where future generations will look back and theyll decide who we were. Are you the president to unite all of us? Given everything thats happening right now? Trump couldnt fathom or focus on the question. What will our grandchildren make of this, and of our response? Instead, he floated off into a defense of his administrations coronavirus performance, eventually winding back to Faulkners question. He said: And then on top of it we had the riots, which were unnecessary to the extent they were. If the governors and mayors would have taken a stronger action, I think the riots would have beenyou could call them protesters, you could call them riotsdifferent nights, different things. A few moments later, Faulkner brought herself into the interview: I want to talk with you about where we are just in terms of the Black community. People of color. Faulkner said up front that she knew of the violence and destruction in the aftermath of Floyds killing. That was a strategic move, because it boxed Trump out of the excuse that protesters were purely bent on violence. She posed it this way: You know, I hear you use the word rioter. And I understand, we covered it on Fox News. I covered much of that at night as it was bursting a couple of Saturday nights ago. The looting. And it was heartbreaking to see businesses, small businesses, which we know employ north of 66 percent of the people in America. At the same time you had peaceful protesters. And they were hurting. So Im curious from you, what do you think the protestersnot the looters and the rioterswere intelligent enough to know the difference in our country, right? What do you think they [protesters] want? What do you think they need right nowfrom you? Most politicians yearn for such a question and would have an eloquent response ready. But Trump instead responds with the kind of word scramble youd find in the back pages of a childrens magazine: So I think you had protesters for different reasons. And then you had protesting also because, you know, they just didnt know. Ive watched. I watched it very closely. Why are you here? They really werent able to say, but they were there for a reason, perhaps. But a lot of them really were there because theyre following the crowd. You could argue that Faulkner should have pressed Trump harder, repeating or rephrasing her questions to elicit more relevant answers. We know, though, that journalists rarely get more clarity from Trump on the second go-round. Usually, as CBSs Jiang and others have found, he becomes defensive, more likely to lash out at the questioner. Faulkners methodical approach has its own power. While the journalism world is becoming embroiled in another internecine debate between those touting objectivity versus those criticizing the view from nowhere, Faulkner shows how its possible to rise above both of those poles with a style that is heartfelt, not maudlin. The interview drew praise from other journalists. Faulkner phrased her questions as one human to another, with empathy and respect, says Cheryl Devall, a longtime radio and print journalist with a string of awards for her work on AIDS and Black America, the 1992 Los Angeles riots and the war on poverty. Trumps responses, Devall told me in an email exchange, showed that he was incapable of responding in kind and were indicative of his default option to dismiss [journalists] humanity, legitimacy and commitment to truth. At several points in the interview, Faulkner pointed to her own lived experienceas a TV journalist, as a Black woman, and as a mother: I know from your team, you watched that eight minutes and forty-six seconds of George Floyd. And Mr. President, your response to that is different than a person of color. And Im a mom. When he called out Mom on that tape, its a heart punch. A few moments later, she added: You look at me, and Im Harris on TV. But Im a Black woman. Im a mom. And you know, youve talked about it, but we havent seen you come out and be that consoler in this instance. And the tweets. When the looting starts, the shooting starts. Why those words? Faulkner wasnt just asking Trump why he rehashed this racist phrase. Shes asking the president if he understands how it affects her and millions like her. She is providing him every opportunity to show empathy, or compassion, or kindness. Trump goes off on a riff, claiming that the phrase comes from former Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzowhich wasnt particularly accurate or exculpatory, given that Rizzo attracted support from KKK members and urged his citizens to vote white. Faulkner is prepared for this. She tells Trump: No, it comes from 1967. I was about eighteen months old at the time. It was from the chief of police in Miami. He was cracking down. And he meant what he said. And he said, I dont even care if it makes it look like brutality. Im going to crack downwhen the looting starts, the shooting starts. That frightened a lot of people when you tweeted that. There is much more in the interview, including Trumps bizarre rant about Abraham Lincoln: He did good. Although its always questionable, you know, in other words, the end result. Faulkner responds, Well, we are free, Mr. President. Throughout, Faulkner deals with Trump in a way that we dont often see. She resorts neither to flattery nor to antagonism. She places herself into the interview, but only to get the president to grapple with the pain that the Floyd tape, and Trumps own words, have inflicted. She gives him every opportunity to put Floyds death into the context of the long struggle over civil and human rights. It is an approach, Devall notes, that journalists have long used, to take the moral temperature of the people they interview. That Trump couldnt rise to the occasion is unsurprising. That a reporter gave him every chance to do so was a revelation. NEW AT CJR: Maria Ressas conviction, and the Philippines dire information climate Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Bill Grueskin is on the faculty at Columbia Journalism School. He has previously worked as founding editor of a newspaper on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, city editor of the Miami Herald, deputy managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, and an executive editor at Bloomberg News. He is a graduate of Stanford University (Classics) and Johns Hopkinss School of Advanced International Studies (US Foreign Policy and International Economics). - A section of Kenyans still believe COVID-19 is hogwash since they had not seen any person who had contracted the virus succumb or recovered from it - According to them, the government is using the daily updates on the virus to attract funds from donors - Other Kenyans, however, confessed the virus was real since they had contracted it, knew a relative with COVID-19 or knew people who had died from the virus - As of Monday, June 15, Kenya had recorded 3,727 cases of the virus out of which 1,286 were recoveries and 104 deaths Even as COVID-19 cases in the country hit 3,727 on Monday, June 15, a section of Kenyans still dismissed the reports terming them as hogwash and fraudulent. Those who did not believe coronavirus was in the country alleged the daily briefings by the Ministry of Health was a scheme authorities were using to attract donor funding. READ ALSO: 4 State House staff test positive for COVID-19 Health CS Mutahi Kagwe (c) when he updated the county on COVID-19 status in Nyandarua county on Monday, June 15. Photo: Nyandarua County Government. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: NCIC summons Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi over hate speech: "There is no cause for alarm" This narrative was, however, countered by those who trust the state who argued that it was not practical for the government to halt an economy that generates trillions at the expense of a few billions from well-wishers. Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has regularly cautioned Kenyans against waiting for the disease to descend on their doorsteps for them to believe it is real adding anyone could get it. READ ALSO: Celebrated actor Ken Ambani alias Baraza proves hes still King in new Swahili telenovela Kovu To drive the message home, Kagwe has been using examples of countries like Italy, USA, UK and Brazil which have recorded thousands of deaths. A Twitter thread by a tweep identified as Caroline Carole that allowed Kenyans to volunteer information about friends or relatives they knew had contracted the virus revealed there were people who had come face to face with the disease. READ ALSO: Omondi Long Lilo: Another celebrated Luo musician dies in hospital Most respondents confessed they knew people who were battling the virus, recovered from it while others shared stories of those who had succumbed to the disease. Shilu Ngure said four of her neighbours had tested positive, a development that scared her since she was in contact with them. "My neighbours. Same building, same floor and I was in contact with them. Four are positive now. I am waiting for 14 days then go for a test. Hopefully, I'm safe. God intervenes," Ngure tweeted. READ ALSO: Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe's daughter June Tuto throws huge, exquisite birthday bash Tobi Roppo revealed he had tested positive for the virus which later progressed and resulted in acute pneumonia after 10 days. He stayed in the hospital for 37 days and he was getting better. "I'm one. Tested positive and was put in isolation. Some 10 days later, it got worse. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and a bilateral pulmonary embolism (clot in both lungs). I'm out now after spending 37 days in the hospital. I will be on anticoagulants for three to six months," Roppo wrote. READ ALSO: Bibi wa miaka 65 amuoa mwanawe wa kuasili mwenye miaka 24 Samia Omar Bwana revealed he knew two people in Mombasa who contracted the virus and did not make it. He singled out stigma as the biggest impediment in the fight against COVID-19. "Two in Mombasa. They both died. This thing is real guys. Stigma isnt making it any easier. Lets destigmatise COVID-19, please. It will make it easier for people to step forward for treatment," said Bwana. According to some tweeps, the number of COVID-19 related fatalities in the country could be higher than 104 reported by the Ministry of Health since some people were dying silently in their homes. As of Monday, June 15, the number of recoveries was 1,286 while the death toll was 104. Here are other reactions: Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. We have no mercy for Kirinyaga people - Kenyans react to Governor Waiguru ouster. | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke A number of communities in the path of a growing wildfire in Tonto National Forest, Arizona, were ordered to evacuate, and state routes were closed, on June 15, according to AZ Central. The Arizona Department of Transport closed two state routes near the national forest due to the fire. The fire started on June 13 and spread quickly amid hot, dry and windy conditions. AZ Central reported officials saying the fire had burned 37,900 by June 15, with zero containment. Video by the Arizona DOT shows the fire burning off State Route 87. Credit: Arizona DOT via Storyful Mumbai: The Bombay high court (HC) has directed Maharashtra government to respond to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ezra Foundation, which has sought to bar reopening of primary and pre-primary schools both online and offline in the state till September because of the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. The court sought to know about the status of classes for students up to the age of 14 years after the state government informed the HC that it had issued a notification on June 15, which had stated that schools for students up to class II wouldnt be reopened till September. State advocate-general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni said he would respond by Friday on the directions sought by the court. Earlier, a two-member division bench of the HC, comprising chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice KK Tated, while hearing the PIL, filed by Ezra Foundation, through video-conference, was informed by the petitioners advocates Shashikant Chaudhari and Manoj Kumar Singh that the health and well-being of children in the age group between six and 14 years would be at risk if schools were allowed to start, either online or offline. The advocates prayed before the court that the students in that age group would be most vulnerable to contract SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, if they are asked to attend classes. Similarly, their heath would take a toll, if they are asked to attend online classes for a prolonged duration and many parents also would not be able to provide expensive tools required for e-learning, they pleaded. The advocates also urged the court to direct the state government to frame guidelines for a common fee structure for private schools for the academic year (2020-21), as many parents are facing huge financial constraints due to the lockdown restrictions. They also drew the courts attention to how many parents have been coerced by several private school authorities to pay fees for the new academic session even though the classes are yet to begin because of the viral outbreak. They prayed for a court-monitored committee for framing guidelines for reopening of schools across the state and also a list of erring schools be prepared for charging fees in advance and called for revoking their registration. Kerala Gov shoots off letter to CM Vijayan: 'You personally assume the position of Chancellor' BJP stokes controversy, says murder convict attended Kerala CM's daughter's wedding India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Thiruvananthapuram, June 16: The BJP in Kerala has courted a controversy alleging that a murder convict had participated in the wedding of the daughter of Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, solemnised at his official residence here. Vijayan, who is also holding the Home portfolio, should clarify if the convict had attended the marriage function, BJP Spokesperson Sandeep Warrier, wrote in a Facebook Post. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter ties knot with DYFI national president Mohammed Riyas LAC faceoff: 1 Indian officer and 2 soldiers killed in Chinese aggression| Oneindia News Veena got married to CPI(M) youth leader and DYFI national president P A Mohammed Riyas here on Monday morning in accordance with COVID-19 protocol. The marriage was held at Cliff House, the official residence of the Chief Minister, with less than 50 people, comprising close relatives and friends, participating. Warrier has tweeted a picture clicked at the wedding in which one Muhammed Hashim, a convict who is on parole, is seen standing next to the newly wedded couple. Hashim, a close relative of Riyas, was among the family members of the groom who were present at the ceremony. "The Chief Minister should answer whether a convict, who is on parole, attended the wedding function at the CM's official residence," he said. Though the High Court had acquitted him, the apex court convicted Hashim in 2017 for seven years in the case relating to the murder of an RSS activist, 24 years ago. Meanwhile, social activist Swami Agnivesh congratulated Veena and Riyas Mohammad on their wedding and hailed their decision to break man-made religious and caste barriers. Promoting inter-religious and inter-caste marriages must be a priority today,he said in a statement. "This is the most effective means we have to create a casteless society, as is mandated by the Constitution. It is also an effective vaccine against poisoning people with communal hatred", he said. The military council which ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a 2006 putsch is disbanding itself, as a Thaksin-backed coalition prepares to take office. The Council for National Security (CNS), widely derided for presiding over an inept government, also called on politicians to stay out of military affairs, suggesting it feared vengeful Thaksin supporters in office. "Everybody in the CNS, especially the army commander-in-chief, insist there will be no more coups," CNS spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd told reporters. "In a political transition into a full democracy, which is a sensitive period for all sides, the military should not be involved in politics and politicians should not interfere with the military," he said. "Therefore, we need a politically neutral person to be defence minister," Sunsern said a month after elections in which the openly pro-Thaksin People Power Party fell just short of an overall majority. Thus the possible grand bargain: Spending more money on the police even as you roll back their union protections. This lets you attack the problem of bad policing and the problem of underpolicing simultaneously. You can hire extra officers, recruit more minority candidates, recruit higher-caliber candidates and weed out poor ones, and allocate more money and time for training. As a political matter, the extra money gives police departments something in exchange for losing their current overprotected status; as a practical matter, the deal aspires to make the police more trusted and more effective, leaving citizens safer from crime and from cops like Derek Chauvin. Reimagining the police If the grand bargain works with the policing system that we have, the reimaginers think we could have a very different one. What we think of as policing could be subject to unbundling, a term coined by the music entrepreneur Trevor McFedries and elaborated on recently by the Atlantics Derek Thompson. In an unbundled system, there would still be a core of cops charged with halting and investigating crimes, but the disparate roles the police are asked to play patrolling for traffic violations and showing up at accidents, responding to calls for mental health interventions, managing the homeless would be distributed to teams of unarmed traffic managers and social workers. Taking this redistribution further, the Princeton sociologist Patrick Sharkey has argued, local communities might take on more responsibility (and receive more public money) for crime-fighting efforts that dont require armed agents of the state. And the definition of crime-fighting would be expanded to include activities that lower crime without arresting criminals: after-school programs, business development, neighborhood beautification and more. (You could think of some of this as broken windows policing without the cops, where the goal is to reshape the lived environment in ways that make a neighborhood inhospitable to crime.) These ideas are interesting and ambitious, but they also have their share of difficulties. One argument for bundled policing in the United States is that were a heavily armed country in which traffic stops and mental health interventions are more likely to end in gunfire than elsewhere. So just implement gun control, comes the response except that the kind of gun restrictions required to change that reality could be enforced only with the kind of invasive, stop-and-frisk policing that recreates the problems that police reformers want to solve. Theres probably no simple path to becoming the kind of country where agents of the state routinely go unarmed. The idea of slowly replacing the police with programs that dig away at crimes root causes, meanwhile, requires a precise policymaking calibration: If your police drawdown runs too far ahead of your attempted neighborhood development, rising crime will swamp the redevelopment project no matter how much you beautify the streets. Theres an unhappy American history, not so far back in our past, of the government spending money on urban redevelopment and finding that a crime wave overwhelmed those efforts. Dr. Dean Kelaita Speaks At Calaveras Supervisors Meeting View Photo San Andreas, CA Calaveras County public health officials say expanded personal care services will get the green light to open under COVID-19 protocol beginning this Friday. Moving further into Stage 3 of the Roadmap to Recovery, the county is authorizing the reopening of an additional sector of local businesses with modifications. These personal care services are defined as those that require touching a clients face, such as facials, electrolysis, and waxing. The guidance also applies to esthetician, skincare, and cosmetology services; electrology; nail salons; body art professionals, tattoo parlors, and piercing shops; and non-healthcare-related massage therapy. Along with the other sectors that have been able to resume business operations, these providers must follow guidance to enact stringent protections intended to support a safe, clean environment for workers and customers. Calaveras County has shown stable hospitalizations related to COVID-19 and disease activity has met the California Department of Public Health criteria to move further ahead with reopening, says Dr. Dean Kelaita, Calaveras County Health Officer. That could quickly change and depends on the preventive actions of individuals, workplaces, and communities to keep it that way. Further movement into Stage 3 means that the certain businesses can reopen so long as they meet State requirements that include: performing a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan; training employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them; implementing individual control measures and screenings along with disinfecting protocols and physical distancing guidelines. Cruit Eireann/Harp Ireland is preparing to present a 200-strong harp ensemble performance as a finale to the virtual Harps for Hope online concert series this Friday, which featured a performance from Dundalk-based harper and tutor Deirdre Ni Bhuachalla. A 200-strong ensemble of young harpers from all over Ireland will celebrate the beginning of the national recovery, the success of the Harps for Hope series and the 350th anniversary of harper, Turlough Carolan, in an ensemble performance of his well-known love song called Fanny Power, specially arranged for this performance by Aileen Kennedy. The performance can be viewed at www.harpireland.ie. Harps for Hope, a series of online harp concerts that has been ongoing since March, has featured more than 60 of Irelands leading harpers expressing their togetherness and lending their voices to the fight against Covid19. The full series of videos includes a performance from Dundalk-based harper and tutor Deirdre Ni Bhuachalla. Aibhlin McCrann, Chair of Cruit Eireann, Harp Ireland explains: We were been very moved by the response to our Harps for Hope online concert series and by the array and diversity of harp performances that we have received from our wonderful harpers. Now we have young harpers from all over Ireland coming together to celebrate our unique harping heritage, lending their voices to the national recovery as we emerge from the pandemic with a spirit of hope, embodied in the Irish Harp. Deirdre Ni Bhuachalla Director of the Music Generation Louth harp ensemble commented: "It has been a challenging time for the arts, but harps for hope, along with other similar initiatives has given our musicians something to focus on and work towards in a time of uncertainty. We are grateful for all of these virtual performance opportunities." Cruit Eireann, Harp Ireland is the national umbrella resource organisation for the harp in Ireland: its organisations, harp players and harp makers. It was established in 2016 by harpers in collaboration with the Arts Council, An Chomhairle Ealaion to support the continuing development of the harp in Ireland, gain recognition for its unique status and secure its sustainability. www. harpireland.ie. (Newser) Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued an ominous-sounding warning over the weekend, and it looks like she's made good on her word: the North blew up the joint liaison office it shared with South Korea in the North Korean border city of Kaesong, Reuters reports, prompting an emergency meeting Tuesday by South Korea's national security council. Kim Yo Jong had hinted on Saturday that the "useless" four-story structure would see its demise unless "human scum" (North Korea's code for defectors now in South Korea) stopped sending anti-North messages and food, cash, and USB sticks with news programs over the border. South Korea's defense ministry released surveillance footage showing the blast, which took out the "gleaming blue glass" liaison office and partially collapsed a nearby high-rise that housed the South's officials. story continues below KCNA, North Korea's state media agency, proclaimed the office "completely destroyed by a terrific explosion" at around 3pm local time Tuesday, per CNN. "The recent foolish act of daring hurt the dignity of our supreme leadership," it continued. The office, which had been shut down since January due to the pandemic, had housed officials from the North on the fourth floor, officials from the South on the second floor, and meetings in a conference area on the third floor. South Korea paid nearly $9 million in 2018 to repurpose the building, which had previously been used as a jointly run industrial complex until it shut down in 2016 amid tensions over the North's nuclear program. Analysts say the North may have blown up the building to try to create a crisis to give it leverage in negotiations with the US, per the BBC. The South has tried to persuade defectors from sending the anti-North messages, often by balloon, but activist groups say they plan on continuing. (Read more North Korea stories.) Brett Schuylers relief at having the three-person bunkhouse limit lifted for migrant workers quarantining on Haldimand-Norfolk farms faded with news that the health unit would appeal the decision. Until that appeal is heard, the rule Schuyler says threatens food security and puts area farmers at a disadvantage will stay in place. In its decision released Friday, the Health Services Review and Appeal Board said only allowing three migrant workers to isolate together upon arrival, regardless of the size and layout of a given bunkhouse, was an unreasonable and arbitrary restriction imposed by chief medical officer of health Dr. Shanker Nesathurai. During the six-day hearing, Schuyler argued that having stricter rules in Haldimand-Norfolk than those set out by Ottawa and Queens Park meant local farmers faced delays and extra costs in bringing in offshore workers. Using day labourers from urban areas to fill the gap increased the risk of COVID-19 being brought onto the farm, he added. The board represented by vice chair Thomas Kelly said there was no convincing reason given as to why there is a limit of three migrant farm workers to a bunkhouse. Requiring health unit staff to approve farmers self-isolation plans and use their public health expertise to make a determination as to how many migrant farm workers would be allowed serves to decrease or limit the risk of transmission to migrant farm workers, the board said. The health unit said it was disappointed by the boards ruling and would appeal. Spokesperson Matt Terry said the three-person limit was reasonable and effective at protecting farms from the disastrous effects of a widespread outbreak of COVID-19 during migrant workers initial self-isolation period. As evidenced by the outbreak which took place during the hearing (at Scotlynn Group in Vittoria), the virus can easily spread among large numbers of workers living in a congregate setting, significantly impacting farming operations. Terry added that removing the three-person limit will mean more work for health unit inspectors, who will need to evaluate each bunkhouse. Forty of the approximately 100 employees of the health unit are already assigned to the migrant farmworker program. You can make it as complicated as you want to, Schuyler countered. How do they do it in Oxford County and other places? What they need to do is find ways to make it simple. Schuyler suspects ego might be motivating the health units appeal after a sometimes-acrimonious hearing, set against a breakdown in relations between the health unit and the countys agricultural advisory committee. He said instead of waiting on another decision from the review board, he would rather be working with the health unit on how to better prevent and manage farm outbreaks. Whens the money going to stop being spent, and when can we just get working together as a community and fix problems? Schuyler said. Because that hasnt happened, and were quite a ways into this pandemic. Although the health units appeal will see farms fall further behind on planting, Schuyler said having the bunkhouse limit rescinded and getting more workers in would still make a practical difference. This can still very much help for harvest, Schuyler said. Scotlynn outbreak worsens The health unit announced on Friday that five more Mexican migrant workers at Scotlynn had tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number to 169. Two workers are in hospital, while the remaining 214 are in self-isolation at the farm or in Brantford hotels. The health unit tested 100 community members with some connection to the farm, 18 of whom tested positive. At a news conference last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to do better by migrant workers in response to several large-scale farm outbreaks, acknowledging the extremely important role offshore workers play in Canadian agriculture. And on Friday, the province announced $15 million for farmers to purchase personal protective equipment and modify workplaces to better protect workers. The money up to $7,500 per farm can also be used to offset transportation costs and pay for temporary housing for sick workers. The Ford government touted its investment in farm safety, but the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change said increased farm inspections and legislation mandating physical distancing and safe working conditions is needed to truly protect workers. The agri-food industry has already received nearly a billion dollars in provincial and federal funds which has failed to prevent outbreaks on farms and migrant worker deaths. More of the same is not enough, said executive director Syed Hussan. Workplaces with COVID-19 cases must be shut down until worker safety can be guaranteed. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2020) -SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSX: SIL) (NYSE American: SILV) ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders ("AGM") held in Vancouver, BC on June 15, 2020. Shareholders voted in favour of all items of business, including the election of each director nominee by show of hands. A total of 64,752,074 votes were represented in the meeting amounting to 59.66% of the issued common shares as of the record date. All votes were submitted by proxy with the following tabulation of these votes: Directors Tabulation of Votes in Favour submitted by Proxy Tabulation of Votes Withheld submitted by Proxy N. Eric Fier 44,744,974 (99.67%) 147,778 (0.33%) Ross O. Glanville 41,845,159 (93.21%) 3,047,593 (6.79%) Ani Markova 44,736,402 (99.65%) 156,350 (0.35%) Hannes P. Portmann 41,825,951 (93.17%) 3,066,801 (6.83%) Graham C. Thody 44,235,902 (98.54%) 656,850 (1.46%) John H. Wright 41,128,740 (91.62%) 3,764,012 (8.38%) In addition, shareholders voted in favour to re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as auditor of SilverCrest. ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC. SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company's current focus is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico. The Las Chispas Project consists of 28 mineral concessions, of which the Company has 100% ownership and where all the known mineral resources of the Company are located. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Property resulting in numerous high-grade precious metal discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production. N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng Chief Executive Officer SilverCrest Metals Inc. For Further Information: SilverCrest Metals Inc. Contact: Jacy Zerb, Investor Relations Telephone: +1 (604) 694-1730 Fax: +1 (604) 357-1313 Toll Free: 1-866-691-1730 (Canada & USA) Email: info@silvercrestmetals.com Website: www.silvercrestmetals.com 570 Granville Street, Suite 501 Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57951 Islamabad: Pakistan has decided to approach Interpol regarding extradition of Baloch nationalist and leader Brahamdagh Bugti. The Baloch issue has gained steam as Bugti seeks political asylum in India, a media report said. The Pakistan government has decided to write to Interpol for the extradition of Bugti. "The Federal Investigation Agency will send a formal reference to Interpol within the next few days for the extradition of Brahamdagh Bugti," interior minister Nisar Ali Khan was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. Pakistan yesterday warned India that by granting asylum to Bugti, it will become an "official sponsor of terrorism". Bugti, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking asylum in India and exuded confidence of a positive response from New Delhi. His application seeking political asylum was received by the Home Ministry in New Delhi which is examining it. Bugti is the President and founder of Baloch Republican Party. He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistan army in 2006. Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reached New York late on Saturday night. She will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 26. Swaraj will spearhead India's charge at the United Nations General Assembly and is expected to present evidence of Pakistan's involvement in recent terrorist attacks on Indian soil to the assembly. Leading Indias delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Also read: Watch: Pakistans discourse has no takers in United Nations, says MJ Akbar Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharifs UN General Assembly (UNGA) speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. Indias strong Right of Reply to his speech called Pakistan home to the Ivy League of Terrorism and a terrorist state that commits war crimes by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Outlining Indias focus for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, Indias envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the primary concern for India as well as for nations across the world. He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session. Swarup told reporters here Friday that the whole world and the entire nation is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver Indias vision document for the 71st UNGA. We are all looking forward to that, he had said. He, however had not elaborated on elements of Swarajsaddress but said the whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the External Affairs Minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community. Swarup said one can also expect a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security. Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharifs long tirade about the situation in Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had said, the worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region, she said. She had said India sees in Pakistan a terrorist state which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terror groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. (With PTI Inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Families of Mexicos disappeared say their searches have been derailed by COVID-19 lockdowns, proposed government cuts. Mexico City Painted in large white letters on the street outside the windows of Mexicos National Palace, is both a question and a plea: Where are they? About a dozen families, along with their supporters, have set up camp outside the residence of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for nearly two weeks to demand the government take their search for the countrys estimated 61,000 disappeared seriously. Already struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, the families fear the fight to find Mexicos disappeared is being further derailed by austerity measures announced by Lopez Obrador in April, which they say will end vital funding and support to families of the disappeared. The Commission for Assistance to Victims (CEAV), a government body, faces cuts of up to 75 percent of its budget and has warned its operations will be paralysed and that the National Victims Registry, which contains information on more than 34,000 people, will be lost. Among the families demands is a meeting with Lopez Obrador, who has so far not obliged. In Veracruz on Monday, families protested a visit by the president, saying you only meet with El Chapos mother, a reference to Lopez Obradors controversial handshake with the mother of drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. Lopez Obrador has previously denied that victims will be left without support, instead, arguing that austerity measures are needed to end mismanagement and to impose order on the states finances. Activists and relatives of missing people play drums during a protest outside the National Palace, in Mexico City, demanding answers from the Mexican government on the whereabouts of their loved ones [Pedro Pardo/AFP] But the comments ring hollow for the families and friends of those disappeared, especially as people go missing despite the coronavirus pandemic, which has also hurt the search efforts. COVID hasnt stopped the murders, said Angelica Ramirez, who has dedicated her life to searching for those gone missing since the disappearance of her friend and friends daughter in Tijuana. The body of her friend, 24-year-old Jasmin Gopar, was later found, and Gopars 11-month-old daughter Valeria was rescued from a couple who had kidnapped her. The executions. It hasnt stopped any of this, Ramirez told Al Jazeera. At the end of March, Ramirez and others found a hidden mass grave in Valle de San Pedro, between the cities of Tijuana and Tecate on the border with the United States. over three days they recovered eight bodies. But the site now lies abandoned, with Ramirezs collective unable to access it to try to recover others. Now we cant work there and everythings at a standstill. They [the government] withdrew our security so we cant go there, she said, referring to the Mexican governments lockdown to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Without protection, usually by troops from Mexicos National Guard, searchers like Ramirez face considerable risks. A soldier wearing a mask amid the coronavirus pandemic watches a protest by relatives of the disappeared in front of the National Palace in Mexico City [Eduardo Verdugo/Reuters] Despite Mexicos COVID-19 crisis showing no signs of abating with more than 150,000 confirmed cases and at least 17,500 related deaths the country began to ease certain restrictions on June 1. With non-essential activities ceased, however, families of those disappeared say their efforts to find their loved ones are taking a severe hit, and without action, they fear the disappearances, by organised crime groups and state actors, will continue unchecked. For the bad people who carry out the disappearances, theres no quarantine. Theres no COVID. Theres no government. Theres not a situation which will stop them, Ramirez said. Ground searches suspended In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on April 2 the Movement for our Disappeared, made up of more than 60 collectives of families from 22 Mexican states and El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, announced the suspension of search activities during the health emergency, but called on Mexican authorities to commit to continuing its efforts. The vast majority of the forced disappearances have been committed since former President Felipe Calderon launched his war on drugs in 2006, by both organised crime groups and elements of the state. That is in addition to the more than 250,000 people who have been killed. Motives for disappearances have varied, but have included efforts to terrorise civilians or rival criminal groups; sex trafficking; organ harvesting; repression of journalists or activists; and forced labour. A woman wearing a mask amid the coronavirus pandemic holds an image of a person who was disappeared, during a protest in front of the National Palace in Mexico City [Eduardo Verdugo/AP Photo] Until the coronavirus crisis hit, groups would search for bodies and remains in unmarked or open fields and morgues. Others searched in prisons, hospitals and other institutions for those who may still be alive. The field operations have largely stopped and other efforts have slowed, but Karla Quintana Osuna, the head of the Mexican federal governments National Search Commission (CNB), which coordinates the governments role in search efforts throughout the country, said her office was still searching databases and responding to immediate disappearances. Families worry, however, that is not enough. Their stress is only compounded by the isolation and financial difficulties felt during the coronavirus pandemic itself. For all of those with disappeared people, this compulsory isolation means lost days until our loved ones return home, said Virginia Garay Cazares, founder of the Warriors Searching for our Treasures collective. Garay Cazares is searching for her son who disappeared in February 2018 as he walked the three blocks from his home to the hamburger stand where he worked in Tepic, the capital of the state of Nayarit. He was 19 years old. He never arrived at work or came home, she said. We still dont know what happened. Nobody saw anything, she added. The last comment made to me was from one of his friends, who said hed been picked up by a police patrol. But we dont know anything. Garay Cazares said despite the pause in on-the-ground searches, she and others are finding innovative ways to keep their efforts active. We need to stay active. We can take this as a physical break, but not mental. Were continually thinking about how we can create new ways to search, for example using social media and all the media possible, she said. Twitter, Whatsapp, Facebook, Zoom and other social media platforms have become vital for families of the disappeared to communicate and organise among themselves, but also to keep the scandal of disappearances in the public consciousness. For us families, facing this tragedy and pain of disappearance, weve turned our pain into a struggle, Garay Cazares said. We need them to see us. To hear us. So that the disappeared dont disappear permanently during this emergency, she added. Were clear that in this moment, life is a priority for everyone. If were not healthy we cant go out to search for the more than 61,000 people who are disappeared. The call for forensic cemeteries Families also worry that the COVID-19 crisis could overwhelm Mexicos already-saturated morgues, and possibly lead to the destruction of the unidentified bodies. In 2019, the National Human Rights Commission said there were more than 30,000 unidentified bodies or remains in the countrys morgues. In Mexico due to the crisis of disappearances, the forensic crisis and the law regarding disappearance and victims its very clear that you cant cremate anyone who is unidentified, or who has been identified but unclaimed, even if they died, or are thought to have died, from COVID, said Quintana Osuna. We have to preserve these bodies in order to have the possibility of identifying them afterwards, she added. A relative of a missing person bangs a pan during a protest to demand the Mexican government take the search for those disappeared seriously [Pedro Pardo/AFP] In response to those concerns, and after advocacy by the CNB and the families of the disappeared, the Mexican government promised not to cremate victims of COVID-19, removing a previous stipulation in the Guide for the Management of COVID-19 Corpses that said the bodies of coronavirus patients should be cremated. Still, families fear unidentified bodies will be placed in mass graves as the body count continues to climb. There are going to be many more people going to mass graves, due to both COVID and bullets, Ramirez fears. While it is possible to later recover and identify bodies from mass graves, it is a difficult task, CNB head Quintana Osuna added. For this reason, and with an added impetus in the face of COVID-19, the National Search Commission has been pushing for the establishment of forensic cemeteries, with individualised internment and detailed records of cadavers, allowing for easier future identification. Disappearances continue That call comes as the violence in Mexico continues to escalate. March had the highest homicide total 2,585 since records began in 1997, adding to pressure on President Lopez Obrador. The total number of homicides were slightly down in April and May, but June 7 saw the most homicides in 2020 with 117 recorded. As the countrys health emergency has steadily deepened over the last months, both Ramirez and Garay Cazares have dealt with new cases of disappearances, including the alleged escape, and subsequent disappearances, of four young girls from an orphanage south of Tijuana. The two eldest girls are 16 years old, the youngest 10 months. At the time of publication, only one girl, 12 years old, has been found. That reality is one of the reasons why the families camped out outside the presidents residence have promised to stay put until their demands are met. On Saturday, the group of mostly women directed their songs and chants of justice at an open window of the National Palace, in the hopes that their words would reach Lopez Obrador. Noticing an open window, the women began singing Sin Mieda (Without Fear), a protest song by Vivir Quintana, which rails against Mexicos intertwined scandals of impunity, state violence, disappearances and femicide. Every minute of every week, they steal our friends, they kill our sisters, they destroy their bodies, they disappear them, dont forget their names, please, Mr president! the women sang out. As they finished, the window closed and they started singing again. "As the number of infections in vulnerable countries growsamong populations who are already malnourished, weak and vulnerable to diseasea 'crisis within a crisis' could emerge," said Dominique Burgeon, Director of Emergency and Resilience Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), during a recent interview . In response to the worldwide lockdowns due to COVID-19, Love Justice International (LJI) has been distributing food to individuals in dire need of basic provisions. However, with quarantines in effect for more than 10 weeks and counting, the most vulnerable people around the globe are beginning to die from starvation. Because of this desperate reality, Love Justice International is shifting the focus of their relief efforts from helping "those without food" to "those who are starving." In the countries where they work, Love Justice partner staff will be finding people who have been going without food and are on the verge of starvation. In addition, if their team members find anyone who is showing signs of severe starvation, they will seek immediate medical attention for guidance and treatment. The sobering reality is that those who were most vulnerable before this pandemic will continue to be hit the hardest even after the virus subsides and lockdowns are lifted. What is unfolding across many countries is a humanitarian crisis, where multitudes have little to eat and are forced to depend on the kindness and generosity of others to survive. In Zimbabwe, for example, COVID-19 threatens to exacerbate the country's dire economic and hunger crises, drastically affecting the lives of people in both urban and rural areas. The number of Zimbabweans suffering from extreme hunger has risen to 4.3 million, from 3.8 million at the end of last year. Over the last several weeks in Zimbabwe, LJI has been able to distribute food to almost 7,000 individuals to dateenough provisions to last a family an average of two weeks. One beneficiary shared, "You watch the children and think that one day they will die due to starvation because there is literally nothing to give them except for water. I don't know what to say because of the assistance you've offered me and my children in order to survive. May the good Lord bless you and everyone who facilitated this food to get to me and my family." While yet another stated, "I have had nights without food and it has been challenging, especially considering that I have five grandchildren and I am now old and I cannot work. What do I do with them? I did not know what to do with them." An LJI partner staff member working in Zimbabwe stated, "The distribution of food is an emotional time with faces of people showing how desperate they are for food. There is a change of perspective of life that I have especially with regards to food security. It has been more fulfilling being an instrument of change to people and serving them." This is just a glimpse into the lives being served in the 16 countries where LJI is currently providing food and supplies to those in desperate situations. However, the needs continue to become even more urgent as the lockdowns continue. Love Justice created their COVID-19 Global Relief Effort to be able to meet this growing demand; for only $4, they are able to feed one person for a month$15 feeds a family of four. About Love Justice International: Love Justice International is dedicated to fighting the world's greatest injustices. In addition to fighting human trafficking and caring for orphaned and abandoned children, they are currently responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing essential food aid to individuals at risk of starvation. Learn more at LoveJustice.NGO. SOURCE Love Justice International Related Links www.lovejustice.ngo Not surprisingly, terrorist organisations seized on the Covid-19 crisis to ratchet up their hate speech. The pandemic was heaven sent to take revenge against violators of Gods law and inflict on them the worst punishment for their many sins, said Islamic State (IS) Spokesman Abu Hamza Al-Qirshi. The virus was a soldier sent down to strike the tyrants of the world, goes the refrain of militant Islamist organisations keen to turn domestic public opinion against their governments and to sow anarchy and sedition. Unfortunately, the rhetoric has a market among these organisations sympathisers, enabling it to spread across social networking sites. These organisations also hastened to take advantage of governments preoccupation with implementing the necessary measures to curb the spread of the pandemic and the need to divert large portions of their budgets into their health sectors. This helps explain the recent spike in terrorist attacks in various parts of the world and a resurgence of the organisations activities in areas where they had suffered debilitating setbacks. The general panic and alarm stirred by the epidemic have simultaneously served these organisations recruitment drive. They know that fear, which leads people to more tightly embrace faith in times of adversary, can also render minds easier to control. Although the government in Baghdad pronounced Iraq free of IS in 2017, and although this terrorist organisation sustained major defeats in Syria where its leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was killed, counterterrorist authorities in both countries have failed to follow through with the operations necessary to fully eliminate terrorist lairs. As a result, IS operatives that managed to escape security forces have gone underground, creating sleeping cells and finding places of refuge in remote and less policeable areas. They were drawn in particular to areas characterised by conflict, high levels of social polarisation, regional and international tugs-of-war, instability and poor states of security, high poverty rates and low standards of living, poor social services and other such conditions. There they could resume their activities as they won over local populaces by offering social services, and they could recruit youth from the armies of unemployed which have swelled as a result of the economic repercussions of the coronavirus crisis. In Iraq where, in addition to having to address the Covid-19 crisis, the government also had to manage a cabinet reshuffle, IS staged a spate of attacks that extended from the Saladin governorate to the Kirkuk and Diyala governorates. The area, which has been dubbed the triangle of death, extends from the border with Iran to the east to the border with Syria to the west. It is a varied terrain, parts of which are mountainous and rugged, and therefore favoured by terrorists as hideouts. The attacks demonstrated, as they were undoubtedly meant to, that the organisation has preserved considerable combat capacity, manoeuvrability and the tactical knowhow to wage lethal lightning strikes. The organisations attacks have also increased in areas under the control of the Syrian regime, most notably those between Al-Sukhna and Deir Al-Zor, indicating that the organisation still has a heavy presence in the region east of Homs up to the Iraq border. Also significant is the diversity of modus operandi. Assassinations, roadside bombs, suicide attacks, defacement of public buildings, attacks against oil and gas installations, armed raids and other such operations testify to the organisations ability to move unchecked across large stretches of land. The area east of the Euphrates, the area noted for the presence of the US-led coalition forces and the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has also experienced an increase in terrorist attacks. There, IS was handed the advantage of the chaos generated by the partial withdrawal of US forces, the spread of Turkish forces, the prison breaks and renewed fighting between local opposition forces and the Syrian army. At least in that area, however, SDF pre-emptive strikes against terrorist lairs, widespread combing operations and US Special Forces operations targeting terrorist commanders have curtailed ISs activities. In addition, Syrian Kurdish political leaders have been soliciting political support to hold trials locally of the thousands of Arab and foreign IS recruits who are still being held in Syrian Kurdish supervised detention centres because foreign governments continue to refuse to assume responsibility for their nationals who left to enlist with the terrorist organisation. Africa has also seen a rise in terrorist activity recently, especially the Sahel region. Al-Qaeda affiliates such as Nusrat Al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and IS affiliates such as the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) have carried out a series of lethal attacks against local and international forces. The violence has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. In the course of their response to these attacks, French forces with assistance from US AFRICOM, succeeded in hunting down and killing Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) leader Abdel-Malek Droukdel, aka Abu Musaab Abdel-Wadoud, in northeast Mali. They also killed or apprehended about 500 extremists in the Sahel region, including first tier terrorist commanders. The success of this operation was symbolically important because of Droukdels prominent status and long history as a terrorist leader and because AQIM is one of the deadliest terrorist organisations in the region. But if Droukdels death delivered a stunning blow to AQIM, the organisation still has the ability to rally. It has a council of dignitaries that includes 14 commanders who are responsible for choosing a new leader. Iyad Ag Ghaly, aka Abul-Fadl, a Tuareg militant from Mali and leader of JNIM, is believed to be the most likely candidate to succeed Droukdel. The Chadian army has been able to inflict major losses on the Boko Haram organisation. It killed some 1,000 of the groups fighters and destroyed many of its bases in the Lake Chad area in retaliation for the terrorist attack that killed 98 Chadian soldiers on 23 March. Boko Haram has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in the vicinity of Lake Chad district at the juncture of Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon (the border area also notorious as a transit point for various forms of organised crime). There are numerous counterterrorist forces in the Sahel, most notably the 5,100 strong force detailed to the French led Barkhane Operation. In addition, several European countries have agreed to contribute to the Takuba Task Force, a 500-member special forces group which is to be deployed later this summer. There are also the armies of the G5-Sahel nations and a US drone base in Niger, not to mention AFRICOM which has some 7,000 soldiers deployed across the continent and provides assistance to local and international counterterrorist forces. In addition, a 15,000 strong UN force is stationed in Mali while Britain provides periodic logistic support. Despite these many forces, they have been unable to defeat terrorism in Africa for a number of reasons: - The ability of terrorist groups to exploit certain circumstances created by the Covid-19 measures, most notably the closure of the borders between Mauritania and Mali, the suspension of joint patrols to apprehend terrorists, the French decision to reduce its Barkhane force after many members were infected by Covid-19 and the reduction in the activities of UN forces. - Counterterrorist operations have been restricted to military operations. There has been no complimentary drive to promote social and economic development in order to offset the widespread sense among tribes in the area of oppression and marginalisation, which feeds terrorism. (This is why the last summit of the international coalition to defend the Sahel resolved to fund 600 development projects at the cost of 9 billion Euros. Also, the World Bank has earmarked six to seven billion dollars to help Mali overcome such challenges.) - Poor security coverage in view off complex tribal demographics. As a result, terrorist groups are largely free to range across porous borders in an area larger than the whole of Europe. - Insufficient funding for counterterrorist activities. - The motives and aims of the governments and forces involved in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel may sometimes be at odds with each other, or may sometimes be ambiguous. - The military conflicts in Libya produced a state of anarchy that made that country a refuge and transit point for terrorists as well as organised crime, and helped create a terrorist belt across North and West Africa. Turkeys transfer of thousands of jihadist mercenaries from Syria to Libya threatens to turn Libya into the next terrorist mecca. The latter phenomenon in particular raises some crucial questions. Are the powers whose forces are present in Africa genuinely interested in eliminating terrorism? Or do they really want to keep terrorism alive in order to legitimise their presence in African countries? The writer is an expert on national security affairs. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, have described for the first time, the likely sources of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) introduction to the Los Angeles community. The findings suggest the source was mainly New York State, but other likely sources included Washington State and China. This study presents a snapshot of the molecular characteristics of SARS-COV-2 early transmission into the Los Angeles area, writes the team. Wenjuan Zhang and colleagues say their findings could pave the way for further studies looking at using SARS-CoV-2 sequencing to track local spread within communities. A preprint version of the paper can be accessed on the server medRxiv*, while the article undergoes peer review. Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell showing morphological signs of apoptosis, infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (orange), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID Identifying unique genomic features could guide interventions globally Since COVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan China late last year, urgent efforts have been made to understand all aspects of its causative agent SARS-CoV-2. Viral genome sequences that have been deposited in public databases are important resources for assessing key genomic features across populations that might help guide epidemiologic and public health endeavors globally. Sources of origin indicated so far Analysis of the Nextstrain database of viral genomes and other sequencing studies have indicated that SARS-CoV-2 spread from China to the U.S. West Coast and European populations. While the first observed case of transmission from China to the U.S. was in Seattle, the largest epicenter in the country is New York State, and the source of isolates identified there seems to be Europe. For areas along the U.S. West Coast, Washington State, and Northern California, the origin seems to be China, and within Northern California, early introduction of the virus seems to have involved Washington State. Los Angeles is the largest city found on the U.S. West Coast and is the second major city to have introduced measures confining people to their households, as deaths started to occur in early March. So far, Nextstrain has not linked the SARS-CoV-2 genome deposited for Los Angeles with any specific source of introduction. What did the current study involve? On 21st March, Cedars Sinai Medical Center adopted an in-house quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2 that enabled the rapid identification of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The team identified 192 positive patients and performed a next-generation sequencing analysis to identify the local community spread within the greater Los Angeles area. A broader geographical distribution comparison of these early Southern California with New York State, Washington State, and China isolates was conducted to ascertain possible early transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2 dissemination into Los Angeles, write Zhang and colleagues. What did the study find? The study identified two main clusters of community spread. Further analysis showed that the two main variants defining these clusters were observed throughout March and April and were present within the community before sample collection was started. One tight clustering pattern identified eight patients with viral genomes that had one mutation in common. This finding directly highlights the precision of contact tracing directly through SARS-CoV-2 genome isolation, says the team. Another tight cluster pattern identified 17 patients who shared the same postal code, which only covered 2.37 miles. No other obvious connections were observed within samples outside of those two clusters, reports the team. What about the source of the virus? The researchers say that although the sample size was small, the broader geographical distribution comparison with New York State, Washington State, and China provided useful insights for establishing the source of SARS-CoV-2 introduction to the Los Angeles community. Less than 10% of viral genomes in samples from the Los Angeles community resembled mutational profiles of genomes from China. On the other hand, more than half of the community samples closely resembled the mutational profiles of viral genomes from New York State. The remaining community samples resembled Washington State genomes. What are the study implications? Based on these findings, we conclude SARS-CoV-2 was likely introduced into the Los Angeles community predominantly from New York State but also via multiple other independent transmission routes including but not limited to Washington State and China, writes the team. The researchers say this is the first comprehensive study of the potential sources of SARS-CoV-2 introduction to a COVID-19 epicenter in the United States. Global initiatives to track SARS-CoV-2 throughout the world have proven fruitful in monitoring disease incidence, severity and worldwide spread, say the researchers. By examining a cohort within a SARS-CoV-2 US epicenter, Los Angeles, we lay the foundation for further studies into the use of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing to monitor local community spread. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has called upon people to turn off the lights for three minutes at 9pm on Wednesday in protest against the KSEBs steep hike in power tariff. Chennithala said the LDF government and the KSEB have been looting the public with a steep hike in power charges. During this Covid-19 period, the KSEB has been issuing inflated power bills which are several times over and above the previous bill. Not everyone can afford the inflated power usage charges, he said. The KPCC will on Tuesday stage a protest in front of the KSEB headquarters at Pattom here at 10am against the hike in power tariff. A crowd of demonstrators marches to the Capitol on Monday in Atlanta. The NAACP March to the Capitol coincided with the restart of the Georgia 2020 General Assembly. Read more ATLANTA Relatives of Rayshard Brooks the 27-year-old man fatally shot by an officer outside a Wendy's here last week called for law enforcement policy changes during an emotional news conference Monday as hundreds of demonstrators marched in the streets to protest another black man's death at the hands of police. Crying and hugging one another, each took a turn at the microphone as they described how Brooks's death had taken from them a loving husband and father. "The trust that we have with the police force is broken, and the only way to heal some of these wounds is through a conviction and a drastic change with the police department," said Tiara Brooks, Rayshard Brooks's cousin. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, on Monday announced that she was signing a series of administrative orders calling for changes in police policies, including requiring officers to use de-escalation techniques before using deadly force and imposing a duty on police to intervene if they see their colleagues using unreasonable force. "It is clear that we do not have another day, another minute, another hour to waste," Bottoms said. Similar actions are being considered across the country, with the New York Police Department on Monday announcing that its plainclothes anti-crime division would be disbanded and that the approximately 600 officers would transition to other roles, including as detectives and neighborhood police. Atlanta has emerged as the new epicenter of nationwide protests against police brutality, with tensions already simmering after the February killing of black jogger Ahmaud Arbery after white men chased him down in a southern Georgia town. The state was thrown further into turmoil last week with problems during the primary election, including mailed ballots that may not have been counted and long lines at polling places in heavily black precincts. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigned Saturday after Brooks's death set off a new round of unrest, with the Wendy's where he was killed being set on fire. The demonstrations were more peaceful on Monday as thousands marched through downtown Atlanta streets, culminating in a rally outside the Capitol. Hundreds greeted state lawmakers, returning to their legislative session that had been paused by the coronavirus pandemic, with demands for hate-crime legislation and repeal of the citizen's arrest law, which the men who chased Arbery said they were attempting to effect. Charlene Hines, a 63-year-old lifelong Georgian, said she joined demonstrations for the first time, incensed after her son was injured in a confrontation with police during which the body camera footage was obscured. She said that was an attempt to cover up wrongdoing. "It keeps happening over and over again, and it tells us something is corrupt about the system and it must be changed," said Hines, who held a sign with details about her son's case. The protests here follow massive demonstrations worldwide in response to the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white officer in Minneapolis held him down for nine minutes with his knee to his neck. That incident was caught on video, as was the one involving Brooks, fatally shot in a Wendy's parking lot by an officer responding to a complaint about a man asleep in a car parked in the drive-through, according to a preliminary report by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Video of the incident shows Brooks and the two officers wrestling, then Brooks taking one's Taser and running away. After Brooks turns to aim the Taser at the officer, the officer fires his handgun. The Fulton County Medical Examiner said Brooks died of two gunshot wounds to the back. The officer who fired the shots, Garrett Rolfe, has been fired; the other officer, Devin Brosnan, has been pulled from street patrols. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has said he hopes to announce a decision on whether to charge the involved officers by midweek. Chassidy Evans, Brooks's niece, said her family had backed the Atlanta Police Department weeks ago, when demonstrations over Floyd's death turned violent. Now, she said, "those same police took something away from my family that we'll never get back." "Not only are we hurt, we are angry," Evans said. "When does this stop? We're not only pleading for justice. We're pleading for change." Chris Stewart, an attorney who is representing Brooks's family, said the shooting "cannot be justified," and noted that the confrontation could have ended if the officers had granted Brooks's request to walk to his sister's home nearby after they gave him a sobriety test. "Where is the empathy in just letting him walk home?" Stewart said. "What we know right now is that a man's life was taken when it should never have happened." Vince Champion, the Southeast regional director of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, which is providing legal services to the officers, said it was premature to comment on whether the police had acted appropriately before completion of an investigation. He said the district attorney's office had not contacted the union for the officers' accounts. Champion declined to make the officers available for an interview with The Washington Post. But he questioned what might have happened if police let Brooks go and he was later hit by a car as he walked to his sister's home. "Is that the police officer's fault?" Champion asked. "Once you are in custody or we're going to do something, you are our responsibility." He said he is open to the findings of a fair investigation into the officers' actions. "The evidence will take us to the path that we need to go," Champion said. "If that means that they need to be charged because of the evidence, then so be it." But for the diverse groups of protesters who marched through Atlanta's streets on Monday, charging the officers in Brooks's case was just a portion of their broader demands for systemic change in law enforcement. The calls for defunding police and other changes, came from a wide range of people, with several longtime black protesters saying they were struck by the participation of white demonstrators. CJ Bolton, a 40-year-old black man who came with his teenage son, said there were far more white people joining demonstrations this year than in 2014, when he protested the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. "They are beginning to see our humanity," Bolton said. "When they saw George Floyd, when they looked and saw this is happening again, they realized how bad this is. It's not cool to be racist in America anymore unless you are a Trump supporter." Among the white demonstrators were two Fulton County public school teachers who joined their first protests against police brutality and systemic racism. "This is our problem, and we are responsible for fixing it," said Erin Schauder, 28, whose sign read "This teacher knows black lives matter." Some demonstrators moved to Atlanta City Hall in the afternoon to call for defunding police, while a group of about 100 marched down the iconic Peachtree Street that stretches through Atlanta's core, shutting down several intersections. John Wade, who organized that group, called the local NAACP's approach to organizing protests at the Capitol "outdated," insisting that change is not possible without disrupting business and life in the city. "We are the new NAACP and the new black activists," said Wade, who wore a white button-down shirt with a black bow tie and slacks as he led demonstrators. As they marched through the street, some black motorists honked in support and extended their fists outside their car windows. A few white men, including a construction worker and a man driving a pickup truck, raised their fists in solidarity, too. Criticism of law enforcement's handling of cases involving black Americans continued across the country Monday, including in California,where activists have demanded investigations into the hanging deaths of two black men in recent weeks. Authorities have walked back public suggestions that the deaths were suicides, pledging a more thorough examination of the cases. Officials have said there are no indications of foul play in the cases of Robert Fuller, 24, who was found hanging from a tree last week near city hall in Palmdale, Calif., and Malcolm Harsch, 38, who was found hanging from a tree near a homeless encampment in Victorville, about an hour's drive east of Palmdale, on May 31. On Monday, officials said they would examine various aspects of Fuller's life, including his medical history and places he lived previously, and would investigate forensic evidence from the rope that was used in his hanging. They said they are also canvassing the area for surveillance footage, analyzing Fuller's cellphone and speaking with family members. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, a Democrat, said investigators also planned to contact authorities investigating Harsch's death. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, said he had dispatched investigators to assist the Los Angeles County sheriff and review the work that already had been done. "Because of the social unrest and concerns about the actions of police in light of the tragic murder of George Floyd, it touches on everyone's heart. Robert Fuller was a young man in the prime of his life, so his death is very painful," Villaneuva said. "We'll get full closure to what happened here. Our interest is to make sure we leave no rock unturned." ______ Zapotosky reported from Washington, and Green reported from Los Angeles. The Washington Posts Brittany Shammas, Shayna Jacobs and Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report. A recently married US fighter pilot who died after crashing off the north-east coast of Britain has been mourned by his distraught wife as her 'absolute best friend'. First lieutenant Kenneth 'Kage' Allen, 27, from northern Utah, has been formally named as the airman whose F15C Eagle smashed into the North Sea off Yorkshire in the UK on Monday morning. The pilot, who had been on a routine training exercise, had served with the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, eastern England, since February this year. He was also assistant chief of weapons and tactics for 493rd Fighter Squadron - better known as the Grim Reapers. Lt Allen leaves behind his parents and wife Hannah, who in a heartbreaking tribute said she was 'blessed to have loved him in this life and can't wait to love him for eternity'. Still raw from her husband's tragic death, she said she had 'no words to express how shaken I am'. Colonel Will Marshall, commander of 48th Fighter Wing, said: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of Lt Allen, and mourn with his family and his fellow Reapers in the 493rd Fighter Squadron. 'The tremendous outpouring of love and support from our communities has been a ray of light in this time of darkness.' The US fighter pilot who died when his jet crashed into the North Sea off the north-east coast of England has been named by the US air force as 1st Lt Kenneth Allen He is survived by his parents and wife Hannah, who in a heartbreaking tribute said she was 'blessed to have loved him in this life and can't wait to love him for eternity' In her own tribute, Hannah wrote: 'He is gone. I'm shaking, I got a priesthood blessing and he told me Kage is so sorry - typical Kage to apologize even though he shouldn't. 'No words to express how shaken I am. Kage was perfect, never been treated with more love and respect in my life. 'He was my absolute best friend and man Christ needs hurry up and come back so I can be with Kage again. 'Thanks for all the messages. I love you all, Kage loves you all. He was so Christ like in how he cared for others. 'I feel beyond blessed to have loved him in this life and can't wait to love him for eternity.' Lt Allen He did his initial pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma and follow-on training at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Oregon, according to Maj. Sybil Taunton of the United States Air Force. RNLI lifeboat crews from Bridlington and Scarborough took part in the search for a US Air Force F15C Eagle that crashed into the North Sea at around 9.40am on Monday while on a routine training exercise Still raw from her husband's tragic death, Hannahsaid she had 'no words to express how shaken I am' HM Coastguard, which co-ordinated the search efforts, said it received reports that an aircraft went into the sea 74 nautical miles (85 miles) off the coast of Flamborough Head in east Yorkshire. The single-seater plane had been taking part in a four-jet formation before it crashed. Wreckage was located before the pilot was found and confirmed to be deceased. The cause of the crash is not known and an investigation is under way. The F15C is a model of jet that has been used by the US Air Force since 1979. The US air force said in a statement that next of kin notifications were complete. Tributes flooded in this morning, including from Republican congressman Paul Mitchell, who tweeted: 'A true American Hero lost while training to protect us! My thanks to his family for sharing him in our defense.' The pilot, who had been on a routine training exercise, had served with the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk since February this year He was also assistant chief of weapons and tactics for 493rd Fighter Squadron - better known as the Grim Reapers Scarborough lifeboat coxswain Lee Marton said: 'The crews and other volunteers of RNLI Bridlington and Scarborough would like to offer their deepest sympathies to the family of the pilot and to all at 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath. 'Our Shannon lifeboats have a range of some 250 nautical miles and are perfectly suited to this kind of task, but any 12-hour operation takes its toll on the crews, especially when there is such a sad outcome. 'I'd like to thank both volunteer crews and all parties involved in the search for their cooperation and professionalism during this major operation in what were very challenging conditions.' In October 2014, an F15D fighter jet based at RAF Lakenheath crashed in fields near Spalding in Lincolnshire. The pilot ejected safely, suffering only minor injuries, and no-one on the ground was hurt. A US air force investigation found that the crash was caused by the 'angle of attack' of the aircraft and 'imperfections' in the assembly of the jet's nose cap. In October 2015, US pilot Major Taj Sareen died when his F-18 Hornet jet crashed on farmland near RAF Lakenheath. A subsequent investigation found the 34-year-old did not report problems with his aircraft before take-off. Yesterday RAF Lakenheath shared pictures of three warplanes with the caption: 'Ready to take on Monday like #weareliberty. By Anushree Fadnavis NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Seven years ago, Dharamveer Solanki, a Hindu, left his home in Pakistans Hyderabad city, never to return. When his train crossed the border into India, Solanki said he felt happier than ever before. "It felt as though I had been reborn, he said, sitting inside a bustling refugee colony on the outskirts of New Delhi, where he and hundreds of other Hindus who fled Muslim-majority Pakistan have built a new home. (Click on https://reut.rs/3ddjECt to see a picture package on Hindu refugees from Pakistan in Delhi) Asylum-seekers like Solanki are the main beneficiaries of a law that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government introduced late last year, laying out a path to citizenship for people from six religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who arrived in India before 2015. The law excluded Muslims from the list, and that determination of rights to citizenship based on religion triggered protests across India that resulted in a fierce police crackdown and deadly violence. Critics say the law discriminates against Muslims and undermines India's secular constitution. But for the Hindus of Pakistan, Modi's long-held commitment to providing them refuge has drawn more and more across the border even before the new law was enacted. In the 15 months through March 2019 India's home ministry dealt with 16,121 applications from Pakistani nationals for long-term visas. In preceding years, the number of visas granted rose from hundreds to thousands. The flow of migrants has stopped temporarily as borders have been sealed to control the spread of the coronavirus. But many remain desperate to cross, Solanki said. They often come on 25-day pilgrimage visas and stay on until they get citizenship. Solanki is still waiting for India to grant him citizenship, as the process has now been delayed by the coronavirus outbreak in the country. He was unaware that there was a World Refugee Day, but when told by Reuters that it would fall on June 20, he was very clear what he would like to see. Story continues "The citizenship law has been passed. Our people should now get land and benefits as citizens," Solanki told Reuters at his home in the Majnu Ka Tilla neighbourhood on Delhi's northern fringe. The settlement where he lives is a cluster of cement, brick and wood huts, with no electricity or water supply, off a busy road. Around 600 people live there. Many of the young men work as hawkers or, like Solanki, as labourers. Several said they lived in better conditions in Pakistan, but they felt safer in India. SUPPORT FROM HINDU HARDLINERS A few miles away, across the heavily-polluted Yamuna river, a newer settlement has sprung up in the woods beneath a highway overpass called Signature Bridge. In July last year, when Reuters began observing this community, there were only a few rickety huts. But now hundreds of people live there. The huts are built with wood from the surrounding forest. There is no electricity or water supply, and families cook on wood-fired stoves. At least here our daughters are safe and we can freely practice our religion , said Nirma Bagri, a 35-year-old woman. Here, in a country they have mostly known through stories passed down by parents or grand-parents who lived in pre-Partition India, or through Bollywood films, the refugees are slowly trying to assimilate. A young couple at the settlement was so elated with the law passed in December that they named their daughter born that month Nagarikta, the Hindi word for citizenship. Charitable Hindus often offer donations of food, clothes, solar lamps, and other household items. During a visit to the settlement in the woods in February, Reuters journalists encountered members of the right-wing Hindu group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), who said they were organising education classes for the children. The group has ties to Modis ruling BJP, have been blamed for violent attacks on minority Muslims, and have a stated aim of turning India into a Hindu supremacist nation. While confirming they belonged to the VHP, the men declined to give their names. Refugees told Reuters later that the VHP men had told them not to speak to the media. We are trying to build a life here, said Solanki. These people are just helping us. (Additional reporting and writing by Zeba Siddiqui in NEW DELHI; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani & Simon Cameron-Moore) Acclaimed black film-maker Raoul Peck has accused France of being in denial of its racism, its colonial past and its wealth "built on the misery of others". The Haitian-born maker of the Oscar-nominated documentary, "I Am Not Your Negro", said he was with young people who have taken to the streets in France and the US to protest against police violence in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd. "They are right to rise up. They are right to protest, they may even be right to smash everything," Peck wrote in a piece to be published Wednesday in the French weekly, Le 1. Headlined "I Can't Breathe", echoing Floyd's last words as a white US police officer kneeled on his neck, Peck said "France is in denial and its 'adulterated' children no longer have the time to wait," he added, referring to its ethnic minorities. "Every citizen has to take their part of the burden and to stop looking on from a distance," he said. "I thought that another world was possible without burning everything," said the director, who made his name with "Lumumba", the story of the murder of DR Congo's independence leader Patrice Lumumba in a plot involving the CIA and the country's former Belgian colonial masters. "Now I am not so sure," Peck added. - Macron: No statues will fall - His comments come after French President Emmanuel Macron all but ignored the wave of protests in a major address Sunday except to warn that he would not take down statues of controversial historical figures from the country's past. "The Republic will not wipe away any trace or any name from its history... but lucidly look at our history and our memory together," he said. His government also backtracked Tuesday on a ban on the use of chokeholds by the police after a backlash by police unions who deny claims of systemic racism and violence. Angry officers staged protests across France and threw down their handcuffs to protest the ban on the highly controversial technique, which Black Lives Matter activists say can be deadly. But Peck, who was once culture minister on his native Caribbean island, said France could no longer hide behind denial. "We have simply come to the end of a far too heavy heritage of injustice, denial and profit built on the misery of others. - 'It's not up to blacks' - "France is in denial because it refuses to accept that it has lost its predominant place and empire," said Peck, who has spent most of his life in the country. Peck, who won a French Oscar, called a Cesar, for "I Am Not Your Negro", his portrait of the American writer James Baldwin, admitted he was a "privileged black man". Even so he was horrified at how "racist words, gestures... decisions and laws" were becoming normalised, and called for society to change from top to bottom. "We have to take it by the root, put everything on the table and rebuild everything. No institution should escape," he wrote. "It's everyone's problem, every institution, the press included... We have to start rebuilding and it is not up to the blacks, or Arabs or women, or gays or the handicapped to solve this," Peck insisted. In France, protest about racism and police violence has coalesced around the case of Adama Traore, a 24-year-old black man who died at a police station shortly after his arrest in 2016. Traore's family claim he was suffocated as officers held him down, an accusation that medical assessments ordered by French investigators have rejected. Experts hired by his family, however, have questioned this. Prosecutors said this month that the inquiry was still open. "They are right to rise up": Oscar-nominated director Raoul Peck lacerated French denial of racism A Laois-based charity has been gifted a donation of over 1,000 each as part of the Movement for Good awards Embrace Farm, a charity that provides support for families impacted by farm accidents, has been gifted a donation of over 1,000 as part of Ecclesiasticals Movement for Good awards. The awards, set up by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, will see a total of over 1 million given to charities across Ireland and the UK this summer. Members of the public were invited to nominate causes close to their hearts, with 500 gifts of over 1,000 available for donation. In total, an amazing 253,879 people across Ireland and the UK supported the Movement for Good awards this year, with over 13,695 charitable causes from all areas of both countries receiving nominations. The 500 winning charities were picked at random from those nominated. In response to the win, Catherine Collins, Catherine Collins, Embrace FARM Business Development Manager said, "Embrace FARM, the farm accident support network, supports all those affected by farm accidents. We support families and individuals who have fatally lost a loved one in a farm accident or those who have been seriously injured cope with their life changing situations. "The Movement for Good donation will help fund our core services to the people in our network. Each year we host a remembrance service for all the lives lost on Irish Farms across the island of Ireland. This service happens on the end of June each year and the funding will go towards the cost of hosting this. The service remembers in memoriam of over 170 people. The funding will help us create this sacred space for the families so they can remember their loved ones annually. It will reach out to the 170 families who have been affected by those names called out during the service." Thanking supporters in County Laois, David Lane, Managing Director of Ecclesiastical Ireland said, "In these unprecedented times more than ever charities need all the help they can get and we, at Ecclesiastical, are eager to bring some hope to those helping our communities. Luckily, so many joined once again our Movement for Good. Irish people care deeply about good causes in their local area, and from looking at the nominations, healthcare organisations seemed to hold a particularly fond place in the hearts of Laois people. "As our core purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of our business. We know the difference that 1,000 can make, and this year is no exception to celebrate the incredible work that charities do in our country. "Later this summer, a further ten charities will also be chosen by a panel of judges to receive 50,000 from Ecclesiastical to be put towards the advancement of education, skills, arts, culture and heritage, as well as citizenship or community development. From June 15, charities are invited to apply for the substantial grant with applications being assessed against four key areas; impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion. The successful charities will be announced from Monday, September 21. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kate Kelland (Reuters) London, United Kingdom Tue, June 16, 2020 13:30 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf2276d 2 World SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,Imperial-College-London,novel-coronavirus,UK,pandemic,Britain,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-drugs,COVID-19-vaccines,human-trial Free Scientists at Imperial College London will start the first clinical trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine this week with more than 45 million pounds ($56.50 million) in backing from the UK government and philanthropic donors. The trials are the first human tests of a new technology which the researchers say could transform vaccine development by enabling rapid responses to emerging diseases such as the COVID-19 infection caused by the new coronavirus. Robin Shattock, a professor at Imperial's department of infectious disease who is leading this work, said that rather than using a part of the virus, as many vaccines do, this potential vaccine uses synthetic strands of the virus' genetic material - RNA - which are packaged inside tiny fat droplets. When injected, it instructs muscle cells to produce virus proteins to protect against future infection. In animal tests, the vaccine was shown to be safe and showed "encouraging signs of an effective immune response", Shattock's team said in a statement. Around 300 healthy volunteers will receive two doses of the vaccine in the initial human trials to test whether it is safe in people and whether it produces an effective immune response against COVID-19. If it shows promise, larger trials with around 6,000 people would be planned for later this year. More than 100 potential COVID-19 vaccines are in development around the world, including several already in human trials from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, BioNtech, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna, Sanofi and CanSino Biologics. The Imperial trials come after the team won 41 million pounds in funding from the UK government plus 5 million in philanthropic donations. Business secretary Alok Sharma, said Imperial's was "one of the world's front-runners" and had Britain's full backing. 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. EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager addresses a press conference at the European Commission in Brussels on October 4, 2017. The European Commission announced Tuesday that it's launching two antitrust investigations into Apple's App Store rules and the Apple Pay platform. The Commission, the executive arm of the EU, said it will assess whether Apple's rules for app developers on the distribution of apps via the App Store breach EU competition rules. While companies can place their apps on the App Store at no cost, Apple charges companies 30% from in-app purchases and 30% on subscriptions for the first year, then 15% thereafter. Spotify, which competes directly with Apple Music, feels this is unfair and filed a formal complaint in March 2019. Kobo, an e-reader company that competes with Apple Books, has also filed a complaint. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said in a statement: "Mobile applications have fundamentally changed the way we access content. Apple sets the rules for the distribution of apps to users of iPhones and iPads." "It appears that Apple obtained a 'gatekeeper' role when it comes to the distribution of apps and content to users of Apple's popular devices. We need to ensure that Apple's rules do not distort competition in markets where Apple is competing with other app developers, for example with its music streaming service Apple Music or with Apple Books. I have therefore decided to take a close look at Apple's App Store rules and their compliance with EU competition rules." If you dare brave the treacherous waters that surround Elon Musk on social media, sooner or later youre going to come across the claim that his father, Errol Musk, owns an emerald mine. And thats just the tip of the myth-making iceberg. Despite the rabid fandom that has formed around Elon the man behind Tesla, SpaceX, The Boring Company and other endeavors attempting to turn science-fiction into reality his dad remains an enigma, a sort of fairy-tale creature trotted out merely as evidence of his sons privileged upbringing. But how much truth is there in the stories? Its a question that has stumped writers and reporters for years, and will apparently continue to do so as long as Elon remains a fixture in the zeitgeist. Even intrepid tech and business columnist Ashlee Vance had a hard time pinning Errol down, both as a source and as the patriarch of the Musk family, when researching for his book Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future. Whenever the topic of Errol arrives, members of Elons family clam up, Vance wrote. Theyre in agreement that he is not a pleasant man to be around but have declined to elaborate. When Vance reached out to Errol himself, he only responded via email. However, while piecing together reporting and various interviews may not offer up a holistic picture of this contentious father figure or the short family life the Musks experienced in South Africa, it does shed light on some of the lore regurgitated on Twitter. Lets take a look at a few of the more eyebrow-raising claims that have cropped up surrounding Mr. Musk in recent years. He didnt own an emerald mine & I worked my way through college, ending up ~$100k in student debt. I couldnt even afford a 2nd PC at Zip2, so programmed at night & website only worked during day. Where is this bs coming from? Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 28, 2019 Did Errol Musk own an emerald mine? In 2019, Elon Musk confronted the Twitter talking point about his fathers supposed emerald mine head on, writing, He didnt own an emerald mine & I worked my way through college, ending up ~$100k in student debt. I couldnt even afford a 2nd PC at Zip2, so programmed at night & website only worked during day. Where is this bs coming from? However, Errols involvement in a lucrative mining operation and Elon having to pull himself up by his bootstraps are not mutually exclusive. As Vance wrote in his book Elon Musk, The family owned one of the biggest houses in Pretoria thanks to the success of Errols engineering business, a business that included large projects such as office buildings, retail complexes, residential subdivisions, and an air force base. Elon even admitted his father is brilliant at engineering despite being an overall terrible human being. And in an interview with Errol from 2018, British tabloid Mail on Sunday wrote, Musk senior was a millionaire before the age of 30. Elon was born on June 28, 1971, to Errol and his ex-wife Maye Musk when they were both in their 20s. This is important because the parents divorced in 1979, nine years after getting married, and it wasnt until the mid-1980s that the emerald mine in question came into the picture. The details of the mine stem from stories published on Business Insider South Africa from journalist Phillip de Wet that rely on Errol Musks personal account. According to him, Errol became a half owner of an emerald mine in Zambia in the 80s, though he doesnt specify a year, and he got emeralds for the next six years. That story was preceded by an even more unbelievable one in which he spoke of Elon and his brother Kimbal selling some of the precious stones to Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue off the street. Other than that first-hand account, theres not much to be found to corroborate this story. But the counterpoint to the obvious fact that the Musks were well off financially, especially considering their status as a white family in apartheid South Africa, is that Elon, his siblings and Maye had to free themselves from Errols abusive relationship. As Maya Kosoff wrote of Mayes recent memoir, Errol was was physically, financially and emotionally manipulative and abusive. When Maye extricated herself from the marriage, she remembers eating peanut butter sandwiches and bean soup, not coasting on riches from an emerald mine. Did he murder someone in South Africa? According to Vances book, Errol Musks family has lived in South Africa so long that they claim an entry in Pretorias first phone book. Musk is not reticent about his allegiances either, telling the Mail on Sunday, I refuse to live [in the U.S.]. I tried it, and came back home, even though he says his home country has more violent crime. In both the Mail and a 2017 profile of Elon in Rolling Stone, Errol confirmed that he has been involved with it himself. According to the elder Musk, he shot and killed three people who broke into his house in Johannesburg, a crime for which he was reportedly charged with manslaughter but eventually acquitted on the basis of self-defense. Did he father a child with his step-daughter? In the interview with Mail on Sunday, Errol admits that hes philanderer, saying, I had a very pretty wife, but there were always prettier, younger girls. I really loved Maye but I screwed up. That became the understatement of the century when, in March of 2018, U.K. newspaper The Times reported that Musk fathered a child with his stepdaughter Jana Bezuidenhout in a move reminiscent of Woody Allen. When the story broke, Musk was 72 years old and Bezuidenhout was just 30. As MailOnline wrote in 2018, Errol described the pregnancy as an accident, but said both Jana and their son were living with him though they werent in a relationship. Of course, much of the proof relayed here relies on Errols own personal account of the proceedings, which leads to the biggest question of all: Is he a reliable narrator? In his book Elon Musk, Vance recalled a piece of advice from his subject: Elon warned me off corresponding with his father, insisting that his fathers take on past events could not be trusted. The post Everything to Know About Errol Musk, Elon's Brilliant, Terrible Father appeared first on InsideHook. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 15:44:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGSHA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- In a mountainous county of central China's Hunan Province, a rice variety that was once abandoned by farmers has been brought back to life for its special genetic and economic value. "When I was a child, most villagers grew red rice, but it gradually disappeared," said 61-year-old villager Li Yanxian in Qingchun village, Shuangpai County. Nicknamed "dryland red rice," the species is distinguished from other varieties by its red color when the husks are removed, and it requires less watering. "Its seeds have strong self-protection ability. They go dormant in bad weather and wait for the right time to sprout," said Lin Wenzhong, deputy director of the county's agriculture and rural affairs bureau. However, the low-yield red rice gradually lost its popularity in the 1990s to more productive hybrid rice and other crops, Lin said. In 2006, as consumers became more willing to pay more for quality food, Lin came up with the idea of growing dryland red rice to meet the demand. During the following decade, Lin visited many townships and villages across the county in search of the seeds. In 2016, Lin finally found the lost seeds in the collection of a local farmer. The less than 1 kg of seeds helped him begin his ambitious plan in a small plot of land on the hillside. Facing challenges of floods, gnawing rats and pecking birds, Lin harvested 16.5 kg of the rice after about 130 days of growth. "Now the yield can reach 300 kg per mu (667 square meters) and the rice is sold at a favorable market price for its quality," Lin said. Besides the higher price, the efforts to bring the lost crops back to life are an effective means of protecting genetic diversity. "The ancient crop can be a precious genetic resource for crossbreeding," Lin said. This year, nearly 200 mu of red rice has been grown, according to Lin. Enditem Vaccine design is still an empirical, trial and error process and a preventive against COVID-19 could be at least a year away, say scientists as information on developments in therapeutics to combat the infection flows in a steady trickle from across the world. IMAGE: Scientists are working at Cobra Biologics, on a potential vaccine for COVID-19, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Keele, Britain. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters While quelling the buzz of a quick breakthrough, the scientists also hold out hope that the process might be cut short by a few months if testing approvals and scale-ups in manufacturing happen simultaneously. According to the World Health Organisation, 10 candidate vaccines for COVID-19 are in the clinical evaluation and 126 are in the pre-clinical stage. Pre-clinical development is a stage of research during which important feasibility, iterative testing and drug safety data are collected, while clinical trials are research studies performed on people. There are different broad strategies by which SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are being developed the world over, explained immunologist Satyajit Rath. While all are well-known strategies -- some almost two centuries old and some almost two decades old -- none are 'guaranteed' to yield a usable vaccine, said the scientist from the National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi. Vaccine design still remains mostly an empirical, trial and error process, rather than an innovative knowledge-driven one. This is why, while any of these approaches is being put through trial and error, it remains a 'vaccine candidate' rather than a 'vaccine', he added. According to Robert Gallo, director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland in the United States, What's being confused -- and scientists and politicians are contributing to the confusion -- is the difference between a candidate and a vaccine." He was speaking at a virtual meeting earlier this month when scientists at the University of California Davis and from other institutes in the US gathered to lay out a full picture of the complexities of developing and distributing a COVID-19 vaccine -- which they generally agreed won't happen until some time in 2021. "We are not expected to return to a fully normal life until a vaccine is developed. But how long will that take? UC Davis Chancellor Gary S May asked in the meeting. About a year, maybe more, was the consensus. In India, where the number of COVID-19 cases on Tuesday rose to 3,43,091 and the death toll to 9,900, scientists agreed with their counterparts abroad. With at least six Indian companies working on a vaccine for COVID-19 and the Serum Institute of India last week announcing a deal with the company Astra Zeneca to supply one billion doses of vaccine for low and middle-income countries to combat the coronavirus, the buzz has been growing louder. "We finally have a deal signed with @AstraZeneca, to exclusively manufacture their product for India and @gavi countries, up to a billion doses annually. This will ensure supply and access to all Indians," Adar Poonawala, the CEO of the Serum Institute, tweeted on June 13. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged $15 million as India's contribution to the vaccines alliance GAVI at the Global Vaccine Summit hosted by the UK. But that does not translate into a vaccine anytime soon, scientists said. My guess for that is, not before the middle of the next year, Rath said. However, he noted that the time estimates might be pruned by a couple of months with simultaneous movements on testing-approval and manufacturing scale-up, and also by exception-shortcuts from regulatory authorities. He explained that there are several challenges that will arise once such vaccines are ready to go into the market, since 'going into the market' and going into the 'public health system' are not the same thing. Questions will remain on the 'availability' at a large scale, especially to the poor. One limitation, of course, is the scale of manufacturing. Huge numbers of doses will have to be manufactured in very short times to reach everyone. A number of governmental and non-governmental organisations are trying to set up industrial partnerships to address this issue," he said. A second issue, the scientist said, will be the cost of vaccines, with the linked issue of intellectual property rights. A final issue, he noted, is of actual implementation and delivery of vaccination. "The resources and the technical-administrative structures needed for such a vaccination campaign are massive. It is not clear if any national governments have the understanding and the practical commitment to them. That might end up being the biggest roadblock of all, Rath said. Umashankar Singh, assistant professor, Biological Engineering, IIT-Gandhinagar, said he is hoping a candidate vaccine may be available by the end of 2020, even if it is for a limited set of the population. Two facets of vaccine production, in his view, need to be considered -- mass production of the lab product and also ensuring that the product is actually effective enough to justify mass production. There are other challenges too, he said, adding that there is evidence for a range of virulence, variable infection rates and asymptomatic infections and emergence of multiple strains. The uncertainty posed by these issues is likely to throw spanner in the works towards mass production of vaccines. This vaccine development is like chasing a moving target, a target we don't know well enough. The question we should be asking is, even if a vaccine were to be available, how long would its effectiveness last? he said. Singh noted that the emergence of a vaccine may or may not allow real protection against a rapidly evolving pathogen, but it would certainly allow us a psychological relief of being immune to the virus. "That would allow us to move on to the issues of economy, social interactions and ease of governance, he said. Even if by end of the year 2020 a candidate vaccine gets regulatory approval, mass production and supply chain is going to be a challenge, added an Indian virologist who didn't wish to be named. If it is a single dose vaccine, the world will need at least eight billion doses, a task that might several months and maybe years. If it is a two dose vaccine, the challenge becomes bigger. The incoming government (subject to party votes) published its Programme for Government (PFG) yesterday. In relation to the Banking sector, the PFG specifically states that the parties "do not believe there is a long-term case for the State to remain as a shareholder in the Irish banking sector. However, we should not sell our current holdings until such a time as we are likely to recoup a significant portion, if not all, of the States investment." In the July recovery plan, it intends to introduce measures to help Irish companies in accessing credit and capital and this may include the consideration of an enhanced credit guarantee scheme. There will be an SME Growth Taskforce to design a growth plan for the long-term strategic plan for the sector. It will also look at plans to manage higher levels of corporate & SME debt in conjunction with Central Bank plus it will also look to enhance the mandate of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland. Goodbody Stockbrokers say there is a rather nebulous statement that it will support measures to ensure the smooth transition of ECB monetary policy for the benefits of consumer and the real economy which Goodbody say can only mean some sort of vigilance on pricing. Elsewhere, specifically, on mortgages, it will look to work with the banks and CBI to increase the availability of long term fixed rate mortgages and also assess if state-backed mortgages for first time buyers should be introduced to support affordable home ownership. The plan also looks to see a wider role for credit unions in the community. Goodbody say there is also a general tilt to more climate-related financing and funding and smart finance and it commits to introduce a Senior Executive Accountability Regime. In relation to the Insurance sector, there is a full section on insurance reform and reiteration that it will remain a priority for the incoming government, with a focus on motor, public liability and employer liability insurance. It plans to establish a cabinet sub-committee to deal urgently with insurance reform. It will aims to look to work with customers on business interruption insurance, travel insurance and rebates for motor. It wants to enhance and reform the role of the PIAB and regulate claims management companies and to consider the need for a constitutional amendment to enable the Oireachtas to set down guidelines on award levels. In relation to fraud, it will look to expand Garda powers, increase penalties for fraudulent claims, ensure they are forwarded to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) and place perjury on a statutory footing. Elsewhere, it will look to give the CCPC power to deter anti-competitive behaviours and will work to remove dual pricing from the market plus create an office within government to encourage greater competition. According to Goodbody, "There was very little in the banking sector commentary that surprised us, with the focus on supporting SMEs to drive the post-Covid-19 recovery. The specific comment in relation to the bank stakes is hardly surprising, though current valuations are likely to see it hold onto those stakes for a good number of years, a point acknowledged by the Minister for Finance. Maybe the reference to working to deliver more longer-term mortgages and transfer benefits of ECB monetary policy will strike a chord in relation to a desire to keeping mortgage pricing keen." They added, "On the insurance sector, it is clear that reform remains on the agenda, we note the new cabinet sub-committee, the need for the Oireachtas to set down guidelines on awards and increased penalties for fraudulent claims. Progress on insurance reform has been stalling, but the new government may bring some renewed vigour to this issue, including encouraging more competition. Source: www.businessworld.ie One deserving recipient will receive $10,000 TORONTO, June 16, 2020 /CNW/ - As many as 6 million Canadians are caregivers, caring for children with disabilities, elderly parents and other loved ones who need assistance. Together with an army of health professionals, they're working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of others. "Canada Cares has been celebrating and supporting outstanding family and professional caregivers for many years," says Caroline Tapp-McDougall, Executive Director. "Now, with the added risks and challenges of COVID-19, we think it's more important than ever to recognize these outstanding heroes through our national Caregiver Awards program." Canada Cares is asking for Canadians from coast to coast to nominate people in their lives who demonstrate dedication, tenacity and commitment to care that's deserving of recognition. They're also inviting requests for financial assistance with related needs. One nominee will be selected to win the Canada Cares One Wish Award of $10,000. The recipient of this award, funded by David Powell in honour of his late mother, will be determined based on the strength of the caregiver's commitment to care and the level of need. Other awards will recognize excellence demonstrated by family and professional caregivers across the country. Nominations close September 25, 2020. To nominate visit: www.canadianabilities.org/nomination Background: Canada Cares is a program of the Canadian Abilities Foundation, a registered charity that provides information, inspiration and opportunity to people with disabilities, their friends, families and the entire spectrum of professionals engaged in their service, while promoting their full inclusion in all aspects of community life. Please share these award details with your friends and family, co-workers and staff. Feel free to announce the awards on your Facebook page, blog, website, newsletter or other media outlets of your choice. SOURCE Canadian Abilities Foundation For further information: Caroline Tapp-McDougall, Executive Director, Canadian Abilities Foundation, 647-268-6749, [email protected]; Jen Giang, Project Manager, 647.607.9267 A three-man panel of the court of appeal has affirmed the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the All Progressi... A three-man panel of the court of appeal has affirmed the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a judgment delivered by Mohammed Lamido, a judge, on Tuesday, the three-man panel dismissed Oshiomholes appeal for lacking in merit. The panels decision followed the decision of an Abuja high court in March 2020, which had ordered the suspension of Oshiomhole as national chairman of the APC.n March 5, 2020, a high court sitting in the federal capital territory (FCT) had given an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Oshiomhole from referring to himself as the APC national chairman, pending the determination of a suit filed by one Oluwale Afolabi. Less than two weeks later, on March 16, a court of appeal sitting in Abuja had restrained the APC from executing the judgement of the FCT high court which ordered Oshiomholes suspension as national chairman of the ruling party. In its ruling at the time, Abubakar Yahaya, chairman of the three-man panel of judges, ordered a stay of execution pending the hearing of an application filed by Oshiomhole. In his appeal, Oshiomhole, through his counsel, Wole Olanipekun, had asked the court to set aside the suspension order. The appeal courts ruling is coming at a time the national chairman is facing serious backlash over the decision by the APC national working committee (NWC) to suspend Godwin Obaseki, incumbent governor of Edo from contesting the partys governorship primary election. Obaseki had, on Tuesday, announced his decision to quit the APC. His deputy, Philip Shuaibu, also left the party after his principals announcement. Oswego, N.Y. More than 100 employees of an apple-packaging facility in the town of Oswego are being tested for the coronavirus after a cluster of cases was discovered there Monday. Oswego County Health Director Jiancheng Huang said that initial positive tests for Covid-19 came back in the middle of last week, but the cluster wasnt revealed until Monday. Seven workers at Champlain Valley Specialties of NY Inc. and some of the workers family members have tested positive. The packaging facility is several miles south of the city of Oswego on Route 104. READ MORE: Oswego County coronavirus dashboard A major outbreak of the virus was discovered last month at Empire Green Farms, a fruit and vegetable growing complex in Madison County where more than 170 seasonal workers tested positive for Covid-19. Huang said he is confident that nowhere near that many people will test positive at the Champlain Valley facility. The plant, which produces packaged apple slices for schools and other businesses, was visited by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets on Friday. The state said there are no contamination issues involving products produced by the company, and no recalls would be necessary. Huang said he thought testing conducted by county and state health workers would be completed by Wednesday and that results would be available sometime Thursday afternoon. The company deferred additional questions about the testing to the state and county health departments. We have been proactively following Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding Covid-19 while engaging our employees over the past three months with extensive informational materials and training, the company said in a statement. We have numerous accountability checks and controls in place. Per FDA and CDC guidelines, there is no evidence to support transmission of Covid-19 by food or food packaging," the statement said. "Consequently, there are no concerns about the safety of the food supply from this facility. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus pandemic means no July 4 fireworks for most Central NY communities CNY autistic teen in group home cant understand why family stopped visiting Update: Coronavirus spreads slowly in Onondaga County, new data shows Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Nolan Weidner is a reporter for the Syracuse Post-Standard and syracuse.com. Got a comment or idea for a story? He can be reached via email at nweidner@syracuse.com. PLA Xizang Military Command holds coordinated exercise in plateau region PLA Daily Source: China Military Online Editor: Li Jiayao 2020-06-15 18:39:49 By Ren Feng and He Penglei LHASA, June 15 -- An infantry battalion of a brigade under the PLA Xizang Military Command organized infantry and tank coordinated exercise at the elevation of more than 4,700 meters, to comprehensively test the troops' coordination and rapid response capacity. This exercise focused on the subjects including infantry and tank offensive formation, enemy firepower strike, initiation of attack, defensive counter-impact, in-depth attack, etc. During the drill, the battalion put emphases on combining the tank's fierce firepower, strong protection and fast maneuverability with the infantry's flexible maneuverability and strong perception. It has given prominence to such events as long-distance strike by tank at enemy's forward firepower points, infantry-guided maneuver of tank, tank-guided marching of infantry, fast maneuver of infantry facilitated by tanks, etc., which highlighted the coordination and mutual support capacity between the infantry and the tanks. The participating troops included ground forces, battlefield service and airborne penetration forces. They have been brought to a completely unfamiliar high-altitude area, which set a severe test for the coordination between the commanders and different arms. After the drill, the battalion summed up the experience for the actual plateau combat training, analyzed the exposed problems and deficiencies, and formed a plan that met the actual combat requirements of the plateau environment for better combat readiness. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The unease between the Shiv Sena and Congress, allies in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi-ruled state government, is likely to escalate in the coming days, with Sena mouthpiece Saamana taking an aggressive stand to remind the ruling partner that their grumbling was uncalled for, as the Sena, too, has made sacrifices while stitching together the alliance. The editorial comes after state Congress chief and revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat last week said that party leaders would meet chief minister Uddhav Thackeray with their grievances. He had said the Congress expects equal importance in decision-making in the MVA government. Before the statement, key Congress leaders held two meetings last week and deliberated upon the alleged secondary treatment. The Congress leadership feels the bureaucracy is dominating the decisions. Many proposals, including those related to the energy or relief and rehabilitation departments held by the Congress, were moved without the knowledge of the ministers. We have taken the issue to the chief minister, but no corrective action was taken, said a senior Congress leader. Thorat and public works minister and former chief minister Ashok Chavan have been asking for an appointment with Thackeray to discuss the issue, but the latter has reportedly paid no heed. According to Congress leaders, the discontent is over three issues. The party is against the third extension for chief secretary Ajoy Mehta after his term ends on June 30 and wants the nominations to the legislative Council from the Governors quota to be sent at the earliest. The party is also batting for an additional seat in the Council. The discontent is also out of the feeling that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar is being given too much audience by the CM. While Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday dismissed rumours of discontent within the MVA, the Saamana editorial likened the Congress to an old squeaky charpoy, which is groaning under the leaders historical inheritance. CM Uddhav Thackerays wife, Rashmi, is the editor of Saamana, while Raut is its executive editor. Saamana editorials are considered the view of the Sena leadership. There is no discontent or discord between the allies. Such words should not be used. The decisions happen in the cabinet meetings. All three parties are given respect, Raut said. Twelve seats to the Council are vacant and are to be nominated by the Governor on the recommendation of the state government. The editorial said the seats must be divided on the basis of the coalition partners strength in the legislative Assembly. The Sena has 64 members, including eight independents, while the NCP and Congress have 54 and 44, respectively. The Sena has sacrificed the most in this power-sharing. It had to give one ministerial berth to the NCP when Pawar objected to the Congress occupying the Assembly Speakers post, the editorial said. Two additional cabinet berths were also given to the Congress, instead of the posts of minister of state Both Thorat and Chavan have a long experience in governance. They should remember that even Pawar is experienced in administration, but there are no complaints from his party. There was a consensus that CM Thackerays decision would be final and Pawar, too, abides by this rule, it said. We have been seeking the chief ministers appointment as we have certain issues related to public interest that need to be discussed with the CM. I am sure after hearing us out, even he will admit that the issues were serious in nature. The editorial was written on the basis of inadequate information and I am sure there will be another editorial endorsing our stand, said Thorat. Raut defended the editorial. This is our signature style of writing. Ive read the interview with Ashok Chavan. If he has any concerns, he should speak to the CM. This is not a clash between the administration and government. Maharashtra is facing two major issues Covid-19 and Cyclone Nisarga, he told the media. The write-up also took a potshots regarding complaints about bureaucracy. There are complaints about the workings of state chief secretary Ajoy Mehta and Nagpur municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. But no matter how big an officer is, he has to go by the decision of the chief minister as he is a public servant , it said. Raut said the government is not run by the secretaries, but by ministers. It is not called Sachivalaya (secretariat), but Mantralaya now. There is no question of any resentment as the Congress is an experienced party. The CM will meet them as is the practice in the coalition government, he said. The editorial, however, said there was no threat to the coalition government. In a sarcastic reference to the covert formation of the 80-hour government by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with support of NCPs Ajit Pawar, it said, Nobody should remain under this illusion that there is a threat to the government and the gates of Raj Bhavan would open early in the morning once again for someone. Raju Shetti accepts NCPs Council seat Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghtana (SSS) leader Raju Shetti, who once rattled Sharad Pawars politics by holding protests at Baramati, visited his house in Govidbaug on Tuesday and accepted NCPs offer of a seat in the Council. I have accepted the offer for Council polls, said Shetti, after his two-and-half hour long meeting with Pawar. A man from Michigan who murdered, mutilated and ate his date is now facing new charges after he kidnapped and assaulted another man, according to the Detroit Free Press. Another victim The 50-year-old Mark Latunski, who was charged with murder in connection with the death and mutilation of Kevin Bacon, a 25-year-old man who was eaten by Latunski. Now, Latunski is being sued by a man from New York who claims that he was held captive during their session of BDSM. According to the lawsuit, the victim, James Carlsen, connected with Latunski's husband, Jamie Arnold, on the internet, and he planned to go to Michigan for sex. However, when Carlsen arrived at the bus station in Michigan, he was met by Latunski, who then drove him to his home and claimed that Arnold already moved out. Carlsen stated that Latunski detained him in the basement of his home and used chains, locks, and leather straps. Latunski told him that he is not going anywhere. He then went upstairs and went to bed. Fortunately, Carlsen was able to cut himself loose using a butcher knife nearby while the suspect was sleeping. He then escaped and called 911 and got a ride to a bus station. Carlsen rode a bus back to New York but his ticket was reserved for next week. Carlsen called the suspect who asked him to go back to his house. Carlsen's lawyer said that Carlsen does not want to continue with the charges, but he wants to get $75,000 for emotional and mental damages. Currently, Latunski is in custody for murdering Bacon, who was a hairstylist and student. The investigators believe that the suspect stabbed Bacon, slit his throat, hung his body, and cut off his testicles before eating them. In March 2020, a judge found Latunski incompetent to stand trial for the charge. According to Carlsen, he met the suspect through a dating app, Grindr, which is very popular in the LGBTQ community. Also Read: Ex-Police Officer Charged with Death of George Floyd Still Eligible for $1M Pension The records that were obtained by the Detroit Free press show that the police responded to Latunski's home on November 25 after they were tipped about a man wearing a leather kilt running away from the house. The man who ran away had blood on his face. Carlsen's lawyer, Kirstina Magyari, stated that her client is now traumatized by the encounter with Latunski. Magyari said that Latunski must face the consequences of his actions and that Carlsen deserves justice for the experience that will haunt him forever. Kevin Bacon's murder Court documents revealed that when they went to Latunski's home on December 28 to perform a welfare check, they found Bacon hanging naked, upside down, from the ceiling. According to the testimony from one of the police at the crime scene, the suspect confessed to the murder. He said that he stabbed Bacon in the back once and he used a butcher knife. Afterward, he slit his throat and he wrapped a rope around his victim's ankles. He then hung him from his home's ceiling, through the rafters. According to the documents of the police, Latunski also admitted that he used the same knife to cut off his victim's testicles before he ate them. Related Article: Another Lynching? Black Man Found Hanging from a Tree in Victorville, California @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. When Jonathan Holloway was growing up in the South, he often looked up at street signs and saw names like Robert E. Lee Avenue. Even as a Black child, Holloway didnt think twice about it, he said. Its just the way it was, said Holloway, 52, now two weeks away from becoming Rutgers Universitys first Black president. These days, Holloway sees Black Lives Matter protests filling streets in cities and small towns across the country. He sees monuments to Confederate leaders being toppled. He sees white men and women outnumbering Black people in marches to demand change. Times have changed. And Holloway doesnt need his history degree to understand what it means. Americas message to the world... its a message that is saying we have a problem when it comes to how we treat our own citizens, Holloway said Monday night. From a foreign policy standpoint, how do we navigate to the point where we can say, as we have said in the past, that we are a beacon of a democratic experiment? I mean, if this is what that experiment looks like, who wants to listen to us?" Holloways remarks his first since he was approved in January as Rutgers next president came in a wide-ranging virtual discussion on race in America hosted by the University of Sydney in Australia. In an hour-long conversation, Holloway touched on Americas deep-rooted history of racism, the controversy over Confederate monuments and the powerful response to George Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police. His calm yet unvarnished assessment offered a preview of the leadership style hell bring to Rutgers beginning July 1. As a historian specializing in African American studies, Holloways remarks were especially notable at a time when complaints about systemic racism have reached a fever pitch nationwide. Listening to Jonathan Holloway talk about the history of race relations in the U.S. makes me really excited to have a gifted humanist as Rutgers next president, tweeted Bob Kopp, a Rutgers professor of earth sciences. The webinar, hosted by the Australian universitys United States Studies Center, was designed to help students better understand racial inequality in America, said professor Simon Jackman, who leads the center. Holloway was a logical choice to speak, Jackman said. The future Rutgers president earned a bachelors degree in American studies from Stanford University and a doctoral degree in history from Yale University. Hes already published a book about African American history and plans to release another one next year. Its easy for outsiders, even those who take a keen interest in many elements of the United States, to not quite sufficiently understand the centrality of race in the American story, Jackman said. Holloway said there is a clear thread: Black Americans have spent centuries fighting to be acknowledged as humans and as citizens. Its shameful that they must continue fighting today, he added. I am certain that so many of the things that we are hearing and we are seeing today is because individuals and systems have refused to acknowledge people in their full complexity as human beings, as people who can contribute to society, Holloway said. Asked about a renewed push to ban the Confederate flag, Holloway said there has been dishonesty wrapped in the flag since it began prominently flying again in the 1950s. He wants to believe, perhaps naively, that people celebrating it today as a symbol of heritage just dont know their history," he said. It was very consciously put back up to fly in the face of civil rights activists, he said. There is nothing, to me, genteel about the Southern battle flag at all. As Holloway watches the recent protests and marches across the country, the moment feels different than anything hes seen before, he said. Hes hopeful, but he knows the work doesnt stop when the protests end. There is nothing romantic about this moment at all, he said. This is hard. This is really hard. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. When extreme climate conditions interact with stressors to social systems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences could be severe unless experts from diverse backgrounds work together to develop comprehensive solutions. ORLANDO, June 16, 2020 - When extreme climate conditions interact with stressors to social systems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences could be severe unless experts from diverse backgrounds work together to develop comprehensive solutions to combat their negative impacts. That's the recommendation of a new article in Nature Climate Change published Monday and co-authored by a University of Central Florida researcher. Thomas Wahl, an assistant professor in UCF's Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering and a member of UCF's National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, is one of 14 experts with diverse backgrounds who authored the article. "In the perspective article my input mainly focused on the impacts of connected extremes on the water sector," Wahl says. "With my research group at UCF, we have extensively worked on many different projects focused on compound flooding, when, for example, storm surges coincide with extreme rainfall or high river discharge." The article brought together scientists and stakeholder representatives with different backgrounds, ranging from the natural sciences to social sciences, public health and engineering. The authors focused on four main sectors - food, water, health and infrastructure - where connected extremes often lead to unforeseen impacts. Examples of connected extremes include the impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017 on Puerto Rico's under-maintained infrastructure, limited budget and aging population, and the spring 2011 Mississippi River floods in which water was released to protect urban areas at the detriment of agricultural lands. A present example could be the COVID-19 pandemic and the current hurricane season, Wahl says. "The COVID-19 crisis will very likely increase the impacts associated with the climatic extreme events that will inevitably occur somewhere across the globe over the next weeks or months or already have occurred," Wahl says. "For example, shelters cannot operate at full capacity, health care systems are already under pressure, and emergency funds are depleted." The researcher says many of the most impactful natural hazards experienced over the past decade could be considered connected extremes, where either different factors in the physical climate system combined in unfortunate ways or the impacts were made worse by interactions between physical and societal systems. "It's important to recognize and treat connected extremes as such, and for scientists from different fields to engage directly with stakeholders and decision makers to develop new, robust and flexible policies to better combat their negative impacts," Wahl says. ### Article co-authors were Colin Raymond, lead author, with California Institute of Technology and Columbia University; Radley M. Horton with Columbia University; Jakob Zscheischler with the University of Bern; Olivia Martius with the University of Bern; Amir AghaKouchak with the University of California; Jennifer Balch with the University of Colorado-Boulder; Steven G. Bowen with Aon; Suzana J. Camargo with Columbia University; Jeremy Hess with the University of Washington; Kai Kornhuber with Columbia University; Michael Oppenheimer with Princeton University; Alex C. Ruane with the Goddard Institute for Space Studies; and Kathleen White with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Wahl earned his doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Siegen, Germany, and joined UCF in 2017. CONTACT: Robert H. Wells, Office of Research, 407-823-0861, robert.wells@ucf.edu Haiti - FLASH : 76 deaths, 132 new cases in 24 hours The Ministry of Public Health informs that 132 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Haiti (last 48 hours : +144), for a total of 4,441 cases throughout the national territory (40.2% women and 59.8% men) since the first case (March 19, 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html ). Deaths : 3 new deaths have been recorded : 2 in the West and 1 in the Northeast, bringing the national total to 76. Healings : 24 people healed (data not communicated by the Ministry since May 31, 2020) Active cases : (less death and recovery) 4.341 (+ 3.46%) +129 in 24 hours (the day before: +141) Number of suspected cases investigated since March 19 : 9.047 cases +41 in 24 hours All the details in our daily report of 11am See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31035-haiti-covid-19-daily-report-june-15-2020.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31028-haiti-flash-delmas-and-port-au-prince-most-contaminated-communes-in-the-country.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html S/ HaitiLibre SINGAPORE, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 100,000 blockchain transactions were made in just 7 days since the public release of the Function X test network. The first block on the new testnet was created on the 8th of June and open for the public to test on 11th of June. Currently Function X testnet has over 50 validators to ensure its overall efficiency. Transactions on the testnet have so far yielded satisfactory results to achieve the confirmation speed within seconds. Function X testnet consists of three key components, the first being the Function X Cloud, a blockchain cloud service platform tailored to enterprises and developers. The second is the FX Connect wallet that supports transactions in the Function X Network. There's also the FX Explorer publishing real-time data on testnet performance. The network operates in a proof-of-stake consensus algorithm. Validators for the public release were chosen in May 2020 through an invite-only process. Developed by Pundi X Labs, the testnet was launched with the aim of weeding out major bugs, issues and errors that could hinder the overall Function X ecosystem as well as ensuring economic incentives that can drive the participants to provide quality services. The testnet provides easy-to-use tools to allow users to test how the consensus works. This falls in line with Pundi X's overall goal to support and enable any transaction that stands to benefit from being decentralized with blockchain, something that they've been moving towards ever since the company's inception back in late 2017. "Launching the testnet is crucial to finding out what works and what doesn't in our systems, especially with regards to FX coins," says David Ben Kay, President of Function X Foundation. "If we can build something that proves just how secure transacting on the blockchain can be, that's a major step towards encouraging mass adoption. It's worth noting that Pundi X has extensive experience in providing blockchain payment solutions to businesses. It's the same blockchain solution developer behind the XPOS, a point-of-sale device that allows ordinary consumers and retailers to easily transact on the blockchain, and Blok On Blok (aka BOB), the world's first blockchain phone. "It's definitely a major milestone for our team," said Zac Cheah, CEO and Co-founder of Pundi X. "It's something we've been aiming to launch since the very beginning of the year and we're glad to see it take off with such success. We will port more experiments on the Function X testnet and make sure the blockchain works well for various activities, including payment, communication and more, step by step." For more information about participating the Function X testnet, visit https://medium.com/functionx/function-x-testnet-is-here-f1af31551a0a ABOUT FUNCTION X FOUNDATION Function X Foundation is a nonprofit, independent organization that supports the growth of the Function X Ecosystem, a next-generation internet service framework, built entirely on and for the blockchain. It is a completely new ecosystem providing a novel service framework by improving the existing internet and blockchain architectures, combining the benefits of both and using the most commonly used technical solutions. For more information about Function X, visit https://www.functionx.io. ABOUT PUNDI X Based in Singapore, Pundi X was founded in 2017 with the aim of harnessing the power of blockchain technology to make a more secure and inclusive world. As of this writing, the company is responsible for developing the BOB, the world's first fully-functioning blockchain phone and the XPOS, a point-of-sales machine that allows brick-and-mortar stores to transact on the blockchain. The company currently has offices in Jakarta, Taipei, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Shenzhen, Tokyo and more. For more information, please visit https://www.pundix.com. SOURCE Function X Related Links https://www.functionx.io At least 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel, have been killed in a "violent face-off" on Monday night with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh. This is the most serious escalation at the Indo-China border region in five decades. News agency ANI, quoting sources, said more than 43 Chinese soldiers have been killed or seriously injured. India said the clashes happened "as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there", rebutting China's claims that Indian soldiers crossed the border. This is the first fatal clash since 1975 between India and China, who fought a border war in 1962. At least 20 Indian soldiers killed in the violent face-off with China in Galwan valley in Eastern Ladakh. Casualty numbers could rise: Government Sources pic.twitter.com/PxePv8zGz4 ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 Colonel B Santosh Babu of the Bihar regiment, Havildar Palani and Sepoy Ojha are three of the names confirmed by the Indian Army. "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation," the official Indian Army statement said. India committed to protect territory India has released a statement saying the Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation. Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation. Full Indian Army Statement pic.twitter.com/CHcYeew2TX Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) June 16, 2020 Reports suggest that the Indian soldiers were not shot but were killed in a physical fight on Indian Territory that involved stones and batons, said the Indian Army. "There was no firing. No firearms were used. It was violent hand-to-hand scuffles," an unnamed officer was quoted by news agency Agence France Presse as saying. The fatal clash took place when Chinese troops were getting ready to move away from a location per an agreement between both countries. REUTERS According to reports, the Colonel was reportedly assaulted with stones and Indian soldiers retaliated, which led to close unarmed combat for several hours. China's diplomatic response China, in an aggressive statement, accused India of crossing the border, "attacking Chinese personnel", reported AFP. Chief editor of Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times admitted casualties on the Chinese side. "Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, don't be arrogant and misread China's restraint as being weak. China doesn't want to have a clash with India, but we don't fear it," tweeted Hu Xijin, Editor-in-Chief of Global Times. China's Foreign Ministry was quoted by Reuters as saying India should not take unilateral actions or stir up trouble. "What's shocking is that on June 15, the Indian side severely violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line and provoked and attacked the Chinese forces, causing a violent physical confrontation between the two border forces," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing. "China is raising strong opposition and stern representations to the Indian side on this," he said. The Christian Service University College in Kumasi has donated nose masks as well as food items including Gari, cooking oil, sugar, and Fruits to the Kumasi Central Prisons to support its COVID 19 Infection Prevention and Control Measures. From the onset of COVID 19, amnesty was granted some 800 prisoners across the country, but its effect on densely crowded prisons like the Kumasi Central Prisons holding close to 2000 inmates, would not be significant. This puts it at a high risk of spread should the facility record a patient with the virus. Nutrition remains a challenge with the government providing 1 cedi 80 pesewas for the daily feeding of each prisoner. Receiving the donations from the private University, the Deputy Ashanti Prisons PRO ASP Diana Ataa Danso expressed the need for the public to continue supporting her outfit with medications, food, sanitary provisions and nose masks to keep the inmates safe from an incidence of the virus. She pleaded: Government has provided some nose masks but our numbers are large getting into 2000. We need sanitizers, washing soaps, tissue and so many things and we need the public to come to our aid. ASP Ataa Danso was particularly grateful to CSUC for the fruits provided to boost the immunity of the inmates as medics harp the need for stronger immunities to stem the tide of the pandemic. The University also donated rice, oil, and baby food to the Kumasi Childrens Home which has also felt a hit to their donations within the COVID 19 season. The president of the Christian Service University College told Ultimate News Ivan Heathcote Fumador, the initiative is to practicalize the Christian virtues espoused by the university. Professor Afrane averred, We want to go beyond the talking and also practically demonstrate our acts of kindness in such a time as this. We gave every staff the opportunity to make a contribution aside what the university itself contributed so that collectively we can say these are our gifts from our very hearts to people who also need some help. The Christian Service University College will however not be admitting its final year students on campus as it deployed its Moodle Virtual platform to navigate the COVID 19 restrictions on schools. Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday exempted constitutional and government functionaries and their staff members travelling across states on official work from the requirement of 7-day home quarantine, if they are asymptomatic, ANI reported. Auto refresh feeds "All four are between ages 24-30 and under quarantine: Dept of Information and Public Relations," said the government of Mizoram. Four new COVID-19 cases were reported in Mizoram on Monday night, taking the state's total number of confirmed cases to 121. Of the four asymptomatic individuals, three had returned from Delhi and one from Maharashtra. The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus worldwide has topped 8 million, reaching 8,003,021 on Tuesday, according to latest data released by the Johns Hopkins University. The United States is still leading the world with the highest number of COVID-19 infections, about 2 million or 25% of all reported cases. However, the outbreak is growing fastest in Latin America, which now accounts for 21 percent of all cases, according to a Reuters report. Mainland China reported 40 new confirmed coronavirus cases on 15 June, down from 49 a day earlier, the National Health Authority said on Monday. China is grappling with a resurgence of the coronavirus just as its economy is trying to recover from shutdowns earlier this year. After nearly two months with no new infections, the capital Beijing has seen a spike in cases linked to the biggest wholesale food market in Asia. In a bid to ensure COVID-19 testing of all symptomatic persons and close contacts of people infected with the novel coronavirus, ASHA and Auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) workers have been tasked to conduct door to door health screening in Odisha. While, 2,205 patients were cured of the virus, the state recorded eight COVID-19 deaths till now, according to health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Assam reported a total of 4,309 confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday after 151 more people tested positive for the virus. Of the total, there are 2,093 active cases in the state. An addition of 10,373 cases saw India's COVID-19 caseload rise to nearly 3.43 lakh while the toll stood at 9,914. India reported the highest single-day rise in deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic after 396 fatalities were recorded across the country on Monday, even as the number of fresh infections fell to a six-day low of a little over 10,000 cases. On Tuesday afternoon, Modi will hold a video-conference with chief ministers, Lieutenant Governors and administrators of 21 states and union territories. These include Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and the North-Eastern states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the chief ministers for over two days - Tuesday and Wednesday - to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the wake of rapidly spreading coronavirus disease. The maximum recoveries are from Maharashtra where 50, 978 have been declared cured. Maharashtra is also the state with the highest number of cases at over 1.07 lakh. During past 24 hours, 7,419 patients were declared cured. The recovery rate has now risen to 51.08 percent even as Indias overall count stands at 3,32,424. There have been 9,520 casualties so far. According to the health ministry, more than 70 percent of the casualties were due to comorbidities. A total of 1,69,797 COVID-19 patients have so far been cured in the country according to the Union ministry of health and family welfare. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Monday the drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were unlikely to be effective in treating the novel coronavirus. Citing reports of heart complications, the agency said the drugs' unproven benefits "do not outweigh the known and potential risks". US regulators revoked the emergency authorisation for malaria drugs championed by president Donald Trump for treating COVID-19, amid growing evidence they dont work and could cause serious side effects. Of the 2,301 COVID-19 samples tested in King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, on Monday, results of 35 have come out positive, according to news agency ANI. In the past 24 hours, India registered 10,667 fresh COVID-19 cases and 380 deaths. The total number of positive cases in the country stood at 3,43,091, according to the latest data released by the health ministry on Tuesday. Of the total, there are 1,53,178 active cases, according to the latest data released by the health ministry. With over 10,000 more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus across the nation, India's total number of COVID-19 infections crossed 3.43 lakh on Tuesday. The number of COVID-19 recoveries registered across the nation was 1,80,013 since the outbreak, taking the recovery rate in India to 52.5 percent on Tuesday. So far, at least 9,900 COVID-19 patients lost their lives due to the virus, said the health ministry. In a tweet this morning, the 55-year-old AAP leader said: "Due to high grade fever and a sudden drop of my oxygen levels last night I have been admitted to RGSSH. Will keep everyone updated (sic)". Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has been admitted to the National Capital's Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) due to high fever and breathing trouble. He will be tested for coronavirus on Tuesday. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi over hike in petrol-diesel prices. The letter states, "It's duty and responsibility of the government to alleviate suffering, not put the people to still greater hardship. Government doing nothing short of profiteering off its people when they are down and out," amid the coronavirus outbreak. The COVID-19 recovery was at 60.3 percent after 2,187 cops were cured of the infectious disease. Two more deaths of members of Maharashtra Police personnel took the toll in the force to 42 on Tuesday. The total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 3,626 after 11 more tested positive for COVID-19, said the Maharashtra Police. "The total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 13,096, including 302 deaths, 9794 recovered and 9567 discharged," said the Rajasthan Health Department. Rajasthan registered 13,096 coronavirus cases on Tuesday after 115 more individuals tested positive for COVID-19. With one more death in the state the COVID-19 fatality climbed to 302. 108 new COVID-19 cases in Odisha in the past 24 hours take the overall count in the state to 4,163, said the Odisha health department on Tuesday. US Ambassador to India, Ken Juster handed over the first lot of 100 ventilators from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to India at the headquarters of the Indian Red Cross, ANI reported. Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said there is no need for another coronavirus lockdown in the state. He said he would ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help in acceleration of economic activities. The Academys Board of Governors also decided to extend the eligibility window beyond the calendar year to 28 February, 2021, for feature films, and delay the opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures from December until 30 April, 2021. For the fourth time in its history, the Oscars are being postponed. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the ABC Television Network said Monday that the 93rd Academy Awards will now be held 25 April, 2021, eight weeks later than originally planned because of the pandemics effects on the movie industry. Total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pakistan have risen to 1,48,921, reports Dawn. This figure includes patients who have recovered (56,390) and the death toll in the country which stands at 2,839. While Punjab province has reported 55,878 cases so far, Sindh has reported 55,581 cases. The tally of COVID-19 cases in the district rose to 49 as a woman tested positive for the disease last evening, the officials said. With this, there are 10 active cases in the district. A woman died of COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli, becoming the district's first fatality due to the disease, officials said on Tuesday. The woman, a resident of Thana Bhawan area, died on Monday, they said. Twenty-seven new cases were reported in the last 22 hours, Beijing city spokesman Xu Hejian said, adding that strict measures have been implemented to stem the spread of the deadly virus. Since the outbreak at the Xinfadi wholesale market in the last five days, the total confirmed new cases have reached 106, he said. The COVID-19 cases in Beijing have jumped to 106, a senior city official said on Tuesday, warning that the situation is "extremely severe" in China's capital where the authorities have mounted massive containment measures including mass testing of about 90,000 people and lockdown around the wholesale market which reported the new infections. The board had also submitted the proposal before the Bombay High Court on Monday in response to a petition filed by a parent seeking directions to the authorities to cancel exams in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases. The class 10 and 12 students of CICSE board can choose not to appear for pending board exams and be marked as per their performance in pre-board exams or internal assessment, according to top officials. "This facility should be operational with 120 beds in the next 2-3 days& will gradually be ramped up to 250-300 beds. In Delhi, 30-35 hotels will be requisitioned; we will be able to add 3000-3500 beds," Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal told ANI. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday visited The Surya hotel which has been attached to the Holy Family Hospital, a dedicated COVID-19 facility. Tamil Nadu government to provide Rs 1,000 each as a relief measure to 13.35 lakh differently-abled cardholders in the state, in the view of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports ANI. The exams which were postponed due to the lockdown to contain spread of coronavirus, are now scheduled to be conducted from 1 to 14 July. However, several parents have been demanding the exams be scrapped. According to Gerry Arathoon, Chief Executive and Secretary, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the students will have to communicate their option to their respective schools by 22 June. The board had also submitted the proposal before the Bombay High Court on Monday in response to a petition filed by a parent seeking directions to the authorities to cancel exams in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases. The students of Class 10 and 12 of CICSE board can choose not to appear for pending exams and be marked as per their performance in pre-board exams or internal assessment, according to top officials. "The ministry can confirm today two new cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand related to the border as a result of recent travel from the UK. Both cases are connected," it said in a brief statement. After three-and-half week of no fresh COVID-19 infections, New Zealand reported two cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, health authorities said. Both the new patients were recent arrivals from the United Kingdom, the health ministry said. Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting to be held on 23 June to discuss current COVID-19 situation in the country, ANI quoted sources as saying on Tuesday. On the first day of its reopening on Monday, 76 tourists visited the park in 19 vehicles, they said. The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, which was shut since March-end due to COVID-19 outbreak, has reopened for tourists after a gap of over two- and-a-half months, officials said. In view of a slew of anti-COVID-19 initiatives being taken by the government, the recovery rate was high, he said adding adequate relief was also being provided to the poor people. The COVID-19 recovery rate was high while fatalities were low in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister E Palaniswami said in Chennai on Tuesday. He was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital after complaining of high fever and difficulty in breathing. Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain tested negative for the novel coronavirus, ANI quoted sources as saying. His condition is stable although he continues to have fever. At least 343 patients were cured of the infectious disease so far, said the state health department. No new cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, said the state health department. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state was at 556 including 194 active cases. "He was admitted to a private hospital for a stent procedure. He died on 14 June due to COVID-19 infection," a senior official said. Maha Vir Chakra awardee Lt Col (retd) Raj Mohan Vohra has died due to COVID-19, senior officials said on Tuesday. The decorated officer breathed his last on 14 June , they said. At present, the COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 50.61% in the state, at par with the national average recovery rate. The recovery of over 5,000 patients also reduced the number of active cases in the state from 53,017 (on Sunday) to 50,554, despite 2,786 fresh cases being recorded on Monday. More than 55,000 recoveries of COVID-19 patients were reported in Maharashtra, exceeding the total active cases in the state on Monday. While the count of recovered patients reached 56,049, the active cases were 50,554, according to the state health department. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has set up a 280-bed facility, which was handed over to the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation on 12 June during a virtual meeting held by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Former deputy mayor Pramod Rathod of the BJP has written to divisional commissioner Sunil Kendrekar asking him to begin operations at the new COVID-19 facility in Chikalthana MIDC of Maharashtras Aurangabad district, an official said on Tuesday. So far, there have 2,205 recoveries while eight patients have succumbed to the disease, said Sarma. Assam reported 4,319 coronavirus cases on Tuesday after 10 more individuals tested positive for COVID-19, said state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Of the total, there are 2,103 active cases. The recovery rate rises to 52.47 percent, which is indicative of the fact that more than half of positive cases have recovered from the disease, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. During the past 24 hours, 10,215 COVID-19 patients were cured, taking the total to 1,80,012, the health ministry said on Tuesday. Delhi government attaches Hotel Taj Man Singh to Sir Gangaram hospital and directs it to isolate all their rooms and place them at disposal of hospital with immediate effect for accommodating COVID-19 patients. While two patients have been booked for attempt to murder under Section 307 of the IPC, one COVID-19 patient has been booked under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the IPC, Mandi SP Gurdev Chand Sharma said. Three COVID-19 patients have been booked for allegedly not revealing their test results and travelling to Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district from Delhi-NCR, police said on Tuesday. The Gujarat government reportedly allowed the Jagannath Yatra in Ahmedabad to take place amid the coronavirus curfew, India Today reported. "Yatra will go out with more than 200 devotees and [Home Minister] Amit Shah will also give 'Hajri'," the report quoted a statement as saying. "Hours after being transferred out of Allahabad, the Senior Superintendent of Police Satyarth Anirudh Pankaj tested positive for coronavirus today. He was shifted to Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital's Covid-19 ward," News18 reported. As many as 862 of these deaths occurred in the areas falling under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits, he said here, citing a fresh review of COVID-19 fatalities in the state carried out by authorities. This has now been corrected and fatality figures have been updated accordingly, he said. Maharashtra chief secretary Ajoy Mehta on Tuesday said as many as 1,328 deaths, that took place due to COVID-19, were not reported as fatalities caused by the viral infection in the state. The BMC said that 941 new COVID-19 cases and 55 deaths have been reported in Mumbai on Tuesday. Total positive cases stand at 60,142 and death toll is at 3165. Reports said that after more than a month, the Telangana government released testing figures. The bulletin said that 44, 431 samples have been tested for coronavirus so far. "To address the stigma associated with coronavirus, the Union Health Ministry issued an illustrated guide, saying the pandemic is causing a difficult time and that rumours and misinformation create more stress and can "hamper Covid-19 recovery"," News18 reported. He was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital after he complained of high fever and difficulty in breathing. Delhi's Health Minister Satyendar Jain who had tested negative for #COVID19 today, will once again undergo test tomorrow. 1,859 fresh COVID-19 cases and 93 deaths have been reported in Delhi on Tuesday. Total number of positive cases stand at 44688 and death toll is at 1837: Directorate General of Health Services, Delhi If you come with a certificate stating that you are not infected with the disease when you come from abroad, then you are allowed in Puducherry: Chief minister V Narayanasamy Boundaries of Puducherry with Cuddalore & Villupuram (both in Tamil Nadu) to be sealed from tomorrow. People to be allowed only for medical services. E-passes from Chennai will not be allowed here: Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday exempted constitutional and government functionaries and their staff members travelling across states on official work from the requirement of 7-day home quarantine, if they are asymptomatic, ANI reported. Coronavirus cases in Tamil Nadu, one of the worst-affected states, touched 48,000 on Tuesday after 1,515 new cases were reported. "Chennai recorded 919 cases today, taking its tally to 34,245. With 49 deaths, the death toll rises in the state to 528. A total of 1,438 persons got discharged today while there are 20,706 active cases in the state," The Indian Express reported. Around 300 COVID-19 care isolation coaches will be placed on Tuesday at Delhi's Anand Vihar Terminal by the Centre in view of rise in COVID-19 cases. Northern Railways CPRO says "Only, people with mild symptoms will be kept here. Management of coach and patient will be done by the state." The Uttar Pradesh government said that 516 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in the state in last 24 hours, taking total number of active cases to 5,259. A total of 8,904 people (61% recover rate) have recovered while 435 others lost their lives due to the disease," said Principal Health Secretary Amit Mohan Prasad. During the past 24 hours, 10,215 COVID-19 patients were cured, taking the total to 1,80,012, the health ministry said on Tuesday. The recovery rate rises to 52.47 percent, which is indicative of the fact that more than half of positive cases have recovered from the disease, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. More than 55,000 recoveries of COVID-19 patients were reported in Maharashtra, exceeding the total active cases in the state on Monday. While the count of recovered patients reached 56,049, the active cases were 50,554, according to the state health department. The recovery of over 5,000 patients also reduced the number of active cases in the state from 53,017 (on Sunday) to 50,554, despite 2,786 fresh cases being recorded on Monday. At present, the COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 50.61% in the state, at par with the national average recovery rate. The COVID-19 recovery rate was high while fatalities were low in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister E Palaniswami said in Chennai on Tuesday. In view of a slew of anti-COVID-19 initiatives being taken by the government, the recovery rate was high, he said adding adequate relief was also being provided to the poor people. The students of Class 10 and 12 of CICSE board can choose not to appear for pending exams and be marked as per their performance in pre-board exams or internal assessment, according to top officials. The board had also submitted the proposal before the Bombay High Court on Monday in response to a petition filed by a parent seeking directions to the authorities to cancel exams in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases. According to Gerry Arathoon, Chief Executive and Secretary, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the students will have to communicate their option to their respective schools by 22 June. The exams which were postponed due to the lockdown to contain spread of coronavirus, are now scheduled to be conducted from 1 to 14 July. However, several parents have been demanding the exams be scrapped. Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said there is no need for another coronavirus lockdown in the state. He said he would ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help in acceleration of economic activities. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradeshs Shamli district reported its first coronavirus death on Monday. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday said he has been hospitalised here after running high-grade fever and suffering a sudden drop in his oxygen level. The 55-year-old minister has been tested for COVID-19, an official said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a potshot at the Gujarat government, which recorded the highest COVID-19 mortality rate at 6.25 percent, a double of what Maharashtra has registered. Quoting figures from a BBC article, Rahul tweeted saying, "Gujarat Model exposed." Citing reasons like people reporting late to hospitals, lack of trust in the quality of healthcare facilities, low levels of testing in backward areas, the BBC pointed out why Gujarat recorded a high mortality rate. Two more deaths of members of Maharashtra Police personnel took the toll in the force to 42 on Tuesday. The total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 3,626 after 11 more tested positive for COVID-19, said the Maharashtra Police. The COVID-19 recovery was at 60.3 percent after 2,187 cops were cured of the infectious disease. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the "ill-advised and insensitive" hike in fuel prices during the COVID-19 crisis. In a letter to the prime minister, she said, "It's duty and responsibility of the government to alleviate suffering, not put the people to still greater hardship. Government doing nothing short of profiteering off its people when they are down and out," amid the coronavirus outbreak. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has been admitted to the National Capital's Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) due to high fever and breathing trouble. He will be tested for coronavirus on Tuesday. In a tweet this morning, the 55-year-old AAP leader said: "Due to high grade fever and a sudden drop of my oxygen levels last night I have been admitted to RGSSH. Will keep everyone updated (sic)". In the past 24 hours, India registered 10,667 fresh COVID-19 cases and 380 deaths. The total number of positive cases in the country stood at 3,43,091, according to the latest data released by the health ministry on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the chief ministers for over two days - Tuesday and Wednesday - to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the wake of rapidly spreading coronavirus disease. On Tuesday afternoon, Modi will hold a video-conference with chief ministers, Lieutenant Governors and administrators of 21 states and union territories. These include Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and the North-Eastern states. India saw a jump of over 11,000 novel coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day on Monday, taking the total number of infections to over 3.32 lakh, while the toll rose to 9,520 with 325 more deaths, the Union Health Ministry said. There are 1,53,106 active cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), while 1,69,797 people have recovered and a patient has migrated, according to the ministry's data updated in the morning. The number of confirmed cases rose to 3,32,424 with 11,502 new infections in the last 24 hours, the ministry said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to interact with chief ministers of states and representatives of Union Territories on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss ways to check the pandemic as a phased lockdown exit continues across the country. State-wise cases and deaths As many as 120 out of the 325 more deaths were from Maharashtra, followed by 56 from Delhi, 38 from Tamil Nadu and 29 in Gujarat. There were 14 more fatalities in Uttar Pradesh, 12 each in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, and 10 each in Rajasthan and Haryana. Five COVID-19 deaths were reported from Karnataka, followed by four in Jammu and Kashmir, three each in Telangana and Puducherry, and two each in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Punjab. A person each succumbed to the infection in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha. India is the fourth worst-hit nation by the pandemic after the US, Brazil and Russia. According to the Johns Hopkins University, which has been compiling COVID-19 data from all over the world, India is in the ninth position in terms of death toll. Of the total 9,520 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 3,950 fatalities, followed 1,477 by Gujarat and 1,327 in Delhi. The toll from the pandemic rose to 475 in West Bengal, 459 in Madhya Pradesh, 435 in Tamil Nadu and 399 in Uttar Pradesh. There have been 292 COVID-19 deaths in Rajasthan and 185 in Telangana. The number of fatalities reached 88 in Haryana, 86 in Karnataka, 84 in Andhra Pradesh, and 67 in Punjab. Jammu and Kashmir has reported 59 COVID-19 deaths, followed by 39 in Bihar, 24 in Uttarakhand and 19 in Kerala. Odisha registered 11 coronavirus deaths so far, followed by eight each in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Assam, and seven in Himachal Pradesh. Five people have succumbed to the contagion in Chandigarh and Puducherry, and one each in Meghalaya, Tripura and Ladakh, the ministry said. More than 70 percent of the deaths are due to comorbidities, it added. The maximum number of cases are from Maharashtra with 1,07,958 infections, followed by 44,661 in Tamil Nadu, 41,182 in Delhi and 23,544 in Gujarat. The tally rose to 13,615 in Uttar Pradesh, 12,694 in Rajasthan and 11,087 in West Bengal. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 10,802 in Madhya Pradesh, 7,208 in Haryana, 7,000 in Karnataka, and 6,470 in Bihar. As many as 6,163 people have contracted the deadly disease in Andhra Pradesh, followed by 5,041 in Jammu and Kashmir, 4,974 in Telangana, 4,049 in Assam and 3,909 in Odisha. There are 3,140 cases of the pathogen in Punjab and 2,461 in Kerala, while 1,819 people have been infected in Uttarakhand and 1,745 in Jharkhand. A total of 1,662 people are afflicted with the disease in Chhattisgarh, followed by 1,076 in Tripura, 564 in Goa and 518 in Himachal Pradesh. The number of coronavirus cases rose to 458 in Manipur, 549 in Ladakh and 352 in Chandigarh. Puducherry has registered 194 COVID-19 cases so far, followed by 168 in Nagaland, 112 in Mizoram and 91 in Arunachal Pradesh. Sikkim has 68 COVID-19 cases, while there are 44 infections in Meghalaya and 38 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have registered 36 COVID-19 cases so far. Administrative measures In Telangana, the state government allowed private labs to conduct COVID-19 tests, while fixing the charges at Rs 2,200. It also fixed the fees for treatment in private hospitals. The Karnataka government also said private hospitals would be roped in to treat COVID-19 patients and uniform rates across the state would be fixed for everything from testing to treatment at those institutions. Maharashtra, the worst-hit state, announced that classes for 9-12 standards would begin from July 1, except for in the red zone areas, while classes for 6-8 standards would begin in August. The state also saw suburban train services in Mumbai, known as the city's lifeline, resuming after nearly three months, but only for ferrying people engaged in essential services. EMU train services for essential service staff, as identified by State Govt, has resumed in Mumbai suburban today after a gap of 85 days Systematic access control and social distancing being ensured These special suburban services will not be available for general passengers pic.twitter.com/VgDRbcu3yx Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) June 15, 2020 In Delhi, the number of COVID-19 tests would be increased to 18,000 per day from 20 June, the ruling AAP and the main Opposition party in the Delhi BJP said after an all-party meeting held by Union home minister Amit Shah. Besides, necessary equipment like oxygen cylinders, ventilators and pulse oximeters for treatment of COVID-19 patients will be provided by the Centre to Delhi and 37,000 beds will be arranged by the month-end for patients in Delhi. Nearly 5,000 tests per day are estimated to be done at present in Delhi, which recorded 1,647 new cases to take its tally to close to 43,000 while the death toll rose past 1,400. The Delhi government has also directed all laboratories and hospitals to work on their full potential, ramp up their COVID-19 testing capacity to meet the increased demand of processing samples and process the samples within 48 hours. Delhi's Health Minister Satyendar Jain said laboratory facilities under the Centre in the national capital are being extended to the city government. Centre asks states to augment healthcare infrastructure Amid reports of shortage of healthcare infrastructure, the Centre has asked states and Union Territories to engage with the private sector for augmenting such infrastructure and provisioning critical care at reasonable rates. There have been several reports indicating an emerging shortage of healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals with ICU beds, ventilators and oxygen-supported beds, for management of COVID-19 patients, the health ministry said. There have also been reports of overcharging by healthcare providers for COVID-19 treatment, it said in a statement. The ministry has asked the states and UTs to engage with the private healthcare providers to facilitate enhanced bed availability and critical care health facilities as well as to ensure fair and transparent charges for services provided. In this regard, some states have already taken an initiative and have reached an agreement with the private sector on reasonable rates and arrangements to provide critical care for in-patient admissions. PMJAY package and CGHS package rates are already available with the states and the rates of CGHS are fixed area wise, the statement said. In order to ensure that patients receive prompt, good quality and care at reasonable rates, it has been suggested to states to have consultations with the local private healthcare providers and arrive at reasonable rates, while factoring in cost elements for personal safety equipment for healthcare providers, the ministry said. It has been suggested that the rates, once fixed, must be widely publicised so that both the patients and service providers are fully aware and capacities are used optimally, it said. States have also been asked to proactively engage with the private sector health providers and consider pooling in public and private healthcare facilities, as this will help in providing prompt, good quality and reasonable health care to COVID-19 patients, the ministry said. With inputs from PTI Turkmen citizens residing in Northern Cyprus have staged at least three protests in recent days to demand the resignation of Turkmenistans authoritarian leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. The latest rally was held by dozens of Turkmen nationals in North Nicosia on June 14 where they accused Berdymukhammedov of being a dictator "incapable of providing the Turkmen nation with bare necessities such as food and a decent life." Some of the protesters held posters with Berdymukhammedovs picture emblazoned with swastikas over them and inscriptions saying "the Craziest Dictator Ever" and "The President Must Resign!" "There is an increasing famine in Turkmenistan and the population's immiseration continues. Turkmenistans authorities totally ignore the real catastrophe and by all possible means suppress any form of dissent. The country is on the edge of a humanitarian catastrophe," one of the protesters said, adding that she will send her demands to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The protesters also demanded a crackdown on corruption, and assistance for residents of the eastern regions of Lebap and Mary to tackle problems caused by heavy storms and rains in April. Similar protests were held in Northern Cyprus on May 11 and May 20. Turkmen people in the United States have also held several similar protests in recent weeks and the newly established opposition movement, Democratic Choice of Turkmenistan, which is based outside of the country, announced in early June that it plans to hold protests with the goal "of liberating Turkmenistan from Berdymukhammedovs dictatorial regime." Berdymukhammedov has ruled the former Soviet republic with an iron fist since the death of his autocratic predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, in December 2006. Governments in West Africa are gradually but steadily easing restrictions and lifting lockdowns imposed following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The government of Ghana, for example, has significantly eased restrictions to enable its citizens resume social and economic activities as citizens learn to live with the Covid-19 while waiting for development of effective treatments and vaccines. During President Nana Akufo-Addo-Addo's 10th National Broadcast, houses of worship, government workers, informal traders, transport services, etc. were allowed, to recommence their businesses with specific numbers. Despite this shift, borders remain closed indefinitely to migration and free movement of persons and the impact to sectors limited by this can be felt. So far, the government has not consider those whose professions and livelihoods require cross border trade or activity. Ghanaians working in international development and regional cooperation (e.g West Africa), the informal sector, agriculture and agribusiness and communities close to our borders are greatly affected. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the economic livelihoods of about 80% of the people in the Ketu North and Ketu South in the Volta region, for instance, depend on the ASIGAME market in Lome, Togo. How long will these affected populations stay home and go hungry while their counterparts in the civil service go to work daily and get paid? With the EU Commission planning to open all borders in their zone for free movement of people by July 1, some are eager to hear ECOWAS Commission's plans for the reopening of borders within the ECOWAS Community. How long will national governments keep their borders closed whilst intra-regional trade and movement are negatively impacted? Will the Inter Ministerial Steering Committee on Migration begin to outline guidelines to regulate regular movements across the land borders in the interim? With the onset of the rainy season in West Africa, heavy rainfalls signal the beginning of planting seasons and the cultivation of staple foods meant for consumption in the dry season. This is the time that labour force are expected to migrate from the Sahelian countries to the South to provide and offer services in the farms across the region. The continued closure of the land borders remain, this will have some impactful negative unintended consequences on agriculture production this year. There is an urgent need for an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State to thoroughly deliberate and adopt a common roadmap to reopening land borders for controlled movement and migration. We must remember that food insecurity can be as equally deadly as this pandemic. By Bright Senam GOWONU, Migration Expert. VANCOUVER, BC, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - GoldMining Inc. (the "Company" or "GoldMining") (TSX: GOLD) (OTCQX: GLDLF) is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated May 5, 2020, the Company has filed a National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) technical report ( the "Technical Report") for its Yarumalito Gold-Copper Project (the "Project" or "Yarumalito") located in the Departments of Antioquia and Caldas, Colombia. The Technical Report, dated effective April 1, 2020, is titled "Technical Report: Yarumalito Gold-Copper Property, Departments of Antioquia and Caldas, Republic of Colombia". The Technical Report was authored by Greg Z. Mosher, M.Sc., P.Geo., of Global Mineral Resource Services, who is a qualified persons within the meaning of NI 43-101, is independent of the Company and has reviewed and approved the disclosure regarding the resource estimate for Yarumalito disclosed herein. The Project is located approximately 75 km southwest of the city of Medellin in the Department of Antioquia in Central Colombia and approximately 40 km south of GoldMining's La Mina Project. Yarumalito is host to porphyry and epithermal mineralization that were the subject of a maiden mineral resource estimate using a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t gold equivalent for pit constrained resources as documented in the Technical Report (Table 1). Table 1: Inferred resource statement1 using a 0.5 g/t gold equivalent cut-off for the Yarumalito Gold-Copper Project, Colombia. Mineral Type Tonnes Grade Contained Metal Au Cu AuEq Au Cu AuEq g/t % g/t Oz Lbs Oz Oxide 9,057,000 0.54 0.09 0.66 156,000 17,283,000 192,000 Sulphide 57,214,000 0.59 0.09 0.71 1,074,000 111,979,000 1,310,000 Total 66,271,000 0.58 0.09 0.70 1,230,000 129,262,000 1,502,000 Table 1 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. All quantities are rounded to the appropriate number of significant figures; consequently, sums may not add up due to rounding. 3. Pit constrained resources with reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction stated above a 0.50 g/t Au cut-off. 4. Pit optimization is based on an assumed gold price of US$1,500/oz, copper price of US$2.70/lb, mining cost of US$2.00/t, processing cost of US$8.00/t and pit slope of 45. The Company notes that its press release dated May 5, 2020, reported 157,000 ounces Au (oxide), 1,085,000 ounces Au (sulphide) and 1,236,000 ounces Au (total) under contained metal for the inferred resource estimate disclosed therein. The corresponding amounts disclosed herein and in the Technical Report have been adjusted by an immaterial amount since the date of such press release. Readers should refer to the Technical Report, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile at www.SEDAR.com, for further information regarding the resource estimate contained herein and the Project. Qualified Persons Paulo Pereira, President of GoldMining Inc. has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Pereira holds a Bachelors degree in Geology from Universidade do Amazonas in Brazil, is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. 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. Additionally, GoldMining owns a 75% interest in the Rea Uranium Project, located in the Western Athabasca Basin of Alberta, Canada. Forward-looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of GoldMining with respect to its business and future events, including expectations and future plans respecting the Project and statements with respect to the details of the mineral resource estimate. 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: the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with GoldMinings expectations, accidents, equipment breakdowns, title and permitting matters, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and expenses, and uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Project. These risks, as well as others, including those set forth in GoldMinings Annual Information Form for the year ended November 30, 2019, management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended February 29, 2020 and other filings with Canadian securities regulators, 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. GoldMining 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 tech2 News Staff Scientists have long suspected that antibodies in the blood of COVID-19 patients that have successfully fought the infection and recovered could provide powerful protection against SARS-CoV-2 the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. A recently published study has offered some evidence to back this theory with successful tests in animals and human cell cultures. The study, published 16 June in Science, shows a range of swift reactions to the deadly viral pandemic setting the stage for upcoming clinical trials and additional tests of these antibodies. They are now being produced as a potential treatment and preventive course for the novel coronavirus infection. "The discovery of these very potent antibodies represents an extremely rapid response to a totally new pathogen," co-senior author Dennis Burton, the James and Jessie Minor Chair in Immunology in the Department of Immunology & Microbiology at Scripps Research Institute, told SRI press. In theory, if these antibodies were injected into patients in the early stages of COVID-19, it would reduce the level of virus and offer protection against the disease progressing in seriousness. The antibodies could potentially also offer vaccine-like protection for a limited period of time against SARS-CoV-2 infection for those most at-risk: healthcare workers, elderly people, others who haven't responded well to traditional vaccines or those thought to have been recently exposed to the coronavirus. There are already many plasma therapy studies underway in hospitals and clinics around the world. "It has been a tremendous collaborative effort, and we're now focused on making large quantities of these promising antibodies for clinical trials," co-lead author of the study Thomas Rogers, an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Immunology & Microbiology at Scripps Research, and assistant professor of Medicine at UC San Diego, told SRI press. Also Read: Can plasma therapy help people who have been exposed to COVID-19, stave off the infection? As of 16 June, over 8 million people have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, resulting in the deaths of over 4,37,000 people worldwide. New cases continue to crop up every day including in countries like New Zealand that were thought to be completely free of the coronavirus till the travel ban was lifted. Developing a treatment or vaccine for severe COVID-19 is currently the world's top public health priority. One of the key approaches to new viral threats is identifying antibodies to the virus found in the blood of recovering patients, antibodies that neutralize the virus's ability to infect cells. With modern biotechnology, these antibodies can then be mass-produced as a treatment that blocks severe disease and as a vaccine-like preventive that circulates in the blood for a few weeks offering protection against infection. This approach already has been demonstrated successfully in the past against deadly viruses like the Ebola virus and the pneumonia-causing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In the ongoing project, researchers at UC San Diego took blood samples from patients who had recovered from mild-to-severe cases of COVID-19. In tandem, researchers at Scripps Research and IAVI developed a series of test cells that express the human ACE2 receptor which SARS-CoV-2 uses to get into human cells. The team tested whether antibody-containing blood from the patients could inactive the virus by binding to it and strongly block it from infecting these test cells. They managed to pick out over 1,000 unique antibody-producing immune cells (called B cells) each of which produced a unique antibody against SARS-CoV-2. Using tools in genetics, the team recovered the gene sequences from these B cells so that they could produce the antibodies in a laboratory. As they screened this large set of potential antibodies for SARS-CoV-2, they identified many that could block the virus in test cells, even in tiny quantities. One of the antibodies could even protect hamsters against a heavy dose of exposure to COVID-19, as per the report. If further safety testing in animals and clinical trials in humans go well, the antibodies could be used in clinical settings as early as next January, the researchers say. "We intend to make them available to those who need them most, including people in low- and middle-income countries," Landais says. Over the course of their research, the team also isolated an antibody from COVID-19 patients that can neutralize SARS-CoV the coronavirus relative responsible for a massive outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Asia in 2002-2004. "That discovery gives us hope that we will eventually find broadly neutralizing antibodies that provide at least partial protection against all or most SARS coronaviruses, which should be useful if another one jumps to humans," Burton said. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - T-Mobile continued to battle network outages Monday, which began in the mid-afternoon in several major U.S. cities and continued into the evening. Calls and some text messaging appear to be the functions most widely affected. According to the tech-issue tracker DownDetector, the hardest-hit areas have been on the East Coast, including major cities like New York, Atlanta and Miami, as well as L.A. and Chicago. Neville Ray, T-Mobile's president of technology, tweeted, 'Our engineers are working to resolve a voice and data issue that has been affecting customers around the country. We're sorry for the inconvenience and hope to have this fixed shortly.' In a tweet sent shortly after 6 p.m. ET, Ray said the company was still working to fix calls and texts, He recommended customers to use apps like FaceTime, WhatsApp and iMessage to communicate. 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. PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday made an emotional plea for forgiveness when he officiated at the National Day of Prayer in Harare yesterday, the Daily News reports. In his surprisingly impassioned prayer at State House, Mnangagwa among other things asked for clemency for the various misdeeds that have dogged his administration, including corruption and human rights violations. The National Day of Prayer was held as Zimbabwe is in the grip of a huge economic crisis the worst in a decade, which has stirred restlessness among long-suffering citizens. In his invocation, Mnangagwa said some of the wrongdoings that had been witnessed in the country had been committed unconsciously. Dear God, Jehovah and the only true God, Father of our saviour Jesus Christ, I humble myself before you, together with the people of Zimbabwe over whom you made me a servant leader. I yield my heart, we yield our hearts together as a nation in faith and repentance to the rule and Lordship of the Son and our saviour, Jesus Christ. We repent before you of every sin and way in which we have displeased you and not glorified you alone as God, Mnangagwa said. Forgive those who have worshipped idols and false gods. Forgive us all our immorality and uncleanliness. Forgive us for every act of injustice or corruption that has made the poor suffer or innocent to die. Forgive us as individuals and as a nation even for the sins of which we may be unaware. Cleanse us with the blood of your son and our Lord Jesus Christ, Mnangagwa added. Yesterdays event was attended by several high profile figures, including many of the countrys top clerics from the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and the Indigenous Zimbabwe Inter-denominational Council of Churches, as well as the Zimbabwe National Elders Forum. What caught many by surprise was that Mnangagwas prayer included many issues afflicting the country, which critics had said he was not keen to focus on. His plea for forgiveness on corruption and the suffering of Zimbabweans also came at a time that his government has been blamed for presiding over the countrys worst economic crisis in a decade. It also came as his government has been mired in alleged myriad corrupt deals, which have seen even some of his ministers being accused of aiding and abetting graft in their respective portfolios. Apart from corruption, Mnangagwas administration has also been accused of mimicking the previous one of the late former president Robert Mugabe, which was notorious for clamping down savagely on critics. Among many other things, his government has courted serious criticism for the August 2018 and January 2019 killings of civilians by security forces following violent demonstrations by agitated citizens. Recently, the governments commitment to observing and upholding human rights in the country was also brought into sharp focus following allegations of repression, including the alleged abduction and torture of opponents. Turning to the lethal coronavirus disease yesterday, Mnangagwa also appealed to God for the protection of citizens, as the virus continues to spread in the country. Lord as we face this grievous pestilence of the coronavirus which has already killed some of our beloved ones. We make a petition to you according to Habakkuk 3 verse 2 which reads: Lord, I have heard your fame, I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day in our time make them known, in the wrath, remember mercy. You are a merciful God, and we ask you today that you forgive our sins and heal our land. Make this storm cease. Stop the advance of this virus and the death it carries, Mnangagwa said. We thank you that you gave us lead-time to prepare. But now, Lord, grant us wisdom. Show us the steps to take to overcome this virus. We also ask that you show us a cure for this virus, he prayed further. The Word of God is clear that as the plagues of the last days come upon the earth, people all over the world will choose to fall into one of the two categories. Some, who humble themselves, acknowledge and glorify Jehovah as God and seek his help, and others continue to defy the one true God in unbelief. Domestic indices Sensex and Nifty closed on a bullish note on Tuesday, tracking a rally in global equities amid buying pressure in financial stocks. Reversing from yesterday's losses, Sensex ended 376 points higher to 33,605 and Nifty climbed 100 points to 9,914. In morning trade, Sensex and Nifty took cues from the Asian markets which rallied after US Federal Reserve said it would start purchasing corporate bonds in the secondary market, one of several emergency facilities launched in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. While Sensex gained up to 794 points to 34,022, Nifty rose 233 points to 10,046. Commenting on sector-wise rally, Ajit Mishra, VP - Research, Religare Broking," Among the sectors, a mixed trend was witnessed as Banking, IT, Metal and Consumer Durables ended with decent gains while other indices like Oil & Gas, Realty and Telecom ended with losses." As per market experts, domestic market erased morning gains in mid-day trade as investors turned cautious amid reports of a violent face-off between the India and China on Monday. During de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, three army personnel died in clashes with Chinese forces, said Indian Army today. In a knee jerk reaction to the violent clashses, Sensex lost 275 points to 32,953 and Nifty fell 85 points to 9,728. Later, Sensex and Nifty recovered all losses to end over 1% higher each. Expressing views over today's trend, S Ranganathan, Head of Research at LKP Securities said, "Dalal Street witnessed significant volatility amid India-China tension in Ladakh. The markets finally managed to recover lost ground helped largely by the HDFC Twins & ICICI Bank in late afternoon trade". Overseas, Wall Street indices staged a dramatic bounce back and ended higher on the back of Fed's announcement that it would include debt from individual companies to its bond-buying program. This helped in boosting investor sentiment and calming earlier worries about the second wave of coronavirus infections. Taking cues from the overnight jump in US markets, Asian and European markets were also trading higher. Markets experts suggested Asian investors will focus on Central Bank of Australia's policy minutes and a statement from BoJ. On Nifty's near term outlook, Angel Broking in its technical report said, "At our end, we still remain hopeful and expect the Nifty not to fall below 9500 now. Before this, 9750-9675 can be seen as intraday supports. On the flipside, 9925-10000 remains to be a sturdy wall and if the index has to regain any strength, it needs to again enter a five-digit territory soon." On the currency front, Rupee ended weaker at 76.21 per US dollar on Tuesday, over its previous close of 76.03 against the greenback on Monday. Meanwhile, companies set to announce their earnings are Globus Spirits, Navin Fluorine, Maharashtra Bank, Hindustan Petroleum, NMDC, Schneider among others. Share Market Update: Sensex ends 376 points higher, Nifty at 9,914; Hindalco, HDFC twins, UPL top gainers This pharma share hits fresh 52-week high after Rakesh Jhunjhunwala raises stake Sensex loses 275 points after three Indian army personnel die in Galwan valley Sensex rises 800 points, Nifty above 10K: What's driving the rally today Visit the Metro Mazda of Mesquite website to find information on new Mazda models today. When a driver is looking to purchase a new vehicle, the research part is usually the longest step of the process. As a way to provide information on all Mazda models, Metro Mazda of Mesquite is promoting its Mazda model research pages. These pages provide information on new models, including the 2020 Mazda CX-30. Car shoppers in Mesquite, Texas, and the surrounding areas, will enjoy having information all in one space while Mazda fans will enjoy learning more about the brand. The Mazda model research pages cover different features and specifications of each model. For example, the 2020 Mazda CX-9 research page focuses on the engine, design, connectivity features and safety technology. Whether the page is about a crossover or sedan model, having the most important information in one location will shorten the research process. Additionally, Metro Mazda of Mesquite has research pages that focus on comparing Mazda models to some of their biggest competitors. One of the pages focuses on comparing the 2020 Mazda CX-5 to the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. Just like the other comparison pages, this research page chooses a few areas of focus to compare the two models. This page focuses on starting MSRP, engine performance and availability of a safety feature. If interested customers would like to check out all of the model research pages, they can find them at metromazdamesquite.com. The Metro Mazda of Mesquite team can be contacted by calling 972-686-6200 to answer any additional questions. The dealership is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Metro Mazda of Mesquite is located at 15900 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy in Mesquite. Accelerates pipeline development and execution Enables new opportunistic value creation Anticipate 3 clinical programs by year end TORONTO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Portage Biotech Inc. (CSE: PBT.U) (OTC Markets: PTGEF) ("Portage" or the "Company") is very pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated May 25, 2020, it has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of US$6,788,600 through the issuance of 678,860 common shares (the "Common Shares") at a price of US$10.00 per Common Share. Two of the Company's directors, Dr. Gregory Bailey and Mr. James Mellon, provided standby commitments in respect of the Offering by subscribing for an aggregate of 200,000 Common Shares (US$2,000,000). The issuance of the Common Shares to Messrs. Bailey and Mellon are considered related party transactions within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on appropriate exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in respect of their purchases. Dr. Walters, CEO of Portage commented, "the Company's pipeline is progressing nicely and we are on target to have 3 products in clinical testing by the end of this year despite COVID interruptions. In addition, our early pipeline companies continue to achieve their development milestones, and this financing will allow us to accelerate our programs, as well as to be able to take advantage of new value creating opportunities." In connection with the Offering, the Company has paid cash finder's fees on the non-insider portion of the Offering of approximately US$193,000. All Common Shares issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a minimum statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Common Shares issued in connection with the Offering have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless registered under the Act or unless an exemption from registration is available. Portage will also like to advise that OTC Markets in the United States has assigned a temporary trading symbol, "PTGED", to the Company's shares to reflect a recently completed share consolidation (reverse split) (see the Company's news release dated June 3, 2020) and will automatically revert back to "PTGEF" after 20 trading days. Trading in Canada on CSE remains unchanged under the symbol "PBT.U". About Portage Biotech Inc. Portage is a unique entity in the world of biotechnology, enabling research and development to produce more clinical programs and maximize potential returns by eliminating typical overhead costs associated with many biotechnology companies. We nurture the creation of early- to mid-stage, first- and best-in-class therapies for a variety of cancers, by providing funding, strategic business and clinical counsel, and shared services, to enable efficient, turnkey execution of commercially-informed development plans. Our portfolio encompasses nine subsidiary companies whose products or technologies have established scientific rationales, including intratumorals, nanoparticles, liposomes, aptamers, cell penetrating peptides, and virus-like particles. In collaboration with our subsidiaries, we create viable product development strategies, to cost-effectively deliver best-in-class R&D, clinical trial design, and financial and project management, to ultimately build value and support commercial potential. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements about the Company's information that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. We seek Safe Harbor. SOURCE Portage Biotech Inc. Related Links www.portagebiotech.com 'Is it not the responsibility of the Church to dismantle white supremacy?' Chance the Rapper questions Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Grammy Award-winning mainstream artist Chance the Rapper took to Twitter with a question for the Christian church about confronting racism in America as he studies the scriptures. Im sure Im gonna get replies from nonbelievers but Id like to ask my Christian followers out there: Why dont we as a church explicitly address White Supremacy and racism on Sundays? he inquired. Why dont we engage the truths of America and how its values are antithetical to the Gospel? The famous emcee from Chicago has been actively posting scriptures during the unrest in America following the death of George Floyd, a black man who was pinned down by a white police officer until he could no longer breathe. He took his tweet a step further by posing, Is it not directly the responsibility of the Church to dismantle and defeat White Supremacy? Is equality not the basis for forming the body of Christ? Im sure Im gonna get replies from nonbelievers but Id like to ask my Christian followers out there: Why dont we as a church explicitly address White Supremacy and racism on Sundays? Why dont we engage the truths of America and how its values are antithetical to the Gospel? Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) June 13, 2020 Chances timeline was instantly filled with people who responded that their church is addressing the issue. However, the rapper responded after someone wrote, My pastor usually avoids talking about this stuff because hes worried that bringing politics in his preaching will make a lot of people upset. Chance replied, I think you have the right and responsibility to challenge your pastor to teach about Christ in the context of todays America. Last week, the entertainer shared a Bible verse about justice with his millions of followers. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow, he shared, quoting Isaiah 1:17. Chances Christian awakening came after he completed his Grammy Award-winning album Coloring Book during a time while he and his then girlfriend-now-wife Kirsten were separated. While a guest on Queen Radio on Apple Music's Beats 1, hosted by Nicki Minaj last year, he opened up about his Christian faith as well as his relationship with his longtime love, Kirsten Corley, whom he recently married. During the interview, Minaj lauded Chance and Kanye West for publicly sharing their Christian faith. She also revealed that she was recently with West who told her that hes a born-again Christian. Chance then got candid with Minaj and said his wife "saved" him by abstaining from sex, which changed his perspective and helped him embrace Jesus as Lord. An Australian program that avoids hospital admission for some young cancer patients with a fever is helping to ease pressure on the UK health system during the COVID-19 crisis Research at a Glance: A new Australian-developed treatment decision model has allowed more young cancer patients to recover from mild infections at home The rule has been fast-tracked in the UK to help to ease pressure on a hospital system still battling COVID-19 The decision model, dubbed AUS-rule, could help patients globally avoid onerous hospital stays An Australian program that avoids hospital admission for some young cancer patients with a fever is helping to ease pressure on the UK health system during the COVID-19 crisis. The AUS-rule system, now published in E Clinical Med, guides doctors when deciding whether patients can be treated and supported at home. Led by experts at Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, AUS-rule has already been successfully deployed in several Australian hospitals including the Royal Children's Hospital. It has also been fast-tracked in some UK hospitals. Children undergoing cancer treatment face an increased risk of febrile neutropenia (FN), a fever with low numbers of a white blood cell important in fighting infections. Febrile neutropenia may require hospital admission for antibiotics, but an international collaboration is working to manage suitable cases at home. Paediatric cancer researcher Dr Gabrielle Haeusler, from MCRI and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, recalibrated a febrile neutropenia decision rule, with input by UK researchers. AUS-rule was formulated by the Australian and UK Predicting Infectious Complications In Children With Cancer Projects (PICNICCs) and the Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG). The University of York PICNICC project was led by Dr Bob Phillips. The AUS-rule (Australia-UK-Switzerland) name reflects this international collaboration. The AUS-rule helps doctors decide which children with febrile neutropenia are suitable for home management using antibiotics and temperature monitoring. It considers platelet and white cell counts and chemotherapy intensity. Dr Haeusler said, "Over half of these patients do not have a severe infection and can be treated at home with antibiotics and the appropriate supports. This reduces their time spent in hospital by 3-4 days and allows kids to recover in the comfort of their own home. We are currently in the process of scaling up the program across Australia so more children with cancer can benefit from this research." Dr Phillips is leading the UK push to roll out the Low-risk Febrile Neutropenia Program using the AUS-rule, endorsed by the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG). Those using it can access vital AUS-rule guidelines, patient information, checklists and tip sheets online. Dr Phillips said it was early days, but the simple and robust system was already popular with families who had trialled it in Leeds, London, and Liverpool. Of the 32 children who have presented with febrile neutropenia at Leeds Teaching Hospital so far, nine have gone home with support and an antibiotic treatment plan within a day, compared to a usual minimum hospital stay of three days. Families have embraced the development. "They absolutely want to get out of hospital quicker," Dr Phillips said. "It means that we don't do unnecessary tests on kids and just annoy them, and they actually do better at home. "It's been wonderful to have the direct support of Dr Haeusler and the Australian teams in implementing this program in the UK. Without her input we'd be struggling to make this work. The more we show it works across different hospitals in different countries, the more robust it is because it's experiencing variation and being effective." ### Visit the MCRI website for more information. The study was funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Grant (APP1104527)*. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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MEXICO CITY Brazils retailers, which are seeing sales plunge as the country sees coronavirus cases skyrocket, need roughly $4 billion in aid to survive the crisis and help shore up cash-strapped businesses. Credit has not been flowing to retailers and while the government has announced some measures, its not enough, said Fernando Pimentel, president of top apparel trade lobby Abit in Sao Paulo. The Central Bank has announced a $250 billion package for all industries, including guarantees for banks to issue loans and there are tax extensions, etc. But we need more. For our industry, at least $4 billion. His comments came as Sao Paulos big malls, such as shopping JK Iguatemi, sprung back to life last week, alongside other retailers and high-street boutiques after the government decided to reopen Latin Americas largest economy, even as the virus continues to spread rapidly. This, however, has fueled criticism that President Jair Bolsonaro is getting ahead of himself to save businesses and could trigger an uncontrollable second wave of the epidemic. Over the weekend, Brazil reported 41,000 deaths, surpassing the U.K. and now ranking second only to the U.S. with the greatest number of fatalities from the virus. But Pimentel said its crucial for businesses to restart operations as some unnamed retailers have already filed for bankruptcy and that they are doing so very carefully to stem possible infections. We had a tremendous drop in sales during the quarantine, with 85 percent to 90 percent declines, said Pimentel, nothing that he has never worked harder in his life. Our forecast is now for a 60 percent decline for the year, in real terms. Pimentel said Sao Paulo, Rio, Parana and Santa Catarina State (home to trendy Florianopolis) have resumed operations. Between the states of Sao Paulo and Rio, home to Rio de Janeiro, the area represents 25 percent to 30 percent of Brazils garment consumption, according to Pimentel. Story continues The reopening wont be full throttle, however. In Sao Paulo, some stores will only be open for four hours a day with only 25 percent to 35 percent of capacity allowed. In Rio, shopping centers can stay open for six to eight hours. Some cities will operate normally but with restrictions about the number of people allowed to shop at the same time and with social distancing measures such as masks. Most Brazilian stores have also banned fitting rooms, according to Pimentel. But they have provided customers more time to exchange goods, including the countrys largest department-store chain Renner, which now allows shoppers to return goods for three months versus one before. Still, the merchandise will have to go through a hygienization process, Pimentel noted. The executive added all stores will need to comply with strict health and safety protocols. On top of wearing masks, shoppers will have to use alcohol to sanitize hands. Store staff, in addition, will need to sanitize merchandise after shoppers touch it. These regulations will also come to be in Manaus, the capital of Brazils Amazon State and the virus epicenter with 55,000 infections. Big merchants there, including Renner and Riachuelo, are yet to reopen stores, however, according to Pimentel. Sales are improving, said Camila, the owner of a boutique in Manauara Shopping Center in Manaus, without providing her last name, adding that sales fell 80 percent in the past three months. We are hoping it will get better. Pimentel dismissed criticism that the government mishandled the crisis and could have engaged in stricter lockdowns. He said Brazil is too big for a one-size-fits-all containment strategy and that different regions had to engage in diverse strategies, some with tougher quarantines and others with more relaxed ones. What we need now is more concentration and better organization to solve the problem, said Pimentel, declining to comment on Bolsonaros policies. Fashion p.r. executive Mariana Guimaraes agreed the reopening is necessary to save businesses shuttered for nearly three months. She said her neighborhood near Sao Paulos Shopping Iguatemi is slowly becoming more crowded but shes unsure how many Brazilians will actually resume shopping. I dont think people are going to go out that much to shop or buy things. They are still worried about the situation. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. [June 16, 2020] Intellipaat Partners With IIT Guwahati's E&ICT Academy to Boost Professionals' Careers BANGALORE, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellipaat proudly announces its partnership with IIT Guwahati's E&ICT Academy to train professionals in cutting edge technologies like Big Data Analytics, Cloud and DevOps, and Full-Stack Web Development. IIT Guwahati's E&ICT Academy has been formed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) which is a part of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the E&ICT Academy at IIT Guwahati in 2016. The post graduate programs (PGP) offered jointly will serve as a stepping stone for professionals in the fulfilment of MeitY's mission. Professionals who enrol in these courses will stand to fast-track their careers by these nine month long programs. PGP Big Data Analytics Course is ideal for professionals who want to work in data science, machine learning, and big data analytics. This course will provide necessary skills to perform data analytics using tools and programming languages like Spark, Hadoop, Python, Tableau and master machine learning algorithms that will make professionals proficient to ecome success Data Scientists. PGP in Cloud and DevOps will equip for learning high in demand tools like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. They will also learn about DevOps methodology which is must in almost all software companies. PGP in Full-Stack Web Development will enable professionals to develop web applications from scratch using react, nodejs, php, as well as learn software project management principles. Upon completing any of the three courses, students are guaranteed three job interviews with top employers. Intellipaat will help students prepare for job interviews. Speaking about the launch of courses, Mr Diwakar, Founder & CEO at Intellipaat said, "These courses are meant to provide the academic rigor along with Industry exposure. The courses will be taught by IIT's professors and Industry subject matter experts. One reason we're so excited about these PG programs is that they are designed to create employability hence the kind of rigor and exposure learners receive will help them to land in their dream jobs. We will help realise MeitY's vision of creating millions of employable professionals. Intellipaat 24X7 support, high quality course material with assignments and project work along with guranteed job assistance will definetly be an extra edge learners will receive for full filling their upskilling objectives." Intellipaat also offers short-term Data Science Course, Artificial Intelligence course and Machine Learning course for professionals who are looking to quick start their career in these domains. About Intellipaat Intellipaat is the leading e- Learning platform with more than +150 courses for professionals on technology and non-technology domains. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A group of state Democratic lawmakers on Monday pressed Gov. Kate Brown to immediately commute the sentences of nearly 2,000 state prison inmates, a significant increase over the number the governor has already said she will consider releasing early in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Their plan would mean the release of about 14 percent of Oregons inmate population. Brown gave it a cool reception. Her spokeswoman said in an email that the governor has no additional plans for other actions at this time. Brown on Friday asked the Oregon Department of Corrections to perform a case-by-case analysis of inmates who are vulnerable to the virus because of severe health issues, provided they meet a range of criteria and are not serving time for crimes against another person. The governors conditions apply to about 100 offenders, corrections officials said. Leaders and members of the House and Oregon Senate judiciary committees want Brown to go further and release not only inmates with serious medical conditions but those who are within 120 days of release as well as those within 180 days of release provided they have housing to go to in the community. The lawmakers proposal does not include people convicted of Measure 11 offenses and what they described as serious person crimes." The Department of Corrections said it defines those offenses as crimes that happened before the states mandatory sentencing laws but would now be covered by that 26-year-old law. They include include rape, assault and murder. Lawmakers pitched the idea not only as a cost-saving plan as the state faces a pandemic-induced budget crisis, but also as a way to address the threat of coronavirus in the prison system. Its crucial that we have a plan in place for reducing current pressures on the system over the next six to eight months, the legislators wrote in a memo outlining their proposal. It will be even more crucial if we must consider closing and consolidating prisons as a result of budget cuts, which will make our facilities even more crowded. Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, said the state should begin to get ready for another wave of the virus this fall as life resumes across the state and prison visitation opens up again. There is a significant risk of COVID-19 coming in to our state prisons from the outside and that risk increases if we see a second wave of the disease in the fall, Dembrow said. Careful, targeted reduction of the prison population, focusing on those who did not commit violence offenses, is a smart way to reduce the risk. Dembrow made the proposal along with Sen. James Manning Jr., D-Eugene, Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Happy Valley and Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland. The group said it made the suggestions to Brown earlier this month. Bynum called Browns announcement on Friday a first step. The overly congested conditions of our prisons can be a death sentence for people with severe medical problems, she said. The appropriate humanitarian response would be to release them as soon as possible." The idea of early release drew criticism from prosecutors who questioned why the move is necessary three months into the pandemic. What has (the Department of Corrections) been doing to plan for this? said Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton. Their job is to keep these people housed. These are all convicted criminals. They have had their day in court. They have been convicted and its the Department of Corrections responsibility to safely house these inmates. House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, issued a statement in response to the proposal, saying crime victims voices matter. Their needs and rights should be considered before any early releases are considered, she said. "We must ensure justice is served, truth in sentencing is maintained and that our counties are fully prepared and have the resources they need to properly monitor and support reentry. Brown has been under pressure from criminal justice reform advocacy groups to release inmates in response to the threat of coronavirus in Oregons 14 prisons. Early on, she floated the idea of releasing some inmates early but then backed away from the idea. A letter signed by 30 national, state and local organizations and released Monday by Partnership for Safety & Justice asked the governor to focus spending on other state programs instead of funding prisons as Oregon confronts a pandemic-imposed budget crisis. We need to prioritize funding for COVID-19 response, health, and essential social services - not prisons, the groups said in an open letter. Shannon Wight, the groups deputy director, also urged the Department of Corrections to consider pregnant women as medically vulnerable and eligible for early release. With a total of 175 confirmed coronavirus cases among inmates and staff, the maximum-security Oregon State Penitentiary has the states largest identified outbreak. Of those, 139 are prisoners. The plan pitched by lawmakers would release 215 of the prisons 1,913 inmates, about 11 percent, according to data provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Shutter Creek Correctional Institution in North Bend was the site of the second-largest prison outbreak with 25 cases; it was declared resolved by state public health officials last week. Santiam Correctional Institution in Salem has nine cases and Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla has one. The state prison system has 14,085 inmates. -- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over an extraordinary China-Africa summit on solidarity against COVID-19 in Beijing on Wednesday, and deliver a keynote speech, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced Tuesday. The summit is jointly proposed by China; South Africa, the rotating chair of the African Union (AU); and Senegal, co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It will be held via video link. Leaders of African countries, including members of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and rotating chairs of major African subregional organizations; and the chairperson of the AU Commission will attend the summit upon invitation. The secretary-general of the United Nations and the director-general of the World Health Organization will attend the meeting as special guests. Audrina Patridge's ex-husband Corey Bohan is asking her to pay child support for their three-year-old daughter Kirra. In newly filed court docs in Orange County, California, according to The Blast, Bohan, 38, says that he is seeking financial support in the wake of indefinitely losing his bartending gig at Newport Beach, California's The Boulevard, with bars and restaurants nationwide shutting down to quell the spread of the coronavirus. 'Due to the COVID-19 stay at home orders, I was placed on leave from my job and have recently applied for unemployment,' Bohan told the court. 'I am currently furloughed from my employment and have yet to receive unemployment.' The latest: Audrina Patridge's ex-husband Corey Bohan, 38, is asking her to pay child support for their three-year-old daughter Kirra The X-Games motorcycle rider said he needs child support and a contribution toward attorney's fees. The 35-year-old reality star/fashion designer, according to Bohan, pulls in at least $36,000 monthly, according to financial records she filed with the court. 'I do not receive spousal support or child support from [Patridge] although she earns a significantly higher income than me,' said Bohan, a BMX rider from Australia, in the recent filing. He said that 'it is in the best interest of Kirra for the Court to establish a child support order as [The Hills: New Beginnings star] earns a significantly higher income than' he does. Earning big: The 35-year-old reality star, according to Bohan, pulls in at least $36,000 monthly, according to financial records she filed with the court. She was snapped in LA earlier this year Better times: The couple posed in March 2016 in LA when Audrina was expecting Kirra Bohan argued in the filing that under California law, it's incumbent upon Patridge, who's also been seen on Dancing With the Stars and in Scary Movie 5, to provide the same standard of life for her daughter no matter who she's with. 'Kirra should have the right to live the same standard of living in each home,' he said. Bohan, a one-time X-Games player, also claimed in the documents that Patridge has violated the terms of their custody agreement by denying him visitation with the child initially between March 11 and 12, and then again from March 18-March 19. Bohan alleged that Patridge in 2019 - in a gambit to 'gain an advantage' in their ongoing custody case - 'made false claims of child sexual abuse' about him to Child Protective Services, who probed the situation and determined 'the allegations were unfounded.' The pair were wed for 10 months, from November 2016 until Patridge filed for divorce in September 2017. As of 2016, 2.2 percent of voting-age adults in Iowa were unable to vote because of felony convictions, including 9.8 percent of African-Americans in the state, according to The Sentencing Project, which promotes criminal justice reform. The only way a former felon in Iowa can currently regain the right to vote is to individually petition the governor. The details of Ms. Reynoldss executive order remain unclear. This month, she signed a Republican-backed bill that excludes former felons who committed certain crimes, including homicide and sex offenses, from automatically regaining voting rights, and that requires released felons to pay restitution before they can vote. Democrats opposed the law, calling restitution a latter-day poll tax. As restoration of voting rights to former felons has become a fast-moving aspect of criminal justice reform in many states, Iowa has remained an outlier. Ms. Reynoldss predecessor, Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, revoked in 2011 an earlier Democratic governors executive order automatically restoring felons voting rights. After succeeding Mr. Branstad, Ms. Reynolds proposed in 2019 that a constitutional amendment be put to voters on the matter. The Republican-led Legislature, which must first pass a constitutional amendment, has declined to move ahead. On Sunday, lawmakers adjourned for the year without taking action. Since 1997, 23 states have partly or fully restored voting rights to felons, according to The Sentencing Project. Last year, Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, a Democrat, restored the right to vote to more than 140,000 people who had completed sentences for nonviolent felony offenses. Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in 2018 to restore voting rights to nonviolent felons, which would have expanded the franchise overnight to hundreds of thousands of people. But Republican lawmakers in the state, seeking to blunt the amendment, passed a law requiring released felons to pay all fines, court costs and victim restitution before being able to vote. A Federal District Court judge struck down the law as amounting to a poll tax. The case, with the potential to shape the outcome in Floridas perpetually close-fought presidential race, is before an appeals court. On Sunday, the district court judge refused the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, to stay his order while the appeal is heard. Harris County Pets, formerly known as the Harris County Animal Shelter, is offering Houstonians a special way to honor their late pets and loved ones while also supporting the future incoming animals to the shelter with a new campaign. The shelter is currently in the midst of a major renovation that, once completed, will double the capacity it has to care for incoming animals. The 50,000-square-foot facility dubbed the Harris County Pets Resource Center will offer a pet wellness clinic, indoor and outdoor kennel runs, "cat condos," dog park and pavilion, among other features. PETS OF THE WEEK: Meet Dwayne, a gentle giant who loves company, and others at Harris County Pets Eddie Miranda, senior public information officer for Harris County Public Health and the shelter, said the pet wellness clinic recently opened to the public. "We anticipate moving all our staff and pets by the end of summer and into fall as soon as everything is completed and once the current shelter is demolished," Miranda said. The facility was originally scheduled to finish construction this summer but that date has been pushed back to sometime in the fall. As is the case for shelters across the country, the novel coronavirus pandemic has forced Harris County Pets to move to curbside adoptions and shelter visits by appointment only, among other changes. A $24 million bond voters approved in 2015 has helped make the new facility possible, but funds are still needed for enrichment projects, Miranda said. The shelter is currently offering customized pavers for Houstonians to honor a loved pet or person at the center. NONSTOP RESCUES: Wildlife Center of Texas sees spike in injured and orphaned animals during pandemic There is often a pet or pet lover who finds a special place in each persons heart," Michael White, director of Veterinary Public Health, a division of Harris County Public Health, said in a news release. "Dedicating a paver at our new facility is a great way to leaving a lasting legacy in honor or in memory of a loved one, while making a difference in the lives our shelter pets. The pavers are available in various sizes and styles, including clay and photo-etched styles. Prices start at $40. Depending on the package, some pavers will be placed along walkways, in and around the shelter. For more information on the fundraising campaign or to purchase a paver visit the shelter's website. The shelter is located 612 Canino, Houston. rebecca.hennes@chron.com In a normal year, most undergraduate and graduate students would know by this time what their coming school year will look like. But of course this is anything but a normal year. Colleges across the country have had to scramble to figure out not just how to finish the previous school year from a remote distance but also ascertain how to plan for the coming semester while we are still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Below is a -- far from complete -- list of some of the local and more notable Pa. colleges and universities and . when they plan to begin the fall semester, as well as any other information theyve provided. Keep in mind all details are subject to change as new information becomes available. The fall 2020 semester will begin a week early on Aug. 17. It will consist of two six-week sessions: Aug. 17 to Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 to Nov. 24. There will also be a six-week online term available. The university plans to resume on-campus education on Aug. 17. There will be no fall break this year, and classes will end on Nov. 20. Finals will be held remotely from Nov. 30 to Dec. 7. January graduation will be held on Jan. 14. The college has not made any official announcement yet about its fall semester. The college remains closed for now. Drexel plans to reopen for the fall on Sept. 21, and will feature a hybrid approach, offering both on-campus and remote learning. Students on campus will be asked to leave by Thanksgiving. The remaining week of the semester and finals will be handled remotely, and the semester will end on Dec. 14. Safety protocols will be put into place that include enhanced The college says that it plans to have all students return to campus in August but has not yet announced any specific timeline or plans for doing so. According to the Lancaster-based colleges website, it plans to return to in-person instruction in the fall, with necessary considerations for health and safety. It says it will announce a decision with more details by July 1. As of June 11, the college has made no announcements about its plans for the fall other than to say it is committed to a residential educational model and has established a steering committee to form a plan for the coming semester. HACC president John Sygielski announced on June 11 that all of the colleges campuses will remain closed for the rest of 2020, with most classes being taught online. Those classes that require hands-on instruction will be permitted to be held on campus as long as proper social distancing and safety guidelines are followed. READ MORE: HACC campuses will remain closed for rest of year The university says it plans to reopen for classes in the fall, assuming Berks County is in the green phase by that point in time. The website promises more details about fall semester plans in the coming weeks. According to their website, LVC plans to start their fall semester one week early, with classes beginning on Aug. 24. There will be no fall break. Class times and locations will be adjusted to allow for social distancing. On-campus learning will stop at the Thanksgiving holiday and shift to online teaching through Dec. 4. Finals will be held Dec. 7-11. Initially classes will be taught both in-person and online to accommodate students with health issues. In addition the college has extended its housing exemption process to more students the chance to live off campus. The college, however, stated that this plan was dependent upon Lebanon County entering the states green reopening phase by this time. The schools academic calendar will begin on Aug. 24. In-person instruction will end by Thanksgiving, with remote instruction beginning after the holiday to complete classes. Enhanced online learning options will be available throughout the semester for those who will not be able to attend classes in person. In order to mitigate spread of the disease, cleaning procedures at the university will be more frequent and intense. Residential spaces will be provided to isolate any students that test positive for COVID-19 or come in contact with those who do. Self-monitoring and temperature checks will be used and classrooms and lab spaces will be modified to allow for social distancing. According to the schools website, it is currently examining recommendations for the fall semester and hopes to make an announcement by mid to late June. On June 1, the college announced that it will be reopening in August for the fall semester. In an open letter to the public, college president Kim Phipps said that the first day of classes will be on Aug. 25, with additional details about the move-in schedule to be provided later. Fall break at the college will be cancelled and classes will end on the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving break. Finals will be done remotely the week after Thanksgiving and the semester will end the first week of December. Phipps also wrote that the college will be be installing protective Plexiglas and other safety shields, increasing hand sanitizing stations, thinning out furniture/seating and adding signage to help with social distancing. University president Daniel Wubah announced on June 12 that the schools fall semester will begin on Aug. 24, as scheduled. The semester will be a hybrid approach that will offer both in-person and remote instruction. After the Thanksgiving break, the school will hold online-learning only until the semester ends on Dec. 6. Decisions regarding housing, dining and more are still being developed. PSU announced on Sunday that it will begin in-person classes on Aug. 24. They will continue through Nov. 20, with classes being held on Labor Day as well. The remainder of the semester, Nov. 30 to Dec. 18, will be held remotely online. The university will also be bringing some employees back to the campus over the summer to prepare for students returning in the fall. Classes will start Aug. 17 and continue to Nov. 20, with fall break being moved to Nov. 23-24. The majority of coursework will be done in-person, but supported by a remote-learning component. Finals will be held remotely after the Thanksgiving break. During the semester, students and faculty will be required to wear face masks or coverings, maintain social distancing standards and wash or sanitize their hands frequently while on campus. Hand sanitizing stations will be installed throughout the campus, as will signage emphasizing the importance of these safety measures. In a message dated May 19, the university announced the fall semester will start one week early, with classes beginning on Aug. 24. There will be no fall break and on-campus classes will end Nov. 20. There will then be one week of remote classes starting Nov. 30, with finals being also held remotely starting Dec. 7. The school plans to confirm their final plans for the fall semester by July 15. Temple president Richard Englert announced on June 2 plans to have the fall semester begin on Aug. 24, with classes being held both in-person and virtually. Everyone must wear face coverings while inside one of the schools buildings and their use is encouraged elsewhere on campus as well. Very large classes will be held online. Smaller classes will be held in-person or in a hybrid fashion. On-campus instruction will end on Nov. 20, prior to the Thanksgiving break, with the remaining week of classes and finals being conducted remotely. The school is looking at four possible scenarios: A hybrid of online and in-person instruction, all online instruction, all in-person instruction that ends at Thanksgiving break or more robust courses offered in the summer of 2021. It plans to make an announcement by the end of June. The university also outlined plans to mitigate the spread of coronavirus by implementing physical distancing measure, provide regular testing, reduce traffic in areas like libraries and cafeterias, and encourage the wearing of face masks. The university plans to open this fall, with classes beginning on Aug. 19. On-campus instruction will end on Nov. 20, with finals and remaining instruction taking place online until the semester ends on Dec. 5. The school plans to minimize the risk of infection though wearing face masks, social distancing, temperature checks and disinfecting spaces. The official statement said that campus housing will be available, though the school is looking at ways to de-densify those and other facilities. An Indian Border Security Force soldier guards a highway leading towards Leh - TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP via Getty Images Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in violent hand-to-hand clashes with Chinese troops on the disputed border in the Himalayas late on Monday as the threat of a full-blown war flared. The soldiers died after intense fighting in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh where there has been a tense stand-off for more than a month, and were the first at the disputed border in 45 years. The Indian army confirmed the higher total late last night after initially saying only three had died, including a colonel, and India blamed China for starting the fighting. Indian media reports suggested five Chinese troops had been killed, and eleven injured, cited later by a senior reporter for Chinese state newspaper Global Times in a post online, but that remained unconfirmed. Her editor at the state outlet, Hu Xijin, wrote on Twitter: "Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, dont be arrogant and misread Chinas restraint as being weak. China doesnt want to have a clash with India, but we dont fear it." They are the first casualties to be suffered by either Asian superpower along their 3,488km border since 1975. Chinese and Indian troops typically do not carry weapons on the Line of Actual Control, in an attempt to avoid fatalities or diplomatic escalation of tensions, and it is understood these clashes were with stones and batons. India and China have been facing-off for over a month in Ladakh in Kashmir after Chinese troops crossed the so-called Line of Actual Control on May 5 and 6 to occupy over 60 kilometres of Indian territory at four locations - Pangong Tso, Galwan River, Demchok and Hot Springs. The Indian foreign ministry released a statement blaming China for the fatalities: The Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. On the late evening and night of 15th June, 2020 a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side. Story continues A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that its troops had acted in self-defence after two Indian soldiers had crossed into Chinese territory on Monday: provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides. It added that it had solemnly demanded that the Indian side strictly restrain the frontline troops and maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. An unnamed Indian officer has told Agence France Presse that no gunshots were fired and the fatalities were the result of violent hand-to-hand scuffles. A former Indian Army officer told the Telegraph that contrasting statements from either side meant it was difficult to establish who was to blame at this stage. The Chinese side is issuing aggressive statements and the Indian side has taken a defensive position, he said. How these soldiers have been killed we have no idea because there are contradicting statements coming out. However, we can say the aggressive tone suggests China wont retreat and defensive tune means India doesnt want any escalation. They [Peoples Liberation Army] are aggressive, they wont retreat. The Indian Army has said talks between the two militaries are underway to defuse tensions and it will hold a press conference later today. Last week, the Telegraph revealed that at least 12,000 Chinese troops had occupied 60 square kilometres of Indian-administered Ladakh, in response to Indias ever-closer relationship with the United States. The Chinese forces were able to cross the border and annexe unprotected territory after India had failed to recommence patrols due to the coronavirus outbreak. India and China fought the Sino-India war and agreed a ceasefire in 1962, establishing a Line of Actual Control which separates Indian-controlled Ladakh from Chinese-controlled Tibet. For decades, it has been an uneasy truce and troops from either side have sporadically engaged in fist-fights with one another. The Jammu and Kashmir high court on Tuesday quashed the detention of National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar under the Public Safety Act, his lawyer and party leaders said on Tuesday. Sagar was detained along with dozens of other leaders on August 5 when J&Ks special status was revoked by the Centre and the region was split into two Union territories. The NC leaders counsel Shariq Reyaz and his son Salman Sagar confirmed that the high court has quashed the preventive detention order. Extremely happy to let all of you know that the PSA against Sagar sahab has been quashed by the J&K high court after the court proceedings which took six hearings, Salam Sagar said. NC president Omar Abdullah tweeted: The J&K high court has quashed the detention of my senior colleague @JKNC_ General Secretary Ali Mohd Sagar. Thankfully he challenged his detention even when those around him were reluctant to. This once again highlights the unjust and indefensible nature of the August 5 detentions. Sagar, who has served as law, parliamentary affairs as well as rural development minister in J&K assembly, spent these 10 months in three temporary sub-jailsCentaur Hotel, MLA Hostel and finally at M5 government quarters on Gupkar Road. He was shifted to Gupkar in the first week of February after he was booked under the PSA following completion of his six months detention under preventive custody. On June 3, the J&K administration had revoked the PSA against bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal and two leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sartaj Madani and Peer Mansoor. However, Faesal was put under house detention immediately after his release. Now, only three prominent leaders are under detention, including former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and former ministers Nayeem Akthar from PDP and Hilal Akbar Lone, son of senior NC leader and sitting MP Mohammad Akbar Lone. Buoyed by the court judgment, Omar Abdullah urged Mehbooba Mufti to approach the Supreme Court. I hope @MehboobaMuftis legal team take heart from todays judgement in the J&K high court quashing Sagar Sbs PSA detention to pursue Ms Muftis case in the Supreme Court with increased determination and vigour. She deserves to be freed without further loss of time, he said in another tweet. Although Nayeem Sb & Hilal havent challenged their detentions in court, I hope the authorities see the writing on the wall and realise their continued PSA detention is indefensible. They must be released as must all others under illegal house arrest, he added. SEATTLE, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today a group of anchor leaders announced a first-of-its-kind fund to support the Black community in Washington state. The Black Future Co-op Fund launched with over $2.5 million in committed donations from dozens of corporations, philanthropies, and individuals. These generous gifts are eligible to be matched one to one by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, who is matching unique donations up to $1 million to All In WA causes, up to a total of $25 million. Formed as a powerful response to systemic racism, the Fund aims to respond to the disproportionate impacts on COVID-19, strengthen Black culture, increase resilience to economic and other shocks, and build generational wealth. "The Black communities across Washington state have long done the work to uplift our communities without appropriate funding and resources. The Black Future Co-op Fund will ensure that we have a strong infrastructure and network for sustainable progress," said Angela Jones, CEO of Washington STEM. Jones is one of the architects of the Fund alongside Michelle Merriweather, President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle; Andrea Caupain, CEO of Byrd Barr Place; and T'wina Nobles, President and CEO of Tacoma Urban League. All of the Fund's architects are women with long histories of supporting Washington's Black community. The Fund will invest in a range of areas including health, housing, education, youth development, art and history, economic and land development, and advocacy and civic engagement. According to Andrea Caupain of Byrd Barr Place, the Fund is an acknowledgement of the harm that systemic racism has done to the Black community in Washington state. "The world has leveraged Black people for profit for centuries. This fund begins to turn that tide," said Caupain. The Fund, which is housed at Seattle Foundation, was conceptualized in the wake of George Floyd's murder by a Minneapolis police officer, but its roots go much deeper. Entrenched systemic inequities have caused Black people to be disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, contracting the disease and dying at higher rates than white people and other groups. Black unemployment has soared to rates that rival the Great Depression and many Black youth have been unable to continue their studies due to a lack of Wi-Fi access in their homes. These inequities are due to overwhelming system failure and structural racism. But the Fund's architects and its supporters see opportunity amidst these intense challenges. A growing list of corporate donors and philanthropic institutions have thrown their support behind the Fund, which aims to raise a total of $25 million. Initial contributions have been confirmed from Microsoft Corporation, Seattle Seahawks Charitable Foundation, The Ballmer Group, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Puget Sound Energy, Zillow Group, The Starbucks Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Virginia Mason Health System, and Laird Norton Family Foundation. There is an impressive and growing list of individual philanthropists who have pledged their support as well, including (listed alphabetically): Robert W. Andrade Jr., Paula Boggs, Randee Fox and Jada Boggs, Adriane and Darryl Brown, Phyllis Campbell, Ray and Katie Conner, Garret and Nikki Daggett, Craig Dawson, Trish Dziko, Nick and Leslie Hanauer, Bruce and Joann Harrell, Latisha and Eric Hill, Shaunta and Al Hyde, Angela Jones, Mary Knell, Gary Locke, Regina Malveaux, Susan Mullaney and Shari Kauls, Gordon McHenry, Jr., Leslie Harper-Miles and Nate Miles, Julie and Erik Nordstrom, Roger Nyhus, Hyeok Kim and Michael Parham, Diana Birkett Rakow and Jeff Rakow, Constance and Norm Rice, Mary Pugh and Michael Scoggins, Jill and Rajeev Singh, Marilyn Strickland, Brad and Danielle Tilden, H.S. Wright III, and Jessie Woolley-Wilson. The Fund's leaders are excited to direct philanthropic support toward upstream systems change. Michelle Merriweather shared her thoughts on the significance of this moment, "This is a dream come true for the four of us. We have shared ideas, frustration, and thoughts about 'what could be' if we were able to scale good work being done. It is important that we don't allow this to end in this moment, but leverage this to change a generation and those future generations yet to be born." To learn more about the Fund and to see the full list of inaugural donors, please visit: www.seattlefoundation.org/BlackFutureFund . ABOUT THE BLACK FUTURE CO-OP FUND COVID-19 and its effects have had a disproportionate impact on the Black community, nationwide and in Washington state. The Black Future Co-op Fund acknowledges the harm that systemic racism has done to the Black community in Washington state, and serves as a collective hub for efforts to eradicate poverty, build generational wealth, preserve Black Culture, and celebrate the incredible resilience of the Black community. ABOUT SEATTLE FOUNDATION Seattle Foundation ignites powerful, rewarding philanthropy to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all. As a community foundation, it works to advance equity, shared prosperity, and belonging throughout the region while strengthening the impact of the philanthropists it serves. Founded in 1946 and with more than $1.1 billion in assets, the Foundation pursues its mission with a combination of deep community insight, civic leadership, philanthropic advising, and judicious financial stewardship. FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES Andrea Caupain: Contact Andrea at [email protected] Angela Jones: Contact Angela via Migee Han at [email protected] Michelle Merriweather: Contact Michelle at [email protected] T'wina Nobles: Contact T'wina at [email protected] SOURCE Seattle Foundation Related Links http://www.seattlefoundation.org/BlackFutureFund (Natural News) When protesters in Seattle established a Cop Free Zone in the East Precinct, taking over city blocks, setting up barricades, and calling on armed guards to secure their location, they declared themselves to be an independent, sovereign nation that rejected all U.S. laws. Well see how long that lasts The takeover is the latest development in a string of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Last weekend, the protests erupted into violence, as the police were forced to respond after being pelted with water bottles, rocks and projectiles. Seattle @MayorJenny is allowing a dangerous situation to fester. #Antifa militants have taken over & created an autonomous zone in city w/their own rules. Police precinct abandoned. Antifa set up barricades to create a border. Calling for volunteers to provide armed guard. pic.twitter.com/ksQI4NI5kP Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) June 9, 2020 The Black Lives Matter movement has since accused the police of using unnecessary violence against the protesters, filing a lawsuit on Tuesday that says the Seattle Police Department (SPD) has allegedly shown overwhelming and unconstitutional use of force to discourage these protesters from exercising their constitutional rights. (Related: Black Lives Matter declares war on police, mobilizing highly trained military arm to patrol cities.) CHAZ an imagined country After the SPD and the National Guard boarded up and pulled out of the East Precinct, rioters descended upon the neighborhood and called it the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ. The so-called autonomous region neither a legal region nor an area recognized by any government comprises a six-block area in Capitol Hill that has been blocked off by protesters, according to police. The area is filled with hand-written messages, including Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone and You are now leaving the USA. Other messages were scrawled across a plastic barrier were Welcome to Free Cap Hill and No Cops Allowed. On Twitter, protesters praised the takeover, saying that its a revolution and that it was made for the people. Others have shifted blame to the police, insisting they instigated the riots and touting that their absence turned the zone into a peaceful George Floyd memorial. Some have even said that the absence of law enforcement in the area did not mean that it was a lawless place, as evidenced by the presence of a hotdog stand. The SPD sent a memo to officers on Monday, instructing them to reopen the streets around the East Precinct and allow the demonstrators to march past the building to Capitol Hill. In a press conference in the East Precinct the following day, SPD Chief Carmen Best talked with rioters to defuse the situation. How we can keep people safe, first of all, but also how we might find some resolution, Best asked a protester. Others, in particular, questioned Seattles first black police chief about the use of tear gas on Monday, three days after she announced a 30-day ban. The only time we react in any kind of way is when the officers are taking rocks and bottles, she answered. We had 25 people injured. I dont want officers injured. I dont want the community injured. For her part, Best said that she wants a peaceful dialogue between the police and protesters. City officials have removed the barricades but left some behind after protesters insisted. I think the minor things we disagree on [are] them blocking the street, the very thing people ask us not to do, they are doing, she added. Law enforcement battle with ongoing riots and COVID-19 In Washington D.C., members of the National Guard who responded to the protests last week tested positive for COVID-19, further complicating the countrys efforts to reopen its economy amid the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. While the National Guard will not release the exact caseload, officials who have knowledge of the matter believe that it isnt a large number. D.C. officials say that last weekends protests were among the largest that the district has seen yet. However, many of the protesters did not observe social distancing and did not wear masks, which might have placed law enforcement units at risk of infection. In a statement, Brooke Davis, spokesperson for the National Guard, reminded Guard troops to wear protective equipment and observe social distancing. The U.S. still tops the global caseload for COVID-19, with 1,979,893 confirmed cases and 112,006 deaths as of Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Sources include: Breitbart.com Seattlepi.com Twitter.com FoxNews.com Heavy.com King5.com SeattleTimes.com Fox5DC.com Coronavirus.JHU.edu Soon after the news of Sushant Singh Rajput's sudden death broke out in the media, reports suggested that the actor was supposed to get married in November. One of his cousins had confirmed to the media that the family was looking forward to the wedding. However, he refrained from taking any name. Having said that, from the past few months, rumours were rife that Sushant was dating actress Rhea Chakraborty and the duo was in a serious relationship. Though, none of them confirmed about the relationship, the latest reports suggest that Rhea was all prepared to tie the knot with Sushant. Sushant Singh Rajput's Deleted Tweets That Hinted About His Suicide Go Viral; REAL OR FAKE? According to Aaj Tak, a property dealer said that he had met Rhea and revealed, "The duo (Rhea and Sushant) was looking for a house together. I have no idea more than that. Rhea told me 'I am looking for a house in Bandra and I am going to stay with Sushant Singh Rajput and we are soon getting married.'" When the property dealer was asked if Sushant was facing any problem in paying rents, he said, "There were no such issues regarding rent. However, the only problem was his late-night parties. Before this, where SSR was residing, that society too had complained about his late-night parties." Yesterday, Rhea was spotted at Sushant Singh Rajput's funeral and she looked every bit devastated. Reports also suggest that the duo was supposed to collaborate for a romantic comedy and they were all set to kickstart the shoot after the lockdown in the wake of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak was lifted. Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM ALBANY A Community Care patient from Niskayuna has filed a class action lawsuit against the medical practice and its accounting firm, BST & Co., following a ransomware attack last December in which sensitive patient data was stolen from BST. The suit, brought by lead plaintiff Eleanor Murray of Niskayuna in U.S. District Court in Albany, follows a similar suit brought in state Supreme Court in Albany. The federal suit alleges that Community Care and BST failed to adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPPA. Chile is working on ways to improve Covid-19 transparency in its giant copper industry in a bid to ease labor tensions and keep mines running through the pandemic. Mining Minister Baldo Prokurica is looking into disseminating infection data from local health authorities, rather than just from companies. The government may also report the results of audits into how well mines are complying with virus-fighting protocols, he said in an interview Monday. The initiatives come as unions call for limiting operations in the top copper nation as more workers fall ill, saying companies and authorities aren't doing enough to contain or communicate the outbreak. In contrast with neighboring Peru, Chile opted to continue mining as the virus hit, implementing safety measures and demobilizing nonessential staff without sacrificing much output. For Prokurica, it's a balancing act of keeping workers healthy and much needed export revenue flowing. "We are going to do everything in our capacity so the country can assure workers of their jobs, and at the same time have continuity, while protecting the health and safety of our workers," he said. Tensions increased last week after a worker at state-owned Codelco's Chuquicamata mine died of the disease. The minister dispatched additional inspectors to monitor the situation at mines, with 1,600 evaluations conducted so far. On the weekend, seven groups representing workers and contractors issued a call for the government to reevaluate continuing mining operations. "There is consensus among the unions that limiting operations is the right thing to do," said Ricardo Calderon, president of the Federation of Copper Supervisors. Prokurica said the industry is taking extraordinary measures to safeguard staff members, including testing, distancing and demobilizing about half the total workforce. While infections are rising in the nation, mining has done better than other industries, with just 0.5% of the workforce falling ill, he said. "There is no normalcy in the copper industry right now," Prokurica said. "We are in the most difficult phase of the pandemic in Chile." Last year, Chile produced 5.8 million tons of copper. Current estimates from copper commission Cochilco is for the pandemic to cost about 200,000 tons this year, Prokurica said. Cochilco said in a Twitter post Friday that the loss would be about 75,000 tons. A Cochilco spokesperson explained that the agency has various scenarios, with the minister providing the median projection. Despite the workforce reductions, Codelco saw production rise 2.8% year-over-year in April, while BHP Group's Escondida mine increased output by 11%, Cochilco reported. Mines have been able to maintain production - and satisfy recovering global demand - with fewer people by working for 14 days on and 14 days off. "We are taking extraordinary measures, with sacrifices by the workers working 14 straight days," Prokurica said. "That is a tremendous sacrifice." From mock election training sessions to isolation rooms and separate voting booths, states are gearing up for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in the backdrop of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The elections, to be held on June 19, will be the first major voting exercise since the pandemic. Nearly 1,000 legislators will vote across eight states Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Rajasthan. While it is the health department of each state that is overseeing preparations, Election Commission officials, too, are extra vigilant. The commission has appointed a nodal officer in each state to ensure Covid-19 guidelines are strictly followed. In Madhya Pradesh, where one MLA has tested positive for Covid-19, a health team will be present in the secretariat in case of medical emergencies. The MLA will be brought in last to vote, an Election Commission official told HT on the condition of anonymity. A separate polling booth is planned for the MLA, and all the elections officials present (when the MLA comes to the booth) will be wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) suits. The MLA, too, will be in PPE and will travel by ambulance, which will be sanitised properly. In Gujarat, where three MLAs have tested positive, discussions are still on to finalise the arrangements, additional chief electoral officer Ashok Manek said. Amit Chavda, the Congresss Gujarat president and a legislator, said the party has requested the poll watchdog to make separate arrangements for MLAs who have tested positive. Officials in other states, too, are on alert. In Andhra Pradesh, a special health team will be present to tackle exigencies, if any. The polling staff will wear PPE suits and a separate isolation room has been created for emergencies, said chief electoral officer (CEO) K Vijayanand. Although there are no cases as yet, we are making sure we are prepared. MLAs will be provided with a mask and sanitizer upon arrival. In case an MLA is quarantined before the election, a sanitised vehicle will be provided for her/his travel and s/he will voted in a separate room, Vijayanand added. In Meghalaya, along with sanitizer and mask, MLAs will also be provided a booklet on Covid-19 guidelines containing the dos and donts. Holding room, medical room in case of medical eventualities have been arranged, and a contingency plan for alternative location has also been drawn up, CEO F Kharkongor said. Manipur CEO Prashant Kumar Singh, too, said the state will release a detailed booklet on preventive measures. The officials will wear face shields, Singh added. In Rajasthan, a larger polling booth has been made and a dispensary set up. A medical team will be present, and in case anyone shows signs of Covid-19, they will be taken directly to the dispensary, Rajasthan CEO Arun Kumar said. 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Before that Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army chief General Manoj Naravane met Singh at his residence. Later, the Ministry of External Affairs released a statement in this matter, blaming Chinese forces for unilaterally trying to change the status quo which led to altercation at Indo-China border in Ladakh. The Ministry assured that the goverment is committed to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. Colonel Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of 16th Bihar Regiment, and two jawans died on Monday night after clashes took place between India and China at the Galwan Valley region in Ladakh. The Indian Army confirmed the developments and issued a statement soon in the matter. "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation," stated the official statement by the Indian Army. China has also reported casualties after the clash. This is the first instance of casualty between the two sides since 1975. Also read: Indian soldiers killed on China border first time since 1975 Follow the live updates on India-China standoff here on BusinessToday.In: 10.30 pm: Indian Army confirms that 20 soldiers have died in the wake of skirmish with Chinese forces in Galwan valley. 9.40 pm: At least 20 Indian Army soldiers have been killed in confrontation with Chinese troops in Galwan valley, sources say. This number is likely to increase. 8.30 pm: Home Minister Amit Shah reaches PM Narendra Modi's residence. 8.15 pm: MEA releases statement on China attack on India in Ladakh The Ministry of External Affairs has issued its statement on the violent clash at Galwan valley in Ladakh on late Monday night that resulted in deaths of one Indian Army official and two jawans. The Ministry assured that the government is committed to sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. The full statement is as follows: "India and China have been discussing through military and diplomatic channels the de-escalation of the situation in the border area in Eastern Ladakh. Senior Commanders had a productive meeting on 6th June 2020 and agreed on a process for such de-escalation. Subsequently, ground commanders had a series of meetings to implement the consensus reached at a higher level. While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. On the late-evening and night of 15th June, 2020 a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side. Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. We expect the same of the Chinese side. We remain firmly convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 7.38 pm: Indo-Tibetan Border Police Director-General SS Deswal leaves from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after a meeting. ITBP, along with Indian Army, guards the Indo-China border. Delhi: SS Deswal, Director-General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police leaves from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after attending a meeting. ITBP, along with Indian Army guards the Indo-China border. pic.twitter.com/NlMQeDDCq2 ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 7.12 pm: Rahul Gandhi offers condolences to families of martyred soldiers Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has extended his condolences to the families of Indian Army official and soldiers martyred in Galwan valley. "Words cannot describe the pain I feel for the officers and men who sacrificed their lives for our country. My condolences to all their loved ones. We stand with you in this difficult time," tweeted Rahul Gandhi. Words cannot describe the pain I feel for the officers and men who sacrificed their lives for our country. My condolences to all their loved ones. We stand with you in this difficult time. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 16, 2020 7.07 pm: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-China standoff in Galwan valley. 6.51 pm: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane leave from the residence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This is the second successive review meeting in a day after death of one Indian Army official and two jawans in Galwan valley. Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane leave from the residence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This is the second successive review meeting in a day. pic.twitter.com/SwO8QLTy0H ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 6.36 pm: Colonel Zhang Shuili, spokesperson of PLA's Western Command, blames Indian army of crossing LAC and provoking attacks, which led to fierce physical confrontation and resulted in casualties. He, however, did not disclose the details of casualties on Chinese side. He claimed that Galwan valley always belonged to China. 6.28 pm: External Affairs Minister present at Rajnath Singh's residence External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is present at the meeting being held at the residence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. CDS General Bipin Rawat and Army chief General Manoj Navarane are also present. 6.26 pm: Special train ferrying labourers to road project close to China border cancelled A special train ferrying labourers from Jharkhand to BRO road construction project at Indo-China border has been cancelled after rising tensions in the region. The train was scheduled to leave on June 20. The first train was flagged off by CM Hemant Soren himself last Saturday. Dumka DC has cited security reasons for the cancellation of trains. 6.20 pm: Suspend business ties with China, says SJM After deaths of Indian soldiers in a confrontation with Chinese forces, RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has reiterated that India should not do any business with China. We have written to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to reconsider Delhi-Meerut RRTS project award to a Chinese firm, SJM said. This is against Atma Nirbhar Bharat call by the Prime Minister, it further added. We also appeal to Maharashtra government to reconsider accord with Chinese auto company, SJM said. 6.16 pm: De-escalate the situation on LAC, says CPI(M) The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) has expressed "its deep condolences at the death of an Indian officer and two soldiers" in Galwan valley . "The Government of India should come out with an authoritative statement as to what actually happened. It is imperative that both the Governments immediately initiate high level talks to defuse the situation and advance the process of disengagement on the basis of the agreed understanding on maintaining peace and tranquility on the border," CPI(M) said 5.46 pm: Indian Army Chief General Manoj Naravane has reached the residence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. 5.22 pm: Minitry of External Affairs is expected to release a statement on Chinese attack on India shortly. 5.16 pm: Congress condemns China's attack on India, says no compromise on national security and integrity "Congress remains firm that the entire country stands as one to protect India's national security and our territorial integrity at all costs. Let Modi government remember that in our Parliamentary democracy, 'secrecy or silence' are unacceptable on part of our government," said Congress spokersperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a statement. Congress remains firm that the entire country stands as one to protect Indias National Security & our Territorial Integrity at all costs. Let Modi Govt remember that in our Parliamentary democracy, secrecy or silence are unacceptable on part of our Govt: Shri @rssurjewalapic.twitter.com/hq2G3LnTFh Congress (@INCIndia) June 16, 2020 4.55 pm: Sensex dips 275 points after China attack on India today, recovers Sensex and Nifty lost all their gains to end in red during afternoon session on Tuesday after three Indian army personnel lost their lives in Galwan valley in Ladakh in an attack by Chinese forces. Trading in green since morning on positive global cues, Sensex lost 275 points to 32,953 and Nifty fell 85 points to 9,728 as reports of tension between India and China emerged. Later, Sensex and Nifty recovered all losses to trade flat amid positive global cues. 4.51 pm: China did not retreat from Galwan despite talks Despite corp commander talks between India and China, the latter did not withdraw forces from Galwan, said sources in the know. Both sides had agreed to step back from the valley after dialogue on June 6. 4.50 pm: Make sure sacrifice of Indian soldiers is not in vain, says Asaduddin Owaisi AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi took to Twitter to express his condolences to families of Indian soldiers martyred in Galwan. He said that the government must ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain. "India stands with the 3 brave martyrs who were killed by China today in #Galwan. My thoughts are with families of Colonel & 2 brave soldiers. The commanding officer was leading from the front. The government must avenge these killings & ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain," Owaisi tweeted. 4.44 pm: China blames India of 'provocative attacks' As tensions escalate on Galwan Valley, China has blamed India of crossing the border illegally. "On June 6, the border troops of two countries held a commander-level military meeting and reached an important consensus on easing the situation in the border areas. But what is shocking is that on June 15, the Indian troops seriously violated the consensus of the two sides, crossed the border illegally twice, and carried out provocative attacks on Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical conflicts between the two border forces," said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "China has lodged strong protests and solemn complaints with the Indian side, and once again solemnly demanded that the Indian side strictly restrain the frontline troops in accordance with the relevant spirit, do not cross border, do not take provocative acts, do not take any unilateral actions that will complicate the border situation. China and India agree to continue to resolve bilateral issues through dialogue and consultation and make efforts to ease the tension and maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas," he further said. 4:25 pm: HD Devegowda raises questions on the clash Former PM HD Devegowda raises questions on the de-escalation process. He asked why Indian soldiers lost lives in a "de-escalation" process. He added that that the PM Modi and Defence Minister must offer a clearer picture of the border issue with China. 4:15 pm: What led to India-China standoff? India-China tensions escalated in the first week of May after a violent clash took place on Pangong Tso lake between troops of both the countries. The trigger as China's opposition to India's laying of key road in the Finger area around Pangong Tso as well as the construction of another route connecting Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road. 4:05 pm: India-China clash rewind: First escalation since 1962 There has been tension in the Galwan area for the first time since 1962 and that too at a time when the LAC is clearly defined. In 1962, China launched an attack on India across its Eastern and Northern borders. One of the main reasons that triggered the war between the two sides was the construction of a road between Xinjiang and Tibet. 3.59 pm: Former Chief of Army Staff VK Singh says saddened by the martyrdom "Saddened by the news of the martyrdom of our boys in the Galwan Valley. I salute their indomitable courage, selflessness and sacrifice," said VK Singh. 3:50 pm: Chinese Foreign Minister's statement "Recently, in order to ease the situation in the border areas between China and India, China and India have maintained close communication through diplomatic and military channels. On June 6, the border troops of two countries held a commander-level military meeting and reached an important consensus on easing the situation in the border areas. But what is shocking is that on June 15, the Indian troops seriously violated the consensus of the two sides, crossed the border illegally twice, and carried out provocative attacks on Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical conflicts between the two border forces," said China FM. 3:40 pm: Shashi Tharoor says bow head in tribute "The tragic news from Ladakh is shocking & calls for resolute handling by our government," says Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. The tragic news from Ladakh is shocking & calls for resolute handling by our Govt. Meanwhile let us bow our heads in tribute to the three martyrs who gave their lives to protect India, & honour those who serve on our borders every day, risking their lives for our nation. #JaiHind Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 16, 2020 3:30 pm: Capt Amarinder Singh condemns Ladakh incident Captain Amarinder Singh said that whatever is happening in Ladakh is a continuation of Chinese aggression. The happening in the #Galwanvalley is a continuation of violations by China. It is time now that the country stands up to these incursions. Our soldiers are not fair game that every few days officers and men are being killed and injured defending our borders. (1/2) Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) June 16, 2020 3:20 pm: Omar Abdullah questions de-escalation reports Omar Abdullah said that if killing two jawans and an officer is "de-escalation" then matters must have really escalated. Three Indians killed in the line of duty, he said. Since heard no shooting took place. The deaths were the result of violent scuffles & stone pelting. Regardless of the how & the way three Indian army personnel were killed by the Chinese in the line of duty. Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 16, 2020 3:15 pm: Mehbooba Mufti says there must be retaliation Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter to say that the nation wants to know why there is no talk of retaliation. Two jawans and an officer have been martyred during the India-China clash. Seems like China has hijacked the aggressive ghar main ghuske marengay militaristic approach. Nation deserves to know why there is no talk of retaliation to avenge the death of three Indian army personnel! Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 16, 2020 3:10 pm: Congress spokesperson says strong message must be sent Congress spokesperson said that a strong message must be sent to China in the wake of the border clashes. Salute the courage & sacrifice of brave officers/soldiers who laid their lives protecting territory of our Nation, condolences to their families -China must be sent a strong message registering Indias protest & anguish #IndiaChinaFaceOff Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) June 16, 2020 3:05 pm: Global Times chief says don't want clash but don't fear it Global Times Hu Xijin said that China does not want any clash with India but also does not fear it. "I want to tell the Indian side, don't be arrogant and misread China's restraint as being weak," Xijin added. Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, dont be arrogant and misread Chinas restraint as being weak. China doesnt want to have a clash with India, but we dont fear it. Hu Xijin (@HuXijin_GT) June 16, 2020 3:00 pm: Rajnath Singh briefs PM Modi Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has briefed PM Modi on the India-China standoff. He also informed PM Modi of the measures that have been initiated after the clash. 2:57 pm: Brahmos had received clearance ahead of clash The air-launched Brahmos had received combat clearance before the India-China troops clashed on Tuesday. Brahmos Corp told India Today, "The 'fleet release clearance' certification has paved the way for the pilots of Indian Air Force (IAF) Squadrons to use the missile during combat missions." The Brahmos is a supersonic land attack cruise missile capable of ranges in excess of 300 km. 2:50 pm: Defence Minister to virtually meet PM Modi Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to hold a video conference with PM Modi ahead of his virtual meeting with the CMs of states and UTs. They are likely to discuss the border situation. 2:45 pm: Indian Army amends official statement to include casualties on both sides A little after the official statement was issued, Indian Army amended the statement to include "casualties on both sides". Earlier the statement had only talked about the casualties on the Indian side. 16 minutes after its first statement, Indian Army issues an amended version adding 3 words: on both sides. pic.twitter.com/PUGj4CPcsP Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) June 16, 2020 2:40 pm: Anand Mahindra says time to stand by martyred soldiers Anand Mahindra has said that eventually people will come to know the truth behind the clash but now is the time to stand in support of the martyred soldiers. We will eventually learn about the details of what happened in Ladakh. That is our right. But right now, we must grieve with & stand by the families of our martyred soldiers. And stand solidly in support of our armed forces. anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 16, 2020 2:30 pm: Indian Army chief's visit to Pathankot cancelled Army Chief General MM Naravane's scheduled visit to Pathankot military station has been cancelled in the wake of the India-China clashes. Several casualties have been reported from both the sides. 2:24 pm: Congress MP says need befitting retaliation Congress MP Adhir Chowdhury said that india needs to ensure "befitting retaliation". He said Indian Army officials fell victim to unscrupulous Chinese aggression. Our Army Jawans including Colonel have been fallen victims to unscrupulous Chinese aggression. @PMOIndia we need befitting retaliation, retaliation, retaliation! I pay my homage to the brave souls who have laid down their precious lives for the sake of Our Motherland Adhir Chowdhury (@adhirrcinc) June 16, 2020 2:20 pm: Chinese media on India-China clash The Chinese media quoted the Foreign Minister and said that both the sides have agreed to resolve the matter through dialogues. China and Indian side agreed to resolve the bilateral issues through dialogue to ease the border situation and maintain peace and tranquility in border areas: Chinese FM https://t.co/2cuo0TEpzd Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 16, 2020 2:10 pm: The clashes said to have been hand-to-hand combat According to reports the clashes were hand-to-hand combat. No bullets were fired. Five of Chinese sides are said to have died. No bullets were fired. It is hand-to-hand combat... https://t.co/QEZCM49BUH Wang Wenwen (@WenwenWang1127) June 16, 2020 2:05 pm: 5 PLA soldiers were killed According to reports five People's Liberation Army soldiers were killed while 11 were injured during the clash. Face-off is said to have been hand-to-hand combat. Reports say 5 PLA soldiers were killed and 11 were injured at LAC China-India border yesterday. Wang Wenwen (@WenwenWang1127) June 16, 2020 1:58 pm: Omar Abdullah calls China shameless Omar Abdullah called China shameless for blaming India for the attacks. "Ulta chor kotwal ko dantey," he said. Ulta chor kotwal ko dantey. #Shamelesshttps://t.co/lDDf3bUE2N Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 16, 2020 1:54 pm: AAP says sacrifice must not go in vain AAP said that the sacrifice of the Indian soldiers must not go in vain. "We are grieved to hear about the attack on our soldiers at Ladakh border," it said. We are grieved to hear about the attack on our soldiers at Ladakh border. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of martyred soldiers. Their sacrifice for the nation must not go in vain. #Ladakh AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 16, 2020 1:53 pm: Chinese Foreign Minister's statement on India-China face-off China has lodged solemn representations with the Indian side and urged it to strictly restrain its frontline troops from crossing the border or taking any unilateral action that may complicate the border situation. China and Indian side agreed to resolve the bilateral issues through dialogue to ease the border situation and maintain peace and tranquility in border areas: Chinese FM 1:50 pm: Congress reacts to India-China clash Randeep Surjewala calls the clash shocking and unbelievable. Violent clashes between India and China led to the death of two jawans and an officer from Indian side. Shocking, Unbelievable & Unacceptable! Will the Raksha Mantri confirm? https://t.co/kAtNuHxZVV Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) June 16, 2020 1:40 pm: Chinese Foreign Minister blames India Chinese FM said that Indian troops seriously violated the consensus of the two sides by illegally crossing the border twice and carrying out provocative attacks on Chinese soldiers, resulting in serious physical clashes. 1:35 pm: 3-4 casualties on Chinese side There have been 3-4 casualties on the Chinese side. Chinese asked for meeting this morning to diffuse things. Talks have been on since 7.30 am this morning. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. 1:30 pm: India-China clash update No firing took place during the clash According to the Danish Act on Listed Buildings, listed buildings must reflect Danish housing and working conditions throughout history. An extensive study conducted by, among others, a UCPH researcher, demonstrates that since 1945, the vast majority of listed dwellings are unique homes designed by well-known architects in North Zealand. This is a problem for our democracy and the narrative that we create about Denmark, according to Svava Riesto, an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen's Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, and one of the researchers behind the study. The study was most recently published in the journal Bolig og Fabrik, 2020. "Our conclusion is that the state has advanced an elitist narrative about Denmark's history during the postwar period by way of our historical building preservation decisions. This is problematic for democracy because it fails to reflect housing among the general public and goes against the letter of the law. Thus, either the law or practices must be revised," she says. Alongside Rikke Stenbro, a PhD who runs Substrata, a consultancy, Riesto reviewed historically preserved dwellings since 1945 in relation to their type and location using archives from the the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces. It is the first time that such a detailed study of listed dwellings from this period has taken place. Long live the homes of the elite The researchers produced a map (look above) using data from Statistics Denmark which clearly shows that since 1945, the vast majority of listed homes are located north of Copenhagen. These include family villas located along the water in Hrsholm as well as detached homes along the coastal road, Strandvejen. "The homes listed and which the state has favored since World War II are often large villas, designed by well-known architects such as Jrn Utzon and Arne Jakobsen. But where is post-war welfare housing, where 20 percent of the population lives? Or standardized single-family housing? If we are to follow the law and represent housing more broadly, the equation simply doesn't add up," says Rikke Stenbro. Once listed, a building cannot be modified without seeking permission to do so. Nor may it be demolished. Therefore, the researchers believe that it is problematic when we only preserve the homes of the elite, homes constructed of the finest materials, with beautiful sea views. "As of now, we have created an elitist narrative, as opposed to one that is inclusive of the history of the broader community. If building preservation is to be meaningful in terms of reflecting a historical period, it should have a larger perspective. It's about democracy and who is represented," says Rikke Stenbro. Architectural value too narrowly defined The Historical Buildings Survey (Det Srlige Bygningssyn) is a committee that advises the Minister of Culture and decides whether a building is worthy of conservation. They do so, based upon their estimation of a dwelling's architectural value, among other things. The researchers believe that the Survey's definition is overly narrow: "We believe that the concept of architectural value should be broadened when considering whether dwellings should be listed. For example, consideration could be extended to include public-housing areas where planning served to ensure views and provide access to green spaces, playgrounds and common areas from buildings," says Svava Riesto. She concludes: "The review of listed post-war homes reveals that there is a need for a discussion about the way in which the Act on Listed Buildings is applied. We cannot continue to focus on a handful of architects if the purpose of preservation is to represent the cultural heritage of an entire population." ### An Oakville youth has been convicted of manslaughter in connection with the July 13, 2018, shooting death of 19-year-old Keegan Parkinson. Justice Stephen Brown handed down his verdict during a virtual court hearing on Monday, June 15. A second youth was found not guilty of manslaughter, but was convicted of other weapons-related offences. Each defendant, who can only be identified as Youth 1 and Youth 2 because they were both 17 years old at the time of the shooting, was accused of playing a role in Parkinsons death. Parkinson was killed in an apparent accidental shooting during a get-together at a Rebecca Street residence in Oakville. Youth 1, Youth 2, Parkinson and a fourth man, Chris Anderson, were in attendance. The court heard the group consumed alcohol, marijuana and Xanax and was playing with a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun when Parkinson was shot. Assistant Crown Attorney Monica Mackenzie argued in court that Youth 1 brought out the shotgun, which he had purchased, and that at some point that evening he loaded it without telling anyone. He then briefly left the room at which point, Mackenzie alleged, Youth 2 picked up the shotgun, pointed it at Parkinson and pulled the trigger, killing him. Anderson, who testified as a witness for the Crown, said the gun belonged to Youth 1. The Crown noted Youth 1 initially accused Anderson of bringing the gun to the party, an allegation Mackenzie said is not backed up by GO station security footage that showed Anderson leave Toronto and arrive in Oakville without a bag. The court also heard testimony from Nash Thompson, another friend of Youth 1, who testified Youth 1 had mentioned that he wanted to get a gun, however, he never witnessed the transaction. Ultimately, Brown concluded that the Crown had met her burden of proof for Youth 1s conviction. I do not believe the evidence of (Youth 1), said Brown. After a review of all the evidence at trial and applying the legal principles that I have, I have come to the inescapable conclusion that the Crown has proven all the essential elements of the charge of manslaughter by criminal negligence. Brown said he could not reach the same conclusion for Youth 2. I am unable to be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that he was the individual who pointed the gun and shot the victim, said Brown. Although I am of the view that he probably did so, I cannot be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of this as I cannot discount the possibility that it was Christopher Anderson that did so. Defence attorney Brendan Neil, who represented Youth 2, pointed out during the trial that Anderson fled the scene after the shooting and said nothing about it until he was arrested by police. It was only then that Anderson pointed the finger at Youth 2, said Neil. In addition to being found not guilty of manslaughter, Youth 2 was also found not guilty of criminal negligence causing death and not guilty of pointing a firearm at Parkinson. Youth 2 pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing police and he was also found guilty of careless use of a firearm and possessing a firearm without a licence. Youth 1 previously pleaded guilty to obstructing police, public mischief, possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition, careless use of a firearm, possession of a firearm while prohibited and failing to comply with recognizance. The evidence establishes to my satisfaction that throughout the night, all of the boys were playing with the gun as if it were a toy and pulling the trigger, said Brown. I find that throughout this evening all boys were consciously indifferent or oblivious with respect to the handling of the firearm and their obligations I find it was a pattern of (Youth 2) and the other boys that they cared less about whether the weapon was loaded and cared more about putting photographs and videos on social media of them posing with the weapon and pulling the trigger. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Youth 1 and Youth 2 told Halton police that Parkinson had been killed by men in ski masks and even implicated another Oakville boy. This story was ultimately found to have been fabricated. Mackenzie said Youth 1 also hid a blood-soaked bedspread, changed his bloody clothes and shoes and hid the gun in some bushes on a neighbours property where it was found by police. Youth 1s lawyer, Dean Paquette, was not immediately available for comment. Neil said his client (Youth 2) and his clients family are relieved by the verdict. Its pretty hard on this one to get past the tragedy of the situation, said Neil. All the people that were there were all good friends There are a lot of people that are going to be affected by this for a long time. Sentencing is expected to take place on July 7. Iran has said it will "soon" send France the black boxes of a Ukrainian jetliner its forces mistakenly shot down in January, Canada's prime minister said Tuesday. "The black boxes are supposed to be sent to France soon," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a daily briefing, adding that the coronavirus pandemic had delayed the handover. "We're going to continue to put pressure on the Iranian regime alongside our international partners to get answers, to get justice, to get compensation for the families," he added. The prime minister said he raised the analysis of the black boxes in a telephone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky "a couple of days ago." Many of the passengers on board the downed airliner were Canadian, and Ottawa has demanded for months that Iran, which does not have the technical means to decode the black boxes, send the items abroad so that their content can be analyzed. Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was struck by two missiles and crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran's airport on January 8. The Islamic republic admitted days later that its forces accidentally shot down the Kiev-bound jetliner, killing all 176 people on board. Tehran's air defenses had been on high alert at the time in case the US retaliated against Iranian strikes hours earlier on American troops stationed in Iraq. Those strikes were carried out in response to the killing of a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport. The black boxes are expected to contain information about the last moments before the aircraft was struck. On Monday, Iran said the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen most international flights canceled, had slowed its plans to send the black boxes overseas. "From the first days of this painful incident, we announced our readiness to cooperate in investigating the black boxes of the Ukrainian plane," Iran government spokesman Ali Rabiei said. He said they would be sent to either Ukraine or France to be read, adding: "We will resume this process with the gradual resumption of international flights and the clarification of the results of the negotiations" between Iran and others involved. According to sources close to the investigation, the Iranian envoy to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal last week said the Islamic republic had enlisted the help of France's BEA air accident agency to download and read the data on the flight recorder. BEA initially denied that it had been asked. Questioned by AFP on Tuesday, the BEA said it was awaiting a formal request from Iran, adding that it was "ready to provide technical assistance." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he raised the analysis of the black boxes in a telephone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky "a couple of days ago" Reverend Dr Emmanuel Adjei Amey, the Clerk of the General Assembly of the E. P. Church of Ghana, said the Church's online service due to the COVID-19 pandemic has come to stay. He said the General Assembly of the Church had adopted the virtual services as a constant feature of reaching out to members. Rev. Amey, during a church programme monitored by the Ghana News Agency in Ho, therefore, appealed to the entire congregation to support in the upgrade of its media department. He said the Church had earmarked about Gh10,000.00 towards the upgrade of the department with a state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate its online activities to serve the congregation better. Rev. Amey expressed optimism that the congregation would help to achieve that goal. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Brussels Tue, June 16, 2020 09:37 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf0ef7a 2 News mobile-application,tourism,Europe,travel,tourists,Re-open-EU Free Can I go on holiday to Spain? Will I face quarantine? Have the museums and restaurants re-opened yet? From Monday, as European Union member states accelerate the reopening of their frontiers, tourists' questions will be answered by an official European Union website. On "Re-open EU" or reopen.europa.eu, travelers can enter the name of the country they hope to visit and find out what the rules are in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown. The site is available in 24 languages so far covers only the 27 European Union member states -- there is no information for Britain nor the four non-EU members of the Schengen travel zone. A resident of France, for example, can consult the site to find out that high speed rail links to Luxembourg are being restored progressively and are at 60 percent of normal. If he or she wants to go to Austria a face mask is required on the train, and before flying home to France he or she will need to provide a statement of honor that they have no coronavirus symptoms. The site and an eventual app will be updated as the situation evolves. Most EU countries reopened their internal borders within the block on Monday, but social distancing rules vary widely across the bloc and some members continue to restrict arrivals from high-risk areas. New York City Police Department officials announced the arrest of a suspect seen on video shoving a 92-year-old woman in what appears to be a random attack. (NYPD Twitter) New York City Woman, 92, Shoved to the Ground, Suspect Arrested New York City Police Department officials announced the arrest of a suspect seen on video shoving a 92-year-old woman in what appears to be a random attack. The suspect involved in pushing the 92-year-old female in Manhattan has been APPREHENDED, the law enforcement agency wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. The incident took place on Friday in Manhattan, and video footage shows the woman traveling on the sidewalk before a man goes in the opposite direction. When he passes the woman, he appears to hit her in the face with his left hand, causing the woman to topple over. The suspect then continues to walk in the opposite direction and turns around to see the woman lying on the ground. UPDATE: The suspect involved in pushing the 92-year-old female in Manhattan has been APPREHENDED. https://t.co/GseUJRTJty NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) June 16, 2020 The suspect was later identified as 31-year-old Rashid Brimmage by officials, according to ABC7. The report said he has more than 100 prior arrests and was recognized by an officer on the video. Authorities told Fox5 that the 92-year-old woman was taken to Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in stable condition. Im frightened to tears, the unnamed woman told the ABC affiliate. Im not going to walk there on my own, and its very upsetting. Its very upsetting. The woman said she hit a fire hydrant after falling to the ground. I thought it was a brick or something like that, she said. Hit me on the right scalp, on the right side of my head, and of course I fell down on the street. There were a couple of young women there. They helped me up. They said, Im going to call an ambulance.' SAGINAW, MI - You may have eaten at Saginaws T&T Authentic Mexican Cuisine, but did you know owner Toyo Rosas first started the business as a food truck four years ago? MLive interviewed Rosas about the inspiration behind T&T, located at 1302 Court St. in Saginaw, and why he believes his restaurant is truly authentic Mexican cuisine. Why did you decide to open a restaurant? I started in a food truck four years ago. I loved what I was doing, so I sold my other previous business to get into restaurant business. I used to run Xtreme Tire & Mechanics, on Genesee Ave. in Saginaw. I opened this T&T location in October 2018. What are your top three menu items and why? The wet burrito, enchilada and carne asada. We sell so many of those - its pretty crazy. A lot of people dont do (the carne asada). We do them like the West Coast, like the California food trucks because thats how we started off - with street tacos in food trucks. People just love them. Thats all that some people come in here for. We go through so much burrito meat a week now. Its really soft and tender. A lot of people like shredded meat, and our meat is so soft you would think its shredded, but we actually leave it whole. What makes your restaurant different from other local restaurants? Its the atmosphere. Its more homey, more comfortable. Its a colorful, happy atmosphere, and your service always, always with a smile. I try to hire some happy people to make sure thats possible. Im family-oriented and Christian-based. Thats why, when you come to our atmosphere, you hear us play our table music in the morning. A lot of people enjoy our music and find it relaxing. Whats the top reason why people should visit your restaurant? If you really love some authentic Mexican, ours is the place to be. My grandmother used to cook in the kitchen when we were young children. A lot of people say theyre authentic, but if you dont smell that aroma when you walk in the place, its not. T&T Authentic Mexican Cuisine in Saginaw is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Watch out for upgrades to the restaurant, as Rosas plans to add patio seating and other improvements soon. The Powering Positivity campaign by MLive Media Group highlights how Michiganders are supporting one another during the coronavirus pandemic. It is sponsored by The MediLodge Group. Read More Potatoes, tacos and wine available for Saginaws Takeout Tuesday Takeout Tuesday has soups, salad and sugary sweets lined up in Saginaw County Takeout Tuesday in Saginaw County offers Indian cuisine, bbq and burgers Takeout Tuesday features ice cream and poke in Saginaw area Sushi, pizza and tacos on the Takeout Tuesday menu this week in Saginaw County Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday indirectly ticked off his detractors who have been training guns at him over his alleged reluctance to move out of his official residence since the outbreak of COVID-19. Kumar, who would be running for his fourth consecutive term as chief minister in the assembly elections due in a few months, also said he was confident that the people will "give us another chance to serve them. I always believe in fulfilling promises. My promise for the next tenure is -- har khet ko pani (water for irrigating every farm)". At a function organised at the CM's secretariat, Kumar inaugurated through video conference road construction projects worth more than Rs 500 crore catering to districts like East Champaran, Lakhisarai and Rohtas. With a ghost of a smile on his lips, Kumar displayed mock anger and turned towards Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar and said, "I do not feel happy inaugurating projects from so far. From the next time, kindly make arrangements so that we can visit the place concerned and behold the projects upon completion." The chief minister also said, "I understand that many restrictions have been put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. But we can find a way out, observing all the guidelines and social distancing." Kumar recalled that he had visited East Champaran and Lakhisarai for laying foundation of Rs 263.43-crore RCC bridge and a barrage involving an expenditure of Rs 146.25 crore, respectively. "I would have preferred to be at these places again, when the projects have been completed for dedicating these to the public. I would have similarly liked to be at Sasaram," he said, referring to the district headquarters of Rohtas where foundation stone for a 122.39 crore bypass was laid. The chief minister's remarks came amid repeated barbs by the opposition RJD, and aides-turned-adversaries like Prashant Kishor, that Kumar was feeling "scared" of stepping out of his house. RJD's chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav has announced that his party workers across the state will beat drums on June 24 when the 69-year-old Kumar would have "completed 100 days staying at home". The CM added that he would also like to visit places where works were under progress and review things first hand, in a veiled rebuff to Yadav's claim that Kumar was unaware of the ground realities and went by whatever inputs he was fed by the bureaucrats. Kumar, who heads the JD(U), also subtly berated his arch rival Lalu Prasad, the founding president of RJD -- which he ousted from power in 2005 -- and said "before we took over, connectivity through roads and bridges was so poor. There has been such a massive improvement since then". "We also place emphasis on maintenance of roads, since only construction is not enough. I remember when I was a child, my house was situated alongside a major highway and maintenance of roads used to be given priority. Things deteriorated over the years and in the 1990s maintenance seemed to have been given up altogether," said Kumar, referring to the period during which Prasad and his wife ruled Bihar as successive chief ministers. He also insisted that the response of the people of Bihar to the COVID-19 safety guidelines has been exemplary. Cabinet colleagues like Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav and water resources minister Sanjay Jha were among those who also addressed the function. One senior class graduation was held high in the sky beside a mountain after traditional commencement was canceled due to COVID-19. In a private ceremony, Kennett High Schools class of 2020 graduated at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire. Safety and social distancing measures were put in place and students accepted their degrees at the base of the mountain. PHOTO: In a private celebration, Kennett High Schools class of 2020 graduated at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire. The school's traditional commencement was cancelled due to COVID-19. (Chris Proulx, White Mountains TV) PHOTO: In a private celebration, Kennett High Schools class of 2020 graduated at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire. The school's traditional commencement was cancelled due to COVID-19. (Chris Proulx, White Mountains TV) MORE: This high school football captain was born deaf, and is true leader on field "The response has been awesome," principal Kevin Carpenter told "GMA." "So many of them thought it was going to be a virtual ceremony or no ceremony but to have an in-person ceremony and something so unique, they're excited about it." PHOTO: In a private celebration, Kennett High Schools class of 2020 graduated at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire. The school's traditional commencement was cancelled due to COVID-19. (Chris Proulx, White Mountains TV) Graduating senior Sophie Stimpson said the moment represented community togetherness. PHOTO: In a private celebration, Kennett High Schools class of 2020 graduated at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire. The school's traditional commencement was cancelled due to COVID-19. Students were allowed four guests each. (Chris Proulx, White Mountains TV) MORE: Twins accepted to 38 colleges with $1M in scholarships hope to become nurses "This is honestly probably a cooler way to graduate than just walking across a stage, too," she added. PHOTO: In a private celebration, Kennett High Schools class of 2020 graduated at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire. (Chris Proulx, White Mountains TV) PHOTO: In a private celebration, Kennett High Schools class of 2020 graduated at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire. Safety and social distancing measures were put in place, and students accepted their degrees at the base of the mountain. (Chris Proulx, White Mountains TV) The 174 students and family members enjoyed the unique celebration and breathtaking views. High school seniors graduate 2,000 feet above on ski lift originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com A vaccine developed at Imperial College London will go into the human-trial phase this week in the hope that it will be available for mass vaccination in the spring of 2021, as another trial at the University of Oxford in its second phase is said to be progressing quickly. The college announced the human trial on Tuesday as new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that London has recorded the sharpest decline in the number of dead and cases in recent weeks. The capital was a hotbed in April and May. Unlike traditional vaccines based on a weakened or modified form of virus, or parts of it, the Imperial vaccine adopts a new approach using synthetic strands of genetic code (called RNA), based on the viruss genetic material. Nearly 300 healthy volunteers are to receive two doses. Once injected into muscle, the college said the RNA self amplifies generating copies of itself and instructs the bodys own cells to make copies of a spiky protein found on the outside of the virus. Experts hope that this will train the immune system to respond to the coronavirus so the body can easily recognise it and defend itself against the virus in future. Robin Shattock from the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College who is leading the vaccine study, said: From a scientific perspective, new technologies mean we have been able to get moving on a potential vaccine with unprecedented speed. Weve been able to produce a vaccine from scratch and take it to human trials in just a few months from code to candidate - which has never been done before with this type of vaccine. If our approach works and the vaccine provides effective protection against disease, it could revolutionise how we respond to disease outbreaks in future, he added. ONSs figures are considered more thorough than the daily numbers of the Department of Health, which only cover people who tested positive for coronavirus and died, whereas the ONS figures cover any death where coronavirus was mentioned as a factor on the death certificate. The ONS said that the number of deaths involving coronavirus continued to decrease across all English regions with the number of deaths in London falling below the five-year average. In Week 23, Wales had the highest percentage of all cause deaths above the five-year average with 14.8%. In contrast, the number of deaths in Week 23 registered in London was 2.8% fewer than the five-year average, the first region in England to go below the five-year average since Week 13, it said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Haiti - Culture : First online digital library of Haitian authors Pradel Henriquez, the Minister of Culture welcomes the creation of the online digital library initiated by the Griyo Cultural Association "This initiative, exclusively dedicated to Haitian writers, aims to bring books and authors closer to readers, in particular, those who do not have access to a library. It is an opportunity for young people to devote themselves to reading during this period of confinement." The website www.griyo.net offers visitors 156 Haitian authors, 317 books and 66 audio divided into 10 categories "a click, thanks to a smartphone, reading is at hand," said Minister Henriquez who dreams of seeing a day the National Library, the National Book Directorate and the Centers for Reading and Cultural Animation (CLAC) migrate to digital in order to facilitate access to books for the general population and young people in particular. The objective is to make the work of Haitian authors more accessible, especially to young Haitians who do not have access to libraries, who have no money to afford books but who by modernity, often own or use a smartphone, computer or digital tablet. The online library of Haitian authors includes works that are in the public domain or available for free download on other platforms, as well as books authorized by their authors. For more information : livre@griyo.net HL/ HaitiLibre Canada faces a tight race for a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council but the country's response to the coronavirus outbreak could help win support, Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said on Monday. Canada, Ireland and Norway are vying for two seats that open up in 2021-2022. Each of the 193 UN member countries will cast a vote to decide which two countries will occupy the seats on the council, which is where decisions on issues such as sanctions and military action are taken. Failure to win would be embarrassing for Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who came to power in 2015 promising "Canada is back" after nine years of a Conservative administration that was often suspicious of the world body. "The race is tight," Champagne said by phone from New York. Voting starts on June 17 and diplomatic sources say Canada's bid has been harmed by a late start, a sometimes fitful approach to campaigning, and the fact Ottawa spends much less of its gross domestic product on foreign aid than its rivals. But Champagne said he had seen support for the bid pick up speed since the start of the coronavirus crisis, which he noted had drawn attention to progressive Canadian priorities such as fighting inequality and empowering women. Champagne has arranged nine calls with counterparts from other nations hit by the outbreak and last month helped preside over a U.N. meeting on sustainable development. "Our fingerprints are all over some of the biggest initiatives at the U.N.... in times of crisis people turn to countries which have a track record, like Canada, of building momentum," he said, adding that Canadian membership in the Group of Seven and other major international bodies would help. "People want to be heard and they are looking at a country that can amplify their voice," he said. Separately, Ottawa announced the armed forces would help transport medical and humanitarian supplies on behalf of the World Food Program and the World Health Organization. The Houston developer Hines and the Levit family two of the most prominent names in the citys business community said Monday that they would redevelop more than 52 acres near the Texas Medical Center into a mix of office space, shops, apartments and research facilities that would target the regions growing life-science sector. The developers did not disclose the price tag for the ambitious project, to be called Levit Green, but it would likely run upwards of $1 billion. The new proposal is the latest project that aspires to boost Houstons prominence as an international hub for biomedical and life-science innovations, joining several other developments that could, over time, add close to $2 billion worth of development to the urban core. Houston is home to one of the worlds largest medical centers, and the developments seek to tap into and build on the talent and expertise that abounds there. Texas A&M plans to build a $550 million complex in the Texas Medical Center, while Rice University is developing a technology hub, called the Ion, nearby. Leading institutions in the Medical Center also are part of a 37-acre research campus to be developed called TMC3. Key areas of innovation will drive the need for state-of-the-art facilities particularly in the life-science cluster cities, which Houston is on the ascendancy of, said John Mooz, senior managing director at Hines. Post-pandemic architecture: Designing Houston real estate for a pandemic Advancements in biotechnology, therapeutics and other life sciences are driving demand for facilities, Mooz said, citing record-breaking research and development spending creating the need for highly specialized laboratory space and cutting-edge pharmaceutical facilities. Houston, home to top-tier universities, medical research and clinical facilities, is poised to benefit from that growth. While Boston and San Francisco are the leading hubs for life sciences and related venture capital investment, Houston and other markets are making gains in the sector. Houston has one of the highest five-year growth rates in life sciences establishments at 15.5 percent, trailing Boston and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., according to a 2019 life sciences report from JLL, a real estate services firm. Levit Green is planned near the northwest intersection of Holcombe and Texas 288 on industrial land that formerly housed the Grocers Supply Co., a longtime Houston grocery wholesaler founded by Joe Levit in 1923. The Levits sold the business in 2014, but retained ownership of the property. The company, which owns some 5.2 million square feet of commercial real estate, changed its name to 2ML Real Estate Interests. Max Levit, president of 2ML Real Estate, said the family is excited about the partners shared vision for the site. Our family has deep roots in the neighborhood, and we believe this development will add tremendous value to the area and the Texas Medical Center, he said in a statement. Architects from Gensler and the Walter P. Moore engineering and design firm created a master plan for the property, though individual buildings have not yet been designed. Construction of the first building is expected to begin in approximately one year. Mooz said the company is in the process of identifying financial partners. Prime Property: Get Houston real estate news sent directly to your inbox COVID-19 has not changed the timing of the project, which has been several years in the making. We believe these facilities are essential to allow for the advancements that are needed in life sciences, Mooz said. The large size of the parcel allows for several million square feet of space to be developed, though individual building plans are still in the works. A conceptual rendering of the project shows a lively scene with people enjoying themselves at outdoor cafes and meandering along a pedestrian bridge over water in a park-like setting surrounded by tall buildings. As the pandemic is altering the way people return to their workplaces, Mooz acknowledged the need for buildings developed in the future to offer floor plan flexibility, natural light and advanced HVAC systems, among other features. But theres not enough data yet to determine if or how a property type may permanently change. Flexibility, he said, is key. nancy.sarnoff@chron.com twitter.com/nsarnoff Protesters crowd around a CHP vehicle during a Black Lives Matter protest at LAPD headquarters in downtown L.A. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) The California Highway Patrol incurred $38.2 million in overtime costs policing the recent fiery protests in this state that were in response to the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minnesota, state officials said Tuesday. The costs include more than $6 million in CHP overtime costs for deployment in the city and county of Los Angeles, according to a letter to lawmakers by state Finance Director Keely Bosler. The CHP costs are in addition to the nearly $25 million it cost the state to deploy 8,000 National Guard soldiers throughout California to help local law enforcement quell violence. Previously, since April 1, the state had incurred $987,092 in overtime costs for CHP officers to respond to protests at the Capitol seeking the lifting of the governor's stay-at-home order, the agency said. Mass protests erupted in cities all over the globe in response to the videotaped death of Floyd, a Black man who died May 25 after a police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for Los Angeles city and county on May 30 to assist local law enforcement agencies in their response to widespread civil disturbances, Bosler wrote to lawmakers. The action was in response to a request by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti for state aid, including National Guard troops, to help the Los Angeles Police Department respond to property damage and thefts in the city. It marked the third time in more than half a century that the state sent troops to respond to unrest in the city over violence against a Black person in police custody. Youve lost patience, Newsom said to protesters in announcing the deployment. So have I. You are right to feel wronged. You are right to feel the way you are feeling. The costs of 431,454 hours of unanticipated overtime for CHP officers will be covered by the state budget under the emergency order and other action being taken by the Department of Finance. Money is being transferred from the general fund in support of the states efforts to mitigate civil unrest in Los Angeles City and County, Bosler wrote. Lesson 1: Remote Work Highlights the Necessity of Digital Lesson 2: Combine effective communication with self-service to reduce the burden on 311 Use your Web resources create a digital hub. Were you able to spin up an information center for COVID-19 quickly and easily on your website? Having one place for information about the disease, local regulations, testing sites, closures and more means fewer calls. Dont forget mobile as part of your digital hub. Seventeen percent of households are mobile Internet only, and this number increases for lower-income adults (24 percent). The city of Dublin, Ohio, is a wonderful example of effective communication across digital platforms. Outbound communication is important too, so employ a smart messaging strategy. You need to get information to citizens in a way thats timely and relevant. Use all formats of digital communication for lower cost and higher relevancy messaging. Mobile is particularly helpful as a vehicle here, as it opens up a lot of capabilities like geofencing and geotargeting to get the most important information to the right audience. The future of government flexibility Major shifts are happening in front of our eyes. The COVID-19 pandemic upended government processes and everyday lives. Though most cities and states are well on their way to reopening, some shifts made may stay for a long time. But what operational adjustments and lessons learned will governments take away from this time? And how will those lessons shape the future of governing?At the very least, local governments will become more flexible. In the recent webinar Lessons in Flexibility: What COVID-19 Teaches Cities About Working Through Disruption , government technology experts Patrick Moore, senior fellow at the Center for Digital Government , and Stephen Tyler, chief technology officer at Rock Solid Technologies, weighed in on the effects we are already seeing.The big topics of the day focused around resolving the challenges that emerged during the pandemic. But it was not only about how governments addressed these challenges to meet immediate needs. Its important to account for how lessons learned will apply over the long term to impact government adaptability, citizen engagement, and service delivery.More than anything, COVID-19 proves that the future of government requires flexibility in people, process, policy, and systems. Here are three of the big lessons for moving forward with more adaptable local government operations:One of the first big shifts caused by the pandemic was the physical closure of city hall. But just because the doors were locked didnt mean work could stop. After getting over initial IT hurdles like ensuring everyone had laptops and remote system access, government work and service delivery continued from home. And for many local governments, results have been positive.This unprecedented work-from-home experiment will result in permanent telework policies for many local governments. Tyler cited examples of new policies and plans for long-term remote work in local governments in places like Idaho, Texas, Wisconsin, Arkansas and more.Over half of webinar attendees (54.6 percent) shared that their agency either already has or will implement new permanent telework policies. And though long-term plans were still up in the air for about a third of respondents, only 13 percent were certain that their agencies would not go remote.But here is where the challenge of moving beyond the pandemic comes in. Remote government operations involve more than hardware and connectivity its about service delivery. Now that governments can operate outside city hall, citizen services need to be accessible and functional from everywhere.When asked about digital access to key city services like 311/service requests, board and commission applications, dog licensing, business licensing, business permits, and special events permits, 45 percent of attendees admitted that their organizations offered none of these services digitally. Thats a problem. And its not a surprise, either. Moore shared that government CIOs have known about these issues for a long time but making the shift to digital has been delayed for extended periods. COVID-19 has highlighted these areas of need.The big takeaway? How government interfaces with citizens will change, and how citizens interface with government will change too. Providing digital access to services on the front end can improve accessibility, reduce service request call volumes by 15-20 percent, and reduce costs. According to Tyler, the new normal will accelerate the need for remote services due to the move to telework and increased cost pressures on local governments.Cloud is the engine by which governments can deliver digital services most effectively. Tyler says, the way you do digital matters, and cloud is the way to do it right. Cloud offers the architecture that allows for scalability and flexibility for growth of remote delivery and expansion of city services, in crisis situations and beyond. It acts as a buffer for availability challenges in a way that on-premise systems do not and allows for scalability in times of crisis.In any crisis, from COVID-19 to natural disasters, demand for services will shift. And that often involves an increase in overall demand. With this pandemic, both in-person services (like COVID-19 testing sites) and other government services (like 311 call centers) saw extreme demand that overwhelmed services.How do you respond to a rapid and sudden increase in demand? COVID-19 presented this problem to us all on a global scale. What local governments needed to do to respond was to flatten the curve for service demands. Just like citizens reduced physical contact to help curb the spread, reducing the number of 311 calls can ease the demand on call center employees working on a limited remote schedule. But how can cities provide scalable information and services? Organizations like Baltimore County eased volume burdens by merging their health department and 311 capabilities as part of their strategy for flattening the curve for health-care workers. The county created separate routes within 311 for various inquiry types around the pandemic. This ensured that high-priority health questions could route quickly to medical professionals while not overburdening the health department with more basic inquires 311 staff could address.Your digital services should be part of your strategy for flattening the 311 curve. Local governments should be able to communicate, provide answers to common questions, and allow inbound requests through digital formats.The ability to create event-oriented mobile and digital hubs is relevant beyond COVID-19. Your local government should be able to adapt for any special event, like upcoming elections, for example. Digital and mobile formats should be able to launch with ease to decrease the high tide of crisis- or event-based service demand.Lesson 2 focused on the increase in demand for services, but another challenge local governments faced during COVID-19 was a shift in demand . Crisis situations shake up the services citizens need, in a big way. And during the pandemic, state and local governments had to quickly step up to support health care, business, unemployment and much more.Meeting new needs requires flexibility in governments. For example, COVID-19 service request types, like the ability to report and respond to non-essential businesses that are open, needed to stand up quickly. However, government agencies didnt have time to create and staff a whole new department. They had to allocate resources quickly to support these violations as soon as possible. Standardization is critical to making this happen.Standardization allows governments to use as many existing resources and systems to spin up new services as possible. But it doesnt always come easy. It requires both a culture that allows for adaptability and the tools that permit flexibility. As an example of the effectiveness of standardization, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, stood up eight brand-new services to meet citizen needs in just a few weeks using their existing technology platform.Do your tools allow you to add and run new services easily? Are different departments within your city all trained on these same adaptable tools, so pivots can happen quickly? And are those tools available from the cloud, accessible from anywhere? Change is inevitable, so your organization needs to be flexible and ready to adapt.When the chips are down, says Tyler, we all need to strive to be flexible and adaptable. When local governments have the right culture and tools in place, they can shift to meet demands at the speed your citizens require.Flexibility and adaptability in government have always been necessary when challenges arise. But beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the lessons we have all learned will help us better serve citizens over the long term. Technology enables governments to rise in tough situations and do better, more efficiently.Its not too late to adapt. COVID-19 was a catalyst in revealing holes in some government services, but the lessons learned will carry on. And its not just the next emergency these lessons will apply to the upcoming November elections, the next major weather event, and even everyday service delivery.Watch the on-demand webinar to learn moreIn this on-demand webinar, experts from Government Technology and Rock Solid Technologies explore how local governments can ensure they are better prepared to handle future disruptions. Watch Now Destinys Child has provided women some of the most powerful songs about female empowerment. They had women around the world demanding their partners respect with songs like Say My Name and had women confident with Survivor. But just as fans have their favorite and least favorites from the groups catalog, so does its members. Kelly Rowland would be happy to never hear or perform their 1999 hit Bug-A-Boo ever again, despite the song being one of the groups most popular. Destinys Child 1998 | Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives Kelly Rowland reveals her least favorite Destinys Child song is Bug-A-Boo During a 2019 appearance on Bravos Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Rowland discussed her time in Destinys Child. In a game of Q&A, Rowland answered questions on her favorite and least favorite songs with her group. My favorite would have to be anything from the last Destiny Fulfilled album, Rowland said. The album was released in 2004 as their final studio length album and a coinciding world tour. My least favorite would probably have to be, oh gosh, Bug-A-Boo,' she continued. The song was a single from the groups second album. Source: YouTube Related: Kelly Rowland Talks About Her Least Favorite Destinys Child Song and Kandi Burruss as a Songwriter Rowland explained that there is a part of the song during the bridge that makes it annoying. Its like this one part on the bridge where Im like Ughhhhhhh. That part kind of makes me [hate it]. Bug-A-Boo is a Destinys Child fan favorite and was a modest hit Co-written by the four original members of Destinys Child and RHOA star Kandi Burruss, Bug-A-Boo was released in August 1999 as the second single from Destinys Childs sophomore album, The Writings On The Wall. The uptempo tracks theme is about an annoying and semi-obsessive boyfriend who bugs his girlfriend with numerous calls, messages, and unexpected visits. The song uses portions of the 1978 song Childs Anthem by Toto. Source: YouTube Bug-A-Boo peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. It performed better on the R&B chart, peaking at No. 15 and spent a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100. It had international success as well, peaking within the top 10 in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Though the song was a modest hit on the charts, the accompanying music video helped grow its popularity. Directed by Darren Grant, the video received tons of airplay on MTV and BET and remained on rotation on top music video countdown shows, including TRL. Bug-A-Boo became the groups first music video to actually chart on TRL. Kobe Bryant was also featured in the music video. Source: YouTube A remix of Bug-A-Boo featuring Wyclef Jean was also released. All sequences including in the original remained the same for the remix, with an added shot of Jean. Bug-A-Boo helped make The Writings On The Wall a multi-platinum album The album debuted at No. 6 on the US Billboard 200 chart. But as singles like Bills, Bills, Bills and Bug-A-Boo and Say My Name gained traction, the album sales increased. Eventually, The Writings On The Wall was certified eight times platinum and earned six Grammy nominations, including two for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, two for Best R&B Song, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Billboard Magazine listed the album at No. 39 on its Top 200 Albums of the Decade. The critical reception of the album was also fairly positive, with many publications giving the album four out of five stars. Prosecutors and the defense attorneys for Joseph DeAngelo, the man suspected of being the notorious serial killer known as the Golden State Killer and the East Area Rapist, are nearing a plea deal, according to multiple sources. Jennifer Carole, the daughter of Lyman Smith who was killed by the East Area Rapist in 1980, said she and other victims family members were included in discussions about a possible guilty plea deal with DeAngelo, his attorneys and the district attorneys of six California counties, where the Golden State Killer committed murder. Carole said the families had to stay quiet while the prosecutors and defense attorneys figured out the details. In a statement, the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office said the next court date for DeAngelo is June 29, but officials did not disclose any details about the possible deal. Victims and their loved ones have a right to be heard, and all six District Attorneys Offices involved in the prosecution of People v. DeAngelo are working closely with the victims in this case to ensure their statements are considered by the Court prior to sentencing, the district attorneys office said. We have a moral and ethical responsibility to consider any offer from the defense, given the massive scope of the case, the advanced age of many of the victims and witnesses, and our inherent obligations to the victims, the district attorneys office continued. Carole said a guilty plea deal was discussed from the beginning. The possible plea deal was expected. DeAngelo, is accused of killing at least 13 people, raping upward of 50 women and burglarizing dozens of homes in the 1970s and '80s. The former police officer was arrested in Citrus Heights in 2018, thanks to DNA technology, after decades of eluding authorities. DNA submitted to a public database commonly used for genealogy was used to link DeAngelo to the cold cases. DeAngelo's preliminary hearing, which had been set for May, was pushed back because of the coronavirus outbreak. District attorney's offices from six counties, Sacramento, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange County, Tulare and Contra Costa, are prosecuting the case. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images During her nearly three-decade tenure at Morgan Stanley, Marilyn Booker fought to address the systemic racial discrimination that she says ran rampant at the global banking giant. Booker, a Black woman who spent the last 16 years of her career as the investment banks first Global Head of Diversity, tried to convince the firms executives every year to establish diversity programsbut she says senior leaders refused to even listen to her plans. Then, after years of service with no performance issues, Booker said she was fired in December 2019 without warning and told her position, designed to help people of color, was being eliminated. These Cops Allegedly Turned Criminal During Black Lives Matter Protests Clearly, Black lives did not matter at Morgan Stanley, a lawsuit filed by Booker Tuesday against Morgan Stanley states. Morgan Stanley once again made it clear that Black employees did not, in fact, matter and silenced a brave employee that dared speak out about the economic injustice she knew existed. The race and gender discrimination lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York, alleges that Morgan Stanley and Bookers former boss, Barry Krouk, the chief administrative officer of the wealth management division, wrongfully terminated her employment and violated the Civil Rights Act and New York state human-rights laws. The suit, which is seeking unspecified damages, was filed on behalf of other black, female employees at Morgan Stanley she says have also been mistreated. Morgan Stanley did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment. Unfortunately, time and time again, Morgan Stanley has utterly failed when it has had to actually look itself in the mirror and decide whether it wants to truly address its deep seated, racially unjust policies that have resulted in alarmingly low and disproportionate numbers of Black and other employees of color amongst its ranks, and, in particular, its executive ranks, the lawsuit states. Story continues Morgan Stanley is among several companiesincluding Amazon and Adidasthat are facing an internal reckoning this week amid mass global protests in the wake of George Floyds murder. Since Floyds May 25 death, all three companies have publicly advocated for racial justice in corporate America, with each announcing new initiatives to fund the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement and cultivate equality within their ranks. Their employees are also speaking out, pushing for internal change to address racism and discrimination. Police Promise Justice for Slain BLM Activist Who Vanished After Writing About a Sexual Assault In a leaked documented shared with Business Insider, Amazon employees have been describing instances of internal racism and gender discrimination as they call for a new leadership inclusion principle. The document, titled The case for a 15th leadership principle on inclusion, has been shared internally over the last few weeks, with Amazon employees contributing harrowing stories of workplace discriminationincluding one white manager who told a Black female employee he was a good guy because his ancestors were good to their slaves. Another employee shared an anecdote about a manager berating a female engineer for attempting to lower the bar after she asked him about interviewing more candidates for a job opening. Yet another employee stated a straight white man told him, You have to be into men to be promoted around here after hearing about the promotions of a transgender woman, a bisexual man, and a gay man on his team. We are past the point of inclusion being enough, the document reads. We need to ensure that employees are not just INCLUDED, but given EQUITABLE TREATMENT at work. In a statement to The Daily Beast, Amazon stating the company works hard to foster a culture where inclusion is the norm for each and every one of our 800,000+ employees, and these anecdotes do not reflect our values. We do not tolerate any kind of discrimination in the workplace and investigate all claims reported by employees to Amazon Human Resources or through our anonymous Ethics Hotline, the statement added. Dozens of employees at Adidas are also seeking systemic change, calling for an investigation into the companys chief human-resources officer over her handling of racial issues within the Germany-based shoe company. According to the Wall Street Journal, 83 employees have asked the supervisory board to investigate Karen Parkin, the companys global head of human resources, as to whether she has taken the right approach to address workplace racism. During an all-employee meeting last year in Boston, Parkin took heat after she called racism noise that is only being discussed in Americaand a concept she claimed didnt exist within the brand. Parkin has since backtracked on that statement, saying on June 12 she should have chosen a better word and apologizing for the offensive remark. In a June 15 letter, the employees also asked for an anonymous public platform in order to voice discrimination allegations without the fear of retaliation. You Can Call Me a Snitch: Worried 911 Dispatcher Called Supervisor During George Floyds Arrest We welcome the commitment of our people to stand against racism, Adidas said in a statement to the Journal. Our Black employees have led the response that we will continue to implement together and that we have committed to as a company. We are now concentrating our efforts on making progress and creating real change immediately. In her lawsuit, Booker slams Morgan Stanley for failing to take action against racism years agoand only increasing diversity amid nationwide unrest over racial injustice. On June 9, Morgan Stanleys Chief Executive Officer James Gorman said he was so moved by the protests over the death of George Floyd that he would create a new Institute of Inclusion group at the bank to promote diversity and fast-track the promotions of two Black women, the lawsuit states. The announcement also came after the bank donated millions to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and publicly agreed to match donations for all U.S. employees. Booker, however, states the stunt was hypocritical as her wrongful termination actively sought to silence those who speak out and try to advocate for change when it comes to diversity and inclusion. While Gorman is quick to now pay lip service and throw money at the diversity problem at Morgan Stanley because he is suddenly moved, when it was Ms. Bookers job to do just thati.e., to work with the Black community and increase both diversity in the workforce and the Firms reputation around diversity in the communityMorgan Stanley did nothing but actively hamstring her ability to do so, such by steadily decreasing her budget year over year, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit also alleges that Booker was subjected to racial discrimination and harassment by other employees. In one instance, a white executive who was upset after Booker secured a client who brought in over $90 million to invest with Morgan Stanley, allegedly told employees she pulled my pants down and ripped me a new asshole. Booker added that throughout her tenure, Morgan Stanley exploited her as a symbol of its purposes commitment to diversity and often trotted her out at several public functions when it was advantageous, before she was ultimately fired on December 9, 2019. Morgan Stanley has had decades to get its house in order and improve its record on diversity and inclusion. No more excuses, Jeanne M. Christensen, an attorney representing Booker, said in a statement to The Daily Beast. The numbers speak for themselves and Morgan Stanley must be held accountable for looking the other way. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. University students from Gyeongsan in North Gyeongsang Province hold a press conference at Gyeongsan City Hall, calling for tuition refunds, in this June 2 photo. Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji The government should consider taking steps to make it easier for universities to refund tuition fees, after classes were disrupted by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the National Assembly Research Service (NARS) said Tuesday. It also suggested that the Ministry of Education and other related agencies change their method of calculation, including levying tuition fees according to the cost of education so that they can be refunded easily over the long term in preparation for other potential infectious disease outbreaks. "Most professors do not have enough experience in remote classes, so they were conducted with students watching existing video material or submitting assignments," said Cho In-sik, a researcher at NARS. Cho pointed out that students' satisfaction with the current online university classes was low, and the infrastructure for online classes was insufficient. "The learning management system (LMS) that elementary, middle and high school students used for online classes was not sufficiently built, and there were no teachers or tutors to provide feedback on discussions and tasks," he said. According to data submitted to NARS by the Ministry of Education, the average annual tuition per person for a four-year national university is 4.18 million won ($3,461), more than five times that of national cyber universities' 756,000 won. Meanwhile private university tuition, at 7.48 million won annually is about three times more expensive than private cyber university tuition at 2.55 million won. The current University Tuition Regulations also provide the basis for university students' tuition refund demands as there is a clause that says, "If it is deemed difficult to pay tuition due to natural disaster, tuition fees can be exempted or reduced." Cho pointed out that the government needs to review ways to support students through consultations with universities, students, related experts, organizations and relevant ministries regarding the demand for refunds by students who have been receiving online classes. "There are differences in the financial condition of each university, so it could be difficult for all universities to uniformly refund the tuition paid by students. In a sense, it is necessary to review the support for students to the extent that the university can afford, and the government also needs to consider how to secure the budget to support the students," he said. Due to the continued COVID-19 outbreak, most universities here postponed the start of the spring semester by one or two weeks and even though they resumed classes, many have been replacing on-campus classes with online ones. However, the comparatively lower quality of online classes has led more students to demand tuition refunds, while universities have claimed that they cannot afford to return tuition fees due to a deterioration in their finances because of the decreasing number of international students, the cost of quarantine work on campus, the establishment of a remote class infrastructure and the operation of facilities such as dormitories and restaurants. South Korean army's K-55 self-propelled howitzers are seen at the border with North Korea, South Korea, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. AP South Korea will strongly respond to any provocative military action by North Korea, the defense ministry said Tuesday, amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the North's surprise demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office. Earlier in the day, North Korea blew up the inter-Korean joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong, three days after leader Kim Jong-un's influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, warned of its demolition in protest over South Korean activists' sending of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border. The destruction sparked concern that the North could put other threats against the South into action, including taking military action and moving troops to border regions disarmed under inter-Korean agreements. "Regarding the current security situations, our military has been closely monitoring the North Korean military's movements round-the-clock, and doing its best to manage the situation to prevent the situation from escalating into a military crisis," the defense ministry said in a statement. New Delhi: Trai has decided to keep a tab on the issue of inter-connect (PoI) between incumbent operators and Reliance Jio. Due to this, Idea Cellular has agreed to further enahnce capacity by providing 230 per cent additional capacity to Reliance Jio. Over 2,100 ports will now be available for traffic between Idea and Jio allowing sufficient buffer for future, Idea said adding that it will "continue to engage and expand capacity for the new operator to allow seamless traffic flow between the networks". Coming just days after Trai warned operators of action in case of service quality violation arising out of insufficient inter-connectivity points, the statement issued by Idea said quality of service for its customers is a "top priority". "Idea Cellular recently invited Jio for a discussion to mutually resolve the traffic asymmetry. As quality of service for its customers is top priority, Idea has agreed to further enhance capacity in both access and long-distance inter-connection by providing over 230 per cent additional capacity, allowing for two-way calling between the networks," the Idea statement read.Idea has now provisioned 1,865 ports for access, from 565 earlier -- a 230 per cent increase in capacity. "Simultaneously, the NLD (national long distance) capacity is also being expanded by nearly 50 per cent. With this huge capacity expansion, over 2,100 ports will now be available for traffic between Idea and Jio, allowing sufficient buffer for future," it said. Reliance Jio -- which commercially launched its services on September 5 -- has accused the existing players of not releasing sufficient inter-connection points while the incumbents like Idea, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone have blamed the new entrant for unleashing a "tsunami" of free traffic on their networks. After Trai's nudge, the operators have agreed to augment capacity on their networks to accommodate more Jio traffic, but have been seeking regulatory intervention to address the issue of "induced asymmetry of traffic". Jio argues that benefits of superior voice technology is being denied to its customers due to the network congestion and has blamed the "anti-competitive behaviour of incumbent operators" for the "poor experience" on its services. Jio has claimed that it has been witnessing 75-80 per cent call failures over the last few weeks. It had said that over a period of 10 days alone, 52 crore calls failed cumulatively on the networks of the three incumbent operators Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 23:04:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's total number of COVID-19 infections increased on Tuesday by nine to 1,473, the National News Agency reported. The death toll from the coronavirus remained unchanged at 32, it said. Lebanon's Health Ministry received 13 ventilators from the syndicate of food importers in the country which will be provided to the public hospitals within the framework of the ministry's plan to help them in fighting the pandemic. Lebanon, which has been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic since Feb. 21, has received support from several countries including China. The latest foreign support was donated on June 11 by China to Lebanese public hospitals, including 17,500 masks, 1,500 protective gears, 1,320 goggles and 1,000 shoe covers. Enditem Click here to read the full article. Dining rooms have become the new sample room for many designers as the COVID-19 crisis continues to separate creative teams. To meet the challenges of designing long distance, technology firm 4D ShoeTech is launching a digital platform that allows product developers to ideate, prototype and showcase their designs in photorealistic digital 3D. The process mimics a lifelike shoe sample, allowing viewers to visually feel the full texture as the virtual shoe moves and spins to create a 4D effect. Its like 3D on steroids, according to industry veteran and co-founder Michael Su, comparing it to traditional .JPEG and .PNG image reads that are flat and dead. Its a 3D dimensional image that is moving and alive. More from Footwear News Designers can create individual elements of a shoe build including heels, outsoles, bottoms, lasts and mold-making components, turning it into digital sample. For the full effect, a photo realistic capture showcases a range of materials including textiles from fur, embroidery and embossed leathers to metallics, glitter and iridescent finishes. Seamless pattern creation will also be implemented, including Adobe Illustrator technologies. The platform also has a sustainability side, said Su. Theres been a lot of waste when the [product] teams want to change things and toss samples aside, he noted. Its like a shoe is living virtually in front of you. In addition, the technology is also available for handbag creation. According to Su, it also eliminates the need for product teams to travel overseas to work on-site at factories. And, brands can create digital line sheets and online showrooms to exhibit new collections in lieu of attending trade shows and visits to retail accounts. Story continues The service is available on a subscription basis, said Su, with a fee of several thousand dollars to get started. A single user can access the platform, with more participants added at an additional fee. Companies, however, can allow visitors to enter the site for viewing, but cannot create or alter images. Those interested can contact Michael Su. Additionally, an event showcasing the technology will be held on June 19 at an event in Nancheng, Dongguan, China, at the Kande International Hotel. Registration is available online at customer1@4dstc.com. Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. "An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex," Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the court. "Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids." The court decided by a 6-3 vote that a key provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 known as Title VII that bars job discrimination because of sex, among other reasons, encompasses bias against LGBTQI workers. Washington: A US Supreme Court ruling on discrimination in the workplace has been hailed as a major victory for LGBTQI rights. "The Court tries to convince readers that it is merely enforcing the terms of the statute, but that is preposterous," Alito wrote in the dissent. "Even as understood today, the concept of discrimination because of 'sex' is different from discrimination because of 'sexual orientation' or 'gender identity'." The outcome is expected to have a big impact for the estimated 8.1 million LGBTQI workers across the US because most states don't protect them from workplace discrimination. An estimated 11.3 million LGBTQI people live in the US, according to the Williams Institute at the UCLA law school. But Monday's decision is not likely to be the court's last word on a host of issues revolving around LGBTQI rights, Gorsuch noted. Lawsuits are pending over transgender athletes' participation in school sporting events, and courts also are dealing with cases about sex-segregated bathrooms and locker rooms, a subject that the justices seemed concerned about during arguments in October. Employers who have religious objections to employing LGBTQI people also might be able to raise those claims in a different case, Gorsuch said. "But none of these other laws are before us; we have not had the benefit of adversarial testing about the meaning of their terms, and we do not prejudge any such question today," he wrote. The new season of my favorite television show, The Good Fight, begins with the heroine, feminist lawyer Diane Lockhart, awakening in what seems at first like a giddy alternative reality in which Hillary Clinton won the 2016 election. She remembers the horrors of the last 3 1/2 years, but no one else seems to. A crushing weight lifts as she convinces herself it was all an awful dream. Then she is sent to a meeting with her firms new client, Harvey Weinstein. Theres been no #MeToo movement. Instead, corporate lean in feminism is at its apogee. Diane realizes there have been gains made since Donald Trump took office that are unbearable to give up. Obviously, a world in which Clinton beat Trump would be better in a million ways. Still, right now we have two big examples of how Trumps perverse presidency has inadvertently led to progress. The sudden, rapid embrace of the Black Lives Matter movement by white people is a function of the undeniable brutality of George Floyds videotaped killing. But public opinion has also moved left on racial issues in reaction to an unpopular president who behaves like a cross between Bull Connor and Andrew Dice Clay. And the thrilling 6-3 decision the Supreme Court just issued upholding LGBT equality wouldnt be as devastating to the religious right if it had happened under a President Clinton. Before Monday, you could legally be fired for being gay, bisexual or transgender in 26 states. Now the court has ruled that gay and transgender people are protected by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex. The decision has extra cultural force because it was written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Trump appointee, and joined by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts. The whole point of the Federalist Society judicial project, the whole point of electing Trump to implement it, was to deliver Supreme Court victories to social conservatives, tweeted conservative writer Varad Mehta. If they cant deliver anything that basic, theres no point for either. The damage is incalculable. The phrase But Gorsuch is shorthand for how conservatives justify all the moral compromises theyve made in supporting Trump; controlling the Supreme Court makes it all worth it. So theres a special sweetness in Gorsuch spearheading the most important LGBT rights decision since the 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. This isnt simply Schadenfreude. The fact that this momentous ruling was written by a right-wing judge sends a message that progress on LGBT rights will be very hard to reverse. Had Clinton, like Trump, been able to put two justices on the court, the ultimate decision in this case would likely have been much the same, perhaps with a different legal rationale. But social conservatives would have been animated by outraged opposition, sure that winning the next election was key to reestablishing power. Now theyre demoralized. The Trump administration will continue to try to roll back gay and transgender rights. Just Friday, it finalized a regulation saying that the Affordable Care Acts ban on sex discrimination in medical care doesnt apply to trans people, using an argument similar to the one the Supreme Court rejected Monday. Trump judges on lower courts can be expected to rule in favor of religious conservatives. But these will be rear-guard actions. The Roe v. Wade of religious liberty is here, and it was delivered by golden boy Neil Gorsuch, lamented conservative lawyer Josh Hammer. Legal experts who watched the arguments unfold werent entirely shocked that Gorsuch ruled as he did. The justice is well known as a textualist, someone who holds that the meaning of a law turns on the text alone, not the intentions of its drafters. What I saw in the argument was Gorsuch really struggling with the fact that the textual argument seemed really powerful to him, Samuel Bagenstos, a University of Michigan law professor, told me. Theres no way to think about sexual orientation discrimination without sex being part of it. Bagenstos was more surprised that Roberts who, after all, wrote a dissent in Obergefell joined the majority. Roberts may have simply been persuaded by the merits of the case, but Bagenstos suspects he was responsive to the political climate as well. This is going to be a very popular decision, Bagenstos said. It is something that the American people will largely agree with. And you never go wrong predicting that the Supreme Court is going to follow the election returns. None of this means that progressives can rest easy about this court. Were awaiting important decisions on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which could put hundreds of thousands of Dreamers in danger of deportation, and on June Medical Services v. Russo, which could end up eliminating abortion access in many states. But Monday, Gorsuch delivered a blow to the religious right that a court full of Clinton appointees could never have managed. Even the darkest timeline has its consolations. Michelle Goldberg c.2020 The New York Times Company Paris, June 17 : A total of 111 COVID-19 patients in France succumbed to the coronavirus-caused disease in the last 24 hours, bringing the total fatalities to 29,547, while hospitalizations further declined, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. Of the deaths, 19,090 were registered in hospitals, a one-day rise of 38. At nursing homes and medico-social establishments, whose casualties are updated once a week on Tuesdays, 10,457 were reported dead, up by 73 from last week, Xinhua reported. Currently, 10,535 patients are in hospitals, including 820 in intensive care. The two figures -- key indicators to evaluate the country's ability to cope with the epidemic -- fell by 217 and 26 respectively in the last 24 hours. Of the 103,451 hospitalized since early March, 73,335 have recovered and returned home. "The first epidemic wave is ending in Europe and in France's mainland. But the epidemic is far from over and the virus is still circulating," warned Health General Director Jerome Salomon, addressing the National Assembly's investigative committee. "We must anticipate a resurgence, even a second epidemic wave in autumn or winter. Failure to prepare for a second wave would be a major mistake," he stressed. "Vigilance and caution must remain in place." Salomon added, "the whole world was surprised by this totally new, massive, rapid, brutal global crisis. No country is spared." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) Party List group Bayan Muna is seeking an investigation on the supposed link between Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs and illegal medical facilities in the country. House Resolution No. 917 , which was received at the House of Representatives on June 11, cited instances where foreign nationals were arrested for their involvement in such organizations. It also said that these illegal medical facilities were involved in the testing of Chinese nationals who worked in POGOs. READ: Police raid illegal medical facility for Chinese patients inside Clark leisure park Bayan Muna also pointed out that on May 28, Paranaque City said it would investigate the alleged mass testing of hundreds of POGO workers at the BF Homes Club House, and how there was no permit secured for the testing. Speaking to CNN Philippines on Tuesday, Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said he will not tolerate illegal clinics ran by foreign nationals. He said they have raided clinics at the Multinational Village and Baclaran, where authorities confiscated medicines and ordered the facilities closed because they are not recognized by the Department of Health. "Tutuluyan natin ang kaso sa kanila, in fact, pinadedeport natin yung mga Chinese involved dito po sa mga illegal na health clinics sa lungsod ng Paranaque," Olivares said. "Minomonitor po ng LGUs yan." [Translation: We will push through with cases against them, in fact, we will have the Chinese involved in illegal health clinics in Paranaque deported. The local government units are monitoring this.] READ: Illegal clinics, medicine stockroom raided in Paranaque Bayan Muna said it was unacceptable for the government to turn a blind eye on these instances especially as there is a strong demand for mass testing. "Despite the government failings, it is not acceptable that authorities will just close its eyes on foreign nationals establishing illegal medical facilities, and, worse, even prioritized for testing over the Filipinos," it said, as it called for an investigation and a stop to the illegal clinics that "also threaten the very health and safety of our people in this time of pandemic." June 16, 2005 OWASCO - Anthony Gero sits in a leather armchair, an umbrella in one hand and a pen in the other as he watches the traffic whiz by on Route 38A. As a large container truck rumbles by, Gero makes several marks in the red binder sitting next to him. This is his routine for two hours. Gero was one of several Owasco residents who volunteered to sit in the abandoned lot across the street from the Green Shutters restaurant to count trucks for 24 hours starting Wednesday morning. The residents are hoping to gather information that would convince state officials to limit truck traffic. "This road was not designed for tractor trailers," Gero said. "This is for light vehicles, but you can see and hear those trucks all the time." The truck traffic that speeds through neighborhoods in Owasco and Auburn has had residents up in arms for years. Trucks like those heading to the Seneca Meadows landfill in Seneca Falls use the shortcut to save on time, gas and the amount of money they would have to spend on tolls by going across the state Thruway. Some local residents have had enough. Barbara Clary, a member of the Owasco Town Board, organized the truck count. Clary thinks the traffic has increased significantly in recent years and says that garbage trucks are stinking up the town. The tractor trailers headed toward the landfill do not transport the trash of local residents. In fact, some come from as far away as Vermont and Connecticut. Route 38A is a state road and managed by New York's Department of Transportation. In the past, state officials have told the villages and towns located along the road that there was little they could do because, by law, trucks are permitted to use state roads. In February 2003, Owasco's town board passed a resolution requesting legislation to keep non-local trucks on interstate highways, a request made after a town study determined that 88 percent of the 684 trucks that travel along Route 38A go faster than the speed limit. Within 30 minutes Wednesday, Gero counted 14 garbage trucks and more than a dozen tractor trailers pass by. Compiled by David Wilcox Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a major announcement, Mazars USA LLP, a leading accounting, tax, and consulting firm, reported the opening of a new office in Dallas, marking the firm's entry into the Texas market. Mazars USA Chairman and CEO, Victor Wahba, commented, "This is a momentous occasion for our firm. As we continue to aggressively pursue growth across strategic markets nationally, we have long considered Texas to be an important area for us to have a presence. Following the opening of our Los Angeles office in 2019 and the significant expansion of our Chicago location, this demonstrates our ongoing commitment to building out our national capabilities to best serve our clients." Brad Leffler will lead the office and has 23 years of experience serving companies in a wide range of industries including retail and consumer products, energy, technology, and manufacturing and distribution. He has extensive experience delivering audit and assurance services, including the audit of companies with complex business combination issues, complex debt structures and complex equity structures. "I'm excited to be joining Mazars USA as they launch their Texas presence," commented Brad. "I'm looking forward to working with the excellent local team we've assembled as well as the deep national resources of the firm. I believe that we will be able to provide a quality option for the market and expect to see the office grow significantly over the coming years." The 4,000 square foot Dallas office will be located at 100 Crescent Court, Suite 250. About Mazars USA Mazars USA LLP is a high-performing accounting, tax and consulting firm with significant national presence in strategic US geographies. Since 1921, our dedicated professionals have leveraged technical industry expertise to develop customized solutions for clients, create value, and optimize their performance. We offer a broad array of industry specialists providing services to growth-oriented enterprises and individuals. As the independent US member firm of Mazars Group, we deliver seamless access to the expertise of 24,000 professionals in 90+ countries. At the local and global levels, we are proud of our value-added services, building lasting relationships with our clients and communities. For more information, visit us at www.mazarsusa.com . For media inquiries, contact: Mazars USA | Beth More, 732-205-2012 | [email protected] Makovsky | Joshua Goldman-Brown, Anne Hart | [email protected] SOURCE Mazars USA LLP Related Links https://mazarsusa.com Police have arrested a 14-year-old girl and a 19-year-old man after the girl's mother was found dead, submerged in a New Jersey creek with multiple stab wounds. Divna Rosasco, 51, of Cresskill, New Jersey, was found dead in Overpeck Creek in Overpeck Park, in Teaneck, New Jersey, early Monday, according to the Hudson Daily Voice. Nicolas Coirazza, 19, of Lodi, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with murder, desecration of human remains, evidence tampering, hindering an investigation and weapon possession. Nicolas Coirazza, 19 (pictured), faces murder and other charges after police found the body of Divna Rosasco, 51, submerged in a creek at Overpeck Park in New Jersey Monday Police have not yet identified the 14-year-old girl who was arrested, because she is a juvenile, but she is reported to be Rosasco's daughter. The girl has been charged with disturbing human remains, evidence tampering and two counts of hindering apprehension, according to NorthJersey.com. Rosasco had been reported missing by the girl's father just after midnight on Monday. Her body was found not long afterwards, when a Bergen County sheriff's officer came across her abandoned car in Overpeck Park at about 2am Monday while carrying out a routine park check, authorities said. Rosasco's SUV was parked near a boat ramp and had blood and debris, which originated from inside the car, next to it, the Hudson Daily Voice reported. Rosasco's body was found after a sheriff's officer was conducting a routine park check and found her abandoned SUV (pictured). He then called the K-9 unit which led officers to her body Rosasco's SUV was said to have had blood and other debris surrounding it when it was found Authorities said Rosasco was stabbed and slashed inside her own home and taken to the park Rosasco was found weighed down with concrete and other substances, wrapped in a bedsheet and bound with duct tape. She was initially reported missing Monday just after midnight The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office's Chief of investigators, Robert Anzilotti, told NorthJersey.com that the officer saw that someone had tried to conceal who owned the car, realized that something was amiss and called in the K-9 unit. Police dogs then led authorities from the car to the creek, near a boat basin, where Rosasco's body was found. Police said that Rosasco's body was found weighed down with a five-pound bucket that had been filled with concrete, kitty litter and other items. She was also found wrapped in a bed sheet, with a plastic bag over her head, and bound in duct tape. It's unclear what time Rosasco died, but authorities believed that she had not been in the water long. First responders told the Hudson Daily Voice that Rosasco's throat had been slashed and that she had multiple additional stab and slash wounds. Anzilotti said that the stabbings had occurred at her home. Although the exact relationship between Coirazza and the 14-year-old girl has not yet been revealed, prosecutors alleged that he knew Rosasco's family and had been visiting her home at the time of the murder. Police said that Coirazza asked the girl to help him dispose of Rosasco's body, according to ABC 7. Coirazza and Rosasco's daughter were caught by police after they were seen at a nearby hotel parking lot, trying to get an Uber ride to leave the area. Inmate records indicate that Coirazza is being held in the Bergen County Jail, pending an appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, New Jersey. A historic court ruling, and a halting reopening. Its Tuesday, and this is your politics tip sheet. The court also declined to hear appeals in a range of cases related to gun rights, dealing a blow to activists who had hoped that the conservative majority would help broaden the interpretation of the Second Amendment. That announcement came just two weeks after the court also declined to issue a sweeping opinion in a separate gun-related case, its first in almost a decade. Liberals also had reason to be happy about what the court did not decide. The justices announced yesterday that they would not hear the Trump administrations appeal of a lower-court ruling upholding Californias so-called sanctuary law. That prevents local law-enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities when detaining undocumented people. Written by Neil Gorsuch among the more conservative jurists on a court that tilts to the right the ruling was the latest in a string of legal victories for supporters of gay and transgender rights. It reflects the leftward shift in public opinion on the issue in recent years; 82 percent of Americans said that lesbian and gay people should be protected under federal civil rights laws, according to a CBS News poll this month. Until yesterday, it was still legal in more than half of American states to fire someone for being gay, bisexual or transgender. But in a surprise 6-to-3 ruling, announced yesterday, the Supreme Court decided that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects L.G.B.T.Q. people from workplace discrimination. Americans are losing confidence in the countrys ability to rein in the impact of the coronavirus. That is among the findings of a Monmouth University poll released yesterday. Just 43 percent of respondents described themselves as at least somewhat confident that the United States could limit the outbreaks effects in the coming weeks; earlier this spring, a majority did. Fifty-three percent of Americans described themselves as very hopeful that they would be able to get their lives back to normal after the outbreak was over, a 16-point drop since April, according to the poll. Indeed, reopening has been a halting and imperfect process across the country. Over a dozen states that had begun to reopen their economies have had spikes in cases this month. In one of those states, South Carolina, the virus has even reached the congressional delegation. Tom Rice, a House Republican who represents the Myrtle Beach area, said on Monday that he had tested positive for the virus. New York State began rolling back social-distancing measures last week, but on Monday its Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, threatened to reinstate restrictions after receiving thousands of complaints about safety violations at newly reopened bars and restaurants. In other virus-related news, the Food and Drug Administration yesterday revoked its emergency authorization of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, two anti-malaria drugs that President Trump had promoted as possible treatments for Covid-19. Trump said last month that he was taking hydroxychloroquine, even after the F.D.A. had warned that the drugs could cause heart problems. In other New York-related news, Hillary Clinton announced her first endorsement in a 2020 House primary race on Monday, throwing her support behind Eliot Engel, an establishment Democrat from the Bronx and Westchester County. He is facing a tough challenge from Jamaal Bowman, a middle-school principal, who has been endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, as well as a range of progressive organizations. Engel is white but represents a constituency made up mostly of people of color; Bowman, who is African-American, has criticized him for staying away from his district throughout much of the coronavirus pandemic. Engel was caught on a hot microphone this month telling a colleague why he wanted the chance to speak at an event: If I didnt have a primary, I wouldnt care, he was heard saying. Engels opponent pounced on the remark, and has used it in ads and fund-raising materials. In the first two weeks of June, Bowmans campaign said it had taken in $750,000. Joe Bidens campaign and the Democratic National Committee announced on Monday that they had raised over $80 million in May, a new high for the Democrats this year. It was a big improvement on the already solid $60 million that Bidens campaign raised in April. May was the first full month in which Biden and the D.N.C. were able to raise money in tandem. For the first time, wealthy donors could give more than $620,000 to support the Biden Victory Fund, which circumvents donation limits by splitting gifts among state and national Democratic groups. A 2014 court ruling opened the door to such techniques, greatly expanding the role of national committees in fund-raising. Trump and the Republican National Committee used the maneuver this year when they charged $580,600 per couple at a Mar-a-Lago campaign event. Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register New York, June 16 : The US is partially stopping the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which President Donald Trump personally obtained from India, and chloroquine (CQ) to treat COVID-19, suspending it in hospital settings but allowing it elsewhere under doctor's care. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Monday that it was withdrawing the emergency use authorisation (EUA) for treating coronavirus patients in hospitals with the two politically controversial anti-malarial drugs because data showed they "are unlikely to be effective" and had "serious side effects". But Health Secretary Alex Azar clarified that the FDA ruling was limited to hospital use with "the most extreme cases" and the medicines have not been completely banned and doctors can continue to prescribe them. "We continue to study in out-patient settings, as well as preventive. That data is not yet in," he added. When Trump was asked about the FDA decision by reporters at the White House, he deferred to Azar, who said: "If a doctor wishes to prescribe it, working with a patient, they may prescribe it for any purpose that they wish to do so. "They may be used in hospitals, they may be used in outpatient, they may be used at home, all subject to a doctor's prescription." The FDA said the withdrawal of the EUA was "in light of ongoing serious cardiac adverse events and other potential serious side effects, the known and potential benefits of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine no longer outweigh the known and potential risks". The EUA allows medication to treat an ailment on an emergency basis without a full authorisation for the specific disease for which other medicines are not available. Even the partial restriction on HCQ use is a political victory for the Democrats who have been opposing it after trump had thrown his weight behind HCQ and had personally taken it for 14 days as a preventive for COVID-19. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denounced its use claiming that HCQ "has not been approved by the scientists", even though the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) National Task Force on COVID-19 has recommended that healthcare workers and others caring for coronavirus patients use HCQ as a preventive. The FDA's assertion that data had not shown that HCQ and CQ were effective is at odds with another development that dealt a blow to the credibility of the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet over a study that claimed HCQ was not effective and appeared to increase the risk of death because of doubts about the data used. The Lancet had to "deeply apologise" and withdraw the much-cited study when experts questioned the reliability of the data used in the study by three Indian origin scientists and another. Three authors of the study, Mandeep Mehra, Amit Patel and Frank Ruschitzka, conceded: "We can no longer vouch for the veracity of the primary data sources." The data came from a company called Surgisphere, whose CEO Sapan Desai was also listed as author of the study. The World Health Organization that had stopped HCQ clinical trials based on The Lancet study resumed them after it was withdrawn. Azar said that EUA that was withdrawn applied to CQ made in Pakistan that was donated by the pharmaceutical company Bayer, but did not mention the HCQ obtained from India. Trump, who has backed the use of HCQ, personally phone Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lift a ban of HCQ exports and allow those ordered by the US before the ban to be released. After India had decided to send the pre-ordered medicine to the US and also to supply several other countries, a reporter for a mainstream US media stirred a controversy by falsely claiming at a news conference that Modi had banned it as a retaliation for a US ban on the export of medical personal protection gear,Awhich India does not import from the US. Caught unaware, Trump said he had not heard about it but there could be "retaliation". Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi seized on it to create a controversy in India by claiming that Trump had made a threat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had succumbed to it, even though the decision on exporting HCQ had been made earlier. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) More violence has broken out at the scene of the stabbing death of a 16-year-old boy in Melbourne's west on Tuesday. A police officer was taken to hospital and another man treated for a laceration to the head after a brawl involving about 30 people broke out near Brimbank Shopping Centre in Deer Park where hours earlier a teen was killed. Police at the scene in Deer Park after a teenager was fatally stabbed and a brawl erupted hours later. Credit:AAP Victoria Police have arrested six males after the teen was stabbed walking near the shopping precinct. It is believed the victim was approached by a group of eight to 10 males on Neale Road just after 4pm, police said. The death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput on Sunday afternoon has opened the conversations around mental health conversations, which otherwise is still considered a stigma in our society. With many people coming forward open about their battles with depression and mental illness, Bengaluru-based actor, radio host and comedian Danish Sait, too, opened up about his story of 'therapy and anti-depressants'. Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone who has been vocal about her mental health, called it "heartening" to see people sharing their experience with mental illness as she came across Sait's account. It is extremely heartening to see soo many of you coming out and sharing your experience with mental illness. https://t.co/BDArEVZ36b Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) June 15, 2020 Padukone, in another tweet, however, urged netizens to avoid naming their prescribed medication as it wouldn't fit all and had the potential to be misused by others. The actor was referring to one of Sait's tweets where he had mentioned a particular drug that he had been prescribed to him by his doctor. However,I would recommend not naming the medication you are on and/or the specifics of the dosage.Simply because:-it is not a one rule fits all.- the information could potentially be misused. https://t.co/uDDjoZgvNb Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) June 15, 2020 Read: A Spike in Google Search for 'Depression Symptoms' After Sushant Singh Rajput's Death In a Twitter thread, the actor wrote, "Depression doesnt look like anything, it makes you feel like nothing from within. Hard to describe, harder to understand. Doctors / professionals have been my only hope." My 3rd year through therapy and anti depressants, I dont sleep at night without taking my cipralex tablet. Depression doesnt look like anything, it makes you feel like nothing from within. Hard to describe, harder to understand. Doctors / professionals have been my only hope. Danish Sait (@DanishSait) June 15, 2020 On Google, people searched for 'depression symptoms' after the Mumbai police said they suspect Sushant Singh Rajput's died by suicide. The 34-year-old actor's demise has sent shocks in the entire film industry and got social media again to talk about mental illness including anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and so on. In a subsequent tweet, the comedian wrote, "Our trigger points are very different, for some its professional, some its personal. Sometimes, theres just nothing but a hollow feeling." He added that this entire feeling is like a "gas chamber where its hard to live and breathe. Medical help is the bomb! Do it, even if theres nothing wrong with you, its helpful." Our trigger points are very different, for some its professional, some its personal. Sometimes, theres just nothing but a hollow feeling. A gas chamber where its hard to live and breathe. Medical help is the bomb! Do it, even if theres nothing wrong with you, its helpfu Danish Sait (@DanishSait) June 15, 2020 He wrote that once you spend time with therapists and you realise theres a science to living life. "There are techniques that help us deal with everyday bull, people / situations / conversations cause trauma, cant blame them for being them, instead we work on ourselves to navigate around problems." Danish described how a broken hand can never be fixed by a mechanic next door. Similarly, a broken mind needs a professional tool. "Self-fixing is hard,simple truth is were barely aware of ourselves," he said. Spend time with therapists and you realise theres a science to living life. There are techniques that help us deal with everyday bull, people / situations / conversations cause trauma, cant blame them for being them, instead we work on oursvelves to navigate around problems. Danish Sait (@DanishSait) June 15, 2020 A broken hand cant be fixed by a mechanic next door, it needs a professional. A broken mind needs a professional too. Self fixing is hard,simple truth is were barely aware of ourselves. Danish Sait (@DanishSait) June 15, 2020 Emphasising on the importance of mental health awareness, Danish wrote, "Awareness to a problem is half the solution to a problem, my brain doesnt produce enough chemicals that keep me balanced, I induce them, it works for me. I work out, it works for me, I speak, it works for me. Fix yourself! Dont be shy, its all cool " Awareness to a problem is half the solution to a problem, my brain doesnt produce enough chemicals that keep me balanced, I induce them, it works for me. I work out, it works for me, I speak, it works for me. Fix yourself! Dont be shy, its all cool Danish Sait (@DanishSait) June 15, 2020 Read: Stop Using 'Commits Suicide' When Reporting on Sushant Singh's Death. It Implies Criminality Danish's thoughts resonated with my many, who came forward to show their support for the actor and delved into a further discussion around mental health issues. Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) June 15, 2020 Im in the same boat. And I cant tell you how many people have tried to act as though I am doing something shameful because I am on medication, like cipralex is something evil Anirban Blah (@anirbanblah) June 15, 2020 I wish I could help you. Rajanikantha (@TalkToSpirits) June 15, 2020 More than anything you have done & said (yes, even more than the Mozzi bhaiiya-behen & bevarsi kudka) , I respect you for being open about this. Must have taken a lot to say this. Sabina Basha (@SabinaBasha) June 15, 2020 More power to you Danish! Thank you for making us smile while fighting your own demons all this while. TweetsByShrey (@amishrey) June 15, 2020 Incidentally, Danish has been the reason for many of our laughter during the lockdown as everyone was forced to be cooped up in homes to protect ourselves from the Coronavirus. His lockdown humour that was relatable gave the giggles to many. Danish's story is yet another reminder that too often we don't know what's behind that smile, behind that joke. READ: Bengaluru Comedian is Making People Smile in Times of Stress Note: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata). Poppy Stewart-Brown with her daughter Arabella on her first birthday. (PA Real Life/Collect) A woman was diagnosed with cancer just 48 hours before giving birth after a spot on her nose turned out to be a 10 cm tumour. But after almost a year of gruelling treatment, she was overjoyed to be able to celebrate her little girls first birthday. Poppy Stewart-Brown, 24, was originally told the headaches and nosebleeds she was suffering during pregnancy were common side effects. But two days before giving birth to her daughter, Arabella, she discovered that a painful spot on the left side of her nose was actually a tumour that had been silently growing from her jawbone and causing her symptoms. Doctors revealed she had Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of cancer diagnosed in only 600 people in the UK each year, according to the NHS. Read more: Parents spot baby's eye cancer in picture taken with a flash Poppy Stewart-Brown and her newborn daughter Arabella. (PA Real Life/Collect) Beauty therapist Stewart-Brown, from Cuckfield, West Sussex, first discovered she was pregnant in October 2018 after her first holiday with her partner Tommy Bolger, 27, a gas engineer. But, within a month, she started having frequent headaches and nosebleeds, which doctors said were common and attributed to the swell of hormones. Despite finding clots in her nosebleeds and going to casualty because of her headaches, the mum-to-be believed she was simply having a difficult pregnancy. Every time [I went to A&E], they did lots of tests to make sure Arabella was okay, which she was. Everyone was baffled. There were no obvious signs of what was causing me to feel quite so awful, so everybody thought it was just a reaction to the pregnancy. Read more: The impact coronavirus lockdown could be having on new parents' wellbeing Then, in February 2019, Stewart-Brown found a spot on the left side of her nose and, after a cream doctors gave her had no effect, she was referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist. At her March 2019 appointment, a scan revealed a mass in her jaw, that had grown up towards her nose, causing the spot. I had faith that I would be okay, said Stewart-Brown, adding that doctors did not, initially, think it was cancerous. I was only 23 and, before this, had been completely fit and healthy. Nobody ever expected it would be something so sinister. Story continues Poppy Stewart-Brown with Arabella during her treatment as she was undergoing cancer treatment. (PA Real Life/Collect) Read more: Labour MP holds baby while making a speech in parliament But things escalated when she was rushed to A&E just before the Easter bank holiday with a blinding headache and struggling to breathe out of her left nostril. A biopsy of the spot revealed the mass in her jaw was a 10 cm tumour and, at 34 weeks pregnant, Stewart-Brown had Ewing sarcoma, a cancer affecting the bones and their surrounding tissue. Cancer is not something Id been exposed to much before this, so it never crossed my mind that I could have it, Stewart-Brown recalls. I honestly thought I was just reacting very badly to being pregnant. Usually occurring in bones like the hips, thigh, and shin though occasionally found in soft tissue symptoms of Ewing sarcoma, according to the NHS, include pain, swelling and tenderness in the affected area, a fever, severe tiredness and weight loss. The consultant was speaking in doctor language. I told him I didnt understand, then it dawned on me that he was saying I had cancer, she says. It sounds strange now, but because I already knew Arabella was okay from all the extra tests theyd been doing, the first thing I said was, Am I going to lose my hair? It was the only thing I could think of to associate with a cancer patient. Read more: Millie Mackintosh reveals new babys name and talks motherhood That same day, Stewart-Brown was linked up with the charity CLIC Sargent, who assigned her a social worker to support her through the months ahead. And, just 48 hours later, on 26 April, she delivered Arabella six weeks early. At just 4lb 4oz (1.9 kg), she was tiny, but healthy and after being taken to neonatal intensive care she soon began to thrive. But her mother faced a five-hour operation just three days later, during which surgeons removed as much of the tumour as possible. Unfortunately doctors could not reach its roots, which were wrapped around her jawbone, meaning the new mum would require further treatment. Poppy Stewart-Brown cuddling her daughter Arabella in November 2019, during her proton beam therapy treatment. (PA Real Life/Collect) Read more: Mums quest to find 'good Samaritan' who helped when she went into labour in car park Recovering for eight days in Royal Sussex County Hospital, baby Arabella was a few floors away on a different ward. Tommy was amazing and would wheel me down to see her, but it wasnt the same as being able to cuddle her whenever I wanted to, she said. Those first days of Arabellas life were so different to what Id anticipated. My mothers instinct was to hold and cradle her, but cancer took that from me. I couldnt bear to hear the other mums with their babies on the ward. It broke my heart. After being discharged on May 6, Stewart-Brown had a three-week break before beginning the first of 14 rounds of chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden in Sutton, south London. Though her partner and Arabella visited regularly, the new mother found it difficult mentally. I couldnt come to terms with my diagnosis, she says. I had seen cancer patients on TV and in ad appeals, but its so different to be living it. I couldnt help but think, Why me? What did I do to deserve this? Stewart-Brown also struggled physically with the side-effects of chemotherapy, which often left her too exhausted to look after Arabella. I wanted to be able to feed her, change her nappy and bathe her. But at times, Id be so exhausted that if somebody said to me, Ill give you 1m to make her a bottle, I wouldnt have been able to do it. I was so lucky with the incredible support I got from Tommy and our families, but I worried in case my bond with my baby would be impacted. In October 2019, the new mum also began proton beam therapy a pioneering form of radiotherapy, which uses a beam of protons, or positively charged particles to target tumours precisely, reducing the damage to healthy surrounding tissue. She had 31 sessions, alongside chemotherapy, at Manchesters Christie Hospital, where the family relocated for a couple of months. The treatment left me weak, exhausted and scarcely able to eat, she reveals. It was awful, but we tried to snatch some happy moments too, and take Arabella for days out around the city when we could. For those brief moments, I could feel like a mum rather than a cancer patient. Poppy Stewart-Brown and Tommy Bolger with their daughter Arabella. (PA Real Life/Collect) Read more: Mum shares heartbreaking pictures of baby recovering from lifesaving heart surgery At the end of February 2020, after her final chemotherapy, doctors told Stewart-Brown they believed her tumour had gone and that there were no signs of the cancer being active again elsewhere in her body. She has to wait a little longer before receiving an official all clear, but, for now, doctors are happy with her progress and will continue to monitor her with scans. But her biggest milestone was celebrating Arabellas first birthday on April 26. Although in lockdown, the family made the day as special as possible with cake, balloons and banners and plan to have a proper party when restrictions are eased. Stewart-Brown is opening up about her experience to raise awareness of sarcoma and to thank CLIC Sargent. From day one, CLIC Sargent have been incredible, she says. They even helped with little things like providing vouchers to pamper myself with, and with practicalities I didnt have the headspace to think about, such as hospital parking. It was a horrible time, but they were there throughout not just for me, but for my family. Poppy Stewart-Brown with her daughter Arabella in summer 2019, whilst she was undergoing cancer treatment. (PA Real Life/Collect) CLIC Sargent CEO Rachel Kirby-Rider is now appealing for help, as the organisations income has been impacted by COVID-19. Since the coronavirus hit the UK our income fell off a cliff, an instant 60% drop, she says. We face losing 8 million which for a charity of our size is devastating. Many families we support were already at financial breaking point before the pandemic and things are getting tougher for them. Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK, CLIC Sargent has given out over 45,000 in hardship grants to families in crisis struggling to afford the essentials such as food and paying bills. Cancer doesnt stop for coronavirus and the young cancer patients and families we support are facing a real crisis and need us more than ever. We urgently need funding to do that. To support CLIC Sargent and donate, click here Additional reporting PA Real Life. The 10-year plan for conserving biodiversity adopted as part of the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) failed to reach its targets for 2020. A scientist from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) proposes therefore a prominent political target to give discussions of species conservation more vigor. Together with a group of experts from other research institutions, he proposes to limit species extinctions to 20 per year. This is reported in Science. (DOI: 10.1126/science.aba6592). The 2-degree target of the Paris Agreement aims to make climate policy focus on the measures needed to stop climate change. But such a target does not exist for species conservation. "Humankind depends on biodiversity," says Professor Mark Rounsevell, Head of the Land Use Change and Climate Research Group of the Atmospheric Environmental Research Division of KIT's Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research. "Without the services provided by ecosystems, such as crop pollination by insects, we lack the fundamental basis of our life support system. Politics needs a clear target to conserve biological diversity in order to maintain the supply of ecosytem services." In the opinion of Rounsevell and a group of other researchers, their demand to lower species extinctions to 20 per year over the next 100 years is easy to communicate and measure. The scientists would like to see this target included in the CBD that will be newly negotiated next year. The last 20 so-called Aichi biodiversity targets agreed upon by the CBD signatories covered worldwide protection of ecosystems and support of sustainability, among others. The proposal of Rounsevell and other experts is based on existing studies of the stress limit of our planet. In addition to ocean acidification, air pollution, or freshwater consumption, loss of biodiversity is a major factor that might irrevocably endanger the stability of worldwide ecosystems. When exceeding a certain threshold value, researchers expect long-term negative impacts on the environment. To prevent these, species extinction should not exceed more than ten times the background (i.e. prehistorical) rates. "With presently about two million species described, this corresponds to about 20 extinct species per year," Rounsevell says. "This includes all fungi, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates as well as all ecosystem types, whether terrestrial, freshwater, or marine." In the longer term (beyond 100 years) the ambition should be to return extinctions to background rates. Necessary Measures Will Improve the Overall State As the species extinction rate has increased continuously to date, far-reaching political measures would be required to reach the target of the biodiversity researchers. This would positively affect the overall state of ecosystems. The 2-degree target in climate protection works in a similar way. Although temperature is just one of several factors used to represent the complex climate system, the measures required to reach this target will improve climate protection in general. A reduced temperature increase will indirectly affect the rise of the sea level or the occurrence of weather extremes, such as storms or strong rainfall. Potential action options proposed by Rounsevell and the group of researchers based on recommendations by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) include extension of nature protection areas, increased funding of species protection, further development of ecolabels, or strict prosecution of wildlife trade. As biodiversity varies greatly at the regional level, Rounsevell considers it important to adapt political measures to local and regional conditions. "Each country has to develop its own catalog of measures and to take responsibility for reaching the target," the environmental researcher says. Success of the new approach to species protection should be monitored continuously. "To find out how the rate of species extinction will develop, large-scale monitoring projects will be required," Rounsevell says. If the efforts to protect biodiversity are successful, then the the number of extinct species per year can be reduced to lower values later on. ### Original Publication: Mark D. A. Rounsevell, Mike Harfoot, Paula A. Harrison, Tim Newbold, Richard D. Gregory, Georgina M. Mace: A biodiversity target based on species extinctions. Science, 2020. (DOI: 10.1126/science.aba6592) Weitere Materialien: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6496/1193/tab-article-info More about the KIT Climate and Environment Center: http://www.klima-umwelt.kit.edu/english Press contact: Carola Mensch, Redakteurin/Pressereferentin, Tel.: +49 721 608-21170, carola.mensch@kit.edu Being "The Research University in the Helmholtz Association", KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,300 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 24,400 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. Credit: Heriot-Watt University A leading marine scientist from Heriot-Watt University took the opportunity of a lifetime to dive to the bottom of the ocean. Using the deep-sea submarine named the Alvin, which was made famous by its first survey of the wreck of the Titanic, Professor Andrew K. Sweetman from the Lyell Centre in Edinburgh made the 2500m descent to the ocean floor off the west coast of Mexico in December 2019. Here, he helped examine the recovery of deep-sea vents from underwater volcanic eruptions and collected sea life samples to examine the prevalence of parasites in them. He also visited historic volcanic vent sites that were no longer active to document how the biology changes as very little is known about these ecosystems. This isn't the first time Professor Sweetman has studied the deep-sea floor. Some of his recent work in the Pacific Ocean found a potentially new source of organic mattermicrobial biomass produced from CO 2 being produced in situ that could act as food for deep-sea organisms. Before this, researchers thought the biggest source of food to deep seafloor ecosystems was organic matterlike dead fish and plankton. Professor Sweetman said that "bacterial biomass potentially becomes a food source for other animals in the deep sea, so actually what we've discovered is a potential alternative food source in the deepest parts of the ocean, where we thought there was none. Also, if the findings from the study are scaled up to the oceans globally, it could mean 200 million tons of CO 2 is being turned into biomass every year." Through newly funded research projects, Professor Sweetman aims to explore the importance of this new process in other regions of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans over the next 4-5 years. He says: "We need to explore this process in greater detail as at present, we don't know where the energy is coming from for CO 2 fixation, and what microbes are fixing C into their biomass. Once we've figured this out, we can start interrogating the available data on microbial diversity in the deep sea to assess where this process is happening in the ocean." Professor Sweetman explained that this work is critical for understanding the effects of deep-sea disturbance, such as mining. The area he currently works in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ), Pacific Ocean has been extensively surveyed for its deep-sea mining potential and teams of researchers are now conducting surveys to assess the biodiversity of the CCFZ to understand what impact deep-sea mining might have. Increasing demand for metals and rare earth elements for use in electronics and renewable energy infrastructure is accelerating research into deep-sea minerals and their potential for exploitation. The CCFZ is of particular importance due to high abundances of polymetallic nodulesca. 30 billion tons. Nodules here are rich in manganese, copper, cobalt, nickel, and trace metals such as molybdenum, lithium and rare earth elements. Professor Sweetman explains: "Small scale disturbance experiments that we have conducted have shown limited recovery of sea life and microbes over long periods, therefore deep-sea mining may significantly impact seafloor microbes that may be actively removing CO 2 . If a significant amount of CO 2 is removed each year by the microbial communities within mining areas, mining may inadvertently affect this important ecosystem service in the deep sea." More information: Details of Professor Sweetman's research, his current projects and how you could join his Deep-Sea Ecology and Biogeochemistry research team at the Lyell Centre for Earth and Marine Science and Technology can be found here: Details of Professor Sweetman's research, his current projects and how you could join his Deep-Sea Ecology and Biogeochemistry research team at the Lyell Centre for Earth and Marine Science and Technology can be found here: deepseaecologyandbiogeochemist ygroup.wordpress.com Palghar : , June 16 (IANS) Taking the police by shock, at least 11 accused arrested in connection with the April triple lynching case in Maharashtra's Palghar have tested Covid-19 positive, a police official said here on Tuesday. "The accused were due to be shifted soon from Wada Police Station lockup to a temporary jail being set up by the district collectorate, for which Covid-19 tests were carried out on all at this police station. Today, the test reports of 11 have come positive," said the official. Presently, they are isolated at the Covid Care Hospital in Posheri, Wada, but soon they will be shifted to the Prisoners Isolation Ward in Palghar Rural Hospital, as advised by the local medical authorities, he added. It is not clear whether any police or security personnel who may have come in contact with the accused are infected, even as full precautions are exercised at the police station. In early May, one accused had tested positive. The 12 afflicted are among around 160 people arrested in connection with the mob-lynching of two Sadhus and their driver in a remote area of the district. Those arrested include 9 minors and several local politicians. The accused are housed in lock-ups at Wada, Dahanu, Vikramgarh, Kasa, Talasari and other police stations to avoid overcrowding in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. On the night of April 16, Kalpavrukshagiri Maharaj, 70, his assistant Sushilgiri Maharaj, 35, and their driver Nilesh Telgade, 30, were pounced upon and killed by an angry mob of around 350 villagers which mistook them for kidnappers near Gadchinchale village. The incident sparked a nationwide political row which prompted the Maharashtra government to effect a major shakeup in the local police, including shunting out Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh and replacing him with senior IPS officer D.T. Shinde. Simultaneously, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh handed over the triple-lynching probe to the state CID, suspended five police officials and transferred 35 police constables to different police stations within the district. Deshmukh also visited the Kasa Police Station under the jurisdiction of which the mob-lynching incident took place. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) BRIMFIELD A Holland driver who struck and killed a motorcycle rider and seriously injured his passenger was charged with motor vehicle homicide on Monday. Michael Frank, 57, of Holland, was arraigned in Palmer District Court on Tuesday on charges related to the June 7 crash that killed Donald Magoon, 43, and seriously injured his daughter Kayla Magoon, 15, both of Holland, said James Leydon, spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. Frank was charged with motor vehicle homicide resulting from negligent or reckless operation and a marked lanes violation. Bail was set for $10,000 and he is not allowed to drive if released. His case was continued to Aug. 13, Leydon said. The crash occurred about 3 p.m. near 131 East Brimfield-Holland Road. Frank was driving a minivan and is accused of crossing into the oncoming lane, striking the motorcycle head-on and then hitting a telephone pole, Leydon said. Frank suffered what are believed to be minor injuries, Leydon said. The crash remains under investigation by the Brimfield Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorneys Office, the Hampden District Attorneys Office Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, Leydon said. Gulluni and Brimfield Police Chief Charles Kuss expressed their sympathies to the Magoon family, Leydon said. - The UN members will elect five states to take up non-permanent seats at UNSC on Wednesday, June 17 - Voting will be conducted virtually through a secret ballot as seven countries battle out for positions -Kenya is the Africa Unions sole endorsed candidate, but a stubborn Djibouti remains in the race Kenya is hopeful it will clinch a seat as Africas representative at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) when elections are held on Wednesday, June 17. The United Nations are set to elect five states from its 193 members to take up the non-permanent seats at the powerful organ for the period 2021-2022. READ ALSO: Seneti kuamua ni wapi kesi ya Gavana Waiguru itasIkizwa President Uhuru Kenyatta during a video conference meeting with other African head of states. Photo: State House. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Muigai Wa Njoroge: Kikuyu musician unleashes hit song criticising Uhuru's govt, dynasties It will no doubt be a high-stakes moment for Kenya since despite being the Africa Unions sole endorsed candidate, neighbouring Djibouti remains in the race. The voting will this time round be conducted virtually, albeit through a secret ballot, as seven countries battle out for the five positions. Other than Kenya and Djibouti, which are seeking to replace South Africa, other countries that have fronted their candidature are India, Mexico, Canada, Ireland and Norway. A country must receive at least two-thirds of the votes of the General Assembly delegations voting to win a seat in the UNSC. If all 193 UNGA members take part in the vote, Kenya will need at least 129 votes to win. If successful in its bid to be a non-permanent member, Kenya will have the privilege of sitting in the powerful organ whose primary responsibility is international peace and security. The council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to peace or act of aggression around the world. The UNSC has 15 members, five of them permanent, each of which has one vote. Only the five have veto powers. The permanent member states, commonly known as the P5, are the US, UK, Russia, China and France. They enjoy veto power but cannot proceed without the backing of at least four non-permanent members of the council. The 10 non-permanent members are elected for a two-year non-renewable term, although a member can vie after some time. Kenya has previously served at the council in 1973-74 and 1997-98. Kenya has anchored its current campaign for the UNSC seat on a 10-point agenda that comprises building bridges, peacekeeping and support operations, regional peace and security, counterterrorism, humanitarian action, justice, human rights and democracy, women peace and security, youth empowerment and environment and climate change. In its bid to win the seat, the country has engaged in relentless shuffle diplomacy and reached out to international diplomats based in the UN and AU, with President Uhuru Kenyatta spearheading the bid. Kenya easily won 37-13 against Djibouti in the AU vote for Africas representative. Djibouti has since aggressively challenged the validity of AUs endorsement of Kenya ahead of the UNGA vote. But the AU earlier this month reiterated its endorsement of Kenya, a stance that could strengthen the East African countrys chances of success. The continental bodys Permanent Observer Mission to the UN in New York circulated a note to all permanent missions indicating only Kenya should be contesting for the non-permanent seat allocated for Africa this year. The Mission has the honour to remind that the African Union endorsed the Republic of Kenya for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the term 2021-2022, the Mission said in its note dated June 9. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. Source: TUKO.co.ke Super-potent antibodies taken from the blood of Covid-19 survivors could protect animals from being struck down badly, a study has found. Experts discovered extremely strong antibodies which prevented hamsters getting severely unwell with the disease, when exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Academics at Scripps Research, in San Diego, say the antibodies can be cloned in the lab and be mass-produced, if they are proven to fight the virus. Antibodies are made by the immune system in response to an infection, helping the body to destroy the pathogen if exposed again in the future. Questions remain over whether Covid-19 survivors develop any immunity once they recover from the disease. But antibodies are a promising line of therapeutics because they can be developed much quicker than vaccines, offering a short-term solution. Administered in doses like a vaccine, scientists say antibodies could give humans the ability to avoid being struck down by the disease. Antibodies made in the laboratory to mimic natural antibodies have been used in the treatment of a huge range of conditions, including arthritis, Crohn's and Ebola. Scientists all over the world are looking at monoclonal antibody therapy for the new coronavirus but there are few currently in clinical trials. Super-potent antibodies taken from the blood of Covid-19 survivors can completely protect animals from catching the infection. (Stock of antibodies attacking the coronavirus) Dr Thomas Rogers, one of the authors behind the antibody breakthrough, described the research as a 'tremendous collaborative effort'. He added the team was 'now focused on making large quantities of these promising antibodies for clinical trials'. Researchers took blood samples from 17 patients who had recovered from mild-to-severe bouts of Covid-19. They looked for antibodies, which are proteins produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, like the coronavirus. They then tested whether antibody-rich blood could actually block the coronavirus from infecting 'test cells' that replicate human cells in a petri dish. WHAT IS MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY? Monoclonal antibody therapy is a form of immunotherapy that uses monoclonal antibodies (mAb). It's given as an injection under the skin or through a drip into a vein. The treatment works in many different ways. It can work in a vaccine-like way, protecting a patient from severe disease, or can help to stimulate the patient's immune system to attack antigens. Hybridoma technology is one method for producing large numbers of monoclonal antibodies - identical antibodies that are clones of a unique parent cell. The process starts by injecting an animal, such as a mouse, with an antigen that provokes an immune response. B cells produces antibodies that bind to the antigen. These antibody producing B-cells are then harvested and used to culture more antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies are screened against their ability to work, with initial experiments in animals. Major technological advances have made the discovery and development of mAb therapies quicker and more efficient, deriving the antibodies from humans and not animals. Scientists can create a mAb that is specific to almost any antigen, and are working on one for the coronavirus. The spike protein on the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the primary target being explored for potential Covid-19 monoclonal antibodies. The aim is that by targeting the spike protein, the antibody will be able to neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus, therefore stopping it from infecting healthy cells. A particularly interesting avenue is giving them to people who arent infected yet as a preventative tool. If the antibodies are potent and long-lasting enough, they could provide sufficient protection for a period or time before a vaccine is found. Research and development is underway to create antibodies for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and different types of cancers. But many are already in use both in the US and UK. Since 2008, 48 new mAbs have been approved, contributing to a total global market of 61 mAbs in clinical use at the end of 2017, according to the US FDA. Advertisement The role of antibodies is to latch on to foreign substances like the coronavirus and mark it for other immune cells, such as T-cells, to kill. Antibodies are considered one of the last lines of defence in the immune system, called the adaptive immune system, and can take a number of days to come into action. They are triggered into action by B cells, which tell the antibodies which specific pathogen they have to look for. The researchers isolated more than 1,000 B cells from three donors which produced distinct anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. They obtained the antibody gene sequences from these B cells so that they could mass-produce the antibodies in the laboratory. By screening these antibodies individually, the team identified a handful that could 'neutralize' the virus in the test cells which replicate those found in the human body. Neutralizing antibodies are able to kill the virus themselves, rather than just tagging it for other immune cells to attack. The findings suggest not everyone has these neutralizing antibodies with 'outstanding potency'. One antibody was able to protect hamsters against severe Covid-19, according to the findings published in the journal Science, when compared with an antibody for dengue virus. The researchers used the hamster's weight as an indicator of disease progression. If the hamsters maintained their weight, it indicated they did not get as sick. Those given a dose of dummy antibodies lost 13 per cent of their weight, compared to hamsters given the highest dose of the super-potent coronavirus antibody, who lost no weight. Five days after infection, roughly two days before hamsters typically recover from an infection, the researchers measured the levels of viral load in the animals' lung tissue. The findings corroborated with weight loss, showing the hamsters treated with the Covid-19 antibodies fared better. The authors of the paper said the success of potent antibodies in hamsters gives merit for human trials. But the team acknowledged there will be differences in how humans respond to the treatment, compared with animals. Dr Dennis Burton, another one of the researchers, said: 'The discovery of these very potent antibodies represents an extremely rapid response to a totally new pathogen.' If further safety tests in animals and human trials go well, the antibodies could be used in clinical settings as early as next January, the researchers say. 'We intend to make them available to those who need them most, including people in low- and middle-income countries,' said study co-author Dr Elise Landais, a principal scientist at IAVI, a nonprofit scientific research organisation involved in the work. In principle, injections of potent antibodies could be given to patients in the early stage of Covid-19 to stop the disease from progressing and becoming severe. AstraZeneca's chief executive, Pascal Soriot, said an antibody treatment being developed is 'a combination of two antibodies' in an injected dose They could also be given as vaccine-like protection to prevent the coronavirus from infecting cells in the first place. This may be particularly useful for healthcare workers, elderly and vulnerable people all of whom are at significant risk of Covid-19. Scientifically engineered antibodies, called mAbs, are used in the treatment of other diseases and have become increasingly popular over the past 25 years. Monoclonal antibody therapy has been successful against Ebola and the pneumonia-causing respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV. The breakthrough follows AstraZeneca revealing it was working on an injection with cloned antibodies that could be ready next year. Chief executive Pascal Soriot told The Sunday Telegraph the therapy being made is 'a combination of two antibodies' in an injected dose. The dose which allows the body to fight Covid-19 could prove hugely beneficial for those in the early stages of infection, according to the Cambridge-based firm. It would essentially give a person the chance to fight the virus quickly so that it does not have the ability to develop into severe disease. AstraZeneca is the same firm which has already started to manufacture the Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine, which is undergoing human trials. Australians are being warned of a huge blow to future investment if governments cannot reach a deal to fast-track approvals under a contentious federal change to environmental law. Resources Minister Keith Pitt blamed the overlap between state and federal governments for halting work on projects worth billions of dollars, arguing for national agreements to end the delays. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Resources Minister Keith Pitt in Parliament House. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen But Labor stepped up its attack on the Morrison government for "misleading" the community about the threat to jobs, saying the problems with environmental approvals were the Coalition's own fault. Mr Pitt said a new balance had to be found to speed up decisions after some mining companies had been forced to wait a decade to have their projects approved under the existing regime. Utility work on South Broad Street will shut down an intersection that provides access from downtown Mobile to the Brookley Aeroplex starting Thursday. Starting June 18, the five-point intersection of South Broad Street, Washington Avenue and Baltimore Street will be closed, according to information provided by the citys Traffic Engineering Department. The work is expected to take three weeks. Several detour routes will be established for local traffic and for traffic coming on and off I-10 at Broad Street directly and via service roads connecting to ramps at Duval Street to the west. A separate closure of North Broad Street that began Monday is expected to last through Sunday, June 28. This project, which involves the installation of new water, sewer and storm drain infrastructure, has closed North Broad from St. Louis St. through the Congress Street intersection. Traffic is being detoured along St. Louis St., N. Washington Ave. and Lyons St. The work on North Broad St. is part of a larger revitalization funded in part by a federal TIGER grant. For more information on that project, visit https://www.cityofmobile.org/reconnectingmobile/tiger-grant/. San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney will announce Tuesday that a long-discussed proposal to tax companies where top executives earn vastly more money than the rest of their workforce is headed for the November ballot. The measure, which Haney has dubbed the overpaid executive tax, would bring in between $60 million and $140 million annually by taxing businesses that pay the highest-earning person in the company 100 times or more the median salary of its San Francisco workers, starting in 2022. The concept was previously envisioned as a funding mechanism for Mental Health SF, a sweeping plan to overhaul the citys fractured mental health care system championed by Haney and Supervisor Hillary Ronen. The latest version was quietly introduced last Tuesday. But since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Haney said, should the measure pass with a simple-majority vote, he intends to lobby for the money to be used to ensure that the citys broader health system can endure looming budget cuts particularly any that might threaten the jobs of frontline health care workers. These are the same people who just saved our lives and who are going to continue to need to protect the health of San Franciscans, Haney said. The pandemic is not over. Were going to continue to make sure our hospitals are well-staffed and prepared. Haney said he was terrified at the thought of what health department layoffs might mean for the citys ongoing emergency response and also to the larger health and mental health challenges we have as a city. The measure has so far been co-sponsored by Ronen and Supervisors Shamann Walton, Gordon Mar and Dean Preston. The four co-sponsors guarantees the measure will reach the ballot. Mayor London Breed ordered departments that rely on the citys roughly $6 billion general fund to present budget proposals envisioning a 10% cut in the next fiscal year to contend with an economic collapse catalyzed by the pandemic. The mayor does not have to accept those proposals, however. Health department staff will present their proposed budget to the citys Health Commission Tuesday, which does not reduce services or result in layoffs through the 2021-22 fiscal year. The measure, which would tax a companys gross receipts a measure of a companys revenue is also an instrument for addressing San Franciscos wealth gap, Haney said one that is painfully acute in a city where a wildly successful business sector is juxtaposed against stark income inequality and a growing homelessness crisis. Companies subject to the tax would have to pay 0.1% of their gross receipts earned in San Francisco to the city if their highest-paid employee makes 100 times the median salary of the companys San Francisco-based workforce. The figure goes up to 0.2% for executives making 200 times the companys median salary for local workers, and upward to 1% of gross receipts when top brass makes 1,000 times the median. Businesses must earn at least $1.17 million in gross receipts annually to qualify for the tax, which Haney said will exempt most small businesses, as the city defines them. The measure also includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, property issued or transferred in exchange for the performance of services (including but not limited to stock options) in its definition of compensation. That may include some tech companies with top executives who supplement nominally small salaries with generous stock-based pay packages. Many companies with high across-the-board salaries reducing the ratio of top earners to median earners would be exempt from the tax, including many tech companies. A previous analysis by The Chronicle of companies that would likely be affected by the tax included Comcast, Bank of America, JP Morgan, Chipotle, Visa, Salesforce, Wells Fargo and Gap. The tax would shunt money to the citys general fund. As such, it cannot be earmarked as a ballot measure for any specific purpose doing so would require a two-thirds supermajority vote to pass. But Haney said he intends to wield every tool he has as a legislator to ensure the money is set aside to avoid cuts or layoffs for health care workers. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Haneys measure also comes amid still-congealing plans by Breed and the Board of Supervisors to recast San Franciscos system of business taxes. Both sides are expected to spend the coming weeks negotiating over just how high to raise taxes and how quickly, considering the pandemic. But Haney said he did not expect the executive tax to become a bargaining chip as part of broader reforms. Regardless of the outcome of other reforms, we need the revenue to save health care jobs and fight inequality, he said. This measure does both so I dont view it as contingent on the outcome of other negotiations. Despite the broad, calamitous economic effects of the pandemic, Haney said well-off companies will be hard pressed to argue they cant afford to pay the extra tax while their top brass enjoy high salaries. Were only taxing companies that have enough to pay their executives millions of dollars. They can pay their executives less, or pay their workers more and they wont need to pay this tax, Haney said. That will also likely be a salve to some of the citys labor unions, which are expected to resist any calls for layoffs among city-government workforces they represent. Haney said the measure has already been endorsed by the San Francisco Labor Council, SEIU Local 1021 and other unions. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ design has just surfaced in CAD-based renders (both images and video). These renders have been shared by Pigtou and OnLeaks, in collaboration. These renders are probably quite accurate, and they reveal the design of Samsungs upcoming flagship tablet. As you can see, the device will have quite thin bezels. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ design revealed, thin bezels in tow Tables should always have bezels for grip purposes, though that doesnt mean they have to be thick. Thats something that Samsung is trying to express with this design. The device will not include display holes, or a notch, by the way. Advertisement The company seems to have placed two cameras on the back of this device. Those two cameras are vertically aligned, with an LED flash placed below them. The whole camera module protrudes on the back. Were not sure what material is Samsung using here, but its either metal or glass. It sure looks like metal in the renders that are provided here, though. Overall, the design of the Galaxy Tab S7+ resembles the design of Apples last-gen iPad. It has those flat sides and everything. You will also notice pogo pins on the left, for docking purposes. Advertisement The Galaxy Tab S7+ will feature a 12.4-inch display. That is quite a large display, for a tablet, and only slightly smaller than the one Apples 12.9-inch iPad is offering. Were sure that Samsung will utilize an OLED display here, by the way, and the resolution is still unknown. If we had to guess, though, wed say this will be a QHD+ 120Hz panel. The S Pen will be a part of the package as well To round up the package, Samsung will also throw in an S Pen stylus into the mix. That stylus will ship alongside the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+. Advertisement The Galaxy Tab S7+ is rumored to include a 9,800mAh battery. Its smaller sibling, the Galaxy Tab S7, will probably include a smaller battery pack, a 7.760mAh one. Some may assume these two devices will arrive in August, along with the Galaxy Note 20 series. That almost certainly will not happen, though. Samsung will launch five flagship-grade devices during that launch event, so including these two tablets would be hectic. The Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ will almost certainly launch next month. We still dont know when exactly will that happen, but July seems to be the month it will happen. [June 16, 2020] Wildberries Expands in European Market With Wirecard Wildberries is a large international online retailer Wirecard handles payments for Wildberries European e-commerce sites Cooperation enables retailer to expand its unified commerce business ASCHHEIM, Germany, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wirecard, the global innovation leader for digital financial technology, is announcing a cooperation with a large international online retailer, Wildberries. Wirecard will take on the role of an acquirer and payment service provider (PSP) for Wildberries in Europe. Founded in 2004, Wildberries sells clothing, shoes, cosmetics, household products, children's goods, electronics, books, jewelry, food, and more. Since its foundation, the company has been expanding rapidly and now records EUR 3.1 billion in annual sales, while attracting six million unique visitors every day. Wildberries is actively developing its business in Central and Eastern Europe, and Asia. Within five months, the company opened 28 branded pick-up points in Poland and expanded the coverage area of free courier delivery over the whole country. Recently, the company launched delivery of goods from a local distribution center in Poland, which reduced delivery time to one day. In May, Wildberries started sales in Slovakia, where the company plans to open more than 5 branded pick-up points in the near future. Wirecard's payment solution allows Wildberries to receive payments quickly and reliably, while ensuring the safety of customers' personal data. As the world's first payment service provider to offer more than 200 different local and global payment solutions, Wirecard offers an individualized and extensive set of payment tools for Wildberries, which allows its customers to pay for their purchases with all cards types and e-wallets. Today Wiecard handles all payments for the Polish Wildberries website, where the retailer has recently started its business. In the near future, the cooperation will be expanded to other European countries. "Nowadays, online shopping attracts more and more customers. Thanks to Wirecard, we can offer our European customers their preferred payment methods, which will help us to make shopping at Wildberries even more comfortable," commented Vladimir Bakin, Financial Director at Wildberries. "We see Wirecard as an important partner of ours. We particularly appreciate the fact that they provide both acquiring and payment processing services via the same platform." "This is another example of how Wirecard continues to drive the digitalization of the retail industry throughout the world. By guaranteeing smooth payment processing for Wildberries, we ensure a unique payment experience for their customers. This is essential for the company's expansion into becoming a truly unified commerce business moving forward," added Roland Toch, Managing Director - Central Eastern Europe at Wirecard. About Wirecard: Wirecard (GER: WDI) is one of the world's fastest growing digital platforms in the area of financial commerce. We provide both business customers and consumers with a constantly expanding ecosystem of real-time value-added services built around innovative digital payments by using an integrated B2B2C approach. This ecosystem concentrates on the areas payment and risk, retail and transaction banking, loyalty and couponing, data analytics and conversion rate enhancement in all sales channels (online, mobile, POS). Wirecard operates regulated financial institutions in several key markets and holds issuing and acquiring licenses from all major payment and card networks. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (DAX and TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060). Find out more at www.wirecard.com. About Wildberries: Wildberries is a large international online retailer that has been operating in the market for 15 years. The company's geographical presence covers seven countries: Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia and Armenia. The overall sales of the company exceeded 3,1 bln euros (+94%) in 2019. About 750,000 orders on average a day are proceeded at Wildberries. The company employs over 53,000 people. Wildberries has more than 7.5 thousand branded pick-up points in seven countries. Wildberries assortment in the territory of the EUEA countries includes 4 million SKU of goods from 40 000 brands: clothes and footwear, accessories, beauty goods, children's goods, electronics, household goods, jewelry, food, books and much more. The company has 30,000 suppliers. Wildberries takes 1st place in the Forbes ranking "10 Main Runet sales platforms" for 2019. According to analytical agency Data Insight Wildberries is the largest online retailer in Russia in terms of online sales for four years. Find out more at www.wildberries.eu. Wirecard media contact: Wirecard AG Jana Tilz Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1363 Email: [email protected] Wildberries media contact: Email: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Tomball has held its annual Fourth of July street festival for the last eight years, but this years celebration will just be fireworks, as the city continues to try and prevent the spread of coronavirus. The holiday falls on a Saturday this year, and Tomballs Director of Marketing and Tourism, Mike Baxter, said the last time the festival was held on a Saturday, they had around 20,000 people at the street festival and another 20,000 out watching the fireworks. SAVE THE DATE: Go Fishing Day and Hawk Talk among events planned in northwest Houston We just didnt feel like taking the chance of having those 20,000 people packed into the street off Business 249, Baxter said. Instead, this year will only have fireworks, he said. Spectators can watch the display from the parking lots throughout the 4 Corners at the intersection of FM 2920 and Highway 249. The display starts at 9:30 p.m., with accompanying music that can be listened to at 95.3 FM. Baxter said the display would be about 23 minutes long. The annual festival brings out thousands of people to that part of town every year, which means businesses around the festival could see a drop in planned revenue due to the cancellation. The folks who really would have benefited from this locally would have been Pecos [Grill] and The Original Rib Tickler because they are food vendors for us, Baxter said. Then you have Kroger, who always has people use their parking lots and everything. Kroger is always loaded with folks on the Fourth of July. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Texas set a new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations in four of the last five days, officials said. Hospitals are scrambling to accommodate the spike. The two vendor restaurants for the street festival are the only businesses directly impacted by not having the street festival this year, Baxter said. They were making as much money in that one evening as they would normally make maybe in a week, so it was a really good thing for them, Baxter said. Aside from those businesses, Baxter said most of the nearby businesses are shut down anyway because its a holiday. H-E-B may benefit, the businesses that are still open, the fast food restaurants in that general area of 4 Corners but the rest of the city as a whole, it doesnt really impact them, Baxter said. Thats one event that doesnt impact the downtown area. HOUSTON STRONG: Lone Star partners with the United Network for Collegiate Pantry Sharing to provide students food relief Most other city festivals are held in downtown Tomball, Baxter said, which can have an economic trickledown effect on the town due to visitors coming from out of town and stopping for gas and food. But the Fourth of July festival takes place later at night after many of those businesses are already closed. The street festival is relatively new, starting in 2012, Baxter said. Before that, he said, fireworks displays had been going on for the last 50 years, with the Tomball Fire Department hosting a small event alongside it. paul.wedding@hcnonline.com Recent waves of holiday-weekend beach parties and continuing street protests in the United States were followed on the weekend by a spike in new cases of COVID-19. It was not exactly the long-foretold second wave of the coronavirus pandemic; nonetheless, world stock markets cringed at the reminder of what the second wave might look like. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Recent waves of holiday-weekend beach parties and continuing street protests in the United States were followed on the weekend by a spike in new cases of COVID-19. It was not exactly the long-foretold second wave of the coronavirus pandemic; nonetheless, world stock markets cringed at the reminder of what the second wave might look like. In the view of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. governments chief arbiter of pandemic interpretation, we will see the second wave when hospital admissions for COVID-19 increase. It may happen or it may not. What did happen in recent days was a sharp increase in gross totals of newly-reported COVID-19 cases in Florida, Texas, Arizona and North Carolina. Those states have been among the most aggressive in re-opening businesses and relaxing restrictions on social gatherings. Other states reported smaller increases in new cases. U.S. infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci says we will see the second wave when hospital admissions for COVID-19 increase. (Alex Brandon / The Associated Press files) Those figures lumped together data of varying quality from many sources. They showed nothing about when and how the patients were infected, how serious their symptoms were and how certain the diagnosis was. When hospitals report admitting people for treatment of COVID-19, you know the symptoms are bad and the diagnosis is probably accurate. Those are the numbers Dr. Fauci is waiting for. Stock markets, however, did not stop Monday morning to puzzle over the fine points of epidemiological science. They put two and two together and the answer was: sell. Share prices for airlines and cruise companies were hit hardest. Canadian provinces, too, have been re-opening businesses and relaxing restrictions, but cautiously for the most part. Daily totals of new Canadian cases continued their gradual decline. Canadas national total of new cases, which was running around 1,000 a day all through May, stayed below 500 a day for the last week. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The increase in U.S. cases provides a warning that some U.S. states are not achieving an efficient exit from their April-May lockdowns. If Texas, Florida and perhaps other populous states after them start seeing their hospitals fill with COVID-19 patients once again, then the economic problem will also return. Public fear of crowded places will return. Restaurants and retailers will have to close their doors or impose restrictions. Unemployment will climb once again. Canada has to keep a close eye on how well the U.S. is managing its pandemic recovery. Most travellers entering Canada, some of whom are virus carriers, arrive from the United States. Most of the imported goods Canadians consume come from the U.S. Most of the partly-manufactured goods that our industries use were prepared in the U.S. There has been a sharp increase in totals of newly reported COVID-19 cases in Florida, Texas, Arizona and North Carolina, which have been among the most aggressive in re-opening businesses and relaxing restrictions on social gatherings. (Mark Felix / Getty Images files) A fresh decline in U.S. industrial performance is going to hurt Canadian business, even if this country does a good job of curbing coronavirus spread. Any fresh upsurge in virus contagion in the U.S. is going to force the two countries to keep the border closed on both sides. Some business leaders and lobby groups in the U.S. have been urging a quick return to normal on the grounds that COVID-19, though inconvenient, is not a problem of a magnitude that justifies curtailment of commerce and production. President Donald Trump was reasoning as recently as May 22 that the cure should not be worse than the problem. If pandemic control were as easy as mouthing slogans, that could be a useful insight. In practice, however, you cannot tell how fast to relax the lockdown until a few weeks after you have relaxed too fast and then youre back where you started. Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling for a full police investigation of the Rosslyn Retirement Residence, site of Hamiltons worst COVID-19 outbreak. Horwath, the MPP for Hamilton Centre, has sent a letter to Chief Eric Girt asking him to expand an earlier police investigation that was initiated after a resident of the Rosslyn was left behind when the home was evacuated on May 15. Fourteen residents of the Rosslyn have died from the outbreak, 22 staff members became infected and more than 60 residents ended up in hospital when the home was emptied. The families of loved ones deserve to know that every possible avenue is being reviewed to get justice for the people who lost their lives, Horwath said in an interview with The Spectator. On June 15, the regulatory agency that governs Ontario retirement homes revoked the licence of the Rosslyn residence. As documented in (The Spectator), the Rosslyn facility was a house of horrors where seniors were left in filth, rodent excrement and bug infestations, Horwath wrote in her letter to the chief. With these new revelations of how terribly bad the neglect of our loved ones has been, I believe the Rosslyn retirement home warrants further investigation, Horwath wrote. A spokesperson for Hamilton police said an investigation into the Rosslyn has not been initiated but police have reached out to the agency that governs retirement homes about its own investigation into allegations of abuse and neglect at the Rosslyn home. If during their investigation these allegations reach the threshold of criminality then the appropriate criminal charges will be laid, the spokesperson stated. The Rosslyn is owned and operated by members of the Martino families, which also operate seven other retirement homes and residential care facilities in Hamilton, along with the Greycliff Manor retirement home in Niagara Falls. Brothers Aldo Martino and the late John Martino previously owned the Royal Crest Lifecare chain of care homes until it collapsed into bankruptcy in 2003, leaving Ontario taxpayers on the hook for $18 million. Members of the Martino families did not respond to a request for comment. They have not responded to numerous requests for comment since the May 15 outbreak. A Spectator investigation last week revealed horrifying conditions and alleged mismanagement at the home on King Street East near Gage Park. Former staff members and families of former residents of the Rosslyn made shocking allegations of chronic problems with rodent and bedbug infestations, understaffing, poor living conditions, and a lack of proper care for residents with dementia. In her letter to Girt, Horwath notes one incredibly jarring report in the Spectator investigative story of a nurse who formerly worked at the Rosslyn. The nurse said she was asked to commit possibly illegal acts related to the dispersal of medications and charting. The nurse told The Spectator an administrator of the home who did not have any certification dispensed medications to residents. The nurse also said she was asked to lie to family members of residents and to not keep accurate charts. The former Rosslyn nurse said she quit because she feared she would lose her nursing licence. The Rosslyn remains closed and wont be allowed to readmit residents or accept new residents during the revocation process. All eight of the Martinos Hamilton homes are either now subject to orders to comply by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) or the citys public health department, have been cited for rules violations by the RHRA or public health in the past six months, or both. Read more about: sunak The Chancellors life support for millions of jobs appears to have passed its peak as the economy's reopening gathers pace. The total number of workers furloughed edged up by 200,000 to 9.1m in the joint-smallest rise since the job retention scheme was introduced in April, HMRC revealed. Almost 21bn has been claimed under the scheme, while the number of firms seeking support was flat at 1.1m. The amount handed out to 2.6m self-employed workers rose marginally to 7.6bn. The lowest increases in the income support provided by Chancellor Rishi Sunak added to growing evidence that Britons are heading back to work as lockdown restrictions are lifted. The number of employees on furlough has been edging down in recent weeks as they return to work, according to a survey by Bank of America JPMorgan economist Allan Monks said the furlough scheme is playing a key role in limiting the rise in unemployment. The jobless rate remained flat in the three months to April despite the Covid-19 shock to the economy, new data from the Office for National Statistics revealed this morning. Mr Monks said that the furlough scheme is likely to both delay and well as lower the peak in the unemployment rate. However, economists have warned that the end of furlough in October will trigger a wave of redundancies as output slowly recovers to its pre-virus peak. Kallum Pickering, economist at Berenberg, said there was a risk of a massive wave of layoffs when the jobs support is wound down. Nevertheless, the data are, for now at least, better than anticipated and support some cautious optimism, he said. With a lot of help from the government employment subsidy scheme, the core of the labour market remains protected from short-term acute shock from the pandemic. ARCHIVED - Spain may impose a quarantine on British travellers entering Spain This is due to the UK 14 day quarantine for anyone entering the country Image: German tourists arriving in the Balearic Islands yesterday on the first tourist flight Its hard to believe at the moment that the UK is the biggest emissor of tourists to Spain and that the UK alone sent 18 million tourists here last year given the current level of confusion over whether Spain actually wants British tourists to come here this summer or not. Foreign tourists spent a staggering 92,278 million euros (thats 92 billion) in 2019 on their trips to Spain, so nobody is under any illusions that getting the tourist industry back on its feet is important following the Covid lock downs. But the messages coming from the Spanish Government at the moment are so confusing and contradictory that its currently impossible for those who would like to visit Spain to make proper plans for the coming summer. All over the world there is confusion about how dangerous Covid-19 will be during the hotter months of the year and whether it is safe to travel. Many of us will take the decision that a Staycation is the best option, limiting the possibility of contacts so that we can minimise the risk to ourselves and our families, but there are plenty of people out there desperate for a holiday who are happy to get on a plane and head abroad in search of some sun or who want to move between countries this summer for all sorts of reasons, amongst them some who were relocating to Spain and were trapped in the UK by Covid lockdown. On Sunday, just hours after declaring that Spain was sticking to its guns and would NOT be opening its mainland borders to foreign tourists until July 1st, the Government made a complete U-turn and the Prime Minister made the surprise announcement on Sunday that it would be opening its borders for foreign nationals from the EU and Schengen nations on 21st June. On June 12th the Government had announced that tourists arriving in Spain would not be required to undergo a 14 day quarantine as is currently the case once the state of emergency ended. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that the borders would be re-opened for other EU member states and other nations within the Schengen Zone on June 21st and for other countries (a list of which would be prepared and published this Thursday) from 1st July depending on their specific epidemiological status. Later in the day Spanish foreign affairs minister, Arancha Gonzalez, confirmed on Twitter: Spain will open its borders with EU and Schengen-area countries as from 21 June, with the end of the state of alarm and end of quarantine The UK was NOT specifically mentioned at either point and obviously the complicated situation exists that although the UK has technically exited the EU, current legislation applies during the transition period until the UK has concluded negotiations for its full exit on December 31st, but on Monday, a Spanish Government spokeswoman confirmed that the UK would be added to the list of countries whose citizens could travel to Spain. The British media reported the good news. The Independent boldly declared in its headline that the British were welcome to come to Spain. Frustrated Brits who have spent weeks attempting to book flights and endured a succession of cancellations and conflicting messages about whether they would even be allowed to come to Spain went online immediately and booked those flights. It was a bit of a U-turn as reported yesterday. The Prime Minister has been adamant that protecting the residents of Spain from external contagion has been, and remains, top priority, and there had certainly been very strong hints recently that the opening of borders would be gradual and controlled, only permitting residents of nations in a similar epidemiological situation to enter. Certainly the tourism minister had sewn considerable doubt about the possibility of UK tourists being allowed to come to Spain this summer given the high level of cases still being reported in the UK. Last week the Ministry of Health raised the point several times that opening borders would result in a resurgence of cases and expressed its opposition to a premature lifting of restrictions. "Spain will not open its borders until 1st July and then, only with absolute security" the Minister said on Friday in a press conference. New confusion as conflicting messages are published Although initially the Spanish government said that travellers from the UK would not have to quarantine from Sunday, Spain's foreign affairs minister said yesterday that the country may impose a two-week quarantine on British citizens due to the fact that the UK is maintaining its own 2 week quarantine for those returning from abroad. The UK Foreign Office is also still warning against all but essential international travel and this message is still specifically repeated on its page for Spain. Spain's foreign affairs minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya, indicated that Spain may impose a reciprocal quarantine on British visitors entering Spain, saying in an interview with the BBC: "We will be checking what the UK will be doing and we will be in dialogue with the UK to see whether or not we should be introducing reciprocity as they have different measures than the rest of the EU." She said that the situation was "fluid" and that officials would like to "properly engage in a dialogue with the UK authorities to make sure that we both take the message that best corresponds to the health situation, which today is a little bit better in Spain than it is in the UK". Downing Street justifies its own imposition of the 14 day quarantine which began on June 8th by saying, Now that we have passed the peak of this virus, we have to take measures to ensure that imported cases do not cause a resurgence of this fatal virus. And as the number of cases diminishes and the number of visitors arriving in our country increase, we have to recognise that imported cases could represent a significant threat. More than 41,000 people have died in the UK from Covid-19 and 27,000 in Spain, the two countries the worst affected in Europe. So far from being resolved yesterday as we had all believed, the confusion continues. Two women who travelled from the United Kingdom to Wellington for a parent's funeral have tested positive for COVID-19, breaking New Zealand's case-free streak of 24 consecutive days. The cases have sparked a trans-Tasman scramble as the women transited through Doha and Brisbane, meaning they could have picked up the virus in the UK, either airport en route, or on one of three flights. It also has sparked an immediate rule change in New Zealand where anyone given compassionate dispensation to leave a managed isolation facility must return a negative test result before walking out the door. The women arrived in Auckland on June 7, applied for and received a compassionate exemption on June 12 and on June 13 travelled to Wellington. By IANS SAN FRANCISCO: In a bid the help people manage their finances efficiently, Microsoft has launched the Money in Excel feature for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers, starting first in the US. 'Money in Excel' is a template and add-in for Excel that allows users to securely connect bank, credit card, investment, and loan accounts to Excel and automatically import your transaction and account information into an Excel spreadsheet. "If you're a current Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscriber, simply go to this link to download the template," said Arjun Tomar, Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft 365. Once downloaded, open the Excel template and follow the on-screen prompts to connect your financial accounts using a secure third-party plugin supported by Plaid (Plaid currently supports most major U.S. financial institutions). Once your account information is verified, the workbook will be updated with your latest transaction history and is now ready for use. "Once your financial accounts are connected, Money in Excel will automatically import your transaction information from all your accounts into one workbook. You no longer need to spend hours manually setting up a personal finance spreadsheet from scratch; Money in Excel does it for you in just a few seconds," Microsoft said in a statement on Monday. Every time you want to update the workbook with the latest transactions, just click the Update button and get the latest snapshot of your transactions and accounts without ever leaving Excel. Once your transaction information is imported into Excel, it's easy to track your spending habits to help stay on course and get closer to your financial goals, said Microsoft. With the help of easy-to-read graphs, you can quickly track how your spending compares month over month. "Money in Excel will alert you to increases in your subscription fees, changes in bank and overdraft charges, or any big purchases that were posted during the month," said Tomar. When mysterious hidden cameras were uncovered on a bush trail in a wealthy neighbourhood, residents immediately feared they were linked to an attack on a luxury car. This was the conclusion they formed after a sign appeared on Brookfield Road in early June and offered a $5,000 reward for the identity of the person who vandalised the luxury car. 'Reward $5000 for proof of identity of person maliciously keying cars parked outside The Brookfield General Store,' the note read. 'We have in-car footage of this person and their car but number plates cannot be clearly identified.' Mystery cameras (pictured) appeared on a walking trail in the wealthy suburb of Brookfield, west Brisbane, and residents speculated they were linked to an attack on a luxury car The hidden cameras were found on a walking trail near the street where a luxury car was keyed in Brookfield, west Brisbane, in May. While suspicious residents suspected the cameras were installed to observe the street in question. The cameras also raised privacy concerns as residents worried the number plates of cars driving along the road could have been recorded. However, Brisbane City Council has revealed a far more innocent reason. They were actually monitoring the area's deer population, The Courier Mail reported. One camera monitored Brookfield Road (pictured) where a luxury car was keyed in May Residents in Brookfield, where the median home price exceeds $1 million, were unsure if the vandalism was a personal dispute or just a random criminal act. Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia they were aware the sign had been put up by a member of the public but a formal complaint had not been made. Brisbane City Council confirmed the cameras had been placed in the area for a month to track the movement of wild deer. A council spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia a contractor had installed the cameras to monitor deer activity on Brookfield Road between May 18 and June 15. The council spokesperson said: 'These motion-activated cameras are often used by council to monitor wildlife, including invasive species, and in this case the information captured will help inform strategies to reduce the risks deer can create for drivers.' The council said the cameras did not collect drivers' licence plate details and only recorded data on the number and type of animal that crossed the road. Report your Democratic Credentials, ex-Minister Chidoka reacts to PMBs June 12 speech Chief Osita Chidoka has described the June 12 Speech of President Muhammadu Buhari as another evidence of the governments weak democratic credentials. Saying, June 12 should be a day for the President to report on the countrys democratic experience and progress made on the pressing issues of free, credible and fair electoral systems. The former Minister of Aviation who spoke on the occasion of the second anniversary of June 12 as democracy day in Nigeria said the best way to honour the memory of Chief Moshood Abiola who won the 1993 presidential election across ethnic and religious divide was to build on the principles that made the election a reference point. He regretted that the gains of democracy which climaxed with 2015 election were being eroded under the current administration, adding that the President failed to address the issues of justice, freedom and inclusiveness which has been under threat in our present experience. Chidoka in his online broadcast, said that the memory of Abiola and June 12, is of an election that was free and fair and a Nigeria where anybody can win an election without having to go through what we saw in 2019 elections. The National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute, who were part of the international observers, in a joint statement criticized the 2019 election and said it fell significantly short of standard set in 2015. "The June 12 speech was an opportunity for the President to report his efforts to alter the 2019 election trajectory radically. "The President should have continued in the tradition of President YarAdua. The latter openly acknowledged that the election that brought him to power was flawed and set in motion the reforms that led to the highly acclaimed 2015 election under President Goodluck Jonathan. We had expected the President to use a democracy day speech to tell Nigerians the reforms in the Independent National Electoral Commission that would ensure we have free and fair elections in Nigeria. We expected to hear about the Electoral Bill, which many expected him to assent to before the end of his first year in his second tenure. Chidoka, a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain applauded the pronouncement of June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria by President Buhari while condemning the absence of the spirit of June 12 in the day. June 12 holiday was a step in the right direction, but the turn of events after the declaration has shown it is a cynical move to win political sympathy as it does not deal with fundamental issues that caused the annulment of the election. Chidoka, who was former Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps, pointed out the role of the judiciary in the annulment of June 12 election. It is important we recollect that the military hinged the annulment of June 12 on the pronouncement of Justice Bassey Ikpeme on June 11 1993. That act of judicial rascality is comparable to the removal of Justice Walter Onnoghen, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, and subsequent replacement without reference to the constitutional requirement of the role of the National Judicial Council in appointment, discipline and removal of Judges. A democracy day should offer the President the opportunity to reassure Nigerians that he is indeed a reformed democrat. He should assure Nigerians that he will use his remaining days in office to reverse the emerging anti-democratic culture of the past four years, it is not a day to rehash routine work of government Chidoka argued. In conclusion, the former minister said, We need to understand that June 12 is a watershed, and the democracy we enjoy today is a product of struggle, we need to deepen the struggle for democracy. The all-new 2021 Buick Envision will be available at Carl Black Roswell upon release, but until then the 2020 Envision makes an excellent option in the compact crossover class. For shoppers in the Roswell, Georgia, area that are interested in a compact crossover utility vehicle, the 2020 Buick Envision is certainly an option. The Envision first joined the North America Buick lineup for the 2016 model year and has established itself in the segment over the years since. On the Carl Black Buick GMC of Roswell website, potential car buyers can research the Buick Envision thanks to a few model research pages and the dealerships blog. One research page focuses solely on the 2020 Buick Envision, highlighting useful information like which features are available in the vehicle and what kind of specifications its capable of producing. Another page instead takes a competitive comparison approach, pitting the 2020 Buick Envision against the 2020 Honda CR-V to showcase the similarities and differences between the two compact crossovers. This latter page highlights important specifications to consider when shopping in the segment for both models, before diving into the advantages either SUV has and how else they differ. Additionally, Buick recently announced the Envision would be entering its second generation for the next model year. Carl Black Roswell has already made sure shoppers have the information they need by building a page for the 2021 Buick Envision with some of the details already announced for the new model, including design changes and its powertrain options. To find this information and much more, residents of the area can head to the dealerships website at http://www.carlblackroswell.com. Specific questions about the Buick Envision can be directed to the sales staff at 888-491-7859. Carl Black Buick GMC of Roswell is located at 11225 Alpharetta Hwy. in Roswell. BRIDGEPORT A local man charged with choking and raping a Massachusetts woman he met on an online dating website was the latest serious felony defendant to request release from prison because of the pandemic even as the number of inmates with COVID-19 continues to decrease. As of Friday, the state Department of Corrections reported that nine inmates had symptoms of COVID-19 and nine staff members are currently recovering from COVID-19 symptoms. At its peak in May, 792 inmates had tested positive for the virus. Gimel Anderson, 25, of Hawley Avenue, is charged with aggravated first-degree sexual assault, first-degree strangulation, second-degree assault and first-degree unlawful restraint. He is being held in lieu of $750,000 bond. His lawyer, Public Defender Brad Buchta, told Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton that his client had been seeking a speedy trial but since that couldnt happen because of the pandemic, he now wants to be released on a reduced bond. Buchta said Anderson would live with his fiancee in Bridgeport while he awaits trial. However, Senior Assistant States Attorney Colleen Zingaro objected. The facts in this case are very serious, she told the judge. He was trying to kill her. She was begging for her life. Judge Dayton denied Andersons request. Im concerned for the safety of the community based on the allegations against him, she said. On Oct. 20, 2018, Springfield, Mass., police were called to a hospital there for an assault victim. Police said a young woman had bruises on her face and throat and cuts on her head that required stitches. Police said the woman told them she contacted Anderson through the dating website Tagged and arranged to come to Bridgeport to meet him. The woman picked up Anderson at his home. Police said he was carrying a bottle of beer, got into the womans car and then directed her to drive to Seaside Park, ostensibly so they could watch the sunset. However, once they parked there, police said, Anderson began choking the woman and hit her in the head with the beer bottle, then raped her. Before leaving the victims car, police said, Anderson took a photo with his cell phone of her drivers license and threatened that he would come to her home and kill her if she went to police. The woman then drove to the hospital near her home in Springfield. The 14th National Press Awards 2019 will be held in Hanoi on June 21 night, honouring more than 100 outstanding articles by journalists nationwide, announced the jury council in Hanoi on June 15. Ho Quang Loi, vice president of the Vietnam Journalists Association, speaks at a press conference on the 14th National Press Awards 2019 held in Hanoi on June 15. (Photo baotainguyenmoitruong.vn) Among the 140 submissions for the final phase, nine pieces claimed the A prize, 21 B prize, 41 C prize, and 32 were given consolation prizes. They were shortlisted from more than 1,600 eligible submissions in 11 different categories. All the prize winners met the criteria, such as reflecting the countrys political, economic, cultural, social, defence, security and foreign affairs aspects, as well as the implementation of the Party and State resolutions and directives in 2019; criticising and combating negative acts, corruption and wrong views of hostile forces; and informing important international events in an accurate and timely fashion. Ho Quang Loi, vice president of the Vietnam Journalists Association, said many of the submissions reflected hot issues which drew attention from the public. He said most of shortlist showed good social impacts, winning high appreciation from the public, showing the role of the press in investigations, and giving praise and constructive criticism. While acknowledging progress in term of quality, there is still room for improvement, he said. Many of the entries lacked of creativity and there was a still shortage of deep editorial articles and photographs. This year saw the participation of 110 journalists and 230 coordinators. The committee received entries from 59 out of 63 provincial journalists associations. The awards ceremony is scheduled for June 21, marking the 95th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day. It will be live broadcast on Vietnam Television, the Voice of Vietnam and some local television stations./.VNA CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) Theyve been pulled from steep canyons and rushing rivers, sometimes no longer breathing, after chasing a cryptic poems clues and promise of treasure deep into the Rocky Mountains. Now, many of those whove encountered imperiled or dead treasure seekers over the past decade have the same reaction to news that an unidentified person supposedly has found Forrest Fenns purported $2 million treasure at an undisclosed location. We are very happy, said Dan Johnson, spokesman for Dinosaur National Monument. A decorated U.S. Air Force fighter pilot in the Vietnam War and retired Santa Fe art and antiquities dealer, Fenn announced June 6 that a man from back East he didnt know and who didnt want to be named a few days earlier found the antique chest containing coins, gold nuggets and other valuables. Fenn stashed the chest in 2010 somewhere in the Rocky Mountains north of Santa Fe, in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming or Montana, he wrote in The Thrill of the Chase, a memoir with a 24-line poem he claimed led to the chest if deciphered. Many seem to think the poems clues lead to Dinosaur National Monument, a rugged, desert area known for dinosaur fossils on the Utah-Colorado line near Wyoming. Treasure hunters have run into trouble there a couple times every year, Johnson said. Then theres always the ones who wont say thats what they were actually doing. But we definitely had some inclination thats what was going on, Johnson said. Last year, one pair of searchers in the monument got in trouble with a swimming-pool-grade raft on the treacherous Green River. Not far away, two treasure hunters using snowmobiles needed rescue twice this past February and March. The second time, searchers found one of the men dead. Rangers in no-less-auspicious areas such as Wyomings Grand Teton National Park and adjacent Bridger-Teton National Forest report no treasure-related rescues over the years. An official in northwestern Colorado doubted his local lookers were on the right track. It was not in these locations where people had been going and endangering themselves, Moffat County sheriffs Lt. Chip McIntyre said. Fenns poem can be read to refer to a vast number of locations in the region. The opening lines say, As I have gone alone in there, And with my treasures bold, I can keep my secret where, And hint of riches new and old. They could mean go NE @ lone in and refer to Montanas Lone Indian Peak; Gold Run and Gold Prize creeks are about 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the northeast. Or maybe Fenn was referring to Soldiers Chapel, a quaint church gorgeously framed by Lone Mountain near Big Sky, Montana, and perfectly aligned in the opposite direction with Devils Tower in northeastern Wyoming. In any case, Fenn, 89, drastically reduced potential hiding spots by saying repeatedly the 40-pound (18-kilogram) treasure was neither in a dangerous location nor one where a 79-year-old man couldnt schlep it alone. But plenty of searchers who took Fenn at his word that he indeed hid a treasure nonetheless forgot, disregarded or didnt hear about that promise about accessibility. In January, treasure hunter David Christensen, of Winamac, Indiana, needed rescue after rappelling deep into Yellowstone National Parks Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. He pleaded guilty in March to two misdemeanors and was sentenced to seven days in jail. An attempt to reach Christensen by phone Friday was unsuccessful. Just east of Yellowstone in Park County, Wyoming, a Virginia woman needed rescue three times in 2013, 2015 and 2016, the Billings Gazette reported. Treasure hunters who discovered the outdoors will hopefully continue to do so with preparation and safety in mind, Park County Sheriff Scott Steward said in a statement Friday. You have lightning, bears, cliffs, thermal areas. Lodgepole pine trees arent known for staying standing they come down easy. There have been people killed by all of those methods over the years, said backcountry guide Jim Holstein with Yellowstone Tour Guides in Big Sky. You definitely have to be prepared and you should know what youre doing. At least four people have died pursuing the treasure. Linda Bilyeu, the ex-wife of one, voiced bitter doubt Fenn hid the treasure, let alone that it was found. Its another game for him to get back into the news so he could get more attention, Bilyeu told The Associated Press. Enough people have died because of that selfish man. During the search for Randy Bilyeau in 2016 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found his remains along the Rio Grande River in northern New Mexico his relatives and New Mexico State Police pleaded for Fenn to call off the hunt. Fenn refused, saying that would be unfair to those who spent time and money looking for the chest. Fenn has not returned messages from The Associated Press and other news media since announcing the treasure was found. A photo not made public confirmed the chase was over, Fenn told the Santa Fe New Mexican. It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago, Fenn said in a statement on his Old Santa Fe Trading Co. website. He promised more information and photos in the days ahead. The statement especially the canopy of stars part has settled little for avid Fenn treasure hunters in online forums: They want to know the solution. But McIntyre in Moffat County was glad that the treasure is put to rest through discovery. We are relieved that its been found and hopefully people wont be out endangering themselves, McIntyre said. ____ Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed to this report. Up to 10pc of Irelands land area could be effectively rewilded under a stringent new designation proposed by the EU, the INHFA has warned. The new Biodiversity Strategy has called for the creation of Strictly Protected Areas (SPA), which will include bogs and reclaimed wetlands. The INHFA say the designations threaten to shut down all farming activity on marginal and reclaimed wetlands from Donegal to Kerry. An SPA is the most restrictive designation and necessitate the removal of all human activity. The INHFA point out that the International Union for Conservation of Nature has ranked the SPA as a 1(a) designation. In contrast, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is ranked 1(b). Up to 10pc of each member states lands are to be designated as SPAs. This equates to around 650,000ha in Ireland. While bogs held by Bord na Mona could make up much of this, the INHFA has warned that SPA designations pose a real threat to the livelihoods of farmers working on uplands and reclaimed bogs, as well as to the viability of the wider communities living in these areas. Sterilise This designation will sterilise everything, making it impossible to secure planning for houses or any further farm development, said INHFA president Colm ODonnell in a letter to all Oireachtas members. New business start-ups in these areas will cease and many existing businesses will be forced to close. Improvements to roads and other vital infrastructure will become difficult to deliver. Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice said the strict designations would turn the west of Ireland into a theme park if applied to the 20pc of land which is considered peatland. Still, more voters will be able to participate in a very important aspect of their citizenry their right to vote because we have a plan in place to allow them to do so safely, Morrison said in a statement Tuesday. We must be prepared, because we dont know how safe it will be for people to be this fall. The coronavirus infections around the world by Wednesday (June 17) breached the 80 lakh-mark, while the number of people succumbing to the virus in the world has surged to 4.38 lakh. According to the Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 data at 12:20 AM on Wednesday, there were 80,85,932 coronavirus confirmed cases and 4,38,399 people have died of the virus. The number of recoveries increased to 39,17,055, that leaves 41,68,877 people struggling with the virus that was first recorded in December 2019 at a seafood market in Wuhan, capital of the central Chinese province of Hubei (China). Although, according to reports, the United Kingdowm (UK) is continuing medical trials to see if it can combine other drugs with a steroid treatment shown to reduce deaths among few COVID-19 patients. "This is the start of something important. It shows it is possible to reduce the inflammation and the outcome in patients with lung disease in hospital, and it`s the start of other drugs which might be added on top of it to make an even bigger effect," the Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance was quoted saying on Tuesday by Reuters. Meanwhile, China on Tuesday has put certain restrictions on people leaving Beijing in an effort to stop the spread of the most serious coronavirus flare-up since February. The decision to impose fresh curbs and raise the city`s emergency response level back to II from III came as the national capital's current outbreak rose to 106 infections since the last week. China has witnessed 84,378 cases so far. The United States (US) has been the worst-hit country around the world with 21.24 lakh cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) regional director Carissa Etienne in a virtual briefing from Washington-based Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said COVID-19 has hit the region`s migrants particularly hard. "There should be stepped up testing in the US-Mexico border area due to unconfirmed reports of increasing numbers of people infected with the virus in the United States arriving there to travel to Mexico, PAHO recommended," Reuters quoted her saying. The US is followed by Brazil that has a total of 8.88 lakh coronavirus infections. The PAHO recommends that Brazil and other countries in the region continue strengthening social distancing and urged reopening of the economy be done slowly and carefully. The PAHO Communicable Diseases director Marcos Espinal said,"The epidemic has still not passed its peak in Latin America and mitigation measures should continue." On the third spot is Russia, that has reported 5.44 lakh cases to date, while India on the fourth position has 3.43 lakh coronavirus cases. India has been one of the worst-hit countries in the world from the past few weeks. The UK on the fifth spot has registered 2.99 lakh cases. Spain (2.44 lakh), Italy (2.37 lakh), Peru (2.32 lakh), France (1.94 lakh) and Iran (1.92 lakh) are the other severely hit countries amongst 188 countries/regions that have been affected around the globe. Most COVID-19 deaths in the world: The US tops this list with 1,16,567 coronavirus fatalities. Brazil being the second worst-hit country has recorded 43,959 casualties. The COVID-19 deaths are on a rise in Brazil, even as the President Jair Bolsonaro government is encouraging the resumption of economic activities. The UK is on the third position with 42,054 deaths followed by Italy where 34,405 people have succumbed to the fatal virus. France (29,439), Spain (27,136) and Mexico (17,580) are the other worst affected places across the world. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 05:59:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he will sign an executive order on police reform on Tuesday. "The overall goal is we want law and order and we want it done fairly, justly. We want it done safely," Trump told reporters at the White House. "This is about law and order, but it's about justice also," he said. The move comes amid growing calls for action following the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota late last month, which has triggered nationwide demonstrations against police brutality and racism. The outcry has intensified after a white police officer shot and killed Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old African American man, in Atlanta, Georgia last week. "The trust that we have with the police force is broken and the only way to heal some of these wounds is through a conviction and a drastic change with the police department," Brooks's cousin said Monday. Asked about the Brooks case on Monday afternoon, Trump called it "very disturbing." "I thought it was a terrible situation," he said. "I studied it closely. I'm going to get some reports done today, very strong reports, and we'll have a little more to say about it tomorrow." Brooks was shot twice in the back and died from organ damage and blood loss from the wounds, the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office said in a statement on Sunday. Garrett Rolfe, the officer who shot Brooks, was fired. A second officer, Devin Brosnan, was placed on administrative duty. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigned over the shooting. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said his office is hoping to announce a decision about possible charges by the middle of next week. Brooks died after a confrontation with police officers who were responding to a complaint that he was asleep in the drive-thru of a restaurant. Police said the officers tried to take Brooks into custody after he failed a sobriety test, which led to a struggle between the two sides. Police claimed that Brooks, while allegedly resisting, grabbed an officer's Taser and ran off with it. Footage capturing the scene from the restaurant's parking lot showed that Brooks turned around and appeared to point the stun gun at the police officers before being shot. An ambulance transferred Brooks to a local hospital, where he died after undergoing surgery. The shooting prompted protests over the weekend in Atlanta, and the restaurant where the shooting took place was set aflame. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced on Monday that she is signing a series of administrative orders to reform the use of force within the Atlanta Police Department. Bottoms, speaking to reporters, said that she and the city will continue to do what the city needs to do to ensure all Atlantans are treated with dignity and respect. "We saw the worst happen on Friday night with Mr. Brooks. It angered me and it saddened me beyond words," she said. "Burning down buildings will not get us change in this city because if anything it is going to erase the message and it is going to eclipse what this is all about." Enditem The mother and twin brother of Harry Dunn have said they are 'angry' after letters from Boris Johnson arrived just two days before a court battle. Charlotte Charles called the letters a 'cut and paste' response, adding that she remains 'bitterly disappointed' the PM has not met with the family. The Dunn family are set for a judicial review hearing with the Foreign Office and Northamptonshire Police on Thursday in which they will dispute the diplomatic immunity claimed by American suspect Anne Sacoolas. Sacoolas, 42, was charged with causing Mr Dunn's death by dangerous driving last December but an extradition request was refused by the US in January. Mrs Charles wrote to Mr Johnson on March 2 urging him 'not to be frightened' of meeting with her and her family, saying there were 'very serious problems' that needed addressing 'for the benefit of the nation' after her son's death outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August last year. After receiving the letter today, Mrs Charles said that the PM 'hasn't even applied his own mind to what is going on and the reason why we asked for a meeting' - adding 'even President Trump saw it fit to meet us'. Harry Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles called the letters a 'cut and paste' response, adding that she remains 'bitterly disappointed' that Boris Johnson has not met with the family In his letter to Mrs Charles, the PM said: 'First of all, let me offer my deepest condolences for the tragic loss of your much-loved son, Harry. I cannot begin to imagine the pain that you and your family have gone through, and my heart goes out to you all' Mrs Charles said: 'Having read both his letter to me and to Niall, I cannot begin to express how flat and angry I feel with this cut and paste response. 'This is the same nonsense that we have been hearing from other government departments for months. Boris hasn't even applied his own mind to what is going on and the reason why we asked for a meeting. 'Even President Trump saw it fit to meet us. 'My son was killed by an American citizen, Mr Johnson and his Government let that person go and he doesn't have the courage to meet with us. 'I can't believe they have timed these letters to arrive on the eve of the Judicial Review just when we are trying to steady ourselves to deal with all that is coming.' MailOnline has put Mrs Charles' criticisms to No 10 for comment. Harry Dunn, 19, was tragically killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year In his letter to Harry's twin brother Niall, the PM maintained that the Foreign Office's legal position, stating that Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity and 'neither the UK police nor the Government could lawfully prevent (her) from leaving the country' In his letter to Mrs Charles, the PM said: 'First of all, let me offer my deepest condolences for the tragic loss of your much-loved son, Harry. 'I cannot begin to imagine the pain that you and your family have gone through, and my heart goes out to you all. 'I know this loss was compounded by the decision of the United States not to waive immunity for Anne Sacoolas, then to refuse extradition. I feel strongly that this amounts to a denial of justice, and have said so publicly. 'I have raised Harry's case personally with both President Trump and Secretary of State Pompeo, asking them to do the right thing. I will continue to do so.' In his letter to Harry's twin brother Niall, Mr Johnson maintained the Foreign Office's legal position, stating that Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity and 'neither the UK police nor the Government could lawfully prevent (her) from leaving the country'. In the letter to Niall Dunn, Harry's twin brother, the PM said: 'Under arrangements put in place 25 years ago, and confirmed by another government six years later, there was an anomaly under which diplomatic immunity was waived in some circumstances for US staff at RAF Croughton but not for their families. American Anne Sacoolas, pictured in Virginia where she and her family returned after she killed British teenager Harry Dunn in Northamptonshire, where they were posted at the time Mr Johnson told Charlotte Charles and Niall Dunn that he had appointed Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to be the point of contact with the family 'As a result, Anne Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity and neither the UK police nor the Government could lawfully prevent Anne Sacoolas from leaving the country. 'We are negotiating those arrangements.' In response to the letter, Niall Dunn said: 'What is there to say? 'I asked him to grab a hold of the case because my parents were becoming increasingly upset at the Government's handling of it. 'He has just ignored me and trampled all over my feelings. 'I'm so upset, really angry at him.' The PM told both Mrs Charles and Mr Dunn that the Foreign Secretary would be their lead point of contact but he continues to take a 'close interest in the case'. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the Commons that his department had 'objected in clear and strong terms' to former CIA agent Sacoolas fleeing to the US. But having been forced to disclose private communications between UK and US officials days before Sacoolas left, one incendiary text message exchange suggests Sacoolas was free to leave on the next commercial flight. A map, detailing where Harry Dunn was killed, and where a second incident allegedly occurred The High Court is expected to hear evidence that the FCO initially fought American insistence that Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity and claimed the wording of a treaty with the US that indicated she might have was 'ambiguous'. Controversy rages over the validity of Sacoolas' claim to diplomatic immunity, described as Britain's top diplomat as 'illogical'. Foreign Office lawyers advised UK ministers on August 30 that Sacoolas' diplomatic status was ambiguous. It then told Northamptonshire Police on September 2 that she had full diplomatic immunity and that no prosecution would be possible. Speaking to a select committee in April, Sir Simon McDonald, said: 'The controversy was over an agreement made at the end of the last century over continuing immunities for US diplomats posted at the Croughton annex. 'In that agreement the American authorities gave a pre-waiver for accredited diplomats so that was the formal position, but that agreement was silent on the rights of their dependants, and that has been the origin of a lot of the dispute.' Sir Simon called it a 'recondite bit of law' and its interpretation 'a bit illogical'. [June 16, 2020] Erik Bergman's Great.com Pledges $1M+ to a Community of Philanthropic Entrepreneurs Swedish iGaming entrepreneur Erik Bergman pledges over $1M in CTM shares to Founders Pledge, a global community of entrepreneurs, and donates another $100,000+ as an operational supporter STOCKHOLM, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Erik Bergman founded Great.com in 2018 with the aim of doing good and helping to prevent the global climate crisis. Using his expertise in iGaming, Erik wanted to build a revenue-generating platform that would help carry out this mission. The business concept of Great.com is to build the world's most trusted iGaming review website, which would generate profits through affiliate partnerships 100% of which would be donated to vetted charities working to solve climate change. Transforming organizational structure Not only is the business concept unique, but the organizational structure and management of Great.com is also groundbreaking. Transparency is one of its core values with employee conditions and work culture shared openly. For example, Great.com records and publishes weekly meetings to its website along with employees' salaries. The ambition of Great.com is not just to end the climate crisis but to challenge the traditional norms associated with work. Erik has set out to build a more open, inclusive, and sustainable organization which he hopes will set the blueprint for other companies to follow. Since its inception, Great.com has donated more than $225,000 to charitable causes. Now another donation is being made, this time to Founders Pledge - a community of over 1,400 entrepreneurs uniquely committed to giving. Every member of Founders Pledge must make a legally binding "pledge" to donate a chosen portion of their current or future wealth to charity. Erik Bergman now joins as a member and thus allocates 20 percent of his remaining shareholding in Catena Media, corresponding to approximately $ 1+ million. A direct donation of $100,000 is also made, to help fund core operational costs. Founders Pledge is a unique community of entrepreneurs who have a shared purpose of wanting to do the most good in the world. The organization has a research team that focuses on charity due diligence, data collection, and the identification of neglected cause areas throughout the world that are being underserved philanthropically. They strive to use data and analysis to recommend charities which will offer the largest return per dollar donated. What also makes Founders Pledge unique is that the network is at the forefront of research on which organizations can best prevent the spread of pandemics such as COVID-19. Erik Bergman, founder of Great.com, comments: "When I founded Great.com, it was because I wanted to build an organization that could make as much difference as possible to our environment - both from a climate and organizational perspective. So, it is important for me to find ways to create an exponential effect. Founders Pledge is one such organization, as they have built up unique expertise on how to create the greatest impact in charity. It's an honor for me that Great.com can now help the right organizations get support for their work." David Goldberg, founder, Founders Pledge, adds: "It is very welcome that Erik Bergman and Great.com join our network. We bring together entrepreneurs with cutting-edge skills that are all driven by helping to do good for our world. The exchange between members is very valuable and Great.com can now take advantage of the unique knowledge we possess, to be able to make more well-founded donations." "My wish is that entrepreneurs and companies around the world start to be driven by serving a greater purpose. By joining Founders Pledge, I want to inspire others to do the same. You can make a difference if you do the right research and manage it through the right organizations," Erik Bergman concludes. About Founders Pledge Founders Pledge is an entrepreneurial community that, since its inception in 2015, has so far gathered more than 1,400 members who together have pledged $ 2.4 billion to charity. Founders Pledge's unique research team conducts research and provides tailored giving advice so that its members can make informed giving decisions and donate to the highest-impact charities. Founders Pledge has been connected to the ecosystem of tech and start-up companies from the beginning. With the drive to create a better world and a society that enriches, they have developed a product and community that entrepreneurs want to be a part of. The team working for the organization is located in London, San Francisco, New York and Berlin. About Great.com Great.com is an organization founded by Erik Bergman, whose purpose is to do good and help prevent the global climate crisis. Today, the organization consists of about 10 people, who create unique affiliate products for the iGaming industry, which in turn create profits that are in full are allocated among various charity foundations. Great.com operates with a long-term perspective of at least 50 years, which will create the conditions for developing sustainable business models and working methods for employees and other contributing parties. Great.com also creates content on social media such as Instagram and YouTube, to inform and inspire other entrepreneurs to want to do good. The number of followers has already reached a few hundred thousand. Since its inception in 2018, Great.com has now donated more than $325,0000 to charitable causes. For more information, please contact: Erik Bergman, Founder, Great.com Email: [email protected] Angelica Isaksson, PR & Project Manager, Great.com Email: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] When Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, the company's assigned goal was to get humans into space. Now that NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley have made it aboard the International Space Station, Musk is breathing a sigh of relief that his company's Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket performed successfully during this weekend mission. Now SpaceX can officially consider itself the first-ever company to send humans into orbit aboard a privately owned spacecraft. But it's not over yet. Critical weeks of safety and technical reviews of the spacecraft lie ahead before NASA will officially designate Crew Dragon as an "operational" vehicle. Then, another Crew Dragon spacecraft must be deemed ready for the next mission, dubbed Crew-1, that will carry four more astronauts to the space station: NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Michael Hopkins, Shannon Walker and Japan's Soichi Noguchi. NASA is hoping to launch Crew-1 in August. The mission Behnken and Hurley began over the weekend won't be considered a success until they return safely to Earth, but their mission is expected to last up to 110 days, and the journey home will be just as perilous as the ride to orbit. Crew Dragon's debut, however, is a significant milestone for SpaceX and NASA, and this mission was one of the biggest items both organizations needed to check off the list before turning to larger ambitions. Access to the International Space Station The United States hasn't launched its own astronauts into space since the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011. Since then, NASA's astronauts have had to travel to Russia and train on the country's Soyuz spacecraft. Those seats have cost NASA as much as $90 million each. But the space agency chose not to create its own replacement for the Shuttle. Instead, it asked the private sector to develop a spacecraft capable of safely ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station a controversial decision considering that NASA had never before outsourced the development of a human-rated spacecraft. The thinking was that companies could drive down costs and spur innovation, and NASA would have more time and resources to focus on exploring deeper into the solar system. In 2014, NASA awarded two contracts: $4.2 billion to Boeing to build its Starliner vehicle, and $2.6 billion to SpaceX, which planned to create a crew worthy version of the Dragon spacecraft that was already flying cargo to and from the International Space Station. NASA had already put money toward SpaceX's development of the Dragon spacecraft used for transporting cargo, and the space agency has said Boeing received more money because it was designing the Starliner from scratch. Boeing recently suffered a significant setback when a Starliner capsule malfunctioned during a key uncrewed test flight. But if SpaceX can safely return Behnken and Hurley, it'll be a major win for NASA, which has been pushing for more commercial partnerships. At times, delays with development of both the Crew Dragon and Boeing's Starliner capsule have threatened to leave the US portion of the ISS understaffed. But, after years of anticipation, Crew Dragon capsules are poised to begin making regular trips to and from the space station, allowing NASA to take more control over staffing the ISS. The space agency hopes to have more hands on deck, creating more opportunities for conducting scientific experiments and maintaining ISS operations. Because the Crew Dragon program is technically owned and operated by SpaceX, the company can even explore opportunities to take tourists or other non-astronauts to space. Actor Tom Cruise, for example, is working with NASA to eventually film a movie aboard the ISS, the space agency says. Artemis: NASA's next moon mission NASA's ambitions extend far beyond the ISS, which orbits about 250 miles above Earth. And last year, Vice President Mike Pence directed the space agency to drastically accelerate its plan to return boots to the lunar surface by later this decade. NASA is now pushing toward a 2024 deadline. SpaceX wound up being a part of that effort, called the Artemis Program, too. SpaceX proposed a new variant of its Dragon capsule, Dragon XL, that could haul cargo all the way out to a space station that NASA planned to put in orbit around the moon. And last month, SpaceX was among several companies tapped to develop lunar landers, or vehicles that can ferry astronauts from NASA's Orion spacecraft down to the lunar surface. For the latter task, SpaceX proposed using the Starship system a spaceship and rocket that the company is in the early stages of developing at remote facilities in South Texas. Musk has spent a significant amount of time overseeing that work in Texas lately. And the latest iterations of Starship prototypes haven't survived very far into the testing process. The latest Starship test article, called SN4, exploded during ground tests in Boca Chica, Texas, last week. SpaceX's Mars ambitions Musk has given every indication that SpaceX will pour significant resources into Starship development in the months and years ahead. The company is building a multibilllion-dollar telecom business, Starlink, that SpaceX hopes will help fund development of the Starship program, and the company continues to raise hundreds of millions of dollars from private investors. The origin of Starship, after all, is not with NASA or its Artemis Program. Starship is at the core of SpaceX's stated founding mission to establish a colony of humans on Mars. Technologically speaking, that milestone is likely still a long way from reality. But Musk, speaking to reporters after Saturday's Crew Dragon launch, reaffirmed his commitment to Mars as he breathlessly celebrated Hurley and Behnken's safe departure. "I am sort of overcome by emotion. To try to come up with cohesive sentences that make any sense is quite difficult," Musk said before adding, "But I think this is, hopefully, the first step on a journey towards civilization on on Mars." Photos: SpaceX capsule launches The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The first German electric Highway for the top line truck in the South of Hesse is to start with five vehicles to be fully operational. In the course of the beginning of July to the beginning of the summer holidays, the load should not be all on the test track Frauke Werner of the project, conducting traffic authority Hessen Mobil, the German press Agency, said: "There was driver training." The man was in Corona-times online offer. Also, after an accident in January in a travel direction of the temporarily non-usable range on the A5 between Long and the city was repaired again. On the busy line Hybrid can dock-truck for well over a year with a pantograph to the overhead contact line and power to refuel, to recharge the batteries. With the multi-year Test impact on traffic, environmental and economic aspects and the increase in expenses for the road maintenance depots should be investigated. delays due to Corona Actually, after the test launch in may last year, the special vices of the Volkswagen subsidiary Scania from Sweden should be supplied successively. This, however, was delayed recently by the Corona pandemic. So far, the catenary Hybrid truck drive two on the track. The Federal Ministry for the environment has funded the five-Kilometer route with nearly 14.6 million euros. A further 15 million euros will flow in the data collections and evaluations. On the track with overhead lines by 2022, the five Hybrid is to collect truck data. This should be explored, such as in the future, the environment can be goods to be transported. Meanwhile, a second test track, in Schleswig-Holstein at the Start. Updated Date: 16 June 2020, 03:20 Daniel Itai The Zimbabwe Daily Johannesburg, South Africa Frances largest telecommunications group, Orange, is considering expanding its bandwidth to South Africa. Oranges CEO Stephane Richard said the company is considering an entry into the South African market within months. If one considers there are things to do, the time frame I am considering is rather a few months than a few years, said Richard. Across the continent Orange is currently in 18 African countries with 208 million subscribers. - Advertisement - The Middle East and Africa are the companys fastest-growing markets, generating annual sales of about UD$5.5 billion. Earlier this year, it merged all its businesses in the two regions to create a single entity. Orange reportedly plans to list the entity on international bourses. Orange is set to provide leased lines and data transmission, mobile telecommunications, cable television, Internet and wireless applications, and broadcasting services, as well as telecommunications equipment sales and rentals. Like this: Like Loading... Ramallah (Territoires palestiniens) (AFP) - Palestinian security services have been destroying secret files, fearing Israeli raids on their offices as the Jewish state weighs annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, sources in such organs say. "We have been ordered to destroy confidential documents in our possession and we have obeyed this order," a Palestinian security source told AFP on condition of anonymity, saying that the instructions came from "high up". During the Palestinian uprising known as the Second Intifada, which erupted in the early 2000s and included waves of suicide bombings, Israeli security forces repeatedly stormed Palestinian security services' offices and removed confidential documents. Several Palestinian security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the services are concerned that this could happen again if Israel moves ahead with annexation. US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, unveiled in late January, envisions Israel annexing its settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank. More than 450,000 Israelis live in settlements deemed illegal under international law, alongside 2.7 million Palestinians in the wider West Bank. Washington's proposals provide for the creation of a Palestinian state, but on reduced territory and without Palestinians' core demand of a capital in east Jerusalem. The plan has been rejected in its entirety by the Palestinians. One Palestinian security source, who did not describe the nature of the documents, said the security services began destroying them a month ago, around the time Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said he was ending security coordination with Israel. Two other security sources said some documents were destroyed after they were scanned and transferred to USB drives, which were then put in "secret places". According to the 1993 Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority controls all Palestinian cities in the West Bank, but the Israeli military can enter them to make arrests, in coordination with local authorities. Story continues But in May, Abbas declared that he no longer felt bound by the treaties, saying that Israel's annexation plans showed that it was no longer honouring the agreements. Analysts said the end of security cooperation could inflame unrest in the West Bank. - 'Hot summer' - Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh recently warned of a "hot summer" if Israel goes ahead with its annexation plan. Palestinian authorities accused Israel Tuesday of an incursion into Ramallah, the West Bank seat of the Palestinian Authority, for the first time since the end of security cooperation. Israeli forces "searched three houses inside Ramallah, but did not make any arrests," Ghassan Nimr, spokesman for the Palestinian interior ministry, told AFP. According to a security source, a 20-year-old Palestinian man was arrested in the Al-Amari refugee camp, which borders Ramallah. The source reported clashes between stone-throwing youths and Israeli soldiers who responded with tear gas, but said nobody was wounded. Questioned by AFP, the Israeli army confirmed having made an arrest in Al-Amari, but denied entering the city of Ramallah itself. The Palestinians have so far staged two Intifadas against Israeli rule, the first in 1987. A recent poll showed that a majority of Israelis fear a third uprising if annexation goes ahead. Shtayyeh said the Palestinian Authority, led by president Mahmud Abbas, wanted to avoid widespread disruption. But, "the anger is there, the dissatisfaction is there, the frustration is there," he said. FILE PHOTO: The Refinitiv logo is seen on a screen in offices in Canary Wharf in London ROME (Reuters) - Italian Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said on Monday the government is closely watching the merger between the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and Refinitiv, and its implications for the Italian bourse owned by LSE. "It is clear that we consider our bourse a strategic asset with great potential and so we are following this dossier with attention," Gualtieri told reporters. The Italian stock exchange includes MTS, the key trading platform for Italian sovereign bonds which is of crucial importance to Rome as it grapples with a surging public debt. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, speaking at the same news conference, said Italy currently has no need of a loan from the euro zone bailout fund, known as the European Stability Mechanism. (Reporting By Giuseppe Fonte, writing by Gavin Jones) Sen. Elizabeth Warren backed progressive challenger Jamaal Bowman over longtime incumbent Rep. Eliot Engel on Tuesday, further fueling the endorsement slugfest in one of the nation's most watched primaries. Warren (D-Mass.) is the latest national progressive icon to support Bowman a middle school principal challenging a 16-term congressman and House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman in a New York district that spans from the Bronx to Westchester County. "He is exactly the kind of person we need in Congress fighting for big, structural change, Warren said in a statement. Whether it's fighting for high-quality public schools, affordable housing, or rooting out systemic racism, Jamaal Bowman will be a champion for working people in Washington." This undated photo, provided by his campaign, shows Jamaal Bowman, a first-time candidate who helped found the Cornerstone Academy of Social Action in 2009, who has picked up endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in his race against U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, a 16-term incumbent representing parts of the Bronx and suburban Westchester County. (Photo by Corey Torpie via AP) Warren joins Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in backing Bowman, while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) all endorsed Engel in recent days. "[Warren] knows it's not enough to keep electing Democrats that will only nibble around the edges, and it's why I am running to make big, structural change in New York's 16th District," Bowman wrote in a tweet. Engel has served in the House since 1989 and is facing perhaps his toughest primary challenge in over 30 years. New York holds its primary on June 23. LAPD officers arrive to arrest George Floyd protesters in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) The Los Angeles Police Department spent more than $40 million in overtime handling protests over the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd as well as dealing with fallout from the coronavirus. Chief Michel Moore said in a memorandum that despite a multibillion budget, the LAPD is so cash-strapped that any overtime earned from June 7 onward will be paid out in compensation time. With the entire department of nearly 10,000 officers working every day for a week since the mobilization May 30, the LAPD burned through more than it allotted even for emergencies. "I recognize that you have worked tirelessly these past couple weeks during the protests and prior to that during the Safer At Home order. Your dedication and commitment have not gone unnoticed. During this extraordinary time, including the full mobilization of our sworn members, the Department has expended more than $40 million dollars in overtime expenses," Moore wrote Thursday. "This amount far exceeds any budgetary reserve to address unusual occurrences. "Additionally, all non-essential overtime is canceled," said Moore, adding that this includes work on task forces for cannabis and human trafficking. Work by officers protecting the homeless shelters, he wrote, will be compensated in the form of time. The LAPD said in a statement that it "offers cash overtime to officers when it is available, and when those allotted amounts are depleted that compensation is offered in time. The COVID-19 pandemic and full mobilization of the Department depleted that cash reserve before the end of the fiscal year, and we transitioned to comp time last week." It is not the first time the department has run out of overtime money when protests or other special incidents have led to large deployments. The department, however, relies on a certain amount of those hours to function. Some work by the LAPD relies on overtime, and that is how it provides services to the buses and subways. Story continues Moore said the overtime for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will continue and be compensated in the form of time until the department is reimbursed by MTA. At that time, employees will have the option to convert the related hours into cash. Moore also directed supervisors to make every effort to ensure "essential overtime" for court appearances and that shift overruns be curtailed. The moves come as the City Council is scheduled Tuesday to take up a request to cut the LAPDs budget by $100 million to $150 million, and put the money into other programs. Neither Mayor Eric Garcetti nor the council has explained how those reductions would be achieved. The councils Budget and Finance Committee voted unanimously Monday to move forward with the proposal, which wont be finalized until later this month. An existing LAPD contract is slated to pay officers a 4.8% pay raise in the coming fiscal year that begins July 1. As part of a three-year contract, officers are also getting an education bonus that boosts pay for officers with college degrees at a cost of an additional $41 million. That amounts to an extra $290 every two weeks for officers with bachelor's degrees. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- This is one bullseye that a senior gun owner in Graniteville probably wishes had missed its mark. Authorities allege that Victor Stepanov, 64, was performing target practice in his own home when he sent a bullet flying through his wall and into a neighbors unit. Donald Trump has argued frequently of late that China is rooting for Joe Biden come Novembers U.S. presidential election. In Beijing, however, officials have come around to support four more years of Trump. Interviews with nine current and former Chinese officials point to a shift in sentiment in favor of the sitting president, even though he has spent much of the past four years blaming Beijing for everything from U.S. trade imbalances to Covid-19. The chief reason? A belief that the benefit of the erosion of Americas postwar alliance network would outweigh any damage to China from continued trade disputes and geopolitical instability. While the officials shared concerns that US-China tensions would rise regardless of who was in the White House, they broke largely into camps of those who emphasized geopolitical gains and those who were concerned about trade ties. Biden, the former vice president, was viewed as a traditional Democrat who would seek to shore up the USs tattered multilateral relationships and tamp down trade frictions. If Biden is elected, I think this could be more dangerous for China, because he will work with allies to target China, whereas Trump is destroying US alliances, said Zhou Xiaoming, a former Chinese trade negotiator and former deputy representative in Geneva. Four current officials echoed that sentiment, saying many in the Chinese government believed a Trump victory could help Beijing by weakening what they saw as Washingtons greatest asset for checking Chinas widening influence. The general assumption underlying their views was that little could be done to halt the slide in relations between the worlds two biggest economies. Thus, China needed to accelerate efforts to develop high-end indigenous industries, expand into developing markets and look for opportunities to work with nations in Europe and Asia to counter any US isolation efforts. Over the course of Trumps term, the realization has taken hold in Beijing that opposition to China enjoys deep bipartisan support in an otherwise-polarized Washington. The coronavirus outbreak, which was first discovered in the countrys central city of Wuhan, has only hardened American views toward Beijing. Getting Worse I dont think the election will change the relationship in a fundamental way. The deep feeling in the US is that the US should contain China, Zhou said. Whether Trump wins, or Joe goes to Washington, things will get worse. Chinese officials, eager to avoid a repeat of their surprise when Trump upset former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, have been pressing American contacts for insights about who will win. Senior members of the American business community in Beijing say recent weeks have seen a sudden up tick in outreach from well-connected Chinese friends who in some cases havent contacted them for years. Although Republicans traditionally emphasized economic ties with China, Trump has moved the party in a more confrontational direction, challenging the country in virtually every area of the relationship from Chinas territorial claims in the South China Sea to trade, public health, human rights and technology. The Democrats have largely supported those efforts, helping to pass legislation to support Hong Kong protesters and give more military aid to Taiwan. Even Biden, who had long backed an engagement strategy with China, adopted a harsher tone as the Democratic presidential primaries heated up. In recent months, Biden has described President Xi Jinping as a thug, lauded the extraordinary bravery of democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong and accused China of predatory trade practices. He labeled the mass detention of Uighur Muslims in the far Western region of Xinjiang unconscionable. Although Chinese officials continue to steer clear of criticizing Trump directly, Internet censors have allowed more nationalistic-tinged criticism of the US to circulate online. One foreign diplomat said Chinas foreign ministry was combative and angry toward US officials. Trump has destroyed a lot of goodwill, said Wang Huiyao, an adviser to Chinas cabinet and founder of the Center for China and Globalization. At the start of the trade war, there were a lot of people who were pro-US, but they are now sympathetic to the hard-liners. Trump has sought to capitalize on his reputation for confronting China in the election, despite his early praise for Xis handling of the coronavirus outbreak. In April, he told Reuters that China will do anything they can to have me lose this race, asserting without evidence that Beijings response to the virus was focused on a desire to see him lose in November. Chinas foreign ministry reiterated its longstanding position that it never seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. In a possible sign that the two sides are seeking to manage the election year disputes, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo was expected to meet top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in Hawaii later Tuesday, according to two people familiar with the plans. US Stability One Chinese official said the election result didnt matter since relations wont improve either way. Chinas best hope, they said, was that things didnt deteriorate further. Some in Beijing are wondering aloud about Trumps long-term impact on US stability, pointing to surging coronavirus cases, protests against police discrimination and speculation about whether the pandemic election might end in chaos. The US as we know it may no longer exist, said Gao Zhikai, a former Chinese diplomat and interpreter for Deng Xiaoping. Trumps America First policies have created similar frictions in capitals that have traditionally been friendlier to the US, as he levies tariffs on key trading partners, presses allies for greater spending on collective defense, withdraws from multilateral agreements and supports the UKs break from the Europe Union. Chinese officials privately acknowledge that a Democratic administration might prove more formidable if it worked with allies to present a united front. Even if a Biden presidency proved more difficult for Beijing, two current Chinese officials said he might open up more areas for cooperation such as restoring US participation in the Paris climate deal -- negotiated while he was vice president under then-President Barack Obama. He supports working on topics like climate change, WTO reform and TPP, said Wang. There are areas where we can cooperate. On a more personal level, some Chinese officials involved in trade negotiations with the Trump administration support a Biden victory simply so they can spend more time with their families, according to one person familiar with their thinking. Chinas trade team shows up to work looking exhausted, the person said. Both sides may find it difficult to escape the pattern of confrontation no matter who wins. Huawei Technologies Co. executive Meng Wanzhou is still detained in Canada awaiting a decision on a US extradition request, while Beijings plan to impose a security law on Hong Kong has caused outrage in Congress and brought the countries phase one trade deal into question. Nowadays in China people are becoming more and more clear about the USs objectives, said Zhou, the former Chinese representative in Geneva. We have not yet reached the darkest hour in the relationship. FDA approval for Cosentyx is based on the Phase III PREVENT trial, demonstrating efficacy in active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), which is part of the axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) disease spectrum is based on the Phase III PREVENT trial, demonstrating efficacy in active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), which is part of the axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) disease spectrum There are an estimated 2.7M people living with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in the US; however, it remains significantly underdiagnosed 1,2 nr-axSpA approval is the fourth indication for Cosentyx, which is backed by five years of clinical data supporting long-term safety and efficacy across moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS)3-8 Basel, June 17, 2020 - Novartis, a leader in rheumatology and immuno-dermatology, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cosentyx (secukinumab) for the treatment of active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), confirming Cosentyx efficacy in addressing the axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) disease spectrum9. "The results from the PREVENT trial show that there was a significant reduction in disease activity for patients treated with Cosentyx versus placebo," said Atul Deodhar, MD, professor of medicine and medical director of Rheumatology Clinics at Oregon Health & Science University, and an investigator in the PREVENT clinical trial. "This approval brings a new therapeutic option to people living with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis." The approval of Cosentyx for nr-axSpA is based on efficacy and safety outcomes from the PREVENT Phase III study, which included 555 adults with active nr-axSpA that were biologic treatment naive or had an inadequate response / were intolerant to an anti-tumor necrosis factor-a therapy (anti-TNFs). Cosentyx met the primary endpoints achieving statistically significant improvements versus placebo in the signs and symptoms of nr-axSpA, as measured by at least a 40% improvement in the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS40) response criteria in biologic-naive individuals at week 5210. nr-axSpA patients treated with Cosentyx showed improvement in both load and without load arms compared to placebo-treated patients at Week 16 in health-related quality of life as measured by the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) questionnaire (Least Squares mean change: Week 16: -3.5 and -3.6 -vs -1.8, respectively). General health status and quality of life was assessed by the Short Form health survey (SF-36). At Week 16, patients treated with Cosentyx showed greater improvement from baseline in the SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) score and in the mental component summary (MCS) score10. The safety profile of Cosentyx in the PREVENT trial was shown to be consistent with previous clinical trials. No new safety signals were detected3-8,10. nr-axSpA is part of the axSpA spectrum, which is characterized by inflammatory arthritis of the spine associated with chronic inflammatory back pain11. The axSpA disease spectrum also includes AS, in which joint damage is visible on x-ray, and nr-axSpA, in which joint damage is generally not visible on x-ray1,12. The physical limitations of axSpA can affect activities of daily living as well as leisure activities causing limitations for patients13,14. "There is a need for additional treatment options. Having a new treatment option for the axSpA community is truly encouraging," said Cassie Shafer, Chief Executive Officer of the Spondylitis Association of America. "Helping reduce the burden on people living with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis by improving symptoms that affect their daily lives remains a critical focus for the SAA." In April 2020, Novartis received European Medicines Agency approval of Cosentyx for the treatment of nr-axSpA15. About Cosentyx (secukinumab) Cosentyx is the first and only fully-human biologic that directly inhibits interleukin-17A (IL-17A), an important cytokine involved in the inflammation and development of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nr-axSpA16,17. Cosentyx has been studied clinically for more than 13 years. The medicine is backed by robust investigational evidence, including five years of clinical data supporting long-term safety and efficacy across moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS)3-8. These data strengthen the unique position of Cosentyx as a comprehensive treatment across axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriatic disease, supported by more than 340,000 patients treated worldwide since launch18-20. About PREVENT PREVENT is a two-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III study (with a two-year extension phase) to investigate the efficacy and safety of Cosentyx, in patients with active nr-axSpA. The study enrolled 555 male and female adult patients with active nr-axSpA (with onset before 45 years of age, spinal pain rated as =40/100 on a visual analog scale (VAS) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) =4) and who had been taking at least two different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at the highest dose up to 4 weeks prior to study start. Patients may have previously taken a TNF inhibitor (not more than one) but had had an inadequate response. Of the 555 patients enrolled in the study, 501 (90%) were biologic naive. Patients were allocated to one of three treatment groups: Cosentyx 150 mg subcutaneously with loading dose (Induction: 150 mg Secukinumab subcutaneously weekly for 4 weeks, then maintenance with 150 mg Secukinumab monthly); Cosentyx 150 mg no loading dose (150 mg Secukinumab subcutaneously monthly), or placebo (induction of subcutaneously weekly for 4 weeks, followed by maintenance of once-monthly)10. The primary endpoints are the proportion of biologic-naive patients achieving an ASAS40 response with Cosentyx 150 mg at weeks 16 and 52. Secondary endpoints include change in BASDAI over time and change in the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with CRP (ASDAS-CRP)10. ASAS40 is achieved when there is a measure of an improvement of at least 40% and an improvement of at least 20 units on a 0-100 scale in at least three of the following domains: Patient global assessment, Pain assessment, Function (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)), and Inflammation (morning stiffness severity and duration) and no worsening in the remaining domains21. BASDAI assesses a patient's disease activity on six measures: fatigue, spinal pain, joint pain/swelling, enthesitis, morning stiffness duration and morning stiffness severity21. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "may," "could," "remains," "expectations," "encouraging," investigational," "launch," "brings," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential or actual marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for Cosentyx, or regarding potential future revenues from Cosentyx. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Cosentyx will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any additional markets, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that Cosentyx will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding Cosentyx could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Novartis Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 109,000 people of more than 145 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com (https://www.novartis.com). Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at https://twitter.com/novartisnews (https://twitter.com/novartisnews) For Novartis multimedia content, please visit https://www.novartis.com/news/media-library (https://www.novartis.com/news/media-library) For questions about the site or required registration, please contact media.relations@novartis.com (mailto:media.relations@novartis.com) References 1. Strand V and Singh JA. Evaluation and Management of the Patient With Suspected Inflammatory Spine Disease. Mayo ClinProc 2017;92:555-564. 2. Spondylitis.org. Overview of Ankylosing Spondylitis Ankylosing. Available from: https://www.spondylitis.org/Ankylosing-Spondylitis (https://www.spondylitis.org/Ankylosing-Spondylitis)[Last accessed: June 2020]. 3. Data on file. CAIN457F2310 (MEASURE 2): 5 Year Report. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; September 15, 2015. 4. Data on file. Data Analysis Report: Study CAIN457A2302E1. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; November 30, 2015. 5. Data on file. CAIN457F2310 and CAIN457F2305 Summary of 5-Year Clinical Safety in (Ankylosing Spondylitis). Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; May 2019. 6. Data on file. CAIN457F2312 (FUTURE 2): 5 Year- Interim Report. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; May 2019. 7. Data on file. CAIN457F2312 Data Analysis Report. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; November 2008. 8. Data on file. CAIN457F2310 (MEASURE 1 and 2): Pooled Safety Data. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; July 23, 2018. 9. Cosentyx [Prescribing Information]. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; 2020 10. Novartis data on file. September 2019. 11. Strand V, et al. Patient Burden of Axial Spondyloarthritis. J Clin Rheumatol. 2017 Oct; 23(7): 383-391. 12. Rudwaleit M, et al. The development of Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society classification criteria for axial spondyloarthritis (part II): validation and final selection. Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:777-783. 13. Doward LC, Spoorenberg A, Cook SA, et al. Development of the ASQoL: a quality of life instrument specific to ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2003;62:20-26. 14. Moncur C. Ankylosing spondylitis measures. Arthritis Rheum (Arthritis Care Res). 2003;49:S197-S209. 15. Novartis. Novartis Cosentyx gains fourth indication in EU with first-in-class approval in axial spondyloarthritis spectrum. Available from: https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-cosentyx-gains-fourth-indication-eu-first-class-approval-axial-spondyloarthritis-spectrum (https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-cosentyx-gains-fourth-indication-eu-first-class-approval-axial-spondyloarthritis-spectrum) [Last accessed: June 2020]. 16. Novartis Europharm Limited. Cosentyx (secukinumab): Summary of Product Characteristics. Available from:http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/003729/human_med_001832.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d124 (https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/cosentyx) [Last accessed: June 2020]. 17. Girolomoni G, et al. Psoriasis: rationale for targeting interleukin-17. Br J Dermatol 2012;167:717-724. 18. Data on file. COSENTYX Access. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; May 2019. 19. Data on file. AIN457A2102 Clinical Study Report. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; December 2008. 20. Data on file. COSENTYX Access. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; June 2020. 21. Landewe R, et al. Clinical Tools to Assess and Monitor Spondyloarthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2015;17(7):47. # # # Novartis Media Relations E-mail: media.relations@novartis.com (mailto:media.relations@novartis.com) Antonio Ligi Novartis Global External Communications +41 61 324 1374 (direct) antonio.ligi@novartis.com (mailto:antonio.ligi@novartis.com) Eric Althoff Novartis US External Communications +1 646 438 4335 eric.althoff@novartis.com (mailto:eric.althoff@novartis.com) Louise Clark Novartis Pharma Communications +41 61 324 2970 (direct) louise.clark@novartis.com (mailto:louise.clark@novartis.com) Novartis Investor Relations Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944 E-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com (mailto:investor.relations@novartis.com) We are continuing to work with the businesses, schools and organizations to help them understand the steps that they need to take in order to safely open up to Phase 2, Anderson said. With schools, we are working on a longer-range plan and are hopeful that by the time the students return, we may be at Phase 3 or, hopefully, Phase 4. She said CDHD is working with the Nebraska State Fair and with county fairs in the district to ensure they are taking the proper steps and precautions, and making the needed modifications to host their events while complying with the DHM. An event with more than 500 people, but less than 3,000 people, can be held, Anderson said, but it needs to get approval from CDHD first. She said organizations can submit their plan for approval at the CDHD website, cdhd.ne.gov. She said when an organization submits a form to have an event of 500 or more, CDHD wants to see that they are adhering to the DHM. Once the form is completed, the health department reviews the plan prior to approving it. The US government is using Google and social media sites like Facebook as mass surveillance tools, as user data requests have dramatically increased over the past decade, a new report reveals. ProtonMail, an end-to-end encryption email firm, found requests to Google increased by 510 percent since 2010 and requests to Facebook rose 363 percent since 2013. The team also notes that in just 2019, Google received 157,435 user data requests worldwide and Facebook received 269,492. The Freedom Act, passed by Congress in 2015, hindered the National Security Agencys ability to collect massive amounts of user data, however, it does not stop private corporations from doing the agency's dirty work. Scroll down for video ProtonMail , an end-to-end encryption email firm, reveals the requests from Google increased by 510 percent since 2010 and requests from Facebook have risen 363 percent since 2013 Edward Shone, public relations manager with ProtonMail told DailyMail.com: 'Its not surprising that governments are using private corporations as a source of intelligence. But the sheer scale is concerning. ' 'The volume of data that these companies hold is unprecedented and it makes sense that governments would take advantage of these resources now that whistleblowers like Edward Snowdon have brought the more clandestine surveillance practices used in the past to the publics attention.' In 2013, Edward Snowden, a former employee of the National Security Agency (NSA), pulled the curtain on the government group by telling the public how it conducts mass surveillance without their knowledge. The US Congress passed the Freedom Act two years later that banned the NSAs bulk collection of user data the group must now gain approval of the FISA court to gather intelligence of individuals. The team also found that in just 2019, Google received 157,435 user data requests worldwide and Facebook received 269,492 However, the policy does not include private corporations, allowing them to gather as much data as they want and share with whomever. While US law prevents the NSA from performing bulk data collection, corporations like Google and Facebook face few restrictions on gathering data on their users, ProtonMail shared in the report. So, to get the data it wants, the NSA simply goes to these companies with user data requests. Under the Freedom Act, if the US government can convince a judge in the FISA court that an investigation pertains to national security, then they can request that a company share whatever data it has on an individual. Companies do have the ability to refuse requests, but are at risk of facing legal action that may come with fines. Earlier this year, Google starting putting a price tag on requests from the government, as the firm was receiving an increasing amount from different agencies Earlier this year, Google starting putting a price tag on requests from the government, as the firm was receiving an increasing amount from different agencies. The New York Times reported that the tech giant charges $45 for a subpoena, $60 for a wiretap and $245 for a search warrant. Facebook does share information about the requests it receives from governments around the world. It provides a downloadable Excel sheet that lists multiple countries and the total requests that have been completed. ProtomMail notes that Facebook has shared information in response to a user data request roughly 74% of the time, and that percentage has remained steady since 2017. The success rate of requests receiving approval had increased the number of requests from governments to corporations. Starting in 2013 through 2019, the report found that the number of data requests made by governments worldwide to Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Yahoo has increased by about 320 percent. 'The data resources that these companies hold are only going to continue growing and as a result its likely that Government requests will increase at the same time. The best way to prevent these requests is for companies to handle users data in the same way as ProtonMail,' Shone told DailyMail.com. The report also discusses the Fourteen Eyes, which is an alliance between 14 countries that have agreed to share intelligence information with one another. And the US has had more requests from Facebook, Google, Twitter and Yahoo than another of the other 13 countries 'We encrypt users data before it reaches our servers. This means theres no way for us to decrypt users' emails, attachments, calendar entries or other data and theres very little of use that we can share with governments, even if were legally forced to do so.' The report also discusses the Fourteen Eyes, which is an alliance between 14 countries that have agreed to share intelligence information with one another. And the US has had more requests from Facebook, Google, Twitter and Yahoo than another of the other 13 countries. 'The massive scale and the speed in which the annual request numbers are growing is probably the most striking element of the report,' Shone explained. 'Also, its not surprising that the US made the most requests out of the 14 Eyes community. But the enormous disparity between the US and the rest of the group is really quite shocking. 'Even when you allow for the USs larger population size, it still outweighs its surveillance partners.' It was a crime that shocked an entire city: a 4-year-old boy shot dead while playing video games with his brother at home, the unintended victim of a drive-by shooting. Now, three years later, three men have been charged in the July 2017 killing of DeEarlvion Whitley. Known as Little Earl, he by all accounts was a happy, lively child who loved to dance and played flag football on a neighborhood team. A Bexar County grand jury has indicted Terrell Chase, 27; Todd Hill, 32; and Quentin Phillips, 28, in the childs death. Each is charged with murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and deadly conduct. All three have extensive criminal records, including drug and assault charges. Chase and Hill were in Bexar County Jail; total bail for Chase was set at $865,000 and for Hill, $850,000; Phillips appeared to be awaiting magistration. Warrants have been issued for two more men, also wanted on charges of murder and deadly conduct in the boys death: Michael Woodard, 29, and John Chatman, 38. Dakota Peppers, 29, has been charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the crime, but not in the death. He was in jail with bail set at $100,000. On ExpressNews.com: After senseless shooting of 4-year-old, leaders vow to stop bloodshed Little Earl was playing with his 7-year-old brother, Corey Lewis, when a group of men driving opened fire on his home in the 200 block of Hub Avenue shortly before midnight July 19, 2017. Police said 65 shots were fired at the house. Corey wasnt injured, but Little Earl was shot in the head and his mother, Cyntwanisha Whitley, 32, suffered two gunshot wounds to her legs. She survived. Several arrests were made in the months after the shooting, but nothing held. It took the combined efforts of local, state and federal agencies to crack the case, which authorities believe was brought on by gang rivalries on the East Side. This little boy was inside his home, a place where he should have been safe, especially from violent crime like this, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said Tuesday. He declined further comment because of the pending cases. Little Earls family couldnt be reached for comment. Police Chief William McManus called the death a tragedy that outraged our community. The collaboration at the local, state and federal level was vital to ensuring that all those responsible will now be held accountable, the chief said. On ExpressNews.com: Mother of 4-year-old killed in drive-by asks for justice not retaliation After the slaying, Chatman was arrested Aug. 16, 2017, along with Tramone Mykel Anderson, 28, on federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Their arrests were part of operations conducted by federal agents to combat mounting violence on the East Side that year. Each was tied to Little Earls death at the time, but Anderson later was cleared after authorities determined he had been misidentified as being at the scene of the shooting. Chatman also was released. Last October, Charles Bethany, 38, pleaded guilty to federal drug and gun charges. Investigators believe the East Side man is involved in a turf battle that resulted in Little Earls death. Officials said surveillance video recovered from Bethanys stash house indicated that 12 minutes before the shooting erupted at the boys house, several people with guns left the stash house and returned moments after the boy was shot. On ExpressNews.com: Feds say accused San Antonio drug dealer involved in childs killing Bethanys arrest as part of the 2017 federal task force operation to target suspected gang members on drug and gun charges included the arrest of the boys father, Earl E Whitley, Jr., 39. He pleaded guilty in May 2018 to conspiracy to possess with intent to sell 67.8 grams of crack cocaine. Before the boy was killed, authorities said a federal task force had been investigating violent crime in the area near the Whitley home. This case is heartbreaking, as an innocent childs life was taken by a senseless act, said Special Agent in Charge Chris Combs of the San Antonio FBI office. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. To read more from Elizabeth, become a subscriber. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 Geneva (AFP) - George Floyd's shocking death in police custody in the US has sparked belated soul-searching in Switzerland over the death of a Nigerian man two years ago in Lausanne in seemingly similar circumstances. The images of Floyd's last agonising moments have circled the globe, sparking massive protests worldwide. The 46-year-old black man died in Minneapolis on May 25 after a white officer, who has since been charged with murder, pressed his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. In contrast, the death of Mike Ben Peter, a 37-year-old Nigerian man, in Lausanne in March 2018 received little attention beyond the western Swiss city, where it sparked a small demonstration against police violence. But the global outcry over Floyd's death has pushed the Swiss to re-examine their own strikingly similar case. Ben Peter died following a violent arrest after he refused a police search. In the encounter, involving six police officers, he was pinned to the ground, on his stomach, according to his family's lawyer Simon Ntah. - 'Enormous similarities' - "He was held in positional asphyxia" for several minutes, Ntah told AFP. Ben Peter died in hospital a few hours later after suffering a heart attack. The lawyer said he believed there were "enormous similarities" with Floyd's killing, adding though that the situation was likely "a bit more serious in Ben Peter's case, due to the violence that preceded him being pinned down on his stomach". But the main difference, he said, "is that in the US case, the facts were filmed and we can thereby see exactly how the knee was placed on the neck." Two years on, Ben Peter's death is still under investigation. In a coincidence of timing, Swiss medical examiners were questioned about their findings in the Ben Peter case just hours after Floyd's death. They are due to face further questioning before a likely trial, at the end of this year or in 2021. Story continues Landing in the midst of the Floyd outrage, the medical examiners' testimony sent shockwaves through the wealthy Alpine nation. Leading newspapers declared that "Switzerland too has its George Floyd", while protesters at anti-racism demonstrations in several Swiss cities shouted the two men's names in unison. "Fight for Mike Ben Peter", read one of the protest posters in Lausanne. Odile Pelet, a lawyer representing one of the police officers in the case, meanwhile rejects the "conflation" of the facts in the two cases, stressing that the autopsy formally excluded that Ben Peter died from asphyxiation. "The images of George Floyd's arrest show that the situations are absolutely not comparable," she told AFP. "Never did any of the six police officers place their knee on Ben Peter's neck." The medical examiners concluded that a range of factors contributed to his death, including stress, obesity and heart problems. They also mentioned the position he was held in, on his stomach, she acknowledged, "but without being able to really determine what role it may have played in his death". Jean-Christophe Sauterel, head of the regional police force in the canton of Vaud, where Lausanne is located, meanwhile said he could not comment on a case still under investigation. - Similar to #MeToo - But he stressed that in Switzerland, police can apply pressure to a person's arms or shoulders to bring them under control, but putting pressure on the head or neck is "totally forbidden". In recent demonstrations in Switzerland against police brutality and racism, Ben Peter has not been the only name mentioned alongside Floyd. Protesters and Swiss media recall that Herve Manbdundu and Lamine Fatty also died during or following police interventions in Vaud in 2017 and 2016 respectively. "In the same way that the #MeToo movement has opened the way for very, very positive developments, there is today a movement of awareness raising when it comes to police racism," Ntah said. Many observers, including Amnesty International, meanwhile maintain that systemic racism does not exist in Swiss police forces. But "racial profiling unfortunately remains a widespread police practice," Nadia Boehlen, a spokeswoman for Amnesty's Swiss chapter, told AFP. Frederic Maillard, an analyst of policing practices, also said Switzerland does not have a problem with "racist and violent police", pointing out that the hierarchy demands a "measured" approach. However, he warned, as elsewhere, police have a tendency to cover for colleagues' bad behaviour, and "there is too little behavioural training to prevent abuses and excesses on the ground". Be wary of the comeback. That's the message two strategists and one economist had for investors as U.S. stock rallied on Tuesday after an uptick in retail sales and the biggest monthly surge in homebuilder sentiment on record. The positive data comes as worries persist around rising coronavirus cases in states that have reopened their economies, which is not a "second wave" of the pandemic. Here's why they're staying cautious despite the encouraging data: The fate of the 'V-shaped recovery' Liz Young, director of market strategy at BNY Mellon Investment Management, said if you're investing in this market, "you have to be nimble and you have to be humble": "What the market was pricing in up until this minor pullback last week is a perfect recovery, and that perfect recovery is probably not going to come to fruition. There's going to be lingering effects of this as we go. And the other thing that I want everybody to keep in mind is that we were starting from such a low base, it's going to look like a V shaped off the bottom no matter what. And the big risk here is that we have a dramatic second wave that causes us to go back into shutdown in some major metro areas and makes that V look like a head fake. So, what we're really concerned with now from a market perspective is that it did get overextended from an enthusiasm standpoint and 90% of the S&P was trading above its 50-day moving average, so, we were due for a pullback. And to be perfectly honest, it made me feel better when we got that pullback because it felt a little bit more rational. So, I think as we move through summer, we're going to be watching like a hawk what this reopening process looks like, and one of the big challenges there is that we don't agree across the country on how to actually do this, on what the rules are, how quickly to do this and we're seeing that as we have different results across different states." Second wave worries Alan Ruskin, Deutsche Bank's chief international strategist, said a key question remains that could impact the recovery in a major way: "It's going to be a bumpy ride. So, I've been certainly anticipating that after lockdown, as the economy opens, you get at least some short-term V. You're actually getting some improvements, certainly on the consumption side, that [are] coming through earlier than that. The production side seems to be lagging. But I think that will show something of a V when you see the June data, which comes out in July. After that, I think an awful lot is going to hinge on the issues that Chairman Powell has mentioned in the past. Will we see a second wave, really, which could really dent expectations going forward? But I think we're starting on a levels basis, with such weak levels of GDP and all its components that it's more or less inevitable that the growth numbers are going to look quite exceptional for some time." Economic volatility Bruce Kasman, chief economist and managing director of global research at JPMorgan, expected a partial recovery for the U.S. economy: "I think what we're seeing is the economy starting to come back in May. It's a consumer-led move back up. And I think it's partly the opening up of the economy and it's partly the supports that have come from the Fed and fiscal policy, of course, that are starting to kick in. And I think we had a horrible March and April and we're going to have a very significant bounce as we move into the summer months. So, we're seeing an enormous degree of volatility in this economy. Our view is that we're going to only have a partial recovery, but it's going to take a while here as we go through this very strong upturn to see what's actually happening." Bullish indicators Phil Camporeale, investment specialist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, compared this moment to the start of the last bull market: "Stocks are so under-owned. Morningstar reported [Tuesday] morning that May saw the largest outflow in equity funds in history, more than the second highest, which was March of 2009. You know what March of 2009 was? The beginning of another bull market. And that doesn't even get into the [$]5 trillion sitting in money market funds." Market 'disconnect' STEPANAKERT, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan received today Chief of the General Staff of the Armed forces of Armenia Onik Gasparyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. A range of issues related to the army building and cooperation of the two Armenian republics in the defense sphere were on the agenda of the meeting. The meeting was also attended by Artsakh Republic Defense minister Jalal Harutyunyan. The Head of the State congratulated Onik Gasparyan on being appointed to the responsible position noting that his experience, professionalism and knowledge will greatly contribute to further developing of the Armed forces, achieving new success in strengthening the country's defense capabilities. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-12 15:52:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A total of 261 Mongolian nationals have been repatriated from Japan on a chartered flight amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's health ministry said Friday. The flight from Tokyo landed in the Chinggis Khaan International Airport on Thursday night, Dorj Narangerel, head of public relations and surveillance at the ministry, told a news conference. The repatriated nationals have been placed under isolation and medical observation at the Central Military Hospital and other designated facilities for 21 days, Narangerel said. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Mongolia has been evacuating its citizens from abroad in stages, according to the country's State Emergency Commission (SEC). More than 2,300 Mongolian nationals from countries including Kazakhstan, Japan, India, South Korea and Germany will be returned home on nine chartered flights this month, the SEC said. As of Friday, the Asian country has confirmed 197 COVID-19 cases, including five foreign nationals. All cases were imported, mostly from Russia. No local transmissions or deaths have been reported in Mongolia so far. Enditem Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen held Brexit talks over video on Monday becuase of the coronavirus pandemic. - Stefan Rousseau /PA The EU will try everything and work to the point of exhaustion to get the Brexit deal done, the European Commission president promised Boris Johnson after he called on Brussels to put a tiger in the tank of the trade negotiations. During Mondays summit talks, Ursula von der Leyen said her negotiators would work until the last minute before midnight on December 31 and do everything possible to avoid the UK leaving the transition period without a trade agreement with the bloc. Speaking in French, the Prime Minister had earlier invoked Jacques Delors, the commission president when Mr Johnson was the Telegraphs Brussels Correspondent in the early 1990s. Mr Delors once said his commission was the tiger in the tank of EU integration, borrowing an old slogan for Esso petrol. EU officials will be working through the summer holidays on Brexit and both sides have agreed an intensified schedule of talks in July and August. Failure to meet the deadline, which was definitively set on Friday when formal notice was given the UK would not ask for an extension to the transition period, would mean the UK and EU trading on WTO terms, which include tariffs. Mrs von der Leyens determination to avoid no deal is shared by her mentor Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor. Germany takes over the rotating presidency of the EU in July, which will hand Mrs Merkel an even more influential role in Brussels as the Brexit process enters its closing, crucial months. Mr Johnson, Mrs von der Leyen and the presidents of the European Council and Parliament, repeated their commitment to sealing the zero tariff, zero quota trade deal Her team, while appreciating the challenge ahead, is optimistic a deal can be done if both sides are prepared to compromise over the vexed issues of the level playing field, European Court of Justice and fishing rights. Story continues Mrs von der Leyen told Mr Johnson that there would need to be level playing field guarantees in the final trade deal otherwise it would never be agreed by the EU member states. She said that the level playing field guarantees on tax, state aid, labour rights and the environment would also protect Britain from unfair competition from EU businesses. Mr Johnson told her the UK had to be free to set its own laws after Brexit. The former German defence minister was adamant that the European Court of Justice would have to be involved if there was any question of interpreting EU law as part of the final agreement. She insisted that the EU would not drop its demand that the trade deal, fishing agreement and other aspects of the future relationship, be part of an overarching agreement underpinned by a single dispute settlement system. The UK wants any fishing agreement to be separate to the trade agreement and to prevent any situation where there is a single enforcement and punishment mechanism governing different agreements. "We did not vote in June 2016 to leave the EU, but still to be run by the EU, "Michael Gove, who demanded progress be made in July, told the House of Commons on Tuesday. "We cannot agree to a deal that gives the EU Court of Justice, a role in our future relationship. We cannot accept restrictions on our legislative and economic freedom unprecedented in any other free trade agreement. And we cannot agree to the EU's demand that we stick to the status quo on their access to British fishing waters." "So there must be movement and the clock is ticking," he said before praising Mrs von der Leyen for saying the EU was available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "We will be too," he added. Despite the divisions, the EU team remains committed to completing a fully-fledged, comprehensive trade agreement by October, which would allow time for the deal to be ratified by the European Parliament and member states. The Telegraph understands that, if forced, the EU could negotiate a more bare bones deal before the deadline and add to that basic agreement with more negotiations in the new year. Negotiators are expected to prioritise talks in the areas that would cause the most economic damage if no trade agreement was sealed by the deadline. David Frost and Michel Barnier, their chief negotiators, will now attempt to find new ways to engineer the necessary breakthroughs in the deadlocked talks. The two men are expected to discuss whether the best method would be for the sides to exchange non-papers, present legal papers or attempt another way of bridging the divides between the two sides. Singapore will suspend the construction of a major airport terminal for at least two years as global aviation struggles to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, the transport minister said Tuesday. Khaw Boon Wan said the government will use the time to study how the industry will change after the pandemic, and to introduce new designs so the facility can meet future health and safety requirements. Experts have suggested airlines must brace for changes more challenging than those that followed the 2001 Twin Tower attacks in the US. Changi Airport's Terminal 5, handling up to 50 million passengers a year in its initial phase, had been due for completion around 2030. The airline business has been badly hit by the pandemic, with industry experts not expecting traffic to return to 2019 levels before 2023. But Khaw said aviation, especially in Asia, was likely to recover despite uncertainty over the risk of fresh infections after countries ease restrictions. Singapore had been studying what the aviation industry will look like in the coming years, he told an online meeting with students. "That's why we have already decided that we will take a pause in the T5 project... for two years to let us complete this study of the future of aviation." The minister said major changes are expected after the pandemic. "I suspect that the T5's current layout, the design may actually need some alterations to take into account some of these safety needs," he said. Singapore, a regional aviation hub, has already closed two of its four existing airport terminals after international air travel plunged due to the pandemic. It was 'business as unusual' yesterday as shoppers came back to the Dundrum Town Centre in Dublin following Covid-19 lockdown. After a busy start, things settled into an air of relaxed calm and there were no queues visible outside shops by 11.30am. The car park had a huge number of available spaces, and the first visible sign that there had been a shutdown at all was a fine layer of dust on two spotlit Hyundai cars that are being promoted at a marketing stand in the car park. With hand sanitiser dispensers at the lifts and in the shops, and guidance on pedestrian traffic flow and social distancing, the popular centre was settling into life in what has become known as the 'new normal'. Missed Shoppers are now used to longer queues at checkouts, face masks and card payments, and talking to staff through plastic screens. "We're glad to be back, we've really missed it," said Naoise Lawlor (28), from Firhouse, who was shopping with her daughter Larragh (5) and friends Orlagh Carty (28) and Katie Blanche (22). Orlagh said: "We haven't had to queue anywhere. To be honest, we thought there would be more people here. It's quite quiet." Zara store director Christie Forbes said she, too, thought there would be more shoppers as the centre opened up again. "People are being cautious I think. They are asking about face masks and things," she said. "Maybe people are waiting until the weekend to come out here and we will see numbers then." Another trader glad to be back behind the counter was David Roberts, manager at Weir & Sons. "We had initially been told it would be August 10 before we could open, but that date got moved back and we're delighted," he said. Brother and sister Warren and Zara Egan, from Firhouse, were in the centre to catch up on some retail therapy. Zara turned 21 last week so older brother Warren (23) was out to treat her. "There were so many vacant spaces in the car park I wondered was the centre open at all," said Warren. Centre director Don Nugent was walking around to monitor how all the new procedures and protocols were bedding-in. Settle "We're happy to let people settle in, and it will take a while for people to get their confidence back, including the retailers themselves," he said. "We have noticed the people that are here are here to shop, not browse, and we are letting retailers decide when to open." Meanwhile, at Kildare Village, there was marked interest in sporty, leisure brands like Asics, North Face, Puma and Nike. On arrival, shoppers passed through a mini marquee with a thermal scanner. Visitors and boutique staff had their temperature checked, which had to be below 37.5C to gain access. Once inside, customers could shop at some stores by joining a 'virtual queue' outside, after which they received a text and could track the waiting time. Thailands public debt management office (PDMO), part of the countrys finance ministry, is set to issue savings bonds to the general public via blockchain. Local media outlet The Nation Thailand reported the news on Tuesday, saying that PDMO is issuing bonds of 200 million baht (~$6.5 million) with a face value of 1 baht (~$0.030). Blockchain technology has enabled PDMO to set such a low price for bonds, which are usually priced at 1,000 baht (~$32) apiece. This should enable more people at the grassroots level to buy the governments saving bonds, PDMOs director-general Patricia Mongkhonvanit told The Nation. PDMO will use state-owned Krung Thai Banks (KTBs) blockchain platform and e-wallet to distribute bonds. Mongkhonvanit said the minimum purchase cap is 100 bonds per buyer. The banks blockchain platform will enable people and investors to buy the bonds without coming down to the banks branch offices or using ATM machines. All you will need are a KTB account and credit in your e-wallet, she added. The bank and the finance ministry are expected to announce further details about the bonds at a later date, per the report. 2020 The Block Crypto, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Warner Bros. has announced it will hold a 24-hour virtual experience for DC Comics fans, after Comic-Con was canceled for the first time ever this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The studio revealed Tuesday plans for a new virtual gathering, dubbed DC FanDome, featuring the casts and creators of DC films including 'Wonder Woman 1984,' 'Aquaman,' 'Black Adam' and 'The Batman'. The event will be held on August 22 and will feature talent announcements and reveal new content from WB games, comics, film and television. The announcement will come as welcome news to the tens of thousands of comics fans that usually make the trip to San Diego for Comic-Con but were saddened to learn in April that the event was canceled due to the coronavirus-related restrictions around large gatherings. Warner Bros. has announced it will hold a 24-hour virtual experience for DC Comics fans, after Comic-Con was canceled for the first time ever this year due to the coronavirus pandemic 'There is no fan like a DC fan,' said Warner Bros. chair and chief executive officer Ann Sarnoff of the new virtual event. 'For more than 85 years, the world has turned to DC's inspiring heroes and stories to lift us up and entertain us, and this massive, immersive digital event will give everyone new ways to personalize their journey through the DC Universe without lines, without tickets and without boundaries.' Sarnoff said DC FanDome will offer new ways for fans to meet their favorite characters. 'With DC FanDome, we're able to give fans from around the world an exciting and unparalleled way to connect with all their favorite DC characters, as well as the incredible talent who bring them to life on the page and screen,' she said. The studio revealed Tuesday plans for a new virtual gathering, dubbed DC FanDome, featuring the casts and creators of DC films including 'Wonder Woman 1984,' (left) 'Aquaman,' and 'Black Adam' Pictured are fans attending the 2019 Comic-Con International in San Diego (left). Comic-Con is scheduled to return as normal for 2021 The event will bring together the biggest names in the DC Comics universe, with participating properties including Black Lightning, DC Super Hero Girls, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, DC's Stargirl, Harley Quinn, The Suicide Squad, Supergirl, Superman & Lois, Teen Titans GO!, Titans and Watchmen. Virtual panels will feature cast and creators from DC films and also highlight casts from television shows such as 'The Flash,' 'Stargirl' and 'Black Lightning.' FanDome will be spread out across six different fully programmed areas on the event's website: Hall of Heroes, DC WatchVerse, DC YouVerse, DC KidsVerse, DC InsiderVerse and DC FunVerse. It will also be available in 10 different languages - Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish. FanDome will be spread out across six different fully programmed areas on the event's website: Hall of Heroes, DC WatchVerse, DC YouVerse, DC KidsVerse, DC InsiderVerse and DC FunVerse FanDome isn't the only virtual alternative to Comic-Con, which is scheduled to return as normal for 2021. San Comic-Con announced recently it will hold a virtual Comic-Con@Home on July 22 to 26 - the same dates that Comic-Con would have been held. Meanwhile the hotly-anticipated DC film 'Wonder Woman 1984' has been delayed until October as movie theaters remain shuttered in many states. It had been touted to be one of the summer's biggest releases. 2020-06-16 16:00:00 New Zealand reported two new coronavirus cases on Tuesday ending the country's 24-day streak of no new infections. Both cases have been revealed to be related to recent travel from the UK and have come at a time when New Zealand had last week lifted all social and economic restrictions while exercising border controls as the nation had for the first time reported no new or active COVID-19 cases. One of the first countries in the world to announce that it would return to pre-pandemic normality last week, New Zealand Prime Minister had issued a warning that more new cases may arise in the days ahead as many people would be returning back home while some others would be permitted back in under special conditions. Ashley Bloomfield, the director general of health during a press conference said that the two new cases reported in New Zealand were women aged in their 30s and 40s who visited a dying parent in Wellington. The women had arrived in New Zealand from the UK, via Doha in Qatar and Brisbane in Australia on June 7 and were then sent to an isolation facility in Auckland. Special permission was given to both women to visit the dying parent in Wellington after which they are now said to be self-isolating. The two new cases takes the total number of coronavirus cases in New Zealand to 1,506 while 22 deaths have been recorded to date. New Zealands success in warding off coronavirus to a relatively large extent has been attributed to the government''s timely strict restrictions enforced which saw businesses ordered to shut down followed by stay-at-home orders for the majority of the country's population while only essential workers were serving on the frontlines. Prime Minister Ardern, however, in a statement earlier this week said, "I don't want New Zealanders to believe that the battle is over when it is not,". Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 19:57:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YAOUNDE, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cameroon has reached 10,140, according to Africa CDC's real time statistics updated Tuesday morning, making it the sixth African nation that passed the 10,000 mark. The death toll stands at 277, while number of recovered cases rose to 5,601, according to data from the Africa CDC. Last week, the Cameroonian government said it will scale up testing capacity for COVID-19 to limit transmission. As of Monday, some 50,000 samples have been analyzed since the start of the pandemic in Cameroon in March, health minister Malachine Manaouda tweeted Monday evening. "We will therefore strengthen our three-T (tracking-testing-treat) strategy and set a new testing target", tweeted Manaouda. Cameroon reported its first coronavirus infection on March 6, an imported case from Europe, and has closed national borders and applied social distancing since March 18. Despite the increase of COVID-19 cases in the country, Cameroon eased some restrictions in May, and reopened schools for students in examination classes on June 1 to allow partial restoration of activities. Enditem A Pennsylvania man preyed on children under the guise of missionary work at an orphanage and asked them to call him 'dad' while he sexually abused them, a court has heard. Gregory Dow, 61, of Lancaster has pleaded guilty to four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in a foreign place between October 2013 and September 2017 while running the Dow Family Children's Home in Boito, Kenya. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced that he entered his plea Monday and he will be sentenced in a U.S. court on September 29. He and his wife Mary Rose established the orphanage in 2008 after in 1996 he pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit sexual abuse in Iowa. Dow was only given two years' probation after the guilty plea and was made to register as a sex offender until 2006. Scroll down for video Gregory Dow established the Dow Family Children's Home in Boito, Kenya in 2008 as a missionary of Lifegate Church in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania He moved with his wife Mary Rose (left) and six of his children. Dow engaged in illicit sexual conduct with at least four minors between October 2013 and September 2017 Then he and his wife sold their belongings and moved to the African country as a missionary from Lifegate Church in Elizabethtown. The couple reportedly moved with Dow's six children. Prosecutors said that when the abuse started, two girls were 11, one was 12 and one was 13. Dow reportedly raped the children at his home. One worker claimed to see him in the shower with a girl. Two of the girls fled the orphanage on September 11, 2017 and told locals of the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse endured. But the time authorities arrived to investigate on September 14, the orphanage had closed. The orphanage received financial support from Lancaster County churches and nonprofits. Dow reportedly raped the children at his home and one worker claimed to see him in the shower with a girl. Two of the girls fled the orphanage (pictured) on September 11, 2017 The girls told locals of the abuse endured but when authorities arrived three days later the Dows had fled and closed the orphanage His wife Mary Rose was caught in a town nearby to Nairobi and was jailed for five months after in January 2018 she was found guilty on two counts of cruelty to a child He fled to the US after Kenyan authorities issued an arrest warrant. But his wife Mary Rose was caught in a town nearby to Nairobi and was jailed for five months after in January 2018 she was found guilty on two counts of cruelty to a child. Mary Rose aided the insertion of birth control for female child orphans. In December 2018 Dow claimed to news outlets that he was innocent and that locals were telling lies to get him kicked out of the area. Lifegate church pastor, Doug Lamb, initially said he thought Dow was innocent. But Kenya Women in the US (KWITU) petitioned for his arrest and his ex-wife Janice Jenkins claimed he had sexually abused their eldest daughter decades ago. KWITU argued he should be tried in the US as he had financial support from several Pennsylvania churches. Then in July 2019 he was taken into custody. Gregory Dow was registered as a sex offender from 1996 to 2006 after pleading guilty to assault with intent to commit sexual abuse in Iowa Dow 'purported to be a Christian missionary who would care for these orphans. They called him 'Dad'. But instead of being a father figure for them, he preyed on their youth and vulnerability,' prosecutors said in the court filing after his arrest. Dow 'used force and coercion to perpetrate the most heinous of crimes, preying on vulnerable children for his own sexual gratification,' prosecutors wrote. 'Gregory Dow hid behind his supposed faith on the other side of the world, hoping no-one in the US would know or care about the children he abused. He was wrong,' US attorney William McSwain. The FBI's Philadelphia Field Office conducted the investigation with assistance from Kenyan authorities and local law enforcement in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. LNP newspaper reported that during a teleconference hearing Monday, Dow told the judge that he acknowledged the truth of the prosecution's allegations. Under terms of his plea agreement, he would serve 15 years and eight months in prison and then have to register as a sex offender, the newspaper said. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds updates the state's response to the CCP virus outbreak during a news conference at the State Emergency Operations Center, in Johnston, Iowa, on April 23, 2020. (Charlie Neibergall/ pool/AP Photo) Iowa Governor Will Sign Executive Order Restoring Felon Voting Rights Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds confirmed she will sign an executive order that would restore voting rights for those convicted of a felony. Were working on that right now, sitting down with various groups, listening to what they think is important, what is contained in that executive order, Reynolds, a Republican, told Radio Iowa on Tuesday. And then Ive got my legal team working on it. Felons in Iowa have to appeal to the governors office individually to get their voting rights back. Some 60,000 residents cannot vote in the state because theyve been convicted of a felony. Weve got people who are new to the process and I dont mean this in a bad way, but just not familiar with who can do what, how it is implemented, how important it is to get it done right, Reynolds said in the interview. Following Black Lives Matter protests and riots, activists and two state representatives met with the governor last week to discuss handing down an executive order, according to local news reports. We have an important election coming up, Reynolds noted, according to Radio Iowa. She added, Were working on the language to see what that looks like, but hopefully it would mirror what we would put in a constitutional amendment so that we could be consistent in what were trying to do. In 2005, former Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, signed an executive order that restored felons voting rights. But his order was later rescinded by Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who is Reynolds predecessor. I still am not going to give up on a permanent solution, Reynolds told the radio station. I just believe thats the right thing to do and then it doesnt matter whos sitting in the governors chair. The National Conference of State Legislatures says that it has been common practice in the United States to make felons ineligible to vote, in some cases permanently, but over the last few decades, the general trend has been toward reinstating the right to vote at some point, although this is a state-by-state policy choice. Inmates at the Mule Creek State Prison interact in a gymnasium that was modified to house prisoners in Ione, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2007. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) It notes that laws in each state vary. Felons in Maine and Vermont can vote even while incarcerated, while 16 states and Washington stipulate that felons lose their voting rights only while incarcerated, and receive automatic restoration upon release, the organization adds. In 21 states, felons lose their voting rights during incarceration, and for a period of time after, typically while on parole and/or probation. Voting rights are automatically restored after this time period. Former felons may also have to pay any outstanding fines, fees or restitution before their rights are restored as well, the website says. And in 11 states, felons lose their voting rights for some crimes or require a pardon from the governor. According to the Sentencing Project, a progressive advocacy group, between 1997 and 2018, 1.4 million Americans have regained voting rights. The organization said that during the 2018 elections, nearly 4.7 million of [felons] are not incarcerated but live in one of 34 states that prohibit voting by people on probation, parole, or who have completed their sentence. A Sharjah-based businessman flew 120 of his employees home to Kerala in a chartered flight on Sunday night, gifted them a months salary and a goody-bag, and, according to one of the employees who spoke to HT on condition of anonymity, has offered all of them the option of working for his companys units in Coimbatore if they do not want to return to Sharjah. In addition to R Harikumars employees, the special flight, run by Air Arabia also carried 50 people from Kerala who lost their jobs in Sharjah and were desperate to get back home. It is my duty to protect my employees who stood with me though thick and thin, said Harikumar, who is also a popular theatre artist. He came to Saudi Arabia from Alappuzha in Kerala, in search of a job 20 years ago and went on to become a successful businessman. His Elite group of companies makes aluminium extrusions in demand in the architectural sector and employs around 1200 people. He hails from the coastal town Alappuzha. A good business firm is like a family. If employees are in trouble it is the duty of the firm to look after them, he said, adding that he will help more Indians who have been stranded in the country due to Covid-19 restrictions return home. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BANGALORE, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Life sciences startup Biomoneta Research raises seed funding to further the development of its germicidal technology and take it to market. The Bangalore-based company was previously supported by DBT-BIRAC and this round of funding was led by Beyond Next Ventures (BNV-Japan), along with ArthaVida Ventures and IVF specialist and angel investor, Dr. Aniruddha Malpani. The company's ZeBox technology creates germ-free zones. Deployment of the ZeBox in hospitals, clinics, homes and offices can potentially arrest the spread of multiple infections, thereby protecting patients, healthcare workers, and the community. As a medical professional, Dr. Malpani believes this innovation will help mitigate unnecessary deaths and has expressed his excitement to be an investor in the health-tech company. "Hospital-acquired infections result in millions of unnecessary deaths, and Biomoneta has created an innovative solution to tackle a problem that endangers the lives of vulnerable patients all over the world," he said. The company is scaling up its manufacturing capacity to address current market need. "This funding is testimony to our team's novel approach to supporting the fight against infection. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that prevention is critical, especially when no cure or vaccine exists," said Dr. Janani Venkatraman, Chief Executive of Biomoneta. The investment also opens up global avenues for the company. "There is a huge opportunity for growth in the space, and we believe Biomoneta will establish the standard of infection control, not only in India but also globally," said Tsuyoshi Ito, Managing Partner & CEO, BNV and Mayu Morishima, Executive Officer, BNV. BNV's investment in Biomoneta is made under the CBIH (C-CAMP - BNV Innovation Hub) program, a joint funding activity envisaged to contribute to both the Japanese and Indian ecosystems and economies. Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO of CCAMP, said, "C-CAMP is delighted make our first CBIH funding in Biomoneta, a phenomenal start-up developing technology to reduce microbial load and infections. We look forward to continuing our support to Biomoneta for further scale-up and deployment." Vida Ventures foresees wide applications of the product and will leverage its investor panel's access to global markets to assist the company in executing Go To market. Ankit, Vida Ventures, said, "Vida is excited to invest in the Biomoneta team and their disruptive innovation to combat infection. We also believe that the clean room industry can see immediate benefit from a cost effective solution like the ZeBox." About Biomoneta Biomoneta is a health tech startup that aims to prevent the transmission of infection in the hospital and the community, and the spread of microbial contamination in commercial and academic laboratories. Our novel, extremely effective air decontamination technology traps and kills bacteria, mold and viruses that contaminate the environment and cause infection and product loss. Our energy efficient devices can be deployed near patient beds in the hospital and home, in biotech laboratories to create local zones of decontamination, and can be integrated into central air handling units to provide building-wide protection. SOURCE Biomoneta Research We often think of change as necessary in the modern world of today, it is what makes us develop and advance the interests of humankind. As creatures of habit though, change is often difficult. We try to avoid it because change brings uncertainty and we do not like uncertainty, right? Welcome to our world in the year 2020. Life on earth as we know it has changed beyond recognition. In response to travel bans, school closures and recommendations to keep our distance from others many of us are adapting to new remote working environments, managing home-schooling and trying to adjust to this new normal thats been forced upon us. In between our efforts to cope with the immense disruption of the way we socialise and conduct our business activities it became evident that there is in fact a silver lining to this ominous cloud. Businesses worldwide suffered in unprecedented ways and yet those who survive this pandemic will do so stronger and better than ever before. Agility and resilience became the secret ingredients to innovation and digital transformation became possible in days not years. While most CIOs would prefer a more orderly transition, digital transformation on a greater scale must now be considered in terms of weeks and months, rather than years. Through these times business leaders realised the positive aspects of a remote workforce. Productivity increased while certain elements of digital transformation were being implemented in record speed, not because we wanted to but because we had to. Necessity has become the mother of transformation The old saying goes necessity is the mother of innovation and this is truer than ever. The meaning is simple if you are looking for a solution to a problem or trying to find a way to do something important, youll figure it out. Whilst companies around the world are forced to navigate their way through these unchartered waters, our ability to maintain some form of business as usual is essential if were to come out the other side and emerge stronger than before. As it turns out, necessity is also the mother of transformation. The outbreak has firmly brought transformation to the top of the business agenda, demonstrating that in todays world, digital is a necessity and a matter of survival, not just nice to have. More importantly, being forced by circumstances to implement change quickly we proved to ourselves that a long-winded digital transformation strategy is not necessarily required. What does all this transformation mean for the new normal? In a bid to flatten the curve, the ability to work remotely has become essential for most employees globally with many countries like South Africa having been under forced lockdown. However, beyond this crisis, indicators suggest that the work from home concept is set to become an even more prominent part of many businesses. In fact, a recent study by Gartner revealed that 74% of CFOs expect to move at least 5% of their previously on-site employees to permanent remote roles post COVID-19 after witnessing the associated benefits. Additionally, businesses are beginning to observe that having most staff working remotely has benefits. Productivity increased, online meetings are more efficient and the possibility to introduce diversity in the workforce became easier. Those employees who have previously avoided a typical office-based environment, such as those less physically able, or carers with young children, can now be integrated into a modern workforce using intuitive collaboration tools. From a recruiting standpoint, this possibility widens the talent pool available to businesses and presents career opportunities to diverse groups, bringing about a positive change for many. Redesigning IT infrastructure to accommodate a remote workforce In order to support their workforce, business leaders have been forced to rethink how their employees operate and how IT infrastructure can be redesigned to accommodate new ways of working. Over the past few months, we have seen an acceleration in businesses adopting hybrid infrastructure solutions to sustain business continuity in these difficult times. In South Africa we have seen a spike in online retail and in many cases the business processes to make this possible were managed by staff who were forced to do so working from home. Logicalis South Africa assisted some clients to move their frontline call centre operations to operate remotely in as little time as one weekend. To meet customer expectations and ensure optimal experiences online, retailers are increasingly moving to hybrid cloud environments to cope with the sudden spike in online demand. Furthermore, the increasing number of organisations enabling remote working policies has led to a greater awareness of, and need for, robust security and IT redundancy solutions. Adopting a human-centric business model While technological resilience can help organisations survive the crisis, beyond the technology there is a human element we must not neglect. As social beings working in isolation has shown us that mental health awareness and the steps to address wellbeing should now form part of every employers tool kit. Employers must do what they can to empower their staff to work safely from their homes and feel connected as a team. At the end of the day, the happiness and productivity of a disperse workforce is what will keep a business thriving. It may be hard to envisage right now, but there is light at the end of this gloomy tunnel the world will be a better place when we emerge from this crisis. Technology will advance quicker; workforces will become diverse and both businesses and people will be more resilient. A brighter future is being built and its clear that ICT is crucial in this battle. About Logicalis Andrew Munnik is Sales and Marketing Executive at Logicalis SA. Logicalis is an international solutions provider of digital services currently accelerating the digital transformation of its 10,000 customers around the world. The Logicalis Group has annualised revenues of $1.7 billion, from operations in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Africa. It is a division of Datatec Limited, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with revenues of over $4.3 billion. Click here to learn more about Logicalis SAs wide range of solutions to drive the digital transformation of businesses. New Delhi, June 16 : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered condolences to the families of three Indian soldiers who were killed in a violent face-off with Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan valley. "Words cannot describe the pain I feel for the officers and men who sacrificed their lives for our country," tweeted Gandhi. "My condolences to all their loved ones. We stand with you in this difficult time," he said. The Congress on Tuesday issued a statement after reports of killing of three Indian soldiers by Chinese troops, alleging that the Modi government remained a "mute spectator" on Chinese transgressions at three points in Ladakh since April-May, 2020. "Congress party remains firm that the entire country stands as one to protect India's National Security and our Territorial Integrity at all costs. Let Modi government remember that in our Parliamentary democracy, secrecy or silence is unacceptable on part of our government," said the statement. Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 13:02:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHIJIAZHUANG, June 16 (Xinhua) -- North China's Hebei Province reported four new confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases and one new imported asymptomatic case on Monday, the provincial health commission said Tuesday. The commission said that two of the four were close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Beijing, one formerly worked in Beijing's Xinfadi wholesale market, and the other one was a locally transmitted case in Hebei. By Monday, 150 people who had close contact with the confirmed cases were under medical observation in the province neighboring Beijing. There were also five asymptomatic cases under medical observation, among which four were imported cases. Enditem NI estate agents have said they are upbeat about demand in the market as the housing market reopened yesterday. Agencies said they had reopened their outlets to "pent-up demand" from both movers and buyers after shutting up shop on March 23. Simon Brien of Simon Brien Residential said: "When it was announced that viewings could resume the volume of calls we received was massive." He said one property had 26 viewings yesterday, with the first viewer putting in a bid over the asking price. "Our new developments are getting ready to launch too and one development, at Glen Manor in Glengormley, has had over 400 people register interest in it. Ashbourne Manor, Carrickfergus, is in exactly the same position." New stock is also flowing onto the market, he said, with valuation requests also up "across the whole province". James Hagan of Ballyclare housebuilder Hagan Homes said there was appetite for new-builds. "If we look at our own activity, Hagan Homes has 25 new properties across NI to hand over between now and the end of June. These were, in the majority, confirmed pre Covid-19. Only four of those homebuyers have had to pull out - two because of reasons unrelated to the pandemic and a further two because of financial restraints due to furloughing. "Looking further ahead our phase two will see us hand over 40 homes and to date just one of those buyers has had to withdraw. Transactions across the sector have naturally been put on hold but there is still demand for new homes." Neil Templeton, a director at Templeton Robinson, said: "The phones haven't stopped all day. In east Belfast, we already have a practically full diary for the rest of this week, while in Ballyhackamore, our office has around 65 viewings and 20 valuations booked in for the rest of the week. "We've also experienced a significant spike in enquiries at our offices in North Down and in Lisburn and diaries are filling up fast. We're seeing plenty of pent up demand and we most certainly have hit the ground running." Meanwhile Art O'Hagan, managing director of estate agents CPS, and a member of the Guild of Property Professionals, said the market was "buoyant". "Lenders are in the market at lower interests than ever before lending up to 85% and 90% in some cases, construction companies have been back on site this past four weeks and schedules of works for completions are trying to be caught up again. "With the retail sector back in operation footfall has instantly increased, so the branches are busy again. "All of the CPS branch network along with the Guild-approved members in Northern Ireland have very strict personal protective equipment guidelines in place to ensure our staff and valued customers are protected." Emory Universitys Rollins School of Public Health will embark on a new partnership with the state of Georgia in increasing its public health resources to combat the COVID-19 crisis. The Emory COVID-19 Response Collaborative (ECRC), established within Rollins, will provide ongoing, flexible and collaborative support to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) in four major areas: Planning coordination Outbreak response and evaluation Training and deployment of public health professionals throughout the state Surveillance, research and monitoring As Georgia continues to re-open commerce, travel and social engagement, ensuring that the citizens of Georgia are kept safe from disease and death is a public/private responsibility, says Kathleen E. Toomey, MD, MPH, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. To be successful, there must be ample and accessible COVID-19 testing, extraordinary community engagement and an ability to trace contacts of new COVID-19 cases in order to forestall resurgent outbreaks. Expanding academic partnerships among Georgias public health system, Rollins and other Georgia-based schools of public health will benefit us now and in the future. Achieving adequate COVID-19 testing, community participation and contact tracing will require unprecedented investments in technologies, people power and communications campaigns, says James W. Curran, MD, MPH, dean of the Rollins School of Public Health. We are eager to support the state of Georgia in this comprehensive public health initiative to help ensure the health and safety of all Georgians. The ECRC will be led by Allison Chamberlain, PhD, current director of Rollins Center for Public Health Preparedness and Research (CPHPR), which has a nearly 20-year history of managing programs and research that focus on helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from infectious disease, terrorism and other public health threats. The ECRCs four focus areas will include: Participating in state strategic and program planning and identifying areas for immediate focus for assistance from faculty, alumni and students. This effort will be led by Chamberlain. Identifying and supporting RSPH faculty, students and staff to work in the field alongside practice partners to investigate and stem COVID-19 outbreaks as they arise throughout Georgia. Preparing and placing public health professionals throughout Georgia through creation of the Rollins COVID-19 Epidemiology Fellows Program. Conceived as a way to accelerate the hiring of additional epidemiologists, the inaugural cohort will aim to place one fellow in each of Georgias 18 health districts, with additional fellows assigned at DPH, the ECRC or in districts with unique needs or larger populations. Identifying key areas where rapid implementation, evaluation and research are needed and provide support through projects or other sources of funding. This includes conducting the nations first randomized statewide COVID-19 survey, modeled after an NIH-approved national survey, of 1,200 households across Georgia to understand the prevalence of COVID-19. The study will be directed by RSPH faculty members Patrick Sullivan and Aaron Siegler, two of the nations most renowned HIV and survey researchers. The ECRC will launch with support from a gift of $7.8 million from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. Our mission is to support activities that put the talented academic community at Rollins in the service of our public health partners during the COVID-19 crisis, says Chamberlain. We hope our work will help solidify and expand academic-public health partnerships among Georgias public health system, the RSPH and other Georgia-based schools of public health that will endure well beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Burma Myanmar Confident About Reaching Investment Target, Despite COVID-19 International shipping in the Yangon River. / The Irrawaddy YANGON Myanmars trade minister said he is confident foreign direct investment (FDI) will meet the government target for this fiscal year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. During a live address on the economy and recovery plan, the minister for investment and foreign economic relations (MIFER), U Thaung Tun, said Myanmar received US$4.15 billion (5.8 trillion kyats) in FDI during 2018-19. The country approved $4.39 billion (6.1 trillion kyats) in FDI the first eight months of this fiscal year that began in October. Based on investment data U Thaung Tun said: I believe that the [FDI] target will be met during this fiscal year. The investment target is $5.8 billion (8 trillion kyats), according to the ministry. Given the potential of Myanmars investment opportunities, we expect investment will continue to flow in the post-COVID-19 period, U Thaung Tun said. The Myanmar Invest Commission (MIC) recently approved industrial projects proposed by investors from Thailand and South Korea to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and to create jobs for those who have been laid off because of coronavirus, according to MIFER. MIC said it was reviewing investment proposals from Singapore which is often used as a conduit for international investment in Myanmar but the minister did not give the details. According to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA), as of May 31, Singapore was the largest investor, representing nearly 27 percent of total investments. China came second followed by Thailand and Hong Kong. It is very important to obtain a heavy flow of investment to revive the economy. We are inviting qualified, responsible investments, Thaung Tun said. Myanmar has faced a significant economic slowdown because of COVID-19 since late February. A nationwide survey on the impacts of COVID-19 by the Asia Foundation said nearly two-thirds of businesses in Myanmar expected to face cash flow problems, putting their survival at risk as government emergency loans have reached only a fraction of businesses. The deputy planning, finance and industry minister, U Set Aung, told people to expect a significant COVID-19 impact on the economy this year. But the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan (CERP) had been prepared to ease the impact, he said. Launched in late April, the CERP focuses on improving the macroeconomic environment through monetary stimulus; easing the impact on the private sector through improvements to investment, trade and banking; assisting laborers, workers and households; promoting innovative products and platforms; strengthening the health care system; and increasing access to COVID-19 response financing, including contingency funds. State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said the government is prepared to face possibly the worst economic conditions this year. U Thaung Tun suggested Myanmar promotes and upgrades its agricultural sector to boost food exports after COVID-19. U Zaw Min Win, president of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, called on the government to provide more loans to businesses and listen to employers when planning the economic recovery. He called for a joint export promotion team between the government and employers to prioritize investment opportunities and create jobs with frequent negotiations between the government and business to address COVID-19. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Extends Bans on Gatherings, Intl Flights as Imported COVID-19 Cases Rise Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to Run in Myanmars General Election Myanmar Govt Unveils Four Projects as Part of Chinas BRI Scheme The Book of Shanghai in English widens foreign understanding of city By:Zheng Qian | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-06-15 17:09 A book comprising ten short stories describing Shanghai was published by Comma Press, a British publishing house, causing a wide sensation. The ten stories included in The Book of Shanghai were all works of writers born or living in Shanghai. The Chinese-British project, supervised by two professors from Fudan University, has many innovations compared with the past cooperated publications. Different from the classification of schools of Shanghai literature by overseas sinologists, this story collection targets a wider and more general audience. In addition, compared with the traditional publishing process of a Chinese book, this book was made through arrangement with a foreign publishing house which translated the articles on its own before publishing it in English through local mainstream channels. With common people as the protagonists, the articles included in the collection reflect a real Shanghai. Dai Congrong and Jin Li, the two Chinese professors who led the project, introduced that at first they wanted to recommend more stories depicting modern and urban Shanghai life, but the British partner was not interested. Many young Chinese writers refuse to define pioneer consumption or leading an elegant life as the only sign of urbanity, but instead turn their attention to those ignored groups,said Jin Li, a critic. In Dai Conrongs view, this book can present a multi-faceted, contemporary and changing Shanghai to overseas readers whose understanding of China is too traditional.Speaking of China, many foreigners mention dumplings, red lanterns and tea, and their understanding remains at the plain level of these oriental marks. Many dont know the rapid changes in modern China and the thoughts of young Shanghai people,said Dai. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that employers cannot fire someone on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identitya landmark ruling that for the first time mandates job protections for LGBTQ teachers across the country. Before this decision, LGBTQ workers in more than half of the states had no legal protection against being fired, demoted, or paid less based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Although some school districts and cities in those states did have workplace protections in place for LGBTQ employees, many other teachers were unsure about how much they could share about their personal livesand identitieswithout fear of repercussions. Todays decisive ruling will help ensure that LGBTQ educators can fully participate in school life, free from fear, and help build school communities that encourage respect and support for all students and educators, no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, Eliza Byard, the executive director of GLSEN, formerly the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, said in a statement. This will be an enormous building block for a better future. The decision, she said, also represents an unexpected and vital dose of hope for LGBTQ youth. The Supreme Court justices ruled 6-3 that Title VII in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans employment discrimination because of ... sex, also applies to LGBTQ people. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. This means that educators can no longer be fired at work for who they love or who they are, National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia said in a statement. The NEA, along with the American Federation of Teachers, the National School Boards Association, and AASA, the School Superintendents Association, had filed a joint amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of LGBTQ school employees, arguing that schools are better served when employment decisions for teachers and school staff focus on merittheir ability to educate childrenrather than irrelevant characteristics. A History of Discrimination For LGBTQ teachers, this decision has been a long time coming . In the first half of the 20th century, LGBTQ teachers would have been fired if they were found out, researchers say. In the 1970s, cities began passing anti-discrimination laws. But opponents to those laws tended to attack gay teachers in their campaigns, saying that protecting them would endanger children. In California, for example, in 1978, state Sen. John Briggs sponsored a ballot referendum that tried to ban lesbian and gay people from working in the states public schools, arguing that openly gay teachers could entice young impressionable children into their lifestyle. California voters struck the referendum down, with 58.4 percent voting against it. But in several other places during this time period, including Miami and St. Paul, Minn., voters rejected ordinances that would have protected gay and lesbian workers from discrimination, with teachers at the forefront of the debate. Even in 2018, 32 percent of non-LGBTQ Americans said they would be very or somewhat uncomfortable if their child had an LGBTQ teacher, according to a survey by GLAAD and the Harris Poll . That percentage has ticked up slightly over the past few yearsin 2016, 28 percent of Americans expressed discomfort with that scenario. In recent years, some LGBTQ teachers who say they were pushed out of the classroom because of their sexual orientation or gender identity have filed lawsuits against their districts. For example, a lesbian elementary art teacher in Texas filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against her district when she was suspended after showing her students a picture of her and her future wife in Nemo and Dory costumes. A parent complained that Bailey was promoting the homosexual agenda, and in a statement, the Mansfield Independent school district said conversations about sexual orientation are not age-appropriate for elementary students, and parents have the right to control the conversation with their children. In February, the teacher, Stacy Bailey, reached a $100,000 settlement with Mansfield Independent, more than two years after her suspension. The district, which did not acknowledge any discrimination, also agreed to consider adopting a formal policy that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation. After Mondays Supreme Court ruling came out, Bailey told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that her suspension forever changed her life. She is now teaching in a high school in the district, after being reassigned from the elementary school where she had taught for 10 years. So the pain of what happened to me I will live with for the rest of my life, she told the Star-Telegram. But rulings like this do give me hope that at least maybe this wont happen again to another gay teacher. No More Fear Many LGBTQ teachers also applauded the Supreme Courts decision, saying it would alleviate the fear they felt for being out to their students and school community. Im a teacher, and Im out to my students when they ask because I think its important for them to have positive examples of gay people. But when I answer that question theres a thrum of fear. I could lose my job if the wrong parent complained. Not anymore.#SCOTUS #LGBTQ -- B D Bates | #blm (@bcausebenjamin) June 15, 2020 For some people, like Andrea Hawkman, the decision brought back memories of feeling unwelcome or pushed out of the classrooom. Hawkman taught high school social studies in rural Missouri from 2008 to 2013. She loved her job, but there were no employment protections for LGBTQ workers. Hawkman was in a relationship with the woman who is now her wife, but she was too afraid to even have a picture of her in her classroom. It was difficult, Hawkman said, to have a huge chunk of who you are not being able to be a part of another huge chunk of who you are. The silence weighed on her, she said. She had LGBTQ students who knew that they could be themselves in her classroom, but she worried that simply creating a safe space for them could make her a target of discrimination. Hawkman left the classroom, and is now an assistant professor of teacher education at Utah State University. The Supreme Court decision, she said, is an important step forward for the country, for the field. She hopes that it will lead more LGBTQ people to the teaching profession. Choose One or the Other Indeed, before now, the lack of secure employment deterred many people from entering the classroom in the first place. When Becky Corran was training to be a high school biology teacher, a faculty adviser in her Pennsylvania college told her that she could not be an outspoken lesbian and also teach. He told her to choose one or the other. Obviously, I cant live that wayI cant live in a way I cant be myself, Corran said. I was really lost. She abandoned her plans to become a teacher, and instead earned a masters degree in public health. I feel like my LGBT identitybeing who I waswas facilitated by teachers and faculty, she said. I wanted to be that to the students, too. I wanted to be a person who could open doors to students and help them see themselves. Now, 20 years later, she is an associate professor at a community college in New Mexico, a state that already had employment protections for LGBTQ individuals before the Supreme Courts decision. In that role, she also teaches science and health classes to high school students. The courts decision, she said, is incredibly heartwarming. [It] gives me a lot of hope today for kids who are just figuring out who they are. I hope theyll see open doors rather than closed doors. Image: Josh Thompson, a gay man, teaches at Blacksburg High School in Blacksburg, Va., a state that until the Supreme Courts June 15 decision had no employment discrimination protections for LGBTQ workers. He told Education Week in January that being out at school lets his LGBTQ students know theyre not alone. Parker Michels-Boyce for Education Week/File Across Britain, statues of famous people are at the center of a public debate. Activists say statues honoring some political or business leaders from the past should be removed from public places. But other people say these monuments should be kept, not destroyed, for the lessons they teach. Many statues were put up during the years of the British Empire, between 1830 and 1914. Now, some of them are at the center of angry debates over culture and history. These arguments have turned violent and destructive in some cases. Some monuments are being guarded to prevent damage from activists. For example, a statue of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Londons Parliament Square has been covered up to protect against damage. In the town of Poole, police officers have been guarding a statue of Robert Baden Powell 24-hours a day. Baden Powell was the founder of the Scouts movement. For a short period before World War II, he wrote approvingly of then-German leader Adolf Hitler. Last Saturday, there were clashes near the statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson in Londons Trafalgar Square. Officers tried to separate far-right activists from supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement. Part of the dispute was over statues and memorials to the past. Nelson was a famous naval officer. Activists who say they oppose racism want many statues removed. One example is the statue of Robert Milligan, a businessman from Jamaica who lived in the 1700s. He also owned hundreds of slaves. His statue was removed this month. Earlier, activists in Bristol removed a statue of businessman Edward Colston, a slave trader, and threw it in waters at the citys seaport. Colston built schools and housing for the poor in the 1700s. But his trading company carried thousands of African slaves to Caribbean islands and the Americas. For supporters of Black Lives Matters, the Colston statue was evidence of Britains past ties to the slave trade. The killing of George Floyd by a white policeman in the United States fueled their desire to destroy the statue, which they said represents racial oppression. In a dramatic move, one protester placed his knee on the bronze throat of the statue before it was thrown into the water. He appeared to copy the action of the police officer accused of killing Floyd. Historian David Olusoga wrote in The Guardian newspaper: The crowd who saw to it that Colston fell were of all races, but some were descendants of the enslaved black and brown Bristolians whose ancestors were chained on Colstons ships. Some want statues defended Many Britons probably pay little attention to the statues of national leaders like Churchill or businessmen like Colston. But some say the statues representing the past should be defended and even celebrated. Earlier this month, hundreds of people showed up in several cities. They claimed to be trying safeguard historic statutes and war memorials. Dennis Smith came to defend the statues. He told reporters, If it wasnt for people like Winston Churchill, we wouldnt be here today speaking English. Churchill led Britain against Germany in World War II. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently wrote that the war-time leader was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial. Johnson added, We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations. The statues teach us about the past with all its faults, he said. Johnson and his ministers are now talking about legislation that would make it a criminal act to damage historic and war memorials. But, that is unlikely to silence the debate about such public works. That is because not only activists but reporters, politicians, historians and colleges are involved in a heated exchange about the statues and how best to teach history. Changing history James Holland is a historian. Writing for Sky News, Holland noted that, Pulling down statues is nothing new, nor is the changing of street names or even those of cities and countries. He added that many people cheered when signs of Nazi Germany, statues of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Saddam Hussein were pulled down. But others argue that these are not fair comparisons. Recently, Chris Paten, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, defended the statue of Cecil Rhodes on Oriel College. He told students campaigning to remove the statue that they should prepare to accept freedom of thought or think about being educated elsewhere. Rhodes led powerful colonial mining interests in southern Africa in the late nineteenth century. However, many people say his ideas of race were unfair. His defenders note that he created the Rhodes Scholarships, which do not discriminate against race. Hundreds of the scholarships have been given since 1902, the year Rhodes died. Daniel Hannan is a newspaper reporter and a former politician. He said Rhodes was far from perfect. But he criticized those targeting him and other historic persons. He said there is something easy and narcissistic about showing moral superiority over someone who died more than 100 years ago and who upheld the values of their time. Times newspaper reporter Janice Turner noted that other generations were different and less likely to have friends of other races. She said the youthful fire of demonstrators can bring real change. But she warned that cultural disagreement threatens to become a street battle. Trevor Philips is a former chairman of Britains Racial Equality and Human Rights Commission. He also warned about the current culture debate, noting it could become a struggle for the right to describe the world without being questioned or contradicted. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Jamie Dettmer reported this story for VOANEWS. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story lesson n. an opportunity or activity that teaches something far-right adj. describes people or views that are extreme and opposite those commonly called far-left dramatic adj. attracting attention descendants n. someone who is related to someone who lived in the past pretend v. to act as though something is true when it is not fault n. a weakness or bad quality in someone scholarship n. an amount of money given by a school, organization or individual to pay for a deserving students education narcissistic adj. thinking of yourself too much and too little of others contradicted adj. to say something that is not in agreement with what others say A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that the virus lives longest on plastic and stainless steel and can survive on those surfaces for up to 72 hours. Another study, published in The Lancet, found that the COVID-19 virus remained viable up to four days on stainless steel and plastic, but the researchers said the method they used to extract the virus from these objects wasnt analogous to casually touching a surface. Parents for Safe Schools submits record number signatures to repeal Wash. state's sex-ed law Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Voters in Washington will get to decide whether to repeal a new law to implement controversial sex-ed programs in public schools statewide after residents gathered the requisite number of signatures to get the referendum on the November ballot. Members of a group called Parents for Safe Schools delivered more than 266,000 signatures to the Washington secretary of state's office on Wednesday, two times the minimum number of signatures required, according to The Spokesman-Review. For a referendum to appear on the November ballot, 129,811 signatures had to be submitted by June 10. After the state's elections office verifies the authenticity of signatures on the petition, Referendum 90 will be added to the ballot. Opponents of the sex-ed curriculum say that the materials and lessons feature sexually explicit content that's not age-appropriate. Among the titles listed under the approved fourth-grade sex-ed resources is the book, It's Perfectly Normal, which features cartoon pictures of masturbation and sexual alongside explicit descriptions. Lynn Meagher, a parent who's campaigning against the sex-ed programs, said in an email to The Christian Post that she was encouraged by the success of their petition drive. While many aspects of the contested sex-ed curriculum are already in use in Seattle area schools, she said, what the referendum is contesting is the bill's statewide mandate. She and other local activists are pushing for a subsequent move to change policy even further. "It's only the mandate that will be stopped if we win in November. This is why we need the initiative, which is now going to follow the referendum. The initiative will make school boards accountable to parents for this education, and make sex ed an opt-in program, rather than the empty promises that parents can opt-out, which for practical purposes is almost impossible," she said. "These [sex-ed] bills are being passed all over the country. As far as we know, this is the only state where parents have successfully fought back to stop the mandate. We are so grateful to God and to the people of this state." Meagher added that it was moving to see a signature from a woman who was 100 years old. "We could never have done this, aside from the grace of God and the hard work of the people of Washington," she reiterated. The signature drive took place through a highly coordinated grassroots push during the state's strict lockdown orders during the coronavirus pandemic. "This is a watershed moment," said Mindie Wirth, director of the signature drive, as the signatures were being delivered. "So many churches and so many organizations got behind this." The Washington Catholic Conference, which backed the effort, permitted petitions to be dropped off in parking lots provided that signature gatherers followed public health guidelines, such as wearing masks and gloves and sanitizing items such as pens. In March, Informed Parents of Washington a parents' organization formed to resist the sex-ed bill shared explicit content found on the Scarleteen website that was approved by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for 10th-grade students. A post from the website features a question from a self-described "deviant" who said he wants his sex partners to experiment with extreme violence beyond choking and asks for advice on how to convince people to participate. Despite the controversies surrounding the sex-ed programs, Democrat legislators have defended it, saying it's necessary to teach children about safe sex and safety measures. "It's about teaching kids to recognize and avoid things instead of being victimized," said Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Auburn, the bill's sponsor, during the floor debate. The bill mandating the new sex-ed programs statewide passed by a party-line vote in both chambers and was signed by Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee. After the bill passed in March, state House Republican leader J.T. Wilcox and Senate Republican leader Mark Schoesler announced that they were forming a committee called Parents for Safe Schools to rally parents to overturn it through a referendum at the ballot box. After the bill was passed, Wilcox said: "I am a father and a grandfather. These are young children. The youngest are still learning to tie their shoes. The state is going to take away parental rights and force a curriculum that is not age-appropriate. That is outrageous. Nothing we do in Olympia is more important than protecting our kids. We will fight this with every tool at our disposal." TORONTO -- The border between the United States and Canada will remain closed to non-essential crossings until July 21. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the extension of the border restrictions Tuesday during a press conference. "This is a decision that will protect people on both sides of the border as we continue to fight COVID-19, Trudeau said. U.S. and Canadian citizens who are returning home are exempted from the border restrictions and essential cross-border workers like healthcare professionals, airline crews and truck drivers may also cross. Immediate family members of Canadians are also allowed entry into Canada, but must quarantine for 14 days, the Associated Press reports. Canada sends 75% of its exports to the U.S. and about 18% of American exports go to Canada. The AP report also listed the U.S. as the main supplier of food for Canada. Crossings at the border have been restricted since March 18 and have been extended twice as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The border between the U.S. and Mexico is also restricted for non-essential crossings. In Michigan, 60,064 people have been confirmed to have tested positive for the virus, while 5,772 people from the state have died from the virus. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces. Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. READ MORE Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus French fashion house Givenchy has named American designer Matthew Williams as its new creative director, its third in three years. The appointment is effective from Tuesday. Coming two months after the departure of Clare Waight Keller, Williams appointment signals a new direction for the once-classical Parisian stalwart, Hubert de Givenchy. Williams, 34, has collaborated with Kanye West and Lady Gaga, and founded street-wear line 1017 Alyx 9SM in 2015. He is reported not to have formal design training. In a statement Monday, Williams said he was looking forward to working with Givenchy to move it into a new era, based on modernity and inclusivity, He added: In these unprecedented times for the world, I want to send a message of hope, together with my community and colleagues, and intend to contribute toward positive change. Through an Instagram post, the brand shares: The House of Givenchy is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew M. Williams as Creative Director, effective June 16th, 2020. Matthew M. Williams will take on all creative responsibilities for Womens and Mens collections. Sidney Toledano, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group, declares: I am very happy to see Matthew M. Williams join the LVMH Group. Since he took part in the LVMH Prize, we have had the pleasure of watching him develop into the great talent he is today. I believe his singular vision of modernity will be a great opportunity for Givenchy to write its new chapter with strength and success. Renaud de Lesquen, CEO and President of Givenchy, states: I want to warmly welcome Matthew M. Williams to the beautiful Maison Givenchy. I am convinced that, with his unapologetic approach to design and creativity and in great collaboration with the Maisons exceptional ateliers and teams, Matthew will help Givenchy reach its full potential. The iconic French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy was well-known for his elegant haute couture designs and a long-standing relationship with actor Audrey Hepburn. The actor, Hubert de Givenchys muse, was styled by the designer for some of her most popular movies including Sabrina and Love in the Afternoon. For the 1954 Academy Awards, Audrey Hepburn wore a white floral dress by the designer to receive her award for Roman Holiday. The iconic black Givenchy dress on the Breakfast at Tiffanys premiere followed in 1961. Speaking of Breakfast at Tiffanys, Hepburns oversized white shirt and blue eye mask look also made way for several white shirts and their versatility in fashion. -- with inputs from AP Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: China and Pakistan possess more nuclear warheads than India, according to a report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). While Pakistan is slightly ahead of India in number of nuclear warheads, China has double the number of nuclear warheads than India. India and China increased their nuclear weapons stockpile in last one year. India has 150 nuclear warheads from 130-140 in 2019. China too increased its nuclear arsenal to 320 warheads in 2020 from 290 in 2019. Pakistan has 160 nuclear warheads. However, experts said that India has enough nuclear warheads needed for deterrence purpose. The report comes at a time when India and China have been involved in over a month long military stand-off at the Ladakh sector. Even the line of control (LoC) with Pakistan is seeing continuous firing and shelling between the two sides. SIPRI said that China is in the middle of a significant modernization of its nuclear arsenal. China is developing a so-called nuclear triad for the first time, made up of new land- and sea-based missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft. India and Pakistan are slowly increasing the size and diversity of their nuclear forces, it said. Russia and the USA together possess over 90 per cent of global nuclear weapons. Russia has 6,375 nuclear warheads and US has around 5,800. As far as other nuclear armed countries are concerned, UK has 215 nuclear warheads, France 290, Israel 90 and North Korea 30-40 nuclear warheads. Russia and the USA have extensive and expensive programmes under way to replace and modernize their nuclear warheads, missile and aircraft delivery systems, and nuclear weapon production facilities, said SIPRI . The nine nuclear-armed statesthe United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Koreatogether possessed an estimated 13,400 nuclear weapons at the start of 2020. This marked a decrease from the 13,865 nuclear weapons that SIPRI estimated these states possessed at the beginning of 2019. The decrease in the overall number of nuclear weapons in the world in 2019 was largely due to the dismantlement of retired nuclear weapons by Russia and the USA. Around 3,720 of the nuclear weapons are currently deployed with operational forces and nearly 1800 of these are kept in a state of high operational alert. However, SIPRI said that there is low levels of transparency in reporting on nuclear weapon capabilities by the nuclear armed states. Protesters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, gathered Monday night to demand the removal of a statue commemorating Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate, a 16th-century colonial governor responsible for the massacre of indigenous people. After a series of speeches, and a prayer, the demonstrators began forcibly taking down the statute when they were confronted by heavily armed counterprotesters, self-styled protectors of the statue. Video taken at the scene showed the far-right counterprotesters, resembling troops outfitted in camouflage fatigues and carrying semi-automatic weapons, intervening to stop protesters from removing the statue. A series of confrontations flared between the two groups that resulted in a man who appeared to be a counterprotester, though not wearing military garb, firing shots in the middle of the street. One protester was shot in the melee and is critical but stable condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The armed counterprotesters identified themselves as the New Mexico Civil Guard, a vigilante militia that has cut an intimidating presence at Black Lives Matter demonstrations in the past. The evening started peacefully, as protesters gathered outside the Albuquerque Museum, where the statue is located. In addition to the militia members, there were also counterprotesters toting All lives matter signs, according to the Washington Post. When protesters attempted to remove the statue, armed members of the militia group forcibly intervened. We just obtained video of the shooting. pic.twitter.com/yjB6NHdKe2 Megan Abundis (@meganrabundis) June 16, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. The tense scene boiled over when a man appeared to incite the demonstrators. The demonstrators confronted the man and the altercation spilled into the street. Protesters followed the man, dressed in a blue shirt and shorts; he has a gun! can be heard shouted in the background of a video of the scene. Protesters continued to advance on the man, trying to tackle him in the street, before he fell to the ground, got back up and fired shots at one of the advancing protesters. The gun shots shattered the crowd and the vigilante group surrounded the shooter to protect him. Seconds after this guy shot into the crowd hitting one person (who is in bad condition), his fashy NMCG buddies surrounded him to protect him from the people. These guys were working with the cops weeks earlier. pic.twitter.com/6TFyDIQc99 Nick Estes (@nick_w_estes) June 16, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very tense scene in Albuquerque right now. Shots fired, a guy on the ground. Militia members still w/ rifles pic.twitter.com/IYhBr9egFB Simon Romero (@viaSimonRomero) June 16, 2020 Police arrived on the scene and used tear gas and flash-bang explosives to disperse the crowd before making several arrests, including the apparent gunman. US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Tuesday handed over the first tranche of 100 ventilators to India to assist in the country's fight against COVID-19, the Indian Red Cross Society said. President Donald Trump had announced in May that the US will donate ventilators to India to treat COVID-19 patients and help it fight the "invisible enemy". Indian Red Cross Society Secretary General R K Jain accepted the first tranche of the US Agency for International Development-funded ventilators from Ambassador Juster at the IRCS national headquarters. The Indian Red Cross said it extends its heartfelt thanks to the US government for gifting the state-of-the-art ventilators to assist India's fight against COVID-19. This life-saving resource will benefit critically ill patients immensely during this pandemic, the IRCS said. The first tranche of ventilators to support India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the country on Monday, the USAID said. These high-quality machines have been produced by Massachusetts-based Zoll Medical Corporation to respond to India's needs in this time of crisis, it said. "Great to see that this 1st shipment of 100 USAID-funded ventilators produced by @MedicalZoll has reached India, another country hit hard by COVID-19. @usaid_india is working with the Indian government to see that these ventilators reach those in need," acting USAID Administrator John Barsa tweeted. An American official had said last month that the US government is planning to "donate" 200 ventilators to India as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The USAID has announced USD 5.9 million in funding for India to combat COVID-19, including USD 2.9 million to help the country provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, strengthen case finding, contact tracing and surveillance, a USAID official had said last month at a briefing organised by the US Embassy here. COLOGNE (dpa-AFX) - Deutsche Lufthansa AG (DLAKF, DLAKY) said it is seeking to reach agreements with the representatives of the trade unions by June 22 to cut 22,000 full-time jobs, as Covid-19 pandemic caused drastic decline in air travel. Half of the job cut will be in Germany. '.... We want to secure over 100,000 jobs in the Lufthansa Group in the long term, despite all the challenges. To achieve this, painful restructuring measures are unavoidable,' said Michael Niggemann, Executive Board Member Human Resources and Legal Affairs of Deutsche Lufthansa. The Lufthansa airline's flight operations will be affected with 5,000 jobs, 600 of which will be pilots, 2,600 flight attendants and 1,500 ground staff. In addition, 1,400 jobs at headquarters and in administration at other Group companies will also be affected, Lufthansa said in a statement. Lufthansa, which recently accepted the German Government's 9 billion euros rescue package, added that Lufthansa Technik has a worldwide surplus of about 4,500 jobs, 2,500 of them in Germany. In the LSG Group's catering business 8,300 jobs are affected worldwide, 1,500 of them in Germany. Lufthansa, which also owns Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, said that Germanwings will not resume flight operations, while Eurowings will trim its administrative staff capacity by 30 percent and cut 300 jobs in return. Austrian Airlines has a personnel surplus of 1,100 jobs due to fleet downsizing. Brussels Airlines will reduce its capacity by 1,000 jobs; Lufthansa Cargo by 500. According to the company, staff overcapacity can be partially compensated for by short-time working, collective agreements to reduce weekly working hours or other cost-cutting measures. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Prince Charles has revealed he lost his sense of smell and taste as he and Camilla held their first in-person public engagement since the beginning of lockdown. Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have ended a long stay in Scotland, returning to England in time for a diplomatic visit with the French president Emmanuel Macron, who will be in London on Thursday. On Tuesday, they carried out a socially-distanced visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where they met about 20 of the frontline workers in the hospital grounds. During the visit, Charles revealed he lost his sense of taste and smell when he contracted coronavirus. And Camilla said she had finally been able to see her grandchildren, but could not hug them. Pictures show the royal couple did not wear masks, but because the engagement was outside, there was no requirement for face coverings. As shops reopened in England people are required to wear face coverings on public transport and it is advised in other public enclosed places Charles and Camilla got back to work as lockdown eases. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall meet front line key workers at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. (PA Images) The Prince of Wales waves to hospital staff who watched from a distance. (PA Images) Read more: Emmanuel Macron exempt from UK's 14-day quarantine ahead of Prince Charles visit on Thursday On the visit, Charles said: Its been a marvellous opportunity just to have a chance of seeing people I know have been doing so much literally on the front line. And having to endure an awful lot of stress and strain in their wonderful way how they do it I dont know. But delivering everything in the most effective way. Charles spoke to Jeff Mills, 47, a healthcare assistant from Cheltenham General Hospital, who later said: He did speak of his personal experience, so first-hand experience for him. He also spoke about his loss of smell and taste, and sort of still felt hes still got it now. Camilla said: There is nothing like being able to thank the NHS staff face-to-face even if the choreography is a little bit different. They are Britain at its best. Camilla previously spoke about how missing her grandchildren was the hardest part of lockdown and revealed in the interview that she had finally seen them last weekend. Story continues She said: First time, last weekend, not hug them, but see them - a great treat. The Prince of Wales remains socially distanced as he a performs a namaste to Professor Mark Pietroni at the hospital. (PA Images) The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall conduct a socially-distanced TV interview. (PA Images) She admitted she would like to be able to shake hands with people but said it was very exciting to be allowed out. Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, are both in the governments high risk category because of their age. Charles has already had COVID-19, but said he had mild symptoms, even able to work throughout. Camilla tested negative, but underwent a two-week isolation period to ensure she did not pass it on should she develop symptoms. Charless son, Prince William, visited Kings Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Norfolk to thank East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) workers for their efforts during the pandemic. Princess Anne was also back to in-person engagements on Tuesday, and visited nearby Duke of Gloucester Barracks to see military personnel being tested for COVID-19 before heading overseas. The Princess Royal, Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Logistics Corps, today visited the Duke of Gloucester Barracks, where she met personnel who have been playing their part in the @BritishArmy response to the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/49hxzsytOX The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 16, 2020 The Duchess of Cornwall is shown a knitted tribute to NHS staff by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation CEO Deborah Lee. (PA Images) Social distancing was maintained through the visit. (PA Images) Read more: Queen writes message in Ascot programme, says racing event 'will feel different for many' Charles and Camilla will welcome Macron to London on Thursday as part of the 80th anniversary of Charles de Gaulles appeal to resist the German occupation during the Second World War. The royal couple will receive Macron at Clarence House with a Guard of Honour found by Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards accompanied by the Band of the Coldstream Guards. Despite him coming into the UK from France, Macron and his delegation will not be required to self-isolate on their arrival. There are exemptions to the government policy of self-isolation which includes diplomatic visits. It was the couple's first in-person engagement since lockdown. (PA Images) People wear masks as they watch the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall through the hospital windows. (PA Images) Read more: Bizarre coronavirus diarrhoea symptom explained Its understood Charles and Camilla will not be staying in Clarence House permanently now they are back in England, but will travel to London from Highgrove or Ray Mill. Highgrove is the Duke of Cornwalls home, and Ray Mill is the duchesss Wiltshire home. While Charles and Camilla were maskless, other European royals have been wearing face coverings on some of their visits. Belgiums Queen Mathilde has been matching her coverings to her outfits, though she has been attending more indoor engagements. Shes also been seen taking her mask off while on the visits. Queen Mathilde, of Belgium, takes off her matching covering as she visits a cafe. (Getty Images) Bay Area voters of both major parties will head back to the polls starting June 29 for early voting in several runoff elections. Polling locations in the Bay Area are limited, but Harris County voters also can cast ballots at any of the others in the county. Galveston County voters as well can vote at any polling site in their county. In Clear Lake, Freeman Branch Library, 16616 Diana Lane, Houston, serves as the polling site. Other nearby early voting locations are the Baker Ripley Cleveland Ripley Neighborhood Center, 720 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena and the Harris County Scarsdale Annex, 10851 Scarsdale in South Belt. In Galveston County, early voting sites include: the North County Building, 174 Calder Road, League City, Bacliff Volunteer Fire Department, 600 Grand Ave., Bacliff; and Friendswood Librarys community room, 416 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood. With the upcoming Fourth of July holiday falling on a Saturday during the early voting period, poll openings will be broken into two parts. From June 29 to July 2, the polls will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be no voting July 3 and 4 in observation of Independence Day. The polls will then be open Sunday, July 5 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. From July 6-10, ballots can be cast 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For Harris County residents who cant make it to the polls or are concerned about exposure to the coronavirus, mail-in ballots are available. Application forms are available online. Once filled out, the ballot needs to be mailed to: Chris Hollins, Harris County Clerk, Attn: Elections Division, P.O. Box 1148, Houston, Texas 77251-1148. For Galveston County residents who wish to vote without going to the polls, mail-in ballots are available. Application forms are available online.Completed ballots need to be mailed to: Attn: Ballots by Mail, c/o Dwight Sullivan, Galveston County Clerk, P.O. Box 17253, Galveston, Texas 77552-7253. Runoff races In a local battle, incumbent Chris Diaz and Jerry Garcia are vying for the Democratic nomination to be Harris County Precinct 2 constable. The precinct includes South Belt, Pasadena and South Houston. The March primary was close, with Garcia tallying just over 39 percent of the vote and Diaz pulling almost 35 percent in a five-person contest. First elected in 2012, Diaz is seeking a third term. The race was confusing from the start, as another Jerry Garcia was also on the ballot despite dropping out shortly before Election Day. He received 9.3 percent of the vote. The Jerry Garcia who is Diazs current runoff opponent claimed in December that the constable had recruited a relative with the same name to run for the seat in a ploy to confuse voters. Diaz denied urging a cousin of his wife to enter the race. The winner will face Republican Daniel Vela of Pasadena in the November election. In another Harris County race concerning law enforcement, Paul Day and Joe Danna are each looking to be the Republican candidate for sheriff. The winner will face Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a Democrat, in the fall general election. Democrats also have a runoff between two candidates who hope to go to Washington, D.C. In a U.S. Senate race, former Air Force pilot Mary MJ Hegar will square off with Texas Sen. Royce West. In March, Hegar received 22 percent of the votes cast, while West garnered 14.5 percent. The winner of the runoff will face incumbent Republican John Cornyn. John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com. With protesters demanding crackdowns on rogue law enforcement officers, Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Monday it's time for California to join 45 other states across the country that have the power to strip problem officers of their badges. The proposal for the state to decertify problem cops was part of a sweeping reform effort Becerra unveiled Monday and comes on the heels of a statewide investigative series by the Bay Area News Group and other news organizations last fall that highlighted how officers can continue to work despite criminal convictions and other misconduct. Becerra called for decertifying officers for "serious misconduct," even requiring law enforcement agencies to complete investigations after a police officer leaves their department. The attorney general said he has been in discussions with state lawmakers interested in proposing legislation, and the state's biggest police unions said Monday they are willing to work on the reforms. "I can't tell you what it's going to look like or what it's going to take," Becerra said in a virtual news conference Monday morning. "What I can tell you is it's going to be an idea that will get a lot of attention. We hope to be in the mix." Monday's announcement in the midst of a national conversation about policing sparked by the George Floyd killing is an about-face for California's leading law enforcement official. Last year, Becerra threatened to prosecute a pair of reporters unless they destroyed a list the state keeps of convicted police officers, insisting it was inadvertently released and not intended for the public. The list became the focus of a months-long investigation, California's Criminal Cops, which revealed more than 80 law enforcement officers working today in the Golden State have a prior criminal conviction and how many often end up hired again and again. On Monday, Becerra also called on law enforcement agencies throughout the state to adopt use-of-force reforms that include banning chokeholds, carotid restraints or any hold that would cut off blood or oxygen to a person, and prohibit officers from firing at a person inside a moving vehicle unless there is an "imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury" to an officer. The state's biggest police unions got the jump on Becerra's announcement on Sunday in advertisements in some of the country's biggest newspapers outlining their own reform proposal after weeks of protests and marches against police violence. "We are open to engaging the Attorney General on the details of our ideas and his," police unions in San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles said Monday. California is one of only five states that currently does not decertify police officers. Here, it's up to local police chiefs to conduct background checks and decide whom to hire. As a result, the news organization's investigation found, some agencies routinely hire officers with checkered pasts. For example, nearly one of every five officers hired over the last decade in the Central Valley town of McFarland had been either sued or fired from another department for misconduct or convicted of a crime. One of McFarland's former police chiefs, Scot Kimble, featured in the Criminal Cops series, was convicted earlier this year of forcing an officer to remodel his home and doctoring city payroll records to use public money to pay for the work. As part of a plea deal, he was forced to resign from his new post as chief in the city of Arvin. But under California's current law, because he was convicted of a misdemeanor, the state wouldn't have prevented him from getting another job if somebody was willing to hire him. Roger Goldman, a law professor at Saint Louis University who studies law enforcement licensing and standards across the country, said dozens of states have the power to decertify police officers for misconduct that doesn't require any criminal conviction. "Think about other professions in your state: a lawyer, a doctor, a nurse, a public school teacher can lose their license," Goldman said. "You don't have to be convicted of a crime. I would say if (a new law) only decertifies for a conviction, it is not a very good law. Commission of an act -- a lawyer not showing up for trial so he was negligent -- can result in decertification. ... We shouldn't treat police any differently." The attorney general said how the state's decertification law takes shape will be part of the discussion. Both Democrats and Republicans expressed interest in a bill to decertify problem cops in November after the news organizations' series. Now it's time, said Republican State Sen. John Moorlach, who represents parts of Orange County and co-sponsored Senate Bill 1421, which opened up some police disciplinary records. "I have been real frustrated in my public life with the code of silence and when good cops cover for bad cops. That's just got to stop," Moorlach said. "I'd be happy if we could meet a national standard. We should be implementing what 45 other states have done, even if it's at the lowest level possible. We have got to start somewhere." Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. TCN News More than 50 individuals have spoken out in strong condemnation of the inclusion of Harsh Manders name in the Final Report (Under Section 173 Cr. P.C.) filed by the Delhi police in response to the Delhi pogrom in February. Support TwoCircles The solidarity statement resonates Harsh Manders credible position as a writer, social activist and civil rights defender. It goes on to acknowledge that Mander was formerly a civil servant who had resigned from his job in the wake of the Gujarat riots in 2002 to come forward as a human rights advocate. The signatories include prominent personalities from the fields of cinema, education, journalism, arts and commerce like Annie Raja (National Secretary, NFIW), Aparna Sen (actress), Gauhar Raza (retired scientist, filmmaker, poet), Jean Dreze (economist), Jignesh Mevani (youth leader), Nandita Das (actor), Ramachandra Guha (historian), Sohail Hashmi (historian), Yogendra Yadav (youth activist) among several others. Late actor Sushant Singh who died of suicide on June 15 was also one of the most imminent personalities to have signed the note. In the Final Report of the Delhi pogrom, Police has said, it was Mr. Harsh Mander who visited the site on 16/12/19 and instigated the protestors to not have faith in the Supreme Court and to fight their battle on road to get justice. The Report also accused Mander of using a facade of peace in a part of his speech. The open letter by these individuals responds to Delhi Police Final Report by referring to Manders original speech where he had said, You must understand that it is their plan to instigate you towards violence so that when we commit 2% violence, they respond with 100%. The letter also notes that Mander had given the example of Gandhian principles in these words, We have learnt from Gandhi ji how to respond to violence and injustice. We will fight with non-violence. Anyone who instigates you toward violence or hatred, they are not your friends. While the Delhi Police has charged Mander of fueling protests through this speech, the open letter demonstrates that it was him who had filed a petition before the Supreme Court in the wake of Delhi pogrom to register FIR against political leaders whose inflammatory speeches had triggered the violence resulting in over 50 deaths. The letter alleged that rather than giving a serious consideration to his petition the Solicitor General of India gave a twist to the episode by distorting his speech and selectively picking up parts of his Jamia Milia Islamia speech, to argue that Manders words incited violence. The signatories have established that if one recounts Manders exact words, one can easily understand that the government was targeting him selectively instead of inquiring the case justly. The statement has further accused Delhi Police of distorting Manders speech and presenting him as the one instigating violence, calling the act extremely deplorable. They added that it is a clear attempt to target him and silence powerful and effective citizens voices against hate, divisiveness and for unity and compassion. The signatories who are distinguished alumni and professionals from JNU, Delhi University, Free Speech Collective, Forum Against Corruption & Threats (FACT), Khudai Khidmatgar, IIM Ahmedabad, AIIMS and others, have also collectively condemned accusations against Harsh Mander, citing that he has worked tirelessly for building bridges of love in the society, other than taking initiatives for underprivileged and religious minorities among others. There cannot be anything more ridiculous than saying Harsh Mander uses facade of peace, the letter echoes. The letter commends Mander for his recent initiatives like Aman Biradari and Karavan-E-Mohabbat, both organizations that have contributed immensely to the betterment of Indian society. It has also mentioned his current efforts to help the workers, who have had to tragically leave their urban jobs, in the wake of Corona lockdown. Expressing support for Harsh Mander, the solidarity statement has said that the speech for which he has been charged is one that must surely go down in history as the elaboration of Gandhian principles in contemporary times. In conclusion, the signatories have demanded that the motivated, compromised investigation and vilification of a person with a commitment to a just society must be stopped immediately. [June 16, 2020] Highly Accomplished Executives Join BioVie's Board of Directors Hariri, Gorlin, and Rogich to Contribute Their Tremendous Industry Insights and Stature SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioVie, Inc. (OTCQB: BIVI) (BioVie or Company), a clinical-stage company developing innovative drug therapies for liver disease, is pleased to announce the appointments of Dr. Robert Hariri, Mr. Steve Gorlin, and Mr. Sig Rogich to its Board of Directors. Terren Peizer, BioVies Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, We are humbled to have these industry titans join our company. Robert has leveraged his deep expertise in biology to pioneer and found leading-edge life science companies. Steve has been founder and initial investor in many successful biopharma companies. Sig has served multiple US presidents over the years and has been dedicated to improving Alzheimers disease patient care. The new directors join current member and industry leader Cuong Do, who was formerly Chief Strategy Officer at Merck & Co. and currently President of Samsung Global Strategy Group. The combination of unique talents and capabilities of these distinguished gentlemen will greatly benefit BioVie as we advance the Company. Mr. Steve Gorlin has founded many biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies over the past forty-five years, including Hycor Biomedical, Inc. (acquired by Agilent), Theragenics Corporation, Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (sold to Valeant for approximately $2.6 billion), EntreMed, Inc., MRI Interventions (MRIC), DARA BioSciences, Inc., MiMedx, Medivation, Inc., sold to Pfizer for $14 billion and Conkwest which became NantKwest. Mr. Gorlin served for many years on the Business Advisory Council to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and on The Johns Hopkins BioMedical Engineering Advisory Board. He also served on the Board of the Andrews Institute. He is currently a member of the Research Institute Advisory Committee (RIAC) of Massachusetts General Hospital. He started The Touch Foundation, a nonprofit organization for the blind and was a principal financial contributor to the founding of Camp Kudzu for diabetic children. Robert J. Hariri, MD, PhD, is the chairman, founder, and chief executive officer of Celularity, Inc., a leading human cellular therapeutics company. Dr. Hariri was the founder and CEO of Anthrogenesis Corporation, and after its acquisition by Celgene Corporation, served as CEO of Celgene Cellular Therapeutics. Dr. Hariri also co-founded the genomic-based health intelligence company, Human Longevity, Inc. He has served on numerous public boards including Cryoport. Dr. Hariri pioneered the use of stem cells to treat a range of life-threatening human diseases and continues to make transformative contributions in the fields of immuno-oncology and cell therapeutics. He is widely acknowledged for his discovery of pluripotent stem cells derived from the human placenta, and assisting with the discovery of the physiological activities of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). He holds over 170 issued and pending patents and has authored over 150 published chapters, articles, and abstracts. Over the years he has garnered numerous awards for contributions to the fields of biomedicine and aviation. Mr. Sigmund Sig Rogich is President of The Rogich Communications Group and serves on the Board of Keep Memory Alive, a philanthropic organization which raises awareness about brain disorders and Alzheimer's disease. Keep Memory Alive funds clinical trials through Cleveland Clinics Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health to advance new treatments for patients with Alzheimers, Huntingtons and Parkinsons disease, as well as frontotemporal dementia and multiple sclerosis. Mr. Rogic was formerly the US Ambassador to Iceland. He has served as a senior consultant to candidates for the highest office, including Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Mr. Rogich serves on the Board of Directors fr many charitable causes. About BioVie and BIV201 BioVie Inc. is developing BIV201 (continuous infusion terlipressin) an Orphan Drug candidate for the treatment of ascites due to advanced liver cirrhosis. First-to-market Orphan therapies typically receive 7 years of market exclusivity in the US for the designated use(s). It is being investigated as a potential new therapy for patients suffering from ascites, and future development opportunities include hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and other life-threatening complications of advanced liver cirrhosis. The initial disease target for BIV201 therapy is ascites, which is a serious complication of advanced liver cirrhosis. The Company has completed a Phase 2 clinical trial protocol that is summarized on www.clinicaltrials.gov, trial identifier NCT04112199. The FDA has never approved any drug specifically for treating ascites, and the Company is not aware of any competing drugs in late-stage development for ascites. The active agent in BIV201, terlipressin, is approved for use in about 40 countries for the treatment of related complications of advanced liver cirrhosis but is not available in the US or Japan. BIV201 has also received Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and has FDA Fast Track status. BioVie recently invented a patent-pending BIV201 prefilled syringe for use in the upcoming Phase 2 trial subject to conducting certain additional standard analytical testing expected to take approximately two weeks. Room temperature stability of the prefilled syringe has been confirmed at 6 months, with the potential for 12 months or up to two years of stability (yet to be confirmed). Room temperature storage presents a key product differentiation versus terlipressin products in countries where the drug is approved. To the best of the Companys knowledge, all other terlipressin products sold globally must be stored under refrigeration and there is no prefilled syringe format of terlipressin available for treating patients in these countries. Terlipressin, which is not available in the US or Japan, is often sold as a lyophilized powder for reconstitution in hospital pharmacies in Europe and Asia. The traditional powder format is satisfactory for hospital use, but creates a logistical challenge when administering terlipressin via ambulatory infusion pump in patients located outside the hospital setting. To solve this challenge, the Company developed a patent-pending liquid formulation for delivery via prefilled syringe. This novel drug delivery system is expected to simplify at-home patient treatment and improve patient compliance by enabling easy injection of the liquid concentrate into the IV bag connected to the infusion pump. It avoids the manual mixing of minute (2 4 mg) quantities of terlipressin powder in saline solution, thereby reducing the possibility of dosing errors during reconstitution, and is expected to improve drug solution sterility. The Company has begun applying for global patent protection for our novel BIV201 prefilled syringe, which could eventually provide up to 20 years of patent coverage in each country for which the Company seeks patent protection, including the US, according to the patent laws of that country. For more information about BioVie, please visit our website: www.biovieinc.com . About Liver Cirrhosis, Ascites, and Hepatorenal Syndrome Chronic liver cirrhosis and its complications are the eighth-leading cause of death in the US (Runyon 2013). Cirrhosis results primarily from hepatitis, alcoholism, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) linked to fatty liver disease and obesity. Ascites is the most common serious complication of advanced liver cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis and ascites account for an estimated 116,000 US hospital discharges annually with frequent early readmissions. Those requiring paracentesis (physical removal of ascites fluid with a large-bore needle) experience an average hospital stay lasting 8 days and generate approximately $5 billion annually in medical costs in the US (HCUP Nationwide Readmissions Database 2016). Certain drugs approved for other uses may provide initial relief, but patients develop so-called refractory ascites, failing to respond to them as the ascites worsens. For refractory ascites the mean one-year survival rate is only 50% (Bureau et al. 2017). Patients with refractory ascites often progress to hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) which is the onset of kidney failure and requires emergency hospitalization. About one-half of these patients typically succumb within only 2 to 4 weeks and no drug therapies have been FDA approved specifically to treat HRS. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause BioVie's actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. BioVie has in some cases identified forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "hopes," "estimates," "looks," "expects," "plans," "intends," "goal," "potential," "may," "suggest," and similar expressions. Among other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements are BioVie's need for, and the availability of, substantial capital in the future to fund its operations and research and development; and the risks that BioVie's compounds may experience delays or difficulties in commencing or successfully completing pre-clinical testing or clinical studies, or may not be granted regulatory approval to be sold and marketed in the United States or elsewhere. BioVie cannot guarantee the effectiveness of its Orphan Drug designations or any patents that BioVie may be issued. A more complete description of these risk factors is included in BioVie's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition to the risks described above and in BioVie's filings with the SEC, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect BioVie's results. No forward-looking statements can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from such statements. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. BioVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law or regulation. INVESTOR RELATIONS: Dave Gentry, CEO RedChip Companies Inc. 407-491-4498 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] N ew Zealand is no longer free from coronavirus after two women who flew from London to see a dying parent tested positive for Covid-19. Before they were tested, the women had been given an exemption to leave quarantine on compassionate grounds and had travelled from Auckland to Wellington by car. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said that as part of their travel plan, the women had no contact with any people or any public facilities on their road trip. However, the new cases have sparked a round of testing in the country for anybody who might have been close to the women. This includes passengers and staff on their flights, which arrived via Brisbane in Australia, other people at the Auckland hotel they initially stayed at in quarantine. A family member they met in Wellington will also be tested, health officials said. The women remain in isolation in Wellington and have delayed the funeral of their parent until they have recovered. New Zealand had gone more than three weeks without any new cases and had declared that everybody who had contracted the virus had recovered, aside from the 22 people who died. As Americans viewed the death of an individual in the custody of police officers, it sparked many emotions. I have watched as Americans have taken to the streets demanding justice for what many believe to be systemic social injustice by law enforcement across the country. As the police have been the focal point of protests, it has now become a battle cry to defund them. This is the worst possible response imaginable. In a nation with crimes against children, domestic violence and property theft and destruction, we need professional law enforcement on the job ensuring public safety. From guarding against terror attacks to providing traffic safety, police are essential to our communities and to ensuring our quality of life. The problem is not policing, it is leadership that allows systemic problems to exist. I had the honor to serve in one of the finest organizations in the United States, the Virginia State Police. We assisted other law enforcement agencies. Overwhelmingly, I found the agencies we assisted, and their personnel, to be very committed and thoroughly professional. One of the things that makes Virginia policing different from other parts of the country is the prohibition on unionizing with the power to negotiate. Most law enforcement agencies do have or belong to an association, which is completely different than a union. Associations allow agencies to weed out the bad actors and those who should not be serving in positions of public trust. An association advocates on behalf of the agency with no bargaining power to influence internal decisions. Unions ultimately affect day-to-day operations, hindering and in some instances outright preventing essential internal oversight. As a Right-to-Work state, Virginia prohibits unions from shutting down public services to bargain for an outcome. In Minneapolis, New York, Baltimore, Chicago and countless other places where police unions are strong, leadership does not have the power to weed out the bad officers because they must bargain with a union. In this years General Assembly session, Del. Elizabeth R. Guzman, a Democrat representing Northern Virginia, introduced House Bill 582 (HB 582), which will change Virginia law on May 1, 2021, to allow public employee unions. Signed into law by Gov. Northam, this legislation has put Virginia on a path to become more like those places where unions effectively prevent the weeding out of those who should not be in uniform. For State Troopers, there are standards of conduct, which are many and strict. If you cross a line, you put your position in jeopardy. The department has a standard by which you must live and to which you must adhere or be unemployed. Sheriffs are much the same. They have a responsibility to their constituents. If they tolerate bad deputies, the public will remove them from office. Municipalities elect a council that appoints their law enforcement leaders and can remove them until now. With HB 582 signed into law, a union with the power to negotiate contracts may paralyze local law enforcement agencies from acting. Virginia also has a Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Working with legislators, commonwealths attorneys and law enforcement leaders, DCJS sets the standards of training for law enforcement. With a systemwide perspective on criminal justice, DCJS is ideally positioned to improve training and standards for law enforcement in Virginia. A more uniformed method of operation among each department would be a good start, and DCJS would be the place to begin the conversation. As we saw the situation unfold in Minneapolis, those of us who are serving or have served in law enforcement in Virginia were stunned by the method of restraint the police officer was using. We were shocked further when we later learned it was what he had been trained to do. We have an opportunity to improve this profession. We must begin by rejecting calls to defund the police and instead adequately funding professional law enforcement. Law enforcement officer work long hours, different shifts and even days off just to make ends meet. They see evil acts that most of us would never want to witness because of the trauma it leaves on ones psyche. Too often, they are the first to shoulder pay cuts and training budget cuts and must use outdated equipment because of budget shortfalls. We can learn from this and band together for a more secure Virginia in which all our families can prosper in safety. Charles W. Bill Carrico Sr. is a retired Virginia State Police Trooper. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002-2012 and in the Senate of Virginia from 2012-2020. FBI, DOJ to Investigate Hanging Deaths of 2 Black Men in California Federal law enforcement authorities are reviewing the investigations into the deaths of two black men whose bodies were found hanging from trees in California, the FBI said. The two men, 38-year-old Malcolm Harsch of Victorville and 24-year-old Robert Fuller of Palmdale, died about 50 miles apart. In the case of Harsch, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department told local news outlets that foul play wasnt suspected in the mans death, while the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said it initially appeared that Fuller committed suicide. However, over the weekend, there were growing calls on social media and from family members of the two men to further investigate their respective deaths. The FBI said in a statement on June 15: The FBI, U.S. Attorneys office for the Central District of California, and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division are actively reviewing the investigations into the hanging deaths of two African American men in the cities of Palmdale and Victorville to determine whether foul play or civil rights violations played a role. Protesters and people who attended a town hall with Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva on June said Fuller and Harsch might have been lynched. They also said that investigators are rushing to judgment, according to The Associated Press. Diamond Alexander, Fullers sister, told the Los Angeles Times: My brother was not suicidal. He was a survivor. The LA Times also reported that Fuller attended a Black Lives Matter protest in the days before his death. Dr. Jonathan Lucas, the chief medical examiner-coroner in Los Angeles County, said an initial finding in Fullers death was the result of there being nothing at the scene suggesting foul play. A rope and a backpack were found near his body and nothing else. A police car at an intersection in Palmdale, Calif., in a file photo. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) The initial report appeared to be consistent with a suicide, but we felt it prudent to roll that back and continue to look deeper, Lucas said, according to AP. Following the outrage over Fullers death, Harschs family issued a statement to a local newspaper, the Victor Valley News, saying that he had died about 10 days before. Our brother Malcolm Harsch died on May 31st. His cause of death has not been released to the family yet but we are concerned that his death will be labeled as a suicide, as this is what was communicated to us upon confirmation of his death on the morning of June 1st, the family said. We understand that Victorville is a small city and have been reminded regularly that San Bernardino is very busy (as if we arent patient enough for necessary answers) but feel that our brothers death will be waived off as a suicide to avoid any further media attention. Malcolm had very recent conversations with his children about seeing them soon. He didnt seem to be depressed to anyone who truly knew him. EVERYONE who knew our brother was shocked to hear that he allegedly hung himself and dont believe it to be true. After the initial jokes about working in trackies or rolling out of bed at 8.58am, it seems that of those who have been able to work from home these last few months, most have, actually, rather warmed to it. A survey conducted by HR platform EmploymentHero found that of 1200 Australians who have been working at home during the pandemic, 84 per cent have enjoyed it and 92 per cent would like to continue to do so regularly. Lauren Li says a beautiful workspace can boost motivation. Credit:Justin McManus So, as we face a future where working remotely could become our new normal, now is probably the time to invest in lifting your home office if you've been putting it off, says Lauren Li, creative director of Sisalla Interior Design. "If it's going to be an ongoing way to work, it's really important to consider a few more permanent things you want to change with your workspace. It needs to look nice and be a space you're happy to spend a lot of time in," Li says. "You can feel more energised and comfortable and motivated." SPRINGFIELD In a sweeping mea culpa, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno on Tuesday announced the reversal of reinstatements for five police officers linked to the controversial Nathan Bills off-duty cop brawl case. Civil rights activists applauded. Defense attorneys for the officers gave a thumbs down. Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl C. Clapprood offered a tepid show of support after skipping a City Hall press conference where Sarno made the announcement. I made a mistake, Sarno said as he outlined steps the city is taking to address racism. I meant no disrespect to the black community, he added, referencing his earlier support of the reinstatement of five on-duty officers who responded to a clash between off-duty cops and civilians down the street from the popular East Forest park bar in 2015. Asked if Clapprood supported the turnabout, he said simply, Yes, she does," and moved abruptly to another question. Clapprood declined a request for an interview. Instead, she issued a statement. I support the Mayor and have agreed to re-suspend these five officers. I believe bringing them back at the time was the right thing to do after I had suspended them for one year, as we were dealing with personnel shortages due to COVID-19. I look forward to the day that these cases are finally adjudicated and the city, the police department and the individuals involved can finally go on with their lives, she said through a spokesman. State Attorney General Maura Healeys office charged more than a dozen Springfield police in connection with the brawl generally separating them into assault and cover-up defendants. Five on-duty officers were accused of lying to investigators and a grand jury, which they have denied. Clapprood reinstated the five in April, citing financial hardships to the officers, a lag in staffing during the pandemic and the protracted arc of the case. Officers accused in the beating of the four civilians remained suspended without pay. Sarnos announcement came in the midst of international unrest over race relations, and after the NAACP and other civil rights activists hammered him over the reinstatements. The NAACP of Greater Springfield and Pioneer Valley Project staged a protest at the bar last week, though some insist the 2015 incident was merely a drunken bar fight over a girl, and not a racially-charged fight. The decision to re-suspend the five Springfield police officers is political in nature, plain and simple. Public servants should never be treated as public pawns to achieve political goals, especially ones who risk their lives every day," said Shawn Allyn, a defense lawyer for Daniel Billingsley, among the lead defendants in the so-called assault group. The five on-duty officers who were suspended, then un-suspended, then re-suspended are Shavonne Lewis, Darren Nguyen, Derrick Gentry-Mitchell, James DAmour and John Wajdula. Three are minorities. Through her attorney, Lewis said: I was glad to be of service during the pandemic, and I look forward to my day in court. A series of trials for the officers and two of the bars owners was set to begin in Hampden Superior Court in late March, but was thwarted by the pandemic and has yet to be rescheduled. For his part, Greater Springfield NAACP President and Bishop Talbert Swan said he considered Sarnos decision to rescind the officers reinstatements a victory for the community. Prior to the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in May by a police officer who knelt on his neck during an arrest in Minneapolis, both Clapprood and Sarno rebuffed civil rights activists calls to take the five officers back off the payroll. I credit the mayor for two things: reversing his decision to reinstate those officers and admitting that he made a mistake. Regardless of whether that admission was sincere or not, it was a victory for the community, Swan said. Related Content: Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 22:43:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VALLETTA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Malta will lift the public health emergency on June 30, local media reported Tuesday. Through a Legal Notice issued on Monday evening, Malta's Health Minister and Superintendent of Public Health announced the repealing of a set of measures imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Malta issued the public health emergency on April 1 without making any announcements and the government had applied it retroactively to March 7, when the Mediterranean island registered its first three cases of the novel coronavirus while COVID-19 was spreading fast across Europe. The latest Legal Notice comes two days after Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday that Malta will be returning to normality on July 1, when its sole airport and ports will reopen to flights, ferries and cruise ships. The order is to lift the remaining measures including the closure of schools, the ban on mass public events, the suspension of legal timeframes since all law courts and tribunals had been shut as well as the limit on the maximum number of people allowed to be seen together in public spaces. The government also published on Monday another Legal Notice permitting travel to and from 22 destinations from July 1. These countries are: Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Italy (with the exception of Emilia Romagna, Lombardy and Piemonte), France (with the exception of Ile-de-France), Slovakia, Switzerland, Greece, Croatia, Spain (with the exception of Madrid, Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha, Castile and Leon), and Poland. Restrictions to all other destinations will be lifted by July 15. Enditem A woman and her husband have admitted to plotting a fake abduction in northwestern Mexico last month so that they could demand ransom money from her mother, which she needed to pay off debts. The suspects, Martha Elizabeth and Juan Samuel, identified only by their first names as permitted by Mexican law, said they found it to be too easy to lie to Elizabeth Eduviges because they were sure she would come up with the ransom. The Sonora state prosecutor's office revealed Monday that on the night of May 4, Martha Elizabeth called her mother to inform her that she had been kidnapped in Pesqueira, a town in the municipality of San Miguel de Horcasitas. A woman identified as Martha Elizabeth and her husband are accused of faking her abduction in the northern state of Sonora in May so that her mother could come up with enough ransom money to cover her old debts The Sonora state prosecutor's office said the voice of Juan Samuel was heard by his wife's mother during a phone her daughter made as part of a scam to swindle $1,120 out of her by faking her daughter's abduction on May 4 before police found her at a hotel and arrested the pair four days later in Hermosillo, Mexico The woman told her mother that the abductors had demanded a $899 ransom [25,000 Mexican pesos]. Elizabeth Eduviges told authorities she heard her son-in-law say that Martha Elizabeth had problems with one of her kidnappers. The mother also told authorities that she heard Juan Samuel's voice in the background, mentioning that Martha Elizabeth was being beaten and raped by the so-called attackers. Shaken up and worried about her daughter's well-being, Elizabeth Eduviges deposited $449 [10,000 Mexican pesos] into an account. Following the deposit, Juan Samuel contacted his mother-in-law and told her the abductors were now seeking a total of $1,120 to free her daughter. Unable to get the rest of the money that was being requested, the cash-strapped mother went to the Sonora state prosecutor's office to file a missing persons report on May 8. Authorities launched a search-and-rescue mission that same day and were able to track down her daughter to a motel room in Hermosillo Both Martha Elizabeth and Juan Samuel were charged with aggravated extortion and are being held in jail. According to Alto al Secuestro [Cease Kidnapping], at least 2,587 people were kidnapped in Mexico from December 1, 2018 to May 31, 2020. During that time, 35 abductions were reported in Sonora. Over the first four months of this year, seven kidnapping have been reported in Sonora, however, none were registered in May. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday (June 16) met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) situation which saw a violent escalation from the Chinese side. According to reports, Army chief MM Naravne and Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat were also present during the meeting with PM Modi. Before briefing the Prime Minister, EAM Jaishankar visited the residence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh where they along with Army chief MM Naravne and Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat held brainstorming session over the Galwan Valley standoff incident as well on the overall situation in eastern Ladakh. Meanwhile, BJP president JP Nadda said, "I can assure you that under the leadership of PM Modi, Indias territorial integrity will not be compromised. We now have the political will and our Army is fully equipped to take on any adversary. Nobody can cast any ill eye on Modi's India." Colonel Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment, and two other valiant soldiers were martyred during violent clashes with Chinese troops at one of the standoff points in the Galwan Valley. The sources said the three Army men died due to injuries sustained following stone-pelting and use of rods by the Chinese side. The 'shocking' bloodshed incident which took place on June 15 night at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a first to take place in the last 45 years. Military sources said the two armies held Major General-level talks at the site of the clash to defuse the situation. While calling India to not take unilateral action on the killing of its troops in the border standoff, China accused Indian soldiers of crossing border and attacking Chinese personnel, that caused the latest standoff. InMobi Hires and Upgrades Offer in SE Asia Mobile marketing and ad platform InMobi has expanded its product offerings, leadership team and local footprint in Southeast Asia. InMobi, which acquired mobile data and targeting company Pinsight Media, from telecoms giant Sprint in October 2018, recently established a holding company structure with its three core businesses - IMC (InMobi Marketing Cloud), Glance and TruFactor. IMC now offers a unified solution for CMOs and others to understand, identify, acquire and engage consumers, including mobile market research via the Pulse brand, and media platforms Audiences, DSP and Exchange. MD Asia Pacific Vasuta Agarwal (pictured) says the new offerings 'will help brands and marketers better understand their consumers through near real-time insights and act on them to deliver a personalized experience throughout the customer journey'. She adds: 'The IMC offerings are built on the pillars of quality, transparency and performance. Our partnership with marquee publishers across OTT, gaming and news apps such as Viu, iFlix, True, ABS-CBN group, Detik, Nestia provides brands the premium audience and scale they seek for their in-app advertising objectives'. In Southeast Asia, InMobi covers some 200m+ smartphone users, having expanded into Thailand and Vietnam late last year - rapid growth has been based around heavy localisation, and the leadership team has now been further strengthened with two appointments. Purwa Jain, a veteran of brands including Hooq and Pokkt, joins as Director for Brand, Agency & Programmatic business; while Sudhanshu Saxena takes an enhanced role as Director - Strategic Partnerships, SEA. Rishi Bedi, VP of Business and Operations in South East Asia, Korea and Japan comments: 'Each of these leaders bring diverse and unique experiences from their previous roles, enabling brands in South East Asia to succeed with unique insights and support on their marketing and advertising strategies'. Web site: www.inmobi.com . The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressive Congress (APC), led by its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on M... The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressive Congress (APC), led by its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday, met behind closed doors with the Chief of Staff to the president, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari. The agenda of the meeting is yet to be known but may be connected to the crisis in Edo over the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki. The partys National Vice-Chairman (North West), Inuwa Abdulkadir and the National Treasurer, Adamu Panda are among members of the NWC who accompanied Oshiomhole to the meeting. Recall that the APC Screening Committee had last week disqualified the incumbent Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, from participating in the forthcoming Edo APC gubernatorial primaries. Obaseki had in a statement vowed not to challenge his disqualification by the party, adding that he would disclose his next move after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. WASHINGTON The Justice Department has set new dates to begin executing federal death-row inmates following a monthslong legal battle over the plan to resume the executions for the first time since 2003. Attorney General William Barr directed the federal Bureau of Prisons to schedule the executions, beginning in mid-July, of four inmates convicted of killing children. Three of the men had been scheduled to be put to death when Barr announced the federal government would resume executions last year, ending an informal moratorium on federal capital punishment as the issue receded from the public domain. The Justice Department had scheduled five executions set to begin in December, but some of the inmates challenged the new procedures in court, arguing that the government was circumventing proper methods in order to wrongly execute inmates quickly. The department wouldn't say why the executions of two of the inmates scheduled in December hadn't been rescheduled. The move is likely to add a new front to the national conversation about criminal justice reform and raise interest in an issue that has largely lain dormant in recent years amid the culture battles that President Donald Trump already is waging on matters such as abortion and immigration in the lead-up to the 2020 elections. The federal government's initial effort was put on hold by a trial judge, and the federal appeals court in Washington and the Supreme Court both declined to step in late last year. But in April, the appeals court threw out the judge's order. Lawyers for the inmates are asking the Supreme Court to order a halt to the process. "The American people, acting through Congress and Presidents of both political parties, have long instructed that defendants convicted of the most heinous crimes should be subject to a sentence of death," Barr said in a statement. "The four murderers whose executions are scheduled today have received full and fair proceedings under our Constitution and laws. We owe it to the victims of these horrific crimes, and to the families left behind, to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system." The resumption comes as the federal prison has struggled to combat the coronavirus pandemic behind bars, including at least one death at USP Terre Haute, where they will take place. One inmate there has died from COVID-19. The inmates who will be executed are: Danny Lee, who was convicted in Arkansas of killing a family of three, including an 8-year-old; Wesley Ira Purkey, of Kansas, who raped and murdered a 16-year-old girl and killed an 80-year-old woman; Dustin Lee Honken, who killed five people in Iowa, including two children; and Keith Dwayne Nelson, who kidnapped a 10-year-old girl who was rollerblading in front of her Kansas home and raped her in a forest behind a church before strangling the young girl with a wire. Three of the executions for Lee, Purkley and Honken are scheduled days apart beginning July 13. Nelson's execution is scheduled for Aug. 28. The Justice Department said additional executions will be set at a later date. Executions on the federal level have been rare and the government has put to death only three defendants since restoring the federal death penalty in 1988 most recently in 2003, when Louis Jones was executed for the 1995 kidnapping, rape and murder of a young female soldier. Though there hasn't been a federal execution since 2003, the Justice Department has continued to approve death penalty prosecutions and federal courts have sentenced defendants to death. Lisa K. Bryant named a Friday Fellow Lisa K. Bryant Lisa K. Bryant, the producing artistic director of the Flat Rock Playhouse, has been named to the 2020-2022 class of the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations, the flagship program of Wildacres Leadership Initiative. The William C. Friday Fellowship is a competitive statewide program for cross-sector leaders that seats fewer than 30 individuals across North Carolina every two-year cycle. Nineteen North Carolina counties are represented in the 11th class of Friday Fellows. James Mills of Rocky Mount, a Friday Fellow from the Class of 2008 and WLIs current board chair, shared, I was amazed at the quality of candidates we interviewed. It was tough deciding who to seat. Selection chair Danny Ellis who is also a Friday Fellow from the Class of 2008 expressed his feelings stating, Wow, NC! This year-long journey across this great state has culminated with a slate of incredible souls and personalities. Their presentations and revealed purposes has me excited and thankful for the opportunity to have led this effort. William C. Friday Fellows are committed to leadership in North Carolina, model humility and continuous learning, and are courageous risk-takers seeking to create innovation through their work in the world. Through Flat Rock Playhouse, Bryant partners with community groups including the Education Foundation and the United Way. Lisa also supports International Literacy Program Letterland and is a frequent key-note speaker on Arts, Education, and Leadership. Lisa is married to John M. Bryant, associate superintendent of Henderson County Schools. The 20202022 Class of Friday Fellows will share in a two-year experience that uses stories and objects to question, examine, and transform the places we inherit and inhabit in the world. Words and things alike will become pathways for question-framing, relationship-building, and world-shifting. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 23:15:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANGZHOU, June 16 (Xinhua) -- China's tech giant Tencent announced on Tuesday that its WeChat Pay will support American Express RMB credit cards, coming soon. China's central bank on Saturday announced that it had approved an application by American Express' Chinese venture to conduct bank card clearing operations in the country. "We are pleased to be the first foreign company to receive this license. This approval represents an important step forward in our long-term growth strategy," said Stephen J. Squeri, chairman and chief executive officer of American Express. This means that Tencent Financial Technology has reached a cooperation agreement with Express (Hangzhou) Technology Services Company Limited. "Our cooperation is conducive to the more open and international development of China's payment and bank card clearing services," said Chen Qiru, vice president of Tencent Financial Technology. American Express will also carry out cooperation with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, China Construction Bank, China UnionPay and Alipay. Enditem Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne criticized China for creating "disinformation" during the coronavirus pandemic, saying it "will cost lives." "It is troubling that some countries are using the pandemic to undermine liberal democracy to promote their own more authoritarian models," Payne said in a speech in Canberra on Tuesday. She cited a European Union report that said foreign actors including Russia and China had spread misinformation, along with Twitter's ban of accounts linked to alleged disinformation campaigns from China, Russia and Turkey. "The disinformation we have seen contributes to a climate of fear and division when what we need is cooperation and understanding," she said. Payne's comments may exacerbate diplomatic tensions with China, Australia's largest trading partner, after she raised Beijing's ire in April by calling for an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus that was subsequently backed by the World Health Assembly. Since then, China has imposed new tariffs on Australian barley and a ban on beef from four meat plants. It also warned its citizens that they risk racist attacks should they study in Australia, raising Canberra's concerns that the Chinese government was retaliating with "economic coercion." Payne on Tuesday defended her government's decision to call for the independent probe, which saw Beijing accuse Australia of doing the bidding of close ally the U.S. She also rejected China's claims that its students are being singled out for racist attacks. While Australia's borders are currently closed to non-residents due to the pandemic, the education warning could have a big impact on the economy once travel restrictions are lifted. Last year, more than 200,000 Chinese students studied in Australia, making it the nation's largest education services export market. China accounted for 27% of international students in Australia as of March this year, and the higher education sector generated A$15.9 billion ($11 billion) in international student tuition fees in 2018-19, according to research firm IBISWorld. The Australian government had "repeatedly called out racist behavior," Payne said, adding that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had gone to considerable lengths to remind Australians that Chinese-Australians returning from China in the early period of the pandemic provided the nation with one of the greatest defenses against the spread of the virus. Australia's diplomatic ties with Beijing were already under stress before its call for the virus probe. The government cited Beijing's "meddling" in national affairs as a catalyst for its anti-foreign interference laws passed in 2018, the same year it banned Huawei Technologies from helping build its 5G network. Payne also said Australia wants a stronger, more transparent World Health Organization that's more independent. "We cannot let the vital and practical work that the WHO does on the ground be overshadowed by questions about the approach of its headquarters in Geneva," she said, adding that the pandemic had exposed the magnitude of consequences if multilateral institutions are not "fit-for-purpose, accountable to member states and free from undue influence." Rakuten is yet another company that files an antitrust complaint in Europe against Apple. It follows Spotify and Netflix, which have previously complained about Apple's policies. They argue that the 30% cut that App Store gets for each purchase or subscription is way too high. Apple responds by saying that the 30% tax goes for maintaining and managing the App Store. Rakuten's complaint isn't all that different. The store says that while the App Store takes 30% of each purchase, it also promotes Apple's own Apple Books service. Same with Apple Music and Spotify, the Cupertino-based company is stifling innovation and limits the consumer choice. We will see how this unravels as more companies start to make complaints against the so-called "Apple tax" and it's becoming a trend. Rakuten won't be the last to file a complaint against Apple. Source Meat processing workers across the United States have defied the homicidal policy of the Trump administration, company executives and state governments to force workers back into plants that have been epicenters of illness and death from COVID-19. The actions by meatpacking workers coincide with exposure of the criminal role of the companies in refusing to shut down plants or implement critical safety measures once the pandemic began to explode across the US in March. On June 9, meatpacking workers in Logan, Utah, marched with supporters to protest the refusal of JBS to close its beef processing plant in the city of Hyrum after 287 workers tested positive for COVID-19 ten days earlier. The workers demanded that JBS, the largest meat processing company in the US and largest producer of beef and pork globally, immediately close its Hyrum plant for deep cleaning and disinfection to prevent the further surge of COVID-19. Meat processing workers who took part in the protest also demanded that plant employees be adequately compensated during the closure or while quarantined. The 287 COVID-positive cases were reported by the Bear River Health Department after workers at the Hyrum plant were screened for COVID-19 over the weekend of May 30. The actual number of workers who have contracted the virus is likely higher, as some workers have gone to local hospitals for testing instead of through the Bear River Health Department. The initial protest by meatpacking workers at the Hyrum plant on June 9 took place one day before some of the 287 who initially tested positive were ordered to return to work. Cache County, where the Hyrum plant is located, experienced a one-day gain of 42 additional cases on June 8, bringing the total reported COVID-19 cases to 773. The outbreaks in the JBS plant and surrounding area likely amount to the single largest outbreak of the virus in the state of Utah. Another form taken in the opposition of meat processing workers to the forced unsafe return to work has been mass absenteeism, despite attendant economic hardship. Smithfield Foods reported Monday that at least one-third of its workforce in South Dakota refused to leave quarantine when ordered by the company to return to work. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union has entirely accepted the premise of the state/corporate forced return to work and made no attempt to oppose the push to return despite the plants becoming epicenters in the spread of the virus. The UFCW reported that between 30 to 50 percent of the more than 250,000 US meatpacking workers in the union, roughly 80 percent of all US meatpacking workers, did not report to work the week of June 8 on their own accord outside of any organized action by the union bureaucracy. The mass defiance of the return to work order demonstrates that workers have no confidence that either the companies or the government will take even the most basic safety measures to prevent the spread of illness and death. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has ordered a return to work in these deadly conditions while granting immunity to the companies and executives from any liability for the consequences. The refusal of the unions to oppose the deadly forced return to work raises the necessity of workers taking independent action to ensure a safe workplace. This includes forming rank-and-file safety committees to enforce safe conditions, including adequate break time, slower lines speeds, full documentation of all COVID case and full pay for all workers who are sick or in quarantine. The defiance of the return to work order has resulted in domestic meat production, measured in daily hog slaughter capacity, standing at around 75 percent, up from a low of 45 percent in April when more than 20 plants experienced belated temporary closure after mass outbreaks of COVID-19. The companies have sought to offset the reduced meat production due to workers defiance by accelerating the production rate on animal kill lines through the redirection of workers who typically handle more labor- and time-intensive tasks, like deboning, to the kill lines themselves. It is not publicly known if this redirection of labor in meat production to maximize daily animal slaughter results in the undermining of safety measures. The redirection of workers from tasks like deboning and butchering results in wastage of animal parts that would otherwise be processed and a reduced availability of boneless meat. The criminality of Trumps executive order was further exposed in a June 12 expose in ProPublica. The expose details, through thousands of documents, texts and emails, the criminal and systematic refusal of management to provide infection rate data and information, which obscures the actual rates of infection, prevents subsequent contact tracing and blocks infected workers from necessary follow-up support. As the report elaborates, when meat processing plants began experiencing surging cases of COVID-19, Tyson Foods avoided public monitoring of the infection rate by county officials by hiring a private company to oversee testing. In Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the location of a major Tyson plant, county health officials reported that the company overseeing private testing up until May provided less than 20 percent of test results to the local government, with the results provided missing basic information such as the contact information of workers who had tested positive required for necessary follow-up, contact tracing and quarantine. As the report documents, it was only after being informed by North Carolinas public health director that the company could face prosecution unless management supplied all infection data to the states health department, which revealed that more than 20 percent of its Wilkesboro plants workers had tested positive for the virus. The report also exposes how, while government and meat companies had preemptive plans in place to respond to pandemics among livestock, no such plans and preventative measures were ever put in place to respond to a serious pandemic among the industry workforce. In addition to the industrys corporate executives systematically sabotaging the ability of health officials to receive, determine and respond to the rate of infection in the plants, no federal, state or local governing body or agency had the clear power or authority to order the plants to either shut down or to enact corresponding safety measures to remain open. The emails and documents obtained by ProPublica expose that, while lying in PR statements that they were taking any and all measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their facilities, meat processing companies in fact urged public officials to ensure the plants remained open during the opening weeks of the pandemic. In one email in March authored by Smithfield Foods Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Sullivan and sent to Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, Sullivan denounced the stay-at-home orders for causing hysteria and elaborated his grave concerns that these measures would impact company profitability. We are increasingly at a very high risk that food production employees and others in critical supply chain roles stop showing up for work, Sullivan wrote. This is a direct result of the government continually reiterating the importance of social distancing, with minimal detail surrounding this guidance. Smithfield went on to add that Social distancing is a nicety that makes sense only for people with laptops, an exposure of the lie put forward by industry executives that they are able to ensure social distancing and all other essential safety measures and precautions in their reopened plants. As of June 12, there have been more than 24,000 cases of COVID-19 among meatpacking workers and 87 confirmed deaths, including 25 workers in Tyson plants. Asymmetrex Makes Tissue Stem Cell Counting Free and Easy The new free tissue stem cell counting site will give members of our industry the easy opportunity to rediscover, for themselves, the value of counting. The director of stem cell biotechnology company Asymmetrex, Dr. James L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D., is betting that if the stem cell medicine and pharmaceutical industries have easier access to stem cell counting, they will soon make it a routine part of their practice. So, starting July 5 of this year, Independence Day weekend in the U.S., Asymmetrex is offering free tissue stem cell counting at its website. Obtaining a free stem cell count will only require entry of simple total cell count data at the companys website. Counting total cells is a widely used, common practice throughout academic cell science, industrial cell manufacturing, drug development, and clinical medicine. However, counting tissue stem cells is only possible with Asymmetrexs AlphaSTEM Test software technology. Simple cell culture procedures will be provided at the free stem cell count site. By following the simple cell culture and total cell counting procedures, any basic cell culture lab can generate the data needed for Asymmetrex to deliver a tissue stem cell-specific count to them in short order. Asymmetrexs tissue stem cell counting technology is a recent development for the industry. So, presently, its value is not widely known. There are many examples where the need for tissue stem cell counting has been ignored for years, because previously there was no way to do it. Counting would improve the design and interpretation of tissue stem cell research. Counting tissue stem cells would allow better optimization of cell and tissue manufacturing processes. Counting would provide better quality control for produced and transported tissue stem cell products. Counting would provide crucial dosages for stem cell treatments and stem cell clinical trials. Counting cord blood stem cells would make leukemia treatments for children more reliable. Counting tissue stem cells would provide inexpensive, early identification of stem cell-toxic drug candidates that would fail later in expensive clinical trials. The planned free stem cell counting site is a part of Asymmetrexs campaign to increase academic and industry awareness of the need for tissue stem cell counting and its value. In an earlier podcast series on Counting Stem Cells featured on the international stem cell industry networking platform RegMedNet, Director Sherley discusses the benefits of Asymmetrexs technology for stem cell research, stem cell medicine, tissue stem cell biomanufacturing, pharmaceutical development, and environmental health science. Sherley now expects that, The new free tissue stem cell counting site will give members of our industry the freedom to rediscover, for themselves, the value of counting. About Asymmetrex Asymmetrex, LLC is a Massachusetts life sciences company with a focus on developing technologies to advance stem cell medicine. Asymmetrexs founder and director, James L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D. is an internationally recognized expert on the unique properties of adult tissue stem cells. The companys U.S. and U.K. patent portfolio contains biotechnologies that solve the two main technical problems production and quantification that have stood in the way of successful commercialization of human adult tissue stem cells for regenerative medicine and drug development. In addition, the portfolio includes novel technologies for isolating cancer stem cells and producing induced pluripotent stem cells for disease research purposes. Asymmetrex markets the first technology for determination of the dosage and quality of tissue stem cell preparations (the AlphaSTEM Test) for use in stem cell transplantation therapies, cell biomanufacturing, and pre-clinical drug evaluations. Asymmetrex is a member company of the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute BioFabUSA and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. [87 pages report] This market research report includes a detailed segmentation of the global medical tourism market by therapeutic area (Dentistry, Cosmetic, Cardiovascular, Orthopedic, In-vitro Fertilization, Neurological, Oncology, and Others), by region (North America ( US and Canada), Europe (UK, Turkey, Italy, and Germany), Asia Pacific (India, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia), and Rest of the World (LATAM (Brazil and Mexico), and MEA (Middle East and Africa))). Request For Report Sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/9732 Overview of the Global Medical Tourism Market Infoholics market research report predicts that the Global Medical Tourism Market will grow at a CAGR of 16.1% during the forecast period 20192025. The global medical tourism market witnessed a flat growth in the past few years but sustained due to high cost of medical treatment in developed countries such as US and UK in fact, most of the outbound medical tourists are from North America and Europe. The industry specific parameters that are driving the global medical tourism market are primarily the increasing healthcare related costs in the patients country of origin, lack of insurance and healthcare coverages, lower cost of medical treatment in destination countries, availability of highly trained, skilled, and qualified specialists in the countries providing services, and increasing costs of long-term care in developed countries. With respect to mega trends or macro factors fueling the growth of the global medical tourism market are the population growth, urbanization, and easy access to popular medical tourism destinations. The certified and accredited infrastructure to provide the products and services related to the medical tourism industry is increasing rapidly in the regions (such as LATAM and Asia Pacific) providing services to the medical tourists. Though more support from government agencies and organizations and strategic marketing initiatives are needed to grow medical tourism in the developing countries. Industry partnerships with the global medical travel agents, logistic suppliers, hotels, and hospitals have facilitated in offering packaged facilities. For example, Apollo has collaborated with American International Medical University (AIMU) for emerging medical tourism plans in the regions like Bahamas and St Lucia. While looking for a favorable medical destination most of the medical tourists virtually visit several JCI-accredited hospitals providing amenities and exceptional atmosphere for treatment and healing period after a lengthy period of enduring surgical procedures. The growth of the elderly population is also one of the major factors driving the medical tourism market because of the need of high-quality long-term care. The growing lifestyle-related disorders and incidence of cancers are increasing rapidly globally, with high treatment costs cancer treatment is also driving the growth of medical tourism globally. Telemedicine is also increasingly used in facilitating medical tourism. As the various technology barricades have wrecked down, patients and medical staff can discuss data and apprehensions previously and subsequently after surgery. By Therapeutic Class: Dentistry Cosmetic Cardiovascular Orthopedic Invitro Fertilization Oncology Others The cosmetic segment occupied the largest share in 2018. Over 21 million cosmetic surgeries are being performed every year across the world. Breast augmentation followed by liposuction are the two major cosmetic surgeries performed across the globe. Get Complete TOC with Tables and Figures @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/9732 By Region: North America Europe APAC RoW Asia Pacific is dominant in the global medical tourism market in 2018. The significant share of the Asia Pacific region comes from India, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia due to the availability of quality healthcare facilities at a comparatively less cost. Medical Tourism Market Research Competitive Analysis - Countries like India, Thailand, and Singapore in the APAC region are in the forefront of the market. Not to be left behind other nations of Asia such as Malaysia and Philippines, the South American and Eastern European countries are also emerging as favorable medical tourism destinations particularly for nearshore countries and base locations with shorter journey time. Another substantial reason for medical tourism is the accessibility to the most recent and technologically radical procedures of treatment. For example, the method of Cyberknife robotic surgery used for diagnosis and the treatment of various cancer types. Tomotherapy, the newest radiotherapy apparatus which is currently present in very few state-of-the-art facilities hospitals in South Korea, Key Vendors: Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited Asian Heart Institute Fortis Healthcare Limited KPJ Healthcare Berhad Bumrungrad International Hospital Key Competitive Facts Bumrungrad International Hospital in Thailand and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. in India are the top hospitals Focus is on the swift implementation and distribution of technical innovation which is helping the countries to provide better care In 2017 around 2.4 million individuals visited Thailand to seek medical care due to the low cost and decent quality of the medical facilities Benefits - This report meets the expectations of a reliable data on global medical tourism. The report provides complete details about the sub-segments of the medical tourism market. Through this report, the key stakeholders can know about the major trends, drivers, investments, vertical player's initiatives, and government initiatives toward the disease-burden management in the upcoming years along with details of the existing pureplay companies and new players entering the market. Moreover, the report provides details about the major challenges that are going to impact the market growth. Additionally, the report gives complete details about the key business opportunities to key stakeholders in order to expand their business and capture the revenue in specific verticals and to analyze before investing or expanding the business in this market. Key Takeaways: Understanding the potential market opportunity with precise market size and forecast data A detailed market analysis focusing on the growth of medical tourism industry Factors influencing the growth of the medical tourism market In-depth competitive analysis of dominant and pure-play vendors Prediction analysis of the medical tourism market in both developed and developing regions Key insights related to major segments of the medical tourism market Latest market trend analysis impacting the buying behavior of the consumers <<< Get COVID-19 Report Analysis >>> https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/9732 Turkey developed a plan to invade Greece during the height of the war in Syria, according to leaked documents. The documents also included plans to invade Armenia. The plans that were drawn up were named after an 11th century Turkish military commander, according to Nordic Monitor, who have seen the documents. The documents were reportedly part of a PowerPoint presentation that was set to be given by the Turkish General Staff - who preside over the Armed Forces in Turkey - for internal planning review. Greece and Turkey are old enemies and have a long history of violence, fighting a number of wars against one-another, particularly in the early 1900s. The plans are believed to have centred around maintaining offensive and deterrence capabilities on the western front, while moving troops during the war in Syria. Anti-Greek rhetoric has been growing in Ankara as the Erdogan reigeme looks to bolster its influence in the area, as fears of a military confrontation between the two NATO allies are escalating. Pictured: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (centre) attends High Advisory Board meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on June 16, 2020 Titled 'TSK Cakabey Harekat Planlama Direktifi' - TSK (Turkish Armed Forces) Cakabey Operation Planning Directive - the presentation was dated June 13, 2014 at the height of the Syrian civil war that started in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring. The Nordic Monitor reported that this suggests that the plan was likely an updated version and finalised after a review of an earlier draft, and that the plan could still be active. The documents also included a plan to invade Armenia called 'TSK Altay Harekat Planlama Direktifi,' dated August 15 2000. The Monitor reported that the documents were exchanged on a secure email system by top General Staff, and that they appear to have been leaked accidentally in a court case file that was submitted as part of probes into the failed military coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July 2016. Prosecutor Serdar Coskun - said to be a Erdogan loyalist - submitted the files as part of the investigation, and was required to hand over all emails from the General Staff from the two months preceding the coup attempted to prosecutors. Upon realising their potential mistake, the General Staff reportedly panicked, asking the court to allow them to screen the documents before being presented. According to The Monitor, prosecutors ignored these concerns. However, while the plans were named in the documents, further specific details were not included. This is likely due to their classified nature, and therefore not shared through the private network. The plans are believed to have been contingencies around developments in Syria with the aim of maintaining offensive and deterrence capabilities on the western front, while moving troops, The Monitor reported. More recently the two countries have fought over Cyprus in the 1970s and came close to military hostilities during the Aegean dispute in 1987 and 1996 which has strongly affected the relations between Greece and Turkey since. They share a border in the east of Greece and the west of Turkey, but also the Aegean sea. Turkey also shares a border with Armenia in the east, on the opposite side of the country to Greece. Armenia and Turkey also have a history of hostility, and official relations are non-existent. A map showing the borders Turkey shares with Greece in the west and Armenia in the east. Leaked documents showing plans to invade both Greece and Armenia have been revealed Anti-Greek rhetoric has increased under Erdogan's reigeme, pictured on June 14 2020, during opening ceremony of the 3rd runway of Istanbul Airport The history of Greek-Turkish relations The history of conflict between Greece and Turkey can be traced back hundreds of years, but in the modern era it began when Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821. This led to years of tensions, and since Greece won its independence, four major wars have been fought between the two nations. In 1897 there was the Greco-Turkish war, then the First Balkan War of 1912 to 1913 saw them clash again. During the First World War between 1914 and 1918 the two also fought on opposing sides, and finally a second Greco-Turkish War, running from 1919 to 1922. The pair enjoyed relatively friendly relations in the 1930s and 1940s following the Greco-Turkish population exchange of 1923. In 1952, both countries joined NATO, but relations deteriorated again in the 1950s due to Cyprus, the 1955 Istanbul pogrom and the expulsion of Istanbul Greeks in the 1960s. In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus and 1996 saw the Imia/Kardak military crisis lead to wider military confrontations during the Aegean dispute. A period of relative calm came after 1999 after Greece changed its stance of Turkey joining the European Union, although the country is yet to achieve this. Since the Erdogan regime has come into power, tensions have once again begun to rise between the two nations. Advertisement The inspiration for the name comes from Caka Bey, better known as Chaka Bey and Tzachas, who was originally a commander under the Byzantine Empire, before he rebelled and began conquering land. He is a much revered figure in Turkey, and is even seen as the founder of the first modern Turkish navy. Anti-Greek rhetoric has become more robust in Turkey under the Erdogan regime, with some maintaining that Greek islands - including Crete, Rhodes and Lesbos - belong to Turkey, that has increased demands that Greece demilitarises these islands. Greeks will likely see the newly leaked reports as a warning sign that doing so would not be safe. Last Wednesday, a Greek navy ship attempted to inspect a cargo ship off the coast of Libya, but the Turkish military escort denied them access. Meanwhile, Greece has also objected Turkish plans to drill in 24 locations in the Mediterranean Sea that it considers Greek territory. In a statement, Greece's Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias warned that Athens would retaliate if the drilling was to begin. In 2019, the Erdogan regime announced its support for turning the Hagia Sophia a large museum and former Greek orthodox cathedral in Istanbul - back into a mosque. This was announced in response to US Preside Donald Trump recognising Israeli sovereignty of the Golan Heights and east Jerusalem. Greek Foreign Minister George Katrougalos criticized Erdogan's remarks at the time, saying: 'Any questioning of this status is not just an insult to the sentiments of Christians, it is an insult to the international community and international law.' Turkey has been attempting to bolster its sphere of influence in the region in recent years, particularly with its involvement in the conflicts in Syria and Lybia. However, experts do not believe any conflict will see military action. Arab News reported on Saturday that Paul Antonopoulos, an expert on Turkish-Greek relations, believes the situation will remain a war of words. 'Since Greece won its independence from the Ottoman Empire, there have been four major wars between the Greeks and Turks, with Greece always being the one to first declare the war. Athens has already said it does not want war but will only respond to Turkish-initiated aggression,' he told the news outlet. He added: 'It is unlikely that Erdogan will declare war, especially as Turkey is militarily over-extended in Syria and Libya and is facing an economic crisis.' Pictured: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis give joint statements in Jerusalem, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Both countries reportedly share concerns about Turkey's intentions in the region Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Sunny this morning then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 39F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 19F. SW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. The return of Boeing Co.s 737 Max to European skies is at risk of additional delays because of U.S. coronavirus travel restrictions that have hindered planning for test flights by regulators from the continent. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency will perform its flight tests on the grounded Boeing jet after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration conducts its own, said Janet Northcote, a spokeswoman for the European regulator. The Max was banned from commercial flying by governments around the world in March 2019 after two fatal crashes, and efforts to recertify the plane have been marked by repeated delays. At issue is how closely EASAs timeline aligns with its U.S. counterpart, which could affect the pace of the planes global comeback. Bloomberg reported last week that Boeing was closing in on the final steps needed to return the plane to market. The plane maker tentatively targeted later this month to host U.S. regulators on a flight test, a crucial step in the FAAs evaluation of the upgraded jet, people familiar with the matter said then. EASAs technical investigation of the Maxs upgraded systems hasnt been completed, Northcote said. U.S. restrictions on entry for EU nationals have prevented the Cologne, Germany-based agency from firm planning for a test flight, she said in an email. The FAA, which is taking the lead on recertifying the 737 Max and will conduct the first governmental flight test, said it has measures in place to proceed when Boeing has completed the necessary work. The FAA didnt comment on EASAs plans. Boeing spokesman Bernard Choi declined to comment. Coronavirus restrictions Unprecedented efforts taken by governments to control the spread of the coronavirus have already slowed work on the Maxs return. The slump in air travel from the pandemic has meanwhile quashed demand for new planes, easing pressure to complete the fix. The U.S. said in March that European nationals from the Schengen area that includes Germany were barred from visiting the U.S. with certain exceptions. The restrictions with Europe, the U.K. and other countries such as Brazil could last for months, U.S. infectious-disease expert Anthony Fauci told the Hill this week. I would assume the same travel restrictions that apply to EASA would also apply to other international regulators such as the Chinese, so this could make certification of the Max outside of North America take much longer, said Nick Cunningham, an analyst at Agency Partners in London. The bigger question is still how long it will take Boeing to make the fixes to the 800-plus aircraft that are in storage after theyre signed off, and whether airlines actually want to take delivery of all these aircraft. Chicago-based Boeing has estimated that it will spend nearly $20 billion on compensating customers, keeping suppliers afloat and restoring the production of jets. Its most recent goal has been to return the 737 Max, a critical source of revenue, to commercial service in the third quarter. Software updates Northcote didnt say how much time the entry restrictions would potentially add to delays in the recertification process. EASA head Patrick Ky has said that the regulators were working in concert and that Europe would lag behind the U.S. by two to three weeks in clearing the jet. Last year the two authorities sought to resolve differences over the Maxs architecture, including a reliance on fewer angle-of-attack sensors than its European rival Airbus SE instruments that are thought to have played a role in the crashes in Ethiopia and off Indonesia. Some changes to software or hardware may be installed through routine maintenance checks after the plane is back in use, a person familiar with the matter said then. Boeing is expected to commit to developing a synthetic airspeed system or adding a third sensor to measure air speed in a compromise with EASA, the Air Current reported last week. Read more about: The order was issued by Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. New response to the launch of propaganda flyers from the South. Seoul: we are monitoring the situation together with the United States. Analysts: the Kim family raises tension to obtain concessions. Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - North Korea is ready to send its troops to the demilitarized zone that divides North Korea from the South. Kim Yo-jong, leader Kim Jong-un's sister , issued the order on the 13th June according to the official Pyongyang regime KCNA news agency. The two Koreas are technically at war, given that the two countries never signed a peace treaty at the end of the 1950 to 1953 war. Pyongyang's threat is a further response to the launch of propaganda leaflets on North Korean territory carried out by groups of dissidents sheltered in South Korea. On June 9, North Korea had interrupted military and diplomatic communications with Seoul as retaliation for the launch - via balloons - of defamatory leaflets. According to several analysts, in addition to shifting the attention of internal public opinion from the country's economic problems, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, Pyongyang is pressing on the South to express its dissatisfaction with the United States. Kim Jong-un met with US President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019, without obtaining the cancellation or suspension of international sanctions for his country's nuclear and missile programs. As a precondition, Washington demands North Korean disarmament. In this context, Kim Jong-un would be leaving room for his sister, tasked with raising tension with the South, to intervene later and obtain greater concessions in future negotiations with Washington and Seoul. This tactic is often used by the Kim family, in power since the end of the Second World War. The South Korean Armed Forces said today they were monitoring the movements of North Korean troops together with the United States. Pyongyang's threats weaken the position of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is determined to establish "irreversible peace" on the Korean peninsula, a re-edition of the Sunshine Policy inaugurated 20 years ago by its liberal predecessors. Valerie Westfield in Dubai during her time working for the Saudi royal family A Northern Ireland teacher who travels the world to tutor children of the super-rich is raising funds for local care homes, which she believes have been overlooked during the pandemic. Valerie Westfield (57) from Lisburn is one of two neighbours behind a JustGiving initiative being run by Hillsborough Village Centre. She and co-fundraiser Lesley Waugh (62) hope to raise 5,000, which they said will be divided between six local care homes and their staff. "Care home staff are so important and we want to show our appreciation for them," Valerie said. "All of us will probably experience care homes at some point in the future. "Maybe we or someone we know will end up living in one and we'll want a nice nurse and care staff to look after us. "There are lots of families all over Northern Ireland with elderly parents who may be in care homes, or who may need to go into one at some point, and that's why Lesley and I wanted to raise awareness about this important issue." High-flying tutor Valerie, who has found herself grounded during lockdown, said she is looking forward to her next assignment, whatever that may be, in some far-flung and exotic location as she resumes her normal role of educating the children of the well-to-do. Expand Close Valerie Westfield in Dubai during her time working for the Saudi royal family / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Valerie Westfield in Dubai during her time working for the Saudi royal family "It's still amazing to be able to do the type of work I do, and I know I am very lucky," said Valerie, who, along with Lesley, has contributed to her own fundraising drive. "Of course I haven't been away very much for work recently because of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown that's been imposed around the world. "I also came home to look after my 88-year-old father, so I don't like to accept any lengthy stints away now. "I just take short-term tutoring assignments around the world." While the jet-setting educator is still working, her location is perhaps a little less glamorous than before. It is a far cry from her usual habitat - in the not too distant past she has been flown to Switzerland, Morocco, Dubai, Greece, France and Saudi Arabia in order to teach. And she has taught on yachts as well as mid-flight, in chauffeur-driven cars and beside luxury pools. Expand Close Lesley Waugh / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lesley Waugh "I'm still doing tutoring online but it's not the same as sitting on a yacht in Monaco," she said, adding that she has been teaching "some first year medical students" online. "I've also been teaching in Northern Ireland all along and will continue to do so." Valerie, who gained many years' experience as a teacher in north Wales before returning home to help care for her elderly father, switched to tutoring the rich and royalty in 2017. But now, while she has got a little more time on her hands due to the pandemic, she wants to promote this worthy cause. Lesley, a former social worker and recently retired NHS manager, said they would like to make a difference, however small. To support the fundraiser click here. LIMERICKs annual festival of lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual queer plus (LGBT+) culture will not take place physically this year due to the Covid-19 restrictions. However, the Pride party will still go on but on the internet, rather than the citys streets. The organisers of Limerick Pride 2020 have confirmed the festival will be virtual and will be held online from Monday. July 6 until Saturday, July 11. On that day a virtual price parade will take place, and as always will form the centre-piece of the festival. Limerick Leader columnist and Pride public relations officer Richard Lynch said: Last years festival ended up becoming Limericks largest pride parade ever. Sadly, the many hopes to top the previous year were crushed when news of the festivals cancellation came to light once the Covid-19 outbreak began. To take the place of a physical festival set in Limerick, an online, virtual Limerick Pride 2020 will work as a substitute for this years celebrations. The virtual pride parade will take place as the opening event to Pride inside. This is an online pride festival happening from July 11-19. Devised by Kerry Pride, Pride Inside is a collaboration between Kerry Pride, Killarney Pride, Black Pride Ireland, Galway Pride, Limerick Pride, and Mayo Pride. The events happening online throughout the week of Pride Inside will include panel discussions, watch parties, quizzes, and live music. It will join together many different counties and movements including Black Pride Ireland. Black Pride Ireland was one of the prominent organisers of the Dublin Black Lives Matter protest on Saturday, June 6. Now with this organisation participating, we can demonstrate how unity and strength will bring people of all races, sexualities, genders and walks of life together. Lisa Daly, chairperson and festival director of Limerick Pride commented on the collaboration with Pride Inside, saying, We are delighted to be working with Kerry Pride, Killarney Pride, Black Pride Ireland, Galway Pride, and Mayo Pride for Pride Inside. Our virtual Limerick Pride Parade on Saturday, July 11 will be the opening event of Pride Inside. Pride Inside is an opportunity to be able to celebrate all that makes our community so resilient, so rich with diversity and to support each other during these difficult times. While also reaching those living in rural communities." Find out more about the different events on Limerick Pride's social media or visit www.LimerickPride.ie. Albany, N.Y. Albuquerque Asheville, N.C. Athens, Ga. Atlanta Austin, Texas Bellevue, Wash. Bentonville, Ark. Beverly Hills, Calif. Bloomington, Ill. Brockton, Mass. Buffalo Charlotte, N.C. Chattanooga, Tenn. Cincinnati Cleveland Colorado Springs Columbia, S.C. Columbus, Ohio Dallas Dayton, Ohio Denver Des Moines Detroit Duluth, Minn. El Paso Eugene, Ore. Fargo, N.D. Ferguson, Mo. Fontana, Calif. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Fort Wayne, Ind. Fort Worth Fredericksburg, Va. Grand Rapids, Mich. Green Bay, Wis. Huntsville, Ala. Indianapolis Iowa City Jacksonville, Fla. Kalamazoo, Mich. Kansas City, Mo. La Mesa, Calif. Lakeland, Fla. Lansing, Mich. Las Vegas Lewisville, Texas Lincoln, Neb. Little Rock, Ark. Louisville, Ky. Madison, Wis. Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Mobile, Ala. Murfreesboro, Tenn. Nashville New Orleans Oakland, Calif. Oklahoma City Omaha Orlando, Fla. Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland, Ore. Providence, R.I. Raleigh, N.C. Reno, Nev. Richmond, Va. Sacramento Salem, Ore. San Antonio San Diego San Jose, Calif. San Luis Obispo, Calif. Santa Ana, Calif. Santa Rosa, Calif. Seattle Sioux Falls, S.D. Spokane, Wash. St. Louis St. Paul, Minn. Toledo, Ohio Tulsa, Okla. Virginia Beach Walnut Creek, Calif. Wichita, Kan. Wilmington, N.C. Photos were not available for Aurora, Ill., Charleston, S.C., Conway, Ark., Erie, Pa., Hammond, Ind., Lafayette, Ind., Rockford, Ill., Springfield, Ohio, Vallejo, Calif., Waterloo, Iowa and West Palm Beach, Fla. At least 100 law enforcement agencies many in large cities used some form of tear gas against civilians protesting police brutality and racism in recent weeks, according to an analysis by The New York Times. This brief period has seen the most widespread domestic use of tear gas against demonstrators since the long years of unrest in the late 1960s and early 70s, according to Stuart Schrader of Johns Hopkins University, who studies race and policing. Thousands and thousands of utterly ordinary people who thought they were going to an ordinary protest event are finding themselves receiving a really aggressive police response, he said. That itself is a bit horrifying. The police have actually succeeded in making people more angry. The Times reached out to police departments, and reviewed photos, videos, press briefings and police statements from hundreds of incidents across the country since May 26, when the first protests began in Minneapolis. The list here is not exhaustive police departments that did not provide clear answers or denied the use of tear gas are not included. Where the police used tear gas By The New York Times Tear gas has long been used to disperse crowds during protests and riots, both nationally and internationally, despite being banned in warfare by the Chemical Weapons Convention. If used appropriately, it drives people to flee the gas, which irritates their eyes, skin and lungs without causing serious, long-term injuries in most. But in cases where law enforcement misuses the agent, it can cause debilitating injuries. Prolonged exposure or high doses can lead to permanent vision damage, asthma and other long-term injuries. Research increasingly shows tear gas and other weapons that have been deemed by law enforcement as being nonlethal can seriously injure and sometimes even kill. Theres also evidence that the use of tear gas could worsen the spread of coronavirus. Because tear gas is indiscriminate, it makes it hard for the police to limit the impact to the intended target, and some experts question whether its use was necessary in recent protests. Iowa City, June 3 Taylor Hootman/@taylorhootman via Storyful The use of escalated force by law enforcement, all that serves to do is increase violence, increase injuries, said Jennifer Cobbina, professor at the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice, who studies race-related protests. The primary mission of a police officer is to keep the peace and to protect and serve. The widespread use of tear gas has prompted pushback, with some lawmakers calling for a ban of its use in Massachusetts and New Orleans. Other cities, including Denver, Seattle, Portland and Dallas, have all temporarily banned police from using tear gas. How the police used tear gas in recent protests Experts say officers should fire canisters at a short distance, toward the edge of a crowd, to minimize the number of people exposed and to avoid injuries from impact. But photos and videos of police encounters with protesters have revealed tactics inconsistent with the safest use of tear gas. Protester standing in a cloud of tear gas in downtown Atlanta. Ben Gray/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, via Associated Press A man from Kansas City, Kan., sustained a serious leg injury from a tear gas canister fired by the police, according to KCTV News 5. Balin Brake, a 21-year-old student in Fort Wayne, Ind., lost an eye after being hit by a tear gas canister. The police released a statement saying that tear gas was used after orders had been given to leave the area. Im angry that I was protesting police brutality and fell victim to police brutality, Mr. Brake said in a phone interview. Scenes from Fort Wayne, Ind., where Mr. Brake lost an eye. Photo from Ian Stoots (left) and Jason Melgoza (right) In Charlotte, N.C., WCNC reported that the police used tear gas from both ends of a street, confining protesters. In one video from Philadelphia, which was shared widely on social media, police officers threw tear gas into a large crowd trapped on the side of the highway with nowhere to go but up an embankment. Philadelphia, June 1 Elias Sell via Storyful We are seeing it being used when people are trapped in certain locations, said Anna Feigenbaum, an expert on tear gas at Bournemouth University in England. According to protocol, there should always be escape routes, a way out. In Louisville, Ky., protesters reported that tear gas was used during peaceful protests, without warning. In Portland, Ore., a judge placed temporary restrictions on the police departments use of tear gas, saying it was used to disperse peaceful protesters. Portland, Ore., June 7 Justin Yau via Storyful Whats really important is that these videos right now are showing so many law enforcement officials in so many cities using tear gas, said Lauren-Brooke Eisen, director of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. The public is seeing for themselves that most of these protesters are peaceful. Police chiefs across the nation have defended using tear gas, saying that it was a last resort after announcing that crowds should disperse or when officers were faced with violent protesters. Protesters flee as tear gas is deployed by the Seattle police. Lindsey Wasson/Reuters We gave a clear, detailed dispersal order; it was given numerous times, said the police chief, Deanna Cantrell, of San Luis Obispo, Calif., at a press conference, adding that a standoff had lasted for hours. Bottles, rocks, fireworks, other objects started being thrown at law enforcement. When asked about tear gas use, the Duluth police department in Minnesota emailed a statement: It was only after careful consideration and counsel with the commanders at the scene did the use of gas get approved, which quickly and successfully was instrumental in dispersing an increasingly escalating, dangerous and illegal assembly. In a statement, the Lewisville police department in Texas said tear gas was the safest option: The only other means to get people out of the street would have been to physically move them, which would have increased the risk of a violent confrontation. The Oklahoma City police department said that its officers have used more than 25 hand-deployable and more than 95 launchable gas munitions since May 30, in response to protesters vandalizing private and public property, and assaulting police officers. Several police departments have reported injuries among officers, with some even shot at from the crowds. The St. Louis police department reported that four police officers were struck by gunfire. The appropriateness of police actions must always be judged by the circumstances in which they occur, said Steve Marshall, the Alabama attorney general, in a statement earlier this month. Andrew Walsh, deputy chief of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said that this is the first time since the 1992 Rodney King riots that tear gas had to be used to control public disorder in the Las Vegas area. Police departments in the two largest cities New York and Los Angeles said they did not use tear gas, though they used other riot control tactics including batons and rubber bullets. Dispute over semantics Tear gas, an umbrella term for crowd control chemicals, is not legally defined. Two chemicals deployed during recent protests are stockpiled in many police arsenals: CS, a synthetic chemical released by grenades and canisters launched toward protesters; and OC, derived from chili peppers, which has been adapted for canisters, grenades, shells and sprays. Tear gas canister and shell found at scenes of protests. Left to right: Adam Bettcher/Reuters, Lawrence Bryant/Reuters, David Ryder/Getty Images Pepper compounds may sound more benign than tear gas, but newer munitions using pepper-derived chemicals may be just as potent as traditional crowd-control substances. They have similar effects on people who are exposed: excruciating pain and respiratory distress. They are enriched to levels that would never occur in nature a hundred-fold or thousand-fold more potent, said Dr. Sven Eric Jordt, a Duke University professor who studies the use of tear gas. Yet some in law enforcement still draw a distinction between the two, and some public officials assume that pepper compounds are safer. But they are not, Dr. Jordt said. I think they are actively gaslighting the public by making this distinction, he said. Theres just no research backing this up. And they are using them in much higher amounts than before. Several police departments The Times reached out to denied using tear gas. But authorities said that substances like chemical irritants, chemical agents or pepper balls were deployed. Semantic murkiness does not typically matter to those who study and monitor tear gas use. To them CS (actually a powder) and a variety of pepper-derived compounds qualify as tear gas. Police departments are deploying riot control agents without knowing their full effects on people who come in contact with them. Theres very little oversight about what police departments are purchasing, how they are planning to deploy, Dr. Jordt said. He added that the police get tear gas training from manufacturers, leading them to treat it as a primary means of crowd control. I think this really changes their mindset, that it becomes a first-line item to deploy against protesters, not a last resort, he said. Im very concerned that this gets normalized. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:59:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese military medical experts on Tuesday held a videoconference with Kuwaiti military officials and counterparts to exchange experiences in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference, hosted by the Medical Service Directorate of the Logistic Support Department of China's Central Military Commission, was attended by military officials and experts from the Kuwait Army's Medical Services Authority and Jaber Al-Ahmad Armed Forces Hospital, as well as Kuwaiti experts in epidemic prevention and control. At the conference, the two sides briefed each other on the army's participation in the COVID-19 prevention and control. The medical experts from both sides also exchanged experiences on epidemic prevention and control, diagnostic testing, clinical treatment, and vaccine research and development. The Chinese experts focused on the treatment of typical cases of COVID-19 as well as the prevention and control measures taken in the hospitals. They also answered all the questions from their Kuwaiti counterparts. Xue Chuanlai, defence attache of the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait, said that since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the two countries have been working together to fight the coronavirus, reflecting the strategic level of the bilateral relations. This conference is the first important action taken by the two armies to enhance epidemic prevention cooperation, Xue noted. "I hope that the two armies will take this conference as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation in various fields such as medical treatment, so as to achieve more fruitful results," he added. The Kuwaiti side hailed the tremendous efforts and important achievements made by the Chinese army in the fight against the pandemic, while expressing gratitude to China for sharing the anti-coronavirus experiences. Enditem A soldier from Tamil Nadu, who was among the three men killed in Ladakh in a violent face off with Chinese troops, served the army for 22 long years and was due to retire in a year, his family and state parties said on Tuesday. Chief Minister K Palaniswami, condoling the killing of the three army men, praised their supreme sacrifice, valour and dedication. He announced a solatium of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the slain soldier, K Pazhani of Kadukkalur village in Ramanathapuram district. He also said that one of the family members would be given a government job. The village in southern Tamil Nadu was engulfed in gloom as news of Pazhani's death reached the sleepy neighbourhood. Family sources said that Pazhani served the army as a Havildar and had joined the armed forces at the young age of 18. His brother is also in the army and is posted in Rajasthan. Inconsolable, Pazhani's wife Vanathi Devi said her husband had not even participated in the recent 'grahapravesam' (house warming ceremony) of their house. Hailing the sacrifice of the three army men, Dravida Munnetra Kazagham president M K Stalin offered them his salutations and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. Pazhani had served the army for 22 long years, he said and praised his sacrifice. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko, extending his condolences to the bereaved kin of the three army men, said the Tamil Nadu soldier had spoken to his wife on the day of the attack. The army man from Tamil Nadu is survived by his wife and two children, the Rajya Sabha MP said, adding the slain soldier was about to retire in a year following 22 years of service. "It is a matter of pride that Pazhani's brother is also serving in the army," Vaiko said. In a massive escalation of border tension, an Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed during a violent confrontation with Chinese troops in the sensitive Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night. It is perhaps the first such incident along the border with China that Indian armed forces personnel have been killed after a gap of nearly 45 years. Four Indian soldiers had lost their lives in an ambush at Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh in 1975. Vaiko said that China, which was now facing accusations of spreading coronavirus, allegedly embarked on such activities to divert the world's attention. The incident has occurred against the backdrop of India nurturing friendly ties with China, he said, adding this was evidenced by the warm welcome accorded to Chinese President Xi Jinping when he visited Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu last year for an informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Vaiko paid rich tributes to the three army men and hailed their supreme sacrifice. T T V Dinakaran said the killing of three army personnel was an act of cowardice by the Chinese military. The AMMK chief also referred to the sacrifice of the Tamil Nadu soldier and said he bowed to his sacrifice and condoled the deaths of the army men. Omjasvin MD By Express News Service CHENNAI: Following complaints by the Chennai Corporation, the city police have traced 127 missing COVID-19 patients so far, while another 150 are yet to be found. Corporation officials said these patients have been placed at COVID care centres now. When the civic body was tallying the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Corporation limits across various institutional facilities, it found that 277 patients were not in the list. The missing persons belong to Royapuram, Tondiarpet and Thiruvika Nagar, said Chennai Corporation's health wing officials. Following this, the Corporation reached out to police and the tracing process began last week. The private labs must provide the basic information of patients to the Directorate of Public Health and the GCC. With this, when a person tests positive, we will trace them, a corporation official said. However, officials said since there have been discrepancies in addresses or patients giving wrong addresses, the ground staff were unable to trace them. Police have traced these patients based on their names and corporation zones. In some cases, there have been some discrepancies with door numbers while a few patients in Royapuram zone did not live in the house, when our ground staff had gone to check, the official added. As per the latest guidelines, it is mandatory for all the private labs to take down Aadhaar details before the test and these details must be uploaded on the website of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Apart from this, the city corporation has also mandated a 14-day quarantine for any person who is taking an RT-PCR test. This includes their family members too. Apart from just containing possible spread, this mandatory home quarantine period will ensure smooth contact tracing because sometimes a patient is not there at home when our staff visits the house, the corporation official added. Not all the missing patients had given wrong addresses. Officials said in some cases, phone numbers were wrong but addresses were correct and in a few cases, streets were correct and door numbers were wrong. Corporation Commissioner G Prakash said a few instances like these keep coming up and the civic body is tightening on the back end as well. Out of these patients, we have successfully traced and found many and the work continues, he told The New Indian Express. Parallely, a nine-member reconciliation committee set up by the Health Department has been auditing all the COVID-19 deaths in the city that have not been included in the official tally. This process is expected to be completed in a week but the health department has partially started adding these deaths in the state health bulletin. DIDCOT, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2020 / Altus Strategies Plc ("Altus" or the "Company") (AIM:ALS)(TSX-V:ALTS), the Africa focused project and royalty generator, announces that at its Annual General and Special Meeting held earlier today, all resolutions put to shareholders were duly passed. The polling results for each resolution are set out below. Resolution Votes for % Votes against % Total votes Total % voted Votes withheld 1. That the Company's annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2019, together with the report of the directors of the Company and the auditors' report on those accounts be received and adopted. 40,206,589 99.9% 23,999 0.1% 40,230,588 57.4% 0 2. That David Netherway be re-elected as a director of the Company. 40,206,411 99.9% 23,999 0.1% 40,230,410 57.4% 178 3. That Steven Poulton be re-elected as a director of the Company. 40,206,570 99.9% 23,999 0.1% 40,230,569 57.4% 19 4. That Matthew Grainger be re-elected as a director of the Company. 40,206,570 99.9% 23,999 0.1% 40,230,569 57.4% 19 5. That Robert Milroy be re-elected as a director of the Company. 40,206,570 99.9% 23,999 0.1% 40,230,569 57.4% 19 6. That Michael Winn be re-elected as a director of the Company. 40,172,411 99.9% 58,158 0.1% 40,230,569 57.4% 19 7. That Karim Nasr be re-elected as a director of the Company. 40,206,570 99.9% 23,999 0.1% 40,230,569 57.4% 19 8. That PKF Littlejohn LLP be reappointed as the Company's auditors. 40,266,107 99.9% 24,975 0.1% 40,291,082 57.5% 0 9. That the Directors be authorised to determine the auditors' remuneration. 40,266,088 99.9% 24,975 0.1% 40,291,063 57.5% 19 10. That the share options scheme first approved at the Company's 2019 AGM be re-confirmed, ratified and approved. 40,206,003 99.9% 24,161 0.1% 40,230,164 57.4% 424 11. That the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised, in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006, to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot Relevant Securities up to an aggregate nominal amount of 3,504,580. 40,178,007 99.8% 51,958 0.1% 40,229,965 57.4% 623 12. That, subject to the passing of resolution 12, the Directors be and are hereby empowered, pursuant to Section 570 of the 2006 Act, to allot equity securities (as defined by section 560 of the 2006 Act) for cash up to an aggregate nominal amount of 1,752,290. 40,178,007 99.8% 51,958 0.1% 40,229,965 57.4% 623 For further information you are invited to visit the Company's website www.altus-strategies.com or contact: Altus Strategies Plc Steven Poulton, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0) 1235 511 767 E: info@altus-strategies.com SP Angel (Nominated Adviser) Richard Morrison / Soltan Tagiev Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470 SP Angel (Broker) Abigail Wayne / Richard Parlons Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0471 Yellow Jersey PR (Financial PR & IR) Georgia Colkin / Charles Goodwin / Henry Wilkinson Tel: +44 (0) 20 3004 9512 E: altus@yellowjerseypr.com About Altus Strategies Plc Altus is a London (AIM: ALS) and Toronto (TSX-V: ALTS) listed project and royalty generator in the mining sector with a focus on Africa. Our team creates value by making mineral discoveries across multiple licences. We enter joint ventures with respected groups and our partners earn interest in these discoveries by advancing them toward production. Project milestone payments we receive are reinvested to extend our portfolio, accelerating our growth. The portfolio model reduces risk as our interests are diversified by commodity and by country. The royalties generated from our portfolio of projects are designed to yield sustainable long-term income. We engage constructively with all our stakeholders, working diligently to minimise our environmental impact and to promote positive economic and social outcomes in the communities where we operate. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information included in this announcement, including information relating to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of the Directors or estimates of future performance constitute "forward-looking statements". These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include without limitation the completion of planned expenditures, the ability to complete exploration programmes on schedule and the success of exploration programmes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date of this announcement and the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or any forward-looking statements contained in any other announcements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law or regulations. TSX Venture Exchange Disclaimer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Market Abuse Regulation Disclosure Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 ("MAR") until the release of this announcement. SOURCE: Altus Strategies Plc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594071/Results-of-Annual-General-and-Special-Meeting The NYPD has released body camera footage showing the moment a police officer pulled down a protester's mask to pepper spray him during a George Floyd demonstration in Brooklyn. The incident took place on May 30 and had sparked outrage among the community after bystander video showed the cop directly spraying a man in the face, unprovoked, as he stood with his hands in the air. The officer involved, who was not identified, was suspended without pay earlier this month and is now facing disciplinary action, the NYPD confirmed. Scroll down for video Body cam footage shows the moment a police officer approached a male protester (pictured in a red mask) and told him to stand back while pushing him When the protester replies 'Don't touch me', the officer immediately yanks down his mask and sprays him in the face Police on Tuesday released two clips from body camera footage of two officers associated with the incident, showing cops gratuitously discharging the irritant on peaceful protesters in a bid to disperse crowds. As hundreds of protesters gather on the street, the cops are heard repeatedly telling people to stand back while a police cruiser tries to make its way through in the background. 'Stand back, stand back, stand back!' The officers shout, while using their batons to push people out of the way. Many of the protesters appear generally calm and are holding their hands up in the air. At one point, one of the officers is seen telling the male protester, dressed in a black graphic t-shirt and a red protective mask, to step away while pushing him back. The man, who is standing among other protesters with both arms up, is heard telling the officer, 'don't touch me,' before the cop yanks down his mask and sprays him directly in the face. The protester is heard screaming in pain before walking away holding his face The man (far left) is seen being comforted by a friend as he walks away in pain The man then screams in pain before walking away holding his face, clearly affected. Video of the incident was first shared on Twitter by Anju J. Rupchandani who said he was a 'family member'. 'I am heartbroken and disgusted to see one of my family members a young black man w/his hands up peacefully protesting and an NYPD officer pulls down his mask and pepper sprays him,' wrote Rupchandani. The NYPD on Tuesday confirmed the department's Internal Affairs Bureau concluded its investigation and the officer remains suspended. The video clips come after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new rule requiring police to release all body camera footage of shootings and other instances when force is used and injury or death occurs, within 30 days of the incident. It overturns a policy that gave the New York Police Department wide discretion on when it made the videos public. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea previously announced the officer had been suspended on June 5, and said the case had been referred for disciplinary action. 'The actions by these officers stand apart from the restrained work of the thousands of other officers who have worked tirelessly to protect those who are peacefully protesting and keep all New Yorkers safe,' Shea said. 'While the investigations have to play out, based on the severity of what we saw, it is appropriate and necessary to assure the public that there will be transparency during the disciplinary process.' The Supreme Court pronounced that the present federal law prohibits job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or transgender status, a significant victory for gay rights advocates and for the evolving transgender rights movement, and a startling one from a gradually more conservative court. By a 6-3 vote, the court said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers to discriminate a person's sex, also covers both sexual orientation and transgender status. It ratifies rulings from the lower courts saying the discrimination of sexual orientation is a manifestation of sex discrimination. Surprisingly the decision was written by Neil Gorsuch, the first Supreme Court appointee of President Donald Trump, who was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and four more liberal members of the court to form a majority. According to NBC News, Gorsuch stated it would be illegal to fire individuals for being transgender, homosexual, or constituting behaviors or traits that would not have been questioned in members of different sex. He added that Title VII forbids the necessary and undisguisable role of sexual orientation in making decisions. Read also: J.K. Rowling Under Fire for Transphobia Again Over Comment About Menstruation Moreover, Gorsuch uttered those who embraced the Civil Rights Act might have not foreseen their work to come up to this particular result and the limit provided by the imagination of the drafters served no reason to take no notice of the demands of the law. He added that the law is only comprised of the written words and all people are entitled to its benefits. According to Deadline, 21 states across the nation have laws prohibiting job discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. Seven more states come up with providing that protection only to public employees. Those laws remain in effect, but Monday's ruling means the federal law extends the same protections for employees who are members of the LGBTQ community in the rest of the country. CBS News also reported that the case has been acknowledged by gay and transgender rights groups as a significant one, much more important than their fight to have the right to marry because most of the LGBTQ adults have or need a job. They recognized that not everyone in Congress considered sexual orientation when civil rights were passed. But they uttered when a male employee was fired from his work by an employer only because he is dating a man, but not firing a female employee who dates men, then this is a violation of the law. US President Donald Trump, during senior citizen issues at the White House roundtable, considered the decision to be very powerful. On a statement, Trump said since the Supreme Court ruled, Americans should live with the decisions passed by the court. Gay right advocates commemorated the ruling. According to James Esseks, American Civil Liberties Union's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & HIV Project director, the clarification of the Supreme Court that firing people because they are LGBTQ is unlawful is the outcome of decades of fighting for the LGBTQ rights. Esseks said the court has caught up to the country's majority, who already realized that discrimination against the LGBTQ is both unlawful and unfair. Related article: SpongeBob Gay? Nickelodeon May Have Hinted This Shocking Revelation in a Pride Month Tweet @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Trend Passengers flying from Baku to Istanbul on June 17 and 18 must pass the COVID-19 test before the flight, Trend reports with reference to AZAL. A list of laboratories in Baku accredited by the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) can be found below: - Inci Laboratories, Bulbul Avenue, 40. Contact number: +994 51 229 49 80 - Referans Clinical Laboratory Center, Mirzabala Mammadzade str. Contact number: +994 70 653 00 33 - Memorial Clinic, Gara Garayev Avenue, 38a. Contact number: +994 12 520 30 40 According to the rules, a certificate of COVID-19 testing must be issued not earlier than 48 hours before departure. Passengers will be able to board the flight only after presenting a certificate proving negative test result. The Baku-Istanbul flight will be served through the Terminal 1. On June 17 and 18, Azerbaijan Airlines will perform two special flights on the Baku-Istanbul-Baku route. 150 passengers will be accepted for flight in each direction. For the Baku-Istanbul flight, tickets can be purchased both by citizens of Azerbaijan and Turkey (or persons holding a residence permit in this country). Only citizens of Azerbaijan will be allowed on the Istanbul-Baku flight. AZAL calls upon passengers to treat the requirements and recommendations of the Operational Headquarters and the World Health Organization aimed at combating COVID-19 with utmost importance. In turn, the airline and airport personnel will do their utmost to make flights as safe and comfortable as possible, and call upon passengers to travel only when absolutely necessary. By Trend The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan increased to 5,293, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Health. To date, 4,019 patients have fully recovered in the country, while 19 have died. The Special Republican Commission for the preparation of a program of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Uzbekistan has extended the quarantine until June 15, 2020. Since May 15, the commission has lifted some restrictions on certain activities in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan has divided the country into "red", "yellow" and "green" zones, with regards to the level of COVID-19 pandemic spread level. On June 4, The Special Republican Commission updated the list of "red", "yellow" and "green" zones. The catering, kindergarten and clothing markets will open from June 15 in "green" and "yellow" regions. The "red" zones include Kungrad District of Uzbekistan's Karakalpakstan Autonomous Republic; Shafirkan district of Bukhara region; Zarafshan city, Kanimekh and Khatirchin districts of Navoi region; Namangan city, Turakurgan and Uychin districts of Namangan region, Sardoba district of Syrdarya region; Samarkand city, Akdarya, Paiaryk, Pastdargom, Urgut, Samarkand and Taylak districts of Samarkand region; Sariasi district of Surkhandarya region; Tashkent city, Bekabad, Zangiota, Kibray, Chirchik, Akkurgan, Chinaz and Yangiyul districts of Tashkent region. The "yellow" zones include Nukus city of Karakalpakstan Autonomous Republic; Gijduvon, Karakul districts and Bukhara city of Bukhara region; Norin District of Namangan region; Jomboy and Ishtikhan of Samarkand region; Angren, Nurafshan, Bukin, Bostanlik, Yukori Chirchiq and Urta Chirchik districts of Tashkent region. The "green" zones include Jizzakh, Fergana and Kashkadarya regions and other non-mentioned districts. The first case of coronavirus infection in Uzbekistan was detected on March 15 in the laboratory of the Research Institute of Virology; it was an Uzbek woman who returned from France. The Ministry of Health later announced that her son, daughter, husband and grandson also tested positive for coronavirus. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has demanded that 23,597 Ohio residents, who the ODJFS claims were overpaid, begin paying back unemployment benefits that they received since March 15. The ODJFS request puts many residents in an impossible position as they are required to give back potentially thousands of dollarswhich they likely used for food, housing and other necessitiesdespite being unemployed for potentially months. The ODJFS, which is the state department that oversees unemployment compensation, has sent out notices to individuals that it claims received overpaid benefits, specifying that the overpayment was not the result of fraud. While receiving overpaid benefits is not a crime, the ODJFS specifies on their website that the debt must be repaid within 60 days or it will be reported to the Ohio Attorney General for collection and federal income tax refunds could be intercepted. Recent notices, however, state that residents only have 45 days to repay the debt before it is reported. The number of individuals that have been overpaid in the past has exceeded those accused of fraud, but the cases of alleged overpayment surged along with unemployment resulting from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ODJFS reported that in the first quarter of 2020 there were 7,527 cases of non-fraud overpayment and 1,347 cases of alleged fraud. On March 15, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered a statewide lockdown as part of efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Between March 15 and May 30, about 1.3 million Ohioans applied for unemployment insurance with roughly half receiving their first payment by May 23. Out of the 680,000 who received benefits, roughly 3.5 percent will now have to repay at least part of their benefits. ODJFS Director Kimberly Hall stated that lagging data and large influx of new claims can easily result in errors that lead to overpayment by the state agency. Many workers, however, have expressed that it was a struggle to receive benefits even initially, and that it is financially and emotionally devastating to suddenly discover that they must repay the desperately needed payments. Marnie Behan, a 21-year-old college student and waitress at Buffalo Wild Wings, went on unemployment after the restaurant chain closed due to the pandemic. One day, instead of her unemployment check, she received a notice claiming that she had to pay back $3,000 within 45 days. Describing her response to 19 News, she said, I started crying. A lot of things were going through my head, I was really upset. I was stressed and frustrated. Because it took six weeks for me to be approved for it in the first place. She is currently appealing the decision. Sarah Burns, who was furloughed on March 19 and returned to her job on May 26, started receiving unemployment benefits in April. Her benefits were retroactively denied, and she is now required to pay back the entirety of her benefits, which totals over $5,000. She told Eye on Ohio, Thats a big chunk of money, and its not like we [her and her husband] can just go to our bank and just take it out, you know? Were not rich or anything. Some of the notices to workers telling them to repay their unemployment insurance also encouraged them to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). The PUA was created by Congress in March as part of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and is set to expire at the end of the year. While the CARES Act rapidly transferred huge sums to major corporations, the implementation of the PUA has been left up to individual states. Since many states were already overwhelmed by the volume of traditional unemployment claims, they have also failed to provide aid through the new program. While Ohio has issued more than $1 billion in PUA payments, unemployed workers in Ohio were only able to apply for PUA payments starting in mid-May, more than a month after the US Department of Labor provided guidance for the program. Many workers have also complained that they were automatically blocked from receiving PUA on the Ohio PUA website with the system claiming that they were eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI), even after their UI claim was rejected. Linda Gadek, a 1099 contractor who has been unemployed since March 21, had her UI claim rejected. The PUA website, however, claimed that she was still eligible for UI. According to Eye on Ohio, her son, Andrew Gadek, was able to get in touch with ODJFS representative. While the ODJFS informed him that his mothers case was going to be reviewed, he could not say when and advised him to call every day and frequently e-mail the ODJFS. Based on social media posts from other workers in a similar situation, the review process can take anywhere from 24 hours to six weeks. The ODJFS agreed to pay Deloitte Consulting over $5.7 million to install and implement the new PUA system, and another $557,000 per month for Hypercare maintenance and operations. It is estimated that the new system will cost almost $10 million. Deloitte Consulting has set up PUA systems in New Mexico, Illinois and Colorado. In late May, Deloitte sent out an e-mail informing PUA applicants that there was a data leak, which exposed personal information for two-dozen applicants. Applicants in Colorado and Illinois were also impacted. Ohios handling of the rise in unemployment is emblematic of how the entire ruling elite in the US has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the claims by both the Democrats and Republicans that the CARES Act would somehow ease the burden of unemployment and aid small business, it has instead served to transfer trillions to the big banks and corporations. At the same time, thousands of workers struggle to receive and keep the benefits they worked for. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) The Philippines recorded its highest number of recoveries from COVID-19 in a single day with 301, the Department of Health said on Tuesday. The countrys coronavirus cases, however, have reached 26,781, after 364 new infections. The DOH classified 249 of the new cases as "fresh," as they were validated within the last three days, while the other 115 were considered late cases or part of the validation backlog. According to the DOH, the fresh cases are based on the daily reports submitted by only 40 out of 59 currently operational labs. With 301 more COVID-19 survivors, the total number of patients who have beaten the disease also jumped to 6,552. Meanwhile, five new fatalities were recorded, for a total of 1,103 deaths. Based on the latest bulletin, Metro Manila listed the most number of new infections at 152. Central Visayas came next after logging 59 cases. The general community quarantine in the capital region was extended until June 30, while the government tightened restrictions in Cebu City, which has emerged as the epicenter of the outbreak in the Visayas. From a GCQ, Cebu City will revert to an enhanced community quarantine from June 16 to June 30, as infections continue to rise in the area. READ: Cebu City to appeal reclassification of ECQ status mayor Cases abroad Among Filipinos abroad, 455 more cases were confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs as the infected tally rose to 6,021. Another 366 have also gotten well, pushing recoveries among overseas Filipinos to 2,833. Sixteen more died, with the death toll now at 442. To date, over eight million people worldwide have been infected with COVID-19. Some 437,000 of these died, while nearly four million patients have already recovered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video conference with some of the chief ministers on Tuesday, amid the India-China standoff in Ladakh, to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the country. Modi said that economic activities in some areas have started showing green shoots since Unlock 1.0, showing that things are improving. While food outlets and sweet shops have opened doors across the country after the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown, there is bad news for pani puri lovers in Kanpur. The district administration has imposed a ban on pani puri carts in the city as social distancing norms were not being followed. On the global front, China is experiencing a second wave of infection scare as the country reported 67 new infections including 42 in Beijing. The country began coronavirus tests for 90,000 people and locked down several residential areas in the capital. The European Commission has launched two separate antitrust investigations into Apple, focused on the App Store and Apple Pay. The executive branch of the European Union said it would consider App Store rules that force developers to use its own payment and in-app purchase system. In a press release, the Commission referenced a complaint filed by Spotify more than a year ago. At the time, CEO and founder Daniel Ek argued that the 30 percent cut that Apple takes on all transactions including in-app purchases, which includes Free to Premium Spotify conversions meant that it would have to raise its prices beyond those offered by Apple Music. To keep our price competitive for our customers, that isnt something we can do, he explained in a blog post. Of course, its possible for Spotify users to upgrade their account on a different platform, including the web. But if you try to sidestep Apples payment system, the company will limit your marketing and communications with customers, Elk argued. In some cases, we arent even allowed to send emails to our customers who use Apple, he wrote. Apple also routinely blocks our experience-enhancing upgrades. Over time, this has included locking Spotify and other competitors out of Apple services such as Siri, HomePod, and Apple Watch. The Commission said it had completed a preliminary investigation and found concerns that discouraged competition against Apples own services. Apples competitors have either decided to disable the in-app subscription possibility altogether or have raised their subscription prices in the app and passed on Apples fee to consumers, the executive branch explained in its press release. In both cases, they were not allowed to inform users about alternative subscription possibilities outside of the app. The antitrust investigation will focus on Apple in-app purchase suite, and the restrictions that stop developers from explaining how customers can buy or upgrade through another platform. We need to ensure that Apples rules do not distort competition in markets where Apple is competing with other app developers, Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president of the European Commission said. Spotify isnt the only one to lodge this complaint. In its press release, the Commission revealed that an e-book/audiobook distributor (three guesses who that could be) had raised similar complaints about Apple Books and the companys App Store rules on March 5th, 2020. The second antitrust investigation will look at Apple Pay, which is effectively the only mobile payments solution available to iPhone and iPad users. Following a preliminary investigation, the Commission has concerns that the situation is stifling competition and reducing consumer choice on the platform. Vestager noted that mobile payments will likely increase even further as European citizens looks to minimize physical contact with physical money and store clerks. It is important that Apples measures do not deny consumers the benefits of new payment technologies, including better choice, quality, innovation and competitive prices, she argued. I have therefore decided to take a close look at Apples practices regarding Apple Pay and their impact on competition. Apple isnt pleased with the Commissions decision to launch dual investigations. In a statement, the company said it was following the law and embraced competition at every stage because we believe it pushes us to deliver even better results. The Commission was advancing baseless complaints, it argued, from a handful of companies who simply want a free ride, and dont want to play by the same rules as everyone else. The company added: We dont think thats right we want to maintain a level playing field where anyone with determination and a great idea can succeed. At the end of the day, our goal is simple: for our customers to have access to the best app or service of their choice, in a safe and secure environment. We welcome the opportunity to show the European Commission all weve done to make that goal a reality. A former Toronto resident whos nicknamed Asias El Chapo is the target of an international police manhunt into a mega-syndicate that allegedly supplies illegal synthetic drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine, ecstasy and ketamine around the world. Tse Chi Lop, 56, a Chinese-born Canadian national, is accused of sitting atop a multi-billion dollar enterprise called Sam Gor, or The Company, which authorities say has thrived during the global pandemic. In a sense, the pandemic is an opportunity for them to increase market share, Jeremy Douglas of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said in a telephone interview from Bangkok. Authorities say Sam Gor factories are based in areas with deep governance problems like the Golden Triangle centred on the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, and protected by private militias. While the world has shifted its attention to COVID-19, all indications are that production and trafficking of synthetic drugs and chemicals continue at record levels in the region, Douglas said. Sam Gor is Cantonese for one of Tses nicknames, Brother No. 3. Sam Gor has profited wildly since it was formed sometime after 2010, authorities say. Through it all, Tse among his aliases are Tse Chi Lap, Brother No. 3, Sam Gor, T1, Ah Lap, Dennis and Xie Zii has kept an extremely low profile, even though authorities like Douglas compare his syndicate and wealth to that of imprisoned Mexican drug lord Joaquin (El Chapo) Guzman and Pablo Escobar, the former head of the Medellin cartel in Colombia, killed in 1993. Several reports indicate Mexican cartels have been impacted by COVID-19, and that they cant meet North American demand, Douglas said. But it is not surprising given theyre dependant on trans-Pacific supply chains which have slowed, and they do not have the same relationship with suppliers. Tse, who has a Canadian passport, travels by private jet guarded, police say, by a security contingent of Thai kickboxers and rubs shoulders with a group of drug traffickers and makers nicknamed the Billionaires Club, authorities say. While hes accused of trafficking billions of dollars in synthetic drugs, hes not known to be a drug user, although investigators say he once lost about $66-million at a casino in one weekend. Wherever he is now, its a long way from his old Toronto days of the 1980s, when he was a little-known crime boss. Tse was born in Guangzhou in 1963 and immigrated to Toronto in 1988 as part of the wave that left Hong Kong after the U.K. agreed to hand the city over to China. In Toronto, he was part of a criminal group known as the Big Circle Boys, part of the Big Circle Gang, which was originally formed by imprisoned members of Maos Red Guard during Chinas Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. The Big Circle Gang is now is part of Sam Gor, a network of five triads that were often at war with each other during the 1990s. Those groups also include the three biggest Hong Kong and Macau triads: 14K, Wo Shing Wo and Sun Yee On, as well as the Taiwan-based Bamboo Union. Tse served prison time in the U.S. from 1997 to 2006 for heroin trafficking after being arrested with some senior members of the Montreal-based Rizzuto Mafia family, which had representatives in the GTA. Among those convicted with Tse were Emanuel Raguso, an inlaw of Montreal Mafia boss Vito Rizzuto, who died in 2013, and Salvatore (Sam) Nicolucci, a close Rizzuto associate who also served prison time for cocaine trafficking. Tse spent most of his prison time in Elkton, Ohio, and then returned to Canada. He was back in Hong Kong by 2011. An opening for Sam Gor came when the Chinese government made a massive crackdown on established methamphetamine producers between 2012 and 2015. The pandemic has provided another boost, as Mexican competitors flounder with supply chain problems, authorities say. Meanwhile, Sam Gor basically have an uninterrupted supply of precursor chemicals they have unique access to industry, Douglas said. They maintain stockpiles, they can source what they need when they need to, and they can produce another ton or shipment on demand. That means that during the pandemic, Sam Gor and other Asian syndicates have been able to keep prices down and continue to flood markets, Douglas said. They also have a reputation for being able to guarantee shipments, as well as a reputation for high-quality drugs, Douglas said. The chemists they use are amongst the best in the world, Douglas said. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released a report on the syndicate in May, saying that the synthetic drug market in East and Southeast Asia continues to expand and diversify, as the price of methamphetamine drops. Seizures of methamphetamine in East and Southeast Asia have continually increased over the past decade, but that hasnt put a dent in the synthetic drug trade, authorities say. In short, organized crime groups are in a position to provide better quality methamphetamine at much cheaper prices compared to a decade ago, increasing affordability and harm at the same time, Inshik Sim, an UNODC Illicit Drugs Analyst said in a prepared statement. Making synthetic drugs requires no agriculture and because the drugs are concentrated and potent, they are compact and simpler to smuggle. The primary ingredients in methamphetamine are ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, and authorities say they are smuggled out of pharmaceutical, chemical and paint factories. The Sam Gor syndicate adopted a business model that was hard to refuse. Any delivery that was intercepted by authorities was replaced, at no extra cost, or deposits from customers were returned. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that the Sam Gor syndicate made between $8 billion and $17.7 billion a year by 2018. Its branding signature was to include drugs in packets of tea. Authorities hit back with Operation Kungur, an Australian-led project which It encompasses authorities from Myanmar, China, Thailand, Japan, the United States and Canada. It has been called the largest-ever international effort to combat Asian drug trafficking syndicates and Canada plays a role in part because four of the 19 alleged Sam Gor leaders are Canadians, including Tse. In that project, Tse has been dubbed T1, for Target No. 1. Peter Edwards is a Toronto-based reporter primarily covering crime for the Star. Reach him by email at pedwards@thestar.ca Read more about: Horace Mann Appoints Paul Haley as Chief Risk Officer Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE:HMN) today announced Vice President Paul Haley, who has led risk assessments for the company's business development efforts since 2018, has been appointed Chief Risk Officer. "Paul has been integral to our transformative business development efforts in the past several years, bringing deep actuarial expertise and critical risk assessment skills to the due diligence process for the National Teachers Associates and Benefit Consultants Group acquisitions, as well as our $2.9 billion legacy annuity reinsurance transaction," said President and CEO Marita Zuraitis. "This appointment expands his role to lead risk management efforts across the entire organization." Haley's nsight into Horace Mann's business strategy and actuarial background makes him ideally suited to take day-to-day responsibility for the company's well-regarded Enterprise Risk Management program. Haley will report to CFO Bret Conklin, who oversees Horace Mann's ERM processes. Haley has 35 years of experience in the life insurance sector, holding senior actuarial positions at Genworth Financial, Colonial Life and Prudential Financial before joining Horace Mann in 2018. He graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in Mathematics, and holds the FSA, MAAA, CERA, CLU and ChFC designations. About Horace Mann Horace Mann is the largest financial services company focused on providing America's educators and school employees with insurance and retirement solutions. Founded by Educators for Educators in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. For more information, visit horacemann.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005938/en/ With a five-year survival rate of just 10%, pancreatic cancer is the world's toughest cancer and demands urgent action to save lives. There is no early detection test for pancreatic cancer and few effective treatments are available. Research funding is crucial to solving this challenging disease 80% comes from the federal government. Therefore, thousands of advocates will participate in PanCAN Advocacy Week, reaching out to their members of Congress to share their personal stories about the impact pancreatic cancer has had on them and their families and friends and the important role Congress plays in funding lifesaving cancer research. The timing of the pancreatic cancer advocates' mobilization is critical, as key decisions on federal funding for the new fiscal year budget will soon be made by Congress. Advocates will ask their members of Congress to support $44.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health and for $6.9 billion for National Cancer Institute. Additionally, they will be urging Congress to increase funding for the Department of Defense's (DOD) dedicated pancreatic cancer research program, which was created for the first time last year as a direct result of PanCAN's advocacy efforts, from $6 million to $10 million. "We know that our advocacy efforts are effective. We celebrated a big win with the creation of the DOD's pancreatic cancer research program and we're ready to build on that momentum," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of PanCAN. "Even if we can't be together on Capitol Hill this year, our voices can still be heard." For more than 20 years, PanCAN has been at the forefront of advocating for research and propelling the national conversation about pancreatic cancer. In 2014, the first year after the groundbreaking passage of the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, NCI funding for pancreatic cancer increased by $20 million to $122 million. Between 2014 and 2017 (the most recent year of data), pancreatic cancer research funding increased by more than $76 million. These achievements are due to the hard work of PanCAN advocates. "PanCAN will continue to privately fund leading-edge research across the country, but federal funding is especially critical now, more than ever," Fleshman said. "We commend Congress for continuing to prioritize this vital research because we cannot accelerate progress and improve patient outcomes without it." About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world's toughest cancer. In our urgent mission to save lives, we attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Our effort is amplified by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve outcomes for today's patients and those diagnosed in the future. Media Contact: Julie Vasquez Public Relations Manager Pancreatic Cancer Action Network 310-697-9129 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network WASHINGTON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To help limited English proficiency (LEP) borrowers who are experiencing mortgage-related difficulties due to the coronavirus national emergency, today the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in coordination with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac added new translations to the Mortgage Translations website. Site visitors can now choose English, Spanish, traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, or Tagalog when accessing scripts that servicers use when discussing COVID-19 forbearance with borrowers. The revised Mortgage Assistance Application (MAAp) is also available in the same six languages. "Publishing the scripts servicers use when discussing forbearance in six languages will allow borrowers with limited English proficiency to better understand the mortgage relief options available to them during the pandemic," said FHFA Director Mark Calabria. The Mortgage Translations website, a collaboration where FHFA has joined with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, contains resources designed to assist lenders, servicers, housing counselors, and others in helping LEP borrowers navigate the mortgage process. Resources available on the website include the Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA), a step-by-step guide to apply for or refinance a mortgage, and a glossary of mortgage terminology. These documents are currently available in Spanish, traditional Chinese and, as of April, Vietnamese. For additional information about the assistance and protections provided by the Federal government during the pandemic, please visit CFPB.gov/housing. About Fannie Mae Fannie Mae helps make the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and affordable rental housing possible for millions of Americans. We partner with lenders to create housing opportunities for families across the country. We are driving positive changes in housing finance to make the home buying process easier, while reducing costs and risk. To learn more, visit: fanniemae.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Blog Fannie Mae Newsroom https://www.fanniemae.com/news Photo of Fannie Mae https://www.fanniemae.com/resources/img/about-fm/fm-building.tif Fannie Mae Resource Center 1-800-2FANNIE SOURCE Fannie Mae Related Links http://www.fanniemae.com New Delhi, June 16 : Three Indian Army men, including an officer, were killed on Monday night during a violent face-off with Chinese People's Liberation Army troops at Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh region. An Indian Army Colonel, the Commanding Officer of an infantry battalion, and two soldiers were killed during a clash with Chinese troops at one of the stand-off points in the Galwan Valley. Indian Army in a statement said that during the de-escalation process which is underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place on Monday night with casualties. "The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers," Indian Army said. The force further stated that senior military officials of both the countries are currently meeting at the face-off site to defuse the situation. On Monday, Brigade Commander and company level talks happened in Eastern Ladakh between India and China. The talks are happening near patrolling point 14, near the mouth of Galwan Valley and patrolling point 17 at Hot Spring Area. On June 13, Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane had assured that the entire situation along the borders with China is under control and the process of disengagement has started. General Naravane had said, "I would just like to assure everyone that the entire situation along our borders with China is under control. We're having a series of talks which started with the Corps Commander level talks on June 6 and has been followed up with meetings at local level between Commanders of equivalent ranks. "As a result, a lot of disengagement has taken place and we are hopeful that through the continued dialogue that we're having, all perceived differences that we (India and China) have will be set to rest. Everything is under control," he had said. The Army chief further stated that both sides (India and China) are disengaging in a phased manner. "We have started from the north, the area of the Galwan River, where a lot of disengagement has happened. It has been fruitful dialogue we had and it will continue and by and by the situation will improve as we go on," he had said. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Michael Gove today warned the EU that a trade agreement needs to be completed by the autumn as he insisted there was still time to 'bring home a deal'. The Cabinet Office Minister faced MPs the day after Boris Johnson held a virtual meeting with senior Brussels figures designed to add 'oomph' to stalled talks. He said Brexit trade talks will be intensified from June 29, adding that meetings will take place every week in July with a 'keen focus on finding an early understanding' on the 'principles which will underpin a broad agreement'. In a statement to the Commons, Mr Gove said: 'We're looking to get things done in July. 'We do not want to see this process going on into the autumn and then the winter. We all need certainty and that is what we're aiming to provide.' It came after the EU last night warned it will not accept a 'pig in a poke' deal. In a statement to the Commons, Mr Gove said: 'We're looking to get things done in July. We do not want to see this process going on into the autumn and then the winter' Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen held a crunch summit last night with the Brexit trade talks on the brink of collapse EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen (left) and council president Charles Michel (right) were on the conference call The Tory frontbencher said the UK is 'ready to be flexible' in how it secures a comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU, and also dismissed an extension of the transition period beyond December. He said there is 'no intrinsic reason' why a deal cannot be concluded in good time, saying: 'The UK's political will is there, our position is reasonable, based on precedent, and we still have the time to bring a deal home. 'That is why the Prime Minister has led the drive to accelerate these talks, to reach agreement and to ensure next January we leave the regulatory reach of the EU and embrace the new opportunities our independence will bring.' But his shadow, Labour's Rachel Reeves, said: 'He (Michael Gove) knows full well what a calamity leaving only on WTO terms would be for our country.' She added: 'The minister today has referred back to his manifesto pledges to end the transition period at the end of this year, so may I remind him of some other pledges in that manifesto. 'First no tariffs, fees, charges or quantitative restrictions across all sectors. Will the Government give UK industries and workforces peace of mind and prevent their business models rupturing in the coming months?' She added: 'How will the Government help exporters who will face these rules from day one?' 'Their manifesto told voters that the Brexit deal would safeguard workers' rights, consumer and environmental protections. Does the minister agree with me that it is essential that the UK defends these standards in all trade negotiations with other countries. People want the UK win a race to the top, not be forced into a race to the bottom overseen by an oversees president.' His shadow, Labour's Rachel Reeves, said: 'He knows full well what a calamity leaving only on WTO terms would be for our country' The Prime Minister and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen last night vowed to inject 'momentum' into agreeing future trade terms. After the virtual summit, the leaders confirmed that the transition period will end in December, and declared that talks will be 'intensified' in July in a desperate bid to break the deadlock. Mr Johnson said he believes there was a 'very good' chance of a settlement 'provided we really focus now and get on and do it'. But he added that the process cannot be allowed to drag on into the autumn 'as perhaps in Brussels they would like'. 'We cannot leave the EU and stay somehow controlled by EU law,' he said. As temperatures threatened to boil over, European Council president Charles Michel warned that Brussels will not accept a 'pig in a poke', saying it is 'essential' that the UK bows to EU standards on food and the environment. Mr Michel said a 'broad and ambitious' agreement was in both sides' interests but the level playing field was 'essential'. The EU was 'ready to put a tiger in the tank but not to buy a pig in a poke'. BlackRock Chair and CEO Laurence D. Fink attends a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, on Jan. 23, 2020. ( FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) BlackRock Comes Under Fire for Hypocrisy, Double Standards in China Deals WASHINGTONBlackRock has come under criticism from U.S. senators who see a double standard in the way the worlds largest asset manager invests in Chinese versus American companies, and assert the firm is appeasing the Chinese Communist Party. Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) sent a letter to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink on June 15, asking him to explain the asset management firms investment strategy, which the senators say favors Chinese companies. BlackRocks investments in emerging markets, such as China, contrasts significantly with your statements and actions related to your U.S. investment strategy, the letter said. The senators criticized BlackRock for hostility toward domestic energy producers, accusing it of punishing U.S. companies for not adhering to its strict climate change disclosures. The letter also noted that activist shareholders influenced the companys 2020 climate commitments. Meanwhile, BlackRock manages iShares Emerging Markets exchange-traded fund (ETF), which holds assets including China-based companies, for which audit work cant be reviewed by U.S. regulators. It is in the public interest to investigate why BlackRock is not fulfilling its fiduciary responsibility and shining a light of transparency on these poorly-governed, secretive Chinese companies, the senators wrote. Instead, you have chosen to be punitive toward American companies to placate a small group of activist investors with a biased political agenda. Chinese companies that list on the U.S. stock exchanges are subject to lower disclosure requirements than their U.S. counterparts, causing U.S. investors to face risks and losses. There were 172 Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges that were in total valued at more than $1 trillion as of September last year, according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission annual report. The Chinese regime has blocked the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board from inspecting audit work papers in China and has refused to allow its companies to follow U.S. securities law. On May 21, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, to force Chinese firms to play by the same rules as American companies. U.S. investors have no idea their dollars are being used to potentially finance fraud, cyber and other attacks against American interests, or businesses which are extensions of the Chinese Communist Party, the letter said. Given the apparent financial advantages for BlackRock to appease the Chinese Communist Party and fringe environmental activist investors, it is important to examine your firms hypocritical approach to investment stewardship. Fink had said early this year that the money manager would put sustainability at the center of its investment strategy. He said the company would move more aggressively to vote against corporate managers who arent making progress on fighting climate change. Large institutional investors such as BlackRock have been committed to cutting fossil-fuel stocks because of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues and to avoid criticism from activists. This is an elephant in the room that nobody wants to discuss, according to a senior executive at an investment management firm in New York, who wished to remain anonymous. Its not just BlackRock. Asset managers like to market their ESG advocacy here in the United States, yet completely turn a blind eye when it comes to China, Hong Kong, and Chinese companies. Its complete hypocrisy, he told The Epoch Times. For example, Chinese commercial lenders have mandated their Hong Kong-based staffers to sign petitions to personally support Beijings new security legislation in Hong Kong. What does that say about such companys governance and social stance? BlackRock held $6.5 trillion in assets, as of the end of March 2020. The companys primary business is index fund management. In response to the senators letter, BlackRocks spokesperson said the fund management firm acts in the best interest of the millions of Americans it serves. Of the $3 trillion of equity assets BlackRock manages for its clients, more than 90 percent are in index funds. These funds seek to match the investment performance of benchmarks that are designed by third-party index providers like, for example, the S&P 500, the spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email. BlackRock does not select or choose the stocks the third-party index providers include in the benchmarks they create. Similarly, BlackRock has no influence over which companies are listed on U.S. exchanges. Finks name had been floated as Treasury secretary in 2012 to replace outgoing Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. He could be a contender again for that post in a possible Joe Biden administration, according to a Bloomberg article. The company has been selected by the Federal Reserve to be the sole buyer of corporate bonds and corporate bond ETFs for the central banks $750 billion corporate bond-buying program, as part of the federal governments coronavirus relief efforts. BlackRock will play an administrative role in the bond-buying program. Ukraine, Austria sign amendments to double taxation convention 12:50, 16.06.20 948 The two countries signed the relevant convention back in 2016. Jaipur, June 16 : Rajasthan Additional Chief Secretary, Medical Health & Family Welfare Rohit Kumar Singh on Tuesday expressed satisfaction at flattening of the COVID-19 curve in the state. "It's a matter of satisfaction that active cases in the state are below 3,000 for the last 10 days, indicating a flattening of the curve. However, we are extremely cautious as the situation evolves," said Singh. He said efforts are continuing to ramp up facilities in the state on a war-footing. So far, the total cumulative positive cases in Rajasthan are over 13,096 till Tuesday morning, out of which, nearly 9,794 have recovered. The number of people discharged has reached 9,567. "Rajasthan is ready with enough backup to treat patients with nearly 407 COVID hospitals & care centres," he said. Following the number of active cases in Rajasthan, the state government has kept enough capacity of beds to treat thousands of patients at a stretch, if the need arises. The total number of beds in 407 hospitals and centres is 43,704 out of which, 8,090 beds have attached oxygen facilities, 1672 are ICU beds and 882 are with ventilators, Singh added. "In Rajasthan, the focus has been to save lives. Aggressive testing leading to early detection of cases coupled with quality healthcare is the hallmark of our Covid management strategy. We closely monitor the availability of health infrastructure in each district vis-a-vis the active cases therein. Projections are estimated based on rigorous and intelligent algorithms to plan for any future eventuality," said Singh. Along with enough bedding capacity, the Rajasthan Government has also kept the supply of PPE kits -- 45,482, 100755 N-95 masks and sanitizers with no district reporting shortage of equipment. "All the districts in the state are being regularly monitored and if required, the stock is sent on time keeping the supply, in an unusual scenario, intact". The Rajasthan government has done over six lakh tests till Tuesday and the doubling rate of the cases has reached 26.57 days, which was earlier 19 a few days back. With recovery rate topping 75.26%, the #RajasthanSatarkHai campaign has shown positive results. The officials with 26,031 teams are conducting active surveillance and reaching out to individuals door-to-door for screening. Across the state, the medical staff has so far screened nearly 33,41,647 people. More than 82,915 high-risk people have been contacted and made aware of dos and don'ts. As part of passive surveillance, the officials have screened nearly 1,25,768 people in OPDs, Singh said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Amid growing pressure to remove the statue to 19th century slavery advocate John C. Calhoun from Marion Square, Charleston officials said they would "make an announcement on the future of the statue" on Wednesday. Mayor John Tecklenburg, City Council and the city's legal team have been working on the issue "for some time," a statement released Tuesday afternoon from Tecklenburg said. It wasn't clear Tuesday night what that future would be, but earlier that day, leaders of civil rights groups and a few state lawmakers demanded the monument's immediate removal. The National Action Network and the NAACP said the Calhoun monument is a symbol of hate and shouldn't receive a position of honor. "We don't want any more thoughts, we don't want your prayers. We want action," said the Rev. Nelson Rivers III, with NAN. "Either you support a monument to hate or you do not." He said Tecklenburg had called him that morning to say the city would announce Wednesday the memorial's fate. John C. Calhoun of South Carolina was vice president under Presidents John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. He advocated for slavery as a positive good and died in 1850, years before the Civil War. An online petition calling for the monument to be removed has more than 18,000 signatures. Other groups are also calling for the monument to be removed. Charleston Wine + Food's organizers said they will not use Marion Square to host events until the statue no longer stands in the park. Council members reached by The Post and Courier on Tuesday wouldn't discuss specifics of the city's announcement, but said there have been many conversations leading up to it. "I'm one of the advocates of relocating it," Councilman Keith Waring said. He said he "can't imagine" who would vote against a resolution to remove the monument. Right has a way of prevailing, in the end," Waring said. "I think we are in an environment that has elevated this conversation, and the debate about the Heritage Act." "You count me in the Keith Waring camp on this," council member Ross Appel said. "As far as Im concerned, the time has come for the John C. Calhoun statue to come down and be moved to an appropriate location. "We cannot change our nations history, but we can and must learn from it," he said. The states Heritage Act is an obstacle to efforts by local governments to remove such monuments. The law was part of a compromise that removed the Confederate battle flag from the Statehouse dome in 2000. It forbids removing or changing any war monument or memorial from public property. The law also prohibits renaming or rededicating public property, including bridges, streets, parks or structures, honoring a historic figure or event. Changing anything covered by the law requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. In the 20 years since it was passed, legislators have only taken up a Heritage Act issue twice, most notably when they removed the battle flag from Statehouse grounds in 2015, following the nine murders at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church. At Tuesday's news conference, Rivers and others called the Heritage Act an unjust law. He encouraged the city to take down the monument in defiance of the law if necessary. State Sen. Marlon Kimpson, D-Charleston, said he and a few other legislators are working on a bipartisan coalition to draft a bill to repeal the Heritage Act. He also argued the law is unconstitutional since its provisions can only be amended or repealed after a bill passes with a two-thirds vote on the third reading in each branch of the General Assembly. Reps. David Mack III, D-Charleston, and Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston, echoed Kimpson's words, saying it was time to force the Legislature to do the right thing. "There's a difference between remembering and reverence," Gilliard said. "(This monument) does not belong 110 feet in the sky." The leaders at the news conference said the momentum is now there to repeal that act and remove the Calhoun monument and other such symbols. Clemson University officials have asked lawmakers to allow them to rename Tillman Hall, which is named for S.C. Gov. Ben Tillman, a white supremacist who helped found the school. The University of South Carolina is expected to also ask for permission to rename a dorm named for J. Marion Sims, who experimented on enslaved women. Previously, the city of Charleston has avoided making any changes to the Calhoun monument. In 2017, council members debated adding a plaque to contextualize Calhoun's contributions. The plaques language underwent several revisions. Initially, the proposed language would have begun, This statue to John C. Calhoun (1782 - 1850) is a relic of the crime against humanity, the folly of some political leaders and the plague of racism. It remains standing today as a grave reminder that many South Carolinians once viewed Calhoun as worthy of memorialization even though his political career was defined by his support of race-based slavery. Historic preservation, to which Charleston is dedicated, includes this monument as a lesson to future generations. After revisions, the final language put forward began by describing Calhouns role in state and federal government, while his commitment to slavery was mentioned in the last three paragraphs. The plaque was never added to the monument, as City Council voted to defer the issue. Mikaela Porter and David Slade contributed to this report. Sydney and Melbourne house prices recorded double-digit growth in the 12 months before coronavirus restrictions hit but recent job losses and travel bans have left thousands of homes empty in capital city CBDs. Property prices in Sydney rose 1.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2020, with houses up 2.6 per cent and apartments 0.8 per cent, Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows. Melbourne home values increased 2.1 per cent, with houses rising 2.3 per cent and apartments 1.5 per cent. Across the country, real estate prices were up 1.6 per cent. Property prices held up over the three months to March, but vacancies have been sliding drastically in the quarter since. Credit:Peter Rae In the 12 months to March 31, property prices increased in all capital cities except Perth and Darwin, with a national rise of 7.4 per cent. Sydney and Melbourne house prices increased more than 10 per cent over the year. ABS chief economist Bruce Hockman said the results were in line with expectations. Photograph: AP An air force sergeant already jailed over the ambush killing of a California sheriffs deputy was charged in connection with the shooting death of a federal security officer outside the US courthouse in Oakland during a night violent protest last month. Officials say the man has ties to the anti-government boogaloo movement. SSgt Steven Carrillo, 32, was charged on Tuesday with murder and attempted murder in the killing of 53-year-old federal officer Dave Patrick Underwood. Carrillo separately faces state charges in the 6 June ambush and fatal shooting of Santa Cruz county sheriffs Sgt Damon Gutzwiller and the wounding of four other officers in Ben Lomond, an unincorporated area outside the beachfront city of Santa Cruz, south of San Francisco. Related: Deadly shooting outside Oakland courthouse as protests rage Carrillo, a leader of an elite military security force, had multiple links to the far-right, anti-government boogaloo movement, federal prosecutors said at a news conference on Tuesday. Law enforcement officials said they identified multiple pieces of evidence that linked Carrillo to the developing anti-government extremist movement associated with the term boogaloo, an ironic word for a violent uprising or impending civil war in the United States. Law enforcement officials discovered a ballistic vest with a boogaloo flag on it in a van they said Carrillo had used, and also alleged that Carrillo had written phrases associated with the movement in his own blood on the hood of a car he hijacked, according the criminal complaint against Carrillo. The phases in blood included boog, short for boogaloo, and I became unreasonable, a phrase associated with Marvin Heemeyer, an anti-government extremist from Colorado who is frequently cited in boogaloo social media groups, NBC News reported. Underwood died from gunshot wounds in a drive-by shooting outside the Ronald V Dellums Federal Building in Oakland on 29 May. Another federal officer was critically injured. The two contract security officers worked for homeland securitys Federal Protective Service and had been monitoring a nearby protest over the death of George Floyd. Story continues Authorities say Carrillo used an AR-15-style weapon in the shooting. A second man described as the driver of the car was charged with aiding and abetting the murder and attempted murder. Although the concept of the boogaloo is popular with white supremacist accelerationists, it has also attracted a broader spectrum of American anti-government extremists. The imagery in the boogaloo flag patch an Igloo and a line of Hawaiian print reference alternative terms for boogaloo that have spread in social media discussions, including big igloo and big luau. Actual photograph of the Boogaloo patch found on a ballistic vest in the van Steven Carrillo used, according to the criminal complaint filed against him: https://t.co/Cc9hA1ZZPR pic.twitter.com/FzT7CJWV4o Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) June 16, 2020 Boogaloo rhetoric often identifies law enforcement officials, especially federal officials, as the enemy. Men carrying guns and wearing Hawaiian-print shirts, a symbol of the boogaloo, have showed up at protests over the killing of George Floyd by police across the country, including in Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Atlanta, and Philadelphia, the Washington Post reported. The term boogaloo has also spread among a wide spectrum of pro-gun activists, including in the lead-up to a massive protest this January against new gun control laws in Virginia. The boogaloo movement is not a defined group, an FBI agent noted in the affidavit supporting the criminal complaint against Carrillo. In general, followers of the boogaloo ideology may identify as militia and share a narrative of inciting a violent uprising against perceived government tyranny. Facebook has been the main organizational point for boogaloo groups, according to Alex Friedfeld, a researcher with the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism, which has been monitoring the spread of boogaloo rhetoric online. Facebook announced on 4 June it would be taking some steps to make it more difficult for users to find groups associated with the term boogaloo, Reuters reported, but the social network is again facing criticism for not doing enough to crack down on far-right organizing on its platform, even as the death toll associated with the movement continues to climb. Carrillo is being held without bail in jail in Monterey county and is expected to enter a plea to the state charges on Wednesday. Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (29) The murder of George Floyd has highlight, yet again, the racial injustices that take place in the United States and the hypocrisy they preach to other nations writes Al-Baath. (Comment from The Syrian Observer): The official and semi-official media in Syria has been highly critical of the United States for its racial and discriminating policies after the death of George Floyd. Below is one of many articles that have been published recently. In crises, the leaves always fall from the berries and things are shown as they truly are, with no falsehoods. A new history appears, forming a mirror that reflects the truth of a society. For decades, the world has seen the United States as a democratic state espousing human rights and freedoms. But now its true face has begun to appear, reminding the world of the history of the US, which was founded on the corpses of the lands original inhabitants, its economy built at the expense of vulnerable people. The entire world used to receive advice and guidance from the US on democracy and human rights, as it was the leading country regarding those two values. Indeed, many Americans like to describe their country as a cradle of freedoms and human rights. It is a description of America that bears no truth. It is not possible to withdraw from this in general, and the evidence that speaks to the realities of recent American history, which Americans know better than anyone else. The history of this nation was built on human tragedies that saw it conquer Native American lands by force and then defeat them instead of thanking them or even peacefully coexisting. The Americans then turned to Africa in search of people to enslave, to work the landa period of history that hardly anyone in the world hasnt heard about, and they know that what happened was an injustice. Those who follow US history would certainly not be surprised by the current American orgy, and by the methods of piracy being used against the people in the name of fighting terrorism. According to Elizabeth Martinier, the US as a state was built on three main truths, all of which confirm that white supremacy as a racist idea is the foundation of the US. The first truth: that the US is a state that exists due to military occupations that occurred over numerous stages. The second truth: that the US would not have developed economically without the enslavement of African labor. When agriculture and industry began to flourish in the colonial era, the need arose for a large number of workers. The solution was to bring in large numbers of African workers as slaves to support the workforce necessary to bring about economic growth. The third truth: that the US seized half of Mexico by force, which allowed the former to expand to the Pacific Ocean and open up trade with Asia, as well as open the markets for exporting and importing goods to sell domestically. According to official statistics, there are more than 27 million slaves in the world right now, and 50,000 women and children moving to the US for forced labor. Thousands of men also suffer slavery. Yet it is rare for us to hear or read about this issue in American media. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. From WLKY Louisville On March 13, 2020, at about 1 a.m., in Louisville, Kentucky, five police officers, at least three who were in plain clothes, without body cameras, executed a no-knock raid, with a warrant naming Breonna Taylor. The warrant had the right address and person. The officers were not wearing body cameras, because they were narcotics officers, and were exempt by policy. From usa.today: No body-camera footage is available because officers in the Criminal Interdiction Division who conducted the search warrant do not wear cameras, police chief Steve Conrad previously said. The police started breaking down the door. They claim they announced themselves. Breonna's boyfriend Kenneth Walker had a concealed carry permit and was armed. Walker says he heard the banging on the door. It is not the same thing as hearing police announce themselves. Neighbors say they did not hear the police announce themselves. Kenneth Walker fired at the intruders breaking down the door at 1 a.m. He wounded one officer. The three narcotics officers, in plain clothes, fired back, about 22 rounds, missing Kenneth Walker, but hitting Breonna eight times, killing her. The two other officers who were there did not fire. Kenneth Walker immediately called 911, believing a home invasion was occurring. ..... As many as 155 companies with origins in India are responsible for generating over USD 22 billion in investments and nearly 1.25 lakh jobs across the US, according to a report by CII. The report, 'Indian Roots, American Soil 2020,' is a state-by-state breakdown of tangible investments made and jobs created by 155 surveyed Indian companies engaged in business in all 50 states, as well as Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. The top five states in which Indian firms have generated maximum employment are: Texas (17,578 jobs), California (8,271 jobs), New Jersey (8,057 jobs), New York (6,175 jobs) and Florida (5,454 jobs), the report said. The top five states in which the surveyed Indian companies contributed the highest foreign direct investment are: Texas (USD 9.5 billion), New Jersey (USD 2.4 billion), New York (USD 1.8 billion), Florida (USD 915 million), and Massachusetts (USD 873 million). The states with the top concentrations of Indian companies were New Jersey, Texas, California, New York, Illinois and Georgia. The surveyed companies also provided data regarding their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and research and development expenditures, which stood at USD 175 million and USD 900 million, respectively. Moreover, 77 per cent of the companies plan to make more investments in the US, and 83 per cent plan to hire more employees locally in the next five years. The CII survey respondents represent diverse sectors including pharmaceuticals and life sciences, telecommunications, aerospace and defence, financial services, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, design and engineering, automotive, food and agriculture, energy and mining and materials. Taranjit Sandhu, Ambassador of India to the US said the sixth edition of CII report highlights the significant investments made by Indian industry in the US, including in the area of research and development. "This report tells the continuing story of successful and innovative Indian companies attracted to the US as one of the best places to do business, and the US locations eager to welcome those companies," Diane Farrell, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for International Administration, US Department of Commerce. "The results in the survey capture a snapshot in time, documenting tangible investments and direct jobs only, so I believe that the actual economic impact of Indian FDI in the US is much larger. "It is critical that the US Government continues to provide a supportive policy environment for Indian companies to flourish and enhance their operations in the US, especially to aid economic recovery at this time," CII Director-General Chandrajit Banerjee said. Israeli flag Open source Israel's new foreign minister, Gabi Ashkenazi, has assured that his country's parliament will ratify the FTA (free-trade agreement - 112 International.) with Ukraine in the coming weeks. He stated this during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the press service of Ukraines MFA reports. "The new Knesset of Israel intends to ratify the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Israel in the coming weeks," Ashkenazi promised in response to a request from Kuleba. The ministers agreed to maintain friendly personal relations, develop trade between the two countries, maintain a high level of political dialogue, and continue mutual support in international organizations. Kuleba invited his Israeli counterpart, who has never been to Ukraine before, to visit it as soon as circumstances allow. Ashkenazi accepted the invitation. As we reported earlier, the FTZ agreement was signed in January 2019 as part of the visit of President Petro Poroshenko to Israel. In July 2019, the Verkhovna Rada ratified a free trade agreement. In August, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law ratifying a free trade agreement between Ukraine and Israel. Another Australian university has announced it will accept year 12 students impacted by the coronavirus lockdown even if they don't obtain an ATAR score. Swinburne University will offer an ATAR-free pathway to its most popular courses for all students that finish high school in 2020. Students will be able to enrol in bachelor degrees such as business, science, design, arts, engineering and media, with just a recommendation letter from their high school confirming they meet the minimum English requirements. Swinburne University (pictured) will offer an ATAR-free pathway to its most popular courses for all students that finish high school in 2020 In normal circumstances there are a limited number of places for each university course and students' ATAR scores determine whether they will secure an offer of enrolment in their chosen field of study. The Melbourne-based institution joins the Australian National University, University of Western Australia, Macquarie University, University of Tasmania, and the University of Adelaide, in scrapping secondary school results as a qualification marker. Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Chris Pilgrim said although the transition from high school to university is always challenging, year 12 students have 'faced a year like no other' and deserve a shot at university even without an ATAR. 'We know that students in 2020 continue to rise to the occasion and achieve exceptional results, and that completion of VCE remains of utmost importance, Professor Pilgrim said. 'But we also understand it has been a unique year of study for many and we want to support students to continue their studies into 2021.' Universities across Australia are experiencing a massive decline in profitability as the number of international students plummets due to COVID-19 border closures. Foreign students make up about one third of Swinburne's total revenue and their absence this year means the university expects to see a deficit of $51million. In 2021 and 2022, they've flagged losses totalling $101million. Year 12 students can enrol in bachelor degrees at Swinburne University (pictured) with just a recommendation letter from their high school confirming they meet the minimum English requirements Overall, the Australian university sector is bracing for a $16billion retraction over the next four years. 'We guaranteed them over $18 billion worth of funding as part of our COVID-19 package, and we'll continue to talk with the sector about increases in demand and how we best can meet those,' education minister Dan Tehan told ABC Radio National. 'We'll continue to work with the sector to make sure that this demand can be met ... Understanding, of course, that there are, huge, huge demands on the Budget at the moment, and we've got to make sure that everything we do is done in a very sustainable way.' Pilot programs to allow some international students into the country early is one option the federal government is currently looking at to ease the financial burden. The Australian university sector is bracing for a $16billion retraction over the next four years South Australia and the ACT have already been identified as the first locations to take part in the trial. 'We're still going through the planning on that. Everything has to be done according to the health guidelines, according to the medical expert panel. And, they're looking at that, and fine tuning those guidelines,' Mr Tehan said. 'There would be, at a minimum, two weeks' quarantine involved here in Australia.' The cost of quarantining students is expected to picked by participating universities. If the program is successful, the scheme is expected to be rolled out across the rest of Australia. 'We have to remember, that the international education sector provides 250,000 jobs to this nation, and we want those jobs back as we grow our economy, as we come out of the coronavirus pandemic,' Mr Tehan said. Swinburne will begin offering university places for 2021 as early as August. [June 16, 2020] Andreas Dombret Joins Houlihan Lokey as an International Senior Advisor Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, announced today that Dr. Andreas Dombret has joined the firm as an International Senior Advisor, effective June 1. In this role, he will provide strategic counsel to Houlihan Lokey's leadership team to help further develop the firm's business both in Europe and internationally. Between 2010 and 2018, Andreas Dombret served as a member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank, the German central bank; from 2014 to 2018 he was a member of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank (ECB); and from 2012 to 2018, he was a Board Director at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). "Due to his outstanding reputation within the financial services industry, Andreas brings a wealth of expertise and an abundance of deep relationships in both the private and public sectors," said Scott Adelson, Co-President of Houlihan Lokey. "His background and experience perfectly complement the culture within our firm and will not only be invaluable to our senior colleagues, but also to clients across our global network." Andreas Dombret added, "In choosing my advisory mandates, I put the highest priority on reputation of the firms I advise. Reputation is based on capabilities and character. At Houlihan Lokey, I have met a team and a corporate culture which has impressed me. I am familiar with the business model of an independent M&A boutique, and I am a fan of it." Over the past five years, the firm has grown its Euroean Corporate Finance business through a series of acquisitions: McQueen Ltd. and Leonardo & Co. in 2015; BearTooth Advisors and Quayle Munro in 2018; and Fidentiis Capital in 2019. Houlihan Lokey now has more than 260 bankers in Europe, up from 80 in 2014. Matteo Manfredi, Head of Corporate Finance, Continental Europe, commented, "We are delighted to welcome Andreas to the firm. His appointment underscores our commitment to continue the development of our European business, and we look forward to benefitting from his insight and extensive knowledge of the banking sector." During his time with the Deutsche Bundesbank, Andreas Dombret was responsible for Bank Supervision; Financial Stability; Markets; Statistics; Risk Controlling; Economic Education; the Bundesbank's University; and the Bundesbank's representatives abroad. He was also a member of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) and the German Financial Stability Committee, as well as the Bundesbank deputy to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prior to joining the Bundesbank in 2010, he was Vice Chairman of European Investment Banking at Bank of America. From 2002 to 2005, he served as a Partner at Rothschild & Co. in Frankfurt and London. He joined Rothschild after 10 years with J.P. Morgan, where he was a Managing Director covering the financial institutions sector in Germany and Austria. He began his career at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt in 1987. Since leaving the Bundesbank in 2018, Andreas Dombret has taken on a number of international advisory positions, is a lecturer at Columbia University in New York and the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel in Germany, and is a member of the Supervisory Board at ESMT Berlin business school. 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 five consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past six 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 (formerly Thomson Reuters (News - Alert)). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005374/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (Newser) More fallout has followed the release of a video, viewed more than 17 million times on Twitter, in which a white couple confronts a Filipino man who was writing "Black Lives Matter" in chalk on his San Francisco property. On Monday came news that cosmetics distributor Birchbox had cut ties with Lisa Alexander, the founder and CEO of LaFace Skincare, who told Pacific Heights resident James Juanillo that she knew the true homeowner and would call the cops. Juanillo says cops responded, recognized him as a resident of two decades, and left. Now, SFGate reports Alexander's husband, Robert Larkinsseen in the video accusing Juanillo of "defacing private property"has been fired from his job as managing director at the San Francisco financial firm Raymond James. story continues below "The actions of he and his partner were inconsistent with our values," the firm said Monday, adding it "has zero tolerance for racism or discrimination" and "expect[s] our associates to conduct themselves appropriately inside and outside of the workplace." A bio on the website of the California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors describes Larkins as "Western Region Manager of Public Finance for Raymond James" who leads the "national tobacco securitization effort and co-leads the firm's national Pension/OPEB funding team." Like his wife, Larkins had apologized, per WABC. "I was wrong to question Mr. Juanillo, and I was wrong to call the neighborhood police watch," he said, referencing his "own ignorance of racial inequity" and "personal blind spots." (Read more Black Lives Matter stories.) Using a public restroom wasnt great before the coronavirus pandemic. And it may be a lot worse now. The latest research on COVID-19 and bathrooms published Tuesday by the American Institute of Physics, shows that flushing a toilet can disperse the novel coronavirus 3 feet above the commode and suspend it in the air for more than a minute. Thats bad news for anyone rushing to the john after someone infected with the virus, and it could mean a higher rate of transmission as cities and counties lift shelter-in-place orders, and more and more people have to go on the go. This is a big problem, said the co-author of the new study, Ji-Xiang Wang at Yangzhou University in China, in an interview. He and the other two authors, also based in China, wrote: The daily flow of people in a public washroom is stunningly large, thus a confirmed case may cause a massive number of infections. Previous research on the coronavirus has confirmed that the virus is present in the feces of COVID-19 patients. In fact, scientists have begun to track the spread of the virus by keeping tabs on municipal sewage systems, including researchers at Stanford University who are monitoring several wastewater treatment plants in California. While the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not documented any cases of fecal-oral transmission, many researchers say its plausible that the virus spreads from fecal particles entering a persons mouth like the virus spreads from a cough or a sneeze. The viruses that cause SARS, MERS and many other illnesses also can be transmitted this way. The researchers behind Tuesdays study used computer models to simulate how the new coronavirus moves in a toilet with infected fecal matter. Employing fluid dynamic formulas known as the Navier-Stokes equations, they found that flushing can create a cloud of virus-containing aerosol droplets that rises 3 feet above the toilet seat and sticks around for at least a minute. The droplets can contaminate nearby surfaces, including the toilet handle and toilet paper dispenser, and even be inhaled by other people in the restroom, according to the paper. Flushing a toilet can cause a violent turbulence which will aid large-scale spread of viruses, the authors wrote. Wang added that the potential for infection is not limited to toilets in public restrooms but those in homes, too. Families also have a problem, he said. Family members would be cross-infected when using the same toilet. The paper was published in the journal Physics of Fluids, which is edited by the American Institute of Physics. The group of researchers recommended a number of changes to the design and use of toilets to prevent further spread of the virus. Most importantly, they said, people should shut the toilet lid before flushing. Unfortunately, most public restrooms in the United States do not have lids because of Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, according to the American Restroom Association. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The evolution of societal needs is going much faster than the regulation, said Tim Pyle, executive director of the American Restroom Association. Both Pyle and the authors of the new study said regular cleaning of bathrooms and vigilance by users is essential during the pandemic. In addition to flushing toilets, the coronavirus may be present in other areas of a lavatory, including door handles, sinks and paper towel dispensers, and it could also be transmitted directly from others in the room. We cant stop doing the things we want to do, which include going places and using public restrooms, Pyle said. We just urge people to be mindful. Most businesses and municipalities, including the city of San Francisco, have stepped up sanitation practices in bathrooms during the pandemic. But whether the precautions can keep up with the virus, especially as the lockdown ends and life gets back to normal, remains to be seen. Weve asked facilities and workplaces to increase the frequency of cleaning high-touch surfaces, including bathrooms, said the citys Department of Public Health in an email to The Chronicle. Individual users should also wash hands thoroughly after using a public restroom. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander Disgraced president of the Royal Institute of British Architects has returned to his role after admitting he had an affair with a woman he mentored. Married father-of-two Alan Jones, 55, - who has been described as 'deeply religious' - had a relationship with architectural assistant Sanoara Begom, 40. Details of their affair were revealed in April and the Queen's University Belfast professor announced he would be temporarily vacating his position at RIBA. But he was back in the role on Monday after he apologised to members of the 180-year-old institute and told them his behaviour 'was not of the standard you have a right to expect of me'. Disgraced president of the Royal Institute of British Architects Alan Jones, 55, (pictured with his wife Laura, 54) has returned to his role after admitting he had an affair with a woman he mentored The pair were introduced by former RIBA president Ben Derbyshire after Miss Begom wrote to him in March 2018 to complain about alleged racist and Islamophobic remarks from colleagues at her Birmingham employer. She left the firm after taking legal action over a pay row but Riba declined to help because the practice was not a member. Miss Begom also wrote a report about inequality in the profession which was 64-pages long, The Guardian reports. Married father-of-two Jones, 55, - who has been described as 'deeply religious' - had a relationship with architectural assistant Sanoara Begom, 40 (pictured) In his letter, Mr Jones, who lives in a house he designed in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, with his dentist wife Laura, 54, wrote: 'You will have seen media articles about recent events and that I was stepping back from my post for a period. 'I am writing to explain what happened and to apologise for my conduct which led to this, which was not of the standard you have a right to expect of me. 'Some time ago I came into contact with a person who had become frustrated in her attempts to enter our profession. Details of their affair were revealed in April and the Queen's University Belfast professor (pictured) announced he would be temporarily vacating his position at RIBA 'My intention was to help and support her, however gradually we became friends and later the relationship became close for some months. In March, matters between us came to a head. I disclosed the matter to my wife and to the RIBA which led to a report being made to the Charity Commission. 'In December 2019 when I had been asked about this by members of the RIBA staff, I did not give a full and frank account of events. 'This I plainly should have done. I have now apologised to those concerned for this serious failing and have undertaken to the RIBA Board that nothing like this will happen again. 'I am sorry for the distraction my conduct has caused to the RIBA at a time when our focus should be on supporting our members. I offer you all my sincere and unqualified apology.' The institute investigated the affair and submitted a serious incident report to the Charity Commission, which regulates it, over potential reputational damage. The institute (pictured) investigated the affair and submitted a serious incident report to the Charity Commission, which regulates it, over potential reputational damage A spokeswoman said: 'In March 2020, RIBA President Alan Jones disclosed matters to the RIBA Board of Trustees concerning his private life and a relationship with an individual known to but not a member of RIBA. 'The RIBA Board instructed the law firm Browne Jacobson LLP to conduct an independent investigation which has now been concluded. 'As a result, and in line with RIBAs Code of Conduct for Council members, the matter has been resolved fairly and proportionately and Alan Jones has apologised. Alan Jones will resume RIBA Presidential duties from Monday 15 June 2020.' Animals Australia's attempt to stop the live export of tens of thousands of sheep from Western Australia to the Middle East during the summer heat on board the Al Kuwait has failed. The animal advocacy group claimed the Department of Agriculture's exemption was unlawful and took their case to the Federal Court. But WA Premier Mark McGowan said on Tuesday he had been informed the Federal Court had ruled the ship could leave and would depart Fremantle on Wednesday as he had expected. Mr McGowan called for an independent vet to be on board the ship when it left and said the Commonwealths flip-flopping on the live-export decision had been debilitating and inconsistent. Michael White, a freed U.S. Navy veteran detained in Iran since 2018, poses with U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Brian Hook in Zurich DUBAI (Reuters) - An Iranian-American doctor has returned to Iran, Iranian state media reported on Monday, after a swap deal between Tehran and Washington that resulted in the release of a U.S. Navy veteran detained in Iran. In a slight thaw in U.S.-Iranian enmity, the United States allowed Majid Taheri to travel to Iran as part of the swap deal. Michael White, an American who said he contracted the coronavirus while detained in Iran, was freed last week. "The government of Iran has done an extreme effort in order to help people like me who were somehow accused of violating the U.S. sanctions," Taheri told state TV after his arrival at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport, where he was welcomed by deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi-Ansari. He said he had been punished by the United States for sending material to Iran to help a research group that was making vaccines. Taheri, detained in the United States for 16 months for violating U.S. sanctions, was freed on June 4 as Iran released White, who had been sentenced to 13 years in 2019 for insulting Irans supreme leader and posting private information online. Taheri's lawyer said he would visit family in Iran and seek medical treatment before returning to the United States. He had pleaded guilty to violating U.S. sanctions, the lawyer added. "My charges were futile and unfair," Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted Taheri as saying. The prisoner swap deal is a rare bright spot in the relationship between the two foes that has grown more hostile since President Donald Trump took office in 2017. He exited a nuclear agreement Iran had signed with world powers, and reimposed sanctions that had been lifted under the deal. Last December, Washington and Tehran worked on a prisoner exchange in which Iran freed U.S. citizen Xiyue Wang, who had been held for three years on spying charges, and the United States freed Iranian Massoud Soleimani, who faced charges of violating U.S. sanctions on Iran. Story continues Last week, materials science professor Sirous Asgari, 59, who was indicted by U.S. federal prosecutors in April 2016 and acquitted in November 2019, returned to Iran. He tested positive for the coronavirus in April and U.S. authorities had said he would be deported once he received medical clearance. While both Tehran and Washington have expressed readiness for further exchange of prisoners, Iranian authorities have ruled out a wider negotiation with the United States as demanded by Trump administration. The Swiss Foreign Ministry, which confirmed it played a role in what it called "the humanitarian gesture" on White and Taheri, said it "stands ready" to help further. (This story removes extra word "the" in first paragraph) (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Peter Graff) Dr. Shawn Foster says he understands Orangeburg County parents want their children to have a solid educational foundation. "It is about children," Foster said Monday. "It about the young man and young lady who are standing at a bus stop trying to get to school." "It is about a parent wanting the very best for their children," he said. "Even though there are barriers along the way and even though there are things they may not understand." Foster is one of two candidates to become the next superintendent of the Orangeburg County School District. He spoke to the public at three events Monday, including addressing a couple dozen people at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. Foster told those gathered that his life was not easy when he was growing up. He grew up in poverty in a single-parent home. His mother worked and did not drive. She would give Foster a house key tied to a shoe lace and 35 cents so he could take the city bus to the school bus stop. "I remember my mom always saying, 'You be good, you do what is right, you work hard and you make good decisions," Foster said. He is passing those lessons to his own children. "That is why I am who I am today. It is why I lead and why I have been leading the past two decades," he said. "It's who I am." Foster says he has been engaged with Orangeburg County schools long before the superintendent position opened up, as he sat in on town hall meetings before consolidation. "My communication style is simple," he said. "You tell people what you are going to do, give them an update on where you are and then you tell them when it is done. If I don't tell people it is done, then it ain't done." Ensuring students are college-ready is about, turning our school system from being a product-driven school system to a solutions-focused school system." "It is my goal to make sure not only do we have students earn their diploma, but they graduate with the skill that someone is willing to pay them for so they can make a living wage and provide for their family," he said. Foster said apprenticeship opportunities need to start as early as the 10th grade. Foster said he helped write the districts Summer Youth Jumpstart Program. The program helps high school seniors get job experiences to enhance their work skills. If hes selected to be the next superintendent, Foster said hell focus on facility improvement, financial solvency, personnel, technology and instruction for the next five years as part of his strategic plan. He said it will take a team effort involving the entire community and stakeholders. Foster said an early focus on social and emotional skills will help students struggling academically. "We have to teach them behaviors just as well as we teach them application," he said. Foster said adult mentoring is also needed. "We can't suspend children just for the sake of suspending them, but we can't love them into failure either. We can't allow ourselves to feel sorry for a children because of a circumstance, he said. To help close achievement gaps, Foster says he would like for retired teachers to take books to young mothers at the Regional Medical Center. "They get a book, they get information on the school district, they get a list of resources to help them with early literacy," Foster said. For older grades, he said there needs to be a universal identifier or screener that can identify a child's deficiencies on an individual basis. Foster says he will be open and accessible to all district employees. Mellichamp Elementary School assistant principal Dr. Elrica Glover said Foster offered a very genuine presentation." "I do believe he has the children at heart for what he wants to do in our district. I am looking forward to hearing more from him, but I was very impressed with his presentation, she said. Destynei Tiller, professional school counselor, said "I am very impressed with his knowledge and his ability to articulate his thoughts about your school district. It does seem like he would be a person who comes in and has a plan, so I am excited to see that. I appreciate his welcoming attitude. He was very open to anything that we had to ask." Later in the day Foster got to meet with parents, teachers and other community members at Lake Marion High School and Edisto High School. Foster has served as the chief officer for Operations and Student Services for the Aiken County School District since 2015. He previously served as director of Student and Administrative Services for Spartanburg School District 7. He received a bachelors degree in social work from Livingstone (NC) College, a masters degree in counseling from Webster University, a masters degree in divergent learning from Columbia College and a doctorate in administration from South Carolina State University. The community will be able to meet the second finalist for the position, Dr. Valarie Williams, on Tuesday. The Tuesday forums will be held at: 9 a.m. Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School 11 a.m. Lake Marion High School gymnasium 3 p.m. Edisto High School gymnasium Due to COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, seating is limited at the events and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Masks are required. All the forums are live-streamed and posted on the districts website for viewing. The candidates resumes are posted on the OCSD website at www.ocsdsc.org. The board hopes to have a new superintendent by July 1. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Beijing on Tuesday reported 27 more domestically transmitted Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the caseload to 106 in five days, the sharpest rise for the city. The spike in cases has prompted lock down of dozens of communities, sealing of food markets and large-scale nucleic acid testing. The WHO has called Beijings new cluster infection a cause of concern, calling for a thorough and systematic investigation into the new outbreak in the city after not reporting a single case for nearly two months. Overall, China reported 40 new confirmed Covid-19 cases on the mainland on Monday, of which 32 were domestically transmitted and eight were imported. Of the domestically transmitted cases, 27 were reported in Beijing, four in Hebei Province, and one in Sichuan Province, the national health omission (NHC) said in its daily report. In Beijing, a city of more than 21 million residents, most of the new cases confirmed from June 11 have been linked to the now-closed Xinfadi market, a large wholesale market of fruits, vegetables, and meat in Beijings Fengtai district, according to the local health commission. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing into the cases which are seemingly not connected to the market. According to the official news agency, Xinhua, more than 8,000 dealers and workers at the Xinfadi market have received nucleic acid tests and are under medical observation. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage Until Sunday, Beijing carried out nucleic acid tests on nearly 77,000 people in the neighbourhood of the primary site for the new outbreak. About 200,000 people who had visited the market since May 30 were interviewed via door-to-door inquiries, calls, social media platforms and other methods. Nucleic acid tests for these people are underway while they are asked to stay at home for medical observation, the Xinhua report said Strict closed-off management has been implemented in a total of 21 residential compounds in the vicinity of the Xinfadi market as well as the Yuquandong commodities trading market in Haidian District, where new infections were also reported, the report added. The next three days will be a critical time for Beijing to face the epidemic, and the number of cases reported in the city during the next three days will determine the trend of the epidemic. Beijing was hit by the outbreak on June 11 but responded quickly on June 12 and 13, bringing the outbreak under control in time. For infected patients, the onset would be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow; if the number of reports do not increase, so to speak, (the epidemic) will basically remain stable, Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiologist, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention told CCTV on Monday. The WHO, which is yet to send a team to inspect the primary infection cluster site, said Beijings situation is a matter of concern. A cluster like this is a concern and it needs to be investigated and controlledand that is exactly what the Chinese authorities are doing, WHOs emergencies director, Mike Ryan told a press conference in Geneva late on Monday. Ryan added that countries which have implemented an immediate and comprehensive spread of measures have generally been able to contain new clusters. However, Beijing is a large city and a very dynamic and connected city, so there is always a concern, he said, adding: And I think you can see that level of concern in the response of the Chinese authorities, so we are tracking that very closely. Ryan, according to reports from Geneva said the WHO had offered support to the Chinese authorities leading the probe and may reinforce its own team in Beijing in the coming days as the investigation grows. Latest News Westpac makes first fixed rate move of 2022 New year, same rate action as major lenders continue rate hikes Inside the property market explosion in regional Australia Regional broker explains just how crazy the property market has been in one NSW town Customer-owned banks dominated the Australian institutions recognised in the list of Worlds Best Banks published by international media brand Forbes. Heritage Bank topped the rankings in Australia once again, having nabbed the premier spot both this year and last. Now in its second year, the list is compiled with market research firm Statista surveying over 40,000 customers spanning two dozen countries. The banks were rated on overall recommendation and satisfaction, as well as trust, terms and conditions, customer services, digital services and financial advice. Heritage CEO Peter Lock expressed excitement over the news but not surprise. Were authentic in striving to give our customers the best experience we can. As a customer-opened bank, were genuine about putting the interests of our members first, not trying to maximise profits, he explained. At the same time, we offer sophisticated online platforms and everything that people expect from a modern bank. Our authenticity and first-class service is why we keep being recognised as not just a great Australian bank, but one of the worlds best. Notably, the top five Australian banks on the Forbes list were all customer-owned. Having customer-owned banks dominate the rankings is no coincidence, said Locke. Its not surprising that people have a more satisfying dealing with banks that are focussed on delivering for customers, not for shareholders. Bank Australia, Newcastle Permanent, IMB Bank and Greater Bank also made appearances in the Australian rankings. A great example of how organizations can continue to build cultural awareness, even during this period of physical distancing SURREY, BC, June 16, 2020 /CNW/ - FortisBC is finding innovative, online ways for its staff to connect with Indigenous values, cultures and contributions over National Indigenous History Month this June and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples' Day on June 21. "We look forward to celebrating the history and culture of our Indigenous partners in June of each year, and wanted to continue to do so, despite the challenges we face during this period of physical distancing," said Roger Dall'Antonia, president and CEO, FortisBC. "It's an important part of our year-round efforts to deepen knowledge and understanding within our organization, which is essential as we work to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities and pursue opportunities for partnerships." In previous years, FortisBC hosted in-house events such as artists' displays and cultural presentations at its facilities across the province. With limitations on social gatherings still in place, this year FortisBC is hosting a series of virtual, interactive storytelling sessions with Indigenous leaders and community members from all over B.C. Storytelling is fundamental to many Indigenous cultures, and this is an innovative way to share traditional knowledge using modern innovations and overcome the challenge presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will enable staff to learn about the Indigenous culture in their area, as well as experience diverse cultures and perspectives from other regions. "For us, the move to a virtual platform allows more of our staff to access opportunities for learning and in a way that reflects an Indigenous approach to sharing knowledge," said Dall'Antonia. "We're very grateful to the Indigenous community members who are generously sharing their time and entrusting us with these stories and knowledge." Leading one of the sessions is Tracey Kim Bonneau, Manager of Arts, Culture and Adult Higher Learning from the En'owkin Center located on the Penticton Indian Reserve. She'll lead an introspective look at ECOmmunity Place, a recovery project and living classroom in the South Okanagan that provides critical habitat for more than 20 species at risk. "We appreciate FortisBC's commitment to promoting cultural awareness within its organization and look forward to working cooperatively through this virtual dialogue session to create better understandings of our Syilx ecological values and principles," said Bonneau. "Sharing this knowledge increases appreciation for this unique, fragile ecosystem; it's also part of the work we do to engage with the wider community and to restore Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Syilx ways." Hosting virtual storytelling sessions for employees is just one example of how organizations can continue to promote and celebrate the cultures and histories of First Nations, Metis and Inuit during National Indigenous History Month and beyond. Many Indigenous organizations are hosting virtual experiences for the public; in fact, Indigenous Tourism BC lists a number of these opportunities on their website. FortisBC's gas and electricity infrastructure cross more than 150 traditional territories and provides service to 57 First Nation communities. Providing cultural awareness opportunities for its employees is one of the ways FortisBC works to build active and meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities. In 2001, FortisBC adopted a formal Statement of Indigenous Principles that guides its approach to both day-to-day operations and developing effective relationships with Indigenous communities. As a CCAB Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) Committed member, FortisBC strives for continuous improvement in leadership actions, business development, employment and community relationships. Learn more about these initiatives at fortisbc.com/indigenous. FortisBC is a regulated utility focused on providing safe and reliable energy, including natural gas, electricity and propane. FortisBC employs more than 2,400 British Columbians and serves approximately 1.2 million customers in 135 B.C. communities. FortisBC owns and operates two liquefied natural gas storage facilities and four regulated hydroelectric generating plants, approximately 7,200 kilometres of transmission and distribution power lines, and approximately 48,700 kilometres of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines. FortisBC Inc. and FortisBC Energy Inc. do business as FortisBC. FortisBC is indirectly, wholly owned by Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American electric and gas utility business. FortisBC uses the FortisBC name and logo under license from Fortis Inc. Additional information can be accessed at fortisinc.com or sedar.com. SOURCE FortisBC For further information: MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Brown, Corporate Communications Advisor, FortisBC, 250-469-6078, [email protected], fortisbc.com, 24-hour media line: 1-855-322-6397 Related Links http://www.fortisbc.com/Pages/default.aspx The latest candidate to take on current MP Mark Mitchell at this years general election is long-time Stanmore Bay resident Fiona Mackenzie. Fiona says she found her political voice when she disagreed with former Prime Minister John Key over the foreshore and seabed legislation. She became involved with the lobby groups Democracy Action and Hobsons Pledge and at a public meeting in Orewa held by New Conservative leader Leighton Baker she found a party that aligned with her views. That was towards the end of last year, and she has now taken the big step of standing as the New Conservative candidate for Whangaparaoa electorate. Public service is nothing new to Fiona, who spent six years working for the Te Araroa (The Long Pathway) Trust. This put me in contact with a lot of wonderful Kiwis from all walks of life, Fiona says. She has an MBA from Auckland University and her career has included teaching, finance and public relations. The mother of two adult sons also has strong views on improving education and upholding freedom of speech. She names rapid growth outpacing infrastructure as among the current issues facing the local electorate, along with the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 lockdown. Fiona has lived on the Coast for more than 30 years. Her leisure pursuits include getting into the great outdoors and pest control in Puhoi for The Forest Bridge Trust. Advertisement A leading COVID-19 model is now predicting 200,000 deaths due to coronavirus in the United States by October - up by a staggering 30,000 from its last forecast just 10 days ago - as cases nearly double in Alabama and South Carolina and Miami pauses its reopening due to a surge in infections. The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation revised its death toll forecast upwards by 18 percent from 169,890 on Tuesday due mainly to states reopening and people not adhering to social distancing. The model, whose estimates are cited by health experts, is projecting that Florida will see its deaths nearly triple to 18,675 deaths by October and California can expect to see deaths surge by 72 percent to 15,155. Georgia and Arizona are also predicted to have sharp increases in deaths. Currently, the US death toll due to COVID-19 stands at more than 116,000 and there have been more than two million confirmed cases across the country. It comes as fears have been mounting of a second wave of COVID-19 infections after daily cases and hospitalizations have been spiking to record levels in multiple states. Scroll down for video The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation revised its death toll forecast upwards by 18 percent to more than 200,000 on Tuesday IHME revised its death toll forecast upwards on Tuesday due mainly to states reopening and people not adhering to social distancing. Pictured above is the increase in deaths as of June 10 by October 1 across the country The upward revision in the death toll is due mainly to states reopening and people not adhering to social distancing. The model forecasts that mobility will continue to increase through October Many state health officials partly attribute the increase to gatherings over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in late May. Others say the increase in cases is due to more robust testing. Health officials warn it is too soon to forecast if the George Floyd protesters across the country could be the source of widespread community transmission that could result in a spike in cases and deaths. New deaths from coronavirus nearly doubled in Georgia and Missouri in the second week of June compared to the prior seven days, according to a Reuters analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project. Thirteen states have since reported weekly increases in deaths related to COVID-19. Meanwhile, new cases of COVID-19 nearly doubled in Alabama and South Carolina in the second week of June compared to the prior seven days. Alabama's new cases rose 97 percent to 5,115 for the week ended June 14, with 14 percent of COVID-19 tests coming back positive compared to 6 percent in the prior week. New cases in South Carolina rose 86 percent to 4,509, while the positive test rate rose to about 14 percent from 9 percent over the same period. At least 17 states across the US have seen COVID-19 infections surge in the last week as record numbers of new cases and hospitalizations continue to sweep through the likes of Florida, Texas and Alabama New cases of COVID-19 nearly doubled in Alabama and South Carolina in the second week of June compared to the prior seven days as 17 states reported weekly increases in the spread of coronavirus STATES WHERE COVID-19 CASES INCREASED IN THE LAST WEEK STATE TOTAL CASES NEW CASES WEEKLY CHANGE Alabama 25,615 5,115 +116.6% South Carolina 18,795 4,509 +85.9% Oklahoma 8,231 1,081 +67.9% Florida 75,568 11,630 +49.6% Nevada 11,173 1,524 +44.3% Arkansas 12,501 3,075 +41.5% Louisiana 46,619 3,803 +31.1% Mississippi 19,516 2,246 +27% Arizona 35,691 8,802 +26.6% North Carolina 44,119 8,573 +23.2% Texas 87,854 12,876 +20.4% Tennessee 30,432 4,051 +20% Georgia 57,681 5,783 +17.7% California 148,855 20,043 +10% Iowa 23,926 2,259 +6.8% South Dakota 5,898 460 +3.4% Oregon 5,377 569 +0.7% New deaths from coronavirus nearly doubled in Georgia and Missouri in the second week of June compared to the prior seven days. Thirteen states have reported weekly increases in deaths related to COVID-19 THE STATES WHERE COVID-19 DEATHS INCREASED IN THE LAST WEEK State Total deaths New deaths Weekly increase Georgia 2,451 271 +96.4% Missouri 879 70 +89.2% Washington 1,213 60 +71.4% Alabama 773 81 +32.8% Maryland 2,939 190 +24.2% Illinois 6,489 585 +13.8% Washington, D.C. 515 26 +13% Rhode Island 833 61 +13% California 5,063 437 +5.8% South Carolina 600 54 +3.8% Arizona 1,186 142 +2.9% North Carolina 1,109 113 +2.7% Connecticut 4,201 130 +2.4% South Carolina and Alabama health officials say the increases are down to some residents not following social distancing guidelines to avoid large gatherings and wear a mask in public. In Oklahoma, where President Donald Trump plans to hold an indoor campaign rally on Saturday, new cases rose 68 percent to 1,081 in the second week of June, while the positive test rate increased to 4 percent from 2 percent the previous week. The three states are among hot spots throughout the South and Southwest that helped push the total number of new infections in the US up 1 percent in the week ended June 14 - the second increase after five weeks of declines. Nationally, the rate of positive tests has hovered around 5 percent for several weeks, according to the analysis. More than 583,000 tests were reported in a single day last week, which was a new record. At least 17 states have seen COVID-19 infections surge in the last week as record numbers of new cases and hospitalizations continue to sweep through the likes of Florida, Texas and Alabama. Several of the states, mostly in the South, have seen an increase in new cases since Memorial Day as health officials warn of a potential surge in new coronavirus infections as states push ahead with reopening. ARIZONA HOSPITALIZATIONS: Arizona has continued to have record hospitalizations for coronavirus in the past few days NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITALIZATIONS: North Carolina had a record number of patients enter the hospital on Saturday TEXAS HOSPITALIZATIONS: The number of people being admitted to hospital in Texas for COVID-19 continues to increase ARKANSAS HOSPITALIZATIONS: Arkansas had a record number of patients enter the hospital over the week to be treated for coronavirus Alabama reported a record number of new cases for the fourth day in a row - more than 1,000 cases were reported in a day on Sunday alone - the first time that's happened since the start of the pandemic. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Carolina all had record numbers of new cases in the past week days. In Louisiana, which had been one of the earlier virus hot spots, new cases were again on the rise with over 1,200 - the most there since May 21. Nationally, there were over 25,000 new cases reported on Saturday, the highest tally for a Saturday since May 2, in part due to a significant increase in testing over the past six weeks. The rise of new infections in Florida has prompted Miami to halt its reopening. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said on Monday that the city wasn't ready to enter phase three of the state's reopening plans. 'Although hospitalizations have remained consistent, the overall number of positive cases has increased and even the number of positive cases proportional to testing has slightly increased,' Suarez said. Many of the states that have seen increases in cases are also seeing record hospitalizations - a metric not affected by increased testing and perhaps more troubling for health officials. Arkansas, North Carolina, Texas and Utah all had a record number of patients enter the hospital on Saturday. In South Carolina, 69 percent to 77 percent of hospital beds are occupied in various regions. While Utah's governor announced last week that most counties there would pause their reopenings, most states are not considering a second shutdown as they face budget shortfalls and double-digit unemployment. GOOGLE SPIKE IN SEARCHES FOR 'COVID SYMPTOMS' AND 'CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS' SPARK FEARS OF A SECOND WAVE OF INFECTIONS Google trends data has suggested that more people are searching for information about coronavirus symptoms, raising fears of a second wave. On Monday, U.S. searches for 'coronavirus symptoms' hit a three-week high on Google. Over the past week, Arizona, South Carolina and Texas were the top states for such searches. Nationwide searches for 'coronavirus testing' hit their highest level since May 26 over the weekend, indicating a renewed interest in getting tested for COVID-19. Washington DC, Maryland and New Mexico were the top locations searching for 'coronavirus testing' over the past 30 days. Searches for both 'coronavirus symptoms' and 'coronavirus testing' remain far below their peaks in mid-March. While some fear the trend data indicates a 'second wave' of coronavirus cases is looming, Google Trends data is notoriously bad at predicting outbreaks. From 2008 to 2015, Google tried to predict seasonal influenza trends using search data with its 'Google Flu Trends' tool, which measured searches for such terms as fever and cough. The project was quietly killed off after scientists denounced it as an utter failure, noting that in 2013 Flu Trends was off by 140 percent at the peak. Searches for 'coronavirus testing' on Google are seen over the past seven days Nationwide searches for 'coronavirus testing' hit their highest level since May 26 over the weekend, indicating a renewed interest in getting tested for COVID-19 Over the past week, Arizona, South Carolina and Texas were the top states for such searches On Monday, U.S. searches for 'coronavirus symptoms' hit a three-week high on Google Advertisement A teenage 5 Seconds of Summer fan has issued a full retraction after she accused the band's guitarist Michael Clifford of touching her inappropriately at a concert seven years ago. The girl alleged on June 13 that Michael had touched her 'chest, arms and sides' during a show at Tinley Park, Illinois, in 2013. At the time, 5SOS was touring North America with One Direction as part of the British band's Take Me Home tour. Inside Michael Clifford's false accusation nightmare: How a teenage 5 Seconds of Summer fan spent YEARS thinking the guitarist had 'violated' her - only to realise her abuser was another man who has since died. Pictured: Michael Clifford on January 28, 2017 in Los Angeles She made the extraordinary claims via an anonymous Twitter account - but after her allegations went viral, she insisted the 24-year-old musician was totally innocent. In a lengthy follow-up post, the girl - who was 14 at the time of the alleged incident - clarified that it was simply a case of mistaken identity. She insisted she had been abused by a man at the concert, but it wasn't Michael. Her actual abuser has since died, she claimed. 'He never touched me': The girl alleged on Twitter on June 13 that Michael had touched her 'chest, arms and sides' during a show in Illinois in 2013. In a lengthy follow-up post, she clarified that it was simply a case of mistaken identity According to the woman, who would now be 21, she spent years convinced that the Australian rock star had been responsible for the assault. In her since-retracted original statement, she wrote: 'Michael Clifford... slid into the audience - probably most would assume to enjoy the concert - and violated my safety and privacy.' Three days later, on July 16, she tweeted that the man who had touched her was not Michael, and that the actual offender 'is dead'. 'Today, I found out I've been wrong for almost seven years. Today I found out that my offender is dead. My offender is NOT MICHAEL CLIFFORD,' she wrote. 'I am heartbroken': Michael has categorically denied all accusations of inappropriate conduct, saying they are 'beyond untrue'. 'I am heartbroken to read these things that are being said they are just BEYOND untrue,' he tweeted on June 15 Explanation: In another tweet, Michael said it 'would've been logistically impossible for me to get through a crowd' at the height of 5SOS' boy band fame Michael has categorically denied all accusations of inappropriate conduct, saying they are 'beyond untrue'. 'I am heartbroken to read these things that are being said they are just BEYOND untrue,' he tweeted on June 15. 'I was never allowed in the crowd I only ever watched at front of house and I would've never EVER done that. I would NEVER do anything like that,' he added. In another tweet, Michael commented on a video of the 5SOS band members surrounded by fans in the audience. 'This is what life was like in 2013. Please understand it would've been logistically impossible for me to get through a crowd at a show I just played at! I'm not trying to be defensive I promise this is just so completely false,' he wrote. Denial: In response to another Twitter user, Michael said of the allegations: 'I really just don't know what I can even say' Setting the record straight: Michael added, 'People are asking me to explain but how can I explain something that I was never involved with in the first place?' 'The band were never allowed into the crowd': Adam Wilkinson, who managed 5SOS at the time of the alleged incidents, jumped to Michael's defence In response to another Twitter user, Michael said of the allegations: 'I really just don't know what I can even say. People are asking me to explain but how can I explain something that I was never involved with in the first place?' 'I truly want to give you what youre asking from me but what more can I say?' he added. Adam Wilkinson, who managed 5SOS at the time of the alleged incidents, jumped to Michael's defence, tweeting: 'I can confirm at all times that the band were never allowed into the crowd and were always escorted to front of house by security and/or management including myself.' Engaged: It comes after Michael announced his engagement to American model Crystal Leigh (right) in January 2019. The Australian musician proposed with a diamond ring at sunset while the couple were on holiday in Bali, Indonesia It comes after Michael announced his engagement to American model Crystal Leigh in January 2019. The Australian musician proposed with a diamond ring at sunset while the couple were on holiday in Bali, Indonesia. Michael shared several photos of the moment he dropped down on one knee, writing in the caption: 'I was lucky enough to ask the love of my life to marry me.' 'In the last three years, she has helped evolve and shape who I am in ways I could never have imagined. I couldn't ask for anyone better to spend the rest of my life with. I love loving you, Crystal.' The lovebirds first started dating in 2016 and have been together for four years. Lovebirds: Michael and Crystal first started dating in 2016 and have been together four years Michael confirmed his relationship with Crystal in an Instagram post on New Year's Eve back in 2016. Sharing a video of the couple kissing in front of a fireworks display, the boy band member told fans: 'I know I'm late, but happy new year everyone. Especially to my love @crystalleigh for making 2016 infinitely better than I thought it would be.' 'Here's to much greener pastures in 2017, and much less awkward hand motions. (you know I'm bad at this),' he added. Photo: The Canadian Press Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, leaves her home to go to B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, Wednesday, May 27, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward The B.C. Supreme Court judge in Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's extradition case says she's concerned by the length of the proceedings. During a case management conference on Monday, Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes said two proposed schedules from both Crown prosecutors and Meng's counsel would see the case wrap up next spring. Defence lawyer Richard Peck said they've put together a "blistering work schedule," but Holmes said the court could move faster. The United States is seeking to extradite Meng, Huawei's chief financial officer, on fraud charges based on allegations she lied to HSBC about the company's relationship with a subsidiary in Iran, putting the bank at risk of violating American sanctions against that country. Holmes ruled last month that Meng's alleged offences would constitute a crime in Canada and the case should proceed to the next round of legal arguments, including whether Meng's arrest at the Vancouver airport in 2018 was unlawful. Meng and Huawei deny the fraud charges. Her lawyers allege that Meng's charter rights were violated when she was detained by border officials who took her electronic devices and passwords, which were shared with the RCMP before Meng was notified that she was under arrest. That's one of three separate arguments on abuse of process that Meng's counsel is making. The case was adjourned Monday until June 23 to give the Crown and defence time to discuss the scheduling of those arguments. A teenager has relived the moment her 'life changed forever' when she woke to find a naked man next to her bed before she was sexually assaulted. Kyle Montrose Deligny, 21, climbed to the second level of the young girl's family home in Camp Hill, in Brisbane's east, and entered her room about 1am on March 24. Deligny, who was on hallucinogenic drugs, got undressed and touched the girl's shoulder before telling her: 'I am here to have sex with you.' She calmly called her parents as they slept in another room, which prompted Deligny to pull up his pants and flee, The Courier Mail reported. Kyle Montrose Deligny, 21, climbed to the second level of the young girl's family home in Camp Hill, in Brisbane's east, and entered her room about 1am on March 24 He left a bottle of lubricant and a torch in the room, both of which had his fingerprints on them and led police to arrest him the following day. Deligny pleaded guilty to sexual assault and entering a dwelling at night at Brisbane District Court on Tuesday. Judge Brad Farr praised the teenager for staying calm during the frightening ordeal. She attended the court with the support of her family who listened as a letter she had written was read out on her behalf. 'I will never forget what he did to me, it has changed my life forever,' she said. The teenager explained how the sexual assault has affected her studies, relationships and sense of safety. Both she and her family struggle to sleep at night without 'thinking of his selfish act' and her father feels he has let his daughter down. 'I am going to be strong and I will able to rebuild parts of me that were undermined and weakened after that night,' she said. Deligny read a letter of his own to the teenager and her family, expressing his regret and saying he was 'deeply sorry'. 'I take full responsibility for my actions which arose out of my own bad decision to use hallucinogenic drugs,' Deligny said. Deligny pleaded guilty to sexual assault and entering a dwelling at night at Brisbane District Court on Tuesday While he understands he does not deserve or expect the teenager's forgiveness, he vowed to 'serve my time as deserved and clean my life up'. Defence barrister Kim Bryson said the 21-year-old had a rough time growing up and was exposed to domestic violence and bullying throughout his upbringing. Ms Bryson said Deligny's time on remand over the past three months had been difficult for him. Judge Farr accepted Deligny's apology and noted that he co-operated with police. But he also said the outcome could have been 'extraordinarily frightening' had the teenager not scared him away. Judge Farr told Deligny he breached the sanctity of the teenager's home and caused psychological, social and emotional harm to both her and her family. He was sentenced to three months behind bars and will be eligible for parole on January 25, 2021. The brother of the American sentenced by a Russian court to 16 years in prison for espionage said Tuesday he believes Moscow wants to exchange him for a notorious arms dealer or Russian diplomatic properties shuttered by Washington. David Whelan, the brother of Paul Whelan, the ex-Marine given the stiff prison sentence on Monday, said his brother was no spy and that Moscow arrested him as leverage against Washington. The Russians have publicly mentioned getting the United States to release arms trader Viktor Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death" for supplying diverse rebel groups, and alleged drug smuggler Konstantin Yaroshenko from a US prisons, Whelan said. They also want to resume using rural estates in Long Island and Maryland, and the Russian consulate in San Francisco, which were shut by Washington as punishment for Moscow's interference in the 2016 presidential election. "There's a reason the Russian Confederation kept my brother. And that was to extract a concession," Paul Whelan told AFP. "There are a handful of people that they are interested in seeing released. Viktor Bout has been number one. Konstantin Yaroshenko has been number two." He said Russia could also be interested in getting back hackers arrested and jailed by the United States, and also a woman, Bogdana Osipova, who was sentenced to prison in Kansas last year for kidnapping after she sent the children she had with her American ex-husband to Russia. - Tit-for-tat case? - A security official in a US auto parts company, Paul Whelan, was arrested and charged with espionage while he was in Russia for a wedding in December 2018. He allegedly received from a Russian friend a USB thumb drive with Russian state secrets on it. Whelan, who has visited Russia several times and befriended some Russians, denies spying and said the device contained pictures of churches. His arrest was initially viewed as a tit-for-tat after the United States arrested Maria Butina in July that year on spying-related charges. Days before Whelan's arrest, Butina pleaded guilty to illegally acting as an agent of a foreign government, and was given an 18 month sentence, which included the time she had already been held in jail. She was released and deported in October 2019. - Hostage diplomacy - Since then, David Whelan said, the Russian government has hinted at exchanges in public comments and on foreign ministry and other official social media accounts. "It's hostage diplomacy," he said. "They take citizens as pawns, and then attempt to extract a concession in exchange for returning the citizen," he said. He said the US State Department has been deeply critical of his brother's treatment and sentence, but will not say if it is in discussions on some sort of trade. Asked Tuesday, the State Department declined to comment on the issue. The United States and Russia have conducted numerous spy swaps over the past decades. The case could challenge the concept of a symmetric trade, especially if Moscow really wants Bout. "Paul has been convicted as a spy now. Nobody believes he's a spy, I don't think even the Russias believe he is a spy," David Whelan said. "The challenge about doing a trade is that there isn't any symmetry right now." "Paul is not equivalent to the 'Merchant of Death,' not equivalent to a man who was smuggling millions worth of drugs from Venezuela to Africa." Paul Whelan has been held in a Moscow jail since his arrest in December 2018 Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death" for his role arming rebels from Africa to South America, after his arrest in Thailand in 2008. He was extradited to stand trial in the United States in 2010. Billionaire Tilman Fertitta on Tuesday called on Washington politicians to extend the enhanced unemployment benefits that were put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, contending the extra payments are still needed to support the U.S. economy. "Even though it could cost me some of the employees I want back, let's keep the economy going," Feritta, chairman and CEO of restaurant giant Landry's, said on CNBC's "Power Lunch." "It took us 12 years to get it where it is, and this administration has made a lot of good calls. Let's do it for at least another 90 days." The $2.2 trillion CARES Act, signed into law in March, included a temporary increase to unemployment insurance of $600 per week. But that provision is set to expire at the end of July, absent government action to extend it. Fertitta, whose business empire includes more than 600 restaurants and Golden Nugget casinos, said he believes the additional weekly payments have been a driving force behind the strong rebound in consumer spending as U.S. states relax coronavirus restrictions. Retail sales in May rose 17.7% compared with the prior month, a rebound that exceeded estimates from economists. "I think one of the reasons you're getting these spikes in retail sales and restaurants and grocery stores still, wherever people can spend money, is because of the $600 check," said Fertitta, who also owns the NBA's Houston Rockets. Spending at restaurants and casinos, in particular, will "taper off quicker than you would think" if the extra benefits expire, he said. Fertitta acknowledged concerns held by some Washington lawmakers, who contend the extra payments may serve as a disincentive for people to return to work because they actually make more money on unemployment than they did while working. Some politicians have offered plans to combat that. For example, Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican, has a proposal that would pay people who return to work an extra $450 a week. Larry Kudlow, top White House economic advisor, has said the Trump administration is considering some sort of back-to-work "bonus." House Democrats have passed a relief package that would extend the $600 weekly unemployment payments into early next year, but the bill was a nonstarter in the Republican-controlled Senate. Fertitta said he thinks the benefits of extending the enhanced unemployment insurance are greater than any potential downsides. There are too many people who remain unemployed about 21 million as of May that cutting off the benefits would curtail consumer spending, he contended. "Most people want to come back to work because they've been sitting at home for three months, and they were losing their minds," Fertitta said. "If a few people get caught in the web and it's a good deal for them because they're coming back to work and they're giving it up, it's OK," Fertitta said. But for the millions who remain unemployed, "let's keep the stimulus going ... to keep spending the money." U.S. airline passengers who refuse to wear face coverings during the novel coronavirus pandemic could have their flying privileges revoked under tougher enforcement policies, the industry's main lobby group said on Monday. Major U.S. airlines may prevent anyone not wearing a mask from boarding and provide the coverings to passengers who have none. Once on board, however, flight attendants have had little power over passengers who remove the face covering. The rules will stay in plavce for at least the next 60 days. Organization representing major airlines says airlines will strictly enforce the requirements for passengers and customer-facing employees to wear masks (file photo) Carriers with the stricter policy include Alaska Airlines , American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines Carriers with the stricter policy include Alaska Airlines , American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, Airlines for America said in a statement. The airlines will clearly inform passengers about their individual policies on face coverings before flying, followed by an announcement with specific details onboard, it said. Each carrier will decide the appropriate consequences for passengers who fail to comply, up to and including being put on that airline's no-fly list. Airlines offer certain exemptions, including when people are eating or drinking. Airlines for America said passengers who do not wear face coverings could have their flying privileges revoked (file photo) A sign reminding passengers to stay 6ft apart is seen at a screening checkpoint at Orlando International Airport. The TSA has rolled out new guidelines for the screening of air passengers designed to decrease the chances that its officers are exposed to the coronavirus American Airlines said its updated policy will go into effect on Tuesday, followed by United on Thursday. United said those who do not comply will be placed on an internal travel restriction list that would prevent them from flying with the airline 'for a duration of time to be determined pending a comprehensive incident review.' Delta said it was doubling efforts to ensure customers are aware of, acknowledge and comply with its mask requirement, which it said is one of the most important ways to 'stay safe while flying.' The measures are expected to remain in place throughout the coronavirus crisis. On Twitter, Senator Ed Markey, who has been vocal along with about a dozen other Democratic senators on airline issues during the pandemic, praised the tougher enforcement policies, adding 'But we still need federal action immediately.' Travelers are also urged to stay home when ill, frequently wash their hands and to wear a face-covering throughout their journey but during their flight it is mandatory The U.S. government has not mandated any airline safety requirements since the pandemic hit global aviation, despite calls from unions and industry. 'The federal government has completely abdicated its responsibility to keep the flying public and aviation workers safe during COVID-19,' said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said, adding 'the industry alone cannot fix this.' The administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Stephen Dickson, is expected to be questioned about masks at a Senate hearing on Wednesday. To the Editor: Re What The Times Got Wrong (column, June 13): Bret Stephens said it perfectly: Senator Tom Cotton is a leading spokesman for a major current of public opinion. To suggest our readers should not have the chance to examine his opinions for themselves is to patronize them. Like Mr. Stephens, I did not agree with Senator Cottons position in favor of using military troops against violent protesters, but I appreciate reading Op-Eds on both sides of an issue. The Times does its readers an enormous disservice when it refuses to publish or disavows an Op-Ed that runs contrary to the political leanings of its readership or journalists. After all, those readers who insist on partisan safe spaces can always turn on to MSNBC or Fox. Steven D. Caster Hollywood, Fla. To the Editor: Re Outcry Over Both Sides Journalism (column, June 13): I have the greatest respect for Roger Cohen, but I believe he is conflating fairness with good journalism. The New York Times is under no obligation to publish propaganda. And Tom Cotton was free to find another platform for his dangerous, ill-informed and anti-American views. The New York Times could have then covered its publication elsewhere and the response to it as a genuine news story rather than allowing itself to be used by Senator Cotton. Yes, Senator Cotton speaks for millions of Americans. But The Times is not obligated to spread his views in the name of fairness. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When I think of the Dutch Colonial house, I see the big red barn, like in childrens books or in paintings of upstate landscapes. They are one of the most distinctive architectural styles of American homes. Dutch Colonial homes got their name from American settlers coming from the Netherlands in the early to mid-1600s. They continued to build this style home through the mid-1800s. This style is most widespread in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania since thats where the majority of Dutch settled. The most well-known feature of a Dutch Colonial house is its broad, double-pitched roof that slopes reasonably flat and wide at the top and then changes angles and slopes almost straight down. Also known as a gambrel roof or a barn roof. It was noted by Andrew Cogar, architect and president of Historical Concepts , that The clever use of framing with the two-pitched roofs allowed for the attic to become usable living space, lending this style to evolve into rural and urban subtypes. It also enabled homeowners a way to get around taxes on two-story homes. The Federal Direct Tax records of 1798 show that gambrel-roofed houses were classified as one story. What a deal! Pub owners are threatening to ignore coronavirus restrictions, claiming the industry is struggling to survive the pandemic. In Victoria pubs and clubs will be able to serve drinks for up to 50 people seated without a meal from Monday. But venue owners claim the rollback is not enough to help them bounce-back after the lockdown in March, which saw all hospitality venues close in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19. A bar tender serves beer to patrons as they await their meals at the Young & Jackson pub in Melbourne on June 1 Locals Taryn and Piper enjoy a beer and a meal at the Middle Park Hotel in Middle Park in Melbourne on June 1 Save Our Pubs spokesman Rabhi Yannie said venues around the state will band together for a pub protest if they continue to be ignored. 'The situation is terminal and getting worse. As an industry, we will have no choice but to ignore the current rules,' Save Our Pubs spokesman Rabhi Yannie said. 'We don't want to break the law or risk fines, however, the precedent has been set by this government when people break the law as a collective.' Melbourne's nightclub Love Machine at Prahran was fined $9,913 on Saturday for breaching coronavirus restrictions. Victorian premier Dan Andrews has faced intense criticism throughout the coronavirus crisis from the hospitality industry over the 'arbitrary limit' on venue patrons. Mr Andrews has been labelled 'Chairman Dan' by the state's Liberal Party Opposition for what they claim are his draconian COVID-19 lockdown measures. Chinese leaders were known as chairman until 1982 when the word president was used instead. Last month, Mr Andrews banned white-collar workers from returning to their offices and threatened fines for any boss who ignores the rules. In Victoria, only hospitality venues that offer dining are permitted to open such as restaurants, cafes and the bistro area of pubs. Other hospitality businesses such as bars, live music venues and areas of pubs where food is not served are not permitted to reopen Small hospitality venues have been able to reopen while larger businesses have been forced to remain closed Struggling pub owners are threatening to ignore coronavirus restrictions, claiming the limit of patrons is making it hard to survive the pandemic Victorian restaurants, cafes and hospitality businesses have only been allowed 20 seated patrons per enclosed space, irrespective of their size and ability to accommodate more people based on the one person per four square metre rule. This is far less than NSW, which has had more COVID-19 cases, but allows up to 50 per eating space - and up to 500 in one indoor venue. While smaller businesses have begun reopening in Victoria, larger businesses have been forced to remain closed as overheads are too high to cater low guest numbers. Critics have slammed Andrews tough approach, claiming it is leading to a deeper recession in Victoria than other states. Mr O'Donnell said 9 businesses have already shut down and the precinct could lose hundreds more The Chapel Street precinct is 2.8 kilometres long and runs through three Melbourne suburbs Justin O'Donnell, Chairperson of Chapel Street Precinct Association, which represents more than 2,200 businesses, said the 'one size fits all' capacity regulation could see 20 to 30 per cent of the area's largest employers permanently shut down. 'Our State Government's one size fits all approach does not work financially for many Chapel Street Precinct businesses, particularly many of our larger businesses that are some of our precinct's largest employers, ' he said. 'We are asking for those Chapel Street Precinct businesses that have a larger space (square footage) for limit numbers to be based on their areas available, while maintaining the one metre by four metre rule. The issue is the number cap that has been stamped for all businesses regardless of the size.' The Chapel Street Precinct Association is calling on Victorian premier Dan Andrews (pictured) to amend capacity restrictions to reflect the one person per four metre rule so it is financially viable for large businesses to open Melbourne's Chapel Street precinct (pictured) is home to more than 2200 businesses, many of which are struggling to survive under the 20 patron capacity rule 'This is now starting to look like lazy policy making and it is time for this to be reviewed urgently. This will help save many of our largest local employers and desperately help them reopen with numbers that are economically viable.' While Victoria readies for its next step to normality, nine new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded on Tuesday, bringing the state's infection tally to 1741. Of these, two cases were linked to a known outbreak at Monash Health while one was associated with an extended family cluster in Coburg. Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the Monash Health outbreak had increased to six cases after a patient and health care worker recently tested positive. A Monash Health spokesperson on Monday said close contacts were identified and placed in quarantine but no services have closed following the incident. The extended family cluster has grown to 12 cases after they had gatherings across homes in Coburg, Broadmeadows and Pakenham. Four of the family members to test positive are children who attended two different schools in Melbourne, prompting their closure for cleaning and contact tracing. Another positive case recorded on Tuesday was a school student at Strathmore Primary School. The school will remain closed on Tuesday while cleaning and contact tracing is underway. Despite the recent increase in new cases, Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on Monday remained confident restrictions will be eased next week. Maharashtra is the worst-affected state in the country reeling under exploding cases of the novel coronavirus and the collapsing health infrastructure. The state is also dealing with rising COVID cases among the police personnel. In the last 72 hours, 227 police personnel were found COVID-19 positive. The total number of cases among police personnel in the state is now at 3,615 including 1,388 active cases and 40 deaths. 2,187 cops have recovered from the virus. Maharashtra health department said that a total of 2,786 COVID-19 cases were reported in the state today while the state witnessed 178 deaths due to COVID-19 - the highest spike in a day, the state health bulletin said. "Highest single-day spike of 178 deaths reported in Maharashtra today, taking the death toll to 4,128. A total of 2,786 COVID-19 cases were reported on Monday taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,10,744, including 56,049 discharged patients," the bulletin said. In some respite, 5,071 coronavirus patients were discharged in the state on June 15. AFP "For the second time in a fortnight, a record number of corona patients have been released at home. Today, 5,071 patients have been discharged from hospitals across the state and the highest number of 4,242 patients was discharged on the same day in Mumbai Mandal. So far 56,049 patients have recovered and gone home," state health minister Rajesh Tope was quoted as saying by ANI. Maharashtra tally hits 1.10 Lakh cases On June 15, Maharashtra registered 178 deaths, the highest so far, taking its toll to over 4,000. The death toll now is 4,128. The state 2,786 Covid-19 cases, taking the case tally to 1.10 lakh. At least 68 deaths were recorded in Mumbai taking the citys toll to 2,250. For the first time in three months since the outbreak began the count of those recovered exceeds the actively infected figure. The recovery rate crossed 50 per cent - of 1.10 lakh infected with Covid-19, 56,049 have recovered and 50,554 are actively infected. The state has so far tested 6.69 lakh people for the novel coronavirus , and has a positivity rate of 16 per cent. This week in Christian history: Protestant preacher found guilty of heresy; GK Chesterton dies, Pius IX becomes pope Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christianity is a faith with a long and detailed history, with numerous events of lasting significance occurring throughout the ages. Each week brings the anniversaries of great milestones, horrid tragedies, amazing triumphs, telling tribulations, inspirational progress, and everything in between. Here are just a few things that happened this week, June 14-20, in Church history. They include the death of G.K. Chesterton, Pope Pius IX becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church, and a female English Protestant preacher being found guilty of heresy. 1 2 3 4 Next Donald Trump is set to sue to stop the publication of a tell-all book by John Bolton, his third national security adviser, ABC News reported on Monday. At an event in the White House later in the day, Trump said it would be up to the attorney general, William Barr, to issue any charges, but he hinted that the matter would end up in court. Well see what happens. Theyre in court or theyll soon be in court, Trump said about the book. Related: Donald Trump's niece Mary set to publish explosive book about her family Trump accused Bolton of not completing a pre-publication review to make sure the book does not contain classified material. That contradicts statements from Boltons attorney, Chuck Cooper, who says his client worked painstakingly for months with classification specialists at the White House National Security Council to make changes to avoid releasing classified material. Barr echoed Trumps accusation. The attorney general said administration officials who have access to sensitive information typically sign non-disclosure agreements that require them to go through a clearance process before they can publish something based on information they accessed in the job. We dont believe that Bolton went through that process, hasnt completed the process, and, therefore, is in violation of that agreement, Barr said. The Trump administration is trying to get them to complete the process go through the process and make the necessary deletions of classified information, he added. The Room Where It Happened was initially scheduled for publication earlier this year but was delayed when the White House said it contained classified information. Last week, publisher Simon & Schuster announced the 23 June release of the book Donald Trump doesnt want you to read. Bolton has already recorded an interview with the ABC anchor Martha Raddatz, which is due to be broadcast on Sunday night. Bolton, a former ambassador to the United Nations, was national security adviser between April 2018 and September 2019. Controversially, Bolton did not testify in impeachment proceedings against Trump which focused on Ukraine and Trumps attempts to bully the government there to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. Trump was acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate in February. Story continues What Bolton saw astonished him, his publisher said. A president for whom getting re-elected was the only thing that mattered, even if it meant endangering or weakening the nation. Bolton argues that the House committed impeachment malpractice by keeping their prosecution focused narrowly on Ukraine when Trumps Ukraine-like transgressions existed across the full range of his foreign policy and Bolton documents exactly what those were, and attempts by him and others in the administration to raise alarms about them. When news of Boltons book plans first broke, Trump reportedly called him a traitor and said he wanted to sue to stop publication. It is not clear the current threat will work. In January 2018, Trump threatened to sue to stop the publication of Fire and Fury, a book by Michael Wolff, after the Guardian broke news of its sensational content. Publisher Henry Holt responded by rushing the book to the public. Boltons lawyer, Chuck Cooper, wrote in the Wall Street Journal last week of a transparent attempt to use national security as a pretext to censor Mr Bolton, in violation of his constitutional right to speak on matters of the utmost public import. This attempt will not succeed, and Mr Boltons book will be published [on] 23 June. His predecessor as national security adviser, HR McMaster, has a book due out in September. Trump books have become big business. On Sunday night, the Daily Beast reported that the presidents niece, Mary Trump, will publish one in August. It is expected to contain revelations about Trump family relationships and its tax affairs. The Associated Press contributed to this report Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Immune response to the novel coronavirus remains stable in the blood of the majority of infected individuals almost two months after diagnosis, and possibly longer, according to an antibody testing study that may help contain the spread of COVID-19. Scientists from St. George's University of London in the UK said antibodies were not detectable in everyone exposed to the virus, opening discussions on how best to interpret antibody and viral tests. The yet to be peer-reviewed study, published in the preprint repository medRxiv, sheds light on the duration for which people remain immune after contracting COVID-19, and provides insight into how different age and ethnic groups respond to infection. In the research, the scientists analysed the antibody test results from 177 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, and measured the levels of antibodies against the novel coronavirus they had. According to the scientists, in patients with an antibody response, the levels of the immune molecules remained stable for the duration of the study (almost two months). Based on the study, the researchers said patients with the most severe infections who have the largest inflammatory response were more likely to develop antibodies. They hypothesised that this may be due to antibody responses working in parallel with an inflammatory response to severe disease. The scientists said a higher viral load may also lead to greater stimulation of the inflammatory and antibody development pathways. However, the researchers cautioned that further work is required to understand if and why this may be the case. Between 2 and 8.5 per cent of patients did not develop COVID-19 antibodies at all, they added. According to the scientists, this may be because the body's defence response in these patients could be through other mechanisms like the immune system's T-cells. Another option, they said, could be that relatively mild infections may be restricted to particular locations in the body, such as within mucosal cells of the respiratory tract, where antibody responses are dominated by a secretory immune system. The scientists also assessed the associations between different characteristics and antibody responses. They said older patients and those with other conditions, such as with hypertension and being overweight were also more likely to have an antibody response. "Our results provide an improved understanding of how best to use viral and antibody tests for coronavirus, especially when not every person exposed to the virus will have a positive response," said Sanjeev Krishna, co-author of the study from St George's, University of London. Krishna believes that interpreting the results from these tests can help in controlling the spread of the virus, as well as identifying those who may be immune to the disease. "We hope that by sharing our data at an early stage, this will accelerate progress towards effective use of test results around the world," he added. Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu, who was arrested on charges of fraud for allegedly submitting a fake list of 1,000 buses to the Yogi government for ferrying migrant labourers, was granted bail on Tuesday by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court. Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi approved the bail application of the Congress leader who was arrested from Agra on May 20. Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared on behalf of the UP Congress chief through videoconferencing. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and keeping in view the overall facts and circumstances of the case but without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, let the applicant Ajay Kumar Lallu be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties to the satisfaction of the court concerned, observed the court. Earlier, the Agra court had granted bail to the UP Congress president but the Lucknow police again arrested him in connection with the alleged forgery related with the list of buses provided by the Congress party that allegedly had registration numbers of auto-rickshaws, cars and trucks. The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for opening of the case, framing of charge and recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C, said the court. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadras personal secretary Sandeep Singh is a co-accused in the same case and has applied for anticipatory bail. The case will come up for hearing on Wednesday. KAMPALA Over the past few years, distinctions between financial institutions and telecom service providers have been gradually breaking, thanks to the emergence of Financial Technology Companies (FinTechs) that are providing the needed bridge. FinTechs are transforming lives in Uganda and the entire African region for the better; facilitating payments, boosting financial inclusion and enhancing customer experience. Among the key FinTechs that has played a great role in this space in Uganda is True African, a mobile and online Financial Services Hub that provides custom tailored software solutions to address specific business needs, payment gateways to banks, collection platforms to utility service providers and individual and corporate mobile and online wallets. True African, a pioneer Financial Technology Company (FinTech) in region also enables individuals and business enterprises to securely and efficiently transact large volumes of payments on a single platform under one umbrella. True African ventured into the market 18 years ago, with the short messaging service (SMS) product, giving the firm market visibility, before venturing into mobile banking in 2002, according to the companys founder and managing director Eric Kamau. Products As pioneers in the value added services (VAS) industry, True African has over a decade of network connectivity across the country, with a multiple channel software platform that integrates with off-the-shelf SMS and USSD gateways. It offers a wide range of services including MasterCard QR; a payment solution that harnesses technology to allow consumers pay for goods and services using mobile phones at merchant outlets. Mastercard QR empowers merchants to easily and securely accept digital payments through a no-cost Point-Of-Sale solution that provides a cash-like experience for merchants and a low-risk investment for the user. MasterCard QR is secure, smart and easy; providing a cost-effective alternative to cash payments, Kamau says. The other product is Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Code Aggregation that allows high-speed interactive communication between the subscribers and applications across a GSM network. It offers both dedicated and shared USSD codes. Under the dedicated USSD, a code is aggregated and solely used by the client while the shared USSD code is used by multiple companies or services where each company is allocated an extension off the main code. Other products are merchant collections, bulk payments, mobile banking, software development and a VSLA Imara platform. This has put them at the center of the electronic payments industry in the East African region. True African is one of the FinTechs taking part in the 40-days-40-FinTechs initiative organised by HiPipo, in partnership with Crosslake Tech, ModusBox and Mojaloop Foundation. The initiative seeks to enable FinTechs to innovate solutions that facilitate cross-network financial transactions at minimal risks to enhance access to financial services, most especially for the poor. Running for 40 days, the project will see the participating 40 FinTechs acquire interoperable development skills to improve access to financial services, using the Mojaloop open source software. Kamau commended HiPipo for the initiative, saying that interoperability discussions are timely and good for the industry. I was around when Mojaloop was being founded. We understand that some of these projects we are undertaking need to be hosted somewhere, costs must be managed and all other interoperability issues must be addressed. We are happy to engage with HiPipo and other likeminded partners on how to enhance financial inclusion, Kamau says. Tailor-made solutions To support the financial inclusion journey, Kamau says that it is important to understand the special needs of the people you want to serve, so that you develop products that meet their needs. Having technology alone is not enough; you must understand the special needs and requirements for different people, he notes. Keen about delivering solutions that meet the diverse needs of their target market, Kamau says the firm is also seeking to devise ways of solving financial management problems in refugee camps. We cannot just digitalise people; it is a process. People need to first understand what you are doing before they accept to go digital and do digital financing, he notes. Kamau explains that the firm innovated a saving solution that is currently used by several non-governmental organizations and other entities such as the Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) Powesa Sacco, helping them to manage their funds effectively. In Eastern Uganda, True African is undertaking a project that offers women crop insurance. Under the project, True African allows members to access farm inputs from registered shops, lends them money and empowers them on agricultural commercialisation. He says that over 50 women farmers have benefited from the pilot project and they are now planning to expand it and manage it under one application. The HiPipo CEO Innocent Kawooya says the 40-days-40 FinTechs initiative seeks to celebrate and shine a light on FinTechs that are transforming millions of lives. He commended True African, saying it has an inspiring story. Part of the HiPipo story was inspired by True African. The True African story and their understanding of the digital-financial inclusion sector is important in this journey. True African has been here, and done so many successful projects. These have been 18 years of developing the digital financial sector, Kawooya said. He added: We are happy that True African has kept going and growing with the industry; the millions of messages you have sent, the solutions you have created have served and saved millions of people. True African has won several accolades including Top 100 Mid-Sized Company organised by KPMG and Daily Monitor, 2009, Top ICT SMME in Africa, Africa IT Achievers, 2007 and ICT Innovation Awards, UCC 2004. Related Statues of Nelson Mandela and Gandhi will stay covered up during Emmanuel Macron's visit to London tomorrow - but the protective box around Winston Churchill will be removed. The French President will meet Boris Johnson to commemorate the anniversary of Free French leader Charles De Gaulle's appeal to resist the Nazis on June 18, 1940, and to bestow the Legion D'Honneur on the capital for helping to liberate France. Black Lives Matter protests across Europe have targeted statues of public figures with links to the slave trade and racism, with many being defaced and damaged during demonstrations. Protesters daubed the words 'was a racist' under Churchill's name, prompting London Mayor Sadiq Khan and English Heritage to order the monument be boarded up. The Mayor's office today confirmed to MailOnline the boarding would be removed before Mr Macron's visit, but refused to say at what time this would happen. The boards around the statutes of Gandhi and Mandela will stay pending a 'review'. The Churchill monument - pictured today - was boarded up this month amid fears of a clash between Black Lives Matters activists and far-right groups A Tory peer has said boxing the statue of Sir Winston Churchill was raising the 'banner of anarchy' in Parliament Square Amid calls for the statue to be freed from Tory MPs, a senior Greater London Authority (GLA) source told The Daily Telegraph: 'The very firm expectation is that the boxing will be down for Macron's visit.' Sir Iain Duncan Smith welcomed the freeing of Churchill. 'About time. It is madness. It shouldn't have been covered in the first place. It is time to get back our self respect,' the former Conservative leader told the Telegraph. 'The moment we surrender to mob rule, that's the moment the mob takes over. We can't surrender to the mob. That's exactly what Churchill stood for.' One Tory peer compared the move to board up Churchill to the 'fascist days of Islamic State' in Syria. MPs have said it would be ironic for the statue to be hidden as Macron visits to celebrate de Gaulle's dramatic appeal on June 18, 1940, shortly after his evacuation from a defeated France. As part of the visit, Macron will also award London with the Legion of Honour for the city's courage and for supporting France when the Nazis invaded during WWII. The trip will be Macron's first outside France since the coronavirus crisis erupted in earnest. The French leader has been criticised in some quarters for his bellicose rhetoric on the virus, declaring that France was 'at war' with COVID-19. A boarded up Nelson Mandela statue (left) and Mahatma Gandhi statue (right) on Parliament Square The Gandhi statue before it was boarded up. The Mayor's office will 'review' when it can be revealed The situation has improved sufficiently for Macron to say that France could claim its 'first victory'. But the challenges remain unparalleled since World War II, with Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spearheading a 500 billion euro (445 billion) rescue plan for Europe. Macron, who displays de Gaulle's war memoirs on his desk in his official photograph, is making much of 2020 as an anniversary year for the French resistance leader who would later become president of post-occupation France. In May, he paid tribute to de Gaulle at the site of the 1940 Battle of Montcornet, one of few effective counter-attacks by French soldiers against the Nazis and where de Gaulle made his name as a military commander. Mandela's statue as workers were putting a protective covering around it On November 9, Macron is to mark the 50th anniversary of the general's death by visiting his final resting place in Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, eastern France. Before heading to Britain, Macron will take part in the traditional annual ceremony at Mont Valerien outside Paris, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces. He will then travel to London, where his status as a visiting foreign dignitary will spare him the controversial two-week virus quarantine now demanded by the British authorities of all visitors from abroad, a move that has irritated Paris. He will award the Legion of Honour to London, making it the seventh city to be decorated with France's highest order of merit, after Algiers, Belgrade, Brazzaville, Liege, Luxembourg and Volgograd. Britain, which left the EU in January, is negotiating a trade deal to govern relations after December 31, when it stops abiding by EU rules. Macron has on occasion expressed impatience with the drawn-out Brexit process. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in an interview with the French daily La Croix to be published on Wednesday that he still did not rule out a 'no deal' scenario. He said the UK could not have 'a foot in and a foot out' of the EU and may not have 'understood the full magnitude of their withdrawal'. French President Emmanuel Macron in December 2018. Macron will visit London on Thursday, which will be the 80th anniversary of a speech made by Charles de Gaulle after he was exiled from France during WWII General Charles de Gaulle issues a call to the French people from London, England, June 18, 1940, just after the Nazi occupation of France. De Gaulle led the Free French Forces from London and later from Algiers throughout the occupation, and returned to Paris on its liberation in September 1944 In his radio broadcast from London, de Gaulle urged all those who could to carry on fighting for France, words that laid the foundation of the resistance movement and helped keep alive hope that France would be liberated, as it finally was in 1944. 'Has the last word been said? Should hope disappear? Is the defeat final? No! Believe me, I... tell you that nothing is lost for France,' he said. De Gaulle's iconic stature and his defiant wartime spirit are being tapped into even more during the unprecedented challenges posed by the epidemic. In a telling reflection of his status, the vandalisation of a bust of the general in northern France this week was met with a torrent of outrage. The statue in Hautmont was daubed in orange paint and with the slogan 'slaver'. 'De Gaulle was neither on the left nor on the right... He was above the parties,' said French historian Michel Winock, author of a book on de Gaulle. But he was also simply 'a legendary hero, the man of June 18, the defiant fighter who embodies an epic, glorious France, an incorruptible man who never mixed up public money and his own account', Winock said. The US has not had a military war on its soil since The Battle of Wounded Knee in 1890, which saw the US Calvary fight the Native American Sioux people in what is now South Dakota. In a way, however, the country is now waging a more dispersed war against a different formidable foe: mass shootings. Mass shootings have a relatively long modern history in the US. The first official mass murder taking place in 1949, committed by World War II veteran, Howard Unruh. Thirteen people were senselessly killed by Unruh on his Walk of Death in Philadelphia. In truth, according to the Washington Post, mass shootings actually account for a very small fraction of the annual gun deaths in the US, but their unpredictable nature makes them the cause of fear and unease. The FBI has defined a mass murderer as someone who kills four or more people in a single incident, (not including themself), typically in a single location. According to Rand.org however, the US government has never defined the term mass shooting. In light of this, many writers use the FBIs criteria of four of more victims as a threshold marker. Using this definition, Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the US, states that a majority of victims of mass shootings are sadly women and children who are caught in the conflict of domestic violence. Other mass shootings involve the general public and are somewhat random. Some mass shootings in the US have occurred in schools, more in stores, restaurants, and bars, others in offices and places of worship, and others still on military bases. Most victims in mass shootings committed in public spaces today are unnervingly people who simply happen to be in the vicinity of the shooter. Sometimes the victims are known to the shooter, and at other times they are not. Where are these acts of violence taking place? California, Florida, Texas, Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New York, Ohio, and Illinois are the ten states that had the most mass shootings between 1982 and February of 2020. Here is a look at what is going on in the top three most violent states. 1. California This state has been home to the greatest amount of mass shootings in the US by state since 1982 with twenty occurring there in this time. Why California has had so many shootings is not entirely known. Part of it might have to do with the fact that this is the state with the highest population in the country. California also has the second highest number of registered guns in the US behind only Texas, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. President Trump and First Lady Melania visit a hospitalized victim of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 people. Image credit: Shealah Craighead/Public domain Its death rate from mass shootings, according to an article in the New York Times, is half that of Florida however, which has the second most mass shootings in the US. And when guns are ranked per capita in California, the state ranks very low, coming in 44th. So what is causing all the trouble? Perhaps it is too much time on the beach. It must be said that California is not entirely lax when it comes to gun control. This state has a law that allows police and family members to seek restraining orders to seize guns from people deemed to be troubled and at risk of committing violent acts. Expanded magazines for guns are outlawed, and background checks are required for people to buy ammunition. While it may not seem as though these measures are enacting change in the Golden State, it could be that many lives have been saved because of them. Perhaps more mass shootings would be on record if these laws had not been in place. How can we bring down the number of mass shootings today? That remains a mystery. 2. Florida San Francisco City Hall lit in LGBT rainbow flag in honor to the victims of the shooting that killed 49 people on June, 2016 in a gay nightlcub in Orlando, Florida. Image credit: Pax Ahimsa Gethen/Wikimedia.org Since 1982, Florida has experienced twelve mass shootings within its state lines, according to Statista.com. Gun laws are not as tough in this state as they are in California, and assault rifles are not yet banned here. One of the deadliest mass shootings in this state occured at Pulse Nightclub in 2016 when 49 people were killed and 50 others injured. The gunman was shot dead by police, but the incident marks the deadliest act of violence against the LGBTQ+ community in the US. The club is now a memorial to those who died. 3. Texas Texas is the state with the most guns per capita in the US, and in light of this, it may not be surprising to see it on this list of states with the most mass shootings. Mass murders in this state have targeted people in church, at Walmart, and elsewhere. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the gun murder rate in Texas has increased every year since 2014. The Need For Change March 24, 2018: Hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets in the March for Our Lives, a nationwide protest against gun violence in wake of the Parkland school shooting. Image credit: Nicole Glass Photography/Shutterstock.com How can gun violence be curbed? California has responded to its mass shootings by restricting easy access to some guns and to ammunition. While mass shootings do still happen in this state, some say the gun control movement is working to reduce crime overall. Homicides, suicides, and gun death accidents are now down and California has cut its gun death rate in half in the last 25 years. Texas, on the other hand, has swung the other way. This state has further loosened its gun laws in the wake of mass shootings to allow school employees with gun licenses to keep ammunition in a locked vehicle in a school parking lot, and by putting more armed marshalls in schools. Texas has also now allowed guns in foster homes, and allows licensed gun owners to carry their arms into places of worship. Will this lower or raise gun violence in Texas? Unfortunately, we will have to wait and see. Some say gun voilence is a matter of a lack of mental health support for the American public. It could be that icreased gun control coupled with more awareness about mental and emotional instability and support will be the answer. There is one positive note, however. Even though we see so much violence being reported through the media, experts such as Harvard University psychologist Steven Pinker say we are actually living in historys most peaceful time. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- An attorney for one of the people charged with rioting in Grand Rapids is preparing to file a motion to disqualify the Kent County Prosecutors Office from the case. "Its likely well be filing a motion to disqualify the prosecutors office, because the damage was at their building at 82 Ionia -- the county owns the building -- and also possibly a change of venue, defense attorney Christopher Dennie said during a court hearing Tuesday, June 16. Dennie is representing Brian Jennings, 30, who is charged with rioting, malicious destruction of a building with damages more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 and breaking and entering into a building with intent to commit a crime. The charges stem from the downtown riot on May 30 that followed a peaceful protest over police brutality and racial injustice. Since May 30, the city has seen a number of additional protests, all peaceful. Jennings was one of five defendants charged with rioting that had court hearings Tuesday before Kent County District Judge Nicholas Ayoub. Dennie told MLive that the motions to disqualify the prosecutors office and change the court venue to another county are to ensure Jennings receives fair treatment. He cited damage to Kent County property, as well as the impact of the riots on the Grand Rapids community, during the alleged crimes as reasons for the potential venue change and disqualification of the county prosecutors office. We want to make sure that my client is getting a fair trial and can get a fair trial, Dennie said. Once the disqualification motion is filed, the Kent County Prosecutors Office can then agree to or oppose the motion. If opposed, a judge will then decide whether to grant the motion or not. The other defendants, or their representatives, in court Tuesday via Zoom were Alexandria Lyons, 22, of Grand Rapids; Chase Spencer, 23, of Grand Rapids; Ronald Raymond, 38, who is homeless, and John Dupree, 23, of Kentwood,. The hearings generally dealt with scheduling preliminary examinations in the cases. Related: Man put burning mannequin in police car during Grand Rapids riot, police say In all, at least eight people have been charged with rioting from the May 30 unrest. Dennie couldnt say with certainty whether defense attorneys for others charged with rioting will also file motions to disqualify the prosecutors office and change the court venue. In cases where the county is listed as the victim, due to damage to county property, Dennie said similar motions could be expected. I know its being discussed, he said. I do expect there probably will be some similar motions in the other cases. Some other than the accused are alleged to have damaged specific downtown shops. In Spencers case, police allege he damaged Urban Obsession Salon at 44 Fountain St. NW. During the riot, which happened late May 30 and early May 31, about 100 businesses were damaged, seven police cars burned and several businesses were looted. The riot was in response to the May 25 death of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis, who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. City officials last week estimated that damage totals about $448,000 for broken windows to businesses, minor structural damage and graffiti. Related: Grand Rapids riot costs now exceed $2.4 million, per rough estimate Another $300,000 in damages was caused to a sprinkler system at the county facility at 82 Ionia Avenue NW, according to the city. About $1.2 million in overtime, equipment, vehicle and supplies costs were incurred by the Grand Rapids Police Department. Wyoming police are estimating their departments losses -- from five burned police cruisers -- at $325,000 solely for the equipment. Dates are pending on further court hearings for the defendants. Read more: Young woman incited riot on her own Facebook Live video, police say Grand Rapids Community College to waive online course fees next school year Michigan communities awarded nearly $1 million for coronavirus recovery efforts Recently orphaned bear cubs to be released to wild sooner rather than later Nepal plans to increase the number of its border outposts (BoPs) along the boundary with India by 100, from the existing 121 to 221 in the next year, in a move that, while it has been in the works for some time, comes at a time when friction between the two countries is high over a new map approved by the Himalayan countrys parliament that lays claim to territory that has always been with India. The idea is to eventually take this number up to 500, people familiar with the matter said. The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards Indias borders with Nepal, and Indias central intelligence agencies have information that Nepals Armed Police Force (APF), deployed at the border, has already been given approval for an additional 100 border posts by that countrys home ministry. A proposal for taking this number to 500 is under consideration, a top government official said on condition of anonymity. Kedar Nath Sharma, joint secretary and spokesperson at Nepals ministry of home affairs, confirmed the immediate plan in a phone interview from Kathmandu. Yes, we are going to increase the number of BoPs at the Indo-Nepal border from the existing 121 to 221 in the next Nepali fiscal year. I cannot say anything about the further plans. The next Nepali fiscal year is from July 16, 2020 to July 15, 2021. A senior Nepal APF officer who asked not to be named said over the phone that the country is increasing the number of outposts to keep a check on border crimes and to make sure unauthorised persons do not enter the country. Interestingly, some of the outposts are around Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, three of the territories Nepal now claims are its. On Saturday, Nepals parliament voted unanimously to amend its constitution to redraw the countrys political map laying claim over the strategically key areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura.India has termed the decision untenable and in violation of current understanding to hold talks on outstanding border issues. Queries sent to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) and ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Nepals plans for new outposts remained unanswered. Experts are divided on the development, with some saying that erection of more outposts should not be a cause of concern as India and Nepal have a very good working relationship and there has never been a dispute between APF and SSB. Others believe the move is badly timed, given the current situation in the relationship between the two countries. Those subscribing to the first school of thought said India has 533 BoPs of SSB at the 1,751km-long open border with Nepal, and argued that Nepals APF, too, has a right to erect as many posts it wants. A senior SSB officer, who didnt want to be named, said: We (SSB and Nepal APF) guarding forces have a mechanism where commanding officers interact on regular basis, information is shared on network of criminals, human traffickers, counterfeit currency and drugs smugglers and even movement of terrorists. In a one-off incident, Nepal APF fired upon a group of Indian villagers who had entered Nepal in violation of the lockdown underway there, near Sitamarhi (Bihar), killing one person and injuring two. The director general of SSB, Kumar Rajesh Chandra, didnt respond to phone calls or texts seeking a comment. It is in the interest of both countries that the open border between India and Nepal is not used by hostile elements whether for smuggling or trafficking in counterfeit currency or terrorist infiltration. For this, if Nepal APF wants to increase their presence and works in coordination with the SSB, which also has more than 500 BoPs, then I think it is a positive development, Rakesh Sood, former ambassador to Nepal, said. But the timing is bad, said another former diplomat. Manjeev Puri, who has served as ambassador in Nepal, said: India has reacted to Nepal laying claim to Indian territory in a new map in a firm but diplomatic manner, making clear that what the Nepalese have done is untenable. Nepals decision to add more BoPs on their side at this time should not have been done as it adds to an avoidable narrative of escalating tensions. India and Nepal have long-standing people-to-people relations, which need to be strengthened, especially during these unprecedented times of Covid-19. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The timeline of this book stops in 1984, which was published last year, but it is contemporary. Gabriel Garcia Marquez won a Nobel Prize for literature. This book has assorted journalistic writings, opinion pieces and reportage, and is not a book of stories. But in a way, it is. After all, journalists call their reportage a story. The book is factual and takes much narrative licence with facts. It is not necessary to read it as a journalistic reportage. It could be read as fiction. Just as well. With the passage of time, facts embellished by interpretations, with human nature ... Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:07:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close By Ndalimpinga Iita WINDHOEK, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Children in Namibia have customized socializing rules such as play and interaction patterns to curtail the spread of COVID-19 among the young populace. At a far-flung village in Oshana region in the northern part of Namibia, 13-year-old Selma Shikongo interacted with friends. Each one of them wore a mask and kept a distance. "Things are so different now. Not only we wear masks when outdoors, but we cannot touch each other either when we play," said Shikongo Tuesday. The children have since modified traditional plays, folklore and games to suit safety and security measures put in place by the state in efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. "For instance, we do not play with balls or items that require handling with hands. We also came up with new games and rules that restrict touching," she said. Shikongo is not the only one. Ndahafa sheehama lives in an informal settlement. Given the closeness of dwellings, Sheehama and her neighbors resorted to reading sessions, a new activity which has helped them improve their speaking and reading skills. "It is not what we would usually do, but with schools closed, it gets very boring. Reading has become fun. We do not share books at all. But I miss my friends at school," said the primary school learner. The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture closed all schools in March this year after the Namibian President declared a State of Emergency and subsequent restrictions. Only the senior secondary grades have since opened early June. Meanwhile, for Sheehama, despite the restrictions and having to adapt to new circumstances, she said she is also glad that the bars in the neighbourhood in the informal settlement had closed for socialization. "The noise has reduced, and there is calm and order in the community," she added. Moreover, the children attribute their comprehensive knowledge about COVID-19 to local media. According to Shikongo, she and her peers learned much of the preventative information about COVID-19 and state regulations from the local vernacular Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) radio. NBC radio presenter, Venerada Nepembe Daniel, said that the national broadcaster runs a children's program, and the information on various topics shared on the show is pitched at their (children) level. According to Daniel, the program also takes a participatory approach, allowing children to call in live to share their experience as well as testing them on their knowledge about various issues, including COVID-19 pandemic. In the interim, the children said that their primary goals are to keep healthy and adhere to the rules. "We do not wish to get sick or die. So that we have a just society safe for all children," said Sheehama. Namibia had recorded 34 cases of COVID-19, of which 18 cases have recovered. Enditem A woman who lost her partner in a collision that killed seven motorcyclists last year in New Hampshire wants to put a pause on her lawsuit against the company that employed a pickup truck driver involved in the crash. Mediation efforts are scheduled in September in an insurance case involving the company, lawyers for Mary Lou Welch said in court papers recently. They ask to postpone her case until Oct. 1. Welch sued Westfield Transport of Massachusetts for emotional distress following the crash last June in Randolph. Her partner, Albert Woody Mazza Jr., died. Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, who was employed by Westfield Transport, has been charged with seven counts of negligent homicide and pleaded not guilty in the case. Westfield had tried, unsuccessfully, to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the company should not be held responsible for the crash because it hired Zhukovskyy. Since then, the insurer for Westfield, Pilgrim Insurance, filed a petition in federal court in Boston asking a judge to divide liability payments among victims and their families. Pilgrim asked to have its $1 million policy divided for Westfield. The suit details multiple claims. The company said it is unable to determine amounts to be paid and wants the court to decide. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits New Hampshire At Least 6 Killed, 16 Injured in Clashes Between Taliban, Army in Afghanistan - Police Sputnik News 06:00 GMT 15.06.2020 KABUL (Sputnik) - At least six people were killed and 16 others injured in clashes between the Afghan government forces and the Taliban radical movement in the Qaisar district of the northern Afghan province of Faryab, the spokesman for the local police department, Karim Yorsh, said on Monday. "Six Taliban insurgents were killed and 16 others injured in several separate incidents in the Qaisar district over the past 24 hours," Yorsh said, adding that there were also casualties among the government forces and civilians, but not specifying the numbers of those. Nader Saeedi, a member of the Faryab provincial council, said that casualties, including fatalities, among army soldiers counted four. Additionally, two civilians have sustained injuries as a result of the clashes, according to Saeedi. The Taliban have not commented on the matter. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Every soldier wants maximum firepower. Firepower is something that can make the difference between life and death in a battle. It's even better if the firepower is readily portable, so a single soldier can deliver death and destruction anywhere needed. That's why soldiers love the M79 grenade launcher. First used in Vietnam, the weapon has a well-deserved reputation for putting the power of a mortar in the hands of the individual Joe. M79 Grenade Launcher (USAF photo) It isn't a perfect weapon. The 40-mm round the M79 fires sometimes has less-devastating results than a hand-lobbed grenade. But it is a simple weapon to use. First deployed in 1961, the M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot, break-open, shoulder-fired weapon. It is breech-loading and fires a 40 x 46-mm grenade that is easy to load and easy to fire. "The M79 broke in the middle like a shotgun and loaded in the same way," wrote Dean Muehlberg, a Special Forces operator who fought in Vietnam during 1979, in his book War Stories. "They were an awesome and deadly weapon." No wonder the M79 earned the nickname "The Thumper." The M79 uses a "high-low" propulsion launching system that reduces recoil and increases its effective range to up to 400 yards. It also extends the "reach" of an infantryman. Designed to bridge the effectiveness between the maximum range of a hand grenade and the minimum range of a mortar, the M79 quickly proved its effectiveness during the Vietnam War. A Marine stands watch in a bunker at a petroleum-oil-lubricants (POL) storage facility near en:Howard Air Force Base in Panama. Set on the sandbags are an M249 squad automatic weapon (SAW) and an M79 grenade launcher. (Photo by SSGT Laird/DoD) U.S. soldiers and Marines could usually shoot grenades best at targets from 150 yards to 300 yards away. Small infantry units benefited the most from the M79 because it increased the destruction they could inflict on enemy targets such as Viet Cong bunkers and redoubts. The M79 was not only used throughout the Vietnam War but remains in the arsenal to this day. During the early years of the Iraq War, there were Marine convoy units that carried the M79 to destroy IEDs at a comfortable distance. An explosive round from the grenade launcher often did the job of keeping a road clear more quickly and safely than calling in bomb disposal units. U.S. special operators also reportedly keep the M79 on hand because it remains a simple and accurate means of destroying an entrenched adversary even though the M203 rifle-mounted grenade launcher was first introduced into the arsenal in 1969. The M79 also fired flechette rounds, known as Beehive Rounds because of the sound they made when traveling down range, that dispensed 45 small darts in a plastic casing that could shred flesh and bone when they hit the target point first. Unfortunately, many times the flechettes simply bounced off the target. M79 loading (USMC photo by Sgt Brannen Parrish) It can also fire buckshot, smoke, and tear gas rounds. In Vietnam, the M576 buckshot round replaced flechettes, producing far more lethal results. The grenade launcher also has the capability of firing less-than-lethal rounds for crowd control and riot suppression. Used by police forces around the world, the M79 is often used to fire sponge rounds or rubber-coated crowd dispersal rounds to break up mobs and restore order. Time tested, the M79 is proof that newer isn't always better. More articles from We Are the Mighty: 8 Awesome Things About the 'Sniper' Movies 4 ways to avoid getting your ass kicked by Seal Team 6 How Desert Storm changed modern aerial warfare We Are The Mighty (WATM) celebrates service with stories that inspire. WATM is made in Hollywood by veterans. It's military life presented like never before. Check it out at We Are the Mighty. More than 100 Pennsylvanians participated in a virtual climate rally on Tuesday, joined by five members of the General Assembly to set forth goals for anti-climate change legislation. PennEnvironment hosted an online lobby day, where climate activists across the state can virtually meet with lawmakers and climate experts. The group outlined three key policies they want to see Pennsylvania lawmakers prioritize. The group called for a state partnership with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, an alliance of nine New England and Mid-Atlantic states to cap carbon dioxide emissions. The lobbyists want to see legislation that would work to transition the state to use 100% renewable energy. A bipartisan bill that would help to achieve this was introduced in the state Senate last year. They called for the passage of the Pennsylvania Clean Transportation Infrastructure Act, which made it through the Senate in December 2019. Senate Bill 596 would fund infrastructure to support electric vehicles. Sen. Katie Muth, D-Montgomery County, said that between the coronavirus pandemic and racial injustices coming to fruition across the country, people are beginning to pay more attention to state government. She said now is a good time to try and educate people on environmental inequality and how much waste and pollution Pennsylvania emits. Theres a lot of conversation about what going back to normal looks like, Muth said during the virtual rally. Normal for us wasnt so good here in Pennsylvania. Rep. Wendy Ullman, D-Bucks County, said in order for the state to reach the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, its crucial that Pennsylvania joins the RGGI partnership. RGGI requires power plants to pay for the costs of capping carbon dioxide emissions, such as paying for electric-power generators and other allowances. Power plants must purchase an allowance at each quarterly auction for each ton of carbon dioxide they emit, and proceeds from the auction are given back to the participating states. Gov. Tom Wolf issued an executive order last fall that would admit Pennsylvania to the alliance. The state House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a hearing in February on the proposal and members of the Small Business Association said fees placed on power plants could have detrimental effects on the cost of energy for small businesses. Committee Chairman Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler County, strongly opposes the RGGI partnership and suggested during the hearing that it would negatively impact industry jobs throughout the state. Until the Wolf Administration can honestly move beyond the realm of zero answers, uncertainty and non-transparency as to how the RGGI process would proceed, Pennsylvania taxpayers and job-creating energy producers have every reason to question whether our tax dollars are being spent in an appropriate manner by executive agencies such as the DEP, Metcalfe said in a February statement. The House Environmental Resources and Energy last week passed House Bill 2025, which would reinforce that legislative authorization is required before Pennsylvania could join any cap-and-trade, carbon tax-imposing emissions program such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Pennsylvania ranks 38th in the country for having an overall good natural environment and is above the national averages for industrial toxins and drinking water violations, according to U.S. News and World Report. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a large industry in the state that greatly contributed to water pollution. Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, highlighted the racial disparities in environmental issues, saying people of color are more likely to live near sources of pollutants and that climate justice is racial justice. The impact of our inactions is not going to be felt equally, Kenyatta said. We have systems that are deeply broken. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Religious events in the region are allowed on condition that there is no more than one person per 10 square meters. Ukraine's Ivano-Frankivsk region has toughened COVID-19 lockdown rules after the restrictive measures were previously loosened. The decision was enforced by the regional commission for biosecurity and emergency situations following a special meeting on June 16. Read alsoNumber of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine exceeds 32,400 on June 16 In particular, the work of the following facilities in the region will be suspended again: Institutions of physical education and sports, gyms, fitness centers; Cultural institutions, yet visitors may be admitted by decision of the owner (a governing body), this concerns cultural events as well, provided there is no more than one person per five square meters of the area in the premises where an event takes place. In addition, religious events in Ivano-Frankivsk region are allowed on condition that there is no more than one person per 10 square meters during an event. Prior to this, the decision to strengthen quarantine-related restrictions was taken by Zhytomyr region's authorities. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's Health Ministry said the city of Kyiv and 10 Ukrainian regions were not ready as of June 14 for the further easing of the coronavirus-related quarantine. Ukraine introduced an adaptive quarantine model from May 22. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) Transport authorities have identified around 100 jeepney routes that will open once Metro Manila's general community quarantine is lifted. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra told lawmakers at a congressional hearing on Tuesday that they will soon release a circular identifying the routes that jeepneys can service. "We have identified 100 or 104 rationalized PUJ (public utility jeepney) routes to be opened once the GCQ is lifted or after the bus routes," Delgra said. "We're looking at on or before the end of the month, because 'yung routes na-identify na, 'yung numero na-identify na." Delgra said jeepneys will be allowed to operate in areas where no rail and bus services are available. The Department of Transportation previously said that the resumption of mass transport in the country's capital region will happen in two phases, starting with the return of rails and trains from June 1 to 21 but on a limited capacity. In the initial plans of DOTr, modern jeeps will be allowed starting June 22, as part of the second phase. DOTr Senior Transport Consultant Bert Suansing previously said some traditional jeepneys not all 55,000 jeepney units in Metro Manila will be allowed to operate in areas that can't be served by buses and modern jeepneys. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Jojo Garcia said travel time is expected to be faster once the dedicated bus lane along EDSA is finished. Garcia said the bus lane will allow for the carousel-type movement of public utility buses on EDSA, which means less traffic for commuters. CNN Philippines' correspondent Xianne Archangel contributed to this report. Is the wait finally over? According to actor Don Diamont, it looks like The Bold and the Beautiful is headed back in production and could be the first soap opera to do so. Diamont announced the information on social media, meaning the show must have cleared all of its guidelines to return to set, as long as the proper protocol is in place. Don Diamont | Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic A report said in May that the show would go back in June Both The Bold and the Beautiful and its sister soap, The Young and the Restless airing rerun-themed weeks as their productions, just like all of Hollywood, have been suspended. Since they ran out of daily episodes, the rerun weeks were put in place to have content. A may report from Deadline said that The Bold and the Beautiful in particular could return possibly return in June. The report stated, I hear the soaps cast and crew this week received a new memo, informing them that The Bold and the Beautiful production company is currently getting ready to resume production in June. Sources stressed that this is just a projected start date and, while the producers are making preparations, the situation remains fluid. To resume filming, safety protocols had to be in place by several entities, including the City of Los Angeles and the state of California. Protocols would also have to be signed off and cleared by the Hollywood unions. The state of California recently lifted restrictions on filming recently, clearing the path for things to return. Don Diamont posts that the show is back in production Actor Don Diamont, who portrays Bill Spencer on The Bold and the Beautiful, revealed in a social media post on Monday that the show was back in action. RELATED: The Bold and the Beautiful: 4 Characters Who Should Return to the Show When Production Resumes The actor wrote on Instagram, HERE. WE. GO. Every bit of safety protocol imaginable is in place, and @boldandbeautifulcbs is back in production!!! LETS ROLL!!! Some of his co-stars commented, including Katrina Bowden, who said, Ayy! See you soon! The show has yet to officially announce that production has restarted. However, given the fact that Diamont posted this message and co-stars like Bowden co-signed it, it looks like only a matter of time before the official announcement comes down. Fans were excited on social media but also are hoping that the show is actually ready to return. Is it 100% safe for them? If not, Id rather keep watching repeats. The actors safety comes first, said one fan. Thank God. I have been really sad and depressed without watching soaps, a fan commented on Diamonts Instagram. Someone else added, Yasssss!!!!!!! Finally, the reruns are getting a little tired. Black parliamentarians and more than 100 allies from a range of political parties have signed a detailed declaration demanding governments take immediate action to eliminate systemic racism, the Star has learned. Citing recent videos of police violence that have surfaced in North America in recent weeks, the caucus said its not interested further discussion, but concrete and immediate actions by all levels of government to address systemic racism. The statement, to be made public early Tuesday, asks that governments begin measuring the pervasiveness of discrimination through race-based data, and that they meaningfully address the barriers faced by Indigenous and Black people when seeking security and justice in Canada. The Afro Canadian community has spoken for many years and is no longer interested in continued consultation or study, said a statement signed by the caucus Monday night, which includes parliamentarians from the Senate and House of Commons who are Black or allies to the Black community. The move increases pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to move beyond promising action to introducing concrete measures. It comes after several days of negotiations and consultations between the group of Black parliamentarians and community groups over what precise actions the government should take. The Conservatives were not approached to sign the document because organizers were dismayed that leader Andrew Scheer has dodged questions about whether he believes systemic racism exists in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly promised concrete action since the death of George Floyd prompted widespread protests across the United States. In Canada, marches were organized following the death of 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who fell to her death from her 24-storey balcony on May 27 while Toronto police were present. Trudeau joined protesters in Ottawa this month by taking a knee in solidarity, but questions about what kind of action, and demands for details, have been growing louder. The signatories say a standing committee focused on the strategy to eliminate systemic racism needs to be created in Parliament immediately. To address barriers to assessing public security, the caucus calls for a fundamental reform to the way police, public security, border security, corrections, and military forces operate in Canada. Many Black voices are calling for the defunding and demilitarization of the police, they wrote. This is a call for the complete reimagination of the roles and responsibilities of policing and, accordingly, the reallocation of budgets. The budgets need to be directed instead towards social services for those who need them and mental health workers trained in non-violent intervention and deescalation, they said. The caucus also suggests the creation of a justice strategy created in collaboration with Black Canadians who have experience and expertise on criminal justice issues. The strategy would include the elimination of mandatory minimum sentencing measures, the opening of restorative justice programs and community justice centres as an alternative to imprisonment, and addressing the lack of representation of Black Canadians and Indigenous people in the justice system. The signatories are demanding the federal government immediately begin the collection of disaggregated race-based data in police encounters, public sector workplaces, and in the federally regulated private sector. Formal mechanisms are needed to track Canadas progress, they wrote, mentioning the need for oversight bodies who can track the progress of the measures being taken. An anti-Black racism directorate in Privy Councils office could also be created to oversee the process. Public administrations also need to reflect the diversity of the constituents they represent, the letter said. More can be done to assist Black-owned and Black-run businesses, and to recognize and support the economic and artistic contributions of Black people throughout Canada, they said. The reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic proves that governments can act quickly and ably in crisis. Black Canadians are in a state of crisis: it is time to act. Words and symbolic gestures, while important, are not enough., the caucus wrote. Miriam Lafontaine is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @mirilafontaine An Aboriginal activist and former MP wants the state of Victoria to change its name under a new treaty with Australia's First People. Lidia Thorpe, who represented the Greens in the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 2017 and 2018, is calling for the change because the state is named after British Empire ruler Queen Victoria. 'Anything that's named after someone who's caused harm or murdered people, then I think we should take their name down,' she told The Herald Sun. Lidia Thorpe is honoured during a traditional smoking ceremony by Aboriginal Elders on the steps if Parliament House in Melbourne in November 2017 Ms Thorpe thinks Victoria should be renamed over its association with Queen Victoria (pictured) Ms Thorpe, the first Aboriginal woman to be elected to the Parliament of Victoria, believes Indigenous groups and the state government should consider the idea during treaty talks. 'It could even stay the same if that's what people want, if that's part of the negotiation outcome of a treaty where everyone gets to understand both sides,' Ms Thorpe said. Her comments come as Black Lives Matter protests spark calls to tear down monuments linked to Australia's colonial past across the country. City of Melbourne councillor Nicholas Reece said monuments dedicated to Melbourne co-founder John Batman could be up for review through his hand in hunting Aborigines in Tasmania. Ms Thorpe believes a rename of the state should be considered during treaty talks between the state government and indigenous groups City of Melbourne councillor Nicholas Reece said statues for John Batman could be reviewed in light of his history hunting indigenous people in Tasmania 'There's a number of monuments and statues to John Batman in Melbourne, and I think there's a case to be made around perhaps them being given a less prominent place in our city,' he told 3AW. A 50-year-old statue of Captain Cook in Cairns is under threat after activists petitioned for it to be torn down over the British Royal Navy captain's treatment of Aboriginal people when his ship landed in Australia. The petition claims the statue is a 'slap in the face to all indigenous people', saying Cook's legacy was one of 'forced removal, slavery, genocide and stolen land'. Two other statues of the explorer, both in Sydney, have already been defaced as Black Lives Matter protests shine a light on racial inequality. There are growing calls for statues of Cook to be removed, though Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended the explorer's legacy and controversially declared there was 'no slavery in Australia' - a comment he has since apologised for. The petition for the Cairns statue to be removed, signed by more than 12,000 people as of Tuesday morning, reads: 'Since 1972, the James Cook statue on Sheridan Street has stood as a symbol of colonialism and genocide. The Captain Cook statue in Cairns (pictured) has stood since 1972, but protesters want it to be taken down A worker paints over graffiti on a Captain Cook statue in Sydney (pictured on June 15) after the second such act of vandalism amid recent anti-racism protests 'It's a slap in the face to all indigenous people. 'For us it represents dispossession, forced removal, slavery, genocide, stolen land, and loss of culture - among many other things. 'I am calling on Cairns Regional Council and Cairns Mayor Mr Bob Manning to take action today and remove this statue. This would be a huge step forward in uniting the community and honouring our First Nation's people. 'I also call on non-indigenous Australians to stand with us. The #BlackLivesMatter movement is as urgent here on your own doorsteps as it is on the streets of Minneapolis. 'For you to demand the removal of this offensive and outdated statue shows your willingness to look Australia's ugly history right in the eye, and say no more.' Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton told 9News he wants the statues to stay. Black Lives Matter protests in Australia (pictured on June 6 in Melbourne) have focused on the inequalities faced by indigenous Australians 'I don't think ripping pages out of history books and brushing over parts of history you don't agree with or you don't like is really something the Australian public is going to embrace,' he said. 'There are good and bad parts of our history. You learn from that.' Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has also voiced his support for the statues to stay. 'You can't rewrite history, you have to learn from it,' he told Sydney radio 2GB. 'The idea that you go back to year zero of history is in my view, just quite frankly unacceptable.' Mr Morrison has previously said he wanted to help the public to gain a better understanding of Captain Cook's historic voyage. 'That voyage is the reason Australia is what it is today and it's important we take the opportunity to reflect on it,' Mr Morrison said. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREANorth Koreas military on Tuesday threatened to send back troops that it had withdrawn from areas near the South Korean border, in the Norths latest warning that it was prepared to abandon the detente that has prevailed on the Korean Peninsula for two years. In recent weeks, North Korea has declared its intent to reverse steps that both sides have taken over the years to ease tensions along the heavily-armed border. Last week, the North referred to the South as an enemy, accusing it of reneging on a 2018 agreement to stop sending propaganda across the border. The North Korean Peoples Army said on Tuesday that it had been asked to develop an action plan to turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten the military vigilance against the South, according to a statement published by state media. It said the plan would involve returning soldiers to areas that had been demilitarized under past agreements with the South. Sending more troops to the border already the most heavily fortified in the world is guaranteed to raise tensions with the South. But in saying that the move was in the planning stages, the North seemed to be leaving room for compromise. The North reacted with anger this month to propaganda campaigns carried out by activists in South Korea, who have used balloons to send leaflets over the border denouncing Kim Jong Un, the Norths leader, and his repressive government. South Korea, hoping to keep the peace, has vowed to stop the balloon launches and is planning legislation that would outlaw them. In its statement on Tuesday, the North Korean military said the North was prepared to start sending its own propaganda leaflets into the South. The threatened North Korean troop deployment would involve areas near the border that have been demilitarized since 2000, when the two Koreas leaders met for the first time. Monday was the 20th anniversary of that summit meeting. Under those agreements, the North withdrew some of its frontier military units to make way for roads linking South Korea to Diamond Mountain a resort destination in the North, which became the site of an experiment in inter-Korean tourism and to Kaesong, a North Korean town near the border where the two Koreas jointly operated an industrial park. Both projects were part of the Souths Sunshine Policy of improving ties through economic co-operation, which led to the 2000 meeting between Kims father, Kim Jong Il, and then-president Kim Dae-jung of the South. But that good will soured over the years as North Korea continued to develop a nuclear arsenal, and the two projects were eventually shut down. The Koreas relations warmed again in 2018, when Kim Jong Un and the Souths current president, Moon Jae-in, met twice. They agreed to stop cross-border propaganda, and they set a goal of resuming the Kaesong and Diamond Mountain projects. They also removed more troops from the border area, shutting down some of the guard posts that both Koreas maintain within the so-called Demilitarized Zone that separates them. But acrimony has returned in recent months. Kim Jong Uns diplomacy with United States President Donald Trump collapsed last year, frustrating his hopes of winning relief from tough international sanctions imposed on the North over its nuclear weapons. He has since stepped up pressure on the South to move ahead with the Kaesong and Diamond Mountain ventures, both of which had brought the North much-needed hard currency. Under the 2018 agreements, however, those joint projects were to be resumed only as part of a broader deal to denuclearize the North. The Souths refusal to proceed with them regardless has led to increasingly harsh rhetoric from the North, whose economy, already suffering under the sanctions, has been damaged further by the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, North Korea cut off all communication lines with South Korea, including military hotlines, and said it would expand its nuclear weapons capabilities. On Saturday, Kim Yo Jong, Kims sister and a prominent adviser, said the North should no longer trust the trite language coming from Moons government. I feel it is high time to surely break with the South Korean authorities, she said, adding that the next step would be taken by the North Korean military. On Monday, Moon marked the 20th anniversary of the Koreas first summit meeting by saying that the road to peace was slow and tortuous. He urged Kim not to reverse the promise of peace he and I made before 80 million Koreans. Read more about: The Imo State House of Assembly has been shut down for two weeks following a lawmaker in the state who tested positive for Coronavirus. The Chairman of the State Task Force on COVID-19, Maurice Iwu, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Owerri on Tuesday. Mr Iwu said the assembly had been shut down because of the development to enable the team to fumigate the whole assembly. He said samples of the other 26 legislators and their aides have been taken for testing. The task-force chairman also announced the death of a woman, who died of the virus shortly after being delivered of a set of twins at a hospital in Owerri. Currently, we registered one death of a lady who successfully delivered a set of twins. Also, we have a positive case from the state assembly as such have to collect samples from all house members and their aides. Also, the House of Assembly is to be shut down for two weeks to fumigate the place following a laid down strategic plan, he said. Mr Iwu further explained that the team had embarked on enhanced screening of people to know if they had Severe Acute Respiratory Symptom (SARS). A total of 760 samples have so far been tested in the state with 135 coming out positive. We have 92 active cases while 43 persons have been discharged, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the death of the woman brought to two the number of deaths arising from COVID-19 in the state. COVID-19 is not only a public health crisis but more of a social disharmony hence the need for social harmony through social distancing, Mr Iwu said. He added that there were four persons currently at the Federal Medical Centre isolation centre, four at WODDI centre and some others at other isolation centres. Mr Iwu disclosed that the house of assembly member was isolated with the wife. The chairman urged Imo people to continue to observe the existing protocols of wearing masks, washing of hands with water, applying alcohol based sanitizer as well as physical distancing. (NAN) Italian motorcycle brand Vespa has paired up with Parisian couture house Christian Dior, in releasing the special-edition 946. The two brands, both founded in 1946, are icons in the respective line. But the two brands are connected not just on the founding year, but also "by an unwavering desire to inspire a new, bright and creative vision of the world." The collaboration has reinvented "this spirit of freedom, movement and expression that drives them,." The Vespa 946 Christian Dior scooter was developed as tribute to the heritage of the two houses. Vespa 946 CHRISTIAN DIOR - 2 - HR (1) "A symbol of refinement, this object of desire reflects their shared commitment to the excellence of savoir-faire and virtuoso art of detail," Vespa claimed in its statement. The latest contemporary version of the iconic Vespa 946presented in 2012 in Milanwas designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of Dior womens collections. The scooter is made in Italy, adhering to the exacting standards, commitment and precision of a couture atelier. Echoing the design of the saddle, a top case patterned with the Dior Oblique motifdesigned by Marc Bohan in 1967is specially designed to be fixed on the luggage rack, adding a distinctive allure. A helmet adorned with the same iconic motif rounds out the unique range. These limited-edition creations will launch in spring 2021 in Dior boutiques around the world and subsequently in a selection of Piaggio Groups Motoplex stores. Well, we just hope that those with fine taste in dress and in scooters in the Philippines would have their hands on one of theseif not all the offerings. Photos from Vespa Also read: Vespa PH Launches Vespa Notte Series for Vespa Sprint, Vespa GTS Super Vespa Primaversa S, Sprint S Launched at Makina Motor Show 2019 Say "Ciao!" to the Newest Vespa Primavera S Special Edition The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, on Tuesday, inaugurated an inter-ministerial task force charged with the implementation of the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) in Abuja She said the programme was developed by different government agencies to enhance the effectiveness of government financial activities. The programme is jointly developed by the OAGF, BOF, DMO, CBN, and FIRS in consultations with other stakeholders, and you may recall that GIFMIS is part of pillar 3 of the National Strategy for Public Service Reform aimed at making the Nigerian Public service world-class anchored on optimum service delivery to the citizenry. The overall objective of the government is to implement a computerised financial management information system for the FGN which is efficient, effective and increases the ability of federal government to undertake central control and monitoring of expenditure and receipts in the MDAS as well as Increase the ability to access information on financial and operational performance. It also aims at increasing internal controls to prevent and detect potential and actual fraud, access to information on Governments cash position and improves medium-term planning through Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), she explained. According to her, the inauguration demonstrates governments commitment in ensuring accountability and transparency in the Armed Forces and other paramilitary agencies. She charged the team to look into the concerns raised with regard to full GIFMIS implementation with the aim of addressing them fo ensure successful implementation. According to her, the concerns include military and the intelligence agencies covert operational expenses and other non-regular allowances for personnel and officers which are mainly cash-based. The committee, which was expected to find solutions to the concerns raised, were given three weeks by the minister to conclude and submit their report. Terms of reference The committee is to review the application of GIFMIS in the Armed Forces for budget preparation and review the application of GIFMIS in cash planning. Others include reviewing the application of GIFMIS in the Armed Forces for procurement and commitment management process, among others Meanwhile, in his remarks, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, said the GIFMIS serves as an integral item in Pillar 3 of national asset in public service. According to him, the system has been in place eight years ago, although it is not popular among MDAs, which is why his office is driving the process of managing government resources effectively. The GIFMIS kicked off since 2012 with 93 pilot MDAs and we have over 800 MDAs at all levels who are using it for budget implementation. Today, 105 MDAs deploy all functionalities of GIFMIS effectively. The ministerial task force will see to the implementation of the programme in the armed forces and other security forces of the paramilitary, he said. June 16, 2020 / 11:55 PM IST In new crisis for India, 20 soldiers killed in violent clash with Chinese Army in Galwan Valley Twenty Indian Army personnel including a colonel were killed in a fierce clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, the biggest military confrontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated the already volatile border standoff in the region. The Army initially said on Tuesday that an officer and two soldiers were killed. But in a late evening statement it revised the figure to 20 saying 17 others who "were critically injured in the line of duty and exposed to sub-zero temperatures at the standoff location succumbed to their injuries." Government sources said the Chinese side too suffered "proportionate casualties" but chose not to speculate on the number. It is the biggest confrontation between the two militaries after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La when India lost around 80 soldiers while over 300 Chinese army personnel were killed in the confrontation. The casualties take both sides into uncharted territory at a time when the government's attention is focused on fighting the COVID-19 crisis that appears to be ballooning by the day. "Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020, the Army statement said. It did not say how the casualties occurred and did not mention any firefight between the two sides. Indian military sources said no firearms were used in the clashes and that most of the injuries were sustained following stone-pelting and use of rods by the Chinese side. PTI Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has played down concern that the US will rush to pull thousands of troops out of Germany, saying Washington has made no final decision on when such a withdrawal might take place. President Donald Trump has said he is ordering a major reduction in US troop strength in Germany, from around 34,500 personnel down to 25,000. Members of his own party have criticised the move as a gift to Russia and a threat to US national security. Germany is a hub for US operations in the Middle East and home to its European command headquarters. The US has made it clear that no final decision has been made on how and when, Mr Stoltenberg told reporters on the eve of two days of video meetings between Nato defence ministers, where the issue is to be discussed. Expand Close Jens Stoltenberg (Chris J Ratcliffe/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jens Stoltenberg (Chris J Ratcliffe/PA) Mr Stoltenberg has spoken to Mr Trump about the move and says he is also in contact with Germany. What matters for me is that we maintain credible deterrence and defence and that we maintain the strong link between North America and Europe, he said. He underlined that Washington has increased its military presence in Europe in recent years, and that European allies are spending more on defence. Mr Trump on Monday lashed out at Germany for failing to pay enough for its own defence, branding the Nato ally delinquent for not meeting a goal set in 2014 for members to halt budget cuts and move towards spending at least 2% of gross national product on defence by 2024. Mr Stoltenberg declined to speculate on whether the timing of Mr Trumps announcement had anything to do with the approach of the US elections in November. It should not be thought that there is any walking away from Europe, and Germany Kay Bailey Hutchison The US ambassador to Nato, Kay Bailey Hutchison, said she was not aware of preparations for any possible troop withdrawal. Any kind of actual planning, I think, has not happened yet, she told reporters at a video news conference on Tuesday. I dont think that we have any kind of timeline that we have heard of. She described Germany as a good partner of the US at Nato and said it should not be thought that there is any walking away from Europe, and Germany. Pulling out thousands of troops or transferring them speculation is rife that some of the US personnel might move to Poland could not be done overnight, is likely to take a few months and would be costly. During a visit to Polands capital on Tuesday, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said his government has not been given details about Washingtons plan. He said in Warsaw that Germany is still waiting to see what exactly the US plan entails. He added that that the US military presence in Germany is important not just for Germanys security but also for that of the US and all of Europe. Kerri-Anne Kennerley says she 'can't resist' making politically incorrect statements that have landed her in hot water over her long and lucrative television career. The Australian presenter appeared on Sky News' The Death of the Aussie Larrikin? on Tuesday night, which looks at social media's impact on Australian culture and whether political correctness has killed off humour. The 68-year-old is no stranger to making outlandish comments, perhaps none more infamous than her rant about climate change protesters in October last year. The Australian television presenter appeared on Sky News' show The Death of the Aussie Larrikin? on Tuesday night which looks at social media's impact on Australian culture and society The Studio 10 panel were discussing the Queensland government's plan to introduce tougher sentences for unruly protesters, some of whom glued themselves to roads in Brisbane. Kennerley said she supported tougher sentences. 'Personally, I would leave them all super glued to wherever they do it,' she said at the time. Referring to a protester who attached a hammock to a bridge in Brisbane, she said: 'The guy hanging from the Story Bridge. Why send emergency services to look after or get a moron down? 'Leave him there until he gets himself out. No emergency services should help them, nobody should do anything, and you just put little witches hats around them, or use them as a speed bump. 'Is that wrong? Put them in jail and forget to feed them. Put them in some of the aged care homes around Australia, that would really sort them out.' On Tuesday night, host of the Sky News program Rowan Dean questioned Kennerley about her controversial comments and whether she ever takes a step back before speaking her mind after widespread backlash last October. Kennerley is no stranger for her outlandish comments which land her in hot water 'They really pray I do. They really go, ''Now, you know, maybe, we don't want you to pull back, but you know, maybe'' and I go, ''Oh what the, so fire me!'' she said. 'If I'm on Studio 10 and I'm having a cheeky day, and something like [political correctness] comes up, I can't resist it.' She explained her comments about Extinction Rebellion protests were just a 'joke' and were made because 'I thought they were funny'. The television personality said it's fine if people disagree with her comments, but it becomes a different issue when they become 'vicious'. Kennerley called on the 'silent majority' to 'speak up'. 'There will always be an echelon of society who don't really know you and really want to play darts, and it would seem most of those people use social media,' she said. 'And it's very powerful, but it's also not as big as the silent majority. So silent majority, could you just speak up a little bit? Just a little bit more? Thanks. It'd be very helpful.' The popular television personality said it's fine if people disagree with her comments but it becomes a different issue when they become 'vicious' (pictured at the opening night of Chicago at Capitol Theatre on August 27, 2019) Kennerley was joined by comedians Paul Fenech, Vince Sorrenti and Emma Malik, actor Delvene Delaney, who all agreed 'political correctness is killing the larrikin'. ABC Radio presenter James Valentine described the 'larrikinism of the past was male, quite bullying and was directed at everyone else except themselves'. He said there were never any jokes where the punchline was about a white male and in general larrikinism was bullying. 'The punchline's OK if it's the Aborigine, the woman, the migrant, young people, old people, disabled people, all other religions except their own all that's fine. But that's not larrikinism, that's just bullying, that's just nasty,' he said. Last year, Kennerley came under fire following a heated argument about protests against Australia Day with Yumi Stynes (pictured) who labelled her a 'racist' Last year, Kennerley came under fire following a heated argument about protests against Australia Day with Yumi Stynes who labelled her a 'racist'. Kennerley said Indigenous protesters and their supporters should be more concerned with the dire state of many Aboriginal communities. 'The 5,000 people who went through the streets making their points known, saying how inappropriate the day is - has any single one of those people been out to the Outback, where children, babies, five-year-olds, are being raped?,' she said. 'Their mothers are being raped, their sisters are being raped. They get no education. What have you done?' After a pause, Stynes fired back at Kennerley. 'That is not even faintly true, Kerri-Anne. You're sounding quite racist right now,' she said. Kennerley responded by stating she was offended, but Stynes doubled down on her insult. 'Well keep going then, because every time you open your mouth you're sounding racist.' Im going on no sleep and a bunch of exuberant excitement and I think I was out of line now that I read my text back I apologize, he wrote, adding that he valued the woman and wanted to issue apologies again for my tasteless statements. The woman responded with a lengthy message in which she discussed their work-related disagreement and then said of Mr. Janiceks text: As a woman who stands up and beside other women, I cant just pretend this didnt happen. I cannot support your campaign after what you said. I have integrity, morals and values but, most of all I have self respect for myself and fellow women. I understand, Mr. Janicek replied. But after party leaders met with him on Thursday and pushed him to withdraw from the race, Mr. Janicek showed up unannounced at the staff members house, according to her lawyer, Mr. Powers. The woman was rattled, Mr. Powers added, and did not engage in a conversation with Mr. Janicek or accept his apology. On Friday, Mr. Powers emailed Mr. Janicek to tell him not to contact the woman again or have anyone else contact her on his behalf, and urged him to drop out of the Senate race so as to hopefully prevent any further embarrassment or anxiety. We all expect Mr. Janicek to drop out shortly, Mr. Powers said on Tuesday. One has to be an optimist and an idealist to be a young staffer working on a statewide race for a Democrat in Nebraska. This has been a tough experience for my client. She wants to change the world, not to have to deal with this garbage. Mr. Janicek, a bakery owner, won the Democratic primary last month to challenge Senator Ben Sasse, the Republican incumbent. Nebraska is a solidly red state, and the race is not expected to be competitive. Ms. Kleeb, the state party chairwoman, said the party had received a copy of the texts on June 5, the day after they were sent, and immediately contacted Mr. Janicek to set up a meeting. The meeting happened on June 11, and after party leaders asked him to step down, Mr. Janicek asked for a few days to consider it. The Bombay high court has imposed a cost of Rs5 lakh on an educationist who had sought directions to the state to bear the cost of treating all Covid-19 patients in hospitals across Maharashtra. The court observed it was preposterous to seek such directions at a time when the country is struggling to combat and contain the spread of the virus. A division bench of chief justice Dipanka Datta and justice S S Shinde was hearing public interest litigations filed by educationist Sagar Jondhale and Sarika Singh, a resident of Kurla. The petitions had said the government should be directed to provide free Covid-19 treatment at all hospitals, including private facilities, across Maharashtra. Advocate Anand Jondhale, who appeared for Jondhale, and advocate Varsha Jagdale, who represented Singh, argued that though an official notification dated May 21 had requisitioned 80% of beds in private hospitals and nursing homes for treating Covid-19 patients, the charges that hospitals could seek from patients was resulting in profiteering in the absence of any clear orders. The advocates said the notification allowed hospitals to charge separately for pharmacy and pathology services, which was affecting patients. They said the notification should be declared null and void. The petitioners asked the court to direct the state government to provide free Covid-19 treatment to all citizens in all hospitals, including private institutions, except to those covered by insurance schemes. Advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, along with government pleader Poornima Kantharia, said that due to the magnitude of Covid-19 cases, the prayers of the petitioners were unfounded as the state could not be expected to pay for treatment of all patients. Kumbhakoni said the state is taking all measures to ensure that testing and treatment for the Coronavirus is available to everyone, and the demand for free treatment by the petitioners was misplaced. He said the PILs should be dismissed with costs. After hearing the submissions, the court observed that the demands of the petitioners were frivolous and preposterous and dismissing the PIL filed by Jondhale and directed him to deposit Rs5 lakh with the state government as costs. The court asked Singh whether she wanted to withdraw her PIL and posted the matter for hearing on June 19. - Praye Tietia has gone all on Shatta Wale for saying that all hiplife artistes in Ghana are poor - Shatta Wale had earlier claimed during an interview on UTV that all hiplife artistes in Ghana are poor and that if they do not agree with him, they should come out to fight him - Praye Tietia says he doesnt have a problem with Shatta Wale bragging about his riches but he shouldn't disrespect the hiplife legends Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Praye Tietia, a member of the famous Praye music trio has blasted dancehall king Shatta Wale for saying that all hiplife artistes in Ghana are poor. Shatta Wale had earlier claimed during an interview on UTV that all hiplife artistes in Ghana are poor and that if they do not agree with him, they should come out to fight him. Praye Tietia says he doesnt have a problem with Shatta Wale bragging about his riches but he shouldn't disrespect the hiplife legends. READ ALSO: Couple goals: McBrown and husband step out in style in all-white photo In an Instgram post sighted by YEN.com.gh, Praye Tietia who is popularly known as 'Cartel Big J' advised Shatta Wale to respect the people who sacrificed to pave the way and build the music industry for him and others to join. READ ALSO: No Ghanaian rapper dresses better than him - D-Black brags He also told Shatta Wale to be humble because there are richer musicians such as Davido and Wizkid who despite being rich, do not attack veterans in industry. He also cautioned Shatta Wale to stop looking down on others. READ ALSO: Afia Schwarzenegger flaunts all-grown-up twin sons who look just like her You rich pass all of us, yooo wakaa yati but i can assure you your so called riches wont make top 10 list of rich musicians even in our neighbouring Nigeria here norr sef, so bro enough of the disrespect to Ghanaian artistes, producers, DJs and the entire industry you came to meet, he stated. See the post below: READ ALSO: Ghanaians drool over Nadia Buari's new photo YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Ghanaian Dancehall sensation Shatta Wale had showered praises on actress and TV personality Andrea Owusu, popularly known as Efia Odo despite their ongoing beef. Shatta Wale and Efia Odo have been beefing on social media for some time now and it appears Shatta Wale has had enough of it. In an interview on UTV and monitored by YEN.com.gh, Shatta Wale told Nana Ama McBrown, that Efia Odo is so real. "Not wearing a nose mask is an offence" - Nana Akufo-Addo | #Yencomgh Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! Source: YEN.com.gh Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to identify after a swastika was sprayed onto a black familys garage door in Wales. The racist graffiti was discovered on Saturday morning in the village of Penygroes, Caernarfon, by Margaret Ogunbanwo. Ms Ogunbanwo, who has lived in the village for 13 years, told BBC Wales she believed her family were targeted because they are black. "I thought 'oh no, if somebody is feeling this way, maybe I won't be safe going for a walk'," she said. The mother-of-two has decided not to remove the graffiti immediately, as she says it will serve as a reminder of "the importance of Black Lives Matter". A CCTV image of a man police want to speak to over the incident (North Wales Police ) (North Wales Police) "I'm going to leave that thing up there and let my village see it," Ms Ogunbanwo. "If we wash it away, it's like it didn't really happen and I want people to remember it," she added. Inspector Jon Aspinall, of the North Wales Police, said: At a time when racism is headline news, it is unacceptable for members of our community to be targeted in this way. We treat all hate crime extremely seriously, and if anyone can help us identify this person, it would be greatly appreciated. Local councillor Judith Humphreys paid tribute to those in the community who had offered support to the Ogunbanwo family. "Thank you to everyone who has visited, sent messages and offered help as we stand together as a community, showing our support for our neighbours and friends, the Ogunbanwo family, and say very clearly that racism is totally despicable and against everything we stand for, she said on Monday. After my sisters murder, it was a great shock to learn about Richard Howarths history of violence against other women, Cathy McIntosh tells The Independent. The police knew that he was a dangerous man but no-one properly identified the risk that he posed to Anne Marie, in particular that he had attempted to strangle both her and a previous partner. The police didnt recognise that meant she was more likely to be killed by him. Ms McIntoshs sister Anne-Marie Nield died on 8 May 2016 due to Howarth, her ex-partner who is now serving a life sentence for her murder, inflicting multiple injuries on her. Her family are now urging the government to include the new offence of of non-fatal strangulation in the domestic abuse bill due to believing such an offence could have saved Anne-Maries life. The parliamentary committee examining the landmark legislation debated the new offence which has already gained the backing of 63 cross-party MPs on Tuesday. An offence of strangulation could have protected Anne-Marie and helped officers to understand how dangerous Richard Howarth was, her sister adds. I can only hope that lessons can be learned from Anne-Maries death and future victims of domestic violence can be given better protection and support by the police. Strangulation is known to be a high-risk indicator in domestic abuse cases which result in homicide but the offence is routinely under-prosecuted and is often only charged as common assault which mean it is equivalent to a slap or a blow which leaves a bruise or not charged at all. The amendment to the legislation, which has been proposed by Harriet Harman, a Labour MP, and Mark Garnier, a Conservative MP, to incorporate the new offence in the bill also has the backing of the Centre for Womens Justice, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Victims Commissioner and frontline services helping women fleeing domestic abuse across the country. Sophie Naftalin, a civil liberties lawyer who represented the family of Ms Nield during the inquest into her death, told The Independent it became clear during the inquest that not one of the officers under cross-examination were aware of the specific risks posed by examples of non-fatal strangulation. Ms Naftalin, who specialises in representing families of victims who have suffered domestic homicides, said: Police forces up and down the country do not recognise non-fatal strangulation as being a very strong indicator that the abusive partner will go on and kill the woman. Strangulation is a very gendered form of violence. Women are much more likely to be killed by strangulation than men. It makes the victim feel intensely vulnerable. In every single one of my cases, there is almost always a strangulation which predates the murder. In Anne-Maries case, he was a serial perpetrator of domestic violence. He was charged with GBH for trying to suffocate his ex with a pillow. That was on the Greater Manchester Police log. Then he enters the relationship with Anne-Marie. He put her in a headlock and squeezed her neck. This was disclosed to the police by Anne Marie when reporting another domestic incident but not recorded as a crime in itself. Police did not realise this was a serious risk factor for a future murder. During the inquest, the coroner recognised that this a serious failure on behalf of police and asked GMP to recognise this in their policy. The Centre for Womens Justice, a legal charity that tackles violence against women which is spearheading calls for the offence to be included in the bill, noted strangulation and asphyxiation are the second most common method by which men kill women 29 per cent or 17 per cent after stabbing. Nogah Ofer, solicitor at the Centre for Womens Justice, said: Non-fatal strangulation is a well-known risk factor for serious domestic violence and homicide. It is also frequently used as a tool to exert power and control, and to instil fear. It sends the message that if you do not comply, this is how easily I can kill you. Harriet Wistrich, director of Centre for Womens Justice, added that offenders are getting away with little or no punishment for this terrifying and dangerous offence. Police and prosecutors are not taking this offending sufficiently seriously, she added. A simple amendment to the domestic abuse bill, making non-fatal strangulation a specific serious offence could provide a remedy and help reduce femicide. A distressing new study, which is the first of its kind, released earlier in the month found if a woman has been strangled, the chance of her consequently being murdered surges eightfold. Researchers at Bangor University and doctors at North Wales Brain Injury Service found more than 50 per cent of women subject to routine domestic abuse have suffered strangulation and up to 20 per cent of women who have experienced sexual assault have been strangled. The study found it is common for strangulation to leave no visible indications of injury but victims can go on to suffer symptoms days or even weeks after the incident took place. Researchers found physical repercussions of strangulation can include cardiac arrest, stroke, miscarriage, incontinence, speech disorders, seizures, paralysis, and other forms of long-term brain injury. Sandra, a domestic abuse survivor who did not want her real name used to protect her safety, told The Independent her ex-partner strangled her six times but the police did not take this seriously. She said: He fell in love straight away. He appeared like the most charming, perfect, polite guy. I moved in with him after two months. Straight away the abuse started. I became pregnant. He started getting physical in the pregnancy and started pushing and restraining me. He strangled me six times on six different occasions. He punched me too. There were seven incidents. My daughter was present in the room, in my arms or in his arms, in almost all the incidents. There was also a sexual assault from him. The strangulation was his go to form of abuse. He didnt try and bruise me or break a bone. He tried to stop me from breathing. Strangulation is the ultimate form of control. He gets to decide whether I live or not. I had finger marks on my neck, but it doesnt leave marks for very long. He said hed stop at nothing to bring me down if I left him. He once told me he would set me on fire. Because I was European, I had no rights to housing benefit and had nowhere to go. I got in touch with domestic abuse services and lived in three different refuges in the UK for 22 months. I had to move from one refuge to another because the police accidentally leaked my location and new phone number to my ex. I was moved within 24 hours to a new refuge. Sandra said the shelter for domestic abuse victims found she was at very high risk of murder after doing a risk assessment. She said she immediately reported him for strangulation when she moved into the refuge but the police only treated it as common assault despite the severity and frequency of the abuse meaning Crown Prosecution Service guidelines stipulate it should have been deemed Actual Bodily Harm (ABH). She said her ex-partner walked free and was never found guilty in the criminal courts despite the fact he admitted to strangulation to a social worker in text message and in a statement to the family courts. It is very alarming the authorities did not take it seriously when I was minutes away from being dead, Sandra added. This year I was contacted by his new girlfriend on social media who also did a Clares Law request. I learnt she was a victim of domestic abuse with him too. So he already has a new victim. Clares Law a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme which is named after Clare Wood who was murdered in 2009 enables people to apply to the police to find out if their partner has a history of domestic abuse. Charles Lieber leaves federal court after he and two Chinese nationals were charged with lying about their alleged links to the Chinese government, in Boston, Mass., on Jan. 30, 2020. (Katherine Taylor/Reuters) Harvard Professor Pleads Not Guilty in US to Lying About China Ties BOSTONA Harvard University professor pleaded not guilty on June 16 to charges that he lied to US authorities about his ties to a recruitment program run by the Chinese regime and funding he received from the Chinese government for research. Charles Lieber, the former chair of Harvards chemistry and chemical biology department, pleaded not guilty to making false statements during a video conference held before a federal magistrate judge in Boston. Marc Mukasey, his lawyer, said Lieber, 61, will fight the charges and that the government has this wrong. Liebers case is one of the highest-profile to emerge from a U.S. Justice Department crackdown on Chinese influence within universities amid concerns about spying and intellectual property theft by the Chinese regime. The case centers on Chinas Thousand Talents Program, which U.S. authorities say the Chinese regime uses to entice overseas Chinese citizens and foreign researchers to share their knowledge with China in exchange for perks including research funding. Prosecutors said Lieber in 2011 became a strategic scientist at Wuhan University of Technology in China and from 2012 to 2015 contractually participated in the Thousand Talents Program. Under his contract, Lieber was paid up to $50,000 per month and living expenses of up to $158,000, prosecutors said. He also was awarded more than $1.5 million to establish a research lab, prosecutors said. In exchange, Lieber agreed to organize international conferences, publish articles and apply for patents in the universitys name, prosecutors said. During a 2018 interview with federal investigators, prosecutors said, the nanoscience specialist falsely stated he was never asked to participate in the Thousand Talents Program. When the U.S. National Institutes of Health, which funded his research, asked Harvard whether he had failed to disclose his ties to the program, Lieber had the Ivy League school falsely claim he had not participated in it, prosecutors said. By Nate Raymond Kochi, June 16 : The Kerala Police on Tuesday commenced a probe into the bizarre manner in which a 46-year-old woman died after she hit a glass door at a commercial bank premises, near here on Monday. The video of the incident has gone viral, where one sees Beena Paul rushing back after entering the office of the Bank of Baroda's branch near here. The police, which inspected the premises on Tuesday has already registered a case of unnatural death and has begun a probe into it. The incident occurred after she entered the office. In the video, Beena Paul is seen rushing back after realising that she forgot to take the key from her two-wheeler. As she turns and rushes out, she hits the glass door. The glass door on the impact breaks and as she falls, the shattered glass pieces pierce her abdomen. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital within five minutes where she passed away. The woman and her husband run an electrical shop nearby. The police will investigate whether the glass used to make the door was the specified one and to ascertain that, it will be sent for scientific examination. The couple has three children. By Kay Johnson and Panu Wongcha-um BANGKOK (Reuters) - Protests flared in Bangkok on Monday against the suspected kidnapping of a Thai activist in Cambodia which has reignited protests against Thailands military-royalist elite, with some online questioning a law banning criticism of the monarchy. Small student protests over the banning of a youth-oriented opposition party had bubbled up before the coronavirus pandemic, but were stopped by government restrictions during the health crisis. Now anger is building again around Wanchalearm Satsaksit, 37, a previously little-known activist who fled Thailand following a 2014 coup. Wanchalearm was abducted by unknown gunmen on Thursday in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, where he had lived to escape criminal charges for criticising the former Thai junta. Dozens of protesters outside the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok demanded an investigation into the disappearance and accused the Thai state of orchestrating his kidnapping, which Thailand's police and government have denied. "I want the Thai government to protect people who are living abroad whether they are political exiles or not," said protester Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters he had no information on the case but that Thailand would discuss it with Cambodian authorities. "This case is their matter," he said. Cambodia's government and police were not available for comment. They had previously denied knowledge of the incident. At the weekend, posters labelled "Missing" appeared around Bangkok featuring photos of Wanchalearm and other critics of military governments who have disappeared in past decades. The posters were the work of the Spring Movement, a small group of students at Bangkok's elite Chulalongkorn University, group member Pun Thongsai told Reuters. "After Wanchalearm disappeared, we wanted to do something beyond online," said Pun, 26, a maths graduate. "We do not know who directly ordered the abduction, but we can see the ruling elite of this country does not care about this issue. Story continues In recent years, at least eight Thai activists who fled after a 2014 military coup have disappeared (https://www.reuters.com/article/thailand-rights-exiles/rpt-insight-thai-exiles-in-fear-after-murders-and-disappearances-idUSL4N230193) from Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam, with the bodies of two of them later found floating in the Mekong River. Wanchalearm was speaking on his mobile phone to his elder sister, Sitanun Satsaksit, on Thursday, she said. The line was abruptly cut and after 20 minutes of frantic calls, she was told by a friend that her brother had been kidnapped from the street. In a sign that the incident had stirred rare open questioning of the Thai monarchy as well as the government, the hashtag "#abolish112" trended on Thai-language Twitter, used or retweeted more than 450,000 times by midday on Monday. It was an apparent reference to Article 112 of Thailand's criminal code, which makes it illegal to insult the royal family and is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Any questioning of the monarchy's sacrosanct position was once rare in the traditionalist Buddhist society. Several of the missing dissidents had been accused of violating Article 112, but Thai officials denied that Wanchalearm faced lese majeste charges and his sister said he was not an anti-monarchist. The palace has no comment on this issue, an official there said. (Additional reporting by Prak Chan Thul in Phnom Penh; Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Nick Macfie) By Park Han-sol, Park Si-soo A high school student took his pants off and revealed his "private parts" during an online class that he had entered using a stolen ID. Police caught him recently and an investigation is under way. The incident happened on April 22, according to Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency. The student, 18, logged into a two-way online class of a high school using an ID he had secured on a social media platform. Then he took his pants off and left his penis exposed for "dozens of seconds." A teacher hosting the class hurriedly shut the screen and called police. Police confirmed the student did not attend the school and had secured the ID on social media. Police are considering seeking an arrest warrant. ALBANY, N.Y., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstLight, a leading provider of fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, cloud computing, unified communications, advanced technologies and construction services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast, announced today that it has been selected by Tessy Plastics, a New York-based contract manufacturer, to provide a dark fiber solution to connect their recently-expanded Auburn, New York facility. Tessy Plastics, a global manufacturer that specializes in injection molding and custom assembly solutions, has been supplying their product expertise to the market since the 1970s. Headquartered in Skaneateles, New York, Tessy has a total of ten global facilities, six of which are located in Upstate New York and leverage FirstLight for dark fiber and Internet connectivity. Tessy's relationship with FirstLight originated when it was looking to expand its Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") System, requiring a connection to its remote facilities. FirstLight's fiber presence in these remote areas, paired with the services offered and its high quality, locally-based support, made it a natural fit for Tessy. "FirstLight had the fiber backbone we needed to connect our Skaneateles headquarters to our Elbridge, New York location," said Colin Goodale, Information Systems Operations and Telecommunications Manager at Tessy Plastics. "We've expanded our relationship over the years because FirstLight is invested in our success, and the location and quality of their solutions are an important component of our continued growth. As Tessy Plastics continues to broaden its operations, it looks to FirstLight as a trusted partner for connectivity solutions," concluded Goodale. Tessy's latest project includes a production facility in Auburn, New York, where it will leverage FirstLight's dark fiber and enhance its overall network resiliency. The Auburn facility expansion is part of a larger undertaking where Tessy will utilize FirstLight's services to create a fiber ring connecting all of its Upstate New York locations. "We're thrilled that Tessy Plastics has again selected FirstLight for its latest project," said Kurt Van Wagenen, President and CEO at FirstLight. "We value the longstanding, positive working relationship between FirstLight and Tessy, and we're honored that they rely on us for their connectivity needs as they continue to expand their operations." About FirstLight Fiber FirstLight, headquartered in Albany, New York, provides fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, cloud and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast connecting more than 9,000 locations in service with more than 30,000 locations serviceable by our more than 20,000-route mile network. FirstLight offers a robust suite of advanced telecommunications products featuring a comprehensive portfolio of high bandwidth connectivity solutions including Ethernet, wavelength and dark fiber services as well as dedicated Internet access solutions, data center, cloud and voice services. FirstLight's clientele includes national cellular providers and wireline carriers and many leading enterprises, spanning high tech manufacturing and research, hospitals and healthcare, banking and financial, secondary education, colleges and universities, and local and state governments. To learn more about FirstLight, visit www.firstlight.net, or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Media Contact: Maura Mahoney [email protected] SOURCE FirstLight Related Links http://firstlight.net Tension built for days between Florida Department of Health supervisors and the department's geographic information systems manager before officials showed her the door, she says, permanently pulling her off the coronavirus dashboard that she operated for weeks. Managers had wanted Rebekah Jones to make certain changes to the public-facing portal, she says. Jones had objected to - and sometimes refused to comply with - what she saw as unethical requests. She says the department offered to let her resign. Jones declined. Weeks after she was fired in mid-May, Jones has now found a way to present the state's coronavirus data exactly the way she wants it: She created a dashboard of her own. "I wanted to build an application that delivered data and helped people get tested and helped them get resources that they need from their community," Jones, 30, said of the site that launched Thursday. "And that's what I ended up building with this new dashboard." White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx praised Florida's official coronavirus dashboard in April as a beacon of transparency. But Jones has asserted that the site undercounts the state's infection total and overcounts the number of people tested - with the official numbers bolstering the decision to start loosening restrictions on the economy in early May, when the state had not met federal guidelines for reopening. The competing opinions about how to frame Florida's data underscore the importance of access to accurate information about the virus's spread as the state continues to lift restrictions on public life. Among other data-related controversies, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) came under heavy scrutiny after Jones first alleged publicly that the health department was manipulating statistics to support his desire to reopen. The Florida governor's office did not respond Friday to an email seeking comment on Jones's new dashboard.In a previous statement, a spokeswoman for the governor said Jones "exhibited a repeated course of insubordination during her time with the Department, including her unilateral decisions to modify the Department's COVID-19 dashboard without input or approval from the epidemiological team or her supervisors." Jones's allegations about other managers' requests are serious. She claimed they asked her to delete data showing that some residents tested positive for the coronavirus in January, even though DeSantis assured residents in March that there was no evidence of community spread. Jones also alleged that she was asked to manually change numbers to wrongly make counties appear to have met metrics for reopening. Representatives for the Florida Health Department did not respond Friday to a request for comment on Jones's dashboard but provided a statement Saturday after this article published. A department spokesman said the January dates that Jones referenced are not necessarily when a person tested positive for the virus. Those dates could also represent the first day someone came into contact with an infected person or went to a place where she may have contracted the virus, the statement said. "Epidemiologists collect information that informs the Department of Health of an individual's symptoms, contacts and location of where they may have acquired COVID-19," said the spokesman, Alberto Moscoso. "The first date of entry in answer to any question, COVID-related or not, is designated the event date." Many event dates are months before a person became sick, Moscoso added. Despite the differences between the state's dashboard and Jones's dashboard, Jones's site relies on the health department's data. She said she wrote code that pulls information from various reports on the department's website and presents the data in a way that she believes adds more context. Her dashboard also incorporates data from hospitals and from a volunteer organization that maps coronavirus testing sites. On Jones's dashboard, the number of people tested is significantly lower than the official figure. She said the state's number is actually a tally of the number of samples taken - not the number of people tested. Her dashboard said Florida had tested 895,947 people as of Friday evening, whereas the state dashboard listed the number of people tested as more than 1.3 million. Jones's death toll is slightly higher because she counts nonresidents who died while they were in Florida, while the state does not. States take varied approaches in accounting for nonresidents who die there, as well as for residents who die while out of state. The case count on Jones's dashboard is also higher because it includes people who have tested positive for antibodies, or proteins that indicate that the virus has been in someone's body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that antibody tests are not foolproof and that a higher percentage of positive results may be incorrect in areas where few people have had the virus. In Jones's eyes, the divergences from the state's data site were necessary. "If you're creating something that simply presents a very narrow view of a situation that's complex and nuanced but affects everybody's lives, then you're not enabling them to take action, to take some semblance of control over what they're going through," she said of the state health department's dashboard. Jones said she plans to keep her dashboard running, from her home in Tallahassee, for as long as it seems to be useful for residents and she can afford to do so. If a vaccine is developed, she said she wants her site to include information about distribution. The project has been neither easy - Jones said she has been working 12-hour days - nor cheap. To launch the site, Jones said she bought a new computer, upgraded her hard drive and licensed the software that she uses to create the maps. A GoFundMe page had raised nearly $27,000 for her as of Friday evening. While Jones said she is open to talking with the health department about selling her dashboard to the state, she insisted that she did not launch the project out of spite or revenge. "It really is because I had to stop feeling sorry for myself and what happened to me, as unfair as it was, and get back to doing what I wanted to do in the first place, which was help people," she said. - - - The Washington Post's Jacqueline Dupree contributed to this report. The Torridon sandstone in northwestern Scotland preserves six kilometers of river sediment from Precambrian times. But what sort of geological events were able to leave their mark for researchers to find 1 billion years later? Intriguingly, it was not great floods or dramatic course changes -- mostly just the regular crawl of sand dunes across the river bottom. In fact, only a few months' worth. This ordinariness of river deposits, or fluvial strata, has perplexed geologists for the better part of a century. Given just how little of a river's history gets preserved, researchers find it odd that records of the commonplace predominate, rather than evidence of the most extreme events. New research published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, reveals the processes that may finally explain this enigma. The study led by Vamsi Ganti, an assistant professor of geomorphology at UC Santa Barbara, touches on one of the longest running debates in the field of geology: catastrophism versus uniformitarianism. That is, whether the geologic record tends to be influenced more by large, infrequent events or by small but common occurrences. When it comes to river deposits, catastrophism has a pretty intuitive argument. "If the probability that any event is preserved is low, then what is preserved should be somehow special," Ganti explained. However, scientists find this simply isn't true, even though less than 0.0001% of elapsed time is preserved. "That's the reason that we call this the strange ordinariness of fluvial strata," said Ganti, "because it is strange that preserved events are so ordinary even though the time preservation is so extraordinary." River morphology tends to self-organize into a hierarchy of levels, which Ganti and his colleagues believed was the key to understanding this strange ordinariness. Ripples and dunes move across river bottoms on the order of minutes and hours. The movement of sand bars happens over months and years, while rivers meander and jump their banks over years and centuries. At the most extreme end, sea level changes can accelerate erosion or promote sedimentation over the course of millennia. Fortunately, scientists understand how each of these phenomena appear in the stratigraphic record based on modern observations. It turns out that these features vary in size from inch-high ripples to sea-level induced erosion that can scour hundreds of meters of sediment. Ganti and his colleagues built a probabilistic model to test their hypothesis. They found that if all river processes happen at the same scales, only the most extreme events get preserved. However, as soon as they introduced a hierarchy, sediment from ordinary processes began filling in the erosion caused by phenomena one level higher. The mystery was solved. "So long as you have a hierarchical organization in river dynamics, your strata will be ordinary," Ganti said. Scientists have known about these different hierarchical levels in river morphology for quite some time, but no one had directly linked them to the ordinariness of river strata until now, Ganti explained. Before these results, sedimentologists were a bit like early biologists who knew about taxonomy -- species, genera, families, etc. -- without understanding the theory of evolution that explains the dynamics connecting them. Events in one level can build up sediment -- in which case they are preserved -- or they can erode away sediment, which will then be filled in by ordinary events one level lower. So, while some extreme events are preserved, common phenomena dominate the stratigraphic record. Ganti also realized that the relative timeframes over which the levels evolve determine what is preserved. For instance, take the relative rates of river migration versus avulsion, or how often the river jumps its banks. "If your migration is fast and your avulsion infrequent, then you keep reworking your deposits," Ganti explained. These systems tend to preserve only the most extreme channel elevations. "However, when you have an avulsion, you cannot rework that deposit anymore because you've jumped to a new location." With this understanding, scientists can now use strata to compare how fast each level was evolving when a river was actually active. In fact, the results bolster the conclusions of Ganti's previous study, where he had demonstrated that Precambrian rivers could have been similar to the single-channel, meandering rivers we know today. Scientists had long doubted this since there was no evidence preserved in the stratigraphic record. Many argued that such rivers would have needed plants to secure their banks, and land plants had yet to evolve. But rather than having no migration, in truth it's likely that these rivers meandered so often that their strata kept getting erased. Indeed, other scientists have found that rivers in un-vegetated landscapes migrate 10 times faster than those with vegetation. Ganti's findings also have ramifications for the modern world, where climate change and sea level rise are altering the behavior of major river systems. To understand our future, many scientists look at deposits from rivers during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, when average temperatures abruptly jumped 5 to 8 degrees Celsius, comparable to modern climate change. Evidence suggests that rivers were more mobile then, and now we have the tools to determine why. "We know that sediment supply to rivers is changing because of human-induced changes. But what we don't know is what trajectory we are sending rivers on in the long term," Ganti said. "Are we going to just increase migration rates? Are we going to make avulsions more frequent? This difference matters, because it determines the flooding history and where you develop in the decades and centuries to come." ### DERBY Growing up in a family of educators, it was only natural that Jacqueline Nathman chose teaching as her career path. And now the Irving School fifth grade teacher has earned top honors as Derbys Teacher of the Year. Helping set up my mothers classroom each summer and participating in her school community, forever shaped my life, Nathman said. As a teacher, we can become an integral part of someones life. We have the ability to inspire, motivate and simply be a constant presence for a child, Nathman said. It is these ideals that I have grown up with and have been taught that inspired me to pursue a career in education. Both Nathmans mom and aunt were teachers and are now principals in New Haven. Nathman started her career in 2009 at Brennan Rogers School of Communication and Media in New Haven. She came to Irving School six years ago. Being named Derbys top teacher is icing on the cake for Nathman. The children are the reason we all work so hard, she said. They continue to be at the forefront of every decision we make at Irving School. To say the staff at Irving is incredibly dedicated is an understatement. Its a pleasure to work alongside colleagues with the same mindset and passion about education. Irving Principal Aimee Misset said Nathman represents the title well. Jackie is a leader in and out of the classroom, said Misset. Children and adults are drawn to the passion, energy and joy she brings to our school community. Irving School is truly a better place because she is part of it. Superintendent of Schools Matthew Conway echoed the sentiments. Through her energy and incredible personality, she fosters a classroom and school environment that is inviting, respectful of everyones needs and abilities, makes people feel valued and make people laugh, Conway said. Her energy is contagious and makes you want to get up and dance, engage and become part of what she is doing. Speaking of dancing, Nathman said thats one of her favorite things to do with students. Any moment I can have fun with my class and have a dance break is the best, Nathman said. Teaching got turned upside down earlier this year when the coronavirus pandemic shuttered schools, forcing classes online and teachers and students to embrace a new way of doing things. Board of Education Chairman Jim Gildea lauded Nathman for embracing distance learning early on, and doing so with a passion that ensured her students stayed connected and were comforted during the very difficult periods of time when they did not have the day-to-day contact with their teachers. She is a tremendous representative of all the best the Derby school system has to offer. Nathman said she is proud of how her students adapted amid the pandemic. I talk to so many of my students daily, which I have found, is as important to me, as it is for them, she said. They learned new things in an entirely different way, with only a few days notice to this massive shift in learning. I am so proud of my students and the work they have done during this challenging time. Nathman earned her undergraduate degree from Eastern Connecticut State University, graduate degree from the University of New Haven and just completed her sixth year degree in educational leadership from Southern Connecticut State University. Conway also announced Derbys building level teachers of the year: Amy Tancreti, Bradley School; Lisa Russo, Derby Middle School; and Eric OToole, Derby High School. The State Department released a one-sentence statement on Tuesday noting that the U.S. is "concerned" for the future of freedom of expression in the Philippines after a court found journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos guilty of "cyber libel." Why it matters: The case, which Ressa and activists say is a politically motivated prosecution by the Philippines' government, has been monitored around the world because of its implications for press freedom in the increasingly authoritarian country. Ressa and Santos were sentenced to between six months to six years in prison Monday for publishing an article about a businessman with links to the government in 2012. What they're saying: "The United States is concerned by the trial courts verdict against journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos and calls for resolution of the case in a way that reinforces the U.S. and Philippines long shared commitment to freedom of expression, including for members of the press," State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in the statement. Go deeper: Coronavirus is being used to suppress press freedoms globally Several years ago, Forbes named Kylie Jenner the worlds youngest self-made billionaire. She has been turning heads and making millions ever since. Hardly a day goes by that the cosmetics queen, or her Kardashian sisters, arent in the tabloids. In the heat of the Black Lives Matter movement, Jenner is making headlines once again. This time being accused on social media of blackfishing and cultural appropriation. Kylie Jenner and Jordyn Woods | Michael Stewart/WireImage/Getty Images Jenner accused of blackfishing This isnt the first time Jenner has been accused of blackfishing. Fans were unimpressed when Jenner posted a picture on Instagram, which had a strong resemblance to Beyonce. Several years ago, Jenner was called out for blackfishing, when Hunger Games actor Amandla Stenberg replied to an Instagram photo of Jenner wearing cornrows in her hair, accusing her of using Black cultural imagery for her own gain, according to HuffPost. Stenberg challenged the fashion model to use her position of privilege to help address issues relating to racial oppression. Most recently, a photo surfaced of Jenner out and about in Beverly Hills not wearing any makeup. Fans were quick to point out that her skin color was several shades lighter than her usual dark skin tone that is seen in retouched fashion photos. Once again, Jenner was accused of blackfishing. What exactly is blackfishing? RELATED: Kylie Jenner Fans Are Calling Her Out for Blackfishing After Seeing Recent Photos Blackfishing is a problematic trend that appears to be gaining traction on social media. Its a term used to define white women that use makeup, tanning, and photo editing to appear darker. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, cultural appropriation is defined as the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture. This is a common occurrence, and there are ways to share other cultures that are not considered offensive, according to The Atlantic. But, in Jenners case, when she has a Black hairstyle in her photos, she is appropriating the Black aesthetic without highlighting the discrimination that Black people face when they wear the same hairstyles. The biggest issue that people have with social influencers, like Jenner, engaging in blackfishing is that they maintain their white privilege while appropriating Black culture and using it as a fashion statement. Many feel that they are also taking opportunities away from Black people who are themselves trying to attract a culturally diverse brands attention. TikTok and Twitter users are calling Jenner out for not speaking up Jenner continued to get herself in hot water when she tweeted about a Forbes article that came out about her, and fans jumped on her for not using her platform for more important things, specifically the murder of George Floyd. A Twitter user immediately suggested, You could use your platform to speak on things that are happening right now. Jenner responded, I did. This angered social media users on both Twitter and TikTok. @_elliesummer posted an emotional video to TikTok in response to the Tweet, saying, If you were really for the people, you would have said I am, but you said I did, which tells us that you feel like you have done enough, and no bitch you have not. For you to rearrange your whole f**king face to look like us, and for you to have a biracial daughter at home, and a freaking Black baby daddy, you need to be doing more. Numerous Twitter users called for Jenner to open her purse, with one person saying thanks for retweeting one tweet babe it mustve been so hard for you. Another user said about Jenner, I love her lack of energy, go girl give us nothing! Social media is making it clear that Jenner needs to speak up for racial injustices, using her power to promote change in the Black community. As a white woman of privilege, and considering how often she appropriates Black culture, she needs to do more to gain the respect of her followers. Hyderabad, June 16 : The mother of Colonel B. Santosh Babu, who was killed by the Chinese Army in Eastern Ladakh on Monday night, is proud that her son made the supreme sacrifice for the sake of the country. Commanding Officer Santosh Babu, who along with two jawans was killed in the face-off between the two armies during the de-escalation in Galwan Valley, hailed from Suryapet district in Telangana. "I am both sad and proud. My son has laid down his life for the country. As a mother I am sad. He was my only son," said Manjula, fighting the tears. Santosh is survived by his wife, nine-year old daughter and a four-year old son. His parents were shocked on hearing the news of their son's killing on Tuesday afternoon. "Our daughter-in-law is in Delhi and she was informed last night. We received the news in the afternoon," she said. "We were not ready to believe but were told it is true. We have lost our son," said Santosh's father Upender, a retired bank officer. He recalled that Santosh joined the Sainik School in the sixth class. "I wanted to serve in the Army but I could not achieve the goal. I realised my dream through my son. He was very talented and got many promotions in his 15 years of service," he said. Santosh was with 16 Bihar Regiment and was serving on the Indo-China border for the last one-and-a-half years. He had told his parents that he would soon be transferred to Hyderabad, but the process was delayed because of the Covid-19 situation. "I last spoke to him on Sunday night. I asked him about the reports of the two armies pulling back after the talks. He told me not to believe the reports as talks are different and the situation on the ground is different. He said the situation is serious. I told him to take care," said Manjula. - Some thieves have broken into the Wa COVID-19 isolation centre - They reportedly made away with TV sets and mattresses - The thieves were said to have broken the back door to access the room - The centre was constructed by ActionAid Ghana to support the fight against COVID-19 Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Thieves have reportedly broken into the Wa COVID-19 isolation centre and made away with some items. The items include mattresses and television sets. This is contained in a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Citinewsroom.com. Thieves rob Wa COVID-19 isolation centre; steal mattresses and TV Source: UGC READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo deserves 4 more years - Shatta Wale gives reasons in new video According to the Upper West Regional Health Promotion Officer, John Makpeh, the news about the theft was reported to him by the Wa Municipal Health Promotion Officer. He said the incident occurred on Saturday when they had received a monitoring team from the World Health Organisation (WHO). We took them there and upon getting there, I realised that thieves had broken into the facility and made away with a TV and a mattress, Makpeh said. The Wa Municipal COVID-19 centre was constructed by ActionAid Ghana and handed over to the Ghana Health Service about two months ago as a support in the fight against the pandemic. Mr John Makpeh, however, could not confirm if the matter has been reported to the police. READ ALSO: Medikal features Kennedy Agyapong on new song; photo drops The success story of Rocky Dawuni | #Yencomgh READ ALSO: McBrown celebrates birthday of step-son with video; fans praise her good heart Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Republican representative Tom Rice has announced that he contracted coronavirus, just two weeks after appearing on the floor of the House of Representatives, without a face mask. Mr Rice, a congressman for South Carolina, announced that he and his immediate family had contracted coronavirus, in a Facebook post on Monday, according to Business Insider. However, on 28 May, Mr Rice told CNN that he did not feel he needed to wear a face mask while on the House floor, as he could keep a distance of six feet from other representatives. I do wear it sometimes on the floor, Mr Rice told CNN reporter, Manu Raju in May, when asked why he was not wearing a facemask. I make an effort to...stay 6 feet away from folks in accordance with guidelines. And when Im forced into a situation where I cant do that like on a plane I do wear a mask, he added. Recommended Republican opposed coronavirus relief bill because it redefined family In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Rice confirmed that he and his family had contracted Covid-19, and that they were about to end their time self-isolating. I wanted to let you know that all 3 members of our household: Wrenzie, our son Lucas, and I all have the Wuhan Flu. We are all on the mend and doing fine, the congressman wrote. Covid-19 is a serious, sometimes deadly illness. We, however, have fared well, Mr Rice added. In the post, Mr Rice referred to Covid-19 as Wuhan Flu, a term favoured by some Republican politicians, despite it being criticised for enforcing racist associations with the virus. The World Health Organisation (WHO) director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the name specifically does not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease, according to Forbes. He reasoned that having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing. The congressman explained that he got the virus on Monday 8 June, but symptoms for Covid-19 can take up to 14 days to appear, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This means, that despite Mr Rice and his family isolating, it is possible that he was in the House of Representatives with the virus, according to Business Insider. The CDC published guidance earlier in the year, that recommended Americans wear a face mask or covering, when outside and unable to social distance. The virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms, the guidance read. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain...especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many of the shortcomings of our political and economic systems into sharp relief. Forty percent of our small businesses may not survive and 2.6 million jobless claims have been filed statewide since March. Looking ahead, business as usual will not suffice for rebuilding our communities and economy. Experience has taught us that during a recession, homeowners, tenants, and small businesses are more likely to be taken advantage of by large banks and creditors than aided by them. We will need innovative measures to keep our businesses afloat, keep people in their homes, and put people back to work. Public banks are one such solution to our current economic and fiscal disaster. Public banks are banks that are owned and operated by the government. They are common around the world and take various forms from small savings banks like the Sparkasse in Germany, to investment banks like FDR's Reconstruction Finance Corp., which financed the New Deal's infrastructure projects, to the century-old Bank of North Dakota, which primarily partners with community banks in order to support local lending. This role helped earn small businesses in North Dakota more PPP funding than any other state. The United States has a long history with public banks, which Alexander Hamilton was a proponent of. Americans distrusted private finance in the early days of the republic, and for a brief period of time the state of Vermont even banned private banks altogether, becoming one of several states to establish its own instead. The Vermont Legislature declared around 1806, with great prescience, that "Banks have a violent tendency, in their natural operation, to draw into the hands of the few a large proportion of the property at present fortunately diffused among the many. The tendency of banks seems to be to weaken the great pillars of a republican government, and at the same time to increase the forces employed for its overthrow." Since Congress closed the Reconstruction Finance Corp. in the 1950s and ended postal banking in the 1960s, the Bank of North Dakota is the nation's last remaining public bank. Creating public banks in New York would provide several immediate and long-term benefits to help mitigate the worst effects of the COVID-19 economic crash and finance an expeditious recovery. Public banks can leverage deposits to fund infrastructure projects and put New Yorkers back to work. If our Legislature passed the pending suite of bills to tax the rich which were estimated to generate an additional $30 billion per year in revenue and $10 billion were deposited in a public bank, that fund could be leveraged to make $100 billion in public interest loans and investments. Public banks can also underwrite government bonds and extend below-market-rate loans to government agencies, saving local governments millions in transaction fees and long-term interest. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. History has shown us that private banks are unable to finance the recovery we need in times of crisis because they are too busy cutting their own losses. Public banks give more freedom to state and local governments to direct money toward socially useful purposes and can remedy the shortcomings of a private banking system by prioritizing investments in red-lined neighborhoods and struggling small businesses, offering banking services to the unbanked and undocumented, and reinvesting profits in the public coffers. New York almost established its own bank in 1975 in order to help the fiscally strapped New York City government, but the measure failed in the Senate, largely due to the influence of Wall Street lobbyists who wanted control over the city's fiscal future. What followed was one of the darkest decades in New York City history an unprecedented period of public disinvestment, economic decline, and population loss. We can't afford to make the same mistake twice. When the Legislature contemplates bills to address this crisis, public banking should be one of their foremost priorities. John Paraskevopoulos is a community organizer, a paralegal, and a former research assistant with the Just Public Finance project at the Othering and Belonging Institute. Two people suffered minor injuries and two buildings were destroyed Tuesday morning when an explosion rocked Stinson Beach before starting a fire, officials said. Several callers reported a large explosion around 8:49 a.m. in the area of 3468 Shoreline Highway, said Sgt. Brenton Schneider, a spokesman for the Marin County Sheriffs Office. The fire was under control in less than three hours, but two other structures were damaged and part of Highway 1 was shut down for cleanup. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. If you look at the pictures, it definitely looks like a portion of the front of one of the buildings was blown off, Schneider said, referring to photos posted on social media. Now Playing: Firefighters at the site of an explosion on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in Stinson Beach, Calif. Several callers reported a large explosion around 8:49 a.m. in the area of 3468 Shoreline Highway, said Sgt. Brenton Schneider, a spokesman for the Marin County Sheriffs Office. Two people suffered minor injuries and two buildings were destroyed Tuesday morning when an explosion rocked Stinson Beach before starting a fire, officials said. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Video: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Now Playing: CHP responds to a report of an explosion at Stinson Beach. The fire department is on scene and attempting to extinguish the fire. Video: California Highway Patrol The two people who suffered minor injuries declined medical attention. Lute Keep, 44, was asleep at his home across the street when he was woken up so rudely by the blast, he said. My whole cabana shook, he said. I thought it was the big earthquake. I never have heard a sound that loud in my life. I literally fell out of bed. Keep grabbed his phone and ran outside in his underwear to find debris everywhere. He started recording video and taking photos as a fire started and slowly got bigger, its flames threatening a transformer. Eventually firefighters arrived and extinguished the blaze. Now Playing: A view by drone of firefighters at the site of an explosion on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in Stinson Beach, Calif. Several callers reported a large explosion around 8:49 a.m. in the area of 3468 Shoreline Highway, said Sgt. Brenton Schneider, a spokesman for the Marin County Sheriffs Office. Two people suffered minor injuries and two buildings were destroyed Tuesday morning when an explosion rocked Stinson Beach before starting a fire, officials said. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Video: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle The explosion shattered windows of several buildings on the same side of the street, Keep said, adding it was fortunate no one was severely injured. Luckily, it was a Tuesday in Stinson Beach, he said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. A dozen Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers lost power around 10 a.m. due to the incident, said Deanna Contreras, a utility spokeswoman. The company does not have gas customers in Stinson Beach. The incident caused significant damage to our electrical equipment. PG&E is working with first responders to make the area safe, Contreras said. Electric crews will be in the area of Calle Del Mar and Shoreline Highway repairing equipment throughout the day. Fire officials said Highway 1 was closed at Stinson Beach due to the explosion and a multi-structure fire. Fire under control, but cleanup expected to last most of day. Avoid area, officials said. Shaneeka Montgomery-Strickland was attempting to exit a Kroger parking lot when an "irate" white customer, she says, stood behind her vehicle and refused to let her leave. The mother of three live-streamed the incident on Facebook, showing viewers how the white woman had positioned herself and a young child behind the bumper of the car. Eventually, police arrived on the scene and both women gave statements to officers. Montgomery-Strickland described the incident as "about the craziest thing" she'd ever experienced, pointing to racism as the cause of the encounter. Online commenters have now dubbed the white woman in the video "Kroger Karen." Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Shaneeka Montgomery-Strickland filmed the encounter and live-streamed it on Facebook. Shaneeka Montgomery-Strickland/Facebook As social media posts capturing the problematic behavior of white women continue to circulate online, one Michigan woman has earned herself the online nickname "Kroger Karen" after standing behind a Black woman's car in a Kroger parking lot and blocking the fellow shopper from exiting the premises. Shaneeka Montgomery-Strickland was grocery shopping with her three children at the Kroger in Livonia, Michigan on Saturday when a white woman (with a young child in tow) stood behind her vehicle and refused to let her leave the parking lot. The confrontation, Montgomery-Strickland told FOX 2 Detroit, began inside the store when her son stepped on a shelf to reach a bottle of Gatorade. The other woman, upset by the boy's behavior, began yelling. "It was irateness," she said of the shopper's mood. The situation escalated in the parking lot when the woman, who was pushing a young girl in a stroller, approached Montgomery-Strickland a second time and called her a "b----." Montgomery-Strickland began streaming the incident on Facebook Live and the clip has stirred up outrage online. "I have a woman standing behind my car telling me I cannot leave. This is ridiculous," she said in the video, panning over to the white woman standing next to the rear bumper of her vehicle. "I'm out here trying to do my job, me and my kids do you see this lady? Standing here behind my car refusing to leave." Story continues Montgomery-Strickland added that she'd called the police in an attempt to get the woman to leave. "All this stuff going on out here protesting and everything and this is what this woman is doing," she said in the live-stream. "You cannot hold me here! You cannot hold me at a store!" When police arrived on the scene, the woman quickly approached them and can be seen gesturing towards Montgomery-Strickland and her children, expressing her displeasure with being recorded. In the remainder of the video, Montgomery-Strickland and a Kroger employee appeared to give statements to the police, and one officer can be heard saying "there's no law that's been broken, though" although it's unclear whether the officer was referring to the blocking-in of the vehicle or the recording of the incident. In a follow-up live-stream from her car, Montgomery-Strickland described the incident as "about the craziest thing [she'd] ever ever experienced," although she discouraged her sons from name-calling. "I don't like how she talked to me, I don't like how she talked to my kids. And I refuse to shop in a place of business and have somebody act like that," she said in the video. "I hate that the kids had to see that, but now they see. They were, like, 'that lady is racist' and I say 'yeah, she is,' because there was no cause for it... She basically attacked us without putting her hands on us." In just three days, the videos have been viewed thousands of times and racked up comments from viewers outraged by the latest "Karen's" behavior. "Another Karen," one commenter wrote. "Literally losing their minds out there." "White privilege is being able to storm up to an officer while he is getting out of his vehicle and vulnerable..." another wrote. In the comments section, the mother of three added that she did not have the "Karen's" name, but personal information was included in the police report. She also claimed that the store's security guard stood outside "doing nothing" while the incident took place. Montgomery-Strickland said that, despite the woman's objections, filming the incident was important. This needs to be known. You can't just, like hush, hush about everything and keep on letting people get away with nonsense," she told FOX 2 Detroit. "I've gotten a lot of responses. People are very angry and upset about it because they say it makes no sense. What is wrong with people? Why are they still out here doing this after all that's going on, all the changes we're trying to make? After Black Lives Matter? It makes no sense." Representatives for Kroger did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Related Video: What Stress Does to Your Brain and Body Read more: A woman dubbed 'coughing Karen' is being called out online for coughing on patrons at a NYC bagel shop after being told to put on a mask How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme A white couple called the police on a man for stenciling 'Black Lives Matter' in chalk on his own property Read the original article on Insider Haiti - NOTICE : Closings of the sand quarries at Morne a Cabris Abner Septembre the Minister of the Environment and Nader Joiseus Minister of Public Works notify the general public and those concerned in particular (Entrepreneur-operator, transporters, worker and others) that following the visit carried out on June 12, in Morne a Cabris https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31031-haiti-politic-the-prime-minister-visits-works.html with Prime Minister Jouthe, the sand quarries in operation in this place, are closed and will remain closed until further notice. Remember that the quarries of Morne a Cabri were already banned in January 2018 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23300-haiti-notice-suspension-of-extraction-of-sand-at-the-morne-cabri.html The purpose of this closure is to curb the anarchic and abusive exploitation of the sites in question, which endangers the lives of workers, the environment, the electricity pylons and the National Road number 3 among others... The Minister Septembre, specifies that the General Direction of the National Agency of Protected Areas (ANAP) is authorized to deploy agents of the Brigade of Surveillance of Protected Areas (BSAP) on the sites concerned in Morne a Cabris in order to enforce this State decision. Entrepreneurs who operate the sand quarries at Morne a Cabri are invited to collaborate and fully respect this closure measure, which takes effect from Monday, June 15, 2020, from 11:00 am. They are also invited to contact the either of the two ministries from June 19, 2020, for matters that concern them. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31031-haiti-politic-the-prime-minister-visits-works.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23300-haiti-notice-suspension-of-extraction-of-sand-at-the-morne-cabri.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23422-haiti-security-towards-a-more-rational-and-safe-exploitation-of-quarries.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22399-haiti-environment-89-of-quarries-are-illegal-in-the-west.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9566-haiti-environment-illegal-exploitation-of-quarries-and-rivers.html HL/ HaitiLibre Donald Trumps resumption of his signature campaign rallies this week is intensifying criticism of his response to the biggest domestic crises of his presidency: The deadly coronavirus pandemic and widening protests over police brutality against Black Americans. The June 20 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is shaping up as a nightmare scenario for public health officials. Trump plans to address supporters inside an arena that holds nearly 20,000 people, with no special capacity limits, despite concern that crowded, indoor events are ideal for transmitting the coronavirus. The campaign plans to give a mask and hand sanitizer to everyone who attends -- and require them to agree to a waiver absolving the campaign of liability if they get sick. Trumps choice of venue and date are also proving fraught as he confronts the national outcry that has followed the death of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis police custody last month. Tulsa was the site of one of the worst episodes of racial violence in U.S. history -- the 1921 Tulsa massacre, when a White mob sacked a prosperous Black neighbourhood. While Trump has conceded an error in the scheduling -- he bumped the rally a day to avoid holding it on Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery -- he is pressing ahead undaunted, and has said he plans to hold more of the events in other states with rising coronavirus cases, including North Carolina and Arizona. To have an indoor rally, intentionally, at this very moment in time, is just not smart, said Michael Mina, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvards T. H. Chan School of Public Health. It puts people at risk. I think that it is liable to cause deaths. The administration on Monday repeatedly downplayed the rising numbers of cases of Covid-19 in states including Texas, Arizona, Georgia and Florida. Both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence attributed the increasing caseload to expanded testing for the virus. If we stop testing right now, wed have very few cases, if any, Trump told reporters at the White House. Pence said the administration was weighing the deployment of additional federal health officials to some states, adding that the Tulsa rally could proceed safely in part because their hospital capacity is abundant. On Twitter he said that despite hyperventilating by some in the media, only 11 counties out of over 3,100 are seeing a true acceleration in new Coronavirus cases & less than 2% of counties show any significant increase in cases. Mina said the growing number of infections is likely due at least in part to states lifting social distancing requirements. As social distancing measures have been lifted, increasingly in many of these areas we are seeing that no place is immune to this virus, and it will travel where people travel, he said. Oklahoma itself has had reported fewer than 10,000 cases of Covid-19, among the fewest in the country and one reason Trumps campaign chose the state. But the head of Tulsas health department has warned against the rally, and the department said in a statement Monday that it is concerned about the safety of any large gathering of people in enclosed spaces where social distancing is difficult to maintain. The BOK Center in Tulsa, where the rally will be held, has canceled or postponed a series of other events, including concerts by Bon Jovi, KISS and Justin Bieber, over the next several weeks in light of the ongoing Covid-19 situation and out of an abundance of caution, according to its website. Other than Trumps rally, the next scheduled event is July 30. Trump has boasted about a crowd so big that itll spill over into the nearby city convention hall, which he said holds 40,000 people. Im going to have 22,000 plus 40,000, he said at the White House Monday. Brad Parscale, his campaign manager, has said more than 1 million people have requested tickets. Were going to talk about out nation, where were going, where weve come from, Trump said. And I can tell you on Covid or coronavirus or whatever you want to call it, plenty of names, tremendous progress is being made. Wrong Time Though Tulsa hasnt experienced the kinds of protests, riots and looting that have convulsed some US cities this month, the arrest earlier this month of a pair of teenagers who the police said were jaywalking has evoked many of the same questions driving unrest across the US A major in the Tulsa Police Department is also under fire for saying in a radio interview that police shoot Black people less than we probably ought to be based on the crimes. In the same interview, he denied the existence of systemic racism. Trump and his supporters have pointed to the nationwide protests as an excuse for him to resume his rallies, arguing that if its safe enough for Americans to demonstrate on city streets against the police, he can invite thousands of his supporters to join him in arenas to build enthusiasm for his re-election. Health officials have regularly warned that the virus spreads more easily indoors. Yet the Tulsa World newspaper said in an editorial on Monday that this is the wrong time and Tulsa is the wrong place for the Trump rally. We cant see any way that his visit will be good for the city, the paper said. The public health concern would apply whether it were Donald Trump, Joe Biden or anyone else. Parscale said Monday on Twitter that everyone attending the rally at the BOK Center, which is owned by the city, would have their temperature checked in addition to being issued masks and sanitizer. Theres no indication that attendees will be required or encouraged to wear the masks, however -- Trump has never worn a mask in public and has mocked Biden for taking the precaution. Meredith Matone, the scientific director of PolicyLab at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, said in an interview on Monday that political rallies were something where individuals are going to have to make their own risk assessment. I myself would not attend a rally without a mask and the ability to physically distance from people, she said. Trumps Decision But theres no sign Trump is considering re scheduling the gathering again and its unlikely anyone else would cancel it. A spokeswoman for the city of Tulsa said the event was the responsibility of Trumps campaign and the firm that manages the arena. Every entity has the same access and constitutional right to hold events in public spaces, spokeswoman Michelle Brooks said. A spokeswoman for the arenas manager declined to comment. City officials have scheduled a news conference for Wednesday regarding the virus. The citys mayor and Oklahomas governor, both Republicans, have generally supported the Trump rally, with caveats. Mayor G.T. Bynum encouraged the campaign to have enhanced hygiene considerations for attendees but that the city would protect the free and peaceful exchange of ideas. I am excited to host the president on Saturday, June 20, as we celebrate restarting our economy and getting Oklahomans back to work, the governor, Kevin Stitt, said in a statement last week. And Oklahomas lone Democrat in Congress, Representative Kendra Horn, stopped short of criticizing the president for holding the rally. She instead urged him to avoid divisive rhetoric as our nation faces the health and economic consequences of a deadly pandemic and grapples with the tragic reality of systemic racism. While the spike comes after months of drastic declines, economists warn consumer spending is not out of the woods yet. Retail sales in the United States increased by the most on record in May after two straight months of coronavirus-triggered sharp declines the latest piece of evidence signalling that the recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is either over or drawing to an end. The report from the Commerce Department on Tuesday followed news earlier this month that the economy created 2.5 million jobs in May. Layoffs are also ebbing and manufacturing activity is improving, though production remains at very low levels. Still, the record jump in retail sales recouped only a fraction of March and Aprils decreases. Consumer spending is the engine of the US economy accounting for roughly two-thirds of the gross domestic product (GDP). The economy and retail sales have hit the bottom in May and we have a V-shaped first stage of recovery, said Sung Won Sohn, a business economics professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. However, it will take quite some time to get back to anywhere near the levels of retail sales and economic activity we enjoyed around the turn of the year. Retail sales jumped 17.7 percent last month, the biggest advance since the government started tracking the series in 1992. Data for April was revised to show a record 14.7 percent drop in sales instead of the previously reported 16.2 percent. Economists polled by Reuters News Agency had forecast retail sales would rise 8 percent in May. Retail sales fell 6.1 percent on a year-on-year basis in May. Even with Mays surge, sales were still about 8 percent below their February level. The reopening of nonessential businesses last month after being shuttered in mid-March to slow the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, has seen Americans flocking to car dealerships and spending more on gasoline, apparel and at restaurants. Receipts at car dealerships accelerated 44.1 percent last month after declining 12.3 percent in April. Sales at building material stores rose 10.9 percent. Receipts at service stations increased 12.8 percent. Sales at electronics and appliance stores soared 50.5 percent. Receipts at clothing stores rebounded 188 percent last month. Sales at furniture stores soared 89.7 percent. Receipts at restaurants and bars advanced 29.1 percent. Spending at hobby, musical instrument and book stores vaulted 88.2 percent. All these categories had suffered record declines in sales in March and April. Online and mail-order retail sales rose 9 percent. Consumer spending collapse Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales surged 11 percent in May after tumbling 12.4 percent in April. These so-called core retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of the gross domestic product report. Economists expect consumer spending could decline as much as 50 percent on an annualised basis in the second quarter. That could result in GDP plunging at about a 48.5 percent pace in that period. Consumer spending contracted at a 6.8 percent rate in the first quarter, the sharpest drop since the second quarter of 1980. The economy contracted at a 5 percent pace in the January to March quarter, the deepest contraction since the 2007 to 2009 Great Recession. Despite signs of recovery in retail sales, record savings and the governments historic fiscal package of nearly $3 trillion providing a cushion for consumers through one-time $1,200 checks and generous unemployment benefits, economists caution that consumer spending is not out of the woods yet. Some parts of the country are experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19 infections, which could curtail consumer spending. (Photo : REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo) FILE PHOTO: The British flag and a smartphone with a Huawei and 5G network logo are seen on a PC motherboard in this illustration picture taken January 29, 2020. American businesses could be allowed to work with Huawei on setting 5G standards under a new US Department of Commerce rule, report claims. The notice will require the United States companies to participate alongside the controversial Chinese telecom in next-generation networking standards bodies. Reuters said it's under final review. ALSO READ: Chinese Smartphone Brand Oppo Eyes Bigger European Presence With Vodafone A change of heart? The new rule will still need approval from other departments and could be caught up in government bureaucracy, Reuters noted, but it seems like a change. Huawei was blacklisted by the Commerce Department after the May 2019 executive order of President Donald Trump that effectively banned the company from U.S. communications networks. Although the Commerce Department blacklisted the company last year, engineers in some U.S. technology companies stopped engaging with Huawei to develop standards. The listing left companies uncertain as to what technology and information their employees could share with Huawei, the world's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer. Industry and government officials said the previous decision had put the United States at a disadvantage. The listing restricted U.S. goods and technology sales and raised questions about how U.S. firms could participate in organizations that establish industry standards. The department has outlined a new rule to address the issue after a year of uncertainty--two sources told Reuters. The law, which may still change, essentially enables U.S. firms to participate in standards bodies where Huawei is also a member, the sources said. The draft is under final examination at the Department of Commerce, and will go to other agencies for approval if approved, the people said. It's not clear how long the entire process will take, or whether another agency will object. "As we approach the year mark, it is very much past time that this [should be] addressed and clarified," said Naomi Wilson, senior director of policy for Asia at the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), which represents companies including Amazon.co Inc, Qualcomm Inc and Intel Corp. The U.S. government is eager to keep U.S. businesses competitive with Huawei, Wilson said. However, the official clarified that their policies inadvertently led to U.S. firms losing their seat at the table to Huawei and others on the list of entities. U.S. to deal with Huawei alone The rule would only address Huawei alone and exclude other listed entities such as the Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision, said the people familiar with the matter. ALSO READ: Amazon's Thermal-Detecting Tech Dahua Violates Human Rights, Reports Say The Commerce Department cited U.S. charges pending against the company in adding Huawei to the last May list for alleged violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran. It also noted that the indictment alleged that Huawei had committed "deceptive and obstructive actions" to circumvent U.S. legislation. Huawei did not plead guilty in the trial. The U.S. has long claimed that Huawei, a phone and networking equipment maker, maintains a close relationship with the Chinese government. The rumor raised concern that its equipment could be used to spy on other countries and businesses. The Department of Commerce declined to comment, while Huawei did not respond to an immediate request for comment. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Michelle Sabol, ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes Program Winner in Virginia Our employees are committed to giving back to the community, and these installations are one way we can support the selfless support of our healthcare workers as they continue to help make our community safer," said Mike Skourtis, GM of ARS of Virginia. ARS of Virginia, a local HVAC and plumbing services provider and part of the American Residential Services (ARS) Network of Brands, is providing a new water heater to Michelle Sabol, a deserving physician assistant as part of the ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes program. The program is an extension of the year-round, company-wide ARS Cares initiative, and is rewarding more than 50 free home services makeovers to healthcare professionals across the country during the current COVID-19 crisis. We received inspirational nominations from our community through the ARS Healthcare Heroes program, and are proud to complete these surprise home makeovers for our deserving healthcare workers, said Mike Skourtis, General Manager of ARS of Virginia. Our employees are committed to giving back to the community, and these installations are one way we can support the selfless support of our healthcare workers as they continue to combat one of the worst public health crises and continue to help make our community safer. Michelle Sabol is currently a Physician Assistant for Childrens National Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Virginia Hospital Center. These past few months have been exceptionally challenging during the pandemic. Michelle and her team have worked tirelessly to continue providing compassionate care and support to patients and their families. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis Sabol lived with her elderly parents, but not wanting to risk exposing them to the virus she moved into her own home. Unfortunately, the water heater in the new home needed to be replaced. ARS of Virginia is happy to provide much needed assistance to this local hero. The installation of Sabols new water heater was completed on June 12. Following the announcement of the ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes program on May 13, family, friends, and co-workers were invited to share stories of why a Nothern Virginia frontline worker was deserving of home improvements that would deliver relief and relaxation. ARS received more than 400 nominations. The ARS Cares initiative was launched in 2016 to cultivate positive relationships with communities where we live, work, and play. Since that time, more than 90 home services makeovers have been completed, donating more than $500,000 of HVAC systems and water heaters to deserving recipients. To learn more about ARS Cares and view official Terms & Conditions, visit ars.com/ars-cares. ABOUT AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Based in Memphis, Tenn., privately-owned ARS operates a network of more than 70 locally-managed service centers in 24 states, with approximately 7,000 employees. The ARS Network features industry-leading brands including, 4 Eco Services, A.J. Perri, Aksarben ARS, Allgood, Andy's Statewide, ARS, Aspen Air Conditioning, Atlas Trillo, Beutler, Blue Apple Electric, Blue Dot, Blue Flame, Bob Hamilton, Brothers, Columbus Worthington Air, Comfort Heating & Air, Conway Services, DM Select, Florida Home Air Conditioning, Green Star Home Services, Hauser Heating & Air Conditioning, McCarthy Services, Rescue Rooter / Jack Howk, Rescue Rooter, RighTime Home Services, RS Andrews, TempRite Air Conditioning and Heating, Unique Services, "Will" Fix It, and Yes! Air Conditioning and Plumbing. As an Exceptional Service Provider, the ARS Network serves both residential and light commercial customers by providing heating, cooling, indoor air quality, plumbing, drain cleaning, sewer line, radiant barrier, insulation, and ventilation services. Each location has a knowledgeable team of trained specialists. ARS requires background checks and drug tests on all employees. We hire professionals with the highest level of integrity. Providing exceptional service and ensuring the highest standards of quality, ARS has the experience to do any job right the first time, with all work fully guaranteed. ARS: "Making it work. Making it right." ### SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OFNorth Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office building just north of the heavily-armed border with South Korea on Tuesday, in a carefully choreographed, largely symbolic display of anger that puts pressure on Washington and Seoul amid deadlocked nuclear diplomacy. Although the building was empty and the North had previously signalled its plans to destroy it, the move is still the most provocative act by North Korea since it entered nuclear talks in 2018 after a U.S.-North Korean standoff had many fearing war. It will pose a serious setback to the efforts of liberal South Korean President Moon Jae-in to engage the North. North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said the country destroyed the office in a terrific explosion because its enraged people were determined to force (the) human scum, and those who have sheltered the scum, to pay dearly for their crimes, apparently referring to North Korean defectors living in South Korea who for years have floated anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. The news agency did not detail how the office in the North Korean border town of Kaesong was destroyed. South Koreas government later released military surveillance video showing clouds of smoke rising from the ground as a building collapsed at a now-shuttered joint industrial park in Kaesong where the liaison office stood. South Korea issued a statement expressing strong regret over the destruction of the building, warning of a stern response if North Korea takes additional steps that aggravate tensions. The statement, issued following an emergency National Security Council meeting, said the demolition is an act that betrays hopes for an improvement in South-North Korean relations and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula. South Koreas Defence Ministry said separately that it closely monitors North Korean military activities and was prepared to strongly counter any future provocations. The Souths vice unification minister, Suh Ho, who was Seouls top official at the liaison office, called the demolition an unprecedentedly senseless act that shocked not only our people, but the whole world. The North said last week that it was cutting off all government and military communication channels with the South while threatening to abandon bilateral peace agreements reached during North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns three summits with Moon in 2018. Some outside analysts believe the North, after failing to get what it wants in nuclear talks, will turn to provocation to win outside concessions because its economy has likely worsened because of persistent U.S.-led sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic. North Korea may also be frustrated because the sanctions prevent Seoul from breaking away from Washington to resume joint economic projects with Pyongyang. South Koreas response to Tuesdays demolition was relatively strong compared to past provocations. Moons government has faced criticism that it didnt take tough measures when North Korea performed a series of short-range weapons tests targeting South Korea over the past year. Moon, a liberal who champions greater reconciliation with North Korea, shuttled between Pyongyang and Washington to help set up the first summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in June 2018. The liaison office has been shut since late January because of coronavirus concerns. The office, built with South Korean money at a reported cost of $8.3 million (U.S.), was opened in September 2018 to facilitate better communication and exchanges between the Koreas. It was the first such office between the countries since they were divided into a U.S.-backed South Korea and a Soviet-supported North Korea at the end of the Second World War in 1945. The office was considered a symbol of Moons engagement policy. North Korea had earlier threatened to demolish the office as it stepped up its fiery rhetoric over what it called Seouls failure to stop civilian campaigns to drop anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North. South Korea said it would take steps to ban the leafletting, but North Korea argued that the South Korean response lacked sincerity. On Saturday night, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Koreas leader, warned that Seoul will soon witness a tragic scene of the useless North-South liaison office (in North Korea) being completely collapsed. She also said she would leave to North Koreas military the right to take the next step of retaliation against South Korea. North Korea has threatened to dismantle the shuttered Kaesong factory complex completely and abandon a 2018 bilateral tension-reduction agreement, which observers say could allow the North to trigger clashes along the land and sea borders. Earlier Tuesday, North Koreas military threatened to move back into unspecified border areas that have been demilitarized under agreements with South Korea and turn the front line into a fortress. On Monday, Moon urged North Korea to stop raising animosities and return to talks, saying the two Koreas must not reverse the 2018 inter-Korean summit deals. North Korea has a history of taking highly visual symbolic steps for political gains. It invited foreign journalists to watch the detonation of its underground nuclear testing tunnels in 2018 and the demolition of a cooling tower at its main nuclear complex in 2008. Both events were an attempt by the North to show it was serious about denuclearization amid rampant outside skepticism about its commitment. Its hard to see how such behaviour will help the Kim regime get what it wants from the world, but clearly such images will be used for domestic propaganda, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. The Koreas neighbours voiced concerns over Tuesdays demolition. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he hopes tensions between the Koreas will not escalate further, adding that Japan will co-operate closely with Seoul and Washington while analyzing the development. In China, the Norths major diplomatic ally, foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that we always hope that the Korean Peninsula will maintain peace and stability. Inter-Korean relations have been strained since the breakdown of a second summit between Kim and Trump in Vietnam in early 2019. The summit fell apart because of disputes over how much sanctions relief the North should get in return for Kims dismantling of his main nuclear complex, which was seen as a limited denuclearization measure. After the Vietnam summit, inter-Korean relations turned sour again. Kim entered 2020 vowing to expand his nuclear arsenal, introduce a new strategic weapon and overcome the U.S.-led sanctions that he said stifles his countrys economy. Read more about: (Newser) A 911 dispatcher who was watching the arrest of George Floyd live via a surveillance camera feed called a Minneapolis Police Department sergeant to describe what was going on, Fox 9 reports. "You can call me a snitch if you want to," she says, adding that the officers involved in Floyd's arrest, which left him dead, "sat on this man." The call was released along with two other 911 calls that were made by onlookers during the arrest, CNN reports. In one, an unidentified off-duty firefighter says, "I literally watched police officers not take a pulse and not do anything to save a man ... they f---ing killed him." story continues below In the other, the bystander says, "Yes, yeah, we just watched Officer #987 kill a, ah a citizen in front of a Chicago ah store. He just pretty much just killed this guy that wasnt resisting arrest. He had his knee on the dudes neck the whole time, Officer #987. ... [Floyd] was already in handcuffs." No supervisor arrived at the scene until Floyd had already been loaded into an ambulance. At least seven Minneapolis police officers have quit since Floyd's death and seven more are in the process of quitting, the AP reports. They're reportedly upset that the mayor "abandoned" the Third Precinct station during protests over Floyd's death; demonstrators set it ablaze. (Read more George Floyd stories.) The city will close King William Street to cars for pandemic patios this summer and dozens of similar requests could see outdoor dining spilling into streets, parking lots and alleys across Hamilton. Ontario has set Friday as the date Hamilton can ease COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on businesses. That means restaurants can serve physically-distanced patrons on the patio if they have one. Council voted in May to consider applications for outdoor dining districts this summer to allow restaurants with little or no outdoor seating to safely spread out diners amid the threat of COVID-19. The city approved one of the first applications Tuesday that will allow the closure of a block of King William Street to vehicles from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. to allow diners from at least nine different restaurants to eat and drink in the street. I am just so excited to start serving food that does not come in a box, said Jason Cassis, whose restaurant The French has survived on takeout orders since April. People may not want to dine inside right now, but they certainly have the confidence to dine outside. Cassis was outside Tuesday talking pandemic patio strategy and pacing out six-foot table separation with Berkeley North co-owner Matthew Webber. Webber said his local food and craft cocktail restaurant would only have room for three physically distant tables without the option to spill into King William. This will be massive, he said of the impact of outdoor service on his bottom line. Survival has been tough. The downtown BIA, which fronted the application, said King William will close to cars between James Street North and Hughson Street as of Friday morning. But thats just the beginning. The city is evaluating 30-plus unique applications across the city and has fielded questions from 70-plus restaurants, said business development officer Julia Davis. Road and sidewalk closures, parking lots and alleys are all on the table. Were trying to find solutions for anyone who wants to work with us. That likely means well-known restaurant row streets like King William, Augusta, Hess and George will at least be examined no guarantees yet for partial lane closures or even full vehicle bans. But patio applications under consideration have come from restaurants on the Mountain, in Waterdown, Stoney Creek and Dundas. Not everyone is asking for a street closure, either. Imagine dining in an alley off Barton Street. Or in a huge parking plaza at Lime Ridge Mall on the Mountain. Or tucked into a converted on-street parking spot. Not every pandemic patio dream can come true, however. All applications must be evaluated for safety for diners, pedestrians and drivers as well as for the impact on nearby businesses and traffic flow. For street closures, you must have at least two-thirds of affected businesses on board to even apply. Other cities across Canada are experimenting with similar street shutdowns with mixed results. Calgary is allowing restaurants to expand patios onto sidewalks and recently banned car traffic from one of its main streets, Stephen Avenue, after a majority of businesses lobbied for the change. But Peterboroughs downtown BIA labelled a recent pandemic street closure a debacle after business owners complained about customer access. India could consider reducing its diplomatic presence in Pakistan in light of the abduction and torture of two high commission staffers who had stepped out on Monday, people familiar with the development told Hindustan Times. The two staffers were abducted by about 15 armed men from a petrol station in Islamabads upscale locality a short distance from the Indian mission, tortured for hours and framed for a road accident before being released. They have extensive injury marks to their neck, face, thighs and back New Delhi has not formally reacted to the abduction and torture of its staffers. In their debriefing to Indian high commission officials, the two abducted staffers spoke extensively about their torture, the scripted confessions that they were forced to record on video and the threats that were hurled at them. Also Read: Beaten with rods, made to drink filthy water: 2 Indian staffers were tortured in Pak The abductors, who we believe were from Pakistans ISI (Inter Services Intelligence), repeatedly told them this is the treatment that would be meted out to other mission officials as well in future, a government source said. If the government of Pakistan cannot deliver on its commitment under the Vienna Convention to ensure the safety of Indian diplomats, Indian diplomats cannot possibly discharge their responsibilities. It would be natural, under the circumstances, to consider if India should scale down its presence to the bare essentials, a government source told Hindustan Times. Besides, Pakistan watchers in Delhi said Indian high commission officials could hardly move out of the mission due to fear that they would be picked up. In contrast, Pakistani officials in Delhi have been going around freely, some of them even tapping people for classified information. Two of them were expelled on May 31 for espionage. Since the strength of diplomatic missions are decided on a reciprocal basis, it would mean that Islamabad would also have to prune its strength in New Delhi if India pulls back some diplomats. Pakistan had last August downgraded diplomatic ties after India scrapped Jammu and Kashmirs special status and carved out two centrally-administered union territories. The missions of the two countries have since then been headed by a charge daffaires, not a high commissioner. Officials said the line of questioning that the two staff members, both drivers, were subjected to while in custody of the ISI on Monday indicated that this may not be the last such incident. They were interrogated about the specific role and function of all high commission officials, down to the most junior staffers and tortured to confess that alleged intelligence officials at the commission would get them to bring people hidden in the cars for meetings in the commission. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 05:21:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday strongly condemned Saturday's terrorist attacks in Monguno and Nganzai local government areas in Nigeria's Borno State, which killed dozens of civilians, injured several others, and damaged a major humanitarian facility. The secretary-general conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims, the people and government of Nigeria and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. He reiterated the need to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel, assets and facilities at all times in accordance with international humanitarian law, said Farhan Haq, Guterres' deputy spokesman, in a statement. The secretary-general reaffirmed the United Nations' continued solidarity with the government and people of Nigeria in their efforts to fight terrorism and violent extremism, said the statement. Saturday's attacks were carried out by suspected Boko Haram militants. The terrorist group has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria, and has extended its attacks to countries in the Lake Chad Basin. Enditem Con el objetivo de ampliar la capacidad de diagnosticos de #COVID19 del @INS_Peru, se implemento un nuevo laboratorio con tecnologia de vanguardia para procesar hasta 6 mil pruebas moleculares al dia. #PrimeroMiSalud. pic.twitter.com/1d1R7DYHwg EXTON, Pa., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurologist-reported treatment patterns in multiple sclerosis (MS) reveal a continued trend of using more high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), according to the most recent report included in Spherix's RealTime Dynamix: Multiple Sclerosis (US) service. The report, which collected the responses of 103 neurologists in the United States surveyed between May 1st and May 18th, finds that the share of MS patients receiving monoclonal antibody (mAb) DMTs has increased by more than 36% over the past year. This growing preference for aggressive treatment in MS may come under close examination in light of COVID-19, with nearly two-thirds of neurologists claiming that the pandemic has had a high impact on their practice. Indeed, among the subset of neurologists who report decreased use of Genentech's Ocrevus over the past three months, nearly all cite COVID-19 as a strong influencer of the change. However, neurologists are more likely to report recent increases than decreases in Ocrevus use, and overall use of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) DMT continues to rise quarter over quarter. The ongoing Special Report: Multi-Specialty Impact of COVID-19 series further delves into the complex and quickly changing implications of the pandemic on neurology practices, with the 7th wave publishing later this month. Ocrevus' impressive resilience, thus far, in the face of COVID-19 has created a challenging environment for uptake of the two newest high-efficacy DMTs, EMD Serono's Mavenclad and Novartis' Mayzent. Through natural positioning and manufacturer promotional efforts, both agents derive most business from the active secondary progressive MS (SPMS) segmenta space in which Ocrevus has already established itself as the most frequently preferred DMT. Nearly twice as many physicians believe that Ocrevus has an advantage regarding efficacy in active SPMS than those who believe Mayzent has the upper hand. While the dominance of Ocrevus over Mavenclad is less stark, the separation between the brands has notably widened over the past six months due to a sizeable gain in the percentage of neurologists who believe Ocrevus is the superior agent for efficacy in active SPMS. In addition to stiff competition from Ocrevus, Mayzent will soon have to contend with more players in the S1P receptor modulator class. With the US in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, following approval in late March, Bristol Myers Squibb elected to delay launch of Zeposia (ozanimod) for more than two months to June 1st, allowing Mayzent some extra time to establish itself in the market. However, neurologists indicate that had Zeposia launched immediately upon approval, the DMT would have already amassed a large prescriber base and patient volumeincluding a sizeable proportion of first-line prescriptionspotentially spelling trouble for Mayzent and Novartis' Gilenya, which are often considered second- or later-line options. Conversely, Janssen's ponesimod, currently undergoing FDA review with a decision anticipated later this year, is poised to become the fourth S1P receptor modulator to enter the market. With three other mechanistically similar options available by the time of ponesimod's potential US launch (and with relatively high reported awareness), there is lukewarm interest in the DMT. Many neurologists struggle to see ponesimod's incremental value to the already-crowded market. The fumarate class has similarly expanded with Biogen's launch of Vumerity, believed to have comparable efficacy to, but improved gastrointestinal tolerability over, Biogen's first fumarate, Tecfidera. Despite Vumerity's accepted advantage over Tecfidera, a common first-line favorite for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS (RMS), the newest DMT has yet to find a foothold in the MS market. Fewer than half of surveyed neurologists have prescribed Vumerity, and most current use is among patients switching from Tecfidera (rather than first-line use in place of Tecfidera). With potential dimethyl fumarate generics looming on the horizon, modest Vumerity uptake may provide an incomplete shield against erosion of the branded fumarate agents. The US MS market was expecting its next addition in June, but with the FDA pushing back the PDUFA date for Novartis' ofatumumab to September, neurologists will have to wait three more months for access to the next-generation anti-CD20 mAb DMT. Ofatumumab's once-monthly subcutaneous (SC) dosing allows for at-home administration, and is thus well-suited to challenge Ocrevus' dominance in RMS. Indeed, neurologists anticipate strong initial uptake of ofatumumab at the expense of Ocrevus, with a sizeable minority believing that their use of ofatumumab will surpass that of Ocrevus within two years. However, ofatumumab's dosing profile alone may be insufficient to unseat the mAb DMT share leader; some neurologists believe that what SC dosing offers in terms of patient convenience may be overshadowed by potential shortcomings on patient adherence. Spherix will continue to track neurologists' pre-market perceptions of ofatumumab as the anticipated FDA decision nears. About RealTime Dynamix RealTime Dynamix: Multiple Sclerosis (US) is an independent service providing strategic guidance through rapid and comprehensive quarterly reports, which include market trending, launch tracking, and a fresh infusion of unique content with each wave. The next quarterly report publishes in September. Parallel services, RealTime Dynamix: Multiple Sclerosis (EU) and RealTime Dynamix: Multiple Sclerosis (Canada) track the evolution of multiple sclerosis market in Europe and Canada on a semiannual basis. About the Special Report Special Report: Multi-Specialty Impact of COVID-19 is an ongoing series of weekly (until mid-May) and monthly (from June to September) monitoring that evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on physicians and their practices including, but not limited to, the utilization of telemedicine, at-risk patient groups, key concerns, support from industry, and future changes in prescribing patterns. Specialty reports are available for dermatology, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, and rheumatology. About Spherix Global Insights Spherix Global Insights is a hyper-focused market intelligence firm that leverages our own independent data and expertise to provide strategic guidance, so biopharma stakeholders make decisions with confidence. We specialize in select immunology, nephrology, and neurology markets. All company, brand or product names in this document are trademarks of their respective holders. For more information contact: Kristen Henn, Business Development Manager Email: [email protected] www.spherixglobalinsights.com SOURCE Spherix Global Insights Related Links http://www.spherixglobalinsights.com Prince William has been 'keeping tabs' on his brother Prince Harry via regular chats on Zoom, a royal insider told Fabulous Digital. The Duke of Cambridge, 37, reportedly checks in with his younger sibling in the evening after supper with Kate, 38, when their three children Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, one, have gone to bed. When William video calls from the private sitting room at Anmer Hall, the Cambridges' countryside home in Norfolk, it's usually around lunchtime in Los Angeles, where Harry is living at tycoon Tyler Perry's mansion with wife Meghan, 38, and their son Archie, one. 'William finds Zoom a good, informal way of keeping in touch, and some would say "tabs", on his younger brother,' the source told the publication. Prince William has been 'keeping tabs' on his brother Prince Harry via regular chats on Zoom, a royal insider claims 'These calls are made from Anmer's private sitting room. It's not the room that Kate and William use for their public zoom sessions.' They added that there have been 'several' Zoom calls, and the platform suits the princes because it's easy to set up and doesn't involve any awkward scheduling. The calls remain private between the two brothers, with a friend close to the pair telling Fabulous Digital that William is 'very anxious' to keep the calls 'low key and casual'. 'Just two brothers have a chat. No-one else is involved. It takes the pressure off,' they told the publication. When William video calls from the private sitting room at Anmer Hall, the Cambridges' countryside home in Norfolk, it's usually around lunchtime in Los Angeles, where Harry is living at tycoon Tyler Perry's mansion with wife Meghan, 38, and their son Archie, one. Pictured left: Prince Harry on a Zoom call to a trio of young volunteers from London organisation Sport at the Heart last month; right: Prince William on a recent Zoom call 'There is nothing formal about these Zoom sessions. It's about keeping in touch that's important.' They added that Prince Harry has also chatted to his grandmother the Queen on Zoom since leaving the UK in March. The Mail on Sunday previously revealed that former Welsh Guards officer Mark Dyer has a new role acting as a pivotal go-between in the sensitive business of building bridges between once-close Harry and William, particularly since the younger sibling turned his back on Royal life. A friend said: 'Long transatlantic chats between Mark and Harry have started to reap healing dividends between the brothers. His advice to the Prince was "talk and listen".' The Queen took part in her first public video call last week, following the lead of senior members of her family who have used the medium to continue with their royal duties in lockdown. Speaking from a sitting room at Windsor Castle, the Queen, 94, spent 20 minutes listening to the women about their experiences and asking questions about the pressures they face. Prince William has been a regular face on Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic, with him and Kate using it to keep in touch with organisations close to their heart. The calls remain private between the two brothers, with a friend close to the pair telling Fabulous Digital that William is 'very anxious' to keep the calls 'low key and casual'. Pictured: the princes with Kate and Meghan at a service marking the centenary of WWI armistice at Westminster Abbey in November 2018 Since the start of the nationwide lockdown on March 23, the couple have held multiple Zoom calls with frontline workers, joined the weekly Clap For Carers - and William proved himself a good sport by joining in a comedy sketch for the BBC's Big Night In. They have also launched a mental health initiative, Our Frontline, to help keyworkers coping with the stress of the pandemic. Earlier this week the Duke of Cambridge surprised a mother and her son with a video call from his country home. He spoke to Leanne and five-year-old Kaydyn, who has cystic fibrosis, at their home in Northamptonshire - the footage from which will broadcast on BBC1's The One Show tonight. Prince William, along with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, were seen out in public for the first time in months today as they returned to royal duties. Pictured chatting to crew at King's Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Norfolk Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have returned to work today in their first public outing since the start of lockdown It forms part of a film focusing on extremely vulnerable people being advised to remain at home as much as possible, and the challenges they are facing. Prince William, along with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, were seen out in public for the first time in months today as they returned to royal duties. Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, who were in isolation at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, made an unannounced visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital this afternoon, where they observed strict social distancing while speaking to frontline workers. Just hours later Prince William, 37, paid a visit to King's Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Norfolk, close to his and Kate Middleton's country home of Anmer Hall, where they have been in lockdown with their three children. The United States expressed outrage Monday over a Russian court's conviction of American Paul Whelan on espionage charges, saying he was deprived of a fair trial. Whelan, a former Marine arrested in December 2018, was sentenced Monday to 16 years of hard labor after being found guilty of receiving classified information. "The United States is outraged by the decision of a Russian court today to convict US citizen Paul Whelan after a secret trial, with secret evidence, and without appropriate allowances for defense witnesses," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "We demand Paul Whelan's immediate release," he said. Just days earlier, Pompeo had publicly called on Russia to release Whelan, who contends that he was on holiday in Russia when he was given a USB drive thinking it contained family photographs. "The treatment of Paul Whelan at the hands of Russian authorities has been appalling," Pompeo said. Pompeo said Russian authorities "put his life at risk by ignoring his long-standing medical condition." Whelan's conviction is another impediment in relations between the two powers, which are at odds over Ukraine, Syria, Libya, arms control and a host of other issues. President Donald Trump nonetheless recently said he hoped to invite his counterpart Vladimir Putin to the United States, welcoming him back into the elite club of the Group of Seven major industrial democracies, thereby ending Russia's suspension over its annexation of Crimea after seizing it from Ukraine. Experts affirmed that with low costs, medical schools will not be able to produce high-quality doctors. The new tuition levels for the 2020-2021 academic year announced by some medical schools have stunned students and parents because they are many times higher than the currently applied levels. At the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the highest tuition, VND70 million, will be applied for first year students of odonto stomatology. As such, one student will have to pay VND539.8 million to study six years at the school. Meanwhile, the current tuition is VND1.3-1.4 million a month, or VND13-15 million a year. At Pham Ngoc Thach Medical University, there are two levels of tuition for two different subjects. The students with no residence certificate in HCM City have to pay higher tuition, VND605,000 per credit, or VND23.6 million a year. Those with permanent residence in HCM City pay VND305,000 per credit, or VND11.8 million a year. The new tuition levels for the 2020-2021 academic year announced by some medical schools have stunned students and parents because they are many times higher than the currently applied levels. Medicine is also the most costly training major at private schools. The Hanoi Medical University and Pham Ngoc Thanh University of Medicine and Pharmacy are state owned schools which operate with funding from the state and are not granted autonomy. The tuition of the schools remains unchanged as stipulated in the governments Decree 86. According to the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the total legal income of the school in 2019 was VND225.8 billion. Of this, the state allocated VND90.8 billion for training activities, while the school collected VND134.936 billion in tuition. With the total amount of money, the average training cost was VND22.9 million a year for every student. To date, students of the school only have to pay VND13 million a year only. This is because the training has been partially funded by the State. Since January the school no longer receives money from the state. Therefore, it has to raise tuition to cover training expenses. According to a representative of the school, the real training cost of odonto stomatology is over VND100 million a year, because every student needs to practice on one machine and needs many kinds of materials. However, the school decided to collect VND70 million in the immediate time. Ngo Minh Xuan, rector of Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said the school has asked for the HCM City authorities permission to raise tuition from VND13 million to VND30 million, but the plan has not been approved. Xuan said the training cost in medicine is five times higher than in other training majors. VND30 million is the minimum tuition level for us to exist and develop in the immediate time, Xuan said. Tu Linh High tuition at medical schools puts poor students at disadvantage The announcement by the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy on raising tuition by five times has stunned the public. Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou has accused the United States of providing a grossly inaccurate [and] misleading summary of evidence to the Canadian court hearing her extradition case, arguing that the case should be thrown out as a result. The new claims in Mengs bid to avoid extradition to the US to face fraud charges include that the US misrepresented and omitted details of a crucial PowerPoint presentation that Meng delivered to a HSBC banker in Hong Kong. The 2013 presentation forms the basis of the US claims that Meng defrauded HSBC by lying about Huaweis business in Iran, allegedly in breach of US sanctions, and that she should be sent to New York to face trial. Ms Meng will submit that the Requesting States summary of evidence is grossly inaccurate and based on deliberate and/or reckless misstatements of fact and material omissions, thereby constituting a serious abuse of the extradition process that should disentitle the Requesting State to proceed, her lawyers said in a memo, released on Monday by the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Meng was arrested by Canadian police, acting on a US request, at Vancouvers airport on December 1, 2018, throwing Chinas relations with Canada and the US into turmoil. The new claims also allege that the US falsely asserted that only junior HSBC staff were aware of the nature of Huaweis relationship with Skycom, a company in Iran that the US says conducted business there on behalf of Huawei. Evidence will demonstrate that it is inconceivable that any decision to modify or terminate HSBCs relationship with Skycom or Huawei would not have been reviewed by the most senior management of HSBC, said the memo. Source: scmp.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Paris has rediscovered itself, and its joie de vivre, as its cafes and restaurants have been given the right to fully reopen this week for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic forced them to close their doors March 14. However, though the France on Monday threw open its borders to other European countries, along with several of its neighbors, Paris is not likely to see the normal deluge of international tourists this summer. Tourists from the U.S., Asia and other continents won't be allowed back until at least July 1, and French authorities could re-impose restrictions in the case of a new wave of virus infections. The Paris Tourism board has been promoting the French capital as a summer destination, in hopes of luring visitors back. Serge Cachan presides over the Astotel Group which holds 17 mid-range hotels on Paris' Right Bank. He opened his first one Monday, the 34B, to his first guest exactly three months after closing of all of his hotels after the lockdown was announced in France. Replicating protective measures established in shops worldwide to halt the virus from spreading, Cachan has had the reservations desks shielded by plexiglass. Hand gel dispensers are placed at strategic areas around the lobby and colored arrows direct clients where to stand and where to avoid in order to maintain social distancing. Cachan estimates the Astotel Group's immediate losses in the millions this year due to the Covid crisis but he has now reopened the first of his hotels in order to get some of his employees back to work slowly and restart the machine. He hopes to open all of them by September though he has no illusions that there will be massive bookings in the immediate term. For this hotel president, there is a European tourism battle underway in which each country is doing their best to attract the others as nations across Europe emerge from their lockdowns and look forward to summer vacations. Cachan realizes that after getting out of lockdown, tourists will probably gravitate to open beaches and country settings. Nonetheless, he credits President Emmanuel Macron's government with reopening French restaurants, a move he deems critical in clawing back the tourists. With restaurants back open, Cachan says it is time to reactivate Paris' major tourist attractions including the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Once those reopen, Paris can slowly hope to recapture tourists for what will likely be a very weak summer season for those in the tourism industry. The colonial past of a highly revered Italian journalist has become a flashpoint in Italys Black Lives Matters protests, as detractors defaced a statue in his honour and seek its removal from a city park near where he was once attacked by the far-left Red Brigades. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala on Sunday resisted calls to remove the statue of the late Indro Montanelli, who had acknowledged having had a 12-year-old Eritrean bride during Italys colonial occupation in the 1930s. Sala said in a Facebook video that he was perplexed by the lightness with which Montanelli had confessed to having bought the child bride from her father, in a widely circulated video of a 1969 talk show appearance. But he said lives should be judged in their totality. Montanelli was more than that. He was a great journalist, a journalist who fought for the liberty of the state, an independent journalist. Maybe for these reasons he was shot in the legs, Sala said, referring to the 1977 attack on Montanelli by two members of the Red Brigades terror organization near the park that now bears his name. For these reasons, I think the statue should remain. Black Lives Matters protests has put a renewed focus on Italys colonial past, with calls to remove the Montanelli statue and rename the park. Activists also are pushing for automatic citizenship to foreigners born in Italy to parents with permanent residency and to do away with laws that limit immigration. A statue of Indro Montanelli, a one-time fascist who became and icon of Italy's right and a leading name in Italian journalism, is covered with red paint during a Black Lives Matter protest, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, June 13, 2020. Protesters want to remove the statue. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (AP) Over the weekend, protesters covered the statue with red paint and scrawled racist and rapist on the base. The statue has been covered previously in pink paint in feminist protests, but this is the first time that Montanellis past has faced a serious reckoning. On Sunday, city workers and volunteers removed the graffiti and paint and covered the statue with plastic. Italian special operations police were investigating who was responsible, the LaPresse news agency reported. Later, a group calling itself the Milan Student Network claimed responsibility in a video showing two people wearing hoods and gloves defacing the statue. Montanelli, who died in 2001 at age 92, was one of Italys most revered journalists, honored by the Vienna-based International Press Institute in 2000 as among the 50 World Press Freedom Heroes. A noted foreign and war correspondent, Montanelli chronicled contemporary Italy from its colonial era through fascism, Italys postwar reconstruction and the anti-corruption scandals that overturned Italys political class in the 1990s. He worked for many years at Corriere della Sera, before becoming founding editor of Silvio Berlusconis il Giornale. He famously quit the paper when the media mogul became a politician. He mentored some of todays top Italian journalists. But his legacy is being challenged by his having taken a child bride when he 24 years old and leading a battalion of 100 Eritreans during the Fascist regimes colonial rule. One of his proteges, Beppe Severgnini, wrote in Corriere della Sera this week that while toppling a statue of a dictator can be a gesture of liberation, removing the statue of a free journalist stinks of fanaticism. Montanelli himself, on several public occasions, freely acknowledged the relationship with the girl named Desta. I think I chose well. She was a beautiful girl of 12 years, Montanelli told the 1969 talk show appearance, adding a smiling excuse me. But in Africa it was another thing. The Eritrean-born journalist, Elvira Banotti, who was in the audience, challenged his romantic account, accusing him of rape and of violent colonialist behavior. He defended himself, saying there was no rape because girls in Eritrea married at the age of 12, but acknowledged that it would have been considered rape in Europe. What difference is there physically, or psychologically? Banotti pressed. Montanelli, writing in Corriere della Sera in 2000 in response to a letter from a reader, put the girls age at 14 and said she married an Eritrean after he left, and named her first of three children Indro. He travelled to Eritrea in 1952, and she received me like a father, he wrote. I hope I havent scandalized you, he wrote, in conclusion, to the 18-year-old who solicited the account. If I have, its your fault. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter UAE finances anti-Turkey PKK terrorists in northern Iraq: Report Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 8:26 AM A report says the United Arab Emirates has allegedly provided financial support to the anti-Turkey PKK militant group in Iraq's northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. A security source at the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) told the London-based al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper that the authorities had imposed limitations on money transfers coming from the UAE. The source said any money transfers exceeding $1,000 coming from the UAE to the region's foreign exchange companies and banks required a "proof of approval" from security authorities. The move comes amid reports that the UAE has provided financial support to anti-Turkey Kurdish militants in recent months. The source, who asked not to be named, said the new measure will be applied to all exchange companies in Erbil, Duhok and Sulaymaniyah. The PKK, designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict, focused in southeast Turkey. On Sunday, Turkey's Defense Ministry announced the country's fighter jets had bombed the positions of Kurdish militants in northern Iraq . Relations between Turkey and the UAE have been strained since Ankara sided with Qatar after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Doha in June 2017 and imposed a series of economic sanctions against the tiny sheikhdom, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism and destabilizing the region. Qatar has rejected the claims while maintaining that it is paying the price for its independent foreign policy. Ankara and Abu Dhabi are also at odds over the situation in Libya, where the two countries support opposing sides of the conflict. In 2017, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu meant the United Arab Emirates when he hinted at a Muslim country that had spent billions to topple the Turkish government in a coup in July 2016. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. On June 23 at 4 p.m. EST, Chase Purdy will discuss his new book, Billion Dollar Burger: Inside Big Techs Race for the Future of Food, in an online event with Christopher Leonard, author of The Meat Racket and Kochland. To learn more and RSVP, visit the New America website. COVID-19 is the latest reminder that the U.S. meat supply chain needs to change. It isnt transparent, it isnt safe for workers, and its biggest weakness, revealed during the pandemic, is the way a handful of companies have structured the now highly consolidated industry. Advertisement Cell-cultured meat could answer all these of problems. Produced in a sterile environment, cultured meat is real meat thats made by growing cells from cows, pigs, and chickens into fat and muscle tissue. It offers the promise of real meat with none of the drawbacks: No animals are slaughtered, the process causes a small fraction of the environmental degradation inflicted by the current system, and no employees are tasked with the dangerous job of ripping apart carcasses and packaging meat for sale in tight quarters. After years of research and development, simple meat items are now being produced and are close to being ready for the market, items such as meatballs, chicken tenders, duck chorizo, and foie gras. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres just one problem: red tape. The reason simple cell-cultured meats arent already on the market has little to do with science and technology and everything to do with government regulators. Even as cell-cultured meat companiesmany of them Americanbreak ground on their pilot production facilities, the U.S. government response lags far behind the technical innovation. Its been more than a year since, after much squabbling with the meat lobby, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration signed an agreement laying out how the two would cooperate to jointly regulate cultured meat production. But still not enough has happened since then to build the regulatory pathway necessary to get this new product to market, despite its potential. Part of the problem is bureaucratic slowness as the government collects and analyzes data that companies are providing around the quality and safety of their production processes. Advertisement Advertisement Its really an important development in the production of food, said Steve Morris, a natural resources and environment director with the Government Accountability Office, in an April 2020 report. We think FDA and USDA could benefit from greater collaboration on things like clarifying specific roles and responsibilities. Advertisement That both agencies are moving slowly to establish a regulatory pathway is bad for leading homegrown startups such as Finless Foods, Memphis Meats, Just, and Mission Barns. It also raises the question: Wouldnt it be advantageous for the U.S. government to shift some of its focus from reopening meatpacking plants to finishing laying out the regulatory framework for cultured meat? The world is edging ever closer to the moment when basic cultured meat products will become available commercially, and its increasingly obvious that it will likely happen in Singapore, China, or Israel, all countries with growing tech industries and recent memories of food security issues, before it happens in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats bad news for anyone hoping the U.S. will take a leading role in stymying the negative impacts of animal agriculture on the changing climate. The sector accounts for about 14 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Of course, eating always has beenand always will bea fundamentally political act. And in America, where lobbying battles have long raged over what you can call milk, mayonnaise, butter, and meat, petty food fights historically gum up progress. But the difference today is that consumers are witnessing in real time a conflation of issues that could be a boon for high-tech meat. COVID-19 has created a convergence of problems for the meat industry and a perfect opportunity for cultured meat. As of early June, there were at least 20,400 cases of COVID-19 infections across 216 plants in 33 states, according to the nonprofit newsroom Investigate Midwest. The biggest U.S. meat companies have had to shut down whole factories because of the virus. In April, those shutdowns decreased the slaughtering of beef cattle and hogs for meat by 36 percent and 37 percent respectively, according to USDA data. That, in turn, led to higher meat prices in many grocery stores, even as farmers were forced to kill and dispose of millions of animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now is the time for the USDA and FDA to come together in an act of global leadership to bring cultured meat and all its benefits to consumers and the country. But in order to truly move the needle on the agricultural industrys environmentaland moralimpact, we need to act decisively. Its definitely not too late. The United States can still win the edible space race to bring cell-cultured meat to market. It has every reason to try. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. As Madhya Pradesh continues to exhibit improvement in its coronavirus data sheet, Indore reported only six fresh cases of infection on Monday, a late evening Health bulletin said. This comes after the state's commercial capital reported herds of fresh cases during weeks gone by. The state's recovery rate surged to 72.3%, taking it to the second place in terms of recovery of patients after Rajasthan, which has a recovery rate of 75.4%. Madhya Pradesh reported 133 new cases including six deaths on Monday and as many as 29 districts recorded zero fresh cases. Meanwhile, active cases in the state stood at 2,567 and the test positivity rate slipped to 2.37%. Despite recording the least number of cases in a single day, Indore continues to remain among ten worst-affected districts in the country. The total number of positive cases surged to 4,069 in the district on Sunday, June 14, of which 969 cases are presently active in Indore city. In its efforts to detect Covid-19 suspects at an early stage, the state government plans to distribute Oximeters, a non-invasive instrument used for measuring the pulse rate and amount of Oxygen present in human body. According to the health bulletin, fresh cases of infection showed a marked decline in the state as out of 52 districts, only three showed infections in double figures including Bhopal (40), Dewas (11) and Ratlam (20). Inter-state bus services will remain suspended across the state till June 30, while passenger buses have been allowed to operate with 50% passenger capacity in red zones including Bhopal, Indore and Ujjain, according to state government guidelines. Educational institutions will also remain closed till further orders, while, government offices have been permitted to work with 100% workforce outside Bhopal, Indore and Ujjain. Government offices, in these three districts, can function with only 50% staff. The decision to open shops in critical zones including Indore and Ujjain will be taken after seeking advice from District Crisis Management Group. As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the world, its primary manifestation in severe or critical disease remains respiratory, beginning with pneumonitis, progressing through acute respiratory distress syndrome to terminal respiratory failure. At present, therefore, people who already have chronic lung disease, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are at very high risk for mortality due to COVID-19 and must be kept safe from acquiring the infection. This guideline is based on the vast breadth of clinical experience, which shows that such patients are easily infected by respiratory viruses and rapidly deteriorate as a result. On the other hand, the prevalence of COPD and asthma are lower among COVID-19 patients than in the general population, though COPD is linked to a higher risk of complicated disease and death. The Effects of ICS A new study by scientists at Imperial College London, University of Newcastle and Prokarium, and published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in June 2020 examines the role played by inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in the risk of acquisition of COVID-19 infection by COPD patients. ICS have long been the linchpin of therapy for disease of the airways, primarily due to their striking anti-inflammatory effects and protective effects against exacerbations of these chronic conditions. This could mean that they prevent infection or modulate virus-induced inflammation, thus preventing the emergence of symptoms. On the other hand, ICS also reduce innate immunity to respiratory viruses, as has been shown in the case of influenza and rhinovirus infections, which could allow the virus to replicate more. It is worth noting that ICS had a protective effect against seasonal coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2. The current study aimed to uncover the real effect of ICS on the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and how their use affects the risk of COVID-19 in patients with COPD or asthma. Variation in ACE2 Expression in Lung Disease SARS-CoV-2 enters the host cell via the ACE2 receptor (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2), while the serine protease TMPRSS2 cleaves the spike (S) protein to enable host cell -viral membrane fusion, to cause active infection. Recent research shows that the expression of ACE2 is higher in the respiratory epithelium of smokers as well as COPD patients. This could potentially account for the worse outcomes in these individuals compared to the general population. However, asthmatic patients have a lower expression of ACE2, perhaps because of type 2 cytokine release or ICS use, or even because it is co-expressed with interferon stimulating genes (ISG). Recent research shows that ACE2 is one of the ISGs in the respiratory epithelium in humans, which shows the potential importance of antiviral immune responses in the expression of ACE2 in the lungs. The researchers have earlier discovered the powerful inhibitory effect of ICS on the expression of type I interferons (IFN) and ISGs in COPD, both in vivo and in vitro. Hence, it is possible that ICS could lead to the suppression of IFN, which in turn results in the reduction of ACE2 expression in the lungs. This could thus affect the susceptibility of COPD patients to the virus. ACE2 in COPD: The Effects of ICS The current study included 36 COPD subjects, examining the ACE2 mRNA in their sputum, with 18 each being currently on or not on ICS. Sputum ACE2 mRNA was found in 22 patients, showing a significant reduction in patients on ICS compared to the others. The serine protease TMPRSS2 was also expressed in all the sputum cells, from those on ICS and those without. This protein is required for viral entry. The alternative receptor for SARS-CoV, namely, CD147, was also uniformly detectable in all subjects. A mouse model was used where the ICS fluticasone propionate was given to the animals at a dosage, which would activate lung glucocorticoid receptors. The aim was to see if it would also stimulate ACE2 expression. The researchers found that it reduced ACE2 expression at 8 hours, lasting for 24 hours, but not observable after 48 hours. However, the ICS did not affect either TMPRSS2 or CD147. When the fluticasone was reduced by 10-fold, it no longer affected either glucocorticoid receptors or ACE2 expression. Repeating the experiment with other conventional ICS like beclomethasone or budesonide showed the same effect with all of them. When the lung was homogenized and analyzed for ACE2 protein content, the same pattern of suppression of total ACE2 was observed. IFN and ACE2 The next step was to measure the mRNA of ISG and the IFN concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The researchers found that the expression of ACE2 in the lung corresponded to these parameters. Based on earlier data, they theorized that the reduced expression of ACE2 in response to ICS is because the latter suppresses cell signaling via IFN-mediated pathways. If so, it should be possible to reverse it by IFN- administration which was in fact the case. Moreover, mice that lacked IFN signaling had a significant, though a small decline in lung ACE2 expression, supporting the earlier findings. Since it is already known that ACE2 is expressed in the epithelium of the nose and airways and that ICS also suppresses primarily lung epithelial immunity, they looked for suppression of ACE2 when bronchial epithelial cells in culture were exposed to ICS. They found that while COPD-derived cells had a threefold increase in ACE2 expression, as compared to healthy non-smoking subjects, the administration of ICS reduced it by 75%. Again, a mouse model showed that lung ACE2 increased 15-fold in elastase-treated mice (which are similar to human COPD subjects), but reduced after a single dose of ICS. The Implications The current study shows that ICS reduces ACE2 levels in human and animal lung tissue, in response to the suppression of type I IFNs, indicating a possible protective effect of ICS against COVID-19 in COPD patients. However, in view of the potentially harmful decline in protective innate immunity with ICS, more research is called for to clarify the exact nature of ICS effects on COVID-19 susceptibility in this group of patients, and to, indeed, define the outcome of increased or decreased ACE2 levels on the infection. *Important Notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Welsh Technical Advisory Cell finds the UKs lockdown measures were not as successful as those of several other European countries This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 16th, 2020 The latest technical advice given to Welsh Government has been published, this time on the impact of measures to ease lockdown restrictions on R values. Welsh Government has published more of the scientific and technical research, and evidence they have received to form a response to the pandemic in Wales. The latest advice document from the Technical Advisory Cell (TAC) has been published, although public now the document itself is as usual several days old. The Technical Advisory Cell (TAC) is a conduit and interpretation group, interpreting UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) outputs into a Welsh context, relay relevant information and questions from Welsh Government to SAGE as well as feed the information to groups such as Local Resilience Fora. On Friday the First Minister said the R figure for Wales had dropped from 0.8 to 0.7 . The document released today says countries in Europe showed a sharp decline in the CV19 infection rate following lockdown, however The UK did not show the same sharp drop in infection rate following the lockdown and it has taken longer for the UK to approach levels of infection typical of several European countries. Consequently, it could be concluded the UKs lockdown measures were not as successful as those of several other European countries, as evidenced further by the larger number of deaths in the UK than any other European country of comparable population size (France, Germany, Italy). Encouragingly the report says there has not been a rapid rise in the R figure in many European countries after lockdowns have been eased, however the outcome has been described as a flatline of R at or just below 1. There is concern about the longer term slower rise Some European countries (e.g. France) show strong hints that the R value might be rising in the most recent time period (up to early June) as a result of unlocking measures, but this needs to be taken with caution because the infection rate is very small and the R value will be disturbed by random noise. The modelling based off R is subject to around 2-3 weeks lag, and therefore the specific impacts on the figure by unlocking specific measures is hard to link, If more than one unlocking action is taken at one time, it is very difficult to attribute any detrimental change in R value to any one action taken. The TAC concludes, .when unlocking the UK, caution is required when making comparisons with other European countries, so a cautious approach to further unlocking measures would be prudent. The full TAC PDF can be found here, which is dated 8th June 2020. Berkshire Bank's Virtual Townhall Series "Reimagining America" Raises Critical Questions About the Economic Future of African American and Hispanic Communities Last week's two-part townhall series "Reimagining America," hosted and livestreamed by Berkshire Bank and Reevx Labs, is now available for viewing online at "The Future of the Black Economy" and "The Future of Latinx Economy." The important events brought together leading policy makers, economic experts and community bank executives to discuss the economic impact of COVID-19 on African American and Hispanic communities, and how we can work together to rebuild a stronger, more inclusive economy that ensures everyone thrives. Malia Lazu, Executive Vice President and Chief Experience and Culture Officer at Berkshire Bank, said, "I would like to thank our panelists and moderators for contributing to an honest and constructive conversation about the significant racial injustices and economic inequities that exist in our country and how we can work together to build a more just society and inclusive economy. For those of us at Berkshire Bank, these discussions have been especially meaningful, affirming the bank's commitment to serving and creating economic opportunities for all members of the communities where we operate, especially those in the Black and Brown communities who have been traditionally underserved by our industry." The Future of the Black Economy Presented along with leading African-American news site, The Grio, "The Future Of The Black Economy" panel included U.S. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA- 07), President & CEO of NAACP Derrick Johnson, former Dr. Minority Business Development Agency at the Dept. Of Commerce Courtland Cox and Berkshire Bank's Executive Vice President & Chief Experience & Culture Officer, Malia Lazu. The event was moderated by Joy Reid, Host of AM Joy on MSNBC. The June 4th discussion saw our panelists speak to the importance of public and private partnerships and how political power can be the foundation for building economic power in the Black community. Our experts also touched on the effectiveness of the country's response to the effect of Covid-19 on the economy. The Future of the Latinx Economy The powerful conversations didn't stop there. On June 5th, U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Executive Director & Co-Founder of United We Dream Cristina Jimenez, and Entrepreneur & Builder Capitalist Nathalie Molina Nino joined Berkshire and Berkshire Bank's Executive Vice President & Chief Experience & Culture Officer, Malia Lazu for "The Future Of The Latinx Economy." Alicia Menendez, Anchor of MSNBC Live, moderated the event. For some panelists the answers reside within the communities themselves. During this talk, the conversation developed around the idea of envisioning a "new normal" that unlocked the financial power of the Latinx community to drive the rebuild in the aftermath of Covid-19 and moving from beyond charity to business models that can sustain our communities of color. ABOUT BERKSHIRE BANK Berkshire Bank is transforming into a 21st?century community bank with $13.2 billion in assets. We are pursuing purpose driven performance based on our Be FIRST corporate responsibility culture.?? Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire Bank provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, wealth management, investment and insurance services through 130 branch offices in New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including Commerce Bank, a division of Berkshire Bank. Berkshire Bank was awarded the Top Corporate Steward Citizen award by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation in 2019.?Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank. To learn more, visit?www.berkshirebank.com, call 800- 773-5601 or follow us on: Facebook (News - Alert), Twitter, Instagram and, LinkedIn. Life is Exciting. Let us help. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005894/en/ A 35-year-old employee of Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC), Sector 35, was among the eight new Covid-19 cases confirmed in the city on Tuesday. The total number of cases now stands at 365. According to health officials, the staffer last attended office on June 4, prompting them to test his 18 workplace contacts and four family contacts. The source of infection is not known. His 10 community contacts are asymptomatic at the moment. Out of the other seven cases, two have been reported from Sector 41, three from Khuda Ali Sher and one each from Bapu Dham Colony and Ram Darbar. The Sector 41 patients - two females, aged 22 and 54, from the same family, are contacts of a positive patient who had recently returned from Delhi. The Khuda Ali Sher patients are two males, aged seven and two, and a 55-year-old woman. Officials said they were family contacts of a couple, who had returned from Uttar Pradesh and were found positive earlier. At Bapu Dham Colony, a 12-year-old boy, who is the family contact of another positive patient, was also confirmed infected. The man tested positive in Ram Darbar is 58 years old. He is a workplace contact of four positive patients, who are employees of a private factory in Dera Bassi. Authorities have traced his 23 community contacts, while two family contacts are asymptomatic. Meanwhile, an 80-year-old woman from Bapu Dham Colony was discharged from PGIMER and shifted to the Post Discharge Quarantine Facility at Sood Dharamshala. With this, 302 of the total 365 patients have recovered so far, leaving 57 active cases. A total of six people have succumbed to the virus. The citys recovery rate stands at 82.73%. Many lesser known aspects of Sushant Singh Rajput's personality are surfacing in the aftermath off his death by suicide. Writer-director Charudutt Acharya recalled that Sushant once visited the state of Nagaland after it was devastated by floods, and donated Rs 1.25 crore 'without fanfare'. In a Facebook post, Charu wrote that Sushant's death has left his whole family deeply upset. Charu wrote, "The news of Sushant Singh Rajput's death has plunged my family in a pall of sadness. All four of us were HUGE fans. The missus had a special soft corner for him, since his super hit Pavitra Rishta serial days. She would always tell me, 'Charu see this boy will go very far. He will be the next SRK from TV. Just watch...' He was getting there...and now this..." He continued, "But one person who is genuinely gutted without having seen a single serial or movie of Sushant Singh, is my father PB Acharya. From 2014 to 2019, my father was the Governor of the state of Nagaland. In 2018, a massive flood had ravaged the state. The government of Nagaland had put out an appeal to all the citizens of the country to donate to the CM's Flood Relief Fund. At that time, Sushant was shooting in Delhi." Sushant had also made a similar donation to the state of Kerala. ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister Told Her Son That His 'Mamu Is No More'; His Reply Will Win Your Heart Charu added, "There was no fanfare. There was no major publicity. Later, he called my father in Kohima and spoke quite warmly. My father thanked him for his kind and large hearted gesture and invited him to Kohima. Sushant expressed his desire to visit Kohima too. But the journey from Dimapur to Kohima is only by road and takes four hours. And in the flood situation, it could have taken much longer. And Sushant had to rush back to Delhi for his shoot." I am moved at the kind gesture made by @itsSSR and his team towards #NagalandFloods and willingness to help #Nagaland at this crucial hour. Your contribution is encouraging and I hope to see the rest of the nation come forward selflessly, to #DonateForNagaland pic.twitter.com/8ieoGohd0J Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) September 4, 2018 Sushant was found hanging in his Mumbai home on June 14. The reason for his death by suicide is not known as Sushant left without a note. But it is being speculated that Sushant's battle with depression had something to do with it. ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput Prided Himself In Having An Intellectual Life Away From Shallow Side Of Showbiz Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM The political dialogue and practical cooperation between Ukraine and Greece will be strengthened in the interests of both states. This was discussed during a meeting of Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yehor Bozhok with Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Ukraine Vasileios Bornovas on June 16, the Foreign Ministrys press service reports. "The interlocutors discussed practical measures to restore full-scale bilateral relations in the political sector," the report says. Bozhok thanked Greece for its unwavering firm support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for Greece's support for Ukraine's participation in the NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partnership. Ambassador Bornovas assured that his country will further support Ukraine in restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity and will condemn aggressive policy of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. He also noted that Greece has always supported the deepening of relations between Ukraine, NATO and the EU. In addition, the interlocutors paid special attention to expanding bilateral cooperation in the fields of education and culture. The sides also discussed the possibility of resuming direct flights between the two countries from July 1 tentatively. ish Those who remained say it felt like the black community had absorbed the pain of Kings killing largely on its own. The riots ravaged black neighborhoods, and when it was all over, black communities were left to pick up the pieces. While white people played a significant role in the national civil rights movement and events like the 1963 March on Washington, the protests in the District after Kings murder were deeply segregated, as was the city itself. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 19:07:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's Ministry of Health on Tuesday flagged off the distribution of 27 million mosquito nets as the country renews its fight against malaria, one of the killer diseases. Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at ministry of health flagged off the distribution of the long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to districts across the country, under the third universal coverage campaign. "We are starting with districts that were affected by flooding in eastern region and northern Uganda that have recorded higher cases of malaria," said Atwine. "We will be distributing over 27 million nets to all districts in Uganda. We expect to complete this exercise by the end of this calendar year," she added. The countrywide campaign that was meant to kick off in April was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. "We were not able to start as scheduled because of the lockdown but now that it has been partially lifted, we can continue as planned," said Atwine. Under the free mosquito net distribution, the ministry targets to have all citizens sleep under a mosquito net every night to prevent malaria. Malaria kills between 70,000 to 100,000 people in the country annually, mostly pregnant mothers and children, according to the ministry of health figures. The country has made notable progress in the fight against malaria, with the disease prevalence rate dropping from 19 percent to 9 percent, according to the 2018/19 Malaria Indicator Survey. The progress has been attributed to the continuous distribution of mosquito nets, case management, and indoor residue spraying. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 02:20:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Health workers wearing protective suits are seen at a COVID-19 ward of a heath center in Sanaa, Yemen, June 14, 2020. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 844 on Monday as 116 new cases were confirmed. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) ADEN, Yemen, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 844 on Monday as 116 new cases were confirmed. The Yemeni Health Ministry said in a brief statement that during the past 24 hours, the number of recoveries in the government-controlled areas increased to 79 since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus on April 10. Also, the government announced that the death toll from the deadly respiratory disease climbed to 208 in different areas under its control, including the southern port city of Aden. The Yemeni government has taken several measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, including imposing a partial overnight curfew in Aden and other major cities under its control. The government called on donors and relevant international humanitarian organizations to provide support to help contain the pandemic. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa. Enditem Wind power turbines in Ninh Thuan (Photo: VNA) The seminar was held jointly by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)s Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority and the Swedish Embassys Department of Commerce. Addressing the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong called for the further promotion of the energy market in Vietnam, particularly renewable energy, in accordance with the Politburo's Resolution No 55-NQ/TW on orientations for the national energy development strategy to 2030 with a vision to 2045. He suggested actively pooling social resources, from the private sector to foreign investors, in the effort. The MoIT is now working on a master plan for Vietnams energy between now and 2030 with a vision to 2050, he added. Vietnam wants to learn from Swedens experience in the field, he told the seminar, as new mechanisms and policies for energy development are in the pipeline. Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Ann Mawe said leading Swedish firms in electrical equipment and renewable energy, along with representatives from the Swedish Government, were at the seminar to offer financial solutions and pre-feasibility studies on energy to Vietnam. A representative from wind power developer Hexico lauded Vietnams potential to develop energy both onshore and offshore and expressed a readiness to partner with Vietnamese companies to develop clean energy. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 16:58:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SANAA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Tuesday claimed responsibility for drone attacks on a military airport in the Saudi Arabian border city of Khamis Mushait. "The attack was carried out by five bomb-laden drones on Monday night, targeting the hangars of warplanes and arms depots in the Saudi airport," the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV quoted Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea as saying. "The target was accurately bombed," he said, adding the operation came in retaliation for the coalition's "military escalation, airstrikes and economic blockade." Khamis Mushait is in the Saudi southwestern region of Asir, which borders northern Yemen. There was no comment yet from Saudi Arabia or the coalition on the Houthi claim. The Saudi-led coalition launched a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Tuesday morning, according to Sanaa's residents. Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in early 2015 to support Hadi's government. The Yemeni five-year-long war has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million and pushed more than 20 million to the brink of starvation. Enditem The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called on Tuesday for an investigation into the detention of Egyptian workers in the city of Tarhouna in Libya. UNSMIL is concerned about the arrest, detention & ill-treatment of a large number of Egyptian nationals in the city of Tarhouna in potential violation to Libyas international human rights law obligations on the prohibition of torture, inhuman & degrading treatment or punishment, UNSMIL tweeted on Tuesday. UNSMIL welcomes the statement released by the Ministry of Interior on this issue and calls on the local authorities in Tripoli to conduct a prompt investigation, to uncover their fate and whereabouts and to ensure their treatment in accordance with international standards, it continued. A video that has been circulating recently appears to show militias loyal to Libyas Government of National Accord arresting and assaulting Egyptian workers in Libya. The video caused outrage in Egypt, prompting Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal and Emigration Minister Nabila Makram to promise that the country will take a stand at the right time against the incident. In a statement, the Government of National Accord denounced the dreadful acts that attempt to propagate hostility and hatred between the Libyan and Egyptian peoples. The GNA assured in its statement that those responsible for the incident will be arrested. Search Keywords: Short link: States that opened early or had a little bit more of a proactive reopening plan, weve seen [them experience] a considerably increased pace of quotes, said Laird Rixford (pictured), president of ITC. On the other hand, he noted, States like Illinois and California who have been behind the curve of reopening are still at [numbers similar to those] back in March and early April, where theyre 20% below quote volumes. Other examples include Georgia, which had a reopening date of April 30 and has seen a 12.4% variance from quoting volume expectations over the past two-week period. Meanwhile, Washington, which only started to reopen on May 31, had a -36.3% variance from expectations over the same period. Part of the reason for the broader uptick in quoting volumes from where they were a few weeks ago is that consumerism is returning people are buying cars, houses and other assets again, in turn necessitating the purchase of insurance coverage. Moreover, those who cancelled their auto insurance policies because they werent driving anymore are now repurchasing insurance as they get back behind the wheel. Read more: How COVID-19 has changed our driving habits Weve seen in states that have reopened a marked improvement in the number of driven miles per person, said Rixford. Nonetheless, many insurance agencies are still not reopening their physical offices. Theyre instead continuing to work remotely, which speaks to the resiliency of agents in leveraging technology to serve their customers, and also to roll with the punches, explained Rixford. Notably, the coronavirus crisis is far from over, and the ongoing protests against police brutality as well as the looming hurricane season also bring new challenges for the insurance industry. While these events will have limited impact on the ability of agents to do their work, they do need to be there for their customers. Read more: Will business interruption cover trigger in a hurricane if pandemic lockdown is still in effect? Consumers look at their agent as the person who sold them the policy so agents are going to have to develop the ability to educate their customers on how to navigate this new world when it comes to making claims, getting business interruption [coverage], and so on and so forth, said Rixford. Big number: $1,235.09, the per-space monthly cost typically charged to downtown area restaurants that want to convert an on-street parking spot into patio space. The city is looking at waiving fees like this during the COVID-19 pandemic, part of a proposed CafeTO program. The pandemic isnt over not by a longshot but Toronto is making progress. If the number of new cases continues to drop and public health experts give the OK, the city and the surrounding region will soon join the rest of the province in stage two of reopening. One of our prizes for getting there: the chance to drink a cold beer on a restaurant patio. Im ready for it. City hall wants to make it easier for the businesses pouring those beers to be ready for it too. Earlier this month, Mayor John Tory announced CafeTO, a program designed to speed along the process for opening and expanding patio spaces. Online registration started Monday, and if approved by council later this month, the program will offer businesses waived fees and expedited permits. The city is creating a registration process to sign up for the additional patio space that people may wish to take advantage of, and to streamline that process so it can be done very quickly, the mayor told reporters in a press conference on June 4. Its an important move, especially with so many bars and restaurants struggling through the pandemic. Quick question, though: why wasnt the process for getting a patio permit streamlined and quick to begin with? For a reminder of how slow and complex things normally are, look at the agenda for this weeks meeting of Toronto & East York Community Council. On Thursday, councillors on the committee will consider two applications for patio permits. One is from a pizza place in the Beaches, while the other is an Indian restaurant at Bloor Street West and Crawford Street. Both applications, made last summer, are recommended for refusal, owing to a policy requiring a poll of households in the vicinity of the proposed patio. The polls conducted for both patios saw a majority who cast ballots vote in opposition. But dig into the results and it becomes clear that the real winner in both polls was apathy. With the pizza joint application, just 28 of 95 ballots were returned. The Indian restaurants patio application saw just 20 of 61 come back. The polling requirement takes a lot of time and assumes non-participation is the same as opposition, stacking the odds against restaurants. A negative result doesnt necessarily mean the restaurants wont get their patios, but overruling a negative poll result requires businesses to launch an appeal process and work with their local councillor to win support for overturning the refusal at community council. The barriers dont end there. Applications will also be automatically refused if multiple people write letters in opposition. And permits come at a cost. Theres an application fee, and an annual fee per square metre of patio space. And if a restaurant wants to convert an on-street parking space into a patio, the city requires a downtown area business to pay $1,235.09 per month to offset parking revenue the space would have generated for the city. Many of these requirements and costs will likely be set aside for the new CafeTO program, recognizing an urgent need to support restaurants during COVID-19. But if a streamlined process and lower fees can support businesses during the pandemic, theres no reason why the same measures cant support businesses all the time. Maybe some of the red tape being cut because of COVID-19 doesnt need to be stuck back together. I am not advocating an anarcho-capitalist free-for-all. Many of the citys regulations and bylaws governing patio spaces are important. Especially the ones that relate to making sure patio space doesnt spill onto the sidewalk and block people using wheelchairs or mobility devices. And there are lots of legitimate concerns about noise and rowdiness in some patio spaces. But instead of maintaining a bureaucratic system that seems to default to saying no, the city could instead permanently opt for a system that actively supports the creation of outdoor space for people and businesses, with clear and reasonable rules. During the pandemic and after it, perhaps patio permits should be easy to get and hard to keep instead of the other way around. Queen Maxima of The Netherlands looked in good spirits as she stepped out under an umbrella while visiting a classroom to promote a music Mother-of-three Maxima, 49, rocked the smart casual look for the outing in a white asymmetric blouse with a statement oversized bow on one shoulder, paired with a pair of blue bootcut denim jeans. She carried a white and blue linen scarf and teamed her outfit with a black leather clutch and pair of navy blue stiletto heels, shielding from the drizzle under a clear umbrella. Maxima donned a natural face of make-up while her blonde tresses were loose around her shoulders and she finished off her look with some loose gold chain bracelets. Queen Maxima (pictured) of The Netherlands looked in good spirits as she stepped out under an umbrella while visiting a classroom today The royal is the honourary chairman of the 'More music in the classroom' and visited students of a school in the Hoeksche Waard region today The monarch is the honourary chairman of the 'More music in the classroom' and visited a classroom in the Hoeksche Waard region for the signing of the campaign agreement. The campaign, also called the 'Meer Muziek in de Klas' initiative aims to achieve structural music education for all 1.6 million primary school children in the Netherlands. She was seen speaking with pupils of the school, and later watched them perform instruments. The musical session was followed by a meeting to discuss progress in the campaign with members of the school's board. The mother-of-three appeared to be in good spirits as she shielded from the rain this morning The royal stepped out in a white asymmetric blouse with a statement shoulder paired with a pair of blue bootcut denim jeans She carried a white and blue linen scarf and teamed her outfit with a black leather clutch and pair of navy blue stiletto heels The aim is for music lessons to be a standard part of the curriculum at every primary school in the Netherlands by 2020. Trainee primary teachers will need to gain enough confidence to make music and learn the technical skills to teach the subject. The new grant scheme will give schools an incentive to provide high-quality music education for their students. Maxima grinned at on lookers as she stepped out of her car on this morning's school visit The aim is for music lessons to be a standard part of the curriculum at every primary school in the Netherlands by 2020. Maxima watched children perform for her The campaign, also called the 'Meer Muziek in de Klas' initiative aims to achieve structural music education for all 1.6 million primary school children in the Netherlands Maxima donned a natural face of make-up while her blonde tresses were loose around her shoulders She met to discuss progress in the campaign with members of the school board An important condition is that they work together with colleges of music. Applications for projects under the grant scheme must show how the school intends to make high-quality music education a permanent fixture in teacher training. Earlier this month the royal stepped out to enjoy a night at the theatre with her husband as the country begins to leave lockdown. The Netherlands re-opened certain cultural institutions following a downward trend in their COVID-19 figures death figures for over a month. Maxima looked captivated as she watched pupils at the school perform The royal teamed her look with a statement blue gem ring and a smart black leather watch She was seen speaking with pupils of the school, and later watched them perform instruments Restaurants, cafes, theaters, concert halls, museums and cinemas returned with strict 1.5-meter social distancing measures observed after two and a half months' in coronavirus lockdown. Reservations are required for all activities and two people who are not from the same household can sit together at one table in restaurants and cafes. A maximum of 30 people are allowed in restaurants, cafes, theaters, concert halls and cinemas, as long as the 1.5-meter social distancing rules can be kept. "While most of our workforce was working while sheltering at home, we averaged nearly 70 people on this project every day," said Ray Kowalik, chairman and CEO of Burns & McDonnell. From daily temperature checks to staggering schedules to improve social distancing, Kowalik says he had two main goals for the project: Keep everyone safe and keep everyone working. "We always knew this project would create new jobs, but we could not comprehend just how vital these types of critical infrastructure projects would be to keep crews working through a pandemic," he said. Designed and built by Burns & McDonnell in partnership with VanTrust Real Estate, the project generated work for more than 50 companies in Missouri and Kansas. "We're proud of Missouri's infrastructure workers who have continued to safely move essential projects forward even during this challenging, unprecedented time in our state," Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said. "Critical infrastructure projects like the Burns & McDonnell campus keep Missouri moving forward by meeting the increasing needs of our communities and fueling economic growth." Nearly 30 minority- and women-owned businesses worked on the campus expansion, surpassing goals set at the beginning of the project. "For generations, Burns & McDonnell has invested in building up not only Kansas City's infrastructure, but also social services for those in need throughout our region," said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. "I am glad to see Burns McDonnell's renewed investment in Kansas City, their ongoing work with small and locally owned businesses, and their commitment to all people in this community." "As a minority-owned business, we look for projects that lead to multiple opportunities," said Nilson Goes, president, Infinite Energy Construction. "We partner frequently with Burns & McDonnell on critical infrastructure projects which helps us build our business and our community." Using integrated design-build delivery, it took 13 months to build the 142,000-square-foot, four-story office building and 550-stall parking garage. The new office building houses 776 office seats, increasing the size of the Burns & McDonnell world headquarters campus by 22%. During the final stages of the project, the firm quickly adapted plans and implemented strategies to keep employees, partners and customers safe and healthy within the new building. Robust technology teamed with large workstations, conference rooms and outdoor patio and courtyard will promote compliance with social distancing requirements. Additionally, while the first wave of employee-owners transitioned back to the office this month, the majority will be phased back onto campus by the end of the summer. World Headquarters Campus Highlights 4,339 total office seats on campus. 345 total conference rooms on campus. 34-acre campus; 14 landscaped acres. More than 3,800 feet of dedicated walking trails. 20,000-square-foot childcare center for 144 preschool-aged children with a focus on STEM. Full-service pharmacy. On-site health center. On-site credit union. On-site fitness center. On-site cafeteria. Coffee bar with barista service. 2,500-square-foot rooftop event space. Two auditoriums with advanced audiovisual equipment. Throughout the pandemic, Burns & McDonnell continues work on nearly 10,000 other critical infrastructure projects in Kansas City, across the country and throughout the world. "Critical infrastructure is the foundation for growth and new opportunities throughout our county and across the United States," said Jackson County, Missouri Executive Frank White, Jr. "While COVID-19 has challenged our businesses to a degree most could have never imagined, we are inspired by those who successfully completed the Burns & McDonnell campus project through a pandemic. We salute the critical infrastructure workers who will continue to build our hopes and projects of the future." For photos and support materials, please visit our MEDIA KIT. About Burns & McDonnell Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 7,600 engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities with more than 55 offices, globally. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is a 100% employee-owned company and proud to be on Fortune's 2020 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn how we are on call through it all. Contact: Kristi Widmar, Burns & McDonnell 551-208-5922 [email protected] SOURCE Burns & McDonnell Related Links http://www.burnsmcd.com FILE PHOTO: The logo of AstraZeneca is seen on medication packages in a pharmacy in London MADRID (Reuters) - Spain is 'very likely' to join four other European governments in a deal to buy COVID-19 vaccine from British drugmaker AstraZeneca , Health Emergency Coordinator Fernando Simon said on Monday. The pharmaceutical group agreed on Saturday to supply 400 million doses of its vaccine, which is still under development, to the governments of France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Speaking at a news conference, Simon said Spain may also join with other countries pursuing different vaccines. (Reporting by Nathan Allen, editing by Andrei Khalip) Police arrested a Orange County man Monday after a high-speed chase across county, in which the suspect allegedly ran into a police vehicle with a stolen car, according to a news release from the Vidor Police Department. Ronald Dale Fusselier, 36, is facing two charges of aggravated assault on a police officer and one charge of evading arrest. He was also wanted for seven warrants, according to VPD. An officer on patrol in the 3200 block of Texas 12 saw a black 2013 Chevy Tahoe passing vehicles in the center lane, the release said. The officer activated his emergency lights to affect a traffic stop, the release said. The vehicle turned westbound onto FM 1132 and accelerated at a high rate of speed reaching 100 MPH. The vehicle continued to elude officers turning Northbound on Myrtle, westbound on Daniel, southbound on Call. The Tahoe turned westbound on FM 1132 before traveling at a high rate of speed into a trailer park. Once in the trailer park, the police allege Fusselier intentionally swerved into a police vehicle hitting the passenger side. Police said Fusselier then left the trailer park and headed westbound on Farm Road 1132 and turned north on Texas 105. The Tahoe exited the roadway of Hwy. 105 near the Jasper County line, the release said. He again attempted to intentionally ram an Orange County Sheriffs Office unit while re-entering the roadway. The Tahoe continued northbound on Hwy. 105 entering Jasper County. Approximately 4 miles inside the Jasper County line the Tahoe attempted to make a U-turn exiting the roadway. At this time the Tahoe became disabled in mud. The driver exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without injuries. Police said the car was reported stolen out of Orange County nearly an hour after the chase ended. According to the release, Fusselier was wanted on warrants for two charges of possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, attempt to take a officers weapon, theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Police transported to the Orange County Jail in lieu of a $170,000 bond for his outstanding warrants. chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/chris_moore09 T he official coronavirus death toll in the UK has risen by 233 to nearly 42,000, according to the latest Government figures. The Department for Health and Social Care said the total number of deaths recorded in the UK across hospitals, care homes and other settings now stands at 41,969. The increase is a significant rise from the past two days, when some of the lowest daily rises were recorded since the outbreak began. The DHSC also said in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Tuesday, 113,107 tests were carried out or dispatched, with 1,279 positive results. The Government figures do not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which is thought to have passed 53,000. Earlier today, NHS England reported 79 new deaths among hospital patients on Tuesday. Wales recorded eight deaths, while Scotland reported five and Northern Ireland one. In England, 23 of the deaths were reported in the north east and Yorkshire, followed 17 by the north west, while London hospitals recorded three deaths. In Scotland, a total of 2,453 patients have died, up by five from 2,448 on Monday, Nicola Sturgeon said. Speaking at the Scottish Governments coronavirus briefing, the First Minister said 18,045 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 15 from 18,030 the previous day. Public Health Wales said a further eight people had died, taking the total number of deaths to 1,456, while the total number of cases increased by 65 to 14,869. In Northern Ireland, one death was recorded, bringing the total reported by the Department of Health to 542 on Tuesday. There were two new confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the total to 4,854 since the pandemic began. Motorolas flagship Motorola Edge+ is showing a severe display problem for some users and the problem may not be fixable via an update, based on a recent report detailing the matter. The problem was first reported via Motorolas support forums near the end of May before exploding into a 7-page array of complaints. As shown through images shared on that forum, it takes the form of spotting and green tinting in the devices display panel. Users noted that the problem seemed to appear after long periods of screen-on time. Then, after letting the device cool down, the problem would temporarily go away. The green overlay and black spotting returned after users picked up their phones for another long session. Advertisement Motorola responded with a firmware update that started its rollout on Verizon last week. The Motorola Edge+ display problem doesnt seem to be fixed Despite the above-mentioned update and several others released since the handset launched, the Motorola Edge+ display problem doesnt appear to be going away for everybody. Based on continuing reports and responses at the associated online forums, the update only worked for some users. And Motorola forum admin Matt has indicated that the problem may no longer be fixable either. Among his most recent messages, the admin took to the forums to thank users for their patience in waiting for the update. But he also had some bad news for users experiencing the Motorola Edge+ display problem. Or at least, thats going to be the case for those users who have already received the update. The admin asks users to give it a day or two and then reach out to Verizon. Advertisement If the problem doesnt self-correct, users will need to exchange the phone with the carrier. Otherwise, Motorolas forum rep says that the update should prevent the issue from occurring on future devices. But this particular problem may extend well beyond a small batch of phones or a software fix. In addition to the devices that are already reporting the issue, some users are reporting that their replacement device has the same problems. The symptoms and underlying activity leading to the problem remain the same too. Typically, the green tint and black splotches appear after watching a video or using the phone for extended periods. Advertisement So, getting in touch with Verizon for the exchange does seem like a plausible first step. But it may not ultimately solve things for a significant number of users. This is too expensive a phone to have these kinds of issues quietly Now, Motorola isnt the only company to suffer a high-profile failure in its devices. At the very least, it can be said that the phones arent exploding or catching on fire. But users are paying $1,000 for the gadget. Or, conversely, theyre paying $41.66 per month for 24 months through a Verizon payment option. And thats a lot of money for consumers to spend on a device that may have this issue. Motorola has been mum on the matter in the meantime, not giving away any details as to what the underlying Edge+ display problem might be. Advertisement Verizon is, in the meantime, selling the handset at a heavy discount. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 15:08 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf28f6b 1 Business venture-capital,Singapore,Southeast-Asia,India,Japan,start-up,fintech,e-commerce,funding,health,agriculture,Education,artificial-intelligence,data,technology Free Singapore-based venture capital firm Beenext has announced that it has closed two new funds by raising a total of US$160 million to be invested in Southeast Asia, India and Japan to accelerating digitalization in the new normal era. The firm said in a statement on Tuesday that the first fund of $110 million would be used to fund early-stage tech start-ups in Southeast Asia and India in the e-commerce, fintech, health-tech, agriculture-tech, education-tech and artificial intelligence- and data-driven technology domains. Beenext founder and managing partner Teruhide Sato said that the firm has been engaging with potential founders despite the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to see start-up founders pushing the boundaries to thrive in this environment. This means that solutions for a post-COVID world will also come from them, he said in the statement. Now more than ever, we feel the need to nurture the entrepreneurial ecosystem to ensure we bounce back as a strong community of founders. He went on to say that the other $50 million in funds would be allocated for software as a service (SaaS) business in Japan. The new round of funding was backed by major institutional investors in the United States, Japanese corporations and global entrepreneurs. This fund marks the companys fourth consecutive fund focused on emerging markets in Asia. Since its establishment in 2015, the firm has invested in more than 180 start-ups across the globe, 45 of which are in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, Beenext has invested in fintech Amartha, furniture marketplace Dekoruma and edu-tech Zenius, among others. (eyc) A midcentury modern gem with a place in Pittsburgh history is up for sale for the first time. The steel-framed box, which uses red brick and glass as its main elements, is an early example of the clean lines and simplicity that exemplify midcentury architecture. Built in 1951, the home at 40 Woodland Road in the Pennsylvania city's prestigious Squirrel Hill neighborhood is on the market for $2.25 million. According to public records, the four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home has remained in the same family since its construction. Jerome Apt, Jr., and his wife, Joan Frank Apt, commissioned the home in 1951, and it was completed in 1953. The couple raised two children in the home, including Jerome Jay Apt, III, a NASA astronaut who flew on four space shuttle missions between 1991 and 1996. Interior realtor.com Interior realtor.com According to published obituaries, Jerome Apt, Jr. died in 2010 at the age of 87, and his wife died in February 2020 at the age of 93. Jerome Apt, Jr., was a mechanical engineer who, according to the Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, held several patents, including one for a leak detection system for a nuclear reactor that he patented in 1971, and another for a remote-controlled system for coal mining that he patented in 1976. Joan Frank Apt was a leader of many arts and cultural organizations in Pittsburgh and loved to entertain in her unique home. According to her obituary, she celebrated her 90th birthday party there. Exterior realtor.com Exterior realtor.com Joan Frank Apt grew up and was married in a home down the road that is now known as the Alan I W Frank House, after Joan Frank Apts brother Alan. The Alan Frank House was the largest home designed by the founders of the Bauhaus, Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer. Known as a significant work in the history of modern architecture, the home is now a museum. It's almost unchanged from when the family lived in the home, even down to the fixtures and furnishings. Joan Frank Apt was used to living in architectural masterpieces, so when she and her husband wanted to design their home, they turned to another famous architect, A. James Speyer. Speyer was born just down the street from this home and knew Joan Frank Apt. Speyer was well-known around the world. He graduated from Carnegie Tech in 1934, and went to Europe, where he learned about the Bauhaus movement. Later, he studied with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and developed his own style. A home Speyer went on to design outside Chicago became one of his most famous works. It's now popularly known as the "Ferris Bueller" house, because it was featured in the movie "Ferris Buellers Day Off" in 1986, the year Speyer died. Speyers modernist design is evident in the 4,160-square-foot Apt residence, which sits on 1.5 acres of wooded land. The entry is down a steeply sloped staircase made of granite, and the back of the home has large floor-to-ceiling windows. The distinctive arched brick fireplace in the living room is echoed in the brick arches over the stalls in the three-car garage. From the home's listing photos, it's apparent that it has been well-preserved. The kitchen and bathrooms appear original and untouched. Wood-paneled walls still shine, and some of the home's decor looks as if it has been plucked from a catalog from the early 1970s. A new owner may want to replace the home's carpet, but beyond that, not much more needs to be done but to sit back and enjoy the architecture. Outside, the home is surrounded by patios and green expanses of lawn. It's an ideal spot for entertaining guests, thanks to the flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces, a revolutionary idea at the time it was built. Staircase realtor.com Interior realtor.com Interior realtor.com Kitchen realtor.com Bedroom realtor.com Bathroom realtor.com Exterior realtor.com Interior realtor.com The post $2.25M Pittsburgh Home Is a Masterful Midcentury Time Capsule appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Bengaluru: Categorically ruled out of imposing a second round lockdown in the state, the Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa said that he will request the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give more relaxation to the people to do business activities. After discussing with senior ministers and officers regarding covid pandemic situations in the state here on Monday, the Chief Minister informed the reporters that, state is not in favour of a second round of lockdown. We will request the Centre to restrict the entry of people from neighbouring states to Karnataka. As on today in the state there are 7000 Covid cases reported in which 4386 cases from Maharashtra alone, 1340 cases connected to Maharashtra, 216 people coming from foreign countries, Chief Minister explained. Covid overview in the state Out of 7000 cases, 3955 people have been cured and discharged from the hospitals. Total death reported in the state was 83. Mortality rate in the state is 1.3% which is below the national average of 2.8%. State recovery rate is 56.5%, which is higher than the national average of 51%. Covid test is conducted in 71 labs across the state, so for 4,40,684 people have taken covid test. Out of 7000 cases only 2956 are active cases in the state. In Bengaluru, total 697 cases have been reported till date in which only 30 active cases and 36 deaths took place. Only 16 persons are in ICU across the state. State has made 7 days institutional quarantine and 7 days home quarantine to the people coming from Maharashtra. Only 3 days institutional quarantine will be made to the people coming from Chennai and Delhi. However they should have 11 days home quarantine once institutional quarantine ends. Mask day Mask day has been organized by the state government on June 18 across the state. In Bengaluru Mask Walk will be conducted near Vidhana Soudha. Film actors and sports personalities will take part in walkthon wearing mask and maintain social distance to bring awareness to the people to wear mask. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. There are a million ways to say thanks, and buying lunch for workers showing up every day during a health crisis is a pretty good one. So, the Richmond County Bar Association recently dug into its pockets to show its appreciation to courthouse employees. The group had lunch delivered on May 27 and June 3 to court officers, clerks and staff manning the Staten Island Courthouse on Central Avenue and Family Court on Richmond Terrace, said Jay Duskin the Bar Associations president at the time. Both courthouses are in St. George. About 60 lunches were distributed on each occasion, Duskin said. We wanted to do something for the frontline workers, said Duskin. They had to physically staff the courthouse. We wanted to relieve the stress of them having to go out and get something for lunch in St. George, and to show our appreciation while the rest of us hunkered down. Court operations have been sharply curtailed over the past three months in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Nearly all proceedings which have gone forward have been conducted virtually. The main courthouse on Central Avenue remained open to facilitate virtual operations, and Family Court has been partially staffed, said Duskin. We thought buying them lunch would be a nice gesture, he said. The food and beverages were delivered at cost by Aunt Butchies of Brooklyn and Beyars Market, said Duskin. Duskins term expired last week. Sheila McGinn was elected and sworn in as the Bar Associations new president at that time. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 23:37:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VILNIUS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania's budget deficit will reach a historic level and debt growth will rocket to an unprecedented height if all the envisaged economic support measures are implemented, Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, warned on Tuesday. He commented on the issue after meeting with opposition's Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrat parliamentary group. According to Vasiliauskas, he is particularly concerned about the government's borrowing and the debt level which might increase from 39 percent of GDP (gross domestic product) up to 50 percent. "These numbers are impressive. If all the measures were implemented as planned, the budget deficit would reach double digits. It is understandable in the current situation, yet I would like to point out that the debt growth would also be one of the largest in history," Vasiliauskas was quoted as saying by local news website lrt.lt. According to Vasiliauskas, the main question is how the borrowed money will be used and whether they would give some impetus for the future or not. "There are many unanswered questions. We are not among the largest economies which may probably distribute the money to the left and the right. We'd rather take a dropper for that purpose so that we can build up potential in the medium term," the chief of the central bank added. As regards the world economy, Vasiliauskas noted that there are many uncertainties and all the largest world economies suffered a decline in the first quarter this year. The world economy will shrink greater than during the 2008 financial crisis, Vasiliauskas projected. In its report published earlier this month, Lithuania's central bank provided its economic projections in three (mild, baseline and severe) scenarios. According to the baseline scenario, Lithuania's GDP is forecast to contract by 9.7 percent in 2020. Should the mild scenario materialize, the country's GDP is expected to shrink by 7 percent, assuming that the worldwide spread of COVID-19 is contained relatively quickly, while global and Lithuanian economies gradually get back on track without any major long-term repercussions. In the case of a severe scenario, the country's GDP would decrease by 17 percent. This scenario assumes that the worldwide spread of COVID-19 will not be controlled until a medical solution to combat the virus is found. Therefore, economic activity in Lithuania and worldwide should remain muted, thus causing more damage to the growth potential in the long term. Enditem Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Likud faction on June 15 that he wanted to bring an annexation plan for approval in the near future, but the map still isnt ready. The ministers took the declaration silently. No one mentioned that only recently, a confident Netanyahu had proclaimed that there have been no changes to the annexation program, that the target date of July 1 remains set as determined in the coalition agreement between Likud and Blue and White. Netanyahu is the supreme leader. If he wills it, he can shelve the same program that turned him into a great leader of the right wing six months ago. Netanyahu ostensibly has the Knesset majority he needs for full annexation. The Yamina faction, and evidently Avigdor Libermans Yisrael Beiteinu as well, will support the initiative from the outside. So what gave him cold feet? Why is he allowing the annexation drive to cool? One doesnt have to be an expert on Netanyahu and his map of interests to realize that not much will happen on July 1. Two weeks out, Netanyahu is preparing to explain the delay on his plan to annex all West Bank and Jordan Valley settlements. He's also already identifying who is to blame for the delay: Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. We don't know about Blue and White, that's a good question," said Netanyahu. The prime minister added that maybe the party is in favor of annexing the Jordan Valley and the settlement blocs, playing dumb for his faction. Those words are far from the truth. Netanyahu is very familiar with Gantz and Ashkenazi's stances: Both oppose a sweeping annexation. They will only support a limited program to be carried with unqualified American support and understandings in place with Arab countries. Gantz and Ashkenazi have presented their red lines to Netanyahu on many occasions. The only one behaving without transparency is Netanyahu himself. The prime minister has still not revealed his maps and intentions to his partners. He will explain to the ideological right why things arent going the way hed promised them by casting the blame on others. The situation also arguably suits the heads of Blue and White, who can use this instance to prove to their political base that they wield influence over Netanyahus government and have the ability to tone him down. It's a win-win situation. So whats really going on? As the days go by, the picture becomes clearer. Netanyahu has no intention of bringing the entire US program for authorization by the government and the Knesset, only annexation and a limited one at best. Conventional wisdom holds that it will include the Etzion settlement bloc, a collection of localities that would remain under Israeli sovereignty under any peace agreement. In addition, Netanyahu is now saying that he has no intention of going against the White House. He said so clearly in a meeting with former high-placed officials in the defense system who support annexation and are identified with the right. In the June 15 meeting, he gave them some behind-the-scenes information and told them that the American administration demands that annexation take place only with the agreement of Blue and White. It was the express request of the White House not to move unilaterally. On June 14, Emirati Ambassador to the United States Yousef al-Otaiba took the unusual step of publishing an op-ed in Hebrew in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, in which he warned against annexing settlements and territories in the West Bank. Otaiba enjoys excellent relations with US President Donald Trump and his son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, even attending the deal of the century unveiling in the White House last January. Thus, Netanyahu cannot simply ignore Otaiba, a moderate figure who views relations with Israel as a security asset, and his message that annexation will negatively affect relations between Israel and his country as well as other Arab states. Netanyahu has prided himself in recent years on his excellent relations with pragmatic Arab states such as Saudi Arabia. It was a strong bargaining chip over his opponents and he wont want to lose it. In light of these developments, even high-level ministers in the Likud are admitting that Netanyahu wont carry out a full annexation. Theres another reason: Recent surveys are showing that the Israeli public is more concerned about economic problems than annexation. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis are still unemployed, and tens of thousands of businesses are collapsing. A survey aired June 8 on Channel 12 included the question, What is the most important mission of the new government? An absolute majority of respondents agreed that the economic crisis is of top priority. Even the fight against the coronavirus took second place, and only small percentages of the public pointed to annexation and the struggle against Iran as most important. Netanyahu has his ear to public opinion. He understands that nowadays Israelis are wrapped up in economic problems, and they wont forgive him if a wave of violence erupts on the heels of annexation. The prime minister knows that his legal and political survival is on the line. Netanyahu is a sophisticated political animal and his conclusion is clearly to limit himself to a symbolic annexation. He views his positive relations with the Trump administration as a national and personal asset. Netanyahu has gone out of his way to express his thanks to the president, for example calling Trump on his 74th birthday. The prime minister also called Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday night to thank him for taking Israels side against the International Criminal Court. For most of his years as prime minister, Netanyahu dealt with Democratic presidents who opposed him on diplomatic issues. He really needs to keep the door to the White House open. How many of these places in the Coulee Region have you visited? The HeroZona Foundation has announced a Bridge Forum on Tuesday, June 23 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the American Legion Post 65 (1624 E. Broadway Rd.) in Phoenix, which will discuss what its like to be Black in America and how to take actions to reach equality. This invitation-only event will also be live streamed to the public on TheBridgeForum.com. The Bridge Forum: Time for Change event will be the eighth Bridge Forum series from the organization to understand different perspectives, attitudes, and beliefs about community policing. The upcoming forum will focus on current events within the black community and law enforcement and examine how communities can work together with police to create equality in the nation. Bridge Forums are an essential tool in bridging the gap between communities and law enforcement, says HeroZona Foundation Founder and U.S. Army Desert Storm Veteran, Alan AP Powell. The black community needs to move from peaceful protest to action and this is what the Bridge Forum is designed to do. The Bridge Forum will include panelists such as General Manager for the Phoenix Suns, James Jones; Superintendent for the Roosevelt School District No. 66, Quintin Boyce; Arizona State Representative from District 27, Reginald Bolding; President for the Arizona Youth & College NAACP, Armonee D. Jackson; Founder of Lo-Los Chicken & Waffles, Larry White; Senior Pastor of First Institutional Baptist Church, Dr, Warren. H. Stewart Sr.; City of Phoenix Police Chief, Jeri Williams; Maricopa County Attorney, Allister Adel; Chief Special Agent of Attorney General Arizona, Reggie Grigsby; Superintendent of the Phoenix Union High School District, Dr. Chad E. Gestson; Arizona State Senator for District 27, Rebecca Rios and President of the NAACP Arizona State Conference, Charles Fanniel. UPS, EPCOR and SRP are supporters of the event. As part of the Steering Committee for the U.S. Chambers National Initiative to Address Inequality of Opportunity, which will hold a national Town Hall a few days after this event, I know that the Bridge Forum will drive action both in Arizona and nationally, says President & CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Glenn Hamer. The format could also serve as a model for much-needed conversations across America. This is a major American moment and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to being part of the solution. It is crystal clear that inequality of opportunity holds our economy back from reaching its full potential. The event will be moderated by the President & CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, National Director of the Million Man March, and Assistant to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Dr. Chavis first received international recognition in 1971 as the leader of the Wilmington Ten, he was wrongfully convicted of committing arson and received the longest sentence before becoming appealed in 1980. Chavis then went to graduate school, became a civil rights activist and was the former Vice President of the National Council of Churches. No one is safe until we are all safe and we know there is no place in any community or anywhere in the world for racism, bigotry or hate, says UPS CEO, Carol Tome. We will not stand quietly or idly on the sidelines of this issue. Today, we are reaffirming what we know is right and doing our part to accelerate progress. We will be champions for justice and equality, not just in our words but in our actions here in the U.S. and everywhere we operate around the world. We are proud to support the HeroZona Foundation and its work to bring members of the community together in a collaborative effort to seek social justice, said SRP Chief Public Affairs Executive, Rob Taylor. The Bridge Forum provides a platform for people from all perspectives to engage in meaningful dialogue. This represents a path forward to establish lasting change. The Bridge Forum is supported by City of Phoenix Mayor, Kate Gallego, and Maricopa County Supervisor from District 3, Bill Gates. Honorary guests who will be present at the event include Helios Education Foundation Founding Chairman, Vince Roig; Greater Phoenix Leadership President & CEO, Neil G. Giuliano; Maricopa County Sheriff, Paul Penzone; and Arizona Manufacturers Council Chairwoman, Dawn Grove, among many other notable community members. Renowned poet extraordinaire and Founder of Homebase Poetry, HB Harold G. Branch III, will be a special guest at the event and read a poem titled I Cant Breathe. Additionally, the City of Phoenix's Outstanding Man of the Year for 2017 and this year's Henry Clay College Congress Representative for the State of Arizona, Evan Pittman, will be playing the National Anthem and the Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" on the violin. Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Terry E. Mackey, will be giving the invocation. The community is crying out for policy changes all around the world and this has never happened before, says the President of the NAACP Arizona State Conference, Charles Fanniel. The Bridge Forum was created to bridge the gap between the community and the police department. We want to build accountability and review how to have meaningful conversations to allow the police to better understand how we can build improved relationships and trust within our community. Dialogue around public safety is important, but we must lead these conversations into policy change, says Arizona State Representative from District 27, Reginald Bolding. Im looking forward to seeing what legislation we can agree on to reform our system. Previous Bridge Forums have included both high school and college aged participants in 2017 from South Mountain High School, and in November 2018 included participation from law enforcement and community leaders who discussed ways to better support veterans with recruitment, hiring, opportunities in service, veterans in crisis and support systems. In January 2018, the Scottsdale Police Department implemented 29 new initiatives from the Scottsdale Bridge Forum 2017, which included establishing sufficient resources for police personnel dealing with trauma, establishing dialogue opportunities with minority communities, enhancing engagement with the communitys youth and identifying ways to address the needs of the community related to behavioral health. For more information about the Bridge Forum and to stream its upcoming event on Tuesday, June 23, visit thebridgeforum.com. About the HeroZona Foundation: The HeroZona Foundation has a strong focus on veteran initiatives and honoring those who have served our country and their family members. The nonprofits name reflects that messaging to focus on empowering and celebrating Americas veterans. The HeroZona Foundations annual HeroZona National Veteran Summit created a multi-day networking experience to improve Americas support of veteran companies through workshops, networking, entrepreneurial connections, and seminars. The summit will return to Arizona for a third year in November 2020. Other programs include the Bridge Forum, Phoenix Tools 4 School, Honor Walk, Veterans Reach to Teach, Voting for Veterans and Play It Forward. For more information, visit herozona.org GRANITE CITY Dennis J. Orsey, a general practice attorney in Granite City who concentrates his practice in representing downstate police and fire pension funds, will be installed as president of the Illinois State Bar Association on June 19 by Justice Lloyd Karmeier at the Illinois Supreme Court building in Springfield. Orsey will be the first ISBA president elected from Madison County. During his year as president, Orsey will concentrate on several initiatives, including the Rural Practice Initiative, which will promote access to justice in rural communities and will work with law schools and young lawyers to entice attorneys to practice there. This initiative will also address law school debt and will examine the challenges in finding legal jobs sufficient to both pay off debt and begin practicing law. Orsey will also continue to champion the ISBA Leadership Academy, which was launched in 2019 with the aim of training attorneys to develop the necessary skills to take on leadership positions within the ISBA and the legal profession. In his early career, Orsey served for 11 years as an assistant attorney general and regional office director of the Granite City Regional Office, which serviced an eight-county area. Orsey established his own general practice law firm in 1995 in Granite City. Since 1997, Orsey has served as deputy general counsel for the Illinois Public Pension Fund Association and represents over 50 police and firefighter pension boards. After serving for many years on various ISBA sections, committees, and the Assembly, he served three terms on the Board of Governors before being elected as Third Vice President in 2017. Orsey was the recipient of the ISBA Board of Governors Award in 2013. Orsey received a bachelors degree from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law. The Illinois State Bar Association is a voluntary organization of 29,000 members that provides professional services to Illinois lawyers and education and services to the public. For more information, visit www.isba.org. Many employees are ready to embrace home-based working after the pandemic, according to a major new Strategy Analytics Consumer Insights study of more than 5000 consumers in the US, Germany, UK and China. 80-90% of respondents who have been working from home during the pandemic said they like doing it, and less than 20% of all employees said that they would be unhappy if their employer made working from home compulsory. The complimentary report, "Working From Home Before and After the Pandemic," suggests that businesses, public bodies and employers in general should prepare to plan for significant changes in many aspects of home and work relating to travel, expenditure patterns, time allocation and lifestyle priorities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005656/en/ Current Feelings about Working From Home (Source: Strategy Analytics Consumer Insights Practice) The research also found that the proportion of permanent employees who work from home at least regularly increased by between 92% (US) and 245% (China) during the pandemic. In addition, if employers made working at home compulsory in future, less than 20% of employees would be unhappy about this. In the US, Germany and the UK, the biggest concern about working from home is the inability to communicate with peers and feeling isolated. Chinese employees, by contrast, are most worried about not having the work equipment at home. David Mercer, VP and Principal Analyst, said: "All the evidence suggests that, in spite of all the challenges posed by the pandemic, many employees have discovered that home working offers significant quality of life improvements and are keen not to lose those benefits as economies emerge from the crisis." Arleen Denque, VP, Consumer Insights Practice, added: "Employers need to understand the impact of widespread home working on their established business practices, and brands also need to identify the challenges and opportunities presented by these substantial changes in work environments and lifestyles." Source: Strategy Analytics, Inc. SA_CIP About Strategy Analytics Strategy Analytics, Inc. is a global leader in supporting companies across their planning lifecycle through a range of customized market research solutions. Our multi-discipline capabilities include: industry research advisory services, customer insights, user experience design and innovation expertise, mobile consumer on-device tracking and business-to-business consulting competencies. With domain expertise in: smart devices, connected cars, media and intelligent home, service providers, IoT, and strategic components, Strategy Analytics can develop a solution to meet your specific planning need. For more information, visit us at www.strategyanalytics.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005656/en/ Contacts: Report contacts: Arleen Denque, +1 617 614 0755, adenque@strategyanalytics.com David Mercer, +44 1908 423610, dmercer@strategyanalytics.com Matt Hester, +44 1908 423 692, mhester@strategyanalytics.com Sonakshi Sinha has called out people that are trying to get publicity over the death of fellow actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Without naming anyone, actor Sonakshi Sinha on Tuesday in a social media post lashed out at certain people trying to garner publicity from the demise of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR). The Dabangg girl took to Twitter and posted a statement where she is seen urging people not to spread negativity using the death of the Kai Po Che! actor. The problem with wrestling with pigs is that you get dirty and the pig enjoys it. To certain people trying to garner publicity and highlight THEIR issues using the death of a member of our fraternity PLEASE just stop, wrote Sinha. Your spewing negativity, hate, and toxicity is really not required right now. Have some respect for the departed. Really, she added. The 33-year-old actor did not name or address the post to any specific person. Certain people are just disgusting and will always be, she wrote along with the note. The Akira actor has also posted the same note on her Instagram stories. Certain people are just disgusting and will always be. pic.twitter.com/vTgQdCm7AP Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) June 15, 2020 Shocked beyond words. Rest in peace Sushant. You never know what someone is going through be kind. Condolences to his family and loved ones. Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) June 14, 2020 SSR had allegedly killed himself by hanging at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on Sunday. However, no suicide note has been recovered from Rajputs residence, police said. His last rites were performed earlier today at Mumbais Vile Parle amid heavy downpours. For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App - Erick Omondi has been battling cancer for some time and is reported to have succumbed to the disease at Bondo sub-county hospital - The Luo Benga musician best known by his stage name Omondi Long Lilo has been on record appealing for financial support to cater for medication - His death came barely days after the demise of popular Ohangla musician Abenny Jachiga Another tragedy has struck home for lovers of soothing Luo songs following the news of the demise of celebrated Benga musician Erick Omondi Odit alias Omondi Long Lilo. Omondi has been battling cancer for some time and reportedly succumbed to the disease at Bondo sub-county hospital. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Wakenya wanataka Ikulu ifungwe kwa siku 14 READ ALSO: Another mourner who travelled from Mombasa to Siaya tests positive for COVID-19 His close friend and fun Jack Oduor confirmed to Tuko.co.ke that Omondi died on Tuesday, June 16, contrary to information on social media that he died on June 11. The popular Mabiro Cha Ineno Ang'o hit maker has been receiving treatment at Bondo sub-county hospital and was on record asking for financial support to cater for the medical expenses. The Benga star joins a list of many Kenyans who have been battling the deadly disease that is very expensive to treat. News of his death comes just days after the demise of popular Ohangla musician Abenny Jachiga who was pronounced dead in a Kisumu hospital. Omondi's fans and lovers of Benga music trooped to social media to send their condolence messages to the family. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. We have no mercy for Kirinyaga people - Kenyans react to Governor Waiguru ouster. | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke LIBERTY, Mo. - Investigators found no weapon inside a vehicle driven by a Missouri woman who was shot and killed by a sheriffs deputy over the weekend, authorities said Tuesday. Hannah Fizer, 25, died Saturday night after being shot by a Pettis County deputy following a traffic stop. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which is investigating the shooting, initially said Fizer was shot after she said she had a gun and threatened to shoot the deputy. Investigators who searched her car did not find a weapon, patrol spokesman Bill Lowe said Tuesday. He said no new information was available to explain why the situation escalated into a shooting. No one else was injured during the confrontation. Fizer was stopped after she ran a red light as she drove to work Saturday night, the patrol said. She kept going even as the deputy tried to stop her, but she eventually pulled over. Fizers family and friends expressed doubt that she had a gun. Her father, John Fizer, said Monday that his daughter never carried a gun and she was not likely to become belligerent with law enforcement officers. No body camera or dashcam video of the encounter exists. Pettis County Sheriff Kevin Bond told TV station KOMU that the departments deputies stopped wearing cameras about three years ago because of technical difficulties and a lack of funding. Lowe said the Fizer investigation is a priority for the patrol but that it could be up to a month before all reports are complete and information is compiled to send to the district attorney, who will determine if anyone will be charged. The deputy, whose name has not been released, was placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation, which is routine in officer-involved shootings. He has worked for Pettis County since 2007 and had no previous complaints against him, Bond said. The shooting comes amid increased scrutiny of officer-involved killings since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd was a black man who died after a white police officer pressed a knee into Floyds neck for several minutes as he pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. Both Fizer and the deputy who shot her were white. Global Times newspaper says Chinese troops also suffered casualties in the first such clash since 1975. Three Indian army personnel, including a commanding officer, have been killed in a violent face-off with Chinese soldiers in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, an Indian army spokesman has said. The Chinese military also suffered casualties in the clash, the editor-in-chief of Chinas Global Times newspaper said on Tuesday. It was the first such confrontation between the two Asian giants since 1975 in which soldiers have died. Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash, Hu Xijin said in a tweet, without giving further details. Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash. I want to tell the Indian side, dont be arrogant and misread Chinas restraint as being weak. China doesnt want to have a clash with India, but we dont fear it. Hu Xijin (@HuXijin_GT) June 16, 2020 The incident on Monday night followed weeks of rising tensions and the deployment of thousands of extra troops from both sides in the region. During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers, the Indian army spokesman said in a statement. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation, said the statement. Speaking to Al Jazeera from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Ajai Shukla, retired Indian army officer and a military analyst, said the latest clash will result in political pressure on the [Indian] government to act. This is an extremely serious confrontation, probably the most serious since 1975 when four Indian troops were killed by the Chinese soldiers on the border, he said. The Indian government was actually downplaying the whole thing, except that this latest incident has blown the roof off that position. Now hearing that the casualty count on the Indian side is significantly higher than what the initial reports stated. Also, many Indian soldiers captured and then released, an Indian major still held by the Chinese. Ajai Shukla (@ajaishukla) June 16, 2020 Tensions flare on a fairly regular basis between the two regional powers over their 3,500-kilometre (2,200-mile) frontier, which has never been properly demarcated. Thousands of troops from the two nuclear-armed neighbours, backed by armoured trucks and artillery, have been involved in the latest face-off since May in the Ladakh region, bordering Tibet. Indian officials say Chinese soldiers crossed the boundary at three different points, erecting tents and guard posts and ignoring verbal warnings to leave. That triggered shouting matches, stone-throwing and fistfights. Army officers and diplomats have held a series of meetings to try to end the impasse, with no breakthrough. Reporting from New Delhi, Al Jazeeras Elizabeth Puranam said the Indian defence minister is expected to meet the defence chiefs and the minister of external affairs later on Tuesday over the matter. We have two sides saying they are trying to de-escalate the situation. Weve had meetings for about 10 days now and yet these deaths have taken place despite these assurances, she said. In this September 14, 2018 photo, an Indian army truck crosses Chang La pass near Pangong Lake in Ladakh region [File: Manish Swarup/AP] China accuses India of crossing border Meanwhile, China accused India of crossing a disputed border between the two countries, according to a report by the AFP news agency. Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Indian troops crossed the border line twice on Monday, provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides. We again solemnly request that India follows the relevant attitude and restrains its front line troops, he said. Do not cross the border, do not provoke trouble, do not take any unilateral action that would complicate the border situation. Beijing has lodged strong protests and solemn representations to New Delhi, Lijian said. Reporting from Beijing, Al Jazeeras Katrina Yu said China has denied any responsibility for causing the altercation that resulted in the death of three Indian soldiers. Last week, China said it had reached a positive consensus with India over resolving the border tensions through diplomatic and military channels. Yu said Lijian on Tuesday accused New Delhi of violating that consensus. Lijian said on June 15, the Indian side shockingly violated this consensus so he is quite clearly pointing fingers at the Indian side, she said. China has made it quite clear it will do whatever it can to protect its sovereignty. In a statement last week, Indias foreign ministry said the two sides would continue the military and diplomatic engagements to resolve the situation and to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas. But sources and Indian news reports suggested that India appeared to have effectively ceded to China areas that the Peoples Liberation Army occupied in recent weeks, notably parts of the northern side of the Pangong Tso Lake and some of the strategically important Galwan River valley. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have sought to ease tensions at summits over the past two years when they agreed to boost border communications between their militaries. It will basically take a military-to-military dialogue and a diplomat-to-diplomat dialogue both are under way to bear fruit. So far, they have not really borne fruit, defence analyst Shukla told Al Jazeera. Seoul: South Korea says North Korea has exploded an inter-Korean liaison office building just north of the tense Korean border. Seoul's Unification Ministry says the destruction of the building at the North Korean border town of Kaesong happened at 2.49pm, local time, on Tuesday (3.49pm AEST). North Korea had earlier threatened to demolish the building as it stepped up its fiery rhetoric over Seoul's failure to stop activists from flying propaganda leaflets across the border. South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, second from right, and chairman of the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification Ri Son-gwon, third from left, applaud during an opening ceremony for the two Koreas' first liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea, in 2018. Credit:Yonhap/AP Some experts say North Korea is expressing its frustration because Seoul has been unable to resume joint economic projects due to US-led sanctions. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 22:01:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUBANGO, Angola, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Two men have been arrested on Tuesday by the National Police of Angola while they were heading towards the central Huila province with 28 kg of ivory. According to the spokesperson of the provincial command of the National Police in Huila, chief inspector Luis Filipe Zilungo, the arrest occurred during a micro-operation and that the suspects were caught by surprise by the law enforcement authorities in the middle of the street. Early this week the National Police also seized a total of 131 diamond stones in the municipalities of Chitato, Capenda Camulemba and Cuango, in the eastern Lunda Norte province. The seizure occurred during a joint operation of the Border Guard Police and the Criminal Investigation Service held in the diamond mining areas along the borders, which culminated in the arrest of 30 illegal immigrants, who were immediately repatriated. Official figures indicate that the Border Guard Police thwart more than 50 attempted border violations on a daily basis. Enditem It was a week when both oil and natural gas prices settled lower. On the news front, British energy major BP plc BP will take a $17.5 billion write-down in its second-quarter results in the wake of weak commodity prices, while ConocoPhillips COP said that it will restore its oil production on improving fundamentals. Overall, it was a bearish week for the sector. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures slumped 8.3% to close at $36.26 per barrel, while natural gas prices fell 2.9% for the week to finish at 1.731 per million Btu (MMBtu). In particular, the oil markets reversed their gain from the previous week when the commodity pushed toward $40 a barrel. Coming back to the week ended Jun 12, the crude benchmark hit a speed bump and recorded a big decline after the U.S. Energy Department's latest inventory release revealed that crude inventories rose to record highs. Further, Federal Reserves dour economic outlook and worries about a second wave of coronavirus infections kept investors on the defensive. Meanwhile, natural gas ended lower on weak LNG demand and continued oversupply. Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories 1. BP has estimated a write-off of up to $17.5 billion from its assets value following the downward revision of its long-term oil and gas prices. The British energy giant expects the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to persistently hurt global energy demand. Also, the company believes that post COVID-19, there will be growing transition to low-carbon economy since investors are increasingly pressing oil companies to drastically reduce carbon emissions, which is in line with the Paris climate goals. To incorporate these impacts, BP trimmed its forecast for Brent oil price from $70 per barrel to $55 until 2050. The new price outlook convinced this integrated energy firm to include non-cash impairment charges and write-offs worth $13-$17.5 billion, after tax, in the second quarter. 2. ConocoPhillips has decided to slowly increase production of oil and natural gas since the commodity pricing scenario is improving. Earlier, the coronavirus-dented global energy demand convinced many energy players to impose production cap by curtailing operations. Now, the improved oil prices have convinced many upstream companies to remove the self-imposed cap and to restart producing from the wells, added ConocoPhillips. ConocoPhillips has also planned the gradual increasing of production volumes over the next few months. Thus, the explorer, which shut down a third of its production in May and June, will be responding to the surge in oil prices by slowly increasing volumes. (Here's Why ConocoPhillips is Planning to Raise Production) 3. Shares of QEP Resources, Inc. QEP have skyrocketed 131.5% in the past couple of days following the amendment of its revolving credit facility on Jun 4. The amendment involves expansion of liquidity by not less than $500 million along with the provision of essential financial flexibility to put into practise its ongoing business strategy. This alteration will be supported by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and other lenders. These efforts boost the Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) companys maturity profile and help it enjoy greater liquidity for day-to-day operations. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Also, the move will drive the companys existing cash flow in the prevalent tough market environment. (QEP Resources Stock Surges 132% in 2 Days: Here's Why) 4. Petrobras PBR recently grabbed a bargain with a new five-year deal to supply naphtha to Braskem SAs (BAK) unit in Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul states. Per the contract, Petrobras will supply at least 650,000 metric tonnes of naphtha annually to Braskem with an additional maximum capacity of 2.8 million metric tons. These new agreements will follow the existing sales contracts that are scheduled to close in December. The five-year pact reflects a change in the plans of Petrobras, which reduced naphtha sales to Braskem in recent years amid its potential exit from the industry under its asset-sales program. Petrobras intends to sell off its 36.1% stake in Braskem under its $20 -$30 billion divestment program for the 2020-2024 period. The divestiture can be made viable by converting Braskem's share structure to a single class of common shares, which will allow the stock to be traded in Sao Paolo Stock Exchanges Novo Mercado premium listing segment. This migration to the Novo Mercado will aid Petrobrasto to sell its interest in Braskem. (Petrobras Clinches 5-Year Naphtha Supply Deal From Braskem) 5. In its weekly release, Baker Hughes Company BKR reported another drop in the U.S. rig count. Rigs engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the United States fell to an all-time low of 279 in the week through Jun 12, compared with the prior-week count of 284. The current national rig count is well below the prior years 969. Investors should know that with the recent all-time low mark, the tally has touched record-low levels for six successive weeks, thanks to dented global energy demand owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Oil rig count was 199 in the week through Jun 12, compared with 206 in the week ended Jun 5. Since crude prices are in the bearish territory, explorers are cutting their capital budget considerably. This led the weekly tally of oil rigs to fall for 13 consecutive weeks. (US Oil & Gas Rig Tally Hits Record Lows for 6 Straight Weeks) Price Performance The following table shows the price movement of some the major oil and gas players over the past week and during the last 6 months. Company Last Week Last 6 Months XOM -11.1% -31.9% CVX -8.4% -21.7% COP -10% -30.3% OXY -11% -50.9% SLB -13.6% -51.3% RIG -11.6% -66.8% VLO -14.5% -32% MPC -11.9% -37.5% The Energy Select Sector SPDR a popular way to track energy companies lost 11.2% last week. The worst performer was downstream operator Valero Energy (VLO) whose stock slumped 14.5%. Longer-term, over six months, the sector tracker is down 34%. Offshore driller Transocean Ltd. RIG was the major loser during this period, experiencing a 66.8% price plunge. Whats Next in the Energy World? As global oil consumption gradually ticks up, market participants will be closely tracking the regular releases to watch for signs that could further validate a rebound. In this context, the U.S. government statistics on oil and natural gas - one of the few solid indicators that comes out regularly - and the Baker Hughes data on rig count, will be on the energy traders' radar. 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Zacks Investment Research [June 16, 2020] SAS and Handshake connect early-career analytics talent with eager employers CARY, N.C., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- VIRTUAL SAS GLOBAL FORUM 2020 -- SAS is collaborating with Handshake, the leading career community for college students in the US, to help meet the growing demand for SAS analytics skills. With students from more than 900 US colleges and universities, Handshake makes it easy for SAS customers to find early-career analytics talent in their backyards and across the nation. Research from Emsi, a labor market analytics firm, shows a 30% increase in job postings seeking SAS skills over the last three years. The Handshake collaboration addresses this demand from SAS customers. "We know from our customers that one of their most pressing needs is finding talent with the right analytics skills," said Lynn Letukas, Director of SAS Global Academic Programs. "Having the right people, armed with SAS skills, is a competitive advantage. Our relationship with Handshake will help provide that." SAS skills are in high demand across industries. Major companies in banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and government agencies in all 50 states use SAS to optimize their business in AI, machine learning, cloud and IoT. Handshake helps some of the nation's most well-known companies, including all of the Fortune 500, increase the hiring of quality early-career talent. "Handshake is committed to helping students of all backgrounds find jobs and launch meaningful careers," said Christine Cruzvergara, Vice President of Higher Education and Student Success at Handshake. "Employers rcognize the need to recruit a diverse candidate pool from across the nation but often struggle to meet their goals. We're excited to collaborate with SAS to help students and employers easily discover opportunities and talent across the nation." The SAS Academic Programs team is working with students at college and universities across the US to create profiles highlighting their SAS skills. According to Letukas, employers should look to Handshake to target, reach and recruit young talent, just like SAS did. "Naturally, we also seek out bright, early-career SAS talent to bring on board," she said. "Handshake has helped us find and attract tremendous contributors to the company. I encourage our customers to turn to Handshake to find their next great hire with SAS skills." When Alex Chan, a graduate of Rutgers University, was searching for job opportunities, Handshake led him south to SAS, where he helps develop software used by banks and governments to fight fraud and crime. "One of the really cool things about the Handshake platform is that users can filter down to different types of jobs based on where they're at in their career," said Chan. "If it hadn't been for Handshake, I may not have ever known about the position or about the job opportunities available to me down in North Carolina." SAS customers seeking up-and-coming talent should visit joinhandshake.com to post internships and full-time positions, and begin searching today. Customers interested in exploring SAS early-career talent initiatives and programs with colleges and universities should contact SAS Academic Programs.. Today's announcement was made at SAS Global Forum, the world's premier analytics conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's conference is being held virtually. About Handshake Handshake is the leading career community for college students in America. Today, the Handshake community includes 14 million students and young alumni at over 900 universities including 120+ minority serving institutions. We connect up-and-coming talent across all 50 states with 400,000+ employers recruiting on Handshake from every Fortune 500 company to thousands of small businesses, nonprofits, startups, and more. Handshake is democratizing opportunity and ensuring college students have the support they need to find a great job and kick off a meaningful career regardless of where they go to school, what they choose as a major, and who they know. About SAS SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW. SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright 2020 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial Contact: Trent Smith [email protected] 919-531-4726 sas.com/news View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sas-and-handshake-connect-early-career-analytics-talent-with-eager-employers-301077136.html SOURCE SAS [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has issued strict health and safety guidelines and precautionary measures in preparation for the reopening of a number of museums and cultural sites in the emirate. The openings form part of plans to help communities and visitors recover from the strain of the prolonged period of lockdown which was imposed in the last few months. The guidelines, which require each site to operate at only 40 per cent visitor capacity to begin with, will help all cultural sites to follow the requirements that will support the visitor experience across the cultural site spaces, including social distancing rules, crowd control measures and regulations for employees and visitors in order to reopen safely. We believe that art and culture have the power to help people come together and heal and at DCT Abu Dhabi we are proud to be able to enable that through the work that we do, leveraging the power inherent in art to help re-engage the community and support its return to normalcy in these unprecedented times, said Saood Al Hosani, Acting Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi. To enable this, and as per our mandate to provide support for the culture sector in Abu Dhabi, strict measures will be implemented at all our cultural sites and museums which will ensure that visitors will have a high degree of confidence that their health and safety will be of paramount importance when they visit, which means they can enjoy the sites with an enhanced peace of mind." The guidelines set out stringent criteria for the sites to follow, to ensure members of the public can be assured their visit will be safe and secure. These steps highlight the strides Abu Dhabi has made in containing the crisis and we are looking forward to welcoming back culture and art-lovers to our attractions soon. Before reopening to guests, all sites are required to conduct comprehensive risk assessments regarding ensuring the health and safety of everyone visiting the site, with a site-specific compliance monitoring procedure also put in place. Once complete, the reopened sites will then have to ensure that visitors and employees respect the social distancing rule of 2 metres with a range of measures. Each site will also have thermal cameras installed at the entrance, to ensure each person is going through the mandated thermal screening, including staff and visitors, with the safety of the community and public at the core of DCT Abu Dhabi's plans for site reopenings. - TradeArabia News Service (Natural News) President Donald Trump is set to sign a new executive order Tuesday that will address police misconduct, creating a tracking program for bad officers while encouraging forces to adopt best practices for the use of force. Were going to be talking about things that weve been watching and seeing for the last month, and were going to have some solutions, I think some good solutions, Trump told reporters Monday afternoon. The move comes as Trump, who has espoused a return to law and order, faces increasing pressure to act against racism and overt reliance on excessive force in police departments nationwide. Executive order crafted in consultation with police and community leaders The executive order, which comes after weeks of protests in communities across the nation, has been crafted in close consultation with mayors, police officers, conservative African Americans, faith-based leaders and the families of victims. The president is expected to use the order to lay out a case for the creation of a national database of police misconduct, preventing officers with a history of overly aggressive behavior from simply moving to another department or state to avoid scrutiny. In addition, the order will also urge mental health professionals and social workers to work more closely alongside frontline police officers. It will also offer guidelines for new training and credentialling for police officers on de-escalating tense situations as well as when and when not to use force. According to a senior administration official familiar with the matter, the goal of the order was not to demonize police officers. Maintaining the support of police departments has been seen by many of Trumps top aides as imperative for the president, even as some liberal activists push to defund police departments and divert money to community programs instead. I think this will be very comprehensive, Trump said of the upcoming order. Basically, were going to be talking about things weve been watching and seeing for the last month. And were going to have some solutions I think some good solutions. And some of it, as you know, its about great people, Trump said. We need great people in our police departments. And we have mostly great people, I would say that. I would say that with certainty. We have mostly great people But we will do better, even better. Addressing policing issues seen to help Republicans in the election Many Republicans see policing as an area where the party can draw sharp contrasts with Democrats ahead of the upcoming election. However, this area extends beyond the death of George Floyd, which served as the flashpoint for the riots. In particular, this would mean leaving actual wholesale changes to mayors and other local government officials, with the Oval Office only recommending tweaks to them. (Related: Trump to U.S. governors: Toughen up, control riots.) The reality is you have to respect our federalist system, explained Ken Blackwell, the former mayor of Cincinnati and former Ohio secretary of state. Safe streets cannot be guaranteed from the Oval Office or the governors mansion. That is local leadership. Despite the needs of the upcoming election, Republicans are still hoping to introduce policies that the Democrats can also support. According to two people familiar with the discussions surrounding the order, this would mean leaving any major details regarding police reform to future legislation. The Republican-led Senate is already expected to introduce its own version of a bill, introduced in the Democratic-led House of Representatives, later this week. The House bill bans, among other things, chokeholds as well as no-knock warrants in drug cases. In addition, it also weakens qualified immunity, making it easier for citizens to pursue civil and even criminal action against the police. See more news about police brutality at PoliceViolence.news. Sources include: WSJ.com Politico.com NPR.org Broadcom has signed a contract with Nokia for delivering custom-made 5G chipsets. It is the third major company to pen such a deal after Intel and Marvell back in March. This contract will help the Finnish company to expand its presence and shipments and expects 35% of all 5G products to be with a custom-made chip by the end of 2020. According to industry insiders, Broadcom, along with the other two chip manufacturers, will help Nokia expand its ReefShark-branded platform, used in AirScale radio products while reducing size and power consumption but in the same time providing capacity and performance boost. Sandro Tavares, head of mobile networks marketing at Nokia, revealed to Reuters that the market evolved faster and the company needed to speed up the process of developing new suppliers. Using only one supplier is not helping Nokia to bring 5G products to the market fast enough. Tommi Uitto, president of mobile networks at Nokia, revealed Broadcoms ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) capability will allow the Finns to deliver a high performance. Due to cost and supply chain challenges, Nokia is pushed to go for ASIC technology rather than the FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), even if it is more expensive. Currently, Nokia delivers 5G services to many markets across the world, including 5G networks for operators in the United States. Via Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Joseph Schmid (Agence France-Presse) Paris Tue, June 16, 2020 17:07 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf37ab8 2 Food restaurant,Paris,lockdown,food,cafe,coronavirus,COVID-19,France Free Paris cafe and restaurant owners cheered Monday as the government allowed them to reopen their dining rooms after three months of lost revenue during the coronavirus lockdown. The sooner-than-expected reopening for the Paris region was announced by President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday as news came of France's lowest daily COVID-19 toll since March -- nine deaths in 24 hours. While restaurants across most of France were allowed to open earlier this month, those in and around the capital, where circulation of the coronavirus remained high, could serve clients only on outdoor terraces until now. "The question now is whether clients will come back," Albert Aidan, the manager at L'Ami Georges, a few blocks from the Opera Garnier, told AFP. "Most companies are still having their employees work from home," he said. Several nearby restaurants remained closed. Many shared Macron's optimism that France has marked a "first victory" against the coronavirus thanks to strict stay-at-home orders imposed in March. "It's going to be a party," Stephane Manigold, owner of four Paris restaurants, including the two-starred Maison Rostang, told AFP. Manigold has successfully sued his insurer, French giant Axa, to pay some 70,000 euros ($79,000) in compensation for lost business. Didier Chenet, head of the GNI association of independent hotel and restaurant owners, estimates that social distancing rules which saw restaurants remove tables to ensure a distance of one meter between diners, have cut capacity by half at least. Unless the government lifts the one-metre rule, he said, "recovery will be very slow, with economic conditions that are not viable for our businesses," he said. Read also: PM says France 'not racist' as Floyd tribute held in Paris 'Can't open in a day' Foreign tourists, the key ingredient for success at Paris restaurants in particular, are not expected to arrive in pre-COVID numbers anytime soon, even as the EU begins to tentatively open up its internal borders. The first train from Paris to Germany since mid-March left the Gare du Nord station early Monday, heading for Dortmund. "We're taking the children to see their grandmother and spend some holiday time together as a family. It feels good after so long!" said one passenger, Alexis. Not all borders are open, though. Hard-hit Spain, for example, will allow free travel with the rest of the EU only from June 21. Many Paris restaurants said they will need time to restock and get their employees back, and some complained about the short notice that came from Macron only Sunday evening. "At best we'll open two restaurants on Wednesday, and the others next week," said Manigold. "One day maybe politicians will understand that you can't just open a restaurant in a day. They could have avoided the abruptness," he added. Francisco Ferrandez of La Bocca in central Paris said he started calling his employees after Macron's address. "It's like with the closure, everything at the last minute. When they announced the closure, we had to throw away fresh produce, and for the reopening they tell us from one day to the next." The COVID-19 epidemic has claimed more than 29,000 lives in France, one of the world's highest reported tolls. Health Minister Olivier Veran on Monday proclaimed that "the bulk of the epidemic is behind us" but warned the virus was "not completely defeated." This meant things will not be returning quite to normal for a while. Alain Fontaine, owner of Le Mesturet, and his staff worked between spaced-out tables amid arrows on the floor to show clients where to walk ahead of reopening his dining room Tuesday. Clients will be asked to use sanitizing hand gel on entry and keep their masks on until seated, he said. "We'll have to try to alleviate the nervousness...," Fontaine told AFP. And in Lyon in the east, the brasserie Georges -- one of Europe's largest -- welcomed some 50 clients on Monday for lunch with a reduced staff and only half its tables available. Awaiting her order after having her temperature taken and disinfecting her hands, 71-year-old Genevieve Beaujolin said she could not imagine returning home to Italy "without eating a sauerkraut at the Brasserie George's!" Two women have been charged for allegedly spraying graffiti on a statue of Captain James Cook in Sydney's Hyde Park on June 14. (William West/Getty Images) Captain Cook Statue Allegedly Damaged by Australian Greens Party Employee A part-time employee of the New South Wales Australian Greens Party has been identified as one of the two women who allegedly defaced a Captain Cook statue in Sydneys Hyde Park on June 14. The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reported that Xiaoran Shi, 28, and her friend Charmaine Morrison-Mills, 27, were arrested. The pair were charged with destroying or damaging property and possessing a graffiti implement with intention to use it, according to a police statement. The women will appear at Sydneys Downing Centre Local Court on July 2 and were banned from contacting one another or entering Hyde Park. NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge told SMH: They were not engaged in employment at the time of the incident which occurred well outside of work hours. I will not be making any further comment on the matter as it is currently before the courts, he said. NSW Police Minister David Elliott told 2GB radios Ben Fordham that Shoebridges response was appalling. I cant believe anybody wouldnt just completely and utterly condemn the vandalism instead of just trying to make excuses, said Elliot. I think both her, the Greens and Mr Shoebridge should actually apologise and condemn acts of violence and vandalism. While Shi is a part-time employee of the Greens in NSW and allegedly acted outside of work hours, the neighbouring ACT Greens code of conduct (pdf) does include some requirements for behaviour outside of party activities. It states under the integrity and accountability section that party members will not engage in criminal behaviour or unlawful conduct. Unlawful conduct is a serious breach of the ACT Greens bylaws and may be required to be investigated immediately, and issues of a serious nature will trigger an investigation and possible further actions. For comparison, minor breaches of the code are considered to be related to minor disagreements between party members. Black Lives Matter Attacks Statues Activists have been tearing down historical statues around the world as part of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which has flared up following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. U.S. journalist Andy Ngo wrote of BLM on Twitter, saying: BLM at its core is a revolutionary Marxist ideology. Its founders have made no secret of their worship of Communist terrorists & fugitives. They want regime change & the end of the rule of law. Antifa have partnered with them for now to help accelerate the break down of society. BLM was founded in 2013 by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi. According to its website, The Black Lives Matter Network advocates for dignity, justice, and respect. Black activists have raised the call for an end to violence, not an escalation of it. Despite that stated aspiration, recent protests in the United States turned into violent riots across multiple cities and states. Read More Australian Senator Calls on PM to Declare Antifa a Terrorist Organisation In an investigative article for Capital Research Centre, James Simpson wrote that the three BLM founders also work for the Freedom Road Socialist Organization; a hereditary descendant of the New Communist Movement inspired by Chinese dictator Mao Zedong and the many communist revolutions occurring throughout the world in the 1960s and 70s. The Freedom Road Socialist Organisations website states that it is recruiting and building towards the creation of a new Communist Party based on Marxism-Leninism. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal The National Endowment for the Arts recently announced its latest list of grant recipients and New Mexico is well represented. The NEA has awarded $100,000 to three organizations in Albuquerque. Opera Southwest was awarded $20,000 for a new opera based on the life of Frida Kahlo by composer Robert Xavier Rodriguez, and librettists Hilary Blecher and Migdalia Cruz. The opera is scheduled to be staged in February 2021. 516 ARTS is receiving $30,000 to support two exhibitions that address issues related to the French Caribbean and Haiti. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center will receive $50,000 to support community design workshops and a pilot entrepreneurship program for the center. The NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations and develop their creative capacities. There are many great projects happening in the area, as well as the State Arts Agencys partnership award, which will allow these federal funds to address priorities identified at the state level, said Allison Hill, NEA spokeswoman. New Mexico Arts is receiving $747,000 in a partnership award to support arts programs, services and activities associated with carrying out the agencys National Endowment for the Arts-approved strategic plan. Other awards to New Mexico arts organizations include: $25,000 to Music at Angel Fire Inc. to support the Music from Angel Fire summer chamber music festival. $10,000 to the Roswell Symphony Orchestra Inc. to support a performance and community engagement project. $25,000 to the International Folk Art Foundation in Santa Fe to support Dressing with Purpose: Belonging and Resistance in Scandinavia at the Museum of International Folk Art. $20,000 to the Pueblo of Pojoaque to support traditional arts instruction at the Poeh Cultural Center. $20,000 to the Ralph T. Coe Foundation for the Arts in Santa Fe to support James Kivetoruk Moses: Master Artist. $10,000 to Santa Fe Pro Musica to support a performance project of chamber orchestra and baroque ensemble programs. $30,000 to Wise Fool New Mexico in Santa Fe to support circus arts training and performances. $20,000 to SITE Santa Fe to support a retrospective exhibition and catalogue of work by Brazilian artist Regina Silveira. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday accused Turkey of being a "threat to regional peace", following wide-ranging talks in Jerusalem with his Israeli counterpart. In his first foreign trip since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Mitsotakis condemned "Turkey's aggressive behaviour in the eastern Mediterranean". "We consider this activity to be a threat to regional peace and stability," Mitsotakis told journalists after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Along with Cyprus, Israel and Greece signed an agreement in January on building an undersea pipeline to carry gas from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe. Ankara stands opposed to the deal and has sent ships to search for energy reserves off Cyprus, while last week the Turkish military conducted an air and naval exercise in the eastern Mediterranean. "I have raised with the prime minister the recent incidents of illegal and provocative Turkish behaviour at our sea and land borders," the Greek premier said, standing alongside Netanyahu. Mitsotakis also criticised the "destabilising effects that Turkey has played vis-a-vis its relationship with Libya". Ankara backs the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), based in the capital Tripoli, which for more than a year has battled rivals Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar. Turkey has sent air defence systems and drones and Syrian rebel fighters in support of the GNA, reversing earlier defeats to Haftar's forces. The Turkish government additionally signed a controversial deal last year with the GNA that claimed gas-rich areas of the Mediterranean for Ankara, an agreement deemed "completely null and void" on Tuesday by Mitsotakis. - Netanyahu praises 'common interests' - Focusing on two-way ties, Netanyahu held off from criticising Turkey and was instead upbeat about Israel's partnership with Athens. "We have common interests, we face common challenges, we have extraordinary common opportunities," he said. The Greek delegation is the largest to visit Jerusalem in months, with Mitsotakis bringing six ministers including the defence, energy and tourism ministers. Netanyahu said his government aims to allow Israelis to travel to Greece and Cyprus from August 1, if coronavirus infection rates remain low. Greece started welcoming tourists from around 30 countries on Monday, following closures due to the pandemic, while Israel is yet to lift its ban on visitors imposed in March. According to Israeli officials, the government is counting on Greece and other "friendly" countries to support it at the EU level. The European Union is currently weighing retaliatory measures as Israel plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, a step included in a US peace initiative. The Greek delegation will not travel to the West Bank city of Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Authority officials, who have categorically rejected Washington's plan. But in an interview published by Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, Mitsotakis said he would speak to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas "once I return to Athens". "We want to see the Israelis and the Palestinians living alongside one another in peace and security," he said. More than 450,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements, deemed illegal under international law, alongside 2.7 million Palestinians. The Israeli government says it could start the process of annexing the settlements and the Jordan Valley from July 1, a move which the UN has warned may spark violence. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: (Natural News) Rioters in Portland have spectacularly failed in their attempt to create their own police-free autonomous zone. On June 12, the rioters abandoned their efforts after a night of violent clashes with the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). Last week, hundreds of Antifa rioters in Portland tried to set up border checkpoints in an area in the citys downtown neighborhood with the aim of setting up something similar to the self-proclaimed Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), a seven-block police-free commune in Seattle. They tried to cut down any kind of fencing they could lay their hands on to create barricades. On June 11, protests in Portland started out relatively peacefully, with thousands gathering at a demonstration at Revolution Hall at 6 p.m. However, by 11 p.m., the protests began turning violent. Rioters started throwing commercial grade fireworks at PPB officers as they were trying to set up their own autonomous zone in downtown Portland. In response, the PPB began using flashbang grenades and declared the assembly an unlawful civil disturbance. They gave the rioters 15 minutes to disperse before they began making arrests. Around 12:30 a.m., some of the rioters returned, prompting the PPB to once again call their gathering a civil disturbance. Several more arrests were made, and the group dispersed on their own by 2 a.m. (Related: Downtown Seattle now run by an actual WARLORD who is accused of beating women and forcing them into sex acts clueless Democrats celebrate warlord rule as new UTOPIA.) During that violent night, 19 adults were arrested and one minor was briefly sent to juvenile detention before being released. By Friday morning, any serious attempt to create an autonomous zone in Portland seems to have been squashed completely. Antifa can create autonomous zones in other parts of the country The move to create an autonomous zone in Portland, similar to the one in Seattle, does not seem to have as much support in Oregon. However, some residents have stated that its possible because the city has had a history of demonstrators occupying parts of the city. This doesnt mean Antifa provocateurs arent working to create new autonomous zones in other parts of the United States. In Nashville, demonstrators attempted to create a Nashville Autonomous Zone. Fortunately, city officials and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) did not make the same mistakes Seattle did. Black Lives Matter demonstrators assembled at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville, with four main demands: Fire MNPD Chief Steve Anderson, defund the police, demilitarize the police and take down the citys racist statues. According to the organizers, the rally was set to take place at Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (formerly Legislative Plaza), or right in front of the Tennessee State Capitol building, home of the Tennessee General Assembly and the office of Tennessees Republican Governor Bill Lee. For his part, Gov. Lee came out strongly against any attempt to recreate the anarchy in Seattle. In a statement, Lee said: We encourage Tennesseans to exercise their First Amendment rights and have seen many examples of peaceful protests across our state in recent weeks. As demonstrations continue, we will continue to protect Tennesseans right to peaceful assembly, while also reassuring citizens that lawlessness, autonomous zones and violence will not be tolerated. Further, Tennessee law expressly prohibits camping on state property not expressly designated as a campground area, and that law will be enforced. Other elected officials in Tennessee have made similar statements. Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Cameron Sexton said in a similar statement that peaceful protests and assemblies can continue, but that the state will stop any attempt to occupy state property. The idea of carving out autonomous zones in the United States has been taken up enthusiastically by Antifa radicals across the country. There are even reports that rioters are trying to create an autonomous zone in other parts of the country, such as in Asheville, North Carolina. Keep up with Antifas criminal activities at AntifaWatch.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com ThePostMillennial.com KPTV.com PortlandOregon.gov KATU.com Heavy.com NewsChannel5.com Twitter.com DALLAS, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Railroad Ranch Capital Management LP ("RRCM"), via funds we control, is currently a shareholder of Nam Tai Property Inc. (NYSE: NTP) ("Nam Tai" or the "Company"), owning approximately 4.5% via shares and derivatives. RRCM is releasing an open letter to NTP's shareholders regarding concerns over what appears to be the practical control of the Company that has been affected by minority shareholder Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. (HKG: 1638) without compensating shareholders with a control premium. The full text of the letter can be accessed at http://www.railroadranchcapital.com/ntp and an excerpt is included below: Shareholders: We have been shareholders of Nam Tai since 2017 and believe the current market value of the stock significantly understates the value of its underlying real estate assets. We applaud the shareholder letter published by IsZo Capital ("IsZo") on May 27, 2020, and believe that the Board of Directors of the Company, as currently constituted, cannot provide confidence to shareholders that their interests will be properly looked after. We have been in communication with the Board of Directors at Nam Tai regarding their corporate governance and their strategy for communicating with shareholders over the past several months, sharing many of the same concerns that IsZo laid out. Our letter from April, as well as the Company's response are available at railroadranchcapital.com/ntp. New "Independent" Directors A strong, truly independent Board of Directors is always important, but even more so when it is overseeing a company where the CEO has many potential conflicts of interest with the Shareholders. The Company is fond of citing the fact that their Board of Directors is comprised of a majority of Independent Directors as defined by the New York Stock Exchange's standards. We assert that, though Nam Tai complies with the technical requirements of the guidelines, that should provide you very little comfort. Due to their service as Board members of Kaisa Health, of which Kaisa Group owns 43%, and their lack of meaningful economic interests in the Company, it is difficult to put too much faith in the technical independence of Directors Vincent Fok and Dr. Aiping Lyu. Mr. Kwok's Son Nominated to the Board We sent our letter outlining governance and potential conflict of interest concerns to Nam Tai's Board on April 23rd. On April 30th, the Company filed it's 6-K providing the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In that Notice, shareholders were informed that "Mr. Aaron Kwok", Ying Chi Kwok's son, was being nominated as a Director. Needless to say, this wasn't the kind of corporate governance change we were looking for. Aaron Kwok has no relevant business experience that would make him a qualified Director for the Company and this was an attempt at old-fashioned nepotism. Subsequently, when the results from the annual meeting were announced, Aaron Kwok was not listed as a Director, but no explanation provided for what had happened to his nomination. In conclusion, we believe that it is difficult to have faith in the current Board of Directors of Nam Tai to provide proper oversight of Mr. Kwok and his personal interests and those of his family. In order to guarantee proper governance and oversight, we, as investors, should demand a Board that diligently executes its fiduciary responsibility to look out for our interests, thus believe that there must be changes made and new Directors brought in. Given the Company's responses to our past concerns as well as their recent press release responding to the IsZo letter, the IsZo proposal to call a special meeting with thirty percent of the vote and replace the existing Board appears to be the most efficient and direct way of achieving this. SOURCE Railroad Ranch Capital Related Links http://www.railroadranchcapital.com Pfizer declined 1.18% to Rs 4030 after net profit fell 5.9% to Rs 103.01 crore on 6.3% decline in net sales to Rs 502 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. Profit before tax fell 27.5% to Rs 121.90 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. Total tax expense fell 67.8% to Rs 18.89 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. During the current quarter, the company has reversed Rs 44.5 crore pertaining prior years' income tax provisions. Pfizer said current quarter sales have been impacted by divesture of rights and interests in certain brands & COVID-19. Adjusting for the above, the growth for the quarter ended 31 March 2020 would have been 3.5%. Pfizer also added that there has been no significant adverse operational impact on its supply chain during March 2020 due to the nationwide lockdown imposed by the Government in view of COVID-19. The company said it is currently unable to predict any future impact on its business operations. The company will continue to ensure supply of essential medicines and take steps to mitigate any risks associated with COVID-19 pandemic. The company declared a final dividend of Rs 10 per equity share. Pfizer is a research-based global biopharmaceutical company which is engaged in the discovery, development and manufacture of healthcare products. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 16-member Central panel, formed to assess the existing capacity and patient care amenities at Delhi government hospitals for the treatment of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), have been asked to review preparedness in 25 private hospitals as well. The panel divided in three teams was initially supposed to inspect 10 government hospitals treating Covid-19 patients in Delhi and submit a report by Wednesday. Now with the Delhi government asking it to check private hospitals, the committee is likely to ask for an extension. Each of the three teams would now have to visit at least eight hospitals, which would require three to four days. This is in addition to two or three government hospitals. The committee may need more time to assess the hospitals, said one of the committee members, on condition of anonymity. The private hospitals to be assessed include Max in Saket and Shalimar Bagh, all three hospitals of Sir Ganga Ram, Fortis Shalimar Bagh and Escorts in Okhla, BLK hospital, Indraprastha Apollo hospital among others. The committee will mainly look at five key areas and suggest measures to better implement patient care in the city. The areas of focus would be the existing infrastructure and how it can be expanded, staff issues, mortuaries and dignified disposal of the dead, whether in-house testing is available in the Covid-19 hospitals, and other measures such as signages to help patients. The aim is to improve patient satisfaction, said the committee member quoted above. The committee includes senior doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the central Directorate General of Health Services, Delhi government institutes, and municipal corporations. The committee was formed after a meeting of Delhi government ministers and key officials with union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday. Another committee formed after the meeting headed by NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul to assess capping of prices in some of the beds in private hospitals was to submit its report on Monday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Protesting the steep hike in electricity charges in Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is exhorting people to switch off lights for three minutes on Wednesday at 9 pm and sign an online campaign to register their anger. This is a marked departure from the usual protests seen in the state. An online petition, Change.org, has also been launched as part of protest to force the government to roll back the hike. As a responsible opposition, we dont want to endanger the lives of people by organising huge protests in the time of pandemic. But we cant allow the government to get away with its anti-people decisions either. Switching off lights for three minutes on June 17 at 9 pm gives an opportunity for them to register their protest, said state opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, adding the steep hike was a cruel blow as many people are reeling under job-loss and income crunch further compounded by the coronavirus crisis. The Congress leader complained that the governments move amounts to robbing people. Many of them have lost jobs and are struggling to feed their families. There is no justification in hiking when the people are in the midst of a deep crisis. This tantamount to robbing the hapless, he said. Despite protests happening all over Kerala, the state government has not taken any steps to address the issue of inflated power bills. Let's raise our voice against this. Join the #LightsOffKerala protest at 9pm tomorrow (June 17) and switch off lights across Kerala for 3 minutes pic.twitter.com/Ml88TMTZf4 Ramesh Chennithala (@chennithala) June 16, 2020 There are widespread complaints that many consumers are getting bills that are three to four times higher than what they have been paying. Malayalam actor Madubal had got a bill of Rs 5,714 for his locked house but after he posted his woes online, it was reduced to Rs 300 in a day. Many such glaring complaints came to light in recent days. State electricity board chairman SN Pillai said due to lockdown meter-reading was not done in three months and consumers were charged nominally during this period and later differences were settled in the latest bill. Although he promised that the excess amount, if any, will be adjusted later, but the people without a regular income say it is a real shock. A Rajasthan man was forced to drink urine for being in a relationship with a woman of his own community. The victim reported this to police on Monday night following which six accused were detained on Tuesday. This comes close to the Jhalawar incident in which a 16-year-old boy was brutally beaten, stripped naked and had his face blackened on the charges of stealing a goat on Friday. A video of the inhuman act in which the man was forced to drink urine was posted on microblogging site Twitter on Tuesday. People tagged the chief minister and Rajasthan police in the tweets. Rajasthan offers Covid testing facility to neighbouring states Police said a 20-year-old man of Pali district was taken to Sardapura village in Sirohi where he was beaten and forced to drink urine. The accused wanted to teach him a lesson for being in love with a woman of the same community, said a police official. An FIR for this was registered in Sumerpur police station in Pali district on Monday night and three accused were detained, police said. For Coronavirus Live Updates In a similar incident in September 2019, a couple in Udaipur district was held captive and brutally tortured including forced to drink urine. It was alleged that the woman had decided to enter into a polygamous relationship with the man in line with a traditional custom called Nata without the permission of community leaders, resulting into being chased, abducted and tortured along with the man she had fled with. Abu Imrana, a Boko Haram commander, has been killed in a gun battle with soldiers in Borno state. A security source disclosed this... Abu Imrana, a Boko Haram commander, has been killed in a gun battle with soldiers in Borno state. A security source disclosed this on Monday, saying Imrana is among the insurgents who fell to the superior firepower of the military in the Marte area of Borno state. Boko Haram renewed its attacks on military formations and north-east communities in recent times. At least 150 people were killed in attacks across Monguno and Gubio local government areas of Borno last week. A soldier and a policeman who were captured two weeks ago were killed publicly by the grouo. the recent attacks in Monguno, Gubio and Nganzai. The source said the late militant commander, coordinatedthe recent attacks in Monguno, Gubio and Nganzai. He was also said to have participated in major operations around the Lake Chad region. The source said he was formerly of the Abubakar Shekau faction of the sect but crossed to the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). Some of the military formations he led attacks against are at Garunda and Metele. His death is no doubt a boost to the fight against insurgency. USC researchers say the tool could eventually help to ease burden on stressed health systems and collect data about outbreaks Of the more than 275,000 people worldwide who accessed a USC web-based COVID-19 patient self-assessment tool, only 20 percent of those reporting COVID-19 symptoms had ones severe enough to require immediate medical attention, according to new research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. The study was done by a group of researchers led by William Mehring, a first-year medical student at Keck School of Medicine of USC. "Among users of our tool with symptoms of COVID-19, 80 percent reported mild symptoms that can likely be managed with simple home self-care," Mehring said. The tool, which is freely available in English and Spanish, was developed in partnership with AltaMed Health Services, the nation's largest independent federally qualified community health center. AltaMed, which specializes in safety-net multi-ethnic populations, operates nine COVID-19 testing sites throughout Los Angeles County. AltaMed has been using the tool to help triage patients seeking care for symptoms that may be due to the infection. Removing barriers to health care "During normal times, there are many barriers to our communities seeking health care services," said Dr. Ilan Shapiro, Medical Director of Health Education and Wellness at AltaMed. "Digital tools like the patient self-assessment tool, coupled with access to in-person consultations like our testing and evaluation sites, are critical for ensuring patients can receive the care they need now and after the pandemic." The self-assessment tool was initially developed in March by a team of researchers from the USC Gehr Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation, within the Keck School, and Akido Labs, a Los Angeles-based health data technology company. The team used information from the Centers for Disease Control as a guide. The tool asks users to provide answers to six simple questions about their current situation, including the nature of the user's symptoms; risk factors for COVID-19 such as advanced age or presence of high-risk chronic medical conditions; and whether they work in a high-risk environment that requires close physical interaction with others. Based on these answers, the tool provides an assessment along with customized recommendations regarding evaluation and treatment, self-care and infection-prevention practices. "Although the new study does not validate the appropriateness of the guidance provided by the tool, it highlights the eagerness of the public to engage with digital health tools and self-assessment in this time of public health crisis," said Andrew Poksay, from Akido Labs. De-stressing overburdened health care systems Mehring sees the COVID-19 assessment tool as a potential way to ease the burden on overwhelmed health care systems while gathering data on the pandemic's spread. "This could be a way to de-stress the system, which in some areas became quickly overburdened and still is," said Mehring. "In the future it could be used as a way to collect data on outbreaks and determine where they are occurring." Close to 450,000 people have accessed the tool since it was launched. The USC Gehr Center, Akido and AltaMed teams plan to continue developing the self-assessment tool as part of a holistic digital approach that other communities around the nation can use as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold. ### About This Study: In addition to Mehring, the study's other authors are Michael Hochman, MD, MPH and Chris Hendel, MA from the Gehr Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation, The Keck School of Medicine of USC; Michael D. Wang, MD from Keck Medicine of USC; and Andrew Poksay, Jesse Kriege and Rithvik Prasannappa from Akido Labs, Inc. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 03:56:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for inter-Korean dialogue to defuse tension on the Korean Peninsula, said his press office on Tuesday. "The secretary-general is concerned by the latest developments on the Korean Peninsula," said the press office in a note to correspondents, quoting an unnamed spokesman of Guterres. "The secretary-general calls for the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue leading to peaceful solutions that benefit peace and prosperity for all." Enditem New Delhi: External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday (June 16) issued a statement on a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh`s Galwan Valley in response to media queries on the situation in the western sector of the Sino-India border. The MEA's official spokesperson, Anurag Srivastava, said, "India and China have been discussing through military and diplomatic channels the de-escalation of the situation in the border area in Eastern Ladakh." "Senior Commanders had a productive meeting on 6th June 2020 and agreed on a process for such de-escalation. Subsequently, ground commanders had a series of meetings to implement the consensus reached a higher level," he said, adding "While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley." Srivastava further said, "On the late-evening and night of 15th June 2020 a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side." "Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. We expect the same of the Chinese side," he said. "We remain firmly convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity," Srivastava added. Notably, the loss of lives on the Indian side during violent face-off includes an officer and two soldiers. Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held two review meetings over developments in eastern Ladakh. A meeting was held at the residence of Defence Minister in the evening which was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane. He also held another meeting in which the CDS, External Affairs Minister and three service chiefs were present. This is the first violent incident on LAC since 1975 in which casualties have taken place. Meanwhile, Opposition parties today questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops and asked them to take the nation into confidence on the matter The ruling BJP, however, asserted that India's borders will remain intact under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. Oklahoma has experienced a surge of new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, with 225 reported on Monday alone. Tulsa County saw 89 cases. Both marked new highs in daily increases. Health Department data shows Tulsa Countys seven-day rolling average for COVID-19 cases has shot up since the beginning of June. On the final day of May, the Health Department documented a seven-day average of 13.7 new cases. Mondays report showed a 7-day average of 65.3 new cases, the highest mark since the pandemic began. Dart praised Oklahomans for practicing social distancing and other safety precautions up until when businesses began to reopen around Memorial Day. Fatigue of the pandemic and quarantine led to a decline in overall vigilance, he said, which in turn led to the resurgence of COVID-19. Guidelines concerning the reopening of schools in the fall largely are based on the level of risk in the community. As for right now, Dart supports returning to school buildings in the fall, though he notes the possibility of further disruptions. He said his department will help TPS and other districts make the appropriate decisions when they get to that point. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer warned Michigan Democrats against feeling complacent while a series of polls show Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with an edge over President Donald Trump, urging women voters to take charge of the 2020 election. Whitmers remarks led a virtual campaign event launching the Michigan Women for Biden coalition Monday. The governor, a national co-chair for Bidens campaign, said the same energy that propelled herself and other women to Michigans top elected offices will help carry Biden to the White House in 2020. We kicked ass in 2018, Whitmer said. Thats why its going to be on every single one of us. As hard as we worked in a team, we get to work at least that hard in 2020. We can do this, and I believe we are going to be successful, but we cannot for one second let our guard down. Biden and Trump launched campaign groups focused on gathering support among women voters in Michigan. A majority of women generally vote Democratic in modern presidential elections, but that didnt stop a Republican victory in 2016. The difference in Trumps support between men and women in 2016 was among the widest recorded in exit polls dating back to 1972, according to a Pew Research analysis. Polls show Biden with a sizable lead among women voters, but Michigan Democrats said those numbers shouldnt impact their efforts in 2020. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, recalled feeling uneasy about Democrats writing off the possibility of Trumps victory until it was too late. Ill never forget this one woman who came up to me and said, Im 62. Ive never cared about politics. I didnt vote in this last election, but Ill never not be involved again, Dingell said. Dingell announced her endorsement of Biden the same day. Whitmer wore a That Woman from Michigan T-shirt during the call, which refers to a phrase Trump used to describe the governor while they feuded over the federal governments COVID-19 response. Whitmer has since claimed ownership of the phrase, turning into a slogan for Michigan Democrats. Were all that women from Michigan, and by the end of this Donald Trump is going to know not to mess with those women from Michigan, Whitmer said. The governor was joined by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing; U.S. Reps. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield; and Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly; Haley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills; and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, all of whom also won elections in 2018. Virgie Rollins, a Benton Harbor native and chair of the Democratic National Committees Black Caucus, also joined the call. Stabenow highlighted Bidens creation of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, and his work to create the Affordable Care Act while serving as vice president. She said Biden would fight to protect the right to reproductive choice" by nominating Supreme Court justices. The event was co-hosted by Fems for Dems, a group of suburban women formed in 2016 to support Democratic candidates and get more women engaged in politics. Founder Lori Goldman said the group has grown to 8,000 members since. We are a collaborative of power and change and love and caring, and theres nothing that can stop us, Goldman said. The event was held the same day Vice President Mike Pence announced he will be visiting Michigan Thursday. Pence is scheduled to tour two manufacturing facilities in Sterling Heights, participate in a roundtable focused on the economy and give a speech. The White House has kept a focus on the economic gains women experienced during the presidents first term. Women make up a majority of payroll employment and captured 71% of new jobs created in 2019, according to the White House. Trump Victory Spokesperson Chris Gustafson touted the presidents economic achievements in a statement Monday. President Trumps leadership built an economy that delivered historic results for all Americans of all backgrounds," Gustafson said in a statement. While hidin Joe Biden is too scared of his own shadow to emerge from his basement, Michiganders know that President Trump already built the worlds greatest economy once, and hell do it again." READ MORE: Vice President Mike Pence to visit Michigan Thursday, tour manufacturing businesses Democrats and Trump supporters fight for womens votes in Michigan suburbs Poll: Michigan women unlikely to support Trump in 2020 Trump says U.S. economy is poised for epic comeback during Michigan visit University of Oregon officials condemned protesters who toppled two pioneer statues Saturday and say police are investigating what happened. But University President Michael Schill said the Pioneer and Pioneer Mother statues wont be returned to their original pedestals after they were taken down in "dramatic fashion. While I strongly believe in the power of peaceful protest and the right to free expression and dissent, I condemn these acts of destruction, Schill said in the statement issued Monday. What happened Saturday evening was unacceptable. Kay Jarvis, a university spokesperson, said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive that the campus police department is investigating the damage that occurred." Police have yet to identify anyone responsible. Jarvis has not yet said if the university plans to pursue criminal charges or administrative actions related to the incident. Various groups had called for the removal of the statues for years, pointing to their ties to the celebration of white conquest. The university was facing renewed calls for their removal against the recent backdrop of worldwide protests against racism and police brutality, including in Eugene, where the University of Oregon is base In 2019, an extensive report produced by a doctoral candidate found Alexander Proctor, the sculptor of The Pioneer statue, was a racist who celebrated the killing of indigenous people. Additionally, Proctors inspiration for the figure depicted in the statue was a man who Proctor particularly admired for his history of killing indigenous people. The report recommended the statue be removed. In his statement issued Monday, Schill decried racism and racist violence and pledged to continue supporting efforts to increase equity at the university. We will redouble our efforts and explore new ways to support diversity and inclusion among students, faculty and staff and bolster ally-ship on the University of Oregon campus, Schill said. We must and we will. -- K. Rambo krambo@oregonian.com @k_rambo_ Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Federal funding for a new harm reduction and recovery program in Peterborough will be announced on Tuesday by Women and Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef. Few details were available on Monday, but the Peterborough-Kawartha MP is expected to make an announcement Tuesday related to funding from the governments Substance Use and Addictions Program. Peterborough continues to struggle with an opioid crisis. There have been 17 suspected drug-related deaths in the city, plus another confirmed drug-related death, between Jan. 1 and June 15 this year, according to Peterborough Police spokesperson Lauren Gilchrist. Thats 18 deaths in total so far in 2020, which means the rate of deaths this year so far is on par with last years rate. At a public meeting on June 12, 2019, city police Deputy Chief Tim Farquharson said there had been 19 suspected drug-related deaths for the year to date (the number of deaths rose to 30 by the end of 2019). Peterborough was believed to have the third-highest rate of opioid poisonings per capita in Ontario in 2019, behind Brantford and St. Catharines. For at least a year a group of local politicians and health officials have been working on an application for funding from the provincial government to open s supervised drug consumption and treatment centre. Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith told The Examiner recently that the work to apply for a centre is ongoing, with one of the biggest challenges being finding a suitable location. The site needs a willing landlord, he said, plus the site must be near downtown yet the site can be nowhere near a park or a school. Smith also told The Examiner that the centre must have a drug-treatment program or the provincial government wont fund it. Health Canada provides funding to help communities respond to substance use issues including opioid addiction through its Substance Use and Addictions Program. The funding is offered to other levels of government, or to community-led and not-for-profit organizations that want to offer addiction help, according to Health Canadas website. Meanwhile theres an online petition aiming to block a supervised drug consumption centre from ever coming to Peterborough. Petition organizer Mackenzie Darrington said shes concerned a site will attract more drug addicts to Peterborough, although medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said thats untrue. She told The Examiner there is research showing people wont travel far for these services. The petition had 263 signatures by Monday, and can be viewed here: change.org/p/dave-smith-mpp-stop-safe-injections-sites-in-peterborough [June 16, 2020] SRG SSR Chooses Kaltura To Power Major Multi-language Cloud TV Service for Switzerland New York, NY, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highlights: Switzerlands national public broadcaster SRG SSR has selected Kaltura TV platform for its new multi-language Cloud TV service Play Suisse has selected Kaltura TV platform for its new multi-language Cloud TV service Play Suisse Kalturas proven Cloud TV platform will enable SRG SSRs 3.8 million viewing homes to enjoy its high-quality content on a range of devices including connected TVs, smartphones and tablets Expands Kalturas technology reach in Switzerland, and further consolidates its position as go-to Cloud TV enabler Kaltura , the leading video cloud, announced today that SRG SSR , Switzerlands national public broadcaster and the countrys largest media company, has selected Kaltura TV Platform as the basis on which to build its new multi-language Cloud TV service, named Play Suisse. SRG SSR is keen to expand the online reach of its content beyond its existing broadcasting audience base, now numbering 3.8 million Swiss homes. A top strategic priority for SRG SSR in 2020 is the development of a video-on-demand streaming service that will offer its Swiss viewing audience a wide range of content, available across languages through subtitling and dubbing. Play Suisse will deliver content to viewers in Swiss-German, French, Italian and Rumantsch on a range of devices including connected TVs, smartphones and tablets. SRG SSR offers Switzerlands largest programming catalogue, through original productions and licensed content. As a consequence, with its new Cloud TV service, viewers will be able to enjoy access to an extensive array of Siss programming on-demand as well as popular third-party content. SRG SSR will use the Kaltura TV Platform as the backbone of the new service. This new project expands upon Kalturas existing partnership with SRG SSR. Since 2016, Kaltura has been technology partner to Swiss-TXT, SRG SSRs subsidiary company which has a rich heritage in pioneering digital innovation dating back to the 1980s with the introduction of teletext. In planning its ambitious new service, SRG SSR conducted a rigorous assessment process to evaluate Kalturas technology and operational quality, which included regular workshops and extensive demonstrations. Following a proof-of-concept phase, SRG SSR determined that Kaltura was to be the broadcasters trusted Cloud TV technology provider of choice and awarded the contract for the major upcoming Cloud TV project. Broadcasters and media companies everywhere are quickly turning to Cloud TV as the engine of content distribution and the best way to reach their audiences wherever they may be, said Nuno Sanches, General Manager, Media and Telecom at Kaltura. We are proud to help SRG SSR with its Cloud TV transformation, particularly now when delivering engaging TV is more important than ever. The new service will include several advanced capabilities that fit its specific needs. For example, the Kaltura Operator Console will enable SRG SSR to manage its vast content catalogue, metadata, multi-language translations and captions, all in streamlined workflows that can be monitored and tracked to learn and improve the service as it evolves. About SRG SSR With 6,684 employees / 5,345 full-time equivalents, an annual turnover of approximately 1.5 billion Swiss francs, 17 radio stations and 7 television channels, as well as complementary websites and teletext services, SRG SSR is the largest electronic media organisation in Switzerland. Its radio stations lead their respective markets in all four language regions as do the television channels at prime time. As a non-profit organisation, SRG SSR derives 78 per cent of its revenues from licence fees and 22 per cent from commercial activities. SRG SSR media inform, entertain, and also have an educational function. Thanks to solidarity and a financial cross-subsidisation programme between the language regions, SRG SSR is in a position to offer services throughout Switzerland. In this way, it helps to promote mutual understanding, cohesion and exchange between the different parts of the country and in doing so, it plays a key role in social and cultural integration. www.srgssr.ch About Kaltura Kaltura's mission is to power any video experience. Kalturas Media and Telecom business unit helps telcos and content owners make the transition to a full-fledged Cloud TV service that satisfies the exacting demands of todays TV viewers. The Kaltura TV Platform features personalized multiscreen access to linear, VOD and time-shifted TV as well as third-party content. It combines advanced monetization options with the ability to scale to millions of viewers anywhere in the world. The adaptability and agility of the Kaltura TV Platform means that companies can experiment with new products and features, analyze performance, and react quickly to changes in viewing behavior in order to optimize engagement and better achieve business goals. www.kaltura.com Lisa Bennett VP Marketing [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] UPDATE, 6:50pm PT: AT&T tells Boing Boing, "We do not have an issue with our network," and points us to this @ATTNEWS tweet: "Our network is operating normally, but it's possible some customers are unable to reach people on other carriers' networks." Cellular provider T-Mobile has been having a very large service outage today, Monday June 15. The service interruptions were reported by Verizon users starting around 10amPT/1pm ET. It's affecting thousands of customers in several states. T-Mobile said it's working to fix the situation, and blames a widespread "voice and data issue." There is no evidence, and despite rumormongers there are no credible reports, of a DDoS attack or other cyberattack being the cause for the T-Mobile network failure or related impact on users of AT&T and Verizon today. A Verizon company spokesperson told this Boing Boing writer that a routing problem was blamed. T-Mobile's president of technology said later in the day that some users are still having problems with calls and texts, and recommended customers using WhatsApp, iMessage and other communications tools instead. Our engineers are working to resolve a voice and data issue that has been affecting customers around the country. We're sorry for the inconvenience and hope to have this fixed shortly. Neville (@NevilleRay) June 15, 2020 From TechCrunch: In our own tests in New York and Seattle, we found that making calls from a T-Mobile phone would fail almost immediately after placing the call. We also found that the cell service on our phones was intermittent, with bars occasionally dropping to zero or losing access to high-speed data. In April, Sprint and T-Mobile completed its merger, valued at $26 billion, making the combined cell network the third largest carrier in the United States behind AT&T and Verizon. Others have reported issues on other networks. When reached, spokespeople for AT&T and Verizon (which owns TechCrunch) said their networks were operating normally. Sprint has not yet responded to a request for comment. There is no evidence that the outage is caused by a cyberattack. One wire report said Level 3, a major fiber network backbone that cell networks rely on for routing calls and messages, was experiencing an outage, which may have explained the network outages. But a spokesperson for CenturyLink, which owns Level 3, said that there was no current outage on its network. Observations and reporting from Twitter, below. These @TMobile issues bring to mind another huge TWC network blackout in 2014. The cause then was an engineer who basically typed the wrong keys: https://t.co/L2GiIEdNyf https://t.co/99sNZxTJFF Drew FitzGerald (@DrewFitzGerald) June 15, 2020 T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T phone calls are failing across the US https://t.co/yBZhIrnyzh pic.twitter.com/D7t6Cyt1VV The Verge (@verge) June 15, 2020 Most final-year students of public tertiary institutions across the country have complied with the directive to return to school to complete their programmes. Yesterday (Monday, June 15, 2020), the students reported to school, and although there was no mad rush to return, there was no time to waste either, as they were ushered into faculty meetings, group work and lectures. From the University of Ghana, Legon, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the specialised universities through to the technical universities, students arrived on the campuses, hoping to complete their exit programmes safely, amid concerns over the rising cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections. While on campus, these students who began academic work from yesterday, June 15, will complete studies on July 24, while final examinations will be conducted from July 27 to August 21. Governments assurance To allay their concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, last Sunday President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo stressed that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure the safety of students, teaching and non-teaching staff on the various campuses. We cannot say that because of the pandemic we are no longer interested in issues of social justice, such as education and health. Education, indeed, is the key to the future of our country. The quality of education that our educational institutions produce, ultimately, will determine the success or otherwise of our nation, he said. Reiterating the need for everyone to strictly adhere to the safety and preventive protocols, the President also indicated that the government had provided the logistics to ensure safety and prevention. He said 6,000 nose masks had been distributed to the tertiary institutions to enable every student, teaching and non-teaching staff to have three reusable masks. Also, the government had provided 1,700 Veronica buckets, 200,000 litres of hand sanitiser, 3,400 litres of liquid soap and 900 thermometer guns to be distributed to all institutions, he said. Additionally, institutions with their own hospitals and clinics had been equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and had isolation centres to deal with any positive cases, while all other institutions without their own clinics and hospitals had been mapped to health facilities, he added. Ahead of the arrival of the students, almost all the institutions were disinfected. Slow start When the Daily Graphic visited some of the campuses between 9 a.m. and midday yesterday, it observed that only a handful of students had reported. Although some of the institutions had the no mask, no entry signs at the entrances, the facilities for the observation of the other preventive and safety protocols had been moved to the halls of residence, the administrative blocks and the various departments. Students arrived individually in commercial vehicles such as taxis and Uber and headed straight to their halls. Almost all of them had their nose masks on. It seemed those who had scheduled meetings arrived early to prepare for those schedules. Ho From the campuses of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), the Evangelical Presbyterian University College (EPUC) and the Ho Technical University (HTU), all in the Volta Regional capital, Ho, Bright Selase Afavi reports that some students seemed to have settled in early and were seen sitting by themselves, reading their books under trees on the various campuses. Speaking with the Daily Graphic, the Assistant Registrar, Admissions and Public Relations, at the EPUC, Mr MacLiberty Misrowoda, said the institution had taken enough steps to make the campus safe for the 350 students expected to report. He also confirmed that the university had taken delivery of logistics from the government to allow for the observation of the safety and preventive protocols. Mr Misrowoda stressed that the school authorities would go round all the time to make sure the students were observing the safety protocols. "We are going to make sure we do everything to protect the students from contracting the virus. Everybody's life is at stake here; when the students have it and care is not taken, we the lecturers will also contract it and so we must be careful," he said. A final-year student of the HTU, Godfred Dankwa, said he was relieved that an arrangement had been put in place to enable him and his mates complete their courses. He said he was going to be very cautious while on campus to ensure his safety. Another final-year student, Lordina Apedo, said although she was concerned about contracting the virus, she had no choice but to report for school and so she would do her best to protect herself by avoiding crowded places, in addition to observing the safety protocols. UG, UPSA Doreen Andoh reports that the University of Ghana, Legon and the University of Professional Studies, Accra had prepared to receive their final-year students by putting in place all the safety protocols the President directed ahead of reopening to only final-year students. The two universities had the no mask, no entry inscription at their main entrances and on all door posts, had Veronica buckets, soap, hand sanitiser and paper towels at vantage points, while the temperature of all patrons of the two facilities were taken at various receptions. At the UPSA, the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Barnor, said although the university had completed its academic year successfully, with the help of a nationally approved virtual learning platform put in place before the COVID-19 pandemic, it had still instituted all the safety protocols for staff, as well as students who would need to come to the campus to have their academic concerns addressed. He said all such students would have to first report at the schools health facility to be cleared before being given access to the university. He was hopeful that by Thursday all such concerns would have been addressed and there would be no student on campus. At the University of Ghana, Legon, some students were seen arriving, while others were registering at the halls, amid strict safety protocols, with others seen with their books heading for lectures. Michael Danso, a final-year Political Science and French student, said they did virtual learning and had started their examination virtually, confirming that they had been asked to either choose the virtual school or come to campus. He said he had chosen the virtual school but had issues with his registration and had, therefore, come to seek redress. A postgraduate student in Religion, Mr Emmanuel Anadzie, said although they were given the option between the virtual programme and campus learning, majority of them had opted for virtual learning because most of the students in his class had travelled outside Accra. ATU From the Accra Technical University (ATU), Ruby Delanyo Buafor and Jennifer Kwasin observed that there was no checking of the temperature of people entering at both entrances, although security persons at post enforced the no mask, no entry rule. While some students were preparing to enter lecture halls for classes, a group of electrical engineering students who spoke with the Daily Graphic expressed their displeasure at the governments decision to reopen schools when the countrys case count was on the increase. According to them, the school authorities had not put in place enough measures to ensure their safety on campus, as their temperature was not even checked before they entered the campus. It is still not safe for us to return to school, with what we are seeing here. We wish to do our service and when the case count reduces then we can resume school and write our exams. We dont mind graduating next year or next two years, they said. The Senior Porter at the schools New Hostel, Mr Aaron Tetteh, said arrangements had been put in place to encourage physical distancing. Under normal circumstances, each room takes between three and eight students, depending on the size of the room, but the number has been reduced to two to ensure physical distancing, he said, adding that about 19 students have so far reported today and we are expecting more in the course of the week. Kumasi From Kumasi, Emmanuel Baah reports that students of both the KNUST and the Kumasi Technical University (KsTI) were gradually reporting on the various campuses. At every vantage point on the campuses, especially at the entrances to the residential halls, one could easily spot Veronica buckets, with tissue paper and hand sanitiser for students to use. The University Relations Officer of the KNUST, Dr Daniel Norris Bekoe, said 150 final-year students pursuing Medical, Pharmacy, Medical Diagnostic and Veterinary Medicine programmes, were expected to report to take practical lessons. He said the authorities had fumigated the entire campus three times, and that KNUST is safe and prepared for academic activities. He said to ensure physical distancing, a room at the residential halls which, before the outbreak of the pandemic, housed four students at a time now housed a student. Unlike the other institutions, the KsTI did not reopen yesterday but had set a new date for students to report. A source close to the institution disclosed this to the Daily Graphic. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 15:17 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf2a304 1 Business SME,pandemic,COVID-19,PPE,business Free Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have shifted to producing personal protective equipment (PPE), which remain in high demand, to survive the economic impacts of the COVID-19 health crisis. Abdul Manaf, who owns a small business that produces motorcycle accessories in Bogor, West Java, has turned his fortune around from declining sales as a result of the epidemic to a more than six-fold increase in revenue by switching to producing face shields. As we join the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, we are trying to develop a business. But our [effort] is not easy, because our prior business used metal while we use other materials to make face shields, he said at an virtual discussion on June 12. Since Abdul switched Karunia Mandiri's business to the new production line a month after the disease emerged Indonesia in March, he said that his monthly revenue had increased from the usual Rp 7 million (US$500) to Rp 45 million. He recently hired three more employees to keep up with the demand and fulfill an order for 2,000 face shields from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). SMEs, which contribute more than half of the countrys economy, were losing up to 57 percent of their sales in late April due to the coronavirus restriction policies, according to data from the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry. The health emergency has disrupted economic activity across the nation with the government calling on its citizens to implement physical distancing measures and forcing offices, factories, shops and schools to close temporarily to contain the spread of the disease. The country has surpassed a cumulative total of 39,000 confirmed cases to date as it reels from the economic impacts of the epidemic. Indonesias economy grew just 2.97 percent in the first quarter of 2020, the lowest in 19 years. The government has also allocated part of its Rp 641.17 trillion ($45.1 billion) economic recovery fund to soften the COVID-19 economic impact on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It has already earmarked Rp 34.15 trillion in interest payment subsidies for ultra-micro businesses under its UMi and Mekaar programs. Tri Retno, who owns the Citra Handicraft SME that produces patchwork bags in Depok, West Java, is also using leftover fabric to make face masks and house dresses to offset the declining sales during the health crisis. While she initially produced the face masks to donate, Retno later decided to monetize the products as orders started to come in. Citra Handicraft is a partner of Astra International's CSR arm, Yayasan Dharma Bakti Astra. To maintain revenue, I just use the materials available at home because its hard to get raw materials [now], she said at the June 12 virtual discussion. Retno added that she hoped to gain assistance in selling her products online, as she was experiencing difficulties in marketing her products during the crisis. YDBA head Sigit Kumala said on the same occasion that the foundation planned to optimize online platforms to market the SME's products. With this collaboration, we hope it can facilitate us in [working] together and developing independent SMEs to ready them for the international market, he said. Leading Indonesian start-ups like Grab, Gojek and LinkAja have also added features and promotions to help MSMEs digitize their businesses to survive the current economic downturn. Ride-hailing company Grab Indonesia has introduced a new app called GrabMerchant that aims to provide a one-stop service platform for MSMEs including those in the food and beverage industry to digitally manage their operational hours, orders, employees, menus and promotions. Berlin introduces new quarantine rules for inbound travellers New quarantine rules apply in Berlin for people entering from abroad. "We have today transposed the nationwide quarantine regulation into state law," said Senator of the Interior Andreas Geisel (SPD) on 16 June 2020 after a Senate meeting. dpa The question was how to deal with people returning home from countries outside the European Union. Geisel explained that it is a nationwide policy to send them into a 14-day quarantine. "However, it is possible to escape from quarantine prematurely with a negative corona test." No quarantine with a negative corona test According to the Senator, the regulation, which is now also applicable in Berlin, affects all persons entering the country from so-called third countries, which are considered to be risk areas. Currently, such quarantine is also required for entries from Sweden. "In Sweden, we have the situation that the number of infections has risen so much in the last few days that the federal government has imposed an appropriate quarantine measure," explained Geisel. Quarantine is compulsory for people entering the country from risk areas Risk areas are defined as states or regions outside the Federal Republic of Germany for which there is an increased risk of infection with the coronavirus at the time of entry. Classification as a risk area is carried out by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior and is published by the Robert Koch Institute. Editor's note: This is an adjusted version of a dpa report from Tuesday, June 16, 2020. dpa Corona-Warn-App starts in Germany Apple and Google have already passed the federal Corona warning app. From mid June on you should be able to download and use it. What should users know about it? more dpa Number of corona infections increases by 47 cases The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Berlin increased by 47 cases to 7368. 6685 people are considered to have recovered, according to a statement by the Senate health administration on Monday. more President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau discussed visa liberalization between the countries and the possibility of cooperation in combating coronavirus. The telephone conversation took place on Monday, the press service of the Head of State informs. The President of Ukraine expressed hope for progress in the process of gradual visa liberalization by Canada for the citizens of Ukraine and offered to accelerate the relevant bilateral work at the governmental level. "We should already outline the time frame for the start of the bilateral visa dialogue. We can start visa facilitation for certain categories of citizens, such as young people and students, as we discussed in Toronto last year. We expect a group of Canadian experts to arrive in Ukraine to monitor Ukraine's compliance with Canada's visa criteria," the Ukrainian President suggested. In response, Justin Trudeau said that, despite the difficult situation, it is now possible to review the visa regime for its liberalization, and this needs to be worked on. Head of the Canadian government conveyed words of support to Olena Zelenska who was infected with COVID-19, just as Sophie Trudeau previously. The parties discussed measures of both countries to combat coronavirus and the possibility of cooperation to overcome the pandemic. "We are grateful for Canada's humanitarian assistance to combat the disease in Ukraine through the UN Humanitarian Fund in the amount of 500,000 Canadian dollars," Volodymyr Zelensky said. He also thanked Justin Trudeau for a consistent support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. ol A Vietjet Air's aircraft is pulled to the garage for repairing after it skidded off the runway at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC, June 15, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Tuan. The Vietjet Air aircraft that had a narrow escape while landing in HCMC Sunday shot 650 meters off the runway, a report says. The report, by Tan Son Nhat International Airport authorities, said the Airbus A321neo had 217 passengers, including six children, and a crew of eight, with an Indian captain and a Sri Lankan co-pilot. It arrived in the city from Phu Quoc Island just after noon before skidding off the runway and into a grassy bank. When the plane came to a halt, its wheels were buried in the soil, and it took 18 hours to extricate and tow it back to the runway. Vietjet Air has blamed strong winds and heavy rains for the mishap. Inspectors have found three metal fragments they suspect are from the aircraft's wing. The airport had to temporarily shut down since the runway is currently the only one in operation with the other being closed for upgrades. As a result, seven flights that were about to take off from the airport were delayed and 20 flights that were waiting to land had to be diverted to other airports. The airport shut down for six hours and nearly 190 flights were affected. One flight from Taipei took seven hours, compared to the normal three hours, as the aircraft could not land and had to circle repeatedly. Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The said investigators from the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam would decode the black box to find out why the pilot decided to land in such bad weather conditions. "[The decision to land] was a big mistake by the pilot," The said. "When landing, the pilot gets guidance from air traffic controllers, but the pilot has the right to decide whether to land or not." The minister also instructed the investigators to find out why air traffic control gave permission for the pilot to land and how much information it had about weather conditions that day. The pilots have had their licenses seized pending the investigation. Should you choose your summer staycation destination based on how many Covid-19 cases a county has suffered? It's on the holiday checklist for many now, along with beautiful scenery and value for money. County boundaries Several counties appear to have escaped more lightly from Covid-19. Figures come with caveats, however. One or two outbreaks, for instance, in a workplace or nursing home can inflate numbers due to more testing. A major hospital where higher number of patients are admitted and staff screened can also have an impact on statistics. However, it does seem in recent weeks some counties have consistently seen low numbers of new cases including Clare, Leitrim, Longford, Tipperary, Wexford, Wicklow, Donegal, Laois, Kerry, Sligo and Waterford. When rates per 1,000 are looked at, Cavan is highest in the country. Travel corridor We already have air bridges opening between countries. An air bridge is a travel arrangement between two countries where the Covid-19 pandemic is under control. If the same idea was borrowed within the country, it could potentially see people from Kerry holidaying in Donegal or vice versa. They would form their own holiday travel bubble or sorts. Covid-hit cities Dublin stands out for having more than 12,200 cases of the virus and an incidence rate of 9.08 per 1,000 population. This has been the pattern with other major cities. Cork is next with 1,533 cases of Covid-19 and the figures are also high for Kildare and Cavan. Apart from population, there are a whole host of factors making cities more vulnerable, including the number of hospitals and residential homes. Counties with more rural populations fare better. Monaghan, Westmeath and Longford are also high on the league table for rates per 1,000. Travel precautions People travelling from counties where there is more virus circulating need to be mindful if they are heading for a region of lower transmission. The spread of the virus thankfully continues to decline, so all parts of the country are benefiting, but it unlikely we will see zero new cases. There is also the risk of people having the coronavirus, feeling well and being asymptomatic. Bring face masks to wear, particularly while shopping and if travelling by public transport. Always ensure you have hand sanitiser in case there is no access to wash basins and always try to main two metres of physical distancing. You could bring your own cutlery and plates. If you are hiring a car, ensure that it has been cleaned and disinfected in advance. If you feel unwell, don't travel. Stagger arrival In its guidance to the operators of camping and caravan sites, Failte Ireland recommends that guests stagger their arrival. Guests should look out for bins for disposable gloves, masks and tissues. Camping sites should be limited to registered guests only. Hand sanitiser needs to be provided at entrants, exits and key locations. Equipment loaned to guests has to be cleaned and disinfected before and after use. Roadmap The Government's roadmap will allow for holidays in Ireland from June 29. WASHINGTON - More than five decades had passed since Poopoo Earls protested. Back then, Earls ran through the D.C. streets with hordes of other young people hurt and outraged by the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Four days of rioting left 13 dead and some of Washington's predominantly black neighborhoods in ruins for 30 years. For people like Earls, who watched their communities reduced to rubble in 1968, the mass protests that erupted in the nation's capital this month were at first a painful reminder of that chaotic point in history. The killing of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police showed that the injustices of their youth had persisted. Demonstrations descending into looting and fires suggested that history was on the verge of repeating itself. As the days wore on, however, there were glimpses that, this time, things might be different. A 75-year-old who marched to 14th Street NW with his classmates from Howard University in 1968 was astonished by the white faces he saw this month chanting against police brutality. A woman haunted by memories of the riots 52 years ago relaxed as she wove through the peaceful crowds with her grandsons. The 86-year-old founder of Ben's Chili Bowl, who packed food for several hundred protesters on a Saturday in June, said she couldn't have felt prouder of her city. Earls, 64, stayed home in the Truxton Circle neighborhood when the Floyd protests started, worried about the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus. But when she heard that one of the marches would feature the District of Columbia's iconic go-go music, she could not resist. She hopped onto her motorcycle and headed for 14th and U Streets NW, epicenter of the 1968 devastation. What she saw astounded her: Hundreds of people - black, white, Latino and Asian - bobbing their heads and snapping their fingers to the music she had grown up dancing to. "We ain't never seen nothing like that," Earls said. "We ain't never had that many Caucasians, all walks of life, walk with us. . . . '68 wasn't like that." In searing 90-degree heat, Earls followed the go-go truck toward the White House, where thousands of others were wielding signs, playing drums and sharing food. "I thank God I lived to see it," Earls said. "It gave me hope." - - - The first thing Tony Gittens remembers is the smoke. In 1968, the pungent smell of stores and homes burning followed him and his friends as they walked about seven blocks from Howard University, on Georgia Avenue NW, to 14th Street. Gittens said his eyes watered from tear gas that police had fired to clear rioters; one of his friends was quickly arrested, while another was pinned to the ground. That April, police arrested 7,600 people on riot-related charges in the District. Seven hundred homes were destroyed, many in Shaw and along the 14th Street and U Street corridors, which had been predominantly black enclaves. Businesses were boarded up, and many families moved to the suburbs, shrinking the city's population from 764,000 in 1960 to 638,000 in 1980. As drugs and crime took over many neighborhoods, tens of thousands more would leave. Those who remained say it felt like the black community had absorbed the pain of King's killing largely on its own. The riots ravaged black neighborhoods, and when it was all over, black communities were left to pick up the pieces. While white people played a significant role in the national civil rights movement and events like the 1963 March on Washington, the protests in the District after King's murder were deeply segregated, as was the city itself. "We wanted to see everybody stand up for equal rights, but back in those days, it was a different time," said Virginia Ali, who with husband Ben Ali, now deceased, founded Ben's Chili Bowl, which served as a hub for civil rights activists in the 1960s. "We tore up our own stuff - and we were already suffering," said Earls, who for many years struggled with addiction and was in and out of prison for drug dealing. "We lived to regret it." Former D.C. Council member Charlene Drew Jarvis was a young mother teaching at Howard University the night King was killed. She remembers seeing the looting on 14th Street, and growing scared as she rushed to pick up her children at day care, only to find that a teacher had taken them home. Jarvis said that in the 1960s, there was little understanding in the white community about the discrimination felt daily by black residents. Now 78, she did not join the Floyd protests because of concerns about the coronavirus. But she has had conversations about racism this month via Zoom with various civic and business groups that include both white and black residents. "There was no marriage between protests at that time," Jarvis said of the tumultuous days following King's death."This now is very different." Gittens, now 75, spent the last few months quarantining with his wife at their home in Washington's Adams Morgan neighborhood. He knows he is at risk for covid-19, but on June 6, when thousands were slated to turn up for protests, he was drawn to participate, just as he was pulled to 14th Street all those years ago. "People just kept coming and coming and coming," said Gittens, who stepped down as the head of the D.C. Arts Commission in 2008 but still serves as director of the D.C. International Film Festival. He spent hours at 16th and K streets NW, marveling at the multiracial protest. In 1968 in Washington, he said, having even one nonblack friend or colleague express support for the civil rights of African Americans felt like a win. Now, there were thousands of them in front of the White House. At one point, a young white man passed by, holding up a sign that read: "Stop killing my friends." "I was so moved by that, genuinely," Gittens said. "For me, it was like a real, honest personal example of progress." Among the relatively few white allies in 1968 was Susanne Jackson, then Sue Orrin, a civil rights and anti-Vietnam War activist. Heeding the advice of Stokely Carmichael that white people should organize themselves, she helped to bring together more than a hundred white doctors, lawyers and journalists in a network of activists in 1967. These volunteers deployed across the city after King's death, providing medical assistance and legal aid and raising money to pay bond for those who were arrested. There was a curfew in place, Jackson said, but police rarely stopped or questioned white residents. At 76, Jackson said she is heartened to see more white people protesting now than before. She lives in Memphis and stayed at home because of the coronavirus, but worked remotely to help organize protests. "I am very excited about the enthusiasm," she said. "But I don't think white folks as a whole have come very far." - - - Nicole Baker was 4 years old when her parents returned to their townhouse in the Kenilworth neighborhood of Northeast Washington and announced that King was dead. For the next week, Baker and her six siblings were not allowed to go outside. Through their window, they watched people running by, sometimes carrying boxes of shoes or a TV set. When it got dark, people screamed and cried. Decades later, her grandson Jeremy Gray declared that it was his 18th-birthday wish to attend the D.C. protests with his family. Baker's first reaction was dread. "Inside me was a fear to be in the midst of it again," said Baker, now 55 and living in Pennsylvania. For days, she thought about the painful times in her life when she had encountered law enforcement,including in 2018, when she watched police Taser and restrain one of her sons in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Gray and his two younger brothers are biracial, with lighter complexions. But Baker knew this would not stop police from seeing them as black. Late on the evening of June 6, the grandmother and her grandsons made their way to the center of the crowd at 16th and I streets NW. At 10 p.m., when protesters raised their fists in a black-power salute, they did, too. Baker turned to look at Gray, her white Afro matching his brown one, and smiled. "It was an honor to be part of that," Baker said a week later. "For both of us." Stanley Mayes, 70, worried not just about what might happen at the protests, but what lasting damage they might leave. He had been at 14th and U streets the evening King was assassinated, and watched as a man hurled a trash can into the window of the Peoples Drug store. For years afterward, he avoided walking to stores in the neighborhood, concerned about his safety. The process of revitalizing the city - which Mayes helped lead as a local activist - took decades. And yet, even as the city changed, much stayed the same, he said, including black men being mistreated by police. That is why he chose to attend a protest earlier this month, he said, braving the possible coronavirus exposure. "African Americans, period, and African American men, in particular, know this stuff," Mayes said later, sitting in the leather repair shop he owns in the Shaw neighborhood. "We live it every day." - - - Police misconduct is "a consistent theme" across the major bouts of civil unrest in the District, said historian J. Samuel Walker, including in 1991, when three days of rioting erupted in the District's Mount Pleasant neighborhood after a 30-year-old Salvadoran immigrant was shot by an African American police officer. "Education, poverty - it all builds on one another," Walker said. "But often, what seems to set off a spark is police actions." Mayes, a lawyer, can tick off the number of times he has been stopped without cause by police, including once when he was leaving the hospital after visiting a dying client and an officer asked if he had been drinking. But he said it was not until the advent of the cellphone, and the videos of police brutality and shootings, that people started paying attention to a reality that African Americans had long been experiencing. "For so many years, it felt like we were like Chicken Little, shouting, 'The Sky is Falling!' " he continued. "Finally, finally, people seemed to be listening." Gittens pointed out that even during this month's protests, law enforcement officers across the country were repeatedly caught on camera exerting excessive force. After 1968, he said, he hoped never to see police swinging batons against the backs of peaceful protesters again. But he has - and knows that he is likely to again. This doesn't mean giving up hope, he said. "I'm going to show up every time if that's going to help move it forward," Gittens said. "Every time." On Monday and Tuesday, the irrigation ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan met online for the fifth and sixth time since 9 June. According to a statement from the Sudanese Ministry of Irrigation, tripartite negotiations have achieved progress on important technical files, including dam security, the initial filling of the reservoir, the dams long-term operation, environmental studies and exchange of information. Tellingly, the Sudanese statement did not specify whether the progress had been achieved during the Washington talks which ended late in February, or the present, online round. Since the virtual talks began last week it has become clear that Ethiopia has focused its objections on a number of fundamental legal issues. They include outlining a mechanism to settle differences, provisions to make the agreement legally binding, and legally enforceable measures to be taken in times of drought and prolonged drought. Ethiopia is treading water in the negotiations in an attempt to run down the timetable, says Ali Al-Hefni, a former deputy to Egypts foreign minister. It is not willing to reach a fair agreement. Its goal is unrestrained exploitation of transboundary water resources regardless of the rights and interests of Egypt and Sudan. On the third day of the online talks Ethiopia produced a new statement that backtracks on principles and rules previously agreed. At a lecture organised by the Egyptian Business Council for International Cooperation two days after the Ethiopian statement was unveiled, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Egypt has been committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a balanced and fair agreement in the best interest of the three countries. But as long as Ethiopia remains intransigent, negotiations will not produce positive results. Egypt will have to look at other options, including asking the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibility to protect international peace and security by preventing Ethiopia from taking unilateral actions that negatively affect Egypts water rights. Egypt will exert every effort to protect its interests, he said. On Sunday, Addis Ababa issued a statement that reflects a lack of confidence in its negotiating parties, says former deputy to Egypt foreign minister Mohamed Hegazi. Given the uncertainties and hard-feelings reflected in the statement it is difficult to predict how things will progress. Perhaps the tough negotiations and the initial filling if the different parties agree on it will lead to greater political understanding and a gradual removal of suspicion between the parties, he said. In the statement, Addis Ababa said it will only abide by the Declaration of Principles (DoP) signed in Sudan in 2015, and rejected earlier international treaties as colonial based water allocation agreements that deny Ethiopia, and all upstream countries, their natural and legitimate rights. The statement stressed that the ongoing negotiation is not about the allocation of Blue Nile waters and insisted Ethiopia will be bound by the guidelines and rules for the filling and annual operation of the GERD that it will sign with the two downstream countries, and that such a commitment will be guided solely by the Declaration of Principles. It warned that any attempt to confuse the international community or campaign to exert maximum pressure on Ethiopia to accept colonial-based treaties that it was not a party to, and foreclose its legitimate right of using the Blue Nile camouflaged in the guidelines and rules on the filling and annual operation [of the dam] is unacceptable. Both Egypt and Sudan have expressed worries that Ethiopia is now backtracking on understandings reached during years of tortuous negotiations. Ministry of Irrigation Spokesman Mohamed Al-Sebaai described the Ethiopian statement as a deeply troubling statement that is technically and legally unsound. The Ethiopian statement completely backtracks on the principles and rules agreed by the three countries during the negotiations sponsored by the US and the World Bank. It also ignores the technical understandings reached in previous rounds of negotiations. In a press briefing Al-Sebaai said the Ethiopian statement is an attempt to impose a fait accompli that either pushes Egypt and Sudan into signing a text that turns them into hostages to Ethiopias will, or forces them to accept Ethiopias decision to unilaterally fill the dam. On Friday, the Ethiopian deputy army chief told the media that Egypt should be aware of Ethiopias military capabilities as Egypt continues to oppose Ethiopias plan to start filling the hydroelectric dam next month. Egyptians and the rest of the world know too well how we conduct war whenever it comes, he said. The negotiations via video conference, which began on 9 June, were brokered by Sudan. South Africa, the US and the EU are attending as observers. Both Egypt and Sudan showed flexibility in attending the online talks to discuss issues that were supposedly concluded and agreed-upon in Washington. It was also a compromise for Egypt to accept the Sudanese draft statement, given Cairo wanted these talks to be based on the terms of reference of the Washington agreement, says Al-Hefni. Egypt entered the current round of talks with four demands, tailored to prevent negotiations returning to square one: that Ethiopia would not take unilateral action to fill the dam until an agreement is reached; a deadline would be set to reach agreement on the filling and operation of the dam; the talks would be based on the terms of reference of the Washington and World Bank-brokered negotiations in February, and observers who attend the meetings would act as facilitators. The ongoing video negotiations come more than three months after talks in Washington stalled when Ethiopia failed to turn up for what was to be the final session at which a final agreement was due to be signed. Egypt initialed the agreement while Sudan said it would sign when Addis Ababa did. The US, represented by the Treasury Department, and the World Bank stepped in in November to host tripartite negotiations after talks between the three countries reached a dead end. While it is obvious from the negotiations that Addis Ababa is not willing to respect Egypts conditions, Al-Hefni believes Cairo should continue to press international bodies to try and make Ethiopia abandon its intransigence. Egypt still believes that outstanding issues should be resolved via negotiations, and should press international bodies, including the Security Council, to pressure Ethiopia, he said. Hegazi remains optimistic that despite the stumbling start, an agreement remains in reach. Should that happen, it will in large part be thanks to the dedication, discipline and strategic awareness of the risks and difficulties of the negotiations of our negotiating team. Recognition should also be given to Sudans efforts to bridge the gaps between Egypt and Ethiopia, he said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: En una reunion con representantes de la @CONFIEP, el presidente @MartinVizcarraC pidio unir esfuerzos entre los sectores publico y privado para impulsar el programa #ArrancaPeru, la reactivacion y la generacion de puestos de trabajo en beneficio de la poblacion. pic.twitter.com/U1o7uzAOZ3 By Fidan Babayeva Trend: The credit organizations that are members of the Azerbaijan Micro-finance Association (AMFA) have begun to provide benefits to their clients affected by the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, a source in AMFA told Trend on June 16. The benefits are issued by banks and non-bank credit organizations (NBCO), which are AMFAs members, the source added. Among the benefits are the non-accrual of penal interest for overdue loans, restructuring of loans, as well as benefits in other spheres. Executive Credit Bureau NBCO, TBC Kredit LLC, KredAqro NBCO, Viator Mikrokredit, Pasha Bank, Bank of Baku OJSC, Ideal Credit NBCO, Finoko NBCO have suspended the accrual of interest on overdue loans to customers who have delays in loan commitments during the Covid-19 pandemic, the source said. The grace periods are applied, the contract is extended and restructured in accordance with the appeals of the clients. Taking into account the recommendations of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, KredAqro began to provide its customers with a number of benefits up to September 30. KredAqro offers the following benefits: 1) a penalty for delaying payments on loans from March 1 is not imposed (for loans without delay for more than 30 days); 2) restructuring through writing off the fines by using privileges on the main debt within 1-3 months; 3) restructuring with an extension of the term to reduce the monthly payment depending on the amount of the loan on the main debt by writing off the fines. At the same time, the term of loans worth up to 500 manat ($294) may be extended up to three months, worth 500-3,000 manat ($294-$1,764) - up to six months, worth more than 3,000 manat ($1,764) - up to 12 months. PASHA Bank proposed a number of preferential offers to the customers to support the business during the COVID-19 pandemic, the message said. These offers include interest-free loans and card renewal. The penalties have been suspended for customers with overdue loans. Moreover, all cards that expired in March and April were automatically renewed for three months since April 1, 2020, the message said. The bank provided customers with POS-terminal tariffs and benefits on a number of commissions. According to the data, Bank of Baku did not stop lending to the clients involved in micro, small and medium-sized businesses over these months. More than 400 entrepreneurs received the loans worth about four million manat ($2.3 million). Ideal Kredit LLC decided to restructure loan debts worth more than 200,000 manat ($117,647). At the same time, dozens of borrowers received extra time to make monthly payments. --- Follow the author on Twitter: Fidan_Babaeva Two far-right supporters appear in court over case prosecutors believe to be motivated by racism and xenophobia. A trial of two neo-Nazis has begun in Germany over the murder of pro-refugee politician Walter Lubcke, in a case that highlighted the growing threat of far-right violence in the country. The main suspect, Stephan E, 46, appeared before the higher regional court in Frankfurt on Tuesday alongside co-defendant Markus H, 44, who is accused of helping Stephan E train with firearms, including the murder weapon. The defendants surnames were redacted due to Germanys privacy laws. Federal prosecutors believe Stephan E was motivated by racism and xenophobia when he allegedly drove to Lubckes house on June 1, 2019, and shot him in the head. The killing has been described as Germanys first far-right political assassination since World War II. The trial is expected to draw huge interest, but seating in the courtroom was limited because of coronavirus social distancing measures. No place for hatred Lubckes wife and two adult sons attended the opening hearing. Hatred and violence can have no place in our society, they earlier said in a statement. All of us who stand for a free democracy must not fall silent, but take a clear position. Lubcke, 65, belonged to Chancellor Angela Merkels conservative CDU party and headed the Kassel regional council in the western state of Hesse. He supported Merkels 2015 decision to open the countrys borders to refugees during Europes migrant crisis and spoke in favour of hosting asylum seekers in a local town. Lubckes killing is seen as Germanys first far-right political assassination since WWII [File: Sean Gallup/Getty Images] Prosecutors believe Stephan E and his accomplice attended a speech by Lubcke in October 2015 when the politician defended helping refugees and said anyone who did not agree with those values was free to leave the country. The remark was widely shared online and sparked a furious reaction from people on the far right. After the speech, Stephan E increasingly projected his hatred of foreigners onto Lubcke, prosecutors said in the indictment. Stephan E allegedly began tracking Lubckes movements. Between 2016 and 2018, prosecutors say he worked with Markus H to improve his skill with firearms, and the two are said to have attended far-right demonstrations together. Separate charge In the course of their investigations, prosecutors separately charged Stephan E with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing an Iraqi asylum seeker in the back in 2016. They also uncovered a cache of weapons and ammunition belonging to Stephan E, including revolvers, pistols and a submachine gun. Although Stephan E initially admitted to killing Lubcke, he later retracted his confession and said Markus H had pulled the trigger. But prosecutors maintain that while the accomplice accepted and supported the danger Stephan E posed, he was not aware of concrete plans for an attack. The broadband Internet that SpaceX hopes to bring forward may be a diamond in the rough at these phases, after all. In a recent report on CNet, it has been revealed that SpaceX takes around a month to convince Federal Communications officials that it is meeting requirements on delivering broadband to rural parts of the nation. It is being scrutinized on the grounds of participation in the upcoming auction for government subsidies regarding its development. The agency particularly said it has "serious doubts" that SpaceX, being a low-Earth orbit satellite provider, can be able to meet latency requirements, earning it the qualification to take part in this auction. FCC also made assertions in their report last week, detailing these procedures and requirements for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction's first phase, set to start this October. They said it may allow low-Earth orbit satellite providers to apply for qualification in the funds and be categorized as low-latency broadband providers, but doubtful these providers can meet the "sub-100 milliseconds latency requirement." The agency issued a statement, "We are unaware of any low-Earth orbit network capable of providing a mass market retail broadband service to residential consumers that could meet the commission's 100 ms round-trip latency requirements." It added, "We therefore have serious doubts that any low-Earth orbit networks will be able to meet the short-form application requirements for bidding in the low latency tier." SpaceX is still confident SpaceX promises to deliver broadband via low-Earth orbiting satellites and announced this weekend that it had launched 58 satellites into space. With this, it now consists of around 500 satellites in orbit. However, the SpaceX Starlink broadband brand has yet to provide the commercial service but is part of the space launch. It may have limited offering in the northern United States and Canada by the end of this year, with the service materializing in 2021 or 2022, Tech Times also reported yesterday. SpaceX also clarifies though that their technology can meet the latency requirements set by the FCC. During a May 29 ex-party letter filed with the agency, it described a phone conversation that happened between one of the agency's staffs and SpaceX, explaining that it had elaborated that "its system easily clears the commission's 100ms threshold for low-latency services, even including its 'processing time' during unrealistic worst-case situations." However, time is running out fast if SpaceX desires to take advantage of the first round of government subsidies for the FCC, especially for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The ruling for these $20.4 billion funds is calling for these subsidies to be distributed in two phases with reverse auction when sharing the finances. The first phase starts in October and will allocate about $16 billion in funding for areas where no high-speed Internet is available right at the moment. Interested parties must submit auction applications on or before July 15, to give SpaceX a month to convince the agency. In addition, the FCC has initially approved the plan of SpaceX to offer global satellite broadband services in 2018. The goal is to offer low-latency broadband to rural and remote areas with less Internet and to improve the coverage and speed of areas where access isn't as strong. Eventually, the company wishes to construct 12,000 satellites providing services around the world. RELATED STORY: Space X is Blowing Up Falcon 9 Rockets For Safety Testing 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 04:53:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Greece have signed a cooperation agreement on cyber security, the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) said on Tuesday. The agreement was signed by Yigal Unna, director general of the INCD, and Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Greek Minister of State and Digital Governance. It was signed in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Israel. The agreement includes conducting joint projects for enhancing national cyber platforms and cooperating on workforce training initiatives. It also includes increasing cyber resilience by sharing government cyber security know-how, best practices, legal and regulatory frameworks, methodologies and strategic insights. "Cyber security is based on info-sharing. Both threats and solutions are international. Hence international cooperation is vital for the cybersecurity of every nation," said the INCD. Enditem India Gold August Futures were trading flat but with a positive bias on June 16 tracking muted trend in international spot prices amid rally in equity markets. The US Fed on June 15 announced tweaks to its bond-buying program, widening the range of eligible assets to include all US corporate bonds that satisfied certain criteria, said a Reuters report. Gold and silver prices slipped in the morning session in the international market on June 16 but after Fed indicated to buy corporate bonds, dollar index slipped again and supported precious metal at lower levels. The gold future contract settled at $1727 per troy ounce and silver future also settled at $17.40 per troy ounce on Monday. At MCX, Gold and silver settled on a negative note with a loss of around 0.50 percent. Gold & Silver Rates Gold Rate in Mumbai 10g of 24K gold in Mumbai 10g of 22K gold in Mumbai View more Silver Rate in Mumbai 10g silver in Mumbai 1kg silver in Mumbai View more Show However, gold settled above 47000 levels and silver also closed above 47200 levels on Monday. The trend is likely to remain sideways. On the upside, the yellow metal is likely to face resistance around 47300 while Rs 46,550 per 10 gm is likely to act as support. We expect both the precious metals remain volatile due to extreme volatility in global financial markets. Fear of second wave of coronavirus and volatility in global equities will keep both the precious metals volatile, Manoj Jain, Director (Head - Commodity & Currency Research) at Prithvi Finmart Pvt Ltd told Moneycontrol. Gold is expected to face resistance at $1733-1745 per troy ounce /INR 47330-47500 levels. $1700/INR 46650 act as a major support level on a closing basis. Silver is expected to face resistance around $17.70-17.85 per troy ounce / INR 47800-48100 levels. $17.20/INR 46500 act as a major support on a closing basis for silver, he said. On the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX), June gold contracts were trading higher by 0.25 percent at Rs 47,145 per 10 gram at 1000 hours. July futures for silver were trading 0.5 percent higher at Rs 47,655 per kg. Track live gold price here Trading Strategy Expert: Sriram Iyer, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities Dollar gave up all the gains after the Feds announcement yesterday. The Federal Reserve said it will start purchasing corporate bonds on Tuesday through the secondary market corporate credit facility (SMCCF). Safe-haven demand due to rising cases of COVID-19 globally limited downside in prices. International bullion prices have started marginally higher this Tuesday morning in Asian trade tracking weakness in the US Dollar, but rebounding stocks could keep upside limited. Technically, LBMA GOLD Spot did not break below $1700 level from where prices push above $1720 levels. However, resistance is holding at $1733-$1740 levels and support at $1708 level. MCX Gold August contract has bounced from the strong support of 46550 levels giving a close above 47000 levels signifies about a positive trend to continue at lower levels. However, 47300-47500 will act as resistance. Expert: Ravindra Rao, VP- Head Commodity Research at Kotak Securities. COMEX gold trades up by 0.5% near $1735/oz after a 0.6% decline yesterday. Gold has inched up amid choppy US dollar, worries about the second wave of infection, mixed economic data from major economies and continuing stimulus measures by central banks and governments. Stability in equity markets has however kept a check on the upside. Gold may remain choppy within a recent trading range of $1680-1750/oz as market players assess the feasibility of re-imposition of lockdown if virus cases continue to surge. : The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. At the age of 49, Jan Edocs has many years of experience in the watchmaking industry. After having worked for Omega, Swatch Group, Milus and Hanhart, he joined Doxa in February 2019 as CEO. This is the man behind the brand. Jan Edocs Doxa What first interested you in the watchmaking industry? I fell into watchmaking when I was little, in Biel, within my family circle. I saw Rolex and Omega every day. I started at Omega at the age of 18 to complete degree in commerce (I still have a prototype of one of the first Swatch watches from 1980-1981). It was the international aspect of the brand that attracted me. What unique quality do you think you bring to your brand? Dynamism, visibility and consistency. Tell us about a moment that has helped you define your leadership values? Rather than a specific instance, Im talking about three values: 1. Teamwork. It is not one person who defines success, but a team. 2. Always being able to set an example. 3. Having the ability to think outside of the box. Not conforming to what has been done and what you know. Which watch do you wear most often? The SUB 200 limited series and the SUB 300T with a rubber strap. SUB 200 T. Graph Doxa What is your proudest achievement as CEO? The successful relaunch of Doxa Watches, a Swiss brand that is more than a hundred years old. A year ago, we decided to highlight its fabulous heritage in divers watches. We rebuilt the brand image and a collection of new products that do not betray the brand but, on the contrary, pay tribute to it and are perfectly aligned with its DNA. Amateurs and collectors were not mistaken and today salute the work that we accomplished. And our customer base continues to grow. The results give us the pure motivation to continue on this path! SUB 300 T Searambler Doxa What is the biggest misconception people have about Doxa? Doxa watches are not only sold on the Internet. They are starting to be found in exclusive retailers all over the world. We opened a subsidiary this year in Florida, USA, and have built a strong Anglo-Saxon distribution triangle with the UK and Australia. For Europe, we also opened a location this year in Germany. The rest of the roll-out is to be followed. The brand has a community of fans all over the world. There are even forums and books that have come out about the history of Doxa. We are very proud of that! SUB 300 T Divingstar Doxa On the other hand, what is the most important thing about Doxa that you think is not well known by the public? Doxa was the first brand to introduce a helium valve in a divers watch and made it accessible to the general public in 1969. A revolution at the time! The brand was also the first to introduce a brightly coloured dial in divers watches: orange! It was rather daring at the time, because everything was black, silver or white. The idea came from the engineers who were carrying out tests in Lake Neuchatel, and it was the colour orange that offered optimal visibility even at 30 metres. These same Doxa engineers at the time were very pragmatic and open to everything. No barriers or constraints; it is still this state of mind that drives us today. We are passionate and want to deliver to our customers high-performance watches, while ensuring the best quality/price ratio on the market. Give us, in a word (or in a sentence), a hint on future projects for the brand. Long live colour and may the story continue! Otago researchers discover the origins of the beloved guinea pig New University of Otago research sheds light on guinea pig domestication and how and why the small, furry animals became distributed around the world. Just published in the international science journal, Scientific Reports, the researchers use ancient DNA from archaeological guinea pig remains which reveals the transition from the animals being used as a wild food source 10,000 years ago to their domestication and later role as beloved pets and medical animal models. It builds on previous research over many years by Professor of Biological Anthropology, Lisa Matisoo-Smith, tracing the DNA from plants and animals that Pacific settlers carried in their canoes and using that as a proxy for identifying human population origins and tracking their movement around the Pacific. As part of her Otago Master's thesis research in Professor Matisoo-Smith's lab, Edana Lord, now at Stockholm University, Sweden and Dr Catherine Collins from Otago's Department of Anatomy and other international researchers, set about finding out where the guinea pigs that were introduced to the islands of the Caribbean came from. Professor Matisoo-Smith explains it is generally accepted that modern guinea pigs were domesticated in the Andes region of what is now Peru. As an important food item that was also included in religious ceremonies, they were transported and traded around South America. Sometime around AD500, guinea pigs were taken out to the islands of the Caribbean, through at least one of several established trade networks. The researchers expected that the guinea pigs found in the Caribbean would came from Colombia, one of the closer locations in South America to the Caribbean. Using ancient DNA of guinea pigs remains excavated from several sites in the Caribbean, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Europe and North America, they found the guinea pigs on the islands did not originate in Colombia, but most likely originated in Peru. What was a bigger surprise to the team was that the guinea pig remains found in the Colombian Highlands appeared to be from a totally different species. This suggests that guinea pig domestication likely took place independently in both Peru and Colombia. The genetic information, along with archaeological contexts, also shows how the guinea pigs had different roles through time. "They were and still are important food item in many parts of South America and cultures that derived from South America - people took them live to introduce to new islands where they were not native or they traded them for other goods," Professor Matisoo-Smith explains. "The guinea pig was brought to Europe in the late 1500s or early 1600s by the Spanish and to North America in the early 1800s as part of the exotic pet trade. In the 18th century guinea pigs began to be used by medical researchers as laboratory animals because they have many biological similarities to humans, thus the origin of the phrase 'being a guinea pig' in research. "All guinea pigs today - pets, those that are sold for meat in South America and Puerto Rico, and those used in medical research - are derived from the Peruvian domesticated guinea pigs." Why the guinea pig was viewed as a pet in some cultures and a food source in others can likely be attributed to long-established cultural notions of what is acceptable as food. Professor Matisoo-Smith says the research demonstrates that the history of guinea pigs is more complex than previously known and has implications for other studies regarding mammal domestication, translocation and distribution. "Identifying the origins of the guinea pig remains from the Caribbean helps us to understand how the human trade networks in the region moved in the past 1000 years or so. "Through this analysis of ancient guinea pig DNA, we better understand the history of human social interactions over thousands of years and across three continents. It also provides a critical historical perspective of the genetic diversity in guinea pigs and the relationship humans have had with this important domestic animals." ### For further information, contact Professor Lisa Matisoo-Smith Department of Anatomy Mob +64 21 279 6827 Email lisa.matisoo-smith@otago.ac.nz Liane Topham-Kindley Senior Communications Adviser Tel +64 3 479 9065 Mob +64 21 279 9065 Email liane.topham-kindley@otago.ac.nz This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The house to be raffled off AN Irish couple raffling their holiday home and donating all proceeds to frontline healthcare workers have sold over 250,000 in tickets. In an extraordinary gesture of goodwill, the retirees decided to donate their adored rural escape after both battling the coronavirus. The cottage, nestled under the Ox Mountains and lying along the banks of the Yellow River, in Askillaun, Foxford, Co Mayo, could be yours for just 10. The couple, Patrick - a retired businessman - and Joan - a doctor who wish to remain anonymous, say they are thrilled with the response. People are entering from all over the world. Its phenomenal. Already 250,000 worth of tickets were bought. "Lots of people are buying 25 sets of tickets in one go. Expand Close inside the house being raffled off / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp inside the house being raffled off We have been contacted from Japan, Hong Kong, Russia, North Carolina, France, Italy and the UK, said Patrick. We had hoped to raise about 100,000 before the raffle on August 28th but to have done so well at this stage is wonderful." Patrick, who is still recovering from the lingering effects of the virus, says they are now spending up to ten hours a day answering emails and queries from all over the world. We knew there would certainly be interest but we couldnt have even hoped for this. There is a lot of administration involved so we might hire an assistant to help us through all the queries. All of the funds raised by the raffle will go to non-professional hospital workers -porters, cleaners and kitchen staff- at the front line of the pandemic, who took the same risk as doctors and nurses. Joan, who throughout her career worked in Irish hospitals, explained why the couple came to the decision. "Having seen what the virus was like with my husband, who is very lucky to be alive, I can only marvel at their strength and conviction. Having worked in hospitals most of my working life I always thought the support staff should get more. "They were always cheerful, hard-working and reliable and kept the hospital ticking over," she added. "I admire them so much, turning in every day, knowing the risks that they were taking for themselves and their families. "These are the people we are raffling the cottage for." Joan and Patrick believe their rural retreat located in a picturesque corner of Mayo has something to offer everyone. "We used to go to the cottage in Mayo, for holidays. It is a beautiful, peaceful place and once you go there, it is hard to leave. "We did a lot of work on it in 2015, 2016 and made it more comfortable and modern. It lies on the raised bank of the Yellow River that flows down and joins the River Moy which is world-famous for Salmon fishing. And the neighbours are the kind of people you would want for neighbours wherever you live. And if you need to work remotely the cottage is fully services with for internet and satellite TV. To be in with a chance to win the enter here: https://rafflecreator.com/pages/38253/a-cottage-in-ireland-for-%E2%82%AC10 Panama on Monday rolled out rapid coronavirus tests following a recent jump in national daily cases. Health workers visited homes in the populous community of Nuevo Tocumen on the eastern outskirts of Panama City, one of the most affected areas in the country. Authorities targeted families who have reported one of their members being sick, as well as from those who have presented symptoms or have had contact with a positive case. "These are the first rapid tests we are starting to apply today massively at a national level," said the director of the Metropolitan health region, Isaias Cedeno. The rapid tests were brought in from Europe and China, and have been tested and verified by the Gorgas Memorial Institute, the country's leading scientific research center, with results available within 48 hours. Panama is the Central American country with the highest number of cases of coronavirus and deaths, with more than 7,000 cases still active and 448 deaths reported to date. Authorities said the number of cases have increased in recent weeks because more tests are being done. (Representative Image) Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Gran Colombia Gold Corp.s (TSX: GCM) production in May was nearly as much as the same month a year ago, with a slight year-on-year increase at its Segovia operations as mining returned to normal in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company announced Tuesday. May consolidated output totaled18,129 ounces of gold, which the company said was about 98% of production in May of 2019. The total for the first five months of 2020 was 86,978 ounces, compared with 99,601 ounces in the same period of 2019, with the company blaming the decline on COVID-19 impacts. The company said it expects to update 2020 production guidance when it reports its mid-year financial results in August. We are continuing to operate at both Segovia and Marmato as the COVID-19 national quarantine in Colombia lingers on, said Lombardo Paredes, chief executive officer. In May, we benefited from a full month of near-normal operations at Segovia and expect the same for June. Segovia produced 16,915 ounces in May, up from 16,363 ounces in the same month last year. This brings Segovias total production during the first five months of 2020 to 78,661 ounces, compared with 89,120 in the same period of 2019. In May 2020, head grades improved to 14.2 grams per metric ton from 12.8 g/t in April. The company said it Junes production at Segovia will be in the same range as May. At Marmato, access to workers remained limited in May, and we produced about half of what we normally would have expected for the month, Paredes said. The outlook appears to be improving in June as the local municipalities have recently allowed more workers to return to the mine. As such, we expect Junes production could reach about 75% of normal. At Caldas Gold Corp.s Marmato mine, operations were hurt in May by restrictions on the movement of people between communities during the national quarantine, which in turn limited the availability of workers at the mine since late March, Gran Colombia said. May output at the mine was 1,214 ounces for the month, down from 2,165 ounces a year ago. However, by the second week of June, Caldas Gold increased the number of workers at the mine and currently expects production for the month to improve to approximately 2,000 ounces. The Sony Xperia 10 II has been added to the companys Open Device program, which is a great resource for ROM developers looking to build AOSP software for the phone or to port custom ROMs. Theres one hurdle to clear first Sony is yet to enable bootloaded unlocking for the Xperia 10 II. That cant be far off, however, as without unlocking the bootloader, there's no way to flash a custom ROM. Anyway, Sony also updated the Android 10 binaries for the old Xperia 10 and 10 Plus models, the Xperia 1 and 5 flagships (again, the 2019 versions) as well as several older devices. 2020-06-15: Updated AOSP Android 10.0 binaries (Kernel 4.14) for: Xperia 10II (Seine) Xperia XZ Premium, Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact (Yoshino) Xperia XA2 and Xperia XA2 Ultra (Nile) Xperia XZ2, Xperia XZ2 Compact and Xperia XZ3 (Tama) Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus (Ganges) Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 (Kumano) For all devices: Various cleanup and improvements to reduce the used space. Source | Via Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 17:11 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf37d46 1 Politics COVID-19-in-Indonesia,social-aid,food-parcel,President-Jokowi,budget,corruption Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo has called on law enforcement officers to work hard to anticipate and act decisively against his functionaries found to be taking advantage of the current pandemic to enrich themselves. Jokowi made the request before ministers, regional heads, the National Police, as well as officials from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP), the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Attorney General's Office during the opening of a national coordination meeting on Monday. The President stated that the government was not playing when it came to accountability and that efforts to prevent corruption would be prioritized to realize good governance in the use of the state budget for COVID-19 countermeasures. But if there are those who are still stubborn, if there is an intention for corruption, there is a mens rea, please ladies and gentlemen, bite them hard. The states money must be saved, we must maintain the peoples trust, Jokowi said as livestreamed on the Presidential Secretariats YouTube channel. The government has increased the budget allocation for the acceleration of COVID-19 handling and the recovery of the national economy to Rp 686.2 trillion (US$48 million) from Rp 677.2 trillion, as reported by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani during the meeting. The President said that such a large amount of funds required good budgetary management with simple procedures to provide on-target and maximum output for the people during this crisis. Read also: Experts, activists call for heightened public scrutiny of COVID-19 policies, funding If there is a potential case, please immediately warn the government officials and do not leave them mired in [corruption]. Build an early warning system, strengthen good governance that is transparent and accountable, he added. Jokowi went on to say that law enforcement must work in line with corruption prevention in the fight against the coronavirus. The President called for increased synergy between external inspection agencies and law enforcement officers. He also requested that the BPKP and the National Public Procurement Agency (LKPP) strengthen focus on efforts to prevent corruption. Echoing Jokowis statement, National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis warned that the ease in disbursing COVID-19 funds should not be misused for corruption, saying he would not hesitate to act against anyone being convicted of such actions. In a pandemic situation like this, if there is a misuse, the National Police will never hesitate to brush off the crimes, Idham said in a statement on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com. He said the National Police had formed a special task force under its criminal investigation department (Bareskrim) to crack down on corruption practices. Read also: Perppu on COVID-19 aid puts graft fight at stake The KPK also said that it would act decisively against corruption involving the COVID-19 budget, including cases of bribery, receiving kickbacks, gratuities and conflicts of interest. KPK chairman Firli Bahuri said perpetrators of corruption in times of national disasters such as the current pandemic could be prosecuted with capital punishment as regulated in the 2001 Corruption Law. Rohingya refugees bound for Malaysia being 'held hostage' by traffickers at sea Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 3:32 PM Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya Muslim refugees attempting to reach Malaysia by boat from Bangladesh are being held hostage by human traffickers at sea, families and aid groups say. "We interviewed at least 30 family members... from 14 Rohingya camps who were asked to pay by traffickers if they wanted to see their relatives alive," Jishu Barua, anti-trafficking lead for the charity Young Power in Social Action, was quoted by Reuters as saying in an exclusive interview, which was published on Monday. He added, "There could be more (examples of ransom demands)." The Fortify Rights group, a charity focused on Asia, said it had documented several cases since April where Rohingya families were pressured to pay ransoms, often more than double the original fee agreed upon for the journey. John Quinley III, senior human rights specialist at the group, said traffickers had treated Rohingya as property through exploitation "similar to slavery." The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it had received reports from the Rohingya at the sprawling camps in Bangladesh that they had been charged "a fee" if they wanted their relatives not to get stranded at sea. In recent months, a growing number of Rohingya in Bangladesh have taken boats headed for Malaysia due to calm seas and fears over the COVID-19 pandemic in the camps at Cox's Bazar. A recent Interpol report said smuggling by sea had tripled from March to April. "The sudden increase was likely due to the fear of COVID-19 contagion in refugee camps fostered by migrant smugglers to boost demand for their services," the global police body said. Abdul Hakim, a Rohingya refugee at a Bangladesh camp, who last saw his 17-year-old sister in March before she left their camp to take a boat destined for Malaysia, said he did not know about her whereabouts. "I don't know if she is alive or dead." "A broker called me from the ship a month after she left and asked me to pay 100,000 taka ($1,180) if I wanted her to stay alive and enter Malaysia. We already paid 45,000 taka for the journey through loans. Where will I get so much money?" Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, is a favored destination for the desperate Rohingya Muslims. The country had announced that it would no longer accept the refugees after tightening borders and stepping up patrols to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. In April, a trawler that was at sea for weeks after it failed to reach Malaysia returned to Bangladesh with 396 starving Rohingya. Bangladesh also recently said it will not take back hundreds of Rohingya who were detained by Malaysia after their boat was found drifting off the northwestern island of Langkawi. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged the international community to help relocate the more than one million Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh after a brutal crackdown in Myanmar in 2017. More than a million mostly Muslim Rohingya reside in camps in Bangladesh. Bangladesh refuses to recognize the Rohingya population as citizens. The United Nations has described the Rohingya as the most persecuted minority in the world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India's COVID-19 death toll crossed 10,000 on Tuesday as the Centre scaled up the daily testing capacity to three lakh samples and Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated his sixth round of consultations with chief ministers in three months laying emphasis on both life and livelihood. The country registered over 10,000 new COVID-19 cases for the fifth day in a row pushing the number of infections to 3,43,091 while the death toll rose to 9,900 with 380 new fatalities, according to the Union Health ministry data. The country is in the eighth position in the global COVID-19 death tally which totalled 437,283. According to a PTI tally at 9.30 pm based on reports from states, there were 10,057 deaths with Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi accounting for 70 per cent of the fatalities. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, said the COVID-19 situation in the country is worsening each passing day and not improving. You see...the COVID-19 situation is not getting any better with each passing day. It is only getting worse in the country," a three-judge bench headed by Justice R F Nariman said while hearing a plea for extending the parole of a Punjab-based businessman accused in a drug racket case. On Friday, the apex court said the COVID-19 situation was grim in Delhi and four other states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat. In his video interaction, Prime Minister Modi said on the one hand health infrastructure should be boosted with emphasis on testing and tracing while on the other economic activity also needed to be increased. Noting that it is important to review the experiences as "Unlock 1" for a graded exit from the lockdown completes two weeks, he said "timing" is very important to deal with any crisis and decisions taken at the right time have helped a lot in controlling the coronavirus infection in the country. 'Unlock 1' was set in motion on June 1. "Today, the recovery rate in India is above 50 per cent ... Death of anyone from coronavirus is tragic. For us, the death of even one Indian is discomforting. But it is also true that today India is among the countries in the world with the lowest deaths due to coronavirus," Modi said. "We have worked day and night to save the lives of every Indian," he told the chief ministers and Lt Governors of 21 states and union territories his sixth interaction with them since the outbreak of COVID-19. Around 52.46 per cent of the patients have recovered, the health ministry said. The number of active cases stood at 1,53,178 while 1,80,012 patients have recovered, it said in the daily COVID-19 update. Modi also said the economy is showing "green shoots" as the country emerges from the coronavirus lockdown and asserted that the fight against the pandemic is a fine example of cooperative federalism where the Centre and the states are working together. The lockdown to fight the pandemic was imposed on March 25. "Rail-road, air-sea, all routes have been opened. But despite this, despite our country being so populous, coronavirus infection in India has not shown the same devastating effect that it has shown in other countries." Modi also struck a note of caution saying the slightest carelessness, laxity, lack of discipline will weaken all the fight against coronavirus. He asked the participants to continuously keep driving home the fact that danger of the virus is not over yet, and the need to remain vigilant while opening up the economy. "We always have to keep in mind that the more we can stop coronavirus, the more it will stop growing, the more our economy will open, our offices will open, markets will open, transport will open, and so will new employment opportunities," he said. On Wednesday, the prime minister will interact with chief ministers of 15 states, including Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and the LG of Jammu and Kashmir. These states are among the worst affected. The Union Health ministry said the capacity for testing COVID-19 is being continuously ramped up and now three lakh samples can be tested each day, as scientists and medical experts pushed for ramping up tests to also cover all asymptomatic cases in the identified red zones and hotspots across the counry. A network of 907 labs including 659 labs in the government sector and 248 in the private sector have been established as on date, the ministry said, reiterating that RT-PCR is the gold standard frontline test for diagnosis of COVID-19. RT-PCR is a throat/nasal swab test. A total of 59,21,069 samples have been tested for COVID-19 so far with 1,54,935 samples analysed in the last 24 hours, it said. Besides, in order to enhance the testing capacity in Delhi, each of the 11 districts shall now have assigned labs for exclusively testing the samples from the respective districts, the ministry said in a statement. The samples from each district are being sent to these labs to ensure timely testing and getting the results without any delay. Currently there are 42 labs in Delhi with daily testing capacity of about 17,000 samples. At a video conference in Hyderabad, a group of medical experts and scientists said there is a need to evolve a rational state testing policy based on the local conditions rather than strictly adhering to the broad guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR). The meeting by Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan with the experts including the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology(CCMB) Director Rakesh Mishra was convened to seek their opinion on evolving a "discrete, proactive and concrete strategy in combating COVID-19." "Since lockdown is not an affordable option, for a prolonged period, the only strategy that can be adopted is test, trace and treat," the experts were also quoted as having said in a Raj Bhavan release. Of the total 9,900 COVID-19 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 4,128 fatalities followed by Gujarat(1,505), Delhi (1,400), West Bengal (485), Tamil Nadu(479), Madhya Pradesh (465), Uttar Pradesh(399), Rajasthan(301) and Telangana(187). The death toll reached 100 in Haryana, 89 in Karnataka, 88 in Andhra Pradesh and 71 in Punjab. Jammu and Kashmir has reported 62 fatalities, Bihar 40, Uttarakhand 24, Kerala 20 and Odisha 11. Jharkhand, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh have registered 8 deaths each while Chandigarh has reported 6 and Puducherry 5. Meghalaya, Tripura and Ladakh reported 1 fatality each, according to the health ministry. More than 70 per cent deaths have occurred due to comorbidities, the ministry said. Comorbidity is the state of having multiple medical conditions at the same time, The Union Health Ministry also said that as part of efforts to provide reasonable health care to COVID-19 patients, some states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh have reached an agreement with the private sector, Amid possibilities of a likely shortage of healthcare infrastructure, the ministry asked states and UTs to proactively engage with private healthcare providers to facilitate enhanced bed availability and critical care health facilities and to ensure fair and transparent charges for services provided. "Some states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have already taken the initiative. "They have negotiated and reached an agreement with the private sector on reasonable rates and arrangements to provide critical care for in-patient COVID-19 admissions," the ministry said in a separate statement. In a boost to the fight against COVID-19, the US handed over to India 100 ventilators, valued at about $1.2 million, as part of President Donald Trump's offer of assistance to New Delhi. US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster handed over the first shipment of 100 ventilators to Indian Red Cross Society Secretary General R K Jain at an event at the IRCS national headquarters in Delhi. In this file photo, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw speaks during a news conference at the city's Emergency Operations Center about protests in Philadelphia over the police killing of George Floyd. Read more A 39-year-old Massachusetts man has been charged with sending racist, offensive, and threatening emails to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw earlier this month, federal authorities announced Tuesday. Peter Fratus, 39, of West Dennis, Mass., sent two emails to Outlaw on June 6 with vile and disturbing language, and in one of them, asked where she lived, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said. "We take such threats very seriously, and let this be a warning to anyone who might feel the urge to fire off an online threat directed at a public official: We will trace your digital footprint, track you down and hold you accountable, McSwain said in a statement. Outlaw, through a police spokesperson, declined to comment. According to a criminal complaint, Fratus short emails were peppered with racial epithets, and one made a crude reference to the Holocaust. Fratus made an initial appearance in district court in Massachusetts before he was to be transferred to Pennsylvania, federal officials said. Outlaw, the first black woman to lead the citys 6,500-member Police Department, took over in February after Mayor Jim Kenney announced her appointment at the end of last year. She had been tasked with helping reform a department that faced a series of crises in 2019, including a scandal over hundreds of officers making racist or otherwise offensive Facebook posts, the abrupt resignation of former commissioner Richard Ross over claims in a sexual harassment lawsuit, and stubbornly high levels of gun violence. Her first four months on the job have presented a series of unexpected challenges, including widespread protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Fratus emails, sent a week after those demonstrations began, came as the Police Department was thrust into the national spotlight over its response to the unrest, including the use of tear gas in West Philadelphia and on Interstate 676. Federal prosecutors did not say what may have motivated Fratus to send the emails to Outlaw. In the criminal complaint, they also allege that he left threatening voicemails for a Massachusetts government official whom they did not identify. Prosecutors said Fratus, in an interview with the FBI and Massachusetts State Police, admitted that he sent the threatening messages to the unidentified official and to Outlaw, and said he had crossed the line. It was not immediately clear if Fratus had retained an attorney. He faces one count of sending interstate threatening communications, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. Outlaw had previously served as police chief in Portland, Ore., after spending two decades rising through the ranks in her hometown of Oakland, Calif. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 13:17 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf226ce 1 National trial,medical-cannabis,civil-society-organizations,drugs,marijuana,narcotics,medical-marijuana,Criminal-Code,amicus-curiae Free Civil society groups have filed an amicus brief offered by someone who is not party to a case in favor of the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, to support Reyndhart Siahaan, who was arrested for allegedly using marijuana as alternative medication. The brief was drafted by the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR), the Research and Advocacy Institute of Court Independence (LeIP), Indonesian Judicial Research Society (IJRS) and the Community Legal Aid Institute (LBH Masyarakat). It was submitted to the Kupang District Court in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), where Reyndhart is standing trial. The 37-year-old man from East Jakarta was arrested in November last year for allegedly using marijuana at his rooming house in Manggarai Barat regency. He is accused of violating Article 127 of the 1999 Narcotics Law, which carries a maximum sentence of one-year imprisonment. Reynhardts legal team claimed its client had used marijuana as alternative medication to treat spinal cord compression. He reportedly found that drinking boiled cannabis water could help ease the pain. Read also: Activists, civil groups call for decriminalizing marijuana for medical use In the amicus brief, the groups urged the court to consider Reyndharts medical history, saying that the use of marijuana to ease recurring pain should not be criminalized. Judges at the Kupang District Court should not merely be a mouthpiece for the law upon making a decision in this case, as judges are a reflection of justice, the group wrote in a statement on Monday. The Constitution is the highest form of law in the country; thus, Reyndharts need for medication should be provided by the state. Therefore, judges should be able to explore the value of justice in this case, as there is no need to convict people fighting with illness. The groups further argued the Reyndharts case could be categorized as an emergency as he was treating an illness. Article 48 of the Criminal Code stipulates a restriction on charging people who commit a criminal offense in an emergency. Read also: 420 blaze it? Heres what you need to know about Indonesias marijuana law Marijuana is categorized as type-1 narcotics in the Narcotics Law, along with cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. Authorities only allow the use of such narcotics for scientific research, while the misuse of such drugs can result in up to four years behind bars or rehabilitation. The group also highlighted that at least 50 countries had approved marijuana for alternative medication, with the substance commonly used to ease neurogenic pain. As we support legal reform regarding narcotics and respect for human rights, we hope the judges can bring justice for Reyndhart, the group wrote. [June 16, 2020] SADA Adds RTI International CIO Teena Piccione to Board of Directors LOS ANGELES, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SADA , a leading global business and technology consultancy, has named Teena W. Piccione, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at RTI International, to its Board of Directors. Piccione is the third woman to join SADAs Board of Directors this year. Lusine Yeghiazaryan, Vice President Internal Audit, Chief Audit Executive at GoPro, and Wendy Pfeiffer, CIO of Nutanix and Independent Director at Qualys, joined in January. Piccione is a highly regarded enterprise IT executive with considerable experience helping the worlds largest companies modernize their technology infrastructure. Prior to RTI, Piccione was Senior Vice President of Enterprise Technology at Fidelity Investments, and before that she was Associate Vice President of Big Data, AI and Cyber Security at AT&T. She is currently responsible for setting the tech vision at RTI, where she oversees a global IT team serving 6,000 employees in 75 countries. We are beyond excited to add Teena to our Board of Directors, said Tony Safoian, CEO of SADA. There are few people on th planet who have as much experience managing and scaling cloud-based infrastructure and applications across massive user populations and geographies as she does. It's not uncommon for us to connect our board members to our clients directly, and Teena will be a huge asset they can draw on when making crucial decisions about their technology environments. We welcome Teena to our Board and look forward to the contributions she will undoubtedly make to our clients success. SADA is a dynamic, growing company that has what every enterprise IT department needs: a trusted partner that has its finger on the pulse of the technology industry, said Piccione. By aligning with Google Cloud, SADA has partnered with, in my opinion, the worlds leading provider of cloud infrastructure, applications and related technologies. Over the past few years, SADA has repeatedly demonstrated that no one in the world knows Google Cloud Platform as well as it does. SADAs knowledge of GCP, its culture of diversity and inclusion, and its passion for client success comes through in everything it does. I am proud to be associated with SADA and excited to be part of the team! About SADA SADA is a privately-held global leader in providing business and technology consulting services that transform organizations. SADA has proven expertise in enterprise consulting, cloud platform migration, custom application development, workplace transformation, cloud managed services, and change management. As a Google Cloud Premier Partner with multiple Specializations, SADA has gained global accolades and awards including the Google Cloud Global Reseller Partner of the Year for 2018 and 2019. SADAs team of certified experts help enterprises modernize by providing innovative cloud solutions to accelerate digital transformation leveraging the entire Google Cloud portfolio, including G Suite, Google Anthos and GCP, Google Data Analytics and Machine Learning, Google Maps Platform, Google Chrome and Google Cloud Search. Recognized on the Inc. 5000 America's Fastest Growing Private Companies for twelve years, CRN's MSP Elite 150, the 2020 Best Places to Work in Los Angeles, and 2020 Inc.'s Top 50 Workplaces in the U.S., SADA prides itself on continuous innovation, strong partnerships and corporate culture, and exceptional customer experience. Media contact: Kevin Wolf TGPR (650) 483-1552 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Investors breathed a sigh of relief after equipment rental giant Ashtead pledged to pay out its 151million final dividend. The FTSE 100-listed group hailed a 'resilient' performance in the year to April 30. Ashtead, which rents out everything from generators and portable cabins to tools and cranes, suffered in the initial downturn in March and April, with profits almost halving in the final quarter. FTSE 100-listed group Ashtead hailed a 'resilient' performance in the year to April 30 But across the year as a whole, profits fell by a much smaller 4 per cent to 1.1billion, while rental revenue rose 8 per cent. Its businesses in the US, Canada and the UK, which operate under the 'Sunbelt' brand, have been deemed essential, and work has continued at a number of construction sites. It has also been providing vital equipment to first responders and hospitals, and products such as metal barriers that can be used to create socially distanced queuing areas. Stock Watch - Puretech Health The US Food & Drug Administration has given Puretech Health the all-clear for its Endeavor Rx video game to be prescribed to children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The treatment is targeted at eight to 12-year-olds, and clinical studies found parents saw a meaningful change in their children's ability to concentrate after a month. After two months, its effect was even greater. Shares in the FTSE 250-listed group rose 7.5 per cent, or 19.5p, to 259.5p. As well as not needing to furlough any staff it also hasn't had to make redundancies, which presumably fed into its decision to keep the dividend. With around half of Footsie companies having cut, axed, or deferred making decisions on their shareholder payouts, Ashtead's news was a boost for investors, who sent its stock soaring 9.6 per cent, or 232p, to 2649p. The share price is now nearly 10 per cent higher than at the start of the year. Traders will be hoping the same recovery is on the cards for the wider market too. After a downbeat start to the week the FTSE 100 advanced 2.9 per cent, or 178.09 points, to 6242.79 though it still has some way to go before it is out of the woods, being down around 17 per cent so far this year. The latest boost followed the US Federal Reserve's announcement on Monday that it would kick off a new round of bond-buying. Rumours are also doing the rounds that the US government is preparing an 800billion spending package to stimulate the economy. The FTSE 250 also climbed, rising 2.2 per cent, or 375.53 points, to 17464.70. Mid-cap cinema chain Cineworld was on the up after outlining its plans to reopen. Some UK sites will start showing films again towards the end of this month and it wants all of them to be open in July. It will also open the doors on a number of its cinemas in the US, ahead of the lucrative summer blockbuster season. It will bring in additional cleaning and social distancing measures, such as only having screens 50 per cent full, in British cinemas though it's not clear if popcorn and other snacks will be on sale. Shares rose 1 per cent, or 0.8p, to 79.74p. A clutch of firms all accelerated after sealing or coming close to sealing new contracts. Oil and gas services firm Wood Group jumped 9 per cent, or 18.9p, to 229.8p, after it won two solar deals in the US state of Virginia with an unnamed American power and energy company. Outsourcing heavyweight Capita leapt 7.6 per cent, or 3p, to 44p, after clinching a 9million contract with Irish Water to provide its customer support services with new software and other digital skills. The deal could be extended for another two years, which would net Capita a further 15million. And Clipper Logistics said it is close to inking an agreement with Sir Philip Green's Arcadia Group, which owns Topshop and Burton, on a transport contract for its store delivery network, which would see Clipper making some 3,000 deliveries a week starting from August. Its stock rose 3.2 per cent, or 9.5p, to 305p. The former general officer commanding the Nigerian army 8 division in Sokoto, Hakeem Otiki has been court martial and sacked for N400 theft. The sentence was handed to him on Monday night at the army headquarters garrison in Abuja. A part of his sentence includes a reduction of his rank to brigadier general with two years seniority on count three and severe reprimand on count four. Read Also: Bad Road, Rough Terrain Hinder Army To Counter Bandits Tambuwal Advertisement The ruling of the court martial which was headed by Lamidi Adeosun, a lieutenant-general, is subject to approval by the army council. The major general was charged under the armed forces act (AFA) after soldiers in his detail reportedly stole money estimated to be N400 million. A military aircraft was said to be waiting in Kaduna but the soldiers plotted to steal the money during a stop in Kaduna and subsequently deserted the army. Otiki was then arrested after the theft and placed under house arrest until his trial by the court-martial. A 19-year-old Black Lives Matter activist whose disappearance this month led to a desperate search after she sent a series of tweets describing a sexual assault, has been found dead in Tallahassee, Fla., the police said Monday. The activist, Oluwatoyin Salau, was one of two women whose bodies were discovered in an area southeast of the city on Saturday evening, the police said. Both the deaths were being investigated as homicides, the police said, and a suspect, Aaron Glee Jr., 49, was in custody. The other victim was identified as Victoria Sims, 75, an AARP volunteer. Authorities provided few details and did not say how the women had died or what connection, if any, they had to each other or the suspect. Glee has not yet been appointed an attorney, the Leon County Court said. Salau was last seen on June 6, according to the police, and friends and fellow activists raised concerns about her well-being after she wrote a number of alarming posts on Twitter that day in which she described being sexually assaulted by a man who had offered her a lift and a place to stay. She had recently gained attention as a prominent voice in protests in Tallahassee after the death of George Floyd in police custody led to a national reckoning over racism and police violence. Videos posted to social media showed Salau making impassioned speeches in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Right now, our lives matter, Black lives matter, Salau said in a video that was widely circulated on Twitter. We are doing this for our brothers and our sisters who got shot but we are doing this for every Black person, she said. I am profiled whether I like it or not. Salau took part in demonstrations alongside the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, said Trish Brown, one of the founding members of the organization, which is dedicated to fighting systemic racism. She was a strong, young Black female leader to me, and a powerful speaker, Brown said. Three days before Salau disappeared, Brown had sent a message to check in with Salau. She said, Love you. I said, Love you, too, Brown recalled. About a week later, Brown saw a missing persons flyer with Salaus picture on it. I feel like something was snatched away from me, Brown said. Ana Sanz-Saumeth, a Black Lives Matter activist from Miami who met Salau during the recent protests, said organizers in Tallahassee spoke about how powerful her words were, how motivated she was to be more involved in the movement and share that activism with those around her. She was very much a resilient person, she added. Black Lives Matter activists and supporters across the United States flooded social media on Monday with pictures and videos of Salau, with many pledging to continue protesting and demonstrating in her name. For Brown, Salaus death was another heartbreaking reminder of the need to keep advocating for justice for African Americans. She humbled me. Im going to try to live to do the good work that I have been continuing to do, but harder and harder, Brown said. Im not going to stop until we get this right. [June 16, 2020] AGMA Adds De La Rue to Membership Roster WASHINGTON, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement (AGMA), a non-profit organization solely focused on intellectual property (IP) protection for the high-tech industry, today announced that it has added a new member company to its roster. De La Rue PLC, a leading global provider of product authentication solutions, has joined AGMA on its mission to hinder threats to IP and render these activities more difficult, undesirable and unprofitable. These threats are numerous, varied, complex, and come in many different forms including gray market, counterfeit, service and warranty fraud, and digital IP abuse. The first secure print vendor to join AGMAs roster of highly influential tech companies, De La Rues expertise lies in high-security technologies such as holography, security print, and track, trace and verification software. De La Rue provides governments and commercial organizations with products and services that underpin the integrity of trade, personal identity and the movement of goods. Product authentication is the verification that a product is genuine from source to consumption, guaranteeing full, traceable revenue flow from the brand owner to the lawful recipients. Headquartered in the U.K., De La Rue manufactures brand protection products in Malta and its proprietary IZON products in the U.S. Secure print vendors play a critical role in the technology ecosystem, helping to safely and confidently bring IT products and services to market. Product authentication reduces illicit trade by allowing businesses and governments to understand and control the movement of legitimate products. This enables governments to fully collect the taxes due, businesses to protect their brands, and consumers to make safe purchasing choices. According to Andrew Clint, De La Rues managing director of the authentication division, the company joined AGMA to help strengthen and enhance IP protction across the IT channel and throughout the circular economy. De La Rue understands how businesses operate in a complex global marketplace and we are committed to ensuring our authentication solutions protect revenues and reputations while delivering tangible results, commented Clint. As a global leader in product authentication, we feel honored to become part of the AGMA organization. AGMA membership gives us a valuable opportunity to partner with other leaders in this industry in a collective effort to solve the pervasive and ever-evolving problems of counterfeit and fraud. There are many benefits to becoming an AGMA member. AGMA provides an open forum where intellectual property brand owners can discuss trends, issues and approaches to combat a broad range of threats. It also uses a variety of avenues to get its message out and cultivate change in the marketplace, including event speaking, educational initiatives, benchmark studies, white papers, industry guidelines, and, as appropriate, public policy advocacy in areas like law enforcement and customs. Bringing the tech industry together as a united front is a powerful way to fight back against fraudulent activities, noted AGMA President Sally Nguyen. We are pleased to welcome De La Rue to our membership roster. The companys 200-plus years of experience thwarting fraud will provide AGMA members with key insights into improving physical and digital protections across the supply chain. To learn more about AGMA, or to become a member, please visit www.agmaglobal.org. About De La Rue De La Rues authentication solutions protect revenues and reputations of brands and governments. We seek to enable every citizen to participate securely in the global economy and we provide governments and commercial organizations with products and services that underpin the integrity of trade, personal identity, and the movement of goods. De La Rue operates in the fundamental areas of cash supply chain, product authentication and citizen identity needs. We do this through secure marking of products, supply-chain traceability and data management, and product authentication and inspection. To learn more visit www.delarue.com or follow the company on LinkedIn. About AGMA AGMA is a non-profit organization comprised of influential companies in the technology sector. Incorporated in 2001, AGMAs mission is to address gray market fraud, parallel imports, counterfeiting, software piracy, and service abuse of technology products around the globe. The organizations goals are to protect intellectual property and authorized distribution channels, improve customer satisfaction and preserve brand integrity. AGMA welcomes technology manufacturers, as well as persons or entities that own or hold intellectual property rights to finished goods outside the technology industry; government and law enforcement officials; product and service providers who provide goods and/or services to combat gray market fraud, counterfeiting and warranty and service abuse threats. AGMA uses a variety of avenues to cultivate change in the marketplace, including event speaking, educational initiatives, benchmark studies, industry guidelines, and, where appropriate, public policy advocacy. To learn more about AGMAs initiatives or to become a member, please visit www.agmaglobal.org or follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter. Media Contact: Stephanie Olsen Lages & Associates (949) 453-8080 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Hospital workers sit for a group counseling session at Elmhurst Hospital to talk about their experiences dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Friday, May 29, 2020, in New York. At hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) Outside a back door to a hospital where the coronavirus hit like a hurricane, a half-dozen staffers gathered recently to look back, and look inward. "I am still scared," Dr. Gwen Hooley told her colleagues at Elmhurst Hospital, which was swamped with patients in late March as the virus rampaged through New York. Physician's assistant Diane Akhbari recalled her husband leaving food on the cellar stairs while she isolated herself for months for fear of infecting her family: "I felt like an animal," she said, her voice cracking. Co-workers talked about how terrifying it felt early on, not knowing whether they'd have enough protective gear. How one endured his own case of COVID-19 and others saw young and healthy people like themselves get critically sick. How colleagues discussed drawing up wills. And how haunting it is to think it may all happen again. "I feel like it's a calm before a second storm," said Hooley, an emergency room physician who lost a relative to the virus. While the global pandemic hasn't abated, the days when gasping patients arrived at Elmhurst nonstop, when ventilators ran low and deaths so high that a refrigerated morgue truck was stationed outside, have subsided. Not necessarily the pain. Medical personnel work in the emergency department at NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in New York. At hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) At Elmhurst and hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. "There's this overarching feeling of 'Is the next shift going to be the shift where there's 200 people in the waiting room again?'" said Dr. Samantha LeDonne, an ER physician. "You still can't enjoy the calmness or feel like you're at normal when you have that in the back of your head." Health care workers have been cheered as heroes in the virus crisis, and some have found the challenge and teamwork deeply meaningful. But the work also has been exhausting and traumatic, even for people accustomed to a life-and-death job. A study of 1,200 Chinese hospital workers found half reported symptoms of depression and 44% reported signs of anxiety amid the coronavirus outbreak there. The United Nations said frontline healthcare workers faced "exceptional stress" in the pandemic, and that ensuring their mental health is critical to the world's recovery. Visitors at the entrance to the emergency department intake area at NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan are greeted by a nurse on a video screen Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in New York. At hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Calls to a colleague-to-colleague "psychological first aid" program in the Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins hospital system increased from a handful a week to scores, said program co-founder Dr. Albert Wu. Taking calls and making rounds, volunteers spoke with 2,000 co-workers in 10 weeks. In places where the virus raged, hospital staffers say they were broadsided by the sheer, shocking volume of serious illness and death. As healers, they felt the pain of not being able to offer a cure, while pushing through their own concerns about contracting the virus. They mourned relatives and colleagues and bore the weight of seeing patients suffer and die without the comfort of loved ones because of bans on visitors. After six years as an intensive care nurse, Angelyn Bannor was conditioned to patients dying sometimes. But "this was beyond," she said. Hospital administrators sit in a meeting at NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in New York. At hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) "I couldn't handle it. It's not physical, but emotionally, it was very hard," said Bannor, who works at Metropolitan Hospitallike Elmhurst, a New York City public hospital that had a heavy coronavirus caseload. She has looked for solace in prayer and in tearful phone sessions with colleagues. For now, the virus' surge has given way to an uneasy quiet. "The adrenaline wore off a bit, and it was like, 'What did we just go through?'" says Dr. Eric Wei, an ER physician who also oversees quality-improvement initiatives for city public hospitals. "We're still in that grieving, recovery phase, but also, we know that time is critical before the next mini-surge or before the next peak." There's nothing unusual about distress or anxiety following an upsetting experience, psychologists note. Most people work through the feelings in a few weeks. A medical professional walks through the emergency department at NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in New York. At hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) But there is concern that some who cared for COVID-19 patients may develop post-traumatic stress disorder, a longer-term and more disruptive condition. Witnessing death and feeling exposed to life-threatening risk repeatedly in a single workday can have prolonged effects, said New York psychologist Paula Madrid. She's working with about two dozen health care professionals who are grappling with sleeplessness, edginess and other reactions to the pandemic. She encourages them to see their experiences "for what they really are, which is going through something that no one is really prepared for." Elmhurst staffers have been trying to help each other see that, too, with support from hospital management. They share thoughts at "debrief" sessions, like the recent one by the back door. A special break room is staffed by a social worker and decorated with thank-you notes from around the country. Another room quietly pays respects to several colleagues who died of the virus. COVID-19 safety reminders hang on a wall in the emergency department intake area at NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in New York. At hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Dr. Eric Wei, vice president and chief quality officer for NYC Health + Hospitals, is interviewed outside the emergency department at NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in New York. At hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Medical personnel work in the emergency department at NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in New York. At hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Medical personnel adjust their personal protective equipment while working in the emergency department at NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in New York. At hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) A hospital employee cleans surfaces in the emergency department at NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in New York. At hospitals around the country, nurses, doctors and other health care workers are reckoning with the psychological toll of the virus fight, coupled with fears that the disease could flare anew later this year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Some have taken initiative from loss. After losing her father and a brother to the virus in her native Spain, pediatrician Dr. Pilar Gonzalez organized a hotline to help families of Elmhurst patients get updates on their infected loved ones. Other staffers aren't inclined, or ready, to examine how the virus affected them, said Dr. Suzanne Bentley, an ER physician who helps lead Elmhurst's efforts to foster emotional support among staffers. "There's a certain fear that when you let that all out, you're never going to be able to put that back in. And the reality is: We still need to put on our brave faces and our clearest thoughts and deal with the remaining patients ... compounded with the fear of the next wave," Bentley said. But "there's so much power in just coming together and saying, 'I see you, and this is hard. And you feel how you feel, and that is exactly how you should feel.'" Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The Department of Treasurys Office of Foreign Asset Control also has imposed financial sanctions on each of the six fugitives, meaning all property and interests in property held by them and subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and others are blocked from engaging in financial transactions with them, according to a news release. In the release, the Treasury Department called the move a coordinated action with the Department of Justice. The scammers are accused of impersonating business executives to request wire transfers from legitimate business accounts and stealing money from innocent Americans by masquerading as affectionate partners to gain trust from their victims. Officials say the six manipulated their victims in order to gain access to usernames, passwords and bank accounts and used social media and email to carry out the scams. Cybercriminals prey on vulnerable Americans and small businesses to deceive and defraud them, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said in a news release about the Nebraska charges. As technological advancement increasingly offers malicious actors tools that can be used for online attacks and schemes, the United States will continue to protect and defend at-risk Americans and businesses. MIAMI, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move for warm weather and sunny days on the water, Mr. Steve Gustafson, CEO of Chester Creek Capital , has relocated his successful midwestern-based corporate acquisition firm to South Florida. Previously a resident of Minneapolis, Minn., Gustafson and his wife were ready for a change. After considering many options, from the West Coast to international locales, the pair ultimately settled on a waterfront home in the Miami Shores neighborhood. Gustafson's successes in purchasing, building, growing, and selling enterprises within the Chester Creek Capital portfolio have afforded him the opportunity to be both flexible and discerning in this next chapter of his life and career. Recent success includes growing one acquisition's sales by 500% and profits by 700%. In South Florida, Chester Creek Capital is currently seeking its next acquisition based on the following criteria: Preference is to invest in technology, service, or light manufacturing industries Ownership interest for majority control Investment horizon of 10+ years Ideal candidates have $5 million in revenue and $1 million dollars in EBITDA "We've built our business on making strategic decisions in which we see the potential to not only grow the company we've purchased, but also keep the legacy of the founders intact whenever possible," said Gustafson. "I look forward to meeting with South Florida entrepreneurs and determining what our next acquisition will be." To learn more about a potential purchase of your South Florida business, visit connect.chestercreekcapital.com . Media Contacts Velocitas Interactive Marketing + Public Relations Patricia Beitler / Abbi Sierra [email protected] / 305.735.9845 SOURCE Chester Creek Capital Related Links https://chestercreekcapital.com/ Related Egyptian prosecution investigate the suicide of a coronavirus patient at Abbasiya pulmonology hospital A coronavirus patient committed suicide at a hospital in Upper Egypt on Tuesday, a security source told Ahram Online. The patient, 53, jumped out of a window on the third floor of the hospital in Qena governorate, the source said, explaining that the patients mental health had deteriorated after contracting the coronavirus. In May, another middle-aged coronavirus patient jumped to his death from the fourth floor of Cairos Abbasiya pulmonology hospital, according to prosecutors. An article published by the US National Library of Medicine in April warned of COVID-19 suicides pandemic due to the inability of people and society to deal with the situation. Egypts General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment says it has trained dozens of mental health professionals to provide psychological support to coronavirus patients, their families and medical teams at isolation hospitals. The Egyptian health ministry announced in May that it had devoted two hotlines to provide mental health support to citizens during the pandemic. As of Monday, Egypt has confirmed 46,289 coronavirus cases and 1,672 deaths. Search Keywords: Short link: Peter Stein, CEO of Norgine, commented: "In his previous role as Norgine's Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Executive Team, Chris has demonstrated strong leadership, driving robust organic growth as well as acquisitions, including the transformational acquisition of Merus in 2017 and most recently the acquisition of Azanta in 2020. Under Peter Martin's long-term leadership, Norgine saw a sustained period of year on year growth and today we are proud to be able to help 22 million patients every year. I am confident that Chris will further develop the company enabling us to help more patients worldwide in the years to come. I look forward to continuing to work with Peter Martin in his new non-Executive role." Christopher Bath, said: "Our commitment to transforming people's lives drives everything we do at Norgine and I am pleased and honoured to be appointed as the company's Chief Operating Officer. I am looking forward to building on our exceptional foundation as a leading European pharmaceutical company so we can bring innovative healthcare products to patients in Europe and around the world." Chris joined Norgine in 2014 from Shire plc, where he was Head of M&A. His career in healthcare started at Rothschild in 2000, where he spent 10 years in the healthcare investment banking team. Chris is a Chartered Accountant and read Physics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. About Norgine Norgine is a leading European specialist pharmaceutical company that has been bringing transformative medicines to patients for over a century. Our commitment to transforming people's lives drives everything we do and our European experience, fully integrated infrastructure and exceptional partnership approach enables us to quickly apply creative solutions to bring life-changing medicines to patients that they may not otherwise be able to access. Norgine is proud to have helped 22 million patients around the world in 2019 and generated more than 419 million in net product sales, a growth of 6% over 2018. Norgine has a direct presence in 12 European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand. We also have a strong global network of partnerships in non-Norgine markets. We are a flexible and fully integrated pharmaceutical business, with manufacturing (Hengoed, Wales and Dreux, France), third party supply networks and significant product development capabilities, in addition to our sales and marketing infrastructure. This enables us to acquire, develop and commercialise specialist and innovative products that make a real difference to the lives of patients around the world. In 2012, Norgine established Norgine Ventures, a complementary business which supports innovative healthcare companies through the provision of debt-like financing in Europe and the US. For more information, please visit www.norgineventures.com . www.norgine.com Follow us @norgine SOURCE Norgine Related Links http://www.norgine.com More than 100 potential vaccines against Covid-19 are in development around the world but none has yet been solidly proven to be able to effectively protect people from the virus that has killed more than 400,000 people worldwide. Amid the race for a vaccine, Dexamethasone, a cheap and widely used steroid, has become the first drug to be able to save the lives of Covid-19 patients. Here is a look at the latest at the latest treatment and development on the vaccine front: Dexamethasones encouraging performance has prompted scientists to hail it as a major breakthrough. Trial results announced by the University of Oxford on Tuesday showed dexamethasone, which is used to reduce inflammation in other diseases such as arthritis, reduced death rates by around a third among Covid-19 patients on ventilators and by a fifth for those on oxygen. Scientists at Imperial College London will start the first clinical trials of a potential Covid-19 vaccine this week with funding from the British government and philanthropic donors. The trials involve about 300 healthy volunteers who will receive two doses of the vaccine to test whether it is safe in people and whether it produces an effective immune response. In Singapore, scientists testing a vaccine from U.S. firm Arcturus Therapeutics plan to start human trials in August after promising initial responses in mice. AstraZenecas potasssssential coronavirus vaccine is likely to provide protection against contracting Covid-19 for about a year, the companys chief executive said on Tuesday. The vaccine being evaluated by Singapores Duke-NUS Medical School works on the relatively-untested Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which instructs human cells to make specific coronavirus proteins that produce an immune response. Also read | Ground-breaking: Trial shows drug cuts death risk by third in Covid cases In China where the coronavirus originated, China National Biotec Group (CNBG) said on Tuesday its experimental vaccine has triggered antibodies in clinical trials and the company plans late-stage human trials in foreign countries. The vaccine, developed by a Wuhan-based research institute affiliated to CNBGs parent company Sinopharm, was found to have induced high-level antibodies in all inoculated people without serious adverse reaction, according to the preliminary data from a clinical trial initiated in April involving 1,120 healthy participants aged between 18 and 59. (with inputs from Reuters) A man found hiding in a bathtub at a vacant house in Western Australia has been charged over three separate incidents, including break-ins and sexual offending against children. The man faces a string of charges after being accused of sexually assaulting three girls and a woman. Credit:Gabriele Charotte The crimes happened over a period of two days last week in Broome. Police say the 36-year-old man first broke into a home where a girl, aged between 13 and 16, woke up to find him on her bed. She screamed and ran to alert a family member, then the offender ran away, police said. Capital Region school districts' 2020-21 spending plans saw wide success in unprecedented all-mail-in balloting Tuesday. Several districts, primarily the larger ones, were still counting and didn't expect to have results until Wednesday. But in Rensselaer, whose budget carried a 19.5 percent tax hike, voters rejected their plan by a more than 2-1 margin Tuesday -- even as neighboring districts that stuck to the tax levy cap saw their budgets approved. Rensselaer's $27.7 million budget was rejected by a 1,130 to 560 vote. The proposition to buy a bus also went down by 967 to 714. But voters in balloting that saw no polling places due to the coronvirus pandemic and public health concerns, approved budgets in several districts, including these: Ballston Spa, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Brunswick (Brittonkill), Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Cohoes, Corinth, Galway, Green Island, Hadley-Luzerne, Hoosic Valley, Lansingburgh, Menands, Mohonasen, North Greenbush, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, Schenectady, Schodack, Stillwater, Troy, Watervliet and Wynantskill districts. In Schenectady, Bernice Rivera, Princella Learry and Nohelani Etienne were elected to the Board of Education in a six-way race. The unsealing and counting began at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but many districts, seeing a record-high number of ballots, won't have results until later in the week. The Albany City School District received roughly 10,700 ballots this year, the highest number of people to vote on a school budget the district has seen since its first school vote in 1997. The average turnout in the district for the last five years has been 3,109. The district had planned to use scanning machines borrowed from the Albany County Board of Elections to aid the count, but when the deadline for ballots was delayed a week, the proximity to the June 23 Democratic primary prevented the district from obtaining the scanners. Albany plans to resume the tally at 8 a.m. Wednesday. "Counting nearly 11,000 ballots by hand will be a challenge and will require a considerable dedication of staff resources. We anticipate that the count will go well into the day Wednesday," district spokesman Ron Lesko said. "We had three times the usual turnout," Watervliet Superintendent Lori Caplan said about the 708 to 265 budget approval vote. Caplan described the budget as very fiscally fair that emphasized the educational needs of the district's children. Rensselaer Superintendent Joseph Kardash advised the city Board of Education that the district would regroup and make plans to go back to voters in mid to late July with a new budget proposal. "We'll be working to build a budget that reflects the needs of the students and the community," Kardash said. Around the Capital Region, districts were live streaming their vote counts Tuesday so residents could tune in to watch the tallies as they occurred. Cohoes allowed residents to come into the high school to watch the ballots being counted from an elevated track. East Greenbush counted about 4,300 of more than 7,000 ballots before stopping Tuesday night shortly before 10 p.m. At that time, the budget appeared headed to passage with 3,202 approving and 1,145 votes against. The district will resume counting at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Guilderland, which saw voter participation double this year, won't begin counting the ballots until Wednesday morning, at 8 a.m. The counting will be live-streamed on the district's YouTube channel. Compared to a normal year, districts saw anywhere from double to eight times as many people returning ballots, according to preliminary data from the New York State School Boards Association. Typically, high turnout is associated with a high tax increase or controversial proposal, but this year, most districts are staying below the state's 2 percent tax cap, according to NYSSBA counsel Jay Worona. "There are concerns that the more people vote - and we know over 70 percent don't have kids in school - they may exercise their franchise and vote negative, " Worona said earlier. "We are hopeful that doesn't happen." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. NYSUT, the state's largest teacher's union, has purchased a $500,000 television and digital ad buy urging residents to vote "yes." While this pandemic has changed the way we need to vote on school budgets this year, its still just as important as ever that voters participate in this process. ... Were simply asking that our communities support educators work by voting yes by mail, NYSUT President Andy Pallotta said in a statement. The vote was initially scheduled for June 9, but after numerous districts could not get ballots out in time due to problems with a printing vendor, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo extended the deadline a week for mailed absentee ballots. However, hand-delivered ballots were required to be turned in by June 9. District officials say they have fielded numerous calls from voters trying to understand the timeline change. This year's by-mail election year has been "expensive, confusing, impractical and untimely," Mohonasen Superintendent Shannon Shine said in an email. "98% to 99% of all school district budgets that remained within the tax cap have been passing in recent years. I predict this is about to change. The only question is how many budgets are going to go down." In South Colonie, which has received 2,000 votes and counting, the change in the deadline has caused frustration among voters who requested ballots after June 9, thinking they had until June 16 to return them, according to South Colonie Assistant Superintendent Sherri Fisher. "The short timeline to mail postcards, update communications documents, secure and mail large numbers of absentee ballots (followed by a manual ballot count) have made it challenging and time-consuming," Fisher said in an email. "Nevertheless, we have worked through it and believe the district's process is in good order." In Shenendehowa, "the number of logistical challenges are too long to fit in one article," district spokeswoman Kelly DeFeciani said. The district has received between 7,500 and 8,000 votes, double the number ballots the district has seen in previous years. The school budget vote establishes how much the property tax levy may be raised to generate revenue for the school. When voters reject a school budget, school officials can resubmit the same budget or a modified version to the electorate during a second election. Districts can also revert to last year's tax amount. If the second budget fails, districts must use the tax levy from the previous year. In his most recent executive order, Cuomo indicated that a date scheduled for a second vote will be selected. The date and manner of the vote have not been determined. Districts on average are already spending more than spent four times the cost of a typical in-person school election. If the revote is conducted by mail, many may opt-out. NYSSBA is asking the governor to schedule the revote to be scheduled at the end of July, increasing the possibility of conducting an in-person election. If the virus prevents an in-person vote, school officials hope they would only be required to send ballots to eligible voters upon request rather than the entire district. Desperate to restart the economy which has taken a hit by coronavirus pandemic, the Maharashtra government on Monday signed MoUs worth Rs 16,000 crore with companies spanning various industries, including two Chinese units, under its "Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0" initiative. The companies are from diverse sectors like automobile, logistics, banking, engineering and mobile production, a state government official said. The business pacts were signed by Industries Minister Subhash Desai of the Shiv Sena on behalf of the state government. "We will facilitate all the companies that are willing to set up their plants in various parts of Maharashtra. They will face no hurdles in setting up their units," said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The official said representatives of 12 countries including the USA, China, Singapore and South Korea among others, were present on the occasion. "The total investment is Rs 16,030 crore. The MOU signing was part of the 'Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0' initiative," he said, adding that it was the first such programme after Thackeray became CM last November. Also read: India's trade deficit narrows to $3.15 billion in May Canadas commercial real estate sector is as unsettled as it has ever been. With CECRA struggling to work up a detectable heartbeat, there is growing anxiety that when federal and provincial efforts to support small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic come to an end, it will leave thousands of business owners unable to pay their employees or their rent. Retail and restaurant tenants are already having the life squeezed out of them and social distancing will mean more discomfort for both shops and shoppers going forward but the damage coming to the office sector is a little harder to gauge since most renters of office space have been able to carry on operations by leveraging a work from home model to generate some form of income. Companies with their leases about to expire, however, will have a large part to play in the future of office real estate. Those companies whose leases have come to an end, theyre looking at what the future is, says Luciano Dlorio, Cushman & Wakefields director of operations in Quebec. Theyre in the process of negotiating with their existing landlord or theyre looking at a new space. New Delhi: Confirming that its two High Commission officials suffered grievous injuries while being tortured and physically assaulted during their illegal custody by Pakistani security agencies on Monday in Islamabad, India on Tuesday summoned Pakistani Charge dAffaires Syed Haidar Shah for the second time in two days and lodged a strong protest with Pakistan, telling it that Pakistani agencies had threatened to harm more officials of the Indian High Commission. New Delhi also condemned Islamabad for its action of torturing and coercing the officials to accept false charges against them and rejected the attempt by Pakistani authorities to levy false accusations and concocted charges on the officials of the High Commission. The Pakistani action by its spy agency ISI is seen as retaliation by Islamabad after two Pakistan High Commission officials were asked to leave India late last month after being caught carrying out espionage activities. In a day-long drama on Monday, the two Indian High Commission staffers, who had gone missing while on official duties on Monday morning, were released late on Monday evening and handed back to the Indian High Commission after claims by the Pakistani police that they were involved in a road accident or hit-and-run case. An FIR filed against them by the Pakistani Police mentioned that they caused injuries to a person and were also in possession of fake currency worth Rs 10,000. In its statement, New Delhi said, The Charge d Affaires of the High Commission of Pakistan, Mr Haider Shah, was summoned today and a strong protest lodged on the issue of the abduction and torture of two officials of the High Commission of India in Islamabad by Pakistan security agencies. Two officials of the Indian High Commission were forcibly abducted by Pakistani agencies on 15 June 2020 and kept in illegal custody for more than 10 hours. The two Indian officials were subjected to interrogation, torture and physical assault resulting in grievous injuries to them. They were video-graphed and coerced to accept a litany of fictitious allegations and concocted charges. The vehicle of the High Commission, in which they were travelling, was extensively damaged. ... The attempt by Pakistani authorities to levy false accusations and concocted charges on the officials of the High Commission is rejected in entirety. The MEA added, Our grave concerns at the fact that the Pakistan agencies threatened to physically harm more officials of the Indian Mission have been shared. It has been highlighted that Pakistan is responsible for the safety and security of the Indian High Commission, its officials, staff members, their families and properties. Pointing out that its two officials were released on Monday evening only after strong intervention by New Delhi, the MEA further said that the Government of India strongly condemned and deplored the action of the Pakistani authorities. "This premeditated, grave and provocative action on the part of the Pakistani authorities, preceded by intensified surveillance, harassment and intimidation of High Commission personnel over the past several days, was designed to obstruct and disrupt the normal functioning of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. India also alleged that Pakistan's actions violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, the Code of Conduct for treatment of Diplomatic / Consular personnel in India and Pakistan signed in 1992 and reaffirmed by both sides in March 2018, and also all established norms and practices of diplomatic conduct. "Such continued unilateral actions by Pakistan, aimed at escalating tensions, will not succeed in diverting attention from the core issue of Pakistans continued hostile activities and sponsorship of cross-border terrorism against India," the MEA said. By Express News Service RAMANATHAPURAM: Passion and poverty drove the martyred 40-year-old Indian Army soldier K Palani from Kadukkalur village in Ramanathapuram district to join the armed forces at the age of 18. Shock dawned upon the family when the news of his death at the Indo-Chinese border in Ladakh reached them. The brave havildar had planned to retire from the army next year, having served on the country's borders for 22 years. He was one among three Indian soldiers martyred on the Indo-Chinese border in Ladakh in the conflict on Monday night. READ | TN CM hails Armys sacrifice in Ladakh, grants Rs 20 lakh to kin of jawan from state Palani was the elder son of the farmer couple Kalimuthu and Logambal at Kadukkalur village in Tiruvadanai taluk of Ramanathapuram district and is survived by his wife P Vanathi Devi (35) and two children -- a son aged 10 and a daughter aged 8. "He hailed from a poverty-stricken family. A class XII pass out from his village school, he was an active sportsman during his school days and aspired to join the armed forces since he was a teenager. Extreme poverty and ambition led him to join the army at the age of 18 after a couple of attempts at army recruitment. He was a father-figure to his younger brother and his younger sister," said a relative. Palani's blood, sweat and tears went into educating his brother and marrying off his sister, family sources recalled. Strongly motivated by Palani, his brother Idhayakani (in his early 20s) too joined the armed forces and now works in the clerical cadre in Rajasthan. Palani's love for serving the nation did not stop there. He also dreamt and spoke of making his children join the armed forces when they grow up. "Villagers looked up to him for his depth of knowledge on current affairs. He later completed BA in History through distance education mode and encouraged his wife to complete B.Ed course after marriage. It was he who motivated her to enrol in a post-graduation course too," shared the relative. ALSO READ | Colonel, two jawans killed in clashes with PLA, reports of casualties on Chinese side too Whenever he returned home, the air was filled with his cheer and could be seen cooking for the family, something he enjoyed as much as he did playing with the children, noted another relative. "He would tell us that his service was valued by his superiors who couldn't let him go whenever he would speak of retirement. Instead, he would be offered long leave to visit family. We heard he was an expert in the operation of military tanks," the relative stated. After 22 years of toil at the Indian borders braving extreme climatic conditions and his struggle with poverty, it was only on June 3 that his family finally moved into their own house in Kazhugoorani (Ramanathapuram taluk), built taking a loan of about Rs 17 lakhs. "Palani last visited his family in January but could not attend the housewarming that he was looking much forward to. Having led a life full of struggles, having built his own house, we thought things were finally turning out well for him since he planned to retire next year. His untimely demise has shaken the family for whom he was the pillar of strength throughout his lifetime," the villagers recalled. Palani's mortal remains are expected to reach his native village in a couple of days. The situation of COVID-19 pandemic in Iran appears to be deteriorating with 115 deaths and 2,563 new cases during the past day, amid concerns about the start of a new wave of infections and rumors about the possible resignation of Health Minister Saeed Namaki. Health Ministry Spokeswoman Sima Lari says this has been the third consecutive day with a triple digit death toll and a high infection rate after a few weeks of steady decline in the number of new cases. At the same time, Iran's currency rial fell to new lows against major currencies with almost one year of no meaningful oil exports due to U.S. sanctions. The weight of the pandemic stifling the local economy. In one month the currency has lost 20 percent of its value. Iran's non-oil exports have also fallen steeply due to the pandemic in the region, depriving the government of some foreign currency income it was counting on to compensate for lost oil exports. Health Ministry officials had earlier warned about a new surge in the outbreak as the government eased the not-so-strict lockdown regulations. Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi says COVID-19 is claiming more lives than the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. Harirch added that the war claimed some 66 lives every day while over 100 people per day are dying as a result of COPVID-19 in Iran. Nevertheless, the official denied that a second wave has already started in Iran. Meanwhile, Harichi added in an interview with the Iranian state television that there are serious doubts about the authenticity of the figures given away by the health ministry about the number of infections and the death toll. Earlier, the parliaments research center, Tehran city officials, doctors and journalists had cast doubt on Irans official coronavirus numbers. Lari said during an interview on the state television Monday evening that 192,439 Iranians have so far contracted the new coronavirus and 9,065 have died. She added that over 152,000 people have recovered, but there are 2,815 patients still in intensive care units. Iran was one of the first countries after China to experience the coronavirus epidemic but after four months, it continues with almost the same intensity, unlike European countries where after the initial peak numbers have come down. All this is happening against a political backdrop of differences between health minister Namaki and President Hassan Rouhani. The Minister has been insisting on thorough enforcement of social distancing and other lockdown measures from the onset of the pandemic while Rouhani has been pushing to "normalize" the situation with an early end to restrictions. Rouhani demanded an end to social distancing as early as late April. He has time and again stressed the economic cost of a tough policy by the government. Monday night, it was said at the COVID-19 work group that Friday prayer congregations in many cities including Tehran may start as early as next week. In the meantime, on June 14 the Telegram channel Eteraz-e Bazzar reported that Namaki did not take part in the COVID-19 Work Group meeting the previous evening. The channel quoted ministry insiders as saying that Namaki has said at a meeting with his deputies that he was planning to step down as health minister. Although obviously Telegram is just a social media platform, but the rumor has been circulating in other political circles in Tehran as well. In another development, Sima Lari said that the situation is still "red" in ten provinces. Prominent Journalist Arash Khoshkhou asked in a tweet on June 16, "Another 115 have died today. Why there is no total lockdown for 48 hours like Turkey?" Meanwhile, in a letter to President Rouhani, the Iranian Nursing Council said that 7,400 Iranian nurses have contracted the coronavirus and 18 of them have died as of mid-June. The Council also warned of shortages of nurses amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases. The letter also criticized the government for its poor treatment of nurses who are mainly working on fixed term 89-day contracts as the government refuses to give them long-term employment contracts. The letter added that despite the need for nurses, government-run medical school hospitals force their nurses to do long overtime work, but still some of them have not been paid for between 7 to 17 months. In one of the latest reports, the health Ministry spokeswoman announced that the number of patients in hospitals have jumped in several provinces including Tehran, Mashad and Bushehr. The media attribute the surge to early reopening of businesses and government offices while officials blame people's "carelessness." Experts, however, say early "normalization" could lead to a human catastrophe. Additional reporting: Juno McEnroe, Aoife Moore, Paul Hosford Fianna Fail leader and Taoiseach-in-waiting Micheal Martin has faced down unrest in his party over going into power with Fine Gael and the Greens, insisting the country needs a government now. Following an agreement on a 126-page Programme for Government, Mr Martin is set to become Taoiseach later this month, with Leo Varadkar set to become Tanaiste. The positions will then be rotated in December 2022. Mr Martin made his comments as his former deputy leader Eamon O Cuiv and a group of 50 councillors came out in opposition to the deal, saying 1,000 party members share their view. Mr O Cuiv said that anyone who cares about the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the islands should vote against the programme for government agreed between his party, Fine Gael and the Green Party. In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Martin said: My core message to members is that Fianna Fail is at its best in government. But overall, the message to the party is there is a necessity to form a government with a sizeable majority. We have to put the country first. When asked about becoming the first Cork Taoiseach since Jack Lynch if the parties approve the deal, Mr Martin said: I am hopeful that will materialise. Jack Lynch is a boyhood hero. The group of councillors say there are supported by 1,000 Fianna Fail members who have launched a campaigning group seeking to defeat the Programme for Government. We have feared since the start of this process that a continuation of status quo politics is acceptable to those negotiating this agreement on our behalf. The publication of the PfG confirms these fears, a statement released by the group stated. Among the key measures agreed by the parties are: A deferral of the planned increase the state pension age to 67 deferred pending the outcome of a commission to examine the issue; No increase in income tax or the Universal Social Charge; A commitment to cut carbon emissions by 7% annually over the five years of the government and also a ban on the importation of gas extracted by fracking. Fianna Fail's parliamentary party approved the programme for government, with Mr Martin saying he now hoped the party's membership would follow suit. At Fine Gaels parliamentary party meeting last night, outgoing Rural Affairs Minister Michael Ring said he would worry about rural Ireland with the Greens in government. I dont know where we are going to get all the money to implement the Greens policy. He queried what will happen with the banning of gas exploration. But the party endorsed the deal. The Green Party parliamentary members voted 9 in favour with 3 abstentions to take the programme for government document to a membership vote. Crucially, deputy leader Catherine Martin backed the proposal. Those to abstain were Neasa Hourigan, Francis Noel Duffy and Patrick Costello, all who are known to be supporters of Ms Martin. As part of the Programme for Government agreement, Mr Varadkar will get a beefed-up role as Tanaiste in the new coalition while an inner circle of leaders will defuse rows during its five-year term. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will each have six ministers at Cabinet, the Greens get three there will also be only two super junior ministers Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will have an equal number of Government Ministers, six, and the Green Party will appoint three. The Chief Whip shall sit at Cabinet as shall two other Ministers of State, the document states. The result of the vote on the programme for government by the members of Fianna Fail, the Green Party and Fine Gael will be announced on Friday 26 June, it has been confirmed. If passed that would mean that the Taoiseach would be elected on either Saturday 27 June or Monday 29 June in the National Convention Centre. A man was shot in New Mexico's largest city on Monday night as protesters tried to take down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador, authorities said. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was listed in critical but stable condition late Monday, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. Gunfire erupted outside the Albuquerque Museum near Tiguex Park when a group of armed men confronted protesters and tried to defend the statue of Juan de Onate, New Mexico's 16th-century colonial governor. MORE: A tattoo parlor is offering to cover up racist ink for free Police used tear gas and flash bangs to protect the responding officers who detained those involved in the shooting and worked to secure the scene. The individuals were disarmed and taken into custody for questioning, police said. PHOTO: People help a man who was shot and wounded during clashes between a group of armed men and protesters trying to pull down a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 15, 2020. (Courtesy of Fight For Our Lives / Social media via Reuters) Detectives are investigating the incident with the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, police said. Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier said they have received "reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence." "If this is true, we will be holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, including federal hate group designation and prosecution," Geier said in a statement late Monday. MORE: Protesters tear down statue of former Confederate president Jefferson Davis Contentious monuments around the world are being pulled down amid protests against racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody. Floyd, an unarmed 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 shortly after a white police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck as three other officers stood by. PHOTO: This bronze statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate stands outside the Albuquerque Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 12, 2020. (Susan Montoya Bryan/AP) Monday night's shooting prompted Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller to announce that the Juan de Onate statue near Tiguex Park would be removed until officials "can determine the next steps." "The shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city," Keller said in a statement late Monday. "Our diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us. Our hearts go out the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight. This sculpture has now become an urgent matter of public safety." Story continues MORE: Americans among 15 arrested during Black Lives Matter protest in Uganda, police say New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she was "horrified and disgusted beyond words" by the violence. "The heavily armed individuals who flaunted themselves at the protest, calling themselves a 'civil guard,' were there for one reason: To menace protesters, to present an unsanctioned show of unregulated force," Grisham said in a statement late Monday. "Let me be clear: There is absolutely no space in New Mexico for any violent would-be 'militia' seeking to terrorize New Mexicans; and there is no space for violence of any kind on our streets and in our communities, or for any sort of escalation of reckless, violent rhetoric, no matter who strikes first." Man shot during Albuquerque protest over Juan de Onate statue, police say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Seven cars were vandalised by a group of 11 people on Sunday at Sharda Colony in Pimple Nilakh. The group which includes 7 minors has now been nabbed by police within hours of the case being registered. The main accused in the case is a 17-year-old boy who was in a fight with the complainant - Rajkumar Arsan Pilla, 25, for the past month. The group reportedly arrived at the scene on two-wheelers, according to unit 4 officials of the Pimpri-Chinchwad police crime branch. This is a fight between two families. Due to a long-standing fight, Pillay had gone to the 17-year-olds house to threaten him of violent consequences if he continues to fight. A few hours later, the 17-year-old gathered up people and went to where Pillay lives, said police inspector Ajay Bhosale of Sangvi police station. The main accused was found while he was hiding at the graveyard in Pimple Nilakh, according to the statement issued by unit 4 officials. He led the police to the other minors involved in the case who in-turn led the police towards the four adults involved in the case - Kunal Rajendra Sartape, 20, and Chetan Ramanval Sahani, 22, both residents of Kasturba Gandhi Vasahat in Aundh, Rohan Kumar Jogdand, 22, and Yashwant Sunil Avghade, 21, both residents of Indira Vasahat in Aundh, Pune. The attack happened around 10pm on Sunday night when Pillay was heading home. He was attacked with sharp weapons and sustained injuries on his legs, according to crime branch officials. A case is also being registered against Pillay for going to the minors house to threaten him before the attack on him took place, said PI Bhosale. A case under Sections 326, 323, 427, rioting, 504, 506 of Indian Penal Code along with Sections 4(25(27) of Arms Act and Section 37(1(3) with 135 of Maharashtra Police Act was registered at Sangvi police station for vandalism of the cars. WASHINGTON Heres how Virginias U.S. senators voted during the legislative week ending June 12. The House was in recess. National parks, public spaces. Voting 79 for and 18 against, the Senate on June 10 agreed to start debate on a bill (HR 1957) that would greatly increase financial support of federal land agencies, including the National Park Service, and boost U.S. government funding of federal, state and local efforts to purchase and protect unspoiled acreage. To address the deterioration of hundreds of national parks and related areas in recent decades, the bill would allocate up to $6.5 billion over five years for repairs and maintenance, with funding to come mainly from payments to the Treasury by oil, gas and renewable-energy companies. The bill also would guarantee a $900 million annual budget for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides federal and non-federal agencies with funds for acquiring and conserving undeveloped land. The LWCF is largely funded by fees and royalties collected from energy firms engaged in offshore drilling operations. A yes vote was to advance the bill toward expected final passage. Voting yes: Mark R. Warner (D); Tim Kaine (D). Pedestrians pass in front of a Nordstrom Inc. store in the Midtown neighborhood of New York, on March 20, 2020. Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Apple Shares of Apple rose 2.65% after a Citi analyst raised his 12-month price target on the technology giant to $400 per share from $310 per share, the highest price forecast on Wall Street. Analyst Jim Suva cited five reasons for the higher price target, including upside from Apple's wearables segment. United, American, Delta Shares of United Airlines gained 3.1% as the industry tries to bounce back from the coronavirus-induced slowdown. Shares of the airline have more than doubled in the last month after falling to a multi-year low in March. Other airline stocks on the move included American and Delta, which rose 2% and 2.8%, respectively. Alaska Air Group rose 1.2%. Granite Construction, Vulcan, Summit Materials Shares of a number of construction and material companies soared on a Bloomberg news report that the Trump administration is eyeing a nearly $1 trillion infrastructure proposal. Granite Construction, Vulcan and Summit Materials all jumped 9%. The iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA), which tracks railroads, utilities materials and construction companies in the space, popped 2.7%. Caterpillar also jumped more than 5%. Eli Lilly Shares of Eli Lilly soared 15.7% after the pharmaceutical company said Tuesday its breast cancer drug Verzenio met the key goal in a late-stage trial. Eli said in a statement that its phase-three study demonstrated positive results in 5,637 people whose early breast cancer is at a high risk of recurrence. Guggenheim upgraded Eli Lilly to buy from neutral following the news. Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruises Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings jumped 4.9% as investors continue to return to the sectors most pummeled by Covid-19. Carnival Corporation rose 5%, and Royal Caribbean jumped 2.8%. For the year, however, all three have lost more than half their value. Nordstrom, Gap, Kohl's Retail stocks climbed higher on Tuesday after retail sales data showed the largest month-over-month increase on record in May. Shares of Nordstrom rose 12.9%, while Gap gained 8.5% and Kohl's surged 9%. TJX Companies jumped 5.6% and Macy's rose 6.3%. Dick's Sporting Goods ticked 3.8% higher. Home Depot and Lowe's also rose on Tuesday. Nvidia Shares of chipmaker Nvidia dipped 1.2% after the stock was downgraded by Morgan Stanley to equal-weight from overweight. The firm said in a note that it still believes in the longer-term story for the company but its current valuation leaves "very little room for error." WW International Shares of the Weight Watchers parent said soared 19% after the company said it had 4.9 million subscribers as of June 6, up 7% from a year earlier. Digital subscribers hit an all-time high, getting a boost as more people stayed at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lennar Shares of the home construction company ticked about 0.7% higher after reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings. Lennar reports earnings per share of $1.65 on revenue of $5.29 billion. Analysts polled by Refinitiv were expecting earnings per share of $1.18 on revenue of $5.25 billion. Chesapeake Energy The energy producer cratered 18.6% on reports its preparing to file for bankruptcy as soon as this week, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters. The company is said to be in the final stages of negotiation $900 million loan to support operations while under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. with reporting from CNBC's Yun Li, Pippa Stevens and Jesse Pound. T ensions have continued to simmer between India and China in the wake of confrontations earlier this month along their disputed frontier high in the Himalayas that killed at least 20 Indian soliders. The incident marked the first confrontation between the two Asian countries in which soldiers have died since 1975, and happened after a month-long face off between forces on both sides. Now, on the back of rising animosity between the world's two most populous countries, the Indian government has moved to ban dozens of Chinese-made mobile apps - including TikTok and WeChat. Here, we take a closer look at the relationship between the two nations and the recent events concerning the situation on the border. Several rounds of talks held in the last three decades have failed to resolve ongoing boundary disputes between China and India (@parasrishi ) / @parasrishi What happened in the "violent face-off"? The fighting between Indian and Chinese forces occurred in mid-June in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, where both countries have increased deployment close to the disputed border. China accused Indian troops of carrying out provocative attacks which led to serious physical conflicts. The Indian army at first said that three of its soldiers, including an officer, had died in a clash in Ladakh, adding that both sides suffered casualties. It later released a statement saying the two sides had disengaged, and added that 17 other Indian troops who were "critically injured in the line of duty" had died from their injuries, taking the "total that were killed in action to 20". China and India have been arguing for decades over territory in the high-altitude, largely uninhabited border region / AFP via Getty Images It is believed ammunition was not used in the conflict, with the fatalities a result of a physical battle. China has not released any information on casualties on its side. Why is there conflict over the Himalayan border? China and India have been arguing for decades over territory in the high-altitude, largely uninhabited border region, and fought a border war in 1962 that resulted in an uneasy truce. The two nuclear powers' armies face-off at many points along the 3,440km (2,100-mile) shared border and several rounds of talks held in the last three decades have failed to resolve ongoing boundary disputes. Now, tensions between the pair are at their worst they've been since 2017, when both sides increased their military deployments at their borders with Bhutan in the Doklam crisis. The animosity has been fuelled in part by a new road built by India in Ladakh, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which divides the two sides. That move angered China, which deployed troops and built infrastructure of its own in disputed territory, bringing the two sides' forces in closer proximity along the heavily militarised border and increasing the risk of clashes. The clashes this month were therefore a culmination of weeks of mounting unease and years of dispute. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at the time that Indian forces had crossed the border twice on June 15, "provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides", AFP news agency reported. Indias Ministry of External Affairs meanwhile said in a statement at the time that the incident happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo in the Galwan Valley region. What is happening now? The latest sign of escalating tensions came on Tuesday, when dozens of Chinese-made mobile apps were banned by the Indian government. TikTok and WeChat were among the 59 Chinese-built software applications the Indian government said posed a danger to the countrys national security. Following the government order, Google and Apple will have to remove the apps from the Android and iOS stores. The ban is a huge blow for Chinese firms looking to capitalise on one of the worlds biggest web services markets. India is TikToks largest foreign market, with 611 million downloads - more than 30 per cent of its total users. TikTok owners Bytedance, which is headquartered in Beijing, had planned to invest $1 billion in India, open a local data centre and had recently launched a recruitment drive there. Other apps now banned include the popular messaging platform WeChat, downloaded more than 100 million times on Android, and two apps by smartphone-maker Xiaomi. Twitter-esque microblogging service Weibo and a number of e-commerce apps are also now prohibited in India. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-15 23:00:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Representatives of the United Front Supporting National Security Legislation attend a press conference in Hong Kong, south China, June 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Gang) External forces do not care about Hong Kong's democracy, freedom and prosperity but just tried to use Hong Kong to contain China's development, and such interference will be in vain, says an initiator of the campaign. HONG KONG, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A Hong Kong organization on Monday launched an online petition in protest of the interference of U.S.-led foreign forces in China's internal affairs and their threats to impose sanctions against Hong Kong after China's national legislature decided to make Hong Kong national security laws. The organizer of the campaign, called the United Front Supporting National Security Legislation, urged residents to actively sign the petition to voice their opposition to foreign interference. Tam Yiu-chung, an initiator of the online petition against foreign interference, attends a press conference in Hong Kong, south China, June 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Tam Yiu-chung, an initiator of the campaign, said at a press conference on Monday that the legislation is China's internal affair and the interference from the United States and other countries blatantly violated the principle of international laws and the norms of international relations. External forces do not care about Hong Kong's democracy, freedom and prosperity but just tried to use Hong Kong to contain China's development, Tam said, stressing that such interference will be in vain. Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, an initiator of the campaign and the chairwoman of the New People's Party, said that the United States applied double standard in unwarrantedly criticizing China's reasonable action to safeguard the national security while itself had made multiple and stringent national security laws. The national security legislation will bring prosperity and stability to Hong Kong and benefit the cause of "one country, two systems," she said. Starry Lee Wai-king, an initiator of the online petition against foreign interference, attends a press conference in Hong Kong, south China, June 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Starry Lee Wai-king, another initiator and the chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, called on Hong Kong residents to sign the petition to say no to external forces loud and clear. The online petition will end on June 30. Nearly 2.93 million Hong Kong residents signed a previous petition organized by the group in support of the national security legislation in an eight-day campaign. 19:27 The United Nations General Assembly has begun elections for President of the 75th session of the Assembly, five non-permanent members of the Security Council and members of the Economic and Social Council on Wednesday under special voting arrangements put in place due to COVID-19 related restrictions. India is expected to register a comfortable victory in the Security Council elections that will bring the country to the UN high-table as a non-permanent member for the 2021-22 term. India's victory is certain since it is the sole candidate vying for the lone seat from the 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping. New Delhi's candidature was unanimously endorsed by the Asia-Pacific grouping, including China and Pakistan, in June last year. President of the UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande announced the commencement of the elections at around 9 am Wednesday. UN diplomats, staff and other personnel arrived at the General Assembly hall wearing masks and immediately left the venue after casting their ballots. In previous years, the General Assembly hall was packed to capacity during the elections as UN diplomats and officials participated in the ballots. In adherence to social distancing guidelines due to COVID-19 pandemic, the 193 UN Member States have been allotted different time slots to cast their ballots next week in the General Assembly Hall for the crucial elections. Eight time slots have been allocated to Member States to cast their ballots in the General Assembly Hall starting at 9 am, in adherence to social distancing guidelines. The voting will continue till 1 pm with an additional 30 minute time slot for voters who are unable to visit the GA hall during the specific time slot communicated to them. The time slot for India to cast its ballot is 11:30 am-12 noon. Muhammad-Bande is overseeing the proceedings in the General Assembly Hall and the tellers are also observing the whole process. On Monday he circulated a letter to Member States with the names of candidates for the various elections. For the two vacant seats from among the African and Asia-Pacific States, three candidates have been communicated, namely, Djibouti, India and Kenya. Of those three candidates, India and Kenya are endorsed candidates. For the one vacant seat from among the Latin American and Caribbean States, one endorsed candidate has been communicated, namely, Mexico. For the two vacant seats from among the Western European and other States, three candidates have been communicated, namely, Canada, Ireland and Norway. Each year the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of 10 in total) for a two-year term. The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis as follows: five for African and Asian States; one for Eastern European States; two for the Latin American and Caribbean States; and two for Western European and other States. To be elected to the Council, candidate countries need a two-thirds majority of ballots of Member States that are present and voting in the Assembly. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti has said that India's presence in the Security Council will help bring to the world its ethos of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', as he underscoring that the United Nations as well as multilateralism need to change to reflect contemporary realities and remain credible as the world organisation marks its 75th anniversary this year. "India's journey with the United Nations is quite a remarkable one. As a founding member of the United Nations, India's contribution to implementing the goals of the United Nations Charter and to the evolution of UN specialized agencies and programmes has been substantial. In many ways, quite extraordinary," Tirumurti said in a video message ahead of the elections. "I'm confident that at a time when we are poised to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and later the 75th anniversary of India's independence in 2022, India's presence in the Security Council will help bring to the world our ethos that the world is one family - Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," he said. Ahead of the elections, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar outlined New Delhi's priorities for its candidature to the Council. Termed as NORMS, India's focus will be on 'New Orientation For A Reformed Multilateral System.' India's priorities include new opportunities for progress, effective response to international terrorism, reforming multilateral systems, comprehensive approach to peace and security and technology with a human touch. Tirumurti said as the UN commemorates its 75th anniversary this year, 'it is clear to us that United Nations and indeed multilateralism itself need to change to reflect contemporary realities to enable them to remain effective and credible'. The Indian envoy referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for reformed multilateralism and reform of multilateral system as essential to ensure that the international system is inclusive and caters to requirements of all countries, which will in turn facilitate stronger action. Previously, India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the Council for the years 1950, 1951, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1985, 1991, 1992 and most recently in 2011, 2012. India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the Security Council saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member of the Council, which in its current form does not represent the geo-political realities of the 21st Century. -- PTI STOCKHOLM, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Erik Bergman founded Great.com in 2018 with the aim of doing good and helping to prevent the global climate crisis. Using his expertise in iGaming, Erik wanted to build a revenue-generating platform that would help carry out this mission. The business concept of Great.com is to build the world's most trusted iGaming review website, which would generate profits through affiliate partnerships 100% of which would be donated to vetted charities working to solve climate change. Transforming organizational structure Not only is the business concept unique, but the organizational structure and management of Great.com is also groundbreaking. Transparency is one of its core values with employee conditions and work culture shared openly. For example, Great.com records and publishes weekly meetings to its website along with employees' salaries. The ambition of Great.com is not just to end the climate crisis but to challenge the traditional norms associated with work. Erik has set out to build a more open, inclusive, and sustainable organization which he hopes will set the blueprint for other companies to follow. Since its inception, Great.com has donated more than $225,000 to charitable causes. Now another donation is being made, this time to Founders Pledge - a community of over 1,400 entrepreneurs uniquely committed to giving. Every member of Founders Pledge must make a legally binding "pledge" to donate a chosen portion of their current or future wealth to charity. Erik Bergman now joins as a member and thus allocates 20 percent of his remaining shareholding in Catena Media, corresponding to approximately $ 1+ million. A direct donation of $100,000 is also made, to help fund core operational costs. Streamlining charity Founders Pledge is a unique community of entrepreneurs who have a shared purpose of wanting to do the most good in the world. The organization has a research team that focuses on charity due diligence, data collection, and the identification of neglected cause areas throughout the world that are being underserved philanthropically. They strive to use data and analysis to recommend charities which will offer the largest return per dollar donated. What also makes Founders Pledge unique is that the network is at the forefront of research on which organizations can best prevent the spread of pandemics such as COVID-19. Erik Bergman, founder of Great.com, comments: "When I founded Great.com, it was because I wanted to build an organization that could make as much difference as possible to our environment - both from a climate and organizational perspective. So, it is important for me to find ways to create an exponential effect. Founders Pledge is one such organization, as they have built up unique expertise on how to create the greatest impact in charity. It's an honor for me that Great.com can now help the right organizations get support for their work." David Goldberg, founder, Founders Pledge, adds: "It is very welcome that Erik Bergman and Great.com join our network. We bring together entrepreneurs with cutting-edge skills that are all driven by helping to do good for our world. The exchange between members is very valuable and Great.com can now take advantage of the unique knowledge we possess, to be able to make more well-founded donations." "My wish is that entrepreneurs and companies around the world start to be driven by serving a greater purpose. By joining Founders Pledge, I want to inspire others to do the same. You can make a difference if you do the right research and manage it through the right organizations," Erik Bergman concludes. About Founders Pledge Founders Pledge is an entrepreneurial community that, since its inception in 2015, has so far gathered more than 1,400 members who together have pledged $ 2.4 billion to charity. Founders Pledge's unique research team conducts research and provides tailored giving advice so that its members can make informed giving decisions and donate to the highest-impact charities. Founders Pledge has been connected to the ecosystem of tech and start-up companies from the beginning. With the drive to create a better world and a society that enriches, they have developed a product and community that entrepreneurs want to be a part of. The team working for the organization is located in London, San Francisco, New York and Berlin. About Great.com Great.com is an organization founded by Erik Bergman, whose purpose is to do good and help prevent the global climate crisis. Today, the organization consists of about 10 people, who create unique affiliate products for the iGaming industry, which in turn create profits that are in full are allocated among various charity foundations. Great.com operates with a long-term perspective of at least 50 years, which will create the conditions for developing sustainable business models and working methods for employees and other contributing parties. Great.com also creates content on social media such as Instagram and YouTube, to inform and inspire other entrepreneurs to want to do good. The number of followers has already reached a few hundred thousand. Since its inception in 2018, Great.com has now donated more than $325,0000 to charitable causes. For more information, please contact: Erik Bergman, Founder, Great.com Email: [email protected] Angelica Isaksson, PR & Project Manager, Great.com Email: [email protected] SOURCE Great.com People have taken to the streets of Berlin, London, Paris and other cities around the world to demonstrate in support of Black Lives Matter protesters in the United States and to vent anger over President Donald Trump's response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. But at the top, the leaders of traditional allies of the United States have taken pains to avoid criticizing Trump directly, walking a fine line to reconcile international diplomacy with domestic outrage. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau let silence speak for itself when asked to comment on the decision to forcibly clear peaceful protesters outside the White House to make way for a Trump photo-op at a nearby church, standing pensively at his lectern apparently mulling his answer for more than 20 seconds before answering that Canada also suffered from ``systemic discrimination'' _ never mentioning the American president. ``We need to be allies in the fight against discrimination, we need to listen, we need to learn, and we need to work hard to fix, to figure out how we can be part of the solution on fixing things,'' he said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel sidestepped questions from ZDF public television about Trump last week, saying the killing of Floyd was ``really, really terrible. Racism is something terrible, and society in the United States is very polarized.'' When pressed, she conceded that Trump's ``political style is a very controversial one'' but would go no further when asked if she had confidence in him. A combination of factors are at work, including diplomatic courtesy but also pragmatism based on the possibility that Trump will be reelected to another four years in November, said Sudha David-Wilp, deputy director of the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund think tank. ``It wouldn't be proper for his peers to criticize, especially when it's very obvious that they are concerned that the United States is going through an incredibly difficult time _ you have the triple whammy of an economic depression, health crisis and now, of course, social unrest due to questions of racism,'' she said. But she said it's difficult for leaders like Trudeau and Merkel, who ``are seen as defenders of liberal democracy, and President Trump has trampled on many of the values that undergird liberal democracy, such as the protection of minorities, such as the freedom of assembly, such as the freedom of the press.'' Merkel's verbal gymnastics could have been anticipated _ in more than 14 years as chancellor, she has steered clear of ever critiquing allied world leaders _ but even leaders who typically support Trump, like Hungary's Viktor Orban or Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu have stayed silent on this issue. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has sought to cultivate close ties with Trump, called Floyd's death ``appalling'' and said people have a ``right to protest to make their feelings known about injustices such as what happened to George Floyd'' but urged peaceful demonstrations. Britain has seen several protests turn violent, and last weekend demonstrators in Bristol toppled the statue of a 17th-century slave trader. They also spray-painted an iconic statue of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill in London, calling him ``a racist.'' Asked Wednesday in Parliament to name Trump's good qualities, Johnson stuck to generalities. ``Mr. Trump, he has, amongst many other things, he is president of the United States, which is our most important ally in the world today,'' Johnson said. ``Whatever people may say about it, whatever those on the left may say about it, the United States is a bastion of peace and freedom and has been for most of my lifetime.'' France's Emmanuel Macron, who has in the past steered clear of criticizing Trump specifically but has been vocal in speaking out against policies like the wine tariffs introduced by the administration, has not made a public appearance since Floyd was killed on May 25. Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes even after he stopped responding. Three days later, another black man writhed on the street in Paris as a white police officer pressed a knee to his neck during an arrest. France had several protests over the past week, with growing pressure on the government to address accusations of brutality and racism within the police force. Macron's office said the president is closely monitoring the events in France and the United States but ``he did not wish to speak for the moment.'' He's expected to address the nation Sunday but his office did not give further details. A few leaders have spoken out more strongly, like Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who criticized the response to the protests in the U.S. as ``authoritarian'' when pressed in parliament last week for an explicit response on Floyd's killing. ``I share and stand in solidarity with the demonstrations that are taking place in the United States,'' he said. And Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg told the country's NTB news agency last week that she was ``deeply concerned about what is happening in the United States.'' ``The fundamental challenge of making minorities feel part of a society is essential. We must all work with that,'' she said. ``One has to try to bridge the gap. It is not good for any society to be as deeply divided as the United States is now.'' Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo said last week that it ``cannot be right that, in the 21st century, the United States, this great bastion of democracy, continues to grapple with the problem of systemic racism.'' And South African President Cyril Ramaphosa noted the ``naked racism in the United States,'' calling the protests a turning point. Neither mentioned Trump by name. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not weighed in, but Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the situation in the U.S. ``ridiculous.'' ``I would like to believe that before showing their zeal in protecting the rights of the `suppressed' and `dissenters' in other countries, U.S. authorities will start to scrupulously observe democratic standards and ensure the freedoms of their citizens at home,'' she said. Search Keywords: Short link: Despite protests from expatriates and opposition parties, the Kerala government on Tuesday underlined that it will make Covid-free certificates mandatory for those returning to the country from abroad. Last week, the government had said the Covid-free certificates would be mandatory for those taking chartered flights from West Asian countries. On Tuesday, the government modified its stand to include everybody flying in from abroad from June 20. We cant take chances now. Besides chartered flights we want people coming in Vande Bharat flights also tested before they take flights. It is meant to ensure the safety of all, said state industry minister E P Jayarajan. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who participated in the video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, did not get a chance to speak. But two days ago, he had sent a letter to Modi seeking his help on the issue. The state will soon submit a list of its demands to the Centre and Covid-free certificate will be on top of it, said a spokesman of the government. He said around 90 per cent of recent Covid-19 cases are expatriates or people who returned from other states and the state cannot take any further risk. But many expatriates said the state was keen to maintain its records and not interested in its people who were desperate to return home from West Asian countries. The governments move is quite impractical. In many Gulf countries, tests are expensive and time-consuming. The Kerala government wants to discourage the return of its people. It is an inhuman act, said Mansoor Paloor, a leader of the expat community. There are an estimated 18 lakh people from Kerala working in Persian Gulf countries. On Tuesday, the state reported 79 fresh cases of Covid-19, taking the total to 2,621. Of these, 1,336 are active cases, said State Health Minister K K Shailaja. Out of the 79 fresh cases, 49 had arrived from abroad and 26 others from other states and five got infected from primary contacts, she said. A 33-year-old man who came from a West Asian country and was under observation allegedly committed suicide by immolating himself in Kollam district, police said. A total of 21 people have died of Covid-19 in Kerala so far. Photo: Corbis via Getty Images On Monday, the Tallahassee Police Department announced the death of Black Lives Matter activist Oluwatoyin Salau, a major voice in the citys demonstrations following the police killing of George Floyd. Salau, 19, had gone missing on Saturday, June 6, following a series of tweets in which she described being sexually assaulted that morning. Below is everything we know about her death, which police have ruled a homicide. Who was Salau? Oluwatoyin Salau was an emerging leader in Tallahassees protests following the death of George Floyd. We are doing this for our brothers and our sisters who got shot but we are doing this for every black person, because at the end of the day, I cannot take my fucking skin color off, Salau said in a prominent video shared on Twitter. I am profiled whether I like it or not. Salau was also a major advocate calling for justice for Tony McDade, a black transgender man who was shot and killed by Tallahassee police officers on May 29. Oluwatoyin Salau fought for Black lives. She deserved to be protected, but instead was killed by one of our own Rest in love, Queen. #JusticeForToyin pic.twitter.com/xUHn4bFRhb greg (@whereistach) June 16, 2020 She was a strong, young black female leader to me, and a powerful speaker, Trish Brown, a founder of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, told the New York Times. (Salau worked frequently with the organization in recent weeks.) I feel like something was snatched away from me. Missing Black Lives Matter protester Oluwatoyin Salau among pair of women found slain in Florida https://t.co/VOVa8ofhi8 pic.twitter.com/LtMNhXnFxp The Hill (@thehill) June 16, 2020 What happened on Saturday, June 6? On June 6, Salau, who was home insecure, stated on Twitter that she was sexually assaulted in east Tallahassee by a man who promised her a ride to church, after telling him about a previous incident of sexual assault. While she reportedly told police of the incident, TPD informed her that more evidence would be needed to charge the assailant. Hours after publishing her account, she went missing. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, she was last seen on surveillance footage on June 10, entering an ice-cream shop around 7 p.m. to use the bathroom. After her disappearance, fellow demonstrators looked for her in their off-time at night. What do we know about her death? On Monday, nine days after she went missing, investigators reported that they found Salaus body on Saturday night around 9 p.m., along with the body of 75-year-old AARP volunteer Victoria Sims in southeast Tallahassee. Sims was reported missing earlier on Saturday. Police have not stated where or how they were killed, or any connection between the two victims. Police state that they have taken a 49-year-old man, Aaron Glee Jr., into custody, though no other details about his detainment have been released. MUGSHOT: This is 49-year-old Aaron Glee Jr. He was the suspect who Tallahassee police arrested in connection to the killing of a Black Lives Matter activist and an AARP volunteer. MORE: https://t.co/6VHuGt9xtt pic.twitter.com/sg3je1XrAa WCTV Eyewitness News (@WCTV) June 15, 2020 Lehigh Universitys plan to grow its College of Business by adding a three-story building on a Webster Street parking lot gained city approval. The Bethlehem Planning Commission unanimously approved the South Bethlehem universitys plan to construct the $28 million building at 459-461 Webster St. on the site of a 44-space parking lot and three Lehigh administrative buildings. The new addition will sit across from the Rauch Business Center. The new high-tech building will give young businesses a place to grow and students a chance to dive into the world of big data in a new data analytics lab. The proposed 18,500-square-foot building will grow Lehighs financial services lab and expand the business communications center. The Vistex Center for Executive Education -- created by Lehigh MBA alumnus and Vistex, Inc., founder Sanjay Shah -- will occupy the entire third floor. The center provides high-impact, short programs for working professionals. Lehigh is adding a business incubator program in partnership with the Baker Center for Entrepreneurship. Back in January, the planning commission approved the projects sketch plan and the city Zoning Hearing Board granted the project six variances. The commission granted it final approval at Thursdays meeting. Lehigh University plans to construct a three-story building to expand the Rauch Business Center on this West Packer Avenue parking lot.Sara K. Satullo | For lehighvalleylive.com Lehigh will need to demolish two existing university campus facilities/services planning buildings and the Zoellner Arts Center administrative offices to construct the Rauch expansion, according to a letter submitted to the city planning bureau. The administrative offices will be relocated elsewhere on campus, the university has said. The project is part of Lehighs Path to Prominence, an aggressive plan to grow the universitys undergraduate and graduate enrollment by 1,500 students, attract more leading researchers to the faculty and open a new College of Health. Its meant lots of building activity on the campus in recent years. SouthSide Commons, a new five-story development of 426 student apartments at Packer and Brodhead avenues, opened last fall. The university is building a cluster of six new resident halls west of the the Clayton University Center at Packer Hall. The first $75 million phase of the New Residential Houses project -- originally dubbed Bridge West -- is already underway. Three of the dorms were set to open for students this fall, but Pennsylvanias moratorium on construction during the COVID-19 pandemic put the project behind schedule. It remains to be seen whether the coronavirus pandemic slows down Lehighs aggressive growth plans. The university is projecting a $40 million budget gap in its next budget. Lehigh is cutting merit-based raises for staff, its employee retirement match and furloughing employees starting in July. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Some mixed winter precipitation possible early. Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. High 43F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 26F. Winds light and variable. Seguin, TX (78155) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 56F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable. INDIANAPOLIS, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pulmodyne and EMS announced today that following a successful 35-year tenure as the Company's Co-Presidents, Brad Quinn (Pulmodyne) and Jeff Quinn (EMS) will move to their new roles of Co-Chairmen for the Quinn Group, the parent company, effective June 1st, 2020. The firm also announced that Andrew Shurig, Executive Vice President of Pulmodyne, was selected by the board to assume the role of President of Pulmodyne and EMS, effective June 1, 2020. Shurig has been with Pulmodyne for more than 10 years, including more than 6 years as a Vice President. He has also played an active role in helping guide the Company's Strategic Plan over the past 4 years. "Andy has shown his leadership skills all along the way during his tenure with us here at Pulmodyne/EMS," said Jeff Quinn. "We are confident that he will exceed our expectations as our new President and look forward to great days ahead." CFO, Steve Jones, and Vice President of Sales, Richard Hollingworth will continue in their roles. Vice President of Manufacturing Role Filled by Veteran Leader Pulmodyne and EMS also announced today that the board has selected Fred Boyer as the new Vice President of Manufacturing. Boyer has over 30 years of production experience, including more than 25 years at EMS. "Fred has been with this company nearly from the beginning, and has been a steady, guiding influence for our organization," said Shurig. "He is a first man in the door, and last to leave type of individual. He focuses on solutions, not problems, and exemplifies the type culture that we strive for in our organization." New Perspective, Established Experience During his Pulmodyne/EMS career, Shurig has progressed in various leadership roles after joining the company in 2010. He served as the International Sales Manager, helping to establish distribution relationships in more than 70 countries, before assuming the role of Vice President of Sales in 2014. In 2018, he was named to his most recent post as the Executive Vice President. Since 2014, he has overseen the launch of multiple new products, in addition to expansion into several new markets. Shurig has also been coordinating the company's extensive research and development initiatives. Shurig earned his bachelor's degree with a double major in International Business and Marketing from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. In his role as President, Shurig will remain based in Indianapolis, Indiana. "Brad and Jeff Quinn are pioneers in medical devices. The Quinn brothers are known in every corner of the industry," says Shurig. "We will continue to expand our footprint in the industry. Focusing on innovative products, we will continue to leverage our talented team of inventing clinicians to design products that fill unmet needs. Further, we will continue the Quinn legacy of putting the patient first. Top tier customer service has always been a top priority, and that will not change." A Manufacturing Legacy Starting in 1929, the Quinn family has a long history of manufacturing, beginning in the automotive industry. Then, in 1985, Brad and Jeff Quinn launched new venture, Engineered Medical Systems, from a small basement in Indianapolis. The company quickly grew to become a large OEM Manufacturer, working with dozens of companies across the industry. In the late 1990's, the company eventually became the largest US manufacturer of BVM resuscitators. In 2005, EMS launched their own line of branded products under the Pulmodyne label. Since then, the company has grown from a single, airway product line manufactured in Indianapolis, to a large portfolio of Hospital and Emergency Medical products. Further, the company as expanded to now include manufacturing facilities in Baltimore, Maryland and Penang, Malaysia. Since the launch of Pulmodyne, Brad and Jeff have led the company through a sustained period of growth, highlighted by the launch of multiple Disposable CPAP systems, and the launch of the premier emergency cricothyrotomy system available, the Control-Cric. Additionally, the company has enjoyed growth of nearly 600% under their leadership. Moving forward, Brad and Jeff will remain on as Co-Chairmen of the Quinn Group. SOURCE Pulmodyne Related Links www.pulmodyne.com - Twenty four mourners travelled from Mombasa to Siaya county for the burial of a trade unionist - In Siaya county, the body was buried in 30 minutes before the mourners' test samples were taken - The test results were released while on their way in Voi town where one of them turned positive - Upon arriving in Mombasa, they were taken into quarantine as police launched investigations after it emerged they had no appropriate authorisation A woman who was among 24 mourners who travelled all the way from Mombasa to Ndera village in Alego, Siaya county, has tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to the coast. Interestingly, the mourners travelled on Thursday, June 11, without authorisation from the county officials and were only armed with a burial permit that was issued by a chief in Mombasa. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Wakenya wanataka Ikulu ifungwe kwa siku 14 The mourners were taken into quarantine at Mombasa KMTC after one of them tested positive for COVID-19. Photo: Baraka FM Source: UGC READ ALSO: Force, discipline service, or thugs? Kenyans question high police brutality rates In a report by The Standard, the 68-year-old woman who was in the same bus with the mourners tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. On Monday, June 15, Mombasa county commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said all the mourners were forced into quarantine at Mombasa Kenya Medical Training College upon their return from Siaya. The 24 mourners had taken the body of trade unionist Evance Odero from the Coast General Hospital for burial at his village home in Siaya. Odero died on June 5 after developing high fever, with breathing difficulties and it is not clear how his body was allowed to leave the mortuary. READ ALSO: COTU boss Francis Atwoli wants hotels fully opened, local flights resumed Kitiyo said the chief had no authority to issue a travel permit for the mourners outside Mombasa and investigations have since been launched into the matter. A chief has no authority to issue a permit or letter to mourners to attend a burial outside Mombasa, Kitiyo said and added that he ordered an investigation into the letter written by Chief Abdulaziz Mwinyi of Tononoka. When the mourners arrived in Siaya, they found police waiting for them and were only allowed to bury the body for 30 minutes before they were taken to Siaya KMTC where their test samples were taken after parting with KSh 41,000. We were shocked to find police waiting for us after travelling through all roadblocks without any incident, said Anthony Omondi, one of the mourners. After finishing the burial ceremony, the mourners were held at Siaya KMTC before they were allowed to travel the following day. Photo: The Star Source: UGC READ ALSO: Kenya Newspapers review for June 16: Kalonzo, Gideon Moi and Peter Kenneth to feature in Uhuru's new cabinet On the following day, they were then escorted by police up to Salgaa in Nakuru county before another team took over that escorted them up to Mau Summit. Siaya county commissioner Michael ole Tialala said he was aware of the Alego burial and that it was conducted in accordance to the laid down guidelines. At the time of escorting them, the results of their COVID-19 tests had not come out, hence they could not be quarantined. But officers ensured other measures such as social distancing and wearing of masks, he said. Before they arrived in Mombasa, tests results showed a 68-year-old woman had tested positive for COVID-19, sparking panic in the bus as it arrived in Voi town. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. Source: TUKO.co.ke Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com? So, the natural question for Galilee Energy (ASX:GLL) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. Let's start with an examination of the business's cash, relative to its cash burn. View our latest analysis for Galilee Energy When Might Galilee Energy Run Out Of Money? A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. When Galilee Energy last reported its balance sheet in December 2019, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$30m. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$12m. Therefore, from December 2019 it had 2.4 years of cash runway. That's decent, giving the company a couple years to develop its business. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. ASX:GLL Historical Debt June 16th 2020 How Is Galilee Energy's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Galilee Energy didn't record any revenue over the last year, indicating that it's an early stage company still developing its business. So while we can't look to sales to understand growth, we can look at how the cash burn is changing to understand how expenditure is trending over time. Over the last year its cash burn actually increased by 22%, which suggests that management are increasing investment in future growth, but not too quickly. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but investors should be mindful of the fact that will shorten the cash runway. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years. Story continues Can Galilee Energy Raise More Cash Easily? While Galilee Energy does have a solid cash runway, its cash burn trajectory may have some shareholders thinking ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash to fund growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations. Galilee Energy's cash burn of AU$12m is about 10% of its AU$124m market capitalisation. As a result, we'd venture that the company could raise more cash for growth without much trouble, albeit at the cost of some dilution. How Risky Is Galilee Energy's Cash Burn Situation? On this analysis of Galilee Energy's cash burn, we think its cash runway was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. Considering all the factors discussed in this article, we're not overly concerned about the company's cash burn, although we do think shareholders should keep an eye on how it develops. Taking an in-depth view of risks, we've identified 3 warning signs for Galilee Energy that you should be aware of before investing. Of course Galilee Energy may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:32:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- China and Tajikistan should coordinate efforts to contain the COVID-19 epidemic and promote bilateral trade, and be open to new ideas to ensure the implementation of key projects in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone conversation with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon on Tuesday. Xi stressed that China-Tajikistan relations have reached a new historical starting point. The two countries should plan for their cooperation in the "post COVID-19 era" as early as possible in key areas such as economy and trade, investment, energy, interconnectivity and agriculture so as to push for new progress in bilateral relations, Xi said. True friendship reveals itself in time of trouble, Xi said, recalling that when China was at a difficult phase in response to COVID-19, the Tajik government and people from all walks of life supported China's anti-epidemic fight in various forms. After COVID-19 broke out in Tajikistan, China provided assistance to the Tajik side to the best of its ability, Xi said. Medical experts from both sides exchanged experience via video-link and a joint working group of Chinese medical experts visited many places across Tajikistan to actively carry out their work, which demonstrated an integral part of the notion of China-Tajikistan development community and security community, he said. China stands ready to continue to provide support and assistance to brotherly Tajikistan, Xi said. Xi expressed his belief that under the leadership of President Rahmon, Tajikistan will have an early victory against the disease. China, Xi said, is willing to work with Tajikistan and other members of the international community to proactively carry out international cooperation against the pandemic and win together the battle of safeguarding global public health. Enditem Shares in De La Rue have risen this morning after the Serious Fraud Office said it has dropped an investigation into suspected corruption in the banknote and passport maker's South Sudan business. The Basingstoke-based firm which has a regional manufacturing facility in East Africa designed and printed South Sudan's maiden currency when it broke away from Sudan in 2011. The Serious Fraud Office, which launched an investigation into De La Rue over suspected corruption and bribery in the country last year, today said it has dropped it. Banknote maker De La Rue is not longer being investigated over its business in South Sudan 'Following extensive investigation and a thorough and detailed review of the available evidence, the SFO has concluded that this case did not meet the relevant test for prosecution as defined in the Code for Crown Prosecutors,' investigators said. The banknote maker said in a statement: 'De La Rue is pleased that the SFO has closed its investigation and that the SFO is taking no further action in respect of this matter.' Shares in De La Rue rose 8 per cent to 157p in morning trading on Tuesday. De La Rue, which two years ago lost the contract to print Britain's post-Brexit blue passport to a French company, has been struggling in recent years. The company has blamed its problems on being a banknote printer in what is increasingly becoming a cashless society, although analysts have in the past questioned those claims, arguing it was more down to bad management and decisions. Alex Jay, fraud partner at law firm, Gowling WLG, said: 'This will be a welcome development for De La Rue, so that it can focus on its ongoing turnaround plans. 'Companies should be vigilant nonetheless when dealing with high risk jurisdictions, because of the risks not only of doing business there but also of regulatory action. Even if not prosecuted, dealing with regulators can be expensive and time consuming.' The move to a cashless society has increased due to the coronavirus lockdown, but bosses have remained confident that contracts in place would keep its currency factories working at high capacity for the rest of the year. Apart from one site in Sri Lanka, which stopped production for eight weeks, all the company's factories have remained open throughout the pandemic. DAVIS, Calif., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- New self-service features on farmers.gov will help farmers and ranchers manage their conservation activities online and request assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). "These new conservation features join a number of others already available through farmers.gov," said Carlos Suarez, NRCS State Conservationist in California. "As more content and capabilities are added, farmers.gov is quickly becoming the online hub for producers to find resources, submit applications and assistance requests and make connections. Now, amid this pandemic, it is more important than ever to have easily accessible online options for producers to manage their USDA business." Producers can access these conservation features by desktop computer, tablet or phone. They can: Locate their nearest USDA service center; View, download and e-sign documents; Request conservation assistance; Reference technical terms and submit questions; Access information on current and past conservation practices; and View detailed information on all previous and ongoing contracts, including the amount of planned and received cost-share assistance. The new conservation features enhance the request process with a customer-friendly unified mapping tool that allows farmers to locate areas of interest, with high-resolution aerial imagery and multi-layered display functionality. New features include functions from NRCS's Conservation Client Gateway (CCG) while providing an improved user experience. CCG is the NRCS portal for producers, but now these functions are being moved to farmers.gov to give producers one place to do business with NRCS, Farm Service Agency and other USDA agencies. To access their information, producers will need a USDA eAuth account to login into farmers.gov. After obtaining an eAuth account, producers should visit farmers.gov and sign into the site's authenticated portal via the "Sign In / Sign Up" link at the top right of the website. Current CCG users can use their existing login and password to access the conservation features on farmers.gov. CCG will continue to be actively maintained and supported until all core components have been migrated to farmers.gov later this year. Currently, only producers doing business as individuals can view information. Entities, such as an LLC or Trust, or producers doing business on behalf of another customer cannot access the portal at this time, but entities can still use CCG. More features are coming soon to farmers.gov in planned updates. SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service Related Links http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, all the three defence chiefs and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar over the Galwan Valley clash, according to sources on Tuesday. The latest escalation on the border standoff from the Chinese side was discussed during the meeting. Singh will also brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the incident. In a shocking development from eastern Ladakh, a Colonel-rank Army officer and two soldiers were killed during a violent clash with Chinese troops at one of the standoff points in the Galwan Valley. The officer killed was commanding an infantry battalion. The incident took place on June 15 night. The 'shocking' bloodshed incident at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a first to take place in the last 45 years. Confirming the report, an Army official said that the incident came during the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley and that senior military officials of both sides are currently meeting to defuse the situation. According to sources, 3-4 casualties have been reported on the Chinese side too. While calling India to not take unilateral action on the killing of its troops in the border standoff, China accused Indian soldiers of crossing border and attacking Chinese personnel, that caused the latest standoff. Details of what exactly led to the violent face-off are not clear at the moment although reports state that no firearms were used and deaths took place after stones were pelted by troops from both sides. A large number of Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in a standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions and demanded their immediate withdrawal for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row. Indian Army chief MM Naravane, who was scheduled to visit Pathankot, has cancelled his trip in view of the Ladakh incident. The agonizing development at the eastern Ladakh comes at a time when India and China are continuing diplomatic and military engagements for an early resolution of the standoff between border troops. However, despite their continuous dialogues, the border row seems to have been mounting up with June 16 witnessing bloodshed on both sides. The two sides had made headway in talks last week with army chief General MM Naravane saying disengagement was in progress. The development had come after weeks of tension, including an incident in which patrolling soldiers from the two sides came to blows on the banks of Pangong Lake, resulting in injuries. First incident of violence leading to fatalities between India and China in over four decades: The last deaths on the India-China border were in 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by the Chinese soldiers on the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh. At least four soldiers were killed in a Chinese ambush in Arunachal Pradesh. This is the first instance of casualty between the two sides since then. Upon taking office, President Donald Trump launched an all-out war against the rights of LGBTQ peopleparticularly transgender Americans. His administration has used every tool at its disposal to rewrite federal civil rights laws to abolish protections for gay, bisexual, and transgender people. And on Monday, in one fell swoop, the Supreme Court blew up this yearslong effort by obliterating the legal theory behind Trumps crusade. The Trump administration based its theory on an extremely narrow definition of the word sex. Many civil rights laws outlaw discrimination because of sex, and the Obama administration argued that those protections encompass transgender people as well. The Obama administration issued a slew of rules and regulations prohibiting anti-trans discrimination in health care, education, employment, and more. Moreover, under President Barack Obama, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission declared that anti-gay discrimination qualifies as sex discrimination, allowing the agency to begin representing gay and bisexual people who faced discrimination at work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once Trump took office, he rewarded loyal social conservatives with a push, coordinated by the White House, to wipe out these LGBTQ-friendly regulations. ThenAttorney General Jeff Sessions reversed the Justice Departments determination that the Civil Rights Act safeguards transgender employees. Ben Carson, secretary of housing and urban development, is proposing a rule that would let homeless shelters discriminate against transgender people. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos repealed a rule allowing students to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity at federally funded schools. More recently, her agency announced it will defund schools that prohibit discrimination against transgender athletesmeaning DeVos will not only condone anti-trans school policies, but demand them. And on Friday, director of the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Roger Severino finalized a rule that would let medical providers and insurers deny treatment and coverage to transgender patients.* Federal courts are now all but obligated to invalidate these measures. Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration was already defending its anti-trans rules in court. Now it will probably lose every case. In each case, the Trump administration insisted it was merely applying the correct definition of sex. The Civil Rights Act, it noted, does not contain the words sexual orientation or gender identity. Neither does the Affordable Care Act, the Fair Housing Act, or Title IX. The Obama administration claimed it was impossible to discriminate against transgender people without taking their sex into accountthat is, without punishing them for failing to conform to the sex they were assigned at birth. Similarly, the EEOC claimed it was impossible to discriminate against gay or bisexual people without taking their sex into accountthat is, without faulting them for having a partner of the same sex. The Trump administration rejected these interpretations, instead proclaiming that sex merely means biological sex and does not, on its own, cover LGBTQ people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps Department of Justice presented its theories squarely to the Supreme Court. And in Mondays Bostock v. Clayton County ruling, the court rejected them by a 63 vote. It is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority, without discriminating against that individual based on sex. Whenever someone penalizes an LGBTQ person for being LGBTQ, the victims sex plays an unmistakable and impermissible role. Bostock only deals with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But its reasoning applies to other laws that forbid sex discrimination. As Justice Samuel Alito helpfully pointed out in his furious dissent, more than 100 federal statutes prohibit discrimination because of sex. Alito complained that Gorsuchs radical decision could affect some of these laws, and he is absolutely right. There is no good reason to hold that sex discrimination means one thing in the Civil Rights Act and something else entirely in every other context. If the Supreme Court had held that the meaning of sex is ambiguous, these agencies definition of the term would have at least received judicial deference. Gorsuch, however, foreclosed that possibility by clarifying that no ambiguity exists about the application of sex discrimination laws to LGBTQ people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration was already defending its anti-trans rules in court. Now it will probably lose every case. Consider the ACA, which included a little-noticed yet hugely important provision outlawing sex discrimination in health care. Obamas HHS interpreted this rule to protect transgender patients. Trumps HHS, by contrast, issued a new denial of care rule letting medical providers refuse to treat transgender patients. The agency had awful timing: It issued the rule just three days before the Supreme Court handed down Bostock and actually acknowledged that the decision would likely have ramifications for the ACA. Indeed it does. Bostock fatally undermines the rules very premise, that a ban on sex discrimination does not encompass transgender people. Advertisement Advertisement It is, of course, possible to defend discrimination in different contexts. Trumps HHS, for example, tried feebly to explain why anti-trans health care discrimination might be legal even if anti-trans employment discrimination were not. But all it could muster was a vague assertion that the binary biological character of sex (which is ultimately grounded in genetics) takes on special importance in the health context. What does that mean? Is HHS arguing doctors have a better reason to discriminate against trans people than employers, because genetics? Who knows? The Trump administration obviously embarked upon its anti-trans campaign under the assumption that SCOTUS would vindicate its legal theory. And in Bostock, the court refused to play ball. Mondays decision does not end all federal discrimination against LGBTQ people. There are still plenty of questions about transgender peoples rights under the Constitution rather than federal statutes. For instance, can the president, as commander in chief, ban transgender troops from the military? (The Supreme Courts five conservatives let Trumps ban take effect in 2019.) Can states forbid transgender people from updating their birth certificates? These disputes revolve around the Constitutions guarantee of equal protection, not any federal law. It is possible that justices like Gorsuch will maintain a cramped view of constitutional equality for LGBTQ people. Advertisement Under federal civil rights law, though, this debate is as good as settled. Where Congress outlawed sex discrimination, it also outlawed anti-LGBTQ discrimination. The Supreme Court has validated a definition of bias broad enough to sweep in gender and sexual minorities. In doing so, the justices eradicated the Trump administrations lone legal justification for its anti-LGBTQ offensive. Correction, June 15, 2020: This piece originally misidentified Roger Severino as the Health and Human Services secretary. He is the director of the Office of Civil Rights at the department. Pride Is Gonna Look Different This Year, and We Couldnt Be Prouder Bryan Lowder, Christina Cauterucci, and Rumaan Alam are joined by Bob the Drag Queen and Mark Joseph Stern to discuss the Black Lives Matter protests, HBOs Were Here, the fifth anniversary of marriage equality, and the Supreme Courts momentous Title VII employment discrimination decision on Outward, Slates LGBTQ podcast. Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) have decided to run selective suburban services. Mumbai: After a gap of more than two and half months, Mumbais local trains, considered as the lifeline of the countrys financial capital, were back on track on Monday. However, with the Maharashtra government allowing only essential services staff to travel, the decision has not gone down well with employees working in banks and private firms. The Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) have decided to run selective suburban services over the main line and harbour line with the protocol and standard operating procedure (SOP) defined by the state government. Only the essential staff identified by the state government will be allowed to travel and the train services are not available for the general public, said the railway officials. Mumbai local train services were suspended on March 22 due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. However, after the Maharashtra government relaxed the lockdown on June 8, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had demanded that local train services should be resumed to ease the burden on public transport. According to railway officials, the CR will run 200 train services on the main line and harbour line, whereas the WR will run 73 services. Against a seating capacity of1,200, only 700 people are to be allowed per train. The railways has also asked the state government to stagger office timings to avoid overcrowding at stations. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Maharashtra police will be deployed at various stations to ensure that only essential staff are using the train services. Entry will be given to only those having government ID cards. However, while approximately 1.25 lakh employees of essential services of the state government are expected to be benefited by the local trains, others are miffed over being excluded from using the services. Employees from banks and private firms have demanded that they should also be allowed to travel by the trains. In a letter written to the state chief secretary, Maharashtra State Bank Employees Federation (MSBEF) has requested the government to allow bank employees to use the suburban train services as they too are part of essential services. We request you to extend this service to the bank employees to enable them to report to their duties regularly. This will also facilitate extending full-fledged banking services to all, the letter said. Bank employees have been working continuously during the lockdown period. In the COVID-19 pandemic, 12 bank employees have lost their lives in Mumbai, whereas 2,100 employees have been infected by the virus. The banking sector should be included in the essential services to allow its employees to travel by trains, said Devidas Tuljapurkar, the convenor of Union Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). An employee working for a private firm in Mumbai said, Though we are not from essential services, we have been asked by our company to work as per the state government guidelines. Many of the private firm employees live in far off suburbs and they have to travel by buses to reach offices in Mumbai. It consumes a lot of time, which is very arduous. Sharing is caring! 31 shares Share 31 Tweet Pin It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty, the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living. This is just one of my absolute favorite quotes by renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, a man whose life work inspires me every single day. As far back as I can remember, animals have held a soft spot in my heart. Wildlife photos have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Whether I was falling asleep at night clutching my raggedy Blue Bunny stuffed animal or petting every dog I could find, there is just such a fundamental and straightforward pleasure that comes with the comfort of a pet. Reflecting, the cats and dogs I had as a kid were the light of my life. And I can still remember screaming my head off the first time I saw someone run over a squirrel as a kid, and Im pretty the old film Old Yeller permanently scarred me (when the had to put down the namesake dog) shivers, still makes me so upset. Growing older, my love for the animal world only deepened. From a stint as a noisy vegetarian in high school fighting with PETA to end factory-farmed chickens to volunteering at my local animal shelter, Ive always been drawn to animals. In many ways, as a deeply introverted person, animals have always been my friends. I suppose it makes sense that taking wildlife photos and working with animals has become an integral part of my storytelling as I developed this wild career in travel blogging. As a society, we are collectively evolving to respect animals a lot more. Gone are the days of visiting the circus or poking the glass enclosures of zoos, instead replaced by a strong desire to protect animals in the wild. Sure, the dream of cuddling a baby tiger is beautiful, but its ethically wrong. Now, its much better to dream of seeing tigers calling in the wild where they belong, to watch them hunt or nap in the grass. The real beauty of an animal is best experienced out in the wild, where there are no guarantees of anything, and they are genuinely themselves. As I found my voice, my passion, and motivation over the years on this blog, it quickly became apparent to me how important it was to share the stories of wildlife and the people who work in that sector. In general, conservation initiatives are underfunded, ignored, and quickly swept to the side, as louder people scream for attention for development schemes and more present issues. After all, the roar of a lonely lion in Africa hunted by poachers isnt heard in the dark halls of the Senate in Washington, D.C. So as the years rolled by, I found myself taking on more and more work and travel with elements of wildlife conservation to them. Sharing the stories of animals in the wild is my great lifelong passion. While we all may be stuck at home for the foreseeable future, lets not forget that the world moves on, and the wildlife we love to observe continue living their lives, whether or not we are there to witness it. Here are 20 of my favorite wildlife photos Ive taken over the years all over the world with a little story behind them, revealing just how profound those moments were to me. Enjoy. 1. Pilot whales Stewart Island I can easily pinpoint the exact moment where my entire attitude changed around wildlife conservation the day I found 145 beaching pilot whales alone while tramping on Stewart Island. In no uncertain terms, it fucked me up big time. I still cant believe I found the courage in myself to take a few photos to document the stranding, knowing the impact my wildlife photos could have on the world. An emotional, painful, heartwrenching experience, those days with my dying whales, will forever shape who I am and who I want to be. From that exact moment I vowed to myself, I would do all I can to help. I would use my voice for those wild creatures who cant speak for themselves, supported in part by Project Jonah NZ. 2. King penguins South Georgia Visiting South Georgia with Intrepid Travel a few summers ago was one of those life-changing trips. I had been dreaming about visiting here one day for so long, and when it finally happened, I about died from joy. One of the most remote places on earth, South Georgia is a wild uninhabited island once used by whalers in the Southern Ocean hundreds of kilometers off the coasts of Antarctica and Argentina. As our zodiac boats cruised in and dropped us in St. Andrews Bay, my mouth gaped open as the sounds of tens of thousands of king penguins boomed in the background. An unimaginable scale of wildlife, its one of the most incredible places on the entire planet. And for wildlife photos? Couldnt be better! 3. The kakapo New Zealand If youve followed me for a while, you know that Im a bit of a bird nerd. My deep love for our feathered friends was, in large part, inspired by New Zealands natural history as a land of only birds. Before humans arrived, there were no mammals here, minus a couple of bats. A land ruled by birds, New Zealand, is still home to some of the oddest and most curious of avian creatures, like the kakapo, most of which teeter on the brink of extinction. The kakapo is my favorite animal. A flightless nocturnal (somewhat chubby) parrot that looks like an owl and an avocado had a baby; the kakapo is both charming and quirky and extremely rare. With only 210 kakapo left in the world, their plight represents the dangers, so many of our beautiful creatures face today. Do we stand by and watch them go extinct on our watch (which is also our fault), or do we do all we can to save them? 4. The leopard Botswana If you ever visit southern Africa on safari, youll quickly learn about the Big Five the five most difficult and dangerous animals in Africa to hunt on foot you know, back when that was normal. They include the lion, rhino, elephant, Cape buffalo, and leopard. Nowadays, youll still want to shoot them, but just with a camera is that joke in poor taste? Forgive me. The hardest to spot is the elusive leopard. Quiet and shy and generally nocturnal, if you get to spend time with one on safari, youll count yourself very lucky. 5. Polar bears Svalbard For as far as I can remember, it was one of my biggest dreams to see polar bears in Svalbard, an icy wilderness north of Norway in the Arctic. Inspired by the Golden Compass books as a kid, it was a dream come true to voyage there by ship a few years ago, tracking polar bears. Knowing polar bears are facing extinction through habitat loss, as the Arctic ice (their home) shrinks year by year due to global warming, made the trip all the more profound. My wildlife photos from Svalbard helped shape my journey as a blogger to this day. 6. Golden eagles Kyrgyzstan Central Asia is a spectacular place, and nowhere is more impressive than Kyrgyzstan. Mountainous and beautiful, here you can still find the nomadic traditions going strong, from bride-napping (awful) to eagle hunting (epic). Seeing their culture of hunting with golden eagles is nothing short of impressive. Getting to hold Ak Zholtoi, the champion eagle queen of Kyrgyzstan, was a once in a lifetime Ill never forget. Especially since I dropped her. Fuck. 7. Camels Jordan Not all wildlife encounters are fabulous and Instagrammable. Some just plain suck, like that one time I fell off a camel in Jordan, thoroughly breaking myself and my new camera. Now, whenever I see camels, I just see this bright white light of pain and go UGHHHH. Even though it was my fault, it still cant make me love camels. I hate them. 8. Koalas Australia Koalas are cute and furry, the total grandpas of the marsupial world, especially with their furry ears. While they arent endangered (yet), they are listed as vulnerable, especially after the devastating bushfires in Australia halved their population and decimated the highly-flammable eucalyptus forests they love. Oh, and they all have chlamydia. WTF. 9. Asian elephants Sri Lanka Is there anything more enjoyable than seeing an elephant in the wild? Nope. Intelligent, beautiful, and caring creatures, I can (and often do) sit and observe elephants for hours and hours on safari. Ive seen many of them both in Africa and also in Asia, having my first significant experience with elephants in the wild in Sri Lanka, where they charged us. Unforgettable. 10. Adelie Penguins Antarctica Penguins in Antarctica? Enough said. 11. Monkeys Bali Unpopular opinion monkeys are little devils. Ive never shied away from controversy, so Im not even fazed to say this. Monkeys are evil. This is coming from personal experience. They look cute and stuff, but they are not. Do not be fooled. 12. Reindeer Finland You cant journey into the Arctic circle and not see some reindeer! One of the highlights of visiting Finnish Lapland in winter was seeing all of the iconic reindeer. I spent time with local reindeer farmers, even going on a sleigh ride in the snow. While it might not technically count as wildlife photos, they still are some of my favorite. 13. Lions South Africa Seeing lions on safari in Africa is something unimaginably amazing. Majestic and scary, getting a glimpse of them in the wild is pretty special. I celebrated by 27th birthday on a trip to South Africa, totally amazing, I know. Seeing a pride of lions was the icing on the cake. To be honest, they arent always hard to find. The thugs of the big cats, they arent shy, and you can smell them and their kill long before you see them. Unfazed by humans in safari trucks, no matter how many times youve watched the Lion King, you arent prepared for how spectacular it is to see these guys up close and personal. 14. Horses Mongolia Perhaps one of the most heartfelt blog posts Ive ever written is about how Mongolia changed my life. Six years later, and I still remember how much it meant to me. I spent close to a month here riding horses with the Khazak nomads around the Altai region. Nothing has come close to this before or since. The horses in Mongolia are almost half-wild. Unnamed, they are small and fierce mountain ponies. 15. Southern Royal Albatross Campbell Island Albatross are one of my favorite seabirds and with good reason. They are so majestic and beautiful. Watching them soar and sweep in the sky is mesmerizing. Seeing one of the largest species of albatross, the Southern Royal, nesting on Campbell Island was an experience Ill never forget. Enormous and graceful, they are some of the most beautiful birds in the world. Above all, now more than ever, we need to work on protecting them. My shots of albatross are some of my favorite wildlife photos Ive ever taken. 16. Sea turtles Australia Nothing beats snorkeling with sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. Fingers crossed its still there in 20 years. 17. Kea New Zealand You have got to love a creature that is highly intelligent yet chooses to be evil. The kea is the worlds only alpine parrot and calls the mountains of New Zealands South Island home. Incredibly smart and incredibly cheeky, they are so much fun to see in the wild, even though their numbers are endangered. Unafraid of humans, kea make for excellent wildlife photos too. Keep an eye on your stuff. Kea love to steal things or rip things apart. 18. Rockhopper penguins Falkland Islands Im such a sucker for crested penguins. Famous for their wily bright eyebrows, I always think of these guys as the rockstars of the penguin world. Visiting a colony of rockhopper penguins on the Falkland Islands was a total dream come true, especially since there were baby chicks everywhere! 19. Elephant seals Macquarie Island Man, I love elephant seals. Why? Because the babies are cute, and they fart like crazy. The largest species of seals in the world, the southern elephant seal, can be found around the subantarctic islands like Macquarie Island. Now recovering from being hunted close to extinction for their blubber, they lounge around on the beach and can be roughly the size of a truck. Seriously, they are enormous. Once theyre grown, their nose takes on that elephant trunk look, giving them their name. Giant and dangerous, you give them a wide berth when visiting their turf. 20. Manta Rays Maldives The Maldives are a real paradise on earth, both below sea levels and above too. A place Ive been lucky enough to visit twice, I can still remember sinking beneath the bath temperature waves to an incredible wilderness below while on dive trips. The Maldives is an underwater mecca for diving enthusiasts, and its a great place to spot manta rays, eagle rays, and whale sharks. I cant wait to return. Have you been to any of these places? Wheres your favorite destination for wildlife photos? What creature do you dream of seeing in the wild? Share! Delta State senator, Peter Nwaoboshi, has dragged Lauretta Onochie, a presidential aide, and Charles Odili, the spokesperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), before the high courts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Delta state for alleged defamation of character. Ms Onochie and Mr Odili are being accused of falsely accusing the senator of contract fraud. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Nwaoboshi who was recently accused of contract fraud by NDDC threatened to sue Ms Onochie, a social media assistant at the State House, demanding a retraction and apology over a social media post he considers defamatory. Mr Nwaoboshis lawyers wrote a letter to Ms Onochie last Tuesday, asking her to retract her post or face legal action for suggesting that the senator is guilty of contract fraud alleged by the NDDC in a post she made on her Facebook page. This is not the first time the outspoken aide will be engaged in controversies over online posts. A similar letter was also sent to Mr Odili, the NDDC spokesperson, who issued the statement accusing the senator of using 11 companies as fronts to secure for himself N3.6 billion contract in September 2016. According to the statement issued last Sunday by Mr Odili, the contract was the biggest single case of looting of the commissions resources. After denying any involvement in the contract fraud, Mr Nwaoboshi appeared to have made good his threat by instituting legal action against the presidential aide and the spokesperson. According to separate writ of summons prepared by Mr Nwaoboshis lawyers, Daniel Bwala Chambers, and seen by PREMIUM TIMES, both Ms Onochie and Mr Odili are being asked to pay varying degrees of fines as damages for libel. An order of this Honorable court directing the defendant to publicly apologize to the claimant for the said false and misleading publication of June 8th and any other post on her social media platforms against the claimant, read the summon instituted against Ms Onochie bearing stamps of the FCT high court and that of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) dated 15/06/2020. When contacted, Ms Onochie said she is yet to be served with the summons. On another hand, the lawmaker demands a combined fine of N1.5 billion from Mr Odili as damages. The claimant claims against the defendant, N5million as damages for libel for the press statement, read the general writ submitted at the high court of Delta State stamped and dated 15/16/2020. The suit also carries N5million each as damages for the publications of the press statements on the Sun Newspaper and its online version. Mr Odili did not respond to calls Tuesday seeking to know if he has been served with the court summons. AmazonBy KAITLYN FOLMER, VICTORIA HAFFNER and ANGELINE JANE BERNABE, ABC News (NEW YORK) -- As more businesses and workplaces reopen across the country, companies are coming up with new safety measures to keep their employees safe from COVID-19. At Amazon, they're reimagining the workplace with a new kind of technology to help with social distancing. It's called the Distance Assistant, and it will provide employees with live feedback on social distancing via a 50-inch monitor, a camera and a local computing device. Through this technology and its sensors, the company will be able to calculate the distance between people in the workspace. "New technology is an important piece of reopening more safely, and I think what Amazon is doing with the Distance Assistant is a really nice example of it," said Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg, director of energy studies in the buildings laboratory at the University of Oregon. "Behavior change is really difficult to overcome and to accomplish, and so anything that we can do with visual cues or other inputs to help make change and make it more meaningful for people I think is really important." In a video filmed at an Amazon warehouse in Washington, where the Distance Assistant device is set up, employees are seen walking in high-traffic areas, past monitors with mounted cameras. As they walk past the cameras, a monitor displays live video to show if they are within 6 feet of one another -- which is indicated by green circles -- while those who are closer together are highlighted with red circles. So far, Amazon has already installed these units in a handful of its buildings and has received positive employee feedback. They plan to deploy hundreds more in its facilities over the next few weeks. "This kind of technology will be super useful in places like elevator lobbies and general lobby spaces or cafeterias where there'll be people moving in lots of different directions," Wymelenberg said. "It can give guidance to people to help keep that spatial distance." While the Distance Assistant is unique, it isn't Amazon's first innovative approach to fighting COVID-19. Recently, the company tested out a UV light robot to disinfect a Whole Foods store, and they also used 3D printers to produce face shields for first responders. The software for Distance Assistant will be free in the near future using an open source website, but Amazon has not set a specific date. "This solution is just one of many ideas that have surfaced over the past few months," said Brad Porter, vice president and engineer leading Amazons robotics initiatives, including robotic drive units, recent Canvas acquisition, the Scout delivery bot program and Prime Air drone delivery. "Knowing my colleagues and their drive, it will not be the last. Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our employees, and we'll continue to innovate to keep them as safe as possible." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. U.S. firms can work with Huawei on setting standards for next-generation technologies, the Department of Commerce said Monday, June 15, 2020. STEFAN WERMUTH | AFP | Getty Images U.S. firms can work with Huawei on setting standards for next-generation technologies, the Department of Commerce said Monday. The move is significant because it means American firms will be able to participate in the formation of so-called standards, which are specifications and rules that govern how critical technologies work. Huawei was put on a U.S. blacklist called the Entity List in May 2019. U.S. firms were restricted from doing business with the Chinese technology giant and required licenses to sell to it. But the blacklisting also created confusion as to whether U.S. firms could be involved in standards setting discussions and organizations where Huawei was also a participant. The United States will not cede leadership in global innovation. This action recognizes the importance of harnessing American ingenuity to advance and protect our economic and national security. Wilbur Ross U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary The Department of Commerce has changed that rule, helping to clarify that U.S. firms can work with Huawei in standards setting bodies. "The United States will not cede leadership in global innovation. This action recognizes the importance of harnessing American ingenuity to advance and protect our economic and national security," U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement. "The Department is committed to protecting U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by encouraging U.S. industry to fully engage and advocate for U.S. technologies to become international standards." The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a global tech trade body, welcomed the move. "It is exceptionally important for U.S. companies to be at the table. Being forced to cede their seat at the table to the likes of Huawei no less, was in nobody's interest, except the Chinese," Naomi Wilson, senior director of policy for Asia at ITI, told CNBC. "The last thing we want to see is unintended consequence that negatively affects U.S. companies' competitiveness." What are standards? Standards are critical to technologies. The reason we can go around the world and use Wi-Fi quite easily in most places is because industry bodies have worked out standards for the technology. These are technical specifications and other things that spell out how a technology works and allows different devices or systems around the world to work together. U.S. and European technology firms have been key players in defining technology standards for the last generation of technology. But now, new technologies are emerging such as next-generation mobile internet known as 5G or autonomous vehicles. Who gets to define those standards has yet to be determined. China has stated its ambitions clearly: Not only does it want to develop its own domestic standards, it also wants to push its participation internationally. Huawei, which participates in telecommunications standards setting bodies, is part of that push. CNBC recently reported on a plan called China Standards 2035, an ambitious 15-year blueprint that will lay out Beijing's goals to set the global standards for the next generation of technologies. And that has raised some concerns about China's growing influence on the global technology scene. Huawei will be a big part of that plan given its strength in areas from telecommunications to mobile phones and cloud computing. Need for U.S. to stay in the race Without the U.S. companies involved in standards setting, the concern is American technology firms could lose their competitiveness. The Department of Commerce itself recognized the importance of U.S. companies in setting standards for the future. It is exceptionally important for U.S. companies to be at the table. Being forced to cede their seat at the table to the likes of Huawei no less, was in nobody's interest, except the Chinese. Naomi Wilson Information Technology Industry Council A class-action lawsuit has been filed against a real estate company on North Carolinas Outer Banks after it allegedly refused to issue refunds for people who couldnt visit because of coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that the suit was filed against Surf or Sound Realty. The company initially promised refunds to people who couldnt reach beach homes because Dare County closed its borders. But the Avon-based company then changed course, refusing to offer refunds but giving customers the chance to change vacation dates. Attorney Gary Jackson filed the suit on Tuesday in Dare County. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission had ruled that renters who could not reach their beach houses because of county restrictions were due a refund. And most companies are complying, said Jimmy Anderson, president of the Outer Banks Association of Realtors. But Dale Petty, Surf or Sound Realtys CEO, disagrees with the commissions decision, according to a letter to a homeowner that was later posted on Facebook. Petty said that many homeowners have lost jobs and are struggling financially. He said that the countys closure and the real estate commissions refund ruling amounted to a weapon of mass destruction for vacation rental companies. The Pilots phone calls to the companys attorney, Lloyd Smith of Windsor, were not immediately returned. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits North Carolina Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday urged opponents of Beijings plan to impose national security legislation in the financial hub to stop smearing the effort, labelling those who were critical of the legislation the enemy of the people. Beijing plans to impose the legislation in the semi-autonomous territory as a means to tackle what it labels secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference. Critics see it as an existential threat to the one country, two systems framework that was agreed when the British returned Hong Kong to Chinese rule in 1997. The Chinese government and Lams Beijing-backed city administration say the law will not curtail freedoms but will target a small number of troublemakers and help bring stability after a year of anti-government protests. I urge opponents who still use the usual tactics to demonise and smear the work to stop, because by doing this they become the enemy of the Hong Kong people, Lam said before a cabinet meeting, referring to the legislation. The vast majority want to restore stability and have safety, satisfaction and employment. Focus on autonomy Lam was speaking a year to the day since Hong Kongs biggest-ever demonstration, when about 2 million people, according to organisers, marched against a now-withdrawn extradition bill that would have allowed people to be sent for trial in mainland China. Critics saw that bill as a threat to the citys judicial independence, and the protests continued even after it was withdrawn, broadening into a campaign for greater democracy. This year, the coronavirus outbreak brought a lull in protests, but they have resumed since Beijing announced the plan for the security law. Details of the legislation have not been announced, but it has been widely criticised, not only by democracy activists but by diplomats, lawyers and business leaders who also fear it could erode rights and freedoms. Lam also said the government was considering relaxing restrictions aimed at stopping the coronavirus, but it was unlikely they would be completely scrapped. Hong Kongs borders are almost fully closed and gatherings are limited to eight people, although life is slowly returning to normal. The rules have helped limit numbers at demonstrations, with police citing the coronavirus in rejecting applications for rallies. Amazon Inc. is pairing cameras with artificial intelligence to enforce social distancing among employees in its offices and warehouses. The system gives employees real time feedback on whether they are complying with the six feet social distancing rule. Given social distancing isnt always natural, this team set out to use augmented reality to create a magic-mirror-like tool that helps associates see their physical distancing from others, writes engineer Brad Porter in a blog entry on Amazons website. The real-time system, known as Distance Assistant, calculates a distance measurement between workers. As employees walk past a camera, they can see a live video where those who are six feet apart are highlighted with green circles, while those too close together are highlighted with red circles. Weve heard that employees find value in getting immediate visual feedback, and site leaders are welcoming another safety measure, according to Porter. Companies Bet On AI Cameras to Track Social Distancing, Limit Liability Employers say the cameras allow them to show not only workers and customers, but also insurers and regulators, that they are monitoring and enforcing safe practices.. Employers Deploy Spy Software to Monitor At-Home Workers Its legal for businesses to keep an unblinking eye on employees as long as they disclose theyre doing it. Software Allows Drones to Monitor Social Distancing, Face Masks A California startup company that makes drones released new software for monitoring social distancing and face-mask wearing from the air. This system followed an earlier move that applied artificial intelligence and machine learning to the camera footage in Amazons buildings to help identify high traffic areas and guide additional measures to improve social distancing. In implementing that earlier technology, Porter said his team saw an opportunity to evolve our tech even further and promote social distancing behavior in real-time. There is increasing interest in extending technologies into work and public areas to gauge pandemic responses. Employers say the cameras allow them to show not only workers and customers, but also insurers and regulators, that they are monitoring and enforcing safe practices.. Ford Motor Co. has been exploring the use of technology to monitor social distancing with wearables that buzz workers who are violating the safe distance rule. Last week, Airspace Systems, a California startup company that makes drones that can hunt down and capture other drones, released new software for monitoring social distancing and face-mask wearing from the air. The software analyzes video streams captured by drones and can identify when people are standing close together or points where people gather in clusters. The software can detect when people are wearing masks. The system can also process video captured by ground-based cameras. Airspace aims to sell the system to cities and police departments. Bloomberg has reported on some employers monitoring at-home workers, not for safety but for productivity, using spy software. Amazon plans to deploy hundreds of its Distance Assistant units over the next few weeks. It said it will also open source the software and AI so that others can create their own Distance Assistant. The giant online retailer has faced criticism from some employees and officials over some of its safety and labor practices during the pandemic. In early April, Amazon terminated a critic of the companys warehouse conditions in the pandemic, on grounds that he put others at risk by violating his paid quarantine when he joined a demonstration at Amazons Staten Island, New York, fulfillment center. Two weeks later, Amazon fired two other employees who criticized the working conditions, for what Amazon said was repeatedly violating internal policies. Amazons French warehouses were closed for a period over complaints by union workers.. The company has responded to a surge in online orders during the pandemic, with most of its fulfillment centers remaining open. According to Bloomberg and media reports, more than 1,100 of its employees have been sickened by Covid-19 and nine have died. Other safety measures Amazon has taken include distributing personal protective gear and masks for workers, instituting temperature checks and disinfectant spraying. The company said it is working on building scalable testing for coronavirus. Photo: Distance Assistant, Amazon. The Accra Circuit Court 4 has granted bail to two persons allegedly involved in the stealing of 64 HP Probook laptop computers belonging to the National Identification Authority. The computers were allegedly stolen in the course of the Ghana Card registration. The first accused person, Frank Nketiah, a trader is said to have bought the laptop machine from an NIA employee and in turn, sold it to Victor Maduka who plies his trade at Kwame Nkrumah circle. Lawyers for the suspects told the Court presided over by Emmanuel Essandoh that the accused persons have been on police enquiry bail for nine months and needed mercy. The lawyers assured the Court that the accused persons were of no flight risk and would keep with Court dates if granted bail. The two have subsequently been granted bail; Frank Nketia with GHS85, 000 with four sureties three of whom shall be public officers earning not less than GHS3000; and Victor Maduka with GHS85,000 with two sureties one of whom must be a public servant earning not less than GHS2,000. The case has been adjourned to 6th July 2020. In a related development, three NIA laptops were stolen at Asokore Mampong in the Ashanti Region in December 2019. Officials of the National Identification Authority at one of the centres at Aboabo in the Asokore Mampong Municipality could not trace the laptops when they returned from the Christmas break. After a similar instance, the Nsuta Circuit Court in the Sekyere Central District sentenced a 20-year old student of the Agona Senior High Technical School (ASTEC) to four years imprisonment for stealing a laptop used in the ongoing Ghana Card registration in the Ashanti Region. --- Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:19:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HELSINKI, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Finnish ship design company Deltamarin announced on Tuesday that it has signed a contract with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) Co., Ltd (CMJL) for cooperation on the design of Finnish shipping operator Finnlines' Superstar ro-pax vessel project. The vessels will be Finnlines' flagships that accord with the highest technical and environmental standards. The length of the vessels will be 235 meters and the beam 33 meters. Their loading capacity will include 5,100 lane meters for rolling freight and about 1,200 passengers. The two vessels will be constructed by CMJL in China with design and consultancy support provided by Deltamarin. They will operate on the Naantali-Langnas-Kapellskar route between Finland and Sweden after their expected delivery in 2023, according to Deltamarin. Deltamarin said in a press release issued on Tuesday that after the economic difficulties caused by COVID-19 this year, the contract is of great significance, as it further enhances the company's employment situation for the coming 18 months. The company added that the work will be mainly advanced at its offices in Finland. It has earlier provided the Chinese shipyard with consultancy and contract design services on the project. "We at Deltamarin are extremely happy and thankful to get this contract during this very abnormal global business environment caused by COVID-19 epidemic," said Janne Uotila, managing director of Deltamarin, in the press release. Mikael Lindholm, head of Newbuilding Department of Finnlines, indicated that Finnlines has chosen naval Deltamarin and CMJL shipyard based on their extensive experience with building ro-pax vessels. "We look forward to collaborating with them in future," he said. Deltamarin and CMJL shipyard have rich experience in cooperation. The recent cooperative projects are vessels for Swedish Stena Line and Italian Giovanni Visentini Trasporti Fluviomarittimi, according to the company. "This contract with Deltamarin further deepens the collaboration between our two companies. We and the end customers have always been very satisfied with the support provided by Deltamarin in these demanding projects," Deputy General Manager of CMJL Justin Liu was quoted as saying in Deltamarin's press release. Headquartered in Turku, southwestern Finland, Deltamarin Group has 30 years of experience in providing ship design, offshore engineering and construction support services for marine and offshore industries worldwide. Founded in 1951, China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai)'s predecessor was Weihai Shipyard in eastern China's Shandong Province. The shipyard is mainly engaged in the design, manufacture and maintenance of large and medium-sized ships and marine engineering equipment. Enditem North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border on Tuesday, after days of increasingly virulent rhetoric from Pyongyang. The demolition came after Kim Yo Jong -- the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- said at the weekend the "useless north-south joint liaison office" would soon be seen "completely collapsed". Footage of the explosion released by Seoul's presidential Blue House showed a blast rolling across several buildings just across the border in Kaesong, with a nearby tower partially collapsing as clouds of smoke rose into the sky. Analysts say Pyongyang may be seeking to manufacture a crisis to increase pressure on Seoul while nuclear negotiations with Washington are at a standstill. After an emergency meeting, the National Security Council said it would "react strongly" if Pyongyang "continues to take steps that aggravate the situation". "All responsibility for repercussions stemming from this action falls squarely on the North," it added. The liaison office -- in a dormant industrial zone where Southern companies once employed Northern workers -- was opened in September 2018, days before the South's President Moon Jae-in flew to Pyongyang for his third summit with Kim. Around 20 officials from each side were stationed at the office during subsequent months. But inter-Korean relations soured following the collapse of the Hanoi summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in February last year over sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return. Operations at the office were suspended in January because of the coronavirus pandemic. And since early June, North Korea has issued a series of vitriolic condemnations of the South over activists sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets over the border -- something defectors do on a regular basis. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday the liaison office's destruction was in line with "the mindset of the enraged people to surely force human scum and those who have sheltered the scum to pay dearly for their crimes". Last week Pyongyang announced it was severing all official communication links with Seoul. "North Korea has started a provocation cycle with stages of escalation," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, calling the destruction of the office "a symbolic blow to inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation". "The Kim regime is also signalling the United States won't have the luxury of keeping North Korea on the back-burner for the remainder of the year," he added. - Relations soured - Since Pyongyang condemned the leaflet launches -- usually attached to hot air balloons or floated in bottles -- the Unification ministry has filed a police complaint against two defector groups and warned of a "thorough crackdown" against activists. On Monday, the left-leaning Moon urged the North not to "close the window of dialogue". The two Koreas remain technically at war after Korean War hostilities ended with an armistice in 1953 that was never replaced with a peace treaty. Last week the North criticised Trump in a stinging denunciation of the US on the second anniversary of the Singapore summit, with its foreign minister Ri Son Gwon accusing Washington of seeking regime change. US diplomats insist that they believe Kim promised in Singapore to give up his nuclear arsenal, something Pyongyang has taken no steps to do. The North is under multiple international sanctions over its banned weapons programmes. It believes it deserves to be rewarded for its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and the disabling of its atomic test site, along with the return of jailed US citizens and remains of soldiers killed in the Korean War. "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise," Ri said in his statement, carried by the official KCNA news agency. Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Sejong Institute's Center for North Korean Studies, said: "North Korea is frustrated that the South has failed to offer an alternative plan to revive the US-North talks, let alone create a right atmosphere for the revival. "It has concluded the South has failed as a mediator in the process." D octors today called for urgent action to tackle the hidden waiting list of hundreds of thousands of patients who have gone untreated during the pandemic. They said there was a pressing need to develop more Covid-light hospitals, where surgery can be carried out with minimal risk of patients contracting the virus. Their call came as a University College London study revealed that only two per cent of patients 10 out of 500 who underwent surgery at a Covid-free cold hospital in London were found to have contracted coronavirus. None of the patients treated at University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street, in Marylebone, died from coronavirus. This was the primary aim of establishing the new network, which drew patients from across north London and the Home Counties. The study authors said that Covid-free hospitals were the key to tackling the cancer surgery backlog. The Commons health select committee was today told by the Royal College of Surgeons and Royal College of Emergency Medicine that the NHS needed help to recover from Covid and a plan to avoid another shutdown of non-emergency surgery if there is a second wave. Pre-Covid, there were about two million elective operations taking place every three months. Professor Derek Alderson, president of the RCS, said joint-replacement patients were waiting unacceptably long times for surgery. He told MPs: Theres over a million people on our waiting list for more than 18 weeks now, typified by orthopaedic patients expecting to have a joint replacement, who are in pain, increasingly dependent on painkillers and increasingly disabled. In wake of rising number of coronavirus cases in national capital, Delhi Government has directed Taj Mansingh hotel to isolate all their rooms and place them at disposal of Sir Gangaram Hospital with immediate effect for accommodating COVID-19 patients. With over 42,000 coronavirus cases, Delhi has the third highest number of infections in India after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Located in the heart of Lutyen's Delhi, Taj Mansingh hotel is the flagship hospitality property of the Tata Group and has been under its ownership since 1978. Delhi Government directs Taj Man Singh hotel to isolate all their rooms & place them at disposal of Sir Gangaram Hospital with immediate effect for accomodating #COVID19 patients. pic.twitter.com/np7cA0Lkeq - ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 The hotel will be converted into dedicated COVID health centre to meet the shortage of hospital beds in the national capital. As per the order, the hotel will provide all the services, including rooms, housekeeping, disinfection, and foods to COIVD-19 patients. Its staff will be provided all protective gear and basic training. The hospital will compensate for the shortage of hotel staff and will be in charge of treatment and providing ambulance services. "The charge shall be collected by hospital and the hospital shall make the payment to hotel," the order said. As per the order, the hospital may accommodate their doctor, nurse and other paramedical staff in the hotel at their own expenses after deciding the rates mutually. The move came after the Supreme Court last week slammed Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government for its handling of COVID-19 patients' dead bodies terming it "very sorry state of affairs". The apex court had also asked the government why some patients were not getting admission in hospitals despite the government app showing the availability of beds. On Monday, Delhi High Court had allowed use of two city luxurious hotels - Hotel Surya and Hotel Crowne Plaza - as extended COVID-19 facilities. Delhi recorded 1,647 new cases on Monday as the tally mounted to 42,829, while death toll rose to 1,400. In the last 24 hours, 73 patients died due to the infection. The number of active cases has now climbed to 25,002. Last week, Delhi government said that COVID-19 cases in the capital will surge to 5.5 lakh by the end of July and will require 150,000 beds by then. Delhi is fast running out of hospital beds due to spike in coronavirus cases in the last few weeks. By Chitranjan Kumar The global South Africa Fast Food market was valued at $2.7 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach $4.9 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2019 to 2026. Rise in rate of urbanization coupled with surge in demand for various types of convenience food products has been driving the value sales growth for the South Africa fast food market. South African consumers have been increasingly living a busy lifestyle. This has created a huge demand for food products such as take-away food items and readily available fast food products. Furthermore, surge in demand for convenience food products has eventually resulted in increase in number of quick-service and fast food restaurant establishments across the country. Over the past decade, number of foodservice outlets skyrocketed in South Africa. From roughly 76,000 outlets in 2006, the number of outlets increased to 123,000 by 2016. A significant number of these outlets (70%) are in the informal sector (mainly street vendors), with the remaining 30% split equally between cafes/bars, full-service restaurants, and fast food outlets. Hence, surge in demand for convenience food products is a major factor driving the South Africa fast food market in terms of value sales. Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/13299 Fast food products are usually known for their taste, unique product offerings, and easy availability, which attract the target customers. However, regular consumption of these products has negative effects on the health of the consumers. For instance, most fast food items, including drinks and sides, are rich in carbohydrates with very less fiber content. Therefore, consumption of high amount of carbs can result in rise in blood sugar level. Thus, increasing the risk for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes as well as weight gain. These factors are expected to restrain the growth of the South Africa market. According to Statistic South Africa, millennials account for nearly 52% of the total South African population. Rise in per capita income provides high purchasing power. They have been influential in evolving various industries in terms of product offerings and services. When it comes to the global fast food industry, millennials have been their prime customers. The fast food operators have been continuously strategizing on evolving their product offerings that cater to varying perception and preference of the millennial segment. Thus, rise in number of millennial population in the country is anticipated to provide lucrative opportunity for the growth of the South Africa fast food market. Some of the key companies profiled in the report include Yum Brands Inc., Famous Brands Inc., McDonalds Corporation, Nandos Group Holding Ltd., Taste Holding Ltd., Traditional Brands, King Pie Holdings, Burger King, Hungry Lion, Spur Steak Ranches, and others. KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS The report provides an extensive analysis of the current and emerging market trends and opportunities in the global South Africa Fast Food market. The report provides detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of current trends and future estimations that help evaluate the prevailing market opportunities. A comprehensive analysis of the factors that drive and restrict the growth of the market is provided. An extensive analysis of the market is conducted by following key product positioning and monitoring the top competitors within the market framework. The report provides extensive qualitative insights on the potential segments or regions exhibiting favorable growth. Request for Report Discount: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/13299 KEY MARKET SEGMENTS By Product Type Processed Chicken Burgers Processed Fish Pizza Sandwich Others By Age Group Below 18 years old 20 35 years old Above 25 years old By Distribution Channel On-Trade Online Channel Covid 19 Impact Analysis@ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/13299 A gun control group has filed a lawsuit on behalf of victims and survivors of the 2019 synagogue mass shooting near San Diego, California, claiming they negligently and unlawfully designed and marketed the attacker's assault rifle. The 19-year-old gunman terrorized Chabad of Poway Synagogue on April 27 last year, killing one worshiper, and injuring three others with his Smith & Wesson Model M&P 15 Sport II semiautomatic rifle. When confronted by members of the congregation John Earnest fled then called the police admitting to committing a hate crime and was later apprehended. The gun control group claims the company falsely associated the weapon with the military and law enforcement i ,marketing campaigns. A lawsuit filed Monday argues that a gun manufacturer marketed a weapon so it was attractive to 'young men predisposed to violence'. Shooting suspect John Earnest, 19, is pictured April 30, 2019 John Earnest killed one worshiper and injured three others at Chabad of Poway Synagogue near San Diego, California on April 27, 2019 He used a Smith & Wesson Model M&P 15 Sport II semiautomatic rifle. Gun control group Brady United claims the company falsely associated the weapon with military and law enforcement The Monday filing says the weapon was marketed in violation of California's unfair business practices law, in order to make it attractive to customers who they claim like the shooter, are 'young men predisposed to violence'. The lawsuit from Brady Legal, which represents Brady United, complains the weapon can be easily modified into an assault weapon or to fire automatically, which is in violation of California law. The suit also alleges that San Diego Guns, the dealer that sold the weapon, violated California law by transferring it to the shooter although he was underage and did not present a California hunting license that was in effect. They state the hunting license that he presented was not yet in effect. The suspect killed Lori Kaye, a founding member of the three-decade-old congregation 'on the spot'. Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein was shot in the hand during the Passover service last year and lost a finger. The other two wounded were eight-year-old Noya Dahan and her uncle, 34-year-old Almog Peretz who were struck by shrapnel. Their family had moved to the United States in search of a safer life after their home in Sderot on the Gaza border was hit several times by Palestinian rocket attacks. Brady United, says the weapon can be easily modified into an assault weapon or to fire automatically, which is in violation of California law The suspect killed Lori Kaye, a founding member of the three-decade-old congregation 'on the spot' Eight-year-old Noya Dahan and her uncle, 34-year-old Almog Peretz were struck by shrapnel The suit seeks monetary relief and an injunction demanding that all parties reform their business practices. 'We are bringing this action to save lives, so that no other congregation or family of any faith will have to endure what ours has,' the plaintiffs said in a statement. 'We invite Smith & Wesson to speak with us about concrete ways that it can change its business practices so that it can continue to sell firearms to those who want them, while acting responsibly to prevent tragedies like the shooting at our temple. 'If Smith & Wesson were to promptly agree to the safe, responsible actions we propose, we would drop the lawsuit against them tomorrow, without being paid a dime.' Similar claims against Remington Arms Co. were upheld in a lawsuit brought by victims of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. Brady has represented victims of gun industry negligence for over 30 years, and has won over $60million in settlements and verdicts in cases brought by Brady for victims and survivors. Brady is representing victims and survivors. Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein lost a finger in the attack. The plaintiffs say if Smith & Wesson were to promptly agree to the safe, responsible actions, they would 'drop the lawsuit against them tomorrow' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 17:02 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf372f0 1 Business Communications-and-Information-Ministry,scholarship-program,digital-business,online Free The Communications and Information Ministry (Kominfo) launched on Monday its annual Digital Talent Scholarship (DTS) program for this year, as it aims to address the countrys digital talent gap. Recipients of the scholarship will get training on data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and cybersecurity, among other skills. Indonesia is facing a digital skill gap, especially in tech industries. That is why we want to facilitate people in upskilling or reskilling their abilities with this program, said Communications and Information Minister Johnny G. Plate in a press release on Monday. The country is estimated to require 600,000 talents in the digital sector each year to meet the demand for skilled workers. A 2018 study by the World Bank projects that Indonesia will see a shortage of 9 million skilled and semi-skilled workers in the digital sector between 2015 and 2030. To conduct the training, the ministry has partnered with more than 90 universities and polytechnics, local start-ups, as well global technology companies such as Cisco, Google and Microsoft, among others. The training is intended to cater to fresh graduates from universities and vocational schools, as well teachers and entrepreneurs. Beside hard skill, the recipients of the scholarship will also receive training in soft skills such as critical thinking, creativity and communication. The first DTS program in 2018 was awarded to 1,000 recipients, while the second one in 2019 had 25,000 participants. The focus on digital sector training also aligns with the Industry Ministry road map titled Industry 4.0, where it focuses on the use of digital technologies for industries, among other things. Since the pandemic broke out in Indonesia in March, the ministry has also run an online academy to train people in data analytics, digital marketing and programming, among other things. It aims to train 50,000 participants this year, while as many as 43,500 people have participated so far. Both of these programs are necessary as we are adapting to the COVID-19 era. These programs ensure that we can maintain productivity during this time while also addressing the digital talent gap, Johnny said. (eyc) Reform Party members during a walkabout visit in 2019. (PHOTO: Reform Party/Facebook) SINGAPORE The Reform Party (RP) introduced its first batch of candidates for the upcoming Singapore general election on Monday (15 June), with the intention to contest in four constituencies. RP secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam announced six candidates during a Facebook livestream, with three of them being first-time candidates. According to The Straits Times, the party also said it intends to contest in West Coast and Ang Mo Kio group representation constituencies (GRCs), as well as Radin Mas and Yio Chu Kang single-member constituencies (SMCs). While RP has not specified where the unveiled candidates will be fielded, three of the candidates party chairman Andy Zhu, 37, Noraini Yunus, a 52-year-old who works in telemarketing and human resources practitioner Darren Soh, also 52 were part of the four-person team led by Jeyaretnam who contested in West Coast GRC at the 2015 general election. During that election, RP garnered 21.4 per cent of the votes, losing to a PAP team comprising Lim Hng Kiang, S Iswaran, Foo Mee Har and Patrick Tay which garnered 78.6 per cent of the votes. In the upcoming election, the GRC will be expanded to a five-person constituency, with an additional Nanyang division with areas of responsibility in Jurong West, Nanyang Technological University, Yunnan Park and Yunnan Housing Estate. It could see a three-way contest, as The Straits Times reported that Progress Singapore Party is also finalising its candidates for West Coast GRC, to be led by party founder Tan Cheng Bock. The other three candidates unveiled by RP on Monday are: Mahaboob Batcha, 52, RPs deputy treasurer and director of an oil and gas company; Gurdev Singh, 55, an assistant property manager; and Charles Yeo, 30, a criminal defence lawyer. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: Singapore People's Party to field 5 candidates at upcoming general election: report If you are looking to rent a vehicle in the Bellingham area, check out the Honda car rental service at Honda of Bellingham. There are many reasons to need a rental car, but drivers have one place they can go to get a wide variety of options. Honda of Bellingham is promoting its stress-free car rental service. This service can be used by customers who have been in a car accident, are going on vacation or are visiting family or friends in Bellingham, Washington. Models that are available to rent include the Fit, Civic, Accord, HR-V, CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot or Ridgeline. This simple renting process starts with paying a $200 security deposit and the charges due for length of rental. The rental rate ranges from $39 per day to $69 per day. The customer must return the rental vehicle in the same condition as it was at check out and with a full tank of gas. After the rental is inspected and approved by a representative, the $200 deposit will be placed into the clients bank account within 24 to 72 hours. The rental contract includes up to 500 miles of travel. Any additional mileage after that point will add a charge of $0.15 per mile to the total cost. The Honda rental vehicles do have restrictions and if any are broken, an additional charge is possible. Every rental vehicle is smoke free, pet free and is not allowed to tow a trailer or boat. If any interested shoppers would like to learn more about this service, they can find more information at hondaofbellingham.com. The Honda of Bellingham staff is willing to answer any questions and can be reached by calling 833-331-0699. Honda of Bellingham is located at 2010 Iowa St. in Bellingham. The dealership is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Iran criticised on Tuesday a plan to put forward a resolution at a meeting of the UN's nuclear watchdog urging the country to allow access to two disputed sites. European states are expected to submit the resolution at the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board of governors' meeting this week. "Introduction of this resolution aiming to call on Iran to cooperate with the Agency... is disappointing and absolutely counterproductive," said Kazem Gharib Abadi, Iran's UN ambassador in Vienna. Diplomats say the resolution will call on Iran to provide access to two locations where past nuclear activity may have occurred -- sites to which the IAEA has been trying to gain access for months. At the start of this week's meeting on Monday, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi repeated his appeal to Iran to "cooperate immediately and fully" and grant access. Even though the sites in question are not thought to be directly relevant to Iran's current nuclear programme, the agency says it needs to know if activities going back almost two decades have been properly declared and all materials accounted for. But in Tuesday's statement, Gharib Abadi warned that if the resolution was adopted, "Iran would have no choice but to take appropriate measures, the consequences of which would be upon the sponsors of such political and destructive approaches". He did not specify what these measures would be. Gharib Abadi argued that the IAEA's access requests were based on allegations from Iran's arch-enemy Israel. Additional information provided by the IAEA in support of its requests "were merely some commercial satellite imageries that contained no convincing underlying reason" to provide access, he added. - 'Complication and difficulties' - The IAEA's board of governors has not passed a resolution critical of Iran since 2012. While a new resolution would be largely symbolic in character, it could be a prelude for the dispute being referred to the UN Security Council, the only UN body that can impose sanctions. However, there is the added complication that due to the coronavirus pandemic the IAEA board of governors' meeting is taking place in a virtual format. Russia has been particularly active in resisting the prospect of remote voting and on Monday it was decided that a physical meeting would be convened if a vote needs to be held. It is not clear how quickly such a meeting could be organised. Also on Tuesday Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Moscow where his Russian opposite number Sergei Lavrov pledged to stand by Tehran, while referring to "developments taking place right now in Vienna" and "ideas our western friends are floating in New York". "We will be very firmly opposing any attempts to use this situation in order to manipulate the Security Council and to promote an anti-Iranian agenda," Lavrov said. Despite the row over the two sites, the IAEA says it still has the access it needs to Iran's nuclear facilities to monitor its current activities, as the agency is mandated to do under the landmark deal between Iran and world powers reached in 2015. The deal has been unravelling since US President Donald Trump withdrew from it two years ago and went on to re-impose swingeing economic sanctions on Iran. In retaliation Iran has been slowly abandoning limits on its activities set out under the deal, including on the size and enrichment level of its uranium stockpile. Iran has accused the European parties to the deal -- France, the UK and Germany -- of not doing enough to mitigate the impact of American sanctions. In his statement, Gharib Abadi hinted that pressing ahead with the resolution could cause "complication and difficulties" for the future of the 2015 accord. IAEA director Rafael Grossi has appealed to Iran to cooperate Iran has slowly abandoned limits on its nuclear activities since US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord Members of the non-governmental organization MADADGAAR PARIVAR in Ahmedabad, burn a poster June 16 of Chinese President Xi Jinping along with Chinese items as they protest against the killing of the three Indian soldiers by Chinese troops. (Sam Panthaky/AFP via Getty Images) There is a cautious optimism in Saudi Arabias banking industry with added vigilance across the aspects of risk management and embryonic priority of asset protection over growth, said a report. With the dissemination of financial results for the first quarter (Q1) of FY 2020, the magnitude of the pandemic impact on the banking industry has unfolded, added the first edition of Banking Pulse released by KPMG, leading provider of audit, tax and advisory services in Saudi Arabia. The sector currently captures the initial effects that started emerging towards the end of March 2020 and the fact that timely and decisive regulatory measures in various jurisdictions were able to halt the downward push to some extent, the report said. The Saudi banking sector has reported an average increase of 93.3% in expected credit losses (ECL) for the three months period, and significant declines in marked to market valuations since December 2019. Nonetheless, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authoritys (SAMA) ongoing support to banks through liquidity and relief, amplified by recently announced measures, has been a key mitigant to combat the impact on the banking industry. A robust support program by SAMA meant that panic-driven measures such as foreclosures, un-economical debt restructurings and forced liquidations have not been rampant, said Khalil Ibrahim Al Sedais, Office Managing Partner Riyadh, KPMG in Saudi Arabia. Although most of the industry executives today find current uncertainties obstructing the clear view on short-medium term performance of the sector; they echo that only real economic activity could stimulate recovery, he noted. Healthy credit underwriting until February 2020 enabled total assets to rise 3.9 percent to SR2,540 billion ($677 billion), while total customer deposit edged up 1.5 percent to reach SR1,835 billion ($489 billion). Total gross loan book posted an average growth of 4.96%. Despite the hike in ECLs, a substantial amount of income in the form of a SR1.12 billion government grant resulting from SAMA support measures restricted the decline in net profitability only to 6.9%, relative to the same period of FY 2019. This truly epitomizes the timeliness of these measures which have been a breath of fresh air not just for the corporates, especially in the MSME sector, but also banks as they combat the economic fall-out on the front lines, said Ovais Shahab, Head of Financial Services, at KPMG in Saudi Arabia. TradeArabia News Service King Abdullah of Jordan reportedly refused a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Palestinian media outlet Maan reported today, as tensions between the two neighbors rise over West Bank annexation. Abdullah refused the call due to Israels plan to annex parts of the West Bank in July, according to Maan. Amman staunchly opposes the move. Abdullah also did not set a date to meet with Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz, after Gantz requested to speak to him about US President Donald Trumps peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians, the outlet reported. Jordan and Israel are currently at odds over West Bank annexation. Israels intention is to incorporate Jewish settlements and the entire Jordan Valley in the West Bank into Israeli territory. Jordans population is largely descended from Palestinians who left their homes during the first Arab-Israeli war in 1947 and 1948. Many Jordanians oppose annexation as well as Jordans peace treaty with Israel. Opposition to Israel in general is high in Jordan. This is not the first time Abdullah has expressed frustration with Israel over annexation. In May, the king told the German media that there would be massive conflict if Israel goes ahead with the move. Israel believes annexation is essential to its security. Palestinians say it deprives them of their rights to self-determination. Israels relations with Arab states have improved since the Arab-Israeli wars of the 20th century, but annexation threaten to derail this. Jordan is considering suspending parts of its peace treaty with Israel in opposition to annexation. In recent years, Israel has grown closer with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia due to their shared concerns about Iran. However, the Emirates ambassador to the United States, Yousef Al Otaiba, wrote an unprecedented op-ed in an Israeli newspaper last week telling Israelis, Annexation will certainly and immediately upend Israeli aspirations for improved security, economic and cultural ties with the Arab world and with the UAE. Annexation is moving along in the meantime. US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman met with Netanyahu, Gantz and other Israeli leaders yesterday to discuss the plans. DGAP-Ad-hoc: Swedish ATP Management AB (publ) / Key word(s): Bond Swedish ATP Management AB (publ): Disclosure of inside information according to Article 17 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014 16-Jun-2020 / 18:00 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Disclosure of inside information according to Article 17 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014 PRESS RELEASE Swedish ATP Management AB (publ) (the "company") has, by its ultimate owners, been informed that the bondholder committee, LUSAT AIR S.L. (Spain) ("LUSAT") and the minority shareholders of West Atlantic AB have reached an agreement in principle with respect to inter alia the sale of the company and a write down and repayment of its bonds. Reference is made to the company's SEK 517,178,250 senior secured callable fixed rate bonds 2019/2022 with ISIN SE0012930089 (the "Bond") which are listed on the Frankfurt Open Market. As communicated in the press release made on 29 May 2020, the owners of the company (i.e., the bondholders represented by the bondholder committee, representatives of certain larger bondholders as appointed in connection with the restructuring of West Atlantic AB's bond in 2019), LUSAT and the minority shareholders of West Atlantic (who were the shareholders of West Atlantic prior to the restructuring of West Atlantic's bond) (together, the "Parties") have been in discussions with the aim to reach an agreement in order to, inter alia, solve the company's financial difficulties. The company, which has not taken part in any discussions or negotiations in respect thereof, has today by its ultimate owners, been informed that the Parties have reached an agreement in principle with the below main terms and conditions (subject to a final master transfer agreement formalising the agreement between the Parties). All cash in the company (estimated to approximately MSEK 20) less transaction costs will be used for partial prepayment of the Bond. LUSAT will acquire the shares in the company for SEK 1. LUSAT will acquire the remaining approximately 49 per cent of the shares in West Atlantic AB. By acquiring the shares in the company, LUSAT will indirectly take over the payment liability of the debt under the Bond which will be written down to SEK 300 million. The terms and conditions of the Bonds will be substantially simplified. The company will pay SEK 295-300 million to the bondholders in three payment instalments according to the following: SEK 100 million will be paid on 30 June 2021; SEK 100 million will be paid on 30 June 2022; and SEK 95 or 100 million will be paid on 30 October 2022. On the third instalment, the company will have the option to (i) pay SEK 100 million, or (ii) pay SEK 95 million and share with the bondholders any possible upside on the divestment of the company's ATP-fleet up to SEK 20 million. As security for company's payment liability under the restructured Bond, LUSAT will provide a parent company guarantee and the owner and one other individual representing LUSAT will provide personal guarantees. The Bond will be de-listed from the Frankfurt Open Market. The Parties will waive any claims that they may have against each other. A master transfer agreement formalising the agreement in principle will be entered into between the Parties as soon as possible. The agreement and all transactions and actions related thereto will be subject to the bondholders' approval in a written procedure. More information in relation to the Parties' agreement and the time schedule will be provided in the notice to the written procedure that will be made available by the company at the latest in July. Closing of the transaction is estimated to occur in August 2020. For further information, please contact: Stefan Sundberg, CEO Telephone: +46 70 558 58 65 E-mail: stefan@atpcargo.com This information is information that Swedish ATP Management 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 above, at 2020-06-16, 18.00 CEST. About Swedish ATP Management Swedish ATP Management is a newly established asset management company dedicated to manage the BAE ATP (Advanced Turboprop) the most cost efficient cargo aircraft in its segment (8 ton in both metric volume and payload). We aim to increase ATP operations and utilization through our provided services. Swedish ATP Management AB (publ) reg. no.: 559204-4084, Box 5433, SE-402 29 Gothenburg, Sweden, www.atpcargo.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 06:54:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday asked the United States to immediately lift unilateral sanctions against Syria. Years of economic blockade have caused tremendous hardships to the Syrian people, in particular women and children. The sufferings caused by the devaluation of the Syrian currency and soaring commodities prices, including food prices, fall heavily on civilians across the country, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. "We urge the United States to respond actively to the urgent appeal of the (UN) secretary-general and the special envoy (for Syria), and to lift unilateral sanctions immediately," he told a virtual meeting of the Security Council. What is even more worrying is that the United States will impose new rounds of sanctions against Syria. These sanctions will inevitably further hinder the economic and social development of Syria as well as the livelihood of ordinary Syrians, said Zhang. As vulnerable countries like Syria are struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, imposing more sanctions is simply inhumane and may cause additional catastrophes, he warned. Enditem Members of the Japanese royal family have marked the 20th anniversary of the death of Empress Kojun with a ceremony at the family mausoleum and imperial palace. The Empress, who was the wife of Emperor Hirohito and grandmother of current emperor Naruhito, died on June 16, 2000. Sisters Princess Mako, 29, and Princess Kako, 26, the granddaughters of Emperor Naruhito, arrived at the Musashi imperial graveyard in Tokyo wearing identical dove grey dresses and trilbies, as well as coronavirus masks. Members of the Japanese royal family have marked the 20th anniversary of the death of Empress Kojun with a ceremony at the family mausoleum and imperial palace. Sisters Princess Mako, 29, and Princess Kako, 26, arrived at the Musashi imperial graveyard in Tokyo to pay their respects Empress Masako, 56, the wife of the emperor, was later pictured arriving at the imperial palace in Tokyo to mark the anniversary Officials saluted Princess Mako and Princess Kako as they walked alongside each other up the stone steps towards the mausoleum. The princesses bowed after a speech was read out by a messenger sent on behalf of Emperor Naruhito. Empress Masako, 56, the wife of the emperor, was later pictured arriving at the imperial palace in Tokyo to mark the anniversary. The Empress, who was the wife of Emperor Hirihito (left) and grandmother of current emperor Naruhito, died on June 16, 2000 The sisters were wearing identical dove grey dresses and trilbies for the solemn occasion Emperor Naruhito gave a speech to other royals, who included his younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife Princess Kiko, according to Japanese media. Princesses Mako and Kako are the nieces of Emperor Naruhito, who ascended to the Japanese throne after former emperor Akihito, 86, made the decision to abdicate last year. Since then, Princess Mako, who studied in Edinburgh, Dublin and Leicester, took on a more high-profile with a series of international engagements. Last summer, she went on an official visit to South America which would previously have fallen to her parents, Crown Prince and Princess Akishino. One of the sisters was seen bowing as her sister made her way back down the steps The sisters also wore masks to guard against coronavirus. They paid their respects to their great-grandmother before returning down the steps However, Princess Mako will be forced to give up her royal title when she marries her long-term boyfriend Kei Komuro, a 'commoner' whom she met at university. In January, the Japanese royal family posed for a rare family portrait to celebrate New Year. It marked the first time Emperor Naruhito and Emperor Emeritus Akihito were seen publicly together since the former head of state's abdication. Emperor Naruhito, 59, beamed alongside his father and other senior members of the family in three photographs, which were taken early in December at the Imperial Family's Tokyo residence. Princesses Mako and Kako are the nieces of Emperor Naruhito, who ascended to the Japanese throne after former emperor Akihito, 86, made the decision to abdicate last year The two men had not appeared together at a public occasion since Emperor Emeritus Akihito abdicated from the throne and withdrew from public life. In one of the intimate family portraits, the group could be seen smiling as they studied 12 Zodiac ornaments on the table in front of them, including one to mark the then-upcoming year of the rat, which is associated with starting anew. In the photographs captured in a simple setting, the family gathered around a table which displayed ornaments representing the 12 animals in the Japanese Zodiac. In one of the images, Emperor Naruhito gestured to the mouse ornament while his father Emperor Emeritus Akihito looked on inquisitively. Akihito shocked the country in 2016 when he signalled his desire to take a back seat, citing his age and health problems. The status of the emperor is sensitive in Japan given its 20th-century history of war waged in the name of Akihito's father Hirohito, who died in 1989. Akihito keenly embraced the more modern role as a symbol of the state - imposed after World War II ended. Previous emperors including his father had been treated as semi-divine. There's a video a friend sent me once, and it was beautiful. It was taken last fall at the Winnipeg airport, and it shows a family reunion years in the making. At the foot of the arrivals escalator a mother waits for her son, and siblings wait for their brother: a family separated by war is about to be brought back together. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. There's a video a friend sent me once, and it was beautiful. It was taken last fall at the Winnipeg airport, and it shows a family reunion years in the making. At the foot of the arrivals escalator a mother waits for her son, and siblings wait for their brother: a family separated by war is about to be brought back together. The mother had come to Canada as a refugee from Syria years before. Her son and his family had finally had their own sponsorship application approved. The video captured the joy of the moment they rush into each other's arms, eyes bright with tears, faces glowing with relief and with love. With the family's permission, I put the video on Twitter. It flew all over the world, and was even shared by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It was easy to see why: it captured something precious. Something about what it is to belong to the community of humanity, of which words alone cannot always do justice. Nour Ali (right), with Ismail Ibrahim, was a pillar in Winnipeg's Kurdish community, helping new refugees integrate into the city. (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files) Or, I guess one could say, the video showed the best of people. At the time, I didn't yet realize how much. Because when the news broke, just days ago, I looked at the video again. I saw how, in the last few seconds of the video, a man steps into the frame. He slips discreetly into the circle of family, and bends to pick up a bag that had been forgotten on the floor amidst the reunion. Just to get it out of the way. Just to help keep it safe. That man's name is Nour Ali, and ever since he arrived in Winnipeg as one of the city's first refugees from Syria in 2012, that is always where you could find him: right beside those who needed help and right in the middle, helping. Related Items Click to Expand Articles Jun 15, 2020: 'I wish we could have done more', says cottager involved in Lake Winnipeg rescue Sarah Lawrynuik Now he is missing, vanished into the waters of Lake Winnipeg after the fishing boat he was in capsized Saturday evening. The accident claimed the life of his father, 73-year-old Hamza Ali, who had come to Canada about a year ago. Three other men in the boat were able to make it safely to shore. With each hour that passes, the chances of a miracle grow slimmer. And with each hour that passes, more voices speak up to share their memories of Ali, their gratitude, their admiration. He and his wife, Maysoun Darweesh, had come here as refugees, and it is Manitoba that is forever indebted to them. There is no way to count how many people Ali helped during his time in Winnipeg. But there is one number that gives an idea: since 2016, he'd been featured in the Free Press or its weekly community papers no fewer than eight times for his efforts to build and give back to the community. Each story gives a glimpse into how Ali helped raise up the people around him. In July 2016, he was featured for his work organizing a blood drive and community cleanup with Syrian refugee volunteers; less than six months later, he was interviewed for his work finding jobs for newcomers in construction. In July 2017, Free Press reporter Carol Sanders reported on Ali's latest venture, a restoration business staffed by newcomers to offer critically important Canadian work experience. The effort was called simply Thank You Canada. A Grace Hospital employee moves a load of food Nour Ali (background, left) and Maysoun Darweesh delivered in April. Those who knew Ali said he never hesitated to help when needed. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files) Other stories followed. Stories about how he helped a Syrian family that had been targeted by xenophobic threats; about how he founded a day camp for refugee youth that grew to include more than 350 kids. There is a story from when he became a Canadian citizen in 2018 and was able to vote for the first time. The stories continue right up to April this year, when Ali was featured in the Metro weekly paper. It was a story about how, right in the middle of the pandemic, he helped organize deliveries of home-cooked meals made with love by newcomer families and brought to front-line health-care workers. These are just some of the things Ali did to help. Other things never hit the papers. He met refugees at the airport to welcome them to Winnipeg. He served as a translator and organized fundraisers. Together with Maysoun he poured endless hours of time and care into supporting others. There is truly no telling how many people's lives are better today because of Ali's efforts. Only that, without him, the province would have been much lesser. I never met Nour Ali, though friends of mine knew him. "Larger than life" is how my friend Tirzah Maendel describes him, and she repeats a story Nour told to media, the one about how he once went to the Mennonite church that had sponsored him and asked how he could repay their kindness. Don't pay it back, the church pastor replied, pay it forward. "That is exactly what Nour and Maysoun did," Maendel says. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. All these years of paying it forward here in Manitoba. All these years of helping. There is no calculating how many people Ali helped in that time through his direct efforts: in the hundreds, likely the thousands. From that, ripples of care always spread outwards, until they've touched the whole world. There is truly no telling how many people's lives are better today because of Ali's efforts. Only that, without him, the province would have been much lesser. So that he is now missing somewhere in Lake Winnipeg is a tragedy for the Syrian community, for newcomers here more broadly, and for all of us in Manitoba. Yet what is being said and written about him now shines a light on something special. To live one's life so that, when the time comes, nobody can even count all the ways you made the world better; to live one's life so that there are so many photos and videos of you standing just beside those who need help, or right in the middle; that is the beacon Ali lit, and one that all of Lake Winnipeg could never extinguish. melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca The government of UAE stated that select categories of UAE citizens and residents will be permitted to travel abroad to certain destinations from June 23. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC), the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management (NCEMA), reported state news agency Wam. The statement also mentioned that the categories of people along with the approved destinations would be announced at a later date. Additionally, the UAE will facilitate travel in line with all the appropriate precautionary and preventative measures in the face of the current Covid-19 pandemic. The statement mentioned that guidelines and procedures for travellers will be also announced and must be adhered to by both UAE citizens and residents before they travel, during their stay abroad and on their return to the UAE. The joint statement clarified that the announcement came following thorough evaluations by the competent authorities of the successful preventative measures currently in place and the recent positive developments. You can now unwind by sipping on a nice big glass of Traitorade the latest beer offering from Rhode Island brewery Smug Brewing and throw some shade at Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski at the same time. The brewery announced the release of the beer last Tuesday on social media. I know some people will be a little upset about this beer, just remember it is just a joke, the company announced online. We love our two former Patriot players. That being said we have a unique brew for you. It is an imperial fruit sour with Florida Key limes and a dash of sea salt. This beer reminds me of getting old and having to retire in Florida. According to their website, Smug Brewing came up with the beer last year. The brewery decided not to release it, but held onto the recipe and waited until now to officially release it. The beer is a response to former Patriots players Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski leaving New England and heading south to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It clocks in at 7% ABV and is the right amount of sour, and a little bit of saltiness, says the brewery. You can order Traitorade here for curbside pickup. Related Content: The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has described the death of Senator Sikiru Adebayo Osinowo, the National Assembly member representing the Lagos East Senatorial District at the Senate,as a loss of a political pillar and peace maker. Rt. Hon. Obasa who doubles as the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures said, Senator Osinowos death has come as a rude shock that many of us in the Lagos House of Assembly are yet to recover from. We were about to begin the plenary session of the day when the news of his demise filtered in and threw the whole Assembly into disarray and mourning. Not many could believe that the ebullient and ever smiling Pepperito, like a candle in the wind, had been blown out. Even with the evidence that death has done its worst, it is still difficult to come to terms that a political pillar and peace maker is gone. For the 16 years ( 2003- 2019) he was in the Lagos State House of Assembly representing the good people of Kosofe Constituency 1, many loved him for the stabilising role he played at every point in the period. Throughout his stay in the House, many ran to him for solutions to their socio-political problems because of the sagacity and wisdom he applied to issues. The Muslim community of the Lagos House of Assembly will forever be grateful to him for his fatherly role and financial commitment to their course particularly in the building of the ultra-modern mosque within the Assembly complex. As a senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industries, Osinowo gave us reasons to be very proud of him as he carried on as a true ambassador. The entire Lagos Assembly, its members and staff will remain burdened by his demise, but consistently pray that God should strengthen all those he left behind. We also pray that the Almighty Allah will grant him Aljanah Firdaus. Said Rt.Hon Obasa. The late Senator fondly called Pepperito was however confirmed dead by one of his siblings, the Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu,Mr Dele Osinowo who made the disclosure that he actually died of COVID-19,its however noteworthy to state that Senator Bayo Osinowo also grapples with high blood pressure before now. His remains have been conveyed down to his hometown in Ijebu-Ode since yesterday, and might have been buried last night. Defence minister Rajnath Singh reviewed current operational situation in the Eastern Ladakh region after an incident of violent face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, three service chiefs - General MM Naravane, Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria - discussed the situation with Singh. Foreign minister S Jaishankar was also present in the meeting. The Indian Army said that there were casualties on both sides in the incident which took place in the Galwan valley on Monday night. HT has learned that the commanding officer of the unit involved in the scrap, and a JCO are among those killed. These are the first Indian casualties in a clash with the PLA since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. The army said the incident took place at a time the de-escalation process was underway. It also said that senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting to defuse the situation. All the deaths are from thrown stones and rods that were used by the soldiers, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The army did not comment on this. Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, spoke about the close communication through military and diplomatic channels before going on to blame Indian soldiers for Monday evenings violent exchange. Our border troops had a high-level meeting and reached important consensus on easing the border situation. But astonishingly on June 15, the Indian troops seriously violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line for illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel which led to serious physical conflict between the two sides, Zhao said. India and China are engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks. It began with a confrontation between rival patrols near Pangong Tso on the night of May 5-6. In their first serious efforts to end the row, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held a nearly seven-hour meeting on June 6. The meeting was followed by more rounds of military talks. The Indian side has been pitching for restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from the areas which India considers on its side of the LAC. Army chief General Naravane last week said disengagement of Indian and Chinese forces was taking place in a phased manner along the LAC where the situation was under control. T hree man have been charged with murder of a young man stabbed to death in north London. Tyreese Annon, 19, and Abdul Gaffer and Mizuki Brown, both 24, will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with killing Jemal Ebrahim. The 23-year-old was found collapsed with knife wounds in Russell Road, Tottenham, just before 8.15pm on May 13. He was taken to hospital where he later died from his injuries. A post-mortem gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the leg. Six other men aged between 18 and 26 arrested in connection with the killing remain on bail. By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 15, 2020 | 05:00 PM | PADUCAH The victim reportedly told police that he had been socializing with several people near his home when a woman, known to witnesses as "Rico", hit him in the back of the head with a board and stole his pickup truck. The victim also reportedly received injuries to his right arm, but he declined medical treatment. Detectives say it was determined that Rico's real name was actually Erica M. Worley. She is being charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree assault. She is described as a white woman, 5-feet-3 inches tall, approximately 120 pounds with hazel eyes and short hair. The stolen vehicle has a Louisiana license plate that reads 'Y268701'. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Paducah Police Department at 270-444-8550. Information can also be provided anonymously through West Kentucky Crime Stoppers by texting WKY and your tip to 847411, or by downloading the 'WKY Crime Stoppers' app. There is also an online tip form through the City of Paducah's website at the link below. Any information leading to an arrest or indictment may result in a reward of up to $1,000. Officers with the Paducah Police Department are searching for a woman that reportedly assaulted a man and stole his vehicle Sunday morning. The Armenian parliament voted on Tuesday to allow law-enforcement authorities to arrest and prosecute the leader of its largest opposition group, Gagik Tsarukian, on charges rejected by him as politically motivated. Addressing the parliament controlled by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians My Step bloc, Prosecutor-General Artur Davtian alleged that Tsarukian created and led an organized group that bought more than 17,000 votes for his Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) during parliamentary elections held in April 2017. Davtian said the NSS has collected documents and testimony showing that the vote bribes were handed out to residents of the Gegharkunik province. Tsarukian and other BHK lawmakers vehemently denied the accusations when they spoke on the parliament floor before the first vote. They said that law-enforcement authorities have not produced any evidence of his involvement in the alleged vote buying. They again claimed that Pashinian ordered the criminal proceedings in response to Tsarukians demands for the entire Armenian governments resignation voiced on June 5. Tsarukian stood by his claims that the government has failed to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus in the country and tackle severe socioeconomic consequences of the deadly epidemic. The end of your revolution has come, Tsarukian declared, referring to the 2018 protest movement that brought Pashinian to power. Eighty or ninety percent of the people believed in you and the revolution, he said. But today even 5 percent do not believe. The BHK leader also said that he is undaunted by the prospect of his imprisonment and will go to the end in challenging the authorities. He claimed that with their fabricated criminal case they are only making a hero out of him. This is temporary, [it will last for] only one or two months, not longer, he added in his angry speech. You must understand this before its too late. You are standing on the brink of an abyss. Tsarukian and our party represent a considerable part of the people, said Arman Abovian, a senior BHK deputy. You are at war with the people. Immediately after finishing his speech and leaving the parliament building, Tsarukian was surrounded by NSS officers and taken to the NSS headquarters for further questioning. BHK representatives said that the security service illegally detained him before securing the parliaments consent. Parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan insisted, however, that Tsarukian was not detained. The Bright Armenia Party (LHK), the other opposition force represented in the parliament, also said that the accusations of vote buying are politically motivated. Its leader, Edmon Marukian, dismissed as hypocritical Pashinian allies harsh criticism of Tsarukian voiced since June 5. Marukian argued that Pashinian repeatedly cut political deals with Tsarukian following the 2018 Velvet Revolution. You are not honest and sincere, he said, referring to the ruling bloc. In his concluding remarks, Davtian insisted that the criminal case against the opposition leader and wealthy businessman is a purely legal process. The chief prosecutor said the NSS opened the case in February, more than three months before Tsarukian lambasted the government in unusually strong terms. Leaders of the parliaments pro-government majority also denied any political motives behind the crackdown. Mirzoyan said the opposition must not politicize the legal process. Everyone is equal before the law regardless of whether or not they lead a political party, said the speaker close to Pashinian. Both parliamentary opposition forces decided to boycott the ensuing separate votes on lifting Tsarukians immunity from prosecution and allowing his arrest. We will not participate in this farce, said Marukian. As a result, only 87 of the 132 deputies of the National Assembly voted in the secret ballot. They all backed the prosecutors demands. Pashinians My Step controls 88 parliament seats. Two of its deputies were absent from Tuesdays session, suggesting that Tsarukians prosecution was unanimously backed by the 86 other pro-government lawmakers. The BHK holds 26 seats, having finished second in the last general elections held in December 2018. As the parliament began debating the matter in the morning the NSS announced that it launched on Monday a separate investigation into other instances of alleged vote buying by the BHK. In a statement, the security service said that a senior BHK figure, Naira Zohrabian, has repeatedly admitted in her private conversations that Tsarukians party had paid Armenians to vote for it in various elections. The statement contained a relevant quote attributed to Zohrabian. It did not specify whether the NSS eavesdropped on the opposition politicians conversations. Zohrabian angrily denied these allegations. She suggested that her phones were illegally tapped by the NSS. An unspecified number of Chinese troops were killed on Monday night in clashes with Indian soldiers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh where both sides have been locked in a face-off since May. New Delhi: China justified the censorship about the casualties of its troops suffered in a violent clash with Indian soldiers along the Line of Actual Control in Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh on Monday night, arguing that it was a goodwill gesture from Beijing. While India officially announced that three of its soldiers, including an officer, were killed, China has remained tight-lipped about its casualties. However, the Global Times, published by the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), admitted that People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops had also been killed. Justifying China's silence over the number of its casualties, Hu Xijn, editor of the Global Times, tweeted, "Chinese side didn't release number of PLA casualties in clash with Indian soldiers. My understanding is the Chinese side doesn't want people of the two countries to compare the casualties number so to avoid stoking public mood. This is goodwill from Beijing." Earlier, Hu had tweeted, "Based on what I know, Chinese side also suffered casualties in the Galwan Valley physical clash." However, he went on to warn India, saying, "I want to tell the Indian side, don't be arrogant and misread China's restraint as being weak. China doesn't want to have a clash with India, but we don't fear it." THE WOODLANDS, Texas, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) today announced the appointment of Ms. Cynthia L. Egan and Ms. Sonia Dula to its Board of Directors effective immediately. Both bring to Huntsman long and distinguished professional careers in global financial services, investment management, and international operations. The Huntsman Board now comprises ten directors, nine of whom are independent. Ms. Egan spent her career primarily as an executive in the investment management industry. She served as President of Retirement Plan Services for T. Rowe Price Group, a global investment management organization, and as an advisor to the U.S. Department of Treasury. Prior to joining T. Rowe Price, Ms. Egan held progressively senior level positions with Fidelity Investments, a multinational financial services corporation, including Executive Vice President, Head of Fidelity Institutional Services Company, President of the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, and Executive Vice President of Fidelity Management Research Company. Ms. Egan started her professional career at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in 1980 and worked at KPMG Peat Marwick and Bankers Trust before joining Fidelity in 1989. Ms. Egan presently serves as a director and the Vice Chair of the Board of The Hanover Insurance Group. She is also a director of Unum Group and the BlackRock Fixed Income Funds Complex, comprising 110 mutual funds, and she previously sat on the Board of Envestnet. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Ms. Dula spent her career primarily as an executive in the financial services and media industries, most recently serving as Vice Chairman at Bank of America (BofA), Global Corporate and Investment Banking. Before that, she ran Merrill Lynch's Latin America Wealth Management Division and was head of BofA's Latin America Corporate and Investment Banking Division. Before joining BofA, Ms. Dula was the CEO of Grupo Latino de Radio, owner and operator of more than 500 radio stations in Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market. Ms. Dula began her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs in London and New York. Ms. Dula presently serves as a director on the boards of Hemisphere Media Group, PRISA, and Acciona of Spain, and she serves as a member of the Latin America Strategic Advisory Board of Banco Itau. Ms. Dula is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and she previously sat on the boards of the Council of the Americas, Women's World Banking, and the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Peter Huntsman, Chairman, President and CEO, commenting on the appointments, said, "We are honored to have Ms. Cynthia Egan and Ms. Sonia Dula join our Board of Directors. Cynthia and Sonia each bring a wealth of relevant experience from the investment and banking industries, adding to our already diverse and experienced Board. These new directors will give us greater depth and capability." About Huntsman: Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2019 revenues of approximately $7 billion. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 70 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 9,000 associates within our four distinct business divisions. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com Social Media: Twitter: www.twitter.com/Huntsman_Corp Facebook: www.facebook.com/huntsmancorp LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/huntsman Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information in this release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Huntsman companies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, volatile global economic conditions, cyclical and volatile product markets, disruptions in production at manufacturing facilities, reorganization or restructuring of Huntsman's operations, including any delay of, or other negative developments affecting the ability to implement cost reductions, timing of proposed transactions, and manufacturing optimization improvements in Huntsman businesses and realize anticipated cost savings, and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws. SOURCE Huntsman Corporation Related Links http://www.huntsman.com South Korean army soldiers patrol along the barbed-wire fence in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, (Ahn Young-joon/AP) North Koreas military on Tuesday threatened to move back into zones that were demilitarised under inter-Korean peace agreements as the country continued to dial up pressure on rival South Korea amid stalled nuclear negotiations with the US. The General Staff of the Korean Peoples Army said it is reviewing a ruling party recommendation to advance into unspecified border areas that had been demilitarised under agreements with the South, which would turn the front line into a fortress. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un days earlier said the North would demolish a useless inter-Korean liaison office in the border town of Kaesong and that she would leave it to the military to come up with the next step of retaliation against the enemy South. Our army is keeping a close watch on the current situation in which the (North-South) relations are turning worse and worse, and getting itself fully ready for providing a sure military guarantee to any external measures to be taken by the party and government, said the KPAs General Staff. Expand Close South Korean President Moon Jae-in has called on North Korea to stop raising animosities and return to talks (Ahn Young-joon/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp South Korean President Moon Jae-in has called on North Korea to stop raising animosities and return to talks (Ahn Young-joon/AP) It said it was studying an action plan for taking measures to make the army advance again into the zones that had been demilitarised under the (North-South) agreement, turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten the military vigilance against (the South), according to the statement carried by the Norths official Korean Central News Agency. While it was not immediately clear what actions North Koreas military might take against the South, the North has threatened to abandon a bilateral military agreement reached in 2018 to reduce tensions across the border. The Koreas then committed to jointly take steps to reduce conventional military threats, such as establishing border buffers on ground and sea and no-fly zones. They also removed some front-line guard posts in a symbolic gesture. The Norths statement possibly implies that it would no longer respect the buffer zones and that the guard posts would be rebuilt. The Norths military also said it would open unspecified areas near the ground border and its southwestern waters so that North Koreans could send anti-South Korea propaganda leaflets to the South, in an apparent tit-for-tat against North Korean defectors and activists floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. This could potentially create security headaches for the South if North Korean military vessels escort North Korean civilian boats as they approach or cross the countries disputed western maritime border for leafleting, said Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seouls Institute for Far Eastern Studies and a former South Korean military official. Expand Close Kim Jong Uns sister Kim Yo Jong has recently blamed South Korea for declining bilateral relations (Ahn Young-joon/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kim Jong Uns sister Kim Yo Jong has recently blamed South Korea for declining bilateral relations (Ahn Young-joon/AP) Choi Hyun-soo, spokeswoman of South Koreas Defence Ministry, said the South Korean and US militaries were closely monitoring the Norths military and that the inter-Korean military agreement should be kept. Recently announced as her brothers top official on inter-Korean affairs, Kim Yo Jong in recent weeks has repeatedly bashed South Korea over declining bilateral relations and its inability to stop leafleting by defectors and activists. North Korea in recent months has suspended virtually all cooperation with the South while expressing frustration over the lack of progress in its nuclear negotiations with Washington. The talks have faltered with the Americans rejecting North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities. The North has also threatened to abandon bilateral peace agreements reached during Kim Jong Uns three summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in 2018, while also expressing frustration over Seouls unwillingness to defy US-led international sanctions and restart inter-Korean economic cooperation. Mr Moon on Monday called on North Korea to stop raising animosities and return to talks, saying that the rivals must not reverse the peace deals. 8 Shares Share Before I walked hospital hallways as a medical student, I walked high school hallways as a science teacher in Houstons 5th Ward. Each year, the most difficult time for me was graduation. The pride of watching my students, most African American, achieve a well-earned success was mixed with the sadness of losing incredible people as they moved on. Also mixed in was the humbling understanding of the incredible disparity between their experience and my own, as a white man. My suburban high school graduation had been an expectation, while these students had to fight to get to that stage against incredible adversity and a society not built for them as racial minorities. The fact it took me until my mid 20s to begin understanding the privilege of my upbringing and the adversity of the African American experience is something I look back at with a mixture of shame and embarrassment. This sentiment stayed with me as I shifted from one societal institution fraught with racial disparities, education, into another with similar issues in medicine. While I will never truly understand the daily struggle of African Americans battling our engrained systems of oppression, I hope with these words, I am able to be an ally in solidarity. The murder of George Floyd at the knee of a white police officer has once again reminded us of the inequities on which our country is built. The subsequent protests are fighting not only police brutality, but systemic oppression in all our societys institutions. Whether historically during the Tuskegee Syphilis experiment or today through the numerous health care disparities (the most recent example during the COVID pandemic) between White and Black Americans, medicine has proven it is one of those sectors. As the future of health care, we, as medical students, have the responsibility to take action to correct these racial inequities. First, many of us will soon decide our future specialty and where we will practice. Usually, students consider the subject material, types of procedures involved, or a programs competitiveness. However, a consideration frequently missing is the patient population they want to serve. The AAMC Medical School Graduation Questionnaire, administered annually to every graduating class, asks students about their career motivations. Only 35 percent percent of respondents planned to care for an underserved population, populations in which a higher percentage of African Americans reside. Many of us were accepted to medical school, writing heartfelt essays about our desire to help those that need it most. This sentiment must persist through our residency choice as well. If we want to begin changing racial health care inequities, we must reevaluate why we choose to practice medicine in the first place. In addition, we must increase the number of African American physicians. Research shows that African American patients, many of whom may understandably distrust our societys systems, have greater trust and better health outcomes when treated by a physician of the same race. Yet only 7.3 percent of the current graduating medical school class and only 5 percent of currently practicing physicians identify as African American, while 13 percent of our countrys population is African American. To prepare the next generation of physicians to be as diverse as our country needs, we must actively support organizations that work towards this. Organizations such as Black Men in White Coats and White Coats for Black Lives fight for improved recruitment of African Americans to the field of medicine. Also, through my time in public education, I saw the incredible need to better support low-income students through the expensive and rigorous path to physician-hood. We must support organizations that expose minority students to the field of medicine and support them throughout their journey. Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP) at in Dallas and Medical Education Resources Initiative for Teens (MERIT) in Baltimore assist minority students locally, and Mentoring in Medicine and Diverse Medicine Inc. does this work nationally. As medical students, it is our responsibility to inspire the next generation of physicians and ensure they are as diverse as the population we will be treating. These protests are forcing our country to acknowledge that we have failed to protect members of our society. Our country deserves to know that their health care system accepts that failure and promises a better future. As medical students, we must take action to remedy these inequities our system created. As we walk down our paths to physician-hood, we must walk with the understanding of the historical inequities of our past, and actively work to bend our paths closer to justice for all in this country. Stephen Haff is a medical student. Image credit: Shutterstock.com In Ukraine, more than 500,000 citizens are officially registered as unemployed. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated this during the Svoboda Slova talk show on ICTV on Monday evening, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Today, more than half a million people are jobless and officially registered as unemployed. This is a challenge that we are also dealing with, and we must first create conditions for new jobs, the PM said. According to him, since the beginning of lockdown, 276,000 have received the status of unemployed, and 150,000 of them have already found employment. As reported, on March 12, the Government introduced quarantine in Ukraine to counter the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A so-called adaptive lockdown is currently in place in Ukraine until June 22. On April 24, Shmyhal released a five-stage lockdown exit plan in Ukraine. As of June 16, Ukraine reported 32,476 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases. Some 666 new cases were confirmed over the past day. ish (Bloomberg) -- Contact-tracing apps rolled out by Bahrain, Kuwait and Norway to track the spread of the coronavirus have endangered the privacy and security of hundreds of thousands of people by marking users locations in real time, human rights group Amnesty International said. Bahrains BeAware Bahrain, Kuwaits Shlonik and Norways Smittestopp apps stood out as some of the most alarming mass surveillance tools in an analysis of 11 apps across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the group said. The survey was carried out by Amnestys Security Lab, which conducts technical investigations into cyber-attacks against civil society. The three apps frequently capture users GPS location data and upload it to a central government database, effectively tracking users movements as they happen, Amnesty said. The location information can be easily linked to an individual given that users are required to sign up to the app with a national ID number in Bahrain and Kuwait and with a valid phone number in Norway. Bahrain, Kuwait and Norway are running roughshod over peoples privacy, with highly invasive surveillance tools which go far beyond what is justified in efforts to tackle Covid-19, said Claudio Guarnieri, head of Amnesty Internationals Security Lab. These governments must immediately halt the use of such intrusive apps in their current form. A representative Kuwait didnt immediately comment late Monday. Amnesty said it notified authorities in the three countries of its findings ahead of publication of the report. The BeAware app was designed for the sole purpose of advancing contact tracing efforts and saving lives, a Bahraini government spokesperson said. It is an entirely voluntary opt-in app, available free of charge on iOS and Android, and all users are informed of its use of GPS software before downloading. Bahrain said that users who arent under quarantine or mandatory self-isolation orders can turn off the GPS feature of the app, which it said has contributed to a low death rate from the virus. Story continues Norway Downloading the app is completely voluntary. Many people download apps that store sensitive information centrally and thats used for commercial purposes, Norways Health Minister Bent Hoie said in an email. Smittestopp is an app thats used and owned by society to fight a pandemic. Hoie had responded to Amnesty in a letter dated June 12 defending the app, which he said followed the European General Data Protection Regulation as well as local privacy-protection rules and was crucial in fighting the spread of Covid-19 and preventing a longer lockdown. Still, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health on Monday had already halted the use of its mobile phone tool and deleted all the data it had collected after the countrys data protection authority warned it would temporarily ban the processing of personal information associated with the app. The Norwegian watchdog also questioned how useful the app is given its low usage and also warned that pairing Bluetooth technology for contact detection with location data for analysis went too far. Hoie said in the letter that the public health authorities were investigating some of the issues that Amnesty had brought up and had reduced the amount of time data would be stored to 10 days from 30. Amnesty said both the Bahraini and Kuwaiti apps can pair with a Bluetooth bracelet used to enforce quarantine measures by ensuring the user remains near their phone. The Kuwait app regularly checks the distance between the bracelet and the device, uploading location data every 10 minutes to a central server, the group said. In Bahrain, users registered for home quarantine who dont wear the bracelet face fines or imprisonment, it added. Governments around the world have developed mobile apps to trace possible infections of the coronavirus, alerting users when they may have been near someone infectious. Authorities say the tools can help track and contain any resurgent outbreaks of the virus. But since their inception, contact-tracing apps have raised concerns about their potential to infringe on peoples rights to privacy by collecting sensitive data about location, health and information about who people interact with. Read more: Coronavirus Newsletter: Protecting Privacy in a Pandemic Amnesty said it chose not to analyze apps that are based on a decentralized system, which is supported by a joint tool developed by Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google. It said such apps, which store data on peoples phones instead of on government servers, tend to be less concerning from a privacy perspective. (Adds Bahrains comment starting in the sixth paragraph) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. SILVER SPRING, Md., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to four companies for selling unapproved injectable drug products labeled as homeopathic that can pose serious risks to patient health and violate federal law, as part of the agency's efforts to protect Americans from potentially harmful products that are labeled as homeopathic. The FDA is particularly concerned about unapproved injectable drug products labeled as homeopathic because they are injected directly into the body, often directly into the bloodstream and bypass some of the body's key natural defenses against toxins, toxic ingredients and dangerous organisms that can cause serious and life-threatening harm. Additionally, unapproved drugs that claim to cure, treat or prevent serious conditions may cause consumers to delay or stop medical treatments that have been found safe and effective through the FDA review process. "The FDA's drug approval requirements are designed to protect patients by ensuring, among other things, that drugs are safe and effective for their intended uses. These unapproved injectable drugs are particularly concerning because they inherently present greater risks to patients because of how they are administered," said Donald D. Ashley, director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "These products are further concerning given that they are labeled to contain potentially toxic ingredients intended for injection directly into the body. These warning letters reflect our continued commitment to patient safety." No currently marketed drug products labeled as homeopathic have been approved by the FDA for any use and the agency cannot assure these drugs meet modern standards for safety, effectiveness and quality. Products labeled as homeopathic can be made from a wide range of substances, including ingredients derived from plants, healthy or diseased animal or human sources, minerals and chemicals, and they can include known poisons or toxins. These drugs are often marketed as natural, safe and effective alternatives to approved prescription and nonprescription products and are widely available in the marketplace. Additionally, the lack of premarket quality review is particularly concerning for injectable drugs, which generally pose a greater risk of harm to users because the route of administration for these products bypasses some of the body's natural defenses. The FDA issued the warning letters to Hervert Pharmaceuticals, LLC; MediNatura, Inc.; 8046255 Canada, Inc., doing business as Viatrexx; and World Health Advanced Technologies, Ltd. The products included in the warning letters are new drugs because they are not generally recognized as safe and effective for their labeled uses, and FDA has not approved these products. Some drugs, such as "Enercel," marketed by World Health Advanced Technologies, Ltd., are intended for serious diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C. Many of the drugs were labeled to contain potentially toxic ingredients such as nux vomica, belladonna (deadly nightshade), mercurius solubilis (mercury), and plumbum aceticum (lead). For example, nux vomica contains strychnine, which is a highly toxic, well-studied poison that is used to kill rodents. The agency is concerned that these potentially toxic ingredients present additional risks of serious harm when delivered directly into the body, including directly into the bloodstream. Drugs labeled as homeopathic may also cause significant and even irreparable harm if they are poorly manufactured. Viatrexx was also cited for substandard manufacturing practices for sterile drugs. The foreign manufacturers of the injectable drugs sold by Hervert Pharmaceuticals, LLC; MediNatura New Mexico, Inc.; and Viatrexx were also placed on import alert 66-41 to stop these drugs from entering the U.S. The FDA has taken steps to clarify for both consumers and industry how the potential safety risks of these products are assessed. On Oct. 24, 2019, the FDA withdrew Compliance Policy Guide (CPG) 400.400 "Conditions Under Which Homeopathic Drugs May be Marketed," because it was inconsistent with the agency's risk-based approach to regulatory and enforcement actions. The FDA also issued a revision of its draft guidance, titled Drug Products Labeled as Homeopathic: Guidance for FDA Staff and Industry, for public comment. When finalized, this guidance will explain the categories of homeopathic drug products that we intend to prioritize under our risk-based enforcement approach. In the interim, before the draft guidance is finalized, the FDA intends to apply its general approach to prioritizing risk-based regulatory and enforcement action. The FDA encourages health care professionals and consumers to report adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of any of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program . To report adverse drug events in animals, see How to Report Animal Drug Side Effects and Product Problems . Additional Resources: Media Contact: Jeremy Kahn, 301-796-8671 Consumer Inquiries: Email or 888-INFO-FDA The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products. SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration Related Links http://www.fda.gov The travel restrictions had already been extended several times and were set to expire on June 23. The United States, Canada and Mexico have agreed to extend their restrictions to keep their shared borders closed to non-essential travel until at least July 21 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Acting US Secretary Chad Wolf said non-essential travel to Canada and Mexico will not be permitted until the administration is convinced that doing so is safe and secure. This extension protects Americans while keeping essential trade and travel flowing as we reopen the American economy, Wolf said. We have been in contact with our Canadian and Mexican counterparts and they also agree that extending these restrictions is prudent at this time. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday the border is a source of vulnerability, so the agreement will be extended by another 30 days. The Canada restrictions were announced on March 18 and were extended in April. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a meeting of the special committee on the COVID-19 pandemic, in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada [Blair Gable/Reuters] Trudeau said Canadas provincial leaders clearly wanted to continue the measures. This will keep people in both of our countries safe, Trudeau said. US President Donald Trump also confirmed the extension, but looked forward to its eventual end, saying, everything we want to get back to normal. We love Canada, so were going to be talking, and at the right time, well open that up very quickly. That will go very easily, Trump said. He was asked if opening travel could occur before June 21 and he replied that it could. But many Canadians fear a reopening. The US has more confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, than any country in the world, though its per capita numbers are well below many other nations. Mexicos foreign affairs ministry said via Twitter on Tuesday after reviewing the spread of COVID-19 in Mexico and the US, the governments had decided to leave the restrictions implemented March 21 unchanged. The statement said: Both countries will continue coordinating health measures in the border region. y han acordado extender por 30 dias mas las restricciones al transito terrestre no esencial en su frontera comun, tras revisar el desarrollo de la propagacion de COVID-19 en Mexico y en EE. UU. Relaciones Exteriores (@SRE_mx) June 16, 2020 Essential cross-border workers like healthcare professionals, airline crew and truck drivers are still permitted to cross. Truck drivers are critical as they move food and medical goods in both directions. Much of Canadas food supply comes from or via the US. Americans who are returning to the US and Canadians who are returning to Canada are also exempted from the border closure. Canada sends 75 percent of its exports to the US and about 18 percent of American exports go to Canada. The US-Canada border is the worlds longest between two nations. Reduced lanes at the US-Mexico border in San Diego, California, US [File: Mike Blake/Reuters] Asked about possible testing at the border and contact tracing when the border does fully reopen, Trudeau said officials have given themselves another month to examine what might be needed. These are ongoing questions, Trudeau said. But even now, we know that we need to do more to ensure that travellers who are coming back from overseas or from the United States as Canadians are properly followed up on, are properly isolated and dont become further vectors for the spread of COVID-19. With the family and fans of Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja still trying to come to terms with his untimely demise, a prayer meet remembering the late actor will be held tomorrow. The Sarja family members are holding an 11th day prayer meet (tithi) at 10.30 am at Brindavana Farmhouse, where the actor is laid to rest. It is said that the prayer meeting will be a private event with only close family members and relatives in attendance. The family members are said to have requested people to not bring mobile phones or cameras to the meet. The Rudra Tandava actor breathed his last on June 7, 2020. The 39-year-old actor had passed away due to cardiac arrest. Chiranjeevi Sarja, best known for his films like Sinnga, Samhaara, Amma I Love You, Varadhanay and Ajith among the others is survived by his wife Meghana Raj. As per media reports, Meghana is expecting her first child with the late actor. The couple was reportedly tight-lipped about the pregnancy. Also the grandson of the late veteran actor Shakti Prasad and the nephew of renowned actor Arjun Sarja, Chiranjeevi married actress Meghana Raj in May 2018, after being in a relationship for several years. During the lockdown period, the duo was seen sharing pictures on social media, wherein they were seen indulging in household chores and indoor activities. The fans, who are still sinking in with Chiranjeevi's demise got emotional after Dhruva Sarja shared the last post of his late brother. A throwback childhood picture of the duo, with their cousin Suraj Sarja, was juxtaposed with a new image in the same pose. The heartbreaking picture posted on Dhruva's Instagram stories was captioned, "I want you back", which has truly left many heavy-hearted. SHOCKING! Chiranjeevi Sarja Passes Away At 39 Due To Cardiac Arrest The Makers Of Chiranjeevi Sarja's Under-Production Films On Completing & Releasing The Movies New Delhi, June 16 : A man was thrashed to death in Hazrat Nizamuddin area in Delhi on Tuesday after he had allegedly snatched a mobile phone of the accused, who has since been arrested, police said. Deceased Gautam was a resident of Gautam Puri. Arrested accused Mehtab, 41, is a resident of Sarai Kale Khan area. He was previously also involved in an assault case. "The incident occurred around 1 am on June 15-16 night when Gautam snatched the mobile phone of Mehtab, who runs a battery charging shop near Baba Bhure Shah Dargah and ran away. Mehtab however caught hold of Gautam, tied him to an e-rickshaw and thrashed him with an iron rod and plastic pipe," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) R P Meena said. Police said it reached the crime spot after receiving information regarding the murder at the DDA Park. The body recovered at the spot had bruises over the chest, back and thighs," a senior police official said. Mehtab was arrested, the DCP said and added that Gautam was involved in at least eight cases of burglary and snatching. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Voters registered with the Conservative, Democratic, Republican, and SAM (Serve America Movement) parties will have the opportunity to cast primary ballots on June 23. Early voting has been underway since Saturday, and the state made absentee ballots available to New Yorkers due to the start of the coronavirus pandemic, which has also lead to planned social distancing efforts at polling sites. After being postponed from the original April 28 primary day, here is a look at the votes Staten Islanders will be able to cast. In this June 11, 2020, photo, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a roundtable on economic reopening with community members in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP Democratic primary for President Former Vice President Joe Biden obtained enough delegates on June 5 to be the presumptive Democratic nominee against President Donald Trump, but New York Democrats still have the opportunity to make their voices heard. A court decision in early May reinstated New Yorks Democratic presidential primary after the state BOE effectively cancelled it. A provision in the recently-passed state budget allowed for the board to remove candidates who had ended their campaigns. The campaign of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, which was suspended in early April, criticized the BOEs original decision as a blow to American democracy. Sanders has endorsed Biden. Manhattan Federal Court Judge Analisa Torres wrote in her opinion that, had the BOEs decision been left in place, New York Democratic voters would have been "deprived of the right to cast a vote for an otherwise qualified candidate and the political views expressed by that candidate. She added that the primarys cancellation wouldve denied candidate other than Biden the opportunity to compete for delegate slots and shape the course of events at the Convention, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 17 in Milwaukee. Joseph Caldarera and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis will face off in a Republican primary for Congress on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. (File photo composite) Republican primary for Congress -- Joseph Caldarera vs. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis In the Islands highest profile Republican race, former Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Joseph Caldarera will be facing off against Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) for the partys nominee to the boroughs congressional seat. The winner will face off against incumbent Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) in the November general election. Both candidates have styled themselves as the best representative to advance Trumps agenda, but Malliotakis was the one to secure his endorsement in February despite her attempts to distance herself from him during her 2017 mayoral run. "(Nicole Malliotakis) is running for Congress in NY, I know her well, we need her to defeat Max Rose, who voted for Impeachment! Nicole is Strong on Crime & Borders, (Second Ammendment), Cutting Taxes, & she Loves our Military & Vets. Nicole has my Complete & Total Endorsement! Trump tweeted. She has also won the support of the state and local Conservative Parties and was endorsed by the Staten Island and Brooklyn Republican parties. Caldarera challenged Malliotakis to a debate ahead of the primary, but she declined with her campaign saying shes already confident she will be the Republican nominee. The National Rifle Association, and former Staten Island Republican Party Chairman John Antoniello have endorsed Caldarera in the race. I am proud to endorse former Assistant District Attorney, Joe Caldarera, for Congress on Staten Island and in South Brooklyn, Antoniello said in early June. As former Chairman of the Staten Island Republican party, I can tell you that Joe is the best hope for the future of our district and the future of our Republican party. Incumbent State Sen. Diane Savino will face off against Rajiv Gowda in the June 23 Democratic primary. (Courtesy: NY Senate and Gowda for Senate) Democratic state Senate primary -- Rajiv Gowda vs. Staten Sen. Diane Savino The only local Democratic primary race this election cycle comes between incumbent State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) and upstart challenger Rajiv Gowda. In late April, State Supreme Court officials ordered the city Board of Elections to remove Gowda from the ballot after a petition signatures challenge. However, a judge in the courts appellate division ruled in his favor, and he was placed back on the ballot on May 19 after the New York Court of Appeals declined to hear a motion to appeal that decision. This victory belongs to the people in my district, and democracy, Gowda said in late May. Elections are about choice. To choose who will represent our district in Albany in 2021. Gowda and another candidate had challenged the eight-term senator who was a member of the Independent Democratic Conference, a group that caucused separately from fellow Democrats and worked with Republicans in the state Senate from 2011 to 2018. The six other IDC members lost to primary challengers in 2018 including the conferences leader Jeff Klein. In his role as Staten Island Democratic Party Chairman, Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island) said the party was disappointed with the courts decision in favor of Gowda, and expressed its support for the state senator. Senator Savino has been a tireless champion for the working people of Staten Islands North Shore, Cusick said. Whether its enacting the first domestic workers bill of rights in the nation, providing (in vitro fertilization) coverage for New Yorkers or authoring the Wage Theft Prevention Act, Senator Savinos record speaks for itself. Were confident voters will feel the same way come June. Marko Kepi and Michael Tannousis are facing off in the Republican primary on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 for the East Shore's State Assembly seat. (File photo composite) Republican Assembly primary -- Marko Kepi vs. Michael Tannousis One of the Islands closest primaries is the Republican race for the nomination to the East Shore Assembly seat to be vacated by Malliotakis at the end of 2020. U.S. Marine Marko Kepi is facing off against former Richmond County District Attorney Michael Tannousis for the nomination. Tannousis has secured the support of the local Republican establishment, including all of the Islands Republican elected officials and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. I am honored to receive the support of Americas Mayor, Tannousis said of Giulianis endorsement. As a kid growing up in Staten Island in the 90s, I knew Rudy was a champion for our city. He had fought corruption as a federal prosecutor and made our streets safe for us again. Kepi has secured the support of former Rep. Michael Grimm, former Brooklyn State Senator Marty Golden, and Malliotakis primary opponent, who were in attendance at a Sunday campaign rally in Dongan Hills that brought more than 150 people to Kepis campaign office. "The energy is in our court, were going full through June 23, and were going to win this race, Kepi said. At the end of the day, its not about endorsements and logos. Its about those that have the boots on the ground, those who are really active, and those who fight for the community. Those are who I have on my side. Conservative Assembly primary -- Anthony DeGuerre vs. Abraham Monheit Attorney Anthony DeGuerre is running unopposed as a Republican in his challenge against incumbent Assemblyman Cusick (D-Mid-Island), but is being challenged on the Conservative Party line by Abraham Monheit. SAM Party State Committee for 13th Judicial District -- Frank Morano vs. Nicholas Robbins A lesser know political party founded in 2017 -- the SAM Party -- will be having its own series of primaries related to the boroughs judicial district. Radio host and political activist Frank Morano will be facing off against fellow political activist Nicholas Robbins for the partys State Committee position. SAM Party Delegate to Judicial Convention -- Frank Morano vs. Nicholas Robbins The pair will also be facing off in a primary race for the partys delegate position at the judicial convention for the 63rd Assembly district represented by Cusick. The conventions bring together delegates from the assembly districts within a larger judicial district, and the delegates cast votes to determine which judicial candidates will appear as the partys nominees on the general election ballot. There is also a SAM party primary for the position of alternate delegate at the convention between Michael Reape and John Rodriguez. Boris Johnson is getting a red, white and blue RAF transport jet so he and senior royals can fly the flag abroad. The grey Voyager aircraft is being painted in the colours of the Union Jack at an airport in Cambridge. The cost of repainting the plane is expected to be in the tens of thousands of pounds, sources said. One told Sky News the paint job sounded like something from Austin Powers the hit comedy films featuring a British spy, played by Mike Myers, who drives a Jaguar E-type in the colours of the Union Jack. Pictured: How the Royal Air Force Airbus Voyager could look after its makeover An RAF source said: Its going to be a Voyager with a paint job. Boris and others will use it to go around the world and wave the British flag. It will be diplomatic and it will be appropriate. I imagine it will be in great demand when it gets its new and smart paint job. But the source dismissed claims it would be in the style of Austin Powers, adding: The aircraft will not be a flying Union Jack. It wont be the whole of the airplane, it will be a part of it. A defence source added that the new design would be understated. Red, white and blue will be painted on the rear of its fuselage and up the fin. It is expected to be unveiled in the coming days. The interior of the Voyager had a 10million makeover in 2016, when David Cameron was prime minister. Mr Johnson and other ministers, as well as members of the Royal Family, will be allowed to use the plane, which will also continue to be used as a refuelling aircraft. An RAF source said the plane could be changed back to grey very quickly if deemed necessary in a wartime scenario. File photo dated 25/07/17 of an RAF Voyager used by the Prime Minister and members of the royal family which is being repainted in the colours of the Union flag It will have a lot of functionalities. If we went to war, and all the assets needed to deploy to the Middle East for example, we would change the colour, they said. The RAF source noted that planes were painted a sandy shade of pink for the Gulf wars. In May 2018 Mr Johnson asked why the Voyager needed to be grey as he said he needed his own plane in order to boost Britains post-Brexit trade prospects. Speaking when he was foreign secretary, he said he and other Cabinet ministers needed another aircraft as the Voyager, used by Mr Cameron when he was prime minister, was rarely available. He said: What I will say about the Voyager, I think its great, but it seems to be very difficult to get hold of... I dont know who uses it, but it never seems to be available. Mr Johnson added that it was striking such a plane did not yet exist and suggested that it could be a different colour. He added: And also, why does it have to be grey? The taxpayers wont want us to have some luxurious new plane. But I certainly think its striking that we dont seem to have access to such a thing at the moment. A spokesman for the RAF said: An RAF Voyager is currently in Cambridgeshire for pre- planned works. The number of Covid-19 cases are rising rapidly in the country. But there are four states - Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh - which are reporting a decline in the rate of new infections. These states have seen the rate of increase drop by nearly two per cent, giving relief to local authorities. Three of these states are the biggest source of migrant workers in the country. The number of Covid-19 cases starting swelling here when these workers started returning home due to the Covid-19 lockdown. There were fears that these migrants will take the pandemic to rural areas, which has very poor health infrastructure as compared to urban areas. So, the state governments kept the returning workers in quarantine for a period ranging from seven to 21 days. But now, since the number of migrants returning to home states has fallen, the rate of Covid-19 spread has also slowed down. Most migrant workers have reached their home destinations. We continue to coordinate with the state governments to send back remaining migrant workers, Railway Board Chairman Vinod Kumar Yadav said on Monday. Indian Railways has been running Shramik Special trains to ferry these migrants to their home states from different parts of the country. The railways had ferried over 60 lakh migrant workers in 4,450 Shramik special trains since May 1. In Bihar, the number of Covid-19 cases increased to 6,581 on June 15 from 3,923 on June 1. But, the rate of increase was 10.81 per cent in the second week of June as compared to about 12 per cent in the first week. According to Bihar public relations department, around 2.1 million workers have returned to Bihar since May 1, when the Shramik Special trains started. Of them, only 2,50,000 came in two week of June. Anupam Kumar, Bihars public relations secretary, said that the state government expects the cases to go down as very few workers are likely to return from this week onwards. State Health Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh said that the state has ramped up its testing capacity with facilities installed in all the 38 districts. The number of samples tested till Monday was 1.27 lakh, he added. The Uttar Pradesh governments health data shows that the weekly average of increase in the Covid-19 cases in the first week of June was 412 cases per day, which reduced to 356 cases per day in the second week. The state has deployed 1.21 lakh-strong surveillance teams to gather samples and test them. These teams have surveyed over 92 lakh homes and covered 4.69 crore people, Principal Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said. The second week of Unlock 1 that began June 1 has brought some reprieve for Jharkhand as well. The pandemics growth trajectory peaked on June 8 when the state recorded the highest ever single-day spike of 187 new cases. It took a downward trend thereafter with on average 50 cases per day being reported in the last four days. From 610 cases on May 31, the states tally on June 15 had increased to 1,151 cases. In Madhya Pradesh, the number of new cases recorded has fallen from 1,424 in last week of May to 1,401 in second week of June. The reason for this is just 54,282 workers came back to the state in June as compared to over three lakh in May. Amber Rollins with says hot car deaths are lower than average for 2020. That's because parents are getting out less. When you get back to a normal routine, you should add a few steps to prevent hot car deaths. 1. Check the backseat every time. Get into the habit of looking in the back seat of the car every time you park before you walk away. 2. Leave something you need that morning in the back seat. Parents can flip into autopilot and drive to work without remembering the entire drive. Rollins says parents can make up a false memory that they dropped their kid off at daycare when they really did not. If you leave something like your laptop in the backseat, you will see if your child is there or not when you open the backdoor to get the laptop. 3. Lock your doors always - even if you don't have kids. About 25% of hot car deaths occur when kids get into cars and lock themselves in. Rollins says about 79% of those kids are boys 1-4. She says they're fascinated with cars and want to pretend to drive. Everyone needs to keep their car locked to prevent kids in the area from getting in. "Heaven forbid if a child does go missing, just like you would check the pool or a lake nearby immediately, you want to check the inside floorboards and trunk of all cars in the area immediately, even if they're locked," Rollins says. 4. Store keys out of reach of children. Because children like to play in cars, Rollins says parents should store keys and key fobs in a place kids can't find them. 5. You can help a child locked in a hot car. The Good Samaritan law in Kansas says you won't be held liable for damage if you break a window in good faith to save a person or pet inside of a hot car. Rollins says first call 911 then break the window farthest away from the person or animal. "It is your business. Get involved. Call 911 immediately," Rollins says. "If that child appears to be in distress, you need to break the window and get them out. Literally minutes could be the difference between surviving, having severe brain damage, and death." Dubai government has announced a comprehensive plan for developing the Rashid School for Boys and Latifa School for Girls. To be implemented from July next year, the plan is aimed at further enhancing the facilities and capacity of the schools. The development plans, which will be implemented starting from July 2021, aim to further enhance the facilities and capacity of the schools. It comes following the directives of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The institutions, which are two of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Dubai, count several Dubai leaders and public figures among its alumni. Many of Sheikh Mohammeds children graduated from these schools. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, graduated from the Rashid School for Boys. Women leaders and public figures who graduated from Latifa School for Girls include Chairperson of Dubai Women's Establishment Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Chairperson of Dubai Culture Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. Dr Ahmed bin Abdulla Belhoul Al Falasi, Chairman of the Board of the Rashid and Latifa Schools Establishment, affirmed that the leadership places the highest priority on education and considers the development of the sector a strategic objective. Al Falasi said the development plans, aimed at enhancing the educational capacities of the schools, was part of the continuous enhancement of the educational system in Dubai. The plans focus on providing the schools with all the facilities needed to enhance the educational experience, he noted. Latifa School for Girls, which opened in 1982, offers high-quality education based on the British curriculum and the Arabic and Islamic curriculum approved by the UAE Ministry of Education. Rashid School for Boys, which was established in 1986 as a secondary school, added an elementary section in 2003. It provides an exceptional learning environment and some of the best educational resources in the region. Al Falasi pointed out that implementing the development plans requires a complete shutdown of both institutions to ensure the safety of students and faculty. "Students from the two schools will be enrolled in other schools in coordination with Dubais Knowledge and Human Development Authority. Once the implementation of the development plan is completed, operations within the two schools will resume in September 2023," he added.-TradeArabia News Service By Barani Krishnan Investing.com - Wall Street is trying to shake off the Coronavirus 2.0 terror, and oil is following suit. Crude oil futures rebounded from losses of more than 5% to trade in the positive on Monday after White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow said President Donald Trump was determined not to close the U.S. economy again over a new surge in Covid-19 cases despite the autonomy for such a decision resting with state governors. "The President is absolutely disinclined to shut down as is the vice president," Kudlow told the Fox News network. "I think shutting down the economy could be worse for our health than not shutting it down. When you look at the overall numbers and these specific new cases, its still rock-bottom and has flattened. Were watching it very carefully. Kudlow spoke as 20 of the 50 U.S. states, including Texas, South Carolina, Utah, Arizona, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Oregon, California, Nevada, and Florida reported seven-day rolling average highs for new Covid-19 infections. The total number of cases since the February outbreak now stands at 2.2 million. New York-traded West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark for U.S. crude, was up 44 cents, or 1.2%, at $36.70 per barrel by 1:40 PM ET (17:40 GMT). It fell as much 5.2% earlier. London-traded Brent, the global benchmark for oil, gained 71 cents, or 1.8%, to $39.44. It lost 3.8% at the lows of the session. WTI and Brent both lost just over 8% last week for their worst weekly decline since mid-March. Prior to that, oil had traded virtually one way over six weeks, with WTI gaining 300% at one point from an April bottom of around $10 while Brent showed a 170% rise from a low of beneath $16. Despite those gains, both benchmarks remain down about 40% on the year. Mondays rebound in oil came after Wall Streets Dow pulled back from a drop of more than 2% earlier to trade just about a quarter percent down at the lunch break. Story continues Crude futures also recovered from their lows on reports that Iraq was living up to its bargain on OPEC+ production cuts, with a commitment to cut at least 15% of its oil exports in June. Oil prices are mirroring U.S. equities as lingering virus concerns weigh on the outlook for crude demand, said Ed Moya, an analyst at New Yorks OANDA. WTI crude is likely to struggle to break out of its $34-40 range anytime soon. But renewed optimism about OPEC+ production cuts could remain in place too if we see a second wave of Covid-19 concerns intensify as oil producers will refuse to let the market enter into another free fall. Besides the virus and shutdown worries, deteriorating demand fundamentals had also weighed on oil since last week. U.S. crude inventories grew by 5.72 million barrels during the week to May 5 to reach a record high of 538 million barrels, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. Distillate stockpiles, led by diesel, meanwhile, soared 1.6 million barrels during the week, and grew by a total of nearly 53 million barrels over nine weeks, EIA data showed. For its data set on the May 12 week due Wednesday the EIA is expected to announce a crude build of 1.7 million barrels versus a previous build of 5.7 million, according to a consensus of analysts estimates tracked by Investing.com. Separately, Seevol.com reported a decline of 1.8 million barrels in crude stockpiles stored at the closely-watched Cushing, Oklahoma, hub that takes in oil delivered against expiring WTI contracts. Distillates are expected to have risen 3 million last week, double that of the previous week, according to analysts consensus on the upcoming EIA data. Gasoline stockpiles, the one bright spot on the oil complex so far, is expected to have risen by 71,000 barrels versus a previous build of 866,000 barrels. Related Articles CEO of wind farm group Orsted to step down Mexican president says he would sell gasoline to Venezuela if asked U.S. Meat Giants Face Biggest Attack in Century From Probe Police say they are still looking for a suspect who exchanged gunfire with an officer early this morning in Florence, a northwest Alabama city in Lauderdale County. It was about 2 a.m. when an officer encountered a man behaving suspiciously near some vehicles on the 300 block of Thompson Street, said Florence police Capt. Brad Holmes. When the officer walked over to investigate, Holmes said, the man immediately started firing at the policeman. The officer, who was uninjured, returned fire, according to a Florence Police Department news release. The suspect drove away, police said, and the vehicle was later found. It had been struck by multiple bullets. Holmes said investigators do not believe the suspect was hit by police gunfire, as no blood was found inside the vehicle. Local hospitals havent reported treating anyone for gunshot wounds, he said. Capt. Jason Peek, a spokesman for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, said the State Bureau of Investigation is probing the case at the request of the Florence Police Department. The findings of the investigation will be handed over the Lauderdale County District Attorneys Office, Peek said in a press release. Holmes said both the officer and suspect are white men. No additional information has been released about either man. Holmes said police are still working to determine who the suspect is. They are interviewing witnesses and individuals of interest, he said. This story was updated at 3:18 p.m. with new information throughout. Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death came as a shocker. The actor had hung himself at his Bandra residence. Of what is being reported is that Sushant was suffering from severe depression for around six months. According to an interview published in Mumbai Mirror, filmmaker Rumy Jafry was to work with Sushant for his upcoming romantic-comedy film. In the interview, the filmmaker said, The script was locked and we were to begin shooting in May. The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown delayed things. I lost Irrfan Khan, then Rishi Kapoor and Wajid, and now Sushant. I am so disturbed, my father has asked me to return home to Bhopal. The tentative film also starred the late Kai Po Che actors rumoured girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. Giving details about the movie, the director said that the upcoming film would have been shot in Mumbai, London and Punjab. A rom-com, it was to explore Sushants dancing skills. He was a fantastic dancer and my film would have showcased him in a different light. He loved Shah Rukh Khans acting and Govindas dance and thats why I had a full-fledged dance number with Govinda-style moves planned for our mahurat, said Jafry. The filmmaker said that he was in touch with the actor during the lockdown and Sushant was keen to work on the project. He kept reading the script and wanted to get back to rehearsals post the lockdown. The two interacted four to five days ago too when Rumy texted him upon hearing about his former manager Disha Salian's demise. "I asked him to take care and he replied with four hearts and love you sir, promising to catch up soon, Rumy told the publication. On being asked if at all he will be making the same film with any other actor, Rumy said, he might never make it as the film was written keeping Sushant in mind. Follow @News18Movies for more WASHINGTON - The debate over the removal of Confederate symbols and the renaming of military installations amid protests over racial injustice migrated to a new venue this week, when emails circulated among judges and staff members at two federal courts in Washington. The controversy began when an appeals court judge shared with hundreds of colleagues, law clerks and courthouse staff members his opposition to a measure backed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., in the annual defense bill. "Since I am about to be interviewed, I thought it appropriate to unburden myself in opposition to the madness proposed by Senator Warren: the desecration of Confederate graves," wrote Judge Laurence Silberman, a senior judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Silberman was preparing to participate in a courthouse interview series about his life and career, and recounted in the message how his ancestors had fought on opposite sides of the Civil War, one for the Union and another for the Confederacy. "It's important to remember that Lincoln did not fight the war to free the Slaves," he wrote Sunday morning in a message sent to every District Court and appeals court judge, in addition to their law clerks, assistants and other courthouse staff members. "Indeed he was willing to put up with slavery in the South if the Confederate States Returned." The first response to Silberman's email came about noon Monday from a law clerk, who identified himself as one of a small number of black law clerks at the courthouse, and a former history teacher in Louisiana whose maternal ancestors were enslaved in Mississippi. "Since no one in the court's leadership has responded to your message, I thought I would give it a try," wrote Derrick Petit, who works in the chambers of U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan. "As people considered to be property, my ancestors would not have been involved in the philosophical and political debates about Lincoln's true intentions, or his view on racial equality," Petit wrote in response to Silberman in messages obtained by The Washington Post and first reported by the Intercept. "For them, and myself, race is not an abstract topic to be debated, so in my view anything that was built to represent white racial superiority, or named after someone that fought to maintain white supremacy (or the Southern economy of slavery) . . . should be removed from high trafficked areas of prominence and placed in museums where they can be part of lessons that put them in context." Petit, who declined to be interviewed for this report, concluded his reply to the judge, writing: "This moment of confronting our nation's racial history is too big to be disregarded based on familial ties." The correspondence that went out to more than 400 people within the tightknit courthouse community illustrates how the national conversation, sparked by outrage over the death of George Floyd in police custody, is playing out in all corners of the country. The White House has signaled that President Donald Trump would veto the annual military policy bill if it includes language to rename military installations name for Confederate personnel. Warren's measure, which has been approved in committee, would require the Pentagon within three years to remove the names of Confederate generals from military assets, including bases, buildings, aircraft, ships and other property. An earlier version of Warren's proposal would have gone further and prohibited Confederate markers at gravesites in military cemeteries. Petit's reply prompted responses from judges who praised the law clerk for speaking up. "Thank you for your thoughtful response," wrote District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan. "Your concerns are indisputably well taken. I hope that one day these issues will be behind us," added D.C. Circuit Judge Harry Edwards. "I know it took courage to send such an email," wrote D.C. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett. Judge Robert Wilkins, who was set to interview Silberman on Monday as part of the summer series for law clerks and interns, also chimed in. He thanked Petit for his message, "the sentiment of which I absolutely agree." Wilkins also offered a clarification to his colleague's initial email. Silberman, he said, may only have been objecting to the cemetery provision of Warren's proposal. "I cannot speak for Judge Silberman, but I raise this because it may have been that aspect of the bill to which he was referring and I didn't want there to be an unnecessary misunderstanding," Wilkins wrote. That prompted Silberman - who was nominated to the bench by President Ronald Reagan and took senior status in 2000 - to write again. "Thank you for your thoughtful message," Silberman wrote to Petit. "Judge Wilkins is absolutely correct; my concern was limited only to cemeteries." Silberman emphasized in an interview Tuesday that he was not criticizing Warren's entire legislative proposal. "I didn't intend that to be public. I was being interviewed about my life for the court family and Judge Wilkins correctly understood what I said," Silberman told The Washington Post. Wilkins, a former public defender, spent years helping to plan and build the National Museum of African American History and Culture to examine the nation's history, learn from stories of racial division and engage in these types of conversations. Because of the back-and-forth this week, Wilkins said Tuesday that he and Silberman have scheduled a Wednesday follow-up discussion for the courthouse community. The Government is not ruling out making face coverings on public transport and retail outlets mandatory to help stop the spread of coronavirus, the Taoiseach has said. Leo Varadkar launched a Government campaign to encourage people to wear face coverings on buses and trains and other public transport as more shops begin to open. Mr Varadkar called for the public to use face masks in places where social distancing is difficult, including public transport, crowded indoor places or when visiting the home of someone who has been cocooning. Its seen as an additional hygiene measure that can help reduce the spread of infection, he said. There will be a government ad campaign running over the coming days and weeks. I do see people using them more and more so I think the message is getting across. Asked whether Government will enforce wearing face coverings, Mr Varadkar said: We have given it consideration in making it mandatory, we dont rule that out, but there are real difficulties with that. Some people have phobias, some people have breathing difficulties, theres lots of different reasons as to why you wouldnt make it mandatory. From what we have seen during the pandemic is Irish people really understanding and following public health advice, and we havent had to underpin much of that with laws or fines. Its much better to have people understand why its right to wear a mask and do it voluntarily. He added that the idea of refusing people entry into shops and on public transport without a mask is under consideration. Weve launched a new campaign today with a simple message: if you are in situations where social distancing is difficult, such as on public transport or in shops, please wear a face covering. Its also a good idea to wear one when visiting someone who is vulnerable to #Covid19 pic.twitter.com/zMxQmDuj5w Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) June 15, 2020 Minister for Health Simon Harris said: Today is a really important step in our information campaign and at each stage of the Covid pandemic we need to look for new measures to take and we know that when it comes to face coverings that you can wear one and make it harder for your droplets to transfer to someone else. We are asking you, on all types of public transport and shops, in supermarkets to wear a face covering. Its going to require us getting in the habit of putting our face covering in a bag in your pocket just like you do with you phone, keys or wallet. Its not a magic shield from the coronavirus, but it is an additional hygiene measure. Senior civil servant Liz Canavan said that face coverings protect people from the risk of infection others might be carrying. You may not even be displaying the symptoms, she added. Its important how you use your mask or other covering. Its important how you dispose of it, and if its reusable how you keep it clean. Advice on all of this, including how to make your own face mask is available on gov.ie. Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn told Mondays coronavirus briefing that it is hoped that more people will wear face coverings in appropriate settings. He advised the public to wear face coverings if they are in a place where they cannot be sure they can social distance. However he urged that the covering be put on and removed appropriately, and that hands are washed before and afterwards. Meanwhile, shopping centres have reopened and people are allowed to visit their loved ones in nursing homes and residential care facilities as lockdown measures continue to ease. The Government had originally not envisaged reopening shopping centres until August 10 but it has been brought forward as coronavirus has been suppressed in recent weeks. Last Monday, all retail shops reopened, with hundreds turning up to queue at major retailers such as Ikea and Zara. (PA Graphics) Seating and dining areas will be removed to lessen dwell time among shoppers while people will be advised not to browse for long periods of time. To enforce social distancing, there will be limits on the number of customers allowed into stores. People will be allowed to visit nursing homes and residential care facilities following a ban on non-essential visits since early March. Sage Advocacy, which campaigns for vulnerable people and patients, said people are counting down the minutes to see their loved ones again. Executive director of Sage Advocacy Mervyn Taylor said many families had suffered heartbreak and loss during the pandemic. Marcela Benetti, a cleaner at one of the temporary public toilet facilities installed by Dublin City Council, on streets in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) People have been advised to ring ahead before they visit a nursing home and to wear a face covering and gloves, and visits should not last more than half an hour. Irelands death toll with Covid-19 remained at 1,706 on Monday after no additional deaths were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team. However there are 18 further confirmed cases of Covid-19, taking the total to 25,321. In this article PINS Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann speaks in conversation with Matthew Lynley of TechCrunch during the TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017 on September 18, 2017 in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images Two Black former Pinterest employees went public with claims of discrimination and retaliation during their time at the company that ended last month. Ifeoma Ozoma and Aerica Shimizu Banks, who had worked on Pinterest's public policy team, said their attempts to achieve fair compensation were rebuffed and they experienced retaliation after retaining outside counsel. In a phone interview with CNBC Tuesday, the two described several instances where they felt managers at Pinterest unfairly assessed their decisions and displayed "gaslighting" tactics when they brought up their concerns over issues like unwelcome comments on ethnicity. Because of their experiences at the company, Ozoma and Shimizu Banks said Pinterest's statement in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement rang hollow. As protests against police brutality ripple across the country in the wake of several more killings of Black people at the hands of law enforcement, companies throughout the U.S. are grappling with ways to express their support for Black employees and customers. As they rush out public statements, several companies have been forced to face a reckoning of their own role in upholding racist systems and failing to create a diverse workplace. According to Pinterest's latest diversity report, 4% of employees identified as Black, 45% identified as white and 44% identified as Asian. Pinterest said in the report it aims to increase hiring of underrepresented groups across the company. Pinterest declined to comment on specific allegations that CNBC shared from Ozoma and Shimizu Banks, but a spokesperson said in a statement: "We took these issues seriously and conducted a thorough investigation when they were raised, and we're confident both employees were treated fairly. We want each and every one of our employees at Pinterest to feel welcomed, valued, and respected. As we outlined in our statement on June 2nd, we're committed to advancing our work in inclusion and diversity by taking action at our company and on our platform. In areas where we, as a company, fall short, we must and will do better." 'Living a double life' As members of the public policy team, Ozoma and Shimizu Banks often became the face of their work, including several initiatives at Pinterest that garnered waves of positive press. Those projects included Pinterest's decision to remove vaccine misinformation from search and stop promoting wedding content that romanticizes former slave plantations. Months before Pinterest's April 2019 IPO, Ozoma engaged her manager and HR to discuss a pay increase, citing her leadership on key projects, she said. But after months of negotiations, Ozoma engaged outside counsel to help make her case. Internally, Ozoma continued negotiations with her employer after her lawyer first reached out on her behalf in May 2019. But to the outside world, Ozoma remained the face of major initiatives for Pinterest. "I was asked to speak everywhere from Geneva to Singapore on behalf of the company, and I was doing all of that sort of like living a double life while I was dealing with all of the retaliation and intimidation internally," she said. She described the year before she and Shimizu Banks left the company in May 2020 as "pure hell." Part of that time included having her personal information released, or doxed, last June after a former employee at the company leaked documents she worked on to a right-wing group, Ozoma said. Shortly after, she said, her personal information showed up on forums including 4chan and 8chan. Pinterest's slow response in helping her remove information including her cell phone number and email forced her to turn to former colleagues at Google and Facebook to help regain her privacy. Ozoma said it was on her to contract security companies that would help get the issue under control. In an email shared with CNBC, Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann wrote to Ozoma after the incident, "I'm personally concerned that when these risks were raised, we didn't take the right steps." Shimizu Banks, who was one month into her role at the time, said she had tried to warn managers prior to the doxing that they should be prepared for such an event. She said her experience at Google and in the Obama Administration taught her that doxing often follows leaks by fringe groups. But Shimizu Banks said she was told there was no need for concern. The next day, she said, Ozoma and other employees saw their information shared online. The flip-side of 'nice' culture Pinterest has a reputation for being exceptionally "nice." Interviews with several former Pinterest employees last year revealed a non-confrontational culture that would sometimes manifest as passive-aggressiveness. Ozoma and Shimizu Banks said that culture contributed to the alleged gaslighting they felt from managers and HR. It also worked to shield discriminatory practices from white and/or male employees, they said. When Ozoma expressed her frustration with a performance review to her manager a few months ago, she recounted that he told her, "I'm a nice guy, everyone likes me. So maybe you have an issue but I don't have an issue with you. I could never lie." "I just sat there like this is gaslighting personified," Ozoma said. "It was almost like a neon gaslighting sign was flashing over his head while he was talking to me. And I believe that he believed what was coming out of his mouth, that so many people at the company and in his life had told him that he's a nice guy that he could not hear what I was saying and he could not see what I was doing. And that was part of what made speaking up so hard. There are a number of people who have reached out and said wow, I had no idea what was going on." Ozoma said she took issue with her manager's suggestion in her performance review that she present multiple options for policy positions with pros and cons, rather than advocating heavily for one. The review cited her advocacy for discontinuing the promotion of romanticized plantation weddings, the step that Pinterest ultimately took. When Shimizu Banks reported comments made by her manager, she was disappointed with the conclusion that found no evidence of bias. Shimizu Banks said her manager had made an unwelcome comment related to her ethnicity, and later used what she called "dog whistle" terms in reference to a Jewish colleague. In an email obtained by CNBC, an HR representative told Shimizu Banks that even if the manager "had referenced your ethnicity and asked for your ethnic perspective uninvited ... I found that with no negative connotations attached to the statements, they do not indicate bias on their own and are not a violation of our Code of Conduct." Shimizu Banks said Pinterest forced her to undergo an internal investigation based on what she called baseless claims that she had recorded meetings, and other allegations. She also said her business-related purchases for Black community outreach efforts were scrutinized while payments related to other groups, like a tech think tank, went untouched. Pay levels By means of the extrusion method, researchers of KIT study baking properties of insect flours. (Photo: Markus Breig, KIT) According to estimates of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), population growth will cause the worldwide demand for animal proteins to double by 2050. Even if free agricultural areas would be used, this demand could not be covered by meat from cattle breeding alone. For this reason, researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) study production of new alternative protein sources. Their goal is to develop insect flours suited for e.g. bread production. Insects are fixed nutrition constituents in many cultures of Asia or South Africa. In Europe, insect food rather is a niche product. Currently, industrial production focuses on mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) whose larvae contain many proteins. Compared to beef, mealworms have the advantage of producing half as much CO2 and, hence, having a smaller ecological footprint, says Dr. Azad Emin, KIT. The process engineer heads the junior research group Extrusion of Biopolymers of the Chair of Food Process Engineering (LVT) of KITs Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences. Many consumers still refuse insects as unprocessed food in the form of a snack, for instance. First studies reveal, however, that acceptance of products in which the insects are no longer visible is higher. Processed to a powder, commercialization by use in traditional food, such as bread, is feasible on the German market. Bread still is one of the main energy sources, Emin explains. Wheat flour with insect fractions may enrich the basic foodstuff with proteins and compensate potential deficiencies of other protein sources. For processing the insects, food engineers use extrusion, a method that has long been used for producing pasta or cereals, for example. By adding water, a pasty or dough-like mass develops that is passed through spiral screws, heated, and then pressed through a nozzle. Afterwards, the dry mass is ground. Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) have a small ecological footprint and a high protein content. (Photo: Markus Breig, KIT) To reach a high acceptance of consumers, the new flours are to hardly differ from conventional baking flours in terms of taste, baking properties, and texture. As the high protein and fat contents of insect flours may cause changes of the dough, however, the LVT researchers analyze their physical and functional properties, such as dissolution capacity, water retention capacity, or elasticity. Work is aimed at improving these specific properties such that they correspond to the properties of conventional baking flours. Another advantage of the method is the deactivation of enzymes and the reduction of microbial contaminants. In addition, digestibility may be improved, Emin says. As information on the effects of extrusion conditions on digestibility and bioavailability of the nutrients contained in insects is lacking, scientists study them in detail in cooperation with the Max Rubner Institute. Extrusion combined with the exploitation of new resources might open up new perspectives for the traditional baker trade and in particular for small companies, also as far as food trends are concerned. Collaboration with local business will allow for regional production and processing. Future research will concentrate on the applicability of the flours produced in the baking sector. External bread checks are to cover not only the shape and appearance, but also the texture of the bread. In addition, we plan surveys, Emin reports and emphasizes that the results obtained will be important for the sustainable production of food containing insects. The studies carried out by KIT researchers are part of the project Functionalization of Insect-based Flours by Extrusion for the Preparation of Bakery Products. The project started in 2019 is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture for a period of three years. Project partners are the Max Rubner Institute, the European Centre for Dispersion Technologies, and Storrmuhle GmbH. Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. Iranian Oil Shipments To China Rebranded In Malaysia To Circumvent Sanctions Radio Farda June 15, 2020 Like its Latin American ally, Venezuela, Iran appears to be rebranding its crude oil destined for China in Malaysia to circumvent U.S. sanctions. Data provided to Radio Farda by oil tanker tracking and intelligence firm Kpler indicates that Iran has suddenly increased oil exports to Malaysia since January. At the same time, official figures show a huge drop in Iranian oil exports to China in the first four months of 2020. This leads to suspicions that the oil destined for Malaysia actually ends up in China. Iran has exported 2 million barrels of crude oil, worth between $60 to $70 million to Malaysia from January-April. According to the same data Iran delivered another 7.1 million barrels in May as well, bringing the total oil shipments to Malaysia to 9.1 million or roughly 60,000 barrels per day. Malaysia, however, has never been among traditional buyers of Iranian oil and the shipments are not reflected in the reports of the Malaysian Customs for this period. This indicates that Iranian oil reaching Malaysia somehow changes ownership and send to another destination, possibly China. In the first four months of 2019 Malaysia exported under 1.9 million tons of oil to China. However, the Chinese Customs statistics show that Malaysia has exported 6.2 million tons (equal to 377,000 barrels per day) to China in the four-month period in question. This is 3.3-fold increase compared with the same period in the previous year. Last week in a special report Reuters said Venezuela, which is also sanctioned by the United States, is selling oil to China through Malaysia where the information on ownership and source are altered before shipment to make the oil's origin appear to be Malaysian. Between July 1 and Dec. 31 2019, tankers delivered at least 18 shipments totaling 19.7 million barrels of rebranded Venezuelan crude representing more than 5 percent of Venezuela's total exports in 2019 worth around $1 billion -- to Chinese ports. China's 2019 imports of Venezuelan oil averaged 283,000 barrels a day according to data Reuters analyzed. But Chinese customs reported just 228,700 barrels a day coming from Venezuela. This means some Venezuelan oil reaching China was rebranded. In the same manner, official statistics of the Chinese Customs indicate about 91,000 barrels of oil imports from Iran in the said four-month period while in the previous year this had been 561,000 barrels per day. Before the reintroduction of U.S. sanctions in May 2018, Iran exported more than 2.5 million barrels of crude oil. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iranian-oil -shipments-to-china-rebranded-in-malaysia-to- circumvent-sanctions-/30671970.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The president expressed hope for progress in the process of gradual visa liberalization by Canada for citizens of Ukraine, and offered to accelerate the relevant bilateral work at the government level. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, June 15, had a phone conversation with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. The parties discussed measures of both countries to combat coronavirus and the possibility of cooperation to overcome the pandemic, the presidential press service reported. "We are grateful for Canada's humanitarian assistance to combat the disease in Ukraine through the UN Humanitarian Fund in the amount of 500,000 Canadian dollars," Volodymyr Zelensky said. Read alsoEU not to revise conditions of visa-free travel with Ukraine The president expressed hope for progress in the process of gradual visa liberalization by Canada for citizens of Ukraine, and offered to accelerate the relevant bilateral work at the government level. "We should already outline the time frame for the start of the bilateral visa dialogue. We can start visa facilitation for certain categories of citizens, such as young people and students, as we discussed in Toronto last year. We expect a group of Canadian experts to arrive in Ukraine to monitor Ukraine's compliance with Canada's visa criteria," the Ukrainian president suggested. In response, Justin Trudeau said that, despite the difficult situation, it is now possible to review the visa regime for its liberalization, and this needs to be worked on. Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Justin Trudeau for a consistent support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Compassionate exemptions from managed isolation for COVID-19 have been suspended by the Health Minister. Health Minister Dr David Clark says he has required the Director General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, to suspend the exemptions in order to ensure the system is working as intended. It will only be reinstated once the Government has confidence in the system. This comes after New Zealand reported two new cases of COVID-19 today from women who flew into the country from the United Kingdom on June 7. The women in their 30s and 40s were allowed to leave managed isolation and travel to Wellington by private vehicle on June 13 on compassionate grounds. Ashley says they had applied for an exemption on Friday 12 June to visit their dying parent and were allowed to travel to Wellington in a private vehicle to do so the following day, on 13 June. Their parent died that night. One of the women had mild symptoms, the other was symptom free. As part of their agreed plan under the compassionate circumstances agreement, they were tested in Wellington. Both have since gone into self-isolation in the Wellington region. David Clark says, Compassionate exemptions should be rare and rigorous and it appears that this case did not include the checks that we expected to be happening. Thats not acceptable. Our border measures are a key line of defence against COVID-19 and we must ensure they are as robust as possible. The Director General will be reviewing the processes around these latest two cases, noting that he has already made it a requirement that all individuals must return a negative COVID test before leaving managed isolation facilities from now on. I have asked the Director General to consider if there are any other measures we can put in place to strengthen our health protections at the border. New Zealand remains in an enviable position and the risk to the public remains very low but as Health Minister I want to ensure we are doing all that we can to keep COVID-19 at bay. We have previously been challenged in the courts for our stringent approach, however to ensure COVID doesnt easily get back into the country we need assurance our border measures are as tight as possible. Dreamstime / Dreamstime/ A U.S. district Judge sentenced two Buna brothers Monday for running a methamphetamine ring for nearly two years in Jasper County. Judge Marcia Crone sentenced James Joseph Fabela, 41, and Benjamin Jason Fabela, 36, to more than 11 years in federal prison (135 months), according to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Texas. BARCELONA, Spain, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ona Therapeutics, which is focused on the discovery and development of therapeutic biologics to treat metastatic cancer, announces today the closing of a 30 million Series A financing, with participation from existing investor Asabys Partners and new investors Alta Life Sciences, Bpifrance InnoBio 2, Fund+ and Ysios Capital. Ona Therapeutics was founded in 2019 by IRB Barcelona, ICREA and research scientists Salvador Aznar-Benitah and Valerie Vanhooren, with backing from Asabys Partners Sabadell Asabys, which was instrumental in putting together the Series A. Its approach is based on pioneering work from Dr Aznar-Benitah published in Nature in 2017 that validates Metastasis-Initiating Cells as therapeutic targets in metastatic cancer. The research shows that blocking the pathways that allow fat metabolism in animal models of cancer inhibits the cells that give rise to metastases, with the potential to not only prevent the development of these malignant growths, but also to eliminate existing ones. Importantly, this stands out as a common feature shared among various metastatic tumors, such as oral, breast, ovarian, gastric, bladder, prostate and melanoma. The financing will allow Ona Therapeutics to complete the pre-clinical development in a variety of tumor types and to move its lead candidate into first clinical studies in patients with metastatic cancer in 2023. Valerie Vanhooren, CEO and co-founder of Ona Therapeutics, commented: "We are very pleased to attract such a strong syndicate of investors which validates our approach to developing novel therapies with the potential to treat multiple types of metastatic cancer. Our research demonstrates that the survival of metastatic cells is linked to the intake of certain saturated fats and if we block the capacity for intake of these fats, we significantly reduce the cell's metastatic potential." Alexandra Tolia, Partner at Fund+, said: "Fund+ looks to invest in potential world class opportunities by backing great teams and ground-breaking science in areas of major unmet medical need. Metastasis remains an enormous challenge and the cause of over 90% of all cancer deaths worldwide. Ona Therapeutics is in a unique position to offer a promising new treatment to patients that otherwise have extremely limited options for recovery." Joel Jean-Mairet, Managing Partner at Ysios Capital, said: "Ona Therapeutics is founded on world class science out of leading Barcelona research institutes. In the last year it has made exceptional progress in validating its scientific approach and we are very pleased to support this capital raise. Over the past years, we have evaluated around 600 companies active in oncology and Ona Therapeutics stands out for its singularity and potential impact in patients." The investor syndicate will join the Ona Therapeutics Board which will consist of: Jose Mesa (Alta Life Sciences), Jean-Francois Morin (Bpifrance InnoBio 2), Alexandra Tolia (Fund+) and Joel Jean-Mairet (Ysios Capital), and Interim Chair, Clara Campas (Asabys Partners). Bpifrance has invested through its InnoBio 2 fund which is focused on the development of the most promising biotechnology start-ups in Europe, and in France. Alta Life Sciences fund invests in highly innovative research business opportunities, such as Ona Therapeutics which is addressing large unmet medical needs such as metastasis. About Ona Therapeutics Ona Therapeutics, with headquarters in the Barcelona Science Park (PCB), Barcelona, Spain, is a biotech company that specializes in the discovery and development of therapeutic biologics targeting tumor metastatic-initiating cells and lipid metabolism. Founded in 2019 by Salvador Aznar-Benitah and Valerie Vanhooren, it was a spin-off from ICREA and Advanced Studies, and the IRB Institute for Research in Biomedicine. www.ona-therapeutics.com Investor Syndicate Details About Alta Life Sciences Alta Life Sciences is a leading venture capital investment firm headquartered in Barcelona, Spain that acts as investment advisor to the fund ALSS I FCR. The fund invests in companies at all stages of development from seed financing through to commercial growth and in all areas of life sciences including biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, genomics and digital health. Altamar Private Equity SGIIC, a leading independent firm in the management of international private equity and other private assets, is ALSS I FCR's management company. www.altals.com About Asabys Partners Asabys Partners is a venture capital manager specialized in the healthcare sector, founded by Josep Ll. Sanfeliu and Clara Campas and participated by Alantra. Its first investment vehicle, Sabadell Asabys Health Innovation Investments SCR, SA, was launched in 2019 and is backed by the Banc Sabadell as reference investor. The fund has a target size of more than 80M and invests in healthcare companies across three verticals: medtech, digital therapeutics and biotech, that have highly innovative and disruptive technologies. www.asabys.com About Bpifrance and InnoBio 2 Bpifrance is the French national investment bank: it finances businesses at every stage of their development through loans, guarantees, equity investments and export insurances. Bpifrance also provides extra financial services (training, consultancy) to help entrepreneurs meet their challenges (innovation, export). InnoBio 2 is an investment fund dedicated to life sciences, managed by Bpifrance, which is also one of the LPs alongside Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Takeda, Ipsen, Servier and Pasteur Mutualite. InnoBio 2, with a first closing at 135 million, aims to invest in companies developing innovative products and services, close to or in early clinical development, with the objective of bringing them until the clinical proof of concept. InnoBio 2 takes minority equity stake in companies and can lead or co-lead the investment rounds. For more information, please visit: www.bpifrance.com About Fund+ Fund+ is a Belgian venture capital firm that invests in innovative European Life Sciences companies developing drugs, medical devices and diagnostics, with a strong focus on patient-centric approaches and major unmet medical needs. With over 200M in assets under management, Fund+ has built a strong track record since 2015, investing in 13 portfolio companies with two major exits. The fund is managed by a specialist team of seasoned life sciences professionals with healthcare industry, corporate finance and strategy consulting experience, supporting companies throughout their growth cycle. The company aims to maintain a leading position in the Life Sciences sector, creating sustainable value for its shareholders and a tangible impact on society. www.fundplus.be About Ysios Capital Partners Ysios Capital is a leading Spanish venture capital firm that provides private equity financing to early- and mid-stage, highly innovative life science companies that develop disruptive therapeutic products and platform technologies to address clear medical needs. Founded in 2008, Ysios Capital has 346M in assets under management through its three funds, with a team of 15 investment professionals, 5 venture partners, 2 operational partners and offices in San Sebastian and Barcelona. www.ysioscapital.com SOURCE Ona Therapeutics Beijing has closed schools, shops and weddings in several districts near the city's largest food market as the number of coronavirus infections in the city jumps past 100. Health authorities established new checkpoints on Tuesday and restricted travel to and from the centre of the outbreak - the Xinfadi wholesale market - where at least 79 of the 106 new cases have been recorded. The surge has sparked fears of another market-based outbreak triggering a second wave around the country after the first reported cases of the global pandemic emerged from a Wuhan wildlife wet market in December. A policeman wearing a protective suit stands watch at the Xinfadi wholesale market. Credit: Beijing has opted against a city-wide lockdown, favouring neighbourhood shut-downs to avoid closing down its economy. China's Ministry of Finance issued $20 billion worth of anti-epidemic bonds on Tuesday to help finance the country's economic recovery. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 17:30:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Workers carry boxes of sweet peppers at an agricultural industrial park in Nanhe County of Xingtai, north China's Hebei Province, June 16, 2020. North China's Hebei Province has asked its major vegetable-growing counties to prioritize supplies to Beijing, after the national capital closed its largest wholesale produce market of Xinfadi following a resurgence of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to the market. The provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs has drafted 13 vegetable bases in 10 counties to guarantee the supply of vegetables to Beijing. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) SHIJIAZHUANG, June 16 (Xinhua) -- North China's Hebei Province has asked its major vegetable-growing counties to prioritize supplies to Beijing, after the national capital closed its largest wholesale produce market of Xinfadi following a resurgence of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to the market. The provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs has drafted 13 vegetable bases in 10 counties to guarantee the supply of vegetables to Beijing. Neighboring Beijing, Hebei has 290,000 hectares of vegetable fields, supplying cucumber, tomato, eggplant, peppers and leafy vegetables such as cabbage, celery and lettuce, which are currently in the middle and late stages of harvest. The department's latest survey showed that Hebei will have 3.3 million tonnes of fresh vegetables harvested in June, with a daily supply capacity of 110,000 tonnes of vegetables, half of which are available to supply markets outside the province. The closure of Xinfadi on Saturday has temporarily affected the vegetable distribution channels in Beijing. Shipping produce from Hebei is one of several emergency measures taken to coordinate resources and ensure the stable supply of food to the national capital. Enditem Chandigarh: A white pigeon, apparently from across the border, with some words written in Urdu has been found in Punjabs Hoshiarpur district, police said on Friday. Naresh Kumar, a resident of Motla village in the district, had on Thursday spotted the bird at his house. He noticed something written on its wings in Urdu and brought it to the notice of police, which took the bird into custody on Friday. The pigeon is suspected to have flown into the Indian territory from Pakistan. The avian was inspected by the sleuths of security agencies and an X-ray scan was also conducted on it. Police found some numerical digits stamped on the birds wings. We are trying to ascertain if it is a mobile number and if the pigeon came from Pakistan, said DSP, Mukerian, Bhupinder Singh. There is a stamp and something written in Urdu on its wings. Besides, an eleven-digit number was also found on its body, SHO, Mukerian, Jaswinderpal Singh said. We got the writing translated...Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday is written on the pigeons body, he said. Officials from the state intelligence and the Army also inspected the bird, police said. Last year, a pigeon with some words written in Urdu was found by villagers in the Bamial sector of Pathankot district, which is just a few kilometres away from the Indo-Pak border. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mindless vandals have sprayed a First World War memorial with a 'crude phallic symbol,' in Priti Patel's constituency, as the Home Secretary works on harsher penalties for people who vandalise statues. Protests in recent weeks have resulted in a statue of Winston Churchill being defaced in Parliament Square, London and a monument to slave trader Edward Colston being torn down and thrown into Bristol Harbour. Over the weekend Witham Town Council discovered a painted silhouette of a Tommy soldier had been painted on, in an 'incomprehensible symbol of disrespect'. Witham's war memorial in Essex was defaced with a 'crude, phallic symbol' over the weekend Clerk of the Essex town James Sheehy told Braintree and Witham Times: 'Incomprehensible ignorance can be the only possible explanation for why somebody can deface a memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice with a crude, phallic symbol.' Home Secretary and Witham's MP Priti Patel tweeted this afternoon: 'Disgusted to see this war memorial in Witham vandalised. This mural represents the memories of those who fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy today and is why we're working on new laws to punish the mindless hooligans who insult their memory.' It's understood the council is now trying to remove the graffiti while keeping the memorial in tact. Ms Patel, along with Justice Secretary Robert Buckland and Attorney General Suella Braverman, are believed to be discussing plans to jail demonstrators for up to 10 years if they vandalise war memorials. Witham MP and Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was 'disgusted' after vandals sprayed graffiti on a war memorial in her constituency. Ms Patel, along with other senior MPs, is working on bringing in harsher punishments for people who deface statues and monuments VANDALS TARGET ENGLISH CIVIL WAR CANNON Police are hunting for thugs who vandalised an English Civil War memorial cannon that dates back to the 17th century. West Mercia Police is appealing for witnesses who may have heard the memorial being destroyed Between 3pm on Monday and 7am on Tuesday yobs smashed the wheels of the cannon, which stood at Fort Royal Park in Worcester to commemorate the last battle of the Civil War. The letters BLM (Black Lives Matter) were written on a nearby plaque. Inspector Dave Troth, of West Mercia Police, said: 'Although the graffiti shows BLM, the acronym for Black Lives Matters, we will be looking at all possible groups and individuals that may have caused this damage.' The cannon marks the sport where Royalists built a fort overlooking the south-east of Worcester at their last stand during the Civil War in September 1651. During the final stages of the Battle of Worcester, the Royalists were out-gunned by Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentary forces as they retreated. Advertisement The plans being considered by ministers come as at-risk landmarks - including the Cenotaph and statues of Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela - were covered up ahead of predicted clashes between Black Lives Matter protesters and far-right demonstrators looking to protect them this weekend. Senior MP Penny Mordaunt called for vandals to be sent to 'battle camps' to learn about the Armed Forces. In a letter to Mr Buckland, the Paymaster General wrote: 'In desecrating such memorials some protesters sent a message to veterans and all those in uniform today: your life doesn't matter to me. 'Whatever the motivations for such acts, they should be condemned in the strongest terms and are totally against the values of the people of our country, of every creed and colour. 'I would like to suggest that for some found guilty of vandalising such memorials they might benefit from some time spent with our service personnel perhaps at a battle camp. 'That might give them a new appreciation of just what these people go through for their sakes. They are their armed forces. They should be respected and treasured.' Protests at the weekend saw The Cenotaph and a statue of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill covered up after the latter was defaced with the words 'was a racist,' during a Black Lives Matter Demonstration. Amid mounting cultural tensions, Mr Johnson vowed to fight with 'every breath' to keep the statue of the famous wartime leader safe. He insisted statues represented the country's history and should not be removed or defaced without any democratic process. Toppletheracists.org has listed statues across the country that it wants to see removed. The activists behind Topple the Racists have said they were inspired by the 'direct action taken by Bristolians', referring to the tearing down of slave trader Edward Colston's statue on two weeks ago, before it was thrown into the harbour. In details showing how statues are chosen, the website says the hit list includes 'cases where there is responsibility for colonial violence', adding that 'judgement calls' had been on cases where history is more 'complicated'. Memorials to monarchs such as King Charles II and King James II make appearances on the list, as well as Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. Yesterday a Civil War Memorial in Worcester was toppled by vandals, with BLM scrawled a nearby plaque. The monument to Britain's war-time leader Winston Churchill was covered in graffiti that said Churchill 'was a racist' while a protester attempted to set a union flag on fire on the Cenotaph. It was boarded up ahead of further protests last weekend The 17th century cannon in Fort Royal Park, Worcester, was a memorial to the last battle of the English Civil War in 1651 Despite being branded with the letters BLM - an acronym for Black Lives Matter - West Mercia Police say they will be 'looking at looking at all possible groups and individuals,' who may have caused the damage in Worcester on Monday night The 17th century cannon in Fort Royal park marks the spot of the Royalist's last stand in 1651. Inspector Dave Troth, of West Mercia Police, said: 'We would appreciate the communities help with our appeal for information in relation to anyone acting suspiciously around the Fort Royal Park area or if anyone has seen the damage take place overnight. 'We believe that this damage would have caused a significant noise and disturbance, so we are hopefully someone will be able to come forward with any information that may help us. 'Although the graffiti shows BLM, the acronym for Black Lives Matters, we will be looking at all possible groups and individuals that may have caused this damage.' A protester who was seriously injured when a deer ran into the crowd Friday evening has been released from the hospital, South Brunswick police said. The 69-year-old woman was partaking in a march along Stouts Lane when she was injured, police said. The deer ran out from South Brunswick High School property and into the road, hitting the woman and two others. Detective Bryan Sites and a bystander provided immediate medical attention to the woman while awaiting EMS, police said. She was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where she was treated for serious head and facial injuries, police said. She is now recovering at home. Chief Raymond Hayducka praised the quick actions of Sites and the bystander in helping save the womans life. Detective Sites saw the incident and immediately reacted to stop her bleeding. He applied pressure to her head wounds and called for EMS. The actions of Detective Sites along with the bystander saved the woman, said Hayducka. I am proud how all the officers worked to ensure the safety of the march, but specifically Detective Sites actions. Two additional injured protesters were treated for minor injuries. About 750 people took part in the South Brunswick March for Justice, which went down a 3.5 mile stretch of Stouts Lane, and it continued following the injuries. There were no other serious incidents at the march, police said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Reports are saying that Google is working on the next generation of their smart home speakers, which they are calling Prince. They're calling it Prince in memory of the great late musician. Google will reportedly have its next smart speaker as part of the Nest line-up. Their upcoming smart speaker will be between the Google Home and the Google Home Max. The design will be covered in fabric, so it'll feel nice to the touch. Speculations suggest that this new upcoming Google Home speaker's audio driver will be larger than it normally is. It will also support their smart voice-powered assistant Google Assistant. However, Google hasn't announced the development of this smart speaker yet. Details On The Next Google Home Speaker and Specs 9to5Google reported that the next smart speaker from Google will be releasing before the end of the year, according to their inside sources. The actual name and the exact price of this upcoming Google Home speaker aren't known yet. No one knows if there are any other significant upgrades to the hardware or software to this new smart speaker other than the audio driver's increased size. However, people think that this new smart speaker will have a price that's in between the Google Home and the Google Home Max. As of the time of writing, the Google Home (unavailable to buy) used to cost about $129, while the Google Home Max costs $249. This year, Google expects to release a few new products. Examples of what they plan to release are the Google Pixel Buds, Pixel 4a, Pixel 5, and a new Chromecast that's nicknamed Sabrina. In 2017, the Google Home Mini and Google Home Max released, which expanded the Google Home series. A few years ago, Google introduced a smart speaker with a touchscreen called the Google Nest Hub. Many other companies decided to leverage their own smart speakers by integrating Google Assistant into them. According to 9to5Google, the upcoming Google smart speaker will be a rival to the Sonos One. The Sonos One is a smart speaker from Sonos that comes with Wi-Fi built into it, captive touch controls, resistance to humidity, support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and much more. Google hasn't announced the next addition to their family of Google Home smart speakers, but more information on the speaker is bound to be given within a couple of weeks. Read Also: Why Is Google Chrome Planning To Hide Full URLs In The Address Bar? How Would A Smart Speaker Be Useful? A smart speaker has plenty of uses, they're not just a speaker that can tell you the weather and time. It's useful as a vision-free and hands-free alarm clock, you don't have to touch or see the speaker to set an alarm. Say when you want an alarm to ring, and it'll be set without difficulty. When you need a timer set for something you're cooking, then tell the smart speaker how long you need a timer to be set. Once the time is up, it'll let you know. You can quickly play music whenever you want. Also, stopping the music isn't difficult either. Want the news briefed to you? Ask your smart speaker and it can give you a summary of recent news. If you need to know some random piece of information, the smart speaker will know it. Ask and you'll receive the answer in a split second. Read Also: Google Reveals That Suspicious Apps Can Bypass Anti-Adware Security And Cause Ads To Flood Your Phone Authorities in the Chinese capital on Tuesday imposed travel restrictions on people considered high-risk amid a fresh outbreak of coronavirus cases centered on a now-shuttered wholesale produce market. The Beijing municipal government raised its COVID-19 emergency response level to II from III, suspended plans to reopen some primary schools and reversed the relaxation of some social isolation measures, state media reported. Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing Airport both suspended inter-provincial flight services on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Beijing city government banned ride-hailing services, taxis, and some long-distance bus routes, as close contacts of confirmed cases were barred from leaving the city. Anyone leaving the city will be required to hold a recent negative nucleic acid test for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Some 90,000 people in two neighborhoods in the city of 20 million have also been placed under lockdown. "The areas where new coronavirus cases have been found are now under tight security, and they are starting to lock them down," Fengtai district resident Li Qiang told RFA on Tuesday. "But there aren't any obvious measures in place elsewhere [in the city]," he said. "They are asking for ID to get in or out of some of the residential compounds; you can't get in without it." The city's health commission confirmed 27 new cases in Beijing, bringing the total number of new cases since Friday to 106. Authorities are continuing to test anyone believed to have visited the now-shuttered Xinfadi wholesale goods market, as well as any of their contacts during the past two weeks. Residents skeptical But residents said they were skeptical about the government's reporting of the true extent of the outbreak. "It's pretty serious in Fengtai and Daxing districts," a Beijing resident surnamed Tang said. "Xinfadi has been sealed off by armed police. They haven't finished testing everyone yet." "It's pretty bad, but I don't think they are reporting the true figures," she said. "I don't think they're even reporting one third of the true number." Residential communities near the market, in Beijing's Fengtai district, have been placed under lockdown, along with the area around a second market, where three cases were confirmed. Passenger numbers on buses, trains, and subways are also being restricted, and passengers required to wear face-masks. The new outbreak comes after the authorities went for 50 days without reporting a single case of coronavirus, and after the ruling Chinese Communist Party declared "victory" over the coronavirus. Shanghai also issued a requirement for travelers from Beijing to be quarantined for 14 days on arrival in the city. The novel coronavirus has killed at least 438,000 people and infected more than 8 million since it first emerged in China last December, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Miller Law Firm has recovered an additional $8,300,000 against major Bay Area builder Signature Homes for the Candlestick Cove Homeowners' Association. This brings The Miller Law Firm's total recovery for three Candlestick neighborhood associations with construction defects in excess of $16 Million. The Miller Law Firm previously recovered multi-million settlements for the St. Francis Bay One and 101 Crescent Way Condominium Owners Associations, built by San Francisco based general contractor James E. Roberts-Obayashi Corporation. Extensive inspections and testing of Candlestick Cove's common areas overturned a number of construction deficiencies, including exterior stucco and siding systems, site drainage and concrete flatwork, roofs, windows, window trim and window flashing, privacy decks, trellises and other architectural plant-ons, retaining walls and guardrails. With the dismissal filed with the San Francisco Superior Court just this week, this settlement was reached in mediation with Gerald A. Kurland of JAMS in only 14 months from the date of filing the complaint. According to Senior Partner Rachel M. Miller, "The earliest phase of this 150 unit community was only days away from the 10-year statute of limitation expiring when they retained our firm to preserve their rights against Signature Homes for faulty construction. Because of the Board's quick actions, they were able to avoid a special assessment of the membership or unnecessary use of reserve funds for these costly repairs." According to Thomas E. Miller, CEO of The Miller Law Firm, "Many of these underlying building defects were so subtle, they could not be fully understood without a thorough investigation. Without the Board of Directors meeting their fiduciary duties in timely pursuing their rights against the Builder, the economic burden to restore the community would have fallen on the shoulders of the homeowners. This is a good example of how a strong HOA Board of Directors and the right legal and mediation team in place can facilitate a sufficient recovery to maintain homeowner investments." Celebrating 40 years of practice, The Miller Law Firm (www.constructiondefects.com) continues to be California's construction defect authority and leading resource for San Francisco homeowners, Boards of Directors, and community management. Their legal treatise, Handling Construction Defects, now in its fourth edition, remains the definitive practice guide for lawyers, mediators, arbitrators and judges. Their consumer guide, Home and Condo Defects: A Consumer Guide to Faulty Construction, aids and assists homeowners, board members and association management companies in pursuing legitimate claims against builders and their insurance companies. Media Contact: Rachel Miller (415) 437-1800 [email protected] SOURCE The Miller Law Firm Related Links http://www.constructiondefects.com Funnyman Pat Shortt has hit out at efforts to take the `Chinese racist' Father Ted episode and other shows off the air in response to the Black Lives Matter campaign. "We have been suffering from political correctness gone mad for years now and when it gets really heightened, people should take a deep breath and sit back a little bit and not being stupid and taking life too seriously," Pat told the Sunday World. Comic Pat had a recurring part on Father Ted playing `Tom' a gun-totting local who wore a t-shirt with the slogan, `I shot JR.' And he also praised RTE for confirming it will not remove the controversial Father Ted episode from its schedules. "We are all a bit baffled about the Father Ted one in particular, and fair play to RTE if they're not taking it down or doing anything like that, they're dead right," he said. "They're not giving in to this mass hysteria, its ridiculous. "People just need to chill out, relax, sit back, take a deep breath and don't overreact to things and get caught up in the hysteria of these things and pulling statues down and all that carry on." The Father Ted episode in question features a group of Chinese tourists visiting Craggy Island, with Ted waving at them through the window but looks like he's doing a Nazi salute, while a piece of dirt on the glass also gives him a Hitler-style moustache. "Oh, `I believe you're a racist now Father?'," chuckles Pat when asked about the episode and quotes a memorable comment about Dermot Morgan's character. "I think that line sums it up in a way, it's a joke. Look, I knew Dermot very, very well, Arthur and Graham (the writers), all the people involved. There isn't a racist bone in their body, that was a joke. Read More "A lot of visual humour and visual gags. I don't think Father Ted has any case to call whatsoever, not just because I was involved in it and all the rest, but I don't see where there's racist humour in that one, it shows it for fun, for what it is. Video of the Day "I think people are too sensitive." Tipperary man Pat (52), who also found fame as part of the D'Unbelievables and in Killanaskully he played mischief-making truck driver Tom from the mid 1990s. "He was a great character, I enjoyed playing him," he smiles. But the storm over several TV programmes and movies which has erupted in recent days grates with the comedian. "I've been kind of busy in the last while and I picked up bits and pieces about Little Britain and Gone With The Wind and a few things like that," he explains. "I don't understand what the fuss about Gone With The Wind is, I'm kind of baffled on that one." He adds: "Father Ted is harmless fun. Look, you're not talking 1970s' humour, which was like On The Buses and all that kind of stuff, which were blatantly sexist and some of it probably racist. "I think a really, really good example of it, is Ashes To Ashes, that programme, where your woman goes back in the '70s working in the cops and they're blatantly sexist and it shows up that for what it was of that era and that time. "We have moved on." The current crisis was sparked by the killing of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis by a white police officer, who has since been charged with murder. The killing has sparked protests in America, which has also seem similar worldwide demonstrations, including in Ireland. Several `racist' statues have also been targeted. "When Black Lives Matter and all these things happen, it heightens everything and then people start looking at every miniscule and every minute detail and sometimes there is a case to answer but in some cases it's completely taken away with the whole thing," observes Pat. "I think it's an overreaction and people should pull back and see things for what they are and see what the root problems are." via Sunday World Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian Leader Press Off. / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images On Sunday, Iran's Deputy Health Minister Hamed Barakati told the Islamic Republic News Agency that Iran's state hospitals would no longer provide contraceptives or vasectomies. The decision was made to try and boost Iran's population, which he said was currently on track to have a third of its population over 60 by 2050. The average family in Iran currently has 1.7 children. To maintain a population requires 2.2 children per family. Iran's population growth has been something of a roller coaster. Between 1968 and 1979, the population rose from 27 million to 55 million, boosted by the government encouraging people to have large families. But concerns that the economy could not handle the rapidly expanding population led the government to impose a successful campaign to slow the population and from the 1980s until 2012, Iran had the largest and quickest drop in fertility ever. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Contraceptives and vasectomies will no longer be offered in Iran's state hospitals as the nation attempts to boost its dwindling population. On Sunday, Iran's Deputy Health Minister Hamed Barakati told the Islamic Republic News Agency the measures had to be taken to increase its population, according to The Guardian. "Whether we like it or not we will become an aging country," he said, according to the outlet. In Iran, families are currently having 1.7 children on average. To maintain a population requires 2.2 children per family. By 2050, he said about a third of Iran would be over 60. Iran's annual growth has fallen below 1%, and Barakati predicted Iran would be the "oldest country in the world in the next 30 years," if the trend continued, the BBC reported. It's not a blanket ban. Private hospitals and pharmacies will still provide the procedures, and the state hospitals will be able to perform them if a woman's life is in danger. Story continues Iran's population growth has been something of a roller coaster. Between 1968 and 1979, the population rose from 27 million to 55 million, boosted by the government encouraging people to have large families. Then, from the 1980s until 2012, Iran had the largest and quickest drop in fertility ever, according to the Los Angeles Times. It went from families having an average of seven children to less than two. The dramatic drop was due to Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini, who feared the economy could no longer support a growing population after Iran's war with Iraq. His government was responsible for making birth control widely available and it managed to convince conservatives to accept people using it. Iran pushed a nationwide campaign to educate people about sexual health, condoms were given out for free, and contraceptives were cheap. It also pushed slogans like "Two children is enough," and "Fewer kids, better life." One result of this was that more women went to school and work rather than raising children, and in 2001 women outnumbered men in universities, according to the Washington Post. More than a decade ago, seeing the continual decline in population and fearing for Iran's future, the government changed its tune. Supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei called for Iran to double its population. The government increased its number of infertility clinics and changed its advice about it being safe to have a child from every three to five years to 18 to 24 months. In 2013, to encourage more children, Iran's government extended maternity leave to nine months, and fathers were allowed two weeks off. But that wasn't enough. In 2015, it passed two new laws to restrict access to contraceptives and outlaw voluntary sterilization. Human rights groups condemned the decision, saying it would reduce women to "baby-making machines," according to The Guardian. Read the original article on Business Insider A 55 year old security official employed with Air India succumbed to Covid-19 on Monday after fighting a long battle against the virus. Leela Dhar Joshi tested positive for Covid-19 on May 25 during his pre-medical test done before clearance to operate the Vande Bharat mission to repatriate Indians stranded in foreign countries. The officer was supposed to be on flights AI 1969 and AI 1970 on the Delhi- Cairo - Delhi sector on May 29. Joshi was admitted to BL Kapoor hospital in New Delhi, a day after he was found to be positive. Senior officials of the national carrier said that the officer was on ventilator for the last few days before his passing. The officer breathed his last on Monday and his body was released from the hospital on Tuesday morning, following which his cremation rituals were completed. For Coronavirus Live Updates The airline official quoted above said, The 55 year old officer was down with fever and had applied for leave when he was posted in the cargo section. His leaves were however not approved by his seniors. A comment from Air India was awaited at the time of the filing of the report. A couple of days ago on Sunday, a 42-year old passenger onboard Air Indias AI 906 flight from Lagos in Nigeria headed to Mumbai had died onboard. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 Earlier on June 5, a 58-year-old Air India pilot, who retired in April this year, died due to suspected Covid-19 infection. On May 31, an Air India flight from Delhi to Moscow with no passenger on-board was asked to return midway after it was realised that one of the pilots of the plane had tested positive for coronavirus. Earlier in May, Air Indias Delhi office was sealed after one of the staff members tested positive for Covid-19. London, June 16 : AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed by researchers from Oxford University will likely provide protection against the disease for one year, the British drug maker's CEO told Belgian radio station Bel RTL on Tuesday. According to a report in City A.M., AstraZeneca is aiming to deliver two billion doses of the drug by the end of the year. "We think it will protect for about a year," Astrazeneca CEO Pascal Soriot was quoted as saying on Bel RTL. The drugmaker last week said it had reached an agreement with Europe's Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA), spearheaded by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, to supply up to 400 million doses of the University of Oxford's Covid-19 vaccine, with deliveries starting by the end of 2020. AstraZeneca continues to build a number of supply chains in parallel across the world, including for Europe. The company said it is seeking to expand manufacturing capacity further and is open to collaborating with other companies in order to meet its commitment to support access to the vaccine at no profit during the pandemic. The company has recently completed similar agreements with the UK, US, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi the Vaccine Alliance for 700 million doses, and it agreed a licence with the Serum Institute of India for the supply of an additional one billion doses, principally for low- and middle-income countries. Oxford University last month announced the start of a Phase II/III UK trial of the vaccine, named AZD1222, in about 10,000 adult volunteers. Other late-stage trials are due to begin in a number of countries. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Australia on Tuesday lashed out at China and Russia for spreading "disinformation" during the coronavirus pandemic and asserted that it would continue to push for reform of global bodies such as the WHO. Delivering a speech at the Australian National University in Canberra, Foreign Minister Marise Payne underlined that the European Commission last week issued a report which revealed that foreign actors and countries, led by Russia and China, had carried out "targeted disinformation campaigns" aimed at undermining democratic debate and stoking confusion about the pandemic. The following day, she said, Twitter suspended over 32,000 accounts linked to state-run propaganda operations in China, Russia and Turkey, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. "It was troubling that some countries are using the pandemic to undermine liberal democracy and promote their own, more authoritarian models," Payne said. The disinformation contributes to a climate of fear and division when what we need is cooperation and understanding, she said. The minister underlined that multilateral organisations such as the World Health Organisation must serve as "unimpeachable repositories of information that governments can rely upon to take decisions to protect their citizens". "And they must serve as bulwarks against disinformation. Let's be clear: disinformation during a pandemic will cost lives." Payne said there have been disinformation pushed and promoted around the coronavirus pandemic and around some of the social pressures that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Noting that there had been "intense scrutiny" of the performance of the World Health Organisation during the global pandemic, she said Australia would continue to support reform efforts in the United Nations and its agencies to improve transparency, accountability and effectiveness. "In the wake of this devastating health crisis, Australia wants to see a stronger WHO that is more independent and transparent...Frankly, there is no other institution that can marshal collective efforts to improve health security across the globe," the minister said. Australia has been calling for an independent investigation into the origin of the coronavirus outbreak, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan before spreading around the world, killing over 437,280 people, infecting more than 8,052,090 and shattering the global economy. Payne said global bodies were experiencing "unprecedented strain from a new era of strategic competition, shifts in global power, technological disruption and complex security, health and economic challenges". "We have seen how global public health action - or inaction - can affect Australians at home and abroad. So there is a strong incentive for Australia to show leadership on making the WHO as effective as possible," she said. As many as 62 countries, including India, last month backed the joint Australian and EU motion for an independent enquiry into the coronavirus outbreak, ahead of a World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva. The relationship between Australia and China is at a low point following Beijing's threat to boycott the Oceanian country's exports and tourism for having proposed the independent probe into the origin of COVID-19. Payne said Australia had been "very clear in rejecting as disinformation the Chinese government's warnings that tourists and students should reconsider coming here because of the risk of racism". Australia will welcome students and visitors from across the globe, regardless of race, gender or nationality, she said. China has rejected allegations that it tried to under report the pandemic. The WHO also urged countries not to "politicise" the COVID-19 pandemic and appealed to nations to join hands against the dreadful virus rather than indulging in a blame game. Flash A draft agreement on the formation of a new Irish government has been reached among the leaders of three major political parties here on Monday after more than a month of formal negotiations, reported Irish national radio and television broadcaster RTE. Leaders of the three parties, namely Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan have signed off on the draft agreement, which will be up to the final approval of the members of their respective parties, said the report. If the draft agreement is approved by all three parties, Ireland will see a government formed by two rival political parties of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail for the first time in history. It will be the second time for the Green Party to enter the government since it was founded in 1981. Political analysts here say that while there is a general consensus in the country that a new government is urgently needed to get the country's social and economic life badly hit by the COVID-19 crisis back to normal, there still exists some uncertainty whether or not the draft agreement can win enough support from all members of the three parties, particularly from the Green Party. Details of the draft agreement are not immediately available though some of its contents have been reported by local media. It is most likely that the complete text of the draft agreement will not be made to the public until it has been approved and finalized by all three parties. RTE reported that if the agreement is ratified by all the parties it would see Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin serving as prime minister of the new government until December 2022, after which the role will be passed onto Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar for the remaining years of the term of the new government. The term of an Irish government is no more than five years, according to Irish laws. RTE quoted Martin as saying just before attending the sign-off of the agreement at Government Buildings that the program reached for the new government is a compromise of the policy proposals of the three parties. "Every party doesn't win everything," he said. Varadkar, who has been a caretaker prime minister of Ireland since the February general election in the country, confirmed to local media on Monday morning that there will be a rotating taoiseach (prime minister in Irish) role as part of the program. He also said that he did not know what post he would assume in the new cabinet. Ryan of the Green Party said that the agreement contained a lot of things which, if delivered on, would be a huge achievement. He also disclosed that no decisions have been made on the selection of ministries of the new government, saying that the process would be a "complex jigsaw" that the leaders of the three parties would have to work out. Roderic O'Gorman, a Green Party member of the lower house of the Irish parliament, confirmed to local media that there is no discussion on the cabinet positions of the new government during the negotiations and such issues will be discussed among the party leaders only after the agreement is approved by the three parties. It is reported that the approval of the agreement requires simple majority support from all the members of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and two-thirds support from the members of the Green Party. Formal negotiations on the formation of the new Irish government among the three parties took place in early May with each party trying to incorporate their policy proposals into the programs of the new government to a maximum possible extent. One of the thorny issues in the government formation talks was the 7 percent annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions proposed by the Green Party, which was initially deemed by both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail as too ambitious and unpractical, according to media reports. The Green Party's proposal to annually reduce carbon emissions by 7 percent throughout the term of the new government also poses a big concern for Irish farmers, which have a big say in the country's political life, said local media. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael need the Green Party in forming a new government. In the general election held on Feb. 8, Fianna Fail won 38 seats in the lower house of the Irish parliament, followed by Sinn Fein (37 seats), Fine Gael (35 seats), and Green Party (12 seats) with the other remaining seats in the 160-seat house to be held by other smaller parties and independents. According to Irish laws, a new government can only be established if it can win the simply majority support or over 80 seats in the lower house. As both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael refuse to form a coalition government with the left-wing party Sinn Fein, they went to the Green Party for its support based on the belief that only such a coalition government can last long. The government formation talks could have started much earlier if not due to the disruption of the pandemic which broke out in the country at the end of February. According to local media reports, the draft agreement will be put to the votes by all the members of the three parties for their approval and the results of the votes will be announced on June 26. Hours after the news about the draft agreement being signed off by the leaders of the three parties, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald issued a statement, saying that a government led by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail "does not represent the change" that people had voted for in February. HTC is back with not one, but two new smartphones including the first 5G-capable model it has released. The new HTC U20 5G and HTC Desire Pro boast contemporary looks but neither really stands out from the pack in any exceptional way. Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here HTCs rumored mid-range handsets are now official. The Taiwanese company has launched the HTC U20 5G and the HTC Desire Pro in its home market with both featuring contemporary if unexceptional designs. The HTC U20 5G is the first 5G-capable handset and is targeted at the upper mid-range segment while the HTC Desire Pro is a standard mid-range offering. The U20 5G centers on a 6.8-inch FHD+ LCD display with a 20:9 aspect ratio with small front-facing hole for the selfie-cam. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset and mated to 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. It has a large 5,000 mAh battery and supports Qualcomms QuickCharge 4.0 tech which is good for 18 W fast charging. On the rear are four cameras including a 48 MP primary sensory, an 8 MP wide-angle camera, a 2 MP depth sensor and a 2 MP macro lens. The Desire 20 Pro centers on a 6.5-inch FHD+ LCD display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and also includes a similar punch-hole selfie camera cut out. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 and is mated to 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It too features a 5,000 mAh battery but only supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. The Pro naming scheme seems to result from the fact that it features the same rear camera set up as the U20 5G Both devices run Android 10 out of the box, although HTC has yet to confirm the pricing of either handset. At this stage, were hearing that the Desire Pro 20 is the most likely to be the first of the two devices to venture into other markets. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Google has announced a change to its policies that will prevent real estate agents and lenders from targeting ads based on certain demographics and ZIP codes. The new policy is meant to prevent housing discrimination, according to Scott Spencer, vice president of product management, ads privacy and safety at Google. For more than a decade, Google Ads has had personalized advertising policies that prohibit advertisers from targeting users on the basis of categories such as beliefs, identity or sexuality, Spencer said in an announcement about the new policy. This means we dont allow advertisers to target ads based on categories such as race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation, to name a few, Spencer said. We regularly evaluate and evolve our polices to ensure they are protecting users from behaviors like unlawful discrimination. Police video shows the driver stopped on Monroe Street and Oak Street in North Aurora. The officer walked to the car and told the driver he saw the vehicle make several lane violations and drive into oncoming traffic, the video shows. He asked the men for their IDs and the men asked repeatedly asked why. He received the names of the driver and Randle, a passenger, and returned to his squad car. After months of clinical testing at Englands University of Oxford, researchers believe they have found a drug that will help patients suffering from severe cases of coronavirus. The use of dexamethasone, a low-cost steroid typically used to reduce inflammation, for coronavirus patients needing ventilation cut deaths by 33%, researchers announced Tuesday. The study of dexamethasones use against coronavirus came as part of Oxfords RECOVERY trial, which was created to test a range of potential COVID-19 treatments. The study, in which 11,500 patients participated in over 175 hospitals in the United Kingdom, started in March. Researchers halted tests for dexamethasone on June 8 after the trials steering committee believed enough evidence had been gathered to determine its benefits. Dexamethasone is the first drug to be shown to improve survival in COVID-19, Professor at the University of Oxford and one of the chief investigators for the trial, Peter Horby said in a statement. This is an extremely welcome result. The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients. Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide. According to WebMd, the cost of dexamethasone with a coupon ranges from $5 to $10. Even without the coupon, the web site says the average cost for generic dexamethasone is $11.99. A total of 2,104 patients receive 6 mg of dexamethasone once per day either by mouth or by intravenous injection for 10 days. They were compared to 4,321 patients, who received normal care without any drug. Among the patients who received usual care alone, the 28-day mortality rate for those who required ventilation was 41%. That number decreased by 33% among patients who received dexamethasone. The mortality rate for patients receiving usual care that required oxygen was 25%. Again, patients that received dexamethasone saw that rate decrease by 20%. Patients that did not require respiratory support saw no benefit of using the drug. Based on these results, one death would be prevented with treatment of dexamethasone for every eight patients that needed ventilation. Full details of the trial are expected to be published soon, Oxford University said. These preliminary results from the RECOVERY trial are very clear dexamethasone reduces the risk of death among patients with severe respiratory complications, a professor at the University of Oxford and chief investigator Martin Landray said in a statement. COVID-19 is a global disease it is fantastic that the first treatment demonstrated to reduce mortality is one that is instantly available and affordable worldwide. The RECOVERY trial also examined the effectiveness of lopinavir-titonavir, commonly used to treat HIV, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, an antibiotic, tocilizumab an anti-inflammatory treatment, and convalescent plasma. Trials regarding hydroxychloroquine have stopped due to the drugs lack of efficacy. President Donald Trump said he was taking the anti-malaria drug to prevent himself from contracting coronavirus, despite FDA warning against such a practice. By the end of May Trump said he stopped taking hydroxychloroquine. A study in April showed hydroxychloroquine may actually have negative effects for coronavirus patients. The study showed about 28% of those who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died. The number was more than double the 11% of veterans that received just normal care and died. Related Content: WASHINGTON As domestic violence cases have climbed across New York during the coronavirus pandemic, federal legislation that would increase protections for abuse victims and set aside funding for shelters remains stalled in the U.S. Senate. In February 2019, the Violence Against Women Act expired, leaving uncertainty about the billions in federal funding and victim safeguards it authorizes. The House passed a new version of the bill in April 2019, but the legislation has not passed the Senate. "Since I first helped write the Violence Against Womens Act in 1994, countless individuals have been saved," Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday. "Whether the funds provided local shelters, counseling or other critical efforts, the law has given so many a second chance and we cannot rest until the Senate acts, the law is fully reauthorized and the help New York and other states need (is) on the way. Although domestic violence is underreported, the state Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline reported a 33 percent increase in calls for April compared to April 2019, and shelter occupancy rates upstate rose to 78 percent that month, versus 59 percent in April 2019, according to the state Council on Women and Girls. "Domestic violence has been a growing public health crisis throughout the COVID-19 pandemic," said Virginia Golden, CEO of Equinox, which provides domestic violence services in Albany. "It is our hope that this act will bring to the forefront the dire need for funding for prevention and advocacy programs, and offer hope to victims that a violence-free life is possible." For now, federal grants for domestic violence programs are continuing at previous levels even without new legislation. The massive stimulus package passed by Congress in March also included $45 million for domestic violence survivors. The funding is still flowing but it could stop," said Tabitha Dunn, director of domestic violence services at Unity House in Troy. There is the potential that it could end at any time. No talks between the Senate's Democrats and Republicans over the reauthorization language have taken place since last fall, a Senate staffer confirmed. After months of unfruitful bipartisan negotiations between Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the parties diverged in September 2019, a staffer said. In November, Democrats tried to bring a version of the House bill to the floor and Ernst blocked it. The move sparked a public spat between Schumer and Ernst. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Ernst, who was working on a Republican bill to reauthorize the legislation, charged that Schumer was blocking her bill because he did not want her to score a legislative victory she could use in her re-election campaign in 2020. Democrats are attempting to flip her seat blue. Schumer suggested Ernst was "afraid of the NRA" and thus would not pass the House bill because it limits gun access by eliminating the so-called "boyfriend loophole" by expanding a current ban on firearm purchases for spouses or formerly married partners convicted of abuse or under a restraining order to include dating partners who were never legally married. LGBT and tribal sovereignty provisions are among other sticking points. A survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault, Ernst said the House bill was a "non-starter" and full of "partisan political talking points." Thirty-three House Republicans joined Democrats in voting in favor of it. The Republican-led Senate has not attempted to pass Ernst's bill since the fall. Ernst has called for more domestic violence funding in the next coronavirus relief, which the Senate is likely to consider in July. Since 2014, organizations across the Capital Region received over $8.8 million in federal funding through the Violence Against Women Act, including money to combat campus sexual assault, fight domestic violence in disabled populations, provide housing for victims, improve criminal justice response, provide legal assistance to victims and help tribal governments. Were here to look for a way forward, is how Destin Bujang prefaced a virtual meeting he organized between youth from his west-end Toronto neighbourhood and police. The past weeks have been a tough one for the African diaspora, said Bujang, co-founder and co-ordinator of the Black Creek Youth Initiative, an after-school program for youth between the ages of eight to 25. Black people have lost their lives while engaging with systems that should be protecting them. Bujangs comments set the tone for the 90-minute video meeting that saw community members share their concerns and hopes for how their Black Creek Drive neighbourhood could be a model example of how to mend the fractured relationship between police and people of colour. He was driven to host the meeting because many of the youth in the program were becoming increasingly anxious about the images of police brutality they were seeing play out in the United States and wanted to do something to enact change in their own backyard. The youth are very aware about the systematic issues and they have had encounters with the police, so when people started protesting, it opened a lot of old wounds, Bujang said. They also feel like theyre being overpoliced. The Black Creek Youth Initiative, is a youth-led group that provides leadership training and mentorship for young people in the Black Creek/Trethewey neighbourhood. Bujang said the youth program, located in a building on Martha Eaton Way, a stones throw from 12 Division, near Tretheway and Black Creek Drives, serves an area subjected to heavy police presence. Its among Torontos identified Neighbourhood Improvement Areas. We all want the same thing, which is change, Bujang said during the Zoom meeting, which was also attended by officers from 12 Division and Faisal Hassan, MPP for York SouthWeston. Were trying to have our police leaders and politicians here, so we can pave the way, to give some hope, Bujang said. This is about getting the youth involved, so they understand what were asking of the government and the police. Sgt. Paul Dominey was one of two officers fielding questions on a broad range of topics, including police abuse of power, being targeted without reason and what protocols apply when being stopped by police. The May 25 death of George Floyd captured on video as a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck during an arrest set fire to long-simmering concerns about police brutality against the Black community. Sgt. Dominey acknowledged that the recent events (in Canada and United States) have set us back. He expressed personal anger and said many of his fellow officers are outraged by cases of officers abusing their power. Dominey lauded the youth for calling the meeting and said its part of the solution and an enormous part of moving forward. He went on to assure youth in the group, some of whom complained about being harassed by the police, that 12 Division should be seen as a safe place where they can bring their concerns. We came here today, so we can put that message out there, Dominey said. We want to build those relationships and we need these relationships. Bujang said after the meeting the police expressed an openness to continue the conversation. Theyre willing to listen and work with us, he said. Leanna Henry, 14, and her twin brother Leon, both participants in the youth program, said the meeting might not bring change overnight, but she and her peers will be holding Toronto police to account for the promises made to them. Im still not satisfied, because police are still doing the same things, Leanna said after Thursdays meeting. It seems to go into one ear and come out the other. Were going to keep trying until something comes out of this, because I dont like seeing Black people get hurt, she said. Hassan, the youth engagement critic for the NDP, attests to also being the subject of numerous police encounters, including being carded, the controversial measure used by police to stop and document people not suspected of a crime. Systemic racism is real and it deeply impacts Black, Indigenous and racialized lives, Hassan said. He went on to say that Thursdays forum was an opportunity to not give up, in the fight to keep hope alive. Jason Miller is a breaking news reporter for the Star and is based in Toronto. Reach him on email: jasonmiller@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @ millermotionpic Following the Haryana governments notification directing all higher and technical education institutions across the state to conduct exams of final year students from July 1 to 31, Kurukshetra University has written to the government about the concerns raised by students appearing for exams. Less than two weeks are left for exams to commence, making it difficult for universities and colleges to make arrangements for students as many of them will be returning from other districts and parts of the state. Since the guidelines for exams were issued on June 12, students had been sending emails to the vice-chancellor and their teachers expressing their concerns about safety as well as inability to reach exam centres with several restrictions on movement still in place. They say even the syllabus of most of the courses has not been completed as the universities and colleges were shut in the first week of March. We had on Monday held a meeting in this regard where we decided to raise all concerns of the students with Haryana government. We have already written to the government and waiting for its response on the problems highlighted by the students in their e-mails, said Brajesh Sawhney, director, public relations, Kurukshetra University. He said the next decision will be made as per the guidelines of the government. According to a senior teacher of university, who sought to remain anonymous, besides transportation and accommodation issues, students are worried about pending syllabus. As several top institutions of the country have already decided to promote their students, the Haryana government should also follow them as it is very difficult to conduct the exams, he added. A senior functionary of Rohtak-based Maharshi Dayanand University, on condition of anonymity, said, How could the exams be conducted in the prevailing situation. There is no clarity on the transportation and stay of the students coming from the different parts of the state. It is very risky for students to appear for exams as Covid-19 cases in most of the districts are on their peak. Thousands of students studying in the colleges associated with state universities are waiting for the formal guidelines as well. We are making arrangements to conduct exams of at least 1,000 final year students as per the governments direction, but we are still waiting for the guidelines from Kurukshetra University, said Abha Khetarpal, principal of DAV Girls College, Yamunanagar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON IAEA Chief Concerned About Iran's Non-Cooperation With International Inspections Radio Farda June 15, 2020 The director general of the United nation's nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed concern about the denial of access by Iran to its inspectors. The Jerusalem post on Monday June 15 quoted Rafael Mariano Grossi as saying "with serious concern that, for over four months, Iran has denied us access to two locations and that, for almost a year, it has not engaged in substantive discussions to clarify our questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities." The IAEA Board of Governors started a four-day meeting on Monday, and reviewing the IAEA Director General's report is on the agenda of the meeting. Bloomberg reported on Monday that Germany, France and the United Kingdom have prepared a resolution demanding Iran "fully cooperate" with the IAEA investigation. Grossi said that the denial of access to inspectors by Iran adversely affects the agency's ability to answer questions and make sure that there are no undeclared material and activities in the Iranian nuclear establishments. He called on Iran to immediately start cooperation with the IAEA and allow the international agency to inspect the centers it wants to examine. Meanwhile, Reuters has also reported on Monday that the IAEA has "serious concerns" about Iran's continued denial of access to some of its nuclear sites. According to Reuters, the IAEA suspects that previous activities on these sites were aimed at producing nuclear weapons. According to Reuters, U.S. intelligence agencies believe that until 2003, the Islamic Republic had a secret plan to develop nuclear weapons. Israel says that its access to an extensive information archive of Iran's nuclear program has provided Tel Aviv with even more information about Iran's previous nuclear activities. Israel claims that it has moved this archive to Tel Aviv from Tehran within the frameworks of covert operations in February 2018. In the springof 2018, Benyamin Netanyahu broke the news about Israel's access to some 50 thousand documents and CDs containing Iran's nuclear secrets. The Israeli Prime Minister said at the time that the initial objective of Iran's nuclear program was to develop nuclear weapons. Iran did not destroy these documents when it signed a nuclear agreement with world powers in 2015 and was been keeping them at a warehouse in Shourabad in southern Tehran before Israeli agents shipped them out of the country. Later, Israel revealed that Iran also had a nuclear warehouse in Torqozabad near Tehran, but the Iranian Foreign Ministry ruled this out as an uncalculated and baseless lie. Iran's deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi even claimed that "some individuals have been pulling Netanyahu's leg." Nonetheless, the IAEA confirmed that there were traces of enriched Uranium at the site and called on Tehran to declare the origin of the radioactive material. However, after two years, Iran has not offered any explanation to the IAEA and denied access to the site by the IAEA inspectors. Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi threatened on Monday before the IAEA director's remarks that "Iran may show a proportionate reaction if the IAEA makes a non-constructive decision." The Board of Governors of the IAEA has not issued any resolution against Iran since 2012. Mousavi's reference to "non-constructive action" was possibly an allusion to the issuance of a new resolution against Tehran. However, Mousavi did not elaborate on what Iran might do, but said: "They can guess what Iran's reaction might be." Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iaea-chief- concerned-about-iran-s-non-cooperation-with- international-inspections/30672096.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Indian Merchants Association (IMA) has donated in total to-date 500 food packages for the most vulnerable in society. A team consisting of 30 plus volunteers packed and distributed food packages every weekend from May 16. The team worked in collaboration with the Government namely, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour (Ministry VSA) Joy Arnell, Department Head of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs Chantale George Groeneveldt and staff, members of the Sint Maarten Police Force, and various Community Councils and or Community-minded persons. Recognizing that the Red Cross cash for food program began, IMA will discontinue its distribution, however, the board and Board members of IMA expressed their interest to assist whenever needed. Persons are reminded, those needing assistance should fill in the digital Social Impact Assessment Form by going to the following link for the digital registration system: http://onlineservices.sintmaartengov.org/covid19/SIAForm.aspx The Social Impact Assessment Form is available on the Government Website for download on smartphones, desktops, or laptops. The forms can also be filled in online and submitted for processing. There are several sections on the form that needs to be filled in such as Section 1 Personal data, Section 2 Financial/Employment data, and Section 3 Basic Needs Assessment. Subscriber content preview ISSAQUAH A small office building at 11 Front St. S. sold for $2 million, according to King County records. The seller was a Montana investor associated with the family that acquired the property in 1997 for $462,000. . . . Four more COVID-19 deaths; over 19,000 overall confirmed cases in Bahrain Four more COVID-19 deaths; over 19,000 overall confirmed cases in Bahrain TDT Manama The Ministry of Health announced yesterday four deaths from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The deceased included a 75-year-old Bahraini woman, two expatriate men aged 35 and 39, and a 65-year-old expatriate woman. Their passing made it nine virus-related deaths in two days and 46 overall in the Kingdom. The Health Ministry expressed its condolences to the victims families. Meanwhile, it was also announced yesterday that out of 7,217 COVID-19 tests carried out yesterday, 469 new cases were detected, including 250 expatriate workers, 198 contacts and 21 travel-related. Previously, on Sunday, 6,779 COVID-19 tests were carried out with 317 new cases detected, including 151 expatriate workers, 164 contacts, and two travel-related. The detection of the new infections yesterday brought the total number of active cases to 5,700, of which 135 are receiving treatment, with 20 in critical condition. The overall number of confirmed registered cases in the Kingdom, ever since the first cases were reported, has risen above 19,000. There were also 70 more recoveries yesterday, as well as 379 from Sunday, the Health Ministry announced. The total discharged in Bahrain increased to 13,267. The total tested increased to 432,409. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 13:26:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over an extraordinary China-Africa summit on solidarity against COVID-19 in Beijing on Wednesday, and deliver a keynote speech, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced Tuesday. The summit is jointly proposed by China; South Africa, the rotating chair of the African Union (AU); and Senegal, co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It will be held via video link. Leaders of African countries, including members of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and rotating chairs of major African subregional organizations; and the chairperson of the AU Commission will attend the summit upon invitation. The secretary-general of the United Nations and the director-general of the World Health Organization will attend the meeting as special guests. Enditem The U.S. Supreme Court sided with the developers of a natural gas pipeline project, clearing some of the obstacles to the completion of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline by ruling this week that the U.S. Forest Service had the authority to grant the right-of-way to the pipeline to pass through the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a US$7.5 billion project proposed by Dominion Energy and Duke Energy, is a 604-mile natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to North Carolina along a route that crosses 16 miles of land within the George Washington National Forest. The project had secured a special use permit from the United States Forest Service, obtaining a right-of-way to go underneath a portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which also crosses the National Forest. But environmentalists and other associations appealed the permit at the Fourth Circuit court, which vacated that permit, effectively halting the project. Now the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 7-2 ruling on Monday, overturned the lower courts ruling to vacate the permit. Because the Department of the Interiors decision to assign responsibility over the Appalachian Trail to the National Park Service did not transform the land over which the Trail passes into land within the National Park System, the Forest Service had the authority to issue the special use permit, the justices wrote. Commenting on the Supreme Courts decision, Atlantic Coast Pipeline said: This is a major victory for the projectit paves the way for the ACP to be completed and bring jobs to the region, stimulate the economy and lead us to a cleaner energy future. According to ACP, For decades, more than 50 other pipelines have safely crossed the Trail without disturbing its public use. We are currently resolving the other pending permits to ensure the ACP resumes construction this year, the project developers said. DJ Gerken, Southern Environmental Law Center Program Director, said: While todays decision was not what we hoped for, it addresses only one of the many problems faced by the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. This is not a viable project. This win for the Trump Administration and the natural gas pipeline comes a week after the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a new final rule saying that an approved natural gas project cannot proceed with construction until the commission acts on all requests for rehearinga new rule that is likely to delay the construction of natural gas pipelines and increase the costs for the project owners. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: THESSALON, ON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - 2SLGBTQ+ (2 spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning) already have a high rate of suicide. Due to COVID19, these youth are more isolated due to social distancing. Some youth are forced to live in the closet, gender mislabeled, and now with the lack of connections within the community, many are feeling desperate and alone. Welcome Friend Association's "Rainbow Camp," has developed virtual programming for this year called Rainbow Online Connection (ROC). The online programming will benefit 2SLGBTQ+ youth by giving them a heightened sense of community: a chance to meet new friends, a chance to be themselves, a chance to share and learn, all at the same time. "Rainbow Online Connection (ROC) will serve our campers with the opportunity to connect virtually this summer through at-home activities and staff-led interactive programming. The goal of this program is to create a virtual space for LGBT youth to connect with peers who are like them so that they feel less alone during these isolating times of COVID-19," says Rainbow Camp Director Stephanie Voyer. Our goal is to offer a custom virtual-camp experience, which means that participants can design their own ideal ROC program. We will be offering multiple programs daily, and we DO NOT expect participants to participate in all activities. Instead, they can choose sessions and events that they feel most passionate about. We will be offering programming in three major streams: education and activism, artistic endeavours, and active outdoors. Each day there will be at least one program in each of these streams as well as large group activities such as group games, challenges, a talent show and more! "Our previous campers are excited," says Voyer, "and they have been anxiously waiting for news of what we will be offering this year". Even before ROC starts we are getting Thank-Yous' "I love the experience of being part of such an inclusive camp, and I want to have the opportunity to try the activities hosted by ROC." (Camper) "Thank you for doing this!!!" (Parent) "Thank you for creating this program!" (Parent) "Thank you for finding a way for all these kids to connect. This is awesome!" (Parent) For More information on Rainbow Online Connection go to our website: www.WelcomeFriend.ca/roc Rainbow Camp is operated by Welcome Friend Association and is a four-week camp for 2 spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning (2SLGBTQ+) and allied youth, their siblings and children in Queer families. Rainbow Camp is committed to developing a camp community which honours creativity, individual choice and social justice. SOURCE Welcome Friend Association Karamo Brown talks racial injustice and LGBTQ pride amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/WireImage) While the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, ongoing issues of racial injustice and challenges the LGBTQ community still faces during Pride Month, Karamo Brown is encouraging people everywhere to shift their perspective around the complex conversations that are happening and to embrace them as a positive thing. Ive been challenging people to look at this time as not weird, as not hard, as not difficult, but to look at this time of growth and this time of education and this time where people are being galvanized to support others as a very inspiring time, the Queer Eye culture expert said during a conversation with LinkedIn on Tuesday. I personally just throughout my career and throughout my personal life always look at times of growth as happy moments and not as challenging moments because when you think of something as a challenging moment, a weird moment, it becomes daunting. Brown, who embraces his intersectional identity as a black gay man, went on to discuss the difference between fear-based language and that which is love-based, addressing the powerful impact that perception can have on how things are accomplished. If someone tells you a job youre about to go into or a class youre about to start that theyre like, Ugh, youre gonna hate the boss. Oh, my God, the boss is so weird or oh, my gosh, the teachers so hard, immediately you start to digest that fear-based language and you start to say to yourself, This is not going to be OK for me, its not going to work. I cant do this, this is hard, this is not something that I should be a part of, he explains. But when you switch the language in your mind to something more positive, love-based, then youre like, Oh, you know what, I can go into this class and do great. When approaching the ongoing racial tension and police brutality thats currently plaguing the United States, Brown also advocated the importance of reflecting on similar times throughout history to gain some understanding of what this moment will later become. Story continues Video: Queer Eye Co-Hosts Talk Current Cultural and Political Climate I think back to the civil rights movement and in the moment every single one of those people were like, Oh my gosh, look at this, this is so difficult. And yes, there are moments that you feel as if, How am I going to conquer and how am I going to get over this? But in actuality, whats happening is that theres a conversation happening, he continues. There [are] people being motivated and being awoken that werent a part of this before. ... There are people who are affected by the coronavirus, but also there are so many people now who are saying, You know what? I need to take responsibility for my fellow person and make sure that Im doing my part to protect them. And when I think about all of that, I think about how great of a time were in, how inspiring of a time were in. Brown continued on the same note of reflection when discussing the celebration of the LGBTQ community taking place throughout Pride Month in June. And although the coronavirus has affected the usual festivities that take place, he suggests that this provides a moment for the LGBTQ community itself to be more open-minded and inclusive. I think that a lot of times we think that the enemy is without or is not within our community, its outside our community. But theres a lot of individuals within our community who still subscribe to racist, transphobic and sexist ways, and we can see this clearly in any club you go to where you walk in and its all men, cisgender men that all look the same, Brown says. Where is the diversity, wheres the different races, the different cultures, where are women, where are the trans individuals, where are my bi folks, where are my pan individuals? And I think its about realizing that the reason that these clubs are like this and these spaces are like this is because still within our own community theres racism, theres transphobia, that we need to get over and we need to start addressing because if we dont address it, then were just gonna be perpetuating what we see outside in the world within our own community. With many of the nations most troubling issues coming to light now, Brown emphasizes that it is all in the spirit of pride, which he describes as empathy and education and evolving. Its about asking people to be empathetic to our experiences and to understand what were going through so that you can join our fight. And its about asking people to educate themselves so they can get in these spaces, Brown says. And I think thats what people should really be reminding themselves right now. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Kering SA, the French owner of the Gucci fashion label, named actress Emma Watson and former Credit Suisse Group AG chief executive officer Tidjane Thiam to the board. Their appointment was approved at the annual general meeting of shareholders on Tuesday, the company said in a statement. Jean Liu, president of Didi Chuxing the Chinese ride-hailing service was also named a director. The appointments come as the luxury industry seeks to bounce back from the COVID-19 crisis, which shut stores in China and other key markets for weeks. Companies are also seeking to boost diversity on their boards. Watson came to the publics attention playing Hermione Granger in the film adaptations of the Harry Potter book series. Recently, she starred in Greta Gerwigs Little Women. Thiam comes from the financial services industry. After leading the insurer Prudential Plc for six years, he became CEO of Credit Suisse, the Swiss banking giant, from 2015 until February. Mrs Kate Quartey-Papafio, the Chief Executive Officer of Reroy Cables, said the establishment of the CEOs Private Sector Advisory Group would stimulate growth and spur economic development of the country. The Group was borne out of the CEOs breakfast meeting on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hosted by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in July 2018. It is made up of eight CEOs and captains of industry with the objective of identifying core sets of practical and joint actions that they could undertake in support of the national SDGs efforts, and develop innovative financing solutions in support of SDGs implementation. It focuses on six goals classified as core areas that would drive the private sector's contribution to the SDGs. These are Quality Education (Goal-4), Clean Water and Sanitation (Goal-6), Affordable and Clean Energy (Goal-7), Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal-8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal-9), and Responsible Production and Consumption (Goal-12). In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mrs Quartey-Papafio, a member of the Group, said post COVID-19 would see it play a significant role in helping to restore the growth of the economy for sustained national development. She explained that those goals were interconnected and could work together to deliver growth and unprecedented development for the good people of the country. Mrs Quartey-Papafio said the Group intended to establish SDGs Delivery Fund, which would pool a significant proportion of the private sector's corporate social responsibility budget to support the goals. It had also declared its commitment to establish a Private Sector-led Green Fund, with a target of one billion Ghana cedis over five years, as a source of innovative financing to meet the SDGs agenda. A key objective of the Green Fund is to drive change and transition individual, private and public sector institutions from traditional to renewable sources of energy. She said the goals were anchored in the vision that would make businesses self-reliant in economic transformation, inclusive growth and the realisation of the goals and delivered through five result areas and cross-cutting priorities. Mrs Quartey-Papafio emphasized that all corporate organisations working in the country should make it a priority to support these projects and contribute towards the Fund. She pledged her unflinching support to the Group to ensure that the target on rural renewable energy initiative and specific environmentally sustainable projects were achieved comprehensively. ---GNA The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has reacted to comments by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that described it as being a beggars forum and a toothless dog Mr Wike had on Monday lashed out at the forum over the current travails of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who has been disqualified by the All Progressives Congress (APC) from contesting the forthcoming governorship primary of the party in Edo State. Mr Obaseki who had been at loggerheads with the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, was disqualified on Friday for allegedly having a defective certificate. His actions have since drawn speculations of a possible defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after a courtesy visit to Mr Wike and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, to secure a ticket for his reelection as governor. The embattled governor has, however, promised to announce his next line of action after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. However, in a Monday statement signed by the Commissioner for Information in Rivers State, Paulinus Nsirim, Mr Wike accused the forum of complacency and failing to intervene in the crisis. The statement was shared via official social media accounts of the governor with video clips of Mr Wike talking tough. He faulted the disqualification of Mr Obaseki by the APC. Mr Wike also accused the NGF of doing nothing during his rerun election in 2019, after informing the leadership of the NGF of the withdrawal of security aides which exposing him to danger. READ ALSO: He said, I told them then that what they were doing was wrong. Now they have become a beggars Forum even when there are constitutional infractions. You can see that APC governors say that they are progressive. You can see how progressive they are when they keep quiet when a fellow sitting governor is disqualified from contesting elections, he said. NGFs reaction The spokesperson of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Bakindo, in a statement on Monday, blamed the comments attributed to Mr Wike on the state commissioner for information. He said the controversial statement could not have been made by Mr Wike. Governor Wike is an old member of the NGF and a strong one at that. He could not have referred to the NGF as a Beggars Forum. Blame it on the author of the release, Mr Nsirim the Information Commissioner in Rivers State who couldnt distinguish between the NGF and the Progressive Governors Forum which is the political platform of APC Govs. The NGF has six core mandate areas and politics isnt one of them. Mr Bakindo said. The NGF is happy to state that Gov Wike is one of its strong members and has delegated his Deputy Gov to the Forum and she has never missed any meeting. The NGF appeals to all media advisers to seek to acquaint themselves with the different groups that their Chief Executives belong to in order to avoid making such misrepresentations that are entirely political and not governance related, the statement read. [June 16, 2020] Georgetown Law and Sheppard Mullin Create Nationwide Hub for Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement Georgetown Law's Innovative Policing Program and global law firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP are pleased to announce the creation of the ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement SM1) Project, the first nationwide program dedicated to promoting, teaching and studying "active bystandership" within law enforcement agencies. When police officers remain passive bystanders in the face of misconduct by other officers, abuses can thrive, but when officers gain the skills needed to become active bystanders, they can intervene to prevent peer misconduct. The ABLE Project will be a signature program within Georgetown Law's Innovative Policing Program, and it will lead the effort to create a police culture of intervention to prevent police misconduct and to protect officers and the public from dangerous mistakes. "When Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin put his knee onto George Floyd's neck, three other officers stood by and did nothing while Floyd died. That's only the most recent high-profile illustration of the harm police officers can cause when they fail to intervene to prevent misconduct by their colleagues," said Georgetown Law Professor Christy Lopez, Co-Director of the Innovative Policing Program. "But there are countless other incidents of police misconduct, large and small, that undermine police legitimacy and that could have been prevented with bystander officer intervention." "Sheppard Mullin is proud to support and co-found the ABLE Project," said Guy Halgren, Sheppard Mullin's Chairman. "We all have a duty and responsibility to look out for others and to not simply stand back and not intervene when something is wrong. We believe the ABLE Project is a great step in shifting the current paradigm and helping both law enforcement agencies and the general public work better together." Jonathan Aronie, Sheppard Mullin partner and court-appointed federal monitor of the New Orleans Police Department Consent Decree, added, "History is filled with examples of people not speaking up when, in hindsight, it seems quite obvious they should have. Through our work with academic institutions like the Georgetown University Law Center and the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, police leaders and community stakeholders across the country, and a number of other experts, we have learned a lot about why police officers (and, frankly, humans generally) oftentimes fail to intervene." Co-monitor David Douglass added, "The ABLE Project will teach and pepare police officers to use tried and true strategies and tactics of active bystandership to keep themselves and their communities safe." The ABLE Project will build upon the groundbreaking work of Dr. Ervin Staub and other experts to create standards and a training curriculum for a robust active bystandership law enforcement program; teach both local communities and law enforcement agencies the strategies and tactics for an effective intervention; provide program evaluation and certification opportunities; undertake cutting-edge academic research; serve as a national hub for active bystandership resources and technical assistance; and partner with law enforcement agencies across the country like New Orleans, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Charleston, and others that already have made great strides in the area of active bystander training for police officers. The Georgetown Law and Sheppard Mullin partnership also will provide Georgetown Law students opportunities to work closely with Sheppard Mullin attorneys, who are working on a pro bono basis, on these and other nationally important community-centered projects. The ABLE Project will be run by Georgetown Law Professors Christy Lopez and Rosa Brooks, and guided by a nationally recognized, hands-on Board of Advisors, led by Aronie. Georgetown Law and Sheppard Mullin leaders of the new ABLE Project actively participated in the development of the nation's first police department-wide peer intervention program created by the New Orleans Police Department. That program, called EPIC, for Ethical Policing Is Courageous, has demonstrated the effectiveness of the active bystandership model in reducing misconduct, reducing mistakes and promoting officer health and wellness. About Georgetown Law's Innovative Policing Program Georgetown University Law Center's Innovative Policing Program is dedicated to identifying new approaches to long-standing questions about the role police should play in a diverse and democratic society. The Innovative Policing Program brings together many of the nation's top experts on criminal justice and policing, including several members of the Georgetown University Law Center faculty. The Innovative Policing Program offers the Police for Tomorrow Fellowship Program for new Washington, D.C. police officers and police department personnel; Police Academy lectures and workshops; and a project-based practicum for Georgetown University law students. The Innovative Policing Program also carries out a variety of policing-related projects and hosts convenings on policing topics. You can learn more about the Innovative Policing Program by visiting https://www.law.georgetown.edu/innovative-policing-program/ About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP Sheppard Mullin is a full-service Global 100 firm with more than 950 attorneys in 15 offices across the globe, and a long-history of dedication to pro bono and public service. Since 1927, industry-leading companies have turned to Sheppard Mullin to handle corporate and technology matters, high-stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. In 2013, Sheppard Mullin was appointed by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana to serve as the Monitor of the New Orleans Police Department Consent Decree. For more information, please visit https://www.sheppardmullin.com/probono 1 ABLE and Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement are service marks of The Georgetown University Law Center. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005198/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Passionfruit growers are begging for supermarkets to slash the price of the fruit in stores after a 'tsunami' of growth. Growers suffered poor conditions, including hail and drought, over the last 18 months, but the fruit has now bounced back - creating a 'tsunami' of passionfruit. Jane Richter, Passionfruit Australia vice-president, said that while the cold weather has meant a drop in demand, the product is more abundant than ever. 'I understand for retailers, it's been one of those crops where they can get it one week but they can't get it the next day, I get that people are frustrated with us as an industry,' Ms Richter told the ABC. Passionfruit Australia vice-president, Jane Richter, (pictured, left) said availability of the passionfruits over the last 18 months has been impacted by weather such as hail and drought 'But all of those [climatic] conditions have conspired, so that every single growing region has got a huge lump of fruit coming through the supply chain right now.' Ms Richter farms in the Glass House Mountains, near the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. She said she has been trying for weeks to alert supermarkets to the oversupply and how the two bodies can work together to sell the passionfruits. 'We need people to get out there and rediscover passionfruit, we need retailers to get behind us and do some really crazy hot specials, put them at the front of the store,' she said. Ms Richter said that selling passionfruit for 50 cents per piece would encourage people to buy it. She said she has been trying for weeks to alert supermarkets to the oversupply and how the two bodies can work together to sell the passionfruits (stock) At Coles passionfruit is currently sold for $1.20 each or a pack of eight for $5.60. Woolworths are selling them for $1 each and a packet of ten for $6. Ms Richter told Daily Mail Australia that the response to their pleas from the public have been overwhelming and if supermarkets cut costs the product would fly off the shelves. 'I have had a couple of phone calls today with a couple of the major agents in passionfruit and I understand from them they have been contacted by some of the major supermarkets,' she said. 'They are looking to do a series of special promotions which will be different in each state. 'Conversations I have just had with those agents show supermarkets' attention has been grabbed and they understand there is lots of passionfruit available.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Passionfruits Australia, Coles and Woolworths for comment. This article is published through a partnership with New York Medias Strategist . The partnership is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected by New York Media. If you buy something through our links, Slate and New York Media may earn an affiliate commission. I have a thoughtful, child-free friend who was once the pets editor at a magazine, and would sometimes give unused pet products, like stuffed toys or tulle tutus, to my kids as gifts. (My youngest daughter still wears the latter.) While I cherish my friends generosity, I sometimes questioned her thought process: Should I be a little offended that you see no distinction between my human children and actual animals? My thinking abruptly shifted last summer, when, in a pinch, I realized I was willing to blur those lines myself. Amid a jag of 90-degree days, I stumbled upon a photo in another friends Instagram Story that showed his two kids splashing around in a small pool within his city backyard. I asked where he got it, and the pool, he told me, was meant for bathing dogs. In what felt like an instant, I went from a somewhat haughty my kids are human to whats the difference between these beasts and mine? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I ordered one, and it arrived on a blazing hot day. Unlike the previous kiddie pool we owned a flimsy blow-up number that my husband and I took turns puffing into until one of us passed out the setup for this was pretty effortless. It comes in a plastic pouch and unfolds like an accordion. The pool is sold in several sizes, meant for dog breeds from teacup Yorkies to Great Danes. I opted for the 63-inch XXL, which runs a foot high and sprawls across most of my mini backyard patio, but offers a little more room for the girls (who, at ages 3, 4, and 8, range in size from pug to pit bull). Editors note: The pool is available for preorder and will ship once restocked by Amazon on June 22. For a currently in-stock pool of the same size, with many of the same features, scroll down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When my girls saw their new oasis, their reaction could be described as that of winning Best in Show at the National Dog Show (which, incidentally, takes place not far from our Philadelphia home). Like their tutu, they dont care that the little blue tank is actually meant for animals. Nor do they care that its filled with water from a hose. They spend afternoons playing in it while I spend afternoons luxuriously reading magazine articles in their entirety from a nearby lawn chair. In our second summer of use, the pool seems to be just as sturdy as it was out of the pouch. The sides are made from thick fiberboard, and the bottom is a durable plastic. (Though it comes with a note to trim your dogs nails before use, so fair warning for kids with sharp talons.) And when its time to put the thing away, a valve on the side makes it easy to drain. It takes a little while to dry completely, but once it is dry, folding it back up is surprisingly easy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While secondary to the sheer joy it brings my daughters (and hands-off parenting it affords me), a smaller detail I love about the pool is how inoffensive it looks the two shades of blue give it a classic, nautical flair. And, with our usual beach and (bigger) pool plans likely thwarted by the ongoing pandemic, that flair will surely be even more appreciated this summer. San Francisco, June 16 : Google has donated more than $2.4 million to over 70 local LGBTQ+ organisations around the world and its own The Trevor Project. The $1.2 million donation to more than 70 organisations is done via Google.org which are located in cities around the world. "As diverse as the local communities they serve, these organizations create cherished spaces to embrace our intersections and individuality, organize against injustice, and provide access to services," said Maab Ibrahim Programme Manager, Google.org. For the most vulnerable LGBTQ+ communities, including Black+ communities experiencing the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 and racial injustice, these spaces and services are essential. Every year, an estimated 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth seriously consider suicide in the US, and the lifeline, text, and chat crisis services at The Trevor Project - a Google.org grantee = are experiencing their highest demand in 22 years. "The Trevor Project's work is life-saving, which is why we're providing $1.2 million to build on our existing work with them," said Google. In addition, a new cohort of Google.org Fellows will help The Trevor Project use natural language processing to automate the moderation of crisis content on its online forums and instruct counselors through a virtual conversation simulator training. The whole world is showing support and embracing the Pride movement with a celebration of colour this month. Kroger Health is extending the partnership with the Hamilton County Health Department to facilitate a free drive-thru COVID-19 testing opportunity on Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Northgate Mall (271 Northgate Mall Dr.). People seeking a test will use a virtual screening tool based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Individuals who dont have symptoms and anyone with health concerns are eligible for testing. We are grateful to Kroger Health for providing this opportunity for the citizens of our community, shared Hamilton County Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes. Increased testing opportunities are vital as we get people back to work. Individuals must schedule an appointment via Kroger Healths online portal at www.krogerhealth.com/covidtesting. Scheduling an appointment is required to receive a test. Please make sure windows are up on all vehicles when in the testing area and individuals need to have their photo ID ready. Kroger Health is proud to partner with the Hamilton County Health Department in this important effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, said Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health. This aligns perfectly with our vision, which is to help people live healthier lives. This onsite testing is supported with the laboratory services provided by eTrueNorth, a contractor of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In the wake of George Floyd's death and the massive protests against police brutality that followed, some police departments are reevaluating the use of chokeholds. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that seeks to prohibit them unless there's a life-or-death situation. National Investigative Unit Correspondent Mark Albert took a look at how a chokehold works and why some think it should be banned. Amir Khillah, CEO of Centurion Modern Subject Control and a police officer in Michigan who trains thousands of his fellow officers on restraints, described the technique's repercussions. "It's a weapon of last resort," he said. "If you hold the choke excessively, it could cause permanent brain damage or death." He tells his officers not to use it in the normal course of their duties unless they're at risk of death. The vascular neck restraint puts pressure on the carotid arteries, reducing blood flow to the brain. If not done correctly, experts say, the maneuver could damage the spine, injure the soft tissue in the neck or could collapse the airway. Last week, Democrats in Congress unveiled a sweeping police reform bill that would prohibit chokeholds. And they got some surprising support from the top Republican in the House. "The idea of someone that would have a chokehold when somebody is handcuffed or others?" House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy said. "There should be severe consequences." A recent Reuters poll found an overwhelming 82 percent of Americans support a ban on chokeholds. Khillah, the restraint instructor, thinks ongoing physical response training for each officer would reduce injuries from any use of force including chokeholds. "That seems to be the default go to because of lack of options for officers, and that is due to very, very limited and insufficient training for law enforcement across across the board," he said. "We have to mandate more training for officers and it has to be ongoing." Use of force experts say you should not try to use any type of neck restraint without professional training and supervision. Know of any use-of-force issues youd like us to investigate? Email the Hearst Television National Investigative Unit at investigate@hearst.com. COVID-19 is already thought to be spread by people without symptoms, and a symptom-preventing vaccine may create even greater numbers of them. Vaccines are among the most effective weapons against infectious disease, and prevent up to 3 million deaths a year, according to the World Health Organisation. Yet few, if any, are 100 per cent effective in all people who get them. For example, about 3 per cent of people who get measles vaccine develop a mild form of the disease, and can spread it to others. 130 shots In their attempts to confront a rapidly growing threat, developers are turning to technologies that have never been used successfully in humans. More than 130 shots are in the works for COVID-19 prevention, according to the World Health Organisation. Vaccines work by presenting the immune system with a form of a germ -- or a key part of it -- preparing the body to respond when a real exposure occurs. When that happens, immune proteins called antibodies glom onto the virus, halting its entry to cells. Sometimes vaccines ramp up immune T-cells, which don't do as much to prevent infections, but can slow and eventually stop their progression. A common approach to raising levels of antibodies is with injection of a virus that's been inactivated or killed. About nine of these are in experimentation: One, made by China's Sinovac Biotech, led to high levels of COVID-targeted antibodies in monkeys. Another shot developed at the University of Oxford uses an innovative approach in which COVID genes are inserted into a different, harmless virus. Those make proteins that are recognised by the immune system, which raises defenses against a real infection. Speedy delivery About a quarter of the experimental shots listed by the WHO, including two already in human studies, follow the same approach as the Oxford vaccine. One of the advantages of the technology is its speed. AstraZeneca, which is partnering with Oxford, has said it will begin delivering doses for the UK as soon as September, and will have doses for the US, which helped fund development, the following month. On Saturday, AstraZeneca and four European Union countries said they reached an agreement to distribute hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccine. Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech also said over the weekend that results from testing its coronavirus shot in humans support advancement to final-stage studies. Antibody levels How the shot being developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca affects infections and infectiousness still isn't clear. William Haseltine, a former HIV researcher at Harvard University, pointed out in a blog for Forbes that animals had roughly the same amount of viral genetic material, called RNA, in their systems, whether or not they'd received shots. Levels of antibodies against the virus weren't as high as in very protective vaccines, he said. However, clinical signs of severe infection, like high breathing rate and pneumonia, were better in vaccinated monkeys. That might still make such a shot useful, according to Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "That vaccine doesn't look like it's a knockout for protecting against infection, but it might be really very good at protecting against disease," Fauci told the medical news website Stat. The vaccine will be a success whether it heads off infections or severe symptoms, AstraZeneca Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot said in a BBC interview. The vaccine's progress to advanced studies was approved by an independent scientific panel, and the company is waiting to see how it performs, a spokesman said. Loading Fauci's NIAID is partnered with Moderna on a COVID vaccine test whose primary goal is to show their vaccine prevents people from developing symptoms, the company said on June 11. Preventing infections is a secondary goal. Successful preventives must also bar onward transmission, said Dan Barouch, a researcher at the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard University. Effective shots may allow some cells to become infected, but control the growth of the virus before it can be passed on to others, said Barouch, who is developing a vaccine with Johnson & Johnson. He said his efforts are aimed at a vaccine that prevents infections. Preventing illness In December 1865, seven months after President Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theatre, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified with these words: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction," the amendment says. For blacks, the moment represented liberty in its truest form - the country's defining document now outlawed slavery. But the 13th Amendment infuriated many Southern whites, who refused to accept the outcome of the Civil War. What happened over the next 12 years during the period known as Reconstruction was one of the most brutal stretches of organized racial terror in American history, with white mobs attacking and lynching blacks. The unprovoked assaults stretched into the early 1950s. Historians have struggled for years to figure out just how many black people were lynched. Now, a new report from the Equal Justice Initiative is updating the number. The Alabama-based organization said its researchers have documented 6,500 lynchings between 1865 and 1950, including 2,000 attacks during Reconstruction that weren't tallied in its previous reports. Thousands of other black people were also assaulted and raped, the organization said. And the actual number of attacks may never be known. "Emboldened Confederate veterans and former enslavers organized a reign of terror that effectively nullified constitutional amendments designed to provide Black people with equal protection and the right to vote," the report said. "Violence, mass lynchings, and lawlessness enabled white Southerners to create a regime of white supremacy and Black disenfranchisement alongside a new economic order that continued to exploit Black labor." EJI's report, issued amid sweeping protests around the country against police brutality against blacks, contains graphic depictions of the violence: "In Chattanooga, Tennessee, when a Black man named Andrew Flowers defeated a white candidate in the 1870 race for justice of the peace, Klansmen whipped him and told him that 'they did not intend any n----- to hold office in the United States.' "On the night of March 6, 1871, a mob of armed white men hanged a Black man named James Williams in York County, South Carolina, and terrorized the local African American community, assaulting residents and burning homes. Mr. Williams, enslaved before the Civil War, had recently organized a coalition to protect the freedom of Black people in York County. White residents circulated rumors claiming that he posed a threat, and as his former enslaver later testified, his presence 'caused a great deal of uneasiness.' Details of the lynching were sparsely documented but federal officials arrested and prosecuted several alleged members of the mob. One testified during trial that, after hanging Mr. Williams, the mob stopped to get 'some crackers and whiskey.' " The EJI report said lynchings during Reconstruction came amid failures at the Supreme Court and in Congress to protect black people. "In decision after decision, the Court ceded control to the same white Southerners who used terror and violence to stop Black political participation, upheld laws and practices codifying racial hierarchy, and embraced a new constitutional order defined by 'states' rights,'" the report said. The Reconstruction period, and the violence against black people during it, has been overlooked by society and historians for far too long, the organization said. "The new era of Reconstruction offered great promise and could have radically changed the history of this country," the report said. "However, it quickly became clear that emancipation in the United States did not mean equality for Black people." At its best, art can voice for us what we cannot say, or don't yet know. Artists and creatives are often called on to assert themselves during times of crisis, says artist Paul Anthony Smith. So far, 2020 has given us two major crises: COVID-19 and the continual deaths of Black and Brown individuals at the hands of the police. According to fellow artist Adam Pendleton, it's precisely in moments of crisis that the freedom of expression inherent to art can best be utilized for good. Artists today need to be listening, experimenting, and criticizing, says Pendleton. Our sphere is a special onerelatively speaking, an extraordinarily free oneand this freedom should be used to the fullest extent. We must make images and extend gestures that endure. Herewith, young, influential Black artists speak about how they view the role of art in this moment, and how art can transform the world for a better tomorrow. Some of their names you may have heard of, such as the MacArthur Genius Grant winner Njideka Akunyili Crosby. Other names may be new to you. But the familiarity of their names doesn't matter. Because the power of art, particularly great art, is that it makes us feel something just beneath our collective skin, no matter the color. Photo: Courtesy of the artist, Victoria Miro, and David Zwirner Born in 1983 in Enugu, Nigeria, Njideka Akunyili Crosby is among the most talented young artists in the world. Her work has already been sold to the Tate Modern, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She's won a bevy of prizes and awards, including a MacArthur Genius Grant. Crosby's work of collaged paintings is raw with emotion, often verging on the third dimension. I work from my experiences of growing up in Nigeria and then immigrating to the United States in my late teens, says Crosby. Since the [presidential] election in 2016, I've been grappling with my role as an artist. Some make works that hold up a mirror to the rot (systemic racism, sexism, etc.) in society; some create works that affirm underrepresented experiences, that let you know you are not alone; some create magical moments and experiences that allow us to escape the exhaustion of daily life. I saw my role as creating works that centered a Black-immigrant experience, making people who had any overlap with those I depicted feel seen." But the direction of Crosby's art is subject to change in light of recent events and the beliefs spreading throughout the country from the highest offices in the land: Ive been wondering if this affirming representation is enough for me, if my work should go farther to express the anger I feel most days as a Black woman living in the United States. Story continues Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Library Street Collective Jammie Holmes is one of those artists whose work is so charged with emotion, containing the raw feelings to a single canvas appears to be a feat in and of itself. For the 36-year old artist, who currently has a studio in Dallas, one question permeates through all of his work: When can I live like you? explains Holmes. In discussing his work Endurance, in which a Black man is giving another Black man a haircut, Holmes explains why he created a mural of flowers behind the seated subject. I put flowers there because I wanted to tone down the Black in us. Im six-foot-three, bearded with tattoos, and I love jewelry. I wanted us to look safer. Its sad that we have to live like that. Holmes made international headlines when on the last Saturday in May, the artist created a massive work that caught the attention of New Yorkers, and the world beyond. Holmes produced a banner and attached it to a small airplane that flew around New York City. The black-and-white banner read, Theyre Going to Kill Me, which were among the last words of George Floyd. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York Paul Anthony Smith was born in Jamaica in 1988. His work primarily involves photographic prints that are carefully picked away to create patterns that can take on the significance of walls or chain-link fences. As if in conversation with Jean-Michel Basquiat, an artist who revolutionized the technique of scratching out words or phrases in his work, Smith offers commentary on how Black communities navigate surveillance and marginalization in society. Often my images tend to be abstracted through the use of a technique called picotage, in which I cut and pick into the surface of my photographic images in order to disguise my figures, explains the artist. By doing this, the figures then become anonymous and act as stand-ins to represent multitudes of people. Smith's work is both complex and aggressive, a sensation the artist has created by design. I want people to feel agitated, perplexed as to why Ive aggressively picked and cut into the surface of my images. I want them to walk away feeling grateful to be alive. But Smith doesn't want it to end there; he has plans for future works in the wake of George Floyd's death: As artists we must be engaged in our communities. We must listen and observe the pain of todays society and transform this energy into positive action, unlike the political rhetoric weve been fed. Photo: Shane Gordon Dawn Okoro is a Nigerian-American artist living in Austin. The 40-year-old artist primarily paints figurative art works that pop from the canvas. Growing up in a small town in Texas, fashion magazines were one of my windows to the world, Okoro explains. But since I didnt see many people that looked like me represented in the pages, I started to paint what I wanted to see. The art world took notice, as Okoro's work has been exhibited around the world, from Lagos to Miami. "In the current moment we find ourselves in, it's particularly important to me that my work connects with the viewers emotions, perhaps showing them in a different way, even if it's a momentary escape." Photo: Courtesy of the artist Kambui Olujimi, 44, was born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. After receiving an MFA from Columbia University and attending Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Olujimi began creating works that sought to challenge established modes of thinking. In his work Twin Flight (above), the artist raises the idea of oppression. The perpetual gravity of oppression is implicitly understood as the necessary metaphor for fleeting moments of joy before a return to the assumed state of normalcy, says Olujimi, who has been awarded fellowships from Black Rock Senegal, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, and the MacDowell Colony. What, then, does the Black body devoid of the inescapable gravity of oppression look like? In his view, the power of art can transcend the times we are living through. Art predates the sword. Humans make sense of the world through this medium, Olujimi explains. We create narratives for ourselves, our neighborhoods, and our nations, we grapple with ideas like death, afterlife, and the cosmos through art. Art is a transcendent communication that operates outside of language. Photo: Courtesy of the artist Born in 1984 in Richmond, Virginia, Adam Pendleton is one of the country's top young talents. Consider the following: His work has been featured at the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney, and the New Museum, among other venues. He's twice been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 list. And those who own his work range from Steven A. Cohen to Leonardo DiCaprio and Venus Williams. Through his work, Pendleton juxtaposes several complex issues at once, creating works that have multiple meanings for multiple viewers. There is no way to excuse oneself from historyeven unknowingly, all art, all culture has a historical context, explains Pendleton. When I use historical material, I'm trying to unsettle the past, to create a different sense of time through framing, reproduction, collage, and juxtaposition, often using things that are themselves already fractured in some way. Like most artists, Pendleton aspires to create a dialogue with his audience, perhaps now more than ever. I hope that the viewer feels productively disorientedthat what is given to them does not fit their preconceived notions, and that the work appears to them like its own world. My aim has always been to invite the viewer into a conversation. Photo: Jennifer Packer, courtesy of Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York, and Corvi-Mora,London Jennifer Packer was born in Philadelphia in 1984. Packer, who in 2012 was an artist in residence at the Studio Museum in Harlem, creates dreamlike works that appear to connect a historical world to the one currently being lived in. Her subjects, which are often friends or family members, at times resemble the works of Chagall. Where her body of work sharply differs from the legendary Russian-French artist is in theme. In 2014, for example, her work Laquan was named for Laquan McDonald, a teenager killed by the police that same year. "The role of the artist has always been to be attentive beyond reward, to understand the profound responsibility of individuality," says Packer. "The recognition that perspective is idiosyncratic and can be exhausting, but one carries the burden of bearing witness by understanding their singularity." Photo: Courtesy of the artist, JTT, New York, and Carlos/Ishikawa, London Sable Elyse Smith was born in 1986 in Los Angeles. Her work has been displayed in a wide range of venues, from MoMA PS1 in New York City to Birkbeck Cinema in collaboration with the Serpentine Galleries in London. Smith, who is quickly ascending the to the highest ranks in the art world, primarily focuses on the culture of incarceration. And that means each person will have a different opinion on that topic, something Smith is entirely aware of. The work should never say the same thing to every viewer. It is multivocal in its address and affectthat's the point." Photo: Courtesy of the artist Born in Washington, D.C., but raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, Wesley Clark is a young talent who's made a name in the art world by bringing together mixed-media wood assemblages to dazzling affect. In his work My Big Black America, 2015 (above), the artist had been exploring ways of incorporating the continental U.S. map, specifically the 2008 electoral map that elected Barack Obama. "I heard Carrie Mae Weems say that the election of President Obama was the first time many Blacks in the country claimed the United States as my country. The idea struck like lightning and I got to work," explains Clark. Like most every artist, Clark hopes his work sparks recognition or understanding for his viewer. I want them to feel their presence; their claim; a monument made in their (our) honor. I want people to see and consider the industriousness and contributions of Blacks in this country, Clark continues. I look at wood as mimicking skin; it holds scars and ages as skin does. And when up close, viewers can see pieces that seem older and newer representing the generations past and present. It's about existence. Claiming and paying tribute to that existence. In the deeply troubling world we find ourselves in now, Clark, just as he has his entire life, is leaning into art to help him, and society as a whole, find a path forward. Art has the power to make you question, and that question can take hold deep inside and linger; leaving it for your mind and body to process subconsciously. For me, that's what good art has the power to do. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Voters and investors to blame for destructive mining It seems that those investing in the China Shenhua Energy's coal project have neither concern for the past - our Aboriginal heritage - nor the future - our food bowl and our climate ("Chinese mine new threat to artefacts", June 16). Angela Michaelis, Balmain Your story misdirects the blame for the threats to our culture and environment to miners and their financial backers. It is us, the voters, who are to blame for repeatedly voting for governments which place economic values above all else. It takes millennia for these assets to develop. Our current governments want to sell and "redevelop" these assets without time-consuming "green tape". Who else to blame but ourselves? Gordon Stenning, Seaforth This story could be seen as a dog whistle to today's anti-China lobby rather than what it should be, a clarion call for better heritage protection. This is not just an issue of weak federal government laws. Across NSW the wishes of Aboriginal custodians are overridden every day by the greater imperative of large-scale mines and residential developments because of poor state legislation. The Berejiklian government has been stalling for years and years on introducing to the NSW Parliament Aboriginal heritage protection reforms that would give traditional custodians a better say in such matters. Premier, now is the time to act. Russ Couch, Woonona What a year for our First Australians. It is also the year approvals were granted to mining companies to blast their way across tracts of country regardless of significant ancient sites to extract more iron ore and coal for China. Approvals enabled by elected guardians of the environment. One wonders what planet they live on. Adelaide Tomasi, Potts Point When will large overseas-owned mining corporations and governments come to terms with the importance of agricultural and heritage matters? Do we continue to dig up the very best food-producing areas of Australia and keep destroying the heritage of the world's oldest living culture? The Hunter Valley has long suffered this invasion of coal mining, which has desecrated much of the environment and health of its residents. Is the government to allow the same to happen to the Liverpool Plains, an iconic agricultural part of Australia? Bruce Clydsdale, Bathurst This says a lot about the decisions our government is making in our interests. Who are they governing for? Lyn Savage, Coogee Will there be any police protecting the Aboriginal treasures - "historic and culturally significant artefacts" - from wilful destruction at the Liverpool Plains coal mine. Guess not, the destruction goes ahead with government blessing. Peggy Fisher, Killara A house of cards stacked too high ALP supporters will be appalled and rightfully very angry about the revealed activities of Adem Somyurek ("All political offices should learn from tale of 'stackathon' chief", June 16). It has to be said that if a political party is incapable of appropriate internal governance, then how can it be trusted with the levers of government? It is beyond belief that Somyurek could rise to a cabinet position in the Victorian government without there being some knowledge of his party manipulations. If Daniel Andrews and Anthony Albanese knew nothing as they claim, then one wonders what they believe are their roles and responsibilities to protect the reputation of the party and to ensure appropriate behaviour by party members. Ross Butler, Rodd Point Left activists are constantly calling for conservative politicians to show leadership on their pet issues of climate change, Indigenous rights, gender and refugee advocacy. It seems that a similar call could also be made of Anthony Albanese in relation to the branch stacking in the ALP. Riley Brown, Bondi Beach Branch stacking is a feature of all political parties. The underlying cause is a lack of sufficient numbers of party members. Denis Goodwin, Dee Why If branch stacking is tolerated, it erodes democracy. But it's hard not to conclude that perhaps a slightly lower threshold for what is tolerated from all sides of the political spectrum is a requirement for political office ("Victorian Labor scandal claims two scalps", June 16). It's heartening to see the Victorian ALP coming down hard on the stackers within its ranks. Alison Stewart, Riverview The current ALP crisis is a stark reminder of the necessity for a national corruption watchdog. I suggest that the failure of the Morrison government to create a federal ICAC in this parliamentary term, is sufficient reason not to be re-elected. Graham Lum, North Rocks To lose one cabinet minister is unfortunate. To lose three smacks of carelessness. Garth Clarke, North Sydney Balancing act on glory's edge Peter Hartcher is right when he says that Xi Jinping wants to see China as the most militarily and economically powerful nation on earth goals that they will probably shortly achieve, despite decades of ignoring the rule of law and breaking promises they never intended to keep ("World is waking up to Xi's game", June 16). Their growing influence and power under Xi Jinping is something that has to be tackled if countries are going to unshackle themselves from the growing stranglehold of China; the only weak link in their armour is their economy. If every major country that trades with China reduced or stopped trading with them, it would have a huge economic and political impact and probably result in Xi Jinping being shown the exit door long before his term expires. It would come at great cost but to recover some of our own independence and make the world a safer place: it would be worth it. Frank Adshead, Mona Vale Growing pains Your correspondent equates population growth with high living standards (Letters, June 16). This is what a biologist would describe as a self-limiting system. Tom McGinness, Randwick Pencil me in as one who would gladly take a financial hit to ensure the amenity and ecological sustainability of my city and my country. The concept of constantly growing to inflate economic growth figures reduces my quality of life even as the country boasts an overall increase in GDP. The suburbs I grew up in are poorer places now with the loss of green space filled in with high-rise. We need to remember that as human populations increase, most endemic wildlife is reduced in number. Why should we be happy for this continue? Phil Thompson, Valentine Standard of living does not simply relate to higher gross domestic product. Figures show per capita income has actually declined slightly over recent years while population has grown. The "economic growth" so lauded by our politicians has been a Ponzi scheme and not benefited our quality of life, cities or environment at large. Martin Frohlich, Adamstown Heights Private matters In the face of the latest VET rort costing the taxpayer $1.2 billion, when will the Coalition governments in their ideological pursuit of private enterprise at the expense of the public sector realise that these outsourced private initiatives do not always represent value for money: at least for the taxpayer ("Government cancels more than $1.2 billion in VET student loans", June 16). If the taxpayer can see failures in outsourced employment agencies, third-party insurance, road tolls, privatisation of public sector transport and now the VET scheme: why can't the economic managers of the Coalition? Private does not necessarily equate with superior. Severino Milazzo, Maroubra Expert advice Australia and NSW have performed admirably in response to COVID-19 because we listened to health experts ("Fears two fast-tracked dam projects will 'desiccate' major wetlands", June 16). Water experts are telling us that proposed dams will be bad for the environment and the communities downstream. Now is not the time to stop listening. Graeme Finn, St Peters Housing boom What's the point of having a super fund to support your retirement when you don't own a home ("Prices would go 'through the roof' if homes owned in super funds", June 15)? Housing is a basic need and there are more advantages in owning a home than renting one. Why the resistance to let people access their super to buy their own home, which has been shown to be a generator of wealth? Will pressure be put on the market if we can buy a home using super? Yes, but what we are talking about is people buying their own home, not having a super fund to buy multiple homes which you can do via a self-managed fund. Associate Professor Vito Mollica, Macquarie University The rainbow-birds Roy Masters demonstrates the qualities of a poet in his tribute to a rugby league player who has died at the age of 84 ("Combustible yet caring, league's legendary hardman Noel 'Ned' Kelly was one of a kind", July 16). After detailing his sporting achievements, citations and awards, Masters concludes his obituary with the gentlest of lines. He died, we are told, peacefully, surrounded by family "and the sounds from his aviary of beautiful birds singing him to merciful silence". Peter Skrzynecki, Eastwood Time takes its toll The story and photos of the toll booths brought back many memories ("Bye-bye booths: state slots in end of '50s road accessory", June 16). I am sure I am not the only driver who still carries loose change in the ashtray, a habit from the days of scrambling for toll money on the Harbour Bridge. The last toll collection booths on Sydney Harbour Bridge will soon be removed at a cost of $20 million. The most interesting aspect of the photos is the attendant standing in the automatic booth. One might be forgiven for thinking that this was a redundant position, except that the coin basket system was not always reliable. The only catch is that, in the photo, the automatic booth is closed. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls Wow, $20 million and 18 months to remove the toll booths? Reckon I could hire a bulldozer and have the job done overnight for no more than $16m. Richard Tainsh, Potts Point The couple on Tuesday thanked Ms English and Detective Rowe for the extra investigative efforts to explain what had happened. Loading Mrs Schneider said it was difficult to expose her daughter's life to scrutiny but it was the only way to determine the truth. She encouraged other families concerned that early assumptions might be being made in the investigation of a death of a loved one to speak up. "If you feel something's not right then please make a noise," she said. Police had always believed that suicide was the most likely explanation for Ms Schneider's death.There was no sign of forced entry or an altercation inside the house. Mr Hampel was attending an event in the city at the time of Ms Schneider's death. Ms English noted that Ms Schneider's parents had raised questions about the initial scenario presented by police who attended the scene She agreed that there were "unusual aspects" to the case. But she said she accepted the opinion of experienced forensic pathologist Matthew Lynch, who believed the circumstances, while "not entirely clear", were not suspicious. A toxicology report showed Ms Schneider had three times the legal driving alcohol limit and traces of cocaine in her bloodstream at the time of her death. Her parents found a half to three-quarter finished bottle of red wine when they discovered their daughter's body on the kitchen floor after returning from the shops. Ms English said Ms Schneider's parents were aware of their daughter's involvement in Melbourne's party scene and were concerned about her consumption of drugs and alcohol. But they also respected her privacy and had convinced her to move back into their house for a more stable environment. She had recently enrolled in an course in applied medical science at university in a move her father, Cameron Schneider, described as her "getting her life back on track". Baillee Schneider was found dead by her parents in 2018. Despite this, she still encountered difficulties and weeks before her death had received a deep cut to her arm in an incident that attending police believed may have been a suicide attempt. Neither parent ever met Mr Hampel and both have said Ms Schneider kept her relationship with him extremely private. Mr Hampel made two statements to police to assist the coronial investigation and stated he did not consider he was in a serious relationship with Ms Schneider. However, it appears Ms Schneider believed differently and had described him as her boyfriend to her mother, Sabine Schneider. Ms English said Detective Rowe's review "noted it was evident from the material in the phone records that the two had a personal relationship which included frequent communications and at least two trips away together". It could be further adduced from their communications that the pair had been involved in a disagreement or break-up in the hours before Ms Schneider's death. On the night before her death, Ms Schneider told her mother that she was going to attend a private gathering with Mr Hampel. But she instead went to a Melbourne strip club where she had been working as a dancer. Witness statements show Ms Schneider left the club around 1:30am and attended a party at the Toorak unit of Melbourne events promoter Keith Ridgway. She left around 8am Saturday morning. Mr Ridgway and Mr Hampel had worked closely for several years through the A-Live events company. Mr Hampel was not at the party and Mr Ridgway was not involved in Ms Schneider's death in any way. Ms English extended her sympathies to Ms Schneider's family and noted the increased rate of suicidal behaviour and completed suicides among people with alcohol use disorders. Alcohol was also a factor in the death of Ms Handsjuk, with Coroner Peter White ruling after a long-running 2014 inquest that the young woman accidentally died after getting herself inside a small garbage chute hatch feet first and under the effects of alcohol and prescription medicine. Mr White's finding was controversial because it went against the advice of his counsel assisting, Melbourne barrister Deborah Siemensma, who urged he make an open finding because there was insufficient evidence to rule out suicide, foul play involving other parties or accident. Ms Handsjuk's final weeks, the inadequate initial police investigation and the coronial process were explored in The Age's 2016 podcast series Phoebes Fall. In 2018 the Andrews government changed the law to make it easier for families to appeal what they believe to be a wrong coronial finding. The Handsjuk familys inability to mount a legal challenge to Mr Whites finding, as highlighted by Phoebe's Fall, was the catalyst for the reforms. Support for anyone who may be distressed is available via Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; beyondblue 1300 224 636. For more information about suicide prevention, visit the Life In Mind Australia website. It was a rare acknowledgment of corporate wrongdoing that nonetheless seemed inadequate to many families of victims and survivors of the Camp Fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise. PG&E, which had repeatedly failed to maintain a transmission line that broke from a nearly-100-year-old tower even though it cut through a forested and mountainous area known to experience strong winds, pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of illegally setting a fire. The Camp Fire devastated lives and wreaked billions of dollars in property damage, and left PG&E struggling to survive while it fends off creditors in bankruptcy court, a public furious about the companys history of accidents and power outages and a governor who at one point threatened a state takeover. The company, Californias biggest utility, is expected to receive a judges approval soon for its plan to exit bankruptcy. Under that plan, the company will pay $13.5 billion to people who lost homes and businesses from wildfires started by its equipment, including the Camp Fire. It is unusual for corporations to plead guilty to felonies and acknowledge that their negligence caused the deaths of dozens of people. What is perhaps even stranger is that this is not the first time in recent years that PG&E has pleaded to or been found guilty of serious crimes. But the relatively small size of PG&Es financial penalties could rekindle concerns that large corporations often escape appropriate punishment for their actions. A felony conviction can deal a mortal blow to certain kinds of businesses. Arthur Andersen, an accounting giant, went out of business after it was found guilty in 2002 for obstruction of justice. Clients stopped doing business with the firm and employees left, although the Supreme Court later overturned the conviction. But PG&E is a state-regulated monopoly and most of its customers cannot switch to another provider of electricity and gas. Russian Foreign Ministry Slams Accusations of Moscow Drawing Out Whelan's Process Sputnik News 15:52 GMT 15.06.2020(updated 16:04 GMT 15.06.2020) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The accusations of the Western media of Moscow drawing out the process of US citizen Paul Whelan, sentenced to 16 years in prison over espionage earlier in the day, are groundless and absurd, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday. "We believe that the accusations seen in the Western media on 'drawing out' the process that began on March 30 are absurd and unsubstantiated. It is well known that Paul Whelan drew out for six months the process of familiarizing himself with the court materials, was reading them without a hurry, from September last year to March this year. Nevertheless, despite difficult epidemiological conditions caused by the coronavirus infection, the process took place within the expected timeframe, in strict correspondence with the Russian laws and all required norms and procedures," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said it disagreed that Whelan's sentence was unfair or too strict. "As for statements about the sentence being unfair or too severe, it must be stressed that in the United States and in other Western countries, the sentence for similar offences may amount to decades in prison, possibly even life, and without a right to pardon," the ministry said. Former US Marine, Paul Whelan, who also holds the citizenship of the UK, Canada and Ireland, was arrested in Russia in 2018 on espionage charges. He denied the charges, insisting that he came to Russia to attend his friend's wedding. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:03:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Health on Tuesday announced plans to review COVID-19 testing guidelines in line with the World Health Organization's new findings of asymptomatic patients. Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that according to the WHO guidelines, patients are to be released from a quarantine center after nine to 10 days, as opposed to two weeks that is being practiced in the country. "The government is reviewing COVID-19 testing guidelines to align them with new findings on asymptomatic patients," Kagwe told journalists in Nairobi. Kagwe noted that asymptomatic patients will be assigned public health officials or community health workers for observation on a daily basis. The cabinet secretary was speaking in Nairobi when he announced that the country has 3,860 total COVID-19 cases from 121,956 samples that have been tested since the disease was reported in mid-March. During the period, 1,326 patients have recovered from hospitals while 105 deaths have been registered. Enditem James Purnell denied the BBC has a pro-Remain, London-centric outlook. (Parliamentlive.tv) A top BBC executive has flatly denied accusations that the corporation has a north London, metropolitan, pro-Remain view of the world. Appearing before MPs in the House of Commons, James Purnell insisted the BBC has a very strong diversity of views. It comes amid continued government pushbacks against the corporation, which have included banning ministers from appearing on flagship current affairs shows such as Today and Newsnight. Top presenters such as Emily Maitlis have also been the subject of complaints regarding supposed anti-government bias. At the digital, culture, media and sport committee on Tuesday, Conservative MP Philip Davies told Purnell: The BBC doesnt have people with a range of views. They all seem to have a north London, metropolitan, pro-Remain view of the world. Thats largely the cultural problem within the BBC and therefore is a million miles away from people in Yorkshire and Norfolk and Lincolnshire. North London is stereotypically seen as a hotbed of liberal, anti-Brexit politics. Purnell, the corporations director of radio and education, told Davies: I just dont recognise your characterisation. He said: We are making sure the BBC isnt metropolitan in that way. When I worked here in the 1990s, we were overwhelmingly based in London. We now have more than half our team outside of London; we make programmes across the whole of the UK; we recently launched a Scotland channel; we have a fantastic world-beating drama department in Wales; we have local radio serving the whole country; regional news is our most popular programme on BBC One reaching eight or nine million people a week. I just dont recognise your characterisation. The BBC now employs thousands of people at the MediaCityUK hub in Manchester. (Anthony Devlin/Getty Images) He added: This is a company or organisation for the whole UK. It is probably the most UK-wide organisation in this country and we take that very seriously. We have very strong diversity of views within the BBC. Amid ongoing rows over impartiality, the BBC is also facing a fight for its very existence. Story continues The corporation can fall back on the 154.50 annual licence fee which provides 75% of its revenue until at least December 2027, when the current Royal Charter expires. However, justification for the licence fee is being questioned like never before, including by Boris Johnson. Earlier this year, his government announced a consultation on whether failure to pay the licence fee should be a criminal offence. Speaking at Tuesdays committee meeting, Clare Sumner, the BBCs director of policy, said decriminalisation would cost it 200m a year. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office released body camera footage from an incident where shots were fired near deputies. Sheriff Javier Salazar who labeled the video "disturbing" estimated that 14 shots were fired at deputies assisting a stranded driver, including one that can be heard whizzing by. The incident occurred on the Far East Side around 3:30 a.m. on June 6. Officials believe the shots were fired from a vehicle driving near the intersection of Woodlake Parkway and Binz-Engleman Road. READ MORE: Crime Stoppers offering reward for ID of individuals who shot at BCSO deputies Bexar County Sheriff's Office "Its a scary sound," Salazar said at a news conference Tuesday. "Its certainly sobering when you think about that those were two deputies that were just doing their jobs and a civilian that was just a stranded motorist. "Anyone of those three or even all three could have been seriously injured or even killed as a result of this indiscriminate shooting." The sheriff said shell casings were found about 200 yards away. He believes someone saw police lights in the distance and shot in their general direction. "The fact that it got close enough to where you can actually hear the bullets whizzing by on the body camera tells me that they almost hit their intended target," Salazar said. In the video, the deputy returns to his vehicle and calls for backup. Officials are considering the case an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and appealing to the public for information. Salazar also provided an update on COVID-19 at the county jail Tuesday. He said all inmates currently in custody have been tested for the virus and new arrivals are being held in isolation units pending their test results. There are 30 active coronavirus cases among inmates at the facility. Since the onset of the pandemic, 456 inmates have tested positive. Eighteen deputies (15 detention, 3 law enforcement) are currently COVID-19 positive. The sheriff noted San Antonio residents have become lax in adhering to social distancing measures. "We are absolutely getting a bit complacent and I can tell you, to steal a phrase from law enforcement training, complacency kills," Salazar said. An Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed on Monday night following a "violent face-off" with Chinese troops in Ladakh region. The scuffle took place in Galwan valley. Senior military officials from both sides are holding meetings to defuse tensions between the two countries. Tension has been high in the area over the past few weeks. Also Read: India-China tensions: One officer, 2 jawans die after clash with Chinese troops "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place on Monday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers," the Army said in a brief statement. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also chaired a high-level meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat and three service chiefs to take stock of the on-ground situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The incident comes days after Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane said both sides have begun disengaging from Galwan Valley. Also Read: Indian soldiers killed on China border first time since 1975 Here are key developments related to India and China border dispute: Since the standoff that began between India and China in the first week of May (last month), followed by a violent clash in Pangong Tso lake, both the countries have been looking to find a solution to the ongoing dispute in Eastern Ladakh. The trigger for the face-off was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another route connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley. During their military-level talks on June 6, India and China agreed to follow the broad decisions taken by their leaders in the Wuhan summit in 2018 to ensure peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). On June 6, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held an extensive meeting. India had expressed concern over continued Chinese military deployment in rear positions near Ladakh despite its disengagement at three locations in the union territory (UT) by 2-2.5 kilometres. The areas were--Galwan Valley area (Patrolling Point 14), Patrolling point 15, and Hot Springs (Patrolling Point 17) in Eastern Ladakh area. India and China are conducting confidence-building measures before beginning Major General-level talks that started on June 10. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. This is for the first time since 1962 that there has been tension in the Galwan area in Eastern Ladakh. And that too when the LAC is clearly defined and acknowledged by both sides. In 1962, China launched an attack on India across its Eastern and Northern borders. Amongst several factors, one of the main reasons that triggered the war between the two sides was the construction of a road between Xinjiang and Tibet. This highway today is known as G219 with around 179 km of this road passing through Aksai Chin, which is an Indian territory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that steps taken in the past few weeks have helped the economy to recover. Modi also said that the fight against coronavirus is a perfect example of cooperative federalism in which both Centre and states are working together to contain the pandemic. "With the steps taken in the last few weeks, green shoots are now visible in the economy. Power consumption, which was earlier reducing is increasing. Fertiliser sale in May this year has doubled since May last year. This time, Kharif sowing is 12-13% more compared to last time," Modi said in his opening remarks while addressing the first round of meeting with chief ministers to review the current situation amid the coronavirus pandemic. India was under lockdown between March 25 and May 31. The government decided to reopen the economy in a staggered manner from June. "Faster resumption will spell good news for employees and jobs, Modi said. Reforms to ease farmer access to market will give the farmers better incomes. It'll ensure farmers take a smaller hit from crop loss due to poor access to storage," he added. Chief Ministers and Lt Governors of 21 states and union territories including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand, Kerala and Chhattisgarh were present in the meeting which is being held via videoconferencing."Timely decision have helped India to contain COVID-19 spread," Modi aso said. Modi will hold another round of meeting with chief ministers on June 17. The last such meeting was held on May 11. The meet comes on the heels of sharp rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the country. India has now become the fourth worst coronavirus-affected country in the world with a caseload of 2,97,535. India is behind the US (20,76,495 cases), Brazil (7,87,489) and Russia (5,02,436), as per Worldometer figures. Also Read: Coronavirus fallout: SoftBank's ride-hailing service Grab lays off over 300 employees Also Read: China's Great Wall Motors signs $1 billion MoU with Maharashtra; border tensions with India escalate Also Read: This pharma share hits fresh 52-week high after Rakesh Jhunjhunwala raises stake SEATTLE, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 11, 2020, BNBuilders was honored with a first place 2020 Construction Safety Excellence Award (CSEA) during the Associated General Contractors (AGC) National Convention in Las Vegas, NV. The company received a first place award in the Building division, in the 900,000 2 Million Work Hours category for its exceptional safety performance. This CSEA award identifies BNBuilders as one of the nation's top general contractors for safety performance, occupational health management, and risk control. This is the second time the firm has been recognized with this prestigious award. BNBuilders received regional CSEA recognition by the AGC of California before moving on to compete nationally. The CSEA selection process is known for its rigor, with a comprehensive review of a written application and an in-person interview. A panel of five judges make their selection based on company management involvement, active employee participation, safety training, worksite hazard identification and control, and safety program innovation. Excelling in each of these areas, BNBuilders is setting the standard for safety best practices in the construction industry nationwide. Brad Bastian, President and Co-founder of BNBuilders, states, "As a firm specializing in healthcare, life science, and high-tech facilities, we employ complex methods, problem solve, and collaborate extensively during construction, always keeping safety as our top priority. We'd like to thank the AGC for recognizing our culture of safety in the midst of these technical jobsitesit's absolutely the highest honor we could receive." AGC is the nation's top organization for construction and contracting professionals that connects members with opportunities for advocacy, education, career development and networking; access to state and local governments; and innovative programs and events. The AGC of America unites more than 27,000 member firms, representing the full spectrum of the construction industry. About BNBuilders Founded in 2000 in Seattle, BNBuilders is a West Coast general contractor that specializes in complex projects for clients in the life sciences, education, healthcare, public, and technology sectors. They are known for their innovative solutions to highly technical issues, comprehensive preconstruction services, passion for sustainable construction practices, and commitment to the communities in which they do business. With four offices, 700+ employees, and a strong presence in the California and Washington construction markets, BNBuilders is a leader and preferred contractor on the West Coast. For more information, visit www.bnbuilders.com. Contact: Beth Binger BCIpr 619-987-6658 [email protected] SOURCE BNBuilders Related Links https://www.bnbuilders.com/ A Bexar County Sheriffs Office detention deputy was fired for using excessive and unnecessary force in striking a jail inmate more than a year ago, officials said in paperwork from the case released Monday. Deputy Brandon Doege, a four-year veteran of the department, was responding to an incident in the Bexar County Jail and struck an inmate in the head after the man was already complying, officials said. Doege was a member of the jails Special Emergency Response Team, or SERT, which handles emergencies and cases of disobedience among inmates. He initially told investigators that he didnt turn on his body-worn camera, as required, because the incident happened quickly, the records state. He also told investigators that his body worn camera was shattered, according to records obtained by the San Antonio Express-News. Investigators reviewed recordings from other deputies who responded to the incident on May 13, 2019 and determined that Doeges statements were not truthful, the records allege. Review of the recordings showed you had time to activate the camera and it was discovered that your camera, in fact, was not shattered, the records state. According to officials, Doege also deactivated the camera of a fellow SERT officer prior to the conclusion of the incident. On ExpressNews.com: SWAT-like team responds to emergencies, defiance inside jail He was fired in November, six months after the incident. The records detailing his termination were released by the Sheriffs Office on Monday. Ben Sifuentes, an attorney representing Doege, said that the account provided by the Sheriffs Office was not accurate. This was not the first time Doege, 27, had faced scrutiny for use of force. A Castroville resident, he was driving home just before midnight June 28, 2018 when he pulled over to help a woman who appeared to be stranded on U.S. 90. The deputy, who was in his uniform, turned on red and blue emergency lights in his personal vehicle as he parked. When Doege and the woman, Inessa Batyukova, got out of their cars, she began behaving erratically and cursing at him, officials said. He was calling for help, he was on the phone with 911 when he said she reached behind her back, and thats when he said he fired his weapon, Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown said that at the time. She had already threatened to kill him, according to the deputy, and he believed she had a weapon. Related: Woman shot by off-duty Bexar County deputy was unarmed, officials say Batyukova was struck four times, in the arm, shoulder, leg and stomach, according to court records. She was taken by AirLife to University Hospital, where she later recovered. Investigators later determined that she did not have a gun. A few months after the incident, Batyukova filed a lawsuit against Doege in federal court alleging unnecessary force. In the complaint, Batyukova said Doege had ordered her to place her hands on her car and that she planned to comply. As soon as she moved her arm, Batyukova said, Doege fired five times. Ms. Batyukova did not move her arm in a threatening way or in a way that would have alarmed a reasonably prudent officer in Doeges place, the lawsuit stated. Moving ones arm does not in and of itself give the police the authority to attempt to kill the person who made the arm movement. The lawsuit also alleged that Doege, instead of rendering aid after Batyukova was shot, kept his gun aimed at her even though he had no reason to believe she posed a threat. Batyukova sought an undisclosed amount of money to cover punitive damages. U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam later dismissed the lawsuit. On May 21, Batyukova appealed the judges ruling to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Emilie, become a subscriber. eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton Donald Trump has been hit by a rash of polls showing Joe Biden pulling ahead of him and now, a new survey by Scott Rasmussen for website Just the News shows him falling behind Mr Biden nationally by 12 points. According to Mr Rasmussens results, Mr Biden would win 48 per cent of the national vote to Mr Trumps 36 if there election were held today. It would worry any sitting president to poll at less than 40 per cent at this point in the election, but Mr Trump is especially invested in his own numbers, which he regularly shows off on Twitter. The latest poll will be particularly galling for the president given it comes from Mr Rasmussen, founder of Rasmussen Reports. The company is one of the only pollsters whose results Mr Trump routinely cites when celebrating his own numbers. frequently writing that it was an outlier in predicting he would win the 2016 election. However, the company has previously been criticised for its methodology, which some say tends to produce Republican-tilted results, and the data analysis website FiveThirtyEight has rated it only C+ for quality. And while the companys prediction for that election was indeed one of the closest among the major pollsters, it did not in fact predict Mr Trump would win the popular vote and nor did he, instead losing it to Hillary Clinton by one point. Recommended Trump claims a million people requested tickets for Tulsa rally Mr Bidens numbers, meanwhile, are holding up steadily across numerous polls, and not just nationally. Recent surveys show him almost tying Mr Trump in Iowa, which Mrs Clinton lost badly, and trouncing the president in Michigan, one of Mr Trumps most important and narrowest victories. Across the board, Mr Biden is now polling slightly better against Mr Trump than Mrs Clinton was at this distance from election day. However, the comparison is somewhat muddled by the advent of the coronavirus pandemic and knock-on recession and the relatively early and smooth end to the Democratic primary; at this point in 2016, Bernie Sanders had not yet conceded the race. The Trump campaign recently demanded CNN retract a poll which showed the president losing to Mr Biden by 14 points, threatening the network with legal action for a stunt and a phony poll to cause voter suppression, stifle momentum and enthusiasm for the president, and present a false view generally of the actual support across America for the president. CNN refused the campaigns demand, its executive vice president pointing out that to the extent we have received legal threats from political leaders in the past, they have typically come from countries like Venezuela. Mr Trump has many times used Twitter to trumpet his supposedly near-unanimous approval rating among Republicans, raising the number over the years without ever providing a source. In recent months, he has consistently proclaimed it to be 96 per cent even as his rating among the American electorate writ large sits somewhere at 55 per cent disapproval. LOS ANGELES, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Omni Cultural TV Fest (OCTVF) in partnership with NATPE (The National Association of Television Program Executives) has launched a virtual weekly pre-show as part of its continuing support of independent filmmakers. OCTVF was slated to present its Second Annual Festival on June 14, 2020 at the Directors Guild of America but placed it on hold due to the current pandemic. The festival received hundreds of submissions and decided to showcase selections using streaming media until it is safe to reschedule the live event. "We have every intention of executing our festival when the time is right," said Kiki Melendez, founder of OCTVF. "Participating filmmakers have worked long and hard to realize their projects and we owe it to them to bring their work to light." The weekly virtual pre-shows will be comprised of 15 to 20-minute "webisodes" in the form of interviews, with pre-recorded promotional footage that was submitted by the filmmakers. Organizers will screen 60 submissions out of the hundreds that were received so far, with celebrity guests appearing throughout the weekly episodes to inspire emerging filmmakers. "During the shelter-at home we can re-invent ourselves and keep reaching for our goals. We need to be ready and able to come out and move forward," said co-founder Cindy Cowan. The show was launched on Thursday, June 11 at 4pm PST on Omni Cultural TV Fest's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLHvz5-XcDZkL1etwIH7vBQ and its social media platforms, including OCTVF's website. ( www.omniculturaltvfest.com ) The kick-off episode included "Ever After" a documentary by Anita and Bonnie Pointer, a tribute to Bonnie Pointer who passed away days after the show was recorded. The upcoming episode on June 18, 2020 features "Rosie", a short film by Destry Allyn Spielberg. Future episodes: July 25, 2020 4 submissions by Isaac Fuentes featuring Emilio Rivera. July 2, 2020 "Pregnish and IVF Journey" by Actor Yancy Arias and Anna Arias (Unscripted) In 2019, OCTVF was successful in showcasing emerging producers and bridging the gap between multi-cultural talent and legitimate content buyers. The event set up countless pitch meetings and eight projects received worldwide distribution. OCTVF enjoys continuing support from major networks, studios, distributors, and digital platforms in its mission to celebrate diversity and inclusion. "This is our way of getting our filmmakers to present their work and receive the exposure, recognition and opportunities to sell their projects," said Melendez. OCTVF continues to accept submissions through Film Freeway. The event's Executive Producer is Marco Gomez and Festival Director is Elvia Barboa. Strategic partnership opportunities are available through Nancy Santiago at [email protected] Festival Contact: Elvia Barboa at 424 238 8890 or [email protected] Generated by Elif Cercel ([email protected]) SOURCE Omni Cultural TV Fest Related Links http://www.omniculturaltvfest.com Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, and Bill Murray in a scene from the film 'Ghostbusters', 1984. (Photo by Columbia Pictures/Getty Images) The Ghostbusters have become the latest cast to get together online for Josh Gad's Reunited Apart video series. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson strapped on their proton accelerators and jumped on Zoom with Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts and director Ivan Reitman. Even Jason Reitman popped by, son of Ivan Reitman and the director of the forthcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, though he gave away nothing about the much-anticipated sequel. Murray also chipped in about how the crew realised that they had a hit on their hands. Read more: Spielberg on Goonies sequel Ivan asked us to his house at Thanksgiving and showed us the early cut of the ballroom scene, the first catching Slimer scene, he said. He showed us without all the special effects done in it and... I remember going back to work on Monday, saying, 'Guys, let's all calm down, it's gonna be really big'. Meanwhile, Reitman revealed that he was far from convinced that they could pull off the movie's climax, in which the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man lays waste to Manhattan, explaining that it was 'the thing that I was most afraid of while we were shooting'. He added that he thought at the time: I think the audience will go with us all the way, I'm not so sure they're gonna go for that 80-foot marshmallow man. And, of course, it's everybody's favourite. The subject of John Candy almost having played the role of Louis Tully (eventually played by Rick Moranis) also came up. I sent the very first script to John, who didn't really get it, Reitman said. He kept wanting to play him with a German accent with a couple of big German Shepherd dogs. I said, 'I think that would be confusing, given the [Terror] Dogs that are already on the roof. I don't think we can fit more dogs in this movie.' A smiling Rick Moranis looking up at Sigourney Weaver in a scene from the film 'Ghostbusters', 1984. (Photo by Columbia Pictures/Getty Images) Of course, I knew Rick Moranis from Toronto and just sent him the script and told him what had happened with John. Rick read it and called immediately and said, 'Boy, John just made a terrible mistake, I'm so happy. Thank you, I definitely wanna be in this movie.' Story continues Read more: Unfinished Alien 5 feature return of Ripley Reitman Sr also paid tribute to the late Harold Ramis, who played Egon Spengler in the 1984 comedy, and its sequel Ghostbusters II. Left to right: Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis (1944 - 2014) as paranormal investigators in Ivan Reitman's 1984 comedy 'Ghostbusters'. (Photo by Columbia Pictures/Archive Photos/Getty Images) I sure miss him, said Reitman. I keep thinking of him as sort of a brother figure. I ended up working with him about five times, and he's really missed. Aykroyd added: He was an incredible writing collaborator. He was not a believer in ghosts. He was very well educated in myth and mystique, and [he was] such a great writing partner because the references were there in an intelligent way and harnessed for laughter. A brilliant man, a brilliant collaborator. I miss him, too, obviously. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is coming to UK cinemas in March, 2021. The provincial agency that governs Ontarios retirement homes has issued an order to revoke the licence of Rosslyn Retirement Residence, the site of Hamiltons worst COVID-19 outbreak. The Rosslyn is owned and operated by members of the Martino families, which also operate seven other retirement homes and residential care facilities in Hamilton, along with the Greycliff Manor retirement home in Niagara Falls. Brothers Aldo Martino and the late John Martino previously owned the Royal Crest Lifecare chain of care homes until it collapsed into bankruptcy in 2003, leaving Ontario taxpayers on the hook for $18 million. Fourteen residents of the Rosslyn have died from the outbreak and more than 60 residents had to be hospitalized when the home was evacuated on May 15. A Spectator investigation last week revealed horrifying conditions and alleged mismanagement at the home on King Street East near Gage Park. Former staff members and families of former residents of the Rosslyn made shocking allegations of chronic problems with rodent and bedbug infestations, understaffing, poor living conditions, and a lack of proper care for residents with dementia. This has been a disruptive and extremely upsetting situation for all the residents and their families, said Kathryn Chopp, director of communications for the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), which governs Ontarios retirement homes. Were working with the City of Hamilton and other community resources to ensure residents are supported as they consider alternate housing options, she added. Chopp said the RHRA has made financial support available to Rosslyn residents through the RHRAs emergency fund. The Rosslyn owners can appeal the RHRAs decision to the provinces Licence Appeal Tribunal. Members of the Martino families did not respond to a request for comment and have not responded to repeated requests for comment since the outbreak began at the Rosslyn. The Rosslyn remains closed and wont be allowed to readmit residents or accept new residents during the revocation process. Earlier Monday, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath called on Premier Doug Ford to revoke the licences for all care homes associated with the Martino families including the Rosslyn home. The Rosslyn Retirement Residence is a house of horrors, not a home, said Horwath, who is also the MPP for Hamilton Centre. We saw harrowing evidence of extreme neglect and suffering, even before COVID-19 hit. Im calling on the province to remove all licences this ownership group holds, and to ensure they never again are allowed to operate any kind of congregate living home where vulnerable people can be neglected and hurt, Horwath added. A spokesperson for the Ontario premier did not respond to a request for comment. All eight of the Martinos Hamilton homes are either now subject to orders to comply by the RHRA or the citys public health department, have been cited for rules violations by the RHRA or public health in the past six months, or both. New violations of Ontarios Retirement Homes Act have just been reported at four homes associated with the Martinos based on recently conducted inspections. Cathmar Manor, Dundas Retirement Place, Montgomery Retirement Home and Greycliff Manor in Niagara Falls have all been found in violation for failing to comply with infection prevention and control programs. The homes were found to be deficient with respect to COVID-19 screening, personal protective equipment, appropriate staffing and enhanced cleaning, according to inspections carried out by the RHRA. All four of the homes are already facing orders to comply from the RHRA. Horwath is also taking aim at the RHRA, a self-governing industry body that has the power to enforce the Retirement Homes Act. Horwath is calling for the RHRA to be dismantled and for oversight of the retirement home industry to move back within the provincial government. The whole thing needs to be upended and we need to have a true regulatory regime that has teeth, Horwath said. You cant have the same bad actors get a slap on the wrist over and over and over again. Chopp said the RHRA continues to monitor all retirement homes including those owned by the Martino families. Where appropriate, the RHRA has issued orders and taken regulatory action in accordance with the law, said Chopp. We do inspections and communicate with our community partners on what they are seeing, but everyone has a role to play in protecting our most vulnerable, she added. Read more about: I am always looking for innovative programs that give law students a cutting edge in the global business environment. AltaClaros experiential learning framework hits the mark in preparing students for the practical legal skills they need to hit the ground running. New York-based experiential legal learning platform, AltaClaro, and U.K.-based Durham University Law School today announced plans to integrate AltaClaros experiential coursework into Durhams top-rated law degree program beginning in the Fall 2020 semester. The decision follows a successful pilot conducted in February and uniquely positions Durham in the UK to deliver innovative, international, practical training to its students. As Dean of one of the worlds top law schools, I am always looking for innovative programs that give law students a cutting edge in the global business environment, says Thom Brooks, Dean of Durhams Law School. AltaClaros experiential learning framework hits the mark in preparing students for the practical legal skills they need to hit the ground running with cross-border business transactions. In addition to being a top five law school in the U.K. (among Cambridge and Oxford), and ranked 33rd globally, Durham also consistently ranks in the top three best law schools for law student employability: more Durham graduates get jobs in London than any London law school. The AltaClaro pilot program, offered to a select group of third-year law students, filled nearly immediately, and was rated as indispensable by 86% of students, with nine out of ten stating that theyd highly recommend the course to a colleague at the conclusion of the course. Despite budget constraints in this environment, this was an easy budget decision for us to make. Its becoming increasingly compulsory for students to have international exposure, so giving students this kind of experience and exposure are particularly valuable, said Brooks. The nature of international work is not going to decrease its going to continue to accelerate, even if travel decreases. AltaClaro provides excellent training for the world of work, that is almost certain to be the way of the world moving forward. AltaClaros unique experiential learning model helps students become practice-ready, increasingly critical in todays competitive job market. Unlike other online course providers, AltaClaro leverages the best of technology to augmentnot detract fromthe benefits of experiential learning. Students gain essential practical legal skills through mock transactions and live feedback sessions with highly vetted and experienced practitionersall delivered completely online, together with video modules, interactive quizzes, and other assessment tools uniquely adapted for online learning. This, coupled with flexible deployment options, make for a turn-key solution that law schools can implement to supplement existing curricula, build into an intensive learning series for credit, or offer as a stand-alone certification program. As law schools across the globe are being forced to rethink curriculum delivery with the uncertainty presented by the recent pandemic, AltaClaros proven scalable model can help bridge the gap, providing students the opportunity to learn where they are. As the industry leader in practical legal training, we are excited to be expanding the application of our methodology to innovators in higher education, says Abdi Shayesteh, CEO, AltaClaro. Students at Durham participate in similar courses that we offer to new practitioners at top law firms across the globe. I was excited to see how eager the students were to participate in our unique learn by doing approach and how well they performed in the program. Built to scale, were excited to expand our offering to a larger group of students, and track placement outcomes for participating students over time. About AltaClaro, Inc. AltaClaro, the leader in innovative experiential learning solutions for law and business, is located in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA. The companys unique educational platform leverages personalization, assessment tools, and contextual delivery of learning modules (short videos, interactive assessments, mock transactions, and online feedback sessions with experts) to help professionals gain the vital practical skills they need to become practice-ready. For more information, please visit http://www.altaclaro.com. About Durham University Durham University is a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research based in historic Durham City in the UK. We are a collegiate university committed to inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham and in the world. We conduct boundary-breaking research that improves lives globally and we are ranked as a world top 100 university with an international reputation in research and education (QS World University Rankings 2020). Our commitment to providing a wider student experience that fosters participation and leadership at Durham and beyond means our graduates are among some of the most sought after in the world and we are ranked in the top 50 globally for the employability of our students by major companies (QS 2020). We are a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive UK universities and we are consistently ranked as a top 10 university in national league tables (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, Guardian University Guide and The Complete University Guide). For more information about Durham University visit: http://www.durham.ac.uk/about/ By Azernews By Akbar Mammadov The head of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan Tural Ganjaliyev has addressed the regions Armenian community, urging peace and co-existence between the two nations. In a video addressed made in the Armenian language and posted on his Facebook page on June 14, Ganjaliyev reminded that the two communities can peacefully co-exists just like they did before the war. I appeal to you, our Armenian representatives living in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, as your elected representative. This message is a message of peace! It is time and even time to achieve a just and lasting final peace!, Ganjaliyev said. In his appeal, Ganjaliyev reminded that the former Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan had been one of the most developed regions of the country for many years. We, the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, have lived and will live together peacefully there for many years, he added. Then, noting that he grew up in Shusha, Ganjaliyev said: I remember very well that when I lived in Shusha, Armenian and Azerbaijani children spent time together and played in our neighbourhood. I had Armenian classmates in the class I studied. An Armenian woman lived on the street next to us. Her son and I went to Shusha chess school. At that time, I was so passionate about chess that I dreamed of becoming a world chess champion in the future. When I was studying in the tar class at the Shusha music school, I knew Armenian students who took music lessons with us. Our life was very happy and interesting. Unfortunately, our beautiful life was later destroyed by the occupation, Ganjaliyev said. Having recalled his memories about the Nagorno-Karabakh where he lived peacefully with Armenians, Ganjaliyev noted that he knew that there was no representative of the middle and old generation in the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh who did not have a close Azerbaijani friend in the past. In addition, he noted that he could say the same about Armenians when talking about members of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, for almost 30 years, the young generation of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan is growing up unaware of each other as a result of the occupation. Even they are sometimes unaware of the coexistence of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the recent past, said Ganjaliyev. We also understand the suffering of the Armenian residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. As the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan is currently under Armenian occupation, the Armenian residents of the region have been forced to live under the occupation of the Armenian occupation regime. I would like to bring to the attention of each of you that Azerbaijan, of which you are a citizen, is the strongest state in our region, both economically, militarily and politically. This state is the only guarantor of our happy future, he noted. Then, Ganjaliyev explained why he appealed Armenian residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. On behalf of the Azerbaijani residents of the region, I convey this message to every resident of Armenian origin of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan that we must be ready to live together in peace. I believe that the Armenian residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan also understand that there is an absolute need for dialogue with the Azerbaijani residents of the region. We must think about living together in peace and achieve this. Azerbaijanis expelled from their homes must return to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. We have not been able to visit the graves of our ancestors for many years, and this situation must be eliminated. Ganjaliyev noted that unfortunately, an image of "enemy" against Azerbaijan has been created on the Armenian residents of the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, and negative stereotypes have been formed. None of this has any basis. Armenian and Azerbaijani residents of the region can live as an autonomous entity within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. There are many models of this in the world, and I believe that Azerbaijani and Armenian residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan can together create the most successful form of autonomy in the world!, he said. We, Armenian and Azerbaijani residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, can and will turn our Nagorno-Karabakh region whose name is currently associated with the war and IDPs, into one of the most important tourist regions of Azerbaijan and even the world, added Ganjaliyev. In his appeal, the head of the community Tural Ganjaliyev stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan can and will be distinguished by the high development of culture, economy and human capital. We, the Armenian and Azerbaijani residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, will live within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, with the high status of self-government, and will determine our destiny in accordance with the Constitution of Azerbaijan! There is no alternative to this!, he noted. Ganjaliyev underlined the fact that as the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev emphasized, all the liberated lands of Azerbaijan will be restored, all infrastructure will be rebuilt, and the highest opportunities for the development of tourism, economy and other areas will be created in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Tural Ganjaliyev is also an elected MP from Khankendi district of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. As former national security adviser John Boltons tell-all book on the Trump administration nears publication, the president is seeking to block it by legal means and has said the author should anticipate criminal problems. Mr Boltons highly anticipated book, The Room Where it Happened, has been held up for months by an extensive process of vetting. Its release date was pushed back first from March to May, then to 23 June. The White House and attorney general continue to claim that the books publication would reveal classified information, but it has already been shipped to distributors warehouses. Among other potentially explosive details, the book is expected to say that the investigation that saw Mr Trump impeached did not touch on the full scale of the administrations misconduct. According to a promotional blurb from publisher Simon & Schuster, the House committed impeachment malpractice by keeping their prosecution focused narrowly on Ukraine when Trumps Ukraine-like transgressions existed across the full range of his foreign policy. Asked at a Monday press conference why he is trying to prevent the books publication, Mr Trump said he wasnt impressed with Mr Bolton while he worked for the administration and that the book was inappropriate. Somebody said he went out and wrote a book. If he wrote a book, I cant imagine that he can because thats highly classified information. Even conversations with me, theyre highly classified, I told that to the attorney general before, I will consider every conversation with me as president highly classified, Mr Trump said. So that would mean that if he wrote a book and the book gets out that hes broken the law. And I would think that hed have criminal problems. I hope so, otherwise I mean they put a sailor in jail because he put a photograph of his bed and an engine of an old submarine. And this guys writing things about conversations, or about anything, and maybe hes not telling the truth, hes been known not to tell the truth, a lot ... But its up to the attorney general. The sailor to whom Mr Trump referred in his answer is Kristian Saucier, who in 2016 was sentenced to a year in prison for taking photographs of classified areas of a nuclear-powered attack submarine. Mr Trump pardoned him in 2018, saying go out and have the life you deserve! The attorney general himself, Bill Barr, backed Mr Trump up, claiming Mr Boltons book had not been fully cleared and that he was violating the clearance agreements signed by departing administration officials. We dont believe that Bolton went through that process, said Mr Barr, Adding the book hasnt completed the process, and, therefore, is in violation of that agreement. Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump styles his 'You're fired!' pose in his Trump Tower office in June 2012. At the time he was known as a reality TV star on The Apprentice Diane Bondareff/Invision/AP Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He was also well known as the patron of the Miss Universe competition Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Early signs of Trump's ambition for the presidency can be found everywhere. Not least in his 2011 book 'Time to get tough: Making America #1 again' Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump with Piers Morgan in November 2010. Piers Morgan has long held that he and Trump are good friends Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump appeared on Fox & Friends, his favourite show, in August 2011 Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump considered running in the 2012 election, where he would have faced Barack Obama. He is speaking here at an event for a Republican women's group Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump was subject to a Comedy Central roast in 2011. He is pictured here being roasted by rapper Snoop Dogg Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Given that this Trump store is in the lobby of Trump Tower, it can be said that Trump sells merchandise of himself out of his own home Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump held meetings with prominent Republicans when considering his 2012 bid. He is pictured here with Alaska governor Sarah Palin Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He didn't end up running in 2012 afterall, instead endorsing Republican candidate Mitt Romney AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump's golf course in Aberdeen proved controversial in 2012 when he began lobbying the Scottish government against wind power in order that they wouldn't install turbines off the shore by his new course Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He even gave evidence to a Scottish parliamentary committee discouraging wind energy AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He still found time for a round of course AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves On 16 June 2015, Trump announced that he would run for the presidency of the United States in the 2016 election as a Republican Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves His campaign was divisive, courting controversy wherever he went. Ultimately he was declared the Republican candidate in June 2016 Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump took part in the TV debate against opponent Hillary Clinton on 9 October Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump and wife Melania vote in the presidential election on 8 November 2016 AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Hillary Clinton conceded defeat at 2:50am on 9 November and president-elect Trump swiftly delivered his victory speech to a crowd of supporters Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves News coverage around the world focused on the huge political upset that Trump's victory spelled AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump met with president Obama to discusss transition planning on 10 November. AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Donald Trump and Nigel Farage pose in the golden elevator at Trump Tower on 12 November 2016. Farage was the first British politician to meet with Trump after the election LeaveEUOffical/Twitter Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves The inauguration of Donald Trump took place on 20 January 2017. Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer boasted that the crowd was the 'largest ever' to witness an inauguration, a claim that was proved not to be true Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves In his first 100 days as leader, Trump signed 24 executve orders, the most of any president AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves One of Trump's most memorable election pledges was to build a wall between the US and Mexico. He is standing here in front of a prototype for a section of the wall Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump's meetings with other world leaders have provided no short supply of photo opportunities Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump was welcomed to the UK by the Queen and a state banquet was held at Buckingham Palace in his honour Reuters Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Not everyone welcomed the president. Mass protests were held in London throughout his visits in both 2018 and 2019 EPA Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves One of the most significant meetings Trump has held with another leader was with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. In June 2019, Trump became the first sitting president to set foot in North Korea Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves 2020 will see president Trump fight for a second term in office, who knows what the next decade will bring? Getty Earlier this year, during Mr Trumps impeachment, it emerged that Mr Boltons manuscript specifically asserted that the administrations freeze on aid to Ukraine was tied to demands the government there investigate Joe Bidens son exactly the claim that lay at the heart of the impeachment charges. Hearing these reports, Mr Trump tweeted his indignation: I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book. Ultimately, Mr Bolton did not testify to the House impeachment inquiry, and no witnesses were called by the Senate. ABC News is set to air a pre-publication interview with Mr Bolton on Sunday. The network has trailed the interview heavily, saying that among other things, Mr Bolton will share details of the July 2019 phone call between president Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that formed the core of the presidents impeachment. Over 260 Vietnamese citizens return from Kuwait, Qatar, and Egypt A total of 266 Vietnamese citizens have just returned home on a repatriation flight from Kuwait, Qatar, and Egypt. Officials from the Vietnamese Embassy in Qatar pose for a photos with citizens at the airport on June 15. Photo by the Embassy. The flight was arranged by Vietnamese embassies in the three countries and Bamboo Airways. It left Doha on June 15 and landed in Ho Chi Minh City on early Tuesday morning. The passengers included children under the age of 18, people with severe illnesses, pregnant women, and workers with expired or cancelled contracts. After landing at the Tan Son Nhat Airport, all the passengers and flight crew members received heath check-ups and were then sent to a local quarantine area in line with regulations. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has assigned the ministries of transport, health, defence and foreign affairs to decide the licensing of flights to bring Vietnamese citizens abroad to home based on specific conditions of each country and the global Covid-19 situation. The priority is given to some groups of people, including those aged below 18, the elderly, the ill, and those facing visa expire. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has acknowledged there is a difference between those that carried out murder and innocent victims, but said they should all be entitled to a Troubles pension. "That's how we heal," she told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme, "that is how we move forward." "I think it is hugely disappointing, in fact disgraceful - and we have said this to the Secretary of State and British Government - that they have deliberately contrived a scheme that is going to leave people who are very badly injured, grievously injured out for the simple reason that they were interned or served some time in prison." Sinn Fein is refusing to nominate a department to administer the Troubles pension scheme which was to open to applications from the end of last month. There is also a disagreement over if London or Belfast should foot the projected 100million bill. Under the current draft guidelines for the victims pension, ex-prisoners who have spent more than two-and-a-half years in jail could be excluded if there were no mitigating factors for the assessment panel led by a High Court judge to consider. Read More UUP MLA Doug Beattie said it appeared there was a "major shift in position from Sinn Fein". "However, time will tell if this is another case of vague commentary from Mary Lou McDonald that is later clarified to reinforce the hard-line Sinn Fein position," he said. She draws a distinction between combatants and civilians but time will tell what she actually means by this. There were plenty of civilians who were targeted as they were carrying out contracting work for the security services in which bracket is she placing them? Mary Lou McDonald also did not row back on the position of Sinn Fein on the guidance which is what is holding up the pension. The fundamental point is that Sinn Fein are blocking injured victims from receiving the victims payment and that remains the case regardless of what Mary Lou McDonald may have said this morning. Read More Ms McDonald acknowledged the "heart rendering" stories of those that are being denied a pension because of the delay in implementing the scheme. "I want and we want all of those victims the dignity and support they deserve. We want a scheme that is even handed, that is equitable and that is inclusive," she said. "We do not want a type of scheme that the British government have come up with, by the way, with no consultation with the Executive or the parties to the Executive. "We had managed betwen unionism, nationalism and republicanism to agree [in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement] the mechanism we would deal with the legacy as it is called with the past and we would do our best to give comfort and easement to victims .. and that needs to happen." Asked if someone who had set out to murder should be entitled to a pension she there was a "clear distinction obviously between combatants and civilian victims". However, she said they should be included in the scheme. She said it was "entirely inappropriate and wrong" for those people to be excluded claiming it would "leave thousands of people behind". "It is not a niche, small number of people," she added. "This could be easily sorted out to change the eligibility criteria in the guidance that is within the gift of the British Government and then there is the issue of payment. Because it has to be properly resourced." She added: "What we will not support is a scheme that is very deliberately and rather crudely designed to be partisan and to be partial and to make judgments as to who was right and who was wrong in terms of the combatant groups in the conflict." Read More She reiterated her comments that the IRA campaigned was "not just justified but inevitable" from a Sunday Independent interview and on her comments days later the IRA murder of Private Patrick Kelly - the only Irish soldier killed in the conflict was "wrong". She said she had no difficulty in describing the father-of-four's killing as murder. "Where you have a position of complete inequality and injustice, conflict follows. Irish history tells us that and by the way I did not write the history books," she said. "But that should not be mistaken for me having a cavalier or disinterested view around anybody who was hurt. I wish nobody was hurt. I wish nobody lost their lives." She added: "The is important I think is we recognise there are multiple narratives. Not everybody is going to agree as to why the Troubles started, who was right, who was wrong. "What we can I hope all agree on is that conflict is over, the war is over, we have a robust peace process and we need to recognise and support people who are hurt and injured and that victims' payment is an essential component of that and it has to be even-handed and it can not be exclusionary. That is the core point." She said more needed to be done to help victims. "We all need to be active, to the best of our ability. Unfortunately we can not undo history, that is just a reality but doing everything we can to ensure we underpin the peace, with real justice, with recognition for victims to the very best of our ability bring comfort and some solace to those victims. "For some that will mean court processes, it will mean seeking prosecutions into those mechanisms, for others it will simply be giving the facts and giving the information "Stormont House gives us the tools to do all of that. "Now the job for us in political leadership is for us to deliver on that fairly, respectfully and equitably." RICHMOND, Va. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that hes making Juneteenth a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. an official holiday in a state that was once home to the capital of the Confederacy. Juneteenth, which is also called Emancipation Day and Freedom Day, is celebrated annually on June 19. Texas first made it a state holiday in 1980. The holiday would be a paid day off for all state employees. Northam said he thinks Virginia would be only the second state to do so. Its time we elevate this, Northam said of the June 19 commemoration. Not just a celebration by and for some Virginians but one acknowledged and celebrated by all of us. The Democratic governor is giving every executive branch employee this Friday off as a paid holiday and will work with the legislature later this year to pass a law codifying Juneteenth as a permanent state holiday. The legislation is likely to pass the Democratic-controlled legislature with little trouble. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when news finally reached African Americans in Texas that President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves living in Confederate states two years earlier. When Union soldiers arrived in Galveston to bring the news that slavery had been abolished, former slaves celebrated. The announcement came less than two weeks after Northam announced he was ordering the removal of a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee along Richmonds prominent Monument Avenue. It is one of the countrys most iconic monuments to the Confederacy. Earlier this year, Northam signed legislation scrapping Lee-Jackson Day, a state holiday named after two Confederate generals. Nearly forced from office last year after a racist yearbook photo surfaced, Northam has won widespread praise among black lawmakers for his actions in Virginia following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyds neck as he pleaded for air. President Donald Trump announced last week that he has rescheduled a campaign rally that was planned in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Juneteenth. The announcement of the rally had sparked an outcry because Tulsa was the site of one of the worst instances of racial violence in U.S. history in 1921, when hundreds of African Americans were massacred by a white mob that burned black-owned businesses and homes. Northam was joined Tuesday at his news conference by musician Pharrell Williams, who is from Virginia. Williams said Juneteenth deserves the same level of recognition and celebration as Independence Day. Heres our day, and if you love us, itll be your day too, Williams said. In a statement, state House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert echoed the same sentiments. July 4th is the birthday of our nation, but Juneteenth is the day where it truly began to fulfill its promise of freedom for all, Gilbert said. For the first time since enslaved Africans landed at Jamestown in 1619, the chains of bondage were finally cast off. Joseph Rogers, a 29-year-old activist who has been a regular protester in Richmond during more than two weeks of demonstrations over Floyds killing, hailed Northams announcement. Its a step in the right direction, said Rogers, The mayor of Jiroft where a crude statue of the slain commander of Iran's Qods Force was unveiled promised to take measures to "correct" the statue after it was massively criticized and ridiculed on social media. The 12-meter-high statue was unveiled at a square named after Soleimani in Jiroft in his home province of Kerman yesterday. Nematollah Hosseinzadeh told the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) on Tuesday that the contractor has been informed of the issues that experts have pointed out with the statue and will soon adopt measures to remedy them. Another statue of Soleimani unveiled in Anzali in March had also drawn a lot of criticism for its crudeness. "Even the United States couldn't do what the sculptor who made this statue did with Soleimani," a Twitter user said sarcastically. Statue of Qassem Soleimani in Anzali in northern Iran. The statues have also raised the eyebrows of some hardliners due to a traditional Islamic ban on creating likenesses of humans and other living beings. The Quran does not explicitly ban human and animal representation, nevertheless, for many centuries a prohibition based on the sayings attributed to the Prophet Mohammad (hadith) has prevented artists from replicating human images. The ban originates from the prohibition of idolatry and is considered as the main reason for the absence of human and animal figures in Islamic and Persian art where geometric and abstract floral patterns have developed to a high level of sophistication. Despite the protests of some hardliner religious figures, the Islamic Republic is quite tolerant toward human representation in art, particularly as long as it serves the regime's propaganda machine. Human and animal forms are vastly seen in murals on the walls of cities such as the capital Tehran. These murals which are part of the urban framework are often commissioned by governmental entities for political and religious propaganda purposes. Mamata Banerjee upset after not being allowed to speak during PMs meet Missionaries of Charity itself requested SBI to freeze all bank accounts: Govt Mamata Banerjee on PM Modi's virtual hospital launch: We inaugurated it last year Proposal to change rules for central deputation of IAS officers affects states' administration: Mamata to PM Mamata Banerjee not to attend PM Modi's meeting with Chief Ministers India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, June 16: West Bengal will not participate in the virtual meeting to be held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chief Ministers on Tuesday (June 16) and Wednesday (June 17) amid an unabated rise in coronavirus cases in the country. The PM is expected to seek suggestions from the Chief Ministers and draw up a common strategy in deciding the future course of action to deal with the strategy. Plan to contain the spike, PM Modi says during high level meet with senior ministers LAC faceoff: 1 Indian officer and 2 soldiers killed in Chinese aggression| Oneindia News The meeting will continue for two days in which CMs of 36 states were to participate but now only 13 CMs have been allowed to speak. This could possibly be the reason why state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will not be present in this meeting and the presence of the Chief Secretary is least likely. On Tuesday afternoon, Modi will hold a video-conference with Chief Ministers, Lt governors and administrators of 21 states and Union territories. These include Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, the northeastern states and some UTs. The Prime Minister will interact with Chief Ministers of 15 states and the LG of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. These include high case-load states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The two-day virtual meet comes against the backdrop of rising number of coronavirus cases in the country. India saw a jump of over 11,000 novel coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day on Monday, taking the total number of infections to over 3.32 lakh, while the toll rose to 9,520 with 325 more deaths. Under "Unlock 1", several relaxations have been made for public and businesses to ensure that economic activities hit by the lockdown gather momentum. Ahead of his meeting with chief ministers, the prime minister had on Saturday reviewed the steps being taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in areas with high case load and the road map for effective management of the situation. Modi had suggested that the home minister and the Health Minister convene an emergency meeting with the Delhi Lt governor and chief minister and other officials to plan a "coordinated and comprehensive response" to handle the challenge posed by rising cases of COVID-19 in Delhi. The meets suggested by the Prime Minister took place on Sunday. This would be the prime minister's sixth round of consultation with the Chief Ministers, the last being on May 11. Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with all the Chief Ministers over telephone in the last week of May, just before lockdown-4 was to end. Texas is reinstating its requirement that unemployed people must actively seek work to continue receiving unemployment benefits starting on July 6, the Texas Workforce Commission said Tuesday. The workforce commission, which administers unemployment benefits, had waived the requirement during the COVID-19 crisis. Claimants will continue to receive benefits, but beginning July 6, they must document efforts to find new employment. The first report documenting such efforts will be due to the commission on July 19. WILL IT LAST?: Economy shows fragile seeds of recovery To fulfill the requirements, claimants should register for work search at WorkInTexas.com and meet the minimum number of work search activities each week. The agency advises that claimants keep records of their efforts on a work search log, which may be requested by the agency. Weekly records must include a list of work search activities, including the date, the names and titles of contacts, telephone numbers, addresses, and the results of the search. Were seeing employment opportunities begin to bounce back in Texas as our economy restarts, said Ed Serna, executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission. There are opportunities out there. The requirement does not mean that workers must take the first job available, according to the TWC, but they must show an effort to obtain new employment for benefits to continue. Furloughed workers who have a return-to-work date within 12 weeks of their layoff are exempt from work search requirements. NEVER THE SAME: Dramatic shifts in the economy underway Self-employed workers do not need to complete work search requirements in order for benefits to continue, but they will need to, continue taking steps to reopen their business, according to the agency. If they do not plan to reopen the business, they do need to complete work search requirements. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tried to ameliorate concerns about hospital bed capacity Tuesday as the state reached another record high in COVID-19 cases. Texas had 2,622 new positive cases Tuesday. There were 2,518 coronavirus patients in the state's hospitals. "We are here today to let Texans know about the abundant hospital capacity that exists to treat Texans who may test positive for COVID-19," Abbott said at a news conference in Austin. Abbott noted that there are 14,993 beds available across the state, including 1,534 in San Antonio. In response to a question about stripping local authorities of the power to make masks mandatory, Abbott said that while wearing masks is important, putting people in jails is the wrong approach. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff has said that simply "recommending" masks doesnt seem to be having the desired effect. Abbott attributed some of the recent spikes in cases to test results that were reported in batches instead of being spread across multiple days. However, he acknowledged that the people going to bars and Memorial Day celebrations could have also contributed. The governor has warned Texans, especially those in their 20s, not to take the virus lightly. "We believe that a lot of people have let down their guard," Abbott said Monday. "The summers here. Things are opening up. They feel like they can go out without having to wear a face mask. "And they are not realizing this very important fact COVID-19 still exists in Texas, in America and across the globe." Watch the news conference live above. No one really fell off their chair when it happened. The writing had been on the wall, the plans were in place and the marching orders had been given. On June 13, one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus most ardent fans, journalist Boaz Golan, tweeted, The indictment against Netanyahu is illegal because the person who filed it was picked for his job through subterfuge and in violation of the law. In any properly functioning country, such an indictment would have been annulled. That person was Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. This first expected harbinger of spring signaled what many view, in fact, as a dark winter. The tweet opened the floodgates. Al-Monitor asked Knesset member Miki Zohar of the Likud party, the chair of the government coalition and the lawmaker closest to the prime minister, whether he too believes that the state should cancel the indictment against Netanyahu due to the cloud allegedly hanging over Mandelblits head. The indictment must be annulled. Theres no doubt, Zohar responded without missing a beat. There you have it the cat is out of the bag. The ongoing campaign by Netanyahus supporters delegitimizing Israels entire law enforcement system has reached its decisive moment. Before proceeding, let's make clear that no serious cloud hangs over the head of the attorney general. Journalists partial to Netanyahu have invested mammoth efforts in recent months in undermining Mandelblits credibility. Ignoring the fact that Netanyahu handpicked Mandelblit, personally, they now claim the appointment was tainted by lies and fraud. The fact that the man who appointed Mandelblit and who runs the country is himself standing criminal trial does not trouble them. They are focusing on the long-forgotten appointment and vetting procedures, which Mandelblit passed with flying colors and which Netanyahu signed and sealed. Mandelblit was one of Netanyahus most trusted associates, his Cabinet secretary and a senior member of his inner sanctum. To undermine his 2016 appointment, Netanyahus followers have dusted off an obscure affair dating to Maj. Gen. (Res.) Mandelblits tenure as military advocate general, but without much success. The exposes published in recent months failed to come up with significant findings. The so-called Harpaz affair involved a faked 2010 document, with allegations surfacing that Mandelblit was aware of its existence and helped top army brass hinder the probe into its provenance. At the time, the allegations were examined ad nauseam, the Supreme Court cleared him of any wrongdoing and attempts to question the legality of his appointment failed. The facts, however, did not confuse the pro-Netanyahu camp, and the attacks against Mandelblit have escalated into what is now a public call to rescind the Netanyahu indictment filed by an attorney general whose appointment was (allegedly) tainted. The whole move is obvious and frighteningly absurd: The fake exposes, the orchestrated reactions that followed and the intense seriousness with which the prime ministers acolytes are trying to undermine the appointment he himself made in order to get the indictment against him thrown out. The onslaught on Mandelblit actually originated in late 2016 in the anti-Netanyahu camp, with regular, persistent protests by left-wing activists demanding that the attorney general order a probe into the prime ministers suspected wrongdoing and accusing Mandelblit of ulterior motives for granting favorable treatment to a prime suspect. Mandelblit, who eventually indicted Netanyahu on Jan. 28, now misses those (relatively) tame protesters as he contends with an uncontrollable and unbelievable witch hunt in the media and on social media. The prime ministers son, Yair Netanyahu, is orchestrating the campaign that portrays the attorney general that his father appointed as a Don Corleone clone. Some right-wing WhatsApp groups feature photoshopped pictures of Mandeblit resembling a menacing satanic figure. The Netanyahu salvation campaign is now on its final and decisive leg: The target this time is the judges. The initial targets in the ongoing pro-Netanyahu campaign were the police officers and investigators, and subsequently the top brass of the Israeli Police and Commissioner Roni Alsheikh another Netanyahu appointee. Next in line was Special Prosecutor Liat Ben-Ari who handles the Netanyahu case, then her fellow prosecutors and chief State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan. Mandelblit was the next stop. Now that the chain of investigation and prosecution has been dealt with, it is time to tackle the courts and the judges. Two Supreme Court justices Anat Baron and Uzi Fogelman have been placed under close protection after receiving threats in recent weeks described as particularly harsh and violent. Fogelman found his home mailbox and door plastered with stickers saying, Jewish blood isnt cheap, an apparent reference to a recent ruling he handed down with Baron rejecting the states petition to demolish the home of a Palestinian assailant. As police launched an investigation, an anti-immigrant activist from Tel Aviv came forward and admitted to placing the stickers against Fogelman, whom she blames for pro-immigrant rulings. Police are still investigating, but there is no doubt that persistent fierce, vulgar attacks on judges by pro-Netanyahu tweeters and internet bots have laid the groundwork for such threats. This ideological campaign is being spread through numerous pro-Netanyahu WhatsApp groups, calling judges traitors and descendants of Nazis, and accusing them of aspiring to annihilate the Jewish state. Law enforcement authorities hold Netanyahu ultimately responsible as the main perpetrator of the delegitimization campaign against the system. Netanyahu himself arrived at the Jerusalem District Court for the May 24 opening of his trial flanked by Likud party Knesset members and government ministers expressing their solidarity as he delivered a scathing diatribe against law enforcement authorities in the best Dreyfus tradition. Netanyahu does not appear perturbed by accusations of his culpability for the threatening climate. While his people were dealing with the judiciary even as he stands before the court Netanyahu was engineering a coalition crisis with his former rival-turned partner Defense Minister Benny Gantz over the issue of the Supreme Courts authority. Specifically, Netanyahu is now demanding that Gantz promise to support legislation overriding Supreme Court rulings in case the top court disqualifies him from serving as alternate prime minister in late 2021 once he switches place with Gantz under their power-sharing agreement. After some hesitation, Gantz gave in, handing Netanyahu yet another knockout. But while Netanyahu defeated Gantz in battle, he will be mired in legal war for many years to come in the Jerusalem District Court. Given current developments, security agencies will soon have to provide the judges with the same level of protection they provide the prime minister. Netanyahu does not really care. He is waging a trench war, leaving behind scorched earth. McCorkel, Villanova University As protests against police violence and racism continue in cities throughout the U.S., the public is learning that several of the officers involved in the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville share a history of complaints by citizens of brutality or misconduct. Decades of research on police shootings and brutality reveal that officers with a history of shooting civilians, for example, are much more likely to do so in the future compared to other officers. A similar pattern holds for misconduct complaints. Officers who are the subject of previous civilian complaints regardless of whether those complaints are for excessive force, verbal abuse or unlawful searches pose a higher risk of engaging in serious misconduct in the future. A study published in the American Economic Journal reviewed 50,000 allegations of officer misconduct in Chicago and found that officers with extensive complaint histories were disproportionately more likely to be named subjects in civil rights lawsuits with extensive claims and large settlement payouts. In spite of this research, many law enforcement agencies not only fail to adequately investigate misconduct allegations, they rarely sustain citizen complaints. Disciplinary sanctions are few and reserved for the most egregious cases. Complaints, lawsuits but few consequences Derek Chauvin, the ex-officer who has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for killing Floyd, is no stranger to situations in which deadly force has been deployed. During a 2006 roadside stop, Chauvin was among six officers who, in just four seconds, fired 43 rounds into a truck driven by a man wanted for questioning in a domestic assault. The man, Wayne Reyes, who police said aimed a sawed-off shotgun at them, died at the scene. The police department never acknowledged which officers had fired their guns and a grand jury convened by prosecutors did not indict any of the officers. Chauvin is also the subject of at least 18 separate misconduct complaints and was involved in two additional shooting incidents. According to The Associated Press, 16 of the complaints were closed with no discipline and two letters of reprimand were issued for Chauvin related to the other cases. Tou Thao, one of three Minneapolis officers at the scene as Floyd pleaded for his life, is named in a 2017 civil rights lawsuit against the department. Lamar Ferguson, the plaintiff, said he was walking home with his pregnant girlfriend when Thao and another officer stopped him without cause, handcuffed him and proceeded to kick, punch and knee him with such force that his teeth shattered. The case was settled by the city for US$25,000, with the officers and the city declaring no liability, but it is not known if Thao was disciplined by the department. In Louisville, Kentucky, at least three of the officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor while serving a no-knock warrant at her home allowing them to use a battering ram to open her door had previously been sanctioned for violating department policies. One of the officers, Brett Hankison, is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit alleging, according to news reports, harassing suspects and planting drugs on them. He has denied the charges in a response to the lawsuit. Another officer in the Taylor case, Myles Cosgrove, was sued for excessive force in 2006 by a man whom he shot seven times in the course of a routine traffic stop. The judge dismissed the case. Cosgrove had been put on paid administrative leave as his role in the shooting was investigated by his department, and returned to the department after the investigation closed. Patterns of misconduct and abuse I am a scholar of law and the criminal justice system. In my work on wrongful conviction cases in Philadelphia, I regularly encounter patterns of police misconduct including witness intimidation, evidence tampering and coercion. It is often the same officers engaging in the same kinds of misconduct and abuse across multiple cases. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that across the nation fewer than one in 12 complaints of police misconduct result in any kind of disciplinary action. And then there is the problem of gypsy cops a derogatory ethnic slur used in law enforcement circles to refer to officers who are fired for serious misconduct from one department only to be rehired by another one. Timothy Loehmann, the Cleveland officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice, resigned before he was fired from his previous department after they deemed him unfit to serve. A grand jury did not indict Loehmann for the killing, but he was fired by the Cleveland Division of Police after they found he had not disclosed the reason for leaving his previous job. In the largest study of police hiring, researchers concluded that rehired officers, who make up roughly 3% of the police force, present a serious threat to communities because of their propensity to re-offend, if they had engaged in misconduct before. These officers, wrote the studys authors, are more likely to be fired from their next job or to receive a complaint for a moral character violation. The Newark model The Obama administrations Task Force on 21st Century Policing recommended the creation of a national database to identify officers whose law enforcement licenses were revoked due to misconduct. The database that currently exists, the National Decertification Index, is limited, given state level variation in reporting requirements and decertification processes. Analysts agree that this is a useful step, but it does not address underlying organizational and institutional sources of violence, discrimination and misconduct. For example, in the aftermath of the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, the Department of Justice found that the department had a lengthy history of excessive force, unconstitutional stop and searches, racial discrimination and racial bias. The report noted that the use of force was often punitive and retaliatory and that the overwhelming majority of force almost 90% is used against African Americans. One promising solution might be the creation of independent civilian review boards that are able to conduct their own investigations and impose disciplinary measures. In Newark, New Jersey, the board can issue subpoenas, hold hearings and investigate misconduct. Research at the national level suggests that jurisdictions with citizen review boards uphold more excessive force complaints than jurisdictions that rely on internal mechanisms. But historically, the work of civilian review boards has been undercut by limitations on resources and authority. Promising models, including the one in Newark, are frequently the target of lawsuits and harassment by police unions, who say that such boards undermine the police departments internal disciplinary procedures. In the case of civilian review board in the Newark, the board largely prevailed in the aftermath of the police union lawsuit. The court ruling restored the boards ability to investigate police misconduct but it made the boards disciplinary recommendations nonbinding. [Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter.] Jill McCorkel, Professor of Sociology and Criminology, Villanova University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Development trajectory: PM to interact with DMs of various districts today India records 10,667 new COVID19 cases, 380 deaths in last 24 hours; totally tally at 3,43,091 India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, June 16: India on Tuesday reported 10,667 new COVID19 cases, and 380 deaths in last 24 hours taking the totally tally up to 3,43,091. The number includes 1,53,178 active cases, 1,80,013 cured/discharged/migrated and 9,900 deaths, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain admitted to hospital, tests negative for Covid19 Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain hospitalised, to take COVID-19 test| Oneindia News As the Covid-19 cases soar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold discussions with the heads of 21 states and union territories at 3 pm today. This will be part of this two-day consultation with the states. On Monday, Home Minister Amit Shah had chaired an all-party meeting. Globally, the coronavirus has infected over 80.14 lakh people so far, and killed more than 4.36 lakh, according to the Johns Hopkins University. Meanwhile, United States' drug regulator, the Food and Drug Administration, on Monday revoked the authorization of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. The FDA said the drugs, which were promoted by US President Donald Trump, are "unlikely to be effective". F rance has dropped border checks for most Europeans, raising hopes tourists will be able to visit the country for holidays this summer. The move, which took effect on Monday, came as several European nations eased border controls in the wake of a decline in coronavirus cases across the continent following months of lockdown. The reopening is a complicated, shifting patchwork of different rules, and not everyone is equally free to travel everywhere, however. And with flights only gradually picking up, nervousness about new outbreaks abroad, uncertainty about social distancing at tourist venues and many people facing record unemployment or pay cuts, many Europeans may choose simply to stay home or explore their own countries this year. So, here is what you need to know: French President Emmanuel Macron has said it is time for France to 'rediscover' its freedom as the country eases lockdown measures / Reuters When will France reopen to tourists? France's move means travellers from most European Union member states will be able to enter the country without restrictions from today onwards. Those arriving from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City will also be able to take advantage of the change. The move came after Brussels asked EU governments to reboot free travel in the bloc from Monday. European officials hope the lifting of internal border controls will allow a gradual reopening to other countries from July and resuscitate a tourism industry that flatlined during the lockdown. Do visitors to France need to quarantine? By way of reciprocity, travellers arriving from the United Kingdom will need to undergo quarantine for two weeks upon arrival in France. Travellers from Spain will have to do the same until June 21, when Spanish authorities have said they will retract their own restrictions. What has President Macron said? Announcing France's reopening of borders during a televised address to the nation on Sunday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron said it was time to turn the page of the first act of the crisis and rediscover our taste for freedom. But he warned: This doesnt mean the virus has disappeared and we can totally let down our guard. The summer of 2020 will be a summer unlike any other. Mr Macron gave a televised address to the nation on Sunday evening / AFP via Getty Images Europe has had more than two million of the worlds 7.9 million confirmed Covid-19 infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Still, the need to get Europes tourism industry up and running again is also urgent for countries such as Spain and Greece as the economic fallout of the crisis multiplies. Is France still in lockdown? Mr Macron said during his televised address that virtually all lockdown restrictions for bars, restaurants and cafes in France would end as of Monday as he announced a "first victory" against coronavirus. All schoolchildren except for those in high schools will also be expected to return to class from June 22 as part of the push to restart public life. Mr Macron said: "We will be able to rediscover the pleasure of being together, to get back to work fully but also to have fun, to cultivate ourselves. We are going to rediscover part of our art of living, our taste for freedom. In short, we are going to find France whole again." Only two of France's overseas territories - Mayotte and French Guiana - will have to continue to adhere to strict lockdown measures imposed back in March to fight Covid-19. More than 29,000 people have died in France as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Dan Cooper is a UCI professor of pediatrics and founding director of the campuss Institute for Clinical & Translational Science. Credit: Steve Zylius / UCI With fast-approaching preparations required for a new school year with no consensus plan yet in place, a team of clinicians, scientists and educatorsincluding a University of California, Irvine pediatricianstress the need for caution when re-opening America's schools and advocate for large-scale viral testing in children, contract tracing and other actions to avoid compounding the COVID-19 crisis. The team published their analysis"Re-Opening Schools Safely: The Case for Collaboration, Constructive Disruption of Pre-COVID Expectations, and Creative Solutions"in the Journal of Pediatrics. According to Dr. Dan Cooper, UCI professor of pediatrics, it can serve as a roadmap not only in California but nationwide. Cooper co-wrote the article with Dr. Lisa Guay-Woodford of the Children's National Research Institute at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. An additional 15 clinicians, scientists and educatorsfrom states including Minnesota, Ohio, Arkansas, Washington and Coloradocontributed to the paper. The reopening of schools, which have been closed since mid-March, is viewed as essential to jump-starting the economy. The authors note that in the U.S., 40 percent of families have school-aged children and in more than 90 percent of these households at least one parent is employed outside the home. "In the U.S., in an urgent attempt to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and save lives, the nationwide closure of K-12 schools occurred rapidly," the article states. "Planning for schools reopening must be more deliberate, delineating precisely how, when, under what conditions, and base the reopening on available data." Although severe COVID-19 is uncommon in children, more community-based data is needed to determine whether most children avoid infection, or if infected, largely are asymptomatichence, "large-scale viral nucleic acid and serological testing in children is needed to guide safe school reopening," Cooper and his colleague recommend. Such an effort, they write, will require non-traditional testing sites such as homes, schools and "child-friendly" self-collection methods. The authors note that resources-constrained Title 1 schools, which often are located in low-income and minority neighborhoods, face additional challenges related to food security, safe transportation, healthcare safety nets and emergency preparedness policies. Cooper and his co-authors call for the expansion of school-based health centers as schools reopen and a review and adjustment of programs such as federally assisted school-based meal plans "to meet the unprecedented circumstances." Many parents and caregivers, Cooper noted, are becoming unemployed with each passing week. Attention also must be paid to children with chronic health conditions, who will be especially vulnerable during their return to school. After-school activities and physical education must not be reflexibly abandoned, as the authors note that a lack of participation in PE classes is associated with social isolation and loneliness, and could lead to obesityone of several serious underlining conditions of COVID-19 in adults. "Preparing for schools reopening should include novel approaches to PE, structured recesses, and access to safe after-school activities," the authors write. "The community at large will need to view schools as 'healthy places' for children and society." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Dan M. Cooper et al. Re-Opening Schools Safely: The Case for Collaboration, Constructive Disruption of Pre-COVID Expectations, and Creative Solutions, The Journal of Pediatrics (2020). Journal information: Journal of Pediatrics Dan M. Cooper et al. Re-Opening Schools Safely: The Case for Collaboration, Constructive Disruption of Pre-COVID Expectations, and Creative Solutions,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.05.022 By Express News Service KOCHI: Ernakulam district is coming out of its comfort zone as cases of Covid-19 infection have started rising steadily-- 13 on Monday alone. Though all these persons had arrived in the district from foreign countries or other affected states, health officials have asked the public to maintain vigil, fearing high chances of community transmission. With the new ones, the number of active cases in the district has risen to 83. A 23-year-old Tamil Nadu native who arrived here from Kuwait on June 13; a 27-year-old Chendamangalam native who arrived from Qatar on June 13, a 26-year-old and a 25-year-old Maharashtra natives, who arrived from Mumbai on June 12; and a 31-year-old Rajasthan native who arrived from Mumbai on June 12 tested positive for the virus infection on Monday. The other positive cases in the district are a 36-year-old Udayamperoor native who arrived from Delhi on June 2; a 49-year-old Maharashtra native who arrived from Nigeria on May 31; a 23-year-old Ramamangalam native who arrived from Qatar on June 5; a 27-year-old Puthenvelikkara native, a 52-year-old Cheranalloor native and a 31-year-old Eloor native, who all arrived from Dubai on June 4; a 43-year-old Alappuzha native who arrived from Kuwait on June 12; and a 25-year-old Kadavoor native who arrived from Dubai on June 4. Besides, two Kollam natives aged 49 and 53 years who arrived from Kuwait on June 12 and June 13, respectively, are undergoing treatment at Government Medical College Hospital, Kalamassery. A 31-year-old Rajasthan native is undergoing treatment at INHS Sanjivani, the Naval Hospital, here. No community spread According to the health department, all those who tested positive had been under quarantine and closely monitored by the department. Till now, we have no community transmission in the district. All positive cases are those who arrived from other affected states and countries. Even if we take a look at those becoming positive, many are natives of other states. The cases are likely to go up in the coming days with more trains and flights arriving, said an MCH official at Kalamassery. Meanwhile, two persons have recovered from Covid-19 in the district a 63-year-old Vadavucode native who tested positive on May 29 and a 46-year-old Nedumbassery native who tested positive on June 5. Follow guidelines Those who have been quarantined at home and institutions are being closely monitored. We are ensuring that Asha workers and local self-government bodies are keeping track of their activities. There is no need for panic. Even the antibody testing conducted by the department shows no signs of community transmission. So far, over 200 samples have been tested. But strict social distancing in public places must be maintained. Not maintaining social distancing and wearing masks improperly are seen in many parts of the districts. It is a joint effort, and all must do their part to not contract the disease, said a health official. Seventy-eight people are undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital and Adlux Convention Centre in Angamaly. As many as 114 samples were sent on Monday. Positive cases: 13 Total positive cases to date: 130 Positive cases under treatment:83 Patients recovered so far: 46 Sample sent for testing : 114 Results received: 157 (13 positive; 144 negative) Results awaited: 305 Persons added to hospital isolation: 11 Discharged from hospital isolation: 13 Total people under hospital isolation: 122 (Govt Medical College, Kalamassery - 52, Government Hospital Muvattupuzha- 3, Govt Taluk Hospital, Karuvelippadi- 2, Angamaly Adlux- 32, INHS Sanjeevni -5, Private hospitals -28 Persons at Covid Care Centres: 603 Added to home quarantine: 846 Released from home quarantine: 878 Total people under home quarantine: 9,834 Calls received at call centre: 221 Patients underwent counselling: 356 Ernakulam native in isolation in Palakkad hosp jumps quarantine Palakkad: A man hailing from Kadavanthara in Ernakulam, who had been in isolation at the Taluk hospital in Ottappalam for suspected Covid infection, escaped from there early on Monday. Since arriving from Palani three days ago, the 46-year-old had shown symptoms of the disease. He was then placed in quarantine at the Taluk hospital and his swab samples were sent for testing. But even before the test results arrived, he fled the hospital around 1.45 am on a two- wheeler. Following complaint from the authorities, the police have launched a manhunt. Earlier, he had nabbed him from Pathripala. On being placed in quarantine, he had insisted that he wanted to go home. Youth arrested for quarantine violation Kochi: The Ernakulam rural police on Monday arrested a youth for violating home quarantine norms. He woks as a driver. The youth reached home from Gujarat on June 12 and was placed under home quarantine. However, he was found roaming on the road. He was arrested under Kerala Epidemic Ordinance 2020 and shifted to Alfa Covid-19 centre, Edakochi, said police. N orth Korea has threatened to move back into zones that were demilitarised under inter-Korean peace agreements as the country continued to dial up pressure on the South. The General Staff of the Korean People's Army said it is reviewing a ruling party recommendation to advance into unspecified border areas. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un days earlier said the North would demolish a "useless" inter-Korean liaison office in the border town of Kaesong. Kim Yo Jong, a trusted aide to her brother, said she would leave it to the military to come up with the next step of retaliation against the "enemy" South. It comes amid stalled nuclear negotiations between the North and the US. "Our army is keeping a close watch on the current situation in which the (North-South) relations are turning worse and worse, and getting itself fully ready for providing a sure military guarantee to any external measures to be taken by the party and government," said the KPA's General Staff. While it was not immediately clear what actions North Korea's military might take against the South, the North has threatened to abandon a bilateral military agreement reached in 2018. The aim of the deal was to reduce tensions across the border. The Koreas then committed to jointly take steps to reduce conventional military threats, such as establishing border buffers on ground and sea and no-fly zones. They also removed some front-line guard posts in a symbolic gesture. The North's military also said it would open unspecified areas near the ground border and its southwestern waters so that North Koreans could send anti-South Korea propaganda leaflets to the South, in an apparent tit-for-tat against North Korean defectors and activists floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. Choi Hyun-soo, spokeswoman of South Korea's Defence Ministry, said the South Korean and US militaries were closely monitoring the North's military. She said the inter-Korean military agreement should be kept. Recently announced as her brother's top official on inter-Korean affairs, Kim Yo Jong in recent weeks has repeatedly bashed South Korea over declining bilateral relations and its inability to stop leafleting by defectors and activists. North Korea in recent months has suspended virtually all cooperation with the South while expressing frustration over the lack of progress in its nuclear negotiations with Washington. The talks have faltered with the Americans rejecting North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities. The North has also threatened to abandon bilateral peace agreements reached during Kim Jong Un's three summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in 2018, while also expressing frustration over Seoul's unwillingness to defy US-led international sanctions and restart inter-Korean economic cooperation. Mr Moon on Monday called on North Korea to stop raising animosities and return to talks, saying that the rivals must not reverse the peace deals. By Gideon Levy June 15, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Did you see the American police officers? Did you see how they choked George Floyd to death in Minneapolis? Did you see Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck, pinning him down, with Floyd begging for his life until he died five minutes later? What racist police forces they have in America, how brutal. Now Minneapolis is burning after a black citizen was executed because of his skin color. The mayor apologized, the four officers involved were fired, Chauvin was indicted. America is a cruel place for black people and its police are racist. A few days after Minneapolis, on Saturday morning, in Jerusalems Old City, Eyad Hallaq, a 32-year-old autistic man, was on his way to the Elwyn Center for disabled people. Border Police officers claimed they believed he was holding a gun there was none and when they called out for him to stop, he started running. The penalty was death. The Border Police, the most brutal of all units, knows no other way to overpower a fleeing autistic Palestinian except to execute him. The cowardly Border Police officers fired some 10 bullets into Hallaq as he fled, until he died. Thats how they always act. Thats what theyve been trained to do. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The Israel Defense Forces and the Border Police have a special weakness for the disabled. The slightest wrong movement or sound could sentence them to death. In another Old City, of Hebron in March 2018, soldiers killed 24-year-old Mohammad Jabari, who was mute and mentally ill, and whose neighbors called him Aha-Aha because those were the only syllables he could say. They ambushed and shot him near a girls school, claiming he was throwing stones. He left behind a 4-year-old son, an orphan. The nickname for another young man, Mohammad Habali, was Zaatar (hyssop); nobody knows why. He was also mentally ill and used to walk around with a stick. Israeli soldiers executed him by shooting him in the head from about 80 meters away. That happened in December 2018 opposite the Sabah Restaurant in Tul Karm, just after 2 A.M., while he was moving away from the soldiers and the street was quiet. Two years earlier the army killed 23-year-old, mentally disabled Arif Jaradat, in the town of Sair. His family called him Khub, which means love. Whenever he saw soldiers he would shout at them in Arabic, Not my brother Mohammed. He meant to say, Dont take my brother Mohammed. Mohammed, Arifs older brother, was abducted from his home and arrested at least five times by soldiers right in front of him. On the day Arif died they heard him shouting his usual cry at the soldiers. Hes disabled, dont shoot him, somebody managed to shout at the soldiers, but they didnt care. They shot Khub to death too. None of these unfortunate mentally disabled people were endangering the soldiers or the Border Police personnel at all. The autistic Hallaq wasnt endangering anyone either. The Border Police officers shot him because thats how they do things. They did it because he was a Palestinian and because live fire is the first and preferred option of the occupation forces. The Border Police are no less brutal or racist than the police in the United States. There, they shoot black people, whose blood is cheap, and in Israel they shoot Palestinians, whose blood is even cheaper. But here, the killing puts us to sleep; there it sparks protest. The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, who happens to be Jewish, was quick to apologize to the black community of his city. Being black in America should not be a death sentence, he said. Neither should being a Palestinian be a death sentence, but no Jewish Israeli mayor ever said anything like that. The police officer who choked Floyd to death was charged with third-degree murder, his colleagues were fired. In Israel, the department in the Justice Ministry that investigates police misconduct is investigating the officer who shot Hallaq. The end, as in all other cases like it, is known. Meanwhile, in America, the police are brutal and racist. Gideon Levy is an Israeli journalist and author. Levy writes opinion pieces and a weekly column for the newspaper Haaretz that often focus on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. Levy has won prizes for his articles on human rights in the Israeli-occupied territories. - - " Source " - Post your comment below Maharashtra added 1,328 old fatalities to its Covid-19 death toll on Tuesday as part of a data cleaning and reconciliation exercise that pushed the states tally of virus casualties past 5,000 and prompted allegations that the government was fudging disease figures. Indias worst-hit state reported 81 fatalities in the last 24 hours. The 1,328 deaths are from March and April, said a senior official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on condition of anonymity. The states death toll now stands at 5,537, a little less than half of all coronavirus-related deaths in the country. The addition led to a spike in the states case fatality rate defined as the ratio of deaths to total number of cases and it now stands at 4.9, against a national rate of 3.4. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party demanded a high-level inquiry and termed the development a conspiracy. Maharashtra also logged 2,701 more infections in the last 24 hours, taking the case tally to 113,445. The figures of the deaths have risen suddenly owing to the reconciliation of the figures. It is true that there was negligence to a certain extent at some level and it led to the mismatch in the figures, said Bhushan Gagarani, principal secretary. He blamed lack of information in private hospitals and poor record keeping in government facilities. Some private hospitals did not provide us the information in time while in some government hospitals, the records about the deaths were not kept properly. In some cases the death certificates had the mention of Covid infection as cause of the fatality, but in hospital records, the entry was missing. When we realised the lapses we, last week, asked all the municipal corporations and district collectors to reconcile the data on an urgent basis, he added. Chief minister Uddhav Thackerays office said he mandated exhaustive data reconciliation last week. On June 13, the state asked all municipal commissioners and collectors to check with all local labs and hospital on the same. The state is fighting Covid with absolute honesty and it holds transparency sacred. Data reconciliation and tally will be done every few weeks so as to ensure complete transparency. Gagarani admitted that the data was not being fed as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, leading to the mismatch. The Opposition alleged that the government was covering up death figures. Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis demanded to know what action would be taken by the state government. ICMR and World Health Organisation have clear guidelines on recording the Covid-19 deaths, despite which the state government appointed a committee for the audit of the deaths. Was this committee to reduce the fatalities or to hid them? It is my sincere request to the state government that please dont ignore this entire episode of criminal negligence in the name of reconciliation of numbers, he tweeted. On Monday, he had written to Thackeray claiming that the BMC had allegedly not registered 950 Covid-19 deaths. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the governments efforts to correct data should be lauded. Todays declaration was part of the ongoing process which will happen every month, he added. The senior BMC official quoted earlier said the authorities were cleaning data for the past 15 days as several hospitals didnt report deaths according to norms. We want to be completely transparent as nothing can be achieved by hiding figures, he added. At a press conference at the NYPD headquarters in Lower Manhattan on Monday, Commissioner Dermot Shea said it was "a seismic shift in the culture of how the NYPD polices this great city", reports Xinhua news agency New York, June 16 (IANS) The New York City Police Department (NYPD) will disband its plainclothes anti-crime unit, and transition some 600 officers to other assignments including neighbourhood policing and detective work, the force's commissioner said. Officers of the anti-crime unit specialize in undercover operations and perform patrol services in unmarked vehicles, in an attempt to spot criminals of usually violent crimes. The unit has caused some tension between the NYPD and the community. According to The New York Times, it has been involved in some of the city's most notorious police shootings. The overhaul is also "in the realm of closing one of the last chapters of stop-question-and-frisk", said Shea, referring to a controversial policing practice that often targets minorities. "What we always struggle with, I believe, as police executives, is not keeping crime down -- it's keeping crime down and keeping the community working with us. "I think it's time to move forward and change how we police in this city. We can do it with brains. We can do it with guile. We can move away from brute force," he added. The announcement came after weeks of protests against police brutality in the city, during which a number of officers were disciplined for using heavy-handed tactics toward largely peaceful protesters, and one was charged with assault, criminal mischief, harassment and menacing for shoving a woman to the ground. However, Shea noted on Monday that it is a policy shift "coming from me personally" instead of any reflection on NYPD officers, adding that discussions about the overhaul had occurred for about a year. Last week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a police reform agenda that would ban chokeholds by police and allow for transparency of offices' disciplinary records, among other reforms. --IANS ksk/ Rouxbe has been training culinary students online for over 15 years; we arent pulling something together quickly in response to the current pandemic. We have the tools and platform to ensure every student learns the foundations needed to succeed in a culinary career. Rouxbe, the world's leading online culinary school, is offering an updated Culinary Arts Package to help power culinary schools across the nation as instructors are forced to shift classes online, or look to create blended learning opportunities. The program is currently being used by nearly 10 percent of culinary programs across the U.S. The program provides a proven way for instructors in high schools or post-secondary schools to seamlessly move their students into an online learning structure that is easily customizable. While each institution is unique and has its own organizational structure and operations, Rouxbe has successfully on-boarded most schools within a week of coming to an agreement. Rouxbe setup includes a white-labeled site using institutions branding and may also include integration with common Learning Management Systems including Canvas, Moodle, and Blackboard Learning. The reality is that the current pandemic will have a lasting impact -- from the way we communicate, work and perhaps most significantly, the way that we learn, said Ken Rubin, Chief Culinary Officer at Rouxbe. Rouxbe has been training culinary students online for over 15 years; we arent pulling something together quickly in response to the current pandemic. We have the tools and platform to ensure every student learns the foundations needed to succeed in a culinary career. Through the Rouxbe platform and the existing Rouxbe library of courses and lessons, instructors are able to personalize their students instruction based on their curriculum. Rouxbe can also simply act as a way to augment and support an existing instructional plan, assigning specific lessons or tasks as needed. The Culinary Arts Package includes: High-definition instructional videos Interactive activities and assessments Ability to support 100% online as well as blended programs Communication platform Available curriculum includes: Culinary Foundations, Plant-Based Foundations, Seafood Literacy, James Beard Foundations Waste Not, and American Egg Boards EggPro Course Through June 30, 2020 Rouxbe will offer special discounted pricing for this program for schools to take advantage of. As a part of this, individual students and administrators will maintain access to the Rouxbe platform for one full year. For more information, visit: rouxbe.com/schools #### About Rouxbe Rouxbe, the world's leading online culinary school, was founded in 2005 to train people of all abilities to become better, more confident even healthier cooks in kitchens around the world. With high definition videos, world-class instructors, peer support and interactive assignments, Rouxbe has set the bar as the new standard in culinary education, providing certificate-level instruction not only to quality restaurants and hospitality organizations but also to serious home cooks and career changers. Rouxbe's revolutionary online platform delivers cutting edge e-learning solutions that drive and measure learning outcomes and engagement while providing effective, lower-cost alternatives for training professional cooks. Over 110 hours of foundational training are available in English, Spanish, French, Mandarin and Arabic to hundreds of thousands of cooks in 180 countries. Rouxbe programs are also recognized by both the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation and by WorldChefs as approved training programs. For more information and the latest news about Rouxbe, please visit http://www.rouxbe.com. (This story has been updated to add comment from Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud.) FLINT, MI -- An attorney for one of the state health officials originally charged with crimes related to the Flint water crisis says her client wont be re-charged by Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammound. Mary Chartier, an Okemos-based attorney for Robert Scott, who has retired from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in a news release Tuesday, June 16, that Hammoud has advised her Scott wont face charges again. Scott is one of eight state employees whose criminal charges were dismissed after Hammoud took over the Flint water prosecutions after she was appointed to handle the cases by Attorney General Dana Nessel. Seven other state and city employees had previously agreed to misdemeanor plea agreements in Flint water cases, resulting in neither fines nor time in prison MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach a spokeswoman for Hammoud for comment Tuesday, but the solicitor general has been critical of the investigative approach and legal theories of former special prosecutor Todd Flood, who brought the charges against Scott and 14 others initially charged with water crisis crimes. Late Tuesday, Hammoud issued this statement, The Flint water prosecution team takes seriously its discretionary power and charging authority in criminal cases. To maintain the integrity of that authority, we do not comment on the statements or activities of defense counsel outside the appropriate legal channels. This is part of our commitment to abide by the highest professional, ethical, and prosecutorial standards. Hammoud has said the investigation she and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy are leading is active but has filed no charges in the time since she inherited the investigation, more than a year ago. Scott, who retired from DHHS in February, was charged with misconduct in office and conspiracy, both of which are felonies, and willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor. During the water crisis, he served as the states data manager for its Healthy Homes and Lead Prevention program. But like most of the other criminal cases brought by Flood, Scott was never bound over to face the charges in Genesee Circuit Court. He was initially accused of ignoring data that showed a spike in the number of children with elevated blood lead levels in Flint while the city used the Flint River as its water source. Mr. Scott should never have been charged in the first place, Chartier said in the news release issued by her office. It appears that no one from the prior criminal investigation took a serious and thoughtful review of Mr. Scotts role at MDHHS, or even his job duties, for that matter. We are pleased that this decision not to charge Mr. Scott essentially confirms what the attorney general recognized as a candidate -- that this was a political prosecution against a dedicated public servant. Mr. Scott was a public servant who made the best professional judgment he could, while in the midst of a fast moving and evolving public health crisis. As a candidate for attorney general, Nessel called the Flint water prosecutions overseen by former Attorney General Bill Schuette as politically charged show trials. Chartier said Scott was the lowest ranking state employee charged in relation to the water crisis. She described him during opening arguments at his preliminary examination in Genesee District Court two years ago a low-level staff member (who) had no involvement in the decision to switch water sources. He had no involvement in the treatment of water sources, Chartier said at the time. He had no involvement monitoring the water. Attorneys say two charged with Flint water crimes did their jobs State employees charged with Flint water crimes could be back on the job next week Flint water prosecutors set stage to drop charges if unable to review new docs Flint water crisis turns six with no new charges Its been 5 years. Flint still doesnt trust the water BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12 By Samir Ali Trend: The citizens may leave their apartments in multi-storey residential buildings to throw garbage into containers for household waste at the front doors during the tough quarantine regime in Azerbaijan, Kamran Aliyev, colonel, spokesman for the Main Directorate of the State Road Police of the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry, said. Aliyev made the remarks in Baku at a briefing at the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers, Trend reports on June 12. "If containers for household waste are located 200-300 meters from the multi-storey residential buildings, then citizens are not allowed to go there, the spokesman added. In case of revealing the facts of leaving the apartments under the pretext of throwing garbage, citizens will be held accountable for violating the rules of the quarantine regime." The tough quarantine regime will be introduced from 00:00 (GMT+4) on June 14 through 06:00 (GMT+4) on June 16 in Azerbaijans Baku, Ganja, Lankaran and Sumgayit cities, as well as Absheron, Yevlakh, Ismayilli, Kurdamir and Salyan districts. New Delhi, June 16 : In India, Hindus are much less likely to have a favourable view of Muslims than Muslims of Hindus. This is according to a 2018 survey by US research body Pew Research Centre. To be more specific, 93 per cent of Muslims said they view Hindus favourably, while a mere 65 per cent of Hindus could say the same about Muslims in India, according to the study. What's more, the study also throws light on how much Indian Hindus and Muslims are open to interact with each other. According to Pew, the number of Muslims interacting with Hindus is higher than the other way round. The study says, 70 per cent of Indian Muslims interact with their Hindu counterparts. However, only 56 per cent Hindus interact with Muslims. "Hindus make up about three-quarters of India's overall population, and they were less likely to say they occasionally or frequently interact with members of other religions compared with Indian Muslims," noted the study. How much anyone interacts with those from other religions plays a key role in deciding their view of them, said the study. "Among Hindus who said they often interact with people outside of their faith, 71 per cent had a favourable view of Muslims. Just 56 per cent of Hindus who reported infrequent contact with people of other religions said the same of Muslims - a 15 percentage point difference," the study noted. However, no prizes for guessing that most view their own religion quite favourably. 96 per cent of Hindus and 98 per cent of Muslims viewed their own religion very positively in India, finds the study. However, what can be a matter of hope is that 68 per cent Indians still said that diversity helped India. However, Pew Research cautioned that the study was done before India brought about the much debated Citizenship Amendment Act that changed the political and social discourse in the country. The Act which leaves out Muslims hailing from three neighbouring nations from preferential treatment while seeking Indian citizenship, even sparked off riots in Delhi this winter. On Monday, Shippensburg University announced it would welcome students back to campus this fall while implementing advanced social-distancing precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, a very fluid pandemic situation and a complex higher education landscape leave a lot of questions unanswered. From the moment the spring semester concluded, Shippensburg University knew it would make a relentless push to see students return to campus in the fall. We knew that a return to campus was the desired path forward. We just did not know exactly how that would look like, said Kara Laskowski, human communication studies professor and SUs APSCUF chapter president. It was always a matter of when and how, said Kim Garris, SUs vice president of external relations and communications. Im relieved we are paving the way to get back to campus, even if it will be different. The announcement excited students and faculty alike, who have been away from in-person instruction since March. Although students are enthusiastic to return, there is uncertainty about the health implications. I was excited, but with the excitement there was also the question of what thats going to look like, said SU Student Government Association President Stephen Washington. I dont know what I would do if I had to stay in my hometown for another semester. Washington hopes the transition back to campus can be smooth, but understands it can only happen if the entire student body is on the same page. There are talks amongst individuals that students cant be held accountable and responsible for other peoples well-being, Washington said. Washington said that although around 6,000 people will return to campus, there may be one or two students who do not take seriously the health and safety guidelines that will be implemented by the university. The actions of a few will determine the fate of many, Washington said. We need people to hold each other accountable. Im happy we can go back, I miss it, said SU sophomore and Carlisle High School graduate Aidan Piper. Theres a lot of negativity toward social distancing and wearing masks, and I think theres a lot of misinformation spread. I dont think all the students will be welcoming to that. Jordan Newsome-Little, a resident assistant and Student Government member, expressed excitement. However, as she started to think more about going back, she began to recognize the precautions she would have to take to avoid exposing her family. I miss school, I miss being on campus and I miss the general college life. Im excited to go back, she said. Im hoping everyone is respectful of social distancing and respectful that we are in a pandemic. According to the university, students will return to campus Aug. 17 and will end the semester Nov. 20, right before what normally would have been Thanksgiving break. Thanksgiving is a family time. Celebrating will be a little different. Thats a little worrisome, Newsome-Little said. Underlying SUs return to campus in the fall is the uncertainty of how current plans will play out. Even when we have something set, theres going to be constant changes, Garris said. If weve learned anything in the last four months, its that its going to continue to change. We have a framework, but things will change depending on the situation. The planning process involved different ways to configure the semester, and trying to think through different scenarios to achieve the goal to come back as safely as possible, Laskowski said. Laskowski and Garris both expressed hopes for a vaccine and that the coronavirus subsides globally. However, professors are left with questions on how to teach classes during an uncertain time, especially with the potential of a second wave of the coronavirus. I am wondering what our pedagogy is going to look like when were teaching in-person classes that we know might also have to suddenly go online, history professor Brian Ulrich said. In March, we had a very sudden shift most people werent prepared for. The idea is to be prepared for very sudden changes and we need to think through what that looks like, he said. I think the university has planned a lot of things carefully, but you cant have everything planned by this point, and so there are still a few things in-process. Ulrich said he thinks it is important to focus on how students learn, but also on how they stay safe. My biggest anxiety would be what happens off-campus. In terms of any events involving students or not that might become super-spreader events, Ulrich said. Washington said members of the university community are concerned about summer party, a weekend-long event that draws hundreds of students back to Shippensburg to socialize and party during the summer. Washington said they are worried because students will come together and transmit the coronavirus among themselves. If that happens, Washington said, it could build an argument against the return to campus. Theres concern about what kind of compliance we would have with social distancing and squaring on campus, Laskowksi said. According to the universitys Navigating to Fall 2020 webpage, the university will implement physical (social) distancing protocols to limit population density on campus and in classrooms, and raise and maintain awareness of the public health risks of COVID-19, and inform each community member of best practices to follow public health and safety guidelines. Other precautions include daily self-checks, the mandatory use of face masks and other personal protective equipment, staggered scheduling and contact-tracing, according to the website. There will also be greater signage and floor decals to make information and messaging pervasive across campus, Garris said. Laskowski also expressed concerns about the availability of accommodations to students and faculty. We need to know from the state system (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education) what will qualify as a concern that will allow for qualifications, Laskowski said. We cant ask students who have underlying health issues to come back to a college campus. Laskowski also said some plans were up in the air, such as changes in scheduling or enhanced cleaning of classrooms. We dont know what that would look like or how that could result in changes physically, Laskowski said. Despite the concerns for health and safety, Washington remains optimistic for the return to campus. Im extremely excited. I cant wait to see the smiling faces of Ms. Sherry at the register in the [Reisner] dining hall, Ms. Tammy in the CUB [Ceddia Union Building], Ms. Loughlin at the SGA office, Washington said. I cant wait to see the heart and soul of the community at Shippensburg University. I miss it, I want it back, and Ill do what it takes to have it back. Jacinda Ardern has expressed her frustration in still being on full pay two months after she agreed to take a 20 per cent cut. The New Zealand Prime Minister announced in April her NZ$470,000 a year salary would be slashed by one fifth for six months in a show of solidarity with Kiwis struggling financially during the recent coronavirus lockdown. Government ministers, Opposition Leader Simon Bridges and top public sector executives will also take a 20 per cent cut while backbench MPs will have their pay slashed by 10 per cent. Ms Ardern says she was forced to accept her continued full pay by law but said donating a proportion of her salary to charity would be problematic. The legislation was passed in parliament in May but took four weeks to be signed off by the Remuneration Authority. Jacinda Ardern (pictured posing for a selfie with a Tauranga local last week) agreed to take a pay cut in a pledge of solidarity with Kiwis struggling financially during the recent pandemic Ms Ardern has assured the cuts will apply for six months when they take effect on July 9. 'What I am frustrated by is how long it's taken,' Ms Ardern told reporters on Tuesday. 'That is frustrating, but regardless ... it will last for six months.' 'One of the frustrations for us is, I did test whether I could just not accept my full pay but I was told 'No'. By law I couldn't do that. 'So we changed the law, now we're waiting for it to be implemented by the Remuneration Authority.' 'Frustratingly, the simplest option was to change the law but unfortunately that's what is taking the longest.' Jacinda Ardern (pictured last week) has expressed her frustration in the delay of the 20 per cent pay cut over six months being signed off on Remuneration Authority chairwoman Dame Fran Wilde said it had to make sure the pay cuts were fairly set. 'There has been absolutely no delay on the part of the Remuneration Authority. This was done very fast,' she told Stuff. 'We had to do all of that testings of the numbers. We then had written it up in legal form, we had sent it to Parliamentary Council Office, who had also done there checking - which takes a little while - and then we signed it and it was gazetted. And that all happened in less than four weeks.' Frontline public sector workers such as police officers and health care professionals won't be affected by the pay cut. Ms Ardern will take a NZ$47,000 pay cut over half a year. Deputy prime minister Winston Peters will go from $334,734 a year to $267,788 for the six months while ministers will see their $296,007 salaries fall to $236,806. Ms Ardern said the government canvassed the idea of donating sacrificed salaries to charities. 'Giving it to charities did open up wider issues. First, we had to demonstrate what we said we were going to do. Second, it then raises the question of who a member of the Government would choose as a charity, and that could raise issues in itself,' she told NewsHub. ACT leader David Seymour, who had been calling for MP salary cuts before Ardern's announcement in April has volunteered to take a 20 per cent cut, which he will donate to charity. 'I'll be asking the public which organisation I should donate the remaining part of my salary to,' Mr Seymour said. The New Zealand prime minister's NZ$470,000 a year salary would be slashed by one fifth for six months, resulting in a $47,000 pay cut Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison rejected calls to follow Ms Ardern's lead in having his taxpayer-funded $549,250 salary slashed, despite the devastating loss of jobs as a result of the pandemic 'I know people are taking a hard hit every day in their businesses,' he told radio station 2GB in April. 'But I don't think it's actually helpful in a crisis to start having people turn on each other about who's getting what.' SHADOWPLAY By Joseph OConnor In 1897, a handful of spectators at the Lyceum Theater in London witnessed the improbable birth of Dracula, which was presented as a one-off stage reading before the novel was published some days later. The author, Bram Stoker, was the devoted and long-suffering business assistant to the Lyceums capricious actor-manager, Sir Henry Irving, who angrily refused to read the part of the saber-toothed count. Joseph OConnor explores the likely source of Irvings fury his temper was notorious in his novel Shadowplay, a vibrantly imaginative narrative of passion, intrigue and literary ambition set in the garish heyday of a theater presided over by a tyrannical Irving and an exquisitely vulgar Ellen Terry, Britains answer to Sarah Bernhardt. Shadowplay opens in Dublin in the winter of 1876, with OConnor painting that ravishing city with a soft lyricism that Stoker himself might have envied: Smacks heading down the estuary, trailing petticoats of nets, out towards the expanse of the sea. Stoker, a government clerk who moonlights as a theater critic, is reeling from the visceral intensity of Irvings performance in Dublin as Hamlet. Eyes glowing red in the gaslight, Irving terrifies the audience, slinking towards the lip of the stage, left hand on hip, wiping his wet mouth with the back of his sleeve. Sneering, he regarded them. Then he spat. [ Read an excerpt from Shadowplay. ] Its Irvings now legendary performance as the brooding Dane, hamming it up for a screaming, stampeding crowd as only Irving could, that promises to transform the pedestrian trajectory of Stokers life. Gratified by Stokers adulatory review, Irving summons the younger man to dine with him at the Shelbourne, Dublins grandest hotel. OConnor delights in cameos: En route to the hotel, we catch a glimpse of Yeats, a silverback gorilla in a monocle, while a skittish Oscar Wilde invites Stoker, his pal from university, to join him for a constitutional stroll of questionable intent. The Delhi police filed seven charge sheets before a court here on Tuesday in cases of alleged murder of locals during the communal violence in north east Delhi in February. The Crime Branch of the Delhi police submitted the chargesheets before Metropolitan Magistrate Vijayshree Rathore against 39 persons in connection with the riots that broke out when supporters and those against the Citizenship Amendment Act clashed. Of the total 39 people arrested in connection with the seven cases of murder, 16 are Hindus and 25 are Muslims, a senior police officer said. Police further said that all the incidents of alleged murder took place on February 25 during peak rioting. In the murder case of one Anwar, who was allegedly shot dead by the mob and later his body was burnt inside his house, five persons were arrested, he said. On the same day, one Aftab was allegedly killed by the mob and three people were arrested in the case, he added. Aftab (22) allegedly had sustained 16 grievous injuries on his body and his body was then dumped in a drain, police said. He further said that the third charge sheet was filed in connection with the murder of Babu who was also allegedly assaulted by the rioters and 16 people were arrested in the case. The fourth chargesheet was filed in the case of alleged murder of Salman (24), who was shot in head, police said and added that three people have been named as accused in the case. Vir Bhan (40) had died after receiving bullet injuries in Karawal Nagar area and four people have been charge sheeted in the case, said the police. Alok Tiwari (32) and Dinesh (35) had died after they were allegedly attacked by the violent mob on February 25 and four people were arrested in each of the cases, he said. The chargesheets were filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 147 and 148 (rioting), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 34 (common intention). The offence of murder entail a maximum punishment of death penalty. Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. John Bolton, a former U.S. national security adviser, is set to release a tell-all book that may include highly classified information, including details on President Donald Trump's impeachment. According to the New York Times, Bolton's memoir will cover his 18-month tenure at the White House and include his assessment of the president. News reports follow the administration's month-long campaign to stop the book's release. The book has undergone a lengthy review by the National Security Council (NSC), and will allegedly reveal that Trump's connections with Ukraine were not his only "international misconduct." The USA Today reports that Bolton's memoir will tackle the "impeachment malpractice" committed by the House. Trump's Response President Trump said the former national security adviser could face criminal charges if he pushed forward with publishing the memoir which is slated to be released on June 23. In a roundtable meeting at the White House, President Trump accused Bolton of not completing a pre-publication review to ensure that no classified material was included in the memoir. Attorney General William Barr echoed Trump's accusation, claiming Bolton did not go through a clearance process before publishing sensitive information he accessed during his employment at the White House. His statement contradicts the claims of Bolton's attorney, Chuck Cooper, who said they spent months working with classification specialists to omit classified material. Cooper claimed he sent the book's manuscript to classification specialist Ellen Knight by the end of 2019. Knight and Bolton spent four months going through the book multiple times, the lawyer said, as reported by the Associated Press. Ukraine Controversy In early September 2019, an anonymous whistleblower accused Trump of using his powers to coerce Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to interfere in the 2020 U.S. elections, BBC reported. The complaint, which has since been publicly released, claims the U.S. president used a June 25 call to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate and uncover damaging information on his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. The call allegedly came after the administration withheld the foreign country's nearly $400 million military-aid package. A senior official corroborated the whistleblower's claims which the White House has denied. The issue has been widely debated, with some claiming that soliciting the help of a foreign country to research the opposition constituted an impeachable offence. The Democrats launched a formal inquiry where multiple officials testified under oath. Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal lawyer, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo received subpoenas. Gordon Sondland, the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, told Congress he was working with the guidance of the president to put pressure on Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. He also revealed the administration has added a conditional offer of an official White House visit for Ukraine's president if it publicly announced a probe. In December, Democratic leaders charged the president with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. A week before Christmas, the House voted to impeach Trump. The president was cleared following a two-week trial held by the Senate in January and February 2020. Want to read more? Catch up on the latest news here: Thousands of soldiers on both sides have been facing off for over a month along a remote stretch of the 3380-kilometre Line of Actual Control, the border established following a war between India and China in 1962 that resulted in an uneasy truce. The clash - during which neither side fired any shots, according to Indian officials - is the first deadly confrontation between the two Asian giants since 1975. Vivek Katju, a retired Indian diplomat, said the clash was a dramatic departure from the four-decades-old status quo of troops from the two countries facing off without any fatalities. "The political class and the security class as a whole will have to do very serious thinking about the road ahead," he said. Casualties 'on both sides' The Indian army said in a statement earlier on Tuesday that a "violent face-off" took place in Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region on Monday night, "with casualties on both sides". "The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers," the statement said. "Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation". Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian gave no details of any casualties on the Chinese side, but said that China had strongly protested the incident while still being committed to maintaining "peace and tranquillity" along the disputed and heavily militarised border. "But what is shocking is that on June 15, the Indian troops seriously violated the consensus of the two sides, crossed the border illegally twice and carried out provocative attacks on Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical conflicts between the two border forces," Zhao said. India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the incident happened "as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo" in the Galwan Valley. Thousands of soldiers from the two countries, backed by armoured trucks and artillery, have been facing off just a few hundred meters apart for more than a month in the Ladakh region near Tibet. Army officers and diplomats have held a series of meetings to try to end the impasse, with no breakthrough. Chinese troops hold a banner which reads "You've crossed the border, please go back" in Ladakh, India in 2013. Credit:AP 'No shots were fired' Indian authorities have officially maintained near-total silence on the issues related to the confrontation, and it was not immediately clear how the Indian soldiers died. But two Indian security officials familiar with latest developments said that soldiers from the two sides engaged in fistfights and stone-throwing, which led to the casualties. Both said that no shots were fired by either side. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with government regulations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not comment on the clash in a televised meeting on Tuesday with state officials. The tense stand-off started in early May, when Indian officials said that Chinese soldiers crossed the boundary in Ladakh at three different points, erecting tents and guard posts and ignoring verbal warnings to leave. That triggered shouting matches, stone-throwing and fistfights, much of it replayed on television news channels and social media. China has sought to downplay the confrontation while saying the two sides were communicating through both their front-line military units and their respective embassies to resolve issues. Though skirmishes aren't new along the frontier, the stand-off at Ladakh's Galwan Valley, where India is building a strategic road connecting the region to an airstrip close to China, has escalated in recent weeks. India and China fought a border war in 1962 that also spilled into Ladakh. The two countries have been trying to settle their border dispute since the early 1990s without success. Since then, soldiers from the two sides have frequently faced off along the frontier, which stretches from Ladakh in the north to the Indian state of Sikkim in the north-east. Most serious confrontation since 1975 Lieutenant General D.S. Hooda, a former head of the Indian military's Northern Command, under which Kashmir and Ladakh fall, said the incident was the "most serious confrontation" between India and China since 1975, when Chinese troops killed four Indian soldiers in an ambush in the Twang region of northeastern India's Arunachal Pradesh state. "It's a very complicated and serious situation, and it will take real, hard negotiating skills to resolve this," Hooda said. Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia, a former director-general of Indian military operations, said the incident was "serious but local". "Such incidents can happen, particularly when (opposing) soldiers are in such proximity," he said. Loading The Indian army statement said the "violent face-off" occurred "during the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley". Indian officials say Chinese soldiers commit more than 500 border transgressions annually. China claims about 90,000 square kilometres of territory in India's north-east, while India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometres of its territory in the Aksai Chin Plateau in the Himalayas, a contiguous part of the Ladakh region. We know how important bacteria and fungi are for the health of plants. In marine environments and in our own gut, bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) are important in regulating the microbiome. Yet, their effect on bacteria living around the roots of plants has hardly been studied. 'I cannot believe that they are not important,' says Joana Falcao Salles, Professor of Microbial Community Ecology at the University of Groningen. She is the lead author of a review paper in Trends in Microbiology, which argues for more research into the role of bacteriophages in plant health. Bacteria play an important role in many ecosystems. The possibility of large-scale DNA identification of microorganisms has revealed this over the past decade. But bacteria themselves are affected by bacteriophages, viruses that infect them. These phages can lyse the bacteria, which releases nutrients into the environment. On the other hand, the phages can live inside bacterial cells and affect their function. Finally, bacteriophages stimulate DNA transfer between cells and are known to have given cells new functionalities through this horizontal gene transfer. Rhizosphere 'We know that soil bacteria are important for plants as well,' says Salles. Soils are deserts with very little food, as most nutrients are present in complex forms that microorganisms cannot readily use. However, in the few millimetres of soil around plant roots, plants stimulate the growth of bacteria. Plants release carbon sources for the bacteria and the bacteria provide nutrients and protection for the roots. 'This creates an oasis called the rhizosphere,' explains Salles. Salles wrote the review article with former University of Groningen PhD student Akbar Adjie Pratama (now working as a postdoc at Ohio State University, US), MSc student Jurre Terpstra (who's bachelor thesis inspired the review) and visiting scientist Andre Luiz Martinez de Oliveria from Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Brazil. In it, she describes the role of bacterial viruses in modifying the microbial community in seawater and in the gut. 'If viruses are important in these systems, why would they not be important in the rhizosphere?' she asks. Nevertheless, this was the conclusion of a paper published not too long ago. 'The scientists had counted viral particles in the soil and found very few of them. However, bacteriophages can even have effects when they are living inside cells,' Salles explains. Overlooked Technical problems may also have affected studies into soil viruses, she adds: 'We have the technology to identify viruses in ocean water and in our gut. Finding them in soil is quite a challenge.' It is relatively simple to filter virus particles from water but isolating them from a slurry is far more complicated. Salles suspects that this has led to bacteriophages being overlooked. 'There are just a handful of institutes where soil phages are being studied.' Her own institute, the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, has only recently appointed a virologist. Salles and her team will now start to look for evidence of the importance of bacteriophages. 'For instance, certain phages could stimulate microbes that will protect plants during droughts.' In another project, Salles wants to test the effect of viruses on the potato microbiome, using a large number of different potato breeds. Forgotten 'Microbes were once considered to be unimportant,' Salles continues, 'until microbiome technologies showed otherwise. Sequencing viruses has become much easier now and I cannot imagine that they are not important. Bacteriophages are the forgotten sibling and, in my opinion, we underestimate their importance.' Simple Science Summary Even bacteria can catch viruses. These viruses play an important role in nature. For example, they can change the number of certain bacterial species by killing bacteria, thereby freeing lots of nutrients or they can transfer DNA between cells. Bacterial viruses (also called bacteriophages) can play an important role in maintaining a healthy community of bacteria in our gut and can do the same in seawater. However, their role in soils is unclear. In a review article, Joana Falcao Salles, Professor of Microbial Community Ecology at the University of Groningen, argues that it is very likely that they are important for plant health: plants need bacteria around their roots to provide them with all kinds of nutrients and other compounds. Viruses will have an impact on these bacterial communities. Therefore, viruses are likely to be important for the health of plants. ### Reference: Akbar Adjie Pratama, Jurre Terpstra, Andre Luiz Martinez de Oliveria, Joana Falcao Salles: The Role of Rhizosphere Bacteriophages in Plant Health. Trends in Microbiology, first online 13 May 2020 " " Smoke rises from a large crack in PA Highway 61, caused by the underground coal fire that has been has been burning for almost 60 years. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images The smallest municipality in the Keystone State, Centralia, Pennsylvania, is a former mining community located about two hours northwest of Philadelphia. Records tell us it had 1,435 residents in the year 1960. Today, fewer than 10 people still live there. The U.S. Postal Service revoked Centralia's zip code in 2002 and the local portion of State Route 61 was permanently closed off nine years earlier. We can't blame the area's decline on the usual socioeconomic suspects. Its problems run deeper literally. Since (at least) 1962, a coal-seam fire has been smoldering right below the town. No one knows exactly how it got started, but whatever set the thing off, this long-lived blaze isn't some kind of fluke. Advertisement There's a Fire Down Below Naturally occurring coal deposits are called "seams" in the mining industry. Wherever such veins occur, coal-seam fires (like the one under Centralia) are apt to break out. "They are quite common," Anupma Prakash a geologist at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks tells us in an email. China's 3,106-mile (5,000-kilometer) coal mining belt is notorious for its seam fires. So is the town of Jharia, India, where unwanted fires have claimed about 41 million tons (or roughly 37 million metric tons) of coal since 1918. "The issue is more prevalent in areas where coal was extracted in the past with limited efforts to ensure that the 'hole' left from the extraction ... was filled up," says Prakash. Mines that don't provide "structural support" to keep the ground from collapsing likewise risk seam fire outbreaks. Granted, humans aren't always responsible. Down in New South Wales, Australia, there's a famous coal seam under Mount Wingen that's been burning for 6,000 years straight. Scientists think it was first ignited by an ancient brush fire or lightning strike. " " Smoke from below curls through the abandoned town of Centralia, Pennsylvania. Scott Drzyzga /Flickr (CC By 2.0) And coal doesn't need much encouragement to catch fire. Under the right circumstances, the material can actually light itself ablaze through spontaneous combustion. "The decomposition of pyrite present in coal produces heat, and in some cases, this self-heating can start the coal on fire. This is a problem even where coal is transported long distances in ships," says research geologist Allan Kolker in another email exchange. Advertisement The Fuse That Lit the Fire By most accounts, Centralia's great fire began at a dump near the local Odd Fellows Cemetery. On Sunday, May 27, 1962, this landfill was intentionally set ablaze, with six volunteer firefighters standing by. It was all part of a yearly cleanup effort the local government organized. Controlled burns were a popular garbage-disposal technique back then but things didn't always go according to plan. Perhaps this fire ran deeper into the trash than anybody realized. If so, it could've spread through the refuse and entered the nearest coal mine pit, with no one being the wiser. Then again, maybe the town government had nothing to do with it. Some have argued that a different garbage fire at the same site lit by an unidentified truck driver is what really sealed Centralia's fate. Another (less popular) theory claims the coal-seam fire started all the way back in the Great Depression and went unextinguished for decades before the 1960s gave it a new lease on life. Regardless, the inferno made itself right at home. Sweeping through mine tunnels and coal seams, flames descended as far as 300 feet (91.4 meters) below the ground, sometimes nearing temperatures of 1,350 degrees Fahrenheit (732 degrees Celsius). According to a 2012 investigation, passageways underlying 400 acres (161.8 hectares) of land had been touched by the blaze at some time or other. Advertisement A Sinking Feeling "Uncontrolled coal fires have all of the potential environmental impacts of burning coal for power generation, with none of the benefits," Kolker explains. "In addition to emitting carbon dioxide, trace metals such as mercury, and harmful fine particles are emitted." "The fires also give out smoke and ... nasty gasses," notes Prakash. Alongside the carbon dioxide, she tells us methane and "pungent smelling" sulphur dioxide may also spew forth. "I can virtually smell that gas even when I talk about underground fires!" she says. To this day, smoke rises from earth through fissures around Centralia. Meanwhile, the terrain has become perilously unstable over time. "These [fires] are dangerous ... as land can suddenly collapse (sink) as the fire just 'eats up' the ground underneath," Prakash tells us. "Such collapses can damage houses, roads, train tracks etc." That's why Pennsylvania closed off 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) of Route 61 in 1993. Subterranean pillars that held up the pavement were destroyed or weakened by the flames, making the roadway totally unsuitable for motorists. Advertisement Will Centralia's Fire Ever Burn Out? Extinguishing efforts didn't pay off. Between 1962 and 1982, assorted government agencies spent $7 million fighting the Centralia coal fire. Openings were sealed, trenches were dug and the mines were stuffed with noncombustible ashes, sands and crushed rocks. Nothing worked. Nearly all of Centralia's former residents are long gone; many took advantage of a $42 million taxpayer-funded relocation initiative which saw 500 buildings destroyed. The final holdouts have been granted permission to spend the rest of their lives in the town, as per a 2013 settlement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to the state's Department of Environmental Protection, the fire might keep on raging for over 100 years yet to come. As bad as they can get, coal-seam fires aren't invincible. "Good policies on mining safety and reclamation go a long way as a preventative measure. If a fire does start, taking ... quick action to contain it by isolating the fire, dowsing the fire, cooling the area, and continued monitoring to ensure that [the] fire does not start again are important measures," says Prakash. Now That's Interesting Over the past 30-odd years, Centralia has become an unlikely tourist destination. One former attraction was the abandoned stretch of Route 61. Dubbed the "Graffiti Highway," it attracted masses of street artists who littered the pavement with a rainbow of cartoons and signatures. However, in 2020, the corporation which owns the undrivable road had it covered up with piles of dirt to dissuade visitors from swinging by during the COVID-19 pandemic. EUR 18m raised to date, with investors including Lifeline Ventures, Finnish private investors, the European Innovation Council and Business Finland Two new board appointments: Kenneth Forssell and Pekka Mattila TILT Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, announces it has secured an additional EUR 6.2m, including EUR 4.5m equity, to advance its proprietary, best-in-class cytokine armed oncolytic adenovirus, TILT-123, into Phase 1 clinical trials in Europe and the United States, and to prepare for Phase 2 trials. TILT-123 has completed GLP preclinical studies and CMC for Phase 1 studies. These studies are planned in solid tumors as TILT-123 monotherapy or in combination with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) or checkpoint inhibitors. TILT will also use the funding to develop an innovative production process to scale up GMP manufacturing. TILT also announces two new appointments to its board of directors, Kenneth Forssell, an entrepreneurial leader with over 25 years' experience in global pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including GSK, and Pekka Mattila, co-founder and CEO of Desentum Oy. Prior to founding Desentum, Pekka was the co-founder and CEO of Finnish biotech company, Finnzymes, until it was acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific. In addition, Jyrki Liljeroos has been appointed to an advisory role for the board of directors. Jyrki has over 30 years expertise in pharmaceuticals and life sciences in Europe, USA and Japan, notably as the CEO and President of Santen Oy. TILT Biotherapeutics' CEO, Akseli Hemminki, a biotech entrepreneur and cancer clinician who has personally treated almost 300 patients with ten different oncolytic viruses, said, "This additional financing provides TILT with a solid foundation to progress our cancer immunotherapies into the clinic. The heart of our approach revolves around the use of oncolytic adenoviruses armed with cytokines to boost the patient's immune response towards the tumor, enabling it to find and destroy cancer cells. Our vision is to become the leading company globally in oncolytic immunotherapy for enabling therapies based on T-cells, such as checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies." Minna Hendolin, Senior Director for Health and Wellbeing, Business Finland said: "TILT is a great example of Finnish world-class expertise in the area of cancer therapies. The need for personalized and efficient new treatments is evident around the world and the company's new solution for immunotherapy will change the way the cancer is treated. The recent successful funding round also shows TILT's good progress in its business development." The latest fund raising of EUR 4.5m equity includes a EUR 0.5m convertible loan and a long-term Government loan from Business Finland of up to EUR 1.7m. Since its formation in 2013, the company has secured EUR 17.5m of funding with investors including Lifeline Ventures and Finnish private investors as well as the European Innovation Council, and Business Finland. In addition, TILT has also secured additional payments through a collaboration with Biotheus for licensing rights to TILT-123 in Greater China. -Ends- About TILT Biotherapeutics TILT Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cancer therapeutics based on its proprietary, best-in-class oncolytic adenoviruses armed with molecules including cytokines that can stimulate, or suppress, T cells. The company's patented TILT technology, which can be delivered locally and systemically, modifies the tumor microenvironment and eliminates its ability to suppress immune responses to cancer, thereby enhancing T-cell therapies such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T therapies. TILT's lead asset, TILT-123, is a 5/3 chimeric serotype adenovirus armed with two human cytokines; TNF alpha and IL-2. TILT-123 has demonstrated a 100% response rate in pre-clinical cancer models in vivo, and it is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials in combination with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) therapy in Europe. The Company's pioneering approach has been recognised by industry leaders including Germany's Merck KGaA and the USA's Pfizer, who are collaborating to investigate TILT-123's therapeutic effect in combination with the PD-L1 inhibitor, Avelumab (Bavencio), in clinical trials. In 2019, TILT established an additional partnership with Biotheus, a privately held Chinese company based in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China, for the development and commercialization of TILT's proprietary oncolytic virus TILT-123 in Greater China. Based in Helsinki, Finland, the company was established in 2013 as a spin-out from the University of Helsinki, with early stage funding from Lifeline Ventures and Finnish private investors as well as the European Innovation Council, and Business Finland. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200615005395/en/ Contacts: TILT Biotherapeutics CBO Aino Kalervo aino@tiltbio.com Scius Communications Katja Stout +447789435990 katja@sciuscommunications.com LONDON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The organisation behind The World's 50 Best Restaurants announces that its 'Bid for Recovery' Auction will debut on 3 July, offering food and travel enthusiasts the opportunity to bid for once-in-a-lifetime experiences with the world's best chefs. More than 100 incredible lots have been donated by restaurants and chefs featured on recent World's 50 Best Restaurants lists, plus brand partners, to create the world's biggest gastronomic auction. Bidders will have the opportunity to select from an array of extraordinary food and drink experiences across the globe, as well as rare items. Some of the bespoke auction lot highlights include: A full-day immersive gastronomic experience with Mauro Colagreco , chef at The World's Best Restaurant, Mirazur, in Menton, France , chef at The World's Best Restaurant, Mirazur, in Menton, Food and wine masterclasses, a day on her farm and multiple meals hosted by Chef Dominique Crenn in San Francisco , USA in , Four-day gastronomy tour of Singapore including dinners at Odette and Burnt Ends including dinners at Odette and Burnt Ends Plus, many more incredible experiences with the world's top chefs including private cooking classes, wine tours, luxury hotel breaks, foraging, sailing trips, exclusive tastings and bespoke parties The auction will be conducted online at 50BestForRecovery.com. Potential bidders can view the full selection of lots from 29 June, with the auction running from 3-12 July. The funds raised will go towards providing direct and tangible financial relief for restaurants worldwide as they emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic as part of the 50 Best for Recovery programme, in partnership with founding donor S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. Independent restaurants and bars across the world will be able to apply for a direct grant in July. Additional donations will be made to non-profit-organisations: Lee Initiative's Restaurant Reboot Relief Program and Black Urban Growers (US); Nosso Prato (Brazil); the Eat Out Restaurant Relief Fund (South Africa); Feed the Needy (India); Horeca Next ( Belgium); Ambasciatori del Gusto (Italy); Chefs for Spain, and the worldwide Social Gastronomy Movement. 50 Best is committed to using its platform to help fight for equality and inclusivity in the hospitality sector. The Black community has been hit disproportionately hard by coronavirus; this fact will continue to help shape the distribution of funds in the 50 Best for Recovery campaign. All details of the auction will be available on the 50 Best for Recovery website, as well as via Instagram @TheWorlds50Best and Facebook @50BestRestaurants. About The World's 50 Best Restaurants Since 2002, The World's 50 Best Restaurants has reflected the diversity of the world's culinary landscape. The annual list of the world's finest restaurants provides a snapshot of some of the best destinations for unique culinary experiences, in addition to being a barometer for global gastronomic trends. In 2020, The World's 50 Best Restaurants list will not be published; instead the organisation has pivoted to focus its energy and resources on supporting the hospitality community through its 50 Best for Recovery programme. The 50 Best family also includes Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, The World's 50 Best Bars, Asia's 50 Best Bars and the #50BestTalks and 50 Best Explores series, all of which are owned and run by William Reed Business Media. 50 Best aims to bring together communities across the hospitality sector to foster collaboration, inclusivity, diversity and discovery and help drive positive change. About the main sponsor and founding donor: S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna is the main partner of The World's 50 Best Restaurants and 50 Best for Recovery, as well as founding donor of the 50 Best Recovery Fund. S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being. Other partners American Express - Official Credit Card Partner The Dalmore - Official Scotch Whisky Gin Mare - Official Gin Partner Flor de Cana - Official Rum Partner Nude - Official Glassware Partner Beronia - Official Wine Partner Huitres Amelie - Official Oyster Partner Estrella Damm - Official Beer Partner For media centre registration and access, please visit https://www.theworlds50best.com/mediacentre/media-contacts Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1191549/Chefs_heart_collage.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1180297/50_Best_for_Recovery_Logo.jpg Press Contacts Susie Dempsey (US) / Jamie Ley (UK) Worlds50best@relevanceinternational.com US: +1-212-257-1500, UK: +44-(0)20-3868-8700 Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to the Trump administrations coronavirus task force, confirmed that public-health experts discouraged the public from wearing face masks towards the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak because they were concerned there would not be enough available for health-care workers. During the early weeks of the pandemic, public-health experts were concerned the public health community, and many people were saying this, were concerned that it was at a time when personal protective equipment, including the N95 masks and the surgical masks, were in very short supply, Fauci said in an interview with TheStreet. We wanted to make sure that the people, namely the health care workers, who were brave enough to put themselves in a harm way, to take care of people who you know were infected with the coronavirus and the danger of them getting infected, Fauci continued. On April 6, the World Health Organization released guidance discouraging the widespread use of face masks for the public, warning that it could create a false sense of security. While a medical mask could reduce the risk of infection, wearing a mask could also cause people to neglect other precautionary measures such as social distancing and hand hygiene, and could lead to people touching their faces under their masks the United Nations health agency warned. The WHO cautioned that widespread use of masks could exhaust the supplies for health workers. Just days earlier, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recommended that all Americans wear face masks when out in public. On June 5, the WHO updated its guidance to recommend that the public wear fabric face masks or face shields in public to protect against the coronavirus. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams also initially recommended against the public wearing masks, calling them not effective at preventing the spread of the coronavirus. They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching coronavirus, but if healthcare providers cant get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk! Adams wrote in a February 29 tweet. Story continues However, on April 1, Adams said he had asked the CDC to look into whether masks should in fact be recommended for the public, saying we now know there is a significant amount of asymptomatic spread. Months into the pandemic, Fauci assured that masks work, both as protection for healthy individuals and to prevent infected individuals from spreading the infection to others. Masks are not 100 percent protective. However, they certainly are better than not wearing a mask, Fauci said. Both to prevent you, if you happen to be a person who maybe feels well, but has an asymptomatic infection that you dont even know about, to prevent you from infecting someone else, but also it can protect you a certain degree, not a hundred percent, in protecting you from getting infected from someone who, either is breathing, or coughing, or sneezing, or singing or whatever it is in which the droplets or the aerosols go out. So masks work. The important thing is actually physical separation, Fauci emphasized. More from National Review It has been more than a week that Ankit Kumar and his mother Poonam Dev have been shuttling between home, hospital and police station hoping to get an update on his father's condition who "was taken away in an ambulance on May 24". The father, Ram Dev (60), suffers from tuberculosis. He had trouble breathing for the last few days, according to Kumar, a resident of Ashok Vihar. "The local dispensary informed authorities about my father. An ambulance arrived at our home and took him to Sultanpuri COVID Care Centre. The medical staff pasted a poster on our gate and asked us to remain in isolation for 14 days," he said. The situation took a curious turn after three-four days. A person called the family from the COVID care centre in Sultanpuri twice during the isolation period, and enquired about the health of their father, Kumar said. "We were shocked. It is the COVID care centre which should have informed us about his health. They started asking us instead," he said. "It left us in a dilemma whether to complete our quarantine period or go out looking for my father," Kumar said, adding that when they called a COVID helpline they were asked to strictly follow the norms and stay put at home. After completing the mandatory quarantine period, Kumar and his mother went to the Sultanpuri facility where officials told them that Ram Dev had been shifted to Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital. "When we approached the hospital authorities, no one told us clearly where my father was," Kumar said. It is only when the mother-son duo threatened to make a video and upload it on social media that a doctor intervened and informed them that the father was in ward number 30. "When we asked him to make my father talk to us on the phone or record a video so that we know he is there, alive, the doctor said it was not possible," he said. "One day, they said he was in ward number 30. The next day they said he was in the ICU," Kumar said. The family has been living on whatever ration their neighbours and relatives provide them. "My mother used to sell tea opposite the Deep Cinema. Now the stall is closed since the lockdown began. We spend around Rs 250 everyday on travelling between home, hospital and police station. My maternal uncle gives us some money, but for how long?" he said. On Saturday, Poonam Dev approached the Kamla Market police station, alleging that the hospital staff had not been sharing information about her husband's health. A policeman spoke to the hospital staff, who assured help, but nothing has happened so far. An officer at the police station said the case doesn't fall under their purview and that a policeman had offered to help the woman on humanitarian grounds. A reaction from the hospital authorities is awaited. Former governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwanbo, has declared his support for the embattled governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki. Dankwanbo made the declaration Monday evening for the Edo state governor who has been disqualified from seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Obaseki was disqualified last week over his academic credentials said to be deceptive, but his supporters are of the opinion that the development has connections with his political battle with the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, his predecessor and former governor of the state. The governor has since refused to appeal his disqualification which has now been upheld by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party. Although he is yet to make known his next political move, he is speculated to be making plans of joining the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a bid to secure his second term using the platform. He has said his next move will be made after his meeting with Nigerian Ruler, Muhammadu Buhari whom he met earlier before his disqualification. The governor has met with some PDP governors and they have all declared support for him. I Support my brother and friend, Governor Godwin Obaseki for second term, Dakwanbo said in a tweet. He added: One good turn deserves another. Singapore-based venture capital firm Beenext has raised $160 million and has closed two new funds. The firm that has more than 180 investments in start-ups across the globe has invested in 72 start-ups, which include NoBroker, Droom, CitrusPay, BharatPe, Bank Open, YAP, Mobile Premier League, Trell, WorkIndia, Healthians, mfine, Servify, Fleetx, Cropin and MilkBasket, among others. The firm intends to invest nearly half of the funds exclusively in Indian start-ups. One of the two new funds, 'BEENEXT Emerging Asia Fund' with a corpus of $110 million will focus on investing in early-stage start-ups and founders in India as well as in South East Asia. The focus will be on early-stage Indian start-ups in the e-commerce, fintech, health-tech, agri-tech, edu-tech and AI/data driven technology domains. Teruhide Sato, Founder & Managing Partner, BEENEXT said that in COVID-19 times there is a greater need to nurture the entrepreneurial ecosystem to ensure we bounce back as a strong community of founders. "BEENEXT has always believed in building businesses together with founders and fellow local co-investors to have a lasting impact. We look forward to co-creating and growing together with more start-ups in India," he said. The second fund of $50 million will, however, be exclusively for SaaS companies in Japan to help accelerate digital transformation in each industry. The investors in the new fund include major institutional investors in the US along with Japanese corporations, global family offices, and entrepreneurs backing the next generation founders. Alongside investing, the fund's investors will also play a key role as a partner with the start-ups to create strong businesses. "We have not paused our engagement with potential founders for even a minute and are continuing to increase our momentum to find talented leaders in India and elsewhere, building the next great products and solutions," said Sato. BEENEXT is a Venture Capital fund managed by serial entrepreneurs, with an investment focus on early-stage tech start-ups that are focused on building the new digital platforms driven by the data. Apart from Indian start-ups, the fund has also invested in Southeast Asia and Japan. These include Zilingo, Vietnam's largest online marketplace Sendo, and HR SaaS firm SmartHR in Japan. Also Read: Coronavirus fallout: SoftBank's ride-hailing service Grab lays off over 300 employees Also Read: China's Great Wall Motors signs $1 billion MoU with Maharashtra; border tensions with India escalate Also Read: This pharma share hits fresh 52-week high after Rakesh Jhunjhunwala raises stake Two new, powerful small molecules may be able to kill cancers that other therapies can't DUARTE, Calif. -- City of Hope scientists have identified and developed two potent small molecules that appear to suppress tumor growth in multiple cancers even when other treatments cease to work, possibly due to the development of drug resistance. Called CS1 (or bisantrene) and CS2 (or brequinar), these cancer inhibitor compounds are part of a protein known as "fat mass and obesity-associated protein." Nicknamed FTO, the protein plays a critical role in cancer development and progression, primarily because it regulates cancer stem cells and immune evasion. In other words, FTO promotes the growth, self-renewal, metastasis and immune escape of cancer cells. "The cancer inhibitors we developed are at least 10 times more effective in killing acute myeloid leukemia cells than several previously reported FTO inhibitors," said Jianjun Chen, Ph.D., the Simms/Mann Family Foundation Chair in Systems Biology at City of Hope and corresponding author of the new study. "In the near future, we should use these two compounds alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents such as targeted therapy, standard chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy to treat patients with FTO-high cancers." Examples of FTO-high cancers include acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive brain cancer called glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer. The study, published in the journal Cancer Cell on June 11, provides new insight into how cancer stem cells replenish and visibility into how cancer evades our immune system. It highlights the possibility that targeting FTO with potent inhibitors could eventually become a treatment for certain cancers. In the study, City of Hope scientists demonstrated that the two new FTO inhibitor compounds they created had potent anti-tumor effects and substantially improved overall survival in mice with AML or a solid tumor such as breast cancer. An estimated 11,200 people are expected to die due to AML in 2020. The five-year survival rate is 29%, according to National Institutes of Health SEER data. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among U.S. women. Chen and his colleagues saw the need to address these big problems. The Chen lab has been conducting research on RNA modification in cancer for eight years and is a pioneer in this field -- developing personalized treatments that will enable the practice of precision medicine. The lab began working on the CS1 and CS2 project three years ago when Chen first arrived at City of Hope. Chen's team noted that many cancer patients either do not respond to treatments that are currently available such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy, or that they responded to the therapeutics in the beginning but relapse later due to cancer-regenerating stem cells and the escape of cancer cells from our immune surveillance. It turns out that modifying FTO or using small molecules to inhibit FTO interrupts the supply chain that enables cancer to develop and progress. Studies showed that treatment with a relatively low dose of CS1 or CS2 (5 mg/kg/day 10 times every other day) could, at the very least, double the median survival in mouse models with AML. CS1 became more potent after Chen's lab put a sort of sleeve over it so that it could bypass certain barriers that do not like water-based molecules. "Our study suggests that combining FTO inhibitor treatment with other therapies will improve patient outcomes because this method will eradicate cancer stem cells and mechanisms that suppress the immune system," said Rui Su, Ph.D., lead author of the study and assistant research professor in the Department of Systems Biology at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope. CS1 and CS2 prevent FTO from connecting with target messenger RNAs, including cancer-causing genes MYC and CEBPA, as well as immune checkpoint gene LILRB4. Because CS1 (bisantrene) and CS2 (brequinar) have been tested in multiple clinical trials under the guises of other objectives, Chen and his colleagues believe this basic research has access to a freeway entrance that will fast track it into clinical trials. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has already funded the next step: The Chen lab is working to further optimize CS1 and CS2 to develop improved FTO inhibitor compounds that are more efficacious with minimal side effects for humans. ### Scientists from Harvard Medical School, China Medical University, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Tianjin University, the Shanghai branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Houston Methodist, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Midwestern University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine also contributed to this research. The study used the Hematopoietic Tissue Biorepository core at City of Hope, which is supported by the National Cancer Institute of the NIH (P30CA33572). Other supporters include NIH grants (R01 CA243386, R01 CA214965, R01 CA236399, R01 CA211614, R01 DK124116, R50CA211404, R35CA197628, U10CA180827, R01CA137060, R01CA157644, R01CA172558 and R01CA213138), The Margaret E. Early Medical Research Trust, and American Cancer Society Cancer Research Scholar grant. About City of Hope City of Hope is an independent biomedical research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy such as CAR T cell therapy. City of Hope's translational research and personalized treatment protocols advance care throughout the world. Human synthetic insulin and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs are based on technology developed at the institution. A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope is the highest ranked cancer hospital in the West, according to U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals: Specialty Ranking. Its main campus is located near Los Angeles, with additional locations throughout Southern California. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram. This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. /NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES WIRE SERVICES/ EDMONTON, AB, June 16, 2020 /CNW/ - Fire & Flower Holdings Corp. ("Fire & Flower" or the "Company") (TSX: FAF) (OTCQX: FFLWF), today announced its financial and operational results for the thirteen-weeks ended May 2, 2020. Financial and Operational Highlights for the Thirteen Weeks Ended May 2, 2020 Total revenue of $23.1 million at a gross profit of 32.6%, compared to revenue of $9.5 million in Q1-2019 at a gross profit of 38.5% - representing a 142% increase in revenue year-over-year. compared to revenue of in Q1-2019 at a gross profit of 38.5% - representing a 142% increase in revenue year-over-year. 83% increase in wholesale revenue through Open Fields Distribution in Saskatchewan from $2.1 million in Q4-2019 to $3.9 million in Q1-2020 . . Completed two financings for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $28 million with Green Acre Capital LP as lead investor and AltaCorp Capital Inc. acting as the exclusive financial advisor to Fire & Flower. Additionally, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., through an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary exercised its participation rights in respect of the offerings. with Green Acre Capital LP as lead investor and AltaCorp Capital Inc. acting as the exclusive financial advisor to Fire & Flower. Additionally, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., through an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary exercised its participation rights in respect of the offerings. Entered into a commitment letter for an aggregate amount of up to $10 million with an option for an additional $5 million for non-dilutive credit facilities with ATB Financial, the largest Alberta -based financial institution. with ATB Financial, the largest -based financial institution. Amended the provisions of certain debentures and forced conversion of all remaining principal amounts and accrued unpaid interest through the issuance of 12,223,638 common shares of the Company. of all remaining principal amounts and accrued unpaid interest through the issuance of 12,223,638 common shares of the Company. Maintained business continuity during the COVID-19 public health crisis through rapidly implementing safety operating procedures and the ability to continue to serve customers through the Hifyre Digital Retail and Analytics Platform including the Spark Fastlane "click-and-collect" service, curbside pickup and home delivery in select provinces. through rapidly implementing safety operating procedures and the ability to continue to serve customers through the Hifyre Digital Retail and Analytics Platform including the Spark Fastlane "click-and-collect" service, curbside pickup and home delivery in select provinces. Began home delivery in the province of Ontario through the Hifyre Digital Retail and Analytics Platform as permitted by the Government of Ontario's emergency order. Subsequent Financial and Operational Highlights post May 2, 2020 Hifyre's Spark Perks member program achieved the milestone of more than 100,000 members who are typically more valuable customers as they exhibit more frequent transactions with higher basket sizes, compared to non-members. who are typically more valuable customers as they exhibit more frequent transactions with higher basket sizes, compared to non-members. Continued to commercialize the Hifyre IQ cannabis data program through building ongoing monthly recurring revenue. Began to realize positive financial and operational results from the restructuring plan in the Retail Platform as part of normal-course retail operations announced during Q4-2019. "Fire & Flower's financial and operational results for the first quarter, fiscal 2020 demonstrate that the Company continues to show positive growth quarter over quarter and over its previous fiscal year. We will continue to work towards positive operating EBIDTA delivered through four-wall retail economics," shared Trevor Fencott, Chief Executive Officer of Fire & Flower. "The Ontario market presents a key growth opportunity for the Company and we will continue to focus on all major markets for private retail across Canada. Both the Open Fields Distribution Platform and Hifyre Digital Retail and Analytics platform provide additional independent revenue opportunities for the Company." Selected Summary of Financial Results Thirteen weeks ended Statement of Loss and Comprehensive Loss May 2, 2020 ($) May 4, 2019 ($) $ Change % Change Revenue 23,122 9,538 13,584 142% Cost of goods sold (15,587) (5,870) (9,717) 166% Gross profit 7,535 3,668 3,867 105% Expenses General and administrative 8,861 6,066 2,795 46% Share-based payments 698 1,254 (556) -44% Marketing and promotion 176 167 9 5% Acquisition and business development costs 184 - 184 NM Depreciation & Amortization 3,025 1,474 1,551 105% Impairment 4,279 - 4,279 NM Total Expenses 17,223 8,961 8,262 92% Loss from operations (9,688) (5,293) (4,395) 83% Listing expense - (1,835) 1,835 -100% Gain on revaluation of derivative liability 3,616 1,070 2,546 238% Loss on debt extinguishment - (9,028) 9,028 -100% Interest income 61 94 (33) -35% Finance costs (6,727) (2,065) (4,662) 226% Other expense (3,050) (11,764) 8,714 -74% Net income / (loss) and comprehensive gain / (loss) (12,738) (17,057) 4,319 -25% Net income / (loss) per share, basic ($0.08) ($0.17) $0.09 -52% Net income / (loss) per share, diluted ($0.08) ($0.17) $0.09 -52% NM Not Meaningful During the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2020, the Company generated revenue of $23.1 million including sales of $18.4 million in the Retail Platform, $3.9 million in the Distribution Platform and sales of $0.8 million in the Digital Retail and Analytics Platform. Total gross profit for the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2020 was $7.5 million or 32.6% of revenue with the Retail Platform delivering $5.6 million, or 30.3% gross profit, compared to $2.7 million or 35.1% for the thirteen weeks ended May 4, 2019. Retail and wholesale operations together delivered $6.7 million, or 30.2% gross profit for the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2020. For the quarter ended May 2, 2020, the Company recorded net comprehensive loss of $(12.7) million, or net loss per share, and on a fully diluted basis of $0.08. The net comprehensive loss incurred during the quarter was due to gross margin of $7.5 million being more than offset by total expenses of $17.2 million and other expenses of $3.1 million. Total expenses included $4.3 million of impairment charges. Other expenses are comprised of finance costs of $6.7 million, partially offset by gains on derivative liabilities. Retail Platform Update Throughout the 2020 fiscal year, Fire & Flower anticipates continuing to build out its retail network, focusing on markets in Ontario with a significant number of cannabis consumers. The development of retail stores in the province of Ontario was affected by the slowdown in construction due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. The Company also intends to enter the British Columbia market once final licensing is complete, and other Canadian markets as regulations permit. The Company acquired both the Ottawa and Kingston, Ontario stores that were initially operated under licence agreements by two Ontario cannabis retail store licence holders and is now reporting revenue from these stores. Additionally, the Company has submitted applications for eight additional cannabis Retail Store Authorizations to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Fire & Flower continues to focus on "four-wall retail economics" as a key factor in driving towards profitability and has rapidly adapted to continue serving customers during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Combined with the previously announced restructuring plan, the Company continues to focus on stores that are accretive to the business and will continue to evaluate the performance of its stores based upon data from the Hifyre platform to maximize opportunities across the retail network. Throughout Fire & Flower's 2020 fiscal year, the Company will be focused on continuing to build out its retail network. The Company intends to prioritize expansion in the Ontario market for the current fiscal year, and also intends to enter the British Columbia market once final licensing is complete, and other Canadian markets as regulations permit. Since the onset of the COVID-19 public health crisis, Fire & Flower continued to see meaningful sales with basket sizes increasing with increased popularity of large format cannabis products and the decrease of preroll cannabis products. There continues to be meaningful demand for "cannabis 2.0" new product formats such as edibles, vapes and beverages. HifyreTM Digital Retail and Analytics Platform During the quarter ended May 2, 2020, the Hifyre Digital Retail and Analytics Platform saw significant growth in its Spark Perks member program, surpassing the milestone of 100,000 members. As consumer interactions with cannabis retail took a digital focus during the COVID-19 public health crisis, Hifyre rapidly responded by deploying technologies such as "click-and-collect", curbside pick-up and home delivery using proven models already in use in the province of Saskatchewan. With the focus of Hifyre resources shifted to these technologies during the quarter, the Company saw a decrease in its digital revenue. With consumers interacting online, Hifyre saw an increasing rate of growth of Spark Perks members, which transact more frequently and spend more per transaction than non-members. The Company provided a 10% discount to new customers enrolling in the program which contributed to the decrease in margin but is anticipated to increase overall customer lifetime value. During the quarter, Hifyre completed the development of Hifyre ONE, a white-label software service that will be deployed through its strategic agreement with COVA Software Solutions and that is expected to produce an additional independent revenue channel at high margins. Open Fields Distribution Platform The Company continues to operate a cannabis wholesale business in the province of Saskatchewan, through its wholly-owned subsidiary 10926671 Canada Inc. ("Open Fields"). Open Fields purchases cannabis products directly from licensed producers and distributes those products to both Fire & Flower and other retailers across the province. Additionally, Open Fields sources accessory products from global suppliers and distributes those products to Fire & Flower stores across Canada. During the first quarter of fiscal 2020, Open Fields revenue increased to $3.9 million from $2.1 million in Q4-2019, representing an 83% increase between the two periods. The growth is attributed to key exclusive distribution agreements with major licensed producers of cannabis products and a representation of key external accounts to many retailers across the province of Saskatchewan. Fire & Flower's ability to successfully execute the Distribution Platform demonstrates how this model can be adapted for use in other jurisdictions where direct wholesale relationships with licensed producers and accessory suppliers are permitted. Adjusted EBITDA The Company's "Adjusted EBITDA" is a Non-IFRS metric used by management that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management defines the Adjusted EBITDA as the Income (loss) for the period, as reported, before accretion and interest, tax, and adjusted for removing the share-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization, gains and losses related to derivative liability revaluations and debt extinguishments, professional fees associated with financing and acquisition and business development activities, impairment charges, restructuring costs, and includes lease liability payments that would have been excluded from profit and loss due to the application of IFRS 16 accounting standards. Management believes "Adjusted EBITDA" is a useful financial metric to assess its operating performance on a cash basis before the impact of non-cash items. As other companies may calculate this non-IFRS measures differently than the Company, this metric may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA please refer to "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" in the Company's management discussion and analysis for the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2020. Adjusted EBITDA for the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2020 was a $2.7 million loss compared to a $3.4 million loss for the thirteen weeks ended May 4, 2019. Thirteen weeks ended Expressed in CDN $000's May 2, 2020 ($) May 4, 2019 ($) Loss from operations as reported (9,688) (5,293) Share-based payments 698 1,254 Acquisition and business development costs 184 - Depreciation & Amortization 3,025 1,474 Professional fees related to financing activities 92 168 Impairment 4,279 - Lease liability payments (1,276) (992) Adjusted EBITDA (2,686) (3,389) Conference Call Fire & Flower will host a conference call today, June 16, 2020 at 8:30 AM ET to discuss these results. Trevor Fencott, Chief Executive Officer and Nadia Vattovaz, Executive Vice President, Operations and Chief Financial Officer will provide a management presentation followed by a question and answer session with research analysts. Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2020 Time: 8:30 AM Eastern Time Webcast: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1332236&tp_key=64892aff2e Conference Call: 1-888-390-0546 Replay Number: 1-888-390-0541 Replay Passcode: 434490# Note: Replay is available until July 7, 2020. Fire & Flower's financial statements and management discussion and analysis for the period are available on Fire & Flower's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and on Fire & Flower's website at www.fireandflower.com/investor-relations/. About Fire & Flower Fire & Flower is a leading purpose-built, independent adult-use cannabis retailer poised to capture significant Canadian market share. The Company guides consumers through the complex world of cannabis through education-focused, best-in-class retailing while the Hifyre digital platform connects consumers with cannabis products. The Company's leadership team combines extensive experience in the cannabis industry with strong capabilities in retail operations. Fire & Flower Holdings Corp. owns all issued and outstanding shares in Fire & Flower Inc., a licensed cannabis retailer that owns or has interests in cannabis retail store licences in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario and the Yukon territory. Through the strategic investment of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., the Company has set its sights on the global expansion as new cannabis markets emerge. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of Fire & Flower at the date the statements are made based on information then available to the Fire & Flower. Various factors and assumptions are applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to and involve a number of known and unknown, variables, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Fire & Flower, which may cause Fire & Flower's actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: final regulatory and other approvals or consents; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives and political and social uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's business are contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated April 29, 2020 and the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the management discussion and analysis for the fifty-two weeks ended February 2, 2020 filed on its issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Fire & Flower assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. SOURCE Fire & Flower Holdings Corp. For further information: Investor Relations: [email protected], 1-833-680-4948; Media Relations: [email protected], 780-784-8859 A U.S. Border Patrol agent apprehends illegal aliens who have just crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico into Penitas, Tex., on March 21, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Border Patrol Agent Found Dead on Trail Near New Mexico A U.S. Border Patrol agent was found dead on a trail near a remote area of New Mexico while he was on duty on June 11, according to a statement issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. According to the statement, border patrol agents with the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station on Thursday reported losing communications with agent Johan Mordan, who was working in the remote boot heel area of New Mexico. Following the cut in communication, the authorities at the Border Patrol ordered a search for Mordan, and within minutes of the search, they found him lying on a trail. According to the statement, Mordan was unresponsive when the other border patrol agents found him. Agents then performed CPR and called for backup via air support. Agents worked exhaustedly to save him, unfortunately, BPA Mordan could not be revived, the statement reads. All proper notifications and investigative protocols have been initiated. It is unclear how and why Mordan died. An autopsy will be conducted later to determine his cause of death, according to the statement. Mark Morgan, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner, confirmed the death of Mordan on his Twitter. In a tweet, offered his condolences to the late border patrol agent. It is great sadness that we mourn the loss of Border Patrol Agent Johan Mordan of El Paso Sector. He served his country and community with honor. Our thoughts are with his loved ones and the entire Border Patrol community during this time, Morgan wrote. The El Paso Sector Border Patrol Chief Gloria I. Chavez also offered her own condolences to Mordan on Twitter: Today, the entire #ElPaso Sector mourns the loss of one of our Border Patrol Agents from the Lordsburg Station who died while on duty last night. Our thoughts & prayers are with family, friends, and the men & women who served with him. We will forever honor your sacrifice JohanWe Will Never Forget, Chavez wrote in another tweet. According to KVIA.com, Mordan was the second Border Patrol agent to have died while on duty in the boot heel area of New Mexico in 2020. Back in January, a 48-year-old Border Patrol agent by the name of Alfredo Nino was also found unresponsive at a remote area in New Mexico. According to KTSM, Nino was being stationed to work at the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station. Authorities said it was unclear what contributed to Ninos death, according to the news outlet. From NTD News Evangelical scholars sign statement condemning racism as 'contrary to Scripture' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Two dozen evangelical scholars have released a joint statement condemning racism as contrary to the evangelical Gospel and acknowledging the realities of racism that existed throughout evangelical history. The new Evangelical Statement on the Gospel and Racism" was released Monday as nationwide protests continue in the wake of the killing of African American George Floyd in Minnesota and just days after the controversial killing of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, Georgia, by a police officer. Todays situation requires more than a statement, but certainly no less than a statement, the document reads. As evangelical academic voices, we condemn racism as contrary to Scripture and to the evangelical gospel. The statement originates from members of the Evangelical Theological Societys executive committee, according to David Dockery, president of the International Alliance for Christian Education. ETS was founded in 1949 and serves as a professional association of scholars, teachers, pastors and students dedicated to the written expression of theological thought and research. The statement explains that while evangelical history includes many positive voices for justice, such as slave trade abolitionist William Wilberforce, the history also includes negatively those who assimilated the values of their surrounding unjust culture. According to organizers, the efforts mission is to listen, mourn, speak, and act in accordance with the gospel in our own lives, in our institutions, in our churches, and in our communities. As we grieved over recent events in our communities, we realized that although a statement is insufficient, it is necessary, a website created to host the statement online, which went live on Monday, reads. We are compelled to declare that the Gospel stands opposed to racism, and so, too, must people of the Gospel. The statement was signed by Evangelical Theological Society President and Asbury Theological Seminary Biblical Studies Professor Craig Keener, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Theology Professor Gregg Allison and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler, who also serves as ETS president-elect and program chair. SBCs flagship seminary, SBTS in Louisville, Kentucky, released a report in 2018 detailing the schools history of racism and past support for slavery. At the time, Mohler called for the institution to repent of our own sins and offer full lament for the inherited legacy. Other signatories include Paul W. Powell, the endowed chair in preaching at Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University; Vincent Bacote, associate professor of theology at Wheaton College; and Darrell Bock, a senior research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. As of Tuesday, over 150 people have signed on to the statement. The document declares that the Gospel calls on everyone to come to God on the same terms and and become one body in Christ. In reconciling, Jew and Gentile in Christ (Eph 2:16), surmounting a barrier that God himself once established, God in Christ summons us to surmount every barrier erected merely by human sinfulness, the statement explains. Scripture does not discriminate by color, and, on the most common understanding of Acts 8, the first Gentile convert may have been Black and from Africa. The statement adds that Jesus was, both by His example and His teaching, summoning Christians to serve and love fellow believers to the point of laying down our lives for them and to love all our neighbors as ourselves. This invites us to be swifter to listen to others than to speak (Eph 4:29; Jms 1:19), to mourn with those who suffer (Rom 12:15), and to join them in acting for justice on their behalf (Isa 1:17; Luke 11:42; Jms 1:27), the statement concludes. According to Dockery, Keener did most of the heavy lifting when it came to creating the statement. However, he stressed that the rest of the signatories offered suggestions and encouragement. We believe the statement is timely and important, expressing our longing and hope for racial reconciliation in the church and in society, Dockery, who also serves as chancellor of Trinity International University in Illinois, wrote in an email to The Christian Post. We trust the statement will be helpful in that regard in the days to come. The new statement comes as several church bodies have issued statements on race in the U.S. in the last several weeks following the controversial deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and most recently, Brooks. Additionally, several well-known Christian pastors and speakers have participated in demonstrations following the death of Floyd. Two Sundays ago, Texas megachurch pastor Matt Chandler issued harsh words for the Church during his sermon. After the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Chandler argues that the Church has largely refused to participate when it comes to speaking out about racial issues. [N]ow one of the things that has happened is the Church, by and large, has refused to participate, which means that we have turned over God help us we have turned over what is our inheritance to dark ideologies, Chandler argued. You dont just preach the Gospel on sex trafficking. You dont just preach the Gospel on the issue of life and abortion. No, you act, Chandler added. Its like this brain-broke disjoint thats got us acting absurd and then critiquing this [racial justice] movement as being evil and dark when we have given up our inheritance! Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear recently called on the denomination to stop opening its annual meetings with a gavel that carries the name of John Broadus, a 19th-century Southern Baptist leader who was a slaveholder. Greears North Carolina-based Summit Church recently released a statement lamenting the death of Arbery, a 25-year-old African American shot by a white man in Georgia while on a jog. The fight for racial justice is one God himself began as far back as Genesis 12 when he promised to reunite the ethnically diverse and contentious world through Abraham, the Summit Church Committee on Oneness and Reconciliation said. It is a fight whose victory is promised in Scriptures final chapters, where we see the multiethnic restoration of all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages (Revelation 7:910). Most importantly, it is a fight made possible by the gospel: Racial reconciliation is an inevitable fruit of the gospel of reconciliation. The National Association of Evangelicals, a network with over 40,000 member churches worldwide, released a statement on May 29 lamenting the recurring trauma experienced by African Americans. We condemn racism and the violent abuse of power, call for justice for victims and their families, and exhort churches to combat attitudes and systems that perpetuate racism, the NAE stressed. We are grateful for law enforcement officers who honorably serve and protect our communities, and urge our members to uphold them in prayer. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:03:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ANKARA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- An explosion hit the 17th Turkey-Russia joint patrol in Syria's Idlib, causing no casualties, Turkey's Defense Ministry said Tuesday. "The 17th joint land patrol was conducted in Idlib province on Tuesday to maintain the Turkish-Russian ceasefire agreement in Syria. A patrol vehicle was lightly damaged due to detonation of an unidentified explosive and taken to a safe location," the ministry tweeted. "No personnel was harmed in the incident," said the ministry, noting that the joint patrols will continue with determination within the scope of the agreement. On March 5, Turkey and Russia sealed a deal to maintain a temporary cease-fire for "all military actions along the line of contact in the Idlib de-escalation area" and envisaged the establishment of a security corridor six km to the north and six km to the south of the M4 highway, after nearly 60 Turkish soldiers were killed in escalated tensions between the Syrian and Turkish troops in the region. The key M4 highway, located about 30 km away from the southern border of Turkey, links Aleppo to Latakia in Syria. The joint Turkish-Russian patrols began on March 15 along the M4 highway as part of the deal. Enditem One Ohio restaurant has awarded a tongue-in-cheek honor to Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf. According to Erie News Now, Breakwall BBQ in Conneaut has named Wolf its employee of the month because his coronavirus pandemic shutdown of Erie County, which is still in the yellow phase of Wolfs reopening plan, has forced customers out of the Keystone State and to owner Mike Morgans brisket shop. A lot of people from Pennsylvania who wanted to get out of their houses got out of their houses and came and visited us, Morgan told Erie News Now. Its just a short little drive down route five. Its tongue-in-cheek. Weve broken all kinds of sales records, and we know that big chunk of it is that Pennsylvania is shut down. Wolf explained two weeks ago that Erie remains in the aggressive mitigation phase, and not the green phase which is the least restrictive one of his plan because officials are worried about a new COVID-19 outbreak occurring in the county. Per a dashboard the state uses to help inform its reopening decisions, Erie passed three of the four graded metrics but failed the one that relates to having a stable, low, or confirmed case count over the last two weeks compared to the previous two weeks. It is worth noting that restaurants and bars in Erie and elsewhere in Pa., can now reopen for outdoor seating only in the yellow phase, while green-phase counties can have indoor dining, albeit at 50 percent of their capacity. Morgan, Breakwall BBQs owner, isnt rooting against his counterparts across state lines, but hell welcome any business he can get as reopenings continue across the country. Were making a killing, and were grateful for it, Morgan said in the Erie News Now interview. I wish they could too. People are ready to get out of their houses. Yes, were busier than normal, but we do well anyway, he said. I want them people over there to open up and feed their families. I feel for the waitresses. They gotta feed their kids. More coverage: SINGAPORE, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") of the Company will be held on Friday, July 17, 2020 at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time. In light of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak and to support the health and safety of our officers, directors and shareholders, the Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only, via a live webcast, with no physical in-person meeting. Members entered in the Register of Members of the Company at the close of business on June 1, 2020 (New York time) (the "Members") are entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and to electronically attend, vote and submit questions at the Meeting. The Meeting will be accessible by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CYD2020 and using the unique 16-Digit Control Number included on the proxy form or on the instructions that accompany the proxy materials. The Meeting will be held for the following purposes: As Ordinary Business 1. To receive and adopt the audited financial statements and independent auditors' report for the financial year ended December 31, 2019. 2. To approve an increase in the limit of the Directors' fees as set out in Bye-law 10(11) of the Bye-laws of the Company from US$250,000 to US$569,013 for the financial year 2019 (Directors' fees paid for the financial year 2018 was US$490,000). 3. To re-elect the following Directors retiring pursuant to Bye-law 4(2) of the Bye-laws of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting of the Company: (i) Mr Kwek Leng Peck (ii) Mr Gan Khai Choon (iii) Mr Hoh Weng Ming (iv) Mr Neo Poh Kiat (v) Mr Yan Ping (vi) Mr Han Yiyong (vii) Mr Ho Raymond Chi-Keung (viii) Mr Tan Eng Kwee (ix) Mr Xie Tao 4. To authorize the Board of Directors (the "Board") to appoint up to the maximum of 11 Directors or such maximum number as determined from time to time by the shareholders in general meeting to fill any vacancies on the Board. 5. To re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the Company and to authorize the Audit Committee to fix their remuneration. 6. To transact any other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. By Order of the Board Hoh Weng Ming President Date: June 16, 2020 Notes: 1. Pursuant to the Bye-laws of the Company, no resolution of Members may be passed without the affirmative vote of the Special Share cast by the holder of the Special Share. 2. Members are encouraged to vote and submit their proxy in advance by internet, telephone or by mail per the instructions on the proxy form, no less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the Meeting, that is no later than 8:00 p.m. Singapore time or 8:00 a.m. New York time on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. Beneficial owners of shares held in street name will need to follow the instructions provided by the broker, bank or other nominee that holds their shares. 3. To be admitted to attend, vote and submit questions in the Meeting, Members and proxyholders must enter the Control Number found on the proxy form or on the instructions that accompany the proxy materials. 4. As the Members will not be able to attend the Meeting in person and will be participating virtually in the Meeting, each resolution considered at the Meeting will be conducted by a poll. The Board considers voting by poll to be in the interests of the Members as a whole and ensures that the views of as many Members as possible are represented at the Meeting. 5. All questions submitted in the Meeting should be relevant to the business of the Meeting. For more information, please contact: Investor Relations Kevin Theiss Tel: +1-212-521-4050 Email: [email protected] SOURCE China Yuchai International Limited Related Links http://www.cyilimited.com OTTAWAAnother death. Another push for change. That familiar pattern is playing out again after a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in New Brunswick fatally shot a Mikmaw man named Rodney Levi on Friday night. Police said the man was armed with knives and charged at officers. Levi died just over a week after Chantel Moore, a 26-year-old First Nations woman who was fatally shot at her apartment during a wellness check by local police. In the midst of a worldwide movement against racism and police brutality, politicians of all stripes in Canada have denounced systemic discrimination in the RCMP and other police forces. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged changes to address it, including wider use of body cameras worn by police officers to document their interactions with the public. But many are calling for the federal government to do more. Lillian Dyck, a Cree senator from Saskatchewan, called Monday for RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki to immediately resign, alleging her recent comments about racism in the national police force show she does not understand the issue. Speaking earlier to reporters Monday morning on Parliament Hill, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh highlighted a string of recent incidents he said show entrenched racism within Canadas national police force. They included the arrest of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam, who alleges he was assaulted by RCMP officers when they wrestled him to the ground after stopping to check an expired licence plate. Singh called it a vicious assault that shows the need for change. These are really clear examples of a broader systemic problem, so we are calling for systemic change, Singh said. It is no longer in any way sufficient for the government to say nice words or to make empty gestures. Here are some of the reforms the NDP and others want from the Liberal minority government in Ottawa. The RCMP did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. Indigenous policing Naiomi Metallic, a lawyer and law professor at Dalhousie University, said the federal government could improve the sense of safety in Indigenous communities by empowering more of them to have their own police forces. Metallic was part of an expert panel tasked by Ottawa last year to review policing in Indigenous communities. She says chronic underfunding of the existing First Nations policing program has prevented many communities from creating their own law enforcement. This could change if Indigenous policing were declared an essential service, she said, and welcomes legislation promised by Public Safety Minister Bill Blair to do so. The idea is that empowering local police from within an Indigenous community would increase trust and prevent potential episodes of violence, she said. Police are seen by Indigenous people as an arm of the colonial state, Metallic said, pointing to the history of the RCMP in the Canadian settlement of the West and as enforcers of residential school attendance and the Indian Act. Theres just so much distrust. Ban carding On Monday, Singh repeated his call for the Trudeau government to ban police street checks. Also known as carding, these checks proved controversial as extensive reporting by the Star showed they allowed police in Toronto to disproportionately stop and document information of racialized people. University of Toronto professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, an expert on race and policing, said the federal government could show leadership by banning the practice for the RCMP. But he suggested the federal government could also effectively prohibit or restrict the practice through Canadian privacy legislation, which would apply to police forces at the provincial and municipal levels. Even so, Owusu-Bempah cautioned that banning street checks doesnt necessarily reduce levels of police contact. He co-authored a study in 2019 that found 26 per cent of Black respondents to a GTA-based survey reported they were stopped by police at least twice in the previous two years. Carding was restricted in Ontario in 2017. Better data Owusu-Bempah said the first step in federal reform should focus on better data. Pointing to a 2011 report that he co-authored, Owusu-Bempah said police forces have purposely whitewashed data by curtailing the collection of race-based information from victims and those accused of crime. Statistics Canadas police-reported crime data from 2018, for instance, does not include information on race or ethnicity. Without that data, were having an uninformed and unintelligent conversation as far as Im concerned, and it allows deputy commissioners to stand up and say theres no systemic racism, Owusu-Bempah said, referring to comments from RCMP leaders last week that they have since walked back. He added that this data shouldnt be restricted to incidents in which police use force, as some are calling for. He says it should include information such as data on the race of people who call for wellness checks, in order to put it in the proper context. The race-based data collection needs to be much more broad, he said. Defund the police On Monday, Singh echoed calls from Black Lives Matter-Toronto to stop the militarization of police forces in Canada. This demand comes as activists around the world call to defund the police a reform that Singh described as redirecting money spent on police equipment like tanks to health and social services. Overall, the RCMP spent $3.8 billion in 2018-9, up 34 per cent from five years earlier when the agency spent $2.9 billion, according to data published by the federal Treasury Board. Owusu-Bempah said the defund initiative could mean that social workers or health teams could respond instead of police in some instances, such as wellness checks. Any time we have the police intruding less into the lives of the public, the less opportunity there is for both use of force as well as criminalization, he said. Matthew Green, an NDP member from Hamilton, is also sponsoring a petition in the House of Commons that calls for a ban on the use of tear gas in Canada and a study to change how to police are trained to emphasize de-escalating tensions before resorting to force. With files from The Canadian Press Read more about: BELGRADE -- Serbia's ruling right-wing populists are expected to dominate this weekend's national elections following a campaign that has featured a lot of flag-waving. It's just not the flag that most would expect to see in the Balkans, where the wedges of ethnically fueled nationalism and regional influence are countered by the economic and political allure of Western integration. Instead, it's the yellow-starred, red banner of communist China. For months -- including under a state of emergency over the COVID-19 threat that interrupted more than a year of weekly pro-democracy protests -- President Aleksandar Vucic and his government allies have encouraged Serbia's 7 million citizens to see China as vital to the nation's fate. Reportedly bankrolled by Vucic-friendly media and local governments, billboards and other prominent displays of gratitude toward China and its president, Xi Jinping, sprang up in Belgrade and other Serbian cities during the COVID-19 crisis. Official mashups have reinforced the notion of Sino-Serbian "brotherhood," even overshadowing the more familiar presence of the Russian tricolor that serves as a frequent counterweight to pro-Western political forces. "I think that Vucic is playing the Chinese card primarily for the home crowd," Tena Prelec, a research fellow at Oxford, told RFE/RL's Balkan Service. She noted that, after spending months playing up Chinese investment, Vucic recently "corrected his attitude toward the EU and acknowledged that the EU countries are the biggest investor in Serbia." In that preelection interview with RFE/RL, published on June 7, Vucic insisted that "We talk to everyone." "As far as we are concerned, we are on the European path," Vucic said. "We are not giving up on that." But he added that he valued Beijing's diplomatic backing over Serbia's biggest diplomatic irritant, its decade-long refusal to recognize the independence of its former autonomous province of Kosovo. "[We] unequivocally get that support for the integrity of Serbia from China and Russia and, on the other hand, we have very good economic cooperation and cooperation in all other areas," he said. Prelec described it as one Vucic narrative for "internal use" and another for audiences abroad. Unequal Opportunity? China has made Serbia a recent centerpiece of its European economic and political strategy by directing billions in loans and investment into the Western Balkans as part of its New Silk Road strategy. It does billions of dollars more in annual trade with Serbia. All at a time when the European Union is lukewarm about further expansion to include candidate states like Serbia and EU members are tightening restrictions on Chinese ownership. High-profile Chinese ventures include infrastructure projects like an ultramodern Belgrade-to-Budapest railway and Chinese strategic investments into traditional employers like the RTB Bor copper mine. Such largescale undertakings help shape a narrative of Chinese commitment to Balkan operations. Beijing has also tapped into Western unease at state capture and perceived democratic backsliding in Belgrade as Vucic has consolidated political control of institutions and major media while chipping away at press freedom. But it is Vucic, his Progressive Party (SNS), and their governing allies who have spurred the sudden elevation of China to such prominence inside the country. "It signals the connection not only between the government of Serbia and the Chinese state and Chinese companies, but also between the political party that is currently in power" in Serbia and the Chinese, according to Stefan Vladisavljev, program assistant at the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (BFPI), an NGO that promotes democracy and European integration for Serbia. Enter COVID-19 Early in the global pandemic, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic became the first top international diplomat to visit Beijing at the height of the Chinese outbreak in late February, in what he called a show of Serb "solidarity" with China. He emerged from the trip echoing an unproven conspiracy theory -- first floated by Chinese officials -- that the COVID-19 outbreak might be "part of a special war against China." But Belgrade's sharpest rhetoric came early in mid-March as COVID-19 exploded in Europe, in an angry speech in which Vucic brushed aside "European solidarity" as a "nonexistent...fairy tale on paper" in one breath and in the next suggested Xi and China were "the only ones who can help us in this difficult situation." It was a simple, but potentially misleading, message. China delivered some aid in the form of masks and other medical equipment, and it dispatched a half-dozen health-care advisers to Serbia. But while they were widely criticized for moving too slowly initially, EU countries eventually contributed tens of millions of dollars' worth of health-care and other emergency aid to Serbia to help it cope with the coronavirus. Serbia's first parliamentary elections since 2016 were initially set for April 26, but were postponed when the COVID-19 state of emergency was declared. Now, ahead of the country's first parliamentary elections since 2016, the ruling coalition appears to be trying to show off its deep-pocketed Chinese friends to beat back the challenge from a divided opposition -- some of whom are boycotting the vote to protest electoral reforms that appear to favor the ruling parties. "In relation to China in general, there is certainly a benefit for the SNS in the sense that economic relations between the two countries are very important," Prelec said. Campaign Photo Ops Vucic and Chinese Ambassador Chen Bo met at the construction site of a planned Belgrade-to-Budapest, high-speed railway on May 30. Around the same time, Vucic went out of his way recently to signal support for the Chinese Communist Party's effort to tighten Beijing's security grip on the specially governed territory of Hong Kong despite a widespread international outcry. The backing from Belgrade prompted a letter of gratitude from Xi. And Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and her cabinet, which includes a number of faces from Vucic's last government before he moved to the presidency in 2017, have also gone to great lengths to play up Chinese ties. On June 9, Brnabic and Ambassador Chen visited a Chinese greenfield project to produce car parts in Nis. The same day, Construction, Transportation, and Infrastructure Minister Zorana Mihajlovic and Belgrade's mayor appeared alongside a senior executive from a Chinese company building a highway bypass outside Belgrade. The next day, Mihajlovic appeared alongside Chen at the signing of a joint Serbian-Chinese agreement to build a new stretch of highway in western Serbia. On June 11, Brnabic and Mining and Energy Minister Aleksandar Antic visited the Bor mine and met with executives from its Chinese majority owner, Zijin Mining Group, for a photo op. Anti-COVID-19 measures have kept a lid on in-person campaigning to prevent the spread of the disease, amplifying the importance of official access to media. Many of the events have made their way onto Progressive Party social-media accounts. "We have the promotion of Chinese projects as part of the election campaign, and these are large strategic projects that unquestionably contribute to the state infrastructure of Serbia," Vladisavljev said. The Proof Is In The Pudding Even in the area of investment, however, while Serbia has been a mounting focal point for Chinese political outreach and loans and investment into Europe, the numbers pale in comparison to EU-Serbian investment and mutual trade. EU companies were responsible for nearly 70 percent of cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) to Serbia between 2010 and 2018, for instance. And Vucic acknowledged in his recent RFE/RL interview that two-thirds of Serbia's trade is with EU members. "Serbia has nearly 1,000 times less trade with the People's Republic of China than just two EU countries," he said in a refence to the Netherlands and Germany. Much of Serbian officials' cheerleading for China has appeared carefully crafted to spur the EU into moving faster on Serbian membership and other integration efforts. And Vucic, who wants to be seen shepherding the country toward EU-level prosperity, is eager to further the notion in the minds of potential voters that outsiders regard Serbia as an attractive investment destination. "Maintaining a very high rate of foreign investment is something that the Serbian government is very proud of, and it is crucial for Vucic's entire narrative of a successful economy, which is very important to him," said Prelec. Postelection Change Of Tack? Few doubt that Vucic will hold most of the cards after the June 21 elections. He hinted recently that, if his SNS wins, Brnabic -- an openly gay independent who lent the party a liberal social sheen after stepping in to fill the gap left by Vucic's move to the presidential seat -- will be just one of a number of possible choices for prime minister. And there are already signs this week of a possible postelection pivot to tend to relations with trade and diplomatic partners closer to home. Foreign Minister Dacic last week said Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, would travel to Serbia this week in a seeming show of support for the ruling coalition. Russia has linguistic and historical ties to Serbia, as well as being a vocal opponent of Kosovar independence on the UN Security Council. Vucic has already received an invite to Russia a week after the elections to meet with President Vladimir Putin and observe a Victory Day parade to mark the end of World War II that was postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic. A pivotal juncture could also be approaching in Belgrade's longstanding opposition to independence for Kosovo -- its former autonomous province -- with the United States in particular pressing hard for a deal to normalize diplomatic relations between Pristina and Belgrade and tamp down instability from the dispute. A deal to return Serbia and Kosovo to negotiations could clear Serbia's biggest impediment to deeper and more expansive relations with the West. U.S. special envoy Richard Grenell has announced that Serbian and Kosovar representatives will meet in Washington on June 27 for talks, likely to include Vucic and Kosovar President Hashem Thaci. Grenell suggested that each side had made "temporary" concessions in the run-up to that visit, including Belgrade "pausing" its long-running derecognition campaign aimed at eroding support for Kosovo statehood. And although no meeting with Serbian officials has been announced, the European Union's special envoy, Miroslav Lajcak, was scheduled to be in the Kosovar capital this week to press for a resumption of the dialogue, according to an EU spokeswoman in Pristina. A breakthrough on the stubborn impasse with Kosovo could end a decade of tension and help stabilize the Western Balkans to encourage greater Western trade and investment in Serbia and the region. An eight-year-old boy from Alabama has died nearly a month after being struck by a falling angel yard statue. David Smith, from Anniston, was severely injured when the sculpture toppled onto him on May 20. He was rushed to Children's of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, where he remained in a comatose state for the next three-and-a-half weeks. Heartbreaking photos shared on Facebook by the boy's mother through a friend showed David in his hospital bed hooked up to a ventilator with stitches visible on his forehead and swelling on his face. David Smith was injured on May 20 when angel yard statue toppled onto him. The eight-year-old spent more than three weeks in a coma at a Birmingham hospital before passing away Despite the efforts of his doctors, the boy succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, reported Al.com. 'David was a lovable, joyful, precious boy and he loved everyone,' his obituary ready. The child was said to be a straight-A student at Walter Wellborn Elementary School. He was expected to enter third grade's gifted program next fall. The school posted a message of condolence on its Facebook page: 'Prayers for the family of David Smith and our community. We will miss this sweet boy.' According to the obituary, David loved riding his bike, swimming, building with LEGOs, drawing and reading. David, described as 'his mother's Angel,' was a rising third-grader who was set to enter a gifted program at his school next fall 'He loved helping others and was his mothers world. Everyone that knew him loved him and he was always smiling,' the obituary stated. 'He is his mothers Angel now.' David is survived by his parents, his step-father and grandparents. 06/16/2020 Photo (c) Julia_Sudnitskaya - Getty Images Did you ever think there would come a time when airlines would require every passenger to wear a mask AND stop selling alcohol? Welcome to the new norm, folks. One by one, airlines have been drawing new lines in the sand with new coronavirus-related restrictions. For example, United Airlines issued a comprehensive list of mandates last week that included confirmation from passengers that they have not had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the two weeks before the flight they're boarding. Thanks to Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization representing the leading domestic carriers, airlines will no longer be doing their own thing when it comes to face coverings. In an all-in move, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines have all agreed on a sweeping, uniform, health mask policy. Revoked flying privileges A4A says its entire membership will be vigorously enforcing face-covering policies for both passengers and crew. By vigorously, the organization means that face coverings will have to cover both the nose and mouth, not just hanging from the ear on an as-needed basis. Heres what airlines and travelers will be expected to do. Preflight Communications: Each airline will inform its individual face-covering policy in all communications with customers (e.g., email and reservation confirmations), which may require passengers to tick a box saying they acknowledge the specific rules during the check-in process. Onboard Announcements: Aboard each flight, crew members will announce details regarding their airlines face covering policy, including the consequences passengers could face for not adhering to the policy. Consequences for Noncompliance: Rather than a uniform punishment, each carrier will be expected to create the appropriate consequences for passengers who are found to be in noncompliance with the airlines face covering policy. A4A says the airlines have broad powers in this regard -- up to and including suspension of flying privileges on that airline. American Airlines, for one, says its line on masks is hard and fast; the company says it will deny boarding to customers who dont comply. Adding an extra dare, American says it may also deny future travel for customers who refuse to wear a face covering. Dry flights While consumers turned to alcohol to relieve stress caused by COVID-19 and produced a sales boom, the airlines have decided to put their alcoholic beverages under lock and key for the near future, despite what profit might be had. U.S. airlines like Delta, Southwest, and American, along with European carriers including Easyjet and KLM, and Asia-centric Virgin Australia, are all suspending either some or part of their alcoholic beverage service in response to the coronavirus. If a cocktail is a must, some airlines will have them available in First Class and/or on long-haul international flights. The changes may sound drastic, but the airlines cant run the risk of the added interaction between passengers and crew members. Passengers should also be prepared for limitations on other beverages. As an example, Southwest Airlines and Virgin Australia are serving water only for the time being. WASHINGTON - Government watchdogs are warning that a legal determination by the Trump administration could severely limit their ability to oversee more than $1 trillion in spending related to the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to four congressional committees, a panel of inspectors general overseeing a sweeping economic rescue law said an ambiguity in the law could block the watchdogs from conducting independent oversight. The letter from Michael Horowitz and Robert Westbrooks, the officials leading the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, cites a May 7 memo by the Treasury Departments legal counsel concluding that disclosure requirements in the rescue law do not extend to more than $1 trillion in spending nearly half of the $2.4 trillion committed to the rescue law by Congress. If this interpretation of the CARES Act were correct, it would raise questions about PRACs authority to conduct oversight of spending that includes federal loans for small businesses, aid to cities, states and tribes and other programs, the letter says. The CARES Act is the rescue laws formal name. This would present potentially significant transparency and oversight issues because (the spending in question) includes over $1 trillion in funding, the letter says. Horowitz is the Justice Department inspector general and acting chairman of the PRAC panel, while Wesbrooks is the groups executive director. The warning comes as lawmakers complain that the Trump administration has repeatedly blocked efforts to oversee the rescue law, including refusing to turn over detailed information about companies that applied for and received federal loans intended for small businesses. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Congress last week that the names of loan recipients and the amounts disbursed as part of the $600 billion-plus Paycheck Protection Program are proprietary information and do not have to be made public. Democrats and some Republicans say there is nothing proprietary or confidential about businesses receiving millions of taxpayer dollars. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee, said the Trump administration seems to be arguing that loopholes in the law exempt agencies from producing certain information, even as they express a commitment to transparency and accountability. They seem to be saying one thing while doing exactly the opposite, Maloney said. If the Trump administration is committed to full co-operation and transparency with taxpayer dollars, it is unclear why it is manufacturing legal loopholes to avoid responding to legitimate oversight requests. The Treasury Department said in a statement that it is fully committed to CARES Act transparency. Spokeswoman Monica Crowley said spending is subjected to comprehensive oversight, including at least three inspectors general, a new congressional panel and the independent Government Accountability Office. The Treasury Department is also briefing Congress and updating its spending on government websites, she said. A spokeswoman for Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said Shelby would support amending the rescue law to clarify that the inspector generals panel has authority to oversee the law. American taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent. Neither the letter nor the spirit of the law limit the accountability committees purview in that regard, said Blair Taylor, a spokeswoman for Shelby. While Mnuchin has said releasing the names of loan recipients could compromise proprietary and sensitive business information, he tweeted Monday that he is working with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and others to strike the appropriate balance for proper oversight? of PPP loans. Rubio, a Republican who heads the small business panel and pushed for creation of the loan program, said Monday that he and Mnuchin are working through a way to ensure that the names of some loan recipients are made public. There will be disclosure,? Rubio said, adding it will likely be focused on larger loans above $2 million or some other number to be determined. Im not sure theres a lot of curiosity about a $15,000 loan,? he told The Associated Press, but obviously the bigger numbers at the top end ... its hard to argue that information shouldnt be available.? President Donald Trump has moved to curb oversight since the rescue law was adopted in late March. Trump suggested the oversight provisions were unnecessary and immediately moved to undercut them, saying even as he signed the law that the administration didnt have to comply with some of them. He then ousted the official named chairman of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, a board of inspectors general established to monitor the unprecedented spending. So far, the administration is saying little about where the money is going. In the 10 weeks after the Paycheck Protection Program was launched, the Small Business Administration says it has processed 4.5 million loans worth $511 billion. But it has yet to reveal the recipients of taxpayer aid. The agency has only provided general information, such as the total amounts of loans awarded in a given time period. A House subcommittee overseeing the coronavirus aid demanded Monday that the Trump administration and some of the nations largest banks turn over detailed information about companies that applied for and received federal loans. Two injured as pickup driver swerves to miss dog, hits tree PHUKET: A man and his female partner suffered injuries after their pickup truck hit a tree on the Thepkrasattri Rd traffic island in Thalang early this morning (Jun 16) after the driver attempted to avoid hitting a dog that had walked out onto the road. transportaccidentsanimalspolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Tuesday 16 June 2020, 01:44PM Both the driver and his passnger needed first aid before being taken to Thalang Hospital. Photo: Eakkapop Thontub Both the driver and his passnger needed first aid before being taken to Thalang Hospital. Photo: Eakkapop Thontub Both the driver and his passnger needed first aid before being taken to Thalang Hospital. Photo: Eakkapop Thontub The pickup appeared to have swerved all the way onto the northbound lanes before serving back onto the traffic island and hitting the tree. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The pickup appeared to have swerved all the way onto the northbound lanes before serving back onto the traffic island and hitting the tree. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The pickup appeared to have swerved all the way onto the northbound lanes before serving back onto the traffic island and hitting the tree. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Police and rescue workers called to the scene, near the u-turn in front of Thai Watsadu on Thepkrasattri Rd southbound in Moo 5, Srisoonthorn, at 4:50am. Rescue workers from Srisoonthorn Municipality were first on the scene to find a white Isuzu pickup truck with heavy damage to its front after it had slammed into a palm tree on the central reservation. When I arrived, rescue workers were already starting to transfer the injured to the hospital, Capt Somnuk Kaewphet of the Thalang Police told The Phuket News. The driver, Thitiphan Pramaunsil, 39, from Khok Kloi, Takua Thung, Phang Nga Province, had injuries to his chest, back and hips. His passenger, Saifon Aetdam, 37, had suffered injuries to her forehead and back. Rescue workers at the scene said both were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. Winai Wan-ae, one of the rescue workers at the scene, said that both Mr Thitiphan and Ms Saifon had suffered only moderate injuries. They both needed first aid before being taken to Thalang Hospital for further treatment, he said. Capt Somnuk explained that the couple were driving from Phang Nga to pick up shrimp at Rawai when a dog had walked out onto the road in front of them. Mr Thitiphan tried to avoid the dog, but lost control of the pickup truck. At the scene, it appeared that the pickup had swerved all the way across the traffic island and onto the northbound lanes, before swerving back onto the traffic island and hitting the tree. Despite Mr Thitiphans efforts, the pickup truck had hit the dog, which died at the scene, Capt Somnuk confirmed. Capt Somnuk said he had yet to determine whether charges were to be pressed over the accident. We are still investigating the accident and need to obtain statements from both the injured people before we can decide whether any charges will be pending, he said. Additional reporting by Khunanya Wanchanwet Recent events prompted us to draw parallels to the opening line of Charles Dickens fictional classic, A Tale of Two Cities, set during the turbulent French Revolution. Most remember that it opens with: It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Unlike Dickens work, however, our story is true. Our best of times provides the good fortune that we work at Northwood Universitys main campus in Midland and live in the vibrant Great Lakes Bay region. Our worst of times can be summarized by the fact that Midland and Northwood, like most places, are adversely impacted by the economic and political constraints used to fight the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in a -5 percent GDP in the first quarter and a likely -30+ percent GDP in the second quarter. Intensifying our plight, Northwood and Midland were, as Michigan, America and the world watched, ravaged recently by heavy rainfall and historic flooding due to the failure of two nearby dams. This travesty resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in estimated damage caused by devastating negligence. More than a week before the flood, Midlanders were hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. The community response that followed symbolizes the indomitable spirit of what it means to be a Midlander and what we at Northwood believe it means to be free. That, in times of crisis, it is the individual and private groups who most often respond far more quickly and effectively than government can react. Midlands many volunteer and philanthropic organizations, along with faith-based groups far and near, activated quickly and adroitly to tirelessly serve the community with labor, hope, comfort and relief. This can-do effort is reflective of a special DNA woven throughout the social fabric of America to do the right thing and help those in need. Literally, as the flood waters were still receding, Midlanders, supported by Northwoods faculty, staff and students immediately began to volunteer their time, talent and treasure. Without direction from central government, over the ensuing days, these caring citizens, began to clean up flooded basements, rip out contaminated dry wall and flooring, remove trash to expedite the citys recovery, and started to donate their financial resources to assist those most impacted by the floodwaters. Upon reflection, it is a beautiful experience to see citizens act swiftly and freely because they simply feel responsible for themselves and their neighbors. There are many examples of neighborly-kindness, and a shining example of our collective humanity is the communitys response to the plight of a colleague, Professor Glenn Moots. The damage to the Moots' family home, located near one of the failed dams, required it to be completely gutted. A GoFundMe page has raised a substantial amount to cover lost wages, living expenses and help in the rebuild. Literally hundreds of volunteers have performed tens of thousands of dollars worth of clean-up and pre-construction work on the family home, while never asking for a dime. Long before a government entity even knew of his plight, friends and inspired strangers were there in his greatest hour of need. Making a tragedy more palatable, these volunteers, especially the Moots family s larger church body, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, gives them hope for a home restored by Christmas. As a university, we continue to respond decisively with helplines and action plans to mitigate the flood damage to our campus, located along the scenic banks of the Tittabawassee River. Our flood relief plan will allow us to make the campus better and more resilient than ever when we open this fall. While insurance companies are issuing reports, often denying claims and state and federal agencies assess their roles, Midland ultimately is coming back faster than most thought possible because of volunteerism and massive doses of individual kindness and charity. There is an important role for government, yet Midlanders, our mid-Michigan neighbors and Timberwolves (Northwood faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends) can take great pride in our fast and compassionate response can usher in a best of times. Together, we are proving once again that the worst of times brings out our very best and that free people can and do accomplish great things. Dr. Kent MacDonald is president of Northwood University, and Dr. Timothy G. Nash is director of the McNair Center at Northwood University. While most Americans have heard of the Red Scare, the McCarthyist campaign during the early years of the Cold War to vilify alleged Communists, far fewer learn about the concurrent Lavender Scare, a much larger wave of repression that gained force in 1953 when President Dwight Eisenhower signed an executive order banning gay men and lesbians from all jobs in government. All told, between 5,000 and tens of thousands of gay workers are estimated to have lost their jobs. That was the 1950s, but Dr. Chauncey stressed that the risk of losing ones livelihood and aspirations remains a powerful constraint on L.G.B.T.Q. people around the country, as the experiences of the plaintiffs in this case make clear. The stakes in this case were very high, he said, and the courts decision should be regarded one of the most important legal victories of the L.G.B.T.Q. movement. Chase Strangio, a lawyer who worked on the case, said on PBS News Hour: This was an incredible day, coming on the heels of so many incredible and heartbreaking days of organizing and resistance. And the work has been fought for decades for what is an incredibly basic proposition, that you shouldnt be fired from work just because of who you are. [Related: The Supreme Court has given trans people reason to hope again] Inside the case Unlike Obergefell v. Hodges, the case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015, Mondays Supreme Court ruling concerned not the Constitution but a statute: the Civil Rights Act of 1964. At issue was whether Title VII of the act, which prohibits employment discrimination because of such individuals sex, also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Those who answer in the negative argue that if the authors of the Civil Rights Act had intended it to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, they would have said so in explicit terms. Discrimination because of sex was not understood as having anything to do with discrimination because of sexual orientation or transgender status, wrote Justice Samuel Alito in his dissent. Any such notion would have clashed in spectacular fashion with the societal norms of the day. But Dr. Chauncey pointed out that less than a decade after the Civil Rights Act was passed, conservatives themselves warned that the proposed Equal Rights Amendments ban on sex discrimination would require states to legalize same-sex marriages. And while some have argued that transgenderism wasnt even a thing in 1964, it manifestly was, and had by that point been a subject of front-page news for more than a decade. In any case, for Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the courts opinion, whether legislators in 1964 could have anticipated every eventual consequence of the language they used was beside the point. As a matter of logic, he wrote, discrimination based on homosexuality or transgender status necessarily entails discrimination based on sex; the first cannot happen without the second. India-China stand off: Casualties on both sides says Indian Army India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 16: The Indian Army has said that there have been casualties on both sides, during the face off with China. After reports said that an Indian Army officer and two jawans have lost their lives at the Galwan Valley, the Army later clarified that there have been casualties on both sides. Casualties have been suffered on both sides in the violent stand off during the de-escalation process with China in the Galwan Valley, the Indian Army said in an amended statement. Army colonel & 2 Jawans martyred in violent faceoff with Chinese troops at LAC | Oneindia News 1 officer, 2 jawans of Indian Army martyred at Galwan Valley During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation, the earlier statement from the Army said. The two sides had managed to make headway last week, when the Lt. Generals of both sides had met. Army Chief M M Naravane said that the disengagement was in process. On Saturday, Army Chief M M Naravane had said hat the military dialogue would hopefully resolve the issue. He also said that the disengagement of troops had begun in a phased manner. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, while reacting to the incident said, "We call upon India not to take unilateral actions or stir up trouble". Beijing has also accused India of attacking its personnel, news agency AFP reported. Whale watchers have reported sightings of Australia's favourite whale Migaloo taking part in his annual migration north from Antarctica to the waters off Queensland. Migaloo was spotted off the New South Wales south coast on Monday heading north. A tweet reporting the sighting predicted he would be 'cruising past' Sydney sometime soon, and could reach Cape Byron around Wednesday. The report sparked plenty of interest among whale watchers, as they planned the best way to catch a glimpse of the famous mammal. Migaloo is rumoured to have been spotted off the New South Wales south coast on Monday heading north Macquarie University Marine Scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia people should take the sighting with a grain of salt Macquarie University Marine Scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta was not convinced by the sighting, telling Daily Mail Australia that he would be hard to identify from shore. 'Migaloo is one of around 40,000 humpback whales so essentially it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. So when people see or may have seen this individual people get really excited and start to try and predict his movements,' Dr Pirotta said. Each year between May and November the humpback whale population makes its annual pilgrimage from Antarctica to the warmer waters off north east Australia. They then mate and give birth before returning south with their young. While Migaloo is one of these estimated 40,000 he's considered particularly special because of his unusual colouring. The first sighting of Migaloo dates back to 1991 around Hervey Bay and researchers have been following the creature ever since. Researchers were fascinated by Migaloo's colouring, as he was believed to be the first fully white whale in the eastern humpback whale population. He was named 'Migaloo' which means 'whitefella' in several indigenous languages. The first sighting of Migaloo dates back to 1991 around Hervey Bay and researchers have been following the creature ever since Scientists still aren't sure if he's an albino whale or if he is he is leucistic, meaning he is unable to produce pigment but has coloured eyes. However since this date, another three or four white whales have been discovered: Bahloo, Willow and Migaloo Jnr. Dr Pirotta said despite this he's still the world's most famous whale. 'Migaloo is like the rock star for the ocean world because he's showing that we should care about the ocean. But also remembering that because he's so famous we need to be aware of our actions on the water,' Dr Pirotta said. The whale is so well-known extra protections are in place, meaning people have to keep at least 500metres away or face severe penalties. Anyone who breaches the regulations around distance could be fined $16,500. Dr Pirotta said the chances of spotting Migaloo were remote. 'You would have to be quite lucky. I've only seen him once in my entire career of whale watching,' she said. 'But if anything, going down to the ocean at this time of year to look for whales is a fantastic thing. And you never what you're going to see,' she said. 'Our death rate is much less. So far we are doing very well.' IMAGE: A National Human Rights Commission team visits the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan Hospital in New Delhi on June 11, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo New Delhi's Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan hospital may be India's larges, dedicated COVID-19 treatment facility in the country, but it is also the one that is constantly in the public eye. Run by the Delhi government, it is, like most government-run facilities, not in great shape. Dirty wards, not enough attendants, lack of communication with relatives of patients... as if all this is not enough, it was rocked by television footage aired last week showing naked dead bodies lying abandoned in wards. Defending the hospital against the controversies is Dr Suresh Kumar, the hospital's medical director. In an interview to Sheela Bhatt and Aniruddh Sheth, Dr Kumar, below, says, "Our mortality rate is only around 2%. 98% success! Can you believe? 98% success. So mortality is just 2 to 2.5%." People seeking medical care to treat COVID-19 are so afraid of government-run hospitals. Only people who can't afford private hospitals are coming here. This is a wrong perception. See, some of the people are giving the negative aspect... You see, this hospital is number one in Covid patient care in the country, the whole country. In India, it is the number one hospital in terms of patients who are successfully treated. More than 3,000 patient we have treated successfully, have gone home! This is the largest hospital in India treating COVID-19. Today also we have 800 Covid patients here. It is bigger than AIIMS in terms of COVID-19 care. The number of beds is much more than in AIIMS. So what is your explanation for the horrific video footage showing dead bodies left unattended in your wards? No, no, no, because this is the old hospital and these facilities are for middle class families. It's not a luxury hospital. This is a hospital run by the Delhi government. And this is made into a COVID-19 hospital. The first hospital, dedicated, COVID-19 hospital of North India. Here 54 patients are in ICU. We have a large number of patients on ventilators. And we have successfully treated more than 3000 patients. And we have more than 4,000 admissions, till date. We have conducted 60 caesarean procedures on COVID-19 positive patients. And we have more than 300 patients on dialysis. In entire North India, not a single hospital is doing dialysis of Covid patients. We have a large number of kidney patients. Any patients having kidney disease and found COVID-19 positive, we treat them... So, you can imagine the workload. So what is your explanation, how come a naked dead body was lying unattended? I want to say that whatever perception you are seeing, that LNJP is not favoured or not good, and quality of care is not good, is incorrect. I just want to tell you the truth. The fact is we are still number 1 in quality care, it is still number 1 in the outcome. It is still number 1 in saving human lives in the country today. Have you enquired into what happened to the dead bodies? Why were they lying neglected? Dead bodies were like that because CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was done. When patients die we do cardia resuscitation, and we remove the clothes. And that's why it was naked. Secondly, that patient was catheterised. Urinary catheter was there in the private part and that catheter has to be removed when the patient died. So when we remove the catheter that's why the clothes were removed. Because when you remove the catheter you have to expose the part, when you do the CPR you have to remove the clothes! So it happens sometimes. We met relatives of patients. Please listen to them sympathetically, they are saying they want their sick relatives to get discharged from your hospital. You see, there is a problem with communication. Here is a government hospital. We don't allow attendants to go and meet the patients because it is an infective process. This virus can infect the family members. So we have a policy to not allow the attendant to meet the patients. So sometimes their phone is not charged! So they lose communication with the patients, between relatives and patients. They can't talk to the patients. Sometimes, there's a problem with the telephone charging. Sometime there is a problem with the clothes. These are small, minor, problems. And we have limited resources. Why limited resources? Limited resources in terms of manpower, like nursing staff. Ideally, we should give one nursing orderly to help one patient. Like for 800 patients you need 800 attendants. We have 1,800 nurses. 25% of our staff is on quarantine, 25% staff is on night duty, and we have an eight-hour shift. Still, we have a large number of nurses working in wards. What is the reason behind the horror stories coming from your hospital? See most of these are... Like some of the video is motivated video, shot by one of the employees; a frustrated employee of this hospital. Somebody is doing this. I don't know why this... There is a procedure for disposing of dead bodies, so why are dead bodies unattended? No, no. You see, there was a breakdown in the lift, the lift was not operational. The lift was not working, so there was some delay. And two-three bodies were there in the ward and the lift was not working! Because the lift was not working it remained there for some time. There was some technical failure in the lift, that's why it happened. How is the Covid situation in Delhi? Delhi is doing very well! They are managing this COVID-19 problem very well, so far. But because the number is increasing, if you see the spread of disease, everyday we have 1,500 cases. And 10% of them require hospitalisation, means out of 1,500, 150 would be requiring hospitalisation. These are seriously sick patients. These are the patients whose oxygen is low, they are in distress, there are having breathing problems, they have multi-organ problems. These patients require indoor care. We are alarmed by the number, every day the number is increasing. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said Delhi will need 15,000 beds by July 31. And here at LNJP 1,200 beds are empty. How do you explain this? No, no. 1,200 beds are empty because this is a tertiary care hospital. We have other hospitals also. Corona care units are there where mild cases are kept, we have the hospitals in the periphery. So for mild cases, isolation, cases, they go there. Only those patients who are critically ill, who are seriously ill, they are here. What is the biggest shortcoming in managing coronavirus? The overall problem of the COVID-19 virus is the same. It is not curable. There is no vaccine, there is no effective drug. There is no anti viral. So whatever supportive treatment we are giving, we are giving the best. What is the best suggested treatment by WHO, by ICMR or by the Government of India, we are following that guideline. And our results are better, because we are managing in a more professional way. Our faculty, our doctors, nurses are doing an extremely good job, they are doing a lot of hard work. We have 230 senior residents, 235 junior residents, and we have more than 200 faculty, professor-level doctors. They are coming daily and attending work. What went wrong? Why this dread? Fear? Some rumours are there, some misinformation is there, some information is not getting across the board because nobody is giving, because we are in the government, we are busy in our work, we are just attending to the patients. Beyond the warden we are not interacting. Our mortality rate is only around 2%. 98% success! Can you believe? 98% success. So mortality is just 2 to 2.5%. Only those who don't have money are coming here. When these patients are admitted that's when the tension starts. Relatives aren't told what is happening inside the wards. That is happening because... No, no, no. There is a communication problem. Once a patient goes inside the ICU, they can't communicate using mobile phones. Patient gets serious, requires dialysis, that procedure takes four hours. For four hours s/he will not be able to communicate with her/his family members. So they will start worrying. But if they are on the dialysis machine, how will they pick up the phone? If a patient is getting a Caesarean procedure, they are in the operation theatre, it will take them 12 hours to come out of anaesthesia. Because of the Caesarean procedure, the anaesthesia given takes up to 12 hours to regain consciousness. So then the family will start to worry because they cannot contact them for 12 hours. So these are the technical problems. These are the problems related to COVID-19 care. It is not an ordinary situation. This is an extraordinary problem. You see, people's expectations are more. People expect doctors should attend to patients and relatives round the clock. We need to improve doctors to patients ratio, that is one thing which has to be improved all over the country. Where is Delhi going now? Will there be an exponential rise in cases? I can't say that, I can't say that. I can't predict the future, but the number is going to increase, definitely. For the next one month, the number is going to increase. Because more and more people are mobile, because transport is opened. Urban mobility is there. The patients are coming from villages to Delhi. The trains are coming from all the states to Delhi. So transport is opened up. Everything, malls, bazaars shops are opened up. People are mixing. So once people are mixing, the spread is unavoidable... because people are not obeying the guidelines. People must follow social distancing. They must wear the mask. They must respect medical advice. Because people are not disciplined as we see in other countries. Has Delhi followed the right strategy? Yes, yes! Delhi is much better than many of the states! How can you say that? Delhi has the most serious cases after Maharashtra. Maharashtra's number is three-four times more than Delhi, deaths are much more. Our death rate is much less. So far we are doing very well. But because we have urban mobility we have patients from NCR. We have no control over patients coming from Ghaziabad, Noida, any of the places in northern India. So people are coming from other states also. Hong Kong: Teresa Cheng mourns Peter Nguyen Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng today expressed sorrow over the passing of Peter Nguyen, a retired Honourable Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court and former Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Nguyen was called to the Bar in the United Kingdom in 1970. In the same year, he served as an Assistant Crown Counsel in the then Legal Department and was subsequently promoted to the post of Crown Counsel. He entered private practice in 1974. Mr Nguyen returned to the Government and held the post of Director of Public Prosecutions from 1994 to 1997. He was appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in 1998 and retired in 2008. Mr Nguyen was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1995. Ms Cheng said: "Mr Nguyen had offered distinguished and dedicated service to the Hong Kong community and the Government, making significant contributions to the criminal justice system over the years. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Mr Nguyen's family on behalf of the Department of Justice." This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. WASHINGTON For conservative Christian groups, Mondays Supreme Court ruling protecting the rights of gay and transgender workers was not only the latest sign that they are losing the American culture wars over sexuality. It also caused widespread concern that it could affect how they operate their own institutions. Many faith-based organizations, like schools or nonprofits, do not allow L.G.B.T. people to work there, citing religious beliefs that sex should only be between a man and a woman who are married. No question it is going to make it harder to defend our religious freedom, as far as an organization being able to hire people of like mind, said Franklin Graham, who leads Samaritans Purse, a large evangelical relief group. I find this to be a very sad day, he said. I dont know how this is going to protect us. The employment of L.G.B.T. workers in religious institutions has been an issue across the country. In recent high-profile cases, teachers at Catholic schools in Washington State and Indiana have said they were forced to leave because of their sexual identity. San Diego Police officers stand near police headquarters as Black Lives Matter protesters gather in the area June 14. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune) To the editor: There are some things that the critics of police officers and departments need to know before they try to chasten us. ("Rodney King's beating provides a road map for investigating police misconduct," Opinion, June 11) First, if you don't want quality-of-life laws enforced, then don't pass them. We don't get to pick which laws we enforce and which ones we do not. Second, we have inherited the problems that politicians did not want to deal with. We never asked to handle homelessness or mental illness, two problems that were relegated to us when lawmakers failed to find a better solution. We've tried to do our best, even without the training or resources. This condemnation hurts, especially when most people wouldn't dream of criticizing a short-order cook but are, all of a sudden, experts in the criminal justice system and all of its nuances. I truly hope our critics get all the reforms they seek, especially the most radical, because it will make an irrefutable case for the consequences of emotion and ignorance. Nevertheless, people should just let us know what they want. We've always tried to do our best, but right now we are not only hurt but also confused. Charles Heal, La Verne The writer is a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department commander. .. To the editor: Police recruits new to the job don't start out inclined to harm rather than help citizens. The recruitment process ends with a psychological exam. The purpose is to exclude candidates who exhibit characteristics that are not compatible with police work. The entry-level selection process is very competitive. In my experience working with the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1980s, in both the recruitment and selection of new officers, only about 2% of all applicants made it into the Police Academy for training. Once on the job, however, things can change. Two rookie officers stood by and watched as their senior training officer snuffed out the life of George Floyd in Minneapolis. I agree with op-ed article writer Jim Newton this points to a cultural problem. Story continues Only when there's accountability for bad behavior at all levels in police departments, and when all disciplinary actions and outcomes are made public, can this end. We owe it to the good cops. Marsha Noble, Carlsbad .. To the editor: In a nation where there is a proliferation of lethal weapons, police too often face deadly confrontations. Part of the equation of excessive force is the threat of encountering armed individuals. The people are justified in their protest against police racial bias and excessive force. They should include the need for gun control as part of their protests. Gerald Benezra, Northridge A Sudanese prosecutor suggested Monday that nationals wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes like ousted president Omar al-Bashir may not be extradited to The Hague. Bashir, who was overthrown by the army in April last year amid huge protests against his rule, has been wanted by the ICC for his role in the Darfur conflict and faces charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. But prosecutor Tagelsir al-Hebr said individuals wanted by the International Criminal Court are not required to be (physically) present at the courts headquarters (in The Hague) for a judgement. Hebr, who did not refer to Bashir by name, said legal obstacles concerning Sudans sovereignty stand in the way of extraditing people to the ICC. Hebr did not elaborate but said Sudan would coordinate any future action with the ICC. His comments came as Sudanese militia leader Ali Kushayb, who turned himself in earlier this month after 13 years on the run, appeared Monday before the ICC via video-link from a detention centre in The Hague. Kushayb, who was not in court due to coronavirus measures, was informed of charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against him over the Darfur conflict. He denied the accusations. The Darfur conflict broke out in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels who complained of systematic discrimination took up arms against the Arab-dominated government of Bashir. The long-time dictator was ousted in April 2019 after months of street demonstrations against his three decade rule. In December, Bashir was sentenced to two years detention in a correctional facility in an initial corruption case. Pending rulings in other cases, he remains in Khartoums Kober prison. In February, a transitional government now ruling Sudan approved in principle the transfer of suspects wanted by the ICC to The Hague. Several former aides to Bashir, including ex-government minister Ahmed Haroun, are also wanted for war crimes committed in Darfur. (Photo : Location-Based Web Scraping 101) The internet is swarming with loads and loads of information that no human can go through in a lifetime. And it's not the access to all this data that matters - it's finding a scalable way to gather, organize, and analyze it. The best way to do that is web scraping, or in this case - location-based web scraping. It helps any internet user and business automatically extract all relevant data to the specific location in the preferred format. Web scraping can be used in a wide range of situations, but we'll stick with geolocation web scraping. Location-based website variations Any internet-connected device has its own longitudinal and latitudinal location, also known as geolocation. Each electronic medium that attempts to establish a connection with the internet is bound to a particular location. Location-based websites use geolocation data to find out all they need about their visitors, including their location. If you want to find out the location of a specific website, you can do the same. Depending on the country they operate in, the majority of companies use location-based website variations. These variations are the clones of their original, main website that operate in different locations under local regulations. The reasons why these variations exist are many. In terms of business, geolocation helps companies in many different ways. It helps improve online experiences for visitors. For example, if a delivery food chain plans on expanding to a new location, they can use geolocation to find out how many people know about them in that location. Companies can significantly improve their marketing and website experience with the use of geolocation. They need these variations to attract local target audiences. In this case, geolocated web scraping helps these businesses extract the useful data they need to make the expansion to a new location successful. Examples of popular websites with geolocation variations Geolocation isn't limited to the location of the site visitor but to a locality, city, or region. If you use IP geolocation, you won't need the user's consent because it won't give you the exact location of the user. However, IP geolocation can help a business improve the consumer experience. Here are three examples of popular websites with geolocation variations. 1. AliExpress AliExpress is the ultimate website for worldwide sales. So, if you try to access this website from Canada, you'll be automatically redirected to a Canadian version of the website. The system will automatically show you the cost of the goods and delivery in a local currency, by using IP geolocation. 2. Google There is no bigger or better search engine than Google. Just like with AliExpress, a Canadian user will see their Google version targeted for Canadian audience. The moment they type in Google, IP geolocation does its thing and shows the Canadian version of the popular search engine. The same goes for all search queries. 3. Yandex.Market If you need a price comparison service in your region, geolocation can help by showing the most convenient price comparison service in your region. Yandex market uses geolocation to find out where the user sending request is located, and it shows the local version of the website. The user simply types in the product of interest in the bar. The service will automatically show the wanted item in their region. How scrappers help you get access to all variations By using geolocation web scraping techniques, you can get access to all website variations available on the internet. Let's say that you're interested in an American website that operates in Canada. To scrape their Canadian version of a website, you'll need a geolocated web scraper that is located in Canada. If there is more than one variation of a website per one location, you can use a rotating Canadian proxy to scrape all website versions by their separate locations. Why businesses use geolocation scrapping Businesses leverage geolocation scraping to gather valuable data that help deliver the ultimate site experience to each visitor. It's much easier to appeal to any target audience if you know where it comes from. You can use that data to tailor the website experience to fit your visitors better. If you plan on appealing to a new audience outside of your country, geolocation scrapping helps you: Translate your site into the local language Offer hyper-relevant experience by targeting your ads Auto-populate form fields to streamline tasks Aside from all the aforementioned, geolocation also helps deliver useful data to visitors. It helps show stores, ads, and events near their location, and more. Conclusion Location-based web scraping helps any small business improve lead generation, find new ways to beat the competition, increase profit, and provide exceptional customer experience to consumers in their own region. It also helps companies find out everything relevant to their line of work and industry in the targeted area. By Caitlin Johnstone June 15, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Everything keeps accelerating. That seems to be the trend here currently. Things dont appear to necessarily be getting better or worse at this point in time, theyre just accelerating. Its all moving faster and faster. Major news events are getting closer and closer together, people are becoming more and more aware of more and more important dynamics they were previously asleep to, political movements are suddenly picking up steam in a way many analysts never expected to see in their lifetime, and Americas previous revolutionary figurehead Bernie Sanders has been left in the dust wagging his finger at protesters not to push for the total dismantling of the police state. Bernie Sanders broke from progressives...calls to defund the police, saying instead that the country needs well-trained, well-educated, and well-paid professionals in police departments. Translation: Sanders wants to put MORE FUNDING into THE POLICE https://t.co/LDHqoSREF6 L E F T, PhD (@LeftSentThis) June 10, 2020 For whatever reason, the inertia seems to be falling away from our species, for both our healthy impulses and our unhealthy ones. Recent events like these protests and the Covid-19 outbreak have seen more and more consciousness drawn to the need for robust social safety nets and the corrupt nature of the police state which holds the US-centralized empire together, but were also seeing mountains of new police assaults and new police killings, pre-planned authoritarian measures being pushed for, a sudden increase in internet censorship and narrative management, and possibly even lynchings. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Its getting harder and harder to understand whats happening. My news feed is full of people arguing about whether the American left has lost its mind and whether groupthink in journalism is out of control, my social media notifications are a whole hodgepodge of contradictory and generally illogical theories about a shadowy cabal being behind these protests and what theyre trying to achieve, and people are either being honest about the fact that they dont know where this is all going or theyre dishonestly pretending that they do. We seem to be getting closer and closer to a point of narrative white noise, where conventional means of understanding the world just arent holding up anymore. I dont know where were headed, and I dont pretend to know. Heres what I do know: ~ Things are changing, and these changes appear to be happening at an accelerating rate. ~ Changes away from old patterns tend to make people feel psychologically uncomfortable. Everyone should definitely be prioritizing their psychological well being at this point in history, because Im pretty sure its only going to get more unusual and confusing from here on out. ~ The most distinctive feature of the last four years has been expanding consciousness. Expanding consciousness of media corruption, of DNC corruption, of government corruption, of the excessive amount of power wielded by the US presidency and the absurd esteem people used to have for that position, of the abuse of immigrants, of police militarization, of unhealed racial wounds, etc. This is encouraging, because you cant fix something you havent made conscious. This is true of our own unresolved psychological issues, and its true of our unresolved collective issues as well. The first step toward a healthy world is expanded consciousness. This is absolutely massive. The #BlackLivesMatter protest in Paris, France right now. pic.twitter.com/Q1JDcN4HQE Sarah Abdallah (@sahouraxo) June 13, 2020 ~ About twelve years ago after a lot of inner work I started experiencing these strange energetic expulsions in the form of dry heaves, coughing and burping which quickly freed me from my old psychological conditioning patterns and began moving me into a much healthier way of functioning. I had no idea what was happening and couldnt find anything about this strange phenomenon in any psychological or spiritual literature, or even anyone talking about it online, but now I see it talked about on Netflix specials and theres online chatter about it everywhere. When I got with my husband, he started doing it too. What is this phenomenon? How common is it in our species? Where is it taking us? I dont know, and neither does science, but I know from my own experience that it is definitely a thing. This is just one of many hidden potentials our species has that our forecasts simply havent accounted for. ~ If we are unpatterning, and if our unpatterning is occurring at an accelerating rate, then it is reasonable to believe that at a certain point it can occur so rapidly and to such an extent that the old power structures simply wont be able to keep up with it. These would be the same power structures which have been psychologically brutalizing our species with a constant barrage of propaganda to keep us consenting to a system which robs ordinary people of their basic needs while waging endless wars and giving more and more wealth and power to nationless oligarchs. We may be headed toward a point where they simply cannot do that anymore. ~ This might just be what it looks like when a species which quickly evolved the capacity for abstract thought begins making the necessary adaptations to survive in a world that can no longer accommodate its self-destructive tendencies. Not because we thought it would be a good idea in our clumsy thinky brains, but because nature itself is steering us there. All in all, I reckon we can win this thing. Not the anti-policing protests necessarily; I dont quite know what will happen with those in the long run. I mean the whole thing. Winning it all. Actually getting out from underneath the bastards and beginning to function as a healthy organism on this planet. It certainly appears that something inside us has ignited which wants to disrupt our trajectory toward armageddon. Doesnt mean well succeed, but I absolutely do believe we have the potential to move into a healthy relationship with our minds, with each other, and with our ecosystem. At least the forces of nature that we are made of seem to think so. Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. https://caitlinjohnstone.com Post your comment below Two people have presented to hospital with fox bites amid a number of sightings of foxes at University of NSW's Kensington campus. At least three UNSW students have been bitten, student outlet Newsworthy reported on Sunday. The students were attempting to pat the animal. A fox out and about at UNSW campus last weekend. Credit:CJ Wong/Facebook Liz Willer, a 20-year-old computer engineering student, was walking home through campus after 10pm on Saturday when she spotted a fox. "I thought, 'oh, that's really cool' and then it started walking towards me with intent," she said. Everybody is fed up with the lockdown and wants to return to normal life as quickly as possible, said Jose Martinez, a cafe owner in the southern city of Seville, as he wiped down outdoor tables with disinfectant. But you can certainly bet that nobody will take responsibility if the result is another wave. More than six dozen people were displaced by a fire at the Spanish Trail Suites on Tucson's south side Monday night. The three-alarm blaze took 2 hours and 44 minutes to get under control by a team of 62 firefighters and three agencies Tucson, South Tucson and Northwest fire departments. The Tucson Fire Department was called to the fire at 7:03 p.m. Upon arriving four minutes later, the northeast building in the 300 block of East Benson Highway was fully engulfed in flames. Heavy smoke filled the air as four ladder trucks and seven engines battled the fire from outside as it spread to nearby abandoned structures, Tucson fire said. The fire was under control at 9:51 p.m. No injuries were reported and the Red Cross of Southern Arizona was working to assist at least 73 displaced residents. The cause is under investigation and the damage estimate is unknown. Charles Brindamour, Chairman of The Geneva Association, said: "I would like to welcome Michel Khalaf, Anna Manning and John Neal to the Geneva Association Board of Directors. I look forward to working with them to address the challenges before our industry and advance The Geneva Association's important mission to promote insurance as a force for good." Michel Khalaf commented: "What we do as an industry forms a vital part of the social safety net and provides financial security for people across the world. In these challenging times, The Geneva Association will play a key role in shaping the conversation around risk, regulation and the future of insurance. I am honoured to join its Board of Directors." Michel Khalaf has been President and CEO of MetLife and a Geneva Association member since May 2019. Anna Manning added: "As insurers and reinsurers, we strive to protect people and businesses during their most challenging times. The sheer scale of COVID-19 has made abundantly clear the responsibility and purpose of the insurance industry. The Geneva Association's work to highlight insurance's contributions to societal resilience is therefore more important than ever, and it is an honour to be a part of it." Anna Manning joined RGA in 2007, became President in 2015 and the CEO in 2017. She has been a Geneva Association member since 2017. John Neal remarked: "The Geneva Association is unique among think tanks for its deep understanding of the insurance industry, enabled by regular, meaningful interactions with its insurance CEO members. I look forward to helping guide the organisation's ambitious research agenda on global risks, so that we can really impact society." John Neal was appointed the CEO of Lloyd's of London in October 2018 and has been a Geneva Association member since 2013. The appointments of Michel Khalaf, Anna Manning and John Neal to the Geneva Association Board of Directors took effect 10 June 2020. Contact: Pamela Corn Director of Communications +41 44 200 49 96 [email protected] SOURCE The Geneva Association Attorney General William Barr speaks during a roundtable meeting on seniors with President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room at the White House on June 15, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) DOJ Schedules First Federal Executions Since 2003 for Convicted Child Murderers Attorney General William Barr on June 15 ordered the Federal Bureau of Prisons to schedule the executions of four death row inmates convicted of killing children, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Barr asked that the execution dates be set for July and August, marking the first use of capital punishment by the federal government since 2003, the DOJ said in a statement. Two of the four death row inmates convicted of killing children were also convicted of raping the children they murdered, the Justice Department said. It follows an announcement from Barr in July 2019 that federal executions would resume. In early April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the Trump administrations plan to resume executions of federal death row prisoners via lethal injection doesnt violate federal law. The appeals court lifted an order in November 2019 by a lower court judge that had put on hold the executions of the four federal death-row inmatesDaniel Lewis Lee, Wesley Ira Purkey, Dustin Lee Honken, and Keith Dwayne Nelson. Attorneys for the four men are asking the Supreme Court to order a halt to the process. Inmate Daniel Lewis Lee, once a member of a white supremacist group, was convicted in Arkansas in the murder of a family of three, including an 8-year-old girl. He robbed the family and shot them with a stun gun, covered their heads with plastic bags, and threw them into the Illinois bayou. His execution has been scheduled for July 13. Wesley Ira Purkey of Kansas, whose execution is scheduled for July 15, was charged in the murder and rape of a 16-year-old girl. According to the DOJ, he dismembered, burned, and dumped the girls body into a septic pond. He was also charged in the killing of an 80-year-old woman. The third inmate, Dustin Lee Honken, has had his execution scheduled for July 17 over the fatal shooting of five peoplea mother and her daughters, aged 10 and 6, and two of his victims who had planned to testify against him. Keith Dwayne Nelson kidnapped a 10-year-old girl who was rollerblading in front of her Kansas home and raped her in a forest behind a church before strangling the young girl to death with a wire. His execution date has been set for Aug. 28. The Justice Department building in Washington on Dec. 9, 2019. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) The American people, acting through Congress and presidents of both political parties, have long instructed that defendants convicted of the most heinous crimes should be subject to a sentence of death, Barr said in a statement. The four murderers whose executions are scheduled today have received full and fair proceedings under our Constitution and laws, he added. We owe it to the victims of these horrific crimes, and to the families left behind, to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system. Executions on the federal level have been rare, and the government has put to death only three defendants since restoring the federal death penalty in 1988most recently in 2003, when Louis Jones was executed for the 1995 kidnapping, rape, and murder of a young female soldier. Though there hasnt been a federal execution since 2003, the Justice Department has continued to approve death penalty prosecutions, and federal courts have sentenced defendants to death. Attorneys for the inmates decried the DOJs decision to move ahead with the executions. In an emailed statement, Ruth Friedman, a lawyer for Daniel Lee, argued that the lead prosecutor and the victims family all oppose his execution and believe a life sentence is appropriate. Friedman said the government relied on junk science and false evidence in his case and said he is trying to get a court to consider problems in his case. A federal judge denied Lees request for a new trial but noted that evidence presented by his attorneys is reasonably likely to have led to a different sentence. Given all of these circumstances, it would be unconscionable for the government to execute Danny Lee, Friedman said. The mother of one of Lees victims, Earlene Peterson, said in a video posted online that she doesnt see how his execution will honor her daughter in any way. In fact, kind of like it dirties her name because she wouldnt want it, and I dont want it, Peterson said. Purkeys attorney, Rebecca Woodman, said he suffers from schizophrenia, Alzheimers disease, dementia, and no longer has any rational understanding of why the government plans to execute him. No execution should proceed unless and until the question of Wess competency is resolved, Woodman said in an emailed statement. Shawn Nolan, attorney for Honken, noted that his clients trial was plagued by misconduct and the ineffectiveness of counsel who failed to adequately inform Honkens jury of his severely dysfunctional background and mental health problems. Mimi Nguyen Ly and The Associated Press contributed to this report. New Delhi: Bhojpuri actress turned television star Monalisa took to her Instagram account and urged everyone to stay strong amid difficult situations. She posted two pictures with hubby Vikrant Singh wearing masks amid the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak. Monalisa captioned the image: Be Strong Like The Waves.... Embrace Everything... And Have The Power Even To Erode The Hardest Rock That Comes In Your Wave.... #goodmorning #potd #us #togetherness #blessed #positivity #positivethinking #strong #belief #faith #mercy #believeingod The pictures look beautiful and the strong message about braving against all odds which Mona is stressing on comes in at the crucial time when Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's sudden and untimely demise has left the nation mourning in shock. He was found hanging at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on June 14, 2020. It is reported that the actor was battling depression for the past few months. Sushant Singh Rajput's last rites were performed at Pawan Hans Crematorium on Monday, June 15, 2020. Many celebrities and colleagues paid their last respects to the actor amid a heavy downpour in the city. One of the most mercurial, charismatic figures of Central America's revolutionary upheavals, Eden Pastora, died early Tuesday. He was 83. On 22 August 1978, Pastora, better known as "Commander Zero," led a group of guerrilla fighters in an armed takeover of Nicaragua's national congress, becoming the subject of an iconic image with a rifle raised above his head as he boarded a plane to escape to Panama and then Cuba. After the photo circled the globe Pastora's comrades dubbed him "Commander Kodak" for pulling off the kerchief all had been wearing as a mask and mugging for the camera. Their daring mission succeeded in freeing 60 Sandinista prisoners. Alvaro Pastora, one of his sons, said he died at Managua's Military Hospital of respiratory failure. Eden Atanacio Pastora Gomez was born on 15 November 1936, in Ciudad Dario, Nicaragua. He studied medicine for five years in Guadalajara, Mexico, before returning to Nicaragua and eventually joining the Sandinista National Liberation Front that battled and finally toppled dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979. Charismatic, folksy and controversial - he later said he had fathered more than 20 children - Pastora was named vice minister of defense and enjoyed wide popularity. But Pastora was at odds with his more radical leftist comrades and grew disillusioned. He distanced himself from the Sandinistas and President Daniel Ortega in 1981 and dropped from sight. He emerged in 1983 at the head of an anti-Sandinista force in southern Nicaragua, the Democratic Revolutionary Alliance, but he remained separate from the main factions of the US-backed Contra armies. "I was not a traitor nor arrogant, it was them, (the Sandinistas)" he said in a 2003 interview. "They wanted to copy the Cuban model and failed and they didn't listen to me. I never wanted to be in charge nor to be the figure, but they shoved me aside to the point of obliging me to armed dissidence." He remained proud of that iconic seizure of the legislative palace. "In spite of everything they say about me, you are going to see that when I die the history of Nicaragua is going to talk about a 'before the palace and after the palace," he said. In May 1984, a bomb detonated at a news conference called by Pastora in La Penca near the Costa Rica border. It killed seven people, including three journalists and wounded Pastora. It was believed to have been ordered by the Sandinista Front. He quit the armed struggle against the Sandinistas in 1986 and went to neighboring Costa Rica to run a fishing cooperative, returning home before the 1990 election in which the Sandinistas were voted out of power. By the late 1990s, Pastora was struggling financially. Unable to pay his utility bills, he popped back into the headlines in 2001 when he sold a lion cub in and pawned a ring given to him by former Panamanian strongman Gen. Omar Torrijos. With the money he bought a small fleet of boats and returned to fishing. For years he was a vocal critic of the Sandinista Front, saying he sought a "third way." But in 2007, after Ortega was voted back into power, Pastora returned to the fold. Ortega returned the gesture by appointing him delegate to the San Juan river region bordering Costa Rica. Ortega put him in charge of dredging the San Juan, a river that had been the subject of territorial disputes with Costa Rica. Nicaragua's neighbor went so far as to make a complaint with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, arguing that Nicaragua had violated its national sovereignty. In a May 2018 interview with The Associated Press, he introduced himself like this: "I am Eden Pastora, known worldwide as Commander Zero, always Sandinista, revolutionary, social warrior." Unprompted, he launched into a lengthy defense of Ortega. One month earlier, when students took to the streets after the government violently cracked down on protesting pensioners, Pastora was one of the few people associated with Ortega's administration to give interviews. He defended the government's violent repression against those he considered pawns or mercenaries being manipulated to carry out a soft coup attempt. Inside a home office decorated with revolutionary paraphernalia, Pastora rejected the idea that there were parallels between the fight he waged with Ortega against a dictatorship and what occurred a month earlier. "Here in Nicaragua we can do anything short of causing chaos, and these young people from certain universities put up barricades so that people couldn't get out to the streets, seeking to create chaos," he said at the time. When police went to remove the barricades they were met with rocks and mortars, "so the police responded with violence." After the 2018 protests, as rumors swirled about Ortega's health, Pastora told the press that he had recommended that the Sandinista National Liberation Front choose a successor. The comments were interpreted as a rejection of the possibility that first lady and Vice-President Rosario Murillo would take power in the event of Ortega's death. He also said at the time that the party's base followed Ortega out of "affection more than discipline." It was rumored that he was called on the carpet by Ortega and Murillo for the remarks, but Pastora responded with typical self-assurance, "they didn't reprimand me, they don't have any reason to reprimand me." "If Jesus Christ died, how is Daniel Ortega not going to die," he said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Russian Court Sentences former US Marine to 16 Years for Espionage By Charles Maynes June 15, 2020 A Moscow court convicted former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan on charges of espionage on Monday, sentencing him to 16 years of hard labor in a ruling all but certain to further roil the current low ebb in US-Russian relations. Speaking from a courtroom cage before the decision, Whelan denounced the trial as a politically-motivated "sham trial" and "goat rodeo." "This is slimy, greasy, grubby Russian politics. Nothing more. Nothing less," shouted Whelan to journalists from across the courtroom. "There has been no espionage. There is no evidence." Even after the judge read out the sentence in Russian, Whelan was left asking for a translation of what had just transpired but insisted he would appeal the ruling. The Whelan Affair Whelan, 50, was arrested by FSB security agents in late December 2018 after allegedly accepting classified materials on a computer thumb drive in a central Moscow hotel. Whelan has always denied those charges, insisting he was in Moscow for a friend's wedding and had accepted the drive from a Russian acquaintance without ever knowing or viewing its contents. The former Marine, who in addition to U.S. citizenship holds passports from Britain, Canada, and Ireland, has also said he has been mistreated and denied medical treatment throughout his detention. Whelan on Monday said Russian authorities waited until the last minute to grant him an emergency hernia operation in late May a middle of the night trip to the hospital that Whelan labeled "meatball surgery" in an apparent knock at the quality of his medical care. Whelan also said Russian security agents checking him into the medical facility under the assumed named "Mikhail Burbonov." "They were worried about U.S. special forces coming to rescue me," said Whelan. "That's how paranoid and delusional these people are. It's ridiculous." Russia's Foreign Ministry had accused Whelan of feigning illness part of what the ministry said was Whelan's playbook training as a U.S. intelligence officer after being caught "red-handed" by Russia's security services. Mockery of justice U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan joined counterparts from Britain, Canada, and Ireland at the courtroom and afterwards denounced the ruling as "a mockery of justice." "I'moutraged at what I've just heard," said Sullivan, who noted Whelan was denied the opportunity to present witnesses and assigned his defense lawyers in a closed trial. "An American citizen has just been sentenced to a term of 16 years for a crime for which we have not seen evidence," added Sullivan. "If they can do this to Paul, they can do this to anyone." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. is "outraged" by the court ruling after "a secret trial, with secret evidence, and without appropriate allowances for defense witnesses." "We have serious concerns that Mr. Whelan was deprived of the fair trial guarantees that Russia is required to provide him in accordance with its international human rights obligation," Pompeo said in a statement. The trial was conducted behind closed doors over national security concerns, with Sullivan and other consular officials repeatedly denied access to hearings in recent months. That Russian prosecutors had asked the court for an even stiffer sentence of 18 years was a message relayed through Whelan's Russian lawyers both appointed by the state. From the outset, the circumstances of the arrest and trial provoked speculation that Moscow was interested in a high profile spy swap with Washington a theory Whelan and his lawyers both endorsed again Monday. "Russia wants their drug smuggler and their gun runner back," said Whelan after Monday's ruling -- a reference to two Russians currently serving out long sentences in the United States. Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout was convicted by a U.S. court in 2011 and is currently serving out a 25-year term in a medium security prison in Illinois. Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko was found guilty of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. in 2011 and given a 20-year term. "Nobody's hiding it," said Whelan's lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov when asked about the prospects of a prisoner trade. Zherebenkov also noted that Whelan may appeal for a pardon from President Vladimir Putin. "He's not against it," said Zherebenkov. Indeed, Whelan has always said that politics would ultimately play the larger role in determining his fate and he called on President Donald Trump to "tweet your intentions." Yet, when asked directly about the politics of the case, both sides demurred. Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected claims Whelan was a political pawn. "No, it's impossible," said Peskov. Whelan "was presented with charges that were proven in court and accepted by the judge," said Peskov. Ambassador Sullivan promised to double down on his efforts to gain Whelan's freedom. "We're not looking for an exchange," said Sullivan. "We're looking for justice for Paul, and his release." (VOA's Nike Ching contributed to this story.) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address County Clare native John Slattery is to take over as chief executive of GE Aviation from July, catapulting him to the top spot in a major international company with annual revenues of more than $33bn (29bn). Following a transition period, he will fully take up the role from September. Mr Slattery is currently the head of the commercial aviation arm of Brazilian jet maker Embraer. That unit was due to become part of a joint venture with Boeing, in a deal that would have seen the US jet maker pay $4.2bn for an 80pc stake in Embraer's commercial arm. But Boeing pulled out of the planned tie-up in April as the coronavirus pandemic swept the world. The acrimonious split saw Embraer accuse Boeing of deliberately crashing the deal, and said it would pursue the US company for damages. Mr Slattery has been instrumental in driving the development of Embraer's regional E-Jet and leading 10,000 employees at the company's commercial arm. The commercial arm at the Brazilian firm accounts for the bulk of its revenue and profits. Mr Slattery is succeeding David Joyce at GE Aviation. A subsidiary of General Electric (GE), the firm's business extends across military and commercial aviation, supplying engines, avionics, and other instruments including digital applications. It also provides marine propulsion technology used in ocean liners and other vessels such as military fleets. "I have long considered GE Aviation to be the leading aviation franchise in the world, and I am humbled to take the helm from David and lead this talented team forward," said Mr Slattery. "This is a time of unprecedented change in the aerospace industry yet also an opportunity to re-imagine the future of flight and how we can best serve our customers." GE Aviation said that Mr Joyce had transformed the company into one of GE's leading businesses. He spent his entire career at GE Aviation and was its CEO for 12 years. During his tenure, GE Aviation said that its revenue doubled to $33bn, while its total order backlog soared from $26bn to more than $270bn. It also said that Mr Joyce had been responsible for industrialising advanced technologies across commercial and military applications. Earlier this year, Mr Slattery said that the Boeing tie-up was "mission critical" for Embraer in order to withstand pressure from Airbus. He said that without that deal, it was difficult to see where Embraer would be within five or 10 years. He made the comments in January, before the coronavirus had taken a firm hold outside China. Mr Slattery is a brother of Domhnal Slattery, the chief executive of Dublin-based aircraft lessor Avolon. John Slattery also took a tilt in 2009 at establishing an aircraft leasing business, called Greenstone Aviation. The venture included executives such as Ruth Kelly, the now chief executive of Dublin-based leasing firm Goshawk Aviation. Greenstone secured an initial $100m equity commitment from Jefferies Capital Partners in New York. But in the midst of the financial crisis it faltered and was unable to secure the additional equity it needed. Pre-monsoon showers in the city are just a week away as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), with the monsoon also set to keep its date with the city and likely to arrive around two days before the expected date of June 30. As per IMD Delhi, the monsoon had advanced into more parts of Madhya Pradesh and eastern Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, though it was expected to happen around June 20. Chandigarh IMD director Surender Paul said, Monsoon is approaching faster than normal due to prevalent pressure systems. It seems likely that monsoon will arrive in the region, including Chandigarh, Haryana and western parts of Punjab, around two days before June 30. About pre-monsoons, Paul said, They usually start around three days before onset of monsoon. But this year, they are likely to start even sooner. We can expect pre-monsoon showers around five days before monsoons arrival. Their intensity is likely to be higher than last year owing to the confluence of western disturbances and low-level easterly winds with the monsoon winds. According to IMD, monsoon rains are expected to be at 107% of the normal 845.7mm estimate, expected between June 1 and September 30, which are considered monsoon months. Mercury continues to rise Meanwhile, the city is currently facing a dry spell, with the maximum temperature reaching the 40 degrees Celsius mark again. Paul said the maximum temperature can rise as high as 42 degrees in the coming days. A western disturbance is likely to affect the region from Saturday onwards, so light rain can be expected, but it wont be considered pre-monsoon showers, he added. On Tuesday, the maximum temperature went up to 40.4 degrees from 40 degrees on Monday, which was two notches above normal. The minimum temperature also rose from 29.6 degrees on Monday to 30 degrees on Tuesday, which was the first time this year that it touched the 30 degree mark. This was five degrees above normal. In the next three days, the maximum and minimum temperatures will remain around 42 degrees and 29 degrees, respectively. Pictured: Daniel Allen, 35, of Ridley Terrace, Sunderland The far-right thug who kicked a police officer to the ground during a Black Lives Matter counter-protest is a career criminal with 110 previous convictions. Daniel Allan, 35, was filmed running up behind Sgt Richard Lambert and booting him to the ground next to Big Ben during a counter-protest in London on Saturday. The father-of-two, who travelled from Sunderland, was arrested after police shared a video of a bare-chested thug kicking Sgt Lambert while wearing distinctive luminous shorts. He was quickly identified and the electrician admitted violent disorder on Tuesday. Detective Constable Steve Nicholls of the Metropolitan Police's Central West Command Unit yesterday dubbed his actions 'shameful' and 'totally unacceptable.' Allan has more than 110 previous convictions, and was jailed for 12 months in 2017 after breaking into his former partner's home and threatening to take two children hostage. He had bombarded the woman with phone calls before turning up at her house and breaking in through the bathroom window. Allan then made threats to take the children hostage before leaving the property. He was later found nearby trying to hide from police. He pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 12 months behind bars at Newcastle Crown Court. Now, Allan is facing another spell in jail with a judge warning him the starting point for sentence after Saturday's incident is two to three years. The police officer crashed to the ground, while Mr Allan, bare-chested, fled from the scene Detective Constable Nicholls said on Tuesday: 'Allan's shameful actions were totally unacceptable and I am pleased that he has been convicted. 'This swift justice should also be a warning to others who came to central London on Saturday with the sole purpose of causing violence. 'Police officers are not punching bags and a number of investigations remain under way to identify and arrest those causing violence or assaulting our officers. ' When Sgt Lambert was on the floor after being kicked a mob of Allan's fellow 'protect the statues' protesters then set upon on the officer as he struggled to stand up, kicking and striking him repeatedly. The sergeant suffered bruising to his back and is recovering at home. Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said: 'Police had been deployed in order to prevent public disorder in relation to protests taking place within central London. 'Specifically there were concerns about demonstrations that had been labelled as 'right wing', in fact there was the intention they had to protect public statues which had been targeted in previous demonstrations and prompted counter demonstrations. 'Throughout the day police fought running battles with demonstrators. A small group of officers were walking in a group through the demonstrators on Bridge Street received verbal abuse and had projectiles thrown at them. The man, Daniel Allan, kicking police sergeant Richard Lambert in the back, sending him to the floor Other far-right thugs then started attacking Sgt Lambert as he struggled to get back to his feet after the assault 'Suddenly and without provocation Mr Allan kicked out at police sergeant Richard Lambert in his back with his right foot causing him to fall to the ground. 'This prompted the rest of the group to attack the officers. He was again kicked while picking himself up but that person wasn't arrested. 'Officers circled to protect their colleagues and Mr Allan ran back into the crowd, however he had a distinct appearance and footage of the incident was uploaded and it was circulated. 'Mr Allan was captured after other officers saw the footage and recognised Mr Allan wearing luminous shorts.' Sgt Lambert said in a statement read to the court: 'I felt an enormous kick to the small of my back, I fell to the floor with immediate pain to the lower back due to the kick.' Mr Allan's attack sparked violent clashes between the 'statue defenders' and police officers Eleanor Fraser, defending, said: 'Mr Allan was struck by a police officer's baton, he showed the mark in interview, which was something of a retaliation but he accepts that it was unjustifiable. 'Upon arrest he had a panic attack and has had a further six panic attacks in custody.' District Judge Nicholas Rimmer told Allan: 'You have pleaded guilty to the matter of violent disorder, the guidelines put the starting point at either three or two years for this serious episode of conduct therefore I commit you for sentence at Southwark Crown Court. 'The seriousness of conduct consists of being part of a wider protest in which missiles were being thrown, you personally kicked out at police sergeant Richard Lambert to his back, that seems to have caused further violence.' Allan admitted violent disorder and was remanded into custody ahead of sentence at Southwark Crown Court. Attorneys for a death row prisoner set to die Tuesday evening have asked Gov. Greg Abbott and the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene, arguing that COVID-19 has made it unsafe for his family to attend his execution and asking for the testing of DNA evidence that they say could exonerate him. Ruben Gutierrez, 43, has for years claimed that he is innocent of the 1998 robbery and murder of Escolastica Harrison, who had roughly $600,000 in cash stashed inside her Brownsville trailer home at the time of her death. Gutierrez at one point admitted to being with two other accomplices during the robbery, but he maintains he was not the person who killed Harrison. He has for years called for the testing of DNA that he says could exonerate him of the killing. He was initially set to die in 2018, but he has since won multiple stays of execution, including one last week that was overturned by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday. Now, his attorneys want Abbott to grant a 30-day reprieve in the case to allow for the tests. Weve been asking for this testing for years, attorney Shawn Nolan said. If this case (happened) today, they would just test it. So it doesnt make sense that they keep saying no. Nolan also argues that the coronavirus which has spread particularly fast in Texas prisons has created conditions that deprived Gutierrez of proper access to counsel and other rights. Nolan also says it would be dangerous for Gutierrezs family and others to travel to the Huntsville prison that houses the states execution chamber because of its high rates of the coronavirus. Mondays appeal came the same day that state Catholic leaders asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in Gutierrezs case. The groups filing challenged the Texas Department of Criminal Justices 2019 decision to bar clergy from being with death row prisoners in the execution chamber. TDCJ announced the rules after the Supreme Court granted a last-minute stay to Patrick Murphy, a Buddhist who had been denied access to a spiritual adviser in the execution chamber. As this court has repeatedly held, governmental discrimination against religion in particular, discrimination against religious persons, religious organizations and religious speech violates the Constitution, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote at the time. The choice of remedy going forward is up to the state. What the state may not do, in my view, is allow Christian or Muslim inmates but not Buddhist inmates to have a religious adviser of their religion in the execution room. Catholic leaders again challenged the state Department of Criminal Justice rule Monday. TDCJ is not merely making Gutierrezs religious practice more difficult, the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote in its filing. It is placing a direct, irrevocable prohibition on his sincere religious exercise, and at the most critical time for such exercise when the soul is departing this world for the next. Nolan said Gutierrez has been a Catholic since childhood, and he called the ban on clergy outrageous. robert.downen@chron.com The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, led by CU Innovations, has partnered with serial MedTech entrepreneurs Jonathan Gasson and Sharon Lake to form PreView Medical, Inc. PreView's clinically proven technology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment optimization of prostate cancer. The company's ClariCore System utilizes a patented optical biopsy needle combining both the optical spectra of tissue and machine learning to assess the prostate for cancer in real-time - ultimately minimizing the need for traditional core biopsies. Additionally, the company is developing an algorithm to create a high-definition 3D map of prostate tumors to enable accurate targeted focal therapy to treat cancer lesions. Focal therapy significantly reduces morbidity when compared with the current standards of care of either removing or irradiating the entire prostate. We are encouraged by the positive clinical trial work already completed. A study of over 200 patients at eight sites validated high algorithm accuracy. Launching PreView is a testament to the hard work already completed." Steve VanNurden, Associate Vice-Chancellor, Biotechnology for CU Anschutz The CU Anschutz Office of the Chancellor supported the launch of the company by providing $250,000 in seed funding. The concept of combining optical spectroscopy with a biopsy needle for prostate cancer diagnosis was originally developed by Priya Werahera, Research Associate Professor; John Daily, Professor at CU-Boulder; and E. David Crawford, Professor at CU Anschutz. While located at the Fitzsimons Innovation Community, Amir Tehrani led the development efforts of the ClariCore System. First-in-Man studies were performed by Dr. Crawford, and this was followed by an FDA approved clinical trial. Dr. Neal Shore at Carolina Urologic Research Center, an investigator in the FDA trial, commented, "PreView Medical's disruptive technology could enhance cancer detection in a very efficient and office-based process. The ClariCore System will enable patient treatment in the ambulatory setting. The implications for improved tumor detection and avoidance of unnecessary biopsies will have attendant patient benefit and potential healthcare resource savings." The company plans to raise a Series A financing round to further develop the technology and engage in FDA trials for device clearance. Top-level academic centers, the Israeli "ACLP - Afeka Center for Language Processing" located in "Afeka Tel Aviv Academic College for Engineering" and the "Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore" are working together to develop solutions using their competencies on speech processing and artificial intelligence into clinical practice. Summer and Fall of 2020 are an interim period that requires rapid readiness for another eruption. Therefore, this cooperation between the two countries may be a key factor in the international fight against the corona epidemic. New technological tools, allowing pre-diagnostic detection of corona potential carriers through the analysis of patients' voice, speech and coughing will be subjected to clinical trials sharing the same protocol. The recruitment of patients and the trials will involve both Italian and Israeli hospitals, such as the "Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli" in Rome, Italy and the "Rabin Medical Centre, near Tel Aviv, Israel The Italian Ambassador in Israel, Gianluigi Benedetti, stressed that "The cooperation between these two centers of excellence is one of the several fruitful results of the long-term intensive contacts between the Italian and Israeli scientific communities, further strengthened since the very first stage of the pandemic." Prof. Ami Moyal, President of Afeka Tel-Aviv Academic College of Engineering, stated: "We are looking forward to a successful cooperation between our institutes, and our countries, in developing technology-based tools that will assist our citizens, countries and humanity in the fight against corona virus and together save lives. The expected result of the collaboration should provide us tools for dealing with future outbreaks of corona and other viruses." CONTACT: Dan Cohen, [email protected] SOURCE Afeka College SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Brightside, the leading financial care platform for employers, today announced that it raised $35.1 million in Series A funding, led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) with participation from existing investors Comcast Ventures and Trinity Ventures, the a16z Cultural Leadership Fund, and others. This funding will be used to bring Brightside to more employers and families at a time when they need it most, and improve its financial health offering. Employee financial stress costs employers nearly $4,000 per employee per year under normal circumstances, according to recent estimates.1,2 Millions of working Americans facing the loss or reduction of income in at least one family member will exacerbate this impact. Financial stress reduces productivity and retention, drives up healthcare costs, and poses a major challenge to any employer with diversity and inclusion goals. Brightside helps employers improve the financial health of their workforce by providing a single destination for employees to address any personal finance need. Brightside combines a human-approach to financial health via dedicated Financial Assistants, available to all employee families with advanced rules engines and unique products linked to paychecks in a way that provides real solutions to employees' financial stress. On average, Brightside puts over $1,200 back in the pockets of the families they serve. "The cost to employers of poor employee financial health is staggering and point solutions, while good for some situations, often make the situation worse," said Tom Spann, CEO and co-founder of Brightside. "We have proven that a holistic approach, combined with financial products built for this population, can have a significant effect on people's lives and on the employer's bottom line. This funding will help us bring Brightside to more families as more employers see real financial health as a crucial part of their health benefit package. Investing in employee financial health has a much greater benefit for the health and well-being of families than simply providing stop-gap financial relief." "Brightside is creating a new way to improve the financial health of working families, at a time when this endeavor is mission-critical to the future of our country. Employers are uniquely motivated and positioned to improve employee financial health, during business-as-usual and especially during times of economic crisis, but need a single platform that simply curates and integrates the myriad of point solutions in a way that really works for employees," said Alex Rampell, General Partner at a16z. "With Brightside's experienced management team and their unique approach of human navigation and tech, the opportunity to meaningfully improve families' lives is tremendous. I'm excited to work with Brightside as they continue to develop and scale their platform." About Brightside Brightside is the first employer-based financial care platform to drive meaningful ROI for employers by making paychecks go farther for the 72% of Americans who are not financially healthy.3 Since 2018, its Financial Assistants, proprietary rules engine, and innovative products have helped thousands of families save more than $1,200 each while improving emergency savings and reducing debt, resulting in improved productivity, retention, and diversity while lowering healthcare costs. Brightside is located in San Francisco, CA, Chandler, AZ, and Philadelphia, PA. For more information, please visit: https://www.gobrightside.com. Media contact info: [email protected] 1John Hancock 2019 Financial Stress Survey, https://assets.jhnavigator.com/managed_assets/itemFiles/USA/Financial_Stress_Whitepaper_Secured_FINAL_10.28.19.pdf 2 Salary Finance study as reported in World at Work https://www.worldatwork.org/workspan/articles/employees-financial-stress-costs-employers 3Financial Health Network 2018 Baseline Survey, 2/26/2019 https://finhealthnetwork.org/research/u-s-financial-health-pulse-2018-baseline-survey-results/ SOURCE Brightside Related Links https://www.gobrightside.com/ It is oft forgotten that one of the sparks for the monumental 2012 election petition started in the Dome-Kwabenya constituency. The seat located within the Ga East District had Sara Adwoa Safo of the New Patriotic Party contesting the National Democratic Congress' Sophia Karen Akuaku. She polled 53,373 to beat her closest contender, Sophia Karen Akuaku of the NDC who managed 35,536 votes. Most important though, the Dome-Kwabenya MP apparently smelled a rat and demanded nine recounts of the collated votes in the constituency and managed to turn an extra 15,000 ballots into Nana Akufo-Addo bag after the review. This moment was one of the building blocks for 2013s landmark election petition. Just this year, in a meeting with the 631 delegates in the Dome-Kwabenya constituency, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Parliament's Majority Leader, hailed Adwoa Safo saying : but for the vigilant work done by Honourable Adwoa Safo in Dome-Kwabenya in 2012 by uncovering the rigging machinery of the NDC which led to the infamous election petition, the NPP probably may never have won the 2016 election. The importance of that moment within the party is clear. But as we know, the election petition did not work out for the NPP but many consider the resolve of Adwoa Safo as the cornerstone in her growing prominence in the NPP. Since the party came to power in 2016, she has risen to become deputy Majority Leader and the Procurement Minister. The Dome-Kwabenya stronghold Formed prior to the 2004 elections after being carved out of then-Abokobi-Madina constituency, the Dome-Kwabenya constituency has been an NPP stronghold in the Greater Accra Region. On the parliamentary side, the NDC is yet to cross the 40 percent mark in the constituency with its best performance coming in 2008 when Zita Okaikoi (as she then was) captured 39.5 percent of the vote. The NPPs dominance remains consistent on the presidential side of things with John Evans Attah Mills doing well to amass 38 percent of the votes in 2008, a high for an NDC presidential candidate. The usual gerrymandering concerns raised in the wake of the formation of the new constituencies would appear to hold water as the constituency Dome-Kwabenya used to be part of, had only had NDC members of Parliament until 2016. A victorious Adwoa Safo with Nana Akufo-Addo in 2012 The population of Ga East Municipality, according to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, was 147,742 representing 3.68 percent of the Greater Accra Region's total population. The total household population in the Municipality was 144,863 with over 90 percent of the household population living in urban areas. It had 40.3 percent of the population below 20 years. Children constituted the largest proportion of the household members accounting for 36.8 percent. This probably means 10 years on, a lot more people are part of the voter population which indicates an increase in the voter population of 138,557 for Dome-Kwabenya. The current estimates of its voter population are hovering over 150,000. The census revealed favorable employment numbers with about 70 percent of the population aged 15 years and older being economically active while about one-third were economically not active. Of the economically active population, 92.1 percent are employed while 7.9 percent were unemployed. Given strenuous year the country has just had because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the unemployment figures are sure to rise. Major suburbs of the constituency include Dome, Taifa, Kwabenya, Agbogba, Haatso and Atomic Roundabout and Ashongman. Almost all the ethnic groups in Ghana are said to exist in the district, according to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, although Akans seem to have a slight majority over Gas and Ewes in that order. This situation is especially true for areas like Dome, Taifa and other urban communities, the report notes. The more NDC-friendly Ga communities are however mostly found in Abokobi, which, as we have noted, have been separated from the Akan friendly Dome-Kwabenya suburbs. Primaries will be the real battleground Apologies to Faustina Elikplim Akurugu, the NDC candidate going into 2020, but some of these demographic indicators point to why the NDC has stood no chance against the NPP. So, since 2004, those looking for any form of election excitement in Dome-Kwabenya have tended to focus on the NPP primaries. The current Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, was the first MP for the area. He served for two terms; from 2004 to 2012 till he decided to step down for a fresh face in the 2012 polls. Waiting in the wings was his son, Mike Aaron Nii Nortey Oquaye Jnr, who was hoping to carry the mantle from his father. But Adwoa Safo, who was called to the bar in 2004 and serving as the first legal officer of the Public Procurement Authority, had been sowing her own seeds and was already well known in the constituency by the time the primaries ahead of the 2012 polls came around, she had contested and lost miserably to Prof Oquaye in 2007. The votes in her losing effort were being counted when she gave birth to her first child. I had my baby in my hands and I was crying that I had lost the election, she recounted to Metro TV in 2012 . But it was joy leading into 2012 and beyond as she has won two primaries and two parliamentary elections. She overcame Mike Oquaye Jnr and Robert Osei Bonsu in 2011 and trumped competition from Isaac Amofa, amid cries of favouritism and classism, in 2015. Influential fathers Whilst Isaac Amofa's claims cannot be substantiated, there is no denying the fact that the two candidates that have gone through vetting in Dome-Kwabenya in the last decade have had influential fathers. Mike Oquaye Jnr is, of course, the son of the former incumbent MP and current Speaker of Parliament and that comes with its own merits, social capital and grooming towards political power. But Adwoa Sarfo is also the daughter of an inventor and icon of applied sciences in Ghana, Apostle Safo Kantanka. Interestingly both fathers are also men of God with Apostle Kwadwo Safo being the founder and overseer of the Kristo Asafo Church whilst Prof. Oquaye is pastor of the Baptist Church. Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye Apostle Safo Kantanka Build-up to 2020 primaries Adwoa Safo's two previous campaign launches have been star-studded by party standards. As Prof. Oquaye's successor on the Dome-Kwabenya ticket, Nana Akufo-Addo, John Kufuor showed up for what was all but a victory party in the constituency. But she will have to put the warm memories behind her for what could be her stiffest political challenge yet since 2007. The tensions on the ground suggest the 2020 primaries will be much closer than before with Oquaye Jnr appearing to have taken the time between 2012 and now to build a better foundation for himself. Despite his base in India, as Ghana's High Commissioner, Oquaye Jr has done his best to stay in the party's political consciousness although he was more visible and appearing as a talking head on major political shows pre-2017. The politics in the area has gotten a little dirty with Adwoa Safo reportedly suggesting that there have been threats on her life coming from Oquaye's side following a scuffle during the Dome-Kwabenya Voter Album exhibition exercise after some people snatched the album. Oquaye Jnr denied making the threats or having a hand in the incident. His campaign team said the claims were an attempt by Adwoa Safos camp to discredit the aspirant and gain some sympathy votes. To garner his own votes, Oquaye Jnr has promised to cater for the grassroots and reunite the base of the party, which he says has eroded into factions. And he blames divisions on the selective approach adopted by the MP. I won't discriminate against anyone. My victory will unite the party and strengthen the existing structures for the victory of the NPP in 2020, he said when he picked up his nomination forms back in February. Mike Oquaye Jnr on the campaign trail Peter Ampong, a shop owner who lives in Taifa North, certainly believes the upcoming primary will be tough. But his money appears to be on Adwoa Safo. He feels Oquaye Jnr hasnt done much for the constituency despite his promise of developing commercial enterprises for the youth. I think he is riding on the works his father has done. But he has to work for the seat. This is not an inheritance, Peter stressed. Another resident, Kwame Afriyie, a banker, thought otherwise, saying Oquaye Jnr was more inclined to work with the youth than the incumbent. Any accountability for the incumbent? The advantages of incumbency cannot be denied. Adwoa Safo is seen in many photo ops cutting sods for road projects, hospital construction among other infrastructure endeavours as well as supporting vulnerable groups in the constituency especially in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic. But incumbency makes her a bigger target. What has she done about roads and other infrastructure, critics could ask. Why is she still promising after almost two terms as an MP? Dome-Kwabenya has been noted for its below-par road infrastructure. And Adwoa Safo was recently assuring residents that the selected projects within her constituency will be completed by early 2021. The projects included much-needed infrastructure like the Taifa Gye Nyame drains construction, Taifa Bankyease drains construction, Taifa Obohene Down drains construction, Dome-Taifa Link Road drains construction, Dome Crossing drains construction among others. Heading into the 2016 election, it was the same story and despite her lobbying, she admitted the roads infrastructure was woefully inadequate . We ought to see more, considering the large size of the constituency the major roads are bad and the inner roads are also very bad, she said in 2016 as she threw some blame towards NDC government of the time. Adwoa Safo has had four more years, this time as a member of the government, and the fact that these projects are not nearing completion is its own black mark. But her supporters still have enough completed projects to point to, like the provision of some boreholes in public schools in Dome, Haatso, a maternity clinic in Haatso and provision of potable water to Taifa Polyclinic, the completion of the Dome Market, among other interventions. Mary Essel, an administrative assistant, hailed Adwoa Safo's projects like the provision of GHS50,000 to be given out as soft loans to women in the constituency to trade. In terms of infrastructure and roads, most think she didnt start early but they have seen some improvement, Kwame Asamoah, a mason, also said in support of the current MP. To a good amount of people, she has proven capable of delivering on most of her promises to the people. She looks committed to complete the numerous massive developmental projects she promised within the Constituency. Kobby a dealer in roofing materials said. Adwoa Safo has also not been without controversies. Her infamous request to the struggling NHIS for funding to attend a Harvard short course and her claim that the Community Day SHS located in her constituency generally credited to former President John Mahama was built by her industry exposed her to some public bashing. Political connoisseurs say no result will be surprising as each of the two candidates has worked hard to deserve a win. But should Adwoa Safo lose on June 20, one thing is sure; social media will be agog with trolls mainly from her political opponents for obvious reasons. This is a contest with a small electoral college where some privileged 631 people, mostly with ties to each of the candidates, will vote to decide who represents them into election 2020. Often, people with interest in contesting such elections influence the election of their people into polling station, ward and constituency positions as these are the same people who eventually form the electoral college and become delegates. So by now, the candidates may be working their permutations on how many of these delegates are from their camps. But as has become standard counsel to candidates since the fall of Sir John, the candidates are cautioned to fear delegates. You may call it a battle of the young lawyers, each having some fair achievements to their name and anchored by strong family support and influence. It could be anybody's game. What is certain though is that any of the two who emerges victorious on Saturday will have booked a place in the next Parliament. - The writers, Delali Adogla and Neterley Nettey, both work with Citi FM and Citi TV. Houston: A Texas inmate condemned for fatally stabbing an 85-year-old woman more than two decades ago was scheduled to die by injection Tuesday, as the nations busiest death penalty state prepared to resume executions following a four-month delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. Prosecutors said Ruben Gutierrez, 43, was attempting to steal more than $600,000 that Escolastica Harrison had hidden in her home in Brownsville, located in Texas southern tip, when he killed her in 1998. Gutierrezs attorneys have asked the US Supreme Court to stop his execution after an appeals court last week overturned a stay. If Gutierrezs execution is carried out, he would be the first inmate in Texas to receive a lethal injection since Feb. 6 and the second US inmate to be put to death since the country began to reopen after the pandemic shut down much of the US After the country began to reopen, Missouri resumed executions in the US on May 19. In Texas, the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continues to increase as state officials have said hot spots such as prisons and meat packing plants have been responsible for the rising numbers. But state prison officials said safety measures they have put in place, including taking the temperatures of participants and providing them with personal protection equipment will help executions to go forward. Yes, the agency can carry out the process safely for those participating and witnessing the execution, said prison system spokesman Robert C. Hurst. Six executions scheduled in Texas for earlier this year were postponed by an appeals court or judges because of the outbreak. A seventh was delayed over claims of intellectual disability. Gutierrezs attorneys had also sought a coronavirus-related delay but were turned down Friday by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Also Friday, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a stay in the case tied to Gutierrezs request for DNA testing he says could point to the real killer and his claims his religious rights are being violated because the prison system wont allow a chaplain to accompany him in the death chamber. Gutierrezs attorneys on Monday asked the US Supreme Court to halt his execution over religious rights violations. The Texas prison system last year banned clergy from the death chamber following a Supreme Court ruling that halted the execution of another inmate, Patrick Murphy, who had requested a Buddhist adviser be allowed in the chamber. A trial in Houston federal court on Murphys case is still pending. Through hundreds of previous executions, the state of Texas has recognized that people being executed have the right to be in the presence of religious advisers when they face the end of their lives, said Shawn Nolan, one of Mr Gutierrezs attorneys. Mr Gutierrez has that same right. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops has filed a brief with the high court in support of Gutierrez. To deny a prisoner facing imminent execution access to spiritual and religious guidance and accompaniment is cruel and inhuman, said Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville. Gutierrez has long maintained he didnt kill Harrison. His attorneys say theres no physical or forensic evidence connecting him to the killing. Two others were also charged in the case. Authorities said Gutierrez befriended Harrison, a mobile home park manager and retired teacher, so he could rob her. Prosecutors said Harrison had a mistrust of banks and hid her money underneath a false floor in her bedroom closet. Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz has called Gutierrezs appeals delay tactics. Prosecutors have said the request for DNA testing is a ruse and Gutierrez was convicted on various pieces of evidence, including a confession. It is time for justice to be served for Mrs. Harrison, Saenz said. Gutierrez would be the third inmate put to death this year in Texas and the seventh in the US. New Delhi: India Army on Tuesday (June 16) evening came out with a statement to clarify on violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night. The statement said, "Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the standoff location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20." "Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation," it added. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), meanwhile, blamed China for the violent incident and alleged that it tried to unilaterally change the status and "departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley". MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava stated that both sides suffered casualties in the violent face-off and the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. Responding to media queries on the situation in the western sector of the India-China border, Srivastava said that India and China have been discussing through military and diplomatic channels the de-escalation of the situation in the border area in Eastern Ladakh. He said commanders of two sides had a productive meeting on June 6 and agreed on a process for such de-escalation and subsequently ground commanders had a series of meetings to implement the consensus reached a higher level. The MEA spokesperson said that India remains firmly convinced of the need for maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. "At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India`s sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added. Notably, Colonel Santosh Babu, the Commanding Officer of 16, Bihar Regiment, Havildar K K Pazhani, and Sepoy Kundan Kumar Ojha laid down their lives during the skirmish with the Chinese Army on Monday night. This is the first violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops on LAC since 1975 in which casualties have taken place. Texas A&M University System created a $100 million scholarship fund aimed toward making the college systems 11 universities more inclusive and reflective of the states demographics, according to a university release. The board of regents approved the program during a special called meeting Monday morning. The system will provide $10 million annually over 10 years with plans to address diversity issues and provide aid to first-generation college students, those from low-income backgrounds and those who are from geographically underrepresented regions of the states. The program also adheres to the boards strategic plan, which calls for all of the college systems campuses to better represent the population and promises the system will remain accessible and affordable to students of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said the program has been in the works for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused economic uncertainty and unemployment across the country, made it the opportune time to launch the scholarship fund. Historic challenges call for historic action, Board Chairwoman Elaine Mendoza said in a written statement. Given the economic impact families are enduring across the state, it is imperative we act now before the fall semester begins. By doing this now, our administration has another tool to support Texans and enable them to pursue their education. Sharp added that the university system is often getting outbid for great kids by out-of-state schools that can make larger offers, but that needs to change. We dont intend to lose underrepresented students to them without a real serious fight, he said. The goal is to make the A&M System look like Texas. According to 2019 U.S. Census Bureau data, 39.6 percent of the Texas population identified as Hispanic or Latino. Roughly 78.8 percent of the states population was white, 13 percent was black, 5 percent was Asian, 1 percent was American Indian or Alaskan native, 2 percent were two races or more, and less than one percent were considered Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Of the 202,293 students enrolled within the Texas A&M system in 2019, roughly 44 percent were white, 32 percent identified as Hispanic, 11 percent were black, 4 percent Asian, and 3 percent considered other. International students accounted for about 6 percent. Texas A&M University President Michael Young said Monday that the college would engage in discussions with leadership and diversity groups on ways to combat hate and exclusion, triple the physical space of its Department of Multicultural Services, publish its annual report on campus climate and diversity on the universitys website each fall, and recruit more black students and those from underrepresented communities. I, along with my leadership team, have worked hard over the past few years to address so many of the challenges our campus and our community have experienced with regard to racism. But we know it is not enough and never has that been more clear than at this moment, Young wrote. With a statue on-campus, Texas A&M is also set to honor Matthew Gaines, the first African-American state senator in Washington County. Gaines helped establish legislation in the 12th Texas Legislature that created the university eventually founded in 1871. The statue initiative has already received about $225,000 in donations from Youngs office and from Sharp. A university website says $350,000 is needed for the project. A&M is also set to launch anti-discrimination bystander intervention training this fall, which will help educate and train the community on how to stand up to racism and foster a positive climate, and will support student groups, including the Student Government Association and Residential Housing Association, in their efforts around voter registration. Eric Mendoza, student body president at Texas A&M University in College Station, said the announcements are a step forward in the right direction for the Texas A&M System community. The scholarship fund is a direct investment in student success and a great step toward supporting underrepresented student populations and their ability to both come to and succeed at Texas A&M, Mendoza said. This larger conversation about campus climate is something we have already begun working with administration on, and something we need to continue bringing student voices in on. brittany.britto@chron.com Two sisters have died after a brick pillar collapsed on them while they were sitting in a hammock. The girls, aged 12 and 14, residents of Cleveland Heights, in the US state of Ohio, were sitting in a hammock tied to a tree and a brick pillar when the pillar collapsed on them on Sunday night (local time), police said. Officers freed the girls, who were taken to a hospital, where they later died of their injuries. The sisters were identified by US news outlet Fox 8 as Scout Scaravilli and her younger sister, Chasey. Scout Scaravilli, 14, and her 12-year-old sister, Chasey, were fatally struck by bricks while lying in a hammock. Source: The Hathaway School via Fox 8 Both were students at the Hathaway Brown School. Head of school Fran Bisselle said in a statement the entire HB community is saddened by the loss of the Scaravilli sisters. They will be greatly missed by so many friends, classmates, and teachers, she said. Our thoughts and prayers are dedicated to their family. with The Associated Press Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-15 23:20:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Monday recorded 1,106 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 21,315 in the country. It said that 45 more people died from the coronavirus during the day, bringing the death toll to 652, while 9,271 patients have recovered. - - - - ADDIS ABABA -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the African continent surpassed 242,105 as of Monday afternoon, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC in its latest update said the death toll from the pandemic also rose to 6,464 as of Monday afternoon, according to the Africa CDC. - - - - RAMALLAH -- Palestine on Monday confirmed 10 new cases of COVID-19 in the West Bank, bringing the total number in the Palestinian territories to 686. One of the new cases was detected in Dar Salah town in the Bethlehem district, the first case since the district was declared free of coronavirus on May 10, Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said in a press statement. - - - - NAIROBI -- Kenya's Ministry of Health on Monday confirmed 133 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the national tally of infections to 3,727. Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Health, told journalists that the new cases were detected from 3,365 samples which were tested in the last 24 hours. - - - - BEIJING -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has sent epidemic prevention supplies to six countries to help battle COVID-19. Answering the calls from the armed forces of Belarus, Serbia, Hungary, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, as well as Trinidad and Tobago, the PLA shipped supplies, including surgical masks and protective suits, by railway, sea and other means on Saturday. - - - - KAMPALA -- Uganda on Monday reported nine more confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 705 in the east African country. The nine included four Ugandan cross-border truck drivers, Henry Mwebesa, director-general of health services at the Ministry of Health, said in a statement. Enditem A jawan from the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) was allegedly killed by suicide after shooting himself with his service weapon at a camp in the state's Rajnandagaon district, police said on Tuesday. Head Constable Abdul Shahid Khan of the CAF's 21st battalion shot himself with his service rifle at his unit's base camp in Ghaghra village under naxal-affected Gatapar police station area on Monday night, Rajnandgaon superintendent of police Jitendra Shukla said. On hearing the gunshot, the deceased's colleagues rushed to the scene, where he was found lying in a pool of blood, the official said, adding that Khan was rushed to a hospital, but was declared dead on arrival. Khan hailed from Jhansi city in Uttar Pradesh, Shukla said. While no suicide note was found at the scene, probe was underway to ascertain the exact reason for the extreme step, the SP said. Incidentally, the Chhattisgarh Police recently launched a special campaign called 'Spandan', which aimed at conducting interactive programmes and counselling sessions, music and yoga therapies, to check stress and depression among their personnel. The move came after several cases of suicide by police personnel and incidents of policemen attacking their colleagues were reported in the state in the last two years. OAKLAND Steven Carrillo, the U.S. Air Force sergeant who allegedly murdered a Santa Cruz deputy earlier this month, has been charged with a second deadly ambush of federal officers a week earlier alongside a second man who allegedly drove the drive-by shooting van in attacks that authorities say were driven by Carrillo's extremist, anti-law enforcement views and ties to a group that believes a second American Civil War is coming soon. During a Tuesday press conference, the Northern District U.S. Attorney's office announced it was charging Carrillo with assassinating Federal Protective Services Officer Patrick David Underwood, who was shot and killed in Oakland on May 29. Prosecutors made the announcement at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building, just yards away from where Underwood and his partner who was shot but survived were fired upon from a white van, in what authorities have described as "an ambush." Jack Bennett, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said that the duo purposefully chose the protest as the site of the killing to better blend in and to take advantage of community grief over the police killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd. "There is no evidence that these men had any intention to join the demonstration in Oakland ... They came to Oakland to kill cops," Bennett said. Carrillo, 32, faces murder and attempted murder charges, while Millbrae resident Robert A. Justus Jr., 30, the suspected driver of the car, faces charges of attempted murder and aiding and abetting murder. The charges mean that Carrillo who one month ago was leading an anti-terrorist U.S. Air Force security squadron known as the Phoenix Ravens is facing simultaneous state and federal death penalty charges. Justus was a suspect in the Oakland attack and under FBI surveillance when he unexpectedly showed up to the federal building in San Francisco and confessed to the FBI, authorities said. This occurred five days after the killing of Gutzwiller and Carrillo's arrest on capital murder charges. Authorities have officially linked the crimes to the so-called "Boogaloo" movement, a self-described libertarian anti-government citizen militia that is preparing for a supposed looming civil war. The messages "Boog" and "I became unreasonable" were scrawled in blood on the hood of the vehicle, authorities said, in presumed reference to the movement. Police also recovered a patch with a Boogaloo symbol inside the van allegedly used in both crimes. Authorities also found a ballistic vest located inside one of Carrillo's two white vans, with a symbol of an adulterated American flag with an igloo in place of the 50 stars. It is a common symbol of Boogaloo, authorities said. The loosely organized group has also been linked to recent attacks on law enforcement in Nevada and Texas. A former friend Justin Ehrhardt told this news organization that Carrillo's Facebook page was rife with memes related to the ideology. The Oakland ambush occurred late May 29 near the intersection of 12th and Jefferson streets, as two guards, including Underwood, patrolled the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building while an anti-police brutality protest took place blocks away near City Hall. At about 9:45 p.m., a van pulled up to the building near a guard shelter and one of its occupants began shooting killing Underwood and leaving another guard in critical condition. Justus allegedly got out of the van and conducted "surveillance" on foot, while Carrillo waited inside the vehicle. Then they essentially performed a drive-by shooting, opening the sliding van door and firing on the officers before speeding away, according to the FBI. Underwood, 53, was a Pinole resident who worked as a contract officer for the Federal Protective Service of the Department of Homeland Security. About a week later on June 6, Carrillo allegedly attacked two other law enforcement agents killing one when he lobbed pipe bombs and opened fire with assault weapons on two Santa Cruz County deputies. They had been responding to a call from a concerned resident in nearby Boulder Creek who reported seeing firearms and explosives in Carrillo's white van. Carrillo has since been charged with 19 felonies related to the attack, including murdering Santa Cruz Sheriff Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and attempting to murder the second deputy. The charges carry enhancements of "lying in wait," making Carrillo eligible for the death penalty, and include assaulting a firefighter and trying to kill three other law enforcement officers plus a local resident who held Carrillo down as he tried to steal the man's car to evade police. In the criminal complaint, federal authorities pointed to Facebook posts allegedly made by Carrillo, in which he voiced support for violence against law enforcement and made references to the Boogalloo movement. "Go to the riots and support our own cause. Show them the real targets," Carrillo allegedly wrote on one post. "Use their anger to fuel our fire. Think outside the box. We have mobs of angry people to use to our advantage." In an exchange between Carrillo and Justus posted to an unspecified Facebook group Carrillo allegedly commented, "It's on our coast now, this needs to be nationwide. It's a great opportunity to target the specialty group soup bois." The term "soup bois" is commonly used by Boogaloo followers to refer to federal agents. "Let's boogie," Justus allegedly responded. The exchange was made the morning of May 28, roughly 36 hours before the attack on Underwood and his partner. Authorities believe that the same white van registered to Carrillo's address was used in both attacks. The suspected murder weapon is a recovered assault rifle equipped with a silencer that appeared to be a so-called "ghost gun," meaning it was homemade and didn't contain serial numbers, authorities said. This is only the latest attack on law enforcement linked to Boogaloo, whose affiliates have made headlines in recent weeks for arrests ranging from alleged domestic terrorism to firearm offenses. Earlier this month, the FBI arrested three adherents to the Boogaloo movement in Nevada, charging them with inciting violence with Molotov cocktails and other explosives at protests over the death of George Floyd. In April, a Texarkana, Texas man with alleged ties to Boogaloo was arrested on suspicion of capital attempted murder of a peace officer. He had two pistols and was wearing a ballistic vest when he was arrested, authorities said. The phrase "I became unreasonable" is a reference to extremist Marvin Heemeyer, who in 2004 bulldozed over a dozen buildings in Granby, Colorado, before fatally shooting himself, after a zoning disagreement. In a note later uncovered by law enforcement, Heemeyer wrote, "I was always willing to be reasonable until I had to be unreasonable." How authorities linked the attacks The attack on Gutzwiller and his partner occurred at Carrillo's home at 120 Waldeberg Road in Ben Lomond, the complaint says. Carrillo opened fire on the deputies. Gutzwiller was shot and killed, and his partner was shot and injured by bomb shrapnel, authorities said. After the incident which ended when Carrillo attempted several carjackings and was detained by a civilian authorities honed in on a 1992 white Ford van that appeared similar to the one used in the Oakland attack. A forensic examination later confirmed it was the same van. Authorities say Carrillo made alterations to it, including spray-painting a window with white paint. Cellphone records from Carrillo's T-Mobile phone place him at the Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, where Carrillo was stationed, just hours before the Oakland attack. His phone was turned off around 8 p.m., and reactivated a little before 10 p.m., where its signal bounced off a tower near the Oakland Zoo, the complaint says. Police believe he took a specific route to avoid crossing a bridge and being logged by a license plate reader. Five days after Carrillo's arrest, Justus showed up to the federal building at 450 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco, with his mother. During a subsequent interview, he said he met Carrillo on Facebook and that the two planned to travel to Oakland on May 29, according to the complaint. Carrillo picked Justus up at the San Leandro BART station, where they removed license plates off the van. Justus told federal agents Carrillo offered him a gun and a ballistic vest, but he declined to use them. Justus claimed he was simply looking for parking and "to see what was going on" when he walked around the Ron V. Dellums Building, shortly before the attack. He said he didn't want to join Carrillo in the shooting but felt "trapped" after they met up, according to the complaint. When agents pointed out that Justus could have left when he was walking around, he claimed he was trying to think of ways to talk Carrillo out of his plan. Carrillo wanted to fire upon helicopters or civilians, but Justus dissuaded him, he claimed, according to the complaint. Justus' first court appearance happened Monday, authorities said. Carrillo has not yet appeared in federal court. At his arraignment in Santa Cruz, his attorney said Carrillo suffered from trauma and that there was more to his story than the public knew. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. There's an emerging group of companies calling themselves "super app" platforms, and Grab is among them. This Southeast Asian company delivers an array of digital services such as transportation, food delivery, hotel bookings, online banking, mobile payments and insurance services from its app thus the "super app" title serving more than 187 million users in over 330 cities across eight countries. View the FULL LIST: 2020 DISRUPTOR 50 In January it acquired Bento, a Singapore-based digital financial advisory firm, and rebranded it as GrabInvest to offer retail wealth-management solutions through the Grab app. Late last year it launched the GrabPay card, Asia's first numberless card, powered by Mastercard. The card is available on the Grab platform and gives users immediate access to any online or offline merchant that accepts Mastercard worldwide. As the company, backed by SoftBank Vision Fund, expands and more users try Grab for the first time, it is having a substantial impact on the region. Grab claims that about 21% of its drivers did not work prior to joining the platform and that about 1.7 million micro-entrepreneurs using Grab opened their first bank account. To meet the demands resulting from the pandemic, Grab began expanding its GrabMart and GrabAssistant services to new markets so that essential items and groceries can be shifted to areas of greatest need. The company also has shifted its ride-hailing drivers to deliver food and parcels during the crisis. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. As the community continues to mourn the deaths of two women, activists and celebrities took to social media to advocate for justice. The bodies of Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau, 19, and Victoria "Vicki" Sims, 75, were found Saturday at the same location in Tallahassee after police used GPS to track Sims' cellphone. It is unclear whether or not the women knew each other before their deaths. Aaron Glee Jr. was arrested Sunday in the Orlando, Florida, area, hours after the women's bodies were discovered inside and near his home, according to court records released Tuesday. He was charged with felony murder and kidnapping. Two petitions have received nearly 400,000 signatures. One of them, created by Hana Bangura of New York, was aimed at the Tallahassee Police Department and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to further investigate Salau's death. It has gone viral as celebrities including Academy Award winner and former NFL wide receiver Matthew Cherry and rapper Yung Baby Tate have shared them on Twitter. Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), actress Alyssa Milano, George Floyd family attorney Ben Crump and "Moonlight" director Barry Jenkins also have expressed their support for justice in the disappearance and death of the activist. Salau was reported missing June 6 and Sims was reported missing June 11. It's unknown exactly when they died. Here's what we know about their deaths and the suspect: Who is Oluwatoyin Salau? Black Lives Matter demonstrator Oluwatoyin Salau, pictured during a protest at TPD, has been missing since June 6. Salau was an activist who was found dead Saturday night. She was affiliated with Movement 850, which describes itself as "student leaders and community residents working together to demand justice and policy change" for police reform in Tallahassee. She spoke at recent protests and spent her final days carrying signs that pleaded for justice in the wake of Black lives lost. Those lives may be lost, but we cannot be scared," Salau said last month, during a protest in front of the Tallahassee Police Department. "You are angry and its OK to be angry. Story continues In a series of tweets that were sent on the afternoon of June 6, Salau talked about a man who molested her earlier that day. She said the man offered her a ride back to a church where she had been staying. On June 9, Tallahassee police posted on social media a missing persons flier for Salau, saying she was last seen June 6 in an area about a quarter mile from where she tweeted she was picked up for a ride and later sexually assaulted. Meanwhile, the Kearney Center, a homeless shelter, reported that Salau sought help June 8 and was given phone numbers for people who could directly help her seek emergency shelter. They have no record of her trying to get in touch with those case managers. Background: Florida protester Oluwatoyin Salau killed in Tallahassee Vigil: Mourners remember Salau near site where activist's body was found Who is Vicki Sims? Victoria Sims, 75, a volunteer for AARP, was reported missing Saturday night. On Sunday, AARP officials confirmed she was dead, the victim of a homicide. Police say Sims was last seen June 11. Police reported her missing June 13 after a neighbor went to check on Sims and found the front door to her apartment ajar. Her home is about a mile from the area Salau said she was sexually assaulted. Officers found her home ransacked, burglarized and her car missing, police confirmed in an update Tuesday. Friends and family mentioned she occasionally gave rides to a man named Aaron, who lived on Monday Road. Sims was a retired state worker, grandmother and volunteer who was well-known for her work in local Democratic politics. In a statement released Sunday, Dave Bruns, spokesman for AARP, said, "Vicki worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others as a dedicated advocate for older Americans; a committed volunteer for AARP, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Big Bend and other community causes; a devoted mother and grandmother; and a passionate, fully-engaged citizen, helping our nation to achieve its highest ideals." Timeline: Toyin Salau, Vicki Sims' disappearance, death in Tallahassee Suspect Aaron Glee Jr. arrested Aaron Glee Jr. Glee Jr., 49, was arrested early Sunday morning in Orlando on a warrant for murder, according to jail records. The arrest came hours after police descended on his dilapidated home on Monday Road on Saturday night, when police found Salau and Sims' bodies on the property. According to jail records, the original charge against Glee was kidnapping with intent to terrorize. Glee was also arrested May 29, on separate aggravated battery charges after an officer spotted him kicking a woman in the stomach, according to police reports. After, the woman told police she had rejected a sexual advance from Glee, who had become angry. The victim in that case was neither Sims nor Salau. Salaus description of the alleged abuser that she posted to Twitter and provided to police before disappearing doesnt match Glee Jr. More on Glee's arrest: Suspect in killings of Victoria Sims and Oluwatoyin Salau arrested in Orlando area Cellphone trace leads to bodies Court documents released Tuesday say police ran a trace on Sims' cellphone. When they arrived at Glee Jr.'s house, they found Sims' white Toyota, stuck in mud. "It appeared as though the driver was attempting to drive north of the stopping location, but was unsuccessful," court documents say. "There was a white sheet covering the rear of the vehicle, including the license plate. The license plate was bent upward, as though attempting to conceal the vehicle's identity." Officers knocked on the door, but no one answered. Concerned Sims was inside and in danger, they broke in. They found Sims' body in a bedroom, covered with a white blanket that was soaked with blood. Her wrists and ankles were bound behind her back, according to the probable cause affidavit. Officers and a police dog found Salau's body covered in leaves, about 200 feet northeast of the house. Glee is being held in the Orange County Jail in Orlando. It's not clear when he will be transported to Tallahassee for his first court appearance. Contributing: Nada Hassanein, Daniella Medina, Tallahassee Democrat This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Oluwatoyin Salau death: Aaron Glee Jr. arrested in Orlando; Vicki Sims Bishop Bibi (left) & New CUIB President Prof. Ngoh Fonki Y.N Archbishop Julio Murat, apostolic nuncio of the Holy See to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea has renewed the confidence of the Holy Father Pope Francis on Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi, Apostolic Administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buea. The Apostolic Nuncios dispatch dated June 15, 2020 comes to set the records straight following dissents that greeted the appointment and transfers of some priests within the diocese. Appointed December 28, 2019 as Apostolic Administrator of Buea, Bishop Bibi on May 29, 2020 appointed and transferred some priests within the diocese. The action of the Bishop generated a lot of noise, especially within the ranks of hitherto untouchable priests and institutions. The decision placed Fr. George Nkeze Jingwa on sabbatical in the U.S., and a June 11decision replaced him as Pro-Chancellor/President of the Catholic University Institute of the Diocese of Buea, CUIB. Professor Victor Julius Ngoh was named President of CUIB, ending Fr. Nkezes decade at CUIB. Bishop Bibi named himself Chancellor/Pro-Chancellor of the institute. In a letter of complaint addressed to the Administrative Board of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU), Barrister Sobe Clive Ndikum, writing on behalf of CUIB, described Fr. George Nkezes dismissal as improper interference. The June 11 petition says the decision of the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Buea may put in jeopardy the role of Father George Jingwa Nkeze, President, CUIB, Vice President of IFCU, and IFCU Regional President for Africa. The lawyer is of the opinion that as Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Michael Bibi is not empowered to carry out any major change or decision which is for the new bishop to make. The newly appointed Administrator has caused irreparable damage and mistrust amongst students, faculty members, the laity and other well-wishers of our Christian Community by making uninformed, ill-advised and rash decisions beyond the scope of his mandate and authority as an administrator. Barrister Sobe, counsel contracted for CUIB by ousted President Nkeze, says Bishop Bibis actions have reached unprecedented levels of commotion resulting to publications of articles a reasonable person would consider not kind to the Bishop or the position he holds. According to the lawyer, CUIB is autonomous and its Board of Trustees is supreme over the office of Bishop, talk less of that of Apostolic Administrator. He therefore calls on the International Federation of Catholic Universities, an organisation of over 200 Catholic universities throughout the world, to bend Bishop Bibis hand so he can reopen and restore the status quo of of CUIB Bank accounts and get Fr. Nkeze reinstated to complete his presidential mandate expected to expire in 2023. The Apostolic Nuncio has however rubbished the claims of the lawyer. Following the high instructions of the Congregation of the Holy See for the Evangelization of the Peoples, Archbishop Julio Murat said: The Apostolic Administrator is the legitimate authority over all priests, Religious and any other mission personnel within the Diocese of Buea and reserves the right to appoint, transfer, remove or dismiss persons according to the prescriptions given to him by the Holy See. The same Apostolic Administrator is responsible for all temporal goods and patrimony of the Diocese of Buea and of all the Diocesan Institutions and is answerable directly to the Holy Father through the Apostolic Nunciature in Yaounde. Apostolic Administrator Bibi, emboldened by the renewed confidence, put out a statement on Tuesday reminding all and sundry that he is the sole legitimate authority over the Diocese of Buea. He went further to declare that Barrister Sobe Clive of Intellectum Law Firm has not been authorised to institute any action on behalf of the Catholic University Institute of Buea. Bishop Bibi went on to chair a meeting of faculty and staff of CUIB, in the Conference Room of the Bishops House in Small Soppo, in his capacity as Chancellor/Pro-Chancellor. Srinagar, June 15 (IANS) Pakistani wives of former Kashmiri militants, who returned to the Valley through Nepal under a government rehabilitation scheme, staged a protest, here on Monday, demanding citizenship and alleging non-fulfilment of promises. "We appeal the government to provide us facilities and travel documents to help settle with our families in the Valley," one protestor said. "The future of our children is dark. They too don't have documents," she added. Field Marshal Khalifa Haftars retreat from Tripoli should not be confused with Napoleons retreat from Moscow. Haftar was foolish to try to capture the Libyan capital it even surprised his foreign backers but he probably wont have to retreat very far. His main force is still intact, and it doesnt snow much in Libya. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 16/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Field Marshal" Khalifa Haftars retreat from Tripoli should not be confused with Napoleons retreat from Moscow. Haftar was foolish to try to capture the Libyan capital it even surprised his foreign backers but he probably wont have to retreat very far. His main force is still intact, and it doesnt snow much in Libya. Its probably too generous to call what has been going on in Libya a civil war. After long-ruling dictator Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, the country actually disintegrated into a series of city-states ruled by rival Islamist militias and every petty warlord got foreign backers because of Libyas oil wealth. Fifty years ago, Khalifa Haftar was one of the young officers who helped Gaddafi overthrow the monarchy; 25 years ago he was a CIA asset living in Virginia and promising to overthrow Gaddafi. Five years ago he became the commander of the Libyan National Army and started subjugating the "Islamist and terrorist" militias that then dominated the east of the country (Cyrenaica). As he gained control of Cyrenaica and then the desert south of the country, Haftars foreign backers multiplied France, Russia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates for thats where most of the oilfields, pipelines and oil terminals are. They also liked his strong anti-Islamist line. But they werent really interested in reuniting Libya, whereas Haftar was. The various Islamist militias that dominate the capital, Tripoli, and the broader western region of Tripolitania are really just local boys defending their protection rackets. They have no loyalty to the unelected Government of National Accord (GNA) that the United Nations calls legitimate. However, the GNA has gained the support of Turkey, probably the strongest country in the Middle East. Why? Partly because under President Recep Tayyib Erdogan, Turkey has become the key supporter of pro-Islamist regimes and parties throughout the Arab world (the GNA is dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood), and partly because of oil. Still with me? Dont bother to take notes; there wont be a test. Turkey didnt instantly give military aid to the GNA when Haftar sent his forces west 14 months ago to attack Tripoli. That had to wait until Erdogan had extorted a deal last December in which Libya promised to sell Turkey lots of oil and gas (although it couldnt deliver until Haftar was defeated). The leader of the GNA, Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, also had to agree to a deal in which Turkey and Libya carved up seabed rights in the Mediterranean in a way that gave Turkey valuable gas fields and froze both Greece and Cyprus out. (Both strongly objected, of course.) And then Turkey started sending arms, Arab mercenaries (also Islamist), armed drones, and Turkish military "advisers" to Libya. By early this year, Haftar was also getting a lot of foreign help: arms shipments from the UAE and Egypt, thousands of mercenaries from Sudan, Chad and Niger, and even a couple of thousand Russian ex-special forces troops now working for the Wagner Group of mercenaries. But Turkeys bid was higher. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Haftars last assault on Tripoli failed late last month, and the GNA-Turkish counter-offensive has already retaken all of western Libya. As I write, militias from Tripoli and Arab mercenaries provided by Turkey are fighting in the outskirts of Sirte, Libyas third city and the gateway to the "Oil Crescent," where the sea terminals of the pipelines are. If they take those, Haftar will be toast. Except that the "alliance of evil," as Erdogan calls Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France and the UAE, wont let that happen. More importantly, Russia wont let it happen and Russia flew more than a dozen state-of-the-art combat planes into a Haftar-controlled airbase last month. Russia doesnt want to put its own troops on the ground in Libya to save its man, any more than it did in Syria, but air power alone can probably save him. It doesnt want a full military confrontation over Turkey either, any more than it did in Syria. But it will probably get its way in Libya anyway, or most of its way, at least like it did in Syria. And whats extraordinary is that despite key words like "oil" and "Middle East" and "Russia" scattered all through this article, it hasnt been necessary to mention the United States even once. There was a telephone call between Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump on June 8, but its unlikely to be relevant to the outcome. The likeliest outcome is that Turkey backs off, there is a ceasefire of some sort that freezes the lines, and there is a de-facto division of Libya with a Haftar-led Russian client state in the east that shares the oil revenues with Tripoli. And then there will be a generation of quarrels over the shares. Gwynne Dyers latest book is Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work). Most business owners create a Business Profile hoping to gain more visibility on Google, but it can be hard to make use of all of its features to get the best results, WordStreams Senior Vice President of Product Kristen Yerardi explains. WordStream's new Google My Business Grader solves this. WordStream Inc., a leading provider of online marketing software and services, announces the launch of the Google My Business Grader, a free tool that helps businesses improve their visibility online and get more customers by auditing their Google My Business accounts. The Google My Business platform is designed to make the local business community accessible online, turning listings into a powerful marketing tool for local businesses of all kinds, from brick-and-mortar establishments like restaurants and dentists, to service providers like roofers and electricians. In under a minute, the Google My Business Grader provides an overall score as well as a detailed assessment in four key areas that impact the rank of your business listing, formally a Business Profile: Presence, Reputation, Communication, and Outreach. The report points out not only whats missing in each of the four key areas, but also exactly what you need to do to improve your score and, more importantly, the impact of your Business Profile. Most business owners create a Business Profile hoping to gain more visibility on Google, but it can be hard to make use of all of its features to get the best results, WordStreams Senior Vice President of Product Kristen Yerardi explains. The good news is that implementing these features is easy; its identifying the right features thats hard. The Google My Business Grader takes care of this, making it an educational tool just as much as it is an auditing tool. With WordStreams Google My Business Grader, you can identify these relatively unknown but highly effective optimizations and improve not only your Business Profile but also your marketing efforts. An optimized Business Profile can help your business get: Better search engine visibility. An optimized Business Profile helps businesses to rank higher in local search, appear in more searches, and stand out above competitors. Increased engagement. Customers can do more than get contact information in a Business Profile if it is optimized: They can book an appointment, request a quote, ask questions, get pricing, see upcoming events, learn about promotions, and more. More customers. With increased visibility to the right audience and quality engagement, optimized Business Profiles help visitors to more quickly and confidently become customers. To try out the Google My Business Grader today, visit wordstream.com/google-my-business. 16.06.2020 LISTEN Delegates have vowed to retain the Member of Parliament for Zebilla Constituency Hon Frank Fuseini Adongo who is also the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister. The delegates indicated that Hon. Frank Fuseini Adongo is the best bet to fight the opposition candidate to retain the seat in the upcoming 2020 general elections. Constituency organizer, Hon. Daniel Atampuba Anania told modern Ghana news that the only way to retain the seat is for the delegates to rally their support for Frank Fuseini Adongo to win the NPP parliamentary primaries. He indicated that the MP has among other things supported hundreds of youth within the constituency to secure stable and permanent employment in both formal and informal sectors. Hon Daniel Atampuba Anania added that the MP has helped to improve health facilities in the constituency including a specialized 40-bed maternity unit at Zebilla hospital by donating specialized medical equipment, water and sanitation among others. Hon. Frank Fuseini Adongo is being contested by the former National Deputy Organiser of NPP in 2010 Dr. John Kingsley Krugu. According to the Daniel Atampuba Anania, Hon, Frank Fuseini Adongo has performed better in his first four years and needs to be retained to continue with the development projects he started. Hon. Asimiga Bukari a Campaign Manager said, Hon Frank Fuseini Adongo is best candidate to retain the seat for the party come 2020. According to him, he has charged the delegates to vote massively for him to retain the seat for the party. He said school feeding programs has been increased to cover many schools in the constituency. The Zebilla constituency seat has been the stronghold of the NDC represented by Cletus Apul Avoka until in 2004 where John Ndebugre of the PNC won the sear for only one term. Cletus Avoka returned in 2008 and won the seat back and again lost it to the current NPP MP Frank Fuseini Adongo who doubles as the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister in 2016. Frank Fusheini Adongo had 22,361 votes representing 49.29% to beat Cletus Avoka with 22,121 votes representing 48.77%. It was God, sister says of Gospel Grace radio host killed while shielding son Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The sister of Tyra Womack, a 57-year-old Baltimore gospel radio host who was shot dead outside her home during a dispute with a neighbor earlier this week, said God intervened and allowed Womack to shield her son, who was the main target, and save his life. The victim's sister, Courtney Scott, told news station WBAL that the suspect came out of nowhere and began firing at Womack's 25-year-old son, who was waiting for his mother on the front porch Wednesday night. Womack was an announcer on WEAA-FM's weekly "Gospel Grace" radio program for three decades. "In my mind, he (the suspect) wanted to hurt my sister and kill her one and only son," Scott said. None of the bullets struck Womack's son, but she was shot multiple times. "I don't know how that happened and how the bullets hit her. It was God, I do know how. It was God because she was protecting her son," Scott added. Dr. Kaye Whitehead, a fellow radio host at WEAA-FM, described Womack as a woman of faith. "It wasn't that she just played the music. She was also a believer." On Friday, Baltimore Police said an arrest warrant had been obtained for the suspect, 56-year-old Richard Sylvester Green, Womack's next-door neighbor who was described by police as "armed and dangerous." "WEAA offers condolences and prayers to the family of our beloved Tyra Phillips (Womack)," the station, which is affiliated with NPR and based at Morgan State University's School of Global Journalism and Communication, said in a statement. "We are heartbroken about her passing and remember her beautiful, gentle, sweet spirit today. Tyra was heard on Sunday's Gospel Grace programs for many years at WEAA." The university also paid tribute to her, saying: "We are truly saddened, as a community and more importantly as a family, by the inexplicable and senseless death of one of our dearest WEAA voices. Tyra 'Phillips' Womack, a longstanding WEAA weekend contributor, was most often heard on our airwaves gracing listeners with inspirational quotes and readings during her weekly church announcements segments on Gospel Grace Sunday." The suspect allegedly harassed Womack's family for years. Her son was waiting for his mother to return from her evening walk when the shooting took place. She was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to Radio Online. "This was a senseless, tragic murder, as many are, and it appears to have stemmed from a neighbor dispute," a police spokesperson said in a statement. Womack, a member of First Apostolic, was also an administrative assistant for the U.S. Post Office. Published On Jun 16, 2020 05:55 PM By Dhruv Attri for Mahindra Thar 2015-2019 Mahindra had been engaged in a legal tussle with FCA over the Roxors design in Uncle Sams land Mahindras legal battle with FCA ruled in favour of the latter. The homegrown carmaker has been banned from selling the Roxor or even importing new parts to the US for now. FCA started pursuing a case of intellectual property infringement against Mahindra regarding the Roxors design. PTI states Mahindras working on an updated Roxor for the United States and Canadian market. Mahindra has been banned from selling/importing the Roxor SUV or its parts in the United States. Mahindra was engaged in a legal battle with the FCA (Fiat Chrysler Auto) group. The US regulator states that the Roxors design infringed upon the intellectual property rights of FCAs Jeep brand. Buoyed by the demand for SUVs in the US, Mahindra launched the Roxor (not street legal though) with its subsidiary Mahindra Automotive North America (MANA). But things became sour right from the outset as Jeep filed a lawsuit against the 2018 model for defying Jeeps trade dress, a trademarked image or appearance of a product. According to FCA, the Roxor was reminiscent of the Willys/Jeep CJ 90 in many aspects but the main grouse was with its multi-slat grille. Mahindra introduced another update to the Roxor in 2020, which was also caught in the legal quagmire. This time it was on six other aspects but didnt include the grille. Mahindra was also instructed to stop importing new parts or sell any of the kits already imported. However, this is not the end of the road for Mahindra in the US. It will be appealing to higher authorities. The report states that Mahindras 2020 Roxor meets legal specifications and will be getting some more design changes in future. Expect the Roxor to spring back into action and enter showrooms if things go Mahindras way. The farm vehicle Roxor is assembled in MANAs Michigan plant with kits imported from India and is priced from $16,599 (Rs 12.62 lakh, ex-showroom). It is powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine(62PS/195Nm) and can be paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. It gets an optional 4X4 system with a two-speed manual transfer case. Recommended: Mahindra Eyeing Separation From SsangYong Read More on : Mahindra Thar diesel Franco Mulakkal, deposed bishop of Jalandhar who is facing a rape case, on Tuesday moved the Kerala high court with a plea to quash the case against him by a nun, saying he was implicated after he questioned her financial dealings. In March, the trial court in Kottayam had dismissed his discharge plea and directed him to face the trial. In a fresh plea in the HC, he said all charges against him were cooked up due to some personal grudges and differences and sought the case be quashed immediately. The state government opposed his plea, saying there is strong evidence against him and that he was filing unnecessary petitions to delay the trial. On June 10, when the trial court in Kottayam took up the case - after a gap due to lockdown - it expressed serious reservation over the bishops absence and asked him to appear before it on July 1. The counsel for the bishop had informed the court that he was not able to travel as there were no domestic flights from Jalandhar and he will have to undergo 14-day quarantine as per the government guidelines. The court, however, asked him to make necessary arrangements and appear before it on July 1. The case surfaced two years ago when a 43-year-old nun, also a mother superior, had complained to the police in Kottayam in central Kerala that Mulakkal had raped her several times between 2014 and 2016. The nun is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation based in Punjab. Mulakkal denied the charges, saying he was implicated after he took action against the nun for financial irregularities in the convent. Later, a special investigation team arrested him in September 2018. After 40 days in prison, he was granted bail. Soon after, he was removed from the post of bishop. The SIT had filed the charge sheet against him last year. There were allegations that the accused tried to delay the trial. The petitioner had also complained that some of the witnesses were threatened by the followers of Mulakkal. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-15 22:40:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SINGAPORE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Multi-Ministry Taskforce has decided to start phase two of re-opening after 11:59 p.m. June 18, when most activities, apart from a small list of exceptions, will be resumed. The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced in a press release on Monday evening that subject to some safe distancing principles, retail businesses might re-open their physical outlets in the new phase, while food and beverage dine-in would be allowed, personal health and wellness and home-based services would be resumed, and sports, parks and other public facilities would open. Meanwhile, businesses in the permitted list published by the Ministry of Trade and Industry would not need to apply for an exemption before resuming operations in the new phase, said the MOH. "Phase two is a significant step in moving towards a new COVID-safe normal," said the ministry. "The Multi-Ministry Taskforce will continue to monitor the situation closely, with the aim of continuing to ease measures, until we reach a new normal in Phase Three." Singapore exited COVID-19 Circuit Breaker measures and began to resume banned activities in three phases starting from June 2. The phase one, which the city-state is in currently, sees only economic activities that do not pose high risk of transmission be resumed. The MOH also announced on Monday evening that Singapore would update its border measures, according to another press release. Firstly, a testing regime will apply to all travelers entering Singapore from 11:59 p.m. June 17. Secondly, all travelers entering Singapore from 11:59 p.m. June 17, and who had remained in Australia, Brunei, China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Japan, China's Macao Special Administrative Region, Chinese mainland, New Zealand, South Korea, China's Taiwan and Vietnam in the last consecutive 14 days prior to their entry, will no longer have to serve their 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) at dedicated SHN facilities. Thirdly, all inbound and outbound travelers who enter Singapore from 11:59 p.m. June 17, and leave Singapore from 11:59 p.m. June 17, respectively, will be required to pay for their COVID-19 tests, where applicable. In addition, incoming travelers who are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents, who enter Singapore from 11:59 p.m. June 17, will be required to pay for their stay at dedicated SHN facilities, where applicable. Enditem On the morning of May 29, federal authorities say, as protests erupted nationwide over the police killing of George Floyd, a Travis Air Force Base staff sergeant and purported follower of the anti-government extremist Boogaloo movement sat at his computer at the Fairfield base plotting how to target law enforcement during the civil unrest. Go to the riots and support our own cause, Steven Carrillo typed into a Facebook post, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed Tuesday. Show them the real targets. Use their anger to fuel our fire. Think outside the box. We have mobs of angry people to use to our advantage. Later that night, federal investigators say, as angry protesters marched through downtown Oakland streets in the citys most chaotic night of police clashes, Carrillo took advantage of the distraction, spraying a guard shack outside the Oakland federal building with bullets from the open door of his van with his handmade assault rifle. Robert Alvin Justus Jr., a Millbrae man hed met for the first time only hours before, drove the two away as an exhilarated Carrillo yelled, Did you see how they fing fell! according to the affidavit. David Patrick Underwood, a 53-year-old federal security officer from Pinole, was shot dead. His colleague was seriously wounded. A week later, after someone reported his abandoned van to police, the 32-year-old Ben Lomond resident allegedly ambushed two Santa Cruz County deputies as they pulled up to his house on a remote, mountainous road. Carrillo is charged with killing Damon Gutzwiller, a 38-year-old sergeant, and wounding another deputy in that attack. The harrowing details were revealed Tuesday as federal investigators unsealed criminal complaints filed against Carrillo and Justus, 30. On Thursday, Justus turned himself in to the FBI and admitted to driving the van used in the Oakland shooting. Carrillo was charged with murder and attempted murder of a government employee. Justus was charged with aiding and abetting Carrillo. Both could face the death penalty. Carrillo also faces a slew of state charges from the Ben Lomond shooting, including murder and attempted murder. His arraignment in the Santa Cruz County case was postponed, and he has yet to appear in federal court on the Oakland case. Carrillo is being held in Monterey County jail, and his attorney declined interview requests from The Chronicle. Shmuel Thaler/Associated Press FBI Special Agent in Charge Jack Bennett said the investigation continues and there could be further suspects. Weve lost two law enforcement heroes this month, Bennett said at a news conference Tuesday inside the Oakland federal building. Their sacrifice wont ever be forgotten. The shootings shed light on the relatively new fringe Boogaloo movement. In court records, the FBI said the term is used by extremists to reference a violent uprising or impending civil war in the United States. In the affidavit, the FBI wrote its not a defined group, but followers of the ideology may identify as militia and share a narrative of inciting a violent uprising against perceived government tyranny. Its unclear when Carrillo who has served at Travis since 2018 in the 60th Security Forces Squadron, a military police unit met Justus online. But in court records, FBI special agent Brett Woolard described alarming Facebook exchanges between the two in the days leading up to the Oakland shooting. The day before the Oakland ambush, Carrillo posted a reaction to the massive protests cascading across the country. Its on our coast now, this needs to be nationwide. Its a great opportunity to target the specialty soup bois. Keep that energy going, Carrillo wrote, including a link to a YouTube video showing a large crowd attacking two California Highway Patrol vehicles. Lets boogie, Justus replied, according to court records. A third individual communicated with the two on Facebook but was not identified by investigators Tuesday. The FBI agent said soup bois is a term from the Boogaloo movement referring to federal law enforcement agents. Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office The next morning, Woolard wrote, Carrillo continued his online incitement, posting on Facebook: Its kicking off now and if its not kicking off in your hood then start it. Show them the targets. By 5:30 p.m. May 29, Carrillos T-Mobile cell phone stopped pinging at Travis Air Force Base and showed him traveling west on Interstate 80 through Berkeley and to the San Leandro BART Station. At 8:09 p.m., the phone was either powered off or placed on airplane mode. The last person he contacted before turning off the phone was Justus, according to court records. In his statement to FBI agents, Justus said Carrillo picked him up at BART and told him to remove the plates from his white 1992 Ford Econoline E-150 van. Carrillo offered him body armor and a firearm, Justus said, but he declined. He said he drove the two to downtown Oakland, where they parked shortly before 9:30 p.m. directly across the street from Underwoods security guard shack at 12th and Jefferson streets. Justus exited the van for 10 minutes, surveying the area in what Woolard described as reconnaissance. In his FBI interview last week, Justus denied wanting to participate in the shooting, telling agents he felt trapped. Asked why he didnt just leave as he walked outside the van, Justus said he wanted to talk Carrillo out of the plan. He told agents Carrillo spoke repeatedly about shooting a helicopter, police officers and civilians, according to court records. Underwood and his partner, who worked for Triple Canopy Inc., a security service that contracts with the Federal Protective Service, were helpless targets as the van drove by and Carrillo opened fire, the affidavit said. As they sped off, Justus said Carrillo was excited and thrilled, Woolard wrote. They reattached the license plate and drove to Millbrae, making sure to avoid bridges that could capture images of the van, the agent wrote. Justus destroyed his clothing and backpack, and erased his phone communications with Carrillo. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Bennett said there was no evidence either man was part of the nearby protests, but rather they hoped to avoid detection with the crowds. They came to Oakland to kill cops, he said. After spending the night in Millbrae, phone records indicate Carrillo traveled to Santa Cruz County early the next morning. The following week, Carrillo posted numerous Facebook messages criticizing police responses to protests across the country, according to screenshots obtained by The Chronicle. The FBI says Carrillo used white spray paint to disguise the window on the sliding door of his van and replaced a missing hubcap. On June 5, the FBI released surveillance photos of a white van they believed was involved in Underwoods shooting. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle The next afternoon, Santa Cruz County sheriffs deputies received a call about a suspicious white van abandoned off Jamison Creek Road, on land controlled by a water company. The caller reported seeing ammunition, firearms and bomb-making equipment inside. Around 2:30 p.m., deputies drove up a narrow, twisting road through the Santa Cruz Mountains and arrived at Carrillos house, where he opened fire and tossed homemade bombs, investigators said. As he fled, his hip bleeding from a gunshot wound, he carjacked a white Toyota Camry. Investigators found the car nearby with Boogaloo-associated words and phrases scrawled in Carrillos blood on the hood: BOOG, I became unreasonable and stop the duopoly. Inside a second van of Carrillos found at his house, investigators found a bulletproof vest that included a Boogaloo-inspired patch, modeled after an American flag but with an igloo instead of stars and a stripe that included a Hawaiian design. Carrillo, who stands 5-foot-3 and weighs 140 pounds, attempted to carjack a number of other motorists along Highway 9 before a resident wrestled away his assault rifle and other weapons and pinned him to the ground, the Santa Cruz County sheriff said. He was arrested at about 3:40 p.m. Investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that an AR-15-style rifle among Carrillos possessions was privately made, or a ghost gun with no manufacturer markings or serial number, and was fitted with a silencer. A search warrant at his Ben Lomond house found 9mm shell casings matching the same brand and caliber as those used in the Oakland shooting. Once investigators obtained Carrillos phone records, they quickly focused on Justus and began surveilling him. As they were building a case, investigators followed him Thursday as he drove with his parents to the San Francisco federal building and walked up to the security checkpoint. Justus mother told an FBI agent they wanted to provide information about a white van in Oakland. Matthias Gafni and Alejandro Serrano are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com, alejandro.serrano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni, @serrano_alej If allowed into the council, Canada will act as an Israeli asset and contribute to the erosion of international law. Not too long ago, Canada was considered a champion for human rights and international law. The North American country was often seen, in contrast to its southern neighbour, the United States, as a stalwart defender of the rights of the oppressed, as well as a faithful supporter of international humanitarian and refugee organisations. Canadas liberal legislation required that the executive branch impose sanctions against countries known to be human rights violators. Canada also had a supportive, welcoming policy on political asylum. These policies, however, were eroded under Stephen Harpers Conservative government. And, despite expectations to the contrary, this erosion has not been reversed in the last four years under Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal government. Canada is now actively seeking to secure one of the two available non-permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). But the countrys gradual move away from liberalism is raising questions about whether it deserves one. Nowhere is Canadas retreat from liberal values clearer than in the case of Palestine. For the last 20 years, Ottawa has been slavishly following the lead of Washington on issues related to Palestine at the UN. Since 2000, it voted No to 166 different General Assembly resolutions on Palestine. By contrast, the two countries that are competing with Canada for a UNSC seat in this rotation Ireland and Norway both have a consistently different position on issues pertaining to Palestine. Dublin and Oslo have been overwhelmingly supportive of Palestine at the UN. They voted Yes 251 and 249 times respectively on resolutions related to Palestinian rights since 2000. Canada voted Yes to 87 similar resolutions, but a whopping 85 of those were from 2000 to 2010. During Trudeaus time in power, Canada supported only one pro-Palestinian resolution at the General Assembly. It repeatedly chose to stand against nations attempts to condemn Israel for its human rights violations and illegal settlements, and support Palestinians struggle for rights and self-determination. Trudeaus government has not been making much effort to hide where it stands on the issue of Israel-Palestine, or what it plans to do if it acquires a seat at the UNSC, either. In November 2018, during an official visit to Israel, Canadas then Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland openly said that she hopes securing a seat at the UNSC would allow Canada to serve as an asset for Israel. It is no wonder then that more than 100 organisations and dozens of prominent individuals from Canada and beyond have written an open letter to UN ambassadors, urging countries to vote against Canadas bid for a seat at the UNSC due to its governments anti-Palestinian positions. This campaign worried Canada. Earlier this month, Canadas ambassador to the UN, Marc-Andre Blanchard, sent a letter (PDF) to other UN ambassadors to defend Canadas positions on Israel-Palestine. lanchard underlined his countrys alleged commitment to addressing the development and humanitarian needs of Palestinians, but failed to offer a convincing explanation for its dismal record on voting against Palestinian interests and rights at the UN. The Israeli governments recent threat to annex additional portions of the West Bank in blatant violation of international law makes opposing Canadas bid for a UNSC seat even more urgent. The entire international legal system has been based on nations respecting national frontiers and rejecting any attempt by any country to change them unilaterally. Since the end of World War II, there have only been three attempts to violate this principle. The first was the attempt by Iraq to annex Kuwait as its 19th governate. The second was Russias annexation of Crimea. And the third was Israels annexation first of East Jerusalem, then the Golan, and now portions of the West Bank. Until recently, these attempts were met with near-universal condemnation. But in the last few years, the Trump administration appeared to give the green light to such violations by Israel. This has opened a Pandoras box, and invited chaos to the international arena, as many countries across the world are in a position to claim historic rights, security interests or other needs to annex lands from their neighbours. The issue is not whether Canada is pro-Israeli or pro -Palestinian. The issue is whether it continues to believe in international law, or whether it is now as openly disdainful and contemptuous of it as its southern neighbour. As the US abdicates its leadership role in the international arena, actively undermines international principles, and attacks international organisations, Canada risks being drawn into similar positions. For this reason alone, it is important that Canada is not allowed to take the coveted seat at the UNSC. If allowed into the Council, by its own admission, Ottawa will seek to be an asset to Israel. This would mean it would unreservedly follow the destructive policies of the Trump administration, and contribute to the erosion of the international legal order. As the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic, prepares to address other global challenges such as climate change, and gears up to confront new human rights challenges, it is hoped that Canada may once again become a champion of international law and international organisations. Until then, every effort should be exerted to stop Ottawa having a say inside the Security Council. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Virtual Farm Walk on Award Winning Dairy Farm The Hearne family, who farm at Ballinacurra, Rathgormack, Co. Waterford, were the 2019 National Winners of the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards. A Virtual Farm Walk webinar will take place on this award winning farm on Tuesday, 30 June this year. The Hearne family, 2019 National Winners of the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards This online event is organised by Teagasc, with the support of Glanbia Ireland, the National Dairy Council and Ornua, and celebrates the excellence of Irish dairy farming highlighted annually by the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards. A Virtual Farm Walk webinar will take place from the Hearne family farm at 11.00am on Tuesday 30th June. This combined with a stream of posts through social media platforms, will highlight the best practices adopted on the Hearne family farm, which make Kieran and Anns farm the success it is today. Kieran Hearne is a second-generation farmer and has been farming since 1990. The family have expanded their farm in a sustainable manner to make it more profitable and continue to produce top quality milk. Both he and his wife, Ann, come from generations of farmers, so its really in the blood and they love a job that keeps all the family together. Kieran and Ann milked 190 cows on their 82 hectares farm, supplying 1.1 million litres of milk to Glanbia Ireland in 2019. Speaking in advance of the Virtual Farm Walk, Kieran said; I love dairy farming because it allows me to combine farming with family life, as we live and work on the farm. On the webinar at 11am, all dairy farmers will have an opportunity to listen to Kieran discuss his farm and the steps he has taken over the years to produce high quality milk while caring for the environment, and providing a livelihood for his family. Kierans Teagasc Advisor, Seamus Kearney, and Glanbia Ireland Milk Quality Manager, Brendan Walsh, will discuss how this farm is producing high quality milk with low SCC, low TBC, low thermoduric levels and zero residues. There will also be a strong focus on how this family is farming with the environment, through hedgerow management to improve biodiversity, by using low emissions slurry application, selecting protected urea as the fertiliser type, and using high EBI bulls in their breeding strategy. Tom O Dwyer, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc said; Covid-19 restrictions have prevented us from organising a farm walk on the Hearne farm at this time. However, the webinar will allow dairy farm families hear the types of achievable steps which can raise both quality standards and overall farm performance from a winning farmer. Fionnuala Malone, Milk Quality & Compliance Manager at Glanbia Ireland is looking forward to the new virtual format for the national milk quality farm event this year. The team at Glanbia Ireland are delighted to see the Hearne family farm recognised for milk quality excellence. They are continuously innovating, adopting new practices, research and processes to ensure they deliver the highest quality using the best methods. Their farm is an outstanding example of everything that underpins Irelands Dairy Industry and it is this environmentally, family friendly approach to dairying that has been Irelands strong point over the years. Families farming together through generations and striving to do things differently and improve each year, and yet not be afraid to change. Thank you to Kieran, Ann and the wider Hearne family for opening up their farm for this virtual event. Visit National Milk Quality webinar plus social media day to register for this Virtual Farm Walk on Tuesday 30th June. The webinar will mark the 10th anniversary of the Quality Milk Awards, and the Hearne family are the tenth family to be overall winners. The market has been one roller coaster ride for investors on June 16 as it opened strong on positive global cues after the US Federal Reserve expanded its bond buying programme, but shed all its gains in the afternoon amid India-China border tensions, followed by a strong recovery in the last couple of hours of trade. The Sensex climbed 376.42 points, or 1.13 percent, to 33,605.22, led by banking and financials. The Nifty rose 100.30 points, or 1.02 percent, to 9,914 and formed a small bodied red candle on daily charts as the closing was lower than its opening. "On Wednesday (June 17), 9,700 will be a crucial level and on dismissal of the same, the Nifty would quickly fall to 9,550 and 9,400 levels. Technically and based on the daily chart, the index should rise keeping the level of 9,700 intact," Shrikant Chouhan, Executive Vice President, Equity Technical Research at Kotak Securities, told Moneycontrol. He feels the level of 10,100 and 9,700 could act as a resistance and trend decider levels, respectively. The market breadth was in favour of declines as about 1,032 shares declined against 835 advancing shares on the NSE. "Markets may continue to mirror global markets. While the stand-off between India and China along the Line of Control will be on investors' radar, any further escalation could negatively impact the market," Ajit Mishra, VP - Research at Religare Broking, said. We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades: Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks given in this story are the aggregates of three-month data and not of the current month only. According to pivot charts, the key support level for the Nifty is placed at 9,746.27, followed by 9,578.53. If the index moves up, the key resistance levels to watch out for are 10,063.97 and 10,213.93.The Nifty Bank rallied 383.80 points, or 1.93 percent, to close at 20,296.70. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 19,656.27, followed by 19,015.83. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 20,787.97 and 21,279.23.Maximum call OI of 23.43 lakh contracts was seen at 10,000 strike, which will act as crucial resistance in the June series. This is followed by 10,500, which holds 21.61 lakh contracts, and 10,300 strikes, which has accumulated 16.48 lakh contracts. Significant call writing was seen at the 10,300, which added 5.98 lakh contracts, followed by 10,100 that added 5.63 lakh contracts and 10,000 strikes, which added 2.51 lakh contracts. Call unwinding was witnessed at 9,700, which shed 0.94 lakh contracts, followed by 9,800 strikes, which shed 0.52 lakh contracts. Maximum put OI of 28.37 lakh contracts was seen at 9,500 strike, which will act as crucial support in the June series. This is followed by 9,600, which holds 24.22 lakh contracts, and 9,900 strikes, which has accumulated 22.98 lakh contracts. Significant put writing was seen at 9,300, which added 1.29 lakh contracts, followed by 9,700 strikes, which added 1.25 lakh contracts. Put unwinding was seen at 9,500, which shed 1.41 lakh contracts, followed by 10,300 strikes, which shed 0.34 lakh contracts. A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks. Based on the OI future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long build-up was seen. An increase in OI, along with a decrease in price, mostly indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on the OI future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short build-up was seen. A decrease in OI, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates a short-covering. Based on the OI future percentage, here are top 10 stocks in which short-covering was seen. : Fidelity Funds - India Focus Fund sold 17,10,898 shares in company at Rs 64 per share. Indian Terrain Fashions: Malabar India Fund sold 3,04,627 shares in company at Rs 32.72 per share. Lycos Internet: Oak India Investments sold 35 lakh shares in company at Rs 11.95 per share. (For more bulk deals, click here) Pidilite Industries, Indraprastha Gas, Muthoot Finance, REC, Aban Offshore, Clariant Chemicals, Cummins India, Prataap Snacks, Emkay Global Financial Services, FDC, Fortis Healthcare, Gulf Oil Lubricants, HEG, Indostar Capital Finance, ITD Cementation, JK Cement, Lumax Auto Technologies, Mangalam Cement, Mold-Tek Technologies, Natco Pharma, Navneet Education, Rane Brake Lining, Rico Auto Industries, Texmaco Infrastructure, Texmaco Rail, Triveni Engineering and Welspun Corp will declare their March quarter earnings on June 17.: Q4 profit at Rs 272.7 crore versus Rs 35.18 crore, revenue at Rs 276.6 crore versus Rs 252.6 crore YoY. HDFC AMC: Standard Life Investments to sell up to 60 lakh shares (with an option to sell an additional 60 lakh shares) via an offer for sale on June 17-18. NMDC: Q4 profit at Rs 347 crore versus Rs 1,451.81 crore, revenue at Rs 3,187.34 crore versus Rs 3,643.32 crore YoY. Ratnamani Metals: Q4 profit at Rs 67.34 crore versus Rs 63.19 crore, revenue at Rs 629 crore versus Rs 686.74 crore YoY. Gokul Refoils approved share buyback of up to Rs 39.48 crore. Schneider Electric Infrastructure: Q4 loss at Rs 25.75 crore versus a profit of Rs 1.46 crore, revenue at Rs 229.6 crore versus Rs 286.4 crore YoY. Bank of Maharashtra: Q4 profit at Rs 57.57 crore versus Rs 72.38 crore, revenue at Rs 1,022.5 crore versus Rs 999.93 crore YoY. Wipro: Wipro Gallagher Solutions partnered with DocMagic to enhance digital mortgage processes. HCL Technologies commenced operations in Sri Lanka to leverage the country's IT workforce. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,478.52 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth Rs 1,161.51 crore in the Indian equity market on June 16, provisional data available on the NSE showed.Four stocks - Adani Enterprises, Vodafone Idea, Jindal Steel & Power and Just Dial - are under the F&O ban for June 17. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit. Government intervenes in Dijon after four nights of violence as hundreds of Chechens seek revenge for assault on teen. The French government has sent police reinforcements and a top official to the Dijon region to quell four nights of violence as Chechens from around France and other European countries set out on so-called revenge raids in the city. Cars were torched and rubbish bins set alight late on Monday before several dozen police managed to restore order, authorities said. The local administration said at least 10 people had been injured. Interior Security Minister Laurent Nunez arrived in Dijon on Tuesday, promising an extremely strong response with more than 150 police and para-military gendarmes mobilised to halt any further unrest. I want to send a very clear message to the hooligans we have seen brandishing weapons, to the individuals who have come here to commit violence in Dijon, he said upon leaving police headquarters. He also said that police would remain at the scene as long as they need to. The unrest began last week after a 16-year-old from Frances Chechen community was attacked by local drug dealers on June 10, according to local broadcaster France Bleu. Members of the Chechen community called for revenge on social networks, and hundreds gathered in the city on Friday, later directing their activities to Gresilles, a low-income district with a majority North African immigrant population, said local prefect Bernard Schmeltz. Members of the Chechen community called on social networks for revenge [Philippe Desmazes/AFP] Regional radio news station France Bleu quoted Dijon prosecutor Eric Mathias as saying he had opened an investigation into attempted murder by an organised group and incitement to violence. Unverified videos circulated at the weekend showing dozens of hooded Chechen men, some wearing balaclavas and brandishing handguns or knives, out in the streets of the Dijon suburb. Nights of violence Police said that in one incident about 50 Chechens entered Gresilles overnight on Saturday, and a man who owns a pizzeria was badly wounded by apparent gunfire. Even more people, about 200, also entered Gresilles late on Sunday with violent intent, according to AFP news agency. In an interview with local daily Le Bien Public, a man identifying himself as a Chechen said: There were about a hundred of us from all over France but also from Belgium and Germany. We never intended to ransack the city or take it out on the people. Were no longer in a (functioning) republic when that is how things play out, Dijon Mayor Francois Rebsamen told BFM TV, denouncing an initial lack of police resources. On Tuesday, the leader of the far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, said on Twitter: Our country is plunging into chaos! What is (Interior Minister) Christophe Castaner doing? Gangs are going around in ethnic warfare with automatic weapons in their hands. Chechnya is a Russian republic in the North Caucasus. Two wars in the 1990s triggered a wave of emigration, with many Chechens heading for Western Europe. With this, the full address of the web page will not be seen anymore, you just see the domain name, like google.com Google has started experimenting with a new change in Chrome Dev/Canary 85 that hides the full address from the URL bar of the current page you are on. What you will get to see is just the domain name, like say a google.com, all through. This decision has not been very well received and Google has revealed more details about why it decided to do this and how it plans to take it forward. A Chromium developer working on the bug tracker for this change said that they consider this to be an important problem since phishing and some forms of social engineering are rampant on the web. And with the way current URL displays stand, they arent effective defences, the developer explained. Google is experimenting with a simplified domain display to conduct qualitative and quantitative research into understanding if it helps at all in identifying malicious websites more accurately, the developer added. This experiment ties is with a paper that was published last year that evaluated how people perceive the identities of websites. The paper suggested that no iterations of URL formats and HTTPS notices significantly affected how users understand the security or the identity of login pages. However, if you still want the full address to show, there is an opt-out mechanism. There is the Always show full URL setting if you right-click on the address bar and the developer mentions that Google intends to keep this option available. Monroe County Sheriff For almost 30 years, Florida police have been vexed by the unsolved murder of a teenage hitchhiker known only as Valentine Jane Doebecause she was raped and murdered on Feb. 14. But now investigators say DNA has helped them answer the two central questions in the mystery: Who was the young woman found dead in the Florida Keys in 1991, and who strangled her with her pink bikini top? The Monroe County Sheriffs Office announced Monday that the victim has been identified as Wanda Deann Kirkum, 18, of Hornell, New York. And the man who murdered her is Robert Lynn Bradley of Texas. But Bradley will not be brought to justice, cops say, because he was himself killed a year later. This case is a testament and shining example of this agencys commitment to solving crime, no matter how old the case and no matter the challenges, Sheriff Rick Ramsay said. Windsurfers found Kirkums nude body in a wooded area off U.S. 1, the highway that connects Miami to the Keys. She was nude and face-down in some water, with marks in the dirt showing how she had been dragged. After putting out her description, police got a valuable clue: She was seen trying to hitch a ride going north on Valentines Day. The absence of tan lines on her body suggested she was not from Florida. And her perfect teeth were an indication someone had taken good care of her. But thats as far as investigators got. Photos of the clothing she was last seen in, descriptions of her tattoos and piercings, and even a forensic mockup of what she looked like in life did not get them any closer to a name. The case was featured on Unsolved Mysteries, and police got hundreds of tips, but none of them cracked the case. You wake up in the middle of the night and youre [like], Did we look at this, who is she is there, is there anything that we missed in looking at the evidence? Lt. Manuel Cuervo of the Monroe Sheriffs Department told Crime Watch Daily several years ago. As has happened in so many cold cases, new DNA analysis gave police the answers they sought. After identifying Jane Doe as Kirkum, they learned she had never been reported missing by her parents, who have since died. Story continues They compared DNA from the crime scene to DNA from Bradleys own homicide and got a match. Countless investigative hours have been poured into trying to solve this crime, Ramsay said in a statement. Now, with the victim and suspect identities known, the Sheriffs Office is formally considering the Valentine Jane Doe Homicide resolved and closed. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16 2020 Three political parties that control a small number of seats in the House of Representatives have objected to a plan to increase the legislative threshold for the 2024 elections, arguing that it would undermine the countrys democracy. Major parties in the House are seeking to raise the requirement to acquire seats in the House from 4 percent of the national vote to 7 percent, in a draft bill dated May 6 to revise the 2017 General Elections Law. The proposal was reportedly first drafted by the Golkar Party, which received the third most votes in the 2019 elections with 12.31 percent, and the NasDem Party, which came fifth with 9.05 percent of the vote. The Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP) the three parties at risk of losing representation in the House in 2024 if a higher threshold is introduced demand the threshold be maintained at 4 percent. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login ANN ARBOR, MI - In November 2014, an Ann Arbor police officer killed Aura Rosser, a 40-year-old black woman. While the Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office declined to charge Officer David Ried in the fatal shooting, saying Rosser charged at him with a knife, the incident sparked a call for more civilian review of the Ann Arbor Police Department, including the founding of the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission in 2018. One year after Aura Rosser shooting, Ann Arbor leaders discuss steps forward Fast forward to today, with the backdrop of nationwide protests against police brutality, and theres a lot more progress to be made, Lisa Jackson, chairwoman of the citys police oversight commission, said in a message to City Council Monday night, June 15. Weve got a long way to go in Ann Arbor, and the progress weve made, and my ability to speak to you today was paid for by Aura Rossers death, she said. Jacksons comments start around the 40-minute mark. Jackson outlined four ways to empower her commissions ability to provide civilian review of the police department, but not before putting the need for reform in the context of the death of George Floyd, the black man killed by a Minneapolis officer in May. Its kind of a shame that it took the death of George Floyd to mobilize this level of interest in police reform, she said. Its not because it took us watching for 8 minutes and 46 seconds as he was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, but it also means it wasnt enough, because in Nov. 10, 2014, Aura Rosser was killed by an Ann Arbor police officer. Jackson first proposed that ICPOC provide a presentation to City Council at the first meeting of every month, rather than beg for time on the agenda. Its my hope that this is going to save the city administrators the trouble of calling me every time I want to get on the agenda, to try to elicit what Im going to say, try to evaluate whether our talking points are valid before giving us permission and deciding for us to be on the agenda," she said. "Its kind of disappointing when police reform is the No. 1 topic in the country right now, the police oversight commission has to beg to be put on the agenda. Jacksons second and third reforms include changes to the citys collective bargaining agreement with the Ann Arbor Police Officers Association, including access to complaints made against officers and giving Chief Michael Cox final say on discipline of officers guilty of misconduct. As police chief, Cox is not part of the Ann Arbor police union. To suggest that we can provide oversight without knowing which officers are receiving multiple complaints is farcical, she said. Its about determining whether current Ann Arbor Police Department disciplinary measures are sufficient. Chair Lisa Jackson listens as members of Ann Arbor's Independent Community Police Oversight Commission meet at Larcom City Hall in Ann Arbor Tuesday, May 29 2019.Jacob Hamilton Jackson noted that Cox has a special understanding of police brutality, as he was a victim of excessive use of force by members of his own department in 1995 when he worked as an undercover officer in Boston. Once a victim of police brutality, Ann Arbor police chief talks trust, training and tactics A draft of a new collective bargaining agreement states that Cox can dismiss officers after an investigation by his deputy chiefs. However, the dismissed officer may file a grievance, which gets reviewed by the unions president. The union can appeal to the citys director of human resources, who consults with Interim City Administrator Tom Crawford on a final decision on discipline, according to the proposed contract. If Chief Cox fires an officer, (he or she) should stay fired, Jackson said. Council Members Elizabeth Nelson, Jane Lumm and Ali Ramlawi sponsored a separate resolution in support of more substantive civilian review of policing practices and incidents. It was passed unanimously at Mondays meeting. Communities across this country are increasingly concerned about transparency and accountability when law enforcement agencies make use of force, the resolution states. Ann Arbor officials want to radically rethink policing, consider alternatives to armed officers The resolution also states the citys police oversight commission should have direct and independent access to information related to police incidents. Under current state policies, access to the Law Enforcement Information Network is restricted to law enforcement agencies. Cox said at the meeting that he hopes Michigan will allow some wiggle room to allow for LEIN access in light of the recent calls for police reform. Jacksons fourth point criticizes Mayor Christopher Taylor for trying to push a separate resolution charging the ICPOC with an outside review of Ann Arbors public safety practices. She argues that the resolution is sought without full input from the commission, and that she and Vice Chair Frances Todoro-Hargreaves were the only commission members to look at it until only a few days before Mondays meeting. Our entire commission was not privy to this resolution prior to it being published on the city website, she said. We function as a collective. Council voted 8-3 to refer the mayors resolution to the police oversight commission for input and feedback. Taylor apologized to Jackson and the independent commission for making them feel he wanted to dictate how to do their jobs, saying that error is mine and mine alone. The goal of the resolution is for City Council to radically rethink and reshape how we approach public safety in Ann Arbor, Taylor said. (It was) to elevate the voices of leaders from ICPOC and make clear we are eager to hear what they have to say...I felt an urgency, but its clear that I stumbled in how it was brought forward. It was reviewed by (Senior City Prosecuting Attorney Arianne Slay), the city administrator, Chief Cox, and Lisa Jackson, but not enough time was given for them to comment or for my council colleagues to comment." What has happened to Boris Johnson? Where is the bouncy, exuberant, can-do leader who led his party to a triumphant victory last December? He pops up quite often to remind us of his existence sending tweets, writing a newspaper article, giving short interviews, doing photo opportunities but much of his famous elan has vanished. Television news bulletins on Sunday evening showed Boris visiting an empty shopping centre before yesterdays reopening. He looked exhausted, and limply went through the motions trying unsuccessfully to inspire. This diffident, downbeat Prime Minister is very far indeed from the barnstorming politician who during the election campaign persuaded millions of erstwhile Labour supporters to vote Tory. Television news bulletins on Sunday evening showed Boris visiting an empty shopping centre (pictured) before yesterdays reopening. He looked exhausted, and limply went through the motions trying unsuccessfully to inspire Caution On policy, too, there is a lack of direction and a sense of drift. Just as many European countries are dispensing with quarantine measures, the Government introduces onerous new rules, thereby sending out a signal that Britain is not open for business. On Sunday evening, President Emmanuel Macron announced a return to full schooling and the opening of restaurants across France. His message in a television address was that life is returning to normal. Its true, of course, that the cycle of the pandemic in the UK is at least two weeks behind France. But our authorities are proceeding with such extreme caution that it seems possible we will be labouring under the effects of lockdown when the rest of Europe is buzzing with life. Most classes in British schools will remain cancelled for the foreseeable future. Social-distancing rules wont be relaxed from two metres to one for several weeks while a committee laboriously chews over the matter. Thousands of businesses could go bust in the meantime. There is a question we have to ask and on the answer depend millions of livelihoods. Is the deflated, indecisive Boris now on view merely a temporary phenomenon, soon to be replaced by the dynamic leader people voted for? Or are we witnessing the true Boris Johnson a lively and engaging campaigner, to be sure, but someone ill-suited to the demands of the top job, and lacking the organisational skills, patience and good judgment to run the country? Some Boris-watchers believe the latter, but I still cling to the hope he has what it takes. In recent months, he has gone through personal upheavals that would have undermined the mental wellbeing of any of us in normal circumstances. Yet he has been grappling with a dreadful pandemic. While trying to cope, he has divorced Marina Wheeler, his wife of a quarter of a century, who often gave sage advice. His much younger (and, one may surmise, less worldly wise) fiancee Carrie Symonds has had a baby, who is likely to disrupt his sleep and soak up some of his flagging energy. His much younger (and, one may surmise, less worldly wise) fiancee Carrie Symonds (pictured with the PM clapping for the NHS outside Number 10) has had a baby, who is likely to disrupt his sleep and soak up some of his flagging energy. Even more pertinent to his apparent tiredness and absence of a clear sense of direction is Covid-19. His contracting a severe version of the disease, and time in intensive care, must have left their mark. Others similarly stricken speak of an enduring sense of exhaustion, and sometimes a degree of intellectual impairment. These, as I say, would be heavy burdens for anyone at the best of times. Ive little doubt they have affected the Prime Minister. Although one should never be over-sympathetic to politicians who seek high office (after all, no one asks them to) we should acknowledge his pluck in challenging circumstances. Moreover, the things that have psychologically and physically dragged him down will get better. Though he can never rely on Marinas counsel again, the pain of the divorce may begin to recede. Baby Wilfred may cry less at night. Most important of all, the lingering ill-effects of the disease will diminish. The trouble is the country needs a clear-thinking and decisive PM now who can make up his mind on a number of crucial issues, and convey the sense that he and the Government have a long-term strategy. In short, that they know what they are doing. And here, it seems to me, Boris Johnson is labouring under another burden: the weight of past mistakes over Covid-19. People rightly say these should be dealt with by a future inquiry. But I am sure undoubted errors partly explain in addition to the personal problems Ive mentioned the Prime Ministers cautious approach. The fact is that, notwithstanding his critics claims, he is not a Trumpian narcissist wholly lacking in normal human empathy. He may be careless and inattentive, but he is also sensitive and well-meaning. Wounded So he will have been wounded by the suggestion of leading epidemiologist Professor Neil Ferguson (a former Government adviser who resigned after breaking rules he had helped devise) that if the lockdown had been enforced a week earlier, 20,000 lives could have been saved. Who wants to be accused of causing the deaths of many people? Certainly not Boris. He knows hes already under attack for being asleep at the wheel at the end of February and early March, when the contagion gathered force, and for doing daft things such as attending a virus-spreading rugby match on March 7. This helps explain why he is demonstrating such timidity. Despite advice by the World Health Organisation that one metre is sufficient for social distancing, and its adoption by many countries, most of the Governments scientific advisers still insist on two. As a result, the early return of schools has been thwarted though if a bit more gumption had been shown by the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, more could have been accomplished even within the existing restrictions. Pubs, restaurants, clubs and cafes have been told they should be able to open on July 4, but they have no idea whether the two-metre rule economically catastrophic to nearly all of them will still apply, and if so for how long. They are therefore unable to plan ahead. Mistakes Why, in Gods name, has No 10 only just set up a review to look into this issue when the problem has been obvious for weeks? And why is this body taking until next month to reach its conclusions? Pubs, restaurants, clubs and cafes have been told they should be able to open on July 4, but they have no idea whether the two-metre rule economically catastrophic to nearly all of them will still apply, and if so for how long. Pictured: The Sherlock Holmes pub in Charing Cross closed It should work around the clock until making up its mind. Thousands of businesses and millions of jobs are at stake. Yet, with its lack of planning and relaxed attitude, No 10 seems unable to grasp the acute seriousness of the situation. Of course, I understand how difficult it would be for the Prime Minister to override the advice of scientists, which is at odds with that of many European counterparts on this and other issues. Having made mistakes in the recent past, he is terrified of doing so again, and precipitating a second wave of the contagion. But I like to think the old, buoyant Boris Johnson more confident of his judgment, less deferential to boffins, and readier to take a well-calculated risk would not have watched and waited while the economy crashes. If this country is to prosper again, we need that old Boris to shake off his demons, recover his brio and his health, and take control. Unless he does so, the outlook for him, and more importantly for the rest of us, is grim. Gardai at the scene of Michael Barrs murder at the Sunset House pub in Dublin back in 2016 A UK man accused of murdering the bar manager of the Sunset House had his DNA profile extracted from items he had used on his extradition flight back to Ireland, the Special Criminal Court has heard. Liverpool native Mr David Hunter (41), of Du Cane Road, White City, London, is accused of the murder of Michael Barr (35) at the Summerhill pub in Dublin's north inner city on the night of April 25, 2016. Yesterday, the father-of-five pleaded not guilty to the charge at the non-jury court before presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Masks His barrister Ms Roisin Lacey SC said that she had "formally objected" to the jurisdiction of the court in the matter. The court heard that Tyrone native Mr Barr, the pub's manager, was shot seven times in all after two men wearing rubber masks over their faces entered the pub at around 9pm. Prosecuting, Mr Dominic McGinn SC, in his opening statement, said that two armed men, "wearing boiler suits and full rubber masks", entered the bar and shot Mr Barr a number of times in the head and neck. An emergency call was placed to gardai at 9.33pm but it was not possible to assist Mr Barr and he was later pronounced dead. Then deputy State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis found that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds. Mr Barr had been shot fives times in the head, once in the leg and once in the shoulder. Mr McGinn said that at around 9.20pm at Walsh Road, near Griffith Park, Drumcondra, a silver Audi A6 was seen to arrive and that three occupants got out and set the car alight. The three men then got in a "possibly silver" Ford Mondeo and left the scene but gardai already in the area arrived at 9.42pm and extinguished the fire. "The vehicle was examined and cocked and loaded weapons, ready for use, were discovered. Boiler suits, ski masks - or balaclavas - and rubber masks were also found in the rear seat," said Mr McGinn. When at the scene, Garda Harkin heard a phone ring on a nearby grass embankment. The phone, which had a number of missed calls, was found next to a bullet. The number of the caller was noted but no meaningful fingerprints were found on either the phone or the bullet. Mr McGinn said that the phone's account was activated shortly before the shooting, along with two other phones. He said Mr Hunter had come to Ireland with another woman to go to a concert at the time but never went and that "their time in Dublin was punctuated with substances and drink". Extradition of Mr Hunter from the UK took place, on foot of a European Arrest Warrant, on October 16, 2019. On his flight to Dublin, the accused ate an apple and used earplugs, both of which were seized and swabbed by gardai. A cigarette butt and clothing were also seized at Bridewell Garda Station. Counsel said the court would hear that forensic testing of the items extracted a DNA profile that matched a "mixed profile" from one of the rubber masks and from one of the ski masks. Mr McGinn said that the "statistics regarding the ski mask are overwhelming". Mr McGinn said that Mr Hunter and another named woman arrived in Ireland on April 23, 2016, and that he confirmed his use of drink and drugs before flying from Ireland to Spain to get residential rehabilitation at a clinic for addiction issues. The trial at the non-jury court is expected to last four to five weeks. THE leader of the MDC Alliance vigilante group, the Vanguard, Mr Shakespeare Mukoyi has left the Nelson Chamisa-led faction and aligned himself with Dr Thokozani Khupes MDC-T. Dr Khupes MDC-T held its inaugural national standing committee meeting at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House in Harare on Monday and Mr Mukoyi was introduced as the partys interim youth assembly leader. Before the latest development, he was the deputy youth leader in Mr Chamisas faction and a leader of the Vanguard that was accused of political violence. Mr Mukoyi, who rose to prominence in the party as a foot soldier when it was being led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai was a one-time Chamisa loyalist, campaigning for him since 2003 in Kuwadzana constituency after the death of the then partys spokesperson Learnmore Jongwe who was the constituencys MP. Sources said Mr Mukoyi felt betrayed ahead of the 2018 general elections when he was promised that he would run for MP in Kuwadzana where he grew up as Mr Chamisa was eyeing the presidency, only to be arm-twisted to leave the seat for Mr Charlton Hwende, now the partys secretary general whom many party members in the suburb considered an outsider. Yesterday, Mr Mukoyi said he had a big announcement to make today regarding his political life.Unfortunately, right now I am not in a position to comment anything with regards to that matter. So far, I have not commented on this to any media house because I am preparing a presser. Talking to you before the presser will be like pre-empting what the youth assembly wants to divulge to the nation so something is happening but I will divulge more details at the presser. We expect it to be tomorrow if all arrangements go well, said Mr Mukoyi. Mr Hwende said Mr Mukoyi had not made a formal announcement but had been spotted making public appearances with Dr Khupe. Mr Hwende said the party wished Mr Mukoyi well in his endeavours and political path. The MDC is a democratic movement. People leave and people join the party on a daily basis. People are always free to go out and seek political fortunes elsewhere. However, those who want to continue fighting for a free and democratic Zimbabwe are with Advocate Chamisa. We also understand that a few of our former colleagues have elected to join the Zanu PF and they are associating with Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora, so we wish him well in his political endeavours, said Mr Hwende. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin issued a new policy directive Monday that would prevent cases from being charged or prosecuted based solely on the testimony of officers with a history of serious misconduct. Under the policy, officers with a record of misconduct related to excessive force; racial bias; discrimination based on race, national origin, sexual orientation or gender; or dishonesty about a crime will be identified on a list by the district attorneys office, officials said in a release. Charges will not be filed in cases in which such an officer is the only source of a material fact necessary to potential charges, without the district attorneys approval, officials said. A material fact is one that cant be proven conclusively without an officers testimony. Officials said the directive is aimed at ensuring that no one is falsely prosecuted as a result of the word or actions of officers with a known history of excessive force, dishonesty, or racial bias. We have seen across the country repeated instances of police violence inflicted upon people of color and the Black community - often by officers with prior known misconduct, yet whose words prosecutors continued to trust in filing charges, Boudin said in a statement. This directive ensures that members of the public are not wrongly or unfairly accused by officers whom we know have displayed the kind of misconduct that permanently damages their credibility or the trust we place in them. Cases that can be charged and prosecuted based on the account of an unaffected officer or by additional evidence that renders an affected officers account unnecessary will still be allowed to proceed, officials said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The list of affected officers will be compiled by the district attorneys offices Trial Integrity Unit and updated regularly, officials said. The directive comes as law enforcement organizations nationwide explore reforms in response to police violence, including the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis that touched off a wave of protests and demonstrations across the country. Matt Kawahara is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara By Lee Kyung-min Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki expressed clear opposition Monday to "basic income," an expanded welfare program the ruling party seeks to implement in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government policy priorities, in his view, should be on better protecting vulnerable groups neglected by the social safety net, rather than seeking "populist" alternatives mindful of highly volatile public sentiment ahead of the next presidential election. "Government spending should always consider efficacy, following a thorough and careful review of how the taxpayers' money would be best used to induce a desired outcome," Hong said at a forum organized by a private organization at the Korea Press Foundation in Seoul. Giving money to all "for bread" at the expense of removal of medical treatment benefits for low-income earners, for example, should not be how a country's welfare system works, he stressed. "Will it be effective to give top-income earners money for bread which they don't need after reducing social benefits for low-income earners who barely meet basic living standards? Giving basic income is a policy that should be formulated alongside existing welfare policies," he said. Also outlined at the meeting was his idea of inclusive growth involving four stages job creation and wage hikes for low-income earners, and strengthening the social safety net and reducing living expenses for the middle- to lower-middle-income earners. Creating jobs and increasing wages is needed to give those at the lower end of the economic scale a sense of purpose and dignity, which he views has been mischaracterized as a "socialist" drive due to rapid hikes of the minimum wage over the past three years. "The government made adjustments following concerns expressed by businesses. Yet strengthening welfare is something we cannot and should not abandon," he said. Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 15 (ANI): Pakistan on Monday violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district on Monday, army officials said. The ceasefire violations by Pakistan took place at 2.30 pm. The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly. On June 14, one Indian Army jawan lost his life in unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, officials told ANI. Pakistan has been repeatedly violating ceasefire along LoC in bordering districts of Jammu and Kashmir over the past few weeks. (ANI) A father has been jailed after his daughter was fatally shot with his sawn-off shotgun. The girl was killed after the shotgun was fired inside a Lalor Park home, near Blacktown in Sydney's western suburbs, in August 2017. Her 46-year-old father, who can't be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on March 4. The man could be released as soon as September, Nine News reported. The three-year-old girl (pictured) who was tragically killed after a gun had been left out in the house The Parramatta District Court previously heard about the moment the victim's mum discovered her daughter's body. The woman, 44, had believed she could protect her children from their father's reckless and unhinged behaviour, but tragedy struck when they found a shotgun he had stashed in a bedroom, the court heard. In mid-2017, the woman had returned to her Lalor Park home to find it had been boarded up by the man, who has a history of mental illness and drug use, in a haze of paranoia. Pictured: Emergency crews on the scene at Lalor Park, Sydney's western suburbs, in 2017 In a statement to the court, the mother described how she had been putting the children to bed and had been in her son's bedroom while the man and his brother were outside in the driveway when the gunshot rang out. 'I remember the gunshot and seeing my baby girl lying face down and not really knowing what was happening at the time but the scene echoes in my head and my thoughts to this day,' the woman said, according to The Daily Telegraph. 'I remember turning my baby girl over and seeing her lifeless eyes and there being so much blood everywhere.' The woman had previously taken out an AVO against the man, who was well known to authorities, but had been 'manipulated' into letting him move back into their family house before the tragedy. The court heard how the man, whose other brother had been shot in 2001, was convinced shadowy figures were lurking about his house, with the paranoia leading to the boarding up of the property and stashing of the sawn-off shotgun. The man's barrister said on the night of the girl's death in his delusional state his client had not left the shotgun between two mattresses too heavy for the children to lift as he believed he had. Police were unable to confirm exactly how the shotgun went off but on theory is that another of the young children might have retrieved the weapon from under the bed and accidentally fired it. The Parramatta District Court previously heard about the moment the victim's mum discovered her daughter's body. The woman was 41-years-old at the time of the tragedy (pictured with her daughter and three sons) Judge Stephen Hanley SC asked the man's legal team what he should make of someone with a history of mental illness who had chosen to take psychosis-inducing illicit drugs. He said the shooting had torn apart the family with the remaining young children taken away from their mother. In her victim impact statement, the woman said she 'collapses inside' whenever she thinks about her daughter, has nightmares every day, and often jolts awake when she is able to fall asleep. The biggest impact, she said, however, was the loss of her 'beautiful baby girl'. 'She would be at school now if she was still alive I used to dream of the day she would grow into a beautiful young woman and live out her dreams. I see little girls everywhere that look like her and my heart hurts,' she said. Saying no trade secrets are involved, a Commonwealth Court panel on Tuesday ordered the state Liquor Control Board to give a state legislator a list of restaurant liquor licenses that are available for auction throughout Pennsylvania. The ruling, which follows a year-long fight by state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria County, backs a decision by the Office of Open Records, which also found the data Burns sought from the LCB is public information. The LCB appealed the OORs ruling, claiming the auction listing was exempt from disclosure under Pennsylvanias Right to Know Law. Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon wrote the state courts opinion shooting down the LCBs argument. Cannon rejected the agencys contention that providing Burns with a list of auctionable restaurant licenses in each of the 67 counties would reveal too much about the LCBs internal management decisions. The LCB claimed the Legislature has given it the business discretion to determine not only when to auction expired licenses, but which information to make publicly available, Cannon noted. Just because a license is eligible for auction doesnt mean it will be sold. The LCBs directors periodically decide which licenses will be sent to auction. Burns, a member of the House Liquor Control Committee, insisted the information he sought is necessary to assist legislators in voting on pending legislation. Cannon noted. Burns said he requested the data to help him decide whether to support legislation to convert old hotel liquor licenses into restaurant licenses. She found that providing Burns with a mere listing of licenses eligible for auction wont impair the LCBs ability to compete in the alcohol marketplace. Nor did the agency show such a hand-off would cost the state money, the judge concluded. We fail to discern how revealing raw data regarding the total number of licenses the board could potentially select for auction in each county provides insight into any policymaking, recommendations, or other deliberative processes of the board, Cannon wrote. A day after an alleged robbery of Rs 8 lakh and gold jewellery in a house in Heera Nagar on the Noorwala road on Monday, the police scanned all CCTV cameras in and around the colony, but did not find any women captured in the CCTVs as described by victim Rashneet Kaur, which made the police suspect the statement of the victim. Rashneet Kaur, who was admitted to a hospital after she had fallen unconscious, has recovered and she has been discharged from the hospital. The police have scanned at least 10 CCTVs installed at different locations in the colony and the Noorwala road. Sub-inspector Arshpreet Kaur, SHO at the Basti Jodhewal police station, said the police have, however, registered a case against unidentified women under sections 455 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint). and 380 (theft in the dwelling house, etc) of the IPC following a complaint by Gurdev Singh, father-in-law of the victim, as the victim was not in a condition of recording her statement. After gathering consciousness, the woman had told the police that, when she was alone at home, two women, posing as general surveyors, had rung the doorbell. After she opened the gate, the women demanded water to drink and she allowed them to come to the verandah. She said she offered them water and they asked some general questions about the family. In the meantime, the women overpowered me and assaulted me with a blunt weapon. After I lost consciousness, the women robbed Rs 8 lakh and 300gm gold jewellery from the almirah, Rashneet added. The SHO added the police are investigating the case from all angles and would solve the case very soon. No colony resident has also confirmed that they had seen two women conducting a door-to-door survey in the colony. By AFP PARIS: The steroid dexamethasone has been found to save the lives of one-third of the most serious COVID-19 cases, according to trial results hailed Tuesday as a "major breakthrough" in the fight against the disease. Researchers led by a team from the University of Oxford administered the widely available drug to more than 2,000 severely ill COVID-19 patients. Among those who could only breathe with the help of a ventilator, dexamethasone reduced deaths by 35 per cent, and it reduced deaths of those receiving oxygen by a fifth, according to preliminary results. FOLLOW COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES HERE Daily doses of dexamethasone could prevent one in eight ventilated patient deaths and save one out of every 25 patients requiring oxygen alone, the team said. The trial included a control group of 4,000 patients who did not receive the treatment. "Dexamethasone is the first drug to be shown to improve survival in COVID-19. This is an extremely welcome result," said Peter Horby, professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford. "Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide." The UK Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, was quoted as saying: "This is tremendous news today from the Recovery trial showing that dexamethasone is the first drug to reduce mortality from COVID-19. It is particularly exciting as this is an inexpensive widely available medicine." "This is a ground-breaking development in our fight against the disease, and the speed at which researchers have progressed finding an effective treatment is truly remarkable. It shows the importance of doing high-quality clinical trials and basing decisions on the results of those trials," Vallance added. Despite the exuberance shown by the people behind the trial and the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser, there are others like noted surgeon and writer Atul Gawande who are advising the need for due caution: It will be great news if dexamethasone, a cheap steroid, really does cut deaths by 1/3 in ventilated patients with COVID19, but after all the retractions and walk backs, it is unacceptable to tout study results by press release without releasing the paper. https://t.co/ZP5GVMUCW3 Atul Gawande (@Atul_Gawande) June 16, 2020 (With other inputs) C hinese authorities have rushed to lock down parts of Beijing as part of efforts to contain an "extremely severe" new coronavirus outbreak in the capital. The move came after officials reported 27 new coronavirus infections in the city on Tuesday, bringing its total caseload to 106 since Friday. Thirteen other cases were registered nationwide. The flare-up in the capital is China's most serious outbreak since February and has stoked fears of a second wave of the respiratory disease which emerged in the central city of Wuhan late last year and has now infected more than 8 million people worldwide. Yang Zhanqiu, deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, told state media he believed the new outbreak involved a more contagious strain of the virus than the one that emerged in Wuhan. Amid mounting concerns about contagion risks, authorities have moved to bar residents of areas considered at high risk from leaving Beijing. Taxis and car-hailing services have been banned from taking people out of the city and limits imposed on the number of passengers on buses, trains and subways. Several provinces have meanwhile imposed quarantine requirements on visitors from Beijing. The flare-up in the capital is China's most serious coronavirus outbreak since February / Reuters While not in a Wuhan-style full lockdown, the Chinese capital has also gone into what state media dubbed a wartime response mode on a district level, with local neighbourhoods instituting 24-hour security checkpoints, closing schools and banning wedding banquets. Overnight, some parts of Beijing including the citys old-style hutong neighbourhoods were fenced up, with some imposing single entry points. The epidemic situation in the capital is extremely severe, Beijing city spokesman Xu Hejian warned at a press conference. Right now we have to take strict measures to stop the spread of Covid-19. Many of the recent cases have been linked to Beijings Xinfadi wholesale market, and authorities have been testing market workers, anyone who visited the market in the past two weeks and anyone who came into contact with either group. Wuhan lifts Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1 /20 Wuhan lifts Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures A medical worker from China's Jilin Province, in red, embraces a colleague from Wuhan as she prepares to return home at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP A pilot leans out of the cockpit window to wave goodbye before the China Eastern airlines flight, the first domestic flight from Wuhan that resumed service after travel restrictions to leave the capital of Hubei province and China's epicentre of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak were lifted, takes off from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to Sanya Reuters A medical staff member from Jilin Province tears up during a ceremony before leaving as Tianhe Airport is reopened in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks and suits to protect against the spread of new coronavirus walk past a display screen at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport i AP A passenger wearing a face mask is seen in the counter at the Tianhe Airport after it was reopened today AFP via Getty Images People wearing protective clothing and masks arrive at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Travellers wearing protective gear ride an escalator at Wuchang Railway Station before travel restrictions to leave Wuhan Reuters Medical staff from Jilin Province (in red) hug nurses from Wuhan after working together during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak during a ceremony before leaving as Tianhe Airport is reopened in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Medical workers from China's Jilin Province react as they prepare to return home at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP A man wearing protective gear gets through security check at Wuchang Railway Station before travel restrictions to leave Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and China's epicentre of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are lifted Reuters A woman wearing a face mask to protect against the spread of coronavirus puts a poncho on a child at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan AP Bullet trains at a station in preparation for resuming operations after authorities lifted a more than two-month ban on outbound travel, in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images People wait for the train at the Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan as travel restrictions for leaving the city, the epicentre of a global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, are lifted and people will be allowed to leave the city via road, rail and air Reuters A train staff member stands on a high-speed train at Wuhan's Hankou Railway Station Reuters People wait for the train at the Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan as travel restrictions for leaving the city, the epicentre of a global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, are lifted and people will be allowed to leave the city via road, rail and air Reuters Fresh meat and seafood in the city and elsewhere in China is also being inspected in the unlikely chance that was how the virus spread. Residential communities around the market have been placed in lockdown, along with the area around a second market, where three cases were confirmed. In all, 90,000 people have been affected in the two areas in the city of 20 million. China had relaxed many of its coronavirus controls after the ruling Communist Party declared victory over the virus in March. The breach allegedly committed by a CIA employee was discovered a year after it happened, when the information was published by WikiLeaks in March 2017. The anti-secrecy group dubbed the release Vault 7, and U.S. officials have said it was the biggest unauthorized disclosure of classified information in the CIAs history, causing the agency to shut down some intelligence operations and alerting foreign adversaries to the spy agencys techniques. Albuquerque's mayor announced Monday that he will create a department of unarmed trained specialists, including social workers, who will be sent to some 911 calls instead of police just hours after local authorities arrested members of an armed civilian group during a protest. During a press conference on Monday, the city's mayor, Tim Keller said he will create a third department of first responders who will take calls that focus on homelessness, addiction and mental health. The cabinet-level department will serve alongside police officers and firefighters 'to deliver a civilian-staffed, public health approach to safety'. 'We've placed more and more issues on the plates of officers who are not trained despite their best efforts and despite some training they're not totally trained to be a social worker, or to be an addiction counselor, or to deal with things around child abuse when they're just answering a call,' Keller said. 'We should have trained professionals do this, instead of folks with a gun and a badge.' The department, Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) will include trained professionals such as social workers, housing and homelessness specialists, violence prevention and diversion program experts. Scroll down for video Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller (at podium) announced Monday that he will create a department of unarmed trained specialists, including social workers, who will be sent to some 911 calls instead of police just hours after cops broke up a confrontation at a protest 'The department will give 9-1-1 dispatch an option when a community safety response is more appropriate than a paramedic, firefighter, or armed police officer,' according to the mayor's website. The plan for the new department will be mapped out over the next two months and the city will reallocate millions of dollars toward the mission. Keller's announcement came just hours after a man was shot during a protest in the city. The shooting occurred near a Monday night confrontation between demonstrators and a group of armed men trying to protect the statue of Juan de Onate before protesters wrapped a chain around it and began tugging on it while chanting: 'Tear it down.' One protester repeatedly swung a pickax at the base of the statue. Moments later, a few gunshots rang out down the street and people yelled that someone had been shot. The shooting prompted the city to announce that the statue would be removed until officials determine the next steps. Police in a statement said detectives arrested Stephen Ray Baca, 31, the son of a former Bernalillo County sheriff. He was jailed on suspicion of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Baca had been among those trying to protect the statue when protesters 'appeared to maliciously pursue him,' according to a criminal complaint filed by police in connection with the charge lodged against Baca. Keller's announcement came just hours after a man was shot during a protest Monday night between demonstrators and a group of armed men trying to protect the statue of Juan de Onate. Police are seen detaining members of an armed civilian group Police in a statement said detectives arrested Stephen Ray Baca (pictured), 31, the son of a former Bernalillo County sheriff. He was jailed on suspicion of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon Video posted on social media showed protesters hitting Baca, a former Albuquerque City Council candidate, with what police described as a longboard skateboard and punching him. Then he opened fire with a handgun. After the shooting, other armed people encircled Baca in an apparent attempt to protect him, the video showed. The man who was shot was hospitalized Monday night in critical but stable condition, said Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos. According to the Albuquerque Journal, members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, a self-described civilian militia group, showed up to protect the statue and intervened as protesters tried to remove it with a pickax and chain. But it's not clear if Baca was there with the group and he appeared to be dressed differently from members. In a statement posted on Twitter, Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier said investigators had received 'reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence'. 'If this is true will be holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, including federal hate group designation and prosecution,' Geier said. Officers during the confrontation used tear gas and flash bangs to protect the officers who intervened and to detain Baca and the armed people who had surrounded him, Gallegos said. He said they were disarmed and taken into custody for questioning as police worked to secure the scene. He said detectives were investigating with the help of the FBI. 'The shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city,' Keller said in a statement. Protesters attach a chain to a statue of Spanish conquerer Juan de Onate in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Monday. One man was shot during, but he is now in stable condition Demonstrators climb the statue of Don Juan de Onate in Old Town in Albuquerque, New Mexico, while an armed member of the New Mexico Civil Guard stands by during a protest on Monday The Don Juan de Onate statues have been a source of criticism for decades. Onate, who arrived in present-day New Mexico in 1598, is celebrated as a cultural father figure in some communities, but he's also reviled for his brutality against Native Americans The violence came hours after activists in northern New Mexico celebrated the removal of another likeness of Onate that was on public display at a cultural center in the community of Alcalde. A forklift pried the bronze statue of Onate on horseback from a concrete pedestal 'Our diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us. Our hearts go out the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight. This sculpture has now become an urgent matter of public safety.' Democratic Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement directed at the armed people, saying they were there to menace protesters. She said there is no room in New Mexico for any sort of escalation of what she called 'reckless, violent rhetoric'. 'The instigators this evening will be rooted out, they will be investigated, and they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' she said. The violence came hours after activists in northern New Mexico celebrated the removal of another likeness of Onate that was on public display at a cultural center in the community of Alcalde. Rio Arriba County officials removed it to safeguard it from possible damage and to avoid civil unrest ahead of a scheduled protest. A forklift pried the massive bronze statue of Onate on horseback from a concrete pedestal. Cheers erupted among bystanders who viewed the memorial as an affront to indigenous people and an obstacle to greater racial harmony, though several people also arrived to defend the tribute to Onate. The Onate statues have been a source of criticism for decades. Onate, who arrived in present-day New Mexico in 1598, is celebrated as a cultural father figure in communities along the Upper Rio Grande that trace their ancestry to Spanish settlers. But he's also reviled for his brutality among Native Americans. Every four hours you need to roll the Covid patients, says Arun Panabaka, 37, a nursing assistant working in Barts Hospital in London. Your back hurts. When one of the patients coughed, he was sick and the vomit went onto my neck and my eye. I was so terrified. I had to go disinfect myself. If I get infected, if I die, what about my wife and child? The Indian national has been working on the intensive care unit with coronavirus patients for more than two months. To avoid taking the virus into the hospital and to protect his wife and nine-year-old daughter at their family home in East Ham, east London, he has been living alone in NHS-funded student halls while he tackles the pandemic on the front line. Arun feels his sacrifice has gone unrecognised and ignored. While his migrant doctor and nurse colleagues have been granted free automatic visa extensions as part of the governments efforts to show them they are valued, his position as a nursing assistant makes him ineligible. The same is true for hospital porters and cleaners, as well as carers, all of whom are exposed to the virus on a daily basis and working hard to fight it, but whom ministers have decided to exclude from the scheme. The Home Affairs Select Committee this week published stark criticism of this move, arguing that excluding care workers and lower-paid NHS staff from the visa extension scheme was unfair. The report called on the government to address this discrimination by expanding the eligibility to include all NHS and social care staff, regardless of job role or pay grade, saying it cannot be right that non-UK health and care staff have to worry about their status and residency in the country. Arun, who works at Barts hospital, needs thousands of pounds before applying for his visa renewal in less than four months (Arun Panabaka) Arun, who has been in his job since moving to the UK last September, and whose immigration status is attached to the student visa of his wife who is doing a masters in public health needs to apply to extend his familys stay in Britain in less than four months. He does not know how they will afford to pay 1,724 for the application fee, on top of the 34,155 they need to prove they have in the bank as maintenance funds. Besides the emotional stress of working in the Covid ward, I have this financial burden, he says. I absolutely agree that we are not professionals, but we all spend time with patients in the Covid wards. I feel theres no equality. Were all working together. They clap every Thursday, but the next day they say you are unskilled and we dont need you. What they say and what they do in practice just doesnt match up. Another frontline worker excluded from the scheme is Janet Babasola, 40, who works as a carer for a woman with cerebral palsy in Livingstone, Scotland, and is struggling to work out how she will afford visa extensions for her and her family in time for the expiry date in August. Janets husband has been put on furlough from his cleaning job, and is therefore no longer able to work overtime for extra pay, leaving the family she has three children aged 14, 12 and three surviving off an income lower than their monthly expenses. The Nigerian national says her job itself has become more stressful during the pandemic, as she is unable to take her disabled patient outside and has to constantly try to explain why her family cannot visit her. Its more challenging. She gets very frustrated. I try to communicate as well as possible the reasons why she cant go out so that she understands. She likes hugs and cuddles, but I cant do that anymore, she says. Youre working so hard but feel completely undervalued. If Matt Hancock says care workers need to be given a green badge so they are recognised in the same way as frontline NHS workers, then why is the immigration system dividing us? Were all playing our part. We are all on the front line. Recommended Ministers urged to expand visa extensions to care workers Nana, 45, a full-time NHS nursing assistant in a dementia ward and single mother to two children with British citizenship aged 12 and 17, is also excluded from the policy. The Ghanaian national, who has been in Britain for 22 years, says she has been under huge pressure at work since the coronavirus outbreak started, particularly when patients started to test positive. At the end of my shift I always go around and tell each patient Im going home and Ill be back tomorrow. When I did this, one man was begging me not to go home, saying he didnt feel well and he didnt want me to leave him. I sat him down and he was insisting he wasnt feeling well. He was saying he had heartburn. I was giving him water, she says. He tested positive a few days later. He got taken to a different ward. I was the last person to have contact with him, and at that time we didnt have PPE. Nana had minor symptoms a week later, but she never got a test. She says the stress at work during the pandemic compounded by the fact that patients cannot see relatives or be taken out of the facility, and often do not understand why has been heightened by the knowledge that she needs to pay more than 3,000 for a visa extension in September. With the lockdown my children arent in school so Im having to spend more on food now. With the same amount of money coming in, how am I going to save that much? Its adding more stress onto me. Ive got other financial problems. To pay for my last visa extension I had to get a loan, which Im still paying back, while Im saving up to pay for the new visa, just so that I can continue working. I have to pay all this money to do this work. Im not expecting someone from the government to come and say thank you to me, but having to pay for these visas again and again It would just be nice to be recognised. Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who is chair of the Home Affairs Committee, warned that with most care workers and low-paid NHS support staff still excluded from receiving the free one-year visa extension granted to clinical staff, many could be facing costs of hundreds or thousands of pounds this summer. Excluding the care workers who hold dying residents hands, the cleaners who scrub the door handles and floors of the Covid wards, or the porters who take patients to intensive care is just wrong, she added. NHS staff and social care workers have been heroes on the front line against Covid-19 and they shouldnt be having to wrestle with the immigration system or worry about their status or hefty visa renewal fees. Our NHS and social care system has relied on the contributions of those who have come from abroad throughout this crisis. Making the lowest paid of those workers pay thousands of pounds during the coronavirus crisis when they are helping and caring for everyone else is unfair and wrong. A government spokesperson said: We are incredibly grateful for all the hard work that health and care workers continue to do in the fight against coronavirus. Right across the immigration system, we are supporting NHS and other eligible health and care workers. We have introduced a free one-year visa extension to approximately 3,000 key frontline health workers including an exemption to the immigration health surcharge and have expanded the bereavement scheme to all NHS and social care workers. Ehave, Inc. Subsidiary MDLink growing at a tremendous pace opening opportunities for platform MIAMI, Fla., June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ehave, Inc., (OTC Pink: EHVVF) (the Company), a provider of digital therapeutics delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients, announced today its Jamaican based MDLink subsidiary is fast-tracking the development of digital solutions to meet the growing demand of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Caribbean. MDLink was created in 2018 by Trinidadian physician, Dr. Che Bowen. Prior to the global pandemic, MD Link had around 40 registered doctors. Since the virus spread to the Caribbean, MDLink has seen a large influx of doctors wanting to be part of its platform. Dr. Che Bowen, MDLink Founder and CEO, said, "In one day I was seeing about 20 doctors registering. Across the Caribbean we have 300 doctors registered and we are in the process of registering more. In addition, Dr. Bowen noted that the platform helped to flatten the curve as patients did not have to leave their home to see a doctor. On the patients end, utilizing MDLinks telemedicine approach is usually less expensive than an office visit. For providers, registration is free, and their credentials are checked and verified to ensure they are legitimate. Dr. Bowens credentials have earned him invitations to speak at International Conferences and will be a key featured speaker on June 18th, 2020 at the CME (Continuing Medical Education) conference. Dr. Bowen will be educating doctors throughout the Caribbean region about Telemedicine as a COVID-19 solution and teaching them Telemedicine basics. CME credits will be awarded to all participating doctors. According to the World Health Organization ("WHO") there are 7,690,708 confirmed cases of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) worldwide. As of June 14, 2020, this pandemic has caused 427,630 confirmed deaths. One of the geographical areas heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic is the Caribbean, since the economy is dependent on tourism. In 2019, the Caribbean attracted more than 31 million visitors. Most of the Caribbean countries have closed their borders to commercial flights in an effort to contain the coronavirus, and tourism has slowed to a crawl. Story continues With Jamaica Opening its borders on June 15th MDLink is preparing to launch MD Lex, its A.I COVID-19 screening chatbot and MDLink Therapy - a mental health focused arm of MDLink that will assist in management of patients via telepsychiatry and other tools. When coronavirus came around we saw a need for it and we began expanding all over the region. We are now in The Bahamas, St Lucia, the Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbados, said Dr. Bowen. We invite you to read article published in Caribbean Local News. http://www.looptt.com/content/md-link-brings-telemedicine-caribbean Ben Kaplan, CEO of Ehave, Inc. said, "We look forward to the MDLink platform benefitting patients in the Caribbean during the Covid-19 pandemic, however, the platform also has long-term benefits for the region during natural disasters such as hurricanes. As we have already mentioned, our business model calls for further expansion of the MDLink platform to cover clinical trials of psychedelics, which will enhance our mental and behavioral health programs. About Ehave, Inc. Ehave, Inc. is a provider of digital therapeutics delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients. Our primary focus is on improving the standard care in therapeutics to prevent or treat brain disorders or diseases through the use of digital therapeutics, psychedelics, independently or together, with medications, devices, and other therapies to optimize patient care and health outcomes meeting privacy and HIPAA & GDPR Compliant. Our main product is the Ehave Dashboard which is a mental health informatics platform that allows clinicians to make objective and intelligent decisions through data insight using Blockchain technology. The Ehave dashboard offers Offline Encrypted Digital Records Empowering Healthcare providers and patients and it's a powerful machine learning and artificial intelligence platform using artificial intelligence to extract deep insights from audio, video and text to improve research with a growing set of advanced tools and applications developed by Ehave and its leading partners. This empowers patients, healthcare providers, and payers to address a wide range of conditions through high quality, safe, and effective data-driven involvement with intelligent and accessible tools. About MDLink MDLink is the pioneer of Telemedicine and the only operational Telemedicine platform in the Caribbean region. Founder and CEO, Dr. Che Bowen, launched MDLink in 2018 and has since spearheaded the Telehealth movement through the region. MDLink provides services in Psychiatry, General Practice, Urgent Care and Urology, Internal Medicine, Dermatology & more. MDLink was the first to have a partnership with a regional telecommunications company- Cable & Wireless/Flow. With more than 10,000+ registered patients, MDLink is the first telemedicine provider to launch a COVID-19 A.I. Chatbot in the region next month, MD Lex. Additionally, MDLink is a member of the Psychiatric Association of Jamaica. MDLink now has 300+ registered Doctors throughout the region and continues to grow daily. Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words intends, may, will, plans, expects, anticipates, projects, predicts, estimates, aims, believes, hopes, potential or similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Companys research, manufacturing and other development efforts; (ii) the Companys ability to advance its products to successfully complete development and commercialization; (iii) the manufacturing, development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Companys products; (iv) the lack of sufficient funding to finance the product development and business operations; (v) competitive companies and technologies within the Companys industry and introduction of competing products; (vi) the Companys ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vii) loss of key management personnel; (viii) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its products and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (ix) potential failure to comply with applicable health information privacy and security laws and other state and federal privacy and security laws; and (x) the difficulty of predicting actions of the USA FDA and its regulations. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement unless required by law. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in Ehave, Inc.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 24, 2015, as amended, which is available on the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov. Media and Investors Relations, please contact: Gabe Rodriguez Phone: (623) 261-9046 Email: erelationsgroup@gmail.com The number of people in the UK claiming job-related benefits increased by a monthly 23.3% in May to 2.8 million, according to official figures released Tuesday that likely underestimate the heavy toll on the labor market of the coronavirus lockdown. The Office for National Statistics said the so-called claimant count which includes both people who work on reduced income or hours and those who are actually unemployed was 125.9% higher than in March, the month when lockdown restrictions were imposed. The statistics agency also said the number of people on payroll fell by 2.1%, or 612,000, between March and May. If the public health crisis is just starting to ease, todays figures show that the unemployment crisis is only just beginning, said Tony Wilson, director of the Institute for Employment Studies. Wilson said that unemployment is rising faster than during the Great Depression in the 1930s and is set to top 3 million this summer. The actual spike in unemployment would have been much higher were it not for the British governments Job Retention Scheme, which has been paying a big part of the salaries of more than 9 million people. Many companies have held off from cutting jobs during the lockdown as a result of the scheme, under which the government pays up to 80% of the salaries of workers retained, up to 2,500 pounds ($3,150) a month. Treasury chief Rishi Sunak has said that from August, firms will have to start making contributions to the salaries of workers that are retained but not working, and that the scheme will close two months later. Thats raised concerns that Britain will see a huge spike in the official unemployment rate, which stood at 3.9% in April. Government figures released Tuesday showed that 9.1 million jobs have been furloughed under the scheme by 1.1 million employers at a cost to the government of 20.8 billion pounds ($26 billion). Some of those furloughed workers will have returned to their jobs on Monday, as a result of the reopening of non-essential shops in England for the first time in nearly three months. Its clear that not everyone will be able to sidle back into their jobs given that many firms are likely to go bust as a result of the lockdown. Figures last week showed the British economy shrank by a massive 20% in April alone. Unions and employers are urging more support from the government. Sunak is expected to announce a big fiscal stimulus in the coming weeks. Unemployment falls unevenly across society and leaves scars that last generations, said Matthew Percival, director of people and skills at the Confederation of British Industry. The urgent priority must be creating inclusive jobs today, by turbo charging the sustainable industries of tomorrow. There are some good stories behind the new DC title SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN (DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults, paper, $16.99). One is the story of the writer. Gene Luen Yangs parents are immigrants to the United States from Taiwan and China and he grew up in California a comics fan. (His first comic book was a Superman title.) At Berkeley he majored in computer science, and ended up working in engineering before teaching high school for 17 years. Yang pursued comics on the side, self-publishing under the imprint Humble Comics, and eventually crafted a full-length graphic novel: 2006s dark, edgy American Born Chinese the book that would make his name. He quit his teaching job only in 2016, the same year he became one of a handful of cartoonists ever to win a MacArthur fellowship, and the same year he was appointed a National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature by the Library of Congress. Then theres the famed 1946 story arc that first unfolded in 16 episodes of the wildly popular radio serial The Adventures of Superman (the Superman venue that generated, in 1942, the signature phrase truth, justice and the American way). In The Clan of the Fiery Cross, the caped hero aids a Chinese-American family against violent bigots after they moveto a white neighborhood in Metropolis. Until now, it has never been adapted for comics, where the Superman mythos, of course, began. Enter Yang, and Gurihiru, a wildly talented two-woman Japanese illustration team consisting of the penciler and inker Chifuyu Sasaki and the colorist Naoko Kawano. Superman is literally an alien and an immigrant, Yang told this paper a few years ago. And a lot of the superhero genre is about negotiating between two identities, which really mirrored my own life. I used one name at home, another one at school, I had one language at home, another one at school. In the compelling Superman Smashes the Klan, Yangs sensitivity to the social and political dynamics of difference and assimilation injects the story line with new life and resonance. In this version which restores the K to Klan, and takes place in 1946 the hero of the story is not only Superman, but also Lan-shin Lee, who goes by Roberta: a smart, observant but socially awkward girl nervous about moving from Chinatown. Its economy hit hard by the Covid-19 outbreak, the Himachal Pradesh government is unlikely to meet its deadline to repay a Rs 800-crore loan to the Centre by June 27 and risk paying penalty of around 50 crore, a finance department official has said. Executing projects funded by the Centre in the 90:10 ratio is also likely to be difficult because of decline in goods and services (GST) tax collection. The state is largely dependent on Central grants for developmental works and gets nearly 6,500 crore for its shares in different Central taxes, GST and sales tax. So far this year, it has just received a part of the share in April. Hardly any tax has been collected. State revenues have declined drastically, we are unable to pay the instalments this quarter. The government pays nearly Rs 800 crore in quarterly instalments for various loans for developmental activities to the Centre. We have to keep some money in our coffers as buffer, said the finance department official who wished to remain anonymous. With a budgetary layout of 49,131 crore this year the government was expecting an 11% increase in revenues this year before the Covid-19 outbreak sent the economy in a tailspin. SGDP also likely to see a dip The state gross domestic product (SGDP) is also likely to see a dip as most businesses have been closed for about three months. An analysis of the states expenditure reveals that the government will be spending 13,099 crore on salaries, 7,266 crore on pensions and 4,931.92 crore on repayment of loans and interests during the current financial year. Besides, several state-funded projects are at the execution stage. Income in the first quarter of this fiscal is negative. The only relief Himachal received was the revenue deficit grant received from the Centre of 950 crore each for May and June. GST share of 612 crore was also received in February and now revenues from liquor sales have started coming in. Borrowing limits have also been increased by 3% through an amendment in the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act. Shopkeepers want electricity, water bill waiver With business almost at a standstill after the Covid-19 outbreak, the business community in Shimla is demanding waiver on electricity and water bills. Shimla Beopar Mandal president Inderjit Singh said, As we are hardly getting any business, the government should waive off water and electricity bills. It should also defer EMI payments. Hoteliers in Shimla have refused to resume operations since there are no tourists. Hoteliers have already approached the government asking them to waive off electricity and water bills. They have also demanded waiving off the sewerage cess. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON While the health crisis is far from over, the business world and consumers alike have mostly overcome the survival phase and are starting to adapt to what it will mean to live and operate, post-pandemic. Now faced with a new normal, budding entrepreneurs are reassessing business ideas that had been on the backburner and exploring their potential in the current circumstances. But while many businesses have successfully launched during times of economic downturn Mailchimp, Airbnb, and Whatsapp, to name a few that doesnt mean its the right time for everyone. Related: Sign Up for our Online Start Your Own Business Course Now When it comes to post-crisis strategic thinking, aspiring business founders must consider how the needs, wishes, and budgets of consumers have changed for the long term. So if you think your business idea has potential, ask yourself these four questions to determine its strength in todays landscape: Do you fit into the new normal? Business as usual is off the table, at least for a while. If you envisioned your business idea before the reality of the pandemic hit, you should reassess whether the market needs it just as much now as it did then or even more so. Look at your unique selling point (USP) and value proposition in the shifting markets. Ask yourself if this situation has made your product or service essential to consumers, or if its seen as a luxury now that peoples priorities have changed. If your business is reliant on in-person customers, its going to be difficult to launch right now. If you can adapt this to an online-only format, youll stand a much better chance at getting customers. But entrepreneurs who can make their idea digital to fill the new market niche still need to avoid tailoring their product too much. Be careful not to design a product specifically for COVID-19 needs if youre seeking to build a long-term business, advises Gabe Zichermann, entrepreneur and CEO of Failosophy. Recessionary startups require different strategies, but shouldn't focus solely on the recession at hand. While some of the uptick in demand for certain products will subside once isolation measures are completely relaxed, many of the shifts in consumer preferences will remain. For example, the crisis has acted as a catalyst for digital commerce, buying local, and more conscious shopping. Now that people have adopted these trends and seen the benefits, they are unlikely to return to previous habits. Related: Sign Up for our Online Start Your Own Business Course Now No founder or budding entrepreneur should be thinking they can just ride this crisis out, and not make any lasting changes to their product, marketing or messaging, says Jonathan Greechan, co-founder of the worlds largest pre-seed accelerator, Founder Institute. Their playing field will be radically different even once we return to normality. How crowded is your market? The issue of market saturation still applies, even in times of crisis or economic downturn. While many startups that launched during recessions reported that it was easier to stand out due to fewer competitors, market research is still as vital as ever. Ed McCabe, Chief Sherpa at Loeb.nyc, advises that founders who are looking to launch right now take a close look at potential competitors in the space. Dont try to be the new Uber in an already saturated market. On the flip side, if you have an idea and no one else is doing it, this could also be cause for concern, he says. If this is the case, ask yourself: what is it that I dont know? If you feel like your idea strikes the right balance between a crowded market vs. no competition, do some digging and find out if other companies tried and failed to launch with the same (or similar) concept. If so, what factors led to its demise? When you see a lot of companies camped out around an idea and they fail, its not necessarily because the idea was defective. It likely defected around the execution, or they could have simply burned through capital, argues Michael Loeb, serial entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Loeb.nyc. That way, you can use would-be competitors mistakes as lessons on what not to do with your own launch. How clear is your niche? Finding a clear niche for your product is always important, but during uncertain times, its crucial. Amanda Patterson, a licensed mental health counselor at Caring Therapists of Broward, stresses that you have to think about the total addressable market and audience. Think about specific groups of people and what has changed for this group. During COVID-19, the specific needs of various groups within populations and across industries have shifted drastically. Now, avid gym-goers are snapping up home workout equipment, while previous 9-5 office staff are investing in their home desk set-up. The more specific you can be in who youre targeting, the better. For example, working mothers who are now homeschooling their children is a defined niche that has just blown open as a target demographic, adds Patterson. While its true that big online sellers such as Amazon have seen a big boost to their sales as a result of the pandemic, the changing circumstances have also benefited those niche brands that address a distinct sector within the market. What do people think about it? The best way to work out how good your idea is is to simply ask people. And while family and friends input can be valuable, youll also need to ask strangers or at least unbiased acquaintances. Gabe Zichermann advises fellow founders to validate the idea with people who are disinterested third parties, but fit your target profile and are potential customers or investors. Here, social media is your friend. Talk to potential customers using online surveys or social media, adds Patterson. But you have to make sure youre not just designing the survey to validate the idea. Try to get into the psychology of respondents and identify their pain points. You may even find that another idea comes out of it. McCabe also emphasizes this point: dont frame questions to get the answers you want. You need to be careful and have a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to getting feedback. Anyone worth their salt needs to be actively networking if finding users for research is a barrier, you wont make it as an entrepreneur, he adds. Ultimately, its those companies that adapt to address a clear market need and shifting consumer preferences that will succeed in launching a business during the new normal. However, in order to increase their chances of long-term growth, they must take another vital lesson from the pandemic: Agility is key. Related: Sign Up for our Online Start Your Own Business Course Now Related: Billion or Bust? 4 Questions to Assess the Strength of Your Business Idea. 8 Factors That Determine the Financial Health of a Business What to Ask When Evaluating a Business for Sale Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved BEIJING, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LITB) ("LightInTheBox" or the "Company"), a cross-border e-commerce company that delivers products directly to consumers around the world, today announced that it will release its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 before the open of U.S. markets on Friday, June 19, 2020. LightInTheBox's management will hold a conference call to discuss the results at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time on June 19, 2020 (7:00 p.m. Beijing Time on the same day). Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, operator assisted conference calls are not available at the moment. All participants wishing to attend the call must preregister online before they can receive the dial-in numbers. Preregistration Information Participants can register for the conference call by navigating to http://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/8893322. Once preregistration has been complete, participants will receive dial-in numbers, an event passcode, and a unique registrant ID. To join the conference, simply dial the number in the calendar invite you receive after preregistering, enter the event passcode followed by your unique registrant ID, and you will be joined to the conference instantly. A telephone replay will be available two hours after the conclusion of the conference call through June 26, 2020. The dial-in details are: US/Canada: +1-855-452-5696 Hong Kong: 800-963-117 International: +61-2-8199-0299 Passcode: 8893322 Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's Investor Relations website at http://ir.lightinthebox.com. About LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. LightInTheBox is a cross-border e-commerce platform that delivers products directly to consumers around the world. The Company offers customers a convenient way to shop for a wide selection of products at attractive prices through its www.lightinthebox.com, www.miniinthebox.com, www.ezbuy.com and other websites and mobile applications, which are available in 23 major languages and cover more than 140 countries. For more information, please visit www.lightinthebox.com. Investor Relations Contact Christensen Ms. Xiaoyan Su Tel: +86 (10) 5900 3429 Email: [email protected] OR Christensen Ms. Linda Bergkamp Phone: +1-480-614-3004 Email: [email protected] SOURCE LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. Related Links http://ir.lightinthebox.com/ The new army strategy in the south, which has been underway for over a year, has paid off. The new approach relies less on an armed presence (fewer patrols and checkpoints) and more on surveillance technology and a network of local informants that has been built over the last few years. Most of the informants are local Moslems who have grown tired of more than a decade of separatist and Islamic terrorist violence. Over the last decade cell phone use has become universal in the south and that makes it easier and safer to be an informant. This new approach not only means fewer terror attacks, especially the bombs, but also fewer police and army raids. There are fewer active terrorists and supporters. The covid19 lockdown meant even fewer opportunities to carry out attacks or the need for raids on terrorist hideouts. There has been only one violent (guns fired) raid in the last three months and that took place in late April because the surrounded terrorists fired on the police. This reaction has become standard with most raids ending with no violence, and no bullets flying around the neighborhood threatening civilians. Nearly all the terrorists, even the separatists, are generally seen as public enemies. The separatist groups negotiating with the Thai government (in Malaysia) admit that they have violent factions that insist on continuing the violence. These factions would have to be disowned as part of any political settlement but the radicals are steadfast in their violent beliefs. At the same time, the exiled (mainly in Malaysia) separatist leaders are dismayed with reports that most of their fellow Moslems in the three Moslem majority provinces are more interested in peace and prosperity than autonomy. In other words, give peace a chance. During the last few months, soldiers and police have spent most of their time enforcing the quarantine. That included highway checkpoints that force a lot of criminal activity to go cross-country instead. The rural population still has their cell phone service and fear of covid19 infection. This combination led to more tips about where criminals were and that soon led to the bad guys spending most of their time seeking to remain undetected and uninfected. There has been less terrorist violence in the south while drug smugglers, who are often armed, became more of a problem. The military was also forced to cut its budget by half a billion dollars for 2020 because of the nationwide economic crises. This means delaying some arms purchases like Stryker wheeled armored vehicles that were to arrive this year. That will be delayed a year or more. The navy has cut its 2020 spending by a third. That has led to eliminating a lot of its 2020 ship modernization work and delaying the arrival of two Chinese built submarines. Other major procurement projects are expected to be delayed as well. These budget cuts also helped persuade the military to permanently downsize. This has been a popular idea for decades. Virus Victory Thailand has come through the covid19 epidemic better than most other nations, both regionally and worldwide. Thailand so far has 45 confirmed cases of covid19 (coronavirus) per million population and 0.8 deaths per million. Those numbers hardly changed over the last month. Such was not the case with other nations in the region. Neighbor Malaysia had 261 cases per million confirmed cases and four deaths per million. The stark difference here was because Thailand had a public health system that extended to the lowest levels (villages and city neighbors) with volunteers making up most of the staff and obtaining directions and medical supplies from the government. That meant a strict quarantine was not necessary and compliance was monitored and enforced by locals. In Malaysia, some Moslem clerics defied quarantine rules and continued holding prayer services in crowded mosques. Because more people in Malaysia were infected, some Thai Moslems working in Malaysia tried to return home infected with covid19. A screening and approval process was set up to catch most of these virus carriers before they got home and infected others. Another potential source of infections was the large number of Chinese tourists and commercial visitors that are normally in the country. Foreigners were sent home as soon as possible. While still in Thailand, foreigners were forced to self-quarantine for two weeks before they could move freely. Even then they were avoided by most Thais. Thailand did not undertake widespread testing for covid19 but does know that few Chinese visitors were infected. While covid19 first appeared in Wuhan China in late 2019 the Chinese government tried to suppress the news but word-of-mouth did the job in Wuhan and a lot of tourists and business travelers canceled their trips. Some infected travelers did get out of Wuhan but Thailand was one of the earliest nations to quarantine and then ban foreign visitors in general. This ban is just now beginning to lift. Elsewhere in the region, Bangladesh has 532 covid19 cases per million and seven dead per million. In Burma, its five cases per million people and 0.1 deaths. India has 241 cases per million and seven dead per million while Pakistan has 665 cases per million and 12 deaths per million people. China, where the virus began, stopped releasing covid19 cases and deaths data as part of a government program to try and blame the U.S. for the virus. Few (Chinese or foreigners) believe that and it is taken for granted by neighbors of China that the Wuhan Virus, as it was first known, indeed came from China. By now it has also become known that covid19 is not much more dangerous than one of the deadlier annual influenza epidemics. The flu is taken for granted and it is unclear if covid19, which is genetically almost identical to the 2013 SARS virus, another Chinese corona (trans-species) virus, will be an annual event or disappear like SARS and similar diseases. Covid19 is unique in that it attacks the lungs and is often mistaken for pneumonia. As such it is particularly dangerous to the elderly or anyone with a weakened immune system or other illnesses. Most healthy adults and children do not notice covid19 at all even if exposed to it. Economic Defeats Thailand has suffered heavy economic losses so far, including the temporary loss of many jobs. Much of the damage was in the tourism sector. Chinese tourists stopped coming and soon after that most other tourists did likewise. Tourism is about 20 percent of the Thai economy and for 2020 tourism activity is expected to be down by at least a quarter and possibly a third or more. That added to other economic woes has got most Thais anxious about their financial futures. The government sees the unemployment rate peaking at over 20 percent and fears how long that will last. In late 2019 it was estimated that the economy (GDP) would grow nearly three percent in 2020. Now the prediction of for the GDP to lose nearly six percent in 2020, and possibly more depending on how long it takes to get the tourists back. Exports of manufactured goods is already booming but that cannot make up for the tourism losses. All this is catastrophic for a country that has long had an unemployment rate of one percent or less. Particularly hard hit is the south, which depends a lot on tourism and where the less educated majority Moslem population always had a higher unemployment rate. The government will release comprehensive statistics at the end of June as Thailand lifts most economic restrictions and people get back to work. June 14, 2020: The army has agreed to permanently reduce its personnel strength and annual spending over the next few years. The army is still very unpopular for its decade of direct interference in politics. This began in 2010 when the military intervened on the side of royalists in an ongoing dispute between royalists and democrats. In 2014 the military staged another coup. Public pressure led to the March 2019 elections that returned democratic government. That new government now has to deal with a growing list of economic and political problems. The military changed the constitution before allowing elections so the newly elected government is basically a military government pretending to be a democratic one. Because of that in March, just before the covid19 lockdown and for the first time since 2014, there was a pro-democracy demonstration in the capital. In late 2015 pro-democracy leader (and former prime minister) Thaksin Shinawatra called on his followers (the red shirts) to play dead for the moment and wait for the military government to allow elections. At the time the military was looking for an excuse to crack down hard on any opposition, especially when it involved public demonstrations in the capital. Not surprisingly the red shirts, now wearing black, are back. The economy is a mess, censorship is rampant and the Islamic and separatist violence is still around down south. The new, pro-military king is, as expected corrupt and unstable. Not much to cheer about after six years of military rule. Resuming public protests seemed appropriate, even though that sort of thing is now illegal. Then again, the military is much more disliked than feared compared to 2014. A major goal of the democrats is a return of local elections. These have not been held since the 2014 coup and resuming the local elections is one thing nearly all Thais can agree on. Those elections were supposed to be held in 2020 but the military-dominated government is trying to use covid19 to push the vote into 2021. The military knows that the local elections will simply spotlight how unpopular the military has become. That ill repute is not fading away. Local elections would also remove the many replacement local officials appointed while the military was in charge. June 11, 2020: Long-distance railroad travel was resumed. Long-distance bus service resumed two days ago. With hardly any covid19 cases recently there is nothing to spread vis long-distance travel inside the country. The three Moslem southern provinces were isolated at the end of March because that was where there were the most infected people (tourists and Thai Moslems returning lost jobs in Malaysia). Masks are still required on trains and busses and passengers will have their temperatures checked before boarding. The 80th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is on for Aug. 7-16 this year. The Sturgis City Council made its official 8-1 decision during Monday nights meeting, which included considerations to approve preparations and street closures for the Rally. The option, one of four, the council approved would allow the city to put the residents safety first while continuing planning the 80th Rally, according to city manager Daniel Ainslies report. Ainslie said a caveat in the plan would allow Mayor Mark Carstensen to cease any portion of the City of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally preparations, causing an undue health burden and take alternate actions, if he received written documentation from local health officials, the South Dakota Department of Health, the governors office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other agencies. We must be prepared to manage the number of people that do attend, Ainslie said during the meeting. The plan would cancel the use of fairgrounds, the B-1 flyover, photo towers, $105,000 in advertising, opening ceremonies and more. Ainslie said having the Rally would allow the city to make guidelines for vendors, including social distancing and sanitizing. If the city canceled it, they wouldnt be able to set those guidelines. The 80th would be greatly modified; it would not be what was planned six months to a year ago, Ainslie said. It would be as safe as possible in city limits and whats in city control. Ainslie also said the city is looking into mass testing to follow the Rally, although its not a guarantee, as well as looking into additional personal protection equipment for city employees. Members of city staff reached out from mid-May to early June to local businesses, residents, campgrounds, hotels, and state and federal legislators to gauge thoughts on hosting the Rally amid the COVID-19 pandemic there have been 5,928 active cases in South Dakota, 892 of which are still active. The city also sent out a survey to 3,290 of its residents using addresses from the 2020 Census. About half of those surveys were returned with the majority (62.9%) indicating theyd like the Rally to be postponed. During the June 8 special City Council meeting, City Manager Daniel Ainslie recommended postponing the Rally until 2021 but preparing for the hundreds of thousands of people likely to make their way to the Black Hills. During that meeting, Ainslie said to not prepare for the mass of people would turn into a health and safety risk. The Buffalo Chips founder and president Rod Woody Woodruff told the Rapid City Journal in late May that his campground has plans to continue full steam ahead with the Rally, although its had to find some replacement acts for the concerts. I cant imagine not being here when (people) get here, he said at the time. Although the shows will go on, The Buffalo Chip will have social distancing guidelines in place and hand sanitizer available for purchase. A Northern Ireland mental health expert has added her name to an open letter describing delays in returning children to school as a "national disaster". Siobhan O'Neill, Professor of Mental Health Sciences at Ulster University, is one of 120 UK experts to sign the letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, which urges him to open schools as soon as possible. Prof O'Neill has said she recognises the potential for Covid-19 to spread if children return to school. However, she said the lockdown is likely to have a lifelong impact on some of the most vulnerable children across Northern Ireland. "We need to look at carrying out more research on the spread of Covid-19 among children and how likely it is that they will bring the virus home to family members," she said. "We also need the track, trace and isolate programme to be working efficiently so there is public confidence in schools opening." Prof O'Neill said the closure of schools has had a significant impact on children for a range of reasons, including social isolation, educational attainment and even ensuring that some children have access to a cooked meal once a day. Schools also provide important respite for children with special needs, while experts have raised concerns that children at risk of neglect or abuse are not being detected as they are not at school. A group of experts, led by Prof Ellen Townsend at Nottingham University, has sent a letter to Mr Williamson urging him to act urgently to safeguard the mental health of tens of thousands of children across the UK. It states: "As experts working across disciplines we are united as we urge you to reconsider your decision and to release children and young people from lockdown. Allow them to play together and continue their education by returning to pre-school, school, college and university, and enjoy extra-curricular activities including sport and music as normally, and as soon, as possible." The letter has warned that the "relative shortage of expert and scientific input" on the Government's Sage committee "is an important and dangerous omission". It continues: "The lockdown exacerbates key risk factors known to increase the risk of self-harmful thoughts and feelings including defeat, entrapment, loneliness/social isolation, hopelessness and anger. Mental health problems also contribute to self-destructive thoughts and behaviours and sadly, a national survey in 2017 indicated that these were increasing, particularly among teenagers. "Since lockdown, we are seeing increases of these issues in young people through surveys at the University of Oxford, the Mental Health Foundation, and rapid reviews indicate these trends are likely to persist." Education Minister Peter Weir is currently drawing up guidance for schools in Northern Ireland to reopen. However, the plans have faced some opposition from teaching unions who have expressed safety concerns. They were also angry that Mr Weir announced his intention for schools to begin opening on August 17 during an online briefing with principals. Meanwhile, schools have raised concerns over how the plans will work, with a reduced working week necessary due to social distancing. [June 15, 2020] eChineseLearning: COVID-19 Accelerates the Transformation of How People Learn Mandarin COVID-19 has caused schools to shut across the world, resulting in over 1.2 billion children globally being out of the classroom. Education has been altered drastically, and with the dramatic rise of e-learning, some of the changes brought by coronavirus might be here to stay. eChineseLearning, the world's largest online Chinese school providing 1-to-1 lessons, is witnessing the changes and experiencing a sharp rise in the number of online learners. Emily Zhao, a Chinese American living in New York City, has two children aged 8 and 13 who each week used to go to a local Chinese school far from their home. "It was a long drive to and from school and very time-consuming," says Zhao, who was not satisfied with the teaching quality and experience of the school's teachers. As the coronavirus started spreading in New York City, the school closed and Zhao started looking for online Mandarin lessons for her children. She states that, "The decision to switch from a classroom setting to online Chinese lessons was a no-brainer." As of now, her children have been taking Chinese lessons online with eChineseLearning for 2 weeks, with great results. Zhao isn't the only parent that found herself in this situation. In fact, many parents of Chinese descent have switched to online lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to ensure consistency in their children's education. Zhao says that, despite their initial hesitation, many of her Chinese American friends have joined her in having kids take lessons online. Of course, school children aren't the only ones whose education has been affected by COVID-19. The pandemic is also fast transforming the way adult learners are learning Mandarin. In fact, according to data collected from online Chinese schools including eChineseLearning, the monthly number of newly-enrolled students, including both children and adults, has increased by an average of 122% during the pandemic. While this spike in online education is unprecedented, learning Chinese online is certainly nothing new. Many Chinese learners have opted for online classes over offline ones since as early as 2005, with the introduction and application of VoIP technology. Caroline Ars, a passionate Chinese learner from Montreal, Canada, had been studying Mandarin Chinese years ago at a local Chinese school starting in high school. However, 10 years ago she switched to online Chinese classes and never looked back, so she has a head start on the transition period that many around her are just now going through. "Everyone around me is suddenly turning to online education due to COVID-19, and it's been an adjustment for a lot of people. As for me, I always saw it as the future of learning, and so I was prepared for what's happening now - COVID-19 hasn't impacted my Chinese learning at all since I was already learning online via video chat with a teacher from China," Ars says. Phil Tory, an expat living in Guangzhou, China, speaks highly of online Chinese classes. "Of course, online learning is perfect during the pandemic, but to be honest I prefer it even in normal times. You don't need to leave the house, you can study at whatever hour of the day suits you, you can easily change the lesson time if something comes up, and you can try a few different teachers," says Tory, who has been studying Mandarin at eChineseLearning since August, 2019. With all of online Chinese learning's obvious advantages, it's likely that more and more people will continue to favor it over more traditional offline methods. "Learning online means you can take lessons from anywhere, no matter whether you are at home, on the go, or travelling abroad," says Jennifer Zhu, an experienced teacher from eChineseLearning.com. "We've seen a huge uptick in students joining us in recent months. Why? Because their face-to-face lessons at local schools have been cancelled during the pandemic, or because they themselves do not want to take the risk of exposure to the virus even if their schools are open. But with an online school, you get no interruption at all." "I would 100% recommend learning Chinese online. You can do it from anywhere in the world at any time of day. Technology has developed to the point that I never have any problem hearing my teachers, or any real technical difficulties at all. I learn just as well from professional teachers as I would in person, and I don't even have to leave my home!" Tory says. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200615005824/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe shot Rayshard Brooks on Friday as the 27-year-old Brooks ran away in a Wendy's parking lot. Atlanta Police Department The encounter between Rayshard Brooks and two police officers at a Wendy's in Atlanta began peacefully but quickly escalated once the two officers tried to place Brooks in handcuffs. When Brooks took off running, the officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan chased him, and Rolfe opened fire, killing Brooks. Rolfe was fired from the department, while Brosnan wound up on administrative leave. Rolfe had undergone some 2,000 hours of police training, including attending courses in de-escalation tactics, cultural awareness, and the use of deadly force, THV11 reported. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Two Atlanta police officers responded on Friday night to a complaint of a man asleep in his car at a Wendy's drive-thru. The interaction between Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, and the officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan began peacefully. But Brooks failed an alcohol breath test and tried to resist arrest, getting into altercation with the pair, snatching a Taser from one of them, firing it at them, and trying to run away, as seen on footage from the officers' body cameras and surveillance. Rolfe fired three shots, fatally striking Brooks. The Fulton County medical examiner's office said in a statement that Brooks' death had been ruled a homicide, The New York Times reported. The official cause of death was listed as "gunshot wounds of the back" that caused "organ injuries and blood loss." A charging decision is expected soon, but District Attorney Paul Howard told CNN on Sunday that Brooks "did not seem to present any kind of threat to anyone, and so the fact that it would escalate to his death just seems unreasonable." Rolfe was fired from the department, and Brosnan was placed on administrative duty on Sunday. According to the CBS affiliate THV11, Rolfe had recently completed training in de-escalation techniques. He had been on the force for seven years, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. Story continues His personnel record also showed that he had completed 2,000 hours of police training, which included a cultural-awareness course in April and another on the use of deadly force in January. Rolfe had also attended multiple tactical team operations and firearms trainings, THV11 said. The report says the Atlanta police commended Rolfe in May 2019 for his role in the department's High-Intensity Traffic Team Unit, which is tasked with reducing "traffic-related injuries and fatalities" and clamping down on "alcohol and drug-related traffic offenses by focusing on traffic enforcement related to alcohol and/or drug-impaired drivers," according to the agency's policy manual. In the year leading up to receiving the award, Rolfe earned a silver pin for making 50 to 99 DUI arrests, THV11 reported. The Atlanta Police Department did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comments or records. Video: Ex-undercover police officer rates 13 undercover movie scenes Read the original article on Insider A court has heard a gruesome account of how a prominent Russian military historian killed his student lover who he later dismembered, throwing her body parts in a river. Professor Oleg Sokolov, 64, an acclaimed international expert on Napoleon, shot Anastasia Yeschenko, 24, just above the right eye during a furious Champagne-fuelled domestic row. State prosecutor Asya Lokotkova told the St Petersburg murder trial: 'He then squeezed the victim's neck with his hands causing a fracture. 'In order to inflict death to the victim, who still showed signs of life, he fired three more shots into the head.' Professor Oleg Sokolov, 64, (right) an acclaimed international expert on Napoleon, shot Anastasia Yeschenko, 24, (left) during a furious Champagne-fuelled domestic row During the 2.30am domestic dispute which came after the couple shared glasses of Champagne, Sokolov had been gripped by 'sudden criminal intent', judge Yulia Maximenko heard. He shot his lover with a sawn-off shotgun, made from a Soviet rifle TOZ-17 and stylised as a 19th century cavalry gun. After the alleged murder, he 'drank brandy with his friends' while the student's corpse was locked in a room in his flat. Sokolov (left) shot his lover Yeschenko (right) with a sawn-off shotgun, made from a Soviet rifle TOZ-17 and stylised as a 19th century cavalry gun Ms Yeschenko and Sokolov attend a stately ball together dressed in Napoleonic clothing Later he went out to buy a saw and an axe which he used to dismember her body, it is alleged. He shot his lover with a sawn-off shotgun, made from a Soviet rifle TOZ-17 and stylised as a 19th century cavalry gun (pictured) Then he dumped her body parts in the Moika River in St Petersburg. Sokolov faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of murder, with his distinguished academic career already in ruins. The judge gave permission for PhD student Yeschenko's distraught parents - who had opposed her relationship with the academic four decades her senior - not to attend the distressing trial. They told the court: 'The crime and its cruelty shocked our entire family. 'We categorically do not want to interact with either the accused or his lawyer.' Sokolov - shown in a video in the glass court cage - fired his lawyer Alexander Pochuev shortly before the trial began. Instead he will be represented by a court-appointed attorney. Pochuev said earlier that Sokolov pleaded guilty and 'repents'. Sokolov (pictured) faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of murder, with his distinguished academic career already in ruins Yeschenko's distraught parents had opposed her relationship with the academic four decades her senior. Pictured: Ms Yeschenko (left and right) and Sokolov (right) Oleg Sokolov with his lawyer Alexander Pochuev. Pochuev said earlier that Sokolov pleaded guilty and 'repents' The academic is on record as saying: 'I understand that I committed an horrific thing and deserve the strictest penalty possible.' He and Yeschenko were fond of dressing up in Napoleonic era clothes for historical reenactments. 'My cherished memory of Anastasia is the most important thing for me now. 'We were supposed to get married and were planning the wedding. 'In over five years (dating) I had not raised my hand to her. 'Even scandals between us were rare.' Increase in health concerns among the customers and technological advancement drive the growth of the global kitchen appliances market PORTLAND, Oregon, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled,"Kitchen Appliances Market by Product Type (Refrigerator, Cooking Appliance, Dishwasher, and Others), User Application (Commercial and Household), Fuel Type (Electric, Cooking Gas, and Others), Product Structure (Built-in and Free Stand), andDistribution Channel (Offline and Online): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027." According to the report, the global kitchen appliances market garnered $237.3 billion in 2019, and is estimated to reach $377.7 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 6.0% from 2020 to 2027. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities- Technological advancement and rise in health concerns among the customersdrive the growth of the global kitchen appliances market. However, high energy consumption hinders the market growth. On the other hand, increase in adoption of smart kitchen appliance, availability of quality product at affordable prices, and rise of social media marketingare anticipated to offer new opportunities in the coming years. Request Sample Report at:https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/648 COVID-19 Scenario- China is the main supplier of raw material required for kitchen appliances. However trading with China has been stopped to curb the spread of novel COVID-19 virus during the lockdown. is the main supplier of raw material required for kitchen appliances. However trading with has been stopped to curb the spread of novel COVID-19 virus during the lockdown. The supply chain of non-essential goods, on the other hand, has been greatly impacted during lockdown across the globe. In addition, the major distribution channels for kitchen appliances including specialty stores and e-commerce have been halted in certain regions, based on lockdown measures. The refrigerator segment to maintain its lead status- Based on product type, the refrigerator segment accounted for more than two-fifths of the global kitchen appliances market in 2019, and is expected to maintain its lead status in terms of revenue throughout the forecast period. This is due to changes in food consumption habits, growth in seafood export and fast food chain, and increase in processed food consumption across the globe. However, the dishwasher segment is estimated to portray the highest CAGR of 7.6% from 2020 to 2027. Changes in lifestyle, rise in disposable income especially in the developing Asian countries and increase in the number of working women drives the growth of the segment. The household segment to maintain its leadership position- Based on user application, the household segment contributed to the highest market share with nearly three-fifths of the global kitchen appliances market in 2019, and is estimated to maintain its leadership position during the forecast period. This is attributed to the launch of technology driven kitchen appliances, increase in disposable income, and change in lifestyle. However, the commercial segment is estimated to generate the fastest CAGR of 6.6% from 2020 to 2027. This is attributed to increase in number of commercial restaurants & other catering services and rise in trend of eating out at cafes, restaurants, hotels, and other food establishments. North Americais anticipated to dominate the market by 2027 Based on region, North America accounted for the highest share based on revenue, holding for nearly one-third of the global kitchen appliances market in 2019, and is projected to maintain its dominant position throughout the forecast period.This is attributed to the rise in trend of modular kitchen among consumers and increase in working class population. However, the Asia-Pacific is estimated to generate the fastest CAGR of 7.1% from 2020 to 2027. This is attributed to the increase in demand for energy efficient and advanced technology kitchen appliances and surge in urban population paired with improved living standard, in this region. For Purchase Enquiry at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/648 Leading market players Electrolux Whirlpool Samsung Philips Morphy Richard Dacor General Electric (GE) Life is Good (LG) Haier Panasonic Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Get more information: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Similar Reports: Home Decor Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Commercial Refrigeration Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026 Cooking Appliances Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Dishwasher Tablets Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026 About Us 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. 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. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): 1-800-792-5285, 1-503-894-6022, 1-503-446-1141 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-market-research Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg The report did not give details beyond attributing 10 incidents to the security forces, one to the LeT and another to "unidentified armed elements" -- usually a euphemism for terrorists. The report released on Monday said that the UN has verified the killing of eight children in Kashmir and the maiming of seven by the Lakshar-e-Taiba (LeT), shelling across the Line of Control and by the security forces. It said three incidents happened during cross-border shelling. Guterres said in the report that the casualties in Kashmir occurred mainly due to "torture in detention, shootings, including from pellet guns, and cross-border shelling". The report said that attacks on nine schools by "unidentified elements" had been verified. Guterres said that he was concerned about the detention of 68 children between the ages of nine and 17 on national security-related charges with one of them held for allegedly associating with "armed groups". He asked the government to take preventive measures to protect children and to ban the use of pellet guns against them. He said that he was concerned about the arrest of children at night, and their internment in army camps, "torture in detention" and detention without due process as he urged the government to end these practices. His report said that "in Jharkhand State, approximately 10 children were reportedly rescued by Indian police from Naxalite insurgency groups, who allegedly abducted them or used them in support or combat capacities". "I note the decline, as a result of government efforts, in the number of reports of child recruitment and of the killing and maiming of children relating to the Naxalite insurgency," Guterres added. Around the world, Guterres' report said the UN verified over 25,000 grave violations against children and there was a 400 per cent increase in "the denial of humanitarian access to children with 4,400 verified incidents". His Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), Virginia Gamba, who said, "The childhood of these boys and girls has been replaced by pain, brutality and fear while the world watches. Parties to conflict neglect to protect children in the conduct of hostilities and deny them the vital aid they desperately need." In his report Guterres said that 39 child casualties in Afghanistan happened due to "cross-border engagements at the border with Pakistan" and one school was attacked during cross-border shelling from Pakistan territory. He said that Afghanistan was the deadliest conflict zone for children with 3,410 verified incidents -- an increase of 67 per cent -- affecting 3,245 children. Ten children were killed or injured in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir "during armed clashes or by shelling or targeted fire across the Line of Control", according to the report. Two schools there were "reportedly attacked across the line of control", it added. Guterres called on the Pakistan government to protect children, especially around the LoC, and health workers in the campaign against polio, which recorded 660 attacks. There were 10 other child casualties in Pakistan in occupied Kashmir, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab for which "responsibility could not be attributed". A controversial aspect of the report was the omission of Saudi Arabia and its allies in Yemen. Gamba, who spoke to reporters at the release of the report, attributed the omission to "sustained and significant" decrease in child casualties due to air attacks from 1,700 five years ago to 171 last year. Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had removed critical mention of the Saudi coalition from the report in 2016 under Saudi threat to withhold funds, but Guterres had included it the following year. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) --IANS al/in HOUSTON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA USA will close all offices across its footprint at 1pm Friday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. "BBVA stands in solidarity with our Black employees, customers, and communities, recognizing that this is a time for us to listen to all the needs of those who are experiencing oppression," said BBVA USA President and CEO Javier Rodriguez Soler. "We will close our doors to contemplate the significance of this day and cultivate a deeper understanding of how we can make a difference and stand against systemic racism and social injustice." BBVA recommends that customers who need to visit a branch location on June 19 should plan their transactions earlier in the day. BBVA's mobile and online banking services will remain uninterrupted during this time, as will the bank's call centers and its ATM network. "We are committed to doing everything we can to support the fight for equity and social justice at every level," said Rodriguez Soler. "Our observance of Juneteenth is a reminder of that commitment, for ourselves and for the communities we serve." For more BBVA news visit, www.bbva.com and the U.S. Newsroom . Additional news updates can be found via Twitter and Instagram . For more financial information about BBVA in the U.S., visit bbvausa.investorroom.com . BBVA Group BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a strong leadership position in the Spanish market, is the largest financial institution in Mexico, it has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States. It is also the leading shareholder in Turkey's Garanti BBVA. Its purpose is to bring the age of opportunities to everyone, based on our customers' real needs: provide the best solutions, helping them make the best financial decisions, through an easy and convenient experience. The institution rests in solid values: Customer comes first, we think big and we are one team. Its responsible banking model aspires to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable society. BBVA USA In the U.S., BBVA is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 641 branches, including 330 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 63 in Arizona, 61 in California, 44 in Florida, 37 in Colorado and 17 in New Mexico. The bank ranks among the top 25 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (6th). In the U.S., BBVA has been recognized as one of the leading small business lenders by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and ranked 8th nationally in terms of dollar volume of SBA loans originated in fiscal year 2018. SOURCE BBVA USA Related Links www.bbva.com FARIDKOT The Medical Council of India (MCI), board of governors (MCI-BoG) on Tuesday announced relaxations in the practical examinations of MD, MS clinical courses after medical colleges said they were unable to conduct tests as per existing regulations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The clinical exam for clinical science subjects tests the knowledge and competence of candidates undertaking independent work as a specialist or teacher. For this the candidates have to examine a minimum of one long clinical case and two short cases, according to the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations for MD, MS degrees and postgraduate diploma courses. Now, alternative methods of skill evaluation such as simulation and case scenarios can be used, MCI secretary general Dr Rakesh Kumar Vats has said in a letter released on Tuesday. The state government had suggested to the MCI-BoG to consider modifying the conduct of the practicals amid the pandemic situation for the safety of the students. Dr Vats in his letter said due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the medical colleges had expressed their difficulty in adhering to existing regulations to examine the candidates by giving a minimum of one long or two short cases. Since the objective of the practical examination was to ascertain skills relevant to the specialty as outlined in the respective course curricula, alternative methods of skill evaluation which may include simulation, case scenarios etc. may be used in lieu of clinical cases, wherever the latter is not feasible as provided for the regulations referred above for the examination to be held in 2020. This is a one-time exception, he added. MONDAY, June 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- About 1 in 5 people worldwide has a least one underlying health condition that puts them at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness, researchers say. While the analysis of data from 188 countries suggests that 22% of the world's population, or 1.7 billion people, might need additional protective measures, not all people with underlying conditions will develop severe COVID-19 illness if infected with the new coronavirus, the study authors noted. The international team of investigators concluded that 4% (349 million) of these people would require hospitalization, according to the study published June 15 in The Lancet Global Health journal. "As countries move out of lockdown, governments are looking for ways to protect the most vulnerable from a virus that is still circulating," said study author Andrew Clark, an associate professor of public health and policy at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. "We hope our estimates will provide useful starting points for designing measures to protect those at increased risk of severe disease," he added in a journal news release. "This might involve advising people with underlying conditions to adopt social distancing measures appropriate to their level of risk, or prioritizing them for vaccination in the future." Risk factors for severe COVID-19 include heart disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory illness, according to the World Health Organization and public health agencies in the United States and United Kingdom. The researchers noted that their study focused on chronic underlying conditions, and didn't include other possible risk factors for severe COVID-19, such as ethnicity and economic status. That means that the estimates may not provide a complete picture, but do serve as a starting point for policymakers. Rates of people with at least one underlying condition are lower in places with younger populations than in those with older populations. For example, rates of people with one or more health condition range from 16% in Africa to 31% in Europe. But Clark warned against complacency about the risk in Africa. "The share of the population at increased risk of severe COVID-19 is generally lower in Africa than elsewhere due to much younger country populations, but a much higher proportion of severe cases could be fatal in Africa than elsewhere," he said. Worldwide, fewer than 5% of people under age 20 have at least one underlying condition that could increase their risk of severe COVID-19, compared to more than 66% of people 70 and older. Among 15- to 64-year-olds, an estimated 23% have at least one underlying condition, according to the study. While the rate is similar between men and women, researchers said men are twice as likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19. The risk of hospitalization ranges from less than 1% of people under age 20 to nearly 20% of those 70 or older, and more than 25% in men over 70. In people under 65, about twice the number of men as women would require hospitalization. Among those older than 65, the gender difference narrows because women live longer. "Our estimates suggest that age-based thresholds for shielding could play a role in reducing deaths and reducing the number of people who require hospital treatment, but the choice of threshold needs to be balanced against the proportion of people of working age affected, as well as the health and economic consequences that might be associated with long periods of isolation," said epidemiologist Rosalind Eggo, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Nina Schwalbe, an adjunct assistant professor of population and family health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City, wrote an editorial that accompanied the findings. The study shows that "it is time to evolve from a one-size-fits-all approach to one that centers on those most at risk," she wrote. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19. Hugh Sheridan has certainly avoided piling on the dreaded quarantine kilos. The 34-year-old showed off his fit form as he enjoyed a post-lockdown swim at Sydney's Bronte Beach on Tuesday. The former Packed To The Rafters star's physique was on head-turning display during a winter dip at the popular swimming hole. Whoa! Hugh Sheridan (pictured) has certainly avoided piling on the dreaded quarantine kilos. The 34-year-old showed off his fit form as he enjoyed a post-lockdown swim at Sydney's Bronte Beach on Tuesday The actor appears to have gotten in plenty of gym time, as he emerged from the ocean with rippling muscles on alluring display. Hugh looked fetching in a pair of loosely-fitted white swim trunks with black stripes down the side. The wet shorts clung to his shapely legs, and the actor looked surprisingly tanned despite the winter weather. His chiselled chest and hulking biceps glistened with droplets of sea water as he strode along the shore. Fighting fit: Before his swim, the handsome performer jogged along the boardwalk, his lustrous hair billowing in the breeze Running free: Going shirtless for his run, Hugh added just a pair of neon yellow running shoes and carried a smartphone Contemplation: He sat along a stone wall and looked pensive as he pondered a dip before taking the plunge on what was a sunny Sydney day Before his swim, the handsome performer jogged along the boardwalk, his lustrous hair billowing in the breeze. Going shirtless for his run, Hugh added just a pair of neon yellow running shoes and carried a smartphone. He sat along a stone wall and looked pensive as he pondered a dip before taking the plunge on what was a sunny Sydney day. Buff: The former Packed To The Rafters star's physique was on head-turning display during a winter dip at the popular swimming hole Splish splash: The actor appears to have gotten in plenty of gym time, as he emerged from the ocean with rippling muscles on alluring display A look: Hugh looked fetching in a pair of loosely-fitted white swim trunks with black stripes down the side Discussing his fitness regimen with New Idea, Hugh says it's all about balance - and admitted he hates kale. 'I read things that my friends put up in magazines about their Yoga retreats and kale and that's b***s**t!' he said. 'You shouldn't be saying that to people because then everyone feels bad that they're not making these unrealistic fitness goals.' Wow! The wet shorts clung to his shapely legs, and the actor looked surprisingly tanned despite the winter weather Hot to trot: His chiselled chest and hulking biceps glistened with droplets of sea water as he strode along the shore Hugh further explained: 'I think it's all about balance. I do try and have balance and get to the gym and other fitness things, like hiking. 'But some months are worse than others and some months you're really good and focused and you don't eat the sh** food, or drink'. He added: 'But I think it's more important for guys to accept the way they look.' U.S. Air Force is inviting the world to Aim Higher Together AUSTIN, Texas, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the U.S. Air Force , in partnership with full-service creative agency, GSD&M , is launching the largest virtual multiplayer puzzle for the entire world to solve together. The puzzle, dubbed Million Piece Mission for its unheard of one million pieces, taps into the recent demand for jigsaw puzzles, while enabling people around the globe to get a sense of the challenge, camaraderie and purpose Airmen experience every day, all from the comfort and safety of their home. Million Piece Mission was created with a 1.03 gigapixel image of the fourth building at the National Museum of the United States Air ForceTM, taken shortly after the buildings opening in 2016 by photographer John Opie. We are always looking for innovative ways to inspire and engage with the American public, said Major Ross McKnight, Chief, National Events Branch. The Million Piece Mission is a challenging and interactive way to experience the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force while learning about careers and opportunities in the Air Force. The mission will require highly motivated, independent, and mentally tough individuals with attention to detail in order to complete. Those are the exact same traits we need in the next generation Airmen and, just like the puzzle, we want the best qualified applicant with the right job at the right time. To make the massive puzzle manageable for solving, it is divided into thousands of separate tile rooms, where points are earned by individual players and updated in real time to a universal leaderboard, creating friendly global competition. To encourage users to tackle harder, less-defined sections of the puzzle, the tile rooms vary in level of difficulty. As users complete a tile room, they earn points based on the number of pieces they assemble, the amount of time spent on the section and the complexity of the image. Users have the option to play as a guest or create a username and password to save their progress and enjoy other benefits, including unlocking content, and interesting facts that, until now, could only be seen by visiting the museum in person. Story continues As users enter the puzzle, theyll view the full gigapixel image of the fourth building and see the cursors of other players working on the puzzle in real time. Users can work alone or with other players to complete a section of the puzzle and can even invite friends into a tile room to help complete the section. With school out, many camps closed, and not a lot of places to go outside yet, we hope this puzzle provides families and friends with something fun to do together. From across their living room or from across the country. Leave it to the U.S. Air Force to make the most technologically advanced jigsaw puzzle in the world, said Jeff Maki, Senior VP, Group Creative Director, GSD&M. Million Piece Mission is free to play and can be accessed on AirForcePuzzle.com by desktop and mobile devices. Austin-based full-service creative agency GSD&M the U.S. Air Forces creative partner for 20 years envisioned this concept, along with development partner, Active Theory . About the United States Air Force The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. For 2020, the Air Force Recruiting Service is hiring over 29,000 new Airmen. An emphasis is on recruiting people with no prior military service into one of over 130 enlisted career opportunities. The Air Force recruits to retain, so we recruit the brightest candidates possible, then provide them with tough, highly technical training that gives them the right skills to sustain the combat capability of Americas Air Force. For more information about Air Force benefits and opportunities, go to www.airforce.com . About GSD&M Founded in 1971, GSD&M is a creatively driven, full-service agency headquartered in Austin, Texas, that believes when you pay the price to understand the problem and apply that insight to solve courageously, the reward is ideas that make a difference. With a restless culture and purpose as a guiding force, GSD&M builds brands with a fully integrated creative, media and analytics approach. For more information, visit GSDM.com . About the National Museum of the United States Air Force The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the worlds largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year more than 800,000 visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil . Contact: Sara Vinson sara.vinson@digennaro-usa.com An 80-year-old man who was serving a life sentence in an Alabama prison for a Baldwin County murder conviction has died after testing positive for coronavirus. Robert Stewart on June 8 was taken from the Stanton Correctional Facility in Elmore to a local hospital after exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19, as he was considered high-risk due to his advanced chronic health conditions, the Alabama Department of Corrections announced today. A prison system spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request from AL.com to identify the hospital. On June 10, Stewart tested positive for COVID-19 and remained under care of the local hospital until his unfortunate death on June 14, a prison statement read. Here are stories of some of those with ties to Alabama killed by COVID-19 Stewarts exact cause of death is pending the results of a full autopsy. The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) extends its sympathies to the Stewart family and his loved ones during this difficult time, the statement continued. After consulting with the State Medical Director of the ADOCs contracted health services provider, ADOC decided on June 11 to test inmates housed in Statons infirmary due to their direct exposure to previously reported inmate and employee positive cases. The ADOC confirmed that 13 of the inmates housed in Statons infirmary tested positive for COVID-19. Each of these inmates are currently in medical isolation, the statement read. The entire infirmary at Staton, which previously was on level-two quarantine, was elevated to level-three quarantine. Medical care unrelated to COVID-19 is being provided to inmates at an alternate location within the facility. Necessary medical equipment has been moved out of the infirmary and appropriately sanitized, ADOC stated. In all, 41 total cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among the inmate population, 20 of which remain active. ADOC was informed via self-reporting that 1 staff member employed at Bibb Correctional Facility in Brent, 1 at Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore; and 1 at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka have tested positive for COVID-19. All three promptly self-quarantined under the direction of their healthcare providers, ADOC stated. ADOCs Office of Health Services is investigating which, if any, ADOC inmates or employees may have had direct, prolonged exposure to the three staff members. Upon completing the appropriate follow-up interviews and due diligence, OHS will advise any exposed staff members to contact their healthcare providers and self-quarantine for the recommended 14-day period, or as advised by their healthcare providers, ADOC stated. A total of 90 COVID-19 cases among ADOC staff and contracted staff remain active. Thirty-two staff members who previously self-reported a positive test have been cleared by medical providers to return to work, ADOC stated. Cinemas could re-open in July, with strict social distancing rules. (Credit: Getty) Cineworld has announced it plans to reopen screens on 10 July. Cinemas in the UK have been closed since around 18 March, just prior to the official lockdown announcement. The reopening of cinemas and theatres formed part of Boris Johnsons map out of lockdown announced in May, with multiplexes in a list of venues that may be able to open from 4 July, dependent on how the virus progressed over the following weeks. Now Cineworld has become the first chain of cinemas to announce when it will reopen, sharing details of what customers can expect when they do. It has yet to share details of what films will be on when it reopens, and says ticket bookings will begin in July, however on Twitter, the chain confirmed it will reopen with classic films before the new releases start rolling out. Hey Alex, indeed that's the plan. Watch this space for more announcements! cineworld (@cineworld) June 16, 2020 What will social distancing rules entail? Safe distancing is observed on the escalators exiting Liverpool Street Station during rush hour on May 13, 2020 in London. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Cineworld has revealed the measures it is taking to ensure the safety of its staff and customers when they reopen in July. These include: Social distancing across all areas within the cinema. Hand washing, with antibacterial soap and handwashing guidelines for customers and staff. Hand sanitiser stations. Additional cleaning for high touch points within the cinema. E-ticketing, with emails used for tickets. Updated seating maps to allow friends and family to sit together while ensuring a safe distance between customers. Staggered film times to reduce customers cross paths with other customers and additional cleaning time between films. Plastic screens at the till for staff. Contactless payments. Training and personal protective equipment provided to employees where the risk assessment has deemed it necessary. Support from team members to offer assistance to customers. Rival chain Vue said in a statement last month about its safety plan: We have been liaising closely with authorities across Europe to design operating procedures that can provide the degree of social distancing required and allow an experience for our customers and staff that is as safe as possible. Story continues Tenet (Warner Bros) The company pointed to the potential for isolating family groups using its online booking system, so they could sit together while maintaining safe distance from other patrons. Film times would be staggered to make distancing either and the chain will introduce enhanced cleaning and employee protection protocols. Read more: Inside the Universal vs. Cinemas dispute There has not yet been any mention of face coverings in cinemas. The guidelines issued by the government advised members of the public to wear a face covering in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible. Phil Clapp, of the UK Cinema Association, welcomed the proposed July reopening and said he is in discussion with the government about the safeguards that will be needed. Clapp suggested these safeguards, some of which were mentioned by Vue, will be observed across the entire sector. He did, however, note that this is not a foregone conclusion and that wider public health considerations may scupper even the best laid of plans for multiplexes to open. Read more: Robert Pattinson teases spectacle of Tenet So plans are afoot for cinemas to finally throw open their doors. Cinema chains are preparing the safety measures that will allow them to entertain audiences again, with Christopher Nolans latest mind-bender Tenet among the films hoping to lift the curtain. Will cinemas reopen in July? Cinema chains certainly seem to think so. Naturally, theres a financial imperative for multiplexes to open as soon as possible and so its a tricky balance to strike between caution and commerce. Notably, a brief reopening of Chinese cinemas was shelved in late March after infection rates began to climb. Tentatively, the countrys government issued guidelines last week on potential reopening. Johnsons guidelines positioned cinemas as part of the third stage of the governments roadmap for lifting the coronavirus lockdown and so 4 July was the absolute earliest date that the venues will be allowed to open. Christopher Nolans secretive thriller Tenet is slated for a 31 July release, with Disneys Mulan currently slated to be first out of the gate on 24 July although many predict that may be pushed back too. The question exists, though, around whether audiences will be willing to simply flock back to the cinema. A survey by Variety in April painted a worrying picture for cinema operators, but John Fithian, the president of the National Association Of Theatre Owners in the US, said he strongly believes there will be a rush to cinemas when doors open again. Associate feature: A climate for change January 2020, a few short months ago, now seems a world away. Then, as every year, the World Economic Forum was meeting at DAVOS in Switzerland. Their focus was unequivocally on our environmental futures: The top 5 risks facing the world are now all linked to the Climate Crisis. You can be sure that the agenda for next years probable virtual WEF forum will look very different. But should it be different? It is clear that COVID-19 is not a new risk. The world just missed treating it with the importance it deserved. We must not make the same mistake with climate change. In the Financial Times, Tim Harford has queried why we fail to plan for these major risks. He quotes Bazerman and Watkins from their 2003 work Predictable Surprises: The disasters you should have seen coming. Harford concludes our problem is that faced with clear risks we still fail to act. Nearly I9 years ago I attended an enthralling seminar in Philadelphia on futures scenarios which included environmental catastrophe, religious conflict, inequalities, mass migration, diseases and terrorism. The seminar kicked off around 8am that morning. Some way through the presentation the Chairman took the floor. The date was 9th September 2001. Warning signs were the-e beforehand of what was about to happen, graphically depicted in Lawrence Wrights book The Looming Tower. Perhaps more hidden in plain sight were the seeds of COVID-19 in SARS, MEARS and EBOLA. It appears that we dont like making investments in what might happen, because that would mean forgoing more immediate priorities. The risk this time is that we will become pre-occupied with the need for stability, normality and most of all with personal economic security. Climate change may not easily find space in the minds of citizens anywhere. If we are to win the hearts and minds for the battle against climate change, benefits must be clear to people and communities. The threat of what might happen may not work. According to a group of experts: Even if the world agreed to maintain all the pandemic enforced restrictions on travel and consumption, the emissions saved would amount to almost nothing compared with what is needed to achieve the Paris Agreement climate target. The investment case must be an economic renewal plan which mitigates climate change while providing for the personal economic security and wellbeing we all desire. This will take systemic changes utilising our technological and innovative capacity in a reframed set of tools which assess public investment returns quite differently. It will need an accompanying fiscal and regulatory framework appropriately geared to longer term sustainability. Reshaping all these things can provide economic security through clever design. Many businesses including investment institutions were onto this before COVID-19 hit. That momentum for change can be accommodated as we plan the future out of the current emergency. Nineteen years ago in Philadelphia the threats were clear. Each has come true most dramatically the tragic attack on the Twin Towers. The world was ill-prepared for COVID-19. Will we allow ourselves to be so ill-prepared for the looming climate risk? Bob Downes is chair of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) This piece was sponsored by SEPA www.sepa.org.uk Oregons COVID-19 case count jumped by 184 on Monday to bring the statewide total to 5,820, with 99 of those cases coming from Union County, the Oregon Health Authority announced. Four fatalities were reported as well, raising the states death toll from the coronavirus pandemic to 180. All four were in Clackamas County: a 78-year-old woman, an 85-year-old man, a 65-year-old woman and a 75-year-old woman. All four are said to have had underlying medical conditions. No new cases were reported in the mid-valley. Linn County has had 126 cases of COVID-19 and nine deaths from the disease, while Benton County has had 63 cases and five deaths. In a news release, OHA said it was coordinating with Union County authorities to respond to an outbreak of COVID-19, but the state agency did not provide any further details. The Center for Human Development, a nonprofit health care provider in La Grande, said in a separate news release that an unspecified number of the new cases are associated with the Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church, which recently hosted a testing clinic. Many of the recent positive cases are touching various areas of our community and are not confined to one location, the centers public health administrator, Carrie Brogoitti, said in the news release. According to OHA data, Union County had only 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19 before Mondays announcement. An additional 21,957 cases were reported nationwide on Monday, raising the U.S. total to 2,085,769, according to an update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were also 373 fatalities, bringing the death count to 115,644. COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- irth Solutions, a leader in 811 ticket management and field service management software, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brad Gammons to its Board of Directors. His extensive knowledge of utility and energy software and operations will contribute to the growth and strategic direction of the company. Brad Gammons is considered a thought leader on energy and utility issues and has served these customers for decades. He maintains frequent participation in industry organizations, conferences and events. Brad currently serves as the Global Managing Director of IBM's Energy, Environment, and Utility Industry. He has overall responsibility for the industry's strategy, consulting service, sales, solution development, marketing, and operations. Prior to this role, Brad served as IBM's Global Industry General Manager for Energy and Utilities. Before joining IBM, Brad served as a Captain in the United States Air Force. There he held positions in Strategy and Planning and as Flight Crew member on the B-52. "I have spent much of my career serving customers across the same industries that irth does. I am excited to be a part of a platform that can help address the operational, regulatory, and safety needs of these companies and their workers. irth is well positioned to provide a solution to its customers that addresses many of their field service management needs on one platform" "We are thrilled to have Brad join our team at irth Solutions", Trent Peugh, Chief Executive Offer, said. "Brad has extensive experience working with our customers to address their software and strategy needs. We look forward to working with him to continuously improve and expand the solution set we can deliver." About irth Solutions: irth Solutions is the leading provider of cloud-based solutions for asset protection, mobile workforce management, 811 ticket management and no-code app creation. UtiliSphere reduces risk and maximizes business growth by protecting mission-critical business assets and optimizing the performance of people and the work they do. Our software helps organizations manage and reduce risk, decreases costs, increase revenue opportunities and ensure regulatory compliance. For decades, our solutions have helped hundreds of customers execute the work that is most important to their success. irth Solutions is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit www.irthsolutions.com. Contact: irth Solutions 614.784.8000 email: [email protected] SOURCE irth Solutions Related Links http://www.irthsolutions.com Contrary to earlier police reports that Williams had loosened Askew's gun from its holster, Williams never gained control of or fired the weapon, Carter said. Instead, Askew reportedly told fellow hospital security guard and retired Lake County Officer Freeman to shoot Williams, who was choking Askew to a state of near unconsciousness, Carter said. Freeman fired shots, striking Williams in the head and Askew in the arm and chest, Carter said. Both Williams and Askew died from their wounds, and Freeman was hospitalized following the incident with an undisclosed condition, Carter said. The condition of the nurse who was assaulted was unknown Tuesday afternoon, Carter said. "I'm told he was beating the nurse pretty badly," Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez told The Times about 6:40 a.m. The sheriff said his department remained in shock Tuesday that one of their own retired officers was gone. Jelani Alladin hosts tonight's Shubert Foundation High School Theater Festival, taking place at 7pm ET. This year, student presentations will include excerpted scenes and numbers from Fame (Brooklyn High School of the Arts), Lucky Stuff (Curtis High School in Staten Island), Hairspray (Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens), Aida (Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts in Manhattan), and The Wolves (Talent Unlimited High School in Manhattan). Guest presenters include Adam Chanler-Berat, James Harkness, Carly Hughes, George Salazar, and Sherie Rene Scott. Watch the full streaming event below: This high-profile and high-energy theater education experience for students is presented by the Shubert Foundation and the NYC Department of Education Arts Office. The festival is a celebration featuring five outstanding high school student productions from the 2019-20 school year, which were selected from over 30 productions across the city by a panel of professional theatre artists and theatre educators. NORRISTOWN An Upper Dublin woman will be under court supervision for several years after she admitted to her role in a multi-state methamphetamine and marijuana trafficking ring that utilized the U.S. Postal Service to carry out the drug crimes. Lorraine Yvonne Zeno, 38, of the 600 block of Ardross Avenue, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court on Monday to 30 months time served on charges of corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and marijuana, dealing in proceeds of unlawful acts and criminal use of a communication facility in connection with incidents that occurred between April 2016 and November 2017. While Zeno, who pleaded guilty to the charges, was given credit for time she has been in jail since 2017 while awaiting court action, with parole and an additional 5-year probationary sentence she will remain under court supervision for several more years. With the charges, prosecutors alleged Zeno was one of the leaders of the drug trafficking network. A second leader of the corrupt organization, Brian Justin Holt, 45, who listed addresses along North Redwood Court and along Drayton Circle in Montgomery Township, previously pleaded guilty to similar drug-related charges and was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in state prison. Leonardo Christian Fernandez, 35, of Monrovia, Calif., one of three California sources of the drug, previously was sentenced to 9 to 18 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to drug-related charges. Fernandez, Zeno and Holt, authorities said, were part of The Big Five involved in the trafficking ring. Two other men from California also were charged in connection with the drug ring. About a dozen people, some of them customers and sub-dealers, also were charged during the investigation of the corrupt organization. At the time of the arrests, District Attorney Kevin R. Steele alleged members of the drug trafficking organization mailed packages of crystal methamphetamine and marijuana, using the U.S. Postal Service, from California to Zeno and Holt in Montgomery County since at least April 2016. During the joint investigation that involved law enforcement from Pennsylvania, California and New Jersey, authorities identified more than 350 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and marijuana that was sent in multiple shipments, according to court documents. Investigators shut down the organization operating in Pennsylvania and worked their way back to the suppliers in California, according to Steele. This investigation again illustrates that law enforcement is united in our fight against deadly drugs of all kinds heroin, opioids, fentanyl, methamphetamine and pills, Steele said at the time of the arrests. All of this poison is killing residents of Montgomery County and other communities in the region and those that traffic this poison need to realize its not worth it because we are going to keep investigating, arresting and holding accountable those responsible. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Samantha Thompson. The investigation began in 2016 when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service identified and intercepted a suspicious parcel being shipped from California to Montgomery County, according to court documents. Investigators alleged the parcel contained about one pound of crystal meth. Investigators subsequently uncovered cross-country shipments of bulk quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana to members of the Zeno and Holt drug trafficking organization. Authorities said the shipments received were then sold to other drug dealers and individuals in Montgomery and Bucks counties and Philadelphia. The corrupt organization headed by Zeno and Holt then sent the illegal proceeds for the drugs to those involved in California, according to the criminal complaint. The investigation involved the use of court-authorized wiretaps on the phones of Zeno and Holt, which helped identify the alleged California suppliers. Investigators also learned the identities of Zeno and Holts methamphetamine customers, some of whom also distributed the drug and assisted Zeno and Holt with receiving the drugs at locations referred to as work sites, according to the arrest affidavit. Members of the Engineering Association plus 220 cardboard silhouettes representing TVA tech workers slated to lose their jobs will stand in Chattanoogas Miller Park on Wednesday to protest announced layoffs at the nations largest publicly-owned utility. The protest will be from 10:30 a.m.-noon. TVA is planning to outsource as many as 220 information technology jobs to Cap Gemini, a Paris-based firm with more than 100,000 employees in India, along with two other firms headquartered overseas, the group said. TVA denied that assertion. Officials said, "Specifically, only 62 individuals are impacted, not more than 200. In addition, the jobs are not being sent outside the U.S. In fact, TVA has very specific contractual language that requires all work to be completed in the U.S. "All three of the companies involved have very large U.S.-based workforces and many have U.S.-based subsidiary headquarters. All three currently perform similar IT work for other federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and Department of the Navy, all of whole have the same contractual requirements for U.S. based work. "While we fully understand the impact of this difficult but necessary decision, our focus remains on treating those impacted with respect and professionalism during this difficult time." Gay Henson, a TVA worker and president of the Engineering Association, IFPTE Local 1937, said, Its outrageous that at a time of massive unemployment, with Congress spending trillions to get Americans back to work, a federal utility is sending jobs overseas to India, France and elsewhere. Sending crucial IT jobs overseas and possibly compromising the security of our nations electrical grid would be a dumb idea any day of the week. To do it now, when millions of Americans are desperate for work, is worse than dumb. Its irresponsible. Keeping good-paying IT jobs here in Tennessee wont cost anyone a penny. The TVA has admitted that ratepayers will not save a single dollar if our members lose their jobs. TVA needs to stop these layoffs now. Oxford University students who feel the 'traumatic effect of the brutality' of George Floyd's death made them do worse in exams can apply for mitigating circumstances considerations. The announcement by vice-Chancellor professor Louise Richardson followed pressure from campaigners at the university who claim the horrific video of Floyd's last moments had a lasting impact on black students. Floyd was killed when white police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds despite his desperate pleas that he 'can't breathe'. Oxford University students who feel the 'traumatic effect of the brutality' of George Floyd's death in the US made them do worse in exams can apply for mitigating circumstances considerations. Pictured: Protesters called for a statue of Cecil John Rhodes to be torn down The announcement by vice-Chancellor professor Louise Richardson followed pressure from campaigners at the university who claim the horrific video of Floyd's last moments had a lasting impact on black students. Pictured: Demonstrations in Oxford Professor Richardson said the manner of Floyd's death was a 'manifestation of institutionalised racism' in the letter signed by 35 college principals, The Daily Telegraph reports. Students should inform the university should they 'feel their performance has been affected', she added. University staff are also being urged to 'reach out to any black students who may be experiencing difficulty at this time', the letter said. It added: 'The university has, as Britain does, a history that is marked by colonialism and imperialism. The recent protests have also brought a renewed focus on this era of Oxford's history.' Floyd was killed when white police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds despite his desperate pleas that he 'can't breathe'. Pictured: Demonstrations in Oxford Professor Richardson said the manner of Floyd's death was a 'manifestation of institutionalised racism' in the letter signed by 35 of the institution's college principals. Pictured: Demonstrations in Oxford University staff are also being urged to 'reach out to any black students who may be experiencing difficulty at this time', the letter said. Pictured: Demonstrations in Oxford 'The university relies on bringing the very best minds from across the world together, whatever their race, gender, religion or background to create new ideas, insights and innovations to change the world for the better.' It comes after protesters at the university called for a statue of Cecil John Rhodes, a mining magnate and former Prime Minister of South Africa's Cape Colony, to be torn down. The imperialist leader is divisive due to some seeing him as a racist and complicit in paving the way for apartheid in South Africa. Students should inform the university should they 'feel their performance has been affected'. Pictured: Demonstrations in Oxford Following the outcry, the university vowed to ensure it's degrees educated pupils on colonialism, The Times reports. Faculties given grants to help them increase diversity in their syllabus' are the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences. Professor Richardson said in a letter to the university's student union: 'Many departments in social sciences have begun work on making their curriculum more inclusive and adding diverse voices to it. 'This includes steps such as integrating race and gender questions into topics, embedding teaching on colonialism and empire into courses, changing reading lists to ensure substantial representation of a diverse range of voices, and ensuring better coverage of issues concerning the global South in syllabuses.' The Serbian government will today hold talks with Etihad Airways and its partners in the United Arab Emirates over Air Serbias future and the states potential plan to renationalise the carrier which has been hit hard by the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. The Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, said, We will strengthen Air Serbia. On Monday we are holding talks with the shareholders from the United Arab Emirates and by Tuesday we will know what action needs to be taken. We will request for them to provide part of the finances for the losses that have been incurred over the past four months. These are massive losses. We are ready to provide part of the funds too. If they [Etihad] dont want to, we are ready to recapitalise the company and take a greater stake in the airline as a result. We wont give up on building up the company. The President hinted that if Etihad were to fully or partially exit the airline, another strategic partner could be brought in. We might introduce some other strategic partners, but we will continue to hold a majority stake. Air Serbia will be our flag carrier and it will be stronger than it is today, Mr Vucic noted. The Serbian Ministry for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure estimates the airline will loose up to eighty million euros this year as a result of Covid-19. It previously said, There is no question whether or not we should help Air Serbia. We just have to make an effective and sound program. That doesnt mean simply giving out money, but also creating the necessary conditions for Air Serbia to effectively function. The strategic partnership agreement between Etihad Airways and the Serbian government, unveiled in August 2013, saw the Emirati airline make available a forty million US dollar loan facility to Air Serbia which was converted into equity on January 1, 2014 for a period of five years. This was matched by an equal funding injection by the Serbian government. The two sides each provided further funding through shareholder loans and other funding mechanisms to meet working capital requirements and support network development. The five-year deal was later extended until further notice, however, Etihads involvement in Air Serbia has been significantly reduced, with the state providing subsidies and funds for the airline over the past few years. Etihad registered an 870 million US dollar loss in 2019 and its equity investments in carriers around the world have unravelled in recent years. Air Serbia is continuing to rebuild its network after resuming a limited number of commercial flights on May 21. Today, the airline will reinstate operations from Belgrade to Dusseldorf, Prague, Bucharest, Istanbul, Sofia, Tirana, Athens, Copenhagen, Podgorica, Tivat and Stuttgart. This will be followed tomorrow by the resumption of flights to Brussels and Berlin, and on Wednesday to Stockholm. The carrier will also bring back services from Nis to Hahn and Nuremberg as of tomorrow. Since reintroducing flights, the airline has increased frequencies on its operations to Zurich, Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Ljubljana, London and New York. As expected, Germany has become the latest European country to launch a COVID-19 contact tracing app. German residents can download the countrys Corona-Warn-App starting today on iOS and Android -- though the government is not making it mandatory to do so. The app was co-developed by German national carrier Deutsche Telekom and SAP using Apple and Google's joint contract tracing API as a base. Germany had initially planned to use a centralized standard called Pan-European Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing (PEPP-PT) to build out its app. However, it instead opted for a decentralized approach after Apple refused to change a setting on its iPhones that would have allowed the app to run in the foreground. Privacy advocates were also firmly against the idea of a centralized contract tracing system. According to the Associated Press, the government spent 20 million (approximately $22.5 million) funding the development of the app. Moving forward, it expects to spend another 2.5 million to 3.5 million per month operating the software. As in other countries, the app is meant to complement conventional contract tracing efforts wherein medical professionals reach out to people who may have come in contact with a COVID-19 patient. The software uses Bluetooth LE to record when the user passes someone else who has the app installed on their phone. It also notes how long they've been near one another. Should a user of the app test positive for COVID-19, it will inform anyone they've been in contact with for longer than 15 minutes. Governments worldwide see smartphone contract tracing apps as an essential tool in stopping a potential second wave of COVID-19 cases, but they need widespread adoption to be useful. Besides low adoption, other issues may hamper the effectiveness of the app. Not all of Germany's clinics can transmit test results electronically. In those instances, people who test positive for COVID-19 will need to phone a national hotline to sync their apps properly. There's a worry some people may call the hotline to troll people who have the app installed on their phone. At launch, the software also isn't compatible with the contract tracing apps other European governments have deployed in their countries; roaming functionality is something Germany plans to add some time in the next few weeks. Still, a lot is riding on the success of the app. According to tracking by Johns Hopkins University, the country has had 188,213 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 8,814 deaths to date, meaning it has had both fewer cases and deaths than Italy and the UK. But with the government easing travel restrictions and events like IFA coming up, there's a chance for the coronavirus to flare up again. Flags and the company's logo are seen outside of an IKEA Group store in Spreitenbach STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Ingka Group, the owner of most IKEA stores, said on Tuesday it had repaid aid received from the Serbian government to cover wages for furloughed staff during lockdown, and was about to do the same in Romania. The world's biggest furniture retailer will also repay aid in Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United States. "Our main focus here is simply to return the generous support that was made available by governments to businesses during this difficult time," Ingka Group's head of retail Tolga Oncu said in an email. "Whilst no one knows how things will continue to develop, we now have a better understanding of the impact of the crisis on our business and have therefore decided to pay it back as it is the right thing to do." Romanian Finance Minister Florin Citu thanked the company on Facebook for not using the 858,504 lei ($200,833) necessary to cover technical unemployment between March 17 and June 12. "IKEA representatives said that although we are facing many challenges ahead, in their opinion the companys results will be better than they were expecting a few months ago. Therefore, IKEA made the decision not to use the state budget funds," Citu said. British business supplies distributor Bunzl on Monday said it too planned to repay government support and bring forward deferred tax payments, following better-than-expected sales during the crisis. IKEA stores are gradually reopening worldwide after most closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ($1 = 4.2747 lei) (Reporting by Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm and Luiza Ilie in Bucharest; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) Nearly a decade after the murder of Geo News journalist Wali Khan Babar, Pakistan police finally arrested one of his murderers at large in an operation on June 15. The International federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Pakistan affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) welcome the arrest and urge the Pakistan government to move proactively to coordinate stronger action to end the countrys dire record of impunity for attacks on journalists. Pakistan police arrested Kamran (alias Zeeshan Shani) in a joint raid on June 15, six years after he and five others killed the journalist. Kamran absconded after Geo news journalist Wali Khan Babar was gunned down in the Liaquatabad area of Karachi on January 13, 2011. He was finally captured during a raid carried out after a tip off from a federal intelligence agency. With his arrest, all six perpetrators involved in killing of the journalist have been brought to justice. On March 1, 2014, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) convicted Naveed Polka, Muhammad Ali Rizvi, Faisal Mahmood, and Mohammad Shahrukh Khan to life imprisonment, and ordered death sentences in absentia for Kamran alias Zeeshan and Faisal Mehmood alias Mota for the killing of the journalist. The murder of Wali Khan Babar became a pivotal case in the country, noted by strong efforts by Babars family to secure justice and with strong coordination from journalists, unions and the media community. But it was also a case that gathered a deathly toll on the path to justice. Within a week of murder of the Geo News journalist, five witnesses to the murder, including two policemen and an informer, wereshot dead. The prosecutor in the case, Naimat Ali Randhawa, was also killed in September 26, 2013. According to Kamrans confession, the Pakistani political party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)s London faction, of which he was a member, was involved in the plot to kill the journalist. According to the police report, Babar was killed because the MQM, a dominant political force in Pakistan, feared that the slain journalist would report on anti-MQM stories. As a high profile crime reporter for Geo News, Babar had written numerous hard-hitting investigative stories on political turf wars, riots, extortion, targeted killings, electricity theft and land-grabbing. PFUJ said: The PFUJ welcomes the arrest of Wali Khan Babars murderer. We demand that the murderer is brought before the court of law. IFJ said: Justice delayed is justice denied. At last a killer in absentia who committed the brutal murder of Wali Khan Babar has been captured. But sadly this is one of the just a handful of cases where justice has been delivered for the killing of a journalist in this country and it came at a great loss of further lives. Pakistan has a long-running horrific impunity record for letting journalist killers get away with their crimes. We hope this case can lead to much needed reforms on journalist murder investigations and prosecutions. By Akbar Mammadov Head of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan Tural Ganjaliyev has addressed the regions Armenian community, urging peace and co-existence between the two nations. In a video addressed made in the Armenian language and posted on his Facebook page on June 14, Ganjaliyev reminded that the two communities can peacefully co-exists just like they did before the war. I appeal to you, our Armenian representatives living in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, as your elected representative. This message is a message of peace! It is time and even time to achieve a just and lasting final peace!, Ganjaliyev said. Ganjaliyev reminded that Nagorno-Karabakh had been one of the most developed regions of the country for many years. We, the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, have lived and will live together peacefully there for many years, he added. Then, noting that he grew up in Shusha, Ganjaliyev said: I remember very well that when I lived in Shusha, Armenian and Azerbaijani children spent time together and played in our neighbourhood. I had Armenian classmates in the class I studied. An Armenian woman lived on the street next to us. Her son and I went to Shusha chess school. At that time, I was so passionate about chess that I dreamed of becoming a world chess champion in the future. When I was studying in the tar class at the Shusha music school, I knew Armenian students who took music lessons with us. Our life was very happy and interesting. Unfortunately, our beautiful life was later destroyed by the occupation, Ganjaliyev said. Speaking about his childhood recollections about his friendship with Armenians, Ganjaliyev said that there was no representative of the middle and old generation in the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh who did not have a close Azerbaijani friend in the past. The same thing can be said about Nagorno-Karbakh's Azerbaijani community. Unfortunately, for almost 30 years, the young generation of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan is growing up unaware of each other as a result of the occupation. Even they are sometimes unaware of the coexistence of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the recent past, said Ganjaliyev. We also understand the suffering of the Armenian residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. As the Nagorno-Karabakh regionis currently under Armenian occupation, the Armenian residents of the region have been forced to live under the Armenian occupation regime. I would like to bring to the attention of each of you that Azerbaijan, of which you are a citizen, is the strongest state in our region, both economically, militarily and politically. This state is the only guarantor of our happy future, he noted. On behalf of the Azerbaijani residents of the region, I convey this message to every resident of Armenian origin of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan that we must be ready to live together in peace. I believe that the Armenian residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan also understand that there is an absolute need for dialogue with the Azerbaijani residents of the region. We must think about living together in peace and achieve this. Azerbaijanis expelled from their homes must return to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. We have not been able to visit the graves of our ancestors for many years, and this situation must be eliminated. Ganjaliyev spoke about negative stereotypes of Azerbaijanis and the the "enemy" image created among the Armenian residents of the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. None of this has any basis. Armenian and Azerbaijani residents of the region can live as an autonomous entity within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. There are many models of this in the world, and I believe that Azerbaijani and Armenian residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan can together create the most successful form of autonomy in the world!, he said. We, Armenian and Azerbaijani residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, can and will turn our Nagorno-Karabakh region whose name is currently associated with the war and IDPs, into one of the most important tourist regions of Azerbaijan and even the world, added Ganjaliyev. In his appeal, the head of the community Tural Ganjaliyev stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh can and will be distinguished by the high development of culture, economy and human capital. We, the Armenian and Azerbaijani residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, will live within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, with the high status of self-government, and will determine our destiny in accordance with the Constitution of Azerbaijan! There is no alternative to this!, he noted. Ganjaliyev reiterated President Ilham Aliyev's comments that all liberated lands of Azerbaijan will be restored, infrastructure will be rebuilt, and the highest opportunities for the development of tourism, economy and other areas will be created in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Tural Ganjaliyev is also an elected MP from Khankendi district of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz ACSI Welcomes Two to Senior Leadership Team NEWS PROVIDED BY Association of Christian Schools International June 16, 2020 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 16, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) welcomes Chris Marchand, as its new Vice President of Purposeful Design Publications (PDP), and Jerry Nelson, as Special Assistant to President Dr. Larry Taylor. Marchand brings several years of experience in education, curriculum development, instructional and e-learning design, curriculum publishing, and product innovation. He has extensive publishing expertise, specifically in diversifying portfolio solutions and moving from print to digital content delivery. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Partner Solutions at Awana Clubs International. Serving on the Executive Leadership Team, he led, equipped, and developed a team that executed all aspects of product and publishing innovation, design, development, and delivery. He was also responsible for the strategic direction of the publishing and solutions division and in charge of the life-cycle management of over 1,500 unique products, serving as the master product owner for the organization. "I am so excited about joining the team at ACSI. With all the shifting landscapes in our world and culture today, there has never been a greater need for Christian education than right now," said Marchand. "I'm looking forward to working alongside the incredible team at ACSI and PDP as we continue to serve our member schools, administrators, educators, and students with excellence." "Chris has an in-depth understanding of global markets with significant experience in building relationships with indigenous subject matter experts to contextualize U.S. products for use in other countries. His passion is for Christian education and equipping professional educators," Taylor said. In his role as Special Assistant to the President, Nelson will provide leadership and professional expertise in the planning and implementation of initiatives identified in the ministry's new Strategic Plan. He will work closely with Taylor and the President's Advisory Team (PAT) to collaboratively focus on objectives within each of the three pillars comprising the Strategic Plan: Advancing, Access, and Advocacy. Nelson most recently served as Head of School at Northwest Christian Academy in Miami, FL for 11 years. He expressed anticipation and desire to contribute in his new role. Among other accomplishments, while at Northwest Nelson created a professional teacher development program, a student Leadership Development Program, a Parent Education Program, and wrote three books and several educational documents specifically for students and parents. "It's a privilege to be able to work with Larry Taylor in this new paradigm of ACSI," said Nelson. "My role is broad in the sense that I will have the opportunity to speak into each of the three pillars of the Strategic Plan. However, the thread that runs throughout is to help shape a philosophy to undergird our understanding of Culture and Diversity and to develop a framework for implementing it in our daily practices." "I've known Jerry for several years, and I can't think of anyone who is more suited to carrying out our aim to integrate diversity issues with our new strategic plan. His background as a head of an inner-city school, and experience working with minority students and families, gives him an indispensable understanding of how to achieve this goal," Taylor shared. In addition to their primary duties, both Marchand and Nelson will serve as members of the ACSI senior leadership team. "I am thrilled to bring the caliber of leaders such as Jerry and Chris onto our team. They have proven to be successful in their respective fields, are men of high character, and will make immediate and lasting impacts for ACSI, our members, and the cause of Christian Education." Taylor added. ABOUT ACSI: Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., ACSI exists to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ. ACSI advances excellence in Christian schools by enhancing the professional and personal development of Christian educators and providing vital support functions for Christian schools by offering multiple services including teacher and administrator certification, school accreditation, legal/legislative assistance, and curriculum publishing. Serving more than 25,000 schools in 108 countries, ACSI helps more than 5.5 million students worldwide connect to Christian education. For more information on the ministry, visit www.ACSI.org or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ACSIUSA or on Twitter at @ACSIUSA. SOURCE Association of Christian Schools International CONTACT: Larry Lincoln, 719-424-6461, Larry_Lincoln@acsi.org Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best speaks to reporters in downtown Seattle, Wash., on Jan. 22, 2020. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images) Seattle Police Chief: Officers Responding to Important 911 Calls in Autonomous Zone Police officers are responding to some 911 calls coming from the so-called autonomous zone, Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said, pushing back on claims that officers in her department have been instructed not to respond to 911 calls in the citys Capitol Hill area. A business located near the zone that was broken into late Sunday told The Epoch Times they called the police but officers never showed up. Theres not a no Seattle Police Department response zone, Best said during a Monday night appearance on CNNs Cuomo Prime Time. The chief said officials are responding to every single call in every area of the city before appearing to make remarks that conflicted with that claim. When it comes to that particular area, if we get a call thats an important emergency 911 call, were going in but we also have to be considerate of the delicate situation that we have there, she added. The boarded-up Seattle Police Department East Precinct inside the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Wash. on June 10, 2020. (Ernie Li/NTD Television) The Seattle Police Department didnt immediately respond to a request for clarification. An internal department message circulated several days prior showed a map of the autonomous zone, an area comprising multiple city blocks that activists took over after police officers abandoned the East Precinct. The zone was shown as red in the map. Officers shouldnt respond to calls within the red zone unless the response is to a mass casualty event, such as an active shooter incident or a structural fire thats likely to endanger lives, the message stated. If responding to a mass casualty event, officers should muster with a supervisor outside that zone to evaluate whether its feasible to respond and develop a plan. Best wasnt asked about the message on CNN. A banner which reads abolish the police hangs from a building in an area being called the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Wash. on June 12, 2020. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images) City officials have so far refused to use force to take back the streets. The last thing I want to do is have any issue of violence occur in the area, so were being very judicial about how we do it, judicious I mean, in how we do it, and how we go in, Best said in the television appearance. Officers are attempting to follow up on each report that comes in, she said, and make sure perpetrators are arrested. Response times to crimes including rape have soared since occupiers took over the zone on June 8. Barricades placed on streets that lead into the zone are hindering response times, she said, along with officers not being able to respond from the East Precinct directly. Mayhem unfolded Sunday night as Car Tender, a car repair shop that sits about 100 yards from a border of the zone, was broken into. The owner and family members rushed over and tried to search the suspect but the man refused. When occupiers heard of what was happening, they rushed over, tore down fencing, and threatened the owners life. After at least two people at the business brandished firearms, the occupiers backed off. EXCLUSIVE: I spoke with the son of the Car Tender owner whose store got robbed and set on fire last night. They are 100 yards from #CHAZ. We called the police a number of times. There was no response.. never showed up. Its really disheartening you call and hope they show pic.twitter.com/9eHpQR1zpE Bowen Xiao (@BowenXiao_) June 15, 2020 Groups of occupiers wielding guns, including the Antifa-affiliated John Brown Gun Club, are acting as a security force inside the city streets. Some high-level Antifa members, including Luis Marquez, have been spotted inside the zone in recent days. The Seattle City Council, meanwhile, voted Monday 9-0 to ban police officers from using chokeholds. Officers also cannot deploy tear gas, pepper spray, and other measures typically used to control crowds. Our movement against racism and police violence made history today with the City Councils passage of the permanent bans on the police use of chemical weapons and other so-called crowd control weapons, and on police chokeholds, Councilwoman Kshama Sawant, a Democrat, said in a statement. She called for defunding the police department by at least 50 percent. Councilmembers also approved legislation that requires officers to display badge numbers, after some protesters complained that numbers werent visible during recent demonstrations. The Cabinet Secretary has launched a probe into a ministers decision to approve a Tory donors 1billion property deal. It came as Boris Johnson faced calls to reveal his own contacts with the billionaire businessman behind the plan. Sir Mark Sedwill is conducting a review after Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick was accused of cash for favours in his dealings with former newspaper tycoon Richard Desmond. Mr Jenrick approved the 1,500-home development in east London in January two months after he and Mr Desmond sat together at a Tory fundraising dinner. His decision came one day before new rates for a community levy on the site would have kicked in that would have cost the billionaire between 30million and 50million to help pay for local amenities. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick is pictured on 9 June at Downing Street. Sir Mark Sedwill is conducting a review after Jenrick was accused of cash for favours in his dealings with former newspaper tycoon Richard Desmond Mr Desmond, who previously owned the Daily Express and Daily Star newspapers, then went on to donate 12,000 to the Conservative Party two weeks later. Mr Jenrick subsequently had to quash his approval for the plan following a High Court challenge from Tower Hamlets council. He accepted his original decision had been unlawful by reason of apparent bias and said he would take no further part in the matter. Mr Johnson is expected to face questions on the matter at Prime Ministers Questions today. Last night, Labour called on him to reveal details of any meetings he and his senior advisers had with Mr Desmond and his associates in the run-up to the planning decision, as well as any other talks he has held since becoming Prime Minister. As London mayor, Mr Johnson and his deputy Sir Eddie Lister approved a proposal for the Westferry development in 2016 after meeting Mr Desmond on several occasions. Sir Eddie is now the PMs chief strategic adviser. Labours housing spokesman Steve Reed said: This murky affair is the result of Robert Jenricks biased and unlawful decision... It is time for the Prime Minister to tell us what he knows about this affair... He must restore shattered confidence in the planning system and show the public that its not one rule for the Conservatives and their billionaire friends, but another rule for everyone else. Richard Desmond (L) and Joy Desmond attend the launch of Sexy Fish, London in Berkeley Square on October 8, 2015 in London, England. Mr Jenrick approved the 1,500-home development in east London in January two months after he and Mr Desmond sat together at a Tory fundraising dinner Downing Street yesterday confirmed that Mr Jenrick had handed over papers relating to his decision to the Cabinet Secretary as he reviews what happened. However, the PMs spokesman stressed that a formal investigation has not been launched. In the House of Lords yesterday, peers questioned how the Housing Secretary was still in his job. Labours Lord Kennedy of Southwark asked: How is it justifiable that [he] is in his post having acted so blatantly and after he accepted that he acted unlawfully? In response, housing minister Lord Greenhalgh insisted that Mr Jenrick had followed the planning guidelines of his own department. But crossbench peer Lord Thurlow argued: For our planning process to work effectively. It must be transparent and decisions balanced and fair. However, for the public to read that... Mr Jenrick had private discussions with Mr Desmond or his team to sponsor a development worth hundreds of millions of pounds shortly before consent was granted is unacceptable. And Labours Lord Foulkes suggested that Mr Desmonds 12,000 donation to the Tories will be seen as cash for influence. Yesterday, Labour MP Clive Betts, chairman of the Commons housing committee asked Mr Jenrick to publish all correspondence and documentation relating to his role in the decision. In a letter to the Housing Secretary, Mr Betts wrote: There ... remain important questions about how and why planning permission was granted. The coronavirus pushed Bay Area home sales off a cliff in May. The number of existing, single-family home sales that closed last month fell 51.1% compared with the same month last year and the median price dropped 2.5%, according to a report issued Tuesday by the California Association of Realtors. Between April and May, sales fell 6.7% and the median price dropped 1.5% to $965,000, said the report, which excludes condominiums, newly built homes and homes that were not advertised on a Multiple Listing Service. May is going to be where you see the full brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, said Jordan Levine, the associations deputy chief economist. Because it generally takes 30 to 60 days for a sale to close after an offer is accepted, a lot of May sales went into contract in April, when the Bay Area was still under a strict lockdown. Since then the rules have eased a bit, the stock market has rebounded and its a little clearer which sectors of the economy are most affected. Statewide, sales fell 41% year-over-year in May, following drops of 11.5% in March and 30.1% in April. It was the first time we saw three back-to-back months of double-digit declines, Levine said. Pending sales the number of homes going into a contract is a more forward-looking indicator than sales. They rebounded 67% between April and May statewide, and by a similar percentage in the Bay Area. We saw the pit for pending sales in mid-April, Levine said. The sales rebound continued through the end of May but the last couple weeks we have seen slower growth in pending sales. Normally, sales peak in the spring and tail off in the summer but this year our summer will be more like spring and summer combined, or two springs combined, said Brian Witchel, an agent with Corcoran Global Living in Marin. Considering the drop in May sales, the 2.5% drop in prices year-over-year, which followed a 0.8% drop in April, seems fairly tame. One reason prices havent dropped more is that there are fewer fundamental problems in the housing market than there were during the financial crisis, which was fueled by shoddy mortgage underwriting. And most of the job losses this year have been in service industries, where employees are more likely to be renters than buyers in the expensive Bay Area, Levine said. On the inventory side, sellers took a much bigger step back than buyers, Levine said. So even though there are fewer buyers, they are competing for a much smaller number of homes. Sellers who did not have to move have been reluctant to put their homes on the market during the pandemic. In the Bay Area, open houses, for brokers and the public, are not allowed. One-on-one showings are allowed only if a virtual showing is not feasible, and then only by appointment with strict social distancing and health rules enforced. Before early May, agents could not even show a home unless the occupants had moved out. Now they generally can, but the occupants must be gone at the time of the showing. Even if their homes can be shown, many owners are reluctant to have strangers coming through. Finally, low mortgage rates have made buyers eager to make a deal, perhaps more than sellers. Todd Trumbull Among Bay Area counties, median prices rose the most year-over-year in Solano (8.1%) and Marin (7.1%). They fell the most in Napa (-7.2%) and San Mateo (-6.6%), according to the report. Month to month, prices rose the most in Marin (9.9%) and Sonoma (2.6%) and dropped the most in Napa (-10.3%), Alameda (-7.3%) and San Francisco (-4.2%). Anecdotally, agents in the Bay Area suburbs say theyve had a surge of interest from potential buyers coming from San Francisco, as the coronavirus has made working from home at least part time a more viable option long-term. Many are looking for larger homes with space for one or two offices, a yard and since theyre spending more time at home a pool. Every year a certain amount of people move from San Francisco to Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda. Its the natural flow, they get to their early 30s, have a child or aspirations of a child. This year we are getting this years people and next years, Compass agent Paddy Keohe said. San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities but between COVID and restaurants and bars closing down, that romantic feature is gone, he said. Now (theyre) working from home in a two-bedroom apartment and its like, Get me out of here. Nicole Allen and her husband have been looking to move from their one-bedroom apartment in San Franciscos Marina district to Berkeley, the Oakland hills or Rockridge. The biggest thing for us is how much more you can get for your money outside the city. We are looking for something with more space, a yard, flex room, something where you can raise a family and not feel completely crammed for a couple years, she said. With companies updating their work-from-home policies, we are more excited about the prospect of being outside of the city. We wouldnt necessarily have to take BART every day. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Chris Meadors, a Compass agent in Napa, said, The only phone calls we have received in the last three months are from people wanting to move from San Francisco to someplace like Napa County. He and his partner have put five deals in contract with that exact buyer at a couple different price points in the last month, he said. Second-home buyers are acting with more urgency than usual, he added. They want to know How fast can I move in? I want to use the pool the July 4 weekend. Paul ONeil, a Corcoran agent in Marin, started working with three clients wanting to move from San Francisco since before the coronavirus hit. They were on the fence for a while, all of a sudden they are active, he said. All can work from home more than they used to. As a result, some are willing to look at homes farther from the city, for example in Fairfax rather than Mill Valley. Tim Johnson, a Compass agent in San Francisco, said its a little early to say whether this is more than a seasonal trend, since summer is when families with children often move from the city to suburbs before schools reopen. He said families are also looking for bigger homes within San Francisco, with room for offices and home schooling. That tends to drive people toward larger accommodations rather than out of the city, he said. Paul Barbagelata of BarbCo Group in San Francisco has heard of people wanting a second home in the Wine Country, Tahoe, or a place where ... there is fresh air, some elbow room and they wont go crazy sheltering in place, he said. But I have not personally experienced any fallout yet from people moving out of the city entirely. By September or fall we will have a better understanding if there is a flight to the suburbs or not. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle In a report earlier this month, Compass Chief Market Analyst Patrick Carlisle noted that San Francisco was more deeply and more quickly affected by COVID-19 and shelter-in-place than other local markets. It saw larger initial drops in activity. Even with the remarkable rebound of buyer demand in May, its recovery is, so far, lagging other counties on a year-over-year basis. In a chart, he plotted the number of homes going into contract last month compared with May 2019. Among Bay Area counties, the highest was Sonoma at 100%, which means Sonomas activity was about the same as last year. The next highest were Solano (98%) and Marin (88%). The lowest were San Francisco (62%) and Alameda (68%). But, he added, one cannot come to conclusions in the middle of a crisis. In 1989, right after the earthquake, there was talk about turning the entire Marina district into a park. After 9/11, it was said in New York City that no one would want to live in condo penthouses anymore. Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender The director of music at the Nigerian Police Training College, Ikeja, Lagos, Favour Chinonyerem, has been accused of extorting some 183 students of the college to the tune of N8.23 million. PREMIUM TIMES learned that the director demanded various spurious charges from the students of the 2018/2019 academic session, who were reportedly forced to pay as much as N45,000 each without the knowledge of the police management. They also received no form of evidence for the payment. The students also told PREMIUM TIMES that the director has refused them becoming graduates allegedly due to their failure to pay another round of N5,000 each for the repair of damaged property at the college. Further investigations have also revealed that the director had been enmeshed in similar allegations in the past, which reportedly led to her punishment by the management of the Nigerian Police Force. But, rather than denying the allegations, the director has told PREMIUM TIMES that the students only paid for materials given to them by the college. The police management has also confirmed that she is currently being investigated over the allegations. Findings Upon their successful employment by the Nigerian police force, these set of music students underwent a four-month mandatory training in general duties alongside other colleagues in various police training schools across the states of the federation. The 185 officers, who opted for music, resumed to the music school in Lagos on October 15, 2018, for a year-long professional training. Some of the affected students, who spoke to our reporter in confidence for fear of being sanctioned, narrated their ordeals since 2018. According to them, they were surprised that the school director ordered their uniforms allocated to them at their various academies be seized. She said they could do with their vests and shorts until they pay N20,000 each for a new set of uniforms and course materials. The director asked them to pay cash to one of her aides, Benson Stephen. Mr. Stephen was popularly known among the students as General Number 1 with NPF number: 515966. The N20,000 is said to cover N5,000 for a new set of vests; N5,000 for course materials, and N10,000 for the director as their support token. Some of us trained in police college Maiduguri, some in police training school Bauchi, and some in Benue, kwara, Lagos, among others, and none of us was told of anything about any money to be paid at the college, one of the affected students told PREMIUM TIMES, adding that; There was no receipt and it is not stated anywhere in all the official documents we obtained. According to the students, the sum of N3.7 million was paid to Mr Stephen between December 2018 and February 2019. Stephen bolted Shortly after all the 185 students paid to the officer, the director informed the students that Mr Stephen had bolted with the entire cash, and so requested them to make fresh payments of N15,000 each to her secretary, Jordan Murte, an assistant superintendent of Police. We were initially told that the officer was dismissed, but when we questioned further, we were then told he just ran away, another student said. As soon another N2. 7 million was paid to Mr Murte, the director ordered that their seized uniforms be released, and gave them new sets of vests and some course materials. Some of the colleges graduates who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on condition of anonymity said prior to the emergence of Mrs Chinonyerem as the director, course materials were usually provided free of charge. A police officer at the counter terrorist unit said the director had once been queried over similar corruption allegations. The officer said; She had demanded money from recruits in 2008 and the money was paid but one of them wrote a petition against her which led to her suspension. But later, she was brought back. Another police officer, who also pleaded anonymity, confirmed the corruption allegation against the director. According to the officer, their set was part of the trainees in 2008 when she was busted. But while the students were still grumbling over what they described as extortion, the director was said to have advised the students to contribute additional N10,000 each, if they would like to conclude their programme on schedule. Advertisements According to our sources, another N1.83 million was contributed by the officers and paid to the director. We were asked to pay N10,000 so that we could be prepared for passing out in December, 2019. Because we were eager to leave the school, we paid as requested, another student said. READ ALSO: But some of the students who were not comfortable with the payment were said to have reported the matter to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, which PREMIUM TIMES learnt had commenced investigation into the allegation. However, in spite of the payment, and having spent almost two years at the college, the officers are yet to graduate, even as a new set of students have since resumed. We are aware that when the authorities interrogated her over the allegations, she said we are yet to fully understand the instruments and we would need to stay for 18 months instead of 12. A new set of students have resumed but they have not started training for more than a month now because we are still in the hostel, the source said. Meanwhile, the director has further requested that the students pay additional N5,000 each for the replacement of facilities including chairs that may have been damaged during their stay. The source added; She said we must buy all the chairs before we are passed out and that failure to pay could keep us in the school for as long as she wishes. The director reacts When asked for response to the allegations, the director said the money received from the students was for their materials needed for the course. They were given materials, just like they gave materials to them at every other place where they were trained for the general studies before they were posted to me. They were posted here for professional training. She confirmed that the initial N3.7 million was paid to Mr Stephen, and said since the payment was made, the officers whereabouts has remained unknown. The director said efforts were made to trace the officer but that he was yet to be found till date. We have done everything that we can do, I have even told their trainers to use them too because he has friends among them, but they couldnt find him. Is it in my place to go looking for a criminal? The Director declined speaking further on the allegedly dismissed officer. On the prolonged course duration and claims that the officers are being held for failure to pay for damages, Mrs Chinonyerem said it was due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease in Nigeria. She said; I dont know that they have chosen to go through your office to report the matter to you. I couldnt have in my capacity kept them here. There is COVID-19 and there is no movement; they have to take their final exams and we cannot gather them together to cluster. They are accommodated and are receiving their salaries; I dont know why they are complaining. I dont know why some people are so recalcitrant and have refused to understand simple instruction. Even the headquarters know about this, she said. Mrs Chinonyerem said she has been called up by the Inspector General of Polices Office and she has given them an answer on why they are still at the school. I am the Director of Music and they are under my professional training; until I certify that they are what I want them to be, there is nobody., she cuts. For the first time we have not been paying people salaries except this set, maybe because they have so much money as salary that is why they are doing all these, she said in annoyance. Mrs Chinonyerem declined speaking on the requested N5,000 for damaged chairs. There are questions I dont have to answer you; what I need to answer you, I have answered. Whatever they have written to you, they have already reported at the headquarters and I have given them my answers, she added. But the officers have described as lame the use of coronavirus as an excuse to keep them at the college. According to them, 50 of them sleep in a room at the hostel and there is neither social distancing nor observation of any regulation against the disease at the school. If you see us in the hostel, you would think we are animals. Come and see us on parade grounds and during our morning duties. In fact, we are more at risk here than anywhere else. People go out on Sundays to mingle outside, and they still come in to mix with us here freely, one of the students said. Police spokesperson speaks When PREMIUM TIMES reporter contacted Frank Mba, the Nigerian Police Force spokesperson on the matter, he requested time to make findings. Mr Mba, who responded three days after our reporters enquiry, said he found out that some of the contributions, especially payment for shirts, was initiated by some of the officers (the students). T- Shirt is not part of the official accoutrements of the police, so police will not issue T- shirts, so people can contribute money to buy T- shirts to make their lives easier. I also made a T- shirt at my last training, we contributed to people, he said. The police spokesperson said the contribution, if necessary, should have been made amongst the officers and not compelled by any superior. Mr Mba further said that the action of the officer, who allegedly bolted with the first N3.7million contribution, was reported at a police station. When asked about the fees paid by the students for posting and other unofficial matters, Mr Mba said he could not comment, saying the matter was still being investigated. I dont want to box myself up; if I say she didnt do it and she did it, all I can say is that the matter is under investigation. McMaster Universitys Students Union (MSU) is calling for the removal of former Hamilton police chief Glenn De Caire from his senior administrative post as the schools head of parking and security services. In a meeting late Sunday night, the unions student representative assembly voted in favour of a motion that implores McMaster to seize its contract with De Caire and abolish its special constable program. The motion further calls on the university to end its working relationship with both Hamilton and Halton police services. The pleas from the universitys governing student body come amid widespread outcry in Canada and the U.S. to defund police services. More than 400 McMaster students emailed the MSU within the past month to call for the removal De Caire, and nearly 6,000 have signed a petition to fire the former police chief and dissolve the constable unit. MSU president Giancarlo Da-Re said the motion is a means of holding McMaster accountable to their June 1 public statement denouncing anti-Black racism. There is a misconception having no police, or a lack of special constables, means people will be less safe, Da-Re told The Spectator in an emailed statement. McMaster currently has both of those systems (and) yet students, especially those within our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) communities, do not feel safe rather, they feel targeted. De Caire took the head of security gig at McMaster in 2016. According to Sunshine List data, hes received a raise the past two years and currently foots a salary north of $169,400. Two months after his appointment, the MSU put forth a motion calling on the university to terminate the former police chief and end its campaign of increasing police presence on campus. It passed with 28 votes in favour and zero opposed. Many of the same concerns raised then resurface in the current motion, which takes pointed issue with incidents that occured while De Caire was the citys top cop. In 2015, De Caire came under fire for his defence of what some consider the unconstitutional and discriminatory practice of carding. That same year, De Caire seemed to endorse the idea that the Black community needs to stop blaming police for its problems. The unions calls to disband the special constable unit whose 20-odd members receive training from Hamilton police stems from repeated requests for the schools parking and security division to release demographic data regarding on-campus detainments, stops and frisks. De Caire, who heads the division, has yet to budge. It also comes in the wake of Ryerson University announcing it would axe its special constable program with Toronto police just weeks before it was slated to begin. McMasters total security budget is around $3.69 million for 2020-21. The union hopes funds saved from De Caires dismissal and the constable units disbandment can be diverted to racially diverse mental-health support groups, harm-reduction programs, food and housing security, sexual assault resources, and a reimagined safety plan for students. By reinvesting funding into campus resources with consultation from relevant community members, we can reimagine what campus safety and security looks like, Da-Re said. McMaster could not be reached for comment Monday. UPDATE, June 24: Most T.J. Maxx stores in New Jersey are now open. *** Non-essential businesses are allowed to reopen in New Jersey with 50% capacity starting Monday, June 15. Many retail stores across the state are now beginning to reopen after being temporarily closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here are details on T.J. Maxx reopening in New Jersey: When are T.J. Maxx stores reopening in New Jersey? As of June 15, T.J. Maxx remains closed in New Jersey. A company spokesperson said customers should check store locators on T.J. Maxxs website for up-to-date information on reopenings and hours. The spokesperson said the store locators are expected to be updated daily. Once stores reopen, a face covering will be required to shop. We care deeply about the health and well-being of our valued Associates and customers, and for this reason, expect all customers who shop in our stores to wear a face covering, CEO Ernie Herrman said in a statement. As associates return to our distribution centers and offices, we are also implementing new safety protocols designed to help protect their health as well. While youre waiting, you can shop at T.J. Maxx online. RELATED STORIES ABOUT RETAIL: Nordstrom reopening in N.J.: Stores, dates, hours, capacity U.S. retail sales: See how major chains have been impacted by coronavirus Under Armour face masks for athletes sell out in under an hour. Heres how to preorder one. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Nicolette Accardi can be reached at naccardi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips (TNS) The Department of Health is partnering with a Montgomery County medical staffing agency in a move state officials say will provide support to nursing homes hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.General Healthcare Resources will deploy onsite assessment teams to assist with infection control practices, provide emergency staffing for overwhelmed care centers and training on personal protective equipment, Department of Health officials said in a release to media.The company will also assist with specimen collection for COVID-19 testing.COVID-19 is a particularly challenging situation for congregate settings, particularly our long-term care facilities," Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine said. "These teams are assisting us in our response in the hardest-hit areas as we work to protect the public health and safety of Pennsylvanians."Through the agreement, the Department of Health will cover the cost to fund and deploy 41 General Healthcare Resources employees, she said.Department of Health spokesman Nate Wardle said the contract with the company could run as high as $999,999 based on services provided through Dec. 31.The price tag will be covered by federal Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act funds, he added.While coronavirus cases continue to increase at a slow rate in Cambria and Somerset counties, long-term care facilities haven't been a driver behind it, Department of Health figures show.Somerset County hasn't recorded a single care home case neither an employee or resident.One Cambria County facility in the Hastings area reported one resident case in May.Forest Hills Personal Care Home Administrator Christine Weaver said Monday her Sidman-based facility was still awaiting details on the state's partnership announcement.Like other facilities across the region, the 45-resident Forest Hills care home has been preparing for the possibility that a resident could have a positive test result by making sure both staff and their building itself are prepared for it, she said."We created an isolation room in our facility with equipment designated for that room as well as call bells, so that if something happens, we'll be ready to deal with it," Weaver said. "Fortunately, we haven't had to use it."Weaver credited the Department of Health for continuing to provide information and support to the personal care home through the pandemic.In recent months, the department has also been working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support and training to long-term care facilities.General Healthcare Resources President Laurel Magner said her company is glad to add its support.Were honored to be supporting this program and are committed to providing the state of Pennsylvania with the professional, qualified staff they need to meet this challenge within the senior community, Magner said. "If youre an experienced RN, LPN, Medical Assistant, CNA, EMT or other health-care professional interested in joining this effort, please contact us at 800-879-4471.2020 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.)Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at www.tribune-democrat.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. NEW DELHI: Calling Pakistan an epicentre of global terrorism, India on Tuesday hit out at Islamabad for unabated torture, maiming and systematic persecution of religious minorities in the country. The remark was made by V Aryan, First Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) at the 43rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. We are witnessing in Pakistan unabated torture, maiming and systematic persecution of religious minorities. Attacks on a Hindu funeral procession and a Christian church days ago in Sindh & Punjab provinces portray the horrific plight of various minorities in Pakistan, V Aryan said. Calling Pakistan ''the epicentre of global terrorism'', the MEA official said, Islamabad very irresponsibly harps on self-determination of the already democratic Jammu and Kashmir. While accusing Pakistan of abusing its UNHRC membership for propagating an illegal, immoral and inhuman territorial ambition, the MEA First Secretary said, It's unfortunate, however, not unexpected from the deep state of Pakistan which is continuing incessant abuse of its membership of this august Council for propagating an illegal, immoral & inhuman territorial ambition. Exercising its Right of Reply after Pakistan raised Kashmir issue at UNHRC, the MEA official said, "I would once again invoke the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) to ask Pakistan to abjure its territorial ambition which is grossly violative of all human rights. It very conveniently ignores that VDPA explicitly states that the principle of self-determination must not be used as a garb to promote activities detrimental to the territorial integrity and political unity of member states in violation of the UN Charter." He added that Pakistan should practice tolerance towards their minorities and good neighbourliness towards us so that the South-Asian region sees eternal peace the absence of which can mostly be attributed to Pakistani deep state. India had on Monday (June 15) came down heavily on Islamabad for raising the Kashmir issue at the United Nations. India also expressed "serious concern" over Pakistan's audacity to accuse New Delhi and others of "effecting a state-sponsored genocide." Senthil Kumar, the First Secretary of India's Permanent Mission, slammed Pakistan for misusing the UNHRC forum and said that Pakistan must introspect on human rights situations in its country before giving advice to others. Kumar asserted that crimes against humanity is a common thing in Pakistan and enforced disappearances, state violence, forced mass displacement, extrajudicial killings, army operations, torture camps, detention centres, and military camps are a regular feature in Balochistan. Referring to India's decision to abrogate Article 370 which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Kumar noted that the decision does not have any external ramifications. Kumar stressed that people of Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the decision and marched ahead despite Islamabad's "nefarious attempt" to derail peace and stability in the region. U.S. Postal Service While nationwide dog-on-postal worker attacks were down in 2019, Houston took the top spot in a list of cities with the most attacks. Houston postal workers reported 85 dog attacks in 2019, according to the United States Postal Service. Those attacks were part of 5,803 attacks nationwide, which were down annually from nearly 6,000 in 2018. City Tattersalls Club, one of the largest and oldest clubs in Sydney, has moved a step closer to its proposed $200 million mixed-use tower after selecting six finalists in the design process. The club at 194 Pitt Street in Sydney's CBD is being developed a consortium led by Singapore-based First Sponsor Group Limited and China-backed ICD Property. The future City Tattersalls Club, a $200m redevelopment. It will add to the resurgence of developments on the corner of Pitt and Markets streets, opposite a planned retail and residential project at 77 Market Street the former David Jones men's wear store being developed by Scentre Group and Cbus Property. Under the club's plans, it will add a 100-room hotel and an additional 245 apartments to the eastern end of the city. The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, said he has set up a team of medical experts to make findings on how people in different communities in his state could go about their normal lives, in spite of the presence of coronavirus (COVID-19). The Nigerian government, last month, directed its agency on drug administration and control to assess a plant-based cough mixture for its possible treatment for COVID-19. Assuming God does not allow this virus go till the end of this year, we must find a way to live with it because we cannot completely shut out human existence because of (the) virus, Mr Emmanuel said on Sunday in a live phone-in interview. The interview was broadcast on radio and television stations in the state and also on Facebook and Twitter. I have set up a small team of medical experts. We may not have such a robust research facility in Nigeria. But what I told them is that they should understudy the behavioural pattern of this virus, and lets see, the governor added. Akwa Ibom has 48 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus as of June 15, one of the lowest among the states in Nigeria. Lagos State remains the epicentre of the coronavirus in the country, with 7,319 cases so far, followed by Abuja with 1,264 cases. Kano occupies the third position on the table with 1,158 cases. Edo, with 620 cases, is fourth, while Rivers State is fifth, with 592 cases. The total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria is 16,658. Four hundred and twenty-four persons have so far died of COVID-19 in Nigeria, while 5,349 have been discharged from hospitals, according to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Mr Emmanuel said he has told the team to study how the black genes react to the COVID-19 virus, compare their findings with the results of similar researches in other parts of the world with the hope that human spirit would ultimately triumph against the pandemic. How can we live with this virus without it killing us because the most important thing here is human life? Without it killing us, we can also manage to live with it. After all, malaria kills a lot too. We have been surviving with it, Mr Emmanuel said. I have challenged them with that, I think they are doing a whole lot. The governor said he was particularly worried about the inability of the pupils and students in his state to get back to school. Akwa Ibom, like other Nigerian states, had shut down schools in the wake of the outbreak. Once we are able to come up with a local solution, I dont know what WHO would do, you see these things differ. I talked about environment-induced diagnostic survey the other time, our environment could carry something completely different from Europe and America. So, once we can localise how we can actually have a solution to see how we can open up schools, I am in a haste. And I want to believe we should be able to catch up very soon. And we are also not alone in this matter, even if we open up our schools our students would still need to write WASCE that they couldnt write before this thing (coronavirus) came up, he said. Akwa Ibom has a well-equipped tertiary hospital for the management of COVID-19 cases and has recently built a new 300-bed infectious disease and isolation centre. Medical doctors who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES said the state has been quite successful in its management of COVID-19 cases, so far. READ ALSO: Governor Emmanuel said the state COVID-19 patients who are from Akwa Ibom but resident in other states have been sending requests to the Akwa Ibom government for their possible transfer to the case management centres in the state. It (has) not been practicable, the governor said. I have a case now where I needed to move one of them from Lagos so that we could take care, he is a very prominent son of the state. But Ill need like an air-ambulance to be able to move him. Advertisements Our medical team, together with our COVID-19 team we have been thinking, what can we do for some of our people who are stranded outside the state which we know the facilities that we have, the human resources we have can actually take care of them better. The governor said the state government has made such intervention, about twice, for people from Akwa Ibom who were resident in nearby states. One thing with the psychology of a patient is that at times the conditions, bedside manners, facilities can give him hope, he said. It is 5.30pm on Wednesday and Grafton Street is beginning to wind down for the evening. Most of the shops that have reopened will close at 6pm at least an hour earlier than they did before the coronavirus pandemic upended everything and the number on the street is way down on a normal midweek at this time of day. But for anyone who ventured here at the height of lockdown when foxes seemed to be among the only signs of life a stroll down the famous shopping thoroughfare suggests some form of normality is returning, even if several stores remain boarded up. Anyone expecting significant numbers wearing masks or face coverings is in for a shock, however. Despite a Department of Health survey this week suggesting that 28pc of us are covering up when we leave home, only a tiny proportion of people seem to be wearing them. Read More From a vantage outside the shuttered Bewleys cafe, Review counts just seven out of 100 passers-by wearing masks over their nose and mouth and a further two people sporting masks around their necks something Leo Varadkar had said he was concerned about in a 2fm interview that morning. In Brown Thomas, open for the first time since mid-March, it appears that roughly one in 10 customers is wearing a mask, with perhaps a third of staff masked up. Those proportions broadly seem the same elsewhere, although staff in small retail outlets on the neighbouring South Anne and Duke Streets are more likely than not to be wearing masks. For leading immunologist Professor Luke ONeill of Trinity College Dublin, it has been disheartening to see how few of us have taken to wearing masks on public transport and in shops where social distancing can be difficult. He is reluctant to blame the public for the low take-up, however. Expand Close Frustration: Professor Luke ONeill of Trinity College Dublin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Frustration: Professor Luke ONeill of Trinity College Dublin He is frustrated with communications on masks and from the Government and the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) the body that has dictated so much of Irelands response to the Covid-19 crisis. The messaging about face masks has been completely confused, he says. One moment, theyre saying not to wear them, the next theyre wondering why more arent wearing masks. On the day that ONeill speaks to Review, he is especially annoyed. In an address to the Dails Covid-19 committee on Tuesday, Cillian De Gascun, expert virologist and a member of the board of Nphet, said the evidence of the effectiveness of home-made face masks was not fantastic. He sought to clarify those comments during a radio interview the next day, saying people should cover their nose and mouth when they cannot maintain social distancing. Its absolutely outrageous, says ONeill, who has consistently advocated mask-wearing since the virus was first detected here at the end of February. What he said [to the committee] completely demotivates people from wearing them. We dont want healthy people to be wearing medical-grade masks because we need to keep that supply for frontline health workers we want them to be properly wearing cotton face-coverings and many of the home-made ones really are effective. What De Gascun is saying is, basically, Dont wear them. Its the wrong message, he adds. ONeill cites a study from Germany this week that shows the wearing of home-made face masks while not as effective as their medical equivalents can significantly slow the transmission of Covid-19. According to the research, compulsory mask-wearing reduces the viruss daily growth rate by 40pc. A US study also published this week that concluded that the wearing of face masks in public was the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission. It is a stance shared by Dr David Nabarro, the World Health Organisations special envoy on the virus. On Thursday, speaking via video link at the Dails committee, he called for face coverings to be used in Ireland including the home-made variety, as long as they correctly cover the nose and mouth. Whats really important is how the mask is worn, not how its made, he said. Read More Nabarro also called for masks to be made mandatory on transport, shops and in public places where people tend to congregate: We need to push from saying people should do to people must do. It is the sort of clear instruction that has been lacking in Irelands response to date. On Monday, during an interview on RTEs Morning Ireland, Health Minister Simon Harris said he was a little bit concerned about the low take-up and, while acknowledging that some people were unable to wear masks because of medical conditions, for those of us who can wear one, we really should. On the same day, Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer, expressed his surprise at the low proportion of the population wearing masks. Public information campaign Yet in early April, when both the number of Covid-19 cases and the death toll were rising alarmingly, the HSEs chief clinical officer, Colm Henry, was arguing against the use of masks. At a press conference jointly hosted with Holohan, he said: They confer more risk than benefit in terms of people touching their face more and adjusting the mask and not realising the limits of protection a mask gives you. In fairness to Henry, there was a school of thought some months ago that mask-wearing was ineffective. In March, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had insisted that masks would not prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But while Covid-19 was still largely in its infancy then, far more is known about it today. By the end of April, the CDC was calling for cloth coverings to be used by all. In a statement to Review, the HSE said Henry was following best advice from Infection Protection Control Ireland at the time and added that evidence and experience in this area has expanded significantly in the past two months, with all HSE guidance and Nphet recommendations continually reviewed in light of emerging evidence. Leo Varadkar announced in the Dail on Thursday that a public information campaign would be undertaken to advise the public on the correct way to wear a mask. But the Taoiseach warned that face coverings are not a magic shield. On Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1 yesterday, Holohan said that the message on masks had not fully gotten through. Wed like to see a higher level of compliance where social distancing cant be maintained, he added. ONeill says he has sympathy for those trying to govern and issue advice during an ever-changing pandemic, especially as Covid-19 was only formally identified as recently as January, but he says it is time for clarity. He was one of dozens of medical and scientific professionals who signed an open letter this week expressing alarm at the speed that lockdown is being dismantled, especially after a super-charged second phase came into effect on Monday. Central to their argument for reducing the chances of another surge of Covid-19 cases was the mandatory wearing of masks on public transport and in environments where social distancing is difficult although the somewhat vague wording did not make that clear. With more people likely to come in contact with each other now that lockdown is being lifted quicker than anticipated, ONeill says, its more important than ever for clarity on mask-wearing. Right now, youre in the minority if you do, but if its made mandatory, I think people will happily get on board with it. For Maitiu O Tuathail, a doctor based in the Dublin suburb of Ranelagh and former head of the National Association of General Practitioners, mask-wearing is vital if Ireland is to crush the curve. Expand Close Dr Maitiu O Tuathail. Picture by Gerry Mooney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dr Maitiu O Tuathail. Picture by Gerry Mooney Im seeing older patients who are absolutely wearing them, he says, but we need to see far more people in the population doing so, and that just isnt happening at the moment. Mask-wearing has become commonplace in countries all over the world and there seems to be a resistance to doing it here and to making it mandatory its like the Government hopes it will simply happen. Theyre advising us to wear a mask right now, but its not mandatory. And it feels like its an afterthought not something thats discussed at length. But when you look abroad, at places like New York, masks have been mandatory there for months. Its frustrating that Ireland seems to be lagging behind on that regard. The wearing of masks is mandatory on public transport in Belgium. Sean Phelan, a Tipperary man who lectures at the University of Antwerp, flew back there on Sunday after more than two months of lockdown here. He was struck by the radical difference between the countries approach to masks. Ethical awareness I didnt see one employee at Dublin Airport wearing a mask, he says, although he was pleased by the fact that everyone on his Ryanair flight was wearing them, but when I arrived in Brussels, everyone working at the airport seemed to be wearing one. Everybody on my train from Brussels airport to Antwerp was also wearing a mask. Likewise, everybody on the tram from the central train station to my apartment. That gap may be closed after the operator of Dublin and Cork airports said on Thursday that all passengers will be asked to wear masks. The DAA said all staff were being strongly recommended to do the same. Phelan says it is reassuring to see people wearing a mask where social distancing is a challenge. To my mind, it communicates a basic ethical awareness of our human interdependency. By wearing a mask, I reduce the chances of getting the virus myself, but more importantly, I reduce the chances of unknowingly transmitting the virus to others, he says. I must say I found the Irish governments communication about masks a bit hopeless while I was home, so the scenes at the airport didnt surprise me. Of course, wearing a mask is not a magic shield, but any authoritative science Ive read clearly indicates that masks are helpful. Expand Close Caution: Lisa Eccles, vice-president of the Irish Hairdressers Federation, at the launch of the new guidelines. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caution: Lisa Eccles, vice-president of the Irish Hairdressers Federation, at the launch of the new guidelines. For hairdresser Lisa Eccles, masks are a fundamental part of her sectors reopening. As vice-president of the Irish Hairdressers Federation, she has been at the forefront of lobbying for salons to reopen in phase three, from June 29, rather than the original plan of July 20. Weve looked at best practice in other countries that have reopened, places like Germany, and masks are part and parcel of it, she says. We feel we can reopen safely when both hairdresser and customer are wearing them. Eccles is the owner of Zinc Hair and Beauty in Kilmainham, Dublin, and says her conversations with customers show that people are concerned about their safety. Theyre very happy for masks to be part of the experience. They know that it cant be the same as it was before, she says. She and her colleagues will have to get used to mask-wearing for eight or more hours a day and she has advised her staff to wear them whenever out. I wear them in the shops and where I know that there will be quite a few people, she says. You can get used to it very quickly. Carmel Murray has got used to it, too. The civil servant is one of a number of people Review meets on Grafton Street who are sporting cloth masks. She has the day off work and is visiting the city centre for the first time in months. Ive bought several of them, she says, of her gaily coloured mask, and Im careful to wash them when I get home. At first, it was hard to get used to and it has been difficult to wear when the weather is really good but I wouldnt dream of going to a supermarket or a clothes shop and not wear one. Not while this virus is still with us. Murray started to wear a mask at the end of March. Obviously, I wasnt out and about very much then we were all told to stay at home but whenever I had to do shopping, Id wear one. Even something as simple as nipping out for milk. If anything, more people seemed to be wearing masks then than now. I get the sense that people have let their guard down a bit. That is something that ONeill is worried about. It is great that the numbers have gone down so much and social distancing played a huge part in that, he says, but this virus has not gone away and the numbers can rise again quickly if were not careful. Already, there is cause for concern. The number of contacts identified by people diagnosed with Covid-19 has almost doubled since restrictions were eased on May 18. The median number of contacts per diagnosis has risen to close to 3.5 per person over the past fortnight, compared with two when full restrictions were in place. In one case diagnosed last week, the individual named 25 contacts, a level not seen since the early stages of contact-tracing in March. Its a sobering reality that makes mandatory mask-wearing an imperative, ONeill believes. People would get on board with it, he says, Ive no doubt about that. Its like the smoking ban people got on with it immediately and it worked. If the Government said it was obligatory under certain circumstances, Im certain that the vast majority of people would support it. About face: How other countries are turning to the mask Expand Close Covenant: Nuns wear protective masks during the Corpus Christi procession in the Polish city of Krakow on Thursday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Covenant: Nuns wear protective masks during the Corpus Christi procession in the Polish city of Krakow on Thursday Mask-wearing has become increasingly common around the world as the number of Covid-19 cases exceeded 7 million this week. In certain countries, including China, the wearing of masks has been a feature of life for more than a century - they first became commonplace there during the Manchurian plague of 1910/11. Other countries have had no history of mandatory mask use - until now - and rules enforcing the wearing of face coverings have come into effect in more than 50 countries. Intriguingly, New Zealand - which announced it had no cases of the virus this week - has never made mask-wearing mandatory, although some immunologists there have called for masks to be worn to ensure that the virus does not take hold again. On March 18, the Czech Republic was the first country in Europe to make masks compulsory in shops and public transport. In Colombia, it has been obligatory since April 4 for people to wear masks in shops, outdoor markets and banks. Austria enforced mask-wearing on April 6 as chancellor Sebastian Kurtz acknowledged that wearing them would take a significant adjustment because "masks are alien to our country". Poland's government brought in strict rules on masks in mid-April, making them mandatory both in indoor environments and public parks. On April 22, masks became part of life in Germany and anyone using public transport or shopping is obliged to wear them. Masks have been mandatory for shops, cafes and transport in France since May 10, when the country emerged from lockdown. Spain experienced perhaps the most restrictive lockdown in Europe and its mask-wearing policies are among the most stringent: since May 20, everyone above the age of six is obliged to wear masks in indoor public spaces. On May 30, Pakistan ruled that people must wear masks at mosques, bazaars and on public transport. From June 15, it will be mandatory to wear face coverings on public transport in England. Anyone who is caught breaching the rules will be fined. While Friday nights spent at jam-packed Off the Grid may be overat least for nowOff the Grid's new takeout only concept, Fort Mason Center Food Spot, comes just in time...like, before we all lose our sheltered-in-place minds. Starting Monday June 15th, the FMC Food Spot will offer eats from a rotating selection of two to three food vendors on weeknights, perfect for nearby residents looking to escape the kitchen, switch up their takeout routine, and support diverse local food creators impacted by Coronavirus closures. Pick up Korean Bobcha this Tuesday and Thursday. (Courtesy of Off the Grid) The Food Spot kicks off this week with takeout in the form of sliders from Curveball Sliders; bobcha burritos and tots from Korean Bobcha; noodles and spam musubi from Sip N' Slurp; Southern barbecue from Capelo's; tacos, burritos, and bowls from Al Pastor Papi; and cheat day worthy Philly-style cheesesteaks from Izzy's Cheesesteaks. While food trucks may be back at Fort Mason, expect some major COVID-19 era changes to ensure the safety of vendors and guests. In accordance with the San Francisco Public Health Department, masks will be required for all, staff will be wearing gloves and have hand sanitizer on hand, food service and guest areas will be wiped down with disposable disinfectant wipes every hour, and six-foot tape markings will ensure proper social distancing in line. Additionally, guests can utilize Apple Pay for contactless payment and use Off the Grid's new mobile phone application to browse menus or order ahead. Expect to see all guests, vendors, and staff in masks. (Courtesy of @offthegridsf) The opening of the Fort Mason Center Food Spot is just the beginning of Off the Grid's initiative to safely reintroduce outdoor community-centric dining experiences to Bay Area food lovers. By the end of June, Off the Grid plans to operate 20 public spaces throughout the Bay Area with a similar social distance-safe format, including the already open Serramonte market and Civic Center Truck Spot, and help rehire and restart 70% of community businesses closed as a result of COVID-19. Get excited for even more drool-worthy options on Vallejo and Front on June 22 and at 5th and Minna and El Cerrito in July. After grabbing your grub, brace the fog and head to the Marina Green's social distancing circles or Letterman Center for a makeshift picnic. Bonus points if you pick up cocktails to go with from one the Marina's endless watering holes (think frozen coladas from White Rabbit) offering takeout service. // 5pm to 8pm, Monday through Friday; Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina); see the vendor schedule on offthegrid.com. An Idaho church has vowed to remove a stained glass window of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and apologized for its 'participation in white supremacy' saying the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor have showed 'forms of hate cannot be ignored'. The Cathedral of the Rockies, one of the largest churches in Boise, Idaho, sent an open letter to its members last week announcing plans to 'immediately' remove the 'divisive and hurtful image' of Lee from the church window and replace it with an image of a person of color. In the statement, the pastors and staff said they 'repent for our participation in white supremacy' and are 'acknowledging our own sin with a stained glass window.' The church has hung a banner saying 'We repent' and pledging support for Black Lives Matter over the window, which also features US Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. The move comes as Confederate statues, flags and displays are being removed across America, amid widespread protests calling for an end to systemic racism following the death of black man George Floyd at the hands of a white cop in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. An Idaho church has vowed to remove a stained glass window of Confederate General Robert E. Lee (pictured) and apologized for its 'participation in white supremacy' saying the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor have showed 'forms of hate cannot be ignored' The Cathedral of the Rockies said the church board had voted in favor of removing the image of Lee, saying the window is 'inconsistent with our current mission' and 'is a barrier to our important work resisting evil, injustice, and oppression'. 'Symbols of white supremacy do not belong in our sacred space,' the letter read. The board said the decision was reached after the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor reminded them 'of our privilege'. 'The recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor brought long-overdue urgency to our discernment process,' the letter read. 'We are reminded of our privilege. We have waited too long.' The letter also referenced the 2015 massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina when gunman and white supremacist Dylann Roof stormed the iconic black church and shot dead the pastor and eight worshippers. 'On June 17th America will mark the five-year anniversary of the tragic massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. at the time, one of the deadliest shooting in an American place of worship,' the letter read. 'This deliberate slaying, by a white supremacist, triggered national debate on modern displays of the memorialization of the Confederacy.' The Cathedral of the Rockies (pictured), one of the largest churches in Boise, Idaho, sent an open letter to its members last week announcing plans to 'immediately' remove the 'divisive and hurtful image' of Lee In the statement, the pastors and staff said they 'repent for our participation in white supremacy' and are 'acknowledging our own sin with a stained glass window' The church acknowledged that taking down Lee's image will not solve 'racial wounds' and that the 'harder task' will be 'working for racial justice, combating intolerance, and fostering reconciliation'. Rev. Duane Anders told The Christian Post the Lee image had originally been installed back in 1960 as 'a nod to inclusion for the southerners who had moved to Boise.' The replacement image is yet to be determined. Possible contenders include Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, and Leontine T.C. Kelly - the first African-American female bishop in the United Methodist Church, said Anders. The news was welcomed by Rev. Robert W. Lee IV, a descendant of the Confederate general. Staff place a 'We Repent' banner in front of a stained glass panel depicting Lee standing with US Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington Rev. Duane Anders (pictured) said the image will be replaced with a person of color with Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, and Leontine T.C. Kelly possible contenders 'As a descendant of Confederate General Robert E. Lee I want to tell you I was heartened to see the story of your decision to re-imagine your worship space for a better Kingdom,' Lee IV wrote in a letter the church shared. 'As a person who was baptized as a baby in the United Methodist Church and attended Duke University Divinity School, I was convicted that you are following your baptismal covenant to reject evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.' Outrage over Floyd's death has reignited calls for the removal of racist and Confederate statues and symbols across America over recent weeks. Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Outrage over George Floyd's death has reignited calls for the removal of racist and Confederate statues and symbols across America over recent week Several officials and institutions have pledged to remove symbols while, in some cases, protesters have taken matters into their own hands and toppled monuments linked to the Confederacy and slavery. A statue of Thomas Jefferson outside an Oregon high school named after him was toppled by a group of protesters during a demonstration this weekend. Meanwhile, activists in Richmond, Virginia, projected the LGBTQ rainbow flag as well as images of African Americans killed by cops on to a statue of Lee on Monument Avenue. It comes after protesters on Thursday pulled down a century-old statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond, which is also the former capital of the Confederacy. Officials in several states including Virginia, Alabama and Florida have backed the removal of other Confederate statues while the US Navy and US Marine Corps have both banned Confederate flags from public places. There are still 776 Confederate monuments across the US, according to Southern Poverty Law Center. Delhi government has directed capitals premier Taj Man Singh hotel to isolate all their rooms and place them at the disposal of Sir Gangaram Hospital with immediate effect for accommodating Coved 19 patients, according to news agency ANI. The decision of the government follows efforts to hike capitals capacity to treat coronavirus patients that is expected to rise to 5.5 lakh mark by the end of July and it comes on a day when the Delhi High Court allowed Delhi government to use premises of two other premium hotels in the city as temporary Coved-19 treatment facilities. An expert committee of doctors on Monday told the high court that it was both advisable and infrastructurally feasible to use hotel Surya and hotel Crowne Plaza as extended Covid-19 treatment centres. AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria and V K Paul, Member of the Niti Aayog also submitted a report to the court on the matter. The expert panel said Hotel Suryas three huge banquet halls could easily accommodate around 50-60 patient beds and Hotel Crowne Plazas banquet hall could accommodate around 25 beds. For Coronavirus Live Updates The committees report, however, found the guest rooms unsuitable for treating patients as they were not designed to have oxygen supply, patient monitoring devices and nurse call system. The hotels had raised objections to Delhi governments order issued on May 29 and June 2 respectively to attach Surya and Crowne Plaza hotels to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital and Batra Hospital respectively. Apart from fears that it may impact their business, they had cited presence of air conditioning, lack of large lifts for stretchers and bio-waste disposal along with safety concerns for hotels work force. Also Read: Delhi govt asks Taj Man Singh hotel to provide rooms for Covid-19 patients They have also raised concerns regarding the compensation, timely payment, supply of PPE kits and staff availability. The attachment of hotels to hospitals in the city is part of a government plan to augment health infrastructure to deal with the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the city. Apart from hotels, the government is also looking to turn stadiums, banquet halls and other open public spaces as Covid-care centres to ease the pressure on citys public hospitals that currently have fewer than 10,000 designated beds for treatment of coronavirus patients. Firmware and software running on an IoT or Industrial IoT device must be code-signed for security, which often also requires time-stamping. SignServer Cloud users can centralize these key signature services in order to leverage and grow with one platform and installation for both existing and new use cases. The solution enables users to easily harmonize enterprise security policies for digital signatures, take control over signature keys, and view who signed which codes and when. With its availability in the Azure Marketplace, Microsoft customers can now take advantage of PrimeKey's powerful and centralized code-signing solution to gain control of all their code-signing workflows. "SignServer Cloud is designed for a high level of automation and supports a number of key digital signing use cases, including code, time-stamping documents and travel documents," said Alex Gregory, Senior Director of Cloud and Managed PKI Products and Services at PrimeKey. "Today's information security professionals and engineers must be able to update software remotely over the air and quickly license file signing. This requires digitally signed software or files to prevent unauthorized changes. We can now deliver these capabilities to Microsoft Azure customers on a subscription basis." Sajan Parihar, Senior Director, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. said, "We're pleased to welcome PrimeKey to the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, which gives our partners great exposure to cloud customers around the globe. Azure Marketplace offers world-class quality experiences from global trusted partners with solutions tested to work seamlessly with Azure." The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use. SignServer Cloud is a fully customizable instance that can be tailored to the environment and growth of an organization's service. PrimeKey provides users with all of the relevant documentation to set up their instance of SignServer Cloud on Azure, making for easy implementation in just a few clicks. For more information about PrimeKey and its other PKI offerings, visit www.PrimeKey.com . If you would like to learn more about the code signing capabilities of PrimeKey SignServer running on Azure integrated with Jenkins in a CI/CD pipeline, sign up for our upcoming webinar. On June 23, we will demonstrate an integration between PrimeKey SignServer and Jenkins for automated code signing in a CI/CD pipeline. The solution will be running on Azure and code signing keys will be securely stored in Azure Key Vault. The webinar will include several hands-on demonstrations. Sign up here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7563799280071451916 About PrimeKey PrimeKey is one of the world's leading companies for PKI solutions. PrimeKey has developed successful solutions, such as EJBCA Enterprise, SignServer Enterprise, PKI Appliance and PrimeKey SEE. PrimeKey is a pioneer in open source security software that provides businesses and organizations around the world with the ability to implement security solutions such as e-ID, e-passports, authentication, digital signatures, unified digital identities and validation. Our products are Common Criteria and FIPS-certified. We have numerous Webtrust/ETSI and eIDAS audited installations, and our internal processes are ISO 9001, 14001, and 27001-certified. PrimeKey has offices in Stockholm, Sweden; Aachen, Germany; San Mateo, USA; and Melbourne, Australia. Together with our global network of technology and reselling partners, we are proud to count many of the industry-leading companies and institutions within IT, telecom, banking, medical device manufacturing, industrial, public CAs, and different branches of government as our longtime customers. For media inquiries, please contact: Lindsey Oredsson Marketing & Communications Coordinator PrimeKey +46(70) 835-8118 [email protected] SOURCE PrimeKey Related Links https://www.primekey.com Rendering of the New Jersey Wind Port, a 200-acre planned project to facilitate the offshore wind industry that would be located on the Delaware River in Salem County. Read more New Jersey plans to build a 200-acre wind port that could cost $300 million to $400 million and would be located in Salem County next to the Hope Creek nuclear plant, with the goal of aiding the states fledgling offshore wind industry, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday. Murphy said the New Jersey Wind Port, which he calls a first-in-the-nation infrastructure investment, will provide staging, assembly, and manufacturing activities related to offshore wind projects along the East Coast, not just New Jersey. The governor said the project has the potential to create as many as 1,500 jobs, as well as hundreds of construction jobs in the state. The facility would complement the states current plan to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050, in part, through 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035. Offshore wind installations need new port facilities to meet their unique needs, state officials said. New Jersey has already picked rsted Ocean Wind to build the first offshore wind project, a 1,100-megawatt installation 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City. Tuesdays announcement will revolutionize the offshore wind industry here in New Jersey and along the entire East Coast, Murphy said. "Building our offshore wind industry will create thousands of jobs, invite new investments into our state, and put us on a path to reaching our goal of 3,500 megawatts of offshore wind by 2030. In addition, officials said the project will help economic growth not only in Salem County, but also throughout South Jersey. Union labor will be used to build the port, and the project will set a new standard for inclusion of minority and women workers and business owners, according to a statement from Murphys office. Construction is expected to begin in 2021 and last years. The project has two phases of construction. Phase one will be to develop 55 acres, which will include a 25-acre area for manufacturing wind power components. Phase 2 will develop 150 acres to expand the operation and include facilities that can handle massive turbines. Wind turbine components, for example, can run 500 feet tall. When fully built-out on the ocean, they can run 850 feet tall. So ports are needed with wharfs that can accommodate up to 800 tons. Most existing port infrastructure along the East Coast is unable to accommodate this work, according to the statement. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) is leading development and is considering public, private, and public-private partnership financing options. The New Jersey Wind Port will be an incredible project that benefits the entire state, but it will be particularly important for South Jersey, Senate President Steve Sweeney said in a statement. The New Jersey Wind Port will be in Lower Alloways Creek Township, on an artificial island on the Delaware River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The land is owned by PSE&G and is next to the utility companys Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station. This is a big win for clean offshore wind and New Jersey," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. And Jane Asselta, vice president of the Southern New Jersey Development Council, representing more than 300 businesses and organizations, said her group overwhelming supports the project. We applaud Gov. Murphy and his N.J. EDA team on the announcement to base New Jerseys Offshore Wind Farm Manufacturing in Salem County, cementing South Jerseys future in offshore wind manufacturing and the supply chain and workforce development that supports it, Asselta said. She said the port will also attract developers, and manufacturers that will want to be located nearby, poising South Jersey to become an epicenter for offshore wind capital investment." US President Donald Trump has said that he will sign an executive order on police reform on Tuesday. "We will be signing it tomorrow. And we will have a news conference at some point in the day," Trump said on Monday. "The overall goal is we want law and order and we want it done fairly, justly and we want it done safely... I think we are going to do a good job tomorrow." The US President said last Thursday that his administration was finalising an executive order that would encourage police departments to meet "professional standards" for the use of ... Bengaluru, June 16 : Karnataka government will establish Covid Care Centres to monitor and treat asymptomatic cases, said a minister on Tuesday. "As the number of cases is increasing since the last two weeks, Covid Care Centres will be established to monitor and treat infected persons who are asymptomatic," said Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar. He said an expert committee has been formed to advice on the type of treatment and care needed for Covid cases in different stages. "BBMP commissioner has been directed to ensure that 20,000 beds are available in Covid Care Centres in Bengaluru city...This will reduce the burden on hospitals and ensure that beds are available for those who need it," said Sudhakar. On Tuesday, the minister deliberated with senior officials and experts on the best practices and the effective steps taken by other states. He called upon the private hospitals to proactively participate in the fight against the virus and warned them of strict action in case they refuse to treat Covid patients, despite possessing the capability. "Detailed guidelines will soon be released regarding the number of beds, ICU (facilities) and ventilators to be reserved for treatment of Covid cases," he added. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dedications to slave trader Edward Colston have been removed or covered up from Bristol Cathedral and another prominent church in the city. Work was carried out yesterday to cover up parts of the cathedral's large Colston Window, dedicated to the 17th century merchant, that will later be removed. Panes from a window at St Mary Redcliffe Church were also taken out yesterday, with other references to Colston also covered up at the sites. The Diocese of Bristol described the toppling of the Colston statue during a Black Lives Matter (BLM) march on June 7 as a 'symbolic moment' and 'signal for change'. Since the removal of the statue, music venue Colston Hall and high-rise building Colston Tower have both removed lettering from their facades. Both Colston's Girls' School and the separate Colston's School are considering a name change, with the support of the influential Society of Merchant Venturers. It comes amid a national debate on racism in the UK, prompted by BLM demonstrations triggered by the death of George Floyd in the US last month. Work was carried out yesterday to cover up parts of the cathedral's large Colston Window, dedicated to the 17th century merchant, that will later be removed The Diocese of Bristol described the toppling of the Colston statue during a Black Lives Matter (BLM) march on June 7 as a 'symbolic moment' and 'signal for change' The diocese said: 'The dedications to Colston, in two significant places of worship, has prevented many people from finding peace in these beautiful buildings. 'Most of these dedications have now gone and the rest will follow. The removal or covering of window panes is also a symbolic moment. 'It doesn't change history and it doesn't change the fact that black people in Bristol, Britain and the world still face discrimination, injustice and racism. 'We must not let it distract us from the work that needs to be done.' The diocese said it hoped that removing or covering up references to Colston demonstrated its 'renewed sense of urgency to address these issues'. Discussions and work around the slave trade, racism and justice will continue at the Cathedral, St Mary Redcliffe Church and the Church of England in Bristol, it said. Panes from a window at St Mary Redcliffe Church (right) were also taken out yesterday, with other references to Colston also covered up at the sites (left, Bristol Cathedral) The Colston statue, which had been in place since 1895, has been a subject of controversy in recent years - due to Colston's links to the slave trade in the 17th century 'We will complete an inventory of all our churches to identify and understand references to slavery,' the diocese added. 'We will engage with black Christians, theologians, historians and all members of the community as we listen, learn and explore these important issues and agree the right course of action. 'The removal of historical items is a complex subject that evokes strong feeling. 'We want to work with others to address the true cost of our history, heal our divisions and build a unified city of hope that values and cares for everyone.' The diocese will take part in a commission due to consider Bristol's past. Previously, senior church leaders at Bristol Cathedral said they 'need to look closely and urgently' at the future of the Colston stained glass window. A spokesman for the Cathedral said: 'We at Bristol Cathedral have been closely watching events in the USA and UK over the past weeks, and recognise the importance of the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement. 'We reject all forms of racism, injustice and inequality and we are determined to work tirelessly with others in the city to tackle these issues. We acknowledge that not enough progress has been made in recent years.' 'We know we need to look closely and as a matter of urgency at our own heritage and history, including the Cathedral's north window which currently features a dedication to Edward Colston,' the spokesman added. A 'hit list' of 78 statues and memorials to some of Britain's most famous figures has been created by an anti-racism group urging local communities to remove them The next in line? BLM supporters have pinpointed a list of their next targets, but the most widely shared are (top left to bottom right) 1) Lord Nelson - tried to stop abolition (Nelson's column) 2) Sir Thomas Picton 3) Thomas Guy - London, Guy's Hospital 4) Sir Robert Peel 5) Sir Francis Drake 6) William Beckford 7) Henry Dundas 8) Clive of India 9) John Cass 10) General Sir Redvers Buller 11) Lord Kitchener 12) Ronald Fisher 13) Lord Grey - Grey's Monument - Newcastle Upon Tyne, Grainger Street 14) Oliver Cromwell - Statue - London, Houses of Parliament 15) Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde - Statue - Glasgow, George Square 16) William Ewart Gladstone 17) William Leverhulme - Statue - Wirral, outside Lady Lever Art Gallery 18) William Armstrong - Memorial - Newcastle Upon Tyne, Eldon Place 19) King James II - Statue - London, Trafalgar Square 20) General James George Smith Neill, Wellington Square, Ayr Anti-racism protestors used ropes to pull the Colston statue, which was erected in 1895, from its plinth in Bristol city centre on June 7. It was then dragged to the harbourside, where it was thrown into the water at Pero's Bridge - named in honour of enslaved man Pero Jones who lived and died in the city. Bristol City Council retrieved the statue, which will be displayed in a museum along with placards from the Black Lives Matter protest, from the water last week. Music venue Colston Hall and high-rise building Colston Tower have both removed lettering from their facades, while Colston's Girls' School and Colston's School are considering a name change, supported by the Society of Merchant Venturers. According to the website 'Topple The Racists', set up after the Bristol march by a group separate from BLM, both schools 'were set up using (Colston's funds'. Boris Johnson spoke out against what he described as the 'racist thuggery' seen during demonstrations on Saturday after facing criticism for his response to the unrest this week The choice of Munira Mirza, the head of the Prime minister's policy unit and a former deputy mayor from his time in charge of London, sparked uproar from campaigners and Labour MPs 'The girls' school was opened in 1891, 170 years after Colston's death, and was funded through a financial endowment from the slave trader', it states. Caroline Duckworth, Treasurer of the Society of Merchant Venturers, said in a statement to MailOnline: 'Following the Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol on 7th June, the energy for change across our city continues to grow. 'The statue of Edward Colston was removed from Bristol's city centre (on June 7) and the fact that it has gone is right for Bristol. 'To build a city where racism and inequality no longer exist, we must start by acknowledging Bristol's dark past and removing statues, portraits and names that memorialise a man who benefitted from trading in human lives. It was inappropriate for the Society of Merchant Venturers to get involved in the rewording of the Colston statue plaque in 2018 and we have listened to the constructive comments put to us over this past week. As we look forward, we are examining our own role within the city, how we collaborate with others and accelerate our part in ensuring that Bristol overcomes inequality and disadvantage wherever it exists. Police in Trafalgar Square on Saturday amid both BLM and pro-statue protests in London 'As the co-sponsor of Colston's Girls' School, we are fully supportive of their plans to conduct a transparent consultation to consider renaming the school. We welcome a new name that accurately reflects the school's vision and values. We also support Colston's School as they too enter a process of discussion about the school's name. 'It is inexcusable that racism and inequality still exist today. We share a determination for Bristol to become an inclusive, sustainable and successful city where the place of your birth or the colour of your skin is not an obstacle.' Boris Johnson vowed his new Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities would look at 'all aspects of inequality - in employment, in health outcomes, in academic and all other walks of life' following two weeks of demonstrations. The move comes after the killing of George Floyd in the US, who died in Minnesota as a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. But Mr Johnson's choice of Munira Mirza, director of the No10 Policy Unit, to head the commission has led to claims he is committed to waging a 'war on woke'. Labour's David Lammy said the PM was not 'serious' about change, slamming him for accusing black people of 'playing the victim' and fuelling a 'culture war'. JCPenney will reopen eight stores in Pennsylvania on Wednesday including two stores in the midstate. The retailer will reopen its stores at High Pointe Commons at 4680 High Pointe Blvd. in Swatara Township and at the Park City Center in Lancaster. The retailer is also reopening stores in the Whitehall, Stroudsburg, Scranton, Wilkes Barre, Langhorne and North Wales areas. The stores will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The JCPenney store at the Capital City Mall in Lower Allen Township reopened on June 3. The reopenings come the same month as the Texas-based retailer files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an effort to restructure its debts. JCPenney will permanently close 242 of its 846 stores to reduce costs. The company said 192 locations are expected to close by February and 50 more would close in its 2022 fiscal year. No word yet on which stores will permanently close. All of the JCPenney stores closed back in March when Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all non-essential businesses to close. The JCPenney store in Swatara Township was was permitted to reopen on May 29 when Dauphin County moved into the states yellow phase while the store at the Park City Center was permitted to reopen on June 5 when Lancaster County moved into the yellow phase. The Park City Center is not permitted to reopen until Lancaster County moves into the green phase. Although stores with outside entrances like JCPenney were permitted to reopen in the yellow phase. JCPenney has implemented the following due to COVID-19: Contact-free curbside pickup Diligent nightly cleaning of stores and throughout the day, paying attention to high-touch areas Social distancing procedures in place, with reminders throughout the store Contactless checkout Face masks provided to each associate Hand sanitizer available Plexiglass shields at open registers Associate training on safety practices --Business Buzz --Sign up for PennLives newsletters Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like PennLives business page on Facebook at @PennLiveBusiness The struggle for Survival of indigenous peoples in the Amazon rain forest is coming to a head. One reason is the spread of the Covid-19-disease in their villages, the other is to be the in this Situation more and more threatening proximity to illegal gold-diggers who take by the shut-down of the Brazilian government to keep the territories of the Indigenous, apparently, increasingly uninhibited and came at the same time, a source of infection of the forest dwellers. Joachim Muller-Jung editor in the features section, responsible for the area of "nature and science". F. A. Z. Twitter The Yanomami and Ye'kwana have started a campaign #MinersOutCovidOut , with the help of the Brazilian government is "vehemently demand", the estimated deporting 20.000 illegal gold miners. In the Amazon live well 420 different indigenous peoples who speak at least 86 languages and 650 dialects. Three million people are that make up an estimated nine percent of the population in the South American Region, and in the past year, for the first time at a climate change summit as a decisive factor for the protection of the rain forest were recognized. 60 tribes life isolated in the woods, but the Covid-19 you are protected in any way. "Xawara" is the word of the Yanomami for imported diseases. The next to you living Yekwana, with its 27000 people are distributed over one of the largest indigenous conservation areas in Brazil, which extends from Roraima to the Amazon States and the border with Venezuela spans. The entire Region is threatened by deforestation and, increasingly, illegal gold diggers, the introduction of the Sars-CoV-2 in the forests. 40 percent of the Yanomami communities are threatened by adjacent gold diggers directly. Overall, the Indigenous peoples of Brazil (APIB) have died, according to the coalition of 260 Indigenous to Covid-19. The mortality rate is twice as high as that of the rest of the population of Brazil. The disease has killed four Yanomami, in addition there are a further 95 cases confirmed in the case of the Yanomami and Yekwana. With the a few days ago launched a campaign #MinersOutCovidOut want to urge the two indigenous peoples, the Brazilian government, the illegal gold miners to be shown. "We will fight and resist. But we need the support of the Brazilian people and the people all over the world, said Dario, son of Davi Kopenawa, one of the most famous shamans in the Amazon area. In most of the municipalities of Amazonia, there is no lung ventilation devices. The average distance between indigenous villages and the nearest intensive care unit (ICU) in Brazil is 315 kilometers. And for 10 percent of the villages, this distance is seven hundred to a thousand kilometers. The Yanomami would almost have to three-hour flight to Boa Vista travel, if you are in need of an intensive care unit with a ventilator. There are no country - or flow connections between the village and the capital of Roraima. The health items that provide the Yanomami, in Brazil, at the worst, since they have the least availability of beds and ventilators. In the present case, in the miner to penetrate into their territory, cut the health post at the worst. Updated Date: 16 June 2020, 19:19 Resilience Babies underscore the importance of Improving access to drug treatment services for female drug users Photo: UNODC Nigeria, 16 June 2020 - Babies June, Simon, Lila and Arthur, collectively known as the Resilience Babies were all born to female clients of the Milestones Rehabilitation Foundation (MRF) Drop-in-Centre in Barnawa, Kaduna. At the time of their conception, their mothers had been involved in drugs and substance use. They all received support at the Centre to stop their drug use and this enabled them to give birth to healthy thriving babies. Arthurs mother describes her decision to attend the Support Group meetings at the Milestones DIC as Honestly, that is one of the best decisions I made! Ms Jennifer a client of the Centre for Right to Health (CRH) Womens Centre in the Mabushi Abuja suburb, described herself as a former Female Sex Worker and a poly drug user, who also used to inject. She confirms that her life has changed as a result of the intervention of the centre. She has three children all of whom receive free medical and social services from the centre. She used to have health challenges as a result of her drug use but has seen a lot of improvement in her health. She also knows that some of her friends received services at the DIC, and their lives have all changed positively. She now owns a shop where she sells food and drinks in the community. Ms. Bilkisu another client at the CRH Centre found out about the services at the DIC through an outreach programme organised by the centre. According to her, meeting the nurse changed my life. She was a poly drug user and has three kids. She is now one of the outreach workers at the centre. With World Drug Day coming up on 26 June, it is an opportunity to recall that these are just a few of the personal experiences from the beneficiaries of the community-based drug treatment services in Drop-in-Centres (DICSs) which were supported by the European Union-funded and UNODC-implemented Response to Drugs and Related Organised crime in Nigeria Project (also referred to as the Nigeria Drugs Project) to provide free drug treatment services to female drug users. In 2018, the Drugs Project sub-contracted three civil society organisations (CSOs) to establish community-based drug treatment services in Drop-in-Centres (DICs) providing free drug treatment services to female drug users. The rationale for establishing female only DICs was drawn from data from the five general population DICs which the Project had supported from 2016 and the National Drug Use Survey 2018 which indicated that one in four drug users in Nigeria is female yet only one in twenty drug users accessing treatment was a woman or girl. The report indicated that female drug users were not readily accessing these DIC facilities even when they were free and at no cost. The reasons were primarily related to stigmatisation within the drug user communities, cultural limitations and, most significantly, that services for female drug users were not specifically tailored to address more holistically the challenges faced by female drug users. These include reproductive and sexual health issues and making these centres child friendly so that these women could access the services with their children. These DICs run by the Centre for Right to Health (CRH), YouthRISE and Milestones Rehabilitation Foundation (MRF) were located in Mabushi Abuja, Nyanya Abuja and Barnawa, Kaduna, respectively. They are typically located in the heart of the underserved indigent communities, making it more accessible to those who most need to access the services being provided. In addition to providing drug treatment services, the DICs also provided reproductive health and general outpatient medical services free of charge, to the clients and their children. A significant number of the female clients of these centres are female sex workers. They also provided referral services to other CSOs and public health centres such as for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B & C treatment services for clients who required them, antenatal and postnatal support such as delivery kits, diapers, food and skills acquisition training to their clients. In some cases, they also had to provide legal services to some of their clients who encountered problems with the criminal justice system. Cumulatively, these 3 female DICs serviced a total of 1,783 clients. Their cumulative target was for them to provide services to 600 female drug users (200 each). The Kaduna centre alone accounts for a lions share of 1,394 clients. The Project has been critical in enabling these DICs in significantly enhancing their capacity to provide treatment and counselling services to drug users in need and have been able to sustain these services even beyond the support rendered under the project. Having said that, with more than 3 million people living with some form of a drug use disorder in Nigeria the actual need by far outweighs the capacity of both public as well as private drug treatment and counselling service providers. More investments in this sector are urgently needed to respond to and prevent the further spread of the drug use epidemic in Nigeria. Further information UNODC Country Office Nigeria Mike Kimmel with the 17 foot long snake: (Martin County Trapping & Wildlife Rescue - Facebook) A 17ft long python was caught in the Everglades, after a tussle with a man who calls himself the Python Cowboy. Mike Kimmel, who runs the Python Cowboy YouTube page, posted a video to his channel on Friday, that documented his journey to catch the snake. Mr Kimmel went to an island in the Everglades, in order to find a Burmese python, and not long after spotting a small black snake, saw what he was looking for. My heart started pounding, he told CNN. Ive caught big ones before, but this one looked extra large. During the 15 minute long video, Mr Kimmel, who also owns Martin County Trapping & Wildlife Rescue, managed to catch the snake, but was badly bitten by the python. Despite bleeding profusely, Mr Kimmel managed to drag the python back to his boat, where he euthanised it. He tied cloth around his bleeding arm and reported the death to the Python Action Team in Florida. Pythons are not indigenous to the Florida Everglades, and were first reported in the area, in the 1980s, most likely because of abandonment from pet owners, according to the outlet. There are estimated to be over 100,000 Pythons in the Everglades, that kill indigenous racoons, otters and occasionally alligators. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: The Burmese python is a large nonvenomous constrictor that is an invasive species in Florida. Burmese pythons are found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida where the snake represents a threat to native wildlife. Floridas Python Action Team pay people to remove the species from the Everglades, but Mr Kimmel will also be selling the skin online. I was proud that I came out on top and I knew that I was going to get a good paycheck out of it, Mr Kimmel told the outlet. But most of all, a snake that size can really get to anything, so I was thrilled to get this dangerous predator out of the ecosystem. Read more Is the way pythons control their own genes the future of medicine? Newsfrom Japan Tokyo, June 16 (Jiji Press)--A total of 1,254 hotels and other accommodation facilities in Japan are considering giving shelter to local residents if a major natural disaster occurs amid the COVID-19 epidemic, the government revealed on Tuesday. The move comes in response to the governments call on the Japan Hotel Association and others for cooperation to secure more places for disaster evacuation, in order to prevent close contact among evacuees. We need to increase the number of evacuation shelters, disaster management minister Ryota Takeda told a press conference on Tuesday. In the event of a major natural disaster amid the epidemic, municipal governments will reserve rooms at hotels and other facilities for evacuees, with room charges to be covered by the central government, according to the Cabinet Office. The rooms would be assigned to those in need of assistance, including elderly and disabled people, as well as pregnant women, on a priority basis. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 16:50:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Israel on Tuesday morning for a two-day visit over economic ties between the two countries and the Israeli planned annexation of the West Bank lands. It is the first time that a foreign prime minister visits Israel since the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown in March. Mitsotakis is leading a delegation of senior officials, including six ministers and deputy ministers, and will hold government-to-government talks over the renewal of Israeli tourism to Greece, energy, and bilateral cooperation, according to Israeli officials. The Greek prime minister is scheduled to hold two meetings with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the Israeli prime minister's office. The Hebrew-language Ha'aretz newspaper reported that Netanyahu is expected to ask Mitsotakis to soften the EU's reaction to his plan to annex the Jordan Valley, a portion of the West Bank that Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war. Netanyahu's controversial plan was condemned by the Palestinians, most of the Arab world, and Israel's European allies. Enditem MIAMI - Pablo Escobars crime partner and one of Colombias pioneering cocaine cowboys has been released after a long prison sentence in the U.S. and been deported to Germany, his lawyer said Tuesday. Carlos Lehder left on a flight for his new home in Berlin on Monday after being released from a U.S. prison in Florida, where he had been held as part of the governments witness protection program, attorney Oscar Arroyave told The Associated Press. Lehder, 70, was one of the leaders with Escobar of the Medellin cartel that dominated the global cocaine trade in the 1980s. At the same time an admirer of both John Lennon and Adolf Hitler, Lehder is portrayed in the Netflix series Narcos as a wild, womanizing criminal who set up a transit point for cocaine-laden aircraft on a private island, Normans Cay, a few hundred miles off the coast of Florida in the Bahamas. His extradition to the U.S. in 1987 kicked off a period of intense U.S. targeting of Colombian narcos, who at the nadir of the bloody cartel turf wars managed to bribe and threaten their way out of prosecution in the South American country. Escobar, his partner turned rival, never saw a U.S. jail cell, dying in a shootout with police in Medellin in 1993. But thousands of Colombian drug traffickers have since gone to U.S. prisons, many of them serving far less time than Lehder. Arroyave, who didnt represent Lehder at the time of his arrest, said federal sentencing guidelines make it very costly for defendants who fight charges and lose in a jury trial. Nobody accused of drug trafficking goes to trial in the U.S. anymore, said Arroyave, who said he plans to travel soon to Berlin to share a celebratory beer with his client after such a long ordeal. Had he pled guilty, he wouldve been home 15 years ago. In todays world, there are drug traffickers far bigger that Carlos Lehder who pay five to six years. Lehder was originally sentenced to 135 years plus life, but after agreeing to testify against former Panamanian strongman Gen. Manuel Noriega, he had his sentence reduced to 55 years. Lehder acquired German citizenship through his father, an immigrant to Colombia. Arroyave said Lehder has no interest in returning to Colombia and German authorities provided assistance in allowing him to resettle in his adopted homeland. He was always crazy but he was also very smart, said Richard Gregorie, a former U.S attorney in Miami who indicted Noriega and several other Colombian drug traffickers close to Lehder. Hes old but I wonder much craziness he still has left. ___ Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APjoshgoodman The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced 160 as the cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2020/2021 academic session. The board said the cut off mark for Polytechnic is 120 while that of Colleges of Education and other innovative institutions stands at 100. Speaking at the 2020 policy meeting on admissions to tertiary institutions on Tuesday, the Registrar of JAMB, Ishaq Oloyede, said 612, 557 candidates were offered admission in 2019 out of the 1.8m that wrote the examination. He said about 510,957 admission spaces were unused by tertiary institutions in 2019. He said candidates waiting for their results will only be considered when they are uploaded on its website. In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu directed JAMB and tertiary institutions to proceed with the conduct of 2020/2021 admissions. He said admission processes are expected to commence in August based on the guidelines released by JAMB. The minister who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, appealed to JAMB and tertiary institutions to consider candidates with previous years Senior School Certificate Examination and other qualifying results for the admission process. This is against the backdrop of the senior secondary school examination calendar by the Covid-19 health crisis. He said the government will make an arrangement to accommodate applicants who will be taking the examination when the opportunity to do so is worked out. As major stakeholders, we must jointly come up with reactions that would realign our programmes to these new realities. While these reactions are being fine-tuned to check their capacities and capabilities to withstand the new reality, he said. According to him, JAMB and the tertiary institutions could take advantage of the current situation and consider candidates with previous years Senior School Certificate Examination and other qualifying results, to proceed on with the admission process. Whatever arrangement that the country comes up in the long run, will surely accommodate those who will be taking the examination when the opportunity to do so is worked out. NEW YORK Hundreds of protesters marched up Manhattans Fifth Avenue last week, their signs and chants demanding police reform captured from within their ranks by dozens of camera phones. This revolution wont be televised! shouted one protester. Its going to be streamed! Citizen footage has played a role in previous protest movements: Rodney Kings violent arrest in Los Angeles in 1991 was filmed by a man on his nearby balcony with a camcorder, and images posted to social media were crucial to the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street. But the Black Lives Matter movement has been different. Bystander video sparked it, with cellphone-bearing citizens capturing the killings of Eric Garner, Alton Sterling, George Floyd and others. While those high-profile clips showed the extremes of police brutality, the ubiquity of smart phones during nationwide protests in recent weeks has provided a window into protesters interactions with officers unimaginable to past generations of Americans. Some of the weeks most jarring videos have been shot by traditional news media, like two Buffalo police officers shoving peace activist Martin Gugino. Many non-TV journalists have used the camera apps on their smart phones, too. But for every encounter captured by reporters, dozens more have been uploaded to social media by protesters and onlookers themselves. Among the most notable: a Philadelphia police officer striking a Temple University student in the head and neck with a metal baton, and a New York City officer shoving a woman to the ground and cursing at her. Both officers are facing charges only after recordings filmed by citizens went viral. Camera phones are allowing protesters to tell their own stories, whether it be through photos or videos on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or via livestreaming apps like Periscope. Every demonstration in the world is being documented, from New York and London all the way to Holland, Arkansas population roughly 550. Documentary filmmakers have been out collecting footage, too. Yet, what is resonating most now are videos that offer evidence of police aggression thats helping to disprove police claims and show some Americans a side of law enforcement that black communities have been complaining about for decades. The only way those folks are ever going to change their mind is to just be overwhelmed with so much evidence that they cant really deny it anymore, said criminal defense and First Amendment lawyer T. Greg Doucette. Thats what Doucette hoped to convey when he began compiling footage of aggressive police behavior from the initial days of protests following Floyds death on May 25. Doucettes Twitter thread now includes over 500 videos from protests nationwide, and his direct messages are inundated with more recordings than he has time to vet. Mathematician Jason Miller has saved the video links in a Google spreadsheet, creating a sortable database cataloging police behavior in the face of a national movement condemning their efforts. OK, fine, you always tell me that its just one bad apple, Doucette said of his thinking. Well, heres at least 10 bad apples. How do you explain that? Doucette estimated about 80% of the clips he published in the first few days came from non-journalists. Art Acevedo, chief of Houston Police Department and president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, said hes seen videos from protests around the country, and some including imagines of Gugino being shoved in Buffalo have shown clear police misconduct. He also believes many paint incomplete pictures of the interactions. His request: if a bystander is going to upload footage of alleged police misconduct to Twitter, they should send it directly to police departments for review, too. I think the video sometimes shows one part of the interaction and sometimes its complete, and sometimes it isnt, Acevedo said. I think you have to look at it through the prism of objectivity, all of us, and make sure that it actually is comprehensive in terms of what were looking at. Acevedo acknowledges culture as an issue in policing, but he believes law enforcement is being held to a higher standard than other public-serving systems, like the courts and healthcare, in part because of all those camera phones. The difference is that policing in the world, and thankfully, is one of the most transparent by design and one of the most transparent because of cell phones, he said. When we dont do the right thing, more than ever, theres a high likelihood that it will be exposed, he added. And it will be exposed and spread throughout the country at lightning speed. Crucial as its proven for accountability, there is still risk for citizens in filming police. Courts have generally ruled that recording officers in public spaces is a right protected by the First Amendment, yet experts and activists say law enforcement has long targeted onlookers with cameras anyway, arresting them on other charges to shut down their recordings. It happened in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement, when television crews and civilians had equipment destroyed by authorities. Protest videos show similar actions from the past three weeks, with officers appearing to go after civilians with camera phones. In one video from Denver, an officer leaving a seemingly peaceful scene shot a pepper ball directly into the camera phone of an onlooker. Several hundred protesters in Brooklyn last week were stunned when state Sen. Zellnor Myrie told them New York had no law protecting their ability to film police. That changed last Monday when the state legislature passed a bill guaranteeing that right. Chris Dunn, legal director for the New York Civil Liberties Union, called the legislation an affirmation but was skeptical about its actual impact until theres a change in law enforcement culture. Weve brought many false arrest cases on behalf of people filming the police, and theres never been any dispute theyre entitled to do it, but they ended up in handcuffs anyhow, said Dunn. Protesters are certainly aware of the power in their pockets. In New York City, where bystander footage showed Garner dying in an officers chokehold in 2014, its been sometimes difficult to get sufficient cellular service amid protest groups because so many people are filming and uploading videos to social media. Weve seen videotape revolutionize and expose police accountability now for 15-20 years, Dunn said. Its absolutely essential to trying to change whats happened to policing in this country. ___ Follow Jake Seiner: https://twitter.com/Jake_Seiner STEPANAKERT, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh Masis Mayilian met today with Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia Armen Grigoryan, who is on a working visit to Stepanakert, the Artsakh foreign ministry told Armenpress. The sides discussed issues related to the foreign and security policies of the two Armenian republics, as well as exchanged views on the ongoing efforts to ensure favorable external conditions for the safe development of the Republic of Artsakh. An Atlanta police officer talks with protesters near the Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police the day prior in the restaurant's drive-through line in Atlanta, Ga., on June 13, 2020. (Brynn Anderson/AP Photo) 8 Atlanta Police Officers Resigned This Month as Morale Drops Eight police officers in Atlanta have resigned since June 1, police officials said. The number of resignations per month is typically two to six. The Atlanta Police Department (APD) issued a statement saying eight officers resigned this month after the Atlanta Police Foundation said 19 officers resigned in the past week. We have checked with the source of that claim and they are planning to issue a retraction of that statement because it is not correct and was not verified by APD, the police department stated. Current information shows eight officers have resigned since June 1, according to the department. In a statement later Monday, the foundation acknowledged the number it shared wasnt accurate, attributing the error to a miscommunication. Montgomery County, Md., police officer and instructor Craig Dickerson demonstrates an X2 Taser during a demonstration at the departments training academy in Rockville, Md., in a 2016 file photograph. (Gary Cameron/Reuters) The resignations came after a series of events that included six officers being charged for allegedly using excessive force while arresting two college students and the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks, a black man who stole an officers stun gun and fired it at him before the officer shot him. People upset over the shooting, which came after Brooks resisted arrest, burned down the Wendys where the altercation occurred. Police Chief Erika Shields, who entered the role in December 2016, resigned a day after the June 12 shooting. Dave Wilkinson, the Atlanta Police Foundations CEO, said that this is the third straight week of unabated protests in which officers have worked 12-hour shifts seven days per week. As you can imagine, their stress levels are exacerbated by physical and emotional exhaustion, he said in a statement sent to news outlets. A Wendys burns following a rally against alleged racial inequality and the police shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, in Atlanta, Ga., June 13, 2020. (Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters) We are grateful for the sacrifices they are making every day and will continue to support them while accelerating the programs under the Atlanta Police Foundations mission in order to address police reform and other issues the protests and their aftermath have illuminated, Wilkinson added. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, said the morale in the police department is bad right now. My understanding is, its really bad, and understandably so, she told reporters at a press conference. Its bad across the country because of whats happening across the country and the scrutiny and focus and a lot of the anger and frustration thats directed at our police department. And I dont think Atlanta is any different. Bottoms announced at the briefing that she would sign a series of orders that adjust how and when police use force. Any deadly force will have to be reported to a citizens review board and officers who witness others using force they feel isnt reasonable are required to intervene. The US government on Tuesday donated the first shipment of 100 state-of-the-art ventilators valued at almost $1.2 million to India to assist in its fight against Covid-19. The donation is part of President Donald Trumps offer of critical supplies in response to Indias urgent needs, the US embassy said in a statement. The ventilators, made in the US, use leading edge technology and are compact and deployable. They will provide India with flexibility in treating patients affected by the Coronavirus, the statement said. The ventilators, part of the 200 machines the US intends to provide to India, were donated through the US Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID is working closely with Indian health ministry, Indian Red Cross Society and other stakeholders in both countries to assist in the delivery, transportation and placement of the ventilators in select healthcare facilities across the country. At an event to commemorate the arrival of the ventilators in India, US ambassador Kenneth Juster said: The Covid-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented global health threat. It is only through partnership and cooperation that we will be able to ensure a healthy future for people across the world. In this spirit, the US is pleased to provide the people of India with a donation of ventilators, made possible by the generosity of the American people and the innovation of American private industry. USAID is also funding a support package for the ventilators that includes accompanying equipment, medical supplies, technical assistance and service plans. This donation builds on the $9.5 million that USAID and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have committed to India in response to the pandemic. The assistance is helping to strengthen clinical care, disseminate essential health messages and improve disease surveillance. The US has been the worlds largest provider of bilateral assistance in healthcare. Since 2009, it has provided more than $100 billion in health assistance and nearly $70 billion in humanitarian assistance worldwide. Trump first announced the plan to donate the ventilators through a tweet on May 16, when he said the two sides were also working on developing a vaccine for Covid-19. The donation of ventilators also figured during Trumps phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month. New Delhi: Actress Kriti Sanon, who co-starred opposite Sushant Singh Rajput in Raabta, on Tuesday shared a heartbreaking tribute to the late star. Sharing pictures from the happier times with Sushant, Kriti said that a piece of heart has gone with him and she is completely broken with his passing away. Sush, I knew that your brilliant mind was your best friend and your worst enemy.. but it has broken me completely to know that you had a moment in your life where dying felt easier or better than living, read an excerpt from Kritis eulogy. Kriti and Sushant had first met while filming Raabta in 2017. They were quite close and were also rumoured to be dating then. She was one of the few stars who attended Sushants funeral on Monday. Meanwhile, in her moving post for Sushant, she added, I so wish you had people around you to get you pass THAT moment, I wish you hadnt pushed the ones who loved you away.. I wish I could have fixed that something which was broken inside you.. I couldnt.. I wish so, so many things.. A part of my heart has gone with you.. and a part will always keep you alive.. Never stopped praying for your happiness and never will, Kriti signed off. Take a look at her post here: Kritis sister Nupur Sanon too remembered Sushant with a heartfelt post: Sushant was found hanging in his apartment in Mumbai on Sunday. He was said to be under stress and depression for some months. Harry and Meghan came back to thank Canada for their stay and then returned. (Getty Images) Keeping Prince Harry and Meghan safe during their Canadian holiday over Christmas cost more than 32,000 ($40,500) in overtime, travel and food, it has been revealed. Papers released to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation reveal security costs of C$56,384 from the middle of November until 22 January. However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who released the information, make it clear that this only covered incremental costs, like overtime and shift differential, such as night shifts. The figures also cover expenses like travel, meals and accommodation, but dont include the salaries of those who were assigned to look after the royal couple. Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, spent an extended Christmas break in a mansion on Vancouver Island with their son Archie. They returned to the UK in January and thanked the people of Canada for their stay, before dropping the shock news that they wanted to step back from their roles as senior royals. Meghan then returned to Canada, where it emerged they had left Archie while they were in London, and Harry soon followed. Harry and Meghan decided to step back from their royal roles in January. (WireImage) Read more: Why are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping back as senior royals? The decision to step back from senior roles caused a security headache, and after another few weeks of covering the costs, RCMP announced they would not be willing to fund them after 31 March, when their time as working royals officially ended. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in Los Angeles, where its reported their security is costing 7,000 a day. President Donald Trump said the US would not be paying for the couple, but they responded by clarifying that they would not have asked and would be meeting the costs themselves. Background information released by the RCMP in the documents shows the police did not know how long Harry and Meghan would be in Canada, and that their visit was private, with no engagements planned. Read more: Liza Minnelli denies she's helping Prince Harry settle into LA life Story continues An email from Bernadine Chapman, commanding officer of the national division, included in the information reveals their concerns about the ongoing costs, and attention, as she wrote: Media is on this like a hot potato ... so lots of coverage of the potential of the royals to spend half their time in Canada now, as an independent couplt [sic]. Media spins is about the cost to Canadians. We are having a greater conversation next week on the go forward on this. This has a potential to cost us huge! Prince Harry and Meghan stayed at this property in British Columbia while in Canada over Christmas. (Getty Images) Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'delay Archewell launch to 2021' It also reveals there wasnt an increased threat to the couple or Archie, but acknowledges the number of paparazzi in the area. Writing about the costs to the Canadian taxpayer, Aaron Wudrick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said: More than $50,000 is nothing to sneeze at, especially when you consider the fact that this is taxpayers money covering bills for one of the most famous and wealthy couples in the world. Had the government not cut them off and had Meghan and Harry stayed in Canada, the bill could have easily turned into millions. RCMP said they could not release salary information for security reasons and to protect operations. Canada had to pay towards the security for Harry and Meghan because it is a Commonwealth nation, but the US would not have the same obligation to British royals. Watch the latest episode from Yahoo UK's The Royal Story We have spent countless columns discussing the three legs required to build a strong foundational stool of sustained community transformation. To recap, the necessary three legs of the stool are the local media company, local chambers and/or Main Street organizations and of course, community government or leadership. While a three-legged stool can stand just fine, nothing beats a stable four-legged stool. When it comes to building a four-legged stool of sustained and powerful community transformation, we must consider adding local civic clubs or groups to the other three legs creating the better balanced four-legged stool approach. Local civic clubs such as the Rotary, Optimist, Shriners, Exchange, Young Professionals, Kiwanis, American Legion, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and religious groups are loaded with talented and visionary members. Imagine a community harnessing the power and abilities of the majority of their local civic organizations to assist in community transformation. Put another way, a community that can synergize with each of the four legs of their community transformation stool will succeed in ways they would never have imagined. While each of these mentioned clubs and others can provide great leadership in the transformation building planning, they are also capable of tackling various projects that might become a part of the final plan. Once again, imagine if each of the above listed and other civic groups were all tasked with a small portion of the communitys final plan. The most successful community action plans will involve as many groups and individuals as possible. Successful community transformation never occurs in a small vacuum. The local media company and chamber or Main Street organizations cant make it happen alone. The local community government entity cant by themselves make it happen. Your local economic development group, while having the mission of economic development cant make it happen alone. To assure long-term and sustained community transformation, the community must find ways to ensure they enlist the aid of many. While the local media company, chamber, Main Streets, and city leaders can certainly lead the charge; it is the army of volunteers and members that the local civic clubs bring to the table that allows community projects to flourish. They then become community-wide projects, not projects pieced together by a select few. Remember, many hands make light work. It isnt always just the army of volunteers that come with the civic clubs and organizations, many of them bring dollars to the project they rally around. I am reminded of the Rotary club in Muskogee, Oklahoma, stepping forward with a substantial donation to help provide a proposed gathering space band shell. I also read recently of the Rotary club in Warren, Ohio, doing the same thing. No extensive community revitalization plan should ever proceed without conversations with the local civic clubs. They are always willing to listen, and in most cases, will jump at the opportunity to be a part of improving their local community. As a community begins or continues their quest into the transformation process, they will do well to consider the four legs of the revitalization stool. Leaving even one leg off the stool will lead to an unbalanced community approach. The local media brings the ability to connect the community in so many ways. The chambers and Main Streets bring the business side of the equation to bear. The city government and leadership bring the public funds and expertise to the mix. And lastly, the civic organizations bring the community connection that leads to an army of community members needed to infiltrate the communitys well-being at all levels through the masses. Small and mid-sized cities are in the fight of their economic lives. Many arent aware of the magnitude of the struggle or the size of the mountain they must climb to find success or respite from the economic storm, if respite even exists. These arent the days where a slow meandering approach is prudent; these are the days where the slow and meandering are left as a carcass on the economic road. Cities need to bring all their resources to bear in order to succeed. Involving local civic organizations is a critical step in this process. John A. Newby is partnering with the Daily News for this "Building Main Street, Not Wall Street " column series dedicated to helping communities and local media companies combine synergies that allow them to not just survive, but thrive in a world where truly-local is lost to Amazon, Wall Street chains and others. Readers can email Newby at john@360MediaAlliance.net. CEVA Logistics on Monday, June 15, announced that it has acquired a majority stake in African freight logistics specialist AMI Worldwide to significantly expand its footprint on the continent. AMI, which also operates under the name Manica, has about 1,000 employees among a network of offices in 12 east and southern African countries. The employees and offices will become part of CEVA, starting July 1, with full integration expected to be completed by December. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the two companies. CEVA said, with the addition of the AMI employees and offices, its presence in Africa will increase to 1,300 employees across 79 offices in 41 countries. The company will also have 19 warehouses with nearly 1.5 million square feet of storage capacity and a fleet of 1,500 trucks on the continent. CEVA, which is owned by French container carrier CMA CGM, said three CMA CGM Inland Services facilities located in Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast will come under the management of the new African logistics service. The carrier estimated that its inland and intermodal services in Africa handled about 70,000 TEUs in 2019. The third-party logistics services provider has also established a presence in Mauritania and will expand in Ethiopia through a new joint venture with MACFAA once regulatory approvals are secured. The World Bank recently warned that the African continent, especially the Sub-Saharan region, is heading toward an economic recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year. "Economic and social impacts are immense, costing the region between $37 and $79 billion in estimated output losses in 2020, reducing agricultural productivity, weakening supply chains, increasing trade tensions, limiting job prospects and exacerbating political and regulatory uncertainty," the World Bank said in late April. CEVA CEO Mathieu Freidberg, however, expressed optimism in the future of Africa's freight logistics opportunities for his company and Africa's international shippers. Story continues "Businesses across the African continent enjoy significant growth prospects and logistics solutions are crucial to materializing these opportunities, by ensuring supply chains work well and trade flows smoothly," he said in a statement. "With our strategic, continental expansion plan, CEVA will plan an integral part in supporting the continent's socio-economic emergence." See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. The ex-wife of a Russian billionaire who a judge ruled was owed 450million of his fortune has not even received the sum of 'a bag of crisps', a court heard today. Tatiana Akhmedova has been fighting in the British courts to get her hands on the 41.5 per cent share of oligarch Farkhad Akhmedov's wealth which she was awarded in 2016. She claims that, in the wake of the initial ruling, which was the UK's biggest ever divorce case, Mr Akhmedov has deployed a 'strategy of evasion' by putting assets beyond her reach. These include the oil baron's 346million super yacht, the MV Luna, as well as an impressive modern art collection. Her legal action drawn in a number of trusts based in Liechtenstein, into which Mr Akhmedov has transferred assets. Tatiana Akhmedova arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London (in a previous hearing) where the latest virtual round of Britain's biggest divorce case with her ex-husband, billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov happened today She claims that, in the wake of the initial ruling, which was the UK's biggest ever divorce case, Mr Akhmedov (pictured) has deployed a 'strategy of evasion' by putting assets beyond her reach Trustees of two Liechtenstein trusts, into which Mr Akhmedov has transferred 'monetary assets', say proceedings brought against them in London by Ms Akhmedova should be shelved. A barrister representing the two Liechtenstein trusts on Tuesday asked Justice Gwynneth Knowles, who is overseeing the latest round in the Family Division of the High Court, to 'stay' (halt) the claim. Graham Brodie QC said Ms Akhmedova would not be able to enforce orders made by a British judge. He suggested that Ms Akhmedova had portrayed Liechtenstein as 'some sort of pariah state', which was 'groundless', 'irresponsible' and 'regrettable'. He told the virtual hearing: 'It is not because Liechtenstein is a pariah state that it does not enforce orders. The oil baron's superyacht is worth an eyewatering 350million and is crewed by 50 sailors 'It is because Liechtenstein and the UK are not parties to a treaty which makes provision for the mutual enforcement of judgments.' Mr Brodie said Mr Akhmedov had decided to transfer assets to Liechtenstein, possibly to 'protect' assets from Ms Akhmedova or from the 'Russian mafia'. But he said Mr Akhmedov had taken those steps and Ms Akhmedova just 'had to deal with it'. He said Ms Akhmedova had not yet recovered enough money to 'purchase a bag of crisps' and there is 'no prospect of her doing so'. Mr Brodie told Mrs Justice Knowles that she was being asked to play the role of a 'judicial King Canute'. A barrister representing Ms Akhmedova said the application for a stay should be rejected. Ms Akhmedova says Mr Akhmedov has tried to put assets, including a 346million yacht - the MV Luna (pictured) - and a modern art collection, beyond her reach James Willan said a trial of Ms Akhmedova's claim should take place and told the judge 'their (the two trusts) application for a case management stay is the latest manoeuvre calculated to avoid the trial.' 'This application depends on a, misconceived, theory that Liechtenstein entities enjoy some unique immunity from having to defend proceedings in, or comply with orders made by, courts outside Liechtenstein.' Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, who analysed the case at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London, 2016, said Ms Akhmedova should walk away with 453 million. But the court has heard she has only so far pocketed about 5million and Mr Akhmedov has not 'voluntarily' paid a penny. She is now taking legal action against son Temur Akhmedov, who she claims is 'heavily involved' in his father's affairs and described him as his 'lieutenant'. The hearing is due to end later this week. An N95 mask that has a valve can let germs escape. (Brenton Simpson) There's a certain kind of N95 mask that's actually bad to wear for public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. San Francisco's health officer warns that N95 masks with a vent on them allow a person's germs to spread, rather than containing them close to the wearer's face. The warning is in the San Francisco health order, which says that any mask with a one-way valve designed to facilitate easy exhaling "allows droplets to be released from the mask, putting others nearby at risk." "As a result, these masks are not a face covering under this order and must not be used to comply with this orders requirements," said the health order, signed by Dr. Tomas Aragon, the health officer for San Francisco. Exhalation vents can make the face cooler and reduce moisture buildup inside a face covering, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said but the vents allow unfiltered exhaled air to escape. That defeats the point of wearing a mask for the coronavirus, which is to keep potentially infectious oral droplets from spraying outward to other people. To convert the N95 masks that have vent holes in the front, simply place a piece of tape over the external vent to cover it, health experts said. As many as 20% to 50% of people infected with the coronavirus may never show severe signs of illness yet can still infect others. That's why, health officials say, it's so important to wear masks to keep the pandemic under control. It's no coincidence that many nations that haven't seen a sustained, out-of-control spread of the coronavirus have a public that universally wears masks when outside the home, experts say. San Francisco and other health officials around the country have urged the public to wear cloth face coverings to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. A couple dozen California counties require the wearing of masks while in public including Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento counties, as well as the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area while other areas have made it a recommendation. Story continues But there has been a backlash in a number of California counties, and officials have rescinded requirements to wear a mask. The latest to do so was Orange County, California's third-most populous county. In general, officials suggest members of the public wear cloth face coverings, rather than N95 and surgical face masks that should be reserved for healthcare workers. "If you are currently using a medical mask, keep using it as long as you can. Only throw it away when it gets dirty or damaged," the San Francisco health department said. - A 17-year-old genius, Carson Huey-You, graduated with a Master's degree at age 17 after finishing his BSc at 14 - Carson Huey-You studied for both his Bachelor's and Master's degree at the Texas Christian University - His parents indicate that the genius young boy started doing algebra by the age of 5 and had a near-perfect score in SAT exams at age 10 Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Carson Huey-You, a 17-year-old black genius has made history after graduating from Texas Christian University with a Master's degree which is simply phenomenal for someone his age. A report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Fox4News.com indicates that the smart young man was able to attain the feat after he graduated with a Bachelor's degree at the young age of 14. This was possible because the young boy was homeschooled and left high school at the age of eight after which he sat for examinations at the age of 10 and finished with flying colours. READ ALSO: It is a sin to live in a rented apartment - respected African pastor declares Source: UGC Source: UGC Following that, Carson Huey-You gained admission to study Physics, a programme that requires extreme focus and intelligence at age 11 which he pursued successfully. Huey-You was doing algebra by the age of 5, according to his parents and when he was 10, he scored a near-perfect 1,770 on the popular SAT exams. Speaking about his life and promising success, the 17-year-old genius indicates that he is actually a normal young chap like anyone else who does what teenagers do in their free time. READ ALSO: Nigerian genius celebrated after inventing road sweeping machine Outside of just school and academia, Im really just a normal 17-year-old kid. I like playing video games, I have a dog, I have my brother at home, so, we have fun, Huey-You said. Meanwhile, a separate report by YEN.com.gh indicates that Prince Harry, a member of the British Royal Family and the younger son of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana, has applauded 95-year-old Private Joseph Hammond a World War II veteran. In a report published by the CNN, and sighted by YEN.com.gh, Prince Harry indicated in a letter that the Ghanaian old soldier brought a huge smile to his face with his heroic action. It would be recalled that Hammond raised 18,000 (GHC 130k) to support frontline workers and vulnerable veterans in Africa as his contribution towards the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! 1 hour is not enough to worship God - Fellow Ghanaians react to Nana's order Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The father-in-law of the injured woman who subsequently suffered a miscarriage after a devastating crash in Princes Bay on Saturday said he has full confidence that law enforcement will do everything in their power to see that justice is served. During an interview Monday night, William Trapani, 54, said his family is focused on his son and daughter-in-law being healthy" as they work through recovery. Trapani said his son suffered lacerations and required multiple stitches after the crash. His daughter-in-law, who he said was approximately seven-months pregnant, is still hospitalized from her injuries and after an emergency C-section was made in an attempt to save her child. The baby succumbed to injuries and died, he said. Alexander Iacone, 21, was arraigned Sunday in Criminal Court in St. George on charges that include second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, court records show. 'I was driving, I got cut off by an Audi,' Iacone told police at the time of his arrest, according to an account in the criminal complaint. 'I knew I was speeding.'" The defendants license had been suspended or revoked four times leading up to the incident, which he told police he was aware of at the time, the complaint alleges. His attorney did not immediately return a request for comment Monday. A pending autopsy from the city medical examiner will determine if the child had taken its first breath at the hospital, which then based on New York State law could lead to homicide charges, the source said. Despite the tragic circumstances, Trapani acknowledged the support his family has been receiving and said they appreciate all the people who have been posting stuff on Facebook, who have been reaching out to us, and have been coming forward as witnesses and encourage them to continue coming forward as witnesses." A free, anonymous, 24/7 text messaging service enabling people going through a mental health crisis to seek support at any time, day or night, has been hailed by Health Minister Simon Harris as a life-saving initiative. Piloted last year, the 50808 text-based service has been launched nationally and expects to support 50,000 people a year when fully operational. The pilot initiative supported 3,801 people aged between 16 and 34 years since September last year, with anxiety, stress, depression, relationships, isolation and loneliness, and suicide featuring among the top issues raised in almost 200,000 messages. Demand for the service also increased by 44% during the Covid-19 pandemic. The service uses an algorithm to scan text messages for keywords and emojis to assess the level of distress and prioritise the response required. So far, the 50808 service has carried out more than 100 active rescues where it contacted the ambulance service to respond to an individual in need of emergency support. The service will be provided by hundreds of trained volunteers under the supervision of mental health professionals. CEO of 50808, Ian Power, said the service aimed to respond to high-risk texters within one minute and all texters within five minutes. Its really important that people who need this service and prefer to reach out in this way have a service thats available 24/7 when everything else is closed, Mr Power said. Crisis text line volunteer Roisin King. Minister Harris said the rollout of the service was timely given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of the nation. The service, Minister Harris said, would save lives and he commended the incredible volunteers behind the service: You may never know exactly how many lives youre saving; you may never know exactly how many lives youve turned around or put back on track but what we definitely know is that youre saving lives. Outgoing Minister for Mental Health, Jim Daly, said the service would be ground-breaking for the country and urged everyone to add 50808 to their phone: This service has been tried and tested the world over; its a global phenomenon. It has had amazing successes in other countries where it has been established and where young people are using text." Chief Operations Officer of the HSE, Anne OConnor, said the HSE funded service would improve access to mental health services: "Having a service like 50808 where you can contact somebody and know that, regardless of the time of day, you will get a response is really important and thats why this initiative is essential now. Text 50808 to use the service or visit www.text50808.ie for more information. A dispute over the ownership of a Confederate monument that once stood in downtown Mobile surfaced publicly on Tuesday, one day after the Alabama Attorney Generals Office fined the city $25,000 for removing it. The debate centered over the fate of the Navy Adm. Raphael Semmes monument during a Mobile City Council meeting and pitted Councilwoman Bess Rich against Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpsons administration. Stimpson authorized the removal of the Semmes statue on June 4, and Rich is concerned over its permanent placement inside a city-owned and operated history museum. She said that representatives of ancestors and descendants of the Semmes family should be given more consideration about having the statue moved to private property. Her comments come after some council members received a letter from the Semmes Camp 11 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans who call themselves the successors to Raphael Semmes Camp 11 of the United Confederate Veterans, the original owners of the statute. The group claims they are the competent and worthy recipient of the monument. If we are really going to talk about this and solve this as a community, then people on both sides of the issue should (be heard), said Rich. She said she was disappointed over what she felt was a lack of public discussions over the fate of the monument and accused the Stimpson administration of issuing directives after the fact. Stimpson disagreed, and said he felt there was enough public conversation about the monuments removal from its longtime perch at Royal and Government streets in downtown Mobile. The monument was removed overnight on June 4 and placed into storage. Everything we did was part of a public conversation when it came to our actions and reactions because we were listening to the public, said Stimpson. Maybe (Rich) wasnt hearing it but we were. She possibly wouldve handled it differently. But we handled it in a manner we felt was in the best interest of the citizens of Mobile, the employees of Mobile and the property of our city. Protecting statue The sandstone base of the Semme statue in downtown Mobile was vandalized on June 1, 2020. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said he was concerned that the statue could be destroyed by protesters. The statue was removed overnight on June 4, 2020, and will be relocated less than one block away to the History Museum of Mobile. Stimpson, on Sunday, said the statue will be relocated on a permanent basis to the History Museum of Mobile, which prompted Attorney General Steve Marshall to declare the city in violation of the states 3-year-old Alabama Memorial Preservation Act. The law prohibits the permanently removal of any monument in Alabama over 40 years old. The Semmes monument is 120 years old. Stimpson said the removal was done to prevent the 8-foot-tall monument from being destroyed by protesters. We had every reason to believe that statue wouldve ended up in the same fate as other statues around the country, he said, referring to Confederate statues being destroyed during protests against police brutality in cities around the country following the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis. Three days before the monument was removed, its sandstone base was vandalized during the largest protest that occurred in Mobile following Floyds killing. Stimpson said the monument is currently in storage at the history museum, where it will be eventually displayed. He said he was uncertain on when a public display for the monument will occur. The museum is located less than one block from where the Semmes statue was long located. We feel (the museum) is best equipped to do that, said Stimpson. Rightful owners Rich, however, said the council should allow a public discussion over a request from the Semmes Camp 11 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans a non-profit group consisting of military veterans -- for the relocation of the statue to private property. According to the letter, the group believes they are uniquely suited to receive the statue. The group noted that in 2007, agencies of the United States Navy sent the remains of an Confederate sailor who died during the sinking of the Semmes ship the CSS Alabama, in 1864 to Semmes Camp 11 for interment. This relationship further qualifies our bona fides for the return of the statue, which we consider our right, the letter reads. It continues, The Semmes Camp contains among its many committed members numerous veterans who believe, instinctively, that our veterans monuments are more bronze and stone they are the very soul of the gratitude and reverence which a civilization should display to those who put themselves in harms way between that civilization and its enemies. It has been said that a culture which does not cherish and will not defend the honor of those who gave their lives for it does not deserve to survive. We do honor them. Rich said that the history of the statue, from its original ownership with the Camp 11 of the United Confederate Veterans, allows the descendants a right at the table regardless of what they believe or feel. She said, History is history and we can argue about all of that. My ancestors were put into ovens for their (belief in) Judaism. I get the pain and suffering or being singled out. I think people have a right to be heard. Stimpson said hes had discussions with the same people she has had conversations with, acknowledging that there are a lot of divergent opinions on what should happen with the monument. He said that if the statue is given to Semmes Camp 11, then it would have to be a decision made by the council. We made our decision based on legal advice, said Stimpson. If the City Council wants to address that, its strictly up to them. Setting precedence Police prepare to advance on protesters during a George Floyd protest at the Madison County Courthouse on June 1, 2020. The Confederate monument is seen in the background. (Paul Gattis | AL.com) Council members did not publicly react to the $25,000 fine that Marshall levied against the city for removing the Semmes statue. Stimpson said he believes money will be raised privately to pay for the fine, and that it wont come from taxpayers. The city has 30 days to raise the $25,000, Stimpson said. Hes the Attorney General and is responsible for interpreting the law, said Stimpson, when asked to respond to the fine. We knew wed have divergent opinions there. We knew he would take issue with that. We did what we felt was in the best interest of the city of Mobile. Mobiles action comes as some cities grapple with how to address removing Confederate monuments and artifacts without violating state law. In Madison County, commissioners unanimously voted last week to submit an application to the Committee on Alabama Monument Protection for the permission to remove the Confederate monument outside the county courthouse in downtown Huntsville. The committee could take up the matter when they meet July 9 in Montgomery. Alabama AG: Law says no path to legally remove Confederate statue in Huntsville Other cities have removed Confederate monuments without seeking the committees approval, which could put them in violation of state law. The University of Alabama System, in recent days, has moved forward with removing a monument and three plaques dedicated to the Confederacy. Birmingham was the first to remove a Confederate monument in Alabama when, on June 1, a massive 52-foot-tall Confederate Sailors and Soldiers memorial in Linn Park was removed by the city of Birmingham. The next day, Marshalls office filed a civil lawsuit saying that Birmingham was on the hook to pay the $25,000 fine. Huntsville business leaders speak out: Remove Confederate monument from courthouse Mobiles statue: Who was Confederate Adm. Raphael Semmes? The history behind Birmingham monuments damaged during George Floyd protest Watershed moment: Will removal of Confederate monuments lead to lasting change in Alabama? Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott despite being spotted clubbing together over the weekend reportedly have no imminent plans to rekindle their romantic relationship. 'Kylie and Travis get along. They enjoy hanging out with the same people. And they obviously spend a lot of time together with Stormi,' a source told People in an article Monday referencing their two-year-old daughter Stormi. The insider added: 'Being co-parents seems to be working out better for them than being in a romantic relationship'. Just friends: Kylie Jenner, shown with daughter Stormi last month on Instagram, and ex-boyfriend Travis Scott are better off as co-parents than lovers, according to an inside source The 22-year-old reality star and Houston rapper Travis, 28, welcomed daughter Stormi in February 2018. Kylie and Travis started dating in April 2017 and split in September 2019, but have remained committed to co-parenting Stormi together. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star confirmed their amicable separation in October on Twitter. 'Travis and i are on great terms and our main focus right now is Stormi our friendship and our daughter is priority,' she posted after their break-up. Houston rapper: Travis, shown with Stormi in an April posting on Instagram, was dating Kylie from April 2017 to September 2019 Kylie and Travis celebrated Stormi's second birthday together with a trip to Disney World and a lavish birthday bash. They both have publicly praised each other recently in interviews and on social media. 'I love [Stormis] mommy and I always will,' Travis told XXL magazine in December. Amicable split: Kylie and Travis, shown last August in Santa Monica, California, have publicly praised each other recently in interviews and on social media He added: 'The hard part about relationships is just trying to be in one without a million outside voices interfering.' Kylie gushed about Travis, real name Jacques Berman Webster II, in April in celebration of his 28th birthday. 'DADA happy birthday to daddy of the year!,' Kylie wrote in the caption of a post showing pictures and videos of Travis and Stormi. She added: 'I'm slowly but surely starting to accept the fact that storm is a daddy's girl. but whatever. we went half on greatness! The most beautiful, smart, loving and funny little baby. the best gift. ok I'm crying. love you forever!' Kylie and Travis were spotted Saturday leaving Los Angeles hot spot The Nice Guy separately, but he was eyed getting into Kylie's waiting SUV. By PTI WASHINGTON: The US food and drug regulatory body on Monday withdrew the emergency use authorisation of anti-malarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19 patients after concluding that they may not be effective to cure the virus infections and lead to greater risks than any potential benefits. The Food and Drug Administration's decision came weeks after President Donald Trump called hydroxychloroquine a "game-changer" drug in the fight against the COVID-19 in America, the world's worst-hit nation by the pandemic. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said its decision is based on new information, including clinical trial data results, that have led it to conclude that the drugs may not be effective to treat COVID-19 and that its potential benefits for such use do not outweigh its known and potential risks. According to AP, FDA, citing reports of heart complications, said the drugs pose a greater risk to patients than any potential benefits. The drugs can cause heart rhythm problems, severely low blood pressure and muscle or nerve damage. FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton, in a letter dated June 15 to Gary Disbrow of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), said as of the date of this letter, the oral formulations of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and (chloroquine) CQ are no longer authorised by the FDA to treat COVID-19. On March 28, FDA had issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for use of oral formulations of chloroquine phosphate (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) to be distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Hinton said that FDA now believes that the suggested dosing regimens for CQ and HCQ are unlikely to produce an antiviral effect. "Earlier observations of decreased viral shedding with HCQ or CQ treatment have not been consistently replicated and recent data from a randomised controlled trial assessing probability of negative conversion showed no difference between HCQ and standard of care alone," he said. Current US treatment guidelines do not recommend the use of CQ or HCQ in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial, and the NIH guidelines now recommend against such use outside of a clinical trial, the FDA said. "Recent data from a large randomised controlled trial showed no evidence of benefit for mortality or other outcomes such as hospital length of stay or need for mechanical ventilation of HCQ treatment in hospitalised patients with COVID-19," the letter said. Hinton said that while HCQ, that has been distributed from SNS, is no longer authorised under the EUA to treat hospitalised patients for COVID-19, FDA-approved HCQ can be distributed in interstate commerce. Hydroxychloroquine is one of the oldest and best-known anti-malarial drugs. US President Donald Trump had called hydroxychloroquine a "game-changer" drug in the fight against COVID-19. At Trump's request, India in April allowed the export of 50 million HCQ tablets to treat COVID-19 patients in America. Trump had on May 18 disclosed that he was taking hydroxychloroquine daily to ward off the deadly coronavirus. Defending the drug, he had said that hydroxychloroquine was a "line of defence" against the coronavirus. "It is a very powerful drug I guess but it doesn't harm you and so I thought as a frontline defence, possibly it would be good, and I have had no impact from it," Trump had said, adding that the antimalaria drug has received tremendous reviews from doctors all over the world. According to the Johns Hopkins University data, US has over 2.1 million COVID-19 cases with more than 115,000 deaths. Maybe Gov. John Bel Edwards would have vetoed HB 197 anyway, even if circumstances were much closer to normal. His written reasoning in rejecting the measure by state Rep. Jerome Zee Zeringue, R-Houma, to add flood control structures to an existing list of critical infrastructure sites where trespassing is prohibited and more controversially, to make the penalties for intruding at facilities already covered by the law much harsher would have been valid then too. While the bill added more stringent punishment for trespassing during an emergency, for instance, Edwards pointed out that Louisiana is pretty much perpetually under emergency declaration, not just when a tropical storm threatens. But circumstances are not normal, and the bill landed in the middle of two crises that were painfully on point. The first is the coronavirus pandemic that has hit African-American Louisianans particularly hard. Some of the countrys earliest hot spots were located in the corridor along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, where petrochemical plants already designated as critical infrastructure abut residential, largely black, communities. This area, which has earned the tragic nickname of Cancer Alley, has been a center of protest over pollution and a focus of concern over health disparities. The second is the largely peaceful uprising over the horrific, videotaped killing of an African-American man, George Floyd, which has put a harsh spotlight on systemic inequities. The placement of industrial facilities near poor and largely black neighborhoods is very much part of that larger conversation. Heres how a coalition of environmental and other activists put it in a letter asking Edwards to veto the bill: The bill would have an unacceptable chilling effect on free speech by requiring outrageously harsh new prison sentences for a persons mere presence at a critical infrastructure facility. This chilling effect would directly and immediately burden the political speech of predominantly Black residents in southeastern Louisiana, who have urgent free-speech interests in objecting to the environmental and public health impact of pollution from oil refineries, pipelines, and petrochemical plants near their homes. Even if it was not the bills main intent, cracking down on these protests right now would have been a bad look, particularly for a governor who needed a strong push from African-American voters to win reelection. That didnt guarantee hed make the right call here though. Edwards is Democrat facing an increasingly confrontational Republican Legislature, and he carefully picks where to openly disagree. On this issue, he picked well both politically and otherwise. rocco-forte-interview.jpg Tory donor and hotelier Sir Rocco Forte has accused Boris Johnson of putting another nail in the coffin of the tourist industry with the two metre social distancing rule and 14-day quarantine. Sir Rocco, who gave 100,000 to Mr Johnsons 2019 election campaign, said many, many tourist businesses will go under this summer, yet the Government had introduced quarantine just when there was a chance to save something out of the Summer season. Its another nail in the coffin, he added. He said the two-metre rule had been plucked out of the blue but made it impossible for people to open properly. Theres no scientific evidence behind it, said Sir Rocco, who is one of more than 500 travel, hospitality and hotel bosses who have formed a group Quash Quarantine to campaign against the Governments restrictions. The World Health Organisation (WHo) has just come and said that if you are two metres, you have a one per cent chance of catching the disease. If you are one metre you have a three per cent chance of catching the disease. The reality in continental Europe that has started to open up is that they have gone back to one metre. So the reality of this whole thing is that no one is concentrating on the economic impacts of this. Although he is reopening Forte hotels across Europe, they remain closed in the UK and are likely to continue so until the two metre rule is abandoned. Its still difficult but one metre makes it possible, said Sir Rocco, who paid for a victory party for Boris Johnson in one of his hotels when he won the Tory leadership election. The tourism industry has suffered disproportionately. It has been without income since March and will continue to be without income in this country until July so thats four months, a third of a year. Many, many businesses in the tourist industry will go under. Story continues We are talking about thousands of peoples livelihoods here. We are talking about millions of people who are going to lose their jobs and their families. It will affect their health and everything else. He said quarantine also had no scientific evidence behind it. The chief scientific officer says its a political decision, not a scientific decision. We are closing down when the rest of Europe is opening up. Until Sunday, you could come from Iran or Brazil, the two highest hotbeds of the disease with impunity. All of a sudden on Sunday evening, no-one could come in. He warned it would affect businesses across the UK that needed foreign visitors. What about the resorts [in Britain] which depend entirely on the summer seasons. Those people are not going to be able to function, they are not going to be able to survive. They have had another winter. They are going into another winter. The summer that should have lifted them up is not going to be there. All those businesses are going to be devastated and all the jobs that go with them. Sir Rocco established Rocco Forte Hotels in 1996 with his sister, Olga Polizzi. They have 14 hotels located in European cities. A troubled but ordinary nursing home outside Buffalo joined in a nationwide effort over the past few years to cut sharply back on the number of residents sent to hospital emergency rooms whenever anything went wrong. "Treat in place" was the mantra pushed by federal health agencies, academic researchers and geriatric physicians who argued that hospitals are not friendly environments for the frail and elderly, and that outcomes for those transported to one can include bed sores, dehydration, infections, exhaustion and delirium. But what thousands of U.S. nursing homes neglected - including Absolut Care of Aurora Park - was the other side of the coin. To treat in place requires having effective means of treatment, staff who know how to deploy that treatment and procedures to stop the spread of infection. When the novel coronavirus pandemic struck, nursing homes did not swamp hospitals with patients. But neither did they prevent the deaths of more than 30,000 of their residents or, in many cases, even provide decent palliative care. "These places are not designed for a pandemic," said John Rowe, a professor of health policy and aging at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, and the former CEO of Aetna. The result, said Lori Popejoy, a professor at the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri, was "a Stone Age response to this virus, and we thought, 'It's better than nothing.' " At Absolut Care of Aurora Park, a big nursing home with 310 beds, 153 residents were found to be infected as the disease swept through one floor after another, and 61 had died as of May 31, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That figure includes deaths on site and among those taken to hospitals. The owners dispute that number but did not provide their own tally. "Once it was there it just spread like wildfire," said Bradley Porter, a registered nurse who quit in anger at the beginning of May. "It was very hectic, chaotic." When the coronavirus struck, Absolut was more or less winging it. Administrators there obtained disposable ponchos from the Maid of the Mist - the tourist boat tours at Niagara Falls - as an emergency measure until they could secure enough proper personal protective equipment. "We had policies and procedures in place before our first covid case," Jason Newman, a spokesman for Absolut, wrote in an email. "Our policies and procedures changed daily as the new DOH [state Department of Health] directives were given." Absolut, in the village of East Aurora, New York, already had a couple of strikes against it. Its owners had filed for bankruptcy in September; absences by its low-paid staff made it hard to attend to residents' needs; and families complained about shortages of adult diapers, toilet paper, towels and decent food. An investigation two years ago by the Buffalo News termed it "one of western New York's worst nursing homes." It currently rates two out of five stars from Medicare's comparison website. But Absolut, now under new management, has maintained its certification, and though it differs in degree from more highly rated establishments, its approach is essentially the same as any for-profit nursing home. And that approach has now proved itself to be strikingly inadequate when confronted with a novel virus. There is another model. Just 15 miles to the west, in the city of Buffalo, is the Terrace View Long-Term Care Facility. It has 390 beds. Four of its residents were infected with the coronavirus. All were transferred to the affiliated Erie County Medical Center. (Both facilities are part of a publicly owned corporation.) One died. As measured by the CMS, Absolut at Aurora Park provides less care by registered nurses than the national average. Terrace View provides significantly more - more than twice as much per patient as Aurora Park. That may be crucial. Terrace View, which has a very large percentage of residents on Medicaid, casts itself as part of the health-care system - unlike most nursing homes, which stand apart from it. "It's unfortunate there's not more integration," said David Grabowski of Harvard Medical School, who argues that nursing homes do not receive an adequate revenue stream from Medicaid to provide the services they should provide. A company called VestraCare, based on Long Island, has agreed to buy the bankrupt Absolut chain of six nursing homes. Even while waiting for regulatory approval, it took over the management at Aurora Park on March 1, with ambitious promises to improve the quality of care. Less than two weeks later, New York state ordered nursing homes to lock down as the pandemic erupted. By that time, it was already spreading at Aurora Park. "That was profoundly and comically bad timing," said Edward Farbenblum, a co-owner of VestraCare. "It's really been crisis management since then." - - - Patient No. 1 at Absolut was a woman who had returned from a hospital stay some weeks before. "The staff were the ones who brought it in," Porter said, though management suggested the woman may have contracted the virus in the hospital. She fell ill, "and sat there sick a couple of days, and the staff was spreading it around. And then she was tested and it was like, 'Oh, crap.' " She was eventually housed in an isolated section that was to become an ever-expanding "red zone" at Aurora Park. "Obviously, staff go home, they shop, they worship and interact with other people all over our region for the 16 hours a day they are outside of Absolut," Newman wrote. "There's no way of telling where any staff contracted the virus. None, arguably, could have caught it at Absolut. No one knows, or can say for sure, because the county and state provided inadequate tracking." Some employees work second jobs to augment their low pay. Some drive to work; some take the bus out from Buffalo. Health records show that 46 staff members had tested positive for the virus as of May 24. At the time of the bankruptcy filing last fall, the center had 331 employees. Workers and family members interviewed by The Washington Post say that some of those sent home after testing positive were pressured to come back early. Farbenblum and Newman insist that the nursing home was following the original seven-day isolation rule, later extended to 14 days, dating from the first positive test even if later tests were also positive. "I literally barricaded my office door," said one employee who was told to come back to work, and who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. But this employee was still feeling ill from covid-19, and eventually went home again sick. Another went back to work, notwithstanding a persistent cough. As the disease started to spread, residents were at first locked down in their rooms. But then staffers cleared a floor in one of the wings to create an enlarged red zone. They trundled all the positive patients to rooms on that one floor - without taking sufficient care, employees and residents say, to protect other residents from infection as they passed by. "They weren't handling it very well," Porter said. "It was just cross-contamination everywhere throughout the building." Farbenblum points to an infection control survey by the New York State Department of Health on May 4 that found no deficiencies. Porter had worked at Absolut for about a year and was directed to take charge of a covid-19 floor once the disease was widespread. He had two nurses and three aides working for him, taking care of 56 people, he said. "I couldn't be one RN for 56 people. There should be two or three of me." He said he was never tested for the coronavirus and was told that as long as he took his clothes off when he got home, his family - he has two young children - should be fine. "Not if I have it in my body," he said. Porter said he has heard from other employees that Aurora Park by now "has settled in" and the sense of crisis has passed. "As you know before very recent weeks there was a tremendous shortage of testing supplies," Newman wrote in an email. "We have been asking for tests from every governmental agency as well as labs; additionally the testing mandate for staff was not issued until May 10 with an effective date" the end of the following week. "Regarding patients being moved to the red zone," he said, "as is best practices and as advised by the DOH epidemiologists, we aggressively and rapidly moved patients to the red from wherever they were when they met the criteria." Richard Smith, a 47-year-old quadriplegic after a motorcycle accident, has been at Aurora Park just over two years. He has tested negative. It infuriates him that he's forced to stay inside while he can see employees lounging and smoking in the parking lot on their break. If they can come and go, he asks, why can't he? He is supposed to get a shower three times a week. "But lately, I haven't been getting them because they're short-staffed, or they say they don't have linen. I don't know, it ain't bad. I'm supposed to be turned every two hours, but that hardly ever happens." Newman wrote that privacy concerns prevent the nursing home from commenting on individual patients. "However, like every skilled facility during the covid crisis we were balancing staffing constraints specifically as we are located in [New York state], the ground zero for the global pandemic," he said. "Lastly, at no point was there a linen or any supply shortage." Barbara Godios said her 88-year-old mother, who has dementia, walked into Aurora Park two months ago, was infected with the coronavirus but remained asymptomatic, but has nevertheless gone rapidly downhill, losing 25 pounds and is now in a wheelchair. "She's so feeble and fragile now," said Godios, who asked that her mother not be identified. Since mid-March, under state orders, family members have not been allowed to visit nursing homes. Godios has FaceTimed with her mother and did a "window visit" recently. She says some of the certified nursing assistants have been uncaring, even at times negligent. The staff is stretched too thin, she believes, to ensure that patients who need help at meal times reliably get it. "If I was able," she says, "I would just love to get her out of there. But she's [tested] positive." Dorothy Carlone, whose story was first published in the Buffalo News, says she pleaded with Aurora to let her in despite the state order so that she could feed her mother, Maxine Schwartz, who had dementia and was refusing to take food from staff. She had not tested positive. But Carlone's sister, who was their mother's health proxy, did not agree. On March 27, Schwartz, 92, died of cardiac arrest. In Carlone's view, she is a collateral victim of the pandemic. Cheryl Darling's mother, Nancy, has tested positive but is asymptomatic. She hasn't seen her for three months. She has a camera in her mother's room, which she watches relentlessly. She caught temporary nursing assistants taunting her mother; they were let go after she complained. She has seen employees going into her mother's room without gloves, or without a hair bonnet, she said. Some have had their PPE gowns "half hanging off." "I'm like, 'You don't think that's why it's spreading through the nursing home?' " she said. "The aides that normally take care of her are just amazing. I don't blame the staff. I blame the nursing home." Newman said all staff members receive proper training. "All employees and agency staff have been trained and competencies given on proper application and removal of PPE." Darling, like Carlone, used to visit almost daily to help feed her mother. "I know the staff doesn't have the time." Their experiences illustrate an important but unappreciated truth about American nursing homes: Family members provide a significant amount of the care for many residents. Nursing homes rely on them. "They're a strong complement to the staff, and another set of hands," Grabowski, of Harvard, said. Now, because of the lockdowns, "there aren't a lot of eyes on the care." Amy Vogelsmeier is a colleague of Popejoy's at the University of Missouri, and together they are running a program called the Missouri Quality Initiative at 40 nursing homes, designed to improve the quality of care while still reducing avoidable hospitalizations. Families, she said, can often see changes in a resident before the staff notices; they have a "partner role." But beyond that, she said, every nursing home in America needs a registered nurse working full time on infection control - permanently. In their project, each nursing home has an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse full time. An APRN, she said, "is just an absolutely critical person." At Terrace View, "infection preventionists" began monitoring staff and residents on March 2 (the day after VestraCare took control of Absolut). Staff training on infection control began. Screening of staff and visitors started March 11. "It was a combination of education and awareness," said Thomas Quatroche, president and CEO of the Erie County Medical Center. Administrators, he said, forcefully emphasized to employees that they should stay home if they tested positive or became ill. "Infection control is the most important," he said. "But at the end of the day, some of that is chance." Terrace View has the advantage of a partnership with a hospital. (It currently has an abuse citation stemming from the alleged sexual assault of one resident by another.) Most nursing homes, including Absolut, can't match that. Farbenblum said he aims to provide Aurora Park with wireless telemetry monitoring, RN staffing at night, 24-hour IV capability and a telemedicine platform for consultations with a physician. He has also just hired the former head of Terrace View as executive vice president for business operations. Could deaths have been prevented if more nursing home residents had been taken to emergency rooms this spring? In some areas, the strain on ambulance services presented an obstacle. Death from covid-19 sometimes came on quickly, especially among already frail people, even as short staffs were unable to keep close tabs on everyone. A significant number of nursing home residents have do-not-hospitalize orders. And some nursing homes apparently transported patients only as they drew close to death. "This is not advanced care," said Rowe, of Columbia. "It's last rites." Yet the coronavirus has exposed the deep inadequacies of a nursing home system that relies overwhelmingly on low-level aides. "So underpaid and undertrained. So much stress," said Rowe, of Columbia. "And they are the ones who are stepping up." The burden shouldn't fall on them - or on the residents, Rowe said. "If I had good enough nursing staff, I could take care of nearly everyone in a nursing home." That's what it would take to treat in place. A 25-year-old man named Aminu Bala has been arrested by the Zamfara state police command for allegedly raping and killing his elder brothers wife. Mohammed Shehu, the state police spokesman, while confirming his arrest said he had already confessed to the crime. He said, The Tudun Wada Area Command, Gusau on June 15, at about 04.30 hours, received a distress call from Damba quarters of Gusau metropolis that the suspect had killed his brothers wife. Read Also: Lawmaker Apologises For Blaming Rape On Womens Dressing Advertisement The police immediately rushed to the scene and discovered the victim, Hauwau Iliyasu in the pool of her own blood having suffered from multiple machete cuts. She was then taken to the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau where she was certified dead by doctors. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday said Japan will closely monitor the situation between North and South Korea and that he hoped tensions will not rise further between the two countries. North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office building just north of the heavily armed border with South Korea earlier on Tuesday in a carefully choreographed display of anger that sharply raises tensions on the Korean Peninsula The incident also puts pressure on Washington and Seoul amid deadlocked nuclear diplomacy. The demolition of the building, which is located on North Korean territory and had no South Koreans working there, is largely symbolic. But it's still the most provocative thing North Korea has done since it entered nuclear diplomacy in 2018 after a US-North Korean standoff had many fearing war. It will pose a serious setback to the efforts of liberal South Korean President Moon Jae-in to restore inter-Korean engagement. Abe also said Japan will be discussing its missile defence programme, after the Defence Ministry said Monday that it has decided to stop unpopular plans to deploy two costly land-based US missile defence systems. The defence systems are aimed at bolstering the country's capability against threats from North Korea. Plans for the Aegis Ashore systems were halted after it was found that the safety of one of the two planned host communities could not be ensured without a hardware redesign that would be too time consuming and costly. The Japanese government in 2017 approved adding the two missile defense systems to bolster the country's current defences consisting of Aegis-equipped destroyers at sea and Patriot missiles on land. Foreign Minister Marise Payne has hit out at China and Russia for spreading disinformation during the coronavirus pandemic as she declared Australia would be more prepared to speak up on the world stage. In her first major speech since the COVID-19 crisis spread around the world, Senator Payne said her government would continue to push for reform of global bodies such as the World Health Organisation so they "protect and promote our national interests". Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Some foreign policy experts and senior Labor MPs have argued Senator Payne and Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not need to take a public role in pushing for the global review into the coronavirus, and blamed the government's position for China's trade strikes on $1 billion of beef and barley. Senator Payne took on the criticisms of Australia's role, arguing the nation needed to take a more strident position or other countries would fill the void. [June 16, 2020] Weyland Tech's CreateApp Deploys First Mobile Apps for Small Businesses in Italy as Country Reopens NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weyland Tech, Inc. (OTCQX: WEYL), a leading global provider of eCommerce, mCommerce and Fintech business enablement solutions, has officially launched its CreateApp mobile commerce platform-as-a-service in Italy as the country reopens following the COVID-19 lockdown. As Italy works to revitalize its economy, CreateApp allows the more than 172,000 small businesses across the country to easily and affordably establish a new mobile presence. CreateApp was launched in Italy in partnership with Medias-ComS SA , a Swiss company specializing in media and communications. Medias-ComS is joined by Infomaniak, one of Switzerlands leading web solutions companies. Founded in 1994, Infomaniak has more than 130 employees and annual revenue of 25 million euros. Also partnered with Medias-ComS is Proteus, a leading IT company that provides Internet access and eCommerce applications to businesses across Italy. The recent reopening of Italys large tourism industry and other sectors of the economy has helped drive our first SMB deployments of CreateApp in the country, noted Pascal Jacot, managing director of Medias-ComS SA. With the support of our highly capable regional partners, we have attracted a number of new users, and expect nationwide adoption to steadily increase. Eddie Foong, chief product officer of Weyland, commented: Now more than ever, small businesses in Italy and across the world need to leverage the power of mobile to increase sales, reach more customers, manage logistics and conduct financial transactions in a simple, affordable and highly efficient way. CreateApp does all this and more. CreateApp is an ideal solution for any business looking to create a mobile app to promote its product or services. It enables business managers to easily create and deploy native mobile applications without technical knowledge or background. CreateApp is offered in Italy under the brand name, Medias-ComApps, with initial pricing set at 25-110 euros per month, depending on the modules used. It includes access to a unique business exchange platform for Asia-based companies to conduct cross-border business. The exchange features on-the-fly language translation to facilitate B2B and B2B2C interaction and e-Commerce transactions on the platform. First launched in Southeast Asia, CreateApp has attracted a large following, growing 47 percent over the last year to more than 360,000 business users globally. The launch in Italy followed the companys entry into Taiwan in association with Line Corp. According to Statista , Italy has one of the largest e-Commerce markets in Europe, which is expected to grow from $16.7 billion in 2019 to $25.3 billion by 2024. Key factors driving this growth include greater Internet penetration and the increase in the number of mobile users . Mobile shopping has also gathered significant momentum in the country, with nearly 31% of all e-Commerce B2C sales now transacted via mobile. About Medias-ComS SA Medias-Com'S is a Swiss company specializing in media and communication and all the branches that surround it. The company offers various online solutions that facilitate communication. This includes the new Medias-ComApps, an online platform for the creation of tailor-made mobile applications, and Medias-coms Signage, an online platform for the management of advertising screens. Medias-Com Shops is an online trading platform that facilitates the purchase of computer equipment. For more information, visit medias-coms.ch About Proteus Launched in 1994, Proteus is a leading regional IT provider with clients ranging from The Vatican, multiple Italian ministries, Leica Microsystems ($1bb Euro enterprise) to many large enterprise clients across Italy. For more information, visit the companys website here. About Infomaniak Founded in 1994 and wholly owned by its founders and employees, Infomaniak is an independent company based exclusively in Switzerland. More than 70% of its employees are highly qualified engineers, and it focuses systematically on internal development and open source solutions to design its products. This allows it to keep evolving its services while ensuring optimum guarantees of security and confidentiality for its customers. The company has more than 130 employees with annual revenue of 25 million euros. For more information, visit www.infomaniak.com/en. About Weyland Tech Weyland Tech is a developer and global provider of mobile business software applications. The company operates its CreateApp platform-as-a-service (PaaS) across three continents and 10 countries, including some of the fastest-growing emerging markets in Southeast Asia. The platform provides a mobile presence for small-and-medium sized businesses (SMBs) that is supported locally by distributor partnerships. Offered in 14 languages with more than 10 integrated modules, CreateApp enables SMBs to create and deploy native mobile applications for Apple iOS and Google Android without technical knowledge or background. The technology empowers SMBs to increase sales, reach more customers, manage logistics, and promote their products and services in an easy, affordable, and highly efficient way. Earlier this year, Weyland completed the acquisition of the Minneapolis-based eCommerce technology company, Logiq (formerly Push Interactive). Logiq provides an eCommerce marketing solution for enterprises and major U.S. brands. For more information, visit weyland-tech.com. Important Cautions Regarding Forward Looking Statements This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of the Company. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are forward-looking statements including statements regarding: the ability of the Company to successfully integrate Push, the continued growth of the eCommerce segment and the ability of the Company to continue its expansion into that segment; the ability of the Company to attract customers and partners and generate revenues; the ability of the Company to successfully execute its business plan; the business strategy, plans, and objectives of the Company; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as believes, expects or similar expressions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The Companys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Companys periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume any duty to update these forward-looking statements. Company Contact Brent Suen, CEO Weyland Tech Inc. Email contact Media & Investor Contact Ronald Both or Grant Stude CMA Tel (949) 432-7566 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] FRONT PAGE An article on Monday about efforts to undermine climate science research by federal employees who are wary of the scrutiny of senior officials misstated the timing of the resignation Marcy Rockman, a former climate change adaptation coordinator for the Park Service. Ms. Rockman resigned in November 2018, not last November. An article on Sunday about large tech companies that are taking advantage of the reeling economy described incorrectly Apples finances. Apple has $193 billion in cash and debt, not $192 billion in cash. INTERNATIONAL Because of an editing error, an article on Sunday about demonstrations against racism in Europe and the emergence of far-right counterdemonstrators misstated part of a quote by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain in response to the protests in London on Saturday. He said racism has no part in the U.K., not racism has no place in the U.K. Because of an editing error, an article on Saturday about a video of a police officer in Canada beating an Indigenous leader misidentified the motto of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Their motto is maintiens le droit, the French equivalent of maintain the right or uphold the law, not to serve and protect. The video marks the latest stumble for Hickenlooper. The former two-term governor, who also pursued a short-lived bid for president last year, was fined $2,750 last week by the Independent Ethics Commission. The five-member panel found that Hickenlooper violated a state gift ban in 2018 when he accepted a ride in a Maserati limousine at a conference in Turin, Italy, and traveled on a private jet owned by a home builder to Connecticut for the commissioning of the USS Colorado submarine. The cultivation of vanilla secures the income of many small-holder farmers in many tropical countries. Credit: Kristina Osen The cultivation of coffee, cocoa and vanilla secures the income of many small-holder farmers and is also a driver of land-use change in many tropical countries. In particular, cultivation in agroforestry systems, in which these crops are combined with trees that provide shade, is often considered to have great potential for ecologically sustainable cultivation. Researchers at the University of Gottingen are now showing that the land-use history of agroforestry systems plays a crucial role in assessing the sustainability of agroforestry. The results have been published in the journal Conservation Letters. Tropical agroforests differ greatly in their land-use history, i.e., the former use of the land now occupied by agroforests. On the one hand, an agroforest can be established directly in a forestin this case, the undergrowth is removed and replaced by vanilla vines, coffee or cocoa bushes. In the process, many plant and animal species and important ecosystem services are lost. On the other hand, an agroforest can be established on land that is openfor example, on a pasture or cornfield that was once forest, but had been cleared for farming. In this case, the land would be replanted with trees, and so animal species that depend on trees may benefit. Trees also store carbon and may have a cooling effect, which can reduce global warming. "Our results show that agroforestry systems can only lead to a significant enhancement of the landscape for biodiversity if they are established on open land," says Dominic Martin, first author of the study. "The conversion of the remaining species-rich tropical forests into coffee, cocoa or vanilla plantations should, however, be avoided." This requires incentives, adds Professor Holger Kreft, head of the Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography Group at the University of Gottingen. "Sustainability labels should take this into account and avoid giving certification to plantations that were previously forest. It is really only in this way that the ecological advantages of cultivation in agroforestry systems can be achieved. This can then help to ensure that our morning coffee can be enjoyed without a bitter aftertaste," says Kreft. Vanilla agroforest in Madagascar, which was established directly in the forest. Although the cultivation provides a habitat for certain animal and plant species, "forest specialists" can no longer live here. Credit: Dominik Schwab Vanilla agroforest in Madagascar, which was established on an open fallow land. The emergence of trees offers the chance to provide a habitat for certain additional species. Furthermore, tree growth contributes to carbon storage. Credit: Dominic Martin Explore further Why climate change means a rethink of coffee and cocoa production systems More information: Dominic Andreas Martin et al, Landuse history determines ecosystem services and conservation value in tropical agroforestry, Conservation Letters (2020). Journal information: Conservation Letters Dominic Andreas Martin et al, Landuse history determines ecosystem services and conservation value in tropical agroforestry,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/conl.12740 Since the summer of 2019, federal and local authorities were watching members and associates of the Boston-based NOB gang. Members were accused of committing murders, shootings and forcing women into human trafficking. The exploits of the gang were often memorialized by members in videos they produced. Federal investigators noticed one video was a recreation of a 2018 murder of a man in Boston. On Tuesday, federal authorities announced that 31 members and associates of the gang were now facing federal charges of racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking, crossing state lines for the purpose of human trafficking, firearms charges and bank fraud. Dismantling violent gangs is a top priority of the Justice Department -- operations like these have a direct, beneficial effect on the neighborhoods in which these gangs sell drugs and shoot each other, said Massachusetts United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. Federal and local authorities said the NOB gang, which stands for Norton/Olney/Barry all streets in Dorchester is associated with the Wendover street gang. Daniel Campbell, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, detailed the mayhem and murders allegedly committed by the gang over the past four years. Killings, attempted murders, armed robberies, human trafficking, drug trafficking and firearms charges; the gang ran the gamut on crimes, federal authorities said. Although the gang is based in Dorchester, their actions took them beyond the boundaries of Boston and even Massachusetts in some cases. Randolph, New Bedford, Stoughton, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Taunton, communities on Cape Cod, as well as Rhode Island, Maine and Connecticut all saw crimes committed by the gang, Campbell said in his federal affidavit filed in court. Over the last approximately four years, it is alleged that NOB members/associates have committed multiple murders and shootings many of which targeted rival gang members, particularly members/associates of the Cameron Street gang, another Boston-based street gang, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. For example, it is alleged that, in February 2020, two NOB-related murders were committed in Boston and Brockton. Boston Police Commissioner speaking during a press briefing detailing charges against dozens of alleged street gang members and associates. Authorities said the twin brother of the Brockton victim had been shot and killed in July 2019 in Boston. A member of the NOB gang was then heard in a recorded jail call stating the gangs rivals were droppin like flies, authorities said. The gang members and associates liked to steal cars so they could be used during crimes, Campbell said. One of the car thefts happened in Boston in February. A 5-year-old girl was still in the car when gang members stole it. The car was later abandoned in Randolph and the girl was located. One suspected gang member, Michael Brandao, also known as G Freedo', was involved in several crimes as a juvenile and an adult including a 2018 murder in Boston when he was a juvenile, federal authorities said. He called himself a leader of the gang in one of several videos he produced. In the videos, some members also claimed to be members of the Head Shot Mafia. One video called Die Homes was a reference to the NOBs feud with the Homes Avenue gang. The video simulates the killing of a rival gang member, Campbell wrote. Several killings authorities say were done by NOB gang members were detailed in the federal affidavit. On September 5, 2017, a man inside a Stoughton Street barbershop in Boston was shot repeatedly after a member of NOB went inside and opened fire, authorities said. The victim, according to authorities, was a member of a rival gang. The February 2018 murder of a man in Boston was later recreated in a NOB video where Brandao bragged they got revenge for the killing of two NOB members, Campbell wrote. Todays arrests should serve as a warning that we will not tolerate gang-related violence, and those who cause it, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said. Members of this criminal enterprise wrongly believed they were above the law, but they clearly underestimated us. The ATF agent also said NOB is linked to the July 14, 2019, fatal shooting of a man in Dorchester. Shootings in New Bedford and Stoughton were tied to the gang by investigators. A rival gang member was pistol-whipped and robbed at the Shawmut MBTA Station in Boston, a disturbance involving the gang occurred at the Boston Municipal Court and there were attempted murders in Brockton and Stoughton, all committed by NOB members over the past four years, authorities said. Assaults and gang-related intimidation was also coordinated from within the walls of Massachusetts prisons and jails, federal agents said. NOB members and associates were also allegedly involved in human trafficking, including transporting women across state lines. More than 25 weapons were seized from NOB members and associates For example, an NOB member allegedly transported two sisters from Massachusetts one of whom was a minor at the time to Connecticut in April 2017 for the purpose of having them engage in prostitution, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Campbells affidavit said a 2017 case in Maine involving the human trafficking of a woman is also connected to the gang. A gang member told the woman he would help her regain custody of her child but threatened to kill her and kept her addicted to drugs while forcing her to engage in sex acts for money. Members of the gang and associates are accused of trafficking cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl, crack, heroin and various types of prescription pills, including opioids across Massachusetts. Today we saw that organized crime is no match for law enforcement. As alleged, many of the individuals arrested today have engaged in a ruthless and senseless string of attacks and murders, terrorizing the communities in which they operated all across the state. Some were involved in violent crimes as far away as Maine, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. As a result of our combined efforts, the threat posed by this criminal organization has been neutralized, and the members and associates of this vicious gang will now have to answer for their horrible crimes. Those charged in the case are: Michael Brandao, a/k/a G Fredo, and Frizzblock Fredo, 19, is charged with RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Kelvin Barros, a/k/a Kal or 7981 Kal, 24, is charged with RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Ricky Pina, a/k/a Blake, 23, is charged with RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. David Rodriguez, a/k/a D, 34, is charged with RICO conspiracy. Wilson Goncalves-Mendes, a/k/a Dub, 24, is charged with RICO conspiracy. Joshua Teixeira, a/k/a Trouble, 25, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Joseph Gomes, a/k/a Joey or J-Money, 24, is charged with RICO conspiracy. Alidio Barbosa, a/k/a Ace Boogie or Ace, 23, is charged with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Samael Mathieu, a/k/a Hamma or Hamma Thang, 23, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Moses Cabral, a/k/a Moe Money, 26, is charged with RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; and crossing state lines for the purposes of prostitution. Delven Carvalho-Centeio, a/k/a Delly, 22, is charged with RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; and crossing state lines for the purposes of prostitution. Darius Bass, a/k/a Tre or Trigga Tre, 26, is charged with violent crimes in aid of racketeering. Damian Cortez, 31, is charged with crossing state lines for the purposes of prostitution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Anton Lopes, a/k/a Ton Ton, 25, is charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Brian Cardoso, 27, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Theresa Alves, 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Hailey Stringfield, 19, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Jawwad Freeman, 22, is charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Gullit Gomes, 28, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Devon Hamilton, 20, is charged with bank fraud. Adriano Cortez, a/k/a A, 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Fabrice Teixeira, 32, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Armando Gomes, a/k/a G, 31, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Patrick Dunn, 28, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Daniel Barbosa, a/k/a D, 25, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Carlos Monteiro, 43, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Tre Fernandes, a/k/a OZ or OC, 25, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sandro Pereira Cabral, 23, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. John Rodrigues, a/k/a Joao Fernandes Rodrigues, 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sean Brown, 25, is charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. (Previously charged on 3/5/2020) Eric Rodriguez, 32, is charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. (Previously charged on 2/19/2020) Related Content: A Sharadhaa By Express News Service Shubha Poonja has found her match in Sumanth Billava, and their wedding is on the cards. While the couple is to get engaged in the coming days, the wedding is planned around November. The 22-film-old actor, who hails from Mangaluru, now settled in the city, rose to fame with her critically-acclaimed role in Mogginna Manasu. She has also established herself in the Tamil film fraternity. Wishes have been pouring in from across corners since she broke the news of her getting hitched. Shubha met Sumanth last year, at a plantation drive, after which their friendship blossomed. Initially, we started bonding over phone conversations, and it was only last October that we started meeting each other frequently. He stays near my house, and he is also a Mangalurean, and we realised that we have a liking for each other. I didnt want to waste time dating, and instead thought of marriage. I informed my mother about Sumanth who in turn spoke with him. He gave his nod, after which we decided to take forward our relationship forward, she says, adding, It happened too soon, but for good. While the duo was waiting for the lockdown to end in order to commence the wedding preparations, they decided to go ahead with an official announcement in the meantime. We are planning a simple wedding, and want to hold a reception by the end of this year, which is still being planned, she says. Shubha views Sumanth as a responsible man and a family person. This was something I observed when I conversed with his family members, and then decided that he is the one, says Shubha, who is happy that her film career isnt a limitation for Sumanth. He likes movies, and is very supportive of my career. He wants me to continue acting. In fact, he has even been approached with a heros role, but he is not interested, she adds. Shubha was last seen in Naragunda Bandaya, which was released just a day before the lockdown came into effect. The actor is looking forward to the release of Trivedi, which will also be her first project as a part producer. She also has Rhymes directed by Ajith Kumar, which stars Ajith Jayaraj. The House of Representatives Intelligence Committee says executives from Facebook, Alphabet/Google, and Twitter have been summoned to appear Thursday at a virtual hearing on foreign influence and election security. The hearing will be held virtually, due to the pandemic, and is titled Emerging Trends in Online Foreign Influence Operations: Social Media, COVID-19, and Election Security. It will be livestreamed here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 06:53:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SANTIAGO, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Tuesday signed a bill that increases the emergency economic aid the government is providing the country's poorest amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The bill proposes raising the aid from 65,000 pesos to 100,000 pesos (from 83 U.S. dollars to 128 U.S. dollars) per person. Some 5.6 million people stand to benefit from the bill, according to the office of the president. "We are living in a time of emergency. We know it, we feel it and we need answers. That's why the emergency household income is an aid that is going to complement the income of Chilean families," Pinera said. The aid "will benefit all households that qualify, whether they have formal or informal workers, are dependent or independent, or even if they have no source of income of their own," he added. The measure will reach 80 percent of Chile's poorest, or 2.1 million households, in the short term, said Pinera. Part of a series of measures designed to alleviate the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on some 10 million Chileans, the bill now goes to Congress for debate and approval. Enditem Regarding Historic UCSF murals threatened (Page 1, June 13): I was outraged to learn that UCSF will destroy the historic Bernard Zakheim murals unless the family can raise $8 million to save them. These murals are an important part of the citys art heritage. They belong to all of us and their destruction would be tragic. Surely, UCSF could and should find money within the multimillion dollar budget for the new building to preserve and house them. Debby Nosowsky, San Francisco Wishful thinking Regarding Swalwell removes curtain on Trump impeachment (John Diaz, Insight, June 14): Im not in agreement with Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwells call for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to form a team of rivals by including prominent Republicans in his Cabinet. The notion that such a group would lessen the bitter political divisiveness that has gripped Washington, D.C., for the past three decades is simply wishful thinking. The election of Donald Trump as president in 2016 was a symptom of a Republican Party that has long championed trickle-down economics, anti-science environmental deregulations, and using small government to prevent basic social services from reaching the neediest among us as their approach to national governance. Frankly, Im hoping for a blue wave in November that restores the White House (and its Cabinet), as well as both chambers of Congress, to Democratic control. Only a voter-driven exodus of the GOP from the halls of power will force it to do much-needed soul searching and hopefully reexamine why it used to be known as the Party of Lincoln. Richard Fairchild, Walnut Creek Remove false information Concerning Accounts removed (News of the Day, June 13): If Twitter has removed a vast network of accounts that it says is linked to the Chinese government and was pushing false information favorable to the countrys communist rulers, then heres a question for this social media giant: Why cant Twitter remove the account of someone linked to the U.S. government who is pushing false information favorable to his own authoritarian-minded administration? Apparently, the blue Twitter bird sings different songs in different languages. Jennifer Erickson-James, San Francisco The hurdles of voting Regarding Dont let democracy go south (Editorial, June 14): As someone looking forward to casting her first ballot in a presidential election this November, Im dismayed by this editorial on voting. Republicans like Donald Trump are openly admitting that allowing voting by mail will cause a larger turnout that will likely result in their defeats. And while Im certainly willing to stand in a long line at a polling place if thats what I need to do to vote (wearing a face mask and maintaining social distance if the COVID-19 pandemic continues), thats certainly not an option for those who are infirm, elderly, caring for young children, or unable to take time off from their jobs on Election Day. Its ironic that in a year in which the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were postponed, American voters might have to become champion hurdlers just to scale all of the obstacles (such as imposing strict voter ID laws, cutting voting times, restricting registration, purging voter rolls, and limiting voting by mail) that the Republican Party has put in front of us. Our democracy isnt just going south, its heading off a cliff. Elizabeth Samuelson, San Francisco Beware of voter fraud It has become obvious that much of todays Republican Party does not believe in universal suffrage, which is tantamount to rejecting democracy. It used to be that Republicans would disguise this by claiming that their numerous efforts to make voting difficult, especially for minorities and students, were intended to prevent fraud. But after that was shown to be ridiculous inasmuch as voting fraud is practically nonexistent, they ceased pretending and now openly say, as President Trump did recently, that they cant win elections if too many people are allowed to vote. So now, among other things, in the midst of a pandemic, we see an effort to prevent voting by mail, even though the president himself votes that way and it has been shown to be almost totally free of fraud. For better or worse, we are fundamentally a two-party country and we cannot survive as a democracy if one of those parties doesnt believe in democracys bedrock principles. We must have a wave election in November in which enough Republican leaders are defeated so that a new generation will be forced to reimagine how the party thinks and operates. Peter Hanauer, Berkeley Degrees dont stop racism Regarding Education for police (Letters, June 15): While I agree with the authors suggestion for having police officers complete an undergraduate degree before assuming a role in the department, I would just like to point out that that the degree is not an inoculation against racist tendencies or violent behavior. Many degree holders of various levels are some of the worst offenders I have seen. A look at some of our countrys so-called leaders unveils their nefarious goals and intents, causing pain, suffering and death to millions. Just because you feed them logic doesnt guarantee they will digest it and internalize it. I think its worthwhile to investigate how other countries select their police force members. We could learn from them. I, too, would like to see future cadets experience ambiguity, mix with diverse students, and come out with more compassion and empathy, but it shouldnt be the only basic requirement we charge them with. The learning needs to be ongoing once theyre chosen to serve. Vietnam Airlines and the Qantas Group from Australia have recently agreed on changes to their joint venture, Jetstar Pacific, to improve the operations and profits of the budget airline. Jetstar Pacific will change its name to Pacific Airlines and feature a new logo and livery inspired by Vietnam Airlines colours and design. It will officially operate under the new name once approval is secured from authorities. It will also switch its reservation system from Navitaire to Sabre, which is currently used by Vietnam Airlines. Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines and Chairman of Pacific Airlines Trinh Hong Quang said that low-cost carriers have a role to play in supporting the return of travel as restrictions are eased, and by streamlining its functions Pacific Airlines can remain competitive, inheriting many of the efficiencies of Vietnam Airlines. The change will help both sides expand scale and strengthen the Vietnam Airlines Groups leading position in the Vietnamese aviation market, he added. Qantas Group Executive and Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said that with a highly competitive domestic market in Vietnam and the disruption caused by COVID-19, it is time to take advantage of the strength and scale of Vietnam Airlines in its home market. He affirmed that streamlining the customer and booking functions will enable further cost savings and position the airline for a stronger future as international travel restrictions are eased. Vietnam Airlines and Qantas will continue to review the low-cost carriers structure and future shareholding arrangements./.VNA ATM (Representative Image) The fear of contracting COVID-19 through high-traffic automated teller machines (ATMs) has pushed people towards alternate payment options to complete purchases. Increasingly people are leaning towards Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) and point of sale (PoS) terminals to withdraw cash, data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) suggests. In April, ATM withdrawals plunged 47 percent to 286 million compared to March, while AePS transactions more than doubled to 87 million, and PoS terminal withdrawals jumped 21 percent to 4 million. Besides this, housing societies have also arranged for doorstep cash withdrawals which has decreased footfall at ATMs, Mint reported. The data further showed that AePS transactions jumped in conjunction to the Centres direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman this means a large number of bank accounts conducting such transactions were Jan Dhan ones, it added. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here Merchant account provider Fino Payments Bank saw business at its Bharat Petroleum network outlets jump. CEO Rishi Gupta told the paper that transactions at these 8,000 outlets fell in the first week of lockdown, but the trend has since been upwards. Roughly about 5-7 percent of our transactions happens through BPCL outlets. The numbers declined in the first 15 days of the lockdown because many of these outlets were shut, but it has now recovered and is back to pre-lockdown numbers in May and we expect it to grow 20-25 percent in June," said Gupta. Curiously, digital payment transactions fell to 2.36 billion in April, compared to 3 billion in March. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on June 12 had said the goal is to increase digital transactions to a billion per day Amitabh Kant, chief executive of government think-tank NITI Aayog, recently said the country is targeting one billion digital transactions per day in a push towards bringing more people under the ambit of such modes of payments. PARIS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th June, 2020) Iran, like any country to which the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sends a request for access to facilities, should respond without delay and under any conditions, a representative of the French Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. On Monday, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi called on Tehran to provide prompt access to two unspecified nuclear facilities, which the country has denied for four months. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the country was constantly working with great transparency with the agency. "Iran, like any state to which the IAEA sends a request for access, must respond without delay and without any conditions in order to allow the IAEA inspectors to establish the absence of undeclared nuclear materials and nuclear activity on its territory. This is important for maintaining the credibility of the IAEA and strengthening its verification regime," the representative said at a briefing. The diplomat added that the agency's Board of Directors would consider Grossi's report on the issue this week in Vienna. "Our goal with UK and German partners is for the board to express its support for the professional and impartial work of the director general and the agency and encourage Iran to cooperate fully and without delay with the IAEA, in particular, by providing the requested access," the representative added. In 2015, Iran signed the JCPOA with China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. The agreement required Tehran to scale back its nuclear program and severely downgrade its uranium reserves in exchange for sanctions relief, including lifting the arms embargo five years after the deal's adoption. However, on May 8, 2018,the US pulled out of the JCPOA and reinstated harsh sanctions on Tehran. Coronavirus is able to pass between two people standing up to three feet apart even if one of them is wearing a surgical grade face mask, a new study warns. Researchers from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus also found that masks became even less efficient when people repeatedly cough into them. Scientists say the findings are 'alarming' - and underline the importance of keeping the 6ft distancing rule in place - even when masks are worn. It comes as the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is under increasing pressure from industry, particularly the hospitality trade, to relax the distancing guidelines. Scientists say the findings are 'alarming' - and underline the importance of keeping the 6ft distancing rule in place - even when masks are worn Co-author Professor Dimitris Drikakis, of the University of Nicosia said a mask alone cannot prevent the transport of saliva droplets completely. 'Many droplets penetrate the mask shield and some saliva droplet disease-carrier particles can travel more than 1.2 metres (4ft),' he said - although most travel under 1 metre (3ft). Face masks are believed to slow the spread of the pandemic but little is known about how well they work or under what conditions they won't work. The study, published in Physics of Fluids, found face masks can reduce transmission of airborne droplets - but not eliminate them completely. Without a mask these droplets travel twice as far - so wearing one will help in reducing the risk of passing on the deadly disease. However, repeated coughing, a symptom of coronavirus, reduces the efficiency of a mask and so more droplets are let through. Previous work by the same team showed droplets of saliva can travel 18 feet in five seconds when an unmasked person coughs. This time they used a precise computer model to map out their expected flow patterns when a mask-wearing person coughs. They took into account potential weather conditions, air turbulence and even the skin and mouth temperature of the person coughing. The researchers performed numerical simulations that account for droplet interactions with the porous filter in a surgical mask. 'The results are alarming. Even when a mask is worn, some droplets can travel a considerable distance during periods of mild coughing,' the authors wrote. The tests were based on a standard surgical mask exhibiting initial efficiency of about 91 per cent when preventing droplets from escaping. For visualisation purposes, the droplets were scaled up by a factor of 600 compared to their actual size - making them easier to track. 'The droplet sizes change and fluctuate continuously during cough cycles as a result of several interactions with the mask and face,' said Drikakis. Co-author Dr Talib Dbouk said masks decrease the droplet accumulation during repeated cough cycles - effectively they get worse at stopping droplets escaping. Researchers from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus also found that masks became even less efficient when people repeatedly cough into them 'However, it remains unclear whether large droplets or small ones are more infectious,' the co-author said. They advised health care workers to wear much more complete PPE (personal protective equipment) when caring for a patient. This should including helmets with built-in air filters, face shields, disposable gowns and double sets of gloves - changed regularly. The researchers also urged manufacturers and regulatory authorities to consider new criteria for assessing mask performance that account for flow physics and cough dynamics. Their earlier study published in the same journal in May found keeping 6ft apart may not be enough to protect against coronavirus. Droplets carrying the potentially deadly bug can travel 18 feet in five seconds - even in the slightest of breezes. Saliva is a complex fluid. It becomes suspended in a bulk of surrounding air when released by a cough. The study has been published in the journal Physics of Fluids. (Newser) The federal government plans to execute more people this summer than it did in the previous 30 years combined. The Justice Department says four inmatesall child-killerswill be put to death by lethal injection in July and August, NPR reports. On July 13, Daniel Lewis Lee, a former white supremacist who killed a family of three, including an 8-year-old girl, will become the first federal inmate to be executed since 2003. Wesley Ira Purkey will be executed July 15 for the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl. Dustin Lee Honken, who killed five people, including the two young daughters of a drug informant's girlfriend, will be executed July 17. Keith Dwayne Nelson will be executed August 28 for the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl. story continues below "The four murderers whose executions are scheduled today have received full and fair proceedings under our Constitution and laws," Attorney General William Barr said in a statement. "We owe it to the victims of these horrific crimes, and to the families left behind, to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system." The federal government has only executed three people, including Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, since the federal death penalty was reinstated in 1988. Barr had planned to resume executions last year, but the executions were delayed by legal challenges, reports CNN. More than 60 other prisoners are on federal death row, and Barr says more executions will be scheduled at a later date. (Read more execution stories.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 15:42:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The number of people arriving in Australia from overseas has fallen by almost 100 percent. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data released on Tuesday, 19,400 international arrivals were recorded in Australia in May, a 99 percent decline from 2019. Of those who arrived in the country, 69 percent were citizens of Australia and New Zealand. The data reflects the collapse in tourism as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As of Tuesday afternoon, there had been 7,347 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, up from 7,335 on Monday. Nine of the new cases were in Victoria and three in New South Wales (NSW). The ABS on Tuesday also released labour data, revealing that the number of jobs in Australia increased by 1 percent in May but remained 7.5 percent lower than in mid-March before strict coronavirus restrictions were introduced. According to the ABS, Australia's labour market hit its lowest point in the week ending April 18 and has been slowly recovering ever since. Accommodation and food services, the industry hit hard by COVID-19, had recovery as restrictions began to ease. "Payroll jobs in the Accommodation and food services industry increased by 5.0 percent through May, but remained 29.1 percent lower than in mid-March," Head of Labour Statistics at the ABS Bjorn Jarvis said in a media release. Enditem AmTrust Exec Launches New Commercial Crime Product AmTrust Exec, a division of AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. offering a full suite of management liability products, today announced that it has introduced a new Commercial Crime product to provide coverage for a wide range of medium- and large-sized businesses. Melissa Schwartz joined AmTrust in January 2020 from Euclid Exec to lead their Commercial Crime product offering. Previously, Schwartz was the Fidelity and Crime Product Leader with Liberty International Underwriters. The monoline Commercial Crime product covers loss from employee and third-party theft of money, securities and other property, including: Employee Theft (without manifest intent) Computer and Electronic Funds Transfer Fraud Frauulent Impersonation Clients' Property AmTrust Exec Senior Vice President James Seymour (News - Alert), formerly Principal of Euclid, said, "In this new age of cybercrime, we are finding that businesses are facing never-before-seen threats as criminals find ways to impersonate employees electronically and hack into accounting systems to misdirect funds. This new product is designed to protect against these kinds of sophisticated new schemes, as well as simple petty theft." AmTrust Exec provides coverage for a wide range of sectors including Manufacturing, Non-Profit, Oil & Gas, Retail, and Telecommunications. About AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., a multinational insurance holding company headquartered in New York, offers specialty property and casualty insurance products, including workers' compensation, business owner's policy (BOP), general liability and extended service and warranty coverage. For more information about AmTrust, visit www.amtrustfinancial.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005069/en/ (CNN) The deployment of three 100,000-ton US Navy aircraft carriers to the Pacific Ocean for the first time in years has drawn swift reaction from China, with state-sponsored media saying Beijing will not back down to defend its interests in the region. The USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Theodore Roosevelt are both patrolling in the western Pacific, while the USS Nimitz is in the east, according to US Navy press releases. With each vessel containing more than 60 aircraft, it represents the biggest deployment of US aircraft carriers in the Pacific since 2017 -- when tensions with North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program were at their peak. The presence of the carriers was first highlighted in an Associated Press report on Friday. "Carriers and carrier strike groups writ large are phenomenal symbols of American naval power. I really am pretty fired up that we've got three of them at the moment," Rear Adm. Stephen Koehler, director of operations at Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, told AP. On Sunday, the Communist Party's Global Times mouthpiece said the carriers could threaten troops in the disputed South China Sea. "By massing these aircraft carriers, the US is attempting to demonstrate to the whole region and even the world that it remains the most powerful naval force, as they could enter the South China Sea and threaten Chinese troops on the Xisha and Nansha islands (Paracel and Spratly islands) as well as vessels passing through nearby waters, so the US could carry out its hegemonic politics," the Global Times report quoted Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, as saying. The report -- posted on the People's Liberation Army's official English website -- also highlighted the armaments available to China's military, adding that Beijing could hold drills in response to show off its firepower. "China possesses aircraft carrier killer weapons like the DF-21D and DF-26 anti-ship ballistic missiles," the story said. China's counter-narrative The deployments mean three of the US Navy's seven active aircraft carriers are in the Pacific. The other four are in port for maintenance. Collin Koh, research fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in Singapore, said China reacted strongly because the presence of the carriers conflicted with Beijing's portrayal of the US Navy as a force crippled by the coronavirus pandemic. "It goes against the narrative that China wanted to put forth that the US was under stress in the Pacific," Koh said. Indeed, the Roosevelt returned to sea on June 4 after spending weeks in port in Guam following a coronavirus outbreak on board in March, when more than 1,000 of the ship's nearly 4,900-member crew tested positive. "We have returned Theodore Roosevelt to sea as a symbol of hope and inspiration, and an instrument of national power because we are TR," the Roosevelt's commander, Capt. Carlos Sardiello, said in a statement. The Reagan returned to sea in late May after crew members were placed under restricted movements at its home port in Japan to ensure it deployed without any Covid-19 cases. It has also been loaded with more than 1,000 tons of ordnance -- "enough combat power to cause the ship to sit five inches lower on the waterline," a US Navy statement said. The move comes after the US Pacific Fleet said last month that all its forward-deployed submarines were at sea conducting operations in the western Pacific. No numbers were given, but experts said it likely involved more than eight of the hard-to-track, fast-attack vessels. Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center, said it wasn't a coincidence. "The (Chinese navy) doesn't know where those submarines are and that complicates any response calculations and planning," he said -- especially when Beijing now also has to account for three aircraft carriers and their accompanying destroyers and cruisers. US-China tensions The deployments also come at a time of increasing tensions between Washington and Beijing over the South China Sea and Taiwan. Last week, a US Navy C-40 transport plane, the equivalent of a Boeing 737, flew over Taiwan en route to Thailand on what the Navy said was a routine logistics flight. The US jet was routed over Taiwan, which China regards as part of its territory, by Taiwanese air controllers, US Navy spokesperson Reann Mommsen told CNN. But Beijing called the flight "an unlawful act and a serious provocation," the state-run Xinhua news service said. "The overflight undermined China's sovereignty, security and development interests and breached international law and basic norms guiding international relations," the Xinhua story said, citing Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. On June 4, the US Navy sent a guided-missile destroyer through the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from the Chinese mainland. And in the South China Sea, the 1.3 million square mile body of water which Beijing mostly claims as its sovereign territory, US warships have performed multiple freedom of navigation operations this year. US B-1 bombers and surveillance planes have also been active. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Three US Navy aircraft carriers are patrolling the Pacific Ocean at the same time. And China's not happy." ablokhin/iStockBy STACY CHEN, ABC News (SEATTLE) -- A Traders Joe's store in Seattle has been closed temporarily, and some workers says it's related to employees' support of the Black Lives Matter movement. On June 11, a group of employees at the Trader Joe's Capitol Hill store informed their managers that they would be attending a Black Lives Matter protest the next day, which they were told would be an excused absence, according to Peter Strand, a crew member at the store and an employee-appointed spokesperson. Due to limited staff, the store had an early closure on that Friday, Strand said. But upon learning this, Trader Joe's corporate office subsequently decided that location would be "closed indefinitely, effective immediately," according to Strand. "I think we were all shocked there has been no prior indication that a closure was a possibility," Strand told ABC News. Dismayed with the sudden announcement, the group of employees reached out to the community for a protest of their own, Strand said. On Sunday, the group posted a petition to save the store, and within 24 hours it had garnered more than 19,000 signatures. Some employees at the store believe the store's abrupt closure on the day that dozens of its workers protested in solidarity with Black Lives Matter was a deliberate retaliation from the company. "We believe that our community deserves to know that Trader Joe's corporate took this action in response to our participation in [the] march," Strand said. "That was a clear tipping point," But Trader Joe's spokesperson Kenya Friend-Daniel told ABC News in a statement Monday that they closed the Capitol Hill location early last Friday due to the lack of crew members and that it will only be a temporary closure. "During this temporary closure, we are taking the time to execute a remodel plan to address safety and security concerns that have developed over the last year," the statement said. "We will reopen the store as soon as these construction projects are completed, and it is our hope that we can welcome back our customers in the next week or two." Friend-Daniel also added that Trader Joe's will continue paying their crew members for their scheduled shifts during this time. When ABC News pressed Trader Joe's about the employees' claims, the company did not provide a response. Staff at the store said they received that same announcement on Monday via their scheduling app. "That is a smokescreen -- we were not told anything about a proposed remodel until today, we were not told anything about extended closures," Strand told ABC News. 'That is them regaining control of the narrative because they are feeling the pressure." Most of the crew members there work paycheck to paycheck, said Strand. "Many of us [are] working without health insurance while having steady exposure to the public," he said. Prior to the temporary closure, employees at the Capitol Hill location were organizing to fight for a living wage, health insurance, hazard pay and other protective measures against the coronavirus, Strand said. Earlier this month, Trader Joe's issued a statement in support of its black crew members and customers, echoing the sentiments of many companies who have affirmed their commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement. "At Trader Joe's we uphold the human rights and civil rights of all of our Crew Members and customers and communities. We have no tolerance for racism, discrimination, harassment or intimidation," the statement said in part. Strand called the statement vague and disingenuous, and said he has not seen the company take actions that tangibly support the movement or black crew members. "This labor struggle is not just about getting our jobs back -- it's about loudly and unequivocally denouncing corporate anti-blackness," Strand said. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 16, 2020 | MARSHALL COUNTY By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 16, 2020 | 10:01 AM | MARSHALL COUNTY Marshall County Judge-Executive Kevin Neal has laid out a plan to reorganize the county's school resource officer program, and expand the number of officers in the county. In a Facebook post Monday evening, Neal said his plan includes creating a new School Resource Officer Agency, which would be funded primarily by the school system. All officers would have to obtain Peace Officer Professional Standards training within one year of employment. The number of school resource officers would be expanded from eight to 11, along with a supervisor who would answer to the Fiscal Court. Officers would be paid $36,700 for a full-time, 176-day school year. There would also be coverage for equipment, training, sick days, vacation and overtime. The fiscal court will add $114,000 to the SRO budget line, the same amount that was added last year. Neal says his plan is superior to the current arrangement because it gets more for the taxpayers dollar while at the same time increasing school security. "This is a better deal for our students, faculty, and staff, and that matters most." Neal said. Neal also addressed what he called recent "rumors and misinformation" that he intended to defund school resource officers in the county, saying he was unable to sign a recent Community Oriented Policing Services grant because Marshall County Sheriff Eddie McGuire had mistakenly pre-arranged employment of a deputy, which is prohibited in the language of the grant. He added that the grant was not part of a sustainable plan. "I was a police officer myself for 16 years. I fully support having school resource officers in our schools that are qualified and receive the necessary training," Neal said. "It is an absolute necessity. As a father and grandfather, I understand the safety of our children is paramount, and I am glad to see there is widespread support from our citizens." Here is Neal's full statement: My Proposed Plan for Resource Officers in our School System By Judge-Executive Kevin Neal There has been a lot of rumors and misinformation flying around since Sheriff McGuire asked me to sign a COPS grant. The assumption seemed to be that I did not have a plan to improve security in our schools nor did I care. Some individuals have taken it upon themselves to throw out the truth and try to convince the public that I plan on defunding our school resource officers. I have never stated that I had any intention or desire to defund our school resource officers. It is simply not true. I was unable to sign that COPS grant because Sheriff McGuire had mistakenly pre-arranged employment of a deputy. It is prohibited in the language of the grant. And second, the grant was not part of a sustainable plan. I was a police officer myself for 16 years. I fully support having school resource officers in our schools that are qualified and receive the necessary training. It is an absolute necessity. As a father and grandfather, I understand the safety of our children is paramount, and I am glad to see there is widespread support from our citizens. I fully intend to negotiate with Sheriff McGuire and our commissioners to improve the safety of our schools through our school resource officers while protecting our taxpayers as we head into the future. My first proposal is simple. We create a School Resource Officer Agency. This would be a new law enforcement agency funded primarily by the school with help from the fiscal court. The school systems budget in 2019 was 65 million dollars. The County had a budget of 22 million. This might help you understand why the school pays a majority of the line item for school resource officers. The county will partner with the school to keep our students safe. The officers would be POPS certified. There would be 11 officers with one as an acting supervisor. There would be a small office for the officers at each school if available. The supervisor would answer to myself and the fiscal court. There was one constituent that was concerned rent-a-cops would be used. That could not be further from the truth. Some officers might have a career of policing under their belts. Others might be years. As I mentioned, theyll all be POPS certified, and theyll be required to fulfill three levels of SRO training. These officers will be paid $36,700 for a full-time, 176-day school year. This salary is 75% higher than the state average. There is also coverage for equipment, training, sick days, vacation and overtime. The supervisor salary is to be determined. The SRO budget line already contains $375,000 from the school for eight school resource officers as well as vacation, sick time, training, equipment and overtime. The fiscal court will add $114,000 to the SRO budget line, the same amount we added last year, but we will be getting 11 officers instead of 8. What makes this plan superior? First, the school system will move from 8 school resource officers to 11. Second, if they are not SRO trained yet, they will be during their first year on the job. Third, it gets more for the taxpayers dollar while increasing school security at the same time. This is a better deal for our students, faculty, and staff, and that matters most. Fourth, we currently have 5 full-time, year-round deputies and 3 full-time, 176-day contracted deputies filling these SRO positions. That took our Sheriffs office from 22 deputies to 30. There are 27 deputies that cover the road. Our departments call volume does not justify hiring eight full-time, year-round school resource officers when 22 deputies can handle the calls. Fifth, it eliminates the problem with officers potentially leaving their post for an emergency somewhere else in the county. The President of the Kentucky School Resource Officers Association, Chris Barrier, expressed to me over a phone call that full-time, year-round deputies can end up working days of double shifts. This can leave the school with an SRO that is fatigued and not on top of his or her game. Having school resource officers that solely work the schools is the safest option for the students, faculty, and staff. Sixth, this plan takes some of the workload off the Sheriff. It allows him to focus on the many responsibilities that come with his job. My second proposal is not much different than the first. It would keep management of the school resource officers with the Sheriff. That decision would be left completely to him. However, the details in the first proposal would be mandatory minus the formation of a new and separate law enforcement agency. All school resource officers must be POPS certified. Their full-time, 176-day salary would be no greater or less than $36,700 and they would work exclusively as school resource officers. The fiscal court would continue to manage the purse strings related to all school resource officers. I feel like many people are confused between a reduced subsidy at the Sheriffs Department and defunding our school resource officers. It is true that the Sheriffs Department will be facing a reduced subsidy. However, $375,000 from the school and $114,000 from the fiscal court will be specifically allocated to fund 11 school resource officers. My office, as well as most of our departments, are dealing with cuts. The pension crisis hit the fiscal court with a bill over $900,000. There is still $400,000 to pay that will likely be due in 2021. The Covid-19 crisis has pushed back the date we must start paying again. Now, like every other county in the country, we are dealing with the loss of income tax revenue due to people being out of work and businesses being closed. My thoughts are with all of our affected citizens. In closing, this has unfortunately proven to be an unnecessarily contentious issue. Id like to end on a positive note. I realize there are not many people out there with extra cash stuffed under their mattresses. But if there are people out there looking for a tax write-off or just want to do some charitable giving, youll be glad to know that Senate Bill 1 allows you to donate money directly to school resource officers or school safety as a whole. Your donations could allow the school to fund more resource officers or pay for a variety of safety equipment as it is needed. If you do make a donation to the school that you want to be specifically applied to school resource officers or school safety, make sure its in writing with a signature and date. I greatly appreciate each one of you that has taken the time to read this post and consider my position on the issue of school resource officers. Sincerely- Judge Neal Click here to read the full article. Kimberly Hebert and Ryan Michelle Bathe take over Varietys Instagram account Tuesday, June 16 at 12 p.m. PT to discuss the upcoming virtual presentation of the late actor, writer and social activist Beah Richards A Black Woman Speaks. Richards who earned an Oscar nod for her performance in Guess Whos Coming to Dinner, died in 2000 at the age of 80 penned and debuted A Black Woman Speaks in 1950. The verse performance piece indicts white womanhood for the role that they play in oppressing women of color and challenges the polite notions of feminism while examining the intersectionality of race and gender for Black women in America. More from Variety Tiffany Boone (Little Fires Everywhere, Hunters), Kelly McCreary (Greys Anatomy), Simone Missick (All Rise) and Pauletta Washington (Genius: Aretha) will also participate in the live reading, along with Tamela Aldridge, Guinea Bennett-Prince, Yvette Cason, Caroline Cay, Kelly Jenrette, Nikiya Mathis, Kellee Stewart and Jamila Webb. Each participant will read one poem from the collection of 14. The virtual performance has been assembled amid growing support of the Black Lives Matter movement and, specifically, the call for justice for Breonna Taylor. Shared by an assemblage of powerful Black women actors who were looking for a means to express their voices, their grief, their anger and their hope in this time of change, a description of the event reads. This work disabuses us of the notion that solidarity can be presumed. We must all look at our culpability head on. Story continues Hebert serves as the founder and artistic director for the non-profit Black Rebirth Collective, which will stream the virtual event from www.blackrebirthcollective.org at 10 a.m. PT on June 19th. Organizers ask that those who view the work donate to the Equal Justice Initiative and The Collective PAC. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. HKSAR gov't finance chief appeals for putting aside conflicts, focusing on economy Global Times Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/6/15 11:00:22 Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Paul Chan on Sunday appealed to relevant people to put aside conflicts and focus on the region's economic development. In an online article, Chan said Hong Kong's unemployment rate, which hit 5.2 percent in April, will further increase and even likely surpass the worst-case scenario witnessed during the global financial crisis in 2009. The number of the unemployed may reach a record high in 15 years, he added. Under such circumstances, any recurrence of violent acts will deprive the small and medium-sized enterprises of a respite, he said, stressing that for employees, what is the most important now is securing their jobs. He expressed the hope that conflicts can be put aside at the present and people can focus on addressing economic difficulties so as to let residents who have seen their incomes decreasing and firms who have suffered financial hardship have opportunities to survive. Chan said tranches under the new budget, which are worth over 120 billion Hong Kong dollars (15.4 billion U.S. dollars) and two rounds of anti-epidemic funds of more than 160 billion Hong Kong dollars (20.6 billon U.S. dollars) are being handed out to targeted sectors and groups. With the COVID-19 outbreak under control, Hong Kong residents have begun to resume their daily activities, Chan said, adding that from the beginning of July, most eligible Hong Kong permanent residents will receive a cash handout of 10,000 Hong Kong dollars (1,290 U.S. dollars). These measures are expected to stimulate consumer market, he said. Chan said Hong Kong residents could not travel abroad or to the mainland for quite a long time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which however will benefit local consumption, together with the promotions of banks and shopping malls. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An investigation within the Department of Health into the leak of confidential documents regarding the pandemics grim impact on the states nursing homes is expanding, according to sources with knowledge of the inquiry. More than 20 people have now been questioned as part of a state Ethics Commission probe into leaked data and recorded conversations obtained by NJ Advance Media, according to those sources. At the same time, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, in new recordings made without her knowledge and provided to NJ Advance Media, expressed her frustration with the bureaucrats running the department who she complained would outlast her. The recordings came from private conversations with Department of Health officials. On the recordings, Persichilli also says that Christopher Neuwirth, a high-ranking health official fired last month, was let go because the Murphy administration was convinced he was leaking confidential information to NJ Advance Media and other news organizations about the states response to the coronavirus. The department has said only that Neuwirth is no longer employed as assistant commissioner for the Division of Public Health, Infrastructure, Laboratories and Emergency Preparedness. However, Persichilli says on the recording that administration officials believed he provided internal analytical material to news organizations showing the severe shortage in nursing homes of personal protective equipment known as PPE, such as masks and gowns, at a time the department was prioritizing hospitals. In another of the recordings, she said administration officials had told her all things point to Chris. He has to go. Her response, she says on the recording, was to ask whether he was an at-will employee, which refers to a non-Civil Service employee who can be terminated at any time and for any reason, except an illegal one. They said yes, she related. I said, Well then, we dont have to discuss this any further. Neuwirth, in a phone interview, denied that he ever leaked anything to any media outlet. Its categorically false, he said, as were reports that he had failed to disclose another job outside of the Health Department. No reason was given to him for his being fired, he said. The director of human resources came into my office and terminated me. I was told that I was terminated for no cause and simply that my services were no longer needed, which I found hard to understand in the middle of a pandemic. Health Department officials did not respond to multiple requests seeking comment. The departments internal investigation of the leaks began after NJ Advance Media published a story based on internal department records and statements by officials, as well as interviews with families, workers and others, that found that New Jersey failed to react fast enough or take forceful, aggressive actions to slow the deadly rampage in nursing homes as the virus preyed on the states most vulnerable patients. Knowing that nursing home residents were at grave risk, state inspectors did not begin making on-site inspections inside facilities until April 16, according to officials 36 days after New Jersey reported its first death. The state also gave hospitals first dibs on protective equipment, leaving a short supply of ill-fitting masks for nursing home inspectors. More than 6,320 nursing home residents have died in New Jersey from COVID-19. Meanwhile, a group of anonymous employees that included Department of Health staffers with public health degrees and training and one Human Services employee, in a new letter to lawmakers on Monday criticized the recently released report by an outside consulting firm commissioned by the state. The $500,000 report by Manatt Health said nursing homes in New Jersey had been underprepared and under-staffed to deal with the coronavirus, and called for tougher state scrutiny. The letter that was provided to NJ Advance Media claimed the consultants failed to address the problems within the Department of Health, including the allocation of protective equipment and test kits. It said the consultants had obscured our leaderships most important mistake through consultant-speak and high-level recommendations, at the expense of nursing homes and long-term care facilities. NJ Advance Media knows the identity of three of the employees, who asked not to be named because of fears of retaliation. They say other staffers joined them, but they would not disclose who they are. Their letter is the second that has been sent to state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., R-Union. In their letter, the group reiterated their criticism of Persichillis directive about accepting nursing home residents back from hospitals. Remember, in the commissioners directive, there was an explicit requirement that nursing homes COULD NOT ask for a negative test from hospitals before readmitting a resident. Therefore, operators could claim plausible deniability without a test result, and place a resident wherever they saw fit. Furthermore, there was no testing requirement for the long term care facilities themselves in the Commissioners directive that would have forced operators to cohort appropriately; in fact, testing was not required until May 12th, when thousands of recovering, COVID-positive nursing home residents were readmitted to the nursing homes and actively infecting staff and other residents alike," they wrote. Any honest look at the states response would have surfaced this egregious problem. This review did not. The governors office did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the legislative leadership. An Assembly committee is scheduled to take up the issue of the nursing home crisis at a hearing in Trenton on Tuesday. Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL B Anbuselvan By Express News Service CHENNAI: Even as the state government announced a complete lockdown from June 19 in Chennai and parts of Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, the city borders were sealed on Tuesday itself. Thousands of officegoers and daily wage workers from neighbouring districts who regularly commute to the city were not allowed into Chennai without e-passes. Motorists who were denied entry into the city picked up an argument with police personnel deployed at Nallur, Paranur and Sriperumbudur toll gates. Many said they have been travelling from suburban areas without e-passes for nearly 30 days. From June 1, private companies were permitted to operate with 50 percent of staff. Though Chennai is categorised as a different zone and e-passes were mandatory, until Tuesday the police were not strictly enforcing it and allowed officegoers and workers if they showed their identity cards. Police and revenue officials blamed private companies for not adhering to lockdown guidelines due to which the citys entry points witnessed sudden pile-ups of vehicles. Lockdown relaxations were announced with the precondition that only 50 percent of staff should be engaged, that too with transit passes. Barring a few IT companies, the majority of private company employees travel without e-passes, said a revenue official. I was stopped at the Sriperumbudur toll gate asking for a transit pass. I have been travelling from Vellavedu and Ramapuram for the past one month, said R Senthil, an employee of an engineering company. On Monday, I was denied entry at the Paranur toll gate to enter the city. My company asked me to apply for a pass and come to office in Ashok Nagar, but there was no option for individuals to apply for passes for travelling to office, rued another employee S Manju from a financial consulting company. A senior official said, All private companies should apply for e-passes for their employees, without which they will not be allowed to travel into Chennai. Those who engage in essential services such as media also have to obtain e-passes for crossing the city borders." (Bloomberg Opinion) -- What pushed former Defense Secretary James Mattis over the edge, to denounce President Donald Trump, in the strongest possible terms? Only the former general knows for sure, but a clue is provided by the title of his statement: In Union There Is Strength. Another clue is provided by the most important words in his text: Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. With those words, Mattis is signaling a national challenge that goes back to the founding era, that almost derailed the American project from the very start, that helped start the Civil War, and that has had to be managed with great care during every national crisis. Shortly after the American Revolution, the new nation was at grave risk of falling apart. To many people, diverse affiliations and identities made it difficult to speak of the United States of America. Under the Articles of Confederation, intense loyalty to states, and competition among states, seemed to outstrip loyalty to the nation. Prominent politicians fueled the divisions. The Constitution was designed to solve that problem. You can see what its framers had in mind if you look an early draft of the document. It began: We the People of the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, and so forth, do ordain, declare, and establish the following Constitution. The final version has a radically different start: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union . . . The early draft suggests that the Constitution is created by the states; it sees We the People as citizens of their states, first and foremost. The final text emphasizes national citizenship. And rather than going directly from We the People to the act of establishing the Constitution, it declares the purposes of that act and gives pride of place to the formation of a more perfect Union. Story continues That project was designed to overcome disparate allegiances, interests and ideologies, producing factions, which James Madison regarded as an omnipresent threat. More specifically, the institution of slavery was a moral as well as practical threat to the existence of that more perfect union and of course its legacy is at the heart of some of our divisions today. Mattiss concrete concern is what he sees as the misuse of the military to maintain public order. As he understands it, that task rests with civilian state and local leaders who best understand their communities and are answerable to them. In his view, our response to protests should not be militarized. The power of Mattiss text lies in linking that claim with the broader idea of national unity. If the military is deployed too readily, we will see a conflict a false conflict between the military and civilian society. That is dangerous; it is what we see in authoritarian societies. Mattis views a conflict between the military and civilian society, concocted during a series of protests over racial injustice, as distinctly threatening to national unity. There is a reason that, by tradition, the military is nonpartisan. Whether generals or captains or privates, soldiers protect the American people, not a party or a politician. Mattis refers explicitly to the Constitution. But Madison himself was deeply concerned about the potential weakness of parchment barriers, used to protect against the encroaching spirit of power. In 1788, Madison asked: Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks no form of government can render us secure. The very project of self-government depends on a shared understanding that, for all of our divisions, Americans are engaged in a common enterprise and that national leaders are committed, above everything else (including their own self-interest), to that enterprise. When the president does not share that commitment, we are in a wretched situation.Mattis is aiming to get us out of it. Who will join him? This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Cass R. Sunstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of The Cost-Benefit Revolution and a co-author of Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. New Delhi, June 16 : A total of 155 companies with origins in India are responsible for generating over $22 billion in investments and nearly 1.25 lakh jobs in the US, according to a report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The report titled 'Indian Roots, American Soil 2020' showed that the states with the top concentrations of Indian companies reporting were New Jersey, Texas, California, New York, Illinois and Georgia. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) and research and development expenditure of the companies stood at $175 million and $900 million, respectively. Texas, California, New Jersey, New York, and Florida are home to the greatest number of workers in the US directly employed by the reporting Indian companies. The surveyed companies disclosed the highest amounts of foreign direct investment (FDI) were in Texas, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Massachusetts. Indian investments in 20 US states stand at over $100 million each, showed the survey. Around 77 per cent of the companies plan to make more investments in the world's largest economy and 83 per cent of the companies plan to hire more employees locally in the next five years. The CII survey respondents are from sectors including pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, aerospace and defense, financial services, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, said: "The survey results show that the US is a preferred investment destination for Indian companies which are contributingsignificantly to supporting local jobs. The results in the survey capture a snapshot in time, documenting tangible investments and direct jobs only, so Ibelieve that the actual economic impact of Indian FDI in the US is much larger." He further said that it is critical that the US government continues to provide a supportive policy environment for Indian companies to flourish and enhance their operations in the US, especially to aid economic recovery at this time. SEOUL, South Korea, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Medit announces the nomination of its new Chief Executive Officer, GB (Gyu Bum) Ko, amidst the company's 20th year as a global provider of 3D scanning solutions. Ko joins Medit to accelerate its growth strategy as a leader in the dental clinics and labs market. Founder Minho Chang focuses on his role as a board member following the appointment. "I am truly excited to join Medit on its path of rapid growth and to shift the paradigm of dentistry. I had a chance to witness the company's immense potential, its strive for excellence, and the passion of the entire team towards our mission. Medit's products are enhancing the experience of dental professionals and patients worldwide, and this is what makes working for the company incredibly rewarding. I look forward to supporting Medit's success journey," says Ko about his new role as CEO. Ko is a seasoned professional with over two decades of management experience in multinational medtech companies, including Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and Stryker, where he has held several senior sales and marketing assignments in Australia, China, Korea, the UK, and the US. With a chemical engineering degree from Korea's prestigious Seoul National University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Ko covered roles from process engineering to product management, strategic marketing and general management, with a keen sense for corporate and competitive strategy as well as international market development. Following Ko's appointment, Medit's founder Minho Chang will focus on his role as an active board member. "Medit is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and I would like to thank all our users, partners, other stakeholders, and staff as well as everyone who contributed to the remarkable growth of Medit over the past two decades. Driven by our focus on end-users, we are now rewarded with another opportunity to take the next leap forward as a leader in digital dentistry. Congratulations to everyone," says Chang. Ko officially takes over as CEO from June 2020 while Medit is preparing for a new software update scheduled later this year, to further improve the capabilities of its Medit i500 intraoral scanner and Medit T-Series dental lab scanners. About Medit Corp Medit is a global provider of 3D measurement and CAD/CAM solutions for dental clinics and labs, including intraoral scanners, based on its own patented state-of-the-art technology. The company also develops platform solutions for digital dentistry, supporting collaborative workflows. Additionally, the Solutionix line provides 3D scanners and software to the industrial market. The company's goal is to provide innovative technology and the highest quality products to ensure mutual growth for all partners. Medit is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea since its inception in 2000. The company also has representatives located in the Americas and Europe, and boasts a global network of distributors in over 70 countries. SOURCE Medit Related Links https://www.medit.com/ Charles Taylor, the London-based provider of services and technology solutions to the global insurance market, has appointed Rob Brown as group chief executive officer. With more than three decades of industry experience, Brown has worked as an underwriter, a broker and a manager and has built an excellent reputation for leadership, through concentrated focus on clients, people and communications, said Charles Taylor in a statement. Brown succeeds David Marock who is leaving the company almost nine years as group CEO, which was first announced in April 2020. In his previous role as CEO of AXA Global Corporate Solutions, Brown was responsible for 1500 employees globally. During his four-year tenure, he successfully led the team of the Corporate Solutions business to expand their product solutions and their client base. Prior to AXA, Brown spent 15 years at Aon in a variety of senior leadership roles in the UK and EMEA, including four years as CEO of Aon UK. Between 2011 and 2014, he held the position of CEO of Aon Risk Solutions, EMEA, with overall leadership of 15,000 employees across 50 countries. He joined Aon in 2001. Brown also has held underwriting roles in commercial lines at global insurance carriers, including Zurich and AIG. We are delighted to welcome Rob to Charles Taylor. He is a highly regarded CEO with impressive insurance experience at the board and executive level within major insurance market organisations and an outstanding leader of people. Above all he is a great cultural fit for our organization having also spent time in multiple markets around the world in people-focused businesses, commented Edward Creasy, chairman of Charles Taylor. The insurance industry increasingly relies on first class providers of services and solutions to access expertise and operational capacity, and to help market participants across the world deliver what their clients want, said Brown. I believe that this will be truer than ever over the coming years as current market conditions drive more rapid operating model change. About Charles Taylor Charles Taylor is a global provider of professional services and technology solutions dedicated to enabling the global insurance market to do its business fundamentally better. Dating back to 1884, Charles Taylor now employs approximately 3000 staff in more than 120 locations spread across 30 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Charles Taylors customer base includes national and international insurers, mutuals, captives, MGAs, Lloyds syndicates and reinsurers, along with brokers, distributors and corporate insureds. Topics Aon Market AXA XL Michigan officials on Monday, June 15 took action to address the disproportionately high number of nursing home deaths in the state as the total number of confirmed cases statewide surpassed 60,000. Michigan imposed a mandate on the testing of Michigan nursing home patients and staff after surveying each of the states 447 nursing homes and determining theyve accounted for nearly 2,000 or 34% of the states COVID-19 deaths, as of Sunday. Michigan nursing home facilities face fines if they dont comply with new testing rules Browser does not support frames. Michigan health officials announced 74 new cases on Monday, June 15, pushing the states total confirmed COVID-19 cases to 60,064. The state reported 5,772 people have died from the virus, up 2 from Sundays report. Michigan -- the 10th most populous state -- ranks ninth in the nation in confirmed cases and sixth in deaths, according to data firm Statista. Michigan continues to see declines in both categories, which has allowed the state to slide down the list, while states like Texas and Florida are seeing increases in cases over the last two weeks. Michigan surpasses 60,000 cases FILE - This April 7, 2020 file photo shows a bottle of hydroxychloroquine tablets in Texas City, Texas. Several authors of a large study that raised safety concerns about malaria drugs for coronavirus patients have retracted the report, saying independent reviewers were not able to verify information thats been widely questioned by other scientists. A retraction in the journal Lancet on Thursday, June 4, 2020 involved a May 22 report on hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, drugs long used for preventing or treating malaria but whose safety and effectiveness for COVID-19 are unknown. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)AP The Food and Drug Administration announced Monday it has revoked the emergency authorization to use malaria drugs as a possible treatment against the COVID-19 virus. According to the Associated Press, the FDA has determined the drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are not effective in treating people with or preventing people from contracting the COVID-19 virus. President Donald Trump has promoted the drug as a possible treatment at several press conferences during the pandemic and said he was taking the drug as recently as last month. FDA revokes emergency approval for hydroxychloroquine Signs show maximum indoor guest capacity as well as have maks recommendation and other coronavirus-related advice outside of Xolo, which reopens fully for the first time amidst COVID-19 on Monday, June 8, 2020 in downtown Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | Mlive.com State health leaders reported nearly 45,000 coronavirus recoveries as of Saturday, June 13. A week ago, recoveries were just over 42,000. The latest data for COVID-19 in Michigan, released Saturday, shows 44,946 recoveries. The state defines a recovery as someone who is alive 30 days beyond the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Nearly 45,000 have recovered from coronavirus in Michigan Vice President Mike Pence plans to visit several Michigan businesses Thursday and deliver remarks at a steel manufacturer in Sterling Heights. The White House announced Pences travel plans include lunch at Engine House, a bar and grill owned by two Detroit firefighters, followed by a tour of Chardam Gear Company. Pence is also scheduled to visit Casadei Structural Steel Inc. and deliver remarks before returning to Washington D.C. America First Policies, a nonprofit group created to promote the policy agenda of President Donald Trumps re-election campaign, later announced Pence will participate in a noon roundtable at Casadei Structural Steel. A press release states the event is focused on policies driving economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic and is part of the groups Great American Comeback Tour. VP Pence to visit Michigan, talk coronavirus recovery in manufacturing While most of Michigans economy has reopened, including salons, which were the latest to do so on Monday, gyms are among the businesses that are still closed. As the owner of a Fit Body Boot Camp in West Bloomfield, Karen Scott has a detailed plan consistent with social distancing guidelines, sanitation procedures and additional safety protocols that have allowed other sectors of business to reopen in Michigan since the COVID-19 pandemic. She is among those in the industry who are frustrated they are among the last to rejoin the economy. Updated list of whats allowed in Michigan Barber "Willie G." cuts the hair of Daniel Egan, of Detroit, at Detroit Barber Co. in the Corktown neighborhood in Detroit, on Monday, June 15, 2020. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com While most bars and restaurants reopened last week with new safety precautions and social distancing requirements in place, some decided not to reopen yet over coronavirus concerns. Genji and Pis Asian Express, both in the Midland area, are closed due to coronavirus issues, according to both restaurants Facebook pages. Bay Citys Rathskeller Food & Spirits wasnt able to reopen, as one employee tested positive for COVID-19. Rathskeller Food & Spirits, 600 E Midland St., announced through a Facebook post that it would not be reopening June 8 as planned due to an employee testing positive for COVID-19. Paulette Groya, who owns the restaurant with her husband, found out around 9 a.m. on June 8, just two hours before they were set to reopen, that their son, who works at the restaurant, tested positive. 2 restaurants in Midland, one in Bay City remain closed over coronavirus concerns COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. RELATED STORIES Monday, June 15: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Confirmed coronavirus cases in Michigan near 60,000 Monday, June 15: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan unemployment claims decline, thousands still filing Michigan retailers caught in a no-win situation of enforcing mask use Michigan barber the lone license suspension during coronavirus pandemic Shown from left to right are John, Penelope and Josef Lamson; Dr. Trey Dobson; nurse Pamela Duchene; and Gabriel, Thea, Amy and Adelaide Newbold. Berkshires Beat: First Day School Students Donate Funds to SVHC SVHC donation In mid-May, the Southwestern Vermont Health Care Foundation received a letter and donation from the First Day School of the Bennington Friends Meeting, a local group of the Religious Society of Friends, known more commonly as Quakers. The letter was written by 11-year-old Thea Newbold of North Bennington. She wrote on behalf of the other children of The First Day School, the Quaker equivalent of Sunday school, according to Amy Newbold, Theas mother. In the letter, Thea explained that the adults had provided the children with funds to give to the charity or charities of their choice and that the children had chosen to send a third of the funds to the hospital. "We know that you are risking your lives to help people in need during this pandemic," Thea wrote. "And we are very grateful for your hard work. Please accept this gift to help you get supplies like masks to protect others and yourselves." The letter was signed by Addie, Gabe, Josef and Penelope. "While we are deeply grateful for each of the donations we have received to the COVID-19 Relief Fund over the past several months, this one was particularly heartwarming," said Leslie Keefe, vice president for Corporate Development at SVHC. "Our health care providers take great comfort in the support of these compassionate and thoughtful children." The health system invited The First Day School of the Bennington Friends Meeting to meet SVHC's clinical leaders Chief Medical Officer Dr. Trey Dobson and Chief Nursing Officer Pamela Duchene on the lawn at the front of the hospital earlier this month. "It is really special that the children chose SVHC as the local organization for their contribution," said Duchene. "It is wonderful that, at such young ages, they recognize the importance of caring for their community." The children also supported Feeding America and the World Wildlife Foundation. Humane society reopens Berkshire Humane Society has reopened doors of its main shelter at 214 Barker Road in Pittsfield, effective June 16, after being closed to the public for three months due to COVID-19 precautions. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. The society's Family Dog School is also open. Purradise, the Societys satellite cat adoption and boarding facility in Great Barrington, remains closed until further notice. Cat boarding is still available at the main shelter. Catwalk Boutiques, Berkshire Humane Societys resale shops, reopen Thursday, June 18. Startup hours for the stores at 301 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington and 53 Church Street in Lenox, a new location, are Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 pm and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Procedures are in place at all locations to protect staff, volunteers and the public from COVID-19, including mandatory masks, scheduled cleaning of surfaces and monitoring of building occupancy. Hancock Shaker Village dining to open Hancock Shaker Village's Seeds Market Cafe will be open for al fresco dining beginning Thursday, June 18. The village, which is open outdoors for Baby Animals as part of the commonwealth's Phase 1, is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through June 28. Seeds Market Cafe will be open concurrently, offering the public outdoor tables with beautiful views of the historic village, rolling fields and meadows, and the surrounding Berkshire hills. The menu, created by chef Brian Alberg, includes freshly made signature dishes and items with a twist, including potato leek and sweet pea soup; arugula, bacon, and fresh farm egg salad; a chick pea salad with avocado spread; and a homemade pie du jour. Pastry chefs Amanda Perreault and Cynthia Walton will be baking fresh pastries each day. The menu is always sourced from local farms, including Hancock Shaker Village, the oldest working farm in western Massachusetts. For a complete list of safety guidelines, visit the website. Respiratory program Berkshire Community College is continuing to offer its Respiratory Care program and will enroll new students into its spring 2021 cohort. The college is offering a variety of virtual information sessions for interested students on Tuesday, June 23, at 9 a.m., Thursday, June 25, at 4 p.m., and Wednesday, July 1 at 12:30 p.m. BCCs Respiratory Therapy program prepares students to become Certified Respiratory Therapists and Registered Respiratory Therapists with the knowledge and skills that will enable them to meet current professional goals and be prepared for clinical practice as Respiratory Therapists. During the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory therapists have been seen as incredibly important as frontline staff saving lives in the Berkshires and abroad. This two-year program is a sequence of lecture, laboratory and clinical courses. Comprehensive on-site training provides opportunities for students to become skilled and confident in respiratory care procedures. Program graduates are eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care examination. To register, prospective students can go online. Summer camp info sessions The Dalton Community Recreation Association DYC Day Camp directors and staff will host information sessions for parents/guardians to address concerns about new rules and procedures at summer camp. There will be discussions about the policies in place to ensure the safety of every camper and staff member, and new procedures to keep campers, families, and staff safe during this unprecedented time. The staff will continue to work closely with local- and state-level health departments throughout the summer. Directors and staff members will be available in front of the CRA on Wednesday, June 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, June 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. Masks are required. Visit the website for more information. Child abuse reporting The Berkshire District Attorney's Child Abuse Unit and partners in the multi-disciplinary Berkshire County Sexual Assault Intervention Network team remains in place to identify and hold perpetrators accountable while providing trauma-informed treatment to children across the county even with a concerning decrease in child abuse reports amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Berkshire District Attorneys Office noticed a 52 percent decrease in reports of child abuse in the last two months compared to this time last year and a 33 percent decrease in newly opened investigations since the start of the year. Statewide, the Department of Children and Families reports a 51 percent decrease in child abuse reports. The Berkshire District Attorneys Office asks the public to be vigilant in reporting suspected child abuse and neglect. "The most important job of all adults in our community is to protect our children from abuse and trauma. Children often cannot speak for or defend themselves and need trusted adults to protect them. Our office has a dedicated unit of prosecutors and victim witness advocates working in collaboration with other child protection agencies to create a community where children can grow and thrive," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said. Curbside library service The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfields public library, is now doing curbside pickup service for library materials. While the library building remains closed to the public, patrons now have the opportunity to request and safely pick up library items. Books, audio books, movies, and music are available for curbside pickup service. Here's how it works: Reserve items by using the online catalog available from the Athenaeum website. Or contact the Reference Department 413-499-9480 or by email to request holds placed on your behalf. When the requested item is available, you will be called to schedule a pickup time. Pickup appointments are scheduled at various times on weekdays, weeknights, and Saturdays. To accommodate the needs of all library patrons, requests are limited to five items per pickup, one pickup per day, and no more than three pickups per week. Patrons are reminded to continue placing returns in the library book drops. Borrowed library materials continue to be renewed and expired library cards extended. At this time the athenaeum is not collecting overdue fines. Taiwan air force jets "drove away" a Chinese fighter plane that briefly entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone on Tuesday, the defence ministry said, reporting the third intrusion in a week. The single J-10 fighter was given radio warnings to leave before the Taiwanese air force jets ushered the intruder out of the airspace southwest of the island, the ministry said. On Tuesday last week, the ministry said several Su-30 fighters, some of China's most advanced jets, crossed into the same airspace and were also warned to leave. On Friday, the ministry said a Chinese Y-8, a propeller aircraft based on a Soviet-era design some of which have been retrofitted as surveillance aircraft, was warned too by Taiwan's air force to leave the air space, again in the southwest. The Y-8 flight came a few hours after Taiwan said it had carried out missile tests off its eastern coast. Taiwan has complained that China, which claims the democratic island as its own, has stepped up military activities in recent months, menacing Taiwan even as the world deals with the coronavirus pandemic. China has not commented publicly on the last week of Chinese air force activity near Taiwan. Beijing routinely says such exercises are nothing unusual and are designed to show the country's determination to defend its sovereignty. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. One of China's most senior generals last month said China would attack if there was no other way of stopping Taiwan becoming independent. China is deeply suspicious of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, whom it accuses of being a separatist intent on declaring formal independence. Tsai says Taiwan is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name. The United States has stepped up its military activities near the island too, with semi-regular navy voyages through the narrow Taiwan Strait. Also read: India-China border dispute: Key developments that led to killings of soldiers If you were a T-Mobile customer having issues with your service on Monday - impacting your ability to make calls and send text messages - you had lots of company. According to a report by C-Net, the third-largest wireless carrier was having widespread issues around the country starting shortly after noon ET. After spending more than 12 hours offline, the report noted that at 1:03 a.m. ET Tuesday morning Neville Ray, T-Mobiles president of technology, tweeted that texting and calling were once again working. Voice and text services are now restored. Thank you for your patience as we fixed the issues. We sincerely apologize for any and all inconveniences. Neville (@NevilleRay) June 16, 2020 The report said users across the country took to Twitter to note the outage, and as a result T-Mobile and #TMobiledown rose to the top spot on the sites US Trending Topics for several hours Monday. It appeared the main issue was with calls and texts. Users were saying that data was working normally, the report said. Throughout the day, speculation blamed the outage on a network configuration gone bad or a Distributed Denial-of-Service (or DDoS) attack, the report said. However, the report noted that T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert wrote in a blog post late Monday night that the outage was caused by an IP traffic related issue that has created significant capacity issues in the network core throughout the day. T-Mobile confirmed to C-Net that the issue was not a DDoS attack. I can assure you that we have hundreds of our engineers and vendor partner staff working to resolve this issue, Sievert continued, adding that our team will be working through the night as needed to get the network fully operational. The report said Ray acknowledged in a tweet at 4:18 p.m. ET Monday that the carrier was having an outage and said that the carrier hopes to have this fixed shortly. Our engineers are working to resolve a voice and data issue that has been affecting customers around the country. Were sorry for the inconvenience and hope to have this fixed shortly. Neville (@NevilleRay) June 15, 2020 According to the report, Ray said in a tweet sent shortly after 6 p.m. ET, that the carrier was still working to fix calls and texts, while recommending that users use apps like FaceTime, WhatsApp and iMessage to communicate. Sievert echoed that recommendation in his post. The report said that unlike traditional SMS text messages or voice calls, those apps send messages and calls through the data side of the network, which is still operational. Teams continue to work as quickly as possible to fix the voice & messaging problems some are seeing. Data services are now available & some calls are completing. Alternate services like WhatsApp, Signal, iMessage, Facetime etc. are available. Thanks for your patience. https://t.co/uQiGSAFEAH Neville (@NevilleRay) June 15, 2020 How did the testing fare? The report said that tests on Monday afternoon showed that T-Mobiles data services appeared to be working normally in northern New Jersey, although a C-Net reporter said they were unable to send text messages and had issues making calls on a OnePlus 8 5G. A C-Net editor in New York City was able to send texts and iMessage using an iPhone, but the report said calls were not working on either device. An editor in the San Francisco Bay Area noted that calls were not working over Google Fi, the cell phone service offered by Google that relies on T-Mobile, Sprint and U.S. Cellulars respective networks. However, data and texts over Fi were working, the report said. In addition to Google Fi, the report said T-Mobile is the underlying network providing service for several other carriers such as its Metro prepaid brand as well as for Mint Mobile and Simple Mobile. In tests early Tuesday, the report said the OnePlus 8 5G in New Jersey was able to make and receive calls and text messages, browse the web and open videos on YouTube over 5G. Were reports of problems with other wireless carriers, factual? According to the C-Net report, Downdetector.com, a site where users can report outages, noted issues with all major wireless carriers -- AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint. However, the report said AT&T and Verizon each said that their respective networks were operating normally and without issues. Tests in northern New Jersey on AT&T and Verizon phones showed no issues with calls, texts or data except when trying to text or call a T-Mobile phone. Verizons network is performing well. Were aware that another carrier is having network issues, a Verizon spokeswoman told C-Net in a statement. Calls to and from that carrier may receive an error message, the report quoted. According to the report, Verizon also took issue with Downdetectors spreading that its network is having outages. The spokeswoman said, "Sites such as Downdetector.com utilize limited crowdsourced data drawn from sample social posts which are often statistically insignificant or factually incorrect, the report quoted. A lot of factors can contribute to a false report on a third-party website, she said. Adding that by simply aggregating this data the result can be faulty reports of network performance interruptions causing wide-spread miscommunication for wireless users, the report quoted. C-Net reported that Sprint, which is now owned by T-Mobile, did not respond to a request for comment. READ MORE: Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. A magistrate was so disgusted at a young father's decision to spit at a teenage McDonald's worker after a dispute at the drive-thru counter he wanted to send him to jail. Magistrate Ross Mack told Taygen Terimene Inia, 22 that sending him to prison would make him appreciate the seriousness of his actions at Townsville McDonald's in November. 'One day your child might work at McDonald's and might get spat on by some pig customer like you and then we will see what you think a punishment should be,' Mr Mack said during sentencing at the Townsville Magistrates Court, according to the Townsville Bulletin. 'This is not life or death, this is two drinks and the civility has gone out the window.' While Mr Mack decided not to send the young father-of-one to jail, he will be required to complete 150 hours of community service. Magistrate Ross Mack told Taygen Terimene Inia, 22 his immediate reaction was to send him to jail so he may understand the seriousness of his charges for the incident at a Townsville McDonald's in, North Queensland in November 2019 (stock image) The court heard Inia had asked the teenagers working at the drive-thru for the four drinks he ordered as part of the family meal pack he ordered to be poured into two cups. However, when he was told that couldn't be done, he spat at the worker through the window - with CCTV footage played in court showing the teenager wiping the spit from his face. Police arrived at Inia's home the next day and he was charged with one count of common assault. Defence lawyer Anderson Telford presented an apology letter to the Townsville Magistrates Court and said he had a one-year-old baby. 'There is little that can be said in terms of his conduct. He should not have acted in that manner. The majority of the spittle landed on the plastic,' Mr Telford said, He also said Inia's partner supported him and was present in court. Daily Mail Australia has contacted McDonald's for comment. 'One day your child might work at McDonald's and might get spat on by some pig customer like you and then we will see what you think a punishment should be,' Mr Mack said (stock image) Britain's Prince Charles will host French President Emmanuel Macron for a special celebration marking the 80th anniversary of Gen. Charles de Gaulle's defiant appeal to the French people to resist the Nazis during World War II. Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, will receive Macron at his Clarence House home with a Guard of Honor formed by Number 7 Company of the Coldstream Guards and their band. The event on Thursday commemorates De Gaulle's ``Apel'' via a BBC broadcast to his countrymen on June 18, 1940, urging them to fight on. The speech is widely considered to be the moment that gave birth to the French Resistance. ``I, General de Gaulle, currently in London, call upon the officers and the French soldiers who are located in British territory or who might end up here, with their weapons or without their weapons ... to get in touch with me,'' De Gaulle said. ``Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished.'' The moment has huge significance for Macron. It is his first trip abroad since the lockdown of the country in the pandemic, and he is eager to associate his presidency with the wartime leader. On May 17, as France was just starting to ease virus-related restrictions, Macron went to northern France at the site of a battle, lost to Nazi Germany in 1940, in which De Gaulle took part. Macron then celebrated France's ``spirit of resistance.`` A visit to Colombey-les-deux-Eglises, the home of De Gaulle in eastern France, is also scheduled in November. The year 2020 also marks the 130th anniversary of De Gaulle's birth and 50 years after his death. Search Keywords: Short link: Alabamas Pell City Police Department shared some positive news in the wake of the killing of Police Sgt. Stephen Williams in nearby Moody, Alabama, earlier this month. A group of Pell City officers were dining together at a local Cracker Barrel when they came across an unexpected show of good will from a local citizen. Sgt. Shenandoah McInnish and three other officers, Cpl. Barry Wathen and officers Isaiah Johnson and Joshua Wheeler, were sitting together when a black man approached their table. He offered his condolences for the death of Sgt. Williams, McInnish said. He also offered to pay for the officers meal, and he wouldnt take no for an answer. With everything thats going on and what happened with the officer in Moody, this gentleman, he decided he was going to buy us breakfast, McInnish said, as reported by Western Journal. When the officers asked if he was sure about that, McInnish recounted, the man responded, You give me them tickets, I got this. Its on me. The sympathetic gesture kindled an emotional response from McInnish and the other officers. I was kind of overtaken with the moment, McInnish said. So were my guys. I got up and hugged his neck, they followed suit. He thanked us for what we did and he said, I want to thank you guys for your service. Cracker Barrel (Illustration Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock) The officer added, He looked at me, kind of looked at the guys and with emotion in his voice, said, Im really sorry about what happened to that officer in Moody. The man didnt give his name, nor did McInnish ask, he recalled. He noted that it was a beautiful moment and that he and his fellow officers were touched. Weve got a wonderful relationship with our citizens, he shared. They love us, we love them. Every officer I work with here in Pell City is out to make a difference, man. That was just a way for that one guy to come in andhe touched us. So we are eating at Cracker Barrel this morning. There are 4 officers behind us eating. And this middle aged black man Garrett Cotton Meanwhile, a fellow diner at the restaurant named Garrett Cotton saw and photographed the interaction and later posted the image on social media. Cotton hardly expected more than a few dozen likes and shares, he said, but it very quickly went viral with over 450,000 people sharing the heartwarming photograph. If there was anything I could say, it would be to never judge someone before you know them, Cotton told The Epoch Times via Facebook. Not all cops abuse their power, not every white person is racist like you see on Facebook, and not every black person is somehow a threat. We are all people and need to remember not to judge the majority for the actions of a minority. iOR Partners Office-Based Surgery Office-based surgery in ophthalmology is a game changer for the industry and, most importantly, for the patient... safe, comfortable, simple, efficient and best-in-class. iOR Partners announces that James Williams, Dave Goebel, and Cook Jordan join the iOR Board of Directors. As an emerging company looking to evolve the future of cataract surgery, iOR Partners has onboarded a team of experts to help pave the way for fast growth. James Williams is a start-up, turnaround and high-growth expert for multi-site, national medical facilities. Currently the Chief Executive Officer of Stella Center, a medical center providing transformative treatment for PTSD, he brings 20 years of experience leading innovations in specialty-specific healthcare at a national level. Office-based surgery suites are to ASCs as ASCs were once to inpatient surgery - a setting that offers the same or better safety and quality but at a lower cost and greater convenience for the patient. As many specialties have successfully made this shift, iOR has led ophthalmology to this new site of service with a full turnkey approach. With more than six million cataract surgeries expected to be performed in the U.S. alone by 2030, iOR will have a profoundly positive impact on patients, payors and ophthalmologists, says Williams. Dave Goebel is a Partner at Merryck & Co. where he has mentored CEOs and emerging C-suite executives. As a board member of Jack in the Box and Childrens Mercy and former CEO of Applebees, he brings more than 35 years of leadership experience orchestrating successful growth strategies with fast-paced organizations. The Mission, the Vision and the quality of the leadership team is what attracted me to iOR partners. Office-based surgery in ophthalmology is a game changer for the industry and, most importantly, for the patient... safe, comfortable, simple, efficient and best-in-class. I am honored to join the team, states Goebel. Cook Jordan is the Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Jordan Knauff & Company, providing investment banking services to Middle-Market companies. He has extensive experience financing to high growth companies, has served as a board member of many public and private companies and has been awarded Leading Advisor of the Year by ACQ Magazine for five consecutive years. I am pleased to join a very competent Board of Directors at iOR Partners. The company is undertaking pioneer activity in ophthalmic surgery and it is both exciting and challenging to work with a topnotch management team to accomplish the companys business plan, says Jordan. Williams, Goebel and Jordan bring a diverse set of skills that can help propel iOR Partners towards exponential growth. Jim has been successful in launching and scaling specialty-specific medical concepts across the country. Dave has a true passion for working with leaders and helping them turn insight into action. And Cook played an integral role in the success of our fundraising activities and brings significant expertise to our company from the investment community. We are excited to have them on our board, says Daniel Durrie, MD., Chairman of the Board at iOR Partners. About iOR Partners: iOR Partners, LLC is paving the way for the future of cataract surgery with innovative, office-based surgery suites that are unique and separate from the traditional ASC. iOR surgical suites provide cataract surgeons the ability to offer more personalized care in a safe and comfortable surgical environment. Their turnkey solution includes assistance with space build-out, acquiring surgical equipment, staff training, insurance contracting and accreditation and compliance services. iOR Partners is the only company dedicated to office-based surgery suites and has established more than 100 office-based suites nationwide. India on Monday (June 15) came down heavily on Pakistan for raising the Kashmir issue at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva and expressed "serious concern" over Pakistan's audacity to accuse New Delhi and others of "effecting a state-sponsored genocide." Exercising its Right of Reply after Pakistan raised Kashmir issue at UNHRC, Senthil Kumar, the First Secretary of India's Permanent Mission slammed Pakistan for misusing the UNHRC forum and said thta Pakistan must introspect on human rights situations in its country before giving advice to others. Kumar asserted that crimes against humanity is a common thing in Pakistan and enforced disappearances, state violence, forced mass displacement, extrajudicial killings, army operations, torture camps, detention centres, and military camps are a regular feature in Balochistan. Referring to India's decision to abrogate Article 370 which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Kumar noted that the decision does not have any external ramifications. Kumar stressed that people of Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the decison and marched ahead despite Islamabad's "nefarious attempt" to derail peace and stability in the region. "It's unfortunate that Pakistan continues to maintain its track record of misuse of the Human Rights Council and its mechanism. It's a matter of serious concern that Pakistan being the only country in South Asia of effecting a state-sponsored genocide would have the audacity to accuse others of it," Kumar said. "It's questionable that a country of serious credibility issues would talk about human rights and self-determination. This country emerged out of religious fundamentalism and bloodshed and its history rigged with assassinations, coups and puppets running," he added. Elaborating on the human rights abuses and persecution faced by the minority communities in Pakistan, Kumar said, "Systemic misuse of Blasphemy in Pakistan has terrorized the minorities in Pakistan. The recent fate of two Hindu girls in Sindh, one Christian girl in Lahore, one Ahmadi lady in Chaleki, two professors from Khairpur are the examples of systemic targeting of minorities through blasphemy laws. The state of Pakistan is well manifested in the impunity in the murder of 65 transgenders in Pakistan since 2015." "Enforced disappearances, state violence and forced mass displacements, harassment, extrajudicial killings, army operations, torture, kill-and-dumps, torture camps, detention centres, military camps are regular features in Balochistan. India also pointed out that there was no information on the fate of 47,000 Baloch persons and 35,000 Pashtuns who have been missing till date. It added that sectarian violence has claimed over 500 Hazaras in Baluchistan and more than 100,000 Hazaras have fled Pakistan," he added. Press Release June 16, 2020 Lacson Rectifies IBP Misconceptions: Anti-Terrorism Bill Swift, Effective, Constitutional More at: https://pinglacson.net/2020/06/16/lacson-rectifies-ibp-misconceptions-anti-terrorism-bill-swift-effective-constitutional/ Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Tuesday rectified the misconceptions of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines about the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, as he maintained the measure aims to combat terrorism in a "swift, effective and constitutional" manner. In a letter-reply to IBP president Domingo Egon Q. Cayosa, Lacson addressed the IBP's concerns about parts of the bill, including the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC). "The Anti-Terrorism Bill speaks clear of our swift, effective, and constitutional policy against these acts of terror and against no one else but its perpetrators," he said. Lacson, in his letter-reply, pointed out that: * Arrests cannot be made based on mere suspicion alone. Lacson said the legislative intent was to allow warrantless arrests based on Rule 113, Section 5 of the Revised Rules of Court. The Senate deliberations of the bill never showed any intention to add another element to an arrest without warrant. Hence, a warrantless arrest remains valid only in the following cases: (a) When the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to commit an offense; (b) when an offense has just been committed, and he has probable cause to believe based on personal knowledge of facts or circumstances that the person to be arrested has committed it; and (c) When the person to be arrested is an escaped prisoner. * The authority in writing does not pertain to an order of arrest. "The 'written authorization' of the ATC is intended to be issued to duly designated deputies, i.e., law enforcement agents or military personnel specially tasked and trained to handle the custodial investigation involving violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as proposed, considering the complexities and nature of terrorism," Lacson noted. He said Section 29 is premised on a valid arrest without warrant that complies with Section 5 of Rule 113, meaning the arrest is "immediate in nature." "With this, it is illogical and impractical that the ATC will issue an order of arrest to a law enforcement officer who is already authorized to conduct warrantless arrest under the Revised Rules of Court," he said, adding: "Thus, I wish to overemphasize this to clarify all misconceptions on the alleged expansion of coercive power of ATC: ATC has no power to order an arrest." On the other hand, Lacson said safeguards are in place including the requirement to immediately send a written notice immediately to the judge of the court nearest the place of arrest, with copies furnished the Anti-Terrorism Council and the Commission on Human Rights. The detained suspect shall be informed of his/her rights and shall not be denied access to by his/her counsel. Lacson revealed that the phrase "having been duly authorized by the ATC," which is now being challenged as unconstitutional, was Sen. Franklin Drilon's amendment in the 2007 Human Security Act. This was merely retained in the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. * The ATC has no authority to determine the period of detention in the case of warrantless arrest and decide on its extension. "If the ATC has no authority to order the arrest, much more does it have the authority to determine the period of detention of the person arrested," Lacson noted. He said the proposed period of detention of up to 14 days and its extension by another 10 days is to be treated as a policy decision of Congress "after considering the unique nature and effects of the crime of terrorism as thoroughly explained during our public hearings and in plenary session," adding that law enforcers will need enough time to obtain the needed evidence for the conviction of suspected terrorists, "granting the complexities and seriousness of the crime." Still, he said the determination of extending the suspect's detention for another ten days "remains with the courts." * The 14-day period of detention is "reasonable and sufficient" to detain suspected terrorists especially in events similar to the Marawi Siege, the 9/11 suicide bombings, and the gruesome beheading of people by ISIS. "We need not wait for similar events to occur before we realize that a three-day investigation is not enough," he said. * The ATC's authority to designate a terrorist or terrorist organization does not authorize law enforcers to arrest, conduct surveillance or restrict travel. The Anti-Money Laundering Council may issue a freeze order toward the property and funds of a designated terrorist. * ATC has No Judicial Power or Authority Lacson, in clarifying the powers of the ATC, pointed out that Section 45 of the bill is unequivocal: "Nowhere herein shall be interpreted to empower the ATC to exercise any judicial or quasi-judicial power or authority." He added the ATC is not a new creation under the Anti-Terrorism Bill. It has been functioning since 2007 under the 2007 Human Security Act to serve as the "central policy-making, supervising, coordinating, and monitoring body of the government on all matters concerning domestic and international terrorism." "To properly interpret the nature of the power of the ATC, it would be erroneous, if not careless to rely on reading Section 29 alone. The rule on statutory construction says that the law must not be read in truancy parts, rather, its provisions must be read in relation to the whole law," he said. * Designation and Proscription Meanwhile, Lacson noted a seeming confusion between the ATC's "powers" of designation and proscription, both of which have different definitions in the bill. He stressed the power of the ATC to designate in Section 25 is not judicial in nature, but is an executive and administrative process, to impose targeted financial sanctions pursuant to the framework under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1371. "Arrests, detention, and the limitation on travel are not the intended consequences of designation," he noted. On the other hand, proscription entails a judicial process asking the court to declare as terrorists or outlawed organizations any individual or group which commits terrorism, after giving them due opportunity to be heard. Lacson added designation allows the ATC to request for the issuance of an ex parte order to freeze from the Anti-Money Laundering Council. "Let me reiterate that designation is a preventive measure intended to trigger the issuance of a freeze order to prevent designated terrorists from accessing funds that can be used to carry out a terrorist attack," Lacson said. He also stressed the ATC's role will still be ministerial as it is the AMLC that will order the freezing of property or funds related to financing of terrorism or acts of terrorism. "I hope that this letter was able to shed light on the legislative intent with respect to some of the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Bill that are being subjected to wrongful interpretations and misconceptions," Lacson said. (Natural News) Three New York Police Department (NYPD) police officers were poisoned at a Shake Shack on Broadway Monday night. According to a report by the Police Benevolent Association of New York City (NYC PBA), a toxic substance believed to be bleach had been placed in the beverages that the three officers had ordered. At some point during their meal period, the MOS discovered that a toxic substance, believed to be bleach, had been placed in their beverages, read a statement from NYC PBA President Patrick Lynch, using an acronym for members of service. He added that the officers had not discovered that their beverages had been contaminated until after they had already ingested some of them. The officers are currently receiving treatment at a hospital and are expected to recover. Officers urged to exercise caution when buying food In a statement posted online Monday night, Paul DiGiacomo, president of the Detectives Endowment Association, urged other officers to not buy food from locations unknown to you. He added that the incident showed that police officers were under attack. The NYC PBA also shared a similar statement for its members to be careful in regards to any food items they purchase while on duty. All PBA members are advised to carefully inspect any prepared food items they purchase while on duty for possible contamination, the statement said. When New York City police officers cannot even take [a] meal without coming under attack, it is clear that [the] environment in which we work has deteriorated to a critical level. In response to the incident, Shake Shack tweeted that they were horrified at the incident and that they were working with police in their investigation. We are horrified by the reports of police officers injured at our 200 Broadway Shack in Manhattan. We are working with the police in their investigation right now. SHAKE SHACK (@shakeshack) June 16, 2020 The poisoning comes as protests, sparked by the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, continue to rage in cities across America. In New York City, both activists and city officials have called for the police force to be defunded, with the funds instead spent on social services like housing such as low-income housing. Mayor Bill de Blasio promised intense change at a press conference last week, proposing several ways to reform the NYPD. On June 12, the state banned the use of chokeholds by law enforcement and repealed a statute in its civil code that shielded police disciplinary records from public scrutiny. At the federal level, Democrats in the House of Representatives have put forward a sweeping bill that would encourage more police accountability. Similar to what was done in New York state, the house bill bans chokeholds, similar to the one used on George Floyd, as well as no-knock warrants for drug cases. The Republican-led Senate is also expected to put forward its own version of the bill. Police are under attack Even as lawmakers look to address the policing issues that supposedly led to the riots, many in law enforcement are feeling as if theyre under attack. In a speech last week, Police Benevolent Association of New York State President Mike OMeara decried the vilification of police officers by the press and their abandonment by legislators. Stop treating us like animals and thugs, and start treating us with some respect, said OMeara. Thats what were here today to say. Weve been left out of the conversation. OMeara then went on about how the media failed to mention how New York police officers had had millions of overwhelmingly positive interactions with their communities as well as the fact that several police officers have lost their lives since the riots began. The union boss also decried the actions of the Minneapolis policeman involved in the death of George Floyd, saying that the union did not condone such actions. A teary-eyed OMeara even held up his badge saying that it had not been stained by the actions of those officers, stating: Its still got its shine on it. Im proud to be a cop, and Im going to continue to be proud to be a cop until the day I retire. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com BusinessInsider.com Twitter.com After two years, MTN Group has finally reached an agreement for a long-term renewal of its operating licences in Uganda. The pan-African groups Ugandan licence expired in October 2018, and since then it has operated in the market using a temporary licence that it had to renew every six months. MTN noted that the licence was extended to accomodate conclusion of renewal negotiations which have been ongoing for close to two years. MTN Uganda has now reached an agreement with the Uganda Communications Commission to pay $100 million for a 12-year licence in Uganda valid from 1st July. In a statement, the operator said that it will conclude the signature of the Licence Agreement within the coming days. The lengthy renewal negotiations were derailed early when Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni rejected MTN Groups initial offer for the permits, which was under $50 million. According to local news outlet the Ugandan Observer, he argued that that the South Africa-headquartered group could only deliver services in Uganda in exchange for a fair fee. MTN Uganda confirmed that its parent firm had now fulfilled all conditions precedent to the licence, including the payment of a total sum of $100 million as licence renewal fee. The operator is Ugandas largest as of Q1 2020. YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. The voting over the motion filed by the Prosecutor General to give an approval to depriving Prosperous Armenia faction head Gagik Tsarukyan of his liberty has begun in the Parliament. The voting is being held in a closed format. The voting will last 45 minutes, until 17:50. Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan presented the motion to the Parliament on giving a consent to deprive Prosperous Armenia faction head Gagik Tsarukyan of liberty. Davtyan said sufficient evidence had been obtained to involve Gagik Tsarukyan as a defendant in the election bribery case. The testimonies given and the results of the search operations conducted within the frames of the initiated criminal case, their combination give a sufficient base to involve Gagik Tsarukyan as a defendant on this case and press charges for organizing the process of giving bribe to voters for voting in favor of the Tsarukyan bloc and its candidate during the 2017 parliamentary elections, the Prosecutor General said. Earlier today the lawmakers voted in favor of the Prosecutor Generals another motion on stripping MP Tsarukyan of parliamentary immunity. 87 MPs voted in favor of the motion. Businesses across the U.S. have begun intensive Covid-19 disinfection regimens, exposing returning workers and consumers to some chemicals that are largely untested for human health, a development thats alarming health and environmental safety experts. The rush to disinfect is well-intentioned. Executives want to protect employees while abiding by U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidelines (and to avoid liability). Pre-pandemic, corporate cleaning staffs typically freshened lobbies every three hours, sanitized restrooms every four hours and cleaned other areas at night, said Rich Feczko, national director of systems, standards and innovation at Crothall Healthcare, which cleans hundreds of hospitals. That pace has now accelerated. Our frequencies have ramped up in public places like lobbies and elevators to 6-8 times per day, said Feczko. Restrooms are cleaned every two hours. Before the pandemic, clients were happy if their trash was emptied and vacuum marks were in the plush carpet, said Jill Frey, owner of Ohio-based Cummins Facility Services. Now, customers ask for sanitization (reducing pathogens on a surface) and disinfection (killing all pathogens). This is a hazardous proposition, said Dr. Claudia Miller, an immunologist, allergist and co-author of Chemical Exposures: Low Levels and High Stakes. Cleaners tend to go in with hugely toxic chemicals. Were creating another problem for a whole group of people, and Im not sure were actually controlling infections. Cleaning companies are selecting disinfectants from hundreds on List N, the month-old compendium of products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency to kill the novel coronavirus. Those chemicals have passed tests to show theyre effective against the pathogen, but this doesnt mean that they have been approved because theyre considered safe with regard to human health, said exposure scientist Lesliam Quiros-Alcala, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Limited studies, including on rodents, have raised concerns that some might increase risk of neurological and dermatological problems, as well as respiratory ailments like asthma, or have notable reproductive effects. And while those studies dont necessarily mean the disinfectants are harmful to humans, environmental health experts contend that risks are rising sharply with the increase in exposure. They also note that there are alternative ways to kill off the virus that carry less potential risk. I dont know that I would be using potent disinfectants in an elevator, rather than something like 70% rubbing alcohol, said Quiros-Alcala. (The rubbing alcohol option is approved by the CDC). Methods of Concern The disinfection methods themselves may also prove concerning to employees. Cleaning companies sometimes use electrostatic sprayersmachines which positively charge and aerosolize small droplets of cleaning solution. Spraying is fast, allowing cleaners to cover 14,000 square feet of office space per hour, and the positive charge allows the solution to stick to surfaces. Back to Work: How Businesses Are Trying to Make Workers Feel Safe Many owners realize that supplying masks and gloves wont be enough. Amazon Tests Hospital Workplace Safety Idea With Disinfectant Fog at Warehouse Amazon is trying out disinfectant fog as used by airlines and hospitals to further sanitize its facilities. The risks of aerosolizing many of the disinfectants on List N hasnt been studied, said Ian Cull, president of Indoor Sciences, an environmental consultancy. And there are very few that are approved for aerosolizing or misting or fogging. The EPA is still researching whether sprayers and foggers are effective against Covid-19. A spokesperson for the EPA didnt immediately comment on List N or concerns raised by health experts. Meanwhile, enclosed areas with poor ventilationparticularly common to high-rises that often recirculate airgreatly increase exposure to cleaning agents, said Cull. Many are hampered by their equipment and unable to ventilate more, he said. For a small percentage of workers, disinfectants pose an immediate risk, said Claudia Miller. Up to 10% of peopleincluding asthmatics, migraine sufferers, those with allergies or immune disorders or suppressed immune systemsmay experience symptoms such as memory loss, trouble concentrating, mood swings, irritability, headaches, seizures, nausea and vomiting, she said. Repeated or extended exposures can lead to neuro-immune sensitization and intolerances to common chemicals, foods and drugs. That becomes a nightmare for us to deal with as physicians, Miller said. The cleaning industry has been actively applying new technologies to combat the coronavirus. Merrick Group, a Pennsylvania-based industrial cleaning company now pivoting to disinfect schools, businesses and hospitals, uses a proprietary process that propels a combination of isopropyl alcohol and quaternary ammonium onto surfaces using a CO2 gun. The no-wipe chemical dries within a minute, and the EPA has pronounced it safe for some food-grade and hospital surfaces. If we can spray it in a Hersheys food plant or at a hospital, we can certainly spray it on a school bus, said Merrick Group President Bob Gorski. The health care sector, however, is proceeding with caution. Were letting the science guide us, said Geoff Price, co-founder of Oak Street Health, which treats 85,000 patients in 56 clinics. Theres a lot of new stuff out there, and I think companies are just grasping at different things to throw at the problem, and its not always fact-based. Existing technologies do the work if theyre applied correctly. Oak Street, for example, cleans its patient transport vans with wipes. One potential chemical alternative is ultraviolet light. Breckenridge Grand Vacations, which owns 800 rooms across five resorts in the ski town of Breckenridge, Colorado, scooped up 50 Puro UV disinfection lights, which kill pathogens illuminated for 15-30 minutes. The lights are deployed when humans arent present, and up to now have been used primarily in hospitals. Whether they work as well in larger spaces (or damage furniture not designed for intense UV exposure) is another question. Their overall benefit is still being evaluated. Last month, New York Citys Metropolitan Transit Authority announced a pilot program with Puro, which includes an evaluation by scientists at Columbia University. In the meantime, commercial landlords cant wait for science, and may be incentivized to choose the cheapest methods, said Michael Silver, chairman of commercial real estate group Vestian. If a business comes up with a great plan, and the landlord agrees, then whos paying for it? Silver said. You wonder why anyone would want to go back to work to begin with. Top photo: Workers disinfect at an office building in Maryland on March 21. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Pollution Medical Professional Liability Chemicals VANCOUVER, BC, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Oroco Resource Corp. (TSX-V: OCO) ("Oroco" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that its shares have been approved to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States under the symbol "ORRCF," effective immediately. In addition, the Company's shares are now eligible for electronic clearing and settlement in the United States through the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, a U.S. company that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of shares of publicly traded companies. "Now that Oroco is quoted on the OTCQB and is DTC eligible, it is significantly easier for U.S.-based investors to participate in Oroco's share ownership," said Oroco CEO Craig Dalziel. "This is an important step in increasing the Company's exposure to the U.S. investment community." The Company's shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "OCO," and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "OR6." ABOUT OROCO: The Company holds a net 61.4% interest in the collective 1,172.9 ha core concessions of the Santo Tomas Project in NW Mexico, and may increase that majority interest up to an 81.0% interest with a project investment of up to CAD$30 million. The Company also holds a 77.5% interest in 7,807.9 ha of mineral concessions surrounding and adjacent to the core concessions (a total project size of 22,192 acres). The Project is situated within the Santo Tomas District, which extends from Santo Tomas up to the Jinchuan Group's Bahuerachi project, approximately 14 km to the north-east. Santo Tomas hosts a significant copper porphyry deposit defined by prior exploration spanning the period from 1968 to 1994. During that time, the property was tested by over 100 diamond drill and reverse circulation drill holes, totaling approximately 30,000 meters. Based on data generated by these drill programs, a Prefeasibility Study was completed by Bateman Engineering Inc. in 1994. The Santo Tomas Project is located within 160 km of the Pacific deep-water port at Topolobampo, and is serviced via highway and proximal rail (and parallel corridors of trunk grid power lines and natural gas) through the city of Los Mochis to the northern city of Choix. The property is reached by a 32 km access road originally built to service Goldcorp's El Sauzal Mine in Chihuahua State. 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 Information This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, statements relating to future events or achievements of the Company, are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in such statements. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these matters. Oroco does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements should they change, except as required by law. SOURCE Oroco Resource Corp. Related Links www.orocoresourcecorp.com [June 16, 2020] GoDaddy's #OpenWeStand Coalition Grows with Adobe, Cisco, LinkedIn, Mastercard, Microsoft and Uber Supporting Small Businesses During COVID-19 SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE: GDDY), the company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs, today announced more companies -- including Adobe, Cisco, LinkedIn, Mastercard, Microsoft and Uber, have joined the growing #OpenWeStand movement. #OpenWeStand stands to support small business owners navigate the challenging times presented by Covid-19 with special offers on services and tools, expert advice, and community for entrepreneurs to share insights and experiences with one another. The latest companies joining in support of #OpenWeStand include 1-800Accountant, Adobe, Animoto, Better Business Bureau the Pacific Southwest, Broadly, CCC, Cisco, Corestream, TrueName by Donuts, Experian, EZ Texting, FinSync, GoCanvas, Gusto, Heymarket, Houzz, Hownd, HubSpot, LegalShield, LivePerson, LinkedIn, LivePerson, Mastercard, Microsoft, Nexa, Off Day Trainer, Patch, Pitney Bowes, Powr.io, RingCentral, Splitit, Submittable, Trustpilot, Uber, Udemy, and VoiceNation. "We believe the power of community and collective action makes us stronger," said Ron Yi, Sr. Director of Marketing at LinkedIn. "We're proud to be a part of this initiative lending support and resources to small businesses at a time when they need it most." #OpenWeStand partners are bringing their initiatives and programs in support of this pledge to support small businesses by contributing expert advice, services, and special offers to ease the financial stress caused by COVID-19. "The increasing amount of support and interest in #OpenWeStand indicates the acute need that the small business community feels right now," said Fara Howar, CMO at GoDaddy. "We're committed to continuing growing the #OpenWeStand resources and community for as long as necessary and want to thank all of our partners for being willing to do the same." #OpenWeStand is growing rapidly, thanks to word of mouth and a national advertising campaign, anchored by an initial commercial that today has more than 60 million views. GoDaddy launched a second commercial that features Chef Zach Sass , who was laid off from his executive chef position at a popular restaurant in Nashville due to COVID-19, and a third commercial launched May 18 that features Donald Sutherland as the voiceover inspiring entrepreneurs to act. "Out of necessity, I transformed my love of the kitchen into a growing online business offering personalized, online cooking classes using the food you already have at home," Sass said. "Small business owners like myself are adapting and being resourceful to make ends meet and the help, advice, and support of others can make a meaningful difference." To learn about the #OpenWeStand movement and check out available resources, please visit: https://www.openwestand.org About GoDaddy GoDaddy is empowering everyday entrepreneurs around the world by providing all of the help and tools to succeed online. With 19 million customers worldwide, GoDaddy is the place people come to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers and manage their work. Our mission is to give our customers the tools, insights and the people to transform their ideas and personal initiative into success. To learn more about the company visit www.GoDaddy.com . Source GoDaddy, Inc. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/godaddys-openwestand-coalition-grows-with-adobe-cisco-linkedin-mastercard-microsoft-and-uber-supporting-small-businesses-during-covid-19-301077901.html SOURCE GoDaddy Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A colonel-ranked army officer and two soldiers were killed in a violent face-off with Peoples Liberation Army soldiers in eastern Ladakhs Galwan valley late on Monday evening. The deadly border clash, which led to casualties on both sides, took place at one of the four locations in Ladakh where the two armies have been locked in a 40-day standoff. In a statement earlier in the day, the Chinese foreign ministry and the PLAs western command had blamed Indian soldiers for triggering the border clash. It had claimed that Indian soldiers had crossed the border, provoked PLA soldiers and attacked them. Indias sharp rebuttal came soon after. In its first comment on the clash, the external affairs ministry said the violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in response to queries on the border situation. Srivastava also underscored that activities of the Indian army were within the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control. We expect the same of the Chinese side, he said. We remain firmly convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity, Srivastava said. The Indian army had early on Tuesday issued a brief, terse statement on the Galwan valley clash that led to at least three casualties on the Indian side. India said there were casualties on the Chinese side too but did not get into the details. The Chinese side initially didnt acknowledge any casualties. But first the Chinese foreign ministry, and later the PLA Western Commands Colonel Zhang Shuili in separate statements accused India of crossing the LAC and launching, what they described as, provocative attacks. This resulted in a fierce physical confrontation between the two sides that led to casualties. The Peoples Liberation Army statement also appeared to lay claim to the Galwan valley, a move that is being seen as an effort to expand its territory. Along the LAC, military commanders of the two armies, Major General Abhijit Bapat, commander of the Karu-based HQs 3 Infantry Division and his Chinese counterpart, held talks at the site of the clash to defuse tensions. It is not clear if any progress was made. The deaths, the first in a clash with the Peoples Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control in 45 years, were mostly attributed to stones thrown by both sides. Some soldiers also used rods to hit the other side. The last time Indian soldiers died in a clash with the PLA was in October 1975 when a small group of soldiers patrolling the border in Arunachal Pradesh were ambushed. Four soldiers were killed in this attack. The two countries have been in talks for weeks via military and diplomatic channels to end the standoff that started last month after a violent clash between Indian and Chinese natrols on the northern bank of Ladakhs Pangong Tso lake. Soldiers had then exchanged blows, thrown stones at each other. Scores of soldiers from both sides had been injured in the skirmish involving 250 men. But the two sides appeared headed to an agreement after senior commanders of the two armies met on 6 June and agreed on a process for such de-escalation. Ground commanders had been holding meetings since then. The external ministry said New Delhi had expected that this process of de-escalation would unfold smoothly. But the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. In Delhi, there were a string of meetings to review the continuing developments in the eastern Ladakh sector. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. How do animals adapt their behaviour during life in order to assure survival and reproduction? This is a question of great interest for behavioural biologists worldwide. An essential step is to examine hormonal mechanisms which have a fundamental impact on the animal's behaviour and thus make adaptations to various social situations possible. It has been known for some time now - especially as a result of research in guinea pigs - that the social environment during adolescence, i.e. the period from late childhood through puberty into adulthood, has a considerable impact on how individuals behave in later life. Male guinea pigs, for example, which grew up only with a female during this period, are particularly aggressive towards unfamiliar males. Behavioural biologists at Munster University have now been able to demonstrate for the first time that males are still able to adapt their hormone systems to changes in their social environment in adulthood. The study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Methodological approach: The male guinea pigs used in the study grew up in different social housing conditions - either in large mixed-sex colonies with many other guinea pigs, or in pairs with a female. When the guinea pigs reached adulthood, the researchers transferred the males individually to pair housing with an unfamiliar female. This way in males stemming from colony housing a change of the social niche was induced. In contrast, in males which were previously housed in pairs the female partner was changed, but the social niche - i.e. pair living - remained the same. In order to assess immediate reactions of males to their new social environment, the researchers observed the behaviour of males and determined concentrations of the hormones testosterone and cortisol. "We were able to demonstrate that one month after transfer to pair housing with an unfamiliar female, males which had previously been housed in colonies displayed a decrease in their testosterone levels and an increase in their cortisol responsiveness. Consequently, their hormone systems became similar to those of males in pair housing. This way, the animals were most likely also able to adapt their behaviour to the new situation," explains Alexandra Mutwill, first author of the study and PhD student being supervised by Prof. Dr Norbert Sachser at the Institute for Neuro- and Behavioural Biology at the University of Munster. "As in the case of males which had previously been housed in pairs, the female partner but not the social niche was altered, the hormone systems did not change: the low testosterone levels and the high cortisol responsiveness persisted." When guinea pigs live in colonies with a large number of conspecifics, it is advantageous to have a hormonal status which favours a less aggressive behavioural tactic. However, after transfer to pair housing another hormonal status is beneficial which enables the male to adopt a more aggressive tactic in order to defend the female partner against unfamiliar males. In males from colony housing, the change in hormone systems built the basis for such a change in the behavioural tactic and probably reflects an evolutionary adaptation. ### Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2020) - Clean Air Metals Inc. (TSXV: AIR) (the "Company" or "Clean Air Metals") is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced private placement of an aggregate of 13,400,000 common shares of the Company that will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66 (15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) ("Flow-Through Shares") at a price of C$0.50 per Flow-Through Share (the "Issue Price"), for aggregate gross proceeds of C$6,700,000 (the "Offering"). In connection with the Offering, Paradigm Capital Inc. acted as lead agent (the "Lead Agent"), on behalf of a syndicate of agents, including Clarus Securities Inc. and Beacon Securities Limited (together with the Lead Agent, the "Agents"). The gross proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's projects in Canada. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the Flow-Through Shares effective December 31, 2020. As consideration for the services provided by the Agents in connection with the Offering: (a) the Agents received a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering (and reduced to 3% with respect to certain subscribers on the "President's List"); and (b) the Agents received that number of compensation options (the "Compensation Options") as is equal to 6% of the number of Flow-Through Shares issued under the Offering (and reduced to 3% with respect to certain subscribers on the "President's List") on the closing date of the Offering (the "Closing Date"). Each Compensation Option is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company, issued on a non-flow through basis (each, a "Compensation Option Share") at a price of $0.50 per Compensation Option Share, for a period of twenty-four (24) months after the Closing Date. Story continues All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the Closing Date. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Offering remains subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Clean Air Metals Further to its press release of May 22, 2020, Clean Air Metals Inc. has initiated a Phase 1 drill program of 10,000m on the Escape Lake Intrusion and PGE-Cu-Ni mineralized horizon on the Thunder Bay North Project. "The proceeds of this flow-through financing will allow the Company to accelerate the pace of exploration at the Thunder North Project" said Chief Executive Officer Abraham Drost. Clean Air Metals Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Ltd. acknowledge that the Escape Lake Property is on the traditional territory of the Fort William First Nation and the Red Rock First Nation, signatories to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Abraham Drost" Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc. For further information, please contact: Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc. Phone: 807-252-7800 Email: adrost@cleanairmetals.ca Website: www.cleanairmetals.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 Information The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation that relates to use of proceeds, tax treatment of the flow-through shares, closing of the offering and receipt of TSXV approval. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to the TSXV approval, risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57976 Belarusian-Chinese Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs On June 16, 2020 the Consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Belarus and China were held in video format. The Belarusian delegation was headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrei Dapkiunas, the Chinese delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Le Yucheng. During the consultations, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, including the state of the political dialogue between Belarus and China in the light of a difficult epidemiological situation in the world and the prospects for exchanging state visits at the highest levels. Andrei Dapkiunas and Le Yucheng exchanged views on the development of inter-regional cooperation and humanitarian cooperation. In the context of expanding interregional cooperation, was separately discussed the initiative to hold the Years of the Regions of Belarus and China. The consultations also touched upon issues of cooperation between Belarus and China within the framework of multilateral organizations, including the UN, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, the 17+1 format, etc. The sides with satisfaction noted the high dynamics of the development of the Belarusian-Chinese strategic partnership and noted its all-weather character. print version President Trump will hold an indoor rally on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. According to Trumps campaign manager, more than 1 million people have requested free tickets for the event at a venue that holds around 19,000 people. Those requesting free tickets had to sign a waiver agreeing that the campaign and other parties associated with the event cannot be held liable for exposure to the coronavirus. However, the waiver applies only to legal liability, not to the political kind. Its easy to imagine that every major media outlet in America will assign at least one reporter to search for rally attendees who contract the Wuhan coronavirus. If even one attendees dies, well never hear the end of it, and the political fallout might be more than trivial. The prospect of illness, and even death, may not be far-fetched. Last Friday, the Tulsa County Health Department reported 71 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, topping the previous high single-day total of 65. Investigators reportedly linked the outbreak to indoor gatherings where large groups of people congregate for prolonged periods, although it actually be more closely linked to new cases at a Whirlpool plant and to outdoor protests over the killing of George Floyd. Either way, the virus is definitely present in Tulsa. Speaking of those outdoor protest rallies, Trump today tweeted: The Far Left Fake News Media, which had no Covid problem with the Rioters & Looters destroying Democrat run cities, is trying to Covid Shame us on our big Rallies. Wont work! He has a point. However, it probably wont be a politically effective one if death or serious illness can be linked to his indoor rally. Trump isnt running against rioters and looters, hes running against Joe Biden, who hasnt held any rallies. In light of the potential health and political risk, the Trump campaign is taking steps to minimize the likelihood that the presidents rally will spread the virus. Those who attend will be given temperature checks, hand sanitizer, and face masks before they enter. If these measures are followed and attendees wear the mask, there may be little reason to fear that the virus will spread. At the same time, theres very little reason to believe that a June rally in Oklahoma, which Trump carried by 36 points in 2016, will have any effect on the outcome of this years election. Pennington County Commissioners approved the wheel tax in a 4-1 vote during the commission's meeting Tuesday morning. The wheel tax will place a $2 tax per wheel on vehicles from 2,000 pounds to over 6,000 pounds with a maximum amount of $24, and go into effect in 2021. Its expected to generate $1.3 million. By creating a wheel tax, Pennington County will now be able to benefit from the state Bridge Improvement Grant (BIG) program, which allows counties with a wheel tax to apply for money to aid in replacement and improvements to bridges. Doug Kinniburgh with the South Dakota Department of Transportation joined the meeting via Zoom to present information about the BIG program and the state of Pennington Countys bridges. Kinniburgh said the program has $15 million to be given to counties whose bridge projects are approved. He said projects are scored on an objective scale and is need-based. He said Pennington Countys bridges, or at least 45 that are over 50 years old and 24 that are in poor condition, would likely meet the mark. During the presentation, he said the county would have to set aside $1.4 million annually to replace the bridges on its own. He also said the estimated replacement cost for the countys 127 bridges would be $70,188,500.42. Kinniburgh also said the county is already contributing to the fund through license plate fees and a fuel tax, but isnt able to access that money without the wheel tax. He also said theres no minimum tax requirement and that its up to the county. A few residents of the county spoke during the meeting, both against and for the tax. One resident said this is a slap in the face to county residents during a recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. Another resident asked the commissioners to exempt municipalities over 50,000, which would essentially leave out Rapid City. The city has benefited from BIG funds for four projects. Kinniburgh said cities are able to apply for funds and only counties are required to have a wheel tax, citing state statute that reads, No county may receive a grant from the fund unless such county has adopted and annually updated its county highway and bridge improvement plan pursuant to the provisions of 1-44-7.5 and has imposed a county wheel tax pursuant to 32-5A-1. Residents also questioned the emergency clause included in the ordinance that prevents it being put on a ballot and making it go into effect upon publication. State Rep. Julie Frye-Mueller told the Journal in an email that there was no need for an emergency clause and that it only bars it from being referred to the voters. We as elected officials work for the people and their voice needs to be heard not silenced, she said in the email. If better judgment was used on how much is spent they wouldn't need to keep coming up with more ideas and ways to get more money from the taxpayer. She added that people are already struggling to make ends meet and Pennington county commissioners want to slap another fee on the citizens. Commission chair Deb Hadcock said the tax is a health and safety emergency for county residents. According to the ordinance, the Pennington County Commission has determined that the publics safety is at risk given the present need for bridge repair and replacement in the County and that an additional source of revenue to address the increasing demand for County road and bridge maintenance necessitates the implementation of a wheel tax to provide immediate and sufficient funding for such purpose. Hadcock said if the tax had passed in 2015 when it was initially introduced, the county would likely be ahead on bridge repairs. Why not have everyone who uses those roads and bridges share in paying for it, she asked the audience and her fellow commissioners. Commissioner Gary Drewes said theres never a good time to implement a tax. He said he wanted to introduce the ordinance in Fall 2019, but held off because of the school district bond. Commissioner Lloyd LaCroix, who was on the fence during the ordinances first reading June 4, agreed with Drewes. Somethings always going to come up, he said. LaCroix said he gave the ordinance a lot of thought and he was concerned about timing, as well, but felt good knowing the money from the wheel tax would stay within the county. Commissioner Mark DiSanto, who voted against the tax, expressed concern that once the county catches up on improving and repairing bridges that the money would be used to build new roads in the future. County highway superintendent Joseph Miller said he didnt think there was need for a separate fund. Commissioner Ron Rossknecht said budget hearings for 2021 begin Wednesday and that its imperative to know if the county would have the $1.3 million that would be generated. The commissioners also unanimously passed a resolution that would put the money into the road and bridge fund for highway and bridge maintenance and construction, all of which would be distributed to the county rather than municipalities and townships within Pennington County. According to the resolution language, it will also take effect upon publication and the implementation and collection of the wheel tax will begin Jan. 1, 2021. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Tuesday handed over the first lot of 100 ventilators from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to India at the headquarters of the Indian Red Cross in Delhi. Describing the Covid-19 pandemic to have posed an unprecedented global threat to all, Juster said that a healthy future can only be ensured through partnership and cooperation. Also read: Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain in hospital due to high fever, Covid-19 test today Delhi: US Ambassador to India Ken Juster hands over the first lot of 100 ventilators from USAID (United States Agency for International Development) to India at the headquarters of the Indian Red Cross pic.twitter.com/3qLRE6VdYE ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 In the spirit of cooperation, the US government, through the Agency for International Development, is pleased to provide the Indian people with a donation of 200 ventilators and today. We are pleased to handover the first tranche of 100 ventilators to the Indian Red Cross, he said. The first lot of ventilators arrived on Monday from Chicago, US and are manufactured by Zoll US-based firm. On Monday, about 100 ventilators are arriving from the United States as a donation. Ventilators would come to India by Air India flight. This is entirely managed by the India Red Cross Society, a senior government official told news agency ANI. Last month, in a tweet, US President Trump had said, I am proud to announce that the United States will donate ventilators to our friends in India. We stand with India and@narendramodi during this pandemic. Were also cooperating on vaccine development. Together we will beat the invisible enemy! PM Modi thanked President Trump and tweeted, In such times, its always important for nations to work together and do as much as possible to make our world healthier and free from Covid-19. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 16:20:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A woman takes fitness training in Sydney, Australia, June 16, 2020. Australia's widespread easing of COVID-19 restrictions has remained on track despite a dozen new confirmed cases, with state leaders confident that milder distancing measures will be sufficient. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) SYDNEY, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Australia's widespread easing of COVID-19 restrictions has remained on track despite a dozen new confirmed cases, with state leaders confident that milder distancing measures will be sufficient. On Tuesday, a third school this week was forced to close in the state of Victoria after a student tested positive, one of nine new confirmed cases in that state alone. Crowds of up to 10,000 people will soon be allowed to attend sporting matches in Australian stadiums with a capacity of over 40,000, as patrons also return to cinemas, gyms and music festivals. From July 1, all businesses in the State of New South Wales (NSW), including cinemas, theaters, amusement parks, show grounds and brothels will be allowed to reopen with social distancing measures in place. While in neighbouring Victoria, limits on the number of people allowed in pubs and restaurants will increase from 20 to 50, in line with regulations already in place in NSW, starting next week. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people to remain vigilant and get tested if they felt ill, saying the easing of restrictions was only possible with high testing numbers. "Please don't assume (symptoms are) a cold or a flu, please assume it's COVID," Berejiklian said. On the other side of the country, the state of Western Australia (WA) recorded zero new cases despite widespread testing of roughly 18,500 frontline workers. "It obviously gives us more confidence to be bolder and to be more ambitious, even more so than we currently are," WA Premier Roger Cook said. "We've eased restrictions ahead of all the other states (and) to a greater extent." The Queensland state was in a similar position to WA, recording no new cases, and officials said that they will resist pressure from elsewhere in the country to reopen their domestic border. "It is very clear where the epicentre of coronavirus is and that is not Queensland," State Treasurer Cameron Dick said. The state of South Australia lifted border restrictions for some parts of the country, with people travelling from Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania to be allowed in as of midnight on Tuesday. Restrictions on those travelling from elsewhere to SA were scheduled to be removed from July 20. Enditem Could there be a better time to learn a new language online than when we're all locked in our houses during a global pandemic? Duolingo, which offers the most-downloaded education app in the world, thinks not. During the coronavirus crisis, it's seen a huge spike in new users. The Pittsburgh-based company offers 95 courses across 38 distinct languages from the world's most spoken, such as Spanish, French and Italian, to endangered languages like Hawaiian, Navajo and Scottish Gaelic. In addition to its core platform, the company created the Duolingo English Test, an affordable and convenient language certification option accepted by more than 2,000 universities and institutions worldwide. View the FULL LIST: 2020 DISRUPTOR 50 Over the past year, the company has expanded into podcasts for Spanish and French learners and added Duolingo Plus, a subscription-based option for the app that removes ads and provides users with additional features. Duolingo raised $30 million from Capital G in December, and an additional $10 million from General Atlantic in April, bringing its total funding to $148.3 million. The company is Pittsburgh's first VC-backed unicorn, with a valuation of $1.5 billion. In March the company launched Duolingo ABC, a free English literacy app for children ages 3 to 6. The company originally planned to unveil the app later this year, but due to the coronavirus pandemic decided to release it early to help parents who are now working remotely and homeschooling their children. The app is free from ads and is available in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It features more than 300 short lessons that teach basic reading and writing skills. For now the app is available only in English and on iOS, though the company says it will likely add other platforms soon. New Delhi, June 16 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea by Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association (GHCAA) president Yatin Oza in a contempt notice case and asked him not to level allegations that he was not getting justice. The Supreme Court also asked Oza to approach the Gujarat High Court, which had taken cognisance of his alleged remarks against the court and its registry and issued a contempt notice against him. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and comprising Justices MR Shah and AS Bopanna told Oza's counsel and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi: "We are not actually inclined to hear it... we feel you should go back to the High Court." During the hearing, the court also remarked: "Don't make allegations that you are not getting justice." The suo motu criminal contempt notice was issued against Oza for his alleged "irresponsible, sensational and intemperate allegations of corruption" against the High Court and its registry on Facebook. The Chief Justice told Singhvi that the allegations against the petitioner was that he was maligning the concept of justice and not any judge or court. "You reply to the High Court," the apex court observed. When Singhvi argued that the petitioner did not intend to say anything against the functioning of justice system, the Chief Justice quipped: "Are you doing us a favour by letting it function?" As Singhvi contended that the High Court order was passed in anger, the bench replied it was not. After Singhvi sought court permission to withdraw the plea, the apex court said the plea was dismissed as withdrawn. In a press conference on Facebook Live, Oza had made allegations against the High Court and its registry, following which the High court issued a contempt notice against him. "Scurrilous remarks appear to have been made without any substantive basis and without any intent to know the truth as also without approaching the Chief Justice (of the High Court) for any inquiry as the head of the institution," the High Court said. Some traders in some part of Accra have complained about the low patronage of products due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its health and social distancing restrictions. Some traders who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the low sales had affected their socio-economic lives. Madam Adjoa Boatemaa, who deals in mattresses at Dansoman, explained that customers only visited the markets to patronise food staffs, medications, toiletries and other essentials for their homes. If someone does not have enough money to buy food during this crisis that the world is faced with, how could the person buy mattress, which is not a primary necessity to them? she asked. Miss Owoo Yoyo, a trader in hair weaves, said she could go through a day without making any sale at her shop. After the lockdown, sales have been low and I hear the same complaints from my colleagues. I understand it is related to the antisocial gatherings directives, so I may switch my business into a competitive one in this period of pandemic, she said. Ms Mavis Bortey, a beautician, who also deals in cosmetics, however, said she had switched to online services because it moved faster and had reduced the high cost of transportation. Mr. John Yaw Boateng who trades in clothing at the Madina Market said: I believe the virus is here to stay, as is being circulated already, so I urge my colleagues to be patient and smart in their business so they make some cash. Madam Patience Appiah Mensah, a seamstress at Dansoman, said the COVID-19 had affected her business because social activities and public gatherings had been restricted. The sewing of clothing does not occur frequently as it used to. Prior to this, in a week, I could have about 10 to 20 orders, but during this pandemic, for over a month, I have not received any order. GNA Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has celebrated her 10 year wedding anniversary with a series of glamorous photos in enviable gowns. The heir to Sweden's throne has been married for a decade to husband Daniel Westling. The couple posed at Gustav III's pavilion, which is conveniently close to their home at Haga Palace. The fairytale worthy photos were captured by photographer Elisabeth Toll over the past few weeks. Copyright Royal Court of Sweden They shared the photos to their official Instagram account with more than 400,000 followers on Monday with the caption, "On Friday, the Crown Princess and Prince Daniel celebrate their 10-year wedding anniversary. Ahead of the wedding day, photographer Elisabeth Toll has taken new official portrait pictures of the Crown Princess couple. The photographs are taken in Gustav III's pavilion at Haga." The Crown Princess changed ensembles for each picture, including swapping out her tiaras to showcase two different ones. She showcased the Baden fringe tiara, which she wore for her engagement portraits. She also wore the same tiara more recently in December for the Nobel Prize ceremony banquet in Stockholm. Copyright Royal Court of Sweden To harken back to the beginning of her relationship, she wore the Elie Saab gown she donned at the concert the night before her wedding, pairing it with the diamond Connaught tiara. This particular tiara is quite popular with the family and is also known as the Forget-Me-Knot tiara. It features five diamond loops with a delicate detachable pendant. Princess Madeleine wore it when she attended Crown Princess Victoria's wedding. The couple married on June 19, 2010, at Stockholm Cathedral on 19 June 2010. They were joined by royal friends including the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Prince Albert of Monaco. They share two children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar. Hamilton falcon watchers were in a flap last week after a misadventure sent one of the chicks to rehab. Fledgling peregrines, Griffin and Whitehern, both took flight for the first time Griffin on June 9 and Whitehern on June 12 under the watchful eye of their parents Lily and Ossie. But hours after his sister took off, Griffin found himself in some trouble on King Street West and had to be rescued by Hamilton Community Peregrine Project co-ordinators and volunteers. Falcon watch monitor Patricia Baker said its standard, if a bird is potentially injured, to take them to a rehabilitation centre, in this case The Owl Foundation in Niagara Region. Before his stint in rehab, the peregrine project reported Griffin flying strongly and playing hide-n-seek with falcon watch volunteers June 10. With Whitehern still on the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel ledge nest, Griffin was being adventurous, finding shelter on neighbouring buildings. The adult falcons brought him food and tried to tempt him back to the nest. On June 12, Whitehern took her leap with falcon watch cameras recording at 8:16 a.m. Since then, she has taken successful flights and had a possible unwanted encounter with some bald eagles, the peregrine project website said. Later that day, Griffin was seen falling from the Standard Life Building on to King Street West. The young peregrine took flight again, flopping around weirdly, and unfortunately flew into the Thomson Building. Luckily, the young raptor didnt break any bones, Baker said, but was bruised from the fall. At the rehab centre, Griffins perching and flying is being monitored. Baker said an update is expected Wednesday. Baker is thankful to Sheraton manager, Colin Watson, and staff at Jackson Square and at the Ellen Fairclough Building, for allowing falcon watchers entry and giving them tips on bird sightings during Griffins misadventure. Back in Hamilton, Whitehern, Lily and Ossie, live very much in the moment, the falcon watch website says. Unlike human family members, they wont be missing Griffin. When the young peregrine returns, hell be fed and life will move on as if nothing happened. Ector County reported 22 more cases of coronavirus on Monday, making the total 260. Two of the new cases are inmates at Ector County jail. There are 63 probable cases at this time, according to the health department website. ECHD reported that 167 people have recovered. There have been 3,415 tests taken, with 3,000 negative results and 155 pending results. ECHD has contacted 2,306 people during contact tracing. Bradley Robert Edwards escalated from sexual assaults to serial killings and may have claimed an earlier murder victim had his violent rape of a teenager not been interrupted, a court has heard. Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo reached further than ever before in her closing address to the ex-Telstra technician's Supreme Court of Western Australia trial on Tuesday, following more than six months of evidence. While the 51-year-old denies murdering Ciara Glennon, 27, Sarah Spiers, 18, and 23-year-old Jane Rimmer in 1996 and 1997, he admits abducting the teen from Claremont and raping her in a nearby cemetery in 1995. Bradley Robert Edwards (pictured) is accused of murdering secretary Sarah Spiers, childcare worker Jane Rimmer and solicitor Ciara Glennon in 1996 and 1997 Edwards is accused of murdering childcare worker Jane Rimmer (left) and secretary Sarah Spiers (right) in 1996 and 1997 It was an escalation from his indecent assault of an 18-year-old woman as she slept in her Huntingdale home in 1988, which he has also confessed to, and a 1990 attack on a hospital social worker, which earned him a conviction. Ms Barbagallo said both offences were sexually motivated, with the first 'fetishistic' crime committed while he was wearing a woman's nightie. He had prepared, unplugging the family's phone and bringing a pre-knotted pair of stockings he intended to bind the victim with, leaving behind a semen-stained silk kimono. The social worker was also the intended target of a sex attack, Ms Barbagallo said, as he tried to drag her into a toilet where they would not be seen. Before he raped the 17-year-old, he had been laying in wait for a lone, vulnerable female and stealthily pounced as she walked through a dark park, armed with telephone cable tied into makeshift handcuffs and leaving the door to his light-coloured work van open. With all three victims, fabric was stuffed in or over their mouth, but he also put a hood over the teenager's head. Ciara Glennon, 27, the third victim of the Claremont serial killer, allegedly Edwards As with the previous two attacks, which only ended after the women fought back, the victim was grabbed from behind while he didn't say a word. The teen was so terrified she kept her eyes shut after Edwards pulled the hood off mid-way through the rape and pretended she was unconscious when he threw her into bushes, walked away, then came back and hurled her into even denser bushes. Ms Barbagallo said that behaviour 'might appear bizarre' but was in fact an attempt to hide his victim before coming back and killing her. Edwards 'had every intention' of murdering the girl - at least from the moment he pulled the hood off - but was disturbed by security patrols. Edwards escalated from sexual assaults to serial killings and may have claimed an earlier murder victim had his violent rape of a teenager not been interrupted, a court has heard When he came back, she had gone, having run away half-naked and bound by the wrists seeking help. As she fled, she saw a light-coloured van driving around, as did a security guard. 'Why not just leave her on the ground if the idea was to sexually assault her? He was coming back for her,' Ms Barbagallo said. While Ms Spiers' body has never been found, the prosecutor argued the attacks on Ms Rimmer, who was found naked, and Ms Glennon, who was found with her skirt up around her waist, were also sexually motivated. Both had fibre from carpet matching the footwell of his work vehicle in their hair, suggesting they had been subdued or restrained there. 'The accused evolved as an offender over time,' Ms Barbagallo said. 'There was a clear progression ... he became more efficient and ruthless.' YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. At the coordination of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan and the participation of all concerned sides, Armenias Sustainable Development Goals Voluntary National Review Report has been developed and submitted to the United Nations, the deputy PMs Office told Armenpress. State bodies, the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, different UN structures and civil society representatives have been engaged in the drafting of the document. The report has been published in the UN website. It represents Armenias steps taken for the implementation of SDGs during 2018-2020. The report consists of five chapters: Development of Human Capital (People) Accessibility of infrastructures and provision of economic growth (Prosperity) Fight against corruption, human rights protection and justice (Peace) Protection of environment and tackling climate change (Planet) Cooperation for implementation of the sustainable development goals (Partnership) The report will also be presented during the High-Level Political Forum within the UN this year in July. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Are you looking to continue your biblical education with a masters in theology, but would like to do so remotely? Here, we have combed through dozens of online programs to gather 20 of the best programs that dont require you to set foot on campus. Its impossible, of course, to definitively choose which programs are best. Each strategy focuses on different factors and has its own flaws. Thus, below are simply suggestions. This list is not meant to be complete or authoritative. For the purposes of this list, we have not considered masters in divinity, masters in ministry, or other related degrees, focusing solely on masters in theology. The list below has been compiled using multiple rankings by organizations such as Best Colleges, The Community for Accredited Online Schools, and Best College Reviews. The rankings from these multiple sources have been compiled, assigned point values, and combined, so that the below are the most highly rated masters in theology programs overall, skewed toward affordability, and not taking into account doctrinal beliefs or specific denominational affiliation. Liberty didnt hit #1 on any lists, but because of being in the top ten in multiple, it earned the spot as the overall highest rated masters in theology program. Notably, Libertys program is designed for students who have already completed a masters in divinity or similar degree. Students choose from six different specializations, including Christian Apologetics, Homiletics, Church History, and Global Studies. The program can be completed entirely online, though there are opportunities to visit campus for intensives if students so choose. All coursework is asynchronous, affording lots of flexibility. Estimated yearly tuition: $8,468 For more information, visit their website here. Columbia was ranked #1 in online masters in theology for 2020 by Best Colleges, and #2 by The Community for Accredited Online Schools for 2017. The program is meant to be rigorous, and research and academics focused. Columbias MA in Theological Studies is available both to students with a background in theology and to those with unrelated undergraduate degrees. The track for those without a theological education background is 48 credits, while that for those coming in with more than 30 credits in Bible, theology, or church history is 33 credits. Estimated yearly tuition: $10,181 For more information, visit their website here. Polls indicate 82% of graduates would choose Lincoln again if they had the opportunity to re-choose their school. At Lincoln, students take two courses back to back each term. There are spring, summer, and fall terms, with one-week breaks between. Thus, students still finish the program in two years while focusing on just a single course at any given time. Estimated yearly tuition: $8,395 For more information, visit their website here. Photo Credit: biola.edu Biola offers multiple online masters degree programs in theology, including MAs in Bible Exposition, New Testament, and General Theology. Certain tracks are not available completely online but are instead available as hybrid programs. However, students who choose one of the fully online degrees are not required to visit campus unless they want to. Biolas program is offered through the Talbot School of Theology. Estimated yearly tuition: $11,614 For more information, visit their website here. Its important to note that this is a Catholic school, but its high rankings put it on this list. All of Franciscans faculty have met canon law requirements for the mandatum, a standard only 30 U.S. Catholic universities have met, according to Best College Reviews. Students can choose between two tracks, catechetics and evangelization, which is available exclusively on campus, and canon law, which is available online. Estimated yearly tuition: $12,888 For more information, visit their website here. The University of Dallas master of theological studies offers a unique breadth of study. Core courses focus on Catholic dogma, rites, and institutions, and thorough examinations of scripture and church history, while electives cover religious and secular topics. Students can earn a concentration in biblical theology or supplement their studies with business and liberal arts classes. Estimated yearly tuition: $33,750 For more information, visit their website here. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) offers an array of online degrees, including an online master of theological studies. The program is aimed at lay ministers, students wanting to deepen their knowledge of the Bible, and some doctoral candidates. Split into Biblical studies, theological studies, and worship-leading sections, the program allows students interested in teaching over preaching to substitute pedagogical courses for the worship-leading section. The master of arts (theology) includes eight additional credits and is designed for doctoral candidates. Estimated yearly tuition: $7,022 For more information, visit their website here. Harding offers three options of online masters degrees in theology: a general Master of Arts, a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, and a Master of Divinity. The program is highly customizable; the general MA program allows concentrations such as New Testament, Historical Theology, and Systematic Theology. The general MA is research and teaching geared, whereas the MA in Christian Ministry is ministry-oriented. Estimated yearly tuition: $10,569 For more information, visit their website here. Photo Credit: cornerstone.edu Cornerstone University offers a master's in theology online on a limited basis, and students must have completed a master of divinity or similar program before being admitted. However, if students qualify, the program offers New Testament and Old Testament specializations, both of which include a professional practicum and master's thesis. Courses offered include Biblical Theology, Grammar and Translation, and Advanced Old Testament Exegesis. The biblical studies are taught by published scholars who have lived and studied in Israel and are considered experts in both testaments. Estimated yearly tuition: $14,966 For more information, visit their website here. With a global focus, World Mission University was founded by religious scholar Dr. Dong Sun Lim. The program is designed to train lay people aspiring to careers in religious service, as well as established and emerging missionaries and pastors. The program is open the transfer credits, and students with previously earned theology credits can transfer in up to 50% of the total degree requirements. Estimated yearly tuition: $5,426 For more information, visit their website here. Fordham ranks #5 on Best Colleges list and is associated with the Jesuits. It finds its place lower on the list partially due to the higher cost, but it offers multiple online master's degrees through its Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education. Perhaps its most unique feature is the universitys strong focus on counseling and training counselors. Fordham holds accreditations and affiliations with nine external agencies, giving it one of the most varied and complete sets of endorsements of any theological institute in New York. Estimated yearly tuition: $36,240 For more information, visit their website here. Photo Credit: GettyImages/dusanpetkovic Concordias online masters in theology program emphasizes practical applications. Concentrations include Christian education leadership, research in theology, youth ministry, theology and culture, and servant leadership. Many of the courses feature synchronous, real-time delivery. Notably, students of all religious affiliations are welcome, and applicants dont need any previous theological training. Estimated yearly tuition: $8,136 For more information, visit their website here. Urshan is unique as the only accredited Apostolic Pentecostal graduate institution in the U.S. Its master of theology online program is available in thesis and non-thesis tracks. The program gives students a Pentecostal framework for a future in preaching or teaching through exploring biblical languages, the history of the Oneness movement, and biblical research. Though most classwork can be completed online, students do need to fulfill a residency requirement, typically fulfilled with two separate weeks of study in St. Louis. Estimated yearly tuition: $7,650 For more information, visit their website here. Started in 1951 to train men for the priesthood in the Catholic Church, the school has now branched out to offer online programs such as an online masters in theology intended to ready both men and women for roles in ministry, teaching, and postgraduate work. The program offers seven different areas of concentrationapologetics, bioethics, Church history, dogmatic theology, general studies, moral theology, and sacred scriptureallowing a great degree of customization. No thesis is required, though students intending to pursue a doctorate may write one. Estimated yearly tuition: $5,830 For more information, visit their website here. Moody Bible Institute was famously founded by evangelist D. L. Moody. Moodys program focuses on missions and ministry with six pre-determined concentrations, or an option to design your own. The six concentrations are Biblical Preaching, Leadership, Missions, Pastoral Ministry, Ministry Entrepreneurship, and Interdisciplinary studies. The program claims uniqueness in delivering coursework at the masters level that is generally associated with doctorate-level theology. Estimated yearly tuition: $8,938 For more information, visit their website here. Photo Credit: Sparrowstock Unlike some larger schools on this list, Faith International has less than 1,000 students. However, it boasts divisions in China and Korea and a global virtual campus. The online masters in theology reaches its global audience through a variety of technology, including DVDs. It was developed with Christian missionary workers in mind, as well as anyone desiring a thorough education in Christian theology. At 72 credits, its a hefty and thorough program. Though largely online, students do finish the program with a field ministry or practicum elective. Estimated yearly tuition: $9,334 For more information, visit their website here. Newman is a Catholic university offering two online masters programs in theology, either a master of arts or a master of theological studies, depending on what the student wants to do with the degree. The MA is a more rigorous program intended to prepare students for further study, while the master of theological studies is designed for those who want to be better catechists and high school-level religion teachers. Though students arent required to visit campus, there is usually an on-campus intensive during each course that students are encouraged to attend. Estimated yearly tuition: $11,434 For more information, visit their website here. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is one of the oldest and largest in the Southern Baptist Convention. The Master of Theology degree has two tracks, either research or ministry. The ministry track is geared toward ministry preparation, while the research track is designed for students planning to pursue a doctorate, and thus contains a thesis component. Estimated yearly tuition: $11,776 For more information, visit their website here. Photo Credit: hds.harvard.edu Harvard Divinity School offers three graduate degrees: the three-year master of divinity, the one-year master of theology, and the two-year master of theological studies. The program also notably features about a 7-12 to 1 student to faculty ratio, and as of 2017, a whopping 97% graduation rate. Estimated yearly tuition: $50,923 For more information, visit their website here. Dallas Baptist Universitys masters degree in theological studies offers concentrations in Christian Scriptures, Christian Heritage, and Christian Ministry. The theological studies degree is one of many masters degrees the university offers. Dallas Baptist offers a variety of dual degree or accelerated bachelors to masters degrees, as well as fully online, fully in-person, and hybrid options. Estimated yearly tuition: $20,127 For more information, visit their website here. There were many other schools that could easily have made this list. For some more top masters in theology programs, check out the links below: Accredited Schools Online Best College Reviews Best Colleges Affordable Colleges Rankings Photo Credit: GettyImages/fizkes Alyssa Roat studied writing, theology, and the Bible at Taylor University. She is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E., the publicity manager at Mountain Brook Ink, and a freelance editor with Sherpa Editing Services. She is the co-author of Dear Hero and has 200+ bylines in publications ranging from The Christian Communicator to Keys for Kids. Find out more about her here and on social media @alyssawrote. This article is part of our larger Higher Education resource library centered around colleges and universities. We hope these articles help you narrow down your search for Christian colleges and seminaries. 20 Best Masters in Theology Programs Top Universities for Masters of Divinity The Best Online Christian Colleges in America Top Online Theology Degrees The Best Bible Colleges in America 70 Best Christian Colleges and Universities The Best Online Seminary Schools Orange Business Services, a network-native digital services company, has announced the opening of a second office in the UAE, Orange Business Services International Limited in Abu Dhabi. The new office will work in close cooperation with the Middle East & Africa regional headquarters in Dubai, which is also the regional centre of excellence for smart cities and an innovation hub. The new Abu Dhabi office will support the full range of global services and solutions from Orange Business Services, and especially those relevant to smart cities, in support of the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 strategy, said a statement. Orange Business Services currently supports public sector authorities, with a co-innovation program to enhance smart city management services and support the continued digital transformation of the Abu Dhabi economy. In February 2020, Orange Business Services and Abu Dhabi Municipality announced a new cutting-edge smart cities virtualization App to enhance the city management services delivered in Abu Dhabi. The bespoke App, IoT Cockpit, provides visualization via an immersive, interactive user interface for the city authorities monitoring elements of the urban landscape. Sahem Azzam, Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Orange Business Services, commented: "Abu Dhabi is a key strategic market for Orange Business Services within the UAE and the Middle East. We are shaping our strategy and organization to respond to the scale of Abu Dhabis visionary leadership and ambition, by supporting the public and private sectors, as they face the complexities and opportunities of digital transformation and the need for innovation and new business models. Our UAE country management team will help us build on our existing strong relationships in the Emirates and continue to grow our presence and impact, working closely with customers and partners. Ultimately, we aim to be the preferred digital services provider in the region. Orange Business Services is a network-native digital services company and the global enterprise division of the Orange Group. It connects, protects and innovates for enterprises around the world to support sustainable business growth. Leveraging its connectivity and system integration expertise throughout the digital value chain, Orange Business Services is well placed to support global businesses in areas such as software-defined networks, multi-cloud services, Data and AI, smart mobility services, and cybersecurity. It securely accompanies enterprises across every stage of the data lifecycle end-to-end, from collection, transport, storage and processing to analysis and sharing, the company said. - TradeArabia News Service The death of Rayshard Brooks, the 27-year-old black man shot by a white Atlanta, Georgia police officer Friday night, has been ruled a homicide by the Fulton County medical examiners office. The medical officials reported in a statement Sunday evening that the young man died from blood loss and organ injuries caused by two gunshot wounds to his back. Brooks was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Wendys restaurant as he was running away from police after he had failed a sobriety test and resisted arrest. His murder has fueled the mass protests against police violence and racism that have taken place in all 50 states and dozens of cities internationally since the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25. Atlantas police chief, Erika Shields, resigned over the shooting on Friday night, and Officer Garrett Rolfe, who shot and killed Brooks, was fired the same evening. The second officer involved in the incident, Devin Brosnan, was put on administrative leave. Police body camera footage and bystander video show that Brooks had grabbed a Taser from one of the officers as they wrestled with him and fired it wildly behind himself while in full stride away from Officer Garrett Rolfe, who was pursuing the young man on foot and drawing his handgun. Rolfe then lifted his pistol and fired three shots at Brooks, who dropped and lay bleeding to death in the parking lot. Rolfe and another officer took the time to collect the spent bullet shells from the ground before administering medical aid to Brooks. Prosecutors are expected to decide by the middle of this week whether to bring charges against the officers involved in the killing of Brooks. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard stated Sunday, [The victim] did not seem to present any kind of threat to anyone, and so the fact that it would escalate to his death just seems unreasonable. Chassidy Evans, the niece of Rayshard Brooks at a news conference held by members of Brooks' family on Monday, June 15, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ron Harris) The family of Brooks, including his widow Tomika Miller, held a press conference in Atlanta on Monday morning where they thanked all who have protested since he was shot and killed. His name will forever be remembered, Miller said. There is no justice that can ever make me feel happy about whats been done. Brooks leaves behind a stepson and three daughters, one of whom was supposed to be celebrating her birthday on Saturday morning. A lawyer for the family told reporters, They had a birthday party for her with cupcakes, while we were sitting there talking to her mom about why her dads not coming home. A protest organized by the Georgia NAACP followed the press conference on Monday morning, a March on Georgia demonstration that began at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building and brought approximately 800 demonstrators to the Georgia State Capitol building. In an interview with CBS news, Miller spoke about the officer that killed her late husband. If it was my husband who shot them, he would be in jail. He would be doing a life sentence. They need to be put away. Regarding the killing, she said, Even though everything happened so fast, it wouldnt take nothing but a split-second for the other officer to say, Hey, calm down. He could have told his partner to Calm down. I think that all of them need to be sentenced the same way. Chris Stewart, an attorney for the family, criticized the police officer for firing his handgun in the crowded Wendys parking lot. A man present on the scene has provided photographic evidence that his car, which was in the parking lot on the night of the killing, was struck by one of the three bullets that Officer Rolfe fired on the evening of the killing. Stewart noted that Rolfe could have caused another death if that third bullet had landed just a few inches higher than it did. During a television interview Monday morning, Stewart also criticized claims that police brutality is simply a training issue. He explained, You can have all the training in the world, but if you arent understanding that the value of someones life is more important than them running away from you, then all the training in the world wont work. This week marks the fourth in which mass demonstrations are being held over police brutality. Mando Avery, whose seven-year-old son had mace fired directly into his face by a Seattle police officer earlier this month, an incident that was caught on video and went viral on social media, recently spoke publicly about the attack on his son. I would say that you were targeting my boy. I dont know if you were trying to set an example and strike fear into him, but you did a great job. No officer whos paid to protect chose to stand up, break the ranks, [and] go help the child. I just dont understand how any of them can sleep. Since protests began last month, demonstrators have been teargassed, beaten, hit with rubber bullets and kettled by police all over the United States. Thousands have reported injuries, some life-threatening. In Seattle alone, where Averys son was viciously attacked, the citys office of police accountability reported at least 12,000 complaints during the first weekend of protests. Thousands have been arrested, many of whom now face significant time in jail. Democratic Party leaders are now seeking to co-opt the protests with promises of derisory and dubious reforms as a solution to the unending wave of state violence in the US. Some of these reforms would provide more resources and funding to police departments, which is the complete opposite of the call to defund the police that many protesters are raising. Stacey Abrams, a former minority leader of the Georgia House and candidate for governor, who is now a contender to be the vice presidential running mate of former Vice President and presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden, has stated that more money should be allocated to social services, along with comprehensive police reform. What happened [Friday] to Rayshard Brooks was a function of excessive force, Abrams said, adding that officers who were either embarrassed or, you know, panicked led them to murder a man who they knew only had a Taser in his hand. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, another contender to be Bidens running mate, stated at a news conference, What has become abundantly clear over the last couple of weeks in Atlanta is that while we have a police force full of men and women who work alongside our communities with honor, respect, and dignity, there has been a disconnect with what our expectations are and should be, as it relates to interactions with our officers and the communities which they are entrusted to protect. Bottoms also reported that a policing task force met for the first time last week and will offer recommendations on reforms moving forward. She announced plans to sign a series of administrative orders aimed at examining the Atlanta Police Departments use of force and requiring de-escalation in police encounters. Both of these figures, who are using the protests in an effort to boost their chances at becoming the vice-presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, not only defend the police as a necessary institution for capitalist exploitation and control of workers, but Bottoms in particular denounced the multiracial character of the protests in her city. Last week, congressional Democrats released their Justice in Policing 2020 bill, which they described as transformational and bold. In reality, as the WSWS explained, the bill is a political maneuver designed to cover for Democratic political officials who have overseen brutal police attacks on protesters and operate police departments that routinely brutalize and kill. The major provisions in the bill include measures like changing the wording of statutes, requiring body cameras for federal uniformed police officers, and limiting the application of the qualified immunity doctrine for police officers. Qualified immunity has been used over the past few decades to throw out lawsuits against police who break the law or use unwarranted force. The Obama administration repeatedly intervened in Supreme Court cases to uphold the blanket use of qualified immunity to shield killer cops from civil suits and criminal prosecution. This Monday, the Supreme Court declined to take a case reviewing this legal doctrine, upholding this key legal protection for killer cops. In response to the Democrats toothless reform bill, the White House has announced that President Donald Trump will sign an executive order today on policing and co-responders, which will look at ways to bring the community and police together. JaRon Smith, an adviser to Trump, explained that co-responders would allow for police to do their job but bring in social workers and experts that deal with mental health and deal with issues such as drug addiction. It appears that the order will mainly lean on local lawmakers to encourage police departments to embed such professionals in their response to police calls, meaning that the executive order will be even more vacuous than what is being proposed by Democrats. Workers and young people must reject the premise foisted upon them by Democratic and Republican Parties that the police are neutral arbiters who exist to serve and protect. As Friedrich Engels insisted over a century ago, the capitalist state is a coercive instrument employed by the bourgeoisie to defend its rule and to oppress the working class. The police are a central arm of the capitalist state, a special body of armed men, who exist to enforce the interests of the ruling elite. The only way to put an end to police brutality and imperialist violence is the revolutionary mobilization of the international working class guided by a socialist program to overthrow the capitalist state and dismantle all of its oppressive agencies, including the police and the military. Refugees receive emergency food packages at UNHCR's Serraj centre in Tripoli. UNHCR/Caroline Gluck TRIPOLI/TUNIS UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the World Food Programme, WFP, are joining forces in Libya in a project that will aim to reach up to 10,000 food insecure refugees and asylum seekers with emergency food aid this year. The partnership was launched in recognition of the severe socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Libya as well as the effects of the ongoing conflict. Nutritious food supports a healthy immune system, which is even more critical in challenging times of a global pandemic. Regular food support helps to meet this basic need and allows for limited income to be used for other needs. Most refugees and asylum seekers in Libya have been unable to find any daily work to support themselves as curfews have been introduced and food prices and the cost of basic goods have dramatically risen. The cost of a minimum expenditure food basket that would meet basic needs has increased by 24 per cent since March. Many refugees say that they are only able to afford to eat one meal a day. A quick needs assessment conducted by WFP between 30 May and 3 June 2020, carried out via telephone interviews with 10% of refugees proposed for assistance, found that on average, one out of two respondents had poor or borderline poor food consumption. A majority showed significantly higher frequency of using negative coping strategies such as reducing the number of meals per day or limiting the size of meal portions. In the past 30 days, 77 per cent of respondents could not access supermarkets, and 70 per cent had no money to buy food. Every day, I am afraid of death because of hunger, a respondent told WFP. I sleep on mats. There are many shops that I want to work in but there is no work. There is nothing in my house other than bread and tea. It is imperative that we hear these needs and support those most vulnerable, said Samer AbdelJaber, Country Director and Representative of WFP in Libya. Access to nutritious food is a right. UNHCR and WFP in Libya have worked together previously in times of crisis in the country, when the intensification of conflict left people of concern with no access to food. Now, with the added challenge of COVID-19, we are coming together to ensure support to food insecure refugees who are fully reliant on humanitarian assistance for basic needs. Among those who will be assisted under the project are refugees and asylum seekers recently released from detention centres, with limited means of supporting themselves. Others will include refugees in urban settings facing severe challenges in accessing food. The help were providing under this project has come at a critical time and will be a lifesaver for some of the most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers in urban areas, said Jean-Paul Cavalieri, UNHCRs Chief of Mission in Libya. Most relied on daily labour, but this work has dried up because of COVID-19 movement restrictions. They are living a hand-to-mouth existence and finding it very hard to feed themselves. In addition, as the UN continues to call for the orderly release of refugees and migrants from arbitrary detention, it is important that whenever the authorities release people from these centres, we can assist them in urban settings. The first distribution of food assistance began yesterday (Monday 15 June) at UNHCRs registration centre in Serraj, Tripoli. Some 2,000 refugees and asylum seekers will be reached in the pilot phase. The micronutrient-dense, ready-to-eat emergency food packages, providing enough food for one month, include hummus, canned beans, canned tuna, halawa, and date bars which cover 53 per cent of the daily caloric requirement of a healthy person (around 1,100 kilocalories). WFP and UNHCR staff will distribute the food packages through to the end of the year, ensuring COVID-19 precautionary measures, such as personal protection equipment, social distancing, disinfection and enhanced crowd controls, are in place for the distributions. This innovative partnership will also go beyond emergency food support, extending to technology services which facilitate communication and exchange of information. The WFP-led Emergency Telecommunications Sector will be providing connectivity services to a UNHCR Community Day Centre in Tripoli to help refugees connect to their loved ones and communities. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We deliver life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. Follow us on Twitter @UNHCRLibya and on Facebook The United Nations World Food Programme is the worlds largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Follow us on Twitter @WFP_MENA @SamerWFP For more information please contact UNHCR Tripoli: Caroline Gluck [email protected] +218 91000 7195 +218 91000 7195 Tunis: Tarik Argaz [email protected] +216 299 61295 +216 299 61295 Geneva: Charlie Yaxley [email protected] +41 79 580 8702 WFP Tunis/Tripoli: Flavia Brunetti [email protected] +216 58558309 +216 58558309 Cairo: Abeer Etefa [email protected] +201 0666 3435 2 NOTES FOR EDITORS: Broadcast quality b-roll available for download here: https://media.unhcr.org/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=2CZ7RBZG5DSH Pushkar Banakar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India on Monday asserted that the onus is now on the KP Sharma Oli government to create a positive and conducive atmosphere for talks on territorial dispute as its previous offer of foreign secretary-level talks with Nepal on the territorial dispute met with no response. On the tabling of the Bill to amend Nepals Constitution to include Lipulekh, Limipiyadhura and Kalapani in its map, sources said 98 per cent of the border was delineated and only two disputed areas exist in Bihar and Uttarakhand. We have been in touch with the Nepal government and even made an offer for foreign secretary-level talks just before the Bill was tabled in House of Representatives. However, we got no response from them. Now the onus is on the Oli government to create positive and conducive atmosphere for talks to be held, a source said, adding that tabling of the Bill was driven by a domestic political agenda and pre-judges the conclusion of the talks. Sources said the Nepal governments decision to form a committee to examine claims regarding the border was evidence of a hastily taken decision for political gains. In the past, we have given enough evidence of our claims. They are in the public domain. The 1817 Governor General ruling that only two of the four villages demanded should be given to Nepal is also in the public domain, the source said, adding that it was surprising that Nepal was laying claim to Kunti after 200 years. New Delhi also expressed surprise at Nepal PMs comments linking the rise in the number of coronavirus cases to returnees from India. It is surprising that Oli is singling out India... A lot of people enter Nepal, including from China. There is political motivation behind the comment, the source said. At the same time, India said it enjoys good people-to-people relations with Nepal and will not stop its development projects in the country. All development projects are on track. In the times of the pandemic, we have provided assistance worth Rs 4.5 crore. On Monday, India signed an MoU with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City to provide Nepali Rupees 37.23 million for setting up sanitation facilities at the Pashupatinath temple. Nepalese Intrusion in no-mans land At India-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh, Nepali citizens have started occupying areas on no-mans land along the border in Lakhimpur Kheri district. Nepalese forces too have set up five Border Out Posts in Kailali area on their side of the border The agreement was signed in November and compliments a previous $200 million deal signed in 2018 between the EBRD and the International Cooperation Ministry Egypts parliament has approved an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to get an additional $50 million for a program to improve the efficiency of energy use by the Suez Oil Processing Company. The agreement was signed in November and compliments a previous $200 million deal signed in 2018 between the EBRD and the International Cooperation Ministry for the same program. The funds will be used to improve the oil and gas sectors performance by enhancing energy efficiency and ensuring the effectiveness of the companys petroleum refinery, the ministry said in a statement. International Cooperation Minister Rania Al-Mashat illustrated that the agreement supports Egypts efforts to be a regional hub for energy, creates new job opportunities, provides clean energy and contributes to achieving four sustainable development goals. Head of parliaments energy and environment committee Talaat El-Swaidy has said that parliament approved the agreement because of its importance in boosting the energy efficiency of the company, which contributes to providing essential needs in the Egyptian market regarding oil and petroleum products. The total EBRD projects in Egypt have reached 151 projects worth 6.291 million, 56 percent of which constitutes the private sectors share, according to the international cooperation ministry. The ongoing portfolio of projects records 4,183 million, according to the EBRD. Egypts GDP is expected to grow by 2.5 percent in the current FY2019/2020 and by 3 percent in FY2020/2021 on the back of the weak outlook in the tourism sector, disruptions in global value chains, weaker demand from trading partners, and the slowdown in foreign direct investment (FDI), according to the EBRDs regional economic outlook report released in May. Search Keywords: Short link: Jean Todt says he hopes Sebastian Vettel stays in Formula 1 beyond 2020. Ferrari will head into 2021 with Carlos Sainz alongside Charles Leclerc, but the FIA president said no driver should be blamed for Ferrari's failure to win a title since 2007. "Motorsport is a combination of man, machine and teamwork," he told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. "Without one of these elements, the others do not work either, which we saw not only with Vettel but also with Alonso who did not win. "Sebastian won when he had a competitive car, and the same was true for Schumacher who had to wait until 2000 for the title after arriving in 1996," said Todt. So when asked if he supports Ferrari's decision to oust Vettel, the former Ferrari boss answered: "I do not want to criticise anyone. "Sebastian is a very talented driver, but so far he does not have a car for 2021. I hope he gets a contract because it is important not just for Sebastian but for Formula 1," Todt said of the quadruple world champion. However, the 74-year-old stridently backs the secret agreement he reached with Ferrari recently over the questionable legality of the Maranello team's 2019 engine. "I would act the same way again," said Todt. "It was managed with professionalism and transparency and in accordance with the rules. I have to make decisions based on the information I have, and I did not act on my own," he added. Finally, Todt said he also supports Lewis Hamilton's recent forays into controversial political topics. "Maximum respect," he said. "The FIA is also very active in human rights matters." (GMM) Filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap took to his social media to share some explosive posts in the wake of Sushant Singh Rajput's death wherein he exposed some 'bitter truths' of the film industry. The director alleged that Salman Khan and his family have been bullying him for some time now. He had also directed the Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha starrer Dabangg about 10 years back. The filmmaker took to his social media and claimed that ever since the movie, Arbaaz Khan and Sohil Khan have also been trying to take a hold of his career. He added that he was even threatened and all his creative projects have been sabotaged by the family. The director made six massive allegations and revelations on his post which has taken the netizens by shock. Also Read: Dabangg Director Abhinav Singh Kashyap Alleges Salman Khan & Kin Sabotaged His Work Here are the explosive six allegations made by Abhinav Kashyap against Salman Khan and the casting agencies 'Casting agencies are nothing less than a potential death trap' Abhinav Kashyap alleged that all the renowned casting agencies and the agents are a potential 'death trap' in Bollywood. He also stated that Yash Raj Films' Talent Management Agency may have acted as a catalyst in Sushant Singh Rajput's death. The filmmaker wrote that having 'personally suffered' for a decade due to these agencies, he can confidently say that they are capable of ruining one's life and career. Also Read: Salman Khan And Sonakshi Sinha Starrer 'Dabangg: Lesser-known Facts About The Film The aftermath of a fall-out with a casting agency Abhinav Kashyap revealed that the casting and talent agencies exploit the struggling actors who have to give up their right to make free choices when it comes to their films and has to work with very little money. He added that when an actor tries to escape from the clutches of these agencies, he is boycotted from the entire industry. Having no choice, these actors either succumb to prostitution or take a drastic step like suicide. Also Read: Amid Lockdown, Salman Khan Pays For Food & Medical Expenses Of 25000 Daily Wage Earners How Salman Khan's brothers, Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan ruined his career Abhinav Kashyap made a bold revelation on his post wherein he stated that after the success of his film Dabangg, Salman Khan and his brothers tried to take control of his entire career. He revealed how Arbaaz Khan sabotaged his project with the production house, Ashtavinayak Films by threatening the production company with 'dire consequences' if they worked with the filmmaker. The director also said how Sohail Khan also sabotaged his another project with Viacom Pictures wherein he also had to return his signing fee of about Rs 7 crores coupled with Rs 90 lakhs to the production house. Please take a moment to read this post by Dabanggs director, Abhinav Kashyap. He talks about how he has been bullied & mentally tortured by the bigwigs (Salman Khan & family) of Bollywood. I am appalled. pic.twitter.com/Nj9WIFymEx Chamku (@Chamkeelii) June 15, 2020 Salman Khan tried to stall the release of his movie Besharam Abhinav Kashyap further wrote how Salman Khan and his family tried to smear-negative campaigning of his film Besharam starring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role. He alleged that the actor and his team also conducted a negative trolling against the film. He revealed how this affected the box-office collection of the movie. He stated that Salman Khan and his family are his real enemies Abhinav Kashyap boldly stated that his real enemies in the industries are Salman Khan and his family. He made some shocking allegations against the Kick actor and his family. He revealed how they can intimidate anyone using their political connections and ill-gotten money. That he holds a strong grudge against Salman Khan and his family Abhinav Kashyap wrote that he holds a strong grudge against the Jai Ho actor and his family only in Bollywood. He also urged the others to come out with their story who have suffered due to such misgivings in Bollywood. He described this as his own 'struggle' against Salman and his family. Cover Image: Pennsylvania labor, employment and workers compensation law firm Willig, Williams & Davidson is proud to announce that partner Stuart W. Davidson will serve as a co-chair of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) Advisory Board. In 2018, Davidson joined the advisory board of LAANE, which is the largest social justice advocacy group on the West Coast. In 2019, he was honored at the organizations City of Justice Awards in Los Angeles which recognizes outstanding leaders who help to improve the lives of working people. Davidson joins LAANE Advisory Committee co-chairs Julie Gutman Dickinson, partner at Bush Gottlieb, and Scott Pascucci, chief executive officer at Concord. Tirelessly advocating for labor unions and the workers they represent, Davidson represents public and private benefit funds, fighting to preserve the ability of workers to retire with dignity and have access to affordable health care. His work for unions includes leading contract negotiations, presenting interest and grievance arbitrations and advising on external and internal union matters. Davidson serves as chief counsel to large regional and local unions along the East Coast and the Gulf Coast and in the Chicago area. Consistent with his efforts on behalf of workers, Davidson is committed to community and public service, having served on various nonprofit boards for decades. Known for his signature energy, humor, and passion, he has helped generate significant private-sector support for nonprofits working on criminal justice reform, education, economic growth and more. LAANE is a nationally recognized advocacy organization dedicated to building a new economy for all. Combining dynamic research, innovative public policy, and strategic organizing of broad alliances, LAANE promotes a new economic approach based on good jobs, thriving communities, and a healthy environment. To learn more, visit the firms website. About Willig, Williams & Davidson Willig, Williams & Davidson (http://www.wwdlaw.com) is one of the largest and most respected union-side labor law firms in the United States. The firm has offices in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Jenkintown Pa., as well as Haddonfield, N.J., and Chicago, Ill. Founded in 1979, Willig, Williams & Davidson focuses on representing labor unions, employee benefit funds and individual working people and their families on a variety of legal fronts, including national, regional and local contract negotiations; election and campaign finance; dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration and litigation; family law matters; benefits law design and compliance issues; discrimination, overtime and unpaid wages, and other employment matters; prepaid legal services for union members; social security disability; and workers compensation matters in Philadelphia and beyond. Workers inspire us. What To Make of Marriotts Post-Pandemic Playbook The worlds largest hotel company Monday signaled a move from survival mode into a potential coronavirus business recovery model. Marriott offered a few new loyalty incentives to drive bookings while also announcing it was buying back debt, perhaps signaling it is moving out of crisis mode and the uncertainty over travel restrictions. Marriott plans to offer only off-peak rates to Marriott Bonvoy members making award bookings by June 30 at 5,500 participating open and participating hotels for stays through July 31. The company also plans to boost opportunities for Elite loyalty status by depositing night credits in each members account equivalent to half the requirement for the status they earned in 2019. The moves aim to win over Bonvoy members considering a summer vacation at a time when hotel operators are just beginning to reopen following coronavirus shutdowns. We want to support our loyal Marriott Bonvoy members who are starting to travel again, and so are pleased to announce we are reducing the points needed for award travel at over 5,500 of our properties and, to accelerate our members ability to achieve higher elite status through the end of next year, we are depositing credit for nights into elite members accounts, said David Flueck, Marriotts senior vice president of global loyalty, in a statement to Skift. The Bonvoy deals include some of the most expensive properties for members to redeem award travel, including the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, and the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico. Ambassador Elite members will also be able to gift Platinum Elite status to one person. Marriott has already extended Bonvoy loyalty status earned in 2019 through February 2022 as a result of coronavirus shutdowns and travel restrictions across its portfolio. The latest loyalty play comes after a catastrophic few months for Marriott. Coronavirus is on track to have a negative impact worse for the company than the 9/11 terrorist attacks and financial crisis combined, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson said earlier this year. But Marriott also made a financial play Monday morning signaling there could be more positive momentum behind the company. Story continues Marriott announced a debt tender offer on as much as $1 billion in outstanding notes of short-term debt. The company plans to buy notes set to mature in October 2021 as well as in January, September, and October of 2022. Marriott sold earlier this month $985 million in debt not scheduled to mature until 2030, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. That issuing of notes came after the company sold $1.6 billion in debt in mid-April and made $920 million off amendments to co-branded credit card deals with American Express and JPMorgan Chase. Marriott declined to comment to Skift on the Monday move to buy back debt, but analysts see it as a sign the company is moving beyond recent rough months where it tried to shore up liquidity. If anything, this says that Marriott feels more comfortable about their future prospects than a few months ago, by willing to spend $1 billion to buy back debt, said Ryan Meliker, president of Lodging Analytics Research & Consulting. I would only caveat that, a week later, if they buy back a $1 billion in bonds, they could also turn around and issue $1 billion in bonds. But this points more to a positive direction for the company than a negative one. The Only Way to Go Is (Hopefully) Up Marriott is already seeing signs of a recovery in China and expects similar results in the U.S. The companys entire 350-hotel Chinese portfolio is reopen, and average occupancy cleared the 40 percent mark in early June, Sorenson said at an NYU webinar this month. Given the high level of domestic travel in both the U.S. and China, Sorenson added he expected both countries to recover faster than Europe. Marriotts leadership team has also been vocal that the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program would be a central part of its recovery, including utilizing the Bonvoy app as a way to take part in social distancing measures like mobile check-in. Mondays loyalty promotion is yet another signal of its Bonvoy-focused approach to recovery. Its most likely going to be a practice taken up by all the major brands with these major loyalty programs, said Evan Weiss, chief operating officer of LW Hospitality Advisors. I think theyre all going to try and take advantage of whatever lever they can pull to induce demand. Subscribe to Skift newsletters for essential news about the business of travel. In the clashes between Indian and Chinese troops along the border in eastern Ladakh, one Indian Army officer and two soldiers were martyred on the night of June 15. Tensions between the two nations have been escalating for a month now with reports of Chinese incursion coming in. After the 2017 India-China standoff in Doklam ended, many heaved a sigh of relief knowing the tensions were nipped before they could escalate into a full-fledged war. But was it really an assurance that one would not witness similar incidents in the future? We know better now. However, border disputes concerning the 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the Dragon and the Elephant are really not something new. India and China shared a cordial relationship in the initial years after India gained independence, but it did not last long and ended with the Sino-Indian War of 1962. Let us take a look at the past stand-offs and skirmishes: To really understand what spurs the tensions along the border, one must first learn about the bones of contention. The India-China border is divided into three sectors, namely Western sector along Ladakh, Middle sector bordering Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and the Eastern sector that passes along Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. While the Middle sector has not contributed to much trouble, both the West and the East remain turbulent. While India accuses China of occupying Aksai Chin area in Ladakh illegally, the latter does not recognise the McMahon Line as an official border since Tibetan representatives signed it at the 1914 Simla Convention. They even claim to own the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh. 1962: The first Sino-Indian war of 1962 was fought between the two nations over China claiming sovereignty of the Aksai Chin region and Arunachal Pradesh. Tensions had begun escalating with India granting political asylum to the Dalai Lama after the 1959 Tibetan uprising. More than 3,000 Indian soldiers were martyred in the war and the Chinese troops occupied Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. A ceasefire was declared later, and they withdrew from the Northeast. 1967: Five years later, the Peoples Liberation Army launched another attack on India along Nathu La pass in September 1967. A month later, clashes were reported at the Cho La pass. Though many do not recognise these two events as a full-fledged war, Government of India claimed 88 Indian Army men and 340 PLA troopers died in the clashes. The main reason behind these attacks is believed to be a Chinese attempt to gain control of the disputed area in Chumbi Valley. 1987: While China claimed Arunachal Pradesh to be its own, India had started building its defences under Indira Gandhi. The Indian Armys movement in Tawang had irked Beijing, who saw it as a provocation and threatened India with war. India retaliated by awarding full statehood to Arunachal in 1987, following which face-offs between the PLA and the Indian Army were reported from Sulu La and Bum La. 2013: PLA troopers started setting up camp in Raki Nula, close to the Aksai Chin area. Indian troopers retaliated by setting up camp just 300 metres away. The matter worsened as China started getting reinforcements and tensions brewed for three weeks before it gradually died down. 2014: Another three-week face-off was reported when India started building a 100-foot long water channel for villagers in Demchok. Another 16-day stand-off was reported from Chumar at the same time after Chinese workers had arrived there to construct a road that would intrude five kilometres into Indian territory. 2015: Chinese troopers had built a makeshift hut in Burtse, North Ladakh, which was demolished by a joint team of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Indian Army. 2017: A 73-day standoff took place between the two armies over China trying to construct a road in the Doklam region, that is claimed by both China and Bhutan. Extending support to Bhutan, India had sent 270 troopers to the disputed area. The stand-off ended when both armies agreed to withdraw from Doklam and the road construction was stopped. 2018: Chinese army intruded 400 metres into Indian territory along eastern Ladakh and set up tents to protest the construction of a road in the Nerlong area of Ladakh. The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday revoked its emergency use authorisation for hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19, but quickly came under fire from President Donald Trump, who said only US agencies have failed to grasp its benefit in fighting the coronavirus. Based on new evidence, the FDA said it was no longer reasonable to believe that hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine may be effective in treating the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The FDA also warned that the drugs have been shown in lab studies to interfere with Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir - the only medicine so far to show a benefit against Covid-19 in formal clinical trials. The move comes after several studies of the decades-old malaria pills suggested they were not effective either as a treatment for or to prevent Covid-19. British scientists earlier this month halted a large trial after deciding that hydroxychloroquine was "useless" at treating Covid-19 patients. Hydroxychloroquine's anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties suggested it might help Covid-19 patients, and the FDA authorised its emergency use in March at the height of a pandemic for which there were no approved treatments. The early enthusiasm was partly based on laboratory experiments in which the drug appeared to neutralise the virus. Chloroquine, which is not approved for any use in the United States and has more side effects, has not fared any better in human clinical trials. In March, Trump said hydroxychloroquine in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin had "a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine," with little evidence to back up that claim. He later said he took the drugs preventively after two people who worked at the White House were diagnosed with Covid-19, and he urged others to try it. I took it and I felt good about taking it. I dont know if it had an impact, but it certainly didnt hurt me, Trump said on Monday. Story continues Trump said there had been "great reports" out of France, Spain and other places, without offering any evidence or further explanation. France is one of the countries that has already stopped using the drug for Covid-19 patients. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said the drug is still being studied for possible use at an earlier stage of the disease. A lot of the data that has come out that was more negative was people who were quite ill in the hospital, he said. The drug can still be used with a doctor's prescription, Azar noted. Any drug with US approval can be used in any way a doctor sees fit regardless of what it has been approved for. DRUG'S USE ALREADY IN DECLINE Doctors in recent weeks had already pulled back on the use of hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19, after several studies suggested it is not effective and may pose heart risks for certain patients. The Infectious Diseases Society of America on Monday backed the FDA decision "to revoke emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine." Half of hospitals responding to a mid-May survey conducted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) reported excess supplies of hydroxychloroquine that they expected to return to wholesalers. Current US government treatment guidelines do not recommend its use for COVID-19 patients outside of a clinical trial. France, Italy and Belgium late last month halted use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients. But the United States last month sent 2 million doses to Brazil, which has emerged as the pandemic's latest epicenter. Hundreds of trials testing hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine as interventions for COVID-19 are still underway, including a US study designed to show whether hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin can prevent hospitalisation and death from COVID-19. An 18-year-old final year student of Eguafo Senior High school (SHS) in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of the Central Region is in the grips of the police for kidnapping. The police is also on a manhunt for two other accomplices who are currently on the run. The student, whose name was given as Daniel Wallace together with his accomplices, kidnapped two children aged five and six years respectively at Komenda on Thursday, June 4, 2020, and demanded an amount of GH 8,000 from their parents. Narrating the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Paul Arkorful, assembly member for Kisi Electoral Area said one of the kidnapped children was a nephew of Daniel. He said on Thursday June 4, he received a distress call from the police about the kidnapping of two children at Komenda. According to him, the police implored the community leaders to make announcements at their information centres and also help apprehend the perpetrators. Mr Arkorful said with the help of the Queen Mother of Kissi, Nana Efua Badu II, the police CID and the community leaders, Daniel was arrested but he refused to mention the names of his two accomplices. On how Daniel was apprehended, he said a police woman posed as mother of one of the kidnapped children and bargained for the amount to be reduced on phone. According to him, she bargained with the kidnappers until the amount was reduced to GH 500 and the kidnappers provided a mobile money number for the money to be paid into. He said the police contacted MTN for that number to be blocked after the money had been paid and subsequently traced the owner of the number to Kissi where Daniel was arrested on Sunday, June 6. The assembly member expressed worry about the increasing level of crimes in the community and called for police patrols in the area. The Central Region Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Oppong confirmed the arrest of the suspect, saying further investigations were on-going. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Some three weeks ago, the former president of the Balearics, Jose Ramon Bauza, popped up in the news - as he regularly does - because he was advancing the case for a new form of tourism. Spain, he was suggesting, could be the destination for "permanent tourism", and the Balearics would be one of the parts of the country most suited to this, because of its obvious attraction as a coastal destination. The Canaries were also mentioned in this regard. When this idea was being floated, it smacked of one of the not infrequent attempts by the ex-president to push himself back into the limelight. A master of self-promotion, I was inclined to dismiss what he was saying as some off-the-wall exercise in personal marketing, and this was how it sounded - off-the-wall. What on Earth was he going on about? What was this "permanent tourism"? Since he first made his thoughts known towards the end of May, Bauza has been repeating them. He did so last week during a "digital event" organised by the Madrid-based public affairs and lobby consultancy Political Intelligence. The now Ciudadanos MEP and spokesperson on tourism for the liberal Renew Europe group of parties at the European Parliament was proposing that Spain should be converted into a destination for international workers who need an "attractive fiscal plan, a 5G network and more international schools so that these workers can move their children". What he wants is the Spanish government to introduce an incentive plan to encourage companies and teleworkers to establish permanent or second residence in Spain so that the country can benefit from this "new tourism". He has suggested that workers who currently live in, say, London, Frankfurt or San Francisco, could maintain the same salaries but see an exponential increase in purchasing power by living in Spain, with the Balearics to the fore This would be beneficial to Spain as it would be a model of "quality versus quantity" (in tourism terms), while these "new tourists" would be paying taxes in Spain. They therefore would not just be adding value in terms of what they spend on tourism, they would also be making a tax-based contribution. Spain, he added, would need to invest in 5G as well as in the international schools. "The government must work with the regions and the European Union in order to accelerate this mobility process and make our country a permanent tourist destination." Referring to these workers as tourists is where this all gets a bit confusing. In essence, Bauza is talking about a situation which has obviously existed for some time. People who can work remotely have already been moving to places where they would prefer to live, including Majorca. They may have second residences or will more likely be permanent residents. So, what - if anything - is new about what he's saying? On the face of it, this isn't new, but there's a fellow called Martin Varsavsky, who has offered an explanation. Varsavsky is a serial telecommunications entrepreneur. Among companies that he has founded is Jazztel, which was set up in 1998. Reflecting on Covid-19, he has said that the "great discovery" of Covid is teleworking and that teleworking "is a huge opportunity for Spain to grow its economy". If a company tells you that you can work from "wherever you want", there would be people in the UK who "would surely prefer Minorca to London, both because it would be cheaper and because there would be a better quality of life". Another factor in this is the phenomenon of the "digital nomad", someone who moves around, typically spending only a few months in one location. This has its implications for tax and for, depending on which countries people are from and on those countries where they reside temporarily, work permits and visas. In the Canaries, the minister for tourism, industry and trade, Yaiza Castilla, mentioned digital nomads in outlining a promotional strategy to find alternatives for post-Covid tourism recovery. A new type of "long-stay client" needs to be sought - teleworkers and also people from the so-called "silver tourism" sector: people in the final years of working and retirement. Accepting what Varsavsky says about Covid and teleworking, I'm nevertheless struggling to get a feel for what is particularly new about any of this, except that there would be specific campaigns to attract people which may, if I understand Bauza correctly, be backed up with some form of tax incentive. In this regard and also from the point of view of there being more incomers taking housing, I'm not convinced that this would curry favour in certain political quarters. There would also be suggestions of taking jobs away from local people, while the anti-5G lobby can't be completely ignored. A bit nebulous it may all sound, but I suspect that we will be hearing more about it. Boris Johnson has declared 'war on woke' and is taking on battles over historical statues and race to shore up the Tory base, it was claimed today. Downing Street advisers are said to be keen for the PM to take high-profile stands on cultural issues, focusing on improving life chances rather than bowing to pressure from the Left. The choice of Munira Mirza, the head Mr Johnson's policy unit, to set up the new race commission appears to be a sign of the government's approach. Supporters say she is an advocate of data-driven policies, but campaigners and Labour MPs say she is a denier of institutional racism and should not be playing a key role in the response to the BLM protests. They also raised concerns over her alleged decision to give a role to Trevor Phillips, the former head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, who has angered some with past comments on British Asian communities. Dawn Butler, the Labour MP and former equalities minister, told the Guardian Ms Mirza's role 'undermines its credibility from the very outset by appointing someone who stands by Johnson's racist comments, rejected the Lammy review, saying ''institutional racism' is 'a perception more than a reality'', and opposed Theresa May's very own Racial Disparities Audit'. She added: 'I am tired of fighting the government on this issue. The only review needed is into all the past consultations and reviews as well as their failure to implement over 200 prior recommendations.' And the Institute for Race Relations ThinkTank said: 'Any inquiry into inequality has to acknowledge structural and systemic factors. 'Munira Mirza's previous comments describes a ''grievance culture'' within the anti-racist field and she has previously argued that institutional racism is 'a perception more than a reality.' But the Prime Minister's official spokesman this afternoon said: 'Munira Mirza is the PM's head of policy, you would expect her to be involved in setting this up.' The choice of Munira Mirza, the head of the Prime minister's policy unit and a former deputy mayor from his time in charge of London, sparked uproar from campaigners and Labour MPs Mr Johnson last night defended his decision to launch a commission on racial inequality after Labour claimed it was a 'back of a fag packet' plan designed to 'assuage the Black Lives Matter protest' Send memorial vandals to 'battle camps', says senior minister People caught vandalising public memorials should be sent to 'battle camp' to learn about the armed forces, a senior minister has said. Penny Mordaunt said the scenes at the Cenotaph and other sits during Black Lives Matter and Far Right demonstrations had been 'disturbing'. In a letter to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland seen by her local Portsmouth News paper, Ms Mordaunt said: In desecrating such memorials some protesters sent a message to veterans and all those in uniform today: your life doesnt matter to me. Whatever the motivations for such acts, they should be condemned in the strongest terms and are totally against the values of the people of our country, of every creed and colour. I would like to suggest that for some found guilty of vandalising such memorials they might benefit from some time spent with our service personnel perhaps at a battle camp. That might give them a new appreciation of just what these people go through for their sakes. They are their armed forces. They should be respected and treasured. Advertisement According to the Financial Times, Ms Mirza has had a major influence on Mr Johnson's views on the cultural struggles. The paper said advisers were pushing him to declare 'war on woke', arguing that it would be popular with core supporters who delivered the Tories the huge election landslide in December. In a 2017 piece for the Sun, Ms Mirza said that anti-racism campaigners have a 'culture of grievance' and appeasing them was 'not making Britain a fairer place but harming the very people they aspire to help'. The same year she wrote a piece for right-wing online magazine Spiked headlined 'the myth of institutional racism', in which she attacked the racism review carried out by Labour's now shadow justice secretary David Lammy. She said Mr Lammy implied BAME people did not trust the justice system because of 'institutional bias and discrimination'. Ms Mirza wrote: 'Certainly there is a historic legacy here from previous decades, but it is equally possible that the current accusations of institutional racism by lobbyists and activists - a perception more than a reality - is behind the further corrosion of public trust.' In a Sun article that month, she said: 'By appeasing the anti-racism lobby and affirming its culture of grievance, public institutions and business leaders are not making Britain a fairer place but harming the very people they aspire to help.' Mr Lammy said: This further undermines Boris' Johnson's race commission. My review was welcomed by all parties: Corbyn, Cameron and May. But Munira Mirza went out of her way to attack it. 'Johnson isn't listening to Black Lives Matter. He's trying to wage a culture war.' Former chancellor Sajid Javid defended Ms Mirza as 'smart, compassionate and deeply committed to social justice'. 'One of the sharpest minds inside No 10,' he said. 'No wonder the Left don't like her.' The Prime Minister last night defended his decision to launch a commission on racial inequality after Labour claimed it was a 'back of a fag packet' plan designed to 'assuage the Black Lives Matter protest'. He said the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities would learn 'very fast' what changes needed to be made. But Mr Lammy said there have been several reviews into racism in the UK in recent years, and the announcement of another makes it feel like 'we want figures, data - but we don't want action'. Mr Johnson, who also faced criticism for saying he wanted to 'stop the sense of victimisation and discrimination', acknowledged that racism 'unquestionably' existed in the UK. He told reporters in Downing Street: 'The whole point of having a review is to look at the areas where people feel there's more that needs to be done. 'I think what we want to do is learn now very fast what fresh changes we need to make. Concerns were raised over her alleged decision to give a role to Trevor Phillips, the former head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, who has angered some with past comments on British Asian communities 'What I feel most strongly is that there are so many positive stories that are not being heard. 'Things really are changing. You're seeing young black kids now doing better in some of the most difficult subjects in school than they were ever before, more going to top universities. 'We need to start telling that story and building up a culture of high expectations, a narrative about success, as well as stamping out the racism and the discrimination that unquestionably exists.' Downing Street said the review would also examine poor educational outcomes for white working-class boys. The announcement follows two weeks of protests across the country by the Black Lives Matter movement following the killing in the US of George Floyd, who died as a white police officer knelt on his neck. The new commission will report directly to Mr Johnson and also be overseen by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch. Based on IMDb rankings and Metacritic scores, Stacker compiled a list of the best war movies of all time. How many have you seen? This article was first published on Stacker Florence has a new park and its named after one of Oregons greatest triumphs -- welcome to Exploding Whale Memorial Park. Nov. 12, 1970 is an auspicious day in Oregon history. It is the day Tonya Harding was born in Portland and the day, on the Oregon coast, engineers decided to use dynamite to remove a massive sperm whale carcass from the beach. Oregon, of course, would never be the same. Harding would go on to be one of the greatest ice skaters in history, and the pieces of blubber that fell from the sky that day -- not neatly disintegrating but instead raining down in massive chunks on bystanders and vehicles -- would live on in generations of Oregonians minds, a memory of the best botched whale removal Oregon had ever seen. Florence, near where the whale -- or as a KATU reporter referred to it at the time a stinking whale of a problem -- washed up, is finally honoring this beautiful moment in history with a new park. It was the people of Florence who picked the name Exploding Whale Memorial Park. We asked the community for name suggestions, narrowed those 120-plus names down to nine, and had the community vote on them, said Florence city project manager Megan Messmer. The park offers views of the Siuslaw River and Bridge and the sand dunes on the south side of the river, according to the City of Florences website. There are picnic tables and a shelter and a multi-use path, but, sadly, no whale carcasses, exploded or otherwise. -- Lizzy Acker 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker Criminal Case Opened Against Russian Opposition Figure Navalny For Suspected Libel By RFE/RL's Russian Service June 15, 2020 MOSCOW -- Russian investigators have opened a criminal investigation against opposition politician Aleksei Navalny for suspected libel over comments he made on social media. The Investigative Committee on June 15 accused Navalny of libeling a World War II veteran who featured in a video clip with other Russians to express support for proposed constitutional reforms. In a social media post on June 2, Navalny, one of President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critics, described those in the video as "traitors," "people with no conscience," and "corrupt lackeys." In its statement, the Investigative Committee said the comments contained "deliberately false information denigrating the honor and dignity" of the WWII veteran. It said the probe was still under way. Navalny faces penalties ranging from a fine of 1 million rubles ($14,255) to 240 hours of community service if convicted. In recent months, Russia's state-run media outlets have shown videos of WWII veterans, celebrities, and ordinary people expressing their support for proposed constitutional amendments to be put to a national vote scheduled for July 1. Among other changes, the reform would allow Putin to stay in power after his current second consecutive presidential term ends in 2024. Navalny, 44, has endured multiple incarcerations in recent years, a barred attempt to run for president, and a hamstrung bid for the Moscow mayor's post. He was barred from running for president in 2018 due to a tax-fraud conviction that he has called trumped-up. In March, Navalny and his associate Ivan Zhdanov said that their bank accounts had been emptied and all their payment cards and those of relatives were blocked in what they described as a move to discredit and disgrace them. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/criminal-case-opened- against-opposition-figure-navalny-for- suspected-libel/30672214.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address [June 15, 2020] FORESCOUT SHAREHOLDER ALERT by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Reminds Investors with Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Forescout Technologies, Inc. - FSCT Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until August 10, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Forescout Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: FSCT), if they purchased the Company's shares between February 6, 2020 and May 15, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Forescout and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case 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 ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-fsct/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by August 10, 2020. About the Lawsuit Forescout and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On May 18, 2020, the Company disclosed that Advent International Corporation "would not be proceeding to consummate the acquisition of Forescout" per the February 6, 2020 merger agreement, despite the Company's prior representations regarding the transaction and its positive financial performance. On this news, the price of Forescout's shares plummeted 23.5%, wiping out approximately $300 million in market capitalization. The case is The Arbitrage Fund, et al. v. Forescout Technologies, Inc. et al., 3:20-cv-03819. 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200615005806/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] WASHINGTON As Congress wrestles with how to address policing reforms that hundreds of thousands of protesters across the nation are demanding, one issue has emerged as a potential hurdle with both sides appearing to dig in their heels. The Supreme Court on Monday refused to reconsider qualified immunity, the protection that shields police and other public officials from lawsuits if accused of misconduct. The issue has been one of the key changes sought by Democrats and one of the few that Republicans have dubbed a non-starter. The has set up a battle on Capitol Hill as protests continue across the nation after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Senate Republicans are planning to introduce a bill on Wednesday to address policing and racial tensions that have boiled over in some cities, while the House is planning to move forward with examining its own legislative response. The chambers will have to find a middle ground and garner the approval of President Donald Trump before any changes become law. "What we need to do is find a path forward. I dont know that weve found that path forward yet," Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who has led the legislative response from congressional Republicans, told reporters Monday. "Without the bill becoming law, whether its my bill or some version of some other bill, then weve kind of failed the moment. And I think we should all be interested in getting every aspect of the legislation that we can across the finish line." In emotional testimony last week, Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, pleaded with lawmakers to reform policing laws and make sure his brother did not die "in vain." More: Supreme Court won't consider limiting police immunity from civil lawsuits Supreme Court amps up qualified immunity issue The Supreme Court's refusal to take up qualified immunity has only heightened the stakes for Democrats, who argue this makes it a necessity for Congress to act on this and allow possible victims of police brutality to have their day in court. Story continues "The Supreme Courts failure to reconsider this flawed legal rule makes it all the more important for Congress to act," read a statement from House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Karen Bass and Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Chair Steve Cohen. The trio of House Democrats said "it is long past time to remove this arbitrary and unlawful barrier and to ensure police are held accountable when they violate the constitutional rights of the people whom they are meant to serve." A host of Democrats agreed on Twitter Monday, along with activists and organizations who argue incremental police reform over the years has not been enough to change departments. It is now time for Congress to stand up for the rule of law and abolish qualified immunity. We cannot wait any longer for justice. https://t.co/vG0qvWp53M ACLU (@ACLU) June 15, 2020 "It is now time for Congress to stand up for the rule of law and abolish qualified immunity," the American Civil Liberties Union wrote on Twitter. "We cannot wait any longer for justice." What is expected in the Senate policing bill Scott, who is leading GOP efforts in Congress on criminal justice legislation, has already rejected Democratic calls to end qualified immunity, calling it a "poison pill" for any bill seeking to become law. But the South Carolina Republican and lone black GOP member in the Senate over the weekend outlined the broad ideas that would be included in the package he's preparing to unveil on Wednesday. More: Sen. Tim Scott rejects key criminal justice proposals by Democrats, setting up Capitol Hill showdown on police conduct He told CBS' Face the Nation his bill has several main components: More data : Scott said he wants to make it mandatory for police departments across the country to offer data to the Justice Department when it comes to serious injuries and death. He noted less than half of departments currently provide data to the federal government. Training : Scott said he's focused on increased training and tactics in hopes changes could deescalate situations before there are any deaths or injuries. Officer misconduct : Scott said both sides are interested in tackling officer misconduct and weeding out problematic officers. While he acknowledged qualified immunity is something that doesn't pass muster with the president, he was interested in examining "decertification," essentially banning officers from the profession Chokeholds: Scott told reporters Monday on Capitol Hill that his bill will not ban chokeholds entirely but aim to "reduce funding for those agencies that do not have a ban against chokeholds." Philonise Floyd, a brother of George Floyd, testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on proposed changes to police practices and accountability on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, in Washington. The House's bill, which was led by the Congressional Black Caucus, not only would end qualified immunity, but also aims to bolster police accountability and end the practice of aggressive officers moving from one department to another by creating a national registry to track those with checkered records. That bill will be moving through the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. More: Democrats unveil sweeping police reform bill, honor George Floyd with 8 minutes, 46 seconds of silence It also would end certain police practices, such as the use of no-knock warrants and chokeholds, which were factors in the recent deaths of Black people during police action. Contributing: Ledge King and William Cummings This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Floyd: GOP prepping bill as qualified immunity becomes key issue (All dollar amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.) TORONTO, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinross Gold Corporation (TSX:K; NYSE:KGC) (Kinross) is pleased to announce today that it has reached an agreement in principle (agreement) with the Government of Mauritania (Government) to enhance the parties partnership. The key terms of the agreement, which remain subject to definitive documentation, are the culmination of discussions between Kinross and the Government that balance the interests of both parties. The terms contemplate reasonable commercial trade-offs intended to provide certainty and resolution of outstanding matters. Key terms of agreement Under the terms of the agreement, the Government will provide Kinross with a 30-year exploitation license for Tasiast Sud under the 2008 Mining Code and the 2012 Mining Convention, granted with expedited permitting and the possibility of early mining. The agreement also provides for the reinstatement of the tax exemption on fuel duties1 and the repayment by the Government to Kinross of approximately $40 million in outstanding VAT refunds with an agreed payment schedule through 2025. Kinross will make a $10 million payment to the Government after completion of the definitive agreements to resolve disputed matters related to fuel use and tax exemptions. In addition, upon receiving the exploitation license for Tasiast Sud, Kinross will make a $15 million payment to resolve disputed matters arising out of Kinross prior application to convert the Tasiast Sud exploration license into an exploitation license. At Tasiast, Kinross has also volunteered to update its existing fixed 3% royalty payable under the 2006 Tasiast Mining Convention (the 2006 Convention). While the 2006 Convention remains in full force and effect for Tasiast, the mining laws of Mauritania have evolved in a manner that is consistent with other African mining jurisdictions. Accordingly, Kinross decided it was appropriate to pay an escalating royalty tied to the price of gold1 that aligns with the 2008 Mining Code (that replaced the 1999 Mining Code) and the 2012 Mining Convention, and is comparable with other royalties in the region. Story continues A renewed partnership approach for Tasiast Sud contemplates the Government receiving a 15% free carried interest in Tasiast Sud with an option to purchase an additional 10% participating interest in the project after additional feasibility work is completed. The parties have also agreed to enhanced exploration programs at Tasiast Sud and Kinross-held concessions north of the current mining area, to the extent achievable in the current COVID-19 environment. The exploration program at the large, underexplored and prospective Tasiast Sud property is expected to focus on upgrading existing indicated resource estimates of 193 Au koz.2 and inferred resource estimates of 817 Au koz2 and to potentially enhance the probable reserve estimates of 144 Au koz.2 The Government will have the right to nominate two observers to the Board of Directors (Board) of the Kinross subsidiary operating the Tasiast mine and will also have a right to nominate one representative and one observer to the Board of the Kinross subsidiary that will operate Tasiast Sud. These changes are intended to enhance transparency and communication between Tasiast and the Government. 1 The fuel tax exemptions and updated royalty structure are effective July 1, 2020. 2 See Appendix with full assumptions related to Tasiast Suds mineral reserve and resource estimates. J. Paul Rollinson, Kinross President and CEO, commented on the agreement: We are pleased to see further development of a positive foreign investment climate in Mauritania with this successful outcome of our discussions with the Government, along with the IFC-led Tasiast project financing signed in December 2019. This balanced agreement will deliver increased stability, position Tasiast for long-term success, and provide enhanced benefits to Mauritania and its people. Mohamed Abdel Vetah, Mauritanian Minister of Petroleum, Mines and Energy, commented on the agreement: This agreement is a result of positive efforts between the Government of Mauritania and Kinross to amicably resolve our discussions. It also highlights our commitment to providing an attractive investment climate in the country and ensures that the Mauritanian people will receive the appropriate benefits from the Tasiast mine. Tasiast is an important contributor to Mauritania and we believe our new agreement will be a positive model for other foreign mining investors. We are pleased that our longstanding and important partnership with Kinross has been strengthened, and we welcome the continued investment in our country and contributions to its socio-economic development. Updated royalty structure to align with current laws The Company believes that voluntarily updating the royalty structure for Tasiast so that it aligns with Mauritanias current mining conventions and codes will strengthen the foundation for long-term stability and further align interests by ensuring the country receives an appropriate share of economic benefits from the Tasiast mine. Gold price Percentage point increase above the 3% 2006 Convention royalty Total Tasiast royalty (including existing 3% royalty) Below $1,000/oz. 1.0 % 4.0 % $1,000 $1,199/oz. 1.5 % 4.5 % $1,200 $1,399/oz. 2.0 % 5.0 % $1,400 $1,599/oz. 2.5 % 5.5 % $1,600 $1,799/oz. 3.0 % 6.0 % $1,800/oz. and above 3.5 % 6.5 % For more information on the agreement: https://www.kinross.com/files/doc_presentations/2020/06/Terms-Reached-with-the-Government-of-Mauritania.pdf Generating value through responsible mining From 2010 - 2019, Kinross has contributed approximately $3 billion to Mauritanias economy, supporting the countrys economic growth through taxes, procurement, community programs and wages. From 2013 - 2019, Kinross has also invested more than $30 million in training and capacity building as part of a long-term strategy to grow local content. In 2019, 95% of the employees of the mine were Mauritanian and the Company intends to increase the number of Mauritanians in management positions. Kinross continues to put a priority on using in-county suppliers, and in 2019, the Company conducted business with more than 235 Mauritanian suppliers. Consistent with its approach across all operations, Kinross works closely with local communities near Tasiast to understand and support local development initiatives. Since 2010, the Company has spent more than $12 million on local community programs in areas ranging from health, animal husbandry, small businesses for womens groups, infrastructure, and renewable energy. Development indicators such as poverty, literacy, employment, quality of housing and access to basic services have all shown significant improvements in communities around the mine. Kinross will continue to work closely with communities and authorities to realize the positive development outcomes related to responsible mining. About Kinross Gold Corporation Kinross is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company with mines and projects in the United States, Brazil, Russia, Mauritania, Chile and Ghana. Kinross focus is on delivering value based on the core principles of operational excellence, balance sheet strength, disciplined growth and responsible mining. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (KGC). Media Contact Louie Diaz Senior Director, Corporate Communications phone: 416-369-6469 louie.diaz@kinross.com Investor Relations Contact Tom Elliott Senior Vice-President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development phone: 416-365-3390 tom.elliott@kinross.com Cautionary statement on forward-looking information All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release, including any information as to the future financial or operating performance of Kinross, constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the provisions of the Securities Act (Ontario) and the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on the expectations, estimates and projections of management as of the date of this news release, unless otherwise stated. The words anticipate, believe, continue, expect, focus, forecast, intend, offer, option, outlook, potential, priority, will or variations of or similar such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should or will be achieved, received or taken, or will occur or result and similar such expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are, necessarily, based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Kinross as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The estimates and assumptions of Kinross contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: (i) that the parties will enter into definitive documentation in accordance with, and on the timeline contemplated by, the terms and conditions of the term sheet, on a basis consistent with our expectations and that the parties will perform their respective obligations thereunder on the timelines agreed; (ii) that the exploitation permit for Tasiast Sud will be issued on timelines consistent with our expectations; (iii) that the benefits of the contemplated arrangements will result in increased stability at the Companys operations in Mauritania; (iv) the accuracy of the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates (including but not limited to ore tonnage and ore grade estimates); (v) the potential for long-term success at Tasiast; (vi) the terms and conditions of the existing mining convention being interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with its intent and our expectations and without material amendment or formal dispute (including without limitation the application of tax, customs and duties exemptions and royalties); (vii) the ability to conduct enhanced exploration at Tasiast Sud and other Kinross-held concessions; (viii) the effect of changes designed to enhance transparency in the relationship between Kinross and the Government; and (ix) that other disputes between Kinross and the Government will not arise relating to unresolved or other matters. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about managements expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators of Canada and the United States including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the Risk Analysis section of our MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2020. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Kinross. Kinross disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. Other information Where we say "we", "us", "our", the "Company", or "Kinross" in this news release, we mean Kinross Gold Corporation and/or one or more or all of its subsidiaries, as may be applicable. Appendix: Tasiast Sud Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimates Tonnes (kt) Grade (g/t) Ounces (Au koz.) Probable Reserves 2,231 2.0 144 Indicated Resources 5,840 1.0 193 Inferred Resources 35,784 0.7 817 The mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for Tasiast Sud do not contemplate the escalated royalty structure included in the term sheet signed with the Government of Mauritania. Kinross Mineral Reserve and Resource Statements Notes (1) Unless otherwise noted, the Companys mineral reserves are estimated using appropriate cut-off grades based on an assumed gold price of $1,200 per ounce. Mineral reserves are estimated using appropriate process recoveries, operating costs and mine plans that are unique to each property and include estimated allowances for dilution and mining recovery. Mineral reserve estimates are reported in contained units and are estimated based on the following foreign exchange rates: Mauritanian Ouguiya to $35 (2) Unless otherwise noted, the Companys mineral resources are estimated using appropriate cut-off grades based on a gold price of $1,400 per ounce. Foreign exchange rates for estimating mineral resources were the same as for mineral reserves. (3) The Companys mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates as at December 31, 2019 are classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the CIM Council (as amended, the CIM Definition Standards) in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). Mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates reflect the Company's reasonable expectation that all necessary permits and approvals will be obtained and maintained. (4) Cautionary note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources. These estimates have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms mineral reserve, proven mineral reserve, probable mineral reserve, mineral resource, measured mineral resource, indicated mineral resource and inferred mineral resource are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Definition Standards. These definitions differ materially from the definitions in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) SEC Industry Guide 7 under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Under SEC Industry Guide 7, a final or bankable feasibility study is required to report mineral reserves, the three-year historical average price is used in any mineral reserve or cash flow analysis to designate mineral reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority. In addition, the terms mineral resource, measured mineral resource, indicated mineral resource and inferred mineral resource are defined in NI 43-101 and recognized by Canadian securities laws but are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be upgraded to SEC Industry Guide 7 mineral reserves. Inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever by upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. The SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). These amendments became effective February 25, 2019 (the SEC Modernization Rules) and, following a two-year transition period, the SEC Modernization Rules will replace the historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7. Following the transition period, as a foreign private issuer that files its annual report on Form 40-F with the SEC pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system, the Company is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the SEC Modernization Rules and will continue to provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Definition Standards. If the Company ceases to be a foreign private issuer or lose its eligibility to file its annual report on Form 40-F pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system, then the Company will be subject to the SEC Modernization Rules which differ from the requirements of NI 43-101 and the CIM Definition Standards. The SEC Modernization Rules include the adoption of terms describing mineral reserves and mineral resources that are substantially similar to the corresponding terms under the CIM Definition Standards. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources. In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of proven mineral reserves and probable mineral reserves to be substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Definitions. U.S. investors are cautioned that while the above terms are substantially similar to CIM Definitions, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral reserves or mineral resources that the Company may report as proven mineral reserves, probable mineral reserves, measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. U.S. investors are also cautioned that while the SEC will now recognize measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources, investors should not assume that any part or all of the mineralization in these categories will ever be converted into a higher category of mineral resources or into mineral reserves. Mineralization described using these terms has a greater amount of uncertainty as to its existence and feasibility than mineralization that has been characterized as reserves. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to assume that any measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources, or inferred mineral resources that the Company reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, inferred mineral resources have a greater amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Therefore, U.S. investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the inferred mineral resources exist. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. For the above reasons, the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and related information in this presentation may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. (5) The Company's mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates were prepared under the supervision of and verified by Mr. John Sims, an officer of Kinross, who is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. (6) The Companys normal data verification procedures have been used in collecting, compiling, interpreting and processing the data used to estimate mineral reserves and mineral resources. Independent data verification has not been performed. (7) Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have to demonstrate economic viability. Mineral resources are subject to infill drilling, permitting, mine planning, mining dilution and recovery losses, among other things, to be converted into mineral reserves. Due to the uncertainty associated with inferred mineral resources, it cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to indicated or measured mineral resources, including as a result of continued exploration. (8) The mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for Tasiast Sud do not contemplate the escalated royalty structure contemplated by the term sheet signed with the Government of Mauritania. Source: Kinross Gold Corporation Sahaya Novinston Lobo By Express News Service CHENNAI: Crowdfunding to help the poor, WhatsApp groups to chat with Covid patients, and networking with philanthropists. If you thought these were the domains of NGOs and health workers, think again. The men and women in khakis have been donning different hats to help fellow citizens during the lockdown. Ever since the first phase of the lockdown was announced on March 24, the role of the police has shifted from being not only enforcers of law and order but also frontline warriors in creating a Covid-free State. Even though the sleuths continue to deal with their normal duties, a few of them went beyond the call of duty to help their fellow citizens. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Royapettah) M S Baskar adopted around 54 streets in his jurisdiction and took up initiatives to boost immunity and morale of the residents, especially those staying near the houses of people who tested positive. In these streets, along with health officials, we distributed Kabasura Kudineer and vitamin-C tablets to boost immunity of people. Since then, not a single person has tested positive there. After seeing the results, the corporation is also doing the same, he said adding that they also supported the recovered patients adjust to the new reality. A constable attached to the law and order wing in the city sponsored school fees for two children of a daily wage labourer, studying in a private school. Meanwhile, the police inspectors of Royapettah and Ice House have started a WhatsApp group consisting of Covid-19 positive patients in their jurisdictions and constantly speak to them to boost their confidence. Police inspector E Rajeswari of Secretariat Colony has been helping with provisions and food to migrant labourers and economically poor people in the jurisdiction of her police station since the lockdown. "Initially the personnel used to pitch in money for providing food. Now we have developed a series of contacts of people who are willing to provide provisions for daily wage labourers and other poor families affected by the lockdown," she said. In another instance, two sub-inspectors attached to the Central Crime Branch have adopted two families near their houses and are providing them provisions. The inspectors of Abhiramapuram have ordered their subordinates to buy food for pavement dwellers and to get the expenses reimbursed.Though it is not their duty, the personnel contacted by Express said people trusted them not just because of the power khaki but also it was the need of the hour. Brent Lewin/Bloomberg Brent crude rose above $40 a barrel as broader markets rallied on stimulus from the Federal Reserve and physical supplies continued to look tight. Futures in London rose for a second session. Indias oil minister said consumption in the first half of June had recovered to levels about 15% to 20% below a year ago, the latest sign of a recovery in global consumption. It came as the International Energy Agency warned in its monthly report that fuel use will remain 2.5% lower next year than in 2019, mostly because of a slow rebound in jet fuel consumption. Parents and teachers rally at North Adams City Hall on Monday evening to protest cuts in education spending. A similar rally was held at Park Square in Pittsfield. Pittsfield's Park Square rally was prompted by in part by the issuing of 140 reduction in force notices. The Pittsfield Public Schools submitted a level-funded budget but is preparing future cuts. PreviousNext North Adams, Pittsfield Educators Rally for School Funding North Adams is preparing for budget cuts of 10 to 15 percent, with the worst-case scenario closing a school. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Educators and supporters in the county's two cities rallied on Monday for more educational funding even as school officials prepare for budget scenarios that could cost dozens of teaching positions and school closures. "We want our students and our families to know that we are supporting them. And we're doing this for them," said Lisa Tanner, a math and science teacher at Colegrove Park Elementary School. "We want our state and federal legislators to know that we can't do our job if they don't do their job and come up with a way to fund us." Tanner and her co-president of the North Adams Teachers Association, Michelle Darling, were among dozens of teachers, parents and staff holding signs at the four corners at Main Street and Marshall. Behind them were rows of pictures of recent Drury High graduates, vehicles driving by honked in support. "Everybody here today cares," Darling said. "They want the best for the students." Darling, a special education teacher at Drury High School, said the uncertainty for students has been exacerbated by the novele coronavirus pandemic that forced the closure of school buildings in mid-March. It's pushed students and teachers into a remote learning system and highlighted the need for more technology, more training and more access to the devices children and educators need. In Pittsfield, a hundred or so teachers, school staff, and education supporters were spread out around Park Square. Andrew Bourdan, a special education teacher, said with the proposed cuts to the Pittsfield school budget, his position will be one of those eliminated. "With the level funding, my position was eliminated so I want to get my position back," he said. "I decided to come out here to get the message out." He said the state and federal government need to come through with money if they want something that even resembles school in the fall. "We need to be funded if they want smaller classes in the fall you have to pay your teachers and you have to have the funding in place," he said. "Otherwise you are not going to have the guidelines that are in place if the school were to be part time in the fall." Pittsfield teacher Mary Hynes-Vrumm said these past few months have been challenging for families and educators and was hoping with proper funding there could be a return to normalcy. "I think the kids have been terrific and really positive about participating as much as they can and I think this is really hard on families," she said. "When you are a working parent and you also have to be the teacher. I think we have done the best we can." The Massachusetts Teachers Association has for several years been an advocate in the "Fund Our Future" movement, a call for the state to restore some $2 billion annually for public schools and colleges. That calls has only been partially answered through such acts as the Student Opportunity Act (which is only investing $1.7 billion over seven years) and Rural School Aid grant program championed by state Sen. Adam Hinds. Neither will solve shortfalls expected in Chapter 70 education aid as the state grapples with revenues reductions pegged at $5 billion because of the novel coronavirus. Education leaders are pushing for more federal funding on par with the $100 billion provided for in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act passed in the Great Recession. in contrast, the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act set aside $13.2 billion. With the uncertainty in state funding, the North Adams school system is preparing for a 10 percent cut but also has made plans for closing an elementary school as a worst-case scenario. Pittsfield's school system is presenting a level funded budget but is hedging its bets by issuing 140 notices reduction in force notices. Simon Brown, a former Pittsfield educator who now teaches in Brooklyn, said he was at the rally to support the arts and questioned the Pittsfield Police Department's budget. A number of citizens are raising concerns over the department's increased spending in light of recent national events and cuts to education. "I saw the effectiveness of arts education and you don't need a militarized police force when you have kids who are making art," he said. "Defund the police, maybe not all right now, but come up with a plan and sell the tank." Teacher Ann Manns thought the federal government should properly fund the states. She did say she felt supported by the Pittsfield City Council that tabled the education budget vote last week when it split on a decision. "I feel like the council is being very supportive right now," she said. "They wouldn't even vote on the budget last week because they wanted to wait." Supporters at the North Adams rally were being encouraged to call and write to their state and federal lawmakers. "It's all going to boil down to is our federal government listening? Are our state legislators listening? Are they taking heed to what we're really wanting to do?" said Tanner. "This is not about the teachers. Not at all. No teacher in North Adams Public Schools is getting a raise this year. This is for our students. We want them to be successful. We want them to have equitable learning." North Adams' School Committee last week endorsed a resolution to state and federal legislators asking for action at the federal level. "We're actually trying to get a resolution for Chapter 70 to hold us harmless, so that we can use that money for what we need that money for," said Tanner. "We're working on that actively." Protesters in Pittsfield hold a sign for 'Fund Our Future,' a campaign to increase state monies for public schools and colleges. Advocates say the state has been underfunding education to the tune of $2 billion a year. North Adams School Committee member Tara Jacobs last week had pushed for the committee to also develop a resolution for the Legislature ensure funding. "I am horrified that we have to be having these kinds of discussions that increasingly worse," she said, holding a sign at the rally with her daughter, a student in the school system. "I mean 10 percent I actually think is pretty bad but now they get increasingly devastating to our community. ... They recommended two billion more dollars per year for education just to be properly funded -- for years. They started to address it with the Student Opportunity Act, which they rolled back right. Even in that model, North Adams was only getting $40,000, not enough not adequately bring us up to equity." Her larger concern is that cuts will fall most heavily on programs that serve children's social and emotional needs, extracurricular activities and arts and music. "It's just outrageous the priorities. I appreciate we did the resolution on the federal level, but the state needs to fund this appropriately," she said. "I'm upset by how much the state doesn't prioritize education. ... Coming out of this pandemic, they are putting us in a position where we have to make these kinds of choices that harm our kids. So I ... upset isn't even the word." On Monday night, the North Adams School Committee was going to review another budget scenario and the Pittsfield City Council was going to take up the public school budget again. "Public education has been underfunded for a very long time and they just keep putting a Band-Aid over us," Darling said. "That's how I feel. "And now it just feels like the Band-Aid's getting ripped off and the kids are going lose again." The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile has been a controversial project that troubled waters between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. The project draws the attention of the world to potential unrest in the relations between Ethiopia, on one hand, a key player in the Horn of Africa, and Egypt, on the other hand, a strategic country in the central pivot of the three continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe and one that maintains balance, peace and security in the Arab Region and the Middle East. Ethiopias Violation of International Law The GERD project unilaterally launched in April of 2011 by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile, the largest tributary of the Nile (the world's longest river) was seen by Egyptians as a project that took advantage of Egypt's political vacuum immediately after the forced resignation of its president at that time. The launching of the Dam construction without consultation with Egypt was seen as a violation of the principles of international law, the 1993 agreement signed between Ethiopia and Egypt, and the 1902 agreement signed between Ethiopia and the United Kingdom, which necessitates consultation with downstream countries on Ethiopian structures that may affect the flows of Nile headwaters through the Blue Nile, Lake Tana, and the Sobat River flowing downstream to Sudan and Egypt. Ethiopia seems to see the Nile river headwaters originating within its territories as a matter of absolute sovereignty and that agreements signed between Ethiopia and Egypt or the United Kingdom (on behalf of Egypt and/or Sudan) as non-binding to Ethiopia. Unfortunately, there was no comprehensive Hydraulic Impact Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, or Socio-economic Impact Assessment Studies that were conducted on the GERD and publicly shared by Ethiopia, or consulted upon with the affected downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan. These measures that Ethiopia ignore dare actually required by international law. Even when an international consultant was agreed by the three countries to conduct the joint impact assessment studies, after the fact, the consultants joint studies were halted at their inception by Ethiopia,which pressured the consultant to redefine the baseline conditions to include Ethiopias future plans for additional dams as part of the existing baseline conditions; a tweak of globally agreed terminology that would defeat the whole purpose of the impact assessment studies. Ethiopias avoidance to attend the final meeting in a series of USA-World Bank facilitated negotiations in the end of January 2020, and Ethiopias announcement to start the filling of the GERD in July of 2020 before reaching a final agreement with Egypt and Sudan, may be seen as another breach to international law, since it would be breaching the GERD Declaration of Principles (DOP) signed by the three countries in 2015. The DOP stipulated that the three countries are toagree on guidelines and rules on the first filling and annual operation of GERD, which means that the first filling should not take place without an agreement between the three countries on those guidelines and rules. What does the Nile & the Blue Nile mean to Egypt? Unlike any other river in the world, the Nile, and more importantly the Blue Nile, for Egypt is a matter of life and death. The Greek Historian, Herodotus, once said that "Egypt is the Gift of the Nile". To put this statement in technical terms, let's examine the following factual information. 85% of the Nile waters flowing to Egypt originate in Ethiopia through the Blue Nile, Atbara, and Sobat tributaries. 67% of the Nile water allocated and/or actually being used by Egypt and Sudan comes through the Blue Nile. The Average annual flow of the Blue Nile is about 50 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) per year, while Egypt's historical uses, acquired and documented water rights allocation is 55.5 BCM/year. Theoretically speaking, one may also consider that the Blue Nile flows out of Ethiopia represent in volume, 90% of Egypt's historical water uses of the Nile. The Nile River is the only source of renewable water for Egypt, which depends on the Nile in meeting about 97% of its water needs.GERD and the Ethiopian attitude in dealing with the issue are threatening the destiny of Egypts lifeline, livelihood and national security. Infringement attempts on Egypts 55.5 BCM Water Rights Although the announced objective of the GERD is for hydropower generation, yet the Ethiopian strategy in negotiating the agreement on filling and operating rules since the unilateral Ethiopian decision to build the dam,may suggest a far more different objective than hydropower generation. Almost 10 years of Ethiopian procrastination had passed without reaching an agreement with downstream Egypt and Sudan.Ethiopias future plans shows that Ethiopia may be planning to use water storage behind the GERD Dam for consumptive use purposes such as irrigated agriculture, industrial and others. Studies have shown that, due to the exaggerated 74 BCM capacity of the GERD reservoir design, and the anticipated operational rules to maximize hydropower generation,the accumulative impacts of the associated seepage and evaporation losses from the reservoir behind the GERD Dam, can have detrimental effects on the Blue Nile river flows and hence would likely infringe on Egypts ability to continue to use its water rights and annual historical uses of 55.5 BCM. Ethiopian positions during negotiations and press releases after meetings have been aiming at having a free hand on the Ethiopian headwaters of the Nile andattempting to strip Egypt off of its rights to its meager Nile share of 55.5 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM)/year. The Ethiopian official andmedia language has always been trying to discredit Egypts water rights, using phrases such as contested Egypt shares, and Egypts claimed 55.5 BCM. They repeatedly misinform the international community about the full water potential of the Nile Basin and attempt to mislead it by alluding to myths such as Egypt is using all the waters of the Nile. An article published on April 2nd, 2020 by Ethiopia Insight, referred to Ethiopian negotiators indicating that Egypt and the USA (during the 2019/2020 US-World Bank facilitated negotiations) had proposed an un-amendable plan, which amounted to a water-allocation arrangement that effectively protects Egypts claimed 55.5 BCM annual share of Nile waters. Other than the fact that the draft February 21st, 2020 GERD agreement (rejected by Ethiopia) was a result of the facilitated 2019/2020 negotiations between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan, and is not an Egypt-USA proposed plan, the agreement is drafted to ensure that GERD filling and operation does not significantly harm on Egypt and Sudan. It was not a water allocation arrangement, but it was an agreement that, while attempting to maximize hydropower generation for Ethiopia, also attempts to minimize significant harm impacts by the GERD on Egypts and Sudans ability to continue to use their water rights and historical water uses. Any attempts to ignore these impacts may be considered aninfringement on Egypts and Sudanswater rights. On the other hand, if GERDs objective is hydropower generation which is supposedly a non-consumptive use, why does Ethiopia bring into the discussions Egypts right to its share of 55.5 BCM/year and why does it try to disclaim Egypt of this right?!Speaking of equitable utilization, is it too much for Egypt that hosts 20% of the Nile Basin countries population to benefit from only 3% of the Nile Basins 1660 BCM/year of the Nile Basins rainfall, or from even 0.8% of the 7000 BCM/year of Nile countries rainfall?! Ethiopia actually benefits from 23% of the Nile basins rainfall or 12% from the Nile countries rainfall. It is definitely a far more different reason than lack of water resources in Ethiopia that drives its infringement on neighboring countries water rights. To confirm that and to shed some more light on this matter, lets examine Ethiopias renewable water resources. Ethiopias Rainfall is Green Water for Ethiopia & Blue Water for Egypt Ethiopia is endowed with an abundance of rainfall averaging about 848 mm/year, while Egypt, according to the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), is considered the country with the lowest rainfall rate in the world with about 18.1 mm/year. Ethiopia depends mainly on the direct rainfall (Green Water) in its consumptive uses, and on river flows (Blue Water) in hydropower generation, whereas Egypt is the most downstream country on the Nile River shared by 11 countries, and it depends,for its consumptive and non-consumptive uses,on the Nile River flows (Blue Water) originating outside its political boundaries and running through its desert lands. Thats why, for food production, Ethiopia mainly depends on rainfed agriculture, while Egypt mainly depends on irrigated agriculture. This is also reflected in Ethiopias largest livestock population in Africa with over 106 million heads, feeding on vast rainfed grazing lands, while Egypt, due to its water scarcity, is importing the majority of its livestock and meat products, and is the largest importer of wheat in the world. Livestock in Ethiopia is estimated to consume about 84 BCM/year of virtual water embedded in its natural rainfed (green water) feed and fodder. Thats equal to the whole natural Nile river flows at Aswan, and more than Egypts and Sudans Nile annual water shares combined (74 BCM). Egypt, on the other hand, with about 19 million heads of livestock, consumes one sixth of Ethiopias livestock water consumption, with only 14 BCM/year of virtual water embedded in irrigated feed (blue water) and mostly imported fodder. Comparing the impact of rainfall on land cover in Ethiopia and Egypt which are of similar surface area of around one million square kilometer, and according to the European Space Agency (ESA) satellite land cover imagery analysis, about 94% of Ethiopias surface area is green cover(rainfed agriculture, pasture, and forests) using green water,while about 94% of Egypts surface area is desert lands, with a thin valley running through, along the blue water of the Nile River. Where does Ethiopias 936 BCM of Annual Rainfall go?! According to FAO, Ethiopia receives an average of about 936 BCM/year of rainfall. Where does this water go!? Based on ESA land cover classification, 910 BCM of this rain falls on green cover including rainfed and irrigated agriculture lands, forests, and pasture lands, while 26 BCM of this rainfall drops onwater bodies, urban and barren lands.Out of the 910 BCM of rainfall on green cover, and as per the United States Geological Survey (USGS) satellite imagery for Evapotranspiration, about680 BCM is beneficially used and consumed as evapotranspiration from rainfed agriculture (107 BCM), irrigated agriculture (10 BCM), pasture (352 BCM), and forests (211 BCM). 29 BCM is evaporated from barren lands, urban areas and water bodies. 105 BCM contributes to aquifers as renewable groundwater. According to FAO, about 122 BCM of the 936 BCM of rainfall, contributes to surface water streams and rivers, where about 97 BCM exits the country through transboundary rivers and groundwater to neighboring countries; Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, and Djibouti. The remaining 25 BCM of surface water contributes to internal lakes and streams within Ethiopia. The above analysis indicates that out of the 936 BCM of annual rainfall on Ethiopia, the country benefits from 117 BCM in agriculture, 352 BCM in pasture lands (part of which contributes to livestock production), 211 BCM in forests for biodiversity, tourism and wood production, 105 BCM in renewable groundwater recharge, in addition to 25 BCM in surface water that stays inlakes and streams within the country. The remaining 126 BCM leaves the country through transboundary rivers (97 BCM) and upwards through evaporation losses (29 BCM). A small amount of this huge potential of renewable water resources is what sustains the Ethiopian population of more than 100 million people with domestic water, supplemental irrigation, and water for industrial uses and others. The rest of these renewable water resources are still there within the country on an annual basis to provide for future generations without compromising the 97 BCM of transboundary flows that is barely sustaining the existing populations of neighboring countries, especially Egypt. According to watershed delineation analysis, the Nile River Basin, which is one of several river basins in Ethiopia, receives an average of 450 BCMof rainfall out of the 936 BCM of nationwide rainfall. Comparing Ethiopias Per Capita Share of Renewable Water Resources to Egypts Sustainable development is closely linked to availability of renewable freshwater resources. No matter how much a country invests in developing alternative and non-conventional resources, nothing can replace a natural sustainable renewable freshwater resource. Comparing renewable water resources available for Ethiopia versus Egypt, we see thatEthiopia receives an average of about 936 BCM/year of renewable rainfall. Subtracting evaporation losses and transboundary waters exiting the country, the remaining 810 BCM/year of renewable water resources, is available and contributes to rainfed agriculture, livestock production, surface water, and groundwater recharge (an important renewable source for domestic water and supplemental irrigation). This water is by far in excess of Ethiopias 100 million people water demand. On the other hand, Egypt is entitled to55.5 BCM/year from the Nile Basin waters for all its uses, including irrigated agriculture, domestic and industrial uses. If the small amount of sporadic rainfall of 1.5 BCM over Egypt is added to its Nile waters, Egypts renewable water resources sums up to 57 BCM/year. This water is reused and recycled several times to meet part of Egypts water demand for more than 100 million people. Egypt has to invest in agriculture drainage reuse, treated wastewater reuse, sea water desalination, and food imports in order to fill its water demand gap. Egypts annual renewable water resources provides about 570 m3/person/year share of renewable water resources, which is below the water scarcity limit of 1000 cubic meter per person per year. On the other hand, Ethiopias renewable water resources provides about8100 m3/person/year share of renewable water resources.The vast difference in natural climatic conditions between upstream and downstream in the Nile Basin created thislarge difference between water abundance in Ethiopia and water scarcity in Egypt. Similar natural hydrological conditions created the transboundary Nile River originating in the Ethiopian Highlandsand the Equatorial Plateau upstream and running downstream through the deserts of Egypt. Egypt adapted to these harsh conditions and depended on the Nile River for years without problems. But what could create a problem,is when water abundant countries upstream attempt to infringe on downstream Egypts scarcewater resources. Virtual Water tells more about the story of Ethiopias Water & Water Uses On the demand side, the agriculture and livestock sector is the largest water consumptive sector. If we run a quick comparison on the Virtual Water (embedded water in products) in Ethiopias and Egypts imports, exports, and local production in that sector, a lot could be concluded on water resources availability and the state of the water in the two countries. The following analysis is based on waterfootprint.org data and FAO data on agriculture and livestock production, exports, and imports. Egypt has to import a large amount of itsfood because of its water scarcity conditions. In 2012, right around when GERD construction seriously started, Egypt imported agriculture and meat products equivalent to about 48 BCM of "Virtual Water" at a cost of over$ 12 Billion. Ethiopia,with a similar population of about 100 million people like Egypt,imported in 2012 about5.7 BCM of Virtual Water in agriculture and meat products at a cost of $ 1.2 Billion, which is one tenth (1/10) of the cost of Egypts food imports. Onthe other hand, Ethiopia exported more than 6.4 BCM of virtual water in agriculture products and livestock, which was more than Egypts 5.2 BCMof agriculture & livestock virtual water exports for that same year. The value of these Ethiopian exports was around $ 2 billion which was double Egypts agriculture exports value of about $ 1 billion of that year. The virtual water embedded in Ethiopias annual local agriculture and livestock production in 2012 was estimated to be about 124 BCM, mainly from direct rainfall contribution (green water). On the other hand, in Egypt, virtual water embedded in its local agriculture and livestock production in 2012 was estimated to be about 78 BCM mainly from irrigation water (blue water), reused water, and imported fodder. You cant have the cake and eat it too!! Comparing virtual water in imports and local production between Egypt and Ethiopia, which is a reflection of each countrys water demand in that sector, we see that Egypts annual virtual water in agriculture and livestock amounts to 126 BCM, while Ethiopias annual virtual water in that sector amounts to about 129 BCM. Although the two countries seam to use almost the same amount of water to satisfy the needs of their similar size populations in that sector, however the difference is that Ethiopia provides 95% of this water from its available water resources (124 BCM), while Egypt could only provide37% of this water from itsavailable water resources (47 BCM) which is mainly originating in Ethiopia. Moreover, Egypt had to spend over $ 12 Billion to make available 38% of these water needsthrough imports and had to invest even more to make available the remaining 25% of these water needs through reuse of drainage and treated wastewater, groundwater development and imported fodder. And now, the 37% and most of the 25% of Egypts available water needs for agriculture and livestock are at risk by GERD, Ethiopias unilateral activities upstream the Nile, and continued Ethiopian messages on freedom to use the waters of the Nile River. The above analysis reflects how Ethiopias water abundance allows it to grow its own food as opposed to Egypt, and even to export more virtual water than what Egypt could export to make available some of the necessary funds for importing lower value food products. Both countries have been surviving on varied dependencies on different types of waters; upstream Ethiopia depends more on Green Waterfrom direct rainfall, some of which is within the Nile basin, while downstream Egypt depends only on Blue Water from the Nile River itself. Moreover, a water scarce country like Egypt has to spend more money than an abundant water country like Ethiopia to provide for its food needs. It's the power of nature that resulted invaried dependencies on green water in the basin for upstream versus blue water in the river itself for downstream. It would be unfair to have an abundant amount of green water, and still have an eye on the neighbors little amounts of blue water! You cant have the cake and eat it too! Riparian countries within a shared River Basin should not ignore their own renewable "Green Water" and rainfed potential within the Basin, to fight over other countries "Blue Water" rivers existing uses, especially if it's their neighbors only piece of cake! When Upstream Water Abundance switches to Water Hegemony Given Ethiopias water abundance, its geographic location upstream of 85% of Egypts only renewable water resources, its unilateral decision to construct GERD on the main and largest tributary of the Nile, its continued attempts to deviate from concluding the GERD impact assessment studies, its procrastinating strategy in reaching an agreement on GERD filling and operating rules;all this suggests a different objective to the construction of GERD; a Water Hegemony Power rather than just Hydropower! **The author is CEDARE Regional Director of Water Resources, Arab Water Council Regional Director of Technical Programs, Professor of Water Resources, and a Registered Professional Engineer Search Keywords: Short link: NYPD Police officers listen as Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York President Pat Lynch and representatives from other NYPD and law enforcement unions holds a news conference at the Icahn Stadium parking lot on June 9, 2020 to address the "current anti-law enforcement environment." in New York. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images When facing opposition, unions in many industries have traditionally used work slowdowns as a protest tactic. Law enforcement is no different. During a period at the end of 2014, following the killing of two NYPD officers, the number of arrests in the city was cut in half. The writing of traffic tickets and summonses dropped off nearly completely. Last year when Officer Daniel Pantaleo was fired for his role in the killing of Eric Garner, felony arrests slowed down again. This tactic may inadvertently support the movement calling for police reform and even disbandment. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. When New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were shot dead in their patrol car in 2014, unions blamed the killings on anti-police rhetoric by some politicians. In the following two weeks, the rate of arrests and citations issued by the department dropped drastically. From the last week of December 2014 into the early weeks of 2015, arrests in the city fell by half, and criminal and traffic summonses dropped more than 90 percent, the New York Times reported at the time. Last September, when NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo was fired following a five-year investigation into the killing of Eric Garner, arrest totals and summonses plunged again. Historically when NYPD officers feel like they're being opposed, officers will protest with work slowdowns. But in an era when the public is calling for police reform and disbandment, work slowdowns might be giving reformers exactly what they're asking for. "I think they're over a barrel right because the whole point of this movement is that we don't want their help because it's not helping," Alex Vitale, professor of sociology and Coordinator of Policing and Social Justice Project at Brooklyn College, told Insider. "For them to say, 'Well, screw you. We're not going to help you. We're not going to do anything anymore,' is just making our point for us." Story continues While New York state law forbids work slowdowns or stoppage by police and other public employees, it is a tactic that NYPD officers have engaged in for years during times of unrest, Vitale said. While slowdowns within other agencies, like transportation workers, have resulted in unions being fined and union leaders facing jail time, police unions have escaped penalty, even when a reduction in work had been clearly documented, Vitale said. In the past, the slowdowns have come every couple of years, usually following a time of communities protesting the NYPD on issues related to policing, Vitale said. On occasion, there will even be a slowdown during heated contract negotiations, he said. The idea behind them is that if officers stop doing their jobs, crime will explode in the city, and the public will realize their worth, Vitale said. Following the 2014 slowdown, though, social scientists found that wasn't the case. Instead, they found that civilian complaints of major crimes dropped by about 3% to 6% during the slowdown. Analyzing crime and arrest data from New York for the journal Nature Human Behaviour, Christopher M. Sullivan and Zachary P. O'Keeffe found that crime in the city dropped by about 3% to 6% during the 2014-2015 period where the NYPD slowed their proactive policing. "For the two weeks when there was a very marked reduction in misdemeanor arrests, traffic citations, and stop and frisk encounters, crime continued to go down," Vitale said. Outright calling for a work slowdown is illegal, but unions have gotten away with suggesting them During the 2014 slowdown, police unions denied it had been officially sanctioned. During last summer's slowdown, Patrick Lynch the longtime president of the Police Benevolent Association urged officers to "proceed with the utmost caution" in light of the firing of Pantaleo. "We are urging all New York City police officers to proceed with the utmost caution in this new reality, in which they may be deemed 'reckless' just for doing their job," Lynch said at the time. "We will uphold our oath, but we cannot and will not do so by needlessly jeopardizing our careers or personal safety." Joe Giacalone, a former NYPD sergeant and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said unions in New York know better than to call for a slowdown in explicit terms but some officers might "do things on their own." "The unions have to be very careful because if you call for a work slowdown or a work stoppage you can be violating the law. In New York, the unions are not going to say that," Giacalone told Insider. "Without any union leadership, a cop who is just fed up is going to say 'you know what, I'm not writing summonses. I'm only making arrests if it's mandatory." The killing of George Floyd a Black man in Minneapolis has prompted anti-police brutality and anti-racism protests around the world. Politicians, leaders, and demonstrators have been vocally critical about systemic police behavior and policy. While usually, this is the kind of rhetoric that might result in a slowdown, Vitale told Insider he hadn't heard of one yet. "I haven't seen anything, but we have seen a lot of angry police union officials stomping their feet about a lack of support," Vitale said. During times of anti-police rhetoric, NYPD used to make fewer arrests. Scott Heins/Getty Images The future of slowdowns, whether sanctioned or not, is unclear A spokesman for the New York Police Benevolent Association declined a request from Insider to talk about police slowdowns as a tactic and whether it's something likely to continue in the future. Vitale thinks that, at least for the time being, the use of even unofficial work stoppages as a protest tactic by police will cease. "I think certainly in this moment, who knows what will happen in the future," he said. "I think this protest has been carried out with tear gas and pepper balls, not with work slowdowns." "What's troubling is this idea that if police don't get their way, then they're just going to abandon us," he added. "And in a way they're making our point for us, which is, as it turns out, we don't need them to be safe most of the time." Giacalone disagrees. He believes that the nationwide protests will lead to officers starting to go into "self-preservation mode" that will likely to lead in an uptick in crime and loss in city revenue. "Cops not writing summonses is usually very effective," he said. "You usually get someone to stand up because it affects the city finances greatly." As for actual policing, officers will continue to show up when people call 911, but there could be a decrease in proactive policing in communities not out of an official protest, per se, but because officers are fearful of ending up in a newsworthy situation involving allegations of brutality, he said. Officers will respond to situations when called, but may "have blinders on" when patrolling the streets, possibly looking the other way when observing criminal activity they previously would have responded to, he said. "In this atmosphere now, anyone who is out there proactively doing stuff, I think you need to really make sure all your Is are dotted and all your Ts are crossed," he added. "Like everything else, if you're doing good police work and you're following the rules of the law, all this stuff could be avoided." Instead of a work slowdown, though, unions and departments should focus their efforts on rebuilding community relations, Giacalone said. For years, the tense relationship between many communities of color and the police have prompted many Black Americans to avoid calling the authorities when crime or conflict is happening. A 2015 Gallup poll found that 57% of whites survey said they had confidence in the police, but only 42% of nonwhite respondents felt the same. In a 2018 piece for Pacific Standard, journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones described a situation where someone fired off a gun nearby. While some might immediately alert the local authorities, her group realized that"calling the police posed considerable risks," she wrote. "I think that police unions and police officers themselves need to be very careful about how they position themselves because, right now, they have zero goodwill. It's going to take a long time to build that back up," he said. "What Derek Chauvin did to George Floyd set police-community relationships back 50 years, as far as my opinion. I don't know if we're ever going to recover from it because it's a horrible incident." Expanded Coverage Module: black-lives-matter-module Read the original article on Insider The 60 wealthiest health care and hospital chains in the United States have compensated their top executives hundreds of millions of dollars while laying off tens of thousands of health care workers throughout the United States in recent weeks according to June 8 article in the New York Times. The richest hospital combines, some of which used their non-profit status to avoid federal tax obligations, have slashed life-saving services at a time of great health care need in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has funneled billions of dollars to the corporations, monies obtained in the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security Act) and signed into law March 27. One of these hospitals, the prestigious Cleveland Clinic, received a $199 million federal grant this spring, while last year it sat on $7 billion in cash which generated a $1.2 billion investment return, a tidy sum for having paid an investment firm $28 million to manage its largess. The bailout of major hospitals completely breaks down this narrative that the hospital CEOs love to promote that we are all in this together, a nurse at Cleveland Clinic told the WSWS. The $199 million they received will never drift down to nurses, nurse assistants, janitors or physical therapists. While there havent been mass layoffs at Cleveland Clinic as there have at other hospitals, we were told recently that we must use a certain amount of our paid time off by the end of the summer. For some this means that vacations that were scheduled in the fall will have to be cancelled. They explained this policy to us in an email that makes it sound like employees have to do their part and give back. The Times examined regulatory, securities and tax documents from 60 health care corporations that received over $15 billion without so much as having to apply for the moniesfunds received with almost no strings attached. The swift disbursement occurred virtually overnight for the most powerful health care corporations and tycoons, apparently because industry lobbyists were directly colluding with the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, II and his deputy Eric Hargan in authoring the formulas to pump funds into the already overflowing coffers of the conglomerates. Seven of the largest health care combines in the US were handed $1.5 billion in bailout funds, while they laid off and furloughed over 30,000 workers. They are Trinity Health, Beaumont Health, and Henry Ford Health in Michigan, SSM Health and Mercy in St. Louis, Missouri, Fairview Health in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Prisma Health in South Carolina. HCA Healthcare, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, saw $7 billion in profits the last two years, with a total wealth of over $36 billion, while the company received approximately $1 billion in CARES funds this late winter. HCAs CEO Samuel Hazen obtained $26 million in compensation in 2019, and in an effort to deflect public outrage let it be known he was donating the first two months of his annual salary, $237,000, to a fund for compensating stressed company health care workers, or 0.009 percent of his direct pay, stock options and bonuses. CARES is said to forbid use of the federal funds for compensating health care executives, with the vital exception of bonuses, which are by far managements wider dollar pipeline in the first place. While federal officials stood aside and permitted the coronavirus pandemic to penetrate counties across the country, health care workers authored long lists of complaints about HCA and the other health care giants that were all but ignoring requests for adequate work protections for doctors, nurses, nurse assistants, janitors and cleaning personnel. In May, HCA executives threatened health care staffs with layoffs if they did not agree to pay freezes and other concessions. Dozens of the workers complaints noted that the company put the greatest financial stress on the lowest paid employees, such as food workers, cleaners and nursing assistants. Staffs at 19 HCA hospitals filed complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for lack of respiratory masks and the forced reusing of medical gowns. Celia Yap-Banago, a nurse at an HCA hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, died of COVID-19 in April, and had complained with her colleagues about lack of protective gear. The following month, Rosa Luna died at the HCA hospital in Riverside, California where she cleaned rooms, and after her co-workers had emailed executives with complaints about inadequate and unsafe work protections. At the same time, HCA management was threatening the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and National Nurses United (NNU) with layoffs of 10 percent of their workforce if they did not press memberships for agreement to wage freezes and abolishment of company pension contributions. Nursing staffs fought back and held demonstrations at over a dozen HCA hospitals. Kathy Montanino, a nurse treating coronavirus patients at Riverside, told reporters, We dont work at a jellybean factory where its ok if we make a blue jellybean instead of a red one. We are dealing with peoples lives and this company puts profits over patients and their staff. A company spokesman Ed Fishbough responded that HCA provided appropriate PPE, including a universal masking policy requiring all staff in all areas to wear masks, including N95s in line with CDC guidelines. When queried about the HCA threats of layoffs, Fishbough claimed that HCA has not laid off or furloughed a single caregiver due to the pandemic. Clearly anticipating strike action, HCA formed still another company to hire replacements, with tentative weekly scab compensations exceeding that of the companys current work force. The Times reported that the top five executives in each of the 60 largest companies were paid about $874 million, according to the most recent tax information filed. The corporations that control access to thousands of hospital beds are sitting on billions of dollars. The giant for-profit and publicly traded Tenet Healthcare based in Dallas, Texas has furloughed 11,000 workers since April and received $345 million in federal grants. CEO Ron Rittenmeyers compensation package totals $24 million, of which he reported he was donating 1.5 percent to stressed health care staff. Providence Health Systems, a Catholic-sponsored non-profit, compensates its CEO Rod Hochman $10 million annually. Hochman announced he was accepting a 50 percent pay cut, constituting less than 20 percent of his compensation package. Hochmans team has put doctors and nurses on notice for a 10 percent pay cut next month, including staff caring for COVID-19 patients. Providence, headquartered in Renton, Washington sits on a $12 billion cash reserve and received a $509 million CARES grant. The company administers a Wall Street portfolio profitable enough to garner another billion in a good year via hedge fund investments and in other equity outfits such as the Carlyle Group, which is heavily wired into military procurements. Providence also administers two venture capital funds with assets of over $300 million for cutting edge start-up proposals. Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minnesota, with an eight-month cash reserve, was handed $170 million in CARES grants while it cut hours and furloughed 23,000 employees, including the initial spokesman for the Times report. St. Louis-based Ascension Health Care owns 150 hospitals in the US and received a $211 million federal grant while in possession of $15 billion cash. Unsurprisingly, the CARES granting formula overwhelmingly favored the very richest corporations, based on past Medicare and private insurance revenues. The more they charged and collected in the past, the more they were handed in April, for free. Not so for the hospitals taking care of the low income, Medicaid and uninsured persons. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) posted study results of CARES disbursement this spring in an analysis of 4,564 hospitals, including 3,242 short-term care facilities and 1,322 so-called critical access hospitals. The 10 percent richest facilities received CARES grants at a rate of $44,321 per bed while the bottom 10 percent obtained $20,710 per bed. The wealthiest 457 hospitals had fewer teaching beds, at 10 percent, while the least compensated 457 facilities had 38 percent of beds available for health skills instruction. The richest 457 units had operating margins at 9 percent, and the bottom group of 457, 4.2 percent. The nurse from Cleveland Clinic added: Over the past decade or so the pay for hospital CEOs has shot up while the pay for health care workers like nurses has stayed the same or decreased. COVID-19 has exacerbated this process. Its the same pattern that is happening in other industries, but it is especially sickening, in my opinion, when it happens in an industry like health care that advertises itself as this beacon of health and compassion. Most people go into nursing or other health care jobs because they want to help people. They want to ease pain, they want to educate, they want to be there for people during the worst days of their lives. Laying off these workers or forcing then to work in unsafe conditions is criminal, and it is the working class who will pay for this crime. Patients will get less attention from nurses who are stretched between six to eight patients or they wont get physical therapy or speech therapy or other services that are required to make a full recovery. Imagine, you go to the hospital because youve had a stroke. Because of a lack of resources, because of masses of laid-off health care workers, you hardly get the help you need. You spend most of your day sitting in the hospital bed. Without the proper therapies or guidance or attention, you hardly get any better and maybe you even get worse, developing pressure sores or malnutrition because no one is there to help you eat. Credit: Asiandelight/Shutterstock New Zealand is one of a handful of countries where community transmission of COVID-19 has been eliminated. But with two new cases announced today (June 16), we have learned that elimination is not the endrather, it's the start of the next phase. After 23 consecutive days with no new cases, today's announcement that two people returning from overseas have tested positive does not mean New Zealand's elimination strategy has failed. Just two weeks ago, we estimated we were likely to see one or two cases a week at New Zealand's border. The two travellers in question came from the UK, where the disease is still very active. The two women arrived in New Zealand on June 7, via Doha and Brisbane, and stayed in a managed isolation hotel in Auckland. But they were granted an exemption on compassionate grounds on June 12 to travel to Wellington to visit their dying parent. Such compassionate exemptions from managed isolation have now been temporarily suspended. This development shows how important our border controls are. Currently, all new arrivals must remain in quarantine for at least 14 days, unless they receive an exemption. It's unlikely someone is still infectious after 14 days without showing symptoms, so this should minimise the chances of spread from overseas arrivals. Probability of elimination of COVID-19 community transmission. But as these cases show, this doesn't mean the risk is zero. Whether from an exemption on compassionate grounds as in this case, people working at the border, or from people getting infected shortly before leaving quarantine, it is inevitable that new cases will make it across the border. As we explained in our previous article, to stop the virus coming back, we need more than just good border controls. New Zealanders will need to keep avoiding the three Cs of possible infectionclosed spaces, crowded places and close contactas best they can. And it's crucial we keep meticulously tracking where we've been and who we've been in contact with. It also shows the importance of getting tested. One of the travellers reported mild symptoms, but didn't associate these with COVID-19. Anybody with symptoms should get tested and stay home until the results come through, especially if they have had contact with someone who has been overseas or work in a high-contact job. Now that New Zealand is at alert level 1 and 40,000 people can go to the rugby, it's more than important than ever that we don't let our guard down. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. New Jersey will borrow $1.7 billion from the federal government to replenish the unemployment fund thats paid out more than $2.1 billion in benefits to workers who lost jobs or hours during the pandemic crisis. Robert Asaro-Angelo said last week said he plans to submit a request by the end of the month to the U.S. Department of Labor for a line of credit to pay weekly unemployment claims. The state will submit a request for a $1.7 billion loan to tide the state over in August, September and October, said labor department spokeswoman Angela Delli-Santi. Unemployment claims skyrocketed in the past three months, as businesses were ordered to close or scale back their services to slow the spread of the coronavirus. More than 1.2 million New Jersey workers have filed for unemployment benefits since mid-March. Weekly new claims peaked in late March and early April at more than 200,000 workers newly filing for unemployment benefits each week. The state now is beginning to reopen and job losses are slowing. New Jersey workers who are eligible for unemployment may receive 60 percent of their wages, up to $713 a week. The state paid about $256 million in benefits in the week ending June 6, the highest single-week payments since the start of the pandemic. Those payments are draining the Unemployment Trust Fund, which is funded by payroll contributions from employees and employers. The loan will be interest-free through the end of the year, Asaro-Angelo said during one of Gov Phil Murphys recent coronavirus press briefings, adding the administration will lobby federal lawmakers to extend the interest-free period. Details of the borrowing were first reported by NJSpotlight. Asaro-Angelo said last week New Jersey was fortunate the trust fund was plentiful when the state entered this time of high unemployment or it would have needed to borrow sooner. At the end of February, there was $2.79 billion in the trust fund. We had one of the strongest trust funds in the nation when we went into this pandemic, he said. Despite the loan, the state will not increase the unemployment tax rates paid by employers and employees through the end of the next fiscal year in June 2021, Delli-Santi said. No decisions have been made on FY22, she said. The good health of unemployment reserves has triggered several tax cuts for employers since the end of the Great Recession, thanks to lower unemployment and a state constitutional amendment barring the state from raiding the fund. From 1992 to 2005, more than $4.6 billion in employer and employee contributions to the unemployment trust fund were diverted by both Democratic and Republican governors. When the Great Recession hit and claims soared, the state was forced to borrow from the federal government and didnt stop running deficits in the trust fund until 2013. The state raised rates as a result. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. By Michele N. Siekerka With New Jersey in the throes of a historic economic crisis, it is abundantly clear that tough choices will need to be made during an even more challenging budget season. Gov. Phil Murphy is often heard saying we are in this together, and we certainly are. As such, any plan to address our budget and economic challenges must include sacrifices equally shared by the private sector, the public sector and our taxpayers. To this point, New Jersey businesses have already paid a very steep price toward this shared sacrifice having been mandated to shut down or reduce operations for months, with a slow-moving reopening process that has greatly impacted the livelihoods of business owners and employees alike. Given the shared sacrifice of the private sector and taxpayers, it is wholly appropriate to ask the public sector to share the pain, as well, in order to responsibly adjust our budget to address our economic crisis Credit Governor Murphy and Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio for including some cuts and for avoiding borrowing and tax increases to close out the FY20 state budget. But we also believe some of those reductions, freezes and deferrals should become permanent cuts through FY21 and FY22. More comprehensively, our public employees must be part of a shared sacrifice. Currently sitting on Governor Murphys desk is a win-win voluntary furlough bill that would allow state and local governments to save millions while public workers earn more thanks to generous federal benefits. NJBIA supports the timely passage of that bill into law. We also urge the governor and public employees through state and local governments to adopt wage freezes in upcoming budgets. Over $100 million was allocated in the original FY21 budget proposal for state salary increases. That number only compounds when every teacher and police officers salary raise is included. We contend it is fair to expect a public sector salary freeze during a historic economic time, as the one we are experiencing, while in the private sector, many individuals experienced salary cuts, furloughs and layoffs. If public worker salaries do not remain flat, more state borrowing and state and local tax increases are likely, as are other painful spending cuts just to accommodate those raises. Such public employee savings have been implemented in other states during the COVID-19 crisis, as have across-the-board cuts to various state government departments. In New Jersey, asking each department commissioner to find 5% savings in their direct spending can save New Jersey approximately $200 million. Other savings can be found through legislation. NJBIA is encouraging the General Assembly to pass the healthcare savings bill, S-2273, already moved by the Senate, and then we ask the governor to sign it into law. This bill is expected to save almost $700 million for local governments throughout New Jersey. More than ever in a COVID-19 world, we also call for the legislature and the governor to advance some type of pension reform for future public employees similar to what was called for in the bipartisan Path to Progress plan. Economists around the nation have warned that tax revenues may be lowered for years to come, due to the impact of COVID-19. With that, billions in long-term savings of pension reform will be critical to avoid future budget pain for taxpayers and those reliant on government services. We believe an aggressive consolidation and shared services plan should also be part of the structural reforms pursued by New Jersey to save money on the redundancies and extra spending that over a thousand units of government create. Our highest-in-the-nation and ever-escalating local property taxes are a major burden to all New Jersey taxpayers, and local government regionalization efforts could help lessen that. We are all united in hoping that more federal support for our state budget is part of this solution. But we cant rely on that alone. We must take the responsible steps now to plan ahead for cuts that may be needed to avoid excessive borrowing and any further tax increases. New Jerseys economy has significantly contracted during the health crisis, leaving the private sector to make difficult decisions in order to attempt to survive. It is only appropriate to right-size public spending, as well, to avoid further devastation to our economy and future state budgets. Making these difficult choices now will help ease challenging budgets for the future of private and public sectors, as well as the future generations of New Jersey residents. Michele N. Siekerka, Esq. is the president and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Paris Baguette's bakeshop in Lexington Avenue, New York / Courtesy of SPC Group By Kim Jae-heun SPC Group, operator of South Korean bakery chain Paris Baguette, is apparently eyeing expansion in France with the company hoping its recent decision to set up stores in Canada will help lay the necessary groundwork to increase its presence in the European country, according to SPC and industry officials. SPC operates Paris Baguette stores in major cities in Asia, the United States and Europe. While it has been able to transform Paris Baguette's brand image to appeal to today's affluent consumers in these new markets, no substantial progress has yet been in its plan to establish a premium Maison de Paris store in New York City. Now, because bakeries are among the most dynamic food sectors in the European Union, strongly driven by innovation and evolving consumer preferences, SPC Group is scrambling for a plan B. SPC launched its brand in Paris in 2014, yet it only operates two stores in the French capital. Compared to the 83 stores the South Korean bakery chain is operating in the United States, its footing in Paris hasn't been substantial. Regarding the possibility of opening more locations overseas, SPC officials said the company "still needs more time." However, the firm has dropped hints that it could implement its knowledge gained from operating bakeries in the United States over the last 16 years to aid its business expansion in Canada and France. SPC plans to open 100 stores including in major Canadian cities from Toronto to Vancouver, within the next decade. Canada could be interpreted as a litmus test for SPC for its expansion in Europe. The Canadian province of Quebec is French-speaking, so SPC hopes to learn more about French tastes and preferences from its operations in Quebec City and Montreal. France is a country famous for its baked goods and high-quality patisseries, which is important in terms of brand equity and positioning for SPC's Paris Baguette. SPC officials declined to elaborate on the specifics of its planned activities in Canada but the firm announced plans earlier to establish a dough manufacturing plant in Normandy, France, on which no visible progress has been made. SPC was aiming to supply dough to its franchise bakeries in Europe and North America. "Korean bakeries have a unique identity. Paris Baguette, in particular, offers a range of products in individual packaging. Customers in North America find this very interesting," an industry source said. "Paris Baguette will expand its business in Canada through a franchise system which will reduce the expense of opening stores." BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 By Fidan Babayeva Trend: Thirty-nine women in Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic received investment capital worth 25,200 manat ($14,823) within the project entitled "Empowering Women for Sustainable Development", which is funded by the European Union and partially by UNDP, Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Micro-finance Association (AMFA) Jhale Hajiyeva told Trend on June 16. The project is being implemented by AMFA, Hajiyeva added. Twelve training courses on the Plan for the Future and Start and Develop Your Business topics were held at the Nakhchivan Business Center in May and June, she added. As many as 319 women took part in the training. As a result of the project, 63 participants from Nakhchivan including 13 persons with disabilities were selected to implement the business plans." Those participating in the project are women who have attended the training last year and received a certificate, but did not receive investment capital, executive director noted. Hajiyeva said that 72 percent of investment capital accounts for the expansion of activity in agriculture, and 28 percent - hairdressing, carpet weaving and other spheres. The microfinance was introduced in Azerbaijan in the mid-90s. A group of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) began offering micro-financing services to low-income local residents in 1996. In December 2001, the members of the group decided to set up an association that will serve as the coordination microfinance center in Azerbaijan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: Fidan_Babaeva United Nations, June 16 : UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is concerned about the clashes between Indian and Chines troops along the Line of Actual Control in Ladah and asked the two nations to exercise restraint, a spokesperson said Tuesday. Guterres's Associate Spokesperson Eri Kaneko said: "We are concerned about reports of violence and deaths along the Line of Actual Control between India and China." She added: "We urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint. We take positive note of reports that the two countries are engaged in deescalating the situation." The clashes on Monday, during which no firearms were reportedly not used, was probably the worst confrontation since the 1962 war between the neighbours. Colonel B. Santosh Babu of the 16 Bihar Regiment and two other Indian Army personnel were killed in the clash along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh on Monday night. However, the Indian Army later disclosed that 20 personnel had been killed. Unlike India, China has not officially said if there it had suffered casualties. But Hu Xijn, editor of the Global Times, tweeted that there were Chinese casualties but the government did not want to publish the numbers because they do not "want people of the two countries to compare the casualties number so to avoid stoking public mood. This is goodwill from Beijing." (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) Western Australian regions have received a $16 million investment over the next four years to attract screen production. The investment through the WA McGowan Government will be made to the WA Screen Fund (previously Western Australian Regional Film Fund), showcasing WAs regions to national and international audiences. Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman said, You only have to look at how many productions weve been involved with in recent years such as Rams, Breath, H is for Happiness, Dirt Music, Mystery Road and Aussie Gold Hunters to realise just how vibrant our film and TV industry is. These productions not only show off our State and act as a drawcard for visitors, but they also show the depth of talent that is available here in WA in the ranks of our creative industries. Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said, Western Australia and its regions have so much to offer for film and television productions. We have a fabulous stories and stunning locations in regional WA, plus the people and skills to make these quality productions happen. These productions have made a real contribution to local economies in regional towns, supporting regional jobs across WA. CEO of Screenwest Willie Rowe added, The evolution of the Western Australian Screen Fund will provide the WA screen industry with stability at this time and a fantastic opportunity to grow and develop into the future. We also acknowledge and appreciate the Western Australian State Governments additional measures to support the arts and cultural industries in Western Australia. This is a vital sector within the state, which delivers significant economic and community benefit. This week Hollywood actor Kate Walsh floated the idea of filming US productions in WA. It usually takes about 10 years to develop and test a new vaccine. Credit: Shutterstock The average times of the fastest sprinters in the 100-metre dash are in the ballpark of 10 seconds. So, what would you think if someone promised to run the race in one second? It typically takes a minimum of 10 years for a vaccine to complete the three consecutive phases of the clinical research pipeline. This is because of the scope and length of the experiments, the need to critically assess the results at each stage and the mountains of paperwork that are involved. What are the chances that this can be reduced to 12 months? Indeed, it has been implied that this process can be accelerated to "warp speed." We contend that a safe and effective vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative agent of coronavirus disease COVID-19, most likely cannot be made available to the public in time to make a substantial difference to the natural outcome of this pandemic. People often cling to hope even when prospects of success are low. However, this can have negative consequences if that hope is not realized. We are academic scientists who manage vaccine research programs. In fact, Dr. Bridle received COVID-19-focused funding to develop a novel vaccine platform. Although many of us are working hard towards developing vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, we worry that some in the scientific community have offered too much hope for this to be accomplished in a timely fashion. Sometimes these promises are used by politicians and governments to inform public policies. As a result, the integrity of the scientific community is now in the limelight and, arguably, at risk. Herd immunity Vaccines are an effective way for a population to achieve what is known as "herd immunity." This is the concept that the pandemic will end once approximately 60-70 percent of people become immune to SARS-CoV-2. An alternative is to let SARS-CoV-2 run its natural course until herd immunity is achieved. With physical distancing, some epidemiologists argue this could take two years, during which time a vaccine could be developed. However, vaccinating at the tail end of a pandemic when disease incidence is very low and declining may be of little utility, hence the race to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. If one is not in widespread use within the first half of 2021, it will probably be too late to have a meaningful impact on control of COVID-19. Lessons from SARS and MERS Educators often rely on past performance to predict the future performance of students. In this respect, how was the performance of the scientific community in the wake of the original SARS-CoV, or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV? The fact is, no vaccine against a coronavirus has successfully navigated the rigours of clinical testing, despite having up to 17 years to do so. The same applies to other dangerous respiratory pathogens, such as respiratory syncytial virus. Whether enough has been learned from these past experiences to get the design of COVID-19 vaccines right remains to be seen, and still does not negate the need for a rigorous testing process that will take time. One concern is that some vaccines can protect against disease (that is, the outcome of an infection) but not against infection (the ability of the virus to get into the body). In this scenario, vaccinated individuals could potentially become asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2, thereby spreading COVID-19. For this and many other reasons, a cautious approach must be taken to developing COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccines already in clinical trials What about the fact that there are front-runner vaccines already in human clinical trials? First, many of the vaccine technologies that can most readily make it to the front of the line are not necessarily the best quality. The easiest way to make a vaccine is to inactivate the pathogen or use pieces of it, and mix them with an adjuvant, which tells the immune system that the pathogen is dangerous and worth responding to. However, an inactivated virus or its components do not behave like the live virus, so the immune system sometimes responds to these vaccines in a way that is ineffective or sometimes even dangerous. For example, no vaccine based on the genetic material, known as ribonucleic acid or RNA, from a virus like SARS-CoV-2 has ever been approved. Further, some vaccines developed against the original SARS-CoV, after the epidemic was over, exacerbated the disease in mice. A vaccine for COVID-19 does not have to be the best one, but it does need to be good enough to accelerate a population's progression to herd immunity. As experienced peer reviewers, we have some concerns about the rigour of some of the science surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Some vaccines are fast-tracking through the regulatory system before studies are completed and with minimal details of experimental results being released. Executives of a big pharmaceutical company whose vaccine is among those closest to the finish line recently sold their stocks after releasing "positive results" that were superficial, partial and that included three of eight healthy young volunteers experiencing severe adverse events. Events like this are causing the public to become skeptical. A promising vaccine should have solid data to back it up. Those touting vaccines against COVID-19 that are in clinical trials should be asked to provide comprehensive details and results of their study. This enables objective and rigorous evaluations by the broader scientific community. A lack of complete transparency would be cause for concern. Getting from trials to clinics Assuming a vaccine succeeds in human trials, it then needs to be manufactured in massive quantities at an affordable price, undergo quality control testing and be distributed worldwide. Even if by some miracle this spectrum could be bridged at warp speed, one then needs to wonder if up to 70 percent of individuals can be effectively vaccinated. Uptake of a vaccine could be compromised by anti-vaxxers, as well as by perceptions that warp-speed manoeuvring might be the result of cutting too many corners and compromising safety. Then there are those who simply do not respond as well to vaccines, which includes the elderly who are in the greatest need of protection. Considering what we now know about SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, we need to take a more cautious approach and one could question if any of the vaccines that are now in pre-clinical testing can possibly help with the current pandemic. We sincerely hope that our pessimism about vaccines currently in clinical trials being ready in time is soundly proven wrong. Even if a vaccine doesn't get developed in time, not all is lost. The array of vaccines being engineered will help with outbreaks beyond COVID-19. They can be vetted by scientists and the best technologies and associated research teams could be shortlisted to be called upon for future outbreaks. Although clinical research likely cannot be shortened to 12 months while maintaining integrity of the science, the current attempt to do so will build new and reasonable efficiencies into health regulatory policies. This will facilitate getting a wide variety of future health solutions to patients faster, but not at warp speed. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. A third Melbourne primary school has shut down after a Year Five student tested positive to coronavirus. Strathmore Primary School in the city's north will remain closed for at least 24 hours from Tuesday to undergo a deep clean. Strathmore is the third school to close in just two days due to positive tests by students. Strathmore Primary School (pictured) in Melbourne's north has been shut after a Year Five student tested positive to coronavirus Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said they are working to identify anyone who may have come into contact with the Strathmore student. 'The contact tracing will commence immediately to identify the staff and students who might be impacted by this particular case,' she said. On Monday there was a positive test by a student at St Dominic's Primary School at Broadmeadows in Melbourne's north, while two siblings who attended Pakenham Springs Primary School in the city's outer east returned positive tests. Signs are seen on the front gate of Pakenham Springs Primary School after it shut on Monday Strathmore will initially be closed for 24 hours while health officials perform contact tracing and the grounds are deep cleaned. 'Close contacts of the two students will be notified over the next 24 hours and supported to ensure they understand what actions to take,' a message from the school on Sunday read. 'Students and staff who have attended the school are required to remain at home while contact tracing occurs.' St Dominic's was expected to be closed for at least three days while it underwent deep cleaning. The Year Five student at Strathmore was the ninth case of COVID-19 recorded in Victoria on Tuesday. Two cases were linked to a patient at Monash Health while another was a close contact of a family in the northern Melbourne suburb of Coburg which had suffered an outbreak. Two other cases were returned travellers. PARIS, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HSBC (contact: 'synd manager'; telephone: +44 207 992 8066) hereby gives notice, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities The securities: Issuer: La Mondiale Guarantor (if any): na Aggregate nominal amount: EUR Benchmark Description: Fixed due 23rd June 2031 subject Conditions to Redemption and Purchase (the Scheduled Maturity Date) Offer price: TBC Other offer terms: Stabilisation: Stabilising Manager(s): HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Natixis Stabilisation period expected to start on: 16th June 2020 Stabilisation period expected to end no later than: 23rd July 2020 Existence, maximum size & conditions of use of over-allotment facility[1]: 5% of the aggregate nominal amount Stabilisation Venue(s) Over the counter (OTC) In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State. This announcement and the offer of the securities to which it relates are only addressed to and directed at persons outside the United Kingdom and persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters related to investments or who are high net worth persons within article 12(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the United Kingdom. ______________________________________________ [1] Please note that the existence and the maximum size of any greenshoe option, the exercise period of the greenshoe option and any conditions for exercise of the greenshoe option must also be disclosed, if such option exists. In addition, the exercise of the greenshoe option must be disclosed to the public promptly, together with all appropriate details, including in particular the date of exercise and the number and nature of securities involved Jimmy Doherty has warned the government that it would be a 'tragedy' to lose the UK's family farms by undermining standards in Brexit trade deals. The TV presenter and farmer raised concerns over a possible trade deal between the UK and US - saying that 'American mass farming' is 'different' to British farming. It comes as MPs recently rejected an Agriculture Bill amendment that would have protected British farmers and customers from low-quality imports Other celebrities to have warned the government over lower-standard agri-food imports include Jamie Oliver and Jeremy Clarkson. Writing in the Daily Mail, Jimmy Doherty said that allowing chlorinated chicken and hormone-pumped beef onto UK shelves would make a 'mockery' of what British farming stands for. "What we are going to throw away if we let big American producers export their beef to Britain without ensuring that it meets the same field-to-fork standards as those upheld by our own farmers. "We currently have one of the safest food systems in the world, yet we are in danger of giving it up," Mr Doherty wrote. He said farmers still wanted to trade with the EU, but if production standards are lowered to match US standards, then the EU would 'reject' British produce. We would open ourselves up to an American market which we would struggle to get into, and close ourselves off from one we want to retain, in the EU. Let us face it, the truth is that America does not really want our food, not in massive quantities, although it is happy to import British specialities such as cheddar cheese." He added: Do not get me wrong, I am not anti-trade and I am certainly not anti-American trade. I have met wonderful farmers in the US who are dedicated to quality produce, but there are systems in place there that simply would not match the way we do things here. Mr Doherty said the government must keep to promises made in the past - as they owed farmers 'leadership' and 'reassurance'. "If those promises are broken, it would be no less than a betrayal of our family farms, our nation's health and hard-won consumer trust in the 'open book' farming which means that what we see in the field is what we get on our plates. "It would be a tragedy to lose it." It comes as the NFU's viral post-Brexit food standards petition nears 1 million signatures. The petition, launched at the NFU Conference in February, demands that all food imports are produced to the same standards as the UK in the event of any post-Brexit trade deal. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, June 17 2020 The government has teamed up with e-commerce platform Lazada Indonesia to advance its partnerships with digital platforms to meet its target of pushing 2 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to go digital this year. The Cooperatives and SME Ministry and Lazada Indonesia launched on Monday a training program to help SMEs with digital marketing and with setting up stores on the e-commerce platform. Lazada Indonesia, backed by Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group, will begin by recruiting 100 tutors, called kakak asuh, from successful sellers on its platform. Each tutor will oversee two to three small businesses. Monika Rudijono, the chief marketing officer at Lazada Indonesia, said some small businesses had enough digital savvy to make it on their own after completing just one training course. But there are [other] small businesses that are more traditional, Monika said in a virtual press briefing on Monday. Even though they have done a training course, they still need a tutor. The government is pursuing partnerships with numerous private tech firms to accelerate the digitization of SMEs. One of the latest initiatives is a project with online ride-hailing company Grab Indonesia on an app for business management. Out of more than 60 million small businesses across the country, which employ an overwhelming majority of the national workforce, only 13 percent have established an online presence and use the internet to sell their products, according to data from the ministry. Other partnerships established by the government are with e-commerce companies Blibli.com, Shopee Indonesia, Tokopedia and Bukalapak the last two are among the countrys so-called unicorns, or start-up firms valued at more than US$1 billion. Arif Rahman Hakim, a deputy of human resource development at the ministry, said Monday that the government was partnering with the companies to integrate training programs with the platform, thereby simplifying the steps for small businesses to go online. The program was especially important for small businesses to keep making money amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which was slowing down the economy as people had reduced spending to offset loss of income, said Arif. It is very timely for small businesses to be able to market their product by using information technology, Arif said at the same briefing. Leonard Theosabrata, the president director of Smesco Indonesia, a marketing agency founded by the ministry, said he hoped the program would run for a long time, because the government was aiming high with regard to SME digitization. We hope they arrange it not only via digital means, Leonard said at the same briefing. They have to receive training from the tutors on quality control and quality assurance. This may have to take place in person. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login A Superior Court judge who was removed from the bench for asking an alleged rape victim whether she could have closed her legs during the attack has been ordered to pay $250,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former law clerk. Judge Lisa P. Thornton signed an order earlier this month enforcing the settlement between former judge John Russo Jr., who presided in Ocean County, and 31-year-old Valisha Desir, an ex-law clerk who claimed in a lawsuit filed last March that Russo Jr. made inappropriate comments about her looks and made her fear retaliation if she reported his behavior. Attorneys for both parties had agreed on the amount via email in April, but Russo Jr. later fought a motion to enforce the settlement filed by Desirs lawyers, saying in court papers that terms of the deal were not approved by the state Attorney Generals Office, which represents state judges in civil lawsuits. The Attorney Generals Office declined to comment. Desir, who worked for Russo in 2017, said in the complaint that she feared reporting Russo Jr.'s behavior because he bragged about how he could break careers. He told her he forced former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey to resign, the suit said. After Desir reported the harassment, Russo Jr. was removed from the bench in the Ocean County Family Division in May 2017 and placed on administrative leave. He was later reassigned to the Burlington County Civil Division. Desirs lawyer, Neil Mullin, said the drawn-out settlement process re-victimized his client. I represent someone who was harmed by a sitting judge and... it was a very distressing circumstance to be sexually harassed by a judge. The state of New Jersey should show compassion to her. Instead of compassion, we get them interfering in a settlement I achieved for her, said Mullin of Smith Mullin P.C., a Montclair law firm known for representing women in sexual harassment cases, including Gretchen Carlson formerly of Fox News. Under New Jersey law, an agreement doesnt have to be a fancy document. It can be an email, Mullin said. Desirs suit details an incident on Feb. 13, 2017, when Russo allegedly told her that his wife worried Desir was too attractive to work with him, and also commented that he would give his wife a pass to cheat on him because she was such a good mother to his son. She also said Russo Jr. would stand very close to her after she asked him not to, so she positioned chairs around her desk in order to create a physical barrier between she and (Russo Jr.). In a separate incident, he called her to his office, sat with his legs spread wide open and tried to get her to come closer, the suit said. She refused to get closer than five feet, and Russo Jr. then yelled at her to leave, according to the suit. Desir reported Russo Jr. to Ocean County Assignment Judge Marlene Lynch Ford in April 2017 and Family Division Presiding Judge Madelin F. Einbinder. The nest day, Desir was granted a reassignment to Fords chambers after she alleged Russo Jr. threw a file at her from the bench, according to the suit. A year later, Russo Jr. was facing allegations of misconduct for asking a woman seeking a restraining order against her boyfriend who raped her if she closed her legs to prevent the attack. Block your body parts? Close your legs? Call the police? Did you do any of those things?" he asked the woman, according to a transcript of the 2016 hearing. Russo testified in October 2018 before the state Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct that he was trying to prod the woman into providing more details. He later apologized for his comments. In May, the state Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision removing Russo Jr. from judicial office and permanently barring him from presiding over a New Jersey courtroom again because of repeated and serious acts of misconduct." Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. The Mendocino County city of Fort Bragg is scheduled to discuss its name on June 22. (Sarah Bodnar) The City Council of Fort Bragg, a small Northern California city named after Braxton Bragg, a Confederate Army general and slave owner, is pondering putting a town name change on the November ballot. The move by the Mendocino County town of nearly 7,400 comes in response to many requests (some local and many not) that the city of Fort Bragg, California change its name to avoid any connotation associated with Confederate Army General Braxton Bragg, a post on the citys Facebook page read, as first reported by the Fort Bragg Advocate-News. The discussion is set for June 22. The post, which has received more than 900 contentious comments decrying and praising the call for conversation, comes amid a national reckoning with racism following protests against police violence. Since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police, protesters and policymakers have torn down Confederate statues, and namesakes and icons associated with racism and white supremacy have faced intense scrutiny. The towns name has been challenged before. In 2015, the California Legislative Black Caucus sent a letter to then-Mayor Lindy Peters asking Fort Bragg to make a change. According to the letter, Braggs mother was jailed for killing a freed, formerly enslaved person, and the Confederate general enslaved 105 people at his Louisiana plantation before he committed treason against our nation during the Civil War and fought to defend the defenseless cause of slavery. The request came in July 2015, a month after white supremacist Dylann Roof shot and killed nine black worshipers at the Emanuel AME church in Charleston, S.C. While I completely agree with the effort to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina state Capitol, I would argue that asking us to change our name is taking things a bit too far, Peters, who now serves as a City Council member, told The Times then. You cannot change history.... We are a tight-knit community who do not favor changing our name, especially when pushed to do so by politicos who have never even visited our town and know nothing of our long and rich local history." Story continues The city once just a military camp was named for Bragg in 1857, before the Civil War, by founder Horatio C. Gibson, who served under Bragg in the Mexican-American War, according to website Mendocino Fun. Other namesakes of Bragg are also being called into question. Military leaders, including Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, have signaled they are willing to consider renaming Army bases that honor Confederate officers, such as North Carolinas Ft. Bragg. On June 10, President Trump tweeted that his administration would not consider renaming the bases because they have become part of a Great American heritage, a history of winning, victory and freedom. That same day, the Senates Armed Services Committee voted to require the Pentagon to remove Confederate names, monuments and symbols from the military in the next three years. Bragg led the Confederate Army of the Tennessee. A recent biography of the general, who resigned his post under pressure halfway through the war after decisive losses and is regarded as an unsuccessful military leader, is subtitled The Most Hated Man of the Confederacy. After leading Confederate troops against American Union troops, Bragg served as a close advisor to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. As thousands of protesters marched the streets of Philadelphia on Saturday to combat racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death, Kerry-Anne, 35, and Michael Gordon, 42, stood out for a very special reason. After tying the knot inside the Logan Hotel, Kerry-Anne and Michael came outside to huge cheers and applause from the thousands of participating demonstrators. At one moment, the crowd parted for the newlywed couple as they held hands and kissed in the middle of the street. "It ended up being a very powerful moment," Kerry-Anne told ABC News. "Not only are we feeling the movement of the people ... but I'm meeting my husband, on our wedding day, as a strong black man and a good representative of who we are as people, what our men are like, what our culture is like. It was just a very, very empowering moment for us considering all of this is happening at one moment in one time." Kerry-Anne and Michael postponed their wedding plans to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the pair still wanted to be married, and though the protests were occurring in the city, they went forward with the nuptials. RELATED: Powerful Photograph of 3 Childhood Friends Seen at Black Lives Matter Protest Goes Viral Michael, who is of Caribbean descent while Kerry-Anne was born in Jamaica, said that getting married while being involved in the protests over Floyd's death made their wedding day "more memorable." "We all see this injustice. We all want to see this needle shift away from the status quo and ... that made this day more memorable in ways," he said. The couple first met at a local gym, and Michael told Vogue that he knew immediately Kerry-Anne was someone he wanted to get to know thanks to her energy and aura. "I knew that if I had this person around, my life would be good," he said. They were engaged on a trip to Jamaica in December 2018, just before Kerry-Anne, an OBGYN, completed her residency. Though the pair were emotional over having to postpone their wedding, they embraced the new challenge of planning a smaller, more intimate wedding, Vogue reported. Story continues The Logan Hotel, where Kerry Anne was supposed to have her bridal shower, became the venue for their wedding, which included florals from Robertson's Flowers, music from cellist Aijee Evans and a dress from local boutique Sew Pretty Bridal Studio, according to the outlet. They prepared for their "I dos" as they watched protesters gather near the hotel, something Kerry-Anne said she'll always remember. "While I was getting ready in the hotel, and I'm reading over vows that I wrote five months ago, at that moment I was just so overwhelmed with emotion," she told Vogue. "We already had a lot built up inside because of the [protests over the past week]." Michael also shared that he was glad the message behind Saturday's protest, which remained entirely peaceful, was amplified thanks to the online attention on their wedding. "That's what the entire event out there was about. Of course, there was police and National Guard, but it was a peaceful protest. Everyone was so nice," he said. "That in itself showed what the movement can be and for us to be a part of that, it's a positive thing." To help combat systemic racism, consider learning from or donating to these organizations: Campaign Zero (joincampaignzero.org) which works to end police brutality in America through research-proven strategies. ColorofChange.org works to make government more responsive to racial disparities. National Cares Mentoring Movement (caresmentoring.org) provides social and academic support to help black youth succeed in college and beyond. Proceedings have been issued against the Association for Quality Education (AQE), and the Post-Primary Transfer Consortium (PPTC) The parents of two children in Northern Ireland have won High Court permission to challenge decisions to delay this year's post-primary transfer tests. A judge on Tuesday granted leave to seek a judicial review into claims the postponements of at least two weeks due to coronavirus will further discriminate against disadvantaged families. Mr Justice McAlinden pledged to oversee a full hearing over the summer period due to the urgency and significance of the case. Proceedings have been issued against the Association for Quality Education (AQE), and the Post-Primary Transfer Consortium (PPTC). Each autumn the two organisations provide tests used by most grammar schools in Northern Ireland to select their intake. But this year's exams were deferred because of the wider Covid-19 crisis. These children are disadvantaged in particular ways by the delay being proposed. Donal Sayers QC Lawyers representing two pupils due to sit the tests contend that the decision to delay by a matter of weeks amid so much disruption to their education is unlawful. They allege a failure to properly consult, as well as arguing that moving to new dates in November and December is unfair and in breach of human rights. Both children have been granted anonymity in the joint case. The court heard one of them is currently being educated in Irish, with neither of her parents fluent enough in the language to help her study. The other child faces separate issues in preparing for the transfer test due to a diagnosis of autism. Donal Sayers QC, for both families, said: "These children are disadvantaged in particular ways by the delay being proposed." However, he further submitted that the decision to put the tests back by two or three weeks will represent a further impediment to more pupils. "There's a baseline of damage that will inevitably be caused to all by the school closures," Mr Sayers told the court. "But it will widen the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers." The challenge is being resisted on a number of grounds, including claims that the testing bodies are private companies exempt from judicial review. Counsel for AQE added that it would have "moved in tandem" if others had agreed to shift deadlines for the testing process. Despite this, Mr Justice McAlinden cited the public interest issues involved in the case. "It's quite clear the schools to which these applicants are applying are schools which are substantially, if not entirely, funded by the state," he said. He confirmed leave was being granted to seek a judicial review against the AQE, PPTC, and a third respondent, the Education Authority. Like every other parent, I simply want what is best for my daughter. Mother The Department of Education has been listed as a notice party. Outside court the mother of one of the two pupils said she was encouraged and relieved by the outcome. "I have felt helpless, and my daughter's emotional well-being is suffering," she said. "I know that this test will have a significant consequence for my daughter's future and life potential. "Like every other parent, I simply want what is best for my daughter, and this test occurring in November certainly is not that." Her solicitor, Ciaran Moynagh of Phoenix Law, added: "We must remember at the heart of this are many 10 and 11-year-old children that are extremely anxious about what is expected of them in these uncertain times. "If this an appropriate delay, we need to know when schools will return and what the proposals to get kids up to speed are. "If it turns out it is not possible to have a transfer test this year, then proper and consistent admission guidance must come about." Before a partial last-minute breakthrough on Monday in technical negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a state of despair had clouded the atmosphere of negotiation. Egypt was not expecting any progress, and observers expected the talks to collapse at any moment or at least reach a dead end. A Sudanese initiative began on 9 June and was scheduled to end 13 June but was still running until Al-Ahram Weekly went to press. By the end of the fifth day of negotiations on Monday, Sudanese Irrigation Minister Yasser Abbas announced progress on 95 per cent of the issues, such as the first filling of the reservoir during regular floods, drought and extended drought, long-term operation, safety of the dam, data exchange, environmental studies and the Technical Committee for Cooperation. However, he revealed the continuing disagreement on the legal aspects, especially on making the agreement binding and on mechanisms to amend it and dispute settlement. Ethiopia has been throwing a spanner into the negotiating process over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) by submitting proposals that it knows in advance that Egypt and Sudan will reject. Its plan is to force these countries to choose between a de facto reality or to make concessions on the filling of the reservoir and the operation of the dam. After refusing to sign the draft agreement proposed by Washington with the aid of the World Bank in February, Addis Ababa now wants to renegotiate points that it had previously agreed to and that had informed that draft agreement. It now aims to secure the right to unilaterally alter the rules for filling and operating the dam based on the amount of electricity it produces and Ethiopias water needs. It wants Cairo and Khartoum to recognise its exclusive and unconditional right to utilise the water of the Blue Nile as it likes, unrestricted by any solid guarantees to meet the needs of downstream nations during periods of drought and extended drought or any safeguards against the significant harm that might befall them during the filling and operation of the dam. The Ethiopian proposal stipulates that it has the absolute right to change and modify the rules for filling and operating the Renaissance Dam unilaterally in the light of the rates of electricity production at the dam and Ethiopian water needs with no regard for the welfare of downstream nations, said Mohamed Al-Sibaai, spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, in a press statement on Saturday. He added that he had little hope for a breakthrough or progress in the talks, explaining that while Egypt had showed further flexibility and accepted the compromise paper prepared by Sudan as a basis for negotiation, Ethiopia had submitted a disturbing proposal that was technically and legally flawed. Presented to the tripartite meeting on the dam on 11 June, the proposal had demonstrated once again that Ethiopia lacks the political will to reach an equitable agreement and that it is bent on securing a free and unrestricted hand in the utilisation of transboundary water resources with no concern for the rights and interests of downstream nations, he added. Al-Sibaai said that Ethiopia had made it clear during the meetings that it was determined to jettison previous agreements and understandings it had reached with Khartoum and Cairo in the course of negotiations that had dragged on for nearly a decade. These included the agreements that had resulted from the talks sponsored by Washington and attended by the World Bank. This is unacceptable, Al-Sibaai said, adding that the Ethiopian aim was to confront Khartoum and Cairo with an impending de facto reality and force them to choose between signing a document that would put them at Ethiopias mercy or watch as Ethiopia proceeded to fill the dam without having reached an agreement with them. The Ethiopian Irrigation Ministry once again fell back on the refrain that Addis Ababa had refused to abide by treaties signed in the colonial era on the grounds that it had not been a party to those agreements. The 1902 Nile Waters Agreement was signed by Ethiopian emperor Menelik II and Britain, which at the time occupied Egypt and Sudan. The agreement that Menelik signed in the full possession of his sovereignty prohibits the construction of dams on the Blue Nile, Lake Tana, and the Sobat River without Egypts approval. In 1992, Ethiopia and Egypt, then of course both independent nations, signed an agreement to cooperate in the utilisation of the River Nile water in accordance with the provisions of international law and the principle of the avoidance of mutual harm. Ethiopia has insisted that it will only sign an agreement based on the Declaration of Principles signed between the three countries in Khartoum in 2015, and it has blamed Egypt for clinging to an agreement on the distribution of Nile water that deprives Ethiopia and other source countries of their natural rights. The irony is that the 1959 Agreement referred to here is between Egypt and Sudan and pertains to the relatively small quantity of water that reaches the two downstream countries and amounts to barely 4.5 per cent of the 1,870 billion m3 of rainfall that the Nile source countries receive each year. As for Ethiopias claim that it seeks an agreement based on the 2015 Agreement on the Declaration of Principles, this is a positive development and nearly sufficient to serve as a basis for negotiation and a comprehensive and just agreement, but only on the condition that Ethiopia abides by the agreement to the letter and stop interpreting certain points in a manner inconsistent with its text and spirit. The 2015 agreement clearly provides that Cairo and Khartoum should be partners with Addis Ababa in the drawing up of the rules for filling the GERD reservoir and operating the dam so as to avert unsustainable shortages or delays in the arrival of water to the two downstream countries. The agreement calls for the creation of a tripartite mechanism to coordinate the operations of the Ethiopian dam with those of Sudanese and Egyptian dams downstream so as to ensure that water levels remain high enough to sustain their electricity generating efficacy. It also calls on the three countries to cooperate in the utilisation of Nile water in accordance with the principles of international law and an understanding of the water needs of all the parties. DISPUTES AGREEMENT: Another important feature of the Agreement on the Declaration of Principles is its provision for dispute settlement. This states that disputes should be settled firstly through mutual consultations, followed by negotiation, third party mediation, and then reconciliation. Its central guiding principle is the avoidance of significant harm to any of the three parties, and it states that they should take all appropriate measures to avert or minimise harm and study methods for compensation should harm nevertheless take place. Finally, it calls on the parties to implement the recommendations of the international panel of experts concerning the findings of the impact studies on the environment or on the flow of the Blue Nile water to Sudan and Egypt. With that agreement, Egypt obtained a written pledge from Ethiopia not to inflict tangible harm on its acquired historical rights to the Nile water. In exchange, Addis Ababa obtained an Egyptian-Sudanese approval to go ahead with the construction of the dam while they awaited the final impact reports from the international panel of experts. That approval released the international funding that Addis Ababa needed for the construction of the dam. Al-Sibaai released his statement to the press some hours after Egypt and Sudan had announced their reservations on the 13-point Ethiopian proposal that constituted a total repudiation of the agreements and understandings made during the Washington talks sponsored by the US Department of the Treasury and attended by the World Bank. According to an Ethiopian Foreign Ministry communique, the Ethiopian proposal calls for new negotiations over the guiding principles and rules for the first filling and annual operation of the dam. It holds that international observers should do no more than observe and contribute their expertise only when solicited, and that the baseline for negotiations should be the document that served as the basis for the 12 and 13 February session in Washington. It thereby seeks to scrap the compromise solution subsequently formulated by the US Treasury Department and World Bank experts on the outstanding points of difference based on the discussions between the three delegations up to that point. Ethiopia has agreed to resume the talks, but on condition that they are attended by observers from the European Union and the African Union, plus one US observer and no representative from the World Bank. It insists that the observers should remain silent unless their input is requested, while Egypt wants them to play a facilitating role to overcome differences and propose solutions. More importantly, Ethiopia wants to begin filling the dam reservoir and continue the talks at the same time, which both Egypt and Sudan naturally oppose. Such positions and behaviour can only mean one thing: Ethiopia is not serious about reaching an agreement and merely wants to fritter away the time until the rainy season so that it can begin to fill the dam reservoir and force Cairo and Khartoum to face a fait accompli. Or, in the best-case scenario, it wants to resolve the dispute, but only in a way that serves its own interests alone. It plans to build other dams for electricity generation purposes on the Blue Nile, and it wants to remain free of any restrictions on how it fills and operates these structures that take into consideration the welfare of downstream nations, whether during normal flood seasons or during periods of drought or extended drought. CAIROS POSITION: If Cairo has insisted on the draft agreement that was the product of the Washington negotiating process, it is because the text is fair and equitable. It allows Ethiopia to realise its development aims, while safeguarding the rights of Sudan and Egypt. Cairo has stressed that Addis Ababa must not take unilateral steps in breach of its legal obligations, especially with respect to the provisions of the 2015 Agreement on the Declaration of Principles. As it fears that the Ethiopian behaviour may precipitate a critical situation in the region as a whole, Cairo has stipulated several conditions to ensure that Addis Ababa becomes more serious and committed to reaching a fair agreement. These are that Ethiopia must refrain from any unilateral steps to fill the dam reservoir until the negotiations are concluded and an agreement is reached, that the 21 February 2020 documents prepared by the US and the World Bank and initialed by Egypt should serve as the baseline for talks, and that the role of observers should be to facilitate the negotiations and help to overcome obstacles. When the tripartite meetings resumed on 9 June, Egypt made it clear that the negotiations should have a time limit so that Ethiopia does not turn them into an instrument for procrastination or the evasion of its commitments under the 2015 agreement. Following a meeting chaired by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, the Egyptian National Security Council stressed that Cairo had agreed to resume the negotiations to demonstrate good faith and to test the others political will to reach an agreement. Sudan echoed Egypts opposition to any Ethiopian unilateral action before the three parties reach a final agreement on the first filling of the dam and its operation. Khartoum also rejected an Ethiopian proposal to sign a partial agreement on the filling of the reservoir, reminding Addis Ababa of the technical and legal aspects that should be incorporated into such an agreement, and it rejected the Ethiopian proposal to continue negotiations while the first filling of the reservoir is in progress. On the other hand, Khartoum also reiterated its position, as expressed in the compromise solution it presented to Cairo and Addis Ababa on 9 June, which is to use the 12-13 February document as the baseline for negotiations, which was an Ethiopian demand. Hope for reaching an agreement will only come if Ethiopia radically changes its behaviour. A stronger Egyptian-Sudanese stance will be needed in order to compel Addis Ababa to cease its intransigence, to reciprocate the great flexibility that Cairo has shown, and to respond more constructively to the successive Sudanese efforts to bridge different points of view and reach compromise solutions. It is to be hoped that similar degrees of firmness will be forthcoming from the US, which sponsored the Washington process, the European Union and African Union, which attended the negotiations as observers, and countries such as China that has large investments in Ethiopia. It is in the interest of all these parties to safeguard stability and peace and to promote development in the region. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The global pandemic and the following economic downturn has led to local and nationwide concerns about evictions and the real estate market. The Texas moratorium on rental evictions was lifted on May 19, excluding the protected properties with federally backed mortgages under the CARES Act. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner called on the countys Justices of the Peace to delay eviction proceedings to the same date as those covered under the CARES Act, which is Aug. 24, according to a press release from Hidalgos office. County and city recovery officials responded by creating the Housing Stability Task Force on June 11, which aims to assist in preventing evictions for those who were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, landlords across the Lake Houston area are taking extra precautions to prepare for cash-strapped renters whose money woes could grow if the pandemic continues. EXPANDING ACCESS: Humble area testing options grow as Houston, Harris County officials target an increase in coronavirus cases Tracking evictions According to research from Houston-based January Advisors, over 1,000 multifamily properties in Houston have federally-backed mortgages. The data science consulting firm found that 7.5% of eviction cases filed in the city of Houston since March 27 have a federally backed mortgage, despite the implementation of the CARES Act on March 22. Between March 19 and May 15 of last year compared to this year, the research shows that there was an 85% drop in eviction cases in Harris County, which falls in the time of the Texas Supreme Court moratorium. The data was published on May 18 by founder Jeff Reichman. Kyle Shelton, deputy director at The Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, said evictions are one of the most difficult housing issues to track because it is a fluid situation compared to factors like new construction, which tends to follow more long term trends. Kinder will attempt to wrangle evictions in a report called The State of Housing that will examine the situation in Harris County and Houston when it drops on June 23. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Texas set a new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations in four of the last five days, officials said. Hospitals are scrambling to accommodate the spike. So I think evictions are a place that a lot of people have been paying attention to during COVID-19 because it is a space where a lot of the issues that people are confronting will become apparent or are apparent already, Shelton said. And especially given the tie between lost income and the potential for evictions, its, I think, just a really important space for us to all be paying attention to as were all trying to understand what impacts the current situation will have on the housing system and peoples ability to be in safe, affordable homes. If a household becomes more vulnerable by an eviction, there are likely other challenges that may require interventions from other systems in order for those in the household to stay safe, Shelton said. Every family you evict, you are creating a series of vulnerabilities that other systems then have to pick up the slack for, Shelton said. ...So the more people we can keep from getting to that level of vulnerability the better, especially at a time when so many of our services and systems are taxed. HOUSING: After flooding events, Lake Houston area realtors hope market remains stable during coronavirus Pre-existing conditions Houston already had a shortage of affordable rentals coupled with high eviction rates, especially in low-income communities, according to a press release announcing the Housing Stability Task Force. Although most coronavirus-related eviction information is anecdotal for now, families who were living paycheck to paycheck and who faced a reduction or cut in pay have experienced the threat of becoming unstable because of the pandemic. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Texas unemployment rates were at 12.8% in April, up from 5.1% in March. The COVID-19 pandemic and the energy industry downturn has made this issue spread beyond low-income communities while also impacting home owners and landlords, according to the press release. The task force will work to address three main issues: prevent evictions, mitigate the impacts for both landlords and tenants and stabilize households for public health benefits. TOP HITS: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox The Houston region had systemic barriers to affordable housing before COVID-19, and the current crisis has exposed in plain sight the underlying system shortcomings, said State Rep. Armando Walle, who also serves as the Harris County Recovery Czar. With key players at the table, working together toward the same end goals, we will structure our efforts to be responsive to the immediate crisis, even as we maintain a firm resolve not to lose sight of the importance of future work required to make housing stability a reality for more people. Single-family investors worry Amber Guillotte, a realtor with Keller Willams Northeast, said her clients and renters have not had a problem making rent or managing to maintain rental contracts. She is also a passive investor in some apartment buildings, which she said have had less than a 5% variance in collections so far. Guillotte said she thinks there is a healthy amount of rentals in the region, which is increasing in demand as some have voiced concerns that the market may look like the 2008 recession again, she said. I think thats going to continue because with times of uncertainty people arent sure if they want to purchase or not, Guillotte said. ...Thats going to put people on the fence who are going to be more willing to rent than purchase until things kind of stabilize. In a single-family property, if the renter stops paying there is no one else to cover the debt service but the landlord, so she has seen concern mostly from multifamily investors. She said when she is talking to her clients she recommends keeping extra reserves, being flexible with renters in tough times and possibly raising their security deposit or tightening their rental criteria while in an uncertain time. Some are finding ways to make payment plans for the rental agreement. So when Im talking to my clients, Im telling them I would keep extra reserves right now just in case, I would stay in touch with my tenants, especially if theyre doing their own property management, Guillotte said. Guillotte said she thinks its a possibility that landlords might have more issues once enhanced unemployment benefits run out. And I think thats going to be where we see a greater effect because all the folks that did get put out from COVID-19 like our restaurant workers, retail, most of them are getting unemployment right now and housing is one of their basic needs, so I think a lot of them are still focused on taking care of that, Guillotte said. I just dont know what its going to look like when that stuff runs out. savannah.mehrtens@chron.com Fairfield resident Deirdre M. Daly was sworn in Wednesday as the U.S. attorney for Connecticut, the first woman to hold the post. Daly, 54, the daughter of the late Michael J. Daly, a well-known Fairfielder awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in World War II, became the state's 51st U.S. attorney after taking the oath from Janet C. Hall, the chief federal judge in Connecticut, in New Haven. Her late uncle, T.F. Gilroy Daly, another Fairfielder, had been a federal judge. President Barack Obama nominated Daly to serve as U.S. attorney in March and the U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination last week. "I am grateful to those who supported my nomination and deeply appreciate the opportunity to serve in this position," Daly said in a press release issued by her office. "I very much look forward to continuing to work with the dedicated and talented people in our office as well as our many law-enforcement partners throughout the state." She had served as the U.S. attorney in an acting or interim capacity since last May, following the resignation of her predecessor, David Fein. From July 2010 until then, she was the first assistant U.S. attorney, assisting in oversight of the Criminal and Civil Divisions. From 1985 to 1997, Daly was an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, where she prosecuted a range of cases, from racketeering and murder to corruption and fraud, according to her office. She later served as the assistant-in-charge of White Plains office for three years. After leaving the federal Department of Justice, Daly was a partner at Daly & Pavlis LLC, a Connecticut law firm with a practice focused on corporate and commercial litigation, white-collar criminal investigations, SEC enforcement and corporate internal investigations and monitoring. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Georgetown University Law Center, Daly early in her career was a law clerk for federal Judge Lloyd F. MacMahon in the Southern District of New York. As U.S. attorney, Daly supervises a staff of approximately 64 assistant U.S. attorneys and 60 staff members at offices in Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford. G erman police have written to the parents of Madeleine McCann to confirm she is dead but said they cannot confirm how they know, according to reports. Hans Christian Wolters, who is leading the investigation into the main suspect in Madeleine's disappearance, is reported to have said prosecutors have written to Gerry and Kate McCann and confirmed their daughter was killed. German investigators believe Christian Brueckner killed Madeleine soon after abducting her from a holiday apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in May, 2007. Speaking from his office in the German city of Braunschweig, Mr Wolters was quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror: "We have re-established contact with the McCann family in writing. "We, of course, really consider the fact that it is going to be very hard for the family when we tell them we assume Madeline is dead. But we can't say why she is dead. "It is more important that we are successful and we are able to get the culprit, as opposed to just putting our cards on the table and tell them why we think she might be." Later on Tuesday, however, the McCanns posted a statement on their website saying: "The widely reported news that we have a received a letter from the German authorities that states there is evidence or proof that Madeleine is dead is FALSE." Brueckner, 43, is in jail in Germany for drug dealing, and is appealing against a conviction for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old woman, also at Praia da Luz. With a still-raging pandemic, a looming economic catastrophe, and tense worldwide protests over racism and police violence, about the last thing the world needs right now is a land war between its two largest countrieswhich have about 430 nuclear warheads between them. A tense border dispute between China and India boiled over in what the Indian Army called a violent faceoff with Chinese troops on Monday. Three Indian soldiers patrolling the border were killed in the initial brawl, and 17 succumbed to injuries later. Others may still be lost or captured. Details about the incident are still a little sparse, but the soldiers were apparently killed in a brawl involving rocks and clubs. [Update, June 16, 2020 at 3:40 p.m.: The Tribune newspaper reports that most of the fatalities occurred as soldiers fell-off cliffs and that the Chinese troops were armed with Stones, Steel poles, bamboo poles with nails embed on them.] The Indian media has reported that there were Chinese casualties as well, but this has not been confirmed. The incident dashes hopes that tensions were deescalating since the two sides faced off in a pair of massive fistfights in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest escalation draws on decades of tension over the border zone. China and India fought a short but intense border war in 1962, which China won, but the two sides never negotiated a final settlement despite dozens of rounds of talks over the years. The 2,500-mile border between the two countries, much of it running through virtually uninhabited mountainous terrain, is today the longest unmarked frontier in the world. The two sides militaries are separated by a loose demarcation known as the Line of Actual Control, though they dont always agree on exactly where that line is. Disputes along the line are frequentthe Indian media reported 497 Chinese transgressions along the line in 2019and they sometimes get violent. However, the unwritten rules of the conflict preclude guns, so theres been no shooting between the sides since 1975. While its strange to think of the high-tech militaries of two nuclear-armed powers going at it with rocks and metal bars, its certainly better than the alternative. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. The last time things got this ugly was in 2017, when India deployed troops to stop the Chinese military from building a road in Doklam, an area claimed by both China and the tiny, India-backed kingdom of Bhutan. Both sides eventually stood down. The scuffles this May were reportedly the result of Chinese objections to Indian patrols in disputed areas. China has been bolstering its military presence in the disputed region where this weeks deadly clash took place, with as many as 5,000 troops, according to Indian media reports. Advertisement If history is a guide, the two sides should be able to talk themselves off the ledge, even after this weeks casualties: For both sides, the border tensions are mostly a distraction from bigger strategic priorities, and the risks of escalation couldnt be higher. But there are some underlying factors that create more cause for concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With global attention distracted by the coronavirus, Xi Jinpings government has lately been moving aggressively to assert its sovereignty over disputed areas, including stepping up military activity in the South China Sea and chipping away at Hong Kongs political independence. This activity is likely alarming to the Indian government. India was already casting a wary eye on Chinas massive global infrastructure investment program, the Belt and Road Initiative, which has included massive investment in Indias main rival, Pakistan. China has backed Pakistans claims in the disputed Kashmir region and is also seemingly increasing its influence on Indias neighbor and longtime ally, Nepal. (Nepal is currently involved in yet another border dispute with India.) Indias leaders may see this as a last chance to push back Chinas growing military influence in its neighborhood. While were certainly going to learn much more about the incident in coming days, initial reports look very bad for the Indian military, which might also prompt the government to take action to redeem itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The extreme levels of hard-line nationalism in both countries right now certainly isnt stabilizing things. As Sadanand Dhume writes in the Wall Street Journal, public opinion in India has turned sharply anti-Chinese. On social media and in WhatsApp groups many Indians blame China for the coronavirus, which has battered Indias economy and strained hospitals in major cities like Mumbai. This deranged cartoon from an Indian cable news channel gives an idea of the level of vitriol on display right now. CNN reports that an Indian app called Remove China Apps, which helps users boycott Chinese software, was downloaded more than 4 million times before Google removed it from its store. Meanwhile, Chinese state-run media outlets like the Global Times have gleefully pointed to Indias failures to contain the coronavirus in contrast with Chinas response, and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of stirring up the border conflict in order to distract the public from criticism of the government response. While its certainly in better shape than India in terms of the coronavirus, Chinas global prestige has taken a hit as a result of the pandemic, and it may also be looking for a demonstration of strength. Advertisement Advertisement Then theres the Trump factor. The president unexpectedly, and a little bizarrely, offered to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute in a tweet last month, but its pretty clear where the White Houses sympathies lie. Modi has one of the better relationships with Trump of any world leader, and U.S.-India defense ties have deepened with the two populist-nationalist leaders in office. Meanwhile, as the U.S. has sought to blame China for the global spread of the coronavirus and hopes of a trade deal have faded, the Trump White House has stepped up its anti-China rhetoric on a variety of fronts and sought to enlist allies in a global campaign against Chinese influence. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has referred to Chinas activities around the Line of Actual Control as part of an overall pattern of aggressive behavior. Now, that doesnt mean the Trump administration has any intention of backing India in a military conflict with China. But Modi may be going into this dispute under the impression that Trump has his back. And Xi may be feeling like the U.S. and India are ganging up on him. These dynamics could lead both sides to make some reckless choices they might avoid under normal circumstances, and we probably shouldnt count on Trump to talk them down. [June 16, 2020] Easy&Light introduces an upgraded EasyCanvas Pro app with wireless connect function SEOUL, South Korea, June 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Devguru (CEO Song Ji-ho), Software Development Company, announced that its brand Easy&Light have launched EasyCanvas Pro. 'EasyCanvas Pro' is an app that can use an iPad as a drawing tablet. While previous EasyCanvas could only connect via USB cables, this new upgrade allows wireless connections. It also announced it will add more professional functions in the future to increase productivity. One can easily connect and use the app by downloading the program at Easy&Light website( http://www.easynlight.com/easycanvaspro/ ) and then connecting the PC and iPad using a USB cable. Moreover, on the same wireless network, they can be connected wirelessly. The biggest benefit of this app is that one can draw using PC software such as Photoshops or Clip Studio by creating a copy of the PC screen on the iPad. The app supports palm rejection, pen pressure and tilt, easy shortcuts, and wire/wireless connections at the same time. It can convert between the stylus mode and touch mode automatically, allowing users to use the pen to draw while using touch gestures to zoom in/out or rotate simultaneously. The menu bar can be hidden, recalled, minimized, or moved at will and the shortcuts speed up the work process. Users can also freely customize the shortcut names, icons, or actions. With the current launching promotion, the annual subscription can be purchased for just $4.99 and 14-day free trial is also provided. Since its establishment in 2002, Devguru has been providing solutions for numerous companies working with machines using different operating platforms. For more information, please contact: DEVGURU Co., Ltd., Management Support Team, +82 2-3442-7236, Sang Hoon Song, [email protected] Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200611/2827453-1 SOURCE DEVGURU [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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In a tweet Priyanka Gandhi said, "In the government, the Secretariat has become centre of corruption, the scam in the Animal Husbandry department has exposed the system." "In the state secretariat, corruption has been going on. Are the chief minister and ministers not aware of it? If so, then there is a question mark on the government's functioning," added Priyanka Gandhi. Her remark came after the UP Special Task Force (STF) arrested seven people, including the private secretary of a minister of state, for duping people for promising to award them contracts. The STF said 14 people, including some journalists and staff of the Vidhan Sabha secretariat were involved in duping an Indore-based trader, Manjit Singh Bhatia, for a fodder supply contract. Bhatia was allegedly duped of Rs 9.72 crore by the conmen. The STF official said the home guard and the driver and other staff helped Ashish Rai in misleading the complainant and procured Rs 9.72 crore with the promise to provide the contract. The accused had easy access to the secretariat and even used a room there as their office, which made people believe that they were capable of awarding government contracts. The STF official said they tried to threaten the complainant when he demanded his money back. The accused got an Azamgarh criminal to issue threats to Bhatia. An FIR was lodged against the accused at the Hazratganj police station on Saturday night when the complainant's allegation was found true during initial investigation. They have been booked on charges of fraud, forgery, criminal breach of trust, impersonation and criminal conspiracy, as well as Prevention of Corruption Act. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Cement export from Turkey to Kazakhstan from January through May 2020 doubled compared to the same period in 2019, having made up $5.9 million, Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend. In May 2020, Turkish cement export to Kazakhstan rose by 56.4 percent compared to May 2019 and amounted to $758,000. Turkeys export of cement to world markets from January through May 2020 went down by 6.9 percent compared to the same period in 2019, having stood at over $1.3 billion. According to the ministry, the cement export from Turkey amounted to 2.3 percent of the countrys total export for the reporting period. "In May 2020, Turkeys export of cement to international markets amounted to $250.3 million, which is 29.3 percent less compared to the same month of 2019," the ministry said. Turkeys export of cement to international markets in May this year amounted to 2.5 percent of the countrys total export. During the last twelve months (from May 2019 through May 2020), Turkey exported cement worth $3.4 billion. In April 2020, Turkeys export of cement to international markets amounted to 2.6 percent of the countrys total export. From April 2019 through April 2020, Turkey exported cement worth $3.5 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu A seven-year investigation into a major drug importation and money laundering operation has ended in the arrest of five men from Sydney to Dubai. The arrests are the culmination of Strike Force Millstream, a major investigation launched by the NSW organised crime squad and NSW Crime Commission in December 2013, tasked with uncovering the alleged supply of MDMA and methylamphetamine by a transnational syndicate. Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman, said the arrests on Tuesday ended one of the squads longest running drug importation investigations. "Police will allege members of the syndicate dealt with proceeds of crime worth more than $54 million, allowing them to travel the world in luxury and live a life of opulence while they knowingly preyed on the vulnerabilities of others," he said. Trade talks between the EU and UK have struggled in recent weeks, increasing the prospect that Britain departs the bloc without a deal and that businesses face an extreme shock when the divorce takes effect. Its a scenario that would deepen the economic pain inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic, with companies already reeling from the damage of the national lockdown and the economy heading for its deepest recession in centuries. Unemployment has surged and Prime Minister Boris Johnson is caught between trying to revive businesses while avoiding a deadly second spike of the disease. All the while, negotiations with the EU for a comprehensive economic agreement to replace the UKs decades-long membership of the bloc have stalled badly, with both sides unwilling to budge on fundamental issues. The stand off pushes both parties toward a no-deal Brexit that would create a serious strain for companies. For businesses, jobs and economic confidence in this most challenging of years, this would be a shocking outcome, said Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry. For many firms fighting to keep their heads above water through the crisis, the idea of preparing for a chaotic change in EU trading relations in seven months is beyond them. The impasse in the UK-EU trade talks comes down to a basic disagreement. In exchange for a zero-tariff, zero-quota deal, the EU wants the UK to sign up to provisions that would prevent Britain from undercutting it in areas like environmental and labor regulation, and state aid the so-called level playing field. Downing Street refuses, seeing the demand as inconsistent with the principle of sovereignty that was core to the Brexit vote. If sufficient progress in the talks isnt made this month, the UK says it will break off negotiations and tell businesses to prepare for a no-deal split. Johnson has repeatedly categorically ruled out delaying the final stage of Brexit beyond the end of 2020. Heres what that no-deal outcome would mean for business in Britain: Manufacturing Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co., which employs 6,000 people at a plant in the Brexit-supporting town of Sunderland, has said its factory wouldnt be sustainable because car exports to the bloc would face a tariff of 10%. The Brexit issue does hang like a pall over the industry, said Mike Hawes, chief executive officer of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. When youre in a high-volume, low-margin business, the 10% tariff removes any chance of competitiveness. Industrial heavyweights like German automaker BMW AG, which has a plant in Oxford, and aviation giant Airbus SE, which employs 13,500 people in the UK and makes plane wings in Wales, also face the prospect of border disruption snarling up their highly-efficient, just-in-time production lines. Trucks arriving at the UK-EU border without the correct paperwork will be stopped, risking lengthy queues and halting factories. Moreover, Britain has an acute shortage of customs agents to keep trade flowing. Airbus remains concerned by the potential for a no-deal in December 2020, said spokesman Ian Middleton. The shape of the future EU/UK relationship remains of critical importance for Airbus and its employees. Another problem is an increased regulatory burden. Without a trade deal that deems UK and EU product standards equivalent, manufacturers in Britain would need to seek approval from both British and European regulatory bodies if they wish to sell their product in both markets. They may also have to set up separate production lines if they need to produce a good to two different regulatory standards. Retail Grocers like Tesco Plc, Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc and J Sainsbury Plc would face a range of price increases: about 80% of food imported by supermarkets in the UK comes from the EU, according to the British Retail Consortium, and much of this would become subject to tariffs. For example, olives, mushrooms and satsumas would face a 16% levy, and some European wines would have a tariff of 17 pounds ($21) for every 100 liters. Product No-Deal Brexit Tariff Orange juice 30% Prawns 20% Chocolate 8% Brussels sprouts 12% Natural honey 16% Source: U.K. Global Tariff There would also be higher costs due to new non-tariff barriers which will apply whether there is a UK-EU trade deal or not. Outside the EUs customs union, traders in the UK will need to file customs declarations, which cost between 16 pounds and 56 pounds per product line, according to the BRC. Given retailers operate on slim margins, higher costs are likely to be passed on to consumers, the lobby group said. The governments priority for the food supply chain now should be to ensure a trade deal with the EU by 2021, Victoria Durman, a spokesperson for Sainsburys, said in a statement. We have detailed plans in place to keep stores operating normally and shelves full, whatever the Brexit outcome. Agriculture The UKs farming industry sends about two-thirds of its exports to the EU, which would be subject to steep tariffs under a no-deal Brexit. They would be in excess of 40% for cuts of beef and lamb, and 15% for pork, making British produce less attractive for EU buyers and flooding the UK domestic market with the surplus. A no-deal will be devastating, said Ellie Phipps, policy officer at the National Sheep Association. We need an export market. On top of that, farmers will also face new, non-tariff barriers, regardless of whether a trade deal is signed. These include export health certificates, a form costing 100 pounds thats required to export products of animal origin into the EU. These obstacles will cause delays which are very undesirable for perishable products, said Peter Hardwick, trade policy adviser at the British Meat Processors Association. They will also take away some of the key competitive advantages the UK currently enjoys in its trade with the EU, he said. Services Services make up 80% of the UK economy comprising a breadth of activities including IT, law, accountancy, insurance, consulting, architecture and hairdressing and Brexit will hurt the ability of British firms to do business in the EU, its largest export market for services. For example, without an agreement, professional qualifications in regulated industries like law and architecture wouldnt be recognized, meaning UK nationals wouldnt be able to provide that service in an EU member state unless they had been authorized to do so. The end of free movement of people between the UK and EU without any further agreement will also be costly, potentially requiring companies to pay for visas for business travel. That could hurt Britains ability to bring in workers to plug shortages in its labor market, particularly in the National Health Service, agriculture and hospitality. The real trouble will come for smaller services providers, said Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe, a think tank that studies UK-EU relations. If youre a massive bank, youve got the resources to prepare and make contingency plans to set up a subsidiary inside the EU. If youre a small firm, you might not have the resources to do that. Finance Ever since the Brexit referendum in 2016, global banks such as HSBC Holdings Plc and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have planned for the possibility of losing access to the EUs single market. Its meant major financial institutions have set up offices and moved staff to cities like Frankfurt, Paris, Dublin and elsewhere in the bloc to ensure no disruption to operations. Still, theyre pressing for the EU and UK to allow as many trades and business as possible to remain in Britain. Those so-called equivalence decisions for trading desks, markets and trillions of dollars worth of derivatives have yet to be reached. Without them, more jobs and capital could flow to the continent. If equivalence isnt granted, it divides the world into an increasing number of regions at a time where banks want to have liquidity and capital available to deploy where they need it around the world, said Peter Bevan, a financial regulation partner at law firm Linklaters in London. It brings the need for operational change, the expense of building out your European legal vehicles. Pharmaceuticals For pharmaceutical giants such as AstraZeneca Plc and GlaxoSmithKline Plc, a key Brexit concern is regulation. The UK is hoping for some form of mutual recognition of testing when it comes to drugs and devices, but discussions with the EU so far have made little progress on this front. The most likely scenario today is that there is not full regulatory alignment, said Hugo Fry, managing director of French drugmaker Sanofis UK business. The bigger issue now is making sure trade routes are uninterrupted so companies dont have to stockpile unendingly, he said. The other major concern is whether the UK will become less attractive to scientists and investors in the sector. Industry groups have been lobbying hard for Britain to remain a participant in programs like Horizon 2020, which provides funding for research and innovation. Energy The UK imports about 10% of its power from continental Europe. After Brexit, British electricity systems will be decoupled from the European Internal Energy Market, but that doesnt mean gas and power will stop flowing. However, trading could become less efficient and longer-term supply less certain, increasing costs for consumers. This would be especially true in times of unplanned supply interruptions or extreme weather. Northern Ireland Businesses trading with and within Northern Ireland would face added headaches from a no-deal Brexit. Tariffs would be payable on goods crossing from the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland, to be reclaimed later through a rebate system if the product remained in Northern Ireland and didnt cross the border into the Republic of Ireland, which is in the EU. Products of animal origin crossing from elsewhere in the UK to Northern Ireland such as a beef lasagna or chicken pie would require export health certificates and would be subject to health inspections at ports like Belfast and Larne. Goods trucks taking food to supermarkets regularly carry hundreds of product lines that would be hit by the new red tape, a potentially existential threat for some operations, said Aodhan Connolly, director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium. It is a make-or-break issue for Northern Ireland retailers, he said. Were looking at business models becoming unviable. With assistance from Silla Brush, Helen Robertson, Charlotte Ryan, Samuel Dodge and Siddharth Philip. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics COVID-19 Legislation Europe Agribusiness Manufacturing Preeti Pradhan/Moment Editorial/Getty Images A 34-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday for allegedly pushing an adult male from the platform onto the track as a train was entering the station platform, BART officials said. The victim acted quickly and narrowly escaped being hit by the train. Roli Okoropudu was booked at Santa Rita jail on attempted murder and probation violation charges, BART said in a statement. China reported its highest daily total of new coronavirus cases in two months on Sunday and infections in South Korea also rose, showing how the disease can come back as restrictions on business and travel are lifted. Meanwhile, Egypt reported its biggest daily increase on Saturday and infections were rising in some US states as President Donald Trump pushed for businesses to reopen despite warnings by public health experts. China had 57 new confirmed cases in the 24 hours to midnight on Saturday, the National Health Commission reported. That was the highest since mid-April and included 36 in the capital, Beijing, a city of 20 million people. Beijings cases were all linked to its biggest wholesale food market, which was shut down on Saturday, the official China News Service reported, citing the citys disease control agency. It said 27 worked there and nine had direct or indirect exposure to it. (PA Graphics) The Xinfadi market was closed after 50 people tested positive for the virus in the Chinese capitals first confirmed cases for 50 days. The world is seeing more than 100,000 newly confirmed cases every day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. China, where the pandemic began in December, and other countries that suffered early on including South Korea, Italy and Spain have seen numbers of new infections decline. Brazil, India, the United States and other countries are seeing large increases. China responded to the outbreak with the worlds most intensive anti-disease controls, isolating cities with some 60 million people and shutting down much of its economy in steps that later were imitated by some other governments. The ruling Communist party eased most limits on business and travel after declaring victory over the disease in March. Some curbs still are in place, including a ban on most foreign travellers arriving in the country. On Saturday, authorities in Beijing locked down 11 residential communities near the Xinfadi market. White fencing sealed off a road leading to apartment buildings and drivers were required to show identification to enter the area. Story continues Paramilitary police stand guard near the Xinfadi wholesale food market in Beijing (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) South Koreas government reported 34 more coronavirus cases, adding to an upward trend in infections. The Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said 30 of the new cases were in the greater Seoul area, where half of the countrys 51 million people live. New cases have been linked to nightlife establishments, church services, a large-scale e-commerce warehouse and door-to-door sellers. The Egyptian Health Ministry announced 1,677 new confirmed cases. Egypt is the Arab worlds most populous country and has its highest coronavirus death toll. The country has reported 1,484 deaths and 42,980 confirmed cases. In the US, the number of new cases in the south-western state of Arizona has risen to more than 1,000 per day from fewer than 400 when the states shutdown was lifted in mid-May, according to analysis by the Associated Press. Governor Doug Ducey has not ordered Arizona residents to wear masks in public despite warnings by health experts outside the government. Elsewhere, bar owners in New Orleans were preparing to reopen. San Francisco restaurants resumed outdoor seating on Friday and the California government allowed hotels, zoos, museums and aquariums to reopen. An employee wearing a face mask cleans the widows of his shoe store in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP) The states of Utah and Oregon suspended further reopening of their economies due to a spike in cases. The latest Chinese cases raised the mainlands total to 83,132, with 4,634 deaths, according to the Health Commission. South Korea has reported 12,085 cases and 277 deaths. Also on Sunday, Chinas air regulator announced that China Southern Airlines was required to suspend flights between Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the southern city of Guangzhou for four weeks after 17 passengers on Thursdays flight tested positive for the virus. Beijing allows each airline to make one flight per week on each route. Under rules announced on June 4, a route will be suspended for one week if five passengers on a flight test positive and four weeks if the number rises to 10. A man kicks a tear gas canister during a march against police brutality and racism in Paris (Thibault Camus/AP) In Europe, Frances highest administrative court ruled on Saturday that virus concerns no longer justify banning public protests. The Council of States decision allows for demonstrations and marches as long as health protections are respected. Events must be declared in advance to local authorities and not deemed a risk to public order. The ruling came as an unauthorised protest against police violence and racial injustice wound down in Paris. Police had stopped at least 15,000 protesters from a planned march through the city on Saturday, citing virus-related restrictions on any gathering of more than 10 people. [June 16, 2020] Reboot Communications Announces an International Privacy & Security Summit in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada VICTORIA, BC, June 16, 2020 /CNW/ - Reboot Communications, a British Columbia-based company, which has organized world-class conferences for the past 25 years, has announced a partnership with the ISACA Vancouver Chapter to organize an annual Vancouver International Privacy & Security Summit, the first of which to be held May 5-7, 2021 at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver's emerging technology sector is poised for accelerated growth, attracting several Fortune 100 companies to the province. BC's educational institutions are well known for turning out highly skilled digital technology and cybersecurity professionals. "The summit will be a hybrid digital-first experience and offer a platform for over 1000 security and privcy professionals from around the world to discuss important issues on how we securely live, work, and play as the move to digital platforms accelerates," says Greg Spievak, CEO of Reboot Communications. "We are thrilled to partner with Reboot Communications," says ISACA Vancouver Chapter President Tristan Harvey. "And with this inaugural Summit, Vancouver will have a voice in the global dialogue on cybersecurity and privacy. Unfilled cybersecurity jobs will reach 3.5 million by 2021 and more than 77% of organizations do not have a cybersecurity incident response plan. We need to continue to get the word out." "The Digital Technology Supercluster is building strong momentum, creating a hotbed of innovation, sparking collaboration and growth here in the Greater Vancouver region, and across Canada. Digital innovation is revolutionizing the workplace, and changing the needs of employers," says Supercluster CEO Sue Paish. Cybersecurity and privacy are the number one issues for government, retail, and technology with approximately $6 trillion allocated globally toward cybersecurity by 2021. Over 75% of the healthcare industry was infected with malware last year and 95% of breaches were due to human error. "Cybercrime is the greatest threat to every company in the world," says former Chairman of IBM Ginni Rometty. The partnership with ISACA Vancouver will expand on a successful foundation laid out by the award-winning BC AWARE campaign and launch the Vancouver International Privacy & Security Summit into a world-class event. Follow the Summit: #VIPSS21 @VIPSSummit About Reboot Communications Ltd: Reboot Communications Ltd. is a conference management company that provides a platform for public sector, private sector, academia and non-government organizations to discuss major issues and opportunities related to the rapid transformation to digital platforms in healthcare, security and privacy. About ISACA Vancouver Chapter: The goal of the Vancouver Chapter is to promote the practices and the development of professionals in IT risk, governance of enterprise IT, information security management, and IT assurance within the local business and academic community, the chapter membership, and with future members throughout the Greater Vancouver area. SOURCE Reboot Communications Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Passengers on United Airlines who refuse to wear masks during flights will be prohibited from boarding the plane and placed on an internal travel restriction list, the airline announced on Monday. United Airlines said its strengthened mandatory mask policy will go into effect on Thursday to help against the spread of coronavirus as states around the country reopen businesses. In its announcement, United Airlines said most passengers have already followed guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of wearing masks during flights. Those who dont follow the guidelines beginning Thursday will not be allowed on flights and be placed on the companys restriction list, preventing them from traveling on the airline for a duration of time that will be determined through an incident review. United requires all passengers to wear a face covering onboard its flights. It implemented the policy on May 4, but Mondays announcement adds a disciplinary action. United expects that policy to remain in place for at least the next 60 days. Passengers, who have a medical condition or a disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering, are exempts from the policy. Passengers are required to wear masks through the duration of the flight as well. Related Content: Every reputable heath institution says wearing a mask is one of the most effective things people can do to protect others from contracting COVID-19, especially in places like an aircraft where social distancing is a challenge, Uniteds Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist said in a statement. Under the new policy, a passenger who is not wearing a face covering and who does not fall within an exception during a flight, will be informed the flight attendant of the requirement. United will offer masks to customers who need them. After a second warning, United said a report of the incident will be filed for a formal review. In April, United became the first major U.S.-based airline to require flight attendants to wear a face mask while on duty. It extended the requirement to all employees and customers in May. The airlines mask policy is one part of a multi-pronged approach in mitigating the spread of coronavirus during air travel. The United CleanPlus program partners with Clorox and the Cleveland Clinic to inform and guide the airlines cleaning, safety and social distancing protocols. United Airlines planes have also HEPA grade filters that recirculate air every 2-3 minutes, and the airline is using electrostatic sprayers to disinfect the cabin before flights. Prior to boarding, United has implemented new procedures including touchless check-in for baggage at more than 200 locations, asking customers to complete a health assessment at check-in, installing sneeze guards and adjusting the boarding process. The United States eclipsed 2 million cases of coronavirus last week, by far the highest total in the world. While some areas like Massachusetts have experienced a steady decline in confirmed cases of COVID-19, as of last week, 19 states saw increases. Related Content: Dharamshala: The leader of opposition in the Himachal Pradesh assembly, Mukesh Agnihotri, has gone into self-quarantine in Una district after contact with a Punjab Police assistant sub inspector (ASI), who later tested positive for Covid-19. In a Facebook post on Monday night, the 57-year-old Congress leader said that he was going into self-isolation as he has come in contact with a person who has tested positive for Covid-19. I suspect having come in contact with a Covid positive person while discharging my duty as a public representative. Though social distancing was maintained and I am feeling healthy. However, given my duty towards society, I am self-quarantining at home till further notice, Agnihotri wrote in the post. He had visited the ASIs house at Dulehar-Hiranagar area in his home constituency of Harloli to mourn the death of the policemans father. The ASI later tested positive for coronavirus. Agnihotri, a journalist-turned-politician, had met several people on Monday and also held a press conference. His staff said that he will remain in self-isolation at his home in Gondpur-Jaichand locality of Haroli town. His swab samples have been sent for testing and the report is expected on Thursday. Mukesh Agnihotri, a journalist-turned-politician, had met several people on Monday and also held a press conference. (HT PHOTO ) STATE SEES RISE IN CASES The number of Covid-19 cases has seen a sharp rise in Himachal Pradesh over the past week. So far, the state has reported 556 patients of Covid-19, of which 342 have recovered, while six, comprising three men and three women, have succumbed to the disease. Eleven patients have migrated to other states. There are 195 active cases in the state. Kangra is the worst-hit district with 145 cases so far followed by Hamirpur with 134, Una with 73, Solan 59, Chamba 38, Bilaspur 29, Sirmaur 27, Mandi 22, Shimla 21, Kullu four cases and Kinnaur with two cases. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Monday (June 15) said the Mumbai Police will look into the angle of 'professional rivalry' behind Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's clinical depression. Anil Deshmukh took to his official Twitter account and said, "While the post mortem report says actor Sushant Singh Rajput committed suicide by hanging himself, there are media reports that he allegedly suffered from clinical depression because of professional rivalry. Mumbai Police will probe this angle too." The 34-year old actor, who died due to suicide on June 14, 2020, at his residence in Mumbai was reportedly said to be under depression. As per the Mumbai Police investigation, Sushant made four phone calls in his last few hours before taking the big step. At 1.47 am, he had dialled his close friend Rhea Chakraborty, but she failed to receive the call. Within minutes, he phoned his close friend-actor Mahesh Shetty, who also did not take the call. In the morning, just a few hours before Sushant committed suicide, Mahesh, on seeing the actors missed call on his phone dialled him back. However, this time, Sushant failed to respond. Later, Mahesh learnt from the police that Sushant tried to call him at 9.30 am but could not reach out to him. Earlier today, Sushant's last rites were held at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai. His funeral was attended by his father KK Singh, who arrived from their hometown Patna earlier today, along with other family members. Some of his colleagues and friends from Bollywood such as actresses Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Sharma, director Abhishek Kapoor and his wife Pragya, casting director Mukesh Chhabra, actor Vivek Oberoi amongst several others also paid their condolences to the versatile star. Bhojpuri industry pays tribute to Sushant Singh Rajput, an actor par excellence Sushant's news of demise comes at a time when the film fraternity and Bollywood fans across the world were already in shock over the loss of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, Irrfan Khan and music composer Wajid Khan this year so far. New Delhi/Beijing: Three Indian soldiers were killed in a "violent faceoff" with Chinese troops on the disputed border, the Indian Army said on Tuesday, reporting the first casualties in 53 years to result from a clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Indian government sources said no shots were fired but a physical fight broke out between the two sides with soldiers using batons and throwing stones, which resulted in the casualties. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, front, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016. There have been simmering tensions between the two countries over territory in the Himalayas. Credit:AP China blamed India for the clash on Monday and editor of the government-controlled Global Times said the Chinese military had also suffered casualties. India and China have been locked in a standoff in the Galwan valley in western Himalayas for weeks with both accusing each other of trespassing into the other's territory. A fatal construction accident in Green Bay, Wisconsin is being investigated by federal regulators. The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports a 52-year-old man was killed Friday morning on the citys northeast side. Police would not identify the property where the incident occurred, saying only the death involved a vehicle accident. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed it is investigating Jamar Co., a subcontractor working on a new mill project at Green Bay Packaging in the same block where the man was killed. Miron Construction and Green Bay Packaging both issued statements saying the man worked for one of the subcontractors working on the site. The $500 million mill project has required the work of about 600 subcontractors. Work at the site began in 2018. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Workers' Compensation Construction Wisconsin New Delhi/IBNS: The Indian Government on Tuesday summoned Pakistan High Commission's Charge d Affaires Haider Shah and lodged a strong protest on the issue of the abduction and torture of two officials of the Indian Embassy in Islamabad by Pakistan security agencies. Two officials of the Indian High Commission were "forcibly abducted" by Pakistani agencies on Monday and kept in "illegal custody for more than 10 hours." They were later released after strong intervention by the High Commission of India in Islamabad and the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi. "The two Indian officials were subjected to interrogation, torture and physical assault resulting in grievous injuries to them. They were video-graphed and coerced to accept a litany of fictitious allegations and concocted charges," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The vehicle of the High Commission, in which they were travelling, was extensively damaged. India slammed the Pakistani authorities' move and said the same was 'premeditated, grave and provocative.' "The Government of India strongly condemns and deplores the action of the Pakistani authorities in this regard. This premeditated, grave and provocative action on the part of the Pakistani authorities, preceded by intensified surveillance, harassment and intimidation of High Commission personnel over the past several days, was designed to obstruct and disrupt the normal functioning of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad," the statement said. The MEA said the attempt by Pakistani authorities "to levy false accusations and concocted charges on the officials of the High Commission is rejected in entirety." "These actions by Pakistan not only constitute an egregious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 as also the Code of Conduct for treatment of Diplomatic / Consular personnel in India and Pakistan signed in 1992 and reaffirmed by both sides in March 2018, but are also against all established norms and practices of diplomatic conduct," it added. The issue surfaced after two Indian High Commission staffers in Pakistan went missing on Monday. After they were released from the Pakistani custody, a notification from Isalmabad's Foreign Affairs Ministry claimed that the two staffers had been involved in a road accident. The incident comes weeks after two Pakistani officials working at the country's High Commission in New Delhi were deported after being accused of espionage. The two officers worked in the visa section of the Pakistani embassy and were caught in an act of spying. A foreign student on his way home to Nigeria was dragging his suitcase into oncoming traffic when he stabbed a policeman who asked him to move to the side of the road. Martins Noel Keyen who is studying a Masters degree at Macquarie University, said he suffered a mental health episode during the incident in Marsfield in Sydney's north-west in August. The 25-year-old said he has been traumatised by the stabbing which he linked to his bipolar disorder. He stabbed one of the policemen in the shoulder while officers tasered him in their attempts to remove the knife. Keyen had asked the officer are you 'coming at me' before lashing out with the weapon. He has pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an officer on duty and one charge of having a knife in a public place. Martins Noel Keyen, 25, was caught in a scuffle with two police officers while suffering a mental health episode in Marsfield in Sydney's north-west last August The court heard that on August 21, Keyen was walking towards oncoming traffic when Constable Flynn (first name withheld) approached him to steer him back on to the footpath. Keyen refused to get off the road and struck the officer in the chest, the statement of facts read, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. He was then tackled by a second officer, Constable Rankin (first name withheld), before they noticed Keyen was carrying a 20-centimetre long knife. He was repeatedly told to drop the knife but began walking towards Constable Flynn waving the weapon around. The student was then tasered three times and arrested by a third officer as Constable Rankin discovered deep cuts to his shoulder. The injured policeman and Keyen were taken to hospital for treatment. Keyen said during a police interview in September he didn't remember holding the knife due to a 'mental health episode which has been escalating for a number of weeks'. The 25-year-old said he was 'terribly sorry' for injuring the police officer and asked them to forgive him Constable Rankin was taken to hospital after suffering deep cuts to his shoulder following the incident with the knife He also brought in a letter of apology asking police to forgive him. 'I'm not in the business of making excuses for my actions but I want to tell you one simple thing. I am terribly sorry,' he wrote. 'It is truly not a reflection of my thought process towards you or people like you,' the letter continued. 'I've been watching the news lately and I notice people in your line of duty progressively keep getting exposed to danger.' Appearing at the Downing Centre District Court on Monday, Keyen's lawyer said he 'carries trauma' from the incident and doesn't intend to 'portray himself as the victim'. Keyen was due to fly home to Nigeria on the day he was arrested in August last year His lawyer also said reports from two medical specialists indicated there was a link between his bipolar disorder and the offences. The crown prosecutor said Keyen had posed a serious risk to officers and was not immature but a 'well travelled' man. Keyen's support person, Megan Guenther, who he now lives with said he was facing jail if she didn't take him in. Ms Guenther hadn't met him before the incident but said he was 'bewildered' while visiting him in hospital. 'I felt he was a young man away from home and anyone he knew it all affected him a lot,' she told the court, The Daily Telegraph reported. 'I thought this is the opportunity for us to help somebody. It was either us or jail.' She also said Keyen has become part of the family and helps out with chores around the house. 'I wouldnt have him in my house if I thought he was a danger,' Ms Guenther said. Keyen is due to appear in court again on July 24 for sentencing. [June 16, 2020] F1 Payments, Cross River and RS2 Partner to Offer Payment Processing Services F1 Payments, Cross River Bank ("Cross River") and RS2 Software today announced their partnership to deliver best-in-class payment processing services throughout North America. F1 Payments will utilize RS2's global processing platform and Cross River's sponsorship service to process payments for physical and virtual businesses. Merchants gain access to breakthrough products and services with unique capabilities that drive superior payments, giving them the ability to optimize customer experiences and minimize the time, effort and costs associated with managing their payments. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005039/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) This partnership expands Cross River's offerings to include traditional merchant acquiring. The partnership represents a key milestone for RS2 as well, with the company successfully launching F1 Payments as its first merchant acquiring processing partner in the United States. "Our unique partnership with Cross River and RS2 enables us to provide our merchants state-of-the art payments capabilities that increase business velocity," said Chad Anselmo, president of F1 Payments. "Collaborating with two great partners during the past year-and-a-half to bring this artnership to fruition has been a tremendous experience. We look forward to helping traditional retail merchants impacted during these unprecedented times with a new processing solution," added Anselmo. "We are excited to take a big leap forward in the North American marketplace with F1 Payments and Cross River," said Daniela Mielke, CEO of RS2 Software North America. "The partnership highlights our efforts to transform the complexity of payments into opportunity, innovation and growth across all touchpoints in the payments ecosphere," added Mielke. "Today, more than ever, consumers are in need of increased and efficient payments solutions to succeed in the marketplace," said Gilles Gade, Founder, President, and CEO of Cross River. "Our partnership with F1 Payments and RS2 delivers just that, empowering merchants across the country," added Gade. The first business to benefit from the three-way partnership is San Francisco-based Rye Bar RyeontheRoad.com, a mobile craft cocktail service company. About F1 Payments F1 Payments delivers a dynamic and diverse payments technology ecosystem with frictionless connections. We engage stakeholders using H.I.G.H.E.R. core values to provide transparent payments. Our clients and partners enjoy increased velocity by accessing top-notch payments expertise, seamless integrations and highly personal relationships, giving them the freedom to focus on what matters most in business and life. F1 Payments is a registered ISO of Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Cincinnati, Ohio; Wells Fargo (News - Alert) Bank, N.A. Walnut Creek, California; and Cross River Bank, Fort Lee, New Jersey. The company is a fast-growing, privately held fintech company headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, please visit f1payments.com. About Cross River Cross River Bank is a fast-growing financial services organization that merges the established expertise and traditional services of a bank with the forward-thinking offerings of a technology company. Cross River combines a comprehensive suite of products into a unique banking-as-a-platform solution, encompassing lending, payments and risk management. Cross River partners with leading marketplace lenders and technology companies enabling them to focus on their own growth without hindering innovation, while maintaining a strong focus on compliance. In December 2018, Cross River secured $100 million in a funding round led by KKR. This was on top of the $28 million VC funding round in 2016 from Battery Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and Ribbit (News - Alert) Capital. Founded in 2008, Cross River is a New Jersey state-chartered FDIC insured bank. For more information, please visit Cross River's website at crossriver.com or on Twitter (News - Alert) @crossriverbank. About RS2 Software PLC RS2 is one of the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud payments platforms. RS2 supports some of the world's largest institutions and processes thousands of transactions per second in every major currency supporting all aspects of payments. Our single global payment processing platform reduces the number of intermediaries required to integrate payments and value-added services into the merchant's business, all while enabling the secure and trusted delivery of payment services. This new approach creates a single solution to accept or issue payments anywhere in the world. Headquartered in Europe and Denver, with offices in six countries, RS2 leverages its global experience to build elegant payment solutions for more than 14 million merchants. For more information, please visit rs2.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005039/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Services Include Helping Define Strategy for Developing and Operating SPARK's Entire Water and Wastewater Infrastructure MANAMA, Bahrain, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Amane Advisors, the premier global consultancy and advisory focused on the water industry, has been awarded the contract to provide advisory services for the development of all water and wastewater facilities in the new city, SPARK (King Salman Energy Park). Energy City Development Company (ECDC) is developing and operating a new energy hub - The King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) - with the strategic objectives to contribute to the Kingdom's vision 2030, strengthen Saudi Arabia's position as a global energy hub, enhance the energy supply chain reliability, enable industry 4.0 and support economic development and job creation in the Kingdom. The city is targeting energy related sector's value chains including upstream oil and gas, downstream oil and gas, petrochemicals and power. This smart city will also host digital and innovation hubs that will act as accelerators for the fourth industrial revolution in the energy industry and satellite sectors. The economic targets are to contribute USD 6 billion to Saudi Arabia's annual GDP, and 100,000 direct and indirect jobs created at maturity. SPARK is being developed with a unique value proposition in the GCC markets. It is a smart, green industrial city development with world class operations and integrated residential and educational facilities. SPARK has already secured a large number of anchor tenants of leading international and local players in the energy industry, including Schlumberger, Baker Hughes GE, Halliburton, Yokogawa and Emerson, to list only a few. Amane Advisors has been awarded the contract following a competitive tendering process. The contract's scope of work will consist of helping to define SPARK's strategy for developing and operating its entire water and wastewater infrastructure, assisting SPARK in the development of a Request for Proposals (RFP) pack for the selection of its eventual private operator, securing fair water purchase and wastewater treatment agreements, and outlining the terms of agreements for provision of utility services to its tenants. "Since 2015, Amane Advisors has developed its activities in the MENA Region through its office in Bahrain and has delivered more than 30 consulting projects in the region. We bring to this landmark project unparalleled expertise and experience across all aspects of the water sector. This will ensure that SPARK is equipped with the most effective capabilities to deliver the highest level of customer value to its tenants and to integrate the overarching strategic goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 into SPARK's utility infrastructure," said Christophe Guillet, Amane Advisors managing partner for the MENA region. About Amane Advisors Amane Advisors is a global advisory firm dedicated to the water industry bringing services to its clients on all matters relating to their growth. Its clients range from multinationals, institutions and investors, to innovative start-ups and technology companies. Services include Strategy, Market Intelligence, Commercialization, Mergers & Acquisitions, PPP Advisory and Digital Transformation. To learn more, visit www.amaneadvisors.com. About King Salman Energy Park King Salman Energy Park industrial city is located in the Eastern Province within an hour drive from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. It is developed with a vision (SPARK): King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) is a fully integrated city designed to become the leading gateway to the regional energy sector and will include an industrial area, dry port and logistics zone, as well as vibrant residential, educational and commercial zones. The city has already attracted a number of key anchor investors with over 70% of Phase 1 land allocated. Execution is planned over three phases, with $1.6 billion investment into Phase 1 which will be completed by year-end 2021. As you seek to increase your IKTVA scores with new investments, SPARK will be your destination of choice. www.spark-ksa.com. As of December 31, 2019, the Enterprises owned or guaranteed approximately $5.7 trillion in single-family and multifamily mortgages, nearly half of all mortgage debt outstanding in the United States, and their combined leverage ratio was approximately 300 to 1, Calabria wrote in the report. By contrast, the largest financial institutions in the nation have an average leverage ratio of approximately 12 to 1. Given their risks and financial position, the Enterprises do not have the capital necessary to withstand a serious downturn in the housing market. Calabria said that the lack of safety and soundness at Fannie and Freddie jeopardized their mission to support sustainable homeownership. It also puts taxpayers at risk of absorbing their losses, as we saw after the housing and financial crisis of 2008, and it threatens every sector of the nations housing and mortgage finance systems, Calabria said. Calbria urged Congress to act on a proposed rule that would establish new capital requirements for Fannie and Freddie. According to the proposed rule, released by the FHFA last month, each GSE would have to become a safe and sound financial institutions on order to exit conservatorship, with strong enough capital to enable it to weather an economic downturn. By ensuring each Enterprises safety and soundness and ability to fulfill its statutory mission across the economic cycle, in particular during periods of financial stress, this rule will help build a strong, resilient housing finance system that supports sustainable homeownership and affordable rental housing, Calabria said in the report. However, only Congress has the authority to enact the legislative reforms necessary to address the structural flaws in the current model. Saamana, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, took a dim view of the murmurs of discontent from the alliance partner Congress in the Maharashtra government and said that the party has sacrificed the most in the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which also includes the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Congress leaders, including Maharashtra unit chief, Balasaheb Thorat, and former chief minister Ashok Chavan, have been vocal that their party must be involved in the decision-making process of the MVA government. The Congress is smarting under the rebuff to the distribution of the 12 nominated Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad, or Legislative Council, seats, as per the Governors quota. The Saamana editorial, however, spelled out that the seats must be divided on the basis of the coalition partners strength in the state legislative assembly. It said the Sena has 64 members, including eight independents, followed by the NCP (54), and the Congress (44). The Sena has sacrificed the most in this power-sharing. It had to give one ministerial berth to the NCP, when Sharad Pawar objected to the Congress from occupying the assembly Speakers post, the editorial said. Two additional Cabinet berths were also given to the Congress, instead of the posts of minister of state, it added. The editorial likened the Congress to an old squeaking charpoy, which is groaning under the leaders historical inheritance. It also reasoned that the resentment is the natural outcome in a three-party coalition government with diverse ideologies. The Congress is doing good work, but the old charpoy is squeaking from time to time. The charpoy is old and has a historical inheritance. The CM should get used to such murmurs in the coalition government, the editorial said. It also slammed the two Congress ministers and asked blunt questions: Why are these murmurs? What does their complaint that they should be heard means? Both Thorat and Chavan have long experience in governance. They should remember that even (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar has long experience in administration. But, there are no complaints from his party, the editorial said. It cited that there was a consensus that CM Uddhav Thackerays decision would be final. Sharad Pawar, too, abides by this rule, the editorial added. The write-up also took a potshot regarding complaints about bureaucracy. There are complaints about the workings of the state chief secretary Ajoy Mehta and Nagpur municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. But no matter how big an officer is, he has to go by the decision of the chief minister as he is a public servant but, there is no complaint that any illegal work has been done in the government. The administration is busy fighting the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, but Thackeray should hear out Chavan and Thorat because they are the third pillar of the government, it said. However, the editorial assuaged fears and ruled out any threat to the coalition government, despite the growing murmurs of discontent. In a sarcastic reference to the covert formation of the 80-hour government by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with the support of NCPs Ajit Pawar, it said, Nobody should remain under this illusion that there is a threat to the government and the gates of Raj Bhavan would open early morning once again for someone. Thorat alleged that the editorial is based on incomplete information, and suggested that it should have been written after the Congress ministers get an audience with CM Thackeray. Thorat told media persons: The Saamana editorial is based on incomplete information. Our issues are connected to the issues of the people and not regarding any transfers. Were seeking an appointment with the CM. The squeaking of the charpoy must be heard, even the CM will be satisfied after it. We will put forth our views before the CM and then an editorial should be written, as a completely wrong picture is portrayed about us. We are fully supporting the [Maha Vikas] Aghadi. Discussions should be held to express our views and concerns. The CM must grant us an appointment soon, he added. Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Saamana and a Sena member of the Rajya Sabha, defended the editorial and clarified that it didnt mock ally Congress. This is our signature style of writing. Ive read the interview with Ashok Chavan. If he has any concerns he should speak to the CM. This is not a clash between the administration and the government. Maharashtra is facing two major issues -- Covid-19 and cyclone Nisarga. The administration has to be taken into confidence to tackle the twin crises. Besides, all decisions taken by the government have to be implemented by the administration, Raut told media persons. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi: Tensions along the China-India border high in the Himalayas have flared again in recent weeks. The Indian and Chinese troops fought each other with fists and rocks along the high-altitude Himalaya terrain in a clash that left 20 Indian soldiers dead, Indian authorities said on Tuesday. The latest row began in early May, when Chinese soldiers entered the Indian-controlled territory of Ladakh at three different points, erecting tents and guard posts, according to Indian officials. They said the Chinese soldiers ignored repeated verbal warnings to depart, triggering shouting matches, stone-throwing and fistfights. Chinese troops hold a banner which reads "You've crossed the border, please go back" in Ladakh, India, in 2013. Credit:AP A look at the history and current relations between the two countries and how events may develop: The family of Robert Fuller is seeking an independent autopsy and investigation after officials in California deemed his death a suicide. They said they were 'enraged' that Fuller's death was 'dismissed' as a suicide and that 'hanging from a tree is a lynching' that should be followed up with a murder investigation. The 24-year-old black man was found dead hanging from a tree outside Palmdale City Hall on June 10, but his family insists he was not suicidal. The discovery of his body came just ten days after another black man Malcolm Harsch, 38, was found hanging from a tree in Victorville, California, about 45 miles from Palmdale. On Monday, police in Houston, Texas, also revealed that the body of a Hispanic man was found hanging from a tree and said it was an 'apparent suicide'. Robert Fuller, 24, was found hanging from a tree on June 10. Authorities are now conducting a full investigation into his death as his family calls for an independent autopsy Robert Fuller's sister Diamond Alexander and her husband Jose participate in a protest rally for Fuller after his body was found hanging from a tree on June 10. She has said her brother was not suicidal and called for the 'truth' about his death in a larger investigation Houston police confirmed the death of a man found hanging from a tree on Monday. The unidentified man is said to have been Hispanic. His death was deemed an 'apparent suicide' Houston police were initially alerted to the death after video of the scene was shared on social media. 'Homicide detectives are investigating the apparent suicide of an adult Hispanic male who was found about 9:05 a.m. in the 2500 block of Ella Blvd,' they confirmed on Twitter Monday. 'Foul play is not suspected. Investigators are awaiting an autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.' 'Medical Examiner's Office has identified deceased individual,' added Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo. 'He is a Hispanic/Caucasian male and described by his family as suicidal. No signs of foul play have been found and the evidence to date points to this being a suicide. Investigation continues.' Fuller and Harsch's deaths are currently under investigation by the FBI, it was announced Monday, and the full cause of death has not yet been released from Fuller's autopsy as officials await toxicology results. Yet the Fuller family said Tuesday that they would be seeking an independent investigation and autopsy as they were 'enraged' that 'the Sheriff's Department immediately declared his death a suicide'. They have been joined by hundreds of protesters over the past few days who are also calling for a separate investigation. 'For African-Americans in America, hanging from a tree is a lynching,' family attorney Jamon R. Hicks said in a statement, according to ABC News. 'Why was this cavalierly dismissed as a suicide and not investigated as a murder?' Hicks added. The discovery of Fuller's body, amidst weeks of George Floyd protests, has resulted in community members demanding authorities carry out a full investigation into his death Diamond Alexander, center, sister of Robert Fuller, pleads for justice for her brother as hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Palmdale to mourn the death of Fuller on Saturday Hundreds gathered Saturday outside the Palmdale police department over the weekend. On Monday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva pledged a 'thorough' investigation into the death of 24-year-old Robert Fuller found hanging from a tree in southern California 'We want complete transparency. To that end, the family should choose the pathologist to conduct the independent autopsy.' Over the weekend, Fuller's sister Diamond Alexander spoke out at demonstrations over his death stating that her brother was 'not suicidal'. 'Everything that they've been telling us has not been right we've been hearing one thing, we've been hearing another, and we just want to know the truth,' she said. 'We're sitting here staring at this tree it don't make no sense. My brother was tall, my brother was not suicidal. My brother was not with me not too long ago and my brother was a survivor, he was out here.' Activists call for investigations into recent hanging deaths May 31: Malcolm Harsch, 38, was found hanging from a tree near what's been described as a homeless encampment close to the Victorville City Library on May 31 at about 7am. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department had said that although foul play was not suspected in Harsch's death, they are still investigating what happened. Harsch's family, meanwhile, has said they are worried that his death will be prematurely ruled a suicide and called for a larger investigation. June 10: Robert Fuller, 24, of Antelope Valley, California, was found hanging from a tree with a rope around his neck outside Palmdale City Hall in Palmdale, California, by a passerby at 3.39am on June 10. Officials initially declared his death suicide but the full autopsy results have not yet been released. His family and activists believe his death should be investigated as a homicide. Fuller and Harsch's deaths are now being investigated by the FBI and California Attorney General. June 15: An unidentified Hispanic male is found dead by hanging in Houston, Texas. Houston police have said there was no sign of foul play and declared it an 'apparent suicide'. Advertisement Fuller, 24, of Antelope Valley, California, was found hanging from a tree with a rope around his neck outside Palmdale City Hall in Palmdale, California, by a passerby at 3.39am on June 10. Police said there were no signs of struggle at the scene. The coroner's office said Fuller's death was initially reported as an apparent suicide, but that his cause of death was being deferred pending a full autopsy, which was completed June 12, and an investigation. The discovery of Fuller's body, amidst weeks of George Floyd protests, has resulted in community members demanding authorities carry out a full investigation into his death and the idea that it might have been a homicide. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said that the investigation into Fuller's death is ongoing and that the FBI's civil rights division and the California attorney general's office will be overseeing the Los Angeles County's investigation into the death. Villanueva said that he had approached Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the FBI to ensure transparency in the investigation and 'that we'll leave no rock unturned,' according to KTLA. County medical examiner Dr. Jonathan Lucas, who was also at the news conference, added that: 'Initially, there wasn't any evidence or information that led us to believe that there was anything other than a suicide [but] we felt better that we should look a little more deeply and carefully just considering all the circumstances at play.' Authorities said that the only evidence found at Fuller's scene was a rope, his cell phone, what was in his pockets and the backpack that he was wearing. No chair or other object had been used to prop Fuller up, authorities said, according to USA Today. Capt. Kent Wegener said that the tree Fuller had been found hanging from was 'very easily climbable' and the rope had been secured by someone in the tree, not from the ground, the Los Angeles Times reported. Lt. Brandon Dean of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau, who is supervising the investigation into Fuller's death, had previously told The Daily Beast that there were no signs of defensive wounds or physical assault on his body and no evidence that Fuller was 'put up' in the tree 'against his will.' The Sheriff's Department said that it will be conducting a forensic analysis of the rope - including the knot used - as well as looking into Fuller's medical history, dating back to when he lived in Arizona and Nevada, before moving to California. Authorities also said that they would work to interview Fuller's Department of Social Services case worker, but did not explain why he had a case worker, and said that they would continue to search for any videos that might show what happened the night Fuller was found dead. The actual location where Fuller was found hanging doesn't have any surveillance cameras, so authorities have been seeking out footage from businesses nearby to see if he was alone or with somebody else before his death. In addition, 'The rope wasn't thrown over but tied to the branch, which means somebody had to get up there and tie it,' Dean said. Although Fuller's complete autopsy was completed on June 12, Dean noted that police were still waiting for toxicology reports to come in. If Fuller had a 'high level of a chemical that might have poisoned him or knocked him unconscious and allowed someone to drag him up there, it would give a new direction to the case,' Dean told the news website. Sheriff Villanueva said Monday that he would 'have conversations' with the investigators in Victorville, which is in nearby San Bernardino County, regarding the death of Malcolm Harsch and whether there was any link with Fuller. Harsch was found hanging from a tree near what's been described as a homeless encampment close to the Victorville City Library on May 31 at about 7am. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department had said that although foul play was not suspected in Harsch's death, they are still investigating what happened. Malcolm Harsch, 38, was found hanging from a tree near what's been described as a homeless encampment, close to the Victorville City Library on May 31. The FBI is now investigating his death alongside that of Robert Fuller who was found less than 50 miles away on June 10 Authorities said that they did not suspect foul play in Harsch's (pictured) death, but his family has said that he was not depressed and suicide doesn't seem 'plausible' Harsch's family, meanwhile, has said they are worried that his death will be prematurely ruled a suicide. In a statement to Victor Valley News, Harsch's family said that his cause of death hadn't been released yet, but that they were 'concerned that his death will be labeled as a suicide.' 'Amidst the current racial tension and following the protesting the night prior to his body being discovered we were truly troubled to learn of his passing particularly of how his body was discovered,' the statement read. 'He is an African-American man whose body was found hanging from a tree! The deputy who called to confirm his death asked questions about drug or alcohol use, he made a statement about how the coronavirus has "hit people really hard" and said that a USB cord was used to hang himself.' The family claimed they were told by witnesses that his 6'3'-long body was not even dangling from the tree when it was found and that there was blood on his shirt. They also noted that there 'there didn't appear to be any physical implications at the scene to suggest that there was a struggle or any visible open wounds at that time,' which would explain why his shirt might've been bloodied. The family said that Harsch 'didn't seem to be depressed to anyone who truly knew him' and that he had recently spoken with his kids about seeing them soon. 'The explanation of suicide does not seem plausible. There are many ways to die but considering the current racial tension, a black man hanging himself from a tree definitely doesn't sit well with us right now. We want justice not comfortable excuses,' they added. A San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department spokesperson told the newspaper that 'There were no indications at the scene that suggested foul play; however, the cause and manner of death are still pending.' Community activists in Palmdale have scheduled a further demonstration for Thursday when they plan to release their demands for public officials over the investigation into Fuller's death. South California Gas Co., in partnership with the Latino Restaurants Association, yesterday distributed meals to health care workers in Bakersfield and Delano. SoCalGas has donated some 500 meals to Mercy Hospital Southwest in Bakersfield and the Adventist Health Delano Regional Medical Center, and provided support to local restaurants there. Hundreds of health workers benefited from the free meal local Latino-owned restaurants that are members of the association provided. Specifically, frontline workers and restaurants affected by this global health crisis were the ones who benefited from this joint project by the SoCalGas and LRA dubbed as, "Feed Frontliners Program." Overwhelmed by the Generosity Toni Harper, Mercy Hospitals of Bakersfield vice president, said, they, at the hospital, are overwhelmed by SoCalGas and the LRA's generosity. The hospital's official expressed how grateful they are, primarily, because, as they continue to survive the pandemic, their caregivers are tirelessly and selflessly working to guarantee each patient and family have the best care. This gesture collaborating businesses showed the frontliners "renews their spirit." Meanwhile, SoCalGas public affairs manager, Robert Duchow said, the said the pandemic has affected "all of us in different ways." Thus, he explained, their objective with these happenings is to express how much the health workers are appreciated. And at the same time, it is also the main objective of the program to back local restaurant owners whose dealings have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The SoCalGas public official also said they are proud to continue showing support the communities they are serving each day. Also to show support to health care workers, employees at SoCalGas from Bakersfield volunteered to help at the events as well, by distributing care packages and meals to frontliners Member restaurants, Hole-in-One in Delano and La Costa in Bakersfield of LRA were the ones who prepared the meals for the events The funding of SoCalGas allotted for the Feed Frontliners Program helped in financing the purchases of meals, which then, back restaurants whose operations have been affected by this global health crisis. LRA Thankful for its Partner According to LRA Board Chair, Lilly Rocha, the association is so grateful for SoCalGas for partnering with them to take the "Feed Frontliners Program to the Bakersfield and Delano community." He also said SoCalGas has been with the group of food chains from the start, beginning with a few meals to local Intensive Care Units or ICUs to over 200 food backs "at Adventist Health Delano Regional Medical Center and Mercy Hospital, respectively." The program's strength, the board chair continued, is supporting two affected and susceptible communities: frontliners who fight the virus every day and restaurants that struggle to remain operational. SoCalGas is committed to supporting the said community's health, safety and wellness. On top of the support for the feeding programs of the LRA, this organization had provided more than $2 million in a donation to nonprofit groups. More so, the said donation is intended to back the region's workforce, feed the hungry, and provide consumers with bill assistance, among others as part of the recovery relief from COVID-19. Check these out! The UN refugee agency and the World Food Programme announced Tuesday a joint initiative to feed up to 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers trapped in war-torn Libya amid the coronavirus pandemic. "The partnership was launched in recognition of the severe socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Libya as well as the effects of the ongoing conflict," UNHCR and WFP said in a statement. The first distribution of food began on Monday in the Sarraj neighbourhood of Tripoli. Tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers, as well as sub-Saharan African and Asian migrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, are stranded in Libya in horrifying conditions. The overthrow and killing of veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 sparked years of chaos that traffickers have exploited to turn Libya into a key route for illicit migration towards Europe. The situation of refugees and asylum seekers became more critical after eastern military strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an assault on Tripoli in 2019, and was further compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. The UN agencies said aid to these vulnerable people was needed because most "have been unable to find any daily work to support themselves as curfews have been introduced and food prices and the cost of basic goods have dramatically risen". "Many refugees say that they are only able to afford to eat one meal a day," the UN agencies said. One refugee was quoted as saying: "Every day, I am afraid of death because of hunger. "I sleep on mats. There are many shops that I want to work in but there is no work. There is nothing in my house other than bread and tea." The UNHCR and WFP said refugees and asylum seekers recently released from Libyan detention centres and others from urban centres who struggle to find food will be among those receiving aid. "The help we're providing under this project... will be a lifesaver for some of the most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers in urban areas," said Jean-Paul Cavalieri, UNHCR's chief of mission in Libya. For a while, such a story seemed to apply to gay marriage. The first court to take the notion seriously was the Hawaii Supreme Court, which in 1993 unexpectedly ordered a trial at which the state had to justify its practice of discriminating against same-sex couples. It was a seminal legal victory for gays and lesbians, but it also helped to rally opposition to same-sex marriage before there was any organized movement for it in the United States. In both Honolulu and Washington, opponents of gay rights had much in their favor, including public opinion, money and organizational capacity. In 1996, Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, a bill prompted by concern that, if appears possible, Hawaii rules that same-sex marriages are legal, other States would have to recognize marriages performed there, as White House staff secretary Todd Stern explained to President Bill Clinton hours before he signed it into law. In 1998, voters in Hawaii along with those in Alaska, where a similar lawsuit had gained traction in state courts amended their constitution to permanently take control of the marriage issue away from judges before any couples were permitted to marry. Bloomsday tomorrow is named for the day James Joyce met Nora Barnacle, the decisive personal influence in his life. But Joyceans should perhaps mark another day as a key influence: the day he began his Jesuit education, as a boarder at Clongowes Wood in 1888, when he was six-and-a-half years old. From that tender age, until he was 20, Joyce was constantly under the influence of Jesuit educators - with a brief interlude at the Christian Brothers' O'Connell Schools. In later life he told his friend in Trieste, Italo Svevo, that rather than alluding to him as a Catholic, "to get the correct contour on me, you ought to allude to me as a Jesuit". The Jesuit influence remained with Joyce all his life. In his fame as an author, JJ was not - understandably for the time - immediately claimed by his erstwhile educators. Ulysses, published in 1922, was banned in America as obscene and seized at the port of Folkestone in England for similar reasons (As every literary geek knows, paradoxically it was never banned in Ireland). Visitors to Clongowes were advised to "breathe not his name", and when Joyce died in 1941, neither Clongowes nor his subsequent school, Belvedere, ran an obituary in the school magazines that usually honoured old boys. Clongowes is identified with Joyce since it is so vividly evoked in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, but Father Fergus O'Donoghue SJ, former editor of the publication Studies, thinks that Belvedere was more significant in Joyce's life: "Clongowes is more glamorous, but Belvedere had a much greater influence on Joyce." Despite the reduced circumstances of the Joyce family - his father had no steady job and drank more than was wise - JJ's three younger brothers also attended Belvedere. Fr O'Donoghue notes that "they were given breakfast every day" because the Jesuits were aware of the straitened circumstances of home life. James was a brilliant pupil. He won prizes and exhibitions from early on - Belvedere was gratified when, on two separate occasions in all-Ireland exams, he surpassed the star pupil at Belfast's elite (and Protestant!) Royal Academical Institution. Initially, Joyce was both a bright boy and a good boy. Bruce Bradley SJ, the author of the acclaimed James Joyce's Schooldays, describes how he was elected Prefect of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary - effectively head boy. There were some hopes - and JJ entertained the idea himself - of him becoming a priest. However, from about the age of 16, he began moving away from his childhood faith, finding a new identity as "dissident and rebel". After Belvedere, he spent four more years under the influence of the Jesuits at University College Dublin, which was then Jesuit-run. After he and Nora eloped to continental Europe, he "left the Catholic Church, hating it most fervently", writes Bruce Bradley. He described Jesuits as "black lice" to his brother Stanislaus. As we know, JJ and Nora led a peripatetic life - in Trieste, Paris, Zurich - and, like his father before him, he was constantly short of money and always moving accommodation. Was his Jesuit education set aside when he became an apostate? On the contrary: it imbued the very fundamentals of his work as a writer. Kevin Sullivan, the Irish-American author of Joyce Among the Jesuits, claims that without that background in Clongowes and Belvedere, Joyce would never have become the great writer that he was. "The Irish Jesuits left on Joyce a psychological, moral, religious, intellectual and even social impress which... explains the kind of person he was (and) helps to explain the kind of work he produced." Even his rebellion "was an acknowledgement of their power and influence over him, a reluctant homage which disobedience must always pay to authority". Joyce, as he admitted to Svevo, became a kind of artistic Jesuit - drawing on the Ignatian habit of self-discipline and focus, both in his work and his life. The "AMDG" (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam: "To God's greater glory") which he wrote on school copybooks was alchemised into an unremitting dedication to his life as a writer, despite hardships. And JJ's life had many hardships: no fixed abode, trying to earn money teaching while needing to write, gradually going blind and struggling with the serious mental illness of his daughter, Lucia. His "fortitude and endurance" were an inheritance from his Jesuit training. Time often mellows and, in his later years, he expressed gratitude for his Jesuit education and admiration for his educators. Likewise, the Jesuit educators came to realise what a pearl they had formed, and at both Belvedere and Clongowes his portrait now hangs with pride. When James Joyce died, Nora thought it apt to give him a secular funeral - although she had drifted back to faith - and the Zurich authorities wrote "Keine Religion" (no religion) on the official form. But, notes Fergus O'Donoghue, "that is officially XXXed over and replaced with 'Katholisch'". What is sometimes forgotten in discussions of slavery in the British Empire is that the British Parliament paid out 20 million in restitution after it finally abolished slavery in 1833. That is around 300 billion ($546 billion) in todays money, and it represented about 40 per cent of treasurys annual income. Before the GFC bank bailouts, it was Britain's largest transfer of public wealth into private hands. It shows what can be done. People harmed in the name of private enterprise can be compensated on a large scale, and economies are not crippled. In fact, like the GFC bailouts, the 20 million had a stimulatory effect, turbo-charging a range of capital works in the private sector, such as railways. Swanston Street, Melbourne, c.1880: At the corner of Flinders Street and Swanston Street, Melbourne. Credit:State Library of Victoria The shocking thing is that this compensation payment did not go to those enslaved by almost four centuries of British involvement in the labyrinthine slave business. It went to slave-owners for the loss of their "property". The history of slave-ownership in Britain and its colonies is not something you learnt in school and have since forgotten. In 2014 researchers at University College London created an online data base of slave-owners that prompted historians of Britains former colonies, myself included, to follow the tendrils of slave-ownership throughout the Empire. Dave Andelman, CEO of Phantom Gourmet, has resigned from the position after he posted and later apologized for Facebook posts mocking the Boston protests and Black Lives Matter movement. The resignation was announced on the Phantom Gourmets Facebook page Tuesday. Effective immediately, Dave Andelman will step down as CEO of Phantom Gourmet, Inc, the company he founded in 1993 and he will no longer appear on episodes of the Phantom Gourmet television show, the statement said. In addition, he will not be involved in any day to day operations and he will relinquish ownership in the company. Dave Andelman will also resign from the Mendon Twin Drive-In. Dave Andelman was the co-owner of the Mendon Twin Drive-In. The statement said Dan Andelman, the host of the television program, will take over as company CEO. Im proud of the company my brother Dave helped build and for all our show has done on behalf of local restaurants and employees in the foodservice industry, especially during this challenging time, Dan Andelman said. But Daves recent social media statements made it clear that he cannot stay in a leadership role or any role with this company. We are passionate about food and restaurants, but we also vow to dedicate ourselves to advancing the causes of diversity, social justice, and equality. We plan to listen, learn, and act, while we also continue to entertain and inform our loyal food and fun-loving fans. The statement said fans of the shows are the lifeblood of our company and we deeply apologize that so many have been hurt. DAVE ANDELMAN RESIGNS AS CEO OF PHANTOM GOURMET, INC Effective immediately, Dave Andelman will step down as CEO of... Posted by Phantom Gourmet on Tuesday, 16 June 2020 This is NOT what Phantom Gourmet is about and we are very sorry, the statement continued to say. Our hard-working employees and loyal fans deserve better. So, we are taking swift and decisive action today and we want to make it clear that these types of divisive comments are not consistent with our core values. The television show committed to the following: Prioritize finding and promoting local black-owned restaurants and foodservice companies owned and operated by minorities and people of color Provide diversity and inclusion training for all employees of Phantom Gourmet, Inc Further educate all employees on Black Lives Matter and systemic racism Complete a stem to stern review of company policies and corporate culture to make sure controls are in place so nothing like this ever happens again WBZ announced Sunday that the Phantom Gourmet will be on hiatus pending a review. The television stations President and General Manager Mark Lund issued a statement Sunday, WBZ reported. WBZ-TV is committed to our community, by working together, listening to one another, and supporting each other. After careful consideration, we have decided to place Phantom Gourmet on hiatus pending further review, Lund said in the statement. People on Facebook who saw the comments by Dave Andelman encouraged others to reach out to WBZ and WSBK to show their disgust. The television stations said viewers did reach out. Some people commented on the Mendon Twin Drive-In Facebook page about no longer giving the drive-in their business. In a series of Facebook posts, Dave Andelman mocked the protests against racial injustice sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. His personal Facebook page is now private. Excited to open Chaz (formerly Seattle) Drive-in: Americas Most Looted Drive-In, Andelman wrote in one post over the past few days. Another post from Friday read, We dont take a knee here. This is America, not Game of Thrones. Your desperate need for approval, from those who hate cops and country regardless, is pathetic. Have a great day! Other posts mentioned defund potatoes, not police and suggested Back Bay restaurants offer touchless, curbside looting. On Saturday night, Andelman issued an apology on the Phantom Gourmet Facebook page. I want to apologize. I maintain my own Facebook Page, he wrote. I made comments on that page that were inappropriate, hurtful, and wrong regarding the Boston protests. I support everyones right to free speech and free assembly. I, too, desire racial and social justice. My record of philanthropy and business reflects this. Andelman continued to say, I apologize. I feel terrible. We all make mistakes. And I ask for your forgiveness." Dr Anthony Fauci has revealed that he hasnt had a meeting with president Donald Trump about the coronavirus pandemic, for two weeks, despite cases rising across the US. Dr Fauci, who is the chief infectious disease expert leading the US response to the pandemic, told NPR on Tuesday that he last spoke to the president, not last week but the week before. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases added: I spoke with him when we made the presentation to explain to him our vaccine development effort. So, it was two weeks ago. Last month, in an interview with medical site, STAT News, Dr Fauci confirmed that the coronavirus taskforce, which was created to tackle the pandemic, was meeting less than it did earlier in the year. I was meeting with him four times a week back, a month or so ago, Dr Fauci said. Recommended Fauci says US ban on travel from UK will remain in place for months But as you probably noticed, that the task force meetings have not occurred as often lately. And certainly my meetings with the president have been dramatically decreased, he added. Later on in Dr Faucis interview on NPR, he claimed that some states did not continue adhering to social distancing measures as well as they could, when they started easing lockdown. He added that groups of people not wearing masks are clearly increasing the risk and likely explaining some of the upticks that youre seeing. States across the US, started reopening at the end of April, but in the last few weeks, several states have reported an increase in the number of hospitalisations because of the virus. Recommended Florida bars and restaurants close just a week after reopening Texas is one state that has recently seen a rise in Covid-19 cases, and recorded its record number of hospitalisations from coronavirus on Sunday, with 2,287 people admitted to hospital due to the virus. The number topped the previous highest total, which was set the day before, following a week where the record was broken six times. Additionally, Florida announced on Tuesday, that bars and restaurants will be forced to close again, after a rise in cases, one week after the state allowed them to reopen with capacity restrictions. Dr Fauci suggested to NPR that some states started to reopen earlier than they should have, and said: Clearly there were states who, left to their own decision about that, went ahead and opened to a varying degree. Maybe even I wouldnt say too soon but certainly before they got to the benchmarks that they needed to get (to). According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, there are now more than 2.1 million people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 438,435. [June 16, 2020] KKR-Led Consortium Enters Into a US$650 Million Investment in Vinhomes, a Vingroup Subsidiary That Engages Primarily in Real Estate Development A consortium led by KKR (" KKR") that includes Temasek (the " KKR-led consortium"), has today completed the acquisition of an investment in Vinhomes Joint Stock Company (" Vinhomes"), the leading integrated real estate developer in Vietnam. The KKR-led consortium has collectively invested VND15.1 trillion (US$650 million) which translates into a c.6% equity stake in Vinhomes. Following the transaction, Vingroup Joint Stock Company (" Vingroup") will continue to be the controlling shareholder of Vinhomes. KKR is making the investment primarily from its Asian Fund III. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200615005825/en/ The investment from the KKR-led consortium underscores the attractiveness of Vietnam as a regional investment destination with its strong development and growth prospects. The investment into Vinhomes further emphasizes the attractiveness of Vinhomes as an investment opportunity given its position as Vietnam's leading integrated real estate platform with unparalleled execution capabilities, access to sizeable land bank and significant growth opportunities in residential, commercial and industrial real estate. Mr. Ashish Shastry, Co-Head of Private Equity for KKR Asia Pacific & Head of Southeast Asia, said, "We are truly honored to have the opportunity to invest in a successful, leading business like Vinhomes which is an integral part of the consumer services ecosystem within the Vingroup family. This investment exemplifies the type of platinum brands and management teams KKR looks to work with in Southeast Asia. Today's announcement further underscores our strong commitment to Vietnam, where KKR has been active and present for nearly a decade." Ms. Nguyen Dieu Linh, Chairwoman of Vinhomes said, "We are pleased to welcome KKR as a shareholder in Vinhomes, and believe that the investment demonstrates the confidence of international investors in Vinhomes, Vingroup and the Vietnamese market. As a reputable, world-class institution, KKR's expertise and proven track record of helping companies achieve long-term success will be valuable as we work together to enhance value for Vinhomes shareholders." Credit Suisse (Singapore) Limited acted as sole financial advisor to Vingroup. Additional information Vinhomes is a subsidiary of Vingroup and is listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. Vinhomes develops and trades integrated residential, commercial and industrial real estate, and provides real estate management and related services. Vinhomes is the largest real estate developer in Vietnam. For more information on Vinhomes JSC (HOSE: VH), please visit Vinhomes' website at www.vinhomes.vn. is a subsidiary of Vingroup and is listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. Vinhomes develops and trades integrated residential, commercial and industrial real estate, and provides real estate management and related services. Vinhomes is the largest real estate developer in Vietnam. For more information on Vinhomes JSC (HOSE: VH), please visit Vinhomes' website at www.vinhomes.vn. Vingroup is the largest private enterprise in Vietnam. Vingroup's main focus is on Technology (including scientific research and application of Technologies), Industrials (automobile, e-motorcycle and smart device manufacturing) and Services (residential, commercial and hospitality real estate development, education and healthcare). With the mission "To Create a Better Life for the Vietnamese People", Vingroup's products and services adhere to international standards, are trusted by customers, and have won many prestigious Vietnamese and international awards. For more information on Vingroup JSC (HOSE: VIC), please visit our website at www.vingroup.net. is the largest private enterprise in Vietnam. Vingroup's main focus is on Technology (including scientific research and application of Technologies), Industrials (automobile, e-motorcycle and smart device manufacturing) and Services (residential, commercial and hospitality real estate development, education and healthcare). With the mission "To Create a Better Life for the Vietnamese People", Vingroup's products and services adhere to international standards, are trusted by customers, and have won many prestigious Vietnamese and international awards. For more information on Vingroup JSC (HOSE: VIC), please visit our website at www.vingroup.net. KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter (News - Alert) @KKR_Co. is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter (News - Alert) @KKR_Co. Temasek is an investment company with a net portfolio value of S$313 billion (US$231b) as at 31 March 2019. Temasek's three roles as an Investor, Institution and Steward, as defined in the Temasek Charter, shape its ethos to do well, do right and do good. Temasek's investment philosophy is anchored around four key themes: Transforming Economies; Growing Middle Income Populations; Deepening Comparative Advantages; and Emerging Champions. Headquartered in Singapore, Temasek has 11 offices around the world. For more information on Temasek, please visit www.temasek.com.sg. For the latest Temasek Review, please visit temasekreview.com.sg. Connect with us on social media: Facebook (News - Alert) (Temasek); LinkedIn (News - Alert) (Temasek); Twitter (@Temasek); Instagram (@temasekseen); YouTube (News - Alert) (TemasekDigital); WhatsApp (+65 9101 0207) and WeChat (temasek_digital). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200615005825/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 Trend: A similar scenario may be used to put an end to the civil war and instability in Libya, as the one used by Ankara and Moscow in Syria. After the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, two warring camps oppose each other, namely, the Government of National Accord with Fayez Sarraj in Tripoli, recognized by the UN and the temporary Cabinet of Ministers with Abdullah Abdurrahman Al-Thani, acting in the east as the parliament, against the so-called Libyan National Army of General Khalifa Haftar. At the initial stage of the civil war, General Haftars detachments managed to encircle the Libyan capital Tripoli, but the Government of National Accord funded by Qatar formally appealed to Turkey for military assistance and the situation has changed. The Government of National Accord succeeded and regained control of a number of the country's most important facilities through the military assistance of the Turkish Armed Forces. The international observers stress that the Syrian pro-Turkish militants are fighting to support the Government of National Accord while Russian mercenaries or fighters of the Russian private military company Wagner Group are fighting to support General Haftar. Obviously, there is a big struggle for oil in Libya. The country has 2.8 percent of the world's oil reserves, about 48.4 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and ranks 10th in the world. The natural gas reserves reach 1.4 trillion cubic meters. Libyan crude is of very high quality with low sulfur content. The country's proximity to the European market also makes Libya a very attractive and important oil producer. The Turkish military contingent inflicted a heavy defeat on Haftar's army, who himself is essentially a puppet in the hands of external players, in particular, Russia. The countries that support Haftar are now calling for the ceasefire. However, this military conflict is still far from over. Several foreign countries are not interested in Ankaras sole victory in the struggle for Libyan oil. So, Greece is trying to level Turkeys success. The reason is Turkeys attempt, together with Libya, to control the laying of pipelines from the Eastern Mediterranean. Despite the military confrontation in Libya with pro-Russian Haftar, Ankara is not interested in sharp aggravation of relations with Moscow. It seems that Ankara is inclined to go for a truce, but it has already started to create its al-Watiya air base in the western part of Libya, as well as the second naval base in Misrata. The media outlets close to the Government of National Accord have recently disseminated information that Russia allegedly intends to create two bases in Libya - in Sirte and Jufra. Obviously, despite the existing contradictions regarding the future of Libya, Ankara, as in case of Syria, is bowing to Moscow. Turkey is blocking the implementation of a new defense plan in NATO for the Eastern European countries, in particular, for the Baltic states and Poland, which is declared as a key element of the alliances measures to deter Russia. There is reason to believe that Turkey is in favor of political settlement of the problem together with Russia, as these countries have practical experience of successful settlement in Syria. Not only the future of Libya, but also the whole geopolitical situation in the Mediterranean region depends on whether Turkey, with Russia's participation, succeeds in restoring the unity of Libya. This topic was supposed to be the main focus of the planned negotiations, but at the last moment Moscow canceled the trip of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Turkey. The statement was made that "the date of the meeting of the foreign ministers and defense ministers of the two countries will be coordinated further". Meanwhile, Ankara is waiting for Moscow's decision, and has stopped the attack on the strategically important city of Libya, the homeland of Gaddafi - Sirte. Head of the Expert Council of the Baku Network, PhD Elkhan Alasgarov - http://bakunetwork.com Join us on Twitter and Facebook https://twitter.com/BakuNetwork and https://www.facebook.com/BakuNetwork YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp5ic7mhc6rZF6w0TQWqtmg HDFC, the country's largest mortgage lender, plans to raise funds and the proposal regarding this will be discussed by its board on June 19. In a regulator filing on Tuesday, the company said a meeting of its committee of directors, duly constituted by the board of directors, will be held on June 19. The meeting will "consider seeking shareholders' approval for raising of funds by issue of equity shares and/or other securities through any permissible mode(s)", it said. However, the quantum of the funds proposed to be raised was not disclosed. Housing Development Finance Corporation's (HDFC) shares on Tuesday closed 4.03 per cent higher at Rs 1,822.80 a piece on BSE. Its hard to say whether the effort swayed the outcome of the governors race, but the Democrat, Andy Beshear, defeated the incumbent Republican, Matt Bevin, by just 5,086 votes. Now, the D.N.C. has created an app to help state parties and campaigns replicate and expand upon those tactics, the party said Tuesday. The new tool will help identify changes large and small in the voter rolls and enable Democrats to contact affected voters. Putting this tool in the hands of Democratic operatives on the ground in each state, party officials argue, will allow those with more intimate knowledge of local constituencies to notice abnormal changes in the rolls or to simply reconnect with lapsed voters. (Left unsaid is that local Democrats will have a better idea of which voters are more likely to vote Democratic if they can be re-registered.) The functionality is relatively simple: The D.N.C. ingests voter file data from all 50 states on a regular basis. It then layers the new information over a historical database built on previous data collection by state parties, revealing any changes in voter registrations as well as key demographic breakdowns. A web-based interactive dashboard with all of this information is then made available to state parties and campaigns. As the 2020 campaign intensifies, many states, most of them led by Republican officials, have proceeded with purges of their voter rolls under the banner of election security. In Wisconsin, a state President Trump carried by fewer than 23,000 votes, a Republican-led effort to purge 200,000 voters has reached the State Supreme Court. In Georgia, an increasingly competitive presidential and Senate battleground state, a federal judge backed state officials efforts to remove 100,000 voters from the rolls. Republicans say such moves are necessary to protect the integrity of elections, while Democrats say they amount to voter suppression. RICHMOND, BC, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Transoft Solutions Inc., developers of transportation engineering software, based in Richmond, BC, is set to broaden its business horizon with a newly established Transoft Solutions (U.S.), Inc. subsidiary. Transoft Solutions has demonstrated long-time success in supporting U.S. clients from its headquarters in Canada and will continue to provide excellent service to its U.S. customers, vendors, and partners. Transoft Solutions (U.S.) will allow the company to participate in new business opportunities, streamline administrative processes, and provide enhanced customer service. It is a strong testament of the firm's commitment to support the company's growth and business strategy. "Transoft Solutions has developed a variety of innovative software products for the transportation engineering community and has a large client base in the U.S. We see this as an essential step to increasing efficiencies and taking advantage of market opportunities," said Steven Cheng, COO of Transoft Solutions. About Transoft Solutions Transoft Solutions develops innovative and highly specialized software for aviation, civil infrastructure, and transportation professionals. Since 1991, Transoft has remained focused on safety-oriented solutions that enable transportation professionals to work effectively and confidently. Our portfolio of planning, simulation, modeling, and design solutions are used in over 150 countries serving more than 50,000 customers across local and federal agencies, consulting firms, airport authorities, and ports. We take pride in providing the highest quality of customer support from our headquarters in Canada, and through our 12 offices in Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, India, Belgium, and China. For more information on Transoft's range of aviation, civil design, and vehicle simulation solutions, visit transoftsolutions.com. Media Contact: Jessie Gill VP, Corporate Marketing 604-244-8387 SOURCE Transoft Solutions Inc. Related Links http://www.transoftsolutions.com Hatem Badawi has been identified as another agent of the Syrian regime living in Germany, who is suspected of feeding information back to Damascus writes Zaman Al-Wasl. Hatem Abdulaziz Badawi is another Syrian refugee in Germany who served in the Syrian intelligence services and was involved in war crimes against the Syrian people. Eye-witnesses have provided Zaman Al-Wasl with images and audio testimonies revealing the notorious career of Badawi, who worked as a security informant for over 15 years in the Syrian capital. According to Zaman Al-Wasl sources, Badawi had been collaborating with the internal branch, known as al-Khatib and the State Security Intelligence. Also, he worked with the Military Intelligence Division Branch (235) where dozens of peaceful demonstrators and pro-democracy activists were detained and killed under torture. One of the eye-witnesses, who is also based in Germany, is ready to stand before the German courts to testify against Badawi. Syrian journalist and writer, Asaad al-Qassar, confirmed to Zaman Al-Wasl that he saw Badawi in the southern Zahira district of Damascus, monitoring and photographing protesters during the first few months of the revolution that erupted in 2011. I saw him at a restaurant with a group of shabiha carrying sticks and clubs. At the time, his role was limited to taking photos and communicating through the wireless device that he carried. He later infiltrated a neighborhood council claiming to have defected from the regime, which led to the arrest of 14 activists who are either still detained or have been killed under torture. Badawi also contributed directly in the arrest of approximately 400 people from Zahira and Maydin, who took in the displaced families who fled the Homs bombing, on charges of harboring terrorists despite the fact that most of the displaced were children, women and elderly. Badawi arrived in Germany at the end of 2018 through the process of family reunification, to join his wife there. According to our sources, Badawi has since traveled back to Syria, which raises suspicion that he continues to work with the regimes intelligence in Germany, where hundreds of thousands of Syrians have taken refuge, including activists, political opposition and defected officers, which puts them at risk. The German channel RTL aired a report about members of the Syrian regimes security services who applied for asylum in Germany. The report indicates, and provided proof, of their involvement in the torture of detainees in Syrian prisons. These people reside in the refugee shelters without being subjected to any legal prosecution. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul on Saturday unfurled a large Black Lives Matter banner on the front facade of its diplomatic building to "stand in solidarity with fellow Americans grieving and peacefully protesting to demand positive change" following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody last month. By Monday, according to photos published on social media, the banner, and a separate flag recognizing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, was gone. A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Seoul said the banners were removed "to avoid the misperception that American taxpayer dollars were spent to benefit such organizations." As of midday on Monday, both banners were continuing to be featured on the embassy's website. 'We saved a life today': Black Lives Matter protester rescues counter-demonstrator A 'Black Lives Matter' banner is displayed on the U.S. embassy in Seoul on June 14, 2020. However, reports from Bloomberg and CNN, citing people familiar with the matter, said the Black Lives Matter banner was taken down after it was brought to the attention of President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Bloomberg's report did not elaborate. CNN said the embassy received a request for it to be taken down by the State Department's "seventh floor" where Pompeo's offices are located. The U.S. State Department did not return a request for comment. According to photos of the embassy posted on social media, the banners were replaced with a single one commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War. U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris, appointed by Trump, had previously ordered that the Black Lives Matter and Pride flags be draped on the embassy. Supreme Court: Federal protections for gay, lesbian, transgender workers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Black Lives Matter banner removed from U.S. Embassy in South Korea BOSTON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockpoint Group, a global real estate investment management firm, today announced the final close of its latest opportunistic vehicle, Rockpoint Real Estate Fund VI ("Fund VI"). Fund VI has garnered $3.8 billion in total equity capital commitments, exceeding its $3 billion fund target. In addition, the firm recently announced the final close of its latest lower risk vehicle, Rockpoint Growth and Income Real Estate Fund III ("RGI III"), with $2.0 billion in commitments. Together, the two vehicles represent more than $5.8 billion in capital commitments. Investors in Fund VI and RGI III include a diverse group of public and corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, and other sophisticated investors spanning the United States, Asia, Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Co-founders Bill Walton and Keith Gelb said, "As we mark our 25th anniversary, we appreciate the confidence of our limited partners, who have reaffirmed their support of our fundamental value investment approach. In the wake of the challenges our economy has faced in recent months, we believe there will be significant opportunities across both Fund VI and RGI III, and we are excited to pursue what we expect will be attractive real estate investments in our target U.S. markets." About Rockpoint Group, L.L.C. Rockpoint Group, L.L.C. ("Rockpoint") is a real estate private equity firm and Registered Investment Adviser with its headquarters in Boston and with additional primary offices in San Francisco and Dallas. Rockpoint employs a fundamental value approach to investing and targets select product types located primarily in major coastal markets in the United States. Rockpoint utilizes a consistent strategy across distinct return profiles through its opportunistic and growth and income investment programs. Rockpoint targets assets with intrinsic long-term value, at attractive prices relative to replacement cost and stabilized cash flows, and with particular emphasis on value creation opportunities and complex situations. Since 1994, Rockpoint's co-founders with others have sponsored 15 commingled funds and related co-investment vehicles through Rockpoint and a predecessor firm. In total, they have raised approximately $25 billion in capital commitments and invested or committed to invest in 424 transactions with a total peak capitalization of approximately $62 billion (inclusive of fund equity, co-investor equity and debt). Contacts: Lambert & Co. Caroline Luz 203-656-2829 [email protected] or Lisa Baker 914-725-5949 [email protected] SOURCE Rockpoint Group, L.L.C. The retraction of influential studies published in two of the worlds leading scientific journals last week was a rude reminder of the perils of moving at warp speed to find a treatment or cure for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which has infected eight million and killed 430,000 in less than six months of the World Health Organisation (WHO)being informed by China about a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown origin in Wuhan on December 31, 2019. By January 30, it had infected 7,818 people, of which 82 were in 18 other countries , which forced a seemingly reluctant WHO to declare the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), as it was then called, a public health emergency of international concern. Scientists from across the world stepped up to defuse the emerging health threat with every tool that they had. Never before have so many scientists, researchers and clinicians from across specialties focused on a single disease or used such a wide variety of innovative techniques and platforms for vaccine and drug development. Never before have regulatory processes been fast-tracked at such scale for emergency use of drug and vaccine trials. The need for speed should not throw caution to the wind. Dubious data sources and poorly designed clinical trials of experimental drugs and vaccines have raised more concerns than solutions, said Sujatha Rao, a former health secretary of the ministry of health and family welfare. Need for speed As on June 12, the US National Library of Medicine Registry of ClinicalTrials.gov had 2,122 registered studies on the disease, with hundreds more registered in national registries. When publication is going at a high speed, you dont always notice the traffic signals. There are three things happening now. People are publishing through a rapid review process, studies are being published in pre-prints, people are writing blogs where they can write anything and interpret anything they call data. In the usual (scientific journal) publication cycle, nothing gets published in three or four days. From submission to publication, it normally takes at least three to four weeks and often more than six weeks. If I get an article for review from The Lancet, which I frequently do, I get a minimum of 10 days, said Dr K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India. Pre-print publication is a practice borrowed from other sciences, such as physics and Math, where researchers put their papers on a website and invite comments from the scientist community, based on which they modify and correct their analysis before publication. What works for theoretical sciences, however, doesnt work as well for medical research, which has immediate implications on health and life. Rapid reviews are causing problems because the reviewers are chosen in haste and they dont have adequate time to look at the data properly and they are under pressure to respond quickly, said Reddy. Peer review is important to ensure quality of scientific communications, incorporating inputs of other experts. While pre-publication peer-review is the standard, there are good examples of post-publication review as well. Validation by other researchers is perhaps the most important, especially when the findings are unexpected or controversial, said Dr Anurag Agrawal, director of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology. Review, reform But this very validation process spectacularly failed in the case of the two retracted studies in The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine. The Lancet paper raised safety concerns about the experimental use of the anti-malarial drugs for treatment and led to WHO suspending the hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine arm of its multi-country trial, much to the dismay of India, which is the worlds largest producer of these affordable generic drugs that have been used to treat malaria for close to a century. The key concern for us was that the data was questionable that made analysis unreliable and any results misleading. If not for the name of the journal, the paper would have not have been taken as seriously, said Agrawal. While journals have established validation processes, such papers can slip between the cracks because of several reasons, including the authors belonging to reputable institutions like Harvard University, or the reviewers having confirmation bias, where they agree with the studys conclusion even before they begin scrutinising how the result has been arrived at. For a disease barely six months old, generating high-quality data quickly and efficiently is a challenge, which makes review and scrutiny all the more critical. Its the job of a journals editorial team to do an independent review and ensure it doesnt get shoddy when it is inundated with research studies, said Dr Jacob T John, former head of the department of virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Retractions are not rare, but they are growing. In 2019, there were 1,433 retractions from scientific journals, according to Retraction Watch, which has been tracking retractions for a decade. In 1997, the number was 44. Trial by error Vaccine development, on average, takes 10.71 years from the preclinical phase, and has a success rate of 6%, according to a study in the journal, PLOS One. Some remain elusive despite decades of massive investment, as we have seen in the case of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus that causes the Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. Work on a Covid-19 vaccine began on January 11, within a day of China sharing the genome of the new coronavirus that came to be called Sars-CoV-2. By June 12, there were 10 experimental vaccines in advanced stages of clinical trials and 115 in pre-clinical evaluation stages, according to WHO. Scientists are working across emerging technology platforms that have never been used for vaccine development before. Modernas mRNA-1273, which entered into clinical trials just 66 days after Sars-CoV-2 was first sequenced in China, showcases the potential for DNA- and RNA-based vaccines that use the messenger RNA (mRNA) platform to elicit an immune response against the virus. If it is approved, it will be the first messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine against any disease in the world. We dont fully know the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines as yet. However, there is high quality science and pre-clinical evidence for this fast and flexible platform for vaccine development. We will have to wait and see, said Agrawal. Vaccine development includes at least three human trials to test their safety, dosage and the strength and duration of the protection they offer, followed by production, licensure, deployment of vaccines and plans for post-marketing surveillance. Many of these trials have been collapsed and merged to have a vaccine ready for use within the next six to eight months. With Covid-19, the goal from the beginning has been to develop, test and manufacture a vaccine on a scale of hundreds of millions of doses within 12 to 18 months, so an unprecedented approach has been adopted. With promising preliminary preclinical and phase 1 data available, meticulously planned trials are needed to separate the contenders from pretenders. Since approvals are expected for an emergency use vaccine, developers start mass manufacturing as soon as they complete phase 2 trials, and in doing so, risk the failure of phase 3. In such cases, consortiums and countries fund for risk reduction and provide market commitments, said Dr N K Ganguly, former director general, Indian Council of Medical Research. This is where new technology lab-based platforms help. RNA- and DNA-based vaccines are faster and cheaper to produce than synthetic vaccines as they involve synthetic production of the genetic material, and not the virus. The production is lab-based, so it can be quickly standardised and scaled up, said Ganguly. Getting a large enough sample size across age groups is essential as the results in one population might not translate to the other. Whether it is vaccines or drug development, what is crucial is independent scientific validation to ensure the vaccines and drugs are safe and effective because getting it wrong would mean playing with lives, said Ganguly. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Riot police detain a group of people during a protest in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on May 27, 2020, as the city's legislature debates over a law that bans insulting China's national anthem. (ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP via Getty Images) Hong Kong Security Law Will Not Be Retroactive: Chinese Official SHENZHENHong Kongs national security legislation will not punish people retroactively, a senior Chinese official said on Monday, touching on a key question raised by local residents, diplomats, and foreign investors over the controversial law. Howver, Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Officealso said that while the financial hub should be responsible for most enforcement work, Beijing must be able to have jurisdiction over the most serious national security cases. Beijing last month moved to directly impose the legislation on Hong Kong in a bid to tackle secession, subversion, and foreign interference in the city. Speaking at a seminar in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, Deng claimed that the law will comply with Hong Kongs existing legal and judicial system. Although there are differences in the legal systems of Hong Kong and the mainland, the principles followed by the Hong Kong and mainland criminal laws are not that great, Deng said. Both laws include principles such as presumption of innocence, the right for criminal suspects and defendants to have legal defence, and laws not being applied restrospectively. All these principles can be stipulated in this legislation. Chinese courts are notorious for failing to uphold the rule of law as they are overseen by the ruling communist regime. Some people in the territory fear the legislation could be applied retroactively and target people for actions committed in the past that could carry a heavy sentence under the new law, details of which have not been revealed. Critics of the legislation fear it will stifle freedoms in the former British colony, including freedom of speech and an independent judiciary, which are seen as key to its success as a global financial hub. The law has reignited anti-government protests after a lull for much of this year due to coronavirus, although police have moved swiftly to stamp out recent rallies, in many cases citing a ban on groups of more than eight people to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong insist the law will focus on troublemakers who pose a threat to national security. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) Carinderias and eateries are now allowed to accommodate dine-in customers in areas under general community quarantine, so long as they follow the same health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). Allowed na din sa carinderia at mga mas maliliit na restaurants pero syempre yong health protocols natin, yong guidelines natin on dine-in, covered na din sila, Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo told CNN Philippines Tuesday. [Translation: Carinderias and small restaurants are also allowed to accommodate dine-in customers, but they are also covered by the health protocols and guidelines.] The IATF earlier gave the go signal for restaurants in areas under GCQ to resume their dine-in services starting Monday. RELATED: IATF OKs reopening restaurant dine-in under GCQ areas Castelo said that there is no distinction between small and big restaurants in the guidelines, therefore the health protocols must be strictly observed by both. The Trade official noted that implementing physical distancing, wearing of face masks, and operating on 30 percent capacity should be followed by the smaller restaurants as well. Customers also have the option to bring their own utensils and water bottles. Just like big restaurants, eateries are also required to record the basic details of their customers for contact tracing purposes, according to Castelo. Customers are encouraged to give their correct contact numbers kasi maraming instances na nangyayari na ayaw magbigay ng customers ng phone numbers nila, she said. [Translation: Customers are encouraged to give their correct contact numbers because there are many instances that customers refuse to give their phone numbers] S wiss police are hunting the mystery owner of a bag of gold bars worth 182,000 francs (152,000) that was left on a train. The bullion was discovered in the carriage of a Swiss Federal Railways train travelling from St Gallen to Lucerne in October last year. Officials said the owner of the 3kg haul of gold could not be tracked down despite "extensive investigations". In a statement, published in the local Government Lucerne Canton Gazette, authorities said the parcel has been confiscated by the public prosecutor's office. The discovery has now been made public in the hope the owner will come forward. Officials said the owner has five years to make a claim. Simon Kopp, the information officer for the public prosecutors office of Lucerne, told CTVNews that the gold was discovered in a parcel by a train worker, and that they do not suspect it is connected to any crime. According to Swiss Info, the Swiss Federal Railways centralised lost and found service receives around 300 objects a day that have been left behind on trains. The most valuable misplaced object remains a 1727 Stradivarius violin left behind in 2012. The violin was believed to be worth around 2.4 million (2.1 million). Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and former writer-researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. can apply for probation following their conviction for a cyber libel case, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday. I caution, of course, Maria Ressa and Mr. Santos that their penalty is actually subject to probation, Roque, who has served as a libel defense lawyer himself, told CNN Philippines The Source. Walang kulong yan (theres no prison time there). If they want, they can just apply for probation and they can be scot-free. But when they appeal, and if they lose their appeal, then they have to serve time, he added. Rapplers legal camp earlier said it will file an appeal against the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46s Monday ruling, which sentenced both journalists to up to six years in jail for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The case stemmed from a 2012 Rappler investigative article which reported on businessman Wilfredo Kengs alleged connection to illegal activities. Roque, upon reading the decision, said he found no defense evidence offered by Rappler to prove there was no malice in the process of crafting the article. I was surprised that there was also no defense evidence offered to prove the absence of maliceThey only presented two witnesses and there was really no witness that took the stand to say that they went out of their way to verify their facts, he said, adding Rappler's camp could have gotten public records on Kengs case to prove the accounts. Opposition groups, human rights advocates, and netizens earlier slammed the decision in the high-profile case, saying how the Philippines press freedom is set to suffer a blow. As Ressa's guilty verdict hogged international headlines, among those who voiced support for her was former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "Maria Ressa was convicted in the Philippines yesterday for doing her job. As Amal Clooney wrote, the message to other journalists is 'Keep quiet, or youll be next,'" Clinton said on Twitter. "We must fiercely protest attacks on the press. They are attacks on democracy," she added. Rappler, for its part, said the ruling has made the space for a free press, free speech, and free expression even tighter and narrower. Roque, however, reiterated that the conviction was not politically motivated, stressing that the case was filed by a private complainant. He earlier noted that President Rodrigo Duterte supports free speech and press freedom in the country. By Ayya Lmahamad The volume of trade turnover between Italy and Azerbaijan increased by 13.82 percent year-on-year in January-April, amounting to $2.5 billion, the official website of Azerbaijans Energy Ministry has reported with reference to the videoconference of the two countries Joint Intergovernmental Commission on economic cooperation. It was noted during the video conference that the volume of import and export also increased by 14.50 and 13.77 percent in 2020 respectively. Between January-April 2020, Italy's share in Azerbaijan's foreign trade turnover was 26.36 percent (1st place), including 38.15 percent in exports (1st place) and 4.39 percent in imports (6th place). The videoconference was held in a bid to discuss the tasks set by the president during his visit to Italy in February this year, as well as the status of execution of the signed documents. The videoconference was attended by Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and State Secretary of Italy for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Manlio Di Stefano, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC, AZPROMO, State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as International Cooperation of Italy and several Italian companies. During the conference, views were exchanged on the current situation and prospects for international cooperation, bilateral relations during the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, the sides discussed measures taken in the country to fight COVID-19, allocation of $10 million by the Azerbaijani government to the World Health Organization, as well as provision of humanitarian aid to the countries suffering from the pandemic, including Italy. Co-Chairman of the Commission and Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov noted that the state visit of Azerbaijani President to Italy on 20-21 February was historic in terms of further development of relations between the two countries. "During this visit, which further strengthens the strategic approaches to political and economic relations of friendly partner countries, agreements were reached that will allow to see the benefits of Azerbaijan-Italian partnership in all areas, as well as in regional and global spheres. Despite the difficulties associated with the pandemic, we must continue our efforts to implement the action plan on strengthening the multidimensional strategic partnership, he said. Furthermore, it was considered expedient to hold the first meeting on Azerbaijan-Italian strategic dialogue in the third quarter of 2020 and to hold regular political consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries, as well as to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and contacts within international organizations. State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Manlio Di Stefano expressed his gratitude to the president and the government of Azerbaijan for their assistance in a difficult period. He assessed this support as an indicator not only of the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy, but also of sincere friendship. He also expressed Italy's support to the Azerbaijani president's initiative to hold a special session of the UN General Assembly at the level of heads of state and government on the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Manlio Di Stefano noted that Azerbaijan is an important partner of Italy. "Last year Azerbaijan was the largest supplier of crude oil to Italy. The state visit of the President of Azerbaijan is a solid foundation for multilateral development of relations between the two countries at a new stage, based on strong energy cooperation, he stated. Likewise, during the meeting was touched upon an issues of strengthening economic cooperation, including the expansion of investment cooperation, as well as Issues arising from the documents on cooperation signed with Ansaldo Energia, Snam S.p.A., Cassa Depositi Presti SpA, Leonardo, IMA, Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and Simest. The importance of timely coordination of the projects of "Agreement on Protection and Promotion of Mutual Investments between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Italian Republic" and "Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Guardia di Finanza of Italy" was also noted. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A lie doesnt become truth, a wrong doesnt become right, and evil doesnt become good just because its accepted by a majority: said Booker T Washington. Whether bias and prejudice are based on religion, race, colour or identity the evil and injustice of it is profoundly wrong. Criminality If my law school knowledge of criminal law remains current, to prove criminality there must be present both actus reus (wrongful act) and mens rea (guilty mind). An accused may have committed an appalling crime but if whilst insane (no mens rea) s/he would be adjudged unfit to plead or stand trial being not guilty but insane and incarcerated during Her Majestys pleasure, generally meaning for life. An example from yesteryear A drug-crazed young mother took her tiny baby by the hands and alternately dunked her in a tub of boiling water and another of freezing water to drive out the devil. The babys skin peeled off and mercifully she died of heart failure. That mother is in a mental asylum for the criminally insane having been declared unfit to stand trial. And the baby? In heaven in the safe presence of her heavenly Father. The movie The powerful Oscar winning movie Green Book portrayed the horrible racial prejudice that plagued the American deep south in the 1960s. One of the finest classical pianist of his time, the principal character was frowned upon because of his African skin colour even though underneath were identical. He was barred from eating in white mans restaurants, was accorded grossly inferior tiny dressing rooms in which to change and was ushered to grubby substandard toilets down the backyard rather than the Gentlemans Convenience in the opulent residences where recitals took place before hundreds of white guests. The Green Book recorded the negro quarters in southern cities where lodgings for these substandard people were located. And yet white people came in their hundreds to listen to him play spellbinding classical music always only on Steinway grand pianos. This God-gifted man suffered demeaning, hurtful, evil racism at every turn. Jesus crime During His short 33 year earthly life Jesus never committed actus reus and never had mens rea. Despite His many accusers He could confidently plead: Can any of you prove Me guilty of sin? (John chapter 8 verse 46). Yet He suffered diabolically at the hands of jealous selfish religious leaders whose sole concern was preserving their privileged positions, He having trod on their patch. Although said of David the following words more painfully apply to Jesus: they hate Me without reasonmany are My enemies without cause who seek to destroy Me. (Psalm 69 verse 4) His trial A farce in which the power of the religious elite triumphed: where the sole issue was neither a wrongful act nor a guilty mind but His identity. Jesus never responded to false accusations of wrongdoing: only to false allegations about who He was. The council of elders asked Him: are you then the Son of God? He replied: you are right in saying I am. Then they said: why do we need any more testimony? So the whole assembly took him to the Roman governor and: began to accuse him saying: We have found this man subverting our nation. Heclaims to be Christ a king. (Luke chapter 22 verse 70 - chapter 23 verse 2). It could never be more alien to any fair-minded person, especially to a lawyer schooled in the British legal tradition that the sole issue was the accuseds identity. The judge (Pilate) could find no guilt in Him but to satisfy the hysterical screech of the crowd, in his damning act of cowardice handed Jesus over to suffer the most gruesome humiliating execution. His Green Book During earthly life, ever since and endlessly into the future Jesus has had (and will have) undeserved opposition stacked against Him solely because of His identity. But a time is coming when, in His sovereignty and righteousness, King Jesus will triumphantly reign for evermore and bias and prejudice will be banished. Its not fair If someone had lived a wretched life of persecution and deep hurt caused by bias and bigotry wouldnt it be unfair of God if upon death that sufferer didnt go to heaven? But we wouldnt know, its none of our business and thats not the basis for entry anyway. No-one deserves their place in heaven including because of experience. It is by grace [unmerited favour] you have been savedit is the gift of God. (Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8). The good news (gospel) of eternal salvation is stated thus: It saves you if you hold firmly to belief that:- (1) Christ died for your sins; (2) was buried; (3) was raised on the 3rd day. (1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 3-6). At its simplest Gods stated ground for graciously saving anyone to His heaven is that: if you confess with your mouth Jesus is LORD and believe in your heart that God the Father raised Him from the dead you will be saved. (Romans chapter 10 verse 9). Its all about Jesus and how we respond to Him. Death of death God explains why Jesus resurrection is critically important: If Christ has not been raised your faith is futile; you are still in your sinsIf only for this life we have hope in Christ we are to be pitied more than all men. (chapter 15 verses 17 & 19). By rising to indestructible life sinless Jesus defeated for us the last enemy of life: death. He says: the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke chapter 17 verse 21). His kingdom is not of territory or lands but of human hearts and minds. Every citizen of that kingdom is heaven-bound. Pakistani Church authorities express their objection over a job advert in local dailies offering cleaning jobs exclusively to non-Muslims. By Vatican News Church authorities have voiced their disapproval with Pakistans Sindh government over the publication of a job advertisement considered to be discriminatory towards minorities. The state-run Municipal Corporation (West) Karachi, on 1 June, announced 28 job vacancies of different categories in local newspapers. However, it reserved sanitary jobs exclusively for non-Muslims. Reacting to this, the vicar general of Karachi Archdiocese and director of its National Commission for Justice and Peace, Father Saleh Diego met with the governments representative on minority affairs, Naveed Anthony, to express objections and request the lawmaker to look into the matter. Not the first time This is not the first time that government advertisements have hurt the sentiments of religious minorities. It is totally unacceptable, Father Diego said. In June 2019, a similar advert by the Pakistani army drew reactions from Christian activists for being discriminatory towards the minority community. The advertisement was later withdrawn by the army. We have repeatedly appealed to government officials to put an end to the culture of placing advertisements that further stigmatize marginalized minorities. The Sindh government must take note of the ad and take action against those who are involved in it, Father Diego stated. Job situation of minorities Pakistans Christian minorities make up 80 percent of the countrys sanitation workforce, according to a study by Open Doors USA. This is despite the fact that they make up 1.6 percent of Pakistans total population. For example, in 2015, Lahore Waste Management Company alone employed 7,894 sewer sweepers, the majority of them Christians. The same study also cites the Capital Development Authority employing 1,500 sweepers for Islamabad, all of them Christians. YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service of Armenia issued a statement announcing about new discoveries about the activity of the Prosperous Armenia party. According to the information collected by the NSS, during the May 14, 2017 Yerevan City Council elections, state officials persuaded nearly 100-120,000 eligible voters in Armenia, both materially or illegally, to formally move from their actual places of registration and register temporarily in different addresses of Yerevan administrative districts in order to include these persons to the voters lists of local self-government bodies, thus providing the necessary number of in favor votes during the elections. In addition, it was also revealed that the members of the Prosperous Armenia political party, founded in 2004, distributed bribes during various elections for voting in favor of their party, candidate in order to receive their desired result. Criminal case has been launched over the incident. Based on the preliminary investigation of the criminal case, respective facts were collected according to which Prosperous Armenia party MP, chairwoman of the parliamentary standing committee on human rights and public affairs Naira Zohrabyan repeatedly insulted numerous citizens during her conversations with the supporters when summing up the results of the elections which were held in Armenia after the 2018 Revolution. It was also revealed that during her talks with the same supporters Naira Zohrabyan also repeatedly accepted the fact that the Prosperous Armenia party managed to receive the necessary number of votes during the previous elections exclusively by distributing bribes to the Armenian citizens. On June 14 leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan was taken to the National Security Service for questioning. He stayed there until 23:30. Tsarukyans supporters organized a rally outside the NSS demanding to stop the actions against the lawmaker. Earlier the NSS issued a statement according to which a company, that is included Gagik Tsarukyans Multi Group Concern, has caused tens of billions of drams in damage to the state. In another statement, the NSS said it revealed numerous cases on giving bribes to voters by the Prosperous Armenia party members, as well as candidates to vote in favor of the party during the April 2, 2017 parliamentary elections. MONTREAL, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) CAE announced today that Todd Probert, who was appointed to the position of Group President, Defence and Security in January 2020 will step down effective June 26 to pursue a job opportunity within the U.S. National Security community. Heidi Wood Interim Group President, Defence & Security Executive VicePresident, Business Development & Growth Initiatives (CNW Group/CAE INC.) "Todd's first passion is for the U.S. National Security community and he has decided to step down from his role at CAE to pursue a job opportunity in that domain. We wish him success in his new role," said Marc Parent, CAE's President and CEO. "Heidi R. Wood, who recently joined CAE as Executive Vice President, Business Development and Growth Initiatives, will act as interim leader while we initiate our search for a new leader. Our Defence business is comprised of an excellent global team and we will continue supporting our customers with the most innovative training and mission solutions." Prior to CAE, Heidi established herself as an industry thought leader in Aerospace and Defence, both in her capacity at Morgan Stanley and most recently at L3 Technologies, where she led the merger with Harris Corporation, resulting in it becoming the 6th largest US defence prime. About CAE CAE is a global leader in training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. Backed by a record of more than 70 years of industry firsts, we continue to help define global training standards with our innovative virtual-to-live training solutions to make flying safer, maintain defense force readiness and enhance patient safety. We have the broadest global presence in the industry, with over 10,500 employees, 160 sites and training locations in over 35 countries. Each year, we train more than 220,000 civil and defence crewmembers, including more than 135,000 pilots, and thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide. www.cae.com Follow us on Twitter: CAE_Inc SOURCE CAE INC. Related Links http://www.cae.com/ Kourtney Kardashian always slays. She is known for her street looks and casual outfits, but she also knows how to switch things up all while remaining true to her original sense of style. The Poosh founder can truly rock anything and turn the most basic items into an outfit, from plain white tees and pajamas to most recently a flannel that fans say belongs to Scott Disick. Thats right lets discuss more here. Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian at a club in April 2015 | Denise Truscello/WireImage Kourtney Kardashian wore the shirt in a recent Instagram photo Kardashian took to Instagram on June 14 and shared a photo of her hugging a lamb while sporting the flannel. The same day, a fan page posted the picture alongside a photo of Disick in a similar shirt. The caption read, KOURTNEY IS REALLY WEARING SCOTTS FLANNEL! Fans commented on the similarities in the comment section, with one person writing: When I saw that shirt, I raised an eyebrow. Someone else seemed a bit skeptical, though, saying, I hope thats his flannel. As of writing, neither Kardashian or Disick has addressed the speculation. More on Kourtney Kardashians photo According to Us Weekly, the photo was taken in Wyoming, where Kardashian is reportedly vacationing with Disick, their three kids, and the rest of their family. Theyre all having a fun time doing family activities like swimming, etc, an insider told the outlet. The trip comes just weeks after Disick joined Kardashian and their kids for a vacation to Utah for Memorial Day weekend. The Utah getaway came on the heels of Disicks split from Sofia Richie, whom he began dating in 2017. E! News reported at the time that Richie had called off their relationship so Disick could focus on issues that led to him spending time in rehab in late April. Sofia thinks Scott has a lot on his plate right now and thinks its best for them to be apart so he can focus on himself. She is only looking out for him and his best interest and it was primarily her decision for them to split, the source shared. Sofia has been spending time with her family and has taken the majority of her stuff out of Scotts house. RELATED: Report Says Scott Disick and Sofia Richie Broke Up in Part Due to His Love for Kourtney Kardashian As he works to better himself, the E! News source also said he had been leaning on Kardashian for support. Kourtney knows how to handle Scott and he is always in a better headspace when he gets to spend time with his kids, the insider continued, referencing the Utah trip. She has really been there for him since his rehab exit, and has had a lot of sympathy towards him. Kourtney Kardashians romantic relationship with Scott Disick ended years ago Kardashian and Disick dated off-and-on between 2006 and 2015. The Poosh founder broke up with Disick for good when he was seen partying with a group of women, including an ex-girlfriend. But despite their split, the two have remained friends and continue to co-parent their children. The truth is, my problems shouldnt affect the kids, Disick said in a 2019 interview with Us Weekly. Just because their mother and I couldnt make it as a perfect, romantic couple shouldnt have anything to do with the kids. They dont deserve our mistakes, so we figured out a way. Its amazing to see them in this space after everything theyve been through. Keep it up, you two. Read more: Kourtney Kardashian Says This Put a Strain On Her Relationship with Scott Disick John Okiyi Kalu, Abia commissioner for information, says many health workers in the state might have been infected with COVID-19 as ... John Okiyi Kalu, Abia commissioner for information, says many health workers in the state might have been infected with COVID-19 as a result of unknowingly attending to patients without full protection. Kalu disclosed this on Monday while responding to questions on the COVID-19 situation in the state. The state recorded 15 new cases of the disease on Sunday, and is now the 16th state with the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country. A total of 166 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the state. The rate of infection of medical workers in Aba is very high, which means that a lot of COVID-19 patients are presenting themselves to hospitals and our medics are attending to them without full protection, he said. According to the commissioner, the increasing number of cases has compounded Abias case with very few spaces left for confirmed cases. Kalu decried residents nonchalant attitude to the pandemic, saying they vehemently refuse to obey governments directives on COVID-19 including wearing of face masks and observing of physical distancing, NAN reported. He said such attitude has thrown the city into a grave danger. The commissioner cited reports from Aba central mosque on hospital road, which he described as very dangerous and worrisome for everyone in the COVID-19 era. He added that the state inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19 has directed the Aba south local government transition committee chairman to enforce regulations at the mosque on Friday and during other prayer sessions. At the moment, Abia is having more samples than any other state in the south-east which is good, because unless we identify where this problem is coming from, we may not be able to deal with it, he said. Weve done our mapping by local government and one thing is clear, majority of the new cases are coming from the Aba area and its alarming. It looks like all the sensitisation, all the efforts made by the media, have not worked because Aba people continue to violate the regulations with regard to face masks wearing, and social distancing. The churches are part of the problem. It looks like Aba is a red location for COVID-19 infection and all hands should be on deck now to stop the spread there. Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event devoted to the reopening of the U.S. economy during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 11, 2020. Joe Biden and the Democrats have been hauling in record fundraising totals ever since he won a landslide of primaries during Super Tuesday in March, which helped propel him to become the party's presumptive nominee for president. Much of that success is due to small-dollar donors. Biden's campaign announced Monday that it, along with the Democratic National Committee, raised over $80 million in May, a historic amount, with an average donation of $30. As noted on Twitter by Biden's deputy campaign manager, Rufus Gifford, the total surpassed President Barack Obama's 2012 May haul and Hillary Clinton's final amount over the same time period when she ran for president in 2016. Yet some bundlers working the fundraising circuit for Biden have started noticing that some big-money donors in their networks have been absent in recent weeks, according to people with knowledge of the matter. They declined to be named as these fundraising efforts are made in private. Some influential donors remain too busy with their own businesses in dealing with the coronavirus. Others are not yet sold on Biden's candidacy and are waiting to see whom he picks as his running mate. "We don't have every big donor already in, but many are, and we continue to recruit," said one active Biden fundraiser. Another pointed to how some financiers had stronger relationships with past candidates, such as the Clintons, but said eventually they'll all fall in line. "The biggest donors have money to give but they just had a much longer history and connection to [the Clintons]," another fundraiser said. "They will get more active, especially after a VP is announced." Others, such as Ken Jarin, a partner at Ballard Spahr who is fundraising for Biden, say that they haven't struggled with getting support from wealthier donors and that it's a combination with support at the grassroots level giving the former vice president a recent run of success. "There is tremendous enthusiasm both at a grassroots level and with higher level donors and raisers," Jarin said, while noting a recent virtual event that he co-hosted with former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and others, raised $1.6 million. "We raised from $500 to $50,000. Virtually no one I reached out to turned me down." While support from big-money players has been inconsistent, Biden has had to rely on a large number of small-dollar supporters in order to keep up with Trump's financial war chest. So far, it has worked out for the former vice president. The Biden campaign alone raised close to $42 million in April, with a little over $16 million, or 37%, coming from small donations, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. President Donald Trump, on the other hand, saw $9 million of almost $16 million come from donors giving less than $200. Those totals do not include the respective campaigns' combined efforts with the DNC and the Republican National Committee or the amounts that have been raised by super PACs supporting either candidate. Biden has been ahead of Trump in most national polls, with a Real Clear Politics polling average showing the commander in chief down by close to seven points in the wake of his response to the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd. Biden's campaign has seen a surge of donor support since the Floyd protests started in late May. Last week, a fundraiser featuring Sen. Kamala Harris, which featured tickets starting at $500 and going up to $100,000, sold out and ended up bringing in $3.5 million for Biden and the DNC. That event saw a surge in support from small-dollar donors, even from those who couldn't attend. A fundraiser helping raise cash for the event said there were hundreds of contributions from donations ranging from $5 to $25 from supporters who were willing to contribute for the event but did not participate. This person has already helped raise just over $3,000 for another Harris event on Thursday by selling $250 tickets. Obama himself will be hosting a virtual grassroots fundraiser on June 23, allowing contributors to donate any amount they want in order to participate. A source of future big money may be coming from what was once deemed an unexpected source: Sen. Elizabeth Warren. A virtual fundraiser on Monday featuring Warren raised $6 million for the Biden Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee between Biden's campaign and the DNC. There were 620 people in attendance. Tickets for that event started at $250 and went up to $100,000. When she ran for president, Warren was a staunch advocate of her campaign being funded by grassroots donations and shunned taking part in private donor events. The gathering proves that while some establishment donors are still uncommitted to Biden, other wealthy progressive contributors are following Warren's lead after she endorsed the presumptive nominee in April. Biden addressed Warren's efforts to raise money at the fundraiser Monday. "Thank you for asking your friends to help me out. It's the biggest fundraiser we've ever had. And it's all because of you," he said. Both Warren and Harris are reportedly being vetted by Biden's VP search committee. Former Obama national security advisor Susan Rice, Rep. Val Demings and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are also reportedly on the shortlist. Bundlers say that some donors who have the ability to give six-figure checks have sometimes been on the sidelines since the start of the summer, while the pandemic has hit the economy and executives have struggled to find the time to raise cash for Biden. There are other factors, these people added, as to why wealthy donors, who can now give just over $620,000 to a joint fundraising committee that raises money for the campaign and the Democratic National Committee, are staying quiet on Biden. Some say that the party donors aren't sold yet on Biden's candidacy and are waiting out the summer months to give to him, one of the people said. Others said that wealthy financiers are waiting to see who Biden selects as his running mate, with many pressuring his team not to select Warren, who is a staunch critic of big business. Another explained that some wealthy donors have yet to hear from Biden or his aides to ask for their help and have taken that as a sign that they don't need to immediately get involved. Still, campaigns over the last few election cycles have evolved in focusing their efforts on raising small-dollar contributions and less on searching for larger contributions. Four years ago, Clinton's campaign and her supportive super PACs finished raising over $769 million, with 52% of those contributions coming from donations over $200, according to data from CRP. Only 18% of those total donations were worth less than $200. That same cycle, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton's main primary opponent, raised close to 57% of his campaign funds off small-dollar contributions. Obama in 2012 raised nearly half of his money on smaller contributions as well. A spokesman for Biden did not respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump said Monday he is ordering a major reduction in U.S. troop strength in Germany, a move widely criticized by members of his own party as a gift to Russia and a threat to U.S. national security. We're putting the number down to 25,000 soldiers, Trump said at the White House. The U.S. currently has about 34,500 troops in Germany far fewer than during the Cold War, when Germany was the central focus of American and NATO efforts to deter invasion by the former Soviet Union. In recent decades, Germany has hosted key American military facilities and provided a jumping-off point for troops deploying to the Middle East, including during years of conflict in Iraq. Trump faulted Germany for failing to pay enough for its own defense, calling the long-time NATO ally delinquent." We're protecting Germany and they're delinquent. That doesn't make sense, the president said, referring to Germany's failure thus far to attain a goal set by all NATO members in 2014 to spend at least 2% of gross national product on defense by 2024. Germany says it hopes to reach 2% by 2031. Since his election in 2016, Trump has pushed for the 2% as a hard target, and he has repeatedly singled out Germany as a major offender, though many others are also below the goal. In his White House remarks to reporters, Trump suggested his troop withdrawal decision was intended to punish Germany, noting that the presence of American troops is a boost to local economies. Those are well-paid soldiers, he said. They live in Germany. They spend vast amounts of money in Germany. Everywhere around those bases is very prosperous for Germany. So Germany takes, and then on top of it they treat us very badly on trade. In addition to the 34,500 U.S. troops in Germany, there also are approximately 17,500 Defense Department civilians. The administration has contemplated a partial troop withdrawal from Germany since last year, and in recent weeks it became apparent that Trump was ready to move forward, although no decision had been announced. The decision was not discussed in advance with Germany or other NATO members, and Congress was not officially informed prompting a letter from 22 Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee urging a rethink. The threats posed by Russia have not lessened, and we believe that signs of a weakened U.S. commitment to NATO will encourage further Russian aggression and opportunism, Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas wrote in a letter to Trump with his colleagues. Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, slammed Trumps move as another favor to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming, said last week that Trump appeared to be making a serious mistake. Americas forward presence has never been more important than it is today, as our nation confronts the threats to freedom and security around the world posed by Vladimir Putins Russia and the Chinese Communist Party, Cheney said. "Our presence abroad is critical to deterring these adversaries, bolstering alliances, maintaining peace through strength, and preserving American leadership. Withdrawing our forces and abandoning our allies would have grave consequences, emboldening our adversaries and making war more not less likely. American facilities include Ramstein Air Base, a critical hub for operations in the Mideast and Africa and headquarters to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa; the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, which has saved the lives of countless Americans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan; and the Stuttgart headquarters of both the U.S. European Command and the U.S. Africa Command. Theres also the Wiesbaden headquarters of U.S. Army Europe, the Spangdahlem F-16 fighter base and the Grafenwoehr Training Area, NATOs largest training facility in Europe. Trump indicated last summer that he was thinking of moving some troops from Germany to Poland, telling Polands President Andrzej Duda during an Oval Office meeting, Germany is not living up to what theyre supposed to be doing with respect to NATO, and Poland is. Duda has been trying to woo more American forces, even suggesting Poland would contribute over $2 billion to create a permanent U.S. base which he said could be named Fort Trump. In the current plan, at least some Germany-based troops are expected to be shifted to Poland. Copper Tapan Patel Commodity prices traded mixed with crude oil and most of the base metals down while Copper and bullion ended in green last week. Crude oil prices halted the six-week rally by falling more than 8 percent during the week. Most of the metals except copper traded down on slower demand growth while copper prices traded higher on lower supply concerns. Bullion prices traded higher on safe-haven buying on rising virus cases and slower economic recovery. Bullion prices traded strongly for the week as investors turned cautious over the US Fed's forecast of slower-than-expected economic growth. The US Federal Reserve in its economic outlook said that the US economy will shrink by 6.5 percent in 2020 and signalled near-zero rates till 2022. The spot gold prices at COMEX rose by more than 2 percent while Silver prices kept limited gains of 0.44 percent on weak base metals. The fall in equity indices on fear of the second wave of virus infections boosted buying in gold on risk-off sentiments. The Gold ETF holdings at SPDR Gold Shares rose to 1136.22 tonnes on Friday. Crude oil prices drifted lower for the week halting the six weeks rally on demand growth concerns. The benchmark NYMEX WTI crude oil prices plunged by more than 8 percent to $36 while ICE Brent oil prices fell below $39 during the week. Natural gas prices lost nearly 3 percent on weaker demand and ample supplies. Crude oil prices witnessed correction on weak global cues as the forecast of contraction in the US economy and rise in virus cases raised worries over demand recovery. The oil output cut effects from major oil producers have supported the oil market so far by reducing the glut. The US crude oil and natural gas rigs count continued to hit lows as many of US energy firms have shut productions. The total crude oil rigs fell by 7 to 199, as per data published by Baker Hughes. Base metals prices traded mixed for the week with most of the metals traded down except copper. Base metals prices previous week's gains witnessed selling pressure amid slower demand recovery. The concerns over slower than expected economic recovery triggered selling in base metals along with equity indices. Copper prices traded strongly during the week after the technical breakout on the charts and fears of supply disruption. The top copper-producing nation, Chile, has witnessed a sharp rise in virus cases as miners' union has called for a re-evaluation of the operational continuity. China's aluminium production for the month of May rose to 2.98 million tonnes. We expect base metals to trade sideways to down with MCX Copper June has important support at Rs 425 and resistance at Rs 452 for the coming week. The author is Senior Analyst - Commodities at HDFC Securities. : The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 04:31:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia has demanded the expulsion of two Czech diplomats in response to a similar step taken by the Czech authorities, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday. "On June 15, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Russian Federation Vitezslav Pivonka was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs," the statement said. Two employees of the Czech Embassy in Moscow were declared personae non gratae and were ordered to leave Russia together with their family members by the end of Wednesday, it said. The ambassador was told that the measure was a mirrored response to the provocative action of Prague, according to the statement. Earlier this month, the Czech Republic expelled two Russian diplomats. Enditem MorganFranklin Consulting Director Shannon Mullins Named Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Microsoft has awarded MorganFranklin (News - Alert) Consulting Director Shannon Mullins its 2020-2021 Most Valuable Professional award for outstanding contributions to the Business Applications community. Microsoft (News - Alert) has given this award for the past two decades in recognition of technology experts who share knowledge of Microsoft products and solutions. Shannon is an expert in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM and ERP applications. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005255/en/ Consulting Director, Shannon Mullins, Named Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) (Photo: Business Wire) "We are so proud of Shannon's accomplishments and the tireless work she does for her clients on a daily basis," said Geoff Harkness, Managing Director for MorganFranklin's Information Management & Technology Practice. "This well-deserved honor recognizes Shannon's deep knowledge of Microsoft solutions and her ability to help our clients increase effectiveness and efficiency through automation." Based in MorganFranklin's Nashville office, Mullins leads MorganFranklin's Microsoft practice nationally. She has more than two decades of experience in operational accounting, finance and consulting. She is also dedicated to building deep client, team and community relationships. "I am truly humbled to be honored as a Microsoft MVP for contributions to the Business Applications community," Mullins said. "I am so thankful to this community that I love and enjoy." Award recipients receive early access to Microsoft products, direct lines of communication with local and national Microsoft teams, and an invitation to the company's Global MVP Summit at its Redmond, Washington headquarters. About MorganFranklin Consulting MorganFranklin Consulting is a management advisory firm that works with leading businesses and government. The firm helps organizations address complex and transformational finance, technology and business objectives. MorganFranklin is headquartered in the Washington D.C. area with regional offices in Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Raleigh-Durham, and Nashville. The firm supports clients across the globe. MorganFranklin Consulting is the brand name referring to the global organization of MorganFranklin, LLC and its subsidiary, MorganFranklin Consulting, LLC. MorganFranklin, LLC is a subsidiary of Vaco Holdings, LLC. Vaco is a portfolio company of Olympus Partners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005255/en/ Saif Ali Khan Angry At People 'Gaining Mileage' From The Tragic Loss The Chef actor told Times of India, "Such terrible news about Sushant, such terrible news! There are so many people who've made comments so quickly. And it just seems to me that people are somewhere gaining some mileage from this poor fellow's tragedy, you know, whether it's to show compassion or to show interest or to show some political stance. So many people are talking rubbish in this nonstop kind of barrage on social media and it's just embarrassing, really, I think." 'A Day Of Silence Or Introspection Would Be Little More Becoming Than This Sudden Outpouring Of Love,' Says Saif He further added, "Out of respect for him, for Sushant's tragedy, maybe a day of silence or introspection would be a little more becoming than this outpouring of love - an outpouring of love from people who obviously didn't care about him and people who famously don't care about anybody else." Saif Ali Khan Calls Out Bollywood For Its Hypocrisy The actor admitted that the film industry is famously competitive and continued, "I mean, we don't care about anybody. You know, it's a very cutthroat line of work. But to pretend that you do care is like the ultimate hypocrisy and I think that's an insult to the dead, you know, it's an insult to the soul that's gone." Saif Finds The Sudden Display Of Love For Sushant A 'Little Difficult To Digest' The actor said that though nobody really cares in this town', they want to come across as empathetic to their fans. He also added that people writing lengthy social media posts are unlikely to show the same level of love and compassion in real life. "We live in an age where people write 10 lines for you on Twitter and will walk past you on the street - won't even touch you or shake your hand. You know, you get wished for your birthday, but people don't actually call you. There's no contact," he was quoted as saying by the leading daily. However, Saif Doesn't Quite Agree With People Blaming Bollywood Camp Rivalries For Sushant's Demise Speaking about it, he said, "People are failing people constantly. Everyone talking about him, even those saying who failed you or didn't fail you is, I think, somewhat exploiting his name. To take any stand at the moment, apart from just sorrow, and just saying that I'm really sad that he had no way out except this - any other comment is somewhere manipulating the situation, I feel. You have come across this as an opportunity to take a shot at somebody, and you're taking a shot." On being asked if Bollywood camps have an impact on an actor's career, he added, "These are the wrong comments to make now. I mean, you can say, listen, it's just really bad, what happened. It's really sad that this is the only way he could see out. But to blame anybody or to you know, draw these camps out, this is pathetic. I think it's a function of lockdown plus social media. And it's sad that film people can't think beyond films. We will all assume that this terrible thing happened to him because of his films. There is more to life. Maybe he was upset about other things in his life. Maybe it was a personal reason. Maybe it's nothing to do with films. If you can't see beyond that, you will put everything on that - the movies you do." The NSW Building Commissioner has revealed an apartment tower in western Sydney, which he says is probably the worst he's inspected, compelled him to convince the state government to give him the powers to clean up the industry. David Chandler has warned developers he will use his new powers to stop them forcing people who buy off-the-plan to settle on apartments in buildings with significant defects. With structural flaws in Sydney's Opal and Mascot towers still fresh in buyers' minds, Mr Chandler has set his sights on a 16-storey building in Auburn, which inspectors found to be riddled with fire hazards and building defects months after owners and tenants moved in. The Auburn apartment tower the building commissioner has named as 'probably the worst' he has seen. Credit:Kate Geraghty The commissioner described the apartment tower at 93 Auburn Road as "an abomination ... because it wasn't finished", and cited it as the "straw that broke the camel's back" in convincing the government to enact tougher powers to protect owners. Nepal is going to publish a new map, purportedly as a first step towards regaining their territory usurped by India. PM Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has been vociferously threatening India and fomenting nationalistic fervour against India. Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has been wondering why India is not talking to Nepal while they are doing it with the Chinese on the Ladakh issue. It is important to know what prompted Nepal to go on the warpath. Origins of the dispute Everyone knows that the boundary between India and Nepal runs along the Kali River, as enunciated in the Sugauli Treaty of 1816. The treaty neither had a map attached to it nor does it specify the origin of Kali River as can be discerned from CU Aitchison's A Collection Of Treaties, Engagements And Sanads Relating To India And Neighbouring Countries Vol II, published by the Superintendent Government Printing India, Calcutta in 1909. A few Nepali scholars like Mangal Siddhi Manandar and Hriday Lal Koirala refer to certain British Indian maps of 1816 and thereafter, showing Lumpiyadhura as the origin of Kali River, which is the basis for the new map being approved by the Nepal parliament. They also say that the maps published by British India after 1850 resorted to cartographic manipulation with a sinister motive and changed the boundary to Lipu Khola. In 1975, the Government of Nepal published a map showing the same Lipu Khola as the boundary, which the authors feel was due to 'incompetence'. Terming what Nepal Government did as incompetence and what the British Colonial power did as sinister, is not logical. According to international law, technically correct boundaries, however, could only be mapped when the survey and cartographic techniques were adequately advanced to facilitate its demarcation. In 1815 AD, the Court of Directors in London appointed Colin Mackenzie as the first Surveyor General of India, and in 1818 AD appointed Lambton as Superintendent of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India. By 1856 AD the party had only fixed the positions and heights of 36 snow-covered peaks. This repudiates the claims of some authors that the British maps of 1856 and before showed Lumpiyadhura as the origin of Kali River. Even if there were maps in circulation, they were not scientifically surveyed or published as part of an international treaty. Lack of logic Maps, which can be considered for settling the dispute are the ones printed by India and Nepal. The Survey of India published a map in 1954 and adopted by the Indian Parliament and a new one in 2019, which has not made any change in the India - Nepal Boundary. Nepal and China jointly printed a bilingual map as part of their bilateral Boundary Agreement in 1961 and thereafter the Nepal Survey Department printed a map in 1975. All these maps show Kali River originating near Lipulekh and not Lumpiyadhura as claimed by Nepal now. The claim was not existing before 1996. The issue can be clearly seen on the China-Nepal joint map, where Kali River is marked in the Nepali language. Nepal claims that Kuti-Yangti River is the actual Kali River, whereas it is clear in the map that Kali River originates near Lipulekh. The red line shows the China - Nepal Boundary, which starts from Tinker Lipu, which is the highest point between Lipu Dhura and Lipu Lekh passes and their Number 1 boundary pillar is on that point. The green line depicts the existing India-Nepal boundary, which deviates North of Gunji and runs along the watershed to Tinker Lipu. All these conform to the Indian position. The map is a part of an international agreement and Nepal cannot deny its veracity unless they renegotiate their boundary with China. No historic evidence Shyam Saran, who was the Indian Ambassador to Nepal from 2000 to 2004 and later The Indian foreign secretary said that while he was in Nepal as ambassador, the Kalapani issue was put on the agenda of the foreign secretary-level talks held in 2003, as requested by Nepal and when Indian side was ready to have a substantive discussion, the agenda item was dropped by the Nepali side. Apparently the purpose was to merely show that the Nepali side was taking up the issue seriously with India. In addition to the cartographic reason, there are historic evidence and revenue records to show that the area was always under the administrative control of India. There are also many agreements signed between India and China, which designate Lipulekh pass as the place for crossing over of pilgrims and traders of both countries. These and the fact that from 1816 to 1996, Nepal has never raised this claim, cast a shadow on the Nepalese intentions. The issue has, however, been a tool for exploiting the Nepalese nationalistic fervour by the monarchy and all political parties. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: Why India can't go soft on Nepal Arun M By Express News Service KOCHI: Public anger is simmering at the unfortunate death of Beena Noby, 43, in Perumbavoor town after splinters from the glass door of a nationalised bank, against which she had crashed, pierced her body. Outraged relatives and neighbours of Beena accused the bank authorities of showing criminal negligence in having a sheer glass door in a busy branch. However, the manager of the branch was not available for comment. It is for the first time we have even heard of such an incident. The woman rushed out to get something. It is said she left her scooters keys on the vehicle or money and was going to take it in a flash when she banged against the glass door. The injuries proved fatal, said Sani George, a member of Koovappady grama panchayat. According to him, the bank authorities should have used their discretion before mounting the door there. Beena and Noby, who runs an electrical shop, set up the business after taking loans. Beena was very active in Kudumbashree and frequently visited the bank, Sani added.Lalu, a relative of Beena, said, She used to visit the bank. The glass door was shattered when she banged against it. Normally, the glass panes of buildings would shatter so easily, he said. The branch of Vijaya Bank was recently changed to Bank of Baroda following the merger on April 1. According to the banks CCTV footage, though the woman managed to get back on her feet immediately, she was seen bleeding profusely. The bank staff rushed to her aid and helped her on to a chair. She remained seated there for a couple of minutes. By Rich McKay ATLANTA (Reuters) - Relatives of Rayshard Brooks, many of them in tears, called for justice and 'drastic change' in policing after a white Atlanta officer fatally shot the African-American man in the back, and the city's mayor called for a shake-up in the force. The death of 27-year-old Brooks, which the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office ruled a homicide, was the latest killing of a black man to spark nationwide outrage at police brutality and racial injustice. By Rich McKay ATLANTA (Reuters) - Relatives of Rayshard Brooks, many of them in tears, called for justice and "drastic change" in policing after a white Atlanta officer fatally shot the African-American man in the back, and the city's mayor called for a shake-up in the force. The death of 27-year-old Brooks, which the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office ruled a homicide, was the latest killing of a black man to spark nationwide outrage at police brutality and racial injustice. "We're tired and we are frustrated. Most importantly we're heartbroken, so we need justice for Rayshard Brooks," his cousin, Tiara Brooks, said at a family news conference. "The trust that we have in the police force is broken. The only way to heal some of these wounds is through a conviction and a drastic change in the police department," she added. Family members spoke of Brooks as a warm family man who loved to take his daughter skating. One man, after breaking down in tears, left distraught, shouting, "Somebody took my cousin!" More than 1,000 people marched on the Georgia state Capitol in Atlanta on Monday, calling for justice for Brooks and for other slain African Americans. "We are going to take over the Capitol every single day until they do their job," the Rev. James Woodall, president of the state NAACP civil rights group, told the crowd, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other media reported. As the crowd chanted for justice, the Georgia Assembly rebooted its 2020 session on Monday with a renewed call to pass a hate-crime law. Georgia is one of four U.S. states without a hate-crime law on the books. Hate-crime laws add punishments to offenses deemed to be racially motivated. The death of Brooks, and the separate shooting of a black jogger, Ahmaud Arbery, near the coastal town of Brunswick in February involving a former law enforcement officer, has driven calls for racial justice in the state. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms on Monday announced immediate reforms within the police department, including orders requiring police officers to de-escalate situations and imposing a duty to intervene when officers see another officer using excessive force. Bottoms told a media briefing that she felt after the death of Rayshard Brooks she could not wait for an advisory council to come up with recommendations to reform the police. "It was clear that we do not have another day, another minute, another hour, to waste," she said. She said the police must find a better way to handle confrontations, and said she is heartbroken over Brooks' death. "It pissed me off, it makes me sad, it makes me frustrated and there's nothing I can say that will change what happened Friday." CALL TO A RESTAURANT The fatal encounter on Friday night began when police responded to a call Brooks had fallen asleep in his car in a Wendy's restaurant drive-through lane. Caught on video, the encounter seemed friendly at first but when an officer moved to arrest him, Brooks struggled with him and another officer before breaking away across the parking lot with what appeared to be a police Taser in his hand. A video from the restaurant's cameras showed Brooks turning as he ran and possibly aiming the Taser at the pursuing officers, both white, before one of them fired his gun and Brooks fell. An attorney for Brooks' family, Chris Stewart, said the police should have let Brooks walk home rather than pursue and shoot him. "It didn't have to go to that level," he said. "Where is the empathy in just letting him walk home?" Atlanta's police chief, Erika Shields, resigned over the shooting. The officer suspected of killing Brooks was fired, and the other officer involved was put on administrative leave. Prosecutors will decide by midweek whether to bring charges, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said on Sunday. Brooks' death reignited protests in Atlanta after days of worldwide demonstrations against racism and police brutality prompted by the death of black American George Floyd when a Minneapolis policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes on May 25. Brooks' widow, Tomika Miller, implored the public to protest peacefully in her husband's name. "We want to keep his name positive," she said. (Reporting by Susan Heavey, Gabriella Borter, Nathan Layne and Rich McKay; Editing by Steve Orlofsky, Jonathan Oatis and Howard Goller) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. (Newser) Even after more than three decades, they're well-known in Belgium as the "Crazy Brabant Killers," for good reason. As the Guardian explains, the ruthless gang killed 28 people, including children, in a series of brazen robberies of supermarkets and other sites in the early 1980s. The raids abruptly stopped after a 1985 supermarket robbery in which the gang killed eight people and made off with less than $25,000, but police are still on the case. This week, detectives released a photo they received in 1986 of a man holding a semi-automatic rifle who is believed to be a member of the group. The move comes as investigators make a fresh start in cracking the case before the statute of limitations runs out in 2025. All kinds of theories have surfaced over the years, including that the gang members were part of, or at least had ties to, a since-disbanded police paramilitary force. story continues below That's partly because they were so proficient with weapons and partly because they were always one step ahead of police, notes the Brussels Times. Another theory holds that the motives were political, to destabilize the government at the time. Earlier this year, authorities began collecting DNA samples from hundreds of Belgians as part of the investigation. In a typical robbery, three men in face paintknown as the Giant, the Killer, and the Old Manwould take what cash they could and shoot anyone in their way. A wanted poster released by the Belgian Gendarmerie has sketches of the suspects. (Read more Belgium stories.) RESTON, Va., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, Plus3 IT Systems, LLC (Plus3 IT) has been named one of The Washington Post's Top Workplaces in the Washington, D.C. area. This year's list honors more than 200 companies including government contractors, law firms, nonprofits, schools, and businesses. Selection is based solely on employee feedback, which measured several aspects of workplace culture, employee satisfaction and growth potential, and company values. "Now in its seventh year, The Post's Top Workplaces list continues to highlight the companies that are leaders in the Washington-area in terms of employee engagement and satisfaction," said Washington Post Top Workplaces editor Dion Haynes. "We had a record number of employees participate in the survey this year, making it clear that these organizations have made cultivating an atmosphere of support and respect a priority." "As we approach our five year anniversary, Plus3 IT has made great strides in maturity of our processes and corporate mission. The consistent positive feedback from our staff that resulted in this award is a testament to our success as a company. That we have achieved this honor two years in a row evidences our commitment to providing a unique and stimulating culture backed by our strong corporate identity," said Plus3 IT VP, Corporate Operations, Jeanine Callahan. The full list along with additional content will run in print in a special Top Workplaces magazine on October 14 and will be available on The Post's site. The Washington Post will also host an awards ceremony in October to recognize the 200 top-ranked companies. Plus3 IT is a privately owned small business, headquartered in Reston, Virginia. As an expert-level cloud services firm, Plus3 IT supports mission requirements through the delivery of cloud adoption, cloud security, cloud native application development, cloud enabled data analytics, DevSecOps, and consulting services. Plus3 IT has proven and documented success supporting the Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), and Federal customers in all things related to cloud. Follow Plus3 IT Systems news on LinkedIn , Facebook , and @Plus3IT on Twitter. For general inquiries: [email protected] SOURCE Plus3 IT Systems Related Links http://www.plus3it.com Three former Victorian government ministers at the centre of the Labor Party branch-stacking scandal have been locked out of their parliamentary offices as anti-corruption investigators visited the home of disgraced former powerbroker Adem Somyurek on Tuesday. On another dramatic day in state politics, the government, while answering questions on the preservation of evidence, confirmed that "exclusions had been placed" on Mr Somyurek, Robin Scott and Marlene Kairouz entering their offices without supervision. Adem Somyurek outside his home in Lyndhurst on Tuesday. Credit:AAP Earlier in the day, Marlene Kairouz became the third frontbench casualty of the scandal, quitting her job as Minister for Gambling and Liquor Licensing after The Age revealed more branch-stacking activities the Kororoit MP had worked on with Mr Somyurek. Mr Somyurek was sacked from the ministry on Monday morning, after the explosive revelations of his branch-stacking activities were aired, with his close factional ally Mr Scott resigning later that day. North West may not have as many entrepreneurial ventures as either of her parents quite yet, but she's already just as famous. From her fashion trends for tots to her Sunday Service dance moves, Kim Kardashian is promoting her daughters vibrant personality across all social platforms, and the Internet is loving it. The daughter of Kanye West turned 7 on Monday and the Kardashian family celebrated her on social media, with her mother writing, I cant believe you are 7. Crazy how time has flown by so fast like this! You are everything and more than I ever dreamed of! The most stylist creative Gemini performer ever! I love you to your alien planet and back! Her mother also shared a series of pictures and videos of North on Instagram, which saw her dance with her siblings, don a mermaid costume for a picture with her parents and grin at her mother in a shot from their trip to Armenia. Although the lockdown restrictions in Los Angeles made it impossible for North West to have a birthday party, it does appear that her family pulled out all the stops to make sure she had a fabulous birthday anyways. Kim shared videos of a grand fireworks display and a massive yurt, where two figures could be seen dancing. North is also very close to her cousin Penelope Disick, who is Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disicks daughter, and Kourtney shared photos of the pair to celebrate Norths birthday. The pair, who were seen rocking tie dye in a rural landscape, posed with one another as Kourtney wrote, My Northie birthday girl. Norths grandmother, Kris Jenner, also shared a loving post dedicated to her beautiful granddaughter Northie. She wrote, From the very first moment we met on the day you were born, you have brought all of us so much happiness and joy!! You are so creative and talented and funny and kind and you have the biggest best heart... what a blessing you are Northie. I love you to the moon and back and cherish every moment we get to be together. Once the current Kardashian generation fades from the spotlight and the younger one takes the stage, North will most certainly be the star of the show. Heres a compilation of all of her best moments to date. North made a statement from birth she was born five weeks early on June 15, 2013 weighing just four pounds and 15 ounces. North's first birthday party was modelled on Coachella, dubbed Kidchella, and held in Kourtney Kardashians backyard. The set-up was complete with a Ferris wheel, face painting and lip syncing. In 2015, while on her way home from ballet class, she assertively told the paparazzi, I said, no pictures! In 2016 Kim caught Kanye and North napping while they were out shopping with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. The reality star mother shared on Instagram, So today we went baby shopping with @johnlegend & @chrissyteigen Kanye & North were a little too quiet. We found them passed out in the middle of the store #TheRealLifeOfPablo. The five-year-old is already quite the fashionista. In 2018, she walked her first runway at The L.O.L. Surprise Fashion Show as one of the toy companys dolls, Thrilla. Dare we say she may take after her model aunt, Kendall? North has already been on the cover of a major magazine. In February 2019, the youngster graced the covers of WWD Beauty Inc.s magazine, starring as the face for their feature on the Alpha generation the kids born after Gen Z. Kim and Kanye's eldest also has moves. During Kanyes Sunday Service performances, his daughter often steals his spotlight, dancing while the choir sings. Her mother proudly captioned one of her videos, Her favorite part of the week is dancing during Sunday Service. North is the queen of dressing herself, coming up with some of the best combinations with her (and her mothers) wide range of wardrobe options. Last month, North even trying to wear her mothers boots for the day. Kardashian shared the photo on Instagram saying, Sooooo Miss North dressed herself and thought she was ready for the day until I explained she couldnt wear my boots. Its possible that North may also become a music video producer in the future, as she is already directing videos for her and her mother. Kardashian shared one of her works of art for the song Old Town Road on Instagram yesterday adding, What we do on maternity leave.... Directed and Choreographed by North @lilnasx. Hopefully, a music video with Kanye and North co-starring is up next. (Bloomberg) -- Grab Holdings Inc., the leading ride-hailing company in Southeast Asia, said it will cut 360 employees, or just under 5% of its total, as it reduces expenses to deal with an economic downturn and slow recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Chief Executive Officer Anthony Tan said the virus has had a broad impact on businesses and the economy, and it is taking steps to adjust to the challenges. In addition to the job cuts, the Singapore-based company plans to eliminate some non-core projects, consolidate functions and reallocate staff to newer initiatives, like delivery. It has become clear that the pandemic will likely result in a prolonged recession and we have to prepare for what may be a long recovery period, Tan said in a blog post. Over the past few months, we reviewed all costs, cut back on discretionary spending, and implemented pay cuts for senior management. In spite of all this, we recognize that we still have to become leaner as an organization in order to tackle the challenges of the post-pandemic economy. The cuts are the latest sign of troubles among the portfolio companies of SoftBank Group Corp. Founder Masayoshi Son had been perhaps the most enthusiastic backer of ride-hailing companies, investing about $3 billion in Grab and billions more in Uber Technologies Inc. and Chinas Didi Chuxing. Grab had become the most valuable startup in Southeast Asia as it expanded beyond ride-hailing into food delivery and other services. SoftBank booked profits as the valuations for such startups surged. But demand for ride-hailing services collapsed this year as countries around the world went into lockdown. SoftBank reported a record operating loss of 1.36 trillion yen ($12.7 billion) for the latest fiscal year as it wrote down the value of Uber and WeWork. Tan told employees about the layoffs at a virtual townhall Tuesday morning, after initially asking employees to go on voluntary no-pay leave to avoid such cuts. It is not planning to shut any offices, according to a spokesperson. Story continues In April, Tan said that Covid-19 presented the single biggest crisis Grab had faced in the eight years since its founding. He warned at the time that the startup would have to make tough decisions about cutting costs and managing capital. The company had more than 7,000 employees before the layoffs. As ride-hailing demand declined in Southeast Asia, Grab has tried to replace some of that lost business with food delivery, which is experiencing a surge in demand as people stay at home. In February, Grab raised more than $850 million to fund its push into financial services in the region. In Tans post, he said employees would be notified via email by 1 p.m. Singapore time on Tuesday if they are part of the cuts. He also detailed severance packages, equity vesting and insurance coverage. I assure you that this will be the last organization-wide layoff this year and I am confident as we execute against our refreshed plans to meet our targets, we will not have to go through this painful exercise again in the foreseeable future, he said. Though SoftBank has been a generous supporter of Grab for years, the Japanese company has signaled it will have to pull back. Last year after WeWorks spectacular implosion, Son agreed to bail out the company with more capital -- but he vowed he wouldnt rescue any other troubled startups. In part to reassure his own investors, spooked about the stability of the SoftBank empire, he urged founders to rein in excesses and focus on the bottom line. In his blog post, Tan suggested that Son and SoftBank still stand behind Grab. Our board and leaders continue to be bullish on our business outlook, he wrote. We will focus on adapting our core verticals such as ride-hailing, deliveries, payments and financial services to address the challenges and opportunities of the new normal. (Updates with SoftBank details from fifth paragraph) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. [June 16, 2020] Mastercard Announces Annual Meeting Results Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) announced the results of its annual meeting of stockholders, held today. At the meeting: The full slate of 14 directors was elected for a one-year term, to expire at the next annual meeting of stockholders The compensation for the company's executive officers was approved on an advisory basis The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers (News - Alert), LLP as the company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2020 was ratified When final voting results are available, they will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC (News - Alert)) on a Form 8-K and posted on the Investor Relations section of Mastercard.com. Separately, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 40 cents per share. The cash dividend will be paid on August 7, 2020 to holders of record of its Class A common stock and Class B common stock as of July 9, 2020. About Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005916/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] After flooding the U.S. with crude earlier this year, Saudi Arabia has all but cut off the taps to the American oil market. The kingdom has exported just one cargo to the U.S. so far in June, equivalent to about 133,000 barrels a day, tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show. That's about one-tenth of the 1.3 million barrels a day it shipped in April, when Riyadh flooded the global market during a brief price war against Russia. If the low pace of exports is sustained in the second half of the month, U.S. imports of Saudi crude could drop to the lowest level in 35 years, helping the American crude market re-balance, according to traders and analysts. "Saudi oil arrivals will fall just as domestic refiners will start raising runs and domestic production continues to decline," said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at consultant Energy Aspects. "U.S. refiners will have to import from elsewhere and run down stocks," she added. To be sure, several Saudi tankers haven't yet indicated their final destinations, so the final tally into the U.S. could be a tad higher. Yet the trend so far in June is unmistakable: The deluge of Saudi oil that threatened to overwhelm American refiners is dwindling. The April flood prompted U.S. politicians to complain loudly, with Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, tweeting in late April: "My message to the Saudis: TURN THE TANKERS THE HELL AROUND." Saudi oil industry officials, speaking privately, say the kingdom is unlikely to boost shipments into the U.S. in the second half of the month and into July. By slashing U.S. crude exports, the Saudis can influence the most highly visible oil market in the world as American customs data allow for near real-time monitoring of shipments. Less Saudi petroleum is likely to reduce the closely watched American crude stockpiles, amplifying the price impact. The recent inundation of Saudi crude in the U.S. is largely the lingering effect of a price war earlier this year. For much of 2019 and early 2020, Saudi Arabia shipped relatively little crude into America, with average arrivals running at about 475,000 barrels a day, according to U.S. government data. But that changed in April, when Riyadh opened the taps after failing to reach an agreement with its OPEC+ partners to cut production. Saudi crude takes about 45 days to reach the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. West Coast, so the impact of the April export flood wasn't felt until late May and early June, when U.S. imports of Saudi crude jumped to about 1.5 million barrels a day. As the Saudi tankers unloaded their cargo, U.S. crude stocks climbed to a record high, putting pressure on oil benchmarks. In early April, once the devastation wrought by the coronavirus on oil demand became evident, the OPEC+ alliance set aside its differences, embarking on record output cuts. Riyadh cut oil shipments to the U.S. to 645,000 barrels a day in May, tanker-tracking data show. That drop would become apparent in the second half of June and early July as the vessels arrive on U.S. coasts. The further export drop in the first half of June would become apparent in the second half of July. As of June 10, the U.S. had received almost 10 million barrels of Saudi crude, compared with 16.9 million barrels for all of June last year, according to U.S. Customs data compiled by Bloomberg and figures from the Energy Information Administration. In addition to slashing U.S. shipments, the kingdom this month has curbed exports to China to about 1.3 million barrels a day through June 15, compared with almost 2 million on average in May. Exports to India and Japan have increased so far this month, however. If I may indulge our governors penchant for cliches, this was a shot across the bow. I refer to a bill passed unanimously by the state Senate Monday that would reduce red tape and regulation for food and drink establishments that are permitted to open with outdoor seating. Restaurants, bars and caterers are economically vulnerable businesses that dont have the financial reserves to survive an extended shutdown or dramatically reduced income, said state Senate President Steve Sweeney in a press release. The release didnt specify exactly what red tape will be cut in the event Gov. Phil Murphy signs the bill into law. But it is Murphys own administration thats strangling the businesses in question. Consider that rule change that went into effect on Monday permitting restaurants to set up outdoor seating. Any liquor license-holder who wishes to provide outdoor service must pay $75 for a COVID-19 Expansion Permit that includes five pages of red tape. Many restaurants are at the brink of bankruptcy thanks to losing three months of business, said one restaurant owner. Thats Steve Lonegan, the outspoken former mayor of Bogota who gave Chris Christie a run for his money in the 2009 Republican gubernatorial primary. After leaving politics, Lonegan bought the Lido Restaurant in Hackensack. Lonegan said he had 38 employees until Murphy restricted indoor dining in March. He now has just a handful doing takeout orders. Even though we were shut down, property taxes were required to be paid and insurance is expensive, Lonegan said. This guys crap about letting us open outside is just slow death. Lonegan said his indoor capacity is 158 but he can serve only about 30 on the sidewalk. I walked in yesterday to Home Depot and people were lined up one after another in an airless store, he said. Why cant restaurants do the same? His fellow Bergen resident, Democratic state Sen. Paul Sarlo, is asking the similar questions. In that press release Sarlo said, We also need to set dates for restarting indoor service and catering businesses so they can make the plans needed to emerge from the shutdown. If Murphy heard that, he didnt let on. At his briefing Monday afternoon the governor touted the reopening of outdoor service but once again declined to set a date to resume indoor service. Evoking another cliche, Murphy continues to insist the state open up in baby steps. But thats caused more problems than its solved. One such baby step tripped up a lot of Shore towns as they opened up for the summer season. For some reason, the Murphy administration decided to let bars sell drinks, but only on a to-go basis. That meant there was no place to drink them legally. This created a lot of problems for towns like Point Pleasant Beach, where Paul Kanitra is mayor. Normally the drinkers would be restricted to the bars. But now theyve started drinking in public. And there arent enough cops to control them, Kanitra said. Thats because the Murphy administration postponed the training sessions for the special officers the town relies on to handle summer crowds. The special officers wont be done training until this Friday. But the town needed them last Tuesday. That was when a flash mob of young people showed up and stormed the beach, drinking beer and smoking pot and doing all those other things kids do when there arent enough cops to control them. Had we had our extra officers available for Tuesday night, we probably would not have been in the situation we were in, said Kanitra. It doesnt help that Murphy has also shut down the rides and arcades, he said. Were losing the family element, he said. But thats not the reason the governors popularity is plummeting, he said. The reason is Murphys inexplicable decision last week to defy his own stay-at-home order and attend a protest march that lacked social distancing. I think everybody lost their appetite for his plan, Kanitra said. Ive seen public sentiment here locally go completely in the opposite direction once he marched in the protest. Murphy got a dose of that mood swing yesterday when he was interviewed on the Asbury Park boardwalk by Savannah Guthrie of NBC News. Guthrie asked Murphy some tough questions, including the same question Lonegan asked about the Home Depot. As they spoke, a heckler could be heard ranting about the harm being done to businesses. At one point he termed Murphy a traitor. Now thats a curve the governor really needs to flatten. And unless he does so soon, hed better get ready for a long, hot summer. ADD - SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THE BILL WILL PERMIT: From the press release: The bill, S-2522, would facilitate reopening opportunities for restaurants, bars, and breweries to provide outdoor service on property they own such as decks, patios, yards and parking lots during the COVID-19 emergency without having to file an application with local planning or zoning boards. It would also allow licensed establishments to extend their liquor licenses to outdoor spaces without having to make a separate application and pay an additional fee to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which is required by the current executive order. Eva Marcille is leaving The Real Housewives Of Atlanta after three seasons. The 35-year-old star made the announcement about her exit from the Bravo reality show during an interview on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show on Tuesday. She said: 'I appreciate the bond of friendship that Ive made with my castmates and strong personal relationships I have with numerous executives and producers of Bravo. Moving on: Eva Marcille - seen in Atlanta back in March - is leaving The Real Housewives Of Atlanta after three seasons Squad goals: The 35-year-old star (pictured with her season 12 castmates) made the announcement about her exit from the Bravo reality show during an interview on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show on Tuesday 'I am thankful for the opportunity I was provided, however, after speaking with my family and representatives, I believe that what I hope to accomplish for the culture and community will be better served by focusing on other opportunities.' 'I look forward to serving the community on Ricky Smiley Morning show and finding other ways to be a voice during this transformational time during our country for people of color.' Marcille first joined he series in 2017 as a friend of Nene Leakes in Season 10 and quickly became a full-time castmember by season 11. Looking back: She said: 'I appreciate the bond of friendship that Ive made with my castmates and strong personal relationships I have with numerous executives and producers of Bravo' Shining star: Marcille first joined he series in 2017 as a friend of Nene Leakes in Season 10 and quickly became a full-time castmember by season 11 She said: 'The time that I spent on Housewives I enjoyed myself. I cried, I laughed, I obviously fought. 'Most importantly, I made some great friendships with some beautiful women.' Marcille explained that her future plans are more family-oriented include focusing on her three children: daughter Marley Rae, 6, (with ex Kevin McCall) and sons Michael Todd, 1, and Maverick, 8 months (with husband Michael Sterling). 'Most importantly, I made some great friendships with some beautiful women': Eva gave a shoutout to her fellow castmates 'I believe my time is up': Marcille explained that her future plans are more family-oriented include focusing on her three children: daughter Marley Rae, 6, (with ex Kevin McCall) and sons Michael Todd, 1, and Maverick, 8 months (with husband Michael Sterling) She explained: 'I believe my time is up. I have a 6-year-old daughter and two young boys still in diapers. They are 24 hours a day and there is a lot of work to be done. 'I decided to spend my time and energy focusing on my kids and my community. And not so much reality show business.' Eva has been in the limelight for quite sometime as she won the third cycle of America's Top Model back in 2004. Her last appearance on RHOA was on the reunion last month which was filmed via technology amid the COVID-19 pandemic as she made an emotional revelation. Breakdown: In Marcille's last appearance on RHOA, she broke down in tears and had to leave for a few minutes after becoming overwhelmed with emotions as she discussed her abusive ex Kevin McCall, revealing that he, 'beat me so bad' It was there where Marcille broke down in tears and had to leave for a few minutes after becoming overwhelmed with emotions as she discussed her abusive ex Kevin McCall, revealing that he, 'beat me so bad.' One of the episode's other big emotional moments comes when host Andy Cohen asked Eva asked about Marley changing her name, asking if her husband Mike Sterling is adopting her. 'I was sued by the donor,' who 'acted a fool in the classroom and got arrested,' Eva says, referring to her ex Kevin McCall. 'It was one of those things where I had definitely saw signs before. He beat me so bad,' Eva added about the abuse she endured when they were together, five years ago. Emotional Eva: One of the episode's other big emotional moments comes when host Andy Cohen asked Eva asked about Marley changing her name, asking if her husband Mike Sterling is adopting her Hate: 'I hate talking about him, he's such an a**hole,' Eva says while fighting back tears while removing her mic and walking off 'I can say five years later my life is completely different, thank god. Even though you know it's not your fault and yet you still feel guilt.' Eva says. 'He was put into my life so I could get my biggest sunshine Marley. I wouldn't take it back because then I wouldn't have her,' Eva says when she starts crying. 'I hate talking about him, he's such an a**hole,' Eva says while fighting back tears while removing her mic and walking off. Kenya asks if she can step off and cal Eva and she does, with Eva ultimately returning a few minutes later. Winner: Back in December, Marcille emerged triumphant in a court battle over their child custody arrangement as a judge in Fulton County, Georgia, dismissed her ex-boyfriend Kevin McCall's suit for custody and child support, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ Back in December, Marcille emerged triumphant in a court battle over their child custody arrangement as a judge in Fulton County, Georgia, dismissed her ex-boyfriend Kevin McCall's suit for custody and child support, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ. The model and reality star originally gained full custody in 2014 after McCall allegedly ransacked their home and tried to abduct their daughter Marley, now five. McCall originally took Marcille to court in Georgia in order to gain custody of their child and to set child support payments from the TV star. But the case was thrown out on a technicality, as the original custody arrangement had been decided by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, and McCall didn't provide a satisfactory answer to the court as to why the case should be moved down south. CEO of Speech Production, Enock Agyepong, has described as unfortunate activities of some leaders in Ghanas music industry, whose activities are contributing to the collapse of the industry. Labelling such people as thieves and nation wreckers, Mr. Agyepong said the increasing rate of corruption in the music industry had gravely affected the lives of many musicians especially, aged ones, who were finding it difficult to make ends meet. The music producer said the fight against corruption should not only target corrupt music stakeholders but also politicians and other leaders, whose corrupt activities had brought the industry to a standstill. In an interview with Daily Guide yesterday, Mr. Agyapong appealed to Ghanaian musicians to join in the campaign against corruption and other social ills by using their songs and stage performances to fight these. The current crop of musicians should be at the forefront of the fight against corruption, he said. He explained that corruption was one of the great problems, which was hindering service delivery in Ghana, as a lot of government funds had allegedly been misapplied by some leaders. He said the government was fighting corruption but was beset with a lot of challenges. He warned music stakeholders to desist from corrupt activities, which were likely to retard the industrys progress, adding we need the support of all and sundry to champion the war against corruption. The music producer appealed to the government to develop interest in funding some of the activities of the creative industry especially, the music industry. He said investing in music would help the industry break into the highly competitive global music market, which required not only talent, training and technological back up, but also funding. Mr. Agyepong further urged Ghanaian businessmen to invest in the music industry in Ghana. According to him, the government as well as business leaders have refused to invest in the music industry because of the bad perception they have about the industry. He was of the view that if Ghanaian businessmen and organizations invested in the music industry, the country could use showbiz to create a positive image and project the country positively to the world. He said despite the abundance of music talents in the country, there was its business aspect, which had so far not received much attention in the country, hence, the need for more investment. 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. Featured Video After years of development, Boston Dynamics' four-legged robot 'dog' will be sold to companies for the first time ever. 'Spot', as the bot is called, will retail for $74,500 and comes with some restrictions as to when and where it can be deployed. Specifically, Boston Dynamics says all of its sales will be subject to terms and conditions that dictate the 'beneficial use' of its robots. The company sees 'Spot' applying most directly to 'commercial and industrial use' and in particular, to bolster safety in jobs where humans could be harmed. 'The combination of Spots sophisticated software and high performance mechanical design enables the robot to augment difficult or dangerous human work,' aid Marc Raibert, chairman and founder of Boston Dynamics in a statement. 'Now you can use Spot to increase human safety in environments and tasks where traditional automation hasnt been successful.' As exemplified by recent uses in Singapore where Spot was being used to monitor pedestrians' adherence to social distancing, the bot can be equipped with various sensors to augment or change its capabilities. The ability to actually purchase Spot marks the next phase since Boston Dynamics began leasing the bot last year. In that pilot, Boston Dynamics says that 150 Spot robots were used by domestic and businesses and research facilities to 'document construction progress, monitor remote or hazardous environments, and provide situational awareness.' The Norwegian oil company Aker BP ASA announced it will begin using Boston Dynamics' robotic watchdog on Spot (pictured above) to help monitor equipment on its ships in the Norwegian Sea earlier this year As noted by The Verge, Boston Dynamics has taken a stance against some use cases. Boston Dynamics vice president of business development, Michael Perry told The Verge that the company will not support uses of Spot that 'harm or intimidate people which includes banning the attachment of weapons. As with any piece of technology, however, there is no guarantee that the Spot won't be used for purposes outside of Boston Dynamics' intentions once purchased. Spot has already raised some onlookers' concerns for being deployed by police. Last year documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union, confirmed Spot has been involved in multiple police 'incidents' though the full details of those cases is not yet clear. America is starting to reopen its economy, and this is great news for tourism companies like Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) (NYSE:CUK). The cruise ship operator has seen its share price rocket from a low of $7.80 in early April to $19.44 as of Monday's market close. That's a 149% surge in two and a half months, and the rally looks far from over. While nothing is guaranteed, the battered tourism company has several bullish tailwinds that could send its share price even higher. First, governments are beginning to lift restrictions on tourism. Second, Carnival can survive in a low-revenue environment because of its strong balance sheet and liquidity. And finally, the company's valuation is still very low compared to its pre-crisis revenue and earnings. The tourism industry is reopening Travel and tourism make up around 10.4% of global GDP, and governments around the world have big incentives to reopen the industry in time for the lucrative summer season. Things seem to be moving faster in Europe, where countries are further along the pandemic curve. German river cruise operator Nicko Cruise was the first European line to resume voyages. And Connecticut-based American Cruise Lines is resuming trips in June. The company plans to sail out of Portland, Oregon, and traverse the Columbia and Snake Rivers despite the CDC-mandated No Sail Order. Small operators like American Cruise Lines (whose ships carry fewer than 200 people) can skirt the No Sail Order because the restrictions apply only to ships carrying 250 or more passengers. But large operators like Carnival will have to wait until the order expires on July 24 before they can start sailing again. Investors should keep in mind that the order can be lifted sooner if the Secretary of Health and Human Services decides the public health emergency is over -- or it can be extended if the authorities decide cruising is still too risky. Carnival has a solid balance sheet The good news is that Carnival is well equipped to survive in a low-revenue environment until restrictions are lifted. That's because the company has a respectable pile of cash on its balance sheet and has drastically reduced its expenses. Carnival raised a combined $6.4 billion in debt and equity financing to help shore up its liquidity. On top of that, the company has announced a combination of layoffs, reduced workweeks, and salary reductions that are expected to save hundreds of millions of dollars annually. According to CEO Arnold Donald, Carnival has enough liquidity to meet all its obligations in a zero-revenue environment for the rest of 2020, which would be a worst-case scenario. Arnold further states that 2021 cruise bookings are strong. And competitor Norwegian Cruise Lines reports that 2021 bookings are within historical ranges despite higher prices. This is important because the cruise industry will probably need to sail at reduced capacity to ensure safety onboard, which could lead to a situation where demand outstrips supply, giving the industry better pricing power. Carnival also plans to stagger fleet reentry to optimize its operations based on demand and doesn't expect any demand issues in the start-up period of operations. A high-risk/high-reward investment Carnival Corporation remains a risky stock, despite the bullish headwinds. That's because the company faces risk from things outside its control such as a possible second wave of coronavirus or an extension of the CDC's No Sail Order. Meanwhile, the $6.4 billion of debt and equity financing raised earlier this year will expose investors to dilution and higher interest expense over the long term. With that being said, Carnival stock is still trading 64% below its pre-pandemic 52-week high of $53.34. This suggests that there is still potential for the shares to bounce back when things return to normal. The company's strong balance sheet and the reopening of the tourism industry make the stock worth considering for risk-tolerant investors who believe in the long-term success of the cruise industry. SPRINGFIELD Residents asked about police training, body cameras and oversight during a public forum about race Monday. Mayor Domenic Sarno with multiple staff including Talia Gee, the citys chief diversity officer; Darryl Moss, director of constituent services for the mayor; and Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood held the roundtable discussion after multiple racial justice protests were held in Springfield and across the country, sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minnesota after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. The roundtable was held online due to concerns about large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 25 people spoke through video or on the phone and others typed comments. If we all continue to work together in a mutually respectful way, we will come up with solutions to continue moving our city of Springfield forward, Sarno said. I want to hear your thoughts, I want to hear your ideas. I want to hear your constructive criticism because constructive criticism is OK because it means you care. The purpose of the open forum was to have people air concerns, share ideas and ask questions about issues surrounding race. City Councilors, School Committee members, clergy, business leaders and other community leaders were invited to participate. The public was also invited to write comments via Facebook, some of which were read by Moss during the meeting. Sarno said he will have announcements coming up during the week about different issues addressed in the roundtable. He said he hopes it is the beginning of more dialogue and small-group meetings either in person or through video conferencing. Not everyone invited attended the meeting. Bishop Talbert Swan, president of the Greater Springfield NAACP, and some city councilors including President Justin Hurst, announced that they would not participate. Swan said he was not participating because Sarno wanted to hold his own forum so he could control the narrative, agenda and participants. Hurst and councilors Victor Davila, Adam Gomez and Malo Brown said they were disappointed they were not consulted about the planning of the meeting. The School Committee was also invited but an email mistake meant they did not receive the notice until Monday. At least two members did attend to air concerns. Most of the discussion revolved around the police department, but people also aired concerns about economic and business issues and the way city employees are hired. City Councilor Orlando Ramos asked Sarno to review a report written by a 15-member community board which he put together in 2017, when he was serving as council president, to study police and community relations. The members came from diverse backgrounds, and after months of study put together an about 17-page report that included the results of extensive research and had many recommendations and ideas. To my knowledge, that report was ignored, he said. Clapprood, who was not the police commissioner at the time, said she was unaware of the report and asked Ramos to forward it to her. Many others asked about training, educational requirements for police and continuing professional development for officers, especially on issues such as working with diverse communities. Clapprood said the 26-week academy exceeds state training requirements and includes an educational component on diversity and bias training. The department also has developed a close relationship with Behavioral Health Network and has social workers and counselors working with and, in some cases, going to scenes so people with mental health problems are directed to treatment instead of being arrested. In response to concerns about identifying problem officers who may use excessive force in the future, Clapprood said the department is working on a new records system that will help identify officers so they can be retrained. Currently, she said, she reviews complaints by hand. I think rudeness complaints are an early warning sign and we have issued discipline and retraining with those, she said. Attorney Van Johnson III, who was a Springfield police sergeant before earning a law degree, said when he was a young officer he did not remember receiving a lot of corrections or recommendations from supervisors and recommended that more-senior officers are used more for training. Johnnie Muhammad, from Muhammads Mosque, asked about the police commission, requesting that members are selected from the wards and that the group be given subpoena power. He also brought up issues of training and said he would like residents from the community to be able to speak to cadets at the police academy. Most of the cadets know nothing of the black community so they see us as different, they see us as their enemy, and we are not the enemy, he said. You are coming into our homes, our environments, and we would want you to come with respect. Yet another textile factory in Armenia has suspended its operations due to coronavirus infections among its workers. Robert Ghubatian, the owner of the Vanadzor-based Sarton factory, told RFE/RLs Armenian service that about two dozen of them tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday. Ghubatian said he and the 330 other workers self-isolated as a result. Ghubatian suggested that another textile plant located in Armenias third largest city was the primary source of the infections. The plant belonging to the Gloria company was shut down on June 3 after being hit by a similar COVID-19 outbreak. At least 150 of its 2,600 workers have tested positive for the virus since then. Ghubatian said some 30 Sarton employees live with family members working at Gloria. He said he believes at least one of them contracted the disease from such a relative. The Vanadzor police ordered all Gloria workers to quarantine at home following the shutdown.Some of them said they were not warned that their family members also have to self-isolate. Gloria will remain closed at least until June 20. Two other clothing manufactures located in Gyumri halted their operations for the same reason last week. The Lentex and Svetex companies employ a total of about 400 local residents. These and other Armenian textile firms were allowed to resume their work in late April following a month-long stoppage ordered by the government as part of a nationwide lockdown. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on April 12 that the textile industry should be able to reopen despite being the main driving force of coronavirus infections in Armenia. The daily number of confirmed coronavirus cases across the country has increased dramatically since then. The Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday morning 425 new infections, bringing to 17,489 the total number of coronavirus cases in the country of about 3 million. The ministry also reported the deaths of 10 more people infected with the disease. It said 8 of those deaths were primarily caused by the coronavirus. They were added to the official COVID-19 death toll which rose to 295. According to the health authorities, 96 other infected people have died as a result of other, pre-existing diseases. IKEA said it will shortly begin talks with the Irish government and eight other countries about returning the financial support they received to support workers during the Covid-19 lockdown. Ingka Group, the owner of most IKEA stores, said it had already repaid aid received from the Serbian government to cover wages for furloughed staff during the lockdown, and was about to do the same in Romania. The company told the Irish Examiner they are in talks about returning money to all nine countries that gave them government support through furlough schemes as they have suffered less than expected from the crisis. There were large queues of customers waiting to enter the IKEA store in Dublin when it reopened last week. Other retail sectors including hardware have reported significant pent-up demand from customers following the lifting of the lockdown. Ingka Group, the largest strategic partner in the IKEA franchise system has begun conversations with Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain and the US. Nearly 166,000 workers are employed by Ingka Group. ? "Our main focus here is simply to return the generous support that was made available by governments to businesses during this difficult time," Ingka Group's head of retail Tolga Oncu said in an email. "Whilst no one knows how things will continue to develop, we now have a better understanding of the impact of the crisis on our business and have therefore decided to pay it back as it is the right thing to do." Romanian Finance Minister Florin Citu thanked the company on Facebook for not using the 858,504 lei (177,500) necessary to cover technical unemployment between March 17 and June 12. "IKEA representatives said that although we are facing many challenges ahead, in their opinion the companys results will be better than they were expecting a few months ago. Therefore, IKEA made the decision not to use the state budget funds," Citu said. British business supplies distributor Bunzl on Monday said it too planned to repay government support and bring forward deferred tax payments, following better-than-expected sales during the crisis. IKEA stores are gradually reopening worldwide after most closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional reporting: Reuters Qatars recent decision to go ahead with bold plans for the North Dome, its supergiant non-associated gas reservoir, together with corollary deals to secure massive new liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity in its chief target export market, China, has spurred Iran into moving forward with its own long-stalled LNG plans, according to a senior oil and gas industry figure who works closely with Irans Petroleum Ministry. Iran and Qatar share the same huge [non-associated] gas reservoir [the 9,700 square kilometre gas basin, 3,700 of which is Irans South Pars, with the remainder being Qatars North Dome], so each side is always suspicious that the others drilling activities will impinge on their own deposits, he said. Nows a very good time for Iran to move ahead with its LNG strategy, as relatively low gas prices means theres little opportunity cost in re-configuring the various sectors of its gas sector, and by the time that it is in a position to offer a significant LNG business, gas prices should be a lot higher, he added. Iran has thought for a long time that theres a huge discrepancy between its status as a global gas superpower and its position in the global LNG market, he told OilPrice.com last week. Given how much more difficult it will be under the new U.S. sanctions to complete some of the pipeline export options for gas, the emphasis now is on finally realising an LNG capability, he added. Always a prime advocate of Iran developing its status as a key global LNG supplier, in recent weeks Petroleum Minister, Bijan Zanganeh, has repeatedly pressed the issue at cabinet meetings, he underlined. In fact, Iran has been tantalisingly close to doing just this for years. Before the penultimate round of sanctions were ramped up in 2011/12 forcing its suspension of the project, German chemicals giant Linde Group had 60 per cent completed a US$3.3 billion flagship LNG export facility near Tombak Port that was set to produce at least 10.5 million tons per year (mtpy) of LNG, with expectations that it would take less than a year to finish. After sanctions were lifted again in 2016, Iran awarded Linde whose liquefaction process the facilitys first two trains were to have used - a sweetener contract when it signed the first petrochemical co-operation deal between Iran and Germany; a Front End Engineering Design contract for the olefin unit of Kian Petrochemical. Related: The End Of The OPEC Deal Could Be The Start Of A New Oil Price War Iran had also been moving ahead with plans to construct floating LNG facilities, especially in and around continental Europe, with in-principle deals having been struck with Italys Eni and Spains Cepsa to take both oil and LNG when it became available from Iran. Similar plans were being discussed between Iran and Greeces state-run gas supplier, Depa, to form a new firm that would build and run a floating LNG storage and re-gasification facility at Alexandroupolis, in the north of Greece. An expansion of the Revythousa re-gasification terminal near Athens was also being looked at as a potential entry point for Iranian gas. Both facilities would have been connected to two international pipeline systems: the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, and the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria links. Additionally, prior to 2011/12, Iran was in negotiations over various LNG projects with, among others: Total, Petronas, Repsol, and Royal Dutch Shell. Each of these already had different agreements with Iran as part of its fourth Five Year National Develop Plan (2005-2009) that aimed to produce 70 million tonnes per year (mtpy) of LNG from the South Pars, North Pars, Ferdosi and Golshan gas fields. With the newest U.S. sanctions in place since 5 November 2018, however, there has been an understandable degree of caution on the part of European firms to fully re-engage with Iran, despite the E.U. itself invoking the Blocking Statute that makes compliance by European firms with U.S. sanctions illegal. Lindes chief executive officer, Aldo Belloni, highlighted earlier last year that the company had to wait to find a way to transfer money out of the country before proceeding with its Iran investment plans. The same is true of the plans for a series of mini-LNG complexes to be funded and built by South Korean entities. In this latter context, late in 2018, South Koreas Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Kim Hyun-mee, agreed the finer points on its LNG co-operation with Zangeneh, which included Exim Banks initial 8 billion credit line to Iran and another 2.3 billion from two other South Korean companies. Prior to the withdrawal of the U.S. from the nuclear deal in May 2018, the intention had been for the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), utilising South Koreas technology and know-how, to build up a large number of mini-LNG complexes. The production capacities of these would range from 2,000 to 500,000 tons of LNG per year, compared to typical large scale plant capacity of between 2.5 and 7.5 million tons per year. These smaller facilities benefit particularly from being both relatively quick to start up and locatable almost anywhere, even in very remote gas fields. This idea was again voiced at the end of last year by Talin Mansourian, the director of investment at the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), who said that Iran was looking at constructing six small LNG units with a total 500,000 tons per year production. Recently, though, another option has emerged, involving Russia. Exactly the same rationale lies behind the determination of [Russias President, Vladimir] Putin to bring Russias LNG standing in the world market into line with its status as a global gas superpower as is the case with Iran, a senior oil and gas industry source in Moscow told OilPrice.com. In Russias case, this determination, and massive state funding, has resulted in the continued success of the Yamal LNG project, run by Russias number two gas producer (after state-owned Gazprom), Novatek. Significantly as well, this has seen Russia largely insulate itself operationally from the effects of any of its own U.S. sanctions by indigenising much of the technology and machinery involved with the Yamal LNG project. The Arctic Cascade process - based on a two-stage liquefaction process that capitalises on the colder ambient temperature in the Arctic climate to maximise energy efficiency during the liquefaction process - is the first patented liquefaction technology using equipment produced only by Russian manufacturers. Russia is perfectly capable of supplying Iran with all the machinery, technology, expertise, and money that it needs to get its own LNG sector into the next phase, said the Iran source. Related: Smart Money Is Betting On These 5 Exciting Energy Technologies This would build on the signing in 2018 just after the U.S.s re-imposition of sanctions on Iran, of two memoranda of understanding between the NIOC and Russias state gas behemoth, Gazprom. This came after wide-ranging discussions between Zanganeh and senior Gazprom officials, including its chairman and CEO, Alexey Miller. Gazprom which already supplies nearly one third of all of Europes gas led to an agreement with NIOC of a two-fold LNG sector development strategy. The first part involved a gas cooperation roadmap between the two companies, and the second the construction of Iranian LNG facilities in partnership with Irans Oil Industry Pension Fund. Initially, this would allow Gazprom to, in effect, take over from Linde on the existing 60 per cent complete LNG complex, and later to be integral in the construction of the mini-LNG complexes, with Gazprom taking payment for its work from the sale of gas both from this complex and from part of the output from fields feeding gas into it. Indeed, at the time of the deal announcement, Zanganeh stated: Repayment of the finances for developing these projects will be made by selling the produced gas and because Gazprom is an experienced company it will consider gas exports either by launching pipelines or construction of plants to produced liquefied natural gas. Alongside ensuring the continued development of the flagship supergiant South Pars non-associated natural gas field the onus to maximise the potential gas feeds for Irans LNG complexes is on bringing new output online from relatively underdeveloped gas fields. Typical of the type of development proposition Iran is focussed on that is considered by Tehran as a possible candidate for more direct Russian involvement is Halegan, discovered in 2005. It is in an ideal location, to begin with in Fars Province in southern Iran, 73 kilometres north of the Assaluyeh petchems hub, 25 kilometres south of the Sefid Baghoun gas field, and neighbouring the Sefid Zakhour and Dey gas fields to the north. According to current estimates, the Halegan site holds at least 355 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas reserves in place, about 72 per cent of which is deemed recoverable. Based on initial domestic studies, the development of the site would allow for a sustainable output of about 50 mcm/d of gas over a 20-year period, contributing to an overall estimated value of the field of about US$85 billion. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: New data from these statistics will be published on the home page of the Students and qualifications. Published: 16 June 2020 Number of upper secondary general school students 105,200 According to Statistics Finland's education statistics, a total of 105,200 students attended upper secondary general school education leading to a qualification in 2019. A total of 29,100 matriculation examinations were completed. The figure was almost 1,300 lower than one year before. Fifty-eight per cent of the students and passers of the matriculation examination were women. Students in upper secondary general education and matriculation examinations in 2009 to 2019* *Data on students for 2019 are not fully comparable with data from previous years. As regards data on students for 2019, Statistics Finland started using the National Board of Education's KOSKI data warehouse with the exception of a few educational institutions. The review stage of the data revealed under-coverage of earlier data, which may be the reason for the growing number of students compared with the previous year. Further information about the change stage in the quality description (in Finnish only). Upper secondary general education was provided in 383 educational institutions. There were 335 upper secondary general schools, one fewer than one year earlier. Education in Swedish was offered in 36 upper secondary schools and six per cent of the students in upper secondary general school education studied at these schools. Of all students, 1,927 studied for an international matriculation examination. The International Baccalaureate examination was passed by 469 students in 17 upper secondary schools, the European Baccalaureate examination by 19 students at the European School of Helsinki, and the DIA qualification by 39 students in the Helsingin saksalainen koulu (the German School of Helsinki). From 2009 to 2019, the number of educational institutions providing upper secondary general school education has fallen by 58. Over the same period, the number of students in upper secondary general schools has diminished by six per cent. The number of matriculation examinations has gone down by 11 per cent in ten years. Throughout the 2000s, over one-half of the students and passers of the matriculation examination have been women. Source: Education, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Leena Halinen 029 551 3288, koulutustilastot@stat.fi Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma Publication in pdf-format (217.1 kB) Updated 16.6.2020 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Upper secondary general school education [e-publication]. ISSN=1799-165X. 2019. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 22.1.2022]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/lop/2019/lop_2019_2020-06-16_tie_001_en.html For the first time since 1975, the long-running SinoIndian border dispute has turned deadly, claiming the lives of at least 20 troops. For decades, the two sides have avoided active military hostility, despite occasional brinkmanship. While China and India appeared to be pulling back in recent weeks, the deaths could reignite the border stand-off that started in early May. During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday with casualties on both sides, the Indian Army said in a statement Tuesday. An Indian officer and two soldiers died in the clash, and another 17 Indian troops later succumbed to their injuries due to the sub-zero temperatures of the Himalayan border region. The editor of the Global Times, a Chinese state-run newspaper, said that the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) had also suffered casualties, but did not specify whether any of its troops had died. I want to tell the Indian side, dont be arrogant and misread Chinas restraint as being weak, Hu Xijin said in a tweet. China doesnt want to have a clash with India, but we dont fear it. On June 6, the two sides agreed to a de-escalation plan in commander-level talks. The agreement reportedly included a roadmap to disengagement from three of the four stand-off points in the disputed border zone, according to Dhruva Jaishankar, the director of the Observer Research Foundations U.S. Initiative. In the ensuing days, officials in the border region conducted further dialogue to facilitate de-escalation. Now, each side is accusing the other of having violated the agreement. On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian accused Indian border patrols of crossing into Chinese territory and provoking and attacking Chinese personnel. The Indian government responded that the face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo in the Galwan River Valley. While the situation on the ground is unclear, the failure of bilateral diplomacy raises the specter of a protracted confrontation. Story continues The proximate cause of the renewed hostilities is the construction of a road in the Galwan River Valley by the Indian Border Roads Organization in May. The road extends up to the Line of Actual Control, which loosely demarcates the disputed border, and gives Indian border patrols access to the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) airstrip, a strategically vital supply point. China, which has long maintained military superiority in the remote Himalayan region, sees Indias successful infrastructure program as a territorial threat especially given the Galwan River Valleys proximity to a highway between the Chinese regions of Xinjiang and Tibet. On May 5, Chinese and Indian troops engaged in fisticuffs and stone-throwing on the banks of Pangong Lake, and on May 12 a similar clash broke out in the Naku La region near Tibet. In the subsequent days, the PLA mobilized at least 5,000 troops to the region. According to Ajai Shukla, a former Indian colonel, the PLA also deployed artillery guns in six locations in Ladakh. The mobilization of artillery violates protocols that effectively demilitarized the border in 1993. Two subsequent agreements that solidified those protocols have helped limit casualties in the long-simmering conflict. While the last death in the region occurred in 1975, confrontations have periodically flared up since Xi Jinping rose to power in China eight years ago. Most recently, in 2017, Chinas construction of a road through Doklam, near Bhutan, set off two months of brinkmanship, ending with a Chinese retreat and heightened caution on both sides. Before that, the Chinese twice encroached on Indian territory in Ladakh, in 2013 and 2014. Monday nights fatalities mark a turning point in the conflict, calling into question the ability of military protocols to prevent hostilities. While the skirmish did not include the use of weapons, the recent military buildup has positioned both sides to escalate the situation rapidly. Jaishankar says that Chinese and Indian leaders frequently point out that they have found a way to be responsible and make this a peaceful, if unsettled, border. But that uneasy status quo may no longer be sustainable. More from National Review The future of Ford Motor Co.s Oakville Assemby Complex has been thrown into question following reports that one of the primary models assembled there may be discontinued. Sam Fiorani, vice-president of global vehicle forecasting at Pennsylvania-based AutoForecast Solutions, said the current program for the next generation Edge SUV, which is assembled in Oakville, has been cancelled, to be replaced by more up-to-date products, such as the recently updated Ford Escape and the upcoming new Bronco Sport. We have confirmed the information from multiple sources within the industry, Fiorani, told the Star. We expect our sources to be correct. If the vehicle is cancelled, some analysts said it could lead to the closure of the Oakville Assembly Complex, which employs more than 4,000 workers. When approached by the Star, the head of the largest union at Fords last remaining vehicle assembly plant in Canada said Ford is reviewing its vehicle lineup, but has not reached a conclusion about the future of the Edge SUV, which will see its current generation production end in 2023. Everything is up in the air, Unifor national president Jerry Dias said Tuesday after meeting with senior management at Ford. Final decisions have not been made yet. They dont even know themselves. Dias said the Edge will be front and centre in upcoming contract talks to replace the current four-year agreement. Canadians are very loyal to manufacturers in this country, he said, noting that Ford has been Canadas bestselling auto brand for more than a decade. They dont want to screw this up. Ford in a statement said the Edge and the five-passenger mid-size SUV segment remain a critical part of its product mix. We have no plans to exit the segment, particularly as Edge sales were up three per cent to nearly 140,000 Edges in the U.S. last year, the company said, although it did not comment on where the vehicle will be produced. Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions said that it looks like Ford is nether confirming or denying. He suggested the company does not want to disturb sales of the current model. We do believe that they have products to fill the gap. We could see the Edge continuing production a little longer under the current generation, but at some point, its going to have to be replaced or the plant closed. Right now, the plan is to build the current Edge and the Lincoln Nautilus at the Oakville plant into 2023, but Fiorani said no vehicle is scheduled at this time for assembly there after 2023. The first car plant at the site opened in 1953. While raising the possibility of a plant shutdown could be a negotiating strategy, he suggested that fewer assembly plants in Canada mean fewer suppliers and higher costs. General Motor said last year it would transition its Oshawa plant from vehicle assembly to parts making and would convert part of the facility to a test track for autonomous vehicles. Ford in October announced that it cut 450 jobs at its Oakville plant due to the discontinuation of Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT production, saying the vehicles dont fit in with the companys shift toward sport-utilities and pickup trucks. Fiorani said Ford will move Nautilus production to China, one of its largest markets for the luxury brand. Without the Edge and the Navigator, the plant could be left with no new product. Ontario Premier Doug Ford at his daily COVID-19 briefing said his government is aware of the report and has had discussions with the automaker and the union. When any line in the automotive sector is discontinued or moving down south, it concerns us. Read more about: Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:24:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LISBON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Portugal (BdP) revised on Tuesday its prediction on the country's gross domestic product (GDP), saying that the economy will contract by 9.5 percent this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its previous report, the central bank projected a 5.7 percent drop. According to the bank's Economic Bulletin, the review was necessary because the developments since the last forecast "were more negative in the first half of 2020 than those considered in the adverse scenario." "The projected reduction in GDP in 2020 is very significant, largely exceeding the falls observed in the most recent recessions, and it is necessary to go back to the 1920s to find a drop of this magnitude," the central bank explained. For the bank, however, "the recovery from the second half of 2020 and in 2021 is more pronounced," when there will be a "faster return to investment," accelerating GDP growth by 5.2 percent next year and by 3.8 percent in 2022. The institution predicts that the lifting of the coronavirus restrictions, "in a context of relative control of the pandemic," will have results from the third quarter of 2020. Portugal is currently in the third phase of deconfinement, which entails the reopening of trade and industries and the resumption of consumer activities. Over the past 24 hours, two more people have died from COVID-19 infection, bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,522. There were 300 new cases confirmed, which means that the number of infected people in Portugal now stands at 37,336. Enditem New AI-centric solutions pushed for virus battle, illustration photo Experts from Vietnam, Japan, Australia and others joined a regional webinar last month held by the Vietnamese Academic Network in Japan to discuss the role of technology and AI in COVID-19 fight. The various experts agreed that AI will be a driving force for future healthcare development, especially in electronic health records, research and development (R&D), examinations and treatment, preventive medical services, medicinal finance, and more besides. Associate Prof. Tran The Truyen of the Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute at Deakin University of Australia said AI is able to recommend optimal solutions, thus easing possible negative policy impacts, evaluating technical efficiency, and increasing optimisation of medical devices. According to Prof. Ho Tu Bao, Vietnam is building a national database on peoples electronic health records involving basic information, drug use, clinical information, and paraclinical data groups. So far, the framework for this has been built and deployed in 63 cities and provinces, while electronic health records are already being applied on a trial basis in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and the provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Tinh, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, and Long An. Vietnam aims to have 95 per cent of people with an electronic health record by 2025, regularly updating their health information and connecting all healthcare facilities nationwide. In Vietnams healthcare information system, such e-records will be an important database for digital transformation and AI in the healthcare sector. Regarding R&D of medicines, AI will help shorten the development of drugs, vaccines and biology products. Truyen said that in the past, R&D of each medicine can take five to 10 years and a minimum cost of $1-2 million. Other processes of screening, drug design, and drug molecular synthesis plan will also be accelerated with AI. With this AI support, developing countries like Vietnam can take opportunities to leapfrog the development on the back of the countrys proper development strategy. According to some experts from the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), Vietnam is able to become a potential ASEAN hub of manufacturing and supply of medicines. In terms of examination and treatment, in some narrow fields, AI has a high diagnostic ability on par with experts. Some outstanding examples can be found in China, where a group of researchers used AI for image analysis to detect people infected with COVID-19. Thus, instead of having to consult with many experts, AI can solve the issue in just a few seconds. What is more, digital health services will continue to develop such as telehealth, telemedicine, and AI-backed diagnosis and treatment. People will have more choice, urging authorised agencies that build and perform legal frameworks to work on stricter standards, and a more specific and clearer legal framework to put them into practice. In the field of preventive medical services, AI-predictive ability remains a question but huge potential does lie ahead. One of the jobs that AI can carry out most efficiently is prediction. It can use data and apply algorithms using big data to judge and offer early alerts of future outbreaks, and provide an optimal plan to prevent them. In regards to medicinal finance, digital transformation and AI will enable cashless payments to strongly develop, with the financial system becoming more transparent. In the wake of these trends, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health built and performed a smart health scheme based on the three pillars of smart examination and treatment, smart prevention, and smart governance. This is a new application helping increase patient access to more comfortable and qualified healthcare services. To succeed in digital transformation, preparation for qualified human resources is significant. Therefore, AI education will start both inside and outside universities. Currently, Vietnam has about 200 universities offering IT training. Outstanding digital technologies such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and AI will be widely applied. It is estimated that the worlds database on healthcare doubles every two or three months, and the AI market in health is forecast to reach $13 billion by 2025. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Ottawa, Canada Tue, June 16, 2020 08:48 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf089a6 2 World justin-trudeau,Canada,US,border-areas,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Ottawa and Washington are in talks to extend the closure of the Canada-US border, as concerns persist over the spread of the new coronavirus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday. "It is clear that there is broad consensus across the provinces that we need to continue to keep our current border measures in place," Trudeau said after consulting with provincial leaders. "We will keep discussing with the United States administration on ways forward," he told a daily briefing. "Our priority on this is to ensure that we're keeping Canadians safe while continuing to ensure the flow of essential goods and services." The world's longest international frontier -- at 8,900 kilometers -- was closed to all non-essential travellers on both sides on March 21 in response to the coronavirus crisis. The border was originally set to reopen in April but the closure was twice extended, until at least June 21. The closure has led to a massive drop in cross-border traffic -- of up to 95 percent, according to Statistics Canada -- but trade has continued unabated. Prior to the pandemic, Can$2.4 billion (US$1.7 billion) worth of goods and more than 400,000 people crossed the border each day on average. Ottawa last week announced an exemption to allow thousands of foreign nationals to reunite with their families in Canada, following reports of hardship cases such as an American looking to join his Canadian wife for the birth of their first child. They must, however, self-quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. A loophole allowing Americans from southern 48 states to transit through Canada to Alaska, meanwhile, has raised fresh concerns. Several travellers were reportedly observed recently flouting rules requiring them to take a direct route, and to social distance at stops along the way. Banff residents, for example, told public broadcaster CBC they'd spotted license plates from Texas, Washington and even New York, and overheard tourists joking about how easy it was to get to the national park. Trudeau said his government was "looking into" the reports, adding: "We need to make sure that we're able to apply the rules consistently." New Delhi: The mother of Colonel Santosh Babu said that she is sad as a mother but proud that her son gave up his life for the nation. Babu, the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 16 Bihar regiment, was one among the soldiers killed in Galwan Valley during the violent face off with the Chinese troops. "As a mother I am sad but I am proud that he gave up his life for the nation. My daughter-in-law was informed last night. She told me today afternoon," the mother said. According to the Indian Army, an officer and two soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley during the standoff, the first such incident on the India-China border in the last 45 years reflecting massive escalation. The Indian Army also said there were casualties on both sides during the violent face-off. However, there was no immediate confirmation from Beijing on the likely casualties on the Chinese side. Expressing her condolences, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan tweeted: "Lets pay our homage to Col Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment. The Valiant officer made the ultimate sacrifice today at Galwan Valley. I pray for all the martyrs and their grieving families. May God bless their souls (sic)." El ministro @victorzamora participo en la reunion virtual sobre el Observatorio Regional de Precios de Medicamentos, plataforma impulsada por la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas de Servicios para Proyectos (UNOPS) para America Latina y El Caribe. pic.twitter.com/RYPRwvhAQ9 The Philippine government has again placed Cebu city under a stricter coronavirus quarantine, the presidential palace said Tuesday, citing a sharp rise in new cases detected there, and has extended a general pandemic-related lockdown for Metro Manila through June 30. Cebu, a city in the central Philippines where the rate for people testing positive for COVID-19 ranges from 33 percent to 36 percent, was reclassified under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) following a new spike in local cases, according to health officials and the presidents office. The city had 2,810 cases as of June 14, and 61 of its 80 barangays (villages) had active cases. Cebu City was reverted back to ECQ because of the rapid rise of community transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 and the citys data in terms of case doubling time and critical care utilization, the Presidential Communications Operations Office said in a statement Tuesday. [E]veryone has to worry because Cebu is the gateway to the Visayas. If we do not contain this disease in Cebu City, it is very possible that it may spread to different parts of the Visayas and especially to Luzon, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. In an address to the nation on Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte announced Cebus reclassification under the stricter ECQ which was based on a recommendation by an inter-agency task force and a 15-day extension of a general COVID-19 quarantine for Manila and 16 other nearby cities that make up the Metro Manila region. COVID is still here, Duterte said in his televised speech. Under the extension of the general community quarantine (GCQ) for Metro Manila, some activities would be allowed under strict monitoring. We are gradually easing restrictions to make way for our economic viability as individuals, as a nation, Duterte said. But it does not mean that we will forget our minimum health standards. The president said schools would be allowed to start their year in late August, adding there would be no face-to-face sessions until a vaccine is found. Instead, we will follow a blended-learning approach. Part of this learning strategy is distance and online learning, using communications technology and digital services, he said. Duterte, whose face was uncovered during his speech, reminded people to follow government health protocols including social distancing and wearing face masks. He said the only way COVID-19 would be defeated or scaled back was if scientists found a vaccine. Edgardo Labella, the mayor of Cebu, said Tuesday that he would abide by the central governments decision on reverting his city under an enhanced quarantine, although he would appeal the move, the state-run Philippine News Agency quoted him as saying. Very frankly, up to this day I still believe that a GCQ is justified. The data I see do not warrant restrictions set forth by an ECQ, so to speak and with all due respect, Labella said, adding that the local business community was anxious to reopen after being hit hard by the pandemics economic ripple effects. On Tuesday, the Philippine health department reported 364 new coronavirus cases, bringing the national total to 26,781. It also reported five deaths, bringing that total to 1,103. Globally, more than 8 million people have been infected with COVID-19 and nearly 438,000 have died as of Tuesday, according to data compiled by disease experts at U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. The National Identification Authority (NIA) says it will resume mass registration in the Eastern Region from 18th to 27th June 2020. The Authority also indicated that the issuance of Ghana cards, which began on Wednesday, 10th June 2020 at 5,635 registration centres across the country will continue till Thursday, 18th June 2020. The exercise will enable approximately 3,934,073 Ghanaians who could not receive their cards during the mass registration exercise to do so. The cards are being issued to Ghanaians at the same centres where they registered during the mass registration exercise. Nearly 800,000 Ghanaians have received the Ghana Card since the exercise began last Wednesday, 10th June 2020, the Authority said in a statement. Registered persons who are yet to receive their Ghana cards have been asked to go for them at the various registration centres. All persons who registered but have not received their Ghana Cards are requested to go to the registration centre where they registered to pick up their card. To receive the card, a Ghanaian must present the registration application form, the printout or receipt given at the time of registration, or provide other relevant information to be cross-checked against his/her photograph and personal details contained in a Registration Centre Album. The Authority expects that by the end of 18th June, 2010, over 11 million Ghanaians will possess the Ghana Card. Out of that number, a total of 10,295,578 Ghanaians will be aged 18y ears and over, the statement added. Below is the registration schedule for the mop-up exercise: REGIONS START END 1. Upper East 18/06/2020 3/07/2020 2. Upper West 18/06/2020 3/07/2020 3. Northern 10/07/2020 24/07/2020 4. North East 10/07/2020 24/07/2020 5. Savannah 10/07/2020 24/07/2020 6. Central 4/07/2020 23/07/2020 7. Western 4/07/2020 23/07/2020 8. Western North 4/07/2020 23/07/2020 9. Volta 30/07/2020 9/08/2020 10. Oti 30/07/2020 9/08/2020 11. Ashanti 30/07/2020 13/08/2020 12. Greater Accra 16/08/2020 29/08/2020 13. Bono 20/08/2020 4/09/2020 14. Bono East 20/08/2020 4/09/2020 15. Ahafo 20/08/2020 4/09/2020 It is also expected that a total of 16.7 million Ghanaians would have been registered and issued with Ghana cards when the mop-up exercise is completed. The NIA suspended the Ghana Card registration exercise in the Eastern Region following an interlocutory injunction application filed at the High Court restraining the Authority from continuing with the registration exercise. Before the suspension, the NIA, however, insisted that its decision to carry on with the Ghana Card registration exercise in the Eastern Region was not violating the directives concerning public gatherings. This was despite reports that citizens looking to register for the card were massing up at some registration centres in contravention of expert advise for curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Observers also criticised the NIA for continuing with the exercise. The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), for example , said the continuation of the registration was a breach of international and regional human rights instruments, while CHRAJ in a statement also said the NIA's actions were a disregard of the existing World Health Organization (WHO) precautionary measures aimed at containing and combating the novel coronavirus. The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) also complained that the continuation of the exercise defeated the precautionary measures declared by the state to combat the pandemic. citinewsroom Each time Cmdr. Ryan Easterday boards the destroyer John McCain in Japan, he passes a plaque honoring the 10 sailors who lost their lives on the ship nearly three years ago. Now Easterday, the guided-missile destroyer's commanding officer, is preparing to lead a nearly all-new crew back out to sea aboard one of two Navy ships that experienced fatal 2017 collisions in the Pacific. The McCain completed its basic phase certification this month, which means it can -- for the first time since the Aug. 21, 2017, accident near Singapore -- be tasked for work in the Asia-Pacific region. "There are still a few old-timers around, all volunteers, who decided they want to stick it out and see the ship back out to sea," Easterday told reporters on Monday. "It's been a pretty intense experience for most of them, I think." Read Next: Contractor Accused of Providing Faulty Steel for Navy Submarines to Pay $10.9M Settlement It's a significant milestone for the Navy, which has in recent years suffered -- as the new Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite recently put it -- "a breakdown in the trust of those leading the service." The guided-missile destroyer Fitzgerald, which weeks before the McCain's accident was involved in a separate deadly collision off the coast of Japan, left a Mississippi shipyard this weekend to head to its new homeport in San Diego. The McCain's crew has spent the last 25 weeks completing extensive training after years' worth of repairs and maintenance to get the ship up and running again. The crew was evaluated in 23 areas, including several the Navy found needed serious improvement after the back-to-back 2017 collisions. "The John McCain is one of the first ships to benefit from these changes," Easterday said, "including revised individual and unit training, updated career paths and practices, and renewed focus on professional seamanship and navigation." The McCain, like other ships, will also have a "circadian watch bill onboard," Easterday said, to ensure the crew is getting enough rest -- a big shortfall identified in the investigations into the 2017 ship collisions. The Navy also overhauled its ship navigation training after the accidents, significantly ramping up the amount of time sailors spend in simulators before getting to ships. The way the Navy trained officers and sailors to operate at sea, much of which was previously done through distance learning, came under intense scrutiny following the McCain and Fitzgerald collisions. Before the crew even started their basic phase, they had more than 200 hours of simulated training, Easterday said. Using the high-tech Navigation, Seamanship and Shiphandling Trainer, Easterday said the McCain crew was able to practice underway replenishments and high-traffic scenarios. Investigators found one primary cause of the McCain's collision was "leaderships' loss of situational awareness in a high-traffic area." "It's a great opportunity for individuals, mostly junior officers who are learning to be officers of the deck or trying to maintain proficiencies, to practice special evolutions that we don't do very often," Easterday said. Before it was certified to rejoin the fleet, the McCain's crew faced a high-stress test to ensure it was ready to rejoin the fleet. "We actually destroyed the bridge," Easterday said. "We put a smoke machine up there and posed a bunch of personnel casualties, which forced the damage control organization to figure out how to fight the fire up there -- a place that you don't normally find a fire." The first-aid team had to deal with casualties while the watch teams had to regain control of the ship from alternate stations, he said. The combat information center watch team had to take over ship driving and navigation -- all while still fighting a combat scenario, Easterday said. "It really is designed to put people under stress and make them think through and prioritize what they've got to do next to solve these problems in real time," he said. Easterday, who became the ship's executive officer soon after the McCain's former top officers were relieved following the collision, said he's proud of his crew and is confident they'll be able to carry out any mission they're called on to complete. Everything the McCain crew has done in the last three years is in honor of the 10 men who died in the 2017 collision, he added. "Our successes are their legacy," Easterday said. "I'm absolutely confident in saying that Big Bad John is back, and we are more ready and more lethal than ever before." -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: New Report Points to Acute Fatigue as Factor in Deadly Navy Ship Collision OTTAWA, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas Building Trades Unions (CBTU) are pleased to announce that Sean Strickland has joined the CBTU as the new Executive Director, effective July 6, 2020. North Americas Building Trades Unions are happy to welcome Sean Strickland as the new Canadian Executive Director, said Sean McGarvey, President, North Americas Building Trades Unions. Sean is a respected senior construction executive with the strong leadership experience and understanding of the Building Trades needed to carry on the important work we do and to effectively represent Canadas skilled trades workers at the national level. Strickland will join the CBTU after spending the previous three years as the Director of Business Development and Industry Relations with a large general contractor. In this role, Strickland developed strong industry relationships, helping to solidify the contractors status as one of the top five in the country. Strickland also holds the elected position of Regional Councillor in his home city of Waterloo, a position he has held since 1997. Previously, his other roles included Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Construction Secretariat, Business Manager of the Waterloo Wellington Building Trades and Executive Director of YourLocalElectricians.ca. We wish Sean the very best in his new role and look forward to working alongside him to advance the interests of the proud men and women of the Building Trades, stated McGarvey. Strickland has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Waterloo, and is a graduate of the Executive Management Program at Wilfrid Laurier University as well as Leadership Development from Harvard University. I look forward to working closely with our 15 international affiliated unions and provincial councils across the country to carry on the important work of the Building Trades, including implementing the four strategic pillars; government relations, workforce development, capital strategies and communications, said Strickland. Moving ahead, CBTU stands ready to work closely with government and our industry partners to help rebuild our economy as we recover from the effects of this pandemic. I will proudly work hard, every day in this role, on behalf of the men and women that belong to the Building Trades, across this country. Story continues About CBTU Canadas Building Trades Unions is an alliance of 15 international unions in the construction, maintenance and fabrication industries that collectively represent over half a million skilled trades workers in Canada since its inception in 1908. Each year, our unions and our signatory contractor partners invest over $300 million in private sector money to fund and operate over 175 apprenticeship training and education facilities across Canada that produce the safest, most highly trained and productive skilled craft workers found anywhere in the world. Canadas Building Trades Unions represent members who work in more than 60 different trades and occupations, and generate 14 per cent of Canadas GDP. For more information, go to www.buildingtrades.ca About NABTU North Americas Building Trades Unions is an alliance of 14 national and international unions in the building and construction industry that collectively represent over 3 million skilled craft professionals in the United States and Canada. Each year, our unions and our signatory contractor partners invest over $1.6 billion in private-sector money to fund and operate over 1,900 apprenticeship training and education facilities across North America that produce the safest, most highly trained, and productive, skilled craft workers found anywhere in the world. NABTU is dedicated to creating economic security and employment opportunities for its construction workers by safeguarding wage and benefits standards, promoting responsible private capital investments, investing in renowned apprenticeship and training, and creating pathways to the middle class for women, communities of color and military veterans in the construction industry. For more information, please visit www.nabtu.org , and to learn more about the building trades efforts during this pandemic, please follow the hashtag #buildingtradeswhateverittakes. Media Contacts: Canada: Kate Walsh (613) 298-0652 | kwalsh@buildingtrades.ca US: Betsy Barrett (202) 756-4623 | bbarrett@nabtu.org A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b5abb758-4d11-4a7b-97d9-9bdc369f01c9 The parade ring at Ascot Racecourse ahead of the first behind closed doors Royal Meeting meeting due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic This years Royal Ascot may be missing a crowd and its most familiar face but expect winners' enclosure regulars Aidan OBrien and Frankie Dettori to pick up where they left off last year, writes James Toney. Twelve months on from finishing as the meetings top trainer and jockey for the tenth and sixth time respectively, theyve got plenty of chances to get back on the horse. O'Brien, now within 11 wins of Royal Ascot's all-time leading trainer Sir Michael Stoute, will be hoping Circus Maximus gets him off the mark in the first Group One of the week, the Queen Anne Stakes (1.50pm). Ryan Moore guided the horse to the narrowest of victories in last years St James's Palace Stakes but John Gosdens TEREBELLUM - Frankie Dettori taking the ride - could upset the odds in his first race for a year. That could be be followed in quick order by another Gosden and Dettori charge with FRANKLY DARLING looking primed for the Ribblesdale Stakes (2.25pm) after an effortless win on his season debut at Newcastle just over two weeks ago. MOGUL is considered OBriens best hope for an eighth success in the Epsom Derby next month and will start his season as the top pick in the King Edward VII Stakes (3pm). The horse did little wrong as a juvenile and has form with impressive Qipco 2000 Guineas winner Kameko and will certainly appreciate his first race over more than a mile. BATTAASH can batter the bookers to underline his status as the sharpest sprinter in Europe in the 'blink and youll miss it' King's Stand Stakes (3.35pm) over an electric five furlongs. Charles Hills' speedster has finished second in this race twice - both times narrowly beaten by superstar Blue Point and can be excused his horror show at the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye in Paris where the very soft ground clearly didn't suit. And Gosdens NAZEEF looks set to improve on his season debut at Kempton earlier this month and extend his winning run to five in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (4.10pm). Story continues Meanwhile, jumps legend Nicky Henderson looks primed to land the Ascot Stakes for the second time in his career with VERDANA BLUE, a former Scottish Champion Hurdle winner who'll relish the rattling quick ground, his hope. Royal Ascot 2020 previews READ: Every day is Ladies Day for Hollie Doyle READ: OBrien edges closer to being in a class of his own at Royal Ascot READ: Wards Royal Ascot love affair continues across Atlantic READ: Dettori is not one for being retiring at Royal Ascot National Hunt trainers have a strong pedigree in this race in recent years but Sir Mark Prescotts Land of Oz looks an interesting alternative at a more encouraging price. New races have been added to this years Royal Ascot card as officials try to make up for the time lost in recent weeks and the new-look opener, the Buckingham Palace Handicap (1.15pm) looks a wide open affair. Course and distance form tends to dictate the big handicaps at the royal meeting and that means you can dismiss many of the expected 24-strong field. There are plenty of options to consider at big prices including Glen Shiel, looking to give Hollie Doyle her first Royal Ascot winner, and the well-weighted Flaming Spear, who has an interesting record when primed against big fields. Favourite Daarik is certainly talented but a career littered with long breaks off the track hasnt helped and that means KAESO is preferred in the hands of Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy. Todays Royal Ascot Selections: 1.15 Glen Shiels (e/w), 1.50 Terebellum, 2.25 Frankly Darling, 3.00 Mogul, 3.35 Battaash, 4.10 Nazeef, 4.40 Verdana Blue SRINAGAR, India - A clash high in the Himalayas between the worlds two most populated countries claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers in a border region that the two nuclear armed neighbours have disputed for decades, Indian officials said Tuesday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 16/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this Oct. 16, 2016, file photo, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, front and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands with leaders at the BRICS summit in Goa, India. At least three Indian soldiers, including a senior army officer, have been killed in a confrontation with Chinese soldiers along their disputed frontier high in the Himalayas where thousands of troops on both sides have been facing off for over a month, the Indian army said. The army said in a statement Tuesday, June 16, 2020, that a violent faceoff took place in Galwan valley in the Ladakh region on Monday night with casualties on both sides. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File) SRINAGAR, India - A clash high in the Himalayas between the worlds two most populated countries claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers in a border region that the two nuclear armed neighbours have disputed for decades, Indian officials said Tuesday. The clash in the Ladakh region Monday during which Indian officials said neither side fired any shots was the first deadly confrontation between India and China since 1975. Experts said it would be difficult for the two nations to ease heightened tensions. The Indian and Chinese troops fought each other with fists and rocks, Indian officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information. The Indian Army initially said in a statement that three Indian soldiers had died, but later updated the number to 20 and said 17 "were critically injured in the line of duty at the standoff location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain. The statement did not disclose the nature of the soldiers' injuries. China accused Indian forces of carrying out provocative attacks on its troops without offering more details and did not disclose if any of its soldiers died. After the clash, the two sides disengaged from the area where the the fighting happened, the Indian Army statement said. The United Nations urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint." We are concerned about reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control between India and China," U.N. associate spokesperson Eri Kaneko said. We take positive note of reports that the two countries have engaged to de escalate the situation." Michael Kugelman, a South Asia specialist at the Wilson Center, said that the two countries were unlikely to go to war because they cannot afford a conflict. But lets be clear: It beggars belief to think that they can magically deescalate after a deadly exchange with such a higher number of fatalities, he said. "This crisis isnt ending anytime soon. Indians shout slogans during a protest against China in Ahmedabad, India, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. At least three Indian soldiers, including a senior army officer, were killed in a confrontation with Chinese troops along their disputed border high in the Himalayas where thousands of soldiers on both sides have been facing off for over a month, the Indian army said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) China claims about 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 square miles) of territory in Indias northeast, while India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometres (15,000 square miles) of its territory in the Aksai Chin Plateau in the Himalayas, a contiguous part of the Ladakh region. India unilaterally declared Ladakh a federal territory while separating it from disputed Kashmir in August 2019. China was among the handful of countries to strongly condemn the move, raising it at international forums including the U.N. Security Council. Thousands of soldiers on both sides have faced off over a month along a remote stretch of the 3,380-kilometre (2,100-mile) Line of Actual Control, the border established following a war between India and China in 1962 that resulted in an uneasy truce. Vivek Katju, a retired Indian diplomat, said the deadly violence represented a dramatic departure from the four-decades-old status quo of troops from the two countries staring each other down without any fatalities. The political class and the security class as a whole will have to do very serious thinking about the road ahead, he said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian gave no details of any casualties on the Chinese side, but said that China had strongly protested the incident and remained committed to maintaining peace and tranquility along the disputed and heavily militarized border. But what is shocking is that on June 15, the Indian troops seriously violated the consensus of the two sides, crossed the border illegally twice and carried out provocative attacks on Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical conflicts between the two border forces, Zhao said. Indias Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the incident happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo in the Galwan Valley. Thousands of soldiers from the two countries, backed by armoured trucks and artillery, have been stationed just a few hundred meters (yards) apart for more than a month in the Ladakh region that lies near Tibet. Army officers and diplomats have held a series of meetings to try to end the impasse, with no breakthrough. Indian authorities have officially maintained near-total silence on the issues related to the confrontation But two Indian security officials familiar with latest developments told The Associated Press that soldiers from the two sides had engaged in the fistfights and stone-throwing, which led to the casualties. Both said that no shots were fired by either side, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with government regulations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not comment on the clash in a televised meeting Tuesday with state officials. The tense standoff started in early May, when Indian officials said that Chinese soldiers crossed the boundary in Ladakh at three different points, erecting tents and guard posts and ignoring verbal warnings to leave. That triggered shouting matches, stone-throwing and fistfights, much of it replayed on television news channels and social media. China has sought to downplay the confrontation while saying the two sides were communicating through both their front-line military units and their respective embassies to resolve issues. Though skirmishes arent new along the frontier, the standoff at Ladakhs Galwan Valley, where India is building a strategic road connecting the region to an airstrip close to China, has escalated in recent weeks. The two countries have been trying to settle their border dispute since the early 1990s without success. The last time there were fatalities along the disputed border was in 1975, when Chinese troops killed four Indian soldiers in an ambush in the Twang region of northeastern Indias Arunachal Pradesh state, said Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda, a former head of the Indian militarys Northern Command. Its a very complicated and serious situation, and it will take real, hard negotiating skills to resolve this, Hooda said. Indian officials have said Chinese soldiers commit more than 500 border transgressions annually. ___ Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma contributed to this report from New Delhi. Follow Aijaz Hussain on Twitter at twitter.com/hussain_aijaz PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Roughly a month after holding virtual graduation ceremonies due to state-mandated COVID-19 restrictions, members of the Class of 2020 from both Pascagoula and Gautier high schools will finally get to experience the real thing. Following the same procedures used by the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, the two schools will host full commencement exercises on their respective campuses this week -- with Pascagoula High School ceremonies set for 8 p.m. Thursday at War Memorial Stadium and Gautier High Schools set for 8 p.m. Friday at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium. Pascagoula-Gautier superintendent Wayne Rodolfich said Tuesday it had bee the districts intent all along to hold traditional ceremonies, if at all possible, after the original dates of May 21 (Pascagoula) and May 22 (Gautier) were rendered impossible by the coronavirus outbreak in Mississippi. These were the alternate dates we selected from our normal graduation, when we werent able to do those based on the state guidelines at the time, Rodolfich said. Now weve got a social distancing plan that we saw the coliseum utilize. Well have all our kids spaced apart, with multiple entry ways and social distancing in the bleachers. Weve been working to have this resolution for the students and parents before we entered the month of July and bring some closure to graduation for this year. Rodolfich said they are expecting about 75 percent of each schools graduating class to participate in this weeks ceremonies. That will actually help us with spacing, he said. The kids who are going to participate are excited about it and the kids who arent going to participate are excited about being done with school. Everybody wins. We just need the weather to cooperate. The National Weather Service is calling for mostly clear skies both Thursday and Friday, with highs in the upper 80s and lows in the low 70s. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jean-Philippe Lacour (Agence France-Presse) Cologne, Germany Tue, June 16, 2020 17:30 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf387da 2 World contact-tracing-tool,German,Germany,tracing-COVID-19,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-tracing-app,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free A team of medical students pressed into service by Cologne's public health office are scrambling to cut off potential new chains of coronavirus infections by endlessly repeating the same questions. "What are your symptoms? Who have you met in the last few days," they ask people with confirmed or suspected cases. Such painstaking detective work is vital to avoid a second wave with more deaths and economic damage, as Germany eases the far-reaching lockdowns imposed in March to control the disease's spread. From Tuesday, the human virus trackers are backed up by an official contact-tracing app, aping other nations' efforts to automate identification of potentially infectious encounters. "It's not the first warning app to be launched worldwide, but I'm very convinced that it's the best," Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff Helge Braun -- himself a doctor -- said Tuesday. For the student trackers, a fax dropping out of the machine in the Cologne office announcing another positive coronavirus test marks the start line for the team. Relentless questioning With not a minute to lose, the health office aims to call the new case within an hour. Their task on that first call starts with warning the person they are sick and should quarantine themselves. But the staff must also "manage emotions" that can range from a false sense of security to panic, says Andreas Gehlhar, one of the 200 students manning the phones since March. For worse-afflicted neighbors Germany has proved to be an example, with fewer deaths, at around 8,800, than other European countries like France, Italy or Britain. Medical students' training in taking a case history from a patient has proved "vital for tracking down the disease," Gehlhar says. From the initial case, they spread their net to all of the people they might have come into contact with in the 48 hours before the positive test. Like detectives, the tracers often can't settle for the first answer they get. "An old person living in shared housing might tell us she's only seen her daughter in the last two days, and later you find out she spoke to the cleaning staff in the stairwell or sat for 30 minutes in the waiting room at the doctor's office where she was tested," said Barbara Gruene. A student doctor, Gruene has found herself at the head of one of the three "brigades" of contact trackers staffing the office. Once the most extensive possible list of contacts for each case has been established, they must then call each person in turn. Between them the students can check up on the contactees in more than 20 languages, vital among Cologne's million-strong multiethnic population. The tracers hope to convince all first-degree contacts to place themselves under quarantine. "The vast majority agrees," says Gruene, allowing the office to "break the virus' chains of transmission". Second wave looms Germany in microcosm, Cologne's toll from the virus remains limited, with 2,500 infections since February and 100 deaths. The daily tally of new cases is well below the peak of the pandemic in March. But "that's no reason to let our guards down," warns doctor Johannes Niessen, the head of the public health office. As lockdowns are eased, the federal government plans to step up testing in parallel to keep the virus' spread under control. "We're prepared for the second wave of infections that could arrive in the autumn," Niessen says. Not all of Germany's 400 public health offices are as resilient as Cologne's, with the number of doctors recruited by the state down by a third in the past 15 years according to public health doctors' federation BVOeGD. Many departing colleagues have not been replaced, as the public salaries on offer can't compete with the private sector. The federal health ministry has vowed to spend 50 million euros ($56 million) digitizing public health offices, and in the spring recruited 500 students as "containment scouts" deployed to virus hotspots around Germany. Meanwhile the German army told AFP it has pressed 190 soldiers into service as contact tracers in health offices nationwide. Even the new tracking app "cannot replace our contact work nor the advice we give to patients," tracker Gruene believes. This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here. A young student under the charge of Yisroel Friedman once left a Talmud study session to do his laundry. The boys action so distressed Rabbi Friedman that he fretted aloud to the other students for half an hour. Rabbi Friedman, the longtime dean of Oholei Torah, a leading yeshiva of the Chabad-Lubavitch sect of Orthodox Judaism in Brooklyn, rarely let worldly matters intrude on his service to God. He was pious and sincere; even sugar in his coffee was a frivolity. It was one consistent life of devotion, said D. Maimon Kirschenbaum, a former student of Rabbi Friedmans and an employment lawyer in Manhattan. He studied intensely. He prayed intensely. He didnt let up. 3 1 of 3 J.C. Reid / Contributor Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Rocky89/Getty Images Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The Independent reports that a rash of bars and restaurants in Florida have opted to close again, about a week after reopening, following COVID-19 diagnoses among staff and patrons, including a group of 15 friends who all tested positive for exposure to the coronavirus after they attended a gathering at a Jacksonville Beach pub. CBS News has a story about a similar situation in Texas, where at least a dozen Houston restaurants have chosen to shut down to sanitize the facilities and have employees tested as a result of COVID-19 diagnoses since they reopened. Moc Chau plateau in the northern mountain province of Son La has long been on the travelers radar because of its fields of flowers and green tea hills that stretch to the horizon. Na Ka plum valley (Photo: VOV) Recently, Na Ka valley and its plum trees has been an emerging destination on Moc Chaus tourism map. Na Ka plum valley puts on its best white garb when the plum trees blossom. This place draws visitors with its exquisite landscape, fresh mountain air, and juicy plums that can be eaten right off the tree. 16 kilometers of winding, narrow mountain road takes visitors from the little town of Moc Chau to Na Ka valley, which has long been overlooked because of its distance from the beaten path. But those who make the effort to get there are not disappointed. Na Kas awesome mountainscape and white plum blossoms will overwhelm you at the end of the journey. Its best to visit Na Ka plum valley in the late morning or early afternoon. The early morning fog obscures everything until about 9am, while the sun goes down quickly in the afternoon, taking with it the light needed for perfect photographs. Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet, who owns a plum orchard in Na Ka valley, said the place has become crowded in the past three years. The tourist season begins here in the 11th lunar month. The peak periods are after the traditional Lunar New Year festival when the plum trees blossom and in the harvest season between March and May. At those times, an orchard might receive as many as 2,000 visitors, Tuyet said. From the middle of January to the end of February, plum blossoms clothe the entire Na Ka valley in white, which is gradually dyed shades of plum until mid-April, when the harvest season offers visitors the experience of picking and tasting juicy plums fresh off the tree. Just a few years ago, community-based tourism was a novelty in Na Ka. When tourists began flocking to this valley for its photogenic views, orchard owners started offering photo services and pick-it-yourself plum tasting. They erected bamboo huts for photo shoots and wooden rest camps. Mong ethnic minority women stand at the entrance gate and provide costumes for rent. One day is enough to explore all the attractions of Na Ka plum valley. Trinh Hoang Duong of Hanoi told VOV Im digging this place with its old plum trees, delicious fruits, and fresh air. There are several orchards here, making it a really vast plum region. I like it a lot. I will definitely return to Na Ka. Na Ka plum valley does wonders for someone who wants to escape the hectic urban lifestyle and find peace in nature. VOV With the state primary fewer than 90 days away, Massachusetts lawmakers are closer to expanding vote-by-mail options to prevent citizens from contracting the coronavirus when they cast their ballots. State legislators say theyre increasingly confident that they will get a vote-by-mail bill to Gov. Charlie Bakers desk this month. If he signs the bill into law, households across the state will get applications enabling voters to request mail ballots. In communities across Massachusetts, ballots stuffed inside drop boxes outside Town Hall could replace lines of people waiting to cast their votes on Election Day. Those who do vote in-person on Election Day, or in the days leading up to it, would be met with masked poll workers. The next step that takes Massachusetts closer to that reality comes on Tuesday when the Senate debates its version of a voting bill, S.2755, on Tuesday. There are still some details to hash out on the Senate bill, as advocates push for lawmakers to extend how long voters have to request and submit mail ballots. If the bill clears the Senate and the minor differences in the House version are reconciled, Baker could have a vote-by-mail bill on his desk in a matter of weeks. Baker has been mum on vote-by-mail, initially saying he was unfamiliar with the push for expanded voting options during the COVID-19 pandemic. When last asked about the bills gaining traction on Beacon Hill, he declined to comment, saying he wanted to read the legislation before giving an opinion. But lawmakers say they are confident the vote-by-mail legislation will be ratified if it lands on the governors desk because it minimizes the risk of contracting the coronavirus while voting. I think hell find it hard to come up with reasons not to support it, said Sen. James Welch, a West Springfield Democrat. A lot of people want to make sure they have a safe way to cast their vote this fall. Massachusetts is one of at least 12 states weighing bills on absentee ballots and mail voting during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a tally by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Elected officials and voting rights advocates in Massachusetts have expressed concerns about the public health risks poll workers and people voting in-person could face with the lingering threat of COVID-19. Dozens of people who voted in-person in Wisconsin tested positive for the coronavirus, though it was unclear how many of them, if any, caught the virus at the polls. In Massachusetts, more than 105,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 7,647 people have died as of Monday. The number of positive COVID-19 tests continues to decline, but state officials say they are monitoring the impact of reopening and the recent protests against police misconduct to see if theres any spike in cases. The potential public health implications of reopening, combined with the possibility of a resurgence in the fall, prompted lawmakers to move forward with legislation that would enable Massachusetts residents to vote in more than one way. The House passed a bill earlier this month that directed the Secretary of States office to send applications to Massachusetts households to voters can request mail-in ballots, among other provisions that are also in the Senate bill. Depending on what the bill looks like when it comes through the Senate, there is going to be that focus making sure people get the applications in to request a ballot early. Thats going to be key, said Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, a Northampton Democrat who serves on the Joint Committee on Election Laws. We certainly dont want people staying home because theyre afraid about voting in person, she added. Tracey Carpenter, an economic and healthcare organizer for the Mass Senior Action Council, said members felt voting should be made easy with mail-in options to prevent spreading COVID-19. Carpenter said she was surprised as how many of them were ready to have the ballot mailed to their houses. Theyre going to be mailing in the ballots. A lot of our folks are not going to be participating at the polls, Carpenter said, also referring to seniors who volunteered as poll workers in previous elections. I think that comes with a little bit of sadness because theyve been doing it for years. In this 2019 file photo, state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa speaks at an impeachment rally. The Northampton Democrat is among several lawmakers pushing to expand voting options in upcoming Massachusetts elections. What would change Both House and Senate bills, which estimate the cost at $8 million, give Massachusetts residents more time to register to vote before upcoming elections in 2020, require frequent use of sanitizers and social distancing at polling places and allow people to request mail-in ballot for early voting and absentee ballots. According to the bills, COVID-19 would be considered a physical disability for which a voter could qualify for an absentee ballot until Dec. 31. One of the few differences in the Senate version proposes an online system under the Secretary of States office through which people could request early or absentee ballots. The system would have to be functioning by Oct. 1. The biggest changes in the bills involve implementing parameters to expand voting options during the pandemic. They direct the Secretary of States offices to send applications for vote-by-mail to households statewide by July 15 for the primary and Sept. 14 for the general election, with some exceptions. Voters would get the option to request an early voting ballot in a language other than English or Spanish in the applications, and they would have the option to submit or sign the applications electronically. Under the bills, the applications for the Sept. 1 primary would be due before noon on Aug. 25, a Tuesday. Applications to vote by mail in the Nov. 3 election would be due by Oct. 27, also a Tuesday. Applications for absentee ballots would be due by noon the day before an election, unless its a Sunday or a legal holiday. In that case, the deadline would be 5 p.m. on the day before the holiday or Sunday. If Baker signed vote-by-mail legislation into law, voters seeking to mail-in ballots would receive a package that includes instructions for early voting and completing the ballot, an envelope for the ballot and an affidavit that needs to be filled out and a larger envelope with paid postage. Neither bill at this point specifies whether the postage would be marked first class or bulk mail. Those voters would be able to submit their ballots in one of three ways: delivering a ballot by hand to the municipal clerks office, leaving it in a secured municipal drop box or mailing it to the clerk. Those who dont vote by mail would be able to vote in person on Election Day or days earlier, according to the bills. The early voting period for the primary runs from Aug. 22, a Saturday, until Aug. 28, the following Friday. The early voting period for the general election would run from Oct. 17, a Saturday, until Oct. 30, two Fridays later. The idea is to give people multiple opportunities to cast their ballot and ideally reduce crowds at polling places, lawmakers say. Another provision that lawmakers say should reduce crowds is one that lets clerks eliminate the second checkout requirement, where voters must provide their name and address before submitting their votes into the ballot boxes. Municipal clerks would be allowed to start tallying the results of mailed ballots ahead of Election Day, which helps ease the burden their offices would face if they receive an influx of mail. I do think the state is going to figure this out and run smooth elections, both in September and November, but I think November is what were really going to have to brace for because I do think well see higher voter turnout, Sabadosa said. Voting rights advocates are making one last push to tweak the Senate bill to give voters more time to request and submit a mail ballot. The Election Modernization Coalition, which includes 80 organizations, sent a letter to Senate President Karen Spilka calling for the passage of three amendments. One amendment by Sen. Jo Comerford, a Northampton Democrat, would make the deadline for requesting a ballot noon of the Friday before the 2020 elections rather than seven days beforehand, as the House bill proposes. Another amendment by Sen. Adam Hinds, a Pittsfield Democrat, would ensure that ballots are postmarked and that ballots that are postmarked by Election Day are counted, even if they reach the municipal clerk days later. The third, proposed by Sen. Eric Lesser, a Longmeadow Democrat, expands on the bills provision to establish an online portal. The amendment would allow voters to request an early or absentee ballot that would be sent to their home address or a different mailing address of theirs without asking for their signature. The amendment states the portal would need to be functional for the Nov. 3 election and, if feasible, the Sept. 1 election without needing a voters signature. Sen. Becca Rausch, who filed a bill to automatically send ballots to residents, proposed an amendment that would do just that. In a statement to MassLive, the Needham Democrat said a system based on applications for ballots has failed voters: ballots do not arrive on time, applications get lost, people get busy and submit applications too late. We also know, based on the data both here and nationwide, that record numbers of people will vote by mail," she said. We should be doing everything within our power to get ballots directly into the hands of voters. Rauschs amendment has garnered support from several organizations, including MassVOTE, AARP and the American Civil Liberties Union. Some voters may go to the polls despite the threat of COVID-19, taking advantage of early voting options. Sabadosa and Rep. Paul Mark, a Peru Democrat, says some voters may want to continue the tradition of exercising their civic duty and picking up an I Voted sticker at the polling place. Perhaps the biggest concern of some of Marks constituents is how the state intends to pay for the expanded voting options. When the House debated its voting bill, Mark urged legislators to make sure rural communities have adequate funding so they dont have to bear the brunt of the cost. If rural communities get help implementing vote-by-mail options, Mark sees the vote-by-mail legislation for the 2020 races as a key step toward modernizing the states election process. I think its time for momentum to build on changing the constitution to allow for more absentee voting, which would allow for remote voting, he said. You want to make sure that in spite of your work schedule youre able to participate in democracy. Ive heard people talk about for years, Why isnt Election Day a holiday? Why isnt it done on a weekend? In the meantime, Peru will put its own electoral process to the test at the annual town election on June 27. The town has of nearly 850 people tested 46 residents and recorded fewer than five COVID-19 cases, but it will accept mailed ballots, as well as early voting, because of the coronavirus pandemic. The last time Mark voted in Peru, he was in the basement of Town Hall placing his ballot in a wooden ballot box he cranked by hand. I imagine itll be that still," he said, but there will be fewer people in the building. Related Content: Catherine (Elle Fanning), who will become one of Russia's most successful rulers, shares a toast with husband Peter III (Nicholas Hoult) in Hulu's "The Great." (Hulu) If you're put off by stuffy biodramas of kings and queens, don't fear the period series "The Great." Rest assured: so is the show's creator. I hate period things. Everything I wrote was contemporary, says Tony McNamara, the Australian TV veteran and Oscar-nominated screenwriter of "The Favourite." So of course his new Hulu show is set in 1740s Russia and is about Catherine (you know, ... the Great). "I read about her and thought, I really want to write about her. What would it take for me to like it?'" "The Great" is a splash of cold water to the face of the "Masterpiece Theater" crowd and straight-no-chaser to "The Lion in Winter" fans, who like their royals sniping and snarling, but impeccably written all the same. It's shockingly direct, even abrupt, but all in service of a compelling narrative with a whole country at stake. Just don't take it as, shall we say, biographically precise. If youre slavish to the facts, it can really hurt the drama. I was more, Whats the essence of her? Whats the reason I want to tell the story? She did this, she did this, she did this' and the rest is up for grabs," says the writer from his backyard via video conference. He was joined on the call by stars Elle Fanning (from her kitchen) and Nicholas Hoult. Hoult's virtual background is a painting in spitting distance of the period, featuring a self-satisfied man holding a melon, suggestively split open. It makes Fanning laugh out loud because it's so on brand for Hoult's Peter III at least according to the show. "Changing the character of the man she married from what he was, was to make a better antagonist," McNamara says. "It was making a modern show; its not a history lesson. We use history where it serves us. Not so easy: Catherine (Elle Fanning) finds changing Russia for the better more difficult than anticipated in "The Great." (Hulu) McNamara first mounted The Great as a play in Sydney some 10 years before "The Favourite." Like that 2018 film, the new comedy-drama is a brass-knuckled, freewheeling, frequently anachronistic and ahistorical view of actual historical figures. Here, they are breathing, fighting, fornicating humans. The gilded court into which Fanning's idealistic princess is dropped is a whirlwind of absurdity and debauchery. Story continues Fanning says, I hadnt seen The Favourite when I read the script. I was like, Whoa, what is this? This is totally new and awesome and different! The messiness really appealed to me. There was plenty of messiness in Catherine's life. For one thing, she wasn't born Catherine, or even Russian. Sophie Friederike Auguste was a 15-year-old Prussian girl from a noble family (fallen on hard times) who was arranged to marry Peter. Catherine had several children, none of which Peter fathered, came to power via coup against her husband and survived more than a dozen uprisings to greatly expand the Russian Empire. She became its longest-reigning female leader, installed major educational reforms (such as allowing women to be formally schooled though still not allowing serfs to be), wrote books and pamphlets, and corresponded with Voltaire. Fanning, young veteran of dozens of features, was glad the story would be told in series television, where it could unfold at its own pace. Reading Catherine and how she transforms its heartbreaking at first, her optimism," says the actress. "She arrives in Russia and meets her husband, and its not what she signed up for. What was so exciting on set was we got to feel alive. I mean, of course Im stuffed like a sausage into a corset. Were on these crazy sets that are so elaborate and golden and rich. But Catherine is a human being, with emotions and complexities. I felt physical in a way I havent before. Im a physical person; I gesture a lot" she does, the video chat testifies "Shes very young and naive, she makes mistakes, she doesnt have all the answers. Shes learning from everyone in the court and especially from her enemies and from Peter. Theyre butting heads, but hes teaching her a lot of things. Among the reasons the real Peter was vulnerable to a coup were his attempted social reforms, which did not sit well with the powerful, and his desire to end a war. In the show, those drives are transferred to Catherine and Peter becomes something quite different. Hoults Peter is all naked id, flying from one unbridled impulse to another. Actors often strive for unselfconscious freedom; that's a base requirement to play this man-child at the wheel of a nation. It's good to be the king: Nicholas Hoult turns in a freewheeling and hairpin-turning performance as Peter III in Hulu's "The Great." (Hulu) The irreverent is something that really touches home with me because a lot of times a script can feel more restrictive than useful," says Hoult. "In Tonys writing, you can completely run with it. Peter, a live wire whos unpredictable, its still all there on the page for you. You feel completely free and able to do anything; you dont have to force or push anything. McNamara says of his two leads, As a writer, you never want to think, Maybe they can do this, maybe they cant. I never felt that with them. Even though its TV, I was very happy to write four- and five-page two-handers. Scenes that went for five or six minutes. I think the unexpected thing was the chemistry. I remember watching their first two-hander and thinking, Wow, its amazing. It likely helped that the two had previously worked together and played a married couple albeit when he was about 21 and she 14, in the 2014 release "Young Ones." "We have a history of strange marriages," says Fanning with a smile, adding that she considers Hoult her "favorite person to do scenes with, ever." I find you grating: Catherine (Elle Fanning) and Peter III (Nicholas Hoult) have an up-and-down relationship in "The Great." (Hulu) But when asked what the show is really about, the company freezes. And it's not video buffering. Finally McNamara takes over: Its about a young woman who comes to a country thats not her own, an empire, and takes it over. But in the way we tell it, its ahistorical and a dark comedy about your destiny and what it takes to have power and what it costs you. And also its about marriage, in a way. "Is society just the way it is or can it change? If it changes, it can only change because the people in it can change. Every character is asked about their ability to change and the obstacles to being a better person, a better society. So Id say that. And its also really ... fun. By PTI MUMBAI: Maharashtra BJP senior leader Eknath Khadse on Tuesday claimed that former party MP Haribhau Jawale died as much-needed Remdesivir injection was not made available in time. The former MP from Jalgaon in north Maharashtra died at a private hospital here earlier in the day. He was 67. "The much-needed vials of Remdesivir injection (100 mg) were not made available in time. Hospital authorities had even written a letter to the Drug Controller General of India on June 12 requesting supply of the medicine, but the first supply was received only on June 14. However, it was too late by that time and Jawale died today," the former minister said. Khadse, who hails from Jalgaon district, said he had received a positive response from state health minister Rajesh Tope and government officials who speedily processed the documents for Jawale, "but our efforts failed to save him". Jawale was currently the district head of the BJP in Jalgaon. India's drug regulator had on June 1 granted US pharma giant Gilead Sciences marketing authorisation for its drug remdesivir, being touted as a potential treatment for COVID- 19, in the country. On June 13, the Union Health Ministry, in its revised 'Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19', recommended the use of remdesivir under emergency use authorisation on patients with moderate disease -- that is those on oxygen support. When President Donald Trump announced two years ago that the United States would withdraw from the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the White House said that the decision did not mean that the country would retreat from its stance on human rights - a cause the administration accused the council of betraying. "Our commitment does not allow us to remain a part of a hypocritical and self-serving organization that makes a mockery of human rights," Nikki Haley, then the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said of the top U.N. human rights body. Now, amid mass police accountability protests across the United States, UNHRC is set to turn its attention to America. The body will hold a rare "urgent debate" Wednesday on human rights in the United States, and African countries are circulating a draft resolution calling for a high-level investigation into U.S. racism and police violence. The United States, no longer a council member, will not get a vote on the matter. The State Department and White House would not immediately comment on the record. "The doors remain open to them," said Rolando Gomez, a media officer for the council. UNHRC's Wednesday event will focus on "systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protests" in the United States, after a request by all 54 African countries, who highlighted the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody last month, sparking a protest movement. The draft resolution, among other proposals, calls for an independent international commission of inquiry, one of the highest-level probes the United Nations can launch, to look into "deaths of Africans and people of African descent" in the United States with the aim of "bringing perpetrators to justice." For the council's critics, especially U.S. conservatives, this week's debate might serve to highlight the reasons Washington left the UNHRC in the first place. Many of the countries that will debate police violence in the United States have their own issues with policing. Some are repressive, authoritarian regimes. But to many human rights advocates, the events tell another story, about U.S. retrenchment from the international human rights arena - ceding some of the space to smaller nations, some with shaky human rights records, such as Burkina Faso, which led the nations calling for the debate. In the past there have been only four "urgent debates," which are designed to bring attention to an especially pressing matter. One was about the Gaza flotilla raid in 2010, in which Israeli troops killed nine pro-Palestinian activists, and three more focused on aspects of the Syrian civil war. Commissions of inquiry are high-profile investigations that demand considerable resources. In the past, they have been used in relation to conflicts such as the war in Syria. UNHRC, founded in 2006, is designed to review and investigate human rights concerns in U.N. countries, whether they are members of the council or not. It has 47 member nations who are elected for three-year terms. Complaints about bias and hypocrisy have followed it from the start: The council replaced the U.N. Human Rights Commission, which had existed since 1946 but faced repeated criticism for allowing human rights abusers to be members. While the new body's membership structure was reformed, authoritarian countries such as Venezuela have still been able to join, in part due to regional voting. Critics also say that the council focuses unfairly on Israel. The lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee noted in 2018 that the council had issued 80 resolutions against Israel, "virtually the same number as it has levied against all other countries combined." Under President George W. Bush, the United States did not participate in the council - in part because of concerns that it would not win a seat if it tried, along with concerns over its membership and intentions. In his first year in office, President Barack Obama sought and won a U.S. seat on the council. Less than a decade later, the Trump administration pulled out in the middle of the president's first term, becoming the first country to back out of membership and joining isolated nations such as Eritrea and North Korea that refuse to work with the body. Haley and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cited bias against Israel among their justifications, as well as the alleged hypocrisy of members, long-standing issues that many human rights groups admit are founded. Some academics who study the council said that U.S. membership had served as a limiting factor in criticism of Israel by the body and that by leaving, the United States had given up leverage. The 2018 decision coincided with criticism of the United States from U.N. officials: Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, the U.N. commissioner for human rights, the very same week called the treatment of migrant children at U.S. borders "unconscionable." Criticism of the United States at the United Nations goes far back, as does Washington's frosty reaction to it. In 1947, when W.E.B. Du Bois appealed to the United Nations to consider the plight of African Americans, U.S. Ambassador Eleanor Roosevelt refused to participate in the meeting, suggesting that the Soviet Union would use the event to undermine the United States. While Obama said he welcomed the scrutiny of events such as the 2014 unrest in Ferguson, Mo., the Trump administration has taken a different approach, pushing back against international criticism, even moving to sanction prosecutors and officials from the International Criminal Court. E. Tendayi Achiume, a Zambian-born law professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, said that the council needs to act, as racism in the United States is "a human rights crisis of existential proportions." "The domestic legal and policy regimes that ought to be relied upon to put an end to this crisis have never been able to do so," Achiume, who serves as U.N. special rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, wrote for the news site Just Security. Floyd's family have supported U.N. involvement. "I want people across the world and the leaders in the United Nations to see the video of my brother George Floyd, to listen to his cry for help, and I want them to answer his cry," his brother Philonise Floyd said in a statement released by the American Civil Liberties Union. WASHINGTON -- The theft of top-secret computer hacking tools from the CIA in 2016 was the result of a workplace culture in which the agency's elite computer hackers "prioritized building cyber weapons at the expense of securing their own systems," according to an internal report prepared for then-director Mike Pompeo as well as his deputy, Gina Haspel, now the current director. The breach - allegedly by a CIA employee - was discovered a year after it happened, when the information was published by WikiLeaks, in March 2017. The anti-secrecy group dubbed the release "Vault 7," and U.S. officials have said it was the biggest unauthorized disclosure of classified information in the CIA's history, causing the agency to shut down some intelligence operations and alerting foreign adversaries to the spy agency's techniques. The October 2017 report by the CIA's WikiLeaks Task Force, several pages of which were missing or redacted, portrays an agency more concerned with bulking up its cyber arsenal than keeping those tools secure. Security procedures were "woefully lax" within the special unit that designed and built the tools, the report said. Absent WikiLeaks's disclosure, the CIA might never have known the tools had been stolen, according to the report. "Had the data been stolen for the benefit of a state adversary and not published, we might still be unaware of the loss," the task force concluded. The task force report was provided to The Washington Post by the office of Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who has pressed for stronger cybersecurity in the intelligence community. He obtained the redacted, incomplete copy from the Justice Department. The breach came nearly three years after Edward Snowden, then a National Security Agency contractor, stole and disclosed classified information about the NSA's surveillance operations. "CIA has moved too slowly to put in place the safeguards that we knew were necessary given successive breaches to other U.S. Government agencies," the report said, finding that "most of our sensitive cyber weapons were not compartmented, users shared systems administrator-level passwords, there were no effective removable media [thumb drive] controls, and historical data was available to users indefinitely." The task force noted that it could not determine the precise size of the breach because the CIA hacking team did not require monitoring of who used its network, but concluded that the employee stole as much as 34 terabytes of information, or about 2.2 billion pages. Timothy Barrett, the CIA press secretary, declined to comment directly on the report. "CIA works to incorporate best-in-class technologies to keep ahead of and defend against ever-evolving threats," he said. The hacking tools were developed by the CIA's Center for Cyber Intelligence, where the agency's most sophisticated hackers devised ways to gain access to hard-to-penetrate networks, for instance, to secretly activate the camera and microphone on a foreign target's tablet, or steal the design plans for a foreign adversary's advanced weapons systems. Those employees are under constant pressure to find vulnerabilities in commercial software and other technology, said a former senior intelligence official familiar with the task force's findings. The task force acknowledged the drive "to meet growing and critical mission needs," which it blamed for the laxness in "day-to-day security practices." The report has been introduced as evidence in the criminal trial of Joshua Schulte, a former CIA employee who worked in the center and is accused of stealing the hacking tools and giving them to WikiLeaks. Schulte has pleaded not guilty, and the task force findings have figured in his defense. His attorneys argued at a trial earlier this year that security on the computer network was so poor that any one of hundreds of employees or contractors may have had access to the same information Schulte did. A jury failed to reach a verdict in March on whether Schulte gave the tools to WikiLeaks. Prosecutors have said they intend to try Schulte again this year. The report distinguishes between the CIA's "enterprise information technology system," which accounts for the vast majority of the agency's computer network, and specialized "mission systems," including the one that housed the hacking tools. The former intelligence official, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the subject's sensitivity, said the mission systems are segregated from the enterprise systems, which follow the "gold standard" for insider threat detection. The task force said the CIA had been "an early leader" in securing its enterprise system. The former official said he agreed with most of the task force's findings, but he objected to the assertion that the CIA hadn't emphasized computer security or that the elite hacking unit was cavalier about protecting its secrets. "The idea or the assertion that we weren't working to get all of our systems to the highest level of cybersecurity would be a false claim," according to the former official who was familiar with the unit's operations. The center's mission system was housed in a separate building not at CIA headquarters, and access was highly restricted, the former official said. But the CIA hackers presumed that the ability to "audit" the network, to know who was logging on and their activities, was better and more detailed than it actually was, the former official said. The computer network also was maintained by contractors, the former official added. "There was a misunderstanding between the people who ran the unit and people who ran and maintained the network." The breach occurred less than six months into a CIA reorganization that emphasized computer security, including for the mission center networks. "The hardest thing to do is protect against your own people," said another former intelligence official who is familiar with the breach. Congress in 2014 gave the Department of Homeland Security the power to require federal agencies to meet minimum cybersecurity standards, but exempted the spy agencies, reasoning that as guardians of the nation's most valuable secrets they would take extra care to secure their systems, Wyden said. "It is now clear that exempting the intelligence community from baseline federal cybersecurity requirements was a mistake," Wyden wrote in a letter Tuesday to Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe. Some analysts fault Congress for not doing more to hold intelligence agencies to account for their lapses. The 2017 breach of the Equifax credit reporting agency got far more scrutiny than those of the NSA and CIA, said Thomas, an information security professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. As more and more data was placed online and the barriers to sharing intelligence among agencies fell after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, breaches occurred more often. In 2010, Chelsea Manning, then an Army intelligence analyst, gave hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables and military files to WikiLeaks. In 2013, Snowden provided troves of data to journalists about sensitive surveillance programs. "You'd think that these incidents would be major wake-up calls for the intelligence community and the entire American security establishment," Rid said. "But it appears that the most powerful and best funded intelligence agencies on the planet are unable to stop the bleeding of their own data." WikiLeaks apparently did not obtain even more sensitive information contained in a "Gold folder" that included "final versions" of the hacking tools, as well as source code, the task force found. For centuries Bali's Trunyanese people have left their dead to decompose in the open, the bodies placed in bamboo cages until only the skeletons remain. It is a ritual they haven't given up -- even as the COVID-19 pandemic upends burial practices worldwide with religious leaders in protective gear, cemetary workers in hazmat suits, and mourners banned or unable to comfort each other because of social-distancing rules. Across Indonesia funeral workers are now required to wear protective equipment and bodies are laid to rest quickly, all in a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly respiratory disease. But in Bali local officials claim the novel coronavirus, which has infected at least eight million and killed more than 430,000 globally, has yet to reach the remote north east where the Trunyan live. "The funeral process remains the same but now we have to wear masks," explained village head Wayan Arjuna. Tourists are temporarily banned from visiting for fear of them bringing in the disease, he adds. "We're afraid of getting COVID-19," said Arjuna, but added there was no suggestion of stopping the open-air burial process. Unlike many in the rest of Hindu-majority Bali, the Trunyanese -- who fuse animist beliefs and traditional village customs with their own interpretation of Hinduism -- do not bury or cremate their dead. Instead they let nature take its course as the corpses decay in the open, believing it to be a way to keep a link with the deceased. "This makes us feel connected to our loved ones," Arjuna said. "Like when my grandmother died, I felt like she was close", he added. - Skull Island - It is a short boat ride to their open-air cemetery from tiny Trunyan village, overlooked by volcano Mount Batur and a sprawling Hindu temple carved out of volcanic rock. There are 11 cages for the corpses -- placed close to a fragrant banyan tree that hides the putrid smell of death, locals say. In one cage, a recently deceased woman could almost have been mistaken for someone sleeping, but her waxy greying complexion revealed the truth. Nearby, a flesh-less foot poked out of clothing left on the bodies, while a skeletal jaw lay agape in another cage. "I used to be a little scared working here, but it's been so long now that I'm used to it," said veteran guide Wayan Sukarmin, who was spent 20 years showing people the custom on what outsiders have dubbed "Skull Island". When AFP visited in February before the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic and travel restrictions were put in place, signs warned visitors to wear appropriate clothing and refrain from using bad language. Rubber sandals, cigarette packages, toothpaste tubes and pots and pans were scattered around the site, along with baskets filled with coins and crumpled money -- all left by mourners for dead relatives to use in the afterlife. "Locals won't take anything because it belongs to the dead. That's our belief," Sukarmin said. "I don't know what the consequences would be if you took something but I believe in karma," he added. - Millennia-old custom - If the cages become full then older corpses are moved to an open ossuary, to make way for new ones. Then when there is no flesh left, the skulls of the long dead are placed upon a stone altar, until they too crumble back into nature. Nearby, there is a second cemetery for the unmarried and children, while a third location is for those who died unnatural deaths like murder or passed away from acute illness. The Bali Aga -- or mountain people -- who live in these isolated villages, claim to be descendents of the original Balinese and the main temple in Trunyan village dates back to the 10th century according to historical records. The origin of the custom of open-air burials is subject to debate. One legend has it that the area's early inhabitants fought over the prized Banyan tree, so to keep the peace, leaders decided to place the dead there, believing the smell from the corpses would make the spot less attractive. Another story suggests that the ritual was adopted to avoid angering the rumbling volcano nearby by cremating people. "There are several versions of the legend so I can't decide which one is correct," Arjuna said. But these open-air burials are now so rooted in the culture that few expect much to change in Trunyan, even as the pandemic ravages the world. "It's relatively easier to prevent infections in isolated and faraway places," said Bali's virus taskforce chief Dewa Made Indra. "There aren't any reported cases in Trunyan. But if that happens then we'll handle it with special procedures and I think the villagers will understand." For centuries Bali's Trunyanese people have left their dead to decompose in the open air, the bodies placed in bamboo cages until only skeletons remain, a ritual they haven't given up even as the COVID-19 pandemic upends burial practices globally Unlike many in the rest of Hindu-majority Bali, the Trunyanese -- who fuse animist beliefs and traditional village customs with their own interpretation of Hinduism -- do not bury or cremate their dead The Bali Aga -- or mountain people -- who live in these isolated villages, claim to be descendents of the original Balinese Relatives of the dead leave ceremonial offerings for use in the afterlife at the cemetery where Bali's Trunyanese people hold open-air burials Ajai Shukla salutes the memory of Lieutenant General R M Vohra, Mahavir Chakra, who passes into the ages on Sunday. On the last day of the 1971 War, Lieutenant General R M Vohra, then a lieutenant colonel in command of 4th Horse, one of the Indian Army's most decorated and feared tank regiments, decimated the better part of a Pakistani armoured brigade that was trying to stop his tanks from crossing the Basantar river and thrusting deeper into that country. He was later awarded a Mahavir Chakra and his regiment the Basantar battle honour. The decorated soldier succumbed to COVID-19 at the Base Hospital in New Delhi on Sunday. He was 88. After his glorious tenure with the 4th Horse regiment, General Vohra went on to command one of India's two elite armoured divisions: A corps that handled all the insurgency campaigns in the north east and finally the Eastern Command in the days after the Chinese intrusions at Sumdorong Chu, near Tawang, in 1986-1987. An old school cavalry officer from the days of chivalry and charm, the general was well loved, whose sometimes brusque exterior hid a charming readiness to assist any of his officers or soldiers in trouble. When he assumed command of the 4th Horse in the lead up to the 1971 War, the regiment was already famed for its combat history, most recently in the 1965 India-Pakistan war when it won the battle honour of Phillaurah. Earlier, in World War I, the regiment, then mounted on horses, won the battle honour of Cambrai in 1917 when its horsed troopers charged and overcame German defences equipped with machine guns. General Vohra's citation for the MVC, India's second-highest gallantry award, read: 'During the battle of Basantar river, his regiment, inspired by his personal example and courage, stood fast against repeated attacks by the enemy armour and destroyed 27 enemy tanks with minimal casualties to the unit.' 'Throughout the operations, Lieutenant Colonel Vohra displayed conspicuous gallantry and inspiring leadership in keeping with the highest traditions of the Army.' General Vohra will be a conspicuous absentee from the army's celebrations next year of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Basantar. BERLIN (Reuters) - SAP's biggest customer event, Sapphire Now, got off to a rocky start on Monday as the site hosting this year's 'reimagined' event, held online due to the coronavirus pandemic, crashed. It was hardly an advertisement for Europe's most valuable tech company, whose pitch to its 440,000 customers promises seamless integration in support of a new kind of 'intelligent enterprise' BERLIN (Reuters) - SAP's biggest customer event, Sapphire Now, got off to a rocky start on Monday as the site hosting this year's "reimagined" event, held online due to the coronavirus pandemic, crashed. It was hardly an advertisement for Europe's most valuable tech company, whose pitch to its 440,000 customers promises seamless integration in support of a new kind of "intelligent enterprise". After a delay, SAP directed viewers to a link that worked on Twitter - inviting a slew of ironic comments on the microblogging platform. "Have you tried turning it off and on again?" tweeted Steve Rumsby, an SAP solution architect at Britain's University of Warwick. The 2,400 viewers who persisted were treated to a recorded keynote address by new CEO Christian Klein, making his first major outing, to be followed by a performance by British rock star Sting. "We profoundly apologize for technical difficulties with this morning's premiere broadcast. Once we encountered the issues, we immediately went live on twitter and LinkedIn to provide our audiences access," SAP said in a statement. Sapphire Now continues all week. (Reporting by Douglas Busvine; Editing by Mark Potter) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Hong Kong: Private prosecutions explained Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng The subject of privation prosecution has attracted some media interests recently. Noting that the legal proceedings of some private prosecutions are reportedly taking place, I am mindful of refraining from giving substantive comments but outlining the basic principles concerning private prosecution. The practice of private prosecution was a common practice in days immemorial before a public body that oversaw public prosecution was set up. This right of an ordinary citizen remains notwithstanding the establishment of public prosecution bodies in modern times. In the past 10 years, the number of private prosecutions brought to the attention of the Department of Justice (DoJ) was limited. The Secretary for Justice had intervened. Yet in recent times some have availed themselves of such right and it is pertinent that the procedures and principles are properly understood to avoid abuse of process, wasting of judicial resources and most importantly jeopardising the administration of criminal justice. There are apparently no express rules governing the court procedures applicable to private prosecutions. Some principles are laid down in the Prosecution Code as a guidance but they do not represent the full ambit of the law or the pertaining legal principles. At the moment, based on the cases, a private prosecution is instituted when a complainant submits evidence to the court for consideration on whether or not to issue a summons to the defendant. There are no set procedures on whether a hearing must be convened, whether the DoJ should be notified, allowed to participate as an observer or allowed to make representations. From the practice, it is observed that any oral hearing, if held, will be conducted ex-parte, that is, only the complainant is present. However, a complainant is generally not entitled to obtain witness statements or other investigatory materials from Police. If a complainant intends to exercise the right to institute private prosecution, the complainant would be responsible for gathering evidence. In considering whether or not to issue a summons, the magistrate has to consider whether the allegation is of an offence known to the law, and if so, whether on the face of it, the essential ingredients of the offence are present. In other words, the court has to decide if a prima facie case has been established by the evidence presented to it. By prima facie, one means generally that taking the evidence presented to the highest, whether a reasonable and properly directed jury will be able to convict. After the institution of the proceedings and whatever procedures that are adopted by the magistrate, the court will decide if a summons will be issued to the defendant to state the matter of the complaint and to summon him to appear before the court on a particular day to answer the complaint or information. There is no requirement for the magistrate to give a written reason for the decision to issue a summons. The decision of the magistrate is amenable to judicial review irrespective of the steps that would be taken by the Secretary for Justice. Section 14(1) of the Magistrates Ordinance states that: A complainant or informant who is not acting or deemed to act on behalf of the Secretary for Justice may if he so wishes and without any prior leave conduct in person or by counsel on his behalf the prosecution of the offence to which the complaint or information relates but the Secretary for Justice may at any stage of the proceedings before the magistrate intervene and assume the conduct of the proceedings and may within the time limited by section 104 for applying for a review intervene for the purpose of applying for or being made a party to any review. Section 14(2) of the Ordinance stipulates that as from the date of any such intervention the Secretary for Justice shall be deemed to be a party to the proceedings or the review in lieu of such complainant or informant. Once the magistrate has issued a summons, at any stage of the proceedings, the Secretary for Justice is entitled to intervene in the private prosecution to assume the conduct of those proceedings. The Secretary for Justice may prevent the prosecution from continuing by withdrawing the summons, declining to sign the charge sheet or indictment, or take over and continue the prosecution, or let the private prosecution continue. In short, the Secretary for Justice can intervene to withdraw the charge, to apply for a permanent stay of proceedings or to offer no evidence against the defendant. The Secretary for Justice should consider a number of factors when deciding whether or not to take over a private prosecution and what steps to follow after such intervention. A number of factors by way of example have been set out in the Prosecution Code to guide the work of the Department of Justice. Important principles have been laid down by some precedent cases. Similarly, the decision of the Secretary for Justice whether or not to take over may be judicially reviewable. The right to institute a private prosecution is an important feature of the common law system. However, it might be open to abuse. Private prosecutions which are groundless or frivolous or brought out of improper motives or political considerations should not be condoned. As the Department of Justice has the constitutional duty to control criminal prosecutions under Article 63 of the Basic Law, we have an obligation to intervene in and discontinue a private prosecution which is considered to have no reasonable prospect of conviction, be contrary to the public interest, be brought out of improper motives, or constitute an abuse of process, etc. Indeed, where proceedings would amount to an abuse of process, the Department of Justice should ask the court to order that those proceedings be stayed. The abuse of such process is also pertinent when considered in this perspective. A private prosecutor brings a case on a prima facie standard, a summons was issued by the magistrate. The trial continues and the private prosecutor is not able to discharge the burden of proof to a standard of beyond reasonable doubt and the defendant is discharged. The defendant will not be able to be prosecuted again in light of the principle against double jeopardy. Hence speed in bringing forth a private prosecution is not always advantageous and indeed may result in extremely unfair result. It is exactly for these and other reasons that the Secretary for Justice has the right to intervene to ensure that justice is administered. As a reminder, if a complainant institutes an unmeritorious private prosecution and fails, the complainant may be liable to pay costs to the defendant. If the prosecution is brought maliciously, the complainant may even face civil liability to pay compensation to the defendant. If the matter is taken to judicial review, then issue of costs will arise too. We are determined to promote fair, just and consistent decision-making at all stages of the prosecution process. Any wrong decision in prosecutions will inevitably damage the confidence of the community in the criminal justice system. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for the Department of Justice to strike a balance between the right of private prosecutions and shouldering our responsibility of avoiding unnecessary and unjustifiable prosecutions. Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng wrote this article and posted it on her blog on June 16. This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Strategic Thinkers Network Africa (STRANEK-STRANEK) says Vodafone's decision to give out personal data of its customers to Kelni GVG smack of betrayal and breach of its privacy laws. The company has come under criticism for admitting in court of giving personal data of customers to Kelni GVG. The personal information includes (but not limited to) subscribers names, mobile phone numbers, call records, call locations and addresses and mobile money transaction details. This came out at the hearing of a case which was brought by a private legal practitioner, Mr Francis Kwateng Arthur to challenge the constitutionality of the Presidents Executive instrument No. 63 (EI 63). But according to the company, information about customers, including subscriber information, also known as call data records (CDRs), remains encrypted and secure as the company takes data security and storage of personal information extremely seriously. In a statement from STRANEK-Africa, the act by Vodafone is an infringement on the rights of the customers indicating that "Vodafone is not a safe network." STRANEK-Africa finds it unfortunate to know how Vodafone has turned its back at their customers. Vodafone has finally dashed the details of its customers like a tabletop tomato business. Even after various petitions from institutions like STRANEK-Africa, they betrayed their customers. Vodafone is not a safe network to subscribe to. The privacy of customers is not assured, a statement signed by Executive Director Nii Tettey Tetteh has said. Below is the statement from STRANEK-Africa: For immediate release: 16.06.2020 STRANEK-Africa finds it unfortunate to know how Vodafone has turned its back at its customers. Vodafone has finally dashed the details of its customers like a table top tomato business. Even after various petitions from institutions like STRANEK-Africa, they betrayed their customers. Vodafone is not a safe network to subscribe to. The privacy of customers is not assured. Please find attached our petition to Vodafone. We will be on standby for any media engagement. Signed Nii Tettey Tetteh Executive Director +233 559 042 914 Emmanuel Osei Director of Policy and Political Affairs +47 412 45 303 ACSI Welcomes Two to Senior Leadership Team NEWS PROVIDED BY Association of Christian Schools International June 16, 2020 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 16, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) welcomes Chris Marchand, as its new Vice President of Purposeful Design Publications (PDP), and Jerry Nelson, as Special Assistant to President Dr. Larry Taylor. Marchand brings several years of experience in education, curriculum development, instructional and e-learning design, curriculum publishing, and product innovation. He has extensive publishing expertise, specifically in diversifying portfolio solutions and moving from print to digital content delivery. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Partner Solutions at Awana Clubs International. Serving on the Executive Leadership Team, he led, equipped, and developed a team that executed all aspects of product and publishing innovation, design, development, and delivery. He was also responsible for the strategic direction of the publishing and solutions division and in charge of the life-cycle management of over 1,500 unique products, serving as the master product owner for the organization. "I am so excited about joining the team at ACSI. With all the shifting landscapes in our world and culture today, there has never been a greater need for Christian education than right now," said Marchand. "I'm looking forward to working alongside the incredible team at ACSI and PDP as we continue to serve our member schools, administrators, educators, and students with excellence." "Chris has an in-depth understanding of global markets with significant experience in building relationships with indigenous subject matter experts to contextualize U.S. products for use in other countries. His passion is for Christian education and equipping professional educators," Taylor said. In his role as Special Assistant to the President, Nelson will provide leadership and professional expertise in the planning and implementation of initiatives identified in the ministry's new Strategic Plan. He will work closely with Taylor and the President's Advisory Team (PAT) to collaboratively focus on objectives within each of the three pillars comprising the Strategic Plan: Advancing, Access, and Advocacy. Nelson most recently served as Head of School at Northwest Christian Academy in Miami, FL for 11 years. He expressed anticipation and desire to contribute in his new role. Among other accomplishments, while at Northwest Nelson created a professional teacher development program, a student Leadership Development Program, a Parent Education Program, and wrote three books and several educational documents specifically for students and parents. "It's a privilege to be able to work with Larry Taylor in this new paradigm of ACSI," said Nelson. "My role is broad in the sense that I will have the opportunity to speak into each of the three pillars of the Strategic Plan. However, the thread that runs throughout is to help shape a philosophy to undergird our understanding of Culture and Diversity and to develop a framework for implementing it in our daily practices." "I've known Jerry for several years, and I can't think of anyone who is more suited to carrying out our aim to integrate diversity issues with our new strategic plan. His background as a head of an inner-city school, and experience working with minority students and families, gives him an indispensable understanding of how to achieve this goal," Taylor shared. In addition to their primary duties, both Marchand and Nelson will serve as members of the ACSI senior leadership team. "I am thrilled to bring the caliber of leaders such as Jerry and Chris onto our team. They have proven to be successful in their respective fields, are men of high character, and will make immediate and lasting impacts for ACSI, our members, and the cause of Christian Education." Taylor added. ABOUT ACSI: Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., ACSI exists to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ. ACSI advances excellence in Christian schools by enhancing the professional and personal development of Christian educators and providing vital support functions for Christian schools by offering multiple services including teacher and administrator certification, school accreditation, legal/legislative assistance, and curriculum publishing. Serving more than 25,000 schools in 108 countries, ACSI helps more than 5.5 million students worldwide connect to Christian education. For more information on the ministry, visit www.ACSI.org or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ACSIUSA or on Twitter at @ACSIUSA. SOURCE Association of Christian Schools International CONTACT: Larry Lincoln, 719-424-6461, Larry_Lincoln@acsi.org A commanding officer of and two soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley in eastern on Monday night. This was during a violent face off between Indian and Chinese soldiers, the Army said in a brief statement. When did it all start? From the third week of April, over 5,000 Chinese soldiers have intruded at five points in India's These are Chumar, Demchok, Pangong and two places near DBO.The Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA) ingress into the Galwan River valley opens up a new and worrying chapter. On May 5, around 250 soldiers of Indian and Chinese army personnel were engaged in a face-off along the northern bank of the Pangong Lake and even resorted to stone-pelting. For the past five weeks, several Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley. After 1975, this is the first violent incident on the border in which casualties have taken place. It comes days after Chief, General M M Naravane said both sides have begun disengaging from Galwan Valley. Line of Actual Control Galwan Valley is one of the four standoff points in the eastern sector. The border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control, the de-facto border between the two countries. Well, patrol intrusions from both sides are routine in areas where the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is disputed, the in the Galwan Valley corresponds to Chinas official claim line.This means, in sending thousands of the PLA troops three-to-four kilometres into the Galwan Valley, China has violated its own claim line and occupied territory that Beijing has traditionally acknowledged to be Indian. Why are the two sides clashing? The face-off is believed to be in reaction to India steadily building infrastructure in Ladakh and the increase in local civilian activity on the Indian side of For China, this is an irritant because India is rapidly narrowing down the infrastructure gap in Ladakh. While India has not obstructed in any manner the activities of the Chinese on their side of the LAC, whether it is putting up of the pre-fabricated structures or an increase in their patrolling. The Chinese patrol units have been aggressive in expressing their displeasure to the activity on the DBO road. This has manifested in their activity in Galwan sector, Pangong lake and other strategic areas. However, there is little clarity within the government about why the Chinese have triggered this intrusion. Some officials speculate that Beijing is punishing New Delhi for publishing a revised map of the former state of Jammu & Kashmir in November, which showed Aksai Chin which both countries claim, but China occupies as a part of India. Another viewpoint holds that the traditionally peaceful Galwan River has now become a hotspot because it is where the is closest to the new road India has built along the Shyok River to Daulet Beg Oldi (DBO) the most remote and vulnerable area along the LAC in Ladakh. What is India saying officially? Indian Army in a statement said that during the de-escalation process which is underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place on Monday night with "casualties suffered on both sides." "The loss of lives on the Indian side includes An Indian Army Colonel, the Commanding Officer of an infantry battalion, and two soldiers," Indian Army said. The statement read that Major Generals of India and China are currently engaged in a meeting at the face-off site to defuse the situation. On Monday, Brigade Commander and company level talks happened in Eastern Ladakh between India and China. The talks are happening near patrolling point 14, near the mouth of Galwan Valley and patrolling point 17 at Hot Spring Area. Earlier looking to resolve the dispute over Chinese military buildup, India and China were holding talks in Eastern Ladakh. Army sources had said there has been disengagement between Indian and Chinese troops at more locations where they had been in standoff positions for last many weeks now. Defence Minister held a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs and External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar over the recent developments in Eastern Ladakh on Tuesday. Army Chief General MM Naravanes planned visit to Pathankot military station has been cancelled: Army Sources Now, what China is saying? Today, China alleged that the Indian troops twice crossed the border line on June 15 for illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel which led to serious physical conflict between the two sides, contesting the Indian Army's position that the violent face-off took place between the troops during the "de-escalation process" in the Galwan Valley. "I am not aware of the information you provided," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing when asked about the reports of the Indian casualties at the contested borders. "Our border troops had a high-level meeting and reached important consensus on easing the border situation but astonishingly on June 15 the Indian troops seriously violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line for illegal activities" Zhao said. However, China's Global Times quotes their Foreign Minister, who said that China and Indian side agreed to resolve the bilateral issues through dialogue to ease the border situation and maintain peace and tranquility in border areas. Meanwhile, an earthquake of magnitude 5.8 hit Jammu and Kashmir in the early hours of Tuesday, officials said, the third to hit the union territory in three days. The National leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has reacted to the death of Senator Bayo Osinowo representing... The National leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has reacted to the death of Senator Bayo Osinowo representing Lagos East at the 9th Nigerian National Assembly, who died on Monday. According to the former governor of Lagos State in his condolence message, Tinubu, who described the death as sudden and unexpected, which deeply hurts. He said, The passing of Senator Bayo Osinowo has deeply hurt me and Lagosians. He was more than a close friend and political associate. Over the years he became like a family member and brother in so many ways. Bayo and I have come a long way, dating back to our days in the pro-democracy struggles. We both enlisted in the Social Democratic Party where he served so well as the Youth Chairman of that party during the Third Republic and later in the Alliance for Democracy in 1998 after the restoration of democracy. Bayos contributions to the return of democracy were significant and enduring. As a prominent political figure in Lagos, he served our state with dedication, passion, and concern for the common man. In the Lagos State House of Assembly, where he was a four-time member from 2003 to 2019 representing Kosofe Constituency 1, he was more than a member of that House. He provided leadership. He was a stabilising figure. He worked hard and tirelessly to make Lagos a better place. He cared for all Lagosians. His election in 2019 to represent Lagos East in the Senate demonstrated not only his immense political skills but also the affection the people have for him and his popularity. Thus far in the National Assembly, he discharged himself creditably as Chairman Senate Committee on Industries. Like the committee he headed, Bayo was extremely industrious. Bayo was not born with riches. He rose from a modest background to the great heights that he attained. His death hurt all who know him. Bayo was more than an excellent politician. As great a politician he was, Bayo was an even better person. He was a man of a kind heart and ready smile. His loyalty and enthusiasm was legendary, just as his generosity. People loved him. So many tears have been shed. However, we must summon strength to carry on as he would want us to do. My thoughts are with his immediate family. May Almighty Allah comfort and give them the solace that only He can provide. May Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest and admit him to Aljanna Firdaus. China has hijacked aggressive ghar main ghuske marengay militaristic approach: Mehbooba Mufti India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jun 16: Amid the reports of three soldiers of the Indian Army being martyred after a face-off that took place between India and China in Galwan Valley of Ladakh, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday took to Twitter to say that the nation wants to know why there is no talk of retaliation. Taking to Twitter, Mufti wrote, ''Seems like China has hijacked the aggressive 'ghar main ghuske marengay' militaristic approach. Nation deserves to know why there is no talk of retaliation to avenge the death of three Indian army personnel!.'' An Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night during a violent face off with the Chinese troops, the Army said. They said senior military officials of the two sides are holding a meeting in Galwan Valley to defuse tension. A large number of Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley for the last five weeks. LAC faceoff: 1 Indian officer and 2 soldiers killed in Chinese aggression| Oneindia News India-China stand off: Casualties on both sides says Indian Army Meanwhile, Global Times Hu Xijin said that China does not want any clash with India but also does not fear it. "I want to tell the Indian side, don't be arrogant and misread China's restraint as being weak," Xijin added. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has risen to the new challenges presented by COVID-19 and continues to lead the national response to mitigate the spread. Thanks to our workforce's efforts across its components last week, DHS has facilitated a speedy, whole-of-government response to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. As the nation transitions to a phased approach of reopening the economy the Department and its components continue to prove its resiliency in the face of adversity to ensure a safe, secure, and prosperous Homeland for the American people.said USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow.Below is a list of some of DHS's efforts against COVID-19 last week: On June 4 , USCIS began to reopen offices to the public and resume in-person services, such as naturalization ceremonies and interviews. Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow administered the oath to new U.S. citizens at the Washington Field Office on June 11 and at the Baltimore Field Office on June 4. Rescheduling naturalization ceremonies for those who had their ceremony postponed due to the temporary suspension of in-person services is a top priority for USCIS.On June 8th, CISA released the Telephony Denial of Service (TDoS) Factsheet on the SAFECOM 911 resources page in response to an uptick in TDoS events since the COVID-19 pandemic. TDoS events occur when a large volume of telephone calls overloads a communications network element-overwhelming call capacity and disrupting communications. Congestion may occur in any part of a communications network, from the telecommunications provider infrastructure to end-user equipment. This fact sheet familiarizes public safety communications partners with TDoS threats to 911. The document overviews common TDoS attack vectors, highlights real-world TDoS incidents, and suggests best practices to mitigate TDoS impacts in times of emergency.On June 11th, CISA released the PSAP Ransomware Poster which provides Public Safety Answering Points and Emergency Communication Centers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with information to reduce the risk of falling victim to ransomware. While the poster's focus is ransomware, the suggestions and recommendations are applicable across a wide range of cyber threats. The poster also provides awareness information on phishing, social engineering, and password management; as well as information on what to do if a system is compromised and associated contact information for state and federal authorities. CISA encourages COVID-19 response organizations to review and apply the poster's recommendations to protect their systems.CWMD contract personnel are continuing to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with enhanced screenings for travelers through 15 specially designated airports. As of June 13, CWMD has processed more than 344,452 travelers for enhanced screening, including 1,534 who were referred to CDC for further medical evaluation.As of June 15, FEMA has made 14,965 deliveries of medical supplies to nursing homes in all 56 states and territories. FEMA is coordinating two shipments totaling a 14-day supply of personal protective equipment to all 15,400 Medicaid and Medicare-certified nursing homes. The shipments will supplement existing efforts to provide equipment to nursing homes.As of June 12, FEMA, HHS, and Project Airbridge combined have coordinated the delivery of, or are currently shipping: 95.8 million N-95 respirators, 149.3 million surgical masks, 14.3 million face shields, 47 million surgical gowns and over 1 billion gloves.To support the Administration's Testing Blueprint, FEMA continues to source and procure testing material - specifically, testing swabs and transport media. As of June 12, FEMA has procured and delivered 22.4 million swabs and 16.3 million units of media. The FEMA-sourced material will be provided to states, territories, and tribes for a limited duration to help increase testing capacity in support of their individualized plans.On June 9th, the Department convened an Operations Deputies Board (OPS DEPS) consisting of DHS senior operational leaders. The OPSDEPS was convened to continue coordination on the Department's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The OPSDEPS received operational updates on COVID-19 from the Crisis Action Team and reviewed the Department's return to the workplace plan for DHS Headquarters personnel.On June 12th, S&T released a new predictive modeling tool to estimate the decay of airborne SARS-CoV-2, (the virus that causes COVID-19), across a range of temperature, relative humidity, and sunlight levels (UV Index). The model has been integrated into a web-based application, which allows users to estimate time needed for decay of SARS-CoV-2 under combinations of these environmental conditions. This is the second tool leveraging the results of ongoing research from S&T's National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), and is designed to assist response efforts and estimate the persistence of the virus under certain environmental conditions. The information may guide best practices for responders, medical care providers and individuals to reduce potential for contamination.On June 9th, Science and Technology updated its Master Question List (MQL), a compilation of available research on operationally relevant questions to aid decision makers in the COVID-19 response. The MQL is a quick-reference guide covering what is known about the virus, what additional information is needed, and who may be working to address these fundamental questions. New entries include references to studies of autopsied lung tissue that support aspiration as a mechanism for transportation of SARS-CoV-2 to the deep lung. Additional recent evidence suggests the virus attacks blood vessels in the lung, leading to clotting complications and ARDS. It is also notable that a number of initiatives have planned or begun production of COVID-19 vaccines, with the goal of producing hundreds of millions of doses by 2021, though only those with safe and effective trial results will be administered to humans.On June 12th, S&T National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) published a new study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases " Airborne SARS-CoV-2 is Rapidly Inactivating by Simulated Sunlight ". Aerosols represent a potential route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, where this study examined the effect of simulated sunlight, relative humidity, and suspension matrix on the stability of SARS-CoV-2. This research provides the first evidence that sunlight may rapidly inactivate SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces. Findings in this research inform our understanding of the virus and help shape the operational response to COVID-19.Between June 7th and June 13th, TSA screened more than 3,055,652 passengers, who have all reached their destinations safely. TSA officers are required to wear facial protection while on duty at the checkpoint and the agency continues to follow CDC guidance to protect Americans, its workers, and the nation's transportation system, in support of air travel and all other modes of transportation.Between June 7th and June 13th, the agency also produced new airport signage to help travelers navigate the new normal at airport checkpoints nationwide. In an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, travelers should expect to see changes at airport screening checkpoints including the ability to place their boarding pass directly on the travel document reader and social distancing while in the screening lines.The Coast Guard continues to monitor the presence of multiple ships anchored in U.S. territorial waters to ensure they observe the 14-day minimum wait time required by Presidents Trump's EO before docking at a U.S. port to help reduce the spread of foreign originating COVID-19. As of June 8th, the Coast Guard is tracking more than 67 cruise ships anchored, moored, or underway in U.S. waters, carrying approximately 32,128 crew members from various countries.On June 10, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced a federal indictment for COVID-19 related fraud case which involved forged prescriptions for anti-malarial drugs. The United Secret Service was part of the local taskforce that assisted in investigating.ICE's Operation Stolen Promise (OSP) targets fraudulent activity stemming from the pandemic. The initiative combines ICE's Homeland Security Investigation's (HSI) expertise in global trade investigations, financial fraud, and cyber investigations with robust private and public partnerships to disrupt and dismantle this criminal activity and strengthen global supply-chain security. As of June 12, as part of OSP, the agency has made 25 criminal arrests, analyzed 41,107 COVID-19-related domains, seized more than $ 5,030,283 million in illicit proceeds, disrupted 36 instances of illicit activity, sent 1,030 leads to domestic and international field offices, executed 47 search warrants and made 741 COVID-19-related seizures to include prohibited test kits and pharmaceuticals, counterfeit masks and more.On June 12th , CBP officers assigned to the Port of Birmingham discovered nearly 500 unregistered non-contact and infrared thermometers originating in Malaysia and China. CBP remains vigilant, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping these types of unregulated medical devices out of the United States is a top priority for CBP. So far this calendar year, CBP has seized more than 107,000 illegitimates COVID-19 test kits, more than 11,000 doses of FDA-prohibited chloroquine, and more than 750,00 counterfeit masks.Getting American Citizens Home Safe. As of June 11, 2020, CBP has referred 336,984 travelers at the 15 funneling airports to DHS CWMD for enhanced health screening. The Australian Labor Party's national executive will stage a dramatic intervention into the Victorian division, after Premier Daniel Andrews asked it run all state and federal preselections for the next three years and suspend the voting rights of every member. Former Victorian premier Steve Bracks and long-time federal frontbencher Jenny Macklin have been appointed as administrators of the state division until January 31, 2021, as the party launches a wide-ranging review into branch stacking. Former minister Adem Somyurek was sacked this week after his branch stacking operation was revealed. Credit:Jason South Three Victorian government ministers have been either sacked or resigned from their positions, following The Age and 60 Minutes exposing "industrial scale" branch stacking within the state branch. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews wrote to the federal ALP on Tuesday requesting that all voting rights in the state branch be suspended until "at least" 2023, meaning all candidates at the next federal and state elections will be preselected by the national executive. WILMINGTON, Del., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The challenges and unpredictability surrounding COVID-19 have left many college students and their families looking for additional ways to cover higher education costs, according to a College Ave Student Loans survey. The national College Ave Student Loans survey of 1,057 current college students conducted this May by Barnes & Noble College InsightsSM, found 41% of students feel less confident in their ability to afford college now as compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. More than two-thirds (69%) said their financial well-being has been impacted. Close to half (44%) said COVID-19 has changed their or their family's original college financing plans. Of those who were affected: 56% will need to borrow more 46% are researching more scholarships 43% will use more of their family's savings 40% will need to work more than one job 22% have asked the financial aid office for more money 10% will charge tuition to a personal credit card. "There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the college financial plans of families across the country," said Joe DePaulo, Co-Founder and CEO of College Ave Student Loans. "The survey highlights the flexibility and creativity families will employ to meet the financial challenges ahead. While there may be many unknowns in the coming months, students remain determined to find resources to help them achieve their higher education goals." Similar to the undergrad survey last year, merit aid and scholarships, parent savings and income, federal student loans, child's savings and income and private student loans are the top five ways families plan to pay for the upcoming school year. The biggest changes year over year more families plan to borrow federal loans in 2020 (51% vs. 43% in 2019) and rely more on the child's savings and income (45% vs. 37%). Although merit aid and scholarships slightly decreased year over year (61% in 2020 vs. 64% in 2019), more than three-quarters of students in the 2020 survey (76%) wished they would have researched more scholarships. Now more than ever is the time to look for last minute scholarships. One easy one to apply for is the $1,000 Scholarship Monthly Sweepstakes from College Ave Student Loans. Each month, students can enter for a chance to win $1,000 toward their college costs. For students and families looking for ways to navigate the financial road to college, explore the resources, research, guides and financial expert advice at: https://www.collegeavestudentloans.com/blog/. About the Survey The College Ave Student Loans survey was conducted by Barnes & Noble College InsightsSM. The national online survey of current college students who attend a 4 year college or university at one of the campuses served by Barnes & Noble College had 1,057 respondents and was fielded in May 2020. Last year, Barnes & Noble College Insights conducted more than 50 research studies and 100+ survey polls of students, faculty and parents that interact with one of its 772 campus bookstores across the nation. About College Ave Student Loans College Ave Student Loans is simplifying the student loan experience so students can get on with what matters most: preparing for a bright future. As a fintech lending company with a sole focus on private student loans, we're using technology and our deep industry expertise to connect families who need to cover education costs. By specializing in student loans, we are able to give customers the attention they deserve and deliver loans that are simple, clear, and personalized for the individual. About Barnes & Noble College Barnes & Noble College, a Barnes & Noble Education company, is a leading operator of college bookstores in the United States. Barnes & Noble College currently operates 772 campus bookstores and the school-branded e-commerce sites for each store, serving more than 5 million college students and faculty nationwide. General information on Barnes & Noble College can be obtained by visiting the Company's website: www.bncollege.com. SOURCE College Ave Student Loans WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a landmark federal civil rights law from the 1960s protects gay and transgender workers, a watershed ruling for LGBTQ rights written by one of the court's most conservative justices. Justice Neil Gorsuch and Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court's liberals in the 6-to-3 ruling. They said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination "because of sex," includes gay and transgender employees. The decision was a surprise, and not the only one of the day. Even though the court's conservative majority has been strengthened, it announced Monday that it was turning down a batch of challenges from gun rights groups eager to expand Second Amendment rights. And it rejected the Trump administration's request to review California's attempts to provide sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. The court's LGBTQ rights ruling is the major decision of the term so far and illustrates the difficulty of predicting how the independent-minded court will rule. Over the next several weeks, the justices will announce the fates of the program extending protection from deportation to undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children, a Louisiana law restricting abortion access, three cases important to religious conservatives, and President Donald Trump's ongoing battle to keep his private financial records from Congress and a New York prosecutor. Providing additional interest to Monday's decision was its author. Gorsuch, Trump's first appointee to the high court, is such a favorite of conservatives that "But, Gorsuch" has become a catchphrase among those who are not enamored of the president but love his judicial choices. But the 52-year-old from Colorado signaled during oral arguments that he thought the text of the law - "because of sex" - favored the plaintiffs' interpretation, and his straightforward opinion read in places as if inspired by their briefs. "We must decide whether an employer can fire someone simply for being homosexual or transgender. The answer is clear," Gorsuch wrote. "An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids." Gorsuch and Roberts - the chief justice was on the losing side when the court voted 5 to 4 five years ago that the Constitution provided a right for gay people to marry - were joined by liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. "This is a huge victory for LGBTQ equality," said James Esseks of the American Civil Liberties Union. He added: "The Supreme Court's clarification that it's unlawful to fire people because they're LGBTQ is the result of decades of advocates fighting for our rights. The court has caught up to the majority of our country, which already knows that discriminating against LGBTQ people is both unfair and against the law." Many conservatives were appalled by the decision, including some who had worked the hardest for Gorsuch's confirmation. "Justice [Antonin] Scalia would be disappointed that his successor has bungled textualism so badly today, for the sake of appealing to college campuses and editorial boards," said Carrie Severino of the group Judicial Crisis Network. "You can't redefine the meaning of words themselves and still be doing textualism," she said. "This is an ominous sign for anyone concerned about the future of representative democracy." Trump, whose administration has moved to ban transgender service members and recently backtracked on medical protections for gay and transgender Americans, was silent about the decision for much of the day, and then ambivalent. "Well, they've ruled," he told reporters. "I've read the decision. And some people were surprised. But they've ruled, and we live with their decision; that's what it's all about. We live with the decision of the Supreme Court. Very powerful. A very powerful decision, actually. But they have so ruled." His presumptive Democratic opponent in November's election, former vice president Joe Biden, was effusive. "Today's Supreme Court decision is a momentous step forward for our country," Biden said in a statement. "Before today, in more than half of states, LGBTQ+ people could get married one day and be fired from their job the next day under state law, simply because of who they are or who they love." He signed off: "Happy Pride!" Before lower courts began to change past rulings, judges for 50 years had interpreted Title VII's prohibition on discrimination because of sex to mean only that employers could not treat women worse than men, and vice versa, not that discrimination against LGBTQ employees was prohibited. That is the view of the law the Trump administration advanced, and that dissenting Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh embraced. "If every single living American had been surveyed in 1964, it would have been hard to find any who thought that discrimination because of sex meant discrimination because of sexual orientation - not to mention gender identity, a concept that was essentially unknown at the time," wrote Alito, who was joined by Thomas in his dissent. The dissenters said their colleagues were changing the law, not interpreting it. Regardless of whether LGBTQ workers should be protected, Kavanaugh wrote, "our role is not to make or amend the law. As written, Title VII does not prohibit employment discrimination because of sexual orientation." Kavanaugh said the majority opinion "rewrites history." "Seneca Falls was not Stonewall. The women's rights movement was not (and is not) the gay rights movement, although many people obviously support or participate in both," he wrote. "So to think that sexual orientation discrimination is just a form of sex discrimination is not just a mistake of language and psychology, but also a mistake of history and sociology." Alito said the effects of the decision would be far-reaching and impossible to predict. One example he provided: "For women who have been victimized by sexual assault or abuse, the experience of seeing an unclothed person with the anatomy of a male in a confined and sensitive location such as a bathroom or locker room can cause serious psychological harm." He said the majority did not address how the ruling would affect housing, religious employers or sports. "The entire federal judiciary will be mired for years in disputes about the reach of the Court's reasoning." Gorsuch agreed that the ruling addressed only the issues that sprung from the employment discrimination the law addresses, but said that the most important step was to provide a clear answer to that. "It is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex," Gorsuch wrote, and loaded his opinion with common examples. "Consider, for example, an employer with two employees, both of whom are attracted to men. The two individuals are, to the employer's mind, materially identical in all respects, except that one is a man and the other a woman. If the employer fires the male employee for no reason other than the fact he is attracted to men, the employer discriminates against him for traits or actions it tolerates in his female colleague." It was exactly the message that lawyers for the gay and transgender employees had made. Gorsuch acknowledged that lawmakers in 1964 probably were not intending to protect gay and transgender workers. But the words of the statute they wrote do that, he said. "Likely, they weren't thinking about many of the Act's consequences that have become apparent over the years, including its prohibition against discrimination on the basis of motherhood or its ban on the sexual harassment of male employees," he wrote. "But the limits of the drafters' imagination supply no reason to ignore the law's demands." He said the decision was narrow - "we do not purport to address bathrooms, locker rooms, or anything else of the kind" - and that there might be constitutional protections or other federal laws shielding religious employers, but that also was not before the court. "How these doctrines protecting religious liberty interact with Title VII are questions for future cases too," he wrote. Kelly Shackelford, president of the conservative First Liberty Institute, said in a statement: "We are grateful that the Supreme Court was clear in the opinion that this federal statute does not overrule peoples' religious freedoms. We will find out in the very near future whether this is a hollow promise or a truthful assurance that the religious liberty of all Americans will be protected." Major employers had urged the court to find that Title VII provided protection, and unions were happy as well. Jerame Davis, the executive director of Pride at Work, a nonprofit focused on LGBTQ employment rights funded by the AFL-CIO and other unions, said "the Supreme Court has seen our humanity." Others found a symbolic importance to the decision beyond the employment aspects. Indiana University law professor Steve Sanders noted that Gorsuch, in writing his opinion, used the preferred pronouns of the transgender plaintiff, Aimee Stephens. "It may prove very significant that the opinion implicitly takes seriously the idea that a person can transition genders," Sanders said in a statement. "That remains a controversial concept among many conservatives." The court combined two cases to consider whether gay workers are protected under the law. Gerald Bostock claimed that he was fired from his job as a social worker in Clayton County, Ga., after he became more open about being gay, including joining a gay softball league. Donald Zarda said he was fired as a skydiving instructor after joking with a female client to whom he was strapped for a tandem dive that he was gay. (Zarda died in 2014.) The transgender case was brought by Stephens, who worked for years at a Michigan funeral home before being fired after informing the owners and colleagues of her gender transition. Stephens died of kidney failure in May, after seeing her case argued at the Supreme Court in October. Before her death, Stephens prepared a statement through the American Civil Liberties Union in anticipation of a possible ruling in her favor. "Firing me because I'm transgender was discrimination, plain and simple, and I am glad the court recognized that what happened to me is wrong and illegal," she said. "I am thankful that the court said my transgender siblings and I have a place in our laws - it made me feel safer and more included in society." The cases were the first the court heard since the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, for whom both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh clerked. Kennedy had written the majority opinion in all of the court's major cases that advanced gay rights, including the 2015 decision that said gay couples had the constitutional right to marry. More than 70 friend-of-the-court briefs were filed in the discrimination case, dividing states, religious orders and members of Congress. More than 200 of the nation's largest employers supported the workers. The Trump administration's position put it at odds with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which decided in 2015 that gay and transgender people were federally protected. Treating a man who is attracted to men differently from a woman who is attracted to men is discrimination, the EEOC reasoned. Most appellate courts had come to agree with the EEOC, even when they had not done so in the past. The sexual orientation cases are Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., and Altitude Express v. Zarda. The other case is R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC. - - - The Washington Post's Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Eli Rosenberg, Samantha Schmidt and Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report. Mumbai, June 16 : Actress Sonam Kapoor has penned an appreciation post for husband Anand Ahuja, thanking him for "being extra kind and loving" when she needed the most. "An appreciation post for my husband. Thank you for being extra kind and loving today. I really needed it. Love you so much," Sonam wrote on Instagram. She also posted a picture of herself along with her husband. Sonam's post comes after she faced heavy trolling on social media following the demise of Sushant Singh Rajput. The actress had shared a condolence message for Sushant and his family, and followed it up with a tweet that read: "Blaming a girlfriend, ex girlfriend, family, colleagues for someone's death is ignorant and f****ng mean spirited."Sonam faced criticism for her tweet as netizens have been expressing their anger against nepotism after Sushant's death. Sushant was found hanging on June 14 at his home in Bandra, Mumbai. He was cremated in Mumbai on June 15. BillerudKorsnas, a leading provider of primary fibre based packaging materials and Haver & Boecker, a family-managed company headquartered in Germany, have bundled their know-how to develop a set of recommendations called the Sack Packaging Norms to create `perfect packaging. In the world of bulk powdered goods such as building materials, chemicals and foodstuffs, different supply chains place differing demands on packaging. Additionally, the machinery used across the world to produce and fill the packaging consists of many different technologies, brands and models. This has resulted in the development and use of a variety of packaging solutions and processes. Therefore, BillerudKorsnas and Haver & Boecker, have developed a set of recommendations called the Sack Packaging Norms, said a statement by BillerudKorsnas. Our employees at BillerudKorsnas and Haver&Boecker, who are active all over the world, have noticed many repeated and unnecessary errors which result in packaging waste, product loss and environmental damage. Often, also, these errors are as a result of miscommunication or the use of different standards or practices. These errors are mostly easily fixed by applying some basic standard knowledge or practice. It was thought that the development of a common language for the packaging value chain would be an effective way to ensure the elimination waste and efficient packaging performance around the world, it added. Globalisation makes it essential to speak one language clearly and distinctly. With the Sack Packaging Norms, we have, together with BillerudKorsnas, created the basis for joint and helpful communication for your perfect paper bag packaging, said Thomas Hilling, Manager Haver & Boecker Institute. This common language, a joint development by Haver & Boecker and BillerudKorsnas, is a set of recommendations called the Sack Packaging Norms. The Sack Packaging Norms cover the basics and the most critical factors which must be taken into consideration when packing powdered goods, starting from paper manufacture, the handling, storage and manufacture of sacks, the filling of sacks and finally the correct way to transport and store the filled packages. BillerudKorsnas contributes to this effort with years of expertise in packaging paper manufacturing and field experience as well as analytical tests, design and development in the BillerudKorsnas Packaging Development Centre. Haver & Boecker contributes with extensive experience and expertise in filling machinery and powder bulk handling. If producers and users of paper bag packaging follow the recommendations and guidelines, and implement these norms in their supply chain - efficient and effective packaging manufacturing, filling, handling, storage and transport of the finished goods will be secured. As an industry we will reduce waste significantly, making a major contribution to saving our planet, said Mikael Peterson, Technical Service Director at BillerudKorsnas. The first 10 Sack packaging Norms are available free of charge and can be downloaded at: https://www.billerudkorsnas.com/our-offer/packaging-solutions/sack-solutions/sack-packaging-norm. Suggestions for Norms can also be submitted on the website. The companies will regularly publish new Sack Packaging Norms and these will be sent out regularly to interested parties who have registered. BillerudKorsnas provides packaging materials and solutions that challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future. The company has eight production sites in Sweden, Finland and the UK and about 4500 employees in over 13 countries. Together with more than 50 subsidiaries and 150 representatives on all five continents, Haver & Boecker operates worldwide with about 3,000 employees. In 2019 the company posted a sales turnover of 525 million euros.TradeArabia News Service By Trend The National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan plans to organize business missions of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs in Russia, Bulgaria and other countries In September 2020, Spokesperson for the confederation Ilhama Abdullayeva told Trend. She noted that the negotiations are currently underway with these countries. In the near future, it is planned to implement specific projects in the field of tourism, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, services and consulting with Turkey, Russian regions, Uzbekistan, India, Montenegro, Bulgaria, the Persian Gulf countries and others, Abdullayeva said. The confederation is closely cooperating in various sectors of the economy with Turkey, many regions of Russia, EU countries and Asia. "The introduced restrictions have caused a certain decline in trade, tourism, logistics, the service sector and a number of other areas of the economy. In particular, the subjects of micro-entrepreneurship, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are most affected by this kind. Therefore, to continue the activities of entrepreneurs in this segment, as well as to preserve jobs, they need support during the quarantine regime," the spokesperson added. The National Confederation of Organizations of Entrepreneurs (Employers) of Azerbaijan was established on March 5, 1999 in Baku and passed official state registration. It unites in its ranks over 1,000 business entities, including 35 associations and socio-economic unions. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The UK's top banking lobbyist has resigned over highly derogatory comments made about Amanda Staveley during the financial crisis. Stephen Jones, chief executive of UK Finance, quit after a court heard he made 'deeply unpleasant personal comments' about the top female financier who is now embroiled in a high-profile 1.6billion case against Barclays. The shock resignation came hours after the Mail successfully applied to the High Court for the transcripts of what exactly he said to be released. Stephen Jones, chief executive of UK Finance (left), quit after a court heard he made 'deeply unpleasant personal comments' about top female financier Amanda Staveley (right) At the time Jones was the managing director of Barclays Capital and was involved in the 7billion bailout deal with investors from the Middle East. In a blockbuster case which is unfolding in the High Court in London, Staveley has accused Barclays's top brass of 'sexism and misogyny' as they fought to save the bank from going under in autumn 2008. She is suing the bank for 1.6billion in relation to an emergency fundraising. It had already emerged that Barclays' top deal maker, Roger 'Big Dog' Jenkins (pictured right with his ex-partner, model Elle Macpherson), called Staveley, who used to date Prince Andrew, 'the tart' in a phone call to a colleague, while another executive called her a 'foxy blonde'. Yesterday Jones said: 'The comments I made at this time are wholly inappropriate. I regret making these comments and I cannot defend them and will not seek to. 'I feel at this time it is right I step down from my role at UK Finance.' He added: 'I have apologised to Ms Staveley and to my colleagues.' Insiders said the board of UK Finance agreed with Jones that an initial apology, issued on Monday, was not sufficient and accepted his resignation. Barclays' top deal maker, Roger 'Big Dog' Jenkins (pictured with his ex-partner, model Elle Macpherson), called Staveley 'the tart' in a phone call to a colleague It is a major embarrassment for the industry as Jones was in charge of a series of measures to try to clean up banking's battered image. He has backed gender equality initiatives during his time at UK Finance, which represents more than 250 financial institutions including Barclays. This has included a charter to help female bankers secure senior roles. Last year he said: 'As an industry we have a crucial role to play in ensuring we recruit, build and nurture a diverse and inclusive workforce.' The comments about Staveley were made in October 2008 when financial markets were in turmoil and Barclays Bank was fighting for its survival. The bank was desperate to raise 7billion in capital to avoid being bailed out by the Government, according to high court filings. Staveley, whose firm PCP represented investors from Abu Dhabi, has claimed Barclays unfairly pushed her out of the deal by offering 346million of secret fees to investors from Qatar. Barclays disputes her claim for damages of up to 1.6billion, calling it 'opportunistic and speculative'. The trial has promised to reveal the dark side of the culture around international finance at the time. The court was told earlier this month that 'deeply unpleasant personal comments' had been made about Staveley. Joe Smouha QC, representing PCP, told the court: 'The case reveals the pre-financial crisis arrogance, ethical carelessness, focus on bonuses, on money and on jobs and, unfortunately, sexism and misogyny.' The transcripts of two calls made by Jones were handed to the judge as evidence by PCP. Yesterday the judge in the case, Mr Justice Waksman, ordered the transcripts to be released to this newspaper when Jones begins his evidence on July 15. Bob Wigley, chairman of UK Finance, said: 'Stephen has rightly acknowledged that the comments he made in 2008 were inappropriate and do not meet the standards expected of leaders in our industry.' Click here to read the full article. Universal Music Group (UMG) has expanded its Middle East and North Africa operations by launching new divisions in Morocco and Israel. Universal Music Morocco will operate from Casablanca, led by business development executive Serena Safieddine, who will work alongside UMGs regional headquarters in Dubai, and report into Patrick Boulos, CEO of Universal Music MENA. More from Variety The Morocco team will develop projects with Universal Music France, where labels have previously achieved success with global-facing French-language artists from the region. Boulos said, Within Morocco and their immediate neighbors, there is a wealth of untapped artist talent and we are excited to introduce these unique sounds to global audiences, platforms and partners. Elsewhere, Universal Music Israel will be based in Tel Aviv. Yoram Mokady has been appointed as MD for the new outfit, and will report into Adam Granite, EVP for market development at UMG. Mokady said: As the first major global music company in-market, UMG will look to identify, sign and develop the best domestic artist talent, whilst working closely with partners, technology companies and local start-ups to create innovative campaigns and projects to help UMG artists to reach the widest possible audience worldwide. Our intention is to provide real support, infrastructure and people on the ground in each country, helping the entire regional music ecosystem grow, and giving local artists the best opportunity to reach new audiences around the world, Granite added. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Savannah Region has recorded 34 new cases of coronavirus. Dr. Patrick Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service, made this known at a news briefing at the Information Ministry on Tuesday, June 16. He says the cases were recorded after enhanced contact tracing. More soon... ---Daily Guide Australias news outlets have seen their advertising models collapse, and regulators propose charging social media platforms when they carry news stories. In its submission to the watchdog, Facebook said it rejected many of the ACCCs potential ideas, and said there was a healthy rivalry between itself and news organisations. The Guardian Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2020) - Canuc Resources Corporation (TSXV: CDA) ("Canuc" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (the "MoU") with M3SH Technologies ("M3SH") Inc. The MoU enables M3SH manufactured devices to adopt IIoT technology enabling Canuc to distribute and sell purpose built technological solutions in accordance with the Company's agreement with Ioticiti Networks Inc. Under the MoU, M3SH shall contribute technology solutions enabling Canuc to facilitate applications with mining and extractive industry clients. Canuc and M3SH are working towards a definitive agreement. About M3SH Technologies Inc. M3SH Technologies Inc. is a privately held Canadian company based in Fredericton, New Brunswick with origins in South Africa. The affiliated, Ningi Manufacturing Pty (Ltd), is a leading South African technological solution provider to the mining, energy and industrial sectors. M3SH technologies Inc. mining industry applications include: Wearable worker safety, proximity detection and location monitoring devices. Environmental monitoring. Gas, noise, dust and fire detection devices and ambient temperature monitors. Machine and equipment safety as well as automation control solutions. Sensor rich devices for real time data, environmental condition and safety communication. M3SH is an original equipment manufacturer developing new and innovative technology solutions which embrace the latest in digitization technology. M3SH draws from an established history in the South African mining and extractive industries and has more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing technology solutions for mining, energy and industry in southern Africa. A robust portfolio of more than 40 proprietary, successfully produced and deployed technological solutions for the mining industry includes, amongst other products: the PDS level 9 intervention and access controller, the M3SH D52 Dust Monitor, the P50 Environmental Monitor and the S50 Smoke and Fire Detector. Story continues "This MoU signals our intent to provide technological IoT solutions to the North American mining markets, and to facilitate the adoption and sales of IIoT products. Partnering with M3SH will help us to expand our IIoT offering in North America," stated Christopher Berlet, CEO of Canuc. "M3SH strives to assist clients in gaining new levels of performance, while improving health, safety and wellness - making work easier, safer and more connected using the latest digital solutions. For M3SH this MoU marks a significant development in our ability to deploy our IIoT solutions while working with Canuc and using the Ioticiti Networks Inc. platform," stated Andre Jansen Van Rensburg, CEO of M3SH. About Canuc Canuc is a junior resource company holding the San Javier Silver-Gold Project in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company generates cash flow from natural gas production at its MidTex Energy Project in Central West Texas, USA where Canuc has an interest in eight producing gas wells and has rights for further in field developments. Canuc also has exclusive rights, through a Partnership Agreement with Ioticiti Networks Inc., to sell Industrial IoT applications and infrastructure in the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada and in the State of Texas, USA. For further information please contact: Canuc Resources Corporation. (416) 525 - 6869 cberlet@canucresources.ca Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on current expectations and applies only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to fund the exploration expenditures required under the Agreement. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Corporation's annual financial statements, MD&A and other publicly filed documents. The Corporation cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57967 On June 16, AstraZeneca's chief executive said that the potential coronavirus vaccine is likely to provide protection against contracting COVID-19 for at least a year while speaking with the state broadcaster. The British drugmaker was already in human trials phase of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, with a phase I trial in Britain due to end soon and a phase III trial already begun, Pascal Soriot told broadcaster Bel RTL. With a target of manufacturing up to 400 million doses of the potential vaccine, AstraZeneca has signed the contract with France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands to supply the European Union, as per reports. Soriot reportedly said that the vaccine would protect against the disease for a year. Further, the company plans to begin delivering the vaccine to European countries by the end of the year 2020 under the agreement with the Inclusive Vaccine Alliance. Developed by Oxford University, the cost of manufacturing the vaccine is expected to be supported by the UK governments funding, following approval, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said in a statement. The Netherlands , Germany , France and Italy just signed a contract with @AstraZeneca for the delivery of a possible coronavaccine. An important step. Once we have a vaccine, we are protected. In the Netherlands, in Europe and abroad. https://t.co/CINFfcrGHz pic.twitter.com/bKLG1EBeJJ Hugo de Jonge (@hugodejonge) June 13, 2020 Earlier, this month, the British drugmaker claimed that it secured a fresh deal with companies in the United States to advance the antibody-related coronavirus treatments. While the pharma company did not reveal specific details about the deal, reports suggest it has signed agreements with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The new agreements would enable AstraZeneca to double its production from one billion doses to two billion doses. Amazing news! The COVID-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca & the University of Oxford is currently in Phase II/III Efficacy Trials. Let's hope it works! https://t.co/6kxp7eE8Cb pic.twitter.com/gGP5QwrSKC Doctor Dalvie (@DoctorDalvie) June 11, 2020 Read: Oxford COVID-19 Trial Of HCQ To Continue Despite WHO's Temporary Suspension Of The Drug Read: Oxford's COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Has Only 50% Chance Of Success, Says Director Vaccine for low- and middle-income countries Further, the British company signed deals with Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume, to bring the vaccine to low- and middle-income countries to make the vaccine a public good. AstraZeneca s chief executive Pascal Aoriot while speaking to International media reporters said that the need for a vaccine to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic was urgent. He added that he hoped that by the collaboration they could accelerate the spread of the vaccine and protect people from the deadliest pandemic of the generation Read: Experts Warn COVID-19 Vaccines Might Be Ineffective, Come With 'limitation' Read: France's Macron Visits Vaccine Research Centre (Image Credit: Twitter/ @datagramtwo) Giuliana Funkhouser - Creative Director Zelgor Inc. is proud to announce Giuliana Funkhouser has accepted the position of Creative Director. As Zelgor Games growing team prepares for the launch of its inaugural game, Noobs in Space, Ms. Funkhouser will facilitate collaboration across all elements of game development and the execution of a shared vision. Ms. Funkhouser comes with sixteen years of experience as a multimedia artist and designer and an ability to bring ideas to life across a broad range of mediums. Her strong technical skills are complemented by a passion for gaming, art and bringing diverse groups of skilled teams together. Ms. Funkhouser spent six years as a Visual and Graphic Designer for WB Games Boston where she contributed to Infinite Crisis, Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online. As a Production Artist at Arnold Worldwide/HAVAS Media, Giuliana was responsible for illustration, collage, retouching and hand-crafted models. Ms. Funkhouser has been a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the San Francisco Art Institute. She has also worked as a freelance artist and designer since 2006. Ms. Funkhouser has exhibited numerous individual and collaborative mixed-media sound and sculptural installations including: The Whispering and Aftermath, both at the SFAI MFA Exhibition at Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA; Dear Esther/Moebius for the AVATARS, ghosts group exhibition at Nave Gallery, Somerville, MA; and delay/decay/evade/endure at Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA. Giuliana also co-hosted a show titled Data as Art Material, a podcast showcasing San Francisco Art Institute student works for the UNTITLED art fair. Ms. Funkhouser holds a Master of Fine Arts in Art and Technology and a Master of Arts in History and Theory of Contemporary Art from San Francisco Art Institute. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Language and Literature from Wellesley College and also studied at Japan Womens University & Waseda University. Giulianas talent, creativity and ability to translate ideas into a shared vision is truly special. Shes going to help our team accomplish amazing things, John Fanning, Zelgor Games CEO commented. We are thrilled to have her on board. About Zelgor Games: Zelgor Games is building mobile games that enable Noobs to control the Universe! Whether its utilizing cutting edge location technology, or building simple and sleek hyper-casual games, Zelgor Games aims to create an entire galaxy of interconnected games and content. To learn more about Zelgor, visit NetCapital.com/companies/Zelgor. Press Contacts Spencer Bramson Zelgor Games Chief Marketing Officer Spencer@Zelgor.com +1 847-767-6191 Zelgor LinkedIn An unidentified man in his mid-fifties died after collapsing on the footpath in front of a bank near Nerul railway station on Tuesday afternoon. Some locals called the police, following which he was rushed to a civic hospital in Vashi, where he was declared dead. The police are awaiting his post-mortem report to establish the cause of death. The man was wearing a grey T-shirt and beige trousers, said the police. No identification documents were found from him. We are trying to trace his relatives. So far, it is unclear if he suffered from any disease. It will only be clear after the autopsy report, said Rajendra Chavan, senior inspector at Nerul police station. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LONDONThe number of people in the U.K. claiming job-related benefits increased by a monthly 23.3 per cent in May to 2.8 million, according to official figures released Tuesday that likely underestimate the heavy toll on the labour market of the coronavirus lockdown. The Office for National Statistics said the so-called claimant count which includes both people who work on reduced income or hours and those who are actually unemployed was 125.9 per cent higher than in March, the month when lockdown restrictions were imposed. The statistics agency also said the number of people on payroll fell by 2.1 per cent, or 612,000, between March and May. If the public health crisis is just starting to ease, todays figures show that the unemployment crisis is only just beginning, said Tony Wilson, director of the Institute for Employment Studies. Wilson said that unemployment is rising faster than during the Great Depression in the 1930s and is set to top 3 million this summer. The actual spike in unemployment would have been much higher were it not for the British governments Job Retention Scheme, which has been paying a big part of the salaries of more than 9 million people. Many companies have held off from cutting jobs during the lockdown as a result of the scheme, under which the government pays up to 80 per cent of the salaries of workers retained, up to 2,500 pounds ($4266) a month. Treasury chief Rishi Sunak has said that from August, firms will have to start making contributions to the salaries of workers that are retained but not working, and that the scheme will close two months later. Thats raised concerns that Britain will see a huge spike in the official unemployment rate, which stood at 3.9 per cent in April. Government figures released Tuesday showed that 9.1 million jobs have been furloughed under the scheme by 1.1 million employers at a cost to the government of 20.8 billion pounds. Some of those furloughed workers will have returned to their jobs on Monday, as a result of the reopening of non-essential shops in England for the first time in nearly three months. Its clear that not everyone will be able to sidle back into their jobs given that many firms are likely to go bust as a result of the lockdown. Figures last week showed the British economy shrank by a massive 20 per cent in April alone. Unions and employers are urging more support from the government. Sunak is expected to announce a big fiscal stimulus in the coming weeks. Unemployment falls unevenly across society and leaves scars that last generations, said Matthew Percival, director of people and skills at the Confederation of British Industry. The urgent priority must be creating inclusive jobs today, by turbo charging the sustainable industries of tomorrow. By ANI NEW DELHI: Army Chief Gen MM Naravane's planned visit to Pathankot military station has been cancelled, said the Army sources. The development comes after Indian Army said in a statement that the face-off took place between Indian and Chinese troops on Monday night, leading to the death of three Army personnel, saying that "casualties suffered on both sides" in "violent face-off" during de-escalation process with China in Galwan Valley. "The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers," the Army said in a statement and added that senior military officials of the two sides are currently engaged in a meeting to defuse the situation. Major Generals of India and China are talking to defuse the situation in Ladakh's Galwan Valley and other areas after the violent face-off last night in which casualties have been suffered by both sides, army sources said on Tuesday. Earlier today Singh held a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs and External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar over the recent developments in Eastern Ladakh on Tuesday. After 1975 this is the first violent incident on the India-China border in which casualties have taken place. Further details are awaited. Earlier looking to resolve the dispute over Chinese military buildup, India and China were holding talks in Eastern Ladakh. Army sources had said there has been disengagement between Indian and Chinese troops at more locations where they had been in standoff positions for last many weeks now. Kristi Nix Houston Community College (HCC) officials recently shared plans for next year that include a creative mix of online and in-person classes adapted to new COVID-19 social distancing and other health and safety requirements. Through HCCs new NextLearning program, students can choose from four options: Online Anytime, Online on a Schedule, Flex Campus or Lab-Based Courses which are the traditional, skills-based, hands-on labs HCC offered previously restructured to allow smaller lab sizes. For students who want online classes with a flexible schedule, Online Anytime classes feature drop-in enrollment throughout the semester and on-demand online lectures and instruction with no in-person class meeting requirements. Students who want distance learning but prefer a more traditional structure can opt for the new Online on a Schedule program which features the convenience of online classes combined with scheduled class lectures and discussions held via a video conferencing platform. These classes also have no in-person class meeting requirements. For students seeking a more traditional classroom experience combined with online classes as needed, HCCs new Flex Campus program offers weekly in-person classes that allow students to logon and attend class lectures remotely as needed. Due to social distancing requirements, officials say in-class instruction will be offered on a limited basis. On HoustonChronicle.com: The Track: Open-air sex trade permeates daily life on Houstons outskirts Kylie Jenner took to Instagram to share the cover photo featuring her and daughter Stormi for Vogue Czechoslovakia as well as a sweet message about being a mom. Jenner and her two-year-old posed for photos for the Bedtime Story cover shoot while they were quarantined in Los Angeles, with fashion photographers Luca and Alessandro Morelli taking the pics over a video call. Kylie Jenner | ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images The sweet mother-daughter photoshoot was done virtually The Morelli brothers got creative during quarantine, as they captured Jenner and Stormi beautifully via FaceTime. In a June 16 Instagram post on the Morelli brothers account, they shared the details: So honored, during this incredible moment of global change and new consciousness awakening, to reveal our Social Distancing cover with the kind and beautiful @kyliejenner and the princess #StormiWebster shot via FaceTime. They added: Heres to a new era with the power to cut divisions out of future generations and family culture, united through new technologies and caring for each other. In another post, they showed the behind-the-scenes action of photographing the FaceTime photoshoot session. RELATED: Kylie Jenner Shows Off a No Makeup Natural Look in New Selfies and Fans Are Loving Her Freckles Jenner shared a sweet message about Stormi Jenner also shared images from the photoshoot, captioning the cover shot: new cover with my baby for @vogueczechoslovakia shot at home on my iphone @morellibrothers #VogueCS. She followed it with a pic of the mother and daughter sharing a kiss in bed and gave her fans an inside look at how being a mom to Stormi is such a gift. I love this little baby so much I want to burst sometimes I just look at her and cry knowing she will never be this small ever again. Who knew something so little could take up most of your heart. God made no mistakes with you storm baby. Behind the scenes shooting @vogueczechoslovakia. Sister Khloe Kardashian commented on the adorable post, writing, Amen kyles!!! Shes the best! Youre the best! Being a mommy is the most magical experience EVER! Kim Kardashian noted, She is so lucky to have u as her mommy and Kourtney Kardashian simply commented, Mommyland. Jenner and Stormis fairytale life Vogue Czechoslovakia posted the cover image on their Instagram account as well, giving a piece of the fairytale that is Jenner and Stormis life. The caption read: #OnceUponATime, Princess #KylieJenner was born into the most-watched family in the world. She has become the most powerful #Influencer on the planet, Stormis mother, a #BeautyMogul and it seems that everything she wishes for comes true. The caption confirmed that the photos were captured by the Morelli brothers during quarantine from Jenners home in LA and added, Whether you prefer #FairyTales about successful princesses or evil queens, keep telling them. If we believe that the world can be a better place, it will become one. Jenner and Stormi are spending time with family in Wyoming Jenner and her daughter have been at Kim and Kanye Wests Wyoming ranch with their extended family to celebrate North Wests 7th birthday this week. Jenner posted a pic with Stormi wearing cowboy boots, captioning it, Woke up in the wild wild west. Kylie and Stormi flew in to Cody for 24 hours to celebrate Norths birthday, a source shared with E!, adding, She is coming back to L.A. with some of the other family tonight. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 20:30:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGSHA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Zhibing, a waxberry farmer in central China's Hunan Province, does not need to worry about the sale of his products anymore thanks to support from the government. As a fruit that is rich in vitamins, proteins and other nutrients, the waxberry is widely planted in Zhang's hometown, Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County in the province. The area has a history of producing the fruit for more than 2,000 years. In the past, waxberry farmers worried about how to sell the fruit in time. "The price of waxberries used to be very low because we must sell them as soon as possible," said Zhang. "The income of planting waxberries could not support the whole family, so we chose to look for work in Shanghai," he added. The local government listed the family as a poverty-stricken household and aimed to help them shake off poverty. Aiming to help the fruit farmers sell their waxberries and increase their income, the county government held a waxberry festival to attract tourists in 2013. "My waxberries were sold out very quickly at the festival," Zhang said. The county government also offered subsidies for cold chain logistics, reward for sales, and insurance for the farmers, encouraging them to sell waxberries to customers from all around the country through e-commerce platforms. The favorable policies inspired Zhang to expand his waxberry business. He led the villagers to set up a cooperative for waxberry planting and distribution in 2016. "I want to run the business together with my fellow villagers," he said. In 2019, the cooperative sold more than 30,000 kg of fresh waxberries with an output value of 750,000 yuan (about 105,700 U.S. dollars) and over 80,000 seedlings with an output value of 400,000 yuan, benefiting nearly 50 poverty-stricken villagers. The county now has more than 6,660 hectares of waxberry trees and can produce 69,000 tonnes of waxberries each year with an output value of more than 1 billion yuan, lifting more than 15,000 poverty-stricken people out of poverty. "We hope to develop more waxberry-made products, making the fruit a golden key to enriching the farmers," said Wu Daoguang, an official of the county's agriculture and rural affairs bureau. Enditem NEW TOWN, N.D., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The reach of cybersecurity education is expanding across the U.S., thanks in part to the work of Kara Four Bear, principal at New Town Middle School in New Town, North Dakota. Four Bear was recently honored for work with the Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award, presented by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. Kara Four Bear (PRNewsfoto/SynED) NTMS INSTEM Camp #2 (PRNewsfoto/SynED) New Town is a rural community of about 2,500 people in western North Dakota. Four Bear was drawn to cyber education because of its ability to help students see the world beyond their homes and prepare them to be global citizens who can thrive in an ever-changing world. "In recognizing this need for our learners, our team decided collectively to be brave and to undertake our own learning of cybersecurity, computer science and STEM education," Four Bear said. "We dared to ask ourselves, 'What if '" Four Bear also sees cyber education as an integral part of North Dakota's Choice Ready initiative, which seeks to have all students be ready for college, the military or the workforce upon graduation. This process begins in middle school, where teachers and students begin building the educational pathways that will help them achieve their future goals. As part of creating that pathway, Four Bear built partnerships with the North Dakota Department of Education, the National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center (NICE), the North Dakota Center for Distance Education and other organizations throughout the state and across the U.S. Students are able to take part in the summer academy at Valley City State University and participate in NASA's Near Space project at the University of North Dakota. As a rural school with limited resources, Four Bear quickly realized that these partnerships would be essential to providing resources for her students and helping them make connections outside of New Town. "School transformations are completely possible for all rural schools within North Dakota and beyond, thanks to partners with purpose in evolving education to include cybersecurity and the computer sciences," Four Bear said. "Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing professions in the world and we are doing our part to create pipelines of creativity and innovation to inspire youth to consider these career pathways." In May, Four Bear was one of two educators in the U.S. to receive the inaugural Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award. The award was established in 2019 through President Trump's Executive Order on America's Cybersecurity Workforce. The award's other recipient is Donna Woods, academic relations manager at SynED's Cyber-Guild and a teacher at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, California. "I am pleased to congratulate Donna Woods and Kara Four Bear, the inaugural class of Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award honorees," DeVos said in a statement announcing the award. "Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing fields in the world. This award recognizes great teachers who are helping prepare our students to fill those jobs and help keep our nation safe now and in the future." Moving forward, Four Bear hopes to expand her school's cyber offerings to include extracurricular activities and to provide additional support to students who need it. "Cybersecurity and STEM training allow students to learn how their digital actions affect their lives, their futures, and the lives of others. It is important for kids to understand that they have an impact when navigating the digital world," Four Bear said. "At the end of the day, it is all for our youth and communities." About SynED SynED is a non-profit organization that acts as a catalyst to help colleges and other higher education partners equip students with the skills they need to enrich their lives through education, knowledge and skill acquisition, giving them rich career opportunities. Contact: 866-420-4573 Liz Fraumann [email protected] SOURCE SynED TORONTO, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Press Conference: Families and Supporters launch association in effort to seek justice. On June 16, at 10am ET/7am PT, the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims will launch its website and outline its three key goals, and its demands for justice. The Canadian government continues to seek cooperation and transparency from Iran. A full investigation is necessary to hold those responsible to account, avoid future incidents, and bring closure to families of victims. Canada calls on Iran to cooperate fully. The first step is allowing the black boxes to be downloaded and analyzed in a facility with the capability to do so as soon as possible. Iran is required to do so under international law. Canadas foreign affairs minister stated, "We will judge Iran by its actions, not by its words, and we will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the victims of this tragedy until justice is rendered for all." Today, there has been little progress or cooperation by Irans authorities. Today, we judge Iran by their actions. In light of on-going COVID-19 restrictions, the press conference will be held virtually. If you would like to observe, please join us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/M6_688b3CAc If you may want to ask a question at the conclusion of the presentation, please: Join us on Google Meet: meet.google.com/ifh-zdzo-aof or By phone (and contact Alise Mills for the passcode in advance): +1 705-419-6526 Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (26) Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (28) Former Vice President Joe Biden celebrated a record-breaking fundraising haul on Monday as the presumptive 2020 Democrat presidential nominees campaign announced it raised over $80m last month after teaming up with the Democratic National Committee. The former vice presidents campaign received an average online donation of $30, according to a financial disclosure candidates are required to release by 20 June. President Donald Trumps re-election campaign has not yet released its figures along with those from Republican National Committee. Mr Bidens campaign raised a stunning $80.8m, the largest haul of any Democratic candidate in the partys once-historically crowded field. Its a $20m increase from the previous month, when the former vice presidents campaign and the DNC raised a reported $60.5m. Mr Trumps campaign and the RNC raised $61.7m in April. Im in awe of this sum of money. Just a few months ago, people were ready to write this campaign off, Mr Biden said in a statement. He added: I understand what these dollars mean. When facing uncertainty and recession, you chose to back me. I will never forget that. And I promise that when Im president, I wont let you down. The fundraising haul is especially astonishing given the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the US economy and 2020 campaign trail. Nearly 40 million Americans have lost their jobs since the pandemic began, while the campaign cycle has gone virtual, with candidates being forced to make their pleas for support entirely online. At a time when the Democratic nominee would likely be hosting large rallies and town halls, Mr Biden is instead conducting television interviews from his basement and hosting a podcast that discusses his vision for America. Meanwhile, he is beating Mr Trump by double digits in several recent polls, including on a local-level in states that helped him secure his 2016 victory, and national polls that showed Mr Biden opening up his lead as the pandemic worsened throughout the US. By Monday, Mr Biden held a seven-point lead over Mr Trump nationally, according to a Real Clear Politics polling average, while he was above the president by 11 points in states like Virginia in a new Roanoke College survey. Mr Biden is also beating Mr Trump by a 12-point lead in Michigan, a state the president narrowly won in 2016 and that is seen as crucial in his re-election. Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou has accused the United States of providing a "grossly inaccurate [and] misleading" summary of evidence to the Canadian court hearing her extradition case, arguing that the case should be thrown out as a result. The new claims in Meng's bid to avoid extradition to the US to face fraud charges include that the US misrepresented and omitted details of a crucial PowerPoint presentation that Meng delivered to a HSBC banker in Hong Kong. The 2013 presentation forms the basis of the US claims that she defrauded HSBC by lying about Huawei's business in Iran, allegedly in breach of US sanctions, and that she should be sent to New York to face trial. "Ms Meng will submit that the Requesting State's summary of evidence ... is grossly inaccurate and based on deliberate and/or reckless misstatements of fact and material omissions, thereby constituting a serious abuse of the extradition process that should disentitle the Requesting State to proceed," her lawyers said in a memo, released on Monday by the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Meng was arrested by Canadian police, acting on a US request, at Vancouver's airport on December 1, 2018, throwing China's relations with Canada and the US into turmoil. The new claims also allege that the US falsely asserted that only junior HSBC employees were aware of the nature of Huawei's relationship with Skycom, a company in Iran that the US says conducted business there on behalf of Huawei. "Evidence will demonstrate that it is inconceivable that any decision to modify or terminate HSBC's relationship with Skycom or Huawei would not have been reviewed by the most senior management of HSBC," said the memo. The memo, dated Friday, was made public after a hearing in Vancouver to discuss the management of Meng's sprawling extradition case, which has been thrown into disarray by the Covid-19 pandemic. Meng's team submitted a schedule that would see hearings last until at least May 25, 2021, while the Canadian government lawyers representing US interests in the case proposed hearings until March 26. Appeals could ultimately stretch the case out for years. Story continues But Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes did not endorse either schedule and questioned the order that both sides wanted various arguments addressed. As a result, the hearing was adjourned until June 23, with Meng " who is Huawei's chief financial officer and the daughter of company founder, Ren Zhengfei " bound over until then. Meng and both sets of lawyers attended Monday's hearing by phone, as part of the court's Covid-19 precautions. In the memo, Meng's lawyers also take issue with "false statements" in the US record of the case that "as a result of [Meng's] misrepresentations, HSBC extended US$900 million of credit to Huawei". "In fact, there never was a US$900 million credit facility between Huawei and HSBC," the memo says. Instead, it says, HSBC and eight other banks jointly provided HSBC with a US$1.6 billion credit facility, of which HSBC's contribution was US$80 billion. The claims about misrepresentation in the US record and supplemental record of the case " summaries of evidence provided to the court " represent a new third branch of an abuse-of-process argument by Meng's lawyers. The other two branches are that Meng was unlawfully searched and interrogated by Canadian border officers at Vancouver's airport at the behest of the US FBI, before she was formally arrested, and that the case is a matter of political abuse, highlighted by US President Donald Trump's comments on it. "This is a very unusual extradition case. It has been described as unique," said one of Meng's lawyers, Richard Peck, at Monday's hearing. "It does give rise to three arguments on abuse ... [one] in relation to the president of the requesting state and his assertion that he would effectively do what he wanted with Ms Meng, which we consider to be an outrageous comment." That was a reference to comments made by Trump on December 11, 2018, when he told Reuters news agency that he would intervene in Meng's case if it was in the interests of US national security or it helped the US seal a trade deal with China. "Whatever's good for this country, I would do ... If I think it's good for what will be certainly the largest trade deal ever made " which is a very important thing " what's good for national security " I would certainly intervene if I thought it was necessary," Trump said. People hold signs calling for China to release Canadian detainees Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig during an extradition hearing for Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on March 6, 2019. Photo: Reuters alt=People hold signs calling for China to release Canadian detainees Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig during an extradition hearing for Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on March 6, 2019. Photo: Reuters Meng's lawyers have seized on those comments as proof that the case against Meng is politically inspired. As part of the other plank of the abuse claim, Meng's lawyers have described a report written by Canada's Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) on the morning before her arrest, which they say provides evidence of "coordinated state misconduct" between the US and Canada against her. The spy agency's report predicted the impending detention would "send shock waves around the world", and stated that "advanced communication to the CSIS came from the FBI". The report's existence was made public last week. According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday that the CSIS report "shows once again that the whole Meng Wanzhou case is a serious political incident. It speaks volumes about the US political calculations to purposefully suppress Huawei and other Chinese hi-tech companies." Meng's arrest more than 18 months ago triggered a crisis in Chinese relations with the US and Canada. China arrested Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig and accused them of espionage, moves that are widely believed in Canada to represent retaliation and hostage taking. Meng, 48, is living under partial house arrest in Vancouver on C$10 million (US$7.36 million) bail. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday that he was open to renaming military bases named after Confederate leaders - but he didn't want Confederate statues in the Capitol removed. 'If its appropriate to take another look at these names, Im personally OK with that - and I am a descendant of a Confederate veteran myself,' McConnell said, according to Politico. 'What I do think is clearly a bridge too far is this nonsense that we need to airbrush the Capitol and scrub out everybody from years ago who had any connection to slavery.' Last week, President Trump said he 'will not even consider' renaming military bases and he's historically been against the removal of Confederate statues, hinting at his thinking on the matter when he said at the White House Tuesday, 'We must build upon our heritage - not tear it down.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he'd be open to renaming military bases currently named for Confederates, but is against the removal of Confederate statues on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. President Trump talked upon 'building upon' not tearing down the U.S.'s 'heritage,' potentially a veiled reference to his reluctance to take down Confederate statues and his refusal to rename military bases named after those who fought for the south in the Civil War Fort Bragg is named after Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, who was known for being notoriously bad at his job. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he was open to having bases named for Confederates renamed Also among bases that could see a name change is Fort Benning, located on the Alabama and Georgia border, it is 'Home of the Infantry' and was named in 1917 for plantation owner Henry L. Benning, who argued for secession from 1849, and railed against 'black governors, black legislatures, black juries, black everything' Confederate statues on Capitol Hill includes one of Jefferson Davis (pictured), the president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War The issue of keeping Confederate statues and names on things came up in the aftemath of George Floyd's death and the subsequent 'Black Lives Matter' protests that have been ongoing since Memorial Day. Last Monday, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told Politico he was 'open' to renaming the 10 bases named for Confederate figures. Defense Secretary Mark Esper also supported the conversation. Floyd's controversial killing by a white police officer motivated McCarthy's change of heart, one Army official told Politico. The events 'made us start looking more at ourselves and the things that we do and how that is communicated ot the force as well as the American people,' the source said. Two days later, however, Trump dramatically kicked off White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany's briefing by tweeting that he would consider no such thing. 'These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom,' Trump tweeted. 'The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars.' 'Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations,' Trump said. In the hours following Trump's refusal, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi upped the ante by announcing she wanted the remaining Confederate statues on Capitol Hill gone. At her press conference Thursday, she called it 'the perfect time' to get rid of the 11 remaining statues displayed in the Capitol complex that depicted Americans who fought for the Confederacy or had ties to slavery. 'These names are white supremacists that said terrible things about our country,' Pelosi said. Lawmakers, however, can't just get the statues moved, they would have to pass - and have Trump sign - a new bill that bars Confederate soldiers from being on display. 'Let me just say that when I was Speaker, I did do what I had the authority to do, which was to relegate Robert E. Lee to the crypt,' Pelosi said, speaking of her time serving as speaker between 2007 and 2011. 'I could move things around I couldn't take them out, that requires something else.' Later Thursday, Rep. Barbara Lee, a California Democrat, released language for a new bill that would allow states to contribute statues except of those 'who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America.' So far, Republicans have been more supportive of the move to rename military bases. The Republican-led Armed Services Committee voted Wednesday night for an amendment proposed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a former Democratic presidential candidate, giving the military three years to rename bases and other entities with names related to the Confederacy. A number of GOP lawmakers, however, wouldn't tell reporters which way they voted. Trump later tweeted: 'Seriously failed presidential candidate, Senator Elizabeth "Pocahontas" Warren, just introduced an Amendment on the renaming of many of our legendary Military Bases from which we trained to WIN two World Wars.' 'Hopefully our great Republican Senators won't fall for this!' the president wrote. McConnell expressed ambivalence when asked about it Tuesday. 'With regard to military bases, whatever is ultimately decided, I don't have a problem with,' the top Senate Republican said. On the issue of the statues, since states each contribute them, Sen. Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican who chairs the Joint Committee on the Library, said it continues to be up to them. President Trump sent out a trio of tweets just before Wednesday's White House briefing saying he was against renaming 10 Army bases that are currently named for Confederate leaders Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany printed out a statement, which mirrored President Trump's tweets, and handed it out to reporters before Wednesday's White House press briefing expressing that he was against the renaming of military bases named for Confederates That being said, Blunt pointed out how 'several states have moved toward replacing statues and others appear headed in the same direction.' 'This process is ongoing and encouraging,' Blunt told DailyMail.com in a statement last week. McConnell echoed Trump and McEnany when talking about the statues, pointing out that a number of former American presidents were slave-owners. During her Wednesday briefing, McEnany segued from talking about the military bases, to asking reporers which American figured would be scrubbed from history next if Confederate names were removed. 'Should George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison be erased from history?' she asked. 'What about FDR and his internment camps? Should he be erased from history? Or Lyndon Johnson? Who has a history of documented racist statements.' She even suggested that Trump's Democratic rival, Joe Biden, was in jeopardy of being erased because of the controversial remarks he made last year, when he pointed out his work with segregationist senators, during his long Congressional career. Looking at COVID, I didn't realize the huge shortages of material that would be needed, Rush said. I would have thought we had what we needed in terms of the medical system, but it seems we were so far behind some of these other countries, like South Korea. We could be spending more. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 11:48 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf19b16 4 Science & Tech Sunda-alphabet,Unpad,Pandi,website Free The Indonesian Internet Domain Name Registry (PANDI), in collaboration with experts on Sundanese script from the Padjajaran University Sundanese Cultural Development and Digitalization Center (PDP-BS Unpad), is holding the second edition of a website design competition that aims to preserve indigenous script and culture. All submissions must use the Sundanese script for the domain name and at least half of the website content. According to PANDI registry operations chief Mohamad Shidiq Purnama, the first competition focused on Javanese script (Hanacaraka). [This second event] is a continuation of a series of competitions to help preserve Nusantara script, which is among our concerns, Shidiq said in a statement on Monday as quoted by tempo.co, referring to Indonesia's nickname that means "archipelago". We are committed to participating in digitalizing Nusantara script so it can be used as an internet domain name, he added. Those interested can register for the competition until Aug. 14, with the deadline for all submissions falling on Nov. 13. The organizers will announce the winner on Dec. 11. PDP-BS Unpad head Ganjar Kurnia said that they expected the public, especially the people of West Java, the origin of Sundanese culture, to join the competition and take part in preserving the ancient culture. We hope that the public can take part in preserving the Sundanese alphabet and combine it with the advances of technological by creating websites, so that the Sundanese alphabet can be acknowledged more by the younger generation and the general public, he said. (gis/kes) A sculpture of a fat bald man wedged inside a wheelie bin has appeared next to the empty plinth of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston's toppled statue in Bristol. The art installation emblazoned with 'St George was Turkish' was first seen yesterday morning chained to a lamppost in the city centre, before later disappearing. It featured a papier mache figure of a fat bald man in a string vest wedged into a wheelie bin, holding a small globe in one hand and a mobile phone in the other. The art installation of a fat bald man emblazoned with 'St George was Turkish' was first seen yesterday morning chained to a lamppost in Bristol city centre, before later disappearing The sculpture of a fat bald man wedged inside a wheelie bin appeared yesterday next to the empty plinth of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston's toppled statue in Bristol The sculpture, which also had the words 'England for the English' on it like a text message, was placed next to where the Colston statue was toppled on June 7. A group of about 300 people gathered at the nearby Cenotaph war memorial on Saturday, saying they were there to protect it from any attack by demonstrators. The art installation appeared to be trying to tell English patriots who commemorate St George and St George's Day that England's patron saint was not English. St George came from the historical region of Cappadocia in modern day Turkey, but he was a Greek man living in the Roman Empire. The Turkish did not arrive in that land for another 700 years until the 11th century - a point that was not lost on many of the statue's critics. The statue, which also had the words 'England for the English' on it like a text message, was placed next to where the Colston statue was toppled in Bristol on June 7 On June 7, protesters used ropes to pull the Colston statue, which was erected in 1895, from its plinth in Bristol city centre. One, Mario Palermo, said: 'It reads Saint George was Turkish. He was actually of Greek descent born in Turkey. 'When people decide to tear down statues and erect their own they really need to explain the history correctly.' And former serviceman Trevor Morgan was not keen on the statue either. He said: 'It is a slur on white working class English. But then such a slur, like the name 'gammon', is just a jolly old chuckle. Some folk are now getting a trifle miffed.' It is not yet clear whether the statue was removed by council workers or the creators, who were said to have spent most of yesterday nearby it. Meanwhile dedications to Colston have been removed or covered up from Bristol Cathedral and another prominent church in the city. The Colston statue, which had been in place since 1895, has been a subject of controversy in recent years - due to Colston's links to the slave trade in the 17th century Work was carried out yesterday to cover up parts of the cathedral's large Colston Window, dedicated to the 17th century merchant, that will later be removed. Panes from a window at St Mary Redcliffe Church were also taken out yesterday, with other references to Colston also covered up at the sites. The Diocese of Bristol described the toppling of the Colston statue during a Black Lives Matter march as a 'symbolic moment' and 'signal for change'. On June 7, protesters used ropes to pull the Colston statue, which was erected in 1895, from its plinth in Bristol city centre. The removal of Colston's statue sparked a campaign to take down dozens more across Britain Work was carried out yesterday to cover up parts of the cathedral's large Colston Window, dedicated to the 17th century merchant, that will later be removed It was then dragged to the harbourside, where it was thrown into the water at Pero's Bridge - named in honour of enslaved man Pero Jones who lived and died in the city. Bristol City Council retrieved the statue, which will be displayed in a museum along with placards from the Black Lives Matter protest, from the water on June 11. Since the removal of the statue, music venue Colston Hall and high-rise building Colston Tower have both removed lettering from their facades. Both Colston's Girls' School and the separate Colston's School are considering a name change. Oswego, N.Y. Seven workers at an apple-packaging facility in the Town of Oswego have tested positive for the coronavirus in what Oswego County officials are describing as a new cluster. Workers at Champlain Valley Specialty of NY Inc. have been tested, according to a news release from county Public Health Director Jiancheng Huang. He said the investigation is evolving quickly and the number of cases is expected to change based on further testing and follow-up with patient contacts. The facility has been inspected by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. The food processed in the facility does not pose a threat to consumers and does not need to be recalled, the release said. The release didnt specify when the cases were first discovered or who the victims are. It was unclear if all of the workers at the plant had been tested. We are, as usual, doing our due diligence in contact tracing and assisting those newly identified cases, which happen to include both employees and family members of employees, Huang said. The company opened the $4.5 million apple processing plant in 2012 at a former Empire Fresh Cuts onion-packing facility at 8033 State Route 104 in the town of Oswego. The company created 175 jobs, Oswego County officials said in 2015. The company buys apples grown in New York and elsewhere, slices them and packages them for sale to schools under the brand name Grab Apples. Its biggest customer is the New York City School District, which serves 850,000 meals each school day, according to a 2019 story on syracuse.com about a lawsuit brought by some workers against the company. It appears this cluster was initially transmitted through community spread, said Oswego County Legislature Chairman Jim Weatherup. Our health department is working closely with the New York State Health Department to ensure all necessary testing, tracing and control measures are in place to effectively control its spread. Oswego County Medical Director Dr. Christina Liepke said the employer is cooperating with the health department and has complied state-established Covid-19 guidelines, including employee social distancing and providing hand sanitizer. Champlain Valley Specialty is currently working in tandem with the New York State Department of Health and the Oswego County Health Department as we remain diligent in ensuring the well-being of our employees, their families and the communities in which we operate, the company said in a statement issued Monday night. The statement said there is no evidence that Covid-19 is spread by food or food packaging, and added that the health of our employees is our first priority. In May, a large cluster of more than 170 cases of the coronavirus were confirmed at Green Empire Farms, a huge greenhouse facility in Madison County. The facility grows millions of strawberries and tomatoes. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Syracuse mom with coronavirus chooses hospice over ventilator: The finality of it Cuomo to bars, restaurants: If your crowds are too big, NY will yank liquor license Youth sports can restart in Central NY early next month, Cuomo says Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Nolan Weidner is a reporter for the Syracuse Post-Standard and syracuse.com. Got a comment or idea for a story? He can be reached via email at nweidner@syracuse.com. OTTAWA - A Federal Court judge has ruled that Ski-Doo maker BRP Inc. is entitled to $2.83 million in damages from rival Arctic Cat Inc. due to a snowmobile patent infringement. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A BRP logo is shown at the research and innovation plant in Valcourt, Que., on November 9, 2012. A Federal Court judge has ruled that Ski-Doo maker BRP Inc. is entitled to $2.83 million in damages from rival Arctic Cat Inc. due to a snowmobile patent infringement. The patent relates to the type of frame used in snowmobiles such as the Ski-Doo REV line that place the rider in a more forward position. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes OTTAWA - A Federal Court judge has ruled that Ski-Doo maker BRP Inc. is entitled to $2.83 million in damages from rival Arctic Cat Inc. due to a snowmobile patent infringement. The patent relates to the type of frame used in snowmobiles such as the Ski-Doo REV line that places the rider closer to the front of the sled. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Justice Yvan Roy said in his decision Monday that Arctic Cat must pay BRP a royalty of $135 per unit on each of the nearly 21,000 snowmobiles infringing on the patent that were sold in Canada between 2008 and 2014. The court also issued a permanent injunction that prevents Arctic Cat from selling snowmobiles that violate the frame patent. The matter of damages suffered by BRP after 2014 has been referred to another judge. BRP vice-president Martin Langelier says the Quebec-based company "couldn't be more pleased" with the ruling, which he calls an "important win" for innovation and the protection of intellectual property. An Arctic Cat spokesman says the Minnesota-based company "respectfully disagrees with the court's ruling" and plans to appeal the decision along with the injunction. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2020. Companies in this story: (TSX:BRP) After several weeks of gradual price pulls, last weekend saw a return to more normal factory service, with prices for lamb slashed by 10-30c/kg. The main culprit is the ICM group, who drop their quote by 30c/kg to 5.40+10c/kg QA. Kildare Chilling cut 10c/kg to 5.60+10c/kg QA. And the word from Kildare is that there may be further downward pressure on their lamb quote from today. Having being off our table for a number of weeks, Kepak Athleague are back with an offering of 5.55+15c/kg QA and 2.50/kg for cull ewes. The two ICM plants stay on 2.50/kg for culls, while Kildare up their quote by 10c/kg to 2.60+10c/kg QA. Kildare were the only plant willing to go on record for a hogget quote, continuing on 4.90+10c/kg QA. Dawn Ballyhaunis were unable to offer any official quotes yesterday. ICM's welcome decision to raise their weight cut-off point for lamb to 21kg two weeks ago now appears to be a case of the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away - they now lead the race to the bottom of the barrel on lamb price. Sean McNamara of ICSA tells me that prices on the ground for lamb are 5.75-5.80/kg depending on quality and bonuses, with some local wholesalers paying up to 5.90/kg. He was adamant that strong farmer resistance over the weekend had helped steady the ship and had forced some agents into upping their initial offers by up to 20c/kg. At over $3 billion in 2018, China is the world's largest importer of wool. The next biggest biggest importers are India at just $364m and Italy at $296m. On the exporting side Australia is the biggest player, valued at $2.99 billion in 2018, followed by South Africa at $429m and New Zealand at $421m. My point is that wool is far from valueless, yet Irish sheep farmers can today not expect to get more than 15c/kg for their freshly shorn product. In the consumer-driven world we live, in the mass production model now sees clothes relatively cheap to buy, like food. And the biggest exporters of clothes are China at 31.3pc and the EU at 28.4pc. While I agree with Mr McNamara that China operates "a cheap labour and cheaper raw materials production policy" for its industries, the EU countries' 28.4pc share of the world's clothing market comes from a bloc where consumers are sensitive about everything from the environment to human rights. Abused So what are the rewards for Irish sheep farmers' labours? And why are they being forced to take Third-World prices for a product that is natural and environmentally sustainable from an industry that's worth billions? I was surprised that the Minister for Agriculture decided that only the beef sector deserved compensation due to the Covid crisis. Those on the ground won't need reminding that on Monday, March 30 factories collapsed their prices for lambs and hogget by 60c/kg as a direct result of the coronavirus. Marts Roscommon Numbers were similar to the previous week for this assembly sale. On the spring lamb side, 50.8kgs achieved 125/hd, 47.3kgs made 124/hd and a selection of lambs from 47.7-51.3/kg saw 122/hd. Cast ewes sold for 77-110/hd. Carnew There was an entry of over 1,000 sheep here with the trade reported as good for all types, with heavier lambs making up to 120/hd (fifteen averaging 52kgs) with prices for heavy cull ewes ranging from 115-135/hd. Other prices of note among the lambs included sixteen at 46kg that sold for 118/hd, and twenty-five at 44kg that averaged 115/hd. A selection of lighter lots saw 30-33kgs sell from 75-81/hd. Cull ewes suitable for further feeding sold from 40-85/hd, while ewes with lambs at foot made 170-200/hd. Baltinglass Prices in the 45-48kg section averaged 110-115/hd as the action returned here, with 40-45kg lambs averaging 91-110/hd. In the 30-40kg weight division prices ranged from 70-91/hd. Fat ewes sold up to 120/hd. A full clearance of all sheep was affected. Mountbellew Larger numbers saw lambs meeting weaker trade. Nine lambs weighing 44kg averaged 114/hd; ten 41kg lambs sold for 102/hd, while seventeen 37kgs averaged 94/hd. Stag ewes were a good trade with averages up around 10/hd. There was also an improved trade for ewes with lambs at foot. Ewes with singles sold from 170-200/hd, while those with twins averaged 180-286/hd. Second-crop crossbred ewes sold for 130-142/hd. Athenry An average size sale here yesterday saw lambs in the 43-46kg weight bracket sell from 110-114/hd, with heavier types from 50-56kgs averaging 115-126/hd. Cull ewes sold from 75-120/hd. On the breeding side ewes with lambs at foot made up to 150/hd. Raphoe Yesterday's sale here saw around 1,000 sheep overall go under the hammer. Prices on the lamb side saw 44-46kgs average around the 112-115/hd mark, with 50kg lambs variously selling from 114-120/hd with the tops making up to 125/hd. In the lighter division 32-34kg lambs sold from 75-84/hd, while a batch at 27kgs averaged 68/hd. Kilkenny Numbers remained steady here yesterday with prices also continuing on an even keel. 47-48Kkg lambs sold from 120-128/kg, while the lighter factory-type lamb made from 110-117/hd. Cull ewes saw a top call of 130/hd. Ola Osundairo, one of the brothers who allegedly assaulted former Empire actor Jussie Smollett, was arrested last Sunday. Osundairo was pulled over after he was clocked on radar going 81 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour zone in Orland Park, IL, a suburb of Chicago, according to TMZ. Illinois is one of many states where, if you're caught speeding more than 25 mph over the limit, you're placed under arrest, which is what happened to Osundairo. Brothers: Ola Osundairo, one of the brothers who allegedly assaulted former Empire actor Jussie Smollett, was arrested last Sunday Osundairo was taken into the Orland Park Police Station and booked for a Class A misdemeanor for speeding 35+ over the posted limit. He was bailed out of jail and released later that night, though his attorney Gloria Schmidt says he plans to file a complaint against the officers. The complaint is because they towed the Jeep he was driving, instead of releasing it to his girlfriend, whose name is on the vehicle's insurance card. Booked: Osundairo was taken into the Orland Park Police Station and booked for a Class A misdemeanor for speeding 35+ over the posted limit In a video of the arrest, Osundairo was told by one of the officers that he was to be put under arrest, but Osundairo asked if there was 'proof' he was really going 81. The officers say they have it on video in their squad, and he adds, 'If I can see that I'll go,' though when the officers asked if he didn't think he was going 81, he said he couldn't have been going that fast because he was only in 'fourth gear.' 'My car was in gear four, it can't reach 80 in gear four,' Osundairo tells the cops, but when they ask what year the car was, the woman (presumably his girlfriend) who was recording the incident says it was a 2015 Jeep. Proof: In a video of the arrest, Osundairo was told by one of the officers that he was to be put under arrest, but Osundairo asked if there was 'proof' he was really going 81 The officer says there is a '3.6 litre engine in this car', as his partner maintains he is 'a Jeep guy' as he adds you could probably get to 95 in fourth gear. The partner says he's, 'trying to make this process as smooth as I can for you,' as Osundairo is seen getting ready to get out of the car. The video then cuts to some time later from the passenger's seat looking out, as officers are putting handcuffs on Osundairo and taking him into custody. Fourth gear: The officer says there is a '3.6 litre engine in this car', as his partner maintains he is 'a Jeep guy' as he adds you could probably get to 95 in fourth gear The police report also claims that Osundairo told the officers, 'Don't you know who I am?' but neither of the officers knew who he was. That interaction is not on the video, and Osundairo and his attorney are denying that it ever happened. Ola and his brother, Abel Osundairo, reportedly helped stage the "attack" on Smollett with the actor himself, to try and further his career. Smollett was indicted by a Cook County grand jury on six counts of filing false police reports in February, while the Osundairo brothers filed a federal defamation lawsuit against Smollett's legal team, after they claimed one of the brothers was in a sexual relationship with Smollett. Smoke rises in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, seen from Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. South Korea says that North Korea has exploded an inter-Korean liaison office building just north of the tense Korean border. (AP Photo) SEOUL: North Korea has confirmed it destroyed an inter-Korean liaison office on Tuesday, as it continued to dial up pressure against rival South Korea amid stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration. Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said the North destroyed the office to correspond with the mindset of the enraged people to surely force human scum and those, who have sheltered the scum, to pay dearly for their crimes, apparently referring to North Korean defectors who for years have floated anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. The news agency did not detail how the destruction of the office was carried out, but said it was tragically ruined with a terrific explosion. The North, which has a long track record of pressuring South Korea when it fails to extract concessions from the United States, has repeatedly bashed the South in recent weeks over declining bilateral relations and its inability to stop leafleting by defectors and activists. The detonation of the office came hours after the Norths military threatened to move back into zones that were demilitarized under inter-Korean peace agreements, which experts say could create security threats for the South along the land and sea borders. Analysts say Pyongyang may be seeking to manufacture a crisis to increase pressure on Seoul while nuclear negotiations with Washington are at a standstill. Seoul's presidential Blue House called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, Yonhap said. The liaison office was opened in September 2018, days before the South's President Moon Jae-in flew to Pyongyang for his third summit with Kim, and around 20 officials from each side were stationed at the office during subsequent months. But inter-Korean relations soured following the collapse of the Hanoi summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in February last year over sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return. Operations at the office were suspended in January because of the coronavirus pandemic. And since early June, North Korea has issued a series of vitriolic condemnations of the South over activists sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets over the border -- something defectors do on a regular basis. It came as a shock to the areas medical community Friday when Erlanger Hospitals beleaguered CEO Will Jackson and its Board of Trustees laid off the chief executive officer of Childrens Hospital, a position heretofore that was deemed untouchable. There was a very sound reason for that; opened in 1929, it was to be its own entity, a protected shrine where the mother ship or outside budgets could not raid its resources, this to enable its children the best of everything. Time and time again over the last century, The Best Little Childrens Hospital in America has been honored as one of the truly best in the nation. Childrens is the only certified Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center, the highest designation in the state for pediatrics. It's a level of care for children often found only in cities more than twice the size of Chattanooga. Easier to understand: Childrens Hospital is the only accredited and federally recognized hospital for those 17 years and younger within a 100-mile radius or, in the center of 34,500 square miles. You can well imagine how many children that includes. Further, Childrens Hospital is the top referring hospital of world-famed St. Jude Childrens Hospital and, through a wonderful partnership, is the No. 1 outside provider of St. Judes mission in treating childhood catastrophic diseases, this in addition to serving as a full-service resource to hundreds of thousands of our little children easily over 50,000 cases a year. So why it is beyond all imagination that in just the nine months since Will Jackson levied himself into the CEOs chair of Erlanger, has Childrens Hospital taken the brunt of a shameful folly. Quite frankly, it is being decimated so that it will soon be destroyed. For instance, since Will Jackson was named last September, here is what has happened at Childrens Hospital * -- CEO Don Mueller, regarded as one of the top medical administrators in the Southeast, has just been deemed non-essential. And, yes, you betcha the Erlanger Board of Trustees knows about it. * -- The chief financial officer has been removed. * -- The director of Out-patient Services has been removed. * -- The Patient Safety coordinator has been removed. * -- Multiple managers have been removed and not replaced. * -- Pediatric surgery, pediatric outpatient surgery, and recovery have been placed under Erlangers director of Surgical Surgery, who freely admits his staff knows nothing about pediatric surgery. * -- Childrens Emergency Room services have been placed under Erlangers Emergency Services director who has had no training in much-different pediatric emergency medicine and its specialized science. * -- Childrens Pediatric ER nurses are now being pulled to adult emergency rooms, this with little or no training --or experience -- in adult medicine. Gives you a fuzzy feeling, huh?) * -- Childrens Hospital lost an entire acute-care floor to adult trauma. * -- Childrens NICU nurses are constantly being ordered to Erlanger units due to Erlangers inability to retain nurses. We are told there are now over 50 NICU openings at Erlanger and when our 'borrowed' nurses come back, they have livid stories that illustrate why the Erlanger turn-over has gotten so bad, said one Childrens manager. * -- Childrens current chief nursing officer also has a day job as Erlangers director of Womens and Childrens Services at Erlanger East and the downtown campus. (Wonder what that time card looks like?) * * * The loss of our NICU physicians and practitioners was a tragedy that is beyond comprehension, some nurses conveyed to me. Our littlest patients deserved better. Our NICU doctors had been there for years and had great working relationships with our top-notch medical staff. Also, when that groups contract was not renewed, some of our most experienced nurses left for greener pastures. Our NICU has still not recovered. And those left at Childrens mourn. We, too, are Erlanger employees. At one time it was one of the greatest little childrens hospitals in the country. We had everything we needed to be the very best. As the Erlanger budget has gotten tighter, Childrens Hospital has been morphed into just another service line of Erlanger, one said. Management has made us feel like an afterthought. There is a trembling of sorts in their voices. Our facilities are over 50 years old. We have had makeovers, but the infrastructure is failing. We have had sewage leaks, burst pipes, and water damage. The rooms are cramped and crowded. Nurses move more furniture than bellhops. Cleanliness is certainly a concern because housekeeping staff is bare bones. Our nurses mop, sweep, clean beds, and empty garbage routinely, along with taking care of patients and families, giving medication on time, hourly rounds, assessing pain, checking IVs, giving baths, performing linen changes, and documenting everything in a timely manner. In other words, this is business as usual, in this the unusual. The dedicated Childrens staff has fiercely fought to serve children but sense the Erlanger commitment is steeply wavering. Is this the death knell? Whats Will Jackson going to do when 90 years of generations finds out its his breath, in just nine months, that is blowing out the candle? * * * I can remember once, maybe 30 years ago, when my lifelong confederate, Judy Bellenfant, called me frantically during dinner one night to say there was a little girl in Bradley County who was going to die if she didnt get to St. Jude in Memphis within hours. Can you find us a plane? The child was then at Childrens and they were in constant contact with Memphis. My mind goes hazy here, trying to remember, but I do know that within 30 minutes I called Judy back. Rush her, her mom and dad to Hangar One, and see if you can borrow a nurse and oxygen and whatever the nurse might need listen, Judy, the last three tail numbers are XXX. The prop will be already turning on the side opposite the planes steps. The runway gates will be open, and you drive right to the planes stairs but avoid the right side of the plane. Were cleared the minute you get here and by then Ill come off the plane to get her loaded Okay, okay said excited Judy. But theres one more thing Cmon, Judy! We aint got time for one more thing.! The Jude team is already gathering to meet the plane! Ive got to ask Can I come, too? Hey, idiot head. I thought this was your idea. Youre still in charge now cmon! Jeez, its been years since we flew through a storm to get that precious child there but somewhere down the line, in the many years that have followed, I learned our miracle child and her husband had another baby. Incidentally, wait til God in heaven gets His hands around Judy after all shed done in her life for others. Whew! * * * And so, now the deal is to tear down what 90 years of love and trust and countless philanthropy dollars have meant to over 50,000 children and far more particularly their moms and dads every year. Is that right? Are the telling signs true? Adults have a choice in hospitals. Children have only one. And this community is gonna sigh, roll over, and shrug? We just felt like the community who have been so gracious and generous in supporting our little hospital need to know that we are in trouble. We are being sucked into the mother ship. We no longer have an identity. The care we give our kids is beyond reproach. It is something we will always be proud of, but the conditions are difficult, and the fact of the matter is we need the regions support to become better than ever. We have tried to report our concerns for years, but they have fallen on deaf ears. Maybe, Mr. Exum, Maybe you can help. royexum@aol.com Turkey launches airstrikes against PKK targets in northern Iraq Iran Press TV Sunday, 14 June 2020 11:38 PM Turkish jet fighters have launched an operation against Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq, according to Turkey's Defense Ministry. "The Claw-Eagle Operation has started. Our planes are bringing the caves down on the terrorists' heads," the ministry said on Twitter. A source told Reuters the warplanes took off from various bases in Turkey, notably in the southeastern cities of Diyarbakir and Malatya, and struck PKK camps in Iraq, including in the area of the group's stronghold at Qandil, near the Iranian border. Turkey regularly targets Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants, both in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast and in northern Iraq, where the group is based. The PKK, designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict, focused in southeast Turkey. While Turkish warplanes frequently target PKK targets in northern Iraq, Turkey has also warned in recent years of a potential ground offensive targeting the PKK bases in the Qandil mountains near Iran's border. A few days ago, Interior Minister of Turkey Suleyman Soylu claimed that there are around 100 "terrorists" in Iran's Dambat, near Turkey, which "constitutes a real danger." However, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force dismissed the claim as "irresponsible and baseless", saying the IRGC Ground Force is vigorously present along the border with full preparedness, and is closely and constantly monitoring the situation across the border regions. The presence of terrorist elements is among the red lines of Iran, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said, adding, "However, we understand that the recent operations by small (terrorists) groups on the Turkish soil have mounted pressure on the Turkish officials and have forced them to raise such a claim." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, an honest look at President Biden's press conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Baron Philippe de Rothschild to release limited-edition Chilean red wine into global travel retail Baron Philippe de Rothschild is to unveil a new premium limited-edition wine from its Escudo Rojo label from September 2020. The wine has been named 2018 Escudo Rojo Baronesa P. in tribute to Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, and features five grape varieties. It has been produced from the premium French winemakers Maipo Valley vineyards in Chile, where the Baroness established the Escudo Rojo label in 1999. The new wines great credentials have been highlighted by the internationally-acclaimed American wine critic, James Suckling, who has awarded Escudo Rojo Baronesa P. 97/100, an exceptional rating for a 2018 red wine vintage. This score marks the new release out as a fine wine for laying down and makes it an ideal fit for the premium environment of airport retail. It is set to feature in the channel alongside other successful wines from Baron Philippe de Rothschilds Escudo Rojo and Mouton Cadet labels, which are listed with the likes of Dufry, Heinemann and airlines including Oman Air, Qatar Airways and Gulf Air in global travel retail. With an RRP of US$55-60, just 1500 9-litre cases (18,000 bottles) of the wine will be available across travel retail and domestic markets. It is produced in the Chilean Maipo Valley terroir, where Baron Philippe de Rothschilds wine estate covers 60 hectares, and it has been aged for 14 months in French oak barrels. It is a blend of five grape varieties, led by Cabernet Sauvignon; the other varieties are Carmenere, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. According to Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the wine stands out for its complex fruit and spice aromas and flavours, its elegant, patrician tannins, and the element of magic linked to its history. Henri Brunel, Baron Philippe de Rothschilds Director of Duty Free & Travel Retail, said: We are very excited about the prospects for Escudo Rojo Baronesa P. and we are already receiving some significant advance orders for this exceptional wine. It will be a key product in our mission to grow the market for Chilean wines in global travel retail. On the effects of COVID-19 on Baron Philippe de Rothschilds travel retail business, Brunel said: We had a great first quarter in 2020, reaching +40% growth year-on-year, but like other brands we have been hit hard by airport store closures in recent months in the face of the global pandemic. The September timing of Escudo Rojo Baronesa P.s release will coincide nicely with the beginning of airport retails recovery and, with this great new products help, we expect to finish the year very strongly in the travel retail market. The wine is described as being intense and potent on the nose, with black fruit aromas and predominant notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, and black cherry. Black pepper, cedarwood, vanilla and caramel gradually come through, and the mid-palate offers a natural freshness where Sichuan pepper and a hint of toffee appear, before a finish which is both powerful and elegant. 16 June 2020 - A notorious Islamic State recruiter who has been linked to terrorist attacks in Sweden, Russia, and Tajikistan, has gone missing from a prison in northern Syria, according to people with knowledge of his detention. Parviz Saidrahmonov, 33, hasnt been seen in the prison in the Syrian town of Afrin for more than a month, according to one Tajik woman, who said she shared a cell with Saidrahmonovs wife, who was also being held in the same prison. The woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Saidrahmonov had previously been allowed to meet his wife twice a month. There are rumors here that Saidrahmonov has escaped from the jail, but I dont know for sure, the woman told RFE/RL by phone on June 15. The woman is being held in custody along with other people with alleged links to Islamic State militants, Another Tajik woman, who lives at the Al-Hawl refugee camp in Syria, told RFE/RL that Saidrahmonov called her out of the blue in early June, asking after one of his family members. He refused to tell me where he was and just said that everything was fine, the woman said on June 15. RFE/RL could not independently verify the claims. Saidrahmonov, also known as Abu Daoud, was among several key Islamic State figures from Tajikistan that Dushanbe wants extradited from Syria and Iraq. Hes been linked to several attacks and terrorist plots in several countries, including the 2017 truck attack in Sweden that killed five people. A law enforcement official in Dushanbe said Tajik authorities are aware of the claims about Saidrahmonovs alleged disappearance from the Afrin prison, which currently is controlled by the Turkish forces. According to the official, Tajik authorities have formally asked the prison officials for information but havent yet received any response. The official spoke in condition of anonymity as he wasnt authorized to speak to media. In late January, the Prosecutor-Generals Office announced that it was completing paperwork to repatriate Saidrahmonov and that it hoped to bring him back to Tajikistan in the coming days. The efforts, however, were halted with the outbreak of the coronavirus. Swedish investigators say Saidrahmonov was an accomplice of Rakhmat Akilov, an Uzbek man who drove a hijacked truck down a busy pedestrian street in Stockholm on April 7, 2017, killing five people and injuring 10 others. Akilov was sentenced to life in prison in June 2018. In news that shocked many, it has been revealed that for a short time this year Huawei has overtaken Samsung to become the largest smartphone maker in the world as reported by Gizmochina. Huawei managed to achieve this even in spite of the US ban on its products. This news has shown the power that Huawei is possessing over the smartphone market. The US ban helps domestic Huawei demand Figures released show that for the month of April Huawei had the largest market share of any supplier. Samsung took 17% of the market whilst Huawei managed to claim 19%. To many, it would seem impossible that Huawei could improve its market share whilst under a US ban. However, somehow the company has done it. Advertisement Many believe the upsurge in demand for Huawei products could be counterintuitively due to the US trade ban. Some have argued that the US trade ban has made the company more appealing to customers in China. This has lead to a Huawei executive pointing out that the trade ban could affect US jobs more than Huawei. This is quite a startling statistic that puts the efficacy of the US trade ban under a lot of scrutiny. Advertisement The fact that the patriotism of Chinese customers is enough to pull off such a feat is a great worry to other companies. However, there are more factors at play than just this. Lockdown harms Samsung and others The fact that Huawei has overtaken Samsung as the largest smartphone distributor is not just down to an increase in sales from the former. In fact, Samsung, as well as other smartphone suppliers, have been hit particularly hard during the month of April. The Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the globe came under control in China in April just as it took off elsewhere. Advertisement This meant outside China demand for smartphones dropped to almost zero, massively harming Samsungs market share. Android Central has pointed out that the timing of this month is quite fortuitous for Huawei and is unlikely to replicate itself any time soon. As more countries begin to open themselves up again we can expect Samsungs market shart to recover. Even though Huawei is doing well in China its market share across the globe has declined in recent months. This means that as the rest of the globe recovers we can expect Samsung to reclaim its spot as the number one smartphone distributor in the world. New Delhi, June 16 : In a big relief for audit firms BSR and Associates, and Deloitte Haskins and Sells, both former auditors of IL&FS Financial Services, the Supreme Court refused to stay the Bombay High Court order which quashed all prosecution against the firms in the IL&FS scam. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde and comprising Justices M R Shah and A S Bopanna noted that the court wants to penalize the Centre for the late filing of the petition. The bench also questioned the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) about the delay in filing the appeal. The top court noted that the auditors will remain on bail while the MCA continues with its probe in the matter. In April, the High Court quashed all prosecution against the two firms, which was pending before the National Company Law Tribunal and a special court in the city, over the allegations of financial irregularities. BSR, which is part of KPMG India, and Deloitte, moved the High Court last year challenging the plea by the Centre before the tribunal seeking their removal as auditors of IL&FS. And, under section 140 (5) of the Companies Act, this kind of removal would also lead to a five year ban on the audit firms. The NCLT, in August last year, found merit in the Centre's plea, and approved the proposal for removal of both audit firms. Challenging this decision, the firms moved the High Court and submitted before the court that they had already resigned as auditors of IL&FS, and this had happened long before the Centre's decision seeking their removal. The firms have challenged the constitutional validity of section 140 (5) of the Act. The MCA had moved the court seeking this kind of removal and also initiated criminal proceedings against the audit firms for their alleged role in financial irregularities in the IL&FS Group. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 06:33:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A staff member of a pharmacy delivers goods for customers in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Martin Zabala) "It has helped us very much that both the national and provincial governments made an agreement with China, receiving supplies such as bunny suits and gloves, as well as surgical masks and N95 masks," said Rebollini, associate director of the Dr. Alberto Antranik Eurnekian Hospital. BUENOS AIRES, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A public hospital in the Argentine town of Ezeiza, located in southern Greater Buenos Aires, has been battling the novel coronavirus pandemic from the frontlines, armed with medical supplies from China. According to Alejandro Rebollini, associate director of the Dr. Alberto Antranik Eurnekian Hospital, the facility was able to begin preparing for the pandemic as early as January thanks to its proximity to the Ezeiza International Airport, the main gateway to the capital Buenos Aires. As a result, it was also the first Argentine hospital to treat victims of the COVID-19 outbreak. "We were the first to receive patients from the airport. We had 170 patients, of which 22 tested positive," Rebollini told Xinhua during a tour of the facility. The hospital, situated 30 kilometers south of the capital, first increased the number of beds available in its intensive care unit from eight to 30, and trained the staff in the preventive measures needed to stop the spread of the virus. "We also modified the structure, dividing the hospital in two, with a totally separate COVID zone with separate operating rooms, pediatric and obstetric isolation rooms, and wards for suspected cases," said Rebollini. Those entering the hospital must first pass through a disinfecting cabin that uses UV ozone to get rid of germs and other organisms, before undergoing a temperature check and smell tests. Loss of smell and taste is believed to be among the symptoms of COVID-19. To adequately protect staff required "a large number of supplies" the hospital lacked, including personal protective equipment, or PPE, such as hospital-grade face masks, among other things, he noted. "It has helped us very much that both the national and provincial governments made an agreement with China, receiving supplies such as bunny suits and gloves, as well as surgical masks and N95 masks," said Rebollini. The hospital and Ezeiza "are very thankful" for the supplies from China, he added. Argentina detected its first case of COVID-19 infection on March 3. Since then 31,577 people (as of Sunday) tested positive nationwide and 842 people died from the disease. A 39-year-old Massachusetts man is facing federal charges after authorities said he sent racist and threatening emails to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. Peter Fratus of West Dennis allegedly sent Outlaw, who is black, two emails to her police email address with racist, offensive, and threatening language, federal officials said. One email allegedly asked where Outlaw lives. Both emails were sent from an email address that contained the word slave" and had the username Kevin Johnson on June 7, according to a federal affidavit. The first email had a subject line of Answer the phone and the body of the message included racist terms and phrases targeting the Black and Jewish communities, according to the affidavit. The second email had a subject line with racist terms and the body of the message read, Where does police chief live?, according to the affidavit. Fratus made an initial appearance Tuesday in federal court in Massachusetts and will be transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is expected to file a motion seeking detention of Fratus pending trial, according to the office of U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain. The FBI determined, and forensic evidence reinforced, that Fratus sent the emails, McSwains office wrote in a statement. The emails were sent from an iPhone, according to the affidavit and were connected to an IP address for Fratus Comcast account. As alleged in the criminal complaint, Peter Fratus racist threats towards Commissioner Outlaw were vile and disturbing, said McSwain. We take such threats very seriously, and let this be a warning to anyone who might feel the urge to fire off an online threat directed at a public official: we will trace your digital footprint, track you down and hold you accountable. On June 8, FBI agents, Massachusetts State Police troopers and local police officers interviewed Fratus at his home in West Dennis, Massachusetts. Before the interview, state police advised the FBI that Fatus had threatened a Massachusetts government official by leaving voicemails on the public officials phone during which he allegedly threatened to slit the public officials throat, according to the affidavit. During the June 8 interview, Fratus at first denied sending the emails to Outlaw. But then he admitted to sending the messages to Outlaw, as well as the unnamed Massachusetts official, and said that he crossed the line," the affidavit reads. While the First Amendment gives us the right to express our own opinions, violent physical threats are certainly not protected speech, said Michael J. Driscoll, the special agent in charge of the FBIs Philadelphia Division. When someone threatens the life of another person, its a clear red flag and we have to take their despicable words at face value. Todays arrest of Peter Fratus demonstrates the FBIs resolve to investigate and bring to justice anyone who crosses this line." People across the nation have been demanding justice, calling for the defunding of police departments and discussing issues of racism and bias following the death of George Floyd, a black man, in the custody of a now-former Minneapolis police officer, who is white. Rajasthan Rajya Sabha Polls: After Cong, now BJP moves its MLAs to hotel India pti-PTI Jaipur, June 16: The state BJP on Tuesday moved most of its MLAs to a hotel here ahead of the June 19 Rajya Sabha elections, much like the ruling Congress which has already taken its legislators to a resort. While the Congress has cited alleged poaching attempt as a reason for keeping their MLAs in the hotel, the BJP said they moved theirs to train them on the Rajya Sabha poll process. The BJP held a meeting of its legislators at the party office here before shifting them to a hotel in Sitapura on Tonk Road. Civil Aviation Minister says 'decision on the international flights will be taken in July After the meeting, State BJP president Satish Poonia told reporters,"It was decided earlier that our MLAs will stay together for two days. We have several first-time MLAs so training will be held on the Rajya Sabha election process. Also, discussions on legislative works and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan will be held." The elections to three seats of the upper house of parliament from Rajasthan will be held on June 19. Targeting the ruling Congress, Poonia said the party is a brand ambassador of horse-trading. He said that it was the Congress that tried to destabilise the former Bhairon Singh Shekhawat government. Poonia also criticised Congress legislators and other MLAs, alleging they are "enjoying" themselves at the resort on Delhi highway. It will be a simple stay for BJP MLAs, he said. BJP stokes controversy, says murder convict attended Kerala CM's daughter's wedding The BJP has moved over 60 of its 72 MLAs to the hotel. Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) legislators have also joined part of the camp. The Congress had moved their more than 100 MLAs to the hotel last Wednesday. For elections to three Rajya Sabha, the Congress has nominated K C Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi, while the BJP has fielded Rajendra Gehlot and Onkar Singh Lakhawat. In the assembly of 200, the Congress has 107 MLAs and has the support of independent MLAs and legislators of other parties viz. the Rashtriya Lok Dal, CPI (M) and Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP). The ruling Congress can easily win two seats and the opposition BJP, which has 72 MLAs and support of three Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MLAS, has the numbers to comfortably win one. "Just snap out of it, cheer up'. Do these words ring a bell? In 2018, a study by the World Health Organisation and NCMH (National Care Of Medical Health) suggested that at least 6.5% of Indians suffer from serious mental disorders. That makes India the most depressed country in the world. Every sixth person in India requires therapy. Yet, ironically, mental health and mental disorders continue to remain taboo in the country. On Sunday, when news broke of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's alleged suicide, Indians were left at a loss of words. Some took to social media to offer their two cents about mental health and what they believe people suffering from depression should do. Others opined that the late actor should have just "called a friend" instead of taking such a drastic step. Rajput's alleged suicide has triggered a conversation on mental health on social media. But for how long? In the past, several Bollywood actors have opened up about their struggles with depression. But that has not really changed the way people view mental health. The flurry of messages and posts after the news of the actor's death shows that we need to address the way mental health is talked about in India. Posts like "Why don't you just call a friend?" or "There's always another way" is proof that a majority of Indians are clueless when it comes to depression or depressed people and how to talk to them. Meanwhile, Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bacchan wrote a blog, remembering Rajput. "Why ... Why ... Why ... Why ... Sushant Singh Rajput ... why do you end your life.. your brilliant talent ... your brilliant mind ... laid to rest, without asking, seeking ... why," Bacchan wrote. "His work was sheer brilliance ... and his mind even more ... many a time did he express himself in the depth of philosophical verb ... they that looked passed it were either in wonder or oblivious of its strength of meaning ... some wondered, some quibbled .. to some it was a subdued mirth ... subdued because , for it to be given lethargic ignorance, would have opened the caves of their own ... his speak was measured ... as was his screen presence," he added. READ: Dear Social Media Influencers, Ceiling Fans and Solid Morals Have Nothing to Do With Suicides READ: How Acting Helped Sushant Singh Rajput 'Fulfill' His Dream of Becoming an Astronaut We decided to list some of the bizarre "tips" people offer to people diagnosed with depression and why it's never as easy as it seems. "Why don't you just call a friend?" Almost immediately after news of Rajput's death broke, several people began tweeting and posting messages meant to instil hope in someone who may be depressed as well. Most conversations around depression revolve around calling a friend, talking to loved ones and not isolating oneself from the rest of the world. With suicide of #SushantSinghRajput, Twitter is filled with posts like "I don't understand why he would do this!" and "if you're feeling sad, please just call a friend!!" Shows the absolute lack of understanding around mental health and suicide. We need better conversations. RIP. Radhika Radhakrishnan (@so_radhikal) June 14, 2020 It's not that easy. To pick the phone and call. To open mouth and let words flow out, even to someone sitting in front. However much they care for us. It's really difficult for some of us to talk.... https://t.co/y7z0NdFO1G Samarpita Mukherjee Sharma (@BookLuster) June 14, 2020 Yes, talking does help. A meaningful tete-a-tete may indeed help someone suffering from depression. If you Google it, you'll find several well-written blogs on how one can help a depressed friend or family member. As a matter of fact, many celebrities have come out in the past to share their tales of battling depression hoping to inspire those around them. Deepika Padukone had once said in an interview that the reason she wanted to come out with her battle with mental health is that she knew it would help others going through the same. While some may find solace in sharing their stories, others may not. For some, they might not even know how to put their stories in words. "Lack of understanding of the subject also prevents someone from reaching out. Insensitive judgement and unwarranted suggestions demotivate people to speak up. There are families who discourage sharing, and we as a society promote secrecy when it comes to this topic," Gargi Vishnoi, a counselling psychologist at Fortis Escorts Hospital. Vishnoi further explained that a person who is depressed may not want to burden others with what's on their mind. "When people do try to reach out, they are often met with non-empathetic statements like, 'why are you so negative', 'why do we always have to talk about sad things in your life', 'why do you always call to rant dont you have anything happy to discuss'?" explained Vishnoi. "Get a Job!" There have been countless studies which show the impact of depression on productivity in the workplace. One study says that in the US, employers lose millions of employees each year due to mental health disorders. Those who do not quit their jobs might find it increasingly difficult to concentrate on their work. "Theres a great deal of lack of motivation, irritability, fatigue, lack of concentration, loss of interest in pleasurable activities and this has a direct impact on your productivity, social and personal relationships," said Vishnoi. Moreover, during the coronavirus pandemic, reports suggest that thousands of people have lost their jobs and their only sources of income. One study talks about this being a vicious cycle and how depression is often a cause and effect of job loss. For example, if someone who had already been battling depression loses his or her job during the ongoing pandemic, that can act as a trigger and may push the said individual into a downward spiral. Thus, asking someone to "just get a job" because that might "cheer them up" is possibly the worst thing you can tell them. It indicates that depression is a choice and that one is at fault for not choosing to look on the brighter side, or for not "snapping out of it." It shifts the blame to the patients themselves, and might further add to their feelings of worthlessness and despair, a common symptom of depression. "Take a long, hot bath. Go out, have some fun." Here's the thing, people tend to confuse sadness with depression. Sadness is just one of the symptoms of depression. These strategies may work for someone who is upset about a particular incident, not for someone with chronic depression. "For someone suffering from depression, the tendency to isolate themselves is very real. The patient might wake up in the morning and the first thought that'll come to mind is that the day ahead is already ruined. There is a depression triad in psychology - self (how you see yourself), world (how you think the world sees you) and future (thoughts about what's lying ahead. Plus, depression is caused by an imbalance of seratonin in the brain. That makes the person incapable of cheering up or having fun or having positive thoughts. The person is clinically depressed, the last thing he or she wants to do is go out and socialise," explained Shinjini Deb, a clinical psychology trainee. According to Vishnoi, these suggestions would only come from someone who has never faced mental health disorders themselves. No one chooses to feel this way, people with depression do not get to control how they feel. "We have to understand that taking a hot bath or just go have fun sound very harmless and easy but are unimaginably difficult for someone dealing with clinical depression. If someone is suffering from fever, you don't ask them to try 'feeling cool. It's the same for depression," said Vishnoi. "Have you tried yoga or exercise?" Yes, yoga does help the body's stress response. There are studies which suggest that yoga and meditation can help the body self-soothe and calms down the nervous system. This may benefit those with anxiety and depression. But yoga cannot be the standalone remedy for depression. "Seratonin imbalance in the body leads to several behavioural changes. The brain stops functioning the way it is supposed to. So when you say things like 'why don't you try yoga' or 'why don't you step out?'you're making the person feel worse. He or she may really be trying, but is unable to function in the manner that is considered normal. The patient may not even be eating or sleeping properly. They may not have it in them physically to actually go ahead and do yoga," said Deb. "Sadness is just a symptom of depression and other symptoms include hopelessness, lack of energy, fatigue etc. So when we say go get some exercise, we dont understand that it is incredibly difficult for the person to get into the mind frame of working out and stay motivated. Yes, of course, exercising releases endorphins which give you a Happy High but that can help combat temporary sadness and not chronic depression," explained Vishnoi. Sushant Singh Rajput's tragic demise, shocking as it is, has once again sparked conversations about mental health. But more importantly, it has exposed the lack of knowledge and awareness about depression. Soon after the news broke, people were Googling symptoms of depression. It could be out of curiosity, or it could be to help out loved ones. Here's what you could actually do to help a depressed person, instead of asking them to just cheer up - you could guide them and convince them to seek professional help. Quite often, feelings of hopelessness can be so overbearing that a depressed person might think they are beyond help. Counselling and psychotherapy coupled with medicines could actually make a world of difference. So, the next time someone reaches out to you and tells you that they are not okay, believe them. Listen to them. Do not dismiss them and ask them to be "positive." Depression is not a choice, it is a disease, much like other chronic ailments. And your advice, which may be well-intentioned, might actually make matters worse. Note: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata). PHOENIX, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Israels & Neuman, PLC, a national securities arbitration law firm, is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Phoenix, Arizona. The new office location will be overseen by attorney Aaron Israels, a member of the State Bar of Arizona. The firms office will focus exclusively on representing investors who have lost money due to the actions or inactions of their financial advisors and brokerage firms. Israels & Neuman, PLC represents investors in FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) arbitration proceedings and has handled hundreds of cases arising from fraud and negligence related to the sale of securities and investments. The attorneys at Israels & Neuman, PLC believe that the firms new office will provide residents of the greater Phoenix and Scottsdale areas enhanced access to the firms specialized legal services. The firms new office is located at: Arizona Office Israels & Neuman, PLC 4742 N 24th Street, Suite 300 Phoenix, AZ 85016 Phone: (480) 993-2396 Email Aaron Israels: aaron@israelsneuman.com Email David Neuman: dave@israelsneuman.com Website: www.israelsneuman.com Im proud to be a member of the State Bar of Arizona and am looking forward to working hard for Arizona residents who have been injured through financial misconduct, said Aaron Israels. The attorneys at Israels & Neuman, PLC Law Firm have represented hundreds of investors nationwide to recover investment losses. The firm has helped clients recover their losses through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Our lawyers have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. Israels & Neuman, PLC maintains offices in Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Ann Arbor, Michigan and Phoenix, Arizona. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Nation/Asia News Network) Tue, June 16, 2020 07:08 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdefcb13 2 Art & Culture Bangkok,Thailand,landmark,statue,Buddha Free Thonburi district in Bangkok unveiled its new landmark, an imposing statue of the Buddha that rises 69 meters above the ground -- about the height of a 20-story building. The statue, called Dhammakaya Thep Mongkol Buddha at Paknam Bhasicharoen Temple, is made of copper, and corresponds with the image the former abbot saw in his dream. The vice abbot explained that the construction of this Buddha statue was devoted to Buddhism in Thailand and to celebrate the unique Thai sculpture. Read also: Wat Pho temple explains ban on foreign visitors The foundation stone laying ceremony was held in 2017, and the construction was smooth until COVID-19 spread across Thailand. This statue was aimed to be finished within 2020. Paknam Bhasicharoen Temple was shut amid the crisis, and reopened partly after the government announced the third phase of lockdown relaxation. The full opening of this temple was estimated to be on Tuesday. Topics : Bangkok Thailand landmark statue Buddha Topics : This article appeared on The Nation newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post The family of a man killed by a BART police officer in 2009 demanded Tuesday that one of BARTs elected board directors step down for appearing to downplay the death of Oscar Grant. The flare-up comes as larger debates about racism and police violence jolt the transit agency. Grant died after a police officer shot him in the back as he lay face down on the platform of Fruitvale Station. Bystanders recorded the incident on their cellphones. Grants death inspired protests in Oakland a precursor to civil unrest in Ferguson, Mo., after a police officer shot teenager Michael Brown, and todays marches triggered by the killing of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer in May. In each case, the officers were white and the victims were black and unarmed. Calls for BART director Debora Allen to resign came nearly a week after public commenters invoked Grant during a BART board budget hearing. As several people called on the agency to defund its police force, someone said that BART police murder people. Allen struck back. The definition of murder is the unlawful, premeditated killing of one human being by another, she said. Its just simply a false statement. You know statements made like this ... at a time of such turmoil and unrest, really I can only guess, are just politically motivated. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Grants uncle, Cephus Johnson, became incensed after a video of these statements circulated on social media. He criticized Allen, saying she undermined not only Grant, but others who have since died in BART police custody. Police also shot and killed Charles Hill in 2011, and Sahleem Tindle in 2018. On Tuesday, Allen said she was disappointed that her defense of BART police officers from those who would label them murderers has been politicized as somehow being racist. She added that it was possible to respect those who work in law enforcement while still holding them accountable for their actions. Speaking to reporters Tuesday afternoon outside the downtown building where BART directors hold their board meetings, Johnson and others announced a campaign to oust Allen. Among the participants were members of Tindles family, community activist Cat Brooks and Letifah Wilson sister of Nia Wilson, who was fatally stabbed by a BART passenger on the platform of MacArthur BART Station. Besides slamming Allen, they also advocated for BART to defund its police force, seizing on a rallying cry of the national protest movement against police violence. Johnson suggested some of the transit agencys police budget could be shifted over to the Office of the Independent Police Auditor and 11-member Police Citizen Review Board, to help investigate complaints of police misconduct at BART. Defunding BART (police) simply means this: some of that budget could be applied in the area of improving our citizen oversight committee and the independent auditor... Johnson said. Asked his opinion, the head of BARTs Police Officers Association, Keith Garcia, merely pointed to the crime log from the previous day: nine arrests, including one of a woman who allegedly pushed a man in front of a moving train, and another for assault with a deadly weapon. If the police force were reduced, who would protect the passengers? he asked. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle 2019 Grants family has clashed with Allen before. Two years ago, the family called for the director to resign over a Facebook post in which she polled followers about BARTs plan to memorialize Grant with a mural at Fruitvale station. Family members had asked that the station be renamed to honor the slain 22-year-old an idea the board never took up, though officials compromised by naming a small strip of road by the station Oscar Grant Way. But this time, the fight has ripped the board apart. Two of Allens colleagues board President Lateefah Simon and Director Janice Li publicly accused her of racism. Another, Director Bevan Dufty, strongly criticized her for crossing a line. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Allen is a reliably conservative voice on the BART board. Since winning a district election in central Contra Costa in 2016, she has urged the agency to hire more police officers, called for a ban on panhandling, opposed construction of housing in station parking lots and occasionally sparred with BARTs labor unions. When the transit agency projected losses of hundreds of millions of dollars due to COVID-19, she asked fellow board directors to consider layoffs and met resistance. She said she has no plans to resign, and told The Chronicle on Tuesday morning that she is considering running for reelection this summer. Her first term will end in December. In many ways, Allens political stances reflect those of the suburban district she represents. The area became a battleground after the shooting of Oscar Grant, when supporters of the officer who killed him, Johannes Mehslerle, marched in Walnut Creek and faced off with demonstrators who denounced the shooting. Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2010 and sentenced to the minimum two years in prison. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Yet Bay Area politics have evolved over the past decade even in the suburbs, which partook in a national reckoning after the death of Floyd. This month, protests spilled into Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Lafayette, areas that have long been insulated from painful conversations about race and police brutality. Changes in public opinion might prompt pressure Allen to change her positions, or prompt someone to run against her, Johnson said. In past years, we felt wed be wasting our time going out to the Walnut Creek area and to neighboring cities of Allens district, he said. Now he said he perceives that residents of those cities are listening. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan Ravindra Rao COMEX gold traded higher on June 16 by 0.5% near $1735/oz after a 0.6% decline on June 15. Gold came under pressure yesterday as stability in equity markets reduced its safe-haven allure. US equity markets ended 0.6% higher yesterday after four days of consecutive decline. Risk sentiment improved on Feds stimulus measures to boost economic growth and expectations that major countries may avoid further lockdown despite rise in cases. Fed said it is expanding the scope of its $750 billion emergency corporate debt loan facility to include individual corporate bonds, while also scrapping some earlier restrictions for potential borrowers. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Sunday played down the increase in coronavirus cases and said the country has got to open" (MarketWatch report). However, supporting price is strong investor interest and persisting worries about virus outbreak amid increasing cases globally and fear of second wave of infections amid rise in cases in US and China. Gold holdings with SPDR ETF were unchanged yesterday at 1136.219 tonnes, highest since 2013. As per a Reuters report, Beijing has recorded dozens of new cases in recent days, while new infections in record numbers swept through more US states. Also supporting price is loose monetary policy stance of major central banks. Fed last week indicated that interest may remain low until at least 2022. The central bank is also taking measures to boost economic activity. Other central banks may also keep option open for additional measures until economic activity revives. Once again gold corrected after failing to sustain above $1750/oz but has managed to hold above $1700/oz level. We may see choppy trade as market players assess possibility of further lockdowns in case of rising virus infections in a number of countries. The general bias may be on the upside unless we see a sustained recovery in equity markets. Base metals on LME trade with a positive bias in early trade June 16 after noting mixed movement yesterday. Lending support to the prices is improvement in global risk appetite as is evident from rebound in global equity indices tracking further support from US Fed. The US central bank yesterday announced tweaks to its bond buying program, widening the range of eligible assets to include all US corporate bonds that satisfied certain criteria, as reported by Reuters. Index. The US Dollar trades 0.2% lower near 96.54 June 16 following yesterdays 0.6% decline. The currency has come under pressure amid further easing by US Fed along with lingering worries over US growth. The gains may, however, be capped amid growing fears of second wave of infections in nations like China, US and Japan along with overall rise in number of cases globally. Meanwhile in the US, new outbreaks have raised questions about the pace of reopening the economy. Also capping the upside is lingering worries over global economic health which in turn has fanned concerns over demand outlook for the metals. Recent spate of mixed to weak data from major economies along with bleak growth forecast by organizations like IMF, World Bank and OECD continue to fan growth worries. Central bank's comments, US and European economic data and development relating to virus outbreak and US-China tensions may affect risk sentiment as well as trend in US dollar. Bank of Japan monetary policy decision will set the tone for other central bank meetings this week. Fed Chairman Jerome Powells comments may reflect further upon health of US economy and Feds monetary policy stance. The author is VP- Head Commodity Research at Kotak Securities : The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. S HARES rallied today as central banks around the world prepared to pump trillions more into buying company and government debt, a move that should boost stocks. The Bank of Japan said overnight it would increase its support measures from 75 trillion ten to 110 trillion yen, taking the total past $1 trillion. In the US, the Federal Reserve said it would start snapping up American corporate debt to ease balance sheet concerns. David Madden at CMC Markets said: The extra stimulus was welcomed by traders as it was less than one week ago the Fed warned the US economy would contract by 6.5% this year. Recently, the Fed tweaked the criteria for the Main Street Lending Programme so it can issue more loans, and registrations for loans began yesterday. "The commitment by the Fed to throw money at the problem continues to boost sentiment. The Fed said it would start purchasing corporate bonds on Tuesday through the secondary market corporate credit facility (SMCCF) to beef up liquidity in the market. Asian shares moved up smartly overnight on this news. In London, the FTSE 100 gained 125 points to 6190 it had briefly fallen below the 6000 level yesterday. Separately, a report on Bloomberg said the Trump administration is working on a near $1 trillion infrastructure deal. The US Department of Transportation's preliminary version reserves most funds for projects such as roads and bridges, but will also set aside money for 5G wireless infrastructure and rural broadband, the report said. Meanwhile in the UK, the Bank of England is expected to unveil a further 100 billion in quantitative easing (QE) this week in response to figures last week which showed GDP plunging by 20% in April. That will see the Bank buy government bonds from investors, in theory pumping money into the economy. The Bank has unleased 645 billion of QE since Covid. San Francisco officials may ask Gov. Gavin Newsom for permission to restart certain parts of the citys economy like fully opening restaurants, bars and salons faster than the states current timeline for lifting coronavirus-related restrictions. The Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday whether Dr. Tomas Aragon, the citys public health officer, may apply for the local control. If the state grants the request, San Francisco will be able to set its own timetable for lifting restrictions, rather than wait for a green light from the state. San Francisco is one of only six California counties that do not have such local control. It will give us more flexibility to make decisions locally that make sense for us, said Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee, who plans to vote for the local variance. We just have to use very good judgment in balancing the risks. San Francisco has already begun re-opening parts of its economy, like outdoor dining and curbside retail. But activities that are considered higher-risk like indoor service in restaurants and bars, gyms, nail salons, hotels, museums, playgrounds and zoos may not return until later this summer. The local variance would not immediately allow such activities to resume in San Francisco, but it would give local officials the power to decide when they do. I very much want to get people back to work and get our economy humming, said Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who said he is heavily leaning toward voting yes. But I want to make sure our chief health officer is committed to public health and safety first. Supervisors Matt Haney, Hillary Ronen, Rafael Mandelman and Ahsha Safai told The Chronicle they also plan to support the variance. The rest either didnt respond to a request for comment Monday, or said they were still deciding how to vote. The motion needs eight votes to pass Tuesday. In April, Newsom outlined a four-phase plan for opening the state. Then, after facing mounting political pressure and a decimated economy, he began allowing individual counties to accelerate their reopening plans if they applied for a local variance. In order to qualify for the local control, counties must meet a series of benchmarks such as: stable or decreasing hospitalization rate; no more than 25 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks; widespread access to personal protective equipment. Even as cases continue to rise in the state, 52 out of 58 counties have received approval to move forward. The result has been patchwork of policies of which businesses are allowed to open across California. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Much of the Bay Area initially resisted moving forward with the accelerated reopening plans, and some health officers even criticized the governor for moving too fast. But now, several months into the pandemic, all Bay Area counties have relaxed restrictions in one way or the other. Contra Costa, Napa, Solano and Sonoma have been approved for the advanced reopening, although Contra Costa is taking a more gradual approach. Marin County also told The Chronicle that it plans to apply for the local variance, but it did not provide more details. Santa Clara County said it is looking into filing a request. Alameda and San Mateo counties did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Daily cases in San Francisco are still increasing. But hospitalizations have remained stable, and testing has increased. As a result, Mayor London Breed supports the city asking the state for local control. She is supportive of any way that we can continue to move forward as long as the health indicators remain stable, said Jeff Cretan, a spokesman for the mayor. Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani The global Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent nation-wide lockdown have led to massive disruptions in peoples lives and businesses. Industry experts have been analysing the short-term and long-term impact over the last few weeks. Brands and agencies have had to adapt to the disruption rapidly not only while communicating with the audience, but also change the way work is executed with the support of innovation and technology. A rapid and strong shift to digital has been made and any plan or strategy that existed will not be effective in the current scenario, leading changes in strategy, communication and, media planning and buying. With lockdown restrictions being lifted, companies are gearing up for operational efficiency in the COVID-19 era, as we all will have to learn to live and thrive with the virus in our midst. Keeping this in mind, Adgully is continuing with its industry-leading webinar series and presents the latest endeavour, Reimagining Client-Media Agency Dynamics in the COVID-19 Era. Leading names from the industry will discuss and analyse on how the client-media agency relationship will undergo change and evolve to meet the demands of the new normal. Joining the discussions will be: Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands India (Moderator) Ashish Bhasin, CEO APAC and Chairman India, Dentsu Aegis Network RS Sodhi, Managing Director, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul) Gaurav Sinha, Head of Marketing and PR, Audi India Prachi Mohapatra, CMO, fbb, Future Group Karun Gera, President - Ad Sales, Lokmat Media, will deliver the opening address. Date: Tuesday, June 16, June 2020 Time: 4 pm to 5 pm Click here to Register Follow @adgully on Twitter for further updates. Donald Trump is up for re-election as US president on November 3 - REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trumps German troop reduction has been a long time coming and reflects three instincts at the heart of his sweep to power in 2016 and three-and-a-half years as US president. First, that America is being ripped off by its allies. The criticism is voiced across the board, not least on EU tariffs on US goods, but is aired most frequently in the when it comes to defence. Mr Trump has long hammered countries for not meeting the Nato target of 2 per cent of GDP on defence spending, often singling out Germany as one of the worst offenders. On Monday he accused Berlin of being delinquent for not paying up, directly linking his decision to reduce around 9,500 US troops from Germany to the issue. Germany is not alone. Mr Trump early in his presidency was itching to make South Korea pay for the American troops stationed there, despite generals insisting the US benefitted from having a military presence so close to North Korea. Mr Trump is transactional, seeing US deployments often in narrow cost-benefit terms. Germany is not paying enough on defence, he has concluded, so should get fewer of the 'freebie' of US troops. Second, bring the troops home has been a mantra Mr Trump has been repeating for half a decade now, one he has repeatedly attempted to enact while in the White House. His call to withdraw American troops is most often voiced in the context of the Middle East, seeing the region as a blood-stained quagmire not worth the US fighting over. He has announced twice the full withdrawal of US troops from Syria, before being quietly walked back by US generals. There are still thousands of American soldiers there. Yet the presidents instincts are clear. An isolationist at heart - despite his bellicose language, few new US military actions have been launched under his watch - troop returns are a win. Story continues Dropping the number of US troops in Germany from around 34,000 to 25,000 will help Mr Trump tell his supporters he delivered on the 2016 election pitch to bring US soldiers home, even if many are still in the Middle East. Third, Mr Trump has long believed in creating leverage at the negotiating table. It was a theme that ran throughout his 1987 book The Art of the Deal, which helped create his deal-maker image. A Manhattan property mogul rather than seasoned diplomat or political insider, Mr Trump views himself as an expert at forcing concessions from the person on the other side of the table in talks. He advised Theresa May to sue Brussels to get the best Brexit deal. He put tariffs on hundreds of billions of Chinese goods while seeking a landmark trade deal. Warm words are fine, the president appears to believe, but hard action is what will force change. By slashing troop numbers in Germany, does Mr Trump believe he can bounce the country into increasing its defence spending more rapidly? And then there is Angela Merkel. Mr Trump has never warmed to the German chancellor - an especially significant factor in this president given he views foreign policy in such personal terms. Ms Merkel's visit to the White House back in April 2018 had made clear their lack of personal spark. Days earlier Mr Trump had welcomed Emmanuel Macron, the French president, with hand-holding, beaming smiles and bear hugs, leading to headlines about their "bromance". At a press conference with Ms Merkel later in the same month there were pursed lips from both sides, combined with rhetorical courtesies but little apparent bon homie. We need a reciprocal relationship, Mr Trump said then, a nod to Germanys lack of defence spending. We want to make it more fair and the chancellor wants to make it more fair. Two years on, Mr Trump is still banging the same drum. In his eyes the relationship is still not "fair" - something the president hopes reducing troops can finally bring about. NASA TV coverage of final space station spacewalk power upgrades NASA astronaut Jessica Meir is pictured during a spacewalk she conducted with NASA astronaut Christina Koch Jessica Meir (out of frame) to install new lithium-ion batteries that store and distribute power collected from solar arrays on the stations Port-6 truss structure. Credits: NASA NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR and Robert Behnken, KE5GGX are scheduled to go outside the International Space Station (ISS) Friday, June 26, and Wednesday, July 1, for spacewalks to begin the replacement of batteries for one of the power channels on the orbiting laboratory. NASA Television and the agencys website will broadcast the spacewalks live, along with a news briefing to discuss them. The briefing will take place at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday, June 24, at the agencys Johnson Space Center in Houston. Coverage of the spacewalks will begin at 6 a.m. on the day of each spacewalk. The spacewalks will begin at around 7:35 a.m., and will last as long as seven hours. This will be a virtual event with no media present because of safety restrictions related to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using the hashtag #AskNASA. Cassidy, the commander of Expedition 63, and Behnken, who joined the crew May 31 after arriving aboard SpaceXs Crew Dragon with NASA astronaut Douglas Hurley on NASAs SpaceX Demo-2 test flight, will depart the Quest airlock for both spacewalks. The briefing also will include an update about the Crew Dragons mission to the orbital outpost. The briefing participants are: Kenneth Todd, ISS manager for integration and operations Steve Stich, Commercial Crew Program manager Allison Bolinger, ISS spacewalk flight director Sandra Moore, ISS spacewalk officer The spacewalking astronauts will replace aging nickel-hydrogen batteries for one of two power channels on the far starboard truss (S6 Truss) of the station with new lithium-ion batteries that arrived to the station on a Japanese cargo ship last month. The battery replacement work is the culmination of power upgrade spacewalks that began in January 2017. Cassidy will be extravehicular crew member 1 for both spacewalks, wearing the spacesuit with red stripes, while Behnken will be extravehicular crew member 2, wearing the spacesuit with no stripes. It will be the seventh and eighth spacewalks for each astronaut. The spacewalks will be the 228th and 229th in support of space station assembly, maintenance and upgrades. For almost 20 years, humans have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth that will enable long-duration human and robotic exploration into deep space. As a global endeavor, 239 people from 19 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 2,800 research investigations from researchers in 108 countries and areas. For more information about the International Space Station, its research, and crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station Click here to read the full article. Cineworld is looking to reopen all its theaters across the U.S., U.K. and Europe from late June to July. The Mooky Greidinger-run firm which operates cinema chains Regal in the U.S., Cineworld and Picturehouse in the U.K. and Ireland, Cinema City in Europe and Yes Planet in Israel said Tuesday morning that with Tenet and Mulan confirmed for release, a screening schedule is now possible. More from Variety Cineworlds screens in the Czech Republic and Slovakia will be first to open on June 26; followed by Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania on July 3; and Israel on July 9; and finally the U.S. and U.K. on July 10. The firm has said, however, that all dates are subject to various government restrictions. The business, which operates 787 venues and 9,500 screens across 10 countries, has said it will introduce a number of COVID-19 health measures including an updated booking system to ensure social distancing within and throughout auditoriums; an adapted daily movie schedules to manage queues and avoid the build-up of crowds in lobbies; and enhanced cleanliness and sanitation procedures across all sites. Cineworld, the worlds second largest movie business, predicted in late May that its cinemas would be able to reopen by July. Tethered to a $3.5 billion debt pile, the business secured new funding from its lenders, including $110 million of additional liquidity through an increase in its revolving credit facility, and $45 million through the U.K.s Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS). Cineworld said it would also seek to access $25 million through the U.S. governments Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Story continues Cineworld CEO Greidinger said: We are thrilled to be back and encouraged by recent surveys that show that many people have missed going to the movie theatre. With a strong slate confirmed for the coming weeks, including among others Tenet, Mulan, A Quiet Place Part II, Wonder Women 1984, Black Widow, Bond, Soul, Top Gun Maverick and many more, the entire Cineworld team remains committed to being the best place to watch a movie. Last week, Cineworld backed away from a $2.1 billion deal to buy Cineplex, citing alleged breaches of the merger agreement and a material adverse effect without providing details. The Cineplex acquisition, announced in December, was met with raised eyebrows given Cineworlds acquisition of Regal only closed in 2018. Cineplex operates 165 cinemas with 1,695 screens and is the dominant player in the Canadian theatrical market. The business said Monday that it will commence legal proceedings against Cineworld and seek damages for the scuppered deal. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 405 Shares Share The sirens wail as the ambulance approaches, bouncing off New York City skyscrapers and empty storefronts. They swirl around one building, sweeping up old paint chips and dust from centuries-old stairs. Inside on the third floor, a family paces around in panic. Their matriarch fights for air. The youngest holds her hand and softly sings her favorite song in her ear. She tries to stay calm, focusing on the walls donned with the colors of their Dominican culture. But she cant breathe. The EMTs enter the building. They hear the scrambling behind the door and knock authoritatively. They tell the family on the other side not to open, and they ask a list of questions through the door, since the pandemic has put their own health at risk. After hearing that their matriarch had been struggling with a fever and cough for a week, the EMTs open the door and move swiftly toward the patient. Seven individuals have been living in this quaint, small apartment for years. The place has been crowded with love, they liked to say. The oximeter on her finger reads 85 percent, a dangerously low oxygen level. They place a mask on her face, and oxygen begins to flow into her lungs from a rusty tank on wheels. Its time to leave for the hospital. The family is told that none of them can accompany their matriarch inside the hospital. Her daughter runs to grab her favorite blanket and a family picture to carry with her, so she will never feel alone. This is the seventh call of the day for the EMTs, three friends bound together by the horror theyve seen pulseless bodies, screaming relatives, barren streets. They give the family a few minutes to mourn, knowing this will likely be their last time all together. The matriarch asks everyone to hold hands, and leads a breathless prayer: Padre Nuestro. Tears run down her face as the prayer ends, and she signals she is ready. The EMTs gingerly bring her down the stairs toward the ambulance, waiting out front. The generations stand together on the sidewalk, holding each other tightly, waving as the sirens wail once again, and their matriarch disappears into the New York City evening. They did what they were told. They washed their hands; they covered their faces with scarves; they stopped the ritual of morning hugs and nightly kisses that bound their family together. But the matriarchs son worked at the local grocery store where there were no masks, no gloves available from his boss. He found his own. He couldnt afford to quit, and felt nervous with each new customer potentially carrying the virus. The matriarchs daughter sat on crowded subways early in the mornings, seeing familiar faces of color on the daily commute to keep the city running. She cleaned the floors of one of the citys public hospitals for many years. She kept her distance from the family as much as she could, knowing she had probably been exposed no matter how careful she tried to be. Guilt crept up on them both, and they feared they could be next. But the nation told them they were essential. The days after the matriarchs departure were marked by hours waiting by the phone. The matriarchs daughter would park in front of the hospital, reciting Padre Nuestro and asking for Gods grace, to bring her mother home safely and whole. As the daughter fell asleep one night, the phone rang. The matriarchs doctor explained they had to intubate because she could no longer breathe on her own. The doctor assured her daughter that they were able to provide comfort in her final moments. As a black infectious disease physician working at the height of the pandemic, I heard this story play out over and over again as our hospitals filled with patients. Entire families, mostly black and Latinx, from the surrounding working-class, Dominican neighborhood in Upper Manhattan have fallen to COVID-19. The essential workers, forced to venture out of their homes to keep the country running, lacked the basic protections against this deadly new virus. The trauma of watching loved ones struggle to breathe, of knowing they died without a familiar face present, is compounded by the intergenerational trauma of racial and socioeconomic inequality. We cannot wait until the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to address health care disparities for communities of color and the working class. The families of those we lost to COVID-19 need the nation now. The health of a society is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable. The pandemic has brought together the issues of death and disparities for us physicians in New York City. When there are no vaccines, no treatments, how do you ensure your patient dies with dignity? How do you summon radical empathy as the bodies pile up around you? How do you advocate for those closest to the pain? How do you begin to not just acknowledge the pervasive health disparities that exist in care but finally break the cycle? All health care providers can insist on a health care system free of trauma, institutional bias and racism, segregated care, and unequal access. The morning the matriarch passed away, her family recited Padre Nuestro through the phone. They then spent the rest of the day together, eating leftover mofongo and fresh mangoes, remembering and honoring a life well lived. The next morning, a 9-1-1 call was placed from the matriarchs home. 9-1-1 Emergency, can I help you? the dispatcher asked. Through pursed lips, the matriarchs son said, We cant breathe. Ofole Mgbako is an infectious disease physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com But the consequences of these delays can be troubling. In a recent analysis of the sharp decline in emergency room visits during the pandemic, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were worrisome signs that people who had heart attacks waited until their conditions worsened before going to the hospital. Without income, many people feel they have no choice. Thomas Chapman stopped getting paid in March and ultimately lost his job as a director of sales. Even though he has high blood pressure and diabetes, Mr. Chapman, 64, didnt refill any prescriptions for two months. I stopped taking everything when I just couldnt pay anymore, he said. After his legs began to swell, and he felt very, very lethargic, he contacted his doctor at Catalyst Health Network, a Texas group of primary care doctors, to ask about less expensive alternatives. A pharmacist helped, but Mr. Chapman no longer has insurance, and is not sure what he will do until he is eligible for Medicare later this year. Were all having those conversations on a daily basis, said Dr. Christopher Crow, the president of Catalyst, who said it was particularly tough in states, like Texas, that did not expand Medicaid. While some of those who are unemployed qualify for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, they may fall in the coverage gap where they do not receive subsidies to help them afford coverage. Even those who are not concerned about losing their insurance are fearful of large medical bills, given how aggressively hospitals and doctors pursue people through debt collections, said Elisabeth Benjamin, a vice president at Community Service Society of New York, which works with people to get care. Americans are really very aware that their health care coverage is not as comprehensive as it should be, and its gotten worse over the past decade, Ms. Benjamin said. After the last recession, they learned to forgo care rather than incur bills they cant pay. Geralyn Cerveny, who runs a day care in Kansas City, Mo., said she had Covid-19 in early April and is recovering. But her income has dropped as some families withdrew their children. Although her daughter is urging her to get some follow-up testing because she has some lingering symptoms from the virus, she is holding off because she does not want to end up with more medical bills if her health plan will not cover all of the care she needs. She said she would dread a fight with the insurance company if you dont meet their guidelines. The Pentagon has promised a "robust" defense of South Korea to warn North Korea over recent threats against the South. "We remain committed to maintaining a robust combined defensive posture," Pentagon spokesperson John Supple said on Sunday. The Pentagon had kept mum until then over escalating threats from North Korea, including the cut-off of all communication lines with South Korea and unspecified military action. In answer to a question from the Chosun Ilbo, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department expressed "disappointment" at North Korea's recent statements. The spokesperson added that the U.S.' commitment to South Korea's defense remains ironclad, urging the North to avoid provocations and return to diplomacy and cooperation. Meanwhile, there is speculation that the North has built eight or more nuclear weapons since the first U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore in June 2018. "What we've seen since then from leaked intelligence assessments and commercial satellite imagery is that they've expanded and improved production facilities for fissile material, missile production, mobile re-entry vehicles and launch vehicles," said Bruce Klingner of the conservative Heritage Foundation on NBC. "And they've probably built eight or more additional nuclear weapons." Laois Offaly's poll-topping TD has described the deal struck to form a Government as an 'aspirational wish list'. Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley responded to the announcement that Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party have agreed on a Programme for Government. For four and a half months Fianna Fail and Fine Gael excluded Sinn Fein from the government formation process in an attempt to deny change, to protect the status quo and to continue with the same politics that have so badly failed workers and families. They have now reached an agreement on a Programme for Government with the Green Party, most of which is an aspirational wish list. But the reality is that a government led by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael - no matter who they are propped up by - does not represent the change that people voted for and will not deliver for workers and families. Their record in government together over the past four years shows us exactly what they will do if this Programme for Government is endorsed by the parties involved. What we need is a complete break from the past, not a repeat of it. That means rebuilding the economy in a fair and sustainable way, delivering affordable housing, delivering universal healthcare, making sure workers can retire at the age of 65, investing in rural Ireland and delivering the type of real change required to tackle the climate emergency. This will not be delivered by a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael led government. In the time ahead we in Sinn Fein will use our increased political strength to push forward the policies we put before the electorate in February and which increasing numbers of people voted for. We are within touching distance of a better Ireland. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail can delay change, but they cannot stop it, he said. Deputy Stanley is the first of the five TDs in Laois Offaly to respond to the agreement which now must be sanctioned by the membership of the three parties involved. Police in Louisiana say a mentally ill mother shot and killed her four children, including an infant, and her neighbor before turning the gun on herself at an apartment complex. Monroe Police Chief Reggie Brown confirmed the six deaths that occurred Thursday night and identified 30-year-old Brittany Tucker as the shooter in the quintuple murder-suicide. Brown told news outlets on Friday that Tucker suffered from mental health issues and appeared to be going through a crisis. She had been seen waving a gun at the Parkwood Apartments in the days before the shootings. Police in Monroe, Louisiana, say Brittany Tucker, 30 (left), shot dead her neighbor Anteshia Logwood, 20 (right), then her own children and herself Anteshia Logwood, 20, was shot and killed at the apartment complex shortly before 8pm on Thursday. Brown said Logwood had dismissed an irrational remark that Tucker had made, the Monroe News Star reported. Tucker asked Logwood, 'What are you laughing at?' before fatally shooting the young woman in the chest, reported KNOE. Brown said Tucker then returned to her apartment and shot her children. Police identified the four children as Tremayne Tucker, 12; Trechelle Tucker, eight; Treasure Tucker, five; and Glory Tucker, five months old. Police said the mother turned the gun on herself before officers responded to the scene. Police identified the slain children as Tremayne Tucker, 12 (pictured far left); Trechelle Tucker, eight and Treasure Tucker, five (pictured together, right) The youngest of the victims was five-month-old Glory Tucker (pictured) The incident took place at the Parkview Apartments in Monroe, Louisiana, on Thursday 'After speaking with witnesses who were present over the past couple of days, Ms. Tucker was showing irrational behavior with the gun in hand, and no one felt the need to reach out to law enforcement or anyone of that nature to let us know she was showing irrational behavior and possessing a firearm,' Brown told the News Star. 'We could have responded and got her some help because that was a cry for help.' According to investigators, Tucker bought the gun legally just days before the shootings. According to the description of a GoFundMe campaign launched by Logwood's older brother, his sister would have turned 21 years old on Wednesday. 'Instead of planning for her birthday, we have to plan for a funeral,' wrote Charles Logwood. On her Facebook page, which has been dormant since late May, Tucker referred to herself as an 'apostle' and frequently shared religious messages and memes. The word "historic" is often bandied about in the lexicon of Irish political life, but much of it is startling, rather than historic. When Fianna Fail's Micheal Martin becomes the next Taoiseach, he will do so on the back of the most historic deal ever made in Irish politics since the ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on January 9, 1922. Micheal Martin is a patient political player. When Fianna Fail collapsed in the 2011 election, few would have believed that Martin would have survived as leader, but survive he did. He was labelled as being the first Fianna Fail leader who would fail to become Taoiseach. It seems as if Martin will prove his critics wrong. A veteran of over 30 years, this was the last roll of the dice for this determined and dogged politician. Had the Republic's general election been held in the autumn of 2019, it is likely that Martin's route to Government Buildings in Merrion Street would have been less torturous. Back then, it looked as though Fianna Fail was going to achieve another significant boost from the electorate. But, a few months into 2020, the political environment was very different. Expand Close Leo Varadkar PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leo Varadkar The tripartite deal which paves the way for Martin's elevation to the coveted office of Taoiseach is built on a very untested three-legged stool of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party. Such a deal would have been unimaginable even a year ago. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have been at loggerheads for over 75 years. Divisions run deep, not in policy, but among their people. Families have been staunchly Fianna Fail, or Fine Gael, for generations. Memories of injuries done to both during the Irish Civil War and its aftermath did not fade easily. Some will never fade. But just as the old two-party political system has eroded, so, too, have many of the arguments against Fine Gael and Fianna Fail forming a Grand Coalition. The Fine Gael government only lasted the course because of the Confidence and Supply Agreement provided to it by Fianna Fail. The Confidence and Supply Agreement was very much Martin's baby. And he stuck to it - despite the rumblings in his own party. Some in Fianna Fail will be uncomfortable with this new deal. Those, like Eamon O'Cuiv, grandson of De Valera, will almost certainly go into a permanent sulk (he had hoped Fianna Fail would have kissed and made up with Sinn Fein, as if Mary Lou McDonald was some kind of prodigal daughter returning to a republican political fold). But Micheal Martin was having none of this nonsense. To his credit, throughout his leadership of Fianna Fail, Micheal Martin has always regarded Sinn Fein as not quite ready for government. Expand Close Mary Lou McDonald PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mary Lou McDonald For the Fianna Fail leader, his stance against Sinn Fein is a matter of political morality. To Martin, they are neither fully democratic, or transparent, in the normal sense of political parties. They have leaders who are selected. Internal dissension almost always ends up in expulsion, or alienation. And then there are the other issues on the peripheral of Sinn Fein. Even though the Irish electorate didn't seem to care about Sinn Fein's legacy issues, or transparency, in the recent elections, Martin still refused to budge. At one stage, it looked as if his career may end on this very serious point of principle. If anything, Martin has proven that he is a man of conscience. Sinn Fein's protestations of innocence fell on his deaf ears and Martin held out, bringing the majority of his party with him. Unlike those who talked about it, such as Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen, Micheal Martin actually fostered a closer relationship between the SDLP and Fianna Fail and his stance on the north is built solidly on the principles of consent, as set out by John Hume and Seamus Mallon. As Taoiseach, unbeholden to a Sinn Fein partner in government, Martin is better positioned to reach out to unionists. His calm and rational position during Brexit was spot-on. He did not ramp up the volume against the wholly unreasonable and irrational rants of Sammy Wilson. Martin's grown-up approach to the post-Brexit debate will not have gone unnoticed by more sensible unionist opinion-formers in the business and agri-food sectors. This incoming government will be good for the whole of Ireland, because it will be harnessing the best of talents from within Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Emerging from a national health emergency and perhaps sailing through a post-Brexit economic tsunami will require the steady hand of Micheal Martin. But outgoing foreign minister Simon Coveney is an equally important part of the recovery architecture, too. It will be interesting to see if Leo Varadkar can slip back into a team position under a different Taoiseach from another party - this will certainly test Leo's character and modesty. Fine Gael's Simon Harris and Paschal Donohoe will probably join Fianna Fail frontbenchers Dara Calleary and Thomas Byrne in any new cabinet. The Green Party has set the bar high for entering the coalition, requiring two-thirds of the party to vote for it - including northern members from outside the jurisdiction. Bizarrely, there is also a leadership contest. Eamon Ryan and his challenger both support entering the coalition, so it is hard to see the membership rejecting the deal. Ryan is an experienced politician and former minister and one of the nicest guys in politics. It would be cruel beyond belief if he was turfed out as leader after leading the Greens to the cusp of power. This coalition has the making of being a truly transformative government, especially, given the priority to green issues. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Green Party. If they don't grab the moment, there is a bunch of FF and FG "independents" only too willing to step up. Micheal Martin has played the waiting game. He is a much underestimated political animal. His slowness to act is sometimes regarded as dithering, but his caution has shown him to be steely. Martin as Taoiseach will lead a truly rainbow government and with Fianna Fail, via the SDLP, and the Greens, through their northern brethren, having political reach into Northern Ireland, closer collaboration between the two administrations, north and south, is inevitable. Martin is also in a better position to maintain good Anglo-Irish relations, even with the maverick incumbent of Number 10 and his erratic advisors. President De Valera told his son, Vivien, after Fianna Fail got into government in 1932 and saw the state papers, about his adversary, Liam Cosgrove, and the pro-treaty Cumman na Gael that "they did a magnificent job, Viv, a magnificent job". Perhaps such remarks don't need to be whispered anymore, especially after the generous comments by Micheal Martin about Cosgrove's son and former Taoiseach, Liam, on his death and the open admission by Leo Varadkar that Fianna Fail's reforming Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, is one of his political heroes. So, let's hope no one lets this cup of opportunity slip from the lip. The alternative to political failure now is the prospect of another divisive election amid social and economic turmoil. Tom Kelly is a writer and commentator By Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria is granting Lufthansa's Austrian Airlines unit a 450 million euro ($508 million) bailout that will protect Vienna as a transit hub and safeguard "the bulk" of the flag carrier's 7,000 jobs, the government said on Monday. The deal comprises 300 million euros in loans by a banking consortium, 90% of which will be guaranteed by the state, and 150 million euros in grants, ministers told a news conference, confirming what sources told Reuters earlier in the day. The deal includes a 10-year guarantee that Vienna will grow in proportion to the Lufthansa group's other hubs, so that it is not disadvantaged in relation to rivals such as Munich in Germany or Zurich in Switzerland. "For us the priority was saving Austrian jobs and in particular securing Vienna as a hub," said conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. "We have four strong (Lufthansa) hubs in a small space - we have Munich, we have Frankfurt, we have Zurich and we have Vienna. And since Lufthansa is a German company and the Zurich hub is extremely profitable, in Austria of course we are always slightly concerned about this Vienna hub," he added. The agreement follows a 9 billion euro bailout deal between Lufthansa and Germany, and is smaller than the 767 million euros in aid Austrian originally applied for. Lufthansa has also agreed to inject 150 million euros of its own money into Austrian. Unlike Germany, however, the Austrian government will not take a stake in Lufthansa, as Kurz had previously said it might. His government, which includes the Greens, is requiring Austrian to halve its carbon emissions by 2030. It will also introduce a 30 euro tax on flights of up to 350 km (217 miles), and a minimum ticket price of on average 40 euros, a move aimed at budget airlines' heavy discounts. ($1 = 0.8862 euros) (Additional reporting by Ilona Wissenbach in Frankfurt; writing by Francois Murphy; editing by Kirsten Donovan and Mark Potter) By Lisa Shumaker and Brendan O'Brien (Reuters) - New coronavirus infections hit record highs in six U.S. states on Tuesday, marking a rising tide of cases for a second consecutive week as most states moved forward with reopening their economies. Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas all reported record increases in new cases on Tuesday after recording all-time highs last week. Nevada also reported its highest single-day tally of new cases on Tuesday, up from a previous high on May 23. Hospitalizations are also rising or at record highs. At Arizona's Tucson Medical Center on Monday, just a single intensive care unit (ICU) bed designated for COVID-19 patients was available, with the other 19 beds filled, a hospital representative said. "ICU to be expanded, hopefully, in coming days," Dr. Steven Oscherwitz, an infectious disease expert at the hospital, said in a tweet on Monday night. "Not sure where people needing ICU care will be able to go, since most AZ (Arizona) hospitals are pretty full now." Health officials in many states attribute the spike to businesses reopening and Memorial Day weekend gatherings in late May. Many states are also bracing for a possible increase in cases stemming from tens of thousands of people protesting to end racial injustice and police brutality for the past three weeks. CHURCH OUTBREAK In Oregon, health officials are trying to contain an outbreak of over 200 new cases in Union County linked to the Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church. The Oregonian newspaper reported that a video on the church's Facebook page on May 24 showed hundreds of people standing close together singing. Large gatherings were not permitting under the state's reopening plan at that time. The video has since been deleted, it said. Reuters was not able to reach the church for comment. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott said the record number of new cases is due to more testing. Hospitalizations - a metric not linked to increased testing - also hit a record high. But the state has nearly 15,000 hospital beds available, Abbott said. Story continues For the week ended June 14, testing increased over 30% but the positive rate held steady at 7%, a Reuters analysis showed. Texas tested 674 out of every 100,000 residents last week, while about half of the 50 states tested at least 1,000 out of every 100,000 residents. New York led the nation, testing 2,245 out of every 100,000 residents, according to the analysis. The top Texas health official, John Hellerstedt, said the increase was manageable but the situation could change. "The possibility that things could flare up again and produce a resurgence of COVID-19," which would stress the state's healthcare system "is still very real," Hellerstedt said. 'WE ARE WINNING' Across the United States, 17 states saw new cases rise last week, according to a Reuters analysis. In Oklahoma, where President Donald Trump plans to hold an indoor campaign rally on Saturday, new cases rose 68%. Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday said officials were considering other, possibly outdoor, venues for the Tulsa event. The virus spreads far more efficiently in enclosed spaces. On Tuesday, Oklahoma health officials https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom_article.php?id=150&article_id=59139 urged anyone attending the rally to get tested for the coronavirus before arriving and then to self-isolate following the event and get tested again. The health commissioner urged those over 65 or at higher risk of coronavirus-related complications to stay home. Pence pushed back against talk of a second wave of infections, citing increased testing. "In recent days, the media has taken to sounding the alarm bells over a 'second wave' of coronavirus infections. Such panic is overblown," Pence wrote in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece. https://www.wsj.com/articles/there-isnt-a-coronavirus-second-wave-11592327890 "We are winning the fight against the invisible enemy." More than 2.1 million people have been infected with the coronavirus in the United States and over 116,000 have died from COVID-19, by far the most in the world. (Open https://tmsnrt.rs/2WTOZDR in an external browser for a Reuters interactive) (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington and Brad Brooks in Austin, Texas; Writing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Bill Berkrot) During the Angelus in St Peter's Square, Pope Francis underlined the "renewing force" of the Eucharist thanks to presence of Jesus and his being "an effective sign of unity, of communion, of sharing". Anxious and sad over the war in Libya, the Pope appealed to international organisations to restart the peace proces. Concerned about the precarious conditions" that make the refugees in that country "more vulnerable to forms of exploitation and violence, the pontiff goes on to say that "We all bear responsibility in this, no one can feel dispensed from it. Vatican City (AsiaNews) On Sunday when the Church celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Domini in Italy and other countries (traditionally on the second Thursday after Pentecost celebrates), Pope Francis stressed the mystical and communal effect produced by the shared chalice" and the broken bread ". The pontiff expressed his thoughts before the Angelus in the presence of the faithful gathered in St Peter's square. Earlier in the morning he celebrated the solemn Mass in the basilica. After the Angelus prayer, he made an appeal for the tragic situation in Libya". Speaking about the second readings from todays Mass (1 Cor 10:16-17), the Pope explained that the mystical effect of the Eucharist "relates to the union with Christ, who in the bread and the wine offers Himself for the salvation of all. Jesus is present in the sacrament of the Eucharist to be our nourishment, to be assimilated and to become in us that renewing force that gives energy and the desire to set out again after every pause or fall. But this requires our assent, our willingness to let ourselves be transformed our way of thinking and acting. Otherwise the Eucharistic celebrations in which we participate are reduced to empty and formal rites. The communal effect concerns the mutual communion of those who participate in the Eucharist, to the point of becoming one body together, in the same way that one loaf is broken and distributed. Communion with the body of Christ is an effective sign of unity, of communion, of sharing. One cannot participate in the Eucharist without committing oneself to sincere mutual fraternity. But the Lord knows well that our human strength alone is not enough for this. On the contrary, He knows that there will always be the temptation of rivalry, envy, prejudice, division... among His disciples. For this reason too, He left us the Sacrament of His real, tangible and permanent Presence, so that, remaining united to Him, we may always receive the gift of fraternal love. The union with Christ and communion between those who are nourished by Him, generates and continually renews the Christian community. [. . .] Therefore, it is true that the Church makes the Eucharist, but it is more fundamental that the Eucharist makes the Church, and allows her to be her mission, even before she accomplishes it. Following the Marian prayer, Pope Francis expressed angst and sadness over the tragic situation in Libya, which has been present in my prayer in recent days. In recent years, the country has been embroiled in violence between the internationally-recognised government of Fayez al-Sarraj, and rebel General Khalifa Haftar. The conflict recently escalated following Turkeys intervention to prop up al Sarraj, and Russias support for Haftar, who is also supported by France and the United Arab Emirates. The pontiff urged international bodies and those who have political and military responsibilities to recommence, with conviction and resolve, the search for a path towards an end to the violence, leading to peace, stability and unity in the country. I also pray for the thousands of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons in Libya. The health situation has aggravated the already precarious conditions in which they find themselves, making them more vulnerable to forms of exploitation and violence. I call on the international community to take their plight to heart, identifying pathways and providing means to provide them with the protection they need, a dignified condition and a future of hope. Francis ended speaking off the cuff: "Brothers and sisters, we all bear responsibility in this; no one can feel dispensed from it. He then invited those present to a minute of silent prayer "for Libya. Novelist James Joyce is remembered in a virtual event from the UCLA Hammer Museum. (Associated Press) Happy Bloomsday to you. As readers of James Joyce may know, the Irish author's ambling, rambling 1922 tome "Ulysses" takes place in Dublin over the course of a single day June 16, 1904. And fans of Joyce have been marking the occasion they call "Bloomsday" (named after the novel's protagonist, Leopold Bloom) almost ever since. The UCLA Hammer Museum's own annual Joycean celebration moves online this year. But, as in previous iterations, it will feature actors giving live dramatic readings from "Ulysses" including character Molly Bloom's famously racy monologue interspersed with musicians performing traditional Irish songs. Viewers need only supply their own Irish whiskey and/or Guinness. This virtual soiree can be streamed for free starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at hammer.ucla.edu. Looking for other ways to engage with culture while the coronavirus crisis keeps you mostly at home? We'll continue to share picks for streaming concerts, online musicals, virtual art exhibitions and more. Here's Tuesday's list, all times Pacific. Pipeline Broadway HD streams a 2018 Lincoln Center performance of Dominique Morisseaus stage play about an African American mother and inner-city teacher whose teenage son faces expulsion from the prep school he attends upstate following a troubling incident. Available anytime. Free. broadwayhd.com Breathe In L.A.-based Barak Ballet streams a short film of this new site-specific work choreographed by company founder and artistic director Melissa Barak and recorded at the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust in the Fairfax Districts's Pan Pacific Park. Available anytime. Free. youtube.com or on Instargram @barakballet Salastinas Virtual Happy Hour: Mixtape Series Violinists Michael Siess and Juan-Salvador Carrasco and cellist Misha Vaiman perform works by Gershwin, Florence Price, Marvin Gaye and others in this recital and discussion using the Zoom app. 6 p.m. Tuesday. Free. RSVP at salastina.org Story continues Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life Pride Month offerings from PBS include this encore episode of American Masters saluting the late playwright, whose works include the dramas Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class and the musical adaptations of Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. Available anytime. Free. pbs.org/americanmasters Catherine Opie b. 1961 The photographer known for her dramatic landscapes as well as intimate portraits exploring sexual identity discusses her process in this short documentary on the LACMA website. Available anytime. Free. lacma.org A Change Is Gonna Come Pianist George Winston performs Sam Cooke's civil rights-era anthem over a montage of images from the recent worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Available anytime. Free. youtube.com Our recurring coronavirus-era recommendations are indexed in the same place arts event listings (sigh) used to post. A Colombian drug lord who helped create the infamous Medellin cartel along with Pablo Escobar has been extradited to Germany after serving 30 years in a prison in America. Carlos Lehder Rivas, who was among the clan of traffickers who helped smuggle cocaine from Colombia to the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s, landed in Frankfurt on Tuesday morning before he was handed over to the German authorities. The 70-year-old, who was assisted by two U.S Marshalls, was flown over on a scheduled flight from New York and entered the country with a temporary German passport, Spiegel Online reports. Lehder, who has both German and Colombian citizenship, was sentenced by a U.S. court to 134 years in prison in 1987 but later cooperated with the authorities and was put in a witness protection programme. Carlos Lehder Rivas (pictured following his extradition to the U.S in 1987), 70, who was among the clan of traffickers who helped smuggle cocaine from Colombia to the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s, has been extradited to Germany Lehder, who has both German and Colombian citizenship, was handed over to the German authorities on Tuesday As he has already served his time in America, he will not be asked to answer again to the same charges before a German court. Spiegel reported that Lehder, who is known as being an admirer of Adolf Hitler according to El Espectador, would be placed under the care of a charitable group in Germany. Lehder was born to a German father and Colombian mother in Armenia, Colombia, in 1949, spent most of his childhood in the South American country before moving to New York at the age of 15 after his parents separated, Colombian newspaper El Espectador reported in 2012. After his move to the U.S., Lehder became involved in petty crime and was sent to federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, after he was caught for car theft in 1973. Former drug trafficker George Jung, Lehder's cell mate at the time, previously told PBS how he and the drug smuggler formed a bond during their time in prison and that Lehder would often tell him about his plans to smuggle cocaine into the country. He said: 'As time wore on, we got to know each other and then he asked me if I knew anything about cocaine and I told him no. And I said, ''Why don't you tell me about it.'' And he said, ''Did you know it sells for $60,000.00 a kilo in the United States?'' The drug smuggler is pictured on a military plane following his arrest and extradition to the U.S. in 1987 Lehder (left and right aboard his own plane in 1979), who is now 70, was assisted by two U.S Marshalls and entered the country with a temporary German passport The drug lord (pictured with Jack Carlon Reed as Colombia begins to clamp down on drug barons) is reported to be seriously ill 'And I said, 'No. I had no idea. How much does it cost down in Colombia?' and he said, '$4,000 to $5,000.' And immediately bells started to go off and the cash register started ringing up in my head.' Following their brief stint in prison, Lehder and Jung, formed an alliance and set up a drug trafficking operation that smuggled cocaine from Colombia to the U.S. However as their business bloomed, Lehder forced Jung out of their operation and later retreated to Colombia after the DEA raided his oceanfront home in Norman's Cay in 1980. While in Colombia, Lehder became a member of the Medellin cartel and Escobar's operations. Speaking about Lehder's character, Jung told High Times: 'He wasn't crazy he had delusions, though. He loved John Lennon and Adolf Hitler at the same time. That should have been a sign for me.' Along with Escobar, Lehder, who became known as 'Crazy Charly', ran the Medellin cartel that smuggled cocaine worth billions on the streets to the United States in the 1970s and 80s. In a dramatic twist, Escobar tipped off authorities to Lehder's whereabouts, leading to his arrest and extradition to the United States in 1987. Escobar was killed by Colombian police in 1993 while on the run to avoid extradition to the United States. Lehder is now reported to be seriously ill and his extradition to Germany is believed to be his last trip. More quickly and more permanently than any other American institution, the United States Supreme Court has the capacity to set the tone for the treatment of any minority group, often for decades to come. It was a string of Supreme Court cases that transformed the status of black Americans, for example, most famously in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. The L.G.B.T.Q. legal establishment has spent the last generation following the model set by the black civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s. And it worked: The last 25 years have been a period of extraordinary progress for the rights of gays and lesbians and transgender people in America. A series of Supreme Court decisions striking down laws prohibiting sodomy, invalidating that part of the Defense of Marriage Act that defined marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman, and finally, the opinion that made marriage equality the law of the land were extraordinary achievements for a movement that only came to the broad public consciousness after the Stonewall Riots in NewYork in 1969. All of those decisions, however, were written by Justice Anthony Kennedy. Not only did Mr. Kennedy retire in 2018, but President Trump used the resulting vacancy to solidify the courts conservative majority with Brett M. Kavanaugh, having previously added Neil Gorsuch as well. Combine that with the administrations relentless assault on L.G.B.T.Q. rights which began with a 2017 presidential tweet ordering the Pentagon to discharge all transgender service members and continued through last Friday with a new Health and Human Services regulation that would strip trans people of all the protections of the Affordable Care Act and its clear why practically all of the movements progress suddenly seemed in jeopardy. The price of the device is hard to guess for now. However, the specifications are all out since this feature phone has been listed on the website. When we think about Nokia, we often end up going down the nostalgia road, remembering the classic feature phones that came back in the day. The Finnish handset maker, in the past few years, has tried its best to bring back that nostalgia factor to make customers stick around. And today it might do that again by introducing the refreshed version of another classic Nokia feature phone - Nokia 5310. If this rings a bell, yes the Nokia 5310 is the 2020 version of the popular Xpress Music phone, which will launch today in India. The price of the device is hard to guess for now. However, the specifications are all out since this feature phone has been listed on the website. Also read: Nokia 43-inch smart TV launched in India: Check specs, price The new Nokia 5310 looks slightly different from the 2007 version. It doesnt have that slim build with the music buttons that really stood out. But the company has retained the music key buttons on the 2020 Nokia 5310. It has a slightly thicker build with colour combinations of white plus red, and black plus red. And those interested in the specifics, the new Nokia 5310comes with dual front-facing speakers. Theres a built-in MP3 player along with FM radio. It also supports expandable storage up to 32GB and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Running on Series 30+ OS, the device has 2.4-inch QVGA screen, 8MB RAM and is powered by MT6260A CPU. Being a feature phone, it weighs light at 88.2 grams and measures 123.7 x 52.4 x 13.1 mm. Theres a VGA camera at the back and a 1200mAh battery that is claimed to deliver a talk time of up to 20 hours on a single charge. Saudi Arabia's wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF) is likely to invest around $1.5 billion in Jio Platforms. PI is eyeing a 2.33 per cent stake in Jio Platforms, Gulf News reported on Monday. In case of the deal getting finalised, Jio would be diluting 25 per cent of its equity, the maximum it plans to dilute to investors. In the past seven weeks, Reliance Jio has raked in 10 investments. The latest are by TPG and L Catterton. The two companies have bought 0.93 per cent and 0.39 per cent stake in Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) for Rs 4,546.80 crore and Rs 1,894.50 crore, respectively. With this, the company has sold a total of 22.38 per cent stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 1.04 lakh crore. The other investors include Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity, General Atlantic, KKR and Mubadala. Facebook has been the biggest investor in the company so far. On April 22, the social media giant announced an investment of Rs 43,574 crore in Reliance Jio accounting for a 9.99 per cent stake in JPL. Silver Lake has picked a 1.15 per cent stake with an investment of Rs 5,656 crore. Vista Equity invested Rs 11,367 crore for a 2.32 per cent stake in RIL's Jio platforms. General Atlantic said it will invest Rs 6,598 crore in Reliance Jio for a 1.34 per cent stake. KKR announced its decision to buy a 2.32 per cent stake in Jio platforms for Rs 11,367 crore. Mubadala announced an equity infusion of Rs 9,093 in Reliance Jio in exchange for a 1.85 per cent stake in the telecom arm of RIL. Also read: SEBI serves notice to Rakesh Jhunjhunwala over alleged 'insider trading' charges Also read: EPFO update: One-third of registered companies default on April PF dues The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), on Monday, cautioned Nigerians against patronising fake websites pledging federal government COVID-19 lockdown loans. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the agencys spokesperson, Hadizar Umar. The official said some individuals were trying to capitalise on the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. In NITDAs efforts at ensuring a safe and secure Nigerian cyberspace, the Agencys Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT) identified a number of websites using various phishing tricks to attract Internet users, it said. One of such tricks is misinforming the public that Federal Government has approved the disbursement of funds under a fictitious vote called Lockdown Funds. This malicious site requires the user to complete an online form with their personal information including bank details for the payment to be effected, she said. READ ALSO: Ms Umar said NITDA was doing everything possible to shut down the identified malicious websites and sanction the perpetrators. According to her, the general public should disregard and report any such websites to the agency for necessary action. Also, in NITDAs efforts to checkmate cyber security threats and possible data breach under Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), internet users are advised to avoid giving out their personal information to anyone online. It is advisable to avoid clicking unknown links, disregard offers requesting for their bank details and know what to do when they become victims of cybercrime, she said. As racial disparities in health come more clear in coronavirus and in the national debate over policing, a Connecticut state senator asked Gov. Ned Lamont Monday to declare racism a public health emergency for the entire state. Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, cited statistics from the Connecticut Health Foundation and other sources showing that babies born to black mothers in Connecticut are four times more likely to die in their first year of life than those born to white mothers; that black diabetic patients are four times more likely to need amputations; and that black and Latino children are far more likely to suffer from asthma. It is well recognized that racial bias and discrimination have significant negative physical and mental health consequences. Incidents of depression, anxiety, hypertension, breast cancer and pre-term birth, as well as low-birth rate babies, are associated just with the presence of racial bias and discrimination, Anwar wrote in a letter to Lamont. This is based on the body's stress response system becoming much more active because of the experiences of the individual and has long-term physical and psychological effects. Connecticut would be the first state to declare racism a health crisis or health emergency, following about 20 cities and counties, notably Boston on Friday in a declaration by Mayor Marty Walsh, who vowed to reallocate $3 million in police overtime to public health efforts. Anwar, who is highly outspoken on health issues, is a pulmonologist at Eastern Connecticut Health Network, directing coronavirus efforts. The above-mentioned situation has been magnified in the last many weeks where the likelihood of death from COVID-19 is much higher among minority groups, Anwar, wrote to Lamont. Lamont said he agreed with the sentiment but had not had a chance to study Anwars proposal. I think Ive said a number of times. There are two highly infectious germs that are infecting the body. One is COVID and the other is racism in this state. I could not have been clearer on that and were going to eradicate both as quickly as we can. State Rep. Brandon McGee, D-Hartford, chairman of the General Assemblys Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, said some state officials have been working with Health Equity Solutions, a nonprofit, literally declaring health as a new standard when you begin talking about racism so thats not anything new. He added, Im glad Sen. Anwar sent that open letter, but theres a groundswell of community advocates that have been meeting with the governor with respect to that as well. Kaitlyn Krasselt contributed reporting No change in Iran JCPOA implementation, cooperation with agency: IAEA chief Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 1:44 PM The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says there has been no change in Iran's implementation of its obligations as per the nuclear deal it clinched with major world powers in 2015, nor the country's cooperation with the UN agency. In his introductory statement to the Board of Governors of the IAEA on Monday, Rafael Mariano Grossi first told the meeting that Iran had informed the agency in January that its nuclear program would no longer be "subject to any restrictions in the operational sphere." Iran made the announcement after the European signatories to the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), failed to take steps to ensure that Tehran would benefit from it following Washington's unilateral withdrawal from the accord in May 2018. In May 2018, US President Donald Trump took an illegal and unilateral decision to end Washington's participation in the nuclear deal and re-impose the sanctions that the agreement had lifted, in defiance of the fact that the accord has been endorsed by UNSC Resolution 2231. France, Germany and Britain -- the three European signatories to the JCPOA -- censured the United States for ending the last remaining sanctions waivers in the deal. "To date, the Agency has not observed any changes to Iran's implementation of its nuclear-related commitments in connection with this particular announcement, or in the level of cooperation by Iran in relation to Agency verification and monitoring activities under the JCPOA," Grossi said. The IAEA chief noted that the agency "continues to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement, adding that evaluations regarding the absence of the so-called undeclared nuclear material and activities for Iran will also continue. Grossi, however, claimed that "for over four months, Iran has denied us access to two locations" that the IAEA had asked for access to, urging Tehran to cooperate with the agency, "including by providing prompt access to the locations specified by us." His allegations came after Iran's Foreign Ministry warned the Board of Governors earlier on Monday against targeting the Islamic Republic under pressure from the United States and Israel. "Should an unconstructive decision as such be taken, Iran is likely to respond with a proportionate reaction," ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said during a regular press briefing, adding, "They can probably guess what Iran's reaction will be." Iran strongly rejects any allegations of non-cooperation with the IAEA, insisting that it is prepared to resolve any potentially outstanding differences with the United Nations nuclear agency. Iran's mission to the IAEA had announced in March that the country will not allow Israeli allegations, which Tel Aviv claims are rooted in findings of a so-called secret operation, to form the basis of the Islamic Republic's cooperation with the UN nuclear agency. "The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that merely forwarding some papers based on the Intelligence Services' fabricated information is not consistent with the Agency's Statute, Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and the Additional Protocol," the mission said in a statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address According to an Indian army statement, both sides suffered losses. A Chinese government spokersperson reported that Indian troops violated Chinese territory, but did not say if China suffered casualties. Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) Three Indian soldiers died yesterday in a violent clash with Chinese troops in the Kashmir, along the de facto border between the two countries. In a statement, the Indian army said that the incident took place during the "de-escalation process in the Galwan valley, an area between Indian-administered Ladakh and Chinese-administered Aksai Chin. In the past few weeks, the two countries had been concentrating troops on their side of the border, before senior military commanders held talks earlier this month. India said that both sides suffered losses without mentioning the number of Chinese casualties. Senior military officers from both sides are meeting to defuse the situation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Indian troops crossed the frontier twice on Monday. He added that India was guilty of "provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides." The Chinese side has lodged a strong protest and solemn representation to the Indian side, urging it to strictly restrain its frontline troops according to the consensus, and not cross the borderline and make any unilateral movement that could complicate the border situation, Zhao said. China and India have agreed to resolve bilateral issues through talks and contribute to the easing of tensions and maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas," he added. Zhao did not say whether there were Chinese casualties and Chinese military authorities have been silent whether their side also suffered damages. Tensions have began increasing last month in the Himalayas along one of the world's longest land borders, with New Delhi and Beijing accusing each other of crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that separates the territories of the two nuclear powers. The area has long been disputed, with several military clashes and diplomatic rows following the war of 1962. The Line of Actual Control extends from Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin to the rest of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region. A provisional border was established after the 1962 war, but neither side agrees to where it is. Family and friends of Hannah Fizer, 25, are demanding answers from state officials after the convenience store worker was murdered by an as yet unidentified Pettis County deputy during a June 14 traffic stop in the city of Sedalia, Missouri. Sedalia, population 21,700, is located roughly 90 miles southeast of Kansas City. Fizer, who was white, had been recently promoted to assistant manager and was on her way to work Saturday night at an Eagle Stop convenience store after spending the day with family and friends. She was pulled over by a Pettis County deputy at approximately 10 p.m. near West Broadway Boulevard and Winchester Drive. Hannah Fizer According to the limited information provided in a press release by Patrol Sergeant Andy Bell of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which has taken over the official investigation, the unidentified deputy initiated the traffic stop after Fizer was observed speeding as well as engaging in careless and imprudent driving. The seven-sentence press release then states that the subject was non-compliant and allegedly threatened the deputy by stating she was armed and going to shoot him. The very next sentence alleges that The incident escalated quickly and the deputy discharged his weapon, striking the suspect. Fizer was pronounced dead by Pettis County Coroner Robert Smith shortly after he arrived at the scene of the crime Saturday evening. The deputy was not injured. In an interview Sunday morning with the Sedalia Democrat Pettis County Sheriff Kevin Bond confirmed that there was no bodycam or dashcam footage of Fizers murder. Bond also could not confirm if any weapon was recovered in the vehicle or what the circumstances were that led to the escalation. As part of the investigation police are combing the surrounding area for security camera footage and asking anyone with information to contact them. Why the killer cop did not have a body camera or a dashcam has not yet been volunteered by police spokespersons. Notably the deputy who murdered Fizer has yet to be interviewed or publicly identified. According to investigators a warrant to search the young womans vehicle is still pending. Fizers family have disputed police accounts that she was armed or would have threatened a police officer. Hannahs father John Fizer, in an interview with the Kansas City Star, claimed Hannah wouldnt shoot a frog, and the only thing she carried with her was a cell phone, and is not threatening in any way. Shed be the first one to give to a beggar on the street. Hannahs stepmother Lori Fizer, 51, likewise did not know her to carry a weapon, telling the Star, We need to know exactly how everything went down. She weighed a whole 145 pounds and she was by herself. Fizers aunt Frances Fizer-Gaddy, 56, who lived a short drive from her nieces apartment, drove to the site of the shooting where she found blood on the pavement along with some fresh flowers recently left behind. Fizer-Gaddy also believes that her niece did not carry a firearm and that her easy-going and quiet personality did not match the description of the aggressive assailant with a death wish as police have portrayed her. I just want them to get to the bottom of it, get to the truth. Speaking to the Star three days after her murder, Fizers boyfriend James Johnson, 22, asked a simple question for state investigators: Wheres the gun? Fizer graduated from Marshall High School in 2014 and is survived by her 21-year-old brother and four step-siblings. Since she did not have life insurance; the family is asking for donations to help cover funeral costs through the Rea Funeral Chapel in Sedalia. Fizer was the second person killed by Missouri police on Saturday. An unidentified white male was shot by Kansas City Police Department officers Saturday afternoon at roughly 2 p.m. after fleeing from police. The man allegedly pointed a handgun at officers as he ran from the scene of an accident. As with Fizers killing, the Missouri State Highway Patrol will be overseeing the investigation. These latest slayings are grim reminders of the class nature of police violence and an objective repudiation of the racialist narrative put forth by the Democratic Party and their functionaries. Police are once again on track to kill over 1,000 people this year. While African-Americans are disproportionately murdered, the largest number of victims are white and all are overwhelmingly poor and working class. Figures provided by the Washington Post, which are several weeks old, estimate that 479 have been killed by police so far this year, 191 of which the Post classifies as white, not including these two most recent slayings. TOWIE star Jess Wright delighted in the reopening of shops on Monday as she went wedding dress shopping with her mum and sister. The reality veteran, 34, looked incredible in bridal white as she joined Carol, 59, and Natalya, 19, in heading to London to find the perfect dress ahead of her wedding to William Lee-Kemp, who popped the question in March. The star, who went public with the romance in summer but have been dating since January 2019, looked sensational for the outing in all white, while her youthful mum and influencer sister were stylish in monochrome. Stylish: TOWIE star Jess Wright delighted in the reopening of shops on Monday as she went wedding dress shopping with her mum and sister Jess ensured she looked stunning for the trip as she sported the elegant all-white ensemble complete with a tube top and skin-tight leggings. Carol looked sensational in a mullet hemmed white skirt with a tight black top while Natalya sported a chic tight sporty co-ord. During the day out, Jess shared a snap while posing with her mum and admitted that she had dreamt of her wedding dress shopping since she was little. She added a caption reading: 'Yesterday was the day I think every girl dreams of her whole life & I got to share it with my lovely mumma & bestie sis. Its going to be an exciting year after all'. Strutting their stuff: The reality veteran, 34, looked incredible in bridal white as she joined Carol, 59, and Natalya, 19, in heading to London to find the perfect dress ahead of her wedding to William Lee-Kemp, who popped the question in March Happy days: During the day out, Jess shared a snap while posing with her mum and admitted that she had dreamt of her wedding dress shopping since she was little Strike a pose: Natalya also uploaded her own snaps for outside the bridal shop to mark the occasion The brunette beauty announced their engagement on March 1 with a romantic photo of the pair kissing in the snow while she proudly showed off her diamond ring. She captioned the adorable shot: 'A million times YES! I love you so much x'. Speaking to HELLO! after her businessman beau popped the question, Jess admitted it took her completely by surprise. She gushed: 'I am absolutely overwhelmed with this amazing news. I never expected it for a second and he caught me totally off guard. Toned: Natalya showed off her abs in a black sports top and matching cycling shorts Designer: The model complemented her outfit with a sage green blazer and Louis Vuitton handbag 'We are so very happy and in love! We are back in a place that is very special to us and now it has been made even better with this news. We are over the moon!' In April, Jess voiced concerns that she has 'left it too late' to have her desired four kids as she admitted in a chat with Bobby Norris that while she's always wanted a big family she thinks she may be too old. Her worries are particularly poignant after Jess locked horns with Carol on the ITVBe reality show in 2016 when the Wright family matriarch suggested she freeze her eggs when she was just 28. She said yes! In March, the TV personality accepted a mountain top proposal from businessman William and took to Instagram to show off her dazzling ring Three months after an education ministry review raised concerns of Islamophobia in Peel schools and some two weeks after the board placed a school principal on leave for alleged xenophobic and racist comments, students, teachers and parents have come forward to share their experiences. Their words paint an image of Islamophobia practised with impunity. Of the seven people who came forward, only two students agreed to be named. The others sought anonymity for fear of reprisals including, for the adults, losing their jobs. Peel Region is a fascinating petri-dish of cultures, a place where as Renu Mandhane, Ontarios former human rights commissioner and now a judge once said, human rights and hyperdiversity connect. The boards census data shows approximately 83 per cent of its secondary school students are racialized from more than 160 ethnic cultural backgrounds. Issues bubbling up in this region are a foretaste of whats to come for the rest of the country; an opportunity to correct more varied forms of systemic discrimination including anti-Muslim sentiment from other minority communities and anti-Blackness among all communities including non-Black Muslims. The ongoing issues of anti-Black racism in the board have been well documented. Black communities are organizing a seven-kilometre march on Wednesday that will end at the Peel District School Board just before its scheduled public meeting. Almost a quarter 22.5 per cent of Peel students identify as Muslim. The adults and students who reached out to the Star shared stories of being bullied over their names. How many Mohammads in this family or of a boy named Anees being called anus. Of not getting funding for clubs on par with other special interest groups such as LGBTQ2 clubs. Of the board not sponsoring or recognizing MIST, the Muslim Inter Scholastic Tournament. Of having to fight for the removal of Islamophobic books from school libraries. Of a student who pulled a hijab off a girl being excused because he didnt know better. Of a teacher saying nothing when a student interrupted a presentation on the mosque shootings in New Zealand to yell All Muslims are terrorists and The Quran teaches hate and encourages Muslims to behead others. Of educators not being held accountable for their words and actions. The investigation of principal Julie DeMaeyer of Central Peel Secondary School in Brampton who allegedly said racialized Muslim students would use science to make bombs is still ongoing, the boards director of education Peter Joshua told the Star Monday. At the end of May, he had told the Star the probe would not take more than a few days. In a statement posted on the school website in May, Joshua said the principal apologized and acknowledged the remark was hurtful and discriminatory. The National Council of Canadian Muslims has urged her to issue a public apology. Many of the stories the students and adults shared revolved around the issue of jumah or Friday prayers at school, a 20-year-old practice that became contentious a few years ago after the Peel board decided the prayers could continue only with pre-approved sermons. It hastily reversed that decision after anti-Islamic protests shook the board meetings in 2017. Friday is the sacred day of worship for Muslims. The holy days of weekly worship for Christians and Jews fall on the weekend when schools are already closed. Shifaa Syed, a Grade 12 student from Jean Augustine Secondary School in Brampton said sometimes when students leave the room to pray between classes teachers ask why they were trying to skip class. Another Grade 12 student said his friend who wears a hijab came back from prayers and was put on the spot by her teacher asking where she had been, why she had to pray then and other questions challenging her identity in front of the class. One Mississauga Muslim teacher has heard similar complaints about prayers in the staff room. Are these kids just trying to get out of school? The students said they had to fight every inch of the way to be able to pray. Wed have to look for a teacher to supervise us during prayer, said the Grade 12 student. No teacher means no prayer. A few times there werent any Muslim teachers. Couldnt non-Muslim teachers help supervise? They would respectfully decline. Syed said, Friday prayers are part of our belief system. They dont see it as a need. Syed and the other Grade 12 student also reached out to the Ministry of Education reviewers and voiced their concerns. We heard concerns about Islamophobia and were provided with French curriculum materials that were clearly Islamophobic, conveyed blatant hostility to the Muslim community and an ignorance of the basic tenets of Islam, the reviewers wrote in their final report. One of the Muslim teachers said many of them had held back from speaking to the media because they wanted to work with the board. They also didnt want to detract from what they saw as the rising community momentum fighting anti-Black racism. But these issues are really not that separate, she said. Joshua told the Star the board held learning sessions on Islamophobia for senior leadership with the National Council of Canadian Muslims. Given job action and COVID-19 closures, some of the work wasnt able to be undertaken, but we remain strongly committed to continuing this work, he said. Moving forward, we have posted an equity lead position that will focus solely on addressing Islamophobia and working to eliminate it. Ive lived here my whole life, said Shahryar Durrani, who recently graduated from Rick Hansen Secondary School. As you get older you start realizing that although teachers are nice, there seems like a mistrust. If you bring your religion into it, it rubs them off the wrong way. I believe there are these underlying issues. People have these impressions. Even if we maintain our best behaviour, trying to keep ourselves the best way we can, theres still a bit of that suspicion. Clarification, June 18, 2020: This article has been updated to remove a suggestion that Jean Augustine students took the bus home during the school day to pray. Covid-19 can damage the lungs of patients who died from the disease so badly that the organs become unrecognisable, a top expert has warned. Professor Mauro Giacca, from King's College London, analysed autopsies of patients who died in Italy after spending more than a month in hospital. He saw 'complete disruption of the lung architecture' in the patients, saying in some cases 'you can't even distinguish that it used to be a lung'. The cardiologist told the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee that he saw 'massive thrombosis', or blood clots, in the lungs. One in three people who fall severely ill with coronavirus develop dangerous blood clots, which scientists believe is contributing to their deaths. The clots can become fatal if they migrate to major organs, like the lungs, and cut off their blood supply. Severe coronavirus infection damages patients' lungs beyond recognition, a leading expert has warned (file) Professor Giacca told Peers: 'What you find in the lungs of people who have stayed with the disease for more than a month before dying is something completely different from normal pneumonia, influenza or the Sars virus. 'You see massive thrombosis. There is a complete disruption of the lung architecture in some lights you can't even distinguish that it used to be a lung. 'There are large numbers of very big fused cells which are virus positive with as many as 10, 15 nuclei. Professor Mauro Giacca, from King's College London, observed 'complete disruption of the lung architecture' in those who spent more than a month in hospital fighting the virus 'I am convinced this explains the unique pathology of Covid-19. This is not a disease caused by a virus which kills cells, which had profound implications for therapy.' Professor Giacca warned that there were still high levels of the virus thriving in the lungs even after the patients had died. He said this finding showed the potential for 'real problems' in patients who manage to survive. One in three people who fall severely ill with coronavirus develop dangerous blood clots. WHAT'S CAUSING THE CLOTS? While experts are unsure why the virus causes the blockages, there are three main theories: CYTOKINE STORM The prevailing theory is that it is the result of a an immune overreaction called a 'cytokine storm'. Cytokines are chemical-signaling molecules which guide a healthy immune response. They tell immune cells to attack viral molecules in the body. But in some people, this resonpse goes into overdrive and immune cells start attacking healthy tissue as well, known as a cytokine storm. As blood vessels become damaged they can leak, causing blood pressure to drop and driving up the chance of clots forming. BYPRODUCT OF INFECTION Other scientists say the surge in strokes may be a byproduct of the way COVID-19 invades the human body. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'Covid binds to an enzyme called ACE2 which is on the surface of the cell. 'It simply uses it as a way of attaching itself but in doing so the enzyme function of ACE2 is reduced. 'The consequence of this is an imbalance of hormones called Angiotensin I and Angiotensin II which together regulate blood pressure. 'It could be related to the increase in strokes reported.' VIRUS' UNIQUE SHAPE Dr Robert Bonow, a professor of cardiology at Northwestern University, said it may be the coronavirus' unique shape that is causing the bloodclotting issues. He said the virus' spikes, which latch onto receptors in cells, can also attach to blood vessels. Once they dock onto these blood vessel cells, the viral particles can trigger damage to these as well as to heart muscle, Dr Bonow says. Advertisement The blockages can trigger heart attacks, strokes, organ failure and pulmonary embolism, if they migrate to major organs. Severe inflammation - an overreaction by the immune system to Covid-19 infection - is thought to be the cause of the blood clots. Roopen Arya, a professor of thrombosis at King's College London, said that while pneumonia was still the main cause of death in Covid-19 patients, doctors were now becoming 'more and more aware' of the problem. Scientists aren't sure why the virus causes clots - but they believe it could be the result of a an immune overreaction called a 'cytokine storm'. Cytokines are chemical-signaling molecules which guide a healthy immune response. They tell immune cells to attack viral molecules in the body. But in some patients, this process goes into overdrive and immune cells begin destroying healthy tissues. This can lead to damaged blood vessels which leak and cause blood pressure to plummet, driving up the chance of clots forming, according to Dr Jamie Garfield from Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. Other scientists say the clots be a byproduct of the way Covid-19 invades the human body. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'Covid binds to an enzyme called ACE2 which is on the surface of the cell. It simply uses it as a way of attaching itself but in doing so the enzyme function of ACE2 is reduced. 'The consequence of this is an imbalance of hormones called Angiotensin I and Angiotensin II which together regulate blood pressure. It could be related to the increase in strokes reported.' Dr Robert Bonow, a professor of cardiology at Northwestern University, said it may be the coronavirus' unique shape that is causing the blood clotting issues. He told MailOnline: 'With Covid-19 specifically, what you see that you don't with the flu, is because under a microscope, coronavirus has all these spikes coming out of it, and those spikes are little proteins that are looking for receptors on the cells that they attach onto,' 'It's specifically looking for receptors in the lungs, but those same receptors sit on blood vessels, so it can attach on the lungs but also on blood vessels.' Once they dock onto these blood vessel cells, the viral particles can trigger damage to these as well as to heart muscle, Dr Bonow says. They can trigger 'hypercoagual states,' causing blood clots that lead to heart attacks. If Covid-19 targets blood vessels, it could explain why people who already have damaged vessels - such as diabetes and high blood pressure patients - are more likely to fall critically ill. Exactly how the virus attacks the blood vessels remains a mystery, but several scientific paper and pre-prints have shown the deadly side effect is common. Chicago coronavirus survivor in her 20s with 'a minor underlying health condition' receives double-lung transplant after the virus left her organs 'full of holes and almost fused to her chest' Surgeons in Chicago have given a new set of lungs to a young woman with severe lung damage from the coronavirus. Only a few other COVID-19 survivors, in China and Europe, have received lung transplants. Doctors say the patient, a Hispanic woman in her 20s, was 'pretty healthy' before she caught coronavirus, although she'd been taking a drug with immune-suppressing effects for a minor health condition during the prior year. After being sick for two weeks, she was placed on a ventilator and heart-lung machine the day she was admitted, and remained on them for almost two months before her operation last Friday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The 10-hour procedure was challenging because the virus had left her lungs full of holes and almost fused to the chest wall, Dr Ankit Bharat, who performed the operation, said Wednesday. Doctors have kept her on both machines while her body heals but say her chances for a normal life are good. 'We are anticipating that she will have a full recovery,' said Dr Rade Tomic, medical director of the hospital's lung transplant program. Already, 'she's awake, she's smiling, she FaceTimed with her family,' Dr Bharat told The New York Times. This X-ray image shows the chest of a COVID-19 patient in her 20s before she received a new set of lungs because of severe lung damage from the coronavirus, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago (left). Coronavirus left the woman's lung blackened, riddled with holes (right) and nearly fused to her chest wall, her surgeons said (Northwestern Medicine via AP) The patient was not identified but Dr Bharat said she had recently moved to Chicago from North Carolina to be with her boyfriend. She was otherwise pretty healthy but her condition rapidly deteriorated after she was hospitalized in late April. Although COVID-19 was initially considered primarily a disease of the elderly and chronically ill, it quickly became clear that it does not spare the young. The young woman is among nearly 40 percent of hospitalized patients who are young - under 55 years old. She was admitted more than six weeks ago - and has spent most of the intermittent time in the ICU at Northwestern. Most patients spend 10 to 12 days in the ICU, and the fatality rate for patients on ventilators was 80 percent at the height of the epidemic in the US. In addition to a ventilator, the young woman was kept alive using an ECMO machine that removes blood from her body, adds oxygen to it, and returns it. Pictured: A Northwestern team in full PPE operates and monitors the ECMO machine Doctors had to hook the young patient up to both a ventilator and an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine, which removes oxygen-depleted blood from the body, infuses it with much needed oxygen and returns it to the body. 'For many days, she was the sickest person in the COVID ICU - and possibly the entire hospital,' said Dr Beth Malsin, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern, who helped carefor the young woman. Anxiously, her medical team watched the woman for weeks and weeks. Overall, the case fatality rate for young people with coronavirus is low.In New York City as of this week, only about 0.02 percent of coronavirus patients between ages 18 and 44 died of the disease. The patient's medical team had to wear full PPE while seeing her and other COVID-19 patients in the ICU. They had to wait for her to clear the virus before it was safe to operate Lung transplant surgeon Dr Bharat performed the 10 hour operation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (pictured with a surgical robot) Even the foremost experts are still puzzled as to why some young people become so devastatingly ill and die from the disease. 'How did a healthy woman in her 20s get to this point?' pondered Dr Tomic. 'There's still so much we have yet to learn about COVID-19. Why are some cases worse than others? The multidisciplinary research team at Northwestern Medicine is trying to find out.' One explanation being explored by scientists around the world is genetics. Recent research suggests that a section of DNA that determines blood type may also be linked to risks for severe infection. Remarkably, after six weeks, the woman cleared the virus - but for her lungs, the damage was done. 'A lung transplant was her only chance for survival,' said Dr Bharat. Once she had definitively tested negative for the virus, he and his team listed the patient for a double-lung transplant and found a match within 48 hours. 'There were so many times, day and night, our team had to react quickly to help her oxygenation and support her other organs to make sure they were healthy enough to support a transplant if and when the opportunity came,' said Dr Maksin. 'One of the most exciting times was when the first coronavirus test came back negative and we had the first sign she may have cleared the virus to become eligible for a life-saving transplant.' Dr Ankit Bharat (pictured, in 2014) performed a 10-hour lung transplant for the woman with severe lung damage from the coronavirus, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The procedure was challenging because the virus had left her lungs full of holes and almost fused to chest wall, he said (Northwestern Medicine via AP) Lungs accounted for just 7 percent of the nearly 40,000 US organ transplants last year. They are typically hard to find and patients often wait weeks on the transplant list. Only a handful of transplants have been performed on coronavirus patients around the world. The Chicago patient was in bad shape, with signs that her heart, kidneys and liver were beginning to fail, so she quickly moved up in line, Bharat said. If a transplant had been performed earlier, the surgeons would have risked high levels of exposure to the virus, as well as contamination of the operating room, which could in turn have allowed the virus to spread even more rapidly throughout the hospital. When the young woman's surgical team removed her diseased lungs, they found some of the worst damaged organs they'd ever seen. Her lungs were blackened, scattershot with holes and marred by bleeds. Despite the odds stacked against her, the patient made it through the operation and, although she'll have to take immune-suppressing drugs to keep her body from rejecting her new lungs, she's expected to make a full recovery and live a mostly normal life. 'We want other transplant centers to know that while the transplant procedure in these patients is quite technically challenging, it can be done safely, and it offers the terminally ill COVID-19 patients another option for survival,' said Dr Bharat. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., encouraged companies that advertise on social media to use their "tremendous leverage" to push platforms to crack down on disinformation. "Know your power," Pelosi said at an online forum about Covid-19 and social media disinformation hosted by George Washington University on Tuesday. "Advertisers are in a position, they have power to discourage platforms from amplifying dangerous and even life-threatening disinformation," she said. "Some major advertisers and some not so major have begun to express objections to platform policies that promote voter fraud and violence ... We need to empower advertisers to continue to object and to use their power to hold social media companies accountable for their bad behavior. This is an undermining of democracy. It is a challenge to people's health. It is just wrong." Pelosi said the push must be a concerted effort between employees, consumers, Congress and advertisers. Social media companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Google's YouTube have taken a variety of steps to combat misinformation generally. They've also taken additional steps to rein in misinformation on the coronavirus. But those efforts still vary greatly. For instance, since the beginning of the pandemic, Facebook has said it intends to guide users to accurate Covid-19 information and hide or remove misinformation about the virus. Earlier this year, the company said it would "remove content with false claims or conspiracy theories that have been flagged by leading global health organizations and local health authorities that could cause harm to people who believe them." But in other cases, such as the decision of Twitter to start fact-checking the tweets of President Donald Trump, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said social networks should not be fact-checking what politicians post. A California man was arrested in Birmingham with nearly 500 pounds of marijuana and other drugs. Birmingham police on Tuesday announced felony charges against 39-year-old Ryan Hammer. The arrest took place April 16 at 4005 Fourth Ave. South, however authorities said they initially withheld the information because of the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation. The investigation, led by the departments Narcotics Division, yielded 482 pounds of marijuana, 7,659 grams of liquid THC, 173 THC edible candy packs and $9,000 in cash. Hammer is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, trafficking marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail April 17 and released two days later after posting $260,000 bond. He has a court date set for August. RESTON, Va., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LeaseAccelerator, the pioneer in the Enterprise Lease Accounting and Lease Lifecycle Management software market, was named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award in the Financial Management Solution category at the 18th Annual American Business Awards. The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.'s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning "crowned," the awards will be virtually presented to winners during a live event on Wednesday, August 5. More than 3,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Startup of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Live Event of the Year, and App of the Year, among others. LeaseAccelerator was nominated in the Financial Management Solution category in which more than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year's winner. "Leasing has enormous power to help organizations generate free cash flow during economic uncertainty. There are tremendous cost savings opportunities to be realized by automating the procure-to-pay, acquire-to-dispose, and record-to-report processes for equipment and real estate leases," said Michael Keeler, CEO of LeaseAccelerator. "We are thrilled that this year's judges recognized the importance of enterprise lease accounting and lease lifecycle management software by naming us a Stevie Award winner for the third year in a row," noted Keeler. "Despite the toughest business conditions in memory, American organizations continue to demonstrate their commitment to innovation, creativity, and bottom-line results," said Stevie Awards President Maggie Gallagher. "This year's Stevie-winning nominations are full of inspiring stories of persistence, ingenuity, resourcefulness, and compassion. We celebrate all of their stories and look forward to showcasing them during our virtual awards ceremony on August 5." About LeaseAccelerator: LeaseAccelerator provides global lease lifecycle management software to improve free cash flow and compliance. Thousands of users rely on our Software as a Service (SaaS) platform to manage and automate 700,000 real estate and equipment leases valued at $200 billion across 5 million assets in 172 countries. The LeaseAccelerator platform includes a competitive leasing marketplace fueled by a unique global lessor network of more than 500 bidders, and integrated asset-level accounting, reporting and governance. With this strategic financial platform, customers gain valuable business insights about decentralized assets and stakeholders using centrally-managed, rich lease data that enables faster financial response to changing economic situations. Learn more at: http://www.leaseaccelerator.com/. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com . SOURCE LeaseAccelerator, Inc. Related Links http://www.leaseaccelerator.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 10:21 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf13e45 1 Business commuter-line,new-normal,infrastructure,Greater-Jakarta,KCI,LRT-Jabodebek Free Train passengers in Greater Jakarta have been struggling with their daily commutes during the so-called new normal, as long lines and crowded stations highlight the ongoing issues relating to the lack of public infrastructure and transportation facilities in the densely populated capital. Commuter line operator PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) reported that passenger numbers surged to 279,000 on June 9 alone, from 80,000 per day on average during the large-scale social distancing (PSBB), as the government began to reopen the economy. However, with health protocols in place to avoid COVID-19 transmission, the company has limited passenger numbers to 40 percent of total capacity for each trip, leading to packed stations across the region. Seno Adi, 47, who lives in Bogor, West Java, and travels to Jakarta daily for work, lamented the long line in the morning to board a train, while he also struggled with the packed cars that made it difficult to maintain social distancing to avoid COVID-19 transmission. Read also: Commuters return to public transport with more protective gear There were around 95-100 people in one carriage and people stood so close to each other. It made the carriage so crowded and it was difficult to keep our distance, he told The Jakarta Post on June 11. KCI maintains that although the company has increased the number of daily trips to 935 trips from 784 trips per day prior to the PSBB relaxation, while also increasing the number of cars on each train, the passenger crowding is inevitable. The long lines and crowding are hard to avoid if the pattern of commuter activities is still focused on the busy hours in the morning and afternoon, KCI vice president for corporate communication Anne Purba said in a statement on June 7. She stated that the company had reached maximum optimization of its facilities, with a five-minute headway for the busy line connecting Bogor and Jakarta, among other lines. The company runs 124 morning trips and 126 afternoon trips during the rush hours. On the Bogor line, it is so difficult to add more trips because the headway is at the maximum capacity of the available railway infrastructure. Some railway tracks are also shared with other rail services such as intercity trains and freight trains, she added. The Greater Jakarta commuter line saw daily passenger volume jump to over 979,000 in 2019 from around 922,000 in 2018. However, the rail infrastructure development needed to meet this increase is still lagging behind. The projects include the double-double track (DDT) railway project connecting Manggarai, South Jakarta, and Cikarang, West Java, as well as the separation between the Bogor line and the railway line to Bekasi, West Java, at Manggarai Station, with the latter set to be completed by year end. With the line separation [between the Bogor and Bekasi lines], the [commuter] train delays at Manggarai Station can be overcome, Transportation Ministry Director General for Railways Zulfikri said on June 13. Meanwhile, he said that the government was pursuing the completion of the DDT project by 2021. The DDT railway development, initiated in 2002, is intended to separate the tracks for long-haul trains, and the commuter line, as well as the airport railway, to reduce delays and increase rail capacity. Read also: Train stations packed as transition into new normal begins in Jakarta Meanwhile, another infrastructure project, the light rail transit (LRT), expected to connect cities in Greater Jakarta, has been delayed until 2022, from its initial scheduled completion in November 2021. State construction firm Adhi Karya, the project developer, cited the pandemic and land clearance as the reasons behind the postponement. With the current gap between demand and the available infrastructure on the railways, experts have called on the government to intervene to safeguard passengers' health. Trips must be more evenly spread throughout the day. For example, institutions and employers could implement flexible working hours so people dont share the same working hours in the morning, Bandung Institute of Technology urban transportation researcher Puspita Dirgahayani said on June 10. Meanwhile, the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Ministry has stated that the government has intervened through the issuance of circular letter no. 8/2020 by the COVID-19 task force, which mandates the staggering of working hours for civil servants, state-owned enterprises employees and private employees. This is what we can do as we cant add more transportation facilities, it has already reached maximum [capacity], the ministrys deputy of infrastructure and transportation coordination Ridwan Djamaluddin said on Monday. Four people were injured, at least three critically, when an ambulance crashed into a toll booth on an Oklahoma turnpike early Friday, Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesperson Sarah Stewart said. The Jackson County Emergency Medical Services ambulance traveling from the Altus area to Oklahoma City with its lights and siren activated crashed into the toll booth near Newcastle, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southwest of Oklahoma City, shortly before 3 a.m., Stewart said. A patient and two paramedics who were inside the ambulance were flown by helicopter to an Oklahoma City hospital in critical condition following the crash on Interstate 44, also known as the H.E. Bailey Turnpike, according to Stewart. A worker in the toll booth was taken by another ambulance to a hospital, Stewart said. That persons condition was not disclosed. County EMS director William Stevens did not immediately return a phone call for comment. The cause of the crash has not been determined, Stewart said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Oklahoma Desperate for victory after watching the presidential nomination slip through their fingers, progressives have found a new cause to rally around. Across the country, theyre channeling their grief, volunteer muscle and small-dollar donations into Jamaal Bowman, a left-wing candidate in New York trying to oust decades-long incumbent Congressman Eliot Engel. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, all of whom have shown caution in the past about backing primary challengers to incumbent Democrats, have endorsed Bowman. Justice Democrats and the Working Families Party, two left-wing groups that took different paths during the presidential race, announced they are coming together to spend more than a half-million dollars to elect Bowman. Former aides to Sanders and Warren have also publicly lined up behind Bowman. The all-hands-on-deck strategy is a striking show of unity after the presidential campaign ended with deep rifts on the left and its had a catalytic effect on Bowmans bid in the run-up to the June 23 primary. But their efforts have also exposed party fissures, spurring Democratic establishment powerhouses such as Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Jim Clyburn to throw their support behind Engel. What is that left phrase? We just need a win, said Andom Ghebreghiorgis, another progressive candidate who challenged Engel this year but recently dropped out and endorsed Bowman. People are investing a lot emotionally in this race because they see it as a down-ballot race where the policies of a Bernie, for example, which werent able to achieve victory on a national level, can at least be achieved on a congressional level. This undated photo, provided by his campaign, shows Jamaal Bowman, a first-time candidate who helped found the Cornerstone Academy of Social Action in 2009, who has picked up endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in his race against U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, a 16-term incumbent representing parts of the Bronx and suburban Westchester County. (Photo by Corey Torpie via AP) The clash between heavyweights like Clinton and Sanders has made New Yorks 16th District race one of the most-watched primaries of the cycle and one of the most telling. If Bowman, a 44-year-old middle-school principal, beats Engel, the 73-year-old chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, it will mark the second time in two years that a senior House Democrat from New York was taken down in a primary. In 2018, Ocasio-Cortez knocked out Rep. Joe Crowley in a massive upset. Should Engel hold onto his seat, it will mark yet another bitter intra-party defeat for progressives. Story continues If all of this super lefty firepower turns out not to be enough and Bowman comes up short, thats going to be added to the list, said Jon Reinish, a Democratic strategist based in New York. Theres a lot of examples over the last two years since Ocasio-Cortez, like Our Revolutions slate of endorsed candidates in 2018 or most recently the Henry Cuellar challenge down in Texas, where time and again these challengers, no matter the energy of these groups, have come up short. The protests in the wake of George Floyds death, as well as the coronavirus which has disproportionately impacted black and Latino Americans have increased the urgency among progressives to oust Engel. Bowman has criticized Engel for voting for the 1994 crime bill, which contributed to a rise in incarceration. Bowman champions the idea of defunding the police, whereas Engel said he opposes fully cutting their budgets, though he supports reallocating some resources. If youre someone who wants to translate the energy in the street into elected office, Jamaal is one candidate among many that you can be supporting, said Waleed Shahid, the communications director for Justice Democrats. Jamaal might be the first candidate elected to Congress from this movement. Bowman has also talked about his first experience with police brutality at age 11 on the campaign trail and been a regular presence at Black Lives Matter protests. That was murder by law enforcement that is supposed to serve and protect us. It robs you to your core and shakes your soul to see something like that happen, Bowman told POLITICO of watching the video of Floyds death. I couldnt contain myself and I did a direct-to-camera video about my reaction and I was sobbing. I was crying. Bowmans campaign got a boost when Engel was caught on a hot mic at an event amid the civil unrest saying, If I didnt have a primary, I wouldnt care. At the time, Engel said that in the context of running for reelection, I thought it was important for people to know where I stand, that's why I asked to speak." Engel has touted his support of the Justice in Policing Act and endorsements from black lawmakers such as civil rights icon John Lewis, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, and the Congressional Black Caucus political arm. He has also said that his incumbency has allowed him to bring home the bacon to the district, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus. Unlike our opponent, the congressmans response to the pandemic was going out and fighting for $6 [billion] in additional aid for New York hospitals, including many in the district, said Tom Watson, Engels communications director. It was getting funding for community health centers, and fighting to keep Mount Vernon Hospital open. Foreign policy has also roiled the primary, with Bowman bashing Engel for voting for the Iraq War and being completely funded by corporate PACs and large donors, and many of those are weapons manufacturers." The Democratic Majority for Israel, a super PAC, has aired ads supporting Engel, a top pro-Israel voice in the House, and knocking Bowman, who has criticized the Israeli governments treatment of Palestinians. The group reserved an additional $250,000 in spots Tuesday, according to Advertising Analytics. A Bowman victory would make him the fourth candidate supported by the anti-establishment Justice Democrats to unseat an incumbent Democrat since 2018. The organization, which developed a strategy after 2018 of going all in on one candidate at a time instead of endorsing dozens like many groups, backed Bowman after a public education activist nominated him for its recruitment program. Shahid said the organization honed in on Bowman because of his record of leadership in the district, his commitment to racial and economic justice throughout his career, and the fact that his opponent is particularly vulnerable. Engels role in Democratic House leadership was also a factor. Someone with that much power should be someone who is paying attention to the needs of their district, said Shahid. Two weeks after Sanders dropped out of the presidential race, Justice Democrats held an event featuring former Sanders and Warren aides who supported Bowman. The group has seen an influx of interest in the New York primary since Super Tuesday, when Joe Biden built a delegate lead that proved impossible for Sanders to surmount and which prompted Warren to drop out. There have been other attempts at fostering progressive unity in the Bronx and Westchester County-based 16th District. The Working Families Party helped broker the departure of Ghebreghiorgis from the race and his endorsement of Bowman, with New York director Sochie Nnaemeka playing a key role, according to multiple people familiar with the moves. That helped prevent the progressive vote from splitting. Engel, on the other hand, has two additional moderate challengers, Sammy Ravelo and Chris Fink. The consolidation is such an achievement for the left, which is known for splintering, that Ghebreghiorgis said activists from the Democratic Socialists of America and other progressives asked him, in reference to him dropping out and creating a united progressive front behind Bowman, How can we make this scalable ... in any race where we see any issue like this? Leftists across the country recognize the Bowman candidacy is likely to be one of their last, best opportunities to take out an entrenched Democratic incumbent because of the realities of the primary election calendar. If youre a progressive who supported Bernie or Warren, Jamaal is really one of the last shots we have at any victory this year, said Shahid. Hes the main one who can pull off an AOC-style victory. Srinagar, June 16 : Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Tangdhar sector on Tuesday drawing a strong response from India, officials said. "On 16 June 2020, in the early morning hours, Pakistan initiated an Unprovoked Ceasefire Violation (CFV) along the LoC in Tangdhar Sector by firing mortars and other weapons. Befitting response was given." Army said in a brief statement. Pakistan has been targeting defence positions and civilian areas near the LoC. Over the last few days there have been a series of ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC in Uri and Tanghdhar sectors in Kashmir and to the South of Pir Panjal in Jammu's Rajouri and Poonch. One army soldier was killed in action and two others were injured in the Pakistani shelling on Saturday night in the Kirni sector of Poonch. Actor Sushant Singh Rajputs US-based sister, Shweta, in a Facebook post has written about telling her son that his uncle is no more. Sushant died by suicide on Sunday, at the age of 34. He was reportedly suffering from depression. In her post, Shweta wrote, When I told Nirvanh the news that Mamu is no more, he said But he is alive in your heart 3 times. When a 5 yr old can say something like that... think how strong we should all be.... Stay Strong everyone.... especially the fans of Sushant... please understand he lives in our hearts and he will always keep doing so....Please dont do anything that can hurt his soul....Stay Strong! Also Watch | RIP Sushant Singh: How to battle stress; keep the mind & body healthy Condolences to the whole family... I am still not able to absorb this unthinkable event. May his soul RIP and his memories remain in our hearts forever, one person wrote in reply to Shweta. Sushants family travelled from Patna to Mumbai to attend his last rites on Monday. Shweta, however, wont be able to visit India any time soon. She wrote about it on Facebook recently: I need to fly to India ASAP.... not able to get any flight tickets... if anyone can help... please let me know. Later, she added, By everyones help.... tickets to India are confirmed. I am flying on 16th, will reach Mumbai via Delhi. Worried about 7 Day quarantine period... is there a way it can be waived off? I need to get to my family soon. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput had once said he couldnt make friends: They will pretend to like me but then they dont take my calls Sushant was cremated at Mumbais Vile Parle crematorium on Monday, and the service was attended by the likes of Shraddha Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Abhishek Kapoor and others. The actor was known for his acclaimed performances in films such as MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Sonchiriya, Kai Po Che, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, among others. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The gross direct tax collection collection dropped by 31 per cent till June 15 of the first quarter of FY21, with advance corporate tax mop-up falling 79 per cent, PTI quoted an official as saying. The sharp drop in the GST collection during April-June quarter of the current fiscal could partly be because of coronavirus lockdown, which resulted in shuttering of most of the country's economic activities. "Gross direct tax collection fell a full 31 per cent to Rs 1,37,825 crore in the first quarter of FY21, down from Rs 1,99,755 crore in the June 2019 quarter," an income tax official told PTI on Tuesday. During the first two months of the June quarter, the government had imposed nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic and only selected economic activities were operational, resulting in slump in revenue collection. Even though the lockdown has been lifted considerably from June 1, the economy is yet to crawl back to normalcy. The last day to pay advance taxes was June 15. Earlier, data released by the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGA) indicated that GST collections have seen a precipitous drop of up to 70 per cent in April. CGA data for April 2020 showed that the Centre's share of GST collection during the month was a paltry Rs 16,707 crore compared to Rs 55,329 crore in the previous year, a drop of 70 per cent. Usually, the GST numbers announced by the government comprise collection by both the Centre and states. However, CGA's data only shows the Centre's share of the GST collection. The government is yet to release monthly GST collections data post, March 2020, which were for the business activities in February. The monthly GST collection numbers for a particular month are announced on the 1st of next month. The gross GST revenue collected in March (for business activities in February) was at Rs 97,597 crore. Of this, CGST was Rs 19,183 crore, SGST was Rs 25,601 crore, IGST was Rs 44,508 crore (including Rs 18,056 crore collected on imports) and cess was Rs 8,306 crore (including Rs 841 crore collected on imports). Also Read: GST Council likely to discuss revenue augmentation, late fee waiver on Friday Also Read: GST collections down 70% in April KALAMAZOO, MI A new partnership will provide free internet service and Wi-Fi routers to 1,000 homes of Kalamazoo Public School students, following action by the Kalamazoo City Commission. The commission approved funding for the effort at a virtual meeting Monday, June 15, amending the city budget to allocate $200,000 from the Foundation for Excellence Aspirational Fund for the effort. The meeting went past midnight and the vote to approve the partnership happened early Tuesday morning. The Digital Access for All partnership includes Kalamazoo Public Schools, Kalamazoo Public Library, The Kalamazoo Promise, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and the city of Kalamazoo, with funding from the Foundation for Excellence. The executive order that closed public schools exacerbated the educational inequities that are present in our community, said Von Washington Jr., executive director of community relations for the Kalamazoo Promise. Many of our students dont have access to Wi-Fi at home, which makes online schooling nearly impossible for some families. It was imperative that The Promise and community partners collaborate to address unequal access to Wi-Fi, both now and into the future. For Kalamazoo to truly be an education community, our actions must stop the deepening of inequities already present in our society. We are responsible for reducing barriers that have long stifled the educational outcomes of marginalized communities, he said. Along with KPSs supplying of laptops to all students, the the partnership eliminates a hurdle to distance learning that many students face in Kalamazoo, according to the city. The goal is to create a more level playing field for internet access and to enhance access for online education services so all students can learn. This initiative relies on the collaboration, resources, and shared accountability of its partners. The public school district and The Promise will each provide $50,000 toward the anticipated program cost of $200,000 in the first year. The city, with support from the Foundation for Excellence, will cover remaining expenses and provide sustainability for the effort long-term, according to the city. Foundation for Excellence Coordinator Steve Brown gave a presentation about the partnership during Mondays city commission meeting. The Digital Access for All initiative demonstrates that advancing equitable access to resources can happen both quickly and with a grand vision of sustainability, when done in partnership with organizations that are passionate about the work, Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson said a news release announcing the partnership. The Kalamazoo Public Library will manage and lend the devices. For donations to support the program, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation has created a dedicated fund specific to the partnership. Very excited to vote on this tonight. Thank you to @kalfound @KPSschools @KzooLibrary and @KzooPromise for this amazing partnership. We are definitely better together! https://t.co/YxPeF5SjZ5 Chris Praedel (@chrispraedel) June 15, 2020 Recognizing the digital divide that exists within our community and taking action to address that divide is critical," Kalamazoo Community Foundation President and CEO Carrie Pickett-Erway said. Leveraging many talents and assets to close the gap speaks to the strength of collaboration and commitment to remove barriers to education that every student deserves. The partnership began on April 2, when the implications of Governor Gretchen Whitmers Stay Home, Stay Safe order became clear, resulting in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students learning at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instructional and support services are being provided by teachers and staff through online communication to students to the greatest extent possible, but not all students have internet access, the city said. Access to the internet has already become more of a necessity than a luxury, even without a pandemic, Kalamazoo Public Library Director Ryan Wieber said. It is essential for learning, research, banking, collaborating, and a critical part of an education in itself. In order to provide internet access to students who do not have it, hot spots and services are being purchased for KPS students to borrow from the KPL as a part of the already established OneCard Program, which allows students to borrow books, movies, and other items through the library. The effort will start in June 2020 with the city of Kalamazoo (through the Foundation for Excellence) following City Commission approval Monday. The partnership is subject to any necessary approval by all other partners, the city said. It will conclude on Aug. 31, 2021. This is a big step towards eliminating the digital divide and making sure that all students have opportunities to advance, KPS Superintendent Rita Raichoudhuri said in a news release. Eligible participants must be KPS students participating in the OneCard Program. Families that have identified themselves as having no access will be offered priority registration. Only one device per street address and residence will be permitted. The Powering Positivity campaign by MLive Media Group highlights how Michiganders are supporting one another during the coronavirus pandemic. It is sponsored by The MediLodge Group. Read more: Where Kalamazoo children can get free meals this summer Two drive-by shootings investigated by police in Southwest Michigan Recreational marijuana sales begin in Kalamazoo Record cold at 50 miles up could mean shiny noctilucent clouds this summer; Heres where, when to look Smoke rises in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, seen from Paju, South Korea, on June 16, 2020. (Yonhap via AP) South Korea Warns It Will Strongly Respond if North Korea Escalates Situation South Korea said it will strongly respond after North Korea blew up a liaison office inside the demilitarized zone on June 16, following weeks of bellicose statements from Pyongyang. Kim You-Geun, deputy director of Seouls national security office, said, We sternly warn that we will strongly respond to it if North Korea takes any action that further worsens the situation, according to the Yonhap News Agency. We make it clear that the responsibility for anything that could happen because of the act lies entirely with the North Korean side. North Korea blew up the communication office, established in 2018 as a symbol of reconciliation between the two countries, which are still technically at war as no peace treaty was ever signed. North Korean state-run media outlet KCNA said it completely ruined the office with a terrific explosion. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un, attends a wreath-laying ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam, on March 2, 2019. (Jorge Silva/Pool Photo via AP) The relevant field of the DPRK put into practice the measure of completely destroying the north-south joint liaison office in the Kaesong Industrial Zone in the wake of cutting off all the communication liaison lines between the North and the South, corresponding to the mindset of the enraged people to surely force human scum and those, who have sheltered the scum, to pay dearly for their crimes, the propaganda outlet said. It didnt detail how the office was destroyed. According to The Associated Press, the liaison office was empty when it was blown up. Several days ago, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of and an adviser to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, issued a series of threats to South Korea after a group of defectors launched balloons to drop leaflets inside the isolated communist country. North Korea last week also threatened to cut off all communication with Seoul. South Korean conservative activists launch balloons carrying leaflets denouncing North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during a rally in Hwacheon, South Korea, on July 29, 2010. (Ahn Young-joon/AP) South Koreas unification ministry also said that electricity provided to the North was suspended after the office was destroyed. South Koreas Defense Ministry said separately that it closely monitors North Korean military activities and is prepared to strongly counter any future provocations. The Souths vice unification minister, Suh Ho, who was Seouls top official at the liaison office, called the demolition an unprecedentedly senseless act that shocked not only our people, but the whole world. Some outside analysts believe the North, after failing to get what it wants in nuclear talks, will turn to provocation to win outside concessions because its economy has likely worsened due to sanctions and the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. North Korea may also be frustrated because the sanctions prevent Seoul from breaking away from Washington to resume joint economic projects with Pyongyang. About a decade ago, North Korea fired a torpedo at a South Korean ship, killing several dozen sailors. Days later, the communist regime shelled a border island, killing several people. The Associated Press contributed to this report. CALGARY, Alberta, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paleo Resources, Inc. (Paleo or the Corporation) (TSX-V: PRE, OTCQB: PRIEF) announced today that, further to its news release dated December 23, 2019, it has completed the acquisition (the Acquisition) of EF Resources, Inc. (EFR), the owner of the EnergyFunders financial technology platform, subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Acquisition was completed pursuant to the terms of a merger agreement, whereby EFR merged with a US subsidiary of Paleo. Pursuant to the Acquisition, Paleo authorized the issuance of an aggregate of 86,547,774 common shares of Paleo to the former shareholders of EFR, representing 25% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of Paleo on a fully diluted basis, of which 77,892,997 shares have been issued and 8,654,777 shares are subject to a holdback in respect of certain representations and warranties provided in favor of Paleo pursuant to the merger agreement. In addition, in connection with the Acquisition, Jeff Harder, the Chairman of EFR has been appointed as a director of Paleo and Casey Minshew, the Chief Executive Officer of EFR has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer of Paleo. Paleo also announced that, following the closing of the Acquisition, Mr. Roy Hudson resigned as Corporate Secretary and as a director of Paleo and Mr. Marc Rhoades resigned as Chief Operating Officer of Paleo. Paul Sewell has been appointed as a director and Corporate Secretary, and Kim Vo has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation following the recent departure of CFO Steven Vucurevich. Paleo would like to thank Mr. Hudson, Mr. Rhoades and Mr. Vucurevich for their dedication and service to the Corporation. Prior to and as a condition to the closing of the Acquisition, Paleo further amended the terms of the existing loans from each of Paleo Oil Company, LLC and Energy Reserve Capital LLC to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paleo Resources (USA), Inc., subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The maturity date of the loans has been extended to June 30, 2021, and all monthly payments of principal and interest are deferred until the maturity date. All other terms of the loans remain unchanged. For further information regarding the loans, please refer to the Corporations news releases dated September 24, 2018, December 17, 2018 and June 5, 2019. Roger S. Braugh and Christopher J. Pettit, directors of Paleo, are a shareholder and trustee of a shareholder, respectively, of Paleo Oil Company, LLC, the parent company of Energy Reserve Capital LLC. Paleo has determined that exemptions from the various requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 are available in connection with the amendment to the loans (Formal Valuation - Issuer Not Listed on Specified Markets; Minority Approval - Fair Market Value Not More Than 25% of Market Capitalization). Roger S. Braugh Jr. Executive Chairman and interim CEO of Paleo, stated: We look forward to working with EnergyFunders towards the development of the industrys next evolution in sourcing, funding and operating energy assets. Casey Minshew, CCO of Paleo and CEO of EnergyFunders, added: Technology platforms continue delivering innovative new approaches to traditional business models. Our team is excited to partner with visionaries like Paleo, that see the power of the EnergyFunders platform to change the landscape for oil and gas investing. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Paleo Resources, Inc. is an oil and natural gas and mineral exploration company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with executive offices in Houston, Texas. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "PRE" and on the OTCQB as "PRIEF" For further information please contact: Thomas M. Crain, Jr. President Phone: 713-922-1219 Email: tom@paleoresources.com Paleo Resources, Inc. 1980 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1500 Houston, Texas 77056 Telephone: 713-360-4847 Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the business of Paleo and the Acquisition. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects Paleo's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Paleo and on assumptions Paleo believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: Paleo's current and initial understanding and analysis of its projects and the exploration required for such projects; the costs of exploration and drilling on Paleo's projects; Paleo's general and administrative costs remaining constant; and the market acceptance of Paleo's business strategy. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Paleo to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: volatility in market prices for oil and natural gas; constraints on sour gas production; the availability of commodity markets and third party equipment, infrastructure and services; liabilities inherent in oil and natural gas operations; uncertainties associated with estimating oil and natural gas reserves; geological, technical, drilling and processing availability, upsets or problems; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations; competition; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting Paleo; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. A description of additional assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Paleo's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although Paleo has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Paleo as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. However, Paleo expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. Ever wish that the Ford Mustang Mach-E will be sold here in the Philippines? We also wish it did, because right now, Ford is giving Mach-E owners 250 kilowatt-hours of complimentary charging through FordPass Rewards at all Electrify America fast-charging stations nationwide. FYI: a 250 kilowatt-hours charging has a power output equivalent to three fill-ups of 250 kilowatt-hours of fast-charging energy (using Mach-E owners' extended range of battery). 250 kilowatt-hours of complimentary charging through FordPass Rewards The 250 kilowatt-hours of complimentary charging were offering through FordPass Rewards and the FordPass Charging Network with Electrify America will give our Mustang Mach-E customers confidence in their ability to plan trips, no matter their destination, said Matt Stover, Ford director of charging, energy services and business development. Note that this freebie is in addition to the two years of complimentary access that all Mustang Mach-E customers will automatically get when they use FordPass Charging Network pay-as-you-go charging. Considered to have the biggest number of high-powered public charging stations on the market today, the FordPass Charging Network has more than 13,500 charging stations and around 40,000 individual plugs across North America. 250 kilowatt-hours of complimentary charging through FordPass Rewards With Electrify America's DC fast chargers and Mustang Mach-E's extended range battery, the vehicle can cover a range of almost 100 kilometers. According to Ford, charging time takes only 10 minutesfaster than getting a slice of pizza. What's more, the all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive configurations can reach a 10 to 80 percent charge in an estimated 45 minutes. Mobile charging, ford mach-e Exciting new electric vehicles like the Mustang Mach-E will help drive new customers to choose to drive electric, said Giovanni Palazzo, president and CEO of Electrify America. Were proud to have Ford electric vehicles take advantage of Electrify Americas growing nationwide DC fast- charger network to help range anxiety soon be a thing of the past. Story continues The Mustang Mach-E will also include the Ford Mobile Charger that can be plugged anywhere with a standard 120-volt or 240 volts. You can easily charge a rear-wheel drive Mustang Mach-E with extended-range battery overnight when you plug it in the 240 volt electric outlet. Meanwhile, those who are into connectivity can opt for the Ford Connected Charge Station home wall box that is also available for purchase. Photos from Ford Also Read: Feast Your Eyes on the Ford Mustang Mach-E Ford Mustang Mach-E Makes World Debut [June 16, 2020] LA's AltaSea and Oregon State University Launch West Coast Ocean Innovation Partnership AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles announced today a first-of-its-kind partnership with Oregon State University that will feature interactive virtual ocean education content with world-renowned professors and other joint efforts, such as a summer internship program. The partnership effectively creates a West Coast network for ocean innovation. This is a unique collaboration between AltaSea and a major university, highlighting the value of AltaSea's reputation, community, and location as a center for the blue economy and Oregon State's internationally respected oceanography and marine science programs. Dr. Roberta Marinelli, Dean of the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences will be hosting a live chat on July 31. This new partnership will kick off with live chats hosted by AltaSea that feature Oregon State professors offering their perspective on key topics within their expertise, followed by questions from the audience in a Zoom chat. These video chats are part of AltaSea's Project [email protected], a digital port for content and education resources for the emerging blue economy. The first live chat, featuring Oregon State professor Burke Hales on ocean carbon cycles, will take place at 12:00 noon PST on June 19. The partnership also includes the participation of graduate students from Oregon State's Pacific Marine Energy Center in AltaSea's high school volunteer program, giving science-inspired students access to high-achieving marine energy mentors further down a professional path they may be considering. In future phases of the collaboration, AltaSea will provide Oregon State graduate students the opportunity to use AltaSea's waterfront facilities at the Port of Los Angeles for research, and to connect with some of the exciting blue economy startups working or testing their products at AltaSea. AltaSea, which is creating a world-class campus for the blue economy and a new hub for ocean education and business from historic warehouses at the Port of Los Angeles, launched its virtual education program at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This program was designed to help students and families learn more about topics like the ocean economy, aquaculture, ocean renewable energy, and conservation through a series of easy-to-understand, visually appealing learning activities, such as live video chats, video question-and-answer sessions and pre-packaged lessons. Joining forces with Oregon State adds world-class ocean educators and intellectual heft to Project Blue, helping sudents expand their science and engineering knowledge while they remain outside of the classroom. "Our vision for AltaSea has always been to create a first-class campus for ocean education at the Port of Los Angeles," said Tim McOsker, CEO of AltaSea. "This partnership with Oregon State is an exciting step on that path." "We are thrilled to partner with Oregon State to help deliver truly first-class educational content to our supporters, and anyone who is interested in a free learning experience," said Jenny Krusoe, Founding Executive Director of AltaSea. "AltaSea is creating an ocean community in the real and virtual worlds, and we are proud to bring Oregon State into our family." "Oregon State University is pleased to partner with AltaSea in its global effort to educate the public on ocean science and the blue economy," said Roberta Marinelli, dean of the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State. "Our faculty contribute to the success of the global science enterprise by serving as intellectual leaders, innovators, and stewards of critical research infrastructure for Oregon and the nation." Providing high-quality, free ocean educational programming like these chats can also help inspire students to pursue jobs in the blue economy, where they can excel professionally and do good for the environment. In February, AltaSea and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation released a report that included the ocean economy as the first new category of jobs in the region in more than a decade. According to the report, the ocean economy will produce more than 126,000 jobs paying a combined $37.7 billion in wages by 2023. The full list of Project Blue live chats featuring Oregon State professors is below. All chats are held via Zoom at 12:00 noon PDT, unless noted. Anyone can register at https://altasea-project-blue.org/live-chats/: June 19 Burke Hales, Professor, Ocean Ecology and Biogeochemistry "Ocean Carbon Cycles" July 3 Andrew Thurber, Assistant Professor, Microbiology "Antarctica's Methane Seep Habitats" July 10 Jonathan Fram, Associate Professor, Physics of Oceans and Atmospheres "Processes Affecting Nutrient Dynamics in Kelp Beds, Coral Reefs, and Arctic Lakes" July 31 Roberta Marinelli, Dean, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences "Seafloor Ecology and BioGeoChemistry" About AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is creating a world-class ocean-based campus where science, business and education come together to generate innovative solutions to the most critical global sustainability issues today: food, energy, and climate security. AltaSea accelerates scientific collaboration, facilitates job creation, and inspires the next generation for a more sustainable ocean. Built on a historic pier with access to the deep ocean, AltaSea's campus brings people together to expand science-based understanding of the ocean; incubate and sustain ocean-related business; and pioneer new ocean-related education programs. For more information on AltaSea, please see our website: https://altasea.org. About Oregon State University As one of only two universities in the nation designated as a land, sea, space and sun grant, Oregon State serves Oregon and the world by working on today's most pressing issues. Our more than 32,000 students come from across the globe, and our programs operate in every Oregon county. Oregon State receives more research funding than all of the state's comprehensive public universities combined. At our campuses in Corvallis and Bend, marine research center in Newport and award-winning Ecampus, we excel at shaping today's students into tomorrow's leaders. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005277/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 31: The logo of China's Huawei Information and Communication Technology Group is visible on the facade of its headquarters on January 31, 2019 in Paris, France. The French government has decided to limit the deployment of telecom equipment belonging to the Chinese group, Huawei. Westerners suspect Huawei of using its position in the global market for espionage purposes. In the USA, Huawei is targeted by more than 20 counts. The tense relations between Huawei and the United States finally led to complaint being filed against the Chinese manufacturer, accusing it of technology theft and sanction violations. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. is a company founded in 1987, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, which provides solutions in the field of information and communication technologies. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images) The United States Department of Commerce today issued a change to its sweeping Huawei ban. Proponents of the move note that the change in policy ought not be regarded as a softening on the governments stance toward the embattled hardware maker, but instead is an attempt to develop more streamlined standards for 5G, along with the company, which has been one of the primary forces in its development According to the Department: This action is meant to ensure Huaweis placement on the Entity List in May 2019 does not prevent American companies from contributing to important standards-developing activities despite Huaweis pervasive participation in standards-development organizations. The change is designed to allow Huawei and U.S. to both play a role in hashing out the parameters for the next-generation wireless technology. The United States will not cede leadership in global innovation. This action recognizes the importance of harnessing American ingenuity to advance and protect our economic and national security, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement. The Department is committed to protecting U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by encouraging U.S. industry to fully engage and advocate for U.S. technologies to become international standards. The new Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) rule essentially allows companies to share information about technologies in order to develop a joint standard without requiring an export license. Beyond that, however, the DOC has no stated plans to ease up after placing Huawei on its entities list last year. The Chinese smartphone maker was included in the blacklist over a litany of ongoing complaints, including its ties to national government, concerns over spying and alleged sanction violations with Iran. The move has had a profound impact on the company, including a severing of its ties to Google, which formed the software backbone of its mobile line through Android and a suit of included apps. Subsequent handsets, including the recently released P40 Pro+, have been shipped without the software on board. Narrowing of differences on competing territorial claims along the LAC might take weeks, if not months, of hard-nosed negotiations. Without some give and take on both sides, the impasse will be hard to resolve, observes Virendra Kapoor. IMAGE: Officers of the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army at a border personnel meeting in less combative times. Photograph: ANI Photo Let us not delude ourselves. We may be far better equipped than in 1962 when Nehru's ill-considered forward policy ended most disastrously. But despite huge strides in building our economy, military, and other necessary infrastructures, we still have a long way to go before we can match China militarily and economically. Yet, India is no pushover. Not long ago, a relatively small Vietnam had brought to its knees the greatest military power of the time. China and India being nuclear powered, not even in their worst nightmares would Beijing and New Delhi chance, even by accident, a major border conflagration. Again, with an ultra-nationalist BJP as the ruling party at the Centre with a strong leader like Modi as prime minister, it can be completely ruled out that India would countenance anything less than an honourable solution to the latest stalemate. The latest incursion into the Indian territory too will require patience and tactfulness which India had displayed in earlier Chinese provocations. There is no reason to believe that it will be found wanting this time. Circumstances change, of course. Both countries aspire to be global powers. China is at least two decades ahead, India having lost its way thanks to retrograde and wrong-headed economic and political policy regimens, is still playing catch up. On all available evidence, it is clear the standoff is unlikely to end anytime soon. Narrowing of differences on competing territorial claims along the un-demarcated Line of Actual Control might take weeks, if not months, of hard-nosed negotiations. Without some give and take on both sides, the impasse will be hard to resolve. China violated the LAC and moved into the Indian territory early in May. The Indian border guards were caught napping. Fear of the coronavirus, it seems, made them lower guard when the Chinese pushed into the Indian side in the course of their annual exercises. It is not the first time that China has breached the unwritten agreement to respect the LAC. Despite efforts to negotiate a settlement, the two governments have failed. In the early years after Independence, the Chinese leadership seemed keen to settle but Nehru was disinclined. However, once India gave the Dalai Lama and his loyal band of followers shelter in 1959, China's stance hardened. The flawed policies of the Nehru-V K Krishna Menon combine finally invited the humiliating rebuff in 1962. Now, having acquired greater economic and military heft, China projects power through its robust foreign policy. Aside from North Korea, there is probably no country in its neighbourhood which does not feel browbeaten by the Chinese flexing of the military and economic muscle. China openly bullies its smaller neigbhours. And, above all, it seems to be in open confrontation with the US, Europe and other countries which resist its predatory trade practices. The short point is that China may be feared, but it is not respected in world capitals. Even at the height of the Cold War, the US was mindful of public opinion and did not ramrod its policies on unwilling democratic countries. In sharp contrast, China seeks to force itself on its neighbours. Consider how it has defied the International Court of Justice to annex islands in the South China Sea. Or its recent economic intimidation of Australia when the latter merely called for an independent investigation into the spread of the coronavirus from Wuhan. Coming back to the India-China skirmishes along the LAC, for India a complete withdrawal of the People's Liberation Army from the territory it occupied early last month has to be non-negotiable. Heightened nationalist sentiment at home will not permit anything less. The 2017 Dokalam standoff provides an insight. The dispute over China's building of a road on the border with Bhutan -- which would have endangered India's strategic link to the North-East through what is called the Chicken's Neck in Siliguri -- was finally resolved to New Delhi's satisfaction after months of negotiations. Now the Chinese object to India upgrading its road and air infrastructure, connecting the border with an all-weather Daulat Beg Oldi road. This is an after-thought. India has been building that road for over a decade. No objections were raised at anytime till now. Or there could be other reasons for China's erratic behaviour. After the local level talks failed to yield result, these were upgraded to the level of the corps commander. The first round resulted in both sides pulling back by a kilometre or two, but there was no withdrawal by the Chinese from the crucial Pangong Tso Lake in the vicinity of the Daulat Beg Oldi road. The talks are likely to resume in the next few days. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said last week that the two countries had 'reached agreement' on the ongoing border tensions, leading to 'partial disengagement' from some points on the LAC. It is hoped that eventually the Chinese will pull back from the critical Pangong Tso lake as well. That point is strategically critical for them because it allows easier movement to parts of the territory in Kashmir that Pakistan had 'gifted' to China. Crucially, it links the Tibetan plateau to the Uighur-Muslim dominated Xinjiang. At the heart of the aggressive Chinese policy might be President Xi Jinping's need to project strength at home and abroad. Having arranged to have himself anointed Leader for Life, Xi needs to always watch over his shoulder for intrigues and manipulations by aspiring rivals in the Chinese Communist Party. Playing Superman to the world at large raises his stock at home. See how he seeks to crush Hong Kong's autonomy and openly threatens annexation of Taiwan through military action. The way the Wuhan origin virus was tackled, with the authorities trying their best to prevent information about it leaking to the outside world, was sheer arrogance and a betrayal of the suffering humanity. China has lost public goodwill. Its unprovoked aggression against India cannot redound to its credit in the world councils either. India is capable enough to sort out the problem bilaterally, but it helps that the larger global community stands with it on this wholly unprovoked Chinese aggression. Production: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Paris, France (PANA) - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Monday paid tribute to 30 news heroes (journalists, whistleblowers and the media) around the world, including six Africans, who have distinguished themselves since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic by helping to disseminate reliable information which is particularly vital in these times of health crisis D onald Trump has threatened to stop the publication of a revealing book by his third national security advisor, John Bolton, according to ABC News. Mr Trump said it would be the responsibility of his attorney general, William Barr, to issue any changes but implied the matter would end up in court. He said: "We'll see what happens. They're in court or they'll soon be in court." Mr Bolton left Trump's administration last autumn, and was originally supposed to publish his book, "The Room Where It Happened", earlier this year. However, he encountered delays from the White House, as the book went through a pre-publication review by the National Security Council to ensure it contained no classified material. AP The publisher Simon & Schuster last week announced the release date of 23 June for "the book Donald Trump doesn't want you to read". Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, Mr Trump said Mr Bolton would be breaking federal law if his book is published in its current form. He said: I will consider every conversation with me as president highly classified. So that would mean that if he wrote a book, and if the book gets out, hes broken the law. And I would think that he would have criminal problems, I would hope so. Yet Mr Bolton's attorney Chuck Cooper, claims his client worked relentlessly for months with classification specialists at the White House National Security Council to make changes to avoid releasing classified material. However, both Mr Trump and Mr Barr have accused Mr Bolton of not completing the pre-publication review. The attorney general explained that administration officials who have access to sensitive information in most cases sign non-disclosure agreements which mean they have to go through a clearance process prior to publishing something based on information they accessed in the job. Mr Barr said: "We dont believe that Bolton went through that process, hasnt completed the process, and, therefore, is in violation of that agreement." He added that The Trump administration is trying to get them to complete the process go through the process and make the necessary deletions of classified information." Mr Bolton was formerly an ambassador to the United Nations, and was national security adviser between April 2018 and September 2019. In a controversial move, he didn't testify in impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump, which centred on Ukraine and Mr Trump's efforts to torment the government there into investigating policial rival Joe Biden - although in February, Mr Trump was acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate. Mr Bolton's publisher said: "What Bolton saw astonished him. A president for whom getting re-elected was the only thing that mattered, even if it meant endangering or weakening the nation. Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton / REUTERS Bolton argues that the House committed impeachment malpractice by keeping their prosecution focused narrowly on Ukraine when Trumps Ukraine-like transgressions existed across the full range of his foreign policy and Bolton documents exactly what those were, and attempts by him and others in the administration to raise alarms about them. When Mr Trump first became aware of Mr Bolton's book plans, he repeatedly called him a "traitor" and said he would sue to halt publication - but it's unclear if Mr Trump's latest threat will work. Last week Mr Cooper wrote in the Wall Street Journal of a transparent attempt to use national security as a pretext to censor Mr Bolton, in violation of his constitutional right to speak on matters of the utmost public import. He added: This attempt will not succeed, and Mr Boltons book will be published [on] 23 June. Mr Bolton's first interview about the memoir, with ABC News Chief of Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz,will air in a one-hour special on Sunday, 21 June. Speaking to The Standard, Simon & Schuster UK confirmed that Mr Bolton's book 'The Room Where It Happened' will be published on 23 June. We have reached out to Mr Bolton's representatives and the White House for comment. President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally for Republican Senate candidate Mike Braun at the County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Nov. 5, 2018. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Trump Tulsa Rally Attendees Will Be Given Temp Checks, Masks, Campaign Says Attendees at President Donald Trumps campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 20 will be provided with masks and hand sanitizer, and will be subject to temperature screenings before entering the venue, his campaign announced June 15. According to his campaign, more than a million ticket requests have been made for Trumps first rally since March, when the CCP virus pandemic put a halt to all in-person campaign events. People who attend the rally, however, wont be required to wear the masks or maintain social distancing, CNN reported. Over 1M ticket requests for the @realDonaldTrump #MAGA Rally in Tulsa on Saturday. Before entering each guest will get: Temperature check Hand sanitizer Mask There will be precautions for the heat and bottled water as well. Brad Parscale (@parscale) June 15, 2020 A full house is expected at the rally at Tulsas BOK Center, which has a capacity of just under 20,000. Brad Parscale, Trumps campaign manager, said that the Tulsa rally has drawn the most interest of any Trump event. When ticket requests hit 800,000 over the weekend, it represented the biggest data haul and rally signup of all time by 10 times, Parscale said. People can still sign up for the rally on the campaigns website. While anyone can get free tickets, theyre honored on a first-come, first-serve basis. The rally, which is expected to begin at about 7 p.m. local time, was pushed back one day so it wouldnt fall on Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. June 19 is celebrated as the day when, in 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger of the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the slaves in the state that they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation made more than two years previously. Surgical face masks. (Mika Baumeister/Unsplash) A number of officials, including Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), called on or personally spoke to Trump about changing the date of the event, and the president ended up supporting the new date. Trump said in a statement June 12 that unfortunately the rally was originally scheduled to fall on Juneteenth, adding, Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out of respect for this Holiday, and in observance of this important occasion and all that it represents. The date change was made to honor those requests, he said. The precautions were added after Tulsa City-County Health Department Director Dr. Bruce Dart told the Tulsa World that he hoped the event could be pushed back further because of a significant increase in our case trends. Im concerned about our ability to protect anyone who attends a large, indoor event, and Im also concerned about our ability to ensure the president stays safe as well, he said over the weekend. COVID is here in Tulsa, it is transmitting very efficiently, Dart added. I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isnt as large a concern as it is today. Prospective attendees are being told that they cant sue the Trump campaign or the venue if they contract the CCP virus, which emerged in China last year and causes the disease COVID-19. By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present, says a statement to people who sign up. By attending the rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury. The campaign takes the health and safety of rally-goers seriously and is taking precautions to make the rally safe, Erin Perrine, deputy communications director for the campaign, said in an email. Every single rally-goer will have their temperature checked, be provided a face mask and hand sanitizer. We are also taking precautions to keep rally-goers safe in the Oklahoma heatincluding providing water bottles to keep people hydrated. Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, told Fox News that people with underlying conditions can choose not to attend events such as the rally. Oklahoma reported 8,417 cases of COVID-19 and 359 deaths as of June 15. 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Please increase the size of your window. Last year, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his pledge to annex parts of the occupied West Bank and the US administration continued to insist on the one-sided deal of the century, the Palestinian Authority (PA) scrambled to put together a new political strategy. In April 2019, newly appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced his cabinet would proceed with economic disengagement from the occupation. Over the summer, Palestinian officials continued to talk about this new strategy, and in September, the PA finally took action, declaring it was halting direct imports of cattle from Israel. In the following months, the Palestinian governments attempts to implement the strategy resulted in a mini-trade war with Israel, which swiftly ended in March as the Palestinian authorities faced the prospect of a major novel coronavirus outbreak. The pandemic quickly became the ultimate test of the new strategy, which crumbled as the PA grappled with controlling the spread of the disease and steering the already struggling Palestinian economy. As Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass latest declaration of the end of accords and security cooperation with Israel proves to be once again just an empty threat, it is time for the Palestinian leadership to radically change its strategy. The disengagement strategy The idea of economic disengagement from Israel has been circulating in Palestinian policy circles for years. There have also been past attempts to impose various boycotts on Israeli goods which have not met any success. As the US moved its embassy to Jerusalem, recognising Israeli claim over the city, and disturbing details of the Trump administrations deal of the century started to surface, the idea of Palestinian disengagement came to the fore once again. When Shtayyeh took office in April 2019, he made it a priority of his new cabinet. The Palestinian prime minister talked of strengthening Palestinian economic independence by boosting local production, exports and direct imports from abroad and encouraging Palestinians working in Israel to seek employment in the Palestinian territories instead. He also said his government would pursue a cluster development strategy, stimulating certain economic sectors in various regions: agriculture in Jenin, industry in Nablus, tourism in Bethlehem and medical service provision in occupied East Jerusalem. The strategy has been predicated on the PA continuing to receive tax revenue which, under the 1994 Paris Protocol, is collected by the Israeli authorities on its behalf. However, over the past 25 years, Israel has regularly withheld tax revenue from the Palestinian government under various pretexts, including, most recently, that the PA was paying pensions to families of Palestinian political prisoners who the Israelis consider terrorists. Withholding such funds is just one of many coercive tactics available to the Israeli government to counter any Palestinian policy it deems threatening to its political-economic interests. And what happened after the Palestinian ban on import of cattle illustrated that perfectly. In January 2020, the Israeli government issued a ban on importing Palestinian agricultural products. In early February, the PA prohibited the import of some Israeli goods to which the Israelis responded by blocking Palestinian goods from crossing Israeli territory for export into Jordan. Two weeks later, as a COVID-19 outbreak loomed and threatened the already shattered Palestinian economy, the PA caved in and lifted the ban on Israeli goods. The Palestinian leadership claimed they had reached a deal with the Israelis to import cattle directly from international markets through Israel. The announcement was made just a day before Israel officially declared it had registered the first case of COVID-19. The spread of the virus to the occupied Palestinian territories was just a matter of time. On March 5, the PA announced its first positive test of COVID-19 and declared a one-month state of emergency. The coronavirus pandemic not only hastened the end of Palestinian attempts to implement economic disengagement but it also demonstrated just how impotent the PA is in taking any major decisions concerning the Palestinian people, even when it comes to public health. The PAs failures in combatting COVID-19 Since early March, the PA has tried to implement a variety of measures to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. It was obvious early on that the contagion will spread from Israel through Palestinian labourers working in Israeli cities and illegal settlements. This was later confirmed by statistics: In April, 79 percent of the cases in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were labourers in Israel or their family members. So, on March 17, Shtayyeh announced that movement between Israeli and Palestinian territory was to be cut off and that labourers would have three days to sort out accommodation on the Israeli side if they wanted to continue working. A week later, after several sick labourers were mistreated by the Israeli authorities, Shtayyeh called on Palestinians to leave their jobs in Israel and stay home, as they were at a greater risk of contracting the virus. This threatened Israels economy, especially the construction sector, so the Israeli government acted quickly and started issuing permits for Palestinians to stay on Israeli territory. The PA wanted the Israeli authorities to start doing medical checks on Palestinian labourers, but they refused. Thus, the movement of Palestinians in and out of Israel continued, undermining any efforts by the Palestinian cabinet to rein in the spread of the virus. The PA has also struggled to fight the spread of the virus in Areas B and C of the occupied West Bank, which are under direct Israeli security control. Shtayyeh called on local communities to form emergency committees and undertake provision of medical and security services in these areas. But the Israeli occupation forces have systematically undermined such efforts. They have stormed Palestinian barriers set up by the local communities at the entrances of Palestinian villages to control the flow of Palestinian labourers working in Israel returning home. The occupation authorities have also sabotaged efforts of Palestinian officials who have tried to implement preventive measures in the Palestinian towns and neighbourhoods within the administrative boundaries of occupied East Jerusalem. On April 3, the occupation authorities arrested the minister of Jerusalem affairs, Fadi Al-Hadami for illegal activities. Two days later, they also detained Adnan Ghaith, the PAs Jerusalem governor. Both were involved in anti-outbreak efforts. In addition, Israel has refused to allow the Palestinian government to operate in Jerusalem and to test Palestinians for the virus. Time for a new strategy On May 19, Abbas declared all accords with Israel and the US void in response to the Israeli plan to annex parts of the West Bank in July and US acquiescence to it. This came nearly a year after he announced the suspension of all deals with Israel. The president said that his latest declaration puts an end to security cooperation with Israeli forces and transfers all responsibility for occupied Palestinian territories to the Israeli government. But the announcement has been poor on details and, so far, does not seem to have resulted in any major changes in relations with Israel. In fact, some Palestinian officials have sent messages of reassurance to Israel that the Palestinian security services will continue their work to stop any resistance against Israel in the West Bank. It does seem that this will be yet another of the dozens of PA declarations on halting security coordination with Israel which have not resulted in any serious action. It is indeed incomprehensible why the PA continues to insist on using the same toolkit of ineffective measures which, over the past quarter of a century, have failed to stop Israels relentless colonisation of Palestinian land and exploitation of Palestinian resources. With looming annexation of up to 30 percent of the West Bank in July, it is high time for the PA to abandon these tired tactics. The Palestinian leadership must stop talking about a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders and admit that historical Palestine is governed by an apartheid system. This would open the way to expand the resistance against Israeli colonialism and oppression to all Palestinians inside and outside Palestine. Within historical Palestine, naming Israel as an apartheid power would allow all Palestinians (those living in the West Bank, Gaza, and 1948 occupied lands) to engage in decentralised resistance against apartheid, using all possible strategies and tools. The Palestinian leadership will be part of it as well. Outside of Palestine, acknowledging apartheid would help Palestinians in the diaspora convince the international community to accept the Palestinian struggle as one against apartheid and racism. In this way, Palestinians will move from the impossible dream of two states to the reality of anti-apartheid resistance and help attract the support of everyone around the world who believes in justice, equality, and liberty. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Police in Machakos have arrested a 33-year-old man accused of killing his 26-year-old wife and 11-year-old son on Friday night. The incident happened in Joska, Matungulu Constituency in Machakos County, Kenya. Neighbours reported that they saw the suspect, a boda boda operator, loading a black 50-litre drum on his motorbike, and when he ignited the motorbikes engine to take off, a human head fell off the container. Shocked, they rushed to the scene to establish whose head the suspect was carrying. On arriving near the suspects house, they discovered that the severed head belonged to the suspects 11-year-old son. The neighbours then filed a report at the nearby KBC Police Station in Matungulu. Law enforcement officers, who arrived at the suspects home, broke down his door and were shocked to discover that the 33-year-old man had also killed his 26-year-old wife. The body of the suspects spouse was found naked on their bed, with deep cuts inflicted to her head. Matungulu OCPD Kipkemoi Kirui told K24 Digital that the suspect was going to bury his sons body, when the boys head fell off the drum he had loaded onto his motorbike. Fearing that neighbours would lynch him, the suspect hopped off the motorbike and ran into his house, where he locked himself in, said Kirui. On arrival at his home Friday night, police arrested the suspect and moved the bodies of mother-and-son to Kangundo Level 4 Hospital morgue. We have launched investigations into the murders, and soon, we will arraign the suspect, Kangundo OCPD Kipkemoi Kirui said. The reason(s) for the killings remain unclear, police said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Legislators on Monday took the first steps to reform police accountability including the establishment of civilian review boards and limiting when police can use chokeholds by advancing a set of bills in the wake of widespread protests against police brutality. The bills, which passed the Assembly Community Development and Affairs committee, echo guidelines already issued by Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. Earlier this month, he issued guidance that directs police officers to limit the use of chokeholds to situations where they fear for their lives or the lives of others. The use of chokeholds by law enforcement has come under scrutiny nationwide following the killing of George Floyd, when an officer visibly pressed a knee into his neck for more than eight minutes as Floyd said he couldnt breathe. With this legislation, we define these holds in New Jersey as use of deadly force, said Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter. But Assemblyman Ryan Peters argued that certain chokeholds should be allowed as an appropriate use of force. I dont think this is anti-police, I dont think this is pro-police," said Peters, R-Burlington. Another bill that advanced Monday would also require the state Attorney Generals Office to collect and analyze data on arrests including race, ethnicity and gender which advocates say could help point out disparities in arrests in African-American communities. The legislation comes as protests across the state and the nation continue in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of police last month. The protests have led to reforms in cities across the country including Minneapolis, where Floyd died, New York, and California. But, as Assemblywoman Britnee N. Timberlake pointed out Monday, the bills that advanced out are long overdue. These are not bills that are only reactionary to what weve seen in recent events because, unfortunately, the recent events arent anything new, said Timberlake, D-Essex. These are bills that have been a part of the legislature for a very long time but only now are we seeing a political will to move this stuff forward. In her opening statements, Sumter said, Lets be clear, I do not believe all police are the proverbial bad apples. Not at all." But we must acknowledge the inadequacies in the disproportionate policing and violence against African-Americans in this country," Sumter, D-Passaic, said. The bills, which now advance to the Assembly, passed the committee without much opposition. Pat Colligan, the president of the New Jersey State Policemans Benevolent Association, testified against the bill creating civilian review boards. Colligan cautioned that the legislation was rushed and that the Attorney General has issued very good rules on how these boards should operate. We cannot create the Wild Wild West out there with these civilian review boards, Colligan said. Some of these groups tend to divert from their original mission. His sentiment was shared by Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro, D-Hudson. While Chaparro supports the bill, she expressed reservations that the process of choosing board members could become political. You just want to make sure theres transparency and the people get a fair review, Chaparro said. It could get uglier than actually helping. The Rev. Charles Boyer, a pastor and founder of the civil rights group Salvation and Social Justice, said that after NJ Advance Media published the Force Report in 2018, which found that a black person was more than three times more likely to face police force than someone who is white, community members around the state said creating civilian review boards through legislation was a high priority. Even though the attorney general has introduced guidelines for civilian boards, Boyer said, a new attorney general could come in and render them mute. Guidelines take the teeth out of the point of having these boards, he said. They should not only be review in nature, but they should be the strongest possible when it comes to accountability. Police are not directly accountable to the community. When that dynamic shifts, you will see a shift in policing. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal The state Public Education Department is appealing a federal determination blocking New Mexico from lowering payments to school districts in fiscal year 2020 based on how much Impact Aid a district receives. The PED is disputing the U.S. Department of Educations analysis on New Mexicos school funding and called for a hearing, according to a letter dated June 13. Impact Aid is a federal funding mechanism that aims to help districts make up for lost property tax revenue due to tax-exempt lands in their area, among other things. New Mexico takes credit for some of this federal money in its school funding formula. A total program cost is calculated for a school district, then the state subtracts 75% of Impact Aid payments from that total and gives the district the difference. In April, the U.S. Department of Education decided the state cant do this for fiscal year 2020, saying the state didnt pass a test that measures whether expenditures are equalized across districts. In its letter to the U.S. Department of Education, PED lawyers argue that the feds analysis was flawed and assert that the department should have only looked at the school funding formula for this test and not other local funding streams. NMPED challenges the Departments finding that the State must include revenues outside of the State Equalization Guarantee (SEG) in the disparity test The SEG is New Mexicos program of State aid for current expenditures and the only program that should be included in the disparity test, the letter says. The Departments interpretation is inconsistent with the law and intent of the disparity test, the document goes on to say. The letter on behalf of the PED also says there are multiple calculations allowed for the disparity test, and New Mexico is in the clear under alternative computations. According to the PEDs letter, removing Impact Aid credits would result in a decrease of over $60 million in the school funding formula available for other districts. But Gallup-McKinley County Schools Superintendent Mike Hyatt said the practice of taking credit for Impact Aid takes from some of the poorest areas of the state in the first place. We dont expect things to change without a federal government ruling or a court order to fix the (deep-seated) bias, Hyatt wrote in an email to the Journal. The state has significant, admitted problems with this Impact Aid issue so we will continue to expose the scheme that it is until all students are treated equitably across the state whether that is through action legislatively, federally and possibly legally, he continued. Sabeco is not resting on its laurels and will continue to push the quality of Vietnamese beer From a small production origin, after years of development Sabeco has now achieved two billion litres of output with more than 145,000 product consumption channels nationwide. In 1875, Frenchman Victor Larue opened a small brewery in Ho Chi Minh City. After the national reunification in 1975, the factory was managed by Southern Brewery Company and renamed itself as Bia Saigon Factory in 1977 to then officially became Saigon Beer Company in 1993. From a small production origin, after years of development Sabeco has now achieved two billion litres of output with more than 145,000 product consumption channels nationwide. Today, the companys network includes 26 subsidiaries and 18 associates and joint ventures, with more than 145,000 product consumption channels spanning across the country. Many important milestones by Sabeco have accompanied the countrys progressive development (see chart). Today, the company has put tremendous effort in upgrading its production as well as improving its business operations to become a successful business, solidifying its position as the pride of Vietnam. For the last three years, Sabeco has been maintaining the leading position in the top 50 listed companies in the stock market as voted by Forbes Vietnam; the top 50 most effective companies in Vietnam; and is also one of seven representatives of Vietnam on the list of Asias best billion-dollar enterprises. Rejuvenation of brands One of Sabecos most iconic products is the Bia Saigon brand, which has charmed generations of Vietnamese. The product that carries the familiar name of Ho Chi Minh City has placed its own distinctive mark in the country with the development of several unique products such as Bia Saigon Lager, Bia Saigon Export, and Bia Saigon Special in various sizes of cans and bottles. Meanwhile, Bia 333 has conquered the heart and flavour of Vietnamese beer lovers because of its distinct aroma and well-rounded taste with an original recipe from France. Over many generations, Bia 333 has gradually become an indispensable drink on the dining table of Vietnamese people. Not only a favourite of indigenous people, Bia 333 is also among the first domestic beer brands to be exported to 18 countries, including fastidious markets such as Japan, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. Most recently, Sabeco beat strong candidates from countries around the world to win the gold medal in the International Smallpack Lager Competition, Class 1 category at The International Beer Cup 2019. It also won a gold medal in the German Heritage category at the International Beer Cup. Our products, which have been delighting Vietnamese people with a fresh and unique taste, also reflect the spirit on pursuing continual improvement and growth originating from Vietnam, said Bennett Neo, general director of Sabeco. I am incredibly proud of our colleagues bringing pride to the company and the people of Vietnam. To be honoured with this prestigious gold medal is powerful evidence not only of our beers exceptional high quality, but also the worlds recognition on the modern progress of Vietnams brewing industry. While traditional recipes that bring out great tastes are definitely one of the signatures of Sabeco products, the company has also been focusing on ensuring the brands capture the heart and spirit of the Vietnamese, especially consumer optimism and rising expectations for excellence today. With endless efforts, Sabeco is making significant inroads with brand rejuvenation for the future. Last year, the group announced the rejuvenation of its flagship Bia Saigon brand and Bia 333 as part of its long-term strategy to cement the companys leadership position in the market. Accordingly, the new logo of Bia Saigon products has been redesigned with the centrepiece as the sacrosanct dragon. The refreshed design has helped Sabeco not only honour the favourite taste of consumers for over a decade, but also reaffirmed that Sabeco will continue to inherit, preserve, and develop the legendary flavour of Vietnamese beer in the years to come. Following the success of Bia Saigons relaunch, in November last year, Sabeco introduced new packaging for Bia 333, with the redesigned logo bringing a breath of fresh air, reflecting openness and individualism yet retaining the long-standing brand heritage. Staying true to its motto of Open up to the world, yet remain true to itself, the new packaging embraces the ruby red tone that reminds drinkers about its heritage, but still evokes a modern feeling. In addition, three new symbols were added to the packaging which have represented three credentials from the origins of Germany, France, and Vietnam. The refreshed design has helped Sabeco not only honour consumer tastes for over a decade but also reaffirmed that Sabeco would continue to inherit, preserve, and develop the legendary flavour of Vietnamese beer in years to come. A shared vision Over past years, Sabeco has been carving a firm niche in the domestic beverage market, with it growing from strength-to-strength via well-known products taking the lead in the market, even in the context that the beer industry has been affected by the implementation of a new decree implementing a zero-alcohol tolerance policy while operating a vehicle. Sabeco expects it will take some time before fortunes improve. In the meantime, the largest beverage firm will focus on weathering through the storm, and is fully prepared to make hay when the sun shines again, according to its annual report released last month. In the report, Bennett Neo also shared about the companys continual transformation journey towards achieving greater success. In particular, he shared that good-to-great transformations do not happen overnight; rather it is a process resembling relentlessly pushing a giant, heavy flywheel, turn upon turn, building momentum until a point of breakthrough, and beyond. Moving an inch at a time, a turn at a time, momentum will be gathered and eventually the flywheel will move with great ease and speed. We are still at the initial stage of transformation and have turned the wheel, and we will continue to pursue this, Neo explained. Indeed, over the past two years, Sabeco has implemented numerous operational and strategic initiatives, including but not limited to improving margins by keeping costs and expenses in check while increasing selling prices; raising public awareness of new packaging as part of Bia Saigon and Bia 333 relaunches; strengthening the corporations competitive advantages by increasing stakes in associates; applying IT to transform the way of working for the Sabeco system as a whole; and also brewery expansion. At the same time, the group has also strived for higher corporate governance standards and rolled out a reasonable, performance-based compensation structure for our employees, all in all to gradually realise its vision of becoming the leading beverage corporation in Vietnam and having a strong presence in international markets. Further, in order to ensure sustainable growth, Sabecos business model is based on upholding its brand values and continuing to be seen as the pride of Vietnam, guided by its four commitments of consumption, conservation, country, and culture the pillars that represent Sabecos long-term strategic focus. As Vietnam is gradually recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the group is also making progress to improve and enhance its businesses. To adapt to the new normal, Sabeco is exploring new initiatives to respond to changing consumer behaviour, like increasing its online presence and off-trade marketing. For the first time in the past one week, eastern and central states, which received most of the returning migrant workers, have witnessed a decline in the number of the cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) since May 1, shows data. This has come as a big relief to the respective state governments amid fears that the returning migrants would push the Covid-19 cases in the regions and take the pandemic to rural areas, which has very poor health infrastructure as compared to urban places. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage While state governments kept the returning workers in quarantine for a period ranging from seven to 21 days, officials said the declining trend was because of a fall in the number of migrants returning home in the first and second week of June. The peak of returning migrant workers is over, Lokesh Kumar Singh, Bihars health secretary, said. Singhs comment sums up the situation in the states that received a large number of migrant workers and is corroborated by the figures of the railways ministry, which has reduced the operations of its Shramik Special trains from June 15 as the demand from the states went down. In Bihar, the number of Covid-19 cases increased to 6,581 on June 15 from 3,923 on June 1. Although the total number of cases had steadily increased, the pace has slowed down in the past few days, Singh said. As compared to about 12% increase in cases in the first week of June, there was 10.81% rise in the second week. According to Bihars public relations department, around 2.1 million workers have returned to the state since May 1, when the Shramik trains started, and of them, only 250,000 came during the first two weeks of June. Most of the migrant workers who have arrived by Shramik Special trains to Bihar between May 3 and June 11 have completed their mandatory quarantine period, Anupam Kumar, Bihars public relations secretary, said. As on Monday, Kumar said, only 6,082 workers were in quarantine centres and others were back in their homes after completing the 14-day mandatory isolation. He added that the state expects the cases to go down as very few workers are expected to return from this week onwards. The situation is no different in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, where three million workers have returned since mid-April and which led to a spike in Covid-19 cases in eastern and western parts, the two regions, from where many people go for work to other states. After their return, almost half of them have been medically screened for Covid-19. The UP governments health department data shows that the weekly average of the rise in the Covid-19 infections in the first week of June was 412 cases per day, which reduced to 356 cases per day in the second week. Over 500 cases were reported on Saturday and Sunday because of the results of the pending test reports coming. Otherwise, the pace of increase in cases in on the downward trend, Amit Mohan Prasad, the principal secretary of the health and family welfare, said. Prasad said health workers had screened 1.6 million migrants, who are under home quarantine, till June 14 and only 1,455 of them had symptoms of the disease. Samples of those who had shown symptoms have been taken, he said. The second week of Unlock 1 that began on June 1 has brought some reprieve for Jharkhand as well. There has been a declining trend in Covid-19 cases after 10 days of a steep spike as there was a substantial dip in the number of migrant workers returning. The pandemic peaked on June 8 when the state recorded the highest ever single-day spike of 187 new cases. It took a downward trend thereafter with 50 cases per day on average being reported in the last four days. From 610 cases on May 31, the states tally on June 15 had increased to 1,151. The inflow of migrants was very high in May leading to a huge backlog of untested samples. As we cleared the backlog, there was a spike in cases, Nitin Madan Kulkarni, the state health departments principal secretary, said. The inflow of migrants has substantially reduced in unlock-1 and we have seen a downward trend of Covid growth in the last four days, he said. In Madhya Pradesh, another state with the high recipient of migrant workers, the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases has also slowed down. The number of new cases recorded has fallen from 1,424 in last week of May to 1,401 in the second week of June. And, the reason for this was just 54,282 workers returning in June as compared to over 3 lakh in May. Out of these people 49,280 were home quarantined and remaining institutional quarantined, said a rural development department official. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the number of new cases is coming down was a positive sign and showed their strategy was working. (With inputs from Ranjan in Bhopal) NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in a wide-ranging, 30-minute conversation with American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris at the AJC Virtual Global Forum, expressed his enduring commitment to the Greek-Israel link and spoke out strongly against antisemitism. Harris, who has known the prime minister for years and who knew his late father, Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis, expressed admiration for the Greek handling of COVID-19; the country's dramatic economic turnaround from a decade ago; the deepening partnership with the United States; and the democratic triangle of stability represented by Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. He also gave a shoutout to AJC's decades-long partnership with the Hellenic-American community. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the bilateral relationship between Greece and Israel, saying that it "is as strong as it has ever been." He noted that those ties, controversial in Greece when first established in 1990 "Greece was the last country in [West] Europe to do so," he noted by his father, are now supported by nearly the entire Greek political spectrum. Mitsotakis said he would be in Israel today on his first post-COVID-19 trip anywhere. A major reason for the trip "is because this relationship needs to be strengthened further," he said, adding that he expects to reach several economic and defense agreements with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In discussing the burgeoning Eastern Mediterranean partnership among Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, with key support from the United States, including the U.S. Congress, Mitsotakis warned of Turkey's disruptive influence in the region. He said Turkey has "behaved very aggressively," extending to migration issues, Greece's territorial waters, the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus, and as far as Libya. The Greek leader expressed the hope that Turkey will cease its persistent violations of international law and pursue good neighborly relations. When asked whether Greece would follow the example of Germany, which on April 30 banned all Hezbollah activities on its soil, Mitsotakis declared that Greece is "very much concerned about issues that directly affect Israel's security." He said he "has his doubts" about whether the European Union is right to view Hezbollah's "political wing" as separate from its "terror wing," and is committed to discussing the issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Finally, asked about the extreme political party, Golden Dawn, which had entered the Greek Parliament during the economic crisis that struck with such ferocity, Mitsotakis described it as a "personal mission" to ensure the neo-Nazi party had no political power or popularity. In the last legislative elections, in September, Golden Dawn lost all 18 of its parliamentary seats. While cautioning that "this doesn't mean that we are completely finished with extreme-right antisemitism," the prime minister said he is "optimistic" that Greece will never again have a neo-Nazi party in parliament. "Greece is moving away from the politics of anger and hate," he stressed, noting that his country has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism. The AJC Global Forum is the global Jewish advocacy organization's signature annual event. Originally scheduled to take place this week in Berlin, Germany, the venue was changed to an online meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 7,500 people have now registered for the AJC Virtual Global Forum, June 14-18. At the 2018 AJC Global Forum in Jerusalem, Mitsotakis accepted an AJC award honoring his late father, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, the first Greek prime minister to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel, in 1990. SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org For students enrolled in the nursing program at San Jacinto College, the coronavirus pandemic is providing a virtual lesson in what it means to participate in the community as a healthcare worker. During the initial phase of COVID-19 response when the classes were shut down, the college began developing virtual course study for online learning through new software. The pandemic provided the perfect teaching moment and challenge for the college, according to Nikolaos Moraros, department chair of associate degree nursing at San Jacinto College. COVID-19 was a true emergency health care crisis that affected the educational landscape of all levels, he said. What was unique about SJCD, is our leadership immediately identified and mobilized all stakeholders to analyze and implement a curriculum and an academic environment that met and maintained the rigor and the flexibility needed in a time of crisis for our student body and for our accrediting bodies. The curriculum focuses on how the pandemic impacts public health systems and public and community response. Students witness in real time how the variables of the virus change constantly and the challenge to redefine both existing and new protocols. Simulations use actual case studies Students participate in interactive simulations using actual case studies. The students are seeing firsthand how nurses are an integral member of the healthcare team in treating and managing COVID cases, said Rhonda Bell, San Jacs dean of health and natural sciences. The accredited course is a requirement for all nursing students enrolled in San Jacs nursing program, which became the first baccalaureate degree program for San Jacinto College Central following approval by the Texas Board of Nursing in early 2020. The program provides the opportunity for registered nurses with an associate degree to earn a four-year degree. More Information San Jacinto College nursing program For more about the program, go to https://bit.ly/3cIEpW5 For more about the baccalaureate degree program for nursing at San Jacinto College Central, go to https://www.sanjac.edu/bsn See More Collapse The department chairs and faculty designed the curriculum in compliance with Texas Board of Nursing, accreditation requirements and in support of evidence-based best practices for nursing education, Bell said. For instance, the use of PPEs (personal protection equipment) has been redefined in terms of how medical personnel respond during a pandemic, said Bell. Typically, this is just a check-off in a skills lab and then they apply PPE, as needed in the clinical setting, Bell said. The students (now) are able to see the importance of PPEs for healthcare providers and the general public in creating safe communities and slowing the spread of a new coronavirus. A world of unknowns Nursing students are witnessing the impact of a new virus to the community as researchers try to develop a vaccine and best treatment protocols, Bell said. Students have had to adjust to a world of unknowns while maintaining flexibility, not only in their educational experiences, but also as they witness their role in the community. I hope these students truly understand they are on the front lines of healthcare and our communities depend on their expertise, knowledge and care. They have witnessed the stories shared by media sources of the nurses who not only provided care but also became the primary communication between patients and their loved ones as patients were isolated from their families. Coronavirus and the lockdown bringing you down? We assure you the next 20 images will take you to heights you have never experienced before. These are the entries to a contest called #Aerial2020 run by photo app Agora. It asked photographers around the globe to send in their best bird's-eye shots. In total, 9,018 photos were submitted, with the competition judges whittling them down to 50 finalists. Scroll down to feast your eyes on the amazing shots and the winning image is the first one. A magic morning in the Netherlands I was waiting for a long time to capture this typical Dutch scene with low fog. And finally, on the May 10, the weather forecast looked perfect: no wind and low night temperatures are the ideal ingredients for low fog. My alarm went off at 4:00 am to drive to the Zaanse Schans; when I got there the fog was everywhere except around the windmills. I decided to check first some other spots, after 1 hour I came back and wow! The wind had turned and blown the fog in the direction of the windmills. I had only 50% battery left on my drone and took off to find a unique angle to capture this place. When I looked on my phone to see the drone view it was like a dream! Photograph: @by_ewold/Agora Photos Wind farm See the sailboat for scale! Photograph: @henrydo/Agora Photos Globos Air balloons dot the clouds in Spain. Photograph: @sance/Agora Photos Floating in the air! This is a cable car ride inside Zhangjiajie National Park. Within the park, there are altogether more than 8,000 cliff mountains, towering into the sky. During our ride, it was a misty/cloudy morning which is why this scenery looks even more mysterious. We couldn't believe our eyes when we raise above the clouds and this view appeared. Photograph: @sjoerdbracke/Agora Photos Desert sunset On this ancient rock formation, you can see how the drought slowly scraped out these patterns and structures. Imagine the time that has been needed to create this. Layer by layer... that's just mind-boggling. You'd expect that this is a huge mountain range, but look at the green trees for scale reference. Photograph: @johandroneadventures/Agora Photos The Eye of Sarumon Aligning the sun and the building gives a Lord of The Rings vibe. This is one of the most iconic buildings in Hong Kong, and it looks spectacular at sunset. This is the building that Batman leaped off from in The Dark Knight, and has become a recognizable point of interest for this reason. Photograph: @blairsugarman1/Agora Photos Like chess I have always dreamed about seeing the famous architecture of Barcelona and its symmetrical neighborhoods. Over the years I've seen a lot of aerial photos of the city, so I thought I had an idea of what was awaiting me, but when I flew my drone to see it for myself it just caught my breath. Barcelona is truly an amazing place that is unlike anywhere else. Photograph: @mikhail_derevyanov/Agora Photos The dreamscape A city without clouds is like a musical without music. I captured this shot during the sea of clouds season which only happens once a year. One has to wake up super early and keep monitoring the latest weather forecasts for a chance to capture such low clouds floating through the city. Hong Kong is like a magical dream: I want to show the world that this city is not just a cold concrete forest, but a city with a warm, beautiful soul. Photograph: @jsrpixel/Agora Photos Lost in the city This is one of the weirdest sceneries I've ever imagined. Yes, it is a shopping center, but from above it looks like a boat in the middle of countless identical residential blocks. Photograph: @poletaev.photo/Agora Photos Crazy road A winding road in Tianmen Mountain, China. Photograph: @rakia10/Agora Photos The road back home I wanted to convey some nostalgia, mystery and of course the grandeur of mother nature. Look at how small the car is in front of the beauty of our Mother Earth. Photograph: @odysseaschloridis/Agora Photos Pindi Bypass The Pindi Bypass in Pakistan. Photograph: @talhaarshad124/Agora Photos Rice paradise I had to wake up at 5.30 am to take this shot. The early morning light bathing the rice terraces with the 2 volcanoes in the background made my day. Photograph: @carlesalonsophotography/Agora Photos Magical mood One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen: it was a cold sunrise, but certainly worth it. On top of the rock, you can see a church overlooking the village of 70 residents. The strongest tides in Europe rule here, with the water going back kilometres. Photograph: @arnold_maisner_photo/Agora Photos Warm summer evening in Budapest A charming aerial shot of Budapest on a warm summer evening. Photograph: @jprphotos/Agora Photos Chasing waves An amazing shot of a surfer riding the waves in Perth, Australia. Photograph: @blakehobson/Agora Photos Early morning trip I went for an early morning trip to the Pyramid of Austerlitz to capture the scenery with my drone. Photograph: @markcure/Agora Photos Who doesnt love train trips? After spending 3 hours in this place, Ive managed to capture the train passing the viaduct. It is one of my favourite places to shot breathtaking moments, it makes me reflect on the journey of life. Photograph:@andreieye/Agora Photos Overcrowded This is a public beach next to a five stars hotel. The hotel had its own private beach right next to it, which was empty. I was initially interested in capturing that contrast. The crowd density was so high, I had to gain quite a lot of altitude to make it fit in the frame. At that point, those indistinguishable people started to create a pattern that I found even more powerful and fascinating. Photograph:@will_tm/Agora Photos Worlds best airport LOS ANGELESTwo years after the Federal Communications Commission repeal of federal net neutrality rules, AT&T became the first major telecommunications company to openly defy the principles underlying those rules, by giving favorable treatment to a streaming service that the company owns in a move that would have been specifically banned under the Obama-era regulations. Specifically, AT&T is engaging in the previously prohibited practice of zero rating, which means exempting certain data services from the data limits imposed on customers, while continuing to charge customers for going over data caps by using competing services. In this case, the service is the new streaming service HBO Max, which is owned like HBO itself by AT&T, which took control of the Time Warner Corporation in a 2018 mega-merger. Time Warner owned HBO, as well as Warner Bros movie studio, CNN, DC Comics, and several other media entities, all of which are now owned by the telecom giant. The HBO Max streaming service debuted last month. Earlier this month, AT&T conformed that its cell phone customers who stream HBO Max which costs a subscription fee of $14.99 per month will not have to worry about exceeding their data caps, if the extra data is the result of using the new streaming service. But AT&T customers who use their devices to stream Netflix, Amazon Prime, Pornhub or any other streaming service will continue to face extra charges for exceeding their data caps due to use of those services. The move by AT&T prompted an inquiry from three U.S. Senators, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. The Trump FCC may have gutted critical net neutrality protections, but AT&T nonetheless has a responsibility to avoid any policies or practices that harm consumers and stifle competition, the senators warned AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson in a letter sent last week. Net neutrality rules are best known for banning telecoms from throttling data from certain services, while giving others an online fast lane. But the zero rating practice is also banned under net neutrality rules. With those rules repealed at the federal level, there is nothing the FCC can do to stop the practice. A number of states, however, have their own net neutrality rules in place, or plan to enact legislation soon. In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that a net neutrality bill banning throttling and zero rating would be a 2020 legislative priority in that state. How state-level bans would affect AT&T customers who are also HBO Max subscribers remains unclear. Photo by Geraldshields11 / Wikimedia Commons Australian mining giant Fortescue Metals Group has brought forward a target to slash greenhouse gas emissions, pledging its operations will be carbon-neutral by 2040, at least 10 years earlier than its rivals. The Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest-backed miner on Tuesday set one of the resources sector's earliest dates for "net-zero" operational emissions, with most rivals eying 2050 targets. But Fortescue declined to match promises of BHP and Brazil's Vale to account for the vastly greater supply-chain emissions caused by the customers of its products known as "Scope 3" emissions such as the Chinese steelmakers that buy its iron ore. Andrew Forrest and Fortescue chief executive Elizabeth Gaines. Credit:Trevor Collens By 2030, Fortescue said it would reduce its own operational emissions by 26 per cent from 2020 levels. The miner had previously signalled it intended to have carbon-neutral operations by the "second half of the century". Chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said the company had announced investments of more than $1.1 billion since October in projects to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, such as solar power and a solar-gas hybrid system. $0.0062 per share to be paid on or about June 30, 2020 LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2020 / CBA Florida, Inc. ( www.cbafloridainc.com ) (OTC PINK:CBAI) ("CBAI" or the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has approved an initial liquidating cash distribution of $0.0062 per share. The distribution will be paid on or about June 30, 2020. The Board has fixed the close of business on June 26, 2020 as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to receive the initial liquidating distribution. The Company intends to file articles of dissolution with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations on June 26, 2020, the record date for the initial liquidating distribution. In connection with the effectiveness of the articles of dissolution, CBAI will close its stock transfer books and discontinue recording transfers of common stock, effective as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 26, 2020. As a result, the common stock, and stock certificates evidencing the shares of common stock, will no longer be assignable or transferable on the Company's books, other than transfers by will, intestate succession or operation of law. Subject to uncertainties inherent in the winding up of the Company, CBAI may make one or more additional liquidating distributions. However, no assurances can be made as to the ultimate amounts to be distributed, if any, or the timing of any such distributions. David Sandberg, CBAI's Chairman, stated, "After what has been a long and active process since the Company's largest shareholder, Red Oak Partners, LLC ("Red Oak"), invested in the Company in April 2015, the Board is pleased to approve an initial liquidating distribution to shareholders. At the time of Red Oak's investment into the Company five years ago, the Company was in a tenuous leverage position post litigation, a competitor was seeking to take over the Company, EBITDA was set to decline dramatically as customers discontinued orders for what was then a profitable tissue business, and the core cord blood processing and storage business was in near run-off with minimal new customer growth. Facing the prospects of negative EBITDA and cash flow, the Board quickly reduced operating costs including the outsourcing of all lab and storage functions for new customers and initiated a process to monetize assets in order to maximize shareholder value. While we attempted to sell the company via a stock purchase deal, the best value for shareholders came from the sale of substantially all of the Company's assets, which we closed on over two years ago. Subsequent to the close of the asset sale, the Board attempted to sell the remaining shell of the Company with its cash (and minimal usable net operating losses), but we were unable to execute a transaction that provided more value to shareholders than a liquidation and dissolution process. Accordingly, we intend to file articles of dissolution, substantially in the form as were recently approved by our shareholders. I would personally like to thank Anthony Snow for his work as President of CBAI, and to thank our Board, employees, and advisors for their hard work that has enabled this positive outcome for shareholders. This initial per-share liquidating distribution amount is more than triple the share price where Red Oak (and others who invested at that time) invested in the Company, and frankly represents a successful outcome for shareholders versus what we believe the outcome would have been had Red Oak not invested in the Company. Although we are hopeful that there will be additional liquidating distributions issued going forward, the Board cannot commit to this until the dissolution process has more fully run its course." About CBA Florida, Inc. CBA Florida, Inc., formerly Cord Blood America, Inc., does not currently have any active business operations and consists of the cash, receivables, and liabilities remaining post-closing of the sale of substantially all of the Company's assets. Forward-Looking Statements Some statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. The Company uses words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "future," "intend," "plan," and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based largely on the Company's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, risks and uncertainties associated with its continuing limited operations, as well as liabilities and third-party claims currently existing or which may arise in the future. The Company encourages you to review other factors that may affect its future results in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this press release will in fact occur. The Company does not undertake, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events, or circumstances after the date of such statement. Investor Contact: Anthony Snow asnow@cbafloridainc.com SOURCE: CBA Florida, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/593981/CBA-Florida-Inc-Announces-Initial-Cash-Liquidating-Distribution 'Who else will solve these issues if not the chief minister?' 'Who else shall we take our complaints to?' IMAGE: Ashok Chavan, left, with Uddhav Thackeray, centre, and Sharad Pawar, right, during the discussions to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra. Photograph: ANI With ministers from the Congress in the Uddhav Thackeray government going on record with their grievances about how the party feels neglected and sidelined in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, the Congress appears to be setting the stage for appointment of its own deputy chief minister in Maharashtra, three senior Congress leaders, including a minister in the Thackeray ministry, tell Rediff.com. Cabinet Ministers Ashok Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat -- who is also the Maharashtra Congress party president -- who were scheduled to meet the chief minister on Monday, postponed the meeting after the chief minister's father-in-law Madhav Patankar passed away on Monday, June 15. Both leaders have voiced their concerns about not feeling equal partners in the three-party MVA, which was formed by the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress last November. On record, discussions are limited to equal sharing of seats for the Maharashtra Legislative Council election -- the current formula paves the way for five Shiv Sena, four NCP and three Congress MLCs; while the Congress demand is for four MLCs each. Congress ministers are also upset with senior bureaucrats like Maharashtra Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta and the allocation of development funds for assembly members belonging to all three MVA constituents. Some senior Congress leaders have begun to speak about fulfilling "certain promises" that were made when the MVA was being cobbled together and "correcting the imbalance" that set in after the Maharashtra government was formed. The two most contentious issues, according to Congress leaders Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore spoke to remain the position of a second deputy chief ministership and the extension given to Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta. Mehta, who was due for retirement in September 2019, got his first extension for six months till March 31 to oversee the election to the Maharashtra assembly. Since then he got another extension for three months to handle the COVID-19 pandemic on the Maharashtra chief minister's request. "When the MVA was being shaped, nobody talked about who had how many numbers. The common agenda was to form a non-BJP government in the state with equal participation from all the three parties," says a senior Congress leader, who is also a minister in the Thackeray government, speaking on condition that he would not be identified by name for this report. The Congress has 44 MLAs, the NCP 54 MLAs, the Shiv Sena 56 MLAs. The "imbalance" hinted by this minister is the absence of a Congress deputy chief minister. Ajit Pawar of the NCP, who also handles the finance portfolio, is also the state's deputy chief minister. "As of now, there is some imbalance in the composition of the government," the minister said. "Balasaheb (Thorat; the state's revenue minister) and (Ashok) Chavanji (minister for public works department) are giving air to grievances of their fellow ministers and party leaders," the Congress leader adds. The Congress plan seems to speak from multiple platforms, venting their neglect in the MVA government, and in turn, put across its demand for the position of a second deputy CM for Maharashtra. Last month, former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan went public with his unhappiness about the way the chief minister was functioning in the state. And now, two senior colleagues of the chief minister want to meet Thackeray to discuss issues of "imbalance" in the government set-up, says another Congress leader. "It is in this context that one must read the Congress's intentions," says this Congress leader also asking not to be named. "While political issues will be handled by those outside the government, those in the government will have issues about governance and administration which they will be discussing with Thackeray," says the minister. Highlighting issues of governance, these Congress leaders complain about bureaucratic defiance and non-cooperation with Congress ministers. "There are many senior bureaucrats in this government who do not have the confidence of their ministers or where ministers feel that they are not cooperating with them. Who else will solve these issues if not the chief minister? Who else shall we take our complaints to?" asks another Congress leader explaining why the ministers want to meet Thackeray. Ask the Congress leader -- not the minister -- if Maharashtra is likely to witness some top-level bureaucratic transfers owing to the way the civil servants are said to be not cooperating with ministers, he says, "We can only take our grievances to the chief minister. I am sure he will listen to our pleas patiently." "I don't think this is a difficult issue," he says about the issue of bureaucratic transfers. Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta, who was the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner during the earlier BJP-Shiv Sena regime, is in the crosshairs of the Congress leaders. "We are just expressing our unhappiness over the way some bureaucrats are acting," says the Congress minister. "He was the BMC commissioner for quite some time when the BJP-Shiv Sena were ruling the state," the second Congress leader said. "Since he was the BMC commissioner for so long it is possible that they (Thackeray and Mehta) could have developed a good relationship," he adds. All this happened because an imbalance had set in right at the time the MVA government was formed, claims the leader quoted earlier. "If there were two deputy chief ministers -- and that indeed was the original plan -- this issues would not have cropped up," he says. "At that time, the Congress compromised by accepting the post of speaker of the Maharashtra assembly. If we were given the second post of deputy CM, this imbalance would not have set in," he adds, clearly indicating why the Congress is meeting the chief minister. Nana Patole, who switched to the Congress from the BJP, was elected assembly speaker. Given his aggressive leadership and anti-BJP stance, Patole is being touted to become the Maharashtra Congress president replacing Thorat. "Congress workers clearly feel there is a gap there and must be filled," he says about the post of second deputy chief minister for the state. "People must feel there is equality among all the three partners." However, he is not too hopeful that the meeting with Thackeray will bring to fruition the Congress hopes of getting its own deputy chief minister. The other contentious issue simmering in the Congress is regarding the funds allocated to constituencies of each and every MLA. "We have encountered that the large amounts of funds have been diverted to only few people (from the Shiv Sena and NCP)," complains the third Congress leader. "We want the government to take all major decisions in consultation with the Congress. Most of the portfolios dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic are with the Shiv Sena and NCP," he says explaining the feeling of being sidelined within the MVA. "We want to know tell the chief minister that this is what our feeling is. We have certain demands, certain reservations that must be acknowledged," adds the Congress minister. "We want proper allocation of power; certain bureaucrats are working without giving due to the ministers holding the portfolios," he says. Returning to the issue of alleged high-handedness by the chief secretary leading to resentment, the third Congress leader says, "There is a limit to how much you can give attention to one bureaucrat; it actually is an injustice to other bureaucrats." "They also have their ambitions in their careers. At the end of their career, they should be holding that particular post (chief secretary). So when you give extension after retirement, then you are basically meting out injustice to all others," reasons the third Congress leader. "We are not interested in making it a prestigious show. And being the chief secretary doesn't mean that he can do whatever he wants. This is the feeling shared by other ministers as well from other parties. It's not only the Congress that is feeling that way," he says. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who is in Mumbai for a party meeting, flatly refuses that the Congress is eyeing the position of a second deputy chief minister in the state. "There is no question of eyeing that position. It will be a routine discussion between the two parties which are part of the MVA," says Chavan. "We will be submitting a few proposals to the chief minister about governance and administration. We have been discussing things, but it is nothing like what the media is speculating on," Chavan adds. "This meeting should not be seen as a confrontation," Chavan points out. "We have some proposals which we will submit to the CM. I don't know why this meeting has assumed so much importance." Colorado and Washington state have either halted or slowed their launch of public option plans. The decisions to throttle back the plans were spurred by providers' financial challenges amid the pandemic. Joe Biden's public option plan would carry the same financial risks for providers, potentially weakening its appeal. State efforts to implement a so-called public option are running aground amid provider financial struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implications could carry over to the federal level, analysts say. Two states at the forefront of efforts to launch government-run health plans that use lower provider rates have either halted or slowed those initiatives. And some say those struggles could foreshadow trouble for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidens plans for a national public option, which is a central component of his healthcare platform. State proposals hit turbulence Colorado legislators have dropped plans to launch a government-sponsored health plan available to all residents on the states Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, according to published reports. That plan would have: Set minimum provider payment rates at 155% of Medicare rates Required hospital participation The public option plan would have cost hospitals between $536 million and $1.1 billion annually over its first three years, according to a Colorado think tank analysis. Washington state has scaled back the fall launch of its public option, called Cascade Care, according to published reports. Gov. Jay Inslee said it could take years to fully ramp up the plan after it was launched last fall. While Cascade Care may take a preliminary approach in its initial year, we fully expect it to flourish in future years, Inslee said in a letter to leaders of his states marketplace in May. Details of that plan include: Setting most provider rates at 160% of Medicare rates Establishing a rate floor for rural hospitals at 101% of Medicare rates Establishing a rate floor for primary care services at 135% of Medicare rates Washington state leaders said the slower approach was needed due to the increased financial strain the pandemic and associated mandates to suspend elective surgeries have placed on providers. Providers are making the case of how fragile they are financially and how ill-prepared they are for building excess capacity into their system that can handle surge needs, like a pandemic, said James Capretta, a fellow at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute. That may resonate, at least for some time. Implications at the federal level The trouble for state-implemented public options also may bode ill for nationwide implementation of such plans, including Bidens. Key provisions of Bidens plan include: Creating a federal public option available to marketplace-eligible individuals, people with employer coverage, and low-income adults, including adults in the Medicaid expansion population Requiring public-option plans to include ACA essential health benefits Negotiating with providers to set payment rates The state-specific difficulties underscore the very different challenges that apply to each insurance marketplace. That dynamic would keep a single type of public option from succeeding across all states, said Robert Moffit, PhD, former chairman of the Maryland Health Care Commission. The challenges at the state level also underscore the financial challenges that any national public option would create for providers, Moffit said. Another potential obstacle is illustrated by the muddled findings from a recent RAND Corporation analysis of public option alternatives. The analysis found under such plans, some enrollees would be better off by either becoming newly insured or getting a better deal on coverage. But others would be worse off, either becoming uninsured or getting a worse deal. Another question regarding Bidens plan is its stated core cost-control mechanism: negotiating lower rates with providers, as in Medicare. Medicare doesnt negotiate with providers, Capretta said. People often will say that, as a way of making it seem like its sort of a friendly sit-down and so on. Despite providers evident financial vulnerability and their essential role in responding to the pandemic, Capretta doubted Biden will back off plans to push a national public option. The continued push will be driven both by notions of affordability and because the plan was presented as an alternative to single-payer proposals favored by more-liberal Democrats. The Biden campaign doesnt have any choice but to continue to press forward and hope that the pollical environment will allow them to pursue it if he were to win the election, Capretta said. BENZIE COUNTY The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department is partnering with LynxDx to administer COVID-19 testing for Michigan residents. Drive-through testing will be done from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 20 at Suttons Bay High School, located at 310 S. Elm St. in Suttons Bay and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 21 at Benzie Central High Schools, located at 9222 Homestead Road in Benzonia. The health department advises: Those being tested must be a Michigan resident, but do not need to reside in Benzie or Leelanau County. Bring a driver's license or state ID; Bring your insurance card. There is no charge to participants for testing. If uninsured you can still be tested and will not be charged; A doctors order and appointment are not required; You may be tested if you have symptoms, or if you do not have symptoms; and Results are expected to take about four days and participants will be notified of results by the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. "From a public health perspective, testing remains very important both to ensure early identification of infected individuals but also so that we can gain as much information as we can about the presence of this illness in our area," said Dr. Meyerson, Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department Medical Director. "We are grateful to be partnering with LynxDX to offer this testing in our communities. As travel to the region continues to increase with warmer weather, the health department wants to reassure and remind residents of a few items. Many people ask about what happens if a visitor tests positive for COVID-19. According to the health department: If an individual visits Benzie or Leelanau county and tests positive for COVID-19, their local health department would conduct a case investigation to identify close contacts; Standard contact tracing helps determine where the individual was during the symptomatic period. During that process, if close contacts within the region were identified, the local health department would contact those affected as well as the Health Department of Northwest Michigan; If a visitor were to become ill with COVID-19 while in the jurisdiction, the health department asks that the hospital or provider contact them in addition to the local health department of the county of residence; and If a seasonal resident is obtaining a test while residing in the region, they should use their local address for testing. These situations are rare and the health department wants reminds residents that each case investigation is different, and the main focus is always identifying those close contacts at risk for exposure so they can be isolated or quarantined. Visit the health department's COVID-19 Data Dashboard for the latest local information including recovered data and contact tracing, which can be found at www.bldhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19. Additional and updated information can be found at the departments website at www.bldhd.org and Facebook, or by calling the public information line at (231) 882-2197. MARION, Va. A burning cross in the yard of a Marion family that participated in a Saturday rally supporting the Black Lives Matter movement is being investigated by police. Marion Police Chief John Clair said the joint investigation with the Smyth County Sheriffs Office began around 1 a.m. Sunday after the family reported the blaze in a barrel outside their home. Clair said witnesses also reported hearing a loud bang that sounded like fireworks. The Pearl Avenue residence is the home of 17-year-old Travon Brown, who helped organize Saturdays rally protesting racial injustices. Browns mother, Bridgette Thomas, said she was walking home from the store that night when she discovered the blaze. When I came up the street, it looked like my house was on fire, she said. It was so scary, my daughter was in there, she said, referring to her 16-year-old. Once she got closer to her home, she discovered the cross, fashioned from two large sticks. The barrel belongs to the family, she said, but there had been no fire in it when she left. It was scary, though, and then to find out it was a cross. It made me feel some type of way because it was so close to my house. My house could have caught on fire. Once at the scene, Clair said officers extinguished the blaze and discovered the wood that appeared to be in the shape of a cross. Local police have been canvassing the area and are coordinating with federal authorities due to the nature of the crime, he added. The Town of Marion Police Department is absolutely committed to ensuring that people of color in our community are safe, Clair said in a statement. Our department, along with the Smyth County Sheriffs Office and federal authorities, will conduct a full and thorough investigation. The burning of crosses was a common practice of the Ku Klux Klan to intimidate people of color in the early to mid-1900s. The display is considered one of the most potent symbols of hate, according to the Anti-Defamation League. While theres been debate about the constitutionality of a ban on such displays, Virginia law prohibits the burning of a cross as a form of intimidation in public spaces or on another persons property. According to the law, doing so is assumed to have been done with the intent to intimidate. Violation of the law is a class 6 felony, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and as much as a $2,500 fine. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Marion Police Department at 276-783-8145. Hyderabad, June 16 : Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Tuesday paid homage to Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu and two soldiers who were killed in a violent stand-off with the Chinese troops in Ladakh area. Santosh Babu was a resident of Telangana's Suryapet district. "Let's pay our homage to Col Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment. The valiant officer made the ultimate sacrifice at the Galwan Valley. I pray for all the martyrs and their grieving families. May God bless their souls," the Governor tweeted. The Chief Minister, in a statement, said that Col Santosh sacrificed his life for the nation and his sacrifice cannot be valued in any terms. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Col Santosh's parents, his wife and children and other family members. Rao announced that the state government would support the family by all means. He instructed Minister Jagdeesh Reddy to ensure that the state government's representative was present to receive the mortal remains of Col Santosh on arrival in his native state and till the completion of cremation. Home Minister Mohammed Mohammed Ali also expressed grief over the death of Col Santosh Babu. The minister said in a statement that Santosh Babu rose to the rank of Colonel at a very young age and sacrificed his life for the country. Industry Minister K.T. Rama Rao conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Santosh Babu and the two other martyred soldiers. He tweeted that their valour and sacrifice will be remembered. Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar has penned a heartbreaking poem as he remembered late actor Sushant Singh Rajput who was founded dead in his Mumbai residence on Sunday. Police have confirmed that Sushant died by suicide. Sleep my brother Sleep. Let the vultures gather and the crocodiles weep, let the circus performers juggle, contort, bow and leap. Let the shrill get higher let the darkness in the hearts of men get deep. Sleep my brother sleep. RIP Sushant, Farhan wrote on Twitter. He also posted an image of the note with the poem on Instagram and captioned it, Gone too soon. Speaking about analysis of Sushants death, Manoj Bajpayee said in an online chat, When I see the cacophony around me and people trying to find the reason behind the suicide...everyone has their own theory and we are not talking about the contribution that he has made at such a young age, the journey that he took and where he reached...it is leaving a very bad taste in my mouth. Why cant we celebrate the person that he was? Just hours after his death, an old video showing Sushant speaking about nepotism at an event in 2017 went viral. Nepotism is there, its everywhere. I cant do anything about it. Nepotism can co-exist and nothing would happen. But at the same time, if you deliberately dont allow right talents to come up, then there is a problem, then the whole structure of the industry would collapse one day, he was heard saying in the video. Also read: Ashish Chowdhry shares his story: I dipped after 26/11, Im clear it was my friends who saved me The actor was known for his critically-acclaimed performances in MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Sonchiriya, Kai Po Che, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, among others. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON First Omicron case detected in Andhra Pradesh, overall tally rises to 36 People in Andhra to get quality liquor at Rs 50 if BJP comes to power: Somu Veerraju Night curfew in Andhra Pradesh: Know timings, guidelines, rules; What is allowed, what is not allowed Andhra Legislature becomes first state assembly to begin budget session under COVID-19 shadow India oi-Deepika S Hyderabad, June 16: Andhra Pradesh Legislature became the first state Assembly in the country to hold its sitting under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic as the Budget Session began on Tuesday amid unprecedented measures. Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan addressed the state Legislature through video conferencing from Raj Bhavan to formally mark the beginning of the session. This is perhaps the first time in the history of any state Legislature in the country that the Governor remotely delivered the customary address. Members of the Assembly and Council sat in their respective Houses as the Governor's address was beamed live on the screens. Civil Aviation Minister says 'decision on the international flights will be taken in July Wearing face masks the Legislators sat as per the new seating arrangement to ensure social distancing. Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, some of his cabinet colleagues and MLAs, however, were seen without masks. The authorities made special arrangements to ensure strict adherence to the guidelines to contain spread of COVID-19. Every seat in the Assembly and Council was sanitized while health department has made arrangements to conduct COVID-19 tests on those Legislators who had not undergone the tests earlier. Officials said no visitors will be allowed during this session while the media would be allowed to cover the proceedings only from the press gallery. Usually the budget session lasts for at least two weeks, but this time it is likely to be a short affair in view of the COVID-19 situation. For the first time the Budget is being presented on the very first day of the session. Finance Minister B. Rajendranath will present the Budget for 2020-21 in the Assembly in the afternoon session. Indias fight against coronavirus was effective, PM Modi tells CMs In the Council, leader of the House and Deputy Chief Minister P. Subhash Chandra Bose will present the budget. Agriculture Budget will be presented separately by Agriculture Minister Kanna Babu in the Assembly and the same will be tabled in the Council by Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Mopidevi Venkatramna. The session is likely to conclude in two days with the discussion on the Budget and passing of the Appropriation Bill on Wednesday. Business Advisory Committee (BAC) headed by Speaker T. Seetharam will meet after the Governor's address to decide the duration and the agenda of the session. The government could not present the full budget in March due to the coronavirus crisis. It instead issued an ordinance for vote on account for the three month period ending June 30. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Winshuttle Signs on as Gold Sponsor of GS1 Connect Summit We believe in the importance of the GS1 mission which is to encourage the adoption and use of GS1 Standards-based solutions, said Kerry Young, Vice President and General Manager of EnterWorks. Winshuttle, the provider of industry leading EnterWorks Master Data Management (MDM) and Product Information Management (PIM) solution, announced today that they will be a gold-level sponsor of the GS1 Connect Summit taking place June 16-17. The virtual conference will explore how the role of supply chain and unique identification have never been more important. We believe in the importance of the GS1 mission which is to encourage the adoption and use of GS1 Standards-based solutions, said Kerry Young, Vice President and General Manager of EnterWorks. Our MDM and PIM solutions support adherence to GS1 standards, especially in meeting the many regulatory compliance requirements of the food industry. EnterWorks is currently hosting its own virtual conference series that focuses on Everything MDM & PIM. Ingryd Hernandez, Senior Manager, Data Governance, Insights and Analytics of US Foods will be presenting a webinar on Tuesday, June 16th on the topic A Team Approach to Data Governance, which will touch on some of the same issues being explored at the GS 1 Connect Summit. The upcoming EnterWorks multi-week virtual webcast sessions will feature industry leaders from Forrester, GS1, Orgill, Rich Products, Fender and additional thought leaders. View schedule here. Tuesday, June 16 Replay: A Team Approach to Data Governance - Presented by Ingryd Hernandez of US Foods Thursday June 18 Why Your Business Needs Accurate Product Data Presented by Jeff Cowan of GS1 Tuesday, June 23 Customer Case Study - Presented by Nandor Forgach of Rich Products and Ramesh Prabhala of IntelliTide Thursday, June 25 Stories that Lead to Sales Implementing Smart Content Management - Presented by Jon Varo of Fender About EnterWorks EnterWorks by Winshuttle is a Multi-Domain MDM & business process automation solution provider that powers 2400+ brands including Fender, GSK, Thomson Reuters, Mary Kay, IDEA, US Foods, Ecolab, Carhartt, Rich Products, and many more. The EnterWorks platform is highly ranked by industry analysts as a Multi-Domain Master Data Management hub with deep Product Information Management (PIM) and Digital Asset Management (DAM) capabilities. Our flexible platform enables customers to deliver high-quality data and experiences across systems, channels, and audiences. Learn more at http://www.enterworks.com. About Winshuttle There is a class of business processes you must digitize to thrive in todays increasingly competitive environmentone where process and data are interdependent. This is where Winshuttle excels. We empower business teams to make their processes faster and their data better. And while that may sound simple, it takes just the right combination of process automation and data management capabilitiesand weve been perfecting that combination since 2003. Over 2,400 enterprises across the globe trust Winshuttles SAP automation, product information management (PIM), and multi-domain master data management (MDM) software to drive business results at scale, become more agile and transform digital into a competitive advantage. Discover how at http://www.winshuttle.com. You are here: Arts China's National Press and Publication Administration has released a document, requiring strengthened regulation of online literature publishing. Online literature publishers should support high-quality, innovative works and resist literary output with duplicated and homogeneous contents, said the administration in the document. The administration stressed strictly regulating online literature publishing, and ordering a real-name registration system for literature writers. VIENNA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to share its experience in developing nuclear energy with other member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), particularly developing countries, said a Chinese delegate at an IAEA Board of Governors meeting on Monday. China has received 25 overseas students from 14 member states in Africa, Asia and Latin America for master's and doctoral studies under its Atomic Energy Scholarship since its launch two years ago, as a significant contribution to nurturing nuclear professionals in developing countries, said Zhang Kejian, director of China Atomic Energy Authority at the online meeting. He announced that China will offer 10 opportunities each year for master's studies under the IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Program, which welcomes female candidates devoted to nuclear science and technology. The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to energy production and consumption in all countries, said Zhang, proposing that the IAEA bring together relevant member states to evaluate the role of nuclear energy in addressing the pandemic, for which China is ready to share its experiences. He said that the application of nuclear technology has proved its merits in China's efforts to combat the coronavirus, noting that the irradiation technology, for example, has effectively relieved the shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE). valentinrussanov/iStockBy JACQUELINE LAUREAN YATES, ABC News (NEW YORK) -- The coronavirus pandemic has led to many mandated lockdowns on non-essential businesses and, as a result, nail salons nationwide have been closed for the last few months. This has taken a serious toll on many small business owners and their staff. Now, several states, including Colorado, Texas, Georgia, California and New York, have begun the road to recovery in reopening nail salons. This is good news for dedicated customers who are longing to experience the privilege of having their nails professionally groomed again -- but it doesn't come without questions about safety. "Salons need a plan to ensure that they can reopen while minimizing the risks," Nicole Hallett, an associate clinical professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School, told ABC News' Good Morning America. Hallett said that all manicurists should be asking their employers how they plan to protect workers and customers from viral transmission. Without a doubt, salons will look different than they did before the pandemic, and they will have a number of safety precautions for employees and clients. How have salons reopened amid COVID-19? While there are many states that have yet to announce a hard date on reopening nail salons, there are others such as Colorado, Texas and Georgia that have already been reopened for the past few weeks. Base Coat Nail Salon has three Denver-based flagship locations that have begun reopening with a host of new guidelines that include (but aren't limited to) keeping stations six feet apart, keeping acrylic guard sets in place and using plastic chair coverings. Co-founder Trans Wills says the decision to open didn't come without hesitation. "I was definitely taken back when the Colorado shelter at-home order was lifted on May 8 for nail and hair salons -- especially before restaurants. Cases in Colorado were still rising at the time and we were also not getting strong guidelines or guidance from the Colorado Board of Cosmetology or our local health department. We were just not comfortable with reopening," said Wills. "As a company that cares deeply about our guests and employees we made the decision to delay opening on June 1, even though we felt ready to open with all the necessary new safety and health guidelines we put in place and PPE to protect our guests and employees and follow the CDC Guidelines," Wills added. Prior to opening, Base Coat Nail Salon staff also went through "COVID-19 employee training" and have become Barbicide and Miladay certified to assure every staffer has the education needed to keep every tool and station as clean as possible. Each guest will now also go through a three-step guest sanitation process which includes a symptom screening, hand sanitizing with 70% alcohol sanitizer and hand washing at a designated sink before being seated with his/her nail artist. Dallas-based Verbena Parlor, which offers nail, facial and waxing services, also released reopening plans which include regular COVID-19 testing for staff. "Each employee must have a negative COVID-19 test result, which we coordinated and paid for," Verbena Parlor founder Ashley Tran told GMA. She also explained that all staff must now be Barbicide certified, wearing a KN95 mask at all times in the salon and wearing eye protection during services. Staff must also dispose of gloves after each service, sanitize all surfaces prior to the next client in addition to washing and sanitizing hands prior to service. "Employees are not allowed to come to work if they have any symptoms listed on the CDC website," Tran said. Additionally, Verbena Parlour's new guidelines will include customer temperature checks prior to service. Many salons are also requiring masks to be worn at all times by employees and staff. Upcoming openings Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that businesses in several regions of New York are now being given the green light to move toward phase three reopening. This includes nails salons. California's Gov. Gavin Newsom also gained a lot of attention when announcing nail salons, tattoo parlors and hair salons could get back to business starting on June 19, under the California Department of Public Health guidelines. Others states have been rolling out plans on a weekly basis. Safety tips and best practices Infectious disease specialist Dr. Simone Wildes told GMA that it will be difficult to maintain the six feet apart rule for social distancing while in nail salons, and she believes face shields should be worn by employees and customers for additional protection. Wildes also said it would be best to limit the number of areas one touches while in the salon and to wash one's hands frequently or use hand sanitizer when one enters and leave the salon. Red flags to watch for: - Overcrowding - Individuals not wearing masks - Surfaces not being cleaned thoroughly between each client - Staff not washing hands or sanitizing between customers "If you feel that the salon is not adequately prepared for reopening, then you should wait to have service done," she said. "It is best to have your self-care when you feel safe and secure in your environment and with the provider of your services." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Looters ransack a Walgreens store along Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, Saturday, May 30, 2020. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) At least 177 pharmacies were burglarized or damaged during recent unrest in the Los Angeles area, disrupting some residents' access to medication and raising concerns that the stolen drugs will be resold on the street. Local and federal law enforcement officials believe organized groups targeted the businesses because they stock prescription drugs, which are easy to carry off in large amounts and can be resold for a high profit on the street. Officials said the groups took advantage of the peaceful protests and were not connected to them. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration totted up 177 pharmacies burglarized or damaged in Los Angeles and Riverside counties, agency officials said. Two pharmacies one in Huntington Park and one in Van Nuys were destroyed by fire. The DEA also has received 54 reports from pharmacies in the two counties of more than $534,000 in thefts and damage. Many other pharmacies in the region "are still in the process of taking inventory and will report their losses in the future," the DEA said. Such reports are mandated when licensed pharmacies lose significant amounts of controlled substances, like prescription opioids. Such medications have helped fuel the nation's deadly opioid epidemic. The DEA said it was working with the California State Board of Pharmacy and local law enforcement agencies to investigate the thefts. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said federal agents had told him that the pharmacies were intentionally targeted. The Board of Pharmacy issued a statement earlier this month advising pharmacies in "impacted areas" to board up their buildings to limit damage and "prevent drug losses," and to move inventory and sensitive medical records to safer locations. It also advised them to "inventory all dangerous drugs and devices to identify any losses." The board also said pharmacies should carefully check drugs that were in areas that were broken into but were left behind by burglars to be sure they were not tampered with. Story continues It noted that pharmacies were required to report losses to it and the DEA and said security videos should be saved for the police and the DEA. As for patients whose pharmacies were closed as a result of the unrest, Department of Consumer Affairs spokeswoman Veronica Harms said the pharmacy board recommended that they reach out to have their prescriptions sent to another pharmacy to be filled or ask their provider if they could receive their medicines another way. As a rule, she noted, patients should keep a list of their medical contacts and current medications in the event of an emergency. CVS, a pharmacy chain with a large presence in the region, said it had at least 10 store closures in Los Angeles and some damage. Other stores were temporarily closed "as a precaution to keep our employees safe," said Amy Thibault, a company spokeswoman. Customers whose pharmacies were closed were temporarily rerouted to other stores nearby, Thibault said. As of this week, only one CVS store, in the 1300 block of South La Brea Avenue, remained closed. Reopening is expected next month after repairs are completed. "Each closed pharmacys phone system has been rerouted to a nearby CVS Pharmacy that is open so all patients will continue to have access to pharmacy care," Thibault said. In 2015, nearly 30 pharmacies in Baltimore were broken into during unrest following the death of Freddie Gray from injuries suffered in police custody. Law enforcement in Baltimore also believed then that organized groups were responsible and said the stolen drugs were eventually sold off in open-air drug markets in the city. The DEA investigated those incidents as well. It initially calculated 175,000 drug doses had been stolen but later upped that count to nearly 315,000 doses more than 40% of which were powerful opioids including fentanyl, methadone and oxycodone. Harms said pharmacies in Los Angeles would have to conduct their own audits to determine their losses individually before reporting those figures to the DEA. Los Angeles Times reporters Jaclyn Cosgrove, Melissa Etehad and Tania Ganguli contributed to this article. By Trend Employees of Azerbaijani parliament are regularly tested for COVID-19, a source in the parliament told Trend on June 16. As a result of the conducted tests, two employees of the Azerbaijani parliaments Department of Affairs have tested coronavirus-positive. They, as well as other employees with whom they were in contact, have been taken under medical control. The mentioned employees are currently feeling well; showing no symptoms of the coronavirus. A corrections officer has received a seven-year prison sentence after being convicted of planning to bring drugs into Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore. Two inmates also have been sentenced in the plot to bring two ounces of methamphetamine into the prison. According to information released Tuesday by the U.S. Attorneys office in Mobile, corrections officer Wiggins Washington, 52, of Bay Minette, and prisoner Michael Rashard Dread, 34, of Foley, recently were sentenced in the smuggling conspiracy. Washington was to bring the drugs into the facility, where Dread serving time on a prior drug charge. Washington was arrested after meeting a person he believed to be the supplier of the drugs in Bay Minette, according to a statement from the office of the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. A confidential informant had provided information to the Department of Homeland Security Investigation about the scheme, and law enforcement intervened to arrange a controlled delivery so that Washington could be arrested prior to his delivering the drugs to the inmates who planned the drug deal from the prison. A firearms charge contributed significantly to Washingtons sentence. He entered a guilty plea in September 2019 to conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute and to carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking charge. U.S. District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced him this month to two years on the drug charge, plus the statutory minimum mandatory consecutive penalty of five years on the gun charge. Those are to be followed by five years of probation. Dread, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy, received a six-year sentence to be followed by five years of probation. Moorer had previously sentenced another inmate involved in the plan, Kevin Depaul Davidson, 46, to more than 20 years. The investigation was conducted by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, according to the U.S. attorneys office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell. As the coronavirus pandemic began to hit the United States and the economy was forced into lockdown, the government and congress acted swiftly, passing the CARES Act, a $2.2-trillion relief bill passed on 27 March, to provide help to state and local governments hard hit by Covid-19, as well as businesses and individuals. The main plank of the package to help hard-working individual Americans was a round of $1,200 stimulus checks (with further amounts payable for dependent children). In total some $267 billion has been sent out by way of these Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) to help Americans cope with the financial effects of a pandemic that has officially left the country in a recession, the National Bureau of Economic Research has confirmed. Although unemployment actually fell slightly in May, a jobless rate of 13.3% nonetheless remains a whole 10% higher than it was in February, and several recent polls have shown that people across the US are clamoring for further financial support on top of the CARES Act EIPs, more commonly referred to as stimulus checks. HEROES Act: up to $1,200 each, $1,200 per dependent The Democrat's response to the ongoing economic crisis was the $3-trillion HEROES Act, which proposes a second round of stimulus checks to eligible people in the States. The Dems have taken the bill through the House of Representatives, although it is currently stalled, with Republicans, fearful of the cost, yet to debate it in the Senate, where they hold a majority. The Republicans are now talking about reviewing the situation in mid to late July. Heroes Act provisions Like the CARES Act, individuals earning below $75,000 a year would be paid a one-off stimulus check of $1,200, while those on up to $99,000 would get a tapered amount. Married joint tax filers with a shared income below $150,000 would receive $2,400. Whereas the first round of checks included an extra $500 per family for every dependent, the HEROES Act would raise this to $1,200 each (with a maximum of three), allowing households to claim a total of up to $6,000. What's more, unlike the CARES Act, dependents aged 17 or over would not be excluded. Calculate how much your HEROES Act check would be: Second Stimulus Check Calculator - HEROES Act (Calculator created by Mateusz Tkaczyk and Jasmine J Mah) HEROES Act faces opposition in GOP-controlled Senate To become law, the HEROES Act requires to be approved by the Senate - but there it has met strong resistance from Republicans, who control the upper chamber. GOP leaders have slammed it as being DOD, "Dead on Arrival" in the Senate. Senate-majority leader Mitch McConnell is wary of any further aid, and if he is pushed to provide further relief he is desperate to keep the total bill under $1 trillion. That said, President Donald Trump is beginning to make more encouraging noises over a second round of stimulus checks and looking at a $2 trillion package, which McConnell might have no option but to get behind. Trump administration open to second check, says Mnuchin Senate Republicans may have turned their backs straight off the bat on the HEROES Act, but United States Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin was far more open to the idea of a second round of stimulus checks, even if that will not be within the framwork of the Democrats' legislative offering. Mnuchin has gone so far as to say that a second round of stimulus checks is something the Trump administration is "seriously" contemplating. "I think we're going to seriously look at whether we want to do more direct money to stimulate the economy," Mnuchin told a hearing by the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship on Wednesday. "I definitely think we are going to need another bipartisan legislation to put more money into the economy." Live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic At the time of writing, there had been 2,114,026 coronavirus cases in the United States, with to 116,127 deaths, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. You can stay up-to-date with the latest Covid-19 developments and numbers as they emerge in America with our live, US-focused coverage. Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (17) For Judge Velia Meza, it wasnt just another day in court. Her Monday docket was held in a new normal for pandemic precautions her bench was completely surrounded by a transparent shield of acrylic. Her 226th District Court was not as full as it usually is. What stood out, though, were the shiny protective shields, dark theater-like cloth barriers, hand-sanitizing dispensers, blue tape and Bexar County logos marking six-foot intervals denoting where people can and cant sit. The additions are to protect against transmission of the coronavirus. Since jury trials were suspended in March and the judiciary quickly acclimated to handling hearings via Zoom videoconferencing technology, Bexar County courthouse officials have been working on getting physical infrastructure in place protective shields and barriers to allow cases to proceed in person. Soon, all courtrooms and offices will be upgraded at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center, Bexar County Courthouse and Paul Elizondo Tower building, officials said. Its part of a slow re-opening plan approved recently by judicial and county officials. And Monday showed the emphasis was on slow. Juries wont be empaneled until June 30 at the earliest, said 379th District Judge Ron Rangel, who also is the administrative judge for the district courts. With guidance from the states Office of Court Administration, Rangel has said he wants judges and court clerks to continue to have as many proceedings done remotely as possible. But if people need to be in court, they can do that, too. Meza spent most of the morning on Zoom video conferences from her bench, which were shown on YouTube. Only one defendant, Alyssa Dominguez, appeared in person. She donned a mask and sat in the jury box by herself until it was her time to go before the judge. Dominguez is out on bond on a pending charge and had an issue with her monitor, she said, begging the judge for leniency. Do you understand you are on full house arrest? Meza asked her. I got a report at 3 a.m. that they didnt know where you were. Pregnant and in tears, Dominguez told the judge she had a problem with the device and her phone when she had to go to a hospital. I have four kids, Im not trying to run or nothing, Dominguez said. Meza admonished Dominguez and issued a warning to keep her GPS monitor charged and to stay in touch. Dont let this happen again, pregnant or not, phone working or not working, Meza said. She withdrew Dominguezs warrant for arrest and reset her case for next month. Dominguez cried and thanked the judge on the way out. Meza went back to her Zoom hearings, the courtroom again empty except for two bailiffs and a deputy district clerk. By the end of the day, Meza had heard six pleas. She said Zoom is working out well, and as long as the state asks for them to go slow, she, too, wont insist on bringing people back to court. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. To read more from Elizabeth, become a subscriber. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 File Photo New Delhi: Thousands of Indians are still stranded in various countries due to the coronavirus epidemic and lockdown. To bring back them, the Union government has decided to expedite its operation. In this connection, the number of flights to India is now being increased. Airlines Advertisement All preparations in this regard have been completed. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the government has decided to increase the number of flights from Gulf countries, Africa, Singapore and Malaysia under the "Vande Bharat Campaign". The government had on May 6 launched special flights under the Vande Bharat campaign to bring back Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the lockdown. Took decisions to significantly ramp up evacuation operations from Gulf countries, Singapore, Malaysia & Africa at a meeting to review operations under Vande Bharat Mission with Secy @MoCA_GoI, CMD @airindiain, Chairman @AAI_Official & officials of @MEAIndia.@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/SqGFGTIubo Advertisement June 15, 2020 Puri tweeted, Took decisions to significantly ramp up evacuation operations from Gulf countries, Singapore, Malaysia & Africa at a meeting to review operations under Vande Bharat Mission with Secy @MoCA_GOI, CMD @airIndian, Chairman @AAI_Official & officials of @MEAIndia. It is noteworthy that after the outbreak of the coronavirus worldwide and the closure of airports, thousands of Indians have been stranded in various countries. In such a situation, to bring them back to India, the Central Government has launched special flights under Vande Bharat Mission. With their help, thousands of Indians have so far returned home. Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks is blasting a Supreme Court decision that federal anti-bias laws cover gay, lesbian and transgender workers. On a 6-3 vote, the High Court ruled that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Right Act extended to people who face workplace discrimination due to their sexual or gender identity. Brooks, R-Huntsville, called the decision the dumbest Ive read. There is a difference between SEX (over which person has NO control) & CONDUCT (over which person has TOTAL control). In a Republic, ELECTED reps make law. APPOINTED judges interpret law. Bad, Brooks posted. https://t.co/uKDka1LcSg Supreme Court sexual orientation decision dumbest Ive read! There is a difference between SEX (over which person has NO control) & CONDUCT (over which person has TOTAL control). In a Republic, ELECTED reps make law. APPOINTED judges interpret law. Bad. Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) June 16, 2020 When asked online why LGBTQ employees shouldnt have the same civil rights are every else, Brooks said: Whether LGBT CONDUCT has same anti-discrimination rights as BIRTH TRAITS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER (race, ethnicity) is POLICY matter decided by ELECTED representatives IN A REPUBLIC. Scott: Be smarter. Whether LGBT CONDUCT has same anti-discrimination rights as BIRTH TRAITS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER (race, ethnicity) is POLICY matter decided by ELECTED representatives IN A REPUBLIC. Supreme Court amended 50+ year old old Civil Rights Act. Undermined Republic. https://t.co/l4rVGHPi7p Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) June 16, 2020 Before the ruling, 28 states, including Alabama, had no express protections for LGBTQ employees. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended almost every aspects of life as we know it. Even those countries that are supposed to have the means to manage the spread and mitigate the effects are struggling. Besides the US$5 trillion stimulus package that the G20 economies agreed to deal with the pandemic, individual countries are also devising various measures to shore up their health care systems, stabilize their economies, and assist affected workers and businesses. Even before the full brunt of the coronavirus outbreak reached some of the poorest countries, the economic impacts are already being felt. With declining global demand for raw materials, breakdown of global supply chain, and mounting debt burden, the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to exceed US$220 billion. The urgent shouldnt crowd out the important With greater uncertainty and fear of global recession looming, governments are looking for resources needed to lessen the socio-economic pains of the crisis. In this process, official development assistance (ODA) wont be spared and could come under increased scrutiny. Decisions made now will have potentially devastating or transformative impact for years to come. Despite the economic and political pressure, we must protect ODA, which is needed more than ever. The spread of COVID-19, especially in places with weak governance and health infrastructures is expected to be overwhelming if the international community does not act now. In sub-Saharan Africa, many countries have the lowest number of physicians per capita in the world while some experience ongoing conflicts, making it difficult to fight the virus. Collateral impact The collateral impact of COVID-19 on health, education and nutrition systems will be extremely damaging, and in many cases irreversible, for children and society at large. And when the world opens up again, the resilience of the weakest health systems will dictate how well we do against future threats. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, argued that, this human crisis demands coordinated, decisive, inclusive and innovative policy actionand maximum financial and technical support for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries. It is critical for the international community to fulfil the humanitarian appeal for COVID-19 response while protecting existing commitments to long-term development and other silent emergencies. Doing so will help protect the most vulnerable people from being exposed to the effects of COVID-19 and preserve hard-earned development gains in fighting global poverty and expanding basic services. Left to their own devises, fragile nations may risk the breakdown of socio-political order, civil unrest and state collapse, further exacerbating the dire situation. A humanitarian and development crisis COVID-19 is not only a humanitarian crisis, but also a development crisis. Development agencies are supporting countries to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the crisis. The effectiveness of their response to certain degree depends on the flexibility afforded to them in funding and operational procedures. To tackle this uniquely complex health and development crisis, the adequacy and flexibility of funding to development agencies are pivotal. Flexible core funding is already making a difference in the COVID-19 response to reach people in need faster, empower local actors, deploy essential supplies to the frontline, and protect the most vulnerable children, refugees, women. Immediately responding to threats This enabled the communities to practice due diligence and self-driven discretion to immediately respond to threats of the pandemic, while waiting for the pledged assistance to arrive. For instance, in Nigeria, funding flexibility allowed UNICEF to come up with an innovative solution to fight misinformation around COVID-19 while UNDP was able to support the government double the ventilator capacity in the country. The COVID-19 pandemic is a devastating crisis in history. But it also posits an opportunity to remind the global community why multilateralism is vital to securing the worlds peace, security, and prosperity. We witness how the health crisis of todays globalized world interlinks global economy, geopolitics, and social values. Our effective response to the public health crisis should be key to resolving the ensuing economic, humanitarian and development challenges. A complex reality Understanding this interlinked and complex reality of COVID-19, governments need to work together closely to take coordinated actions and share scientific information, resources and expertise. It is this strong motion for collaboration that underpins the UN agencies commitment to reinforce the humanitarian-development nexus to jointly respond to the COVID-19 crisis, working closely through the UN Crisis team, humanitarian response plan, UN Response and Recovery Fund for COVID-19. In Guinea-Bissau, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, and IOM joined hands to help build isolation facilities and triage space, and procure necessary equipment for COVID-19, both for the national hospital as well as for the re-modelling of the UN clinic. With strong solidarity and effective cooperation, the international community will not only arrest COVID-19, but also use the emergency to build back better health systems and a more inclusive and sustainable economy. This article was originally published here. By Stephen Lendman June 15, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Since taking office, the Trump regime upped the stakes in Washingtons long war by other means on Iran. US hostility toward the Islamic Republic has nothing to do with a national security threat that doesnt exist. Its all about its sovereign independence, wanting Israels main regional rival neutralized and returning Iran to US client state status, along with gaining control over its huge hydrocarbon resources, some of the worlds largest. The Trump regime is waging all-out war on Iran by other means. In early June, the CIA-connected Washington Post falsely claimed that Tehran might attack US regional positions ahead of its November 3 presidential election. Separately, recent reports by Fox News and the Times of Israel perpetuated the myth about Iran getting closer to being able to produce nukes. Unreliable sources for these claims come from Israel and US Iranophobes, no credible evidence supporting them because none exists. Whats going on is longstanding US/Israeli propaganda war on Iran, pushing the envelope toward possible direct confrontation beyond what already happened. Its a dangerous, high-risk game, risking war with a nation able to hit back hard if preemptively attacked. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The latest inflammatory accusation against Iran comes from UN secretary general Antonio Guterres, a figure dismissive of US, NATO, Israeli high crimes of war and against humanity. Never condemning them, his customary response to naked aggression is urging both sides to show restraint. His latest support for imperial interests over world peace came from a conveniently leaked UN report last week that cites him. It claimed Iranian missiles were used to attack Saudi oil installations last September, backing Trump regime accusations at the time. Ignored was longstanding US war on Yemen since October 2001 launched by Bush/Cheney, escalated by Obama with Saudi involvement, Trump upping the stakes exponentially. In October 2016, Reuters claimed that Iran was supplying Yemeni Houthis with weapons through neighboring Oman unnamed US, other Western officials its source, along with Saudi Arabia. In response, Omani Foreign Minister Yousef bin Alwi debunked the accusation, saying: There is no truth to this. No weapons have crossed our border and we are ready to clarify any suspicions if they arise. Reuters admitted the following: Yemeni Houthis gained a trove of weapons when whole divisions allied to former Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh sided with them at the start of the war last year, adding: US and (other) Western officials who spoke to Reuters about (access to weapons by Houthi fighters said their claim) was based on intelligence they had seen but did not elaborate on its nature its credibility very suspect not explained by the wire service. According to the leaked UN report, missiles used by the Houthis have Iranian design characteristics (and/or) bear Farsi markings. Left unsaid was if Iran was supplying missiles to Houthis, why would its authorities let them be easily identified, notably by Farsi markings on them? In response to 2018 accusations of Iran supplying Houthis with missiles, then IRGC commander General Ali Jafari debunked the claim, saying: How is it possible to send weapons, especially missiles, to a country which is fully under siege and there is even no possibility to send medical aid and foodstuff? Missiles fired at Saudi Arabia belong to Yemen which have been overhauled and their range has been increased. Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami denounced a pattern of false US accusations, while ignoring its own imperial high crimes. On Saturday, Irans UN envoy Majid Takht Ravanchi slammed the leaked UN report, saying: Iranian origin of arms (to Yemeni Houthis) is a fallacy. The UN secretariat lacks capacity, expertise and knowledge to conduct investigations, adding: It seems the US, with its history of Iran-bashing, sits in the drivers seat to shape UN assessments. On Friday, Irans Foreign Ministry dismissed the leaked UN report as unacceptable propaganda, adding: The UN Secretariats report is clearly under political pressure from the US and Saudi regimes. It appears that the report was prepared under direction of the (Trump regime) to be usedin the Security Council against Iran. Such dictated processes will cause severe damage to the credibility and undermine the integrity of the United Nations. The (Trump regime) is the gravest violator of Security Council Resolution 2231, and no one can clear the name of that State from systematic violations of international rules. Iran is the regions leading proponent of peace, stability, and mutual cooperation with other nations at war with none, threatening none. Its military capabilities are solely for defense, its legal right under international law. Its involvement in Syria is all about aiding government forces combat US supported ISIS and likeminded terrorists, Iranian military advisors in the country, not combat troops. The US, its key NATO allies, Israel, and the Saudis are aggressor states, waging preemptive regional wars. Instead of laying blame where it belongs for whats gone on endlessly in the Middle East, the region transformed into a permanent war theater by the US and its allies, Guterres falsely suggested that Iran breached Security Council Res. 2231, unanimously affirming the JCPOA. Since adopted in 2015, taking effect in January 2016, Iran has been in full compliance with its provisions no evidence suggesting otherwise. In sharp contrast, the US breached the agreement, notably by Trump abandonment of whats binding international and US constitutional law under its Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2). Britain, France, Germany, and the EU breached the landmark agreement by failing to observe its provisions. Iran slammed the new UN report, saying it was prepared and leaked because of political pressure from the (Trump) and Saudi regimes. Its timing comes when Pompeo and other Trump regime hardliners want the expiring UN arms embargo on Iran kept in force permanently, along with UN sanctions ended by the JCPOA reimposed. The Security Council has final say on these issues. Russia and China firmly oppose reimposition. The US, no longer part of the JCPOA because of Trumps unlawful abandonment of the deal, is pushing hard for reimposition. Which way EU countries intend to go remains uncertain. Will they uphold the rule of law and save the JCPOA, or let it die by siding with hostile Trump regime policies against nonbelligerent Iran. What happens will be known as things play out in the weeks and months ahead. Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. Stephen now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient. Visit Stephen's website : stephenlendman.org (Home Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Post your comment below When it was announced in March, the Governments Job Retention Scheme was rightly hailed as an unprecedented and inspired policy to save British business. And yet, as the cost of furloughing more than quarter of the entire workforce passes 20billion, and with still no end in sight, I fear it could end up being the most economically crippling policy in British history. For proof it is a ticking timebomb in our midst, we need only look at the unemployment figures released yesterday by the Office for National Statistics. To the surprise of many, they showed that the number of workers on UK payrolls decreased between March and May by only 612,000. While some jubilant shoppers returned to the high street this week, business owners know that if the two-metre rule remains in place, jobs and even the future of entire companies are at stake Of course, we must not downplay the individual miseries of those who are now jobless. Nor should we discount the worrying 126 per cent increase in people receiving benefits since March. But given Britains economy has almost entirely ground to a halt due to the lockdown, many might expect that the unemployment figure would be significantly worse. It would be a mistake, however, to be lulled into a false sense of security. The bitter truth is that unemployment in Britain could still reach an unprecedented level. For while yesterdays statistics confirm that furloughing Britains workforce has been largely successful in preventing job losses, they also revealed that the scheme has unintentionally hidden the real and devastating impact of Covid-19 on the economy. Yes, relatively few people have lost their jobs. But make no mistake, the Job Retention Scheme is nothing but a sticking plaster. By the time the scheme ends on October 31, many may find that the economy has been ruined and they have no jobs to return to. Such a scenario, where the cash flowing into the Treasury from income tax and VAT receipts vanishes overnight, doesnt bear thinking about. All of which is why the Government must change its risk-averse approach to dealing with Covid-19 and get people back to work now. To start with, a review of the two-metre social distancing rule is not good enough it is too late. While it remains in place, most hospitality, leisure and retail outlets are simply unviable. Rishi Sunak's Job Retention Scheme was rightly hailed as an unprecedented and inspired policy to save business, but it could end up being the most economically crippling policy in British history As the founder of numerous companies, including the Punch Taverns pub chain, I know just how devastating such a regulation will be for businesses. While some jubilant shoppers returned to the high street this week, business owners know that if the two-metre rule remains in place, jobs and even the future of entire companies are at stake. It is therefore fortunate that science is on the side of businesses. Just yesterday, Professors Carl Heneghan and Tom Jefferson, from Oxford Universitys Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, revealed that according to their analysis of 38 studies cited by the World Health Organisation in relation to this rule, only one focused specifically on Covid-19 infections and reported that keeping two metres distance from each other had no effect. And yet this Government seems oblivious to these warnings about the catastrophic impact of social distancing on most businesses. Instead, it seems to prefer to pay nine million furloughed staff most of whom I suspect are ignoring the very high risk that their jobs will vanish once the state stops picking up the bill to have a prolonged holiday courtesy of taxpayers. But if the PM and his team want to make sure that these workers actually have a future, they have to wake up to the facts and take action now. I would also urge them to study more of the statistics released by the ONS yesterday, particularly the fact that the number of death certificates citing influenza and pneumonia without Covid-19 as a factor was actually lower than the five-year average. This strongly suggests that many of those who have sadly perished from Covid-19 would have died from those causes normally. This does not excuse the appalling death toll in care homes and geriatric wards, but it does reinforce unassailable evidence that this is a disease that almost exclusively targets the very old and very ill. Pubs such as The Ferry on the Wirral Peninsula are serving takeaway pints, but maintaining a two-metre rule would be 'devastating' for business Indeed, recent Public Health England figures suggested that those aged over 80 are 70 times more likely to die of the disease than those under 40. That is why if we dont want to see millions join the dole queue when autumn arrives, everyone under the age of 65 without serious health conditions needs to be allowed to resume their fully normal lives right now while the vulnerable remain shielded. It is also imperative that the Government quickly publishes a clear plan to sort out the huge hangover of debt that has been created by previously healthy companies seeking loans and grants. Firms struggling to recover rapidly from this total economic shutdown do not need billions of debt hanging round their necks. Fortunately, all is not lost. Even analysts at banking giant Morgan Stanley predict we could be in for only a short recession. But to avoid economic turmoil, and for there to be sufficient funding in the form of tax income to pay for a better health service and better social care, we cannot now bungle the economic exit strategy and send the UK into the most fearsome depression of all time. As it stands, the lockdown is unquestionably the worst political blunder since the First World War. But if we quickly formulate and implement a debt-exit strategy by the end of the month, a sharp recovery is still a possibility. We are teetering on a knife edge between recovery and catastrophe. Now is the time to set aside past errors and to choose the path that leads to health and prosperity. About 6:30 p.m., officers tried to stop someone in the 5000 block of South King Drive in the Bronzeville neighborhood who was wanted for aggravated assault with a handgun on June 10 in the 5000 block of South Washington Park Court, Chicago police said. On screen, he is a menacing villain, flexing his muscles and frown, but in real life, he has turned into a saviour for thousands (~20,000) of stranded migrants desperate to reach their native places during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Sonu Sood has been in the news and all over social media due to his philanthropic work to send the migrants home via buses, trains and even flights. This has catapulted Sood to the limelight and also brought him to brands attention. In a career in films spanning 21 years, one would be hard pressed to remember a brand, especially a prominent one that the actor has been associated with. In the past, Sood was associated with not very well-known brands such as IG International, Adrol Lubricants, Rhinos Gym and YepMe. Known as a fitness enthusiast, Sood has also been associated with the Government of India initiative Fit India Movement. His philanthropic efforts, which were highlighted by the media, have made him a larger than life figure, in a world looking for real-life heroes. Thus, making him a great catch for brands. In the last one month, Sood has appeared in social media promotional posts for Pepsi, Stayfree and Godrej Interio. Sood could have simply donated to the PM Cares fund and left it at that, but having gone the extra mile has made him the only actor worth remembering during the lockdown period. Take a look at some of the posts that people have put up on social media platforms. .@SonuSood pic.twitter.com/uzVNsXVRuS Shivam Vij (@DilliDurAst) May 28, 2020 This is for you sir @SonuSood pic.twitter.com/Q3VSWAG11B Irfan Khan (@iamirfankhan7) June 12, 2020 You are real hero #sonusood pic.twitter.com/3ycp91PrlX Jatin Murudkar (@MurudkarJatin) June 8, 2020 U r superhero Sir @SonuSood #Isupportherosonusood pic.twitter.com/RerNjCkc7a Pankaj (@Pankaj76288982) June 7, 2020 According to media reports, Soods personal worth is Rs 130 crore ($17 million). One can only imagine how much of his personal wealth was spent sending migrants back home, but the serendipitous result of this humanitarian act is that his brand equity has sky rocketed. However, when marketers contemplate a long-term association with their brand, will Sonu Sood make the cut? Heres what experts had to say. Jagdeep Kapoor, Founder Chairman and Managing Director, Samsika Marketing Consultants: Sonu Sood is great brand property. He has been steadily growing on screen and off screen. On screen, with Dabangg, Singh is Kinng, Simmba and many others, and off screen with his timely, relevant goodwill gestures, his brand image has grown. A fit, good looking and versatile actor, with good latent potential could be a good brand endorser. Yes, his foray into advertising as brand ambassador could be beneficial to brands and him. There is no risk in taking Sonu Sood as a brand ambassador. He is SS - Sure Shot like his name SS - Sonu Sood. I am surprised as to why advertising and marketing professionals took so long in recognising and using him for brands. I am sure his brand valuation will surely go up substantially. He is a fit brand and fits well with brand endorsements. He has positioned himself well as a likeable actor with the light-hearted side, even though on screen he has done negative roles and off screen is doing a positive role! Deepak Kumar, EVP, C-Lab: Most of the celebrities came out in support of the COVID-19 crisis and contributed by donating funds, initiated fund-raising activities, posted advisories and did all the right things to do during a crisis. Sonus contribution attracted greater media attention as he was out there in the thick of action addressing the affected peoples immediate concerns. His consistent effort to help people showed the power of one and the difference an individual can make. His action and untiring effort have earned him visibility and has helped him get to a demi-god status. Long term association would be the preferable option as the work done by Sonu will remain etched in peoples memory for a long time. He has stepped out to help the critical mass at their time of need. Brands should look at being active partners in his efforts rather than just pure a media deployment strategy, this would help the brand with better constructive rub off. Tactical association would fizzle out in no time except it ending being a trophy campaign. I think he is a positive asset in an adverse time. Harish Bijoor, Brand Guru &Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults: Sonu Sood has a higher recall value during the era of the lockdown. He has emerged to be the star with the most positive strokes from among them all locked at home. And yes, his valuation as a celebrity brand endorser is richer than ever before. I do believe brands will test and use. If it works in the market in terms of eyeballs and brand appeal, it will be continued. If not, it shall be business as usual. As of now, Sonu Sood is a darling of the masses. Here are some appearances that he has made for well-known brands. View this post on Instagram We are extremely delighted to sign on "Sonu Sood" as brand ambassador for Shreedhi Family . . . . #shreedhi #shreedhimilk #milk #milkproducts #sonusood #brand #branding #brandambassador #hero #reallifehero #savior A post shared by Shreedhi (@shreedhimilk) on Jun 12, 2020 at 11:11pm PDT View this post on Instagram Maana Ki Kaali Raat Hai, Iss Raat Se Ladne K Liye, #BharatEkSaathHai. Stay tuned! @sonu_sood @bhushankumar A post shared by T-Series (@tseries.official) on Apr 22, 2020 at 11:32pm PDT MUSKEGON, MI - A mobile cotton candy vendor will open its first brick-and-mortar location in Muskegons Lakeside neighborhood this summer. Hey Sugar Cotton Candy Co. will open its doors at 1925 Lakeshore Dr. this Friday, just in time for this years virtual Taste of Muskegon, the companys owner, Danielle Bradfield told MLive in an interview. The company started at the end of 2018 and was a presence at farmers markets throughout 2019, Bradfield said. Specializing in gourmet cotton candy, the spun sugar features unique flavors like salted caramel, champagne, and blueberry mojito. The brand is meant to be celebratory, Bradfield said, and she especially loves catering events like weddings. The new store will be at the former site of The Only Cannoli, which relocated to the Third Street Corridor of Midtown Muskegon earlier this year. The store will serve as both a takeout location for cotton candy and party supplies, as well as a commercial prep kitchen for the companys ongoing mobile and catering operations, Bradfield said. The business has grown quickly since it started as a spontaneous idea in October 2018, Bradfield said. A stay-at-home mom of five, Bradfield had been looking for ways to work for herself when, two years ago, she saw a super cute cotton candy cart on Instagram. At first, she only wanted to get some of its all natural, organic cotton candy for her oldest daughter, a sugar fanatic, she said. But when there wasnt a local option, her dream expanded: What if she could bring that cotton candy to West Michigan? So, she bought a cotton candy machine. She and her husband began experimenting with handcrafting their own candy, and in early December, they catered their first event: a 90th birthday party. After that, Hey Sugar took off as a mobile venture, Bradfield said. They sold almost 400 prepackaged cotton candy mixes as stocking stuffers that Christmas, and then spent 2019 dishing out cones of fresh cotton candy at farmers markets, festivals, birthday parties and weddings across west Michigan. The cotton candy might be a bit different from what a person is used to at a fun fair, Bradfield said. In addition to the unique flavors, the use of natural sugars, flavors and dyes means the colors are a bit more subdued than the usual pinks and blues. Bradfield said shed anticipated working part-time, with three events a month, but ended up working up to four events per week throughout the spring and summer of 2019. In January, she won $5,000 at a local pitch night for start-ups, which would have gone towards more mobile carts for events. When coronavirus hit, and festivals and weddings were being canceled left and right, Bradfield reoriented her planning towards opening a storefront with a commercial kitchen to use as her base of operations. Were still definitely a mobile company, but we can use the store as our home base, offering (a way for) foot traffic and people to come in whenever they want, she said. We used the COVID time to go back to our vision." For now, Hey Sugar is a two-person operation of Bradfield and her husband, who also still works his own full-time job. But Bradfield envisions the store bringing in a staff, and of being able to maintain an on-call staff of people looking for flexible, part-time work, as she once was. The storefront will allow Bradfield to expand out of her home kitchen - which she operated under cottage food laws, which allow people to use home kitchens for low-risk food production - as the state slowly reopens and events begin to pick back up. Cotton candy is already so happy, and when youre at a happy occasion, the two together is just perfection in my mind, she said. Read more on MLive: Muskegon restaurants buzz with life as dining restrictions ease across the state Muskegon superintendents preparing for different learning scenarios when school reopens Local Eats: How Dr. Rolfs in Muskegon kept moving during the stay-at-home orders Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) urges lawmakers to approve the budget plan at the state Capitol on Monday. The spending plan will probably change as negotiations continue with Gov. Gavin Newsom on how to cover a $54.3-billion deficit. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders of the California Legislature worked Monday toward a final deal on a new state budget, leaving lawmakers in the awkward position of voting on their own spending plan one that did not have Newsom's support a few hours before their annual deadline to take action. Although both Newsom and legislators expressed optimism as negotiations continued into Monday night, the eventual agreement will mean substantial alterations need to be made in the bill adopted in party-line votes by the Senate and Assembly. That plan, however, did meet the minimum constitutional standard for an approved budget to ensure that legislators won't forfeit any of their pay. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said the legislative plan relies on the substantial cash reserves the state has set aside since the Great Recession. "Over the past decade, we've worked hard to be in a position to weather just such a storm," Atkins said during Monday's vote. "This budget enables us to weather it responsibly and with precision so that we avoid wreaking further havoc on Californians' lives." No issue loomed larger over the negotiations than whether a portion of the state's budget deficit estimated at $54.3 billion will be erased by billions of dollars in new coronavirus assistance yet to be approved by President Trump and Congress. "We cannot encourage them more to move expeditiously," the governor said on Monday of federal officials. "And I remain confident that something will happen at the federal level to help mitigate the impact of cuts at the state level." Newsom, who projected the state will need at least $14 billion in new federal money, asked legislators to be cautious and make cuts with an expectation that the money wouldn't arrive. The legislative budget plan rejected that approach, choosing instead to assume the arrival of funds from Washington, and would impose additional cuts only if no help arrives by the end of September. Even then, lawmakers want to soften the blow in the event of a federal stalemate by tapping more of the state's cash reserves. Story continues A key debate has been how much to spend on K-12 education, which saw sweeping cuts under the governor's May budget proposal. Lawmakers rejected those cuts, allowing schools to continue spending at existing levels, though a portion of that amount would have to be found in school reserve funds or through borrowing to be repaid later by the state. School advocates have warned that the unprecedented shift to distance learning due to precautions taken to slow the spread of coronavirus would add to their burden. And though the budget offers one-time assistance with funds from the state's portion of the federal CARES Act, education groups still have worried about how those dollars would be divvied up. Local governments, too, were worried that even a budget more generous than Newsom's preferred version would still come up short. The agreement is expected to provide only about one-third of $3 billion in lost tax revenues for counties, used to fund public and mental health programs, social services and public safety. "Without continued investment in our safety net services, the dire consequences of poverty will be felt by even more Californians," Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said. The protracted budget negotiations served as the latest example of tensions over how to govern California during the COVID-19 pandemic, an issue that recently led some legislators to accuse Newsom of usurping their authority while the Legislature was out of session. Newsom and legislative leaders sought to downplay their disagreements on Monday, insisting the delay was due to the complexity of solving a historic budget deficit. "I'm very pleased at the conversations we've been having," the governor said during a midday event on the state's coronavirus response. The coronavirus has officially caused a recession in the United States, and many Americans continue to face its devastating economic effects. Amid the chaos, lawmakers are considering multiple proposals for additional stimulus money. But while the proposals differ in the amounts they'd make available, most of them would provide substantial funds for most Social Security beneficiaries. If you're receiving retirement benefits, here's how much you could get under some of the proposed stimulus plans being negotiated. The HEROES Act provides up to $1,200 The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 12) would provide up to $1,200 per adult, just as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act did. It would also keep the same income limits as the CARES Act, with stimulus payments dropping by $5 per $100 in income above $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly. The HEROES Act would make one big change, though: It would provide payments of as much as $1,200 per dependent up to a maximum of three dependents. This is a big increase from the CARES Act, which only authorized $500 payments for qualifying dependents. Unfortunately, most Social Security recipients won't benefit from the extra money as only a small number of retirees have dependents entitled to receive these extra funds. That means the typical Social Security beneficiary would get $1,200, while a married couple would get $2,400 as long as their adjusted gross incomes were below the set limit. The Emergency Money for the People Act provides up to $2,000 per month The Emergency Money for the People Act, introduced by Democratic Reps. Tim Ryan of Ohio and Ro Khanna of California, would provide $2,000 per month per adult and $500 per qualifying dependent for up to three dependents. These payments would be available with an income below $130,000 for single filers and $260,000 for married couples filing jointly. This proposal would get more cash to Social Security recipients than the HEROES Act since it raises the payment for all adults rather than just for dependents. But it has a much higher price tag so is far less likely to become law, as many lawmakers are already worried about how much the HEROES Act would cost. The Reopening America by Supporting Workers and Businesses Act would provide $0 for most Rep. Kevin Brady, a Texas Republican, has introduced a stimulus proposal intended to incentivize a return to work. The CARES Act expanded unemployment benefits to provide an extra $600 per week, which has led to many people actually making more on unemployment than they did at their jobs. Concerns have mounted among Republicans that this extra cash will make people reluctant to return to their jobs, so Brady's proposal would provide two additional $600 payouts for those currently on unemployment who re-enter the workforce. While this direct payment would be another form of stimulus for millions of Americans, most Social Security beneficiaries don't work, so they'd get nothing if this proposal were to pass. Watch for the passage of another stimulus check within the next few weeks There's no guarantee more stimulus money will come, but if it does, you're likely to get just one more check. While you can't count on this additional cash, you should watch the debate among politicians to find out if another payment is likely. And if the money does come, you can use it to shore up your finances against COVID-19's ripple effects. Call it karma, the golden rule or paying it forward. In the midst of a pandemic and economic downturn, with racial tensions high, at a time when it would be so easy to turn inward, New Mexicans are looking around to see what they can do to make their corner of the world a better place to live. And being rewarded in return. The eighth graders at Santa Fe Waldorf School will still be going on a rafting trip after donating the $2,800 they raised to the Navajo Nation. Samantha DAnna decided to pick up some trash during a recent visit to Jemez Springs and became the villages honored guest. And a group of strangers came together this month to rescue an injured dog from the Sandias and have become local heroes. As the news brings us brutality and wrongs that must be righted, it is essential for our communities and our sanity that we remember there are many, many good people doing good things who deserve not only recognition but our thanks. The students at Santa Fe Waldorf sold pizza and burritos for two years to raise enough money for a class rafting trip on the San Juan River scheduled in May. Then came the coronavirus and the cancellation notice. Flush with nearly three grand, the 18 students decided to use the cash for essential supplies enough nonperishable food, toilet paper, disinfectants, thermometers, medicine, baby formula and diapers to fill a large rental van for the Navajo Nation. Teacher Daisy Barnard said it was the first time in months they had something to get excited about. Eleventh grader Indie Russell, who went on the delivery trip, says she feels privileged to attend a private school with plenty of opportunities. She said she wanted to make things better for others, and the students did. But the story only gets brighter. A man then contacted their school and offered to pay for the trip when health restrictions are lifted. Anchors aweigh, kids! Los Alamos professional photographer Samantha DAnna was on a trip to Jemez Springs in late May when she noticed a large amount of trash and decided to do something about it. The trash had been left by others in Jemez Springs and parts of the Santa Fe National Forest, and DAnnas appreciation of the areas beauty compelled her to clean it up. So the appreciative Village of Jemez Springs made June 11 Samantha DAnna Day, even though she doesnt live there. A celebration outside the Village Plaza included Mayor Roger Sweet and village staff presenting DAnna with a proclamation certificate and a $100 gift card. Imagine what New Mexico would look like if everyone had that pick-it-up attitude. Earlier this month, retired engineer Cynthia Klaila was heading back after hiking five miles on La Luz Trail when she heard desperate wails from a dog in a ravine. Klaila could have hiked on, but she knew the dogs survival depended on her, so she took the steep climb down. The poochs owner, who spoke no English, soon returned with water. The two crafted a makeshift gurney to hoist the dog up the ravine, but none of their contraptions worked. Klaila went back up to the trail to flag down help, and along came 45-year-old Albuquerque attorney Jason Bousliman. Bousliman and Klaila went down the ravine, and with the dogs owner attempted to heave 80- to 100-pound Maya up the rocky wall. But their combined efforts were futile. So Bousliman clutched the dog and managed to clamber up the rocky ravine and start down the trail, where he was met by Velita and Cody Turner, on vacation from Fort Worth, Texas. Once the team reached La Luz trailhead, other hikers came forward to offer aid and share contact info. These bright spots show simple acts of kindness and decency that make real differences in peoples lives. Just ask Mayas owner, anyone enjoying the pristine Jemez, or any joyfully screaming eighth graders you see rafting down the San Juan River. OPINION tuesday, june 16, 2020 A8 editorials This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Mumbai, June 16 : With the raging Covid-19 pandemic playing havoc with the poor all over the country, the Maharashtra Congress apparently wants the 'NYAY' scheme to be implemented in the state, according to party sources. Since a few days, signs and sounds of discontent are emerging from the state Congress, including party chief Balasaheb Thorat and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan - both senior ministers in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. While the rumblings in the MVA sounded sweet music to the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, the lead partner Shiv Sena rubbished all speculation that the government was hurtling towards doom. Congress sources, while admitting that some statements may have emitted wrong political signals, claim there is no cause for worry for the stability or longevity of the government. "We are keen that Thackerayji gives us a hearing as it concerns the poorest of people in the state, who are hit badly by the pandemic. We only want that the government should consider implementing a scheme like 'Nyuntam Aay Yojana' (Nyay)," a senior Congress leader, requesting anonymity told IANS. The scheme - the brainchild of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi - was floated with much fanfare before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Among other things, 'Nyay' assured a minimum Rs 6,000 a month cash income guarantee to the bottom 20 per cent of the Indian population, estimated to be around 25 crore. A modified version of 'Nyay' for farmers - named as Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana (RGKNY) - was implemented by Congress' Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in May, and has reportedly granted around 20 lakh peasants with direct bank transfers totaling to Rs 1,500 crore. In Maharashtra, the scheme could benefit both - the poor and the distressed farmers - to emancipate from the huge economic problems arising due to the pandemic and the crushing 3-month-long lockdown, the Congress leader pointed out. In this context, he referred to the 'Shiv Bhojan Thali' for Rs 5, which proved a lifesaver for millions during lockdown, and how 'Nyay' can be a boon to over 2.50 crore poor people in Maharashtra. Admitting that it ('Nyay') was not listed in the MVA's Common Minimum Programme (CMP) finalised in November 2019, the leader said "we are hopeful - the cause of the poor is dear to the CM and NCP President Sharad Pawar, it would give all three parties a political edge in the state". Apparently peeved, the Shiv Sena's official newspapers 'Saamana' and 'Dopahar Ka Saamana' virtually slammed the Congress, terming it as a 'creaking cot' and in the same breath added that those sitting on it like Thorat and Chavan also know when and how much to rock it. "It's an old cot, so it will creak. It (Congress) is an old, historical legacy, with many on it who can change sides, but the CM should get used to it. Even brothers quarrel in a household, this is a three-party alliance with varied ideologies," the papers said in an editorial. On theories of the Congress coveting a larger share in the Governor-nominated 12 seats, the Sena indicated its mood by saying it would be in sync with the assembly strengths of the MVA partners - Congress has 44 MLAs, NCP 54, Shiv Sena's 56 plus 8 others from supporting parties. Dropping hints, the edit said that the Congress - with experienced leaders like Thorat and Chavan - is doing well in the government, but they must also remember that even Pawar and his party have a similar rich experience in governance. Taking a quick jibe at BJP, it said the MVA comprises politically mature persons, "so let nobody harbour notions that the doors of Raj Bhavan will once again be opened for them early in the morning". As far as Thackeray was concerned, it pointed out to his sacrifices during the government-formation talks and reiterated that the CM is not 'power hungry' to resort to anything just to safeguard his position. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) Locals do better job of tracking Governor extends order Riverview nursing homes hit hard (TNS) Thousands of nursing home residents across Michigan have fallen ill from the novel coronavirus and hundreds have died, but the true toll remains unknown because of the lack of available statewide data.While it's clear the virus has greatly impacted facilities throughout Michigan with some in metro Detroit hit especially hard the state has yet to tally how many total nursing home residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the crisis began.What the state has provided are one-day snapshots showing the current number of COVID-19 cases among residents at nursing facilities, including hubs accepting COVID-19-positive patients from local hospitals and other nursing facilities. Not included are the cumulative number of residents at each facility who contracted the virus, how many residents have recovered and the number of those who have died.State health officials have acknowledged shortcomings in the data collection confirming to the Free Press they had not initially asked nursing facilities to provide cumulative data on COVID-19 cases among residents but said changes are coming.Additional information will be collected from nursing facilities, including the cumulative data, to align with federal reporting requirements of nursing home data, state health officials said."We're on a path," Robert Gordon, director of Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services, told the Free Press on Tuesday. "We're doing significantly better reporting than we were a month ago and we expect to be doing significantly better reporting two weeks from now than we are today."Nursing home residents across Michigan have been isolated from having direct contact with their families since March, when restrictions on in-person visits were implemented to mitigate the spread of the virus. Statistics released by government agencies is one way for families seeking information to see the impact COVID-19 has had on nursing homes where their loved ones reside.The state health department first began publicly releasing data on nursing facilities last month, after the governor signed an executive order requiring nursing homes to report all presumed positive COVID-19 cases to the state."There were concerns about requesting cumulative data retroactively and placing undue burdens on facilities that need to spend their time serving patients vs. filling out forms," Lynn Sutfin, a spokeswoman for the state health department, said in an email, adding the department was also working with existing system limitations to collect the data."The data collection was intended to inform current needs and assist the department in targeting our resources appropriately. We believed when we launched the reporting requirement that the current information was the best information for the state to collect and act on," Sutfin said. "Weve since recognized the value, for both the public and state, in also collecting the cumulative information."Erin Emerson, director of the state's Office of Strategic Partnerships and Medicaid Administrative Services, said the state will soon roll out new reporting requirements to include data on cumulative cases and more specific information about staff shortages.Sutfin said nursing homes will continue to report to the state, which will forward the information to the CDC.According to the state, more than half of the listed nursing facilities reported no current COVID-19 cases among residents as of Thursday. That does not mean, though, that facilities have not been impacted by COVID-19 infections among residents or staff.Local health department data shows cases have been widespread. Wayne County, which does not include cases from Detroit because the city has its own health department, has reported that nearly 40% of all of the county's COVID-19 deaths have been nursing home residents. And the Detroit Health Department has reported case and death totals for all of the city's 26 nursing homes.The state reported that, as of Thursday, two Detroit nursing homes Riverview Health and Rehab Center North and Riverview Health and Rehab Center South had 16 and zero active COVID-19 cases among residents, respectively.Meanwhile, the Detroit Health Department reported cumulative numbers showing Riverview North had seen a total of 83 residents test positive for COVID-19 and 23 residents die, as of May 8. Riverview South, the data showed, has had 50 residents test positive and 14 COVID-19 deaths during the same period.Richard Levin, the CEO for Riverview Health, said the facilities have provided data, adding that information provided by others about the facilities is being reviewed."We care deeply about our residents, their families and friends, and continue to take measures daily to adapt to, meet or exceed the ever-changing recommendations and requirements issued by various state and federal agencies for the care, treatment and protection of our residents and staff," he said in a statement.Dr. Carla Bezold, the city's chief epidemiologist, said in a statement that data on nursing home cases and deaths are based on facilities self reporting and supplemented by information from the Michigan Disease Surveillance System. Each week, the numbers of cumulative cases and deaths are summarized and reviewed with the facilities before being published, she said.She said facilities may vary in how they gather, collect, and report information. Some individuals who are transferred between facilities are in the case counts for both locations, she said."The goal of gathering any public health information," Bezold said, "is to make decisions that save lives.While Detroit and county health departments in metro Detroit have tracked the deaths of elderly residents in senior living facilities grim statistics that stretch into the hundreds the state health department has not published data on the deaths of nursing home residents.Officials recently said there had been 687 COVID-19-related deaths reported by skilled nursing facilities, as of May 10, but Gordon cast doubt on the accuracy of that statistic during a state Senate oversight committee hearing last week.I do not stand behind that number as an accurate and full accounting of COVID-related nursing home deaths," he said during the hearing Wednesday. Im confident that number is an undercount.Officials have said there may have been inconsistencies with the way facilities were reporting: Some were reporting the daily number of deaths, while others might have been reporting cumulative counts.Gordon said the department is working to improve the quality of the data."The full picture," he said, "is one that we will get over time."Meanwhile, local health departments in metro Detroit have identified thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths linked to senior living facilities.In Macomb County, there are 74 care facilities that have had COVID-19 cases, 1,083 confirmed cases and 277 deaths as of Wednesday, a spokesman said. Those numbers include only residents, he said. Facilities include nursing homes, assisted living centers and senior living facilities. In Oakland County, as of Wednesday, there had been 1,661 reported positive cases among residents and 540 cases among staff at senior living facilities, which includes independent living, skilled care, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, assisted living and memory care facilities, a county spokesman said. He said there have been 421 deaths linked to the facilities. In Wayne County, which does not include cases from Detroit, nearly 40% of all deaths in the county 381 of 965 total deaths as of Saturday had been nursing home residents. And 11% of the county's total cases 936 out of 8,808 have been identified as nursing home cases. In Detroit, as of May 8, more than 1,200 residents across the city's 26 nursing homes had tested positive for COVID-19, according to Detroit Health Department data. That could include individuals counted more than once after being transferred from one facility to another, a note on the publicly available data says. The data also shows 293 nursing home residents who tested positive have died.In Detroit, the city tested all of the city's nursing home residents. Last week, Detroits Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair said the city was shifting its focus to test thousands of senior citizens who live in apartment buildings. The city also plans to distributed masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to seniors living in these communities, she said.Carolyn Johnson, whose mother, Mildred Hill, died after testing positive for COVID-19, said she appreciated Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan publicly releasing cases and coronavirus-related deaths associated with each of the citys nursing homes.Hill's family had wondered how rampant the disease was at the nursing home where she had lived. They said she lived at Riverview Health and Rehab Center North in Detroit. After falling ill, she was rushed to Ascension St. John Hospital in late March and later diagnosed with coronavirus, her family said. Hill, who was 75, died April 7.Hill's family wore masks and gloves to her funeral. No more than 10 people could be in the room at one time. Johnson, 51, of Eastpointe, said she couldnt walk up to the casket or touch her mothers body as she mourned because of precautions taken during the pandemic. She also couldnt go to the cemetery where her mother was buried.This past Mothers Day was Johnson's first without her mom.It was a hard Mothers Day, she said.Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week extended an executive order aimed at protecting residents and staff at long-term care facilities. It says facilities are to report all presumed positive COVID-19 cases to the state health department, "with any additional data required under DHHS guidance."The order is effective through Wednesday. Case data has not been reported by some facilities, according to the state's website. So far, no penalties have been imposed for non-reporting, Sutfin, the state health department spokeswoman, said.We will likely explore this in the future, she said in an email. But first (we) wanted to work with facilities/associations to understand the reporting challenges and barriers to doing so before we turned to a strict enforcement approach.The state also is collecting information on regional hubs, which are nursing facilities with the capacity to care for those affected by COVID-19. Sutfin said in many cases that means the facilities have closed units with separate entrances and a dedicated staff.Sutfin said the majority of hub residents have been discharged from hospitals, while some are transfers from other nursing facilities.Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, federal regulations already required nursing homes to have written procedures regarding infection control, including reporting possible communicable disease or infections to local and state health authorities. Expanded federal regulations published at the end of April, mandate nursing homes to report, among other things, the number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections and deaths to the CDC in order to support nationwide surveillance of COVID-19 and increase transparency.The CDC and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services "can introduce innovative solutions to stop the spread of COVID-19 and better prepare and equip facilities to keep residents and staff safe during the pandemic," Scott Pauley a CDC spokesman, said in an email. The data will also help to inform federal, state, and local public health response by providing information on cases/outbreaks in these facilities, staffing shortages, the status of personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilator capacity and supplies."CMS plans to publicly report the data collected by CDC in a few weeks, he said.Timothy McBride, co-director of the Center for Health Economics and Policy at Washington University in Missouri, said key information he would look for at nursing facilities is the rate of change or number of new cases. He said this would allow health officials to see whether they need to change their planning and allocate additional resources.Michigan and local health departments are doing that with the statewide and community totals to determine whether the curve of new cases is flattening.McBride said it's the job of public health departments to coordinate public health data. He said Missouri like Michigan is near the bottom in terms of public health dollars. Per capita spending in public health, that's part of the underlying problem, McBride said of Missouri.Nationwide, Michigan ranks 43rd for state and federal dollars dedicated to public health at $58 per person, according to Americas Health Rankings, a 2019 report from the United Health Foundation, a nonprofit providing health-related information to policymakers and the public. The national average was $87 in public health spending per person.For two nursing homes in Riverview, the outbreak has taken its toll.Rivergate Terrace and Rivergate Health Care Center, located on the same campus, and both Life Care Centers of America facilities have each seen a number of cases. Data provided by Life Care Centers of America illustrates the impact on residents and staff.Timothy Killian, public information liaison for Life Care Centers of America, told the Free Press in an email Friday that Rivergate Health Care Center has had a total of 107 residents positive for COVID-19 over time. He said 22 residents have recovered and 17 have died and 68 were still positive as of Friday. At Rivergate Terrace, 93 residents had been positive in total, 35 had recovered, 33 have died and 27 were still positive as of Friday, Killian said.Christine Martin said her husband, Gordon, has lived at Rivergate Health Care Center for seven years and tested positive late last month. She said he is asymptomatic and has been moved into a COVID-19 ward. Martin said she used to frequently visit her husband, who she said was placed in the facility after suffering a brain aneurysm and two strokes.Martin said she wants facility staff to be more accessible.When I call there, I want them to not push me from phone to phone and give me a recording and they dont get back to me," she said. "I want them to be available to us to vent our concerns.According to Killian, dozens of staff members at both facilities also had fallen ill.Inspection records from April on the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs website reviewed by the Free Press show both Rivergate Terrace and Rivergate Health Care Center failed to properly maintain infection control practices.Gowns used as personal protective equipment were stored in doorways of 11 confirmed and presumptive positive COVID-19 residents rooms and shared between staff at Rivergate Terrace, a report said. Also, medical equipment was not being properly sanitized between isolated and non-isolated residents, the document said.The facility took action, including removing used gowns from residents' rooms, disinfecting all multi-resident used equipment and educating staff on issues like personal protective equipment policy and COVID-19 outbreak policy, the report says.The inspection report from Rivergate Health cited several deficient practices, including failing to ensure staff adhered to droplet precautions while passing out meals to residents. A worker went into several rooms to deliver food without wearing a gown or gloves, but had on a mask and hair covering, the report said. The worker later said she didnt know she should gown up when entering droplet precaution rooms, but now knows that she should.Inspections at facilities are common and infection control is "the most common concern," Killian said in an email. He said results are taken seriously."We cannot speak to specific investigations that are ongoing; there is a process by which we work with our oversight agencies to correct any issues addressed," he wrote. "We are confident that we are in full compliance with both State and Federal guidelines."As to the allegations of a lack of personal protective equipment, Killian said with the global pandemic, there was an unprecedented demand for the equipment in all industries."As a result, our own ability to have all the PPE needed for an entirely new and unprecedented level of infection control were initially constrained," he said. "At no time did we lack the needed PPE to care for COVID positive patients."Martin said her husband was tested for COVID-19 last month and she has inquired about having him retested. As of Thursday, she said she did not have an answer.As to the nursing home's response to the coronavirus, she said "they handled it very poorly in the beginning. Very poorly.Killian said the nature of the virus is still being discovered and guidelines continue to emerge."The coronavirus outbreak happened to us," he said, "not because of us."Contact Kristi Tanner: ktanner@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @MIdataloveContact Gina Kaufman: gkaufman@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ReporterGinaContact Elisha Anderson: eanderson@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @elishaandersonThis article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: When it comes to nursing home deaths, state data tells only part of the story 2020 the Detroit Free PressVisit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Reuters) - Electric carmaker Tesla Inc is negotiating possible incentives with a Texas county that could bring a new auto assembly plant to the area near Austin, the state capital, the Austin American-Statesman reported on Monday. Travis County Commissioners Court is scheduled to discuss terms of the deal on Tuesday, the paper reported, citing people with knowledge of the situation. A vote is expected in the coming weeks. The paper said it was unclear whether negotiations with Travis County show that Tesla has picked the Austin region as the site for the plant, which would build the company's electric pickup truck and Model Y SUV and employ thousands of people, or if the company is also negotiating with officials in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tesla officials could not immediately be reached to comment. The company's chief executive, Elon Musk, has tweeted previously about the possibility of bringing a plant to Texas. Oklahoma also has been mentioned as a possible site. Travis County officials declined to comment, and a spokesman for the Texas governor's office did not immediately comment. Last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he had spoken with Musk about a potential plant. Abbott's comments came three days after Musk had threatened to move Tesla's headquarters and future operations to Texas or Nevada after officials in California's Alameda County, where Tesla's only U.S. vehicle assembly plant is located, said the plant could not yet reopen because of coronavirus lockdown measures. The plant has since reopened. Officials with the United Auto Workers union, which represents hourly workers at General Motors Co's assembly plant in Arlington, Texas, said they believe a Tuesday county meeting will include talks about the possible deal. The union, which has unsuccessfully tried organizing Tesla's Fremont, California, plant, called on Texas officials to obtain assurances from Tesla about any potential jobs. (Reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit and Brad Brooks in Austin, Texas; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis) The events surrounding Gagik Tsarukyan, Chairman of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), the largest opposition political force in parliament, as well as the PAP's regional structures, are a sad testimony to the fact that the halls of power are ready to resort to any kind of repression. Homeland, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and One Armenia Parties have noted this in a joint statement on the events unrolling with respect to parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia Party leader, MP, and business tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan. The halls of power have rejected any initiative by the political opposition to solve, with joint efforts, the problems facing our state and society. This climate of repression, intolerance, and national division stops the course of Armenia's statehood, poses a risk of unpredictable threats and losses. We demand from the current authorities to stop the repressive working style deepening the crisis in the country, and to immediately return the processes to the political sphere. We call on our compatriots, as well as the political and public forces to unite around the real national-state agenda. Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Bern, 16.06.2020 - Following the reopening of borders within Europe, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has met the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio in Ticino. Together with his Italian counterpart, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) highlighted the good cooperation between Switzerland and Italy in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, and expressed solidarity and encouragement to the people living on either side of the Italian-Swiss border. The delegations met at the Chiasso-Brogeda border crossing, where the two ministers greeted and thanked the Swiss and Italian border guards for their work during the crisis. The official meeting between the two delegations took place at the Museo Vincenzo Vela in Ligornetto and was preceded by a private discussion between the two ministers. Mr Cassis underscored the fruitful cooperation that had taken place between the two states during the crisis and the frequent contact he and his Italian counterpart had had from the outset. This close contact had made it possible to ensure that frontier workers had been able to continue travelling to work, in particular those employed in the health sector, and to manage the passage of goods at borders effectively. It also helped to facilitate the repatriation operations that the two countries had organised jointly to assist Swiss and Italian citizens stranded abroad. Mr Cassis also stressed the importance of the region straddling the border between Switzerland and Italy. "During this crisis," he said, "the great economic, social and cultural value of this region has been shown more clearly than ever before." Addressing the people of Ticino and Northern Italy, who were particularly affected by the virus, Mr Cassis expressed words of solidarity and encouragement. Mr Cassis and Mr Di Maio then discussed the measures taken by the two governments to loosen restrictions and reopen borders within Europe, which entered into force on Monday 15 June. Restoring the free movement of persons, Cassis stressed, is a key element in the transition to a new normality. Collaboration between neighbouring countries and across the whole of Europe will remain important during this phase, particularly in the area of cross-border traffic. The two ministers stressed the need to continue to observe the precautionary measures set out by their respective authorities to combat infection. After his visit to the border between Italy and Switzerland, Mr Cassis will travel on 17 June to the region on the border with Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein, and on 26 June to Geneva, on the border between Switzerland and France. Bilateral matters, European policy and international issues The two delegations also addressed various issues of bilateral interest, notably the draft memorandum to strengthen cooperation between their respective ministries, the agreement regarding the taxation of frontier workers and the situation in the commune of Campione d'Italia. Switzerland and Italy not only share a common border of 740 kilometres but have developed over the centuries a tightly-knit relationship, based on deep-rooted human, cultural, scientific and economic ties. Frontier workers are an important resource for the economy of Ticino and for Switzerland in general, as well as for the neighbouring Italian provinces. Italy is Switzerland's third biggest trading partner after Germany and the United States: the total volume of trade with the neighbouring Italian regions alone exceeds that of trade with Japan or India. Mr Cassis also briefed Mr Di Maio on current progress on the European dossier and reiterated that cooperation between Switzerland and the EU and its member states had been crucial in tackling the coronavirus crisis. The pragmatism that emerged in the joint management of the pandemic will prove useful in future discussions between Switzerland and the EU. Lastly, the ministers reviewed a number of current international issues, focusing in particular on migration and the situation in Libya. 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 Kolkata: Bengalis are in for a pleasant surprise amid the COVID-19 gloom, as fishermen in West Bengal have exuded hope of a bumper 'hilsa' yield this year, given the dip in economic activities in the seas over the past three months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. With monsoon having arrived, many of them have already ventured out with their trawlers, trying their best to lay hands on the prized 'silver crop' a nonpareil delicacy that can be savoured when fried or cooked in mustard sauce. "As there was near-zero commercial activity in the seas and the rivers, and no industrial effluents were released into the waters during this three-month hiatus, fish breeding, which is common during this season, is bound to pick up the pace. "Since June 14, several fishermen have set sail. The catch is expected to be higher this time, compared to the past two years," Sunderban Development Minister Manturam Pakhira told PTI on Tuesday. Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal near Sunderbans in the South 24 Parganas district, and the confluence happens to be the breeding ground for 'hilsa', which moves upstream from the sea to the river around this time of the year. Most of the 12,000 big trawlers in Kakdwip belt of the district are expected to hit the seas over the next few days. "We can give you an approximate figure of the yield after 15 days. One thing is for sure, there was barely any movement of vessels during the lockdown. It reduced water pollution, and aquatic life remained largely undisturbed. So we are expecting a bumper 'hilsa' yield," Pakhira said. Bijan Maity, the general secretary of Kakdwip Fishermen Association, said anything between 32,000 and 35,000 metric tonne would be considered good catch. "Last year, the yield did not cross 12,000 metric tonne due to factors such as pollution and late arrival of the monsoon. We are positive this year will be different. Amid the lockdown, work such as maintenance of trawlers and repair of fishing net was put on hold. Hence, some fishermen are taking time to set sail," Maity said. Claiming that several unscrupulous fishermen flout April-May ban on fishing to rake in more moolah, Maity also said that this year, however, not many could do that, amid the strict restrictions in place. This year, the fish will be bigger in size and probably tastier, he said. "Our catch is sold across Bengal, and other in other parts of the country. We are hopeful of tickling the taste buds of Bengalis amid the COVID-19 gloom," Maity said. Pakhira insisted all fishermen have been told to wear masks, use sanitisers, especially when they sell their catch. Vice Chairman of Digha-Sankarpur Development Authority Akhil Giri said trawlers have also set sail from the East Midnapore district. "Fishermen had suffered losses last year. This year, they are expecting a good crop," he added. It is only relatively recently that perennial ryegrass-dominated swards have become the popular choice for pasture-based livestock production in Ireland. Prior to this, swards generally contained a more diverse mix of plants that offered greater botanical complexity and a wider choice to the grazing animal. However, with the widespread availability of relatively cheap fertiliser nitrogen, perennial ryegrass increased in popularity due to its excellent ability to produce high yields (approaching 20t DM per ha in some instances) of high-quality forage for grazing and conservation. However there is an argument to be made that reliance on a single species, which requires high levels of fertiliser nitrogen, is problematic from both economic and environmental perspectives. In the absence of fertiliser nitrogen inputs, perennial ryegrass abundance will quickly diminish in swards. So, what of these more diverse sward types which contain greater numbers of plants from different functional groups including grasses, legumes and herbs? You will hear different names used to describe more complex sward types. These include: herbal leys, multi-species swards and species rich grasslands. Herbal leys and multi-species swards are essentially different names for re-sown swards containing a combination of grasses, legumes and herbs. While the numbers of species included can vary, they're usually relatively low, ie. less than 10. On the other hand, the term 'species-rich grasslands' generally refers to grasslands that receive relatively low-intensity agricultural management and consequently have a greater number of species present. As these swards are not re-sown, the species in them generally reflect factors such as local seed sources, soil type, pH, fertility and moisture, topography and climate. 'Smartgrass' and animal performance While much research has been done in Ireland on multi-species swards at a plot scale, and internationally at field scale, it was the animal performance results from the Department of Agriculture-funded 'Smartgrass' research project conducted at UCD Lyons Farm that really kicked off the national interest in multi-species swards as an option for grazing livestock. This study, led by Dr Sheridan, Assoc Prof Lynch and Prof Boland of the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, examined the performance of sheep offered one of four different sward types. The swards offered were: PRG - a perennial ryegrass monoculture; PRGWC - perennial ryegrass plus white clover; 6S - a six-species mix containing perennial ryegrass, timothy, white clover, red clover, chicory and plantain; 9S - a nine-species mix containing perennial ryegrass, timothy, cocksfoot, white clover, red clover, greater birdsfoot trefoil, chicory, plantain and yarrow. The PRG sward had a fertiliser nitrogen application rate of 165kg per ha per year, while all other swards received 90kg N per ha per year. Lime, phosphorous and potassium were applied in line with soil tests and no slurry or farm yard manure was applied during the course of the study. All swards were stocked with 12.5 twin-rearing ewes per ha from turnout in March until housing in late November/early December over two consecutive years. Animals grazing the six species sward had the best performance over the two-year study. Lambs grazing this sward type were 2.5kg heavier at weaning than lambs grazing the perennial ryegrass-only sward. Indeed when we compare the weaning weights of the lambs grazing the perennial ryegrass sward to the average of the other three swards, the perennial ryegrass lambs were 1.7kg lighter at weaning at 14 weeks of age (30.9kg vs 32.6kg). Growth rate This increased weaning weight for the lambs offered the more diverse swards reflected increased growth rate to six weeks of age when the lambs suckling ewes on the six species sward were 2.2kg heavier than the lambs suckling the ewes grazing the perennial ryegrass sward (20.4 vs 18.2kg). This suggests increased milk yield and/or milk solids yield by the ewes grazing the multi-species sward and this is currently under investigation for dairy cows at UCD Lyons Farm. These improvements in animal performance were carried through until slaughter, when lambs on the more diverse swards were finished two weeks earlier than the lambs fed the perennial ryegrass sward (167 days vs 181 days). However, one of the most impressive results from this work is the fact that lambs grazing the herb containing swards (6S and 9S) had lower parasite burdens and a 50pc reduction in the quantity of anthelmintic used over the course of their lives. In Ireland, sheep production is the smallest of our three main pasture-based industries, so work is ongoing at Lyons investigating the impacts of multi-species swards on the performance of dairy cows and beef cattle. Additionally, the School of Agriculture in UCD has partnered with Devenish Nutrition and Wageningen University to investigate multi-species swards under mixed cattle and sheep grazing. While this research is in its infancy the sheep performance recorded at Lyons is being replicated at Dowth, Devenish's research farm, and multi-species swards are supporting daily live weight gains in Hereford steers from the dairy herd of 1.1 to 1.2kg per day in their second summer at grass. There are challenges with multi-species swards, just as there are with anything. Our experience suggests that the main challenges include ensuring persistency of the herbs and to a lesser extent, the legumes in the sward. Blanket herbicide application is not possible post-emergence as any herbicide on the market in Ireland that will kill things like buttercup and dock, will also kill the herbs, and finally establishment can be challenging particularly in the autumn. However, in light of the challenges laid down in the EU Farm-to-Fork strategy, we believe multi-species swards have a significant role to play in ensuring the ongoing sustainability of Irish agriculture. Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are among the major donors of coronavirus aid to sub-Saharan African states, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said in a report released Friday. The think tank listed the three Middle Eastern states as among 11 countries plus the European Union whose governments, foundations or private sectors had sent funding, supplies and doctors to sub-Saharan African countries. The region excludes North Africa, which connects to the Middle East via Egypt and shares the Arabic language with it. Other countries that donated to several sub-Saharan African countries were the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, India, China, South Korea and Cuba, CSIS said. Turkey, Qatar and the UAE each sent assistance to at least 10 individual African countries. Turkey and Qatar are close politically, while the UAE is aligned with Saudi Arabia in the Qatar-Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict. However, Qatar, Turkey and the UAE gave to many of the same countries, including Ghana, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, according to the center. The aid took different forms. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, which is part of the prime ministers office, donated food to 150 families in the Kenyan capital Nairobi in May, according to Turkish state media. The governmental Qatar Fund for Development said it sent 10 tons of masks, protective equipment and other medical supplies to Somalia in May. Some African leaders have acknowledged the support. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he was grateful to the [UAE] government after it sent 15 tons of masks, protective gear and additional medical aid to the country in April. Other countries announced support for the African Union or the continent in general, but Turkey, Qatar, the UAE and the other countries listed provided assistance directly to African states, CSIS said. Some cases of the novel coronavirus in sub-Saharan Africa can be traced to the Middle East, as Africans traveling through the UAE, a major transit hub, picked up the virus, according to the report. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 19:57:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close This ethnic minority village in the mountains of central China used to suffer from abject poverty. In recent years, residents have embraced much better lives, with support from the government, and help from a poverty relief official. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the virtual opening ceremony of the 127th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as Canton Fair, in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) The 127th session of the China Import and Export Fair, the first digital fair in its 63-year history, will help stabilize global supply and industrial chains amid uncertainties in global trade affected by COVID-19, government officials said on Monday. The twice-yearly event, also known as the Canton Fair, opened online on Monday and will continue through June 24 in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. It has drawn a warm response from foreign customers willing to engage with Chinese suppliers despite the pandemic, which has slowed global trade and many countries' economic growth, said Li Jinqi, deputy director-general of the fair's organizing committee. The fair, including 50 exhibition areas based on 16 categories of commodities, will attract some 25,000 Chinese export-oriented companies this month, organizers said. They will showcase 1.8 million products and services through various media such as photos, videos and 3D formats to promote matchmaking among suppliers and purchasers and conduct 24-hour business negotiations. Foreign buyers can register on the 24-hour livestreaming platform and start purchase negotiations at any time during the exhibition period, as all companies have been exempted from paying exhibition fees in order to bolster international trade and yield win-win results. Gu Jin, deputy general manager of the overseas business department at China General Technology Group, a State-owned machinery exporter, said the company doesn't have limitations in time or location when showing its products and services this time. "We were only able to show certain small pieces of equipment in previous fairs due to the booth size," sad Gu. "But now we can display large machinery on the digital platform and show the production process and technologies online, not just the products themselves." Premier Li Keqiang pledged continuous efforts to boost import facilitation and help businesses from various countries share China's vast market opportunities as he announced the opening of the 127th China Import and Export Fair at a virtual ceremony on Monday. Speaking with business leaders via video link from Beijing, Li said China will bolster imports of products that sell well in the domestic market and work together with different countries to contribute to the global economic recovery. China's decision to host the event online is an indicator of the country's firm resolve to expand opening-up and safeguard the security of international industry and supply chains, he said. Li visited the online showrooms of several businesses and spoke with executives from Gree Electric Appliances Inc, Loctek Ergonomic Technology Corp and Huida Sanitary Ware Co. He called on businesses to improve the quality of their products and boost their competitiveness in the international market. While many trade events around the world have been canceled or delayed and foreign buyers have been reluctant to travel abroad due to the pandemic, they have expressed eagerness to participate in the online Canton Fair as it offers a convenient way to help them resume production and services, said Zhang Li, deputy director-general of the department of foreign trade under the Ministry of Commerce. Because of the pandemic, the World Trade Organization expects this year's global trade to fall by 13 percent to 32 percent. The coronavirus is also taking a toll on the world's second-largest economy, as the country's foreign trade in goods dropped by 4.9 percent year-on-year to 11.54 trillion yuan ($1.63 trillion) in the first five months of this year, Customs officials said. Michael Schumann, chairman of the board of directors of Berlin-based Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, said despite the decisive role the exhibition industry played in both countries, German industry is facing severe challenges from the pandemic and many large exhibitions in Germany have been canceled or postponed. "However, the organizer of the Canton Fair takes a different approach in holding it online for free for exhibitors and buyers. This is courageous and worthy of reference for German exhibitions," he said. "This session of the Canton Fair will create more trade opportunities for global exhibitors and buyers." BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jun. 16 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Active work on capacities increase of the existing in Agadyr settlement of Kazakhstans Karaganda region solar power station is currently underway in the region, a representative of Karaganda regions akimat (administrative center) told Trend. The official said that currently the akimat together with KAZ GREEN ENERGY company is in the process of implementing the project for construction of a solar plant near the Konyrat microdistrict of regions Balkhash city. The plant's capacity will be 100 MW. The parties are planning to start the construction process this autumn and to finish it in 2021. "Currently, an active implementation to increase the capacity of the existing solar power station in Agadyr district is underway. New facility construction provides for an additional capacity of 26 MW. The launch is planned before June 30, 2020. The required work continues," the official said. Based on some estimates, countrys potential for solar energy production ranges from 3.9 to 5.4 billion WH per year, whereas the ceiling of wind power is 920 billion kWh per year. As of the end of 2019, 90 RES (renewable energy source) facilities of 1,050 MW of capacity were operating in Kazakhstan including 19 wind parks (283.8 MW), 31 solar parks (541.7 MW), 37 hydropower plants (222.2 MW) and three biopower plants. This year, the number of RES facilities is to be increased from 90 to 108 with the total capacity of 1,655 MW. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh NETANYA, Israel, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL) announced today that an Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") of Cellcom Israel Ltd. (the "Company") will be held on Monday, July 27, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. (Israel time), at the offices of the Company, 10 Hagavish Street, Netanya, Israel. The record date for the Meeting is Thursday, June 25, 2020. The agenda of the Meeting is as follows: (1-3) re-election of Doron Cohen, Gustavo Traiber and of Aaron Kaufman as directors; (4) re-approval of the Company's Compensation Policy; (5) re-approval of granting an indemnification and exemption letter for office holders who are, or are related to, the Company's controlling shareholders, or in respect of whom the Company's controlling shareholders have a personal interest in their receiving indemnification and exemption letters from the Company; (6) appointment of Keselman & Keselman, a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as our independent auditors; and (7) consideration of our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. Quorum Two or more shareholders holding in the aggregate at least one-third of the outstanding voting power in the Company, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, will constitute a quorum at the Meeting. Voting Requirements Items 1-3 and 6 require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power present at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting on the matter. Items 4-5 require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power present at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting on the matter, provided that either (i) at least a majority of the shares of the holders who are not controlling shareholders of the Company or who do not have a personal interest in the approval of the proposal voted at the meeting, vote in favor of the proposal (disregarding abstentions and broker non-votes which will not be considered votes cast for this purpose, and will have no effect on the vote) ; or (ii) the total number of shares among the shareholders described in section (i) above voted against the proposal does not exceed 2% of the aggregate voting rights in the Company. Item 7 will not involve a vote. Proxy statements and proxy cards for use by shareholders that cannot attend the meeting in person will be sent by mail, on or about June 30, 2020, to the Company's shareholders that hold shares registered with the American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, including shares held via Depository Trust Company (DTC) members other than the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Clearinghouse. Shareholders that hold shares via the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Clearinghouse may access the proxy statement and a form of Hebrew ballot via the following websites: http://www.magna.isa.gov.il and http://maya.tase.co.il . About Cellcom Israel Cellcom Israel Ltd., established in 1994, is a leading Israeli communications group, providing a wide range of communications services. Cellcom Israel is the largest Israeli cellular provider, providing its approximately 2.747 million cellular subscribers (as at March 31, 2020) with a broad range of services including cellular telephony, roaming services for tourists in Israel and for its subscribers abroad, text and multimedia messaging, advanced cellular content and data services and other value-added services in the areas of music, video, mobile office etc., based on Cellcom Israel's technologically advanced infrastructure. The Company operates an LTE 4 generation network and an HSPA 3.5 Generation network enabling advanced high speed broadband multimedia services, in addition to GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks. Cellcom Israel offers Israel's broadest and largest customer service infrastructure including telephone customer service centers, retail stores, and service and sale centers, distributed nationwide. Cellcom Israel further provides OTT TV services, internet infrastructure and connectivity services and international calling services, as well as landline telephone services in Israel. Cellcom Israel's shares are traded both on the New York Stock Exchange (CEL) and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (CEL). For additional information please visit the Company's website http://investors.cellcom.co.il. Company Contact Shlomi Fruhling Chief Financial Officer [email protected] Tel: +972 52 998 9735 Investor Relations Contact Ehud Helft GK Investor & Public Relations In partnership with LHA [email protected] Tel: +1 617 418 3096 SOURCE Cellcom Israel Ltd. Now is a great time to launch a secure conferencing solution. Millions of people are working and learning from home thanks to Covid-19. Zoom has seen tremendous growth but has suffered from issues related to the security of its calls, zoom bombing, credentials being found online, calls be routing through China, etc. For a period of time organizations were banning Zoom for one or more of these reasons even though Zoom acted pretty quickly to solve each issue. Nonetheless, it is a huge market and new entrants would like a piece of the action. The best way to differentiate is via security for the reasons described above. This is why you shouldnt be surprised at todays news Tauria, a Waterloo-based software encryption company announced a secure video conferencing and business suite. This will protect businesss confidential information by providing end-to-end encryption. Tauria has the capability to support up to 50 people on video conference calls, while also allowing users to send messages, organize schedules, share files and more, all fully encrypted. Tauria CEO Jesse The It is incredibly important for us to create a product that is fully end-to-end, no knowledge encrypted to protect businesses. Encryption is the foundation of everything we do, said Tauria CEO Jesse The. No-knowledge encryption ensures that not even Tauria staff have access to the information that is shared on the platform or through the video conferencing feature. The company explains this is a fundamental distinction between Tauria and companies like Zoom, Microsoft, Google and Slack, giving them the highest level of privacy and security on the market. The company hopes the desire for its solution will grow as hospitals, law offices, municipalities, school boards and accounting firms whose corporate governance policies will require finding more secure video solutions. We are setting a new standard for both the private and public sector to secure private information while facilitating digital connectivity, said The. This communication tool has the power to transform service delivery for a multitude of industries. During COVID-19 Tauria has discounted its services to ensure that secure and encrypted communications for businesses is more accessible. They are offering their platform free for one month. By enhancing digital communication through Taurias secure platform, companies will be able to execute day-to-day business operations while protecting sensitive information. Secure collaboration will continue to be a fast-growing market and Taria is well-positioned to grow as a result. See the ONLY 5G, SD-WAN, Contact Center, Tech and Communications companies that matter at the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW. This Event has been called the BEST SHOW in 5 YEARS and the Best TECHNOLOGY EVENT of 2020. 2020 participants included: Amazon, Cisco, Google, IBM, ClearlyIP, Avaya, Vonage, 88, Comcast Business, BlueJeans, CoreDial, Dell, Edify, Epygi, FreeSWITCH, Fuze, Grandstream, Granite, Intrado, Frontier Business, Fujitsu, Jenne, West, Konftel, Intelisys, Martello, NetSapiens, OOMA, Oracle, OpenVox, Peerless Network, Phone Sentry, Phone.com, Poly, QuestBlue, RingByName, Sangoma, SingTel, SkySwitch, Spracht, Spectrum, Sprint, Tallac, Tech Data, Telarus, TCG, Teledynamics, Teli, Telinta, Telispire, Telstra, TransNexus, Unified Office, Vital PBX, VoIP Supply, Voxbone, VoIP.MS, Windstream, XCALY, XORCOM, Yealink, Yubox, and ZYCOO. Full List. Join 8K others with $25B+ in IT buying power who plan 2021 budgets! Including 3,500+ resellers! A unique experience with a collocated Future of Work Expo, SD-WAN Expo, and MSP Expo At least 97 law enforcement agencies, including the New Orleans Police Department, have used tear gas against protesters in recent weeks, according to a New York Times analysis. Protests against police brutality and racism popped up across the United States after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd, killing him, on May 25. "This brief period has seen the most widespread domestic use of tear gas against demonstrators since the long years of unrest in the late 1960s and early 70s, according to Stuart Schrader of Johns Hopkins University, who studies race and policing," an analysis from The New York Times read. After NOPD officers deployed tear gas and other munitions in New Orleans, some city council members have pushed back and called for a ban on tear gas. Lawmakers have called for similar bans in Massachusetts, Denver, Seattle, Portland and Dallas, according to The New York Times. Read the full analysis from The New York Times here. NOPD officers deployed two rounds of tear gas on protesters on a June 3 demonstration near the Crescent City Connection. It may have been the first time the agency ever used tear gas on a crowd. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Officers in riot gear stood in two lines on the elevated Pontchartrain Expressway to block protesters. The NOPD has said some protesters got past one line and tried to get through another before officers opted to lob the tear gas. More coverage: After crowd tear gassed, NOPD pledges to tweak use-of-force policies; critics say it's not enough 'A dark hour': NOPD admits firing rubber balls at protesters, asks critics for chance at healing [June 16, 2020] TRIPOD at Writers Room Celebrates its Fourth Year of Artistic Collaboration and Development MELVILLE, N.Y., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Art has the power to speak where words sometimes cannot. Fostering collaboration and connection between students and the local Philadelphia community, Canon Solutions America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., is proud to support Drexel University's TRIPOD at Writers Room program and the publication of their newest collection, Anthology 6. Cofounded and supported by Canon Solutions America, Inc. in 2017, this university-community literary arts program provides students and members of the local Philadelphia community with a creative atmosphere to express themselves and explore their artistic abilities through writing and photography. The program included photography education, allowing the writers-in-residence to use Canon EOS 6D cameras with EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Kits to document the inspiration for their writing. Additional experiences included field trips and monthly workshops. Focusing on topics such as social justice and personal experiences, TRIPOD's participants were able to display their creativity and talents in a bound book, which will be printed by Canon Solutions America, Inc. customer, LawrenceInk , using a Canon varioPRINT i300. Although this year is a bit different, and the program's participants were unable to come together for its usual celebration at the University's Dornsife Center, Writers Room proudly launched its annual collection, Anthology 6, on Tuesday, June 9. To celebrate the participants' accomplishments and hard work, the TRIPOD writers-in-residence read selections of their work along with other Anthology 6 contributors in a livestreamed event through its Facebook page . "Each year, I become even more amazed with the work our writers produce together," said Rachel Wenrick, founding director, Writers Room. "We may not be physically together, but the program continues to foster collaboration and understanding between the students and neighbors, keeping everyone connected as a communitysomething especially important now while we're at home. Although we missed being able to come together in person this year, we are happy to celebrate them with the virtual Anthology release." "It's amazing to see the progress this program has made in such a short period of timea great testament to the collaboration and connection between Drexel University and the local West Philadelphia community," said Peter P. Kowalczuk, president, Canon Solutions America, Inc. "Aligning with our commitment to shaping the next generation of leaders, Canon Solutions America, Inc. is proud to have supported Drexel University's TRIPOD at Writers Room, and we commend them for providing a path towards innovation and growth for students and residents of the local community alike." To learn more about Drexel University's TRIPOD at Writers Room program, please visit here . About Writers Room Writers Room is a university-community literary arts program engaged in creative place making and art for social justice. The mission of Writers Room is to develop inclusive, intergenerational, co-creative places that foster connection and community. When all stories are valued, emerging and experienced writers can recognize and share in each other's gifts. Now a center of Drexel University's College of Arts and Sciences, Writers Room originated in 2014 at the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships. The Dornsife Center is an urban extension center in West Philadelphia's "Promise Zone," a designation created by the Obama Administration to provide areas of poverty access to higher education and other resources to improve their quality of life. About Drexel University Founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Drexel is a comprehensive urban university of more than 24,000 students, consistently ranked in America's top 100 by U.S. News & World Report. Drexel is a leader in experiential, technology-infused education, enriched by the nation's premier cooperative education program. The University's recognized excellence in translational research is supported by the Coulter Foundation through the Coulter-Drexel Translational Research Partnership. Drexel advances its culture of innovation by encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration, technology commercialization and entrepreneurship an approach exemplified by the ExCITe (Expressive and Creative Interaction Technologies) Center, the interdisciplinary A.J. Drexel Institutes, Drexel Ventures, the Innovation Center @ 3401 Market Street, the Close School of Entrepreneurship, and the Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship. Drexel is also committed to becoming the nation's most civically engaged university, improving quality of life in its neighborhood and the city through the twin engines of community partnerships and innovation-based economic development. About Canon Solutions America, Inc. Canon Solutions America, Inc. provides industry leading enterprise, production, and large format printing solutions, supported by exceptional professional service offerings. Canon Solutions America, Inc. helps companies of all sizes discover ways to improve sustainability, increase efficiency, and control costs in conjunction with high volume, continuous feed, digital and traditional printing, and document management solutions. A wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., Canon Solutions America, Inc. is headquartered in Melville, NY and has sales and service locations across the U.S. For more information on Canon Solutions America, Inc., please visit csa.canon.com . Canon is a registered trademark of Canon Inc. in the United States and elsewhere. All other referenced product names and marks are trademarks of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged. 2020 Canon Solutions America, Inc. All rights reserved. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tripod-at-writers-room-celebrates-its-fourth-year-of-artistic-collaboration-and-development-301078187.html SOURCE Canon Solutions America [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] "Stimulus check 2" is still up for decision by the government at the moment, according to reports. The Senate is expected to decide in the next couple of weeks, but the latest update has suggested that the Senate is uncertain whether the second round of payments is indeed required. When President Donald Trump announced that the unemployment rate has declined to 13.3 percent, which is reportedly an improvement from 14.7 percent in April, the push for a second stimulus check slowed for some legislators. However, as case counts of COVID-19 began to increase in some states again, there is a growing concern that the economic effect of this global health crisis is far from over. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that if the government approves this second round of stimulus payment, "it will be part of the last act" Congress is passing to help the United States with the financial obstacles in the pandemic. More Weeks of Waiting In mid-May, the House passed the initial relief package called "Heroes Act" amounting to $3 million that includes, aside from aid for frontliners, a "stimulus check 2" for a maximum of $1,200 for each person, or $2,400 for married couples. Nearly one month later, the Senate is still deciding whether to have the bill approved or draft a totally new stimulus package. This may mean more weeks of waiting before the Senate makes a final decision. According to reports, US politicians won't start working on the 2020 plan until the latter part of July when Congress returns from their two-week break from July 3 to 17. CBS News said stimulus payments could arrive in two months, given the schedule of legislatures in Washington DC. Impact of Floyd-Related Protests There's no confirmation whether the widespread George Floyd-related demonstrations and civil unrest are affecting the agenda of the White House in terms of the second payout. According to CNBC, Sen. McConnell last month that Congress would make a decision in "one month" if it would take up a second payout, with most of the work taking place in July. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal said the Trump administration earlier thought that the executive branch could work on the package until July, which, CNET noted, may still take place. According to reports, Senate, Congress, and White House officials will have to reach a deal swiftly considering that "the $600-a-month enhanced unemployment allowances" is expiring in end-July. Reactions to the Delayed Relief Stimulus check 2 drew different responses from various people, including politicians. Most of these reactions were, rather than expressions of hope and excitement, were of disappointment. Among the countless tweets were those of politicians who believe that the present payout, which millions of people have not yet received, is not enough financial aid during this pandemic. Senator Bernie Sanders believes the second payout is not possible as more than 30 million people have not received their one-time $1,200 payment yet. Congress must provide $2,000 a month to all-and make it cover the past three months. How the hell is it possible that 35 million people still have not gotten the one-time $1,200 they are owed? A check that was never going to be enough in the first place?Congress must provide $2,000 a month to all-and make it cover the past three months. https://t.co/NehNgEAzfz June 11, 2020 On Twitter, the senator further said that Congress needs to provide a monthly payment of $2,000 to all, and have the payout cover the last three months. Meanwhile, Representative Tim Ryan in reaction to a Newsweek article about the "$2,000-a-month checks for Americans," said on Twitter that he is proud to be one of the first to recommend this bill, and "we're still fighting for it." Over 1 million people have signed a petition calling for $2,000 monthly checks to help people through this crisis. I'm proud @RoKhanna and I were some of the first to propose this legislation, & we're still fighting for it. #EmergencyMoneyForThePeople https://t.co/OPgZmlVNXf June 13, 2020 Check these out! An Alabama woman who said she killed a man because he raped her and then attacked her brother has asked a judge to recuse herself from the murder trial. Brittany Smith, 32, wants Jackson County Circuit Judge Jenifer Holt removed from the case after she alleged the defendant tried to 'alter or destroy evidence'. Smith claims she was brutally raped and beaten by Todd Smith, no relation, at her home in Stevenson in January 2018. She says she then shot Todd dead as he choked her brother, Chris McCallie - but her claim of self defense was denied in court. Judge Holt said in public comments made in February that Smith gave testimony that didn't line up with medical evaluations and other evidence at the scene. Now, in a filing to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Smith's attorney wants Holt removed over comments she made rejecting the self-defense claim, AL.com reports. Declining to dismiss Brittany's murder charges, Judge Holt wrote: 'The court finds that the defendant has given inconsistent accounts of the events surrounding Todd's death, beginning with the 911 call and has attempted to alter or destroy evidence.' Brittany Smith, left, wants Jackson County Circuit Judge Jenifer Holt, right, to step aside Smith claims she was raped by Todd Smith, pictured, at her Stevenson home in 2018 Judge Holt added: 'The court further finds that the defendant's testimony about material facts was significantly at odds with the physical evidence, exhibits and other witness testimony. 'The physical evidence is inconsistent with the defendant's statements about a sexual assault.' Smith's attorney attorney Ron Smith, no relation, writes: 'The petitioner is entitled to a fair and impartial judge but also to a fair and impartial jury. 'The numerous prejudicial comments in the trial court's orders, have diminished the likelihood that Defendant will retain her right to a fair and impartial jury. 'A reasonable member of the public might reasonably question the trial court's impartiality at that trial.' Brittany, left, says she shot Todd dead as he choked her brother, Chris McCallie, right Brittany's brother Chris McCallie, left, went to her house to confront Todd after she told him what happened. Brittany says she fired her brother's gun three times at Todd while he was holding her brother in a headlock and he was turning blue Holt will have to respond to the claims by June 24. She has already declined to step down after an earlier appeal from the defense team. Smith had filed to drop the charges under Alabama's Stand Your Ground Law which states that one may use physical force against another in the name of defense and to defend a third person from unlawful force. Brittany could spend up to life in prison if convicted of fatally shooting Todd Smith. She said she fatally shot Todd while he was holding her brother in a headlock and threatening to kill them all, according to testimony given at a recent court hearing. Brittany's brother was at the house to confront Todd, who was accused of raping, strangling and assaulting her earlier in the night, and threatening to kill her if she told anyone. Brittany's lawyers had argued that she should be granted immunity under Alabama's Stand Your Ground Law because she feared Todd Smith would kill her or her brother. But the judge said that Brittany Smith did not need to use lethal force to end the altercation, and that her brother was also an aggressor because he brought a weapon to the home and started the confrontation. In the murder case, prosecutors argued in court that Brittany's brother McCallie was the one who initiated the confrontation with Todd Smith during the January 2018 killing. They said that because he brought the gun to the scene, Brittany was not entitled to Stand Your Ground. DailyMail.com uncovered a disturbing history of violent crime and domestic assault committed by Todd Smith, pictured, against multiple women spanning decades Judge Holt said in public comments made in February that Smith, pictured, gave testimony that didn't line up with medical evaluations and other evidence at the scene In the grisly case Brittany claims Todd Smith, 38, choked her to the point of unconsciousness and raped her in her home in Stevenson Alabama on January 15, 2018 and threatened to kill her if she told anybody. The next day on January 16 Brittany's brother Chris McCallie went to her house to confront Todd after she told him what happened. Brittany says she fired her brother's gun three times at Todd while he was holding her brother in a headlock and he was turning blue After the incident a sexual assault nurse documented more than 30 injuries on Brittany including bruises, bite marks and signs of strangulation. But the nurse couldn't determine with certainty if Brittany had been raped, but noted that most sexual assault cases lack physical proof. The judge ruled that the evidence was consistent with physical assault, but inconsistent with sexual assault. Brittany Smith, left, could spend up to life in prison if convicted of fatally shooting Todd Smith, right. Brittany and Todd Smith are not related As Brittany faces a murder trial and the possibility of life in prison, DailyMail.com uncovered a disturbing history of violent crime and domestic assault committed by Smith against multiple women spanning decades. Court and arrest records in his hometown of Jasper, Tennessee, just across the state border from Brittany's home in Alabama, reveal that Smith, 38, had been arrested a staggering 71 times since 1999. In July 2002 he embarked on a brief and violent marriage to Paige Parker, 37. Smith was arrested five times in the course of the marriage that lasted less than one year and ended in divorce in June 2003. Smith also fathered a child by a woman, Amanda Reed, with whom his relationship was clearly every bit as turbulent. He was charged with domestic assault against Reed three times, in 2012, 2015 and 2016, but on two of those occasions the charges were dismissed as, court records noted, 'Victim has not been coming to court dispite (sic) officer's best efforts.' A firefighting and rescue competition was organized by the Ho Chi Minh City firefighting police department and the Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday morning. The event took place at the firefighting police unit in Thu Duc District and was part of this years national campaign, Stay Fit for National Defense, initiated by the Ministry of Public Security. The contest saw the participation of 30 teams, including 24 teams from the firefighting police units based in the citys 24 districts and four teams under the municipal Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue Police Division (PC07). Contestants were required to finish three categories including a 100m obstacle race, 4x100m relay, and fire extinguishment. A firefighter participates in an obstacle race during a firefighting and rescue competition in Ho Chi Minh City, June 16, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre One of the PC07 teams won the first prize, while the first and second runners-up were the firefighting police units in District 12 and Thu Duc District, respectively. The competition is a regular activity of the countrys public security sector, aimed at building and training a modern and elite force. A firefighter participates in an obstacle race during a firefighting and rescue competition in Ho Chi Minh City, June 16, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre Competitions like this provide good opportunities for officers to improve their physical health and sharpen their skills, as well as to exchange experience with their colleagues. They also help the public have a better understanding of police forces tasks and missions. A firefighter participates in an obstacle race during a firefighting and rescue competition in Ho Chi Minh City, June 16, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre A firefighter participates in an obstacle race during a firefighting and rescue competition in Ho Chi Minh City, June 16, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre Firefighters participate in a relay race during a firefighting and rescue competition in Ho Chi Minh City, June 16, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre A firefighter puts out a fire with a fire extinguisher during a firefighting and rescue competition in Ho Chi Minh City, June 16, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre Firefighters use water hoses to put out a fire during a firefighting and rescue competition in Ho Chi Minh City, June 16, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre A firefighter participates in an obstacle race during a firefighting and rescue competition in Ho Chi Minh City, June 16, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! One by one, City Clerk Tina Flores read the 100-plus comments that were submitted online by San Antonio residents. Provide counseling and legal services to victims of police misconduct, one woman said. Return military-grade equipment to the federal government, another person said. Defund the police and reinvest in social services, several residents urged. The City Councils Public Safety Committee held its first listening session Monday, the first in a three-part series aimed at giving residents the opportunity to provide feedback on policing in San Antonio. Over the course of an hour-and-a-half, over 100 comments were read, each from a different resident concerned about police misconduct, use-of-force and budgetary priorities. The comments varied. Some residents expressed support for the police. Others called on the police department to reopen the cases of three black men killed by police. More still discussed no-knock raids, mass incarceration and police training. Some expressed optimism. Others questioned whether the City Councils efforts were sincere. Police Listening Sessions: City Council Meeting Thursday, June 18 3 to 5:30 p.m. Virtual Meeting Saturday, June 20 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. See More Collapse I worry that these listening sessions wont bring about any real change, one man said. It was a stunning example of civic engagement, three weeks after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis reignited a national conversation on policing. Floyd, 46, died May 25 after then-Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin pinned the Houston man to the ground for nearly nine minutes, even as Floyd repeatedly cried out that he couldnt breath. Throughout the week, the Public Safety Committee will host two additional listening sessions, one in-person and the other virtually. Residents can submit comments in a number of different ways: By filling out a form on the citys website, submitting a comment through SA Speak Up, or by texting SAPolice to 55000. Residents can also speak live during the meetings by submitting a voicemail to 210-207-6991 or signing up online ahead of the in-person meeting. Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Emilie, become a subscriber. eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton Tata Motors reported consolidated net loss of Rs 9,894.25 crore in Q4 March 2020 against a net profit of Rs 1,117.48 crore in Q4 March 2019. Total income fell 28.11% to Rs 63,061.59 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. Shriram Transport Finance Company (STFC) said that the board of directors of the company has approved raising of funds for an amount aggregating up to Rs 4000 crore. The company approved fund raising up to Rs 1,500 crore via rights issue and up to Rs 2,500 crore via specified securities. Can Fin Homes' net profit rose 37.45% to Rs 90.91 crore on 14.24% rise in total income to Rs 528.86 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. Narayana Hrudayalaya's consolidated net profit dropped 67.81% to Rs 11.96 crore on 3.37% fall in total income to Rs 749.99 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. Gujarat Industries Power Co reported 61.97% fall in net profit to Rs 61.92 crore on 24.31% fall in total income to Rs 354.97 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. CCL Products (India)'s net profit rose 18.41% to Rs 42.20 crore on 1.74% rise in total income to Rs 267.46 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. Shalby reported consolidated net loss of Rs 17.10 crore in Q4 March 2020 against a net profit of Rs 3.27 crore in Q4 March 2019. Total income rose 2.99% to Rs 119.00 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court's landmark ruling that a 1964 statute against workplace sex discrimination covers transgender employment rights will give a boost to lawsuits seeking to overturn the military's restrictions on transgender service, according to advocacy groups. "It's a stunningly good" decision by the Supreme Court which will be "hugely helpful" in lawsuits to allow transgender members of the military to serve openly without fear of discharge, said Shannon Minter, national legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Read Next: First Army Unit Gets New Squad Designated Marksman Rifle The Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling Monday barring employment discrimination against transgender individuals "has great significance for the ban" on transgender military service pressed by the Trump administration, said Jennifer Levi, of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). The ruling "undermines any argument the military can make" in defending the current transgender policy, said Levi, transgender rights project director of GLAD. In its ruling Monday, the Supreme Court said the prohibition in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against sex discrimination in employment extended to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In his majority opinion, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, wrote that "an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law." Until Monday's ruling, it was legal in more than half the states to fire workers for being gay, bisexual or transgender. But Gorsuch wrote that "an individual's homosexuality or transgender status is not relevant to employment decisions." "That's because it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex," Gorsuch said. A Defense Department spokeswoman referred questions on whether the Supreme Court's ruling had implications for the military to the Justice Department, where a spokesman said there would be no comment. However, "any Supreme Court holding is binding on the military" under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, said Gary Solis, a Marine Vietnam veteran who went on to serve 18 years as a military judge advocate. The ruling "is inevitably going to impact on the military" and the status of transgender service members. But the open question is how the military would seek to adapt the current transgender policy to the court's decision, Solis said. Currently, there are four lawsuits against the military's transgender policy in federal district courts in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Seattle and Riverside, California, Levi and Minter said. Because of the slowdown in court proceedings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the court cases against the military's transgender policy are not expected to go to trial before the end of the year, Levi said. The Obama administration in 2016 allowed the recruitment and open service of transgender individuals in the military. But the policy began to change when Trump issued a series of tweets in July 2017. "After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," Trump said in a Twitter post. After a study of the issue ordered by then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, the current policy went into effect in April 2019, barring transgender individuals from serving or enlisting in the military in most cases unless they served in their original biological sex assignment. Those who entered the military before April 12, 2019 were excepted, and the policy permitted waivers on a case-by-case basis. Advocacy groups have charged that the policy effectively amounts to a ban on transgender service. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related: Navy Grants First Service Waiver to Transgender Officer Tuesday, June 16th, 2020 (2:29 pm) - Score 7,586 New UK ISP Peoples Fibre, which earlier this year revealed that they intended to deploy a 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network (starting in North Wales), have abruptly pulled out of a planned roll-out in Deeside due to Openreachs rival full fibre plans directly blocking both our progress and investment. The provider first popped up on our radar in January (here) and the extended group claims to have been deploying full fibre in Sweden for the last 10 years, while their plan in the UK seemed to revolve around serving homes and small businesses in areas where FTTP is non-existent or poor. Back then we knew very little about the ISP, but a number of people in North Wales helped us to identify that their initial focus was on Deeside. At the time most of the broadband coverage in Deeside had come from Openreachs (BT) hybrid fibre FTTC (VDSL2) and G.fast networks, but they also had a few small patches of FTTP present in the area. Deeside is quite a predominantly industrial conurbation of towns and villages near south Chester, which is where Openreach has been building a fair bit of FTTP (they also announced a plan for Flintshire towns and villages in late January). Overall Deeside looks like an area that might just about support commercial competition between a couple of full fibre rivals, particularly since Virgin Media has skipped it (theres normally a couple of major gigabit-capable networks targeting most urban and suburban areas) and the prices for Peoples Fibre are attractive (e.g. from 30 for 900Mbps). On the other hand Deeside isnt super dense and so the risk for a new entrant is higher. Despite this the new ISP has this week announced that theyve opted to stop their full fibre deployment in Deeside due to a seemingly recent and allegedly unexpected announcement from Openreach, which they say has started to deploy their own FTTP in the area (as above, they were already present, but its certainly possible that they may have ramped-up in response to Peoples Fibre). Peoples Fibre Statement on Deeside Over the past few months weve been working hard to establish a Full Fibre network in Deeside. But recently, with no announcement, Openreach started to roll out their own network in the area, directly blocking both our progress and investment. With this new Full Fibre network being deployed in Deeside, our service is no longer needed there, and so unfortunately we are moving to our next area. We have seen Openreach use questionable overbuild tactics in the past, although those cases usually involved public investment (a much more controversial issue) and there were sometimes also complications with Open Market Reviews (OMR) by local authorities. However the issue tends to be less contentious where commercial projects are concerned. Overbuild is a fact of life for any aggressively competitive commercial market, particularly in denser urban areas, and so far the UK Government have been happy to let rivals fight it out. Nevertheless some rivals have previously complained that Openreachs approach can make it hard to establish themselves in the market. Leo Chong, Founder & CEO of Peoples Fibre, told ISPreview.co.uk: As Im sure youve sensed before weve been quite secretive with our planned areas due to fears of being overbuilt. However weve been transparent with both Ofcom and Openreach about our plans for the area since October of last year and as youve previous article disclosed we even started going door to door around that time taking pre-orders. We set ourselves up to be a local fibre company by hiring staff local to the area, relocating our London based staff to the area, getting warehouse space for kit and materials and just before Covid-19 we even put in an offer for retail space on the local high street. However as we already mentioned in our Code Powers application, our purpose is to serve communities with either no access to full fibre or poorly served areas, which is also an investor promise. It is of our opinion that there was no prior announcement from Openreach about building an FTTP network in this area and when we had established ourselves within the local exchange and had contractors out surveying the area, the entire area all the sudden got swarmed by Openreach and their subcontractors, deploying an unannounced FTTP Network. An Openreach Spokesperson said: Openreach was created to help promote retail competition across Britains telecoms market and takes any allegations of non-competitive behaviour very seriously. Were currently investigating the claims made by Peoples Fibre. We share the UK Governments and Ofcoms view that delivering a future-proofed broadband network across the UK is best achieved through full and free competition between different network providers and the highly regulated Physical Infrastructure Access programme supports this. Were determined to deliver a next-generation broadband infrastructure across the UK by providing third parties with access to our existing physical infrastructure, and by accelerating our own FTTP build programme. The provider has also put out a related information video (see below), which adds that their deployment was due to rely on the use of Openreach ducts and poles to install our own fibre (i.e. the Physical Infrastructure Access project that enables rival ISPs to run their fibre through ORs ducts etc.). This is a fairly normal thing now for alternative networks to harness, even in some areas where ORs FTTP is already present. Peoples Fibre have now moved on to target a different location and, perhaps understandably, they arent going to say where that is (well most likely spot it at some point). However hopefully they have a plan for dealing with this in the future since the Government does seem to expect that the commercial market will cater for the first 80% or so of premises; overbuild is an inherent risk factor in that. Meanwhile for Openreach its often a case of damned if they do, damned if they dont. UPDATE 4:44pm Added a comment from Openreach above. Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Obaseki had met with Pre... Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Obaseki had met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday before announcing his decision. Speaking with journalists at the presidential villa, Obaseki said he would pursue his second-term bid on another platform. On June 14, the governor said he would disclose his next step after meeting with the president following his disqualification from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Edo. Jonathan Ayuba, chairman of the APC screening committee for the Edo governorship poll, said the panel disqualified Obaseki over a defective certificate. The PDP may be the governors next stop as the party had been waiting in the wings for the APC crisis to boil over so that it can provide a platform for him. Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, had asked Obaseki to join the PDP, and making way for him to get the partys ticket. The governor met with Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, and Emmanuel Udom, Akwa Ibom governor, (both members of the PDP) at the weekend. Obaseki had been at loggerheads with Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the APC who supported him in 2016. Oshiomhole is believed to be backing Osagie Ize-Iyamu who was cleared to contest the APC primary election in Edo. Click here to read the full article. The social unrest rippling across the country in the wake of George Floyds killing at the hands of Minneapolis police leaves virtually no sector unmoved or untouched. That includes retail and Shopify seems to be taking the matter to heart, on Tuesday unveiling a change to its Shop mobile app to feature Black-owned businesses. Shopifys mission has always been to help all people no matter their race, religion, gender, sexuality or otherwise achieve independence by making it easier to start, run and grow a business, the company wrote on its blog. We are committed to elevating the awareness of black-owned businesses to support more voices in entrepreneurship, democratize commerce and reduce the barriers to starting a business for everyone. The apps landing page now includes a black box situated in the center of the screen, with the title, Shop Black-owned Businesses. One tap on Explore shops takes the user to a list of brands, including BLK MKT Vintage, Coco and Breezy Eyewear and Golde, among others. Shopifys goal with the update is to raise the visibility of these brands and help them reach more customers. Inclusion hinges on an opt-in model, so the businesses themselves can choose to be featured. Having just revealed a major new partnership with Walmart, June has turned into a rather busy month for Shopify But apparently not so busy that the company couldnt acknowledge the social current of this moment. Its not the only one. Earlier this month, the photo- and video-sharing network Instagram whose platform has been steadily developing shopping features of its own put together and shared lists of black creators, businesses, organizations and related hashtags, including #BlackLivesMatter, #SupportBlackBusinesses and others. Instagram honcho Adam Mosseri quickly drew attention for tweeting his support, largely because of the fraught issue surrounding its parent company, Facebook. The latter platform has been taking fire for allowing President Trumps when the looting starts, the shooting starts message to remain untouched on its network. Some of those most upset about it are Facebooks own employees, who staged a virtual walkout over the matter. Story continues Mosseri didnt take sides, per se, but he made his feelings known. In other tweets, he acknowledged peoples pain, especially [in] our Black community. Now and always, we encourage employees to speak openly when they disagree with leadership, he wrote. We dont just want their honesty; we need it, he said. Shopifys support looks far less controversial. And, to put its money where its mouth is, the retail tech company pledged to donate $1 million to NAACP, Black Health Alliance Canada and Campaign Zero. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. CHICAGO A tragic chain of events that led to the death of a retired elementary teacher in Chicago started when a police officer confronted a man in a West Side alley. After issuing a call for help, the officer could be heard over the police radio screaming, Drop the gun! Three minutes later and just two blocks away, two police vehicles speeding to the officer's aid collided at an intersection, one catapulting the other onto a sedan taking 84-year-old Verona Gunn home after a family cookout. She died hours later on an operating table. That crash last year and another this month that killed a young Chicago mother highlight a police reform issue that hasn't received as much attention as the use of excessive force: The hundreds of deadly crashes involving speeding police that occur nationwide each year. Audio obtained exclusively by The Associated Press of police radio transmissions before Gunn was fatally injured reveals that a dispatcher told responding officers over and over to reduce their speed because the suspect had been disarmed. Slow down, she says firmly. She repeats that order at least five more times over two minutes. [June 16, 2020] Crown Castle Donates $1 Million to UNCF, and Crown Castle CEO Jay Brown Matches with Additional $1 Million Gift HOUSTON, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Castle International Corp. (NYSE: CCI) announced a $2 million combined donation to UNCF ( United Negro College Fund ) as part of the companys Connected by Good program, a platform for the company to give and volunteer in the communities where employees live and work. The donation includes a $1 million company contribution and a $1 million personal match from Crown Castle CEO Jay Brown. The gift will fund scholarships for students attending UNCFs 37 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and more than 1,100 other colleges and universities across the United States. Crown Castles generous donation and commitment will have a lasting impact on our students, said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCFs president and CEO. And the leadership demonstrated by Jay Brown, to personally match his companys donation, is outstanding. This is what it takes to realize the vision of a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education. We believe in the movement across the country to treat everyone equally with dignity, humanity and respect, said Crown Castle CEO Jay Brown. Equal access to a quality higher education is critical to supporting a more just society and creating opportunit. Im committed personally, and as Crown Castles leader, to invest in the future leaders of our country, as one step toward a better path forward. In addition to the donation, Crown Castle invited its 5,000 employees to contribute to UNCF and the company will make an additional donation, matching employee contributions. ABOUT CROWN CASTLE Crown Castle owns, operates and leases more than 40,000 cell towers and approximately 80,000 route miles of fiber supporting small cells and fiber solutions across every major U.S. market. This nationwide portfolio of communications infrastructure connects cities and communities to essential data, technology and wireless service - bringing information, ideas and innovations to the people and businesses that need them. Connected by Good is Crown Castles program to give and volunteer in the communities where we live and work. With nearly 100 offices nationwide, Crown Castle gives back to advance access to education and technology; improve public spaces where people connect; and create safer communities. ABOUT UNCF UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 17 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. For continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNCF. CONTACT Andrea Bradford, Director Public Affairs & PR Crown Castle International Corp. 833-596-9942 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Children march holding a Black Lives Matter sign while entering Jefferson Square Park in South Philadelphia during a Children's March for Justice on Saturday. Read more With one hand gripped tightly in his mothers and the other hoisting a homemade Black Lives Matter poster above his head, 4-year-old Abdul Kane marched to the front of a pint-size protest in West Philadelphias Clark Park last week. I have something to say, the boy squeaked. Black lives matter! The crowd cheered, and Abdul turned, bashfully running back to the bench where his 13-year-old brother, Musa, sat silently, holding a sign reading Stop Killing Us. You think an 8-year-old or a 5-year old, theyre not going to understand whats going on, said Melvina Williams, a West Philadelphia mother who organized the family-friendly Justice for George rally in the park in the wake of nationwide protests following George Floyds death from a Minnesota police officers kneeling on his neck. You think, I dont understand, so how could they possibly? But kids get it. And they get it so much more than what we think. As thousands of Philadelphians have taken to the streets to protest police brutality and racial injustice, some parents have made the demonstrations a family affair and brought their children, from infants to teenagers, along. Whether to take the kids, though, is a precarious question for parents, depending on the childrens age. In the days after Floyds death, a handful of protests turned into physical confrontations with police, who in Philadelphia fired tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds. Physical confrontations have slowed considerably since those initial days, and since then, some protests specifically advertised for families have cropped up across the region. Students have helped organize marches, and kids have stood alongside parents holding signs that say everything from defund the police to be friends with everyone. At a Center City protest, 7-year-old Theodore Gay-Hall held a sign that read, When do I go from cute to dangerous? Isaac Gardner Jr., 11, told Philadelphia protesters last week: I want to grow up to be as long as I can live not with a knee on my neck, not with a bullet in my back. Parents and teachers who organized family-friendly protests said the goal is to empower kids to use their voices. This was a way for them to literally put action to words, said Natalie St. Louis, principal at George W. Nebinger School, which organized a Childrens March for Justice in South Philadelphia on Saturday. Williams said adults must teach kids never to be silent against any form of injustice. She recalled how her grandmother, a West Philadelphia nurse and Freedom Rider who lived through the MOVE bombing, taught her the importance of protesting and voicing her concerns even as a child. I also wanted to let [the children] know we are listening, Williams said. READ MORE: How to talk to your kids about racism and the protests A history of young black activists For decades, black children and teenagers have fought for their lives through protest. During the civil rights era, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was made up of young people pushing for broader social change beyond integration, and icons like Rep. John Lewis and Stokely Carmichael, later known as Kwame Ture, served as chairs. The Little Rock Nine fought segregation as teenagers, and Ruby Bridges was 6 when she became the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South. In 1963, thousands of kids participated in the Childrens Crusade, a school walkout protesting segregation in Birmingham, Ala. They were met with fire hoses, police dogs, and mass arrests. Among them was Freeman A. Hrabowski III, who was 12 and imprisoned for five days. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited hundreds of detained children, Hrabowski recalls, telling them: What you do this day will have an impact on children not yet born. For the children, what we see today that we saw then was, parents want children to feel empowered, said Hrabowski, now president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. It goes to the core of the American democracy of civic engagement, that all of us have the opportunity to speak our truth and to ask for a better society and to ask for fairness and social justice. The decision to bring the kids Taja Peterkin-McLean, a school counselor who has a private practice in East Mount Airy, said involving kids in demonstrations is especially complicated for parents of black children. We want to guard them from unnecessary trauma, she said. Especially for black children, they have enough navigating being black in America. Sitting on a picnic blanket after the Clark Park rally, Tiffany and Jared Jenkins eyed their 2-year-old son, Jonah, as he toddled in the nearby grass, crushing fistfuls of chips in his hands. The young black North Philadelphia family created a colorful protest poster together. #BLM This is 4: My dad, My brothers, My husband, My son, Me, it read. The movement thats going on right now, its very powerful, and also we wanted to send a message and include him, too, Tiffany said. Its kind of trying to find a balance between breaking their innocence and also keeping them informed of whats going on, Jared added. READ MORE: My father gave me The Talk after the MOVE bombing. Now, I have to do it for my kids. | Perspective Peterkin-McLean recommended parents start by taking younger children to demonstrations that are small or advertised as family-oriented. Thats what Ashley Carmichael did. She was outraged at the killing of Floyd and wanted to take part in a protest, but worried about her 3-year-old Leahs safety. So last Wednesday, she joined a few dozen fellow staffers from Bethune Elementary School in North Philadelphia, and protested environmental racism and asbestos in her school and others where thousands of black and brown kids learn. Shes young, but you have to have these conversations with kids, said Carmichael, a fourth-grade math teacher. Her colleague Lauren Priest, the school secretary, brought goddaughter Kaylee, 4, who sat with Leah and took in the scene around her. Small, peaceful, this is the perfect way to start, Priest said. Our kids have been in these buildings them being here matters. Experts in child psychology said parents should plan to talk before and after a protest to help the children process. Kim Wheeler Poitevien, a Chestnut Hill-based counselor who works with kids experiencing racism and classism, suggested parents ahead of time validate their childrens fears, and afterward ask questions about how they felt. Those conversations foster empathy, she said. The small rally in West Philadelphia gave Kea Banks and her husband, Matt, another opportunity to talk with their daughters, London and Nevi, about racism and Floyd. Earlier in the week, they watched CNNs Sesame Street special on racism together, discussing the recent news. At 2 years old, Nevi, who held a sign reading I matter, is still too young to understand, Banks said. But London, 10, already knows about racism. Treat us the way you want to be treated, the girls sign read. We are family everyone. Staff writer Ellie Rushing contributed to this article. The German government plans to introduce an obligation that any cases of coronavirus in pets be reported to authorities. It says the move is needed to assist research into the virus. Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner said Tuesday that the plan is for the move to be considered by parliament next month. Kloeckner said that there will be no obligation for people to test their pets, but it would make sense to do so in certain situations for example, if a cat living in a household with human coronavirus cases itself shows symptoms. She stressed theres no evidence so far that pets can transmit COVID-19 to humans. Germany has about 31 million pets and 83 million people. The head of the countrys animal disease research center said there has only been one known animal case there so far. Quantum material research facilitates discovery of better materials that benefit our society A joint research team from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Institute of Physics at Chinese Academy of Science, Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Beihang University in Beijing and Fudan University in Shanghai, has provided a successful example of modern era quantum material research. By means of the state-of-art quantum many-body simulations, performed on the world's fastest supercomputers (Tianhe-I and Tianhe-III protype at National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin and Tianhe-II at National Supercomputer Center in Guangzhou), they achieved accurate model calculations for a rare-earth magnet TmMgGaO4 (TMGO). They found that the material, under the correct temperature regime, could realise the the long-sought-after two-dimensional topological Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) phase, which completed the pursuit of identifying the KT physics in quantum magnetic materials for half a century. The research work has been published in Nature Communications. Quantum materials are becoming the cornerstone of the continuous prosperity of human society. From the next-generation AI computing chips that go beyond Moore's law (the law is the observation that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles about every two years, our PCs and smartphones are all based on the success of it. Nevertheless, as the size of the transistors are becoming smaller to the scale of nanometer, the behaviour of electrons are subject to quantum mechanics, Moore's law is expected to breakdown very soon), to the high speed Maglev train and the topological unit for quantum computers, investigations along these directions all belong to the arena of quantum material research. However, such research is by no means easy. The difficulty lies in the fact that scientists have to solve the millions of thousands of the electrons in the material in a quantum mechanical way (hence quantum materials are also called quantum many-body systems), this is far beyond the time of paper and pencil, and requires instead modern quantum many-body computational techniques and advanced analysis. Thanks to the fast development of the supercomputing platforms all over the world, scientists and engineers are now making great use of these computation facilities and advanced mathematical tools to discover better materials to benefit our society. The research is inspired by the KT phase theory avocated by J Michael Kosterlitz, David J Thouless and F Duncan M Haldane, laureates of the Nobel Prize in Phyiscs 2016. They were awarded for their theoretical discoveries of topological phase and phase transitions of matter. Topology is a new way of classifying and predicting the properties of materials in condensed matter physics, and is now becoming the main stream of quantum material research and industry, with broad potential applications in quantum computing, lossless transmission of signals for information technology, etc. Back in the 1970s, Kosterlitz and Thouless had predicted the existence of topological phase, hence named after them as the KT phase, in quantum magnetic materials. However, although such phenomena have been found in superfluids and superconductors, KT phase has yet been realised in bulk magnetic material. The joint team is led by Dr Zi Yang Meng from HKU, Dr Wei Li from Beihang Univeristy and Professor Yang Qi from Fudan University. Their joint effort has revealed the comprehensive properties of the material TMGO. For example, in Figure 2, by self-adjustable tensor network calculation, they computed the properties of the model system at different temperatures, magnetic field, and by comparing with the corresponding experimental results of the material, they identified the correct microscopic model parameters. With the correct microscopic model on hand, they then performed quantum Monte Carlo simulation and obtained the neutron scattering magnetic spectra at different temperatures (neutron scattering is the established detection method for material structure and their magnetic properties, the closest such facility to Hong Kong is the China Spallation Neutron Source in Dongguan, Guangdong). As shown in Figure 3, the magnetic spectra with its unique signature at the M point is the dynamical fingerprint of the topological KT phase that has been proposed more than half-a-century ago. "This research work provides the missing piece of topological KT phenomena in the bulk magnetic materials, and has completed the half-a-century pursuit which eventually leads to the Nobel Physics Prize of 2016. Since the topological phase of matter is the main theme of condensed matter and quantum material research nowadays, it is expected that this work will inspire many follow-up theoretical and experimental researches, and in fact, promising results for further identification of the topological properties in quantum magnet have been obtained among the joint team and our collaborators," said Dr Meng. Dr Meng added: "The joint team research across Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai also sets up the protocol of modern quantum material research, such protocol will certainly lead to more profound and impactful discoveries in quantum materials. The computation power of our smartphone nowadays is more powerful than the supercomputers 20 years ago, one can optimistically foresee that with the correct quantum material as the building block, personal devices in 20 years' time can certainly be more powerful than the fastest supercomputers right now, with minimal energy cost of everyday battery." ### About the team Dr Zi Yang Meng is the world leading expert in developing and employing large scale quantum Monte Carlo simulation upon quantum many-body systems, and have recently made breakthrough in quantum metal research (Breakthrough in Understanding Quantum Metals: https:/ / www. hku. hk/ research/ stories/ 20645/ ); Dr Wei Li is the developer of state-of-art tensor network approach that could compute the temperature and magnetic field response of quantum many-body systems; Professor Yang Qi performed the quantum field theory analysis of the numerical results and make sense of it all. About the Tianhe Supercomputers Tianhe-1 and Tianhe-2 are the large supercomputers in China, they are among the world fastest supercomputer and were the No.1 in 2010 and 2014 in the TOP500 list https:/ / www. top500. org/ . Tianhe-3 supercomputer is expected to be in usage in 2021 and will be world first exaFLOPS scale supercomputer. The quantum Monte Carlo and tensor network simulations performed by the joint team make use of the Tianhe supercomputers and requires the parallel simulations for thousands of hours on thousands of CPUs, it will take more than 20 years to finish if performed in common PC. The work was supported by the Research Grants Council of HKSAR, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the National Science Foundation of China. The joint team would in particular like to thank the Computational Initiative at the Faculty of Science and the Information Technology Services at the University of Hong Kong, for their understanding, support and promotion of the large-scale computational oriented researches. Link of journal paper: https:/ / www. nature. com/ articles/ s41467-020-14907-8 Images download and captions: https:/ / www. scifac. hku. hk/ press This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A niece of President Donald Trump will divulge a series of harrowing and salacious stories about him in an upcoming book, according to a published report. It would be the first time that the president could be forced to grapple with damaging revelations by a member of his own family. The niece, Mary Trump, will release the book, Too Much And Never Enough, on Aug. 11, less than three weeks before Trump accepts the Republican nomination for a second term, The Daily Beast reported on Sunday. The report said that in the book, Mary Trump, 55, will say she was a primary source for The New York Times coverage of Trumps finances and provided the newspaper with confidential tax documents. A spokeswoman for The Times declined to comment on Sunday. Three journalists from The Times received the Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting last year for their work providing an unprecedented look at the Trump familys finances and contradicting Trumps image of a self-made billionaire. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the report. Mary Trump is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr., the presidents older brother, who died in 1981. She has mostly kept out of the public eye, except for a family feud over the will of the Trump family patriarch, Fred Trump Sr., who died in 1999. Simon & Schuster, the reported publisher of Mary Trumps book, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Several former White House aides and Trump administration members have written books that have been problematic for the president. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. One of the most glaring examples is a memoir written by Trumps former national security adviser, John Bolton, which Trump has sought to prevent from being published. The books release has been fraught with disputes over what the Trump administration contends is classified information. The White House is expected to give Bolton a redacted version of his manuscript by June 19, which would be four days before the books current publication date. Several books have pulled back the curtain on the Trump White House and have risen to the top of best-seller lists, including the 2018 books Fear by Bob Woodward, which was also published by Simon & Schuster, and Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Pottstown Hospital, formerly Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, will lose its maternity ward as part of cutbacks by owner Tower Health. Read more Tower Health announced Tuesday that it is cutting 1,000 jobs, or about 8% of its workforce, citing the loss of $212 million in revenue through May because of coronavirus restrictions on non-urgent care. Fast-growing Tower had already furloughed at least 1,000 employees in April. Its not clear how much overlap there is between the furloughed employees, some of whom had returned to work, and the people who are now losing their jobs permanently. Tower employs 12,355, including part-timers. The government-mandated closure of many outpatient facilities and the suspension of elective procedures caused a 40 percent drop in system revenue, Towers president and chief executive, Clint Matthews, wrote in an email to staff. At the same time, our spending increased for personal protective equipment, staff support, and COVID-related equipment needs. Despite the receipt of $66 million in grants through the federal coronavirus economic rescue package, Tower reported an operating loss of $91.6 million in the three months ended March 31, according to its disclosure to bondholders. Tower, which is anchored by Reading Hospital in Berks County, expanded most recently with the December acquisition of St. Christophers Hospital for Children in a partnership with Drexel University. Tower paid $50 million for the hospitals business, but also signed a long-term lease with a company that paid $65 million more for the real estate. READ MORE: Coronavirus has cut deep into Philly-area hospitals finances In 2017, Tower paid $418 million for five community hospitals in Southeastern Pennsylvania: Brandywine in Coatesville, Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia, Jennersville Regional in West Grove, Phoenixville in Phoenixville, and Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, now called Pottstown Hospital, in Pottstown. Towers goal was to remain competitive as bigger systems the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Jefferson Health from the Southeast, Lehigh Valley Health Network and St. Lukes University Health Network from the east and northeast, and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from the west encroached on its Berks county base. Tower had a difficult task in the best of times, but COVID-19 has made it significantly harder for the nonprofit, which had an operating loss of $175 million on revenue of $1.75 billion in the year ended June 30, 2019. Because health systems have high fixed costs for buildings and equipment needed no matter how many patients are coming through the door, its hard for them to limit the impact of the 30% to 50% collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Hospitals and all other health-service providers were hit with this disruption with lightning speed, forcing the industry to learn in real time how to handle a situation for which there was no playbook, Standard & Poors analysts David P. Peknay and Suzie R. Desai said in a research report last month. READ MORE: How much Philadelphia-area hospitals are getting in federal money for treating coronavirus patients Tower said positions will be eliminated in executive, management, clinical, and support areas. The cuts include consolidations of clinical operations. Tower plans to close Pottstown Hospitals maternity unit, which employs 32 nurses and where 359 babies were born in 2018, according to the most recent state data. Tower also has maternity units at Reading Hospital in West Reading and at Phoenixville Hospital. Tower is aiming to trim expenses by $230 million over the next two years, Matthews told staff. Like many other health systems, Tower has taken advantage of federal programs to ensure that it has ample cash to run its businesses. Tower has deferred payroll taxes, temporarily saving $25 million. It received $166 million in advanced Medicare payments in April. Tower also obtained a $40 million line of credit in April for St. Chris, which has lost $23.6 million on operations since Tower and Drexel bought it in December. Last month, Tower said it was in the final stages of negotiating a deal to sell and then lease back 24 medical office buildings. That was expected to generate $200 million in cash for Tower. Towers laid-off employees are expected to receive severance and help finding new positions. Details on severance packages were not available. The decision to reduce our workforce has been difficult and painful, because it impacts lives, Matthews said. It is necessary, however, to ensure that Tower Health can continue to serve the community with high-quality health care in the months and years ahead. After seeing colleagues use bulky, makeshift hoods made out of plexi-glass for protection while treating coronavirus-infected patients, Dr. Steven Venticinque thought he could come up with a better shield. The anesthesiologist and critical-care doctor went to work in his home garage with wire and plastic bags, and researched the sizes of various patient beds. Less than 15 weeks and three re-designs later, the product called a stat enclosure has hit the market with orders starting to come in from U.S. hospitals. One manufacturer, Bell Medical, sells them for $60 each, when ordered in boxes of five. The device is a foldable, disposable barrier that can be used during high-risk procedures such as trachael intubation. The aim is to block droplets and aerosols from getting on doctors, nurses and paramedics performing the life-saving procedure. When you have the right tools and you can do your job with confidence, both the patients and providers benefit, Venticinque said. UT Health San Antonio On ExpressNews.com: 1 in 5 coronavirus patients in Bexar County work in health care He said his invention could better protect medical workers treating COVID-19 patients. This is just unfortunately our reality, says the former Air Force physician and chief medical officer of Olifant Medical, a startup company he co-founded with engineer Justin Rice in 2018 to push a different medical device into the market. Olifant is still raising funds for Venticinques initial invention, called the Tusk Tracheal Cannulator, which he also created in his garage near Alamo Heights. The companys newest product was fast-tracked under the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations Emergency Use Authorization, approved on May 1. This EUA has lifted costly, time-consuming federal regulations usually required to get product approval so that products can reach patients as quickly as possible during the pandemic. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox The team also sped up the process was to work with the Office of Technology Commercialization at UT Health San Antonio, where Venticinque has taught since 2007. Mary McCafferty, assistant director of strategic alliances at OTC, helped the doctor file intellectual property protection, paid for by the public university. These funds will be repaid should the device become licensed. Venticinque said the company has partnered with distributors who are working to pitch the stat enclosure to federal buyers. Laura Garcia covers the health care industry in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Laura, become a subscriber. laura.garcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @Reporter_Laura Dont have any daring to go to Mumbai at present, admitted Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday as the coronavirus cases spiral in the metropolitan city. Maharashtra, the worst-hit state by the raging coronavirus, reported 2,786 new Covid-19 cases on Monday to take the states tally to 1,10,744, the state health department said. Financial capital Mumbai recorded 1,067 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the citys tally of Covid-19 positive patients to 59,293. WATCH | Dont have daring to come to Mumbai: Union minister Nitin Gadkari I dont have any daring to come to Mumbai right now, the way in which the situation is now. I feel the time will definitely change, the minister said while addressing MSME and Infrastructure-Paving the growth path in Post-COVID World event. Nitin Gadkari, who holds the portfolios of road transport and highways and micro, small and medium enterprises, is a member of Parliament from Maharashtras Nagpur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet chief ministers over the course of today and tomorrow to discuss the way forward and how best to deal with the pandemic. In the scheduled talks, Maharashtra gets to participate tomorrow. Mumbais lifeline was back on track after being suspended for nearly three months as the Railways on Monday resumed suburban train services for ferrying essential staff. Last week, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray ruled out the return of a strict lockdown to stem the rise in coronavirus cases. He has appealed to the people to strictly follow existing Covid-19-related restrictions to keep the spread of the highly contagious disease in check. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro faced US accusations Monday of attempting to rig upcoming polls after naming a new regime-friendly election authority that prompted the opposition to withdraw from elections. The country's main opposition parties pulled out of legislative elections in a statement late Sunday, two days after Maduro's government-controlled Supreme Court named a new electoral body to oversee the polls. US State Department chief Mike Pompeo denounced the move as "the latest step to rig the next Venezuelan election." "The regime has selected a National Electoral Council that will rubber-stamp its decision and ignore the conditions required for free elections," Pompeo said in a statement. Eleven opposition parties, including the four largest, announced their withdrawal from the polls in a statement late Sunday. "The Venezuelan democratic parties will neither validate nor recognize any electoral farce staged by the dictatorship for its own interests," it said. The parties denounced "the dictatorial pretension" of the elections intended to renew the National Assembly, a process which they say will serve "to aggravate the current political crisis." The opposition has long accused the Supreme Court, which appointed the electoral council, of being biased in favor of Maduro. The CNE will be responsible for overseeing the poll for which a date has yet to be set, but which by law must be held this year. "We must fight, united, with more force than ever," said opposition leader and Maduro rival Juan Guaido. The National Assembly speaker is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, including the United States, who refuse to recognize Maduro on the grounds that his 2018 re-election was rigged. The opposition won the last National Assembly elections in December 2015, winning 112 of the 167 seats. It is the only state institution in opposition hands but its power is largely symbolic, having been usurped by the all-powerful Constituent Assembly, which was created by Maduro and is stacked with his supporters. Opinion Article 9 July 2020 Meeting via a Zoom call, no matter the internet connection, is a weak substitute for a fireside face-to-face chat about the state of the industry. But c'est la vie during a pandemic. Advertisements And so, it is that I had a chance to connect with Frank Demarinis, President and CEO of TravelBrands Inc., itself a travel group operator and wholesaler based out of a suburb of my home base Toronto, Canada. The company serves as a vital supplier to the Canadian travel advisor industry, as well as to many other international markets, through its multi-channel distribution network. With 35+ years' experience in the travel industry, Frank has been through 9/11 and the great recession, so he's weathered a lot of storms. An ardent traveler himself, his optimism was refreshing in the face of COVID and speaks to how suppliers - as well as all operators for that matter - may come to the rescue in the face of mangled consumer confidence regarding their hotel and group travel purchases. What is the biggest hurdle that we have to overcome? Nothing happens until we restore consumer confidence; safety is every traveler's primary concern. Until we rebuild their trust, it is going to be a battle that we will never win. And the first step is reassurance; reassurance that when they make a booking for a trip in the future, and conditions worsen, they can get their money back. But why not a credit for future travel? Frank Demarinis, President and CEO of TravelBrands Inc. Photo: Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited A credit for future travel is simply not going to cut it with the average traveler. Think this way: many get only one precious vacation a year. They plan for this trip and save or may even borrow money to pay for it. Now the date of the trip approaches and the situation becomes such that they cannot travel. A credit towards future travel is often a totally unacceptable substitute. Well, what is the issue then? It really is quite straightforward. Let's say a TA sells you a package consisting of air and land arrangements. The trip is prepaid to the TA; the TA pays the suppliers. The TA gets commissioned once the trip is consummated. But let's say you cancel. The TA cannot issue you a refund until the supplier refunds the money to them. So, if the suppliers are withholding the refunds - of money they have not yet earned - there is little that the TA can do. But what about wholesale contracts that create preferential pricing for packages? The system has to change. Post-COVID, flexibility is the critical buzz word. Try to explain to a supplier that you want a best rate, preferential terms and a 100% attrition clause all at the same time! I'm not saying it is going to be easy. Rather, those suppliers who are able to respect the end-customers' needs are going to be the ones that survive and flourish. Is this a systemic issue or one related to just a few players? We are all in this together - cruise lines, airlines, hotels, car rentals, attractions and everything in between. We need to work collaboratively. We desperately need transparency on pricing and terms that reflect the current situation. United, we can bring travel back. It is not going to occur overnight. But, the sooner we start on this track, the faster this will happen. Do you think that the pandemic has created an opportunity for TAs? Absolutely! When travelers are insecure, they want a live agent on the other side of the phone or website. They will have a myriad of questions that cannot be answered by some computerized bot, if at all. Try and get that level of confidence from an OTA; it's not happening. the Savior of The Espanola giant tortoises is back in his homeland After he has preserved over the decades in the framework of a breeding programme for his species, almost single-handedly from extinction, was Diego dismissed now back on his home island in the Galapagos archipelago in the freedom. For the Galapagos national Park important Chapter is now complete, informed Ecuadorian Minister of the environment, Paulo Proano on Monday. The island of Espanola to receive Diego and 14 other giant tortoises from the breeding program "with open arms", the Minister added. About a hundred years old turtle had taken care of for 40 years, in the framework of the programme on the island of Santa Cruz diligently for the young. Originally Diego was to return in March, according to Espanola, but the appointment was delayed due to the Corona pandemic. The about 80 kilograms in weight and up to 1.5 meters large animal is expected to contribute around 40 percent of the now on 2000 specimens grown under group Chelonoidis hoodensis conceived. 50 years ago, there were only two males and twelve females from Diego's class at Espanola. Diego's history stands in stark contrast to the fate of the "Lonesome George" of Pinta island: The giant tortoise, died in 2012 at the age of more than a hundred years. "Lonesome George" the last known specimen of the sub-group of Chelonoidis abingdoni. The Galapagos Islands were among turtles, 15 species of giant, three of which are now extinct. surrogate mothers for the white rhinoceros The on the brink of extinction-standing Northern white rhinoceros, shall, meanwhile, with the help of artificial insemination and surrogate mothers saved. On this international project, the Serengeti-Park testicles Hagen is involved in the luneburg Heath. "The Park has an exceptional position in the breeding of the Southern wide-mouth Rhino," said Thomas Hildebrandt from the Leibniz-Institute for Zoo - and wild animal research on Tuesday. With the help of the Nashornkuh Makena from lower Saxony, the Insertion and Discharge of the laboratory-produced embryos is to be tested. The first steps are to taken embryos of the southern Rhinos. Worldwide, there are only two Northern white rhinos in Kenya, both of which are females. From two years ago, died last Northern Rhino bulls frozen semen but still exists. In the international project have already been generated from egg cells of the remaining females and sperm embryos these should be held in Kenya from a surrogate mother. The target is that in three years, the first Northern white Rhino to be born, said Hildebrandt. Updated Date: 16 June 2020, 11:19 BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 By Eldar Janashvili - Trend:. Standard & Poor's Global Ratings agency has determined the outlook on Azerbaijani Kapital Bank's rating as stable and affirmed it at the level of BB-/B', Trend reports citing the bank. The Kapital bank has the highest rating among the banks of the country, said the report. According to the agencys experts, thanks to sufficient liquidity reserves, an adequate level of capitalization and a stable deposit portfolio, compared to comparable domestic and foreign banks, Kapital Bank will be able to more effectively withstand potential stress factors in the coming year, caused by the global economic recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic and falling oil prices. Moreover, the combined assessment of capitalization and risk position of Kapital Bank is also high, added the experts. In the bank's loan and deposit portfolio for 2020-2021, an annual increase of 10-15 percent is expected, which is about 5-10 percent higher than forecasts, said the report. In the period of slowdown in global economic growth, the Kapital Bank's will mainly be focused on digitalization and improvement of the quality of customer service, the report added. Kapital Bank, having the biggest branch network in Azerbaijan, is at the service of customers with 101 branches and 15 departments. The bank is in the TOP-3 of the largest banks in Azerbaijan. The bank's shareholders are PASHA Holding (99.87 percent) and individuals (0.13 percent). --- Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili Bill Murray recalled his first impressions after getting his hands on the Ghostbusters script as the cast of the film reunited for charity (Ian West/PA) Bill Murray recalled his first impressions after getting his hands on the Ghostbusters script as the cast of the beloved 1980s film reunited for charity. Murray was joined by his co-stars including Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts, as well as director, Ivan Reitman, for a virtual reunion. It was organised by Frozen star Josh Gad for his Reunited Apart series in aid of the coronavirus relief effort. The cast reminisced about the 1984 supernatural comedy and Murray remembered first setting eyes on a partial copy of the script, sent to him by the films co-writer Aykroyd. He said: I remember Dan sent me a partial piece, I think it only went about 27 pages. And I thought, this is the craziest, this is the best thing Ive seen. Murray, who wore a sailors hat for the livestream in a nod to the Stay Puft marshmallow man that features in the film, added: I called him back and said, Im in.' Murray played Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters and told of a Thanksgiving gathering at Reitmans home where he showed off bits of the unfinished film. The 69-year-old said: He showed us those scenes without all the special effects and from that moment on, I remember going back to work on Monday and saying guys, lets all calm down, its gonna be really big.' Ghostbusters follows a team of eccentric parapsychologists who launch a ghost-hunting business in New York City. Video of the Day It spawned a 1989 sequel and a third instalment directed by Reitmans son, Jason will arrive next year. Ghostbusters: Afterlife was originally set for release in July but was pushed back to March 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. New Delhi, June 16 : Asserting that there could be no compromises on national security, the Congress on Tuesday accused the Modi government of remaining a "mute spectator" to the Chinese transgressions into Indian territory at three points in Ladakh since April-May 2020. "The Modi government has remained a mute spectator," the party said in a statement issued by its spokespersons Randeep Singh Surjewala after reports of the killing of three Indian personnel by the Chinese Army in the Galwan Valley area a day earlier. "There can be no compromises on India's security and territorial integrity. Reports of Chinese Army moving thousands of troops in the Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso lake area (Ladakh) has shocked the entire nation as an audacious attempt on our territorial integrity," the statement added. The Congress also questioned the government "silence" on the issue and echoed party senior leader AK Antony, a former Defence Minister, to demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh come forward and tell the country about the stand-off with China. "The two have repeatedly maintained an intriguing silence on the occupation of Indian territory by the Chinese since April-May 2020. The Congress demands that the PM now come forward to tell the nation as to how the government proposes to meet this challenging situation, which has serious ramifications for national security and territorial integrity," the Congress added. "The Congress remains firm that the entire country stands as one to protect India's national security and territorial integrity at all costs. Let the Modi government remember that in our parliamentary democracy, secrecy or silence are unacceptable on part of our government," the party said. The Congress said that not a single battle casualty among Indian soldiers had occurred on the India-China Line of Actual Control in the over four decades. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The FSHD Society's New England chapter celebrates World FSHD Day. "We encourage everyone to share inspirational messages and images via social media and other channels to continue to drive FSHD visibility in the broader community." This Saturday, June 20, 2020, the FSHD Society, the worlds largest research-focused patient organization for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), will be joined by dozens of advocacy groups and allies around the world in celebrating the fifth annual World FSHD Day, a global 24-hour campaign to raise awareness for the disease. On World FSHD Day, the Society will ask individuals with FSHD, their families, and supporters to take part in its annual Orange Slice Selfie campaign by posting a photo of themselves on social media using an orange slice in place of their smile with the official hashtag #WorldFSHDDay. The campaign is designed to stand out on social media by combining the events official color, bright orange, with an eye-catching image representing a symptom experienced by many patientsloss of the ability to smile. Other activities to watch for include: At sundown, Bostons landmark Zakim bridge will light up orange, the official World FSHD Day color. Atlantas 34-story King and Queen towers will be illuminated in orange. In Arizona, the iconic Gilbert water tower will be bathed in orange lights. Dyne Therapeutics will host a fireside chat with its CEO and individuals living with FSHD to raise awareness of the disease and promote participation in the FSHD Societys upcoming Voice of the Patient Forum, an externally led patient-focused drug development meeting to give testimony to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dyne has also collected short videos and email messages from FSHD community members about their hopes for a future therapy, and orange slice selfies from the Dyne team, and will share these inspirational messages and images via social media and other channels to continue to drive FSHD visibility in the broader community. Since launching the FSHD Therapeutic Accelerator in 2018, we have been laser-focused on eliminating obstacles standing in the way of FSHD drug development research, while opening the regulatory pathway for safe and effective therapies to reach our families, said Mark Stone, chief executive officer of the FSHD Society. Our community has responded through financial support and active engagement at our special events, chapter meetings, webinars, and on social media. This is the fuel in our engine, allowing us to go further, faster. We must continue to keep our eyes firmly fixed on our priorities those vital things that must be done to reach our goal of therapies for families by 2025. FSHD is among the most prevalent of the nine primary types of muscular dystrophy affecting adults and children. The genetic disorder is estimated to affect 870,000 individuals worldwide and causes progressive weakness, typically in the face, shoulder blade, arms, legs, and torso, but may affect almost any skeletal muscle in the body. There is currently no treatment or cure and approximately one-quarter of patients become dependent on wheelchairs. To learn more about World FSHD Day and to see where an event is occurring near you, visit https://www.fshdsociety.org/. To learn how you can join in to spread awareness, check out the Societys World FSHD Day toolkit, with more information on how to participate in various ways and spread the world on social media by using the hashtag #WorldFSHD. # # # About the FSHD Society The FSHD Society is the worlds largest research-focused patient organization for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), one of the most prevalent forms of muscular dystrophy. It has catalyzed major advancements and are accelerating the development of treatments and a cure to end the pain, disability, and suffering endured by one million people worldwide who live with FSHD. The FSHD Society has transformed the landscape for FSHD research and is committed to making sure that no one faces this disease alone. The Society offers a community of support, news, and information through its website at https://www.fshdsociety.org. Delroy Lindo in Spike Lee's "Da 5 Bloods." (Netflix) The awards season wont be any longer this year. But it's definitely going to be stranger. With the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences pushing back the date of the 93rd Academy Awards from Feb. 28 to April 25, citing the production shutdown from the coronavirus pandemic, the window of campaigning and releasing would-be contenders will likely be delayed two months as well, setting off a domino effect that will affect film festivals, the Golden Globes and every other awards show that rides on the coattails of the Oscars. (The British Academy Film Awards, England's equivalent of the Oscars, immediately followed suit Monday, punting its ceremony two months back as well.) Practically, the eight-week delay provides, in the words of academy President David Rubin, additional time for filmmakers to "finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyones control." Movies that suspended production, like Ridley Scott's medieval thriller The Last Duel, could resume filming without having to rush to meet the traditional year-end qualifying release date. And effects-heavy blockbusters like Denis Villeneuve's intriguing adaptation of Frank Herberts sci-fi/fantasy opus Dune will have extra time to complete post-production. But the shift will also generate all kinds of unforeseen ramifications provided, of course, that a second wave of COVID-19 doesn't arrive in the next few weeks or months, necessitating a new round of postponements. Typically, awards hopefuls play at the fall film festivals in Venice, Telluride, Toronto and New York, looking to build buzz in late August, September and early October ahead of their theatrical runs. Six of the nine movies nominated for best picture this past season screened at those festivals, with "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood" premiering at Cannes (as did Oscar-winner "Parasite" before moving to Telluride and Toronto). "Little Women" and "1917" arrived in December. Story continues Those fall festivals have so far held their dates this year, with organizers saying they'll take place in some modified form, likely a hybrid of digital and in-person events incorporating, in the words of Telluride organizers, necessary safety tweaks. (Toronto will update its plans later this month, a spokesperson says.) But as the Venice, Telluride and Toronto festivals will now take place eight months ahead of the Oscars, their relevance to this years awards season seems iffy. Awards season is long enough in normal circumstances, says a veteran Oscar campaign consultant, who asked not to be identified because of client relationships. I can see a lot of movies bailing on those festivals, if, for no other reason, the idea that it's crazy to think about A) air travel and B) sitting in an enclosed space breathing recirculated air with hundreds of other people right now. Eight months is an eternity, added another campaigner. Any momentum you get from those events will be gone by Christmas. The delay could turn the 2021 Sundance Film Festival into an Oscar launch pad for a ceremony that is now scheduled to take place just three months later. The academy's date shift will likely mean that indie Oscar hopefuls will use next year's festival, slated to take place Jan. 21-31, to gain attention just weeks before voting begins on March 5. In any case, look for best picture awards contenders to fill up January and February dates once studios begin to set their release schedules. Then again, a spike in COVID-19 cases could make all these dates and plans irrelevant. Cancellations and postponements have dominated the news since the pandemic began, and even as states reopen, the circumstances that would lead to any semblance of normalcy remain in flux. Last week, amid coronavirus hospitalizations increasing in 18 states, Warner Bros. delayed the release of Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated "Tenet" by two weeks to July 31. And with no timeline on when movie theaters in New York may reopen, even that date could be an exercise in optimism. But indulging for a moment in optimism, the current climate could level the playing field a bit, with streaming movies now eligible and pricey parties and galas taken off the table, allowing voters to focus on the films absent much of the hype. And though the academy's streaming site for members won't be going year-round until the 94th Oscars, one would presume that voters will use some of that extra time on their hands this year to keep up with great movies like (hint, hint) Kelly Reichardt's fabulous "First Cow." Or they could just be watching whatever Netflix's all-seeing algorithms put on their homepages. If so, everyone should be watching Spike Lee's essential, inventive drama "Da 5 Bloods" right now. I can't tell you if the Oscars will actually take place in April or be delayed yet again. But whenever they happen, Delroy Lindo will be leaving with a trophy. Wearing face masks or face coverings can help protect contracting and spreading the coronavirus, and Gap is helping by making it affordable for the entire family. The clothing outlet is selling a family pack of 8 cloth face masks for $36. The pack, which includes four adult face masks and four kids face masks, is currently on back order with an estimated shipping date of June 29. The masks are one-size-fits-all and come in four colors: navy blue stripe, multi print, grey camo and multi tie dye. Gap also sells packs for smaller families or individuals in the form of 3-packs for adults and children, while its affiliate Old Navy sells packs of five masks for $12.50. Gap notes that it is not an FDA approved product and it makes no claims of antimicrobial protection, antiviral protection, particulate filtration, or infection prevention or reduction (and) is not intended for use in a medical setting. RELATED: How to buy the Under Armour face mask made for athletes that sold out in an hour The Center for Disease Control recommends that everyone wear a face mask in public, such as at the grocery store or pharmacy, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. New Jersey is currently in Phase 2 of its coronavirus recovery plan, and the transition to Phase 3 is a question of weeks and not months. In May, Murphy called wearing face masks the new norm in New Jersey until a vaccine or effective treatment for the coronavirus is found. This is the reality, Murphy said during his daily coronavirus briefing in Trenton on May 19. Were not mandating you wear a mask, but we are strongly encouraging you to do that, and staying apart from people. RELATED CORONAVIRUS RETAIL AND SHOPPING COVERAGE: Wayfairs huge clearance sale has discounts up to 80%. Here are the best deals. Under Armour face masks for athletes sell out in under an hour. Affordable gym equipment for working out at home Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Heroes-Aid, a voluntary not-for-profit organisation, established in the early stage of Covid-19, is arranging for the direct distribution today of urgently needed PPE to 200 locations across Ireland, including 5 sites across County Tipperary. The delivery in Tipperary includes 250,000 face masks, 10,000 visors, 7,000 gowns and 9,000 high specification FFP2 face masks to hospitals, GP practices, nursing homes, and a number of NGOs. In its first three months, Heroes-Aid has made a number of significant deliveries of PPE nationwide. However, the distribution today marks the largest to-date to Irelands frontline healthcare workers. The PPE deliveries will also include charities with a focus on the homeless sector including Simon Community; The Peter McVerry Trust; COPE Galway; Merchants Quay Ireland; SafetyNet Primary Care; and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Dr Maitiu O Tuathail, Medical Director of Heroes-Aid said: We are still seeing a high demand for PPE from frontline workers, in particular our GPs, who are the first line of defence against Covid 19. These deliveries of PPE will allow our frontline workers and heroes continue to care for their patients safely. Heroes-Aid does not aim to replace HSE PPE deliveries, but to address urgent shortages and act as a bridge between deliveries. Our work is very much complementary to the great work being undertaken by the HSE and every cent raised to date has provided PPE to those on the frontline, he said. If there are frontline workers who are in critical need of PPE, I would urge them to contact us through our website www.heroes-aid.com. We want to help and protect as many frontline workers as we can, said Mary Leahy, CEO of Heroes-Aid. The work of Heroes-Aid has been made possible by the incredible work and fundraising effort of individuals and groups across Ireland. In just two months, donations of 250,000 by members of the public from all over Ireland have been made to help and protect our frontline heroes. A special thanks is due to Bravo Charlie Tango bikers for their help in delivering the PPE, along with Heroes-Aid, throughout Ireland. Heroes-Aid was established on a voluntary basis by Mary Leahy, a Public Health Nurse, and further came to life with a growing committee and Irish band Keywest, who produced a music video aptly called Ordinary Superhero https://youtu.be/s1XmYHHFClE. The goal of Heroes-Aid is to raise funds to provide practical supports, such as essential PPE and other resources to keep Irelands healthcare heroes safe as they care for us. The voluntary organisation also intends to provide longer-term psychological, educational and practical support for frontline healthcare workers, their children and families who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Two former executives in Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waigurus cabinet have accused their former boss of cruelty. Agnes Gachoki, the former Health CEC, and the former CEC for Gender and Youth, Wanjiru Njeru, in a joint statement on Monday also accused the impeached county boss of disregarding human dignity. The county staff can tell you endless tales of cruelty, disregard for human dignity and the ruthless terror it is to work for Anne Mumbi Waiguru, the pair said. Gachoki and Njeru further accused Waiguru of sacking 20 women in two years of being governor. However, Waigurus communication officer Muriuki Mugo dismissed the allegations saying the pair should have published the names of the fired women to substantiate their claims. The duo additionally claimed Waiguru has an iron grip control of certain offices in the county such as procurement, budgeting and finance. The county budget is done by the governor and a confidential finance team, then it is sent to the assembly Gachoki and Njeru are urging the Senate to consider the voices of the locals through the MCAs and ensure that Waiguru is out of office. We ask that the Senate does not gag the people of Kirinyaga by having their grievances aired in private. The honourable Senate must do the right thing. Waiguru is only one woman from Kirinyaga, support the rest of us that she continues to fail with her bad leadership. The demolition of the building, which is located on North Korean territory and had no South Koreans working there, is largely symbolic. But it's still the most provocative thing North Korea has done since it entered nuclear diplomacy in 2018 after a US-North Korean standoff had many fearing war. It will pose a serious setback to the efforts of liberal South Korean President Moon Jae-in to restore inter-Korean engagement. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said the nation destroyed the office in a terrific explosion because its enraged people were determined to force (the) human scum and those, who have sheltered the scum, to pay dearly for their crimes, apparently referring to North Korean defectors living in South Korea who for years have floated anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. The agency did not detail how the office in the border town of Kaesong was destroyed. South Korea's government later released a military surveillance video showing clouds of smoke rising from the ground as a building collapsed at a now-shuttered joint industrial park in Kaesong, which is where the liaison office stood. South Korea expressed strong regret over the destruction and warned of a stern response if North Korea takes additional steps that aggravate tensions. The statement, issued following an emergency National Security Council meeting, said the demolition is an act that betrays hopes for an improvement in South-North Korean relations and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea's Defense Ministry separately said it closely monitors North Korean military activities and was prepared to strongly counter any future provocation. The North said last week that it was cutting off all government and military communication channels with the South while threatening to abandon bilateral peace agreements reached during North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's three summits with Moon in 2018. Some outside analysts believe the North, after failing to get what it wants in nuclear talks, will turn to provocation to win outside concessions because its economy has likely worsened because of persistent U.S.-led sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic. North Korea may also be frustrated because the sanctions prevent Seoul from breaking away from Washington to resume joint economic projects with Pyongyang. The South Korean response to Tuesday's demolition was relatively strong compared to past provocations. Moon's government has faced criticism that it didn't take tough measures when North Korea performed a series of short-range weapons tests targeting South Korea over the past year. Moon, a liberal who champions greater reconciliation with North Korea, shuttled between Pyongyang and Washington to help set up the first summit between the Kim and President Donald Trump in June 2018. The liaison office has been shut since late January because of coronavirus concerns. The office, built with South Korean money, was opened in September 2018, to facilitate better communication and exchanges. It was the first such office between the Koreas since they were divided into a U.S.-backed South Korea and a Soviet-supported North Korea at the end of the World War II in 1945. The office was considered a symbol of Moon's engagement policy. North Korea had earlier threatened to demolish the office as it stepped up its fiery rhetoric over what it called Seoul's failure to stop civilian leafleting campaign. South Korea said it would take steps to ban the leafleting, but North Korea argued that the South Korean response lacked sincerity. On Saturday night, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korea's leader, warned that Seoul will soon witness a tragic scene of the useless North-South liaison office (in North Korea) being completely collapsed. She also said she would leave to North Korea's military the right to take the next step of retaliation against South Korea. The North has threatened to dismantle the shuttered Kaesong factory complex completely and abandon a 2018 bilateral tension-reduction agreement, which observers say could allow the North to trigger clashes along the land and sea borders. Earlier Tuesday, North Korea's military threatened to move back into unspecified border areas that have been demilitarized under agreements with South Korea and turn the front line into a fortress. Experts say this suggests North Korea may try to tear down factory buildings and equipment at Kaesong, mostly South Korean assets. On Monday, Moon urged North Korea to stop raising animosities and return to talks, saying the two Koreas must not reverse the 2018 inter-Korean summit deals. North Korea has a history of taking highly visual symbolic steps for political gains. It invited foreign journalists to watch the detonation of its underground nuclear testing tunnels in 2018 and the demolition of a cooling tower at its main nuclear complex in 2008. Both events were an attempt by the North to show it was serious about denuclearization amid rampant outside skepticism about its commitment. Also Read: India-China border news live updates: 5 died on Chinese side, 11 injured in Ladakh, reports say Also Read: Coronavirus update: PaisaBazaar lays off half of its workforce; over 1,500 impacted Also Read: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain admitted to hospital due to fever; tested for COVID [June 16, 2020] Zenith Announces Corporate Update Conference Call & Webcast on June 18, 2020 and US$5 Million Equity Investment CALGARY, Alberta, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zenith Capital Corp. (Zenith or the Company) today announces it will be hosting a corporate update via conference call and webcast on Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 9:00 am MT / 11:00 am ET. Mr. Donald McCaffrey, President and Chief Executive Officer will present an update and overview of recent activities. For those wishing to join the June 18th conference call and webcast, the event will start promptly at 9 am MT/11 am ET. It is highly recommended to access the webcast over the Internet using the following LINK . A replay of the webcast (using the same LINK provided) will be available for one month following the conclusion of the event. If dialing in by phone, dial 1-800-319-4610 (within Canada / USA) or +1-604-638-5340 (International Toll). Callers should dial-in at least 10 min prior to the scheduled start time. A teleconference replay will be available for one month following the conclusion of the event and can be accessed by dialing 1-800-319-6413 (within Canada / USA) or +1-604-638-9010 (International Toll) and using the replay access code: 5312#. A presentation will accompany and be available via the webcast portal . The presentation will also be made available immediately prior to the conference call start time of 9:00 am MT on the Companys website at HERE /a>. Zenith also announces that it has entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement with an affiliate of Newsoara Biopharma Co., Ltd. (the Subscriber) for the private placement of 3,333,334 common shares in tranches at a price of US$1.50 per share for gross proceeds of US$5 million (CAD$6.7 million) on or before August 31, 2020 (the Private Placement). Zenith has completed the issuance of 1,333,334 common shares to the Subscriber for gross proceeds of US$2 million and the subscription for the remaining 2,000,000 common shares for additional gross proceeds of US$3 million is conditional upon customary closing conditions and certain amendments to the previously announced license agreement between Zeniths subsidiary, Zenith Epigenetics Ltd., and Newsoara Biopharma Co., Ltd., including the waiver of a potential future clinical development milestone payment and the assignment of patents in the territories to Newsoara Biopharma Co., Ltd. that are the subject of the license agreement, with Zenith retaining a right to re-acquire the patents for no additional consideration. Pursuant to the Private Placement, in the event that Zenith completes an equity financing within fifteen months of June 9, 2020 and the price per share is lower than US$1.50, the price paid by the Subscriber will be adjusted to the lower price per share and the Subscriber will, accordingly, receive additional common shares for no additional consideration. The net proceeds of the Private Placement will be to fund research and development activities, including clinical trial activities, general and administrative expenses, working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. About Zenith Zenith Capital Corp. is a biotechnology investment company originally spun out of Resverlogix Corp. (TSX: RVX) in 2013. Zenith Epigenetics Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zenith Capital Corp., is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other disorders with significant unmet medical need. Zenith Epigenetics is developing various novel combinations of BET inhibitors with other targeted agents. The lead compound, ZEN-3694, is in clinical development for metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) and Triple Negative Breast Cancer. For further information, please contact: Investor Relations & Communications Zenith Epigenetics Phone: 587-390-7865 Email: [email protected] Website: www.zenithepigenetics.com This news release may contain certain forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, that are not based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "will", "should", "expects", "continue", "estimate", "forecasts" and other similar expressions. In particular, this news release includes forward looking information relating to further closings pursuant to the Private Placement, the use of proceeds of the Private Placement and anticipated amendments to the license agreement with Newsoara Biopharma Co. Ltd. Our actual results, events or developments could be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that any of the events or expectations will occur or be realized. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions and risk factors including those discussed in our most recent MD&A which are incorporated herein by reference and are available through SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date hereof. Zenith disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Beijing has strengthened community-level disease prevention and control in response to the resurgence of domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases. Nearly 100,000 community workers in 7,120 residential communities and villages in Beijing have thrown themselves into the battle against the disease, Xu Ying, an official with the Beijing municipal committee of the Communist Party of China, told a press conference Monday. More than 8,000 dealers and workers at the Xinfadi farm produce market, in close relation with most of the new cases, received nucleic-acid tests in the early morning of Sunday and have been under medical observation, Xu said. About 200,000 people who had visited the market since May 30 were interviewed via door-to-door inquiries, calls, social-media platforms and other methods. Nucleic-acid tests for these people are underway while they are asked to stay at home for medical observation. Closed-off management has been implemented in a total of 21 residential communities around the Xinfadi market and the Yuquandong market, with tests for 90,000 residents in process, Xu said. Beijing reported 36 new confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases and six new asymptomatic cases on Sunday, the municipal health commission said Monday. Thirty-four of the new cases were confirmed as being related to Xinfadi, a large wholesale market for fruit, vegetables and meat in south Beijing's Fengtai District, while two cases are currently under epidemiological investigation. Southeast Asian ride-hailing and payments firm Grab announced hundreds of job losses on Tuesday due to the impact of novel coronavirus. Southeast Asia's most valuable startup with a valuation of $14 billion, the SoftBank-backed company informed staff of the move at a townhall, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Singapore-based Grab would cut just under 5% of its headcount, or about 360 employees, according to a note to employees from CEO Anthony Tan which was shared with Reuters. Tan said the company, which is active in eight countries, did not face capitalization issues and would be "sunsetting non-core projects, consolidating teams and pivoting to focus on deliveries." The ride-hailing industry has been battered by the pandemic, with firms from Uber, Lyft in the United States to India's Ola cutting jobs and costs. The impact in Southeast Asia has been severe, with 11 drivers for rival Gojek telling Reuters last week they had their income slashed by more than half during the pandemic. When an orchestra goes looking for a new oboist or cellist, the audition committee might want to hear hopefuls play excerpts from a Strauss tone poem or a Brahms symphony, or even have a finalist sit in with the orchestra for a week or two. But when the vacancy is for a music librarian, whats the process? Music librarians audition, too. The Philadelphia Orchestra has just whittled a pool of applicants for the job to one: Nicole Jordan, currently principal music librarian with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, who will take up the same post with the Philadelphians on Sept. 14. Jordan is coming aboard at a highly unusual time. For one thing, the entire interviewing and audition process happened virtually, without Jordan ever having physically met with a single member of the audition committee. For another, its not at all clear that the ensemble will be able to gather this fall as the COVID-19 pandemic continues its merciless trampling of performing arts institutions. Though a music librarian has both administrative and musical duties, she is a bona fide member of the orchestra, working under the labor contract covering musicians, who agreed in May to a 20% pay cut currently set to last through mid-September. But there is much to make this an appealing homecoming for Jordan. The 36-year-old was born and raised here, in Southwest Philadelphia and Germantown, and has family in Philly. Her masters degree in music history is from Temple University, and she played trumpet and viola while a student at Philadelphia High School for Girls. Her undergraduate degree is in viola performance from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Im still in a bit of disbelief, Jordan said. I never imagined I would accomplish something like this. You dream about it, but you never really know if you can pull it off or if youll have the opportunity. Those opportunities are scarce. Orchestra librarian jobs are few and turnover is slow. Jordan replaces Robert Grossman, who began as the orchestras assistant librarian in 1979, became principal in 2003, and is retiring. Her arrival is a rarity in other regards. She becomes only the fourth current black member of the ensemble and its first black woman. Orchestra president and CEO Matias Tarnopolsky said the milestone was one step in a journey that we will continue to move forward on. Today, Nicole Jordans appointment is a historic moment for the Philadelphia Orchestra," Tarnopolsky said. Through greater diversity comes greater excellence." The orchestra has been engaged very actively in a new strategy for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access since last August, he said, and plans to talk about it publicly "in the near future. Jordans selection is also noteworthy in this particular field. I know of only one other black [orchestra] librarian at a professional level, says Jordan, who is active in the Major Orchestra Librarians Association. The scholarship the role requires For most orchestra fans, their only glimpse of the job might be watching a librarian drop a piece of sheet music on a violinists stand as the orchestra warms up on stage. But everything that needs to happen before that moment begins long before curtain time. "Obviously the biggest part of the job is making sure the right person has the right piece of music at the right time, says Jordan. But to get to that point, theres a lot of research, clarification, and questions in terms of editions and instrumentation, to make sure that the idea the conductor has is the one you are actually putting on stage. A lot of music is available in different editions, each one with changes and corrections (or mistakes) added over decades or even centuries. Its the music librarians who go over the score and instrumental parts, comparing editions and performance histories to match the wishes of the conductor or soloist, sometimes bar for bar, note for note. Jordan will go about her work with fellow librarian Steven Glanzmann, who joined the orchestra in 2003 after working for five years as an intern. Because it had been some time since it had hired a librarian, the orchestra engaged retired National Symphony Orchestra librarian Marcia Farabee for advice. A four-stage process was designed, and an 11-member audition committee formed. First came a written test to gauge basic skills things like transferring string bowings from one edition to another or solving an awkward page turn. Some candidates were eliminated. The preliminary interview round followed. A proctored online exam came next, testing the depth of their knowledge as librarians, said Marilyn Rife, the director of orchestra personnel who oversaw the audition process. From there, finalists went on to be interviewed by orchestra staffers and musicians, including music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin. Creating a successful Philadelphia way Jordan said he asked what her mission was for the library, what she could bring to the job. It was refreshing to have someone thinking future-facing and asking for my voice, and that was something that was pleasantly surprising, she said. Clearly, she had the knowledge base, said Rife in explaining why Jordan was chosen. That was very, very strong. But she also had a very warm but direct and thoughtful personality about her. I think of how the orchestra plays, their phrasing. Everything they play is so well thought-out and beautifully executed, and she kind of struck me the same way as a librarian. The Philadelphia Orchestra was hardly new terrain for Jordan. She had worked there once before, as a library fellow (intern) from 2008 to 2011. Said Rife: "I think what ran through all our minds was, Oh my gosh, someone who has started here and honed her skills elsewhere, and she is interested in bringing it back here. When she does get here, Jordan is interested in creating a program that trains the next generation. I want to make sure people who look like me have an opportunity to be interviewed for this profession and have me guiding them. I want to modernize how we use technology in the library, she says, pointing out that the technology moves fast. Ultimately, she says, the job will be about creating a successful Philadelphia way in terms of the library. The Australian chief executive of the $124 billion consumer goods giant behind Dove soap, Lipton tea and Rexona deodorant has implored the Morrison government to embed climate change policy at the core of its coronavirus recovery plans. Nicky Sparshott, who was appointed as the head of European consumer goods giant Unilever's operations in Australia and New Zealand in February, said state and federal governments must prioritise climate change in stimulus packages to secure sustainable jobs and revive the economy. Unilever Australia chief executive Nicky Sparshott. "We're on the precipice of seeing the government invest huge sums of money into driving the economy and we have a real opportunity here to ensure that climate action is at the core of those investment decisions," she told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. "Not only would it stimulate economic growth, but it gets Australia on a path to being imminently more sustainable and future-facing." Pride Week is a series of events organized to encourage, empower and celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community and their friends, families and supporters. This year as the coronavirus pandemic closes down venues and prohibited gatherings of any kind until recently, Pride events look a little different this year. Wunderbar, recently reopened in phase three, is hosting several live events this week with new precautions. To encourage guests to stay at their tables while indoors, Wunderbar will move to cocktail service only for the time being, with servers wearing face shields. The first floor, including two bar areas, and black box theatre will be inhabited by 17 small-party tables, largely available by reservation only. Plush furniture has been replaced by practical tables and chairs, which are spaced further apart so it is easy to keep within social distancing requirements. Outdoor seating at Wunderbar will be first come, first serve. Other Pride events in Central New York have moved into the virtual realm. There will be no Pride parade this year, but Black Cuse Pride will be organizing a Pride March in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Here are Pride Week events around the Central New York area. If you know of one that should be added to this list, please let us know at features@syracuse.com. Runners approach the finish line of the CNY Gay 5k at Long Branch Park, Geddes, NY, Saturday June 15, 2019. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse. CNY Gay Virtual 5K The CNY Gay 5K is a community-run, family-friendly event designed to celebrate our Central New York community and raise funds for local LGBT non-profits. Run, walk, skip, dance or sashay this virtual 5k in a location you choose on a date you choose. Where: cnygay5k.org When: Complete any time between June 13-30 How much: $20 PRIDE Trivia for Nerds Do you know your Stonewall from your Compton Cafeteria? How deep is your Tom of Finland knowledge? Who won the first RuPauls Drag Race? Reserve your table for this trivia night. Where: Wunderbar, 201 S West St, Syracuse, NY 13202 When: Tues. June 16 from 7:30-9 p.m. How much: $10 per table reservation Pride Flag Webinar The Q Center will be hosting a Pride Flag Webinar to learn about the origin and meaning of several Pride flags and Queer history. Where: Hosted online, registration is required via Google form When: Wed. June 17 at 3:30 p.m. How much: Free Dusty Boxxs Drag Show Hosted by DustyBoxx, this show will feature local favorites and mystery guests for this post-quarantine drag show. Where: Wunderbar, 201 S West St, Syracuse, NY 13202 When: Wed. June 17 from 8:30-10 p.m. How much: $20 per table reservation PRIDE in Queer Women This night is a to celebrate queer women in the Syracuse community. DJ Knoway will spin outdoors and there will be two seatings for the night to accommodate more guests. Where: Wunderbar, 201 S West St, Syracuse, NY 13202 When: Thurs. June 18 from 5-9:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.-2 a.m. How much: $20 from 1-4 guests, groups of 5-10 are $30 Comedy Show with Poppy Champlin Comedian Poppy Champlin will be offering a livestream on her Facebook page. Champlin has opened for such comics as Ray Ramano, Denis Leary, Bill Maher, Bill Hicks and Rosie ODonnell. She produces and tours with The Queer Queens of Qomedy and teaches a stand-up comedy class at The Courthouse Center for the Arts. Where: CNY Gay 5k will host a watch party on their Facebook page or you can watch on Poppy Champlins page When: Fri. June 19 from 7-8 p.m. How much: Free See No Evil: a sinful pride event This outdoor dance party will feature music from DJ Freq Array and roaming performances by go go dancers and drag queens. Where: Wunderbar, 201 S West St, Syracuse, NY 13202 When: Fri. June 19 from 5-9:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.-2 a.m. How much: $25 from 1-4 guests, groups of 5-10 are $35 New York State Fair Pride Day parade, Syracuse, NY, Friday August 25, 2017. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com SYRSYR Syracuse Pride 2020 Wunderbar will be transformed into an indoor/outdoor pride wonderland. There will be roaming performances, organizations with tables, and two outdoor DJs at this party. There will be three seatings at this event to accommodate more guests. Where: Wunderbar, 201 S West St, Syracuse, NY 13202 When: Sat. June 20 from 2-5:45 p.m., 6-9:45 p.m., and 10:15 p.m.-2 a.m. How much: $30 from 1-4 guests, $40 for groups of 5-10 Black Cuse Pride marches during the Pride Day parade at New York State Fair, Geddes, NY, Friday Aug. 23, 2019Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse. Pride March for Black Lives Matter Black Cuse Pride and CNY Pride will march together to Syracuse City Hall to raise the Pride flag at 1:30 p.m. and stand in solidarity with the voices of Black Lives Matter. Where: Meeting outside of Trexx at 323 N Clinton St, Syracuse, NY 13202 When: Sat. June 20 at 1 p.m. How much: Free Samantha Vega performs during the Salt City Drag Battle at Syracuse Stage, Syracuse, NY, Saturday January 26, 2019. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse. Virtual Pride Cabaret 2020 As its week of live events has been canceled for this year, CNY Pride will be hosting a Virtual Queer Cabaret, streaming via Zoom. Hosted by Samantha Vega, the event will have a series of performers who were scheduled for the original event. The CNY Pride website will be updated with the Zoom link on the day of the event. Where: cnypride.org/virtualpride When: Sat. June 20 from 7:30-9 p.m. How much: Free Skaneateles Pride Live 2020 Skaneateles Pride will be hosting the towns inaugural Pride celebration in an online streamed event. Where: hopin.to/events/skaneateles-pride-live-2020 When: Sat. June 20 from 1-3 p.m. How much: Free Family Bar-B-Que This will be an outdoor, all-ages event with grilled food and drinks available for purchase. There will also be an outdoor DJ. Where: Wunderbar, 201 S West St, Syracuse, NY 13202 When: Sun. June 21 from 2-6 p.m. How much: Free The Q Center at ACR Health Pride Month Celebration ACR Health runs nine Q Centers around the region which offer weekly support groups for LGBTQ youth and their parents, after-school programming; crisis intervention, emergency assistance and advocacy; rapid re-housing for youth aged 18-24; HIV, STD and Hepatitis C screening; social events; food, personal care items and clothing, and more. This month, local businesses are helping support the Q Centers and their programming by offering Pride themed items and donating part of the proceeds. Where: p2p.onecause.com/pride20 When: Now through June 30 How much: Items vary MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Utica 2020 Boilermaker road race canceled; will be virtual event Coronavirus pandemic means no July 4 fireworks for most Central NY communities Movie Tavern owner details new coronavirus protocols, reopening soon Bigger gatherings now allowed in phase three, Cuomo says North Macedonia has recorded a new high number of COVID-19 infections on Friday, as more than half of the country's 2,1 million people are under an 80-hour curfew. Health Minister Venko Filipce said that 180 new infection cases and two deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours. More than half of them are in the capital Skopje, Filipce said during a press conference. This brings a total number of infected people in the country to 2,790 and 149 deaths. However, the number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. North Macedonia's government has imposed an almost complete curfew in four regions that started from 9 p.m. on Thursday and will end at 5 a.m. on Monday. Only hospitals and pharmacies are allowed to open. Toyota Motor Philippines hinted that they will soon provide a car leasing program, more likely within this month. During a press briefing prior to the launch of the 2020 Wigo, TMP Vice President for Brand and Product Planning Tini Arevalo said that they will soon offer Kinto, a vehicle subscription program that will give customers the opportunity to bring a car home without actually buying it. Arevalo said that customers that will avail the Kinto program will have to pay deposit. Other than that, Arevalo did not mention the details during the event. For its pilot run, she said that four models will be covered by the car lease program, but did not reveal the models as of posting. It was in the last year that Toyota the launched Kinto in Thailand to offer customers long-term rental programs as part of the brand's global vision to evolve into a mobility company by providing all kinds of services related to transportation to people around the world. Kinto Toyota Thailand In Thailand, the vehicles covered in th program are the Vios Mid, Camry 2.0 G, CH-R 1.8 mid, Yaris 1.2G+ and Ativ1.2E. Going back, Arevalo only told the press during the Wigo launch to wait for the announcement of thethis June, which for sure, a lot will be excited about. I guess, we have to wait for its official announcement to know the full scope. Photos from Toyota Motor Thailand Also read: New Toyota PH leader in 2020, eyes "Luzon Hub" in the Philippines Toyota PH outlines changes to accommodate new normal in business TMP Launches Latest Mobile App EDWARDSVILLE Annual ethics training will be required by county employees under an ordinance approved by the Madison County Boards Personnel and Labor Relations Committee on Monday. The ordinance is expected to be considered at Wednesdays Madison County Board meeting. We have an ethics ordinance, but there is nothing in the ordinance that says there should be training, HR Specialist Bruce Cooper said Tuesday. The ordinance exempts employees of the countys states attorney, circuit clerk and circuit court offices. Committee Member Chris Guy, R-Maryville, questioned why those offices were exempt. They are held to a judicial standard, Cooper said, adding they have their own ethics training. He also said the sheriffs department has its own training. The committee voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance with members Don Moore, R-Troy, Victor Valentine Jr., D-Edwardsville, and Jim Dodd, D-Alton absent. The committee also approved job descriptions for three new job titles being created at the Madison County Health Department because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Director Toni Corona said they are receiving a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health to perform contact tracing, the process of determining who might have had contact with and possibly be infected by a contagious person. Corona said the officie initially thought the funding was coming from the federal CARES Act and would last 12 months, but were informed that it is coming from another federal source and will last 30 months. Corona did not specify the number of positions the grant would pay for, but noted they would end when the grant funding stops. Hiring the new people will allow current health department employees to resume their normal jobs. Corona said 25 of 34 department employees currently are working 100 percent of the time in COVID. We cant continue to this and neglect the rest of our programs, she said. The committee also discussed the long-awaited employee handbook. Cooper said he hoped to be able to present it in July. Part of the reason for the delay is they have to look at the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on sexual orientation and make sure the handbook is in compliance. 2,000 stuck on cruise ship in Goa after crew members test positive for COVID-19 Cruise ship sails back to Mumbai with all passengers as Covid-19 infected patients refuse to get down at Goa No night curfew in Goa, but gatherings with over 100 people in open spaces banned Howrah Amaravati Express derailed near Goa's Dudhsagar, all passengers and staff on board safe Former Goa minister Achyut Usgaonkar dies at 92 India pti-PTI Panaji, Jun 16: Former Goa minister Achyut Kashinath Sinai Usgaonkar died at a hospital near here on Tuesday following age-related ailments, family sources said. He was 92. Usgaonkar was a leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the oldest regional outfit in Goa. He served as a cabinet minister from August 13, 1977 to April 27, 1979 in the then Shashikala Kakodkar government of Goa, Daman and Diu. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain hospitalised, to take COVID-19 test| Oneindia News "Usgaonkar died at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (located near Panaji) around 7.30 am," his son-in-law Dinar Tarcar told PTI. He is survived by three daughters, including noted film actor Varsha Usgaonkar. Before serving as a minister, Achyut Usgaonkar was the deputy speaker of Goa during the Dayanand Bandodkar-led government. Bandodkar was the first chief minister of the coastal state. Yves here. This sort of high-level take, here on where capitalism is going, is a Varoufakis strength. And the fact that Assange would want to have this sort of conversation says, remarkably, that he has not been broken despite the concerted efforts to crush him. By Yanis Varoufakis. Originally published at his website Julian called me a little earlier on, at 14.22 London time to be precise. From Belmarsh High Security Prison of course. This is not the first time but, as you can imagine, every time I hear his voice I feel honoured and moved that he should dial my number when he has such few and far between opportunities to place calls. I want a perspective on world developments out there I have none in here, he said. Which, of course, placed a considerable burden on me to articulate thoughts on capitalisms fate during this pandemic and the repercussions of it all on politics, geopolitics etc. The knowledge that Her Majestys Prison authorities would discontinue our discussion at any moment made the task harder. In a feeble attempt to paint a picture for him on as broad a canvass as possible, I shared with Julian my main thought of the last weeks: Never before has the world of money (i.e. the money markets, that include the share markets) been so decoupled from the world of real people, real stuff from the real economy. We watch in awe as GDP, personal incomes, wages, company revenues, businesses small and large, collapse while the stock market is staying relatively unscathed. The other day, Hertz declared bankruptcy. When a company does this, its share price goes to zero. Not now. In fact, Hertz is about to issue $1 billion worth of new shares. Why would anyone buy shares of an officially bankrupt company? The answer is: Because central banks print mountain ranges of money and give it for almost free to financiers to buy any piece of junk floating around the stock exchange. Complete zombification of the corporations, is how I put it to Julian. Julian commented that this proves that governments and central banks can keep corporations afloat even when they sell next to nothing at the marketplace. I agreed. But, I also pointed out a major conundrum that capitalism faces for the first time. It is this: Central bank money printing keeps asset prices very high while the price of stuff and wages fall. This disconnect can go on growing. But, when Hertz, British Airways etc. can survive in this manner, they have no reason not to fire half the workforce and to cut the wages of the other half. This creates more deflation/depression in the real economy. Which means that the Central Banks must print more and more to keep asset and share prices high. At some point, the masses out there will rebel and governments will be under pressure to divert some income to them. But this will deflate asset prices. At that point, because these assets are used by corporations as collateral for all the loans they take out to stay afloat, they will lose access to liquidity. A sequence of corporate failures will commence under circumstances of stagnation. I dont think capitalism can easily survive, at least not without huge social and geopolitical conflicts, this conundrum, was my conclusion. Julian thought about this for a moment and asked me: How important is consumption to capitalism? What percentage of GDP is at stake if consumption does not recover? Do the corporations need workers or customers? I answered that it was high enough to make this conundrum real. Yes, Central Banks and robots can keep the corporations going without customers or workers. But, robots cannot buy the stuff they produce. So, this is not a stable equilibrium. The losses in peoples incomes will accelerate, thus generating pivotal discontent. Julian then said something along the lines of: That will benefit Trump who knows how to feed off the anger of the multitudes toward the educated, upper middle-class elites. I agreed, saying that DiEM25 has been warning since 2016 that socialism for the oligarchy and austerity for the many, in the end, feeds the racist ultra-right. That we are experiencing again what happened in the 1920s in Italy with the rise of Mussolini. Julian agreed entirely and said: Yes, like then, there is an alliance forming between rich people and the discontented working class. He then added that most of the prisoners and the prison officers in Belmarsh support Trump. At that point the connection was cut off. Our conversation lasted 947. It was more substantive, and of course moving, than any conversation I have had in a while. United States ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Tuesday handed over the first tranche of 100 ventilators to India to assist in the country's fight against COVID-19, the Indian Red Cross Society said. IMAGE: First tranche of 100 ventilators from the US arrived in India. Photograph: @usaid_india/Twitter President Donald Trump had announced in May that the US will donate ventilators to India to treat COVID-19 patients and help it fight the "invisible enemy". Indian Red Cross Society Secretary General R K Jain accepted the first tranche of the US Agency for International Development-funded ventilators from Ambassador Juster at the IRCS national headquarters. The Indian Red Cross said it extends its heartfelt thanks to the US government for gifting the state-of-the-art ventilators to assist India's fight against COVID-19. This life-saving resource will benefit critically ill patients immensely during this pandemic, the IRCS said. The first tranche of ventilators to support India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the country on Monday, the USAID said. These high-quality machines have been produced by Massachusetts-based Zoll Medical Corporation to respond to India's needs in this time of crisis, it said. "Great to see that this 1st shipment of 100 USAID-funded ventilators produced by @MedicalZoll has reached India, another country hit hard by COVID-19. @usaid_india is working with the Indian government to see that these ventilators reach those in need," acting USAID Administrator John Barsa tweeted. An American official had said last month that the US government is planning to "donate" 200 ventilators to India as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The USAID has announced USD 5.9 million in funding for India to combat COVID-19, including USD 2.9 million to help the country provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, strengthen case finding, contact tracing and surveillance, a USAID official had said last month at a briefing organised by the US Embassy in Delhi. Union Minister has said that several Indian scientists and institutions are working to develop a vaccine to fight COVID-19. "I have heard that a lot of experiments in the US have been successfully implemented. In India also a lot of institutions and scientists are working on it. We are waiting for the vaccine," he said while addressing and Infrastructure-Paving the growth path in Post-COVID World event. "At the same time, we are facing an economic war. Not only India but the whole world is facing this problem. I feel that the way in which the whole world now has a lot of reaction about China..the whole world is now interested to find out some new option for them," he added. "I feel that India is definitely going to be a very good, viable option for all the investors in the world," Gadkari added. Commenting upon the decision to hike the Minimum Support Price (MSP), Gadkari had stated "Union Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership had decided to hike MSP. I have not made any statements about decreasing MSP. This has been falsely attributed to me and I feel bad about it. Farmers should stay away from the wrong The Central government has always protected farmers and will continue doing so." This comes in the backdrop of media reports quoting him that the government's minimum support prices for agriculture crops are way higher than domestic market prices and international rates which can create an "economic crisis" in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that with the efforts of the past few weeks, green shoots in the economy are visible, including rise in power consumption which was earlier falling, production of two-wheelers increasing, digital payment in retail reaching pre-lockdown levels, rise in toll collection in May, and bouncing back of exports. These are encouraging signals, Modi said, with a clear hint that the opening of the economy is likely to continue, however, with caution. Modi was speaking at the 6th PM-CM video interaction, where he asserted that India fared better than many nations as far as handling the Covid-19 pandemic was concerned. He claimed that India's mortality rate has been quite low and the timely decisions taken to combat the pandemic have been effective in containing the spread of the virus. He also highlighted how India's recovery rate has crossed the 50 per cent mark. However, while making a compelling case for opening up of the economy, he warned, "We have to always keep in mind that the more we can stop the corona, the more it will stop growing, the more our economy will open, our offices will open, the markets will open, the means of transport will open, and so will new employment opportunities." He forewarned that any laxity in discipline will weaken the fight against the virus. While he talked about boosting the health infrastructure and increasing the testing capacity in the country, Modi stressed on the importance of the economy to bounce back as well as his call for "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" and invited all states to be a part of the mission. "Specific economic activity points in the states should work 24 hours a day and loading and unloading should be quickened to give further boost to economic activities," he said. He also talked about the "hand holding" that is required for smaller factories and timely credit to MSMEs. The Chief Ministers mentioned about the awareness campaigns being run by them, help being provided to the workers who have returned home, usage of the Aarogya Setu app, and kickstarting of economic activities in their respective states. Chief Ministers or representatives of Punjab, Assam, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Nagaland, Ladakh, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu, Sikkim and Lakshadweep were part of Tuesday's interaction. The second leg of the meeting will be held on Wednesday when other states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar will participate. The Prime Minister hailed the role of the Chief Ministers and the Centre-state cooperation during these trying times. "When India's fight against Covid-19 will be analysed in future, this time will be remembered for how we worked together and served as an example of cooperative federalism," added Modi. The Prime Minister had held a detailed meeting with senior ministers and officials on June 13 to review India's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The meeting had reviewed the national level status and preparation in the context of the pandemic. In that meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah had said that while "we have so far fought a successful battle against the pandemic, the road ahead is long and suggestions given by the Prime Minister regarding the use of mask/face cover, maintaining do gaz doori' should be followed by all". This was the sixth interaction between the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers. The five earlier ones had been held on March 20, April 2, April 11, April 27 and May 11. LOS ANGELESIt's a case that would have reached its second anniversary this Friday, but today, Attorney for the California Labor Commissioner Patricia Salazar released her decision in the dispute which pitted five adult actresses against Direct Models, Inc. and its owner Derek Hay. Finding as part of the decision that Hay unlawfully withheld the actress' commissions, Salazar ordered a full accounting of all commissions received by the performers for the period of June 2017 to June 2018 so as to properly determine return of said commissions. Salazar also ordered the performers attorney fees and court costs, nearly $108,000, to be paid by Hay. AVN first wrote about the controversy in July of 2018, when four "Jane Does," all represented by top litigator Allan B. Gelbard, filed their complaint with the Labor Commission against Hay and Direct Models (also known as LA Direct Models), and out of ten claimed Labor Code violations, Hay and Direct Models was found guilty of having violated seven of them. The actresses who won their cases are Charlotte Cross, Hadley Viscara, Sofi Ryan, Andi Rye and Shay Evans, and the Labor Commission decision details each actress's interactions with the company and Hay himself. The first actress to have her charges detailed is Charlotte Cross, one of whose complaints was that Hay forced her to perform her first scene under her Direct Models contract with director Pierre Woodman, but when Cross told Hay that she did not think she could shoot the sexual scene with Woodman, and expressed concerns about the type of scene it was to be, Hay told her that if she refused to shoot it, she would have to pay Hay/Direct a $1,000 kill feea fee that is illegal under California law. Cross had a similar problem with a scheduled CamSoda shoot, and Hay again charged a kill fee, and when Cross said she wouldn't pay it, Hay told her he wouldn't book any more work for her until she did. Next was Sofi Ryan, whom the Labor Commission attorney noted had commenced a sexual relationship with Hay. One of Ryan's complaints was that after Ryan failed to attend some of Hay's birthday festivities in August of 2017 because she was sick, Hay nonetheless charged her for flight and hotel expenses attendant to the festivities, and that she thereafter experienced a 50 percent reduction in work after Hay found out that Ryan was seeing another actor. Hay also allegedly forced Ryan to perform certain sex scenes with certain actors who were on her "no" list, threatening to charge her kill fees if she failed to perform. He also charged her for photos and banners that she used when attending conventions. Andi Rye signed on with Direct Models in April of 2017, and soon afterwards was scheduled to do a two-part scene for Pierre Woodman. The first part had Rye working with two or more male performers, but the second part was to be a scene with Woodman himself, but when the male talent and Woodman's assistant left the room, Woodman had Rye perform with him in POV format. However, according to the ruling, "After completing the second sexual act, Woodman stated to Rye, 'You think it's finished? You think so?' Woodman then proceeded to have Rye engage in a series of graphic sexual acts that were nonconsensual. Rye left the scene as quickly as she could after completing the graphic sexual acts." Rye also was charged kill fees and for photos and banners which were used at various conventions. Hadley Viscara signed with Direct Models in late May of 2017, and since the actress had little money when she first got into the industry, someone suggested that she ask Hay about doing escorting work. She claimed to the Labor Board that she was charged fees to which she had not agreed, and other money for a "cat tree" which had been characterized as a gift, plus kill fees and various train and plane fees to which she had not agreed. The final actress whose complaints were broken out was Shay Evans, who first signed with Direct in November of 2015. Later, after she got a dance gig at Sapphire Las Vegas, Hay texted her that he wanted her to "perform a sexual act on him when she got home," and thereafter, there was a sexual relationship between the two. However, their relationship didn't stop Hay from booking two scenes for Evans with Woodman, even though the acts which she was to perform were on her "no" list, but after Hay told her she couldn't cancel, she performed the scene anyway. Hay also sent Evans to a Karaoke party in downtown Los Angeles where she was groped and propositioned multiple times, and she witnessed other performers being subjected to the same insults. And along the way, Evans was charged kill fees and other non-contracted-for expenses. In the end, the Labor Commission attorney considered the following possible violations: "Did DIRECT MODELS violate Labor Code section 1700.23? Did DIRECT MODELS fraudulently mislead Petitioners into believing all documents they signed were one, entire agreement submitted to and approved by the Labor Commissioner?" The attorney found that Direct Models did not commit this fraud. "Did DIRECT MODELS knowingly issue an employment contract in violation of Labor Code section 1700.31?" The attorney found that Direct Models and specifically Derek Hay did violate this section. The ruling states, "The preponderance of the evidence demonstrates HAY knowingly attempted to help procure employment for Petitioners with TLC, an escort service, in violation of Labor Code section 1700.31. HAY actively participated in helping book employment for VISCARA as an escort for TLC. HAY also had a role in brokering a relationship or connection with Petitioners RYAN, RYE and EVANS and TLC so they could work as escorts. HAY helped obtain this result by referring Petitioners to TLC, introducing them to TLC at social functions, [and] providing TLC with Petitioners' agency photos." "Did DIRECT MODELS breach its duty as a licensed talent agency by failing to provide for the health, safety or welfare of Petitioners under Labor Code section 1700.33?" In answering this question, the attorney referred back to a previous case where Hay and Direct Models had been complained, this time involving actress Nadya Nabakova, who now performs under the name Bunny Colby. In that case, the attorney found that Hay had failed to secure the health, safety and welfare of the actresses, and found that the petitioners' attorney had met his burden on that charge. "Did DIRECT MODELS violate Labor Code section 1700.24 by failing to file with the Labor Commissioner a schedule of fees to be charged and by failing to keep a copy of the schedule of fees in its office?" In a ruling that seemed somewhat at odds with her finding no violation of Labor Code section 1700.23, the Commission attorney found that Hay/Direct Models had failed to file a complete "Schedule of Fees" with the Labor Commission listing all charges that could be assessed including kill fees, charges for photo shoots and banners, etc. "Did DIRECT MODELS breach its fiduciary duty to Petitioners by charging companies Agency Fees for Petitioners performance in shoots for the companies?" Again, the Commission attorney found that Hay/Direct had violated this allegation because such "booking fees" should have been included in a schedule of fees filed with the Commission. "Did DIRECT MODELS breach its fiduciary duty to Petitioners by refusing to book Petitioners for employment as punishment for Petitioners questioning DIRECT MODELS of its alleged unlawful actions, fees and/or penalties?" Hay was found "not guilty" of this violation due to what the Commission attorney felt was insufficient evidence. "Did DIRECT MODELS breach its fiduciary duty to Petitioners by booking Petitioners for scenes with other performers they did not want to work with and/or for certain types of scenes which they were uncomfortable performing?" The Commission attorney found that Hay/Direct had committed this violation, noting that, "An agency relationship is a fiduciary one, which obligates the agent to act with diligence, care and loyalty to the principal ... HAY and DIRECT MODELS breached their fiduciary duty in booking shoots with performers on Petitioners No List, with companies they were uncomfortable performing for, and/or for scenes they were uncomfortable performing. Petitioners did not consent to working with certain artists or to performing certain types of scenes and, contrary to industry standards, DIRECT MODELS blatantly disregarded Petitioners boundaries often with the threat of kill fees if Petitioners objected. DIRECT MODELS failed to act with loyalty, care and in utmost good faith when working with Petitioners." "Did DIRECT MODELS breach its duty as a licensed talent agency under Labor Code section 1700.40?" The Commission attorney found that Hay/Direct had breached this section by having charged the actresses "registration fees" for such things as "[p]hotographs, film strips, video tapes, or other reproductions of the applicant." "Did DIRECT MODELS breach its contract with Petitioners by taking the approved commission percentage and the additional Agency Fee without paying Petitioners their rightful share of the Agency Fee and/or by failing to take all 'reasonable efforts to procure employment?'" The Commission attorney found that Hay/Direct did in fact breach its contracts with the petitioners, and moreover, the attorney listed the dates on which each contract was breached, allowing the petitioners to collect all the money Hay/Direct had illegally withheld, including all of the commissions he had charged. And finally, the Commission attorney responded in the affirmative to the question, "Can Derek Hay be held legally responsible in his individual capacity as owner of DIRECT MODELS for any violations committed by DIRECT MODELS as the talent agency?" That means that whatever monies the attorney decided were due to the actresses could be taken from Derek Hay personally, in addition to debiting Direct Models, in part because "As a talent agent in a position of power, HAY began sexual relationships with three of the five Petitioners." Most notably, the attorney found that Hay had "demanded RYAN perform a sexual act on him"; that "EVANS received a message from HAY asking for a sexual act in what amounted to, at a minimum, a high level of discomfort"; and "VISCARA credibly testified to accounts of sexual assault by HAY." "Rather than diligently representing the artists who trusted him with their careers, HAY abused his position through sexual acts, including coerced sexual acts, for his personal gain," the ruling reads in part. The attorney also voided any existing contracts between the petitioners and Direct Models. "Hay is personally liable because he abused his position of authority and power to sexually abuse the artists he was supposed to represent," the Labor Commissioners Office wrote. "The purpose of the Talent Agencies Act (TTA) cannot be understated. It is to protect artists seeking professional employment from the abuses of talent agencies and from abusive talent agents." "I'm incredibly proud of the five women that stood up to Derek Hay," Gelbard told AVN. "This kind of activity cannot be countenanced in any industry, especially one where sexual consent is as important as it is here. These women stood up and said they were sick and tired and they weren't gonna take it anymore, and today, the Labor Commission agreed with them. I'm incredibly proud of them. A reminder that Hay [in this case] is also facing the revocation of his agency license and criminal charges, Gelbard added. Hay, who operates in Las Vegas, also faces troubles of another matter. He was charges in March with two counts of pandering by procuring in connection with a 12-count indictment in California. Derek Hay issued his own statement in response to the ruling: "Contrary to the claims of the counsel of the Jane Doe women, 'that he never seeks to try a case in the media,' he has in fact done exactly that throughout, as have his clients in a voluminous amount of postings on this case on social media and statements to many and varied adult industry media. This was self-evident from the very outset, when AVN was informed that the suit existed, some 17 days prior to the suit being served to us, even before we ourselves were able to actually read it. "Nonetheless, this case will not be tried in the media, but ultimately will be heard and adjudicated in a fit and proper trial in Superior Court. "The hearing before the Labor Commissioner had no pretrial discovery, and it was therefore not possible to mount a meaningful defense, having no idea of the evidence that would be brought forth to support the charges, and not least of which, that much of the evidence brought forth was stand-alone testimony by the Jane Does, unsupported by any relevant documentation or other evidence with which to support it, and much of which would be classified as hearsay in any other courtroom. "Whilst we always felt it would be very difficult to get a fair trial and a favorable outcome in the administrative hearing, and the nature of the hearing, finding us always working from the back foot, we are nonetheless very disappointed at this finding, as we do not feel that the counts found against us were sufficiently proven, whilst three of them were dismissed. That said, at the same time, we always knew that the 'trial de novo' is the avenue through which we will have an opportunity to examine the evidence in detail before trial and with the benefit of the provision of documents including phone and financial records aforehand and for which we will be afforded the opportunity to have pre-trial depositions of the plaintiffs (under oath). That is the process by which this case will ultimately be determined. "We are very confident that the decision of the 'trial de novo' will be contrary to that of The Labor Commissioner, and that the name of Direct Models, and that of my own personally, will be cleared of such charges at the final outcome of that trial." Hays/Direct Models' attorney Richard Freeman also provided AVN with a statement regarding the outcome of the ruling as follows: "Today, June 15, 2020, the State Labor Commissioner issued a Decision in the Matter of Jane Does 1-5 vs. Direct Models, Inc. and Derek Hay following a hearing conducted in September and November, 2019. In a 55-page Decision, the Hearing Officer rejected 3 of the 10 Claims brought by the five Adult Entertainers. However, the Commissioner awarded an aggregate amount of $24,206.49 for various breaches of the Exclusive Agency Agreements of the five performers, holding both Direct Models and its Owner, Derek Hay, liable for the award. "Direct Models and Derek Hay will immediately file an Appeal for 'trial de novo' in the Los Angeles County Superior Court where the entire matter will be re-adjudicated after full and complete pre-trial discovery is permitted and conducted. (The Labor Commission Hearing proceeded with no pre-hearing discovery, depriving Respondents of a meaningful opportunity to address the allegations and charges). The filing of the Appeal renders this Decision moot. "Derek Hay and his Attorney are disappointed in the initial findings of the Labor Commissioner but are confident that Derek Hay and Direct Models will be completely vindicated after a full and complete opportunity to answer the allegations in an actual Trial (a jury trial) with all the witnesses and all the evidence heard according to the Superior Court rules of evidence." Rhett Pardon contributed to this story. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced Monday that his office will no longer charge cases that rely on statements from officers who have a proven history of misconduct. The new policy aims to ensure that people can't be falsely prosecuted as a result of words or actions from officers with histories of misconduct like excessive force, discrimination, dishonesty or racial bias, Boudin said. "We have seen across the country repeated instances of police violence inflicted upon people of color and the Black community-often by officers with prior known misconduct, yet whose words prosecutors continued to trust in filing charges," Boudin said in a statement. "This directive ensures that members of the public are not wrongly or unfairly accused by officers whom we know have displayed the kind of misconduct that permanently damages their credibility or the trust we place in them," he said. Under the new policy, lawyers with the District Attorney's Office's Trial Integrity Unit will be tasked with compiling a list of officers who have documented histories of misconduct, which is to be updated regularly. The policy would only apply to cases that rely solely on testimony from an officer with a known history of misconduct and wouldn't apply to cases where others witnesses can corroborate evidence, deeming the testimony of an officer with a history of misconduct unnecessary. Boudin, who took office earlier this year, has made several changes within his office in the last two weeks, including compensating victims of police violence. The changes are in response to worldwide protests demanding accountability in the face of several high-profile police killings of unarmed black people. Police were not able to say Monday evening whether officers whose testimony is not trusted can do a satisfactory job as an officer. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Mengfei Guan, assistant professor of communication. Credit: Mengfei Guan A new study by a University of Arkansas communication researcher shows that breast cancer patients with strong social support are more likely to take an active role in treatment and experience positive outcomes. Mengfei Guan, assistant professor of communication in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, joined the university in 2019. Guan's particular interest is to discover ways in which communication can be leveraged to promote health. Her research findings on the relationship between social support and patient participation in the treatment process among breast cancer patients were recently published in the scholarly journal Health Communication. Along with three other researchers, Guan analyzed data gathered from clinical trials of 661 women with breast cancer. "Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States," Guan said. "Coping with cancer is a stressful process, as it involves both physical suffering and psychological distress. Challenges associated with coping with cancer may prevent people from actively participating in cancer treatment. What factors can empower and equip women with breast cancer to take part in medical decision-making process? This is the overarching question that inspires me to look into this issue." Based on previous studies, a positive correlation has been observed between a patient's involvement in the medical decision-making and improved outcomes of care. Furthermore, patients with social supportthose who have "the perception of being cared for and loved, being esteemed and valued, and being involved in social networks"have shown to be healthier than those lacking social support. Guan noted that a whole-health approach could lead to favorable outcomes. "This study explores factors that can enhance patient participation in health care among women with breast cancer. This patient-centered perspective is consistent with the whole health approach that people should take charge of their healtha state of physical, mental, and social well-being. Each of us is a unique individual as well as a social being. What we think (cognition), feel (emotion), and do (behavior) hinge upon individual differences and social influences," Guan said. The study implies communication with the care team should be encouraged to women with breast cancer. The patient's level of health information surrounding their condition plays an important role in communicating with their doctors. Guan and her colleagues suggest that health centers seek to increase health information competence among their patients and encourage active participation through training programs. "As shown in the findings, perceived social support empowers women battling breast cancer, making them feel connected and cared for," Guan explained. "This empowerment then translates into equipping them with abilities to manage information about their health, ultimately achieving their communication goals in medical encounters." Explore further New protocol on breast cancer and breastfeeding More information: Mengfei Guan et al. Exploring the Role of Social Support in Promoting Patient Participation in Health Care among Women with Breast Cancer, Health Communication (2020). Mengfei Guan et al. Exploring the Role of Social Support in Promoting Patient Participation in Health Care among Women with Breast Cancer,(2020). DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2020.1773704 Bexar County Sheriff's Office The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is asking the public for help in identifying the individuals who shot at deputies earlier this month. The deputies were helping a stranded motorist on the far East Side around 3:30 a.m. on June 6, when the shots were fired. Deputies said they were almost hit and could hear the bullets fly by their heads. Canada needs to find economically efficient ways of supporting child care programs while incentivizing quality. Credit: Shutterstock As of June 12, child-care centres in Ontario can open, following reopenings in most regions of Quebec. But while these child-care centres are doing their part to support families in the post-coronavirus recovery, and Ontario is offering some extra help, Canada needs to find economically efficient ways of supporting child-care programs while simultaneously incentivizing quality. In so doing, it would follow some of the smartest approaches to economic recovery, development and social wellness already evidenced in parts of Canada and the world. From private to social problem When COVID-19 struck, child care was transformed overnight from a private responsibility to a social one. Suddenly all those parents who make up the army of first responders in times of emergency had a serious problem, and so did Canadians depending on their services. When the government first put out the call for emergency child care, many authorities overseeing care centres struggled to find space and staff. Those with the greatest capability to respond had publicly managed programs, including municipally operated centres in Toronto and provincially managed child care in Quebec. Undoubtedly, many community providers made stellar contributions but their efforts required significant government support. Now that the restrictions have softened, child care must be readied to do its part to help kick-start the economy. It won't be business as usual. For now, the protocols in place for emergency care continue to apply, including limits on enrolment, smaller group sizes and heightened cleaning and personal hygiene protocols. Staff will require new skills and techniques to adjust to being educators in this new normal. Smaller group sizes of children will require a large increase of the workforce in a sector where educators are already in serious short supply. This will tax both the financial and organizational capacity of most child-care operators. Fundamental for economic recovery Successfully providing child care is fundamental for the success of economic recovery and will need to rely on public investment, public management and enhanced public delivery. New Zealand is leading the world in COVID-19 recovery and much of its continued success will be credited to its child-care policies. These include a big boost to child care paid out only to providers with 100 percent qualified staff, along with wage subsides to induce growth in the workforce. Canada needs to look to such models. Parents need to trust that their child-care program is able to comply with emergency protocols, and children need safe and supportive environments to continue their learning while healing from the disruption or trauma these past few months have brought. Mitigates impact of pandemic on children High-quality child care is crucial for the recovery process in two critical ways. It allows parents to return to work but perhaps more importantly, it will mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the children's development and health. The pandemic has been a huge challenge to children. Their academic progress has stalled, inequalities have widened, mental health has deteriorated and many are coping with household situations that are precarious, stressful and even dangerous. Educational child care has been shown as a cost-effective tool to mitigate many of these disadvantages and post-COVID it will be more important than ever. In Canada, bilateral early learning and child-care agreements are already in place between the federal, and provincial and territorial governments. These have been extended to 2021 when they are scheduled for renewal. Quality improvements needed This is an ideal time for the federal government to fund programs to meet COVID-19 procedures but also to insist that provincial and territorial governments implement quality improvements, invest in a professional workforce and increase public management and accountability for their child care services. Done well, Canada can then emerge from this pandemic with a better quality and more efficient childcare system nationwide. There are many made-in-Canada examples to emulate. Quebec's "centres de la petite enfance" and Prince Edward Island's early years centres are good models of public management, where the province sets salaries, fees, curriculum, staff training and program accountability. Education ministries are expanding school mandates, opening early learning opportunities to all children. These systems were put in place quickly and are highly popular with families and educators. The chronic weakness of private and community child-care services already indicated a need for public leadership. The child care we have did not provide the outcomes that Canadians deserve prior to this crisis and will certainly not in our new normal. Child care can not succumb to the pandemic. Families need support and businesses need their workers back. The public response needs to be widespread, urgent and comprehensive to promote quality care. We need to view expanded public child care not as a cost, but as an engine for immediate recovery and growth and an investment with returns into the future. Explore further Foster care and child well-being: Insights in the time of coronavirus This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. SAN DIEGO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) (the "Company"), the first-ever publicly traded cannabis company in the United States that launched the world's first-ever cannabis-derived nutraceutical products, brands and supply chain, announced today that its subsidiary HempMeds has hired Vince DiMella as its U.S. Director of Sales and Marketing. "HempMeds has created a unique brand that pioneered markets and has changed the global dialogue about cannabis and particularly its non-psychoactive CBD forms," said Medical Marijuana Inc. CEO Dr. Stuart Titus. "HempMeds first reported sales in the U.S. during the spring of 2012, launched the CBD medical prescription market in Brazil during April 2014 and was similarly first into Mexico with hemp-based CBD products in February 2016. Having met personally and discussed branding with Vince, I am delighted that he will be leading our team with skill and pedigree to navigate HempMeds' major market arenas." DiMella is a business development and marketing leader with over 20 years of experience in the cannabis, action sports, lifestyle, and creative products industries. He has previously held positions including but not limited to Global Director of Sales for Greater China Sourcing, Director of Sales for The House Of Marley, CEO of Small Axe Corporation, Sales and Marketing Director Powder Distribution in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; National Sales Manager of Airwalk/Genetic Footwear and Regional Sales Director of Duffs Footwear. "I'm a believer that great change happens when we not only step outside of our comfort zone but we abandon it completely," said DiMella. "I'm very excited about my new role with HempMeds because the Company has a solid reputation for pioneering the industry and creating the world's first-ever, high-quality cannabidiol (CBD) products. I believe I can use my experience to build upon that status quo and ensure that HempMeds' mission and story are told across the nation and around the world." In his new role, DiMella will oversee brand and project management as well as creative strategy, strategic marketing objectives and online promotions. He is known for his ability to share his high-level marketing, sales and communication skills to position brands for success, secure licensing and partnership deals, and tell powerful stories through social media, email marketing and public relations campaigns. DiMella holds a bachelor's degree in International Business from Mercyhurst University and was a full scholarship NCAA athlete. Hs is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish. About HempMeds Founded in 2012, HempMeds was the first company to bring hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) oil products to market in the U.S. As a subsidiary of Medical Marijuana, Inc., HempMeds is the exclusive distributor for premium brands including Real Scientific Hemp Oil and Dixie Botanicals, and operates in all 50 states and 40 countries. HempMeds is the only company to have its CBD products listed in the Prescribers' Digital Reference (PDR), the only company invited to speak to the World Health Organization and FDA on the benefits of CBD, and one of the first to be certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority. To learn more, please visit www.hempmedspx.com . About Medical Marijuana, Inc. We are a company of firsts . Medical Marijuana, Inc. ( MJNA ) is a cannabis company with three distinct business units in the non-psychoactive cannabinoid space: a global portfolio of cannabinoid-based nutraceutical brands led by Kannaway and HempMeds ; a pioneer in sourcing the highest-quality legal non-psychoactive cannabis products derived from industrial hemp; and a cannabinoid-based clinical research and botanical drug development sector led by its pharmaceutical investment companies and partners including AXIM Biotechnologies, Inc. and Kannalife, Inc . Medical Marijuana, Inc. was named a top CBD producer by CNBC . Medical Marijuana, Inc. was also the first company to receive historic import permits for CBD products from the governments of Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Paraguay and is a leader in the development of international markets. The company's flagship product Real Scientific Hemp Oil has been used in several successful clinical studies throughout Mexico and Brazil to understand its safety and efficacy. Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s headquarters is in San Diego, California, and additional information is available at OTCMarkets.com or by visiting www.medicalmarijuanainc.com . To see Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s corporate video, click here . Shareholders and consumers are also encouraged to buy CBD oil and other products at Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s shop. FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Medical Marijuana, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) DISCLOSURE These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. LEGAL DISCLOSURE Medical Marijuana, Inc. does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act. CONTACT: Public Relations Contact: Andrew Hard Chief Executive Officer CMW Media P. 858-264-6600 [email protected] www.cmwmedia.com Investor Relations Contact: P. (858) 283-4016 [email protected] SOURCE Medical Marijuana, Inc. Related Links http://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com WASHINGTON - A specialized CIA unit that developed sophisticated hacking tools and cyber weapons didnt do enough to protect its own operations and wasnt prepared to adequately respond when the secrets were stolen, according to an internal report prepared after the worst data loss in the intelligence agencys history. These shortcomings were emblematic of a culture that evolved over years that too often prioritized creativity and collaboration at the expense of security, according to the report, which raises questions about cybersecurity practices inside U.S. intelligence agencies. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, obtained the redacted report from the Justice Department after it was introduced as evidence in a court case this year involving the stolen CIA hacking tools. He released it on Tuesday along with a letter he wrote to new national intelligence director John Ratcliffe, asking him to explain what steps hes taking to protect the nations secrets held by federal intelligence agencies. The October 2017 report, whose findings were first reported by The Washington Post, examined the theft one year earlier of sensitive cyber tools the CIA had developed to hack into the networks of adversaries. The document is dated months after WikiLeaks announced that it had acquired tools created by the CIAs specialized Center for Cyber Intelligence. The anti-secrecy website published comprehensive descriptions of 35 tools, including internal CIA documents associated with them, according to the report. The report describes the spring 2016 theft as the largest data loss in agency history compromising at least 180 gigabytes to as much as 34 terabytes of information, or the equivalent of 11.6 million to 2.2 billion pages in Microsoft Word. The agency did not realize the loss had occurred until the WikiLeaks announcement a year later, the report said. As officials scrambled to pinpoint who was responsible, they ultimately identified as a prime suspect a CIA software engineer who they said had left the agency on stormy terms after falling out with colleagues and supervisors and had acted out of revenge. The former employee, Joshua Schulte, was charged by the Justice Department with stealing the material and transmitting it to WikiLeaks. But a jury deadlocked on those charges and convicted him in March of more minor charges after a trial in Manhattan. The CIA report revealed lax cybersecurity measures by the specialized unit and the niche information technology systems that it relies upon, which is separate from the systems more broadly used by everyday agency employees. The report says that because the stolen data was on a system that lacked user activity monitoring, it was not detected until WikiLeaks announced it in March 2017. Had the data been stolen for the benefit of a state adversary and not published, we might still be unaware of the loss the report says. The report, prepared by the CIAs WikiLeaks Task Force, suggests the CIA should have been better prepared in light of devastating data breaches at other intelligence agencies. The hacking tools compromise occurred about three years after Edward Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency, confiscated classified information about the NSAs surveillance operations, and disclosed it. CIA has moved too slowly to put in place the safeguards that we knew were necessary given successive breaches to other U.S. Government agencies, the report said. Among the problems the report identified: sensitive cyber weapons were not compartmented, passwords were shared and users had indefinite access to historical data. CIA spokesman Timothy Barrett declined to comment on the reports findings, but said the CIA works to incorporate best-in-class technologies to keep ahead of and defend against ever-evolving threats. Sean Roche, a former associate deputy director for digital innovation at the CIA who testified at the Schulte trial, said that although the CIA did have a problem with one of its networks, to say that the people at the CIA dont take security seriously is not accurate. Its completely inaccurate. Speaking Tuesday at a webinar hosted by the Cipher Brief, an online newsletter that focuses on intelligence, Roche likened the task force report to an after-accident report by the National Transportation Safety Board. This broke. This is what happened, Roche said. We need to make sure this doesnt happen again. How is that not a healthy thing for an organization that doesnt have a public eye into what its doing? The disclosure of the hacking tools featured prominently in Schultes trial, with prosecutors portraying him as a disgruntled software engineer who exploited a little-known back-door in a CIA network to copy the hacking arsenal without raising suspicion. These leaks were devastating to national security, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Laroche told jurors. The CIAs cyber tools were gone in an instant. Intelligence gathering operations around the world stopped immediately. Defence attorney Sabrina Shroff argued that investigators could not be sure who took the data because the CIA network in question was the farthest thing from being secure and could be accessed by hundreds of people. Ultimately, Schulte was convicted of contempt of court and making false statements after a four-week trial. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the more significant charges. The Nebraska Democratic Party has asked its 2020 Senate nominee Chris Janicek to drop out of the race after he sent sexually explicit text messages suggesting a staff member needed to get "laid," per the Omaha World-Herald. The state of play: A staffer included in the group text reported the messages to the Nebraska Democratic Party, which has since said it will no longer support Janicek's bid. The Democratic National Committee will also withdraw support. Janicek has apologized but says he will remain in the race. "This is a moment in time where I made a terrible mistake in a text message," Janicek said. Per the Omaha World-Herald, Janicek also apologized to the group he was texting: "I hope everyone understands, including you ... that this is a joke ... I'm going on no sleep and a bunch of exuberant excitement and I think I was out of line now that I read my text back I apologize." The big picture: Janicek, a baker from Omaha, is gearing up to run against incumbent Sen. Ben Sasse (R). Sasse won his Senate race by more than 30 points in 2014 and is heavily favored in November. A team of researchers led by Arizona State University (ASU) School of Earth and Space Exploration professor Lindy Elkins-Tanton has provided the first ever direct evidence that extensive coal burning in Siberia is a cause of the Permo-Triassic Extinction, the Earth's most severe extinction event. The results of their study have been recently published in the journal Geology. For this study, the international team led by Elkins-Tanton focused on the volcaniclastic rocks (rocks created by explosive volcanic eruptions) of the Siberian Traps, a region of volcanic rock in Russia. The massive eruptive event that formed the traps is one of the largest known volcanic events in the last 500 million years. The eruptions continued for roughly two million years and spanned the Permian-Triassic boundary. Today, the area is covered by about three million square miles of basaltic rock. This is ideal ground for researchers seeking an understanding of the Permo-Triassic extinction event, which affected all life on Earth approximately 252 million years ago. During this event, up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species became extinct. Calculations of sea water temperature indicate that at the peak of the extinction, the Earth underwent lethally hot global warming, in which equatorial ocean temperatures exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It took millions of years for ecosystems to be re-established and for species to recover. Among the possible causes of this extinction event, and one of the most long-hypothesized, is that massive burning coal led to catastrophic global warming, which in turn was devastating to life. To search for evidence to support this hypothesis, Elkins-Tanton and her team began looking at the Siberian Traps region, where it was known that the magmas and lavas from volcanic events burned a combination of vegetation and coal. While samples of volcaniclastics in the region were initially difficult to find, the team eventually discovered a scientific paper describing outcrops near the Angara River. "We found towering river cliffs of nothing but volcaniclastics, lining the river for hundreds of miles. It was geologically astounding," says Elkins-Tanton. Over six years, the team repeatedly returned to Siberia for field work. They flew to remote towns and were dropped by helicopter either to float down rivers collecting rocks, or to hike across the forests. They ultimately collected over 1,000 pounds of samples, which were shared with a team of 30 scientists from eight different countries. As the samples were analyzed, the team began seeing strange fragments in the volcaniclastics that seemed like burnt wood, and in some cases, burnt coal. Further field work turned up even more sites with charcoal, coal, and even some sticky organic-rich blobs in the rocks. Elkins-Tanton then collaborated with fellow researcher and co-author Steve Grasby of the Geological Survey of Canada, who had previously found microscopic remains of burnt coal on a Canadian arctic island. Those remains dated to the end-Permian and were thought to have wafted to Canada from Siberia as coal burned in Siberia. Grasby found that the Siberian Traps samples collected by Elkins-Tanton had the same evidence of burnt coal. "Our study shows that Siberian Traps magmas intruded into and incorporated coal and organic material," says Elkins-Tanton. "That gives us direct evidence that the magmas also combusted large quantities of coal and organic matter during eruption." And the changes at the end-Permian extinction bear remarkable parallels to what is happening on Earth today, including burning hydrocarbons and coal, acid rain from sulfur, and even ozone-destroying halocarbons. "Seeing these similarities gives us extra impetus to take action now, and also to further understand how the Earth responds to changes like these in the longer term," says Elkins-Tanton. ### Additional study co-authors include Benjamin Black of City College of New York, Roman Veselovskiy of the Institute of Physics of the Earth (Russia), Omid Haeri Ardakani of the Geological Survey of Canada, and Fariborz Goodarzi of FG & Partners Ltd. Time is ticking closer to the deadline for filing 2019 taxes. Taxes usually must be filed by April 15 every year, but the time was extended for state and federal returns to July 15, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. The extended income tax deadline is just a month away and taxpayers still needing to file a return should prepare today, said David Harris, Illinois Department of Revenue director. With the COVID-19 pandemic still causing many households financial difficulties, we encourage taxpayers expecting refunds to file soon and make full use of any credits and deductions legally available to them. About 81% of those expected to file a state tax return have done so. Those who file after the deadline could face a fine. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree Actor Sushant Singh Rajputs ex-girlfriend, Ankita Lokhande, paid a visit to his family at his Bandra home on Tuesday. Sushant died by suicide on Sunday, at the age of 34. He was in a six-year relationship with Ankita till 2016. Pictures and videos of Ankita, with whom Sushant worked in the television serial Pavitra Rishta, were shared online. They show Ankita, wearing white, outside the Bandra building where Sushant lived on the sixth floor. A previous report quoted Ankitas friend as saying that she was distraught at the death of Sushant. The Times of India quoted Marathi actor Prarthana Behere, who also worked in Pavitra Rishta, as saying, I can tell this about Ankita, she is devastated and crying like hell, but one needs to understand everyone has moved on in their life. News sunne ke baad woh wahin atki paddi hai but she has someone in her life now and she has to respect that relationship also. She wanted to go, but everyone knows she is very emotional and sensitive. She is crying and how. Sushant was cremated at the Vile Parle crematorium on Monday. His funeral was attended by Shraddha Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao, Vivek Oberoi, Abhishek Kapoor among others. Sushants family flew in from Patna to attend his last rites. Prarthana also spoke about online criticism that Ankita has been facing for not attending the funeral, and reports that his last call to Pavitra Rishta co-star Mahesh Shetty went unanswered. She said, Nowadays, you dont know what you will be judged on. People are passing judgement on Mahesh Shetty that it all happened because he did not pick up his phone. They dont even know Mahesh Shetty was the only friend who has stayed in touch with him in all these years. They are blaming him. Also read: Ankita Lokhande devastated by Sushant Singh Rajputs death, says Pavitra Rishta co-star Prarthana Behere If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Azernews By Akbar Mammadov A group of Azerbaijani peacekeepers has been sent to Afghanistan on a rotating basis to operate as part of NATO's "Resolute Support" mission, the Defense Ministry said on June 16. It should be noted that the peacekeeping mission of the Azerbaijani Army in Afghanistan began on November 20, 2002. Earlier, on April 7, Azerbaijan Army officers who participated in the peacekeeping mission under the command of the UN Mission (UNMISS) in South Sudan returned to the country. The international military command highly appreciated the activities of the Azerbaijani servicemen who have participated in the UN Peacekeeping Mission since January 2019. The ministry noted that the new group of servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army that was sent to South Sudan on the basis of rotation are already involved in the mission in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Azerbaijan passed a decision on November 30, 2018, on the deployment of Azerbaijani servicemen in South Sudan as part of the UN peacekeeping mission. Each year, migrant workers send money to 800 million family members. But the pandemic is severely disrupting flows. Remittance flows the funds migrant workers send to their families back home are projected to make their sharpest decline in history thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. And the disruption threatens to push millions of poor families deeper into poverty, the United Nations has warned in the run-up to the International Day of Family Remittances. Every year, some 200 million migrants send funds to 800 million family members back home. Half the funds go to rural communities, where poverty and hunger are rampant and where the money helps families access food, healthcare and education. But this that vital lifeline is forecast to fall by more than $100bn as the coronavirus crisis upends livelihoods around the globe. Remittance flows to low and middle-income countries are estimated to drop by up to 20 percent to $445bn in 2020, from $554bn in 2019, according to April estimates by the World Bank. This loss of income has a ripple effect on poor households around the world, and particularly in rural communities. Remittances account for over 10 percent of the gross domestic product in 30 countries in the world and for more than 5 percent of grosss domestic product for at least 60 low-and-middle-income countries, said Asako Okai, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director of its Crisis Bureau. Without this money, investments and consumption drop, while poverty and inequality become entrenched, she added. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is appealing to world leaders and people everywhere to support migrants during this unprecedented time when millions have lost their livelihoods and the ability to provide life-sustaining funds to their families in home countries. People on the move are facing a socio-economic crisis, Guterres has warned. The situation is especially dire for migrants working in the informal sector, who have little to no access to unemployment benefits or sick leave. The loss in income and employment has far-reaching consequences. The drop in remittances is nearly three-quarters of all official development assistance that is no longer being sent back home to the 800 million people who depend on it, the UN chief said in a statement. Migrants are particularly vulnerable as many of them worked in sectors such as construction, tourism, food, and domestic work all hit hard by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. The hardship of COVID-19 felt by migrants in the form of lost wages and employment often without government safety nets is a large part of this crisis in remittances, Judith Karl, Executive Secretary at the United Nations Capital Development Fund told Al Jazeera. The loss of this crucial financing lifeline is devastating for both the migrant households and receiving countries, Karl said. Indeed, the loss of remittance flows is causing severe hunger, and compromising health and education for tens of millions of families. Early data from countries that rely on remittances is deeply worrying, says the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Senegal, Kenya, El Salvador, Nepal, the Philippines and Eastern Europe are among the countries that have not only experienced a drastic decline in remittance flows but also the return of a wave of jobless migrant workers now straining already burdened services and sectors. In Mali, many families in rural communities cannot buy seeds to plant for the next agricultural season without the remittances sent by their family members working abroad, IFADs Coordinator of the Financing Facility for Remittances Pedro de Vasconcelos wrote in a note. Remittances disruptions are also compromising rural transformations that could expand financial services for the poor and spur new new job creation. Along with other private and public sector initiatives, IFAD is urging the expansion of rural access to digital technology that remittance flows could be used to support. Digitalizing the remittance process could also give rural communities access to savings accounts and credit so they can expand their own economic opportunities, de Vasconcelos added. Click here to read the full article. Think back to 2016. This was the year Halima Aden, a Somali-American woman who was 19 at the time, made headlines for being the first contestant ever to compete in a Miss USA pageant wearing a hijab and burkini. Now, four years later, Aden is making headlines again, this time for designing a line of hijab and turban face mask sets, specifically hijab and turban sets. The line was created in collaboration with Allure and Anywear for the Banding Together Project. As many hijab-wearing women are working at health care facilities, I wanted to make sure they have a comfortable option for wearing a mask while keeping their hair covered. It can also get hot running around at the pace health care employees are right now, so a breathable fabric was a must, Aden says of the sets. Adens collection is comprised of 30 sets, including a hijab set in eight different shades and prints, a bamboo fabric face covering set, a tetra fabric face covering set, an organic turban set in six different shades, and a sequin turban. Prices range from $40 to $52. I really wanted the pieces to give a feeling of tranquility and calm, so I went with soft shades that bring a feeling of peace, Aden says. Every piece is made from organic fabrics, making them machine-washable and reusable. And, with the purchase of each set, Anywear will donate a medical cap with buttons to a health care professional in need. Story continues There are many hijab-wearing women working at health care facilities, Aden says. I wanted to make sure they [and the general public] have comfortable options for wearing a mask while keeping their hair covered. This project is a personal one for Aden, who used to work at St. Cloud hospital in Minnesota before her modeling career took off. As someone who worked cleaning patient rooms even seven months into my modeling career, I have an empathetic heart for the thousands of medical workers who are on the frontline and doing all they can around the country to help with what the foreseeable future holds, Aden wrote on Instagram in March. The Banding Together Project features six other designers, including Nam Vo, an NYC-based makeup artist; Shereene Idriss, an NYC-based dermatologist; Mei Kawajiri, an NYC-based nail artist; Nikki Nelms, a Brooklyn-based hairstylist; Daniel Martin, an NYC-based makeup artist; and Chris McMillan, a Los-Angeles-based hairstylist. Anywhere is a female-founded AI tech company working to reduce the negative environmental impact created by the fashion industry, while also reframing the idea of body image. Like everyone, my livelihood has been turned upside down, Aden says. I just keep reminding myself [of] something that my mom always says: Hard times dont last, but strong people do.' Before you go, check out all of the cloth face masks available online in the gallery below: Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think youll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. New Delhi, June 16 : Myth-making can be very seductive, like a coquettish whisper in your ear, beckoning you to make a tryst with yet another urban legend. Remember that every legend is a myth whispered at a campfire. And this acquires a life form of its own once it finds a way into an echo chamber. There are voices in the head, which squabble, challenge and harangue, but the chrysalis nature of the myth prevails, trumping all else. So, while Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh becomes the big story and the quantum of naked Chinese aggression is viewed as a force majeure, the reality of the past cannot be ignored. The relentless nature of Chinese intrusions is much like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season creeping up on you just when you least expect it to. They are invasive and constantly trespassing, gauging our strength and resolve levels. The India-China relationship is beyond counter-proliferation responses, it is the conventional war which is a more likely scenario. To contextualise what is happening on the ground, the Chinese protested if you please and this was "mentioned" during a meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui, Indian Ambassador in Beijing Vikram Misri said. "There was a meeting at the (Chinese) foreign ministry" during which what happened at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Monday was discussed, Misri said. When asked if China has lodged the protest, Misri said, "Yes, it was mentioned in the meeting," but clarified that he was not summoned. Pot calling the kettle black as China is repeatedly talking of Indian provocation, lies and prevarication taking centre stage. Since there is no defined border but an LAC, it is always easy to push the envelope, but the prism through which the Chinese view this is most often different from the way we view it in New Delhi. The resultant savagery from the Chinese side cannot be condoned. It is an abomination. And this comes immediately after Indian and Chinese soldiers brawling at Pangong lake in Ladakh earlier in May, leading to a bust up which left many in hospital. Transgressions have been reported in at least three spots: the confluence of the Galwan and Shyok rivers; the Hot Springs area; and the northern bank of Pangong lake. Clearly the tension was building up. Rewind On January 11, 1966, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri died in Tashkent, a feisty young Indira Gandhi took charge in a faction-ridden Congress party where the Kamaraj-led Syndicate called the shots. The Syndicate was all-powerful - K. Kamaraj, the former chief minister of Madras; Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, an Andhra leader; S. Nijalingappa, chief minister of Mysore state; and Atulya Ghosh, the president of the Bengal Congress Committee, along with Maharashtra leader S.K. Patil. Against this backdrop comes one of India's finest military victories in a distant place called Nathu La and Cho La. The Chinese, who revel in their military might, have received a bloody nose twice in recent memory - a disaster called Nathu La in 1967 followed years later with the Sino-Vietnam war, where the unceasing waves were taught a lesson in 1979. Nathu La can be described as a largish skirmish, but it resulted in the deaths of 300 to 400 Chinese soldiers. More than 80 Indian soldiers were killed. In many ways, like the 73-day-long Doklam standoff and now Galwan Valley, what began in Nathu La are mirror images. Nathu La also began with pushing, jostling and shoving. As has Galwan Valley, although the pushing and shoving has got out of hand with Chinese troops encircling our men and resorting to serious hand-to-hand combat. Nathu La was a result of the Chinese being irked over the Indian military presence in Sikkim, then a protectorate of India, while Doklam is at the tri-junction of Bhutan, India and China, where India has the heights and the Chinese the valley below. The aggressive mien being displayed by a muscular China has been ceaselessly pushed repeatedly with as many as 326 incursions in 2018, 426 border transgressions in 2017, on the back of 273 in 2016. Many of these have resulted in actual physical contact between the two sides with the Indian Army keeping the PLA at bay. The new Chinese mindset is a result of anger over India's infrastructure buildup across the undefined border running for over 4,057 km from Ladakh to Arunachal. With no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China and there are areas where both sides have differing perceptions about it. In January this year, the Indian Army conducted its biggest airborne exercise called the 'Winged Raider' comprising more than 500 special forces troops in the North-Eastern theatre. The exercise conducted on January 10 had over 500 soldiers of the Special Forces parachuting from C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, besides Dhruv helicopters during the day and night. Previously in October last year, the army carried out Exercise 'Him Vijay' to test its new war-fighting concept of Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) in mountain warfare under the 17 Corps in Arunachal Pradesh. An IBG, which has a varying mix of infantry, tanks, artillery, air defence, signals and logistics, is part of the army's plan to restructure itself to meet emerging challenges. A capacity building strategy, which includes building roads to forward areas, habitats, storage for ammunition and moving advanced weapons systems to the eastern side is what worries an expansionist China. It must be added here that for the first time in years due to lower levels of insurgency, the Army did pull out two battalions amounting to approximately 1,500 troops from the north east earlier this year. But bulking up remains at the core of its north eastern plans viz China. Ground Zero reports say that four infantry mountain divisions (each with over 15,000 combat troops and 8,000 support elements) under the 3 Corps (Dimapur) and 4 Corps (Tezpur), with two more divisions in reserve, are for example tasked for the defence of Arunachal Pradesh alone. The troop density at Tawang, which China claims to be part of south Tibet, is particularly high to thwart any nefarious designs. Then, of course, the new 17 Mountain Strike Corps and associated units, with a total of 90,274 soldiers for "quick-reaction ground offensive capabilities", will be fully raised by 2021-2022. After the 59 Infantry Division of 17 Corps became fully operational at Panagarh (West Bengal), the 72 Infantry Division, to be headquartered in Dehradun, is now taking shape, with its first brigade to be raised at Roorkee. Despite a depleting squadron strength, two full Sukhoi-30 squadrons armed with the Brahmos have been readied at Tezpur. Further, an Akash SAM squadron has been deployed at the airbase. China has three airbases just 350 km from Tezpur. Similarly, more Sukhoi-30s are parked at Chabua, also in Assam. The controversial Rafales, when they arrive, will be stationed at Hasimara airbase in West Bengal to replace the ageing MiG-27s. The second Rafale squadron is expected to be stationed at Sarsawa base in Uttar Pradesh. The IAF has already activated the advance landing ground (ALG) at Tuting, in Arunachal's Upper Siang district. It is the sixth such ALG to be made operational in Arunachal apart from the ones in eastern Ladakh, all with China in their crosshairs. The Panagarh base in West Bengal is also set to get its six C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Panagarh, of course, is also going to be the headquarters of the Army's new 17 Mountain Strike Corps being raised with two high-altitude infantry divisions, apart from other armoured, artillery, air defence and engineer brigades spread from Ladakh to Arunachal. China has to understand that in this constant territorial standoff India has the sovereign right to protect its territory. The border infra buildup is obviously being viewed by China with great trepidation, but India will not succumb to these ruthless pressure tactics by the Chinese. (Writes through) GENEVA, June 16 (Reuters) - Britain said on Tuesday that China's plan to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong would undermine the autonomy in the former British colony and could threaten its rights and freedoms. Britain returned Hong Kong to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of freedoms, such as an independent judiciary and right to protest, for 50 years. "The imposition of the proposed law lies in direct conflict with Chinas international obligations under the Joint Declaration, a treaty agreed by the UK and China and registered with the United Nations," Julian Braithwaite, Britain's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, told the Human Rights Council. He urged China to engage with Hong Kongs people, institutions, and judiciary to "ensure it maintains Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms". There was no immediate reaction by China's delegation to the 47-member state forum, which is holding a session this week. Pang Kwang Hyok, deputy ambassador at North Korea's mission, voiced concern at "certain countries' attempt to use Hong Kong-related issues to interfere in Chinas domestic affairs". Hong Kong was "an inseparable part" where China's sovereignty is exercised and its constitution is applied, he said. Hong Kong's national security legislation would not punish people retroactively, a senior Chinese official said on Monday, touching on a key question raised by local residents, diplomats and foreign investors over the controversial law. Beijing last month moved to directly impose the legislation on Hong Kong in a bid to tackle secession, subversion and foreign interference in the city and financial hub. Hong Kong was rocked by months of sometimes violent anti-China, pro-democracy unrest last year, with protesters angry at what they see as meddling by Communist Party rulers in Beijing in Hong Kong's affairs. China denies interfering and blames Britain and the United States for fomenting trouble. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; editing by Jason Neely and Nick Macfie) First Minister Arlene Foster has today said that 'risks' will have to be examined before any opening date for a Magee Medical School is confirmed. At a Stormont sitting this afternoon questions were put to the First Minister including one from Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan about the Magee project. Arlene Foster said The Executive Office (TEO) has reaffirmed the commitment set out in the New Decade New Approach document to establish a graduate entry medical school in Derry. Its objective now is to progress the project to secure a sustainable outcome on the fastest feasible timetable. This is a complex project involving a number of departments and external agencies, the First Minister said, and TEO is currently working with the departments of health, economy and finance to prepare further advice to the Executive on the issues which need to be addressed to secure that sustainability. On May 7 Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill announced that TEO would assume responsibility for the medical school project and on May 18 that it had been approved. Mark H Durkan asked if a cast iron guarantee could be given that it will be ready to accept admissions in September 2021 and, if so, what specific dates and deadlines must be met. He was told the Executive received an update from the head of the civil service yesterday. The strategic investment board are involved to ensure that any risks are minimised around the delivery of this project, she continued. The First Minister stated: We do not intend to make any announcement about the date of first intake until all the necessary preparation work has been completed and we very much hope that will continue at pace in TEO. Because as I said this is a cross-departmental issue which is why TEO stepped in to try and assist to make sure that things move smoothly. FINANCIAL CHALLENGES UUP leader Steve Aiken said one of the key strategic partners for Magee is Ulster University and UU has been involved in very significant cost over-runs at its Belfast campus. I think there are some investigations ongoing as to whether UU are actually capable of managing projects. Therefore, can I ask the minister what confidence she has that UU are actually a suitable partner for delivering this vital project for Londonderry. Arlene Foster responded: Capacity and finance are clearly issues that will have to be examined as a wider look at risk management in relation to this scheme and thats why the head of the civil service was able to give us an update yesterday. Independent East Derry MLA Claire Sugden said she understands there has been considerable capital monies committed to the Magee project. But she queried whether the department for the economy required additional finances to resource the running and day to day costs or is that something theyll have to find within their own budget. DUP leader Mrs Foster said the financial and governance challenges currently facing UU will be overseen by the strategic investment board. Its important to have that body looking in at what were trying to achieve she said, to give us the confidence that any risks that are identified can be managed and mitigated. Those matters will be taken forward but with oversight from TEO. ECONOMIC DAMAGE The Derry News has also learned of a letter circulated to UU staff this afternoon. Professor Paul Bartholomew, Interim Vice-Chancellor at Ulster University informed colleagues about the financial sustainability of the institution. In the correspondence he cites a different Higher Education funding model in NI and the Coronavirus pandemic as major obstacles. He says the immediate economic damage is now becoming clear and we need to consider the implications for us within the context of our already stretched financial position. In that context, and as you would expect, we continue to closely monitor the financial trends and outlook to build a sustainable financial strategy that must address not only the financial impacts of COVID, but also the pre-existing challenge of a cost base that has grown, whilst income from government block grant and fees from capped student numbers have remained largely flat. He makes it clear that its financial strategy is likely to necessitate staff cuts. Prof Bartholomew said: That sustainable financial strategy has identified a number of options that may, in the near future, be put forward for decision. Representing nearly 60% of our total cost base, those options necessarily include staff cost reduction measures. A full strategic review is also proposed to enable clarity around strategic priorities and associated resource allocation; we understand that across the institution staff are already operating at full stretch and any decision made to achieve sustainability must, in parallel, address issues of workload and prioritisation. He adds: With the full support of SLT and Council, we have been engaging with the Department for the Economy and our own Trade Union colleagues, to ensure there is a full understanding of the position, this has been in advance of considering formally any possible options that offer the best solutions for staff. Beaten, handcuffed, how the day long ordeal for Indian staffers in Pakistan unfolded India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 16: The two Indian staffers of the Indian mission in Islamabad were released after an ordeal that lasted nearly 12 hours. On Monday morning, the staffers were picked up by a group of 15 armed persons. They were then blindfolded and handcuffed before being taken away to an undisclosed location. While being interrogated for 6 hours, they were also beaten with sticks, sources familiar with the developments tell OneIndia. Indian officials in Pak high commission released, visible injuries noticed The ordeal that began at 8.30 on Monday finally ended at 9 pm, with the two staffers being handed over to the Indian High Commission. The release came hours after Pakistan's charge 'd' affairs was summoned in New Delhi, following which a strong protest was registered. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain hospitalised, to take COVID-19 test| Oneindia News While the Pakistan media had initially said that the officials were arrested in a hit and run case, later it was claimed that they were in the possession of fake currency to the tune of Rs 10,000. After the two officials were handed over to the Indian mission in Islamabad, they were subject to a medical test. There has been marked tensions between India and Pakistan of late. Following the expulsion of 2 Pakistan officials from India on charges of espionage, the situation in Islamabad remains tense. With fake currency charge, Pak trying to create persona non grata case against Indian officials The Indian High Commission is finding it hard to resume normal functioning owing to aggressive surveillance of its officials by Pakistan. India, it may be recalled had registered a protest in the form of a note verbale to Pakistan. The behaviour of the officials of Pakistan violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, India had said. It may be recalled that India's Charge d' Affaires, Gaurav Ahluwalia was chased in the Pakistan capital, Islamabad by a motorcycle borne person suspected to be from the ISI. The incident took place on June 4. Reuters Amazon.com Inc said on Monday its founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos is willing to testify to a congressional panel investigating potential violations of US antitrust law by big technology companies. The company confirmed a letter that its attorney sent to members of the House Judiciary Committee saying Amazon had cooperated with the probe. "This includes making Jeff Bezos available to testify at a hearing with the other CEOs this summer," said the letter from Robert Kelner of Covington and Burling LLP. The big four tech platforms Alphabet Inc's Google, Apple Inc, Amazon, and Facebook Inc are under investigation by a House Judiciary Committee panel and the US Justice Department. The Federal Trade Commission is probing Facebook and Amazon and groups of US state attorneys general are looking at Facebook and Google. Kelner said in the letter that Amazon and the committee would need to "resolve a number of questions regarding timing, format, and outstanding document production issues, all necessarily framed by the extraordinary demands of the global pandemic." This would be the first time that Bezos has appeared before Congress, according to a source familiar with the company. In early May, the committee wrote the Amazon.com CEO to demand his testimony in the wake of a report that the online retailer uses data from its third-party sellers to create competing products. Amazon's associate general counsel, Nate Sutton, had denied under oath last July that Amazon used sensitive information from its independent sellers to develop Amazon products. Further, the letter also noted that Amazon had given the committee's antitrust panel more than 225,000 pages of documents and notes that the committee has not given a "binding commitment" that they would be confidential. To demonstrate the potential of artificial intelligence in space, ESA has been working with partners to develop -sat to enhance the FSSCat mission. The hyperspectral camera on one of the two CubeSats that make up the FSSCat mission will collect an enormous number of images of Earth, some of which will not be suitable for use because of cloud cover. To avoid downlinking these less than perfect images back to Earth, the -sat artificial intelligence chip will filter them out so that only usable data are returned. Credit: CERN/M. Brice The first artificial intelligence to be carried onboard a European Earth observation mission will be launched this week from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The pioneering artificial intelligence technology named -sat-1, pronounced PhiSat-1, will be the first experiment to improve the efficiency of sending vast quantities of data back to Earth. Earth-observing satellites are delivering a wealth of data on a daily basis, not only to understand how our planet works, but also for use in a myriad of practical applications to improve our lives. With today's need to understand, monitor and address the current climate crisis, the demand for efficient data is more essential than ever. As part of the drive to foster innovation and new technology, ESA has worked alongside its partners to develop -sat-1Europe's first artificial intelligence Earth observation missionwhich will demonstrate how satellite data, coupled with digital technologies, can bring benefits to business, industry and science. -sat-1 will acquire an enormous number of images that will allow scientists to monitor changes in vegetation and water quality, detect urban heat islands and carry out experiments on the role of evapotranspiration in climate change. -sat-1's hyperspectral camera will image Earth in the visible, near-infrared and thermal-infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. "However, some of the images acquired will not be suitable for use because of cloud cover," explains Massimiliano Pastena, -sat Technology Engineer at ESA. "The -sat-1 artificial intelligence will automatically filter these images out, so that only usable data are returned back to Earth. This will make the process of handling these data more efficient, allowing users access to more timely information." ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Josef Aschbacher, comments "ESA is continuously pushing innovation to the extreme. -sat-1 combines the power of artificial intelligence with innovative Earth observation CubeSat technology. This is an experiment to test new technologies and to lower the cost of space missions. It is a crucial step to open up completely new opportunities in the fast-developing domain of Earth observation that will allow tailored information for customised services. ESA is also keen to gain experience on how this combination of technologies could eventually be used in larger-scale operational spacecraft. The FSSCat mission is based on two CubeSats, each about the size of a shoebox, that use state-of-the-art dual microwave and multispectral optical sensors to measure, for example, soil moisture, ice extent, ice thickness, urban heat islands and to monitor changes in vegetation and water quality. To take FSSCat to the next level, ESA worked with partners to develop -sat-1 artificial intelligence to give FSSCat more spectral capabilities and improve the efficiency of sending vast quantities of data back to Earth. Credit: Tyvak "-sat-1 is an important step forward for Earth observation satellite missions and I am very proud that we at ESA, and our industry partners, are leading the way with this new approach for Earth observation." -sat-1 is an enhancement of the Federated Satellite Systems mission, or FSSCat for short. As the overall 2017 Copernicus Masters winner, FSSCat, was proposed by Spain's Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya and developed by a consortium of European companies and institutes. The FSSCat mission is based on two CubeSats, each about the size of a shoebox, that will collect data to measure, for example, soil moisture, sea-ice extent and sea-ice thickness. FSSCat/-sat-1 will be launched on Friday on a Vega rocket from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana. Follow the live streaming of the launch on ESA WebTV. Liftoff is currently scheduled for 03:51:10 CEST (01:51 UTC, 10:51 on Thursday night French Guiana time). Vega's Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser provides launch opportunities for multiple light satellites with an overall mass ranging from 0.2 kg CubeSats up to 400 kg minisatellites. The SSMS has a lightweight modular design comprising a lower and upper part each with attachments that can be used to accommodate a range of configurations of satellites depending on requirements. Vega is a 30 m-high, four-stage launch vehicle operating out of Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. It is designed to lift between 300 kg and 1.5 tonnes of payload depending on the orbit and altitude. ESA's upcoming Vega-C, a more powerful version of Vega, will offer an extra 700 kg of capacity and enlarged volume within a wider launcher fairing at a similar cost to Vegaallowing even more passengers per individual rideshare launch at significant lower cost per kilogram. Explore further ESAIL maritime satellite ready for launch Protesters around the world are pulling down statues of racist figures from the past in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, reports Haitham Nouri Statues and other monuments have always been powerful symbols expressing peoples sentiments and aspirations and at times their desire for immortality. Some have been crafted to glorify figures from official history or have been of people considered exceptional for the legacies they have left behind. But because of their symbolism, some statues and other monuments have provoked strong reactions. Statues of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs were sometimes disfigured and their temples shut down by their successors, with similar things happening in ancient Mesopotamia, China, Greece and Rome. Today, it is not kings or political leaders who are taking down the statues of their predecessors, as this has been happening at the hands of angry protesters demonstrating against racism and police violence in the US, UK and a number of European countries. Protesters in the UK tore down a statue of Edward Colston, an 18th-century slave trader, in the southern English city of Bristol and threw it into the nearby harbour on the second day of protests against the killing of African-American man George Floyd in Minneapolis in the US. After the fall of Colstons statue, one protester knelt with one knee on its neck, re-enacting the death of Floyd who was killed by a white US policeman who pressed against Floyds neck with his knee for over eight minutes. Colston was a member of the Royal African Company, which was likely responsible for transporting 80,000 enslaved men, women and children from Africa to the Americas in the 18th century. Colston donated much of his wealth to charity when he died in 1721, and there are still buildings bearing his name in Bristol, a city that grew rich from the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. But it was not only Bristol that built its wealth on the back of the slave trade. London mayor Sadiq Khan said the UK capital should also face up to the truth about its history related to slavery. It is an uncomfortable truth that our city owes a large part of its wealth to its role in the slave trade, Khan said, who is of Pakistani origin. Khan said that London landmarks including street names, the names of public buildings and commemorative plaques would be reviewed by a commission to remove those with links to slavery. To avoid a repeat of the Bristol incident, a statue of 18th-century slaveholder Robert Milligan was removed from outside the Museum of London Docklands last week amid cheers from the people in attendance. The museum said that the statue of Milligan, who owned two sugar plantations and more than 500 slaves in Jamaica in the 18th century, had stood uncomfortably outside its premises for a long time. The University of Liverpool also removed the name of 19th-century prime minister William Gladstone from one of its buildings. Gladstone, whose family owned slaves in the Caribbean, opposed the UK law abolishing slavery passed in 1830. Thousands of Oxford University students also demonstrated last week demanding the removal of a statue of the 19th-century British imperialist Cecil Rhodes from an Oxford college. Rhodes facilitated the British occupation of much of southern Africa, and a number of British colonies were named after him, including Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). A statue of Rhodes was taken down a few years ago from the Cape Town University campus in South Africa after thousands of protesters demanded its removal. Last weekend, a demonstration in London demanded the tearing down of a statue of former UK prime minister Winston Churchill, who led his country to victory in World War II, from Parliament Square. However, Khan said he did not consider statues of Churchill necessary to include in the review. UK students needed to be educated about famous figures from the past, he said, warts and all. In the US, protesters pulled down a statue of the 15th-century Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus in Saint Paul in Minnesota. A statue of Columbus in Boston and another in Miami met the same fate. Many Americans celebrate Columbus for discovering the Americas in 1492. However, indigenous activists have often protested against honouring Columbus, saying his voyages led to the colonisation of their land and the eradication of their ancestors. Protesters in the US have also pulled down statues of leaders from the Confederate group of southern states that fought against the union to maintain slavery between 1861 and 1865. A statue of Confederate president Jefferson Davis was pulled down by protesters in Richmond, Virginia, and a statue of Confederate general Robert Lee has been the site of many protests in the city since the death of Floyd. An order by the governor to remove the statue is the subject of a lawsuit. Statues of former Belgian king Leopold II are also being removed in Belgium. Leopold reigned from 1865 to 1909 and established a vicious imperialist system in the former Belgian colony of Congo, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, that killed over 10 million people. On 30 June, the anniversary of Congos independence from Belgium in 1960 will take place with demands for compensation from Belgium. Italian protesters are demanding the removal of a monument to 20th-century Italian journalist Indro Montanelli in Milan, describing him as a racist and a rapist. Montanelli covered the Italian war on Ethiopia in the 1930s when he bought an Eritrean girl aged 12 whom he brought back to Italy calling her a small animal. Spanish protesters are trying to erase the legacy of fascist general Francesco Franco by removing landmarks from Spanish cities erected during Francos rule from 1939 to 1976 after a civil war in which he wiped out his Republican opponents. The current demonstrations worldwide to remove statues of racist figures bring to mind the tearing down of symbols of communism following the fall of the communist regimes in the late 1980s and early 1990s when protesters pulled down statues of Lenin and Stalin in Russia and Eastern Europe. A statue of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was pulled down in Baghdad in 2003, symbolising the beginning of the Anglo-American occupation of the country. In the years that followed, protesters wiped out the legacy of Saddam across Iraq as represented in various murals and statues. Icons of racism are no longer celebrated in Western countries, but is removing their statues and monuments enough to erase these figures from history? According to the national liberation movements in Africa, Asia and Latin America, the removal of statues honouring the colonisers is a symbolic response to injustices that did not end with the termination of the occupations. One example is the bombing by the Egyptian popular resistance of the base of the statue of Ferdinand de Lesseps at the entrance to the Suez Canal when defending the country against the Tripartite Aggression in 1956. Controversy also arose over a monument to the 19th-century khedive Ismail in Tahrir Square after the 1952 Revolution. The Sudanese government removed statues of Charles Gordon, the British military ruler of Sudan during the rule of the Egyptian khedive Mohamed Tawfik who was killed by the Mahdist Revolution of 1886, from Khartoum after the countrys independence. A statue of Horatio Kitchener, commander of the British army that occupied Sudan in 1898, was similarly removed from Khartoum. Similar removals have happened dozens of times since in countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America, even as injustices continue, albeit in new forms. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: London (AFP) - Three former premiers on Tuesday attacked plans to merge Britain's overseas aid agency with the foreign ministry, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists will help Britain cope better with Chinese and Russian threats. In a highly exceptional move, ex-Labour party leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown joined Johnson's Conservative predecessor David Cameron in criticising the plan. Cameron called the decision a "mistake" while opposition leaders and charities also spoke out, voicing concern about the potential politicisation of development funding. Johnson said the Department of International Development (DfID), set up in 1997 to administer British aid, was an "artefact of a benign era" and will be merged with the Foreign Office to form a new "Whitehall super-department". "The Foreign Secretary (Dominic Raab) will be empowered to decide which countries receive or cease to receive British aid," Johnson told lawmakers in parliament. Funding decisions now needed to take into account the latest geopolitical threats, he added. "We give 10 times as much aid to Tanzania as we do to the six countries of the west Balkans who are acutely vulnerable to Russian meddling," Johnson said. The new department - to be called the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - will put "extra throw-weight and megawattage" behind Britain's foreign diplomacy when it is established in early September, he added. - 'Giant cashpoint' - Britain's overseas aid budget -- worth 15 billion (17 billion euros, $19 billion) -- has been a sore point for some right-wing lawmakers and government-supporting newspapers. Johnson told MPs it had for too long been treated like "some giant cashpoint in the sky" and bore no relation to "UK interests or... values that the UK wishes to express, or the priorities, diplomatic, political or commercial, of the Government of the UK". Story continues But Labour party leader Keir Starmer told the House of Commons the merger was intended to "deflect attention" from the country's high coronavirus death toll and grim economic figures as it slowly emerges from lockdown. Ian Blackford, leader of the Scottish National Party in the UK parliament, called the decision "shameful". He accused the government of "blatantly using challenging domestic circumstances to wind down essential aid for the world's poorest". Outside Westminster, reaction was rapid with Danny Sriskandarajah, the head of Oxfam GB, claiming the move would have a catastrophic impact for many. "I think it's a backward step that risks costing millions of lives," he told the BBC. "The UK has been known in the last couple of decades as a world leader on development and that's in part because we've had a specialist department that has had a laser sharp focus on ending extreme poverty." - Former PMs - Britain spends 0.7 percent of its economic output on international aid, more than other members of the G7 group of leading industrialised nations. Johnson insisted that his government was committed to the target, with calls from lawmakers that the budget should be ring-fenced in the new department. DfID has an international reputation in the development sector and is seen as a key soft power asset independent of government. But it was the unusual intervention by three of Johnson's Downing Street predecessors which was arguably the most eye-catching of the responses. As well as Cameron, who made his comments in a tweet, Blair, who was prime minister when his Labour government separated DfID from the Foreign Office 23 years ago, also attacked the decision. In a series of tweets he called it a "wrong and regressive move", adding he was "utterly dismayed by the decision". Blair's successor Brown, now a UN ambassador on global education, said DfID had lifted millions out of poverty. "It's sad the government is abolishing one of the UK's great international assets," he said on social media. - A health official in the US, Cherie Antionette, has said people do not fully recover from coronavirus - Cherie said that officials are not entirely truthful with patients concerning the virus - The American nurse said Covid-19 is the worst crisis she has witnessed in her eight-year career PAY ATTENTION: Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in An American nurse with the Twitter name Cherie Antoinette has said that in her eight years in the medical profession, coronavirus is the worst disease she has come across. She said that whenever they tell patients they have recovered, they do not inform them of the health complications they may battle with in the future as a result of the disease. Cherie hinted that health issues that may happen after could be a lung transplant, massive heart attack, or stroke. The nurse said that another possible issue they do not tell recovered patients is that they may have to depend on oxygen to live the rest of their life. She said that the virus is designed to kill as it a highly intelligent disease that attacks everything it goes for. READ ALSO: Parts of China are blocked off as new cases of COVID-19 rise A collage of Cherie and some medical officials in a theatre. Photo source: Twitter/Cherie Antoinette/Euronews Source: UGC Cherie added that there may be no resources to combat the disease if we dont continue to flatten the curve. See her tweets below: Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh earlier reported that a graduate of the University of Lagos, Abiodun Abraham, made a great input towards the fight against coronavirus in the country. The creative man constructed a disinfectant tunnel that cleans any residue of bacteria and viruses off whoever passes through it. This kind of machine will go a long way in ensuring personal hygiene in public places as life eases back to normal and activities become full-blown. In other news, New Zealand has reported two new cases of Covid-19 bringing a three and a half week run of no new infections to an end. READ ALSO: Ghanas COVID-19 cases now 12,193; death toll 58 Health authorities confirmed that both new patients had recently arrived from the United Kingdom: The ministry can confirm today two new cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand related to the border as a result of recent travel from the UK. Both cases are connected." It was gathered that Covid-19 restrictions in the country had been relaxed to Level 1 after what was believed to be the last patient recovered from the virus. New Zealand's borders are strictly open to returning citizens and their families. The exceptions are for business-related purposes and compassionate ground, with a compulsory two-week quarantine for anyone entering the country. "1 hour is not enough to worship God in Church" - Ghanaians speak out | #Yencomgh Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos. Source: YEN.com.gh Image Tessa Majors, a first-year Barnard College student, was fatally stabbed in a Manhattan park in December. Credit... via Majors family A teenager who admitted taking part in a mugging that preceded the stabbing death of a Barnard College student was sentenced on Monday to up to 18 months in a juvenile detention center, where he will undergo mental health counseling and be able to continue his education. Under the sentence imposed by a Family Court judge, the teenager, a 14-year-old boy whom The New York Times is not naming because he is a minor, must serve at least six months and will be credited for the time he has already spent in juvenile detention since being arrested. The boy pleaded guilty this month to robbery for his role in the deadly attack on the Barnard student, Tessa Majors. He is one of three teenagers to be charged in the murder of Ms. Majors. The other two have been charged as adults with second-degree murder and robbery. The sentence did not satisfy Ms. Majorss family. There are no minor actors in the murder of Tess Majors, the family said in a statement that was read in court. The statement also took issue with language used during the proceedings that Ms. Majorss family said made it sound as if she had not been killed intentionally. Amidst the ambiguity of business cycles to reinstate soon, is amongst the few real estate projects in the region wherein the construction activity has resumed in full swing kick-starting the state's economic cycle. Recently, Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh has announced to provide great relief to the real estate sector by granting the extension of six months in the construction period of the projects. Aimed at providing the much-needed fillip to the sector, the relief measures announced are expected to instill the confidence and positivity back in the sector. The real estate sector has a significant role in driving the country's economy. With the construction activity picking up the pace, it would create a great impact on reviving the economy. As most of the construction workers were staying at the site of since the lockdown was announced. Further to the government's announcements, this has enabled the company to resume the work without any delay. "Even with the limited workforce available, our teams have been working diligently in expediting the work. We are happy to get the work back in full swing in a short period," said Col Arun Kotwal, Advisor, During these trying times, the company stands together with the community they work with. Besides, regular food supplies, and medical needs, the company ensures the timely monthly wages of the workers along with the commitment of work for the coming months. Following the proper sanitization and social distancing norms, a safe and secure environment has been created at the site. The company has also facilitated regular medical check-ups at the site for the well-being of the workers and their families. The Punjab government has issued certain guidelines to carry the construction activity in the state. Adhering the same, the company is maintaining the standard operating procedure as directed by the government and ensuring all precautionary measures are followed. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, says Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is afraid of educated people because he did not go to school. The Governor who recently dumped the APC said this, while speaking with state house correspondents on Tuesday. The governor, left the party after he was disqualified from the 2019 APC primary election also accused Oshiomhole of high-handedness. On whether he would provide a level playing ground for the primary election to hold in the state, Obaseki said: He (Oshiomhole) has not provided a level playing ground even in the selection process, the disqualification process: what is the basis for disqualifying someone like Chris Ogiemwonyi? Advertisement You are afraid of people who are educated because you didnt go to school. You are afraid of people who have something to offer because all he knows how to offer is brigandage, crisis. So for us, Nigeria has to move forward beyond some of the characters who are currently overseeing our political polity and they are scared. They are scared that when people of substance, when people who are proven, when people who have succeeded in other aspects of life come into politics, they will be history. Speaking on the allegation of inconsistency in his certificate, Obaseki he governor, said the national chairman was just looking for an excuse to carry out his wish. He alleged that the APC had given Oshiomhole that sort of authority without checks, adding that such action would put the ruling party in danger. Someone who hasnt gone to school, who doesnt have certificate himself, will not know and understand what inconsistencies in certificates are, thats the starting point, he said. Theres no inconsistency in my certificates. The issue was in 2016, when I contested for gubernatorial election, I could not find the originals of my certificates because I hadnt required them for more than two decades. So I deposed to an affidavit that I couldnt find the originals. Subsequently, I found all the original copies of all my certificates and they are with me. So I dont understand whats inconsistent about that. Read Also: BREAKING: Obaseki Dumps APC Maybe the inconsistency in the Youths Corps certificate where he said my surname was missing an i at the end, but if you look at that it was like a cursive, it was written in a cursive manner. So if thats inconsistency for him, then its really sad that people of that quality are leading the Nigerias ruling party. For him it was just to look for an excuse to take whatever decision he wants to take and its really sad that the party structure today gives him that sort of authority without checks, that is dangerous for any system or any institution. When you give authority and responsibility to people who dont have character, people who do not have finesse, a sense of justice, then that institution is imperiled. The governor expressed confidence that he would win the September 19 governorship election, saying he has the backing of the people. Im sure if youve scanned the environment, youve scanned the media, youve scanned social media, the reaction from people across the world, particularly Edos at home and in the Diaspora, has for me has been unbelievable. Theyve said to me, wherever you go, we go. Anthony Guarisco Jr., 80, who has glaucoma, takes his first drops of prescribed medical marijuana at the Willow Pharmacy, a Louisiana medical marijuana dispensary in Madisonville, La. Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. Guarisco is a former member of the Louisiana State Senate who proposed Louisiana's first medical marijuana bill in 1978. He never thought at the time that he would personally benefit from medical marijuana. Medtronic Self-Expanding Venous Stent Demonstrates Favorable Outcomes in Patients with Venous Outflow Obstruction DUBLIN and LONDON, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), the global leader in medical technology, today announced the first-ever results from the ABRE clinical study assessing the safety and effectiveness of the investigational Abre venous self-expanding stent system in subjects with iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction. The study met the primary safety and effectiveness endpoints, and the data were presented today virtually via the 2020 Charing Cross Symposium. "Deep venous lesions are uniquely challenging and require a stent that is strong, flexible, and durable, while also being able to maintain blood flow," said Stephen Black, M.D., consultant vascular surgeon, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital, London and European principal investigator for the ABRE Study. "It is encouraging that the study was able to meet its primary endpoints and demonstrated strong results with secondary endpoints. This is especially remarkable in this challenging study population with stents extending below the inguinal ligament in nearly half of enrolled subjects." The ABRE Study is a prospective, interventional, single-arm, multi-center, worldwide study, which included 200 subjects with symptomatic iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction from 24 sites throughout the U.S. and Europe. The primary effectiveness endpoint evaluated primary patency at 12 months, and the primary safety endpoint evaluated the incidence of composite Major Adverse Events (MAE) within 30 days following stenting of an obstruction in the iliofemoral venous segment. The study enrolled subjects across the spectrum of deep venous disease, including those with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVL), and those who presented with an acute deep vein thrombosis (aDVT). The study met its primary safety endpoint with a 2.0% (4/200) rate of major adverse events (MAEs) within 30 days.1 The study also met its 12-month primary effectiveness endpoint with an overall primary patency rate of 88.0% (162/184).2 Furthermore, the data demonstrated a freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate of 92.4% (170/184) through 390 days. Notable secondary endpoint results from the ABRE Study include: 100.0% device success achieved during the index procedure 3 No stent fractures and no delayed stent migration observed within 12 months Sustained and statistically significant improvements in quality of life measures4 and venous functional assessment scores5 at 12 months compared to baseline Venous outflow obstruction, or deep venous obstruction, occurs when veins in the deep venous system become compressed and restrict blood flow. This can result in pain and discomfort, while also limiting a patient's mobility, and impairing quality of life. Medtronic estimates that approximately 24 million people worldwide are affected by deep venous obstruction, yet only <1% of this population is actually treated.6 "Our goal with the ABRE study is to generate evidence supporting the performance of the Abre stent in patients with broad indications for iliofemoral venous obstruction. This includes patients with an initial presentation of acute deep vein thrombosis, which is a unique differentiator of this study," said Simona Zannetti, M.D., vice president, Clinical Research, Medical Affairs, and Education, Medtronic Aortic, Peripheral, and Venous. "We are very encouraged by the one-year results and look forward to sharing the data broadly as we seek to expand commercialization globally." In the U.S., Abre is an investigational device and not yet approved for commercial use. Abre received CE (Conformite Europeene) Mark approval in April of 2017 and is intended for use in the iliofemoral veins for treatment of symptomatic venous outflow obstruction. In collaboration with leading clinicians, researchers, and scientists worldwide, Medtronic offers the broadest range of innovative medical technology for the interventional and surgical treatment of cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrhythmias. The company strives to offer products and services that deliver clinical and economic value to healthcare consumers and providers around the world. About Medtronic Medtronic plc ( www.medtronic.com (http://www.medtronic.com/)), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world's largest medical technology, services and solutions companies - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 90,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 150 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take health care Further, Together. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. 1 MAEs included all-cause death occurring post-procedure, clinically significant pulmonary embolism, procedural major bleeding, stent thrombosis, and stent migration. MAEs were adjudicated by a Clinical Events Committee, except stent thrombosis and stent migration, which were assessed by an imaging core laboratory. 2 Primary Patency was defined as meeting all of the following criteria at 12 months post-procedure: Freedom from occlusion or restenosis =50% of the stented segment of the target lesion and freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization. 3 Defined as successful delivery and deployment of the Abre stent in the target lesion with successful removal of the delivery system 4 EQ-5D and VEINES-QOL 5 Villalta Score and Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) 6 Internal Medtronic Analysis: Strategic Plan, 2016 Julia Fuller Public Relations +1-707-210-2069 Ryan Weispfenning Investor Relations +1-763-505-4626 [June 16, 2020] Analysis on Behalf of Advanced Workplace Institute Shows Risks of Covid-19 Home Working Revolution NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Trust, social cohesion and information sharing are the most potentially vulnerable to damage when people work virtually, according to a study of around 750 academic papers conducted on behalf of the Advance Workplace Institute (AWI), a global workplace management body. As organizations rapidly embrace home working in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the study warns that without active management to respond to changes in working, team dynamics are under risk with a knock on effect on both employee happiness and performance. "Covid-19 has accelerated the notion that the workplace is wherever you want to work and not necessarily a physical office," says Andrew Mawson of Advanced Workplace Associates, the consultancy which founded the AWI. "Virtual working is here to stay, and this brings serious challenges for managing the modern workforce." The AWI partnered with the Centre for Evidence Based Management, a global network of top-flight academics, to analyze all the relevant academic research. It studied 35 primary studies and 10 meta-analyses (which themselves drew on 715 original studies) to produce a report, Managing The Virtual Workforce, which is released to AWI members today. The report has six main conclusions: Working apart impacts team dynamics , the frequency and quality of communications, levels of consensus and conflict, and the amount and quality of social interaction. All of these impact the performance of teams and the outcomes they generate. , the frequency and quality of communications, levels of consensus and conflict, and the amount and quality of social interaction. All of these impact the performance of teams and the outcomes they generate. Successful virtual working requires an understanding of the differences that people experience, compared to being co-located. To avoid damage to team and community performance, people need to respond to the differences and find alternative ways t operate. that people experience, compared to being co-located. To avoid damage to team and community performance, people need to respond to the differences and find alternative ways t operate. Effective virtual teams are determined by the strength of their social and cognitive states i.e. the degree to which they are socially cohesive, trust each other, operate within a psychologically safe climate and share skills, experience and knowledge freely. of their social and cognitive states i.e. the degree to which they are socially cohesive, trust each other, operate within a psychologically safe climate and share skills, experience and knowledge freely. While all factors interconnect, trust and communication lie at the foundation of cohesion, supervision, communication, the sharing of skills and knowledge, work relationships and the performance of virtual teams. of cohesion, supervision, communication, the sharing of skills and knowledge, work relationships and the performance of virtual teams. Trust, social cohesion and information sharing seem to be the most potentially vulnerable to damage when people work virtually and must be consciously understood and actively managed they can't be left to chance. when people work virtually and must be consciously understood and actively managed they can't be left to chance. In virtual teams there is potential for everyone to be a leader home based employees respond well to more transformational management styles. This involves creating a strong team structure, empowering and guiding the team, involving them in the development of group goals and supporting them in actively reflecting on decision making and outcomes. "Organizations increasingly need to harness their knowledge resources as opposed to controlling and 'managing' them," added Andrew Mawson. "The role of leadership is about creating the conditions for growth and directing the energy. When we are working in a more virtualized model, old models become more difficult and we need new understandings and practices to deliver success in a virtualized world." Notes to editors: About the Advanced Workplace Institute: Formed in 2009, The Advanced Workplace Institute (AWI) is dedicated to supporting inspirational leaders from all areas of business (including Operations, Corporate Real Estate, Facilities Management, HR and IT) as they journey to a future model of Workplace Management. Workplace Management is the holistic management of all resources needed to design & maintain appropriate, effective and economical workplace experiences that align to strategic business objectives and support people in doing their best work every day, wherever they are. Members include BP, Google's Deep Mind, Willis Towers Watson and Zurich Insurance Group. About Advance Workplace Associates: Founded in 1992, AWA is a multi-disciplined and independent management consultancy that helps organizations make a step change in the performance of their people and workplaces. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/analysis-on-behalf-of-advanced-workplace-institute-shows-risks-of-covid-19-home-working-revolution-301077465.html SOURCE The Advanced Workplace Institute (AWI) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Glen Ellyn, Ill., June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- College of DuPage Psychology student Savannah Santos was recently awarded a $600 Margaret Messer Student Research Grant from the Honors Council of the Illinois Region to support her work researching idiopathic hypersomnia, a disorder Santos has been battling since childhood. After several misdiagnoses and doctors failing to find the right treatment to minimize her symptoms, Santos spent her teenage years on a quest for answers. Its been a struggle most of my life, Santos said. For as long as I can remember, I spend most of my days exhausted even after sleeping 11 to 12 hours a night. Its debilitating. When I was younger, it got in the way of school and activities because I couldnt focus. Doctors were stumped and, at nine years old, I was put on antidepressants and Adderall after being wrongly diagnosed with ADHD and depression. While researching her symptoms, questioning her doctors previous diagnoses, Santos found her way to a sleep specialist at the University of Chicago. She was finally diagnosed with the chronic neurological disorder marked by excessive sleepiness, trouble waking and difficulty doing mental and physical tasks during the day. Santos has always been interested in the biology behind her disorder and, when she came to COD, she pursued psychology classes to learn more about the intricacies of the brain. With the help of COD Associate Professor of Psychology Sarah Butler, Santos started an Honors program independent study to research the physiology of the disorder. I have appreciated the opportunity to mentor her, Butler said. This interdisciplinary project combines her interests in biology, human behavior and neuroscience, and connects these fields with an area that is very personally relevant to her. Savannah is a wonderful student and very passionate about her education. Santos recently presented her research project Idiopathic Hypersomnia and Narcolepsy Type 2: Subjective Experiences of Stimulant Use at CODs Library Student Research Symposium and placed first, winning $1,000 to support her project. Through the award money from COD and the grant money from the Honors Council of the Illinois Region, she plans to delve into the experiences of individuals with diagnoses of Narcolepsy Type 2 and Idiopathic Hypersomnia with a focus on medication effectiveness. At this time, there is no Federal Drug Administration-approved treatment for the disorder; however, it is common practice to use stimulant medications. According to the Hypersomnia Foundation, some people, like Santos, do not achieve adequate control of symptoms and doctors continue to test medications approved for other disorders, as well as novel treatments. I hope with the gathered data I can find similarities and find out if others have had success with out-of-the-box treatments, she said. Doctors have been treating me with various medications but none of them have ever been effective for me. If Ive learned anything with all of this, its that treatment protocol needs to be individualized. Doctors dont know much about my disorder and try to lump it in with more well-known sleep disorders, like narcolepsy. They are two completely different disorders and medication needs to target different parts of the brain. After earning a transfer scholarship through COD, Santos will attend North Central College this fall to pursue neuroscience and biology. North Central has a sleep lab that they just built so Im hoping that I can continue my research and also look at other sleep disorders to see if they are interconnected, she said. Id love to work with neuroscience faculty there to look at possible biological underpinnings. Santos credits COD for allowing her to pursue her passion. Coming to COD was the best decision because when you get to North Central, they want you to start neuroscience classes right away, so taking my general education classes at COD was the smartest path for me, she said. Through CODs scholarship, Im able to further my education and I could not be more grateful. After earning her bachelors degree, Santos plans to pursue her graduate degree at the University of Chicago Medical Sciences Training Program to become a scientific researcher or doctor at the hospital that finally gave her the correct diagnosis. University of Chicago is a special place for me because its where I was finally given answers, she said. Im so grateful COD has prepared me for future endeavors, and I hope to enact real change for fellow sufferers. Attachment The investment, in the world-class factory and adjoining farm, includes a drip irrigation and fertigation infrastructure, greenhouses, seed planting robots, an incubation chambers and a plethora of agricultural machinery. The farm will serve a dual purpose, it will produce industrial tomatoes in the dry season and soya beans in the raining season. The tomato factory will convert fresh tomatoes into tomato concentrate used for producing Gino Tomatoes Paste and Gino Tomato Pepper Onion Paste while the soya bean will be used to process soya-bean oil which is a critical ingredient for GBfoods' Bama and Jago Mayonnaise. The project created over a 1,000 jobs including: 500 farming jobs, 150 factory jobs and 150 construction jobs. GBfoods also engaged many small holder farmers as out-growers. Apart from training the out-growers on good agricultural practices, GBfoods provided them with tomatoes seedlings, agrochemicals and various equipment such as water pumps and hose pipes, enabling the farmers access to water in the dry season. GBfoods also supported the host communities by providing and maintaining 16 boreholes of drinking water, a first for some of the surrounding villages. The factory is fully backwardly integrated to the company's farm and dedicated out-growers. In the coming tomatoes season, the plant will also source most of its raw material from out-growers who will grow the tomatoes on their own farms and from GBfoods' owned and operated farm. The factory is engaging over 5,000 small holder farmers as out-growers, in the coming tomatoes season, to grow fresh tomatoes. The CEO of GBfoods Africa, Mr. Vicenc Bosch, commended the Federal Government for encouraging and supporting GBfoods to engage with CBN, Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure the successful completion of the factory. He also expressed his gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investments, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Kebbi State Government and the Ngaski Local Government Authorities for their tremendous support towards the actualization of the project. Mr. Bosch added our team of extension workers, consultants and agronomists are ensuring that the Nigerian farmers benefit from the technology transfer of our best practices and know-how built through over 40 years of successful tomato operations in Italy and Spain. Speaking during opening of the factory, Mr Vincent Egbe, the Country Manager, GBfoods Nigeria said, "The opening of this processing factory is a great milestone for us. It further demonstrates the company's commitment towards helping Nigeria achieve its food security ambitions, in this case, of self-sufficiency in tomato concentrate production. We will continue to work with the Federal Government towards food security and local production and processing of fresh tomatoes. The company is dedicated to reducing pre and post-harvest losses, and also developing the value chain so as to improve revenue streams for tomato farmers. Over the past three years, in the three states of Kaduna, Katsina and Kebbi, GBfoods has worked with smallholder out-growers to boost their incomes by providing seedlings, fertilizers, training, and irrigation pumps, further to reduce post-harvest losses GBfoods also provided free plastic crates to farmers." "GBfoods is working with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the CBN to make Nigeria not only a shining example in food security, but also to become the food basket of Africa. He especially thanked the Buhari administration, the Kebbi Governor, His Excellency Governor Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele; and the Emir of Yauri, Dr Muhammad Zayyanu Abdullahi for working tirelessly to create an enabling investment environment for GBfoods backwards integration project in tomatoes," comments Mr Vincent Egbe, the Country Manager, GBfoods Nigeria. Additional land is expected in September 2020 to be cleared and prepared for the farming season of October 2021. This expansion will be similarly accompanied by an upgrade in the factory's capacity. With the expansion, new jobs will also be created. GBfoods has a wide range of quality well-established brands in Nigeria such as Gino, Bama and Jago, under which they manufacture a wide range of quality products that make the daily lives of many African families easier. Products under their brands include Gino Tomatoes Mix; Gino Pepper Onion, Gino Thyme; Gino Curry; Gino Chicken and Beef Cubes; Bama Mayonnaise as well as Jago Mayonnaise. GBfoods investments aim to satisfy local culinary habits and preferences whilst offering the healthiest and best ingredients for the Nigerian cuisine. SOURCE GBfoods The Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group has partnered with the Samsung-backed firm Blocko to build a blockchain-based innovative credit enhancement system. The patented Smart Credit Management System minimises the risks associated with credit financing to businesses and consumers through the use of new economic incentive models and advanced implementations of hybrid blockchain technology, said a statement. The Smart Credit Management System will be based on smart contracts on the Aergo blockchain. The system, once completed, will be of great value to Islamic banks and other financial institutions. The system aims to: *Ensure that credit assessments are performed in a provably transparent and responsible manner, whilst keeping the data and methodology used appropriately secure and confidential based on zero-knowledge proofs; *Allow creditors to reduce credit default rate to improve overall business performance and accelerate efforts in areas of financial inclusion; *Integrate siloed functions in the financing process including credit reporting, credit rating, credit history, and credit insurance to reduce costs and improve efficiency; and *Act as an extensible architecture that can allow multiple banks to collaborate on a consortium network to manage credit and insurance in a decentralised, autonomous, and strictly-governed way. "The Islamic finance market is growing rapidly, with projections of a rise from around $2 trillion to an impressive $3.78 trillion by 2022. Yet certain technical and economic challenges have prevented the industry from truly flourishing," said Dr Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IRTI, on the new partnership. "Our new partnership with E24P aims to address this need by providing the infrastructure needed for the Islamic financial industry to deliver critical services to both the developed and developing world." The partnership aims to leverage the E24P blockchain teams' deep expertise in deploying blockchain systems to further the IsDB's mission of enabling greater financial inclusion, alleviating poverty, and accelerating the development of the Islamic financial industry. Commenting on the partnership, Phil Zamani, CEO of E24P, said: "We are honored to be working with IRTI to help them deliver a truly unique solution that has the potential to have a significant impact on the Muslim world. The implementation of blockchain systems in complex processes like credit and insurance has long been sought after by financial institutions around the world. Forward-thinking GCC countries, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have been especially progressive, implementing blockchain projects to accelerate their digital transformation agendas and smart city innovation strategies." Shari'ah law prohibits banks from charging interest on loans to their borrowers. Islamic banks offer financing to individuals and businesses through real economic transactions such as joint ventures, deferred sale, and leasing agreements. In offering credit financing, Islamic banks need a mechanism to discipline debtors to pay on time. A common practice involves charging debtors with late fees which are then donated to charity. However, because Islamic banks are not allowed to incur any profit and in turn any benefit from these late-payment charges, they are not incentivised to collect these fees and distribute them to charitable organisations in a timely manner. At the same time, because debtors see these late fees as an act of charity, their sense of urgency to pay their debt obligations on time might diminish. The new system being developed by IRTI and implemented jointly by IRTI and E24P will solve these problems through a novel incentive mechanism that encourages early repayment and contributes fees to an insurance pool that covers involuntary credit defaults. Such a system is not feasible through conventional arrangements but is facilitated through the use of high-performance blockchain technology. Many blockchain projects fail to move past the initial proof of concept (POC) stage due to a lack of end-to-end systems design know-how that is coupled with practical implementation of blockchain technology in highly complex industrial environments. The E24P team has the advantage of having already deployed over 38 large-scale private and government blockchain solutions, and this execution intelligence is needed to bypass cost, draw out POCs to fast track to business value implementations, the statement added. -- TradeArabia News Service C Shivakumar By Express News Service CHENNAI: The next round of lockdown, set to begin Friday, will see Chennai losing its tag of being the auto hub of India, claim a section of auto makers who have set shop in the city. BC Datta, vice-president of Hyundai says that when plants of Tata, Mahindra, Honda and Maruti have started manufacturing in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan, firms like Hyundai will lose the advantage due to the lockdown here. The momentum gained after the lockdown was partially lifted, would now be lost, he says even while backing the government decision to contain the pandemic. The government has allowed workers staying within the factory premises or nearby to work for all the 12 days, after taking RT-PCR tests, but Datta says this would not benefit his company as most of the 10,000-odd staff there --- working in two shifts --- do not stay nearby. The MSME sector is also worried. K Srikanth, the convenor of CIIs MSME panel in Tamil Nadu says the government has permitted certain industries to continue work, but has not clarified on which of them are being allowed yet. A list of those that will be allowed will be released in the next couple of days. Small industries will be hit hard if they asked to shut and reopen every now and then. The government should be clear about testing of workers, and must do it for free as the units are in distress right now.K V Kanakambaram, president of The Industrial Estate Manufacturers Association says the lockdown is a big blow to small industrial units. The business was picking up but now the 12-day lockdown will hit the business hard, he says. Kanakambaram said the entire steps taken after the industrial estates were allowed to function will go waste. We were slowly picking up and getting orders. Now everything will come to a standstill, he says. But then Kankambaram refuses to blame the state government for the spread of Covid-19. What other measures the state could take. Caught between saving lives and saving livelihoods, the state has chosen to save lives, which is crucial, he says, adding that the things will be normal only after a vaccine is developed. Hannan outlines a new copper-silver zone located 2km from known mineralization at the San Martin project in Peru Posted by Publisher Internet Hannan Metals Limited (?Hannan? or the ?Company?) (TSXV: HAN) (OTCPK: HANNF https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/hannan-metals-ltd/ ) provides observations from a new copper-silver discovery located 2 kilometres south from known mineralization at Hannan?s 100% owned Sacanche mining concessions at the San Martin sediment-hosted copper-silver project in Peru (Figure 1). Highlights: Extensions of a mineralized horizon have been discovered 2 kilometres south of a previously reported channel sample that assayed 3 metres @ 2.5% copper and 22 g/t silver including 0.5 metres @ 4.4% copper and 61 g/t silver at a 1% copper lower cut (Figure 2); Five new outcrops have been found along a 400 metre strike. Mineralization thickness varies between 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Visible green and black copper oxides are seen over 0.8 to 1.0 metres width (Figure 3); The new discoveries are located immediately upstream from a creek where 10 mineralized grab samples from boulders which assayed between 5.0% copper and 36 g/t silver to 0.4% copper to 3.9 g/t silver and averaged 2.7% copper and 16.9 g/t silver; Mapping of outcrops and boulders in creeks now define a zone that shows a level of continuity at multiple points over 2 kilometres; Samples from the new discovery area were submitted to a geochemical laboratory in Lima last week and results are expected shortly; The analogue style for mineralization at San Martin is the Kupferschiefer in Poland where KGHM Polska Miedz?s (?KGHM?) three copper-silver sediment-hosted mines are the 6th largest copper producer and the leading silver producer in the world.? In 2018 KGHM produced 30.3 Mt of ore at a grade of 1.49% copper and 48.6 g/t silver from a mineralized zone that averages 0.4 to 5.5 metres thickness. Michael Hudson, CEO, states: ?Our work in San Martin has demonstrated copper-silver mineralization at multiple stratigraphic positions over the scale of the 110-kilometre-long claim position.? These new discoveries go to the next level of detail, and are starting to define continuity at multiple points within a 2 kilometre trend over potentially economic widths.? The new discovery area is located 2 kilometres south of an area of previously reported channel sampling of outcrops include?3 metres @ 2.5% copper and 22 g/t silver including 0.5 metres @ 4.4% copper and 61 g/t silver at a 1% copper lower cut. At a lower cut-off, the zone assayed 5.0 metres @ 1.7% copper and 14 g/t silver.? A second area 60 metres away assayed?1.5 metres @ 1.0% copper and 52 g/t silver, however only partial sampling was possible and the width of mineralization remains unknown.?Channel samples are considered representative of the in-situ mineralization samples and sample widths quoted approximate the true width of mineralization, while grab (boulder) samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades on the property. On Thursday June 4th, the Government of Peru authorized Phase 2 reactivation. Mineral exploration is included as one of the Phase 2 activities. Hannan has decided to monitor the situation in Peru on a weekly basis and will not restart field activities immediately.? However, we look forward to our technical and social field teams returning to San Martin when it is deemed safe to do so for all stakeholders and staff. The San Martin project is an early stage exploration project. Previous mineral exploration in the area is limited.? RTZ worked in the southern and northern areas for one year in the late 1990?s and conducted reconnaissance sampling and drilled 3 diamond drillholes in the transitional lead-zinc parts of the system in the south (Figure 3). A private Canadian company completed soil sampling and some geophysics during a one year period in the southern project area. These data are not available to Hannan.? Hannan?s in-depth regional geological understanding has been derived from the substantial data gathered during petroleum exploration activities undertaken in the Huallaga Basin since 1989. This data, which recently has been made publicly available, includes >2,000 kilometres of 2D seismic, 618 kilometres of geological traverses, 1,600 gravity stations, 13,000 kilometres of aeromagnetic surveys and >2,000 rock samples for geochemical and petrological studies.? This information has provided Hannan a tremendous amount of data to guide exploration and support geological models. Sedimentary-hosted stratiform copper-silver deposits are among the two most important copper sources in the world, the other being copper porphyries.? They are also a major producer of silver.? According to the World Silver Survey 2020 KGHM Polska Miedz?s (?KGHM?) three copper-silver sediment-hosted mines in Poland are the leading silver producer in the world with 40.2Moz produced in 2019.?This is almost twice the production of the second largest producing mine. The Polish mines are also the sixth largest global copper miner and in 2018, KGHM produced 30.3 Mt of ore at a grade of 1.49% copper and 48.6 g/t silver from a mineralized zone that averages 0.4 to 5.5 metres thickness. About Hannan Metals Limited (TSX.V:HAN) (OTCPK: HANNF)?? ?????? ? Hannan Metals Limited?is a natural resources and exploration company developing sustainable and ethical resources of metal needed to meet the transition to a low carbon economy. Over the last decade, the team behind Hannan has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing and advancing mineral projects in Europe and Peru. Mr. Michael Hudson FAusIMM, Hannan?s Chairman and CEO, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. Forward Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release contains ?forward-looking statements?, and ?forward- looking information? under applicable securities laws. Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements, which include the Company?s expectations regarding future performance based on current results, expected cash costs based on the Company?s current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, which may prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company?s actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projects of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: The Company?s expectations regarding timing to complete field work and outcome of results, the granting of the claim applications in Peru, community relations, liabilities inherent in mine development and production, geological risks, the financial markets generally, and the ability of the Company to raise additional capital to fund future operations. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management?s estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on 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) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news MANILA, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte maintained that the opening of classes will proceed on August 24 using a blended learning curriculum. Under a blended curriculum, students have the option to choose from a modular, distance, or online learning which will need additional equipment and resources for the implementation. To address this, the President plans to send transistor radios to remote areas in the country to aid students especially those who do not have access to the Internet. Baka kung magtagal ito talaga, sayang ang panahon [If this will go on for very long, we will waste time], the President said referring to the coronavirus pandemic. We might buy the radio at 300 maibigay sa lahat ng barangay na maabot ng radio. Para naman iyong mga mahihirap may communication sila sa teacher nila [to be given to all barangays that radio can reach. So that the poor students will be able to have communication with their teachers], he added. However, the President said he still needs to look for money for the procurement of transistor radios. Though he agreed to the opening of classes in August, he stressed that face-to-face sessions will not be allowed until an effective vaccine against the deadly coronavirus disease is discovered. The Department of Education (DepEd) is now coordinating with telecom companies for the free Internet and with local radio stations for the infrastructure. We are negotiating with two telcos na ilibre nila ang paggamit ng kanilang facilities [We are negotiating with two telcos, Mr. President, to allow free use of their facilities], Education Secretary Leonor Briones told the President. As of June 15, DepEd has recorded more than 10 million students who enrolled online with the highest numbers in Regions IV-A, Region III, and IV respectively. MNP (with reports from Rosalie Coz) The post Duterte eyes sending transistor radios to students in remote areas appeared first on UNTV News. (TNS) One of Florida's newest laws lays the groundwork for building a vast network of electric vehicle charging stations along highways, part of a broader effort to improve the appeal of such environmentally cleaner cars and trucks.Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis this week signed the Essential State Infrastructure bill, supported by Republicans and Democrats in Tallahassee. It represents a nod by the DeSantis administration to the threat of climate change from vehicles' carbon dioxide emissions, after Florida's previous Republican governor, Rick Scott, generally avoided acknowledging causes of climate change.Florida has unique reasons to act to deter environmental threats from warming temperatures and foster better convenience for electric cars: The state is surrounded by rising seawater and is nearly 450 miles long from Key West to Georgia's border far longer than the range of the best battery-operated vehicles on the market.The new law requires state officials to send the governor and lawmakers a new plan by July 1 next year to build more charging stations along state highways, with a status report due by Dec. 1. It also envisions a new network of "staging areas" in rural communities along Florida's turnpikes to help drivers of electric vehicles quickly evacuate northward during hurricanes or other emergencies, since recharging electric cars can take an hour or longer."You could have all these stations everywhere, but then people pull off the road, and they're sitting there charging, and you have these massive long lines of cars," warned Matthew Gruber, 37, of Miami, who owns a Tesla Model 3. He said the new law could discourage people from driving electric cars before big hurricanes, when masses of people hit the road.The law also requires the state to estimate the loss of gas tax revenue, which in Florida accounts for roughly one-quarter of state highway funding. Other sources include registration fees, tolls, bonds and other revenue.The law is part of a broader strategy, led by the Florida Office of Energy under Democratic Agriculture Secretary Nikki Fried, to design a roadmap for promoting use of electric vehicles and expanding charging stations statewide. The energy office is one of the primary agencies responsible under the new law.Officials are studying where to build charging stations and how to design better ones, to make electric vehicles more attractive for road trips. It is still unclear whether the stations will be solar-powered or connected to the electrical grid, but officials are studying how the new stations will affect Florida's grid.Steven Fein, 48, who also owns a Tesla Model 3, said he travels from Miami to Orlando as part of his job as a hematologist and oncologist and can make it one way barely without charging. Recognizing that "my car is not a grease pit" appeals to him, he said.The new state roadmap also is studying social equity issues, since the existing charging network largely bypasses minority, low-income and rural communities some of which are more vulnerable to the adverse health effects of poor air quality."There is an imperative that we make certain diverse communities are not left out of this electrification (and) clean energy transition," said Susan Glickman, Florida director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. "It has to be a just transition."The law DeSantis signed said climate change "may" have significant effects on Florida and acknowledged that a "significant portion" of the state's carbon dioxide emissions come from the transportation sector, surpassing even utilities as the biggest air polluter.Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, chairman of the infrastructure committee that introduced the bill, said it was intended "so that there was no impediment and no anxiety to purchasing electric vehicles for long-term trips." Lee, who announced last month that he is retiring from the Senate, said it was inspired by years of inaction on climate change."It seems to be the best, quickest way for us to reduce the carbon footprint of Florida," said Lee, who is married to Florida's secretary of state.Gruber said he bought his Tesla a year ago for environmental reasons. Because he can't charge his vehicle at his condo, he uses the second floor of the parking garage at his Gruber Law office in Coral Gables, where the outlets charge up to 30 cents, rather than Florida Power & Light Co.'s baseline 10-12 cents, per kilowatt-hour.Gruber said his purchase decision was also influenced by Miami's poor charging infrastructure, saying many Level 2 electric chargers the ones found at Whole Foods or other retailers are often broken. Tesla chargers are more reliable and its proprietary "Superchargers" can take a mere 15-30 minutes, he said.There are nearly 70,000 vehicle registrations filed as fully or partially electric with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, but an agency spokeswoman said owners are not required to identify cars as electric so that may not reflect the actual number registered in Florida.Florida boasts the third-highest number of electric vehicles in the nation behind California and Washington, D.C., according to the state energy office, and has just over 4,000 public and private charging outlets already, most of which are found in metropolitan areas. Alsobrooks, who served as the countys lead prosecutor from 2010 until 2018, said the protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in police custody have touched her personally because of her family history: Her family arrived in Prince Georges after her great-grandfather was murdered by a white sheriffs deputy in South Carolina. Her mother, who was 9 years old at the time, was so traumatized that she did not speak for a year, Alsobrooks said. New Delhi: Pakistan found itself at the receiving end of the European Parliament as it lashed the country for its woeful human rights record in Balochistan. Vice President of European Parliament, Ryszard Czarneki has expressed solidarity with Balochi people while claiming that the European Union while threatening Pakistan with economic and political sanctions. I told the European Union during our human rights debate that if our partner countries do not accept human rights and standards, in this situation we should react and seek sanctions like some moves in economic fields, said Czarneki.He further said, Pakistan has two faces. It is the open face to us and the other is the brutal face towards Balochistan, he said, adding that all the 28 members of the EU should react against Pakistans brutal operations and policies towards the Baloch people. Along with condemning Pakistan's double standards, Czarneki also claimed that the Pakistan government is controlled by the military.Baloch activists meanwhile held a silent vigil in Geneva on September 23 in order to honor Balochi martyrs. Baloch Republican Party chief Brahamdagh Bugti criticized the Pakistani establishment and army for brutally torturing and inflicting a genocide on Baloch people. Bugti further urged the international community to take cognizance of the severe human rights exploitations occuring in Balochistan and help the Baloch nationalists to attain an independent land. Author Tarek Fatah who was also part of the vigil, criticized the mainstream media for ignoring the plight of Baloch people. Further, he praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising his voice in support of Balochistan. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 2020 has been a challenging year for stock market investors, with market volatility wiping out recent gains. Fortunately, the dividends on offer from shares like First Community (south Carolina) (NAQ:FCCO) offer a potentially better bet in the hunt for sustainable returns. With so much uncertainty around the reliability of some dividends, it's understandable that investors are searching for the best payouts available. Part of the challenge is that shares on attractively high yields are often turning out to be 'dividend traps' - where the payouts are soon cut. So what should you be looking for in the search for sustainable dividend income? Here's a checklist of measures and a summary of why First Community (south Carolina) scores well against them... GET MORE DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS INTO NAQ:FCCO 1. High (but not excessive) dividend yield Yield is an important dividend metric because it tells you the percentage of how much a company pays out in dividends each year relative to its share price. That makes it easy to compare dividend payouts right across the market. High yields are obviously appealing but be careful of excessively high yields (usually above 10%) because they can be a sign of problems. When the market suspects a company may be unable to sustain its dividend, the share price will fall and actually push the yield higher - and this can be a trap. So it pays to be wary of excessive yields. First Community (south Carolina) has a dividend yield of 3.02%. 2. Dividend growth Another important marker for income investors is a track record of dividend growth - and evidence that the growth will continue. Consistent dividend growth can be a pointer to companies that are carefully managing their payout policies - and rewarding their shareholders over time. Rather than aggressively dishing out earnings, dividend growth companies tend to have more modest yields, but are better at sustaining their payouts. First Community (south Carolina) has increased its dividend payout 7 times over the past 10 years - and the dividend per share is forecast to grow by 9.09% in the coming year. Story continues 3. Dividend safety Attractively high yields obviously turn heads - but its important to know that a dividend is affordable. Dividend Cover (similar to the payout ratio) is a go-to measure of a company's net income over the dividend paid to shareholders. Its calculated as earnings per share divided by the dividend per share and helps to indicate how sustainable a dividend is. Dividend cover of less than 1x suggests that the company cant fund the payout from its current year earnings - and might be relying on other sources of funds to pay it. First Community (south Carolina) has dividend cover of 2.72. Next steps With these three important rules, you can track down shares that offer a reasonable yield, with a record of growth and safety. On this basis, First Community (south Carolina) could be worth a closer look. To find out more you might want to take a look at the First Community (south Carolina) StockReport from the award-winning research platform, Stockopedia. StockReports contain a goldmine of information in a single page and can help to inform your investment decisions. To find more stocks like First Community (south Carolina), you'll need to equip yourself with professional-grade data and screening tools. This kind of information has traditionally been closely guarded by professional fund managers. But our team of financial analysts have carefully constructed this screen - Stockopedias Dividend Stock Ideas - which gives you everything you need. So why not come and take a look? Plus, if youd like to discover more about dividend investing, you can read our free ebook: How to Make Money in Dividend Stocks. B eijing has gone into "wartime mode" and will close all schools tomorrow as fear grows about a second coronavirus wave. The Chinese capital has already banned high-risk people from leaving the area and announced measures to curb the use of public transport. All on-campus classes for all primary, middle, high school students will close in a bid to stop the spread of the virus, state news outlet The Global Times reported. The new outbreak has been traced back to the sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food centre where thousands of tonnes of vegetables, fruit and meat change hands each day. It comes as authorities battle the worst coronavirus flare-up since February which has seen 27 new Covid-19 cases take the capitals current outbreak to 106 since Thursday. Beijing is taking on the strain at a district level, with neighbourhoods instituting 24-hour security checkpoints, closing schools and banning wedding banquets. Some parts of Beijing, including the citys old-style hutong neighbourhoods, were fenced up with some imposing single entry points. People line up for a nucleic acid test for Covid-19 / Getty Images My neighbourhood has four or five entry ways, and when the controls came, only the southern entrance was open, and we now need to show our entry cards and have our temperatures taken, said a man surnamed Zhao who lives in the northeast of Beijing. Its a big neighbourhood with lots of office workers, so it is extremely inconvenient for a lot of people. However, in Huaxiang, the only high-risk neighbourhood, some residents demanded officials impose more stringent contact tracing protocols. Officials were relying on people to identify themselves as having visited Xinfadi, 9 km away, residents said. How can you hope for people to be honest enough to voluntarily report their links with Xinfadi? said a male Huaxiang resident surnamed Yuan. Since were in a wartime mode, the local authorities should test everyone. Beijing has designated 27 neighbourhoods as medium-risk areas, requiring them to subject people entering to temperature checks and registration. So-called high-risk groups in Beijing, including people who are close contacts of confirmed cases, are not allowed to leave the city, state media reported, citing municipal officials. All outbound taxi and car-hailing services have been suspended and some long-distance bus routes between Beijing and nearby Hebei and Shandong provinces were halted. At least three shuttle bus services to Beijings Capital Airport, a major regional transit hub, were suspended. However, highways out of the capital remained open. Concerned about contagion risks, many provinces have imposed quarantine requirements on visitors from Beijing. In the last three days, Hebei, Liaoning and Sichuan have reported new cases linked to the Beijing wholesale centre. On Tuesday, Shanghai started to require travellers from medium-to-high risk COVID-19 areas in China to be quarantined for 14 days. Im so worried for Shanghai - just look at the new cases in Beijing, said Wang Jiahe, 22, a university student. There is so much daily air and road traffic (between the cities). US airlines are also poised to resumes flights to the city. Syrian refugees Mustafa and Sherin stand with two of their children, Nadia, 12, and Muhammad, 10, outside their home in Amman during the COVID-19 lockdown. They fled Damascus in 2013. UNHCR/Mohammad Hawari The economic downturn prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees in the Middle East into an ever more desperate situation and has increased their humanitarian needs, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has warned today. The number of vulnerable refugees who lack the basic resources to survive in exile has dramatically surged as a result of the public health emergency. The refugee hosting communities in countries in Syrias neighbourhood experience similar hardships. Many refugees have lost what were already meager incomes, forcing them to cut down on the most basic needs, including food and medication. Refugee households are taking on additional debt and are not able to pay their rent anymore., Serious protection risks are growing, including risks of child labour, gender-based violence, early marriage and other forms of exploitation. Since the start of the pandemic, UNHCR has provided emergency cash support to nearly 200,000 additional refugees in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey who previously did not receive financial aid, along with other efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. The five countries alone host more than 5.5 million Syrians, the biggest refugee group in the world. The agency is attempting to support at least 100,000 more refugees with one-off payments. However, many refugees still do not know how they will cope. In Jordan for example, only 17,000 out of 49,000 newly identified vulnerable families received emergency cash support, as UNHCR is lacking the funds to extend its programmes. We are working with partners who support the local communities hosting refugees. Nine out of ten Syrian refugees in the region live in towns or villages and not in camps. The majority lives in low income areas. Host communities have shown great solidarity, but they have also suffered loss of livelihoods as a result the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the immediate emergency, continued support to national systems is a priority. Crucial steps have been taken to ensure that refugees are included in countries national public health responses to COVID-19, in addition to the long-standing access for refugees to other services such as education. Even prior to the pandemic, the majority of Syrian refugees in the region have been living below the poverty line. Those most in need have been receiving cash or other types of support. A recent survey in Jordan showed that only 35 percent of refugees said they had a secure job to return to after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. To improve protection of the most vulnerable refugees and host community members through better ensuring their livelihoods, UNHCR appeals for strong and unwavering international support to the main host countries in the region. The Syria Refugee Response and Resilience Plan in 2020 is currently updating its requirements in light of the additional needs related to COVID-19. The US$5.5 billion plan was only 20 per cent funded across the region before the onset of the virus. UNHCR is equally concerned about the humanitarian situation of returnees, more than 6 million internally displaced Syrians and other vulnerable groups inside Syria. Prior to the latest downturn, according to UN estimates over 80 per cent of Syrians lived below the poverty line. More than nine years of this crisis have left 11 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The situation has become more dramatic and difficult over the past months as the economy has sharply deteriorated. For more information on this topic, please contact: Chile has said on June 15 that it would extend the state of catastrophe for another 90 days as the cases of coronavirus infections are surging in the South American nation. The plan was already in place since mid-March to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic but recently the cases have drastically increased in Mya and June with over 5,000 daily infections in the past few weeks. The state of catastrophe has been extended by the decree of Chiles President Sebastian Pinera for protection of people. Chilean Minister of National Defense of Flag of Chile Lawyer Alberto Espina Otero has said that police will continue to control health regulations but in a bid to make nations response more effective to the unprecedented outbreak of deadly coronavirus, the citizens must comply with social distancing guidelines, curfew among other measures. Moreover, Chiles Minister of the Interior and Public Security Gonzalo Bluemel said on Twitter that in the upcoming week the government will approve legislation that would make penalties for health crimes more stringent. However, Bluemel noted that no term, measure or sanction substitutes the fulfilment of the duties. Read - Chile Reports Reduction In New COVID Numbers Read - El Negro Matapacos: Black Chilean Dog Who Became Symbol Of Resistance During 2011 Protests Spike in COVID-19 cases in Chile According to international reports, the significant spike in COVID-19 cases has paralysed the countrys health systems and authorities had even imposed a full lockdown on its capital Santiago. While the global infections of coronavirus have crossed over eight million, Chile has recorded 179,436 cases of coronavirus cases with 3,362 deaths. Now with state of catastrophe extended on the nation, it has renewed the power of government to exercises extraordinary powers to restrict the movement but ensure the supply of food and basic services. The Quarantine measures will also be routinely enforced by soldiers in Santiago. Recently the World Health Organisation (WHO) has also noted that South America could be the new epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. Chilean President has also urged people to maintain social distance and said "Let us not allow physical distance to become social distance. Especially with older adults." Read - Hundreds Of Migrants In Chile Wait To Return Home Read - Chile Opens Sanitary Residency To Isolate COVID 19 Patientes Image Source: AP A 45-year-old New Jersey man was still missing Monday after a boat he was on with two others sank this weekend in the Delaware River, officials said. Two New Castle, Delaware residents were rescued after the boat sank Sunday at 4:15 p.m. just north of where the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal goes into the Delaware River, a spokesperson Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) told NJ Advance Media. No other information about the missing New Jersey resident was released, including his name or hometown. The boat was still not recovered from the river as of Tuesday afternoon and details about the boats point of origin were not immediately available. It was also unclear exactly what caused the boat to sink The DNREC, Delaware State Police, local fire departments, and the USCG all assisted in rescue of the two Delaware residents. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Tata Motors share price fell more than 5 percent on June 16 a day after the company reported losses in the quarter ended March 2020. The company on June 15 posted a consolidated loss of Rs 9,894.25 crore for the quarter ended March 2020. The consolidated profit for the March quarter FY19 was at Rs 1,117.5 crore and Rs 1,738.3 crore in Q3 FY20. Consolidated revenue from operations for the quarter stood at Rs 62,492.96 crore, registering a 27.7 percent year-on-year decline, as standalone business fell 48 percent to Rs 9,733 crore and JLR's revenue declined 24 percent to 5,426 million pounds during the quarter YoY. Also Read - Tata Motors posts Q4 net loss at Rs 9,894.25 crore, JLR loss at 501 million pound Emkay | Rating: Hold | Target: Raised to Rs 92 from Rs 78 The broking house has reduced consolidated EBITDA estimate for FY21 by 33 percent to Rs 17,100 crore while retaining FY22 consolidated EBITDA forecast at Rs 37,900 crore due to high fixed costs & weak net debt/EBITDA situation, reported CNBC-TV18. CLSA | Rating: Underperform | Target: Raised to Rs 103 from Rs 85 The lower capex should stabilise the companys debt, while still needed stake sale/equity infusion, the brokerage said. The Q4 results were significantly below our and consensus expectations as the JLR & India business showed higher-than-expected margin pressure, said CLSA. JLR managed to a positive FCF in Q4 while India was negative. CLSA increased FY21/22 consolidated EBITDA forecasts by 6-10% and valued JLR at Rs 98 per share & India business at Rs 5 per share. The overall leverage should continue to be elevated. The upside risk is better-than-expected recovery at JLR, while downside risk is higher losses in India PV, it added. Motilal Oswal | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 122 Broking house lowered its FY21/FY22 EBITDA by 18%/0% to factor near-term volume weakness, Fx movement, and the impact of COVID-19 on cost structures in both JLR and the India business. As a result, both FY21/FY22 would witness PAT loss. Tata Motors share ended at Rs 94.75, down Rs 5.70, or 5.67 percent.on the BSE. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment On May 3, 1963, in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, black children from across the city flooded downtown streets in peaceful protest against the inequity of Jim Crow laws. The mayor, the attorney general, the governor, and officers from various law enforcement agencies tried in vain to stop children from skipping school and protesting with their parents. Regrettably, because of the actions of public officials, May 3 is forever marked in Birminghams history not by peaceful protest but instead by the violent enforcement of laws that stand in direct opposition to the worth of human life declared by the God of the universe. The Birmingham Public Safety Commissioner, Bull Connor, ordered law enforcement under his authority to push back protesters, including children, with fire hoses and trained police dogs. This violence against image bearers of God, including children, was an affront to the biblical values Alabama and Birmingham claimed in the buckle of the Bible belt. On May 25, 2020, almost 57 years removed from Bull Conners attack dogs and fire hoses, George Floyd suffocated to death underneath the weight of a police officers knee to his throat for over eight minutes. As George gasped for breath, he cried out to his deceased mother. He kept repeating the now infamous words, I cant breathe. These two events are separated by almost six decades and two generations, but they show that the incipient sin of racism continues to live in the hearts and minds of many of the American people. How can a nation continually fail to learn and grow from her past sins? Because she failed to teach her children to act any differently. While the racist events over the past four months including the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have grieved many in our nation, we cannot fail to realize that our children are watching. Our children are watching and listening to our reaction. They are learning how to respond, and we must be aware that the future of our nation hinges upon how we steward these teachable moments with our children. The Lord commands parents in Deuteronomy 6:5-9, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. As we talk to our children about what we see happening in the U.S., we cannot disconnect those issues from our hopelessness without the gospel. Life is devalued when an innocent man is murdered and harassed by a dishonorable officer. In this act, we see a display of something the gospel is powerful to transform: sinful man warring against the Imago Dei the image of God placed upon all creation. If my response to my children about racial atrocities is divorced from pointing them to the reality that all men are created equal precisely because all men are created in the image of an infinite Holy God, then I am withholding the only true hope for racial healing in this country and for the world. I love, respect, admire, fight for, defend, and celebrate black lives because I have a Lord who formed and fashioned black lives with excellence, who died for black lives, and who desires for all black lives to be reconciled to Him by the gospel. When we fail to apply Gods Word and His truth to the issues we see in our city, region, nation and world, we are putting the band-aids of human invention on matters of the heart which can only be correctly addressed through the appropriate lens of Biblical justice and the gospel of Christ Jesus. The ministry I have the privilege of serving has been bringing together multi-ethnic and multi-racial families for almost 40 years through adoption and foster care. Times like these bring complexity, especially to multi-racial families. However, times like these also show the beautiful messiness of family which isnt defined by skin tone, but rather by unconditional love. And we cant fail to see that these families ultimately show a glimpse of our true family, one made up of every tribe, every tongue and every nation. Practically, there are many ways that we can both begin and continue this dialogue with our children (foster, adopted, and biological) to train them toward the ultimate goal of embracing biblical justice and rejecting racial injustice. It all starts with exposing them in age-appropriate ways to the injustice we see in our community and around the world. While we cannot predict how our children will react, as parents we are culpable for our silence and apathy if we do not teach our children by removing them from our comfort zones. We need to model for our children that we are not afraid to speak out against racial injustice with a clarion call grounded in the gospel and the Word of God. As we speak out, we must also empower our children to speak up about racial blind spots that they see in our families and in our lives as parents. Two of the most important virtues we can teach our children during times like these are biblical humility and accountability. I tell my children often that accountability is the friend of integrity and humility covers them both. We must seek to be like Jesus who did not count His equality with God as something to be grasped but emptied himself. Our kids will never be the change if they dont see change modeled with grace, love and humility from their parents. We must teach our children that, the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7b) May we focus the mission of our homes towards the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that there will be a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. As white brothers and sisters, we also need to broaden the experience of our children intentionally to expose all of our children to successful black men and women, black pastors and authors, and black Christian artists. We cannot continue to perpetuate the lie that skin color denotes success, leadership, or virtue. The overarching theme of this lesson is that all skin shades are made by God to thrive and that all humanity has an equal need which only the gospel of Jesus Christ can ever fill. Lastly (and especially for those white parents with black children living in their home), be intentional about being uncomfortable as you help your child embrace a culture that does not mirror that in which you were raised. Give your kids any black cultural experience that you can including the barbershop, church, and music because those experiences are not just for your child. They are also for you. You want to be able to understand the world your child will experience. Dont raise them in the silo of your comfort zone. Instead, learn together about their heritage. Unfortunately, in a world with injustice which many times infiltrates the criminal justice system, as white parents, we must teach our black children how to carry themselves as we work for change. These things should not be, but they are, and we must prepare for today while pushing for tomorrow. They have to look with their eyes and not their hands so they will not be wrongly accused. We must have intentional conversations about what to do when stopped by the police. Loving means learning about the realities your child will face even when they are foreign to you. Ultimately for us all, we cannot begin to teach any of our children about racial injustice if their world and community is a cookie-cutter resemblance of their parents. We need to expose ourselves to the black community and to make legitimate friends. We must engage in a diverse community, and we must consume Biblical teaching from diverse pastors. Beloved, if diversity makes us uncomfortable, then we are failing to realize that the Kingdom of God is a kaleidoscope of diversity as our God is adopting a multi-racial, multi-ethnic family from every tribe, tongue and race. The box has a door outside the fire station and inside as well. When the outside door is opened, said Jon Daly, the assistant fire chief, that sends an alert to an alarm company, which contacts Porter Countys 911 dispatch. Once a light beam inside the box is broken for a minute, a second alert is routed to 911 dispatch and a tone goes out to the citys fire department, in case those at the station are on a call, and brings an ambulance and a Valparaiso Police Department officer to the station. Douglas Cervi , the new executive director of the New Jersey Holocaust Commission on Education, (right) and David Wisnia, a Holocaust survivor, are pictured at a World War II museum in New Orleans where Wisnia was the keynote speaker at a conference. Read more Longtime South Jersey educator Douglas Cervi was teaching a lesson on the Holocaust when a student threw him a curveball: Did the World War II genocide of millions of Jews really happen? Cervi was surprised to learn that several students in his social studies class at Oakcrest High in Mays Landing, Atlantic County, had that same, misinformed belief. I said, Seriously? recalled Cervi. It was a defining moment for Cervi during a career spanning more than four decades as a social studies teacher. He later took part in a four-week Holocaust training course and visited a Nazi concentration camp. He also is an adjunct professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Stockton University. He retired from the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District in 2014. We still have people who say that this didnt happen, said Cervi, 69, of Mays Landing. Now, Cervi hopes to increase awareness and expand how the Holocaust is taught in the states public schools as executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education. He is the third person and the first non-Jewish person to hold the position. When asked what synagogue he belongs to, Cervi said he often responds, with a smile, St. Nicholas Catholic Church. He follows the advice he gives to students, to try to make the world better. There is only one race of human beings, Cervi said. READ MORE: Holocaust survivor Anneliese Nossbaum returned to Auschwitz for a final reckoning. It was the last journey of her life. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are among a dozen states requiring Holocaust and genocide education in public schools as well as discussions about bias, prejudice, bigotry, and bullying. New Jersey also requires schools to teach black history. Cervi was appointed last month by outgoing state Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet. He replaced Larry Glaser, a longtime volunteer with the commission who became executive director in 2016. Glaser, of Moorestown, retired in May. Commission member Maud Dahme, a Holocaust survivor who served on the nominating committee that selected Cervi, said she believes he will take the group in a new direction and ensure that schools teach about the Holocaust properly. We have to add new things, said Dahme, 84, of Flemington, who came to the United States in 1950 at age 14. One day theres nobody going to be around who actually was there. READ MORE: Cheltenham teacher is inspired by great-grandmothers work rescuing Jews during Holocaust Cervi often invites Holocaust survivors and death camp liberators to speak to his students to share their stories. He worries about a day when students are unable to hear first-person accounts. It is estimated that there are 400,000 Holocaust survivors still alive worldwide. More than six million Jews were murdered by the Nazi regime, which believed that Germans were a superior race. Fifty years from now, whos going to teach this? Cervi said. His students have been captivated by war stories from David Wisnia, 93, of Levittown, who survived by singing to entertain his captors. Wisnias entire family was murdered at Auschwitz, the deadliest of the Nazi camps, where 1.1 million people were killed, 960,000 of them Jews. There are few people left who know the details, Wisnia told the New York Times last year. It is unclear how many of the states 600 districts have fully incorporated Holocaust and genocide instruction into lesson plans as required under a 1994 law. Repollet has said districts that fail to comply can lose points in their state evaluation. Over the next year, Cervi plans to try to determine how districts are teaching the Holocaust and provide more resources on the commissions website to help teachers develop and share lesson plans. The commission also hopes to resume its annual trip for educators to Holocaust sites in Europe next year. The trip was canceled this year because of the pandemic. READ MORE: Anneliese Nossbaum lost the people she first loved to the Holocaust. 75 years after Auschwitz was liberated, she returned with her family for one last ritual. A 2002 state law requires public schools to infuse African American history into K-12 social studies lessons. Starting in September, New Jersey schools must also include instruction about the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Holocaust education has become more popular among some high school students, said Steve Marcus, coordinator of Stocktons Holocaust and Genocide Dual Credit Consortium. About 500 students from 30 South Jersey schools and Abington High School in Montgomery County are taking dual-credit courses from Stockton, he said. This is a topic of phenomenal interest to kids, Marcus said. Cervi said the recent protests of the deaths of George Floyd and many others inspire him to advocate for teaching about the Holocaust to fight against injustices. I will fight this until I die. I just feel like I have an obligation, he said. Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: A cheap, widely available steroid reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 16/6/2020 (584 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this Sunday, June 14, 2020 file photo, medical workers attend to a COVID-19 patient in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen. Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve survival from COVID-19. The drug is a cheap, widely available steroid called dexamethasone. Results released Tuesday, June 16 show it reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File) Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: A cheap, widely available steroid reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients. The results were announced Tuesday and the British government immediately authorized the drug's use across the United Kingdom for coronavirus patients like those who did well in the study. Researchers said they would publish results soon in a medical journal, and several independent experts said it's important to see details to know how much of a difference the drug, dexamethasone, might make and for whom. But "bottom line is, good news," said the United States top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci. "This is a significant improvement in the available therapeutic options that we have." The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 438,000 people worldwide since it began late last year in China. The study, led by the University of Oxford, was a large, strict test that randomly assigned 2,104 patients to get the drug and compared them with 4,321 patients getting only usual care. The drug was given either orally or through an IV for 10 days. After four weeks, it had reduced deaths by 35% in patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20% in those only needing supplemental oxygen. It did not appear to help less ill patients. Researchers estimated that the drug would prevent one death for every eight patients treated while on breathing machines and one for every 25 patients on extra oxygen alone. "Those are big effects," said one study leader, Dr. Martin Landray at Oxford. "Its not a cure, but its certainly a long way forward." It's especially good news that the drug "is remarkably cheap, perhaps $20 or $30 for an entire course of treatment," he added. Steroid drugs reduce inflammation, which sometimes develops in COVID-19 patients as the immune system overreacts to fight the infection. This overreaction damages the lungs and can prove fatal. The World Health Organization and others advise against using steroids earlier in the course of illness because they can impede clearing the virus. Packages of Dexamethasone are displayed in a pharmacy, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in Omaha, Neb. Researchers in England said Tuesday they have the first evidence that the drug can improve COVID-19 survival. The cheap, widely available steroid called dexamethasone reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) "Early on, youre fighting the virus and you want your immune system to be as intact as possible," Fauci explained. But in the advanced stage of COVID-19, the battle against the virus causes so much inflammation that it "is hurting you more than helping you," he said. The results seen in the Oxford study make "perfect sense" with that notion, he said. Many hospitals and doctors have been trying steroids to quell the immune system, but there's been no evidence from high-quality studies that it helps for COVID-19. Although the Oxford researchers talked only about dexamethasone, the detailed plans for the study say that participating hospitals could use two other steroids prednisolone or hydrocortisone and there's no reason to think any particular one works better than another, said Dr. Francisco Marty, an infectious disease specialist at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. "I assume the majority of people used dexamethasone, but its not the only one that people could have used," he said. "It will be great to see the data to see if theres a class effect." Steroids are known to help fight certain fungal and bacterial infections such as meningitis, and a type of pneumonia common in HIV patients, but they have not proved useful against flu or some other viral diseases, he said. The Oxford results would persuade him to try them for COVID-19 patients needing extra oxygen, he said. Until now, the only drug shown to help fight COVID-19 is remdesivir, an experimental drug from Gilead Sciences that blocks an enzyme the virus uses to copy its genetic material. Remdesivir shortened the time to recovery for severely ill hospitalized patients to 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care, in a study led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. "We dont know yet" if remdesivir could be used with dexamethasone or before or after it to give more benefit, Fauci said. Even though dexamethasone only helps in severe cases, "countless lives will be saved globally," said Nick Cammack, a virus expert at the Wellcome Trust, a British charity that supports research. "This is the dream," because the drug has been used for decades for other conditions, said Cammack, who had no role in the study. "Its very straightforward to make so theres no reason this cant be rolled out for the entire world." No information was given on side effects, but researchers said they used a low dose and for a short time, which is generally safe. "Short-term low dose shouldnt be a problem, but steroids do have a lot of side effects" including weight gain, high blood pressure, water retention, mood changes, sleep problems and rise in blood sugar for people with diabetes, Marty said. Dr. Peter Bach, a health policy expert at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, noted that in the study 41% of those on breathing machines and 25% on oxygen alone died. "The mortality rate seems to be way higher than it is in the U.S.," where one recent study found a death rate of 12%, although that was only after two weeks versus four in the UK study, he said. "We are going to struggle to look at these data and use them for U.S. patients," he said. But he added that "its good news for science that the right studies got done," and that the drug works and is so affordable and available. The Oxford study is the same one that earlier this month showed the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was not working against the coronavirus. The study enrolled more than 11,000 patients in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who were given either standard care or that plus one of several treatments: dexamethasone; hydroxychloroquine; the HIV combo drug lopinavir-ritonavir; the antibiotic azithromycin; the anti-inflammatory drug tocilizumab; or plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 that contains antibodies to fight the virus. Research is continuing on the other treatments. The research is funded by government health agencies in the United Kingdom and private donors including theBill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Dr. Stephen Griffin, of the University of Leeds in England, said treatments that can prevent infection and serious illness are still needed. "Ideally, we will find something that stops the disease from progressing to a more advanced stage," he said, noting that remdesivir might yet prove to be effective this way. Dexamethasone "is not a wonder pill, but it will lessen some of the nasty effects of COVID-19." ___ AP medical writer Maria Cheng contributed reporting from London. ___ 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. Senator Tim Kaine (D., Va.) claimed during a Tuesday speech on the Senate floor that the United States created slavery and didnt inherit slavery from anybody. Speaking in favor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which Kaine introduced with Senators Cory Booker (D., N.J.) and Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) last week, Kaine urged his fellow senators to dismantle the structures of racism that our federal, state, and local governments carefully erected and maintained over centuries. The first African Americans sent into the English colonies came to Point Comfort in 1619. They were slaves, they had been captured against their will, but they landed in colonies that didnt have slavery there were no laws about slavery in the colonies at that time, Kaine explained. The United States didnt inherit slavery from anybody. We created it. It got created by the Virginia General Assembly and the legislatures of other states. It got created by the court systems in colonial America that enforced fugitive slave laws. In a statement to National Review, Kaine attempted to clarify his remarks which were much longer than the prepared speech released by his office. There was no law mandating slavery on our shores when African slaves came ashore in 1619. Did slavery already exist in the world? Of course. But not in the laws of colonial America at the time, Kaine explained. We could have been a nation completely without the institution. But colonial legislatures and courts, and eventually the U.S. legal system, created the institution on our shores and maintained slavery until the 13th Amendment. As I said, we didnt inherit it. We chose to create it. While the text of the speech mentions the effort to dismantle the structures of racism that our federal, state, and local governments carefully erected and maintained over centuries, it makes no mention of Kaines claims that America created slavery. We created it, and we created it and maintained it over centuries, and in my lifetime, we have finally stopped some of those practices, but weve never gone back to undue it, he continued. Stopping racist practices at year 350 of 400 years, but then taking no effort to dismantle them, is not the same as truly combatting racism. But Im mindful of the challenge laid down by our young people. No more politics as usual. Story continues Sen. Tim Kaine: "The United States didn't inherit slavery from anybody. We created it." pic.twitter.com/VM86sRrtn1 The Hill (@thehill) June 16, 2020 Kaines reference of Point Comfort, Virginia appears in The 1619 Project, the New York Times Magazines collection of writings and photography, which has been challenged by historians as misrepresenting the American founding. The Times has said the project is designed to reframe the countrys history, understanding 1619 as our true founding, and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are. 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones was awarded the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary last month, and some public schools have already said the writing will be used as an educational resource. In August 2019, soon after the Times published the project, Kaine wrote an op-ed to commemorate 400 years of African American history from when the first slaves landed in Virginia. He also slammed Robert Ray, an attorney on President Donald Trumps impeachment defense team, for criticizing the project in January. To me, it seemed like an ad hominem attack on people trying to get at the roots of the effects of slavery in the United States, Kaine told USA Today. And it did not bear at all on the impeachment or anything else. More from National Review Photo: The Canadian Press Temporary foreign workers from Mexico plant strawberries on a farm in Mirabel, Que., on May 6, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. The government of Mexico won't send any more temporary foreign workers to Canada until it has more clarity on why two died due to COVID-19. UPDATE 6:50 p.m. The BC Fruit Growers Association says it appears B.C. will continue to be able to receive temporary farm workers from Mexico, despite an announcement from the countrys ambassador Monday that said otherwise. BCFGA general manager Glen Lucas said he has received clarification from Mexicos consulate in Vancouver that the pause on workers coming to Canada only applies to farms not following COVID-19 guidelines. In B.C., those guidelines are being actively enforced by the provincial government, which is supplying a centralized quarantine centre in Vancouver where all foreign workers are isolating for two weeks after arriving in B.C. Before the workers leave quarantine, the grower must complete a checklist of COVID-19 guidelines, which is then followed up upon by an inspector. That differs from Ontario, where COVID-19 guidelines are not being uniformly followed or enforced, leading to an outbreak and deaths among workers and concerns from Mexico. We were in a bit of limbo there for a couple hours, wondering what was going on, Lucas said Monday evening, adding the Mexican consulate has voiced appreciation for BCs current system. He says he is confident that workers from Mexico will continue to arrive in B.C. as planned. Lucas said, however, questions remain about what happens if workers get sick on the farm. "Growers or the worker will certainly call 811 to determine what to do if they have any symptoms, but if isolation is required, we would like to have more help from the province and Interior Health to find appropriate isolation facilities," he said. "The need for a regional isolation plan also applies to the backpackers from Quebec at this time Interior Health and the province have not risen to the challenge of helping the many small growers and individual workers. This could be easily resolved with some leadership from the BC Ministry of Agriculture," Lucas continued. ORIGINAL 2:45 p.m. Mexico won't send any more temporary foreign workers to Canada until it has more clarity on why two died due to COVID-19, the country's ambassador to Canada said Monday. That means as many as 5,000 temporary foreign workers expected to arrive in Canada in the coming months are being held back, for now. "It's so we can reassess with the federal authorities, provinces and farmers why this happened and if there is anything to correct," Juan Jose Gomez Camacho said in an interview. The two men one died this month and the other in late May were employed by different farms in the Windsor, Ont., area, a farming heartland in southwestern Ontario that has seen ongoing outbreaks. The B.C. Fruit Growers Association says it learned of the announcement through the news media and is working to gather details on how it could impact growers in B.C. The outbreaks were cited Monday as the reason Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the region can't follow in the footsteps of others and loosen restrictions designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Ford was quick to say people shouldn't blame the workers. "They came here, they self-isolated for two weeks and they picked it up since they've been here," he said. "So I don't want any finger pointing at these hard-working migrant workers. They're good people, they mean well, and they're hard workers too." Gomez Camacho said across Canada, 300 Mexicans are believed to have been infected with the novel coronavirus. His government needs assurances that the situation can be brought under control, he said, before allowing more workers to arrive. He said agriculture firms reporting outbreaks are even asking Mexico to keep sending people, and "that will not happen." But he said the pause is intended to be temporary, respecting the fact that farmers often need workers at specific times, and the government isn't trying to spoil that. "We are pausing this quickly now to understand," he said. The decision to hit pause is a further blow to the agriculture industry which has been struggling to find enough labour to handle this year's planting and harvest season, due in large part to the travel restrictions in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. Mexicans make up about half of the temporary foreign worker population employed in the agriculture sector, which in 2018 meant there were 25,060 people employed on farms, in greenhouses and other related jobs. The dizzying array of government departments charged with ensuring workers are being treated well is difficult to navigate at the best of times, and COVID-19 threw up even more challenges, Gomez Camacho said. But he commended the Canadian government for making what he called a "tremendous" effort to put protections in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. Programs have been implemented at both federal and provincial levels to assist temporary foreign workers since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. They include money to cover the costs of mandatory isolation requirements as well as the purchase of personal protective equipment. Gomez Camacho said the Mexican government worked with Canadian officials to design some of those supports, including a provision that workers be paid while they were in isolation upon arriving in Canada. The vast majority of firms are complying, he said. "But we also know, we have always known, some will not," he said. On his government's part, they also put in a place a program this year that saw only workers who were requested by name by Canada's farms and greenhouses allowed to travel here. He said many workers are connected to small family farms, and have developed relationships over time. The pause on allowing more to arrive is a nod to that relationship, he said. "We are doing this out of solidarity with Canada," he said. "We understand the role these workers play in your food chain." Gomez Camacho said one bright light of the COVID-19 crisis is that Canadians seem to be understanding that as well. He said the embassy and consulates have fielded calls from Canadians thanking Mexicans for their efforts, and supporting calls for better safeguards on their work. He said he believes that could be a permanent change in attitude, and will keep working to make it that way. The Canadian Press Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced on Tuesday the formation of a countywide Task Force on Criminal Justice Reform, which will examine how police departments and courts operate. Read more After weeks of protests across the nation over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, officials in Delaware County have announced they are forming a group to overhaul the criminal justice system in the Philadelphia suburban area. The countys Task Force on Criminal Justice Reform, detailed Tuesday on the steps of the county courthouse in Media, will be led by District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, the first Democrat to hold that position. Were all working together because we have a common goal: To let everyone in Delaware County know that black and brown lives matter, that LGBTQ lives matter, Stollsteimer said. Everyone in our county deserves fair and equal justice. Stollsteimier said the group will be a diverse coalition of stakeholders in the county that will find solutions to make our criminal justice system the envy of anyone anywhere. It will be split into four working groups, and will include members of the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Chester, the NAACP, and police departments from throughout the county, along with state legislators and community activists. Stollsteimer said Tuesday it was too early to outline the specific measures the task force will take, but said his office is pursuing sweeping reforms to create a 21st century model of prosecution. There will be no deadlines for the changes, and the task force will issue reports as they are completed. Officers need to be community officers. They have to get out of their cars, he said. We know the dynamics wont change until we have community support. The changes proposed by the task force will extend beyond the criminal justice system, officials said Tuesday. One of the groups focuses will be on county employment, making sure that the human resources department provides a fair, equal, and diverse workforce, according to County Councilwoman Elaine Schaefer. The model of multiple groups brainstorming toward a common goal is one the Democratic-dominated County Council took in January, when its newly elected members sought to reform practices they said had grown stagnant under generations of Republican control. READ MORE: Democrats crowd-source agenda in transition to power in Delaware County Schaefer and her colleagues have said these reforms were their intention from the beginning, but that recent unrest spurred the plan forward. The demonstrations in Delaware County have mostly been peaceful, although communities that border West Philadelphia were damaged as demonstrations spilled over. State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, a Democrat whose district includes part of the county, said Tuesday that recent events represent generations of frustrations boiling over. Im an old guy with some historical perspective on where we are, Williams said. This is not a few weeks or a few years. Williams made reference to previous high-profile examples of police brutality, including the Rodney King assault in Los Angeles, and to the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He drew parallels to the frustration protesters have been expressing in recent weeks, and said he hoped the county task force would provide the tangible change the demonstrators are calling for. The youth today have expectations for their elected leaders to work immediately, he said. Not just to change policy, but to change the culture. KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Claims of nearly 100 race discrimination complaints at the VA Medical Center prompted a protest outside the hospital Monday morning. Black leaders want an external investigation of the medical center's operations. FOX4 first reported on racial discrimination claims at the Veterans Administration in March, before the coronavirus crisis dominated the news. Kansas City Police Investigate Vandalism of Memorial to Lynching Victim The memorial to Levi Harrington, a black man killed in Kansas City, Mo., in the 1880s, had been vandalized before. The authorities are investigating the vandalism of a sign that memorialized a Missouri man, Levi Harrington, who was lynched in the 1880s, the police in Kansas City, Mo., said on Monday. Every news station covered this drama and filed a breathy report lamenting the display . . . Still, nobody seemed to care about the recent memorial that was only dedicated a couple of years ago . . . Even nationwide coverage failed to garner much interest in long forgotten history in a world that's mostly waiting for fresh garbage content via their social media feed . . . Take a look: States can expect to see a 20% drop in tax revenues on average due to the coronavirus slowdown, and the 10 hardest-hit states could experience losses of more than 30%, according to a new analysis from a pair of economists published over the weekend. New York, the epicenter of the crisis, will likely see the biggest losses, with revenues falling by about 40%. Examining 25 years of economic data, the researchers found that states record a 1.56 percentage point increase in tax receipts for every 1 percentage point rise in employment, with the revenues flowing primarily from higher sales, corporate and individual income taxes. Extrapolating from the results, the economists estimate that states will lose about $63.7 billion in revenues in the coronavirus recession, with the average state seeing a 20% drop, or $1.25 billion. (Both revenue figures are in 2012 prices.) On Monday, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli provided some anecdotal evidence that jibes with the analysis, announcing that sales tax revenues for local governments in the state had fallen 32% in May compared to the year before. Why it matters: Economists worry about the negative effects of fiscal belt-tightening at the state level. Budget shortfalls are forcing state and municipal authorities to cut jobs and spending, as they did after the 2008 financial crisis when local austerity held back the economys recovery, Bloombergs Alexandre Tanzi said Monday, adding that Congress is deadlocked over sending more cash to the states to plug the gap. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. Michael Jackson's niece was attacked by a woman in Las Vegas. The 25-year-old Yasmine Jackson was stabbed seven times by her neighbor in what is now being deemed as a hate crime. Apparently, the woman who attacked Yasmine also used a racial slur. On her Instagram, Jackson shared a photo of her bleeding wounds while referencing the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement across the U.S. In a separate post, Yasmine recalled the horrifying incident during the attack. "This woman chased me down and started stabbing me. She said it's because I was a n*** and that's all I could hear while I was being stabbed. I can't move my neck at all. I'm scared to be alone," Yasmine narrated. She went on and mentioned how fortunate she was when a "few" strangers helped her during the incident. "I asked people to help me because she was stabbing me and nobody helped. Until someone did, actually a few people did & I am thankful for you. I pray to God that if you have any kind of hatred in your heart towards black people that you heal it." Michael Jackson's Niece Eager To Press Criminal Charges Yasmine Jackson concluded her post by saying she is still "proud to be black." She then mentioned her plan to pursue criminal charges against her attacker. The 22-year-old woman was identified as Angela Bonell, who was Yasmine's upstairs neighbor. Per The Sun, witnesses mentioned to police authorities that prior to the incident, Bonell made noise complaints about the victim. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said that someone reported at 2.15 pm about an attack on a woman named Yasmine. Video after the arrest showed Jackson sitting on the ground after her face and body had been stabbed. On the other hand, the suspect can be seen with handcuffs as she was being led by arresting cops to a waiting police mobile. The 22-year-old Hispanic woman was charged with attempted murder with a deadly weapon and hate crime. Yasmine's mother is Joh'Vonnie Jackson, who was the secret love child of Cheryle Terrell and Michael Jackson's father, Joe. GoFundMe Page For Yasmine Jackson Moreover, the 25-year-old Jackson created a GoFundMe page to raise cash for justice. She has already received over $20,000 with only a goal of $15,000. "My friend and I were outside having a conversation when out of nowhere she ran down a couple of flights of stairs then jumped down from the second floor and jumped over the fence," Yasmine mentioned in the page. She went on and lamented how others would prefer to record the incident than help her. Jackson shared the details on how she ended up being attacked by Bonell. "When she caught up to me she pulled a knife out and began slashing and stabbing me. As I was bleeding, I lost energy as I was trying to fight back," Yasmine said. The King of Pop's niece is currently in a stable condition although she felt traumatized after the attack. READ MORE: Beyonce Pens POWERFUL Letter Demanding Justice For Breonna Taylor [June 16, 2020] Common Denominator Offers Solutions Amidst City's Mounting Education Crisis Common Denominator (formerly known as Top Honors), a New York City-based non-profit that provides free 1-on-1 math tutoring to middle-schoolers from the city's underserved communities, is expanding its programming even as schools already forced to cut back individualized classroom instruction face the prospect of massive budget reductions in the coming school year. This Spring, Common Denominator (C/D) rapidly pivoted towards a virtual tutoring program at a time when students' individual attention from teachers and counselors was drastically cut back in the transition to remote learning. C/D's focus was providing continuity, personalized learning and emotional support without adding to students' mounting homework burden. As C/D Executive Director Julia Kang noted, "Common Denominator is in many cases the only one-on-one mentorship our students will receive, and we are proud to have been able to keep our virtual doors open during this crisis." Over 50 virtual tutoring sessions or other events were held during the 2019-2020 school year in response to COVID-19. Now, responding to the heightened needs of students and families, C/D is offering summer programming for the first time, using its proven approach at no cost to those who enroll. This bright spot stands in stark contrast to the majority of after-school and summer programs which have been severely disrupted by facility closures. Meanwhile, things are unlikely to return to normal in the Fall. 'Second wave' risks aside, publicly funded schools are grappling with a proposed $875 million cut to the budget, which NYC schools chancellor Rihard Carranza described as 'horrific', warning that will likely lead to larger class sizes, less counselling, and less college preparation. For Common Denominator this is a time to do more, not less. Founded in 2002, the organization is committed to tackling the math literacy gap in NYC's public schools. Over 2/3rds of eighth grade students do not meet required proficiency levels, with a devastating ripple effect on high-school graduation and college attendance rates. Most families lack the resources to remedy these learning challenges at home. Some 73% of public school students come from low-income households; they are also overwhelmingly people of color and immigrants who face significant structural barriers. C/D's student body reflects these realities; 82% qualify for federally-subsidized school lunches, and 83% are students of color. Common Denominator's solution was to tap the city's vast population of professionals and students whose strong math skills were matched by a desire to give back to the community. Powered by these volunteers, C/D last year served nearly 200 students a week from all over the city at three locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Focusing on core math skills, confidence-building and mentorship, the program's results have been dramatic. Its students have a 97% high-school graduation rate, and 60% of C/D students show a full letter-grade increase in school scores. Common Denominator continues to gear up to tackle its mission with even greater energy than before COVID-19 struck the city. The challenges of scaling up are significant, but Heidi Boyd, Co-Chair of C/D's board explained, "We're thrilled about what's been done, but the successes have only made us even more impatient to bring the same help and support to many more kids in the city." For Common Denominator, the job won't be done until math literacy is as much of a common denominator as reading and writing. Common Denominator is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. Please direct all media enquiries to Julia Kang via [email protected] or 212-662-0573. More information is available at www.cdmath.org or @cd__math. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005011/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Doctors Without Borders said it closed its operation on Tuesday in Kabul, ending years long work to support a maternity hospital in the Afghan capital. The closure came a month after a horrific attack at the facility killed 24 people, including two infants, nurses and several young mothers. The international charity, also known by its French acronym MSF, said it would keep its other programs in Afghanistan running, but did not go into details. The May 12 attack at the maternity hospital set off an hours-long shootout with Afghan police and also left more than a dozen people wounded. The hospital in Dashti Barchi, a mostly Shiite neighborhood, was the Geneva-based group's only project in the Afghan capital. No one claimed responsibility for the assault. The Taliban promptly denied involvement in the attack, which the US said bore all the hallmarks of the Islamic State group's affiliate in Afghanistan -- an attack targeting the country's minority Shiites in a neighborhood of Kabul that IS militants have repeatedly attacked in the past. "This was not an easy decision," said Brian Moller, the MSF head of programs for Afghanistan. "We don't know who is responsible for this attack, we don't know the rationale or intent behind the attack and we don't know who was actively targeted, whether it was foreigners, whether it was MSF, whether it was the Hazara community or the Shiite community at large." Moller said the organisation still hopes that an Afghan government investigation would uncover who was behind it. "So, given this lack of information ... we have decided that it is a safer option to close this project for the time being," said Moller. MSF had been working at the clinic in the predominantly Hazara neighborhood in collaboration with the Afghan Ministry of Public Health since 2014, providing free-of-charge maternity and neonatal care. The group started working in Afghanistan in 1980 and continues to run medical programs in the provinces of Helmand, Herat, Kandahar, Khost, and Kunduz. Other projects would continue, MSF said. "It is going to affect a lot of people, not just our team, but also the wider community at large, in particular the community that we were serving in Dasht-e-Barchi," Moller said. The work that the organization did at the clinic affected some 1.5 million people of the area, he added. Last year, 16,000 babies were delivered at the hospital, a statistic that MSF was proud of. Now, around 130 hospital staff members funded by MSF would lose their pay. "It is a huge impact, not just for our organization, but for the community at large," Moller added. The May attack in Kabul was not the worst involving MSF. In October 2015, a US Air Force AC-130 gunship repeatedly struck a well-marked Doctors Without Borders hospital, killing 30 people in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz. At the time, US and Afghan forces were locked in a ground battle to retake the city of 300,000 from the Taliban. There were 105 patients, 140 Afghan staffers and nine international staff inside, along with dozens of visitors who were caring for friends and relatives as is a custom in Afghanistan. PMS . Plunged unexpectedly into remote learning because of the pandemic, teachers throughout the region had to figure out how to stay in touch with students. Heres a look at how one of the largest schools in Chicago, Curie High School, used a mix of technology and personal touch to maintain connections. Educators feared that if they failed to sustain these ties, some of their students 90% of whom live in poverty might never come back. Multiple California health officials have left their jobs amid anger, threats and personal attacks in response to health orders through the coronavirus pandemic. Last week Orange County health director Dr. Nichole Quick unexpectedly resigned after receiving personal threats in a public meeting, joining a wave of medical officials leaving their posts under unprecedented pressure and criticism. Quick, who had been working 80-hour weeks through the crisis, was met with a banner depicting her as a Nazi in a public meeting, and protests were held outside her home, reported the Associated Press. She had recently issued an order that included the requirement that residents wear masks to try to limit the spread of the virus as the county began reopening more businesses. A day later, the Orange County sheriff said he wouldn't enforce the ruling. Quick became the seventh senior health official to resign in California since the pandemic began. Some officials have been given security details and sheriff's escorts in response to the threats in counties across the state. The following California health officers have left their posts since the pandemic began: Nevada County Public Health Officer Dr. Ken Cutler, San Benito County Interim Public Health Officer Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, Yolo County Public Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman, Butte County Public Health Officer Dr. Andy Miller, Orange County Public Health Director David Souleles and San Bernardino County Public Health Director Trudy Raymundo. Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California, told the AP, We certainly have had angry comments at meetings before, especially around vaccines, but this level of threat, of having to have a sheriffs escort, we havent seen it before." Health officials' jobs, during the largest pandemic in modern history, have been made even tougher by the politicization of mask wearing and stay-at-home mandates as they try to curtail the number of COVID-19 deaths across the country. When the President of the United States refuses to wear a mask, many civilians feel emboldened to to the same, and their frustration and anger at a perceived restriction of human rights is often directed at the public-facing health officials. President Donald Trump has almost exclusively appeared in public without a mask since the pandemic began, and told press on a tour of a Ford plant in Michigan in May, "I didnt want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it. As the country approaches 120,000 deaths from the virus, many Americans still believe the pandemic is a hoax, with discredited theories ranging from a Democratic hit job to part of a wider conspiracy to deploy 5G network towers and microchip civilians. "You will lose all rights to privacy, bank and personal info. Dont take the vaccine!!" read a recent Facebook post with over 5,000 shares. Dr. Jonathan Fielding, professor at the UCLA school of public health, told Cal Matters, "None of us has the unfettered right to do what we want. People are saying, Our presidents not doing this, why do I have to? Thats one of the roots of this problem the radicalization of views on individual rights. Attacks on social media against health officials have become ugly. A tweet accompanying a doctored photo of Los Angeles county health officer Dr. Barbara Ferrer that made her appear sick, called her the most unhealthy looking person Ive ever seen and was retweeted nearly 30,000 times. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that a recent public meeting about restaurants reopening in the city was shut down by supervisors when a pizzeria owner started walking toward the countys health officer. A Northern California health officer who asked to remain anonymous told Cal Matters this week that he had seen death threats emailed to officials. The health officers are kind of in this position where everything that everyone is angry about is the health officers fault," he said. "It makes you feel that there is nowhere thats safe. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Andrew Chamings is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings Health Ministry of Ukraine reportedly on June 16 said that the country has reported 656 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours taking its total tally to 31,810 in the past 24 hours. The ministry added that the country is witnessing an incremental rise in new cases. According to the reports, the country recorded its highest ever COVID-19 cases on Saturday with about 753 new cases. Health Minister Maksym Stepanov reportedly said at a media briefing that 656 people have tested positive in the last 24 hours and 12 fatalities have been recorded. He also added that 171 patients have recovered from the virulent virus. READ: Ukraine: US$6M Bribe To Close Case Against Gas Head READ: Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's Wife Tests Positive For Coronavirus With the support of @EUDelegationUA, @WHO in #Ukraine and in cooperation with @PHCofUkraine trainings on PPE usage were held in more than 200 health care facilities. The trainings were conducted by @ICRC_ua volunteers and specialists of regional laboratory centers of @MoH_Ukraine pic.twitter.com/WCCBDSuM9T WHO Ukraine (@WHOUkraine) June 4, 2020 Gyms, fitness centers and swimming pools will open in Ukraine on June,1. Among the main recommendations of the Ministry of Health regarding the work of such institutions and their use: thermal screening at the entrance, limited attendance, use of personal protective equipment. pic.twitter.com/Xnffk8TYGJ Ministry of Health of Ukraine (@MoH_Ukraine) June 1, 2020 First lady tests positive Meanwhile, marking first high profile coronavirus case in the country, Ukraine's first lady and wife of President Zelenskiy on June 12 revealed that she had tested positive for the virus. Taking to Instagram, Olena Zelenska wrote that while her husband and children have tested negative, it has been confirmed that she had been infected with the coronavirus. Elaborating further she wrote, that she was "feeling good" and was receiving outpatient treatment. In addition, she also revealed that she was under quarantine to safeguard her family's health. The Ukrainian government started gradually easing lockdown restrictions in late May with the resumption of public transportation and the reopening of malls and gyms. READ: Foreigners Allowed Into Ukraine To Get Surrogate-born Babies READ: IMF Sanctions Stand-by Agreement Worth $5 Billion For Ukraine Lasting 18 Months Image: AP Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 23:51:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on May 21, 2020 shows red flags on the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson said Tuesday the Indian side should strictly restrain their frontline troops and return to the correct track of dialogue and negotiations to resolve the differences. Zhang Shuili, spokesperson for the Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), made the remarks in a statement in response to a fierce physical fight that broke out between the Chinese and Indian border defense troops Monday night after Indian troops crossed the Line of Actual Control for illegal activities and deliberately launched provocative attacks. The statement was published by the official Weibo account of the PLA Daily. "The Indian troops had violated their promises and once again crossed the Line of Actual Control for illegal activities, and deliberately provoked and attacked the Chinese forces, thus triggering fierce physical conflicts between the two sides and causing casualties," said Zhang. "We demand that the Indian side strictly restrain its frontline troops, immediately stop all infringement and provocative actions, and work together with China to return to the correct track of dialogue and negotiations to resolve the differences," said Zhang. New Delhi, June 16 : The government may put curbs on imports of toys, particularly cheaper ones with poor quality, by moving it from free to restricted list, as it looks to develop a strong and dynamic domestic industry for such products having potential to compete in the global market with countries such as China. The Ministry of Commerce has identified toys among several categories of non-essential imports, where restrictions could be considered. In recent months, the commerce department has resorted to the use of import restrictions instead of free imports to boost domestic manufacturing. Four to five areas, including leather and footwear, AC, furniture, tyre and toys have been zeroed in for wide scale import substitution where necessary push will also be given to scale up local manufacturing. Government sources privy to the development said that new quality standards are also being finalised for the toy sector that would restrict import of items that fail the test and are considered health hazards, particularly for children. The standards would also apply to the domestic industry so that products developed here get acceptance in world markets. Right now each consignment of imported toys has to be mandatorily tested in NABL accredited labs to see if they conform to the specified quality and health standards. The new standards could be developed for various categories of toys and its composition to see that sub-standard products do not reach Indian shores. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' campaign, the plan is to develop toy manufacturing hubs with necessary R&D infrastructure and branding support to develop made in India products that are cost competitive and of high quality and can get international recognition. Toy imports in various forms stands close to $1.5 billion though the official numbers are a tad lower. India imports over 85 per cent of its requirement of toys. Almost 85 per cent of total imports are from China which has captured a vast market in the country, and has completely shaken the domestic industry. Several imported toys from China have questionable quality which the government now wants to target to check dumping of toys. "The high import component of battery operated and electronic toys is because the domestic industry does not offer the same variety due to lower scale and lower R&D capabilities. There is also the lack of cluster development approach for MSMEs manufacturing toys. This needs to change under the new Made in India initiative," said an official source. The government has already put restrictions on toy imports when in December last year it increased import duty by 200 per cent to 60 per cent from the earlier 20 per cent level. This attracted a lot of adverse reaction from traders who felt they would be wiped from the market. But the higher import duty has not affected Chinese imports as China is eligible for concessional duty as a signatory of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). The APTA, a preferential trade agreement between five countries -- India, China, Korea, Laos and Sri Lanka -- provide s concessional duty on over 1,000 tariff lines, including toys, to encourage trade among the member countries. The new quality standards may act as non tariff barrier that would check unrestricted imports while the government would incentivise both domestic and global players to set up manufacturing facilities in the country so that India could become a part of the $100 billion toy market globally. The global toy industry is witnessing significant movement at the moment. Hasbro, a US multinational, which is among the top three toy companies in the world, has announced plans to shift 40 per cent of its order book from China by the end of 2020. Even smaller Chinese companies, such as Pals Plush, have realised the advantage of producing in India and have begun to move operations here. With proper infrastructure for investment, the government thinks, India could be the next hub for toy manufacturing. (Subhash Narayan can be contacted at subhash.n@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Renuka Tweeted "What can I say about the kindness of all who've helped my friend Nupur through this horrible time brought about by #PMCBankCrisis combined with her mother's ill health & lockdown in our industry. Today I want to appreciate all of you & appeal to not contribute any further." Renuka Calls Akshay An Angel The Circus actress called Akshay, an angel from the film industry, who helped Nupur, which will in turn helped the actress get the best possible treatment for her mother. Renuka further said, "This angel has already helped so many actors, workers from the film industry without any expectation of even a thank you in return!" How Akshay Helped Nupur Through Renuka? She also revealed as to how Akshay helped Nupur. As per her tweet, the Khiladi actor saw Renuka's FB post and called Ranaji (Renuka's husband, Ashutosh Rana) to know details. He then asked about the amount that Nupur needed and he said it will be done and in fact gave more! Renuka Thanks Akshay Renuka further tweeted, "I thanked him for his generosity and he said only one sentence in Marathi, " , , " ("Please don't thank me, her mother should get well, that's it")." She wrote, "At a time when there is this raging debate about people not being their for each other, this angel has proved that there are gems like him who will stand by someone in need, someone who they have never met or worked with." Renukas Tweets "My gratitude to this immensely generous, compassionate angel is boundless & forever. This angel is none other than superstar @akshaykumar A man with a heart of pure, unadulterated gold." "Thank you is too small an expression to express my gratitude@akshaykumar ji. I am so moved by your kindness. I hope you and your family are blessed with every happiness & success possible always. Truly indebted ." Want to help Bethlehem go green? The city is hosting two virtual meetings Wednesday to discuss its development of a climate action plan, which will outline measures, policies and strategies Bethlehem can enact to reduce the citys contribution to climate change. The plan aims to help the city adapt to the risks of a changing climate, like extreme temperatures and increased flooding risks, and lay out ways to combat it. The 90-minute virtual meetings will be held at 12 p.m. and 5:30 p.m and hosted by consultant WSP and Nurture Nature Center. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register here for the session they plan to join. Share your priorities via this survey ahead of the meeting. The meeting will lay out the planning process and steps the citys already taken to address climate change. Organizers want to hear participants thoughts on what priorities they hope to see in the plan when it is released in early 2021. The city wants to use the plan to establish local priorities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change, protect the local environment, improve public health and strengthen the citys environment. It will include a climate hazard vulnerability assessment that identifies risks in the city and outlines how local government, business and residents can reduce climate-change related threats. The citys already reduced its municipal emissions by 37% from 2005 to 2017 via numerous greenhouse gas reduction initiatives, ranging from energy efficiency upgrades to buying renewable energy. Bethlehem City Council unanimously authorized the creation of a climate action plan. The Bethlehem-based engineering firm WSP and Eastons Nurture Nature Center were selected as the consultants to develop the plan. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. A Border Security Force jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service weapon in North 24 Parganas district near the India- Bangladesh border, officials said on Monday. Constable Parmar Ashishbhai Vasrambhai was found lying in a pool of blood at Basirhat area on Sunday night, they said. "His personal weapon was in his hand when his body was recovered. One handwritten note was also found. An FIR has been lodged with the local police," a senior BSF official said. Vasrambhai's body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Next CDS of India: Rajnath Singh to receive list of probables soon India tells France, have the political will, ability to counter misadventure by China Want to manufacture BrahMos so that no country has audacity to cast evil eye on us: Rajnath Singh IAF chopper crash: Rajnath Singh likely to be apprised of probe team's findings in next couple of days Rajnath Singh holds back-to-back meetings with military brass over Ladakh situation India pti-PTI New Delhi, June 16: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held two-back-to-back meetings with top military brass on Tuesday deliberating on the situation in eastern Ladakh after an Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley. Singh also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the killing of the three Indian Army personnel during Monday night's clash as well as on the overall situation in the region, government sources said. The colonel and the two soldiers were killed in the violent face-off with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley where the two sides have been on a bitter standoff for over five weeks. The Indian Army said there have been casualties on the Chinese side as well. Civil Aviation Minister says 'decision on the international flights will be taken in July The killing of the Indian Army personnel is the first such incident involving fatalities after a gap of 45 years. Four Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush at Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh along the de-facto border between the two countries in 1975. The first meeting Singh held was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs, and it carried out a comprehensive review of the ground situation in eastern Ladakh as well as deliberated on India's preparedness to deal with any eventualities, the sources said. BrahMos missile gets clearance amid India-China border stand off It is learnt that the government decided to further ramp up India's military strength in areas like Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. After the nearly one-hour meeting, Singh gave a briefing to Prime Minister Modi on the overall situation, they said . In the late afternoon, the defence minister held another meeting with Jaishankar, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane and Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat. The sources said Gen Naravane presented a detailed report to the defence minister covering various finer details of Monday night's clash in Galwan which continued for several hours. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in the standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row. In their first serious efforts to end the row, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held a nearly seven-hour meeting on June 6. The meeting was followed by two rounds of Major General-level talks. The Indian side has been pitching for restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from the areas which India considers on its side of the LAC. CHICAGO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Nisin Market by Application (Meat, Poultry & Seafood Products, Dairy Products, Beverages, Bakery & Confectionery Products, Canned & Frozen Food products, and Other applications) and Region - Global Trends and Forecast to 2025", the global Nisin Market Size is estimated to be valued at USD 443 million in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 553 million by 2025, recording a CAGR of 4.5%. The increase in awareness toward environmental sustainability and recyclable properties of nisin are factors driving the growth of the nisin industry. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=29041412 The dairy products segment is projected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The use of nisin has positive, economic, and ecologic effects, such as the reduction in damaged sterilization products and less processing times and temperatures. The first use of nisin as a preservative was for dairy products. It is one of the popular and old-aged methods to preserve dairy products such as cheese. The dairy products are quite sensitive to thermal and chemical exposure. It can alter the texture and taste of the final product. Therefore, manufacturers prefer investing in nisin as a biopreservative for dairy products, thereby encouraging the demand for this application segment. Browse in-depth TOC on "Nisin Market" 101 - Tables 43 - Figures 146 - Pages The Asia Pacific region is projected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. Key manufacturers of nisin are based in Asia Pacific and are focusing on gaining a major market share. The increase in the per capita income and the rise in the population are the key factors, due to which the nisin market is projected to record the fastest growth in the region. Moreover, rapid urbanization in countries, such as India and China, is a key factor that has led to significant growth of the nisin market in Southeast Asia during the forecast period. Request for Sample Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=29041412 This report includes a study on the marketing and development strategies, along with the product portfolios of the leading companies. The nisin market report includes the profiles of leading companies, such as DSM (Netherlands), Galactic (Belgium), DuPont (US), Siveele B.V. (Netherlands), Zhejiang Silver-Elephant Bioengineering (China), Shandong Freda Biotechnology (China), Chihon Biotechnology (China), Mayasan Biotech (Turkey), Handary S.A. (Belgium), and Cayman Chemicals (US). Related Reports: Food Preservatives Market by Type (Natural & Chemical), Function (Antimicrobial, Antioxidant), Application (Oil & Fat, Bakery, Dairy & frozen, Snack, Meat, Poultry & Seafood, Confectionery, Beverage), & Geography - Global Trend & Forecast to 2021 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/food-preservatives-market-420.html Browse Adjacent Markets: F & B Ingredients Market Research Reports & Consulting 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". 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/nisin-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/nisin.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg The right-wing financial blog ZeroHedge has been banned from generating revenue through Google's advertising platform after apparently violating the tech giant's policies on content related to race, a Google spokesperson confirmed to NBC News. Conservative news site The Federalist has also reportedly received a warning over its comment section, Business Insider reports. Why it matters: The move is sure to invite fury from Republicans who claim that Big Tech companies stifle conservatives. President Trump signed an executive order last month aimed at softening protections from legal liability that online platforms enjoy over content moderation and user-posted material. What they're saying: Google told NBC that its advertising platform has "strict publisher policies that govern the content ads can run on and explicitly prohibit derogatory content that promotes hatred, intolerance, violence or discrimination based on race from monetizing." "When a page or site violates our policies, we take action. In this case, weve removed both sites ability to monetize with Google." The backdrop: A report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that articles by ZeroHedge claimed protests over the death of George Floyd were fake, according to NBC News. Comments on The Federalist were also reportedly in violation of Google's rules, according to Business Insider. Google warned The Federalist about demonetization after being notified of the report by the NBC News Verification Unit, but said that ZeroHedge had already been demonetized. ZeroHedge's Twitter account was reinstated this week after being banned earlier this year for suggesting that a Chinese scientist had created the coronavirus in a lab. The big picture: Google banned over 200 publishers from generating profits through Google advertising in 2017, according to Vox. Go deeper: What Trump's "Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship" orders Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 02:49:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Rocket fired by militants in the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel on Monday night, the military said. "One projectile was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory," the army said in a statement. The rocket hit an open field in the regional council of Eshkol in the Negev desert, causing no injuries. "As a result of the launch, an alert was activated in the Home Front Command App and in open areas only," the statement read. Israel's army usually retaliates such fire with artillery or airstrikes targeting posts of Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian movement that runs Gaza. No group immediately assumed responsibility for the fire. It was the first time Gaza militants fired a rocket towards Israel since May 6. Local Israeli media reported that the fire came in the wake of an upcoming transfer of 50 million U.S. dollars aid from Qatar to the Gaza Strip. According to a report in Israel Today newspaper, the Israeli government has agreed to allow the transfer in return for halting incendiary helium-filled balloons from the Palestinian enclave towards southern Israel. Enditem A protester is exposed to tear gas during a largely peaceful, but unauthorised, event supporting the Black Lives Matter movement in Paris. (Getty Images) Police in the US have come under fire for dispersing peaceful Black Lives Matter protests with tear gas. Events are taking place around the world after George Floyd was murdered when a white policeman knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. Officials have urged people not to attend protests out of fear the mass gatherings will cause the highly-infectious coronavirus to spread. Experts have also expressed concern the use of tear gas to move protestors along likely increases the rate of infection by triggering coughing episodes. Montreal police use tear gas during a march against police brutality and racism. (Getty Images) Tear gas causes substantial coughing Tear gas is made up of chemicals that irritate the mucous membranes. As a result, the eyes burn, blur and start tearing. Exposed people may also cough, struggle to breathe, develop a burning sensation in their nose and even feel like they are choking. Although unpleasant, tear gas is generally considered harmless when released at low levels in open spaces. In confined areas at large doses, however, it has been linked to blindness, respiratory failure, and even immediate death as a result of chemical burns to the throat and lungs. Exposed people suffer the ill effects almost instantly, however, in mild cases they tend to resolve within several hours. While no scientific study has been carried out proving tear gas helps spread the coronavirus, a poll by the artificial intelligence tech firm CREOpoint reveals that many experts are concerned. The company asked hundreds of scientists from Harvard to the University of Cambridge their opinion on tear gas use amid the pandemic. The overall consensus was it likely aids the spread of infection, with more than four in 10 (41%) saying it was very likely and a third (33%) believing it is likely. Tear gas causes substantial coughing, and that increases the potential for virus dissemination and transmission, said Dr Michael Osterholm, from the University of Minnesota. The coronavirus mainly spreads face to face via infected droplets expelled in a cough or sneeze. Story continues A dry persistent cough is one of the tell-tale symptoms, along with fever and a loss of taste or smell. Anyone showing signs of the infection has been told to stay at home entirely. Asymptomatic patients, however, are free to go out, unwittingly infecting others. Tear gas is definitely going to make people cough and sneeze, said Dr Dean Winslow, of Stanford Health Care. I would certainly discourage law enforcement from using those sorts of riot control techniques. Tear gas increases the risk of respiratory illnesses Professor Jeffrey Duchin, from the University of Washington, said he opposes the use of tear gas and other respiratory irritants based on the potential to increase COVID-19 spread. COVID-19 is the respiratory disease that can be triggered by the coronavirus. Several experts have written an open letter to US authorities calling for tear gas to be banned amid the pandemic. Dr Peter Chin-Hong, from the University of California, San Francisco, is even concerned the discomfort of being exposed to the chemical irritants may lead to the coronavirus spreading further still. Itll cause people to shout and scream, propelling droplets of these fluids which could be carrying coronavirus and giving them superpowers to spread much farther than six feet (two metres), he said. Infection risk aside, tear gas may worsen complications in those carrying the coronavirus. In 2014 scientists from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Maryland, found exposure raised the odds of catching flu, another respiratory virus. It also increased the risk of pneumonia, one of the main complications of the coronavirus. Having tear gas sprayed on to you is like someone smoking into your lungs, Dr Chin-Hong told The Guardian. Its like any other pollution and like pollution it can increase the risks of respiratory illnesses. Not everyone is convinced, however. Professor Janice Chambers, from Mississippi State University, told The Conversation: If the tear gas exposure was brief, the individual involved was healthy to begin with, and the resulting irritation subsided quickly, it is logical to assume vulnerability to the novel coronavirus would not be increased. She added, however, there is no precedent or history to inform us. This follows 2017 research by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, who found rubber or plastic bullets used for crowd control can be life-threatening. Riot forces use tear gas at a protest against Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and racism in Sao Paulo. (Getty Images) What is the coronavirus? The coronavirus is one of seven strains of a virus class that are known to infect humans. Others cause everything from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), which killed 774 people during its 2002/3 outbreak. Since the coronavirus outbreak was identified at the end of 2019, more than 8 million cases have been confirmed worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. Of these cases, over 3.8 million are known to have recovered. Globally, the death toll has exceeded 437,100. Although the coronavirus mainly spreads via coughs and sneezes, there is also evidence it is transmitted in faeces and can survive on surfaces. The infection has no set treatment, with most patients naturally fighting it off. Those requiring hospitalisation are given supportive care, like ventilation, while their immune system gets to work. Officials urge people ward off infection by washing their hands regularly and maintaining social distancing. Coronavirus: what happened today Read more about COVID-19 How to get a coronavirus test if you have symptoms How easing of lockdown rules affects you In pictures: How UK school classrooms could look in new normal How public transport could look after lockdown How our public spaces will change in the future Help and advice Read the full list of official FAQs here 10 tips from the NHS to help deal with anxiety What to do if you think you have symptoms A U.S. based Nigerian teen who became a strong voice in #BlackLivesMatter movement, Oluwatoyin Salau, has been found dead days after going missing. U.S Police confirmed the death Monday. The 19-year-old was one of two homicide victims discovered Saturday night off Monday Road in South-east Tallahassee, Florida, a couple of miles from where she was last seen. The other victim was identified as a 75-year-old retired state worker, Victoria Sims. The police did not provide information about how the women died but identified a suspect Aaron Glee Jr, 49, who resided on Monday Road and had been arrested twice recently for violent offences. Ms Salau recently gained attention as a prominent voice in protests in Tallahassee, Florida, after the death of George Floyd in police custody led to a global reckoning against police brutality and racial injustice. Videos posted on social media showed Ms Salau making impassioned speeches in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Right now, our lives matter, black lives matter, she said in a video that was widely circulated on Twitter. We are doing this for our brothers and our sisters who got shot but we are doing this for every black person. I am profiled whether I like it or not. During demonstrations, she would recite the names of black people killed, such as Tony McDade of Tallahassee and George Floyd of Minneapolis, saying, I dont want their names gone in vain. Ms Salaus activism dated back to when she was a child. READ ALSO: In a video shared by her elder brother, Oluwaseyi Salau, a ten-year-old Salau gave a speech about how she constantly wondered why her black skin led to the ill treatment she got from her white peers during a public gathering attended by white politicians Her brother, 24, said he was heartbroken but no justice that can be served that will replace my sisters life. Ms Salau was last seen at Tallahassee BLM protests on June 6. Friends and fellow activists had raised concerns about her well-being after she wrote in a series of posts on Twitter that day how she was molested by a man who had offered her a lift and a place to stay. Anyways I was molested in Tallahassee, Florida by a black man this morning at 5:30 on Richview and Park Ave. The man offered to give me a ride to find someplace to sleep and recollect my belongings from a church I refuged to a couple days back to escape unjust living conditions, she said in a tweet. https://twitter.com/virgingrltoyin/status/1269341695558275072?s=20 Black Lives Matter activists and supporters across the United States flooded social media on Monday with pictures and videos of Ms Salau, with many pledging to continue protesting and demonstrating in her name. Bernice King, a daughter of late renowned pro black activist, Martin Luther King, was among those who mourned her death and sought justice for black lives lost. Rest In Peace, Oluwatoyin Salau. Im sorry that your life was so painful in your last days on earth. You were trying to change America for Black lives. Thank you. We need #JusticeForToyin, @TallyPD, she tweeted. Rest In Peace, Oluwatoyin Salau. Im sorry that your life was so painful in your last days on earth. You were trying to change America for Black lives. Thank you. We need #JusticeForToyin, @TallyPD. pic.twitter.com/ARETUys6rb Be A King (@BerniceKing) June 15, 2020 Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 22:19:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TAIPEI, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The number of employees taking unpaid leave in Taiwan, a common measure to cut costs when business is slow, is now greater than at any point since October 2009, the island's labor affairs department said Tuesday. As of Monday, a total of 1,323 companies had put 29,838 employees on unpaid leave across Taiwan, up 60 and 1,493 respectively over the figures released a week ago, the department said in a statement. The number of companies adopting this policy is now at its highest point since statistics were first formally issued in January 2009. A total of 15,037 employees in manufacturing were put on unpaid leave, as of Monday, up 1,302 on the previous week, the largest figure for any sector. Manufacturing also accounted for 87.2 percent of the total newly added employees on leave over the past week. Taiwan's manufacturers have seen a reduction in orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a large number of overseas clients closing or downsizing their businesses, the department said, adding that the suppliers of raw materials and components have also been affected. However, hotels and catering businesses, which have borne the brunt of the epidemic over the past few months, showed improvement in business over the past week. A total of 139 hotels and catering firms had put 2,850 employees on unpaid leave as of Monday, slightly down from 2,867 people the previous week, although the number of companies adopting this policy has not changed. Enditem President Donald Trump's top environmental deputy is going to battleground states to champion his boss's record on clean air and water ahead of the 2020 election. Over the past month, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler has visited a toxic waste site in Michigan, a landfill in Pennsylvania, and a university in Wisconsin - all swing states. He also took a trip to Georgia, a Republican stronghold that Democrats are seeking to turn blue. His trips through states Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, hopes to capture comes as the Trump campaign aims to win back voters concerned that the president is doing too little to tackle climate change and other environmental issues. But the president's critics say that's a tall order since the EPA and other agencies have spent the past three years trying to roll back dozens of environmental rules. Several of Wheeler's events concerned protecting the Great Lakes - often a talking point for Trump at his Rust Belt rallies. On Monday in Milwaukee, he doled out a $492,000 grant for collecting trash from the Kinnickinnic River, which feeds into Lake Michigan. Earlier in the month, Wheeler relaunched a Great Lakes advisory council and toured coastal erosion near St. Joseph, Mich. Trump recently reversed course to support funding the popular Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, after his White House called for slashing its funding for three years in a row. The program gives money to nonprofit groups, local governments and other federal agencies to restore habitat and battle toxic algae blooms. "I support the Great Lakes. Always have," Trump said during a rally last year in Grand Rapids, Mich., to announce the move. "They're beautiful. They're big. Very deep. Record deep." In southeastern Pennsylvania, Wheeler talked up the progress the Trump administration has made in cleaning up closed mines and other contaminated sites. Under both Wheeler and his predecessor, Scott Pruitt, the agency has said it will make the Superfund cleanups a priority. Also while in Michigan, Wheeler boasted how 21 areas in the Midwest have reduced their air pollution enough to meet federal air quality standards under his watch - echoing Trump, who often says the country has "the cleanest air." "It's exciting to see so much progress being made on the environment across the region," Wheeler said in a statement from southwestern Michigan. Federal officials such as Wheeler are barred by law from participating in electoral campaigns. During his trips, the EPA chief isn't talking about the 2020 race. The agency said Wheeler's spate of recent trips have more to do getting back to work during the coronavirus pandemic. "As the country moves toward reopening, EPA Administrator Wheeler is resuming travel to fulfill the agency's mission to protect human health and the environment in all 10 of EPA's regions," agency spokesman James Hewitt said. "His visit this week coincides with important agency announcements that positively impact the people of Wisconsin." "Given the polling it makes sense Wheeler would be heading to battlegrounds to greenwash Trump's abysmal record," said Pete Maysmith, a senior vice president at the League of Conservation Voters, "but no amount of damage control can clean their mess up." The LCV's campaign arm, which spent upward of $80 million in the 2018 election, is backing the former vice president. John Walke, clean air director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said that even if air quality has gotten better in some Midwestern counties, "there's no sign at all that the Trump administration had anything to do with those improvements." Trump is trying to win over an electorate that tends to distrusts Republicans on environmental issues. A Quinnipiac University poll in December found 57% of Americans trust the Democratic Party to tackle climate change. Only 37% of respondents thought Republicans would do a better job. - - - The Washington Post's Scott Clement contributed to this report. Washington, June 16 : The US Supreme Court has ruled that gay and transgender employees are protected by the country's civil rights laws against employer discrimination. The 6-3 ruling came on Monday after a trio of cases had asked the US Justices to decide whether Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which forbids discrimination on the basis of "sex", applies to gay and transgender people, reports Xinhua news agency. Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the opinion for the six-member majority, said that "an employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex". "Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids," Gorsuch added. "An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex," he wrote. Gorsuch was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor. Justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas dissented from the decision. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbids employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex as well as gender, race, colour, national origin and religion, the BBC reported. Under former President Barack Obama's administration, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces the anti-discrimination law, said it included gender identity and sexual orientation. But the incumbent President Donald Trump's administration has moved to roll back some protections in healthcare and other areas. While some states in the US had already explicitly extended such protections to LGBT workers, many have not. LGBT advocates hailed the decision as the end of people hiding their sexuality at work. Trump keeps his May promise as US Ambassador hands over a tranche of 100 high technology ventilators manufactured in Chicago by a US-based firm to India in New Delhi. U.S. Ambassador to India Kenneth I. Juster on Tuesday handed over the first lot of 100 ventilators from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to New Delhi here at the Indian Red Cross Headquarters. In the fight against COVID-19, the much-awaited ventilators were handed to India to treat the coronavirus patients as promised by United States President Donald Trump. The first lot of ventilators, which arrived on Monday, are high technology are manufactured by Zoll US-based firm and are arriving from Chicago in the US. A senior government official told ANI: On Monday, about 100 ventilators are arriving from the United States as a donation. Ventilators would come to India by Air India flight. This is entirely managed by the India Red Cross Society. Once the ventilators would arrive in India, there is a small inaugural function at IRCS after which these ventilators would be distributed to hospital for patient care, said the official who is familiar with this matter. Ventilators have emerged as a key medical device to treat critical coronavirus patients. Read also: China accuses Hong Kong activists of brainwashing young students fighting for democracy #COVID19 pandemic poses an unprecedented global health threat to all of us. It is only through partnership and cooperation that we will be best able to ensure a healthy future for our people: US Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster https://t.co/xCq8pRhAr0 pic.twitter.com/fGP9Q6eTpN ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 Read also: Global COVID-19 count crosses 7.8 million with over 431,000 fatalities On May 16, US President Trump had tweeted: I am proud to announce that the United States will donate ventilators to our friends in India. We stand with India and @narendramodi during this pandemic. Were also cooperating on vaccine development. Together we will beat the invisible enemy! I am proud to announce that the United States will donate ventilators to our friends in India. We stand with India and @narendramodi during this pandemic. Were also cooperating on vaccine development. Together we will beat the invisible enemy! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 15, 2020 In response to Trumps tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked him in a tweet and highlighted the India-US relationship. In such times, its always important for nations to work together and do as much as possible to make our world healthier and free from Covid-19, PM Modi said in a tweet. Read also: US Secret Service admits of agency employee using pepper spray on anti-racist protesters ahead of Trumps photo-op For all the latest World News, download NewsX App A mother-of-two has been arrested at the San Diego border after spending almost a decade living in Mexico while on the run from prosecution in the US. Maria Montalvo escaped the US seven years ago after she was accused of shooting dead her husband while their children slept upstairs at their home in Desoto, Texas. Her husband Simon Montalvo, 43, was found with six fatal bullet wounds, including two to the back of his head. His body had been hidden under a pile of heavy bricks and stones in their backyard, reported CBS. In April 2013 Montalvo fled the US and spent years in Mexico avoiding prosecution for murder. On May 19 she was caught by a US custom and border protection agent trying to get back into the US at the San Diego border with the Mexican city of Tijuana. Maria Montalvo (pictured) escaped the US seven years ago after she was accused of shooting dead her husband while their children slept upstairs at their home in Desoto, Texas She was arrested and escorted back to her former home town, Dallas, where she is currently behind bars in the county jail. 'Criminals will never get away with heinous crimes like this in Dallas County,' said Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot. 'My office, and our partners in law enforcement, will track them down to face prosecution.' She is being held for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution for murder. On May 19 Montalvo was caught by a US custom and border protection agent trying to get back into the US at the San Diego border with the Mexican city of Tijuana 'Our agency has never stopped looking for Montalvo and now that she is in jail where she belongs, we can pursue justice for the victim and his family,' said DeSoto Police Chief Joe Costa. It comes just a month after a Southern Californian woman and her boyfriend were arrested by the FBI for allegedly collecting ransom in a series of cross-border kidnappings. Leslie Briana Matla, 20, and Juan Carlos Montoya Sanchez, 25, were charged with one count each of money laundering conspiracy, the US Department of Justice said. Matla picked up ransom payments in Southern California from family members of kidnapping victims who were being held across the US border in Tijuana, Mexico, according to the criminal complaint. Records show Sanchez received wire transfers from two of the kidnapping victims, the complaint alleges. It comes after Leslie Briana Matla, 20, and Juan Carlos Montoya Sanchez, 25, were accused of collecting ransom as part of a kidnapping ring operating out of Hotel Aqua in Tijuana, Mexico (pictured) Three men - residents of San Diego, Norwalk and Pasadena - were kidnapped separately in Tijuana while on business or visiting family, prosecutors said. The victims' families were notified via a caller with a Mexican telephone number to deposit ransom money at specific locations, prosecutors allege. Mexican authorities found the body of San Diego resident Salvador Acosta Medina on March 29 - one day after the man's adult son placed a bag containing $25,000 inside the women's restroom of a McDonalds in the California community of San Ysidro near the border, officials said. Kidnapping victim Edgar Esteban Guzman (pictured), from California, was found dead The body of Edgar Esteban Guzman, from Norwalk, was found in Mexico on April 14. A day earlier, the victim's family unsuccessfully tried to pay a $25,000 ransom to a woman whom law enforcement believe was Matla at a Southern California Lowe's parking lot, according to court documents. Both Medina and Guzman had been staying at Hotel Aqua in Tijuana before their deaths. On April 22, a woman from Pasadena called law enforcement to report that kidnappers had demanded $20,000 for the return of the father of her children, according to an unsealed FBI affidavit obtained by the Los Angeles Times. The victim, described as a taco shop owner from Pasadena, called the woman at the direction of his kidnappers, telling her he had killed a family of four in a DUI crash and needed $20,000. He told the woman he loved her and their children. As he would later tell the FBI, he was saying goodbye on that call because he had seen the faces of his kidnappers and knew 'they were going to kill him no matter if a ransom was paid or not.' One of the kidnappers, calling from a Mexican phone number, informed the taco shop owner's family that a woman would pick up the cash at a Food 4 Less parking lot in the Los Angeles suburb of Lynwood. That same day, law enforcement rescued the victim, who was being held hostage at the same Tijuana hotel as the first two kidnapping victims. Matla was allegedly seen on surveillance video in San Ysidro near the US-Mexico border crossing on the day a $25,000 ransom was collected for the release of Salvador Acosta Medina, who was later found dead Nine suspects in the kidnapping ring were arrested by Mexican authorities at Hotel Aqua, according to federal officials. A review of security camera footage, border crossing records and social media led law enforcement to identify Matla as the woman sent to San Ysidro, Norwalk and Lynwood to pick up the ransom money on the dates in question, the affidavit alleges. Matla and Sanchez were arrested days apart in San Diego and have made their initial court appearances. If convicted of the charge, the couple could face up to life in federal prison. Matla is from the Southern California city of Colton, but lives in Tijuana, where Sanchez is from. One of Houstons two Confederate statues will be stored in a warehouse instead of a Texas historical site at least for now. The statue, which depicts Confederate Lt. Richard Dick Dowling and stands at the entrance to Hermann Park, initially was slated to go to the Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site in Port Arthur as part of a plan Mayor Sylvester Turner announced last week to relocate the two Confederate monuments. Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie, however, balked at that idea, calling it totally disrespectful for some society to make a decision for something to be placed here. The Texas Historical Commission, which manages the Port Arthur site, tabled a vote scheduled for Wednesday to accept the monument. Bartie told the Beaumont Enterprise that an intermediary conveyed those concerns to Turner and the Houston mayor had agreed to keep the statue in storage until another site is found. A Turner spokesperson did not confirm those details but said Tuesday the statue would be held in storage until final arrangements are made to move it to a new location. The location remained unclear. As far as we know, it has only been removed from this weeks agenda, said Bailey Curwick, a spokesperson for the Texas Historical Commission, of the motion to accept the monument. It remains possible that the commission could take up the action at a later date. Sabine Pass was a key port for Confederate shipments during the Civil War where Dowling led a Rebel group that fended off an attack from a much larger force of Union soldiers. The Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site already has one statue of Dowling and other displays about the battle. Houstons other Confederate monument, the Spirit of the Confederacy statue in Sam Houston Park, will be moved to the Houston Museum of African American Culture. The Houston Endowment has provided funds to transfer that statue, according to Turners office. The mayor said the monuments would be removed by Friday, which is Juneteenth, the state holiday celebrating the day in 1865 that Texas slaves learned they had been freed two years earlier. Turner established a task force in 2017 to look into what to do with the statues. The group determined they should be removed from city property but not destroyed. It appears the city also may consider moving the statue of Christopher Columbus in Bell Park, which has attracted in vandals in recent weeks. That decision has not been made, there is conversation happening, Mayor Pro Tem David Martin said during a city council session Tuesday. And if it is moved, it will be moved to an appropriate place in the City of Houston. dylan.mcguinness@chron.com A cabinet colleague today backed Robert Jenrick, the minister embroiled in an alleged cash-for-favours row, saying he was sure he had acted in the perfect proper way. Mr Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, approved a 1 billion property scheme on the Isle of Dogs two weeks before the developer donated 12,000 to the Tories. He also overruled Tower Hamlets council and a planning inspector a day before a community levy that could have cost the developer up to 50 million was introduced. Steve Reed, shadow housing secretary, has asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill to investigate. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News: Ministers have to make a whole series of decisions. These are always made based on the information thats put in front of you. I dont know the specifics of this case but Im sure he will have done it in the perfect proper way. Its easy to look at decisions retrospectively and make these sort of claims but there is a whole civil service and propriety thing around being a minister. Im sure he will have followed all that guidance properly. The Westferry Printworks development in east London, including plans for 1,500 homes, is led by former newspaper and magazine owner Richard Desmonds Northern and Shell firm. It has emerged that Mr Jenrick inadvertently sat next to Mr Desmond at a Conservative Party fundraising dinner in November where the project was raised. He said he told Mr Desmond he could not discuss it. Mr Jenrick has since quashed the decision on the scheme after a High Court challenge from Tower Hamlets council. A different minister will take any further decision on it. Yesterday Mr Jenrick told MPs he was confident that all the rules were followed. Pakistan's Punjab province has made the teaching of the Quran with translation mandatory for all the university students, without which the graduating students will not get the degree. Punjab province Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar issued the notification on Sunday making it mandatory for all the students in the universities (except non-Muslims) to learn the Quran with Urdu translation. 'Compulsory subject in universities of Punjab' "University graduates will not be awarded degree if they do not study the Quran with translation, the notification says. It further says, "Lecturers in all the universities -- public and private -- of Punjab will teach Quran with translation to all students. The holy book will be taught separately from the subject of Islamic studies which is already being taught in all the universities. Governor Sarwar, who is also the Chancellor of universities in Punjab, said the government has made mandatory for all the university students to read Quran with translation, failing for which will deprive them of their degree. READ | EXCLUSIVE: Fake recovery items shown by Pakistan; Hizbul guides crossed through Nepal "The historical decision to teach the Quran with Urdu translation has been implemented. This will be a compulsory subject in universities of Punjab without which a degree wont be awarded, he said. Sarwar said there is a plan to bring amendments to the Constitution for making the teaching of Quran translation compulsory for all students. In April, he had formed a seven-member committee of Vice-Chancellors to submit recommendations on how to make the teaching of the Quran with translation compulsory in all provincial universities. Minorities in Muslim-majority Pakistan make up less than 5% of the country's total population. READ | French court sentences six to jail over kickbacks from arms sales to Pakistan, Saudi Pakistani Journalist Naila Inayat took to Twitter and shared the circular sent to all the Vice-Chancellors of the universities in Punjab regarding the decision. Punjab govt makes teaching of Quran with translation mandatory for all the university students. In case the students don't take the course, they won't be awarded degrees. pic.twitter.com/7pttLc6usU Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) June 15, 2020 READ | India slams Pakistan for misusing UNHRC, says 'introspect grave human rights situation' READ | MEA summons Pakistan's Charge d'affaires after 2 Indian High Commission staff go missing (With PTI inputs) COLUMBIA, Mo., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Agents National Title Insurance Company announces the launch of REalSearch, an automated title data search and decision engine. REalSearch utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning combined with sound underwriting guidelines to search both traditional and non-traditional property data sources. The result is an instantaneous, highly accurate, and secure title product that allows title agents to close transactions faster and with less title clearance. The REalSearch report augments the traditional search and exam process and can be combined with a traditional title production platform to reduce exam time and increase accuracy. In many instances, files are clear to close with no further work by the agent. The logic in the workflow is paired with current Agents National Title Insurance underwriting rules to produce a product that is backed by a national underwriter. Lenders will be able to use REalSearch to expedite loan underwriting and close transactions faster. In addition, it has analytic capabilities for portfolio retention and is a pliable tool that can be used for multiple facets of the lending process. REalSearch is unique in that it can be utilized early in the lending process, improving process workflow and shortening the origination process. ANTIC President, David Townsend, is confident that REalSearch will provide a state-of-the-art solution for title agents and lenders. "REalSearch will revolutionize the way title agents operate. It gives them the tools to compete at the highest levels. They will have technology at their fingertips that will create unprecedented efficiencies." Todd Mendolia, ANTIC COO is excited for the uses for REalSearch. "REalSearch represents ANTIC's commitment to bring the most advanced technology to the market. REalSearch is designed to deliver title products that aren't just fast, they're done right. Whether you are a lender looking to dramatically impact your loan lifecycle or an agent needing to find workflow efficiencies, REalSearch and ANTIC are here to support you." You can learn more about Agents National Title Insurance at www.agentstitle.com About Agents National Title Insurance Company Agents National Title Insurance Company (ANTIC) is a title insurance underwriter first licensed in February 2006, servicing independent title agents throughout the country. Headquartered in Columbia, MO, ANTIC holds licenses in 41 states and has regional offices in Florida, Indiana and Texas. ANTIC supports more than 200 agencies with over 3000 employees. For more information, please visit www.agentstitle.com. About Incenter LLC Incenter provides its lender clients operating in the mortgage and specialty finance markets with access to capital, advisory solutions and fulfillment services. As a Blackstone portfolio company with offices in Charlotte, Philadelphia, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Missouri, Manila, Philippines and Saint Paul, Minnesota, Incenter employs approximately 300 professionals worldwide. For more information, please visit www.incenterms.com. SOURCE Agents National Title Insurance Company Related Links https://www.agentstitle.com Money and luck are two things everyone should bring with them when they go out to have a good time at Northwest Indiana's casinos. But gamblers visiting the Region's five gaming facilities, which reopened Monday after a three-month shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, also will want to have plenty of one more thing patience. Long lines to comply with state-mandated COVID-19 safety policies were the order of the day, especially at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, where patrons at noon waited in line about a half-hour to get from the parking garage into the casino. Vehicles also were lined up in the parking garage and on the ramp to the casino from Indianapolis Boulevard. A number of visitors eventually just gave up and went home instead of waiting in the blocks-long indoor line to enter the Horseshoe. One even proclaimed to the socially-distant crowd: "I'm tired of waiting. I'm going to save my money for another day." Albuquerque police detain members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, an armed civilian group, following the shooting of a man during a protest over a statue of Spanish conquerer Juan de Onate in Albuquerque, N.M. on June 15, 2020. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) Man Shot During Protest Over Statue in Albuquerque A man was shot on Monday evening in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as protesters attempted to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador near the Albuquerque Museum, said police. Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos told The Associated Press that the shot victim was hospitalized in critical but stable condition as of Monday evening. The identity of the victim was not disclosed. The FBI is now assisting in the investigation, the Albuquerque Police Department confirmed to the Albuquerque Journal. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other officials condemned the shooting and violence on Monday evening. Although we are still learning more about the situation, I am horrified and disgusted beyond words by the reports of violence at a protest Monday night in Albuquerque, Lujan Grisham said late Monday in a statement on the governors website. The heavily armed individuals who flaunted themselves at the protest, calling themselves a civil guard, were there for one reason: To menace protesters, to present an unsanctioned show of unregulated force. To menace the people of New Mexico with weaponrywith an implicit threat of violenceis on its face unacceptable; that violence did indeed occur is unspeakable. Message from APD Chief Michael Geier: We are receiving reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence. If this is true will be holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, including federal hate group designation and prosecution. Albuquerque Police Department (@ABQPOLICE) June 16, 2020 The violent unrest prompted the mayor, Tim Keller, to announce that the city will remove the statue of conquistador Juan de Onate. In order to contain the public safety risk, the City will be removing the statue until the appropriate civic institutions can determine next steps, he wrote on Twitter. Our hearts go out the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight. This sculpture has now become an urgent matter of public safety. The Albuquerque Police Department also confirmed Tuesday that 31-year-old Stephen Ray Baca was arrested in connection with the incident. He was taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center on aggravated battery charges, according to KRQE. The Albuquerque Police Department has not responded to a request for comment. Police Chief Michael Geier said in a statement that the department has been receiving reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence. If this is true will be holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, including federal hate group designation and prosecution, Geier wrote. In commemorating the Day of the African Child, two children have appealed to Nigerian governments at all levels to provide and strengthen access to child-friendly justice systems. They also appealed to the federal government to establish specialised courts and dedicated law enforcement units within the Nigerian police, security, defence forces, and agencies in the six geo-political zones of the country to fast-track the full implementation of the Child Rights Act 2003. The Day of the African Child is aimed at remembering hundreds of school children who lost their lives during a peaceful protest for their right to education in Soweto, South Africa, on June 16, 1976. Open letter In an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Girl-child Ambassador and the Youth Ambassador, Save the Children International, Nigeria, Purity Oriaf and Maryam Ahmed, said the implementation and domestication of the 2003 Child Rights Act will provide children in Nigeria the necessary legal policy framework for seeking justice when their rights are denied or abused. We would like to sincerely request the government to design a child-led, comprehensive, multi-sectoral, national development agenda, and plan for children. As we celebrate The Day of the African Child this year, we would like to very sincerely engage with Your Excellency our dear President on how we can jointly seta national development agenda specially tailored for children that ensure our rights are protected, respected, and fulfilled, they said. The children ambassadors also said there has not been any child-friendly and child-focused COVID-19 response initiative since schools were closed in March. We understand that the action to close schools was to protect us from the deadly COVID-19 Pandemic. While we appreciate some innovations to bridge the learning gaps through radio and TV programs and in some cases, online learning platforms, not all children have access to these facilities. We worry that many of us living in rural areas and those living in low-income households will be left behind, they said. According to them, our right to access, undisrupted, safe, free, and quality education is at risk. There is also the possibility that many children will not go back to school (especially the girls) as their families may decide to marry them off as a way of dealing with the uncertainties, the ambassadors said. Today, children stand with one voice, from Soweto to Sokoto, demanding a a multidisciplinary approach that requires their right to justice to be integrated into regulation and the operationalization of child-friendly justice systems, they said. The ambassadors said children are under attack through increasing cases of sexual abuse, molestation, and violence, including rape, early child marriage and forced child labour and trafficking, making us feel more unsafe, unprotected and experiencing different forms of trauma. Crisis In a separate statement, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said Nigeria is facing a child rights crisis as the world celebrates the Day of the African Child 2020. More than 36,000 child victims of violence, including 5,693 survivors of sexual violence (16 percent), were identified and documented in seven states of Nigeria since 2017. But very few of those cases made it to the courtrooms, let alone resulted in justice for child victims, UNICEF said. The UN organisation also said the number of children awaiting trial for what are often petty crimes is estimated to be more than 1,000 with children often held in detention with adults and in conditions that no child should live in. The UNICEFs Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, also said access to a child-friendly justice system is essential for protecting childrens rights and addressing violence against children. Without access to a child-friendly justice system, childrens rights will remain elusive and as a society, we cannot serve the best interests of children, especially in the face of violations of their rights, he said. The Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union), established The Day of the African Child to honour the courage of children and in memory of those killed. The 2020 Day is themed, Access to a child-friendly justice system in Africa. OPINION: Thailand Tourism recovery are we doing enough? BANGKOK: The wheels of Thailands tourism industry are slowly turning. Travel and tourism is starting to move again. Weekends in Hua Hin hotels for instance are close to capacity (with some resorts experiencing 90% occupancy and some even higher). Being close to Bangkok; the weather, air quality and the fact that you can drive from the metropolis definitely help. tourismeconomicsCOVID-19opinion By Andrew J Wood Tuesday 16 June 2020, 11:06AM Photo: via AJ Wood But two out of seven days are not enough and our islands, away from Bangkok are suffering the most. Domestically they receive very few guests and are extremely reliant on international travellers. International flights into Thailand are currently not allowed for tourists. The only flights in are carrying repatriated Thai nationals or those with jobs here and holding a work permit or are invited government guests. All have to enter 14 days of quarantine on arrival. We need international arrivals to support our tourism industry but they will not travel without flights and on arrival having to spend two weeks in quarantine. We cannot survive on domestic tourism alone. Last year Thailand welcomed 39.8 million guests. We are asking for your support. To all our industry friends and professionals we ask you to talk about what our industry decision makers, government and tourism agency/ association colleagues can do to help restart flights. We need to reopen our skies. We are grateful for the Thai governments leadership in controlling COVID-19. Thailand was recently ranked second in the Global COVID-19 Recovery Index after Australia, and is first in Asia in the same index Thailand is regarded as a leading light, a flagship of Asia tourism. Thailands tourism industry needs flights to recover and, in turn, protect valuable jobs. Opening up a dialogue to help make it more accessible for foreign visitors to travel to Thailand is vital. The industry requests the help from Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn and Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced that international travel is possible on a bilateral basis. No further details however have been released. The Thai Government has done an excellent job in controlling the coronavirus pandemic with only 3,135 infections and just 58 deaths. They are to be congratulated. It is encouraging to note that Thailand has logged no new local COVID-19 infections for the past 21 days. As we move into the recovery phase we need to now restart international flights into and out of Thailand. Without air lift, recovery for some businesses will simply not happen. 1000 tourists, which is the maximum figure per day the government are suggesting, will in our opinion be too few to support the tourism industry. Thailands tourism industry, is a major employer, which directly and indirectly affects millions. For almost two decades, the industry has been providing employment for one in 10 of all workers here. The peripheral grey market that supports tourism has also been widely affected. The street vendors for instance and other low paid informal workers struggle daily. It is important to all business owners to keep our valued employees and maintain trust with them. Please help support the tourism industrys call to allow international tourists to once again revisit these shores. In your webinars and zoom meetings; in your social media interactions and discussions and industry meetings, please ensure that your opinion on restarting international flights and protecting tourism jobs are made known. Andrew J Wood was born in Yorkshire England, he is a professional hotelier, Skalleague and travel writer. Andrew has 48 years of hospitality and travel experience. He is a hotel graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh. Andrew is a past Director of Skal International (SI), National President SI Thailand and is currently President of SI Bangkok and a VP of both SI Thailand and SI Asia. He is a regular guest lecturer at various Universities in Thailand including Assumption Universitys Hospitality School and the Japan Hotel School in Tokyo. A white woman has been caught on camera screaming sickening racial slurs at a group of pedestrians in Asheville, North Carolina. Rachel Ruit verbally attacked Aisha Abdus-Sabur, 29, who was walking to a birthday dinner with her brother and boyfriend Saturday night. 'N*****, touch me, n*****. You'll go to jail. Touch me, b***h,' Ruit can be heard yelling in the video - which Abdus-Sabur shared to her Instagram. The clip then shows two white bystanders trying to intervene, before Ruit begins to scream at them. 'Touch me, b***h!' Ruit yells, pointing her finger in rage. 'Touch me n*****, touch me n******, touch me n******!' Ruit continues to yell. She then hurls the racial slur at another white woman who tells her to leave the scene. Abdus-Sabur spoke with WLOS about the shocking incident Monday, saying Ruit was 'filled with hate, rage and racism'. 'She continued to say racial slurs to my face, continue to call me n***** over and over and over again,' she told the news network. 'It was the most blatant display of racism that I have ever experienced.' Ruit, has since received a criminal summons for disorderly conduct from the Asheville Police Department. Attorney Joseph Bowman says it's possible she could receive up to 60 days in jail for 'disturbing the peace'. 'The issue with disturbing the peace is, if it looks like you are trying to start a fight, and if it looks like you are trying to start a fight, then you are trying to start a fight, and that's the crime,' Bowman told WLOS. A white woman - now identified as Rachel Ruit - has been caught on camera screaming racist abuse at a group of black pedestrians in Asheville, North Carolina Aisha Abdus-Sabur spoke with WLOS about the shocking incident Monday, saying Ruit was 'filled with hate, rage and racism' It appears Ruit may have been enraged by a Black Lives Matter protest which was occurring close to where the incident took place. One bystander in the clip had just returned from the rally - which was calling for an end to systemic racism - when he walked across the scene. 'All of us who were here, we were affirmed this is why we're here,' protester Jacob Blair said. Ruit has not publicly responded. The Federal Government schools and universities will reopen amid coronavirus pandemic, only when they meet these conditions. According to the federal government, the conditions are to protect pupils and students against Coronavirus. The FG that all schools be decontaminated and new class sizes which will accommodate social and physical distancing. This was made known by the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba in Abuja at the 2020 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB). Advertisement Nwajiuba said: While we Iook forward to easing the Lockdown which win ultimately lead to re-opening of our campuses, I urge all the Heads of Institutions not to wait till the announcement on reopening before putting in place all necessary measures in compliance with the protocols and advisories of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). All Institutions must have (1) Hand-washing facilities, (2) Body temperature checks (3) Body disinfectants at all entering points to their major facilities including the gates, hostels, classes, offices, etc. (4) The whole premises of each institution must be decontaminated and (5) All efforts must be geared toward maintenance of the highest level of hygiene (6) Ensure Social] Physical Distancing in class sizes and meeting spaces. Let me seize this opportunity to commend institutions that responded promptly with different innovations, including the manufacturing of some of the facilities that are required to attend to the COVID-19 Pandemic. I am elated with the efforts that led to the production of Ventilator, Body Disinfectant, Hand Washing and Liquid Dispensers, Body Temperature Gauges, and many more. These are manifestations of the abundance of talents in the country and the result of research. Read Also: Many Countries Begged Nigeria For Food During Lockdown FG As a member of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, let me assure all compatriots that the Government is very much concerned about the long lockdown of the nations education institutions in particular and the economy in general. The Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that both lives and livelihood are given the top most priority that they deserve. We are aware that we must be alive to make a living while at the same time we are conscious that we must have a livelihood to stay a life. The Presidential Task Force is working assiduously with facts and figures that mirror the reality of our current situation and circumstance. We are making use of them to respond to the challenges in such a way that we can limit and manage the negative effects of the Pandemic. Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket: Lennar (LEN) Lennar reported quarterly profit of $1.65 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $1.18 a share. The home builder's revenue also beat Street forecasts and Lennar forecast full-year home deliveries above current consensus, amid a rebound in home sales as the economy reopens. iQIYI (IQ) China's Tencent is seeking to become the largest shareholder in the video-streaming company, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters. iQIYI is currently majority-owned by China search giant Baidu (BIDU). T-Mobile US (TMUS) Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is calling for an investigation of T-Mobile, after a network outage that impacted users across the U.S. for about 12 hours. Separately, SoftBank is considering a sale of its T-Mobile shares to raise cash and reduce its debt. Softbank holds about 25% of T-Mobile, while Germany's Deutsche Telekom owns about 44%. Amazon.com (AMZN) Amazon introduced technology known as "Distance Assistant," designed to provide workers with real-time feedback on social distancing. The technology is now live at several Amazon buildings, and the company plans to open-source the software. Chesapeake Energy (CHK) The energy producer is preparing to file for bankruptcy protection as soon as this week, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters. The company is said to be in the final stages of negotiation for a $900 million loan to support operations while under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Eli Lilly (LLY) The drugmaker said its experimental breast cancer treatment Verzenio met its main goal in a late-stage study. Tesla (TSLA) Proxy advisor ISS is recommending Tesla shareholders vote against the reelection of board chair Robyn Denholm at the automaker's annual meeting in July. ISS cited concerns over Denholm's leadership. Apple (AAPL) The European Union has opened antitrust probes into the company's App Store and Apple Pay service. The EU is looking into whether restrictions imposed by Apple violate its competition rules. In response, Apple said it follows the law in everything it does and embraces competition at every stage. Separately, Citi increased its price target for Apple stock to a Street high of $400 a share, based on several factors including the upcoming 5G launch and strong growth for wearable technology. Royalty Pharma (RPRX) Royalty Pharma's initial public offering was priced at $28 per share, the top end of the expected range, raising $2.18 billion. It's the second-largest pharma IPO on record, according to Dealogic, trailing only the 2013 IPO of Zoetis (ZTS). Tanger Factory Outlets (SKT) The shopping center operator said 72% of its occupied stores were open as of this past Sunday, and that weekly traffic has exceeded 90% of prior-year levels at stores that have been open for 30 days or more. Tanger also said it had amended its debt agreements in a move that will maximize its financial flexibility. Walmart (WMT) The retailer bought technology and intellectual property from CareZone, a developer of apps that help consumers manage their medications. Financial details were not disclosed, but a person familiar with the deal told CNBC that Walmart paid about $200 million. WW (WW) The Weight Watchers parent said it had 4.9 million subscribers as of June 6, up 7% from a year earlier. Digital subscribership is at an all-time high, getting a boost as more people stayed at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Medecin sans frontiere en action dans la Region de l'Extreme-Nord Archives The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) announced June 12 its decision to suspend activities and withdraw from Mamfe, capital of Cameroons Manyu Division, South-West Region. The withdrawal is attributed to restrictions occasioned by COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, as well as the inadequacies in equipment and personnel. The current COVID-19 pandemic has imposed significant challenges for all, populations, states and humanitarian actors, globally as well as in Cameroon, read a statement attributed to Albert Vinas, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) emergency coordinator for Cameroon. Because of COVID-19-related travel restrictions, Doctors without Borders lacks specialized and experienced staff and equipment needed to ensure that we can maintain the optimal quality of our medical activities in some places around the world. MSF says it had to make the difficult decision to temporarily suspend their activities in Mamfe, in South-West Cameroon, until the end of July. This decision is temporary and will be evaluated in the light of new developments. As at June 12, the international medical humanitarian organization suspended her ambulance service in Mamfe. It went on to withdraw MSF medical staff from the Mamfe regional hospital. But we will continue to support community health workers, and cover the hospital fees for patients they refer until the end of July. Doctors Without Borders' other medical projects in the North-West, South-West, Far North and in Yaounde are not disrupted and continue, and we are committed to ensure that vulnerable and isolated communities continue to have access to free and quality healthcare as much as possible, said Vinas. We will do our utmost to continue having a presence in the Mamfe area and will re-evaluate the situation over the coming weeks. Vinas adds that for any questions and media request, their Field communication officer, Ms. Antoinette Buinda should be contacted on 664123564/673528979. Continuing our medical activities in these areas already marked by massive health needs is an absolute priority for MSF, Vinas said in April. The current COVID-19 outbreak must not overshadow the dire humanitarian situation in the Far North, North West and South West regions. But the spread of the new coronavirus means, of course, that we had to adapt our projects, maintain essential lifesaving activities and set up new interventions. The way a vast amount of schools are setup, with classes grouping children based on their ability, is severely affecting pupil's self-confidence. This is according to a new substantial study, by experts from the UCL Institute of Education, Queen's University Belfast and Lancaster University, who looked at more than 9,000 12-to-13-year-old students taking part in 'setted' maths and English classes (when classes are grouped by children's ability). The team, who published their results in the British Journal of Sociology of Education, found that not only is there a "worrying" self-confidence gap between students in the top and bottom sets, but, for those in maths sets, the gap in general self-confidence in fact widens over time - something the report states is "deeply concerning". Commenting on their findings, Professor Jeremy Hodgen of UCL Institute of Education stated that the study has "potentially important implications for social justice", with the growing gap risking "cementing existing inequalities rather than dissipating them". "Low attainers are being ill-served in schools that apply setting, and low attainment groups are shown to be disproportionately populated by pupils from low socio-economic backgrounds and from particular ethnic groups. "Our results have important implications for interventions directed at addressing disadvantage in education. "In terms of social in/justice, our findings suggest that setting is indeed promoting both distributional and recognitive injustice." The research was undertaken via student surveys in 139 UK secondary schools (divided into intervention or control groups), and involved instigating work with and monitoring student cohorts from the beginning of Year 7 (11-12 years old) to the end of Year 8 (12-13 years old), focusing on their experiences and outcomes in English and Mathematics. The analysis shows that when compared with two years previously, there was a general trend that students had higher self-confidence in the subject area of mathematics or English if they were placed in the top set and a significantly lower self-confidence when placed in the bottom set in mathematics when compared with an average student in the middle set. This trend in self-confidence remained for general self-confidence in mathematics and those in the top set in English - and crucially remained after controlling for attainment level. In other cases, the trend was reduced, albeit in no case was reversed. Dr Becky Taylor of the IOE added that the labels associated with ability based classes impact children's self-perception in relation to their learning, subject identification, and feelings about themselves, as learners, and about their place in school. "We do not think it unreasonable to hypothesise that these trends in self-confidence likely impact on pupils' dis/associations with schooling, and in turn on pupils' perceptions of their futures. "The 'ability set' label snowballs as it builds momentum and impact via the various practices, understandings and behaviours on the part of the pupil, on teachers, parents, peers, and therefore the school and its practices." The report acknowledges more research is now needed to further understand how self-confidence impacts children's futures, and recognises that there may also be a range of different psychological factors and processes which mediate the affects between the receipt of an 'ability label' via tracking, and self confidence in learning. "We recognise that there may be other issues associated with bottom set groups that might also impede the development of self-confidence over time, such as absenteeism or exclusion - albeit it is worth noting that these may also be precipitated by designation to a bottom set group and the disassociation with schooling entailed," Professor Hodgen concluded. ### The Municipal Chief Executive for West Gonja, Hon. Saaed Muhazu Jibreel has secured the support of World Vision to help combat the spread of the novel Coronavirus in the municipality. Among others, the humanitarian NGO donated 50 handwashing facilities and accessories and 50 gallons of soap to the municipality. Receiving the items, the Municipal Chief Executive lauded World Vision and its partners for continuous support. He disclosed that the kind gesture by the World Vision will go a long way to augment effort by the assembly in the fight against a pandemic that has thrown the whole world into complete turmoil. According to him, World Vision international remains the biggest single donor NGO that the municipality benefits from, aside from the RING project which has phased out. He enumerated interventions of the NGO in the areas of education, health, provision of portable drinking water inter alia as commendable. "I have to say confidently that as long as the West Gonja Municipality is concerned, the single donor NGO that we benefit from is the World Vision international. Apart from when we were under the RING project; if you look at it, after RING, the single donor again is World Vision. And I know we still have many more years of engagement with World Vision," he said. The worried MCE confirmed reports that the newly carved Savannah Region has recorded 34 new cases of the novel COVID-19 bringing the total number of recorded cases in the region to 35. Even though West Gonja Municipality has not recorded a case,he noted that,18 of the cases were recorded in the East Gonja Municipality,whilst the remaining 16 are from the Central Gonja District. Whilst admonishing residents of the municipality to strictly adhere to the safety protocols outlined by the Ghana Health Service,he appealed to World Vision to still consider the municipality in any future support in the fight against the virus. He pledged that the municipality was going to put the items into good use. Mr.Felix Apeti,the Savelugu Cluster Manager of World Vision who presented the items on behalf of the National Director and the Northern Regional Operations,disclosed that the goal of World Vision is to see every household in the municipality owning a hand washing facility. It was his hope that the assembly will distribute the facilities to needy communities,especially World Vision RC communities. Hitherto to this donation,he said they have distributed substantial quantities of Personal Protection Equipment including: protective overalls, surgical gloves, cleaning gloves,hand sanitizers, hand washing stations, detergents among others across the country as part of their response measures. He also revealed the readiness of World Vision to support the assembly with fuel to supply water to communities in order to promote regular hand washing. Ghana's Coronavirus case count according to data released by the Ghana Health Service now stands at 12,193,with 58 deaths and 4,326 recoveries.((This leaves the total active cases at 7,813). The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the governments to rethink and reframe developmental policies, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Tuesday. He was addressing a virtual rally of BJP office-bearers and workers of Jaswan-Pragpur of Kangra district through video-conferencing. The chief minister said the coronavirus crisis also provided the farsightedness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government as it took prompt steps to contain the pandemic that brought the worlds most powerful nations to their knees. He said Covid-19 has adversely hit the worlds countries including India. This virus has forced us to rethink and reframe our strategies and developmental policies and programmes, he said. The CM said lakhs of people of the state, particularly students, were stranded in different parts of the country at the initial stage of the lockdown and most of them were in distress. It was the states moral duty to bring them back. These people were evacuated in buses and thirteen special trains. This, however, has resulted in sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Himachal, but couldnt have left our own people to their fate, said Thakur. He said all people coming from other parts of the country have been kept under institutional or home quarantine, and Himachals overall situation was far better than the neighbouring states. Thakur added that the Prime Minister had appreciated the states strategy of Active Case Finding (ACF) campaign to trace infected persons. He thanked the people of Jaswan Pragpur for contributing about 35 lakh towards the HP Covid Response. Apart from donations, the people of Jaswan Pragpur distributed about 65,000 masks and 1,800 Modi Kits to the needy. Speaking on the occasion, Union minister of state for finance and corporate affairs Anurag Thakur said the six-year tenure of the Narendra Modi government has paved the way for a new, strong and vibrant India. He said the Union government has announced a 20-lakh crore economic package that envisages support to every section of the society for their economic revival. He also detailed various developmental programmes launched by the Union government. Industries minister and local MLA Jaswan Pragpur Bikram, Dehra district BJP president Sanjeev Sharma and Jaswan Pragpur block president Vinod Sharma also spoke on the occasion. By Akbar Mammadov A group of Azerbaijani peacekeepers has been sent to Afghanistan on a rotating basis to operate as part of NATO's "Resolute Support" mission, the Defense Ministry said on June 16. It should be noted that the peacekeeping mission of the Azerbaijani Army in Afghanistan began on November 20, 2002. Earlier, on April 7, Azerbaijan Army officers who participated in the peacekeeping mission under the command of the UN Mission (UNMISS) in South Sudan returned to the country. The international military command highly appreciated the activities of the Azerbaijani servicemen who have participated in the UN Peacekeeping Mission since January 2019. The ministry noted that the new group of servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army that was sent to South Sudan on the basis of rotation are already involved in the mission in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Azerbaijan passed a decision on November 30, 2018, on the deployment of Azerbaijani servicemen in South Sudan as part of the UN peacekeeping mission. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Black parliamentarians and more than 100 allies from a range of political parties have signed a detailed declaration demanding governments take immediate action to eliminate systemic racism, the Star has learned. Citing recent videos of police violence that have surfaced in North America in recent weeks, the caucus said its not interested further discussion, but concrete and immediate actions by all levels of government to address systemic racism. The statement, to be made public early Tuesday, asks that governments begin measuring the pervasiveness of discrimination through race-based data, and that they meaningfully address the barriers faced by Indigenous and Black people when seeking security and justice in Canada. The Afro Canadian community has spoken for many years and is no longer interested in continued consultation or study, said a statement signed by the caucus Monday night, which includes parliamentarians from the Senate and House of Commons who are Black or allies to the Black community. The move increases pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to move beyond promising action to introducing concrete measures. It comes after several days of negotiations and consultations between the group of Black parliamentarians and community groups over what precise actions the government should take. The Conservatives were not approached to sign the document because organizers were dismayed that leader Andrew Scheer has dodged questions about whether he believes systemic racism exists in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly promised concrete action since the death of George Floyd prompted widespread protests across the United States. In Canada, marches were organized following the death of 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who fell to her death from her 24-storey balcony on May 27 while Toronto police were present. Trudeau joined protesters in Ottawa this month by taking a knee in solidarity, but questions about what kind of action, and demands for details, have been growing louder. The signatories say a standing committee focused on the strategy to eliminate systemic racism needs to be created in Parliament immediately. To address barriers to assessing public security, the caucus calls for a fundamental reform to the way police, public security, border security, corrections, and military forces operate in Canada. Many Black voices are calling for the defunding and demilitarization of the police, they wrote. This is a call for the complete reimagination of the roles and responsibilities of policing and, accordingly, the reallocation of budgets. The budgets need to be directed instead towards social services for those who need them and mental health workers trained in non-violent intervention and deescalation, they said. The caucus also suggests the creation of a justice strategy created in collaboration with Black Canadians who have experience and expertise on criminal justice issues. The strategy would include the elimination of mandatory minimum sentencing measures, the opening of restorative justice programs and community justice centres as an alternative to imprisonment, and addressing the lack of representation of Black Canadians and Indigenous people in the justice system. The signatories are demanding the federal government immediately begin the collection of disaggregated race-based data in police encounters, public sector workplaces, and in the federally regulated private sector. Formal mechanisms are needed to track Canadas progress, they wrote, mentioning the need for oversight bodies who can track the progress of the measures being taken. An anti-Black racism directorate in Privy Councils office could also be created to oversee the process. Public administrations also need to reflect the diversity of the constituents they represent, the letter said. More can be done to assist Black-owned and Black-run businesses, and to recognize and support the economic and artistic contributions of Black people throughout Canada, they said. The reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic proves that governments can act quickly and ably in crisis. Black Canadians are in a state of crisis: it is time to act. Words and symbolic gestures, while important, are not enough., the caucus wrote. Miriam Lafontaine is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @mirilafontaine Heather Scoffield is the Stars Ottawa bureau chief and an economics columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @hscoffield The County of Midland has issued a number of recent flood updates. Phone number for American Red Cross long-term shelter needs and immediate assistance Residents who are still displaced from their homes and have long-term sheltering needs should be advised that a new phone number is available to call for assistance. The phone number for the American Red Cross is 1-800-733-2767 (1-800-RED-CROS): For sheltering and other immediate assistance, including financial needs, select the following prompts: Press 4 for a disaster related need; Then press 1 for assistance related to the spring flooding of 2020; Then press 2 again for assistance related to the spring flooding of 2020; and Press 3 if you are calling for the first time and do not have a case number Information on the process for securing state, federal disaster aid The process for requesting and receiving state and federal aid begins at the local level with damage assessment and data collection. In Midland County, this process has been led by the Midland County Emergency Operations Center through the submission of damage claims through the online damage assessment portal. Once damage assessments have been completed and compiled together locally, these metrics are sent to the State of Michigan for review. The State of Michigan reviews the amount of damage sustained and exhausts all possible physical and financial resources available at the state level to assist with this disaster. If a need still remains after the state government has exhausted all resources, the state then sends the damage assessment data to the federal government to determine if it qualifies for a federal major disaster declaration from the president. Only if a federal major disaster declaration is received will any federal aid, such as available assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) be available. This is not guaranteed for any disaster. The process described above can take 30-45 days to complete once out of local control, sometimes longer. As of today, June 15, day 29 since the event began, Governor Whitmer has sent a request to the White House requesting a major disaster declaration. Residents may also find this link helpful to understand the FEMA process and the types of aid that may be available should a federal major disaster declaration be made: www.fema.gov/pdf/rrr/dec_proc.pdf. Residents should not attempt to contact FEMA directly regarding their flood damages. Property owners with flood damage should contact their insurance agents for coverage information. If insurance will not cover damages, be sure to get a "statement of denial" from the insurance company. Property owners are advised to save all receipts and take photo and video documentation of damages. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, Michigans insurance regulatory agency, provides helpful information and possible remedies related to flooding and insurance. Visit www.michigan.gov/difs/0,5269,7-303-12902_71489_71517-350344--,00.html to learn more. Water testing kits for flooded groundwater wells in Midland County Midland County residents whose groundwater wells were impacted by flood waters should have their water tested to ensure it was not contaminated. Flood waters can contain numerous pathogens, chemicals, and other materials that can make people ill. Free well testing kits are available through the Midland County Department of Public Health. These kits can be picked up at the County Services Building, 220 W. Ellsworth St., by calling 989-832-6380. If a well is found to be contaminated, it must be disinfected before safe water use can resume. Residents who experience no water service or low water pressure from their groundwater wells should also contact the Department of Public Health. Reminder: Donation drop-off and pick-up sites remain open The following locations remain open as long-term resource centers for individuals who need access to food, cleaning supplies, water and personal care items. Meridian Elementary School, 3343 N Meridian Road, Sanford: M-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sanford Senior Center (limited supplies), 3243 N. West River Road, Sanford: M-F, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Greater Midland Community Center (Senior Wing), 2205 Jefferson Ave, Midland: M-F, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. West Midland Family Center, 4011 W Isabella Road, Shepherd: M-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Greater Midland North Midland Family Center, 2601 E Shearer Road, Midland: M-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Greater Midland Coleman Family Center, 4839 N Coleman Schools Drive, Coleman: M-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gladwin Parking lot behind Forge Fitness, 237 W. Cedar Ave., Gladwin (parking lot is at the corner of Arcade and Grout streets) The current list of items needed/items available includes: rakes; shovels; wheelbarrows; dehumidifiers; pump sprayers; crockpots; box fans; and brooms. Clothing donations will not be accepted at this time. In collaboration with Dow and the Midland Emergency Operations Center (EOC), United Way of Midland County has created a process for those who wish to donate and those in need of items for flood relief. The Supplies Donations Plan provides a framework to collect and distribute donated items to those in need. Businesses or organizations who wish to donate items must first fill out the Supplies Donations Survey online at www.reliefmidland.org and click the link under Corporate Supplies Donations to complete a donation survey. United Way will be in contact with all survey submissions within 72 hours to discuss next steps. Urgent donations needs will be processed as soon as possible. Individuals should drop off donations only at the locations listed above. Busan International Finance Center / Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan Government Seoul careful about taking advantage of political turmoil By Park Jae-hyuk Busan has declared it will seek to attract multinational banks, asset management companies and venture capital firms leaving Hong Kong, preempting Seoul which has remained cautious about taking advantage of an escalating political feud there. The Busan Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that its move comes as Asia's premier financial hub has demonstrated instability amid the COVID-19 pandemic and massive protests against Beijing's promulgation of a national security law, apparently intended to tighten its grip over the "special administrative region." The city government said it will conduct an online investor roadshow, Thursday, in collaboration with Z/Yen, a London-based commercial think tank which has over 10,000 clients worldwide. Busan will hold a web conference in July to introduce itself to financial firms in Hong Kong. It is also planning to conduct an on-site investor roadshow there and visit companies there in collaboration with the Financial Supervisory Service, when the city's travel restriction is lifted. In addition, ads for Korea's second-largest city will be put on mobile apps and foreign business news outlets, such as the Economist and Bloomberg, so as to raise global financial companies' awareness of Busan. "We will definitely achieve a success by promoting our city to global financial companies in Hong Kong," Busan Acting Mayor Byeon Sung-wan said. "We will do our best to improve our city's status as a financial hub." The city government promised it will lend business spaces for free for 25 years, if foreign financial firms move to the Busan International Finance Center (BIFC). The foreign companies will also be exempt from corporate and income taxes for the first three years and will be able to enjoy an additional 50 percent tax cut if they stay in the city for two more years. "Our city's merits are maritime finance and derivatives," a Busan Metropolitan Government official said. "When the Busan Finance Center opens in July and hires marketing and financial experts, we will be able to speed up our efforts to attract maritime financial institutions." In contrast, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has yet to announce any plan to attract global financial firms exiting Hong Kong. A source close to the city government said it is taking a more cautious approach toward this issue, because the international community may consider the capital city's attempt to attract companies in Hong Kong as different from Busan's attempt. The source said the Seoul Metropolitan Government has sought to attract foreign financial firms without emphasizing their nationality and locations. "Our city will start offering business spaces on Yeouido from October to foreign financial firms and international organizations," a Seoul Metropolitan Government official said. "We will also continue to carry out various marketing campaigns for foreign businesses that are considering moving their offices to Seoul from other Asian cities." According to Z/Yen's global financial centers index measuring the competitiveness of financial centers, Seoul and Busan ranked 33rd and 51st in March, respectively, among 108 cities worldwide. Against this backdrop, financial industry officials have predicted Singapore to replace Hong Kong as Asia's premier financial hub, pointing out that Korea still has too many regulations to make it attractive. Although most experts here admitted the criticism, some of them said Korea can provide global financial firms with new opportunities that are not available in any other Asian countries. "From a long-term point of view, one of our country's merits is possible economic cooperation between the two Koreas," Korea Institute of Finance senior research fellow Lee Yoon-sok said. "Although Singapore has already been a financial hub, it lacks new growth engines. Despite the growth of ASEAN nations, the city state will unlikely benefit from its neighbor's development." In this regard, the researcher welcomed the Busan Metropolitan Government's recent announcement and called for the Seoul Metropolitan Government to take similar action. New Delhi: The Indian Army on Tuesday (June 16, 2020) said that at least 20 soldiers have been martyred during the violent face-off with the Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night. Though the Army did not elaborate on the exact number, it said that almost the same number of Chinese troops have been killed during the clashes in the Galwan Valley. "Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand-off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20. The Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation," the India Army said in an official release. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has, meanwhile, blamed China for the incident and alleged that it tried to unilaterally change the status and "departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley". Speaking on the issue, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said both sides suffered casualties in the violent face-off and the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. Responding to media queries on the situation in the western sector of the India-China border, Srivastava said that India and China have been discussing through military and diplomatic channels the de-escalation of the situation in the border area in Eastern Ladakh. He said commanders of two sides had a productive meeting on June 6 and agreed on a process for such de-escalation and subsequently ground commanders had a series of meetings to implement the consensus reached at a higher level. "While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. On the late evening and night of June 15, 2020, a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side," he said. Srivastava said that given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. "We expect the same of the Chinese side," he said. The MEA spokesperson said that India remains firmly convinced of the need for maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. "At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India`s sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. It may be noted that Colonel Santosh Babu, the Commanding Officer of 16, Bihar Regiment, Havildar K Pazhani and Sepoy Kundan Kumar Ojha laid down their lives during the skirmish with the Chinese Army on Monday night. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held two review meetings over developments in eastern Ladakh during the day. A meeting was held at the residence of Defence Minister in the evening which was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Indian Armys standoff with Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan Valley saw violent escalation. This is the first big Indian casualty in a border skirmish with the Peoples Liberation Army since October 1975 when Chinese troops ambushed an Indian patrol in Arunachal Pradeshs Tulung La sector and shot four soldiers dead. According to a recent Brookings study, 40.9 percent of mothers with children under 12 reported household food insecurity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also found that food insecurity in households with children under 18 has increased by about 130 percent from 2018 to today. The loss of jobs and income have not only wreaked havoc for the most vulnerable, but also millions of others across the country. With unemployment rates still above 13 percent, those who have been laid off continue to struggle as their unplanned unemployment continues. More than 44 million people have applied for unemployment benefits during the pandemic about 29 percent of the workforce. Feed the Children, a leading hunger relief organization, is working with community partners including schools, churches and other non-profits across the United States to make sure food continues to reach food-insecure families when summer hunger strikes. In addition to providing bulk food supplies and daily essential items to its community partners to support the work they do in their cities to combat summer hunger; the nonprofit also manages a summer feeding program. Nearly 30 million children rely on free or reduced lunches, and not all of them can take advantage of feeding programs that have been set up by schools in the wake of COVID-19. Feed the Children's summer feeding program is designed to help bridge the gap for kids who rely on school breakfasts and lunches when school is not in session. The organization has looked for innovative ways to defeat hunger including contactless drive-thru events and delivering meals door to door. Some community partners even offered a call in number to ensure that meals were reaching families. Although the summer feeding program is typically held only in the summer months, the organization began distributing food and essentials to community partners in March to ensure that children and their families continued to have consistent access to nutritious food despite schools being closed due to the pandemic. In the last three months, Feed the Children has distributed more than 18 million pounds of food and essentials to families across America and plans to continue its efforts through the summer months. "This program is helping make sure all the little ones get the nutrition that they need throughout the day daily and that we can help each other as a community," said Paula, a mom of two young boys. "I'm very grateful for it. I am very appreciative to know that the community is just willing to lend a helping hand." Individuals and businesses can make a difference in the lives of children by supporting Feed the Children's efforts to fight summer hunger. This will provide kids an opportunity to stay active and enjoy their summer. Through partnerships, the organization can provide $7 in food and essentials for each $1 donated. Ronnie, age 11, says being hungry in the summer isn't as rare as you might think. "It just happens," he said. "But when you don't have any more food at home, there's Feed the Children who helps out." 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 10 countries. We welcome partnerships because we know our work would not be possible without collaborative relationships. Every dollar given goes seven times as far to provide food, hope, dignity and comfort. For more information, visit feedthechildren.org. SOURCE Feed the Children Related Links http://www.feedthechildren.org Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: The Army will construct a bailey bridge over the natural pond near the oil well site at Baghjan in Assams Tinsukia district where a massive fire broke out on June 9 and is still raging. A team from the Armys 3 Corps carried out a survey on Tuesday, a statement issued by oil exploration major Oil India Limited (OIL) said. It did not elaborate but the step is apparently for accessibility to the site of incident. "Vehicles sent to 3 Corps Indian Army at Misamari for mobilising material and personnel reached Misamari and loading is in progress," the statement said. ALSO READ | Assam well fire continues, Army joins efforts to douse blaze A team of experts from Singapore-based firm Alert visited the site on Tuesday to assess the preparation for capping the well. The first load of equipment, mobilized from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's Rajahmundry asset, was offloaded on Tuesday morning at the OIL's CMT Yard, Duliajan for inspection by experts. The second load of equipment being brought from the same place was in transit. "Testing job is in progress for the second OIL CMT high-discharge water pump of capacity 2500 GPM to be used for well control operation. Civil work is in progress for digging/extension of the second CMT water reservoir (Capacity 12000 KL) near kill pump area to accommodate more volume of water. Delivery lines laying work is in progress from river bank station to the reservoir," the statement said. The fire was caused by a blowout or uncontrolled emission of natural gas that occurred on May 27 at the oil well. The fire is still raging as natural gas is being fed by the well's oil. Two firefighters of the OIL had lost their lives in the inferno. The Central and Assam governments besides the OIL already ordered separate probes into the incident. Distortion is a perfect word describing the paranoid opinions of certain U.S. politicians about the world. Photo shows the Spring Online Workshop 2020 sponsored by Chinese Language Teachers Association-National Capital Region (CLTA-NCR) and cosponsored by the Confucius Institute at George Mason University in the U.S., April 25. (Photo from the official website of Confucius Institute Headquarters) Recently, some U.S. Congress members once again harped on the shopworn argument of the alleged threat of Chinas Confucius Institutes, ridiculously demanding in a report on national security strategy that all the Confucius Institutes register in the U.S. as foreign agents. The move aimed at further hyping the China threat theory with lies and cutting off the close ties between China and the U.S. formed during the past more than four decades, so as to provoke comprehensive confrontation between the two sides. Its not news that these U.S. politicians take the Confucius Institutes as a thorn in their flesh. They have constantly resorted to political manipulation to fabricate groundless allegations against the institutes, claiming that the institutes are established to serve Chinas so-called influence operations in foreign countries, pose the risk of espionage, and interfere with U.S. academic freedom. They even threatened to close all the Confucius Institutes on American campuses. However, the Confucius Institutes are nothing like how they stigmatized. On the contrary, they are well recognized by the international community. The first Confucius Institute was established in 2004, and now the organization is seen in more than 160 countries and regions across the world. Guided by the principle of mutual respect, friendly consultation, equality and mutual benefit, the Confucius Institutes teach Chinese language and promote cultural and educational exchanges. They have won widespread support from the world. The Confucius Institutes in the U.S. were jointly established by Chinese and U.S. universities based upon the voluntary application of the U.S. side. All the teaching and cultural activities held in these institutes are transparent and open. The Chinese side only sends teachers and textbooks according to the demand of the U.S. side, and never meddles in the latters academic freedom, let alone coercing these institutes into promoting Chinese culture in the U.S. People can tell right and wrong no matter how facts are distorted. Seeing the U.S. politicians try to impose political pressure on Confucius Institutes, some American universities have repeatedly stated their stand, and firmly refuted the lies driven by politics. The Confucius Institute at Webster University furthers the important goal of educating our students with a global perspective and is consistent with our long-standing commitment to diversity, wrote Webster University in Missouri in a letter to a U.S. Congress member who demanded that the university reconsider its relationship with Confucius Institute as it is being used by the latter for a nefarious purpose. We have no reason to believe that the Confucius Institute at Webster University creates the risks described in your letter, said Webster President Elizabeth Stroble in the letter in reply to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley. Harvey Perlman, former chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who had provided full support for the establishment of the Confucius Institute at the university, stressed that the U.S. side maintained full control of the curricula of the Confucius Institute and did not see evidence that it was interfering with academic programs. As a matter of fact, similar international programs focusing on language teaching and cultural exchanges can be found everywhere, and countries are generally open to them. Certain U.S. politicians targeting Confucius Institutes for political ends and playing double standards on them have actually exposed their ulterior motives to the world. On Feb. 3, the Confucius Institute at Webster University celebrate the Spring Festival at a student center, attracting many students, teachers and local residents. (Photo from the official website of Confucius Institute Headquarters) Facts dont matter to them anymore. To pursue their own political interests, they spare no effort to cook up threats, fatuously believing that they can confuse right and wrong and win fame by such cheap means as long as they keep repeating lies. Regarding this, international observers warned that McCarthyism was resurging in the U.S. As a Chinese saying goes, A gentleman is open and poised; a petty man is unhappy and worried. China has never intended to challenge or replace any country. Instead, it has always been making efforts to nurture a healthy relationship with the U.S. in accordance with the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. The current problems troubling China-U.S. ties are fundamentally the result of the zero-sum game mindset and ideological prejudices haunting certain politicians in the U.S. Many of those so-called China hawks in the U.S. Congress have never been to China and thus have limited knowledge about the country, pointed out former U.S. Ambassador to China Max Sieben Baucus. The new round of anti-China wave in the U.S. is more of a result of the anxiety of the Americans, rather than what Chinese people have done, according to former U.S. senior diplomat Charles W. Freeman. The populism is in fact caused by instigation of the elite class in the U.S., Freeman said. International relation is after all the ties between the people. It needs the support from the people and ultimately serves the people. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the people, enterprises, and social organizations in China and the U.S. have lent a helping hand to each other whenever the two sides were in need, showing the precious spirit of mutual help in the global crisis. It fully indicates that China and the U.S. enjoy a profound social foundation for friendly exchanges. The people in the two countries has a traditional and well-established friendship. No matter how hard certain U.S. politicians try to make troubles for the relations between the two countries, they will never alter the development of friendship between the two peoples. Nothing can stem the people-to-people friendly ties between China and the U.S. Anyone who attempts to reverse history will finally be abandoned. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy.) DETROIT (AP) African Americans are disproportionately likely to say a family member or close friend has died of COVID-19 or respiratory illness since March, according to a series of surveys conducted since April that lays bare how black Americans have borne the brunt of the pandemic. Eleven percent of African Americans say they were close with someone who has died from the coronavirus, compared with 5% of Americans overall and 4% of white Americans. The findings are based on data from three COVID Impact surveys conducted between April and June by NORC at the University of Chicago for the Data Foundation about the pandemics effect on the physical, mental and social health of Americans. While recent surveys conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research have found that black Americans are especially likely to know someone who had the virus, the new data from the COVID Impact research further details the toll the pandemic has taken on black Americans. Pre-existing conditions and limited access to health care have been identified as reasons black Americans have been particularly susceptible to the virus. Experts and medical professionals say the longstanding effects of structural racism and generational trauma exacted upon black Americans in the centuries following slavery also cannot be ignored. The health inequities that were seeing here are nothing new, because were starting in a place where during slavery, we had black women who were enslaved and were being experimented on by white male physicians, said New York-based Dr. Uche Blackstock, a former associate professor at the NYU School of Medicine and the founder of Advancing Health Equity. So our healthcare system is founded on racism, and our communities have been essentially made sick by racism. We carry the highest disease burden in almost every parameter. We were already in a crisis. The COVID Impact surveys show the racial gap is equally striking in some cities and states hit especially hard by the virus. In Louisiana, 16% of black adults, compared with 6% of white adults, are close with someone who has died, according to the surveys. Black people represent about 33% of the states population but account for 53% of the states nearly 3,000 COVID-19 deaths, according to data from the states health department. The differences are equally stark in several metropolitan areas: Among black adults in Atlanta, 14% have a family member or close friend who has died, compared with 4% of white adults. The comparison is 12% vs. 4% in Baltimore, 15% vs. 2% in Birmingham, Alabama, and 12% vs. 4% in Chicago. Twenty-six percent of nonwhite New Yorkers say a family member or close friend has died from COVID-19, compared with just 10% of white adults in New York City. Meanwhile, an Associated Press analysis of data from state and local health departments nationwide found that more than a quarter of all COVID-related deaths nationwide have been black victims nearly double the share of the black population in the areas sampled. The data, from early June, included nearly 87,000 deaths in which the dead persons race was known in 38 states and Washington, D.C. In a number of states, the disparity was even more outsized for instance, in Michigan, black deaths per 100,000 black residents were four times the rate of white deaths per 100,000 white residents. I think we will have a national conversation, not only about those inequities, but about how we get to solutions, because its not just about whats going on right now, its really what has gone on for decades regarding structural racism, implicit bias, discriminatory housing policies and the like, said Dr. Patrice Harris, the immediate past president of the American Medical Association and the first African-American woman elected president of the organization. Harris said the AMA launched a Center for Health Equity a year and a half ago to address implicit bias at the physician and institutional level. During the pandemic, she said, many stories have emerged of black patients detailing how their needs were ignored or unmet by doctors, which some experts say is indicative of a historical mistrust of the medical system. We heard with COVID-19, the stories, or some of the data that says that black men in particular were more likely to take advice from another black physician or that there have been studies where our younger colleagues believe the myth that blacks did not feel pain in the same way as whites, Harris said. AMA is going to lead these conversations and make sure everyone has information so we can address issues around implicit bias and discriminatory practices. The nation must also begin to grapple with the psychological trauma of the pandemic, coupled with the economic fallout, the civil unrest in the wake of several high profile killings of African Americans and witnessing black grief on a mass scale, said University of Michigan health behavior and health education professor Enrique Neblett. Tenants behind on rent in pandemic face harassment, eviction Neblett, who studies the intersection of racism and health, said many African Americans could be dealing with depression, anxiety and other mental struggles. Its the confluence of all these factors where its not just one or two things and that is really weighing hard and heavily on the psyche of black people, Neblett said. We do know that when you experience loss at unexpected times, there is scientific evidence showing that thats related to worse health outcomes later on in life. I think these impacts may be generational. Four Nigerian nationals were among five people arrested for duping a man from Pune of Rs 21,23,325 over a false business venture of herbal hair oil. A complaint in the matter was lodged by retired Indian Air Force official who currently works for a private company. The woman approached the complainant through a social media app called TanTan, according to his complaint. She convinced him to buy the herbal oil that she claimed had medicinal value. After buying a certain amount, she promised the complainant that she will help him sell the oil to companies at double prices, said police inspector Santosh Barge of the cybercrime cell who is investigating the case. A case under Sections 419 (personation) and 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code along with Sections 66(c), 66(d) of the Information Technology Act was registered at the cyber police station of Pune. The complaint approached the police in May when he realised that the oil they were selling was fake. By then he had transferred Rs 21,23,325 through multiple transactions to multiple bank accounts. The woman was identified as Radha Nelson Caston (37), a resident of Juhu Mumbai. The woman was arrested on June 14 by the cybercrime cell officials who set a trap near Wakad bridge when she came to deliver the oil sample to the complainant, according to the police. Based on the information provided by the woman, the four men were arrested from Sector 34 of Kharghar in Navi Mumbai on June 15. The five arrested were identified as Guede Francis (38), a native of Ivory Coast; Okoko Okara Nwamamah (38); Alex Ilechukwu Arinze (33); and Kalu Ikechukwu (27), all natives of Nigeria. During the search of their house in Kharghar, 2 laptops, 16 mobile phones, one tablet computer, 5 fake oil bottles, 1 debit card, and cash worth Rs 30,000 were seized by police. A similar modus operandi was used to dupe a real estate businessman in Pune of Rs 38.5lakh in the month of May. The 48-year-old complainant from Mukundnagar area of Pune was approached by a woman through Facebook. She offered him a business deal involving a certain kind of oil required for vaccine-related research by an American laboratory. The woman said she worked for a California-based company that made vaccines for humans as well as animals. The police are investigating whether the two cases are related. Gov. John Bel Edwards on June 12 vetoed eight bills passed by Louisiana lawmakers in their recently ended regular session, including the business lobbys top priority, a measure to scale back damage claims against insurance companies in car accident lawsuits. In rejecting the sweeping changes to Louisianas civil litigation system, the Democratic governor said the bill by Republican Sen. Kirk Talbot of River Ridge didnt contain a commitment that it would lower insurance rates as its supporters promised. It is important to note that not a single insurance company testified in committee that (the bill) would actually reduce rates, Edwards wrote in his veto message, released Friday evening. Further, the rate reduction provision in the bill is permissive, rather than mandatory, and actually allows for rate increases if the insurers are able to demonstrate one would be needed. GOP lawmakers are trying to pass a similar measure in the Legislatures ongoing special session, and Edwards said hes willing to continue negotiations. I remain willing to work with anyone operating in good faith to reach a compromise, Edwards wrote. Other Vetoes Edwards also scrapped bills that would have given lawmakers more oversight of state contracts and would have enacted new restrictions on TV, radio and billboard ads from lawyers promising big paydays by suing businesses. He jettisoned a measure that would have expanded an existing law barring entrance to any place deemed critical infrastructure, such as chemical plants, power plants, water treatment facilities, ports and pipelines. The bill by Republican Rep. Jerome Zee Zeringue of Houma would have added floodgates and pump stations to that list and would have toughened the penalties during states of emergency, requiring a mandatory minimum three-year prison sentence for anyone convicted. At the Louisiana Capitol, the veto drawing the most interest involved the so-called tort reform bill changing the system for handling car wreck lawsuits, a measure championed by business groups. The measure would have forced jury trials more frequently, so that lawyers would have to argue damage claims to more people than a single judge; capped certain damages that can be awarded; limited when insurance companies can be sued directly; and increased the time accident victims can file lawsuits to give more time for settlement negotiations. It also would have allowed information about whether someone was wearing a seatbelt as evidence in litigation. Supporters of the measure said it will lower Louisianas car insurance rates, which are the nations second-highest, by making it less lucrative to sue over car accidents. But in the flurry of final rewrites to the legislation amid negotiations with the Edwards administration, lawmakers added language that could cause even larger damage awards in some of those lawsuits. Republican lawmakers who backed the proposal urged Edwards to sign the bill and work with lawmakers on the language fix. The governors veto of Sen. Talbots (bill), the bill to reduce frivolous lawsuits and insurance rates, was not unexpected, but make no mistake, leaving this special session without legislation signed into law to address the insurance crisis is not a feasible option. Everyone knows the insurance affordability and availability problem is very real, Stephen Waguespack, president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, said in a statement. Opponents of the package of civil litigation system changes, largely lawyers and Democrats, argued the measure would keep people from getting money needed to cover their medical bills and could increase costs for courts. Bill backers worry that Edwards wont sign any version of the bill because his allies and campaign contributors include personal injury lawyers. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A former counterterrorism analyst who admitted leaking government secrets to his journalist girlfriend says she wore him down by repeatedly cajoling him for classified information. Henry Kyle Frese pleaded guilty in February to violating the Espionage Act and faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced Thursday in federal court in Alexandria. In a sentencing memorandum filed late last week, Freses lawyers ask for a much lighter sentence of one year. In court papers, his lawyers argue that Frese had no intention of harming his country and didnt betray his country for money or ideology as might be found in a traditional espionage case. Instead, they say he was trying to prop up a faltering romance with a journalist. Her career was stalling and she would ask Mr. Frese to share information that she could use to either confirm other information she had received or to give her a lead on potential new stories. At first those requests were rebuffed, but as the requests mounted and as the relationship deteriorated over time, he eventually relented, wrote defence lawyer Stuart Sears. Frese met the journalist after a traumatic breakup with a long-term girlfriend that had left him depressed, Sears wrote. Freses new relationship quickly became a priority and Mr. Frese focused a lot of time and energy in to making it work. The journalist began asking Frese to confirm information she received from other sources, or to give her new leads on potential stories because her career was stalling, Sears wrote. The court documents do not name the journalist, but details from the papers and a review of social media posts make it clear that CNBC reporter Amanda Macias is whos referenced. Macias wrote multiple articles in 2018 about Chinas missile systems while Frese worked at the Defence Intelligence Agency. Neither Macias nor a CNBC spokeswoman responded to emails seeking comment. Prosecutors are asking for a term of nine years. They say Frese was motivated by his own selfish interests. They say he disclosed information classified as secret or top secret on 19 occasions. On one occasion, he told his girlfriend he would help one of her colleagues as well, saying in a private exchange on Twitter, (i)f helping her helps you, Im down. I just want to see my bubs progress. The Justice Department said Freses prosecution is one of six that have been filed in the past three years as part of a crackdown on leaks of classified information. In recent years, leak prosecutions have resulted in sentences ranging from probation, given to former Gen. David Petraeus, to more than five years imposed on former National Security Agency analyst Reality Winner for leaking documents to The Intercept about Russian government efforts to hack into voting software ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Under the Espionage Act, which was used to prosecute Frese, prosecutors can potentially charge the recipients of the leak as well as the person who transmits it. But U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia G. Zachary Terwilliger, whose office prosecuted the case, has said his office is focused on leakers, not journalists. A group of workers at an Oakland McDonalds on Telegraph Avenue, who said they were once told by managers to use dog diapers and coffee filters as makeshift face masks during the pandemic, have filed a complaint against the restaurant in Alameda County Superior Court. According to the filing, which lists four employees and a minor as plaintiffs, the group is seeking a temporary restraining order against the restaurant at 4514 Telegraph Ave. If granted, the location will remain closed until it complies with minimum COVID-19 health and safety standards. The restaurant originally shut down on May 26. The complaint also accuses the McDonalds, which is owned and operated by Michael Smith, of being a public nuisance due to its inability to curb the spread of coronavirus among workers, as well as violating Oakland laws regarding paid sick leave. Smith is also listed as an operator of multiple McDonalds locations scattered throughout Oakland and Richmond. Smith disputed the claims in an article by the Mercury News, and said McDonalds employees who have contracted the virus have been told to self-quarantine. Smith also said employees were not told to wear coffee filters or dog diapers as face masks. The restaurant chain has yet to respond to a Chronicle request for comment. The filing goes on to say the restaurant is responsible for at least 25 local coronavirus cases, including 11 workers who have tested positive since mid-May. One manager and one worker at the Telegraph Avenue restaurant who contracted COVID-19 also worked at the McDonalds restaurant at 1998 Shattuck Ave. in Oakland, according to the filing. Plaintiff Yamilett Olimara Osoy Hernandez said in a conference call Tuesday morning that after she was told to continue working by restaurant management despite having coronavirus symptoms last month, in the days that followed, her 10-month-old child became sick with a high fever and diarrhea. This is how our employer treats us, as disposable as dog diapers, she said. No mother should have to worry if going to work will threaten the health of her husband or her baby. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The complaint is just the latest chapter in an ongoing saga between the McDonalds and its workers. In May, nearly two dozen employees went on strike at the location to demand a two-week paid quarantine period, company-paid medical costs and a deep cleaning of the restaurant, along with proper personal protective equipment. The protest was organized by the Fight for $15 labor movement, which is a campaign to raise the minimum wage. Workers at the restaurant also filed a complaint with the Alameda County Public Health Department in May. Similar strikes are happening at other McDonalds restaurants across the country. In a recent survey of 843 workers conducted by the Service Employees International Union between March 31 and April 6, one in five surveyed workers reported coming to work despite feeling sick during the pandemic. The McDonalds company has an overall estimated value of more than $160 billion. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips (Natural News) Many people are unaware of it, but communist China already has a foothold in the United States. The fields of solar energy farms that blanket much of the American southwest are actually controlled and run by the Chinese military, in many cases, and one day these sleeper cells are going to awaken and carry out the rest of the takeover, reports a prominent analyst. What takeover, you might be asking? The one that is right now being ratcheted up with the manufactured public outrage over George Floyd. According to Dave Hodges of The Common Sense Show, the next phase of Chinas Red Dawn invasion of our country involves escalating the number of domestic terrorist acts in order to destabilize the country and pave the way for the final solution. Likening the current situation to the infamous TET Offensive that was unleashed by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army back in 1968, the goal right now is to further deunify and splinter America to the point that a divide-and-conquer plan of attack can be quickly executed, bringing our country to its knees. The Floyd murder has provided the Deep State an excuse to perpetrate rioting across America with the intent of promoting a helter-skelter race war designed to destabilize the country, Hodges writes about the slash-and-burn approach currently being used to weaken the U.S. These other groups will play a role in this phased attack upon America, he adds. The real enemy of America is communist China. And the main force behind the CHICOMS attack upon America will prove to be ISIS. Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about what he describes as the chaos agenda, and how it will be used to further strip Americans of their Second Amendment rights: Is China on the verge of attacking America with military force? Concerning Americas solar farms, Chinas occupation of many of these facilities has created a landing zone, so to speak, where Chinese military men and women can quietly group together and plot the next step while posing as security. And most Americans are none the wiser as to what is transpiring right under their noses. Hodges believes that America will soon be under direct military attack by communist China, meaning bullets and bombs targeted at American aircraft, both military and civilian. And the reason he thinks this is because of these solar farms, which are directly tied to the communist Chinese military. The solar energy deals that were put into place by Senator Harry Reid were done in conjunction with Chinese energy companies run by the Chinese military, Hodges explains. All personnel manning these planned plants would be affiliated with the Chinese military. This includes the inland ports (e.g. Kansas City) which are controlled by the Chinese courtesy of the treasonous trade agreement we call NAFTA. As former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton gave tacit approval and participated in these actions which had their origins prior to her tenure as Secretary of State. Cinta, a company that owns most of the solar energy farms throughout the American West, is merely a front for the Chinese military, according to Hodges. And nearly all of the employees who work at these farms are Chinese soldiers who have gained a type of beachhead in our country, he says. Former California Governor Jerry Brown was also in it, as he included the nation of China, as well as the Bank of China, in his CALEXIT strategy. As you put all of the pieces together, as Hodges has, it becomes clear that the solar energy scam was all a front for communist China. Be sure to read his full analysis at this link. To keep up with the latest news about the Chinese communist takeover of America, be sure to check out InvasionUSA.news. Sources for this article include: TheCommonSenseShow.com NaturalNews.com (Editors note: The eruption of national protests against police brutality following the murder of George Floyd have shed new light on Israels training of local police officers across the country. 100 members of the 800-strong Minneapolis police department were trained at a conference in Israel in 2012. That means at least one of every eight members the citys force has been influenced by the methods of an occupying apartheid entity. The Grayzone editor Max Blumenthal produced one of the first comprehensive surveys of Israeli training of US local and federal law enforcement officials in the following article published by Al Akhbar English in 2011.) June 15, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - In October, the Alameda County Sheriffs Department turned parts of the campus of the University of California in Berkeley into an urban battlefield. The occasion was Urban Shield 2011, an annual SWAT team exposition organized to promote mutual response, collaboration and competition between heavily militarized police strike forces representing law enforcement departments across the United States and foreign nations. At the time, the Alameda County Sheriffs Department was preparing for an imminent confrontation with the nascent Occupy movement that had set up camp in downtown Oakland, and would demonstrate the brunt of its repressive capacity against the demonstrators a month later when it attacked the encampment with teargas and rubber bullet rounds, leaving an Iraq war veteran in critical condition and dozens injured. According to Police Magazine, a law enforcement trade publication, Law enforcement agencies responding toOccupy protesters in northern California credit Urban Shield for their effective teamwork. Training alongside the American police departments at Urban Shield was the Yamam, an Israeli Border Police unit that claims to specialize in counter-terror operations but is better known for its extra-judicial assassinations of Palestinian militant leaders and long record of repression and abuses in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Urban Shield also featured a unit from the military of Bahrain, which had just crushed a largely non-violent democratic uprising by opening fire on protest camps and arresting wounded demonstrators when they attempted to enter hospitals. While the involvement of Bahraini soldiers in the drills was a novel phenomenon, the presence of quasi-military Israeli police whose participation in Urban Shield was not reported anywhere in US media reflected a disturbing but all-too-common feature of the post-9/11 American security landscape. The Israelification of Americas security apparatus, recently unleashed in full force against the Occupy Wall Street Movement, has taken place at every level of law enforcement, and in areas that have yet to be exposed. The phenomenon has been documented in bits and pieces, through occasional news reports that typically highlight Israels national security prowess without examining the problematic nature of working with a country accused of grave human rights abuses. But it has never been the subject of a national discussion. And collaboration between American and Israeli cops is just the tip of the iceberg. Having been schooled in Israeli tactics perfected during a 63 year experience of controlling, dispossessing, and occupying an indigenous population, local police forces have adapted them to monitor Muslim and immigrant neighborhoods in US cities. Meanwhile, former Israeli military officers have been hired to spearhead security operations at American airports and suburban shopping malls, leading to a wave of disturbing incidents of racial profiling, intimidation, and FBI interrogations of innocent, unsuspecting people. The New York Police Departments disclosure that it deployed counter-terror measures against Occupy protesters encamped in downtown Manhattans Zuccotti Park raised serious questions about the extent to which Israeli-inspired tactics have been used to suppress the Occupy movement in general. The process of Israelification began in the immediate wake of 9/11, when national panic led federal and municipal law enforcement officials to beseech Israeli security honchos for advice and training. Americas Israel lobby exploited the climate of hysteria, providing thousands of top cops with all-expenses paid trips to Israel and stateside training sessions with Israeli military and intelligence officials. By now, police chiefs of major American cities who have not been on junkets to Israel are the exception. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Israel is the Harvard of antiterrorism, said former US Capitol Police Chief Terrance W. Gainer, who now serves as the US Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. Cathy Lanier, the Chief of the Washington DC Metropolitan Police, remarked, No experience in my life has had more of an impact on doing my job than going to Israel. One would say it is the front line, Barnett Jones, the police chief of Ann Arbor, Michigan, said of Israel. Were in a global war. Changing the way we do business The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) is at the heart of American-Israeli law enforcement collaboration. JINSA is a Jerusalem and Washington DC-based think tank known for stridently neoconservative policy positions on Israels policy towards the Palestinians and its brinkmanship with Iran. The groups board of directors boasts a Whos Who of neocon ideologues. Two former JINSA advisers who have also consulted for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Douglas Feith and Richard Perle, went on to serve in the Department of Defense under President George W. Bush, playing influential roles in the push to invade and occupy Iraq. Through its Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP), JINSA claims to have arranged Israeli-led training sessions for over 9000 American law enforcement officials at the federal, state and municipal level. The Israelis changed the way we do business regarding homeland security in New Jersey, Richard Fuentes, the NJ State Police Superintendent, said after attending a 2004 JINSA-sponsored Israel trip and a subsequent JINSA conference alongside 435 other law enforcement officers. During a 2004 LEEP trip, JINSA brought 14 senior American law enforcement officials to Israel to receive instruction from their counterparts. The Americans were trained in how to secure large venues, such as shopping malls, sporting events and concerts, JINSAs website reported. Escorted by Brigadier General Simon Perry, an Israeli police attache and former Mossad official, the group toured the Israeli separation wall, now a mandatory stop for American cops on junkets to Israel. American officials learned about the mindset of a suicide bomber and how to spot trouble signs, according to JINSA. And they were schooled in Israeli killing methods. Although the police are typically told to aim for the chest when shooting because it is the largest target, the Israelis are teaching [American] officers to aim for a suspects head so as not to detonate any explosives that might be strapped to his torso, the New York Times reported. Cathy Lanier, now the Chief of Washington DCs Metropolitan Police Department, was among the law enforcement officials junketed to Israel by JINSA. I was with the bomb units and the SWAT team and all of those high profile specialized [Israeli] units and I learned a tremendous amount, Lanier reflected. I took 82 pages of notes while I was there which I later brought back and used to formulate a lot of what I later used to create and formulate the Homeland Security terrorism bureau in the DC Metropolitan Police department. Some of the police chiefs who have taken part in JINSAs LEEP program have done so under the auspices of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a private non-governmental group with close ties to the Department of Homeland Security. Chuck Wexler, the executive director of PERF, was so enthusiastic about the program that by 2005 he had begun organizing trips to Israel sponsored by PERF, bringing numerous high-level American police officials to receive instruction from their Israeli counterparts. PERF gained notoriety when Wexler confirmed that his group coordinated police raids in 16 cities across America against Occupy protest encampments. As many as 40 cities have sought PERF advice on suppressing the Occupy movement and other mass protest activities. Wexler did not respond to my requests for an interview. Lessons from Israel to Auschwitz Besides JINSA, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has positioned itself as an important liaison between American police forces and the Israeli security-intelligence apparatus. Though the ADL promotes itself as a Jewish civil rights group, it has provoked controversy by publishing a blacklist of organizations supporting Palestinian rights, and for condemning a proposal to construct an Islamic community center in downtown New York, several blocks from Ground Zero, on the basis that some opponents of the project were entitled to positions that others would characterize as irrational or bigoted. Through the ADLs Advanced Training School course on Extremist and Terrorist Threats, over 700 law enforcement personnel from 220 federal and local agencies including the FBI and CIA have been trained by Israeli police and intelligence commanders. This year, the ADL brought 15 high-level American police officials to Israel for instruction from the countrys security apparatus. According to the ADL, over 115 federal, state and local law enforcement executives have undergone ADL-organized training sessions in Israel since the program began in 2003. I can honestly say that the training offered by ADL is by far the most useful and current training course I have ever attended, Deputy Commissioner Thomas Wright of the Philadelphia Police Department commented after completing an ADL program this year. The ADLs relationship with the Washington DC Police Department is so cozy its members are invited to accompany DC cops on ride along patrols. The ADL claims to have trained over 45,000 American law enforcement officials through its Law Enforcement and Society program, which draws on the history of the Holocaust to provide law enforcement professionals with an increased understanding oftheir role as protectors of the Constitution, the groups website stated. All new FBI agents and intelligence analysts are required to attend the ADL program, which is incorporated into three FBI training programs. According to officialFBI recruitment material, all new special agents must visit the US Holocaust Memorial Museum to see firsthand what can happen when law enforcement fails to protect individuals. Fighting crimiterror Among the most prominent Israeli government figure to have influenced the practices of American law enforcement officials is Avi Dichter, a former head of Israels Shin Bet internal security service and current member of Knesset who recently introduced legislation widely criticized as anti-democratic. During the Second Intifada, Dichter ordered several bombings on densely populated Palestinian civilian areas, including one on the al-Daraj neighborhood of Gaza that resulted in the death of 15 innocent people, including 8 children, and 150 injuries. After each success, the only thought is, Okay, whos next? Dichter said of the targeted assassinations he has ordered. Despite his dubious human rights record and apparently dim view of democratic values, or perhaps because of them, Dichter has been a key figure in fostering cooperation between Israeli security forces and American law enforcement. In 2006, while Dichter was serving as Israels Minister of Public Security, he spoke in Boston, Massachusetts before the annual convention of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Seated beside FBI Director Robert Mueller and then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, Dichter told the 10,000 police officers in the crowd that there was an intimate connection between fighting criminals and fighting terrorists. Dichter declared that American cops were actually fighting crimiterrorists. The Jerusalem Post reported that Dichter was greeted by a hail of applause, as he was hugged by Mueller, who described Dichter as his mentor in anti-terror tactics. A year after Dichters speech, he and then-Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff signed a joint memorandum pledging security collaboration between America and Israel on issues ranging from airport security to emergency planning. In 2010, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano authorized a new joint memorandum with Israeli Transport and Road Safety Minister Israel Katz shoring up cooperation between the US Transportation Security Agency the agency in charge of day-to-day airport security and Israels Security Department. The recent joint memorandum also consolidated the presence of US Homeland Security law enforcement personnel on Israeli soil. The bond between the United States and Israel has never been stronger, Napolitano remarked at a recent summit of AIPAC, the leading outfit of Americas Israel lobby, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Demographic Unit For the New York Police Department, collaboration with Israels security and intelligence apparatus became a top priority after 9/11. Just months after the attacks on New York City, the NYPD assigned a permanent, taxpayer-funded liaison officer to Tel Aviv. Under the leadership of Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, ties between the NYPD and Israel have deepened by the day. Kelly embarked on his first trip to Israel in early 2009 to demonstrate his support for Israels ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip, a one-sided attack that left over 1400 Gaza residents dead in three weeks and led a United Nations fact-finding mission to conclude that Israeli military and government officials had committed war crimes. Kelly returned to Israel the following year to speak at the Herziliya Conference, an annual gathering of neoconservative security and government officials who obsess over supposed demographic threats. After Kelly appeared on stage, the Herziliya crowd was addressed by the pro-Israel academic Martin Kramer, who claimed that Israels blockade of Gaza was helping to reduce the numbers of superfluous young men of fighting age. Kramer added, If a state cant control these young men, then someone else will. Back in New York, the NYPD set up a secret Demographics Unit designed to spy on and monitor Muslim communities around the city. The unit was developed with input and intensive involvement by the CIA, which still refuses to name the former Middle East station chief it has posted in the senior ranks of the NYPDs intelligence division. Since 2002, the NYPD has dispatched undercover agents known as rakers and mosque crawlers into Pakistani-American bookstores and restaurants to gauge community anger over US drone strikes inside Pakistan, and into Palestinian hookah bars and mosques to search out signs of terror recruitment and clandestine funding. If a raker noticed a customer looking at radical literature, he might chat up the store owner and see what he could learn, the Associated Press reported. The bookstore, or even the customer, might get further scrutiny. The Israeli imprimatur on the NYPDs Demographics Unit is unmistakable. As a former police official told the Associated Press, the Demographics Unit has attempted to map the citys human terrain through a program modeled in part on how Israeli authorities operate in the West Bank. Shop til youre stopped At Israels Ben Gurion International Airport, security personnel target non-Jewish and non-white passengers, especially Arabs, as a matter of policy. The most routinely harassed passengers are Palestinian citizens of Israel, who must brace themselves for five-hour interrogation sessions and strip searches before flying. Those singled out for extra screening by Shin Bet officers are sent to what many Palestinians from Israel call the Arab room, where they are subjected to humiliating questioning sessions (former White House Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala encountered such mistreatment during a visit to Israel last year). Some Palestinians are forbidden from speaking to anyone until takeoff, and may be menaced by Israeli flight attendants during the flight. In one documented case, a six-month-old was awoken for a strip search by Israeli Shin Bet personnel. Instances of discrimination against Arabs at Ben Gurion International are too numerous to detail several incidents occur each day but a few of the more egregious instances were outlined in a 2007 petition the Association for Civil Rights in Israel filed with the countrys Supreme Court. Though the Israeli system of airline security contains dubious benefits and clearly deleterious implications for civil liberties, it is quietly and rapidly migrating into major American airports. Security personnel at Bostons Logan International Airport have undergone extensive training from Israeli intelligence personnel, learning to apply profiling and behavioral assessment techniques against American citizens that were initially tested on Palestinians. The new procedures began in August, when so-called Behavior Detection Officers were placed in security queues at Logans heavily trafficked Terminal A. Though the procedures have added to traveler stress while netting exactly zero terrorists, they are likely to spread to other cities. I would like to see a lot more profiling in American airports, said Yossi Sheffi, an Israeli-born risk analyst at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation and Logistics. Israeli techniques now dictate security procedures at the Mall of America, a gargantuan shopping mall in Bloomington, Minnesota that has become a major tourist attraction. The new methods took hold in 2005 when the mall hired a former Israeli army sergeant named Mike Rozin to lead a special new security unit. Rozin, who once worked with a canine unit at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, instructed his employees at the Mall of America to visually profile every shopper, examining their expressions for suspicious signs. His security team accosts and interrogates an average of 1200 shoppers a year, according to the Center for Investigative Reporting. One of the thousands who fell into Rozins dragnet was Najam Qureshi, a Pakistani-American mall vendor whose father accidentally left his cell phone on a table in the mall food court. A day after the incident, FBI agents appeared at Qureshis doorstep to ask if he knew anyone seeking to harm the United States. An army veteran interrogated for two hours by Rozins men for taking video inside the mall sobbed openly about his experience to reporters. Meanwhile, another man, Emile Khalil, was visited by FBI agents after mall security stopped him for taking photographs of the dazzling consumer haven. I think that the threat of terrorism in the United States is going to become an unfortunate part of American life, Rozin remarked to American Jewish World. And as long as the threat persists in the publics mind, Israeli securitocrats like Rozin will never have to worry about the next paycheck. Occupy meets the occupation When a riot squad from the New York Police Department destroyed and evicted the Occupy Wall Street protest encampment at Zuccotti Park in downtown Manhattan, department leadership drew on the anti-terror tactics they had refined since the 9/11 attacks. According to the New York Times, the NYPD deployed counterterrorism measures to mobilize large numbers of cops for the lightning raid on Zuccotti. The use of anti-terror techniques to suppress a civilian protest complemented harsh police measures demonstrated across the country against the nationwide Occupy movement, from firing tear gas canisters and rubber bullets into unarmed crowds to blasting demonstrators with the LRAD sound cannon. Given the amount of training the NYPD and so many other police forces have received from Israels military-intelligence apparatus, and the profuse levels of gratitude American police chiefs have expressed to their Israeli mentors, it is worth asking how much Israeli instruction has influenced the way the police have attempted to suppress the Occupy movement, and how much they will inform police repression of future examples of street protest. What can be said for certain is that the Israelification of American law enforcement has intensified police fear and hostility towards the civilian population, blurring the lines between protesters, criminals, and terrorists. As Dichter said, they are all just crimiterrorists. Max Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and the author of several books, including best-selling Republican Gomorrah, Goliath, The Fifty One Day War, and The Management of Savagery. He has produced print articles for an array of publications, many video reports, and several documentaries, including Killing Gaza. Blumenthal founded The Grayzone in 2015 to shine a journalistic light on Americas state of perpetual war and its dangerous domestic repercussions. - " Source " - Post your comment below New Delhi: Union Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a top key meet with Army Chief MM Naravane, Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Tuesday (June 16) as the Indian Army standoff with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley witnessed a violent escalation resulting in bloodshed on both sides. The meeting concluded after an hour after which Army chief Naravane, CDS Rawat and EAM Jaishankar were seen coming out of the official residence of the Union Defence Minister in the national capital. A Colonel-rank Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed during a clash between Indian and Chinese troops that took place on Monday night. According to reports, casualties were reported on the Chinese side as well although the exact number wasn't known. While calling India to not take unilateral action on the killing of its troops in the border standoff, China accused Indian soldiers of crossing the border and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in latest standoff. Details of what exactly led to the violent face-off are not clear although reports state that no firearms were used and deaths took place after stones were pelted by troops from both sides. A large number of Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks, said PTI. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in a standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. According to a senior military officer, it is the first incident involving the casualty of an Indian soldier in a violent clash with the Chinese Army after 1975 when four Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush at Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh along the de-facto border between the two countries. Meanwhile, shes still working out of her flagship shop, open only for takeout and delivery. I was just speaking with the Greater Chatham Initiative and theyre working with the city really diligently to try to get us ready to have tables out on Friday, which is Juneteenth, said Hart. Its really significant and we hope we can make it. MINSK -- Prominent Belarusian opposition leader Mikalay Statkevich and several bloggers have been sentenced to 15 days in jail as part of a widening crackdown on dissent in the country ahead of elections. Statkevich was already sentenced on June 1 to 15 days in jail for taking part in an "unauthorized" opposition event in Minsk to collect signatures for petitions to support would-be candidates for the upcoming elections. Opposition rallies and gatherings in support of would-be candidates have attracted thousands of people across Belarus in recent weeks ahead of the August presidential election in which authoritarian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka is seeking a sixth term. Dozens of activists and politicians have been harassed and arrested. Statkevichs wife, Maryna Adamovich, wrote on Facebook on June 15 that her husband was sentenced to another 15 days in the absence of a lawyer. Statkevich -- who challenged Lukashenka in the 2010 election, which was marred by allegations of fraud -- has been barred from running in the August election. He was previously sentenced to six years in prison and released in 2015. Also on June 15, bloggers Eduard Palchys, Uladzimer Tsyhanovich, and Mikalay Maslouski were sentenced to 15 days for taking part in "unauthorized" events. Another activist, Syarhey Tsikhanouski, a jailed Belarusian vlogger who is seeking to take part in the August presidential election, may face up to three years in prison for organizing pro-democracy rallies. Since Tsikhanouski's candidacy was rejected, his wife, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has been trying to get registered as a candidate herself, collecting the necessary 100,000 signatures to qualify. Investigators are also targeting Belgazprombank's former chief executive, Viktar Babaryka, who stepped down from the bank to run against Lukashenka. On June 15, authorities took control of the bank, which is the local unit of Russia's Gazprombank, as part of a wider money-laundering and corruption probe that has already led to the arrest of 15 executives. Babaryka says the raids are designed to apply political pressure on him. Rajasthan food and civil supplies minister Ramesh Meena finally on Tuesday evening joined other Congress law-makers from the state, six days after they were put up at a Jaipur luxury hotel to safeguard against possible defection or poaching ahead of June 19 Rajya Sabha polls. Meena said he was joining his party men after apprising the party leadership in Delhi of his certain demands related to the public. The state Congress had had moved the legislatures to the hotel on Wednesday. Even chief minister Ashok Gehlot himself has been staying at the hotel to thwart any possible bid by political rivals to destabilise his government. I had some general demands and I have apprised the party leaders about it. I had some problems which are connected with people, which has been communicated to Delhi, said Meena, addressing newspersons before entering the hotel. He said that he has got assurance that the party will look into his demands. However, he refused to comment on the demands, saying I will tell once the (RS polls) result come. For Coronavirus Live Updates When asked about the partys charges of horse trading and the Congress MLAs being approached with offer to switch side in exchange for cash, Meena said, I am not aware of any such thing. On Meenas absence from the hotel housing the Congress group, the AICC general secretary Avinash Pande had stated that Meena was away from the camp due to some personal reasons and has assured the party of his full support. Party officials, not wanting to be named, claimed that two AICC leaders had a long meeting with Meena, who proceeded to the hotel after their assurances. Amazon has created a new AI called the Distance Assistant to help its fulfillment facility employees keep a safe distance from one another during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Using a time-of-flight sensor similar to the depth-sensing cameras you'll find on modern smartphones like the Galaxy S20, the assistant measures the distance between employees. The AI component is there to help it differentiate people from the background. What the AI sees is then displayed on a 50-inch screen for workers to glance at as they pass high-traffic areas. The final piece the puzzle is an augmented reality overlay. In a kind of magic-mirror like way, employees will see a green or red circle around them on the display. As you might have guessed, green means they're at least six feet apart from one of their co-workers, while red means they're too close. The entire system runs on a local computer and doesn't need assistance from the cloud. The company says it has deployed the technology in a handful of its facilities, with plans to roll out "hundreds" of more units "over the next few weeks." It says employees like getting immediate visual feedback, but didnt provide data that shows how effective the measure is at preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Amazon also plans to open-source the software so that other companies can use it as well. While Amazon's use of AI and AR is interesting here, it may be the latest example of a company attempting to apply a technological solution to what is ultimately a policy issue. A recent lawsuit filed by workers at the company's Staten Island warehouse accused Amazon of failing to follow CDC and New York state public health coronavirus guidelines. The lawsuit also said the company discourages employees from practicing "basic hygiene" if it means those workers need to spend a moment away from their stations. Education Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has descended heavily on ex-President John Mahama, accusing him of trying to do politics with a sensitive national issue such as the Public University Bill. According to him, the government has made the necessary consultations with the various stakeholders about the Bill which is currently before Parliament; therefore, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer should desist from engaging in what he called cheap politics with the national issue. Ex-President Mahama is entitled to speak on any matter but must first be educated and informed. It is wholly unacceptable for a person of his stature to pander to partisan politicking on such an important issue without ascertaining the facts simply because it is an election year, the minister stated. Mahama Threats Mr. Mahama, without citing specific sections of the Bill, is reported to have written on his website, calling on the government to withdraw the Public University Bill, arguing that the Bill would undermine academic freedom, research and innovation. The NDC flag bearer then threatened that he would initiate processes for the Bills repeal if he wins the upcoming 2020 national elections. He had said, Our academics and students need support to focus on their core mandates of creating and sharing knowledge, not a Public Universities Bill that seeks to control and undermine the independence of our intellectuals and other researchers in state-owned universities. As has been stated already by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, university teachers, some former vice-chancellors, individual academics in the universities among many other stakeholders, there is absolutely no need for the Public Universities Bill. It must be immediately withdrawn from Parliament, he indicated. He added, In its current form, it is unclear what problems or challenges in higher education the Bill seeks to resolve. What is certain, however, is that the Bill seeks to colonise public universities in the country, undermine academic freedom, stifle scholarly initiative, and subject research and researchers to needless and unproductive government control. Napos Reply Reacting in a statement, the minister said, The ministry would like to put on record that it has extensively engaged stakeholders on this matter, having invited and received memoranda from the various public universities and other stakeholders. He added, Government does not accept the view that the Bill when passed into law will stifle academic freedom and undermine research and innovation. Did the passage of Technical University Act, signed into law by John Mahama, stifled academic freedom or stifle individual technical universities autonomy? Napo noted that in addition to the restoration of the Book and Research Allowance, abolished by the NDC government, this government has recently approved a 200% increase in the research allowance from the GH500 introduced under ex-President Kufuor to GH1,500. According to him, the government has laid before Parliament the Ghana Research Fund Bill, whose purpose, when enacted into law, is to establish a Ghana Research Fund to provide for funds and to support national research in tertiary and research institutions. The statement, which was authored by the ministers press secretary, Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng, urged Mr. Mahama to exercise restraint and get the necessary education about issues concerning education before he comes out publicly to misinform the public and create avoidable tension. According to him, from day one, the various stakeholders, including Vice-Chancellors of Ghana (VCG), University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), National Council on Tertiary Education (NCTE) and others had been consulted and given their input on the Bill. Subsequently, the draft policy document produced was shared with stakeholders and a validation workshop held from 10-12 January 2019 in Koforidua. The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), VCG and NCTE attended the workshop, among others. The revised policy document was approved by cabinet and subsequently Parliament on May 9, 2019 as the Tertiary Education Policy. This policy was launched in June 2019 at the Law School auditorium at the University of Ghana. This and others formed the basis of the Public Universities Bill currently before Parliament. The honourable minister has, on several occasions, met the leadership of UTAG to discuss their concerns about various aspects of the Bill and some progress has been made. UTAG has also had the opportunity to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to voice its concerns, which have been taken into account. In conclusion, Napo assured that his ministry is committed to the engagement process with the relevant stakeholders and is confident that eventually the Bill will receive the necessary approvals to enable it pass into law and help reform the tertiary landscape to the ultimate benefit of this nation. 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. Featured Video How's this for a company mission statement: Eliminate the need for animals in the food production system by 2035. That's the goal of Impossible Foods, a company that makes meat, dairy and fish products from plants. The company's flagship product the Impossible Burger sizzles, smells and cooks just like beef but is made from plants, not derived from cows. View the FULL LIST: 2020 DISRUPTOR 50 Impossible Foods has three channels of distribution: restaurants and grocery and other food stores, as well as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel, which launched earlier this month. While it saw its restaurant business slow down dramatically because of the pandemic, the company claims its retail business has increased exponentially with so many people sheltering in place over the past several months. Sales from retail are up 20 times since the first quarter, says the company, and it plans to increase its retail footprint more than 50-fold by the end of the year. Meat shortages in the U.S. have also spurred sales. The Civil War was alive in well in 1968 when Des OMalley was running for the Dail on the Fianna Fail ticket. His uncle, Donagh, died in March of that year, requiring a by-election for his seat in Limerick East. Des OMalley was up against a James OHiggins, who was a relation of Kevin OHiggins, the States first justice minister, who had been assassinated in 1927. OMalleys election agent was Niall Blaney, the Fianna Fail minister known as a firebrand Republican. One of Blaneys tactics in that contest was to paint in red at various junctions around the city Remember the 77. This was a reference to the 77 people executed by the Free State during the Civil War, which took place over 10 months between July 1922 and May 1923. Kevin OHiggins had been a central figure in these executions and Blaney thought it tactically astute to remind people the kind of stock from which the Fine Gael candidate had come. For Blaney, this was the meat-and-drink of politics. Forty-five years after the guns fell silent on the brief but brutal conflict, it was all about the tribes, them and us, Free Staters and Republicans, winners and losers, that emerged from it. Later, he would regret his role in the election of OMalley in that by-election. OMalley represented a new kind of politics that was alien to Blaney. The Limerick man went on to serve as Justice Minister during the Arms crisis, and in 1985 made the first significant break from Civil War politics by founding the Progressive Democrats. As observed on these pages by Professor Gary Murphy this week, the PDs, in turn, had a major influence on the government led by Fianna Fail between 1997 and 2007. In terms of economic policy, it could well be argued that the PDs were more Fine Gael that Fine Gael itself. Now, two years short of a century on from the end of the Civil War, the tribal politics spawned in its aftermath is finally dead. The world has moved on. In the 1969 general election the two parties between them took 80% of the vote. In February of this year, their combined vote was just over 43%. The two parties are on course to coalesce in a government with the Greens. If the Green partys members reject the deal, then the Civil War parties will scout around for a few independents to prop up an alternative government. One way or the other, the pretence that there is any real difference between the two parties is over. The coupling is loveless and reluctant. The Soldiers of Destiny would appear to be far more put out than the Blueshirts. For some in Fianna Fail their self-image as the representatives of the small farmers, the men and women without property, the republicans with a small R, is offended by getting into bed with the curtain-twitching Fine Gaelers. Some Fianna Failers would see themselves far more in tune with Sinn Fein. However, that ship sailed around the time Neil Blaney was in his pomp, when a good chunk of the country still ate their dinner in the middle of the day. The Fianna Fail of Charlie Haughey, and, in a different guise, Bertie Ahern, was far more in tune with the developers than the dispossessed, big business rather than small farmers. Those in Fine Gael are a lot more relaxed about the coupling and with good reason. As things stand, they are better placed to become the dominant partner. The evolution of their Civil War opponent leaves Fine Gael far more clearly defined on the centre-right of the socio-economic spectrum. As such the smart money says this will go one of two ways. Either there will be a merger most likely sometime after the next election or Fianna Fail will continue to decline and tiptoe towards the centre-ground to huddle with the Greens, Labour and the Social Democrats, awaiting the call of either Sinn Fein on the left or Fine Gael on the right after each general election. Whatever the destiny of the Soldiers of Destiny, all has changed. Of course, the big winner in both the realignment and the successful government formation talks is Sinn Fein. The partys representatives have bleated repeatedly about exclusion, but beneath it all, they must be thrilled. Their most successful general election result ever has been enhanced by an outcome in which they have managed to dodge a bullet. The reality is that practically nobody in politics would enthusiastically go into government right now apart from Micheal Martin, who is mad anxious to be Taoiseach. Bar a miraculous recovery the next couple of years have the potential to be savage. Governing will be difficult, possibly torrid. Opposing government will be a cakewalk, high on righteous indignation and guaranteed exalted status on social media. Strategically, the Shinners can use the time to bed in the dozens of new recruits, hone the lead role in opposition and prepare for the next election. The end of Civil War politics is a boom for the Shinners but also throws up an irony for the party. The actual issue that led to the Civil War, the Anglo Irish Treaty, was quickly buried. Eamon DeValera demonstrated this when he led his Fianna Fail party into the Dail in 1927 and signed the oath of allegiance. The other big element of the treaty, the partition of the country, was quietly ignored. So while the enmity endured for decades, the reasons behind it quickly disappeared. Today, the only party with a guiding policy which harks back to the Anglo Irish Treaty is Sinn Fein. The partys big leap forward this year was attributable to its policies on socio-economic issues. Yet ending partition remains the main event for Sinn Fein. So while the electorate has moved on from the Civil War and its aftermath, the party that wasnt around at the time, and only really came into being 50 years later, considers the issue behind the war to be unfinished business. A member of the incestuous Colt clan has been found guilty of raping his niece/half-sister two years before authorities uncovered 40 people living in squalor on a rural NSW property. Frank Colt, a pseudonym for the 50-year-old, attacked the then 17-year-old in the back seat of his car during a visit to the family farm near Yass in February 2010, the NSW District Court found on Tuesday. A member of the incestuous Colt clan has been found guilty of raping his niece/half-sister two years before authorities uncovered 40 people living in squalor on a rural NSW property. The victim's evidence was "simply and matter-of-factly put" and was powerful and credible given her upbringing and rudimentary education, Judge Gina O'Rourke said on Tuesday. "She did not try to gild the lily and attribute other acts to the accused," the judge said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 06:22:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOUSTON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday urged people to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously as the state's confirmed cases and hospitalization spiked in the past days. At a press conference in Austin, Abbott said the state reached another peak of confirmed cases on Tuesday, with 2,622 new cases reported. The state has already seen some of the biggest single-day caseloads in June so far. Explaining the trend, Abbott pointed to temporary spikes in positive tests in some isolated areas. He also suggested that young people take the pandemic more seriously, saying there are places where a majority of the people who are testing positive are under the age of 30. The governor urged people to stay at home as much as they can, wear masks in public places, and keep social distance to slow down the spread of the virus. Businesses, especially bars and restaurants, should follow the state guidelines, he added. As the number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 also increased in the past days, Abbott reassured that the state's hospital bed capacity is "abundant." Texas saw another new peak of hospitalization on Tuesday, reporting 2,518 people hospitalized who have tested positive for the virus. Close to 15,000 beds are still open, according to the latest figures from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Enditem A sign warns people not to enter the town of Ozersk near the Mayak nuclear facility. Katherine Jacobsen/AP Photo A group of scientists known as the "Ring of Five" detected unusual levels of radiation in Europe in 2017. A new study offers "irrefutable proof" that the radiation came from nuclear waste reprocessing. The study lends further evidence to the claim that Russia failed to disclose an accident at the Mayak nuclear facility in September 2017. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. For the past three years, a group of scientists called the "Ring of Five" has been inching toward the conclusion that an undisclosed nuclear accident took place in Russia in 2017. In July 2019, the group released evidence that an accident may have occurred at the Mayak nuclear facility once the center of the Soviet nuclear-weapons program. Mayak was also the site of the 1957 Kyshtym explosion, the world's third-worst nuclear accident behind Fukushima and Chernobyl. In late 2019, the scientists suggested that, given the large amount of radiation admitted on the date, the accident took place on September 26, 2017. The radiation seemed to spread from Russia's Southern Urals region (where the Mayak facility is located) toward central Europe, Scandinavia, and Italy. A third study, released Monday, offers "irrefutable proof" that the accident was linked to nuclear waste reprocessing a method that separates plutonium and uranium from spent nuclear fuel. The Mayak facility is the largest nuclear reprocessing facility in the region. That makes it the most likely, if not the only possible, origin site though Russia has never acknowledged a nuclear accident at the facility in 2017. "We should not forget that Mayak is a military facility and, of course, the Russian Federation is very reluctant when it comes to talking about military facilities," Georg Steinhauser, a professor at the University of Hanover in Germany and one of the study's authors, told Business Insider in August. "I presume this would not be much different for other superpower nations." Story continues An 'unexpected' discovery in 2017 The Ring of Five has been monitoring Europe's atmosphere for elevated levels of radiation since the mid-1980s. The group originally hailed from five countries: Sweden, Germany, Finland, Norway, and Denmark. But after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, the team enlisted the help of other nations to expand their efforts. It now includes researchers from 22 countries. On October 2, 2017, Italian scientists sent an alert to the Ring of Five about elevated levels of ruthenium-106, a radioactive isotope, in Milan. The discovery marked the first time that ruthenium-106 had been found in the atmosphere since Chernobyl. "We were stunned," Steinhauser said. "We did not have any anticipation that there might be some radioactivity in the air. We were just measuring air filters as we do on a weekly basis, 52 times a year, and suddenly there was an unexpected result." Steinhauser said the explosion was the "single greatest release from nuclear-fuel reprocessing that has ever happened." But Russia has not responded to any findings from the Ring of Five. In December 2017, Russian officials attributed the radiation to an artificial satellite that burned up in the atmosphere. The scientists' latest study excludes that possibility. 'A tipping point for an already turbulent mixture' The study is the first direct evidence that the ruthenium-106 came from nuclear waste reprocessing. It identified a unique "chemical fingerprint" among samples of the isotope collected in 2017. Within those samples, the scientists found signs of two chemicals commonly associated with nuclear waste reprocessing: ruthenium(III) chloride and ruthenium(IV) oxide. This provided "direct evidence that fuel reprocessing was the origin of the 2017 environmental release," the scientists wrote. The Techa River, where the Mayak nuclear complex has reportedly dumped waste from spent nuclear fuel. Katherine Jacobsen/AP Photo Under normal circumstances, they added, nuclear facilities would wait at least three years before reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. But in this case, it appears that reprocessing took place after just two years. That means the reprocessing activity was bound to be exothermic, or release heat, according to the study. "The spent fuel was unusually young with respect to typical reprocessing protocol," the scientists wrote. "It is likely that this exothermic trapping process proved to be a tipping point for an already turbulent mixture, leading to an abrupt and uncontrolled release." The radiation might not threaten human health Scientists don't consider the release of ruthenium-106 to be an immediate threat to people's health, but the long-term consequences are unknown. In 2018, France's Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety determined that the levels of ruthenium-106 in the atmosphere do not pose danger to human health or the environment. The nuclear release was "nothing compared to Chernobyl," Steinhauser said in August. The Chernobyl explosion released about 5.3 million terabecquerels (a measurement of radioactivity) of radioactive material into the atmosphere, a 2013 analysis found. The alleged accident at Mayak facility, by contrast, released an estimated 250 terabecquerels of ruthenium. But Steinhauser said there could be reason to monitor food safety near the Mayak facility if radiation leaked into the soil and water. "We would like to get some more in-depth information on what actually happened," he said. "There's a good chance that we'll catch every single accident but, in the present case, surprise was on our side." Read the original article on Business Insider In a statement oozing with hypocrisy and shameless untruths, Federated Cooperatives Limited (FCL) CEO Scott Banda weighed into the global controversy over police violence and racism earlier this month, characterizing his company as an organization that is based on values of integrity, excellence and responsibility. Banda and FCL management, meanwhile, continue to mount a government-backed, police- and court-enforced scabbing operation against 750 Regina, Saskatchewan, oil refinery workers with the aim of gutting their pensions and workplace safety measures. Bandas statement continues, We cannot remain silent or still. The discussion ignited by George Floyds death cannot be ignored. As a society, there are basic standards we need to uphold: decency, compassion and respect. We each need to personally commit to these in all our interactions and hold each other accountable. What utter hogwash! Banda, who ran for the provincial New Democratic Party leadership in the early 2000s, may shed a few crocodile tears for George Floyd after the African-American worker had the life squeezed out of him by Minnesota cops. However, the concerned CEO prefers to remain absolutely silent on his own reliance on police violence and state repression to continue fuel production at FCLs Co-op Refinery Complex since locking out the workforce last December. Locked out FCL workers and their supporters picketing the Regina refinery last January. FCL CEO Banda's image figures on the posters. The refinery workers, members of Unifor, are resisting the imposition of sweeping contract concessions, including the evisceration of work rules, job losses and draconian pension cuts that would cost each worker upwards of C$20,000 per year. During that time, at least two-dozen peaceful picketers have been arrested, including lead negotiator Scott Doherty and Unifor President Jerry Dias. In more recent negotiations with the union, FCL has insisted that any settlement must now include the firing of militant workers who stood up to the companys attacks. In early February, in actions reminiscent of events now unfolding on the streets of American cities, Regina police, emboldened by Premier Scott Moes vow to enforce the law, set up an illegal checkpoint on a public road. Only fuel truckers on a pre-approved list were allowed to use the thoroughfare. Locked-out workers were refused entry to the public space and prohibited from exercising their constitutional right to picket as the police organized the dismantling of a two-week blockade. Dozens of fuel tanker trucks were then shepherded by police into the refinery and, throughout the following day, they removed millions of liters of gasoline and diesel for distribution to dry or nearly dry FCL retail outlets. In the ensuing four months, workers have continued to be harassed by police, who have aggressively ticketed their cars parked near FCL sites, and threatened them with arrest. Last month, it came to light that police had recklessly failed to inform the locked-out workers and Unifor of a credible threat from right-wing pro-company elements to attack pickets with a bomb (see: Canadian authorities fail ed to notify locked-out Regina oil refinery workers of threatened bomb attack). To oversee FCLs scab-herding operation, Banda has acquired the services of the notorious anti-worker, anti-strike international security firm AFIMAC. And in spearheading FCLs drive to smash worker resistance to its ever-increasing and never-ending concessionary demands, Banda has mobilized and solidarized himself with extreme right-wing elements. The February police action to break the Regina blockade took place one day after Banda appeared at the blockade of an outlying FCL fuel depot in Carseland, Alberta. Flanked by the fascistic leaders of a self-proclaimed Yellow Vest movement and members of United We Rolla far-right independent (i.e., owner-operator) truckers vigilante group that had earlier attempted to break up a worker-blockade at the depotBanda gave a shout out to these forces. Members of the United We Roll and self-styled Yellow Vest groups have regularly posted social media commentary boasting about running over picketers. They refer to indigenous peoples as Prairie N####rs and have accused Muslim Canadians (who are referred to as Sand N####rs) of deliberately starting the Fort McMurray wildfire. Such is the integrity of FCL and its CEO. But it is not simply a question of the moral turpitude of this or that corporate figureas true as that is. When he addressed the far-right crowd at Carseland last February, Banda insisted that issues raised in the class battle at FCL are of national, and indeed, international political importance. Blockades as a tactic to get your waythats a challenge and a precedent we should all, as business owners and leaders of business, be very, very, concerned about. We owe it to every other business to not allow this illegal activity to set a dangerous precedent, he intoned to the press and his allies amongst the gathering of fascistic goons. Banda has only been able to act so aggressively because FCL has enjoyed the full-throated backing of hard-right Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, whose government explicitly sanctioned the companys scabbing operation before the lockout began. For their part, Unifor and the entire union bureaucracy have systematically demobilized and isolated the refinery workers, while at the same time organizing a series of protest stunts to cover up their miserable capitulation to FCLs demands. The worldwide, multi-racial and multi-ethnic demonstrations against generalized police brutality and specifically the murder of George Floyd have given expression to a powerful desire for fundamental change. Within this movement there are growing numbers of people who recognize that police brutality is a manifestation of deeper social ills, rooted in the economic structure of capitalist society, the decimation of workers living standards by the corporations and the extreme concentration of wealth within a small segment of the population. This movement must be imparted with the understanding that the police violence directed against working people is not the result of just one particularly greedy corporate executive, or especially reactionary politician, or just a few bad apples in the police force. Rather, it is rooted in the character of capitalism, which subordinates the most basic needs of working people to the enrichment of a tiny elite, and of the capitalist state, which enforces the rights of private property and dispossession of the working class. The threat of the emergence of a mass, working class movement against capitalism terrifies the modern-day robber barons of the ruling class. This is why they combine brutal state repression by the police and far-right thugs with attempts to divert the seething opposition to attacks on living standards and democratic rights toward politically manageable channels. Bandas comments on the brutal murder of George Floyd, while patently aimed at whitewashing FCLs image as a callous employer, pushed the racialist narrative that now dominates all official discussion of police brutality. This narrative seeks to cover up the role of the police as enforcers for big business and shift responsibility for police racism onto the population as a whole. Banda and FCL would not be in the position where they feel they can brazenly dictate the terms for any eventual end to the lockout were it not for Unifors utter refusal to mobilize broad sections of the Canadian working class against the watershed attacks contained in FCLs contract demands. The fight against FCL has never been a mere collective bargaining dispute with a single, ruthless employer, but a political fight against the right-wing Moe government, all the institutions of the capitalist statethe courts, the police, and the labour boardsand the corporate elite as a whole . It is not by begging the Moe government to impose a concessions-laden settlement, as per the last feeble bleats of the Unifor leadership, that the locked-out workers will be able to oppose FCLs onslaught. Rather, they must build new organizations of strugglerank-and-file committees, completely independent of the pro-capitalist unions, that will mobilize the full social power of the working class in defence of its social rights. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:24:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Public Works and Transport Minister Michel Najjar announced on Tuesday that preparations have started at Beirut's airport to receive tourists from July 1. Najjar was quoted by the National News Agency as saying that the airport has placed several signs on its floor to guarantee social distancing among passengers, while placing disinfectants in different locations for personal hygiene to contain the COVID-19 spread. He added that passengers will have to receive COVID-19 tests in the countries of departure. Lebanon has been fighting against COVID-19 since Feb. 21. The country's total number of COVID-19 infections increased on Tuesday by nine to 1,473 while the death toll remained unchanged at 32. Lebanon's decision to reopen its airport aims to attract tourists to help offset the impact of the pandemic that has lead to economic and financial deterioration. Lebanon has received support from several countries including China. The latest foreign aid was donated on June 11 by China to Lebanese public hospitals, including 17,500 masks, 1,500 protective gears, 1,320 goggles and 1,000 shoe covers. Enditem Six former aides of ex-French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur have been sentenced to two to five years in jail over a controversial arms deal involving millions of euros in kickbacks, linked to a 2002 suicide bombing. Almost twenty years after a bomb blast in Pakistans economic capital Karachi that left 11 French engineers dead, a court on Monday handed out the first convictions in the so-called 'Karachi affair.' One of France's longest running political scandals, the affair dates back to the mid-1990s and centres on allegations that kickbacks from arms sales to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia may have funded the 1995 presidential campaign of Edouard Balladur. Three of Balladur's ex-aides were found guilty Monday of helping set up secret commissions that allowed funds to return to France. Who has been sentenced to prison? Those sentenced include Nicolas Bazire, Balladur's former campaign manager; Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, a former adviser to his defence minister, Francois Leotard; and Thierry Gaubert, a former aide to then budget minister Nicolas Sarkozy. Bazire and Donnedieu de Vabres were sentenced to three years in prison, with the Paris Criminal Court saying Bazire "knew perfectly well" that as much as 10 million francs (some 1.5 million euros) from dubious sources had landed into Balladur's campaign accounts. Gaubert meanwhile, was handed a two-year sentence, as was Dominique Castellan, a former head of the international division of French naval defence contractor DCN (since renamed Naval Group). What are they charged with? Charged with "abuse of public goods," "complicity to fraud" and "concealment," all four defendants have said they will appeal the ruling. Two Lebanese middlemen who acted as go-betweens for the bribes and kickbacks, Ziad Takieddine and Abdul Rahman El-Assir, were sentenced to five years in prison. Both Takieddine and El-Assir were absent at Monday's ruling. Takieddine's lawyer said he, too, would appeal. The French-Lebanese businessman has a history of ties to conservative French politicians, including Sarkozy, whom he claims to have given cash from Libya to fund his 2007 presidential bid. Story continues Sarkozy has always denied any connection to the Karachi affair, dismissing reports that he was Balladurs 1995 presidential campaign manager. Balladur's role? Balladur is suspected of using his role as prime minister between 1993 and 1995 to approve payment of commissions of up to 300 million euros to the two Lebanese intermediaries to facilitate the sale of three submarines to Pakistan. The practice was legal until 2000. Part of the sums paid out by the French government were later secretly siphoned back into France to finance Balladur's ultimately unsuccessful election bid. The court said Monday some of the officials clearly knew of the "exorbitant commissions" paid in the deals, which constituted "an exceptionally grave threat to the public economic order, and to the confidence in the functioning of public affairs." Balladur lost the 1995 presidential contest to Jacques Chirac, who ended the payment of all remaining commissions on the arms deals. Link to Karachi bombing? That prompted speculation that the 2002 Karachi bombing, initially blamed on Al-Qaeda was revenge for the lost payouts, although no links have been proven. Fifteen people were killed, including 11 employees of French naval constructor DCN, who were working on the construction of the Agosta-class submarines to Pakistan. Balladur, now aged 91, and his then-Defence Minister Francois Leotard, will face trial at the criminal court in Paris in the coming months to determine whether there is a connection between the suspected retaliation attack and the unpaid government bribes. For families of the victims of the deadly Karachi bombing, Monday's court decision is seen as a breakthrough. "If the families had not lodged a complaint, there would not have been this judgment", comments Olivier Morice, a lawyer representing the families. He says they are now waiting for the trial of Balladur and Leotard. [June 16, 2020] Parker's Sustainability Report Highlights How Team Members are Leading With Purpose CLEVELAND, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH), the global leader in motion and control technologies, has released its 2019 Sustainability Report . Featuring unique local initiatives that are helping to strengthen communities, conserve resources and make a positive environmental impact at the local level, the report demonstrates how team members around the world are living Parkers purpose: Enabling Engineering Breakthroughs that Lead to a Better Tomorrow. Even in these extraordinary and challenging times we are all facing together due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Parker is committed to driving sustainable, long-term growth and doing so in a way that makes the world a better place. This is our responsibility to our team members, shareholders, customers and communities, said Tom Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. As we move forward, we will continue to pursue new opportunities to build on our strong foundation of environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Key achievements related to Parkers sustainability initiatives detailed in the report include: Safety is a core value that all Parker team members share, and by driving an ownership culture the company has reduced its Recordable Incident Rate by 61% over the past five years, including a 24% reduction in 2019. The practice of volunteering and charitable giving is central to Parkers culture, and with matching contributions from the Parker Hannifin Foundation, this year team members donated more than $800,000 to support dozens of local United Ways across the United States. The Parker Hannifin Foundation donated nearly $6 million to hundreds of qualified charitable organizations with a focus on communities in need, education, disaster relief and energy and water conservation. Given the scope of Parkers manufacturing operations, increasing energy efficiency represents a significant opportunity to reduce environmental impact. Since 2008, Parker has reduced its energy index (MWh/USD) by 33% and greenhouse gas index (MT/USD) by 27%. Today Parker recycles more than 85% of the waste generated from its manufacturing operations, and is working to further reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills. Learn more at www.parker.com/sustainability About Parker Hannifin Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. For more than a century the company has been enabling engineering breakthroughs that lead to a better tomorrow. Learn more at www.parker.com or @parkerhannifin. ### Attachment Parker Sustainability Report 2019 Media Aidan Gormley, Director, Global Communications and Branding 216/896-3258 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 16, 2020 | GRAVES COUNTY By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 16, 2020 | 05:17 PM | GRAVES COUNTY A brick maker for the steel industry plans to open a factory in Graves County early next year, bringing more than 30 new jobs to the area. Gov. Andy Beshear announced Tuesday that PRCO America Inc., a manufacturer of specialty refractory brick for the steel industry, plans to open its first U.S. production facility next year in Graves County, a nearly $5.5 million investment. The 32 new positions are expected to pay an average hourly wage of $24.50, including benefits. Beshear's office says PRCO plans to establish a state-of-the-art refractory plant in an approximately 35,000-square-foot building in Hickory. The company will also use three other buildings on the site for various purposes, including office space. The operation will produce custom-sized resin-bonded magnesia graphite refractory brick, which steel mills use to line their furnaces and transfer ladles. The company says the facility could begin production by the end of 2020. It will be eligible for various tax incentives. Sen. Stan Humphries, of Cadiz; Rep. Richard Heath, of Mayfield; Mayfield Mayor Kathy O'Nan; and Graves County Judge-Executive Jesse Perry all celebrated the announcement, saying it will benefit the local economy. It is expected that trade on the African continent will commence within the rules of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 1 July unless otherwise decided amid the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic a year after its operational phase was launched by the heads of state and government of the African Union (AU) during the 12th Extra-Ordinary African Union Summit held in Niamey, Niger, on 7 July 2019. The establishment of the AfCFTA marked a historic achievement for economic integration in Africa and signals the reaching of an important milestone in the continents long integration history. It is one of the flagship projects of the AUs Agenda 2063, which represents a critical step forward on the journey of Africa towards the operationalisation of an integrated market and is meant to culminate in the formation of the African Economic Community set up in accordance with the Abuja Treaty and accelerate Africas economic growth and development. The establishment of the AfCFTA is an event of great importance in the institutional evolution of the African continent, and it will shape the future of Africa in the coming years. It is expected that the AfCFTA will remove the obstacles that hinder the efficient utilisation of the continents abundant resources, secure more policy convergence and simplified trade regimes, allow more opportunities to depend on locally available raw materials, and maximise regional and continental value addition. There are great hopes that the AfCFTA will lead Africa to the new horizons that were in the minds of the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in the early 1960s, who were committed to harnessing the natural and human resources of the continent for the advancement of the African peoples in all spheres of human endeavour. The AfCFTA will play a pivotal role in realising the AUs Agenda 2063 for Africa, which is to promote an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena. At present, there are two contradictory factors at work in Africa. The first is the fact that the African continent has all the resources needed to attain economic growth and sustainable development, but the second is that the continent is still lagging behind its huge potential. Africas participation in global trade today stands at around three per cent, and in intra-African trade it stands at around 15 to 18 per cent. However, the intra-regional trade of other regions of the world stands at 60, 40 and 30 per cent in Europe, North America, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, respectively, which is much higher when compared with intra-African trade. This low intra-African trade means that is necessary to deepen the regional market integration that will enable the African countries to attain accelerated growth and sustainable development, since trade is widely accepted to be the engine of economic growth and sustainable development. The importance of the AfCFTA comes from the fact that it will cover a market of 1.2 billion people with a combined GDP of $2.5 trillion across the 55 member states of the AU. It will be the largest free-trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in January 1995 in respect of the number of participating countries. The African states should focus on two main goals to maximise the benefits of the AfCFTA: the first is to accurately determine the factors needed for its successful implementation; and the second is to understand clearly what the benefits of its implementation are. BENEFITS: The factors required for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA include the elimination of all forms of trade barriers, the facilitation of trade through cooperation and coordination between the customs authorities in the various African states and the provision of technical assistance and capacity building for least-developed countries (LDCs). They also include coordination between the African Union Commission (AUC), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the national governments of the states parties to the AfCFTA in order to overcome any overlap between different economic communities, as well as the creation of an environment conducive to the private sector, which is a key player in driving investment into game-changing projects on the continent. Cooperation between the African states is vital to the deployment of their human resources, and it will contribute to the promotion of closer solidarity and economic development. There is a need to maintain an accurate and updated repository of trade information at the continental level in order to enable policy-makers, business-support organisations such as industrial federations and trade unions, and the private sector to make evidence-based and informed policy and business decisions. Finally, it is important that there is a joint commitment to implementing the AfCFTA as a comprehensive, cooperative, sustainable and mutually beneficial agreement. The successful implementation of the AfCFTA will produce many opportunities and benefits, including creating a single continental market for goods and services, with the free movement of business persons and investments and the expansion of intra-African trade through better harmonisation and coordination of trade liberalisation and facilitation across the RECs and Africa in general. It will enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through the exploitation of opportunities for production at scale, continental market access, the better allocation of resources and the reduction of the continents reliance on external resources. In addition, it will stimulate investment and innovation, foster structural transformation, improve food security and enhance economic growth and export diversification. It will rationalise the overlapping trade regimes of the main regional economic communities and create a single market in which the eventual elimination of tariffs and non-tariffs barriers will provide a push for the development of industrial capacities, encourage the emergence of continental value chains, contribute to promoting intra-African trade and help to create jobs and ensure economic prosperity in Africa. In quantitative terms, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has estimated that the AfCFTA has the potential both to boost intra-African trade by 52.3 per cent by eliminating import duties and to double this trade if non-tariff barriers are also reduced. The AfCETA is not only a trade agreement, but it is also an inclusive undertaking for Africans from all walks of life. It is a great institutional development for the continent, and the responsibility of all stakeholders now is to seize this golden opportunity to put Africa in its right position in the international trade arena. There is no doubt that the AfCFTA will be a great leap forwards in the economic integration of the African continent, but the existence of exportable and competitive products will be the decisive factor in maximising its benefits. As AU commissioner for trade and industry Albert Muchanga said in May, Africa has enough policies and strategies on industrialisation and economic diversification, including export diversification. The task at hand is to move to the stage of developing competence and excellence in the actual operations of manufacturing and agro-processing across Africa. The writer is an expert on international trade. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 03:47:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order on policing amid calls for action against police brutality and racism. It comes three weeks after the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, in police custody, which has triggered massive and weeks-long demonstrations. The executive order focuses on three areas: credentialing and certifying police officers; boosting information sharing to track officers accused of excessive use of force; and creating co-responder programs on mental health, drug addiction, and homelessness. It also said police departments must "prohibit the use of chokeholds -- a physical maneuver that restricts an individual's ability to breathe for the purposes of incapacitation -- except in those situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law." Trump, speaking at the White House before signing the executive order, stressed that he "strongly" opposes efforts to defund or dismantle police departments, calling the ideas "radical." "Without police, there is chaos. Without law, there is anarchy and without safety, there is catastrophe," he said. The move from the White House comes alongside separate efforts on Capitol Hill focused on police reforms. The Democrat-led House introduced a bill last week that aims to ensure officers can be held accountable for misconduct and increase transparency. The GOP-led Senate is also creating its own legislative package that will focus on police reporting, accountability, training and relations. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Trump's executive order "weak." "The president's weak executive order falls sadly and seriously short of what is required to combat the epidemic of racial injustice and police brutality that is murdering hundreds of Black Americans," the California Democrat said in a statement on Tuesday. "The executive order lacks meaningful, mandatory accountability measures to end misconduct. During this moment of national anguish, we must insist on bold change, not meekly surrender to the bare minimum." Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, said on Tuesday that Trump's executive order is not enough. "While the president has finally acknowledged the need for policing reform, one modest executive order will not make up for his years of inflammatory rhetoric and policies designed to roll back the progress made in previous years," Schumer said in a statement. "Unfortunately, this executive order will not deliver the comprehensive meaningful change and accountability in our nation's police departments that Americans are demanding," the New York Democrat added. "Congress needs to quickly pass strong and bold legislation with provisions that makes it easier to hold police officers accountable for abuses, and President Trump must commit to signing it into law." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters on Tuesday that he would wait until Wednesday morning to announce whether he would bring the GOP bill to the floor ahead of the two-week July 4 recess. The Republican also said the House bill of police reform efforts is "going nowhere in the Senate," while describing it as "typical Democratic overreach." Floyd died during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Protests in response to Floyd's death, and more broadly to police violence, spread across the United States and took place in some other countries. Enditem The Congress has described the death of Indian soldiers in a violent face-off in eastern Ladakh as shocking, unbelievable and unacceptable. Shocking, Unbelievable & Unacceptable! Will the Raksha Mantri confirm?, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted. Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor said the development was tragic news and needed resolute handling by the government. The tragic news from Ladakh is shocking & calls for resolute handling by our Govt. Meanwhile let us bow our heads in tribute to the three martyrs who gave their lives to protect India, & honour those who serve on our borders every day, risking their lives for our nation, Tharoor said in a tweet. The clash in Ladakh came weeks after the stand-off began. Earlier on Tuesday, the army said in a statement that it had suffered multiple casualties, including that of an officer, in a violent face off with the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday night in eastern Ladakh. It also said that there were casualties on both sides. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the current operational situation after the clash on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), along with the Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs. The clash in Ladakh came a day after Singh in a virtual rally that focused on Jammu and Kashmir said India and China want to resolve the stand-off between their border troops through dialogue. At the same time, he underlined that the government will never compromise on national pride and that India is no longer a weak nation, he added. 16.06.2020 LISTEN Paris, 16 JuneThe Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has called on the authorities of Cameroon to investigate the death in detention of broadcast journalist Samuel Wazizi who had been imprisoned since 2 August 2019. I am deeply concerned about the circumstances surrounding the death of Samuel Wazizi, said the Director-General. I call on the authorities to shed light on the events that led to Wazizis demise and ensure that any contravention to his rights as a journalist and as a detainee are brought to justice." According to reports published on 2 June, Wazizi, a presenter on Chillen Media Television (CMTV), died in a military hospital in Yaounde. The date of Wazizis death has not been announced. He had had no contact with his lawyer, family or friends since his arrest. UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. This tool takes customers through a dynamic series of questions customized to each individual client. The seamless interface and proprietary algorithm will then immediately deliver the client and referral source with a pre-qualification amount. The mortgage agent will get this same assessment along with a full application directly into their deal management software, ALFRED, to begin processing the client's file. Currently we are providing pre-qualifications at 99% accuracy, said Kendall Marin, Managing Partner, CLC Network. This tool has allowed us to compete with larger banks and push the broker industry into the forefront, Mr. Marin continued. During the three month test period, CLC Network mortgage brokers and agents ran over 1,300 files through the system with great success. This tool is not just for the customer and agent as described by Shubha Dasgupta, our mortgage agents can provide these unique links back to realtors and other referral partners who get immediate value. They can discover what their client is qualified for in seconds which ensures they are properly servicing and vetting their customers needs. Christa Mitchell added by saying, Its incredible to provide a tool we know delivers such a high value. By building purposeful tools we are really focused on ensuring we do our part to drive our industry forward. The CLC Network equips brokers and agents with new tools and platforms so they are set up for success. The new instant mortgage qualification tool will enable them to service their clients quickly and efficiently, keeping them at the forefront of technological advancement in the mortgage industry. She may have high-profile cousins in the TV industry, but Katarina Stefanovic is determined to forge her own path. The Cairns-based journalist, who joined Nine News in late 2019, told the Illawarra Mercury in 2015 that she didn't want to use her family connections to get ahead. 'My dad often says you need to make your own way in the industry,' she said. Going her own way: She may have high-profile cousins in the TV industry, but Channel Nine reporter Katarina Stefanovic (pictured) is determined to forge her own path She added that she was trying to reach her career goals 'without asking for help' from her cousin Karl Stefanovic, who hosts the Today show. And it seems Katarina, who hails from Wollongong and is in her mid-twenties, has indeed managed to achieve her aims on her own. After graduating from the University of Wollongong in 2016, she cut her teeth as a reporter at 2GB and then moved to Sky News Australia. Independent: The Cairns-based journalist, who joined Nine News in late 2019, told the Illawarra Mercury in 2015 that she didn't want to use her family connections to get ahead. Pictured: Katarina's cousin Karl Stefanovic hosting the Today show It was only late last year that she joined the ranks of Nine News, taking a position at the network's Far North Queensland bureau. On March 4, Katarina revealed on Instagram she had been stationed in Cairns for two months and had no regrets about the 'daunting' career move. She uploaded a photo of herself reporting on a Transport Workers' Union protest at Cairns Airport, and wrote: 'Two months up in FNQ already. A scary, daunting decision but one of the best career moves I've made.' Debut: On Friday, Karl mentioned on air that he was related to Katarina while introducing her report on the financial impact of Queensland's border closure on the tourism industry in Cairns Media career: It seems Katarina, who hails from Wollongong and is in her mid-twenties, has indeed managed to achieve her goals on her own. Pictured reporting from Cairns last week Qualifications: Katarina is a graduate of the University of Wollongong. Pictured at her graduation with family members on November 5, 2016 The post was liked by her cousin Peter Stefanovic, the co-anchor of Sky News' politics-focused breakfast show, First Edition. She shared another Instagram post on February 16 from Palm Cove Beach, about 30 minutes' drive from central Cairns. 'Still can't believe I live here now,' she wrote in the caption. 'Nothing but blue skies and beaches full of irukandji jellyfish.' Road to Channel Nine: Katarina had previously worked as an executive producer at Sky News Australia and a reporter at 2GB in Sydney. Pictured on Sky News on September 27, 2019 Signing off! Katarina is pictured on her last day at 2GB radio on October 6, 2018, before she left for Sky News Beat: She is pictured left interviewing a police spokesperson while a reporter for 2GB in 2018 On Friday, Karl mentioned on the Today show that he was related to Katarina while introducing her report on the financial impact of Queensland's border closure on the tourism industry in Cairns. 'Struggling businesses in Far North Queensland facing a loss of up to $6million a day from interstate travel alone say the time in now [to reopen the border],' he said. 'And as my cousin and Nine reporter, Katarina Stefanovic, reports, the uncertainty is killing tourism operators.' It's believed this was the first time Karl had disclosed his relation to Katarina on air. Tradition: She's now the fourth member of her family to be employed by Nine, after her cousins Karl, Peter and Tom Stefanovic. Pictured delivering a live cross from Cairns on March 14 'Two months in FNQ already': On March 4, Katarina revealed on Instagram she had been stationed in Cairns for two months and had no regrets about the 'daunting' career move New start: She shared another Instagram post on February 16 from Palm Cove Beach, about 30 minutes' drive from central Cairns. 'Still can't believe I live here now,' she wrote in the caption Sightseer: Katarina visited Kellys Falls in Stanwell Tops, NSW, on November 7, 2019 Social butterfly: Katarina is seen here with a friend at a Sydney bar Interestingly, the young journo pronounces her famous surname - which is of Serbian origin - differently to Karl. Karl prefers the anglicised 'Stef-un-oh-vick', whereas Katarina goes by the more traditional 'Stef-ahn-oh-vitch'. She also includes the accented 'c' at the end of her surname, unlike Karl. Is it pronounced 'Stef-un-oh-vick' or 'Stef-ahn-oh-vitch'? The surname Stefanovic is of Serbian origin, but its pronunciation varies (even within families, as Karl and Katarina demonstrate). Karl prefers the anglicised 'Stef-un-oh-vick', whereas Katarina goes by the more traditional 'Stef-ahn-oh-vitch'. Indeed, she was introduced by her cousin as Katarina 'Stef-ahn-oh-vitch' during her segment on the Today show last week. Her other famous cousin, Peter, also prefers the European pronunciation. Point of difference: Katarina pronounces her surname 'Stef-ahn-oh-vitch', like her cousin Peter (left, with Allison Langdon). Karl, on the other hand, prefers the anglicised 'Stef-un-oh-vick' Peter, who is now the co-anchor of First Edition on Sky News, had, like Karl, been raised to pronounce his surname 'Stef-un-oh-vick'. But he adopted the European way of saying it while living overseas for five years as Nine's foreign correspondent. It's believed Karl and Peter's father, Alex, encouraged them to use the pronunciation that sounded more Australian. Advertisement Pals: Katarina (right) is pictured with a lookalike friend in December 2017 Social life: She is pictured right with another friend in January 2018 Katarina is the fourth Stefanovic to be employed by the Nine Network, not including those related by marriage. As mentioned, her cousin Karl works as a co-anchor on the Today show and also hosts segments for 60 Minutes. Karl's brother Peter, who left the network 18 months ago, is a former foreign correspondent and hosted Weekend Today from 2016 to 2018. Another of Katarina's cousins, Tom, used to be a cameraman for Nine News. New Delhi: The chiefs of Indian Army and Indian Air Force, and Vice Chief of Naval Staff met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Saturday. According to an ANI tweet, the discussions were held on prevailing security situation at the borders and India's response to Uri Attack. 1) PM Modi meets chiefs of Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Vice Chief of Naval Staff to discuss India's response to Uri attacks The chiefs of Indian Army and Indian Air Force, and Vice Chief of Naval Staff met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Saturday. 2) Watch: Pak PM Nawaz Sharif points finger at India, says Uri attack could be 'reaction' to situation in Kashmir Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a reaction of the people to the situation in Kashmir as he criticised India for blaming Pakistan without any evidence. 3) Pakistan found no support from UNGA united against terrorism: Akbaruddin Pakistani Prime Minister left from United Nations General Assembly with an empty bag, they got no support, whilst there is a crescendo of support against terrorism at in the international community, according to a senior Indian diplomat at the United Nations. 4) Caught on Video: Hit-and-run captured on CCTV in Delhis Malviya Nagar, FIR registered A man was hit and seriously injured by a speeding car and the video of the incident was captured in a CCTV camera in Delhi. 5) Russia denies any military exercise with Pakistan in Occupied-Kashmir Only hours after Russias state news agency announced the first ever Russia-Pakistan military drill, Russian Embassy in India on Friday night clarified that Russia will not participate in any military exercise in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including in sensitive areas like Gilgit-Baltistan. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijans exports of non-oil and gas products amounted to $548.9 million in the period between January and April in 2020, the State Statistics Committee reported on June 16. Thus, compared to the same period in 2019, the volume of exports of non-oil and gas products decreased by 5.8 per cent in actual price and 12.9 per cent in real terms in 2020. According to the data provided by the State Customs Committee, 38.1 per cent of exports went to Italy, 16.1 per cent to Turkey, 4.9 per cent to Israel, 4.5 per cent to India, 3.6 per cent to Greece, 3.1 per cent to Russia, 3.0 per cent to Croatia, 2.7 per cent to Ukraine, 2,6 per cent to the Czech Republic, 2.5 per cent to Georgia, 2.3 per cent to Tunisia, 1.9 per cent to Portugal, 1.8 per cent to Germany, 1.5 per cent to Spain, and the value of products exported to other countries accounted for 11.4% per cent of total exports. The share of goods exported to Russia (33.9 per cent), Turkey (22.3 per cent), Georgia (10.7 per cent), Switzerland (8.8 per cent), China (3.3 per cent), Ukraine (2.4 per cent), Italy (2.3 per cent), Kazakhstan (1.8 per cent), Iran 1.4 per cent), Belarus (1.2 per cent), the United States (1.2 per cent), Germany (1.1 per cent) dominated in the value of exports of non-oil and gas products. Of the total value of imported goods, 18.1 per cent came from Russia, 14.9 per cent from Turkey, 12.6 per cent from China, 9.6 per cent from the United States, 5.3 per cent from Germany, 4.4 per cent from Italy, 4.3 per cent from Ukraine, 2, 8 per cent from Iran, 2.2 per cent from the United Kingdom, 1.9 per cent from Japan, 1.7 per cent from France, 1.6 per cent with Korea, and 20.6 per cent fell to the share of import operations with other countries. In January-April 2020, compared to January-April 2019, exports of fresh vegetables increased by 17.2 per cent, sugar - by 10.9 per cent, vegetable oils - by 2.0 times, potatoes - by 33.3 per cent. , tea - 17.8 per cent, canned fruits and vegetables - 6.1 per cent, margarine, other food additives - 1.8 times, polyethylene - 33.3 per cent, ferrous metal pipes - 1.6 times. However, fresh fruit exports decreased by 32.8 per cent, fruit and vegetable juices - 4.0 per cent, tobacco - 27.8 per cent, natural grape wines and grape juice - 62.7 per cent, cotton fiber - 22.8 per cent, cotton yarn - 2.1 per cent, unprocessed aluminum - 23.5 per cent, bentonite clay - 18.6 per cent. Compared to January-April 2019, in January-April 2020, the import of fresh fruit decreased by 14.6 per cent, vegetable oils - 17.4 per cent, butter, other dairy oils and pastes - 30.1 per cent, tea - 4.3 per cent, beef - 21.7 per cent, fresh vegetables - 20.5 per cent, cars - 50.8 per cent, medicines - 1.7 times, rolled steel - 52.3 per cent, ferrous metal rods - 48 , 2 per cent, mineral fertilizers - 3.0 per cent, computers, blocks and devices - 32.8 per cent, trucks - 7.6 per cent, polyethylene - 1.2 per cent, washing machines - 5.1 per cent, buses - 30 , 2 per cent, cement and cement clinkers - 8.5 per cent, household refrigerators - 19.4 per cent. Imports of wheat declined 46.1 per cent, potatoes - 2.7 per cent, raw sugar and sugar - 51.2 per cent, poultry and its by-products - 12.7 per cent, cigarettes - 77.6 per cent, ferrous pipes - 10, 5 per cent, rubber tires - 9.5 per cent, furniture - 10.1 per cent, ferrous metal corners - 2.4 per cent, household air conditioners - 62.5 per cent. To note, Azerbaijans exports of non-oil and gas products increased by 3.4 per cent in actual prices compared year-on-year in the period of January-March and decreased by 5.2 per cent in real terms, amounting to $ 429.0 million in January-March of 2020. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Public servants at Seoul's Seongbuk District Office with a banner reading "Emergency Disaster Relief Fund" in large text, discuss the city's disaster relief funds. Yonhap By Ko Dong-hwan A tenured Indian university professor of economics in Seoul did not expect he would not receive the national disaster relief fund he thought was for all residents. Having lived in Korea with his family for 17 years, he contacted his local community center in Songpa District and called the Seoul City Help Center for Foreigners hotline to find out why only to be told he was not eligible because and his family members were not permanent residents. But even after hearing the news, he still wondered about the criteria that determined a foreigner's eligibility for the subsidy. "I just wanted to know the exact rules and regulations regarding this," the professor, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Korea Times. The professor is among many foreigners in Seoul who did not receive their share of the relief fund that the central government and city governments each budgeted and allocated on two-tracks to "all residents in Korea" following COVID-19's impact on the national economy. Qualification as a "resident," according to Article 12 of Korea's Local Autonomy Law, is met when reporting one's address to a local government office. Seoul Metropolitan Government had advertised that it would "pay the subsidy to all Korean residents regardless of their status of incomes or assets" in amounts ranging from 400,000 to 1 million won ($329~$822) depending on the number of household members. The household-based subsidy, starting May 18, could be credited in several ways, including as a pre-paid card or gift certificate. But despite the promotion, after the city government began dispersing the funds, reports of foreigners who said they did not receive the subsidy started to surface. Clearly there was a loophole in the pay list that was unknown to the public. "We don't have the power to choose which foreign residents in our jurisdiction we pay the subsidy to," a Songpa District Office official told The Korea Times. "The criteria of eligibility of foreign subsidy recipients gets sent from the central government. "This operation depends solely on people's voluntary reports (of their addresses), so those who didn't report won't be able to get it, but for those who report and still didn't get subsidized, that would be 99.9 percent because they weren't in those criteria." The criteria were explained by Seoul city office's Local Welfare and Care Division official Kim Ki-gon. The only foreigners eligible were refugees, international marriage migrants, and foreign children of someone married to a Korean citizen. Those who did not meet these criteria were disqualified by the city government. Kim told The Korea Times the government cited the Emergency Aid and Support Act under the Ministry of Health and Welfare to decide the eligibility list, which defines the range of coverage for foreigners. He said the government had to make the list promptly because the matter was urgent and used a limited city budget. But the authority also had to be careful with the list because it had already received 2.2 million applications for funds from households of Korean citizens. "We had to regard foreigners separately from Korean citizens because we couldn't risk the list of actual eligible recipients," Kim said. "For instance, if any of our city's local community centers where no interpretation service is available had a rush of foreign subsidy applicants, there would be huge confusion in the administrative process." Kim added, however, that the city was considering whether to introduce additional criteria to allow more foreign residents to access the disaster relief funds. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which planned the state-level disaster relief funds for residents, did not respond to The Korea Times. On June 11, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea said it had advised Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung to subsidize "all foreign residents" in their regions with registered addresses. The independent state human rights watchdog's move came after some international marriage migrants and pro-migrant Korean activists filed a complaint with the commission in April, saying that excluding foreigners was discriminatory and violated their human rights. New Delhi, June 16 : Even as the Mumbai police investigates the death of bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has demanded a judicial probe into the case, alleging a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the actor's death. Speaking to IANS, Dubey said he was distressed by Sushant's death, adding that people of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were meted out step-motherly treatment by the Mumbai film industry. Those who go to Bollywood for acting from these areas are abused and discouraged, he alleged. They are either forced into begging or are abetted to commit suicide, which is proved beyond doubt by Sushant Singh Rajput's death, he said. Nishikant Dubey also alleged that the syndicate in the Mumbai film industry works even in the absence of Dawood, where children of actors and film producers are promoted. He appealed to the Maharashtra government to investigate who were the people sabotaging the film career of Sushant Singh? The entire film industry, he said, is run by the people of Purvanchal. He, therefore, appealed to the people of Purvanchal who are engaged in Bollywood to come forward and form a separate film industry. Actor Sushant Singh Rajput committed suicide in Mumbai on Sunday and was cremated on Monday in presence of his family members and people from the film industry. Meanwhile, the Mumbai police has been investigating to find out the reason behind his death and the probe, the police say, covers all angles. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Wyomings oil and gas industry has faced a mountain of challenges in recent months from a global oil price war to the collapse of energy markets fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The one-two punch hit U.S. shale producers particularly hard, forcing operators to shut in wells and lay off workers en masse. Whats more, this time of uncertainty appears far from over. The Bureau of Land Management announced last week it will postpone its second quarterly oil and gas lease sale, originally scheduled for June 22. The bureau had originally planned to open 135 parcels totaling approximately 170,000 acres to energy developers. The federal government offers a selection of nominated parcels to oil and gas firms in an online bidding process, typically four times a year. The bureau usually hosts the competitive sales in March, June, September and December. All of our actions, including comment periods and lease sales, are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis and adjustments are being made to ensure we are allowing for proper public input, while protecting the health and safety of the public and our employees, an agency spokesman told the Star-Tribune in a statement following the first postponement of an oil and gas lease sale in New Mexico. Using an all-of-the-above approach to energy development, we are helping to meet our nations growing energy needs by facilitating development and letting free market forces work after the resource is extracted by companies who sell these commodities, he continued. This months announcement follows a similar postponement of public land auctions in New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Colorado. Of the 62 million surface acres in Wyoming, nearly half is considered federal public land. The BLM in Wyoming manages about 10 million acres of land for potential mineral extraction, and leads the nation in natural gas production on federal land. Last year, federal oil and gas lease sales in Wyoming netted over $140 million. Half of the money collected by the federal government during the quarterly auctions, as well as eventual mineral royalties associated with leases, flows back to the state. Legal tussle over sales The delay of Wyomings lease sale is far from the only unexpected hurdle oil and gas operators have contended with this spring. In addition to the bureaus decision to postpone several lease sales in neighboring states, federal courts in Idaho and Montana recently sided with conservation groups and voided past oil and gas lease sales in Wyoming. For several oil and gas operators, the order throws into question their plans to continue or start production of oil on parcels sold during these sales. Earlier this month, U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Ronald Bush of Idaho did issue a stay of his order, meaning the leases voided during the February court ruling will be suspended while the case is appealed in the 9th Circuit. While the leases are suspended, no operations or production may take place and no rentals will be due, so the United States and the State of Wyoming will not receive any royalties while the appeal is underway, said Courtney Whiteman, public affairs specialist for BLM Wyoming. If the cancellation decision is upheld, bonus bids and rentals would have to be refunded, and the BLM has been in contact with the State of Wyoming about how leasing revenue shared under current laws and regulations would be recouped. Even still, uncertainty has clouded the plans of several oil and gas companies working in Wyoming. For instance, the recent court rulings, if upheld, will vacate 37 leases rented by Casper-based Kirkwood Oil and Gas. The affected leases encompass 37,158 acres. (T)he decision puts all those leases in purgatory, Steve Degenfelder, land manager at Kirkwood Oil and Gas told the Star-Tribune in an interview shortly after the latest court ruling out of Montana. You dont know where they are going to go, Degenfelder continued. So it stalls everything. The only thing industry wants is a predictable business environment. Follow the latest on Wyomings energy industry at @camillereports Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. [June 16, 2020] Melissa Data Quality Solutions Help Protect Voting Rights and Empower Vote by Mail RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Melissa , a leading provider of global data quality and address management solutions, today announced a special voter registration data file analysis and processing service to help election boards and registrars improve the accuracy of voter rolls to support implementation of vote by mail programs. Heading into the U.S. general election in November, it is imperative that jurisdictions possess accurate voter data to properly manage the distribution of voter materialsincluding vote by mail ballots which have gained widespread traction in the wake of Covid-19, said Greg Brown, Vice President, Global Marketing, Melissa. Managing this effort requires a deeply strategic look at voter data. By blending traditional and non-traditional data points, Melissa facilitates the real-time verification of voter data that empowers election administrators to readily determine voter eligibility and registration validity. These kinds of smarter data tools are necessary to ensure legitimate voters have the ability to participate in our democracy without issue. In 2018, more than 31 million Americansor 25.8 percent of election participantscast ballots by mail, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission . Vote by mail has been the primary method of voting in Colorado, Hawai, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, with an additional 29 states and the District of Columbia now providing the mail-in ballot option for any reason. The remaining 16 states require an accepted justification for casting an absentee ballot. Todays pandemic has bolstered vote by mail as an alternative to in-person voting as it would allow voters, regardless of excuse, to exercise their right from the safety of their own homes. With concerns around both election fraud and questionable voter roll purge tactics, election offices that rely on Melissas comprehensive data suite are well positioned to ensure their voter lists are correct and current, said Gerald Weber, Ph.D., Person Records Management Consultant, Melissa. Accurate voter rolls are the strongest line of defense in providing appropriate materials to eligible voters and preventing voter fraud. The Melissa voter suite updates voter contact information and dedupes voter roll data, uniquely cross-referencing data across a multitude of databases to provide real-time identity verification including name, address, phone, and email validation. With the determination of a registered voters most current address and status, election boards hold the valuable information necessary to maintain election integrity and fairness. For greater insight on Melissas services optimized for election boards, including solutions and support, visit https://www.melissa.com or call 1-800-MELISSA. Accompanying graphic available here . About Melissa Since 1985, Melissa has specialized in global intelligence solutions to help organizations unlock accurate data for a more compelling customer view. More than 10,000 clients worldwide in arenas such as retail, education, healthcare, insurance, finance, and government, rely on Melissa for full spectrum data quality and ID verification software, including data matching, validation, and enhancement services to gain critical insight and drive meaningful customer relationships. For more information or free product trials, visit www.Melissa.com or call 1-800-MELISSA (635-4772). Media contacts Greg Brown Vice President, Global Marketing, Melissa [email protected] +1-800-635-4772 x1130 Jacqueline Zerbst, MPoweredPR for Melissa [email protected] +1-877-794-6777 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The French government has backed away from banning chokeholds during arrests following pressure from the nations police. Last week, the countrys interior minister announced the immobilisation technique would be abandoned in response to growing French protests over police brutality and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd in the US. However, French police staged five days of counterprotests, arguing the ban deprived them of a key method to subdue unruly suspects. They were also irked at being compared to police in the US or portrayed as white supremacists. On Monday, the national police director sent a letter to staff saying chokeholds would no longer be taught in police schools, but they can continue to be used with discernment until alternatives are found. Police unions celebrated the step down. For years activists and some politicians have lobbied for the French police to abandon violent techniques blamed for injuries and possible deaths, such as chokeholds and pressing on a prone suspects chest. The French government has also promised more police officers will be equipped with body cameras to ensure identity checks do not lead to excessive violence or discrimination against minority groups. Researchers have documented racial profiling by French police, and investigations have recently been launched into racist comments on private Facebook and Whatsapp groups for police officers. Tens of thousands of people have marched or rallied around France over the past two weeks in protests against police brutality and discrimination. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 01:14:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday launched a funding appeal worth 390 million U.S. dollars to boost response to COVID-19 pandemic in South Sudan. Alain Noudehou, humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan, said the latest funding appeal will help provide assistance to 7.4 million people by the end of the year, up from 5.4 million who are in need of emergency aid. "The humanitarian community in South Sudan is committed to staying the course and deliver much-needed essential services and assistance for the most vulnerable, including older people, people with disabilities, and women and girls, as well as those who have been newly hit, such as the urban poor," said Noudehou. Noudehou said that humanitarian agencies have been supporting the government's COVID-19 response strategy since April, with emphasis on prevention and mitigation. South Sudan on Monday confirmed 21 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 1,776 with 30 fatalities and 58 recoveries. Enditem Chron.com is following the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area. 2:45 p.m. Despite a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Texas and Houston that has been contributed to Memorial Day weekend activity, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said during a Tuesday press conference the region's hospital capacity is still abundant and is confident in continuing to move forward with reopening. "As we begin to open up Texas and Texans returns to their jobs, we remain laser-focused on maintaining abundant hospital capacity," Abbott said. "The best way to contain the spread of this virus is by all Texans working together and following simple safety precautions." ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Texas set a new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations in four of the last five days, officials said. Hospitals are scrambling to accommodate the spike. As of Tuesday, there are more than 2,500 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, the highest single-day total since the pandemic began, according to the Department of State Health Services. In Harris County, hospitalized COVID-19 patients have continued to show statistically significant increases and if that trend continues, the Houston region may be "approaching the precipice of a disaster," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said last week during a press conference. Abbott stressed Texans should continue to wear face coverings, practice personal hygiene and social distance. "The more Texans protect their own health, the safer our state will be and the more we will be able to open up for business." Read more on Abbott's announcement, including a new five-level plan for hospital beds here on Chron.com. 9 a.m. By Monday evening, COVID-19 cases in Texas increased by 2 percent, or 1,782 cases, from the day before, according to the Houston Chronicle's data team. The statewide total is now at 90,613 cases and the death count is at 1,997. The Houston region case count increased by 2.9 percent, or 667 cases, and is now at 23,568 cases total. Ten additional deaths were reported in the region, bringing the death count up to 422. NFL CASES: Texans, Cowboys players test positive for COVID-19 Harris County saw a 3 percent day-over-day increase, or 504 new cases, and is now at 17,282 cases total. Gov. Greg Abbott will speak on Houston's climbing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations during an afternoon press conference Tuesday. Check back here for updates. NOTE: The numbers included in this report represent a one-day change in confirmed cases from Sunday, June 14 through Monday, June 15. Kate and Gerry McCann have rubbished claims from German prosecutors they have been sent a letter informing them Madeleine is dead. Investigators insist they have sent a letter - but the McCanns say they have not received one. In a furious rebuke, they said today: 'The widely reported news that we have a received a letter from the German authorities that states there is evidence or proof that Madeleine is dead is FALSE.' The full statement, posted to their appeal website, flatly contradicts remarks made yesterday by lead German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters. He said: 'We have concrete evidence that our suspect has killed Madeleine and this means she is dead. 'The parents have been told the German police have evidence that she is dead but we have not told them the details.' And today, Mr Wolters again insisted they had sent a letter to the McCann's saying in a statement: 'We have written to the parents. 'The Public Prosecutor's Office has never commented on the content of the letter and will not do so.' Kate and Gerry have never given up hope of finding Madeleine, the three-year-old who disappeared from Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. New life was breathed into the 13-year-old case this month when German sex attacker Christian Brueckner was named by prosecutors as prime murder suspect. German prosecutors have written to Gerry and Kate McCann (pictured), the parents of missing child Madeline (in photo), to say that she has died Kate and Gerry have never given up hope of finding Madeleine (right), the three-year-old who disappeared from Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. New life was breathed into the 13-year-old case this month when German sex attacker Christian Brueckner (left) was named by prosecutors as prime murder suspect Kate and Gerry have remained relatively quiet since the investigation gathered pace, but today took to their website to admonish German prosecutors Public prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters gives a news conference in Braunschweig, Germany Kate and Gerry have remained relatively quiet since the investigation gathered pace, but today took to their website to admonish German prosecutors. It came after their spokesperson yesterday said the couple would not be commenting on private correspondence with their authorities. The statement continued: 'Like many unsubstantiated stories in the media, this has caused unnecessary anxiety to friends and family and once again disrupted our lives. 'As we have stated many times before, we will not give a running commentary on the investigation - that is the job of the law enforcement agencies and we will support them in any way requested. 'Furthermore, we do not have a family spokesperson nor are we actively paying any lawyers. 'Any recent comments attributed in the media have not come from us unless they have been posted on our website. 'If there are important developments that can be made public, they will be issued through official police channels.' Christian Brueckner is the latest man to be linked with Madeline's disappearance after a long history of offences Madeline (pictured) was three-years-old when she went missing whilst the McCanns were on holiday at Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007 13 years of heartache: Timeline of the key events in the hunt for missing Madeleine McCann May 3, 2007 - Madeleine McCann disappears from her apartment in Praia da Luz. May 4 - Police do not set up effective searches or alert the Spanish border for 12 hours. A basic check of other guests is not done for 48 hours. May 30 - The McCanns meet the Pope in Rome during a series of trips around Europe and beyond to highlight the search. August - Sniffer dogs reportedly find blood traces in the McCanns' apartment. September 7 - The McCanns are made arguidos official suspects. They were totally exonerated the following year. 2008 - Detective Goncalo Amaral falsely claims the McCanns hid Madeleine's body. 2011 - The Met Police launches Operation Grange and identify almost 200 new lines of inquiry. 2013 - The Met identifies 38 people 'of interest'. Portuguese detectives reopen the case. 2017 - A witness comes forward with the name of the German suspect, Christian Brueckner. The McCanns reveal they still buy gifts for Madeleine. June 3, 2020 - Police sensationally reveal that they are investigating a German sex offender. Brueckner's name emerges the following day. June 8 - German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters says he has evidence Madeleine is dead but won't say what it is. June 15 - Mr Wolters says he has written to the McCanns telling them he has evidence their daughter is dead. Once again, he gives no details. Advertisement It completely rejects comments made by Wolters, who said that Kate and Gerry had not responded to the letter. He said: 'We of course really consider the fact that it is going to be very hard for the family when we tell them that we assume Madeleine is dead. 'But we can't say why she is dead it is more important that we are successful and we are able to get the culprit as opposed to just putting our cards on the table and telling them why we think she might be. 'This is a murder case not a missing persons case. We have been quite clear throughout we are investigating a murder and we have the evidence for that. 'We can understand the pain of the parents and they want relief but it is better for them that we have a clear and successful conclusion to the case. 'To reveal too many details too early would hamper ongoing investigations. 'In Germany we are very reserved, I am not sure how it is in the UK, we keep everything to ourselves until we press charges.' Wolters added he is adamant that the contents of the letter will not be made public, alongside details of the investigation which have led authorities to be '99.9 per cent' certain Madeleine is dead. The prosecutor also confirmed there is 'no forensic evidence' the child is dead, but there is 'concrete evidence' she has not survived her 13-year disappearance. 'Based on our investigation, 99.9 per cent of us believe she is dead,' he told the Der Westen newspaper. 'There is no forensic evidence. But there is concrete evidence that Maddie is dead. Our investigation has no doubts about this. 'Of course it would be easier for us if we could share our findings instead of always having to say, 'We have something, but can't say what it is.'' 'At the same time, there is a danger that witnesses could mix memories and reporting.' 'We as prosecutors therefore prefer to investigate in secret,' Wolters added. Investigators are said to need information from the public before they can convict Brueckner in the case. Wolters could not comment on whether or not such information has yet been obtained for 'investigative reasons.' He said: 'The more witnesses read something in the media, the harder it becomes for us to know whether it is something experience-based or if the information comes from somewhere else. 'We must withhold information that we can use to verify possible testimony from witnesses.' Rogerio Alves, a lawyer who represents the McCanns in Portugal, has been putting pressure on German investigators to reveal what evidence they have and demanded to know 'what is being done to solve the case'. He accused the three police forces involved in the probe of 'keeping information for themselves' and called on them to be more transparent toward the family. Mr Alves is hoping Portuguese detectives will tell him what evidence they have to 'support the reopening of the file here'. He said: 'I want to find out if there are new leads for them to chase. I want to know what is being done. I intend to get answers on these matters this week. 'I don't know how strong the new evidence is so I don't know what the Portuguese prosecutor is going to do.' According to Portuguese law, if the prosecutor has new information about a crime then the case should be reopened, he said. Mr Alves described last week as a 'lost week' in the quest for justice for Madeleine's parents. He was deeply critical of the infighting between the Germans and the Portuguese and called on them to 'stop the war of words'. 'What I hope is that everybody helps to find the truth instead of hiding information, or keeping information for themselves,' he said. 'This is not a competition between the police departments. We all have to go forwards to find the truth. 'Madeleine's parents don't want to know which police force thinks it is doing the best. They do not want a war of words. 'It is no use this is a waste of time. All the police should be doing is trying to solve the case. I want to see full cooperation between the police forces.' Kate and Gerry McCann have not responded to the letter, which did not contain any details of the information understood by the prosecutors Scotland Yard and German police have received more than 1,000 calls since sex offender Brueckner, 43, was identified as a suspect in connection with Madeleine's disappearance from Praia da Luz in May 2007. They believe the German drifter burgled holiday homes in the Algarve and on some occasions sexually assaulted women and girls inside the properties. Public appeals for information have featured Brueckner's former farmhouse and another property in which he stayed, as well as a VW campervan and Jaguar car he owned. Detectives are also trying to find the person who phoned him an hour before Madeleine disappeared, shortly before her fourth birthday. Police say that Brueckner received the call near the McCanns' holiday apartment in the Ocean Club complex. Mr Wolters played down the significance of the Jaguar despite Scotland Yard appealing for information about it. He said the car was in Germany when Madeleine went missing and information about it was released only to jog memories. 'The vehicles are not of direct interest for the Madeleine case,' he said. Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, said: 'The McCanns simply will not comment on private correspondence, be that from the prosecutor, the police or indeed anyone else. 'Nor will they be giving a running commentary on their liaisons with the German authorities as the investigation moves forward.' Detectives from Operation Grange the 12million Scotland Yard probe into Madeleine's disappearance insist it remains a missing person's inquiry. Portuguese police prepare to search wells at prime suspect Christian Brueckner's Praia da Luz villa in hunt for Maddie McCann's body By James Gant for MailOnline and Allan Hall in Berlin Portuguese police are preparing to search wells at Christian Brueckner's Praia da Luz villa in the hunt for Madeleine McCann's body. A single-storey farmhouse the prime suspect rented is less than half an hour away from where the three-year-old disappeared in 2007. The building has a number of old wells on its land and a path leading to a beach Madeleine went to. It comes as her parents Kate and Gerry may 'be told within days how their daughter died'. Brueckner's lawyers have said he will not answer questions on Maddie until he sees proof he was involved. He may also be in the clear over missing German child Inga Gehricke, who vanished in Saxony-Anhalt in 2015. A single-storey farmhouse the prime suspect rented is less than half an hour away from where the three-year-old disappeared in 2007 and has become a focus point It comes after Brueckner's lawyers revealed he will not answer questions on Madeleine until he sees proof he was involved The Judicial Police was yesterday considering searching the abandoned shafts in Praia da Luz for Madeleine's body, according to Portuguese newspaper Sol. Officers earlier this month were understood to be looking to dig up land around two houses Brueckner lived in while in Praia da Luz. The other building sits on a hill above the resort, about 11 minutes away from the Ocean Club the McCanns were staying. A Portuguese source told the Sun: 'Judicial Police have confirmed they have been approached by German authorities in connection with the case and they will undoubtedly be prepared to carry out fresh searches in the hope of giving the McCanns closure. 'The obvious focus would be around the hillside former farm building and another property nearby with links to him.' Brueckner's rented home has a number of old wells on its land and a path leading to a beach Madeleine went to Kate and Gerry reportedly face being told within days how their daughter died as their Portuguese lawyer is set to meet with senior police. German detectives say they have one piece of evidence that proves the child is dead. They have not told the McCanns but have shared it with Portuguese police. It was described it as 'significant' and 'very important'. The lawyer for the family from Leicestershire, Rogerio Alves, will meet them within days to find out more. He is said to be hoping they will unveil the evidence they have on Brueckner. The suspect's lawyers said he will not answer questions on Madeleine until he sees proof he was involved. Friedrich Fulscher told the Times: 'Mr B is remaining silent on the allegation at this time on the advice of his defence counsel. This is quite common in criminal proceedings. 'It is the duty of the state to prove that a suspect committed a crime. No accused person has to prove his innocence to the investigating authorities.' And in another potential boost for Brueckner, he may be in the clear over the disappearance of five-year-old Inga in Germany five years ago. It was widely reported that Brueckner was in the same area at the time. The Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating whether there are new investigative leads. But according to respected German news magazine FOCUS, investigators currently have no clues as to Brueckner's culpability. Inga vanished on May 2, 2015, after travelling with her family near Uchtspringe in Saxony-Anhalt. At around 7 pm, she ran into the nearby forest to collect firewood for a barbecue - and has not been seen since. In the furore surrounding serial sex criminal Brueckner and the suspicions he is responsible for Maddie's death, he was linked to Inga's vanishing. FOCUS said: 'Now the relatives of the girl and large sections of the public are asking themselves: were the traces of Christian B. really be intensively enough at that time? Or may investigators have overlooked something crucial? Did they let go too soon?. 'The fact is that the current findings in the Maddie case have further strengthened the efforts of the competent public prosecutor's office in Stendal to investigate the Inga case. 'But prosecutor Thomas Kramer confirmed to FOCUS Online there is 'no concrete suspicion, no hot streak. 'His Mobile phone was not logged into the crime scene area. We have no concrete evidence that he was in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene on the day of the crime.' The prosecutor said Christian B had already been investigated 'comprehensively and intensively'. Bruekner may be in the clear regarding another missing toddler called Inga Gehricke, who vanished in Saxony-Anhalt in 2015 After Inga's disappearance, the Stendal investigators had examined all sex offenders who were eligible candidates for the crime. On July 23, 2015, a so-called trace file was created for Christian Brueckner, based on information from the Braunschweig police. Brueckner lived in Braunschweig at the time and owned a dilapidated building in the district of Borde in Saxony-Anhalt. During a search in another case in 2016, investigators found six USB sticks and two phone chip cards there. Prosecutor Kramer said: 'The evaluation led to the seizure of a large number of child pornography files, but they had no connection to Inga.' It is also known he had a minor car accident on the A2 autobahn near Helmstedt the day before Inga's disappearance. Prosecutor Kramer told FOCUS Online: 'The accident in a parking lot happened on the route between Braunschweig and Christian B.'s property in Neuwegersleben. According to our findings, it is unrelated to the disappearance of Inga.' The crime scene is about 60 miles to the northeast of the crash site. Kramer told FOCUS Online prosecutors will continue their efforts to resolve the Inga case. He rejected Inga's family's criticism of the investigation. It emerged yesterday an attack on a 10-year-old British girl in Praia da Luz two years before Madeleine disappeared has formed part of German inquiries. Portuguese police have been asked to send on details of the 2005 assault, Hans Christian Wolters, the prosecutor heading the investigation, confirmed. The request from German authorities follows their suspicions Brueckner could be responsible for other assaults. In the attack which took place in 2005 it is thought the person slipped into the girl's holiday apartment while her parents were out. Pictured is the apartment block Maddie went missing from in 2007 The previous attack on a British holidaymaker was revealed by Met Police officers in 2014 after they joined the worldwide search for the youngster. In the attack which took place in 2005 it is thought the person slipped into the girl's holiday apartment while her parents were out. Police said there were 18 similar cases along the Algarve coast over a six-year period that could possibly be linked. Many were classified as 'near misses' after parents returned home to disturb the intruder. The attacker was said to have a deep tan and stale smell, leading investigator to believe he could be a bin man. Many of the incidents took place early in the morning after refuse collections had been completed. The attack on the 10-year-old was not widely publicised and only came to light after an appeal by Met Police officers. It comes after German prosecutors admitted last week that Madeleine could still be alive. In comments which could ignite fresh hopes for her parents Kate and Gerry, prosecutor Hans Wolters said there was no forensic evidence to say she is dead. Madeleine McCann could still be alive, according to the German prosecutor Hans Wolters (left) who previously suggested she was likely to be dead. Pictured right: Paedophile Christian Brueckner, who is suspected of kidnapping Madeleine This was despite officials saying they were convinced she is no longer alive after news emerged earlier this month of new prime suspect Brueckner. German prosecutors had also said they knew how the little girl was killed but had no idea where her body is. But speaking to the Mirror, Mr Wolters said: 'Because there is no forensic evidence there may be a little bit of hope. 'We don't want to kill the hope and because there is no forensic evidence it may be possible. 'I am surprised the fact we say or I say Madeleine is dead is so important for the British people.' The prosecutor added in Germany it is 'normal' to assume a murder has taken place in similar cases. This was despite officials repeatedly saying that they were convinced she is no longer alive after news emerged earlier this month of new prime suspect Brueckner German prosectuors, who are investigating Brueckner for links to Madeleine's 2007 disappearance, had also said they knew how the little girl was killed but had no idea where her body is. Pictured: Portuguese police at the the Praia da Luz resort from where Maddie disappeared Brueckner is currently in prison in Kiel, northern Germany, for drugs offences and is appealing a conviction for rape from last year over a 2005 attack. Mr Wolters also admitted his previous assertion Madeleine may have been 'killed quickly' was only 'personal opinion and speculation'. He said he came to the opinion 'without facts' based on experience of previous kidnapping cases. Portuguese police reportedly did not interview Brueckner in the weeks after the three-year-old's disappearance as they did not know he was a sex offender. At the time of Madeline's disappearance, the German was living in the Praia da Luz area. But his criminal past in Germany was not known to detectives searching for Madeleine. While all sex offenders in the Algarve region came under suspicion and were interviewed, 43-year-old Brueckner was not among them. It comes after news emerged that Portuguese police reportedly did not interview Brueckner in the weeks after the three-year-old's disappearance as they did not know that he was a convicted sex offender. Kate and Gerry McCann continue to hope that their daughter is alive Though Brueckner had two convictions for theft and disobedience since arriving in Portugal in 1998, he was not on the radar of those searching for the youngster. His name was included in a file sent to British police in 2011 - but only because he was a foreigner who had been jailed and not because he was linked to a sex crime. It was not until Brueckner 'confessed' to a friend in a bar in Germany that he knew about Madeleine's disappearance that he became the prime suspect. German prosecutors are convinced he killed the child but admitted they do not have enough evidence to charge him with murder. Portuguese media said EU countries did not routinely share information on all criminals in the 1990s. Brueckner was convicted of molesting a six-year-old girl in a playground in his home town of Wurzburg, Bavaria, in 1994 when he was just 17. He left Germany for the Algarve after serving part of a two-year youth sentence for the crime. But that conviction was unknown to police on the McCann case in 2007. Temperatures soared across many parts of Japan on Monday, with the mercury hitting 35 degrees Celsius in portions of the Kanto region. The Meteorological Agency says it's raining in the Hokkaido and Kyushu regions. But clear skies and high temperatures are being observed across wide areas of western to northeastern Japan. By 12 p.m. on Monday, temperatures had hit 35 degrees in Sano City, 34.6 degrees in Shizuoka City, 33.8 degrees in Tatebayashi City, and 32 degrees in central Tokyo. Authorities are urging people to take steps to prevent heatstroke, as temperatures are expected to climb even higher. Weather officials forecast that the temperature will rise to 35 degrees in the cities of Shizuoka, Kofu, Maebashi, and Kumagaya. They say the mercury will hit 34 degrees in Utsunomiya City, 33 degrees in Owase City and central Tokyo, and 32 degrees in the cities of Nagoya, Kyoto, and Okayama. Many people in Japan are wearing face masks due to the coronavirus pandemic. But there are concerns that wearing them in hot weather will cause other health problems, such as heatstroke. Environment Ministry officials say to prevent heatstroke people should avoid strenuous exercise when wearing masks and drink water frequently. They also say masks can be removed, if social distancing is practiced. Press Release Nokia expands 5G ReefShark chipset portfolio with Broadcom collaboration Companies to focus on the development of silicon technology, expanding range of ReefShark chipsets 15 June 2020 Espoo, Finland Nokia and Broadcom today announced that they are collaborating on the development of advanced semiconductor technologies, including new custom system-on-chip (SoC) processors, which will be integrated into Nokias 5G Powered by ReefShark portfolio. The collaboration further expands the range of Nokia ReefShark chipsets available for 5G solutions and will improve both the system performance and energy footprint of 5G networks. The two companies will work to develop new custom system-on-chip (SoC) solutions, which utilize Nokias wireless technology and Broadcoms expertise in application-specific integrated circuit ASIC technologies. The added performance brought by custom silicon solutions is crucial in realizing the capabilities and benefits of 5G and delivering on its requirements. While collaborating with Broadcom, Nokia continues to further expand its silicon capabilities and improve the penetration of ReefShark solutions in its AirScale radio access portfolio. These new chipsets are designed to be deployed in several building blocks of Nokias AirScale radio access solution. By deploying ReefShark-based products, operators will benefit from a reduction in size and power consumption, while also seeing a boost to capacity and overall performance with a lower total cost of ownership. Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: This important collaboration highlights our continued commitment to developing our 5G Powered by ReefShark chipset portfolio and ensures that our 5G solutions deliver a best-in-class performance to our customers. We are delighted to bring Broadcoms silicon technology leadership and best-in-class ASIC capability to the table, allowing us to deliver a high performance and serve our customers needs as the demand for 5G services increases. Story continues Frank Ostojic, SVP and General Manager of ASIC Products Division at Broadcom, said: We are excited to partner with Nokia to develop and deploy highly integrated custom silicon solutions for 5G infrastructure. Nokia and Broadcoms collaboration accelerates silicon innovation and enables operators and end users to realize the unprecedented benefits of 5G. Resources: About Broadcom Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) is a global technology leader that designs, develops and supplies a broad range of semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions. Broadcom's category-leading product portfolio serves critical markets including data center, networking, enterprise software, broadband, wireless, storage and industrial. Our solutions include data center networking and storage, enterprise, mainframe and cyber security software focused on automation, monitoring and security, smartphone components, telecoms and factory automation. For more information, go to www.broadcom.com About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Only Nokia offers a comprehensive portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing opportunities across the globe. With our commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we are a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks. Our communications service provider customers support more than 6.4 billion subscriptions with our radio networks, and our enterprise customers have deployed over 1,300 industrial networks worldwide. Adhering to the highest ethical standards, we transform how people live, work and communicate. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia. LOS ANGELES, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The book, Swords of The Vatican, Reflections Of A Witness To Evil, by Holocaust survivor, Severyn Ashkenazy reveals shocking research on the history of mass murder, persecution and dominance by use of force. To maintain power and dominance for more than sixteen centuries force was used by the Vatican against whole groups of people who were deemed a threat to its power. Any group that deviated from the Roman Catholic Church were slated for persecution and elimination. These innocent lives did not matter, especially the Jews. Swords of the Vatican by Severyn Ashkenazy Swords of the Vatican Reflections Of A Witness To Evil Flash forward to 2020. Cries for justice following the horrific death of George Floyd by a white police officer created a global multicultural movement to fight racism and injustice. Swords of The Vatican, Reflections Of A Witness To Evil provides a chilling look at how brutality and injustice began at the birth of Christianity and still exists today. Born in 1936, Poland, Severyn Ashkenazy with his parents and brother, survived Nazis after being hidden for two years in a dark, damp cellar. This made him ask why? Why is there so much hate for the Jews? As a child he was taught that life was about kindness to others. Jews educate their children and ask them to follow the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Why then was that not what happened to his family? He spent the rest of his life researching history, religion and the origin of hate. The prologue quotes a Jewish biblical dictum, "He who saves a single life saves an entire world." Shouldn't this be the goal for humanity? Anyone who cares about truth and justice needs to read SWORDS OF THE VATICAN today. Available at Amazon and local bookstores by request. Paperback - Second Edition ISBN 978057868444-4 https://bit.ly/2LZlAmB https://amzn.to/2A3R1tw http://swordsofthevatican.info/about-author/ Media Contact: Roz Wolf 818-522-7948 [email protected] SOURCE Swords Of The Vatican Ukraine could harvest over 68 mln tonnes of grains, legumes forecast 21:50, 16.06.20 575 According to the May outlook, the harvest will stand at 65-68 million tonnes. Actor Koena Mitra, reacting to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, has laid bare the hypocrisy of Bollywood. In an interview to The Times of India, Koena said that the industry is no longer about celebrating art, but a certain kind of lifestyle. Bollywood is no more about celebrating art, Koena said. The culture, fashion and lifestyle is more popular. Bollywood lifestyle is more popular than substantial films and then comes groupism and friendship where friends are expected to work for free. There are a lot of bread snatchers in our industry, so much that they will snatch the last piece of bread from your mouth and leave you hungry just to do favours to their camp. Nepotism, bias and gundagiri is there in our industry and has become a habit now. Also read: Saif Ali Khan calls Bollywoods sudden love for Sushant Singh Rajput ultimate hypocrisy, says thats an insult to the dead Much has been said about how Sushant was treated by the industry, despite appearing in acclaimed and commercially successful films. The actor died by suicide on Sunday, at the age of 34. Koena had previously called out filmmaker Karan Johar for his statement, in which hed admitted to not being there for Sushant despite knowing that he was troubled. After people are gone they will come out and do dramas, crocodile tears, write essays, beautiful stories, Koena continued. But till the time people are alive, their bread will be snatched. They will write essays right now but will do the same thing tomorrow, there are many bread snatchers. And the biggest problem is they are scared of the truth, but they should be exposed. Citing the example of actors Shiney Ahuja and Jiah Khan, Koena added, When Shiney Ahuja came out, everyone banned him that no work should be given to him. But certain superstars have also been to jail, how can they ban others? After Jiah Khans death, there were charges on Sooraj, but superstars promoted and made sure that he was running his house and working. Also read: There are many Sushant Singh Rajputs in the industry, Karan Johar doesnt decide their success or failure: Koena Mitra Koena said that a part of the blame also rests on the shoulders of the audience promoting this culture. You have to blame our audience also to an extent, she said. People are mindlessly empowering certain people, following certain cultures. There is mockery, judgement, gundagiri, violence, insult and people are following it. Without using your brain you are creating monsters and their behaviour will take away humans. Our industry has many such camps who are very good at bread snatching. This actor is good, remove him and cast other one. If someone is earning their bread, you are not supposed to snatch their bread. They should be allowed to grow. Sushants last rites were performed at the Vile Parle crematorium on Monday. The actor was known for his acclaimed performances in films such as MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Sonchiriya, Kai Po Che, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, among others. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a massive escalation of India-China border tension, 20 Indian soldiers have been killed during a "violent face-off" with Chinese troops across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in sensitive Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, the Indian Army said. "Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at stand-off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20. Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation," Indian Army said in a statement. Besides, the Chinese army also suffered casualties in the violent confrontation and 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured were reported from their side, reported ANI citing sources. On Tuesday morning, an Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed during a violent confrontation with Chinese troops in the sensitive Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, the Army had confirmed. The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier said, "In late-evening and night of June 15, a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by Chinese side to unilaterally change status quo there. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had agreement at higher level been scrupulously followed by Chinese side." The ministry also added that given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. "We expect the same of the Chinese side," it said. Meanwhile, China had lodged a protest with India today over the violent face-off, which it claimed took place when the Indian personnel crossed the border line for "illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel" leading to serious physical conflict. The protest was "mentioned" during a meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui, Indian Ambassador here Vikram Misri said, according to PTI reports. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said earlier in the day that both sides suffered casualties in the violent face-off and the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held two review meetings over developments in Eastern Ladakh during the day. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that federal employment laws protect LGBTQ workers from discrimination, delivering a major victory to the LGBTQ community amid concerns over an erosion of their rights in recent years. In a landmark 6-3 decision, the conservative-controlled court ruled that an "employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender" violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts and fellow conservative Neil Gorsuch, who was appointed to the bench by President Donald Trump in 2017, joined the majority opinion. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Trump's other Supreme Court appointee, led three conservative justices in dissenting, arguing the issue should be settled through legislation. The historic decision came amid concerns that the Supreme Court, where five conservatives hold sway, will roll back legal protections for minorities, including LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) people. In 2018, the court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Although 21 states currently prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, there are no existing federal laws against such discrimination. The Supreme Court ruling ends the legal patchwork for LGBTQ worker rights and establishes employment anti-discrimination protection nationwide. 'Landmark Victory' LGBTQ rights advocates hailed the ruling, which came nearly five years after the Supreme Court made gay marriage legal in the United States. "This is a landmark victory for LGBTQ equality," Alphonso David, president of Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy organization, tweeted. Katy Joseph, director of policy and advocacy at Interfaith Alliance, called the decision "a watershed moment for equality." In a statement, Joseph said, "Too often employers overstep the boundaries of personal religious freedom -- the right to believe as we choose -- to impose their beliefs on others through staffing decisions and workplace culture. Turning away LGBTQ+ job applicants and employees, or terminating their employment due to their identity, isn't religious freedom it's discrimination." Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council disagreed with the ruling. "Allowing judges to rewrite the Civil Rights Act to add gender identity and sexual orientation as protected classes poses a grave threat to religious liberty. We've already witnessed in recent years how courts have used the redefinition of words as a battering ram to crush faith-based businesses and organizations," concluded Perkins. The civil rights act of 1964 makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against workers "because of" their "sex, color, religion, sex, or national origin." The question before the justices was whether the phrase "because of sex" applied to the sexual orientation of LGBTQ employees. In 2015, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, under the Obama administration, ruled that it did. The donation is part of AES Mong Duongs continuous support for Quang Ninh province's battle against COVID-19 The programme's donations, worth nearly $17,000 in total, include the renovation of lighting systems and the improvement of hygiene conditions, as well as digital equipment to support the learning efforts of local teachers and students. New LEDs have been installed in our class- and meeting rooms. In addition, the company also provided us with computers and printers for our digital learning room. The donations have provided significant support to us, helping create a safe and supportive learning environment for our students, said Pham Thi Tin, principle of Nguyen Trai Elementary School. AES Mong Duong has been our long-term partner and true supporter, Tin added. As part of the support programme, the drainage system and washing area at the Mong Duong High School were renovated and are now in use daily by more than 500 students. The activities have made a lasting difference and contributed to improving the quality of life of more than 200,000 people in neighbouring communities in Cam Pha city, Quang Ninh province. As our school re-opened during the pandemic, we place at utmost importance on safety and hygiene, and luckily the renovation has been completed right before the kids got back to school. Thus, AES Mong Duong's support has been very meaningful to us, said Duong Thi Bich Mai, principle of Mong Duong High School. The donation is part of AES Mong Duongs continuous support for Quang Ninh province's battle against the pandemic. In early May, the company donated nearly $21,000 to local communities and related agencies to support their efforts in fighting COVID-19. Our mission is to improve peoples lives in the communities we operate in. I am happy that the support will enhance the safety of all of them and hope it will motivate students and teachers when they come back to school amid the pandemic, said David Stone, CEO of AES Mong Duong. Since 2012, 130 CSR initiatives with a total value of more than $600,000 have been implemented by the company, focusing on the four main pillars health, education, livelihood, and infrastructure. The activities have made a lasting difference and contributed to improving the quality of life of more than 200,000 people in neighbouring communities in Cam Pha city, Quang Ninh province. AES Mong Duong Power Company Ltd., a subsidiary of global power supplier AES Corporation, has successfully developed and arranged to finance the landmark Mong Duong 2 Power Project with a capacity of 1,200MW and a total investment of approximately $2.1 billion. The project is one of Vietnams largest coal-fired power projects, representing approximately 2.6 per cent of the countrys current installed capacity. Older men who have a weak or irregular circadian rhythm guiding their daily cycles of rest and activity are more likely to later develop Parkinson's disease, according to a new study by scientists at the UC San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences who analyzed 11 years of data for nearly 3,000 independently living older men. The scientists said their discovery of the link between circadian rhythms and Parkinson's -- a disease characterized by loss of control over movement, balance and other brain functions -- suggests these circadian disruptions may reflect neurodegenerative disease processes already affecting the brain's internal clock well before a Parkinson's diagnosis, and that they could be considered an early warning sign of the disease. "The strength of the circadian rhythm activity seems to have a really important effect on health and disease, particularly in aging. In this latest study we found that even small changes in circadian rhythm in older men were associated with a greater likelihood of getting Parkinson's down the line," said study senior author Kristine Yaffe, MD, the Roy and Marie Scola Endowed Chair and vice chair of the Department of Psychiatry at UCSF, a professor of psychiatry, neurology, and epidemiology and biostatistics, and a member of the UCSF Memory and Aging Center. The results -- published June 15, 2020 in JAMA Neurology -- merit follow-up, according to the study authors, to investigate whether physiological changes set off by disruptions in circadian rhythms might themselves be a trigger for neurodegeneration, and whether strengthening these rhythms could lower risk for developing Parkinson's. Parkinson's is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease. 500,000 individuals in the United States have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and many with the disease are undiagnosed, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Most who have Parkinson's are diagnosed after age 60. There are no drugs known to prevent the disease, but there are a growing number of treatments to relieve symptoms. Among older adults, weakened or irregular circadian rhythms of rest and activity are common, according to study lead author Yue Leng, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry at UCSF. Other conditions -- constipation or deficits in the sense of smell -- have also been associated with increased likelihood of developing Parkinson's later on. advertisement "Parkinson's is a disease that probably takes decades to develop, and apart from changes in movement, earlier signs might be critical in understanding the disease and its mechanisms," Leng said. "This is the first large, long-term study to find that disrupted circadian rhythms might be linked to Parkinson's that emerges years later." The study, which enrolled 2,930 men with an average age of 76.3 when the research began, was part of the larger, population-based Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MRoS), which began in 2000 and enrolled men at six medical centers nationwide. None of the participants in the subset of the MRoS cohort initially had Parkinson's, and all were living in community-based settings (i.e. not in nursing homes). Their status for many health-related factors was assessed at the start, and they were monitored through follow-up visits and questionnaires. As part of the study, researchers monitored circadian rhythms of rest and activity over three separate 24-hour periods by having participants wear an actigraph -- a watch-like device that detects and records even slight wrist movements. The data collected from these devices were independently associated with the later development of Parkinson's. In a previous study, Leng and Yaffe identified an association between daytime napping and the later development of Parkinson's. But the link between circadian rhythms and Parkinson's is not just a matter or disrupted sleep, according to the new study. The association held true even after accounting for indicators of sleep disturbances -- including loss of sleep; sleep inefficiency (time spent asleep after turning off the lights); leg movement during sleep; and the chronic, temporary cessation of breathing known as sleep apnea. In drawing this conclusion, the researchers took into account numerous other variables collected as part of the MRoS study, including regional differences in study sites and participant demographics, education, baseline cognitive performance, chronic diseases, physical activity, symptoms of depression, body mass index, smoking, and use of benzodiazepines, alcohol, and caffeine. advertisement Leng and Yaffe evaluated four parameters of participants' rest-activity rhythms as measured by actigraph: amplitude, the difference between the period of greatest to least activity; mesor, the average activity; robustness, how well the measured cyclical rest-activity matched a regular curve similar to a cosine wave; and acrophase, a measure of advance or delay in the 24-hour cycle relative to the population average. During follow-up, 78 of the 2,930 study participants were diagnosed with Parkinson's. Those who scored lowest in actigraph amplitude, mesor or robustness had triple the risk of developing Parkinson's compared to those who scored highest. The researchers did not find an association between acrophase and Parkinson's risk. Animal models of Parkinson's have shown that cells controlling the brain's circadian rhythm pacemaker often begin to degenerate even before cells in the part of the brain that are traditionally associated with Parkinson's symptoms, suggesting that weakening of circadian rhythm may in some cases represent an early stage of disease. Leng also does not rule out the possibility that disruptions in circadian rhythm, already known to cause metabolic changes and inflammation, might themselves contribute to neurodegenerative disease. Leng hopes to investigate whether weakened circadian rhythms trigger inflammation or the abnormal accumulation of proteins seen in affected brain tissue in both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. "These neurodegenerative diseases are not reversible," she said. "But if research points to sleep or circadian problems being risk factors for neurodegeneration prior to traditional symptoms, then we may be able to use that information for early detection and diagnosis, or we might be able to intervene in ways that prevent development of neurodegenerative loss of function." After allegedly being caught with 30kg of methamphetamine at a Chinese airport, Sydney woman Kalynda Davis has managed to turn her life around. Ms Davis was just 22 when she found herself in a filthy women's prison in Guangzhou, accused of trying to traffic drugs in 2014. Like Australian actor Karm Gillespie, the young blonde woman faced execution by firing squad if found guilty. But her ordeal was cut short after then Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and a family lawyer negotiated her release. The confidential talks convinced Chinese officials of Ms Davis' innocence as she had no knowledge about the suitcase contents. Six years on, Ms Davis' life appears to have returned to normal. The 27-year-old has a new partner, a baby and is working as a remedial massage therapist. Sydney woman Kalynda Davis (pictured) has manged to turn her life around after allegedly being caught with 30kg of methamphetamine at a Chinese airport The 27-year-old has a new partner, a baby and is working as a remedial massage therapist Her Facebook page is filled with happy family photos. She proudly showed off her pregnant belly as she posed in a white lace dress with her partner electrician Eugene Pollock, in November last year. Ms Davis and Mr Pollock are seen smiling in a number of pictures together. The images are a far cry from what her life could have looked like if she was convicted. Ms Davis was arrested at Guangzhou International Airport in southern China on November 8, along with boyfriend Peter Gardner, 25, and the pair were accused of smuggling 'ice' - the drug crystal methamphetamine. They had met in dating app Tinder weeks earlier and decided to take a last-minute trip to China before heading back home. Her Facebook page is filled with happy family photos (pictured: Kalynda Davis with partner Eugene Pollock) Mr Gardner, who Ms Davis met on dating app Tinder, remains imprisoned in China A New Zealand citizen, Mr Gardner had lived in Australia for some time, having completed his apprenticeship at a western Sydney construction firm. Mr Gardner remains in a Chinese jail facing the death penalty. The negotiations to have Ms Davis secretly released came when Australia had a good relationship and a free-trade agreement with China. Australian former TV actor Karm Gillespie was sentenced to death in China on Saturday for smuggling 7.5kg of meth in his luggage at a Hong Kong airport in 2013 But the relationship has eroded, with tensions growing following Australia calling for a probe into the origins of the coronavirus. Since then, Karm Gillespie has been sentenced to death in China on drug-smuggling charges. Gillespie was detained seven years earlier but his case had not been made public by Beijing, Australian authorities or his family. China's foreign ministry on Monday said Gillespie's sentence had 'nothing to do with relations between the two countries', and said the Australian would have his 'lawful rights protected'. China will 'facilitate consular visits from the Australian side', foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing, although he added he was unsure if China's current virus containment measures might hinder this. Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said on Sunday that Australians 'shouldn't necessarily' see Gillespie's sentence as further retaliation by China. Ms Davis and Mr Gardner met overseas on dating app Tinder late last year, before deciding to take a last minute-trip to China Ms Davis' ordeal was cut short after then Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and a family lawyer negotiated her release Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 22:26:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - ACCRA -- Ghana confirmed 229 more COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the country's total number of infections to 12,193, according to the Ghana Health Service(GHS). The GHS data also captured 68 new recoveries, bringing the number of recovered cases to 4,326. - - - - BERLIN -- Germany launched its official COVID-19 warning app which was now available for download to smartphones, the government announced on Tuesday. Downloading and using the app was "a small step for each of us, but a big step in the fight against the pandemic," said head of the Chancellery Helge Braun here on Tuesday, adding that citizens could rely on high standards of data protection. - - - - HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced on Tuesday to extend social distancing measures but relax the limits on group gatherings as the COVID-19 epidemic situation has stabilized in Hong Kong. The HKSAR government said it would gazette directions and amendments under relevant regulations to extend the social distancing measures in relation to catering businesses, scheduled premises and group gatherings in public places, as well as make appropriate adjustments and relaxations having regard to the latest situation. - - - - BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over an extraordinary China-Africa summit on solidarity against COVID-19 in Beijing on Wednesday, and deliver a keynote speech, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Tuesday. The summit is jointly proposed by China; South Africa, the rotating chair of the African Union (AU); and Senegal, co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It will be held via video link. - - - - CAPE TOWN -- Children in Africa remain confronted by a host of threats due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday in commemorating Day of the African Child. The direct and secondary impacts of the virus threaten to unravel the gains made for the poorest children across Africa, UNICEF said in a statement emailed to Xinhua. - - - - TEHRAN -- Iran reported 2,563 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, taking the total number to 192,439, official IRNA news agency reported. Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said during her daily update that 115 people died overnight from the virus, taking the total fatalities to 9,065. - - - - DHAKA -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh exceeded 94,000 on Tuesday after a record 3,862 new cases were detected in the last 24 hours. Enditem Why it matters: Robotics specialist Boston Dynamics on Tuesday started offering its quadruped Spot robot for sale to interested businesses for the first time. Up to this point, Spot was only available to lease through the companys early adopter program which opened in late 2019. The price? About as much as a brand new Tesla Model S. First introduced in 2016, the canine-inspired robot is more of a general purpose workhorse than some of Boston Dynamics earlier (and far creepier) creations. During the initial leasing period, more than 150 robots were employed by businesses and research facilities around the world for use in a variety of environments. While some may recall Adam Savage using a Spot to pull his custom rickshaw, others have been using them for far more productive tasks including monitoring decommissioned nuclear sites and to document construction progress. At least one early adopter even commissioned the bot to perform in theme parks. I wonder how that compares to Chuck E. Cheese's animatronics? Those concerned with matters of security should fret not, were told. All data logged by the robot is encrypted, as are messages between Spot and its owner. No data is sent to Boston Dynamics without explicit consent, the company said. Boston Dynamics, now owned by SoftBank, is restricting sales to the US for now although some international markets are still open for the leasing option. Recruiting your own robotic companion will set you back $74,500 which includes a $1,000 deposit that is due at checkout. Add-ons, like an extended warranty and an additional battery, aren't exactly cheap either, so be sure to consider all costs before ordering. Also worth mentioning are a few other precautions and guidelines. For example, Boston Dynamics notes that Spot is not certified safe for in-home use or for use around children or others that cant fully appreciate the hazards that come with its operation. Furthermore, buyers are subject to the companys terms and conditions which include the beneficial use of its robots. If youre unsure about usage, perhaps you may want to consult the 55-page user guide for starters. ARCHIVED - First tourists land in Spain since the beginning of the Covid crisis German tourists are flying into the Balearic Islands this week as mainland Spain prepares to open up for tourists next week The Balearic Islands have become the first destination in Spain to open up to international tourism following the beginning of the Covid crisis, beginning with a pilot plan to bring 10,900 German citizens to the islands, with a minimum stay of five nights during the next 15 days. Three tour operators (TUI, DER Touristik and Schauinslad-Reisen) and airlines have put the packages together and the visitors will be spread across several hotels in the areas of Playa de Palma, Alcudia and Cala DOr in Mallorca and in Menorca and Ibiza. The first flight from Dusseldorf in Germany carrying 189 passengers arrived at 10.54 in the Son Sant Joan de Palma airport on Monday morning, courtesy of German travel giant TUI. Their arrival was met with huge media interest, there being almost as many members of the press and security as there were passengers. All of the accommodation allocated for these first tourists has been prepared with health security in mind and strict social distancing and hygiene measures will protect both staff and clients. Travellers must fill out a health questionnaire on the plane, undergo a temperature control upon arrival, provide their telephone number and place of accommodation so that Balearic Government personnel can monitor their health status. The regional government in the Balearics has contracted apartments in which they can isolate any visitors who test positive for coronavirus as long as they do not require hospitalization. If hospitalisation is required, they will receive the same medical attention as any resident, just as the contacts of possible positives will be followed in the same way as if they occur among the local population. ~wants management investigated.~ PHILIPSBURG:--- President of the St. Maarten Telecommunication Union Ludson Evers dispatched a letter to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs requesting that she calls mandates SOAB to conduct a forensic audit at the TELEM. Evers cited a number of allegations where he blamed management for investing in projects that are failing, one being the SMITHCOMS DOMINICANA project that was abandoned earlier this year after TELEM invested millions in the project. Another project Evers criticized is the HELP DESK, he also accused the company of paying two persons to function as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Chief Technical Officer (CTO), both persons Evers said have substitute workers. The full content of the letter that was sent to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, copied to the Parliament of St. Maarten and the Prosecutors Office. This pilot fish gets a meeting invite from his bosss boss with no information about what its about just the name Skip Level. And fish, who doesnt know anyone by that name and is busy with customer-related work, declines, saying, If you would find out from Skip Level what they want and then send the ask along to me, or just have Skip Level contact me directly, that would be great. Which prompts his bosss boss to send out some much-needed clarification to everyone in the department: Im scheduling Skip Level meetings, the new name for 1 Over 1 Touchpoints, to give you all an opportunity to ask questions or provide feedback as well as to give me better insight into how things are going on the team. In fairness to fish, Sharky is pretty sure he has met a vendor rep named Skip Level at some point in the last 40 years. South Africa: COVID-19 and the youth As South Africa commemorates Youth Day, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has reflected on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected young people. Since the advent of the pandemic on our shores, we have lost 123 fellow South Africans who were 39 years old or younger, with 29 of those under the age of 30. We pay special respect to these young lives today and extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of our fallen compatriots, the Minister said. Tuesday marks Youth Day in South Africa - a day that pays tribute to the school pupils who lost their lives during the 16 June 1976 uprising in Soweto. It is imperative that we do not fall into despair as we combat COVID-19. We can never be complacent or found wanting. The Coronavirus has decimated some of the strongest health care systems and called on humanity to entirely reassess its way of living, the Minister said. Mkhize said COVID-19 has changed the way things are done and has forced humanity to choose between life or external trappings. It is possible to fight back. Like the youth of 1976, it takes consciousness, discipline, co-operation and courage to turn the tide against this invisible enemy. We can turn the tide against this enemy. As a country we can maintain control over the Coronavirus, Mkhize said. Minister launches COVID-19 initiative The Minister was speaking during the official launch of the Multi-sectoral Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) on Social Behavioural Change. The MAC on Social Behavioural Change has been convened by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Social Development in the spirit of multi-sector collaboration. Whilst the most urgent work of the MAC will be to facilitate diverse stakeholder cooperation in our COVID-19 response, the work naturally extends into the tenets of the Health Compact and ultimately the National Health Insurance in that it also facilitates action for fair access to quality health care and a long and healthy life for all South Africans, the Minister said. Mkhize said government was excited about this initiative and looked forward to gaining deeper insight into the desires and will of the South African people. He said the initiative is an opportunity to find out how government can partner together with citizens. COVID-19 has traversed across sectors of society in some instances merely uncovering what was already broken, but in other cases, inspiring breakthroughs and innovation. But today, we are taking the fight outside the clinics, the hospitals and administrative buildings. This has to be a grassroots movement. The fight against COVID-19 is going to be won at home, in a church, in a taxi, on the streets, in a restaurantand in every part of our social lives. It is not about whether there is a curfew or there is a policeman watching your movements. This is now about every South African taking the fight on, the Minister said. He said South Africa needs to build a new culture - at a ward and district level - so that everyone out there knows that there is one message on working together to fight this pandemic. This is the time that we need to be more united as we move on. Its no longer going to be about what the government has said or done - it will be about how each individual responds, Mkhize said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The giant Galapagos tortoise, Diego, who has almost single-handedly saved the threatened species by fathering over 800 hatchings, has been retired to the native island after decades of breeding in captivity, Ecuadors environment minister said in a statement. Diego was among 14 male tortoises to participate in the breeding programme on Santa Cruz Island that reproduced more than 2,000 giant tortoises since it began in the 1960s. As per reports, the 100-year-old tortoise contributed to 1,800-strong tortoise population, at least 40% of which he bred, according to park rangers. Now, Diego was returned to his native, remote and uninhabited island, Espanola, the Galapagos National Parks service (PNG) updated in an official press release. We are closing an important chapter in the management of the park, minister Paulo Proano said on Twitter, adding that 25 tortoises including the prolific Diego are going back home after decades of reproducing in captivity and saving their species from extinction. Additionally, the 100-year-old Diego as well as other tortoises were quarantined for a while in order to avoid any seeds reaching the remote island from plants that were not native. Read: Carcass Of 5-year-old Tiger Found At Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary; Cause Of Injury Unknown Read: Elephant Playfully stealing A Wildlife Photographer's Hat Gets Netizens Divided; Watch Diego, Espanola Island giant Galapagos tortoise and father to 800 (!) hatchlings of the subspecies, returns to his home island today. @ConservOptimism https://t.co/1hsTs97NZI Dr. Edwin Pynegar (@EdwinPynegar) June 15, 2020 Two males and 12 females were left Shipped from Californias San Diego Zoo, the tortoise that weighs about 80kg (175 pounds), is 90cm (35 inches) long and 1.5 meters (five feet) tall, was a part of Chelonoidis hoodensis program in the first half of the 20th century chosen in a scientific expedition. As many as two males and 12 females were left from Diegos species alive on Espanola, and they were too spread out to reproduce, as per reports. Park's director, Jorge Carrion, was quoted saying that the animal contributed a large percentage to the lineage that was returning to Espanola. He added, there was a feeling of happiness to have the possibility of returning that tortoise to his natural state. According to a report, The Galapagos Islands, located 906km (563 miles) west of continental Ecuador, is a Unesco World Heritage site renowned worldwide for its flora and fauna. The iguanas, tortoises, and the indigenous species found on the Galapagos contributed to the development of Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Read: China: Police Bust Wildlife Trade Racket Amid Ban On Consumption Over COVID-19 Fears Read: DGCA Advises Airports To Not Ease Wildlife Control Measures Amid COVID-19 Pandemic (Images: Twitter/ @Britanniacomms) By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 16, 2020 | 05:50 AM | GRAVES COUNTY A Mayfield man was arrested on wanton endangerment and other charges Monday night. The Graves County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded to the Mobile Heights area for a report of a man threatening another man with a gun. Upon arrival, deputies determined a fight took place between 44-year-old Kevin Bray of Mayfield and another man. Deputies say Bray retrieved a pistol from his vehicle and pointed it at the other man, threatening to kill him. Bray then pursued the man onto a neighboring property he was criminally trespassed from on a prior complaint. During the investigation, Bray reportedly became disorderly and tried to intimidate a witness. Bray was arrested and lodged in the Graves County Jail. He's charged with wanton endangerment, criminal trespasssing and menacing. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe By Barbara Feder Ostrov | CalMatters Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now. Leigh Dundas angrily wagged her finger at Orange County supervisors at their board meeting last month as she ticked off what she thought were damning details about the professional background of county health officer Nichole Quick. The anti-vaccination attorney named Quick's boyfriend and disclosed her home address, saying she was going to bring protesters in masks to do calisthenics on her front doorstep until they passed out. "She needs to be fired," Dundas declared. It was a strikingly personal attack on Quick, who had vexed many local officials and residents alike with her recent order requiring that people wear masks when in public to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The county sheriff provided her with a security detail even as he said he would not enforce the mask order. Finally, under pressure from both county supervisors and the public, Quick resigned last week, the third high-level Orange County health official to do so during the pandemic. And Orange County reversed her mask order. Local public health officers haven't been this important in a century. They're also being second-guessed, harassed and threatened by residents, and sometimes local leaders, angry about pandemic shutdowns. Some have simply quit. Four other health officers in California have resigned or retired in the last two months, in Nevada, San Benito, Yolo and Butte counties, as have two public health department directors in San Bernardino and Orange counties (in addition to Quick). On Monday, the state reported nearly 150,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 5,000 deaths. This isn't just happening in California. Ohio's state health director, Amy Acton, resigned last week after facing legal challenges to her authority and protests in front of her home. Wisconsin state health director Jeanne Ayers was asked to resign in early May, at a time when COVID-19 cases in the state had surpassed 10,000, and top officials would not say why. "Things have gotten ugly," said one Northern California health officer who asked not to be named over personal safety concerns. "The health officers are kind of in this position where everything that everyone is angry about is the health officer's fault." The official described death threats received by email and on social media as well as protesters showing up to their home. "It ... makes you feel that there is nowhere that's safe." California Gov. Gavin Newsom's reopening strategy, which asks counties to certify that their COVID-19 cases are under control, was a "terrible decision...that deflected all the political pressure to local officers," the Northern California officer said. County health officers occupy a unique position in local government. They're responsible for overseeing the public health response to disease outbreaks, among many other duties. Every county, and a few cities that run their own public health departments, must designate one. They are not elected officials and typically are appointed by county executives. In emergency situations, health officers have legal authority to shut down businesses, order millions of people to stay at home, isolate or quarantine people, even order mass evacuations. They also can issue orders, such as requiring people to wear masks in public, that are stricter than state mandates. Their authority can be challenged in court, and health officers are subject to due process, said Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California. But that power comes with a price as the worst pandemic in a century unfolds in a politically polarized nation. "Health officers are always there working in the background to protect communities from communicable disease. This is the first time I've seen this level of animosity," DeBurgh said, noting that one health officer she would not name has a sheriff's security detail posted outside her home. "Health officers all over the state are feeling tremendous pressure, not just the expected pressures of working really hard to stop this virus," she added. "We've never seen this level of public comment becoming threatening, a personal attack, a questioning of a health officer's motivation." Californians emboldened by a president who initially played down the pandemic and now refuses to wear a mask, feel freer to vent their frustrations on health officers placed front-and-center at press conferences and government meetings, said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, who served as Los Angeles County's health officer for 16 years and now is a professor at the UCLA school of public health that bears his name. "None of us has the unfettered right to do what we want," Fielding said. "People are saying, 'Our president's not doing this, why do I have to?' That's one of the roots of this problem -- the radicalization of views on individual rights." A full-page ad published in the San Jose Mercury News blasted Santa Clara County health officer Dr. Sara Cody, who ordered the nation's first local shelter-in-place lockdown. It accused Cody of "cratering our economy" and asked her to permanently donate her salary and pension to "those you are impoverishing." On social media, people circulated a doctored photo of Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer that made her appear very ill, with pale skin and deep circles under her eyes. A tweet calling Ferrer "the most unhealthy looking person I've ever seen" was retweeted 29,000 times and "liked" by more than 89,000 people. In a sign of just how tense things have become, Santa Cruz County supervisors in late May briefly shut down a public meeting about reopening when a pizzeria owner approaching a microphone veered away and started walking toward the county's health officer. He told the supervisors he was just trying to read her name, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported, but they weren't taking chances. "We are deeply concerned that politics may be trumping public interest in some of these cases, and that the public's health may be compromised as a result," California Medical Association president Dr. Peter Bretan Jr. said in a statement. Nearly nine in 10 Californians agree that shelter-in-place orders are necessary to protect public health, according to California Health Care Foundation polling. But about 38% of Californians agree that the COVID-19 regulations "go too far," the poll shows. Former Santa Barbara County health officer Dr. Charity Dean, who had become second-in-command at the state Department of Public Health, submitted her resignation June 4, as first reported by CNBC. A few days later, she tweeted her encouragement to other health officers: Local Public Health Officers are my heroes. They need our support right now. Consider sending yours a note of encouragement. I kept every single one that was ever sent to me. @CMAdocs https://t.co/JE6jK2inCj Dr. Charity Dean (@drcharitydean) June 10, 2020 State Sen. Richard Pan, a pediatrician who has received death threats and been shoved by an activist over his childhood immunization lawmaking, described the statewide harassment of public health officers as "shameful." "Our public health officers are given the responsibility to act in the best interest of the public -- they certainly should not be personally attacked and bullied and intimidated," Pan said. "The job's already challenging enough." MORE ON CORONAVIRUS US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to meet a Chinese delegation at a US military base in Hawaii this week to discuss bilateral ties that have soured deeply since the start of the year, sources familiar with the matter said. In addition to an intensifying strategic rivalry, the world`s top two economies have been at loggerheads in recent months over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and China`s move to impose new security legislation on Hong Kong. Experts say relations have reached their lowest point in years, and in mid-May President Donald Trump even went so far as to suggest he could cut ties with Beijing. Hong Kong`s South China Morning Post newspaper cited an unidentified source as saying that Yang Jiechi, a state councilor and member of the Communist Party`s powerful politburo, will lead the Chinese side in the meeting with Pompeo. It is expected to take place at Hawaii`s Hickam Air Force base, said a diplomatic source, who did not want to be identified. Another source said Pompeo was expected to leave Washington on Tuesday for the meeting on Wednesday. It would be Pompeo`s first known contact with Yang since they spoke by telephone on April 15 to discuss the coronavirus. The sources said the likely agenda included coronavirus response, arms control, trade, Hong Kong, North Korea and tit-for-tat moves against journalists. The State Department and White House did not respond to requests for comment about the trip, first reported by Politico on Friday. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian declined to confirm the reports at a regular briefing on Monday, but said: "China and the U.S. have maintained communication through diplomatic channels. If there is any further information, it will be released in a timely manner." The US China Business Council, which represents 200 companies doing business in China, said diplomacy helped bring about the first part a deal aimed ending a damaging trade war earlier this year and could help resolve other disputes. "There are many important issues to discuss, but not enough discussions. Give diplomacy a chance," said its spokesman Doug Barry. Pompeo has been forceful in his criticism of Beijing`s handling of the coronavirus, which originated in China. He has said China could have prevented hundreds of thousands of deaths by being more transparent and accused it of refusing to share information. Trump has initiated a process of eliminating special US treatment for Hong Kong to punish China for curbing freedoms there, but has stopped short of immediately ending privileges that have helped the territory remain a global financial center. Outlander's Sam Heughan has fuelled the rumours linking him with the James Bond role. The Scottish actor, 40, auditioned for the iconic role back in 2005 but was beaten by Daniel Craig. Speaking to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on Tuesday's This Morning, the star said he would love another shot at the ultimate acting gig. Dream role: Outlander star Sam Heughan said he is waiting for a call from the James Bond producers Sam said: 'Obviously it's a dream for every actor. I auditioned for it back when they were doing Bond 21 when Daniel Craig was ccasinoast in Casino Royale and I think a lot of actors were seen in the UK. 'Of course it would be a dream role and a Scottish Bond, who doesn't want to see another Scottish Bond!' Other big name actors including Henry Cavill, Sam Worthington and ER's Goran Visnjic were considered for Casino Royale after Pierce Brosnan stepped down as 007. Starring role: The Scottish actor, 40, shot to fame in the role of Jamie Fraser in Outlander, which has now aired five series What might have been: The star auditioned to take over from Pierce Brosnan but lost out to Daniel Craig Fuelling the flames: Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield pushed Sam to admit he wanted the role Phillip asked Sam directly if he would pick up the phone to the Bond producers if they rang him now. And the actor joked: 'Yeah. I need to jump off this call because I'm waiting for Barbara Broccoli to give me a bell.' Speculation has been rife for a number of years about who will replace Daniel Craig who has confirmed that No Time To Die will be his last Bond film. Among the many touted for the big role are James Norton, Tom Hiddleston, Richard Madden and Idris Elba. The name's Bond...: Daniel Craig beat hundreds of actors including Sam Worthington and Henry Cavill to land the coveted role Next 007? Sam is one of a number of actors who have been linked with the iconic role since Daniel Craig announced his intention to stand down It comes after Sam recently slammed online bullies for subjecting him to six years of 'constant bullying, harassment and stalking' in an emotional Twitter post. Taking to social media in April, the actor claimed he and his family had been subjected to death threats and abuse by unnamed individuals and that he 'had to speak out' due to the toll it is taking on his mental health. The Scottish star also defended his decision to isolate in Hawaii saying he was 'putting no one at risk and am not a burden to the locals.' Harrowing: Sam recently slammed online bullies for subjecting him to six years of 'constant bullying, harassment and stalking' in an emotional Twitter post (pictured January 2020) The star, who shot to fame on the first series of Outlander in 2014, wrote: 'After the past 6 years of constant bullying, harassment, stalking and false narrative I am at a loss, upset, hurt and have to speak out. 'It's affecting my life, mental state and is a daily concern. My costars, friends, family, myself, in fact anyone I'm associated with, has been subjected to personal slurs, shaming, abuse, death threats, stalking, sharing of private information and vile, false narrative. 'I've never spoken about it because I believe in humanity and have always hoped these bullies would just go away. I can't elaborate for ongoing legal reasons but they are professionals: teachers, psychologists, adults who should know better.' He continued: 'Recently, these false claims vary from me manipulating fans, being a closet-homosexual, trying to mislead or exhort fans for money and disregarding Covid advice. Fame: Taking to social media, the actor claimed he and his family had been subjected to death threats by unnamed individuals and that he 'had to speak out' due to the toll it is taking on his mental health (pictured as James MacKenzie Fraser in Outlander) 'I've done none of the above. I'm a normal guy and nothing like the characters I play.' Explaining his decision to self-isolate in Hawaii rather than return to the UK, he wrote: 'I came here before the travel ban. Non of us knew how bad things would get but as the situation worsened, upon the advice of everyone I trust, I decided to remain in a safe environment. 'It was a good decision. I'm safe, isolated, putting no one at risk and am not a burden to the locals. Several telling me they are desperate to sell their produce (as hotels and restaurants are now closed). We have not been asked to leave. 'I'm nervous to take 3-5 flights back to the UK, around 20 hours on several planes, exposing myself to more danger, to be stuck in a city. 'This will only increase the risk to others and myself. Recently I was ill for 3 months and am being doubly careful.' Brave: The star, who shot to fame on the first series of Outlander in 2014, wrote: 'After the past 6 years of constant bullying, harassment, stalking and false narrative I am at a loss, upset, hurt and have to speak out' Sam said the bullies had created a 'false narrative' about himself as well as sharing private information and abusing himself and his loved ones on 'blogs and social media.' Sam is most famous for his role as Highland warrior Jamie MacKenzie Fraser in Outlander alongside Catriona Balfe. The hit series has already been renewed for a sixth season on Starz, which will likely debut in 2021. Outlander cast: Season 5 of Outlander has recently debuted on Starz, series stars Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe, Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin visited Build Studios in February 2020 The fifth season is largely based on the fifth book in the Outlander novel series, The Fiery Cross, with sixth season based on the sixth book, A Breath of Snow and Ashes. Outlander follows the romance through time between Claire, an English combat nurse in 1945, who becomes transported back in time to 1743, where she meets Jamie. There are currently eight books in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander novel series, with the most recent book, Written In My Heart's Own Blood, published in 2014. Gabaldon is currently writing the ninth book in the series, Go Tell The Bees That I'm Gone, which doesn't have a publication date. If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org OAKLAND, Calif., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The newest generation of technology in physician offices, consumer-friendly digital apps to keep people healthier, a personalized approach to help patients find the services they need, and tying physician and hospital pay to quality and patient satisfaction these are just a few offerings of Blue Shield of California's Health Reimagined initiative, a comprehensive and ambitious effort to improve access to quality health care while making it more affordable. The program uses the latest innovations and technologies, plus collaborations with medical providers, employers, community stakeholders and others to transform the healthcare system for individuals, families and communities. Blue Shield, a tax-paying nonprofit health plan, has launched 20 pilot programs in four counties Butte, Los Angeles, Monterey and Sacramento. The efforts range from a customized virtual-care system so patients can see their own doctor via smart phone, tablet or computer, to an Apple Watch-enabled virtual assistant that helps physicians create an electronic medical record with their voice, and settling all claims in real-time before the patient leaves the physician's office or the hospital. This "real-time claims" initiative helps determine what Blue Shield owes clinicians and facilities as well as what the patient owes, thereby dramatically reducing the administrative burden on health care providers and consumers. Blue Shield now intends to make this service, which has been tested for months, available statewide to help generate better cashflow for hospitals and doctors' offices facing economic hardship during the COVID-19 public health crisis. "It is time for us to reimagine health care for everyone," said Paul Markovich, president and CEO, Blue Shield of California. "This effort addresses long-standing access, equity, cost and quality issues that have been further exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will create a health care system worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable through our Health Reimagined initiative." How Blue Shield is Transforming Health Care The health plan is working closely with medical providers, local and regional stakeholders, and collaborating with technology firms to bring the best ideas and solutions to the market. Blue Shield's solutions cover three main categories: Holistic health : Studies show that a person's health and well-being are also influenced by social determinants outside the doctor's office or the hospital. Blue Shield's efforts include addressing a wide array of external issues such as access to healthy foods, transportation and behavioral support. : Studies show that a person's health and well-being are also influenced by social determinants outside the doctor's office or the hospital. Blue Shield's efforts include addressing a wide array of external issues such as access to healthy foods, transportation and behavioral support. Personal care : Blue Shield believes in health care that places patients at the center. That means giving patients and their doctors tools, time and space to have meaningful medical visits and conversations so they can tackle tough health issues together. : Blue Shield believes in health care that places patients at the center. That means giving patients and their doctors tools, time and space to have meaningful medical visits and conversations so they can tackle tough health issues together. High-tech, high-touch: Blue Shield is using modern technologies for patients and their doctors, such as a customized telemedicine system. The health plan also supports a statewide health information exchange for patient records so providers can have enhanced and efficient ways to deliver care. In addition, Blue Shield is transforming within by reimagining how a health plan operates to create customer, member and provider experiences that are transparent and in real-time. "With Health Reimagined initiative's shared decision making tool, our providers are able to spend more time with their patients so they can make meaningful decisions together with their preferences in mind about their pregnancy care with focus on labor and delivery," said Bruce Bob, M.D., FACOG, co-founder and administrator at Capital OB/GYN in Sacramento. "And with Blue Shield's Community Health Advocate Program, we can now think about supporting the needs of the whole person and whole family to improve the health and wellness of our patients." Where Blue Shield is Transforming Health Care Blue Shield has launched pilot programs in four regions of the state with specific demographics and collaborations in mind. They are: In Butte County where access to care is an ongoing challenge for rural communities. where access to care is an ongoing challenge for rural communities. In collaboration with Paradise Medical Group, Blue Shield is making available next-generation services, including customized virtual-patient care via PMG Connect and virtual assistants for physicians via smart watches. PMG Connect has become an important tool for physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, as physicians are able to treat their patients via virtual visits. In Sacramento County in collaboration with large, well-established medical providers. in collaboration with large, well-established medical providers. Blue Shield is working with Dignity Health and Hill Physicians Medical Group to test a new real-time claims payment system that aims to bring a "retail experience" to providers and their patients; and to offer "community health advocates" who provide personalized, in-home and high-touch support to patients. In Monterey County with a large employer to help address primary-care shortage. with a large employer to help address primary-care shortage. Blue Shield is collaborating with health care providers and companies to bring access to more primary care services in the region to help support Municipalities, Colleges, Schools Insurance Group's (MCSIG) more than 11,000 members. In Los Angeles County to help transform care delivery in this large and diverse metropolitan region. to help transform care delivery in this large and diverse metropolitan region. Through Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan and our collaboration with local providers and well-known community-based organizations, we're addressing the needs of under-represented and under-resourced communities. Blue Shield Promise Health Plan is collaborating with L.A. Care Health Plan to build a network of community resource centers that will be a hub for promoting individual and community health. In addition, in Washington D.C. and Sacramento, Calif., Blue Shield is promoting health reform and policy innovations that allow for healthcare transformations in the marketplace. "Blue Shield is putting people at the center and designing better ways for them to receive access to care," said Terry Gilliland, executive vice president, Blue Shield's Healthcare Quality and Affordability. "These pilot programs are just the beginning. Our goal is to take the best solutions and quickly scale them across the state. By taking a comprehensive approach, together with all our stakeholders, we believe we can reimagine health care." For more information about Blue Shield's Health Reimagined initiative, go to blueshieldca.com/HealthReimagined. About Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with over 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $20 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $500 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation since 2002 to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. CONTACT: Matthew Yi Blue Shield of California 510-607-2359 [email protected] SOURCE Blue Shield of California Related Links www.bcbs.com Image: Twitter/@flyingbeast320 The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating AirAsia India after one of its pilots Gaurav Taneja was suspended after pointing out alleged violations of safety norms by the low-cost airliner. On June 14, Taneja, tweeted that he has been suspended by AirAsia India "for standing up for safe operations of an aircraft and its passengers". Today I have been officially suspended from @AirAsiaIndian for standing up for safe operations of an aircraft and its passengers.@AwakenIndia #SabkeLiye Gaurav Taneja (@flyingbeast320) June 14, 2020 The next day, he posted a detailed video on his popular YouTube channel, called Flying Beast, titled "Reasons behind suspension from my pilot job". In the video, Taneja alleged the airline has asked its pilots to do 98 percent of landings in "Flap 3" mode, which allows it to save fuel. He said if a pilot does not do 98 percent of landings in "Flap 3" mode, the airline considers it a violation of its standard operating procedure (SOP). Flaps are part of wings of an aircraft and they are engaged to create a drag during a landing or a take-off. The video has garnered over 3 million views and over 60,000 comments, mostly appreciating the pilot for his move. This is why everyone loves you because in such a bad time also you are handling the situation cool and calmly like a gentleman u deserve respect sir, read one of the comments. So, who is Gaurav Taneja? He is not a person who grabbed attention with his suspension and the following video. As a commercial airline pilot, a fitness expert, a popular YouTuber and a daily vlogger, Taneja has a large presence on social media. His YouTube channel Flying Beast has over 2.92 million subscribers, and his Twitter and Instagram accounts have over 225,000 and 967,000 followers, respectively. Journey to become a pilot Born on July 12, 1986, to Yogendra Kumar Taneja and Bharti Taneja in Kanpur. He completed his engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur) between 2004 and 2008. After completing his B.Tech, Taneja followed his passion and joined the aviation sector, as mentioned by him in his YouTube video. In 2011, he started his airline career. In April 2019, Taneja switched from IndiGo to AirAsia India. YouTuber and Gym enthusiast Despite being a commercial pilot, Taneja is known for his YouTube channels. He has two channels on the video-sharing platforms: Flying Beast and Fit Muscle TV, having 2.92 million and 1.47 million subscribers, respectively. While the first one is a travel vlogging channel where he shares his travel-related vlogs and other things related to his personal life, the second one is a fitness channel, where he provides tips and guidance for people who like bodybuilding and gym. Now, the pilot is in headlines for alleging violations of safety norms against AirAsia India. "DGCA has taken note of the concerns raised by some stakeholders against a particular airline and its approach to safety. DGCA has already started an investigation into the issues flagged and shall take appropriate action based on the outcome of the said investigation," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Twitter. Senior DGCA officials confirmed AirAsia India was under investigation after Taneja's allegations. According to AirAsia India spokesperson, "AirAsia India stands firmly on its value of 'Safety Always'. The safety of our guests is of paramount importance in every aspect of our operations. AirAsia India is cognizant of the matter in regard to a social media post put up by one of its employees." "We are cooperating with the DGCA on this matter. As a policy, AirAsia India does not comment on matters pertaining to its business or employees," the spokesperson added. NBA legend Charles Barkley slammed calls to defund the police as a measure that would disproportionately affect communities of color, saying police reform to weed out the bad cops is the better strategy after several cities announced budget cuts to their police departments. Speaking Monday on ESPNs morning show, Get Up, Barkley argued that we just need police reform, because we need police. We need to weed out the bad cops you know I hear these guys getting on television these politicians talking about defunding the police department. First of all, that would have a negative effect on the black communities who the black people gonna call, Ghostbusters? Barkley asked. Because theyre not gonna defund the police in the good white neighborhoods, so we need police reform. Barkley has repeatedly argued against defunding the police in the wake of national protests following the death of George Floyd. We need the cops, most of the cops do a fantastic job, but instead of defunding and all this other stuff, lets just do police reform. Everybody should be on board for that whether youre a Democrat, Republican, conservative or liberal, Barkley said last week on CNN. While prominent Democrats, including Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, have dismissed calls for defunding the police and have instead proposed more funding for departments, other liberal politicians have moved to cut funding for law enforcement. You cant really reform a department that is rotten to the root, Representative Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) said in a Sunday interview, after the Minneapolis City Council announced last week that a veto-proof majority had voted to dissolve the police. Boston mayor Marty Walsh announced last week that the citys government would divert 20 percent of the police departments overtime budget approximately $12 million to other programs, while New York mayor Bill de Blasio has also revealed a similar measure. The NYPD said Monday that it was eliminating its anti-crime unit, which includes 600 plainclothes officers, and the LAPD has announced a budget cut of more than $100 million to help reinvest in communities of color. The latter announcement came after Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti said he was dropping a proposal to increase the police budget. Story continues We all have to be part of this solution together. We all have to step up and say, What can we sacrifice? Garcetti explained. Murder rates in Los Angeles and New York City have both spiked in recent weeks. More from National Review U.S. oil and gas supermajors have come under plenty of flak during the ongoing oil price rout, with some blaming them for the oil price collapse for stubbornly refusing to lower production while others have accused them of using backhand means to stifle smaller competitors. Specifically, Pioneer Natural Resource CEO Scott Sheffield is on record accusing ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) of blocking help from the American government in a bid to kill off smaller shale companies with weaker balance sheets. And now, some pundits are claiming that Exxon itself is facing some pretty precarious prospects down the line if low energy prices persist. Wood Mackenzie, a global energy, renewables, and mining research and consultancy group, has reported that Exxon is the least resilient of all the oil supermajors with the least ability to weather the market downturn. WoodMac says this is the case thanks to Exxon's huge exposure to low-margin assets that leaves it vulnerable to continued low energy prices. Low-Margin Assets WoodMac has tested the cash margins of the seven oil giants using capital expenditure on a unit of production and post-tax cash flow plus, assuming Brent prices remain in the $30 to $70 range through 2030. The firm has concluded that Exxon has the least ability to weather a prolonged downturn, thanks to its exposure to 60% of the 30 lowest-margin assets owned by the supermajors. These include Kearl and Cold Lake (oil sands) in Canada that the firm has labeled a "huge drag" as well as Alaska's Prudhoe Bay (mature onshore oil). Interestingly, Exxon's key rival, Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX), has emerged at the top of the pile closely followed by Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A), thanks to their robust deepwater projects and LNG as well as less exposure to high-cost assets. Chevron's giant Australian LNG projects have played a big part in helping it cut costs. Related: The End Of The OPEC Deal Could Be The Start Of A New Oil Price War These findings come off as quite surprising, given that quite a number of analysts had turned bullish on Exxon. For instance, before disaster struck, Bank of America Merrill Lynch had predicted that 2020 could "finally be Exxon Mobil's year". BofA expected Exxon to become cash flow positive in 2020 and XOM and the stock to nearly double to $100. "The inflection in Permian production is well under way while the first oil from Guyana confirmed for December kick starts what we expect to be 7-8 years of growth" they gushed. Back in March, Rystad Energy via Reuters reported that only 16 U.S. shale companies were capable of making money at oil prices below $35 per barrel with the U.S. shale company average cost per barrel clocking in at ~$43.83. Rystad reckoned that Exxon was in good stead thanks to a break-even point of $26.90 per barrel at its New Mexico oilfields, representing about a quarter of its Permian output. Unfortunately, it turns out that the rest of the company's assets are nowhere near as cheap. But maybe the writing was already on the wall. Last quarter, Exxon went on to post its first loss in a decade after booking a $640 million loss mainly due to what it termed "a $2.9B market-related charge". Exxon was the last of the supermajors to curtail production, announcing in May that it was slashing $10 billion from its planned 2020 capex, good for a 30% budget cut. The company has now closed a crude distillation unit at its 502.5K bbl/day Baton Rouge refinery in Louisiana, citing low demand. Lately, Exxon has cut crude production at the Liza field in offshore Guyana due to problems with gas reinjection equipment. Production from the field has now plunged to 25K-30K bbl/day compared to the 120K bbl/day expected by June. Related: Smart Money Is Betting On These 5 Exciting Energy Technologies Meanwhile, the sale of its North Sea assets has turned out less well-than-expected, forcing the company to slash its asking price from $2B to $1.5B. Exxon has maintained its juicy dividend, though, with the forward yield of 7.38% among the highest in the industry. However, that has not stopped the shares from tanking along with the rest of the market, with XOM shares down 32.4% YTD compared to -24.3% return by CVX and -33.5% by XLE. Takeaway Despite these weaknesses, Exxon still has its strong points. The company's 0.27 debt-to-equity ratio is way lower than the industry median of 0.47, while its excellent A.A. credit rating means it remains relatively safe from the debt scourge afflicting the shale industry. That said, Exxon's high production costs compared to its peers has made it lose some of its shine, which is a big blow in these highly uncertain times. Indeed, CVX has become the new favorite of the group, though valuation concerns remain. Downgrading CVX, RBC analyst Biraj Borkhatari has said, "Chevron has firmly positioned itself as the 'safe haven' in the sector, with a flexible capex profile coupled with a robust balance sheet standing out versus many peers. However, the current premium valuation, which is at multi-year highs, leaves limited room for further outperformance." Exxon's weakness is mainly relative to its giant peers but is likely to remain a top sector pick mainly due to its ability to continue paying that dividend. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: He was sent home packing on Sunday's episode of MasterChef: Back to Win. And it appears Khanh Ong has developed a thrill for reality television, after he admitted he would appear on the gay version of The Bachelor. When asked by Now to Love on Monday if he would be up for it, the 27-year-old said: '24 gay men in a house vying for the attention of one gay man - why?' Smooth: MasterChef evictee Khanh Ong (pictured) has revealed he wants to star on Australia's first gay version of The Bachelor 'You know what, I would do that show. I won't be the Bachelor though,' he continued. 'I want to be in the house with the other 23 gay men!' he said. Khanh was sent home after failing to impress the judges with his quail dish on MasterChef: Back to Win. Juicy: When asked by Now to Love if he would appear on The Bachelor, the 27-year-old said: You know what, I would do that show.' Khanh's shock elimination left fans devastated, with many viewers expressing their feelings on Twitter. 'I'm crying! Thank you Khanh for bringing Vietnamese heritage to this season,' one person tweeted. 'Gonna be crying every week now with all the favourites going home,' wrote another, before a third said: 'Khanh, you will go far mate! Great farewell speech! You are a star and much loved.' Revealing: 'I won't be the Bachelor though, I want to be in the house with the other 23 gay men!' he said 'I'm crying!' Khanh's shock elimination left fans devastated, with many viewers expressing their feelings on Twitter on Sunday night One fan believed he left the kitchen already a winner, commenting. 'Khanh is loved, admired and respected by the judges and all the other contestants. Says it all really. A champion bloke and a brilliant chef.' Khanh was eliminated from the competition because his dish 'lacked finesse and the cooking of the quail was less than perfect', judge Melissa Leong explained. PLAINFIELD, Ind., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy, through its shareholder-funded foundation, is awarding over $220,000 in grants to support 15 workforce development programs in nine Indiana counties. The grants support workforce education and training programs that address the most pressing skill gaps in communities served by the company. "We recognize that, for a variety of reasons, not all people have equal access to the same educational and training opportunities as others," said Stan Pinegar, Duke Energy state president for Indiana. "We can help improve that access by making investments in training and education where it is needed most." Examples of programs supported by the grants include: A $15,000 grant to the Heartland Career Center in Wabash County to expand the center's educational footprint to become the first adult training facility within a 30-mile radius in the region grant to the Heartland Career Center in to expand the center's educational footprint to become the first adult training facility within a 30-mile radius in the region A $19,900 grant to the Community Education Coalition in Bartholomew County to expand work-based learning programs and launch career awareness and outreach strategies to successfully grow the pipeline of skilled workers in the area grant to the Community Education Coalition in to expand work-based learning programs and launch career awareness and outreach strategies to successfully grow the pipeline of skilled workers in the area A $25,000 grant to Bona Vista Programs and its pre-employment transition services in Howard County to support individuals with disabilities to successfully learn necessary skills for community employment Below is the full list of the organizations, locations and the grants they received: Program Description County Grant Amount The ARC of Indiana Foundation Erskine Green Training Institute Offers postsecondary vocational opportunities for Duke Energy customers with disabilities to empower them and lead to meaningful employment Delaware/Duke Energy-served counties $30,000 Bona Vista Programs Workforce Development Programs: Pre-Employment Transition Services and Opportunity Knocks! Support individuals with disabilities to successfully learn necessary skills for community employment Howard $25,000 Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Velocities Support partnership efforts to grow innovation-driven business in the Bartholomew-Brown-Monroe region Bartholomew $9,750 Community Education Coalition EcO Network Expand work-based learning programs, launch career awareness and outreach strategies to successfully grow the pipeline of skilled workers in the area Bartholomew $19,900 Hamilton County Workforce Innovation Network Workforce Recovery, Talent Pathway Initiative Develop two talent pathways, one in health care and the other in construction, which will provide work-based learning opportunities and degree programs Hamilton $20,000 Heartland Career Center Heartland Career Center Adult Certification Training Center Expansion Project Expand the center's educational footprint to become the first adult training facility within a 30-mile radius in the region Wabash $15,000 Indiana 4-H Foundation 4-H Powers the Energy Industry Provide youth the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of electricity, renewable energy technologies and conservation Tippecanoe $15,000 Indiana Talent Network IN Talent Networks Connect state systems with resources and a forum to collaborate on talent pipeline for underserved populations Bartholomew $10,000 Johnson County Community Foundation Employer Resource Network Help community resources provide employees relief for issues such as reliable transportation, child care, housing challenges, etc. Johnson $5,000 Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana Advancing STEM through Career Awareness with JA Provide young people with the combination of technical skills, specifically in science, technology, engineering and math, and non-technical skills to succeed in the future job market Statewide $8,000 LTHC Homeless Services Employment Services Provide a range of programs to help individuals experiencing homelessness and help them obtain employment Tippecanoe $15,000 Radius Indiana @RadiusIndiana Target three sectors: advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity training and employment; supply more housing construction by training additional workers Martin $20,000 River Valley Resources JAG Industry Exposure Opportunities Increase industry exposure for students by providing career and industry tour opportunities; host the first ever regional event featuring trade-only employers and educators Bartholomew $10,000 White's Residential and Family Service Growing Teens for Life Gives teens hands-on work experience and vocational certifications in areas such as food service, hospitality, logistics and barista services Wabash $10,000 Workforce Network Western Indiana Survey and Work Experience Grant Provide critical data that will support strategies aimed at engaging low-income and diverse populations succeed Vigo $9,500 Duke Energy Foundation The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. In Indiana, the Foundation provides approximately $2 million in charitable gifts to a wide variety of nonprofit groups. More information about the Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation. Duke Energy Indiana Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,600 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 840,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana's largest electric supplier. Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit. Media contact: Lew Middleton 800.559.3853 SOURCE Duke Energy Hundreds of people clash with the military during demonstrations against a "corrupt and incapable" political class. At least 36 people jailed for damaging public and private property. President Aoun slams "thugs": vandalism "will no longer be tolerated". Beirut (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Lebanese army has made dozens of arrests of people suspected of "vandalism" after days of anti-government protests exacerbated by the hyper-devaluation of the currency and by the worst economic crisis for decades, aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout the weekend hundreds of people clashed with the security forces, in the context of street demonstrations against a ruling class branded as "corrupt and incapable". This explosive situation also worries the Maronite patriarch who, in the homily of the Sunday mass, attacked the factions that fuel "chaos and revolt". According to a note published this morning by the army, the "total number of arrests made by military intelligence between June 11 and 15 in different parts of the country is 36 people for vandalism". Prosecutors also included damage to public and private property, as well as deliberate attacks on security forces. Local sources report that the soldiers made a series of raids in the northern port city of Tripoli. For three consecutive nights, men with covered faces allegedly attacked banks and shops, throwing stones and boulders at the soldiers who responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas. Health workers spoke of dozens of wounded. After the days of violent protests, an apparent calm reigns since the evening of June 14 and the demonstrations have remained mostly in peaceful tones. Yesterday the President of the Republic Michel Aoun spoke with the security leaders of the situation in the country; the summit was attended by ministers and senior military officers. At the end of the meeting, Aoun stressed that "vandalism of this type will no longer be tolerated starting today". Prime Minister Hassan Diab condemned the acts of "sabotage" committed by "thugs" in Beirut and Tripoli. The reference, although not explicit, is to the men of Hezbollah and Amal who have given a violent drift to the demonstrations. "These hooligans - said the head of the government - are not motivated by carrying out vandalism, for this reason they should be thrown into prison". Hong Kong Leader Silent After Beijing Says It Reserves Jurisdiction Over National Security Law Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam refused to comment when asked about a Chinese officials statement that China is to have jurisdiction over certain court cases in the former British colony under Beijings national security law. Lam dodged the question at her daily press conference on June 16, when she was asked by a reporter to comment on remarks made yesterday by Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs OfficeBeijings top agency for handling those territories policies. In response to the question, Lam said she couldnt comment because she did not know the details of the law. Deng, speaking at a seminar on Hong Kongs Basic Law in southern Chinas Shenzhen city, said that Hong Kong authorities should be responsible for the majority of law enforcement and judicial works, once the national security law is implemented. On May 28, Beijing adopted the national security law after a ceremonial vote. The law will be implemented in Hong Kong once the standing committee of Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress, is done drafting details of the legislation. Deng added that Chinas central authorities should have the power to exercise jurisdiction over most serious national security cases in Hong Kong under the national security law. Key principle of Basic Law/1C2S is that Mainland does NOT have jurisdiction over HK. So mainland will need jurisdiction over extremely rare cases = Basic Law will be breached in extremely rare cases. As I have said before, Basic Law now means whatever BJ wants it to mean. https://t.co/fJaZarVsit Antony Dapiran (@antd) June 15, 2020 Philip Dykes, chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, responded to Dengs comment on Beijing reserving jurisdiction, while speaking to local outlet RTHK on Tuesday morning. At the moment it sounds like a reverse engineering of the ill-fated extradition bill. Rather than you going to the mainland, the mainland comes to you, Dykes said to RTHK. The current anti-CCP, pro-democracy movement started in June last year, when millions took to the street in protest of the now full-scrapped extradition bill. Protesters pass Hysan Place, a shopping mall and office building, at Causeway Bay, Hong Kong on June 16, 2019. (Li Yi/The Epoch Times) The proposed law sparked outrage as it would have eroded Hong Kongs judicial autonomy from communist Chinas legal system, which is not independent of the ruling party. Locals and people passing through the city could be extradited to China and trialed in Chinese courts that are notorious for failing to uphold the rule of law. Lam suspended legislative debate on the bill indefinitely on June 15 following two mass protests, but she did not formally withdraw the extradition bill until early September last year after months of protests and clashes with police. On June 2, Dykes wrote a letter to Chinas rubber stamp committee, the National Peoples Congresss standing committee. He asked the committee to provide the association with a draft copy of the national security law when it is ready, so that they can give constructive comments on the laws form and content. Lam again defended Beijings decision to adopt the law and accused those who demonize and smear the law as the enemy of the Hong Kong people. One protester holds up a sign that says Carrie Lam Step Down in a march in Mong Kok, Hong Kong, on Aug. 3, 2019. (Song Bilong/The Epoch Times) Local pro-democracy political party Demosisto, in response to Lams accusation, wrote in a tweet that Lam was completely ignoring local and global concerns, including those from law groups, nonprofit organizations, and business bodies. Under this political culture of showing fealty to Beijing, do you believe [the] National Security Law wont affect civil liberties in general? Demosisto added. Ordinarily, the University of Maryland tries to maximize the capacity of its residence halls by putting three or four students into some rooms. But next fall, those triples and quads will become doubles as the university aims to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus on its campus in College Park. At American University, arrangements will be even more strict, according to plans released Tuesday. The private university in the District of Columbia will cut the number of available beds on campus by almost half, to 2,300 from 4,300, using a standard of one student per room, spokeswoman Lisa Stark said. Emerging blueprints for a highly unusual fall semester show that universities in the Washington region are trying to bring as many students back as they can while reducing the health risks inherent when large numbers of people gather in close quarters to live and study together amid a pandemic. At Frostburg State University, there will be no roommates for those who live on the Maryland campus. Trinity Washington University, in D.C., is headed in the same direction: one student per room. George Washington University, the largest in the capital city, also plans to reduce the density of its student housing by shedding bunk beds. Officials hope students will understand the imperative to reshape campus housing. The goal is to avoid flareups of a contagious disease that has killed more than 110,000 Americans since February. U-Md. President Wallace Loh, who is retiring at the end of the month, released the outline of a fall plan Monday night in a letter to the campus community. He described a "gradual re-opening" for the term starting Aug. 31 and thanked faculty, staff and students for working on the unprecedented operational challenges facing a research university with more than 41,000 students. "Because of your work, I am confident that we will re-open the campus safely, and that our State's flagship university will emerge from this trying time as an even stronger institution," Loh wrote. In his letter, Loh wrote that there are 8,900 "bed spaces" in residence halls. "To de-densify, triples and quad units are converted to doubles, and floor lounges are made into single or double rooms to minimize the opportunities for larger gatherings," Loh wrote. It was not clear how many fewer students would be living in the residence halls in the fall compared with a normal term. University officials on Tuesday had no answer to that question. "On housing, we'll have more to say after we contact residents with housing decisions over the next couple of days," U-Md. spokeswoman Natifia Mullings said in a text. Loh wrote that the university plans to offer housing to more than 75% of those who applied for it, including all first-year students. There will be beds set aside for isolating students who may have been infected by the virus, he added. "Extensive procedures are also being implemented for the safety and health of Resident Life staff, housekeeping staff, and facilities staff who work in the residence halls," Loh wrote. Much as other universities have outlined, U-Md. plans to offer a mix of instructional methods, with some teaching face-to-face and other classes delivered online. Loh said a priority for in-person teaching would be "labs, performance courses, senior capstone projects, clinical instruction and internships." He also said that most courses with 50 or more students are likely to be at least partially online. The university will launch a "health information campaign" to promote "critical healthy behaviors." That will include frequent hand-washing, physical distancing and wearing a face covering "at all times when in proximity to others," Loh wrote. Distancing and mask rules are likely to be part of the college experience around the country amid the pandemic. But how effectively schools will enforce those public health mandates remains to be seen. Darryll Pines, longtime dean of engineering at U-Md., will take over as president on July 1 when Loh retires. Dan Alpert, U-Md.'s student body president, said students are excited to come back to campus. The 21-year-old marketing major, a rising senior, said he appreciates efforts to help incoming students. The first year of college sets the tone for those that follow, he said. "We really want to make sure our freshmen are comfortable with one another." But Alpert has questions about other facets of campus life. As a member of the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi, he wonders how it will be affected. "The big thing is our philanthropic events. How does community service look with a pandemic?" Alpert said. "We used to fit 80 guys in the chapter house on campus and now we can't do that." At American University, which has about 14,000 students, freshmen who want to live on campus will be given preference for housing when school starts in August. Some sophomores who planned to live in dorms will be relocated to apartments away from campus. Officials will use hotels if they need backup housing. Stark, the spokeswoman, said AU will help juniors and seniors, who typically live off-campus, find housing in the District. "Face coverings and physical distancing will be required at all times on campus," with limited exceptions under health and safety guidance, AU President Sylvia Burwell wrote. She said the university will offer "a blended combination of in-person/online classes and purely online classes," seeking to provide flexibility during a fluid public health situation. Amid the multiple protests calling for racial equality in the wake of George Floyd's and Rayshard Brooks' death, an image of a beat-up woman had gone viral on social media. The meme claims that the woman it depicts, Aracely Henriquez, was assaulted by Floyd and his accomplices when they raided her home. It also states that Henriquez was pregnant at the time and was asked by Floyd if she wanted him to kill her baby. Deserved death? Although truth has been shed on Floyd's criminal record, the meme exaggerates the information and depicts an entirely unrelated person, Andrea Sincignano. Sincignano was a student who was reportedly raped and brutally assaulted in 2018 in Madrid, as reported by Snopes. The incident that led to Floyd's death was due to a report of a counterfeit $20 bill and is not connected to any robbery or any of his past actions. The photo indeed pictures Sincignano in the aftermath of the horrific crime, but it does not depict Henriquez, and the picture does not, in any way, connect back to Floyd. The home robbery crime that involved Floyd and Henriquez occurred in 2007, and the details of the event are a lot calmer than what the meme suggests. Also Read: Rayshard Brooks Autopsy Reveals Death By Organ Damage and Blood Loss from Two Gunshot Wounds Calling out injustice The female student, Sincignano, however, has opened up about the rapidly spreading meme on Facebook by writing an awareness post. In her social media account, the student writes that the photo was captured in a hospital in Spain after she was violently beaten and subsequently raped by a stranger. Sincignano shared her disgust and disappointment that her image is being used as propaganda or clickbait to justify Floyd's death. In less than half a day, the image had garnered more than 7,000 shares on the social media platform. Sincignano states that several users have shared the photo and captioning it with their disgust of what Floyd allegedly did to the innocent woman. On her post, Sincignano also expressed her hopes that people would use the opportunity to learn that social media is not a news platform, and they should not believe everything they see posted on it. The student also expresses her desire to have anyone who sees the picture to report it and inform the person who shared it of the truth behind the claim. Sincignano said her heart was filled with pain with the events that have been occurring in her country recently. She reached out to everyone not to use recent developments as well as the picture to spread lies and hate across different channels-especially those who have had their family members taken away from them in an unjust incident. The robbery of Henriquez was massively exaggerated in the caption of the picture, and there was no evidence to support the claim that she was pregnant at the time when Floyd committed the crime. Henriquez was indeed injured by another man and not Floyd, and the picture does not illustrate the true extent of her injuries. Related Article: George Floyd Criminal Record: Minneapolis Police Says He Was Charged With Armed Robbery @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After recent India-China face-off, Punjab CM has requested the Centre to take strict action against China. He tweeted on Tuesday that the incident at Galwan valley is a continuation of violations by China. After three Indian Army personnel were killed in a face-off with the Chinese in Ladakhs Galwan Valley, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday demanded from the Centre to take stringent measures and asserted that each sign of weakness on our part makes the Chinese reaction more belligerent. The happening in the #Galwanvalley is a continuation of violations by China. It is time now that the country stands up to these incursions. Our soldiers are not fair game that every few days officers and men are being killed and injured defending our borders, Singh tweeted. It is time now for the Govt of India to take some stringent measures. Each sign of weakness on our part makes the Chinese reaction more belligerent. I join the nation in paying tribute to our brave martyrs. The nation stands with you in your hour of grief, he said in another tweet. According to the Indian Army, the face-off took place on Monday night. After 1975, this is the first violent incident on the India-China border in which casualties have taken place. Earlier looking to resolve the dispute over Chinese military buildup, India and China were holding talks in Eastern Ladakh. The happening in the #Galwanvalley is a continuation of violations by China. It is time now that the country stands up to these incursions. Our soldiers are not fair game that every few days officers and men are being killed and injured defending our borders. (1/2) Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) June 16, 2020 It is time now for the Govt of India to take some stringent measures. Each sign of weakness on our part makes the Chinese reaction more belligerent. I join the nation in paying tribute to our brave martyrs. The nation stands with you in your hour of grief. (2/2) Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) June 16, 2020 Army sources had said there has been disengagement between Indian and Chinese troops at more locations where they had been in standoff positions for last many weeks now. Sources had also said that after the June 6 talks between Military commanders followed by other rounds of talks, there has not been any considerable build-up activity by both sides and Chinese aggressive behaviour has also been toned down. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App DHAKA, Bangladesh, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Excelerate Energy L.P. (Excelerate) today announced that it has become a key sponsor of the HOPE Foundation for Women and Children of Bangladesh (HOPE Foundation) to support the organization's COVID-19 relief efforts at the Rohingya camp outside Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh home to more than one million refugees. The donation will help fund the HOPE Isolation and Treatment Center, which is expected to open in late June. With the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 appearing in mid-May, the HOPE Foundation, along with the Government of Bangladesh and other non-government organizations, has been rapidly working to establish community awareness programs and health facilities to reduce the risk of widespread infection to the vulnerable Rohingya population. The HOPE Isolation and Treatment Center will be a 50-bed isolation and treatment facility located adjacent to its existing 50-bed field hospital in the refugee camp. Excelerate's donation will provide up to 10,000 patients a year with outpatient and in-patient services, diagnostics, critical care, emergency transportation, PPE for staff and surrounding community, staff training, and awareness programs. The project has also received donations from other key co-sponsors, including World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and Direct Relief USA. "We are honored to support the people in Bangladesh during these unprecedented times," stated Excelerate's Managing Director Steven Kobos. "We have worked in this community since 2018 and feel deeply for those impacted. We hope our contribution will provide the HOPE Foundation with the necessary means to help combat this pandemic in the communities that need it most." "We would like to thank Excelerate Energy for their generous contribution and strong support of the HOPE Foundation's efforts in combating the effects of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases to the most vulnerable communities of Bangladesh," said the founder and President of HOPE Foundation, Dr. Iftikher Mahmood. "This substantial donation will have a significant impact during these challenging times and creates a platform from which Excelerate and HOPE Foundation can continue to grow its partnership to provide lasting benefits to the communities we serve." Since 1999, HOPE Foundation has been providing quality health services to the most marginalized population in rural Bangladesh through education, community outreach, and compassionate healthcare. The foundation operates 20 facilities in the southern region of Bangladesh in the Cox's Bazar district. The facilities include a 40-bed community maternity hospital, a 50-bed field hospital in the refugee camp, nine Sexual and Reproductive Health centers for refugees, and nine birth centers. Excelerate began operations in Bangladesh in 2018 with its Moheshkhali Floating LNG (MLNG) terminal the country's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility. The terminal provides much needed natural gas to the Chattogram region of Bangladesh to power homes and industry in the region. About Excelerate Energy L.P. Excelerate Energy L.P. is a US-based LNG company located in The Woodlands, Texas. Excelerate is the pioneer and market leader in innovative floating LNG solutions, providing integrated services along the entire LNG value chain with an objective of delivering rapid-to-market and reliable LNG solutions to customers. Excelerate offers a full range of floating regasification services from FSRU to infrastructure development to LNG supply. Excelerate has offices in Abu Dhabi, Buenos Aires, Chittagong, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Rio de Janeiro, Salem, Singapore, and Washington, DC. SOURCE Excelerate Energy L.P. Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk speaks to the media next to its Model S. Nora Tam | South China Morning Post | Getty Images Tesla plans to use cobalt from Anglo-Swiss mining giant Glencore to build lithium-ion batteries at its new factories, according to industry sources. The carmaker intends to use Glencore's cobalt in its new Berlin "Gigafactory" as well as upcoming manufacturing sites that are yet to be announced. Glencore, which is the largest industrial supplier of cobalt in the world, could provide Tesla with up to 6,000 tons of cobalt a year under the long-term partnership. The financials of the deal are unknown but a ton of cobalt is worth about $30,000, down from $95,000 in May 2018. The news was first reported by the Financial Times and both Tesla and Glencore declined to comment when contacted by CNBC. Elon Musk's electric car company already uses Glencore's cobalt in its Shanghai Gigafactory. The cobalt will come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Glencore has been operating a copper mine in the Katanga region since 2008 that produces it as a byproduct. The African nation supplies more than two thirds of the world's cobalt but human rights groups have raised concerns that the industry relies on child workers. Last week, Tesla defended its cobalt sourcing in a company report. "Because Tesla recognizes the higher risks of human rights issues within cobalt supply chains, particularly for child labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we have made a significant effort to establish processes to remove these risks from our supply chain," the report reads. Tesla added that it reviews information provided by suppliers for "red flags and risks associated with ethical sourcing." Cobalt has become one of the modern world's most important minerals as it's also used to make the lithium-ion batteries found in smartphones and laptops. However, the extraction of cobalt has been plagued by concerns around illegal mining, human rights violations and corruption. The cobalt producing mines in the DRC have been under scrutiny for years now. Last month, researchers found that cobalt miners are being exposed to dangerously high levels of toxic pollution that is causing birth defects in their children. I saw this baby fight for life: This big lie stunned Abby Johnson Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Abby Johnson's incredible transformation from Planned Parenthood clinic director to one of the most powerful and prolific voices in the pro-life movement has understandably attracted a lot of attention, with her story being told in the book and movie "Unplanned." WATCH: SEE PRO-LIFE 'BEAUTIFUL LIVES' SERIES ON PURE FLIX WITH A FREE TRIAL And now Johnson is sharing additional elements of her stunning journey in Pure Flix's "Beautiful Lives," a new TV series that features Johnson speaking with other former clinic workers and abortion industry workers who have found true freedom after leaving their careers behind. In the first episode of the series, Johnson reveals how she first came to join Planned Parenthood as a volunteer and, over the course of subsequent years, rose through the ranks to become a clinic director. "I was so good at justifying sin at that point in my life that I could justify just about anything," she said, noting that she was truly lost and adrift during that time in her life. Watch a preview of Johnson discussing her journey in "Beautiful Lives" (and see the series here): Among Johnson's responsibilities at the clinic was handling money the facility made from its abortion procedures something she now looks back on with clearer vision. "It was my job to take the money to the bank and after a full day of committing abortions. ... I would have two large cash bags ... just full, I mean overflowing with cash," she said. "It was nothing to have $20, $30,000 in these bags. I didn't really see it then, but now I recognize how lucrative it really was and that it truly was a cash business." Johnson shared that she started having reservations about her role at the clinic when she was told that the organization would build "the largest abortion facility in the western hemisphere." READ ALSO: EX-ABORTION WORKERS REVEAL WHY THEY BECAME PRO-LIFE AND TRANSFORMED The facility was slated to perform abortions later on in pregnancy and while many people were excited, Johnson said she didn't quite feel right about it. But the final straw came when Johnson was asked to assist a doctor during an ultrasound abortion; what she saw changed everything. "During that abortion on a 13 week old baby ... I saw this baby fight for his life against the abortion instruments," she said. "I had believed that the unborn didn't have any sensory development, didn't feel anything." READ ALSO: HE SAVED 16,000 UNBORN BABIES LIVES AND HELPED RESCUE ABBY JOHNSON Johnson continued, "And so to see this, I was surprised, and then [I] also realized it had been this big lie and then I thought, 'What else have we been lying about?'" Watch "Beautiful Lives" today on Pure Flix to see more of Johnson's journey, and to meet other women just like her. This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free trial here. Billy Hallowell, author of "The Armageddon Code," has contributed to TheBlaze, the Washington Post, Human Events, the Daily Caller, Mediaite, and the Huffington Post, among other news sites. Through journalism, media, public speaking appearances, and the blogosphere, Hallowell has worked as a journalist and commentator for more than a decade. In Tingwalls engagement tracker, the portion of students participating in most of their classes has jumped by more than 15 percentage points from late April, to 55%. By the districts laxer measure only tracking how many students turn in at least one assignment once a week Curie, with 98% of students doing so, has handily outpaced Chicagos average despite its high student poverty rate. The school also has winnowed the number of missing students to a couple dozen. Still, it will be a relief when teachers and students reassemble in the schools now-abandoned classrooms. JACKSON COUNTY, MI As the city of Jackson considers calling racism a public health crisis, the issue didnt make the agenda for Tuesdays Jackson County Board of Commissioners meeting. Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies and Vice-Mayor Arlene Robinson are introducing a three-page resolution at the 6:30 p.m. June 16 city council meeting calling racism a public health crisis, and have asked the county to consider the doing the same. This is the time for us to engage in meaningful dialogue about how we can bring the reforms necessary to eradicate racism from our systems and bring justice to communities long neglected, a letter to county commissioners signed by Dobies and Robinson reads. District 7 Commissioner Daniel Mahoney attempted to put a resolution on the county boards June 16 agenda declaring racism a public health crisis in the county and calling for the creation of a board to look at equity in the county, he said in a video posted to Facebook. It is a plague thats sickened our country for many, many years, Mahoney said in the video. The resolution is not on the agenda because it was not submitted in time, in accordance with board policies, County Administrator Mike Overton said. If a motion is made and seconded at the meeting, the resolution can be talked about without being on the agenda, he said. I do think the board will ultimately approve a resolution to do that," Overton said. "I dont think anyones opposed to creating that committee and moving it forward. The county boards 7 p.m. meeting was supposed to be at the American 1 Event Center, 200 W. Ganson St. But it was moved to a virtual meeting on Zoom due to the size of the crowd expected to attend. My board, if they had had their way, they would have had a face-to-face meeting, Overton said. But Im like, Guys, its not safe and its against the law. I tell them all the time, You can make all the political statements you want but that does not give us the right to break the law and in such a big way. Jackson County officials say they wont pay for Gov. Whitmers executive orders The Jackson County Sheriffs Office and Jackson County Prosecutor do not have to enforce executive orders from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, per a June 4, resolution from the county board. But the board will not defy Whitmers executive order on gatherings inside with more than 10 people. As of Monday, June 15, more than 50 people have registered to make public comments at Tuesdays meeting, Overton said. They have now canceled the in-person meeting which was supposed to be our first in-person meeting saying that they are afraid that we are going to be violating the Govs executive order," Mahoney said in the video. Now mind you, this is the same board of commissioners that passed a resolution, not even a month ago, stating that we want to allow the businesses in Jackson County to go back to work, ignoring the governors executive order. Jackson County wants to declare some businesses essential, rebuking governors order Breaking the law and allowing five or 10 extra people is a lot different than breaking the law and allowing 50 extra people, Overton said. Yall canceled an in-person meeting to silence the voice of the people?" Mahoney said in the video. "Well you cant silence my voice. Ill be there at the meeting. I need your help. Posted by Daniel Mahoney on Friday, June 12, 2020 Im so disappointed in the leadership of this county," Mahoney said in the video. "Im embarrassed to even say that Im a Jackson County commissioner right now. This is sad. Its ridiculous and it is tiresome. Mahoney did not respond to requests for additional comment. The citys proposed resolution outlines how black people have been treated in Michigan and the United States and what the city plans to do to fix the inequalities. Systemic racism unfairly disadvantages some communities and gives other communities unfair advantages, the citys resolution reads. Since 1619 when slavery started to the Jim Crow era to the war on drugs, black people have been placed at a disadvantage. Black people have a higher rate of chronic illness, which increases their chances of dying from COVID-19, per the citys resolution. In Jackson 16 percent of the novel coronavirus cases are black in people, while the county is only 8 percent black, per the resolution and Jackson County Health Department data. We as a governmental body have a responsibility to ensure an optimal quality of life for all of our black city of Jackson residents, the resolution reads. ... Jackson recommits its full attention to improving the quality of life and health of our Black City of Jackson residents. The city will assess ordinances and policies to make sure they are racially equitable, and there will be racial equity training for city staff, if the resolution is passed as is. Racism Resolution by Marie Weidmayer on Scribd The council will vote on the resolution at Tuesdays meeting. The city meeting is streamed on Facebook, the citys website and Comcast Channel 21 at 6:30 p.m. Public comment must be submitted to the city clerks office by 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 16. They can be emailed to clerksoffice@cityofjackson.org or placed in the City Hall drop box. The countys meeting is streamed on Zoom and YouTube at 7 p.m. The public can register to comment here. READ MORE JACKSON NEWS: Heres where construction stands on 3 Jackson streets Overnight lane closures beginning on I-94 in Jackson Current times kind of a rollercoaster for historic Michigan Theatre, director says Cole Goodman, the youngest member of the executive board of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, takes a knee and speaks in support of Black lives during a protest on King St. in Shippensburg, PA, on June 9. Read more Noah Wilson didnt think many people would show up to the Black Lives Matter protest he organized in Grove City, Pa., a town of 8,300 about 60 miles north of Pittsburgh. For starters, the population is 95% white, and Donald Trump won almost two-thirds of the vote in 2016. Then there were the hateful posts Wilson, who is black and Asian, saw on social media in response to the protest plans, including, he said, threats of lynching. But when June 4 arrived, about 150 people turned out to march for racial justice after the death of George Floyd, the unarmed black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer. They prayed together and knelt in front of the police station for almost nine minutes the amount of time the officer knelt on Floyds neck. As the demonstrators marched peacefully, some business owners stood outside their stores with assault rifles. I was scared, as anybody would be with your children in hand and seeing somebody with assault rifles, said Marisa Jackson, 39, one of Grove Citys few black residents. Youre not sure what their intentions are; theyre there to protect bricks and mortar. Protests flared in Philadelphia and other major cities across the country following Floyds death. But while images of tens of thousands marching in metropolitan areas captured the most attention, protests also sprouted up in small towns where such demonstrations almost never take hold. In Pennsylvania, protests supporting the Black Lives Matter movement have occurred in at least 61 of the states 67 counties, according to a running list kept by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star website and a review of local news stories. More than 50 protests have taken place in towns Trump won four years ago. The list includes Mansfield in Tioga County, Bedford in Bedford County, and Tyrone in Blair County, all of which Trump won in 2016 with more than three times as many votes as Hillary Clinton. Protests can affect electoral politics by energizing voters, leading to increased turnout and even campaign donations, studies show. And antiracism protests in deeply conservative areas are unusual, people who study protests and politics said, suggesting they could have an impact in the November presidential election. READ MORE: Small-town Pa. protests are a sign of big changes Youre going to see more contributions being made right now, youre going to see more candidates coming out, youre going to see political platforms being changed, said Daniel Gillion, a University of Pennsylvania political science professor who studies protests. I think the entire electoral process is starting to change. Winning a statewide election in Pennsylvania can be a matter of playing very slim margins, as Trumps 44,000-vote victory showed in 2016. While the focus for Democrats is often on more densely populated cities and suburbs, every vote matters. Clinton picked up 124,000 votes in towns Trump won by 75% or more. Pennsylvania is again considered a crucial battleground. I fundamentally believe well be picking the president. We need every vote. We need every county, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat, said Friday. We cannot afford to avoid any part of the state or any county or any voter that is reachable. We take Pennsylvania out of Donald Trumps column, he has no credible path" to reelection. Even as public opinion has rapidly shifted in favor of the Black Lives Matter cause, Trump has bet his call for law and order will win the day, especially as some peaceful protests were overtaken by looting. Trump has urged governors to dominate protesters, referred to demonstrators as thugs, and drawn widespread criticism over his administrations use of force to disperse them outside the White House so he could cross the street for a photo-op at a church. It remains to be seen whether Democrats suffer backlash over activists calls to defund the police, a slogan whose meaning is evolving but generally refers to reallocating money away from police departments and toward social services. READ MORE: Defund the police: What does it mean, and what would it look like in Philly? What is clear already: These protests are taking place in new communities and drawing out new participants. The conversation has changed dramatically overnight, Fetterman said. People are energized and outraged at a level I havent witnessed certainly in my adult lifetime. Andy Harkulich, chair of the Mercer County Democrats, said: Its very refreshing to me in my area, to see these kinds of things. Weve seen rallies, but not like this. Grove City is definitely Trump country, he said. I think the country is changing." "Just look at the thing with the Confederate flag, Harkulich said, pointing to NASCARs decision to ban the flag from races. Thats unbelievable. And while the protests may be small in many cases, more important is the rest of the community that notices them. There are always liberal voters in rural, conservative areas and conservative ones in big cities but a protest is a public display that can help shift the conversation by allowing people in the political minority to see they are not alone, empowering them and sometimes connecting them into a loose community. Its a little bit like a standing ovation, said Omar Wasow, a Princeton University politics professor who has studied protests political impact. Theres a moment where the show ends and people are like, Are we standing? Are we not standing? And if a few people stand, that can cascade through the whole audience. In one study, Tax Day protests in 2009 led to increased support for tea party positions, Republican voter turnout, and conservative shifts in policy in good weather. When protests were rained out, so were the political impacts. While the current protests wont suddenly turn conservative areas liberal, Wasow said they help create a climate where it becomes more normal for there to be this kind of expression or politics in small-town communities. Many of the small-town protests have drawn resistance, such as the gun-wielding response in Grove City. A militia group showed up to a protest in Kittanning, about 40 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, where two dozen people demonstrated on a recent Saturday. Some towns saw Facebook-fueled rumors of planned riots and looting. The number of protests in the small towns is really striking, and its striking that its happening in the face of concerted social media disinformation as well as, doubtless, some intentional disinformation and locally generated rumor mongering, said Lara Putnam, a University of Pittsburgh history professor whose work includes studying electoral trends in Pennsylvania. Counterprotests can actually help amplify the political impact of protests because they generate sympathy, Wasow said. In the 1960s, he found, nonviolent protest helped drive up Democratic turnout, especially when it was met with a response from police or vigilantes. Violent protests had the opposite effect. Visible resistance is actually not a bad thing for a cause supported by a statistical minority, because it just helps draw attention, said Wasow, who like Gillion and Putnam believes the protests will likely help Democrats in November to some degree. Consider Matt Fogal, the Republican district attorney of Franklin County in south-central Pennsylvania. After watching 75 people march outside his office in Chambersburg, the county seat, Fogal wrote an open letter in support of the cause. Black Lives Matter, he wrote. Period. Full stop. And he denounced Trump without naming the president: For my fellow Republicans, I encourage you to exhibit political courage and never put the party before the country or conscience. READ MORE: A rural Pa. prosecutor on how the George Floyd protests led him to call on fellow Republicans to ditch Trump Theres a backlash that naturally follows political protests, but that doesnt tend to show up at the polls, Gillion said. When he studied Black Lives Matter protests in recent years, he found they increased turnout among black and Democratic voters. But Republican voters, who in polls voiced strong negative feelings toward the protests, had no corresponding spike in turnout. Gillion expects a similar effect with the current protests. It will for sure create a Republican backlash," he said, "but the Republican backlash might not be materialized in terms of voter turnout. Democrats are hoping the protests in rural areas and small towns will help mobilize their supporters. It has permeated our rural areas in Northeast Pennsylvania just as much as it has the big cities, said John Tucker, chair of the Pike County Democrats. I think that right now, we have not seen these types of protests up here in our area in the last 30-some years Ive been here. I think the past three years, everyone has gotten motivated to say what they believe. Along Pennsylvanias northeast border with New York, about 250 people marched outside the county courthouse in Milford this month, according to the Pike County Courier. The town is home to about 1,000 people. Trump won 62% of the vote in Pike County. I do believe its going to show in the election in November, Tucker said. Yale scientists may have found a cause for the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in some children, they report. Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders, or PANDAS, were first proposed in the 1990s. Thought to be triggered by streptococcal infections, they account for an unknown portion of youth OCD cases. But the biology underpinning this disorder has baffled scientists. The new Yale research, published June 16 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, identifies antibodies that bind to particular brain cells called interneurons as an explanation. "It is really OCD plus," said senior author Christopher Pittenger, assistant chair for translational research, associate professor of psychiatry and a researcher in the Yale Child Study Center. "These children have OCD, but they can also have severe separation anxiety, subtle motor symptoms, and show frequent need to urinate. Many refuse to eat." While 1% to 3% of children will be diagnosed with OCD by the age of 17, the fraction of OCD cases that can be attributed to PANDAS is unknown. Some doctors say there is not enough evidence to support PANDAS as a distinct diagnosis from OCD. Others, including many parents of children with the syndrome, argue it may account for a large subset of children with OCD. Pittenger and his team decided to explore the biology of the disorder in a series of experiments involving 27 children who met the strictest criteria for a PANDAS diagnosis and 23 control subjects. They found that many children with a PANDAS diagnosis possess high levels of an antibody that can attack specific interneurons -- neurons that modify the signaling of other nearby cells. These antibodies are concentrated in the striatum, an area of the brain that is associated with voluntary motor control, among other functions, and is known to be involved in OCD. When the antibody binds to these neurons, it reduces their activity. PANDAS is "real, but probably rare," Pittenger said. Adults with Tourette syndrome, a related syndrome characterized by vocal and motor tics, lack the same specific striatal interneurons, suggesting that problems with these cells may play a role in several conditions, Pittenger noted. His lab aims to explore this biology in other children with OCD and Tourette syndrome to see how widespread interneuron-binding antibodies are in this group of related conditions. ### Yale's Jian Xu is the paper's first author. The work was principally funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. CHICAGO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel Mindset, the leading tourism and lifestyle brand influencer marketing agency, announced today that it has partnered with BLACK GIRL DIGITAL, INC. to expand its global presence, focus on creating more diverse brand partnerships, and amplify messaging that authentically speaks to people of color (POC). Travel Mindset Through this strategic partnership, Travel Mindset and BLACK GIRL DIGITAL, INC. will provide the most comprehensive influencer marketing strategies, with a dedication to making sure Black voices and POC are not only highlighted but that marketing and content are developed with their interests in mind. Tourism boards, travel and lifestyle brands, and agencies across the United States, Canada, and abroad can now take advantage of their joint expertise, strategies, platforms, unparalleled education, research, and influencer relationships. Now more than ever, these relationships and influencer campaigns are telling the stories of our lives and Black and POC stories should be represented equally. "BLACK GIRL DIGITAL, INC. couldn't be more thrilled to join forces with the Travel Mindset team," said LaToya Shambo, CEO and Founder of BLACK GIRL DIGITAL, INC. "Given the current climate the world is in, it is more important now than ever for general market influencer agencies to build strategic partnerships with influencers of color. We truly appreciate Travel Mindset's understanding of our mission, and we look forward to collaborating to create successful campaigns and content that highlights diversity. The possibilities are endless." "BLACK GIRL DIGITAL, INC.'s passion and strategic wherewithal in the black influencer space embodies what we look for in a partner," said Harley Schachter, CEO and Founder of Travel Mindset and Inside Out Media. "Offering brands a more insightful approach to addressing diverse markets, along with a deeper understanding of which influencers will best deliver that messaging, is our next step." Travel Mindset will be hosting a webinar on June 16, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time to complement the partnership announcement. In this free webinar, viewers will gain insights and actionable plans for marketing to Black travelers. Guest influencers will include @hey_ciara, @thetravelingchild, @onegrloneworld, and more. Register for the webinar here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9815922357167/WN_pW6hY_jiSOGgWVVc7DnJCg About BLACK GIRL DIGITAL, INC. BLACK GIRL DIGITAL, INC. is a premium Digital Marketing and Influencer Agency that specializes in the black female audience. Our mission is to be a solution to representation and wage disparities for Black and Multicultural women in the influencer marketing industry. Since launching in 2016, BLACK GIRL DIGITAL, INC. has worked with VH1, BET, MTV, Sephora, The Doux, Andre Walker Hair Care, and Hairfinity just to name a few. Helping brands craft their messaging through the lens of the black female has been the key to building authentic campaigns with influencers of color for BLACK GIRL DIGITAL, INC. To learn more about Black Girl Digital, please visit: www.blackgirldigital.com About Travel Mindset Travel Mindset is the industry leader in influencer marketing for travel and lifestyle brands. Since 2013, the agency has worked on over 700+ campaigns with clients ranging from Fairmont Hotels and Visit California to Celebrity Cruises and Under Armour. Travel Mindset's approach is rooted in personal relationships with their influencer community, digging beyond follower count and engagement numbers, and developing personal relationships so that they can truly understand ideal fits for clients. To learn more about Travel Mindset, please visit: www.TravelMindset.com. PRESS CONTACT: Harley Schachter, CEO; 773-919-8020, [email protected] Related Images image1.jpeg SOURCE Travel Mindset A 13-year-old 'Amazon warrior' who was buried along with her weapons 2,600 years ago has finally been identified as female 30 years after being unearthed in Siberia. The remains of the warrior who had a wart on her face were found at Saryg-Bulun, in the Tuva republic, in 1988 and assumed to have belonged to a young man. However, genetic analysis revealed that the partially-mummified corpse which was wrapped in a fur coat was nothing of the sort. According to experts, the 'stunning' revelation brings to mind ancient accounts of the skilled and ruthless young female warriors of the Scythian civilisation. These nomadic people famed for their mastery of mounted warfare arose in southern Siberia and lived between around 900200 BC. A 13-year-old 'Amazon warrior' who was buried along with her weapons 2,600 years ago has finally been identified as female 30 years after being unearthed in Siberia The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates who lived from around 460370 BC wrote of the Scythians that 'their women so long as they are virgins ride, shoot [arrows], throw the javelin while mounted, and fight with their enemies.' 'They do not lay aside their virginity until they have killed three of their enemies, and they do not marry before they have performed the traditional sacred rites.' The remains of the partially mummified warrior believed to be aged 12 or 13 were found in the mountainous Tuva republic in southern Siberia in 1988, at which time experts classified the remains of being that of young man. It is only recently that the mummy underwent palaeogenetic analysis at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and this identification was overturned. 'It was so stunning when we just opened the lid and I saw the face there, with that wart, looking so impressive,' said archaeologist Marina Kilunovskaya of the St Petersburg Institute of Material History Culture. The young warrior dressed in a leather cap and a below-the-knee, double-breasted, patchwork coat made from the fur of a rodent known as a jerboa was first discovered in 1988 by Dr Kilunovskaya and her colleague Vladimir Semyonov. At that time there had been no doubt that the remains were that of a young male, she explained. The prepubescent warrior was buried with a complete set of weapons including an axe with a long wooden handle, a one-metre bow made of birch and a quiver with ten arrows, each some 27.5 inches (70 centimetres) in length. According to the Siberian Times, the young fighter had 'a choice of arrows two were wooden, one had a bone tip and the arrowheads of the rest were bronze.' The remains of the warrior who had a wart on her face and was buried along with her weapons, including a bronze-tipped arrow, pictured were found at Saryg-Bulun, in the Tuva republic, in 1988 and assumed to have belonged to a young man However, genetic analysis revealed that the partially-mummified corpse which was wrapped in a fur coat was not a young man but a young woman. Pictured, wooden arrow shafts and arrowheads found in the warrior's wooden grave According to experts, the 'stunning' revelation brings to mind ancient accounts of the skilled and ruthless young female warriors of the lost Scythian civilisation. These nomadic people famed for their mastery of mounted warfare arose in southern Siberia and lived between around 900200 BC. Pictured, the young warrior's bow, left, and arrows, right The young warrior dressed in a leather cap and a below-the-knee, double-breasted, patchwork coat made from the fur of a rodent known as a jerboa was first discovered in 1988 by Dr Kilunovskaya and her colleague Vladimir Semyonov. Pictured, the warrior's quiver The grave bore no indications such as the presence of beads or mirrors that it might have belonged to a young woman, with the archaeologists now admitting that they were wrong-footed by their gender stereotyping. 'We were recently offered the chance to undertake tests to determine the sex, age and genetic affiliation of the buried warrior,' Dr Kilunovskaya told the Siberian Times. 'We agreed with pleasure and got such a stunning result.' The prepubescent warrior was buried with a complete set of weapons including an axe with a long wooden handle, a one-metre bow made of birch and a quiver (pictured, in closeup) with ten arrows, each some 27.5 inches (70 centimetres) in length The prepubescent warrior was buried with a complete set of weapons including an axe with a long wooden handle, a one-metre bow made of birch and a quiver (pictured, in closeup) with ten arrows, each some 27.5 inches (70 centimetres) in length According to the Siberian Times , the young fighter had 'a choice of arrows two were wooden, one had a bone tip and the arrowheads of the rest were bronze.' Pictured, an artist's sketch of the warrior's wooden grave 'The burial of the child, with weapons, introduces a new touch to the social structure of early nomadic society,' said Dr Kilunovskaya. 'This discrepancy in the norms of the funeral rite received an unexpected explanation.' 'Firstly, the young man turned out to be a girl and this young "Amazon" had not yet reached the age of 14 years.' The results of genome-wide sequencing, which showed that a girl was buried in [the] wooden coffin, were unexpected. 'This opens up a new aspect in the study of the social history of Scythian society and involuntarily returns us to the myth of the Amazons that survived thanks to Herodotus.' President Donald Trump is leading presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, by just one point in Iowa, according to a new poll. The new Des Moines Register-Mediacom Iowa Poll, asked 676 likely voters in the state who they would support if the 2020 presidential election was held today, and has a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points. Results from the poll, that was released on Monday, show that Mr Trump has 44 per cent of the support in Iowa, compared to Mr Bidens 43 per cent. In 2016, Mr Trump won the state of Iowa by nine percentage points, in what was a crucial win on his way to the presidency. Despite the margin of Mr Trumps victory in 2016, pollster J Ann Selzer, told the Des Moines Register that Mr Biden stands a better chance in the state than previously predicted. Recommended Biden enjoys record fundraising haul as polls show him beating Trump I think its obviously nothing that Joe Biden should take for granted, because hes not leading, she said. But if the election were held today, Biden has a far better shot than anybody thought. The president has seen a decline in support in numerous polls over the last few months, after his responses to the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests, were criticised. Meanwhile, Mr Biden has seen his support in polls rise in the same period, and according to a Real Clear Politics polling average, he is now leading the president by seven points nationally. The Trump campaign has spent time and money campaigning in Iowa over the last couple of months, in order to gain back their lead, according to the outlet. They spent over $400,000 (318,000) on TV ads in the state in May and early June, while The Lincoln Project, which is advertising against Mr Trump, only spent $150,000 (119,248). Mr Trump met with Iowa governor Kim Reynolds in the White House in May, and vice president Mike Pence visited religious leaders in Iowa last month, and will be visiting the state again on Tuesday. The presidents approval rating has also fallen in Iowa, from a high of 50 per cent in March. According to the poll, Mr Trumps approval rating has fallen to 45 per cent, with 52 per cent of Iowa residents disapproving of the job he is doing as president. As communities start down the road to reopening after pandemic-related shutdowns, public health officials are urging caution about the coronaviruss continued spread and turning to digitized contact tracing to help track the threat. Although deploying trained case workers to trace contacts of those exposed to a communicable disease isnt new -- its been used to track smallpox, HIV and SARS, for example -- using technology for the job is. A recent report from Johns Hopkins University provides tips for public health agencies using digital contact-tracing tools, such as ensuring that technology design is flexible enough to change along with conditions, data is available to health professionals in a de-identified form and the solution has base features to protect privacy plus optional ones, such as location. These technologies have significant promise, according to the report. They also raise important ethical, legal, and governance challenges that require comprehensive analysis in order to support decision-making. Although privacy concerns have limited the use of digital contact tracing in the United States, companies are providing contact tracing tools for public health agencies that put privacy protections at their heart. Some states are using the Salesforce customer relationship management platform to handle contact tracing. The companys Work.com suite of tools released in May creates maps of contacts and locations to monitor potential interactions and outbreak. It helps public health agencies manually, securely and privately trace health and relationship contacts of those exposed to an infectious disease. Rhode Island was the first to work with the company on developing tools that would enable officials there to more easily follow up with people who test positive for COVID-19. The suite has three main components for three categories of users. First is the public. Someone experiencing symptoms can go to the public health agencys website and engage with a chatbot, which can understand, based on the persons responses, whether they might have COVID-19. The bot can then help the person reach virtual assistance or set up an appointment to get tested. Whats more, the person can fill out a form to share their contact information and the names and contact information of anyone with whom they were in close proximity before feeling sick. That information shows up in the agencys database and alerts public health workers to let contact tracers know to reach out to those people to see how theyre feeling or if theyre quarantined. Public health officials can also use the data on the number of people reporting positive diagnoses to home in on hotspots in specific counties, for instance. The third user group is case workers who help arrange for food and medication to be delivered to someone in isolation or quarantine. They can get alerts to new entries, and the system can create tasks automatically so that if one caseworkers workload gets too heavy, it can be spread among several public health officials to follow up. New York City also is working with Salesforce to set up a call center and customer relationship and case management system for tracking people who could have been infected. The citys Test and Trace Corps deployed the system at the beginning of June and has been monitoring thousands of cases. More than 30 states are using Salesforce for COVID-related solutions generally, not just Work.com, company officials said. To use Work.com, agencies need to be on the Salesforce platform. The low-code/no-code platform allows users to design and configure the interfaces, the fields and the forms to capture specific data. All of thats changeable and configurable, said Kishan Chetan, Salesforce's senior vice president of industry products. Every state has its own nuances and integration requirements, he said. We have a very well-defined way of essentially integrating data through our integration cloud as well as other services. The suite does not use any artificial intelligence, a deliberate decision to help protect personally identifiable information. Patient data is not used in any AI models, Chetan said. This is very protected health information, which we absolutely dont want to run AI models on. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention touts contact tracing for monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and has issued guidelines stating that technology is a necessity for efficient work in this area: Case investigation, contact tracing, and contact follow-up and monitoring will need to be linked with timely testing, clinical services, and agile data management systems to facilitate real-time electronic transmission of laboratory and case data for public health action. Other companies working on digital contact tracing efforts that address the publics privacy concerns include Apple and Google. The technology is unlikely to be a one-off, Chetan added, making the investment by government agencies worthwhile not just now, but in the future. The world we live in, there are emergencies that happen like a hurricane or a flood or contagious diseases, he said. While we may not see another emergency like COVID-19, he said, this is a call to all of the state and local businesses to be prepared for an emergency like this. Editor's note: This article was changed June 18 to include the number of states using Salesforce for COVID-related applications. Marilyn Booker attends the BET Awards Welcome Party at Liaison Lounge on June 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Joshua Blanchard | Getty Images Marilyn Booker, a 26-year veteran of Morgan Stanley who spent most of that time as the firm's first global diversity chief, is suing the bank for racial discrimination and retaliation. Booker, who served as the New York-based bank's diversity chief from 1994 to 2010 and then worked in the firm's wealth management division for most of the past decade, was fired in December, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in a Brooklyn, New York, federal court. The suit is the latest alleging that Wall Street firms, whose executive ranks are still largely the domain of white males, have stymied the careers of Black employees. Still, Booker who in her role as diversity chief has testified before Congress about the industry's shortcomings is one of the highest-profile former employees to take legal action. In the suit, Booker claims that while Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman made several recent announcements to boost racial inclusion after the death of George Floyd, the bank has spent years blocking efforts to address inequalities in the firm's ranks. "Rather than seriously examine its own role in perpetuating inequalities in hiring, pay and promotion, and in fostering toxic workplace cultures and consumer discrimination, Morgan Stanley has instead repeatedly stopped short of any meaningful major overhauls during prior opportunities for change," the suit claimed. James Gorman, chief executive of Morgan Stanley. Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images "Most troubling, Morgan Stanley has, in true hypocritical fashion, actively sought to silence those who speak out and try to advocate for change when it comes to diversity and inclusion," the suit claimed. "Marilyn Booker was one such Morgan Stanley victim. She paid the ultimate price by losing her job merely because she pushed too hard for reforms that would disrupt the status quo on White dominance and result in more Black and minority employees at Morgan Stanley." The bank responded in an emailed statement: "We strongly reject the allegations made in this claim and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in the appropriate forum. We are steadfast in our commitment to improve the diversity of our employees and have made steady progress while recognizing that we have further progress to make. We will continue to advance our high priority efforts to achieve a more diverse and inclusive firm." Her dismissal was part of a companywide cost-cutting effort that resulted in about 2% of employees being laid off in December, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Booker named her former employer, as well as Gorman and her ex-boss Barry Krouk, a senior executive in the wealth management division, as defendants. She filed her complaint on behalf of other Black, female employees of Morgan Stanley. Many Northern Ireland children are being left to suffer in silence due to incidents of abuse going unreported during the Covid-19 lockdown, a charity has warned. Karen Walker, the head of the NSPCC's Schools Service in Northern Ireland, said social distancing, self-isolating and quarantine can cause stress and changes in children's behaviour and this means that spotting the signs of abuse might be more difficult, "For many children, especially those who already live in difficult circumstances, this is all exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and being at home for many weeks during lockdown," she said. "There are some children we know of who are living with domestic violence, difficult family relationships, tension, pressures and conflict. "What is going on within family homes isn't being seen by anybody at the moment and remains hidden so it's a very difficult time for these children," Karen continued. Schools in Northern Ireland have been closed since March during the coronavirus crisis. The NSPCC Schools Service, which would usually present the 'Speak Out and Stay Safe' assembly in schools, teaches children to talk to either a trusted adult or to contact Childline if they are worried. In 2019/20, the NSPCC Schools Service visited 222 schools across Northern Ireland and spoke to 41,872 children. Karen has expressed concern that the kind of conversations children would have had on the sidelines with their teachers in school hasn't been happening. "Teachers would have noticed that a child wasn't themselves on a particular day and given them an opportunity to talk about anything going on at home. "For all those kids out there who have been missing out on this, it means they are suffering in silence and don't really know who to turn to." Some Northern Ireland pupils will return to school in late August, followed by a phased return for the remainder at the beginning of September, Education Minister Peter Weir has said. But Karen said schools will have to be prepared to support children with their mental well-being when they return to classrooms. "This may include hearing disclosures about what has gone on at home during the lockdown," she added. "It's important that we as a community reach out to these children to let them know there are people out there that they can talk to." Since January, the NSPCC Childline service has delivered 6,938 counselling sessions to children and young people impacted by coronavirus. During seven weeks of lockdown (23 March-10 May), the charity conducted 2,593 counselling sessions with children who shared concerns about abuse or neglect - on average 370 every week. That is an increase of around 60 more a week than in the months before lockdown. The NSPCC recently hosted a special 'Speak Out, Stay Safe' assembly with TV presenters Ant and Dec along with David Walliams, which included a question and answer session with primary school children on how to handle some of the additional worries the lockdown has brought. If anyone is worried about a child, even if they're a bit unsure, they should contact the NSPCC helpline for support and advice on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can call Childline on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk any time of the day or night Citrine Global Corp., offering multi-strategy expansion solutions for growth-stage technology companies, participates in an exclusive funding round in Nanomedic, an Israeli medical company with unique technology of nanofiber skin that revolutionizes wound care treatment ( https://youtu.be/rqKqTIgXZT8 ) Citrine Global is currently trading as TechCare Corp. (TECR). Its name change to "Citrine Global Corp." is expected to take effect soon. Tel Aviv, Israel, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The board of directors of Citrine Global Corp. (OTCQB: TECR), approved, on June 10, 2020, an investment in Nanomedic Technologies Ltd., an Israeli company, through participation in an exclusive funding round open only to existing Nanomedic shareholders and their affiliates. Citrine Global decided to participate with $450,000. The funding round of $2.2 million is already fully subscribed and the investment agreement is expected to be closed in a few days. Nanomedic developed SpinCare, the first and only system that integrates the revolutionary electrospinning technology into a portable, bedside device, offering immediate wound and burn care treatment. This exceptional product, developed during the past five years, is patent protected. SpinCare treats burns, wounds, and surgical injuries by mimicking human tissue. The lightweight device emits a proprietary nanofiber second skin that completely covers the area that needs to heal. The method avoids any need to come into direct contact with the wound, thus eliminating the painful routine of bandage dressings and risk of infection. The transient skin then fully develops into a secure physical barrier with tough adherence. Once new skin is regenerated, the layer naturally peels off. Using the product does not require any special training. At present, the product is designed for use in hospitals and clinics but in the future, the company will market the product for emergency use such as ambulances, for military use and ultimately for home care. The product has approval for distribution in Europe after gaining the CE mark. It has also been awarded approval by the Ministry of Health (AMAR Medical Accessories and Devices) in Israel and has recently started the FDA process. Ms. Ora Soffer, Citrine Global's Chairperson and CEO, states "Israel is a source of a lot of innovation and Nanomedic's technology is a breakthrough technology in its field. We are confident that the company will be successful in implementing its global growth strategy and business plan, further enhanced with the provision of our expertise and services". Ms. Chen Katz, Nanomedic's Chairperson, states: "We are excited that Citrine Global has joined the exclusive funding round. For us, this is another sign of confidence in our innovative, patent protected, technology, for which we have received excellent feedback from numerous physicians, patients, hospitals, and companies with whom weve been in touch both in Europe and in Israel. We look forward to our next steps with Citrine Global. I am sure that with the current investment round we can reach our targets for global expansion and growth". About Citrine Global Corp. Citrine Global Corp.s business activity is comprised of creating value and implementing expansion strategies for growth-stage technology companies, offering multi-strategy solutions combining strategic marketing, business development, real estate and asset management services and financing solutions. Such wide spectrum of services is targeted at helping create an integrated strategy that supports our client companies in achieving their local and global expansion ambitions. Key Target Markets: We believe the health and wellness fields are demonstrating high growth potential and we are therefore primarily focused on these sectors. We plan on empowering innovative companies to become global leaders and improve the health and quality of life of as many people as possible worldwide. Geographies: The Company provides solutions to companies from Israel, USA, Canada, Europe and around the world through subsidiaries and local teams and professionals in each region. The company operates in the Israeli market, via its fully-owned subsidiary, which targets Israeli startups and technology companies in the fields of Healthcare, Wellness, Food Tech and Israeli Medical Cannabis companies. http://www.citrine-global.com About Nanomedic Nanomedic is an innovative nanotechnology company focused on the development and manufacturing of portable electrospinning technology. Nanomedic has long identified the significant potential of combining electrospinning nanotechnology and biomaterials for a wide range of medical applications and is leading the innovative approach of bedside (on-the-spot) manufacturing using its first and only worldwide commercialized portable electrospinning device. Nanomedic is the only company that was able to minimize the electrospinning technology from large machines into a hand held, battery operated, commercialized device. Nanomedic has state-of-the-art facilities (ISO 13485 certified) along with a strong team and proven expertise and knowhow in developing medical equipment. https://nanomedic.com/; Nanomedic video: https://youtu.be/rqKqTIgXZT8 For inquiries and further information, please contact: info@citrine-global.com Disclaimer: This communication does not constitute an offer to purchase or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to sell or exchange any securities of the Company. This communication contains certain statements that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information and other statements concerning the Company. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, events, products and services and future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words will, "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates , target, and similar expressions. These and other information and statements contained in this communication constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of applicable securities laws. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward looking statements are reasonable, investors and security holders are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of the Company, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by the forward-looking information and statements, and the Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the forward-looking statements contained in this communication include, but are not limited to: trends in target markets; effects of competition in the Company's main markets; ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships in its major businesses; profitability of the growth strategy; and changes in global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces. Moreover, neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this communication speak only as of the date of this communication and the Company or its representatives are under no duty, and do not undertake, to update any of the forward-looking statements after this date to conform such statements to actual results, to reflect the occurrence of anticipated results or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable law or regulations BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Switzerland stock market ended on a high note on Tuesday, in line with markets across Europe, amid hopes the Federal Reserve's move to expand its bond-buying program and a likely $1 trillion infrastructure package by the Trump administration will significantly boost the U.S. economy and help fuel global growth. Investors were also reacting positively to news about a potential new drug to cure seriously ill coronavirus infected patients. A report from the Federal Government's expert group that said the Swiss economy is set for its worst slump since 1975 this year failed to deter traders from picking up stocks. The benchmark SMI ended with a gain of 191.73 points or 1.95% at 10,034.29, after rising to a high of 10,098.50 in the final hour. Among the top movers, Sika gained 4.3%, while Alcon, Credit Suisse, LafargeHolcim, Geberit and UBS Group climbed up 3 to 3.7%. Lonza Group ended nearly 3% up. Swisscom, ABB, Novartis and Adecco ended stronger by 2 to 2.5%. Swiss Life Holding, Zurich Insurance Group, Swiss Re, Swatch Group and SGS also ended sharply higher. In the midcap section, Dorma Kaba Holding, OC Oerlikon Corp, Straumann Holding, Dufry, Logitech and Vifor Pharma moved up 3.6 to 5%. AMS, Helvetia, Lindt & Spruengli, Sonova, Partners Group, Georg Fischer, BB Biotech, Kuehne & Nagel and Temenos also rose sharply. According to a report released by the Federal Government's Expert Group, Swiss economy is set for its worst slump since 1975 this year due to the impact from the coronavirus, or Covid-19, and a revival is likely in the second half of the year, if there is no second wave of the pandemic. Gross domestic product adjusted for sporting events is forecast to fall by 6.2% this year, which is slightly better than the 6.7% decline predicted in April, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or SECO, said. The unemployment rate is expected to average 3.8%. Experts expect private consumption to remain subdued for the rest of the year due to the high uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and also projected a significant reduction in investment in machinery amid the underutilized production capacity and deterioration in businesses' financial situation. The Swiss economy is likely to grow 4.9% in 2021, which is smaller than the 5.2% expansion predicted in April. This projection is based on the assumption that no renewed intensification of the health policy measures becomes necessary, that the second-round economic effects in the form of lay-offs and corporate bankruptcies remain limited and that demand from abroad returns to normal levels gradually. The report says the labor market will improve only very slowly and the unemployment rate is forecast to climb further to 4.1% next year. Employment is expected to log only a minimal rise. 'The course the economy will take hinges on the progression of the pandemic,' the SECO said. 'Forecast uncertainty therefore remains extraordinarily high.' Further, the risk of upheaval on the financial markets and further upward pressure on the Swiss franc is high amid rising debt levels and the risk of defaults and insolvencies, globally, the report added. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Mexico is willing to keep sending its citizens to work on Okanagan farms despite the deaths of two Mexicans due to COVID-19. Mexico is satisfied with efforts in B.C. to protect the workers. Tony Estrada Mercado, shown here, was employed at Northern Cherry's orchard in Oliver in 2014. NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Total Rethink the best-selling debut book by revolutionary entrepreneur David McCourt has leapt back into Amazon's US and European best-seller charts, as people look for answers amid the crisis and turmoil unfolding in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and unprecedented inequality protests sweeping the globe. Published by Wiley Publishing, Total Rethink gives McCourt's unique perspective on what he calls the "bottom-up revolution" through his lens as an Emmy award-winning producer and one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs. McCourt, who was named the first Economist in Residence at the University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and awarded Harvard Business School's 'Entrepreneur of the Year', commented: "Political movements that have tried a myriad of different ways to face up to the problems have come and gone over the centuries, but globalized progress still marches on at an ever-accelerated pace and the inequalities and dangers of societal meltdown continue to grow and multiply. "Total Rethink for me is a movement to inspire in business and within our social climate the opportunities for all to adapt to the changing world and to thrive within the new and ever-changing climate. The world has never before been in such urgent need of a Total Rethink and undoubtedly people are connecting with the lead themes in the book." Addressing growing problems and tensions across income inequality, policing, business, healthcare and education Total Rethink guides readers on how they can create revolutionary change, leaving behind incremental progress which is failing to keep up with the pace of social, economic and technological development. "Everything in the world is changing fast, apart from how we think and behave," said McCourt, once referred to in a New York City metro newspaper as Che Guevara in a nice suit. Order your copy of Total Rethink at: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble Books-a-Million 800 CEO Read About the author: David McCourt is the Chairman and CEO of Granahan McCourt Capital, the worldwide investors in technology, media and telecommunications, and has been one of the most prominent investors and entrepreneurs in the technology, media and telecommunications industries for the past 30 years. He is also the Chairman of National Broadband Ireland, delivering the Irish State's $5bn investment to end the urban/rural digital divide with high-speed broadband to 100% of the population. A best-selling author and Emmy award-winning producer, the Economist describes him as possessing "impeccable credentials as a telecom revolutionary." Visit www.davidmccourt.com. Media Enquiries: Tom Webb, Managing Director Element Communications [email protected] +44 (0)203 633 5552 SOURCE Granahan McCourt Capital The technical talks resumed last week in the latest bid to reach an agreement on the mega-dam, after US-sponsored negotiations stalled in February Tripartite negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) are continuing on Tuesday after over a week of talks held to reach a consensus over the disputed project. Egypt, which considers the flow of the Nile water a matter of national security, said on Monday it may resort to the United Nations Security Council to prevent Ethiopia from taking any unilateral action on the mega hydropower dam if Addis Ababa remains "intransigent." Ethiopia sees the dam as key to its development, while Sudan and Egypt regard it as a threat to their water supplies from the river Nile which they share. Following talks on Monday, Sudanese Irrigation Minister Yasser Abbas told reporters that the three countries have agreed on 95 percent of the technical aspects related to the filling and operation of the giant dam under normal conditions and during dry periods. The three countries agreed on most technical aspects except for small details, the Sudanese minister said, according to Sudans state news agency (SUNA). The talks have not identified the number of the years for filling the dams reservoir, which would be subject to the volume of water flow, he added. Disagreements mainly focused on legal aspects, including making the agreement binding, methods of amending it, and the mechanism to resolve disputes over the implementation of the agreement, the Sudanese minister said. Legal teams were due to convene early on Tuesday to tackle outstanding issues before the ministers of the three countries meet. The technical talks resumed via video conference last week in the latest bid to reach an agreement on the mega-dam, after talks stalled in February during US-sponsored meetings in Washington. The Ethiopian irrigation ministry said the countries have reached convergence on issues including the rules of first stage filling, the volume of environmental flow, drought management and dam safety rules, as well as environmental and social impact assessment studies. Ethiopia said it underlined during Monday's meeting the need to follow an approach that ensures the joint responsibility of the three countries in the incidence of drought while preserving the optimal operation of the GERD. According to the Ethiopian and Sudanese ministries, the irrigation ministers of the three countries will continue the negotiations on Tuesday. The Sudanese irrigation minister said there is no deadline for concluding the current round of talks, adding that if the countries were close to an agreement during Tuesdays meeting, they will press ahead until they finalise the negotiations. If the three nations fail to reach an agreement, the matter will be referred to their prime ministers, he added. This round of meetings is being attended by representatives from South Africa, the United States and the European Union as observers. The growing conflict has led to a diplomatic war of words between Cairo and Addis Ababa in the past months that landed at the UN Security Council. Despite the ongoing talks since last week, Egypt and Ethiopia have exchanged blame for discord during negotiations, taking a further toll on Cairo and Addis Ababas relations over the dam. Egypt said on Saturday that the revived negotiations on the GERD were "faltering," blaming Ethiopia for still displaying intransigence after nine years of negotiations. Search Keywords: Short link: SOUTH COVENTRY The Owen J. Roberts School Board on Monday unanimously accepted the resignation of Karel Minor. Minor, who was serving as board president, announced his resignation June 3 after a community uproar over a post he made on Facebook. In the post, which he said was a joke, Minor made reference to how George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. Racial equity matters, board Vice President Leslie Proffitt said as the meeting got underway. Superintendent Susan Lloyd thanked the parents of our black and brown students who emailed me their stories of injustice. Your stories made me sad, and then they made me angry, she said. I am going to take my outrage and using it to fuel my commitment to right these wrongs, said Lloyd, who also reported the initiation of professional development training for teachers and administrators to have those uncomfortable conversations about race and inequality. Later in the meeting, the board voted unanimously to name Proffitt, as the new board president and John Diehl as the new vice president. I want to thank you for all the work youve put in over the last four or five days, Diehl told Proffitt. Its been a whirlwind and I appreciate your leadership and responsiveness at this time. After being named vice president, Diehl said Im still learning, adding I ask for an ounce of patience in a very inpatient time. The board also decided how it will go about filling Minors seat on the board. An advertisement seeking resumes of those interested in the post will be placed in The Mercury and posted on the district website. Applicants will have a week to indicate their interest by contacting the board secretary and chief financial officer Jaclin Krumrine. The last time the board had to pick a replacement 13 people applied, and they were all interviewed at a public meeting, said Melissa Booth, who was board president at the time. If too many people apply, the board will have to discuss publicly how to reduce the number before conducting interviews. The board has 30 days to make a selection. After that, the post can be filled by a judge. This article first appeared as a post in The Digital Notebook blog. What we do as an industry forms a vital part of the social safety net and provides financial security for people across the world, said Khalaf, who has been a Geneva Association member since 2019. In these challenging times, The Geneva Association will play a key role in shaping the conversation around risk, regulation and the future of insurance. I am honoured to join its board of directors. Manning noted that insurers and reinsurers need to strive to protect people especially in the current circumstances. The sheer scale of COVID-19 has made abundantly clear the responsibility and purpose of the insurance industry, she said. The Geneva Associations work to highlight insurances contributions to societal resilience is therefore more important than ever, and it is an honour to be a part of it. Meanwhile, John Neal described the association as unique among think tanks due to its deep understanding of the industry. I look forward to helping guide the organizations ambitious research agenda on global risks, so that we can really impact society, he said. China sharply ramped up restrictions on people leaving the capital on Tuesday in an effort to stop the most serious coronavirus flare-up since February from spreading to other cities and provinces. The decision to impose fresh curbs and raise the city's emergency response level back to II from III came as Beijing's current outbreak rose to 106 infections since Thursday. The outbreak has been traced to the sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food centre in the southwest of Beijing where thousands of tonnes of vegetables, fruit and meat change hands each day. The coronavirus was first identified in December at a seafood market in Wuhan, capital of the central Chinese province of Hubei, and has since spread around the world, infecting more than 8 million people. As of Tuesday, Beijing had designated 27 neighbourhoods as medium-risk areas, subjecting people entering to temperature checks and registration. Only one neighbourhood, near the wholesale food centre, is marked high-risk. Residents in high-risk areas are not allowed to leave their neighbourhoods and must undergo tests, state media reported, citing a senior Beijing city official. More broadly, Beijing will strictly control the movement of people in and out of the city, with both inbound and outbound travellers required to undergo tests, said Chen Bei, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing municipal government. But the measures fall short of a lockdown, with roads and highways still open and Beijing's two airports in operation. There was also no blanket curb on residential compounds. Chen said the city would not ask companies and factories to stop work, but would encourage employees to work from home, if possible. Kindergartens, primary schools and high schools will shut from Wednesday, she added. TRAVEL CURBS All outbound taxi and car-hailing services were suspended on Tuesday. Some long-distance bus routes between Beijing and nearby Hebei and Shandong provinces were halted. At least three shuttle bus services from Hebei and another from Inner Mongolia to Beijing's Capital Airport, a major regional transit hub, were suspended. Bus services from Hebei to Daxing, Beijing's other major airport, were reduced. Some long-distance bus services from Beijing to surrounding Hebei were halted. Highways out of the capital remained open. Concerned about contagion risks, many provinces have imposed quarantine requirements on visitors from Beijing. In the last three days, Hebei, Liaoning and Sichuan have reported new cases linked to the Beijing wholesale centre. Shanghai started to require travellers from medium-to-high risk COVID-19 areas in China to be quarantined for 14 days. "I'm so worried for Shanghai - just look at the new cases in Beijing," said student Wang Jiahe, 22. "There is so much daily air and road traffic (between the cities)." The stakes are high for Shanghai, which has been invited to host two Formula One races this season. U.S. airlines are also poised to resumes flights to the city. Some parts of Beijing including the city's old-style hutong neighbourhoods had already been fenced up, with some imposing single entry points. In Huaxiang, the only high-risk neighbourhood in Beijing, some residents demanded officials impose more stringent contact tracing protocols. Officials were relying on people to identify themselves as having visited Xinfadi, 9 km away, residents said. "How can you hope for people to be honest enough to voluntarily report their links with Xinfadi?" said a male Huaxiang resident surnamed Yuan. "Since we're in a 'wartime' mode, the local authorities should test everyone." Search Keywords: Short link: T-Mobile has gone down for thousands of customers across the US. Many users reported issues with texting, internet connections and receiving and making calls, all of which started around 12pm ET and is still plaguing tens of thousands of devices. 'Our engineers are working to resolve a voice and data issue that has been affecting customers around the country,' Neville Ray, president of technology for T-Mobile, said in a tweet. 'We're sorry for the inconvenience and hope to have this fixed shortly.' The peak of the outage seems to have hit at 12pm ET with more than 110,000 users sharing the problems on Down Detector. The website notes that the outages are mostly in in New York, Florida, Texas, Georgia, California, and the Washington, DC, area More than 110,000 users were plagued by the outage around 12pm who shared the problems on Down Detector -there were still over 93,000 reports three hours later. The website notes that the outages are mostly in in New York, Florida, Texas, Georgia, California, and the Washington, DC, area. However, the reports have fallen dramatically to just a little over 26,000 as of 6pm ET Many users also flocked to Twitter to share their frustrations about the outage. T-Mobile outage hits more than 110,000 users across the US leaving them unable to make calls, text or connect to the internet Many users flocked to Twitter to share their frustrations about the outage Some noted that they are unable to do work at home, as their internet connection had also crashed. Others are demanding T-Mobile provide them with a free month of service to compensate for the outage. Down Detector also shows that Verizon and AT&T both had issues Monday. Both carriers seemed to experience problems starting around 1:45pm ET. Many users flocked to Twitter to share their frustrations about the outage. Some noted that they are unable to do work at home, as their internet connection had also crashed. The peak of the outage seems to have hit at 12pm ET with more than 110,000 users sharing the problems on Down Detector and there were still over 93,000 reports three hours later T-Mobile has gone down for thousands of customers across the US Monday. Many customers shared the issues on Twitter Others are demanding T-Mobile provide them with a free month of service to compensate for the outage Others are demanding T-Mobile provide them with a free month of service to compensate for the outage. Down Detector also shows that Verizon and AT&T both had issues Monday. Both carriers seemed to experience problems starting around 1:45pm ET. Many users reported issues with text and receiving and making calls, along with internet problems but not at the magnitude of T-Mobiles outage. In February, T-Mobile won approval to takeover Sprint during a legal battle for the blockbuster deal to combine the third and fourth-largest U.S. mobile carriers. Officials from New York, California and other states were against the merger, citing it would violate antitrust laws and raise prices for consumers. During a two-week trial in December, T-Mobile and Sprint argued the merger will better equip the new company to compete with top players Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc, creating a more efficient company with low prices and faster internet speeds. Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country will not allow the United States to manipulate the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as a tool to destroy the fragile Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Standing next to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at a presser in Moscow, Zarif also took aim at the IAEA itself, warning it of an Iranian response if the agency takes illogical steps toward destroying the JCPOA. Zarif did not specify the nature of Irans reaction, but defended his countrys transparent cooperation as verified in 15 reports by the UN nuclear watchdog. In its latest two reports, however, the IAEA has noted that Iran is blocking inspection at two of its nuclear facilities. The reports have prompted E3 nations France, Germany and the United Kingdom to draft a resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors, admonishing the Islamic Republic over the obstruction. Iran has slammed the move as unconstructive and a mockery of international nonproliferation regulations. The European powers have also urged Tehran to resume full compliance with the JCPOA. Iran has been reducing its commitments under the deal in a phased process since May 2019, and in response to the European signatories perceived failure to concretely deliver on their economic obligations. Zarifs trip to Moscow came also in the middle of a robust push by the United States to renew a key Iran arms embargo, which under the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231 is set to expire in November. Iran has argued that any extension of the embargo is illegal and has warned of severe consequences. While Washington may enjoy some level of backing from European members of the council, it is expected to face an uphill trying to bring on board veto-wielding powers Russia and China, which maintain much closer ties with Iran compared to the other remaining JCPOA signatories. Following the presser in Moscow, Russias Lavrov told reporters that the US move against Iran lacks a legal basis and that Russia will do everything to preserve the nuclear deal. However, he fell short of clarifying whether his country will resort to its veto power to stand by Tehran and block the US push. Further intensifying the pressure on Iran, a UN report confirmed that Iranian missiles had been used in a sophisticated strike that targeted Saudi Arabias key Aramco oil facility last year. Iran has persistently denied any role and unsurprisingly dismissed the UN investigation. Before landing in Moscow, the Iranian top diplomat was in Istanbul, where he met with his Turkish counterpart to discuss bilateral relations as well as the war in Syria. He also renewed criticism against Washingtons unrelenting anti-Iran sanctions during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Zarifs diplomacy in Turkey succeeded with one major financial goal: the resumption of Iranian natural gas exports to its neighboring ally as of next month, and at a time when Iran is grappling with fast-shrinking foreign currency reserves triggered by sanctions the United States has reinstated through its maximum pressure policy aimed at bringing the Iranian economy to its knees. Appointment 16 June 2020 Hospitality & Retail Systems - are delighted to announce the appointment of Iris Steinmetz to the position of Senior Director of Operations EMEA. After starting her career as a Night Auditor in a Swiss hotel, Iris used the next 25 years to work her way through the ranks at international hotels to reach a General Manager's position, before taking on managerial roles at MICROS-Fidelio, Oracle Hospitality, and SnapShot. Additionally, Iris has played important roles at HTNG (Hospitality Technology Next Generation) and WHTT (Women in Hospitality and Travel-Tech) serving as a member of the Vendor Advisory Council and Advisory Board. The federal government has advised tertiary institutions in Nigeria to put preventive measures against COVID-19 in place before it announces their re-opening. Schools were shut on March 19 over the novel coronavirus outbreak, leaving the authorities to adopt alternative modes of learning for students at all levels. Speaking at the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board(JAMB) 2020 virtual policy meeting, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said educational institutions should not wait until the federal government announces reopening or the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) issues guidelines for their resumption before taking actions. I urge all the Heads of Institution not to wait till the announcement on opening before putting in place all necessary measures in compliance with the protocols and advisories of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), he said Mr Adamu who was represented by the minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said the government is seriously concerned about the lockdown of educational institutions and the Presidential Task Force is working with facts and figures to limit the negative effects of the pandemic The Presidential Task Force is working assiduously with facts and figures that mirror the reality of our current situation and circumstance. We are making use of them to respond to the challenges in such a way that we can limit and manage the negative effects of the pandemic, he said He said for a campus to be reopened, it must do the following: (1) Install hand-washing facilities, (2) Have equipment for body temperature checks (3) Provide body disinfectants at all entering points to their major facilities, including the gates, hostels, classes, offices, etc. (4) The whole premises of each institution must be decontaminated. (5) All efforts must be geared toward maintenance of the highest level of hygiene (6) Ensure social/physical distancing in class sizes and meeting spaces. The minister also commended institutions that are engaging in inventions to counter the pandemic like ventilators, sanitizers, handwashing machines among others. Such institutions should submit the inventions to the Federal Ministry of Education in order to name and honour some of the unique inventors. We also recommend that institutions purchase these home-made products. I am elated with the efforts that led to the production of Ventilator, Body Disinfectant, Hand Washing and Liquid Dispensers, Body Temperature Gauges, and more. The minister also expressed dissatisfaction with the increase in impersonation in the country All Institutions should ensure compliance with the timeline collectively agreed at this Policy Meeting on the completion of the admission exercise. No institution should recapture biometrics of candidates. JAMB has been directed to make biometrics available for all institutions and facial images of candidates available at no cost, he said. N2000 post UTME fee The minister said no institution should charge more than N2000 for post-UTME, including bank charges, and no admission should be made outside the Central Admissions Processing System ( CAPS). The ministry is monitoring compliance and we would not hesitate to sanction anyone who violates any of these directives, he said The JAMB Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) is an admission processing system that is geared towards ensuring quality control, transparency and credibility of the admission process. Speaking on sexual harassment, the minister said the current rate of rape cases calls for concern and called on security agencies and the judiciary to step-up their roles in bringing sexual offenders to book. As the admission process starts, everyone must play by the rules in the interest of the nation. Heads of institutions would continue to be held responsible and accountable for all actions and inactions relating to the administration of your institutions. Advertisements The minister later declared the policy meeting open. 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The Beijing-based company also known as DiDi told CNBC in early May that its core ride-hailing business was still profitable despite the impact of the pandemic, and that it's actually seen a pickup in activity after the breakout died down in China. Last year DiDi launched additional ride-hailing operations across Latin America, including Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica and adding to Mexico and Brazil where DiDi already operates. View the FULL LIST: 2020 DISRUPTOR 50 Like Uber, DiDi is in the food-delivery business as well. In addition to food-delivery services in Mexico and Brazil, it also launched operations in new cities across Australia and Japan. Among the company's more notable ambitions is the launch of fleets of driverless cars. DiDi announced the upgrade of its autonomous vehicles unit into an independent company, and the upcoming launch of a pilot robo-taxi service in Shanghai to trial its AVs. In fact, in May the company raised more than $500 million in funding from SoftBank's Vision Fund 2 for its autonomous driving division. It said the company would use the massive investment to continue funding R&D and to "accelerate" the launch of driverless cars in China and elsewhere. To counter the economic impact of the pandemic on DiDi's drivers and couriers, the company created a $10 million relief fund to provide up to 28 days of income to drivers or couriers diagnosed with the virus or those who are under mandatory quarantine. It also introduced contactless food-delivery services in Brazil, Mexico and Japan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 10 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 24 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. KYIV -- A court in Kyiv has placed under house arrest the controversial former leader of a far-right Ukrainian paramilitary group suspected of premeditated murder and possession of an illegal bladed weapon in the killing of a man he claims was self-defense. After violent protests by his supporters outside, the Shevchenko district court ruled late on June 15 that Serhiy Sternenko, who once led the Right Sector group in the city of Odesa, will remain under house arrest for 60 days as investigations into the high-profile case continue. Police said that five demonstrators were detained. Lawmaker Roman Lozynskiy, who came to the site of the protests, said the police did not allow him to meet with detained individuals and assaulted him. After photos and videos appeared online showing police beating the demonstrators, Kyiv police officials said on June 15 they had launched an internal investigation. Sternenko was attacked by two men late in the evening on May 26, 2018, while walking with his girlfriend. He fought off the attackers, suffering numerous head injuries and a cut to his arm in the process. Sternenko injured one of the assailants who later died in hospital. Sternenko and his supporters have insisted that it was self-defense. But investigators say that after Sternenko defended himself using his knife, the attackers fled the scene. Sternenko, whose life and health were no longer in danger, then reportedly chased one of them and stabbed him several times, inflicting wounds that led to the man's death, investigators say. The attack was the third against Sternenko in three months. File Photo New Delhi: US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Tuesday handed over the first tranche of 100 ventilators to India to assist in the country's fight against Covid-19, the Indian Red Cross Society said. President Donald Trump had announced in May that the US will donate ventilators to India to treat Covid-19 patients and help it fight the "invisible enemy". Advertisement Narendra Modi and Donald Trump Indian Red Cross Society Secretary General R K Jain accepted the first tranche of the US Agency for International Development-funded ventilators from Ambassador Juster at the IRCS national headquarters. The Indian Red Cross said it extends its heartfelt thanks to the US government for gifting the state-of-the-art ventilators to assist India's fight against Covid-19. This life-saving resource will benefit critically ill patients immensely during this pandemic, the IRCS said. Advertisement The first tranche of ventilators to support India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the country on Monday, the USAID said. Photo "Great to see that this 1st shipment of 100 USAID-funded ventilators produced by @MedicalZoll has reached India, another country hit hard by Covid-19. @usaid_india is working with the Indian government to see that these ventilators reach those in need," acting USAID Administrator John Barsa tweeted. An American official had said last month that the US government is planning to "donate" 200 ventilators to India as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 11, 2020 | 10:02 AM | PADUCAH Paducah reopened City Hall Monday with limited access and new procedures.Paducah Public Information Officer Pam Spencer says to get ready for the reopening to the public crews have been installing signage, hand sanitizer stations, and clear acrylic shielding to protect employees and the public and to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.City Hall will be open from 8 until 9 am Monday through Friday for high risk customers only. High risk customers include those 65 years of age and older and those who are immuno-compromised or have underlying medical conditions including but not limited to chronic lung disease, serious heart conditions, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.City Hall will open from 9 am until 4:30 pm Monday through Friday for all customers.At this time, only financial payments in the Finance Department and permits and payments through the Fire Prevention Division will be taken without an appointment. All other meetings with City staff will be by appointment only. Call the department of interest or the Customer Experience Department at 270-444-8800 to schedule an appointment.The wearing of face masks is strongly encouraged. The City is providing disposable face masks upon entry to the building.To provide the greatest amount of social distancing and to limit the number of people in the Finance and Fire Prevention areas, upon arriving at City Hall and before entering the building, please call Customer Experience at 270-444-8800. The Customer Experience Representative is tracking the number of people in the building and will let each customer know when it is their turn to enter the building and conduct business. Please be patient.Once inside City Hall, please follow the signage for the traffic flow around the atrium and the stairwells. Furthermore, the restrooms and elevator are limited to one person or a family unit at a time.As a reminder, the drop-box located next to the 5th Street door of City Hall is available to drop off payments and correspondence. The general information phone number for City government is 270-444-8800. Also, check the citys website for various email addresses and departmental phone numbers. On the Net: OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau made his last-ditch pitch for Canadas UN Security Council seat Tuesday, arguing the COVID-19 crisis is an opportunity to rethink the worlds multilateral institutions. The pandemic has revealed the vulnerability of a globalized world to economic shocks and public health crises, Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. But it also presents a moment to reflect on how multilateral institutions like the UN can be improved. Many of our multilateral institutions were created 70, 75 years ago following the tremendous shock and upheaval of World War Two and those institutions have served us well as a world over the past many decades, Trudeau said. But this crisis is an opportunity to rethink them and to think about what is needed to make sure we have a fairer and more just world, to make sure the most vulnerable within our countries and around the world are better supported and protected and given better opportunities. Wednesdays vote at the UN will be the end of Canadas four-year campaign for a two-year term on the Security Council, the UNs premier political platform tasked with maintaining global peace and security. Canada is competing against Norway and Ireland for one of two spots on the council reserved for the Western European and Others group. All 193 General Assembly members can cast a secret ballot to decide which five countries will join the permanent members of the Security Council China, France, the U.K., the U.S. and Russia for a two-year term. Canada announced its bid in 2016, shortly after the Liberals swept to power and Trudeau declared Canada is back on the international stage. Wednesdays vote will be a test of that boast. Global Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne drove down to New York this weekend to oversee the Canadian delegations last-minute jockeying for votes. A socially-distanced war room has been setup to co-ordinate the push, with Champagne working alongside Marc-Andre Blanchard, Canadas ambassador to the UN. Ive made north of 100 calls in the last two, three weeks, and talking to foreign ministers around the world, and here in also engaging with the permanent representatives in New York, I sense momentum. But obviously you have to be cautious, Champagne told The Canadian Press. Bessma Momani, a University of Waterloo professor focusing on international affairs, said Canadas bid has come at a time when the countrys closest partner, the United States, is increasingly skeptical of multilateral co-operation. Were needed around the table now more than ever Many of those who are the (permanent) veto holders on the Security Council seem to be the most anti-co-operative when it comes to all things international, Momani said in an interview Monday. Roland Paris, a University of Ottawa international affairs professor, said that Canada is in for a tough fight but has a real chance at securing a seat after Wednesdays vote. The question then becomes what Canada wants to do with it. Paris noted that some of the themes Ottawa has built its bid around economic security, gender equality, and strengthening multilateralism are particularly well-suited to discussions about how the world recovers from the global pandemic. If Canada, by serving on the council, can help in some ways to improve the UN response to this global emergency, then that alone will be an important contribution, Paris, who previously advised Trudeau on foreign affairs and defence issues, said in an interview. I would expect the Security Council will be preoccupied by dealing with the aftermath of this, the effects of this crisis. And that should include in responding to the health and economic emergency in many parts of the world, and they all have security implications. And the failure to achieve global solutions will leave everyone worse off. But Rita Abrahamsen, the director of the Centre for International Policy Studies at the University of Ottawa, said the three countries vying for the temporary spots would likely push similar policies on the big issues facing a post-COVID world. Many Canadians think it will make a great difference if its Canada that gets the seat. I think the three contenders of Norway, Ireland and Canada will actually have fairly similar policies on the issues regarding COVID-19, multilateral co-operation, Abrahamsen said. The idea that Canada will make a massive difference compared to if its Ireland or Norway, I think, is a bit exaggerated. With a file from The Canadian Press. Read more about: I look forward to Louis leading the human resources department for Indian Prairie. I think his ability to form relationships and his enthusiasm and desire for this position will greatly benefit our district. He brings his experience as a teacher, principal and central office executive staff member to this very involved role, Talley said. Its been a surprisingly busy day for HTC. Following the Vive XR Suite announcement, the company stuck to its promise and unveiled its first 5G phone, the U20, at its Taipei event. On top of that, HTC also pushed out its slightly more affordable Desire 20 Pro, thus completing the annual update cycle from last years U19e and Desire 19+. HTC U20 5G Compared to other flagship smartphones, the U20 5G may disappoint some with its Snapdragon 765G chipset, especially given its ambitious NT$18,990 price (about US$640) when pre-orders open on July 1st. The only upside here is that this is Qualcomms first chipset with integrated 5G modem, which in theory should translate to better power and thermal management. Youll find the same chip inside the LG Velvet, which is heading to Europe and the US soon. The 6.8-inch FHD+ display is an LCD instead of the more dynamic AMOLED panel, hence the rear fingerprint reader instead of an optical version. This is likely a cost-down measure, but at least HTC finally got rid of the forehead by adding a punch hole for the 32-megapixel front camera. If we want to nitpick, theres still a noticeable amount of chin below the screen. HTC U20 5G HTC U20 5G The rest of the specs are relatively standard for a mid-range phone: 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, dual nano SIM slots, microSD expansion (up to 2TB), 5,000mAh battery, NFC and a quad-camera module on the back (48-megapixel main, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel macro and 2-megapixel bokeh). These are all packaged into either a quartz green or crystal white body, and to be honest, weve seen better designs from the once mobile giant. One interesting thing about the U20 5G is that it will still be manufactured in-house in Taoyuan, Taiwan, thus quashing earlier rumours of HTC abandoning all of its production lines. Still, the phone looks rather generic in todays market. HTC Desire 20 Pro The Desire 20 Pro, not made in Taiwan, is a 4G phone powered by the lesser Snapdragon 665 platform. It features a smaller 6.5-inch LCD with a 25-megapixel punch-hold front camera, but the same FHD+ resolution remains. With the exception of the lesser 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, the remaining specs are literally identical to the U20s. This model will be launching in Taiwan on June 18th for NT$8,990 or about US$300, with color options including crystal black and clear blue. HTC Desire 20 Pro HTC Desire 20 Pro While the few remaining hardcore fans may welcome these new HTC phones (especially its first-ever 5G handset), theres no word on whether they will make it out of Taiwan. Sources previously told Engadget that this dual-phone launch was purely a Taiwanese initiative, so chances are slim for an international rollout. Which is probably for the best given how these designs are clearly yelling me too. Controlled burns can be used to remove crop residue from farm fields between growing seasons. Credit: Rachel Schutte After harvest in the fall, farmers take the harvested crops to market or store them on their farm. They don't take the whole plant from the field, though. The leftover parts of the plant, like the stalk and leaves from corn, remain in the field. This debris is called crop residue. Using no-till and prescribed fire management are two potential ways to manage crop residue before planting the following spring. Both practices help keep organic matter and nitrogen in the soil. However, research was needed to understand how these two practices can affect long-term soil health. Lisa Fultz and her team want to help farmers determine the best way to manage their residue between growing seasons. To do this, her team decided to learn more about how no-till and prescribed fire management affect nutrients and microbes in the soil. Fultz is a researcher at Louisiana State University AgCenter. No-till is a practice where farmers plant directly into the crop debris from the previous year. Prescribed fires are used to purposely burn off the previous crop debris with controlled fire. "Both of these practices have minimal physical disturbance to the soil," says Fultz. Some farmers leave crop residue in the field after harvest and plant directly into it in the spring. This is called no-till. Credit: Rachel Schutte Both of these practices also come with drawbacks. No-till can cause poor conditions for crop growth like low spring temperatures and increased moisture, which promotes disease. Prescribed fire can leave bare soil vulnerable to erosion. The team focused the research on wheat and soybean rotations and continuous corn production systems. "These are common practices not only in the mid-south, but across many areas of the world," explains Fultz. "Wheat and corn production leave behind residue," she says. "Common practices, like conventional tillage, are highly disruptive. The need to identify viable conservation practices is growing in importance." Crop residue and its degradation by soil microbes is an important part of the carbon cycle. Plants store carbon during the growing season, then microbes use the plant residue for food. The carbon then gets stored in the soil in a chemically stable form. "Fresh, green material in no-till fields is easy to breakdown and provides rich nutrients for soil microbes," says Fultz. "Ash from burned residue is more chemically stable, but it doesn't provide a nutrient source for microbes." The team found that impacts from crop management practices, like crop rotation or fertilization, outweighed the influence of prescribed fire for residue management. Researchers found some decreases in microbial activity after yearly prescribed burns. Josh Lofton and students monitor prescribed fire progress in wheat stubble. Credit: Beatrix Haggard Findings show prescribed fire had some possible short-term benefits for soil nutrient availability, but timing is crucial. Prescribed burning of wheat residue provided an increase of nitrogen for about seven days. These benefits should be weighed against other possible impacts, like carbon dioxide production and crop yield. We still need to learn the long-term influence of prescribed fire on the soil biological community," says Fultz. "While short-term impacts were measured, the long-term influence on soil nutrients, biological cycles and soil health are not known." No two farm management systems are the same, and their success is defined by the user. Scientists continue to examine possible scenarios to provide accurate and sustainable recommendations to farmers. "I have always been interested in soil conservation and the potential it has to impact many facets of life," says Fultz. "By improving soil health, we can improve air and water quality, store carbon, and provide stable resources for food production." Explore further Corn and soybean rotation could pose long-term tradeoffs for soil health More information: Autumn Acree et al. Soil biochemical and microbial response to wheat and corn stubble residue management in Louisiana, Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment (2020). Autumn Acree et al. Soil biochemical and microbial response to wheat and corn stubble residue management in Louisiana,(2020). DOI: 10.1002/agg2.20004 The Dalton City Council had not included the topic of the citys statue of Confederate General Joseph Johnston on its agenda Monday evening, yet ended up spending the first one hour and 55 minutes of its almost two and one half hour meeting discussing that very issue, with both sides well represented. Over 20 residents of Dalton, Whitfield County and surrounding communities spoke to both sides of the controversy surrounding the statue. The speakers represented the majority of the areas population: blacks, whites and Hispanics all addressed the issue with varying responses. Savannah Thomas spoke first, saying she wanted the statue removed. She presented a petition to the council with over 5,500 signatures calling for its removal. There is also a competing petition to keep the monument with a like number of signatures. Ms. Thomas comments were that the statue was in support of Jim Crow laws and the Ku Klux Klan and its original intent was to warn off black visitors to the city. The statue was erected in 1912 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and is still owned by that group. This past week the group has said they are agreeable to moving the statue if funds can be raised. The Dalton city attorney has said that the city has no obligation in the matter. From Republican candidate for U.S. Congress Marjorie Greene to Pastor David Thomas each remaining person spoke with emotion in representing their viewpoints. Miss Greene said she supports keeping the statue in place. She said, As a mom I want to always be able to point to a statue and talk about history with my children. Good, bad, embarrassing or something I wish had not happened. She pointed out that the nation is divided and "we shouldnt be," she continued, We should be working together and not trying to take down our history, but use it as teachable moments. Pastor Thomas spoke to what the General Johnston statue symbolized for the black community. He said, It represents misery, suffering, destruction and death. He asked, What other country glorifies an enemy it fought against? He concluded that, Statues are not history books. They dont teach history. Many that addressed the council said Johnston had been a traitor to the United States, taking up arms against his former country. Others, including Nick Voiles, pointed out that Johnston had defended Dalton from being burned and pillaged during Union General William T. Shermans March to the Sea in the concluding months of the war. An interesting note from history is that later in his life, General Johnston and Sherman had become fast friends and remained so for the rest of their lives. Johnston caught his death of cold while standing bare-headed as an honorary pall bearer at Shermans funeral in February 1891. Mr. Voiles stated, We are in dire straits right now. It was evident in the license plates on cars at Mondays protest that outside forces are moving to incite us. Wheres the stopping point? he asked, I cant see the importance of tearing down a statue. The history is still going to be there. He went on to challenge the city council to have the moral courage to end this right here. We have other options. Its never enough, where does it stop? He concluded by saying, Will you yield to this brief moment of history? Rashun Mack, a Dalton native, now residing in Atlanta, said he represented six generations of Whitfield County family, many pf whom were slaves. Mr. Mack pointed out that, To me, the statue has always been a symbol of oppression. He went on to say he would like to bring an EJI monument representing incidents of lynching to Dalton, but had been discouraged in the past. Theres a lot of hate here, a lot of unspoken hate, he said. I was here (at the protest) on Monday night, said Rod Miller, and observed agitators screaming and yelling obscenities, including F the president. It was appalling and disgusting. He asked the council to not pander to radicals. On the other hand, Tyler Martin said he observed comments being made by both sides and that social media attacks went both ways. He commented, With opinions exposed to the media, the people should get a say in what happens to the statue. An idea that brought agreement from the Sons of Confederate Veterans was made by Ann Whitecotton Piscatelli. Her idea was to leave the statue where it is at the corner of Crawford and Hamilton Streets and turn the entire block into a statue park. She stated, Cherokee Indians, blacks and Hispanics could be represented as a total representation of Daltons heritage. We have to stop losing our history, she finished. Wendell Bruce, Brigade Commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, which he pointed out is nothing more than a historical preservation group, exclaimed that the previous proposal would represent everybody in the park. He also said, Let Dalton solve Daltons problems, alluding to the alleged outside interference. Matt Hickman, a teacher, stated, The statue is there to justify Jim Crow. While Mary Ann West, the last speaker of the evening, said, We have to look at our history the way it is, or it will only be repeated. Taking that statue down is one more ding in our Constitution." A High Court challenge has been brought over Dublin City Council's decision to deem a planning application to redevelop the Iveagh Markets buildings invalid. The action has been brought by a number of related entities, including Iveagh Markets Hotels, businessman and hotel- ier Martin Keane, Redcaps Developments, Slattery's and Traditional Iveagh Markets. It relates to a site in Dublin's Liberties that includes the Iveagh Markets building, which is a protected structure and housed the former Mother Redcaps Market. The markets were established in the early 20th century but closed in the 1990s. Iveagh Markets Hotels submitted a planning application last December to redevelop two plots of land separated by Lamb Alley. On the western side of the plot, which mainly comprises the Iveagh Markets buildings, the developer sought permission for a distillery/brewery, together with a restaurant, deli, bakery at basement level and a 128-room four-star hotel. On the eastern side of the alley, the applicant sought permission to develop a 148-room three-star hotel and a hostel. Last January 17, the council deemed the application invalid on the grounds that the app- licant had insufficient legal interest in the lands. The council said no letter of consent from the owners of the site, which is required under the planning laws, was submitted with the application. The council says it owns the lands, and at a meeting of its elected members in January, it announced its intention to repossess the Iveagh Markets from Mr Keane. Sufficient The council said it had broken off negotiations with him on the future of the listed building after he allegedly failed to show he had sufficient funds to develop the site. Yesterday, Michael O'Donnell, for the applicants, said the council's claims of ownership are disputed. He said his client, who has controlled the site for many years, paid a fee of 888,816 to the council for the land in 2006, but that sum has been held on deposit. He said it is his client's case that the council acted unreasonably. The council, he said, acted contrary to fair procedures and had failed to give an adequate reason for its decision. The applicants also claim the council is biased in that it allowed a material interest to be incorporated into its decision-making process. They are seeking various orders and declarations, including an order quashing the council's decision to deem the application invalid. Permission to bring the proceedings was granted by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who said the case could come back in October. The last rites of some COVID-19 victims were conducted by hospitals here following a directive of Home Minister Amit Shah and with the consent of their families, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday. The last rites of 36 more coronavirus victims in the national capital will be carried out on Wednesday, it said. "Following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's directions, all hospitals in Delhi (Central/state/private) performed the last rites of COVID-19 deceased with consent/presence of their families/relatives," a home ministry spokesperson tweeted. The spokesperson said the last rites of remaining 36 deceased will be conducted by Wednesday as their families were not present in Delhi. There will be no delays going forward, the spokesperson said. However, it is not immediately known the total number of victims whose last rites were performed on Tuesday. The last rites were performed at cremation and burial grounds under supervision of hospitals. The home minister swung into action to handle the coronavirus situation in the national capital after criticism in different quarters of the Delhi government's handling of the COVID-19 cases with complaints of non-availability of beds in hospitals for patients and difficulty in getting the tests done in laboratories. The home minister has been leading from the front after taking charge of Delhi's fight against coronavirus. On Sunday, he held two high-level meetings with the LG Anil Baijal, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, mayors and commissioners of Delhi's three municipal corporations to strengthen the strategy to fight the pandemic. The home minister had announced on Sunday that COVID-19 testing will be doubled in Delhi in two days from then, and subsequently increased by three times. On Monday, Shah paid a surprise visit to the city's LNJP hospital to take stock the facilities there and subsequently directed the Delhi Chief Secretary to install CCTV cameras in COVID-19 wards of every designated hospital in the national capital for proper monitoring, and set up alternative canteens for uninterrupted supply of food to the patients. According to local reports, a US drone strike in northwest Syrias Idlib province on Sunday killed two members of Huras al-Din, an Islamist militant group linked to al-Qaeda. A US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson confirmed US responsibility for the rare strike. US forces conducted a strike against al-Qaeda in Syria in Idlib, Syria, June 14, 2020, Central Command spokesperson Navy Cmdr. Zachary Harrell told Al-Monitor via email. Harrell added, AQ-S (al-Qaeda in Syria) continues to present a threat to America and our allies. He did not say which units were responsible for the operation or provide details of the people targeted. The US-led international military coalition against the Islamic State (IS) denied involvement. Affiliates of another al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militia in Idlib, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, said on social media that two Huras al-Din leaders had been killed in the strike, including a Jordanian and a Yemeni. Video of the strikes aftermath bore resemblance to previous US strikes in northwest Syria, where the United States does not have sustained ground forces. In this and prior incidents, videos of a destroyed vehicle have emerged, shredded but not burned, suggesting a non-explosive missile such as the Hellfire R9X may have been used in the strikes. The weapon features protruding blades instead of an explosive warhead and was developed to avoid accidentally killing bystanders in targeted strikes by some US military units and by the CIA. Video of the aftermath of Saturdays strike showed a vehicle that appeared to have been hit by two non-explosive projectiles. The United States killed a son-in-law of Osama bin Laden with such a projectile in northwest Syria in 2017. Huras al-Din is a splinter faction of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaedas affiliate in Syria. Last year, CENTCOM announced it had conducted airstrikes on members of Huras al-Din and other groups, killing some 40 fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. CENTCOM at the time said the individuals were responsible for attacks threatening US citizens, our partners and innocent civilians. The group has also denounced the current Idlib cease-fire agreement between Turkey, which backs rebels in Syrias final opposition bastion, and Russia, which backs the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Huras al-Din launched attacks on Turkish forces in Syrias northwest earlier this year. Russia conditioned the cease-fire on Turkey ridding Idlib of extremist groups, though Ankaras ability to do so remains in question. Washington supports the cease-fire and considers it essential to its goal of bringing the Assad regime to the negotiating table. Despite tenuous relations between IS and Islamist groups in Idlib, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was found to have been living in a house in territory controlled by Huras al-Din in northwest Syria. Baghdadi committed suicide when US Special Forces raided the compound in October 2019. The US State Department last year offered a $5 million reward for information on Huras al-Din officials Abu Muhammad al-Shami, a Jordanian, and Abu Abdul al-Karim al-Masri, an Egyptian. The State Department said Masri remains loyal to [al-Qaeda] and its leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that face masks are the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission, an inexpensive bulwark that, when combined with physical distancing, quarantine and contact tracing, is the most likely fighting opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic absent an effective vaccine or drug therapy. The study, by Renyi Zhang of Texas A&M University, and colleagues, looked at outbreaks of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China; in northern Italy; and in New York from Jan. 23 to May 9. They concluded that the difference with and without mandated face covering represents the determinant in shaping the pandemic trends in the three epicenters. Face masks alone significantly reduced the number of infections . . . by over 78,000 in Italy from April 6 to May 9 and over 66,000 in New York City from April 17 to May 9. By studying pandemic trends, they concluded that the other measures distancing, isolation and contact tracing must be accompanied by face masks to really make a difference. Kakra Essien who was a one time junior pastor of Prophet Nigel Gaisie, the Founder of the Prophetic Hill Chapel has alleged that prophet Nigel Gaisie gave false prophecy to Kwadwo Nkansa aka Lilwin that his manager has taken him to a spiritualist. He further stated that Prophet Gaisie's prophecy was fake because it was one of his junior pastors who gave Lillwin's information to prophet Nigel Gaisie to relay same as prophecy. "Because of this prophecy, Lillwin had problems with his manager Abdul Razack Amissah also known as Zack. "This fake prophecy by Nigel Gaisie led to a huge misunderstanding between Lillwin and his manager Zack and all this happened because of Prophet Nigel Gaisie's fake prophecy," he added. Kakra Essien made these revelations when speaking on the "Seat Show" hosted by Kwaku Annan on Net 2 television today Wednesday 15th June, 2020. In explaining their modus operandi, the former junior pastor of Nigel Gaisie said most of the junior pastors would fish for information from church members especially ladies and send to the pastor either by WhatsApp message or on a written paper and pass it on to the pastor to use same to prophesy to his congregants. "That is the style of Nigel Gaisie and none of his national prophecies has ever come to pass. I'm challenging him to come out and show me one genuine prophecy," Kakra Essien dares. He continued, "There are Prophets who are genuine but others too are fake. Don't attend church at Prophetic Hill Chapel because Nigel Gaisie is fake and all church going Ghanaians must beware". New University of Otago research sheds light on guinea pig domestication and how and why the small, furry animals became distributed around the world. Just published in the international science journal, Scientific Reports, the researchers use ancient DNA from archaeological guinea pig remains which reveals the transition from the animals being used as a wild food source 10,000 years ago to their domestication and later role as beloved pets and medical animal models. It builds on previous research over many years by Professor of Biological Anthropology, Lisa Matisoo-Smith, tracing the DNA from plants and animals that Pacific settlers carried in their canoes and using that as a proxy for identifying human population origins and tracking their movement around the Pacific. As part of her Otago Master's thesis research in Professor Matisoo-Smith's lab, Edana Lord, now at Stockholm University, Sweden and Dr Catherine Collins from Otago's Department of Anatomy and other international researchers, set about finding out where the guinea pigs that were introduced to the islands of the Caribbean came from. Professor Matisoo-Smith explains it is generally accepted that modern guinea pigs were domesticated in the Andes region of what is now Peru. As an important food item that was also included in religious ceremonies, they were transported and traded around South America. Sometime around AD500, guinea pigs were taken out to the islands of the Caribbean, through at least one of several established trade networks. The researchers expected that the guinea pigs found in the Caribbean would came from Colombia, one of the closer locations in South America to the Caribbean. Using ancient DNA of guinea pigs remains excavated from several sites in the Caribbean, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Europe and North America, they found the guinea pigs on the islands did not originate in Colombia, but most likely originated in Peru. What was a bigger surprise to the team was that the guinea pig remains found in the Colombian Highlands appeared to be from a totally different species. This suggests that guinea pig domestication likely took place independently in both Peru and Colombia. The genetic information, along with archaeological contexts, also shows how the guinea pigs had different roles through time. "They were and still are important food item in many parts of South America and cultures that derived from South America - people took them live to introduce to new islands where they were not native or they traded them for other goods," Professor Matisoo-Smith explains. "The guinea pig was brought to Europe in the late 1500s or early 1600s by the Spanish and to North America in the early 1800s as part of the exotic pet trade. In the 18th century guinea pigs began to be used by medical researchers as laboratory animals because they have many biological similarities to humans, thus the origin of the phrase 'being a guinea pig' in research. "All guinea pigs today - pets, those that are sold for meat in South America and Puerto Rico, and those used in medical research - are derived from the Peruvian domesticated guinea pigs." Why the guinea pig was viewed as a pet in some cultures and a food source in others can likely be attributed to long-established cultural notions of what is acceptable as food. Professor Matisoo-Smith says the research demonstrates that the history of guinea pigs is more complex than previously known and has implications for other studies regarding mammal domestication, translocation and distribution. "Identifying the origins of the guinea pig remains from the Caribbean helps us to understand how the human trade networks in the region moved in the past 1000 years or so. "Through this analysis of ancient guinea pig DNA, we better understand the history of human social interactions over thousands of years and across three continents. It also provides a critical historical perspective of the genetic diversity in guinea pigs and the relationship humans have had with this important domestic animals." ### For further information, contact Professor Lisa Matisoo-Smith Department of Anatomy Mob +64 21 279 6827 Email lisa.matisoo-smith@otago.ac.nz Liane Topham-Kindley Senior Communications Adviser Tel +64 3 479 9065 Mob +64 21 279 9065 Email liane.topham-kindley@otago.ac.nz He Xiangjian (Centre) (Image: PTI) Chinese billionaire and founder of home appliance maker Midea Group He Xiangjian was held hostage along with his family on June 14, in what turned out to be a dramatic kidnapping attempt. According to a report by CNN, five people broke into the Chinese entrepreneur's residence in Foshan, a city in the southern province of Guangdong. The attempted kidnapping was, however, thwarted by the police after Xiangjin's son managed to swim across a nearby river and raise alarm. He reportedly made a call to the police, following which the authorities were able to arrest all those involved in the attempt, without any case of harm or injury being reported. In addition, a few reports later noted the kidnappers had explosive devices on them. The hostage situation was likened to the plot of a dramatic action movie by many on social media. He Xiangjian is the founder of the Midea Group, a leading electrical appliance manufacturer. With a net worth of nearly $25 billion, he features among the world's top 50 billionaires as per the Forbes Billionaire List 2020 and also makes it to last year's list of China's richest people, securing a spot among the top 10. Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis Advertisement Black Lives Matter activists have named Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris, the man who oversaw allied bombing raids on Nazi Germany, on a list of statues they want pulled down, for being a 'colonial warmonger in Rhodesia'. Commander in Chief of RAF Bomber Command, Sir Arthur was in charge of 'area bombings' - targeted raids on German cities that were typically highly populated and working class areas. Following the recent toppling of statues including Edward Colston in Bristol, and the defacing of Winston Churchill's statue in Parliament Square, English Heritage is understood to be speaking with Met Police about the safety of its monument to Sir Arthur in The Strand, London. The WWII commander was not on the original list of 78 statues listed on the Topple the Racists website over their links to 'colonial violence', but has now been added alongside figures ranging from King Charles II and Oliver Cromwell to Robert Peel, founder of the Metropolitan Police. The campaign, and in particular the boarding up of Churchill's statue in Westminster prior to protests this weekend, sparked a strong popular reaction from people wanting to preserve the monuments. This led to groups of people claiming to be defending statues, which included football hooligans and Far Right activists, counter-protesting a BLM rally in London on Saturday. This quickly descended into violence, with fights between the rival groups as the police tried to disperse the crowds for a 5pm curfew. Their were also protests in cities including Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton and Glasgow as BLM activists - spurred on by the removal of 18th Century slave dealer Robert Milligan from outside the Museum of London in West India Quay. The addition of Sir Arthur Harris to the list of targets is likely to provoke further debate. Sir Arthur Harris was responsible for bomber squadrons used to attack German cities during the Second World War The Queen Mother unveiled a statue of Sir Arthur in 1992, though there was criticism from German politicians and campaign groups at the time A 'hit list' of 78 statues and memorials to some of Britain's most famous figures has been created by an anti-racism group urging local communities to remove them because they 'celebrate racism and slavery' The next in line? BLM supporters have pinpointed a list of their next targets, but the most widely shared are (top left to bottom right) 1) Lord Nelson tried to stop abolition (Nelson's column) 2) Sir Thomas Picton 3) Thomas Guy - London, Guy's Hospital 4) Sir Robert Peel 5) Sir Francis Drake 6) William Beckford 7) Henry Dundas 8) Clive of India 9) John Cass 10) General Sir Redvers Buller 11) Lord Kitchener 12) Ronald Fisher 13) Lord Grey - Grey's Monument - Newcastle Upon Tyne, Grainger Street 14) Oliver Cromwell Statue - London, Houses of Parliament 15) Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde Statue - Glasgow, George Square 16) William Ewart Gladstone 17) William Leverhulme Statue - Wirral, outside Lady Lever Art Gallery 18) William Armstrong - Memorial - Newcastle Upon Tyne, Eldon Place 19) King James II Statue - London, Trafalgar Square 20) General James George Smith Neill, Wellington Square, Ayr Toppletheracists.org - which lists statues activists want taken down - describes Sir Arthur as 'a colonial warmonger in Rhodesia and responsible for the area bombardment of civilian villages in Mesopotamia in the early 1920s'. Among the 'area bombings' that Sir Arthur authorised in Nazi Germany was the firebombing of Dresden in February 1945, which led to the deaths of around 25,000 people. Some 30 years after the war, Sir Arthur told an interview he stood by the attack on Dresden, saying: 'If I had to have the same time again I would do the same again, but I hope I wouldn't have to.' Sir Arthur Harris was Commander-in-Chief of RAF Bombing Command during the Second World War In the 1920s, Sir Arthur was a Squadron Leader in the newly formed RAF. The air force was used to crush a series of uprisings in Mesopotamia - modern day Iraq - by bombing villages held by rebel tribes. In 1992 the Queen Mother officially unveiled a statue of Sir Arthur outside the RAF church of St Clement Danes. At the time it was erected, there was outcry from German politicians and the Peace Pledge Union. Symon Hill, a member of the PPU told The Telegraph this week: 'I don't think Bomber Harris should be celebrated. 'This is not about erasing history. We've spoken more as a society about British history since these protests than ever before. It's about learning from history, and choosing what we want to celebrate.' A senior RAF source told The Daily Telegraph: 'There is no situation where vandalising a monument of someone who fought for and delivered our freedom could ever be justified.' English Heritage said it was speaking with Scotland Yard about the statue of Sir Arthur Harris. A statue of Sir Thomas Guy, sits outside Guy's Hospital, which he founded in 1721 with 19,000 of his own money, equivalent to 2million today. Today the NHS Trust admitted it would consider its removal in a review set up by Sadiq Khan demands it because he made his money from slavery. Former bookseller Thomas Guy made his fortune through the ownership of shares in the South Sea Company, which had a monopoly on trafficking slaves to Spain's colonies in South America in 1713 The next to fall? This tribute to Sir Thomas Picton in Cardiff City Hall is expected to fall after the council's leader also demanded its removal. There are at least five statues of two-time British prime minister Sir Robert Peel (right in Parliament Square) also under threat because his MP father, also called Robert Peel, campaigned for slavery to continue Following the recent toppling of statues including Edward Colston in Bristol, and the defacing of Winston Churchill's statue in Parliament Square, English Heritage is understood to be speaking with Met Police about the safety of its monument to Sir Arthur in The Strand, London The activists behind Topple the Racists have said they were inspired by the 'direct action taken by Bristolians', referring to the tearing down of slave trader Edward Colston's statue on two weeks ago, before it was thrown into the harbour. In details showing how statues are chosen, the website says the hit list includes 'cases where there is responsibility for colonial violence', adding that 'judgement calls' had been on cases where history is more 'complicated'. Memorials to monarchs such as King Charles II and King James II make appearances on the list, as well as Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. Monuments have been targeted in 39 towns and cities, with 12 located in London, and six in Bristol. Five of the one in Bristol celebrate Colston, including two schools, a tower and a renowned music venue which is set to change its when it reopens in the autumn. Responding to the suggestions that some buildings built with the profits of the slave trade could be torn down, the group said they can 'just be renamed'. Dozens more monuments are expected to fall after all 130 Labour-led authorities in England, Wales and Scotland have come together to promise to 'review the appropriateness of local monuments and statues on public land and council property'. The 130 Labour councils won the blessing of Sir Keir Starmer's central party, but senior Tories have lined up to admonish the behaviour. The anti-racist rally and a pro-statue counter-protest descended into hooliganism driven by a hard core of violent activists on both sides. Pictured: Clashes in Trafalgar Square yesterday Police chiefs imposed the 5pm curfew on all demonstrations in a bid to quell the unrest seen throughout the day. Pictured: A man is carried to safety by protesters The man - identified as a far-right protester- then got injured and had to be carried to safety as animosity was briefly set aside Saturday's BLM demonstration attracted a fierce counter-protest from groups claiming to be defending statues - which included supporters of the far-right. Both protests plunged into violence, with officers fighting to separate the two sides who ran riot through the capital. As well as Waterloo Station, Trafalgar Square became an epicentre for the brawls. Scotland Yard made more than 100 arrests during the protest, where 23 constables were also injured. Clashes between BLM and far-right protesters continued into the evening at Waterloo Station. In a glimmer of goodness among the division, BLM protester Patrick Hutchinson was seen carrying an injured 'far-right' supporter to safety. Following the protests, Boris Johnson: 'Racist thuggery has no place on our streets. Anyone attacking the police will be met with full force of the law. 'These marches & protests have been subverted by violence and breach current guidelines. 'Racism has no part in the UK and we must work together to make that a reality.' India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent Indian-Chinese forces clashed with stones and sticks at Galwan Valley India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 16: The Indian and Chinese side clashes with rods and stones as a result of which there were casualties on both sides. The incident was very similar to the one that took place on May 5 and 6 at the north bank of the Pangong Tso lake, in which several soldiers were injured. This had in fact led to the military build ups along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. Army colonel & 2 Jawans martyred in violent faceoff with Chinese troops at LAC | Oneindia News India-China stand off: Casualties on both sides says Indian Army After reports said that an Indian Army officer and two jawans have lost their lives at the Galwan Valley, the Army later clarified that there have been casualties on both sides. Casualties have been suffered on both sides in the violent stand off during the de-escalation process with China in the Galwan Valley, the Indian Army said in an amended statement. During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation, the earlier statement from the Army said. China, on the other hand, said that Indian troops on Monday seriously violated the consensus of the two sides by illegally crossing the border twice and carrying and carrying out provocative attacks on the Chinese soldiers. This resulted in serious physical clashes, the Chinese foreign minister told Global Times. China in the midst of a very significant modernisation of its nuclear programme: Think Tank China has lodged solemn representations with the Indian side and urged it to strictly restrain its frontline troops from crossing the border or taking any unilateral action that may complicate the minister also said. China and the Indian side agreed to resolve the bilateral issues through dialogue to ease the border situation and maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas, the Chinese FM also said. South Africa: Government provides water in response to COVID-19 Since the establishment of the National Command Centre at Rand Water, an agency of the Department of Water and Sanitation, almost 19 000 water storage tanks and 1299 water delivery tankers have been delivered. This is according to the progress reports on water provision across the country and in schools as well as human settlements interventions as a response to COVID-19. This translates to almost 90% delivery since the project started over the past few weeks, the Ministry of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation said on Monday. The Ministry has also been given the task of ensuring that 2 634 schools have access to water by the end of the month. As of last week, more than1500 tanks have been delivered to the affected provinces with over 600 water tanks already installed. While we have made some strides over the past few weeks, there is still much more that needs to be done. The Departments of Water and Sanitation and Basic Education as well as Rand Water which is the implementing agent are fully committed to putting all measures in place to ensure safety of all learners is not compromised, pthe Minister said. The Minister noted challenges of the tanks which have not been filled regularly. We are in discussion with our local municipalities to ensure these incidents are attended to, she said. Minister Sisulu has acknowledged that some challenges in schools include terrain and topography which result in tankers taking long to fill up the tanks. The distance between the schools, especially in rural areas, also results in tankers taking too much time to move from one school to the other. On Sunday the Minister visited Alijah Barayi Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP) where the allocation of houses to deserving and qualifying beneficiaries has started. This will benefit mainly people from Khutsong and Kokosi informal settlements. The Minister Sisulu, together with MECs have decided that completed houses must be allocated to qualifying beneficiaries, as part of easing congestion in informal settlements. There are other projects across the country which are being implemented in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. These include the construction of 1000 structures in Mamelodi hostels and another 1000 in Duncan Village, amongst others, the Ministry said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Update: On Monday, H-E-B said four more employees in San Antonio have tested positive for COVID-19. Here are the four H-E-B stores with COVID-19 cases. - Potranco and 1604 HEB plus!: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 10718 Potranco Rd. on Sunday, June 14. - Babcock HEB: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 5910 Babcock Rd. on Wednesday, June 10. - South Flores Market HEB: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 516 S. Flores St. on Wednesday, June 3. - Kitty Hawk HEB: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 910 Kitty Hawk Rd. on Saturday, June 13. It is unclear when the employees tested positive. Original: Last week, H-E-B confirmed on its website that employees at four of its San Antonio stores have tested positive for COVID-19. One store is located on the Southwest Side while the other three are located on the city's South Side. H-E-B said it has cleaned and sanitized all stores multiple times. Employees who had contact with the infected employee have been notified, the grocery chain said. RELATED: H-E-B employee at North Side store tests positive for COVID-19 Here are the four H-E-B stores with COVID-19 cases, according to H-E-B's website. - Nogalitos H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 1601 Nogalitos St. on Wednesday, June 10. - Zarzamora and Military HEB plus!: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 6818 S. Zarzamora St. on Thursday, June 11. - Military and Pleasanton H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 735 SW. Military Dr. on Saturday, June 6. - Military and Goliad H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 3323 SE. Military Dr. on Thursday, June 11. It is unclear when the employees tested positive. On June 6, H-E-B said an employee working in the Alon Market H-E-B in the North Central area of the city, located at 8503 NW Military Highway, tested positive for COVID-19. In May, six others in San Antonio tested positive and another at a store in New Braunfels. H-E-B is no longer requiring customers to wear face masks to enter its stores. However, the company is encouraging its grocery shoppers to wear a face-covering. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in New York City. No criminality found after NYPD officers sickened by Shake Shack milkshakes that may have been tainted with bleach Read the full story on KGET - TV 17 Bakersfield. NYC's de Blasio fires back at Cuomo's threat to shut down Manhattan over coronavirus social distancing Read the full story on Fox News. Thousands flood the streets of Brooklyn for Black Trans Lives Matter demonstration Read the full story on The Root. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. New York City police have determined there was no criminality by Shake Shack employees after three officers drank milkshakes believed to be contaminated with bleach. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday fired back at Gov. Andrew Cuomo's threat to shut down Manhattan again if the city didn't enforce social-distancing better saying through a rep that "imprisoning people" isn't the answer. Advertisement Birdwatcher Christian Cooper was thrust into the media spotlight last month following a racially-charged encounter he shared with a hysterical dog walker in Central Park, but years prior the 57-year-old was a pioneer behind the scenes at Marvel Comics Birdwatcher Christian Cooper was thrust into the media spotlight last month following a racially-charged encounter he shared with a hysterical dog walker in Central Park, but years prior the 57-year-old was a pioneer behind the scenes at Marvel Comics. Between 1991 and 1999, Cooper worked as an editor and writer for the comic book giant and was one of its first openly gay employees. The Harvard graduate used his platform to substantially increase the representation of LGBTQ people within the pages of Marvel comics, even introducing Star Treks first openly gay character, Yoshi Mishima, in his short-lived Starfleet Academy series in 1996. But during the summers of 1994 and 1995 was when some of Coopers most inspired work came to the fore, when he took control of Marvels infamous Swimsuit Issue, former colleague Warren Ellis says. [Cooper] did one of the funniest things I ever saw at my time at Marvel, Ellis, a British comic-book writer, recently remembered in a personal blog. Back then, Marvel would release a summer book called the Marvel Swimsuit Issue, which was exactly as awful as you think it is. What they used to call "fan service" and "good girl art." Earlier editions of the Marvel Illustrated Swimsuit issue would typically consist of cover-to-cover hyper-sexualized sketchings of its most famous heroines, all scantily-clad in bikinis and bathing suits, with male characters relegated to the backgrounds or left out completely. Except one year Chris Cooper somehow got hold of it, Ellis continued. And that year's issue was the gayest thing you ever saw. Like, gaydar installations all over the Northern Hemisphere just straight up burst into flames. Anyone who beheld that book from a distance of twenty feet became, by genetic testing, 3% gayer. The summers of 1994 and 1995 were when some of Coopers most lasting work came to the fore, when he took control of Marvels infamous Swimsuit Issue (Captain America shown above) Other images included Doctor Strange seductively staring down at the reader as he lay tanning in a thong Earlier editions of the Marvel Illustrated Swimsuit issue would typically consisted of cover-to-cover hyper-sexualized sketchings of its most famous heroines, all scantily-clad in bikinis and bathing suits, with male characters relegated to the backgrounds or left out completely On the left, X-men character Jean Gray is seen in an earlier issue of the swimsuit issue. Gray is depicted right in Cooper's issue A scantily-clad Lois lane poses on the beach in her swimsuit in an issue predating Cooper In his version, Cooper instead depicted Peter Parker asleep in bed with his shirt off, making no mention of his female love interest Such images included Doctor Strange seductively staring down at the reader as he lay tanning in a thong. Captain America was also seen flaunting his assets, laying prone on a beach in a pair of tight-fitting Speedo. Cooper even depicted Marvels first black superhero, Luke Cage, wearing a petite pair of cut-off Daisy Duke shorts a look mirrored by the X-Mens metallic mutant Colossus. The contrast between the images published under Coopers watch and those in the years before are stark. For instance, an earlier issue of the special edition comic had featured male and female duo Cloak and Dagger, with Cloak covered entirely from head to toe in the draping garment of his namesake, peering over the shoulder of Dagger as she dons a white cut-out swimsuit accenting her every curve. Looks like Cloaks bein a wet blanket again! a caption next to the image reads. And check out DAGGER! Typical babe I bet when shes done usin him, shes just gonna throw him away. Flash-forward to one of Coopers editions and the pair are depicted once more, but this time gazing at one another in a loving embrace, with Dagger more modestly posed and Cloak equally as unclothed. Cloak and Dagger steal a quiet moment Coopers caption reads in part. In Coopers issues, X-Mens Storm even went from posing alone in creek in a bathing suit to lusting after her man, Forge. Cooper, now a senior biomedical editor at Health Science Communications, also featured Northstar within his pages, who became Marvels first superhero to come out as gay in a 1992 issue of which Cooper was assistant editor. In Northstars first appearance in the swimsuit special, he was essentially featured as a prop in the background of his sisters pin-up. But with Cooper at the reigns, Northstar was intentionally paired sunbathing with a Hulk supporting character named Hector one of the few other openly gay members of the Marvel universe at the time. The caption mentioned that they found a secluded spot near a temple to engage in their favorite kind of worship. In an earlier issue of the special edition comic had featured male and female duo Cloak and Dagger, with Cloak covered entirely from head to toe in the draping garment of his namesake, peering over the shoulder of Dagger as she dons a white cut-out swimsuit accenting her every curve Flash-forward to Coopers edition and the pair are depicted once more, but this time gazing at one another in a loving embrace, with Dagger more modestly posed and Cloak equally as undressed In Coopers issues (shown right), X-Mens Storm even went from posing alone in creek in a bathing suit to lusting after her man, Forge. In Northstars first appearance in the swimsuit special, he was essentially featured as a prop in the background of his sisters pin-up But with Cooper at the reigns, Northstar was intentionally paired sunbathing with a Hulk supporting character named Hector one of the few other openly gay members of the Marvel universe at the time Cooper even depicted Marvels first black superhero, Luke Cage, wearing a petite pair of cut-off Daisy Duke shorts a look mirrored by the X-Mens metallic mutant Colossus (seen right) Cooper is remembered among comic lovers and experts for moving Marvel into a new era of representation in the 1990s, but it wasnt only his swimsuit issues that made waves in the superhero world. It was really a dream come true to work there, Cooper told Yahoo earlier this month. Id been a Marvel guy since I was a little kid. For anyone who is into comics and they get a chance to work at Marvel or DC, youre like This is so amazing. In addition to serving as assistant editor on the landmark issue of Alpha Flight in which Northstars sexuality was revealed, he also created Marvels first lesbian hero, Victoria Montesi, in the pages of Darkhold later the same year. It had to be a confession devoid of any expression of romance or sexuality, like a statement of fact: I am gay, Cooper said of the Northstar issue, explaining how the moment wasn't allowed to be linked to anything romantic or intimate. Even after that, they clamped us down. Someone decided, Let's do a Northstar limited series where he can't talk about the fact that he's gay. Which they did and everyone roundly panned it, because it made no sense! Two decades later and Northstar married his boyfriend Kyle Jinadu in a same-sex wedding that became a widely publicized event for Marvel, with Coopers pioneering work to bring LGBTQ heroes to the forefront of the Marvel Universe credited as making such an issue possible. With Montesi, Cooper said he wasnt able to outright identify the character as a lesbian, though he made it clear that shes in a romantic relationship with a woman, know as Natasha. Victoria's sexual orientation, as well as her female gender, weren't used as gimmicks or stunts either. Both were instrumental elements in her backstory of being a great disappointment to her father, who wanted a male heir to continue his bloodline. I wasn't trying to hide the relationship with her lover, Natasha, but it was mostly off-screen. Natasha was incapacitated in the first issue, and spends the rest of the series in hospice care, Cooper explained. There was no negotiation needed on that with Marvel, maybe because it was two women. There's this weird double standard about two women together not being nearly as threatening as two guys together. Cooper is remembered among comic lovers and experts for moving Marvel into a new era of representation in the 1990s, but it wasnt only his swimsuit issues that made waves in the superhero world. Harvard graduate Christian, 57, had been bird watching in an area of the park known as The Ramble over the Memorial Day weekend when he encountered Amy Cooper walking her dog unleashed, against park rules Cooper served as assistant editor on the landmark issue of Alpha Flight in which Northstar came out as gay Two decades later and Northstar married his boyfriend Kyle Jinadu in a same-sex wedding that became a widely publicized event for Marvel, with Coopers pioneering work to bring LGBTQ heroes to the forefront of the Marvel Universe credited as making such an issue possible All in all, Cooper said his trailblazing work at Marvel was part of an effort to subvert the American misconception that comics are a juvenile medium, and that anything gay is inappropriate for anyone who is not an adult. He left Marvel in the late 1990s and became a web comic pioneer with Queer Nation, a never-completed series that hes now hoping to revive He added: That's ridiculous, because I was a gay kid I knew from the age of 5 that I was gay. Just because you're talking about someone being gay doesn't mean you're talking about their sexual practices, or stuff that's inappropriate for a particular age group. But that's hard for some people to wrap their minds around. Cooper, a director on the board of New York Citys Audubon Society, is known as an avid birdwatcher. His avian hobby recently made him a household name when a video of shot of white investment banker, Amy Cooper, frantically dialing 911 to report an African American man threatening my life after he simply asked her to leash her dog to protect local wildlife. He left Marvel in the late 1990s and became a web comic pioneer with Queer Nation, a never-completed series that hes now hoping to revive. With my new notoriety or fame whatever you want to call it I am looking to take Queer Nation out of mothballs, he says. It has a certain urgency right now that maybe it didnt have back then, because one of the core plot points is that a crazy right-wing fascist has been elected president and is pandering to the religious right. Oh wait, that couldn't happen in real life! As a veteran hospital nurse familiar with long, stressful hours, Downrivers Kenisa Barkai knows how uplifting it is to hear word on the floor that theres food in the break room. The announcement is especially welcome among nurses, hospital workers and caregivers in facilities providing medical care during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. These days, Barkai is busy delivering donated food by the carload to hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities as part of her Feed the Frontline initiative. The program provides a mood pick-me-up for all involved: nurses and care workers benefit and so do restaurateurs whose can use the business. Donations of money and food fuel the effort. So does Barkais enthusiasm. I am just really proud of this and everybody involved, said Barkai, 38, of Woodhaven. Were putting a smile on peoples faces at a difficult time. It goes a long way. Barkai has deployed a sort of friends and family and Ford Fusion strategy. Helping out are her son, 7-year-old Preston, and her sister, Tiffany Wilkinson of Southgate. Financial contributions have come from friends, colleagues, former co-workers and GoFundMe contributors. Food has been donated by a friend who is a backyard baker, a friend who runs a Wyandotte restaurant, a friend who operates a Wyandotte doughnut shop and the friend of a friend who owns a Detroit restaurant. The delivery vehicle is her Ford Fusion, a 2016 model rolling toward 80,000 miles. Those on the receiving end of the generosity said a typical delivery is quite a haul. It took us 20 minutes just to unload the food she brought and get it set up, said Dan Caldarona, hospital liaison at the 150-bed Applewood Nursing Center in Woodhaven. She reached out to us and brought lunch and snacks everything from tacos to burritos and nachos. It went a long way to boost morale at a challenging time. Caldarona said he was so impressed that he made a personal donation to Feed the Frontline, gofundme.com/f/d3rj8-feed-our-frontline. Many days, Barkai relies upon food discounted by Angel Lopez, who for five years has operated Camino Real Mexican Grill, 3851 Fort St., Wyandotte. Before the pandemic, Barkai was a regular at the restaurants Taco Tuesdays. Lopez said they became good friends. So, when she was looking for someone to help out with Feed the Frontline, I felt it is our obligation to her and to make the best of a bad situation for others, Lopez said. Also chipping in is Stewart Fox Jr., owner of Sugarr Donuts, 1752 Eureka, Wyandotte, and a friend of Barkais since elementary school days in Lincoln Park. Its awesome, Fox said. Its good for everybodys spirit. A friend in Riverview, Jeff Owens, AKA The Breadmeister, provides bread from his backyard oven. Hes a bread angel,' Barkai said. Her goal is to deliver snack boxes and meals to all hospitals in metropolitan Detroit. Her supply chain, of sorts, was extended when a friend put her in touch with the Detroit Taco Co. So far, the endeavor has served workers in some 30 hospitals, police departments, nursing centers and post offices. Among the Downriver hospitals are those operated by the Henry Ford and Beaumont systems. It all makes for a busy schedule for Barkai, who also works as a nurse in the Ascension Hospital system. She previously worked at the Detroit Medical Center, but said she was fired in March after she appeared in a homemade video showing herself decked out in a gown, gloves and a face mask at DMC Sinai-Grace hospital. Barkai has since filed a wrongful discharge lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court, claiming she was fired because she spoke out about conditions at the hospital. James Rasor, a Royal Oak attorney representing Barkai, said discussions are ongoing with hospital lawyers. He lauded Barkai for her volunteerism. She is doing such a good job, Rasor said. She is a very dedicated nurse. Shannon Kelly said Barkai delivered food and cheer to her 30-member nursing unit at Beaumont Hospital, Trenton. We were so busy that it is easy to feel defeated, Kelly said. When she showed up, it was like a light on a dark day. A 'cult' doomsday author plans to plead not guilty to concealment and destruction of evidence after the remains of his two-stepchildren were found in his backyard. Chad Daybell, 51, was taken into custody last Tuesday after the bodies of his wife Lori Vallow's children Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, seven, and Tylee Ryan, 17, were found at his property in Salem, Idaho. Daybell's defence attorney John Prior requested a jury trial on Monday, in the only filing made in the case so far. He has also submitted a request for discovery, a standard practice defense attorney's use to gain information about what their client has said during the investigation. The online Idaho court docket lists July 1 and July 2 as dates for Daybell's preliminary hearing. Chad Daybell, 51, plans to plead not guilty to concealment and destruction of evidence after the remains of his two-stepchildren were found in his backyard Seven-year-old Joshua 'JJ' Vallow (left) and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan (right) were reported missing last September Investigators found the remains of JJ and Tylee after excavating the backyard of Chad Daybell's property last week (pictured) It comes after a former employer of Daybell revealed he was an 'excellent' gravedigger. On Friday, a spokesperson for Springville city in Utah said Daybell had been employed with them as a cemetery sexton, where he dug graves for the newly deceased. Chad's first wife, Tammy Daybell, was also an employee at the city's cemetery. 'Both Chad and Tammy were excellent workers and did their jobs well and beyond expectation,' the spokesperson told KUTV, adding that Chad had been employed at the cemetery on multiple occasions throughout the years. 'Chad and Tammy were well respected in our community. They both continue to have many family members living here and our thoughts are with them'. Daybell was arrested on Tuesday, June 9. On Friday, a spokesperson for Springville city in Utah said Daybell had been employed with them as a cemetery sexton, where he dug graves for the newly deceased The bodies of Daybell's wife Lori Vallow's children were found at his property in Salem, Idaho. Lori is currently behind bars on charges of neglect and desertion One Foot In The Grave: Chad Daybell penned book about how 'rewarding' it was working as a grave digger but that it's 'sad to bury babies' Years before he was linked to the disappearance of Lori Vallow's missing children, Chad Daybell worked as a 'cemetery sexton' - or grave digger - while studying at Brigham Young University in Utah in the mid-1990s. Chad described the job in an interview with the Deseret News in 2001. 'Taking care of the graves is rewarding, as well as helping widows and grieving family members deal with the trauma,' he said. 'Sad times are always when you have to bury babies. That's always a poignant moment.' Chad published an entire nonfiction book about his experiences that same year, entitled: One Foot in the Grave: Secrets of a Cemetery Sexton. He left that job soon after the book was finished and went on to publish more than 25 other titles, many of them about near-death experiences and the end of the world. Chad briefly reprised his sexton role years later in 2008 by working part time at a cemetery in Springville. Advertisement Chad - who is a prolific author - even penned a memoir about his days working at the cemetery. The book, titled One Foot In The Grave, is available through Amazon. Numerous other titles written by Chad are also available through the website - although there are reports the company plans to remove them from the site 'very soon'. DailyMail.com has contacted Amazon for comment. The bodies of JJ and Tylee were discovered last Tuesday following a neighbor's tip about large bonfires on Chad's property. The children had been missing since September. Neighbor Matt Price, who has lived next door for about five years, said he recently informed detectives about having seen several bonfires at the property over the past nine months since the children were last seen. 'This year they had two really big fires that we noticed,' Price told the Deseret News. 'Probably less than a month ago.' Price claimed that the detectives told him his information, among other details, was used to secure the search warrant that eventually led to this week's discovery of the bodies. Chad was arrested after the bodies were uncovered. He remains behind bars on a $1 million bond. His wife, Lori Vallow, has spent the past four months behind bars at the neighboring Madison County Jail on five charges related to the children's disappearance: two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children and one misdemeanor count each for obstructing an investigation, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. Prosecutors have not said whether they plan to add additional charges in light of the body discovery. Authorities began searching for the children in late November after performing a welfare check ordered by concerned relatives who said they hadn't spoken to seven-year-old JJ, who is autistic, in months. When officers first went to Lori's home in Idaho on November 26, she told them that JJ was visiting relatives in Arizona - which investigators say was a lie. Officers returned the following day and found that Lori and the man she married weeks earlier, Chad Daybell, had fled from the home. Authorities say the couple have repeatedly lied about where JJ and Tylee are and refused to cooperate with the investigation. Family members on Wednesday confirmed that the remains found buried outside Chad's home had been identified as seven-year-old JJ and 17-year-old Tylee, who disappeared in September Lori and Chad were named persons of interest in the children's disappearance after investigators said they thought the mother knew where her children were. The case captured nationwide attention with the revelations that police are also investigating three mysterious deaths linked to Lori and Chad, as well as family members' claims that the couple are members of a dangerous doomsday cult. The first death is that of Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow, who was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona on July 10. Charles and Lori had gotten into an argument when the father came to pick up JJ at the mother's home in Chandler. Lori's brother intervened and fatally shot Charles. Police initially determined that he acted in self defense - but the case was reopened amid the multi-state search for JJ and Tylee, who had moved to Idaho, where Chad lived, with their mother in August. The second mysterious death was Tammy Daybell, who was found dead at the home she shared with Chad on October 19. An obituary stated that Tammy passed away in her sleep and her cause of death was ruled as natural after Chad reportedly declined an autopsy. Chad's wife Tammy Daybell (pictured together left) was found dead under suspicious circumstances at their home in Idaho in October. Chad married Lori less than two months after her children vanished. The couple are seen right during their wedding on the beach in Kauai Investigators reopened the case after learning that JJ and Tylee were missing, as their mother had married Chad just two weeks after Tammy died. They believe the two cases could be linked. Tammy's body was exhumed on December 11 and the autopsy results have not yet been released. On December 12, Lori's brother, Alex Cox, was found dead in Gilbert, Arizona. An autopsy determined that the 51-year-old's died of natural causes but noted that he had the overdose drug Narcan in his system at the time. Police tracked Lori and Chad down in Princeville, Hawaii, in late January and served the mother with a court order requiring her to physically produce the children to authorities in Idaho by January 30. Lori failed to meet the deadline, prompting her arrest and extradition to Idaho, where she is currently being held at Madison County Jail in lieu of $1million bond. Timeline of JJ and Tylee's disappearance July 11, 2019: Lori Vallow's husband, Charles Vallow, is killed by her brother, Alex Cox, in Arizona. August: Lori moves children JJ and Tylee to Rexburg, Idaho, where Chad Daybell lives with his wife Tammy. September 8: The last time Tylee is seen during a trip to Yellowstone National Park with Lori, JJ and Alex. September 23: The last time JJ is seen at his school in Rexburg. October 19: Chad's wife Tammy, 49, dies at their Idaho home. October 25: A friend of Tylee receives a vague 'miss you' text from her phone but says that it didn't sound like the teen. November 5: Lori and Chad tie the knot on a beach in Kauai. November 26: Out-of-state relatives ask Idaho police to perform a welfare check on JJ and learn both he and Tylee have not been seen for months. November 27: Police execute a search warrant related to the children at Lori's home and discover that she and Chad have fled Idaho. December 11: Tammy's body is exhumed from a Utah cemetery and her death is reclassified as suspicious. December 12: Lori's brother, Alex Cox, is found unresponsive in Arizona and dies. December 21: Rexburg police issue the first press release about JJ and Tylee, revealing they believe their disappearance could be linked to Tammy's death. December 24: Lori and Chad issue a statement through an attorney saying they love their son and daughter and look forward to addressing 'allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor'. December 30: Police accuse Lori and Chad of lying to investigators and say they believe the couple know where the kids are or what happened to them. January 3, 2020: Police search Chad's home in Salem and remove 43 items. They also comb over sections of the snow-covered yard with rakes and metal detectors. January 26: Lori and Chad are seen for the first time in months as police serve them with a court order to produce the children to authorities in Idaho in five days. January 30: Lori misses the court deadline to produce the children to Idaho authorities. February 20: Lori is arrested in Kauai. March 5: Lori is extradited to Idaho, where she is held on $1million bond at Madison County Jail. April 9: Authorities reveal they are investigating Lori and Chad for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy in connection with Tammy's death. June 9:Police search Chad's home in Salem for the second time and discover human remains in the backyard. Chad is taken into police custody and charged with destruction or concealment of evidence. Advertisement What took them so long? Police searched Chad's home back in JANUARY but found nothing The house where Lori's missing children's remains were found last week was searched by police in January but cops found nothing, which adds to the questions over why it has taken so long for the kids to be found and their mother and stepfather charged. JJ and Tylee were last seen alive in Idaho in September but they weren't reported missing until November and their mother fled to Hawaii the first time she was questioned by police. She married Chad, a former grave digger and doomsday fanatic, and the pair evaded police, refusing to answer questions on where the children were, for months. Lori was finally arrested in December on charges of neglect. The case stalled again then until this week, when the Rexburg Police Department in Idaho suddenly carried out a search warrant on Daybell's property in Salem that allowed them to bring cadaver dogs for the first time. The police department is refusing to answer questions on why it took so long to arrest Lori and find the children's remains. The search warrant has been sealed, which shrouds the case in further mystery. In January, police seized several items from Chad's home after executing a search warrant but it was believed to have been in connection with his ex-wife's death and not the children's disappearance. Legal experts say they must have some form of new evidence which led them to believe the children's bodies were buried there, and that the force did not want to put a foot wrong in the complex investigation because it could jeopardize a future trial. Chad's home in Salem is seen in January, when police executed an earlier search warrant FBI agents removed 43 items from Chad's home during their initial raid in January. Officers were also seen combing sections of the yard with rakes and metal detectors 'I don't have any idea why it took that amount of time. There are so many legal issues that have to be dealt with prior,' Jennifer Shen, former cop and crime lab manager, told DailyMail.com on Wednesday. 'I don't know when it was the police would have gotten the information from that there were bodies on that property but they can't do any of that without probable cause. 'It's called fruit of the poisonous tree. If you wind up finding evidence but not legally, that evidence can be thrown out, all the evidence could be no longer useful they have to do it the right way. It could have catastrophic consequences.' Shen added that the case was 'tragic' but 'really complicated'. '[It is] one of the most bizarre cases from start to finish. 'This case has got dead bodies everywhere - you have to do things the right way,' she said. Frank Montoya Jr, who retired from the FBI in 2016 after serving since 1991, previously explained to DailyMail.com that the authorities in Idaho had been forced to hold off until there was any evidence of a crime which was more difficult to produce than before. He gave an interview in February - before the kids bodies were found - and said it 'wasn't enough' at the time that Lori simply was not cooperating with the authorities. 'When the parent herself is not cooperating.. it isn't enough to arrest them. 'What's the charge? If it's just child endangerment and she refuses to talk, how do you prove the children have been harmed or more tragically if they're dead? You can't. 'A judge and jury have no choice but to say there's no evidence to hold her in cases like this you'll hugely dependent,' he said. The all-in-one-solution also reduces calibration costs and minimizes clutter, replacing traditional hand tools such as calipers, micrometers, and height gauges, while providing 20 percent more reach than the previous-generation Gage arm. Lightweight and portable but with the precision of a lab instrument and the ruggedness of a shop floor device, the Gage sets up in seconds, reduces inspection time, and delivers quality results with exceptional flexibility, resulting in increased speed and productivity. "When it comes to measurement equipment value; accuracy, portability, speed and affordability matter," said Michael Carris, Ph.D., Vice President of Product Marketing at FARO. 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A universal quick mount ensures compatibility with a variety of mounting options that allows it to be set it up anywhere, including on-machine. A simple 2-button design, 6-point articulation and built-in counterbalance deliver exceptional ease of use and fatigue-free operation. Its compact design makes the product lightweight and easy to transport. The Gage is compatible with FARO's full line of metrology software, including CAM2 Probing, the simple contact measurement solution. The result is an advanced metrology device that delivers unparalleled performance. "Small and medium size operations can now take full advantage of 3D measurement technology," Carris added. "For machine shops, quality problems, imprecise measurement, scrapped parts, extended wait times and customers part rejections all contribute to unnecessary expenses that become more critical during these trying economic times. The FARO Gage allows for more streamlined processes, significant waste reduction, and quick return on investment. Backed by FARO's 40-year history of superior portable measurement experience, Gage allows more companies to benefit from lean manufacturing practices and will be employing the new industry standard in compact performance and affordability." For more information about FARO, visit: www.faro.com. Media Contact: [email protected] or 407-333-9911 x1269 SOURCE FARO Related Links http://www.faro.com On Sunday, when Pedro Sanchez announced the lifting of Spain's borders from 21 June, there was no mention of the UK. On Monday, the Spanish government confirmed that the UK was included on the list of countries, implying that there would be no need for UK travellers to quarantine on arrival; Spain will be lifting its foreign traveller quarantine requirement from 21 June. The foreign affairs minister, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, has now said that a 14-day quarantine could be imposed. Speaking to the BBC, the minister indicated that the Spanish government is looking at whether there should be "reciprocity", given that the UK has its own measures, in other words its own 14-day quarantine of travellers entering the UK. She added that there will be "dialogue" with the UK regarding such reciprocity, pointed to the situation being "fluid", and hoped that the UK may have moved forward by the time that Spain opens its borders. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 03:31:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- A UN spokeswoman on Tuesday made a plea for the international funding of humanitarian aid to war-torn Yemen, now reeling from COVID-19, saying the situation has never been so dangerous. Eri Kaneko, associate spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the global organization remains extremely concerned over shortfalls in funding for the world's largest humanitarian crisis. "The situation in Yemen has never been so dangerous, and now is not the time to reduce international support," she told a virtual press briefing. Already, incentive payments for 10,000 health workers on the front lines of the pandemic response have stopped. The world is telling these workers, most of whom have little to no protective equipment, to risk their lives for free, she said. By the end of June, humanitarian organizations will be forced to cut services that provide clean water to nearly 6 million people, nearly half of them children, Kaneko said. Many other programs also remain at risk, including health care, nutrition services and more. The United Nations calls on all donors to disburse their pledges immediately and to consider increasing their support, the spokeswoman said. The United Nations has put forward a clear plan to cover operations through the end of the year, she noted. Donors pledged 1.35 billion U.S. dollars for Yemen on June 2. The figure is only about half of what was received last year. Most of the pledges remain unpaid weeks after the pledging conference, she said. The lack of funds is having an immediate impact on the response, including efforts to contain COVID-19, which is spreading rapidly, Kaneko said. Enditem At first, the idea of offering a product or service for free feels counterintuitive. After all, it costs money to run a business. Entrepreneurs need to generate revenue if they want to experience any type of lasting success. But I'm not suggesting you give away the cow at no cost, as it were. Rather, that by strategically introducing giveaways or gratis add-ons, you can enjoy significant future growth, and in these five specific areas. Free offers are a tried-and-true method of lead generation. Many B2B brands will provide ebooks or other materials in exchange for signing up for their newsletter. This serves as an easy way to collect email addresses that can be leveraged in future marketing campaigns. This type of giveaway is so widespread that Content Marketing Institute reports that 88 percent of B2B companies use content marketing for lead generation. Of course, similar tactics can also prove effective when selling consumer products. Many brands use product giveaways that encourage people to follow them on social media or sign up for an email list to gain additional entries. The result is more potential buyers who will receive email and social media marketing, leading to future purchases. Related: Should You Offer Your Product or Services for Free? 2. Helping others understand what you have to offer Free trials are a common tactic used by service providers. B2B software companies, video-streaming services and others will typically provide a limited period when users can test out their service for free. This can prove remarkably effective. Growth marketer Lincoln Murphy suggests benchmark conversion rates of 60 percent for trials that require credit card info and 25 percent for opt-in trials. A recent conversation with Piotr Orzechowski, CEO of Infermedica, provided further insights. "In light of COVID-19, we offered a free risk-assessment tool to help triage coronavirus symptoms remotely," he explains. "Ministries of health in Poland and Ukraine implemented this solution on their websites. It was the right thing to do, but it's also allowed organizations to see how our products work. It gives us a chance to show our commitment to quality service, which will undoubtedly lead to new client growth in the future." 3. Generating buzz for your brand Product giveaways are a great way to grow a following. This is commonly seen with social media contests when a brand or influencer will require that followers tag friends as part of their entry. When done right, this can generate a snowball effect that leads to many people discovering the brand and its products. In fact, a report from Easypromos found that 99.3 percent of contest participants will share links online if the contest incentivizes getting friends to participate. Of course, the benefits go well beyond brand awareness. Contests can lead to exponential growth in your social media followers and email subscribers. They can also dramatically increase engagement through these channels. More followers and higher engagement will naturally lead to more qualified leads and purchases. 4. Collecting valuable market feedback Your most loyal customers can serve as an important source of information when testing a new product or service. Speaker and author Brian Tracy has written for this site about how testing products with customers is the only real test of a product, explaining, Go to a potential customer with your sample or prototype and ask if he would buy it. Be sure to call on the individual who makes buying decisions. Then ask him how much hed pay for this product. If people criticize your new product idea, ask them why. Ask how the product could be modified to make it more attractive. Many customers are willing to test your newest product or service because they view it as a low-risk proposition. They dont pay anything. They get to try out your next product or service for free and give their honest feedback. For your most loyal customers, the potential of being the first to try your next innovation is motivation enough. And the wider of a group you can test, the more diverse and reliable feedback youll receive. 5. Upselling purchases Theres a good reason why many online retailers like Amazon and Walmart set minimum purchase requirements to qualify for free shipping. Its an easy way to encourage customers to buy one or two extra products to fill up their shopping cart before checking out. In fact, a UPS study found that in 2017, 48 percent of online shoppers added items to their cart to qualify for free shipping. Similar results are possible when you offer a free product or value-added service when customers meet a set minimum purchase threshold. Alternatively, you could bundle a free item with a lower-selling product to boost its sales. Pair relevant products and services together to better upsell to your customers. Related: 4 Creative Ways to Use Free Samples to Grow Your Business Free today, but plenty of profit tomorrow As these examples illustrate, giving away products or services for free is all about the long-term results. Whether youre providing customers with an opportunity to essentially try before they buy or directly motivating additional purchases, strategically introducing these offers will have a positive impact on your bottom line. Related: 6 Ways You Can Support Black Businesses Long-Term 3 Digital Strategies Every Company Should Implement Now The Land of Business, in the Times of Corona Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved One person has died as a result of his injuries after an accident Monday at an old power plant in Mason County. Two workers were injured Monday at the old Philip Sporn Power Plant in New Haven, West Virginia. Another person remains in the hospital. Dispatchers say it happened Monday at the old Philip Sporn Power Plant in New Haven where the plant was in the process of being dismantled. The Frontier Group of Companies, a company that specializes in the redevelopment of large-scale industrial and commercial property, has released a statement regarding the incident: Our thoughts and hearts are with our co-workers and their families at this time. We mourn with them and we pray for them. We will complete a thorough and exhaustive investigation into this incident, so that we can understand what happened, why it happened, and take every measure possible to ensure that something like this doesnt happen again. UPDATE: 6/15/20 5 P.M. Two workers were injured Monday in an accident at the site of the old Philip Sporn Power Plant in Mason County. Dispatchers said pieces of the structure fell on workers who were helping dismantle the plant. One of the workers was flown to a hospital, and the other was taken by ambulance. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time. The Frontier Group of Companies, a company that specializes in the redevelopment of large-scale industrial and commercial property, released a statement regarding the incident: We are investigating an incident that occurred at the former Sporn Plant earlier today in which two employees were injured. The two workers were preparing a small ancillary structure at the site for demolition, when the structure apparently collapsed prematurely." The company said "emergency responders transported both workers to area hospitals. We do not have information on the extent of their injuries at this time. We are incredibly grateful to the Mason County emergency services personnel who immediately responded to the site. "A wide-ranging team of plant and company personnel has been dispatched to the site to complete a thorough investigation. We will update and cooperate with all necessary regulatory and oversight agencies as the investigation continues. Our entire team is devastated by this incident and our prayers are with our co-workers and their families at this time. ORIGINAL STORY: 6/15/20 Two workers have been injured in an accident that happened while crews were during demolition and salvaging work at an old power plant in Mason County. According to 911 dispatchers, it happened at the old Philip Sporn Power Plant in New Haven. There is no word on the workers' conditions. Fire and Mason County EMS crews are on scene. No other information has been released. Niamey, Niger (PANA) - The Nigerien opposition party Tuesday rejected proposals by the national council for political dialogue (CNDP) to review arrangements for local elections initially scheduled for November 2020 The claims by an administrative pastor with Redeemed Christian Church of God, Elias Ozikpu that he was sacked from the church after his participation in the Revolution Now protests pioneered by Omoleye Sowore, under the Lagos Province 48, headed by Nigerias Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is very worrisome. Elias Ezikpu claimed in the writeup that after his release from detention, his local church branch sacked him a church administrator for participating in the protest and withheld his six months arrears of salary. Elias Ozikpu also alleged that all his numerous letters for his six months salary arrears prior to his sack to be paid, copies of which he sent to VP Osinbajo and GO Adeboye, is yet to be attended to. Pastor Ozikpu claimed in the report that On May 27, 2020, I visited RCCG Lagos Province 48Headquarters in Banana Island to serve a reminder of my previous correspondence in which I copied Vice-President YemiOsinbajo and the General Overseer, Pastor E.A Adeboye. Lagos Province 48 Administrator, Mr Clarence Haidome, who was to receive Osinbajos copy, was on seat at the time of my arrival. He refused to receive the letter on the pretext that he had not officially resumed work! I did not understand what that meant seeing that he was right inside his office. Later that day, I scanned the letter and sent to him via WhatsApp, but MrHaidome ignored it. I also sent him the PDF version of the letter via email, he ignored it too. Mr Clarence Haidome was forced to acknowledge receipt of the letter only when, a week later, I sent him another email in respect of the matter, copying the General Overseer and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. Dear Elias, this is to acknowledge receipt of your mail. Thank you, he wrote in what was a forced response . H e also claimed that It is crystal clear that without copying the General Overseer in the email under reference, Mr Haidome would never have acknowledged receipt of the letter. To be working in such an environment and be so unnecessarily insensitive is a curious antithesis, to put it mildly I advise the RCCG leadership that sacking a pastor for participating in a protest in Nigeria filled with evil government officials as a matter of policy, is not right. Protests are means of bringing the attention of evil rulers to their responsibility. The church should even lead in such. I advise relevant authorities to bring back the sacked pastor, pay his entitlements and not muscle activists within their fold because one day the church will need people like Elias Ozikpu, who is an accomplished poet , novelist and literary artist and his services can galvanize the youth in the right direction. The church needs the services of activists in their midst, and though many of us had different views of the Revolutionnow protests, however, it is disheartening to hear that a pastor and church administrator was sacked for involvement in a protest. Pastor Adeboye and VP Osinbajo should incorporate all in their agenda. Their real enemies are not people like Elias Ozikpu, but blood sucking murderous and looting politicians who seize our collective wealth and render church members poor and ravished. VP Osinbajo should ensure that such injustice does not occur in Province 48 where he is the Pastor-in Charge. He should be broad minded in his approach. Pastor Ozikpu is not protesting against him, rather against what they termed rudderless leadership at all levels. Obinna Akukwe, Columnist, [email protected], @obinnaakukwe Police have shot and killed around 1000 people in the United States every year since 2015, according to the Washington Post. I say "according to the Washington Post" because our country doesn't actually keep extensive or even accurate data in regards to police firearm use. The FBI publishes a list of "justifiable homicides" by law enforcement, but that list often discounts the number of reported killings -- as accounted for by independent trackers -- by more than half. Is the FBI really just this bad at bookkeeping, or do they consider every other death at the hands of police a justifiable homicide? Regardless, if you were raised in this system, you might believe things have to be this way, much like a rat raised in captivity probably believes the best way to get food is to run around in a circle eight times before itching its tummy and pushing a lever. But, it turns out other countries do things a little differently. And while none of those countries invented the "Go Topless Jeep Weekend," some of their practices still might be worth taking note of. German police forces not only publish deaths at the hands of a firearm, but they also publish rounds fired, rounds hit, rounds missed, warning shots, and injuries. Every bullet is accounted for, and it could be one reason why they had only 10 killings by police in 2015. The Netherlands keep similar statistics and make publicly available every case in which a round hits a person. Since the Black Lives Matter protests swept the U.S., Chinese government officials have repeatedly made public statements condemning racial injustice in the U.S. Those comments may seem largely opportunistic, as Beijing isn't known for standing up for oppressed groups these days. But in the mid-20th century, the Chinese Communist Party and some black activists in the U.S. actually did make common cause. Why it matters: Anti-racist activism in the U.S. has long attracted international support. Yes, but: After opening in 1978, the Chinese Communist Party abandoned much of the revolutionary ideology that had previously guided its foreign policy. The big picture: There was a time when China actively supported revolutionary causes beyond its borders and when Chinese leader Mao Zedong was viewed as a hero among colonized and oppressed groups around the world. In the 1960s in particular, after the Sino-Soviet split, the party claimed China as the center of a world revolution. In August 1963, Mao gave a speech denouncing systemic racism against black people in the United States. He cast it as a result of imperialism, thus making it the duty of all enlightened revolutionaries around the world to fight for the "complete emancipation" of black people in America. It wasn't a one-off statement. "The Chinese endeavor to cultivate political alliance with the African American left was meticulous, targeted, and effective," writes scholar Ruodi Duan. The result: Those outreach efforts found success. Malcolm X spoke admiringly of Mao's global leadership at a rally in Harlem in November 1964. (A note to readers: Malcolm X refers to a term for a person of Chinese origin, common in that time period, that some now consider to be offensive, though one Chinese American author chose to use the term in the title of his 2014 memoir.) "They used to have a saying that one doesn't have a Chinaman's chance. But they don't say that any more. They used that expression back when China was weak. But now that Mao Zedong has been successful in making China a strong country, the Chinese have more chance than anybody else. So this saying has become outdated. Well just as it took a strong China to give a Chinese person respect wherever that Chinese person is found on this earth, when we get a strong Africa, the person of African origin or African ancestry will be respected anyplace on this earth, even in America. But he will not be respected in America until Africa is strong, just as the Chinaman wasn't respected abroad until China became strong." Malcolm X Huey Newton, the founder of the Black Panther Party, came to view Mao as a hero and visited China in 1971, meeting with Chinese leader Zhou Enlai. Fast forward: Though it no longer openly supports revolutionary movements abroad, the Chinese Communist Party still claims to carry the mantle of a formerly subjugated nation standing up to the West. And that still has a degree of appeal in countries that were once colonized, such as Pakistan and Zimbabwe, which have close relationships with Beijing. Japan's Defense Minister announced Monday the country will cancel plans to deploy a costly, land-based U.S. missile defense system designed to counter escalating threats from North Korea. Defense Minister Taro Kono told reporters he has decided to "stop the deployment process" of the Aegis Ashore missile system after discovering safety concerns regarding two communities near where the system would be based. Kono said the way the system was currently designed, they could not guarantee that the rocket booster from the missile system would not fall outside the Ground Self-Defense Force's Mutsumi base in Yamaguchi, southwestern Japan. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Craig R Tribolet (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 13:53 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf2426c 3 Opinion forest-fires,plantations,communities,prevention,palm-oil Free After widespread forest fires in Indonesia and Brazil in 2019, and the more recent catastrophic summer fires in Australia, it is timely to explore the context behind these extraordinary events and consider the potential future impact amid changing climate. The issue of uncontrolled forest fires is the result of a range of complex issues that have often been described as a wicked problem because of incomplete or contradictory knowledge about the cause of fires, the range of valid but often competing perspectives and the interconnected nature of the issues and complexities associated with forest fires. Australia experienced its driest and hottest year on record in 2019, resulting in over 18 million hectares burned. Indonesia also had significantly lower rainfall levels during its annual dry season in 2019. Riau in central Sumatra received only 47 percent of its long-term average rainfall during this period, resulting in very difficult fire conditions. The Indonesian government reported 857,756 hectares of burned land last year, generating haze that blanketed the wider region. The catastrophic fires experienced in 2019 were exacerbated by a dry phase Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which affected rainfall in both Indonesia and Australia. This unusually strong dry phase was associated with cooler than normal waters in the eastern Indian Ocean resulting in significantly drier conditions, increased fire danger and a delay to the start of the annual wet season across the region. What is of real concern is that long-term trends indicate that these IOD dry phases are likely to become more common and indeed more intense. The common theme from these events is that while starting small, if not managed, fires can get out of control and burn large areas well beyond the original ignition point with a range of flow on impacts, like damage to crops, infrastructure, intact forests, as well as haze. Smoke haze from forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan in 2019 was recorded at dangerous levels across the region. Smoke haze has well recorded impacts on humans, from a mild sore throat, runny nose and red eyes to more acute issues like asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and cardiovascular outcomes. Less well understood are the long-term implications of prolonged exposure to smoke haze that may include premature death related to heart attacks and stroke, as well as impacts on the growth and development of children. Fire can also have significant environmental impacts, leading to a reduction of soil nutrients, lower water quality and an increased risk of soil erosion, all of which affect sustainable forest management. In discussing this wicked fire problem it is important to note that this is not about placing blame but understanding the complexity of each landscape in its own social, economic and environmental context. In Australia, there are specific issues related to natural sources of fire like lightning, development along urban/forest interfaces, fuel management strategies, as well as the effects of climate change, which are all part of an ongoing debate over the causes, impacts and responses to wildfire. Indonesias forests, by contrast, appear to have limited natural sources of fire. Despite annual dry seasons, the chances of large-scale devastating fires starting from natural causes, like lightning, are low. Most fires in tropical regions are deliberately lit as a cheap and effective means to clear land for agricultural use. Data also indicates that forest fires in Indonesia are not restricted only to peatland, nor do they mainly occur on plantations or company concessions. Early analysis of Indonesian fires in 2019 showed that over 75 percent of the burned area was idle or abandoned land that had been subject to burning in previous years. Managed landscapes like large-scale concessions, in contrast, are far more likely to be fire-free. Fires are more likely in areas where there is new development, particularly where there is land-use change associated with new agriculture. There are certainly a number of actions individuals, companies and governments can take to understand and address the core issues, including the need to enhance levels of fire management throughout organizational supply chains. Fire prevention, one element in a broader fire management strategy, can be a particularly effective intervention. Initiatives like the Fire Free Village Program (FFVP) demonstrate that communities and companies can work together to develop viable and sustainable fire prevention programs. The FFVP was developed in 2014 as part of a partnership between APRIL and local communities to better understand and engage with the fire and smoke haze issues. In 2015, one of the worst fire seasons in Indonesias history, participating fire-free communities reduced burned area by over 90 percent There is also a need for appropriate institutional frameworks to assist companies and communities in managing these increasingly important issues. The Pelalawan District Fire Klaster pilot is one example, where stakeholders are provided a platform to come together to discuss, plan and coordinate responses at the local level. The Indonesian based Fire Free Alliance (FFA) has allowed participating parties to share information on best practices, effective intervention and techniques in a trusted and open way. Governments have a leading role to play in fire prevention. The operational evidence shows that increased community awareness and government enforcement of fire management regulations has played a key role in raising the profile of fires as a critical social and environmental issue. Climate change is likely to lead to drier conditions and longer dry seasons, so if this wicked problem is to be finally addressed it needs to be supported by increased scientific research into fire science, as well as an open and respectful dialogue between all stakeholders. Experience in Riau, Sumatra, demonstrates that with government support, community-level fire prevention initiatives can be extremely effective. More work is needed, as fire seasons have become longer and more extreme. This includes helping local communities understand the significant impacts of smoke haze on their health and long-term well-being. It also means facilitating appropriate sustainable solutions as an alternative to burning. The writer is sustainability operations manager of APRIL Group. The views expressed are his own. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. The research, led by scientists at Britains Cambridge and Greenwich universities, suggests lockdowns alone will not stop the resurgence of the new coronavirus which causes covid-19, but that even homemade masks can dramatically reduce transmission rates if enough people wear them in public. (Natural News) Seattle residents living in what now is the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) have told reporters that the Antifa and Black Lives Matter are taking away peoples rights and causing a surge in crime in the area because of their police-free zone policies. Shelby Talcott, a journalist working for The Daily Caller, told Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum on June 12 that people living inside CHAZ are not very happy about the way the zone is being governed. According to Talcott, many residents in CHAZ also do not agree with Solomon Raz Simone appointing himself as the occupied zones warlord. Talcott also interviewed armed CHAZ border guards who said that the rappers vision for CHAZ conflicts with the majority living inside the zone wants. (Related: Illinois man charged with attempting to INCITE RIOTING; Antifa hijacking peaceful protests to start riots and cause violence.) During her appearance in Fox, Talcott shared an interview with a resident known only by the name Brandon, out of fear of retaliation from members of CHAZ. During the interview, Brandon said: You can see for yourself, you can see that we dont have the right to vote for stuff here anymore. I spoke to a resident of Capitol Hill, the area of Seattle that is now CHAZ. He was terrified & told me that the very lawmakers he supported and elected have abandoned him. This is personal, because this is my home & I dont have cops anymore. VIDEO: https://t.co/WnaKWXmGTl pic.twitter.com/MJdAhSYRX0 Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) June 14, 2020 You can see the demands when they say that we want the pensions away from every police officer in Seattle. They took our rights away. Thats not okay. Its not political. Its just not okay. This is stunning, replied MacCallum. This is a citizen in Seattle who obviously doesnt feel safe enough to even have his face revealed to say that he just misses order in his community. Talcott further stated that Brandon had previously spoken out about his concerns, but he was subsequently threatened because of his comments, forcing him to back down. She added that Brandon was, like many other residents living in and near CHAZ, fearful for his personal safety, especially since rioters bang on his gates every night and gunshots can be heard throughout the evening. This is a residential area they have taken over, and not everyone is on board, she added. Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he discusses how the United States can learn from the creation of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. Violent crime in CHAZ unchecked Since the Seattle Police Department (SPD) abandoned the East Precinct, which lies inside CHAZ, response times to emergency calls in the neighborhood have tripled. SPD Chief Carmen Best told reporters on June 11 that the average police response time in the area was over 15 minutes long, which is three times longer than what it usually takes officers to respond to a call. This large time difference, Best says, could mean the difference in preventing the death of innocents from a violent crime. She further stated that the actions of a few wayward officers do not justify depriving a whole neighborhood of the public services provided by the SPD. Best also said that it is important for her and for her officers to be accepting of possible reforms and willing to join with their communities to create better police departments. However, she rejected any calls to abolish the SPD, stating that law enforcement is an important part of the fabric of society. The SPDs inability to intervene in violent crimes in and around CHAZ is already producing results. A business located just outside the zone was broken into in the early morning hours of June 15, with the suspect stealing items and trying to start a fire. While the owner was able to detain the individual and put out the fire, the police never came to his assistance. If the SPD continues to be hindered from performing their duties in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, the number of unresolved criminal acts in the area can be expected to continue rising. Uprising.news has more stories on the George Floyd riots sweeping the nation. Sources include: PJMedia.com DailyCaller.com Twitter.com Newsweek.com NTD.com By Daniel Itai The Zimbabwe Daily Johannesburg, South Africa South Africas confirmed Covid-19 cases have increased by 4 302 to 70 038 over the past 24 hours. The country has also recorded a further 57 Covid-19 related deaths. While the countrys COVID-19 cases continue to increase, the government has announced that it has no plans to review its lockdown regulations. The decision of cabinet stands, we have not discussed the reviewal of those measures, said Jackson Muthembu, Minister in the Presidency. The total number of people who have succumbed to Covid-19 since the first patient was identified 101 days ago now stands at 1 480. - Advertisement - 38 531 people have since recovered which translates to a recovery rate of 55 percent. A total of 1.12 million tests have been conducted to date, of which 34 071 tests have been conducted over the past 24 hour period. Globally, COVID-19 cases have topped 7.9 million, while deaths have exceeded 432 000 with 4 million recoveries have been reported. Like this: Like Loading... Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy said Tuesday he estimates that city police had up to 700,000 encounters with citizens in 2019 with 305 use of force reports filed. Of those, he said there were complaints filed on 18. He said total calls for service were 242,000. Chief Roddy said cutting $45 million from the police budget "would mean laying off about 200-250 officers - half the force." Chief Roddy told members of the City Council preparing for a budget vote that he is continuing to tighten policies dealing with use of force by police. He said, "We do not tolerate (unreasonable use of force). But we have to hear about it, and we have to investigate it." Chief Roddy said he recently was told by a police supervisor about suspicions of city officers mistreating citizens. He said he personally called another agency and asked them to look into it. Councilman Darrin Ledford said, "Defunding the police department is something we cannot have." Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod said there are many "good cops" as well as a few "bad cops." She said her granddaughter Peyton got a favorable image of officers when "she saw white officers trying to save her daddy" when he was recently fatally shot. She said, "Now Peyton loves officers. When she sees them she wants to run over and hug them." Councilwoman Coonrod said there will still be the problem of "bad cops" despite whatever policies or new programs are put in place. "There will be ones who put their shoulders on their necks and kill them or shoot you while you are running." She also said of a plan by Mayor Andy Berke to set up a new Department of Community Resilience, "I appreciate it, but it's not a true fix." She said the solution is finding a way to weed out the "bad cops." Councilman Anthony Byrd also spoke of "getting the wolves in sheep's clothing out of there." He said giving additional powers to the newly formed police review panel could help with that. He said, "We still don't know who is the racist cop and who is the good cop." Councilwoman Carol Berz said, "What I keep hearing is the need common decency and respect for people. And not having officers 'messing with people.' " Lisa Maragnano, CARTA executive director, told council members, "The last thing I want is to have money take from the Police Department and given to CARTA." The City Council was told that the McKamey Animal Center is being taken out of the police budget since it works more often with code enforcement. Officials said in a final "scrub" of the budget that $86,000 was taken out of the 911 program projected budget, which is part of the police budget. The agency will get the same amount of funding as last year. The Office of Community Resilience is described as "a resource within local government for helping communities heal from trauma and minimize their contact with the criminal justice system. It will provide activists, advocates, and allies with a forum to plan for a safer, stronger, more resilient Chattanooga." Specifically, this new office will be responsible for several functions: Social work, including supporting victims of violent crime. Recidivism reduction programs, including assistance with felony record expungements and job training. Support for justice-involved youth, including new mentoring and diversion initiatives. Neighborhood-based planning, through partnerships with RPA, CDOT, the Office of Economic Development, and other departments that can assist residents with planning processes that result in visions for businesses, public spaces, and other assets that communities need to thrive. Independent budget analysis and policy recommendations about municipal government expenditures related to public safety and law enforcement, like 911 response mapping and fees and fines for non-violent offenses. The Office of Community Resilience will combine some of the existing functions of the Office of Public Safety, the Family Justice Center, and other programs currently administered by the city, supplemented with $150,000 coming from the Office of the Chief of Police. Later this month, Mayor Berke said he will appoint an inaugural advisory board for this office and will begin the process of recruiting a full-time director to lead it. Fugitive Iran Judge 'Demanded More' When Offered A 500,000 Euro Bribe Radio Farda June 15, 2020 In the third court hearing of a major corruption case in Iran, more revelations were made about a fugitive judge who fled the country last year and is now in Romania. One witness told the court, "We offered Judge Gholamreza Mansouri half a million euros (about $562,000), but he demanded more." The Media Center of the Islamic Republic Judiciary cited the witness as saying that he initially met Judge Mansouri in the office of the primary defendant, former Deputy Head of the Judiciary, Akbar Tabari. Judge Gholamreza Mansouri, who is accused of receiving more than half a million dollars bribe, left Iran in August 2019 and is currently in Romania. Iran has reportedly asked for his extradition, but a court in Bucharest has given the Islamic Republic until July 10 to present documents needed to justify extradition. Presiding over the township of Lavasan, in a posh area of the capital city, Tehran, Judge Mansouri was notorious for issuing harsh verdicts against journalists. Following the release of the pictures of Mansouri in recent days, a significant number of journalists have come forward on social media saying that the notorious judge was indeed responsible for their arrest and imprisonment. Many Iranian journalists, activists and human rights advocates have called for Judge Mansouri's arrest in Europe. They have compared Mansouri's case with a legal suit against another Iranian judge, Hamid Nouri, who is currently behind bars in Sweden. Nouri was accused of issuing numerous death sentences during the Islamic Republic's secret mass executions of political prisoners in the 1980s. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General and Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Christophe Deloire, announced that RSF has filed a legal suit against Judge Mansouri in Bucharest, Romania. Gholamreza Mansouri, currently released temporarily, does not have the right to leave Romania, a local court has ruled and will remain under police watch until final decisions are made about his legal status. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/fugitive-iran- judge-in-romania-mansouri/30671096.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syracuse, N.Y. Le Moyne College plans to bring back students to campus for in-person instruction in the fall despite the coronavirus pandemic and said it will bring new students to campus earlier than usual to help with that process. First-year students will have staggered move-in times between Aug. 13 and 15. They will be joined by returning students who will arrive between Aug. 28 and 31. The first full day of classes will be Aug. 31. During the additional two weeks that freshmen are on campus they will participate in a new course (COR 100) that will allow them to meet in small groups, get to know each other, explore campus and meet professors, things that will all be a little more difficult in the era of social distancing. The early arrival will also help limit density as students move into campus buildings. Normally the school holds a welcome day for students before the school year, something that wont occur this year. Instead, that event will be held virtually. Those details were included in an announcement that Le Moyne made on Tuesday. The school noted that plan is pending final approval by the State of New York and could be changed to reflect new guidelines issued by the state. Like many schools that have announced plans in recent weeks, including Syracuse University, Le Moyne will end in-person classes before Thanksgiving and will conduct finals remotely to limit the risks associated with travel. Classes will be taught using a hybrid of in-person and remote learning to decrease classroom density and will include taking attendance and assigned seating to ensure contact tracing if students or professors test positive for coronavirus. The school does not plan to test every student for coronavirus upon arrival but said students will be asked to complete a screening for symptoms each day before arriving on campus or leaving the schools residence halls. The school said it could adjust its testing plan if public health officials suggest that it is necessary. There is no recommendation for universal asymptomatic testing for COVID-19 due to low pre-test probability and limited test capacity, the school said in its release. If this recommendation changes, or if there is a clear cluster of cases and public health officials have determined that testing would offer a public health benefit, Le Moyne College will work with the Onondaga County Health Department to assist in a mass testing initiative. In a letter to the Le Moyne community, President Linda LeMura noted that the plan follows all the rules provided by Onondaga County, the State of New York and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other noteworthy adjustments made by the school to make the campus safer include ending the use of triple dorm rooms, which house three students, and requiring face coverings on campus. The school will use portions of the Le Moyne View apartments as quarantine space and has had to remove upperclassmen living in St. Marys Hall as part of its effort to reduce density in living spaces. It will also end buffet-style meals, prohibit most outside visitors in school facilities and make a number of other adjustments to day-to-day campus life. The school had announced earlier this summer that it anticipated a drop in revenue of between $12 million and $24 million next year due to the coronavirus and that it had instituted progressive pay cuts and furloughs to offset some of those losses. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus pandemic means no July 4 fireworks for most Central NY communities CNY autistic teen in group home cant understand why family stopped visiting Update: Coronavirus spreads slowly in Onondaga County, new data shows Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Chris Carlson anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1639 A group of Egyptian nationals who were stranded in Qatar amid the covid-19 pandemic have returned home after both countries, mired in a diplomatic row, agreed to coordinate the repatriation operation. A group of 174 Egyptians arrived in Egypt on Sunday on board national carrier Egypt Air, from Oman to comply with Cairos ban on direct air traffic from Qatar, Egyptian media reported. The flight is the first of a series to bring back home nearly 3,000 Egyptians stranded in the Gulf country. The return of the group came after a rare street protest on May 31 by stranded Egyptians brandishing passports outside their countrys unoccupied embassy in Doha. The Egyptian nationals, mostly workers, were unable to return home after Qatar, like other countries around the world, suspended commercial flights in a move to curtail the pandemic. The situation was compounded because of lack of direct connections between the two as a result of a three-year old ongoing diplomatic row opposing Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain on one side and Qatar on the other. A pedestrian walks past the logo of Doosan Group set up outside its head office in downtown Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo Doosan Group may have put its stake in Doosan Infracore up for sale, as part of the heavy industry conglomerate's bid to restructure units and salvage ailing flagship subsidiary Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction. The suspected move is interpreted as the group's strong intention to keep cash-cow Doosan Bobcat under its control, and use the construction equipment firm to help Doosan Heavy normalize its financial status. Reports said Doosan Group has selected Credit Suisse as the lead manager for the sale of Doosan Infracore's 36.27 percent stake held by Doosan Heavy. However, Doosan Infracore's 51 percent stake in Doosan Bobcat wasn't included in the sale plan Doosan submitted to its creditors, according to reports. Officials at Doosan Group, Doosan Heavy and Doosan Infracore declined to confirm these details, but added that the group and Doosan Heavy's creditors are looking into all available options. Doosan Heavy is suffering from massive debts with the group affiliate scheduled to repay 4.2 trillion won ($3.48 billion) by the end of this year. To address this, Doosan Group has filed for a bailout from state-run banks including Korea Development Bank (KDB) and Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank), and the lenders have decided to extend 3.6 trillion won of loans and other financial support. The group earlier told creditors it would raise at least 3 trillion won by selling its non-core assets and subsidiaries. On deciding which subsidiaries to sell off, the creditors and Doosan Group have been locking horns over selling the group's Bobcat stake, as creditors are pressuring the group to unload the profitable unit while Doosan wants to retain it given its growth potential. Infracore and Bobcat are both construction equipment firms, but the former has been relatively sidelined in the discussion of restructuring, because of questions on the company's value and outstanding loans. The 36.27 percent stake in Infracore is valued at around 800 billion won, given its market cap of 1.24 trillion won and that it is a controlling stake in the company. This, however, may not be enough for Doosan Group to secure 3 trillion won, because it is struggling to meet its desired prices on other subsidiaries that have been put up for sale. Outstanding loans and collateral are also lowering the attractiveness of Infracore. At the end of the first quarter, Infracore's outstanding loans amounted to 2.9 trillion won, which is 12 times the company's 244.2 billion won operating profit expected for this year. The company offered nearly 99 percent of its 51 percent stake in Bobcat as collateral and secured loans worth 984 billion won 600 million in dollars and 260 billion in won. This means the potential buyer of Infracore has to shoulder an enormous amount of outstanding loans, while buying Bobcat alone is relatively burdensome. Because of this, analysts said Infracore's sale will likely take place after the company is spun off into a business that is up for sale and an investment firm that will hold its loans and the Bobcat stake. "If there's a sale, it is assumed Infracore will go through a spinoff into a business firm and an investment firm," Daishin Securities analyst Lee Dong-heon said. "The business firm can be sold while the investment firm can be merged into Doosan Heavy. Through this, the earnings from Bobcat can contribute directly to the normalization of Doosan Heavy." Doosan Infracore's DX800LC excavator / Courtesy of Doosan Infracore live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Banking and financial stocks have been the moving factor for more than a month now. Bank Nifty on June 16 gained 383.80 points or 1.93 percent to close at 20,296.70 after witnessing a swing of over 1,100 points intraday. The rally was led by Federal Reserve's expanded bond buying programme. The index opened on a strong note at 20,500.65 and went upto 20,638.85, an intraday high, but failed to hold on to 700 points gains. It corrected sharply from higher levels and drifted towards 19,500 levels in later part of the session. However a swift recovery was seen from lower levels and the index erased all its intraday losses to close above 20,200 levels. "The index formed a small bodied red candle with long lower shadow which suggests dips are being bought into at lower levels while multiple hurdles are intact at higher zones. Looking at current chart structure, if Bank Nifty sustains above 20,200, then we may see a bounce towards 20,700 and then 21,200 levels while on the downside major support is seen at 19,500 levels," Chandan Taparia, Vice President | Analyst-Derivatives at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, told Moneycontrol. The rally in index was supported only by three stocks - HDFC Bank (up 4.27 percent), ICICI Bank (up 3.58 percent) and Kotak Mahindra Bank (up 2.23 percent). Federal Bank was up half a percent. However, the rest of stocks were losers. Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, PNB and IDFC First Bank were down 1.4-2.4 percent. SBI was down half a percent. Nifty Financial Service index was also strong, rising 2.77 percent to 10,089.95 as apart from banks, HDFC was the biggest gainer with 4 percent rally. Among others, ICICI Lombard, REC, M&M Financial, SBI Life Insurance, HDFC Life and ICICI Prudential Life gained 1-3 percent. A white Philadelphia court employee has been fired after being caught on camera ripping down Black Lives Matter signs and telling someone 'not to me, they don't'. Michael Henkel, 61, a writ-server supervisor of Philadelphia Family Court, was ousted from his role Monday after shocking footage surfaced on social media of him tearing signs supporting the movement off the fence at a South Philadelphia playground. In the video, Henkel tells a woman who has confronted him over the incident that his taxes 'pay for this place' and that black lives don't matter to him. The shocking footage was shared on Facebook Sunday and then the First Judicial District confirmed Henkel had been fired him from his position at the Philadelphia court. A white Philadelphia court employee has been fired after being caught on camera ripping down Black Lives Matter signs and telling someone 'not to me, they don't' 'The Court takes this incident very seriously and believes Mr. Henkel's behavior as shown in the video is egregious and totally unacceptable for an employee of the Courts,' family court spokesperson Martin O'Rourke said in a statement. O'Rourke said Henkel 'is no longer an employee' and that 'his termination was based on multiple violations' of the state court system's Code of Conduct and its Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Policy. In the cellphone footage, Henkel is seen ripping off the signs while an unidentified woman, who is not seen on camera, tells him: 'That's not your property.' 'I know - it's the city's,' he rages. 'I pay for this.' She replies: 'Oh you pay for that?' He fires back: 'Yeah, my taxes pay for this place, yep. Just so you know. 'So I can do whatever I want.' When the woman responds 'Oh so you can do whatever you want?', Henkel becomes more irate saying: 'You're f**ing right I can and I'm always around here, too.' Michael Henkel, 61, a writ-server supervisor of Philadelphia Family Court, was ousted from his role Monday after shocking footage surfaced on social media of him tearing signs supporting the movement off the fence at a South Philadelphia playground In the video, Henkel tells a woman who has confronted him over the incident that his taxes 'pay for this place' and that black lives don't matter to him The posters ripped down by Henkel. The shocking footage was shared on Facebook Sunday and the First Judicial District confirmed Henkel had been fired him from his position at the Philadelphia court 'Great. I live right here too,' the woman said, adding, 'Black lives matter!' Henkel fires back: 'Not to me they don't. 'You can call it any way you want - go f** yourself though!' The signs had been made and displayed on the fence following a peaceful march through the neighborhood Friday calling for an end to racism and police brutality. After Henkel's aggressive outburst, hundreds of Black Lives Matter banners were pictured pinned to the same fence by local residents in a show of solidarity against his behavior. Henkel has worked for the Philadelphia courts since 1992 and earned a base salary of $71,591, according to city payroll records Some of the banners read 'Black Lives Matter'. 'George Breonna Ahmaud' and 'You can't tear us down', while some had Henkel's photo plastered on them, pointing out what he had done. Henkel has worked for the Philadelphia courts since 1992 and earned a base salary of $71,591, according to city payroll records. The shocking encounter, which was shot at Columbus Square at 12th and Reed Streets, comes as protesters across America have been demanding an end to systemic racism following the killing of black man George Floyd by white cop Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. Tensions have reignited further following the death of black man Rayshard Brooks on Friday - who was gunned down by a white cop at a Wendy's drive-thru in Atlanta. The discovery could lead to faster and cheaper data storage, better sensors and other advances in electronics FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - University of Arkansas physicists have documented a means of improving the magnetoelectric response of bismuth ferrite, a discovery that could lead to advances in data storage, sensors and actuators. Bismuth ferrite, or BFO, has long been of interest to scientists because its functional properties can be controlled by applying external stimuli; its magnetic response can be controlled via electric field, and its electrical response can be controlled via magnetic field, hence the name magnetoelectric. BFO is of particular interest because it is one of few magnetoelectric materials functional at room temperature. A limiting factor, however, is the small magnetoelectric response. Enhancing that response would increase the material's usefulness. U of A scientists devised a means of improving the response by simulating a situation in which a mix of three quasiparticles creates a new quasiparticle they called "electroacoustic magnons." "This mechanism provides opportunities to engineer the size and shape of the material to reach strikingly larger magnetoelectric responses," said doctoral candidate Sayed Omid Sayedaghaee, first author of a paper published in the journal Nature Partner Journal Computational Materials. Physics researchers Charles Paillard and Bin Xu, along with research professor Sergey Prosandeev and Distinguished Professor Laurent Bellaiche contributed to the study. The researchers used supercomputers at the Arkansas High Performance Computing Center to create a model that explains the electroacoustic magnons and also explains the dynamics of magnetoelectric effects. Their study was supported by grants from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Army Research Office. ### The former top securities regulator for the United States said Tuesday that policymakers never considered there would be a market for bankrupt companies like Hertz to issue new stock and that, if things went poorly, investment banks could be on the hook. Harvey Pitt, who served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission under President George W. Bush, said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" that the disclosure for Hertz's secondary stock offering could have been "far more aggressive." With the rental car company already bankrupt, potential legal action would focus on the banks, he said. "Investment banking firms have liability, and when they offer securities one of the issues that will come to bear is whether these investments are suitable," Pitt said. "To my way of thinking, an investment banking firm runs the risk of effectively selling a litigation claim. Because at the end of the day, if this operates the way it ought to, it's like musical chairs and someone is going to be left without a seat." Shares of Hertz have been a favorite play of speculators in recent weeks, regularly making double-digit percentage moves and trading in a range from more than $6 per share to under $2. The company decided to take advantage of the interest by issuing up to $500 million worth of new stock. Jefferies is one of the banks assisting with the offering, according to a securities filing. In its filing for the new offering, Hertz said, "we expect that common stock holders would not receive a recovery through any plan unless the holders of more senior claims and interests, such as secured and unsecured indebtedness (which is currently trading at a significant discount), are paid in full." Pitt said that the disclosure could have been made stronger to remove any hint that a potential recovery for equity holders was possible. The SEC does not have the legal power to stop a stock sale ahead of time, and that should remain the policy going forward, said Pitt, who is now the CEO of consulting firm Kalorama Partners. Still, the situation with Hertz is not something that policymakers expected, he said. "As an intellectual proposition, most securities experts had always thought you could offer garbage for sale to the public as long as you said 'we are offering you garbage, and you really shouldn't buy this but you have a chance to buy it,'" Pitt said. "No one ever really anticipated that people would be gullible enough to do that." Hertz filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 22 after the coronavirus pandemic slammed the global travel industry, leading major companies to suspend business travel and airlines to dramatically scale back their flight offerings. In February, the company's stock traded at more than $20 per share. A total of (145) delegates of the ruling NPP in the Asante Akyem North constituency whove had their names expunged from the delegates album for Saturdays Parliamentary primaries have urged the National Executives to revert the anomaly if the party wants peace in the area. Addressing a press conference at Agogo, Convener of the group, Kwabena Frimpong stated that the blatant disregard for the partys constitution and its dictates is very alarming and they call on our National executives to call the constituency executive officers into order. What they have done is very dangerous since as duly elected delegates, we have every right to protect our office and our partys constitution hence it is our resolve to resist this attempt to disenfranchise us even with the last drop of our blood. We are also respectfully calling on Nananom in the Asante Akyem North enclave to as a matter of urgency come in to avert this impending calamity come the 20th of June 2020. The Kumi preko demonstrations in the 90s led by no other person than our President Nana Akufo Addo has thought members of the NPP to resist all forms of Non-Democratic and dictatorial tendencies with all our might and so will we do. Below is the press statement PRESS CONFERENCE BY POLLING STATION EXECUTIVES (DELEGATES) OF NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP), ASANTE AKYEM NORTH CONSTITUENCY DATE; 15TH June 2020. Invited press, ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today as New Patriotic Party polling station executives (delegates) to register our displeasure and voice out our resentment on the exclusion from the Asante Akyem North delegates album of one hundred and forty-five (145) polling station executives by our constituency Executives Committee thereby disenfranchising us from casting our votes in the parliamentary primaries slated for this Saturday, 20th June 2020. As polling station executives in the Asante Akyem North Constituency, we were elected on the 18th of January 2018 in an election supervised by Opoku Mensah, popularly referred to as OMENS who happens to be the current head of the National Service in the Ashanti region to serve for a period of four years. Our mandate as polling station executives requires of us to take part in the election of our constituency executives, as we did to elect the current constituency executives at Domeabra on 24th February, 2018 and also the parliamentary candidate who will lead our great party in the 2020 General elections. We are saddened to announce that having exercise our first mandate, that is, participating in the elections that brought our current constituency executives into office, and currently preparing to cast our votes in an election that will determine who becomes the NPPs Parliamentary candidate in our constituency, one hundred and forty five polling station executives have been removed from the delegates album and replaced by people who are alien to our respective polling stations. Some of us got a hint of this undemocratic act when we were deliberately denied our Christmas packages from our party by our constituency executives. Enquiries were made and we followed up to the Constituency Chairmans house, Mr. Sampson Agyei of which he confirmed to us that he has removed our names from constituency delegates album because according to him, it is his right to do that as a constituency chairman. He also confirmed to Kessben FM in an interview he granted that he has suspended 200 delegates from the party without inviting them to any Disciplinary committee. Our suspicion was confirmed when the delegate album to be used for the primaries was given to one of the aspirants by our National executives and our names, duly confirmed as expunged and replaced. Invited Press, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a shame that our constituency executives in the Asante Akyem North Constituency will resort to this crude and undemocratic acts which is alien to the democratic principles and basis upon which the foundations of our great party was built. Our partys regulations (point no.34) concerning the conduct of the Parliamentary elections scheduled for 20th June, 2020 is explicit on the kind of people who are supposed to take part. The Photo Album/Register which was used to elect the Constituency Executives in February 2018, SHALL be the same album that will be made available to the National Parliamentary Vetting Committee (NPVC) and the Electoral Commission of Ghana for the conduct of the Parliamentary primaries. The question we are asking as affected delegates is, why the variance in the directives as given by our General Secretary with regards to the use of the Photo Album/Register in our constituency? Press present, ladies and gentlemen, the backbone of any political party is its grass root; the political fortunes or otherwise of any political party depends on the preparedness of its grass root members to actively champion the partys affairs at the polling station level. What we are witnessing today is an attempt by our constituency executives and our current Member of Parliament, Andy Appiah Kubi to destroy the partys foundation thereby dwindling the electoral fortunes of our party in future elections. It is sad to note that, our polling station executives whose names have been removed have been replaced with people who are alien to these polling stations with some even not registered voters in our constituency. How can someone who is not a registered voter in our constituency and at the same time does not even stay in that polling station area be made a party executive in our great party? Our 2nd National Chairman, Mr. F. F. stressed on this particular point at the Constituency executives elections at Domeabra in 2018 that, no one can be a polling station executive at where he or she does not vote. Going into specifics, let us take the DA Primary school, Kansanso polling station with F280101 as its polling station code into perspective, the Chairman, Samuel Kulakes name has been removed and replaced with James Obeng, who is a registered voter at the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH JUANSA which has F280102 as its polling station code. Frederick Dzimado, the secretary has his name removed and replaced with Theresa Okai who also happens to be a registered voter at Courthouse polling station Juansa with F280201 as its polling station code. Frank Yevor, the organizer has been removed and replaced with Naomi Asiedu who is a registered voter at the Roman Catholic church Juansa with polling station code F280102. Christian Dzimado Lisa, the youth organizer has been removed and replaced with Kwadwo Paul who is a registered voter at the M D C CHURCH AGOGO with F280701B as the polling station code. Awoyo S. wonder, the women organizers name has been removed and replaced with Ofori Christiana who is a registered voter at the OLD METH CHURCH AGOGO with F280902A as the polling station code. Press present, ladies and gentlemen, this is just an example of the numerous illegality committed by our constituency executives. Does our constituency executives and our Member of Parliament have the interest of the greater NPP at heart? How can a known NDC activist Pellas Gyasi Herve who is also a branch executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), be made a polling station executive at the Temporary Booth polling station Kwadwamena, in the NPP? The blatant disregard for the partys constitution and its dictates is very alarming and we are calling on our National executives to call our constituency executive officers into order. We are calling on our National executives to revert this anomaly for peace to prevail in the parliamentary primaries. What they have done is very dangerous since as duly elected delegates, we have every right to protect our office and our partys constitution hence it is our resolve to resist this attempt to disenfranchise us even with the last drop of our blood. We are also respectfully calling on Nananom in the Asante Akyem North enclave to as a matter of urgency come in to avert this impending calamity come the 20th of June 2020. The Kumi preko demonstrations in the 90s led by no other person than our President Nana Akufo Addo has thought members of the NPP to resist all forms of Non Democratic and dictatorial tendencies with all our might and so will we do! THANK YOU. Cc The National Executive Committee (NPP) The Agogo Traditional Council All Media houses. Kwabena Frimpong 0241057607 Thompson Gyamerah 0209470210 Festus Enyan 0246221223 Ntim Enock Otuo 0249834007 Patrick Appiah Kubi 0246581995 Boakye Yiadom 0249823591 Stephen Tayoo 0241837156 Source: ghanaweb Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Chief Executive Officer at Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai 16.06.2020 LISTEN Accra, 15th June 2020: Our attention has been drawn to some information circulating on social media and online news websites concerning breaches in the privacy rights of Vodafone Ghana customers. This information is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. In March 2020, The President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, passed an Executive Instrument (E.I. 63) that mandated the mobile network operators, including Vodafone Ghana to submit subscriber information known as call data records (CDRs) to the National Communications Authority (NCA). This formed part of the governments contact tracing initiative in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. All the mobile network operators complied with the E.I 63. The Executive Instrument was subsequently challenged by a customer, who filed an application at the High Court for an injunction to stop all mobile network operators from sharing his data with the National Communications Authority (NCA). Upon receipt of the injunction application, Vodafone Ghana immediately stopped the transmission of all subscriber data related to the contact tracing initiative, pending the courts ruling on the case, scheduled for 23rd June 2020. Vodafone Ghana has acted responsibly and transparently in abiding by the laws of Ghana and categorically rejects all claims that there has been a breach in the privacy rights of our valued customers. We will always uphold the rule of law and comply with our legal and regulatory obligations including the Data Protection Act. Samsung appears to be looking to third-party companies for the OLED display on its upcoming Galaxy M41 budget phone. Specifically, the company may be looking to either TCLs China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT) or BOE. Thats based on recent reports stemming from China and unnamed industry insiders. The insiders indicate that the company has already decided to go with CSOT display panels. But Samsung is also said to be considering the latter companys offerings as well. Why is Samsung opting to step away from its Display division on the Galaxy M41? The decision by Samsung to step away from its own in-house screen production Samsung Display for the budget-friendly device is puzzling. But it isnt entirely a mystery. The most likely scenario seems to be that Samsung is looking for ways to offer top-tier features, in the case thats the inclusion of an OLED panel. But that it doesnt want costs to go too high in the process. Advertisement By looking to Chinese display giants, the company is effectively exploring options to keep costs for itself down. That should, in turn, help it offer a better price on the affordable M-series device when it launches. And that still doesnt necessarily mean that Samsung will finalize a deal and use CSOT or BOE display panels. Thats because this isnt the first time the company has reportedly looked to save a buck by going elsewhere for displays. Recent rumors, for instance, suggest that the company was exploring the use of BOE OLED panels for its next-generation flagship. Thats the Samsung Galaxy S21 series. In that case, the company is reported to have been dissatisfied with the quality of those panels. The exact nature of the failure has not been reported. But the company is said to have tested BOEs panels and they didnt pass Samsungs quality tests. So, if Samsung does decide not to use third-party panels, it wouldnt be too surprising either. But this isnt a flagship smartphone either, so it isnt out of the question since any testing will likely be less demanding. Advertisement Is it the Galaxy M41 or M51? Now, rumors about the Samsung Galaxy M41 also tentatively reported as the Samsung Galaxy M51 have been numerous. But details about the device in the lead-up to its eventual launch have been shifty at best. As hinted above, there is some speculation that Samsung might opt for the Galaxy M51 branding instead of M41, just for starts. And the specs for the display panels in question are also not clear. Some reports have indicated the gadget will ship with a 6.5-inch flat Infinity-O display. That would make the panel 0.2-inches larger than the previous model. That would, those rumors claim, be packed into a frame that measures 162.6 x 77.5 x 8.5mm. Or 9.5mm thick, with the cameras protrusion being accounted for. Reports suggest a capacitive fingerprint scanner to the right of the left-mounted vertical tri-camera array. A Snapdragon 720G or Snapdragon 662 chipset. 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is expected under the hood. Advertisement Benchmarks, conversely, have suggested a Snapdragon 675 and up to 8GB RAM. Other reports suggest Samsung might utilize a 6.67-inch OLED display with an FHD+ resolution. With a 19.5:9 aspect ratio expected, that would equate to a resolution of around 2,340 by 1,080 pixels. Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday took charge of overseeing the management of the novel coronavirus in Delhis hospitals and issued orders that CCTV cameras be installed in all Covid-19 wards and alternative canteens be set up for uninterrupted supply of food to patients. After paying a surprise visit to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital to review arrangements related to Covid-19, Mr Shah also suggested psycho-social counselling of doctors and nurses engaged in corona care. Mr Shahs directions to Delhi chief secretary Vijay Dev to ensure the installation of CCTV cameras in all Covid-19 wards of designated hospitals and setting up back-up canteens in case of infection in the main canteen came after he held an all-party meeting with the local leaders of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party. At the meeting, the home minister urged all political parties to put their differences aside and work unitedly for the people of Delhi. The national capital has the third-highest Covid-19 count after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. After the meeting Mr Shah made a surprise visit to Covid-designated LNJP hospital, run by the Delhi government. The hospital has been receiving negative publicity after several videos, purportedly shot on its premises, showed patients bodies lying on the floor or next to patients in wards. The videos also showed some elderly patients left unattended even as they cried for help. With the total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi now at 42,829, after 1,647 cases were reported in the last 24 hours, home ministry said that special units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other Central para-military forces have been kept on standby. If the situation in Delhi gets worse, they would be deployed in the worst affected containment zones to contain the spread of the virus. With 73 more deaths, the toll due to the deadly virus in Delhi is now 1,400. The Harlandale Independent School District board has hired new lawyers to advise it in day-to-day operations - the same firm that advised trustees during years they repeatedly awarded lucrative work to an engineering firm in a no-competition process that eventually drew the ire of the Texas Education Agency and almost resulted in a state takeover of the district. The board avoided a takeover by taking steps to remove its superintendent in 2019, and some trustees stepped down or didnt seek reelection. The effort to distance the board from its recent past culminated in a resolution this year in which trustees admitted the districts arrangement with Jasmine Engineering had been illegal. At an online meeting Monday, however, trustees appeared confused as they argued against, but finally accepted, a push by their state-appointed conservator to rehire Walsh Gallegos Trevino Russo Kyle as the districts general counsel. Lawyer Tony Resendez appeared for the firm. Until the board replaced Walsh Gallegos with the firm Sanchez and Wilson late in 2015, he handled the districts contract with Jasmine Engineering. After a lengthy investigation, last years scathing TEA report of the districts governance faulted the board for repeatedly amending the 2012 contract to give the company years of work overseeing school construction and renovation projects. A lawsuit is still pending against the district by the companys owner, Jasmine Azima, filed in response to the boards 2018 decision to end the contract. As general counsel, Resendez now will be advising the board on that lawsuit, officials said. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox Judy Castleberry, who has broad oversight powers over the district as the conservator appointed by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath after the investigation, urged trustees to accept Walsh Gallegos as general counsel, calling it in the best interest of the district to prepare to answer legal questions arising from Harlandales response to the coronavirus pandemic. The district is about to enter into new territory - a year-round program with students and parents, some of whom were not engaged this past year for part of the year and some who were. Theres the potential for a lot of issues to come up - complaints, grievances, issues the district has not dealt with previously, Castleberry said. I think, in order to deal with those expeditiously and thoroughly, you need a law firm that is well versed in school law. Thats the advantage that Walsh Gallegos offers in this setting. Walsh Gallegos has represented numerous area school districts including Northside and Judson ISDs, and Harlandale has continued to use the firm for advice on special education matters. But Castleberrys recommendation baffled trustees. With all due to respect to you, maaam, we had Walsh Gallegos in the past and we were given false information, so that was the purpose of going with a different law firm, trustee Juan Mancha said. So were taking a step back, is the way I see it. Mancha suggested seeking proposals from other firms but Castleberry cautioned against the lengthy process. I would not want you to start the new year without having the resources of a school law firm to support you in addressing the issues that are likely to arise, she said. On ExpressNews.com: In lawsuit maneuver, school trustees in San Antonio vote to admit their board broke the law Mondays agenda called for the board to consider reinstalling Walsh Gallegos while keeping Sanchez and Wilson responsible for a narrow set of legal matters, including those related to new construction. But trustee Elizabeth Limon moved to designate Walsh Gallegos for all the districts legal work, cutting out Sanchez and Wilson altogether. Lawyer Woody Wilson argued that his firm should remain on a pending case involving a contract in front of the Texas Attorney Generals Office that he is representing the district on. Board President Ricardo Moreno moved to amend the motion to keep Sanchez and Wilson for specific matters outlined in the agenda item, and got a second from trustee Zeke Mendoza. But both Moreno and Mendoza also voiced objections to bringing back Walsh Gallegos. Moreno said the firm had not communicated effectively or efficiently in the past and that he didnt believe it had acted in the best interest of the board and district. Mendoza said people who saw the agenda item called him wanting to know why the board was considering Walsh Gallegos again. I cant give them that answer because I myself dont know why, Mendoza said. I have to answer to the people that voted me into this office. Castleberry could not be reached for comment Tuesday. The vote was unanimous but immediately after it was taken, trustee Christine Carrillo said she opposed the motion and wanted to switch her vote. Castleberry then issued a directive to clarify things in favor of the motion. Julie Gimble, president of the Harlandale Education Association, the districts Texas State Teachers Association affiliate, spoke ahead of the vote during public comments. Whose bright idea is this to bring back the attorneys that were in place during actions the board took that were slammed in the TEA investigation, Gimble asked. Instead of going forward, youre going backward. Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Krista, become a subscriber. Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva Russell Hill and his 'camping buddy' Carol Clay had been in a secret relationship for years before they vanished without a trace in the Victorian wilderness. Mr Hill, 74, went camping with Ms Clay, 73, in the remote Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria's Gippsland region on March 19 and have not been heard from since. Daily Mail Australia can reveal the pair had been carrying out a secret affair for years behind the back of Mr Hill's wife Robyn, who has described Ms Clay as a 'long time family friend'. Mr Hill's wife Robyn, 71, said her husband (pictured, left) had been friendly with Carol Clay (right) for decades but had no idea they were travelling together when he went missing 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 Months of searches have found no trace of the pair. Detective Stamper believes if the pair were still in the valley, searchers would have found some evidence While the relationship was largely hidden from Mr Hill's devastated wife, it has been well known to police since the pair were reported missing by Mrs Hill days after her husband last made contact via radio. When questioned about the couple's relationship in April, Victoria Police Missing Persons Squad Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper skirted around the question. 'It is delicate and we are being very respectful of both families wishes and concerns here,' he said at the time. 'Both of these people have large and loving families who are grieving at the moment, and they want answers about where their loved ones are.' While detectives probed the couple's relationship, it was quickly ruled out as a likely reason for their mysterious disappearance. Police are confident the pair did not fake their own deaths and do not believe it's case of murder suicide. The key to unlocking the case may have gone up in flames in a fire that destroyed their campsite. Mr Hill's Toyota four-wheel-drive had been found by local police next to his burnt-out tent, but the pair were gone without a trace. The vehicle itself had also sustained damage in the fire, but was still able to be driven away from the scene. At the time, police had believed the fire was probably started by a dodgy phone charger and that the couple had simply been lost in the forest. Victorians were about to be placed into a COVID-19 lockdown that would continue for months on end. Police sources have told Daily Mail Australia that police remained open minded about exactly what had happened to the pair. Last month, bizarre new details emerged of an 'oddball loner' living in the Victorian Alps, who has been questioned over a number of mysterious disappearances. Victoria Police Missing Persons Squad Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper is leading the investigation into the mystery The pair went missing in the Wonnangatta Valley, more than 200km north east of Melbourne Personal belongings (circled) were left in Russell Hill's vehicle, which sustained fire damage when his tent went up in flames Known as 'Buttons' or ominously, 'the Button Man', the expert bushman became a person of interest after concerns about his odd behaviour was raised by locals. He is understood to have earned his nickname due to his hobby of using deer antlers to make buttons - which he then uses as large ear piercings. 'Being creepy is not illegal,' a police source has told Daily Mail Australia. A police source confirmed there was nothing to indicate the mysterious loner had killed the couple, but what happened to them remains unknown. 'We don't think they're in Queensland living (a secret) life. They're too old really to drop off the grid and why would they?' the source said. Police believe it is more likely than not that the pair met with foul play while out in the remote wilderness. The area itself is considered an ideal spot to commit murder. Phone reception is practically nil and unlike some other areas popular with hikers, the remote Wonnangatta Valley does not see a lot of foot or road traffic. Mr Hill had left his Drouin home on March 19 for a camping trip along the Dargo River in Victoria's northeast and planned to leave the region on March 26. Ms Clay, meanwhile, had told friends she was going away for a few days and expected to be home by March 28 or 29. Carol Clay, 73, who was once the President of the Country Women's Association of Victoria, had been in a relationship with Russell Hill for many years in the lead up to their disappearance 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 Russell Hill and Carol Clay were last heard from on March 20, with Mr Hill's wife unaware he was travelling with another woman Mr Hill had been a keen amateur radio enthusiast and made his last broadcast from the bush in the days before his disappearance. 'This place is in the middle of nowhere,' the source said. 'It's just problematic in the extreme.' While cold-blooded murder was an avenue of investigation, detectives remain open to all kinds of scenarios. 'There are a lot of people who go up there and do illegal stuff. Like people who go hunting in the national park and ride motorcycles. Has he had a dispute with one of them that turned bad?' the source said. Police initially believed that perhaps the couple had died after Mr Hill lost his drone in the bush and the pair tried to retrieve it. Russell Hill hangs onto a drone that he had with him when he went missing. The drone has not been found despite an extensive search of the area A drone similar to the one that remains missing The drone remains missing despite an extensive search that ended on April 6 without anyone finding a trace of them. If wild dogs had found the pair before police, remains would have likely been found in the days and weeks after. The source said despite the delay in the Missing Person Squad being brought into investigate the case, the fire ravaged camp site was thoroughly investigated at the time. Police are desperate for people who may have been in the area at the time to let them know so that they can be ruled out of the investigation. Detectives are also keen to learn if anyone may be hanging onto dash cam footage that could help identify other leads. It is understood the case remained 'very wide open'. 'It's a genuine mystery,' the source said. Anyone with information is urged to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 00 With Gov. Greg Abbott saying Texas has abundant hospital beds, County Judge Mark Keough continued his positive outlook on the current COVID-19 pandemic as the number of patients hospitalized in the county with the coronavirus remained at an all time low of just seven Tuesday. During a Tuesday press conference, Abbott said COVID-19 still exists in the United States, including Texas, but added medical facilities were prepared to handle new cases. This will continue to be the cases for a few more months until we have medicines available to treat people who are positive for COVID-19 and until we can get medicine to protect people from COVID-19, he said. We remain laser focused on maintain hospital capacity. According to information from the Montgomery County Public Health Department, the number of active cases grew to 538 Tuesday, up 40 from 491 Monday. Of those active, 531 were in self-isolation with just seven hospitalized. To date, 788 people have recovered. The number of deaths remained at 33. Although we have seen an increase in positive cases as a result of increased testing, the incidences of hospitalizations have continued to drop and we continue to support the governors efforts at reopening Texas at full capacity as soon as possible, Keough said. Keough also noted he was not concerned about a capacity issue if a potential second wave of COVID-19 hits later this year. At current pace at which hospitalizations have continued to drop we dont see a situation where our hospitals will become overwhelmed, he said. Both the hospitals and our county are better prepared for any increases with our access to supplies that were not available a few months ago. The MCHD/MCPHD COVID-19 Call Center is open for residents needing COVID-19 testing through the countys voucher program, or for general questions. Call 936-523-5040 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. cdominguez@hcnonline.com Online availability and do-it-yourself (DIY) installation makes entry-level remote irrigation monitoring more accessible than ever. OMAHA, Neb., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN), a leading global manufacturer and distributor of irrigation and infrastructure equipment and technology, today announced that U.S. and Canada customers can now purchase FieldNET Pivot Watch, the industry's leading remote irrigation monitoring solution, on Amazon. "Our goal is to make irrigation monitoring accessible for every grower. To do that, we need to meet growers where they are, and that is increasingly online," said Brad Dunbar, aftermarket manager at Lindsay Corporation. "Now that it's available on Amazon, we've made it even easier for our U.S. and Canada customers to purchase FieldNET Pivot Watch and begin remotely monitoring their pivots - at any time and from anywhere." An ultra-low-cost solution, FieldNET Pivot Watch offers reporting on the flow of water and current pivot position, direction and speed. The solar-powered unit mounts onto any center pivot irrigation system, regardless of age or brand - including hydraulic systems. With integrated cellular connectivity, GPS positioning and other embedded sensors, this solution lets growers monitor their pivot's functions via the FieldNET app 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. "It easily attaches directly to the span pipe - there's no need to connect to the electrical circuitry of the pivot. That means growers can install it themselves," Dunbar said. "Although it is a DIY solution, Amazon customers will be connected to a local Zimmatic dealer and also have access to the FieldNET Customer Support team, meaning they can expect top-notch support at every level." The first year monitor-only FieldNET subscription is included with the price of the FieldNET Pivot Watch. The FieldNET app also provides access to FieldNET Advisor, an automated irrigation scheduling tool that will help them make faster, better-informed irrigation decisions. The FieldNET Pivot Watch package available on Amazon is priced at $440 USD and comes with a water pressure transducer. Growers may also purchase FieldNET Pivot Watch - with or without a pressure transducer - through their local Zimmatic dealer. For more information about FieldNET Pivot Watch, talk to a local Zimmatic dealer or visit www.PivotWatch.com. About Lindsay Corporation Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN) is a leading global manufacturer and distributor of irrigation and infrastructure equipment and technology. Established in 1955, the company has been at the forefront of research and development of innovative solutions to meet the food, fuel, fiber and transportation needs of the world's rapidly growing population. The Lindsay family of irrigation brands includes Zimmatic center pivot and lateral move agricultural irrigation systems and FieldNET remote irrigation management and scheduling technology as well as irrigation consulting and design and industrial IoT solutions. Also a global leader in the transportation industry, Lindsay Transportation Solutions manufactures equipment to improve road safety and keep traffic moving on the world's roads, bridges and tunnels, through the Barrier Systems, Road Zipper and Snoline brands. For more information about Lindsay Corporation, visit www.Lindsay.com. FieldNET, FieldNET Advisor, FieldNET Pivot Watch, Zimmatic, Barrier Systems, Road Zipper and Snoline are trademarks or registered trademarks of Lindsay Corporation and/or its affiliates. SOURCE Lindsay Corporation Related Links http://www.lindsay.com yorkfoto/iStockBy GABRIELLA ABDUL-HAKIM and KENDALL KARSON, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- Local candidates are finding creative ways to campaign during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Keybo Taylor recently ran for Gwinnett County Sheriff in Georgia. It was his first campaign. Taylor said he usually has an easy time speaking with people he meets, and prior to the pandemic, he felt he was finding his footing during this year's political cycle -- but then COVID-19 hit and upended the election season. Campaigns ranging from the top of the ticket presidential primaries to down-ballot local and state races were forced to campaign digitally amid lockdown orders. "So, just as I felt like I was getting comfortable [campaigning], then all of a sudden the virus hit," Taylor told ABC News. The shelter-in-place order for Georgia began on April 3, and primaries were originally scheduled for May 19 but were ultimately pushed back to June 9 due to the spread of the virus. Taylor and his team had to find new ways to spread his message. "It changed the whole dynamics of what we were doing," he said. Through mailers, Zoom calls and social media, they were able to contact potential voters. For Taylor, setting up a campaign was already a tough new experience to navigate, and the added digital pressure made it more frustrating. Times of crisis have forced candidates like Taylor to learn the challenges that come with building a virtual campaign trail. For his campaign, Taylor's family members became his Zoom technicians, and he learned to adjust to campaigning over video conferencing, experiencing everything from awkward lag times to learning to stay engaged with an audience that's not in the same room. During a virtual town hall on April 9, Taylor was muted after going over his allotted two-minute answer time. He ultimately didn't get to finish answering the question, and he was unsure if voters were able to get the full message. "Sometimes you may miss some information and you may not get out what you actually intended," Taylor said. "It's just different, and it's taking some getting used to." Taylor narrowly lost the Democratic primary to fellow newcomer Curtis Clemons, who was backed by several elected officials. The initial awkward phase that plagues most Zoom calls is an unsettling hump to overcome -- but for some candidates, the new normal has brought an unexpected way to connect to voters. U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel has held his seat in Congress for over 30 years. On June 2, he was overheard on a hot mic saying, "If I didn't have a primary, I wouldn't care," when referencing the protests over George Floyd and police brutality in New York City. It was a startling revelation in the eyes of candidate Jamaal Bowman, a Bronx middle school principal who is hoping to oust this longtime incumbent during New York's primaries on June 23. "That's heartbreaking that someone who's been in office 31 years could say that and feel that way," Bowman told ABC News. As someone who is invested and deeply cares about his local community, he wants to make sure that those who feel disenfranchised by the government have a voice -- something which ordinarily would be difficult during a pandemic that constricts contact. However, he said, pivoting to a virtual campaign wasn't the biggest challenge. Instead, it was the psychological effects that took a toll. Bowman said, "It was the emotional stress and trauma of actually living through a pandemic -- a pandemic that no one really understood." He described the trauma as a "collective experience" that actually made virtual canvassing more personable. "We were missing human connection," Bowman explained. "So that made a phone call that much more powerful, you know, making a call and connecting with someone and not talking about the campaign and not asking for money, but asking people, 'How are [you] doing?'" For younger candidates, the transition has been fairly smooth. Already tech savvy, having to adjust to a digital campaign was a welcome challenge. Jake Tonkel is running for San Jose City Council (District 6) in California. Although his campaign relied heavily on door knocking, he had a strong social media presence from the beginning. But as California began shutting down, he too had to pivot from his traditional grassroots outreach techniques. "We made a really quick decision that now it's about getting resources to the community," Tonkel told ABC News. "It went from resource engagements to education, and then jumping into volunteer work." Tonkel struggles with building trust with people he has never met. Before the pandemic, his team decided against doing many live videos, but as that is one of the only ways to communicate these days, his position changed. "Now we're trying to make it more engaging and more entertaining and a bit more concrete," he explained. "I'm excited about how we've been able to take my personality and build it into our social media platform." As the world moves into a new coronavirus-laced era, successful community outreach will inevitably continue to transform. Under normal circumstances, the basic steps to running a successful campaign are figuring out what motivates a candidate to run, building a platform and a strong team, understanding what drives voters and finding donors. But nothing is normal during a pandemic. As of now, there are no more rallies, and many events have been postponed indefinitely. The Democratic Convention was moved from July to August, and it's still up to debate on whether or not delegates will actually attend. Getting to know people and their problems through personal interactions is why many politicians answer the call for public service, but COVID-19 has taken those encounters away. "[It] really makes a difference to be in the voters community and [to] be in an iconic location," Lynn Vavreck, a professor of American politics and public policy at UCLA, told ABC News. "[It] helps people feel like the candidate understands their experience." Although states are beginning to reopen in phases, social distancing measures are still heavily in effect. Safely campaigning face-to-face may not be a possibility before the upcoming November elections. "[The] electioneering tactics that people use like direct mail, radio advertising, signs in yards, billboards -- all those things are going to stay exactly the same," said Vavreck. "The part that does change is the retail politics, the contact. Candidates are going to have to be really creative about how they make contact with people." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. New Delhi: Following reports of overcharging by private healthcare providers for COVID-19 treatment, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asked the states and Union Territories to engage with the private healthcare providers and work out a reasonable cost. In order to ensure that patients receive prompt, good quality and care at reasonable rates, it has been suggested to States to have consultations with the local private healthcare providers and arrive at reasonable rates, while factoring in cost elements for personal safety equipments for healthcare providers," the communique read. The ministry further said that once the rates are fixed, they must be widely publicized, so that the infrastructural capacities are used optimally. "States have also been asked to proactively engage with the private sector health providers and consider pooling in public and private healthcare facilities, as this will help in providing prompt, good quality and reasonable health care to COVID-19 patients," health ministry said. Another 10K cases on Tuesday India has added another 10,000+ cases to its coronavirus tally on Tuesday even as the recovery rate of patients continued to rise. Till Tuesday morning, 52.46 per cent of the positive patients have been discharged, which is over 1.38 per cent point higher than Monday. A total of 1,80,012 patients have been cured of COVID-19 till now while 1,53,178 cases are still under medical supervision. India has so far logged in 3,43,091 lakh cases, out of which 10,667 were fresh. The number of new deaths were 380 taking the total death toll to 9,900. Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu continued to register high number of cases and about 75 per cent of total cases in India are reported from these 3 states alone. Of the 380 new deaths, Maharashtra accounted for the highest 178 fatalities followed by Delhi at 73, Tamil Nadu at 44, Gujarat 28, Haryana 12, West Bengal 10, Rajasthan nine and Madhya Pradesh six. Andhra Pradesh and Punjab have reported four fatalities each, Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka three each, Telangana two and Bihar, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala one each. Maharashtra recovery rate improving, TN to be shutdown Even though cases in Maharashtra continue to increase, the recovery rate too is improving. On Monday, Maharashtra discharged 5,071 COVID-19 patients while in Mumbai 4242 persons got cured. The recovery rate in Maharashtra is now 47 per cent. State chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has decided to allow opening of schools physically in rural areas. Mumbai's suburban train services too will resume from Tuesday but only for the staff of state government. In view of rising cases, Tamil Nadu government has announced a complete lockdown in places like Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpet, and Kancheepuram from June 19 to 30. Delhi, however, is still not going to be shut down, its chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said. Incidentally, Delhi is reporting highest increases for the last few days. Railways swings into action Meanwhile, Railways has so far deployed 204 isolation coaches in four states. Officials said Railways will insulate the roofs of these isolation coaches deployed in areas which experience high temperatures to make their interiors cooler and more comfortable for patients since all isolation wards are non-AC coaches. For Delhi, at least 50 coaches with 800 beds have already been stationed at Shakur Basti railway station but none of them are in use so far. Another 500 more such isolation coaches for Covid-19 patients will be deployed in Delhi. In order to combat shortage of beds, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana are exploring the possibility of using such coaches. Three Mile Island, the site of Americas worst commercial nuclear accident, left a fraught history as one reactor famously melted down in 1979 and the other was mothballed last year amid a downturn in the nuclear industry. Its legacy is getting even more complicated. The United Arab Emirates can work with Israel on some areas, including fighting the new coronavirus and on technology, while still having political differences with the state, a senior official said on Tuesday. Addressing a conference of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a leading Jewish advocacy group, minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash said communication with Israel was important and would yield better results than other routes taken in the past. His question and answer session, described as "historic" by the AJC, comes days after another senior official made a rare appeal to the Israeli public by having an article published in Hebrew in Israel's leading newspaper, saying Israel cannot expect to normalise relations with the Arab world if it annexes land in the occupied West Bank. Israel has no diplomatic relations with Gulf Arab countries, but common concerns over Iran's regional influence have led to a limited thaw in ties. In May, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad made the first known flight by a UAE carrier to Israel, carrying coronavirus-related aid for the Palestinians. "Can I have a political disagreement with Israel but at the same time try and bridge other areas of the relationship? I think I can and I think this is fundamentally where we are," Gargash said. He added that cooperation on the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic does not affect the UAE's opposition to the proposed annexation or other political issues. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi: The two staff members of the Indian mission in Islamabad, who were detained for over 12 hours on Monday and were released later in the evening, were reportedly thrashed, manhandled and were forced to confess of their involvement in a hit-and-run case. According to ANI reports, the Indian staffers, who are working as drivers in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, were picked up by around 15 to 16 armed persons who had come in 5-6 cars at around 8:30-45 hours from a petrol station close to the mission. They were blindfolded with a rucksack thrown over their heads and handcuffed and were then taken to an unknown destination, the report said. The Indian officials were regularly punched, beaten with rods and wooden sticks and were made to drink filthy water. The abductors made multiple videos in which the High Commission officials were forced to confess under duress that they had committed an accident. Armed men also forced the Indian staffers to confess that alleged Intelligence officials in the High Commission compel them to bring people from outside in their cars for meetings inside the High Commission. Reports said they were interrogated regarding the specific role and function of all High Commission officials down to the lowest staff. During the interrogation, they were repeatedly threatened that this is how the other members of the High Commission would be treated as well in future. Following the investigation, the drivers were then taken for a medical checkup where they were also injected with what was claimed to be a tetanus shot. On Monday, at around 9 pm, they were handed back to the Indian High Commission and although they were able to walk, they carried extensive injury marks to their neck, face, thighs and rear, indicating extensive manhandling. On Monday evening, the Minister of External Affairs summoned Pakistan's Charge d'affaires to India Syed Hyder Shah after two officials of Indian High Commission in Islamabad went missing. In the demarche, it was made clear to the Pakistani CDA that there should be no interrogation or harassment of the Indian officials and the responsibility for their safety and security lay squarely with the Pakistani authorities. The sources added that Indian also asked Pakistan to ensure the return of two Indian officials along with the official car to Indian High Commission in Islamabad immediately. The missing of Indian staffers on June 15 morning had come a few days after India had expelled two Pakistani High Commission officials in Delhi after they were caught red-handed for spying against India. The two Pakistani officials worked in the visa section of the High Commission in New Delhi. On May 31, the Indian authorities had nabbed two Pakistani High Commission officials in Delhi's Karol Bagh while they were trying to source a sensitive document. For this act of espionage, India had declared them as persona non grata and both were sent back to Islamabad on June 1. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft have generated a lot of excitement by announcing that they will, at least for a while, stop selling facial recognition software to police departments. Municipalities have imposed moratoriums. Some activists are calling for an outright ban, on the grounds that the technology can disproportionately and wrongly identify people of color as criminals. If only it could make a bigger difference. Concerns about facial recognition are well founded. There are no rules governing tolerance for errors that can ruin peoples lives. Vendors often make unrealistic promises, causing police to do silly things like overstate the softwares reliability. And even good technology can perpetuate racial bias: In New York City, for example, the identification database consists largely of the disproportionately black and brown people whom the police have already processed Unfortunately, even the best efforts of three big companies cant stop the technologys spread or misuse. Licensing agreements might allow police departments to use parts of it even if they cant use specific algorithms. Plenty of other purveyors, such as Clearview AI and Palantir, are available to fill the breach. And federal law enforcement agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will be hard to cut off. The biggest issue, though, is that any effort to curb facial recognition runs counter to the countrys efforts to combat terrorism. Back in 2005, Congress adopted the Real ID Act to address a problem that the 9/11 attacks exposed: 18 out of the 19 terrorists involved had acquired fake IDs from local departments of vehicles. The legislation requires officials to verify that any individual has only one license -- a task that entails, among other things, collecting biometric data and sharing them among different state and federal agencies. Despite various delays and some resistance from states (Maine initially opposed it), the requirements look likely to go into effect from October 2021. All U.S. states and territories must comply, or the identification documents they issue will become useless for domestic travel. Its hard to see how they will do so without subjecting people to facial recognition technology. Many already use it and share their databases. (And yes, things get confusing for identical twins.) Story continues Full disclosure: I have a company that audits algorithms for bias, and we worked with the Washington State Department of Licensing on facial recognition. One thing I found encouraging was that as a sanctuary state, Washington doesnt share records with ICE, so people getting drivers licenses dont have to worry about the information being used to deport them. On the other hand, this means that when the whole system is up and running, undocumented immigrants in non-sanctuary states probably will have to worry. In short, Congress would have to change the Real ID Act before bans on facial recognition could be meaningfully enacted. This, in turn, would require Americans to think hard about what really matters: protecting ourselves from devious terrorists trying to game our systems, or defending the vulnerable among us and upholding civil liberties? Unfortunately, those interests are all too often in opposition. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Cathy ONeil is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. She is a mathematician who has worked as a professor, hedge-fund analyst and data scientist. She founded ORCAA, an algorithmic auditing company, and is the author of Weapons of Math Destruction. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Cases of the novel coronavirus in American prisons and jails have doubled over the last month. There are more than 68,000 inmates confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, reported The New York Times. According to the newspaper, the five largest-known clusters across the country are in correctional institutions, prison complexes and jails. Additionally, deaths among prisoners have soared by nearly 75 percent over the last four weeks. Over the last month, coronavirus cases among prison inmates have more than doubled to more than 68,000. Pictured: Inmates gather outside of tents at the Federal Correctional Institute Terminal Island prison in Los Angeles, California, May 1 The five largest-known clusters across the US are in correctional institutions, prison complexes and jails including two in Ohio. Pictured: An inmate cleans a jail cell at Las Colinas Women's Detention Facility in Santee, California, April 22 The Times reports that the largest cluster is at the Marion Correctional Institution in Marion, Ohio, with nearly 2,500 cases. In the same state, at the Pickaway Correctional Institution in Scioto Township, there are more than 1,700 confirmed infections. This means there are some prisons in the US that have more cases of the virus than in entire countries. For example, Cyprus, with a population of about 1.17 million, has only had 985 cases of COVID-19. Additionally, in New Zealand, which had an infamous two-week run of no cases, only 1,156 people have contracted the virus. Part of the problem is that the pandemic has been particularly challenging for inmates inside jails and prisons. Many correctional facilities are overcrowded or have common areas where social distancing cannot be practiced. There is often insufficient amounts of soap in bathroom to wash their hands and a lack of access to cleaning supplies such as hand sanitizer and wipes. As states have ramped up testing, it's become more clear how widespread the problem is. In Texas, more than 7,400 inmates have tested positive for the virus, and at least 54 prisoners and eight staff members have died from it. Meanwhile, New York has tested just 1,200 of it's approximately 40,000 inmates, but about 40 percent of those tested are confirmed to have coronavirus. According to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, 16 inmates and five workers have died from COVID-19. 'We have really no true idea of how bad the problem is because most places are not yet testing the way they should,' Dr Homer Venters, former chief medical officer for the New York City jail system, told The Times. 'I think a lot of times some of the operational challenges of either not having adequate quarantine policies or adequate medical isolation policies are so vexing that places simply decide that they can just throw up their hands.' This has led to thousands of prisoners across the country being freed in an effort to stop an outbreak from occurring behind bars. However, victims are often left angry that perpetrators are walking free and people in neighborhoods are worried about crime spikes. So, some prisons have turned to a different method A new report from Unlock the Box, a coalition fighting against solitary confinement, say more prisoners are being kept in isolation to prevent outbreaks. The report says that before the pandemic, 60,000 people were in solitary confinement. Now, it's up to around 300,000 people - a 400 percent spike. Advocates disagree that this is an appropriate solution and are worried that the restrictions will remain for many prisoners even after the pandemic is over. BRIDGEPORT On the fourth day of a campout outside the Bridgeport Police Department, members of Justice for Jayson have again called on the citys police chief to fire the officer involved in the 2017 deadly shooting that killed 15-year-old Jayson Negron. The Justice for Jayson members, as well as members from various other organizations across Connecticut, have been camped outside the citys police headquarters since Saturday, demanding a face-to-face meeting with the City Council to discuss police reform. During a call to action Tuesday afternoon, Justice for Jayson backed by various other groups including the Connecticut Bail Fund and Black Lives Matter New Haven demanded that Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez fire Officer James Boulay, the officer who fired the shots that killed Negron. An investigation by state police into the shooting cleared Boulay of criminal wrong-doing. In the description of a Facebook group regarding Tuesdays event, Negrons sister, Jazmarie Melendez, said they will not leave until the chief fires Boulay. We are occupying this police department until AJ Perez fires James Boulay, Melendez wrote. Perez has the sole and absolute and ultimate power to fire James Boulay ... If Perez does not act now he must resign. The city did not immediatly respond to request for comment Tuesday afternoon on the renewed demand of Boulays firing. Justice for Jayson was formed in the aftermath of Negrons death. The group has held multiple demonstrations over the years, demanding, among other things, that Boulay be fired. On May 9, 2017, Negron led officers on a brief pursuit in a stolen vehicle, according to the report from Waterbury States Attorney Maureen Platt, who oversaw the Connecticut State Police investigation into the shooting. Boulay fired after he was hit by the door of the vehicle Negron was driving. Platts report stated that Boulay was justified in pulling the trigger. Not everyone agrees. Negrons family and friends, along with other organizations and community members, have spent more than three years demanding Boulay be fired and charged with murder in Negrons death. Tuesdays demands also included that the City Council immediately divest from the police budget and invest that money into the Bridgeport Public School system, safe housing and community-run mental health services. The occupation outside police headquarters was the groups way of applying pressure to the state to meet their demands, Melendez wrote in the Facebook page description of the event. No more death. No more violence, Melendez said. (Monrovia, Liberia - Tuesday, June 16, 2020) The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection applauds His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia for nominating Mrs. Davidetta Browne Lansanah and Cllr. Teplah Reeves as Chairman and Co-chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) respectively. The political will exhibited by President Weah to empower and nominate women to positions of influence further demonstrates his commitment to championing the rights of women as a Feminist-In-Chief. Historically, the National Elections Commission (NEC) is for the first time witnessing a soar in numbers of females occupying top positions. Gender holds the view that these women will deliver accordingly in discharging their responsibilities evidenced by the enviable reputable integrity and competence exhibited in their previous positions held. President Weah has set in motion an irreversible milestone of Liberia achieving Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which calls for Gender Equality. Goal 5 requires United Nations member states to ensure womens full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic, and public life. Additionally, Liberia is also achieving Pillar One - (Power To The People) of Liberia's Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) which amongst many things talks about empowering women and girls by reducing women inequality in political, social, and economic life. The Ministry encourages all women to keep pursuing excellence and believe in the mantra that says "What a man can do, a woman can do the same". FILE PHOTO: A trader reacts on a floor of the Philippine Stock Exchange. REUTERS/John Javellana By Ian Sayson Philippine stocks slumped the most in two months as overseas funds dumped the nations equities after remittances from overseas Filipinos in March contracted the most in two years. Details: The Philippine Stock Exchange Index tumbled 4.8%, led by property and consumer companies The nations biggest shopping mall operator SM Prime Holdings Inc. sank 7.8%, while its parent SM Investments Corp. fell 3.8%. They were the two biggest contributors to the benchmarks decline Consumer companies such as Universal Robina Corp. fell 4.4%, while LT Group Inc. dropped 3.4% Overseas remittances, which account for about a 10th of gross domestic product, fell 4.7% in March from a year earlier, the most since March 2018. The central bank on Thursday forecast the funds to decline 5% this year, their first contraction since 2001. The drop spells weak consumer spending, adding pressure to a market already bound to retreat given the benchmark stock indexs valuation close to its 10-year average, said Rachelle Cruz, analyst at AP Securities Inc. in Manila. Those looking to buy the dip should stick to strong stocks that are still discounted at this point, Cruz said. She recommends shares of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., LT Group Inc., Alliance Global Group Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. IPO Stocks also dropped as they played catch up with Fridays selloff in regional markets when the Philippines was on holiday, according to Lex Azurin, an analyst at AB Capital Securities Inc. President Rodrigo Duterte is also due to decide Monday whether quarantine restrictions will be eased. On the bright side, grocer MerryMart Consumer Corp. soared 50% on its first trading day after completing a 1.6 billion peso ($32 million) initial public offering. Chief Executive Officer Edgar Injap Sia said the retailer sees more opportunities to grow amid the pandemic. Overseas investors sold $23.46 million in Philippine equities, the biggest withdrawal since April 16 and paring this months inflow to $38.3 million. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. June 16 : Sushant Singh Rajput's sudden demise left his fans and colleagues in shock. The actor was reportedly found hanging in his Mumbai apartment. However, no suicide note was found in the house. The post-mortem report has proved that it is death due to suicide. A person who commits suicide there is often a stigma attached to mental illness, including depression and anxiety. Actor Sana Khan who is popularly known as ex-contestant of Bigg boss, expressed her views on the same. Sana took to her Instagram handle and said that suicide is Haram. She has also urged the people to not to give up their life in any circumstances. In fact, they should stand brave and fight their depression and anxiety. Speaking more on this Sana said that one should be very tough as the life is rough. The Instagram feed of Sana read, Life is rough, So be tough. Not on urself but on people who think they can break you n play around with you as if u are a toy. Dont ever give up on life coz of some idiots u encountered n treated them way above their level coz u have a good heart n soul n most importantly a great upbringing Stand for yourself talk about it n fight ur depression and anxiety. Coz those donkeys dont care about you, your life, your family or ur emotions coz of their poor upbringing which is disgusting n they will have loads of flying donkeys and monkeys around them to clap for tht behaviour n motivate them coz they also belong from the same category. People who support such people are also equal culprits. Its sad people stand up in ur support when u dead but when u alive n u talk it seems u watching ur dirty linens in public or its a publicity or its their private matter we dont knw both side n what not nonsense. Plz dont give up on life Suicide is HARAM" Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery A Georgia woman is being held on $1 million bond in Jefferson County after authorities say she brought two teen girls to Homewood to prostitute them. Homewood police on Tuesday announced the arrest of Marlette Lychelle Smith. The 26-year-old suspect is from Rome, Ga. Sgt. John Carr said Homewood police on June 3 received information that two female juveniles ages 15 and 16 were possibly victims of human trafficking. Both girls are from California. Officers went to a hotel in the Oxmoor Road area and found the two teens. They were rescued by police and then referred to a local victim advocacy agency for additional help. Homewood investigations, along with the FBI, determined the girls had been trafficked from Memphis to Atlanta and then Homewood. They identified Smith as the suspect and obtained a warrant against her on June 12. She was booked into the Jefferson County Jail the following day and remains behind bars. Smith is charged with first-degree human trafficking. No additional details have yet been made available. Many more students than usual will return to school this fall having experienced trauma. Some will have witnessed loved ones struggle with a frightening and unpredictable illness and some will even have lost family or friends to COVID-19. Others will have suffered from sudden food and housing insecurity as a result of the swift and deep pandemic-caused recession. Still others will have experienced the killings of George Floyd and others at the hands of police as a trauma or have been affected by destruction in their communities following protests against police violence and racism. Research gives us some reliable ideas about which children are most likely to be traumatized by these recent events, how to identify them, and how schools can respond. Children who were thriving prior to these events and whose families escaped largely unscathed will likely be fine , research suggests. Children who were already experiencing emotional or behavioral difficulties or whose family and community were hit hard by COVID-19 and racial injustice may not be so fortunate. Traumatized children are more likely than other children to end up in conflict with peers and teachers, to be absent from school, and to encounter academic difficulty." Some background: Children affected by whats called adverse childhood eventsoften enumerated as abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, being victimized by crime, or witnessing violencecan develop emotional or behavioral difficulties from trauma-related stress. Addressing childhood trauma has come onto schools radar in the past few years, in part because of the large number of childrenup to two-thirdswho experience at least one adverse event. Traumatized children are more likely than others to end up in conflict with peers and teachers, to be absent from school, and to encounter academic difficulty. Children subject to large-scale traumatic events, like natural weather disasters or political violence, may show similar symptoms , at least in the short term. Research on childhood trauma suggests two concrete actions for schools and districts. First, districts can screen for trauma when school restarts, either in person or online, in the fall. Then, in places where the events of this year have showed up as trauma, schools can implement programs that promote child coping skills and support teachers in their work helping mitigate students trauma symptoms. School-based screening instruments focus first on a childs exposure to traumatic events, for instance, job loss or a death in the family. Next, the instrument seeks to uncover emotional or behavioral symptoms related to that exposure. Several screening tools are available, including one specifically for COVID-19 trauma. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have adapted the PTSD Reaction Index, which is itself a well-researched instrument. The COVID-19 version is short, containing fewer than 20 items for most children. Because of its brevity, the tool may not cover all the ways children can be affected by the pandemic, and schools may want to augment the UCLA list with other stressors common in their local community. Schools in communities affected by police violence and its aftermath may want a more comprehensive screener. These include: the Structured Trauma-Related Experiences and Symptoms Screener (STRESS) the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS), and the Child Reaction to Traumatic Events (CRTES). About this series This essay is the 10th in a series that aims to put the pieces of research together so that education decisionmakers can evaluate which policies and practices to implement. The conveners of this projectSusanna Loeb, the director of Brown Universitys Annenberg Institute for School Reform, and Harvard education professor Heather Hillhave received grant support from the Annenberg Institute for this series. To suggest other topics for this series or join in the conversation, use #EdResearchtoPractice on Twitter. Read the full series here . Most useful from these instruments will be the portion that screens for trauma symptoms. Again, schools may need to adapt the exposure sections of the instruments by writing items related to either or both of this springs health and social upheavals. All of the above tools are available for download for free and can be completed by children themselves. Schools that wish to have teachers report on childrens trauma can use the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk ScreenerTeacher Rating Scale (SAEBRS-TRS ), another well-researched instrument . Researchers note that these screening instruments are not diagnostic. Not all children who experience traumatic events show emotional and behavioral symptoms and not all children who report those symptoms require treatment. Further screening may be needed, possibly by mental-health clinicians within schools. Then, if screening or observation suggest students are suffering from trauma, schools and districts can adopt programs that give students tools to cope. In a review, University of Notre Dame researchers Kaitlin Fondren, Kristin Valentino, and colleagues point to several such programs with proven track records . Some programs are designed to be used by students classroom teachers. ERASE-Stress, an Israeli program that has addressed childrens mental health in natural disasters and in regions with political violence, reduced childrens post-traumatic stress symptoms, improved their functioning, and gave students more hope. Training is available from the program developer, Rony Berger. Other programs target only children severely affected by trauma, using school-based mental-health staff to deliver the program. The best-studied such program listed in Fondrens review is Bounce Back for elementary children. A companion program, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools , is aimed at adolescents. Both programs have been tested with ethnically diverse student populations and offer free online training for mental-health practitioners at schools. Many other programs in Fondrens review were piloted on a small scale or internationally and do not appear accessible to U.S. schools. As a consequence, schools may wish to create their own. Fondrens review shows that effective programs typically rely on cognitive behavioral therapy, often paired with other approaches like mindfulness, meditation, or art therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy gives users concrete strategies to put fears in perspective and improve emotional regulation. It is a popular treatment method among mental-health clinicians with substantial research evidence supporting its use. Researchers note that it is important to support teachers charged with helping students overcome trauma. This is particularly important now because teachers themselves may have been traumatized this spring and summer. A study following the Christchurch Earthquake in New Zealand found that teachers implementing the ERASE-Stress program experienced fewer post-traumatic stress symptoms and reported more efficacy in working with students to alleviate their stress . Another program, STAT (Support for Teachers Affected by Trauma), is based on principles that are effective in other stress-reduction programs, but it has not yet been evaluated in a study that compared effects between groups randomly assigned to either participate in the program or not. Districts may also want to invest in practices meant to promote positive teacher-student relationships. Student-teacher bonds are a protective factor when students experience trauma, as Ill discuss in a future essay. Whatever may come this summer and through the new school year, its useful to know that some programs have been shown to help students, schools, and teachers through very dark days. In this June 30, 2019, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, left, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, South Korea. AP North Korea kept up criticism of South Korea over anti-Pyongyang leaflets Tuesday, with its main newspaper casting Seoul's plan to crack down on such leafleting as a trick to escape the crisis and warning of a "lightning strike" against South Korean authorities. The remarks came a day after President Moon Jae-in called on North Korea to leave the door open for inter-Korean dialogue, in a video message commemorating the first-ever summit between the leaders of the two Koreas. Last Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae's national security office warned that the government would thoroughly crack down on the act of sending leaflets and related materials to the North and deal strictly with any violation in accordance with the law. But on Tuesday, the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, dismissed Cheong Wa Dae's announcement, saying the strict measures the presidential office has come up with against the leaflet campaign is "merely a measure to escape from crisis." "The world shall see how our people will give a lightning strike on South Korean authorities as punishment and exterminate these scums," said another report carried by the paper. The ex-president is being charged with abuse of office, which led to the allegedly wrongful appointment of a deputy intelligence chief. The Office of Ukraine's Prosecutor General will file a motion with the court to remand former president of Ukraine, now MP Petro Poroshenko in custody as a measure of restraint in a criminal proceeding recently launched against him. Prosecutors will also propose that the court set a UAH 10 million (nearly $370,000) bail, Ukrainian Pravda reports, citing a comment by the Office's press service. The Pechersk District Court in Kyiv will hold its hearing on the issue at 15:00 on Thursday, June 18, Poroshenko's lawyer Ilya Novikov told a briefing. Read alsoPoroshenko could be arrested over alleged issue of "criminal order" As UNIAN reported earlier, the State Bureau of Investigation on June 10 said its detectives had handed Poroshenko a suspicion notice in the case involving the allegedly illegal appointment of former deputy head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Serhiy Semochko. Petro Poroshenko's defense claims charges have not been properly pressed as it is personally Prosecutor General, Iryna Venediktova, they say, who is supposed to hand over a suspicion notice to the MP. Venediktova said Poroshenko was suspected of having wrongfully persuaded a military official (the then-head of the SZR Foreign Intelligence Service) by issuing an allegedly criminal order, to go beyond his official powers. COLUMBUS, OhioState guidelines for reopening Ohio K-12 schools this fall will be announced within the next 10 days, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday. However, the governor again emphasized that it will be up to each of the states 610 school districts to decide how to reopen -- if they reopen at all -- given the coronavirus pandemic. Each school is going to be different, DeWine said during Tuesdays coronavirus briefing, noting that its already up to local officials to decide whether to close schools because of a flu outbreak. DeWine previously said he expects to open up Ohio schools this fall, barring some unforeseen spike in coronavirus cases. A state advisory group is examining exactly how that might work, floating ideas such as having students attend school for two days per week and take online classes the other three days. Ohio lawmakers are also taking initial action on legislation that would guarantee that state-level officials wouldn't be involved in decisions about whether schools should reopen. In general, the governor said, as Ohio's coronavirus restrictions are lifted, state officials will try to address any flare-ups of new infections at the local level, rather than immediately imposing new statewide rules. As we look toward the future, what were going to be looking for in Ohio is the areas where there are problems, DeWine said. And were going to try to look at those areas and deal with those areas and work with local officials. In order for local officials to make such decisions, the governor said state officials have "an obligation to give local authorities adequate information about the spread of the disease in their area. The governor said state officials are still working on a plan for what to do if coronavirus infections and deaths in Ohio begin to rise once again. Read more cleveland.com stories: Summit County declares racism a public health crisis Lawmaker thinks Ohio could raise more education funding through state lottery Erie County judge says Kalahari Resorts can open Sandusky waterpark immediately Ohio House OKs bill to scrap penalties for drivers who dont disclose concealed guns during traffic stops Proposed ban on Confederate memorabilia at Ohio county fairs voted down by House GO Some local bars and restaurants are voluntarily shutting down as San Antonio experiences a rise in COVID-19 hospital admissions and people testing positive for the disease in recent days. Earlier this month, restaurants were allowed to expand to 75 percent occupancy. They were allowed to reopen their dinning rooms May 1 after they were forced to temporarily close in March because of stay home orders issued by the city and Bexar County. Bars can operate at a 50 percent occupancy rate. In recent days, some bars and restaurants have publicly announced when either an employee or customer has tested positive. Some establishments have temporarily closed again while others shut down for only a few days for deep cleaning and have already reopened. Below are some of the San Antonio bars and restaurants that have recently announced temporary closings due to COVID-19. As New Mexicos oil and gas industry struggles with lower prices and slowing production brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, some members of Congress and state officials are urging the U.S. Interior Department to allow operators to temporarily plugs wells until prices stabilize. U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Smalls district includes part of the Permian Basin, one of the most prolific production areas in the U.S. The New Mexico Democrat is among those who have asked for more federal money to plug abandoned wells on state and tribal land. The consequences have been devastating for local economies across southeastern New Mexico, Torres Small said of the downturn in demand. Providing oil and gas operators the flexibility to temporarily shut in their wells will help meet needs where current guidance falls short. She and other supporters say implementing a policy for plugging wells would benefit oil and gas workers, the environment and the economy. She pointed to New Mexicos dependence on the industry for more than one-third of its budget and the jobs that are associated with the oilfield. State labor officials estimate about 4,100 oilfield workers had filed for unemployment as of May 5, as companies cut operations and left the state. While the industry is starting to rebound, Torres Small said theres still a long way to go and that the proposed federal rule making could provide regulatory certainty for operators and reduce the administrative obstacles to ceasing operations of oil and gas wells. The move would mirror an effort by the New Mexico State Land Office to allow for shut-ins on state land. State officials have said shut-in wells would still be inspected for leaks and excessive emissions. Protesters gathered in parks, malls, and other public places in Hong Kong on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of a two-million-strong mass protest, as the city's leader hit out at widespread opposition to a draconian national security law. Around 100 people gathered at the International Financial Center, shouting "Free Hong Kong! Revolution now!" and displaying placards. Some waved a blue-and-white flag representing an "independent Hong Kong," an idea that is anathema to Beijing. A protester surnamed Ng said she was there to mark the two-million march on June 16, 2019. "I think that day was a big awakening for Hong Kong, when people realized they would have to really fight for their freedoms," Ng said. "[The death of] Marco Leung woke up a lot of Hongkongers too." "Everyone feels they should take the risks that they are able to take, and turn out when they can," she said. A protester surnamed Leung said protesters want to keep up their defense of the city's freedoms. "We need to keep this up," Leung said. "The [ruling] Chinese Communist Party has been cracking down on Hong Kong." "I think that Hong Kong independence is the only solution." Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam warned on Tuesday that people who seek to "demonize" Beijing's planned sedition and subversion law for the city are "making themselves the enemy" of the majority of the people. "I call on those who have done everything they can in recent days to smear and demonize this [legislation] to stop, because they are making themselves the enemy of the majority of Hong Kong people," Lam said. 'Subversive, seditious' Beijing has said it will impose national security legislation targeting "actions and activities" deemed subversive, seditious, instigated by foreign forces, or supportive of independence, on the city. In a move widely condemned by foreign governments and rights groups as signaling the end of Hong Kong's autonomy and status as a separate legal jurisdiction, the law will be imposed on the city by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, bypassing Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo). The move has been widely criticized by foreign governments as being in breach of China's obligations under the 1984 treaty governing the 1997 handover of Hong Kong, and as paving the way for further political prosecutions of peaceful critics of the government, democracy campaigners, and rights activists. In her comments on Tuesday, Lam repeated Beijing's claim that the move was made necessary by months of street protests and clashes sparked by her own plans to allow extradition to mainland China. Lam withdrew that legal amendment after months of protest, but pro-democracy politicians and activists say new law will further erode the city's promised freedoms of expression and association, as it will allow China's feared state security police to operate in Hong Kong, a move which was explicitly banned by the city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law. "Hong Kong society has experienced some great upheavals in recent years, and there have been a number of clear threats to national security and Hong Kong's security that have emerged since June last year," Lam said. "We want to find a way back to stability, and plug some legal loopholes in the national security situation," she said. "That is why we are bringing in this legislation, and a system for its enforcement." Law's details unclear But Lam said she couldn't comment in detail on the content of the law, nor which "actions and activities" would be regarded as seditious or subversion, or as harming China's national security. "Only a handful of people who commit acts that violate or endanger national security [will be affected]," Lam said. She listed "splitting the country, subversion of state power, organizing terrorist activities and foreign forces interfering in Hong Kong's affairs" as the main behaviors targeted by the law. Chinese officials have already singled out advocating independence for the city -- expressed as "splitting the country" -- as a threat to national security, while groups or activists with overseas funding or connections could also be targeted, as they have been in mainland China under similar laws. Chinese and Hong Kong officials have commented in recent months that front-line protesters, who have fought back against thousands of canisters of tear gas, rubber bullets, live ammunition, chemically treated water cannon, pepper spray, and batons with petrol bombs, bricks, and other projectiles, are engaging in "terrorist" activities. It is unclear exactly which activities might constitute "subversion of state power," but such charges are routinely used to target peaceful critics of the ruling party in mainland China, including journalists, rights activists, lawyer, and public intellectuals. Lam said the legislation wouldn't affect the rule of law in Hong Kong, judicial independence, nor the "high degree of autonomy" promised as part of the handover arrangements. Reported by Lau Siu-fung for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Jumeirah Group, a global luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, has announced that its Italian property, Capri Palace Jumeirah, will open its doors on June 25. Jumeirah Group announced at the end of last year that it was appointed to operate and manage the renowned Capri Palace. Enjoying an idyllic location in bustling Anacapri, a safe haven and one of the most exclusive and unspoiled parts of the island, the hotel stands high up on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Naples. It fully embodies the Italian Dolce Vita; with an authentic Capri style and far reaching sea views. Designed in the style of an 18th-century Neapolitan palazzo, Capri Palace has attracted the great and the good since it first opened its doors in the 1960s, swiftly establishing itself as the islands most iconic hotel. The hotel will strictly follow the directives of the Italian Government and has extensive preventative measures in place for the safety of all. Health and safety are Jumeirahs top priority for everyone who visits, stays, dines or works with Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts. In line with Jumeirahs commitment to offering exceptional culinary experiences, Capri Palace Jumeirah is home to three of the islands Michelin stars. The hotels signature restaurant LOlivo, which serves Mediterranean classics, has been awarded two stars; while Il Riccio Restaurant & Beach Club is the only one Michelin star beach club in the world. The club, which clings to the rocky coastline, will be open for lunch and dinner and is known for providing some of the best local seafood on the island, especially their sea urchins from which the restaurant takes its name. Ermanno Zanini, General Manager of Capri Palace Jumeirah and Regional Vice President for Italy and Spain, said: We are delighted to welcome our guests back to Capri Palace Jumeirah. Our team have eagerly awaited this moment and are ready to provide the excellent service and unrivalled culinary experiences the hotel is known for, synonymous with Jumeirahs brand values. Art and design are at the heart of this hotel; and the elegant white-washed walls, arched ceilings, and columns create a sense of serenity as soon as guests step through the door. The light and airy interiors are filled with historic and contemporary artwork with tributes to the works of Miro, Magritte and Warhol. The reverence for contemporary art continues in The White Museum collection, dispersed throughout the hotel, which recounts the spirit of Anacapri and includes pieces by De Chirico, Keith Haring, and Pomodoro, amongst others. The tasteful interiors of the open spaces flow into the 68 guest rooms. White, blue and neutral tones create an unmistakably Mediterranean atmosphere, whilst the ceramic tiles and bespoke furniture evoke the sense of an Italian family home, ensuring guests are well rooted in their surroundings. The hotel team will assist with private transfers by speedboat or helicopter, leaving from Naples or Sorrento. - TradeArabia News Service Amazon has revealed a new tool its using to ensure warehouse employees keep socially distant during the coronavirus pandemic. The new Distance Assistant is a combination television screen, depth sensor, and artificially-intelligent camera that can track workers movements. As workers move past the camera, a monitor gives visual information to show if employees are within six feet of one another. If they are at a safe distance, they will be enclosed within a green circle on the screen. If they are not, they will be in a red circle. Our first Distance Assistant installations are now live at a handful of our buildings. Weve heard that employees find value in getting immediate visual feedback, and site leaders are welcoming another safety measure wrote Brad Porter, Amazons VP and head of robotics. Amazon says that hundreds of the units will be deployed over the next few weeks. The company will also open-source the software and artificial intelligence, so other companies can copy it. Amazon is not the only company to develop software like this. Google recently revealed an augmented reality tool that better lets people visualise distances. However, that tool is only available on smartphones and requires visiting a specific website, rather than being used by the company itself. Amazons latest warehouse tool comes at a time when the company has been criticised for its lacklustre response to the coronavirus. Shareholders have asked for data to be released relating to worker and facility safety, as workers complain of unsafe conditions. Moreover, an Amazon vice president Tim Bray resigned in response to the companys coronavirus actions, saying that it was evidence of a vein of toxicity running through the company culture. A worker had previously died at its Staten Island facility in New York, which had been the site of protests against the company. A contract driver also claimed that he had been fired for voicing concerns about the coronavirus, as third-party contractors and small businesses have struggled to provide safety equipment for their employees. This solution is just one of many ideas that have surfaced over the past few months, Porter wrote in the post. Knowing my colleagues and their drive, it will not be the last. Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our employees and well continue to innovate to keep them as safe as possible. Vietnam may take a global lead in rice exports in 2020, a trade report to the National Assembly on Monday showed. Vietnamese rice being loaded for export. High demand for food set the stage for Viet Nam to take the lead in global rice this year. Viet Nam may take a global lead in rice exports for the year 2020, said Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh in a report to the National Assembly on Monday. Speaking to the NA, the minister said as countries were trying to raise food stockpiles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for Vietnamese rice has been on the rise, pushing the country's rice exports in the first two months of the year to increase by 31.7 per cent from the same period last year. Adverse effects caused by climate change, such as droughts and salinisation raised concerns over the country's ability to maintain its level of rice export. As a response, the Government ordered a halt to rice exports until May so that further studies can be done on Viet Nam's rice production and stockpile. After studies revealed large rice stocks in the Mekong Delta and reviews done on the country's obligations with trade partners, Governmental ministries and agencies have asked for the Prime Minister's approval to continue Viet Nam's rice export activities. Anh said the country maintained an export quota of 400,000 tonnes of rice in April and is set to resume its normal export level for May as global demand for rice remained high while making sure there is ample supply for the domestic market. During the first five months of the year, Viet Nam exported over three million tonnes of rice, an increase of 11.8 per cent from the same period last year, reaching US$1.48 billion in value, a 25.44 per cent year on year increase. Renewable energy Viet Nam considered renewable energy, and solar energy in particular, an important source of power, especially for the 2024-25 period in which the country is forecast to face a severe shortage, according to Anh. It called for adjustments made to the country's power production planning including new policies and incentives to encourage investments in solar and wind energy. To date, the country has put into operation 90 solar energy projects with over 5,000MW in output. The Government has also shown its support with the approval of a plan to add over 11,000MW of renewable energy in the future. Key infrastructure Over VND37.5 trillion, or US$1.6 billion, in funding was earmarked for key infrastructure projects across the country in 2020, according to Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The. By the end of May, VND12 trillion has been disbursed, an increase of more than 10 per cent from the same period last year, and reached 30.8 per cent of this year's target amount, said the minister in a report to the NA. On the national North-South Highway project, the ministry said it has allocated nearly VND17 trillion to the project. Of which, VND2.7 trillion was set for the project's East sections. Over VND17 trillion was also set for the Long Thanh International Airport. In a recent meeting with southern Dong Nai Province - the airport's location - the local authority has pledged to finish site clearance by the end of 2020 at the latest to provide the project with more than 1,810 hectares of land. According to the minister, improving infrastructure networks remained a top priority for the country, especially for the Mekong Delta. The ministry said it has been working closely with local governments in HCM City, Can Tho, Ca Mau and Kien Giang on the development of a number of key projects including HCM City's Belt Road 3 and 4 as well as inter-province roads connecting the Mekong Delta's economic hub with other provinces in the region. In the central and Central Highlands regions, the transport ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, is working on a plan to add an additional 700km of road on top of the existing 654km to form a connection between Ha Noi and HCM City in the form of a highway that spans over 1,700km in length. Other routes that were due for an upgrade in the highlands include national routes 19, 24 and 25. The Ha Noi region will also see the construction of Belt Road 4 and 5, connecting the capital city to surrounding northern provinces. A number of highways including the Ha Noi-Huu Hghi-Chi Lang, Van Don-Mong Cai and Dong Dang-Tra Linh, Hoa Binh-Moc Chau and Lai Chau-Lao Cai have been set as priorities. VNS Vietnam expected to surpass Thailand in rice exports Since May this year, Vietnams rice export activities have returned to normal, with the month recording the highest rice export price seen in recent years and paving the way for the country to outpace Thailand in global rice exports in 2020. June 16, New Delhi : India on Tuesday hit out at China for unilaterally attempting to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, which led to the killings of troops of both the countries in a violent clash on Monday night. The Ministry of External Affairs' official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that on Monday late-evening, a violent face-off erupted between the two sides because of "an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo" in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh. "Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side," Srivastava said. He was responding to media queries on the situation in the western sector of the India-China border. India and China, the spokesperson said, have been discussing through military and diplomatic channels the de-escalation of the situation in Eastern Ladakh. Senior Commanders had a productive meeting on June 6 and agreed on a process for such de-escalation. Subsequently, ground commanders had a series of meetings to implement the consensus reached at the higher level. "While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley," the government spokesperson said. India, he said, is known for its responsible approach to border management and has been very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. "We expect the same from the Chinese side," he said. The government, he said, remains firmly convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. At the same time, the government is also "strongly committed to ensuring India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. Three Indian Army men, including an officer, were killed on Monday night during a violent face-off with Chinese People's Liberation Army troops in Galwan Valley. An Indian Army Colonel, the Commanding Officer of an infantry battalion, and two soldiers were killed in the clash at one of the stand-off points in the Galwan Valley. Her condition is stable. Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, has been rushed to hospital in Kyiv. She was tested positive for the coronavirus last week, according to the press service of the Office of the President. Read alsoUkraine's president to self-isolate after First Lady tests positive for COVID-19 After this, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to self-isolate. Her diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. "Olena Zelenska's diagnosis now is COVID-19. Community-acquired bilateral polysegmental pneumonia of moderate severity. Respiratory distress: 0. [She] does not need supporting oxygenation. Her condition is stable," the Office of the President said on Facebook on June 16. Now the president's wife is in isolation, under the supervision of doctors. Yesterday, June 15, Volodymyr Zelensky and children underwent regular PCR tests for COVID-19, their results are negative. The attorneys at Simien & Simien, LLC prevailed in a significant victory from the Louisiana Supreme Court. This recent victory marks the third time in less than a year that the Simien & Simien team won a ruling from the Supreme Court that will benefit injured people across the state of Louisiana. The most recent victory dealt with motions for summary judgment, which insurance companies and corporate defendants often file in an attempt to have an injured persons case dismissed before it goes to trial. In Reed v. Restorative Home Health Care, LLC, 2019-01974 (La. 2/26/20), 289 So. 3d 1028, the Supreme Court agreed with the arguments made by Simien & Simien, and held that a trial court cannot unilaterally close the evidence on a motion for summary judgment. Instead, the deadlines are set by the Code of Civil Procedure and are based on the date of the hearing on the motion. The Supreme Court ruled that when a trial court judge resets the hearing on a motion for summary judgment, the deadlines for filing a brief and evidence in opposition to the motion are also reset. This victory by Simien & Simien means that injured people across the state will have a fair opportunity to present their evidence against a defendants premature request to dismiss the case and deny a person their day in court. This recent victory in Reed marks the third time in less than a year that the Simien & Simien team won a ruling from the Supreme Court that will benefit injured people across the state of Louisiana. In the second case, Johnson v. State Through Dept of Transp. & Dev., 2019-00676 (La. 9/6/19), 278 So. 3d 970, the Louisiana Supreme Court left in place a multi-million dollar jury trial verdict in favor of a family who lost two young children in an automobile collision. The children were fishing along the side of a road with their father when the driver of a car came off the road and struck the family. The State of Louisiana, Department of Transportation and Development appealed the verdict against it to the First Circuit. In that appeal, the Department argued that because the children were fishing and not part of the motoring public the Department owed no duty to them. The First Circuit affirmed the ruling in favor of the family. When the Department asked the Supreme Court to overturn these verdicts, based on the arguments presented by Simien & Simien, the Supreme Court rejected the claims by the Department and upheld the lower court rulings. It also affirmed the fact that the State can be held responsible for defects in the roadways that it maintains when those defects present a danger to pedestrians and others who use the areas adjacent to the roadways. The third significant ruling set the law in the state on how long an injured person has to bring a lawsuit against his or her insurance company for bad faith claims handling. Under Louisiana law, insurance companies that operate in this state must treat their insureds fairly and act in good faith in handling their insurance claims. When an insurance company violates its duties by failing to make a timely payment, by misrepresenting facts or policy provisions, or by otherwise acting against the interests of its insured, the insurance company can be held liable for damages, penalties, and in some cases, attorneys fees. The insurance industry had long argued that lawsuits for these bad faith claims have to be filed within one year of the bad faith act. Because of the complex nature of these cases, a one-year limitation could mean that in some cases, an insured would lose the right to file a suit before he or she even realized the significance of the insurance companys wrongful conduct. However, the Simien & Simien attorneys fought against the insurance industry on this issue and won a significant victory from the Supreme Court in Smith v. Citadel Ins. Co., 2019-00052 (La. 10/22/19), 285 So. 3d 1062. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of injured people and against the insurance industry, holding that when an insurance company acts in bad faith, the insured person has 10 years to file a lawsuit for those bad faith claims. Simien & Simiens victory protects the rights of policy holders across the state who are harmed because of their insurance companys wrongful acts by ensuring they will not prematurely lose the right to hold these companies liable for their bad faith conduct. If you have been injured and are wondering how these rulings might impact your claims, contact the attorneys at Simien & Simien to find out more. [June 16, 2020] Zilliant Enables B2B Companies to Tap Directly into the Cloud-Native IQ Platform to Build SmartApps AUSTIN, Texas, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Zilliant, the industry leader in intelligent B2B price optimization, price management and sales guidance software, today announced that its Zilliant IQ Platform the only cloud-native Platform with high availability, virtually unlimited scalability and agility, purpose-built for B2B companies is now accessible for customers to build SmartApps upon to solve a broader set of pricing, sales and commercial challenges. According to Gartner1, "There have been numerous recent advances in technology, process and talent development. However, an alarming percentage of models developed with the intention of full deployment are never actually operationalized. There are many reasons for this, but a crucial one is a lack of tools to enable and facilitate operationalization." Business experts and data scientists within B2B companies can finally solve that challenge with self-serve access to the Zilliant IQ Platform's unparalleled extensibility. The components of the Platform, underpinned by a powerful cloud-native microservices architecture, enable customers to easily integrate data, execute rules and complex calculations, configure machine learning and data science models, seamlessly "bring their own model" via a Jupyter Notebook encapsulate container, customize user interfaces, analyze data, and integrate the model or application output with other commercial systems via high-availability APIs. "B2B companies are facing unprecedented challenges, including increasing complexity, volatile markets, and a global recession," said Zilliant President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Peters. "For more than two decades, our customers have trusted us to solve a wide range of problems outside of our packaged solutions. Offering access to the Zilliant IQ Platform is a natural next step in our relentless drive to help our customers reimagine what it takes to compete and win now and in the future." Metro AG, a leading international wholesale company and current Zilliant Price IQ and Sales IQ customer, is equipping its own data science team with the Zilliant IQ Platform to build SmartApps that solve commercial challenges tangential to pricing and sales. "Our data scientists are experts at creating models that answer questions critical to our business. With access to the Zilliant IQ Platform, they can easily create new models or deploy their own within Zilliant's robust and highly available platform," said METRO AG Director of Digitalization and Pricing Matthias Buehler. "More importantly, we expect that it's simple to complete the tasks critical to operationalize these models from job orchestration to data processing, cleansing, and transformation, to building the user interfaces and visual analytics that commercial teams need to act ensuring success for these business-critical data science projects." The Zilliant IQ Platform also serves as the foundation for the company's market-leading price optimization and management, deal management and sales guidance solutions, as well as its robust IQ Anywhere API service. For more information on the Zilliant IQ Platform please visit: https://www.zilliant.com/products/iqplatform 1 Gartner, "Magic Quadrant for Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms," Peter Krensky, et al, February 11, 2020 About Zilliant Zilliant's solutions help B2B companies solve a wide range of pricing and sales challenges, allowing them to gain more strategic control of their business performance using an innovative blend of data science and software solutions. Our innovative cloud native platform and applications, paired with an outcome-focused dedication to customer success, gives company leaders the confidence and know-how to remain competitive now and in the future. Learn more about how Zilliant helps companies reimagine pricing and sales at www.zilliant.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zilliant-enables-b2b-companies-to-tap-directly-into-the-cloud-native-iq-platform-to-build-smartapps-301077085.html SOURCE Zilliant [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai speaks during a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, on January 22, 2020. Google has banned ZeroHedge, a far-right website that often traffics in conspiracy theories, from its advertising platform over policy violations found in the comments section of stories about recent Black Lives Matter protests. Google also issued a warning on Tuesday to The Federalist over comments on articles related to recent protests. A Google spokesperson said in an email on Monday that it demonetized the websites after determining they violated its policies on content related to race. "We have strict publisher policies that govern the content ads can run on and explicitly prohibit derogatory content that promotes hatred, intolerance, violence or discrimination based on race from monetizing," the spokesperson wrote. "When a page or site violates our policies, we take action. In this case, we've removed both sites' ability to monetize with Google." After publication of this story, Google backtracked Tuesday, clarifying that The Federalist had been warned about policy violations but still had time to address them. It now has three days to remove the violations before a ban goes into effect. Google notified ZeroHedge of the policy violations last week and banned the website from its ad platform. Google's ban comes after the company was notified of research from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a British nonprofit that combats online hate and misinformation. They found that 10 U.S-based websites have published what they say are racist articles about the protests, and projected that the websites would make millions of dollars through Google Ads. Read more from NBC News: Alleged theft of CIA hacking tools by CIA officer exposed 'woefully lax' security, says report 'Abuse of power': Asylum-seekers, advocates decry new use of high bond fees as condition of parole Top ABC News executive placed on leave amid allegations of racially insensitive comments ZeroHedge had already been demonetized prior to NBC News' inquiry, Google said. ZeroHedge and The Federalist did not respond to requests for comment. Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, said it found advertisements for many companies that had otherwise made public statements supporting Black Lives Matter and the recent protests running on the websites. "We found that lots of those companies are inadvertently funding through their advertising content that is outright racist in defense of white supremacism and contains conspiracy theories about George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement," he said. Google has banned various websites from its advertising platform in recent years, mostly targeting fake news operations. ZeroHedge and The Federalist have become well known in recent years for publishing far-right articles on a variety of subjects. On the recent protests, ZeroHedge published an article claiming that protests were fake, while The Federalist published an article claiming the media had been lying about looting and violence during the protests, which were both included in the research sent to Google. As the Black Lives Matter protests unfolded over recent weeks, hundreds of corporations eagerly lent their support. This includes Google, which said it has donated "$12 million in funding to organizations working to address racial inequities." There are other similar websites that continue to generate revenue through Google, causing continued concern for civil rights advocates. In its research, the Center for Countering Digital Hate pointed to examples of articles on other far-right websites such that carried advertisements by well-known brands while disseminating false narratives about the protest movement. The issue also poses significant risks for brand security. Caroline McCarthy, vice president of communications and content at TrueX, a digital advertising company, said companies need to hold Google and other digital advertising companies responsible for where their ads run. "The reality is that they [brands] have to start by asking questions," McCarthy said "They have to say, what is my brand content going to be running against? And if the other person on the other side of the conversation can't give them a straight answer, then that's a problem." "The pressure on the tech companies is only going to come from dollars actually, literally getting pulled," she said Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A council representing local fitness centres says the provinces "one size fits all" approach to rent relief wont work out. A survey conducted by the Manitoba Fitness Council of gyms that opened after June 1 found revenue was low even considering restrictions placed by the provincial government more than half of gyms surveyed are at or under 25 per cent of pre-COVID-19 capacity, despite currently being limited to 50 per cent capacity. These numbers are a cause for alarm for smaller, local gyms, according to MFC executive director Stephanie Jeffrey, who noted that 85 per cent of gyms that responded are currently only able to have 25 people maximum in their facilities. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A recent survey found more than half of gyms are at or under 25 per cent of pre-COVID-19 capacity. "Small gyms are the real big issue, because they dont have corporate dollars standing behind them, and theyre left to their own devices," she said. The MFC is calling for additional commercial rent relief for fitness centres that dont have corporate backing, and a statement from the council says the province should "recommend different rules for different types of fitness clubs and studios." Jeffrey said a common concern with local gyms are landlords "not always being easy to deal with." Elderly adults bring additional concerns Reh-Fit Centre CEO, Sue Boreskie, at the facility's re-opening Monday after closing because of COVID-19. While gyms across the province were able to open June 1, some particularly those that serve an at-risk clientele are only now opening. Rady JCC Fitness Centre in Tuxedo, the Wellness Institute in the Seven Oaks Hospital and the Reh-Fit Centre on Taylor all opened to the public Monday after spending months closed owing to COVID-19 restrictions. click to read more While gyms across the province were able to open June 1, some particularly those that serve an at-risk clientele are only now opening. Rady JCC Fitness Centre in Tuxedo, the Wellness Institute in the Seven Oaks Hospital and the Reh-Fit Centre on Taylor all opened to the public Monday after spending months closed owing to COVID-19 restrictions. All three gyms have specialized programs for elderly adults, and with that comes additional concerns. A number of people of all ages have stopped by the Reh-Fit Centre on its opening day, CEO Sue Boreskie said, and as of noon Monday the facility was looking at hosting about 30 per cent of its usual capacity above the average suggested by gyms surveyed by the Manitoba Fitness Council. Its such a happy environment to have people back exercising again, she said. While Boreskie stressed the Reh-Fit Centre hosts some very fit elderly members, there are some people who attended the gym to receive rehabilitative exercise programs. These Reh-Fit programs continued through the closure online and over the phone. There are some programs like our cardiac rehab program, which is different than those who are just coming to exercise on their own, we have a home-based model thats happening right now, she said. The plan is to continue those programs digitally for now, to ensure those with pre-existing health conditions wont have to come in. The gym has left it up to members whether or not they would like to come to the gym in person again, and will continue to honour COVID-19 membership rate freezes. The graduates of some of those programs have joined as members, and thats their choice if they want to come back right away, she said. malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_ Close "I know that there are some commercial rent relief programs out there, but the landlord has to take a hit on that as well," she said. "And from what Im hearing, the landlords that are leasing these small spaces are not interested in taking a hit at all or helping the business out." The federal government launched the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program was launched last month, but the program requires landlords to apply rather than tenants. Several local business groups sent a letter to Premier Brian Pallister in late May which demanded Manitoba follow the lead of other provinces and place a temporary moratorium on small business evictions. At local fitness centre MORFIT, which has been in Winnipeg for nine years, things are moving slowly but steadily, manager Jon Belanger said. "Were starting to see increased numbers and some new faces at both of our locations, and weve seen an overwhelmingly positive response from our members in terms of following the guidelines set in place," he said. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jon Belanger, manager of local gym MORFIT: "Starting to see increased numbers." The gym has two locations one in St. Boniface, which can currently host 37 gym-goers at 50 per cent capacity, and one downtown, which can currently host 50 but neither have been hitting those numbers since both gyms reopened June 1. MORFIT has had to make some changes to maintain safety protocols showers and drinking fountains are shut down, gym sessions are limited to an hour, workouts can be reserved online in hopes of making it to 50 per cent capacity. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Victoria Chandara works out at MORFIT gym in Winnipeg on Monday. "Commercial rent relief would be an excellent idea, that would certainly help weather the storm for us, both in the short term and down the road, unless we start to see things really pick up, and those 50 per cent targets start to be realized." Despite this, Belanger said there are no regrets about MORFIT opening when it did, and it has no intention of stopping any time soon. "Its building a sense of community where it goes above and beyond fitness for a lot of people," he said. "And thats what drove us to want to open as early as we could." malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_ Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Screenshot via Zillow A waterfront home in Westport once owned by TV stars Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas has been listed for sale anew, with an initial asking price of $28 million. The Copper Hill mansion at 120-122 Beachside Avenue totals nearly 11,000 square feet of space on more than six acres of land, with 400 feet of waterside frontage looking onto Long Island Sound. The Wall Street Journal reported the listing on Monday. File image: Indian Army soldiers guarding the border One Indian Army officer and two soldiers were martyred in a violent face-off that unfolded in Ladakhs Galwan Valley late on June 15. The incident took place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh after a standoff between the Indian and Chinese troops. The confrontation between the rival patrols started on May 6 near Ladakhs serene Pangong Lake after deep Chinese incursion was reported in the area. Undoubtedly, the situation in Ladakh right now is far more serious and intense than past skirmishes. However, this is not the first time a skirmish between the two neighbouring countries ended in bloodshed. Four decades before the Galwan face-off, a similar incident had taken place in the eastern sector of the LAC, where four Indian Army soldiers were killed by Chinese troopers. So, what had happened along the LAC in 1975? Although the 1967 clash or what is often referred to as the Second Sino-Indian War, is recounted as the last time shots were fired on the India-China border, the death of four soldiers of an Assam Rifles patrol party on October 20, 1975, is often forgotten. The incident took place when Sikkim joined India, a move that the Chinese saw as an Indian annexation. The four soldiers died in Arunachal Pradeshs Tulung La Pass after PLA soldiers crossed over into Indian territory and ambushed a patrol party. Although China claimed that the soldiers had shot at the Indian Army men in self-defence, India has maintained that they had intruded into Indian territory. A federal plan to crack down on corruption will go to a new round of negotiations in Parliament as the Morrison government vows to revisit a reform first aired two years ago. Attorney-General Christian Porter said he would restart the talks on the Commonwealth Integrity Commission to test the views of crossbench critics who believe the new authority would be too weak. Attorney-General Christian Porter is promising to restart negotiations on a national integrity commission. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen But Mr Porter would not commit to setting up the commission in this term of Parliament despite growing impatience among crossbench MPs and anti-corruption campaigners at repeated delays to the plan. The crossbench group, with members ranging from Greens leader Adam Bandt to Queensland independent Bob Katter, pointed to the fall of former Labor powerbroker Adem Somyurek as proof of the need for the new federal watchdog. David Tennant's actress wife Georgia has urged women to book smear tests after her own appointment helped doctors spot her cervical cancer. In an insightful and emotional blog post from 2018, the You, Me and Him star, 35, who has been married to the Doctor Who actor, 49, since 2011, detailed how doctors spotted early signs and managed to remove the cancer before proving fatal. From the start of seeing abnormalities in her test, in the blog post Georgia admitted she 'started planning her funeral', as she shared details of her journey to promote Cervical Screening Awareness Week on Monday. Open and honest: David Tennant's actress wife Georgia has urged women to book smear tests after her own appointment helped doctors spot her cervical cancer Georgia admitted that while she is typically a private person, she felt it her duty to share details of her journey to help others see the importance of the tests. Taking to Instagram, she shared a snap from hospital while sporting a gown. She added a caption reading: 'Here I am on 22nd February 2018. Although 'tis indeed a fetching look, if you'd like to learn more about why you should never miss a smear test please read the story attached in bio. #cervicalscreeningawarenessweek'. In the blog post from 2018, she explained that her journey began when a smear test showed 'borderline changes' following an abnormal result. Support: In an insightful and emotional blog post from 2018, the You, Me and Him star, 35, who has been married to the Doctor Who actor, 49, since 2011, detailed how doctors spotted early signs and managed to remove the cancer before proving fatal (pictured in 2015) On receiving this result, she said: 'Before I'd made it up upstairs to tell my husband, I'd started planning my funeral. Having kids takes you to that place pretty quickly.' After returning to the doctors, Georgia discovered she had CIN 2 - known as Pre-Cancer - leading to the doctors performing a Cervical excision. In an update two weeks later, she revealed that follow-up results showed it was cancer and the 'baffling luck' meant she 'stopped it, beat it, cut it out'. She wrote: 'The lovely doctor called yesterday. Results are back. It was cancer. Theyve got it all but it was cancer... Touching: She detailed her battle and urged women to book a test (pictured last month) 'My betraying little cervix had begun an attempt to kill me off and by a stroke of baffling luck I had stopped it, beat it, cut it out before it had a chance to make it out of the starting gates (thats dog racing speak for hadnt spread beyond the layers theyd already removed)... 'Survived cancer without ever realizing I had it. As you can tell Im still processing this, its quite a thing to get your head round. The swirling storm cloud of what ifs?. Im currently half terrified child, half superhero'. David and Georgia share children Ty, 18, Olive, nine, Wilfred, seven, Doris, five, and Belle, eight months. Ty is Georgia's son from a brief relationship when she was 17. David adopted the teen actor when he and Georgia became a couple. Georgia is the daughter of Peter Davison, who played the Fifth Doctor. David and Georgia met in 2008 while filming of Doctor Who episode The Doctor's Daughter, where she played his character's genetically engineered daughter. His love: David and Georgia share children Ty, 18, Olive, nine, Wilfred, seven, Doris, five, and Belle, eight months. Ty is Georgia's son from a brief relationship when she was 17. David adopted the teen actor when he and Georgia became a couple (pictured in March 2018) A smear test detects abnormal cells on the cervix, which is the entrance to the uterus from the vagina. Removing these cells can prevent cervical cancer. Most test results come back clear, however, one in 20 women show abnormal changes to the cells of their cervix. In some cases, these need to be removed or can become cancerous. Cervical cancer most commonly affects sexually-active women aged between 30 and 45. The masthead has changed at a long-running San Antonio magazine. The new publishers of San Antonio Woman Magazine are Cathleen and Dale Lane. Cathleen Lane is now the editor of the bi-monthly publication. The San Antonio Business Journal reports the Lanes, publishers of MD News San Antonio and Attorney at Law San Antonio, bought the magazine in May. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. "We want to broaden the type of women that are showcased both demographically and geographically," Cathleen Lane told the Business Journal, "as well as further build its social media platform with newsworthy items and trends, and showcase women that are making an impact in our community." Mike and Nancy Gaffney, who own PixelWorks Corp., sold the magazine to spend time with their grandchildren. One employee will continue with the magazine under the new owners. San Antonio Woman Magazine, distributed throughout the area, bills itself as the oldest continually published magazine in the city. The most recent edition featured Rasha Youssef, founder of an automotive equipment manufacturer, on its cover. ALTON The YWCA of Alton Get Out the Vote Project is hosting a Madison County Candidates Forum 6-7 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at Haskell Park in Alton. Invited candidates include Madison County Board Chair Kurt Prenzler and his challenger, Bob Daiber; Madison County States Attorney candidates Crystal Uhe and Tom Haine; and Madison County Circuit Clerk candidates Tom McRae and Amy Gabriel. A moderator will ask questions of each candidate pair and take questions from the audience. Participants are asked to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. The forum will be livestreamed on Riverbender.com and made available for later viewing on its site. Attending or listening to voter forums is a good way to prepare before casting your ballot, said Gail Donnelly Bader, a member of the YWCA of Alton Board of Directors and the YWCA Get Out the Vote Project. Voters can learn the stances of candidates on key issues that affect their daily lives. In addition, an educated voter is more likely to participate on election day and one of our goals is to increase voter turnout in the Alton area. This event is contingent on weather and the state moving to Phase 4 of Restore Illinois prior to July 23. The event will follow state guidelines in effect at that time with regard to crowd size, with social distancing enforced. It is anticipated people also will be able to hear the questions and answers from Henry and 12th streets. For more details, call 618-465-7774 or email info@altonywca.com. Established in 1918, YWCA of Alton is part of the largest and oldest womens organization in the world. It is sponsored by Alton Memorial Hospital, Meridian-Centene Health Care, Morrissey Contracting Company, Inc., and Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, has been petitioned by a cleric, Bishop Elijah Urhonigbe, who said he is no longer safe in police custody. Bishop Urhonigbe, who spoke through a human rights lawyer, Barr. Presley Okojie, decried the unfair attitude of men of the Delta state Police Command towards him, following court order remanding him at Warri Custodial centre, Okere, pending determination of his bail hearing. In his petition, the Warri Area Commander, ACP Mukhtar Garba, was fingered for ostensibly instructing his men to withhold his fundamental rights and privileges accorded suspects standing trials as provided for in the Constitution while being detained. The lawyer claimed that his client does no longer have access to his family, doctor and legal team, an act he termed as a gross violation of his constitutional rights. Okojie, who is holding brief for the Bishop who is accused of rape, urged IGP Adamu to call his men to order by complying to Section 8 (1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Delta state 2017, which guaranteed rights and privileges of his client even while in police custody. He noted that the law specified that; "A suspect shall be accorded human treatment having regards to his right to the dignity of his person and therefore not to be subjected to any form of torture, cruelty, inhuman or degrading treatment. "This continuous denial and torture of my client also contravened Section 34 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 36 (5) (6) (b) and (c) as well as Section 37 of the same 1999 constitution, as amended. "My client, Bishop Elijah Urhonigbe, was arraigned at the Magistrate Court 2 Warri and was subsequently remanded to Warri Custodial Centre, Okere, Warri or 'A Division Police station, Warri, on the 10th day of June 2020 on the charges of rape and impersonation. "Immediately after arraignment, the Area Commander's order (ACP Mukhtar Garba) instructed that he be detained at the Ekpan police station against order of the court and with further strict directive that nobody should see or have access to him. "He (my client) had been in custody without his drugs, food or access to his legal team or relatives". He had been sick without access to good medicare or medical officers. "That on June 15, 2020, policemen from the Area Commander's office came to Ekpan police station and whisked him out to 'A Division Police station, Warri with strict instructions again that nobody should see or visit him. "He has been treated like a common criminal despite the fact that he has not been tried or convicted by any competent court of law. "I, on behalf of his legal team is urging the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, to wade into this excessive use of authority being displayed by his men, especially the Warri Area Commander concerning my client's continued torture and denial of his constitutional rights in police custody", he stated. Reacting to the allegation levelled on him, the Warri Area Commander, ACP Mukhtar Garba, said there was no iota of truth in the claim of the lawyer, insisting that the police was following every laid down procedures in dealing with the suspect concerning the sensitive nature of the the case. The UK has met international requirements to declare freedom from avian influenza, but continued vigilance and good biosecurity is still being urged. The UK was previously declared free of avian flu in September 2017 and has remained free of highly pathogenic bird flu since then. But a low pathogenic strain disease was confirmed at a commercial poultry farm in Suffolk in December 2019. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) put movement restrictions in place to limit the spread of disease and carried out investigations into the source of the infection. The government agency concluded that the most likely source was indirect contact with wild birds. Under World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) rules, three months must elapse from the application of measures to prevent the spread of disease after cleansing and disinfection of the last infected premises before a country can be declared disease-free. The UK has now met these international requirements to be declared officially avian influenza free, UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said on Monday (15 June). But farmers are still being urged to remain vigilant for signs of disease. The chief vet reiterated the need for good biosecurity 'at all times'. Declaring the UK free from avian flu was an 'important milestone' that would help the UK's efforts to re-open export markets, she said. "I urge all keepers to be vigilant there is a constant risk of avian flu from wild birds and this will increase later in the year when winter approaches, temperatures fall, and migratory birds arrive in the UK. "All poultry keepers should take steps to reduce the risk to their birds by maintaining good robust biosecurity at all times, such as cleaning footwear, feeding birds indoors, and minimising contact with wild birds. "Building these simple actions into routines now can help prepare for any future outbreaks," Ms Middlemiss said. The UK CVO will declare on the UKs behalf by submitting an evidence paper to OIE for publication on the OIE WAHIS website alongside other countries that have already self-declared. SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global intra-abdominal pressure measurement devices market size is anticipated to reach USD 197.5 million by2027, expanding at a CAGR of 7.9%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing incidence of Intra-abdominal Hypertension (IAH), Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS), and rapid technological advancements are driving the market. Elevated Intra-abdominal Pressure (IAP) affects the organ functionality in critically ill patients and this may lead to Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS). There is high prevalence of IAH and ACS among patients in intensive care units across the world. The incidence of IAH and ACS is associated with significantly increased mortality and morbidity. The rise in IAP causes tissue hypoperfusion which can lead to impaired hepatic blood flow, multiple organ dysfunction syndromes, respiratory failure, increased intracranial pressure, renal failure, and impair the function of nearly every organ. Key suggestions from the report: The equipment segment dominated the market in 2019 owing to its increasing adoption in the surgeries and increased preference by the surgeons Based on procedure, the abdomen segment dominated the market in 2019 due to the increasing prevalence of intra-abdominal hypertension and launch of technological advanced products by the key players Based on the application, the intra-compartment pressure segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the growing awareness about the IAH devices and increasing use of IAH monitoring devices. North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share in 2019 owing to the increase in R&D investments, and rise in the number of government initiatives Read 110 page research report with ToC on "Intra-abdominal Pressure Measurement Devices Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Disposables, Equipment), By Procedure (Muscle, Abdomen), By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/intra-abdominal-pressure-measurement-devices-market Technological advancements such as, development of digital and wireless IAP monitors to improve conditions of critically ill patients. For instance, Potrero Medical's Accuryn Monitoring System helps to precisely monitor patients' vital signs in real-time and integrates with the hospital EMR system. This system can transform a traditional Foley catheter into a next-generation diagnostic tool that can automatically measure urine output, IAP, and core body temperature. In addition, ConvaTec's AbViser AutoValve IAP Monitoring Device automatically integrates with all Foley catheters, transducers, and patient monitors in any ICU or operation room. The muscle segment is anticipated to witness highest CAGR over the forecast period. This is attributed to rising cases of burns, trauma, sport injuries, abdominal surgeries. It results in large amount of oppression inside a muscle compartment causing swelling, pain, and sometimes disability in the affected muscles, thereby driving the market. Grand View Research has segmented the global intra-abdominal pressure measurement devices market on the basis of product, procedure, application, and region: Intra-abdominal Pressure Measurement Devices Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Disposables Equipment Intra-abdominal Pressure Measurement Devices Procedure Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Muscle Abdomen Intra-abdominal Pressure Measurement Devices Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Intra-compartment pressure Intra-abdominal Hypertension Intra-abdominal Pressure Measurement Devices Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany France Italy Spain Asia Pacific Japan China India Australia South Korea Latin America Mexico Brazil Argentina Colombia Middle East and Africa (MEA) and (MEA) South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE List of Key Players of Intra-abdominal Pressure Measurement Devices Market: C. R. Bard, Inc. (BD) Convatec Group Plc Potrero Medical Biometrix Holtech Medical Gaeltec Devices Ltd. Speigelberg GmbH & Co. KG. C2Dx Inc. Centurion Medical Products (Medline Industries, Inc.) Find more research reports on Medical Devices Industry, by Grand View Research: Liposuction Surgery Devices Market - Growing beauty consciousness among a large population and increasing demand for liposuction procedures by both men and women are majorly driving the market. Intraoperative Imaging Market - Growing number of complex surgeries performed globally, and the rising demand of minimally invasive solutions are major factors contributing to the market growth. Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Market- Rising prevalence of chronic disorders are key driver responsible for the lucrative growth of the market. Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: +1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg Melina Abdullah, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, told L.A. City Council members Monday that there is widespread support for defunding the LAPD. (City of Los Angeles) In an extraordinary face-to-face meeting, a coalition of activists led by Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles urged members of the City Council on Monday to end the city's reliance on police officers and embrace new strategies for keeping neighborhoods safe. Seated in the council chamber at City Hall, activists told council members they have an opening to move money away from the L.A. Police Department and into mental health counselors, gang intervention workers and other public employees who can address trauma and prevent violence from breaking out. "The world is speaking right now," said Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter-L.A., her voice choked with emotion. "They're saying we don't want a system of policing that puts targets on the backs of Black people especially, but also is a regular assailant and traumatizer of our entire community. "We are saying defund the police," Abdullah added later. "We're also saying reimagine public safety." The remarks were part of a nearly two-hour special meeting devoted to the People's Budget, an alternative spending plan for the city budget advanced by Black Lives Matter-L.A., Ground Game L.A., Sunrise Movement Los Angeles and a coalition of other activist organizations. The session followed weeks of pressure from those groups, both before and after mass protests broke out nationally and in L.A. over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Five of the council's 15 members, who have spent years overseeing a steady increase in police spending, attended the presentation. At least a few signaled an interest in the ideas put before them. "It's not complicated. It's not rocket science," said council President Nury Martinez, after hearing the activists' presentation. "This is exactly how you reimagine neighborhoods." The People's Budget effectively calls for widespread reductions at the LAPD, with the proceeds devoted to housing, healthcare, mental health, parks and many other services. Such a move would represent a dramatic shift in priorities for L.A., whose political leaders spent decades working to staff up the LAPD with 10,000 officers. Story continues Councilman Paul Krekorian, who heads the council's budget committee, said he expected city leaders to have an ongoing conversation about police spending. But Councilman Herb Wesson, whose ongoing bid for county supervisor received a $50,000 boost from the police union, said he would work to ensure the council doesn't "miss this moment." "I don't want to be part of history," he said. "I want to make it." "But will you commit?" asked Akili, an organizer with Black Lives Matter-L.A., who was one of Monday's presenters and goes by a single name. "I just did," Wesson replied. Abdullah pressed council members to ignore demands from the Los Angeles Police Protective League to protect the LAPD from deep cuts. After Monday's presentation, a spokesman for the league called the People's Budget a "fairy tale that will end in a city of chaos, crime and fear." "Who will respond to the thousands of rapes, assaults, murders, and shootings that happen throughout this city if the 'People's Budget' is enacted and the city fires 9,000 police officers?" said Dustin DeRollo, a spokesman for the union. "Every resident in this city deserves to feel safe and be safe in their neighborhood." The council is scheduled Tuesday to take up a request from Martinez, Wesson and several others to cut the LAPD's budget by $100 million to $150 million, and put the money into other programs. Mayor Eric Garcetti has also signed on to the idea. But so far, neither he nor the council has explained how those reductions would be achieved. The council's Budget and Finance Committee voted unanimously on Monday to move forward with the proposal, which won't be finalized until later this month. But Councilman Paul Koretz, who represents part of the Westside, questioned whether those cuts were "arbitrary" and said he'd heard from hundreds of constituents opposed to defunding the police. "They're fearful of slower response times and a lessened ability for the LAPD to protect residents from crime," he said. Even if the council approves the short-term reductions, the LAPD will be more expensive than it was just four years ago. Garcetti's budget included a 7% increase for the LAPD in the budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. Council members say they intend to rework the mayor's spending plan. And the LAPD's aggressive response to weeks of protests including the use of batons and other weapons have only intensified calls for cuts to the LAPD. Kendrick Sampson, an actor and a founder of the group BLD PWR, which focuses on radical social change, told council members he had been struck repeatedly by rubber bullets during a protest that began in Pan Pacific Park. Those projectiles left him with a permanent scar on his chest, he said. "We know that public safety is not policing," said Sampson, whose group helped stage the protest. The LAPD says tactical projectiles it fired were sponge and foam bullets, as well as beanbags. The sight of the activists seated before council members to discuss defunding the LAPD marked something of a turning point. Abdullah said she had been pulled out of City Hall by police officers on several occasions but never invited to make a presentation like the one given Monday. Abdullah said she appreciated the efforts of Martinez and Wesson, along with "tens of thousands of people" who pressured the city's leaders to allow for a formal presentation. But she signaled that activists will need to keep pressing for the adoption of their plan. The verbal response we got was great, she said. We want a commitment. Times staff writer Kevin Rector contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 02:02:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TIRANA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Tuesday warned of tougher measures against those defying sanitary rules, as the country's total confirmed coronavirus cases topped 1,600 after a record daily jump in new infections. Via a video message on Facebook, Rama warned that the country risks closing for a second time if the number of cases keeps increasing. He emphasized that he will no longer allow mass gatherings. In his address to the public, Rama warned businesses to adhere to health safety protocol to prevent the spread of infection, otherwise they will face sanctions and even imprisonment. "In addition to the fine, they also risk deprivation of liberty if they are caught in violation," Rama noted. Rama underlined that citizens will continue to move freely, but they risk being penalized if caught in violation of the rules, such as social distancing in public areas. On Tuesday, health authorities reported a record daily rise of 82 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 1,672, with 1,064 recoveries and 37 fatalities. Enditem The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has seized a multi-million Naira property belonging to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State. Mr Mohammed is a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Spokesperson of the ICPC, Rasheedat Okoduwa, in a statement on Tuesday said that the property which houses Zinaria International School is located at Plot 298 Wuye District, Cadastral Zone B3, FCT, Abuja. ICPCs intelligence-led investigation revealed that Senator Mohammed in his official capacity as the FCT Minister had allocated the said property to a school that had himself and family members as directors and shareholders, despite an existing right of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture over the land. To this end, the commission will issue notices of seizure and shall cause them to be served on the appropriate land registry, ministry and department where the property is situated as required by law, she said. Mrs Okoduwa added that Mr Mohammed had earlier been charged for using his office to confer corrupt advantage on himself and relations under Section 19 of ICPC law. She added that he could not be arraigned before he was sworn in as governor of Bauchi State. In view of the provisions of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the charge which was pending before Hon. Justice Senchi of FCT High Court 13, Jabi, was withdrawn by the commission to forestall its being struck out by the court suo moto. Following the notice of seizure, the commission will apply to the court for an order of forfeiture under Section 48 of the ICPC Act. This is in line with the federal government Policy focusing on recovery of proceeds of crime, pending when the tenure of the governor expires. (NAN) Several hundred Rohingya stranded since February after countries sealed borders to stop the spread of coronavirus. People traffickers holding hundreds of Rohingya refugees at sea are demanding payments from their families to release them from boats off the shores of Southeast Asia, relatives and rights groups say. Several hundred Rohingya, members of a largely Muslim minority from Myanmar fleeing persecution at home and refugee camps in Bangladesh, have been stranded for months after countries sealed their borders to block the spread of the coronavirus. Three people who said their relatives were at sea told the Reuters news agency that traffickers had demanded money to release them from boats that have been off Southeast Asia since February, trying to find a place to land. Before, the deal was that if they were able to reach the Malaysian shore then they will take the money, but theyre asking for it now, said Mohammed Ayas, who said his 16-year-old brother left a refugee camp in Bangladesh in February. Since then, the family has heard nothing from him, Ayas said. Musha, whose two sisters are also at sea after leaving camps in Bangladesh in February, said brokers acting for the traffickers asked the family to pay 12,000 ringgit ($2,800) via a mobile banking service for their transfer to Malaysia. He said the family paid the sum but did not know the fate of the two teenaged girls. For years, Rohingya have boarded boats between November and April, when the seas are calm, to get to Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. But coronavirus lockdowns have left boats stranded at sea. Dozens of people died on board a boat that had to return to Bangladesh in April after running out of food and water, survivors told Reuters. Authorities in Malaysia detained 269 Rohingya who came ashore from a damaged boat last week. Human Rights Watch said about 70 percent of them were too weak to walk. Offshore traffickers camp At least one vessel remains at sea with as many as 300 people on board, some of whom are believed to be sick, according to rights groups. Its location is not known. This boat has been turned into an offshore traffickers camp, said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, a group focusing on the Rohingya crisis. She described the people at sea as hostages and said the latest demands were for 5,000 Malaysian ringgit ($1,170) per passenger to get to Malaysia. An official with the Thai marine police said the vessel was not in Thai waters but had sought provisions from fishing boats. A second Thai police official, who also asked not to be named, said three boats carrying hundreds of Rohingya were close to Koh Adang, a Thai island, but on the Malaysian side of the border. Malaysian officials, including the countrys maritime enforcement agency, did not respond to requests for comment. The agency said it turned away a boat carrying about 300 Rohingya last week, media reported. During a crackdown on trafficking networks that led to a similar crisis in 2015, gangs cast passengers adrift with meagre food and water. Many died at sea. More than 730,000 Rohingya fled from Myanmars Rakhine state in 2017 following a military crackdown the United Nations has said was carried out with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies genocide, saying it was responding to attacks on security posts by Rohingya fighters. Nearly a million Rohingya now live in camps in southeast Bangladesh. New Orleans mayor speaks up on Black Lives Matter Mayor of New Orleans LaToya Cantrell has published a series of tweets in which she spoke about her own battles against prejudice: "I can stand up and say Black Lives Matter because Ive personally had to fight to make that true every day of my life. The hospitality industry, & the workers who are its lifeblood, are the backbone of this citys economy. If we have any hope of recovery as we stand our City back up, it is pinned on making New Orleans a success story: a safe place for our visitors, & a safe place for our people. "This is a defining moment, for our country and our generation. We cannot fail this test by giving into the temptation to be small right now. We cannot go back to a normal that was never working for the people doing the work. Industry leaders have to be accountable. Lawmakers, at every level, have to step up. And as the Mayor of New Orleans --- I cannot, and I will not relent in the fight to move this City forward: in a way that is equitable, in a way that respects the humanity & the integrity of all of our people, and in a way that continues to insist: #BlackLivesMatter" When the full record of the coronavirus in America is written, historians may argue that President Trumps biggest mistake was not what he failed to do in early 2020, when the right strategy for combating the virus was widely debated, unproven and hard. No, they will point to what Trump failed to do in June 2020, when the right strategy was clear, proven and relatively easy. No doubt, this virus is inscrutable. It pops up, it disappears, it reappears, some people are symptomatic, some asymptomatic, some seem to have natural immunities to it that we dont understand, and once it infects people it hits in radically different ways: It comes in the equivalents of decaf, regular and double macchiato and you never know if youre going to get the mild or the extra-strength version. But there is so much that we do know now that could make this post-lockdown phase so much less dangerous and so much more economically viable than it is. We know that countries where everyone wears a mask outside the home sharply reduce the spread and that people who practice strict social distancing infect fewer people and are infected less often. And we know that people who avoid superspreading events large, prolonged social gatherings, religious services and crammed nightclubs and workplaces, where one highly contagious person can quickly spew the virus to many others are less likely to get infected. SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD) announced today that its operating subsidiary, Prologis, L.P. ("Prologis"), has commenced a cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for up to 350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the specified series of its outstanding debt. The 2024 Notes (defined below) are subject to an additional limit of 100,000,000 on the aggregate principal amount of such series that will be purchased in the Tender Offer. The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are described in Prologis' Offer to Purchase (the "Offer to Purchase"), dated as of today. The Tender Offer The Tender Offer consists of a maximum tender offer made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, which sets forth a comprehensive description of the terms of the Tender Offer. In the Tender Offer, Prologis is offering to purchase, subject to the maximum tender amount of 350,000,000 (described below) and any resulting proration, the notes of the series listed below. CUSIP /ISIN Numbers Title of Security Principal Amount Outstanding Sub-Cap Par Call Date Acceptance Priority Level Tender Offer Consideration (1) Early Tender Payment (1)(2) Total Consideration (1)(3) 74340X AZ4 / XS0999296006 Prologis, L.P. 3.000% Notes due January 18, 2022 (the "2022 Notes") 700,000,000 N/A October 18, 2021 1 1,010.00 30.00 1,040.00 74340X BA8 / XS1031555094 Prologis, L.P. 3.375% Notes due February 20, 2024 (the "2024 Notes") 700,000,000 100,000,000 November 20, 2023 2 1,080.00 30.00 1,110.00 (1) Per 1,000 principal amount of notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase. Does not include accrued and unpaid interest, which will be paid on notes accepted for purchase. (2) Included in the total consideration for notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Time (defined below). (3) Includes the applicable early tender payment. The amounts of each series of notes that are purchased in the Tender Offer will be determined in accordance with the Acceptance Priority Levels set forth in the Offer to Purchase, with 1 being the higher Acceptance Priority Level and 2 being the lower Acceptance Priority Level. All notes validly tendered in the Tender Offer having the higher Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted before any tendered notes having the lower Acceptance Priority Level are accepted in the Tender Offer. The 2022 Notes, which are within the first Acceptance Priority Level and subject to proration, will be accepted before any 2024 Notes, which are within the second Acceptance Priority Level and subject to proration. However, notes validly tendered on or prior to the Early Tender Time will be accepted for purchase in priority to other notes tendered after the Early Tender Time, even if such notes tendered after the Early Tender Time have a higher Acceptance Priority Level than the notes tendered on or prior to the Early Tender Time. Notes accepted for purchase in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase may be subject to proration so that Prologis will only accept for purchase up to 350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of notes or up to 100,000,000 with respect to the 2024 Notes, as described in the Offer to Purchase. The Tender Offer is scheduled to expire at 5:00 pm, New York City time, on July 14, 2020, (the "Expiration Time") unless extended or earlier terminated by Prologis, at its sole discretion. Holders of notes subject to the Tender Offer must validly tender their notes at or prior to 5:00 pm, New York City time, on June 26, 2020 (the "Early Tender Time"), unless extended or earlier terminated by Prologis at its sole discretion, to be eligible to receive the applicable total consideration, which includes an early tender payment, outlined in the table above. Holders of notes subject to the Tender Offer who tender their notes after the Early Tender Time and at or prior to the Expiration Time will be eligible to receive the applicable tender offer consideration, which is the total consideration minus the early tender payment, outlined in the table above. The applicable total consideration or tender offer consideration will only be paid to holders of tendered notes that are subject to the Tender Offer to the extent that Prologis accepts such notes for purchase. Note Instructions will be irrevocable, except in the limited circumstances described in the Offer to Purchase. The total consideration for each 1,000 principal amount of notes validly tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the Tender Offer will be (i) 1,040.00 for each 1,000 principal amount of the 2022 Notes and (ii) 1,110.00 for each 1,000 principal amount of the 2024 Notes, which includes an early tender payment set forth in the table on the front cover of the Offer to Purchase. In addition to the total consideration or the tender offer consideration, as applicable, accrued and unpaid interest on the purchased notes will be paid from the applicable last interest payment date to, but not including, the settlement date for such purchased notes. Tenders of the notes will be accepted for purchase only in principal amounts equal to 100,000 and integral multiples of 1,000 in excess thereof. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted. Holders who tender less than all of their notes must continue to hold notes in at least the minimum authorized denomination of 100,000 in principal amount. Depending on the amount tendered and the applicable proration factor applied, if the principal amount of notes to be returned to a Holder as a result of proration would result in less than the minimum authorized denomination of 100,000 being returned to such Holder, Prologis will either accept or reject all of such Holder's validly tendered notes. The Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer are Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities plc. Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to Citigroup Global Markets at (800) 558-3745 (toll-free) or (212) 723-6106 (collect); or J.P. Morgan at: (866) 834-4666 (U.S. toll-free), +44 20 7134 2468 (non-U.S.) or (212) 834-3424 (collect). Copies of the Offer to Purchase may be obtained from the Information Agent, Global Bondholder Services Corporation at 866-470-4200 (toll-free) or 212-430-3774 (collect) or in writing at 65 Broadway, Suite 404, New York, NY 10006. The Tender Offer is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, including a financing condition. If any of the conditions are not satisfied, Prologis will not be obligated to accept for payment, purchase or pay for, and may delay the acceptance for payment of, any tendered notes and may terminate the Tender Offer, in each event subject to applicable laws. The Tender Offer is not conditioned on the tender of a minimum principal amount of notes. Prologis is not soliciting consents from holders of notes in connection with the Tender Offer. About Prologis Prologis, Inc. is the global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets. As of March 31, 2020, the company owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 965 million square feet (90 million square meters) in 19 countries. Prologis leases modern logistics facilities to a diverse base of approximately 5,500 customers across two major categories: business-to-business and retail/online fulfillment. Forward-Looking Statements The statements in this release that are not historical facts 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. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations regarding launching and completing (subject to the conditions of the Tender Offer) the Tender Offer. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate as well as management's beliefs and assumptions. Such statements involve uncertainties that could significantly impact our financial results. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," and "estimates," including variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future including statements relating to rent and occupancy growth, development activity, contribution and disposition activity, general conditions in the geographic areas where we operate, our debt, capital structure and financial position, our ability to form new co-investment ventures and the availability of capital in existing or new co-investment ventures are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and, therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may affect outcomes and results include, but are not limited to: (i) national, international, regional and local economic climates; (ii) changes in global financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; (iii) increased or unanticipated competition for our properties; (iv) risks associated with acquisitions, dispositions and development of properties; (v) maintenance of real estate investment trust status, tax structuring and changes in income tax laws and rates; (vi) availability of financing and capital, the levels of debt that we maintain and our credit ratings; (vii) risks related to our investments in our co-investment ventures, including our ability to establish new co-investment ventures; (viii) risks of doing business internationally, including currency risks; (ix) environmental uncertainties, including risks of natural disasters; (x) risk related to the coronavirus pandemic, and (xi) those additional factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by us under the heading "Risk Factors." We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statements appearing in this release except as may be required by law. The distribution of this announcement and/or the Offer to Purchase in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement and/or the Offer to Purchase comes are required by Prologis and the Dealer Managers to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. This announcement and/or the Offer to Purchase does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell notes, and tenders of notes in the Tender Offer will not be accepted from holders, in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. United States This announcement and/or the Offer to Purchase does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell notes in any jurisdiction in which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such offer under applicable securities or blue sky laws. The distribution of this announcement shall not under any circumstances create any implication that the information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof or that there has been no change in the information set forth herein or in the affairs of Prologis or any of its subsidiaries since the date hereof. The Offer to Purchase has not been filed with or reviewed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, any federal, state, or provincial securities commission or regulatory authority, nor has any such commission or authority passed upon the fairness or merits of the Tender Offer or upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer to Purchase. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful and may be a criminal offense. United Kingdom The communication of this announcement and the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Tender Offer is not being made by, nor have any such documents and/or materials been approved by, an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons falling with the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order")) or to those persons who are creditors or members of Prologis or other persons falling within Article 43 of the Order, or to any other persons to whom such documents and/or materials may lawfully be communicated in accordance with the Order. Ireland The Tender Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, to the public in Ireland and no offers or sales of any Notes under or in connection with the Offer to Purchase may be effected and the Offer to Purchase may not be distributed in Ireland except in conformity with the provisions of Irish law including (i) the Companies Act 1963 to 2012 (as amended), (ii) the Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 (as amended) and any rules issued under Section 51 of the Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2005 by the Central Bank of Ireland, (iii) the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007 (Nos 1 to 3) (as amended) including, without limitation, Regulations 7 and 152 thereof or any codes of conduct issued in connection therewith, and the provisions of the Investor Compensation Act 1998, (iv) the Market Abuse (Directive 2003/6/EC) Regulations 2005 and any rules issued under section 34 of the Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2005, and (v) the Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2011 (as amended) and any codes of conduct rules made under Section 117(1) of the Central Bank Act 1989. Belgium Neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other documents or materials relating to the Tender Offer have been submitted to or will be submitted for approval or recognition to the Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autorite des services et marches financiers / Autoriteit voor financiele diensten en markten) and, accordingly, the Offer may not be made in Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Articles 3, 1, 1 and 6 of the Belgian Law of April 1, 2007 on public takeover bids as amended or replaced from time to time. Accordingly, the Tender Offer may not be advertised and the Tender Offer will not be extended, and neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other documents or materials relating to the Tender Offer (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar documents) has been or shall be distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than "qualified investors" in the sense of Article 10 of the Belgian Law of June 16, 2006 on the public offering of financial instruments and the admission to trading of financial instruments on regulated markets, acting on their own account. This announcement and the Offer to Purchase have been issued only for the personal use of the above qualified investors and exclusively for the purpose of the Tender Offer. Accordingly, the information contained in this announcement and the Offer to Purchase may not be used for any other purpose or disclosed to any other person in Belgium. France The Tender Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other documents or offering materials relating to the Tender Offer has been or shall be distributed to the public in France and only (i) providers of investment services relating to portfolio management for the account of third parties (personnes fournissant le service d'investissement de gestion de portefeuille pour compte de tiers) and/or (ii) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifies) acting for their own account, other than individuals, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Articles L.411-1, L.411-2 and D.411-1 of the French Code monetaire et financier, are eligible to participate in the Tender Offer. This announcement nor the Offer to Purchase has been submitted to the clearance procedures (visa) of the Autorite des marches financiers. Italy None of the Tender Offer, this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any other documents or materials relating to the Tender Offer have been or will be submitted to the clearance procedure of the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa ("CONSOB"), pursuant to applicable Italian laws and regulations. The Tender Offer is being carried out in the Republic of Italy ("Italy") as an exempted offer pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 24, 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of May 14, 1999, as amended (the "CONSOB Regulation"). The Tender Offer is also being carried out in compliance with article 35-bis, paragraph 7 of the CONSOB Regulation. Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes that are residents of or located in Italy can offer the Notes through authorized persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 16190 of October 29, 2007, as amended, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority. Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-a-vis its clients in connection with the notes or the Tender Offer. New Zealand The Tender Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, to the public in New Zealand. No offers or sales of Notes may be effected, and this announcement nor the Offer to Purchase may be distributed, in New Zealand other than: (i) to persons whose principal business is the investment of money or who, in the course of and for the purposes of their business, habitually invest money within the meaning of section 3(2)(a)(ii) of the Securities Act 1978 of New Zealand (the "NZ Securities Act"); or (ii) to "eligible persons" within the meaning of the NZ Securities Act; or (iii) in other circumstances where there is no contravention of the NZ Securities Act (or any statutory modification or reenactment of, or statutory substitution for, the NZ Securities Act). These restrictions are referred to herein as the "New Zealand Selling Restrictions." Switzerland Neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Notes constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Accordingly, the investor protection rules otherwise applicable to investors in Switzerland do not apply to the Tender Offer. When in doubt, investors based in Switzerland are recommended to contact their legal, financial or tax adviser with respect to the Tender Offer. The People's Republic of China This announcement, nor the Offer to Purchase may be circulated or distributed in or into the People's Republic of China (the "PRC") and the Tender Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, to any resident of the PRC except to the extent consistent with the applicable laws and regulations of the PRC. General Notice to Investors Each Holder participating in the Tender Offer will be deemed to give certain representations in respect of the jurisdictions referred to above. This announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any related documents do not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell notes in any jurisdiction or in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. We are not aware of any jurisdiction where the making of the Tender Offer is not in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. If we become aware of any jurisdiction where the making of the Tender Offer would not be in compliance with such laws, we will make a good faith effort to comply with any such laws or may seek to have such laws declared inapplicable to the Tender Offer. If, after such good faith effort, we cannot comply with any such applicable laws, the Tender Offer will not be made to the holders of notes residing in each such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Tender Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Tender Offer will be deemed to be made on behalf of Prologis by the Dealer Managers or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. SOURCE Prologis, Inc. Related Links http://www.prologis.com A disquieting story surfaced on Twitter earlier this week, about a child who fell off her bike and cut open her knee. In some alarm, the child's mother went into a nearby chemist to buy wipes (to disinfect the wound) and a plaster, but was unable to pay because she had only cash (as you might expect on a bike ride). Like so many other shops, the chemist refused to accept notes or coins due to fears over Covid-19. The World Health Organisation has clarified it is NOT warning people against using paper money due to coronavirus merely advising that you wash your hands after handling it Fortunately, a kind customer in the queue stepped in and paid for the items using his card. But how ridiculous that shops cannot show more flexibility not to mention sheer human decency. When did cash become a dirty word? Too many retailers believe that official guidance is to avoid using cash because it spreads the virus. But this just isn't true. The World Health Organisation has clarified it is not warning against using paper money; it merely advises that you wash your hands after handling cash just as you would after touching anything someone else has come into contact with. Despite this, as we reveal, shoppers now face a lottery as to whether or not they can pay with cash and there is often no way of knowing until you are queuing. This is enormously concerning for the many elderly and vulnerable people who rely on notes and coins. As 72-year-old Diane von Kesmark says in our story today, she prefers to take a set amount out of the bank each week, so she can keep track of what she's spent. And as Twickenham residents discovered recently, what happens if the card network goes down? Presumably, shops would suddenly be all too willing to accept cash again in that instance. But we should not despair. Work is under way to protect cash. Just today it was revealed that, under one new scheme, more than a dozen 'cash deserts' across the country are to get improved access to notes, be it a new ATM or a cashback service in shops. But with more 'card-only' signs popping up each day, urgent action is needed at a national level. At the very least, the Government should force essential shops, such as pharmacies, to accept all payment methods. If it doesn't, expect to see more distressing scenes where customers are turned away at the counter and denied vital supplies even with a bleeding child at their side. Parcel false Every week, I open my front door at some point to find a parcel sitting on my doorstep in plain view of the street. Often the doorbell isn't even pressed to tell me it's been dumped there. Even if it is, by the time I arrive at the door, the driver has usually scarpered without waiting to see if anyone answers. It's a miracle nothing been stolen - yet. Special delivery: lockdown has driven millions of us to shop online but complaints about delivery drivers have rocketed This is the new reality now that lockdown has driven millions of us to shop online for everything from paint to nail scissors. And as our investigation reveals, complaints about delivery failures have rocketed. But I don't blame the drivers. Most are under pressure to meet almost impossible targets while earning a pittance, so it's understandable that many will try to cut a few corners. It's down to their employers to introduce a fairer system that rewards good service rather than speed. Retailers should also remember that working with delivery firms renowned for poor customer service will tarnish their reputation, too. Lottery of love! Thank you to all our competition enthusiasts for sharing your cheering tales of success. We tell a few of our favourite stories along with the winners' top tips to help you boost your own chances. Another two emails really put a smile on my face. Money Mail reader James Aicken writes: 'The best prize I ever won was meeting my future wife, June, by chance in a pub in Hackney, East London, in 1966. We got married on April 1, 1967, after five months, had three wonderful children and, after 53 years, she's still my best prize.' Thinking along the same lines, Stuart Howat writes: 'Forty-three years ago I won a lovely prize in life's lottery. On a visit home from working abroad I met my wife and the rest, as they say, is history.' Proof that romance isn't dead. v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk (HealthDay)With U.S. coronavirus cases now past 2 million, a new report finds that COVID-19 is much more lethal for Americans with underlying health issuesillnesses such as heart disease, diabetes or lung ailments. In fact, "deaths were 12 times higher among patients with reported underlying conditions," compared to healthy individuals, according to an analysis of more than 1.3 million cases of COVID-19 reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by May 30. People with chronic health issues were also six times more likely to require hospital care if they got COVID-19 compared to people without such conditions, said a team led by Erin Stokes of the CDC's COVID-19 Emergency Response Team. Age, gender and race all seemed to matter, too. Although the average age of COVID-19 patients was 48, the odds for intensive care unit admissions and death rose with age, and deaths were most common for people 80 years of age or older "regardless of the presence of underlying conditions," the CDC team said. As seen in other studies, men were more prone to severe, life-threatening illness than women. And the illness hits minorities hardest: Even though blacks and Hispanics make up 13% and 18% of the U.S. population, they comprised 22% and 33% of COVID-19 cases, respectively, the report found. This news comes against the backdrop of most states reopening after weeks of lockdown, even though many are now seeing alarming surges in new coronavirus cases. In New York, the former epicenter of the U.S. pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday warned that a return to lockdown for his state was possible. "If we have a high number of violations of the [reopening] policy, which is tantamount to a high likelihood of the spread of the virus, and the local governments are not monitoring policing, doing the compliance, yes, there is a very real possibility that we would roll back the reopening in those areas. The only alternative would be to pause the entire reopening," Cuomo said at a news conference. According to CNN, 25,000 complaints have already been filed against businesses in Manhattan and elsewhere for violating the reopening plan. Violations included large gatherings, lack of social distancing and people going without masks. Cases climbing again Meanwhile, cases were rising in 18 states as of Saturday, with Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Alabama and South Carolina recording a rise of over 50% in the past week as compared to the previous one, CNN noted. Texas saw a record-high 2,200 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Saturday, and North Carolina set its own record with 823 new hospitalizations the same day. It's not clear if all this marks a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "However, when you start to see increases in hospitalization, that's a surefire situation that you've got to pay close attention to," he said on Friday. By Tuesday, the U.S. coronavirus case count had passed 2.1 million as the death toll topped 116,000. A new British study released last week offers some hope: Scientists report that the widespread use of face masksnot more lockdownscould slow the spread of the virus to tolerable levels, the Washington Post reported. "Our analyses support the immediate and universal adoption of face masks by the public," said study leader Richard Stutt, a Cambridge University professor, the newspaper reported. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A scientific journal, also suggest that lockdowns alone can't fight the coronavirus if and when it spikes again. Even as all states have now reopened, public health officials have raised concern about future coronavirus spread following weeks of protests against police brutality across the country. The CDC said Sunday it was closely monitoring the demonstrations and warned such gatherings could spur coronavirus transmission, CNN reported. Some states are already seeing upward trends in new cases. The protests make it hard to follow social distancing guidelines and "may put others at risk," CDC spokesperson Kristen Nordlund said in a statement, CNN reported. Economic upswing On Thursday, another weekly batch of new jobless claims suggested that the damage the pandemic has wrought on the U.S. economy may be slowing. Roughly 1.5 million people filed for state unemployment insurance. That's a continued decline from the 6 million claims seen in a single week in March, The New York Times reported. More than 40 million claims have been filed since the coronavirus pandemic began. "We're slowly seeing the labor market recovery begin to take form," said Robert Rosener, an economist at Morgan Stanley, but "there's still an enormous amount of layoffs going on." In other news, the U.S. government's supply of remdesivir, the only drug known to work against COVID-19, will run out at the end of the month, Dr. Robert Kadlec, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official, told CNN. The government's last shipment of the drug will go out the week of June 29. Gilead Sciences, the company that makes remdesivir, is ramping up to make more, but it's unclear how much will be available this summer. "Right now, we're waiting to hear from Gilead what is their expected delivery availability of the drug as we go from June to July," Kadlec said. "We're kind of not in negotiations, but in discussions with Gilead as they project what the availability of their product will be." The government has been working to help Gilead "with some of their supply chain challenges in terms of raw materials and being able to accelerate the process," said Kadlec, the HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response. He added that it's clear that "whatever the supply may be, there may not be enough for everyone who may need it." Vaccine search Meanwhile, the search for an effective vaccine goes on. The HHS said in late May that it would provide up to $1.2 billion to the drug company AstraZeneca to develop a potential coronavirus vaccine from Oxford University, in England. The fourth, and largest, vaccine research agreement funds a clinical trial of the potential vaccine in the United States this summer with about 30,000 volunteers, the Times reported. The goal? To make at least 300 million doses that could be available as early as October, the HHS said in a statement. The United States has already agreed to provide up to $483 million to the biotech company Moderna and $500 million to Johnson & Johnson for their vaccine efforts. It is also providing $30 million to a virus vaccine effort led by the French company Sanofi, the Times reported. On Thursday, Moderna said a large clinical trial of its vaccine candidate could begin in July. According to a Times tally, the top five states in coronavirus cases as of Tuesday are: New York with over 388,000; New Jersey with over 167,000; California with nearly 156,000; Illinois with more than 134,000; and Massachusetts with nearly 106,000. Nations grapple with pandemic Elsewhere in the world, the situation remains challenging. Even as the pandemic is easing in Europe and some parts of Asia, it is worsening in India. The country has loosened some of the social distancing enacted in the world's largest lockdown, even as cases surge. As of Tuesday, India has more than 343,000 cases, a Johns Hopkins tally shows. Brazil has also become a hotspot in the coronavirus pandemic, with almost 44,000 deaths and over 888,000 confirmed infections by Tuesday, according to the Hopkins tally. U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a ban on all foreign travelers from Brazil because of the burgeoning number of COVID-19 cases in that country, CNN reported. President Jair Bolsonaro's government had stopped publishing a running total of coronavirus deaths and infections, the Associated Press reported. Critics called the move, which came after official numbers showed Brazil had the third-highest number of deaths and the second-highest number of cases in the world, an attempt to hide the true toll of the disease. A Supreme Court justice last week ordered publication of the cumulative totals of cases and deaths be resumed, the wire service reported. Cases are also spiking wildly in Russia: As of Tuesday, that country reported the world's third-highest number of COVID-19 cases, at over 544,000, the Hopkins tally showed. Worldwide, the number of reported infections passed 8 million on Tuesday, with more than 437,000 deaths, according to the Hopkins tally. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society A The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. The hill of Itaewon, seen in 1978 / Courtesy of Charles Woodruff/Yongsan Legacy By Matt VanVolkenburg South Korea has received international praise for its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, but just as the number of daily new cases dropped into the single digits, a new cluster appeared, centered on clubs in Itaewon. Engaging in decadence and "overconsumption" was criticized in the past as a threat to economic development, and in the 1970s nightclubs were targeted in "social purification" campaigns, so it is no surprise that clubbing at a time when the nation is battling COVID-19 would not go over well. That the clubs were in Itaewon made the response even more severe. Sitting next to Yongsan Garrison, which has housed Japanese and U.S. troops over the past 110 years, Itaewon has long been seen as a foreign neighborhood and perceived as an "ethnic exhibition within Korea" (as a 1984 Kyunghyang Shinmun article put it). A place with a "dark nature," it is also associated with prostitution, with "pathetic" women who "chase after" foreign men, and with homosexuality. It was the latter association that brought out a particularly negative response by some media outlets and netizens when it was discovered that some of the clubs visited by this cluster's "patient zero" catered to the LGBT community. It soon became apparent that Korea's vaunted contact-tracing regime threatened to out hundreds of people, bringing to the fore concerns about its invasion of privacy. It also became clear that homophobia and fear of exposure could hinder the government's attempts to control the outbreak, so in response the government announced a policy of anonymous testing. Yongsan's first venereal disease clinic, seen in 1969 / Courtesy of Rich Kent/Yongsan Legacy As clubs were ordered closed and visitors to Itaewon declined, it became reminiscent of an earlier time when Itaewon, the LGBT community and a disease were linked in Koreans' imaginations. On March 12, 1987, after the first Korean citizen died of AIDS, The Korea Times reported that "'gay' bars and facilities exclusively for foreign clientele are on the edge of closing down" because Koreans believe "the fatal disease may be transmitted by foreigners." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, June 17, 2020 06:01 584 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf4c40c 1 City COVID-19,Tanah-Abang-Market,COVID-19-Jakarta Free The largest textile market in Southeast Asia, Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta, fully reopened on Monday after being closed for around three months with COVID-19 mobility restrictions in place in the capital city. The president director of Jakarta-owned market operator Pasar Jaya, Arief Nasrudin, said all areas of the market, which had to suspend operations during large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), are now allowed to operate. Blocks A, B, F and G are now open, Arief said on Monday. He added that the market resumed operations under COVID-19 prevention protocols, with a limited number of shoppers and vendors allowed each day. Everyone is required to wear protective masks, with vendors having to also wear face shields and one main entrance accessible to visitors. We already distributed 80,000 face shields to the sellers, Arief said as quoted by kompas.com. Read also: Indonesian wet markets carry high risk of virus transmission The market also implemented an odd-even policy for vendors to operate every day as an attempt to limit the number of sellers and shoppers during the so-called new normal period. Arief explained that vendors whose kiosk number was odd would only be allowed to operate during odd dates and vice versa. Vendors who own more than one kiosk with odd and even numbers are required to only open one kiosk and take turns operating them. The Jakarta administration is set to implement this policy in other markets. All traditional markets operated by Pasar Jaya will gradually implement this system starting on Monday. Pasar Jaya personnel will be deployed to monitor the markets operations. Vendors who are found violating the rules will be given a strict warning and asked to close their store. (dpk) United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said on Tuesday that he hopes to convene the third meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee by the end of this summer WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th June, 2020) United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said on Tuesday that he hopes to convene the third meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee by the end of this summer. "I am ready to convene and facilitate a third session of the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned Constitutional Committee," Pedersen said. "Although travel restrictions remain in place, I am hopeful that the session will be possible toward the end of August." Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations office in Geneva said in May that Moscow supports Pedersen's intention to reconvene the Syrian Constitutional Committee once the situation concerning the novel coronavirus pandemic permits such a meeting. Pedersen said in May that it will be unlikely for the Syrian Constitutional Committee to hold an online meeting, adding that its two co-chairs are ready to meet in Geneva as soon as global travel conditions allow it. The Syrian political process began on October 30, when the 150-member Constitutional Committee was launched in Geneva. The Committee is comprised of members of the Syrian government, opposition and civil society. Contributed Photo / Department of Justice / Contributed Photo ANSONIA A city man will serve just over a year in federal prison for dealing firearms and ammunition, authorities announced Tuesday. Malique Martin, 25, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to serve 12 months and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham. Harris Countys March 3 primary in March was marred by long lines due to a misallocation of voting machines and a flawed website meant to show which polling sites had the shortest waits. The night was embarrassing for local Democrats, who confronted the prospect that they had suppressed their own voters because former County Clerk Diane Trautman had signed off on a plan to place most polling sites in Republican county commissioner precincts, despite accurate projections of high Democratic turnout. New County Clerk Christopher Hollins, who was appointed to replace Trautman, is hoping to avoid those mistakes for Julys runoff balloting through a series of improvements he announced Monday. Hollins said he would allocate polling machines to locations based on turnout, extend voting hours and improve a website showing wait times at polling places. This office will do everything it can to give every Harris County voter an equal say at the ballot box, Hollins said. The clerks office announced a 23-point plan Monday to ensure the July 14 primary runoff and November general elections are safe, secure, accessible, fair and efficient. The runoff features 19 races between both parties, seeking to nominate candidates for seats in Congress and the Texas Legislature, well as such local posts as county commissioner, constables and state district judges. Early voting begins June 29. Commissioners Court appointed Hollins interim clerk after Diane Trautman resigned May 31, citing health concerns. The first round of primary voting on March 3, the final election she ran, included some voters waiting hours in line to vote. A Houston Chronicle analysis found that Trautman had signed off on a plan to place most polling sites in Republican county commissioner precincts, despite accurate projections of high Democratic turnout. To compound problems, each polling place had an equal number of voting machines for each party, even in partisan strongholds. In some neighborhoods where Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 30 to 1, that meant that Democratic voters waited in long lines while Republican machines sat unused. Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer A website Trautman launched to show real-time waits at polling sites was not updated promptly at some locations. That may have led droves of voters to the polling site at Texas Southern University when it already was crowded. The final voter cast his ballot there after 1 a.m. Hollins, who said his team is learning from the past, said he has increased the number of voting machines. The clerks office also will open more polling sites for the runoff, 57 for early voting and 109 on Election Day. Historical patterns suggest turnout is likely to drop significantly for next months runoff, especially among Democrats, who had a contested presidential primary on the March ballot. In 2016, the last contested presidential primary, Democratic turnout dropped 87 percent between the primary and primary runoff. Hollins said he would do what he could within the law to expand mail-in voting during the pandemic. The clerks office sent mail ballot applications to all voters 65 and older, who are automatically eligible. The Harris County Attorneys office said any voter could be eligible to vote by mail by citing a fear of contracting coronavirus at polling places in addition to other health conditions. That would meet the disability standard for mail voting set by the Texas Election Code, Assistant County Attorney Douglas Ray said. Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Additionally, Ray said county clerks lack the ability to challenge the mail ballot application of any voter. Thus, he said voters must decide for themselves whether they are eligible. Harris County also will provide personal protective equipment to poll workers, Hollins said. The county Democratic and Republican parties said though a small number of election judges have decided to step down to avoid potential exposure to the coronavirus, each party has enough volunteers for the July election. The judges that have opted not to serve during the upcoming elections are those that are either immunocompromised or of the age bracket who are higher risk, said Harris County Democratic Party Chairwoman Lillie Schecter. However, majority support has remained faithful. Our judges are extremely dedicated to securing our elections this cycle. Harris County Republican Party spokeswoman Genevieve Carter said the party had no vacancies for its 109 primary runoff polling locations. A Rice University survey of 1,800 Harris County poll workers conducted between March and May found that at least 84 percent of respondents were very or somewhat likely to serve during the pandemic if safety measures were in place, including distancing requirements, gloves, PPE and plastic shields. There was no significant difference in responses between Democrats and Republicans, or between those older and younger than 65. Hollins and Elections Director Michael Winn said their counterparts in other counties have reported about a 20 percent decrease in election judges because of the pandemic. Hollins said he plans to aggressively recruit election workers for the fall, including among high school students. We have well over 350 poll workers recruited for early voting, and well over 780 Election Day poll workers already recruited, Winn said of the July runoff. And we havent seen a dropoff yet. Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify Harris Countys position on mail voting eligibility. zach.despart@chron.com Pompeo defends US' moral standing to raise religious freedom concerns amid Floyd protests Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded to China's accusation that the United States has double standards when it comes to protests, noting that the communist nation doesn't allow free speech and it imprisons religious minorities, unlike the U.S. A spokesperson for China's communist government denounced the U.S. for supporting Hong Kong protesters and then said the U.S. has a double standard because some police officers have used force against protesters and journalists in the wake of George Floyds death. Pompeo countered the argument by emphasizing that the contrast between the two countries couldnt be more clear. In a press conference Wednesday during the rollout of the State Departments annual international religious freedom report, Pompeo decried Chinas obscene attempts to take advantage of our domestic situation to press their political agenda. There is no equivalence between our two forms of government, Pompeo said. We have the rule of law; China does not. We have free speech and embrace peaceful protest. They dont. We defend religious freedom; as I just noted, China continues its decadeslong war on faith. Last week, a spokesperson for China claimed that the U.S. is beautifying "violent protests" for Hong Kongs autonomy from mainland China while the U.S. also calls its own people protesting against racial discrimination rioters. Why does the U.S. point fingers at the constrained law enforcement by Hong Kong police but turn a blind eye to what happens at home while using shooting and even the National Guard against the protesters? Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was quoted as saying during a press briefing last week. Hua Chunying, another ministry spokesperson, mocked a tweet sent out by State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus in support of the Hong Kong protests. Chunying responded to Ortagus tweet on May 30 by tweeting the phrase I cant breathe, the words uttered by Floyd before he died with his neck pressed to the pavement by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Day. In a press briefing, Chunying pointed to an article by The Guardian that cites data compiled by the investigative journalist website Bellingcat to report that there have been over 148 instances of police violence against journalists between May 26 and June 2 in the U.S. Given Chinas record on human rights, Pompeo responded by telling reporters that the contrast between the U.S. and China couldnt be more clear. During the best of times, China ruthlessly imposes communism, he said. And amidst the most difficult challenges the United States faces, we work to secure freedom for all. The State Departments 2019 international religious freedom report, a congressionally mandated document, lays out the various violations of religious freedom committed by the Chinese government against various religious communities. Reports have shown that there are over 1 million Muslims imprisoned in so-called re-education camps in Western China. Additionally, a yearslong crackdown on Christianity has led to arrests of churchgoers, the closure of house churches, and removal of hundreds of Christian crosses from state-sanctioned churches nationwide. China's regime has also committed human rights violations against the Falun Gong and Tibetan Buddhists. The State Department has long called out China for its human rights and religious freedom abuses and China has long been listed by the State Department as a country of particular concern for engaging in systemic and egregious violations of religious liberty. The Chinese Communist Party is now ordering religious organizations to obey CCP leadership and infuse communist dogma into their teachings and practice of their faith, Pompeo said. The mass detentions of Uighurs in Xinjiang continues. So does the repression of Tibetans and Buddhists and Falun Gong and Christians. Pompeo was later asked by a reporter what position the U.S. has to raise religious freedom concerns morally given the increased attention to racial disparities and the use of force against protesters outside the White House in Lafayette Park on June 1. Pompeo called the reporters question troubling. Because you ask the question assuming there is a moral equivalency between what takes place in these countries, where they repress their people and they bludgeon their people and they burn down their religious facilities, and they deny journalists ... the chance to ask a question of a secretary of state just like the question you had. [You have] the opportunity to ask me and demand that we provide responses to you and hold us accountable, he said. Those things dont happen in those nations [China or Iran]. The secretary added that the U.S. is a nation that has God-given rights ensconced in our fundamental founding documents He said those rights ensure that when something as tragic and awful as what happened to George Floyd takes place, that the government responds. We saw both local law enforcement and our Department of Justice move very quickly to address the particular situation, Pompeo said. Weve now seen people say, Hey, were calling for changes in the way law enforcement works. Its not my space here as the secretary of state, but you can see this debate take place in America. That doesnt happen in nations across the world. During his recent trip to China, Pompeo met with survivors of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre in Beijing, where the Chinese government killed and wounded thousands of people. In Tiananmen Square 31 years ago, when thousands of people were massacred, instead they repressed journalists, they disappeared people. Its fundamentally different, Pompeo added. This week, the online web conferencing giant Zoom faced criticism after it followed through with the Chinese government's demands to shut down the accounts and meetings of activists who held conferences related to the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre and the protests in Hong Kong. Zoom admitted that it was contacted by the Chinese government in May and early June about four zoom meetings commemorating the massacre, activity deemed to be illegal in China. As China's regime silences dialogue about the massacre, Pompeo said Floyd's case will be an incredible opportunity to tell the important story about how America confronts challenges inside its own country in a way that reflects the finest of what our founders would have hoped America could achieve. Our nation is so special and its the greatest nation in the history of civilization, Pompeo said. Its so special that challenges like the ones that were confronting here in the United States today will be managed head-on, there will be a political process thats engaged of, there will be wide-open debate, and our core principles the fact that we respect every human being because they are made in the image of God will be reflected in the way that the United States responds to these challenges. Yang Chang-soo, former Supreme Court Justice and head of the prosecution's external committee, attends an expert committee meeting held at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul, April 13, 2018. Yang announced his resignation from the chief post of the committee because he has maintained a friendship with one of Samsung's top executives. / Yonhap By Baek Byung-yeul Former Supreme Court Justice Yang Chang-soo stepped down as head of the prosecution's external committee which is set to decide the validity of the investigation into Samsung leader Lee Jae-yong and other top executives, amid a conflict of interest around his relationship with a Samsung executive. The ex-top court justice released a statement Tuesday that he will step down as the committee's chairperson because he has maintained a friendship with one of Samsung's top executives. "I have maintained a long-time friendship with Choi Gee-sung. Though Choi is not a subject who requested the prosecution to convene the citizen panel, he is one of the suspects involved in the case which the external committee will review to assess the validity of the prosecution's investigation into Samsung," he said. Choi was vice chairman of Samsung Electronics and chief of the Future Strategy Office, a now-defunct control tower of Samsung Group. Yang and Choi both attended Seoul High School. Samsung's legal attorneys requested Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office to convene an independent committee to review the investigation into Samsung's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong, who was suspected of conspiring with other executives to lower the value of Samsung C&T and inflate that of Cheil Industries before their merger in 2015. Since then, there has been controversy over whether Yang is suitable to supervise the committee due to his relationship with Choi. Another dispute regarding the composition of the committee comes from Yang's relation to Kwon O-jung, president of Samsung Medical Center, his brother-in-law. The medical center is an affiliate of Samsung Group and Lee Jae-yong's ailing father Chairman Lee Kun-hee has been in Samsung Seoul Hospital for six years. Kwon, who served as dean of Sungkyunkwan University's medical school, has been working in the medical center since 2015. The external committee system was introduced in January 2018 to enhance the neutrality and fairness of investigations deemed to be in the public interest. The 15-member expert panel will determine in a majority vote whether prosecutors should continue with their investigation and whether Lee and other executives should be indicted. The committee will convene a meeting on June 26. The external committee is widely seen as Lee Jae-yong's last resort to clear suggestions of collusion in the merger between the two Samsung units. The prosecution has accepted the conclusions made by previous committees in every case. In response to Yang's resignation, judicial circles expressed their opposition, saying the call that he should quit the post because he has friendly relations with one of the suspects is irrational. "He has been in the chief post of the committee before Samsung requested the prosecution to convene the meeting. It will be biased toward the panel if the prosecution appoints a new chief whenever they are asked to hold a meeting," said Choi June-sun, a law professor at Sungkyunkwan University. "Samsung Group has more than 300,000 employees and it is no wonder a member of the panel has a relationship with a Samsung staff member." While Samsung is waiting for the composition of the panel to be decided, Lee has held three meetings with C-level executives in its core businesses such as memory chip semiconductors, contract-based foundry and mobile communications on Monday, according to Samsung. The series of meetings were Lee's first move after the court rejected the prosecution's request to issue an arrest warrant for him and other top executives. Samsung said Lee held the meetings to review their business plans amid uncertainties over the prolonging COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing U.S.China and Korea Japan trade disputes. Birmingham saw an all-time high in coronavirus patients this week, as the University of Alabama at Birmingham is now treating 68. The previous peak was 63 more than two months ago. Its a real increase in cases that were finding, said Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, director of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, during a public update on Monday afternoon. People ask about a second wave, and Ive been saying we never stopped having a first wave. UABs number of COVID patients has hovered between 35 and 55 for most of the last two months, before rising again in recent days. About half of UABs covid patients are on ventilators, said Dr. Sarah Nafziger, co-director of the UAB Hospital Emergency Management committee. As of today, UAB Hospital has 68 COVID-positive patients, and has seen a steady increase during the last week. UAB medical experts continue to urge the public to wear a mask and practice social distancing to slow the spread of infection. Cc: @uabmedicine pic.twitter.com/MUUCJ2dajL UAB (@UABNews) June 15, 2020 Experts on Monday said they are concerned with rising coronavirus rates throughout the state coming about two weeks after Alabama reopened its economy. I think that we now have just widespread sustained community spread, said Marrazzo of the number of positive cases around the state. Theres so much infection out there, you could go anywhere and potentially be exposed. Yesterday was the first day Alabama had more than 1,000 new cases reported in a single day, and the new average daily case numbers have been steadily rising. About 770 Alabamians have died from COVID-19 since March. Its been an unfortunate series of days of record-setting, said Marrazzo. The sharp uptick in cases isnt just due to increased testing, said Marrazzo. In the past two weeks, Alabama has had about 8% of its COVID-19 tests come back as positive. That rate jumps to 13% in the last week. Marrazzo contrasted that with Seattles 1.5% positive rate. In Jefferson County, the positive rate is more than 10% and thats the first time weve seen it go up that high, said Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson. Were concerned that several days from now could translate into more hospitalizations. Alabamas rise in cases can be directly linked to the states reopening last month and an overall attitude that the worst is over, said Marrazzo. The timing of this is pretty perfect, she said, because its been 15 days since the end of May when the state relaxed its rules and reopened large segments of the economy. People are mixing more, people are letting their guard down, people arent wearing masks and theyre mingling and creating more opportunity for infection to spread, she said. Unfortunately, a lot of people are going out and forgetting that wearing a mask is an essential part of being able to re-enter society. So I would really plead with you, once again, if youre going to go out, please wear a mask. Elsewhere around the state, nearly half of Alabamas counties posted double-digit coronavirus case growth in the past few days. Montgomery is alarming hospitals and experts, adding more new cases than any other county. In nearby Lee and Chambers Counties, hospitalizations remain flat, but cases have started to rise again. Marrazzo said hospitalizations are being drawn very heavily from some of the more rural areas of the state, said Marrazzo. That is a huge concern, given that the people who are in the rural areas have a much higher prevalence of some of the more alarming risk factors for mortality and bad outcomes related to COVID-19. So thats not a very good sign. As hospitals work to treat COVID-19 patients, there is now only one FDA-approved antiviral treatment, remdesivir, and its in short supply in Alabama. We dont have enough remdesivir to treat everybody whos in the hospital, said Marrazzo. Its a really challenging situation. As for people not wearing masks, Marrazzo said it may be because many still dont know someone whos had COVID or has never seen anyone on a ventilator. Mask-wearing, social distancing and hand-washing are key to reducing infection, she said. Some activities are relatively low risk, such as a trip to the beach while keeping safe distance from other groups, or attending an outdoor protest where most people are wearing masks and keeping 6 feet apart. A metric she recommended: If you are within six feet of someone for more than 15 minutes, thats when that alarm bell should be going off. [June 16, 2020] Irth Solutions Announces Appointment of Brad Gammons to its Board of Directors COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- irth Solutions, a leader in 811 ticket management and field service management software, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brad Gammons to its Board of Directors. His extensive knowledge of utility and energy software and operations will contribute to the growth and strategic direction of the company. Brad Gammons is considered a thought leader on energy and utility issues and has served these customers for decades. He maintains frequent participation in industry organizations, conferences and events. Brad currently serves as the Global Managing Director of IBM's Energy, Environment, and Utility Industry. He has overall responsibility for the industry's strategy, consulting service, sales, solution development, marketing, and operations. Prior to this role, Brad served as IBM's Global Industry General Manager for Energy and Utilities. Before joining IBM, Brad served as a Captain in the United States AirForce. There he held positions in Strategy and Planning and as Flight Crew member on the B-52. "I have spent much of my career serving customers across the same industries that irth does. I am excited to be a part of a platform that can help address the operational, regulatory, and safety needs of these companies and their workers. irth is well positioned to provide a solution to its customers that addresses many of their field service management needs on one platform" "We are thrilled to have Brad join our team at irth Solutions", Trent Peugh, Chief Executive Offer, said. "Brad has extensive experience working with our customers to address their software and strategy needs. We look forward to working with him to continuously improve and expand the solution set we can deliver." About irth Solutions: irth Solutions is the leading provider of cloud-based solutions for asset protection, mobile workforce management, 811 ticket management and no-code app creation. UtiliSphere reduces risk and maximizes business growth by protecting mission-critical business assets and optimizing the performance of people and the work they do. Our software helps organizations manage and reduce risk, decreases costs, increase revenue opportunities and ensure regulatory compliance. For decades, our solutions have helped hundreds of customers execute the work that is most important to their success. irth Solutions is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit www.irthsolutions.com. Contact: irth Solutions 614.784.8000 email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/irth-solutions-announces-appointment-of-brad-gammons-to-its-board-of-directors-301077360.html SOURCE irth Solutions [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Eleven Vietnamese nationals who paid people smugglers $32,000 each to take them to Australia under false promises of farm work have been detained in East Timor. Eight men and three women were accompanied by two Indonesian crewmen when they stopped at Jaco Island, east of the nation's mainland, on Friday. The Darwin-bound group were looking for supplies to fix their boat which was damaged during the 17-day voyage from Kendari, Indonesia, when they were intercepted by East Timor officials. Eight men and three women were accompanied by two Indonesian crewmen when they stopped at Jaco Island, east of the nation's mainland, on Friday (pictured) East Timor's coronavirus emergency response coordinator Dr Aurelio Guterres told the Sydney Morning Herald that the Vietnamese nationals were promised farm work in Darwin. 'Their destination was Darwin. They wanted to work on farms,' he said. 'They paid $US22,000 (A$31,600) each a lot of money.' A source in Dili said they were 'victims of people smugglers, they were promised jobs on Australian farms and they were tricked'. Ms Araujo said it was likely they would be taken back to their home countries after the two-week quarantine period was up. The group were intercepted by East Timor officials (pictured) and tested for COVID-19 Attempts to smuggle people into Australia have largely stopped since the introduction of mandatory offshore processing for any non-visa holders arriving by boat. One boat was turned back in January this year, and four vessels were stopped or intercepted last year. The Australian Department of Home Affairs thanked the East Timor government for stopping the Vietnamese nationals from entering the country. 'This is a strong reminder that the threat of people smuggling endures and that we must maintain our vigilance,' a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs told the publication. Pictured: East Timor officials wear face masks while intercepting a group headed for Australia The Vietnamese nationals were immediately tested for COVID-19, before they were placed in a quarantine facility in the capital of Dili. East Timor has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 in 52 days, with no evidence of community transmission, but Vietnam also has had very low levels of infection and has recorded only 11 active cases nationwide as of this week. Rui Maria de Araujo, the doctor in charge of the nation's coronavirus taskforce, said preliminary tests came back negative, leaving authorities to deal with the group under immigration laws. While East Timor largely closed its borders during the global pandemic, a land border with Indonesia was opened once a week for trading purposes. Three humanitarian flights also arrive from Australia each week. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Lawyers in the case of the Golden State Killer, otherwise known as the East Area Rapist, believe they have reached a deal where the chief suspect will plead guilty to 88 charges of murder, rape and other crimes. The Sacramento Bee reports sources saying that Joseph James DeAngelo Jr will enter the plea to avoid a death penalty trial, with a life sentence without parole imposed instead. Mr DeAngelos attorney, Sacramento County Supervising Assistant Public Defender Joseph Cress says that the plea agreement would provide some finality for the victims, while avoiding a lengthy and expensive trial. Details of the agreement are still being worked out, but a hearing could take place on 29 June. The former police officer was arrested in April 2018 after a decades-long search for a suspect in the crimes that occurred across California between 1974 and 1986. DeAngelo faces 26 counts in the Sacramento Superior Court, including 13 murder charges as the Golden State Killer two in Sacramento, one in Tulare County, four in Orange County, four in Santa Barbara County, and two in Ventura County. An additional 13 kidnap and robbery charges are attributed to the East Area Rapist nine in Sacramento County and four in Contra Costa County. The Golden State Killer and East Area Rapist were investigated as being believed to be the same individual for many years, but the agreement now being discussed sees DeAngelo also admitting guilt to a further 62 crimes. These have in the past been attributed to various assailants known as the Visalia Ransacker, Original Nightstalker, and the Diamond Knot Killer. Golden State Killer suspect Joseph James DeAngelo was charged with 13 murders (Hector Amezcua, Rex Features) The defence team have argued from early on that they wanted to avoid a death penalty trial given the age of the defendant at 74 years old. California currently has a moratorium on the death penalty, which would have made it easier for the prosecution team to agree to other terms. Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert declined to comment on Monday, according to The Sacramento Bee. A preliminary hearing was set to begin in August and would have reportedly included 150 witnesses and lasted up to ten weeks. Recommended How a late crime writer helped catch the Golden State Killer It is expected that hundreds of survivors, and relatives of victims, will want to attend the newly planned hearing later this month, which will also attract a great deal of media interest from around the world. Officials are currently looking for a venue large enough to accommodate everyone, while allowing for social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Reaction has been mixed from families of the victims, with some saying this does not feel like justice and others suggesting that it brings some degree of closure after such a long time. DeAngelo was identified through a DNA sample from a genealogy website that was compared to evidence found at crimes scenes. A familial link led investigators to the former police officer who had since been fired from the force and become a truck mechanic. The decades-long search for the Golden State Killer is the subject of podcasts and best-selling books, and an HBO documentary series is scheduled to begin at the end of the month. From: Carol M. Swain -- Political Scientist and Commentator For Immediate Release: Dateline: Nashville , TN Tuesday, June 16, 2020 Nashville is a blue city in a red state, and the struggle for good government is an ongoing battle. As Nashville continues to grow, it is beset with challenges with a government that does NOT represent all of the people. This is the third of a four-part series about Nashville Mayor John Coopers proposed 32% property tax increase. In this episode, I interview attorney and conservative activist Jim Roberts. Jim is the founder of 4goodgoverment and the mastermind behind the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act. Jim Roberts 4GoodGovernment.Com, https://4goodgovernment.com/ Download Taxpayer Protection Act Petition Roberts & Associates 1700 Hayes Street, Suite #201 P. O. Box 331606 Nashville, Tennessee 37203 (615) 242-2002 office Continue Reading The recent resignation of the 10 members of a SWAT team of South Florida police department has been all over different news websites in the past day or two, and among the main reasons why they resigned was their claim of "lack of support" specifically from Vice Mayor Sabrina Javellana. The resigned officers also referred to some grievances and this included the kneeling of the Hallandale Beach police chief this week, with protesters. Even though they stepped down from their roles in the team, the said 10 SWAT officials, the Miami Herald reported, will stay with the police force. Specifically, the SWAT team sent a memo, which, according to Greg Chavarria, the City manager, the Hallandale Beach city officials received on Friday night. The said memo contained the team's detailed complaints. Also part of the grievances was the SWAT team's claim that they are frequently controlled "by the politicization of our tactics" in the middle of anti-police brutality demonstrations across the nation. The Resignation The letter, addressed to Chief of Police Sonia Quinones on Tuesday but made available for public knowledge on Friday by ABC 10, claimed that officers of the SWAT team experience "anguish and stress" when they are sentenced or convicted for their actions in the field. In the letter, the officers specified that the danger of continuing to fulfil their duties is not acceptable to them and their respective families anymore. More so, they claimed, as they mentioned in the letter, they are "minimally equipped and undertrained. The officers alleged too, that the department, as mentioned in the letter, is "Placing the safety of dogs over the team members' safety." Also included in the resignation letter was the officers' claim that, until the said circumstances and sentiments are remedied and dealt with, they cannot safely and efficiently "and in good faith carry out" their responsibilities in this capability sans putting themselves and their families at this unnecessarily amplified degree of risk." Vice Mayor Javellana, a Special Mention in the Letter The officers also specifically mentioned in their letter, Vice Mayor Sabrina Javellana, who reportedly kneeled with demonstrators saying the 22-year-old government leader has made "ignorant and inaccurate statements" that attack the legal actions of the officers of the city, as well as the SWAT team, both from the podium and social media. As earlier mentioned, they accused her of "a 'lack of support' as well." For quite some time now, the vice mayor has been vocal about 34-year-old, Howard Bowe's death. He was the black man who was shot dead in his home during a drug raid in 2014. In connection to this, Sun Sentinel reported, 15 officers responded to the black man's home one early morning in the said year, killed his pitbull and broke the door of his apartment. Also, according to reports, authorities then used a stun gun to shoot Bowe. Javellana, the resigned officers said in their letter, has shown that she is taking pleasure in "besmirching the hard work" and commitment of this professional agency's members, having the nerve to compare them "to the Minneapolis Department." Meanwhile, the vice mayor explained to the Sun Sentinel that she does not regret kneeling with the demonstrators even after the SWAT team members' mass resignation. She also said she has been very vocal about Bowe's wrongful death even before she became vice mayor of the city. The number of Clark County, Nev., public school students who were unaccounted for by the end of the school year, with many lacking computers or Internet access, or having gotten a job instead of attending online schooling. ( AP News June 15, 2020) MCLEAN, Va., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- King & Spalding announced today the opening of its new Northern Virginia office, which will be the firm's 22nd globally. The Tysons Corner office, together with the 250-lawyer Washington, D.C. office, will continue to provide full-service offerings to technology and aerospace, defense and government services (ADG) clients. "Serving technology and ADG companies, sponsors, and other investors makes Northern Virginia a logical and important location for the firm," said King & Spalding Chairman Robert D. Hays, Jr. "Given both our investment in the corporate practice and the growth in the national security arena, our Tysons Corner office will extend our reach into serving the tech sector across the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) region and globally." King & Spalding continues to invest in the region with the addition of partners with long-standing ties to the community and to the global clients with interests in the DMV area. The new Tysons Corner office will include a 25-lawyer Chambers & Partners Band 1 ranked Corporate/M&A team which is anchored by Lawrence Yanowitch, Thomas Knox, Charlie Katz, and Jeremy Schropp, who have been practicing together in Northern Virginia for over two decades. Prior to joining King & Spalding from Morrison & Foerster in October, Yanowitch was global co-chair of the firm's M&A practice and Knox was the global co-chair of its Corporate Department. In February, Rick Vacura joined King & Spalding also from Morrison & Foerster where he was the founder and former co-chair of its Government Contracts practice. He serves as the chair of King & Spalding's Government Contracts practice. Steve Cave, another government contracts partner, joined King & Spalding from McKinsey & Company. John Harper, seasoned advisor on M&A tax matters, also joined the group. "Clients value our insight into their issues and appreciate that we are fully committed to serving the Mid-Atlantic business community," said Tom Knox, King & Spalding partner and co-chair of the firm's global Technology Industry practice. "Leveraging King & Spalding's industry-leading financing, national security, international trade and regulatory practices furthers our ability to counsel clients during this period of uncertainty and opportunity." The team has been active on a number of key technology and ADG M&A transactions since joining the firm representing: Dynetics in its $1.65 billion sale transaction with Leidos; sale transaction with Leidos; SAIC in its $1.2 billion acquisition of Unisys Federal; acquisition of Unisys Federal; Sonatype in its acquisition by Vista Equity Partners; and the founder of Maryland -based Merkle Group in the completion of its strategic cross-border acquisition by London -based Dentsu Aegis Network. "King & Spalding's expanding global platform has provided outstanding transaction support to the clients we serve from the Northern Virginia office," said Lawrence Yanowitch, King & Spalding partner. "We continue to find creative solutions to achieve client objectives in a challenging market environment." King & Spalding's Northern Virginia office is located at 1650 Tysons Boulevard in McLean, Virginia. Charles Katz will serve as the office's managing partner. About King & Spalding Celebrating more than 130 years of service, King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with over 1,100 lawyers in 22 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality, and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com. SOURCE K&S Related Links www.kslaw.com A former NYPD officer has slammed the police department's decision to disband its anti-crime unit, claiming the move marks the 'end of policing in the city' and will leave New Yorkers more vulnerable to crime. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea on Monday announced the closure of the division which was focused primarily on seizing illegal guns on the streets. The plain-clothes unit has long been criticized for aggressive tactics and has been responsible for a disproportionate number of shootings and complaints over the years. The change comes amid a nationwide reckoning over police brutality sparked by George Floyd's death in Minnesota. The move, however, has been met with criticism among members of law enforcement who say it will come at a steep price and potentially cost lives. Eugene O'Donnell, a former NYPD officer and a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice said the department is choosing to prioritize avoiding conflict and scrutiny, instead of protecting the community. A plainclothes police officer detains and then releases a person alleged to have vandalized a store on May 31 in New York City NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea (above) said his department would disband a plain-clothes, anti-crime unit Eugene O'Donnell, a former NYPD officer and a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice told DailyMail.com the department is choosing to prioritize avoiding conflict and scrutiny, instead of protecting the community 'This is a momentous event for the NYPD in which the department is telling its officers, all of your rightdoing will not matter if there's a perceived case of wrongdoing,' he told DailyMail.com. 'The cops were always willing to take the risk and step into the vacuum and if it turned out okay, they would be okay. The cops will never do that now.' Anti-crime police officers are generally considered 'real' cops, known for their fast response to emergencies and violent crimes on the streets, and its disbandment will only have 'profound consequences going forward', O'Donnell warned. 'The official policy of the NYPD is now peaceful coexistence with the community, even though that destroys lives and neighborhoods. 'The losers here will be people of color. Almost every single victim of a shooting the city of New York have been African American or Latino,' he added. O'Donnell earlier told the New York Daily News it marks the it the 'end of policing in the city, because these people did a disproportionate amount of it.' 'People are gonna die because of this. How many is hard to tell, but definitely some lives are going to be lost.' Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik also blasted the decision in a tweet on Monday warning there are 'dangerous times to come.' Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik also blasted the decision in a tweet on Monday warning there are 'dangerous times to come' 'Plain clothes anti-crime cops have historically been responsible for the majority of gun and violent crime arrests in New York City. To avoid police/suspect confrontations, the department has disbanded the precinct and the crime teams,' he wrote. Assemblyman Mike Reilly also pointed out on Twitter that NYPD anti-crimes officers were recently commended for their work in taking guns off the street, with 31 fire arms seized between January and March. Pat Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) responded to the decision in a statement saying: 'Anti-Crime's mission was to protect New Yorkers by proactively preventing crime, especially gun violence. 'Shooting and murders are both climbing steadily upward, but our city leaders have clearly decided that proactive policing isn't a priority anymore. They chose this strategy. They will have to reckon with the consequences.' Last month, a member of the anti-crime unit was placed on modified leave after being filmed using a Taser to subdue a man while enforcing social distancing guidelines in the East Village of Manhattan While police reform activists have welcomed the move, described by some as long 'overdue', some claim it's likely to result in the formation of a similar unit under a different title. Commissioner Shea said about 600 officers working in the unit will be given new assignments and a separate anti-crime unit will still operate in the transit system and some officers will be used for things like surveillance and narcotics work. The Legal Aid Society, a public defender organization that has pushed for police reforms, said it was 'welcome news,' but cautioned that New Yorkers would not be better served 'if these officers are simply reassigned, carrying with them the same bad habits that earned Anti-Crime its dismal reputation.' 'The city must drastically reduce the NYPD's headcount and use those funds to invest in communities,' they added. 'It's never gonna be enough until at least the NYPD and Cuomo sees that it's bigger than just moving money and shifting it somewhere else,' protester Tatiana Luis told the NYDN. The anti-crimes unit took on many of the duties of the former Street Crime Unit, which was closed in a largely symbolic move after four of its officers killed a Guinean immigrant, Amadou Diallo, in a barrage of 41 shots in 1999 after mistaking his wallet for a gun. In its pursuit of illegal guns, the anti-crime unit relied heavily on stopping and frisking people without justification. A federal judge ruled in 2013 that the practice violated the civil rights of minorities. In 2014, anti-crime officer Daniel Pantaleo used a banned chokehold to take Garner to the ground as he tried to arrest him for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes on Staten Island. Pantaleo was fired last year after a departmental disciplinary trial. Floyd echoed Garner's dying pleas of "I can't breathe" as a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck, leading to his death May 25, and the words have again become a rallying cry among police reform activists marching in cities across the nation. MPs have called for the Department of Agriculture to be stripped of its role as the regulator of the live export trade, after animal activists lost their case in the Federal Court to stop tens of thousands of sheep being shipped to the Middle East during the summer months. The defeat means tens of thousands of sheep will depart Fremantle on Wednesday and be shipped to the Middle East in the hottest months, despite both the government and industry banning the trade between June and September because of the suffering it causes sheep on board. Sheep were being loaded onto the Al Kuwait live export ship in Fremantle harbour on Tuesday. Credit:AAP The bans were imposed in the wake of the Awassi Express scandal when thousands of sheep dropped dead in blistering temperatures. RETWA, a company closely connected to the disgraced exporters Emanuel Exports who were behind the Awassi Express disaster began loading thousands of sheep onto the Al Kuwait vessel in Fremantle immediately after Animals Australia's defeat in the court. Iran Warns Nuclear Watchdog Not to Make Decisions Based on Disinformation Provided by Mossad Sputnik News 10:15 GMT 15.06.2020 Last week, a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report found that Iran is continuing to build up its uranium stockpile, and enriching beyond limits outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the world to "reimpose paralyzing sanctions" against Tehran. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi has warned the IAEA's board of governors against making "irrelevant and unconstructive" decisions in relation to Iran on the basis of alleged "documents" provided by the Israeli intelligence service. "We urge the agency to be a little realistic about it, to pose its question (from Iran) on a legal basis, and not to get entangled in marginal issues," the spokesman said, speaking at a press conference on Monday, according to Tasnim. Alleging that the board is basing its meeting to discuss Iran's nuclear activities based on a report provided by Israel, Mousavi warned that Iran does "not deem such an approach of the agency constructive. Our cooperation with the agency continued even when the IAEA reduced commitments. If such a process goes on, the interaction with the organization will become difficult." "Naturally, if they make an unconstructive decision, Iran will show a proportionate reaction, and they probably know what the decision would be," Mousavi added, presumably referring to a reduction in cooperation with the nuclear watchdog. On Monday, IAEA officials met in Vienna to discuss last week's confidential report on Iran's alleged violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal. Agency chief Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterated that the Islamic Republic has denied the IAEA access to two nuclear sites over a four month period, demanding prompt access these facilities. "I note with serious concern that, for over four months, Iran has denied us access to two locations and that, for almost a year, it has not engaged in substantive discussions to clarify our questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities. This is adversely affecting the agency's ability to resolve the questions and to provide credible assurance of the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities at these locations in Iran," Grossi said. "I call on Iran to cooperate immediately and fully with the agency, including by providing prompt access to the locations specified by us," he added. Report Earlier this month, in a confidential document distributed to member countries that leaked to the media, the IAEA expressed "serious concern" over Iran's alleged refusal to allow inspectors into two nuclear sites. The report also claimed that the country was continuing to build up its enriched uranium stockpile, and increasing enrichment from the 3.67 percent limit set out by the JCPOA to 4.5 percent. Tel Aviv, which previously boasted that the Mossad had uncovered new information on an alleged Iranian nuclear weapons program, called on the world to get tough on Tehran over its alleged "violations" of the nuclear deal. Prime Minister Netanyahu suggested that "paralyzing sanctions" were the solution, and claimed that "Iran has systematically violated its commitments by hiding sites and enriching fissionable material, and has committed other violations." Israel, he stressed, would "not allow" Tehran to build a bomb. Iran began scaling back its commitment to the nuclear deal in May 2019, one year after President Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the JCPOA, and imposed tough energy and banking sanctions on the country. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful in nature, and that it has no plans to build a nuclear bomb. Based on the IAEA's findings, Iran's enrichment activities are still far below the 80-90 percent enrichment levels required to build a nuclear weapon. Furthermore, the 1,571.6 kg stockpile of nuclear fuel reported in the confidential document is still much smaller than the 7,000 kg of uranium the country had amassed by 2013, before signing the JCPOA. At that time, the country had achieved enrichment levels of about 20 percent. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sushant Singh Rajput died of a suspected suicide on Sunday at the of 34 and left the entire nation in a state of shock. Dattatreya Bargude, assistant commissioner of police, has confirmed his death and said that no suicide note was found. Twitter The rising star of Bollywood began his journey as a backgrounder dancer. After rising to popularity with his show Pavitra Rishta. Sushant was one of the few TV actors who successfully made a career in Bollywood. Twitter Sushant impressed the audience with his first Bollywood movie Kai Po Che and gave powerpacked performances in movies like M.S Dhoni: The Untold Story, PK, Kedarnath amongst others. His latest release was Drive alongside Jackline Fernendes. Twitter His next, which was awaiting the release in theatres on May 8 and was postponed because of the lockdown, was the remake of popular Hollywood movie and novel The Fault in Our Stars. The movie will likely release online now. If reports are to be believed, Dil Bechara might be released on Disney+Hotstar. Twitter Ironically, in the movie, he will be seen motivating his girlfriend to love life to the fullest as she fights with a deadly disease. Twitter Twitter Twitter His dialogue from the movie Chhichhore in which he is teaching his son that suicide is not an option is going viral on social media. (If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918) In one of the largest educational field experiments ever conducted, a team co-led by a Cornell researcher found that promising interventions to help students complete online courses were not effective on a massive scale -- suggesting that targeted solutions are needed to help students in different circumstances or locations. Researchers tracked 250,000 students from nearly every country in 250 massive open online courses (MOOCs) over 2 1/2 years in the study, "Scaling Up Behavioral Science Interventions in Online Education," published June 15 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Behavioral interventions are not a silver bullet," said Rene Kizilcec, assistant professor of information science and co-lead author. "Earlier studies showed that short, light-touch interventions at the beginning of a few select courses can increase persistence and completion rates," he said. "But when scaled up to over 250 different courses and a quarter of a million students, the intervention effects were an order of magnitude smaller." The study was co-led by Justin Reich of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Michael Yeomans of Imperial College London. The research was conducted on the edX and Open edX platforms, and edX has engaged in work to make the data available to institutional researchers to advance educational science at scale. The 250 courses the researchers studied came from Harvard University, MIT and Stanford University. advertisement Failure to complete online courses is a well-known and long-standing obstacle to virtual learning, particularly among disadvantaged communities and in developing nations -- where online education can be a key path to social advancement. The findings have added relevance with so much education around the world taking place online during the COVID-19 pandemic. "My advice to instructors is to understand and address the specific challenges in their learning environment," Kizilcec said. "If students have issues with their internet connection, you can't help them overcome them with a self-regulation intervention. But if students need to go to bed on time in order to be awake for a morning lecture, or they need to plan ahead for when to start working on homework in order to have it ready to hand in, then a brief self-regulation intervention can in fact help students overcome these obstacles." Previous, smaller-scale research, performed by Kizilcec and his co-authors as well as other scholars, found that goal-setting interventions such as writing out a list of intentions at the start of the class improved students' course completion rates. In this study, the researchers explored the effects of four interventions: plan-making, where students are prompted to develop detailed plans for when, where, and how they complete coursework; a related activity in which students reflect on the benefits and barriers of achieving their goal, and plan ahead about how to respond to challenges; social accountability, where they pick someone to hold them accountable for their progress in the course, and plan when and what to tell them; and value-relevance, where they write about how completing the course reflects and reinforces their most important values. For the first three interventions, involving planning ahead, the researchers found that the approach was effective in boosting engagement for the first few weeks of the course, but the impact dwindled as the course progressed. The value-relevance intervention was effective in developing countries where student outcomes were significantly worse than others, but only in courses with a global achievement gap; in other courses, it actually had a negative impact in developing countries. advertisement The researchers tested whether they could predict in which courses an achievement gap would occur, in order to decide where the intervention should be added, but found it extremely difficult to predict. "Not knowing if it will help or hurt students in a given course is a big issue," he said. The researchers attempted to use machine learning to predict which interventions might help which students, but found the algorithm was no better than assigning the same intervention to all students. "It calls into question the potential of AI to provide personalized interventions to struggling students," Kizilcec said. "Approaches that focus on understanding what works best in individual environments and then tailoring interventions to those environments might be more effective." The researchers said their findings suggest that future studies should be designed to consider and reveal the differences among students, in addition to studies assessing overall effects. The paper was co-authored by Christopher Dann of Carnegie Mellon University, Emma Brunskill of Stanford University, Glenn Lopez and Dustin Tingley of Harvard, Selen Turkay of the Queensland University of Technology and Joseph J. Williams of the University of Toronto. The research was partly funded by the National Science Foundation, a Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship and a Microsoft Faculty Fellowship. Photo: Luca Micheli/Unsplash Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Seattle. Capitol Hill Trader Joes employees accuse store of retaliating against protest participation Read the full story on Eater Seattle. How CHAZ became CHOP: Seattle's police-free zone explained Read the full story on Houston Chronicle. Seattle business owner says police never responded to a burglary at his shop in the CHOP Read the full story on KING5. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. On Friday, the Trader Joes on Capitol Hill closed unexpectedly, not long after dozens of its workers announced they would participate in the Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County march and general strike that day. Known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) at first, several protesters in the area made a push for the name to better reflect its purpose and renamed the roughly six-block area. CHOP, the new acronym, now stands for the Capitol Hill Organized (or Occupied) Protest. SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global aerospace insulation market size is expected to reach USD 12.28billion by 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2020 to 2027. Surge in aircraft deliveries and growth in MRO activities owing to surging passenger and freight movement across the globe are expected to drive the market over the forecast period. Key suggestions from the report: Ceramic materials are expected to witness the fastest growth from 2020 to 2027 on account of high product penetration in engine application By product, thermal insulation dominated the market with a share of 66.3% in 2019 owing to the extensive use of thermal insulation in aircraft manufacturing as well as aftermarket Based on end use, the military segment is expected to reach USD 3.02 billion by 2027 on account of rise in military spending by NATO countries to deal with growing threat of terrorism North America held the largest share of 40.74% in 2019 owing to increasing demand from the established aircraft industry in the region Key industry participants are focused on building long-term contracts with the end users in order to gain a competitive edge over their competitors. Read 128 page research report with ToC on "Aerospace Insulation Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Thermal, Acoustic, Electric), By Material, By Application, By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/aerospace-insulation-market Majority of the manufacturers choose to independently distribute their products in order to better serve their customers in case of customized products, which helps them to increase their profit margin. Manufacturers also establish strategic relationship with tier 1 suppliers and provide solutions to the end users through direct or third-party distribution. The market is characterized by the presence of established players with a strong financial base, thereby presenting high entry barriers in the market. Moreover, the aircraft manufactures usually opt for reliable suppliers with high goodwill on account of past product procurement, thus making it difficult for the new entrants to establish their business. Hence, the threat of new entrants is anticipated to be low as high initial capital investment is required. Key players in the market are focused on increasing their market share through new product developments, rather than mergers & acquisitions. Companies in the market are focusing on expanding their product portfolio by developing cost-effective insulation products with enhanced properties. Grand View Research has segmented the global aerospace insulation market on the basis of material, product, application, end use, and region: Aerospace Insulation Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Ceramic Materials Mineral Wool Foamed Plastics Fiberglass Others Aerospace Insulation Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Thermal Acoustic Electric Aerospace Insulation Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Engine Aerostructure Aerospace Insulation End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Commercial Military Business & General Aviation Others Aerospace Insulation Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Spain Asia Pacific China India Japan Central & South America Brazil Middle East & Africa & List of Key Players of Aerospace Insulation Market Duracote Corporation Rogers Corporation Dupont BASF SE 3M Esterline Technologies Corporation Triumph Group Inc. Zodiac Aerospace Evonik Industries Polymer Technologies Inc. Zotefoams UPF Corporation Boyd Corporation Johns Manville Orcon AVS Industries Find more research reports on Advanced Interior Materials Industry, by Grand View Research: Pet Food Processing Market- Increasing demand for specialized and premium food products, owing to their superior health benefits, is projected to augment the market growth over the forecast period. U.S. Air Purifier Market- Rising pollution levels and increasing prevalence of airborne diseases in the country have resulted in creating awareness among the consumers, thereby augmenting the product demand. Aluminum Flat Products Market- Increasing penetration of aluminum in vehicles on account of its lightweight properties is projected to fuel the growth of the market. Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: +1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg ATLANTA, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, June 15, 2020, attorneys representing Tyler Griffin filed an excessive force case against the Atlanta Police Department, Officer Donald Vickers, and Officer Matthew Abad. According to the filed documents, the case arises out of an arrest on April 5, 2019 in which officers tackled Griffin without provocation, breaking his ankle. Officers then forced Griffin to walk on the broken ankle in obvious pain, worsening the injury, while they laughed at him. The arrest was caught on the body-worn video cameras of several officers. The video and other information is available at https://butlerfirm.com/tyler-griffin-excessive-force-atlanta-police/. Atlanta, Georgia attorney Jeb Butler represents Tyler Griffin. Defendant Vickers sprints toward an unsuspecting Tyler Griffin before tackling him and shattering his ankle. Griffin is young, male, and African-American. He is represented by Jeb Butler and Matt Kahn of the Butler Law Firm. "I never wanted to be in this situation," said Griffin. "I don't like public attention. But I don't want this to happen to anybody else, so I'm telling my story." The allegations state that Defendants Vickers and Abad carried out the arrest. The officers followed Griffin in an unmarked car, without lights and siren off, for some distance before the arrest. Griffin knew that he was being followed but did not suspect that his pursuers were police officers, so he pulled into a private drive to see if the car followed. Abad got out of the unmarked patrol car and approached Griffin's car on foot. The filed documents state that with his pistol drawn and pointing at Griffin's face, Abad identified himself as a police officer for the first time and ordered Griffin to get out of his car. Griffin got out of his car and stood beside it. Without warning or provocation, Vickers sprinted at Griffin then tackled him to the ground. The fall broke Griffin's ankle, which would require an emergency surgery, the installation of a long metal plate, and ten bone screws. After the fall, Abad, Vickers, and other officers repeatedly forced Griffin to walk on his broken ankle even though he was in obvious pain. They laughed and mocked him as he grimaced and cried out, calling him a "little girl." According to the allegations, Vickers had a history of excessive force violations. In 2010, while off-duty from the Atlanta Police Department and working as a security guard, Vickers was arrested for pointing a loaded assault rifle at three African-American males at Underground Atlanta. In 2011, Vickers was written up for having sprayed an African-American arrestee with pepper spray, then kicked him in the back several times while he was facing in the other direction. "He's supposed to protect and serve, not act like he's on WWE," said Butler. Butler and Kahn have been unable to learn whether APD fired or otherwise disciplined Vickers and Abad. "We requested this information over six months ago, and they're required to provide it under Georgia's Open Records Act," said Kahn. "But they haven't disclosed it." "I grew up trusting the police and believing that if you cooperated with officers, everything would be okay," said Griffin. "I still think most police officers are good people. But what happened to me is not acceptable. That's why I'm sharing my story." The Complaint, video, and other case-related information are available at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4mw1tew7dw07irh/AABz0qwlKPESvT955c6k4brTa?dl=0. A press conference will be held at the Butler Law Firm on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 3:00pm. The address is 10 Lenox Pointe, Atlanta GA 30324. The press conference will be held in the parking lot out of sensitivity to the COVID pandemic. Please RSVP to the press conference with Sarah Christy at [email protected]. PRESS CONTACT: Jeb Butler, [email protected], 678 940 1444 SOURCE Butler Law Firm India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent India slams Pakistan for raising Kashmir at UN Human Rights Council India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, June 16: India has launched a scathing attack at Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), calling the country the "epicentre of terrorism" and asked Islamabad to exercise "good neighbourliness" and stop systematic persecution of its religious minorities. In India's Right to Reply at the 43rd Session of UN Human Rights Council here, First Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, Vimarsh Aryan, said the pathetic situation of minorities in Pakistan is well known where the systematic misuse of blasphemy laws has condemned their lives utterly miserable. Civil Aviation Minister says 'decision on the international flights will be taken in July "A country that categorizes its minority communities into second or third tiers of citizenship is evoked with sudden sympathy for minorities in other countries," Aryan said as he rejected all the untenable and unsolicited remarks made by Pakistan against India. Noting that Pakistan set up a minority commission after more than 60 years of its existence, he said that no minorities can represent themselves in the so-called minority commission. "It's unfortunate, however, not unexpected from the deep state of Pakistan which is continuing incessant abuse of its membership of this august Council for propagating an illegal, immoral and inhuman territorial ambition," said Vimarsh Aryan, first secretary at the ministry of external affairs. "It very conveniently ignores that Vienna Declaration & Programme of Action (VDPA) explicitly states that the principle of self-determination must not be used as a garb to promote activities detrimental to the territorial integrity and political unity of member states in violation of the UN Charter," said the India representative. Pak violates ceasefire along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir "This epicentre of global terrorism (Pakistan) very irresponsibly harps on self-determination of the already democratic Jammu and Kashmir. "We are witnessing in Pakistan unabated torture, maiming and systematic persecution of religious minorities. Attacks on a Hindu funeral procession and a Christian church days ago in Sindh and Punjab provinces portray the horrific plight of various minorities in Pakistan," said Aryan. CAIRO - The United Nations raised the alarm Tuesday about the detention and mistreatment of a large group of Egyptian citizens in Libya, in possible violation of international law. Graphic footage has surfaced on social media in recent days that purportedly shows militias allied with Libyas U.N.-supported government abusing scores of Egyptian migrant workers captured in the western city of Tarhuna. Egypt has supported east-based military commander Khalifa Hifter against the forces of the U.N.-supported government, based in the capital, Tripoli. The U.N. Mission in Libya said the mistreatment runs counter to Libyas human rights law obligations on the prohibition of torture, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment. The Tripoli-based Interior Ministry issued a statement vowing to investigate the criminal act and arrest the perpetrators. In Egypt, where the videos have sparked widespread outrage, Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal warned that the government would determine the time and place of its response. Tens of thousands of Egyptians have sought work in neighbouring Libya, although the number has declined since the 2011 uprising that ousted and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi. In the years of conflict that ensued, Libya has become divided between west and east, with the U.N.-supported government based in Tripoli, in the west. Hifter, whose forces have suffered a series of defeats in the last few weeks, is based in the eastern city of Benghazi. Following the collapse of Hifters 14-month campaign to capture the capital, Turkish-backed militias allied with the Tripoli government pushed his fighters out of Tarhuna, their final stronghold in western Libya, 65 kilometres (41 miles) southeast of Tripoli. As the town changed hands, both sides faced scrutiny over extensive human rights abuses. The U.N.-supported government announced that dozens of bodies had been uncovered in several mass graves in the city, and accused a Hifter-allied militia of carrying out the killings. In a press conference on Tuesday, Faisal Jawal, representative of the Libyan Red Crescent, said his teams were working to identify another 106 dead bodies discovered in a Tarhuna hospital, among them women and children. Tripoli fighters allegedly took revenge on Hifters allies by looting stores and destroying property across the town, according to the U.N., as well as capturing a number of Egyptian migrant workers and subjecting them to degrading treatment. Along with Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates support Hifters forces in the larger regional proxy war against the Turkish-backed Tripoli government, which is also assisted by Qatar and Italy. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi announced a unilateral initiative to end the civil war earlier this month, a bid to stop the momentum of Tripoli forces, which are now trying to recapture the key coastal city of Sirte. In a conversation with the Tripoli governments foreign minister on Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland said that alleged human rights abuses perpetrated with impunity by both parties in war-torn Libya shock the conscience and require immediate and thorough investigation. In the Tlalpan district on Mexico City's south side, green-vested city officials fanned out door to door for an information campaign Monday that's part of the capital's reopening. The local government workers passed out fliers and urged people to take precautions. Some businesses were opening for the first time in months, while others had already opened against government rules out of financial necessity. Marco Antonio Morales, 46, who runs a small auto parts shop, was among the latter. He closed his shop for the first month of the epidemic, but reopened when his family ran out of money. Morales explained he's tried to take precautions, including stopping installations of certain car parts, and only lets one customer at a time into the shop. He has been surprised by the number of people in the streets in recent days and blames poor messaging by political leaders from the mayor to the president. "I think it's the mistaken message of the government," Morales said. "A president who doesn't set a healthy example, who thinks he's Superman." Cesar Mendoza, the city official who leads the canvassing brigade in Tlalpan, said they plan to visit 221,000 homes and urge people to continue to be careful. "People are scared, they're worried by the coronavirus situation, basically the deaths that there have been," Mendoza said, "they worry they'll catch it and that a close family member could die." (Representative Image) Workers are preparing the Eiffel Tower for reopening next week, after the coronavirus pandemic led to the iconic Paris landmarks longest closure since World War II. Frances tourism industry is opening back up, but the 324-meter (1,063-feet) tall wrought-iron tower wont immediately welcome visitors the way it did before the country went into lockdown in March. Only limited numbers of people will be allowed in when the Eiffel Tower opens again on June 25. Elevators to the top will be out of service, and only the first and second floors will be accessible to the public. At first, only visits by the stairs will be available, Victoria Klahr, the spokeswoman for the towers management, said Tuesday. Everyone over 11 years old will be required to wear face masks, and crowd control measures will be in place. We are optimistic that visitor numbers will pick up, even if it will likely be local tourists who visit the monument in the first weeks, Klahr said. A stringent cleaning operation is in place and that will continue daily from next week. There is a new protocol. (One) novelty is that the day cleaning teams will be able to clean all the points of contact every two hours, from the opening of the site to its closing, said Eiffel Tower hygiene consultant Alain Miralles. Tourists planning trips to the City of Light are advised to book tickets to visit the Eiffel Tower online. The online ticket office is set to open Thursday. Paris tourism officials have expressed muted optimism about the citys reemergence as a travel destination. Tourism levels have dropped by around 80% compared to the same month in previous years, they say. To visit Paris now is quite exceptional, as we of course dont have many visitors and we dont expect this summer to be at the same level as previous ones, said Corinne Menegaux, the director of Pariss businesses and tourism office. She said the French capital remains welcoming and charming despite all the restrictions still in place. Lets also not forget that Paris is one of the greenest cities around so there are plenty of outdoor activities available that can be done with families, Menegaux said. Military commanders of Indian and Chinese armies are meeting on Tuesday after India said one of its officers and two soldiers were killed in a violent faceoff in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, in the first such incident in over four decades between the neighbours. The Indian Army said the incident took place at a time the de-escalation process was underway in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh. It has also said that there were casualties on both sides. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting to defuse the situation, the Indian Army said. Major General Abhijit Bapat, the commander of the Karu-based HQs 3 Infantry Division, and his Chinese counterpart are holding talks at the site of the clash. Also Watch l India-China border faceoff: What led to escalation of tensions? Defence minister Rajnath Singh also reviewed the current situation in eastern Ladakh along with the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawar and the three service chiefs. External affairs minister S Jaisahankar was also present during the meeting, officials said. Before this, army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane had cancelled his scheduled visit to Pathankot on Tuesday. The face-off happened along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh where rival soldiers were caught in a standoff that began with a confrontation between rival patrols near Pangong Tso on the night of May 5-6. Chinas foreign ministry said it wasnt aware of fatalities on either side. Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, spoke about the close communication through military and diplomatic channels and blamed Indian soldiers for Monday evenings violent exchange in the Galwan Valley. India and China have been holding diplomatic and military engagements for an early resolution of the weeks-long standoff between the border troops of the two countries. In Diplomatic Tit-For-Tat, Moscow Expels Two Czech Diplomats By RFE/RL June 15, 2020 Russia's Foreign Ministry has declared two Czech diplomats personae non gratae in retaliation to a similar move by Prague several days ago. The ministry said in a June 15 statement that the Czech ambassador to Russia, Vitezslav Pivonka, had been officially informed that the two Czech diplomats, whose identities were not disclosed, had been ordered to leave Russia along with their family members in two days. "The ambassador was told that the move is a mirror response to the provocative action by a Prague official, which was undertaken without any grounds," the ministry's statement says. On June 5, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said that his government had decided to expel the two staffers as a result of the so-called ricin affair, which he said turned out to be a fake incident sparked by an "internal struggle" between embassy staff. The Russian Embassy called the expulsions an "unfriendly step" that showed Prague is not interested in normalizing already tense relations between the two countries. The affair stems from Czech media reports that Andrei Konchakov, deputy director of the embassy's Russian Center for Science and Culture, brought ricin from Russia to Prague in mid-March that was meant to be used in a plot to poison Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib and two other senior municipal officials, Ondrej Kolar and Pavel Novotny. Moscow at the time denied the reports as "fabrications." The scandal broke out on April 26 when Respekt, a Czech investigative weekly, published a report quoting unnamed security sources as saying that a suspected Russian intelligence officer traveling on a diplomatic passport had arrived recently in Prague carrying the deadly toxin as part of an alleged poisoning plot. Czech media last month identified the suspected Russian intelligence operative as Konchakov. The three Czech officials -- Kolar, Hrib, and Novotny -- were given around-the-clock police protection at time. All three have taken or supported actions that have angered the Kremlin, including the renaming of the square in front of the Russian Embassy after a slain former Kremlin critic and the removal of a statue of a Soviet-era general. As possible payback, Moscow is suspected of having a role in a recent wave of cyberattacks in the Czech Republic. Moscow, suspected in the 2018 poisoning in Britain of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with a nerve agent, has said the alleged poisoning plot against the three Czechs was part of a "disinformation campaign" aimed at discrediting Russia and threatened "serious consequences" to Czech-Russian relations. With reporting by RIA Novosti and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-summons -czech-ambassador-after-prague-expels- two-russian-diplomats/30671468.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The citys Monroe-Stadium Square District has attained official historic status, although one of the contributing Taylor Tudor buildings remains mired in foreclosure proceedings. Cleveland Heights already owns the southernmost Taylor Tudor building, turned over in recent years through the Cuyahoga County Land Bank. The official designation through the Ohio Historic Preservation Office (OHPO) could qualify it and other buildings for state tax credits. The new district, which includes a section of Taylor Road, along with Superior Park Drive and a handful of buildings just north of Cain Park, gets its name from a stadium proposed in the 1920s but never built. In a June 8 update to council's Planning and Development Committee, City Law Director Bill Hanna said that ASG Funding LLC appeared to have successfully bid on the second Taylor Tudor building in December 2018. The $750,000 bid at auction was supposed to cover back taxes owed on that building. However, the county challenged the sale in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, which ruled in favor of the county. ASG Funding appealed the decision to the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals in Cleveland, where the Common Pleas ruling was recently upheld. "It appears that the building will return to the foreclosure process due to the underlying back taxes and will go back to auction again," Hanna told council members. Councilman Kahlil Seren said he knew of a group interested in developing the property, although City Manager Tanisha Briley questioned whether that was a prospective buyer that had approached the city back around 2017. "The condition of the property was not reassuring to begin with," Briley said, noting that the prospective developers at that time were primarily interested in "doing some repairs and re-establishing what was there in a basic sense." City Economic Development Director Tim Boland said local officials worked for more than a year on that earlier proposal, with street-level storefronts and upstairs apartments. "But what they were initially in line with the sort of 'transformative' development that we were envisioning," Briley added. Councilwoman Mary Dunbar noted that there is also a mechanism in place to establish a local historic district -- we dont have any yet, but this might be a good place to start. The city also received a $12,000 grant through the OHPO last year to assist in filing for the landmark status that has since been granted. 'Deluxe dormer' The prospect of qualifying for local tax credits through historic preservation entered into the proposed development of 14 town homes in three new buildings with shared living, dining and kitchen space, but separate bedrooms and baths, on about 2.5 acres owned by Integrity Realty between Euclid Heights Boulevard and Overlook Road. Situated across the street from the Top of the Hill development and behind Integritys 45-unit Overlook Park apartment building, City Planning Director Richard Wong also provided councils Planning and Development Committee with some further explanation of what is classified as a boardinghouse under the city zoning code. Its like a deluxe dormer, Wong said of the 58 new units that would be marketed primarily to college students. Wong added that two existing buildings dating back to 1909 had to be preserved in the historic district in order for the project to qualify for tax abatements. The proposal was approved earlier this year by the City Planning Commission. Councilman Mike Ungar, who served on the commission for 16 years, said he had no issue with the process, but was taken by surprise when residents started asking questions about the proposal. Wong said that in addition to proposed sustainable design, Integrity also met with abutting property owners -- mainly in the Herrick Mews development -- to see what was important to them. "On the Planning Commission, we work to balance the developer's right to build with the neighbors' property rights, and build some of the neighborhood's values into the project," Wong said. For the Planning Commission proceedings, Wong said that 66 notices were sent to abutting and "next-to-abutting" properties. Under city guidelines, 44 surrounding properties received notices for the March 17 meeting of the citys Architectural Board of Review, although that had to be rescheduled due to the coronavirus health crisis shutting down City Hall. It was not immediately clear if residents of the nearby Kenilworth Mews development were notified for one meeting, but not for the other. Wong added that the existing historic house will have three apartments, as will a carriage house that will be preserved due to some structural concerns from an immediate neighbor in Herrick Mews. At the same time, Wong said that a new "carriage house" was taken off the drawing board, as a result of concerns registered by adjacent property owners. The City Planning Commission also attached a requirement that the development be built within two years. Read more from the Sun Press. The Justice Department has set new dates to begin executing federal death-row inmates, including one from North Iowa, following a monthslong legal battle over the plan to resume the executions for the first time since 2003. Attorney General William Barr directed the federal Bureau of Prisons to schedule the executions, beginning in mid-July, of four inmates convicted of killing children. Three of the men had been scheduled to be put to death when Barr announced the federal government would resume executions last year, ending an informal moratorium on federal capital punishment as the issue receded from the public domain. One of the inmates is former Britt resident Dustin Lee Honken. Honken and his then-girlfriend Angela Johnson of Clear Lake shot Kandace and Amber Duncan, ages 10 and 6, their mother Lori Duncan, 31, and Greg Nicholson, 34, at Duncan's Mason City home in 1993 because Honken thought they could be potential witnesses to his multi-state drug ring. The Justice Department had scheduled five executions set to begin in December, but some of the inmates challenged the new procedures in court, arguing that the government was circumventing proper methods in order to wrongly execute inmates quickly. The department wouldn't say why the executions of two of the inmates scheduled in December hadn't been rescheduled. The federal government's initial effort was put on hold by a trial judge, and the federal appeals court in Washington and the Supreme Court both declined to step in late last year. But in April, the appeals court threw out the judge's order. Lawyers for the inmates are asking the Supreme Court to order a halt to the process. "The American people, acting through Congress and Presidents of both political parties, have long instructed that defendants convicted of the most heinous crimes should be subject to a sentence of death," Barr said in a statement. "The four murderers whose executions are scheduled today have received full and fair proceedings under our Constitution and laws. We owe it to the victims of these horrific crimes, and to the families left behind, to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system." Aside from Honken, inmates who will be executed are: Danny Lee, who was convicted in Arkansas of killing a family of three, including an 8-year-old; Wesley Ira Purkey, of Kansas, who raped and murdered a 16-year-old girl and killed an 80-year-old woman; and Keith Dwayne Nelson, who kidnapped a 10-year-old girl who was rollerblading in front of her Kansas home and raped her in a forest behind a church before strangling the young girl with a wire. Three of the executions for Lee, Purkley and Honken are scheduled days apart beginning July 13. Nelson's execution is scheduled for Aug. 28. The Justice Department said additional executions will be set at a later date. Honken was convicted in 2004 on 17 counts: five counts of witness tampering, one count of soliciting the murder of a witness, one count of conspiracy to tamper with witnesses and to solicit the murder of witnesses, five counts of conspiracy to commit murder while engaging in the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine (drug conspiracy murder), and five counts of Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) murder. Johnson was convicted of 10 counts of aiding and abetting Honken in the murders. The jury voted to impose the death penalty for the children's murders and life imprisonment for the adults' murders. Johnson's conviction, at the time, made her the first U.S. woman in 50 years to be sentenced to death by a federal jury in 50 years. When Honken was charged for the murders in 2001 by the U.S. Attorney's office, he was already in a federal prison in Florence, Colorado, serving a 27-year sentence for drug trafficking. Prior charges against Honken, from 1995, were dismissed because witnesses could not be located. In 2000, officers used a map from Johnson and discovered the bodies of Nicholson and the Duncan family, buried in a single hole located in a wooded area outside Mason City (according to a court filing on Case Law). DeGeus' body was found in a field a few miles away, face down in a shallow hole. That same filing said Honken and his best friend, Timothy Cutkomp, began manufacturing meth in Arizona in 1992. Honken supplied his methamphetamine to only two dealers, Nicholson and DeGeus. Both Nicholson and DeGeus were located in the Mason City, Iowa, area. Law enforcement began investigating Nicholson in March 1993 and he decided to cooperate with authorities after they searched Nicholson's house. On March 21, 1993, officers arranged a recorded meeting between Nicholson and Honken at Nicholson's home in Iowa, during which the two discussed methamphetamine and Nicholson paid Honken $3,000 for past deliveries. That same day, officers arrested Honken and Cutkomp. Though there hasn't been a federal execution since 2003, the Justice Department has continued to approve death penalty prosecutions and federal courts have sentenced defendants to death. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 Rada wants to ban companies involved in employment abroad to receive money from potential employers The Verkhovna Rada has passed at first reading bill No. 2365 on protecting migrant workers and fighting against fraud in employment abroad. An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported that a total of 248 MPs backed the document. According to an explanatory note, the bill proposes to prohibit companies working in the field of international employment from receiving funds from a potential applicant for employment abroad. The authors of this initiative also see the need to introduce administrative liability for violation of the ban on the collection of any fees, commissions and other fees for mediation in employment in Ukraine or abroad by companies working in the field of international employment from citizens. For this offense, it is proposed to introduce a fine in the amount of from 2,000 to 5,000 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens (from UAH 34,000 to UAH 85,000). [June 16, 2020] BFS Companies can Build 75% of Their New Digital Offerings From Their India Centers, Says Zinnov ~ The global Digital Engineering spend for the BFSI industry for 2020 is USD 38 Bn, and will grow at a CAGR of 18% to reach USD 86Bn by 2025 ~ ~ Extensive availability of digital talent, domain knowledge, and a rich ecosystem are the key drivers for increased digital products from India ~ ~ Banks need to increasingly focus on building Cloud-based, API-backed, data-focused, AI/ML-driven, and customer-centric products to keep pace with tech/FinTech companies ~ BANGALORE, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Zinnov, a leading global management and strategy consulting firm, released the findings from its latest study titled, 'Digital Engineering in BFSI', today. The study is aimed at enabling business leaders in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) industry to analyze transformative trends in the wake of COVID-19 and make informed decisions on their Digital Engineering priorities. Zinnov estimates that the Global BFSI Digital Engineering spend by Z1000 organizations alone is a whopping USD 38Bn , and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18% to touch USD 86Bn by FY2025. Banks have traditionally been slow to adopt new technology, given the inherent risk, compliance and regulatory challenges. However, as their customers increasingly embrace digital channels, Tech Giants such as Amazon and Google, and FinTech companies such as Robinhood, are threatening to eat into the market share dominated by the incumbents. These new BFSI entrants are nimble and have a deep focus on improving customer experience by leveraging digital technologies such as AI/ML, Cloud, Automation, etc. These factors have prompted Banking and Financial Services organizations to invest in digitalization of their existing services, a trend which will only increase with time. Zinnov analysis revealed that while North America leads in the Digital Engineering spend with 50% of the total global spend, APAC region stands second at 26%, followed by Western Europe at 19%. A major portion of this spend is being driven by Retail Banking and Insurance companies that are leveraging technology to optimize operations and enhance customer experience. This is especially critical in the wake of COVID-19. Zinnov's study also revealed that BFSI companies are increasingly channeling their digital investments on technologies such as Data Science, Big Data Analytics, Cloud, Security, AI/M, and Blockchain. 34% of the total Digital Engineering spend is being allocated towards Data Science & Big Data Analytics alone, as nearly all banks have started leveraging data for better risk profiling and personalizing customer experience. Cloud comes a close second at 31%, signaling a shift in BFSI segment's earlier reluctance to move workloads to the Cloud. With the COVID-19 pandemic thrusting BFSI companies into the frontline as key agents for stimulus package disbursal, digitalization will become critical. The study also revealed that new players entering the segment are rapidly upending the status quo. Banks today, are losing customers to FinTech companies and Technology Giants such as Amazon and Google, owing to changing consumption patterns, varying regulatory norms across geographies, better usage of digital technologies, and newer business models. While the Tech Giants are offering multiple payment and lending options, FinTech companies have simplified access to banking products across the banking value chain, thus threatening the incumbents' market domination. Skilled digital talent is at the core of digitalization across BFSI industry. Zinnov analysis shows that even though India has the talent to build 75% of the digital offerings, only 30% of all BFSI digital offerings are currently being developed through the India Global Centers of Excellence (GCoEs). These GCoEs are at varying levels of maturity; however, many of them are poised to become "transformation hubs" for their parent organizations if leveraged well. GCoEs are attempting to deliver on this value by taking up a specific set of actions to build internal capabilities, buy expertise through strategic acquisitions, and partner with FinTech companies to gain the right technologies and capabilities. Speaking about the study, Pari Natarajan, CEO, Zinnov, said, "Companies across the BFSI industry, although slow to adopt digital technologies, are strategically placed to thwart the unrelenting advance of Tech Giants and FinTech companies. BFS GCoEs need to move beyond being global shared services centers and evolve into transformation hubs by establishing innovation hubs, setting up digital Centers of Excellence (COEs), developing intrapreneurial leadership, incubating product management, and engaging actively with the external ecosystem of start-ups, universities, and FinTech companies. Our analysis reveals that nearly 1/8th of the world's digital talent will be based in India by 2030, which makes India the perfect destination for setting up BFS technology centers." "The impact of COVID-19 on the financial fabric is palpable. Banks have the opportunity to be the agents of change by helping customers and corporations receive easy access to credit from government stimulus packages or through loans. Further, cost optimization through automation of horizontal functions, renewed focus on Liquidity and Risk Management, and solidifying core processes will ensure that BFSI companies come out of this crisis with their credibility intact," he added. About Zinnov Founded in 2002, Zinnov is a leading global management and strategy consulting firm, with presence in Santa Clara, Houston, Bangalore, Gurgaon, and Paris. Over the past 18 years, Zinnov has successfully consulted with over 250+ Fortune 500 enterprises and technology companies to develop actionable insights that help them create value - across dimensions of both revenue and optimization. With core expertise in Product Engineering, Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Outsourcing Advisory, Zinnov assists clients by: Enabling global companies to develop and optimize a global engineering footprint through center setups, and technology and functional accelerators to achieve higher R&D efficiencies, innovation, and productivity; Advising global PE firms in asset shortlisting and target evaluation, commercial due diligence, and value creation; Growing revenue for companies' products and services in newer markets through account intelligence, market entry, and market expansion advisory; Structuring and implementing Digital Transformation levers enabled by technologies like AI/ML, Cloud, IOT, and RPA; Helping global companies outline and drive their open innovation programs, design and operate accelerator programs, and enable collaboration with start-ups across specific use cases and predefined outcomes. With their team of experienced consultants, subject matter experts, and research professionals, Zinnov serves clients from across multiple industry verticals including Enterprise Software, BFSI, Healthcare, Automotive, Retail, and Telecom in the US, Europe, Japan, and India. For more information, visit http://zinnov.com. Media Contact: Nitika Goel Chief Marketing Officer, Zinnov [email protected] +91-98450-16255 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/694742/Zinnov_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Yousef Saleh may be ready for love, but his city comes first. Jersey Citys Ward D Councilman said he turned down an offer to audition for the second season of the hit Netflix series Love is Blind, opting instead to focus on his council duties. The series, which debuted in January, shows men and women getting engaged without ever meeting face-to-face. Marriage proposals are made based solely off conversations that are had in separate rooms. The couples then meet in person and decide whether to proceed with their marriages after a vacationing together. Saleh said he signed up to audition for the show before he joined the council and never anticipated being offered the chance to appear on the program. I really enjoyed the first season. I was like Oh I would love to do something like this, Saleh said. Fall in love with someone based off just their personality, with the ability to communicate, that seems like the best way to cut through all the distractions of modern-day life. Saleh, a lifelong Jersey City Heights resident, joined the City Council in April, replacing the late Ward D Councilman Michael Yun, who died of COVID-19. Saleh ran for a three-year term on the Board of Education in 2017 but fell short of being elected to one of three open seats. He also served as a student representative on the BOE when he was senior at McNair Academic High School in 2007. He went on to graduate from Rutgers University and earned his law degree at Rutgers Newark. Saleh is a first generation Palestinian American and is the second oldest of eight children. If I wasnt the councilman right now, I probably would have done it, Saleh said. I am grateful to be councilman and to be able to help my community. While I would like to find love, I do love my community first. Filming for the show would have been done in the fall. If he found a partner, Saleh would be sent on a romantic getaway with that match. The councilman wouldnt be the citys first reality TV star: Jersey City Police Officer Tony Vlachos is a two-time winner of Survivor," winning a $2 million prize in May. If he had gone on the show, it seems Saleh would have had the support of Mayor Steve Fulop and some of his fellow councilmembers. I watched the first season of Love is Blind and I think it would be great TV to watch Yousefs love life unfold in front of the country, Fulop said. Council President Joyce Watterman said its his personal life and Saleh can do whatever he chooses. I would watch it, Watterman laughed. Dont count the 31-year-old councilman out of the dating games yet. He may not have a Tinder or Bumble profile but hes on the lookout for his future wife. Im looking for the Michelle Obamas, Chrissy Teigens, and Jaclyn Fulops of the world, he joked. Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have blocked the inter-regional network of bot farms in Kyiv and a number of regions, which were led from the Russian Federation, the SBU press center reports. "Organizers of the bot farm used not only social media accounts and emails, but also electronic wallets with fake personal data. Bot farm workers were provided with all the necessary telecommunication equipment and software," it said. So, intelligence services operatives found that for registering accounts, the lawbreakers used Ukrainian, Russian and European SIM cards of mobile operators. At the same time, it is noted that in Europe it is mainly impossible to obtain cards without identifying citizens, and in the Russian Federation it is also impossible without the assistance of special services. "Fulfilling the order to escalate the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the organizers of bot farms carried out 'a series of fibs,' contributed to the spread of negative sentiments and discredited Ukrainian authorities both inside the country and abroad," the service added. In total, in the framework of criminal proceedings, searches were simultaneously conducted at 12 places where the equipment was located. Evidence of involvement of specific individuals in illegal activities was seized, including more than 40,000 SIM-cards of mobile operators. The pretrial investigation is ongoing. Charlotte: The family of the African- American man whose death has triggered days of unrest in Charlotte, North Carolina, released a dramatic video of the police shooting on Friday, raising pressure on the authorities to make their own footage public. The police have refused to release body-cam and dash-cam video of the shooting Tuesday, which they say shows Keith Lamont Scott posed officers a threat. His death is the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across America. Charlotte has been rocked by three nights of violence-marred protests, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency in the southern US city. Hundreds of protesters were out again yesterday calling for the release of the videos amid a greater presence of National Guard troops, but the atmosphere was calmer than during previous days. A curfew beginning at midnight is in effect for a second night after protesters defied the order on Thursday. Hundreds of demonstrators were also marching in the southern city of Atlanta in a protest calling for police reform organized by the NAACP, the black communitys main civil rights organization. Charlottes case has also touched the US presidential race, with Democrat Hillary Clintons campaign announcing her plan to visit the city on Sunday before postponing it to a week later after Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts asked both major candidates to delay visits, citing very stretched resources for security. Clinton weighed in about the video issue earlier Friday, tweeting that police should release its footage without delay. President Barack Obama called for understanding as he celebrated the opening of the Smithsonians African American museum in Washington this weekend. The museum allows all of us as Americans to put our current circumstances in a historical context, the first black US president said. Scott was shot and killed during a parking lot encounter with police searching for another person wanted for arrest. The police say he had a handgun. His family says he was holding a book. The two minutes and 16 seconds of smartphone footage filmed by Rakeyia Scott, released by her lawyers to AFP and other news media, does not show the shooting itselfand does not conclusively answer the question of whether he was armedbut captures the moments surrounding it as she pleads with officers not to open fire. Dont shoot him, he has no weapon! He has no weapon! Dont shoot him! she is heard saying. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Planning to resign and move to the occupied Crimea, he had secretly acquired Russian citizenship before starting gathering intelligence to be handed over to Russians. Military counterintelligence operatives with the SBU Security Service of Ukraine prevented a leak to Russian intelligence of classified information related to combat readiness of Ukraine's Naval forces. That's according to the SBU press center. "A warship commander, without permission of his command, had left for the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, where he began cooperation with the Russian special services and acquired Russian citizenship. After that, the rank 2 captain returned to his base where he started t covertly gathering classified data to hand it over to Russian intelligence," the report said. Read alsoSBU charges members of "Sapfir" group with encroachment on national security The investigation established that the defendant intended to transfer the intelligence gathered to foreign handlers after moving for permanent residence on the annexed peninsula. To this end, he was planning to shortly resign from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "A criminal proceeding has been launched. Classified data carriers have been seized," the SBU said. The third installment in the widely acclaimed Chicago series, Chicago Med has become one of the most popular dramas on television. The show regularly features crossovers with the other programs in the Chicago universe, but it manages to stand on its own, creating characters that are critically praised as being complex, interesting, and well-written. One of these characters is Dr. Daniel Charles, played by award-winning actor Oliver Platt. Fans love Dr. Charles and have regularly spoken out about a few of his more endearing traits. When did Chicago Med premiere? Oliver Platt | Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images RELATED: Chicago Med Team Steps Up to Help Hospitals In Need During Coronavirus Pandemic Chicago Med first premiered in late 2015, focusing on the emergency department doctors and nurses of the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, a fictional medical center in the heart of big-city Illinois. With major stars like Yaya DaCosta, Torrey DeVitto, Brian Tee, and Nick Gehlfuss playing leading roles, and a full roster of incredible supporting actors, Chicago Med is a show that has built a reputation on a commitment to excellence. Chicago Med has consistently earned great reviews in the five years that it has been on the air, and in early 2020, the show was renewed for a sixth, seventh, and eighth season. Fans were thrilled at the news, and at the possibility of several more years of Chicago Med a show that has proven to be consistently ahead of its time, both in terms of realism and acting excellence. Who plays Dr. Charles on Chicago Med? Many of the characters on Chicago Med are popular for one reason or another, or at the very least, incite a lot of conversation among the fans. Dr. Daniel Charles is one such character. Played by Canadian-American actor Oliver Platt, a veteran of stage, television, and films, Dr. Daniel Charles has been on the show from the very beginning and has made guest appearances on other shows in the Chicago franchise over the years. Oliver Platt is one of the most decorated actors on the show and has been nominated for numerous awards, including four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Platt was one of the most prolific actors in films during the nineties, appearing in movies such as Benny & Joon, The Three Musketeers, Tall Tale, Dangerous Beauty, Dr. Doolittle, and Lake Placid. He has also been very active in television, and had parts in shows including Nip/Tuck, The Good Wife, The Big C, and Huff. However, it has been his role in Chicago Med that has endeared Platt to a whole new generation of fans. Fans love Dr. Charles and his habit of giving advice @OliverPlatt is without a doubt the best shrink I will never seeif you ever change careers, sir, Im in! Bulldawg Plumbing (@lauranobert) June 4, 2020 RELATED: Chicago Med Fans Cant Get Enough of Will Halstead Dr. Daniel Charles is the Chief of Psychiatry at Chicago Med, and is frequently brought in to consult on the most difficult cases. As the veteran psychiatrist on the show, he is involved in many controversial situations and cases and often has to chide other doctors for their handling of patients. In spite of his excellence at his job, Dr. Charles has a notoriously complicated personal life and has been married and divorced three times. In spite of his unluckiness in love, Dr. Charles always seems to have words of wisdom for his co-workers and friends. It is his persistent habit of offering advice that fans have gravitated to the most. Even when situations seem bleak or depressing, such as the iconic moment when he has a heart-to-heart with his estranged daughter Anna, he somehow always thinks of the right thing to say. Viewers especially appreciate his moments of wisdom and have frequently taken to social media to share their thoughts on his advice to others. One fan wrote on Twitter that his words of wisdom never get old. That seems to be a sentiment that is echoed across the board, by fans of all ages. Home Search ICH How an Internet Persona Helped Birth Russiagate Guccifer 2.0 turns four years old today and the great diversion he took part in becomes clearer by the day, writes Ray McGovern. By Ray McGovern June 15, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Four years ago today, on June 15, 2016, a shadowy Internet persona calling itself Guccifer 2.0 appeared out of nowhere to claim credit for hacking emails from the Democratic National Committee on behalf of WikiLeaks and implicate Russia by dropping telltale but synthetically produced Russian breadcrumbs in his metadata. Thanks largely to the corporate media, the highly damaging story actually found in those DNC emails namely, that the DNC had stacked the cards against Bernie Sanders in the partys 2016 primary was successfully obscured. The media was the message; and the message was that Russia had used G-2.0 to hack into the DNC, interfering in the November 2016 election to help Donald Trump win. Almost everybody still knows that from the man or woman in the street to the forlorn super sleuth, Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, who actually based indictments of Russian intelligence officers on Guccifer 2.0. Blaming Russia was a magnificent distraction from the start and quickly became the vogue. The soil had already been cultivated for Russiagate by Democratic PR gems like Donald Trump kissing up to former KGB officer Vladimir Putin and their bromance (bromides that former President Barack Obama is still using). Four years ago today, Russian meddling was off and running on steroids acquiring far more faux-reality than the evanescent Guccifer 2.0 persona is likely to get. Heres how it went down: 1 June 12: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange announced he had emails related to Hillary Clinton which are pending publication. 2 June 14: DNC contractor CrowdStrike tells the media that malware has been found on the DNC server and claims there is evidence it was injected by Russians. 3 June 15: Guccifer 2.0 arises from nowhere; affirms the DNC/CrowdStrike allegations of the day before; claims responsibility for hacking the DNC; claims to be a WikiLeaks source; and posts a document that forensic examination shows was deliberately tainted with Russian fingerprints. This to corroborate claims made by CrowdStrike executives the day before. Adding to other signs of fakery, there is hard evidence that G-2.0 was operating mostly in U.S. time zones and with local settings peculiar to a device configured for use within the U.S., as Tim Leonard reports here and here.) Leonard is a software developer who started to catalog and archive evidence related to Guccifer 2.0 in 2017 and has issued detailed reports on digital forensic discoveries made by various independent researchers as well as his own over the past three years. Leonard points out that WikiLeaks said it did not use any of the emails G2.0 sent it, though it later published similar emails, opening the possibility that whoever created G2.0 knew what WikiLeaks had and sent it duplicates with the Russian fingerprints. As Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) told President Trump in a memorandum of July 24, 2017, titled Was the Russian Hack an Inside Job?: We do not think that the June 12, 14, & 15 timing was pure coincidence. Rather, it suggests the start of a pre-emptive move to associate Russia with anything WikiLeaks might have been ready to publish and to show that it came from a Russian hack. We added this about Guccifer 2.0 at the time: The recent forensic studies fill in a critical gap. Why the FBI neglected to perform any independent forensics on the original Guccifer 2.0 material remains a mystery as does the lack of any sign that the hand-picked analysts from the FBI, CIA, and NSA, who wrote the misnomered Intelligence Community Assessment dated January 6, 2017, gave any attention to forensics. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Guccifer 2.0 Seen As a Fraud In our July 24, 2017 memorandum we also told President Trump that independent cyber investigators and VIPS had determined that the purported hack of the DNC by Guccifer 2.0 was not a hack, by Russia or anyone else. Rather it originated with a copy (onto an external storage device a thumb drive, for example) by an insider. Information was leaked to implicate Russia. We do not know who or what the murky Guccifer 2.0 is. You may wish to ask the FBI. [Emphasis added.]. Right. Ask the FBI. At this stage, President Trump might have better luck asking Attorney General William Barr, to whom the FBI is accountable at least in theory. As for Barr, VIPS informed him in a June 5, 2020 memorandum that the head of CrowdStrike had admitted under oath on Dec. 5, 2017 that CrowdStrike has no concrete evidence that the DNC emails published by WikiLeaks on July 22, 2016 were hacked by Russia or by anyone else. [Emphasis added.] This important revelation has so far escaped attention in the Russia-Russia-Russia mainstream media (surprise, surprise, surprise!). Back to the Birth of G-2 It boggles the mind that so few Americans could see Russiagate for the farce it was. Most of the blame, I suppose, rests on a thoroughly complicit Establishment media. Recall: Assanges announcement on June 12, 2016 that he had Hillary Clinton-related emails came just six weeks before the Democratic convention. I could almost hear the cry go up from the DNC: Houston, We Have a Problem! Heres how bad the problem for the Democrats was. The DNC emails eventually published by WikiLeaks on July 22, 2016, just three days before the Democratic convention, had been stolen on May 23 and 25. This would have given the DNC time to learn that the stolen material included documents showing how the DNC and Clinton campaign had manipulated the primaries and created a host of other indignities, such that Sanders chances of winning the nomination amounted to those of a snowballs chance in the netherworld. To say this was an embarrassment would be the understatement of 2016. Worse still, given the documentary nature of the emails and WikiLeaks enviable track record for accuracy, there would be no way to challenge their authenticity. Nevertheless, with the media in full support of the DNC and Clinton, however, it turned out to be a piece of cake to divert attention from the content of the emails to the act of war (per John McCain) that the Russian cyber attack was said to represent. The outcome speaks as much to the lack of sophistication on the part of American TV watchers, as it does to the sophistication of the Democrats-media complicity and cover-up. How come so few could figure out what was going down? It was not hard for some experienced observers to sniff a rat. Among the first to speak out was fellow Consortium News columnist Patrick Lawrence, who immediately saw through the Magnificent Diversion. I do not know if he fancies duck hunting, but he shot the Russiagate canard quite dead well before the Democratic convention was over. In late July 2016, Lawrence was sickened, as he watched what he immediately recognized as a well planned, highly significant deflection. The Clinton-friendly media was excoriating Russia for hacking DNC emails and was glossing over what the emails showed; namely, that the Clinton Dems had pretty much stolen the nomination from Sanders. It was already clear even then that the Democrats, with invaluable help from intelligence leaks and other prepping to the media, had made good use of those six weeks between Assanges announcement that he had emails related to Hillary Clinton and the opening of the convention. The media was primed to castigate the Russians for hacking, while taking a prime role in the deflection. It was a liminal event of historic significance, as we now know. The Magnificent Diversion worked like a charm and then it grew like Topsy. Lawrence said he had fire in the belly on the morning of July 25 as the Democratic convention began and wrote what follows pretty much in one long, furious exhale within 12 hours of when the media started really pushing the the Russians-did-it narrative. Below is a slightly shortened text of his article: Now wait a minute, all you upper-case D Democrats. A flood light suddenly shines on your party apparatus, revealing its grossly corrupt machinations to fix the primary process and sink the Sanders campaign, and within a day you are on about the evil Russians having hacked into your computers to sabotage our elections Is this a joke? Are you kidding? Is nothing beneath your dignity? Is this how lowly you rate the intelligence of American voters? Clowns. Subversives. Do you know who you remind me of? I will tell you: Nixon, in his famously red-baiting campaign a disgusting episode during his first run for the Senate, in 1950. Your political tricks are as transparent and anti-democratic as his, it is perfectly fair to say. I confess to a heated reaction to events since last Friday [July 22] among the Democrats, specifically in the Democratic National Committee. I should briefly explain The Sanders people have long charged that the DNC has had its fingers on the scale, as one of them put it the other day, in favor of Hillary Clintons nomination. The prints were everywhere many those of Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who has repeatedly been accused of anti-Sanders bias. Schultz, do not forget, co-chaired Clintons 2008 campaign against Barack Obama. That would be enough to disqualify her as the DNCs chair in any society that takes ethics seriously, but it is not enough in our great country. Chairwoman she has been for the past five years. Last Friday WikiLeaks published nearly 20,000 DNC email messages providing abundant proof that Sanders and his staff were right all along. The worst of these, involving senior DNC officers, proposed Nixon-esque smears having to do with everything from ineptitude within the Sanders campaign to Sanders as a Jew in name only and an atheist by conviction. Wasserman fell from grace on Monday. Other than this, Democrats from President Obama to Clinton and numerous others atop the partys power structure have had nothing to say, as in nothing, about this unforgivable breach.They have, rather, been full of praise for Wasserman Schultz. Brad Marshall, the D.N.C.s chief financial officer, now tries to deny that his Jew-baiting remark referred to Sanders. Good luck, Brad: Bernie is the only Jew in the room. The caker came on Sunday, when Robby Mook, Clintons campaign manager, appeared on ABCs This Week and CNNs State of the Union to assert that the D.N.C.s mail was hacked by the Russians for the purpose of helping Donald Trump. He knows this knows it in a matter of 24 hours because experts experts he will never name have told him so. Whats disturbing to us is that experts are telling us that Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole these emails, and other experts are now saying that Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of helping Donald Trump. Is that what disturbs you, Robby? Interesting. Unsubstantiated hocus-pocus, not the implications of these events for the integrity of Democratic nominations and the American political process? The latter is the more pressing topic, Robby. You are far too long on anonymous experts for my taste, Robby. And what kind of expert, now that I think of it, is able to report to you as to the intentions of Russian hackers assuming for a sec that this concocted narrative has substance? Making lemonade out of a lemon, the Clinton campaign now goes for a twofer. Watch as it advances the Russians-did-it thesis on the basis of nothing, then shoots the messenger, then associates Trump with its own mess and, finally, gets to ignore the nature of its transgression (which any paying-attention person must consider grave). Preposterous, readers. Join me, please, in having absolutely none of it. There is no Russian actor at the bottom of this swamp, to put my position bluntly. You will never, ever be offered persuasive evidence otherwise. Reluctantly, I credit the Clinton campaign and the DNC with reading American paranoia well enough such that they may make this junk stick. In a clear sign the entire crowd-control machine is up and running, The New York Times had a long, unprofessional piece about Russian culprits in its Monday editions. It followed Mooks lead faithfully: not one properly supported fact, not one identified expert, and more conditional verbs than youve had hot dinners everything cast as could, might, appears, would, seems, may. Nothing, once again, as to the very serious implications of this affair for the American political process. Now comes the law. The FBI just announced that it will investigate no, not the DNCs fraudulent practices (which surely breach statutes), but those who pose a threat in cyberspace. it is the invocation of the Russians that sends me over the edge. My bones grow weary We must take the last few days events as a signal of what Clintons policy toward Russia will look like should she prevail in November. Turning her partys latest disgrace into an occasion for another round of Russophobia is mere preface, but in it you can read her commitment to the new crusade. Trump, to make this work, must be blamed for his willingness to negotiate with Moscow. This is now among his sins. Got that? Anyone who says he will talk to the Russians has transgressed the American code. Does this not make Hillary Clinton more than a touch Nixonian? I am developing nitrogen bends from watching the American political spectacle. One can hardly tell up from down. Which way for a breath of air? A year later Lawrence interviewed several of us VIPS, including our two former NSA technical directors and on Aug. 9, 2017 published an article for The Nation titled, A New Report Raises Big Questions About Last Years DNC Hack. Lawrence wrote, Former NSA experts, now members of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), say it wasnt a hack at all, but a leakan inside job by someone with access to the DNCs system. And so it was. But, sadly, that cut across the grain of the acceptable Russia-gate narrative at The Nation at the time. Its staff, seriously struck by the HWHW (Hillary Would Have Won) virus, rose up in rebellion. A short time later, there was no more room at The Nation for his independent-minded writing. Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, a publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. His 27-year career as a CIA analyst included preparing and briefing The Presidents Daily Brief and leading the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch. In retirement he co-founded Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity. - " Source " - Post your comment below See also Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. Taiwan air force jets drove away a Chinese fighter plane that briefly entered Taiwans air defence identification zone on Tuesday, the defence ministry said, reporting the third intrusion in a week. The single J-10 fighter was given radio warnings to leave before the Taiwanese air force jets ushered the intruder out of the airspace southwest of the island, the ministry said. On Tuesday last week, the ministry said several Su-30 fighters, some of Chinas most advanced jets, crossed into the same airspace and were also warned to leave. On Friday, the ministry said a Chinese Y-8, a propeller aircraft based on a Soviet-era design some of which have been retrofitted as surveillance aircraft, was warned too by Taiwans air force to leave the air space, again in the southwest. The Y-8 flight came a few hours after Taiwan said it had carried out missile tests off its eastern coast. Taiwan has complained that China, which claims the democratic island as its own, has stepped up military activities in recent months, menacing Taiwan even as the world deals with the coronavirus pandemic. China has not commented publicly on the last week of Chinese air force activity near Taiwan. Beijing routinely says such exercises are nothing unusual and are designed to show the countrys determination to defend its sovereignty. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. One of Chinas most senior generals last month said China would attack if there was no other way of stopping Taiwan becoming independent. China is deeply suspicious of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, whom it accuses of being a separatist intent on declaring formal independence. Tsai says Taiwan is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name. The United States has stepped up its military activities near the island too, with semi-regular navy voyages through the narrow Taiwan Strait. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi, June 16 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that with the efforts of the past few weeks, green shoots in the economy are visible, including rise in power consumption which was earlier falling, production of two-wheelers increasing, digital payment in retail reaching pre-lockdown levels, rise in toll collection in May, and bouncing back of exports. These are encouraging signals, Modi said, with a clear hint that the opening of the economy is likely to continue, however, with caution. Modi was speaking at the 6th PM-CM video interaction, where he asserted that India fared better than many nations as far as handling the Covid-19 pandemic was concerned. He claimed that India's mortality rate has been quite low and the timely decisions taken to combat the pandemic have been effective in containing the spread of the virus. He also highlighted how India's recovery rate has crossed the 50 per cent mark. However, while making a compelling case for opening up of the economy, he warned, "We have to always keep in mind that the more we can stop the corona, the more it will stop growing, the more our economy will open, our offices will open, the markets will open, the means of transport will open, and so will new employment opportunities." He forewarned that any laxity in discipline will weaken the fight against the virus. While he talked about boosting the health infrastructure and increasing the testing capacity in the country, Modi stressed on the importance of the economy to bounce back as well as his call for "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" and invited all states to be a part of the mission. "Specific economic activity points in the states should work 24 hours a day and loading and unloading should be quickened to give further boost to economic activities," he said. He also talked about the "hand holding" that is required for smaller factories and timely credit to MSMEs. The Chief Ministers mentioned about the awareness campaigns being run by them, help being provided to the workers who have returned home, usage of the Aarogya Setu app, and kickstarting of economic activities in their respective states. Chief Ministers or representatives of Punjab, Assam, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Nagaland, Ladakh, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu, Sikkim and Lakshadweep were part of Tuesday's interaction. The second leg of the meeting will be held on Wednesday when other states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar will participate. The Prime Minister hailed the role of the Chief Ministers and the Centre-state cooperation during these trying times. "When India's fight against Covid-19 will be analysed in future, this time will be remembered for how we worked together and served as an example of cooperative federalism," added Modi. The Prime Minister had held a detailed meeting with senior ministers and officials on June 13 to review India's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The meeting had reviewed the national level status and preparation in the context of the pandemic. In that meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah had said that while "we have so far fought a successful battle against the pandemic, the road ahead is long and suggestions given by the Prime Minister regarding the use of mask/face cover, maintaining 'do gaz doori' should be followed by all". This was the sixth interaction between the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers. The five earlier ones had been held on March 20, April 2, April 11, April 27 and May 11. Facts don't matter to the already-made-up mind Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Heather Mac Donald is the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, which is a think tank focused on providing thought leadership in the areas of free-market economics and political culture. Mac Donald, not a Christian, holds degrees from Yale, Cambridge, and Stanfords Law school, and is a best-selling author whose books include her 2016 work, The War on Cops. In her June 2020 editorial for the Wall Street Journal, Mac Donald challenges the premise that racism is systemic in the U.S. police force. While acknowledging what all thinking people do that racism is certainly present in law enforcement as it is in every other profession and industry she argues for a position that has zero tolerance for racist offenders but maintains that racism is not a prevailing and universal spirit within the whole of those who work in the criminal justice system. Moreover, she highlights the fact that most violence occurring in African American communities is not police related.[1] She backs up her arguments with data-driven conclusions that many find compelling. I published a link to her article on my LinkedIn account and encouraged discussion on her findings. What happened next was pretty interesting. I had a number of people first attack Ms. Mac Donald for being an ultra-conservative. The same individuals then sent me to competing opinions published in the New York Times. I pointed out to them that they were committing the genetic fallacy by critiquing the source of information rather than the data itself, along with the double standard they were using (should I not listen to them or the NYT because both are ultra-liberal?) Second, the data they pointed me to in no way defeated Ms. Mac Donalds primary thesis of law enforcement not being systematically racist. In fact, their data showed the exact opposite; a truth I also attempted to highlight. Lastly, when a few brave souls dared to say the discussion I had started was a good thing, they were labeled as racist, as I was also eventually. Preference over Facts Lets face it, all of us like to think were right. It doesnt matter whether the topic is religion, politics, or badminton, we want to believe we have the correct take on a matter. The question is, are we up for changing our opinion if the data and truth says otherwise? For example, people often tell me that Im closed-minded where Christianity is concerned and that nothing will ever change my position. I always tell them thats incorrect and point them to where Paul admitted (1 Cor. 15) that Christianity could be falsified if the body of Jesus were ever found. If that actually happened, I would have no choice but to reevaluate my beliefs and begin a fresh spiritual search. In the end, its all about a person submitting to truth and reality no matter how desperately they want to live in error. But in our post-truth culture that values preferences over actual truth, were seeing much less of that and instead an open and aggressive hostility towards anyone who dares to challenge a prevailing opinion thats trending in society. But popularity doesnt decide truth nor does personal opinion. When the philosopher Frederick Nietzsche said, It is our preference that decides against Christianity, not arguments[2], he was willingly overlooking the fact that being wrong always has consequences, and in the matter of eternity, that fact becomes especially grave. An Example from Scripture Lets take a look at a biblical example of the preference-driven, already-made-up mindset in action: When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying, If You are the Christ, tell us. But He said to them, If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask a question, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God. And they all said, Are You the Son of God, then? And He said to them, Yes, I am. Then they said, What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth. (Luke 22:66-71) Jesus has been wrongly arrested and is now standing before the Sanhedrin, a group of religious leaders that has pursued His demise for years. His popularity with the people, His teaching, and most importantly, His pulling back the curtain on their hypocrisy has infuriated them and now they have Him right where they want Him. The already-made-up mind always says they're open to discussion, but nothing could be further from the truth. True to form, they feign the act of having an actual dialogue and ask Him to tell them whether Hes really the Messiah. This, of course, is absurd as they have all the evidence they need having witnessed His miracles of healing, resurrections, exorcisms firsthand as well as the fulfillment of other Messianic prophecies. While even children recognize who He is (Matt. 21:16), those far more theologically educated end up personifying the words of Jeremiah: Through deceit they refuse to know Me (Jer. 9:6). Jesus pierces through their facade and speaks to the futility of attempting to dialog with the already-made-up mind: If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask a question, you will not answer. Try and tell an angry, hardened person the truth they dont want to hear and it will be ignored. Try and ask them intelligent evidence-based questions on the matter at hand and they will sidestep them. In fact, doing so will oftentimes make them even angrier something Paul pointed out to the Galatians: So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? (Gal. 4:16). Jesus then directly links Himself to the portrait of the Messiah found in Daniel 7 and tells them plainly that He is indeed the Christ. Hes answered their question, but what happens next? Unfortunately, the problem with telling the truth to people who dont want to hear it is summed up well by Richard Weaver in his book Ideas Have Consequences: Nothing good can come if the will is wrong. And to give evidence to him who loves not the truth is to give him more plentiful material for misinterpretation.[3] This is exactly what happens with the religious leaders who twist Jesus truthful admission into a statement of blasphemy and proceed down their already-chosen path of murder. Prevailing Voices In a recent article, Dennis Prager lists four practices that are destroying America from the inside. One of those he outlines is demonization, where an entire class or group of people is labeled as inherently evil. Heather Mac Donalds WSJ editorial challenged this very thing. Like her, I think its dangerous to assign individuals to a particular group and then label that entire group as either innocent or guilty. But minds that are manipulated by their emotions and afflicted with a post-truth worldview on LinkedIn declared me a heretic and a lost cause for believing that. Facts dont matter to the already-made-up mind; they never have. The same was true in Jesus day. If you keep reading in Luke, youll see that after Jesus was condemned by the Sanhedrin, Pilate tries time and again to release Jesus, arguing with the mob, telling them that Jesus is innocent, and asking them to give him facts and evidence to support their demand for crucifixion. That never happens. Instead, we read a very sad statement of how emotionally-driven mobs work: But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail (Luke 23:24). How sad. And frightening. As Christians, I believe we have an obligation to speak against the prevailing voices and already-made-up minds in our day, which are not friendly to Christianity or the truth in general. Speaking the truth is oftentimes a lonely exercise, but popularity and agreement with the world is not something to which God has called us. [1] Shes not the only one pointing out these facts. Another WSJ editorial noted that the Sun-Times reported 492 homicides in Chicago last year, and only three of them involved police. [2] H. Lubac. Drama of Atheist Humanism (Ft. Collins: CO: Ignatius Press, 1995), 49. [3]https://tinyurl.com/tc2h4m8 WASHINGTON, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amid the evolving global challenges posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic, immunization professionals must now grapple with deploying routine immunization services in a daunting and ever-shifting landscape. In a recent survey of 800 immunization professionals conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) and other key partners, 64 percent of respondents reported significant disruptions to immunization in their country or community, with either zero or limited outreach activities taking place and fewer visits to vaccination posts. To strengthen immunization professionals' ability to navigate the complex challenges of their work, Sabin launched the Boost Community (Boost), a global network dedicated to serving immunization professionals, supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Immunization professionals must be equipped with a mindset oriented toward problem-solving, steeped in professionalism and grounded in resilience. Boost supports this vision through trainings, peer-to-peer engagement and collaborative learning. Since the network launched in early 2020, its membership has swelled in number and diversity, attracting nearly 900 individual members from more than 100 countries. For its first major training program, Boost has joined forces with The Geneva Learning Foundation and Adaptive Change Advisors to develop and teach a six-week digital Scholar Level 1 certification course in adaptive leadership for immunization. The course, which began on May 26 with more than 400 learners, draws on the Geneva Learning Foundation's proven Scholar package of interventions used since 2016 by immunization teams in 95 countries and the 'Adaptive Leadership' approach developed at Harvard University. The course will train immunization professionals to diagnose the system they are operating within; distinguish and define technical and adaptive problems; and lead consequential change within the immunizations systems they operate in today. During the era of COVID-19, these skills can protect human health by empowering immunization professionals to serve as key advocates for themselves and for routine immunization. "Leveraging Boost to share this innovative leadership training course signals to the global health community that we want to invest in immunization professionals not just as workers, but as leaders who can drive progress in their communities," said Dr. Bruce Gellin, Sabin's president of global immunization. "The Sabin team looks forward to empowering immunization professionals in their critical, lifesaving work through this course and beyond." Adaptive leadership, the backbone of the course, is a set of strategies and techniques for mobilizing change in challenging and uncertain contexts. Isolation, burnout and limited resources are common challenges shared by immunization professionals. The era of COVID-19 introduces another layer of complexity; with reallocated program resources and decreased demand for routine immunization campaigns, immunization professionals must be nimble and develop new approaches to reach communities with critical, life-saving vaccines. Applicants to the course stressed the need for enhanced leadership and team-building skills during this time. "As a frontline immunization worker in a developing country that is faced with challenges of no or inadequate access to essential primary care including immunization services; the adaptive leadership program on immunization especially in midst of COVID-19 pandemic crisis globally is very critical and helpful," noted Feisal Yarrow, a Boost member and sub-national Ministry of Health immunization professional from Kenya. "The connections and learnings that the Boost community enables could transform the immunization landscape," said Dr. Richard Mihigo, program area manager, immunization and vaccine development at the WHO Regional Office for Africa. "Immunization professionals who are better prepared to accelerate progress in their communities have the potential to reduce the numbers of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people, and address longstanding disparities in immunization coverage." This new course is just one way that Boost fosters collaboration and learning among immunization professionals. The community also offers online events and discussion series, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Boost is launching a special learning group for supervisors to receive guidance and support from Boost and its partners as they make difficult decisions for their teams or countries. "The ability to forge connections between experts and implementers across the world is a major advantage of the Boost platform," said Dr. Ranjana Kumar, senior specialist, Leadership Management and Coordination at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi). "There is great appetite for professional development and learning among this group. Gavi applauds Sabin for recognizing the essential role that immunization professionals play in shaping robust health systems, and for finding new ways to support them in their work." Boost will serve as a forum to generate knowledge, enable connection with peers and empower immunization professionals by acknowledging the critical role that they play in shaping human health across the globe. Through this work, Sabin hopes to spur positive ripple effects from improved immunization program performance to a world where all people, everywhere receive the vaccines they need to thrive. Boost is open to all professionals and partners working in the immunization field, especially those involved with managing or implementing immunization programs at the national and sub-national levels. Register on the Boost website to join the community today. About the Sabin Vaccine Institute The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a leading advocate for expanding vaccine access and uptake globally, advancing vaccine research and development, and amplifying vaccine knowledge and innovation. Unlocking the potential of vaccines through partnership, Sabin has built a robust ecosystem of funders, innovators, implementers, practitioners, policy makers and public stakeholders to advance its vision of a future free from preventable diseases. As a non-profit with more than two decades of experience, Sabin is committed to finding solutions that last and extending the full benefits of vaccines to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live. At Sabin, we believe in the power of vaccines to change the world. For more information, visit www.sabin.org and follow us on Twitter, @SabinVaccine. About Adaptive Change Advisors Adaptive Change Advisorsis the premier mission-based Adaptive Leadership organization worldwide. ACA's mission is to 'democratize leadership', putting leadership tools that drive change into the hands of anyone who seeks meaningful outcomes. ACA is especially committed to developing the leadership required to tackle pressing adaptive challenges of our times, such as promoting health access and equity, transitioning to a low-carbon economy, and strengthening democracy. ACA's work has touched people in 140+ countries through a combination of in-person and online leadership experiences. About the Geneva Learning Foundation The Geneva Learning Foundation is a Swiss non-profit with the mission to develop trial, and scale up new ways to lead change to tackle the challenges that threaten our societies. Since 2016, the Foundation has developed an immunization programme using a package of purely-digital interventions to support health workers, from the health facility to the capital, to lead the transformation of knowledge into action, results, and impact. For more information, visit www.learning.foundation and follow us on Twitter @DigitalScholarX Media Contact Samia Kemal Senior Associate, Communications Sabin Vaccine Institute +1 (202) 621-1691 press@sabin.org Tulisa has branded the suggestions that her treatment of Misha B on The X Factor was racially motivated as "ludicrous". It comes as Misha, who appeared on the 2011 series of the show, alleged she was purposefully depicted as a bully on the programme with help from "scripted" comments from judges Tulisa as well as Louis Walsh. Misha said via an Instagram live on Sunday night: "My understanding is youve created this whole narrative of me being overconfident because Im black. And in your eyes, black girls should not be confident. Read more: Rachel Adedeji backed by Hollyoaks co-star over racism claims Tulisa responded to the claims on Monday night in an Instagram video of her own where she did express regret over the way she delivered her remarks. Tulisa said she would have handled things differently nowadays. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images) The 31-year-old said: "I'm not taking away from how Misha feels, I accept that she is entitled to her opinion and I'm sorry if she feels that the situation was racially motivated. "I can only speak from my side of the situation which is that it 100% was not. One thing I regret is calling her out publicly the way that I did. If I was the person that I am today, who is more emotionally intelligent and has more life experience, I would have handled it in a very different way and for that, I am truly sorry and I deeply regret. But to say and make claims and I'm not saying she's doing that, but people are online that it was racially motivated is ludicrous." Last week, Misha shared footage from one of the live shows which saw her criticised by Walsh for being "over-confident" while Tulisa claimed she had directed "mean comments" at other contestants and instructed her to "put aside the attitude". Misha B appeared on the X Factor alongside eventual winners Little Mix. (PA Images via Getty Images) Misha's emotional Instagram video saw her disclose that she has been in therapy for eight years due to her experiences on the X Factor which had also left her with post traumatic stress disorder. She said there had been an incident where she had been accused of saying hurtful things about other acts, including eventual winners Little Mix, which she denied ever doing as she only wanted to "uplift" other contestants. Story continues Tulisa claimed in her video: "There had been an accumulation of things that Misha had done to other contestants, and my contestants backstage. She had made two of my acts cry one of them being on the night that I made those comments. She added in her response that she had "called a lot of people out" while on the programme and that it was "nothing to do with skin colour". A spokesperson for the show told Metro: We are very concerned to hear Mishas comments regarding her experience on The X Factor in 2011. Read more: Rebel Wilson defends Matt Lucas after Little Britain axe We are currently looking into this matter and are reaching out to Misha to discuss the important issues she has raised. The welfare of contestants is our priority and we are committed to diversity and equality. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Seven Russian police officers were injured in clashes with around 400 Azeri nationals stuck in southern Russia due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions, authorities said on Tuesday. The violence broke out late on Monday near a tent encampment in the Caspian Sea region of Dagestan, which borders Azerbaijan, after the Azeris being accommodated there learnt that only some of them would be able to return home in coming days. Russia, which has registered the world's third largest tally of coronavirus cases, closed its borders in March and special arrangements have had to be made for most foreigners wanting to be repatriated. The Azeris were told only 120 of them would be able to return home in coming days, the TASS news agency quoted a local official, Fuad Shikhiev, as saying. They then tried to block a main road and threw rocks and other objects at police, injuring seven and damaging five vehicles, the Investigative Committee - the branch of law enforcement that investigates major crimes - said in a statement. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth; editing by John Stonestreet) The Federal High Court Abuja has fixed June 25 to deliver judgment on a suit asking for the withdrawal of the Certificate of Return of Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege. The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Empowerment for Unemployed Youths Initiative, an NGO, through its lawyer, Edward Omaga. At the resumed hearing, Mr Omaga adopted all the processes he filed and prayed the court to enter judgment in favour of his client. For his part, Alex Iziyon (SAN), counsel to Mr Omo-Agege, argued that it was the contention of the plaintiff that Section 68 1(b) of the 1999 Constitution is different from Section 66 because of the use of the words any other circumstance mentioned in Section 68 1(b). He said it is settled law that any issue bordering on qualification or disqualification must find its bearing in the constitution. He added that any other circumstance stated could not be interpreted outside the framework of the constitution. Arguing on behalf of the Clerk of the Senate and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chikaosolu Ojukwu, prayed the court to dismiss the suit with punitive cost, describing it as vexatious and an abuse of judicial process. He added that his client had filed a motion on notice challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter. He added that the plaintiff ought to have commenced the matter 14 days after he became aware of the situation. Mr Ojukwu further prayed the court to award a cost of N500 million against the plaintiff should the court give judgment in favour of the defendants. Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tanimu Inuwa (SAN), also urged the court to dismiss the matter, saying it is statute barred. Mr Inuwa added that Mr Omo-Agege would have been disqualified if the alleged conviction was made within a period of less than 10 years from the date of the election in question. He said the alleged convictions were in 1995 and 1998, and the National Assembly election he contested was in 2019, which was more than 10 years. The group had asked the court to order the withdrawal of Mr Omo-Ageges certificate on the grounds that he was not qualified to contest the February 2019 elections having been convicted by a court in the United States. The group had also prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Mr Omo-Agege from occupying the office of senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District and deputy senate president. The group said their suit was based on the grounds that Mr Omo-Agege was not a competent, fit and proper person to occupy such an office considering the conviction hanging over his neck. This is as per the judgment of the hearing of the Department of the State Bar Court sitting in Los Angeles, California, USA, delivered on Nov. 30, 1995. Whereupon Omo-Agege was sentenced to jail and suspended from law practice for two years for felony involving moral turpitude, forgery of cheques amounting to $890 with which he intended to defraud the Bank of America, Ahined Mehone and Elpert Defrietas in violation of California Penal Code Section 470. The group also prayed the court for interpretation of Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution; to determine whether by the combined interpretation of Section 68(1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, the judgment of the hearing of the Department of the State Bar Court sitting in Los Angeles, California, involving moral turpitude. The plaintiff further prayed the court to award N500 million damages against the clerk of the senate for accepting to declare Mr Omo-Agege deputy senate president after his nomination and election on June 11, 2019. (NAN) Burma Myanmar Independence Hero to Appear on All Banknotes New 1,000-kyat notes displaying the image of General Aung San. / Thiha Lwin / The Irrawaddy NAYPYITAWMyanmar will introduce the image of independence hero General Aung San on banknotes of all denominations, according to the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM). Banknotes of all denominations in circulation will be printed with the image of the general, CBM Vice-Governor U Soe Min told reporters in Naypyitaw on Monday. He also addressed questions about whether the printing can be completed in the 10 months that the current government has left in office, saying it will depend on how fast they can be printed. Myanmar reintroduced the image of Gen. Aung San on 1,000-kyat (US$0.72) banknotes earlier this year after a three-decade pause. The new 15-by-7 cm 1,000-kyat notes, displaying the assassinated independence leader on one side and the Naypyitaw Parliament on the other side, were well received by the public, with crowds trying to acquire the new notes from banks soon after the note was officially introduced. Bank officials said the notes have barely been seen in circulation so far as the public tends to collect them and the CBM will therefore introduce the image of the general on notes of all denominations. The image of the general will be introduced to all 14 banknote denominations, including the 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000-kyat notes, replacing the images of elephants and lions that currently appear on some denominations. CBM officials did not, however, provide details about the total value of the new banknotes it plans to print. Old banknotes will remain legal tender. The bank will also improve the security and quality of the banknotes in circulation, according to officials. In November 2017, National League for Democracy lawmaker U Aung Khin Win of Myaing Township, Magwe Region, proposed bringing Gen. Aung San back onto banknotes. The measure was approved with 286 votes in favor and 107 against, with those in opposition including military representatives and a Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) member. The same proposal was submitted in 2013 to the Parliament under the USDP government, but it failed. Banknotes showing the father of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were first printed in 1958, 10 years after he was assassinated along with eight colleagues. But the notes were gradually removed from circulation amid the rising popularity of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as leader of the pro-democracy movement following the 1988 student uprising. In the 1990s, the government began to print notes displaying pictures of lions. In 2009, an elephant was added to the 5,000-kyat note and in 2012, one was added to the 10,000-kyat note as well. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Govt Unveils Four Projects as Part of Chinas BRI Scheme Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to Run in Myanmars General Election Myanmar Extends Bans on Gatherings, Intl Flights as Imported COVID-19 Cases Rise Dubai Investments Real Estate Company (DIRC), a unit of Dubai Investments, has announced that the construction of the commercial spaces within the Al Multaqa Avenue at Mirdif Hills is progressing steadily and is set to revitalise Mirdifs commercial landscape. The commercial spaces comprise the first four-star hotel, first freehold office spaces in Mirdif and open retail spaces in Mirdif Hills. Strategically located adjacent to Mushrif Park with proximity to Dubai International Airport and leading business districts, Mirdif Hills marks the first freehold mixed-use development in Mirdif, by Dubai Investments through its subsidiary Dubai Investments Real Estate Company (DIRC). Al Multaqa Avenue, comprises an ideal combination of residential buildings, serviced apartments, a hotel and open retail spaces. The other two clusters within Mirdif Hills comprise of Janayen and Nasayem both residential clusters. "We conceptualised Al Multaqa Avenue to be the commercial hub within the Mirdif Hills project where the residents could benefit from the true essence of living within a mixed-use development," explained DIRC General Manager Obaid Al Salami. "The commercial offerings within Al Multaqa will mark the onset of a new experience for residents and shoppers not only within Mirdif Hills but also within the Mirdif area," he stated. The Millennium & Copthorne Hotels and Resorts is the first four-star hotel in Mirdif, located within the Al Multaqa Avenue, Mirdif Hills that features 116 hotel rooms and 128 serviced apartments, a gym, swimming pool, fitness area and meeting spaces. The freehold office spaces, marking another first in Mirdif, located within the Al Multaqa Avenue are designed to cater to the needs of the business community looking for ideal office spaces set within a mixed-used development, said the statement from DIRC. The open retail spaces within the Al Multaqa Avenue are designed to offer convenient retail experiences for residents and shoppers and are located within both residential and commercial properties. The open retail spaces are designed providing the shoppers a one-stop destination for all needs, it added. According to DIRC, Mirdif Hills is buzzing with residents in Janayen Avenue - handed over earlier this year. With the completion of Al Multaqa, designed to be one of the most active hubs within the development, it is all set to elevate Mirdif Hills stature as a complete mixed-use luxurious living space in Mirdif, it added.-TradeArabia News Service The Capital City Mall in Lower Allen Township reopened last week but not every store reopened immediately. About half of the malls tenants reopened on Friday and this week 14 stores and an eatery will reopen at the mall. They include: American Eagle opening Wednesday Aeropostale - opening Friday Children's Place - opening Tuesday Christopher & Banks - opening Tuesday Claire's - opening Friday Express - opening Friday Gamestop - opening Tuesday Hot Topic - opening Friday H&M - opening Saturday Justice opening Wednesday KAY Jewelers opened Monday Littman Jewelers opening Friday Piercing Pagoda - opening Thursday Saladworks - opening Tuesday Simply Country opened Monday Shoppers at the mall will notice some changes due to COVID-19. The malls main entrance has one set of doors to enter the mall and one set of doors to leave the mall. There are security employees monitoring the capacity. The mall can only be open at 50 percent capacity. Stores also have to abide by the 50 percent capacity limit. Face masks are required for anyone present in the mall. Security personnel is also handing out face masks if someone needs one. There are floor decals outside of stores and restaurants asking people to keep six feet from each other. And there are sanitizer stations throughout the mall. The mall is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday though Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The mall reopened on Friday when Cumberland County moved into the states green phase after being closed since March when Gov. Tom Wolf ordered that all non-essential retailers close. Outside retailers at the mall like Dicks Sporting Goods were permitted to reopen as early as May 22 when the county moved into the yellow phase. --Business Buzz --Sign up for PennLives newsletters Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like PennLives business page on Facebook at @PennLiveBusiness It was only a few days prior to his killing at the treacherous Galwan Valley along the India-China border that K Pazhani was dearly missed at home. On June 3, his family had gathered to celebrate the completion of construction of the house they would all move in together soon and Pazhanis 40th birthday. The soldier had visited him home at Kadukkaliyur in the southern district of Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu in January this year. He had made plans to return for the familys housewarming ceremony, but in a call in the first week of June, he said there were problems. As is the norm for almost every jawan serving in the border, Pazhani, a havildar in the Army, had revealed very little to his family about all that was going on in the valleys of Eastern Ladakh. His wife Vanathi Devi said Pazhani only told her that had a new assignment and that it was not possible for him to come home any time soon. Probed a little, he said: Things are getting problematic here As the television camera crew focus on the visibly devastated Devi, Pazhanis son, 10, and daughter, 8, continue to play outside their home oblivious of the tragedy that has struck them. Pazhani has a younger brother who is also in the Army. It was he who informed other members about Pazhanis death. Their aging parents had been anxiously waiting for Pazhani to return home. However, this had been the case for over two decades now. His father, Kalimuthu, had a near-permanent plea with Pazhani to retire soon and come back to the village for good. A farmers son, Pazhani had been smitten by the Indian Army even as a teenager and had joined the forces when he was only 18. After studying in the village school till class 5, he moved to Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district for higher studies. He was a BA graduate an intelligent guy. He had been with the Indian Army for over 21 years now. He wasnt able to come for the house warming ceremony. He felt bad for that He had promised to come home next year Going down in history as one of the bravest souls having achieved martyrdom in what one of the rare violent faceoffs with China, Pazhani used to frequently talk about a vow that his son Prasanna should become an Army man too, but with a much higher rank than himself. Pazhani would be laid to rest with full state honours in his hometown on Wednesday. (With inputs from Veerakumaran P) Jon Shoemaker, CPA I am excited to take on the vital challenges that the role of departmental leader brings Jon Shoemaker, CPA, a shareholder for Gumbiner Savett Inc., was named leader of the firm's audit & accounting department as of June 1, 2020. A dedicated practitioner, Jon has managed and led numerous international accounting and income tax engagements and is well versed in small and largescale audits. Jon works diligently to assist his middle-market private company clients, including those in manufacturing and distribution, professional services, internet commerce and employee benefit plans. I am excited to take on the vital challenges that the role of departmental leader brings, said Shoemaker, who celebrated his 25th anniversary with the firm in 2019. I look forward to working with our extremely talented team towards enhancing client satisfaction while helping the department continue to grow. Jons handson approach to service delivery makes him a trusted advisor to his clients. He is focused on working with CFOs and entrepreneurs in growth-oriented and start-up companies in various sectors and is also in charge of the firms not-for-profit practice. "Jon is greatly admired and respected by clients and staff alike, said managing director Rick Parent. I am confident he will guide the audit and accounting department to even greater success. Jon earned his B.A., Business Economics degree with an Emphasis in Accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and is also a board member of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce. About Gumbiner Savett Inc. (http://www.gscpa.com) Celebrating its 70th year in business, Gumbiner Savett Inc. is a full-service accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Its purpose is to enrich clients lives by facilitating the achievement of their financial objectives and providing career fulfillment for its employees. Gumbiner Savett an independent member firm of BKR International is dedicated to being a preeminent assurance, tax, and business advisory firm for growth-oriented businesses, middle-market enterprises and high-net-worth individuals in Southern California. In addition to traditional private and public company accounting and tax services, it specializes in general business consulting, estate and trust planning, fraud examination studies, business services and bookkeeping and litigation support. HOUSTON - (June 16, 2020) - Like finding that needle in the haystack every time, your T cells manage what seems like an improbable task: quickly finding a few invaders among the many imposters in your body to trigger its immune response. T cells have to react fast and do so nearly perfectly to protect people from diseases. But first, they need a little "me" time. Rice University researchers suggest that has to do with how T cells "relax" in the process of binding to ligands -- short, functional molecules -- that are either attached to the invaders or just resemble them. The look-alikes greatly outnumber the antigen ligands attached to attacking pathogens. The theory by Rice chemist Anatoly Kolomeisky and research scientist and Rice alumnus Hamid Teimouri proposes that the T cell's relaxation time -- how long it takes to stabilize binding with either the invader or the imposter -- is key. They suggested it helps explain the rest of the cascading sequence by which invaders prompt the immune system to act. The inappropriate activation of a T cell toward its own molecules leads to serious allergic and autoimmune responses. The researchers' study appears in the Biophysical Journal. T cells operate best within the parameters that control a "golden triangle" of sensitivity, specificity and speed. The need for speed seems obvious: Don't let the invaders infect. And it is important because T cells spend so little time in the vicinity of the antigen-presenting cells, so they must act quickly to recognize them. Specificity is most challenging, since self-ligand imposters can outnumber invaders by a factor of 100,000. "It is amazing how T cells are able to react so fast and so selectively. This is one of the most important secrets of living organisms," said Kolomeisky, a professor and chairman of Rice's Department of Chemistry and a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. Their approach was to build a stochastic (random) model that analyzed how T cell receptors bind step-by-step to the peptide major histocompatibility complexes (pMHC) on the surface of antigen-presenting cells. At a high enough concentration, the bound complexes trigger the immune cascade. The mathematical model aligned with experimental results that suggest T cell activation depends on kinetic proofreading, a form of biochemical error correction. Proofreading slows down the relaxation for wrong molecules, and this allows the organism to start the correct immune response. While the theory helps explain the T cells' "absolute discrimination," it does not explain downstream biochemical processes. However, the researchers said timing may have everything to do with those as well. In a "very speculative" suggestion, the researchers noted that when the binding speed of imposters matches that of invaders, triggering both biomolecular cascades, there's no immune response. When the more relaxed binding of pathogenic ligands lags behind, it appears more likely to reach a threshold that triggers the immune system. Kolomeisky said the concept could be validated through experimentation. He and Teimouri wrote that many other aspects of T cell triggering need to be explored, including the roles of the cellular membranes where receptors are located, cell-cell communications, and cell topography during interactions. But having a simple quantitative model is a good start. "Our theory can be extended to explore some important features of the T cell activation process," Kolomeisky said. ### The Welch Foundation, the National Science Foundation and the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics at Rice supported the research. Read the abstract at https://www.cell.com/biophysj/fulltext/S0006-3495(20)30451-3. This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2020/06/16/relaxed-t-cells-critical-to-immune-response/ Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews. Related materials: Kolomeisky Research Group: http://python.rice.edu/~kolomeisky/ Rice Department of Chemistry: https://chemistry.rice.edu/ Wiess School of Natural Sciences: https://naturalsciences.rice.edu/ Image for download: https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/06/0622_T-CELL-1-web.jpg Rice University scientists' simple model of T cell activation of the immune response shows the T cell binding, via a receptor (TCR) to an antigen-presenting cell (APC). If an invader is identified as such, the response is activated, but only if the "relaxation" time of the binding is long enough. (Credit: Hamid Teimouri/Rice University) Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Jeff Falk 713-348-6775 jfalk@rice.edu Mike Williams 713-348-6728 mikewilliams@rice.edu 2 | Next crop of COVID-19 vaccine developers take more traditional route: The handful of drugmakers dominating the global coronavirus vaccine race are pushing the boundaries of vaccine technology. The next crop under development feature more conventional, proven designs. The world will need several different vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, given the sheer size of global need, variations in effects on different populations, and possible limits of effectiveness in the first crop. Many leading candidates now in final-stage testing are based on new, largely unproven technology platforms designed to produce vaccines at speed. AstraZeneca's potential coronavirus vaccine is likely to provide protection against contracting COVID-19 for about a year, the company's chief executive told a Belgian radio station on Tuesday. The British drugmaker has already begun human trials of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, with a phase I trial in Britain due to end soon and a phase III trial already begun, Pascal Soriot told broadcaster Bel RTL. "We think that it will protect for about a year," Soriot said. AstraZeneca said on Saturday that it had signed contracts with France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands to supply the European Union with up to 400 million doses of the potential vaccine. It has also agreed deals with Britain and the United States. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show "If all goes well, we will have the results of the clinical trials in August/September. We are manufacturing in parallel. We will be ready to deliver from October if all goes well," Soriot said. A demonstrator raises his fist during a protest rally for Robert Fuller whose body was found hanging from a tree a block from Palmdale City Hall, in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Palmdale, California, U.S., June 13, 2020. Ringo Chiu/Reuters State and federal authorities will monitor the investigation into the death of Robert Fuller, a 24-year-old Black man who was found dead hanging from a tree in Palmdale, California. Fuller's body was discovered last Wednesday at about 3:40 a.m. near Palmdale City Hall. Local authorities initially said it appeared he died by suicide, but a further investigation into the circumstances of his death is ongoing. LA County Medical Examiner Dr. Jonathan Lucas said an autopsy conducted Friday didn't reveal any evidence suggesting "anything other than a suicide," but he said he felt further investigation is warranted. Fuller's sister Diamond Alexander told the Los Angeles Times that her brother would not have taken his own life. "We just want the truth," Alexander told the Los Angeles Times. "My brother was not suicidal. He was a survivor." Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. State and federal authorities will join with Los Angeles Sheriff's Department to investigate the death of a Black man who was found dead hanging from a tree in Palmdale, California. LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said during a Monday press conference that he personally called state Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the FBI. The civil rights division of the FBI will monitor the investigation. Robert Fuller, 24, was found dead last Wednesday around 3:40 a.m. near Palmdale City Hall. Police initially said it appeared Fuller died by suicide, which prompted outcry from the public demanding a full and thorough investigation. Medical Examiner-Coroner Dr. Jonathan Lucas told reporters Monday that an autopsy was conducted last Friday, saying "initially there wasn't any evidence that lead us to believe there was anything other than a suicide," but he said he felt further investigation was warranted before an official cause-of-death is determined. "It is a tragic sad death ... we are doing everything we can to find out what happened," Lucas said. Story continues Hundreds marched to the Palmdale City Hall near where Fuller's body was found, with some suggesting Fuller may have been lynched due to the similarity in manner of death. A petition made rounds on Twitter last Friday and was even shared by Kim Kardashian West demanding a full and thorough investigation for Fuller. As of Monday, the petition had gathered more than 270,000 signatures. "During such a heightened time with the Black Lives Matter movement and the city's quickness to call his death a suicide before any investigation, there is reason to believe that Robert's death was a lynching," the description of the petition read, adding that the Palmdale and the Antelope Valley have a "history of racism and negligence." "We demand the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Palmdale Station and the City of Palmdale to conduct a full, thorough investigation into Robert's death," the petition continued. "We demand security footage in Poncitlan Square to be presented and audio of the call placed when his body was found. We demand justice to be served for Robert and his loved ones." Multiple local and state elected officials called on state AG Becerra to conduct an independent investigation into Fuller's death, including California Sen. Scott Wilk, Assemblyman Tom Lackey, and LA County supervisor Kathryn Barger. "The attorney general, as the lead attorney and law enforcement official for the state of California, will lend additional expertise and oversight into this important investigation and provide the community with the answers they deserve," Barger told Fox 11. "It is my hope that our collective efforts will help to support those struggling and grieving surrounding the circumstances of this tragedy." Fuller's sister Diamond Alexander told the Los Angeles Times that her brother would not have taken his own life. "This is really crazy to all of us," Alexander told the outlet. "We want to find out the truth on what really happened. Everything they told us is not right. We just want the truth." "My brother was not suicidal," she added. "He was a survivor." Read the original article on Insider New Delhi: Raising concern over the high charges being levied upon by private hospitals for COVID-19 treatment, public interest litigation (PIL) filed in Delhi High Court on Tuesday (June 16) sought that the Delhi government be directed to constitute a committee in this regard. The petition sought that the committee should be constituted to cap the rates levied upon by private hospitals for COVID 19 treatment, services, and PPE kits. It also urged the court that the prices be capped within 7 days of the order. The petition cited that the states of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have already capped prices but the Delhi government has failed to do so. It said that Delhi hasn't exercised its executive powers under the NDMA Act and the Epidemic Diseases Act and that the government should soon use its powers in this direction. The petition asked the court to set aside the Delhi government's order allowing private hospitals to charge COVID patients as per their scheduled rates, insisting that the orders were in violation of Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution. The PIL also informed the court that though the Delhi government has designated some private hospitals as COVID hospitals and 117 hospitals have been asked to reserve 20% beds for COVID patients, it has allowed them to charge as per scheduled rates, resulting in lack of affordability for treatment in private hospitals. "Private hospitals have engaged in undue profiteering and charge exorbitant rates for treatment of COVID-19," said the petition, adding that with this exorbitant charging by private hospitals they are no longer an option for treatment for most of the people. [June 16, 2020] Accelya to Acquire Farelogix Accelya, a leading provider of technology solutions to the global airline and travel industry, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Farelogix, a leading provider of SaaS (News - Alert) solutions for airline retailing and New Distribution Capability (NDC)-enabled commerce. The acquisition will advance Accelya's vision to provide a next-generation, end-to-end platform that enables airline commerce, providing a full suite of innovative retailing, distribution, and fulfillment solutions. Once part of Accelya, Farelogix will be well positioned to expand its operations, better support its airline customers, and leverage Accelya's industry expertise to better interconnect airline systems. Farelogix has played an instrumental role in defining innovative retailing for the airline industry, providing passenger service system (PSS)-agnostic technology that enables airlines to dynamically create, control, optimize, and deliver personalized and differentiated offers across sales channels. Farelogix has more than 25 airline customers worldwide that use its technology to grow revenue per passenger, achieve greater efficiency, and reduce costs. Integration with Accelya's complementary mission-critical airline solutions will optimize the entire airline commerce lifecycle by allowing greater control and flexibility over commercial offers, orders, and downstream processes, and benefiting airline customers and their passengers through accelerated digital transformation. "The industry we serve is facing an unprecedented set of challenges requiring increased agility and integration," said John Johnston, Chief Executive Officer of Accelya. "Accelya is at the forefront of travel and transport technology and our acquisition of Farelogix will enhance our capability to deliver an integrated Offer-to-Settlement platform and provide innovative solutions and greater choice for airlines worldwide." "Our focus on delivering high performance, PSS-agnostic technology that can drive revenue, increase brand loyalty, and reduce costs is strategically aligned with the Accelya vision and directly addresses the needs of all airlines," said Jim Davidson, CEO of Farelogix. "This acquisition represents a tremendous opportunity for Farelogix and ccelya to accelerate innovation in technologies for airline retailing, commerce, order management, and financial settlement." The acquisition follows Vista Equity Partners investment in Accelya by the firm's permanent capital investment fund, Vista Equity Partners Perennial. Perennial's investment and operating experts partner with leading and mission-critical enterprise software businesses seeking to advance their market leadership and product innovation. The Perennial strategy is differentiated by its permanent capital structure, which allows it to engage in value creation opportunities and provide capital and expertise to accelerate company success over decades. "The combination of Accelya and Farelogix will create a next-generation digital platform to help support airline industry recovery and enable a new era in airline commerce powered by innovation, technology, and partnership. Vista continues to believe in the resiliency and value of enterprise software, and in its long-term vision for Accelya, and we are pleased to take this next step on our journey with them," said Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close this summer. The deal brings more than 300 skilled Farelogix employees, primarily based in Miami, into the global Accelya team. Prior to closing, Accelya and Farelogix will continue to operate as separate businesses. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Accelya Accelya is a leading global provider of technology platforms, software and services to the travel and transport industry. Accelya has been delivering business-critical ?nancial, commercial, cargo and analytics solutions for more than 40 years. With over 200 airline customers, and operations spread across 14 countries, Accelya employs over 2,800 professionals worldwide. Accelya offers a modular suite of technology solutions for air travel, from offer to settlement, solving critical business problems for airlines, travel agents and industry bodies such as IATA. Accelya's solutions are organized around customers' key functions including commercial planning and optimization, sales & distribution management, financial reconciliation & settlement. Paramount to Accelya's success is the exceptional breadth of understanding of industry data which allows the delivery of insightful and reliable solutions that reduce process friction in a complex inter-dependent industry. For more information please visit www.accelya.com About Farelogix Farelogix is a recognized leader and innovator in the travel industry. Its groundbreaking technology is modernizing the airline commerce and distribution landscape and is used by several of the world's leading airlines. The company's flagship Airline Commerce Gateway (News - Alert) is a technology platform comprised of fully integrated and optimized components for airline-controlled distribution, shopping, pricing, merchandising, and retailing across channels. Recognized for its pioneering role in creating the distribution innovation known today as NDC, Farelogix now provides NDC (Level 4 certified) distribution and offer management solutions for more than 25 airlines with connectivity to all major PSS systems. Farelogix is headquartered in Miami, Florida with an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ?For additional information, visit www.farelogix.com About Vista Equity Partners Vista is a leading investment firm with offices in Austin, Chicago, New York City, Oakland, and San Francisco and more than $57 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Vista exclusively invests in enterprise software, data, and technology-enabled organizations across private equity, credit, public equity, and permanent capital strategies. As a value-added investor with a long-term perspective, Vista contributes professional expertise and multi-level support towards companies to realize their full potential. Vista's investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions, and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity. For more information, please visit www.vistaequitypartners.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005337/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Photo credit: REX/Shutterstock From Cosmopolitan The case of missing British toddler Madeleine McCann, who vanished from an apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while her parents were eating dinner nearby with friends, has a new development after thirteen years. German police officers have reportedly written to Kate and Gerry McCann, Madeleine's parents, saying they have evidence that their daughter was killed. Her death is now being investigated as a murder case. "I sympathise with the parents but if we reveal more details to them it might jeopardise the investigation," said Hans Christian Wolters, a prosecutor in the case. He added that the McCanns had not yet responded to the letter. "We of course really consider the fact that it is going to be very hard for the family when we tell them that we assume Madeleine is dead," he said, according to a new Sky News report. "This is a murder case not a missing persons case. We have been quite clear throughout we are investigating a murder and we have the evidence for that," Wolters continued. "We can understand the pain of the parents and they want relief but it is better for them that we have a clear and successful conclusion to the case." Photo credit: TIZIANA FABI - Getty Images The suspect in question is thought to be a convicted German sex offender, known only as Christian B, a 43-year-old who is currently serving jail time for rape and drug offences. New reports have also claimed that police will begin searching wells around the former rented home of Christian B not far from the holiday apartment that the McCanns were staying in at the time of Madeleine's disappearance. The mayor of the area that covers Praia da Luz, Hugo Pereira, asked any criminal associates of Christian B to suspend their dislike for the authorities and come forward if they have any helpful information or evidence that could aid the search for Madeleine's body. "People with a criminal background don't deal readily with the authorities, but I appeal to such friends of the suspect to tell anything they know. If they don't want to speak directly to police, then they can email the information anonymously, if that's the way to understanding what happened." Story continues Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns' spokesperson, said the family would not discuss private correspondence and it wasn't clear if they'd yet received the letter in question. Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. SIGN UP You Might Also Like What happened Shares of Chinese electric-vehicle maker NIO (NYSE:NIO) were trading higher on Tuesday morning, after the company announced that it successfully raised over $400 million via a secondary stock offering. As of 9:45 a.m. EDT, NIO's American depositary shares were up about 7.2% from Monday's closing price. So what In a regulatory filing, NIO said that it successfully completed its offering of 72 million new American depositary shares at a price of $5.95 per share. The banks underwriting the offering, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, and China International Capital Corporation, have a 30-day option to purchase up to 10.8 million more shares, the company said. NIO announced the stock offering last week. It said initially that it planned to offer 60 million shares, but that number was increased a day later, a sign that demand for the shares may have been stronger than the banks had anticipated. NIO said that it will use the proceeds of the offering, about $428 million minus the bankers' fees, to fund a cash investment that it agreed to make in its Chinese business (a subsidiary called "NIO China") as a condition of a financing deal with economic-development authorities in China's Anhui province. Those authorities, in Anhui and in the province's capital city of Hefei, agreed in April to invest just under $1 billion in exchange for a 24.1% stake in NIO China. Now what As part of the financing deal in April, NIO agreed to move its headquarters and engineering teams to Hefei, one of China's auto-industry hubs. The city's government is hoping that NIO's presence will spur investment in suppliers and other future-mobility ventures in the region. As for NIO itself, auto investors can rest assured that it has plans to put its latest cash infusion to work. "We expect NIO China will use the cash investments for research and development of products, services and technology, development of our manufacturing facilities and roll-out of our supply chain, operation and development of our sales and service network and general business support purpose[s]," the company said in a statement last week. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion in a decision affirming that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination against gay and transgender workers. (Timothy D. Easley / Associated Press) Even after the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that same-sex couples had a constitutional right to marry, gays and lesbians in many states could be wed one day and fired on the next because of their sexual orientation. The court rectified that lingering injustice Monday when it held that not only gay but also transgender employees are protected by a landmark federal law against discrimination. The 6-3 decision is a monumental milestone in workplace equality. Although more than 20 states, including California, prohibit discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, the justices' decision will provide nationwide protection. In an opinion by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the majority persuasively concluded that dismissing or refusing to hire employees because of their sexual orientation or transgender status amounts to sex discrimination prohibited by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. As Gorsuch put it: An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. He offered the example of an employer with a male and a female employee, both attracted to men. If the employer fires the male employee for no reason other than the fact he is attracted to men, the employer discriminates against him for traits or actions it tolerates in his female colleague. This is so, Gorsuch explained, even though the Congress that approved the Civil Rights Act probably didnt have this sort of discrimination in mind any more than it did other unforeseen applications of the law. The court's ruling evokes one written in 1998 by the late Justice Antonin Scalia like Gorsuch, a so-called textualist when it comes to interpreting statues that held that Title VII outlawed sexual harassment against workers regardless of their sexual orientation. Scalia admitted that male-on-male sexual harassment in the workplace was assuredly not the principal evil Congress was concerned with when it enacted Title VII. But statutory prohibitions often go beyond the principal evil to cover reasonably comparable evils. That is what the court did in this case as well. Story continues In a dissent from Mondays ruling, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, suggested that the majority was dishonoring Scalias legacy by updating an old statute to "better reflect the current values of society. Alito also pointed out, as did Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh in a separate dissent, that legislation explicitly outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been considered by Congress without yet being enacted into law. Gorsuch rightly said that didnt matter. It remained the fact that discrimination based on homosexuality or transgender status necessarily entails discrimination based on sex. Because this decision is based on a statute, not the Constitution, Congress is free to overrule it by passing new legislation giving employers a green light to discriminate against gay and transgender workers. If lawmakers have any feel for what Alito called the current values of society, they won't even think of doing so. Editors note: During Black History Month, the Times Union is sharing stories from its archive highlighting significant people, places and events that are part of the Capital Regions Black cultural heritage. This story was first published June 16, 2020. The understated approach to this years Juneteenth celebration at the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region in Albany will be a stark contrast to the high energy and vibrant conviviality of Juneteenth parties in years past. Travon Jackson, the executive director of the center, said that the usual festival-style celebration of Juneteenth hosted by the center will be replaced by an atmosphere of calmness and safety at a time when the black community needs refuge as much as ever. In the shadow of social distancing and COVID-19, as well as the shadow of protests and social issues, we want to create a safe space for individuals to reflect, he said. One thing that will not change, however, is the role of food as a source of nourishment, comfort and remembrance of the historical journey of African-American culture. Juneteenth is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, and commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation. June 19 has been recognized as a day of observance, marking the end of slavery, in many U.S. states (and it is an official state holiday in Texas). On Wednesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he would designate Juneteenth a holiday for state workers this year, and said he would propose legislation that would make Juneteenth an official state holiday, starting in 2021. Food historian and researcher Robin Caldwell, based in St. Louis, who writes about Juneteenth history on her website RobinCaldwell.com and blog FreshandFriedHard.com, said that most Juneteenth celebrations (and the precursor "freedom days) were held at churches, a safe, legal space for black people to congregate after the Civil War and through the Jim Crow era. Churchyards and parking lots would house barbecue pits, fish frys and grill stations to feed celebrants of Juneteenth, as, food was the primary way to build community at the time and food was the cheapest way to celebrate, said Caldwell. What was served was dependent on the regions specialties. Everybodys momma dont cook the same, joked Jackson, who said the culinary spirit of Juneteenth has always been dependent on familiar family recipes. Sticky soul food will still be there, he said, but noted that vegetables and healthier sides are becoming the focus of modern Juneteenth events and allow for interpretation of the style and soul of traditional Juneteenth recipes. Caldwell said one item that is prevalent on Juneteenth menus across the U.S. is the red drink, which can take the form of anything from red-colored Kool-Aid, to lemonade sweetened with red fruit or molasses, to punches and teas made from plants that originated in Africa-hibiscus, kola nuts and sorrel-and were brought to the Caribbean and America during the slave trade era. Red beverages are symbolic of the West African tribes like the Asante and Yoruba that were forced into slavery, as their customs included animal blood served as an offering to ancestors and gods on special occasions. Culinary historian Fred Opie writes on his website FredOpie.com that the color red is also a representation of the blood of slaves, and other red foods (watermelon, red velvet cake, fruit pies) are customary for Juneteenth. He writes that the color has come to symbolize strength and resilience in African-American culture. Food is a form of remembrance. We eat the food of slaves to remember slavery, said Caldwell. She listed collard greens, sweet potatoes and black eyed peas - all prandial symbols of prosperity - as common during Juneteenth. The Cultural Centers Juneteenth event is catered by Jackson Soul Catering in Schenectady, which is owned by Crystal Jackson (Travon Jacksons mother) and will be served as individual servings in to-go containers to comply with pandemic regulations. It feels like someone made a plate for you, said Jackson of the free dinners. He anticipates there will be an increase from the 1,300 people served last year and potentially as many as 1,700 people. This is the easiest meal some people might get all day, he said. Across town, Ricki Wheeler has organized a Juneteenth march down Lark Street and back toward Arbor Hill via Henry Johnson Boulevard. Wheeler said he became interested in organizing an event because of his own lack of knowledge about Juneteenth. A socially distanced cook out (attendees are encouraged to bring their own utensils and plates and their own grills for cooking their food) after the march is a way to build community in his neighborhood, he said. Hibiscus tea and fruit pies will be available for purchase at the event and Wheeler suggests participants make recipes that denote celebration for their own families. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. A lot of people dont know what to eat because they dont know what Juneteenth is. He equates it to not understanding the Thanksgiving feast and the symbolism behind some of its most iconic recipes if you did not grow up celebrating Thanksgiving. Identifying a particular food specific to the black experience in Capital Region history is harder to pinpoint, unlike the traditional barbecue and soul food of the American south. Several cookbooks that focus on the regions culinary history, including, The Albany Collection: Treasures and Treasured Recipes, produced by the Womens Council of the Albany Institute of History and Art, point to food and menus that were popular for white-focused events in Albanys history (like Tulip Fest galas), but only one book, On the Score of Hospitality: Selected Recipes of a Van Rensselaer Family Albany, New York 1785-1835, compiled by Historic Cherry Hill, mention slaves and kitchen work. Cherry Hill, the former Albany home of several Van Rensselaer descendants was also home to their slaves and indentured servants, and the book briefly notes the arduous household work (including cooking) that slaves would do for their white owners. (The last slaves in New York were not freed until 1827.) What the book does not mention is the influence on food and recipes offered by black slaves. A historic interpretation of Juneteenth in Albany would rely heavily on the recipes of the Dutch slave owners and accounts of food served at Pinkster, a spring festival held until 1811 in Albany by black city residents, and would have likely included olycooks ( a Dutch doughnut), cabbage, fried or stewed seafood and braised greens. Those foods appear on local Juneteenth menus. At Umana Restaurant and Wine Bar in Albany, beignets (a French doughnut tracing back to ancient Rome) are offered for Juneteenth, as well as red bean stew, West African jollof (a rice preparation) jambalaya, black-eyed pea fritters and shrimp and grits. Jackson said several restaurants are expected to or traditionally offer specials in honor of Juneteenth, including Roys Caribbean, soul food restaurant Kitchen 216 and Jonathans, a fried fish restaurant on Henry Johnson Boulevard. Jackson said that his hope for the day is that people are allowed nourishment of spirit and stomach and can find peace during the event, despite a break-in and vandalism at the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region on June 2. We are already prepared to stand for rights and safety. Thats the condition of being a black person, he said. His concern is that people feel safe enough to lay down their need to defend and organize and can instead find respite and solace, and with certainty, receive a delicious meal that serves as a reminder of history and the enduring fight for freedom the black community faces. IF YOU GO African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region Juneteenth celebration When: 12 - 5 p.m. Saturday, June 20 Where: 135 South Pearl Street, Albany Held with support from Downtown Albany Business Improvement District Juneteenth Protest and March When: 3 - 8 p.m. Friday, June 19 Where: March meets at the corner of Lark Street and Madison Avenue, Albany; Cookout to be held at Arbor Hill location (to be announced later) starting at 5 p.m. See More Collapse Deanna Fox is a food journalist. www.foxonfood.com @DeannaNFox Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Palma, Spain Tue, June 16, 2020 16:03 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf3214d 2 News tourism,travel,Germany,Mallorca,COVID-19,coronavirus Free A planeload of German tourists flew Monday to Spain's Mallorca island, taking part in a test of plans to reopen the popular destination as the country emerges from its coronavirus lockdown. The 180 Germans flew from Duesseldorf to Mallorca, the largest island in the sunny Balearic archipelago, six days before Spain is to open its borders in general on June 21. Almost 11,000 tourists from Germany are to follow in the coming days. "We are very, very glad to be here," said George Kasbach, who lives near Cologne and owns an apartment on the Mediterranean island that he visits several times a year. Compatriot Daniel Wiener added: "We know that it's a privilege for us to come here. It feels like paradise." Kasbach had followed the coronavirus epidemic in Spain closely, and said he felt safe because "there are not many ill people at the moment" on the islands. "We come here several times a year," he said. Mallorca is a second home to many Germans who call it their country's "17th state", and find almost everything they want in their native language. Michael Driesch, 56, was also on the flight and also had no worries about flying to Palma because the islands "are not a hotspot in Spain. "It's more dangerous to drive from Hamburg to Munich," or the length of Germany from north to south, he joked. Regional Spanish officials and tour operators set up the pilot program as a test for the Spanish tourism sector, which accounts for about 12 percent of gross domestic product. Read also: Germany to lift travel warning for Europe from June 15 Ahead of schedule Spain decided to open its borders in general and ease nationwide coronavirus restrictions on June 21, more than a week ahead of schedule. The country had one of the tightest lockdown measures in Europe, along with one of the highest COVID-19 mortality rates at more than 27,000. The pilot project will be subject to strict health guidelines and visitors will have their temperature taken on arrival, but will not be quarantined, regional authorities have said. A follow-up phone check is scheduled to catch virus symptoms if they apppear. "It seems like a great dry-run" to test protocols set up for the nation's other tourist areas as well, Health Minister Salvador Illa said. Spain is the world's second most popular travel destination after France, with Mallorca attracting around 4.5 million Germans alone last year. The Balearic island chain also includes Menorca, Ibiza - known for its club scene -- and Formentera. On June 5, Spanish police arrested five drug dealers near Barcelona and seized 100,000 ecstasy pills that a statement said were "destined for Ibiza, to coincide with the start of the summer season." Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ukraine was forced to close its borders for the first time in history. For three months, Ukrainian checkpoints were locked up Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ukraine was forced to close its borders for the first time in history. For three months, Ukrainian checkpoints were locked up. Now that the country is gradually emerging from strict quarantine measures. Where to cross the border of Ukraine by car during quarantine? The SBGS has developed a map with the modes of operation of checkpoints on the Ukrainian borders. On it you can see which of the PEs in Ukraine have started their work, and which restrictive measures have not been lifted yet. Is it possible to cross the border on foot during quarantine? From May 20, 2020, in accordance with the order of the government, a list of checkpoints across the state border of Ukraine, where pedestrian traffic is temporarily suspended, has been determined, namely: on the border with the Russian Federation - "Milove" ("Chertkovo"), "Hoptivka" ("Nekhoteevka"), "Bachivsk" ("Troebortne"), "Yunakivka" ("Sudzha"), "Senkivka" ("Novi Yurkovychi"); on the border with the Republic of Belarus - "Senkivka" ("Veselivka"), "Novi Yarilovichi", "Vystupovychi" ("Nova Rudnya"), "Domanove" ("Mokrany"), "Slavutych" ("Komaryn"). At the moment, there are checkpoints on other sections of the state border that are not closed by government orders and where the admission by a neighboring party has not been terminated. On May 16, 2020, the pedestrian crossing at the Shehyni checkpoint on the border with Poland in the Lviv region was restored. Also, since May 20, 2020, the pedestrian checkpoint "Mali Selmentsi," which borders the Slovak Republic, has been operating in the Zakarpattia region. When traveling across the state border, citizens of Ukraine must take into account the categories of checkpoints (car, pedestrian) and their mode of operation. Only in some cases, buses of local authorities and the State Emergency Service can be used to transport Ukrainian citizens returning from abroad without their own vehicles. Can a foreigner enter Ukraine during quarantine? On June 15, foreigners who are not citizens of countries "with a significant prevalence of Covid-19 and have not been on the territory of such countries for the past 14 days" were allowed to enter Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said. However, foreigners who do not have an insurance policy for Covid-19 treatment and observation will not be allowed into Ukraine. Now the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is waiting for the "List of countries with a significant spread of Covid-19" from the Ministry of Health. From this list, foreigners who have agreed to self-isolation using special Diy Vdoma "Act at Home" electronic service will be allowed to enter Ukraine. Border guards will inform the competent authorities to make a decision on the observation of foreigners who have not consented to self-isolation. Have the checkpoints on the administrative border with Crimea resumed their work? June 14, the checkpoint at all entry/exit checkpoints on the border with occupied Crimea has been completely restored. On the first day of their work, no queues at the administrative border were observed. On the first day of the resumption of the CPVV, 54 people were allowed to enter the occupied territory of Ukraine, and the occupiers refused to allow 12 people, citing the lack of sufficient grounds. 108 people were let out of the occupied Crimea. All of them will be self-isolated. Importantly! Government Resolution 80480 amended the documents regulating the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. In connection with these changes, during the quarantine, border guards do not let persons who have not consented to self-isolation using the "Act at home" electronic service leave the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. How to enter Ukraine when traveling from occupied Donbas during quarantine? On June 10, Mariinsky and Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoints were opened. It is unknown when other checkpoints will open in Donbas. Citizens will be admitted daily from 11 am to 2 pm: for automobile communication through "Mariinka" checkpoint - road corridor "Donetsk - Kurakhove"; for pedestrian communication through the checkpoint "Stanytsia Luhanska" - road corridor "Stanytsia-Luhanska - Shchastya - Novoaidar". Temperature screening will be carried out when entering the territory controlled by Ukraine, people must wear protective masks or respirators. "In order to pass through the checkpoints, citizens must consent to mandatory self-isolation measures, using special "Act at home" electronic service, or observation, in accordance with the requirements of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine 392 of 20.05.2020," headquarters of the Joint Forces Operation note. Citizens who cross the demarcation line to participate in the External Evaluation Testing and the persons accompanying them will be exempted from mandatory self-isolation or observation measures. During five first days of work of checkpoints, Donbas militants didn't let any person enter occupied territories. Is it possible to enter a neighboring country if Ukrainian border guards are released? To reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19 or spreading the virus, you should reduce your mobility and, if possible, follow the recommendation to stay at home. Moldova. The Border Police of this country reported that from 08.00 on March 29, 2020, at the checkpoint for the road "Brichany-Auto" (on the Ukrainian side - the checkpoint "Rososhany-Auto" in the Kelmenets district of Chernivtsi region) the implementation of any checkpoints operations. Belarus. This country has a 14-day quarantine (self-isolation) for all persons entering from countries where coronavirus cases have been reported. Until the end of quarantine (self-isolation), these persons are prohibited from leaving the Republic of Belarus. Ukrainian-Belarusian border Open source Poland. From March 15, 2020, it banned foreigners from crossing the border. However, the country has already introduced some easing. Slovakia. Banned foreigners from crossing the border from 13.03.2020. Russian Federation. Restricted entry to foreigners from March 18, 2020. On March 30, 2020, Russia introduced some additional restrictions. Hungary. Restricted entry to foreigners from March 17, 2020 (March 12, 2020, a state of emergency was declared in the country). Romania. Restricted entry to foreigners from 22.03.2020 (16.03.2020 a state of emergency was declared in the country). Ukraines Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy has published a list of countries to which Ukrainians will be allowed to fly from June 15. Thus, according to the Minister, from June 15, Ukrainians will be able to fly without restrictions at the border to Albania and the United States, with 14-day quarantine in the UK, without restrictions at the border and testing after arriving in Turkey. Also from June 27, citizens of Ukraine will be able to fly to Tunisia with testing upon arrival. And countries such as Cyprus, Montenegro, Georgia, Greece will consider opening borders after the epidemic situation in Ukraine improves from July 1. West Linns acting police chief on Tuesday fired Sgt. Tony Reeves, the lead investigator who pursued the wrongful arrest of a black man in Portland in 2017 as a favor to then-Chief Terry Timeus. Acting Chief Peter Mahuna called Reeves on-duty conduct in the arrest of Michael Fesser "disgraceful,'' and unethical and cited the "irreparable loss of public trust and confidence in his ability to be a fair and unbiased police officer.'' Mahuna found that Reeves violated law enforcements code of ethics by betraying public trust, discriminated against Fesser, engaged in careless police work and suppressed evidence. Fesser said the firing is a step in the right direction for West Linn, but for me personally, I will wait to see if Reeves is just the fall guy or if this is going to go to the guys who were part of the corruption as well. This is not a happy day for me, Fesser said. "Change is what will make me happy. For me, I have to see actions and change.'' Document: Termination letter Reeves firing follows a decision by the Clackamas County District Attorneys Office never to call him again as a witness in any criminal case presented to the office. The district attorneys inquiry followed an Oregonian/OregonLive report in February that West Linn police paid $600,000 to Fesser to settle a wrongful arrest and racial discrimination suit against the department. Fessers civil litigation uncovered that his former employer, Eric Benson, owner of A&B Towing in Southeast Portland, was a fishing buddy of Timeus. Fesser said the arrest was in retaliation for his complaints about a racially hostile work environment at the towing company. Theft charges against Fesser ultimately were dropped, and Benson and his company paid $415,000 to Fesser to settle a separate discrimination and retaliation suit. Reeves, 41, failed to document in his police reports that Benson and Timeus had a personal relationship. Reeves also didnt document racist text messages that Benson exchanged with him and intentionally deleted them from his police-issued cell phone. In addition, Reeves didnt disclose that he took a confidential letter from Fessers car during the arrest and shared it with Fessers boss shortly after Fessers arrest. Fesser in the letter discussed his claims against Benson with his employment discrimination lawyer. The District Attorneys Office agreed that Reeves withheld key evidence, engaged in an illegal recording of Fesser, deleted racist and vulgar text messages from Benson off his police cellphone and shared Fessers confidential attorney-client information with Benson. The District Attorneys Office found West Linn police targeted Fesser using " inappropriate and offensive investigative tactics, and lacked transparency, honesty and any sense of fair play.' Mahuna said he met Monday with Reeves and his lawyer in whats called a mitigation hearing, giving Reeves a chance to challenge the proposed firing. But Reeves statements during the hearing conflicted with sworn testimony he gave to Fessers lawyer in civil depositions, Mahuna said. On Tuesday, Mahuna notified Reeves that he was fired. In addition to the district attorneys witness ban, Mahuna said he also considered that Reeves intentionally deleted the offensive text messages and handed over privileged attorney-client documents. "Sergeant Reeves also caused harm to the image and professionalism of the West Linn Police Department,'' Mahuna wrote in a prepared statement. "The West Linn Police Department is committed to acknowledging our mistakes, and making necessary policy changes to prevent future misconduct and loss of trust moving forward.'' He wrote in the firing notice that Reeves was disrespectful and discriminatory toward Mr. Fesser during the investigation when you acted with bias in favor of Mr. Benson. Prior to the arrest of Mr. Fesser, you knew that Mr. Benson had shown racial animus toward Mr. Fesser, and you discussed with him the benefit of securing an arrest of Mr. Fesser before he could make a formal complaint against Mr. Benson for racial discrimination.'' Though West Linn police previously issued a written reprimand to Reeves after conducting an internal inquiry of Fessers arrest, Mahuna said he believed Reeves should have faced more serious discipline. Even though Reeves deleted the text messages, they were made public in a notice to the city of West Linn of Fessers intent to sue police. "Those text messages were lewd, derogatory and disrespectful to the trust placed in you by the Department and the public, and showed bias against Mr. Fesser,'' Mahuna wrote to Reeves in the termination letter. While examination of the text messages showed Reeves didnt "expressly make any racist comments,'' Reeves didnt discourage Benson from doing so, giving "the appearance that you condoned or agreed with his sentiments,'' Mahuna wrote. Reeves lawyer David Lesh coudlnt be immediately reached for comment. But in a May 26 letter to the District Attorneys Office, Lesh argued that Reeves was acting at the direction of then-Chief Timeus. After learning Portland police wouldnt investigate, Reeves pursued the theft allegations, Lesh said. "The WLPD is organized, like most police agencies, based on a military model. Law enforcement personnel are not only expected but are required to follow orders of their superiors,'' Lesh wrote. "Det. Reeves is required to follow the directives of the WLPD Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, and the Chief of Police. Failure to do so would result in his discipline up to and including termination.'' Reeves contended he had probable cause to arrest Fesser, that there was "no nefarious intent'' in his deletion of the text messages and that law enforcement officers "routinely delete text messages between themselves and a complaining witness,'' Lesh wrote. Reeves also said he turned over to Benson the document found in Fessers car because it was addressed to Benson. Though Reeves isnt part of the Clackamas County Police Officers Association because hes a sergeant, his police contract would allow him to challenge the firing to a state arbitrator. In the mitigation hearing with West Linns acting chief, Reeves told Mahuna that command staff in the department had expressed support for the quality of his investigation of Fesser and that he relied on the direction of his supervisors, including then-West Linn Lt. Mike Stradley. According to Mahuna, Reeves claimed Stradley told him that Fesser was "a bad guy,'' "a con man'' and a "thief.'' Yet, Mahuna noted that was in direct conflict with Reeves civil deposition in the case, when he said he didnt remember what Stradley had shared with him about Fesser. Stradley, a retired Portland police officer who was a West Linn lieutenant at the time of Fessers arrest, got the Portland police gang enforcement team to assist with Fessers arrest in Portland. Stradley acknowledged in a deposition that he hadnt had any contact with Fesser for more than two decades. Paul Buchanan, Fessers lawyer, has argued that Stradley made up claims against Fesser to justify police actions, including that Fesser had threatened to assault Benson. Stradley, who left West Linn police to become a training supervisor at the states basic police academy, remains on paid leave as a separate investigation continues into his role. "Im very pleased that the West Police Department is beginning to hold itself to a higher standard,'' Buchanan said. "This should have happened of course when West Linn Police Department did their first investigation which resulted in a slap on the wrist for Officer Reeves. Current Chief Kruger bears responsibility for that. I am hopeful that what were starting to see is that public scrutiny is bringing about real change, and that more changes are to come.'' Reeves joined West Linn police in December 2007 and was promoted to sergeant on March 1, 2018, after Fessers arrest. He previously worked for less than a year for Gresham police, starting in 2004, and then worked for the Tillamook Police Department from 2005 to 2007. Reeves indicated to Mahuna that he will appeal the district attorneys finding that prevents him from testifying in court. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Subscribe to Facebook page Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. ISTANBUL Images of people standing in long lines outside Istanbuls Caglayan Courthouse filled social media streams in Turkey Tuesday as the nations courts reopened this week to a backlog of cases postponed by the coronavirus pandemic. Now with many press freedom cases slated for hearings in the coming days, lawyers are preparing to defend not only their clients, but also themselves against the novel coronavirus as they head back to courtrooms. Following a nearly three-month suspension of legal proceedings, Caglayan, the largest courthouse in Europe, was expected to receive at least 50,000 people today, according to Mehmet Durakoglu, head of the Istanbul Bar Association, which released social distancing guidelines for lawyers to protect themselves against COVID-19 exposure in trial rooms. In anticipation of the large crowds, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said, Our courthouses are ready for the new normal, in a tweet Tuesday morning, stating precautions had been taken to contain the virus. Yet some lawyers complained the measures were insufficient as Turkey has witnessed a rise in new cases this week, sparking fears a second COVID-19 wave is on the horizon. Veysel Ok, co-director of Turkeys Media and Law Studies Association, said the pandemic has extended the pre-trial detention periods for a number of media professionals, who face increased exposure to COVID-19 inside Turkish prisons, and that legal decisions should be delivered without compromising the health of jailed journalists. Its very early to reopen courts, in my view, but it doesnt mean that people in detention should remain there, Ok told Al-Monitor. There are many ways to hold hearings, such as with online interfaces and teleconference calls. In the coming days, Ok said he would head to the Caglayan Courthouse for five cases, including the final hearing of Turkish-German journalist Deniz Yucel, who is being tried in absentia. If the courts are open, we have to go we have to take the risk of joining the proceedings, Ok told Al-Monitor. According to Press in Arrest, which monitors press freedom trials, five journalists face court hearings this week in Turkey, including Huseyin Aykol, Reyhan Capan, Hazal Ocak, Rojhat Dogru and Onur Emre Yagan. Erol Onderoglu, the Turkey representative for Reporters Without Borders and Bianet media freedom rapporteur, said he would attend some of the trials this week but was concerned that coronavirus measures might restrict the observation of some cases. He also expressed concern for the ongoing detention of six journalists taken into custody amid the pandemic without the opportunity to stand trial due to COVID-19 precautions. The journalists, Baris Pehlivan, Hulya Kilinc and Baris Terkoglu of OdaTV; Ferhat Celik and Aydin Keser of the Yeni Yasam newspaper; and Murat Agirel of the Yenicag newspaper, were detained for reporting on the death of a Turkish intelligence officer in Libya and are expected to appear in court on June 24. Birgun columnist Erk Acarer is also a defendant in the trial but is currently abroad and not expected to attend the hearing. These six media representatives were all jailed in early March, but couldn't be released under coronavirus measures since the government exempted those prosecuted under anti-terror provisions, Onderoglu said, referring to a program that released 90,000 inmates to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in state penitentiaries but excluded political prisoners. Another two journalists, Muyesser Yildiz of OdaTV and Ismail Dukel of the TELE1 broadcaster, were detained on June 9 over Libya-related reporting and await hearings. In addition, Voice of America correspondent Arif Aslan was detained early Tuesday in Turkeys eastern province of Van for reporting on a protest march by the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party. Meanwhile, pressure continues on journalists and social media users sharing provocative information on COVID-19. According to Turkeys Interior Ministry, 510 social media users had been detained as of May 22 for baseless posts regarding the health crisis. The same statement noted a total of 1,105 suspects were being sought for their social media activity. At least 12 Turkish reporters have been taken into custody since March for their coverage of the pandemic, according to Onderoglu. Its not only journalists that have come under pressure during the pandemic, Ok told Al-Monitor. For example, doctors unions have come under legal pressure in Urfa, in Diyarbakir, in Van because they shared different data than the information shared by the state on COVID-19. The developments come as the daily rate of newly reported coronavirus cases in Turkey has risen to about 1,500 this week after previous restrictions were eased and weekend curfews ended on June 1. Health officials warn precautions may be reinstated if infection rates dont subside as the nation achieved relative success in containing the virus prior to the repeal of inter-city travel bans and the reopening of most public venues earlier this month. As of Tuesday, the Health Ministry reported 181,298 confirmed cases and 4,842 virus-related deaths in Turkey. In response to the recent uptick in infections, 42 of Turkeys 81 provinces have made wearing face masks mandatory in crowded public spaces. NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The particle size analysis market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03829225/?utm_source=PRN The global particle size analysis market size is projected to reach USD 465 million by 2025 from USD 356 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 5.5%. The growth of the market is attributed to increasing research activities in the field of nanotechnology, growing investments in pharmaceutical R&D, and stringent regulatory guidelines for product quality across industries. However, the heavy import duties on particle size analyzers in developing countries and limitations in particle characterization range are the major factors that are expected to restrain the growth of this market during the forecast period. The laser diffraction segment is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. Based on technology, the market is segmented into laser diffraction, dynamic light scattering, imaging, Coulter principle, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and other technologies. The laser diffraction segment accounted for the largest share of this market in 2019, driven by growing initiatives to create awareness about laser diffraction, increasing training conducted by companies, increasing R&D expenditure in the pharma and biotech sectors, and rising food safety concerns. The dynamic imaging segment is expected to hold a major share of the particle size analysis market during the forecast period. Based on type, the imaging market is segmented into two major typesdynamic imaging and static imaging. Factors such as high-quality/resolution images, better image recognition, user-friendliness, individual sample measurement, and high-speed analysis are driving the growth of the dynamic imaging segment. Europe to account for the second-largest share of the global market in 2019. The particle size analysis industry is segmented into five major regions, namely, North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.Europe accounted for the second-largest share of the global particle size analysis market in 2019. Growing R&D activity, technological advancements, and conferences & events are the key factors driving market growth in the region. Moreover, government support to develop innovative technologies for the analysis of nanomaterials are playing a vital role in the growth of the particle size analysis industry in Europe. A breakdown of the primary participants referred to for this report is provided below: By Company Type: Tier 142%, Tier 228%, and Tier 3 30% By Designation: C-level76%, Director-level10%, and Others14% By Region: North America40%, Europe30%, Asia Pacific22%, Latin America6%, and the Middle East & Africa2% The major players in the particle size analysis market include Malvern Panalytical (UK), HORIBA (Japan), Beckman Coulter, (UK), MICROTRAC MRB, (US), Izon Science (UK), Micromeritics Instrument Corporation (US), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), Sympatec (Germany), Anton Paar (Austria), TSI (US), Bettersize Instruments (China), FRITSCH (Germany), Brookhaven Instruments, (US), LS Instruments AG (Switzerland), and AimSizer (China), among others. Research Coverage This report studies the particle size analysis market based on technology, dispersion type, end user, and region.The report also studies factors (such as drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) affecting the market growth. It analyzes the opportunities and challenges in the market and provides details of the competitive landscape for market leaders. Furthermore, the report analyzes micromarkets with respect to their individual growth trends and forecasts the revenue of the market segments with respect to five main regions (and the respective countries in these regions). Reasons to Buy the Report The report will enable established firms as well as entrants/smaller firms to gauge the pulse of the market, which, in turn, would help them to garner a larger market share. Firms purchasing the report could use one or a combination of the below-mentioned strategies for strengthening their market presence. This report provides insights on the following pointers: Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on the product portfolios offered by the top players in the particle size analysis market Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on the upcoming trends, R&D activities, and product launches in the particle size analysis market Market Development: Comprehensive information on lucrative emerging regions Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, growing geographies, and recent developments in the particle size analysis market Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market segments, growth strategies, revenue analysis, and products of the leading market players. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03829225/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Autopsies of deceased Covid-19 patients are showing that the disease can damage their lungs to the point of being unrecognisable, a professor of cardiovascular science has said. Professor Mauro Giacca, of Kings College London, told a parliamentary Science and Technology Committee on Monday that he had examined the lungs, and other organs, of patients in Italy who had died after up to 40 days in intensive care. A complete disruption of the lung architecture and fused cells with a high concentration of the virus were found, said Prof Giacca, who also warned that Covid-19 had the potential to create real problems for survivors of the illness. This information is largely missing in the literature because there have not been autopsies around the world, he said. And what you can find in the lungs of people who have stayed with the disease for over a month before dying is something that is completely different from normal pneumonia, influenza, or even Sars-CoV-1. You see massive thrombosis. There is a complete disruption of the lung architecture in some lights you cant even distinguish that it used to be a lung. There are large numbers of very big fused cells which are virus positive with as many as 10, 15 nuclei. I am convinced this explains the unique pathology of Covid-19. This is not a disease caused by a virus which kills cells, which had profound implications for therapy. He added that anti-viral therapy might work in the early phases of the diseased but admitted it was unlikely to provide a cure for Covid-19 patients. Prof Giacca gave his evidence to the House of Lords committee alongside a number of other leading academics investigating Covid-19 and its effects. Sir John Bell, a professor of medicine at Oxford University who serves on the governments coronavirus taskforce, told peers he would be very surprised if the UK avoided a second wave of cases in the coming months. I think it is possible that we might not have a second wave, he said. But I think given the fact that the lockdown has now been largely released, were now back in action, and we have still, pretty rapidly declining, but a pretty reasonable level of infections in the community, I would be very surprised if we avoided the second wave. I think the real question is are we going to have a number of outbursts and then a second wave or are we just going to get a second wave. Sir John also revealed that additional trials for Oxford Universitys vaccine candidate were set to be conducted in Africa, saying that the continent was likely to reach its peak infections in July according to the current available data. Africa has yet to record the same number of cases and fatalities reported in Europe and the Americas, but Sir John said there are bad things still to come. He added: Id like to think there arent, but I worry about it. The committee also heard from Prof Adrian Hayday, the chair of the department of immunobiology at Kings College London, who said that the disproportionate effects of Covid-19 among black and minority ethnic communities in the UK could be linked to socio-economic factor. In studies of patients in London hospitals, black, African, Asian and minority groups show higher rates of admission to hospital, which shows they are more likely to have become infected under conditions where the virus dose is maybe high, he said. But once they are in hospital they do just as well as anybody. The hypothesis is they are disproportionately suffering from socioeconomic factors that make them more likely to receive high-frequency, high doses of infection. That is not to say the hypothesis is correct, but it is perfectly valid until proven otherwise. On Monday, authorities convicted a former California attorney of strangling and killing his ex-wife while they were on a cruise ship in the Meditteranean. The motive for the murder was allegedly due to financial disputes between the two parties. Thrown overboard Authorities placed the suspect, Lonnie Loren Kocontes, 62 years old, in special circumstances for suspicion of murder for financial gain. He is convicted for the death of his ex-wife, Micki Kanesaki, 52 years old. The crew of a research vessel discovered Kanesaki's body on May 28, 2006, in Mediterranean waters near Italy. According to NBC Los Angeles, the Senior Deputy District Attorney Susan Price said in her opening statement that Kanesaki was in the company of a man who no longer had emotional attachments to her but had stayed for financial reasons. If no one found Kanesaki's body, Price noted that there would be no knowledge that the victim was dead before she reached the water. Kocontes is charged with first-degree murder and would be locked behind bars for life with no chance of parole when judges sentence him in September. Prosecutors said that Kocontes murdered his wife on the cruise ship to receive more than one million dollars of funds from their accounts and the cost of selling the residence they owned in Ladera Ranch, as reported by US News. Kocontes was found to be divorced with Kanesaki, remarried with another woman, and quickly divorced before their meeting on the ship. He revealed that they had planned to reconcile and get married after the events of the cruise. Also Read: Mentally-Ill Mom 'Triggered' by Neighbor Shoots 4 Children Dead, Including 5-Month-Old Infant A hidden agenda The ex-attorney, however, schemed to kill Kanesaki and planned to make it look like an accident. After the murder, Kocontes returned to California and reported that his wife was missing. According to San Diego Union-Tribune, in 2008, Kocontes attempted to transfers one million dollars from their accounts to several others, sa explained by the US attorney's office. And in 2013, he was convicted and has been held in prison ever since. Kocontes said he had fallen asleep on the ship after taking a sleeping pill to find that his wife Kanesaki was gone. He denied the allegations that he killed his wife. Todd Spitzer, the Orange County District Attorney, said that Kocontes believed he committed a flawless crime by tossing Kanesaki's body into the water from the balcony of the cruise ship. However, he did not expect that strangling her before throwing her overboard gave prosecutors enough evidence to pin him for murder. Spitzer added that Kanesaki could not breathe underwater because she was already dead prior. When authorities discovered her body, medical experts ruled her cause of death asphyxiation and not drowning. Autopsy of Kanesaki's body found that her lungs showed no traces of water and found her neck to have severe hemorrhaging signs consistent with strangulation. Dr. Pietrantonio Ricci, the pathologist in charge of the autopsy, revealed that the victim also suffered a skull fracture or brain hemorrhage. Authorities also charged Kocontes with attempting to solicit Nguyen's murder while he was locked in prison, and the case is currently waiting for trial. Related Article: Rwanda Genocide: Mother Speaks About Her Crimes, Confidential French Documents Released @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The twin crises of coronavirus and systemic racism in policing have suddenly turned the national spotlight on local governments, and are forcing local leaders to make many of the most important decisions in the country. Between the lines: Elected city leaders many of whom do the jobs on a part-time basis certainly weren't prepared to respond to multiple crises at once. But they have no choice. Where it stood: For years, national narratives have dominated and overshadowed local agendas. National political fights have subsumed state and local issues, and with local media gutted, readers have been left primarily with national news from Washington and New York, with less understanding of their own communities. High-value industries consolidated along the coasts, draining the inland states of jobs and workers. And the economy's health has been measured with national statistics, often ignoring those being left behind. Where it stands: Now, though, local governments are calling the shots that will have far-reaching ramifications for Americans, from re-opening their economies amid the coronavirus pandemic, to reforming police departments and responding to protests. And they're back in the spotlight as a result. The crises facing cities are inherently local, requiring a detailed, block-by-block understanding of neighborhoods' needs. COVID-19 has affected communities of color at alarmingly high rates. Police are under fire for mistreating many of those same communities. And lower-income workers have borne the brunt of job losses as local economies have crumbled. "One consequence of this pandemic is the clear message that cities, and to some extent states, are on their own," said Peter Atwater, an adjunct lecturer at William & Mary who studies the impact of confidence in decision making. "It speaks to inequality broadly, and a sense of voicelessness that goes along with that. You have massive amounts of people unemployed, furloughed, in limbo. Psychologically, people are drowning," he said. What to watch: The power lies in grassroots momentum, applying pressure to leaders who are close enough to feel it. Syria to launch new offensive in Idlib as Turkey deadline passes Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 10:41 AM Syrian government forces have been preparing to launch an offensive against militants in Idlib after Turkey failed to live up to its commitments under a deal with Russia. A senior Syrian field source said the Syrian army has sent big military reinforcements to contact lines with armed terrorist groups in Idlib countryside after its positions came under frequent attacks by militant groups. The source told Sputnik Arabic that the movements of the militants have become "completely exposed to the monitoring units of the Syrian army". Government forces, the source said, had destroyed the militants' armored vehicles and military equipment and foiled their attempts to attack army positions over the past week. The source said an extended deadline given to Turkey by Russia in order to open the strategic M4 highway in Idlib in a peaceful manner had ended. "It seems that the Turks are not serious in dealing with this matter, and they could not at least control the armed groups," the source said, adding the Turkish military's aid to the militants still continues. Syria's government forces, the source said, are currently "putting the finishing touches to the military operation plan", in coordination with their allies. The Syrian army's next goal is to regain control over some strategic areas, including Jabal al-Zawiya in Idlib and the rest of al-Ghaab Plain in Hama countryside. The source declined to reveal the exact date for the start of the operation, but noted that "the Idlib offensive is just around the corner". Idlib is home to several anti-government militant outfits receiving Turkish support. Late last year, Syria launched an anti-terror operation against the foreign-sponsored militants after they failed to honor a de-escalation agreement between Ankara and Moscow. Idlib tensions mounted late in February after an airstrike by Syrian forces killed dozens of Turkish soldiers, whom Russia said were "in the battle formations of terrorist groups." Shortly afterwards, Ankara waged its fourth incursion into Syria, dubbed Spring Shield, which escalated Idlib tensions. Turkey has been manning a number of observation posts in Idlib since 2018, when it struck an agreement with Russia. On March 5, Russia and Turkey, which support opposite sides in the Syrian conflict, came to an agreement on a ceasefire regime in Idlib, where Turkish aggression against the Syrian government had risked starting a war. According to the agreement, joint Russian-Turkish patrols would secure a six-kilometer-wide corridor along the M4 highway connecting the two government-held provinces of Latakia and Aleppo. The ceasefire also consolidates Syrian control over the M5 highway which links the capital Damascus to the major cities of Hama, Homs, and Aleppo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Southeast Asian ride-hailing and payments firm Grab announced hundreds of job losses on Tuesday due to the impact of novel coronavirus. Southeast Asia's most valuable startup with a valuation of $14 billion, the SoftBank-backed company informed staff of the move at a townhall, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Singapore-based Grab would cut just under 5 per cent of its headcount, or about 360 employees, according to a note to employees from CEO Anthony Tan which was shared with Reuters. Tan said the company, which is active in eight countries, did not face ... Protesters stage a sit-in at Palmdale City Hall as organizers demand justice for Robert Fuller. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) When Malcolm Harsch, a 38-year-old Black man, was found hanging from a tree in Victorville two weeks ago, authorities said they saw no evidence of foul play. A week later, when Robert Fuller, another Black man, was discovered hanging from a tree in Palmdale, the initial cause of death was listed as suicide. But after protests and questions in the two deaths, the FBI announced Monday that it was examining both cases. Local authorities say both the Fuller and Harsch cases remain under investigation. For some, the specter of two Black men found hanging in separate High Desert communities in such a short time seemed suspicious. Here is what we know: Robert Fuller His body was found by a passerby at 3:39 a.m. Wednesday, a time when Fuller would never have been out, said Tommie Anderson, 21, a close friend since high school. For my best friend to be gone, its hurting me, said Anderson, who was wearing a T-shirt depicting one of Fullers favorite characters from the Japanese anime TV series Dragon Ball Z. Fuller was too large and too muscular for the thin tree to support his weight for long, she said. And he was too tall to hang from its lowest branches. For people to say he did this, this wasnt Robert, Anderson said. For him to tie himself to that tree, its not possible. Thousands protested this weekend at the park, with some describing racial incidents in the Antelope Valley and raising concerns over whether Fuller was lynched. This is really crazy to all of us, Fullers sister Diamond Alexander said. We want to find out the truth of what really happened. Everything that theyve been telling us has not been right. To be here, staring at this tree, it dont make no sense, Alexander added. My brother was not suicidal. My brother was a survivor. Malcolm Harsch The Victorville Fire Department discovered Harschs body May 31 after receiving a dispatch call around 7 a.m., officials said. When firefighters arrived at the library, they found Harsch hanging from a nearby tree. Story continues On Monday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department offered more details about what happened, saying deputies were were called to a homeless encampment regarding Harsch. "The caller said she and [her] boyfriend, later identified as Malcolm Harsch, had been together during the morning, but she had since returned to her tent for a short period of time. She was alerted by others in the encampment that Mr. Harsch was found hanging from a tree and cut down. People in the encampment were performing CPR, attempting to revive Mr. Harsch," the statement said. "Upon arrival, deputies immediately took over and continued CPR. Emergency medical personnel arrived on scene a short time later, and despite additional lifesaving efforts, pronounced Mr. Harsch deceased," officials added. An autopsy was conducted, and officials said they see no signs of foul play. But the investigation continues with help from the FBI. In a statement sent to the Victor Valley News, Harschs family members in Ohio said they find it hard to accept that his death was a suicide. They said that Harsch had recent conversations with his children about seeing them soon and that he did not seem to be depressed to anyone who knew him. The explanation of suicide does not seem plausible, the family wrote. There are many ways to die, but considering the current racial tension, a Black man hanging himself from a tree definitely doesnt sit well with us right now. We want justice, not comfortable excuses, they wrote. A wider investigation An FBI spokeswoman said Monday that the agency would monitor both probes. The FBI, U.S. attorneys office for the Central District of California and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division are actively reviewing the investigations into the hanging deaths of two African American men in the cities of Palmdale and Victorville to determine whether there are violations of federal law, she said. Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra announced that his office was sending independent investigators to Palmdale to review the sheriffs investigation and potentially conduct its own. He declined to say whether he believed local authorities were too quick to declare Fullers death a suicide but said he had been approached by a number of leaders in the Southern California area about the death. He also declined to say whether the Victorville hanging would also be investigated. Los Angeles County sheriffs homicide investigators plan to survey the Palmdale area for surveillance video, conduct a forensic analysis of the rope used in Fuller's death and research his medical history locally, as well as in Arizona and Nevada, where he had lived in the past, Capt. Kent Wegener said. Investigators also are working to interview Fullers case worker with the Department of Social Services, though they did not elaborate on why he had one, as well as his family and the witness who found him in the park. Theyre gonna stick to it till they get to the truth of what happened, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at a news briefing. File image live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Only about 5 percent officers of the proposed strength (around 1,500) have opted to join the new Specialised Supervisory and Regulatory Cadre (SSRC) of the Reserve Bank India (RBI). This lack of participation has pushed the fate of the new department into uncertainty. The cadre was formed on November 1 last year to strengthen and consolidate the supervision functions, presently scattered across different departments. But, there is a difference of opinion between top management and officers about the effectiveness of the new division. Officers believe the existing infrastructure needs to be strengthened through training instead of creating a new cadre. The central bank's plan was to bring in more accountability to the supervision department by making it directly responsible for failures in the supervisory functions, an official said on condition of anonymity. But since beginning, majority of the RBI officers were skeptical to join the division citing human resource (HR) problems, including chances of promotion and pay hike. The RBI had initially fixed January 31 as the deadline for officers to make a choice. But due to poor participation, the deadline was extended for another six months until July 31. Even though the second deadline is nearing, only a few officers have opted in so far. Also Read | In 2020, RBI has put 44 co-operative banks under watch. How deep is the rot? "Those who have opted have done it for their convenience. For example, if an officer is closer to retirement and looking for post-retirement opportunities, this makes sense Or, let's say, if they are new recruits in Grade B who have no idea about this cadre and the future," said the RBI official quoted above. Also Read | Very few takers among MFIs for RBI's second loan moratorium scheme Even the current deadline of July 31 is likely to be extended due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the official said. With the new department not taking off as planned, the RBI's supervision functions could continue in the existing manner. With majority officers staying away from the new cadre, there is also a possibility that the RBI's critical regulatory and supervisory functions, which are already facing challenges due to shortage of manpower, could suffer further. What is the need for a new cadre? On November 1, the RBI reorganised its regulatory and supervisory Departments. Till then the supervision of financial sector entities was undertaken through three separate departments, viz., Department of Banking Supervision, Department of Non-Banking Supervision and Department of Co-operative Bank Supervision. Similarly, the regulatory functions relating to financial sector entities were carried out through three separate departments, viz., Department of Banking Regulation, Department of Non-Banking Regulation and Department of Cooperative Banking Regulation. "With a view to having a holistic approach to supervision and regulation of the regulated entities so as to address growing complexities, size and inter-connectedness as also to deal more effectively with potential systemic risk that could arise due to possible supervisory arbitrage and information asymmetry, it has been decided to integrate the supervision function into a unified Department of Supervision and regulatory functions into a unified Department of Regulation with effect from November 01, 2019," RBI said. Why are officers unhappy? The RBI officers were unhappy with the structure of the new department, and cited HR issues such as mobility, lack of promotion opportunities and performance appraisal system. Besides, the RBI officers are concerned with the way recent promotions were done and with the performance management system, the official quoted above said. A few months back, the officers had indicated to the RBI management that it should reassess the formation of the unified cadre. Instead creating a new cadre, the RBI should strengthen the existing framework of banking regulation and supervision and train its officers, they said. But, the management does not concur with this view. A section of officers in the RBI feel that besides the HR issues, the creation of the new cadre will further reduce on-site inspection of financial entities, which is important to understand financial irregularities in the system. According to people in the know, the new cadre was created without consulting the officers. Critical for banking industry Having a strong regulation and supervision department at the RBI is important for the Indian banking sector, which has been ravaged by scams and financial irregularities. In 2018, government-owned lender, Punjab National Bank disclosed that it has been badly hit by Rs 14,000 crore financial fraud orchestrated by diamond merchant Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi. The PMC Bank episode happened in 2019 September when a large scale fraud was discovered by the RBI in the bank. Early this year, Yes Bank was forced to undergo a bail out by the RBI after the entity met a near financial failure hit by frauds and high bad loans. In view of the increasing instances of fraud in the banking sector, it is critical that the RBI sets its house in order in the supervision department. Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis Hollywood star Brad Pitt has donated $1 million to racial justice organisation, Color of Change, in the wake of African-American man George Floyds death in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US. The news comes almost a week after it was reported that Pitts former wife, actor Jennifer Aniston, has donated $1 million to the organisation after being deeply affected by Floyds death. Brad is really involved with the charity because of Jen and said he would match her donation. He went to the protests this week and was at her home the day after. They are both very passionate and want to help as much as they can, a source told Mirror.uk. Also read: Let Sushant Singh Rajput go in peace, Sonu Sood requests media; Anushka Sharma and Vikrant Massey call for sensitive coverage Color of Change is the largest online racial justice organisation in the US, working towards ending practices that unfairly hold black people back. Pitt and Aniston got married in 2000 in a private wedding ceremony in Malibu. They parted ways in 2005. Follow @htshowbiz for more For them, and myself, race is not an abstract topic to be debated, Petit wrote, so in my view anything that was built to represent white racial superiority, or named after someone that fought to maintain white supremacy (or the Southern economy of slavery) . . . should be removed from high trafficked areas of prominence and placed in museums where they can be part of lessons that put them in context. Apple faces a twin-pronged attack from European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager amid concerns the U.S. tech giant's App Store and Apple Pay services squeeze developers and potential rivals. Just four years after hitting Apple with a record-breaking tax bill, Vestager has switched her attention to the iPhone maker's market power. The EU will review whether Apple's app store violates competition law by requiring developers to accept a 30% commission for every sale on Apple's platform. Watchdogs will also examine how Apple limits "tap-and-go" functionality to its own Apple Pay product. "It appears that Apple obtained a 'gatekeeper' role when it comes to the distribution of apps and content to users of Apple's popular devices," Vestager said in a statement on Tuesday. "We need to ensure that Apple's rules do not distort competition in markets where Apple is competing with other app developers, for example with its music streaming service Apple Music or with Apple Books." The investigation is the latest in a growing list of EU probes into Silicon Valley, which have led to criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump. The EU last year wrapped up nearly a decade of probes into Google that racked up some $9 billion in fines. An investigation into Amazon.com is set to escalate in the coming weeks. Apple said that the EU is responding to complaints from rivals that "simply want a free ride, and don't want to play by the same rules as everyone else." "It's disappointing the European Commission is advancing baseless complaints from a handful of companies," Apple said in a statement. "At the end of the day, our goal is simple: for our customers to have access to the best app or service of their choice, in a safe and secure environment." Apple is already fighting Vestager's 2016 order to repay Ireland 13 billion euros ($14.7 billion) in unpaid taxes. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook called Vestager's decision "political crap" in a longer battle over how digital giants should be taxed in Europe. The latest EU probe targets a strategic area for company, which has gradually shifted focus from hardware to subscription-based services like Apple TV and Apple Music in search for other revenue streams. For the 2019 fiscal year ending September 28, 2019, revenues for Apple's services grew 16% to $46.3 billion but they but they were still a fraction of its overall sales of $260.2 billion. Apple says it welcomes competition on its app store and says other apps it competes with, including on television and podcasts, are also available on its platform. The iPhone giant says developers have earned more than $120 billion around the world from selling digital goods and services in apps distributed by Apple's store. Regulators are separately wrestling with how to act against online giants that critics say run a rigged game when they set the rules for platforms that also host their rivals. New laws on how online platforms should treat the companies they host will enter into force on July 1. Spotify last year complained that Apple unfairly squeezes its music streaming service with ever-changing rules and a large cut of sales on the app store. Such behavior gives an unfair advantage to Apple's own service Apple Music, it alleged. Spotify said the EU announcement made it "a good day for consumers" and called on the EU "to act with urgency to ensure fair competition on the iOS platform for all participants in the digital economy," according to an emailed statement from Spotify's top lawyer, Horacio Gutierrez, referring to Apple's operating system for mobile devices. The EU said it was also acting on a complaint filed in March from an e-book and audio book provider it didn't name. The Financial Times reported earlier Tuesday that Rakuten's Kobo unit complained to the EU. The app store probe will also examine Apple's curbs on developers telling users of other payment methods which may be cheaper, the EU said. Apple and Google also face a growing backlash against the toll they charge outside developers for using their app stores. The Apple Pay investigation will scrutinize Apple's terms and conditions for how Apple Pay is integrated into merchant apps and websites that run on Apple phones and tablets, saying these might distort competition and reduce choice and innovation. Apple Pay is the only mobile payment solution that can use so-called NFC technology for contactless payments in stores, it says. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 04:00:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah assured on Tuesday that Syria's allies will not allow the economic fall of the country as a result of U.S. new sanctions, Al Manar local TV channel reported. "Syria's allies will continue to support Syria facing its economic war with the United States. The Syrians have to be patient and cooperative during the tough time," Nasrallah said in a televised speech. U.S. new sanctions, named the Caesar Act, will take effect on Wednesday to target the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its allies. Nasrallah noted that the Syrian government has been preparing to contain the negative repercussions of the new sanctions, but Lebanon is not ready to face the impact as it suffers a dire economic and financial crisis. The Hezbollah leader said that the act will hurt Lebanon which relies mainly on its land borders with Syria for its exports to Arab countries. Nasrallah said that Syria presents big chance for Lebanese companies to participate in the reconstruction of the war-torn neighboring country. He also accused the United States of preventing Lebanon's access to U.S. currency. Enditem Albany, N.Y. Visitors will be allowed to return to hospitals and group homes across New York starting this week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday. Visits at hospitals can begin Tuesday, Cuomo said. Group homes certified by the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities can begin taking visitors Friday. Individuals hospitals and group homes will make the final decision on whether to allow visitors in their own facilities, Cuomo said. Hospitals choosing to allow visitors must follow all state guidelines, including time-limited visits, requiring protective equipment for visitors and conducting symptom and temperature checks. The state began a pilot program on hospital visits in May, which included St. Josephs Hospital Health Center in Syracuse. Groups homes must notify the state if they choose to allow visits and follow all guidelines. Visitors must wear masks and agree to symptom and temperature checks. RELATED: CNY autistic teen in group home cant understand why family stopped visiting The state Health Department is still studying whether to restart visits at nursing homes, Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said. For now, the risk remains too high, Cuomo said. The state first halted visits at hospitals, nursing homes and group homes in March to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Cuomo repeatedly acknowledged how difficult the restriction on visits was for hospital patients and others. But he said it was necessary to protect people particularly vulnerable to the virus, which tends to be more dangerous to those with underlying health problems. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Syracuse mom with coronavirus chooses hospice over ventilator: The finality of it Cuomo to bars, restaurants: If your crowds are too big, NY will yank liquor license Youth sports can restart in Central NY early next month, Cuomo says Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 About a half-dozen Democratic lawmakers are asking Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to authorize the Legislature to take up a bill aimed at strengthening the independence of law enforcement investigations into police shootings. The proposal would require public reports to the governor and attorney general when an officers use of force results in death or great bodily harm, and the state Department of Public Safety would investigate unless the department itself was involved in the incident. The legislation also outlines a process in which a local district attorney could ask the attorney general to appoint a special prosecutor to evaluate whether to bring charges. The bill calls for an impartial prosecutor. Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, an Albuquerque Democrat and retired law professor, said the new process would ensure a timely legal review when an officer uses fatal force or causes great bodily harm. It would standardize the process for investigating the use of force, she said, and make it easier for the public to track what happens. Families have to wait years for justice, she said of the current system. The legislation comes as Lujan Grisham prepares for a special session of the state Legislature dedicated largely to adjusting the state budget amid a potential $2 billion hit to annual revenue. But the governor has left open the possibility of adding other items to the agenda. The proposal announced Tuesday is sponsored jointly by Sedillo Lopez, Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, and Reps. Gail Chasey and Patricia Roybal Caballero, all Democrats from Albuquerque. Other Democratic lawmakers also spoke in favor of the bill during a news conference outside the Bernalillo County Courthouse in Downtown Albuquerque. The proposal comes amid protests throughout New Mexico and the nation against police brutality and racial injustice. Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, controls the agenda for the special session, which is scheduled to start Thursday. She is facing calls from Democrats to authorize legislation requiring police to wear cameras, banning chokeholds during arrests and revising state election laws to accommodate increased absentee voting. Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, said he is proposing a bill that would waive penalties for businesses that pay their gross receipts taxes late in 2020 a step he said would help companies survive after closures triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. TRENTON Justice for Murder Mike. Sixteen members of the Trenton-based Get Money Boys were arrested and hit with first-degree charges, linked to the murder of former homicide witness Michael Murder Mike Barnes, who was killed last year. Members were also involved in an attempted murder of a police officer that happened in February, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Tuesday. His office, with help from investigators throughout the region, also connected the group to several shootings and drug trafficking. Mayor Reed Gusciora called the takedown of the GMB gang announced ahead of Grewals town hall on gun violence in Trenton a big win in the fight against violence. Already, the capital city has had 15 murders not halfway through the year, putting it on pace for 30 homicides in what could become Trentons third-deadliest year on record. [Residents] should know the city is cooperating not only with the county but with the state to go after the worst criminals in the city. We are making every effort. This was one of the continuing operations that kept me up at night but paid off. Any time we get the bad guys off the street and take away the guns, thats a big win for Trenton. Charles Willis, 27, the leader of the alleged violent street gang, and 15 others are charged with first-degree racketeering. Willis, who is accused of recruiting minors to join his street gang, and 10 GMB members were also charged with crimes ranging from murder to conspiracy to commit murder. Willis father, Charles J. Willis, 49, of Lawrence, was hit with racketeering and drug offenses. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the state police, said the Willis-led GMB tore apart the capital city by actively recruiting impressionable young people to commit some of the atrocities. Barnes was shot in the face Dec. 27, on the 200 block of Commonwealth Avenue. Charged with having a role in his murder are: Willis, Davion Fenderson, 25, Shaiquan Hearns, 21, Bobby Hood, 28 and Jayshawn Fisher, 26. Fenderson is charged with murder while the others face counts of conspiracy to commit murder, Grewal said. Authorities said Willis and other GMB members specifically targeted Barnes, who once testified in the murder trial of Keith Wells-Holmes. Willis is accused of threatening Barnes life on social media and ordering the hit on Barnes, who survived several previous attempts on his life over the years. Fenderson is the accused triggerman. Before he was killed, the victim Barnes had been convicted of drug dealing and aggravated assault, among other things. He was one of several people charged in 2012 as part of Operation Gravedigger, an investigation by state and city police into weapon sales near funeral homes. Barnes admitted selling a handgun. Barnes earned the nickname Murder Mike from his time in the Sex, Money, Murder set of the Bloods street gang. He was a crucial witness for Mercer County prosecutors in the murder trial of Wells-Holmes, who was acquitted of gunning down Andre Corbett in January 2013 outside of an Oakland Street housing complex. Barnes was a formidable witness on the stand, involved in several terse exchanges with Wells-Holmes defense lawyer Caroline Turner, who dismissed him as a jailhouse snitch. During dramatic testimony, Barnes, who admitted his past meant he was no angel, picked out Wells-Holmes as the killer. Him, he said, pointing toward Wells-Holmes. Im 100 percent sure. During the murder trial, Barnes was escorted by a heavy police detail in and out of court each day, meant to protect him after an apparent attempt on his life. Willis was arrested at his Willingboro home June 2, along with girlfriend, Daysha M. Brown, 24. Detectives seized a defaced firearm with an illegal high-capacity magazine, which was within access of a toddler who lived there. Willis and Brown were hit with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, fourth-degree possession of a defaced firearm, and fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine. Willis also was charged with possessing a gun as a convicted felon. The street gang was linked to other shootings in Trenton over the last 10 months. The authorities said the violence was waged in the name of heroin and cocaine trafficking. with the Get Money Boys running much of the operation out of the Oakland Street apartments. Gang violence has taken the lives of too many young people in Trenton, and the Get Money Boys have been a major contributor to that violence, Grewal said. We will continue doing everything we can to make our capital city safe for its residents. But we also know that arrests alone wont stop the cycle of gang involvement, violence, and incarceration. That is why we plan to work closely with the community in the coming months to develop programs that have the power to turn young people away from the false glamour of gang life and show them a healthy and positive path forward. Hearns faces an attempted murder rap for allegedly shooting a man in the leg in the early morning of Sept. 17 on Lamberton Street. GMB members were also allegedly involved in the Feb. 20 attempted killing of a police officer. Hearns, Dion Battle, 28, and Yahonatan Salter, 28, were charged with Feb. 12 with attempted murder for allegedly shooting at a Hamilton Township Police officer, assigned to the State Police Crime Suppression Central Unit Task Force, who interrupted a shooting near West State and Parkside Avenue. The officer, who was in an unmarked vehicle, came under fire during a car chase with the shooting suspects but wasnt injured. The chase ended at the Oakland Park Apartments on Coolidge Avenue, where Hearns, Battle, Salter and Willis now charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder for trying to snuff out the two men who crashed their car allegedly opened fire on the cop, authorities said. Authorities seized three guns during the investigation. Armed with a warrant on May 31, detectives stormed a storage unit in Hamilton, where they discovered 254 bricks of heroin, enough for about 12,700 doses stamped Dope Dick and Fruit Loops. The storage unit was rented by Briana Blue, 22, of Princeton. Shes charged with racketeering, drug possession with intent to distribute conspiracy to distribute drugs, The same day, detectives seized another 130 heroin bricks with the same stamps from a car rented to Tre Whetstone, 26, of Trenton. In addition to racketeering, hes charged with drug offenses. Grewals office also linked five GMB members to a May 1 shooting on Sanhican Drive. Willis, Hood, David Williams, 28, Shawn Anderson, 21 and Zaire Jackson, 24 face charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in that shooting. Through this collaborative investigation, we charged 16 alleged members and associates of this violent gang with first-degree charges carrying lengthy prison sentences, said Veronica Allende, director of the Division of Criminal Justice. Each time we take down a dangerous gang like this one, we make Trenton safer for residents and for the law enforcement officers who work heroically every day to protect them. Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said the street gangsters threatened the capital citys hard-working, law-abiding citizens with their guns and drugs for too long. My office will continue to work with state and local law enforcement to arrest and prosecute those assaulting our cities with acts of violence, he said. Authorities also announced a range of charges against the following GMB members and associates: Frederick Eustsey, 45, of Ewing; John Colvin, 23, of Trenton; and a 17-year-old boy from Trenton. The unnamed teen was allegedly involved in the May 1 shooting on Sanhican Drive. Willis, Hearns, Salter, Battle, Colvin, and Fisher were served with the charges in jail while the remaining suspects were picked up starting June 5, authorities said. Attorneys for some of the defendants declined to comment or could not be reached. Hong Kong is the bridge between the world, Chinese mainland: HKEX chief Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/15 19:37:03 The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), one of the world's most important financial hubs, will continue to play its role as a bridge between the Chinese mainland and the world, Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEX) Chief Executive Charles Li Xiaojia said on Monday. The rising tension between the US and China, the two pillars of today's global order, is a key focus for international financial centers such as Hong Kong, Li said on his blog. The internationalization of the yuan and the opening of the Chinese mainland's financial markets might be slowed down by the COVID-19 public health crisis and the retreat of globalization, but the mainland is on an irreversible track to be more closely integrated with international markets, he said. "China and the rest of the world need each other." The HKEX Strategic Plan 2019-2021, unveiled in February 2019, centers on Chinese mainland growth, global connectivity and technology. "We are not only aiming to be the most important financial market leader in Asia, but we also aspire to remain the critical juncture where China embraces the world and the world embraces China," Li said. Hong Kong has advantageous foundations as an international financial hub in terms of operations and talent, and creating such a position is not an overnight thing, Chen Li, managing director at Beijing-based Chuancai Securities Research Institute, told the Global Times on Monday. "The HKEX is expected to play a growing role as more US-listed Chinese mainland companies obtain secondary listings in Hong Kong," said Chen. Chinese internet giant NetEase Inc. saw its shares rise strongly on its Hong Kong market debut on Thursday as the technology company became the second US-listed Chinese company to obtain a secondary listing in Hong Kong after Alibaba. As the Chinese mainland has been opening its financial markets wider this year to foreign players, more Hong Kong-based companies could seek development chances in the mainland, said Chen. The Stock Connect program has enjoyed great popularity with investors, with daily northbound trading at 78 billion yuan ($11 billion) on average in the first quarter of 2020, and HK$21.6 billion ($2.79 billion) for southbound trading, according to the Xinhua News Agency. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As protests against police brutality continue across the United States, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea announced on Monday that the department would move to end the use of plainclothes anti-crime units moving over 600 of these officers to other assignments including neighborhood policing. I would consider this in the realm of closing one of the last chapters of stop, question and frisk, Shea told reporters on Monday. The relocation of the units, which constitute just under 2% of the departments uniformed workforce, will begin effective immediately and will disperse the officers between the detective bureau, neighborhood policing and other assignments, Shea said. When you look at the number of anti-crime officers that operate within New York City, and you look at a disproportionate, quite frankly, percentage of complaints and shootings and they are doing exactly what was asked of them, Shea said. Touting the move, among other recently-passed reforms, as a seismic shift in the culture of how the NYPD polices this great city," Shea said the decision was not a reflection of the police officers on the ground, but rather a policy decision made as an effort to move forward and change how we police in this city. We can do it with brains, we can do it with guile we can move away from brute force, Shea said. However, Shea noted that the resolution is not without risk," and questioned whether the decision would result in fewer firearms being taken off the streets. Still, he said the risk is squarely on my shoulders. PBA President Patrick Lynch was critical of Sheas announcement. Anti-Crimes mission was to protect New Yorkers by proactively preventing crime, especially gun violence. Shooting and murders are both climbing steadily upward, but our city leaders have clearly decided that proactive policing isnt a priority anymore," Lynch said. "They chose this strategy. They will have to reckon with the consequences. Plainclothes cops will still be utilized for narcotics and surveillance units, according to Shea. WATCH LIVE as @NYPDShea updates New Yorkers on recent events. https://t.co/UsdAkmGPuk NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) June 15, 2020 The NYPDs decision comes after weeks of protests following the death of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis after officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Chauvin has since been fired, and arrested and charged in Floyds killing. Floyd could be heard on video saying I cant breathe while being pinned on the pavement the same words spoken by Eric Garner in Tompkinsville six years earlier when plainclothes officer Daniel Pantaleo wrestled Garner, 43, to the ground and applied a banned chokehold during an arrest for allegedly selling loose cigarettes. Pantaleo was fired from the NYPD in 2019 following a department trial. On Monday, Shea recognized the reforms aimed at improving department transparency made at both the state and city level. We welcome reform, but we also believe that meaningful reform starts from within," Shea said. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that he will be signing three bills related to officer weapon discharges, police and court data on arrest demographics, and requirements that officers lend mental and medical health aid to detainees who require it, in addition to a four-bill package he signed Friday. The governor also signed an executive order Friday requiring about 500 local police agencies across New York to engage the community, and implement a plan by April 1, 2021 that addresses police reform. What we do in New York is we take the outrage, and we seize the moment, Cuomo said. Its about people wanting change. Well, New York will be the place that actually makes the change. We need to support our police. Common ground can be found in safety, law and order, education, and community support and social services. There is no unity to be found in demonizing and vilifying any group of public servants. Public service is extremely difficult and often low-paying. Front-line public safety responders including police, fire, and medical personnel work in tandem because threatening situations and emergencies are never predictable. It is said that you do not need the police until you need the police. Emergencies and crime threaten our well-being, mentally and physically, and often our survival. Calls for defunding the police and eliminating qualified immunity portend a grave path of unintended consequences. Public officials and employees are generally offered immunity from personally being sued when working in an official capacity. But this is qualified based on conduct within the bounds of established statutory or constitutional rights. Denigrating the police and dismantling funding and protections afforded these public servants will drive a mass exodus from the law enforcement profession. It takes courage to rise above blaming the police for our societal failures, which decay the fabric of our culture, families, and communities. As with educators and social workers, public safety professionals are increasingly responsible for dealing with these challenges. Which public sector group will be the next to blame after the police are neutered? Solutions lie in finding the courage to increase opportunity and prosperity within our communities, rooted in mutual responsibility and respect. Division and destruction lead to more chaos. If the police are not safe, nobody is safe. Whom are you going to call? 'Woke' Gospel on race relations in light of George Floyd compromises biblical teaching: scholar Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An Anglican scholar is warning that amid ongoing political developments related to racial injustice in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, Christians are embracing a compromised Gospel as it relates to race. In a Thursday essay at First Things, author and scholar Gerald McDermott of Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama, wrote that in light of recent turmoil many parishioners and church leaders are "adopting a race narrative that is empirically and theologically suspect." Whatever their denomination, many of these leaders are now opining that the United States is structurally or systemically racist and are shifting their ministry efforts to address racism, he said. Under the influence of what is known as Critical Race Theory, many white Christians are eager to display their virtue by confessing their white privilege. But this posture deserves greater theological scrutiny, he said. "Paul said, 'From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.' He saw other people as present or potential members of the 'new creation': 'The old has passed away and the new has come,' McDermott observed, referencing 2 Corinthians 5:1617. "The new creation, wrote John, is made up of people 'from every nation (ethnous), tribe, people, and language'" he added, citing Revelation 7:9. "Nations (ta ethne) in the New Testament world were often multiracial, like the United States, but typically united by a common culture. The early church recognized that culture was rooted not in skin color but in religious cultus." McDermott is editor of the forthcoming book Race and Covenant: Retrieving the Religious Roots for American Reconciliation. When the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 3 that "in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek" he was speaking about how Jesus brings unity based on religion, not race because Greeks and Jews come in many colors and that skin color is skin deep, McDermott noted. The only two "races," in the minds of the Apostles, were old creation and new creation. "But the apostles went much further, teaching that the work of Jesus does not destroy the old creation unity of the one human race but redeems it and brings it to its God-given destiny by the power of the Spirit. Grace perfects nature through the preaching and sacraments of the Church: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation," and our unity in creation is transformed into the image [of Christ] from one degree of glory to another, he said, again citing 2 Corinthians. Yet in the 1970s, liberal Protestant denominations in the U.S. began trying to diversify clergy and congregations by employing quotas and teachings on systemic racism, he said, and many parishioners felt as though they were required to confess sins of previous generations as though they were culpable themselves. This theological shift has been a significant contributing factor in the decline of mainline Protestantism, he went on to say, and today evangelicals have been signaling similar signs. "[T]he new anti-racism has become a new religion with its own original sin (white racism), baptismal liturgy (confession of whiteness), and new birth (to wokeness). But there is no redemption, and its ethic encourages people to practice what Jesus condemned, 'Do not judge, lest you too be judged' (John 7:1). It imputes motives to others based on skin color bad motives to one skin color and good motives to other colors. This is racism by another name. It is also sinful judgment," he said. The death of George Floyd sparked worldwide protests bolstered by a resurgent Black Lives Matter movement. The BLM organizational apparatus first appeared on the scene in 2013. President of the Southern Baptist Convention J.D. Greear endorsed the black lives matter movement as a Gospel issue to members of the world's largest Baptist denomination Wednesday, but he denounced the BLM organization because of its stated political beliefs, which include the denuclearization of the family. I realize that the movement and the website have been hijacked by some political operatives whose worldview and policy prescriptions would be deeply at odds with my own, but that doesnt mean that the sentiment behind it is untrue. I do not align myself with the Black Lives Matter organization, Greear said. 16.06.2020 LISTEN Science, technology and innovation will be at the heart of Africas recovery from the devastating coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the continents ability to create sustainable jobs, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Vera Songwe, said Monday. In remarks at the beginning of a five-day virtual COVID-19 Africa Innovation and Investment Forum 2020, Ms. Songwe said Africa needs innovations to drive homegrown solutions out of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recession it has triggered the world over. We need investments in innovation, science and technology to understand how we can protect our citizens and also as a way of growing out of this crisis. STI will be at the heart of Africas recovery and its ability to create sustainable jobs that is why for a very long time ECA has been talking of the importance also of intellectual property rights to protect the innovations of Africas youth, she said. Ms. Songwe said the current costs of IP registrations on the continent were prohibitive and not rewarding innovation. This is not a strategy for growth, said the ECA Executive Secretary, adding; As we talk of science, technology and innovation, we also need to make sure that our policymakers ensure that our technological platforms are robust. This virus has highlighted the importance of science, technology and innovation and the need for Africa to build a much stronger, much more collaborative scientific technology industrial base, said Ms. Songwe, adding partnerships were needed across the continent to ensure that as we build on the African Continental Free Trade Area, we develop, discover and innovate collaboratively. Ms. Songwe said Africa also needs to come together to see how it can be part of the big drive to find a vaccine for COVID-19 and other diseases affecting the continent. If Africa is to succeed in getting out of this crisis in a sustainable way, technology is going to have to be the cornerstone of that success, she said, adding the continent needs to innovate collectively and support its youth to innovate by creating the necessary infrastructure to create quality jobs, spur economic growth and promote health. Ms. Songwe said it was unacceptable that only 25 percent of Africa's population has access to quality, affordable and reliable broadband. We surely can do more to improve internet penetration on the continent, especially as a lot of jobs and wealth are going to come out of innovation, she said. Ethiopias Education Minister, Mr. Getahun Mekuria; the African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, Ms. Sarah Anyang Agbor; and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations Hubert Gijzen, also spoke in the opening session emphasizing the importance of STI to the African continent at this particular time. Africa has a lot of assets. Be it its vast natural resources or its youth but we will continue to lag exponentially behind if we do not fuel our own innovations, said Mr. Mekuria. Ms. Agbor said lack of capacity was a major issue the continent needs to address. We need to boost strategic investments in STI if we are to deliver Africas aspirations as enunciated in Agenda 2063, she said, adding the private sector had a key role to play in helping the continent translate research into innovation. For his part, Mr. Gijzen, Regional Director and Representative for the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, said; We are so focused on combating the coronavirus at the moment but we should not forget that sustainable development goals. The SDGs should remain our compass even as we fight the pandemic. He said the crisis had, however, encouraged open science as the search for a cure and vaccination continues. He added that linking investment to innovation was critical. For his part, Mr. Daan du Toit, Deputy-Director General, International Cooperation and Resources in the Department of Science and Innovation in South Africa, said Africa should do all it can to use STI to bolster growth in the aftermath of COVID-19, adding it was very much about involving the young people. The Forum is being convened by the ECA, UNESCO and South Africas Department of Science and Innovation in partnership with the African Union Commission and Engineering for Change. Karm Gilespie was sentenced to death last week after being caught with more than 7.5kgs of meth at Guangzhou airport in southern China in 2013 A former Australian actor turned wealth manager convicted of smuggling meth into China spent five years languishing in jail between his two-day trial and the handing down of his death sentence. Karm Gilespie - who had a recurring role on popular drama Blue Heelers in the 1990s - was arrested on New Year's Eve 2013 at Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou in China's south with more than 7.5kgs of the drug in his luggage. The 56-year-old's lawyer Zou Jianhong said his client faced a trial lasting just one-and-a-half days across late 2014 and early 2015 before the June 10 ruling in the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court. The revelation of his prolonged legal process comes as Chinese state-owned newspaper The Global Times issued a fierce defence of the 'just' and fair' ruling and accused the Australian government of 'disregarding rule of law' for criticising the sentence. Mr Gilespie had not been heard of in the years since he was taken into custody and authorities in China have made no mention of his case or arrest until last week. Mr Zou said Mr Gilespie - originally from Ballarat - had pleaded not guilty to the smuggling charge and that he would be challenging the decision, ABC News reported. The court's sentence was a 'first instance' ruling and can be appealed to higher jurisdictions. Friends of Mr Gilespie, 56, have meanwhile expressed their shock at the news and told how they had been trying to find out information about his whereabouts since 2013 without luck. American entrepreneur Roger Hamilton posted a statement on Facebook telling how he had last seen Mr Gilespie in 2013 at a financial forum, before he 'disappeared'. CHINA'S LATEST BRUTAL ATTACK OF AUSTRALIA OVER KARM GILESPIE'S DEATH SENTENCE On Sunday, state-owned newspaper The Global Times claimed Australia had 'disregarded rule of law' in a defiant justification of a 'just' and 'fair' death sentence verdict. 'China is determined to crack down on drug trafficking in strict accordance with law, which should be respected and not intervened by Australia. Drug smuggling is a very serious and harmful crime that should be dealt with harshly,' the article read. 'Some Australian media outlets quoted positive comments about Gilespie from his acquaintances, describing this verdict as unfair and inhumane. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 22. On Sunday state-owned newspaper The Global Times claimed Australia had 'disregarded rule of law' in criticising China's decision to sentence Mr Gilespie to death 'They deliberately ignored the fact that the man they are defending is a drug trafficker who was arrested at Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou with 7.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in his check-in luggage.' The strongly-worded piece also repeated claims the publication has made in recent months Australia is acting 'as a pawn of the US in confronting China' during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'If Australia refuses to face up to the issue and correct its policy, it will completely lose its appeal to Chinese students. It's time for Australia to face up to reality and be able to tell right from wrong,' the article finished. Advertisement The 56-year-old's lawyer Zou Jianhong said his client faced a trial lasting just one and a half days over 2014 and 2015 - before a five-year wait for sentencing Mr Gilespie spent languishing in jail (pictured) His friend Roger Hamilton (left) posted a statement on Facebook telling how he had last seen Mr Gilespie (second from left) in 2013 at a financial forum (pictured), before he 'disappeared' Mr Gilespie was sentenced to death in China for drug smuggling, almost seven years after he was arrested 'This is a photo of Karm Gilespie (in the red shirt) graduating from our WD Masters 7 years ago. Soon after, Karm disappeared,' Mr Hamilton wrote. 'He had been an active member of our community, encouraging others to be the best they could be. He was always there for others, which was why it was so strange that he suddenly disappeared. 'He had been an active member of our community, encouraging others to be the best they could be. He was always there for others, which was why it was so strange that he suddenly disappeared. 'Today I heard the news of what had happened to him. He has been in a Chinese jail for seven years and has now been sentenced to death. 'This is an Australian citizen who has been kept secretly in jail by a foreign government for seven years before being sentenced to death with no due process.' It is understood Mr GIlespie is married and has several children. The news comes at a time when diplomatic ties between Australia and China are at an almost all time low, after Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured with foreign minister Marise Payne) called for an inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Daily Mail Australia they were providing consular assistance. 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the verdict made in his case. Australia opposes the death penalty, in all circumstances for all people,' a spokesperson said. 'We support the universal abolition of the death penalty and are committed to pursuing this goal through all the avenues available to us.' Mr Gilespie (right) had a recurring role on popular 1990s drama Blue Heelers before moving into wealth and financial management, which led him to spend an increased amount of time in Asia Local news outlet Ifeng.com reports that he was sentenced to death on June 10, but will now have an opportunity to appeal. 'On the morning of June 10, the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court made a first-instance judgment on the smuggling of drugs by the Australian defendant and sentenced him to death for the crime of drug smuggling,' the Chinese site said. The news comes at a time when diplomatic ties between Australia and China are at an almost all time low, after becoming increasingly strained during the coronavirus pandemic. Chinese President Xi Jinping was angered by the calls for an inquiry into his nation's handling of the virus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan Australian and New Zealand citizen Peter Gardner (pictured) has also been in a Chinese prison since 2015 on drugs charges Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19, angering his Chinese counterparts. A number of Australians are currently being detained in China, including a fellow convicted drug smuggler Peter Gardiner. Mr Gardiner, a joint Australian and New Zealand citizen, has been behind bars since 2015 after he was caught allegedly trying to smuggle 30kg of methamphetamine into the country. Mr Gardner was stopped at Gangzhou airport in November 2014 and arrested with his then girlfriend Kalynda Davis. Gardner, then 26, is accused of attempting to board a flight to Sydney with two suitcases which were superglued shut and allegedly contained the drugs. Chinese authorities claim it is the largest haul of drugs ever recorded at the airport. The Guangzhou (pictured) Intermediate People's Court handed down the sentence on June 10 Two Canadians were handed death sentences by China in 2019 amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Canadian citizen Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was handed death sentence after a retrial in January 2019. Fan Wei was sentenced to death in the Jiangmen Intermediate People's Court in Guangdong province three months later. Canada accused the Chinese government of payback after Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver on behalf of the United States. The United States had accused him of working to evade sanctions against Iran. He is being detained under house arrest in Canada and fighting extradition to the United States. BUA Group has described the publication of Dangote Group wherein it stated that BUA misinterpreted the fact about a pending court case as untrue and laden with fraught misrepresentations. A statement by BUA Group explained that Dangote, in its hurry to twist facts, failed to justify the alleged misinterpretation in its publication but stylishly stated that it has appealed the judgement whilst accepting the recent court order, which granted BUA the right to peaceful possession and operations of three of its mining sites in Obu, Okpella in Edo State. In the said publication by Dangote Group, it was alleged that the initial publication of the BUA Group was riddled with misrepresentations and deliberate distortions of facts. We however note that the Dangote Group failed to identify any specific fact, which was distorted. On the contrary, the Dangote Group reiterated the fact that the judgment of the Court indeed restrained DIL and the other Respondents, as contended by BUA, albeit stating that the judgment of the Court constitutes complete aberrations and contains manifests contradictions; and it has exercised its legal right to appeal the decision of the Court. Whilst we consider this attempt to disparage the Court on the pages of print media as an affront, we shall not be joining issues with the Dangote Group, as we are of the view that the Court can protect itself and DIL reserves the right to appeal the decision of the Court. The Dangote Group also questioned the right of BUA to institute the BUA Fundamental Right Suit on the basis that it was a clear abuse of court process as there are two other pending suits the BUA Suit and Suit No. FHC/B/CS/74/2016: Dangote Industries Limited & Anor. v. BUA International Limited & Ors (Dangote Suit). This is notwithstanding that the Dangote Group itself ironically commenced the Dangote Suit during the pendency of the BUA Suit. Moreover, it is trite law that any fundamental right suit is an independent claim, which does not impede a pending dispute. In this instance, the suit was deemed necessary in view of Dangote Groups use of the Nigeria Police Force to disrupt the possessory right of BUA Group and to safeguard the lives of BUA Groups employees. Indeed, Court confirmed this in the BUA Fundamental Rights Suit where it was stated: that the 1st and 2nd Respondents (Police) allowed themselves to be used by the 3rd and 4th Respondents (DIL and Dangote Cement) It is imperative to note that the Dangote Groups use of the Nigeria Police Force to disrupt BUAs operations was done brazenly after DIL had applied to Court for a restraining order against BUA in Suit No. FHC/B/CS/74/2016, which was granted ex parte, but set aside by the Court upon a robust challenge by BUA. Interestingly, the Dangote Group did not deny resorting to self-help in its publication. It is our contention that no one should be above the law, no matter how highly placed, powerful or influential as the rule of law is the pillar and foundation of any democracy. BUA further corrected Dangote on it claim that BUA was granted its mining lease from the Governor of Edo State restating that the authority to grant a mining license is within the sole jurisdiction of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development through the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, which granted the BUA licenses. BUA also dismissed Dangotes claim to BUAs mining sites in Edo as absurd and frivolous as Dangotes mining license was granted under Kogi State while BUA licenses and mining sites respectively cover and are located in Obu, Okpella in Edo State. With respect to the Dangote Groups interpretation of the consequence of its Appeal of the decision of the Court, it is trite law that an Appeal does not amount to a stay of execution, and the Dangote Group is only being mischievous by suggesting that BUA is refrained from taking benefit of the judgment, which was in BUAs favor. As held by the Supreme Court in the case of Tai Ajomale v. Yuduat and Anor (1991) All N.L.R. 197: The successful litigant is prima facie entitled to the fruits of the judgment in his favour, it is expressly provided in Section 24 of the Supreme Court Act, 1960, that an appeal does not operate as a stay of execution. The Courts have also reiterated the position of law in the case of Enabulele v. Agbonlahor (1994) 5 NWLR (PT. 342) 112 at P125, where it was held that: It is trite law that under Section 18 of the Court of Appeal Act, 1976, the filing of a Notice of Appeal does not operate as a stay of execution since the Court will not normally deprive a successful party of the fruits of his successful litigation BUA Group will not join issues with Dangote as the intention of its publication was to inform its shareholders and other stakeholders of the judgment of the Federal High Court which granted BUAs and not commence a media trial. According to the statement titled: RE: BUA OBU MINES, OKPELLA EDO STATE, it read: We read with dismay the publication by the Dangote Group which purports to set the records straight with regards to the earlier publication of the BUA group on the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/B/CS/101/2017: BUA v. IGP & Ors. (BUA Fundamental Right Suit), which restrains Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) and other Respondents in the suit from interfering in BUA Groups mining sites in Obu, Okpella, Edo State. In the said publication by Dangote Group, it was alleged that the initial publication of the BUA Group was riddled with misrepresentations and deliberate distortions of facts. We however note that the Dangote Group failed to identify any specific fact, which was distorted. On the contrary, the Dangote Group reiterated the fact that the judgment of the Court indeed restrained DIL and the other Respondents, as contended by BUA, albeit stating that the judgment of the Court constitutes complete aberrations and contains manifests contradictions; and it has exercised its legal right to appeal the decision of the Court. Whilst we consider this attempt to disparage the Court on the pages of print media as an affront, we shall not be joining issues with the Dangote Group, as we are of the view that the Court can protect itself and DIL reserves the right to appeal the decision of the Court. Paradoxically, the Dangote Groups publication was fraught with untrue statements, which it touted as the facts of the matter in an attempt to misinform the general public. Accordingly, we seek to clarify the fallacies as follows: Title to Mining Sites The Dangote Group alleged that BUA claims to have been granted its mining licenses from the Governor of Edo State. In this regard, it is imperative to note that BUA has never contended that the Governor of Edo State granted its licenses, as the authority to grant a mining license is within the sole jurisdiction of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development through the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, which granted the BUA licenses. Further, both the Hon. Minister of Mines and Steel Development and the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office are defendants in Suit No. FHC/B/CS/7/2016: BUA International Limited & Anor. v. Hon. Minister of Mines and Steel Development (BUA Suit), wherein BUA asserts its legal and beneficial ownership of the mining sites. Further, the Dangote Group explicitly asserted that BUA does not have any right to the mining sites on the basis of the response of the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office to BUAs application to renew its licenses. Needless to say, the Director-Generals ministry and parastatal are also Defendants in the BUA Suit pending in Court and the reaction is therefore not surprising. We wish to state clearly that the mining license granted to Dangote Group explicitly states that the location is in Kogi State, Nigeria, while the BUA licenses and mining sites respectively cover and are located in Obu, Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria. The Dangote Groups attempt to lay claim to mining sites not within a geographical area covered by its license is therefore ludicrous. The general public is therefore advised that Dangote Groups claims are nothing but an attempt to unilaterally determine the outcome of the very matter the Court has been approached to determine in Suit No. FHC/B/CS/7/2016 - BUA Suit, which is still pending. Legal Precedence The Dangote Group also questioned the right of BUA to institute the BUA Fundamental Right Suit on the basis that it was a clear abuse of court process as there are two other pending suits the BUA Suit and Suit No. FHC/B/CS/74/2016: Dangote Industries Limited & Anor. v. BUA International Limited & Ors (Dangote Suit). This is notwithstanding that the Dangote Group itself ironically commenced the Dangote Suit during the pendency of the BUA Suit. Moreover, it is trite law that any fundamental right suit is an independent claim, which does not impede a pending dispute. In this instance, the suit was deemed necessary in view of Dangote Groups use of the Nigeria Police Force to disrupt the possessory right of BUA Group and to safeguard the lives of BUA Groups employees. Indeed, Court confirmed this in the BUA Fundamental Rights Suit where it was stated: that the 1st and 2nd Respondents (Police) allowed themselves to be used by the 3rd and 4th Respondents (DIL and Dangote Cement) It is imperative to note that the Dangote Groups use of the Nigeria Police Force to disrupt BUAs operations was done brazenly after DIL had applied to Court for a restraining order against BUA in Suit No. FHC/B/CS/74/2016, which was granted ex parte, but set aside by the Court upon a robust challenge by BUA. Interestingly, the Dangote Group did not deny resorting to self-help in its publication. It is our contention that no one should be above the law, no matter how highly placed, powerful or influential as the rule of law is the pillar and foundation of any democracy. With respect to the Dangote Groups interpretation of the consequence of its Appeal of the decision of the Court, it is trite law that an Appeal does not amount to a stay of execution, and the Dangote Group is only being mischievous by suggesting that BUA is refrained from taking benefit of the judgment, which was in its favor. As held by the Supreme Court in the case of Tai Ajomale v. Yuduat and Anor (1991) All N.L.R. 197: The successful litigant is prima facie entitled to the fruits of the judgment in his favour, it is expressly provided in Section 24 of the Supreme Court Act, 1960, that an appeal does not operate as a stay of execution. The Courts have also reiterated the position of law in the case of Enabulele v. Agbonlahor (1994) 5 NWLR (PT. 342) 112 at P125, where it was held that: It is trite law that under Section 18 of the Court of Appeal Act, 1976, the filing of a Notice of Appeal does not operate as a stay of execution since the Court will not normally deprive a successful party of the fruits of his successful litigation We shall refrain from further joining issues on this particular matter as the intention of our initial publication was to inform our shareholders and other stakeholders of the judgment of the Federal High Court and not to commence a media trial with the Dangote Group. There are many byproducts of the COVID-19 pandemic that are affecting all walks of life, and harness racing has had no immunity to the disruptions of normal life. Almost every racetrack in North America was shut down for the better part of three months, and harness tracks in particular fared worse in terms of shutdowns than other breeds. New health and safety protocols have been put in place at all tracks, and in most cases that has led to new limits on capacities, and distancing requirements of both horses and horsepeople on the backstretch at most tracks. Running Aces is no different, and when you factor in the idea that the north-metro Minnesota track already had an under-abundance of stall space to meet yearly demand and interest of trainers seeking to race at the track, the COVID-19 challenges of 2020 was making it tougher than ever to meet that demand for stalls at the raceway. Many trainers have found a solution in a quaint little town about 80 miles away from Running Aces and across the Wisconsin border where you can find a great half-mile fair track at the Barron County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are located in the town of Rice Lake, which has a population of roughly 9,000 and a rich history in harness racing that dates back to the 1800s. In fact, the main racehorse barn was built late in that century, and is currently listed as the oldest standing building in Barron County. And while that historic barn and the fairgrounds have played host to many famed Wisconsin harness racing stables, it has not been as busy as it has been this summer since the very early 2000s. Many of the locals in Rice Lake enjoy walking on the fairgrounds property and love to see all of the racehorses on the track and on the grounds, and many have expressed their delight in seeing so much activity at the barns this summer. Bordogna, pictured setting a new trotting state and track record (1:59.1) at Rice Lake on June 6, 2020 when the Wisconsin track hosted a Minnesota early race meet. The operation of the racetrack and barns at Rice Lake is looked after by Patty Strand, along with Dave Hofacker and Kenny Kolzow. They also operate the harness racing meet during the Barron County Fair which typically runs for five days in mid-July, but will not take place this year due to the pandemic. Strand is also in her second year as executive secretary of MHRI, which is the organization that represents harness horsepeople in Minnesota. Despite the cancellation of the 2020 fair, Strand and her colleagues at Rice Lake were able to bring some official harness racing action to their highly-praised track surface when they hosted the Minnesota early race meets over two weekends from May 30 to June 6. The dashes helped Minnesota-bred and -based trotters and pacers, as well as some Wisconsin hopefuls and others, to get ready for the Running Aces meet. It was a successful undertaking, and the card on Saturday, June 6 saw a new trotting track and state record set when four-year-old trotting horse Bordogna (who was driven by Rick Magee) glided across the racetrack with a 1:59.1 victory for owners Cathy Dessert of Minnesota and Badger State native Ken Stauffer. Bordogna also holds a track record at Running Aces, and the Rice Lake track also has the state pacing record of 1:56.3, which was set on July 20, 2017 by another Running Aces star, PV Miracle Mary (Rick Magee). PV Miracle Mary is owned by Joe Casagranda, of Michigan. PV Miracle Mary was four at the time of his record mile. This season, there are 70 racehorses that are making their homes at Rice Lake, from about nine or ten different trainers. The roster includes Quentin and Kimberley Schneider, Richard Schneider, Melinda Smith and Darryl and Jacob Cutting, Chris Scicluna and Pat Berry, Jenna Cornelison, Greig Watson, Chris Frenzel and Amy Wetzel, Gary and Michael Magee and Tony Succarotte. Most of the 70 Standardbreds stabled at Rice Lake this summer will be racing at Running Aces. The Standardbreds will make the 80-mile trip on race days, which many would say can be a tedious routine when you factor in the idea that you have to be checked into the grounds at Running Aces by 8:00 a.m. to race. Although, the overwhelming sentiment this summer is that the advantages and amenities at Rice Lake far outweigh any disadvantages of the one hour and 40 minute commute to the track. Horses at Rice Lake get to enjoy lots of wide open space, with turnouts, paddocks and plenty of green grass, and the track surface has always been considered top notch. When you visit Rice Lake for the fair on any given year, you can always feel the excitement in the air for harness racing. While the pandemic may have taken away the fair this year, nothing can take away the excitement for harness racing -- certainly not this year, and certainly not at the little track. Rice Lake has teamed with Running Aces hopefuls and harness racing is alive and strong at the historic Barron County Fairgrounds. (Running Aces) Amid challenges imposed by the pandemic, the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation agreed to treat Salma's rare cardiovascular disease, bringing a smile of hope in times of fear and uncertainty In a tiny room in the heart of beautiful Aswan in Upper Egypt, a smile returns to Salmas face and the faces of her mother and family. Born with a serious heart defect called ALCAPA (Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery), which escalates relatively quickly to a serious condition if left untreated, Salma's future was shrouded in uncertainty and danger. Her condition could have led to the heart muscle getting weakened, valve regurgitation occurring and possibly sudden death. This was little Salmas case, a child of only eight months old. But then the Magdi Yacoub's Heart Foundation (MYF) and its affiliated heart centre came into the picture. The MYF was established in 2008, and in 2009, the foundation established the Aswan Heart Center (AHC), a non-profit, non-governmental organisation providing free world-class medical services to the less privileged in Egypt and throughout the region in the field of cardiovascular disease, in addition to conducting various training and research programs. On 14 February, Egypt officially announced its first registered case of COVID-19, and since then it has joined the world in fighting the pandemic as medical entities struggle to deal with an unpredictable health crisis. Despite the challenge imposed by the pandemic, the MYF accepted Salma's rare cardiovascular case, and invited her to the AHC where she immediately underwent surgery. "We remain committed to accepting any critical or urgent cases that cannot wait until after the coronavirus crisis is over, but at the same time we are taking many measures and precautions to protect our patients and ourselves so we can continue treating more cases," Dr. Ahmed Afifi, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the AHC, told Ahram Online. Salmas mother, Abeer, said that to ensure Salmas safety, she was not able to see her daughter after the surgery as per the doctors recommendation. Although this saddened her, she was grateful for the heightened protective measures at the hospital and the staffs commitment to this mission. Officials at AHC told Ahram Online that the centre receives 30,000 outpatients annually and performs 4,000 cardiac procedures (including catheterisations and open-heart surgeries) per year. They added that in order to increase capacity and help patients closer to the capital, construction has already begun on a new hospital in 6 October City that is set to accommodate three times as many patients as the one in Aswan. "Under the current circumstances, we accept critical cases that need immediate surgical intervention. We will always accept cases that are in critical condition and need our help," they concluded. Salma is only one example of the tough mission for hospitals, especially those that deal with critical, life-threatening diseases that cannot wait. Search Keywords: Short link: Flash Finland will end the coronavirus state of emergency on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said at a press conference on Monday. The Finnish government decided on Monday that "there was no longer a legal basis for the validity of the Emergency Act," Marin said. She underlined, however, that the epidemic was not over and that residents should behave in accordance with the government's recommendations. The Emergency Act took effect in mid-March to enable the authorities to try and halt the spread of coronavirus. At the height of the epidemic, the government used its extraordinary powers for isolating the province of Uusimaa, which includes the capital Helsinki. Most recently, these powers were only used to ensure the proper functioning of health institutions. The Emergency Powers Act would remain in force until the end of June. Current measures, such as capacity restrictions for restaurants and venues hosting public events, remain valid as they are based on the laws related to the control of infectious disease laws and do not require emergency powers. Marin said the government will now work on creating the legal tools needed for managing a possible second wave of the epidemic without the need to resort to emergency powers. She said that the government will assess and evaluate its own track record by involving outside experts. Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson said at the press conference that the threshold for bringing back the emergency powers in the future is very high. "But it depends on how the population adheres to the recommendations," she said. According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, as of Monday afternoon, Finland had confirmed 7,108 COVID-19 infections, of which four were new. The death toll has reached 326, no new fatality was reported in the past 24 hours. Some 6,200 patients have recovered, representing 85 percent of the confirmed cases. To date, 219,900 people have been tested in Finland. Mamata Banerjee upset after not being allowed to speak during PMs meet Infighting continues within TMC ahead of assembly polls India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Kolkata, June 16: Infighting and discontent seems to be brewing in the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC ahead of the 2021 assembly polls, with several top party leaders coming out in the open against the state government's handling of post cyclone Amphan restoration works and the coronavirus pandemic. The growing dissatisfaction among the party rank and file over various issues has put the top TMC leadership in a fix with just ten months to go for the state assembly polls. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain hospitalised, to take COVID-19 test| Oneindia News Draconian says Mamata Banerjee on draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 With last year's Lok Sabha poll results indicating a paradigm shift in the state politics with the saffron party emerging as the principal challenger to the TMC, the stakes are high for the Trinamool Congress and time is precious for Banerjee to set the house in order before assembly polls. Switching of sides by many party legislators and MPs had cost the Trinamool Congress dearly in the 2019 Parliamentary elections. The BJP had won 18 out of a total of 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal in the last general election, only four less than the TMC's tally of 22. According to sources, the recent outbursts of senior party leaders and ministers like Sadhan Pande, Subrata Mukherjee and party MP Mahua Moitra, has triggered a debate in the state's political circles. "The recent flare-up by such senior leaders and that too in public is a matter of concern. Although the party has asked them not to express their views in public, what prompted them to go public? Whether they are trying to send some message, it needs to be looked into," a senior TMC leader told PTI on condition of anonymity. Although Banerjee, without taking any name at a recent virtual party meet, had asked disgruntled leaders to leave the party instead of weakening it from inside, things have not improved as it appears. While Pande had openly questioned the party-run KMC's role in the post-cyclone restoration work, Mukherjee, one of the senior-most politicians of Bengal, had questioned the absence of the TMC top brass, including state ministers, in cyclone-affected areas of North and South 24 Parganas districts-which faced the brunt of the calamity. Moitra, TMC national spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP, took a swipe at the party-run gram panchayats within her constituency, Krishnanagar, over unspent funds and unplanned work, and urged people to stand up against corruption by local political leaders. Amidst the rumblings, BJP leader Mukul Roy, once the number two in the Trinamool Congress and who is now the saffron party's key man in bringing the "disgruntled" leaders and elected representatives of the TMC to the party, claimed that "several top TMC leaders are in touch with us". "They will join the party at an appropriate time. Just wait for a few months, you will see TMC disintegrating like a pack of cards," he said. Roy's views were echoed by BJP national general secretary and party's Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya, who praised TMC leaders and ministers openly expressing their opinions. "We are aware of the rumbling within the TMC. It is good that at least some of their leaders are speaking the truth," he told PTI. West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh's lavish praise on Mukherjee as "one of the successful mayors of the city" also didn't go down well with the TMC, who felt the saffron camp is sending feelers to the TMC. The party leadership, however, feels it's a ploy by the saffron camp to stem mistrust within the TMC. At a time when the state is busy fighting the double whammy of the COVID pandemic and cyclone Amphan, incidents of infighting and clashes among Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in North and South 24 Parganas districts, have been making headlines for the last few weeks. At the grassroots, especially in districts such as North 24 Parganans, Jhargram, South 24 Parganas, Medinipur, Birbhum, Burdwan and Nadia infighting among local-level leaders leading to injury and death of party cadres have been a regular affair for the last one year. The BJP has made steady inroads in these places over the last five years, especially after its spectacular performance in the Lok Sabha polls and has been systematically tapping in the disgruntled leaders and cadres of the party. With the infighting taking a toll, the party, with inputs from poll strategist Prashant Kishor and his I-PAC team, has decided to crack the whip and revamp the organisation ahead of the next year's assembly polls. The TMC leadership had recently made few organisational changes in some Lok Sabha constituencies. "Non-performing leaders and ministers have already been identified and has been asked to ramp up their performance. "With inputs from I-PAC and our feedback, we will make some policy and organisational changes," another senior TMC leader said. State Parliamentary affairs minister and TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said indiscipline in the party would not be tolerated. "People of Bengal will vote in favour of Mamata Banerjee and the TMC's symbol. We are nobody without her. If you are with a political party, you have to abide by the discipline and rules of the party. There can be differences; it can be sorted out through discussion. There is no need for going public over it," he said. The Congress and the CPM, the worst sufferers of defection in the state since 2011 at the hands of TMC, said it is good that the ruling party is "getting a dose of its own medicine". "It is the TMC which has ensured the growth of the BJP in Bengal by finishing off secular forces like the Congress and the CPI(M)," state Congress president Somen Mitra said. [June 16, 2020] Talkwalker Reveals The World's Most Loved Brands - Helping Marketers Reposition Themselves For The New Normal NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Talkwalker, the leading social listening and analytics company, has published the results of their latest report - The Brand Love Story 2020 . The report comes at a pivotal time, as brands adapt to the new normal. Brand love is known to improve consumer loyalty and advocacy. As companies adapt to a post-COVID marketplace, the report reveals 11 strategies and key actionable takeaways, to help benefit any brand in the coming years. Toy production company Lego topped the list, followed by Four Seasons Hotels, Singapore Airlines, Giant Hypermarket, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The results were generated from a quarter of a billion conversations around 781 brands over the last six months of 2019. Using their proprietary AI-powered sentiment analysis , and industry-first image and video analytics , Talkwalker was able to identify the signals that predict brand love. Even when a brand is not directly mentioned. "Most methods used to identify brand love include the volume of positive mentions - leading to the largest brands dominating the lists," says Todd Grossman, Talkwalker CEO Americas. "Given the current crisis, businesses are more exposed than ever before. Our report surfaced the brands that were building real engagement, tackling the issues that matter to their communities, and making connections that go beyond the traditional consumer/company convention." Talkwalker also highlighted the brands succeeding at local levels. Among the top 10 favorite brands in the US were: Hyatt Hotels, Huda Beauty, Instagram, and Warner Bros. "We want to establish this report as the benchmark for brand love over the coming years," Grossman continued. "With expert knowledge garnered from working with some of the world's most loved brands and marketers who are building them, we now see the opportunity for every brand to build those vital emotional connections. This report is the foundation for enabling any company to tell their brand love story." For more data from Talkwalker's Brand Love Story 2020 report and the complete list of most loved brands, download the full report here . About Talkwalker Talkwalker is a social listening and analytics company that empowers over 2,000 brands and agencies to optimize the impact of their communication efforts. We provide companies with an easy-to-use platform to protect, measure, and promote their brands worldwide, across all communication channels. Talkwalker's state-of-the-art social media analytics platform uses AI-powered technology to monitor and analyze online conversations in real-time across social networks, news websites, blogs and forums in 187 languages. Talkwalker has offices in New York, Luxembourg, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Paris and Singapore. It is also the home of Talkwalker Alerts , a free alerting service used by over 500,000 communications and marketing professionals worldwide. Contact: Milena Schmidt, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talkwalker-reveals-the-worlds-most-loved-brands---helping-marketers-reposition-themselves-for-the-new-normal-301077307.html SOURCE Talkwalker [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 20:32:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad and handed him a letter of protest over the latest airstrikes on suspected positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq. A statement by the ministry said Senior Deputy Minister Abdul-Karim Hashim received in his office Turkish Ambassador Fatih Yildiz who received the letter of protest. "The letter included a condemnation by the Iraqi government to the violations of Iraq's sovereignty and its airspace, and considered it contrary to the international conventions, relevant rules of international law, friendship relations, principles of good-neighborliness and mutual respect," the statement said. The ministry reiterated its call on Turkey to "stop unilateral military operations, and expressed the Iraqi government's readiness for cooperation in controlling borders," it added. On Monday, the Iraqi Joint Operations Command condemned in a statement a series of airstrikes conducted by 18 Turkish warplanes late on Sunday night on refugee camps in Sinjar, some 100 km west of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul, and Makhmour, about 60 km southeast of Mosul. The Turkish warplanes also flew over the areas of al-Kuwayr, Erbil and al-Shirqat, with 193 km deep inside the Iraqi territories, according to the statement. Also on Monday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that the Turkish jets bombed positions of PKK militants across northern Iraq as part of the ongoing Claw-Eagle Operation. Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes and artillery bombardments against the positions of the PKK militants in northern Iraq, especially the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the PKK. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Enditem New Delhi: A delegation of Delhi Congress unit on Friday met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged "financial irregularities and illegalities" in the Mohalla clinics run by the AAP government. The delegation led by Delhi Congress unit chief Ajay Maken apprised the LG about the "anomalies" in the Mohalla clinics and demanded a CBI enquiry into it, said a party statement. "The AAP government extended pecuniary advantage to members and office bearers of the party by paying more than the prevailing market rent to them whose premises were used for opening Mohalla clinics," Maken alleged. The memorandum submitted to Jung also said that the Mohalla clinics "lacked basic health facilities" and that established health guidelines were being "violated" there. Delhi Congress had on Thursday released its report on the Mohalla clinics, accusing the government of "ad-hocism" in running them. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. If you're having problems with your cell phone, it seems you're not alone. Customers of multiple cell phone carriers are reporting widespread outages. According to Downdetector, a website that tracks outage reports, the outage is impacting customers of T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon. "Our engineers are working to resolve a voice and data issue that has been affecting customers around the country," Neville Ray, T-Mobile's president of technology tweeted. "Were sorry for the inconvenience and hope to have this fixed shortly." In a statement to CNET, a spokesperson from Verizon said, "Verizon's network is performing well. We're aware that another carrier is having network issues. Calls to and from that carrier may receive an error message." AT&T says their network is working properly, but users of the carrier continue to report problems with their devices. "Our network is operating normally, but its possible some customers are unable to reach people on other carriers networks," AT&T said on Twitter. Many of the reported outages appear to come from major cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix and Tampa, according to Downdetector. The outages appear to have started around 12:40 p.m. eastern time Monday, with most peaking just before 3 p.m. eastern. The issue began to trend on Monday as more people saw the widespread impact of the outages. A cause for the outages is not known at this time. A donkey has been rescued in north-eastern China as footage captures the animal apparently 'kowtowing' to passersby out of desperation, begging them to save it. The heartbreaking video shows the poor animal repeatedly bowing its head while being strapped at the back of a truck, seemingly with tears in its eyes. A group of onlookers who were touched by the scene paid 9,000 yuan (1,006) to the truck driver to buy the donkey alive. The animal is being looked after by one of the residents, according to one of the rescuers. A donkey has been rescued in north-eastern China as footage captures the animal apparently 'kowtowing' to passersby, begging to be spared from the butcher. Pictures above show the poor animal apparently 'kowtowing' to passersby while being taken to a local slaughterhouse The donkey was being taken to be killed at an abattoir in Changchun of Jilin Province last Tuesday, Chinese media reported. The footage was filmed by a passerby, nicknamed Pang Ge, who helped purchase the animal and shared the video online. He can be heard saying: 'Look at this donkey kowtowing to us! This is incredible.' Another witness comments: 'The donkey is bowing and saluting to us, both eyes with tears streaming down.' Pang Ge later said on his social media that the donkey was rescued after he and his friends chipped in over 1,000 to save the animal from being butchered. 'We've sent the donkey to our friend's house to be looked after,' Pang Ge replied to his followers on Chinese TikTok-like Douyin. The donkey (pictured left) was being taken to be killed at an abattoir in Changchun of Jilin Province last Tuesday, Chinese media reported. Picture right shows onlookers watching The picture shows the rescued animal eating straw while being kept in an open backyard Another clip uploaded by Pang Ge shows the rescued animal eating straw while being kept in an open backyard. The resident said today that the donkey was taken to a vet for an examination and had some problem with its eyes. He wrote: 'We saved the donkey but we also cared about its health. Its eyes have been treated.' MailOnline has contacted Pang Ge for further comments. A similar incident took place in southern China earlier this year after footage captured a cow apparently kneeling in front of slaughterhouse workers begging them to spare it. The video was then shared onto the country's social media, leading the public to donate more than 2,700 to buy the cow alive to release it. Kylie Jenner and daughter Stormi are the cover stars of Vogue Czechoslovakia's 24th edition this month. At just two-year-old, it's a huge achievement for the tot as she poses with her mom for the fashion bible while quarantined at her $36.5 million home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. Vogue CS revealed the duo posed for the magazine via a Zoom call with the Morelli Brothers snapping the images. Cover stars: Kylie Jenner and daughter Stormi grace the cover of Vogue Czechoslovakia this month. They were photographed via a Zoom call by the Morelli Brothers Just the two of us: Kylie and Stormi are seen here side by side in a bed with white sheets Kylie, 22, is seen sporting a fresh makeup look with rosy red lips and the blonde streaks running through her hair. She cradles Stormi's head as the tot rests her forehead against the reality star's cheek. Kylie revealed on Instagram that the image was shot on her iphone: 'new cover with my baby for @vogueczechoslovakia shot at home on my iphone @morellibrothers #VogueCS.' The cover is tagged 'Bedtime story' and in behind the scenes images posted by the photographers, the mother and daughter can be seen snuggled up in bed together for the shoot. Vogue CS shared the cover on their Instagram account with more details of the shoot: '#OnceUponATime, Princess #KylieJenner was born into the most-watched family in the world. Behind the scenes: The doting mom kissed her little girl as they snuggled up together 'She has become the most powerful #Influencer on the planet, Stormis mother, a #BeautyMogul and it seems that everything she wishes for comes true. 'While Kylie and Stormi were quarantined at their home in Los Angeles, @morellibrothers photographed them exclusively for #VogueCS via Zoom call.' Vogue Czechoslovakia launched in 2018 available in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Andrea Behounkova, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Czechoslovakia, said at the time: 'Our vision for Vogue Czechoslovakia is to reflect the past and the present, connect authors with unexpected themes and put culture into a new context.' Camera ready: The mother and daughter posed for the snaps while quarantining at home in Holmby Hills at Kylie's new $36.5 million mansion It's not Stormi's first magazine cover, however, as the little one - who Kylie shares with on-off boyfriend Travis Scott - has previously appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar Arabia in July/August 2019. Kylie and Stormi are currently enjoying a family trip to Wyoming and staying at Kim and Kanye's $14 million ranch along with Kim's brood, Kourtney, Scott Disick and their three children. Kylie and Travis, 28, who dated from April 2017 to September 2019, welcomed Stormi in February 2018 and now amicably co-parent their little girl. Vacation snap: Kylie is currently in Wyoming staying at Kim and Kanye's $14 million ranch Co-parenting pros: Kylie, 22, shares Stormi with on-off boyfriend Travis Scott He's been busy promoting the new series of his travel show on his social media. And Gordon Ramsay's adventure series Uncharted looks set to be a thrilling one as he channels James Bond to jump out of a helicopter in daring scenes. Stills from the latest episode sees the chef, 53, leap from the moving helicopter into the sea below after the pilot informs him that he's unable to land at a nearby beach. Adventure: Gordon Ramsay's adventure series Uncharted looks set to be a thrilling one as he channels James Bond to jump out of a helicopter in daring scenes Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted sees the star journey around the world where he meets people from different countries, tries exotic regional cuisines and learns about their food and culture. The show, which is airs on the National Geographic Channel, will also see Gordon rustle up a number of delicacies. The second series sees the father-of-five travel to South Africa where he is to meet two local chefs on a beach to make a curry together. Daredevil: Stills from the latest episode sees the chef, 53, leapt from the moving helicopter into the sea below after the pilot informs him that he's unable to land at a nearby beach However, before he gets there, Gordon runs into a spot of bother in his helicopter as the pilot informs him that it's too windy to land on the beach. The pilot instead tells Gordon than he must jump into the waters below and swim to the beach himself. In showstopping images from the latest episode, Gordon is seen edging towards the open door of the helicopter as he looks down below. Travels: The second series sees the father-of-five travel to South Africa where he is to meet two local chefs on a beach to make a curry together Risky: However, before he gets there, Gordon runs into a spot of bother in his helicopter as the pilot informs him that it's too windy to land on the beach Say what? The pilot instead tells Gordon than he must jump into the waters below and swim to the beach himself As he braces himself for the fall, he is then pictured making the breathtaking jump from the chopper into the sea. Luckily, Gordon survives his fall as another image shows him soaked to the core as he talks to the camera on the beach. After emerging unscathed, Gordon says: 'Jumping out of a helicopter into a ferocious sea, laced with sharks, to get to the beach. Scary: In showstopping images from the latest episode, Gordon is seen edging towards the open door of the helicopter as he looks down below Woah! Gordon is pictured leaning out of the helicopter door as he prepares to jump You can do it! Gordon is forced to make an altogether different landing for his meeting on the beach Brave Gordon is seen jumping from the helicopter at a great height 'Trust me, after that jump, I hope those mussels are worth it, because I'm here to learn.' Meanwhile, back on solid ground in London, the TV personality took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a sweet snap of his youngest son Oscar on his 'very first bike ride.' The adorable tot, 14 months, is seen staring curiously at the camera donning a yellow rain coat and blue helmet as he sits strapped into his baby saddle on his dad's bike. Go Gordon go! As he braces himself for the fall, he is then pictured making the breathtaking jump from the chopper into the sea Taking the plunge: Gordon falls into the cool waters below after being informed that the pilot is unable to land on the beach Unscathed: Luckily, Gordon survives his fall as another image shows him soaked to the core as he talks to the camera on the beach Proud dad Gordon smiles as he sits on the bike behind him in a padded navy jacket and blue mirrored shades. The star also shared a clip of Oscar joining in the family bike ride as mum Tana filmed the two of them. Gordon also shares daughter Megan, 22, twins Jack and Holly, 20, daughter Matilda, 18, with his wife Tana, 45. That's my boy: Meanwhile, back on solid ground in London, the TV personality took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a sweet snap of his youngest son Oscar on his 'very first bike ride' Awal Gulf Manufacturing, a leading manufacturer of commercial and residential air-conditioning and refrigeration units based out of Bahrain, has launched its innovative air purification unit Pearl that uses state-of-the-art design technology to deliver fresh air through efficient filtration system. The Pearl air purifier is powered by a portable multi-layered high-efficiency particulate air (Hepa) filters designed to remove viruses and bacteria from the air, providing enhanced level of respiratory protection. The air purifier also uses the latest UV-C technology that thoroughly decontaminates the indoor air by killing up to 99.999 per cent of airborne viruses and infections, the company said in a statement. Ghassan Freiwat, Deputy CEO of Awal Gulf Manufacturing, said: The world is currently passing through an unprecedented time and indoor air quality (IAQ) has never been so critical to the health and safety of the people. Clean air is specifically vital in hospitals, clinics and healthcare facilities to protect patients, staff and visitors from airborne diseases and infections. We at Awal Gulf Manufacturing believe that as leaders and experts in the HVACR (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration) industry for almost 50 years we have got a role to play in creating a safer, cleaner and efficient environment. We are pleased to launch our all new Pearl air purifier with a filtration efficiency of 99.999 per cent down to 0.3 micron particles, H14 as per EN1822. The unit is now available to order through a select dealers network across Europe, Middle East & Africa, he added. The unit is a simple plug-and-play system with no integration into the existing mechanical systems. The system draws in contaminated air and removes all bacteria and viruses through a series of integral filters and then delivers clean air back into space. The unit can be placed in the common areas, hospitals and ancillary healthcare facilities including research labs and pharmaceutical plants. The unit application is not limited to the healthcare vertical only, but can also be used in educational institutes and other residential and commercial applications, the company said. Awal Gulf Manufacturing currently serves customers in over 40 countries through an extensive dealer network across EMEA. Innovation and sustainability is at the core of its manufacturing process ensuring minimal impact to the environment, it said. Awal Gulf was established in 1993 as an associate of the Awalco Group as part of its expansion plan for its Air Conditioning division, that was established in 1970 as a licensee of the US brand Friedrich. Production started in 1995 from its first manufacturing plant with a total capacity of 500,000 units per year. In order to meet the growing demands of customers and to diversify its product offerings the company commissioned a chest freezer plant in 2005 and a state-of-the-art, largest of all, manufacturing plant in 2010 exclusively for central air-conditioning products. Currently, the company employs over 1,000 dedicated HVACR professional working towards bringing innovative products and services to the region. The companys products include window air conditioners, decorative-type split systems, central air conditioners, air handling units ( AHUs), fan coil units ( FCUs), variable refrigerant flow systems (VRF), roof tank water coolers, chest freezers, showcase refrigerators and air purifiers. TradeArabia News Service United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China and urged both sides to exercise "maximum restraint," his spokesperson said on Tuesday. A total of 20 Indian Army personnel were killed during a violent clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley on Monday night, escalating the already volatile border standoff between the two sides, an Army statement said on Tuesday. Eri Kaneko, Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, made the comments at the daily press briefing. "We are concerned about reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China and urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint. We take positive note of reports that the two countries have engaged to deescalate the situation," Kaneko said. Kaneko was responding to a question on the death of Indian Army personnel in a violent face-off in Ladakh's Galwan Valley amid escalating tensions at the LAC. Initially, the Indian Army said one officer and two soldiers were killed. Later in the night, an Army statement said 17 more soldiers who "were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20." "Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020," it said, adding that the "Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation. China has not released any information on the casualties suffered by the People's Liberation Army soldiers during the violent face-off in eastern Ladakh. Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul is surrounded by journalists at National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap South Korea's unification minister said Tuesday that North Korea's detonation of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong was already preannounced by the North and Seoul would need more details to assess the situation. Appearing in a session of the parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs and unification, Minister Kim Yeon-chul said, "It is something partly preannounced (by North Korea)." By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijan can play a critical role in the implementation of the EU strategy and is ready to assume this role, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at the online meeting of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) held on June 11. Mammadyarov made this remarks while commenting on the significance of the transport-logistics system of Azerbaijan. On the Eastern coast of Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan holds intensive dialogue with Turkmenistan and Afghanistan for the materialization of the Lapis-Lazuli transport corridor. My country can play a critical role in the implementation of the EU strategy and we are ready to assume this role. We do hope that extension of our strategic cooperation in the field of energy to the field of transport-logistics will be an important contribution to the strengthening of EU-Azerbaijan partnership. Mammadyarov pointed out that Azerbaijans transport-logistics system has a significance increasingly recognized for its importance. In this regard, he said that Azerbaijan is holding works on EaP and Central Asia flanks. Together with other EaP countries within GUAM, we are working to develop a transport corridor which will provide an alternative route to Central Asia and beyond. We collaborate with the Central Asian countries also within the OSCE project Promoting green ports and connectivity in the Caspian Sea region and welcome the EUs support to it, the minister added. Regarding the energy sector, Mammadyarov said that the Southern Gas Corridor is nearing completion, and this project will be the most tangible result of the strengthened links in the Eastern Partnership. We appreciate the responsible behaviour of our partners in TAP in supporting the COVID fight of affected local communities and ensuring timely execution of the project, he added. Furthermore, the minister, touching upon the bilateral cooperation in the framework of the EU Joint Communication, emphasized that the tailor-made approach is a very policy which Azerbaijan seeks in its relations with the EU. It is a partnership based on equality and mutual respect. The success of the negotiations on a new bilateral agreement will depend on the flexibility of negotiating sides to find mutually acceptable solutions to the remaining issues, said Mammadyarov. Noting that Azerbaijan welcomes the EUs support for resilient institutions, rule of law and fight against corruption through enhancing security dialogues with partner countries, the minister said: After the successful 2nd meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Security Dialogue held in Baku last December we look forward to continued fruitful exchanges on emerging regional and international security threats. We believe that future EU-Azerbaijan cooperation will also contribute to the realization of the national development priorities, Mammadyarov said. The minister said that Azerbaijan continues to pursue the strategic development agenda aimed at accelerating economic diversification, fostering inclusive growth and supporting post-COVID economic recovery. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said that the Centres decision to step in and help Delhi government combat the spiralling cases of Covid-19 infection in the national capital is a cooperative exercise rather than one where it has wrested control from the state. The partys response has also been in sharp contrast to the political wrangling that erupted in the Opposition-ruled states of West Bengal and Maharashtra over their handling of the pandemic. A senior party functionary said the two governments are working together to address the situation instead of trading blame. According to party functionaries, Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias statement made a week ago where he said that Covid-19 cases in the city are likely to reach 5.5 lakh by the end of July became the trigger for the central government to step in and steer the states response. Sisodias statement was an indication that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government seemed to have loosened its grip on the situation. When the home minister (Amit Shah) decided to help the state; it was a move where the centre stepped in without over-stepping, said a second person aware of the details. Since Sunday, Shah has held several rounds of meetings and even inspected a government-run hospital. The bitterness that erupted between the Centre and the governments of West Bengal and Maharashtra when inter-ministerial central teams were deputed to spot assessment of the situation has been largely missing this time. Within hours of the team being announced, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had questioned the Centres move. She also targeted Shah, claiming letters meant for the state government were released to the media before they reached the CMO (chief Ministers Office). In Maharashtra, the ruling Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP combine has also blamed the BJP for politicising the issue. NCPs Jayant Patil said if the BJP blames the Maharashtra government for the spread of virus in the state, should the Centre be blamed for the failure to check the spread of Covid-19 in the country. In contrast, following meetings with Shah, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, Extremely productive meeting betn Del govt and Central govt. Many key decisions taken. We will fight against corona together. Even as BJP state unit in Delhi has trained its guns on the Arvind Kejriwal government for not ramping up testing facilities and medical care infrastructure, the leadership has shown more restrain. On Monday, Shah, held another round of meetings, including one with all political party where the representatives reiterated the need to keep political differences aside to fight the pandemic. So what led the BJP to soften its stand against a political rival? We have been demanding answers from the AAP government about the spending on medical infrastructure but there has been no response. We opposed the decision of not admitting people from outside Delhi to hospitals here; a decision that was reversed by the LG. It is not that the BJP has abdicated its duties as a responsible Opposition, but the challenge is such that we need to join forces to save lives, said a Delhi state functionary. Commenting on the process of the political adversaries sitting across the table in Delhi to find a solution, Ajay Gudavarthy, professor of political science at Jawaharlal Nehru University said, Modi-Shah working modality is geared towards election management. Bengal is due for election while in Delhi its over. We saw similar animosity towards Kejriwal before elections in Delhi. They also wish to create a perception that Mamta is aggressive and cannot work with the centre and in the process Bengal is losing out. Albuquerque police have arrested a former city council candidate and charged him with shooting and critically injuring a protester in a group that was calling for the removal of a statue of a Spanish conquistador, according to reports. Stephen Ray Baca, 31, was booked into a city jail on a charge of aggravated battery in the shooting, which occurred on Monday, Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Gilbert Gallegos told the Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque police detain members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, an armed civilian group, following the shooting of a man during a protest over a statue of a conquistador. Credit:The Albuquerque Journal via AP Baca was not immediately available for comment. It was not clear whether he was connected with a group of heavily armed counterprotesters who identified themselves as a civilian militia called the New Mexico Civil Guard. The shooting victim, identified as Scott Williams, was in a critical condition after being shot several times in the torso, the newspaper reported. Police could not be reached for further comment. A government led by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail does not represent the change that people voted for, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has claimed. Ms McDonald set out her stall as the de facto leader of the opposition as members of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party prepare to decide whether or not to approve the programme for government. The Sinn Fein leader claimed the agreement was an attempt to deny change, protect the status quo and "to continue with the same broken politics that has so badly failed workers and families". She argued the agreement was not the only deal possible and said the "chance to form a government of change is real". Ms McDonald said that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin set about to exclude Sinn Fein and "in doing so they excluded the demand for change coming from the people." "Grassroots members of the Green Party know this. Grassroots members of Fianna Fail also know this," she added. Differences Both Mr Varadkar and Mr Martin ruled out going into government with Sinn Fein before the election, citing differences in economic policies and the party's association with the Provisional IRA. After the election, Mr Martin told the Dail he could not go into coalition with Sinn Fein because of its "efforts to legitimise a murderous sectarian campaign". Dublin Central TD Ms McDonald responded at the time saying she "did not care" what he thinks about her party. Speaking ahead of a potential Fine Gael/Fianna Fail/Green government being formed, Ms McDonald said "no matter what happens, workers and families must not be the ones to shoulder the pain of the economic crisis" and warned: "There can be no return to austerity." She added people are "impatient for change" and Sinn Fein has the policies to "deliver a fresh start", listing proposals to set the pension age at 65, create a single-tier health service and provide affordable housing. "We won't let any government turn their face against these solutions that people so badly need," she said. "Sinn Fein won't allow Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to waste the potential, the possibilities and the aspirations of our people. "There is a better and a fairer way and that means putting people and communities first. "Sinn Fein will defend the change the people voted for." Elsewhere, Rise TD Paul Murphy claimed that the programme for government was a "trap" for the Green Party. He argued that it contains "vague talk of change to lure the Greens in to be a green mudguard for austerity". The Dublin South-West TD urged the Green Party's grassroots members to reject the deal. Solidarity TD Mick Barry criticised housing proposals in the document, saying: "Building 50,000 social homes over five years is not nearly enough to address the housing crisis." The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister, Kofi Dzamesi does not deserve to be in office. According to Ablakwa, almost four years in office, the Ministry has not been able to fulfil even one of the 20 promises the New Patriotic Party (NPP) made in its 2016 manifesto in relation to the chieftaincy sector. Thats a 0% Ministryand the promises are not too hard [the Ministry was] just to ensure the prompt payment of royalties due chiefs, Queen mothers and Traditional Councils. This is not a difficult one. [The Ministry was also expected to] Provide government support to the institution of Chieftancy in the performance of their duties, their evolution, and further modernization; they failed [this one too]. And what is even worrying is that after failing to deliver to the chiefs, it is [only] insults we hear their communicators raining on the chiefs and I think the Chieftancy Minister should be resigning by now, he said. Mr. Ablakwa made this call on Monday, June 15, 2020, when he led a press conference organised by the NDC to assess NPPs 2016 manifesto. The North Tongu legislator at the media engagement also argued that the Akufo-Addo government made 631 promises in its 2016 manifesto adding that only 83 of such promises have been delivered. NDC thus rated the Akufo-Addo government 14% [Fail] for the 83 alleged promises fulfilled. NDC's assertion The opposition National Democratic Congress on Monday assessed the NPP's manifesto as against the promises achieved. Ablakwa who led the presentation said the fulfilment of the NPP's promises was woefully inadequate. You are given four good years of the destiny of the people and all you can do is 14 percent. And even this we have been so generous. You scored an F. He further accused the government of mind-boggling intellectual dishonesty because it was not being candid with citizens. You don't even have the courage to apologize for it and try to see you make amends but you think you can lie your way through by understating the number of promises that you make. We made 388 promises not 631 as claimed by NDC Government Meanwhile, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah rejected the claims by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the Akufo-Addo government made 631 promises in its 2016 manifesto. Mr. Oppong Nkrumah insisted that the NPP made 388 promises. As we get to the 2020 national conversation period, one of the narratives they [NDC] seek to cap is a narrative of dishonesty and in order to give life to that narrative, they have to create scenarios that if indeed we made 388 promises, they will find ways of adding some 235 to make it 631 then say therefore that we have been dishonest. Part of the strategy of increasing our promises from 388 to 635 is to enable them lay a claim of dishonesty against this administration, he said. ---citinewsroom An elderly person died of COVID-19 in Jharkhand on Monday, raising the toll of coronavirus fatalities in the state to nine, while 30 more people tested positive, a state government bulletin said. The bulletin however, did not mention the district from where the latest death was reported. A total of 1,793 people have so far tested positive for the disease in Jharkhand, of which 784 are active cases, it said, adding 1,000 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. With 198 active cases, East Singhbhum district tops the COVID-19 list followed by Simdega district at 146. Jharkhand's mortality rate stood at 0.50 per cent as compared to that of the country at 2.86 per cent, the bulletin said. Earlier in the day, Principal Secretary (Health), Nitin Madan Kulkarni, said a health check-up programme will be launched in rural and urban areas of the state from June 18. Meanwhile, officials said over 6.89 lakh people, including around five lakh migrant labourers, have returned to Jharkhand by different mode of transport since May 1. On June 17, 76 people will be brought back from Bangladesh, Chief Nodal Officer (COVID-19) Amrendra Pratap Singh told reporters here. "Seventeen others will travel by road from Bhutan," he added. Infiniti Research is the world's leading independent provider of strategic market intelligence solutions. Our market intelligence services are designed to connect your organization's goals with global opportunities. Today's competitive business environment demands in-depth, accurate, and reliable business information to ensure that companies gain a strong foothold in domestic or foreign markets. Our global industry specialist teams ensure the international consistency of our research, enabling powerful access to the real story behind market changes. Request a free brochure for more insights into our solutions portfolio. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005625/en/ Why partner with Infiniti Research? (Graphic: Business Wire) The current landscape in the oil and gas sector is pressurizing players in the industry to re-evaluate their operations. Furthermore, oil and gas companies are also driven by cost-containment and sustainability challenges. To deliver and maintain a superior level of operational excellence, it is imperative for oil and gas companies to consider some critical factors including safety, reliability, productivity, and cost optimization. These factors play a crucial role in determining the economic viability of a drilling program in a given set of market conditions. At the same time, the growing level of complexity and scrutiny in the sector is increasingly creating roadblocks for companies in the sector to extract maximum benefits from the available opportunities for revenue growth. Oil and gas companies are also faced with the challenge of altering and realigning their operations with the rapidly changing market variables. These factors coupled with a cut-throat market competition are driving a renewed focus on achieving operational excellence among oil and gas operators. Designing and executing an effective strategy requires oil and gas companies to have a clear understanding of the rapid market changes. Want more insights on how we have helped some of the top companies in the oil and gas industry achieve this? Get in touch. According to experts at Infiniti Research, some of the other operational excellence challenges facing oil and gas companies include: Gaining visibility into complex operations Dependency on third party suppliers Employee onboarding, retention, and training Read the complete article for comprehensive insights With over 15+ years of expertise, we have developed a strong network of key opinion leaders and subject matter experts who partner with us to develop futuristic insights. For more insights on how we can help with your research and contingency planning efforts for the post-COVID-19 period, Request a free proposal. About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005625/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us BENTONVILLE (dpa-AFX) - Walmart is testing self-checkout option in a store, aiming to remove cashiers to limit human interactions amid the coronavirus pandemic, reports said. As part of the trial, the retailer is removing cashiers and replacing standard conveyor belt lines with self-checkout kiosks. However, store employees will be available to help if any customers find it difficult to check out themselves. The test run is at one of its superstores in Fayetteville, Arkansas. If successful, the system will be expanded to more stores. The company expects the new system to speed up the checkout process, encourage social distancing and limit the number of customers in stores at one time. TODAY Style quoted Walmart spokesperson Kory Lundberg as saying, 'What we are looking at in this new setup is ... how can we move people through a checkout experience quicker at a Walmart?'. How can we shorten the lines, how can we move people through and get them onto the rest of their day as quickly as possible?' As part of its effort to stop the spread of coronavirus, the company recently launched a touch-free payment system. Walmart already implemented daily health screens and temperature checks, provided masks and gloves, and offered emotional wellbeing options for the safety of employees and customers. The company also limited the number of customers in stores and installed social distancing signage. In April, two Walmart employees working at a store in Chicago had died from COVID-19. 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. It looks like were back to a market roller coaster. The first question, of course, is what spooked investors? After two weeks of mass protests devolving into riots, the coronavirus spiked again but this time, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin has said that in light of recent experience, there will be no further lockdowns imposed from the Federal level, and even in blue states, public pressure is mounting to reopen economies. Credit Suisse US equity strategist Jonathan Golub sees last weeks slide as a pullback, nothing more. He notes, the factors that boosted the market in recent weeks are still almost entirely in place: a flood of liquidity from the Fed, whats expected to be better incoming economic data, and consumers and corporations adjusting to life and business in a coronavirus world. Together, they point to improving corporate earnings and justify high valuation multiples. In line with Golubs upbeat look at the markets forward prospects, Credit Suisses stock analysts have been publishing their Top Picks for the rest of the year. Weve used the TipRanks database to unpack the details on three compelling stocks each with substantial upside potential. TreeHouse Foods (THS) First up is TreeHouse Foods, a $2.6 billion food processing company based in Illinois. The company markets private label brands in a wide range of food products pasta, baby food, dairy, snacks to a worldwide customer base. TreeHouses niche is secure, and the essential nature of the companys products allowed it to weather the coronavirus storm. In the first quarter THS showed positive earnings that beat the forecast. The company reported 37 cents EPS, against estimates of 32 cents. Revenues, too, were above expectations at $1.08 billion. While the Q1 revenues were down sharply from Q4, that was part of the expectation historically, THS lowest-earning quarter is the calendar first. Robert Moskow covers this stock for Credit Suisse, and rates it a Buy. His $60 price target suggests a potential upside of 25% in the coming year. (To watch Moskow's track record, click here) Story continues Backing his stance, Moskow writes of fours points that indicate strength for the stock. His first two points are particularly worth noting: 1) Retail tracking data indicates private label food and beverage grew 22% in the 4- weeks ending April 4, which outpaced branded growth of 19%; 2) We estimate at least 80% of TreeHouses categories are geared toward stronger at-home food consumption, especially pasta, broth, single-serve coffee, and snacks Overall, THS shares have a Strong Buy rating from the analyst consensus, showing that Wall Street agrees with Moskows assessment. The rating is based on 8 Buys and 2 Holds set in the past month. TreeHouse shares are selling for $48.08, and the average price target, at $57.25, is almost as bullish as Moskows, implying an upside of 19% this year. (See TreeHouse stock analysis on TipRanks) Delta Airlines, Inc. (DAL) Next up is the worlds second largest airline, Delta. Delta boasts a $19.5 billion market cap and ended 2019 with $47 billion in annual revenue. Despite the heavy hit the travel industry has taken due to the coronavirus pandemic, Deltas position is secure. The company operates nine US hubs and several regional subsidiaries. This firm foundation will allow the company to rebound as the pandemic restrictions are, hopefully, lifted in 2H20. Delta managed to beat the earnings expectations in Q1, reporting at 51-cent loss per share, instead of the 72 cents forecast, but that is expected to deepen in the second quarter, to more than $4. To meet the crisis, Delta made moves back in March to shore up its liquidity. This has been a priority in the airline industry, as expenses remain aircraft maintenance, fuel, labor, etc. but revenues are far, far, down. Delta drew $3 billion from its revolving credit facility back in March, and in April announced both a $1.5 billion issue of senior secured notes and a further $1.5 billion in a new credit facility. Delta has also suspended its share buyback and dividend programs for the time being, to preserve cash for operations. Credit Suisses airline expert Jose Caiado is bullish about the companys ability to survive the current crisis. He writes, The current Coronavirus crisis represents the most severe crisis in airline industry history, and not even the strongest balance sheets such as DAL were able to navigate it without government assistance and recapitalization. Following the latest proactive actions to shore up cash balances, we believe that DALs current liquidity should prove adequate to bridge to a return in demand, later in 2020. Caiado gives DAL shares a $42 price target to back his Buy rating, implying a one-year upside of 38%. (To watch Caiados track record, click here) Deltas Strong Buy analyst consensus rating comes from 11 reviews, breaking down to 9 Buys and 2 Holds. DAL shares have an average price target of $38, indicating a possible premium of 25% from the $30.46 current share price. (See Delta stock analysis on TipRanks) KBR, Inc. (KBR) Houston-based KBR is primarily a government contractor. The company, which provides, construction, engineering, and support services for public sector, energy, and petrochemical sectors around the world, is the largest private contractor hired by the US government in Iraq. KBR also holds numerous logistic contracts supporting the US military in Afghanistan. Contracting for Uncle Sam is big business, and has helped to support KBRs earnings. The company beat the forecast in Q1, reporting a 39-cent EPS against the estimated 37 cents. KBR also reported, in Q1, an operating cash flow of $41 million and described an existing $500 million revolving credit facility as essentially untapped. Jamie Cook, in his notes on KBR for Credit Suisse, writes, KBRs government business offers above average earnings visibility, reflective of the long-term nature of the contracts and stable cash flow Recently, KBRs stock has overcorrected, in our view, despite significantly reduced and de-risked energy exposure. We believe KBR should trade more in line with the Government Services peer group rather than the energy exposed names. Cook rates KBR shares a Buy along with a $31 price target. This shows his confidence in a 21% upside potential. (To watch Cooks track record, click here) KBR has the distinction of a unanimous analyst consensus rating 8 Buys give it a Strong Buy from the Wall Street analyst corps. Its the lowest priced stock on our list here, trading at $25.67, and the $29.38 average price target implies an upside potential of 14.5%. (See KBR's stock-forecast at TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. The Tallahassee Police Department has released the mugshot of Oluwatoyin Salaus suspected killer after he was arrested on Sunday in connection to the killing of the Black Lives Matter activist. According to arrest records in Orange County, Florida, 49-year-old Aaron Glee Jr., was arrested in Orlando on June 14 on an out-of-county warrant from Leon County on charges of homicide-felony murder. Police said at approximately 9:15 pm Saturday night, TPD investigators arrived in 2100 block of Monday Road to follow up investigation on a missing person case. During the course of the investigation, two deceased people were located in the area. READ ALSO Missing 19-Year-Old Nigerian Activist, Oluwatoyin, Found Dead After Opening Up About Being Assaulted Advertisement The TPD identified 19-year-old Oluwatoyin Toyin Salau and Victoria Sims, 75, an AARP volunteer as victims of a double-homicide. Both women were reported missing before being found dead in the area. A mix-up on the government's new online quarantine form has given the option for travellers entering the UK to declare themselves as being from countries which no longer exist. Those filling out the Home Office's website where able to claim they were from places such as Czechoslovakia and the USSR - both of which have not existed for almost three decades. Other options included on the drop-down list were the German Democratic Republic, known as East Germany, which was reunified with West Germany in 1990, Upper Volta, which is now the West African country of Burkina Faso and Southern Rhodesia, which is now part of Zimbabwe. The form is part of the government's plan to force all travellers coming into the UK to self-quarantine for two weeks on arrival. A mix-up on the government's new online quarantine form has given the option for travellers entering the UK to declare themselves as being from countries which no longer exist Those filling out the Home Office's website where able to claim they were from places such as Czechoslovakia and the USSR - both of which have not existed for almost three decades. Other options included on the drop-down list were the German Democratic Republic, known as East Germany, which was reunified with West Germany in 1990. The controversial policy, which has sparked outrage from the travel industry, was brought in last week as the government aims to reduce the risk of a second coronavirus wave. The Home Office has today said the error on the form was caused when those setting up the page mistakenly used a list of possible countries where people were born. A Home Office spokesperson said:'We have updated the Contact Locator Form for arrivals into the UK, which initially used a list of possible countries where people could have been born, as the list for countries people could have travelled from. 'All arrivals could continue using the form given that all countries were still included.' The government first announced the quarantine policy last month as part of new measures to try and slow the spread of coronavirus in the UK and prevent a second wave of infections. The policy, which officially came into force last week, makes it law that all people coming into the UK must self-quarantine for at least 14 days, regardless of if they have symptoms. All UK arrivals including Britons must now fill in an online 'contact locator' form setting out where they will live for a fortnight. Refusal to do so risks a 1,000 fine. The government first announced the quarantine policy last month as part of new measures to try and slow the spread of coronavirus in the UK and prevent a second wave of infections. Pictured: A person is seen wearing a protective face mask while arriving at Heathrow Airport The policy, which officially came into force last week, makes it law that all people coming into the UK must self-quarantine for at least 14 days, regardless of if they have symptoms Yesterday, EasyJet completed its first flight since grounding all of its fleet following the coronavirus lockdown (pictured) All UK arrivals including Britons must now fill in an online 'contact locator' form setting out where they will live for a fortnight. Refusal to do so risks a 1,000 fine. Pictured: An EasyJet passenger boards a flight while wearing a face mask But the policy has sparked fury among bosses in the travel industry, with aviation chiefs comparing the requirement to hanging up a 'Britiain is closed' sign. They have also suggested the wider easing of lockdown will do little to help restart travel if it comes into force. Meanwhile, more than 200 businesses last month joined a campaign urging the government to drop the idea, while a number of ex-Tory politicians and current MPS have voiced concerns. Last week British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair launched legal action against the quarantine policy, which it described as 'flawed'. The airlines announced they have asked for a judicial review to be heard 'as soon as possible', claiming the measures introduced this week will have a 'devastating effect on British tourism and the wider economy'. EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren poses in front of an aircraft of the company at Gatwick Airport, in Gatwick They said they have seen no evidence of when proposed air bridges - which allow quarantine free travel between the UK and a select number other countries - will be implemented. Meanwhile, the website mix-up comes after passengers arriving at UK airports on the day it was implemented described scenes of 'pandemonium' after the introduction of 14-day quarantine rules requiring them to fill out an online form. Travellers told of three-hour wait times at Manchester Airport, some said the QR codes they were asked to scan did not work and others claimed 'snotty' border guards were saying they should have filled in the arrival form before landing. Travellers must give their phone number and an address for self-isolation, but about half of passengers arriving at UK airports said they were unaware of the policy on the day it was introduced. Meanwhile, Britons eager for a post-lockdown getaway are likely shelving their plans to fly abroad after pictures of crammed easyJet cabins left them horrified. Passengers on the airline's first flight in three months yesterday declared it impossible to maintain social distancing while the middle seat remained in use. Photographs of travellers bunched less that two metres apart, on the flight from London Gatwick to Glasgow, came as CEO Johan Lundgren that he would feel '100 per cent safe' because of measures taken by easyJet to mitigate contamination. EasyJet grounded its entire fleet in March after the government introduced its coronavirus lockdown laws, while British Airways stopped all of its flights from Gatwick Airport. But it turns out that Americans have finally found something to agree on: Its all screwed. White and black, old and young, Bernie bro and MAGA fan, voters told us that they were deeply worried about the countrys future. Many feared that wed crossed some point of no return, gone to a place where it would take as Brendan Hermanson, a construction worker in Wisconsin, told us divine intervention to solve our national problems. Since President Trump was elected, Democrats have fretted about the end of the American experiment. We were Rome right before the fall, or living through the final months before the Civil War. Overly simplistic analogies of doom flourished across social media feeds. Since the start of the pandemic, apocalyptic prophecies of a more religious nature have gained currency within Mr. Trumps base, as well. As my colleague Elizabeth Dias reported in April, many evangelical Christians and others have seen the coronavirus pandemic and economic meltdown as a wake-up call to faith or even as a sign of Gods coming judgment. Now, as the country faces the trifecta of the pandemic, the recession and social unrest over racial injustice, the idea of American decline seems to be moving mainstream. Polling released by Gallup on Monday found national pride at a new low. Only 42 percent of U.S. adults say they are extremely proud to be an American, the lowest number since Gallup began asking the question in 2001. Twenty-one percent described themselves as very proud, also a low for the poll. Kitty Spencer proved she is continuing to keep up her glamorous appearance amid the lockdown, as she shared a chic selfie to Instagram this week. Princess Diana's niece, 29, took to social media to post a picture in a chic silk boiler suit and in full hair and make-up, to make a Father's Day recommendation to her 500,000 followers. The South-African born model, who has done work for the likes of Dolce and Gabbana, shareda picture of a unisex Bulgari watch, writing: 'Its Father's Day on Sunday - have you sorted your gift yet? This London watch is the perfect present - as you can wear it too!'. Kitty Spencer proved she is continuing to keep up her glamorous appearance amid the lockdown, as she shared a chic selfie to Instagram this week. Sporting a flawless contour, a full set of lashes and immaculately blow-dried hair, Kitty gave a glimpse inside her home. It is not known whether she is isolating in the UK or South Africa, but a look at her room shows silk wallpapers and chandeliers. Another snap sees Kitty organising a book shelf, boasting an array of sailing enthusiast books - suggesting she may be in Cape Town. Wearing drop earrings and a gold band on her wedding finger, Kitty put on a stylish display for the camera. Princess Diana's niece, 29, took to social media to post a picture in a chic silk boiler suit and in full hair and make-up, to make a Father's Day recommendation to her 500,000 followers In January insiders told the Daily Mail that Kitty agreed to marry 61-year-old fashion tycoon Michael Lewis, after he reportedly proposed to her before Christmas. Michael has three adult children and was previously married to a woman named Leola in 1985. Kitty, who was spotted at the tycoons 19 million mansion in central London last summer, told the Mail at the time that she didnt feel in any rush to start a family. I can see myself having children at some point, she said, but Im only in my 20s. I do have friends my age who are having children, and they are so, so, sweet, but I think everyone should do things in their own time. Lewis' previous wife, Leola, signed a prenuptial agreement but it's not yet known whether Lady Kitty will do the same. Lady Kitty's last boyfriend was Italian property magnate Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro, who was also significantly older than the socialite. At the beginning of the month one of her friends told the Daily Mail: 'Michael proposed to Kitty before Christmas. Shes been in Cape Town for the holidays and told her mother and the rest of the family. Michael is loved by all of them. Despite his wealth, hes very humble and low key. It's not yet known whether Lady Kitty will convert to Judaism, Mr Lewis' faith, before the big day. Sofia Richie took to Instagram on Monday evening to wish her mother Diane Richie a Happy 53rd Birthday. 'Today was my favorite person's Birthday. Love you so much @dianekrichie,' captioned the 21-year-old model. Along with her sweet text, Sofia included a mirror photo of herself and Diane donning woven cowboy hats as they playfully posed for the camera. Happy Birthday: Sofia Richie took to Instagram on Monday evening to wish her mother Diane Richie a Happy 53rd Birthday Diane had Sofia's slender, leopard print leg in one hand and held onto her cowboy hat with the other. Sofia showed off her trim midsection in a cropped, white camisole as she strategically maintained her balance and kept her lens aimed at the wall mirror. Diane flaunted her impressively svelte frame in a pair of denim skinny jeans and a patterned button up blouse knotted in the front. In the background of their mother-daughter portrait, Sofia's 6.4million followers got a clear view of the spacious living area they inhabit on a daily basis. Favorite person: 'Today was my favorite person's Birthday. Love you so much @dianekrichie,' captioned the 21-year-old model; Diane and Sofia pictured on Instagram in 2017 The living room featured gorgeous arch windows, white walls, plenty of indoor greenery, and an overall Southwestern style aesthetic. Sofia and Diane often show love to one another on social media by sharing pictures from childhood or photos taken during days out in Los Angeles. Diane was married to Sofia's father and music legend Lionel Richie, 70, from 1995 until their divorce in 2004. The former couple also share 26-year-old son Miles who, like his sister Sofia, is a working model. Former flame: Diane was married to Sofia's father and music legend Lionel Richie, 70, from 1995 until their divorce in 2004; Diane and Lionel pictured in 1997 Babies: Diane is mother to Sofia, as well as 26-year-old son Miles; Sofia, Diane, and Miles pictured on Instagram in 2018 Prior to his marriage to Diane, Lionel was married to Brenda Harvey, 67, who he shares adopted daughter Nicole Richie, 38, with. Though Sofia clearly has a tight knit family life, she has been dealing with an unimaginable amount of turmoil in her romantic life. Sofia split from boyfriend of nearly three-years Scott Disick, 37, back in May after the reality star checked himself into rehab for 'emotional issues' and 'past traumas.' Though Scott had good intentions initially, he ended up checking himself out of the rehab center shortly after arriving. Breakup blues: Sofia split from boyfriend of nearly three-years Scott Disick, 37, back in May after the reality star checked himself into rehab for 'emotional issues' and 'past traumas'; Scott and Sofia pictured in 2019 In the wake of his decision to leave rehab, Us Weekly reported that he and Sofia were 'on a break until Scott straightened himself out more.' Finally on May 27, the day after his 37th birthday, the magazine revealed that Scott and Sofia had decided to end their romance. Scott shares three children with his ex Kourtney Kardashian, 41, - Mason, 10, Penelope, seven, and Reign, five. Scott, Kourtney, their three children, and the rest of the Kardashian clan are reportedly staying at sister Kim, 39, and her husband Kanye West's, 43, $14 million ranch in Wyoming this week. Outta here: In the wake of his decision to leave rehab, Us Weekly reported that he and Sofia were 'on a break until Scott straightened himself out more; Scott pictured on Instagram Getaway: Scott, Kourtney, their three children, and the rest of the Kardashian clan are reportedly staying at sister Kim, 39, and her husband Kanye West's, 43, $14 million ranch in Wyoming this week; Scott pictured with Kourtney, son Mason, daughter Penelope, and son Reign in 2018 There was no sign of Scott in any of the Instagram posts Kourtney shared, however, Us Weekly confirmed via a source that he is on the family trip. Kourtney was glowing in the snap which she posted on Sunday that showed her wearing her hair pulled back in a ponytail and wearing baggy jeans. A source also revealed the family is joined by 'Kim and Kanye and their kids, Kylie, Stormi, Khloe, True and Kris.' 'Theyre all having a fun time doing family activities like swimming, etc,' said the insider. 'Scott hasnt been speaking about his breakup with Sofia.' New Delhi: The Indian Army said on Tuesday (June 16) that 20 of its soldiers were killed in violent clashes with Chinese troops during a face-off in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night. In a statement, the army said that almost the same number of Chinese troops have been killed during the clashes in the Galwan Valley. The statement said, "Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand-off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20." "The Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation," the official release said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), however, blamed China for the incident and alleged that it tried to unilaterally change the status and "departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley". MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said both sides suffered casualties in the violent face-off and the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. Srivastava said that India and China have been discussing through military and diplomatic channels the de-escalation of the situation in the border area in Eastern Ladakh. "While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. On the late evening and night of June 15, 2020, a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side," the MEA said. The MEA spokesperson said that India remains firmly convinced of the need for maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue, adding "At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India`s sovereignty and territorial integrity." Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held two review meetings over developments in eastern Ladakh. A meeting was held at his residence was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Indian Armys standoff with Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan Valley saw violent escalation. China`s Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui and Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri today met in Beijing, said an ANI report citing sources. The ANI also came out with information, citing Indian intercepts, that China suffered 43 casualties in the violent face-off in the Galwan Valley. Meanwhile, UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control between India and China and urged both sides to exercise "maximum restraint," his spokesperson said on Tuesday. Eri Kaneko, Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, made the comments at the daily press briefing, according to a PTI report. "We are concerned about reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China and urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint. We take positive note of reports that the two countries have engaged to deescalate the situation," PTI quoted Kaneko as saying. Kaneko was responding to a question on the death of Indian Army personnel in a violent face-off in Ladakh's Galwan Valley amid escalating tensions at the LAC. China, however, has not released any information on the casualties suffered by the People's Liberation Army soldiers. China's official media today quoted the Chinese military as claiming that it "always" owned sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region and alleged that "provocative attacks' launched by the Indian troops resulted in "severe clashes and casualties." In its first reaction on Monday's clashes between the two armies at the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh, a statement quoting the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theatre Command Spokesperson Colonel Zhang Shuili said, "China always owns sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region." The Indian border defence troops are "inconsistent with their words and seriously violated" the agreements both countries have reached, the consensus made during the army commander-level talks and harmed the relations of the two militaries and the feelings of the two countries' peoples, the Global Times quoted him as saying. Col Santosh Babu mother proud of her son's sacrifice Colonel B Santosh Babu's mother is proud of her son's sacrifice but sad at losing her only son, who was martyred on June 15 night in the violent clashes with the Chinese troops at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. Colonel Santosh Babu's family hails from Suryapet town in the Nalgonda district (Telangana). Martyred Colonel's mother Manjula said, "I'm proud of my son who gave the supreme sacrifice for motherland but as a mother, I'm sad today." "He was my only son. I came across the news in the afternoon, while my daughter-in-law got the news in the morning," she added. Colonel Santosh was the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment and was posted on borders for over a year and a half. He is survived by wife Santoshi, a 9-year old daughter Abhinav and a 4-year old son Anirudh. Among the three Army personnel who made the supreme sacrifice was Havildar K Pazhani, who hailed from Kadukkaloor village in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. Havildar K Pazhani is the father of two kids and the familys lone breadwinner. He had served the Indian Army for 22 years. He added that Pazhani and his daughter had two school-going kids - a son who was studying in 6th grade and a daughter who was in her 3rd grade. The slain soldiers wife is a degree holder and works as a clerk at a college in the Ramanathapuram district. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced a solatium of Rs 20 lakhs for the bereaved family and also offered a government job (based on qualification) for the next of kin. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Open source As of the morning of June 16, 32,476 (+666) cases of coronavirus infection were registered in Ukraine. This was announced by Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov during a briefing that was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine TV channel. 912 people have died due to complications caused by the disease since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic in the country (+11). However, 14,528 (+275) patients have already recovered. As we reported earlier, as of June 15, Ukraine's capital city Kyiv and another 10 regions of the country are not ready for the weakening of quarantine measures, as the current Covid-19 incidence in these areas still exceeds the allowable rate. According to Ukraine's Healthcare Ministry, Kyiv, Volyn region Vinnytsia region, Zhytomyr region, Zakarpattyya region, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Lviv region, Rivne region, Ternopil region, Chernivtsi region and Chernihiv region are not ready to mitigate the lockdown. The highest rate is observed in the Volyn region (34.81), the lowest - in the Chernihiv region (12.62). A doctor is coming to vaccinate you against Covid-19, a father told his three daughters as a doctor paid them an unexpected visit two weeks ago during the current coronavirus lockdown and school closures. The young girls, all aged under 18, had the injection and soon fell into a deep sleep. They woke up to severe pain and to the shock of finding their legs had been fettered. Unable to grasp what had happened, the girls rushed to their divorced mother for an explanation. The shocked mother hastened to report what had happened to the authorities when she discovered that her daughters had been subjected to illegal female genital mutilation (FGM). The father and the doctor were then arrested and referred to the prosecutor-general for investigation. FGM has always happened behind closed doors, and it seems to have spread under the current coronavirus lockdown in some parts of the world, including Egypt which marked the National Anti-FGM Day on 14 June. The illegal practice, which involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, has been undergone by an estimated 200 million girls around the world. Womens organisations and activists around the world are worried that more women could have been forced to undergo the illegal practice due to coronavirus lockdowns and the halt of anti-FGM efforts. A recent report by the UN population fund and childrens fund UNFPA and UNICEF speculates that there could be two million FGM cases over the next decade that could otherwise have been averted due to the disruptions caused by Covid-19 since the efforts of many prevention programmes have had to be halted. The report, produced by the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, bases its predictions on estimates produced in collaboration with partners Avenir Health, John Hopkins University in the United States, and Victoria University in Australia. The projections, the UNFPA said, offer an alarming view of the future that could confront women and girls if efforts are not urgently made. The UN is not the only one ringing alarm bells. According to the US network ABC news, womens rights groups fear the lockdowns to stem the spread of Covid-19 will see a spike in cases of FGM worldwide, with Australian activists concerned the practice could be on the rise behind closed doors. In Somalia, aid groups have seen an alarming spike in demand for FGM services as cutters are going door-to-door during coronavirus lockdowns and school closures, Plan International Australia, an NGO, has warned. African-Australian activist Khadia Gbla told ABC news that she no longer received any of the average half a dozen calls she used to get every month from concerned teaches, social workers, or girls themselves at risk of FGM in Australia. She speculated that the restrictions in place have created a breeding ground for this [FGM] to take place. Kids are stuck at home with parents and cant actually reach out for help, Gbla told ABC news. The problem is that we wont actually see the damage until this is all over, and then were going to have a whole range of children who have been cut or mutilated. ALARMING FACTS: According to figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated. Another 68 million women and young girls are at risk of undergoing FGM by 2030, a figure activists fear could increase threefold due to the current coronavirus lockdowns. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, UNICEF had expected that four million girls could get mutilated in 2020 alone. FGM is widely defined as a human rights violation and a form of violence against women and girls. It is a cultural norm deeply enshrined in gender inequality, along with religious misinterpretations and cultural misbeliefs in some parts of world. It can have long-lasting physical and psychological implications or lead to injury and death. The desire for social acceptance and avoidance of social stigma remains the single largest factor influencing FGM. The practice has no health benefits for girls or women, but is rather a cause of direct harm to girls and a violation of womens human rights. According to the WHO, FGM can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths. It is mostly carried out on young girls from infancy to 15 and sometimes 18 years old. There are rare cases when it is also carried out during adulthood. The practice is mainly concentrated in the Western, Eastern, and North-Eastern regions of Africa, in some countries of the Middle East and Asia, as well as among migrants from these areas, wrote the WHO. FGM is therefore a global concern. Egypt has a long history of FGM, which remains embedded in areas of its culture. The practice seems to have declined over the past few decades due to efforts to curb it and criminalise it, but recent data indicate that the banned practice persists due to cultural barriers, religious misconceptions, and the lax application of laws. More alarmingly, perhaps, is the fact that the practice has been increasingly medicalised in Egypt, which has been ranked first in that respect. According to UNICEF, Egypt has the highest rate of medicalised FGM compared to other countries, as 78 per cent of girls aged 1-14 were cut by medical professionals, the Egypt Health Issues Survey said in 2015. Although the prevalence of FGM has decreased, efforts need to be accelerated, seeing as more than seven million girls are at risk of undergoing FGM between 2015 and 2030, warned a 2019 UNICEF report. Statistics regarding the prevalence of the practice in Egypt vary according to sources. In 2014, UNICEF warned that Egypt was among the top countries in the world in terms of the prevalence of FGM, with an estimated 92 per cent of girls undergoing the operation, down from around 97 per cent in the 1990s. The practice was found to be mainly concentrated in Upper and rural Egypt. Egypt has adopted strict anti-FGM policies and measures to curb the practice, and these have paid off in bringing about a decline in the prevalence of FGM. But the practice has persisted despite the efforts. While there has been a decline in the practices prevalence in the age group of 15-17 years old by more than 13 per cent from 2008 to 2014, efforts to abandon FGM should be accelerated, as a matter of urgency, said a UNICEF report. Almost seven out of 10 Egyptian women aged 15-19 have undergone FGM, according to the latest national data. The proportion goes up to nine out of 10 among ever married women aged 15-49, it warned. FGM is more prevalent in rural Upper Egypt than in urban governorates. UNICEF reported that in 2016 Egypt ranked sixth out of 29 countries in terms of the prevalence of FGM. Only Somalia, Guinea, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Mali have higher prevalence rates. One UNICEF survey in 2016 estimated that 87 per cent of women and girls aged 15-49 had undergone the procedure. Variable estimates aside, the consensus remains that Egypt ranks first in the medicalisation of FGM. According to the countrys Demographic Health Survey in 2014, eight out of ten girls who were cut were cut by medical personnel. When comparing mothers and daughters, trends of medicalisation appear to be increasing sharply, whereby 37.9 per cent of mothers had the procedure performed by a medical professional, compared to 81.9 per cent of daughters, UNICEF said. HEALTH HAZARDS: There are four types of FGM that range from the partial to total mutilation of the female genitalia. According to assistant professor of gynaecology at Cairo Universitys Qasr Al-Aini Hospital Amr Hassan, all types are harmful and have serious health hazards that may lead to death, even when performed by a medical professional. Hassan, also a former member of the Egyptian Population Council, insists that there is absolutely no need for such an operation. He said that calls that young girls should undergo medical check-ups just in case they need to be circumcised are totally unjustified since it is only in very rare cases that girls would have an abnormality. This can be easily detected during infancy and could be treated with drugs or other medical interventions, Hassan told Al-Ahram Weekly. Type 1 and 2 of FGM are the most common in Egypt, according to UNICEF. But, as Hassan insists, it is a misconception that some types are safer than others. All forms of circumcision involve health risks that could lead to death and that have long-term complications and cause psychological trauma, he said. Studies indicate that immediate hazards can include severe pain, bleeding, infections, fever, tetanus, urinary problems, trauma or death. Long-term hazards include having sexual problems like low libido and decreased satisfaction, urinary tract infections, and an increased risk of childbirth complications including difficult delivery and excessive bleeding, as well as newborn complications and death. Yet, FGM is still sometimes embedded in cultural and religious misconceptions that are born in Africa and some parts of Asia and have spread to Europe and the United States by immigration. In Britain, for instance, immigration has proved to be the number one reason why more young girls have recently undergone the practice during infancy. The UK-based National FGM Centre has warned that many parents may circumcise their daughters during early childhood and infancy to avoid the legal implications of the process. Girls cannot report the operation or call for help at an early age, and wounds heal faster, making it more difficult for the authorities to detect the crime, the centre explained. A 2015 report by the London-based City University showed that 137,000 girls and women in the UK had already undergone FGM. The main reason for FGM is to control a girls body, said Azza Kamel, chair of Egypts Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development Centre, an NGO. Ideas of purity, cleanliness, controlling a girls sexual desire, avoiding stigma, preserving a girls chastity and family honour are the driving forces behind the spread of the phenomenon, Kamel said. According to a report issued by the WHO last February, FGM is sometimes also viewed as increasing a girls marriageability in cultures that also believe that cutting a womans genitalia can reduce her libido and thus protect her against extra-marital affairs. The same report showed how FGM is also associated with cultural ideals of femininity and modesty, which include the notion that girls are clean and beautiful after the removal of body parts that are considered unclean, unfeminine, or male. Kamel explained that FGM is a norm, a tradition and a cultural legacy that has nothing to do with religion. Both Christian and Muslim girls undergo the process, which remains rampant in many Nile Basin countries, Kamel lamented. Yet, Shaimaa Said, a resident of the popular area of Dar Al-Salam in Cairo and a former FGM victim, insists that circumcision is the basis of honour. She said that there are three things we need to guard in our lives: our religion, our children, and our honour. Although undergoing FGM was a difficult moment for Said, she remains convinced that it is a price that every girl has to pay. Said said she would not think twice about doing the same thing to her daughter when it is the right time. If I had a 10 per cent doubt about it in the past, now I dont in the light of the current widespread immorality and lack of decency, Said said matter-of-factly. After all, Im protecting my daughter from herself rather than from anybody else. Said is not the only one to think this way. The presumed link between FGM and a girls chastity is among the main driving forces that keep the phenomenon alive despite efforts to curb it. Said is only one of an estimated 27.2 million FGM victims in Egypt, where the practice remains rampant. Some estimates suggest even larger numbers, claiming that one in four of every FGM case in the world is located in Egypt due to a tangle of sociocultural reasons. This misconception and inferior view of a womans honour as only linked to her genitalia is one main reason the practice persists in a blatant challenge to the legal ban, Kamel said. CRIMINALISED AND FORBIDDEN: In 2008, Egypt criminalised FGM and imposed prison terms on its perpetrators. These can range between three months and two years, according to Law 126/2008, which was designed after 11-year-old Bodour Shaker lost her life due to an excessive dose of anesthesia while undergoing FGM in a private clinic in Upper Egypt. Egypts former grand mufti, Ali Gomaa, the countrys highest Muslim religious authority, issued a strong statement at the time making it clear that female genital mutilation was forbidden by Islam. The muftis decree was the strongest made against the practice, but it was not the first as former grand sheikh of Al-Azhar, Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, had previously reiterated statements insisting that FGM is a social norm that has nothing to do with religion. In 2016, the government further toughened up anti-FGM penalties, imposing prison terms of up to seven years and a minimum of five years on doctors and parents involved in the illegal practice. Tougher penalties of up to 15 years in prison can be imposed on those involved in FGM if the victim dies or is left with a permanent disability. But FGM remains widespread, nonetheless. Rights groups suggest the ban has not been widely enforced and that much of society remains permissive of FGM, which is widely practised by both Christians and Muslims and mostly carried out by doctors and nurses. Only a few months ago, 12-year-old Nada Hussein died after undergoing FGM at a private clinic in the village of Al-Hawatka in the Assiut governorate in January. Nadas father and the physician who performed the procedure were arrested and referred to the public prosecution. The incident provoked global concerns as the world was preparing to mark International Day of FGM Zero-Tolerance on 6 February. Nada is probably not the last FGM victim in Egypt, and Bodour, who lost her life on the same day as a success at primary school, is still remembered as an icon of change. Many other innocent victims who have lost their lives due to the criminal practice are also still remembered. On National Anti-FGM Day, we recall Bodour, Iman, Soheir, and Mayar, who lost their lives because of circumcision, along with other girls we do not know, but do know their pain and suffering, Maya Morsy, head of Egypts National Council for Women, said during a seminar last year. Thirteen-year-old Soheir Al-Betar died in 2013 after she had undergone genital cutting by a doctor at the Aga Centre in the Daqahliya governorate. Three years later, Mayar Moussa faced the same destiny at the hands of doctors in a hospital in Suez. These victims died at the hands of doctors who performed the illegal operation in violation of the law and in defiance of Al-Azhars fatwa, or religious ruling. FGM medicalisation is, in fact, a catastrophe as Egypt ranks first in that respect, with 82 per cent of all procedures done at the hands of medical personnel, Hassan lamented. He referred to a study carried out by the International Population Council, which found that heath service providers, especially doctors, play a major part in the practice since families resort to them for medical advice. Many doctors succumb to the wishes of parents and carry out the operation under the name of a cosmetic procedure, Hassan said. Many medical service-providers lack awareness of the health risks of FGM. Both Hassan and Kamel agreed that eliminating the practice would need raising awareness among both parents and medical service-providers alike about its many misconceptions. AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS: The loss of Nadas life while undergoing FGM at the hands of a doctor has provoked medical professionals in Egypt to take further action. In February, doctors in Egypt launched a new anti-FGM campaign to raise awareness of the health risks of the process and express their refusal to carry out the harmful practice. The campaign was titled white coats to indicate that many doctors refuse to have their white coats stained with the blood of innocent FGM victims. They staged a demonstration at a Cairo underground station, carrying posters saying No to FGM and FGM is a crime and handed out leaflets explaining the dangers of the process to passengers. Organiser Randa Fakhreddin, head of the NGO Union Against Harmful Practices on Women and Children, told the news agency Reuters at the time that the campaign was meant to send a message to other doctors that we do not want our white coats to be stained with blood as well as to citizens that medicine refuses this practice. Some ultraconservatives were not convinced by what we were saying, but we opened a discussion with them, responded to their arguments, and answered all their questions, Fakhreddin added. In the meantime, Egypts highest Muslim religious authority, the Dar Al-Iftaa, has reiterated statements confirming that FGM is religiously forbidden. This act has no religious origin. It dates back to inherited traditions and customs, and the biggest evidence for its not being a religious duty for women is the fact that the Prophet Mohamed did not circumcise his daughters, the statement said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: [June 16, 2020] Open Raven Raises $15M Series A Funding to Prevent Cloud Breaches Driven by Modern Complexity Open Raven, the cloud native data security platform that prevents breaches driven by modern speed and sprawl, today announced that it raised $15 million Series A investment, bringing the company's total funding to $19.1 million. Led by Kleiner Perkins with participation from existing investors including Upfront Ventures, the new capital will be used to accelerate Open Raven's growth through expansion of key functions including engineering, customer support, sales and marketing. In addition, Bucky Moore, partner at Kleiner Perkins, joins the Open Raven board of directors. By 2022, 75% of all databases will be deployed or migrated to a cloud platform, with only 5% ever considered for repatriation to on-premises, according to Gartner, Inc. With this growth, organizations today commonly rely on hybrid- and multi-cloud deployments, stretching their attack surface and making data harder to pin down. Adding to this complexity, an explosion in the volume, variety and velocity of data has resulted in significant sprawl across cloud environments that traditional data loss and breach prevention tools were not designed to control. As a result, errors leading to data exposure such as misconfigurations are one of the most prevalent and the fastest rising threats in cybersecurity, according to the Verizon 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report. "Today's data security problem bears little resemblance to the historical challenges that drove the creation of the last generation of products," said Moore. "Unlike legacy solutions like DLP and CASB, Open Raven solves for modern complexity with a platform purpose-built for the massive data exposure issue." Now generally available, Open Raven Community Edition delivers real-time data leak monitoring to proactively uncover cloud data exposure problems before they become security incidents. The platform identifies at-risk data, locates unknown data and shows every AWS account and asset from every angle in a global 3D map, making it easy for security teams to see and prevent data mishaps and maintain compliance. Open Raven is designed to fit seamlessly into an enterprise's environment and deploys into its cloud with direct access to the data model via GraphQL. "The transition to the cloud and out of physical data centers means that data stores change more quickly than ever before - leaving numerous unanswered questions," said Dave Cole, co-founder and CEO of Open Raven. "Security and cloud infrastructure teams are wondering, 'what AWS accounts don't we know about?' 'Is there any data at risk right now?' 'Is our PII where we expect it to be?' Answering these fundamental questions can be painstaking. We're giving organizations the ability to take charge of their data and explore their environments from any angle in order to truly understand their risk of cloud data breaches." Since emerging from stealth in February 2020, the preview edition of the Open Raven platform has been deployed at numerous global organizations across industries, including automotive, gaming, financial technology and software. Security leaders at these organizations helped the Open Raven team tune the platform to meet enterprises' modern cloud data security needs. "Many organizations believe they have a solid handle on their valuable cloud data assets, but security teams need a better vantage point to monitor unknown and unprotected data stores to ensure they understand areas of exposure," said Justin Dolly, CSO at Sauce Labs. "Open Raven turns complex AWS environments into intuitive visualizations that are both polished and functional - something that's been lacking in cloud security products we've seen to date." To learn more or download the platform, visit the Open Raven website. About Open Raven Open Raven is the cloud native data security platform that prevents breaches driven by modern speed and sprawl. With real-time monitoring, the platform maps all cloud data stores, identifies the data within, pinpoints the most significant exposures and enables teams to fix them before they become security incidents. From shadow cloud accounts to dark data, Open Raven restores visibility and control while laying the foundation for compliance and privacy efforts. For more information visit www.openraven.com or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005080/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Advertisement A former coronavirus patient who was treated with a drug which was hailed by the Prime Minister today as the 'biggest breakthrough yet' in the UK's coronavirus fight has said the experimental medicine 'saved his life'. Peter Herring, 69, from Ely in Cambridgeshire, was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital in late April after the deadly virus infiltrated his lungs and was placed on oxygen support within hours of his arrival. As his health deteriorated and he became gravely ill, the former John Lewis manager volunteered to take part in a new drug's trial and was offered dexamethasone, a cheap steroid that has been around for decades, in an effort to save his life. Praising the experimental treatment Mr Herring, who was 24 hours away from being placed on a ventilator, told The Sun: 'When I went into hospital, my breathing was pretty bad and the doctors put me on oxygen. 'I was quite worried, as I have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, and had bowel cancer 15 years ago, so I was high risk. Peter Herring (pictured), 69, was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridgeshire late April after the deadly virus infiltrated his lungs The former John Lewis manager, from Ely, Cambridgeshire, was placed on oxygen support before he volunteered to take part in a new drug's trial In the biggest coronavirus breakthrough to date, dexamethasone was found to reduce the risk of dying by coronavirus by up to a third 'The team said I was 24-hours away from being placed on ventilation, and nobody wants that. 'The treatment saved my life. I can't say for certain, but my breathing was getting worse and then I turned the corner. 'Five days later I was out of intensive care and just over a week after I went in, I was back at home. 'I am feeling absolutely wonderful now. I have bounced back and am full of energy. 'I cannot thank the team at Addenbrooke's Hospital [pls keep] enough. The standard of care was second to none. 'I feel incredibly lucky I was given dexamethasone. I am pretty certain that it made a difference to my outcome. 'I am over the moon that they are now rolling out use of the drug across the country' Mr Herring's incredible recovery comes as Boris Johnson today praised the drug that scientists found could save up to a third of critically-ill Covid-19 patients and has become the first medicine proven to reduce the death rate among hospitalised patients. An Oxford University scientist who led a British trial of the drug, Professor Peter Horby, said at today's Downing Street briefing that treating eight people with the drug could save one life and cost just 40 in total. It could save up to 35 per cent of patients relying on ventilators - the most dangerously ill - and reduce the odds of death by a fifth for all patients needing oxygen at any point. Mr Johnson said at today's press conference: 'I'm absolutely delighted that the biggest breakthrough yet has been made by a fantastic team of scientists right here in the UK... I think there is genuine cause to celebrate a remarkable British scientific achievement [and] the benefits it will bring not just in this country but around the world.' Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier described the results which prompted officials to instantly approve the drug for NHS patients as 'astounding'. He claimed it will help to 'save thousands of lives while we deal with this terrible virus'. England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty called it the 'most important trial result' so far, while Number 10's Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said it was 'tremendous news' and added: 'This is a drug that can be used immediately across the world.' Dexamethasone, first created in the 1950s, is usually given to treat ulcerative colitis, arthritis and some types of cancer. It is already licensed and proven to be safe, meaning it can be used in human patients immediately, and is a generic drug, meaning it can be manufactured cheaply and en masse by companies all over the world. Results of the RECOVERY trial, which involved 6,000 Covid-19 patients and was led by Oxford University scientists, suggest the steroid can prevent death in one in eight ventilated coronavirus patients and one in 25 on breathing support. It is the first trial to show a treatment provides significant impact in reducing the risk of death. But the drug given as either an injection or once-a-day tablet on the NHS had no benefit for people who were hospitalised with the virus but did not require oxygen. Dexamethasone is now the second drug available in the NHS arsenal to treat Covid-19, after Ebola medicine remdesivir was last month given the green light in another scientific breakthrough. Health chiefs said they imposed a ban at midnight last night to prevent companies from exporting the drug to other countries, in order to protect the UK's supply. They have already stockpiled 200,000 courses of the drug for British patients, after buying it ahead of the results of the trial. Britain is the first country to approve dexamethasone for Covid-19 patients, the Department of Health said, although clinical trials of the drug are ongoing in other countries including France, Iran, Spain and Argentina. If other countries approve the drug for patients most will be able to obtain their own supplies from domestic firms. Prime Minister Boris Johnson hosted today's Downing Street press conference where he hailed the approval of dexamethasone as the 'biggest breakthrough so far' in Britain's coronavirus battle England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty described it as the 'most important trial result' so far, and the chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance said it was 'tremendous news in the fight against this virus' Professor Martin Landray, lead researcher, said dexamethasone could have saved up to 5,000 lives if it was used throughout the UK's crisis. He said: 'If you were to design a drug that treats coronavirus, this would be exactly how you'd hope it works.' The steroid prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation, a nasty Covid-19 complication that makes breathing difficult. In seriously unwell patients, the lungs become so inflamed they struggle to work. In other coronavirus developments in Britain today: Two women travelling to New Zealand to visit a dying parent tested positive for Covid-19, ending the country's 24-day spell of no new cases; Lord Hague called lockdown a 'national disaster' and demanded an immediate end to the two-metre rule as data showed a 600,000 dive in payroll workers and 125 per cent increase in benefit claims; Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall returned to work in their first public outing since the beginning of lockdown, making an unannounced visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital this afternoon; Swimmers will be asked to arrive to pools with their costumes under their clothes and to avoid the butterfly stroke under new guidelines from the sport's governing body; China has put parts of Beijing back into lockdown and reimposed some travel restrictions in an attempt to contain a new coronavirus outbreak amid fears that a second wave is about to hit the country. Mr Hancock said: 'Im absolutely delighted that today we can announce the worlds first successful clinical trial for a treatment for Covid-19. 'This astounding breakthrough is testament to the incredible work being done by our scientists behind the scenes. 'From today the standard treatment for Covid-19 will include dexamethasone, helping save thousands of lives while we deal with this terrible virus.' WHAT IS DEXAMETHASONE? The steroid drug is a type of anti-inflammatory medicine used to treat a wide-range of conditions. It is given via an injection or once-a-day tablet and is sold under the brand names Ozurdex and Baycadron. In coronavirus patients, the steroid reduces inflammation in the lungs triggered by an overreaction by the immune system. One in 10 symptomatic Covid-19 patients are thought to suffer from the nasty symptom, known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS causes the immune system to become overactive and attack healthy cells in the lungs. This makes breathing difficult and the body eventually struggles to get enough oxygen to vital organs. Dexamethasone was first made in 1957 and was approved for medical use in 1961. The steroid is also used to treat conditions that cause inflammation, conditions related to immune system activity, and hormone deficiency. These include: allergic reactions rheumatoid arthritis psoriasis lupus eczema flare-ups of intestinal disease, such as ulcerative colitis multiple sclerosis pre-treatment for chemotherapy to reduce inflammation and side effects from cancer medications adrenal insufficiency (a condition where the adrenal glands dont produce enough hormones) Dexamethasone is known to cause a number of mild to moderate side effects, including vomiting, heartburn, anxiety, high blood pressure, muscle weakness and insomnia. Advertisement He said Britain was 'leading the way' in the global coronavirus fight and thanked the 'brilliant scientists' and 'thousands of patients' who took part in the study. The RECOVERY trial has recruited more than 11,500 Covid-19 patients from 170 NHS hospitals across the country and is the world's biggest trial testing existing drugs. A total of 2,104 patients were randomised to receive 6mg of dexamethasone once a day, either by mouth or by intravenous injection for 10 days. Their outcomes were compared with 4,321 patients given standard care alone, which involves painkillers and, in some cases, antibiotics. For patients on ventilators, the drug cut the risk of death from 40 per cent to 28 per cent. In patients who required oxygen, the risk was reduced from a quarter to a fifth. One patient who received the medication at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, is convinced it saved his life. Pete Herring, 69, said he was at high risk of dying with Covid-19 because he has high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and had recovered from bowel cancer 15 years earlier. He was so breathless he couldn't talk by the time an ambulance came to get him from his home in Ely, Mr Herring told The Sun, and spent five days in intensive care before recovering. He said: 'I didn't think twice about taking part in the trial and said yes straight away. If you can help others in a similar situation then you absolutely should. 'I am glad I did it. I feel incredibly lucky I was given dexamethasone. I am pretty certain that it made a difference to my outcome. And the overall results of the trial are pretty amazing. I am over the moon that they are now rolling out the use of the drug across the country.' Thirteen per cent of sufferers who did not need any breathing assistance also died, regardless of whether they took dexamethasone. There was no benefit among patients who did not require oxygen. The preliminary results - not yet published in a scientific journal - did not observe any notable side effects or adverse reactions. But dexamethasone is known to cause a number of mild to moderate side effects, including vomiting, heartburn, anxiety, high blood pressure, muscle weakness and insomnia. Professor Landray, an epidemiologist at Oxford University, said: 'There is a clear, clear benefit. 'The treatment is up to 10 days of dexamethasone and it costs about 5 per patient. So essentially it costs 35 to save a life. This is a drug that is globally available.' Professor Landray warned people should not go out and buy it to take at home because it has no effect on people with mild symptoms and could cause nasty side effects. Co-lead study author Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases at Oxford, said: 'Dexamethasone is the first drug to be shown to improve survival in Covid-19. This is an extremely welcome result. 'The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients. NHS REGULATOR STOPS RECRUITMENT FOR HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE TRIALS The UK's drug regulator has stopped scientists from signing any more Covid-19 patients up to trials of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine. Hydroxychloroquine caused a storm last month when US President Donald Trump announced he was taking it regularly in a bid to protect himself from coronavirus. Trials of it as a therapy for the viral disease are ongoing in the UK but the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) today told those running the trials not to sign anyone else up. It said that it wanted to see better results proving the safety of the drug before it is used any more widely. Some studies have shown that large doses of the medication can have damaging effects on the heart and lead to irregular rhythms which can cause deadly complications. Dr June Raine, CEO of the MHRA, said: 'We have told those conducting clinical trials using hydroxychloroquine to treat or prevent COVID-19 to suspend recruitment into their trials. 'Neither hydroxychloroquine nor chloroquine are licensed to treat COVID-19 related symptoms or to prevent infection. 'It is important to note that patients taking hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to treat other health conditions can continue to do so, as advised by their healthcare professional, as the balance of benefits and risks remains favourable in the licensed uses.' Advertisement 'Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide.' Health bosses hailed the results as a 'huge breakthrough' which will 'dramatically improve Covid-19 survival' for patients in the UK. NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said: 'NHS hospitals, researchers and clinicians have worked together at breakneck speed to test new treatments for covid-19, and it is amazing to see work that would normally take years bear fruit in just a matter of months. 'This research agility is not only important for coronavirus patients, but augurs well for the streamlined innovation that the NHS and the UK life sciences now must pioneer.' Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, added: 'This is a huge breakthrough in our search for new ways to successfully treat patients with Covid, both in the UK and across the world. 'It is thanks to NHS staff and patients who participated in the trial that from now, we are able to use this drug to dramatically improve Covid-19 survival for people in hospital who require oxygen or ventilation.' The Governments Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said the news was 'particularly exciting' because the drug was so widely available and cheap. He added: 'This is a ground-breaking development in our fight against the disease, and the speed at which researchers have progressed finding an effective treatment is truly remarkable. 'It shows the importance of doing high quality clinical trials and basing decisions on the results of those trials.' Dr Nick Cammack, head of the research-charity Wellcome Trust, which is conducting its own studies into Covid-19 therapies, added: 'This is a major breakthrough: dexamethasone is the first and only drug that has made a significant difference to patient mortality for Covid-19. 'Potentially preventing one death in every eight ventilated patients would be remarkable. Finding effective treatments like this will transform the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on lives and economies across the world. 'While this study suggests dexamethasone only benefits severe cases, countless lives will be saved globally. WHAT WAS THE FIRST COVID-19 DRUG TO BE APPROVED ON THE NHS? Remdesivir became the first medicine approved for coronavirus patients in Britain when it was approved by health chiefs at the end of May. Adults and teens battling severe bouts of Covid-19 will be allowed to get remdesivir if they fit specific criteria, officials announced. It made the drug, which destroys a part of the virus, the closest thing the NHS had to a cure or treatment for the life-threatening disease. Britain's approval of remdesivir came three weeks after US bosses gave it the green light on May 1, putting the UK weeks behind once again. Matt Hancock said the experimental Ebola drug was the 'biggest step forward' in treating Covid-19 since the outbreak spiralled out of control. Studies have shown mixed results for remdesivir, with no firm proof that the drug can slash the risk of death in Covid-19 patients. Until then, there were no drugs that had been approved specifically for the purpose of treating patients with Covid-19. Doctors have tried to save people with serious infections by giving them oxygen therapy such as through ventilators for the most sick. Advertisement 'Dexamethasone must now be rolled out and accessed by thousands of critically ill patients around the world. It is highly affordable, easy to make, can be scaled up quickly and only needs a small dosage. 'Any and every successful treatment against Covid-19 must be made available to everyone who needs it globally, regardless of their ability to pay.' Earlier this month the RECOVERY trial found that the promising anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine does not treat coronavirus. A total of 1,542 patients were randomly given hydroxychloroquine and compared with 3,132 patients randomised to receive standard care in the Oxford trial. After 28 days, 25.7 per cent of patients taking the malaria tablets passed away from the virus compared to 23.5 per cent who were not given the medicine. Dexamethasone and hydroxychloroquine are just two of five promising therapies being trialled as part of the RECOVERY study. Participants are also being given the HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia; azithromycin, a commonly used antibiotic; and tocilizumab, an anti-inflammatory given by injection. Professor Landray had previously admitted he did not expect one single drug to treat coronavirus. Just two months ago he said there was an 'extraordinarily' low chance of one of the five medicines being effective on its own and claimed it was more likely a combination of several drugs will have 'modest effect' on patients. Remdesivir became the first medicine approved for coronavirus patients in Britain when it was approved by health chiefs at the end of May after a separate trial showed promising results. Adults and teens battling severe bouts of Covid-19 will be allowed to get remdesivir if they fit specific criteria, officials announced. It made the drug, which destroys a part of the virus, the closest thing the NHS had to a cure or treatment for the life-threatening disease. Britain's approval of remdesivir came three weeks after US bosses gave it the green light on May 1, putting the UK weeks behind once again. Matt Hancock said at the time that the experimental Ebola drug was the 'biggest step forward' in treating Covid-19 since the outbreak spiralled out of control. Studies have shown mixed results for remdesivir, with no firm proof that the drug can slash the risk of death in Covid-19 patients. Until then, there were no drugs that had been approved specifically for the purpose of treating patients with Covid-19. Doctors have tried to save people with serious infections by giving them oxygen therapy such as through ventilators for the most sick. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 12:48:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Australia's economy is on track for a gradual recovery from COVID-19, but faces the threat of a second wave of infections along with the rest of the world, according to minutes from a central bank meeting released on Tuesday. At the meeting held earlier this month, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) officials pointed to the chance of a second wave of infections as a potential global stumbling block. "Should widespread contagion resume, with a return of lockdowns, confidence would suffer and cash flow would be strained," the report said. RBA officials were broadly optimistic about the country's success in containing the virus so far, leading to an earlier opening up of businesses than initially expected, and the possibility that a downturn would be shallower than expected. Federal government stimulus measures were credited as instrumental in protecting the economy from collapse, with some households actually better off in terms of income under the pandemic. "Households that were already receiving welfare payments had additional payments, and the JobKeeper program and increased JobSeeker payments had supported incomes for others. In some instances, households had received more income than usual," according to RBA. However figures show that along with a contraction in spending in late March and April, many Australians had lost their jobs or seen a drop in the number of hours worked, which fell by 9 percent overall in April. RBA officials said that while this figure was less than it could have been, it was still substantial and may have an effect on spending during the second half of the year. Enditem SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced that Gavin Patterson, President & Chief Revenue Officer, will participate in a virtual fireside chat hosted by Evercore ISI on Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. (PT) / 12:00 p.m. (ET). A live webcast will be available on Salesforce's website at www.salesforce.com/investor. About Salesforce Salesforce is the global leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), bringing companies closer to their customers in the digital age. Founded in 1999, Salesforce enables companies of every size and industry to take advantage of powerful technologiescloud, mobile, social, internet of things, artificial intelligence, voice and blockchainto create a 360-degree view of their customers. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com. SOURCE Salesforce Related Links http://www.salesforce.com Canada understands the importance of Operation UNIFIER in Ukraine and building up its military presence in the region. This was discussed during a phone conversation between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 15, the Prime Ministers press service reported. They agreed on the importance of Operation UNIFIER and the good news that Canadian Armed Forces personnel are returning to Ukraine this month to resume training in support of the Security Forces of Ukraine, the report notes. The two leaders spoke about the deep and strong bonds shared by Canada and Ukraine. Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed Canadas ongoing commitment to Ukraines prosperity, security, and territorial integrity, the report says. The Prime Minister and the President looked forward to continuing Canada and Ukraines strong partnership at the United Nations, at NATO, and in other international organizations in order to advance shared priorities. As reported, about 90 members of the Canadian Armed Forces arrived in Ukraine yesterday to participate in Operation UNIFIER. ish The Indian-born tycoon behind Cobra beer has been elected as the first BAME boss of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea replaces John Allan at the top of the business lobby group at a time when the Black Lives Matter protests have thrust race relations back into the spotlight. With the CBI pushing for greater diversity in boardrooms, the 58-year-old has vowed make his two years in charge count. Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea replaces John Allan at the top of the CBI at a time when the Black Lives Matter protests have thrust race relations back into the spotlight Bilimoria said: 'Diversity drives better decisions. It will be my aim to get better BAME (black, Asian or minority ethnic) representation in boardrooms across the country.' He separately promised to make the CBI, which is long accused of being biased towards big businesses, 'a home for entrepreneurs and SMEs' and help boost the UK's standing as a 'trading powerhouse'. But the crossbench peer's tenure will also be dominated by the UK's exit from the EU this year, as well as the economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis. Bilimoria added: 'As the four nations of our country embark upon an ambitious economic recovery plan, I will do all I can to help ensure we build back better through inclusive and sustainable growth.' Born in the Hyderabad region where his father was a senior Indian Army chief, Bilimoria moved to London in 1981 and qualified as an accountant with Ernst & Young. He then read law at Cambridge University and led its debating team against that of Oxford University, which included Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove. Bilimoria had his idea for Cobra after finding lagers 'fizzy, gassy, harsh, bland and bloating'. With business partner Arjun Reddy, it became a mainstay at thousands of Indian restaurants before falling on hard times in 2009. The British arm was later bought out of pre-pack administration by Molson Coors for 14million, with Bilimoria retaining a 49 per cent stake, prompting accusations he had left creditors owed 72million out to dry. The businessman has vowed to pay them all back, adding last year that he had paid 'chunks' and was 'doing his utmost'. In his first major intervention last night, Bilimoria called on ministers to relax social distancing rules to save the hospitality industry. He said there was a 'strong argument' to cut the minimum distance to one metre - down from two - adding that otherwise 'you will see many businesses go bust'. Sending discharge letters to UK patients as well as their GPs when they leave hospital could make a substantial difference to patient outcomes, according to a new study by University of Warwick researchers Study by University of Warwick researchers shows UK patients are keen to receive discharge letters when they leave hospital UK hospitals send discharge letters to GPs as part of care handover, but practice of copying in patients is inconsistent Better information for patients following discharge from hospital could improve the outcomes of care, including avoiding prescribing errors and potentially helping prevent readmissions Sending discharge letters to patients as well as their GPs when they leave UK hospitals could make a substantial difference to patient outcomes, according to a new study by University of Warwick researchers. Most patients are in favour of receiving the letters, according to interviews conducted with patients, which also highlighted that improvements in their content are needed to make them more useful. The study, which forms part of a wider project into communications around the discharge of patients from secondary care, is published today in BMC Health Services Research by researchers from Warwick Medical School and the Centre for Applied Linguistics at the University of Warwick. Discharge letters are produced by hospital clinicians when patients leave hospital following inpatient or outpatient care, and are sent to their GP as part of the handover process when they return to the community. Lead author Dr Katharine Weetman, an IAS fellow from Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick, said: "If a patient has been treated at hospital and they're being discharged, it means that something important has happened, such as a new diagnosis, a change in medication or new advice that they should follow. There are patient safety implications in terms of how such information is communicated, shared and managed in order that both they and their GPs are fully informed." Although there are national guidelines, each hospital trust can have its own discharge policy so there is considerable variation in how discharge letters are managed. Hospitals can vary the template, content, who writes it (i.e. a consultant, junior doctor, nurse, etc.), the process for sending it out, whether it's paper or electronic format, and particularly whether or not they share it with patients. The NHS Plan (2000) and 'Copying letters to patients: good practice guidelines' (2003) by the Department of Health, as well as other initiatives and guidelines since then, encourage sending patients their discharge letters as good practice, but it's not specifically mandated or standardised. For the study, the researchers spoke to 50 patients who had a recent experience in an inpatient, outpatient, accident and emergency department or day surgery setting, though most related to inpatient stays. 88% indicated that they would like to receive a discharge letter (compared to 64% who reported having received one), and 62% were specifically in favour of receiving a copy of the discharge letter that their GPs receive, as opposed to a personalised letter. Several gave examples of how that would have improved their experience. Dr Weetman said: "Patients described issues like not knowing what their treatment plan is, not knowing what they need to do when they get home, when follow-up appointments would be occurring, or what their medication or exercise regime is. If they don't know what's happening then it can cause a great deal of anxiety, a likelihood that important advice and guidance may not be followed, and so affect their future health, wellbeing and use of NHS resources. "Where they did receive discharge letters, patients wanted to see less technical jargon or acronyms, which are confusing to patients and may be unfamiliar to GPs too. They felt information should be organised into relevant, clearly labelled sections. "Past research has shown that if patients or GPs aren't informed properly then adverse outcomes may occur, such as patients being readmitted to hospital because vital advice in the letter such as changes in medication or the need for follow-up blood tests has been overlooked." An earlier study by the team found that GPs were also generally supportive of patients receiving their letters, citing reasons such as the benefits of enabling patients to be more directly involved in their care, and helping to ensure that any follow-up is actioned if the GP hasn't received or actioned the advice in the letter for whatever reason. The researchers also stress that it is important to maintain good practice in discharge communications even in a crisis situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where patient safety and avoidance of pressures on the NHS is even more vital. Professor Jeremy Dale, Head of the Unit of Academic Primary Care at Warwick Medical School and a GP in Coventry commented: "This study demonstrates the importance of the NHS empowering patients at all stages of their care with relevant information and advice. Patients want clear written information about the investigations, treatment and advice that they have received in hospital, together with the actions that they and their GPs are now being advised to follow. As the NHS rebuilds its services following the impact of COVID-19, the findings from this research indicate the importance of addressing this issue in order to ensure that NHS resources are used efficiently with the risks of error following discharge being minimised." Dr Weetman adds: "Good communication doesn't become obsolete in a pandemic, it becomes more important. Whether they have received face-to-face care or a video or phone consultation with a specialist, people need to know what's going on, what they are diagnosed with, what is planned and what the next steps are, what they need to be doing to be as safe and healthy as they can be. In this way, they can optimise the beneficial impact of hospital care." ### 'Adult patient perspectives on receiving hospital discharge letters: a corpus analysis of patient interviews' is published in BMC Health Services Research, DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-05250-1 The study received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation. Notes to editors: For interviews or a copy of the paper contact: Peter Thorley Media Relations Manager (Warwick Medical School and Department of Physics) | Press & Media Relations | University of Warwick Email: peter.thorley@warwick.ac.uk Mob: +44 (0) 7824 540863 The Donegal man, who emigrated Down Under and served as an MP and mayor The statue in honour of James Colvin in Wesport, New Zealand The descendant of a prominent 19th century Ulsterman who emigrated to New Zealand has pleaded for his statue in the country to remain untouched in the wake of worldwide racism protests. James Colvin, who was born in Donegal in 1844, moved to New Zealand in the 1860s during what became known as the Otago Gold Rush. He was famously held up by a member of the Burgess-Sullivan gang, responsible for a series of notorious murders in New Zealand in 1866. However, Colvin managed to escape with a large quantity of gold hidden in his saddle. Later making his name as a businessman, official, mayor of Westport and Minister of Mines, he represented Buller on the west coast of South Island as an MP for 19 years before his death in 1919. A bust was subsequently erected in Westport's Victoria Square to commemorate his life, and a street is also named after him in the town. After the Black Lives Matter protests and a worldwide debate around monuments of colonial figures of the past, Mr Colvin's great-grandson now fears the statue could be targeted. Speaking to New Zealand publication Stuff, Westport real estate agent Charlie Elley expressed concern about the characterisation of his great-grandfather that may come under scrutiny, particularly from the indigenous Maoris. "I just thought I'd get it out there before anyone goes off half-cocked and tries to rip down the statue of our great-grandfather in the Square," he said. "James Colvin was an Ulsterman and anything but a colonialist. Expand Close The Donegal man, who emigrated Down Under and served as an MP and mayor / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Donegal man, who emigrated Down Under and served as an MP and mayor "He was a champion of native land rights, having been forced from his homeland of northern Ireland by the British." Last week members of the Maori Party called for an inquiry into colonial monuments and statues across New Zealand, echoing similar calls around the world, including in the UK. The demand follows the killing of George Floyd in the US by police and an examination of the colonial treatment of slaves and other minorities, with statues to figures like Edward Colston in Bristol torn down. Maori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer suggested that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern should identify similar statues which are potentially inappropriate. Mr Elley, however, has stressed that his great-grandfather was a friend of the indigenous Maori people. He had previously been honoured by a tribe, with the traditional tribal korowai cloak draped over Colvin's coffin during his funeral procession in 1919. About 130 descendants from all around the world held a reunion last year in Westport for the centenary of Colvin's death, and erected a plaque beside the statue with the permission of Buller District Council. Colvin served in the New Zealand Parliament as a member of the Liberal Party and then as an independent from 1899 until his death at the age of 75 following a tram accident. It was claimed he had tried to jump on the tram, but had consumed "a few too many Irish whiskies" and missed the step, with fatal consequences. "With events as they are around the world there is a big chance someone would get it into their heads he was a colonialist and a racist, when he was exactly the opposite," added Mr Elley. "He had respect for all races and was probably 100 years ahead of his time. We could do with minds like his now." FILE PHOTO: The company logo for pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is displayed on a screen on the floor at the NYSE in New York By Michel Rose and Philip Blenkinsop PARIS/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A deal between AstraZeneca and four European countries for COVID-19 vaccines involves doses being shared by European Union members on a pro rata basis based on population, a source at the French President's office said on Monday. The British drugmaker signed a contract with France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands at the weekend for up to 400 million doses of its potential vaccine. Governments have been scrambling to secure advance purchases of promising coronavirus immunisation treatments amid concerns within the EU that the bloc has not moved as fast as other regions or countries. "The principle of the deal is that the vaccines will be distributed pro rata, based on population," the French source said. "What we've asked for and what has been agreed is for production to take place in Europe." The Netherlands also made clear on Monday that the vaccines would be available to all EU countries that sign up to the scheme after Belgium criticised the deal. Belgian Health Minister Maggie De Block said the European Commission should be coordinating vaccine purchases to show solidarity and ensure no EU members were left behind. Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said criticism of the deal was very odd because other EU member states would have access to the vaccines, which are still in clinical trials. Diplomats said many smaller nations had called for a common EU approach to procurement at a meeting of health ministers on Friday, when the four countries discussed their plans. Asked about how their deal would fit with an EU plan to invest about 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in buying promising vaccines, a Commission spokesman said the initiatives were connected and complimentary. France hopes to strike similar deals with other pharmaceuticals companies soon, the French source said. A call in May by French drugmaker Sanofi for a more collaborative European effort in the hunt for a vaccine sparked a backlash, especially after its CEO said doses produced in the United States, which had rapidly rolled out funding for research, would go to U.S. patients first. Story continues Sanofi Chief Executive Paul Hudson later tempered his comments, emphasising that any coronavirus vaccine would reach all parts of the world. Macron is due to visit a Sanofi Pasteur vaccine plant in France on Tuesday and will announce commitments on treatments and manufacturing capacities alongside the company, the source at the President's office said. ($1 = 0.8886 euros) (Reporting by Michel Rose and Matthias Blamont in Paris, Philip Blenkinsop and Francesco Guarascio in Brussels and Anthony Deutsch in Amsterdam; Writing by Sarah White; Editing by David Goodman and David Clarke) There is an effort underway by several liberal economists including Paul Krugman (City University of New York), Maximilian Auffhammer (University of California, Berkeley), and Justin Wolfers (University of Michigan) to have Harald Uhlig, a senior faculty member at the University of Chicago, removed from his position as editor of the world's preeminent economics journal, The Journal of Political Economy. In addition, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has announced that effective June 12, Uhlig's advisory relationship with the Bank is terminated. These reactions have been triggered by Uhlig's suggestion that those advocating extreme defunding of our country's police departments could be compared with "flat earthers." Uhlig's point is that law and order is indispensable for the economic survival of any community. If professors Krugman and Wolfers cannot agree with this plain fiscal truth, then it is their competence as economists that should be questioned, not Uhlig's. This attack on Uhlig is one of many that have come in recent months as left-wing activists have successfully secured numerous firings of un-liberal faculty members at universities across the country for viewpoints that the activists deem politically unacceptable. When one's expression of an economic reality is cause for his dismissal from a position in academia and/or public service, such a politically motivated reaction is a danger to our country's survival. If we Americans do not maintain our commitment to the protection of the free expression of ideas and perspectives, particularly in the academic arena, we are doomed as a free country. Harald Uhlig's editorship of The Journal of Political Economy should remain intact, and his position as economic adviser to the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank should be restored. The apparent politically motivated dismal by the Chicago Fed of Uhlig's valuable economic counsel should not be permitted to stand. If there was ever a time when our central bank needs valuable insights from brilliant economists like Uhlig, that time is now. Silberberg first joined Marsh in 2004 as part of a graduate program, and has since served a number of specialist roles within Australia primarily focused on the energy & power industry. In January, she relocated to Calgary to join the energy & power team. Dan Gumsley has been hired to sere as account manager for the renewable energy team, and he will focus on the growing offshore wind market in the UK. He will be based in London, and will report to JLT Specialty power leader Hamish Roberts. Gumsley has more than 20 years of insurance experience as both a broker and an in-house insurance manager. He joins Marsh JLT Specialty from a leading European offshore wind developer. As the world begins to emerge from lockdown restrictions, many countries are considering how, as a consequence of the pandemic, they may accelerate their decarbonization programs to take advantage of the recent lower demand for traditional power sources and petroleum, commented Marsh JLT Specialty energy & power global head Andrew George. Depending on the location, the renewable energy sector can offer countries flexible, reliable, and proven technologies including solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, bio-mass, hydro and battery power, George added. Working as part of our global renewable energy team, Joanne and Dan will play key roles in delivering the services and solutions to support our energy clients in Canada and the UK as they transition towards more sustainable and carbon-neutral futures. High doses of ketamine, a drug commonly used in humans as an anaesthetic, can temporarily switch off the brain, researchers claim. In lab experiments, UK researchers observed the brain activity of sheep turning off in an instant, and then turning back on minutes later. This phenomenon is likely to explain the dangerous K-hole phenomenon where ketamine abusers experience a state of oblivion likened to a near-death experience. Measurements of brain waves of sheep that were sedated with the drug may explain the out-of-body experiences that high ketamine doses can cause. The previously undiscovered effect of ketamine on brain activity could make it a useful tool in the treatment of neurological conditions, the team say. Researchers used electroencephalography (EEG), a method of recording electrical activity of the brain that involves electrodes placed along the scalp. EEG holes are visible in spectrograms after intravenous ketamine delivery. (AF) Spectrograms of EEGs recorded from five sheep that received ketamine (red line in A-F). For three of these sheep (AC) the heart rate (HR) was recorded. Sheep 5 (E) received a repeated dose of ketamine in a separate session 3 days after the first trial (F) This wasnt just reduced brain activity. After the high dose of ketamine the brains of these sheep completely stopped, said Professor Jenny Morton at the University of Cambridges Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience. HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE: CAUSE AND TREATMENT Huntington's disease is a condition that stops parts of the brain working properly over time. It's an inherited disorder that results in the death of brain cells. It gets gradually worse over time and is usually fatal after a period of up to 20 years. Symptoms usually start at 30 to 50 years of age, but can begin much earlier or later. Symptoms of Huntington's disease can include: difficulty concentrating and memory lapses; depression; stumbling and clumsiness; involuntary jerking or fidgety movements of the limbs and body; mood swings and personality changes; problems swallowing, speaking and breathing; difficulty moving. If a parent has the Huntington's disease gene, there's a 50 per cent chance of each of their children developing the condition affected children are also able to pass the gene to any children they have There's currently no cure for Huntington's disease or any way to stop it getting worse. But treatment and support can help reduce some of the problems it causes. Source: NHS Advertisement 'Weve never seen that before.' The teams study aimed to understand the effect of therapeutic drugs on the brains of people living with Huntingtons disease, a rare and inherited brain disorder. They wanted to understand why human patients respond differently to various drugs if they carry the gene for the progressive disease, which stops parts of the brain from working properly over time. Our surprising findings could help explain how ketamine works if it disrupts the networks between different regions of the brain, this could make it a useful tool to study how brain networks function both in the healthy brain and in neurological diseases like Huntingtons disease and schizophrenia. At the University of Cambridges labs, sheep were used as a pre-clinical model of disorders of the human nervous system, including Huntingtons disease. To conduct the experiment, normal sheep were put into veterinary slings, which are commonly used to keep animals safe during veterinary procedures. Different doses of ketamine were given to 12 sheep six of which were given a single higher dose of ketamine (24mg/kg) which is at the high-end of the anaesthetic range. Researchers used electroencephalography (EEG), a method of recording electrical activity of the brain that involves electrodes placed along the scalp. EEG measured immediate changes in the animals brain waves once ketamine had been administered. Initially the same response was seen as with a lower dose, but within two minutes of administering the drug, the brain activity of five of these six sheep stopped completely one of them for several minutes, which hasnt been seen before. Although the anaesthetised sheep looked as though they were asleep, their brains had switched off. A few minutes later their brains were functioning normally again it was as though they had just been switched off and on, Morton said. As the sheep came round from the ketamine, their brain activity was really unusual, she said. The timing of the unusual patterns of sheep brain activity corresponded to the time when human users report feeling their brain has disconnected from their body. The findings arose as part of a larger research project into Huntingtons disease, an inherited disorder that results in the death of brain cells. The team want to understand why human patients respond differently to various drugs if they carry the gene for this disease Its likely that the brain oscillations caused by the drug may prevent information from the outside world being processed normally. Low-frequency activity dominated while the sheep were asleep, but when the drug wore off and the sheep regained consciousness, their brain activity started switching between high and low frequency oscillations. The bursts of different frequency were irregular at first, but became regular within a few minutes. Interestingly, one of the sheep that received a repeated dose of ketamine in a follow-up trial three days after the first session showed no EEG hole, despite doing so in the first trial. Ketamine was used for the study because its widely used as a safe anaesthetic and pain-relief drug for treating large animals including dogs, horses and sheep. It is also used medically, and is known as a dissociative anaesthetic because patients can appear awake and move around but they dont feel pain or process information normally many report feeling as though their mind has separated from their body. At lower doses ketamine has a pain-relieving effect and its use in adult humans is mainly restricted to field situations such as frontline pain relief for injured soldiers or victims of road traffic accidents. Ketamine has recently been proposed as a new treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, but beyond its anaesthetic qualities, little is known about its effects on brain function. Researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure immediate changes in the animals brain waves once ketamine - an anaesthetic and pain relief drug - was administered We think of anaesthetic drugs as just slowing everything down,' said Morton. 'That's what it looks like from the outside the animals basically go to sleep and are unresponsive, and then they wake up very quickly. 'But when we looked at the brain activity, it seems to be a much more dynamic process.' Ketamine users are known to take doses many times higher than those given to the sheep in these trials, and its likely these higher doses are have to be taken to get the same effect. But such high doses can cause liver damage, stop the heart from beating and could well be fatal, the research team warn. The study has been published in Scientific Reports. It's not just heavy drinking that's a problem -- even consuming alcohol within weekly low-risk drinking guidelines can result in hospitalization and death, according to a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Moderate drinkers "are not insulated from harm," write researchers led by Adam Sherk, Ph.D., of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. The Canadian government's low-risk drinking guidelines state that women should consume no more than about 10 drinks per week and men no more than 15. (A "drink" is 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine, or 1.5 oz. of liquor.) These limits are slightly higher than those in the United States and exceed those of most other high-income countries. In their research, Sherk and colleagues found that, in British Columbia, a significant portion of alcohol-caused death and disability was experienced by those drinking within these guidelines. For example, more than 50 percent of cancer deaths resulting from alcohol use occurred in people drinking moderately. Further, 38 percent of all alcohol-attributable deaths were experienced by people drinking below the weekly limits or among former drinkers. However, for women, alcohol consumption within the guidelines did offer some protection from death from heart attack, stroke and diabetes. Nonetheless, "[t]his protective effect did not appear to hold for men," the authors write, "who experienced harm at all drinking levels." For their study, the investigators used a new, open-access model -- the International Model of Alcohol Harms and Policies (InterMAHP) -- which can be used to estimate alcohol harms in a country or state, in total or by drinking group. They used British Columbia-specific alcohol exposure data from substance use surveys, hospital data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and mortality data from Statistics Canada's Vital Statistics. These sources were nonidentifying and for 2014. Because of these results, Sherk and colleagues say that some national drinking guidelines, which are published by many countries to help drinkers make informed health decisions, may be too high. This may be particularly true in Canada, where the research was conducted. Sherk suggests that guideline limits should be lowered to match those in the Netherlands: "Don't drink or, if you do, drink no more than one drink per day." Overall, he says, the best advice for drinking is to err on the side of caution, "When it comes to alcohol use, less is better." State security forces on Tuesday forced Bulawayo residents in the central business district to go back home amid reports of a planned protest by some citizens over the deteriorating economic situation in the country and alleged human rights abuses. According to residents, armed soldiers and members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police detained several people and beat up those who questioned their motive in blocking them from accessing cash in banks and buying food supplies. Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi was unreachable for comment amid concerns that soldiers were urging people to loot goods in some shops. This could not be independently verified by the Voice of America. Some Zanu PF members claimed that the army and police were deployed to quell protests in the city. Matabeleland North Zanu PF provincial executive member and former Tsholotsho Senator, Believe Gaule, dismissed suggestions of an unfolding coup saying the lockdown resulted from planned public protests. The security picked an intelligence report that there were planned spontaneous flash protests led by the Zimbabwe National Students Union and others. They then blocked the city in a bid to avert what happened in January 14/16 last year where over 100 shops in Bulawayo were destroyed. Please take note that some of the videos circulating saying there is violence and looting are lies being peddled by desperate people. The rumours about a coup are false as this happened only in Bulawayo and the president does not live in Bulawayo. The Zimbabwe National Security Council recently dismissed as false, reports that the army linked to top government officials and some people, including MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job Sikhala and several nonprofit organizations, were planning to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Several residents expressed dismay over the current situation, saying peoples rights are being violated by state security forces. Reverend Useni Sibanda of the Christian Alliance of Zimbabwe said, The clampdown this morning and closure of central business district is another worrying example of how civil liberties are being trampled upon under the cover of COVID-19 measures. Poor desperate people who had come to collect cash from the banks were chased away. If government is now shutting down surely this should be communicated. Movement for Democratic Alliance activist, Edwin Ndlovu, said the situation is tense but calm in the city. Today in Bulawayo the army and the police were chasing people away from the city telling them that they were not earning enough to go to work therefore business was closed in Bulawayo. Those who asked why they were being chased away from the city were assaulted and some detained by the army at Matshobana, Mzilikazi and near Amakhosi. Last time when the army did this the next day our Harvest House offices in Harare were invaded at night and we suspect they might want to repeat this in Bulawayo. The national movement galvanized by the killing of George Floyd has created the possibility of transformational change to policing. One reform that has generated broad discussion is eliminating qualified immunity, the court-created doctrine that makes it difficult for people whose civil rights are violated by police officers to obtain money damages in lawsuits. There are good arguments for getting rid of this immunity, or at least seriously restricting it. But abolishing it is unlikely to change police behavior all that much. Qualified immunity shields government officials from personal liability in federal lawsuits unless they violate clearly established federal law. That means that even if a police officer violates someones constitutional rights, the victim cant obtain damages from the officer unless he or she can show that the officer violated a right explicitly recognized by a prior court ruling. In theory, this requirement protects government defendants from unexpected liability when law changes. In practice, courts apply the doctrine aggressively to shield officers from lawsuits unless plaintiffs can point to other cases declaring essentially identical conduct unconstitutional a difficult hurdle, even when police conduct appears clearly wrong. Indeed, even if the former police officer Derek Chauvin is convicted of murdering Mr. Floyd, its quite plausible that a court could refuse to hold him liable for violating Mr. Floyds constitutional rights if his lawyers were unable to point to an earlier case making clear that the specific action Mr. Chauvin took kneeling on a restrained persons neck for more than eight minutes was unconstitutional. New Delhi, June 16 : Global SUV manufacturer GWM said on Tuesday that it has entered into an MoU with the Maharashtra government to set up an automotive manufacturing facility in Talegaon. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to invest $1 billion into the country in a phased manner. The said investment is expected to generate over 3,000 jobs. "This would be a highly automated plant in Talegaon with advanced robotics technology integrated in many of the production processes," said Parker Shi, Managing Director of the Indian subsidiary of GWM. "Overall, we are committed to $1 billion of investment in India in a phased manner, which is directed towards manufacturing world class intelligent and premium products, R&D centre, building supply chain and providing jobs to over 3,000 people in a phased manner," Shi said. Strategically located in the Talegaon Industrial Park, Maharashtra, it covers an area of around 300 acres and is close to the expressway. It is about 45 km from Pune and about 100 km from the Mumbai Port. In January this year, GWM had signed an agreement to acquire this plant from GM. The factory has facilities like logistics distribution center, training center, project management building, administrative office building and public facilities. Branch, the challenger bank that works with employers, today announced that it has partnered with Mastercard to offer cardholders instant access to their funds with Branchs Mastercard debit card by directly adding it to mobile wallets like Apple Pay from the Branch mobile app. Expediting the launch of this feature in light of COVID-19, Branch not only delivers users a contactless payments solution for transactions, but also provides users immediate access to their debit card upon sign-up. This addition allows new consumers to sign up for Branchs fee-free checking account and add the new Branch Card directly into their mobile wallets, without having to wait for the physical card to arrive. According to a recent study by Mastercard, consumers are showing increased adoption of and preference for contactless payments, with approximately eight in 10 stating that they are now using contactless cards, citing safety and cleanliness as key drivers.[1] With merchants rapidly adopting contactless payments to increase the safety of their employees and consumers, Branch users now also have a safer, more convenient way of conducting in-person transactions. Once a user completes the sign-up process, they can quickly access their new Branch Card via their mobile wallet. Consumers deserve fast and flexible mobile banking services that adapt to their needs, said Branch CEO Atif Siddiqi. As contactless payments become a critical part of everyday transactions, these new capabilities allow users to seamlessly transition between their physical and digital wallets. Users who have already received a Branch Card can update their app settings to add their debit cards onto their mobile wallets. Along with Branchs identity verification process, mobile wallets like Apple Pay offer additional safety features including biometrics. With a shared commitment to financial inclusion, Branch partners with Mastercard and Evolve Bank & Trust, which is FDIC insured, to provide the fee-free checking account and debit card. Contactless payments offer safety, security, and efficiency to consumers at the point of sale, said Sherri Haymond, executive vice president, Digital Partnerships at Mastercard. The capability of offering an instant Branch Mastercard debit card is part of our commitment to making the digital economy work for everyone, everywhere. Branch primarily works with employers to provide financial wellness and tools for their hourly workforce, including auto-budgeting, free earned wage access, opportunities to earn more income, and zero-fee banking. Gig, salaried, and unemployed workers have also turned to Branch for more transparent, flexible financial services. [1] According to a Mastercard global consumer study conducted between April 10-12, 2020 among 17,000 consumers in 19 countries worldwide, nearly eight in 10 say they use contactless payments. For more, visit Mastercards Content Exchange: https://mastercardcontentexchange.com/ About Branch Branch is the only challenger bank that partners with employers to help Americans grow financially. Employers turn to Branch to reduce the costs of paper checks and paycards by offering Branch as a free financial wellness benefit and banking alternative. Employees that sign up with Branch can receive a zero-fee bank account, debit card, free instant access to earned wages, tips, and mileage, and auto-budgeting tools to help them manage their cash flow between paychecks. Branch has partnered with some of the nations largest employers and is adding new employers daily in retail, restaurant, logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare. To learn more about Branch, visit http://www.branchapp.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Telecom brand Vodafone has made many changes to its prepaid plans of late. The company also introduced a double data offer recently for some of its prepaid plans. While the company didn't come up with too many new plans during the lockdown, it extended the data and validity of some of its existing prepaid plans. In this article, we would focus on the prepaid plans offering 1.5GB data per day. Vodafone offers much as five prepaid plans that offer 1.5GB data. Vodafone offers a prepaid plan costing Rs 249 that offers 1.5GB data per day. The prepaid plan comes with unlimited calling to all networks and 100 SMS per day. It has a validity of 28 days. The plan ships with a complimentary subscription to ZEE5 and Vodafone Play. Rs 399 prepaid plan also offers 1.5GB data per day. The prepaid plans ships with unlimited calling to all networks and 100SMS per day. The plan has a validity of 56 days and comes with a complimentary subscription to ZEE5 and Vodafone Play. Another prepaid plan is the lineup costs Rs 599. The plan by Vodafone offers 1.5GB data per day. The plan offers unlimited calls to all networks and 100SMS per day. The plan has a validity of 84 days and provides a complimentary subscription to ZEE5 and Vodafone Play. There is another plan offered by Vodafone that costs a little less than Rs 599 prepaid plan but offers similar benefits. The prepaid plan costs Rs 555 offers 1.5GB data per day. The plan offers unlimited calls to all networks and 100SMS per day. The plan has a validity of 77 days and provides a complimentary subscription to ZEE5 and Vodafone Play. Another prepaid plan offered by Vodafone costs Rs 499. The prepaid plan ships with 1.5GB data per day. It offers unlimited calls to all networks and 100SMS per day. The plan has a validity of 70 days and provides a complimentary subscription to ZEE5 and Vodafone Play. The last plan in the line-up is a yearly plan by Vodafone that costs Rs 2399. The prepaid plan ships with 1.5GB data per day. The prepaid plan offers unlimited calls to all networks and 100SMS per day. The plan has a validity of 365 days and provides a complimentary subscription to ZEE5 and Vodafone Play. Interestingly, Vodafone's rival Airtel also has a similar yearly prepaid plan. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. A Fianna Fail TD has suggested Russian bots are seeking to influence the outcome of the partys vote on the programme for government. Meath East TD Thomas Byrne said it was absolutely extraordinary that anonymous accounts were retweeting posts by the campaign group Fairer Future, who are opposing the government deal. Fairer Future says it is a group of 50 Fianna Fail councillors and 1,000 party members who are actively campaigning against going into government with Fine Gael and the Green Party. Read More A number of the groups Twitter posts have been retweeted by anonymous accounts synonymous with Russian interference in election campaigns. Speaking on Newstalk, Mr Byrne said: It is completely anonymous (and) it is being retweeted by Russian bots which is absolutely extraordinary in the internal affairs of a political party in this country. He later said it is incredible that such an operation was taking place from outside the country. This is a matter for Fianna Fail members only, they own the party and they are the ones going to make the decision on whether Fianna Fail should go into government or not, he added. Fianna Fail councillor and Fairer Future spokesperson Alan OCallaghan said he was not aware of any involvement of Russian bots in the campaign to defeat the government deal. Maybe he (Thomas Byrne) has some knowledge of that but I wouldnt have anything to say on that, Mr OCallaghan said. The County Clare Councillor said there isnt huge funding being put into the campaign to vote down the deal as it is mostly social media focused. If you look at it on a broader scale social media is the way of lot of campaigns will go in the future, he said before adding: A lot of Donald Trumps campaign was media driven. Mr OCallaghan said he was voting against going into coalition with Fine Gael rather than the programme for government. But the councillor said around 5pc of the commitments in the document will be achieve while the rest was pie in the sky. He said Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has lost all credibility as the party are at 14pc in the opinion polls. A white Mississippi police officer who fatally shot a black man during a 2015 car chase was captured on bodycam video apparently using a racial slur to describe him, according to newly released evidence. Officer Canyon Boykin fatally shot 26-year-old father Ricky Ball following the chase in Columbus, north east of Jackson, back in October 2015. The evidence related to the case was only made public over the weekend and comes just weeks after Mississippi's Attorney General dropped a manslaughter charge against the officer. The case was dropped 'with prejudice' on May 28, meaning it can't be revived, after Republican Attorney General Lynn Fitch said there was evidence Boykin had shot Ball in self-defense. The decision to drop the charge prompted protests in the same week that George Floyd demonstrations erupted across the United States. Ball's killing also sparked demonstrations in Columbus, a mostly black city of 23,000 in northeast Mississippi, at the time of his death. Officer Canyon Boykin fatally shot 26-year-old Ricky Ball following the chase in Columbus, north east of Jackson, back in October 2015. Boykin was indicted by a grand jury in 2016 on a manslaughter charge (right). Mississippi's Attorney General dropped the charge against him last month Among the evidence released over the weekend related to the case was a portion of bodycam footage (above) from inside the car as the officers pursued the vehicle Ball was in The fatal shooting occurred on October 16, 2015 when Boykin was riding with his civilian fiancee, Alisa Stanford; his patrol partner, Johnny Max Branch; and Officer Yolanda Young. They had started tailing the car Ball was a passenger in for several blocks because of a missing tag light. Boykin said at the time that Ball had fled on foot once the vehicle was stopped. The officer said he fired his gun while chasing Ball because Ball had appeared to point a gun at him. A handgun was found near Ball's body. Among the evidence released was a portion of bodycam footage from inside the car as the officers pursued the vehicle Ball was in. A summary of the car chase transcript included in the evidence says Boykin used the term 'm**lie' - an Italian slur for a black person - to describe Ball. Another document included in the evidence transcribed by a court reporter quotes Boykin as using the word 'bully'. 'Please still be in the car, mother f***er. Please still be in the car,' Boykin can be heard saying in the bodycam filmed by another officer in the car. 'If I get my hands on him. F***ing m**lie, goddamn it,' the summary in the evidence quotes him as saying. A summary of the car chase transcript included in the evidence says Boykin used the term 'm**lie' - an Italian slur for a black person - to describe Ball Another document included in the evidence transcribed by a court reporter quotes Boykin as using the word 'bully' Ball's family have long disputed whether Boykin had cause to shoot. Ball's killing also sparked demonstrations in Columbus, a mostly black city of 23,000 in northeast Mississippi, at the time of his death The case was dropped 'with prejudice' on May 28, meaning it can't be revived, after Republican Attorney General Lynn Fitch (right) said there was evidence Boykin (left in his mugshot) had shot Ball in self-defense Boykin was fired after the shooting for several policy violations, including not activating his camera, inviting his then-fiancee to ride along without permission and by making derogatory social media posts about African Americans, women and disabled people. He sued the city claiming it violated his First Amendment rights by firing him over social media posts and violated his due process rights by subjecting him to a biased hearing and knuckling under to 'uninformed public pressure.' The lawsuit was settled in 2017 for an undisclosed amount. District Attorney Scott Colom transferred the case to the attorney general's office in 2016. The attorney general at the time, Democrat Jim Hood, presented the case to a grand jury that indicted Boykin on a manslaughter charge in 2016. Boykin pleaded not guilty. Fitch, who became attorney general in January, announced last month that the manslaughter charge was being dropped against Boykin. She issued a statement saying her office had reviewed thousands of documents in the case and concluded there was not evidence to prosecute Boykin. 'In fact, all evidence, including forensics and the sworn statements of four separate MBI investigators, points to necessary self-defense,' said Fitch's statement, which did not mention the race of Boykin or Ball. Ball's family have long disputed whether Boykin had cause to shoot. The decision to drop the charge against the officer prompted protests in the same week that George Floyd demonstrations erupted across the US. Ball's now nine-year-old daughter Makayla Hendrick is pictured above in Jackson, Mississippi on June 5 People wave signs during a protest on June 5 in Jackson, Mississippi over Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch's recent decision to drop a manslaughter charge against former Columbus Police Officer Canyon Boykin Boykin's attorney Jim Waide said in a statement when the charge was dropped: 'There was absolutely no evidence it was anything but self-defense. It's a tragedy when for anyone to die. Canyon was doing what he was sent to do and had to defend himself.' Colom wrote to Fitch soon after she dropped the charge to request that investigation files on Ball's death be made public. After being sent the files, Colom published them on his website over the weekend. The files include police depositions and portions of the body camera footage. He said he pushed for the files to be released so there was transparency. 'That is why I really pushed to get the evidence, so everybody knows, as far as I am concerned, that I didn't allow any secrets,' Colom said. After reviewing the evidence, Colom said there was some things that struck him as surprising, including the fact that Ball and Boykin had previous encounters. He said he hopes the released files help the public regain trust in the criminal justice system. 'I think it's important that the truth comes out and theres transparency,' he said. 'In this climate that we are in, there's not a lot of trust in the criminal justice system. People have to make their decision for themselves about the reason for the dismissal.' BAY CITY, MI Two Bay City men have been arrested on murder charges related to the killing of a man in Florida several months ago. On Oct. 17, police in Bradenton, Florida, found 30-year-old Michael Briles dead inside his apartment. Officers had gone to the location after receiving reports of gunfire, according to media reports. Police subsequently released surveillance camera footage of a suspect driving up to Briles apartment, walking up to its door, then running from it about a minute later. Media reports indicate Briles worked two jobs, employed by UPS and a Bradenton pizza parlor. In February, the Bay City Department of Public Safetys VIPER/FBI Mid-Michigan Safe Streets Task Force began working with Bradenton police on the case, as it was believed two Bay City men were involved in Briles death during a robbery attempt. For several months, a lengthy investigation ensued. On Monday, June 15, investigators arrested two men, ages 27 and 22. They were arrested at separate locations within Bay City and taken into custody without incident. They were then lodged at the Bay County Jail on charges of first-degree murder, police said in a Tuesday announcement. Investigators also recovered evidence related to Briles homicide. The two suspects are to be held until they can be extradited to Florida for arraignment on criminal charges. Their names are being withheld pending that development. Bay City Public Safety Sgt. Nate Kamp said he does not anticipate the duo facing charges in Bay County. Special Agents from the FBI, the Michigan State Police Emergency Services Team, and the Saginaw Police Department assisted with the investigation and arrest. The 32nd edition of Visa pour l'image photojournalism festival will be held in early September in Perpignan in the south of France, just two months late. However, the event will be 'reduced' announced the organisers, due to health precautions in place to keep the coronavirus epidemic under control. The decision to keep the "physical dimension" of the event - the world's first photojournalism festival - was made "at a time when many photojournalists have almost no orders for the past two months," the director of the Visa pour l'image festival, Jean-Francois Leroy, stressed in a video press conference. Festival 'reduced' but maintained This year the festival will be "a little reduced" because deprived of emblematic venues and screening evenings, due to Covid-19 health measures. The 32nd edition will run from 29 August to 13 September and will show about twenty exhibitions accompanied with an online program. The exhibitions will take place in only three venues, those that allow easy circulation of the public. Asked about the second round of the French local election on 28 June which could see the victory of far-right RN (Rassemblement National) party, Leroy said: "There is no reason to deprive the Perpignanese of Visa, it would be a shame for everyone to withdraw us," while promising "to denounce the slightest interference with the freedom of programming". Crisis Among the "strong topics" put forward by Jean-Francois Leroy, a report by Peter Turnley on The Human Face of Covid-19 in New York, alongside a collective exhibition Pandemic(s), the first overview of the coronavirus crisis. The provisional programme of the 20 planned exhibitions also gives pride of place to ecological and sustainable development issues, notably showing A Planet Drowned in Plastic by James Whitlow Delano. Photographer Nicole Tung, who won a grant for 'women photojournalists' from the French Ministry of Culture, will report with Les contestataires on the struggle of Hong Kong demonstrators against the Beijing regime, among other urban uprisings. This edition will be "very feminine" and it is a "coincidence" noted Jean-Francois Leroy, explaining that the photos were chosen "according to their quality". NEW YORK, NY, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- World High Life Plc. (OTCQB: WRHLF) is building an investment portfolio in the legal medicinal cannabis, hemp and CBD industries, and its first step towards establishing a footprint in these industries was the acquisition of Love Hemp, Ltd., a London-based CBD company playing a leadership role in the development of the United Kingdoms (UK) leading range of trusted CBD products. World High Lifes first acquisition was strategic, and acquiring Love Hemp as its wholly owned subsidiary, ideally positions the company to succeed in the rapidly developing CBD, health and wellness, and legal cannabis markets in the UK and throughout Europe. Love Hemp is already considered one of the UKs leading CBD and hemp product suppliers with over 40 products and 1,200 listings to date, and combined with a nimble business plan, the company has shown itself to be quite capable of navigating any challenge. As were all learning to live, work, and shop during a global pandemic, Love Hemp has embraced these challenging times by highlighting and expanding its offerings online, a focus that has resulted in explosive sales numbers. As a result of managements responsiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic to serve consumers who could no longer acquire products at retail locations, the companys e-commerce growth has achieved impressive sales increases month over month since January 2020. The results speak for themselves as last week World High Life announced that Love Hemps online sales in May 2020 eclipsed online sales figures from January 2020 by an astounding 107%. Founder and CEO of Love Hemp, Tony Calamita, explained that the exponential e-commerce growth is a credit to his companys ability to meet these challenging times with flexibility and the keen recognition of evolving consumer demands. With continued online sales growth, these impressive numbers are a reflection that Love Hemps brand strategy is clearly working. Story continues While Love Hemp continues to grow its product offerings and market itself in the UK, the CEO says he expects to further expand the companys brand throughout the UK, Europe, and North America. And why notsuccess is always measured by consumer response, and in 2020, consumer engagement and loyalty of Love Hemps products have demonstrated a trajectory of strong growth upon which to build further expansion of the brand. Now listed on the AQSE (formerly the NEX Exchange) in the UK and the OTCQB in the U.S., World High Life has just announced its intention to list the company on the Canadian Securities Exchange, all of which provide investors in the most important CBD and legal cannabis growth markets, access to participate in the companys growth and to follow its story. A look at two separate published reports that highlight the cannabis industry in the UK and Europe, and its obvious that both are prime real estate for investing. According to the December 2019 UK Cannabis Report, the UK is expected to grow to a $4.3 billion cannabis market by 2024. And the research in The European Cannabis Report, shows that Europes cannabis market is expected to grow to about $145 billion (USD) by 2028. In business, timing is everything, and World High Life is entering UKs cannabis industry at an inflection point that should allow for its subsidiary to grow in parallel with the growth of the cannabis industry there. With an eye to the future, expanding the Love Hemp brand deeper into the UK and throughout Europe, makes perfect sense. After all, Europe is home to more than 740 million people, a population that is more than double that of the U.S. and Canada combined. While the cannabis industry in North America is well-documented and most see the United States and Canada as fertile ground from which to forge a profitable path into the industry, it is the European market that could be the ideal launching point to sculpt a growing footprint of investments in the cannabis market. According to The European Cannabis Report, Europe is set to become the worlds largest legal cannabis market over the next five years. Several factors that are driving Europes rise in the industry are that more and more countries in Europe are announcing new legislation that is favorable to opening their nations up to the cannabis industry, big investing dollars are pouring into Europe to the tune of more than $550 million (USD) being invested in European cannabis businesses already, including significant expenditure in research and development, manufacturing and distribution, and a government healthcare system with an annual healthcare expenditure that is more than $2 trillion (USD) and a total annual healthcare spend that is estimated at more than $2.5 trillion. Grand View Research agrees with the report on the dramatic growth expected in Europe and reported that Europes cannabis market is set to grow by 400% over the next 5 years. Meanwhile, in their published research, Arcview Market Research and its research partner BDS Analytics report that European government-subsidized healthcare systems will catapult medical cannabis to dominate Europes cannabis market and become the largest medical marijuana market in the world. While things are changing quickly in Europe, the entire market is currently based upon medical cannabis that must be purchased in pharmacies after a patient obtains a doctors prescription. Germany took the lead in Europe in 2017 by opening up cannabis for medical use in pharmacies, which almost immediately increased patients seeking medical cannabis from just a few hundred patients to tens of thousands. With this strong regulatory approach in Europe, Love Hemps THC-free products and their popularity with Alliance Healthcare, the UKs leading distributor to pharmacies and independent retailers, where the Love Hemp brand is now its best-selling CBD brand, make the company a strong candidate to meet the stringent rules in the European cannabis market. Saturating the UK cannabis market with a recognizable and profitable brand by delivering more products to retail outlets and continuing its online strategy has to be the first hurdle to clear for World High Life and its subsidiary, Love Hemp. But, with the flexibility that the company has already demonstrated to drive online sales to what have been remarkable month over month numbers, including a blow-out month of sales in May, the companys strategy is working and appears to only be getting stronger. Building on this momentum, Love Hemp has announced that it is launching a re-brand as part of an overall consumer strategy later this year with the support of its brand-marketing agency, Propaganda, one of the UKs leading consumer product marketing firms. This bodes well for the brands expansion beyond the UK, a win-win scenario for both Love Hemp and World High Life, a company that expects to continue broadening its reach in the industry. To learn more about World High Life visit: https://www.worldhighlife.uk To learn more about Love Hemp visit: https://love-hemp.com Or to ask questions directly, call their toll-free number in North America: 1 (888) 616-WRHLF (9745) About World High Life World High Life PLC is an investment company with a strategic focus to invest in and/or acquire companies operating in the CBD wellness and medicinal cannabis industry. The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Love Hemp Ltd., is one of the UK's leading CBD and Hemp product suppliers and has more than 40 product lines, comprising oils, sprays and vapes, and a variety of edible and water-based CBD products. Love Hemp has established relationships with over 1,200 stores in the UK, including leading brands such as Ocado, Holland & Barrett, and WH Smith. About Stock Market Media Group Stock Market Media Group is a news & media content development IR firm offering a platform for corporate stories to unfold in the media with press releases, research reports, corporate videos, radio-style CEO interviews, and feature news articles. This article was written based on publicly available information. Stock Market Media Group may, from time to time, include our own opinions about the companies, their business, markets, and opportunities in our articles. Any opinions we may offer about any of the companies we write about are solely our own and are made in reliance upon our rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and are provided solely for the general opinionated discussion of our readers. Our opinions should not be considered to be complete, precise, accurate, or current investment advice, or construed or interpreted as research. Any investment decisions you may make concerning any of the securities we write about are solely your responsibility based on your own due diligence. Our publications are provided only as an informational aid, and as a starting point for doing additional independent research. We encourage you to invest carefully and read the investor information available at the web site of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov , where you can also find all of World High Lifes filings and disclosures. We also recommend, as a general rule, that before investing in any securities, you consult with a professional financial planner or advisor, and you should conduct a complete and independent investigation before investing in any security after prudent consideration of all pertinent risks. We are not a registered broker, dealer, analyst, or advisor. We hold no investment licenses and may not sell, offer to sell, or offer to buy any security. Our publications about World High Life are not a recommendation to buy or sell a security. Should Stock Market Media Group and its management own shares in the profiled company, they may benefit from any increase in the share price of the profiled companies and hold the right to sell the shares bought at any given time including shortly after the release of the companys profile. Section 17(b) of the 1933 Securities and Exchange Act requires publishers who distribute information about publicly traded securities for compensation, to disclose who paid them, the amount, and the type of payment. Under the Securities Act of 1933, Section 17(b), Stock Market Media Group discloses that it was remunerated one-thousand, two hundred dollars paid for by a third party via bank wire, to produce content related to World High Life. Stock Market Media Group and its management do not own any shares in World High Life and never accepts compensation in free-trading shares for its marketing services of the company being profiled, however third parties that have compensated Stock Market Media Group may hold free-trading shares of the company being profiled and could very well be selling, holding or buying shares of the companys stock at the same time the content is being disseminated to potential investors; this should be viewed as a definite conflict of interest and as such, the reader should take this into consideration. If Stock Market Media Group ever accepts compensation in the form of free trading shares of the company being profiled and decides to sell these shares into the public market at any time before, during, or after the release of the companys profile, our disclaimer will be updated accordingly to reflect the current position of any free trading shares received as compensation for our services. For more information: www.stockmarketmediagroup.com . Contact: CONTACT: Stock Market Media Group info@stockmarketmediagroup.com Shortly before Elizabeth Warren joined their virtual happy hour on a recent Friday afternoon, the five African American women co-hosting the #TheSipHour mused about calling her by her first name. The Massachusetts senator had her own moniker in mind. I was going to say Im here today as an ally, but can we really just say co-conspirator? laughed Warren, one of the few white women to appear at the events organized by Higher Heights For America, which promotes the organizing and voting power of black women. Nothings going to change unless it is black womens voices that are uplifted." Such overtures could help Warren's bid to become Joe Biden's running mate. The presumptive Democratic nominee is under mounting pressure to pick a black woman in the wake of recent outrage over racial injustice and police brutality. But some black leaders say Warren's progressive politics, economic populism and specific policy proposals addressing everything from maternal mortality to the coronavirus could put her in a strong position. I think shes totally still viable, said Nelini Stamp, director of strategy and partnerships for the Working Families Party, a progressive labor activist group that endorsed Warren in the primary. Warren is one of the folks whose been talking about big structural change. And when were thinking about re-imagining public safety, that is something thats going to require some actual structural change. FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2019, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, left, and then-candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., arrive to participate in a Democratic presidential primary debate at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. Bidens search for a running mate is entering a second round of vetting for a dwindling list of potential vice presidential nominees, with several black women in strong contention. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)AP Representatives for Warren and Biden declined to comment. The pair speak frequently and Warren hosted a virtual fundraiser for Biden on Monday that raised an impressive $6 million. Warren told an audience of more than 600 that when her eldest brother died of the coronavrius in April he was alone. I couldn't be with him." But she said Biden called and "told funny stories that made me laugh in a way that reminds us all of the good times that we have had with someone we have loved and lost." He offered me kindness and comfort at a time when I needed some kindness and comfort," Warren said, "because thats the kind of man Joe Biden is. The door to change has been cracked open," Warren said. If we want to swing that door wide open then we must do the most good that we can do at this moment. She urged sowing "a seed for the America of your greatest imaginations. Biden's vice presidential search is entering a new round of vetting and Warren is still on the list along with several black women. They include Sen. Kamala Harris of California; Susan Rice, who served as President Barack Obamas national security adviser; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; and Rep. Val Demings. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Latina, is also being considered. Some Democrats say Amy Klobuchar's standing has fallen in the wake of George Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police. The Minnesota senator, who is white, was a prosecutor years ago in the county that includes Minneapolis. During that period, more than two dozen people mostly people of color died during encounters with police. The search was described by Democrats familiar with the process. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the vetting. During her bid for the Democratic nomination, Warren actively courted black activists and assembled a deep roster of endorsements. She gave a memorable speech in Atlanta in November on empowering black women and combating institutional racism that some African American leaders laud as prescient. Warren talked in a very straightforward manner about many of the systemic issues that have plagued African Americans from the very beginning of our time here in America, said South Carolina state Rep. Kambrell Garvin, who endorsed Warren in the primary. He said those included voter suppression and redlining, a term for banking standards that long made it difficult, if not impossible, for black families to secure mortgages in white neighborhoods. In this June 29, 2019, file photo, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., take questions during the Rainbow PUSH Coalition International Convention at Apostolic Faith Church in Chicago. Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is under mounting pressure to pick a black woman in the wake of recent outrage over racial injustice and police brutality. But some black leaders say Warren's progressive politics, economic populism and specific policy proposals addressing everything from maternal mortality to the coronavirus could put her in a strong position. (Kevin Tanaka/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, File)AP I think that she could be an interesting and compelling pick for Vice President Biden in regards to reaching out to African American voters, Garvin said. Still, Warren's appeals didn't translate to primary votes. Some 61% of African American voters supported Biden, according to AP VoteCast surveys in 17 states that voted between Feb. 3 and March 17. Warren earned just 5% of their vote, far less than the races other strong progressive voice, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, at 21%. But about 7 in 10 black voters nonetheless said they would be satisfied if Warren won the Democratic nomination for president, roughly as many that said that of Sanders. That suggests favorable ratings possibly durable enough to apply to the vice presidency under Biden. Warren has continued to focus on race after ending her presidential campaign. She joined Black Lives Matter protesters outside the White House this month with her husband and their golden retriever, Bailey. She has called for banning chokeholds as just the start of a larger overhaul of policing nationwide, and introduced legislation prohibiting the use of Confederate names and symbols from all U.S. military assets that has even drawn the support of some of her Republican Senate colleagues as well as Biden. FILE- In this June 29, 2019, file photo, the Rev. Jesse Jackson walks with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., as they attend the Rainbow PUSH Coalition International Convention at Apostolic Faith Church in Chicago. Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is under mounting pressure to pick a black woman in the wake of recent outrage over racial injustice and police brutality. But some black leaders say Warren's progressive politics, economic populism and specific policy proposals addressing everything from maternal mortality to the coronavirus could put her in a strong position. (Kevin Tanaka/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, File)AP The Rev. Jesse Jackson hosted a virtual town hall with Warren this month on the effects of the coronavirus. He said he still considers her in the mix for the vice presidential slot, but said picking a black woman could give Biden a boost in support from African American female voters that might be similar to the one that lifted Democrat Doug Jones to an upset 2017 Senate victory in Alabama. I think he should choose an African American, Jackson said. He needs the South to come alive. During her appearance on #TheSipHour, Warren was asked candidly by Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Womens Law Center, how she talked with white relatives and friends about the protest movement. Warren responded that she's stressed the need for non-blacks to educate themselves on the African American perspective. Youve got to stop talking," she said, "and start listening. Do I share anxiety about having a full house at the BOK Center? Of course. As someone who is cautious by nature, I dont like to be the first to try anything. I would have loved some other city to have proven the safety of such an event already. Bynum noted that Tulsa has been following state guidelines since the phased-in reopening process for industries. That process began in Tulsa May 1. "The Trump campaign has agreed to follow those guidelines as well, and will be utilizing safety precautions at the event," Bynum wrote. "Every attendee will have to pass a temperature check before they can enter the facility. Every attendee will be provided with a mask. Every attendee will have access to hand sanitizer stations. We are not going to suddenly abandon the states plan, to be either more lenient or more severe." In his message, Bynum addressed the impact of the restrictions the city of Tulsa imposed in the early stages of the pandemic. He wrote that Tulsans collectively undertook great sacrifice to flatten the curve. by Nirmala Carvalho The young Christian man was murdered for allegedly practising black magic. For Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak, he was killed because he converted to Christianity. Local upper castes whip up the fear of conversion to promote social intolerance towards Christians. Kenduguda (AsiaNews) A peace rally is set for today to demand justice for Samaru Madkami, a young Christian man brutally murdered on 4 June in Kenduguda, a village in Malkangiri district (Odisha) by a group of tribals who accused him of practising black magic. For Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur, the murder of the young man has nothing to do with witchcraft. Samaru and his family converted to Christianity three years ago, the bishop told AsiaNews. Some members of their community, egged on by radical leaders, did not forgive him. In the past three years, Kenduguda has been rife with conflicts and tensions because of a number of conversions that local leaders frown upon. Samarus murder occurred just a month after a Christian from the same village was almost lynched and his house ransacked. The upper castes want Dalits and tribals to remain uneducated and poor, so they can better control them, explained Bishop Nayak. According to the prelate, who heads the Office for Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), for un untouchable or a tribal person to be Christian means enduring greater social, political and economic discrimination. "The groups that control local politics and the economy whip up the fear of conversion to promote social intolerance towards Dalits and tribal Christians. In 2008 Christian Dalits were the victims of a violent pogrom in Odisha, which resulted in 120 deaths, 40 women raped, and nearly 56,000 people displaced, including 12,000 children. At least 8,000 houses were torched or looted in 415 villages and 300 churches were devastated. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Farm Aid announced today the disbursal of $400,000 to launch a national COVID-19 Farmer Resilience Initiative, working with more than 120 local, state and regional organizations across the country to pair immediate farmer relief efforts with longer term resilience strategies. Already endangered by years of low prices, trade disruptions, frequent natural disasters and climate change, farmers now also face myriad impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. These include loss of direct markets from the closure of restaurants, schools and other institutions; increased infrastructure and labor costs associated with creating new markets; supply chain and labor disruptions; and even greater declines in prices for their products. Through the Farmer Resilience Initiative, Farm Aid is distributing relief funds in all 50 U.S. states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, administered by local and regional partners. Grants, distributed in $500 increments, will help farmers meet household expenses and are paired with resources developed by Farm Aid's national partners, which include Farmers' Legal Action Group (FLAG), Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA), Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, Intertribal Agriculture Council, and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Together, these partners work to help farmers and ranchers navigate recovery. "Farmers and ranchers face a deep and multifaceted farm crisis. Federal responses to both the ongoing economic crisis and COVID-19 have unfortunately flowed to farms with the most resources, as well as powerful corporate interests, leaving the vast majority of farmers high and dry," said Alicia Harvie, Farm Aid's Advocacy & Farmer Services Director. "Without aggressive action, we will lose thousands of farms and ranches to this crisis, with ripple effects across our food system that are sure to further drain rural economies, impoverish food and farm workers, and consolidate land and markets into even fewer hands." To help farm families recover from the impacts of COVID-19, the Farmer Resilience Initiative is: Investing in farmer-led solutions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; Deploying emergency grants to family farmers and ranchers in need, particularly those producers that are less likely to receive federal and state disaster aid; Coordinating a national network of experts to create comprehensive resources for farmers; Offering support to farmers under stress through the 1-800-FARM-AID hotline and connecting farmers to the legal, financial and mental health support resources they need to recover; Supporting local, state and national farm organizations working on the ground to help farmers navigate this crisis; and Advocating for needed COVID recovery funds and resources from the federal government for short-term relief and long-term resilience. Farm Aid's collaborative approach to the Farmer Resilience Initiative is informed by more than 30 years of experience in disaster response, which relies on the participation and strength of grassroots organizations on the ground in affected communities. By handing major decision-making authority over to the local and regional organizations that work most directly with farmers, Farm Aid shares power with its grantees and supports local leadership to best address the needs of America's diverse farm communities. Farm Aid's grant-making is one aspect of its work to keep family farmers on the land, growing good food for all. In addition, other Farm Aid programs inspire an increased demand for family farm food; bring farmers, advocates and activists together for trainings and other opportunities; advocate for policies that serve farmers and eaters alike; and invite everyone to be part of building a thriving family farm system of agriculture. For more information about the Farmer Resilience Initiative, visit www.farmaid.org/farmer-resilience-initiative/. Farm Aid welcomes donations at www.farmaid.org/donate. Voices of Resilience: Quotes from Our Partners "It is critically important to provide direct relief to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities during this time," said Melanie Allen, Program Director of the Black Farmer Fund, an organization building a community investment fund to serve Black food system entrepreneurs across New York state. "And there is also the essential need to invest in long-term recovery and infrastructure-building that BIPOC farming communities will need after the pandemic." "America's farmers and ranchers already carry a great burden to produce food and fiber under increasingly stressful conditions. Following years of low and volatile markets from continued trade issues and other disruptions, they did not need another catastrophic event like the COVID-19 pandemic," said American Farmers & Ranchers / Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) President Scott Blubaugh. "We hope grant efforts such as Farm Aid's Farmer Resilience Initiative will be a bright spot of relief for our nation's struggling agricultural producers." "Friends of Family Farmers is proud to work with several other fantastic nonprofit organizations in Washington and Alaska. We aim to ensure that this money gets to historically underserved farmers most harmed by COVID-19," said Shari Sirkin, executive director of Friends of Family Farmers in Portland, Oregon. "Meeting and working with these other caring, passionate people to help family farmers in our region is time well spent." "Kansas Farmers Union has always been so impressed with how Farm Aid steps forward when needed with what they can," said Donn Teske, Kansas Farmers Union president. "We have had the honor of assisting their efforts in Kansas over the years after tornadoes, flooding and now COVID-19." "Some of the food producers most impacted in the Pacific Northwest by COVID-19 are those who come from Black, Indigenous, or People of Color communities and had accounts with restaurants that were forced to shutter their doors months ago. These are some of the food producers who have suffered the most yet weren't provided COVID aid by our federal government," said Kendra Kimbirauskas, vice president of the Northwest Farmers Union and a farmer from Linn County, Oregon. "While we know this money is merely a drop in the bucket, we hope that it will provide some relief to these producers during these tough and troubling times. We are grateful to Farm Aid and our organizational partners for their efforts to help ease the pain facing these farmers, ranchers, fishers and their families in our communities." "From the get-go, we've wanted to leverage this funding to bring greater awareness to the larger issue of disparities in who gets access to land and resources to farm, which has led us to focus our outreach to farmers who identify as People of Color, women, and new and beginning farmers," said Christina Stucker-Gassi, Idaho Organization of Resource Councils chair. "The Farm Aid COVID-19 Farmer Resilience Initiative funds for Nebraska are being administered by our Rural Response Hotline. We have prioritized meeting the immediate family living expenses for farm, ranch and rural families hit hard by COVID-19," said Vern Jantzen, chair, Nebraska Rural Response Council. "Farming communities already shoulder a great deal of risk, and the economic turmoil resulting from COVID-19 is pushing many farmers to a breaking point," said Martin Lemos, co-executive director of the National Young Farmers Coalition. "We are grateful to Farm Aid for working tirelessly to advocate on behalf of farmers in crisis. And we are thankful for this opportunity to join them and partner organizations from across the country to support the labor of young farmers and ranchers, specifically Black, Indigenous and other farmers of color. It is our hope that these funds will assist farmers and ranchers as they fight hard to keep their businesses open through the uncertainty and challenges of this pandemic, and to ensure food security for their communities." Farm Aid's mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid's work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. For 35 years, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised nearly $60 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms. SOURCE Farm Aid A visitor wearing a face mask walks in front of the wire fence decorated with ribbons written with messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Sunday, June 14, 2020. AP North and South Korea are still technically at war. Here are some key moments in the decades-long standoff between them, after Pyongyang on Tuesday blew up its liaison office with the South: - War but no peace - The US and Soviet Union agreed to divide the Korean peninsula between them in the days after Japan's surrender ended the Second World War and its rule over the territory. In June 1950 the Communist North invaded the capitalist South, sparking a brutal war that killed millions of people. Beijing backed Pyongyang in the three-year conflict, while Washington threw its support behind the South alliances that have largely endured. The two sides fought each other to a stalemate and hostilities ceased in 1953 with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, leaving them technically still at war. - Sending in the assassins - Pyongyang has tested the ceasefire with numerous attacks. It sent 31 commandos to Seoul in a botched attempt to assassinate then-President Park Chung-Hee in 1968. All but two were killed. Pyongyang launched perhaps its most audacious assassination attempt in Myanmar in 1983, killing 21 people in a bomb blast in a Yangon mausoleum, but visiting South Korean general-turned-president Chun Doo-hwan survived. In 1987 a bomb on a Korean Air flight exploded over the Andaman Sea, killing all 115 people on board. Seoul accused Pyongyang, which denied involvement. In 1996 a North Korean submarine on a spying mission ran aground off the eastern South Korean port of Gangneung, sparking a 45-day manhunt that ended with 24 crew members and infiltrators killed. A clash between South and North Korean naval ships in 1999 left some 50 Northern soldiers dead. - Going nuclear - Indian army soldiers walk past their parked trucks at a makeshift transit camp before heading to Ladakh, near Baltal, southeast of Srinagar, on June 16, 2020. (Stringer/Reuters) India Says 3 Soldiers Killed in Standoff With Chinese Troops SRINAGAR, IndiaAt least three Indian soldiers, including a senior army officer, were killed in a confrontation with Chinese troops along their disputed border high in the Himalayas where thousands of soldiers on both sides have been facing off for over a month, the Indian army said Tuesday. The incidentin which neither side fired any shots, according to Indian officialsis the first deadly confrontation between the two Asian giants since 1975. The Indian army said in a statement that a violent faceoff took place in Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region on Monday night, with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers, the statement said. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian gave no details on any casualties on the Chinese side, but said Tuesday that China had strongly protested the incident while still being committed to maintaining peace and tranquility along the disputed and heavily militarized border. Thousands of soldiers from the two countries, backed by armored trucks and artillery, have been facing off just a few hundred meters (yards) apart for more than a month in the Ladakh region near Tibet. Army officers and diplomats have held a series of meetings to try to end the impasse, with no breakthrough. Indian authorities have officially maintained near-total silence on the issues related to the confrontation, and it was not immediately clear how the three Indian soldiers died. But two Indian security officials familiar with latest developments told The Associated Press that soldiers from the two sides engaged in fistfights and stone-throwing, which led to the casualties. Both maintained that no shots were fired by either side. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with government regulations. The tense standoff started in early May, when Indian officials said that Chinese soldiers crossed the boundary in Ladakh at three different points, erecting tents and guard posts and ignoring verbal warnings to leave. That triggered shouting matches, stone-throwing and fistfights, much of it replayed on television news channels and social media. China has sought to downplay the confrontation while saying the two sides were communicating through both their front-line military units and their respective embassies to resolve issues. The disputed border covers nearly 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) of frontier that the two countries call the Line of Actual Control. Though skirmishes arent new along the disputed frontier, the standoff at Ladakhs Galwan Valley, where India is building a strategic road connecting the region to an airstrip close to China, has escalated in recent weeks. India and China fought a border war in 1962 that also spilled into Ladakh. The two countries have been trying to settle their border dispute since the early 1990s without success. Since then, soldiers from the two sides have frequently faced off along their long frontier that stretches from Ladakh in the north to the Indian state of Sikkim in the northeast. The Indian army statement said the violent faceoff occurred during the deescalation process underway in the Galwan Valley. North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border, in an explosive rebuke to Seoul that appeared designed to draw maximum global attention with little immediate risk of war. The move represented North Korea's most serious provocation in years and follows an escalating series of threats against South Korean President Moon Jae-in's government. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said in a statement that the office -- the most concrete achievement from series of summits between the two Koreas in 2018 was -- was "tragically ruined with a terrific explosion." South Korea's Unification Ministry called the demolition of a $15 million (18 billion won) facility that served as a de facto embassy for the two countries a "senseless act" that had "destroyed the hopes of those who wished for peace on the Korean Peninsula." The country's National Security Council warned North Korea of a strong response if it took further actions, but gave no indication of imminent retaliation. The destruction of the building comes about a week after Kim Jong Un's regime abandoned its operations at the South Korea-funded facility, which allowed officials from both sides to communicate around-the-clock. North Korea has been seeking to raise pressure on Moon in frustration over Seoul's continued support for the U.S.-led sanctions campaign that's hobbled its economy. While it wasn't immediately clear how the allies would react, Kim's target seemed chosen to embarrass Moon without provoking a military response from South Korea or U.S. President Donald Trump. Moon has spent much of his presidency seeking better ties with Pyongyang, sometimes putting himself at odds with more hawkish voices in the Trump administration. "We can expect Pyongyang will continue with similar military acts, but not enough that would force Seoul to retaliate in kind with force," said Duyeon Kim, a senior adviser for Northeast Asia and Nuclear Policy at the International Crisis Group. "We should remember that the liaison office was essentially already dead, so, if there's a real problem, then it's for South Korean taxpayers." Onshore markets had finished trading when reports of the attack first emerged at around 3:30 p.m. local time, and Kospi 200 futures ended the session up 5.6% after rallying almost 7%. Foreign investors pulled a net 727 billion won from the contracts. Shares of Top tech firms Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. dropped more than 1% in after-hours trading, according to data from brokerage Mirae Asset Daewoo. One-month dollar-won non-deliverable forwards rose 0.3% to 1,211.41, suggesting that the South Korean currency will weaken when trading resumes Wednesday. The incident was among the most serious provocations since 2010, when North Korea was suspected of torpedoing a South Korean warship, killing 46 sailors, and a few months later shelling a South Korean island, killing two soldiers and two civilians. The attacks threatened to spill into open fighting, but tensions were defused amid concerns about the devastation from another war. Trade between the two Koreas has dropped to virtually zero from $2.7 billion in 2015, or about 10% of North Korea's economy. The regime took a further hit this year when it sealed off its borders in January at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, which slammed the brakes on other trade with countries like China. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily briefing soon after the incident that the country hoped for peace on the Korean Peninsula, without mentioning the liaison office. China is North Korea's main political backer and trading partner, giving it a key role in implementing international sanctions against North Korea. The liaison office, opened two years ago, was part of moves to reduce threats along the border as Kim also engaged Trump in talks about his nuclear weapons program. The office allowed for constant communication between the two sides for the first time since the start of the 1950-53 Korean War. Earlier Tuesday, North Korea said it was reviewing plans to send troops into some areas of the Demilitarized Zone, without cited specific parts of the heavily fortified border area. The statement appeared to be referring to a region near the office on the western side of the peninsula and a closed joint resort in the east around Mount Kumgang, the Yonhap News Agency reported. Moon has recently pushed to restore some of the frozen economic ties with North Korea and repeatedly called for North Korea to hold talks. Pyongyang has ignored his calls for dialogue and chastised him for being meddlesome in his attempts to serve as a bridge between Kim Jong Un and Trump. Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Centre for North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute, said the latest action illustrated North Korea's "strong will" to "completely shut off" relations with the South. "North Korea is working toward re-militarization of the Kaesong industrial complex," Cheong said. "And blowing up the liaison office in the complex would just be the first step on their road map." North Korea continued to lay the blame on anti-Kim leaflets flown across the border by South Korean-based activists, saying the country was compelled to "force human scum, and those who have sheltered the scum, to pay dearly for their crimes." The regime went ahead with the move, even though Moon's government last week revoked the licenses of two groups involved and urged a criminal investigation into their leaders. Millions of leaflets have flown across the border for more than a decade bearing messages critical of North Korean leaders. The latest came as Kim Jong Un made fewer public appearances over the past several weeks than normal, leading to global speculation about his health. Over the years, North Korea has often threatened military action -- saying it would turn Seoul into a "sea of fire" and sink the Japanese archipelago -- but has taken few steps that could escalate into open conflict with the U.S. and its allies. "It often bluffs, and we have seen lots of that before," said Zhang Baohui, a professor of political science and director of the Centre for Asian Pacific Studies at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. "However, when it comes to concrete actions North Korea has been prudent as it understands the huge costs associated with imprudent actions." Kim You-geun, deputy director of Cheong Wa Dae's national security office, speaks during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Yonhap Hours after North Korea demolished the inter-Korean liaison office in its border town of Kaesong in a surprise provocation Tuesday, South Korea warned of a strong response if the North further worsens the situation. Cheong Wa Dae made the unusually strong warning after holding an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) standing committee to discuss the matter. "The government expresses strong regret over North Korea's unilateral explosion of the inter-Korean liaison office building," Kim You-geun, deputy director of Cheong Wa Dae's national security office, told reporters after the meeting. "We sternly warn that we will strongly respond to it if North Korea takes any action that further worsens the situation." Kim also said the demolition constitutes an action that betrays "the expectations of all people who wish for the development of inter-Korean relations and the settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula." ChiccoDodiFC/iStockBy MORGAN WINSOR, ABC News (ATLANTA) -- A number of police officers in Georgia's capital and most populous city have resigned in recent weeks amid nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice. The Atlanta Police Foundation revealed Monday night that eight officers within the Atlanta Police Department have resigned since June 1. Earlier Monday, the group had inaccurately reported 19 resignations and later apologized for the error. "We are now going into the third consecutive week of unabated protests in which officers have worked 12-hour shifts seven days per week," Atlanta Police Foundation president and CEO Dave Wilkinson said in a statement. "As you can imagine, their stress levels are exacerbated by physical and emotional exhaustion. We are grateful for the sacrifices they are making every day and will continue to support them while accelerating the programs under the Atlanta Police Foundations mission in order to address police reform and other issues the protests and their aftermath have illuminated." Protests against police brutality and racial injustice erupted in cities across the United States and around the world in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of police. Floyd, an unarmed 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 shortly after a white police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck as three other officers stood by. Demonstrations intensified in Atlanta after Rayshard Brooks, an unarmed 27-year-old black man, was shot to death by a city police officer in the parking lot of a Wendy's last Friday. The deadly encounter led to large groups of people protesting at the scene, chanting Brooks' name, while some appeared to set fire to the fast food restaurant. Just hours after Friday's shooting, Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields submitted her resignation to Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Shields had led the police department since December 2016. What has become abundantly clear over the last couple of weeks in Atlanta is that while we have a police force full of men and women who work alongside our communities with honor, respect and dignity," Bottoms said at a press conference Saturday, "there has been a disconnect with what our expectations are and should be, as it relates to interactions with our officers and the communities in which they are entrusted to protect." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. A whole new dimension to Limericks annual devotion to the Lourdes Pilgrimage will unfold this week when this years version goes virtual from Friday. There may not be the 2,000km journey and all the excitement and fun that goes with it due to the cancellation arising from the COVID-19 pandemic but there will be an opportunity for a spiritual connection across the internet as pilgrims gather online instead this year. Under the Patronage of Bishop Brendan Leahy and Lourdes Director Fr. Frank O'Dea, the Lourdes 2020 Virtual Pilgrimage runs from this Friday June 19th to Monday June 22nd, with celebrations being streamed live on the Limerick Diocese Facebook. The pilgrimage details of which are on the diocesan website - will open at midday on Friday with an Opening Ceremony celebrated by Bishop Brendan Leahy and Fr. Frank ODea, followed by Rosary led by Sr. Margaret Hogan at 430pm. Mass will have a midday start again on Saturday, with Fr. Michael OShea the celebrant and a homily given by Canon Willie Fitzmaurice, with Stations of the Cross led by Fr. Sean Harmon at 4:30pm. Sundays pilgrimage mass will be celebrated by Fr. Tony Mullins at 10am, with reflection/testimony read by Aoife Daly, followed by a Healing/Washing Ceremony by Fr. Michael O'Shea at 4:30pm. Monday Mass will again be celebrated at 12 midday, with the virtual pilgrimage having an 8pm closing ceremony with Aoife Walsh, Karen Kiely, the Limerick Lourdes Youth Group and their Leaders. Said Bishop Leahy: We have missed so much by way of Church celebrations over the COVID-19 lockdown months but the Lourdes Pilgrimage is a huge loss to the 500 plus pilgrims who make this very special journey each year. Its the highlight of the year for so many and while we cant make it to Lourdes this year, we will be there in spirit over the course of the four days as we join for these special celebrations. We cant replicate Lourdes but we are going to have celebrations which will strike a special Lourdes chord for pilgrims. As our Lourdes Pilgrimage Director Frank ODea says, while this years pilgrimage is virtual, it is still very much real. Our afternoon liturgies will seek to reflect the traditional Lourdes programme as much as possible as well. Many want to go on the pilgrimage each year but for one reason or another cant join us. While its not the same this year, of course, they can get a real taste of the special celebration we have annually from Friday. We would welcome all and hope that this conjures up another positive moment from this COVID period. In this case, it was, at least to me: Hatchers book The Poverty Industry explores the many ways in which grants to social service agencies create a perverse disincentive to providing actual service. On Sunday, matching the theme of Sharpes play, for which he served as an adviser, Hatcher focused his 20 minutes on foster care, a system in which black children are heavily overrepresented. But the same funding schemes also underlie programs that turn the life span of what Hatcher calls vulnerable citizens whether in schools, prisons or nursing homes into government income streams. Important information, certainly, but hardly as dramatic as Keishons monologue. The language of explanation is different from the language of empathy. It was the facilitator of my breakout group, the epidemiologist Camara Jones, who pointed out that phrases like vulnerable citizens, and the discussions of poverty and capitalism that had started our conversation, avoid the obvious point, which is racism. She asked each of us to reflect on why that word, which lies at the root of the other problems, can be so difficult to face. And thats when the evenings real drama began, as nine people diverse by age, race, gender and geography, seated in kitchens and living rooms around Atlanta and around the country, singly or in pairs, tried to clear a way through shyness and uncertainty to approach some fundamentals. Among the ideas proposed: Racism is a system, not an individual moral failing. Police violence is an expression, not an aberration, of that system. The University of Limerick (UL) and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) today announced two scholarship programs in honor of Peter Real, ADIs late chief technology officer (CTO) and UL alumnus. The scholarships will be awarded to students in the United States who are pursuing a PhD and undergraduate degrees at the University of Limerick. The Peter Real Analog Devices Bernal Fulbright PhD Scholarship will be awarded in partnership with the Bernal Institute at UL and the Fulbright Commission. The scholarship will fund post-graduate PhD research with a focus on scientific, biomedical or ecological disciplines and enable a US citizen to complete a fully funded PhD at UL over a period of four years. I am delighted to see that the multinational semiconductor company Analog Devices has decided to further invest in our strong partnership under the prestigious Fulbright scheme, targeting cleantech and health research that is critical for Irelands economic recovery, said Luuk van der Wielen, Director of the Bernal Institute. For more information or to apply for the scholarship visit: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/countries/selectedprogram/383 The Peter Real Analog Devices Scholarship for undergraduate students, which will award 5,000 each to three students, are merit-based and students who are accepted to UL with top academic grades will be considered. The funds are designed to help support cost-of-living expenses, including room and board. Scholarship funds will be awarded to one student in each of the following categories: A student studying science or engineering A graduate of a Boston, Mass.- area high school in honor of ADIs global headquarters location A student pursuing a general UL undergraduate degree For more about the undergraduate scholarship program or apply, visit: https://www.ul.ie/international/peter-real-analog-devices-usa-undergraduate-scholarships These scholarships will truly benefit the next generation of students who wish to study at UL and broaden their cultural horizons, said Josephine Page, Director of International Education, UL. Harvey Duthie, UL Foundations CEO said, We thank Analog Devices for its generous support. Through these scholarships, we look forward to welcoming many more American students to UL. The scholarship programs namesake, Peter Real, received a bachelors degree in Electronic Systems from the University of Limerick (formerly the National Institute for Higher Education) in 1981. Mr. Real enjoyed a successful engineering career including serving as CTO of ADI where he led and defined the companys technological vision. He held strong ties to both the United States and Ireland, having worked at ADI in both countries. In 2019, Mr. Real was posthumously recognized at the University of Limericks Annual Alumni awards for his outstanding contributions to science and technology. Peter was an engineering industry giant, holding nine patents and having deep experience across different engineering roles, mentoring many future engineering and business leaders. Throughout his career, Peter nurtured technology development at UL as well as in the United States and advised many research bodies across the globe, said Martin Cotter, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Digital Marketing at Analog Devices and a close colleague of Mr. Reals for many years. When we thought about how to recognize Peters contribution to our company and to the industry, it was a natural decision to fund scholarships that represented his personal and professional relationships with the United States, Ireland and the University of Limerick. About University of Limerick The University of Limerick is an independent, internationally focused university with 16,500 students and 1,700 staff. It is a young, energetic and enterprising university with a proud record of innovation in education and excellence in research and scholarship. More information is available at www.ul.ie. Tweet @UL Facebook.com/universityoflimerick LinkedIn University of Limerick About University of Limerick Foundation Established in 1989, the University of Limerick Foundation is engaged in fundraising for the University from private individuals, institutions and business. In excess of 200 million has been raised to date in support of what is now a world class university and campus. More information is available at www.ulfoundation.com Tweet @UofLFoundation For Immediate Release Chicago, IL June 8, 2020 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: American Airlines Group Inc. AAL, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. UAL, Delta Air Lines, Inc. DAL and Southwest Airlines Co. LUV. Here are highlights from Fridays Analyst Blog: Airline Stocks Take Off as Economy Reopens The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to airline stocks. Top airliners have shed more than half of their peak value as flights remains grounded due to lockdowns put in place to curb the spread of the virus. Recently, airlines started showing signs of having risen from the lowest possible level and are attracting travelers as several states have begun easing the lockdown orders. On Jun 4, American Airlines Group Inc. reported plans to boost flights by 74% in July, pointing that the coronavirus-led standstill in travel is over. Following the news, shares of American Airlines rose 41.3%, helping the S&P 500 Airlines Industry Index jump 12.8% on the same day. The gains in American Airlines also pushed peers like United Airlines Holdings, Inc., Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. to close 16.2%, 13.7% and 5.1% higher, respectively. Airlines Rally as Travel Resumes With the economy reopening, there has been a significant increase in demand for air travel, leading airliners to add back some flights to their network. Several airlines companies also provided flights to help shippers transport their goods during the lockdown. Major airlines are also witnessing an increase in flights to tourist spots like Florida, the Gulf Coast, Montana, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming as lockdowns eased. United Airlines in mid-May said in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it expects to increase passenger capacity in July to 25% of its 2019 level, compared to 10% available capacity in May and June. Story continues On Jun 4, American Airlines reported on average 110,330 passengers per day in the last week of May, which is more than thrice the average for Aprils 32,154. Additionally, the company claims that its load factor or the average share of seats filled per plane climbed to 55% last month from 15% in April. American Airlines senior vice president of network strategy, Vasu Raj, said that the company expects to operate about 4,000 flights during the busiest days of July compared to 2,300 in June. In fact, flights in July are expected to be 55% of the 2019 level, which is nearly double from 25% in June and 20% in May. The company also plans to reopen some of its airport lounges with limited capacity. On the international front, American Airlines has restarted flights to London, Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt and some Caribbean and South American routes on Jun 4. The airline expects international passenger capacity to increase in July and reach nearly 20% of its year-ago level. American Airlines carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank(Strong Buy) stocks here. As the coronavirus-led lockdowns are being gradually lifted and businesses are reopening, the airlines industry is expected to see a significant jump in bookings. In fact, domestic tourism can play a significant role in the improvement as uncertainties regarding coronavirus resurgence in several parts of the world are deterring international tour plans. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained and impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year. See their latest picks free >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. 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Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research How funny is it or not that Round Top locals now refer to the area just north of Henkel Square as Uptown? The once tiny burg is like a pinball mushroom thats released spores in all directions. The vibe remains purposefully laid back and primarily a weekend place, except during the ever-expanding spring and fall antiques-fair seasons. To get there from Houston, youll cross the much larger town of Brenham, where theres activity all week and a growing list of enticements, including nightlife, in a historical downtown lined with charming buildings. BRENHAM WHAT TO DO Brazos Valley Brewing Co.: Taste 21 craft brews and three wines at the new taproom at a warehouse compound thats also home to the 115-year-old Brenham Wholesale Grocery Distributors. Texas and outlaw-country-music lyrics inspire the names. Try the 7 Spanish Sisters, a brown ale made with Brenham-roasted Independence Coffee. Live music and food trucks add to the scene on weekends, along with brewery tours. 206 S. Jackson; 979-353-5361, brazosvalleybrewery.com Downtown shops: Stroll through downtown and shop local. The historical buildings contain an eclectic mix of small businesses, stores and restaurants. Scavenge for collectibles in the antiques mall thats connected to Hermann Furniture, the oldest furniture store in Texas. Step across the street to the hip, whitewashed modern general store Ballad of the Bird Dog, where pooches Ruby and Rye will likely greet you. (Dont even try to resist the pour-overs at Mescalito, the coffee bar in back.) The Ballad owners new 1844 Liquor Market sells local and regional farm-to-market foodstuffs and a curated selection of wines and spirits. Check their calendar for tasting sessions. Grab something to read at the Book Nook, a rambling used book store with rooms devoted to every genre. Live music: Downtowns streets around Courthouse Square fill with crowds in lawn chairs for the free concert series Hot Nights, Cool Tunes on Saturday nights in midsummer. July 11-Aug.1. On other nights, mostly weekends, check out the live music at the 4 Star Concert & Dance Hall, 209 S. Market, 979-219-5437 ; or Home Sweet Farm, a farmers market/biergarten, 307 S. Park, 979-530-7994 . WHERE TO EAT Barbecue: Hmmm, Truth or LJs? Tough question. Both are among the best in the state. Both routinely sell out. Truth, 2990 U.S. 290 West; 979-830-0392, truthbbq.com ; LJs, 1407 W. Main; 979-421-8292, ljstxbbq.com Ba Na Hill: Brenhams new Vietnamese cafe is named for a resort near Da Nang with a dramatic, sculptural bridge. The menu is classic and good, the decor is hip-casual, and theres a sister bubble-tea business next door. 2672 Texas 36 S.; 979-277-7777; banahillusa.com Jax: A brick-and-mortar location is in the works, but for now Jax is a food-truck must for mean burgers, watermelon salad, fried Brussels sprouts and Basque cheesecake. Look for it outside Home Sweet Farm, 307 S. Park. Order ahead: jaxbrenhamtx.com Las Americas Latin Cuisine: The appealing Latin-fusion menu covers many bases, from simple street fare to a satisfying Chilean sea bass in white wine sauce. Start with Ahi Nachos. 301 St. Charles; 979-421-8358, lasamericaslatincuisine.com Ice Cream: The parlor at Blue Bell Creameries (1101 S. Blue Bell, 800-327-8135 ) is kind of obligatory, but at Must Be Heaven (107 W. Alamo, 979-830-8536 ) downtown, your Blue Bell can top a killer slice of pie. WHERE TO STAY Main Street House: A sister property to the Ant Street Inn, this bed-and-breakfast stands out for its refreshingly contemporary, art-inspired decor. Each of the five bedrooms has a king-size bed, a sitting area and a private bath. Rates $170-$205; 979-221-2051, mainsthouse.com Far View Bed & Breakfast Estate: A secluded outdoor pool lies within the shaded grounds surrounding this prairie-style mansion built in 1925, which also has poolside suites and a carriage house. Energetic innkeeper Steve Zoobkoff is serious about his breakfasts. Rates $99-$180; 979-836-1672, farviewbedandbreakfast.com DONT GO HOME WITHOUT Something unique from the 17,000-square-foot mother ship of Leftovers, Ed Fulkerson and Michael Beddins European antiques emporium, which is styled to the rafters with unusual finds, home goods, seasonal decor and gifts. 3900 U.S. 290 West; 979-830-8496, leftoversantiques.com ROUND TOP WHAT TO DO Festival Hills music programs and Shakespeare at Winedale are temporarily shuttered, but the classic July 4 parade is on, and the shopping and strolling just keeps coming. To look Round Top chic, grab hammered sterling silver bangles at the new Richard Schmidt Jewelry Design (in the Round Top Village compound), a hat at STT Round Top (a fancy outpost of Brenhams South Texas Tack), pendant necklaces at Wimberly or the Mallory et Cie counter at Humble Donkey Studio (both at Henkel Square), vintage boots at Townsend Provisions, a breezy top at Tutu and Lilli and a cool leather tote at Curate by Stash (all at Rummel Square). Need more funk? Visit Mary Lou Marks new Southern Beasts for wild objects covered in vintage fabrics. Or just chill and find a porch to enjoy the sunsets. By fall, the options for that should include the new Round Top Brewing at the developing Minden Square. WHERE TO EAT Armandos world: Houston restaurateurs Armando and Cinda Palacios have transformed Round Tops dining scene. Head to Manditos for great Mexican food and margaritas; 102 S. Washington; 979-249-5181, manditos.com . Down burgers and fries next door at Popi Burger . Indulge in an Italian dinner at the beautiful Lulus . By years end, the former Bybee Square surrounding Lulus will be Hotel Lulu, a 13-room relaxed luxury property with a pool and room service from all three restaurants. Prost on Block 29: An intimate wine bar in Round Tops oldest stone building, with a large, shaded patio. Nuff said. 112 Bauer Rummel; 979-249-5981, prostonblock29.com Royers Round Top Cafe: An institution for chicken-fried steak, pies and a festive atmosphere. 105 Main; 979-249-3611, royersroundtopcafe.com WHERE TO STAY Round Top Inn: In the middle of town, this green enclave of vintage farmhouses and cottages feels like a retreat. The rustic-chic rooms are impeccably appointed, with luxurious bed linens. Full breakfast included. Rates $210-$290 nightly; 407 S. White; 979-249-5294, roundtopinn.com . Flophouze Shipping Container Hotel: With six lodgings in recycled shipping containers that sleep a surprisingly large number of people, this is pasture glamping at its best. Each unit has a small deck, and theres a small container pool. Rates $200-$300 nightly; 1132 W. FM 1291; 979-353-2627, flophouze.com DONT GO HOME WITHOUT Pottery, jewelry, furnishings, glasswork or other handmade goods from Copper Shade Tree, which represents dozens of fine artisans. 102 Schumann (Henkel Square), 979-249-4127, coppershadetree.com LAGOS, Nigeria, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GBfoods, a global leader in culinary product manufacturing, in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kebbi State Government and the Emirate of Yauri recently built a N20 billion Tomato processing factory, in Kebbi State. The factory is the second largest in Nigeria and the only fully backward integrated plant in ECOWAS - and has the largest single tomatoes farm in Nigeria. When all phases of the project are finished, the factory will be the largest fresh tomatoes processing factory in Sub-Saharan Africa. The investment, in the world-class factory and adjoining farm, includes a drip irrigation and fertigation infrastructure, greenhouses, seed planting robots, an incubation chambers and a plethora of agricultural machinery. The farm will serve a dual purpose, it will produce industrial tomatoes in the dry season and soya beans in the raining season. The tomato factory will convert fresh tomatoes into tomato concentrate used for producing Gino Tomatoes Paste and Gino Tomato Pepper Onion Paste while the soya bean will be used to process soya-bean oil which is a critical ingredient for GBfoods' Bama and Jago Mayonnaise. The project created over a 1,000 jobs including: 500 farming jobs, 150 factory jobs and 150 construction jobs. GBfoods also engaged many small holder farmers as out-growers. Apart from training the out-growers on good agricultural practices, GBfoods provided them with tomatoes seedlings, agrochemicals and various equipment such as water pumps and hose pipes, enabling the farmers access to water in the dry season. GBfoods also supported the host communities by providing and maintaining 16 boreholes of drinking water, a first for some of the surrounding villages. The factory is fully backwardly integrated to the company's farm and dedicated out-growers. In the coming tomatoes season, the plant will also source most of its raw material from out-growers who will grow the tomatoes on their own farms and from GBfoods' owned and operated farm. The factory is engaging over 5,000 small holder farmers as out-growers, in the coming tomatoes season, to grow fresh tomatoes. The CEO of GBfoods Africa, Mr. Vicenc Bosch, commended the Federal Government for encouraging and supporting GBfoods to engage with CBN, Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure the successful completion of the factory. He also expressed his gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investments, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Kebbi State Government and the Ngaski Local Government Authorities for their tremendous support towards the actualization of the project. Mr. Bosch added our team of extension workers, consultants and agronomists are ensuring that the Nigerian farmers benefit from the technology transfer of our best practices and know-how built through over 40 years of successful tomato operations in Italy and Spain. Speaking during opening of the factory, Mr Vincent Egbe, the Country Manager, GBfoods Nigeria said, "The opening of this processing factory is a great milestone for us. It further demonstrates the company's commitment towards helping Nigeria achieve its food security ambitions, in this case, of self-sufficiency in tomato concentrate production. We will continue to work with the Federal Government towards food security and local production and processing of fresh tomatoes. The company is dedicated to reducing pre and post-harvest losses, and also developing the value chain so as to improve revenue streams for tomato farmers. Over the past three years, in the three states of Kaduna, Katsina and Kebbi, GBfoods has worked with smallholder out-growers to boost their incomes by providing seedlings, fertilizers, training, and irrigation pumps, further to reduce post-harvest losses GBfoods also provided free plastic crates to farmers." "GBfoods is working with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the CBN to make Nigeria not only a shining example in food security, but also to become the food basket of Africa. He especially thanked the Buhari administration, the Kebbi Governor, His Excellency Governor Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele; and the Emir of Yauri, Dr Muhammad Zayyanu Abdullahi for working tirelessly to create an enabling investment environment for GBfoods backwards integration project in tomatoes," comments Mr Vincent Egbe, the Country Manager, GBfoods Nigeria. Additional land is expected in September 2020 to be cleared and prepared for the farming season of October 2021. This expansion will be similarly accompanied by an upgrade in the factory's capacity. With the expansion, new jobs will also be created. GBfoods has a wide range of quality well-established brands in Nigeria such as Gino, Bama and Jago, under which they manufacture a wide range of quality products that make the daily lives of many African families easier. Products under their brands include Gino Tomatoes Mix; Gino Pepper Onion, Gino Thyme; Gino Curry; Gino Chicken and Beef Cubes; Bama Mayonnaise as well as Jago Mayonnaise. GBfoods investments aim to satisfy local culinary habits and preferences whilst offering the healthiest and best ingredients for the Nigerian cuisine. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1191622/GBfoods_Tomato_Factory.jpg Regulatory News: At the Board of Directors meeting held on 15 June 2020, Mr Alexandre de Palmas, CEO of Carmila (Paris:CARM), informed its members of his decision to accept the position of Executive Director of Carrefour Spain as of 1 July 2020. As these new functions therefore appear to be incompatible in the long term with those of being Carmila's CEO, the Board of Directors has consequently instructed its Compensation and Nomination Committee to make recommendations on the governance of the Company and, taking these recommendations into account, to launch a selection process with a view to the succession of Mr Alexandre de Palmas. Mr. Alexandre de Palmas will remain Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director of Carmila until the completion of this process, and will continue to manage the Company alongside Mr. Gery Robert-Ambroix and Mr. Sebastien Vanhoove, Deputy CEOs. Next events and publications: 29 June 2020 (9:00am Paris time)Shareholders' Annual General Meeting 29 July 2020 (after market close)2020 Half-Year Results 30 July 2020 (2:30pm Paris time)Investors' and Analysts' Meeting 23 October 2020 (after market close)Q3 2020 activity About Carmila Carmila was founded by Carrefour and large institutional investors in order to develop the value of shopping centers anchored by Carrefour stores in France, Spain and Italy. As at 31 December 2019, its consists of 215 shopping centers in France, Spain and Italy, mostly leaders in their catchment areas, and was valued at Euro 6.4 bn. Inspired by a genuine retail culture, Carmila's teams include all of the expertise dedicated to retail attractiveness: leasing, digital marketing, specialty leasing, shopping centre management and portfolio management. Carmila is listed on compartment A of Euronext-Paris market under the ticker CARM and benefits from the "SIIC" real estate investment trust (REIT) tax status. On September 18, 2017, Carmila joined the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global Real Estate (EMEA Region) indices. On September 24, 2018, Carmila joined Euronext CAC Small, CAC Mid Small and CAC All-tradable indices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200615005840/en/ Contacts: Investors and analysts Pierre-Yves Thirion Chief Financial Officer pierre_yves_thirion@carmila.com +33 6 47 21 60 49 Press Morgan Lavielle Head of Corporate Communication morgan_lavielle@carmila.com +33 1 58 33 63 29 +33 6 87 77 48 80 The deferral of the pension age increase to 67 contained in the Programme for Government has been welcomed by the Stop67 campaign. Ethel Buckley, Deputy General Secretary of SIPTU said: During the recent general election there was widespread opposition to the proposed increase in the pension age. Almost 80 per cent of voters supported parties which were committed to stopping the increase in the pension age to 67 next year. The vindication of this democratic demand in the proposed Programme for Government is welcomed. It is only through genuine social dialogue and consensus that we can develop a socially beneficial and fiscally sustainable pension system. The Stop67 campaign will seek a meeting with the incoming Minister for Social Protection at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss the remit and composition of the proposed commission into the issue of the pension age. Before the general election the campaign called for a properly constituted Stakeholders Forum with the full participation of representatives of employees, employers and relevant civil society organisations. It said the commission should consider not only the issue of the pension age but related issues such as the mandatory retirement age, pension adequacy and flexibility. National Womens Council of Ireland Director, Orla OConnor, said: Access to State pensions is a core issue for womens equality. Women rely on the state pension for the vast majority of their income in older age and anything that impacts on state pensions disproportionally impacts on women. NWCI welcomes the commitment to a review of the State pension, and to not raise the pension age. Maureen Kavanagh, CEO, Active Retirement Ireland said: Active Retirement Ireland welcomes the commitment in the proposed Programme for Government that the pension age will not increase in 2021, but we await reassurance that a stakeholder forum will be convened to map out how Ireland will manage demographic change in the fairest possible manner. Paddy Connolly CEO, Age Action said: We need evidenced based policies that responds to the needs of people who are affected by them, which is why broad stakeholder participation in their design and implementation is critical. Older people are not an homogenous group; some people may want to continue working longer, others wont have the choice because they are unable or cant afford not to work. All of these issues that face older workers need to be considered for the pension system to work for them. Councils ploughing through Welsh Government guidance on schools reopening, despite union warnings it isnt safe This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 16th, 2020 Councils across North Wales are ploughing through Welsh Government guidance on schools reopening, despite union warnings it isnt safe. Unison reiterated its opposition to the reopening of schools on June 29, when a staggered return to learning is planned, saying it is too soon. The union, representing teachers and support staff, says Welsh Government should be aiming for September to get the strategy right. However education departments across the region are gearing up and preparing for the restart in just over a fortnight. Unisons Jonathan Lewis said: Unison is not prepared to compromise the safety of teaching assistants, cleaners, caterers, caretakers or administrative staff in schools. We have considered the operational guidance and there simply doesnt contain enough detail, particularly within the short time constraints. Of course school support staff want to get back to work, but we cannot be expected to take unnecessary risks to fulfil that within a few short weeks. Robust planning takes time and cannot be a rushed job. We are confident thorough planning could take place over the summer in time for the start of term in September. However the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) says it supports a June 29 return, claiming the guidance affords schools flexibility. A Denbighshire spokesman said the authority is ploughing through the guidance to work out what it means for schools, who will communicate directly with parents. He added: The Minister has made it clear schools will re-open from this date and we need to ensure schools are ready to open. Well do all we possibly can to support schools to put those arrangements in place. The safety of our children, young people and our staff is of paramount importance. We will make sure our arrangements are robust and suitable to allow the safe return of children and young people to our schools. A Conwy council spokeswoman said attendance was about touching base with students and it would not be formal education provision. She added: Only a third of pupils will attend school at any one time and this figure is a maximum, not an expectation. Schools will decide how many pupils they can safely accommodate and it is voluntary for parents to send children to school. Anglesey councils director of education Rhys Hughes said the authority would carefully consider the guidance from Welsh Government but wants some semblance of normality to return before the end of summer term. He added: There are, of course, many challenges and factors which must be considered. We are focusing on these matters corporately with colleagues from various services as well as representatives from both the primary and secondary sectors. However, we are also well aware each of our schools faces different needs and challenges; the need to respect differing views amongst parents and concerns amongst teaching unions. A spokesman for Gwynedd council said: Following last weeks announcement from the Education Minister, we have been working with individual schools across the county to develop detailed plans on how they can safely re-open in a phased manner. Individual schools will be sharing information with families as soon as possible when details about specific arrangements are confirmed. We expect further guidance from the Welsh Government shortly which will help us with our plans for managing facilities and logistical arrangements. We will follow this guidance, prioritising the health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff. A spokeswoman for Flintshire council said it had been working closely with headteachers. She added: As a Council, we have close and constructive working relationships with our local representatives of the recognised trade unions, and we have engaged with them at key points during the school closure period. Our local union representatives have been kept informed throughout as we support schools to prepare for 29 June. Wrexham council was also contacted for comment. Jez Hemming, Gareth Williams and Liam Randall Local Democracy Reporter Service. (more here). A chain-link fence that blocked the downtown Portland jail from nightly protesters of police brutality will come down after two weeks. Portland police announced on Twitter Monday afternoon that they planned to dismantle most of the fence. They did not say when they would remove it. Police set it up around the perimeter of the Multnomah County Justice Center on June 1, after protesters on May 29 broke in and set a fire on the first floor of the building. Protests have continued 17 consecutive days since then. The fence became a point of contention where protesters and police often faced off. Protesters at times threw things or climbed over the fence. Police often staged behind the fence, warning protesters not to touch it. Officers sometimes used gas, smoke, stun grenades and other types of munitions to break up the late-night crowds. The fence blocked off Southwest Main Street between the jail and the federal courthouse next door. We are removing the fence to show our willingness to have dialog and peaceful communication toward starting to heal our community, the bureau said. We are open and listening to discussions of how the community envisions its police serve them in the future. Our hope is that the nightly violence and destruction around the justice center will stop and the focus can be directed toward peaceful conversation." The police bureau said that officers would leave up some fencing close to the jail while workers repair some of the damage from the second nights of protests on May 29. Protesters broke windows, sprayed graffiti, stole merchandise and clashed with police throughout downtown. Although that was the only night of widespread vandalism, tension between police and protesters remains high more than two weeks later. The decision to take down the fence Monday falls on the same day of a planned march from Southeast Portland to downtown, which will likely bring several thousand people into Pioneer Courthouse Square on Monday night. Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR Exxon has reduced its crude oil production at the Liza offshore field in Guyana due to the risk of excessive flaring, according to the South American countrys regulator, as quoted by Reuters. Gas flaring has been a problem at the Liza field, prompting an environmentalist group to call on the supermajor in May to stop flaring as the emissions this caused exceeded the countrys total emissions produced over three months, according to Guyanese daily Stabroek News. Flaring of 9 billion cubic feet of natural gas is more Co2 emissions than what the whole of Guyana would have used in three months the entire country, the president of the organizationthe Center for International Environmental Lawtold the daily. The same publication reported in May that Exxon had assured the Guyanese environmental protection agency it will stop flaring after those 2 billion cubic meters, which were flared at the startup phase of the Liza project. Instead, the company said, it will reinject the gas into the well. Now it seems there have been problems with the gas reinjection equipment, according to the Reuters report, which has prompted a production cut to 25,000 to 30,000 bpd last week. This is down from 75,000 to 80,000 bpd a month earlier. The June average was planned to be raised to 120,000 bpd, although how good an idea production growth would have been in the current price situation is an open question. Guyana rose to fame in the oil industry after Exxon, in partnership with Hess Corp., made a string of discoveries off its coast that tapped reserves estimated at more than 5 billion barrels. Commercial production began ahead of schedule. It was originally planned for the first quarter of this year, eventually reaching a daily production rate of 120,000 bpd, but instead the Liza-1 well was up and running in December 2019. During the second phase of development of the Liza discovery, production should rise to 220,000 bpd. By 2025, total production from the Stabroek Block, according to Exxon, should be some 750,000 bpd, according to pre-crisis plans. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: U.S. service members would be among the first Americans to receive the vaccine against COVID-19 if one is proven to be safe and effective, senior administration officials told reporters Tuesday. Speaking about the Trump administration's effort to develop, make and distribute a working vaccine against the deadly coronavirus by early next year, officials said those likely to receive it first include the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, workers in essential businesses and the U.S. military. Read Next: Guard Kills Trespassing Suspect at Navy SEAL Training Facility in Alaska. "Our role, as the federal government, is to ensure anyone who is vulnerable, cannot afford it and desire it can get it, those critical to infrastructure get it, essential workers get it, and those associated with national defense get it. That's our obligation," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak in an official capacity. Operation Warp Speed, as the administration's initiative to deliver a vaccine against the coronavirus is dubbed, is simultaneously supporting efforts to develop, manufacture and distribute 300 million doses of a prophylactic if an effective one is found. The goal is to have an effective vaccine by January, 2021. But urgency and speed will not eclipse safety in the effort, the officials said. Seeking to quell concerns over the potential risks of a vaccine developed in months, rather than the years it normally takes to field immunizations and medications, the officials said the Operation Warp Speed coalition is mindful of the calendar but safety and efficacy comes first. "As you all know, there are no sure things in science," said an official. "What we can tell Americans is that we've taken every possible step to maximize the probability of success and shorten the timelines to getting safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics." Fourteen candidates have been selected from more than 100 candidates and will be narrowed to a field of seven, with large-scale randomized trials proceeding for the most promising. Operation Warp Speed, led by Moncef Slaoui, former chairman of global vaccines at GlaxoSmithKline, and Army Gen. Gustave Perna, head of U.S. Army Materiel Command, is spearheading simultaneous efforts to develop, manufacture and distribute a vaccine. As part of the effort, HHS has awarded nearly $1 billion to pharmaceutical companies Johnson & Johnson and Moderna to support their vaccine candidates, which have started early clinical trials or are about to start them. In May, HHS awarded $1.2 billion to AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, which is expected to conduct a clinical trial this summer with 30,000 volunteers in the U.S. The government also has partnered with companies to improve manufacturing capabilities and capacities and contracted with companies to provide syringes and vials to store and administer the vaccines. Acknowledging the small but growing and vocal anti-vaccination movement that is seizing the opportunity to unite and protest any future mass inoculation effort, the officials stressed the importance of the research and development process, which they say is occurring carefully, albeit at warp speed. "We are well aware of the crisis of vaccine confidence in recent years in the U.S. and around the world, and the Department of Health and Human Services has undertaken significant efforts to fight back against these trends," said the officials. "The same steps we will take to ensure the safety of vaccines that protect millions of American lives every day will be required." Despite a massive effort that involves public and private ventures and support from HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture and others, the officials said they can't promise "a hundred percent chance of success." "We've made investments, we've mitigated risks, we've seeded options to maximize the probability of having a vaccine by year's end," an official said. The COVID-19 coronavirus has infected more than 8 million people worldwide and killed at least 438,000. In the U.S., 2.1 million people have been diagnosed with the illness and more than 116,000 have died. Officials also said an economic analysis of stay-at-home orders across the U.S. cost the economy $20 billion per day. The U.S. military has taken a significant role in Operation Warp Speed, with Perna as chief operating officer and Army generals leading both operational directorates within the organization: Army Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski leading the supply, production and distribution directorate; and Army Brig. Gen. Michael McCurry leading the security assurance directorate. Another three dozen DoD personnel also are working on the project within HHS. The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research announced last week that it has selected a lead vaccine candidate from among the ones that Army researchers have been working on since January. It narrowed down its most promising as well as two backups from a field of more than two dozen prototypes, according to a release from the Army's Medical Research and Development Command. WRAIR plans to test its leading vaccines in humans later this year. Army officials said their design, which uses a type of nanoparticle that introduces pieces of the spike protein seen on the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus to the immune system, may eventually lead the way to development of a universal vaccine against other coronaviruses, including those that cause the common cold, as well as SARS and MERS. "USAMRDC is moving at unprecedented speeds in the effort to prevent, detect, and treat COVID-19. We are supporting the whole-of-government response with the scientific knowledge and expertise to combat this world-wide challenge," said Brig. Gen. Michael J. Talley, commanding general of the USAMRDC and Fort Detrick, Maryland. "With the recent selection of this vaccine candidate, we believe we are one step closer to that goal." As of Monday, 12,152 service members, dependents and civilian DoD employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 36 have died. The U.S. Navy has been hardest hit among the services, with 2,756 cases; followed by the Army, with 2,245 cases; the Marine Corps, with 729; and the Air Force, with 700. The National Guard Bureau, which saw thousands of its members called up to respond to the national emergency declared over the pandemic, has had 1,532 cases. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: SECDEF 'Absolutely Confident' US Will Have a COVID-19 Vaccine by Year's End Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) As Nigeria recorded 573 new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases on Monday to bring the total number of infections to 16,658, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned the public to avoid unnecessary mass gatherings Marlene Kairouz stepped down as a minister A third Victorian Labor MP has left the cabinet over the branch-stacking scandal. Marlene Kairouz stepped down as Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation this morning. Her staff allegedly helped sacked minister Adem Somyurek recruit party members to influence which candidates get chosen for elections, a practice know as 'branch stacking.' Assistant Treasurer and Veterans Minister Robin Scott, whose staff were also allegedly involved, resigned last night. Both said they were innocent and looked forward to having their names cleared. Mr Somyurek was accused of branch-stacking in a 60 Minutes programme which aired on Sunday. He denied the allegations, saying: 'I reject those and will be providing a rigorous defence during any party process.' But he admitted making inappropriate comments about a female colleague and young gay staffers which were secretly recorded and was sacked at 9am on Monday. Marlene Kairouz's statement in full This morning I notified the Premier that I will stand aside from my ministerial responsibilities and notified the Governor of the resignation of my commission. It has been an enormous honour to serve the Victorian people across a number of portfolios including Suburban Development, Local Government and Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation. I no longer want these matters to be a distraction to the Government. They have placed enormous pressure on my family and caused them great distress. I look forward to the opportunity to clear my name and am confident any investigative process will do so. I note that these matters do not relate to any allegations of criminality or corruption. I will continue to serve my electorate of Kororoit, which remains the greatest honour of my life. Advertisement The 60 Minutes programme claimed to reveal the upper house MP handed over thousands of dollars in cash and used parliamentary employees to create fake branch members and amass political influence within the Australian Labor Party. Footage shows Mr Somyurek on April 13 withdrawing $2,000 in cash from an ATM, before handing it and dozens of party membership forms, to an adviser working for fellow Labor minister Marlene Kairouz, who then delivers the forms and cash to ALP head office. The advisor reportedly carried out a similar cash drop-off earlier in the year. 'Well, if he (the advisor) gets caught on the street, he'd better not say he's doing f***ing this stuff,' Mr Somyurek is recorded saying after the April 13 drop. Mr Somyurek was also allegedly recorded ordering people to forge signatures and create false statements, in which Labor branch members claim to have paid for their own memberships. The MP said he will ask the police to investigate if he was recorded illegally. Jaclyn Symes, Gabrielle Williams, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, Melissa Horne and Adem Somyurek in 2018 What did Adem Somyurek say in secret recordings? On the Premier: 'F**** the Premier. Alright? That's what this is about. F*** the premier. I'll be just running the joint, like, it's who I say is going to be the f***ing premier' On female colleague Gabrielle Williams: 'I will f***ing force her out of the ministry, that f***ing stupid b****, when Andrews goes She's a stupid, stupid moll. 'I'm going to f***ing knock her f***ing head off. She's a f***ing psycho b****.' On young Labor members: 'Real little f***ing slimy little f***ers, right little passive aggressive f***ing gay kids' Advertisement Adem Somyurek pictured in May, 2019. He is said to have controlled two thirds of Victoria's Labor Party through branch stacking What is branch stacking? Branch stacking involves recruiting or signing up members for a local branch of a political party for the purpose of influencing the outcome of internal preselections of candidates for federal and state parliament. Advertisement He also talks about directing taxpayer-funded parliamentary employees, meant to be working for other MPs, to conduct party political operations. In one recording, Mr Somyurek boasts of controlling two-thirds of the Labor party in Victoria. 'I'll be just running the joint,' Mr Somyurek says. 'It's who I say is going to be the f***ing premier.' It is against Labor rules to pay for other people's memberships. Party members are required to sign a form declaring they have paid for their own memberships. In the recordings, Mr Somyurek also takes aim at his colleagues, including Ms Kairouz, who he describes as holding a 'meaningless' portfolio 'made up just to make it look like we're interested in the suburbs'. He labels the Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams a 'stupid b****' whom he will 'f***ing force ... out of the ministry'. Mr Somyurek also describes these young staffers helping him as 'patronising and annoying', and 'real little f***ing slimy little f***ers, little passive-aggressive f***ing gay kids'.' BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: As many as 2,563 people have been infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours in Iran, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Trend reports citing the ministry. According to Sadat Lari, 115 more have died from the coronavirus over the past day. Sadat Lari added that the condition of 2,815 people is critical. She said that the situation is more dangerous in Iran's Khuzestan, West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Golestan, Hormozgan, Kurdistan, Razavi Khorasan and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces. So far, more than 1.29 million tests have been conducted in Iran for the diagnosis of coronavirus. Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 192,400 people have been infected 9,065 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 152,600 have reportedly recovered from the disease. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. After days of anti-government protests, Syrian government forces have entered Suweida and attacked demonstrators, detaining a number of them reports Smart News. Local sources and activists reported to Smart News that Syrian government security members and a number of people suddenly appeared raising photos of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in al-Seir square in Suweida, adding that they attacked demonstrators and detained six of them. The sources stated that the Syrian government forces drove military vehicles equipped with machine guns into the area, although the demonstrators chanted for peace. Activists shared videos on social media showing the Syrian government security forces attacking demonstrators and detaining several of them, including Marwan Nafaa, Rawad Sadeq, Bashar Tarabeh, Safwan Obaid and Ismail al-Mimsani. On Jun. 10, 2020, unknown persons attacked people in the city of Suweida after a demonstration against the Syrian government, injuring a civilian. Over the past few days, dozens of people demonstrated against the Syrian government, protesting against poor living conditions and the collapse of the Syrian pounds exchange rate against the US dollar. During the demonstrations, people expressed solidarity with other Syrian governorates, including Idleb and Daraa. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. China starts COVID-19 tests on seafood markets Global Times By GT Staff Reporters Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/16 0:13:40 Exporters worry huge loss due to new outbreak Major seafood markets in China have launched massive nucleic acid tests for their working staff and environmental samples as a quick response to the new COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing which was uncovered at the city's largest wholesale food market last week. Although there's no proof that salmon was the source of the sudden spike in Beijing, the latest research shows that the virus "came from Europe," and virologists believe the epidemic was most likely caused by contaminated food. Several seafood traders reached by the Global Times on Monday said their packages are sealed at the local customs for nucleic acid tests, and they fear the losses from the spike would be "huge" as it is very difficult to store fresh produce, while requests to cancel or postpone their orders have risen. Industrial insiders noted that the incident in Xinfadi market in southern Beijing's Fengtai district will have a huge impact on the imported seafood market across China and the world supply chain. However, given the authorities' competence in handling the matter, such an impact would be temporary. They noted that the latest outbreak is also a reminder to major seafood exporters to China to strengthen their health quarantine and product quality. Negative results "Was the meat put on the shelves today? Where did they come from?" Market administration officials in Beijing's Haidian district launched a surprise inspection on one of the district's largest agricultural markets on Monday morning. The operations of the seafood stores in the market were suspended. A senior official told the Beijing Daily that the district inspects food markets three days at a time. The market opens at 7 am every day and the district officials would inspect the suppliers' proof of delivery and quarantine measures at the previous night. The official said fresh food, frozen pork, beef, mutton and other livestock and poultry are the key targets of the inspection. Food without a quarantine certificate or of unknown origin is strictly prohibited from the market. Other districts in Beijing have also launched urgent tests at major supermarkets, cold storage warehouses and seafood restaurants, and all the results came back negative. Cities including Wuhan in Hubei Province, Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, Tianjin municipality, Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang Province also conducted nucleic acid tests on the wholesale market employees and environmental samples, especially salmon at seafood and frozen meat wholesale markets and restaurants. All these tests also came up negative. Striking a blow Many supermarkets and restaurants in China have taken salmon off their shelves and sealed them for further inspection. A staff member of a large wholesale market in Shanghai's Pudong New Area told Global Times on Monday that because of the new outbreak in Beijing, they have upgraded epidemic control measures to the same level as when the outbreak took place in Shanghai in January. The market operators will check whether the products are from hard-hit COVID-19 areas, especially Xinfadi market, and whether seafood products like salmon are coming in. The China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA) said that Russia, the US, Norway and Argentina are the top four seafood exporters to China. In 2019, Russia exported 1.7 million metric tons of seafood, with 70.5 percent going to China. Seafood exports from Norway to China are steadily rising. In 2019, Norway's exports reached 168,503 tons. Cui He, the president of the Alliance, told the Global Times on Monday that seafood exporters will be hit hard as imported salmon takes up to 85 percent of the domestic market, with 80,000-100,000 tons of salmon being imported every year. The world seafood supply chain will be further affected by the incident as China plays an important role in the global consumption of seafood, Cui said. China has strict management and quarantine regulations on imported aquatic products, but novel coronavirus detection has not been included, news site yicai.com reported on Saturday, citing an employee from the General Administration of Customs. But the employee said it does not mean it will not add the test in the future. Eason Li, the China general manager of Hofseth International, a Norway-based seafood producer, told the Global Times on Monday that Beijing Customs has stopped imports of all seafood products, while Shanghai has raised quarantine requirements for imported salmon. The company exported about 100,000 tons of salmon to China in 2019. Beginning Saturday, each batch of imported salmon must undergo nucleic acid tests at the Shanghai Customs. The higher quarantine requirements would extend the shipping process by about one to two days, Li said. Li said the losses would be great, as a delay of one to two days might cause the seafood to die without proper treatment. "Of our clients in China, customers who have not made final confirmations have asked to cancel their orders. For those who already placed the orders, some of them asked us to delay delivery," Li said. A seafood insider told the Global Times on Monday that she got a statement from the Norwegian Seafood Council reminding the public that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) is clear that the coronavirus does not affect seafood safety, as there are no known cases of infections through contaminated food, imported food or water. Therefore, fish and seafood products from Norway are safe to eat. The council said Norwegian salmon farmers are following strict measures to limit the spread of the COVID-19, and are managing their seafood production using strict hygiene and contamination measures. The insider also shared a statement from Salmon Chile, which represents all Chilean salmon producers, to shares some measures that the salmon industry in Chile has been taking since the virus hit the country, as well as some hard facts over the virus and its interaction with seafood species in response to ease the Chinese public concerns. Simon Brantes C, a business insider in exported products from Chile, told the Global Times on Monday that it has a significant impact on the supply chain. Instead of delivering foods to Beijing directly, the foods from Chile are now transported to other cities such as South China's Guangdong Province instead. Europe as origin? Yang Peng, an expert at the Beijing Center for Diseases Prevention and Control (Beijing CDC), told media on Sunday that the genome sequencing of the strain of the coronavirus which caused the new outbreak in Beijing shows it originated from Europe. Preliminarily investigation shows that the virus found on samples from the Xinfadi market is related to strains China has seen from imported cases. The source of the virus is still being traced, and it is not known how it entered the market, Yang said. Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told the People's Daily on Monday that from the structure of the virus, the strain is unlike those found in Beijing two months ago. It is more likely from Europe. "However, this does not mean the virus came from European countries. Analyses of the virus strain in the US showed most of them came from Europe, or from Russia. The preliminary results mean the virus in this new outbreak may have come from Europe, Russia, or North America. More information needs to be collected," Wu said. The genome sequencing is "solid evidence" that the source of infection in Beijing may be from abroad, Yang Zhanqiu, deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, told the Global Times on Monday. The possibility of imported contaminated seafood or meat entering the Chinese market after packaging and cold-chain transportation from contaminated overseas countries is quite high, Yang said, adding that the virus could survive for months on contaminated seafood or meat in temperatures between -10 C and -30 C. But virologists ruled out the possibility that live salmon could contract the novel coronavirus. Jin Dongyan, a professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Hong Kong, told the Global Times that there is no evidence that the virus can replicate in fish, which means that the possibility of salmon being a viral carrier is very minute. Seafood is unlikely to be a source of infection, as fish are low-life forms, and the transmission of virus from fish to humans rarely occurs, Jin said. Jin also speculated that the chopping board of salmon which contained the novel coronavirus may also have been used to cut other meat. It is also possible that the person who used the chopping board carried the virus and contaminated the board, he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Amazon Inc. is pairing cameras with artificial intelligence to enforce social distancing among employees in its offices and warehouses. The system gives employees real time feedback on whether they are complying with the six feet social distancing rule. Given social distancing isnt always natural, this team set out to use augmented reality to create a magic-mirror-like tool that helps associates see their physical distancing from others, writes engineer Brad Porter in a blog entry on Amazons website. The real-time system, known as Distance Assistant, calculates a distance measurement between workers. As employees walk past a camera, they can see a live video where those who are six feet apart are highlighted with green circles, while those too close together are highlighted with red circles. Weve heard that employees find value in getting immediate visual feedback, and site leaders are welcoming another safety measure, according to Porter. Get Too Close, Get Buzzed. Ford Tests Wearables to Keep Workers at Safe Distances. Ford Motor Co. workers are experimenting with wearable social-distancing devices that could be deployed more widely once the carmaker reopens idled manufacturing plants. Employers Deploy Spy Software to Monitor At-Home Workers Its legal for businesses to keep an unblinking eye on employees as long as they disclose theyre doing it. Software Allows Drones to Monitor Social Distancing, Face Masks A California startup company that makes drones released new software for monitoring social distancing and face-mask wearing from the air. This system followed an earlier move that applied artificial intelligence and machine learning to the camera footage in Amazons buildings to help identify high traffic areas and guide additional measures to improve social distancing. In implementing that earlier technology, Porter said his team saw an opportunity to evolve our tech even further and promote social distancing behavior in real-time. There is increasing interest in extending technologies into work and public areas to gauge pandemic responses. Employers say the cameras allow them to show not only workers and customers, but also insurers and regulators, that they are monitoring and enforcing safe practices.. Ford Motor Co. has been exploring the use of technology to monitor social distancing with wearables that buzz workers who are violating the safe distance rule. Last week, Airspace Systems, a California startup company that makes drones that can hunt down and capture other drones, released new software for monitoring social distancing and face-mask wearing from the air. The software analyzes video streams captured by drones and can identify when people are standing close together or points where people gather in clusters. The software can detect when people are wearing masks. The system can also process video captured by ground-based cameras. Airspace aims to sell the system to cities and police departments. Bloomberg has reported on some employers monitoring at-home workers, not for safety but for productivity, using spy software. Amazon plans to deploy hundreds of its Distance Assistant units over the next few weeks. It said it will also open source the software and AI so that others can create their own Distance Assistant. The giant online retailer has faced criticism from some employees and officials over some of its safety and labor practices during the pandemic. In early April, Amazon terminated a critic of the companys warehouse conditions in the pandemic, on grounds that he put others at risk by violating his paid quarantine when he joined a demonstration at Amazons Staten Island, New York, fulfillment center. Two weeks later, Amazon fired two other employees who criticized the working conditions, for what Amazon said was repeatedly violating internal policies. Amazons French warehouses were closed for a period over complaints by union workers.. The company has responded to a surge in online orders during the pandemic, with most of its fulfillment centers remaining open. According to Bloomberg and media reports, more than 1,100 of its employees have been sickened by Covid-19 and nine have died. Other safety measures Amazon has taken include distributing personal protective gear and masks for workers, instituting temperature checks and disinfectant spraying. The company said it is working on building scalable testing for coronavirus. Photo: Distance Assistant, Amazon. Topics COVID-19 InsurTech Amazon Sources say that in the violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh on Monday night, both the sides reportedly suffered casualties in double digits. In what can be called as the biggest provocation by China so far and the first loss of lives at the Indo-China border in at least 45-years, top sources in the Indian army tell us that at least eleven army men have been martyred in the violent clash which took place between the Chinese and Indian army men at the Galwan area last night. Sources in the army say that the casualties in the Indian army is reportedly in double digits and so are the number of casualties on the Chinese side. Some Indian army men are reportedly still unaccounted for since the violent skirmish broke out last night. Some army men who were a part of the delegation who met Chinese army men last night havent reported back after the violent clash. There are also fears that some soldiers may be in Chinese captivity, though more details on the same are still awaited. MEA is also likely to issue a statement on same in sometime. Sources in the MEA also tell us that the aggression was from the Chinese and not Indian side. Infact, there was no transgression from the Indian side into Chinese boundary. Earlier in the day, the Indian army through a press note had confirmed that one commanding officer of the Indian army and two soldiers had been killed in a fistfight with Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh last night. During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night which reportedly led to casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes a commanding officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are at the site of the incident to defuse the situation, said the initial statement by the Indian army. However later the army issued another statement claiming that there were casualties on both sides. Though the number of casualties rising could further escalate tensions. Army amends statement, says "casualties suffered on both sides" in "violent face-off" during de-escalation process with China in Galwan Valley, Ladakh. pic.twitter.com/rZAg83hr3Q ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 Indian troops on Monday seriously violated consensus of the two sides by illegally crossing the border twice & carrying out provocative attacks on Chinese soldiers, resulting in serious physical clashes, China's Global Times quotes their Foreign Minister ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 Also Read: PM Modi to meet heads of 21 states and UTs today to review COVID-19 response Also Read: US Ambassador Juster transfers the first consignment of 100 ventilators to India During de-escalation process in Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place last night with casualties. The loss of lives on Indian side includes an officer & 2 soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation: Army pic.twitter.com/Z3y9ocQu26 ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 Sources also told our sister channel NewsX that the Indian and the Chinese side who had met for disengagement process got into an argument which eventually escalated into a fistfight and reportedly led to pushing and shoving during which three Indian soldiers slipped into a treacherous terrain and lost their lives. Sources also told us that no bullets were fired and army officers from both were present at the spot to engage in de-escalation process. Meanwhile Defense Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the current operational situation in the region after the violent face-off along with the CDS and all three service chiefs. External affairs minister S Jaishankar was also present during the meeting. Rajnath Singh also briefed PM Modi after the violent face-off took place. While PM Modi also met the EAM to discussion the escalation in violence at Galwan valley. China meanwhile maintained its belligerent stance and continued blaming India for the border face-off. In a statement to Global Times, Chinese Foreign minister reportedly blamed Indian troops for violating consensus , illegally crossing the border and carrying out provocative attack on Chinese soldiers. In the statement, China also urged India to strictly restrain its frontline troops from crossing the border or taking any unilateral action that may complicate the border situation Sources had earlier informed us that the tensions between both sides toned down after June 6 talks between military commanders followed by other rounds of talks. Post that, there had been no considerable build-up by both sides. Limited disengagement of troops at more locations was also underway after continuous dialogue between both sides, though the latest incident seems to be adding a major roadblock to the peace process, dimming hopes of timely resolution of the issues. Army Chief MM Naravane on Saturday had assured everyone that the entire situation along our borders is under control. He said that a series of Corps Commander level talks are underway and are being followed up with meetings at the local level between commanders of equivalent ranks. Though in the present scenario, he has canceled his scheduled Pathankot visit due to the ongoing critical situation at the borders. With Prime minister Modi being briefed about the death of the Indian Army personnel at the LAC, a final forward plan is under talks. Also Read: Two Indian High Commission officials in Paks Islamabad were beaten, forced to confess of being involved in accident: Sources For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 19:15:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait on Tuesday reported 527 new cases of COVID-19 and five more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 36,958 and the death toll to 303, the Health Ministry said in a statement. Currently, 8,449 patients are receiving treatment, including 194 in ICU, according to the statement. The ministry also announced the recovery of 675 more patients, raising the total recoveries in the country to 28,206. On May 31, Kuwait ended the full curfew and imposed a three-week partial curfew for a gradual return to normal life in the country. On June 7, Kuwaiti Minister of State for Services Affairs and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Mubarak Al-Harees said Kuwait plans to resume commercial flights in three stages. On June 10, Kuwait decided to open mosques after nearly three months of closure, as part of government's measures to restore normal life. Kuwait and China have been supporting each other and cooperating closely in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Kuwait donated medical supplies worth 3 million U.S. dollars to China at the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, while China has been facilitating the procurement of medical supplies by Kuwait. On April 27, a team of Chinese medical experts visited Kuwait to assist the Arab country's anti-coronavirus fight, through sharing with Kuwaiti counterparts their experience and expertise in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Enditem The alleged murderer of a missing 19-year-old Black Lives Matter protester and a 75-year-old woman confessed to his mother about the killings, DailyMail.com can reveal. Aaron Glee Jr, 49, was arrested on Sunday after police found the bodies of the two women near his Tallahassee, Florida home. Oluwatoyin Salau, 19, had been missing since June 6, when she tweeted she had been molested by a black man, sparking hundreds on social media to call for a police search. In a bombshell exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Glee's mother, Sandra Cutliff, revealed that her son had called her from jail on Sunday night and confessed to strangling the young woman and also murdering his 'white grandmother', 75-year-old Victoria Sims. Cutliff, 67, said her son suffered from mental health problems and had been on a downward spiral into a psychotic break over the past few weeks. Aaron Glee Jr., 49, was arrested after the bodies of Oluwatoyin Salau, 19, and Victoria Sims, 75, were found in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday. His mother tells DailyMail.com that he confessed to the killings to her Black Lives Matter protester, Oluwatoyin Salau, left, 19, was found dead in Florida along with a 75-year-old Victoria Sims, right, after tweeting that she had been sexually assaulted by a man Glee told his mother he met Salau on the bus, invited her to his home and let her shower there, Cutliff said. He told Cutliff that Salau asked him for 'molly' (ecstasy) and when he refused she called him a 'n****r', the mother told DailyMail.com. Glee then flew into a rage and strangled her to death, Cutliff said. Glee's mother, Sandra Cutliff, revealed that her son had called her from jail on Sunday night and confessed to strangling the young woman and killing the other 'He told me that after she got out the shower she wanted molly. He told her he wasn't going to buy it. He said she called him a f***-ass n****r and bit him. That triggered him off,' she said. Some time after the first alleged murder, Cutliff said Sims came to his house to check on him. The 75-year-old, a long-time volunteer for AARP Florida and member of Tallahassee Heights United Methodist Church, was friends with Glee and helped him look after himself and get government services, Cutliff told DailyMail.com. She said Glee referred to Sims as 'Miss Vicky' and his 'white grandmother' and would sometimes cook for her Cutliff said her son confessed that when Sims visited him last week she called him a 'slob', he became enraged again and killed her. The mother said she did not know when exactly her son committed the two alleged murders. Salau was last seen on June 6, and Sims on June 11. On the day she disappeared, Salau shared a series of disturbing tweets about being molested by a black man who offered her a ride. Police have not said whether or not Glee is the same man Salau accused of molesting before she disappeared. Cutliff said her son did not sexually assault Salau and does not have a vehicle. It has also emerged that Glee was arrested two weeks ago on May 30 for aggravated battery causing bodily harm and released on a $2,500 bond two days later. His mother told DailyMail.com that the arrest occurred after Glee attacked a woman at a bus stop when she called him the n-word. Just hours after posting the tweets, Salau disappeared. Several people took to Twitter early Monday morning and started sharing the '#RIP Toyin' hashtag Glee told his mother he met Salau on the bus, invited her to his home and let her shower there, Cutliff said. He told Cutliff that Salau asked him for 'molly' (ecstasy) and when he refused she called him a 'n****r', the mother told DailyMail.com Police identified Sims (left) as the second victim. AARP Florida announced her death on Facebook and Twitter Sunday night Prison records show Glee has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1989, including convictions for robbery, grand theft auto, credit card fraud, throwing a 'deadly missile' at a building and forging bills. He has previously been arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession, burglary, cocaine possession with intent to sell, battery and providing false identification to police. Sylvia Hubbard, head of Tallahassee charity the Minority Alliance for Advocating Community Awareness and Action (MAACA), told DailyMail.com she had worked closely with Glee for over a year and the charity had paid for some of his food and bills. Hubbard said she met with Glee in Tallahassee to give him bus passes on Thursday, the day Salau disappeared. 'It's affecting all of us. I was on my way to Aaron's house on Thursday. I'm always fussing with him. Was I the next victim, would he have hurt me?' she said. 'When I talked to him on Thursday I didn't realize that he was crashing.' Cutliff (pictured) said in the weeks before the killings, her son was having auditory hallucinations, hearing loud music outside his house when there was none In a telephone interview with Hubbard and Cutliff, the charity worker explained what Glee had confessed to his mother from jail on Sunday night, while Cutliff agreed. Hubbard said Glee also confessed to her about the bus stop attack that led to his arrest on May 30. 'I talked to him after he got out of jail,' Hubbard told DailyMail.com. 'I said 'what happened?' He said, 'We was all standing at the bus stop. She said things like that to her boyfriend but when she called me a n****r something happened and I hit her. And before I knew it the police was there and took me to jail'. 'This was the beginning of the spiral downward. That was the trigger that he was going to a place where he needed to maybe be put in a home or something to get himself together. 'He was crumbling around us and we just failed him and didn't realize it. 'In this case, had people been persistent in his medical treatment, this would not have happened.' Just hours before she went missing on June 6, Salau shared on Twitter that she had been molested by a man earlier that morning She said the man, who she described to be in his mid-40s, 'came disguised as a man of God and ended up picking me up from nearby Saxon Street' Cutliff said in the weeks before the killings, her son was having auditory hallucinations, hearing loud music outside his house when there was none. 'He told me he would go outside and yell to see where the music was, and there wasn't any music,' the mother said. 'He did that a few times, and he told me 'mamma I think I'm losing my mind.' 'I said 'Son you can go get some help.' He said they wanted to 'vaporize' him, that's all he would tell me.' Cutliff said Glee's mental health began to deteriorate in January after his girlfriend broke up with him. She said that around February police picked him up from his home and took him to the Apalachee Center, a mental health clinic in Tallahassee, but he refused to stay at the center. AARP Florida announced Sims' death on Facebook and Twitter on Sunday evening. According to the organization she is survived by two daughters, Brenda and June, and several grandchildren. Sims retired several years ago from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Salau was vocal in the Black Lives Matter protests that broke out in the wake of George Floyd's death on May 25. In a video, shared on Twitter, Salau recently spoke at a protest. 'Can't nobody silence me. It's not that all lives don't matter, but right now our lives matter. Black Lives Matter,' she said. She was also vocal about racism and police brutality on Twitter. In a May 31 tweet, Salau wrote: 'If you're Black trying to silence other black voices please stay tf home there is no negotiating with racism. No Justice no justice no peace.' The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Obaseki announced this after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, Channels Television reports. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Mr Obaseki said he would take a decision on his membership of the APC after meeting with the Nigerian leader. Mr Obaseki was last week disqualified by the APC from participating in the partys governorship primary slated for June 22. Although he wants to contest for a second term in office, the APC denied the governor the chance to do that, alleging inaccuracies in his school certificates. READ ALSO: The governor has blamed his ordeal on the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, with whom he has been involved in a bitter fight. The Edo governor is expected to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party whose leaders he has been meeting with since the APCs decision. Details later The Government of Ukraine intends to raise the issue of updating of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement at the EU-Ukraine summit in October. "We have several stages of summarizing - the EU-Ukraine summit in October and the Association Council in late December. I believe that this year's summit should be very substantive. The updating of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement should be discussed at the summit" Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna said in an interview with the Yevropeyska Pravda online media outlet. The Vice PM believes that it is necessary to move towards full liberalization of all four freedoms: the free movement of goods, services, labor, and capital. "It is in this context that Ukraine prepares for the summit and for the Association Council, which will consolidate the summit's agreements," Stefanishyna said. The official acknowledged a significant retard and not very positive dynamics in the implementation of the Agreement but expressed hope that it could be ramped up. In this context, the Vice Prime Minister noted that the cooperation between the Government and the Parliament was very important for her. "By the autumn session of the Parliament, I plan to prepare proposals on European integration bills that need to be adopted. First, I plan to conduct an internal audit of legislation activity in recent months to understand how long it takes to ramp up," Stefanishyna said. As reported, on June 4, the Verkhovna Rada appointed Olga Stefanishyna as the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine. ol (Alliance News) - John Wood Group PLC on Tuesday said it has secured two contracts worth more than USD200 million with a US power and energy company. Shares in John Wood were up 8.4% at 228.60 pence in London in morning trading. The Aberdeen, Scotland-based engineering and consulting firm will deliver two major solar projects in the US state of Virginia with a 190 megawatt combined output. The first of these solar engineering, procurement and construction contracts will be a 120-megawatt solar facility located in Pittsylvania County and is expected to be operational in 2022 while. The other is a 70-megawatt solar facility in Chesapeake which is likely to become operational in late 2021. The two facilities further Virginia's clean economy act, which was passed in April 2020 and required that all of the states's electricity be entirely carbon-free by 2050. John Wood did not disclose the name of its client. Stephanie Cox, chief executive of John Wood's Asset Solutions Americas business, said: "These contracts build on a 10-year relationship with our client, for whom we've executed more than 40 projects. The awards are testament to our ability to maintain consistent project execution, deliver to accelerated construction schedules and bring forth a strong [engineering, procurement and construction] proposition and skilled workforce to meet our client's project goals. "We are seeing an unstoppable momentum towards a lower-carbon energy environment and Wood is proud to partner with clients that are committed to investing in a sustainable energy future." John Wood said these latest contracts follow its recent wins including USD100 million of onshore wind projects that will contribute to the doubling in size of the company's US renewable business in 2020. By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. The Nitrates Directive has created a lot of difficulties for farmers around traditional farm practices such as manure spreading Two key concessions by the Green Party in the talks were their proposals to ban live exports and a removal of the Nitrates Derogation. It is understood that the Green Party had initially pushed for a ban on all live exports in the talks and until recently had pushed that exports to Third Countries be banned. Samsung may have decided against helping Huawei with chips for its smartphone ambitions, according to a recent report from DigiTimes. Thats based on sentiments reportedly expressed by industry observers who claim that such a partnership is unlikely. The exact reason or reasons behind the claims have not, however, been divulged. Instead, the insiders point to the ongoing wave of US sanctions and other actions against Huawei. The government has made working with the company, outside of a few small concessions, difficult. In many cases, it has outright prevented Huawei partners from working with it. More recently, moves by the US to move some production facilities into the country have further complicated matters. In effect, the government has forced various companies to choose between working with Huawei and working with US companies. In part, thats because the US is incentivizing companies to do so. But, in some cases, its also requiring some tech be made in the US if its to be sold and used in the US. Advertisement As a result, Huawei is being forced to turn inward. Conversely, it has also reportedly been exploring partnerships with other companies outside of China, such as Samsung. Thats because those companies arent using US-made components in at least some of their solutions, making them a viable option for Huaweis consideration. Huawei continues facing difficulties on smartphone chips and more A proposed deal had been reported that suggested Samsung might step in to be a saving grace for Huawei on smartphone chips. The reports indicated that Samsung and Huawei were close to reaching a supply agreement. Samsung would, under that deal, be providing Huawei with necessary supplies to continue the mass-production of its 5G equipment. Specifically, that would have been wireless chips. In return, Huawei would be paying the company an exorbitant cost, attributed to the fact that it has relatively few options remaining. Especially since TSMC, MediaTek, Qualcomm, and a few others are effectively out of the question. Advertisement The US government could not have directly dished out any consequences against Samsung for supplying Huawei. But it may have reacted with further sanctions or rules that could ultimately have harmed the companys position. And it may well have had grounds to do that. Huawei and Samsung working together would essentially put the two largest OEMs in the world in a partnership. The former company overtook Samsung on smartphone sales in April knocking Samsung from its throne as the largest OEM, albeit briefly. That could easily be viewed as bad for consumers globally or as anti-competitive. Thats even setting aside concerns about national security that might be raised. Although any such allegations or speculation would undoubtedly be subsequently and summarily denied by Huawei. Advertisement Where will Hauwei turn now? Now, Huawei is running out of options in terms of partnerships for the chips used in its smartphone division. Thats if this recent report is accurate. But it isnt out of the market entirely just yet. Not only has it been performing above expectations, even temporarily overcoming Samsung. The company has enough chips manufactured by TSMC, allowed by rules set by the US government, that it can make it to 2021. Where, exactly, it might turn, is less clear. But that gives Huawei at least half of a year to get its affairs in order and find an alternative solution. National State of Emergency declared in Colombia. Panama Disease is existential threat to global $25 billion banana industry. Disease remains viable in soil for decades - no effective treatments currently available. MustGrow's natural bio-pesticide technology has shown 100% control of similar diseases. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2020) - MustGrow Biologics Corp. (CSE: MGRO) (OTCQB: MGROF) (FSE: 0C0) (the "Company", "MustGrow"), an agricultural biotech company developing and commercializing a portfolio of natural, science-based biological crop protection products, is pleased to announce the successful importation of its bio-pesticide TerraMG into Colombia. TerraMG is MustGrow's signature mustard-derived bio-pesticide formulation that has been proven to control soil-borne pests and diseases. Laboratory testing in Colombia will focus on eradicating the Panama Disease (Fusarium wilt TR4), a devastating disease pathogen ravaging the $25 billion global banana industry. MustGrow's previous independent efficacy studies involving the treatment of Fusarium oxysporum, a soil-borne pathogen, have demonstrated 100% control of the fungus. Panama Disease is among the most destructive banana diseases, affecting particularly Cavendish bananas (half of all bananas produced). Currently, there are no effective treatments for infected banana plantations, with the disease remaining viable for decades in the soil and can cause 100% yield loss(1). MustGrow has already been working towards its US-EPA and Canadian-PMRA registrations of TerraMG for pre-plant treatment of soil-borne pests and diseases in high value fruits & vegetables. Now, MustGrow is replicating that strategy in Colombia's besieged banana industry - focused on controlling and eliminating the Panama Disease. This work will build on MustGrow's existing field data and serve as a benchmark for achieving registration labels in Colombia and other leading South American agricultural countries. Story continues "This is a huge milestone for MustGrow, as we expand our footprint from North America to South America." Remarked MustGrow COO Colin Bletsky. "The Colombian government has declared a National State of Emergency, with no viable options available to combat Panama Disease - we look forward to potentially aiding not only Colombian farmers, but the health and prosperity of the nation itself." The spread of Panama Disease through banana plantations in South America has prompted Colombia to reportedly declare a National State of Emergency, enacting special measures to stop the disease from spreading, including the preventive eradication of 168 hectares of infected crop. A flurry of media reports has followed, revealing a race to save bananas from extinction after the disease has left a trail of scorched banana plantations in its wake. (1) Source: http://www.fao.org MustGrow has issued 100,000 common share purchase warrants (each a "Warrant") to a consultant of the Company in connection with achievement of this importation milestone. Each Warrant shall entitle the consultant to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.28 exercisable until June 15, 2022. The issuance is subject to CSE approval and all securities are subject to a four-month hold period. About MustGrow MustGrow is a publicly traded (CSE: MGRO) (OTCQB: MGROF) agriculture biotech company focused on providing natural science-based biological solutions for high value crops, including fruits & vegetables. MustGrow has designed and owns a United States EPA-approved natural solution that uses the mustard seed's natural defence mechanism to protect plants from pests and diseases. Over 110 independent tests have been completed, validating MustGrow's safe and effective signature products. The product, in granule format, is EPA-approved across all key U.S. states and by Health Canada's PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) as a bio-pesticide for high value crops such as in fruit & vegetables. MustGrow has now concentrated a liquid format that with regulatory approval, could be applied through standard drip or spray equipment, improving functionality and performance features. The Company has approximately 37 million basic common shares issued and outstanding. For further details please visit www.mustgrow.ca. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Corey Giasson" Director & CEO Phone: +1-306-668-2652 Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the results, performance or achievements of MustGrow. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "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", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of MustGrow to differ materially from those discussed in such 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, MustGrow. These risks are described in more detail in MustGrow's Prospectus and other continuous disclosure documents filed by MustGrow with the applicable securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Readers are referred to such documents for more detailed information about MustGrow, which is subject to the qualifications, assumptions and notes set forth therein. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of, nor a solicitation for offers to buy, any securities in the United States. 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. Important Always read and follow label use directions. 2020 MustGrow Biologics Corp. All rights reserved. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/57912 Trump campaign officials knew, according to the Associated Press, that planning a rally in Tulsa, Okla., on Juneteenth, a celebration of African-American emancipation, was offensive. They just didnt know how offensive. They didnt realize that some people would put it nearly on par with scheduling a Nazi rally at the gates of Auschwitz on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. Why is Tulsas history so allegorically powerful? Because it showed the debased lengths to which white Americans, well into the 20th century, would go to destroy black lives and crush the hopes of black people for a better life, literally into dust. According to Trump, his black friends (and I will take him at his word that he has some) convinced him that this Juneteenth, as America endures a huge racial reckoning, might not be the best time for his rabid supporters some of whom, based on past experience, would come carrying Confederate flags to descend on Tulsa. Instead they will gather there the following day, June 20. But for black Americans, the location will still evoke memories of an epic episode of mob violence and racial cleansing. Smoke coming from damaged properties following the Tulsa Race Massacre in June 1921. (Oklahoma Historical Society/Getty Images) The nightmare began on the evening of May 31, 1921, after rumors raced through Tulsa that a black shoeshine boy had assaulted a 17-year-old white elevator girl. Nab Negro for Attacking Girl In an Elevator read a Tulsa Tribune headline. Talk of lynching quickly took root. A mob gathered around the county courthouse where the black teen, Dick Rowland, was being held. The mob screamed for Rowland to be brought out. A small group of black war veterans armed themselves and went to the courthouse, hoping to protect him. Angry words were exchanged, shots were fired and people lay dead in the street. The mob became an avenging army intent on destroying the Greenwood District, the most prosperous black community in America. The mob was joined by National Guardsmen and police. There were (unverified) reports of police-commandeered planes dropping nitroglycerin bombs as Tulsas whites contained what they described as a negro uprising. Story continues When the mob was done, a 35-block area had been destroyed and some 10,000 blacks were homeless. The Red Cross, which conducted a major relief operation in the aftermath, estimated the death toll at perhaps 300. The aftermath of the Tulsa Race Massacre, during which mobs of white residents attacked black residents and businesses of the Greenwood District. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) Newspapers of the time attributed the outbreak to the usual suspects. Negro Reds Started Riots, shouted the Los Angeles Times. The San Francisco Chronicle blamed Bolshevik Propaganda. In a generally sympathetic commentary, the Philadelphia Inquirer pointed out that blacks fought for their country, just as the whites did. ... But it should not be forgotten that the strain of savagery in the race is not yet eliminated. The black-owned Philadelphia Tribune had a different view: Once again has the attention of the world ... been called to the inhuman and brutal side of the American white man in his dealing with the colored people of this country. Tulsas was not an isolated incident. In the aftermath of the war to save democracy, white Americans set out to eradicate black hopes of equality. In 1919, violent riots had broken out in numerous cities, including Chicago, Washington, D.C, and Omaha. The worst was in the small town of Elaine, Ark. The Arkansas Democrat blamed black radicals. In truth, those radicals were simple sharecroppers eager to unionize and get a better price for their cotton. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas describes the anarchy there as by far the deadliest racial confrontation in Arkansas history and possibly the bloodiest racial conflict in the history of the United States. It says something sad and profound that in neither Tulsa nor Elaine do we even know precisely how many were killed just that there were a lot. Whites inevitably blamed the violent outbreaks on blacks. The Chicago Tribune slammed the black press for spreading propaganda about racial equality. Such nonsense, concluded the Tribune, is most generally ascribed to two causes: The presence of negro soldiers in France, where French women of the lower classes accepted them as equals, and the presence of an increasing number of agitators among negroes. National Guard troops, carrying rifles with bayonets attached, escort unarmed African-American men to a detention center after the Tulsa Race Massacre. (Oklahoma Historical Society/Getty Images) A century later, at long last, we seem prepared to remember those long-redacted chapters of history free of the denial, excuses and victim blaming of the past. Encouragingly, substantial numbers of whites are listening to black peers. Several years ago I wrote The Rage of a Privileged Class, a book explaining the intense frustration experienced by Americas rising black middle class. I advised black readers about the danger of pointing out racism at work. In all likelihood, I warned, such behavior would be met with a white wall of denial that might destroy their careers. In the wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks, and of countless videos documenting racial bias, whites are finally accepting the fact that blacks have not been lying all these years. Finally, we are seriously debating whether the price of social order is the loss of so many black lives. But there is an even deeper question. Why have we embraced an approach to policing that results in the deaths of so many civilians, white as well as black? European police typically kill a fraction of the number of people per capita that American cops do. World Population Review calculated that American cops kill at a rate of 28.4 per 10 million people annually, compared with a rate of 3.8 in France, 1.3 in Germany and 0.5 in the United Kingdom. In Norway, Denmark and Iceland, the number of people killed by police in a typical year is zero. In Iceland, cops dont even carry guns. Last year in Norway, after an eight-hour standoff, police shot a man wielding a machete and a chain saw. His was the first police fatality of the year. Norway Today noted that police had fatally shot only five people in 15 years. In all such cases, the person was armed. When I asked a Norwegian journalist about the difference in American and Norwegian statistics, she replied, Police violence has never been an issue here. Actually, we mostly regard the U.S. handling of so many things as both extremely uncivilized and immature. There is a rich irony in our current reality, which finds us governed by the most dishonest, least grown-up president in history as we finally face some difficult truths and perhaps take some tenuous steps toward maturity. **** Ellis Cose is the author of Democracy, If We Can Keep It: The ACLUs 100-Year Fight for Rights in America (from which parts of this article are drawn) and The Short Life and Curious Death of Free Speech in America, both due out this year. https://elliscose.com/ Twitter: @EllisCose. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Phuket airport chief: More flights coming in July PHUKET: More airlines will launch domestic flights arriving at Phuket International Airport starting next month, Phuket International Airport General Manager Thanee Chuangchoo confirmed to The Phuket News today (June 16). tourismtransporteconomicsCOVID-19 By Tanyaluk Sakoot Tuesday 16 June 2020, 06:27PM even the flight crew were made very welcome on their arrival in Phuket. Photo: AoT Phuket More airlines, including Thai Smile and Bangkok Airways, will start their own flights to Phuket in July. We have not yet sorted out the exact flight times as we are still discussing flight slot options with them, Mr Thanee said. Mr Thanee pointed that Thai Smile and Bangkok Airways would not be the only airlines resuming domestic flights to Phuket, but declined to identify which other airlines would soon be flying to the island. The airport chief was among the welcome party on hand today to greet 110 passengers disembarking Thai AirAsias first flight to Phuket since the airport went under lockdown in early April. Thai AirAsia Flight FD3029 touched down at 2:05pm. The return flight, FD3030, departed Phuket at 2:35pm with 120 passengers on board, and landed at Don Meuang International Airport in Bangkok at 4:05pm. Today is a good sign for Phuket. The plane was nearly fully booked, Mr Thanee said. Also, the passengers followed the precautions well, such as always wearing a face mask, which is good to see, he added. As part of the welcome party today, Mr Thanee and airport staff handed out free face masks to all passengers arriving and departing from the airport. The Phuket News notes that the provincial order issued by Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana for all people in Phuket to wear face masks at all times while in public areas remains in effect. The fine for not wearing a face mask in public ranges up to B20,000. Domestic arrivals at Phuket International Airport will not have to observe a 14-day self-quarantine after arriving on the island, Airports of Thailand management at Phuket airport (AoT Phuket) confirmed last Friday as the news broke that the airport would reopen to domestic flights on Saturday. AoT Phuket also confirmed that passengers outbound from Phuket must not have a body temperature higher than 37.3C, must wear a face mask all the time, and must complete the travel declaration form via the AoT Airports application (available on Google Play and on Apples App Store) and register on the Thai Chana platform. Passengers inbound to Phuket also must not have a body temperature higher than 37.3C, must wear a face mask all the time, and must complete the travel declaration form on the Thai Chana platform when arriving. Charles Hood still vividly remembers the day, nearly 55 years ago, when his uncle was pulled over in an affluent community in a Los Angeles suburb. It was the late 1960s, and Hoods uncle, who was black, was driving a fancy, new car through Culver City, a predominantly white neighborhood known in the movie industry as The Heart of the Screenland. As the officers approached his car, Hoods uncle gave his nephew three very simple instructions. Put your hands on your lap. Look forward. And dont say a word. Hood, who was around 7 years old, didnt understand. He had never been with an adult who had been pulled over by police officers before. Why is he coaching me? Hood thought to himself. Over the years as a rank-and-file firefighter and paramedic working in a low-income part of Phoenix, and years later, when he was selected as the first black leader to oversee the San Antonio Fire Department, Hood has grappled with issues of racism, bigotry and bias. Hood, 60, was recognized on Tuesday as Fire Chief of the Year, a prestigious honor voted on by the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, a group of 200-plus fire industry leaders from around the world. William Luther, Staff / Staff Hood, who oversees a department with 2,000 employees, took the opportunity to look back on his 36-year career. He highlighted a number of accomplishments hes proud of including his recent efforts to improve the fire departments insurance service rating and help it gain national accreditation. On ExpressNews.com: Will San Antonio become the fifth major city granted distinction? Earlier this year, the San Antonio Fire Department was recognized by the Congressional Fire Services Institute, a nonprofit policy organization, for its EMS services including its whole blood program that provides whole blood, rather than a saline solution, at the scene of an emergency. But something else was on Hoods mind, too. As two of his sons looked on, Hood began reflecting on his own experiences as a black man, growing emotional as he discussed the day, five decades ago, that his uncle was pulled over seemingly for no reason other than being black. Not much has changed since then, Hood said, before turning his attention to his two sons, Langston and Sheridan. I have to tell these guys every day to be careful. I have to pray for their safety. This movement means so much to me. William Luther, Staff / Staff It was a rare move for the fire chief, who has rarely spoken publicly about his experiences with racism until recently, after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis reignited a national conversation on police misconduct and racial bias. It was at that point, Hood said, that he began using his platform to discuss issues of racial bias, first in a video on Facebook and later walking in three local Black Lives Matter marches. Its an issue, one friend and mentor says, hes long been passionate about. Hes been a leader on issues of racial bias since he was in Phoenix, said Dennis Compton, a former assistant fire chief at the Phoenix Fire Department. He was involved in making sure that young people were mentored, that they were treated equitably and fairly. He wanted to learn Hood was born and raised in Tucson, Ariz., where he decided early on that he wanted to become a firefighter. He joined the Phoenix Fire Department in 1984, where he quickly made an impression on his superiors. He wanted to learn. He wanted to be engaged, Compton recalled. He got involved in the union, and he joined the Urban Search & Rescue Team. Anything he could get involved with, he did. Hood said he loved his early days at the Phoenix department, hanging off the back of a fire truck, not knowing what type of calls the day would bring. William Luther /Staff photographer But, as a young black firefighter stationed in a low-income neighborhood, Hood quickly began to experience racism, too. One of the first nights I worked, I saw a guy get beat up horrifically by the police department, Hood said. All I could do was get back on the fire truck and go back to work. Years later, while on a medical call, an older white man rebuffed Hoods efforts to help him. Son, Im a Georgia peach, Hood recalled the man saying. Where I come from, blacks dont do medicine. Hood, a tall, burly man who towers over many of his employees, grew emotional Tuesday as he remembered how his captain at the time stood up to the man. If hes not good enough to work on you and hes one of the best we have then were not good enough for you either, the captain said. Hood quickly began rising through the ranks in Phoenix. He became a paramedic which Compton said was an accomplishment in and of itself and later served as a division and battalion chief. He was also deployed to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina to act as a rescue effort liaison. By 2007, Hood was in the number two position in the department. A new chapter Early in his career, it never occurred to Hood that he could, or for that matter, wanted to be, a fire chief. But as his career in Phoenix progressed, so, too, did his dream of leading a major fire agency. So in 2007, at the urging of then-City Manager Sheryl Sculley, who was from Phoenix, Hood applied for the top position in San Antonio. Then, he began to have doubts. I wasnt sure if I wanted to leave Phoenix, Hood said. I didnt know if I wanted to move my family across the country. I called Sheryl Sculley, and I told her I was thinking of pulling out. Sculley told him to wait 24 hours. That evening, he expressed his concerns to his son, Jaxon, who was 12 at the time. He got really mad at me, Hood said. He said, what kind of example are you setting for your kids if you dont pursue this job? William Luther, Staff / Staff The next day, Hood called Sculley back and said he was all in. A few months later, he got the job. At the time, the fire department was plagued by a host of problems, including criticism over slow response times in some of the citys outlying areas and low morale among rank-and-file firefighters. Hood quickly worked to resolve those issues. He also worked to expand the departments emergency services, increasing the number of medications that crews carried with them from nine to 45. Over the years, Hood also emphasized the importance of safety and worker health. He opened a wellness center, complete with an athletic trainer, and launched a cancer awareness campaign. The most valuable resource we have is not a fire station, its not a fire truck, its the people, Hood said. To be able to take care of these young men and women, I take it very seriously. That said, SAFD has also had its fair share of challenges. In 2017, Hood faced criticism after firefighter Scott Deem died while battling a blaze in the Ingram Square Shopping Center. State and federal reports concluded that Deems death was preventable and identified a number of mistakes SAFD made that contributed to his death. They also said the department lacked accountability and was in need of a cultural change. Ronald Cortes/Contributor Since Deems death, Hood said the department has redoubled its safety efforts, identifying a number of policies and training practices it needed to change. It also converted an old warehouse on the East Side into a training facility. In recent weeks, Hood has been focused on the departments response to COVID-19. He was so fixated on that and the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd that he had forgotten about his nomination for Fire Chief of the Year. Then, last week, he got a call from the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association notifying him of the accolade. Thinking back, Hood said, he never could have dreamed that his career would have turned out the way it did. He certainly didnt picture being named the best big-city fire chief, he said. I was just a young kid on the back of a fire truck, not knowing what I was going to see or experience, Hood said. Its been a good ride. Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Emilie, become a subscriber. eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton New Delhi: Sushant Singh Rajput was a fun-loving and used to always sport a smile on his face, his cousin Neeraj Kumar Bablu, also an MLA from Bihar, told Zee News in an interview. The family never thought that he could take such a drastic step. Neeraj said that Sushant often used to speak to his father KK Singh and his sister, but no one ever got a clue that he was under some pressure. He was like a small child, we met him just last year when he visited our village in Saharsa district of Bihar, the actors cousin added. Sushant, who was just 34, was found hanging in his apartment in Mumbais Bandra on Sunday afternoon. He was said to be under stress and depression for some months. He hailed from Patna, Bihar. He debuted in Bollywood in 2013 and within a short span of time, impressed the people with his acting skills. His death has opened the nepotism debate again in Bollywood and some A-listers have been accused of hypocrisy and not giving Sushant of what he deserved even after having some good films to his credit. However, his family thanked the Bollywood stars who paid their tributes to the versatile star. Neeraj said, We have no idea about the politics that prevails in the industry. If we had little idea of what Sushant was going through, we would have helped him. We even didnt know about nepotism earlier. Sushant never used to share his thoughts with anyone. With his death, dreams of those aspiring to be an actor have been shattered. If anyone wants to make a name for himself through his talent, please dont stop them. Sushant is survived by his father and four sisters. He had lost his mother in 2002. Neeraj informed that his father is completely devastated and so are his friends. If Sushant doesnt get justice, more such cases will be reported, Neeraj concluded. Sushants father, Neeraj and a few other family members arrived in Mumbai for his last rites. The MLA earlier alleged that the actor was turning out to be a threat for others in the Bollywood industry and that he was pushed to this extent. He alleged conspiracy behinds Sushants suicide. CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelas Supreme Court, loyal to President Nicolas Maduro, on Tuesday ordered the takeover of two influential political parties opposed to the socialist government ahead of parliamentary elections expected this year. The court suspended and replaced the board of directors for the Justice First party a day after the same move against the Democratic Action, one of the nations oldest and largest parties. It was part of a necessary restructuring process, the court said in rulings posted on Facebook. No legal action was taken, however, against Popular Will, the party of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who seeks to oust Maduro with backing from the U.S. and nearly 60 other nations. The political coalition opposed to the Maduros ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela is made up of more than a dozen parties. This attempt to divide them wont succeed, Guaido said. On the contrary, these actions strengthen us, Guaido said. The dictatorship is going to fall, and the republic is going to be reborn. A once-wealthy oil nation, Venezuela is in a deepening political and economic crisis after two decades of socialist rule that has driven mass migration and scarcities of basic goods. The U.S. and scores of other nations consider Maduros government illegitimate and recognize Guaido as interim president, a position he claims as head of the National Assembly. Maduro on state TV accused opposition parties, which have controlled the National Assembly for the last five years, of robbing Venezuela of its wealth and plotting a foreign invasion aimed at ending his socialist government. The National Assembly is the only branch of government Maduro doesnt control. That will change with the next election, he said. People of Venezuela, the hour is drawing near, the day is drawing near, the moment is drawing near, Maduro said. With the popular vote we are going to remove them from the National Assembly. We are going to take them out. Among Justice Firsts most notable members is Henrique Capriles, who lost the presidency race to Hugo Chavez in 2012 and again the next year after Chavezs death in a contest against Maduro. Officials then banned Capriles from politics for 15 years, although he remains an important player behind the scenes. Justice First is also the party of influential politician Julio Borges, who lives in exile in Colombia. Leopoldo Lopez, who remains in Caracas but holed up at a foreign ambassadors residence, helped found the party before then launching Popular Will. Henry Ramos Allup, the leader of Democratic Action, said he would not abide by the courts ruling that tries to remove him from his leadership role. A political ally of Guaido, Allup accused Maduro of hijacking the party. Democratic Action is going to resist these acts of shamelessness, Allup said. The court days earlier seated a new elections council ahead of a vote expected this year in a battle for control of the National Assembly. The unilateral appointments to the council were especially disheartening to some moderate opponents of Maduro who had been trying to reach an accord with the government for minimal guarantees for a free and fair vote. The new National Electoral Council includes names of members of Democratic Action, who Allup said he does not recognize. Critics say that including the opposition party members is an attempt by Maduros government of giving it legitimacy. Democratic Action, which was formed in the 1930s, is among Venezuelas four most powerful opposition parties. They also include Guaidos Popular Will along with Justice First and A New Time. Officials have not set a date for the election, which is required this year by the nations constitution. Bernabe Gutierrez, the courts choice as the Democratic Actions new leader, announced Tuesday that the party will participate in the upcoming election. The historic decision to restructure the board ends years of dictatorship within the party, Gutierrez said, without naming Allup. As the new Justice First leader the court appointed lawmaker Jose Brito, who was expelled from the party last year after being accused of receiving a payoff from Maduros government to buy his loyalty, a claim he has rejected. [June 16, 2020] SAS honors excellence in teaching and learning data science and analytics CARY, N.C., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- VIRTUAL SAS GLOBAL FORUM 2020 -- Through partnerships with colleges and universities around the world, SAS is building a sustainable pool of data science and analytics talent. At the virtual SAS Global Forum 2020, the company is recognizing the educators and students who are teaching, learning and using SAS in innovative ways. "The pandemic has put a bright spotlight on the importance of analyzing data to make better decisions," said Sean O'Brien, Vice President of SAS Education. "This year's honorees are a testament to a world driven by analytics, at a time where their expertise is needed most." In response to COVID-19, SAS launched flexible, free learning options. From short videos to interactive online courses, the SAS training resources can introduce beginners to programming or statistics, or lead to a valuable industry credential like the SAS AI and Machine Learning Professional. SAS supports eight award programs for students and educators participating in the virtual forum. The Distinguished SAS Educator Award recognizes an educator who has made significant contributions to advancing analytics education and preparing students for careers in analytics and data science. This year, Steven Myers from The University of Akron received this award for his work supporting students and incorporating analytics in the classroom and beyond. Myers has been teaching for over four decades and considers himself an "evangelist" for data science. A new award, the Emerging SAS Educator Award, honors an educator who has shown exemplary progress in advancing analytics education and creating new analytics and data science talent. Leila Halawi from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University integrates analytics into instruction and prepares her students to enter the workforce by staying up to date with industry needs. Building on a history of support for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), SAS developed a new travel award for HBCU Educators to acknowledge their work in the analytics world. Award recipients were selected based on their contributions and interest in expanding analytics education at their institution. Three recipients were selected to receive this award: Anthony Troy Adams, Kentucky State University; Burcu Adivar, Fayetteville State University; Jason Black, Florida A&M University. The SAS Global Forum Student Symposium competition is an opportunity for teams of postsecondary students and a faculty advisor to showcase their skills and compete with other teams in the application of SAS Analytics in big data. Chosen from among eight team presentations, the winning team from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, applied machine learning techniques to National Science Foundation data to recommend similar proposal abstracts to aid the merit review process for proposals. Other SAS Global Forum academic award winners include: Fifteen educators from US and international post-secondary institutions were awarded Faculty Scholarships to support their continued work in analytics education. to support their continued work in analytics education. Fourteen professionals, who have never attended SAS Global Forum and have used SAS for less than five years, submitted compelling applications that garnered them the New SAS Professional Award . . Additionally, twelve people received the International Professional Award, which is granted to award applicants who have used SAS for less than five years and live outside the US. which is granted to award applicants who have used SAS for less than five years and live outside the US. Fourteen Student Ambassadors were selected in recognition of students using SAS software to benefit their fields of study. Today's announcement was made at SAS Global Forum, the world's premier analytics conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's conference is being held virtually. About SAS SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW. SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright 2020 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial Contact: Trent Smith [email protected] 919-531-4726 sas.com/news View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sas-honors-excellence-in-teaching-and-learning-data-science-and-analytics-301077191.html SOURCE SAS [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Daniel Lewis Lee, 47-year-old avowed white supremacist, was scheduled to be put to death on Monday for the 1996 murder of a family of three, including an eight-year-old girl in Arkansas Four death-row inmates, including a white supremacist, have been scheduled for execution by the Justice Department, and will be the first prisoners to be put to death since 2003. The Justice Department set new dates for executing the four men starting in mid-July following a months-long legal battle that held back the plan. The inmates who will be executed include among them Daniel Lewis Lee, 48, an avowed white supremacist, convicted for the 1996 murder of a family of three, including an eight-year-old girl in Arkansas. Wesley Ira Purkey, 68, of Kansas, will be executed for the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl and an 80-year-old woman. A third man scheduled for death is Dustin Lee Honken, 52, who killed five people in Iowa, including two children. Also to be executed is Keith Dwayne Nelson, 45, who kidnapped a 10-year-old girl who was rollerblading in front of her Kansas home and raped her in a forest behind a church before strangling the young girl to death with a wire. Inmates (left to right) Wesley Ira Purkey, 68; Dustin Lee Honken, 52; and Keith Dwayne Nelson, 45, are scheduled for execution by order of US Attorney General William Barr Lee, Purkley and Honken - are scheduled days apart beginning July 13. Nelson's execution is scheduled for August 28. The Justice Department said additional executions will be set at a later date. The order to the federal Bureau of Prisons to schedule the four inmates to death comes from Attorney General William Barr. Three had been scheduled to be put to death when Barr announced the federal government would resume executions last year, ending an informal moratorium on federal capital punishment as the issue receded from the public domain. Executions on the federal level have been rare and the government has put to death only three defendants since restoring the federal death penalty in 1988. The last came in 2003, when Louis Jones was executed for the 1995 kidnapping, rape and murder of a young female soldier. Though there hasn't been a federal execution in about 17 years, the Justice Department has continued to approve death penalty prosecutions and federal courts have sentenced defendants to death. In 2014, following a botched state execution in Oklahoma, President Barack Obama directed the Justice Department to conduct a broad review of capital punishment and issues surrounding lethal injection drugs. The attorney general said last July that the Obama-era review had been completed, clearing the way for executions to resume. The order to the federal Bureau of Prisons to schedule the four inmates to death comes from Attorney General William Barr. Barr is pictured at the White House on Monday He approved a new procedure for lethal injections that replaces the three-drug combination previously used in federal executions with one drug, pentobarbital. This is similar to the procedure used in several states, including Georgia, Missouri and Texas, but not all. Barr told the AP in November that the federal Bureau of Prisons had been testing and conducting practice drills ahead of the first execution. He would not say where the drugs would come from. Those chosen were among inmates who had exhausted their appeals, and the cases were forwarded to senior Justice Department officials who reviewed the cases and made recommendations to him, Barr said. President Donald Trump has spoken often about capital punishment and his belief that executions serve as an effective deterrent and an appropriate punishment for some crimes, including mass shootings and the killings of police officers. President Donald Trump has spoken about capital punishment and his belief that executions serve as an effective deterrent and appropriate punishment for some crimes, including mass shootings and police officers killings. He is pictured at the White House Monday Lawyers for the men decried the Justice Department's decision to move ahead with the executions. Ruth Friedman, an attorney for Lee, said the government relied on 'junk science and false evidence' in his case and said he is trying to get a court to consider problems in his prosecution. A federal judge denied Lees request for a new trial but noted that evidence presented by his attorneys 'is reasonably likely' to have led to a different sentence. 'Given all of these circumstances, it would be unconscionable for the government to execute Danny Lee,' Friedman said. A federal judge denied Lees request for a new trial but noted that evidence presented by his attorneys 'is reasonably likely' to have led to a different sentence Lee was condemned to death by a federal jury in 1999 for the murders of Bill Mueller, his wife Nancy, and Nancy's daughter, Sarah Powell. Nancy's mother Earlene Peterson, opposes Lee's execution due to her religious convictions and appealed to Trump to grant Lee clemency. 'I can't see how executing Daniel Lee will honor my daughter in any way,' said Peterson, mother of Nancy and grandmother of Sarah, in a video posted online. 'In fact, kind of like it dirties her name because she wouldn't want it and I don't want it.' The mother of Nancy Mueller, Earlene Peterson, is opposed to Lee's execution Lee was condemned to death by a federal jury in 1999 for the murders of Bill Mueller, his wife Nancy (right), and Nancy's daughter, Sarah Powell (left) Purkey's attorney, Rebecca Woodman, said her client suffers from schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and dementia and doesn't understand why the government plans to execute him. 'No execution should proceed unless and until the question of Wes's competency is resolved,' she said. The death-row inmate was convicted on December 13, 2019 for the rape, murder and dismemberment of 16-year-old Jennifer Long in his Kansas home in 1998. He was also convicted of beating 80-year-old Mary Bales to death with a hammer. Purkey (pictured before his conviction) suffers from schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and dementia and doesn't understand why the government plans to execute him, says his attorney Purkey was convicted on December 13, 2019 for the rape, murder and dismemberment of 16-year-old Jennifer Long in his Kansas home in 1998 An attorney for Honken, Shawn Nolan, said Honken's trial and sentencing proceeding were 'plagued by misconduct and the ineffectiveness of counsel' and said he was been denied a full and fair review of the alleged defects in the case. Nolan was convicted after he shot and killed five peopletwo men who planned to testify against him and a single, working mother and her ten-year-old and six-year-old daughters. Nolan described Honken as a 'deeply remorseful and devout Catholic and loving father of two children.' Nolan was convicted after he shot and killed five peopletwo men who planned to testify against him and a single, working mother and her ten-year-old and six-year-old daughters The executions of four death row inmates will take place at the Federal Correctional Complex Terre Haute in Terre Haute, Indiana An attorney for Nelson did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Nelson was convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Pamela Butler in 1999. He had kidnapped Pamela as she roller-skated near her home in Kansas City, Kansas, stuffed her into the cab of a pickup truck, drove east into Missouri and stopped in the parking lot of a Grain Valley church. He then dragged her into a densely wooded area, beat her and strangled her with speaker wire. He was arrested two days later on the bank of the Kansas River. A group of at least 160 prominent academics, activists, and artists from across the country issued a statement on Monday condemning the police for mentioning the name of social activist Harsh Mander in charge sheets pertaining to the February riots in north-east Delhi. They said Manders name was mentioned to concoct a chronology and create a false narrative about the riots. The chronology has been mentioned in at least three charge sheets, including the one against suspended councillor Tahir Hussain (one of the main accused in the riots). Quoting from the charge sheet, the group said under the head, Brief Facts of the Case - Chronology Of Events Leading To Riots In North-East, Delhi (Point 17. Para 4), police wrote: Mr. Harsh Mander, who visited the site on 16/12/19 and instigated the protestors to not have faith in the Supreme Court and to fight their battle on road to get justice. He, however, used a facade of peace in a part of his speech. The group said in a joint statement, There cannot be anything more ridiculous than saying Harsh Mander used a facade of peace. He has devoted his entire life to the cause of peace and harmony in society. Among the 160 academics and activists were Abhijit Sen , former member of the Planning Commission, Achin Vanaik, retired professor of international relations, Delhi University, Admiral L Ramdas, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, Air Vice Marshal (retd) Kapil Kak, film-maker and actress Aparna Sen, and JNU professor Atul Sood. Police have not charged Mander in any case related to the riots but have explained in the charge sheet that the anti-CAA protests led to the north-east Delhi riots and that some of the leaders of the protests were actively behind the conspiracy of the riots. The European Union began reopening its internal borders on Monday as member countries like Greece and Belgium prepared to welcome tourists after months of coronavirus lockdowns. While the travel restrictions put in place in response to the Covid-19 pandemic began to officially expire on 15 June, Schengen area member and associated countries are removing border controls in a patchwork manner. Italy reopened its borders for travellers from within Europe on 3 June. Spain has already allowed tourists in from some countries including Germany and will reopen to most European countries on 21 June. Germany was to end land border checks on 15 June, while the Dutch announced they would ease warnings against non-essential foreign travel. The Czech Republic is allowing travel from within Europe but placing restrictions on countries with high levels of infections. Austria, which has already opened most of its borders, will lift restrictions with 31 countries excluding Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Poland reopened its borders to EU members and the UK from 13 June, while Sweden never closed. Non-essential travel into the European Union remains restricted until 30 June, although countries like Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia and Slovenia have begun lifting restrictions for foreigners from nations they deem safe. President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said she was happy borders were reopening across Europe. The European Commission launched the Re-Open EU website giving travel information, coronavirus rules, and advice on whether places like hotels or beaches were open. Greeces tourist season began with the reopening of some hotels and international flights from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China, Israel and Lebanon to Athens and Thessaloniki airports. Some of the worst-affected countries, like the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain are not currently on Greeces approved list for travel. Travellers from countries that do meet Greeces epidemiological criteria are tested on arrival and quarantined in a designated hotel for 7 days if the test is negative, and 14 days if it is positive. In Belgium, shops and museums were allowed to reopen from 18 May while cafes, restaurants and attractions began opening on 8 June. Restrictions for hospitality and culture industries would remain in place to 1 July while major events will stay shut down until after August. France, meanwhile, has said it wants reciprocity and could place restrictions on countries placing restrictions on French travellers. PHILADELPHIA, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LegalBillReview.com, an industry leader in identifying legal billing errors and excessive charges and cooperatively working with outside counsel to correct the bill, will begin operating under a new name LegalBillReview.com effective immediately. This rebranding reflects the evolution of the company as well as its vision for the future. Along with this change, a newly redesigned company logo has been revealed and a new website has been launched at www.legalbillreview.com. LBR will continue to serve its clients by carefully reviewing every charge on every legal invoice for value. President, Ryan Loro stated, "As part of our focus on global expansion and business development, our leadership team and I worked on rebranding our company to more specifically reflect our mission and vision for the future. We are excited about the introduction of the new company name, logo and website because it allows us to better represent our business to our clients." For more information please visit www.legalbillreview.com. About LegalBillReview.com LegalBillReview.com helps in-house legal teams save time, reduce legal expenses and improve attorney relationships. Our team of experienced attorneys identify excessive charges and billing errors, then cooperatively work with outside counsel to correct the bill. Contact: Jordan Rogers [email protected] 913.602.8531 SOURCE LegalBillReview.com The Kremlin on Tuesday called for restraint following a sharp escalation in tensions after North Korea blew up a liaison office near its border with South Korea. "This is a concern, we urge all parties to show restraint," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Russia would be closely monitoring the situation. The Kremlin, an ally of the Stalinist regime, was not planning any talks at the highest level for the moment, he said. After days of increasingly virulent rhetoric from Pyongyang, North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border on Tuesday. The demolition came after Kim Yo Jong -- the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- said over the weekend that the "useless north-south joint liaison office" would soon be seen "completely collapsed". Analysts say Pyongyang may be seeking to manufacture a crisis to increase pressure on Seoul while nuclear talks with Washington are at a standstill. Search Keywords: Short link: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mariette Le Roux (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Tue, June 16, 2020 07:18 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdefd0a3 2 World racial-discrimination,Racism,France,racial-divide,racial-issues,personal-data,anti-racism,anti-racism-protests Free As France reels from allegations of racism in the ranks of its police, a debate has resurfaced on lifting a long-standing ban on racial population data, which some say could help paint a clearer picture of inequality in the country. Government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye raised the ire even of cabinet colleagues by proposing that including people's race in the national database could allow policymakers to "measure and look at reality as it is". Ndiaye, who is Senegalese-born and has complained of casual racism in her adoptive country, argued in a letter in Le Monde newspaper at the weekend that France should have an honest look at the "representativity of people of color in the public, political, economic and cultural life of our country". A 1978 French law prohibits the collection of data on a person's race, ethnicity, or political or religious opinions for the national census or other surveys. This means there is no official data on the racial makeup of the population of France, long a country of immigration, including from its former colonies in North and West Africa. Race is a sensitive topic in France, a country deeply scarred by the memory of the Vichy government under German occupation during World War II rounding up and deporting Jews to Nazi concentration camps. Ndiaye's boss, French President Emmanuel Macron, said Monday he did not wish to revisit "at this time" an issue that divides even the almost exclusively white members of his government. Macron "supports concrete actions to fight discrimination rather than a new debate on a subject unlikely to yield rapid and visible results," a presidential adviser, who asked not to be named, told AFP. 'Reconcile society' In an address to the nation Sunday night, the president promised an "uncompromising" fight against racism after recent demonstrations against alleged prejudice in the police. On the same day, Human Rights Watch said France should halt identity checks by the police that are "abusive and discriminatory" towards black and Arab males. Macron in his address acknowledged France must address the fact that "the name, the address, the color of the skin" can affect a person's chances in life. Ndiaye pressed on with her campaign Monday, telling broadcaster France Inter that racial data could help fight "subtle racism". And it could help "reconcile two strands of our society that are forever at odds: those who tell you: 'the blacks and the Arabs, people of color have access to nothing' and those who tell you: 'The problem does not exist'," she insisted. Her proposal was shot down by cabinet members, including Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin. "I remain unfavorable to ethnic statistics which do not correspond with French universalism," Le Maire told franceinfo, emphasizing a French citizen was French irrespective of origin or race. Darmanin told BFMTV he would rather support statistics based on where people live. "When you come from a disadvantaged neighborhood... whatever the color of your skin, it is more difficult to find an internship than when you are someone of a skin colour different than whites, as they say today, living in the seventh arrondissement of Paris", a rich neighborhood. France's National Consultative Commission on Human Rights, a government body, says collecting race data risked "stereotyping" people. An outside probe examining why more than 60 percent of Connecticuts deaths from coronavirus occurred in long-term care facilities will also examine the states response to the pandemic. The state has released its request for proposals for a company to conduct the independent analysis announced by Gov. Ned Lamont last week. Bids are being solicited through this Friday, according to the RFP document. The state is looking for recommendations for immediate changes to its own response, as well as that of the long-term care industry, no later than Aug. 15, to prepare for a potential second wave of the new coronavirus pandemic. A final report on preventing future infectious disease outbreaks would be due by Sept. 30. We need to know what happened what worked, what didnt work, and what could we learn from it, said state Rep. Rosa Rebimbas, R-Naugatuck, who is co-chair to the bipartisan Womens Caucus, during a press conference organized by the caucus on the steps of the capitol building in Hartford on Tuesday. Lamont said the review will also analyze how nursing homes will provide care going forward and make sure that if there is a second wave were going to be ready for it. The request for proposals states that the firm or organization chosen will need to provide the state with an overall review of the virus impact on nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Connecticut compared to other states. State Rep. Michelle Cook, D-Torrington, said she asked for a statewide investigation of nursing homes after her own father-in-law, a Korean War veteran, contracted the virus while living in a nursing home and later succumbed to the disease. Cook said she and her husband were repeatedly told by the home that there were no cases of COVID-19 in the facility. The interesting part when my father-in-law entered the emergency room, the nurse told my husband that in fact there was COVID in the nursing home that Pops had come from, Cook said, using his family nickname. She said that as of June 3, 63 percent of the states deaths attributed to COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, had occurred at nursing homes or assisted living facilities where our elderly go to be safe and be taken care of. We will do better, she said. In a joint statement, Mag Morelli, president of LeadingAge Connecticut and Matt Barrett, president and CEO the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities and the Connecticut Center for Assisted Living, reiterated their support for the independent review ordered by Lamont. They noted all of the nursing homes in the state have been inspected, some multiple times, despite national news reports. Todays news media is reporting that thousands of nursing homes across the country have not yet been inspected at all during this pandemic and the associations assert that no other state is even close to Connecticuts level of regulatory intervention, the statement said. Both also challenged the notion that homes should have had better supplies of protective equipment, noting that supply was limited on a global level, and asked that the review examine the states financial support for nursing homes both before and during the pandemic. Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, a health care workers union representing staff at several nursing homes in the state released a proposed bill of rights for long-term care workers. The list of 10 demands released by SEIU 1199 include increased Medicaid funding; adequate supplies of protective garb; better pay; and universal paid sick, medical and family leave for workers. Pedro Zayas, a spokesman for the union, said 14 of their members have died after contracting the illness, 11 of them workers at long-term care facilities. Gloria Duquette, a nursing aide, said she works three jobs to support her family, but the family lost money after her husband became ill and could not go to work. I even had a coworker who gave it to her mother, and her mother died, Duquette said, of the coronavirus, during a remote press conference organized by the union. Beijing, June 16 : The last satellite of China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) scheduled to be launched on Tuesday was suspended due to technical reasons, sources from the Xichang Space Centre said. No new date has been set for the operation, although it likely to be in the next few days, the sources told Efe news. Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office (CSNO), had announced on Monday that the launch would be carried out at 10.11 a.m. on Tuesday. Ran added that the BDS-3 satellite would enter the Earth's orbit 40-50 minutes after the launch and that, until then, the success of the operation could not be confirmed. The BDS-3 satellite had completed its ground technical tests and the Long March-3B carrier rocket, which will take it into space, was ready at the Xichang centre, the official had said. However, state-run news agency Xinhua reported later in the day that the Long March-3B carrier rocket was found to be experiencing technical problems during pre-launch tests. The launch has been postponed and a new launch date has yet to set, the agency added, citing CSNO officials. The satellite, on entering orbit, was expected to complete the network of 35 3rd-generation devices (BDS-3) of the BeiDou navigation system, which the country launched in 2015 to provide global positioning coverage. China began building its own satellite navigation system in 2000 to end its dependence on the US-owned Global Positioning System (GPS) system, and decided to call it BeiDou, a name that ancient Chinese astronomers gave to the seven brightest stars of the Big Dipper or Plough constellation. So far, it consists of two separate satellite constellations or groups, BeiDou-1 and BeiDou-2. BeiDou-1 comprises three satellites that have been offering limited coverage and navigation and positioning services to China and several neighbouring countries since 2000. BeiDou-2 began operating in December 2011 with 10 satellites in orbit and offers geolocation services to countries in the Asia-Pacific region. With the conclusion of Beidou-3, the system is expected to cover the entire world this year, and provide an alternative to the three existing navigation space projects - the US' GPS, the European Union's Galileo and Russia's GLONASS. According to its promoters, Beidou will have a deviation margin of 10 cm, providing a greater accuracy margin than the 30 cm of the GPS. China's estimated investment in the project exceeds $10 billion. The National Women Organizer of the NPP, Madam Kate Gyamfua has donated assorted items to the LA Polyclinic to help the fight against COVID-19. Items includes six wheel chairs, PPEs, liquid soaps, detergents, sanitizers, hand tissue, toilet rolls and other hospital equipment. Speaking to Oman news, Madam Kate Gyamfua opined that as part of her nationwide tour, she has already donated same items to eight selected government hospitals in 8 regions across the country and hinted of visiting the remaining eight regions to do same. She took the opportunity to advice all Ghanaians to take precautionary measures against COVID-19 seriously to help us minimize the spread of the pandemic. Madam Adiza Abu Head of Nursing and Madam Veronica Momo Blabi, Deputy Director Nursing Services for the La Polyclinic, took turns to thank Madam Kate Gyamfua and the womens wing of the party for their kind gesture. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Korea's airlines will resume more overseas flights and routes in July, which have been suspended due to the coronavirus epidemic. The national flag carrier Korean Air plans to resume its suspended routes to Dallas and Vienna and increase the number of flights it offers to other cities in the U.S., as well as London, Paris, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, industry sources said on Monday. Asiana Airlines will resume suspended operations to London, Paris, Istanbul and Osaka. It will also increase its operations to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and Bangkok, which have been significantly scaled back due to the epidemic. William Hickman, right, who worked as a pharmaceutical representative and ran the company Boardwalk Medical LLC, is escorted from the FBI office in Linwood, N.J., Friday, March 15, 2019. Authorities say a police officer and three firefighters are among seven people recently charged in a $50 million prescription drug scheme that has already produced nearly two dozen guilty pleas. Read more William Hickman pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler to being the organizer of a prescription drug conspiracy that involved firefighters, police officers, and teachers at the New Jersey Shore and cost state health benefit plans more than $53 million. Hickman, 43, of Northfield, agreed to more than $26 million in forfeitures of investment accounts and other property, according to Kugler, who accepted the plea in a Zoom remote hearing from Camden. In exchange, charges against Hickmans wife, Sara, will be dismissed. William Hickman said his wife was unaware of the criminal nature of the company he set up in her name. Hickman, appearing remotely with his lawyer, Charlie McKenna, pleaded guilty to one count of wire and health care fraud and one count of money laundering, which together carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 6. Youre going to give up everything you have, and get to keep the family home, Kugler said. Hickman has to pay the government $77,161 to keep the home, the judge said. Hickman was indicted in March 2019 along with six other people, including his wife and an owner of Tonys Baltimore Grill in Atlantic City, and charged in the prescription-drug health-benefits scheme that has snagged more than 30 police officers, firefighters, teachers, and pharmaceutical representatives at the Shore. At Tuesdays hearing, Hickman admitted getting a 40% commission from a compounding pharmacy in Louisiana that billed for public health benefits for expensive compounded medications, including vitamins and libido medication and anti-fungal creams. Hickman became a master distributor and oversaw several top recruiters, including Brian Pugh, 41, the co-owner of the Baltimore Grill, who has pleaded not guilty; Matthew Tedesco, a pharmaceutical salesman awaiting sentencing; and Margate firefighter Michael Sher, who also pleaded guilty. Hickman wrote checks to Pugh totaling more than $364,800, the judge said. I knew what I was doing was wrong, and I knew it was against the law, Hickman told the judge. Hickman was named in a search warrant executed in June 2017 at the office of James Kauffman, an endocrinologist who later killed himself while in prison awaiting trial in the murder of his wife, April. The search warrant, obtained by The Inquirer, identified Hickman as a ringleader in the scheme. The warrant alleges that Hickman is alleged to have used a shell company, Boardwalk Medical LLC, to solicit the services of Kauffman and other doctors for fraudulent prescriptions for expensive creams, vitamins, and libido medication, and scar ointments. At Tuesdays hearing, another doctor, John Gaffney, was named as someone who agreed to sign prescriptions for patients he had never treated. Gaffney, of Margate, pleaded guilty in the case and is awaiting sentencing. Shore towns have been aware for several years that many of their public employees had been involved in some way with the scheme, and the towns complied with demands for health insurance records. Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner has said that he expects to bring charges against numerous lower-level participants in the scheme but has not yet done so. Just one person, a pharmaceutical representative, has been sentenced so far. Kristie Masucci of Ocean County is serving 24 months in prison. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $1.8 million and forfeit $338,000 to compensate for what prosecutors say she personally earned. The sentencing of Tedesco, the first to plead guilty, has been repeatedly delayed and is now scheduled for October. New Delhi: The Mumbai Police so far has recorded the statements of nine people in Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. The statements of his friend Mahesh Shetty, Siddharth Pithani, Sushants creative content manager, his housekeeper Deepesh Sawant, his cook, and the key maker, who unlocked the actors bedroom, were recorded earlier. On Tuesday, his father KK Singh and two of his sisters spoke to the police. The statement of his Mumbai-based sister will be recorded soon. On the other hand, his close friend Rhea Chakrabortys statement is pending too. She would be called soon. Sushant was found dead in his apartment in Mumbai on Sunday. The 34-year-old actor was said to be under stress and depression for some months. A few hours before he hanged himself to death, Sushant had called Rhea and Mahesh, but the duo did not receive the call. ALSO READ: 12 hours, 4 calls, locked room: Mumbai Police probes Sushant Singh Rajput's last few hours Rhea on Monday paid her condolences to Sushant at Cooper Hospital, where he was taken for a post-mortem. The post-mortem report stated that he died of asphyxiation due to hanging. Sushants last rites were performed on Monday at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in the presence of family members and close friends. Six-year-old Databricks, a technology start-up based in San Francisco, is on a mission: to help data teams solve the world's toughest problems, from security-threat detection to cancer and Covid-19 drug development. It does this by building and running a data and AI infrastructure platform so customers Comcast, Shell, Expedia and Regeneron, to name a few can focus on the challenges that are central to their own missions. View the FULL LIST: 2020 DISRUPTOR 50 Last April the company announced its open-source project, called Delta Lake. This project enables organizations to transform their existing messy data lakes centralized repositories that can store structured and unstructured data into clean Delta Lakes with high-quality data, thereby accelerating their data and machine learning initiatives. The company has entered into a number of partnerships. It's working with Microsoft on the open-source project, MLflow, and is partnering with Informatica to accelerate the development of intelligent data pipelines. Australia's largest Islamic School has been ordered to repay $11 million after falsely claiming to be not-for-profit to receive government funding. Malek Fahd Islamic School in western Sydney received millions in grants over 2014 and 2015 on the basis that it was not making any money. But the Non-Government Schools Not-for-profit Advisory Committee has since determined the school was making money during that period, and has recommended it repay $11 million. That is on top of a $4 million debt it is already paying off after the school was found to be in breach of the same policy from 2010 to 2012. Malek Fahd Islamic School in western Sydney (Greenacre campus pictured) received millions in grants over 2014 and 2015 on the basis that it was not making any money The school's chairman, John Bennett, told The Daily Telegraph the matter was being resolved, but declined to comment on what would happen to the school if it could not meet the government's demands. 'The school is providing information to the state government as requested to satisfy its requirements,' Dr Bennett said in a statement. The committee also suggested all future funding to the school be suspended until new rules are implemented and funding is cut for Australian Federation of Islamic Councils. Currently, the school is repaying $4 million over a seven year period by having annual grants cut by $575,000 each year until 2024. The school sought an internal review of the advisory committee's findings about the 2014 and 2015 funding. From there, it went to the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which determined the initial recommendations should be upheld. In May, New South Wales Education Minister Sarah Mitchell wrote to the school asking for an estimation of when the repayments would begin. In May, New South Wales Education Minister Sarah Mitchell wrote to the school asking for an estimation of when the repayments would begin The school has 2800 students across three campuses at Greenacre, Hoxton Park and Beaumont Hills. It made headlines in 2019 after a female prison psychologist banned from practising over a relationship with a notorious Skaf gang rapist was hired as the counsellor at the Greenacre campus. The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal banned Joanne Senior from practising as psychologist or counsellor for three years from 2015. But her practising ban lapsed in the middle of 2018. And Daily Mail Australia revealed Malek Fahd Islamic School announced she began working with students in February 2019. At the time, a school spokesman said they weren't initially aware of her employment history. She was told not to attend school the following day as the matter was being considered. Advertisement Another exclusive restaurant has announced it will remain closed indefinitely, sending alarm bells ringing that even A-list haunts are not insulated from the economic damage of lockdown. The Ledbury in Notting Hill, which has two Michelin stars and regularly features among the top ranked eateries in the world, has 'no route to reopening'. Chef Brett Graham, who owns the restaurant, made the reluctant decision to make all staff redundant because welcoming back customers with mandated social distancing would be 'completely unworkable'. While the Australian suggested that social distancing rules was the knockout blow, he also pointed to the tourism drought and shocks to the economy as insurmountable problems. This triple-whammy has been echoed by other casualties in the hospitality sector, which has been one of the sectors hardest hit by the crisis in which restaurants were ordered to shutter. Le Caprice in Piccadilly Circus, Princess Diana's 'favourite', has also announced it will remain permanently closed. Its owner Richard Caring has launched a blistering attack on the government, which he accused of failing to tell restaurants when they can reopen and what social distancing curbs will be enforced. As restaurants - starved of income but still struggling with lofty overheads - are left in limbo, ministers are reviewing slashing the two-metre rule to one-metre to allow more customers when the hospitality sector is given the green light to partially reopen, which is pencilled for July. But Graham has said that the Ledbury would still find it impossible to open even if the distancing rule was cut. He did not rule out opening in the future and said he would remain the lease on the property, but it would remain mothballed indefinitely. The Ledbury in Notting Hill, which has two Michelin stars and regularly features among the top ranked eateries in the world, has 'no route to reopening Chef Brett Graham, who owns the restaurant, made the reluctant decision to make all staff redundant because welcoming back customers with mandated social distancing would be 'completely unworkable' While the Australian suggested that social distancing rules was the knockout blow, he also pointed to the tourism drought and shocks to the economy as insurmountable problems Announcing the closure, Graham said: 'This little restaurant with 50 covers can't operate with even one-metre distancing. 'You couldn't get through reception, go to the toilet, work in the kitchen or make coffee. One metre is completely unworkable. 'The business model of a high average spend in a small dining room can't be done properly without going against government guidelines. 'The economy is a mess, people won't be able to travel and a lot of people who dine at The Ledbury are tourists.' The Ledbury first opened in 2005 and has ranked among the top 50 restaurants worldwide and has been named best restaurant in the UK. Graham told Eater: I'm gutted. It's been 15 years. There's no winners in any scenario. I just don't want to put anyone at risk.' It is a jewel in London's fine dining scene, as is Le Caprice which is also closing after 38 years in the West End. The restaurant was initially opened in 1947 by Mario Gallati, a former maitre d' at The Ivy, who ran it until 1975. In 1981, Chris Corbin and Jeremy King now of The Wolseley and Brasserie Zedel fame took over the restaurant and restored it to its former glory. It went onto become a haven for the stars, including Mick Jagger and Elizabeth Taylor, as well as royals like Princess Margaret and Princess Alexandra before being bought by its current owner, businessman Richard Caring. The Ledbury first opened in 2005 and last year was ranked 64th in the world and it is a jewel in London's fine dining scene Princess Diana was a regular customer at Le Caprice, here pictured leaving the central London restaurant in January 1994 The exclusive Le Caprice, in Piccadilly, London, beloved of Princess Diana, is now permanently closed after shutting its doors when lockdown was announced Other royals also frequented the establishment, such as Princess Margaret pictured leaving Le Caprice restaurant in London with Ned Ryan in 1995 Princess Margaret leaving the restaurant in 2001 (left). Elton John visiting the establishment in 1994. The venue was popular with stars and royalty alike Hollywood star Tom Cruise pictured visiting the exclusive restaurant in 1994, one of several stars to have dined there It would lead to his Caprice Holdings restaurant empire, which now includes the likes of The Ivy, Sexy Fish and Scott's, as well as exclusive club Annabel's. Though there are 'early plans' to open the restaurant in a new location, they are thought to be at a preliminary stage. A spokesperson for Le Caprice told MailOnline: 'Le Caprice has occupied the current site for 38 years and now the lease is coming to an end. The iconic restaurant within the London dining scene will be reborn at a new location currently under negotiation. 'We thank our clientele for their loyalty and support over the years and assure them that they will be as excited as us with the new plans for this historic brand.' Caring launched a blistering attack on the government yesterday, warning that Boris Johnson's 'weakness and indecision' on reopening restaurants, pubs and cafes will cost more than two million workers their jobs. In a rare interview, restaurateur and private members' club mogul Caring warned the Prime Minister he was 'killing the country' by failing to outline when hospitality venues could reopen and whether they would have to abide by the two-metre social distancing rule. Joan Collins and her husband Percy Gibson visiting the restaurant sometime in the early 2000s, one of a litany stars to visit George Michael pictured leaving the restaurant in 1993 (left). Victoria Beckham pictured on a night out at the Vogue Magazine Party at Le Caprice restaurant in 2009 (right) Sting and wife Trudie pictured leaving restaurant Le Caprice after celebrating their marriage at Camden register office in 1992 Bill Clinton pictured leaving the restaurant in 2006 (left). Cilla Black leaving Le Caprice, London (right) on an unknown date The Duchess of Kent, Princess Alexandra, and Sir Noel Coward pictured leaving Le Caprice together back in 1959 Sean Connery pictured with his wife Micheline Roquebrune going to the exclsuive restaurant Le Caprice in Mayfair in 1994 (left). Pictured right, on an unknown date, are Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Denise Van Outen Caring, whose staff have now delivered a million and one freshly cooked free meals to NHS workers and vulnerable people in lockdown, said ministers had grossly underestimated the permanent damage being done to Britain's 26,000 restaurants. Businessman Richard Caring is the owner of Le Caprice He told The Mail on Sunday that thousands of businesses and their employees were in the 'eye of a storm' surviving thanks only to the Government's taxpayer-funded furlough scheme that pays staff wages, and a pause on rent and business rates tax bills. As soon as state aid measures are withdrawn, Caring warned, as many as '50 per cent or 60 per cent' of the four-million-strong hospitality workforce could be laid off and restaurants, cafes and bars shuttered for good. He said the wave of redundancies would be 'like a volcano' erupting, with the worst of the pain coming in September and October when the furlough scheme ends. Calling for urgent action to avert the looming jobs crisis, Caring said: 'The beginning of the lockdown gave us an initial shock. 'Now it's quite calm because people are furloughed, businesses are not paying staff, they are not paying rent, they are not paying rates and staff don't have the expense of going to work and the expense of going out. 'So as a restaurateur, you believe you can sit tight and survive, and that's what everyone's doing. But the big problem that people shy away from is that we're in the eye of a storm. 'The fact is, down the road there's a volcano that is going to bubble over. 'I don't think people can see it yet, but everyone in hospitality is beginning to realise they will have to make heavy cuts. 'This volcano, unless we wake up to it now, it's going to be horrendous. It's just going to explode, spewing out unemployed people. The pain and suffering it is going to cause is horrific. Katherine Jenkins and Raymond Blanc leaving the restaurant in 2013 (left). Catherine Zeta-Jones visited the restaurant with husband Michael Douglas in 2002 (right) Liz Hurley pictured shortly after leaving the restaurant in December 2001 - one of several big names to visit the restaurant over 38 years Bianca Jagger and Tracey Emin at a private dinner celebrating the 30th anniversary of iconic London restaurant Le Caprice on October 4, 2011 Duchess of Kent and Martin Lewis leaving Le Caprice restaurant - though the date is unclear, the restaurant was popular with royals Lady Sarah Chatto leaving the restaurant in 1996 (left). Lady Victoria Hervey leaving Le Caprice in 2001 (right). It seemed popular with royals Picture shows Serena Stanhope driving husband Lord Linley (front right) after dinner with Princess Margaret at Le Caprice Several exclusive and popular restaurants across central London will not be reopening following the lift of lockdown The restaurant was initially opened in 1947 by Mario Gallati (left), a former maitre d' at The Ivy, who ran it until 1975. In 1981, Chris Corbin and Jeremy King (right) now of The Wolseley and Brasserie Zedel fame took over the restaurant and restored it to its former glory 'There are estimates saying we could have up to five million unemployed. It's not going to be five million it's going to be more. I don't think we've seen anything yet. The Government is killing the country right now and the hospitality industry is the frontline disaster.' Le Caprice, a restaurant loved by royalty and the showbiz elite Le Caprice, in Piccadilly, London, will now permanently close after 38 years in its current location. The restaurant was initially opened in 1947 by Mario Gallati, a former maitre d' at The Ivy, who ran it until 1975. In 1981, Chris Corbin and Jeremy King now of The Wolseley and Brasserie Zedel fame took over the restaurant and restored it to its former glory. It went onto become a haven for the stars, including Mick Jagger and Elizabeth Taylor, as well as royals like Princess Margaret and Princess Alexandra before being bought by its current owner, businessman Richard Caring. It would lead to his Caprice Holdings restaurant empire, which now includes the likes of The Ivy, Sexy Fish and Scott's, as well as exclusive club Annabel's. Though there are 'early plans' to open the restaurant in a new location, they are thought to be at a preliminary stage. A spokesperson for Le Caprice told MailOnline: 'Le Caprice has occupied the current site for 38 years and now the lease is coming to an end. The iconic restaurant within the London dining scene will be reborn at a new location currently under negotiation. 'We thank our clientele for their loyalty and support over the years and assure them that they will be as excited as us with the new plans for this historic brand.' Advertisement Bloomberg's Richard Vines revealed on Twitter that Le Caprice, a Caprice Holdings property, would not reopen after lockdown. Other restaurants in the empire, Scott's, Sexy Fish and 34 Mayfair are all offering delivery services for the first time. The closure has not been explicitly linked to the pandemic, though several high profile restaurants have been forced to permanently close their doors amid the crisis. Siren at the Goring, a seafood restaurant inside the Belgravia hotel, will also not be reopening, despite only launching last year. After arriving in the capital after much fanfare last year, Wahlburgers, the London branch of Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg's burger chain, will also not be coming back. Texture, a Michelin-starred Scandinavian-influenced restaurant in Marylebone run by Agnar Sverrisson, has also closed permanently. The Frog Hoxton, run by critically-acclaimed chef Adam Handling, has also shut its doors. Meanwhile, away from food, the historic Ritz Club and Casino will also not be reopening after lockdown is lifted. In April, top chef Yotam Ottolenghi warned that thousands of restaurants may never reopen. Mr Ottolenghi told BBC Radio 4's programme: 'The biggest worry that we have is rent. When corona started and we were asked to close our doors, which is totally understandable because of safety, nobody really addressed the issue of the rents 'Many, many have not been paying rents. Others have got into arrangements with their landlords, but this has not been solved. 'Some landlords have been threatening to prosecute and other legal actions against the tenants at restaurants in such a time because they are not paying their rents, and landlords, many of them, rely on the rent to pay their own debts.' There is a plan to install floodwalls that are thirteen feet high on a portion of the waterfront in Miami to storm-proof it, and this is estimated to cost 4.6 billion dollars. This is a proposal being developed by the Army Corps of Engineers to protect this area when storm surges occur. This plan is among many proposals drafted for protecting several coastal US areas that face increasing risks of floods brought about by global warming and climate change. Other concurrent projects are being implemented in Charleston, South Carolina, and Norfolk, Virginia. Miami-Dade County is the area being considered for Florida. If successful, it can protect 2.8 million residents from flooding and storm surges. South Florida residents are also concerned about the rise in sea levels. Miami-Dade County has a chronic flooding problem during heavy rain and king tides. According to a recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration study, climate change is making hurricanes worse, and Miami is one of the cities identified as very vulnerable to sea-level rise. This is in consideration of the looming threat of ever higher and more destructive storm surges from hurricanes. Hurricane Andrew caused over 500 million dollars in losses in 1992 due to a storm surge 17 feet high. Miami-Dade County increased in population by a million people more since that time. Increasing the risk, even more, is the addition of high-rise condominiums for Miami beach and downtown residents. Storm surge gates will be installed on the three waterways, which lead to Biscayne Bay. This includes the Miami River. This is commercially important, having repair facilities and cargo terminals. Jim Murley, Miami-Dade County Chief Resilience Officer, says that there are navigation, water quality, and drainage issues that need to be considered in designing the gate. The plan also includes pumps and floodwalls along the waterfront and a storm surge barrier reaching 36 feet from Biscayne Bay's floor. Thousands of structures such as buildings, businesses, and homes will also have to be elevated and flood-proofed in the vulnerable areas. Holly Carpenter, Corps of Engineers project manager, says that the design is still at the conceptual level. Meanwhile, Miami Waterkeeper's Rachel Silverstein says that the Corps should consider natural solutions like coral reef and mangrove restoration and similar solutions. The Corps also plans to extensively plant mangroves along the county's southern residential area shoreline. However, project overseer Susan Layton says that while the Corps considered natural solutions such as oyster reefs, living shorelines, and the like for some areas, she says they do not reduce storm surges significantly or benefit the coasts from storms. This initiative considers a sea-level rise of 3.5 feet in Miami in the next six decades. The plan has no solutions for the increase in flooding, but Murley says that sea-level rise is a more significant threat. He adds that storm surges are higher due to the fact that the sea level has risen. The plans will not be completed until 2021 and will depend on funding and approval from Congress and the local government. A coronavirus contact tracing app being introduced in France may not be able to connect with others across the European Union because it stores data centrally, EU Commission vice-president Margrethe Vestager said on Tuesday. The EU has been hoping that apps developed by member states to track infections will be able to link up when people move within the bloc, mapping the virus's spread better and so creating more security for a revival of travel and tourism. Member states agreed technical standards for this on Tuesday. But France's approach, which allows central location tracking but has also raised privacy concerns, differs from that of Germany, Italy and others, which log contacts by Bluetooth signal on individual smartphones only. "It's somewhat more tricky to develop the technical standards for interoperability between decentralised systems, as I think will be the general rule, and the centralised system that France has been aiming for," Vestager told the French parliament in a videoconference. Germany's app launched on Tuesday, following a standard put in place by Apple and Alphabet's Google -- whose iOS and Android operating systems run 99% of the world's smartphones. France has also said that access to its centrally held data is a matter of sovereignty. Its app, "StopCovid", was launched on June 2 and about 1.5 million people have downloaded and activated it - roughly 2% of the population. Development of the French app was led by the state research institute Inria, with support from French companies such as the telecoms firm Orange, the IT consulting group Capgemini and the software company Dassault Systemes. Search Keywords: Short link: WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Masco Corp. (MAS) said, due to a better than anticipated rebound in sales during the quarter, the company now expects second quarter sales to be down approximately 8% from prior year excluding currency. Previously, the company anticipated sales to decline in a range of 15-20%. With the anticipated improved sales, Masco now expects decremental margins to be stronger than the prior guidance range of 35-40%. Second quarter sales in the Plumbing Products segment are expected to be down approximately 19% excluding currency, and in the Decorative Architectural Products segment sales are anticipated to increase approximately 6%. Shares of Masco Corp. were up 4% in pre-market trade on Tuesday. 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. Local, regional, state, and federal officials break ground at the Mistletoe Hall Commerce-Business Park site. Said Mayor Robert C. Willey, We are proud to begin construction of the Mistletoe Hall Commerce Business-Park. It is through this collaboration that we are building a stronger business environment not only for Easton but for the entire eastern shore of Maryland. The 86-acre, Town-owned Mistletoe Farm property -located on Goldsborough Neck Road adjacent to the Easton Airport - was subdivided to create seven industrially zoned parcels and offers prime real estate to new or expanding businesses. Said Mayor Robert C. Willey, We are proud to begin construction of the Mistletoe Hall Commerce Business-Park. This project would not have been possible without our local, regional, state, and federal partners. It is through this collaboration that we are building a stronger business environment not only for Easton but for the entire eastern shore of Maryland. In addition to funding from the Town of Easton, the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $2.2 million grant to support the build-out of critical infrastructure, including roads and utilities. Linda Cruz-Carnall, Philadelphia Regional Director of the USDOC EDA, states, Mistletoe Hall Commerce-Business Park allows for business expansion and could serve as an economic engine for the community. [...] This project very much aligns with the [Economic Development Administrations] priorities. We are delighted to celebrate the successful start of construction on site. In partnership with the Town of Easton, Talbot County applied for and received two Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund infrastructure grants through the Rural Maryland Council to begin improvements to Goldsborough Neck Road to support this project. The road from Glebe Road to the entrance of Mistletoe Hall is being widened and improved to allow for the traffic that will be generated by the propertys development. Portions of both Goldsborough Neck and Airport roads have been slated for future improvements to accommodate the development of a new regional hospital site off Route 50 near the Talbot County Community Center. Talbot County applauds the partnership that has brought the development of Mistletoe Hall to fruition, says Talbot County Council President Corey Pack. Working together with our partners, the groundbreaking of this 86-acre industrial park will incentivize local businesses to expand and new businesses to grow and relocate to Talbot County. The groundbreaking ceremony included a proclamation from The Comptroller of Maryland Peter Franchot presented by Barbara Sauers. Speakers included Mayor Robert Willey, Congressman Andy Harris, Senator Addy Eckardt, Pete Lesher on behalf of Talbot County Council President Corey Pack, Town of Easton Councilman Al Silverstein, Director of External Affairs Joel Frushone EDA/Headquarter, Executive Director Scott Warner of Mid-Shore Regional Council, and Vice-Chairman Chuck Callahan of Mid-Shore Regional Council and Councilman Talbot County Council. For more information about Mistletoe Hall, please visit: http://www.mistletoehall.com The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has informed Bombay high court that it has only 124 unoccupied quarantine beds in its worst hit E ward, which has recorded 3,085 Covid-19 cases so far. E ward includes areas such as Byculla, Chinchpokli, Mumbai Central, Reay Road and Dockyard Road. The civic body said in an affidavit filed in the high court on Monday that it has quarantine facilities only at four places in E ward, which is densely populated and comprises British era buildings with common passages and common toilets. Therefore, BMC has very limited choices when it comes to setting up quarantine facilities. The total capacity of the four facilities is 1,223 beds. The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by a developer, Neelkamal Realtors, who complained about BMCs decision to take over a building constructed by the developer as part of a rehabilitation project at Byculla. The affidavit said BMC has converted 234 flats in the building into a quarantine facility with a capacity of 1,000 beds. Of these, 940 are currently occupied. The civic body informed the developer that rent at the rate of Rs25 lakh a month will be paid for using the building as a quarantine facility. It added BMC has been carrying out aggressive tracing of people who have been in contact with Covid-19 patients and proposes to increase the contact tracing ratio from the current 1:10 to 1:15 in densely populated areas. BMC filed the affidavit after receiving a sharp rap from the bench of justices SJ Kathawalla and Surendra Tavade for requisitioning buildings that are part of rehabilitation projects to set up isolation or quarantine facilities. The bench had on June 7 directed the civic body to file an affidavit giving details of the buildings requisitioned for setting up isolation or quarantine facilities, the number of beds in these facilities and the number of suspected Covid-19 contacts housed at the facilities. Smoke pours from Westminster Hall following a bomb in the House of Parliament. Eleven hurt in first attack on Westminster since Guy Fawkes plot First published in The Age on June 18, 1974 London, June 17. Terrorists today set off a bomb in the houses of parliament, damaging the 900-year-old Westminster Hall. Eleven people were injured in the explosion and fire the most serious sabotage on the Houses of Parliament since the Guy Fawkes plot in 1605. The bomb exploded about 8.30 a.m., only minutes after a man said to have an Irish accent telephoned a warning to the Press Association, Britains main domestic news agency. Seven people were treated in hospital. Six later were released. The seventh, a married woman, was detained with a broken leg. Three hours after the explosion the Palace of Westminster still was in chaos. But the fire had been put out. Police have sealed off Parliament Square. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 Trend: Armenia has recently been defeated in all spheres in the field of diplomacy regarding the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. After Germany announced the decision to close the office of the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" (NKR) in Berlin, another decision was adopted in the European Parliament. In accordance with this decision, the European countries called on Armenia to acknowledge the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. The European Parliaments statement was made in response to Yerevans intention to begin construction of a new highway from Armenias Kapan city to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region through Gubadli and Jabrayil districts of Azerbaijan. According to a joint statement signed by the European Parliament rapporteurs on Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the co-chairman of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, the decision on construction of this highway was made without the consent of the Azerbaijani competent bodies by violating the international law. Moreover, this may symbolically consolidate the illegal occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the surrounding districts. The European Parliament further calls on Yerevan to strengthen its diligent commitment to the negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the conflict within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. The concrete instructions to Armenia were mentioned in the statement of the European Parliament. This is a good lesson for Yerevan to know how to behave. No matter how hard Yerevans "false analysts" have tried to disavow the lesson of Europe, it is obvious that the EU clearly stands for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. The European Parliaments decision not only is a "diplomatic catastrophe", but also a "physical defeat" of the Armenian occupiers. The German government has recently declared illegal and expelled the representatives of the so-called "NKR" from its territory. Berlin has banned representative of a "non-existent state" Harutyun Grigoryan, whose activity has been recognized as a "criminal offense", to stay in Germany. In accordance with Germanys law, the use of titles and foreign official ranks, including the titles that may be confused with them, is a criminal offense. The profile of the so-called "ambassador of the Republic of Artsakh to Germany" was deleted from the internet, as well as from Facebook. The website www.arzach.de, created and financed by Yerevan on behalf of the puppet occupation regime in Nagorno-Karabakh, ceased to operate in the German and Armenian languages. Reportedly, the German authorities offered the organizers to close the office of the "European Artsakh Research Center" in Berlin. Furthermore, the German Foreign Ministry issued an official statement saying that Berlin denounces the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories and does not recognize the legality of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied Azerbaijani districts. The latest statement made by the European Parliament, as well as the measures taken by the German authorities to prohibit the activity of the office of a "non-existent state", which was created in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, in the country are not accidental. Europes history is full of territorial disputes, border issues, separatism and world wars. In the past, Germany has repeatedly urged to expand the living space by making territorial claims against neighboring countries. In its history, Germany was the initiator of ethnic conflicts, calls for the right of the nation to self-determination, and at one point, it acted as a center of propaganda of "fascism". All this subsequently led to the war, "Anschluss" and ethnic cleansing. However, having experienced the bitterness of defeat and having recognized their mistakes, the peoples of European countries created the European Union from the ruins of World War II. Through the bitter experience of their history, Europeans realize that modern Armenia, repeating the mistakes they have made, will ultimately lose. Europes position is clear and concrete. It "denounces the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and does not recognize the legality of the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied districts of Azerbaijan. The German Foreign Ministry has recently published a document calling on German citizens not to visit the occupied Azerbaijani territories; otherwise, they will be prosecuted. The European experts, in particular German experts, voice a thesis at the international venues that the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh region are an ethnic minority in Azerbaijan, for whom the international "right to self-determination" cannot be extended. The European Parliaments decision was conditioned not only by the example of Catalonia; it was also prompted by the endless flow of the Armenians to the European countries, in which they are trying to stay under the guise of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh region. Having committed bloody crimes against Azerbaijanis in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, inclined to terrorism, armed robbery and theft, the Armenians created the organized criminal structures in Europe. Armenian mafia is involved in theft, racketeering, car theft, robbery and other crimes in Weimar, Erfurt and Eichsfeld cities in Thuringia. Fourteen criminal cases were filed against 42 people of Armenian nationality in Erfurt city. The organized criminal network of Armenians operates throughout Europe, namely, in Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and other countries. Thus, the Spanish media reported about the biggest special operation, the purpose of which was to suppress the illegal activity of one of the "biggest Armenian criminal groups organized in Europe." As many as 140 members of the Armenian mafia were arrested as a result of more than 70 search operations involving thousands of policemen, which occurred simultaneously in six regions of Spain, France and Germany. They were convicted of a number of transnational crimes, namely, weapons smuggling, drugs, money laundering, fraud and theft. It was revealed that criminal gangs were connected with each other and their activity was coordinated not only from the so-called "NKR" offices, but also from the Armenian embassies in the European countries. The German media even reported that Armenian ambassador to Germany Ashot Smbatyan offered Yerevans assistance to the German authorities in the fight against the Armenian mafia. Berlin refused from the Armenian ambassadors offer, suspecting the availability of the ties between the Armenian mafia and the official authorities of this country. The European Parliaments recent decision will not remain unnoticed by Baku. Of course, this step creates a favorable background not only for punishing the aggressor, but also for further developing the relations between the European countries and Azerbaijan. Germany will take over the presidency of both the UN Security Council and the European Council in a few weeks. Berlin will play a key role in curbing Armenias aggression against Azerbaijan and restoring Azerbaijans territorial integrity. Elkhan Alasgarov, PhD, Head of the Expert Council of the Baku Network Join us on the official website http://bakunetwork.com Join us also on Twitter and Facebook https://twitter.com/BakuNetwork and https://www.facebook.com/BakuNetwork YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp5ic7mhc6rZF6w0TQWqtmg Sutton Stracke, a new cast member on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, has listed her Los Angeles home for $8.95 million. The graceful traditional includes the Southern-born socialite's to-die-for closet. Although we're sure the enormous closet will be emptied soonif it isn't alreadythe upscale estate still offers plenty of perks. Stracke and her ex-husband, Christian Stracke, purchased the place in 2012 for $7 million. But the couple, who have three children, divorced in 2017. Now, the reality TV star is moving on from the home they lived in together. Located in lower Bel Air and built in 1936, the home was originally designed by the legendary Los Angeles architect James Dolena. It sits on nearly an acre of land, behind double private gates on a quiet cul-de-sac. Closet heaven realtor.com Entry realtor.com Living room realtor.com Formal dining room realtor.com Open kitchen realtor.com Family room realtor.com Home theater realtor.com Master suite realtor.com Pool and patio realtor.com The house has 6,627 square feet of living space, with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms. You enter into a formal entry with a curved staircase, which opens onto a spacious living room with original crown moldings and a fireplace. Pocket doors separate the living space from the formal dining room, which is decorated with hand-painted French wallpaper. The open-concept chefs kitchen is adjacent to a casual eating area and family room. Upstairs, the spacious master bedroom has a fireplace and a private balcony that overlooks the private grounds. The suite is fit for a fashionista and features walk-in dressing rooms. The listing photos show Strackes eye-popping, floor-to-ceiling shoe collection, glass cases filled with handbags, as well as racks of couture clothes. You can see and hear more about them in the video of the star's closet tour, which includes a tiara collection, designer-signed high heels, and a Louis Vuitton Capucines handbag with its dangling carrot charm designed by the Swiss artist Urs Fischer. A sitting room separates the master suite from the other three bedrooms. The home also includes a screening room, sunroom, and guest room. Outside, you'll find a pool and spa surrounded by a grassy lawn. Perfect for lounging or entertaining, the raised brick patio contains seating and a fire pit, as well as a pergola. The 49-year-old made her RHOBH debut in season 10, but has been demoted to friend rather than full housewife. People magazine attributed her status on the show to her ex-husband's desire to keep their kids off camera. Perhaps the tiara-loving debutante will get more air time as time goes on. Stay tuned. According to Bravo, Stracke, 49, also owns a property in Augusta, GA, and a three-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. Michael Mahoney with Keller Williams Beverly Hills holds the listing. The post 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Star Sutton Stracke Lists L.A. Home for $8.95M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. The European Union plans to set up a bilateral dialogue with the US to deal with China's "growing assertiveness", the bloc's foreign policy chief said after a call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday. "I suggested to launch a distinct bilateral dialogue focusing on China and the challenges its actions and ambitions mean for us " the United States and the European Union," EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell told reporters. Borrell's suggestion comes just days ahead of Monday's EU-China summit, amid an ensuing lack of commitment by Beijing on widening market access and level playing field for European businesses in China. While US President Donald Trump has employed a hostile approach to the EU, Pompeo has been regarded as more willing to engage Europe in creating a united front against China. The US State Department did not respond to a request for comment on whether it had agreed to the proposal to set up a bilateral dialogue on China-related issues. In a statement, department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said that Pompeo and his European counterparts had discussed the importance of "upholding our shared commitment to democratic values that serve as a bulwark against Russian and [People's Republic of China] attempts to undermine democratic societies". Borrell said the US and EU exchanged views on China's "growing assertiveness on many fronts". "There are issues that we face together in the relationship with China, and where our close cooperation is very important to address them jointly," he said, adding: "This includes for sure the situation in Hong Kong." "It's important to stay together with the US in order to share concerns and to look for common grounds to defend our values and our interests," he added. The idea was made towards the end of his call with Pompeo, Borrell said, adding that he did not have more details about the dialogue at this stage. Story continues Andrew Small, senior transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, called the idea "a helpful step for those who want to see a more serious push at coordinating China policies among the liberal democracies". "The optimal version of a China dialogue would be one that fully engages the rest of the European Commission, including trade, foreign policy, industrial policy and digital issues," Small added. Borrell's proposal was a surprise to some diplomatic observers, as his blog post on Sunday seemed to suggest that the EU would not form a transatlantic alliance with the US on China. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo takes part in a virtual meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council on Monday. Photo: Ron Przysucha/US Department of State via dpa alt=US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo takes part in a virtual meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council on Monday. Photo: Ron Przysucha/US Department of State via dpa "Amid US-China tensions as the main axis of global politics, the pressure to 'choose sides' is increasing," he wrote in the post. "We as Europeans have to do it 'My Way', with all the challenges this brings." The European bloc was "certainly sending conflicting signals about whether they want to work with the US to cope more effectively with Chinese challenges or take their own path," said Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Borrell did not elaborate on the potential outcomes of a bilateral dialogue with the US, but Glaser said that, at a minimum, "it could provide a useful channel to keep each other informed and discuss differences, and in some cases forge a common approach". "A discussion of how to respond [to] increasing PRC disinformation could be fruitful," she said, though finding common ground on other areas such as trade and issues surrounding multilateral institutions could prove a thornier task. "Helping Taiwan expand its international participation could be an interesting topic for discussion and coordination," said Glaser, "though the US withdrawal from the WHO will undercut efforts to help Taiwan restore its observer status". Monday's meeting with Pompeo was also attended by the foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries. On the EU-China summit, Borrell said: "We continue negotiating in order to see if we can bring to this summit some deliverables ... It's not easy to find an agreement. We don't have it yet. But we continue discussing with our Chinese counterparts until the last minute." The summit will be the first time for the new presidents of the European Council and European Commission, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, will meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. German foreign minister Heiko Maas said before he attended the call that the EU had similar concerns about China with Washington. "Europe and US alike have expectations towards China: Fair conditions for trade and investment, observance of international treaties and obligations " including concerning the status of Hong Kong " and transparency in the fight against Covid-19," he said. His message of shared transatlantic focus on China came despite tension between Berlin and Washington over the US' reported plans to scale back military deployment in Germany. Berlin has so far resisted calls from top US officials to exclude Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies from its 5G infrastructure. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. BRIDGEPORT A local man is accused of repeatedly raping a young woman who he brought here from Ecuador. Jose Monge-Becerra, 50, of Park Street, was arrested Monday by Stamford police and charged with first-degree sexual assault. During Monge-Becerras arraignment in state Superior Court here, Senior Assistant States Attorney Tatiana Messina asked that a high bond be set because of the serious nature of the allegations. Judge Tracy Lee Dayton agreed and ordered Monge-Becerra held in lieu of $750,000 bond. She continued the case to July 14. According to police, on May 25, the 28-year-old victim, who now lives in Stamford with her husband and young child, complained to Stamford police that she had been raped by Monge-Becerra. Police said the woman told them that in 2010, Monge-Becerra had brought her from her native Ecuador to work as a servant for him and his wife. They set her up in a room in the basement of their home, police said. But shortly thereafter, police said Monge-Becerra began coming to the victims room at night and raping her. He told her if she complained to anyone, she would go to jail for being in the country illegally, police said. At some point, police said, Monge-Becerras wife became suspicious of her husbands activities with the victim and she ordered the victim to leave the house. Police said Monge-Becerra then put the victim up in a rented room in Port Chester where he continued to sexually assault her. When the victim became pregnant, police said Monge-Becerra took her to a clinic in New York to have an abortion. Police said the victim eventually managed to leave Monge-Becerra and ended up moving to Stamford, starting a new life and getting married. However, in January 2020, police said Monge-Becerra managed to hunt the woman down to her Stamford address. Police said he forced her into his car and drove her to a parking lot on Hoyt Street where he raped her. He warned her that now that he knows where she lives, she must continue to accede to his demands for sex, police said. They said the woman told her husband what was going on and he convinced her to go to the police. Police said that while they were interviewing the victim, Monge-Becerra called her. They said they put the call on speakerphone. During the conversation, they said Monge-Becerra apologized for everything he had done to the victim and told her he would get her citizenship and money if she kept quiet. Even when I did Network on Broadway, there was a day when I went in and watched the understudy performance. They would run it every week to an empty theater. And I was just so blown away by Nicole Villamils performance, she was in my role. I was so moved by it and so inspired by it and I feel like its so bizarre to think, There is the only person thats right for the role. By Fang Xiaozhi Four Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers flew into the US's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in Alaska with two separate aircraft formations on June 10. The first formation, consisting of two Tu-95 strategic bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets, and one A-50 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, once flew within 37 kilometers of Alaskan coast; then the second of another two Tu-95s and one A-50 got within 59 kilometers of the coast. It was first and foremost a direct and tough response to the US military bomber drills in Northern Europe and the Black Sea. Recently, the US military frequently carried out various long-distance flight training in Europe. For example, the US Air Force dispatched four B-52 bombers to fly over the Arctic region near Russia and perform a long-distance training mission to Europe by crossing the Arctic region. In the face of such naked provocations by the US, Russia, which pursues reciprocal deterrence, will certainly not silently swallow insult and humiliation. This move is an act of strong revenge against the US, which effectively alleviated the military pressure faced by Russia and its surroundings, showcased Russia's fighting determination and strike capability, and significantly improved their morale correspondingly. Besides, the close patrol of Russian strategic bombers to the US also demonstrates its own nuclear deterrent capability comparable to that of the US. As a major power that plays a vital role in the field of security, showing its military strength to the outside world is its primary way of gaining attention from other countries on the international stage. "Showing muscles" can also act as a strategy in response to the increasing pressure from potential opponents. As Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out, a hundred protests are not as good as one strategic bomber flapping its wings once. As an important part of the nuclear strike system, strategic bombers have always been one of the essential forces for nuclear powers to maintain their own nuclear deterrence. With the help of broader range, larger ammunition load and higher flight speed, strategic bombers are irreplaceable in terms of nuclear counterattack capability. At present, Russia is the only country except US that can develop, manufacture, and maintain a certain number of strategic bombers, and the strategic bomber team is one of the main supporters of Russia as a world-class military power. Russia is well aware of its advantages in this regard, so it takes strategic bombers as its vital military deterrence force. The Tu-95 dispatched by Russia this time was a type of strategic bomber developed during the Soviet period. As the backbone of Russia's active long-range aviation troops, it can carry cruise missiles with nuclear warheads to strike the targets in the enemy rear. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the strategic bomber approaching the US left from the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and the Amur Oblast, and flew over the Chukotka Sea, Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk and the North Pacific for patrol. The flight mission lasted for 11 hours. Such a long-range flight mission not only tactically tested the combat effectiveness of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) but also made the relevant countries feel the mighty combat power of the VKS again. From the perspective of future development, as the US-Russia relations become increasingly tense, the two countries will continue to compete in the military field. In particular, the recent withdrawals of the US from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the Treaty on Open Skies, and the threat to restart nuclear tests by the US have made the US-Russia relationship more strained and the confrontation more intense. Judging from the overall strength, it can be seen that the US is still at an advantage. The nuclear deterrence force of the US Air Force has a significant advantage over the Russian side, but the overall nuclear power of the two countries are basically the same. The Russian Ministry of Defense said that Russia would also routinely send long-range bombers to the neutral waters of the Arctic, the North Atlantic, the Pacific, the Black Sea, and the Baltic Sea, making these strategic bombers with nuclear warheads the most formidable opponents of the US military. With the "recovery" of the Russian strategic bomber forces, the confrontation between the US and Russian armed forces will continue and may be intensified in the future. (Fang Xiaozhi, a researcher at the Institute of Strategic Studies and International Security, Fudan Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance) 2. Officials in Tulsa, Okla., are pleading with the Trump campaign to cancel a rally scheduled for Saturday as coronavirus infections in the state surge or at least move it outdoors. The rally, President Trumps first in over three months, could become a disastrous super-spreader event. It is currently slated for a 20,000-person indoor arena. Its a perfect storm that we cant afford to have, the executive director of the Tulsa health department said. Above, a rally for Mr. Trump in Charlotte, N.C., in March. The number of active coronavirus cases in Tulsa County, which includes the city of Tulsa, climbed from 188 to 532 in a one-week period, a 182-percent increase; hospitalizations with Covid-19 almost doubled. More than 2.1 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus and at least 116,200 have died. Heres our latest case count. Separately, the Trump administration sued to stop the publication of John Boltons highly anticipated book about his time as national security adviser. The book is set for release on June 23. [June 16, 2020] Nokia to provide DCI networks to Tencent and Baidu Press Release Nokia to provide DCI networks to Tencent and Baidu Nokia to provide optical data center interconnect (DCI) infrastructure for two of Chinas leading cloud service providers The Nokia webscale DCI solution is now present in 13 of Chinas webscale providers, supporting applications from e-commerce to search and online gaming 16 June 2020 Espoo, Finland Nokia today announced that it has been awarded two contracts with China-based webscale giants, Tencent and Baidu, for data center interconnect (DCI) network solutions. Tencent and Baidu will strengthen their already strong relationship with Nokia to build out their software-defined DCI infrastructure, providing them with the dynamic, massive-scale optical bandwidth needed to support growing cloud operations in China and the US. Tencent and Baidu are two of the top four China-based webscale operators. Baidu is the number one search engine and Tencent leads in social media and online gaming. They have large cloud operations in China and abroad to support their global businesses. Connecting their very large data centers around the world requires ultra-high optical bandwidth and software-defined networking (SDN) that are highly responsive to the fast-shifting nature of cloud services. Chinas webscale networks support hundreds of millions of consumers as they shop online, search for information, share photographs and online game. Nokias webscale DC solutions, which are based on the Nokia 1830 Photonic Service Interconnect (PSI) and powered by the Nokia Photonic Service Engine (PSE), are also enabling webscale operators in China to support edge cloud applications such as Industry 4.0, AI, machine learning and autonomous driving. Nokias DCI and SDN solutions maximize capacity and agility, while simplifying and automating key operational functions for lower costs. Nokia is a world leader in the DCI market with its solutions used worldwide by many webscale networks and large enterprises in the financial, healthcare, government, energy, transportation, consumer and industrial sectors for business and mission-critical DCI applications. Markus Bochert, President of Nokia Greater China, said: We continue to expand our relationship with Chinas webscale giants. Our leading DCI product portfolio and technology innovations in photonics and SDN controllers are key, as well as our strong R&D capabilities, globalized supply chain and highly responsive service teams. These latest contracts with Baidu and Tencent consolidate our presence in the webscale market in China, which we are confident will continue to flourish in the coming years. About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Only Nokia offers a comprehensive portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing opportunities across the globe. With our commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we are a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks. Our communications service provider customers support more than 6.4 billion subscriptions with our radio networks, and our enterprise customers have deployed over 1,300 industrial networks worldwide. Adhering to the highest ethical standards, we transform how people live, work and communicate. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia. Media Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A former leader of Canada's biggest neo-Nazi gangs has explained how he believes racism comes from a place of self -hatred. Tony McAleer, 52, was born in St Alban's, Hertfordshire, before moving to Vancouver as a baby. At the age of 11 he went to a British boarding school where he was introduced to punk rock, and he says the anger of that music coupled with his parents' failed marriage and being beaten by teachers led to his interest in hate groups. By the time he was 20 he was heading up the White Aryan Resistance, the largest skinhead movement in the country with 13 chapters and hundreds of members. But he says it was when his daughter Christina, now 28, was born in 1991 and opened her eyes to him for the first time that he felt compassion, realising what a toxic and negative environment he was bringing her into. After working out his own issues, he left the group in 1998 and now helps others realise that the hate they're projecting is 'a reflection of their own emotional trauma', and how 'learning compassion' is the key to helping heal hatred. Former leader of Canada's biggest neo-Nazi gangs Tony McAleer, 52, from Vancouver, has revealed how he believes racism comes from a place of self-hatred and a lack of compassion. He is seen, right, now, with his fiancee Rhiannon, 39. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, he said: 'Racism comes from a lack of compassion and understanding of others and the self. 'My first contact with skinheads was in England'. Recalling his activities as a far right terrorist, Tony said he set up a neo-nazi hotline, named Canadian Liberty Net, which spewed out automated racist and antisemitic messages. 'You could press numbers for different messages about immigration, about Jews and about non-white people.' 'We stockpiled weapons and we wanted to establish a whites-only homeland with the repatriation of all non-whites from Canada.' By the time he was 20 he was heading up the White Aryan Resistance, the largest skinhead movement in the country with 13 chapters and hundreds of members (seen) And explaining where he thinks prejudice comes from, he said: 'I believe the level to which we dehumanise other human beings is a reflection of our own emotional disconnection to humanisation. 'I was completely disconnected and learned along the way that it wasn't safe for me to feel anything so I shut those feelings off. I was absorbed in my ego'. He explained of racism: 'It's also rooted in a lack of compassion of oneself. I was projecting my stuff onto other people. My feeling of being less than, this toxic shame was a byproduct of emotional trauma. 'Until I could repair the relationship with myself, it wasn't until then that I could begin to see the humanity in others. 'The more I worked on myself, and it was a difficult journey - the most difficult thing a human can do is to have an honest introspective look into oneself - and once I could see how trauma affected me, I could see how it affected other people in the world'. But he says it was when his daughter Christina, now 28, was born in 1991 and opened her eyes to him for the first time that he felt compassion, realising what a toxic and negative environment he was bringing them into But it was the birth of the couple's daughter Christina, now 28, in 1991 and his son, Pearse, now 27, a year later, that made the white supremacist reevaluate his racist beliefs. Recalling what changed, he said: 'It was the birth of my daughter and then my son 15 months later, when I was absorbed in court cases about the phone line. 'I remember holding this precious baby girl and I was concerned she was going to break in my hands. 'When she opened her eyes I connected with another human being for the first time since I could remember, and for the first time I put someone else's interests before my own. 'After that it didn't take long for me to realise the hypocrisy and dysfunction - and how draining and toxic - it was to be that angry all the time, and to be surrounded by people who are that angry and negative all the time.' He continued: 'Leaving the movement was as much about me as it was about my children and what my kids did for me was give me my first real taste of compassion.' The UN refugee agency and the World Food Programme announced Tuesday a joint initiative to feed up to 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers trapped in war-torn Libya amid the coronavirus pandemic. "The partnership was launched in recognition of the severe socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Libya as well as the effects of the ongoing conflict," UNHCR and WFP said in a statement. The first distribution of food began on Monday in the Sarraj neighbourhood of Tripoli. Tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers, as well as sub-Saharan African and Asian migrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, are stranded in Libya in horrifying conditions. The overthrow and killing of veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 sparked years of chaos that traffickers have exploited to turn Libya into a key route for illicit migration towards Europe. The UN agencies said aid to these vulnerable people was needed because most "have been unable to find any daily work to support themselves as curfews have been introduced and food prices and the cost of basic goods have dramatically risen". "Many refugees say that they are only able to afford to eat one meal a day," the UN agencies said. One refugee was quoted as saying: "Every day, I am afraid of death because of hunger. "I sleep on mats. There are many shops that I want to work in but there is no work. There is nothing in my house other than bread and tea." The UNHCR and WFP said refugees and asylum seekers recently released from Libyan detention centres and others from urban centres who struggle to find food will be among those receiving aid. "The help we're providing under this project... will be a lifesaver for some of the most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers in urban areas," said Jean-Paul Cavalieri, UNHCR's chief of mission in Libya. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: The Japanese government has a plan to relaunch business travel with Vietnam, starting with a trial flight carrying 250 business executives scheduled for the end of June, according to Nikkei Asian Review. Most of the travelers on the charter flight will be business people newly assigned by their Japanese companies to posts in Vietnam, the English-language business journal reported on Monday. All passengers will undergo tests before departure to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Vietnam has denied entry to all foreigners since March 22. But the Japanese government expects Vietnam to accept travelers from Japan who are tested for the virus before departure, while also working to raise its testing capacity, according to Nikkei. The business journal quoted a source in Japans foreign ministry as claiming Vietnam is willing to accept Japanese business travelers as it is resuming economic activities in the post-COVID-19 period. Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi recently had a phone conversation with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh, discussing the possibility of resuming entry for a certain number of people in need. Motegi told parliament on Monday it was not true the Japanese government had decided to ease its entry ban as it is still taking into consideration various factors comprehensively and would ease restrictions in stages if it decided to do so, according to Reuters. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on June 9 proposed hosting a meeting to talk over the reopening of international flights after the COVID-19 epidemic was brought under control in Vietnam and several countries. The Vietnamese government is weighing the resumption of international flights to China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Laos. It is first welcoming back specialists, business managers, and highly skilled workers to support economic recovery efforts. Nikkei quoted the Japan External Trade Organizations report that more than 1,800 Japanese companies had opened offices in Vietnam by the end of 2018. Meanwhile, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization show that a daily average of 2,300 people from Japan visited Vietnam in the same year. Nikkei also learned Japan will consider relaxing entry restrictions for Vietnamese as it looks to fill private-sector jobs with Vietnamese technical trainees. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! [June 15, 2020] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS BIDU, GRPN, LOPE INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits NEW ORLEANS, June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits: Baidu, Inc. (BIDU) Class Period: 3/16/2019 - 4/7/2020 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: June 22, 2020 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-baidu-inc-securities-litigation Groupon, Inc. (GRPN) Class Period: 11/4/2019 - 2/18/2020 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: June 29, 2020 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-groupon-inc-securities-litigation-3 Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (LOPE) Class Period: 1/5/2018 - 1/27/2020 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: July 13, 2020 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-grand-canyon-education-inc-securities-litigation If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact us toll-free (844) 367-9658 or visit the case links above. If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com With changes between cross-border travels coming into effect, one expert says that could bring considerable risk in the form of a spike in COVID-19 cases in Canada. Earlier this month, it was announced that immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents could travel across the border between the U.S. and Canada. Those entering Canada, even without symptoms of the virus, must isolate upon entry into the country and quarantine for 14 days. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said anyone violating the orders is subject to serious penalties. Isaac Bogoch, an epidemiology and associate professor with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, says there are still many parts of the U.S., largely in the southern states, which have high levels of community transmission of COVID-19. For example, Arizona, Florida and Texas have all been reporting 15,000 or more new cases per day. While different states are working on different measures to maintain the spread some restaurants and bars are closing again in Florida it begs the question of whether enough is being done. Is there a consistent control method in place across the country at the individual state and municipal level? The answer is that its probably going to take a while for the United States to get their epidemic under control, he tells Yahoo Canada. Bogoch says by opening up the borders, we risk undoing all the hard work weve done in Canada getting our epidemic under control, even if the numbers are higher than in some parts of the States. Even if a lot of this is restricted to the southern United States, its irrelevant because we know people travel, and people move around, he says. In the earlier part of the epidemic (before borders closed) we know that we imported quite a number of cases from the U.S. While a lot goes into the decision making behind the closing and opening of borders, which consider issues outside of health like political policy and economics, a healthy population translates into a healthy economy. Bogoch says if theres a significant outbreak in Canada related to imported cases from the U.S., well have to reimpose public health restrictions to get it under control. Story continues Its clear that at this point in time, opening the border is not the right thing to do, he says. He adds that theoretically, if the U.S. took stricter measures to control the spread of the virus, as Canada has done, it would make it more feasible to open the borders. However, appropriate contract tracing at the border would have to be imposed. I think were very far from something like that, Bogoch says. The bottom line is that the rate of infection is still high in the U.S., while the numbers in Canada continue to dip. Allowing international travel between the two countries would put us back to square one. If we open the border, were going to get more infection, he says. Lets avoid that if we can. When do you think the border should reopen? Tell us in the comments and vote in the poll above. Armed men killed at least 24 Malian soldiers in an ambush on an army patrol in the Segou region near Malis border with Mauritania, the army has said. Malis armed forces on Monday said eight soldiers survived Sundays assault in Bouka Were, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Mauritanian border. The army said four vehicles were destroyed. Malis security has deteriorated in the past few years. Al-Qaida and Islamic State-affiliated extremists are present and stage regular attacks. Since 2015, extremists have been moving from the arid north into the countrys more populated centre, stoking animosity and deadly violence between ethnic groups in the region. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nguyen Trung Khanh, general director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said there are many things that need to be done to recover the tourism industry. He said the market needs leading large firms to design more flexible products that satisfy the changing demands of travelers. Tran Dinh Thien, a member of the Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council, said tourism should be considered a key industry. To revive the market, it is necessary to help big players rise up. If Vietnam tries to save all by giving one drop of milk to each person, no one would be able to develop with the current limited resources. Therefore, it would be better to gather strength to help big businesses to develop, and they would serve as the locomotive to help smaller businesses. Special methods need to be applied in emergency cases, he said. Tran Trong Kien, member of Committee IV, chair of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) said personal preferences and safe tours are the top requirements from travelers. Deputy CEO of Saigontourist Vo Anh Tai admitted that the firm has to change a lot to operate many sale promotion programs and expand customer base. He advised travel firms to target Vietnamese travelers and foreigners living and working in Vietnam. If Vietnam tries to save all by giving one drop of milk to each person, no one would be able to develop with the current limited resources. Therefore, it would be better to gather strength to help big businesses to develop, and they would serve as the locomotive to help smaller businesses. He said travel firms need to launch a comprehensive strategy, from promotion programs with attract discount rates and new product launching to service improvement and safety standard upgrading. Vinpearl has launched three promotion programs for one month, including the ongoing one which lasts until June 15 under which clients have the opportunity to get the refund of up to 100 percent of the room value. Time to restructure tourism According to Thien, what the tourism industry needs to do is not just recover the industry and attract as many travelers as it could do in the past. More importantly, the tourism industry needs to become better than it was in the past. He thinks it is necessary to have a completely new development strategy, i.e. the reshuffling of the entire industry. For an important industry like tourism, this "needs to be done and is worth doing". Travel firms all said they need the support from the State. Deputy chair of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said the efforts will be fruitless if only travel firms try to lower their service fees, and excursion tickets at tourist sites keep increasing. Thanh Mai HCM City kicks off travel stimulus programme The HCM City Department of Tourism yesterday (June 9) kicked off its annual tourism stimulus programme that will run throughout the year as part of its attempt to revive the hard-hit tourism industry. "More than ever, we see an increased passion from consumers and companies alike to take steps that protect the ocean, including choosing sustainable seafood," said Brian Perkins, regional director for the Americas at the MSC. "The MSC has been on a mission to end overfishing for more than 20 years. In honor of World Oceans Day and National Oceans Month this year, we're asking Americans to keep our ocean healthy for future generations by shopping sustainably when buying seafood and other products. The little choices we make have a big ripple effect." The ocean contains up to 80% of life on Earth.1 However, a third of fisheries around the world have been fished beyond sustainable limits, and a further 60% are fished to their maximum capacity.2 Because seafood provides an important source of protein to more than 3 billion people on our planet, it's crucial to adopt habits that ensure the ocean and seafood will be around for generations to come. "Though some of us might live far from saltwater, our lives on land are intrinsically tied to our ocean through the choices we make, particularly when we're choosing to eat seafood," said Jaclyn Wegner, director of conservation action at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. "At Shedd Aquarium, we're studying vulnerable fisheries in the Caribbean to help inform better management practices. Locally, we empower consumers and restaurants to make choices that keep the future of our big blue planet in mind and preserve the habitats of our beloved penguins, whales and sharks in the wild." In the same GlobeScan study, 55% of U.S. seafood consumers agreed that in order to protect the ocean, we have to consume fish and seafood only from sustainable sources. "One of the bright spots of this current global crisis is that the interest and willingness from consumers to try fish from a can is an at an all-time high, and many canned products are MSC certified sustainable options, too," says Bart van Olphen, chef, author, sustainable fish advocate and founder of the Fish Tales brand. "There are so many delicious meals and snacks to be made with the varieties of canned fish, and people all over the world are experimenting not only with canned tuna, but also sardines, mackerel and salmon. My advice as people continue to expand their tinned fish repertoire is to look for the MSC blue fish label across every fish variety." To learn more about how we all can help protect our one shared ocean, and for additional recipes featuring delicious, sustainable seafood, visit the MSC US website and follow @MSCBlueFish on social media. ABOUT THE MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organization. Our vision is for the world's oceans to be teeming with life, and seafood supplies safeguarded for this and future generations. The MSC blue fish label and certification program recognizes and rewards sustainable fishing practices and is helping create a more sustainable seafood market. More than 370 fisheries in over 36 countries are certified to the MSC's Standard. These fisheries have a combined annual seafood production of over eleven million metric tons, representing almost 15% of global marine catch. More than 38,000 seafood products worldwide carry the MSC label. For more information visit msc.org/en-us/ and follow @MSCBlueFish on social media. ABOUT THE GLOBESCAN SURVEY The survey uses the latest methodologies, sampling and question wording, developed by independent insights and strategy consultancy, GlobeScan . The survey was conducted between January and March 2020 using large and reliable national consumer research online panels to recruit respondents, with a minimum of 600 seafood consumers surveyed per country. ABOUT SHEDD AQUARIUM The John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago sparks compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world. Home to 32,000 aquatic animals representing 1,500 species of fishes, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, birds and mammals from waters around the globe, Shedd is a recognized leader in animal care, conservation education and research. An accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), Shedd is also an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute, and is supported by the people of Chicago, the State of Illinois and the Chicago Park District. www.sheddaquarium.org . ABOUT BART VAN OLPHEN AND FISH TALES Founded by chef, author and sustainable fishing advocate Bart van Olphen, the Fish Tales brand is dedicated to protecting the world's oceans for the future by offering consumers sustainable seafood with a story. Working with communities around the globe that live and fish in harmony with nature, Fish Tales is able to offer sustainable fish that not only protects the oceans but ensures that small fishing communities will survive and thrive too. Every product is completely transparent from catch to kitchen, so customers will find delicious new ways to feed themselves and their families while learning the stories of the people who have been protecting our oceans for generations. In May 2020, Van Olphen released his third cookbook, "The Tinned Fish Cookbook," which is available on Amazon and featuring 45 easy recipes for canned fish like sardines and mackerel. 1 An estimated 50-80% of all animal life on earth is found under the ocean surface . More detail can be found in PNAS 115 (25) 6506 2 According to the United nation Food and Agriculture Organisation, fish provide about 3.2 billion people with almost 20 percent of their average per capita intake of animal protein - (UNFAO 2018) SOFIA Report, p70 MEDIA CONTACTS: Jackie Marks Robin Zimmerman Marine Stewardship Council SchroderHaus [email protected] [email protected] (202) 689 5957 (210) 787-9776 SOURCE Marine Stewardship Council Related Links http://www.msc.org Widespread protests took place in the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu on June 15 against the ruling government as the students demanded an end to corruption and criticised the government for its lack of inefficiency in tackling the COVID-19 crisis. According to the reports, scores of students staged a protest highlighting the corrupt practices of the KP Sharma Oli-led government and demanded strict action in such cases. READ: Nepal Records 425 New Coronavirus Cases, COVID-19 Tally Rises To 5,760 'Inefficiency' in handling COVID crisis The students reportedly criticised the government for not taking proper preventive measures to deal with the coronavirus crisis and added that there was a "lack of support and initiatives" from the government to local businesses who had a tough time and were badly affected due to the COVID-19 crisis. As per the reports, around 500 students demonstrated at Baneshwor in Kathmandu, demanding that the government should take proper steps to contain the spread of the virus. READ: Nepal: Hundreds Protest Governments Handling Of Pandemic Situation update report #127 as of 15 June 2020 ( English Language) on health sector response to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pic.twitter.com/yeeswEy0QB Ministry of Health & Population, Nepal (@mohpnep) June 15, 2020 Protesters held banners that read "Enough is enough", demanded more testing and condemned alleged corruption by officials in the purchase of equipment and testing kits. Earlier this week, police fired tear gas and water cannon to break up a protest near a road leading to the prime minister's office. According to the health ministry of Nepal, the country has a total of 5,335 cases and 18 fatalities. READ: EXCLUSIVE: Fake Recovery Items Shown By Pakistan; Hizbul Guides Crossed Through Nepal READ: 'Nepal PM Oli Hid India's Offer To Talk On Border Issues Prior To Map Amendment': Sources Image: ANI [June 16, 2020] Colville, Picasso and Mitchell lead Heffel's auction as the global art market goes virtual Heffel has adapted its live auction model to ensure global buyers can experience the thrill of the event in whatever way they choose Live auction on July 15 , including 112 museum-quality artworks, estimated to total $10M to $15M , including 112 museum-quality artworks, estimated to total to Masterpieces by Alex Colville , Pablo Picasso and Joan Mitchell are among the highlights on offer TORONTO, June 16, 2020 /CNW/ - Amid sweeping social and economic changes caused by the pandemic, the art world is adjusting to "the new normal" with a rapid shift toward virtual participation, education and experiences. A leader in Canada's art market is Heffel Fine Art Auction House, which has made significant advancements to its digital infrastructure in order to adapt to this era of social distancing. Heffel will host its highly anticipated spring live auction on Wednesday, July 15, featuring 112 museum-quality works of art. While the sale will be held at Toronto's Design Exchange, the firm is encouraging bidders from around the world to enjoy a seamless auction experience from home, filled with the same level of enjoyment and passion as always. Led by Alex Colville, Joan Mitchell and Pablo Picasso masterworks, the Heffel auction is expected to total between $10 million and $15 million (All prices are in Canadian dollars and are conservative estimates.) Colville's extraordinary 1976 Dog and Bridge and Picasso's 1939 Tete de femme are among the highlights in Heffel's auction, and are sure to excite collectors from across the world. For those unable to view these incredible artworks in-person, they can be experienced through high-definition, interactive virtual auction previews. In addition, Heffel has adapted its live auction model to ensure global buyers can experience the thrill of the live event in whatever way they choose. Among other longstanding remote bidding options, for the first time ever, Heffel will introduce online bidding in its live auction. Telephone, absentee and online bidders, as well as interested viewers can stream the entire sale live on Heffel's website. "The past few months have brought about unprecedented change, and it's been incredible to see the ways that organizations have pivoted in response," said David Heffel, President of Heffel Fine Art Auction House. "We're proud to be a leader in the transformation of Canada's art arket and find new ways to bring art awareness, experiences and important masterpieces to collectors and enthusiasts." The resilience of the art market and its ability to join together has been proven over the last few months. Heffel has seen strong results in its recent online auctions, demonstrating a continued appetite for important works of art. The firm also expanded its Online Auction Partnerships (HO2) platform and worked with several notable galleries to curate specialty auctions. Most recently, in partnership with Toronto's Nicholas Metivier Gallery and a group of well-known artists, Heffel held an online charity auction to raise money for Canadian food banks impacted by the spread of COVID-19, with an additional donation generously provided by RBC Foundation. Highlights from the Heffel Live Auction Fresh to the auction market is a well-known masterpiece by Alex Colville , Dog and Bridge. This exceptional painting is one of Colville's most widely exhibited and written about works, and will undoubtedly capture the auction spotlight (est. $800,000 1,200,000) , This exceptional painting is one of Colville's most widely exhibited and written about works, and will undoubtedly capture the auction spotlight (est. 1,200,000) Pablo Picasso's portrait Tete de femme leads the Heffel auction by estimate. The oil on canvas is an important example by the iconic artist, painted in 1939, which relates to some of his most well-known masterpieces (est. $1,200,000 1,600,000). portrait leads the Heffel auction by estimate. The oil on canvas is an important example by the iconic artist, painted in 1939, which relates to some of his most well-known masterpieces (est. 1,600,000). Joan Mitchell , the globallyacclaimed Abstract Expressionist painter, shines in the sale catalogue with a dynamic Untitled triptych (est. $400,000 600,000). Mitchell's works are widely exhibited around the world, and have been among the most sought-after works on the auction market in recent years. , the globallyacclaimed Abstract Expressionist painter, shines in the sale catalogue with a dynamic triptych (est. 600,000). Mitchell's works are widely exhibited around the world, and have been among the most sought-after works on the auction market in recent years. Seven outstanding works by the prominent Automatist painter Jean Paul Riopelle are led by Le reveil , a commanding largescale canvas, more than nine feet wide (est. $1,000,000 1,500,000). Heffel will be sponsoring the upcoming exhibition, Riopelle: The Call of Northern Landscapes and Indigenous Cultures at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, opening November 2020 . Heffel is also a proud supporter of several other projects and initiviates related to the artist, including the newly established Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation and volume 5 of the artist's catalogue raisonne. are led by , a commanding largescale canvas, more than nine feet wide (est. 1,500,000). Heffel will be sponsoring the upcoming exhibition, at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, opening . Heffel is also a proud supporter of several other projects and initiviates related to the artist, including the newly established Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation and volume 5 of the artist's catalogue raisonne. 2020 marks 100 years since the formation of the Group of Seven, Canada's beloved artist collective. Heffel is proud to offer significant works painted by members of the Group, including Lawren Harris' glowing North East Corner of Lake Superior (Lake Superior Sketch XXXVIII) (est. $250,000 350,000) . 100 years since the formation of the Group of Seven, beloved artist collective. Heffel is proud to offer significant works painted by members of the Group, including glowing (est. 350,000) Lawren Harris's North Shore, Lake Superior III (Lake Superior Sketch LXIX) came to Heffel with an astounding backstory. The painting was unearthed earlier this year by family members sorting through boxes that their late father had stored away around 1948 after moving to Los Angeles . He was Canadian-born, and a painter himself. It is an pleasure to offer this recently discovered work at auction (est. $125,000 175,000). came to Heffel with an astounding backstory. The painting was unearthed earlier this year by family members sorting through boxes that their late father had stored away around 1948 after moving to . He was Canadian-born, and a painter himself. It is an pleasure to offer this recently discovered work at auction (est. 175,000). Yvonne Housser's depictions of Cobalt are exceptionally rare to the market, and Town of Cobalt is a standout example from her long and important career. This vibrant and optimistic work is one of the few known Housser canvases of this subject in existence, and has been in one family's collection for decades (est. $30,000 50,000). depictions of Cobalt are exceptionally rare to the market, and is a standout example from her long and important career. This vibrant and optimistic work is one of the few known Housser canvases of this subject in existence, and has been in one family's collection for decades (est. 50,000). Three works by Emily Carr are on offer in the Heffel sale, each focusing on separate and significant subjects. House and Totems highlights a later visit to the totem poles at Gitwangak ( Kitwanga ), the focus of some of her most well-known works (est. $200,000 300,000), Crecy-en-Brie, France is an early example from Carr's formative years painting in France (est. $90,000 120,000) and Forest Interior is an energetic circa 1929 forest scene painted on canvas (est. $150,000 250,000). are on offer in the Heffel sale, each focusing on separate and significant subjects. highlights a later visit to the totem poles at Gitwangak ( ), the focus of some of her most well-known works (est. 300,000), is an early example from Carr's formative years painting in (est. 120,000) and is an energetic circa 1929 forest scene painted on canvas (est. 250,000). An important highlight in the sale is the intricate and museum-quality sculpture by internationally collected artist David Altmejd , Untitled (est. $90,000 120,000). Altmejd's works are very rare to market, and this standout example was created in 2007, the same year Altmejd represented Canada at the Venice Biennale. Heffel Live Auction Schedule To give interested buyers from across Canada an opportunity to view these works, the collection will be previewed virtually at Heffel.com, and by appointment, maintaining social distancing, in three cities leading up to the live auction. Vancouver : Saturday, June 20 to Tuesday, June 23, 11 am 6 pm, Heffel Gallery (2247 Granville Street) Saturday, June 20 to Tuesday, June 23, 11 am 6 pm, Heffel Gallery (2247 Granville Street) Montreal : Thursday, July 2 to Saturday, July 4, 11 am 6 pm, Galerie Heffel (1840 rue Sherbrooke Ouest) Thursday, July 2 to Saturday, July 4, 11 am 6 pm, Galerie Heffel (1840 rue Sherbrooke Ouest) Toronto : Friday, July 10 to Tuesday, July 14, 10 am 6 pm and Wednesday, July 15 , 10 am 1 pm , Design Exchange (Exhibition Hall, 234 Bay Street) The two-session live auction will take place on Wednesday, July 15 at Design Exchange (The Historic Trading Floor, 234 Bay Street, Toronto). The sale will be live-streamed online at Heffel.com and several remote bidding options will be available. 5:00 pm ET Post-War & Contemporary Art 7:00 pm ET Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art For details on the previews and live auction, and to access the online catalogues, please visit www.heffel.com . About Heffel Fine Art Auction House Heffel has sold more Canadian art than any other auctioneer worldwide, with sales totaling more than half a billion dollars since 1978. With offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary, Heffel has the most experienced team of fine art specialists in Canada and provides superior client service to both sellers and buyers internationally. SOURCE Heffel Fine Art Auction House [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] - Deal enables Greensill to target $750 billion working capital finance market across the continent LONDON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Greensill, the leading provider of working capital finance for businesses and people globally, has acquired Omni, Latin America's foremost digital lender to SMEs, in a landmark deal that accelerates its global growth strategy. Greensill research shows that the market for working capital finance in Latin America is worth $750 billion and the addition of Omni's leading-edge technology platform and growing portfolio of products and clients will result in a step-change in Greensill's capabilities in the region. Omni was founded in 2018 by FinTech pioneers Diego Caicedo and Andres Abumohor. The company provides digital working capital solutions to SME suppliers of large companies in Chile and Colombia. In the last three years, Omni has provided $300 million of financial solutions to more than 5,000 clients. In 2019, Greensill provided $143 billion of finance to more than 8 million customers and suppliers in more than 175 countries. Volumes, year on year, increased by 73% in the first quarter of 2020 as demand continued to rise. Lex Greensill, founder and CEO of Greensill, said: "It gives me great pleasure to welcome Diego, Andres and their team to Greensill. Latin America is a highly attractive growth market for us and the acquisition of Omni will significantly expand our capabilities in this important region. Together we will ensure that SMEs across Latin America have the fairest access to finance available." Diego Caicedo, Omni co-founder, said: "We are delighted to be joining Greensill. Both of our companies were founded with similar business philosophies and ambitions, and this transaction will allow Omni to accelerate our growth plans in the Latin American market, while also benefiting from Greensill's expertise and global capabilities. Greensill research has identified a global addressable market for working capital finance valued at $56.3 trillion. Latin America accounts for some $750 billion of this total. World Bank data shows that SMEs across Latin America account for more than 20 percent of the global unbanked market, which means entrepreneurs and suppliers all over the region struggle to find fair finance. Together, Greensill and Omni are perfectly positioned to address this inequality, opening opportunity for SMEs to access fairer finance all over Latin America. The Omni acquisition builds upon Greensill's established Americas team. Chief Country Officer, Americas, Freddy Boom said: "To add such talent, technology and energy to our team is very exciting and means this acquisition will be accretive from day one. In welcoming Omni into the Greensill family we are able to help many more businesses and people across Latin America access the finance they need." Read more in our latest whitepaper - Fair Finance in Latin America (URL: https://www.greensill.com/whitepapers/fair-finance-in-latin-america/) About Greensill Reformers at heart, Greensill challenges the status quo by working to make global finance fairer and levelling the playing field for all businesses and people alike. The company advances cash so the world can put it to work. Founded in 2011, Greensill is headquartered in London with offices in New York, Frankfurt, Chicago, Miami, Singapore, Bogota, Shenzhen, Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg, Sydney, Warrington and Bundaberg. Greensill provides innovative financing solutions to customers across Europe, North America, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and Asia - injecting more than $143 billion of financing in 2019 to more than 8 million customers and suppliers across more than 175 countries. About Omni Omni, Latin America's foremost digital lender to SMEs, has provided more than $300 million of finance to more than 5,000 companies since it was founded in 2018. Its proprietary technology and a deep understanding of supply chains have enabled Omni to develop a risk measurement system that allows it to assess the payment capacity of its clients in minutes, deliver liquidity in less than 24 hours and 100% online. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1179866/Greensill_Logo.jpg U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Webb County Constables Office (WCCO) apprehended a large group at a stash house in Laredo. The incident began during the afternoon of June 12, when agents assigned to the Laredo South Station received information of a possible stash house in south Laredo. Agents, along with HSI and WCCO, conducted a knock and talk at the 4000 block of Chickasaw Lane which resulted in the apprehension of 33 individuals. The individuals were from Mexico and in the country illegally. All were taken into custody pending investigation. Despite the ongoing international pandemic, U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Laredo Sector continue to stand at the ready to secure the nations borders, prevent the flow of illegal immigration, the exploitation by human smugglers and the spread of COVID-19. 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. Image by IMF, via Wikimedia Commons That which stands first, and is most to be desired by all happy, honest and healthy-minded men, is ease with dignity. Cicero, Pro Sestio, XLV., 98 There is much to admire in Roman ideas about the use of leisure time, what Michel Foucault referred to as the care of the self. The Latin words for work and leisure themselves give us a sense of what should have priority in life. Negotium, or business, is a negation, with the literal meaning of the nonexistence of leisure (otium). The English wordconsidered in its parts as busy-nessdoesnt really sound much more appealing. The notion that everyone, not just a propertied elite, however, should be entitled to leisure time came about only relatively recentlymostly advocated by radicals and trade unionists. In the U.S., anarchists and striking workers in Chicago fought against police in 1886 during the Haymarket Affair to achieve Eight Hours for Work, Eight Hours for Rest, Eight Hours for What We Will. In 1912, women-led immigrant strikers chanted Bread and Roses in Lawrence, Massachusetts, proclaiming their right to more than bare survival. After the achievement of the 40-hour workweek, paid vacations, and other labor concessions, many influential figures believed that egalitarian access to leisure would only increase in the 20th century. Among them was economist John Maynard Keynes, who forecast in 1930 that labor-saving technologies might lead to a 15-hour workweek when his grandchildren came of age. Indeed, he titles his essay, Economic Possibility for our Grandchildren. Writing at the start of the Great Depression, Keynes finds reason for optimism. We are suffering, he writes, not from the rheumatics of old age, but from the growing-pains of over-rapid changes, from the painfulness of readjustment between one economic period and another. Keynes essay concerns what he calls the economic problem, which is not only the problem of mass unemployment but also, in his estimation, the ability of capitalism to provide a decent standard of living for everyone. He did not see its failure to do so as evidence of a more fundamental dysfunction: [T]his is only a temporary phase of maladjustment. All this means in the long run that mankind is solving its economic problem. I would predict that the standard of life in progressive countries one hundred years hence will be between four and eight times as high as it is to-day. There would be nothing surprising in this even in the light of our present knowledge. It would not be foolish to contemplate the possibility of afar greater progress still. Many economists shared Keynes optimism through the 1970s, a time when revolutionary change still seemed like an imminent possibility, writes John Quiggan, professor of economics at the University of Queensland. Utopian ideas were everywhere, exemplified by the Situationist slogan of 1968: Be realistic. Demand the impossible. Cult figures like Buckminster Fuller explained, as had Keynes decades earlier, how technology could free everyone from the tyranny of the labor market and the scourge of useless jobs. Keynes and others made a case for leisure, in the sense of free time to use as we please, as opposed to idlenessa distinction that draws from the ancient philosophers. But Keynes offered something quite new: the idea that leisure could be an option for all, not merely for an aristocratic minority. He was, obviously, mistaken. At least in the English-speaking world, Quiggan writes, the seemingly inevitable progress towards shorter working hours has halted. For many workers it has gone into reverse. That has certainly been the case for the majority of workers in the U.S., at least before the novel coronavirus led to mass layoffs and reduced hours. What happened? For one thing, the ascension of neoliberal economics in the late 1970s, and the elections of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, began a long slow decline of organized labor. Employers have had increasing desire for workers to work long hours, says Juliet Schor, professor of sociology at Boston College. And workers havent had the power to resist that upward pressure. Keynes predictions resonated with NPRs David Kestenbaum, who interviewed some of Keynes descendants, the closest thing he had to grandchildren, in a short segment on Planet Money in 2015. One Keynes relation points out the irony that the man himself died from working too hard. How can those of us who arent globally famous economists help end the tyranny of overwork? Maybe a lot more striking workers making demands; maybe a universal basic income or something like Bhutans gross domestic happiness index? Keynes may have erred in his predictions of the future (though he seems to have understood the needs of his moment well enough), but he may not have been wrong to view the economic turmoil of his time as a radical opportunity for utopian change and better living for everyone. Overturning the dire conditions of the present for our own grandchildren will require not only hard work, but the leisure to do some visionary futurist thinking. Read Keynes full essay here. via Aeon Related Content: An Animated Introduction to Economist John Maynard Keynes Buckminster Fuller Rails Against the Nonsense of Earning a Living: Why Work Useless Jobs When Technology & Automation Can Let Us Live More Meaningful Lives The Case for a Universal Basic Income in the Time of COVID-19 Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness The international NGO Friends of the Earth has accused France of undermining Mozambique's security, economy and environmental health in its drive to capitalise on a gas boom off the country's northern coast. In a report released Monday, the group said France was throwing Mozambique into a gas trap" by shoring up French interests in the vast underwater reserves discovered off Cabo Delgado province. Exploitation of the gas fields, planned over 30 years, is expected to generate $60 billion in investments the largest ever on the African continent. French oil giant Total is developing a mega gas exploitation project, while banks Credit Agricole and Societe Generale were singled out as "major players, acting as financial advisors to the gas operators. "French machinations are forcing yet another African country into dependency on fossil fuels in the name of the economic interests of French energy industrials and bankers, the report said. "For several years now, the entire arsenal of French economic diplomacy has been working to defend French interests in Mozambique. Estimated at 5,000 billion cubic metres, the 9th largest natural gas reserves in the world could transform the former Portuguese colony one of the world's poorest countries into a leading exporter of liquefied natural gas. While the project would be a windfall for the industry, however, the NGO warns it would be a curse for Mozambique bringing more conflict, violence, corruption and social inequality. Increased 'militarisation' For the past three years, Cabo Delgado has been at the centre of a deadly insurgency by the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa Islmaist group. Friends of the Earth says the conflict has seen authorities clamp down on the province and prioritise protecting gas infrastructure. French support for multinational gas companies including Italy's ENI and the US's ExxonMobile has caused Cabo Delgado to become "militarised", further igniting tensions, the London-based NGO said. Private security contractors are alleged to be using French-made weapons and helicopters with French licences. Total has confirmed that it has worked with five private security companies. Ticking 'climate bomb' Each year, the three gas projects under development could release seven times more carbon than France, and 49 times more than Mozambique's annual emissions, Friends of the Earth found. "This is a ticking climate bomb ready to explode and will contribute to pushing the world even further towards the irreversible climate crisis, the report said, adding that Mozambique, prone to extreme weather, was already on the frontline of climate change. The NGO is calling on French companies, including private banks and energy firms such as Total, to immediately end their involvement in Mozambican gas projects. Police are searching for a suspect after a man was shot dead while driving on a North Side Tuesday morning. The driver, a man in his 40s, and his female passenger were traveling westbound on Loop 1604, near Bulverde, just after midnight when a vehicle pulled up alongside their pickup truck and fired a single shot, police said. The driver was hit in the head. In the middle of the night, invisible to anyone but special telescopes in two Chinese observatories, satellite Micius sends particles of light to Earth to establish the worlds most secure communication link. Named after the ancient Chinese philosopher also known as Mozi, Micius is the worlds first quantum communications satellite and has, for several years, been at the forefront of quantum encryption. Scientists have now reported using this technology to reach a major milestone: long-range secure communication you could trust even without trusting the satellite it runs through. Launched in 2016, Micius has already produced a number of breakthroughs under its operating team led by Pan Jian-Wei, Chinas Father of Quantum. The satellite serves as the source of pairs of entangled photons, twinned light particles whose properties remain intertwined no matter how far apart they are. If you manipulate one of the photons, the other will be similarly affected at the very same moment. It is this property that lies in the heart of the most secure forms of quantum cryptography, the entanglement-based quantum key distribution. If you use one of the entangled particles to create a key for encoding messages, only the person with the other particle can decode them. Micius has previously produced entangled photons and delivered them to two ground stations (observatories) 1,200km apart via special telescopes. Scientists showed the photons reach Earth as entangled as they were in orbit. Then, in 2017, Micius was used to distribute quantum cryptographic keys to ground stations near Vienna and Beijing, enabling a secure virtual meeting between the Austrian and Chinese science academies 7,400km apart. None of the communication went through Micius. It only produced and distributed the encryption keys. But both ground stations had to talk to and trust Micius as part of their communication systems and use it as a relay before establishing a link with each other. Story continues A new paper from Pan Jia-Weis lab published in Nature shows that Micius has again successfully brought entanglement-based quantum cryptography to its original ground stations 1,200 km apart. But this time the satellite sent simultaneous streams of entangled photons to the ground stations to establish a direct link between the two of them. This gave them robust, unbreakable cryptographic protection without the need to trust the satellite. Until now, this had never been done via satellite or at such great distances. Again, none of the communication went through Micius. The satellite provided entangled photons as a convenient resource for the quantum cryptography and the two ground stations then used them according to their agreed protocol. This also involved designing the machinery for distributing the keys and a mechanism for preventing malicious attacks, such as blinding the telescopes with other light signals. The new paper doesnt specify how the messages were transmitted in this instance, but in theory it could be done by optical fibre, another communications satellite, radio, or any other method they agree upon. Quantum race Secure long-distance links such as this one will be the foundation of the quantum internet, the future global network with added security powered by laws of quantum mechanics, unmatched by classical cryptographic methods. The launch of Micius and the records set by the scientists and engineers building quantum communication systems with its help have been compared to the effect Sputnik had on the space race in the 20th century. In a similar way, the quantum race has political and military implications that are hard to ignore. Pan Jian-Wei credited Edward Snowdens 2013 disclosures of internet surveillance by western governments with prompting China to boost quantum cryptography research in order to create more secure means of communication. As a result, Micius has been dubbed Sputnik for the ultra-paranoid. Any country could theoretically trust Micius to provide entangled photons to secure its communications. But the satellite is a strategic resource that other countries are likely to want to replicate, just as Europe, Russia and China now have their own versions of the US-controlled GPS. However, the news of a successful long distance quantum communications link is a sign that we are already living in a new era of communication security. This article has been amended to correct the time at which distribution machinery and attack prevention were developed This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation Harun Siljak does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Marilyn Amobi may now serve out her tenure as the Managing Director of bulk electricity trader, NBET, following a letter to that effect conveyed to her late Monday by the finance ministry, a few moments after power minister, Saleh Mamman, had announced her removal with immediate effect. The counteractions of the finance minister, Zainab Ahmed, and her power ministry counterpart, Mr Mamman, underscored the confusion and power play in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. The two ministers separately said Mr Buhari authorised their opposing actions. In a statement on Monday evening, Mr Mamman said Mr Buhari had approved the removal of Ms Amobi, asking her to proceed on terminal leave and hand over to NBETs General Counsel and Secretary, Nnaemeka Eweluka, as the new substantive boss of the agency immediately. That was five days after PREMIUM TIMES exposed Ms Amobis continued violation of Nigerias code of conduct for public officials as she runs a private company, ESL Economics and Management Limited, and operates foreign bank account in the United Kingdom. Mrs Amobis four-year tenure is to end July 24 this year. Top government officials said our report on Ms Amobis abuse of code of conduct, indeed a constitutional breach, angered Mr Buhari who immediately ordered her removal. However, shortly after Mr Mamman announced the removal, based on Mr Buharis approval, it emerged the president had earlier, through his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, given an instruction that Ms Amobi is allowed to serve out her tenure. The approval to serve out her tenure was given in a June 8 memo, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES late Monday. That memo was then attached to a June 15 letter from the finance ministry to Ms Amobi asking her to serve out her tenure ending in July, thereby countering Mr Mammans earlier announcement. The finance ministrys letter was signed by the permanent secretary at the finance ministry, Mahmoud Isa-Dutse. Although the correspondence gave Ms Amobi a temporary reprieve, it, nevertheless, asked the embattled official to hand over to Mr Eweluka at the completion of her tenure in July. But Mr Mammans instruction was that the replacement should take place immediately. Insiders said the clash on the fate of Ms Amobi between the two ministers was indicative of the confusion in the administration of Mr Buhari, said to have a way of giving conflicting instructions and approvals to his officials on a single subject. Regardless of the approval of June 8 to allow Ms Amobi serve out her tenure, the president gave another instruction that the official be removed immediately PREMIUM TIMES report of June 11 and the previous reporting by Leaks.ng on Ms Amobis abuses were brought to his (presidents) notice, insiders said. The finance minister, Ms Usman, is the chairperson of NBET board but the company is a major player in the power sector overseen by Mr Mamman, the power minister. In the power industry, NBET is the manager and administrator of the electricity pool. It has been covering the market shortfall using public funds to shore up the revenue of the electricity generation companies to prevent the collapse of the system that is perpetually afflicted by liquidity crisis. In 2018, N701 billion was released for this purpose from the Central Bank of Nigeria for the 2017-2019 period. After becoming a public official as the chief executive of NBET, a wholly-owned Nigerian government company, Ms Amobi did not withdraw from running ESL in the UK, management and accounting filings obtained by PREMIUM TIMES from UK authorities showed. This was first reported on June 10. But during the weekend, she distributed a statement trying to deny this newspapers report. She said her company had become inactive and thus she was not running it. She lied. According to records the UK authorities hold and which PREMIUM TIMES still accessed Tuesday morning before this publication, ESL, with company number 06413894, still holds an active business status and Ms Amobis running of the company remains active. READ ALSO: Also, several accounting filings, including yearly balance sheets, including the latest, submitted in 2019, were signed by Ms Amobi as the sole director of the consultancy firm. Ms Amobi wholly owns ESL, which she registered in 2007 in London. But she did not withdraw from the running of the company as a director, after her appointment into public office in Nigeria as the countrys law requires. She said she had resigned from the Nigerian version of ESL. PREMIUM TIMES cannot verify this claim immediately although records suggest her claim needs to be authenticated. However, we can authoritatively report that she remains active running the private firm, ESL, in the UK and the firm is not inactive contrary to her claim. Advertisements The development on Monday evening is a new chapter in Ms Amobis controversial stint at NBET. She has variously been accused of abuses, including misuse of funds and maladministration. On December 24, Ms Amobi was suspended by the power minister, Mr Mamman, who claimed that the move was in continuation of the governments effort to reorganise and sanitise the Federal Ministry of Power and its affiliate agencies. Consequently, a five-member investigative committee was constituted to probe the myriad complaints levelled against Ms Amobi. The suspension, last December, of Ms Amobi came after PREMIUM TIMES reported how she instigated the arrest and detention for several hours of nine top officials of the bulk trader by the State Security Services (SSS, also called DSS). The embattled MD had been accused of abuse and intimidation of employees in recent time, with concerns over workplace safety and failing teamwork protocol among staff members. But in January, Mr Buhari curiously overruled the minister, reinstating Ms Amobi despite indictments by anti-graft agencies the EFCC and ICPC. Apart from the two main antigraft agencies, (EFCC and ICPC), Nigerias auditor-general also found Ms Amobi culpable of maladministration. Earlier in February 2019, PREMIUM TIMES reported how Ms Amobi controversially paid at least N2 billion to two power generating companies and made controversial payments to law firms and other consultants. Documents obtained by Leaks NG a coalition of Nigerian newsrooms and civil society groups revealed that Ms Amobi, was also involved in a series of alleged corrupt acts such as subversion of board approvals and infraction of procurement laws. She had denied all the allegations. By ANI LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, in case pertaining to furnishing false information, criminal conspiracy, etc. related to the arrangement of buses by Congress for transporting migrant labourers. A bench of Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi granted bail to Lallu with certain conditions. The High Court directed Lallu to file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. "In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with the law," the High Court stated in its order. The court directed the applicant to remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through counsel, and added that in case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code. "The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 313 Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)," the order said. Lallu has been in jail since May 21, 2020, when he was arrested by the police in Lucknow in connection with a case registered against him at Hazratganj Police Station. According to the police, a case was filed against Lallu under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including furnishing false information, act endangering life or personal safety of others, cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy, etc. Lallu was arrested twice on May 20, first in Agra for protest against the Uttar Pradesh government for not granting permission to allow buses arranged by the party to ferry migrants to their homes in Rajasthan. He was later granted bail by an Agra court and released from the jail. However, he was arrested again by a team of Lucknow Police in a second case filed in connection with the bus row. (CNN) Three Indian soldiers were killed during a "violent face-off" with Chinese troops along the countries' de facto border in the Himalayas late Monday, the Indian army said in a statement. According to the Indian army statement, there was loss of life "on both sides," including an Indian officer and two Indian soldiers. The statement did not specify the number of additional Chinese casualties. It added that senior military officials from both sides are currently meeting to defuse the situation. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday held a meeting with senior Indian military officers, according to the Indian army. He "reviewed the current operational situation in Eastern Ladakh" with the Chief of Defense Staff, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, the army said. The country's External Affairs Minister was also present. At a regular news conference Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that on Monday "Indian troops seriously violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line for illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel which lead to serious physical conflict between the two sides." "China has lodged strong protest and representation with the India side, and we once again we solemnly ask the India side to follow our consensus and strictly regulate its front line troops and do not cross the line and do not stir up troubles or take unilateral moves that may complicate matters," Zhao added. "We both agreed to resolve this issue through dialogue and consolation and make efforts for easing the situation and upholding peace and tranquility in the border area." Zhao did not comment on whether there had been any Chinese casualties. Chinese military officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) released a statement Tuesday night calling on the Indian army to immediately stop what it described as "provocative actions" and to "resolve the issue through the correct track of dialogue and talks." "The sovereignty of the Galwan Valley region has always belonged to China," Zhang Shuili, the spokesman of the Western Theater said in a statement on China's Ministry of Defense website. "Indian troops violated its commitment, crossed the borderline for illegal activities and deliberately launched provocative attacks." Zhang added that the "serious physical conflict between the two sides" had "resulted in casualties." "We solemnly ask the India side to strictly regulate its front line troops, immediately stop all infringement and provocative actions, go toward the same direction with China, and return to the correct track of dialogue and talks to resolve differences," the statement read. Monday's deaths are the first military casualties along the disputed border for more than four decades, Indian defense experts told CNN. "We have not had casualties on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for at least 45 years," said Happymon Jacob, an associate professor and political analyst at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. "This is perhaps a game-changer. This is perhaps the beginning of the end of the rapport that India has enjoyed with China for 45 years." Former Indian Chief of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh, also confirmed to CNN this is the first such deadly incident in the last 45 years. Tensions have been growing in the Himalayas along one of the world's longest land borders since last month, with New Delhi and Beijing both accusing the other of overstepping the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that separates the two nuclear armed neighbors. The territory has long been disputed, erupting into numerous minor conflicts and diplomatic spats since a bloody war between the two countries in 1962. The LAC runs between Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin and the rest of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region. The rough border line was the result of the India China border dispute in 1962, but neither side agrees exactly where it is or how long it is. Aksai Chin is administered by China as part of Xinjiang, but is also claimed by the Indian government as part of Ladakh. An Indian military banner post is seen next to a road in Ladakh in 2012. The region shares a border with both China and Pakistan. The reported troop build up had left many worried about the potential for a confrontation, particularly as both Chinese and Indian media have published jingoistic calls for action. Both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have built public support in large part on nationalism and a promise of future greatness. This often translates into aggressive rhetoric, particularly when playing to a domestic audience. Such an approach was evidenced in Chinese coverage of the PLA maneuvers in the Himalayas. Equally, despite Delhi's public calls for easing tensions, leading Indian government figures have struck an aggressive tone, with Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah telling a rally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier this month that "any intrusion into the the borders of India will be punished." "Some used to say that US and Israel were the only countries which were willing and capable of avenging every drop of the blood of their soldiers," Shah said. "(Modi) has added India to that list.'' Writing for CNN this month, retired Indian general Singh said that part of the problem is that the de facto border, the LAC, is so ill defined. "At strategic and operational levels, both militaries have exercised restraint," he said. "However, at the tactical level, face-offs occur due to differing perceptions of where the actual border is as the LAC is not delineated on the ground. While face-offs get resolved locally, those related to the building of infrastructure, such as roads and defence fortifications, invariably take longer and require a combination of military and diplomatic initiatives." Speaking before the most recent clash, former Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said she hoped the current crisis won't lead to an abandonment of long-standing diplomatic negotiations over the disputed territory. "Even if tensions rise and tempers fray, they would do well to remember that they have to continue to manage their differences in a grown-up way because armed clashes and military combat can have extremely serious repercussions for the stability of the region going beyond the ambit of the purely bilateral relationship between the two countries," she said. 100 Years Ago 1920: Eighteen graduates of the Pennsylvania Military College were handed their diplomas this morning at imposing exercises held in the Hyatt Armory. Honorary degrees were also conferred upon a quintet of prominent men, including Assist. Sec. of the Navy Roosevelt, State Attorney General Schaffer and General William G. Price Jr. Diplomas were presented by Board of Trustees President John Wannamaker. 75 Years Ago 1945: One of the bitterest primary campaigns in recent Republican history reached a climax today as candidates launched a week-end of intense political activity and polls were being prepared for the peoples decision which will be told in the voting machines next Tuesday. The primary campaign has brought out for the first time in the history of Delaware County politicians a concerted opposition, armed to upset the McClure dictatorship over county politics. 50 Years Ago 1970: Haverford Township School Board adopted a $8,514,150 budget, cutting half a mill from the real estate tax increase tentatively approved May 14. The new rate increased by 15 mills over last year to 107.5, or $107.5 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Board President Leo Moran said the board will continue efforts to obtain a more equitable state subsidy and will support legislation to give real estate relief. A resident, William Myrtetus of Manoa, asked if this meant that the board was in favor of an income tax. Joseph Landsburg, board legislative chairman, said weve got to relieve real estate and if it means an income tax, then I am for it. 25 Years Ago 1995: Mother Teresa has chosen to remember a part of the world many others have chosen to forget. The 85-year-old nun, who has been dubbed The Living Saint for her missionary work among the poor, will be spending Saturday night in Chesters decaying West End with HIV-positive women and their children. She will visit Gift of Mary, formerly the Resurrection of Our Lord convent and now a hospice run by three of her Missionaries of Charity sisters. 10 Years Ago 2010: Haverford Township School Board voted 8-0 for a budget raising property taxes 5.9 percent to 24.4743 mills per dollar. While this years Act 1 cap limited tax increases to 2.9 percent, the district applied for $3 million in referendum exceptions including increases in medical premiums, retirement benefits and debt service. School Director Martin said Haverford gets very little back from Harrisburg when compared to other districts. Since a wage tax remains not politically possible, property taxes are the primary revenue source, Martin said, at 83 percent. COLIN AINSWORTH WeWork CEO Sandeep Mathrani told CNBC on Tuesday the company is in discussions with private schools in New York City about conducting classes in its office spaces this fall. "To allow them to get started, they can go into some of our WeWork locations, which sort of fit well as classrooms," Mathrani said in an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin on "Squawk Box." Mathrani said the goal is to help schools reduce the density while still allowing for in-person instruction despite the threat of the coronavirus. This is another indication of the need for flexibility by companies and organizations in a world altered by the Covid-19 crisis, he added. "Even schools are going beyond just thinking about it in a structured way," said Mathrani. "They're opening their minds of how to bring children back into schools." WeWork has over 100 locations in New York City, according to Mathrani, who became CEO in February, five months after the company scrapped a plan to go public last year amid valuation and governance concerns that led to the departure of founder Adam Neumann. So far, the office-sharing company's conversations with schools have been with only private schools. "Obviously we will extend that to discussions with public schools if we're able to have that conversation," Mathrani said. Many schools across the U.S. went to remote instruction in March as the coronavirus pandemic intensified, but now the focus has been on how to safely resume in-person classes in the fall. The question carries broader implications for the U.S. economy as it seeks to restart from the impacts of Covid-19 because parents and guardians may find it difficult to return to work if schools aren't open and children have to stay home. Mathrani said WeWork will be flexible with its employees, particularly as it relates to child care. He suggested some spouses may rotate who goes into the office on a given day. "There are no more hard rules, if you really want to get people to come back to work and feel committed," he said. WASHINGTON Vice President Mike Pence encouraged governors on Monday to adopt the administrations explanation that a rise in testing was a reason behind new coronavirus outbreaks, even though testing data has shown that such a claim is misleading. I would just encourage you all, as we talk about these things, to make sure and continue to explain to your citizens the magnitude of increase in testing, Pence said on a call with governors, audio of which was obtained by The New York Times. And that in most of the cases where we are seeing some marginal rise in number, thats more a result of the extraordinary work youre doing. He added: But also encourage people with the news that we are safely reopening the country. That, as we speak today, because people are going back to hospitals and elective surgery and getting ordinary care, hospitalization rates may be going up. But according to our most current information, hospitalizations for coronavirus are going down across the country. It was a misleading message publicly emphasized by President Donald Trump at a meeting earlier in the day. If we stop testing right now, Trump said, wed have very few cases, if any. In fact, seven-day averages in several states with coronavirus outbreaks have increased since May 31, and in at least 14 states, positive cases have outstripped the average number of tests that have been administered, according to an analysis of data collected by The New York Times. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that coronavirus hospitalizations have decreased nationally, though positive cases have increased and the number of deaths attributed to the disease caused by the coronavirus, COVID-19, could increase as more data becomes available. As the head of the administrations virus task force, Pence has frequently used his public appearances to play down the seriousness of the pandemic, even though several members of his staff have tested positive. Last week, he was criticized for taking a picture with dozens of Trump campaign staff members who were standing close together without wearing masks. This Saturday, Pence is scheduled to join the president at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, despite concerns that the enclosed venue could promote the viruss spread. The Trump campaign has asked attendees to assume the risk should they contract it. And on the private call with governors, Pence again played down the overall size of the new outbreaks, stressing that some states were seeing what he called intermittent spikes. Rather than pointing to community spread as a culprit, as officials in several areas including Washington, D.C. have, the vice president focused on specific outbreak locations, like nursing homes. He added that CDC employees would be redeployed to states experiencing new outbreaks and encouraged governors to think on a county level when dealing with them. The vice president also said that the viruss spread was now well contained, and he adopted a term that Trump has used for the virus embers, which can be quickly snuffed out. The president often talks about embers, Pence added. As we go through the summer, as we see, overall, as you all know, around the country, that despite a mass increase in testing, we are still averaging roughly 20,000 cases a day, which is significantly down from six weeks ago. Experts, including some in the Trump administration, have warned that stamping out the coronavirus is not that simple. In fact, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, warned last week that we have something that turned out to be my worst nightmare, a reference to the viruss ability to spread rapidly. On the call, Pence instructed Alex Azar, the health secretary, to address the problem in a constructive way. Azar said that localized outbreaks at meatpacking plants and nursing homes would continue to be a focus for officials. If any of them light on fire, Azar said, weve got to get there right away. Dr. Deborah L. Birx, who is coordinating the administrations response, reiterated that hospitalization rates for the virus had been declining across the country, though some states had seen an uptick. Youre finding cases in the community rather than finding them in the clinic and the hospital, she said, adding that more people had been identified as asymptomatic or presymptomatic in recent weeks. She said protest sites across the country had not yet seen a rise in coronavirus cases, though she said data had begun to show early upticks in Minneapolis. Birx asked governors to ensure that all the law enforcement that has been engaged in protecting your citizens have been tested, adding, I really appreciate having most of you call for the protesters to get tested. Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, a Republican who has publicly criticized the Trump administrations early response to the virus, told the vice president that there was an urgent need to have the administration and members of Congress working together on another coronavirus relief bill. States are going to be faced with laying off tens of thousands of state workers, Hogan said, adding that many governors were finalizing state budgets at the end of June. Pence said that any further legislation would most likely happen in the middle of July and that the door would be open for negotiations between the administration and Congress. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the majority leader, has indicated that negotiations would not take place before a two-week recess scheduled for early July. Other governors, including J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, who has been critical of the administrations handling of the virus, did not speak on Mondays call. Illinois was the first state in the nation to meet the federal metrics laid out by the White House for reopening and right now is showing the largest decline in COVID cases, Pritzkers office said later in a statement. The governor will continue to follow the science and data and rely on the public health experts when it comes to reopening the state. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues at Boston University and elsewhere, will receive almost $19 million over five years to launch the fourth phase of the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA 4). Funded by the National Institute on Aging, the grant will support ongoing research, including large-scale behavioral genetics studies, of cognition, aging and the risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). VETSA is a set of longitudinal projects with a primary focus on examining genetic and environmental influences on brain function and aging, beginning at midlife. It was originally launched in 2002. To date, more than 1,600 identical and fraternal male-male twins have participated, all with military service at some point between 1965 and 1975, though most report no combat experience. "At this point, they are all older men living in all 50 states. They are roughly comparable in terms of lifestyle, education and health characteristics to American men of their age," said William S. Kremen, PhD, one of three principal investigators of VETSA 4 with Carol E. Franz, PhD, and Michael Lyons, PhD. Kremen and Franz are both professors of psychiatry and co-directors of the Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Lyons is a professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Boston University. The participants' narrow range of age is a key feature of the study. All participants were in their 50s when baseline assessments were taken, with new testing regularly conducted every few years. Participants undergo tests of cognitive and sensory functioning, relevant biomedical characteristics, psychosocial functioning, neuroendocrine status and genotyping -- the last a method of determining differences in the genetic makeup of individuals. A large subset has also undergone magnetic resonance imaging. "Clinical trials of dementia patients have been unsuccessful, and current thinking is that a major reason is that the disease has already progressed too far by that time," said Franz. "Because it is now well known that the pathological process of AD begins as much as 20 years before onset of dementia, there has been a major focus on early identification of risk as the key to slowing or preventing disease progression. With its baseline in midlife, the VETSA is in many ways ideally suited for advancing the goal of early identification. In addition, the twin design helps determine the extent to which characteristics are due to genetic or environmental influences." It's estimated that nearly 6 million Americans age 65 and older are living with AD; 80 percent are 75 or older, according to the Alzheimer's Association. MCI is a prodromal phase of AD in which there is cognitive impairment, but dementia has not yet developed. "That makes identifying MCI early an important part of efforts toward early diagnosis and treatment," said Kremen. Previous VETSA research has shown that extensive cognitive testing can identify MCI in adults who are still in their 50s. Genotyping has allowed researchers to assign an AD polygenic risk score. VETSA investigators have also found that common major midlife adverse events, such as divorce or death of a family member, can accelerate aging in the brain. A novel aspect of VETSA is that researchers have test scores of general cognitive ability dating back to participants' military service when they were in their 20s. "It is well known that more education, greater occupational complexity and greater engagement in cognitively stimulating activities are associated with reduced risk of dementia," said Kremen. "This presents a chicken-egg dilemma: Do these things cause the reduced risk or is it that people with higher cognitive ability tend to be higher on these factors?" A VETSA study showed that it was primarily the latter. In the fourth phase of VETSA, the average age of participants will be 74 years. Researchers expect a greater increase in cognitive decline and development of MCI and AD. Maximilian Haider, adjunct professor of KIT and founder and head of the CEOS company, is awarded the renowned Kavli Prize. (Photo: Bilderfest) Physicist Maximilian Haider, adjunct professor of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), receives this years Kavli Prize for nanosciences, together with Harald Rose, senior professor of Ulm University, Knut Urban of Forschungszentrum Julich, and Ondrej Krivanek, President of Nion Company, USA. This was announced by the Kavli Foundation in Oslo. The prize honors the work of the four scientists in the development of electron microscopy, by means of which it is now possible to image and study materials with atomic resolution. In 1990, Maximilian Haider, Harald Rose, and Knut Urban started a collaboration to correct the aberrations of electron optical lenses that had been known for about 60 years. Rose proposed a theoretical concept and Haider finally succeeded in implementing it technically. Already in 1997 did Urban and his team reach a major improvement of resolution with the laboratory prototype. Aberrations are corrected by novel unround electron optics, consisting of so-called magnetic multipoles. These influence the electron beams such that aberrations of an objective lens are compensated. This effect is similar to that of glasses worn by visually impaired persons. The result is a highly improved image resolution. Electron microscopes are used to study with atomic resolution novel materials for better data storage systems and processors, the properties of high-performance materials for fuel cells, batteries, or solar cells, as well as the function of biological macromolecules. This makes electron microscopes key instruments of modern materials research and the associated nano- and microtechnologies. During long years of work, Haider, Rose, and Urban made resolution of electron microscopy exceed the theoretical limit and, thus, improved a major tool for materials science, says Professor Holger Hanselka, President of KIT. The highly renowned Kavli Prize is a great recognition of their outstanding achievements as pioneers of electron microscopy. We are proud of Maximilian Haider, who is closely related to KIT as an adjunct professor, and are happy together with him and the other laureates about this special distinction. Maximilian Haider, Harald Rose, and Knut Urban already received a number of prizes for their collaborative research, including the 2006 Karl Heinz Beckurts Prize for Innovation, the Japanese Honda Prize 2008, the Wolf Prize in Physics 2011, and the Frontiers of Knowledge Award 2014. Maximilian Haider about the Person Maximilian Haider, born in Austria in 1950, founded and is heading the CEOS Company in Heidelberg. About 900 microscopes with correctors made by CEOS based on the new groundbreaking electron optics are presently being used by universities and research laboratories all over the world. Since 2008, Maximilian Haider has been adjunct professor at KIT and member of its Laboratory of Electron Microscopy. Kavli-Prize Since 2008, the Kavli Prize has been awarded every two years in the areas of astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience by the Kavli Foundation, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The prize was established by Norwegian businessman and inventor Fred Kavli (1927 2013). In 2000, he established the Kavli Foundation to advance science for the benefit of humankind, to enhance public understanding of science, and to support the work of researchers. Each of the prizes consists of USD 1 million. The prizes are presented by King Harald V in a ceremony in Oslo. Due to the Corona pandemic, the ceremony will take place in autumn 2022. Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has warned of the Background of the debate about more easing in the Corona-crisis is a serious setback. She pointed out that the German economy had to face in your entire width of a huge slump. No one knows how consumer behaviour and the pandemic developed, the Chancellor said on Tuesday, according to information from the German press-Agency of the participants in the meeting of the Union faction in the Bundestag. Merkel said she wanted to not be pessimistic we could face the situation just optimistic but we must also be realistic. She was cited with the words: "There's a giant mountain of work still lies ahead of us." After the loosening of travel warnings for most of the EU countries, and in view of the debate about summer vacation destinations, Merkel said, each the joy of a holiday in Majorca or Greece had indulged. If you consider however, the economic Figures, "I know not quite, whether we have already brought hopes and reality". Every Morning, our editors rank the most important issues of the day. Relevant, current, and entertaining. In Germany, there had never been such a high number of short-time workers, said Merkel. In the face of seven million people in may receiving only a portion of their salary, is the incomparable Situation. In the economic and financial crisis of 2008/2009, there have been 1.5 million short-time workers. Unlike then, the situation was not get now quickly in the grip. Therefore, it is important that the government and the Union group radiated Confidence and ability to act. The Virus was gone, even if you contained it well and in the barriers I referred, said Merkel, according to the information of the dpa. Where people were, however, close to each other, but it always breakouts. "We have to be very careful so that we do not exacerbate the already difficult situation in the economy again," warned the Chancellor. It was a very tense time, even if currently most of the sunshine. "It is not without what awaits us in the next few months." Updated Date: 16 June 2020, 14:19 Representative Image Expatriates in Gulf countries who are travelling to Kerala on special chartered flights must get tested for the novel coronavirus infection and produce a COVID-19 negative certificate from June 20, reported Khaleej Times. K Ellangovan, principal secretary, Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department, confirmed the report as he told the publication over the phone that the COVID-19 test result is required for those people coming on chartered flights from the Gulf countries. Every such passenger requires to have a COVID-19 test certificate. The rule will come into force from June 20 onwards, said the report. The requirement of the COVID-19 test is mandatory for all chartered flights for which approval letters have already been issued, as per the report. The rule will affect travel plans, say companies and associations operating chartered flights from the UAE to Kerala. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) Abu Dhabi, which started operating chartered flights from June 13 with the first flight to Kannur district of Kerala, hoped that the state government will review its decision. KMCC Abu Dhabi has reportedly received approval to operate 40 private chartered flights and plans to repatriate more than 6,800 stranded people to Kerala. Currently, people are flying on chartered flights to Kerala after a rapid test, KMCC Abu Dhabi president Shukoorali Kallungal told the paper. It is an effective way to detect positive cases and is the same test that is done for passengers taking special flights under Government of Indias Vande Bharat Mission, he said. We don't understand why there is a need for additional tests only for those on chartered flights, Kallungal was quoted as saying. The Indian government started the Vande Bharat mission on May 6 to help stranded people reach their destinations through special international flights amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The KMCC president says the mandatory COVID-19 test for those onboard special chartered flights is impractical in the present situation, considering the time taken to receive test results and make travel arrangements, said the report. Also, he asked the Kerala government to bear expenses for the test if it is mandatory, as it is not right to ask distressed, jobless and poor people to pay for the swab test, added the report. Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here One of Washingtons most powerful business lobbyists has entered Australias increasingly political fight on class action litigation, as a key piece of law goes to a vote in the Victorian Parliament this week. The US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has been registered under the federal governments foreign influence transparency scheme after making a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into class action regulation. ILR said in its submission its members had a direct interest in the legislation, because many "carry on business in Australia or trade with Australians" and are exposed to litigation in what it calls a plaintiff-friendly country. Its involvement in the national debate, led by plaintiff lawyers and business leaders, is unsurprising after global moves by the institute to stem what it calls "litigation abuse". The new Victorian laws, coming amid the federal inquiry, are to go before the state's upper house on Thursday. Emily Bloom said she barely had time to dive to safety before a gray Kia with its engine revving was driven through the intersection where she had stood moments earlier in downtown Gainesville, Fla., protesting police brutality. While marching with fellow protesters in the Richmond, Va., suburb of Lakeside, Rachel Kurtz said she, her husband and her 11-year-old son had to leap to the sidewalk and out of the path of a blue pickup truck. In the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Dan Gregory fell to the ground, shot in the shoulder, after he said he attempted to stop a black Honda Civic headed toward a group of protesters. And in front of the Bakersfield Police Department in California, Lexi Colebrook said she watched in horror as an SUV hit her friend, who managed to stumble toward the sidewalk and escape serious injury. The incidents are among at least 19 cases in the past few weeks in which witnesses or police say civilian vehicles were driven through massive demonstrations after the May 25 death of George Floyd, who was handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer for nearly nine minutes. In at least eight of the events, a driver faces charges for what prosecutors described as a deliberate act, according to arrest and court filings. That includes the event in Richmond, where prosecutors say the driver sought to intimidate protesters with his truck and hit one demonstrator's bicycle, running over the cyclist's foot. According to court documents, the driver told police he is a high-ranking official of the Ku Klux Klan. In Illinois, a motorcyclist was charged with hate crimes and aggravated battery after police said he plowed into a demonstration in Bloomington. The accusations echo the 2017 vehicle attack at a white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., that killed Heather Heyer, a counterprotester. And they occur amid a resurgence of internet memes featuring messages such as "All lives splatter" and "Run them over" and pictures of bloodied trucks. "To me, this is a pattern beyond coincidence," said Jacob Stoil, an expert on military history and irregular warfare who is an assistant professor at the U.S. Army's School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. "We've now seen a pretty steady stream of it." Stoil, who emphasized he was speaking about his personal research and not on behalf of the Army or any institution, added, "My research would suggest that this is a cluster, and a growing cluster." Shared in numerous instances by right-wing activists and some members of law enforcement, the social media messages at times seem to encourage attacks, using phrases such as "Run 'em all over" and "Get the protester plow." Others put the onus on protesters to get out of the way, such as when commentator Steven Crowder recently tweeted: "Charge or block a vehicle and break the windshield with the driver still in it? Congratulations! You are now a speed bump!" During the recent spate, police and local officials deemed at least two of the vehicle incidents as accidental encounters caused by panicked drivers who happened upon pedestrians in a street or highway, including one involving a truck driver in Minneapolis in the immediate wake of Floyd's death. That driver was detained and then released without charges. Police have not made arrests in at least three other cases in which videos or witnesses statements suggest there was an attempt to harm protesters by a driver. Apart from the cases involving civilian vehicles reviewed by The Washington Post, allegations also have surfaced about actions by law enforcement. The New York City Police Department recently opened an investigation into a May 30 incident in which two of the department's SUVs were driven into a crowd of protesters. As cases wind through the legal system, it could take months before a motive is determined, assuming one is clear and eventually surfaces. But the images of vehicles headed toward demonstrators revive a sense of dread. "I don't think anybody can forget the car barreling down onto the downtown mall," said Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor, recalling the 2017 Charlottesville rally in which neo-Nazi James Alex Fields drove into a crowd and fatally struck Heyer. Fields was found guilty of first-degree murder and pleaded guilty to hate crimes; he was sentenced to life in prison plus 419 years. After the Richmond event on June 7, Taylor charged Harry Rogers, the 36-year-old driver of the blue pickup, with attempted malicious wounding, destruction of property and assault. Taylor said her office is reviewing photographs that appear to show Rogers at the Charlottesville rally, as well as other photos from 2013 and 2014 in which he appears to attend events while holding a Confederate flag and wearing a white Ku Klux Klan robe. Rogers declined an interview request made through the Henrico County Jail, where he is being held without bond. He has not yet had an opportunity to enter a plea in the case. His attorney, George Townsend, declined to comment on the allegations or whether Rogers appeared in photos at previous rallies. In the current court proceeding, Townsend said: "All of these alleged crimes, they're all on video. So Mr. Rogers and the alleged victims are going to have their day in court." Taylor said her office has videos of Rogers's truck striking protesters, but declined to provide them. According to court documents, Rogers told police that he had been "ordered" to patrol Confederate monuments in the area, though he did not elaborate. Taylor said in an interview that police recovered boxes of ammunition, firearms and a green Ku Klux Klan dragon robe from Rogers's home. In the Bakersfield incident on May 29, Colebrook told The Post she remembers seeing the driver of an SUV arguing with protesters before heading toward them. She recalled the fear of seeing the SUV bearing down on her and her friend. Her friend was directly in front of her holding up a sign that read "Respect existence or expect resistance," Colebrook said. Suddenly the friend was hit by the hood of the SUV and doubled over in the street. The driver, 31-year-old Michael Tran, is accused of making a U-turn to again drive "through the crowd," Bakersfield police wrote in a court document. Tran refused to make a statement to police, the document states, and has pleaded not guilty to assault with a deadly weapon. Family members could not be reached for an interview, and the public defender representing him did not respond to requests for comment. At a protest a day later on the opposite side of the country in Gainesville, Bloom and several other witnesses told police that the driver of a gray Kia sped past other cars, then swerved into marching protesters and brandished a gun at them. "Everyone took it personally," Bloom, 19, told The Post. "There's no more powerful way to say you're against the movement than to literally, belligerently bulldoze through it." William Connelly, the 64-year-old driver, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Connelly's attorney, Mark Feather, said his client is a veteran who had no intention of coming near the protesters and harbored no ill will toward them. He blamed the encounter on the fact that "law enforcement didn't provide a safe place for people to protest" and said that Connelly waived his gun "to keep violence from escalating." "We're really glad everybody's OK," Feather said, noting that no injuries were reported. Gainesville police did not mention any injuries in an arrest report. On June 7 in Seattle, Gregory was sitting on the curb eating a hot dog when he saw a black Honda Civic turn the corner. The car appeared headed toward protesters. "I had a feeling, he's going to hurt somebody, he's doing it on purpose," Gregory, 27, recalled, so he ran beside the car, reached through the open driver's side window and grabbed the steering wheel with his right hand, hoping to stop the Civic. As the driver continued to move forward, Gregory said he lost his grip and said the next thing he remembers is lying on the ground. He'd been shot by the driver with a Glock 26 pistol, police wrote in court documents. Gregory has since been released from the hospital after surgery. "The defendant drove to the [Capitol] Hill protests to see 'how bad' the protests were," King County prosecutors wrote in a summary of their case against the driver, Nikolas Fernandez, who is charged with first-degree assault. They added, "As protesters yelled at him to stop, and even put a metal barrier in his path, he continued to drive forward." Fernandez, 31, has not yet had the chance to enter a plea in response to the charges. His father, Ross, said he's in the process of hiring a lawyer and said that the charges are baseless. "It was a clear case of self-defense," Ross Fernandez said. "He was going to work and took the wrong turn." In Henrico County, prosecutor Taylor alleges that Rogers "purposefully made a U-turn" in order to get behind the group of protesters and then kept moving forward even as people stood or biked in front of him, asking him to stop. "The only reason for him to do that and maneuver his car in such a manner is because he was there to intimidate, disrupt," Taylor said in an interview. Lorenzo Boyd, director of the Center for Advanced Policing at the University of New Haven, said vehicle-ramming incidents were once a common tactic of the Ku Klux Klan. "Police are supposed to watch what is going on," he said. "Even when you are protesting police, it is their job to still protect you." Online messaging encouraging such tactics was in circulation well before Fields fatally struck Heyer with his car in Charlottesville in August 2017. In January 2017, a video published by the conservative news outlet the Daily Caller was reposted on Fox News's website, titled, "Here's A Reel Of Cars Plowing Through Protesters Trying To Block The Road." The article's author wrote, "Study the technique; it may prove useful in the next four years." Fox later told CNN that "we regret" the post. At Fields's trial, prosecutors revealed that months before the attack, he had shared images on social media of a car ramming into a group of people, sending them flying. One image was flanked by the words, "YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST BUT IM LATE FOR WORK." Similar messages have been circulating online in recent weeks. "JUST DROVE THROUGH MINNEAPOLIS," reads one meme shared by a Republican county commissioner in Oklahoma, accompanied by a picture of a large truck spattered with blood. "DIDN'T SEE ANY PROTESTERS." A fire chief in West Virginia lost his job in the first week of June after pictures on social media showed him wearing a shirt that read: "All lives splatter. Nobody cares about your protest." Some social media posters have said they have no intention of endorsing attacks but feel that protesters do not have a right to impede drivers. "The intention to harm or kill should be denounced and punished," wrote Brandon Morse on the conservative site RedState earlier this month, "but if you're a protester and you begin giving signs that you have more than just the intention to protest, then be prepared to find out that you're no match for a giant hunk of metal being self-propelled by a V6 engine." Josh Lipowsky, a senior research analyst for the Counter Extremism Project, said the messaging is dangerous regardless of intent. "Putting this out there into the public sphere - we do not know who is going to see that and take it to heart," he said. Ari Weil, a master's degree candidate in international relations at the University of Chicago who has researched vehicle-ramming incidents, pointed to legislative efforts in 2017 that proposed limiting liability for drivers who hit protesters blocking a roadway. The bills were proposed in a half-dozen states. Florida's version would have exempted drivers from liability if they "unintentionally" killed or injured a person who "obstructs or interferes with the regular flow of vehicular traffic." The bills did not pass. - - - The Washington Post's Alice Crites and Warren Fiske contributed to this report. SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global telecom network market was valued at a significant revenue share over the past few years and is anticipated to further grow at a lucrative rate over the coming years. The market has witnessed growing deployment of LTE and 4G infrastructure. In addition, there is an increasing need for telecom services across developed and rural areas, which is further fueling the market growth. Drivers: The market is driven by the growing demand for commercializing 5G network to improve speed capabilities of the Internet. Supportive government regulations are fueling investments for the development of 5G technology. Furthermore, the increasingly growing concept of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is set to offer greater flexibility for corporate employees and is also aiding in enhancing the device connectivity within an enterprise ecosystem. Shifting customer behavior, coupled with increasing pressure and expectations from the companies have generated a greater number of revenue streams. The booming number of tech giants and over-the-top players in the market is becoming an innovation driver for the market. In addition, a greater number of narratives related to future telecommunication industry is opening up new opportunities for the new entrants to establish themselves. Regional Outlook: Geographically, the market segmentation comprises North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The US government has launched their LTE-network on a greater than 90% of their cellular sites to optimize the IoT connectivity across the country. Furthermore, government authorities like the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) are improving the present regulatory framework. This will aid the further investment for effective provision and deployment of 5G data connectivity. Please click here to download the sample pdf and find more details on "Telecom Network Market" Report 2023. The service providers are focusing to rapidly improve the global 5G network commercialization over the next decade. For example, a leading telecom operator in China in June 2019 announced their investment plan of approximately USD 4.4 billion to build around 50,000 5G base stations across the country. According to telecomlead, companies are Apple, Inc. are striving to keep up with the 5G trend as the iPhone sale has recorded a significant decline and is estimated to pick up when 5G gains commercial momentum. Moreover, supportive government initiatives are also expected to roll out better electronics devices during the forecast period. For instance, the Government of India in September 2018, released a National Digital Communication Policy that was aimed at raising funds of approximately USD 100 billion to effectively develop and advance the telecommunication infrastructure and facilities of the country. Competitive Landscape: With 5G technology is growing into prominence, companies are striving to capitalize on these new technologies to attract and retain customers. Some of the key players operating in this market comprises Huawei, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Nokia, ZTE, Motorola, Emerson, and Cisco Systems. In the coming years, holistic network security is anticipated to become a critical measure than ever and is expected to witness encryption transitions for a more pervasive technology. Also, the EU legislation such as the GDPR has been regarded as a key driving factor aiding the adoption of encryption for both physical and virtual networks. Therefore, service providers are expected to realign and maximize their offering to maximize their market profits and sync with the upcoming technological trends over the next few years. A telecommunications network is a collection of terminal nodes in which links are connected so as to enable telecommunication between the terminals. In the context of China-US trade war and global economic volatility and uncertainty, it will have a big influence on this market. Telecom Network Report by Material, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 is a professional and comprehensive research report on the world's major regional market conditions, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) and the main countries (United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and China). Access 143 page research report with TOC on "Telecom Network Market" available with Radiant Insights, Inc. @ https://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-telecom-network-market-research-report-2019-2023 The report firstly introduced the Telecom Network basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis. Market Segmentation: The major players profiled in this report include: Huawei Ericsson Fujitsu Nokia ZTE Motorola Emerson Cisco Systems The end users/applications and product categories analysis: On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume, revenue (Million USD), product price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into- Public Switching Equipment Transmission Equipment Network Software On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Telecom Network for each application, including- Company Government Browse latest market research reports available with Radiant Insights, Inc.: About Radiant Insights, Inc.: At Radiant Insights, we work with the aim to reach the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Our representatives strive to understand diverse client requirements and cater to the same with the most innovative and functional solutions. Contact: Michelle Thoras. Corporate Sales Specialist Radiant Insights, Inc. Phone: +1-415-349-0054 Toll Free: 1-888-928-9744 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.radiantinsights.com Blog: https://radiantinsightsinc.blogspot.com SOURCE Radiant Insights, Inc. Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte has just breathed new life into his nations Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States. Thats excellent news, because you dont have to believe that China designed the COVID-19 virus to see that its been taking advantage of it and showing us the future if the U.S. and its allies dont stand strong. That includes the Philippines, Americas oldest ally in the region. We all know that China took advantage of the worlds pandemic to declare an end to the more than two decades of what was essentially Hong Kong autonomy. Beijing has been flexing its muscles elsewhere as well during that time. Specifically with the Philippines, it just edged further into the disputed Spratly Islands, by creating two new districts on artificial islands as well as by designating an administration center. Thats why it was strange that Duterte in February announced that within six months the Philippines would abrogate the treaty with the United States unless the two countries renegotiated it and just as strange that President Trump responded by saying that would be fine because well save a lot of money. Under the VFA, U.S. military aircraft and vessels are allowed free entry into the Philippines. U.S. military personnel are subject to relaxed visa and passport policies. Abrogating the agreement would put at risk roughly 300 joint military exercises and engagements, says R. Clarke Cooper, U.S. assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs. The VFA is not the entire Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1951, but its the nuts and bolts, Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst with the RAND Corporation told Voice of America. The Mutual Defense Treaty would be severely weakened, and the Chinese regime would be delighted. China has been fairly open about its aim to take over the world within a generation. Economically, that is. But it sees staking a military claim to anything nearby as a step toward that goal especially in the South China Sea, where the Philippines lie. Story continues Thats where the regime has been aggressively seeking to expand against not only the Philippines but many other countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. Indeed, those islands that China has just pushed further into were awarded to the Philippines four years ago by an intergovernmental arbitration panel. Without allies, the U.S. cannot contain the fast-growing nation of 1.4 billion. Yet relations with South Korea have cooled so much that last year it signed a defense agreement with China ironic given that the U.S. is technically at war with China because of Korea. Guam with its naval and airbases is vital, but also vulnerable. Of eleven U.S. supercarriers, only three or four are available at any one time and may be called on to defend Taiwan. Further, the Philippines 7,000 islands covered with thick jungle canopies have long been refuges for terrorists and other subversives, now including ISIS. U.S. troops arent allowed to engage them directly, but noncombat aid is necessary to keeping them in check. ISIS anywhere is a threat to the U.S. and the world. Duterte first announced his intention to abrogate the treaty under President Obama, who did nothing about it. But it was Dutertes 2018 trip to China during which he received promises of aid for building infrastructure (possible) and sharing the disputed islands (highly doubtful) that really led to this. Again, taking advantage of COVID-19, China is sending goodies to the Philippines such as medical equipment and supplies. Given events in Syria and Ukraine, Duterte could also be worried about the strength of the U.S. commitment. When America gives some allies reasons to mistrust it, the others notice. But this sudden Duterte turnaround, even though its just a suspension of whats technically a still-intended move, indicates that the Filipino president is rethinking the whole thing. Theres no other explanation. He knows the Chinese government never does anything out of the goodness of a heart it doesnt have. It gives more time for him and Trump (or possibly Trumps successor, depending on the outcome of the November election) to negotiate a deal to preserve the VFA. And a lot of people are urging them to use what Trump has called a great relationship between them to get the job done. Current and former officials in both countries want to keep the VFA. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper called abrogating the agreement a move in the wrong direction. Albert del Rosario, a former foreign-affairs secretary for the Philippines, says that abrogation would be a national tragedy. The Philippines shouldnt be casting aside a long time reliable ally in favor of an aggressive neighbor that has been blatantly demonstrating its lack of respect for international law, he said in a statement. Del Rosario isnt the only Filipino who feels this way. After all, Americans and Filipinos have strong historic ties: They fought side by side from 1941 to 1945, shedding blood and losing lives to throw out brutal Japanese invaders. Filipinos havent forgotten. Indeed, the nation to which they still feel closest couldnt be farther away geographically, and English is one of the two official languages of the country. Neither Duterte nor Trump may intend to end this needed relationship. But if theyre not careful, those hard-won ties can unravel. Today the Philippines, those 7,000 islands, and its over 100 million people are still vital to American interests. And this time, if we lose them, to paraphrase General Douglas MacArthur, we shall not return. More from National Review Samaritans Ireland is calling for a national plan for mens mental health as part of efforts to encourage men and boys to take good care of their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Samaritans Ireland is making its call as part of Mens Health Awareness Week (Monday, June 15 to Sunday, June 21). The week aims to raise awareness of preventable health problems, support men and boys to live healthier lives, and encourage them to seek help or treatment early. Measures to support mens mental health is also one of the key asks in Samaritans 4 Asks 4 A Safer Ireland as part of its 2020 Manifesto. Niall Mulligan, Executive Director of Samaritans Ireland, said: As we begin Mens Health Awareness Week, it is important we focus on the issue of mens mental health and emotional wellbeing. From our research, Samaritans know that less than 20% of men over the age of 18, who are experiencing mental health difficulties will seek help from a mental health professional, and less than 35% will speak to their GP during a tough period. "In particular, middle-aged men on low incomes have been the highest risk group for suicide over many years. Far too little is known about what really works to support these men when they begin to struggle. To address this situation, we need a specific well-resourced national plan, for reaching and supporting all mens mental health, and in particular, middle-aged, low-income men. A recent report by Samaritans, Out of sight, out of mind: Why less well-off, middle-aged men dont get the support they need focused on the lived experience of men, looking at what support men in this at-risk group want from services when they are struggling. Niall Mulligan added: The men Samaritans spoke to had been struggling for years with poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and feelings. Despite experiencing many well-known risk factors for this group, opportunities to help them at critical points before they reached crisis were missed. Crucially, the men we spoke to didn't view community-based support services, focused on fostering connection and community, as relevant to them before they reached crisis. At a time when the latest CSO suicide statistics for the Republic of Ireland, confirm an increase in annual suicides of 69 (352 in 2018; 421 in 2019), and with every 3 in 4 suicides being men, the need for a well-resourced, national plan, to reach and support men at high risk of suicide is now critical. In some sad news for Kanpur's pani puri and golgappa enthusiasts, the district administration imposed a ban on the sale of these food items from Tuesday, saying that overcrowding and absence of social distancing norms at golgappa carts could lead to a spike in novel coronavirus cases in the city. According to a report in The Times of India, the district magistrate Dr Brahmadeo Ram Tiwari said there was information that Covid-19 safety guidelines were not being adhered to after the relaxation of restrictions under Unlock 1.0. Incidents had surfaced where these guidelines were being flouted especially in pani pari kiosks, where vendors were directed to wear masks, gloves and maintain hygienic conditions. In view of these developments, a decision was taken to stop the sale in the city to check the spread of the viral infection, which has seen a surge, officials told ToI. The district magistrate emphasised on the need for social distancing to be practised at all shops and the wearing of masks. The news, however, dealt a blow to street food vendors in the city, whose businesses had suffered during the lockdown. Bablu, a vendor in Swaroopnagar area told the publication that the sellers were wearing masks and were ensuring the maintenance of hygiene in the food items they were providing. He added that they were using only RO water during the preparations. Another health official said that people should avoid eating pani puri and if they do intend on having it, they can purchase the puris from the sellers and prepare the filling and the spiced water at their homes as that would be a safer option. Ecuador, one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus in Latin America, has extended its "state of exception" for two months as it struggles to contain the deadly illness. Ecuador, a country of 17.5 million, has so far confirmed almost 4,000 COVID-19 deaths and more than 47,000 cases. That translates to 22 deaths per 100,000 citizens. President Lenin Moreno wrote on Twitter late on Monday that he had "signed the decree" extending the state of exception -- in place since March 16 -- until August 13. "While the measures we've taken have had results against the #COVID19 pandemic, we cannot let down our guard," Moreno said. Ecuador has suffered the fourth most fatalities from the disease in Latin America, behind Brazil, Mexico and Peru, according to an AFP count. That figure does not take into account the 2,600 extra deaths the government suspects were linked to the coronavirus but not reported as such. The state of exception allows Moreno to impose restrictions including a nighttime curfew, mobilize the armed forces and suspend civil liberties such as the freedom to assemble. While lockdown measures have been gradually lifted since mid-May, schools and borders remain closed. People respecting social distancing measures in Ecuador's capital Quito Business owners who underpay workers in Victoria risk being prosecuted twice for the same offence once the Andrews government criminalises wage theft. The Wage Theft Bill 2020, which is expected to pass Victoria's Parliament this week, creates a state watchdog to handle cases of staff underpayment, with penalties for bosses of up to 10 years' jail. The federal Fair Work Ombudsman already covers the same terrain but without the threat of prison time. Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy said existing wage theft laws had failed to stop the problem, making a criminal approach necessary. Credit:AAP Victorian employers wanting to self-report staff underpayments would probably have to deal with both agencies, University of Melbourne labour law expert Professor John Howe said. Melissa Kennedy, a PhD scholar working under Professor Howe, said there was a risk business owners would be less likely to come forward once the Victorian scheme was in effect because they faced being prosecuted at both a state and federal level. Debjani Dutta By Express News Service PUDUCHERRY: Even as the administration is struggling to contain the COVID-19 outbreak here, Puducherry has been witnessing agitations by MLAs and political parties almost on a daily basis including on Tuesday throwing social distancing to the winds, which could lead to the spread of the virus. Puducherry Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi on Tuesday made a fervent appeal to political and community leaders against indulging in agitations and gatherings which put the lives of the people of Puducherry at risk amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a message posted on WhatsApp and Twitter, the Lt. Governor pointed to a report which appeared in the Puducherry edition of The New Indian Express and said it was a concern and made the people of Puducherry vulnerable to community spread. Right now the urgency is health safety to keep livelihood going too. We need to take care of our health and the wealth it generates for our living," she said. Saving Puducherry is a combined responsibility of not only doctors, police and public officials on duty who are already overstretched, pointed out Bedi. She advised political leaders to use other means to raise social concerns and suggested use of websites or webinars for public participation and appealed to them not to violate the directions of the government. She said that people have been requesting her to make such an appeal and on behalf of them also with folded hands, she is appealing to them to follow the rules given and to be the role models and adopt wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and sanitation. Even though Bedi, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy as well as officials of the health department and district administration have been harping on maintenance of social distancing and appealing to people to comply with it to prevent the proliferation of COVID-19, political leaders do not seem to be bothered. The Left parties along with allies DMK and VCK held demonstrations near the new bus stand protesting against the Centre for denial of requisite reservation for OBCs, MBCs and others under All India quota seats in medical admissions. Not only was there no social distancing, but some of the leaders were not even wearing masks, which were hanging from their chin. Among the participants were DMK MLA R Siva, ex-MLA Nara Kalainathan and other participants who were booked for violating Section 144 of the Cr PC and under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Epidemic Act, 1897. Last week, BJP MLA V Saminathan, AIADMK MLA A Anbazhagan and others were booked under the same provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Epidemic Act, 1897 and violation of Section 144 of the Cr PC. Saminathan led an agitation of partymen at the office of Deputy Speaker MNR Bhalan at Oulgaret, while Anbazhagan attempted to picket Raj Nivas along with fishermen demanding compensation for the fishing ban period for retired fishermen. On Sunday, AITUC Secretary Durai Selvam led Sunday market vendors to MG Road, where a big group of traders, AITUC leaders, revenue and police officials were locked in an argument and none remembered the need for social distancing. While leaders are organizing such agitations out of political compulsions, they fail to realize that if even one person in the gathering is COVID-19 positive without him knowing about it, he could infect a large number of persons in the gathering including police personnel on duty. Social distancing is also nowhere to be seen even when groups of people call on the Chief Minister V Narayanasamy or other ministers at their respective chambers, with everyone standing close to each other for photos. The same is the scenario in meetings at the offices of political parties. Cases are on the rise in Puducherry, having topped the 200 mark and the administration is breaking its head in working out ways to prevent the spread and building up infrastructure to handle it. The fish and vegetable markets are being shifted for maintaining social distancing. The Chief Minister is faulting people for lack of social distancing, but shouldn't political leaders be setting an example to the public? ANN ARBOR, MI Amid national protests against police brutality and calls to defund police by Black Lives Matter supporters, some Ann Arbor officials say they want to radically rethink the citys approach to policing. That could mean a shift in city resources to have unarmed crisis intervenors and social workers augment the citys police force, so not every person in a mental health crisis, for example, needs to be confronted by an armed officer. Its an important and in-depth thing that we need to do, Mayor Christopher Taylor said of having the citys police oversight commission lead a review of the Ann Arbor Police Department, its practices and its budget of over $30 million and make recommendations to council. We need to understand how were effecting public safety, what weve been doing, Taylor said. And if it doesnt meet peoples needs, if there are opportunities for social workers on staff, if there are opportunities for trained crisis intervenors on staff or unarmed personnel on staff, we should be taking advantage of it, because thats what the community is requesting. Taylors resolution to ask the citys Independent Community Police Oversight Commission to lead an 18-month review drew some criticism at the council meeting Monday night, June 15. It was debated into the early morning hours Tuesday. As the debate went past 2 a.m., Council Member Chip Smith, D-5th Ward, reminded his colleagues of the many residents whove reached out to them. We have had, by my count, over 2,000 emails that range from cut the funding for the police budget to completely abolish the police department, and I think that that is a pretty clear call to totally redo how we handle public safety, Smith said. Im hoping that what ICPOC develops is a blueprint for something weve never even imagined here before. Once a victim of police brutality, Ann Arbor police chief talks trust, training and tactics The resolution, in part, asks the oversight commission to review best practices for employing alternatives to armed, sworn police officers, such as police social workers or others involved with crisis intervention. Instead of approving the resolution, council voted 8-3 to refer it to the commission for feedback. Council members who serve as liaisons to the oversight commission Ali Ramlawi and Jane Lumm complained they and the commission werent consulted ahead of the resolution being placed on the agenda last Friday. Commission Chairwoman Lisa Jackson also spoke out, sharing some of her concerns. Lisa Jackson, chair of Ann Arbor's police oversight commission, shares concerns with City Council during a virtual meeting broadcast by Community Television Network on June 15, 2020.CTN Council Members Zachary Ackerman and Julie Grand joined the mayor in co-sponsoring the resolution. Some council members took issue with outlining a process for the oversight commission to follow, saying council shouldnt be trying to direct the commission an independent body that can chart its own course. Ramlawi, D-5th Ward, said he was hot under the collar for most of the weekend because of it. I feel like theres a serious disconnect with this council and the realities that marginalized people in America face, he said. The oversight commission doesnt need a bunch of privileged white people telling them what to do, Ramlawi said. I think theyve probably had enough of privileged white people telling them what to do, he said. The commission is supposed to address systematic marginalization, Ramlawi said, but the way the resolution came forward, Not only was the commission systematically marginalized, but myself as an elected official was systematically marginalized. The proposed 18-month timeline also feels like kicking the can down the road, Ramlawi said. Council Members Anne Bannister, Jeff Hayner and Ramlawi voted against referring the resolution to the commission. Bannister, D-1st Ward, expressed concerns about micromanaging the commission, while Hayner, D-1st Ward, said he would rather empower the commission to make its own decisions. Taylor said the intent is to provide a structure to radically rethink how we resource public safety in Ann Arbor, elevate the voices on the oversight commission and fund it, and demonstrate councils commitment to asking the commission what the city should be doing. Its plain that that intent was lost in translation, he said, adding he consulted with city staff, the attorneys office, Police Chief Michael Cox and the commission chair and vice chair on the resolution. Taylor apologized to those who took offense with the way it came forward, saying he considered it a matter of urgency that required action. He said he looks forward to hearing feedback from the oversight commission, which is meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Farmers Market in Kerrytown. Were in a cultural moment, I think, of plain and obvious pain, but that pain has endured for persons of color who are alive today it has endured for their lifetimes and it has endured centuries, Taylor said, adding its now at the forefront and recognized by white America in a way it hasnt been before. Weve got a long way to go: Police oversight chair seeks review of all complaints against officers Taylor said he expects a commission-led review of AAPD would be well funded and a six-figure operation. The commissions voice will only make this stronger as we seek radical change in how we approach policing, said Ackerman, D-3rd Ward, while motioning for referral. Grand, D-3rd Ward, said she also considered it an urgent matter and the resolution is an attempt to respond to the many residents reaching out to council. As for the proposed 18-month timeline, Grand said thats to recognize the enormity of the undertaking and allow for broad community input, but thats not to say council wouldnt act sooner if good ideas for policy changes emerge. Council voted unanimously to OK a separate resolution from Council Member Elizabeth Nelson, D-4th Ward, calling for state policy changes to grant civilian oversight commissions access to restricted Law Enforcement Information Network records and allow more oversight of police. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Ann Arbor ends state of emergency, but officials caution pandemic isnt over Ann Arbor police to walk with George Floyd, police brutality protesters Ann Arbor officials propose review of $30M police budget, more citizen oversight of policing See the winners of Ann Arbors I voted sticker design contest Actor Sushant Singh Rajputs untimely death has reignited the debate on nepotism and many a stars have come forward to raise the issue on social media. Its being said that Sushant wasnt given his due in Bollywood. And this has seen a direct impact on the social media handles of some celebrities, who have lost or gained millions of followers depending on the side they have chosen to be or speak. Across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, social media users have unfollowed those who are being accused of fuelling nepotism in the film industry. Between Monday night and Tuesday evening, actor Kangana Ranaut saw an increase in Instagram followers (from about 2 million to 3.2 million and counting) while Karan Johars profile registered a rapid drop (from 11 million to 10.9 million, which was within 20 mins on Tuesday afternoon). The numbers are changing dynamically as you read this story, since social media users are enraged by the non-recognition of outsider talent in Bollywood. Also Watch | Nepotism versus talent: Sushant Singhs death fuels Bollywood bullying row While Karan Johar has lost followers by the minute on Instagram, Kangana Ranaut has gained followers over night. Kangana has always spoken for whats right. In fact she was among the first ones to come to Koffee with Karan chat show, and speak up on nepotism as an important issue in the industry. Recently, she made a video addressing the suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput and the problems that outsiders face in the film fraternity. This has been an eye opener for me. So I started following Kanganas social media handles. I would like to see talent on my timeline rather than a relative of a famous Khan or Kapoor, says Thunlai Brahma, a Delhi University student, adding, I relate with this because I know what it feels like to come from a small town to a metro and compete to prove your worth even when youre more qualified than some of the urbanites. I cannot support celebrities who value personal relationships over talent when it comes to giving work in the industry. Why should I pay for a movie that has star kids when I can instead pay for a movie that I will enjoy seeing because of its story and acting? Santi Sankar, a Gurugram-based entrepreneur There have been talks previously on why newbies, who are not starkids, are almost never awarded and have to mostly struggle harder to find a footing in the industry. I unfollowed Karan Johar on Instagram and across all social media portals. I cannot support celebrities who value personal relationships over talent when it comes to giving work in the industry. Why should I pay for a movie that has star kids when I can instead pay for a movie that I will enjoy seeing because of its story and acting? Gone are the days when people would just pay to see a glamorous star cast. We want to see good movies and if this point has to be driven across through social media, through unfollowing certain film personalities then thats what we are going to do, says Santi Sankar, a Gurugram-based entrepreneur. Some people have also started an online petition requesting others to boycott movies of the more popular clans in the film industry. I have signed an online petition requesting for a ban on movies of Karan Johar and the star kids of the Khans, says Soumyaa Shrivastva, a banker. She has shared the petition on her timeline, and opines, Enough is enough. Bihar has lost Sushant because of the impact of nepotism which has created a divide among star kids and the outsiders. Even though Sushant was more talented, he wasnt offered one film after the other. Reports of him going through tough times financially, and of not having enough work are doing the rounds, and are not completely baseless. This is unacceptable! He had taken to twitter asking public to watch his movies because he doesnt have a godfather in the industry; we cant overlook that. This is unbelievable; Im shaken by his extreme step! People in general have started questioning why movies with a glamorous star cast are usually the ones that drive most award events. Piyush Goswami, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur says, I had stopped watching award shows the day I got to know that they are completely rigged. But now, its time to make our voices heard. If you cannot value our voices and opinions, you do not have our support at the theatres. Ive unfollowed Alia Bhatt and other star kids and followed newcomers who have talent to make it big in the industry. Author tweets @FizzyBuddha Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump claimed on Monday that one million people had requested tickets for his campaign rally in Tulsa this weekend. The Tulsa World newspaper, however, backed the citys top public health official in asking the president not to come. Related: Republicans insist Trump Tulsa rally won't spread coronavirus despite local concern The paper expressed concern in terms of both public health, because of the coronavirus pandemic, and race relations, in light of national protests against police brutality. We dont know why he chose Tulsa, the newspapers editorial board wrote, but we cant see any way that his visit will be good for the city. Trumps first rally since early March was moved from Friday to avoid a clash with Juneteenth, the day on which African Americans commemorate the end of slavery, in the city which in 1921 was host to one of the worst race massacres in US history. But it will go ahead on Saturday, with the president and allies making wild claims about how many want to attend. The BOK Center venue holds a little over 19,000 people. The US presidents return to the campaign trail is part of Trumps attempt to reopen an economy battered by a pandemic which has killed more than 115,000 Americans. Over the weekend, cases were reported to be rising in Oklahoma and other mostly Republican-led states which have been reopening since late May. On Saturday, the Tulsa public health director, Bruce Dart, told the World he was concerned about our ability to protect anyone who attends a large, indoor event, and Im also concerned about our ability to ensure the president stays safe as well. I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isnt as large a concern as it is today. Rally attendees will have to sign a waiver, saying they will not hold the Trump campaign responsible if they contract Covid-19. Nonetheless, Trump allies including the White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow and Oklahoma senator James Lankford have insisted it is safe to hold the rally. Story continues Lankford called the reported increase in cases in his state a little bit of a bump. Though Trump has rarely worn a face mask in public, as federal guidelines advise, Kudlow told CNN that attendees in Tulsa should cover their faces. The World countered: Tulsa is still dealing with the challenges created by a pandemic. The city and state have authorized reopening, but that doesnt make a mass indoor gathering of people pressed closely together and cheering a good idea. There is no treatment for Covid-19 and no vaccine. It will be our healthcare system that will have to deal with whatever effects follow. The public health concern would apply whether it were Donald Trump, Joe Biden or anyone else who was planning a mass rally at the BOK. This is the wrong time. The original announcement that the rally would take place on Juneteenth, which marks the end of slavery in 1865, provoked outrage. About 300 people, mostly black, died in the Tulsa massacre in 1921. Swaths of black-owned property were destroyed by white mobs. Citing the killing in Minneapolis on 25 May of George Floyd and national unrest over police killings, the World called Trump a divisive figure who will attract protests, the vast majority of which we expect to be peaceful. But there may also be confrontation and inappropriate behavior his 2016 Tulsa rally provoked a heated response for some, and his ability to provoke opponents has only grown since then. In January 2016, Trump appeared with the former Alaska governor and vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. On Monday, the paper said: Tulsa will be largely alone in dealing with what happens at a time when the citys budget resources have already been stretched thin. Questioning the electoral value of a rally in a state Trump won handsomely in 2016, it added: When the president of the United States visits your city, it should be exciting. We think a Trump visit will be, but for a lot of the wrong reasons, and we cant welcome it. Motorola is looking to gain its lost momentum in the Indian smartphone space with a slew of launches across various price points. After the Moto G8 Power Lite in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment, the company is now looking to cater to the sub-Rs 20,000 segment with the One Fusion+. The phone was unveiled globally last week and Motorola is bringing it to India to take on the popular bunch of Chinese midrange phones. The Motorola One Fusion+ is a successor to the One Hyper from last year but in India, Motorola is expected to bring it as a much cheaper phone to go all aggressive on the likes of Xiaomi, Poco and Realme. Not only a cheaper price but Motorola is giving the Indian model a performance upgrade over the global model, something which the company has not done in a long time. The global model has to make do with the Snapdragon 730 but the Indian model will get the slightly better Snapdragon 730G chip. This is a proven chip and for gaming in the midrange segment, there's no other 4G chipset that can match its performance. This is also the same chipset that the Poco X2 uses. Hence, performance shouldn't be an issue with the Fusion+. When it comes to the other specifications, the Fusion+ promises a lot. The One Fusion+ will one of the very phones in its segment to comes with a stock Android experience and Motorola should hopefully release it with Android 10, with two more Android upgrades in the pipeline. Hardware-wise, the Fusion+ has a big 5000mAh battery to keep itself alive. The international variant only lists 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, but expect Motorola to dial down one of these aspects to keep prices competitive. The display measures 6.5-inches and uses an FHD LCD panel. To avoid a notch or a cutout, the Fusion+ gets a pop-up selfie camera. The rear cameras, which is a quad-sensor setup, flaunts a main 64-megapixel camera that's accompanied by an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera, another macro camera and a depth camera. Motorola is keeping the essentials such as a USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. All that remains to be seen is what pricing does Motorola go for in India. The company has been lately aggressive with its pricing and based on the previous launches, we expect the One Fusion+ to have a similar price as the Poco X2. Stay tuned for all the updates related to the One Fusion+ after the launch happens. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) listens to questions during a press conference outside the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 30, 2020. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Rep. Ilhan Omars Father Dies From COVID-19 The father of Somali-born U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) died from complications of the CCP virus, the congresswoman announced in a statement late on Monday. It is with tremendous sadness and pain that I share that my father, Nur Omar Mohamed, passed away due to complications from COVID-19, Omar said in the statement. No words can describe what he meant to me and all who knew him. Omar paid tribute to her father and shared a picture on Twitter of her standing next to him. Mohamed came to the United States together with her daughter as a refugee in 1995 during the Somalia civil war and they eventually settled in Minneapolis. Omar was elected along with Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib in November 2018, making them among the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress. She has been at the forefront of promoting policies described progressive, including the defunding and reconstruction of the Minneapolis Police Department. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 10, 2019. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The Minneapolis City Council unanimously passed a veto-proof resolution last Friday to pursue replacing its police department with a community-led public safety system. So far, at least two other members of Congress have lost a family member due to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. On April 21, the oldest brother of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Donald Reed Herring, died from the virus. He was 86. Several weeks later in early May, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said her sister, Velma Moody also 86-years-old, died from the disease. The CCP virus has infected more than 2.1 million people in the United States and claimed the lives of more than 118,300 people as of June 16, according to statistics from WorldoMeter. Reuters contributed to this report. From NTD News C ivil rights activist Jesse Jackson has called on universities to "include people of colour" as he said racism is "bone-deep" in Britain and the US. The US Baptist minister and politician, who worked with Martin Luther King Jr, spoke out about racism on a Black Lives Matter (BLM) solidarity panel hosted by the National Education Union (NEU). His comments come after three weeks of global anti-racism demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd, an African American, in Minneapolis police custody on May 25. Speaking on Monday, Mr Jackson said leading UK universities have an obligation to include people of colour. Black Lives Matter protests across the world - In pictures 1 /28 Black Lives Matter protests across the world - In pictures A banner and a US. flag are placed on the Monument a la Republique in Paris REUTERS Protesters in Perth Australia Getty Images Speakers at the Black Lives Matter Rally at Langley Park in Perth Getty Images Police officers are seen during a protest against police brutality and the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Paris REUTERS Perth protests Getty Images Speakers take to the stage during the Black Lives Matter Rally in Perty Getty Images Protesters show their support during the Black Lives Matter Rally at Langley Park in Perty Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth Getty Images Thousands of people take part in a demonstration against police brutality and racism in Paris AP French riot police forces detain a protester during a rally as part of the 'Black Lives Matter' AFP via Getty Images French riot police forces detain protesters AFP via Getty Images The crowds in Paris AFP via Getty Images A man wearing a protective face mask and googles walks past a broken store window in Paris REUTERS Assa Traore (C), the sister of Adama Traore, who died in police custody in 2016 in Paris AFP via Getty Images Protesters hold flares as they stand next to a banner reading 'Confronted to police brutality - Self defence' in Paris AFP via Getty Images A house facade with a graffiti against police in Paris. AFP via Getty Images An injured demonstrator is helped away in Paris AFP via Getty Images He said: Why should there be a monopoly on intelligence? Thats a supremacist proposition. When we learn together we grow together. Life is not a straight line, white folks dont have a monopoly on information, we must figure out a way to include people of every level who bring different attributes to the education table. The joint general secretaries of the NEU recently sent a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the injustices and racial disparities highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic. It called for immediate advice to employers in the education sector about racial disparities, the school curriculum to embrace black history and for new entrants to the teaching profession to be more diverse. Black Lives Matter opponents gather at Westminster Mr Jackson also told the panel: Racism is bone-deep in Britain and America, race supremacy is the foundation, the lead race is supreme, blacks inferior. The whole body of academic work and practical work are written around blacks being inferior whether theyre from India, the Caribbean or Africa, theyre inferior. Jackson added that the history of countries in the Caribbean and Africa should be taught in British schools. Labour MP Diane Abbott, who also spoke on the panel, said the UK education system has sought to stigmatise children from minority ethnic backgrounds. The former shadow home secretary said: I believe strongly that we need a teaching workforce, particularly in our big cities, that looks like the children that its trying to teach. I believe it is very important that we continue to recruit, encourage and promote teachers of colour, not because only teachers of colour can teach children of colour, but because you cant be what you cant see. And children need to see teachers of colour in the staff room to help them to believe the world of education is for them and also if you have more teachers of colour, it means an enriched experience for all children. Kriti Sanon, who shared the screen space with Sushant Singh Rajput in Raabta, has mourned his death on Tuesday. The actor expressed that she has lost a part of her heart with his demise. Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon on Tuesday shared a heartfelt note expressing grief over the demise of her co-star and good friend Sushant Singh Rajput. Sanon shared the screen space with the late actor in the 2017 romantic-drama Raabta. The 29-year-old actor took to Instagram and condoled the Kai Po Che actors demise through a heartfelt post. Sush I knew that your brilliant mind was your best friend and your worst enemy.. but it has broken me completely to know that you had a moment in your life where Dying felt easier or better than Living. I so wish you had people around you to get you pass THAT moment, I wish you hadnt pushed the ones who loved you away I wish I could have fixed that something which was broken inside youI couldntI wish so so many things., her post read. She also shared three photographs with the late actor on the photo-sharing platform. One picture is a still from their film, while the other two are casual selfies, where both could be seen smiling. The Panipat actor added: A part of my heart has gone with you.. and a part will always keep you alive..Never stopped praying for your happiness and never will.. A fresh pair on screen, Sanon and Rajputs chemistry in Raabta was appreciated by many at the time of the release of the film. Also Read: Sonakshi Sinha lambasts people trying to gain publicity over Sushant Singh Rajputs death Also Read: Farhan Akhtar pens a heartfelt poem dedicated to Sushant Singh Rajput On Monday, Rajput was cremated in Mumbai at Vile Parles Pawan Hans crematorium amidst heavy downpours and a small gathering of his relatives and close friends from the cinema industry. Several Bollywood celebrities including Shraddha Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Varun Sharma, and others had arrived at the crematorium. Sanon was joined by casting director Mukesh Chhabra to bid farewell to the young actor. Rajput had allegedly died of suicide at his Bandra residence by hanging himself on Sunday, as per the police. The untimely death of Rajput has sent shockwaves among celebrities and his fans. Scores of actors and public figures from all quarters expressed their condolences. Also Read: Dabangg director Abhinav Singh Kashyap accuses Salman Khan of sabotaging his career For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) says it has set aside 427 million naira ($1.1 million) to support Nigerias response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Communications Department of USAID disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, following the commissioning of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Cross River State. According to USAID, the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard joined Governor Ben Ayade in the virtual commissioning of the centre. USAID said the sum was to help Nigeria upgrade and expand the capacity of the nine EOCs to strengthen response to the pandemic in the country. On June 16, 2020, U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard joined Executive Governor Benedict Ayade to virtually commission an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Cross River State, which has been equipped with support of the American people to track and control the spread of the deadly COVID-19. Cross River is the first of nine states to receive the EOC upgrades. In line with priorities set by Nigerias Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programmed $1.1 million (427 million). To upgrade and expand the capacity of the nine EOCs to strengthen the COVID-19 response in Nigeria, it said. According to the agency, the upgraded centres are now equipped as operational digital situations and communication rooms that power and coordinate the states COVID-19 response. It added that the upgraded centres would also respond to other disease outbreaks, using data integration, warehousing, and visualisation to provide state officials transparent and real-time information on COVID-19. With the commissioning of these EOCs, Nigeria can better coordinate the COVID-19 outbreak response and surveillance activities, as well as any other emergent disease outbreaks or disasters. They will help turn the tide of the pandemic within their states, ultimately the nation, and flatten the COVID-19 curve, the agency quoted Leonard as saying. It added that the Deputy Governor of the state, Evara Esu, who responded on behalf of the states governor, thanked the U.S government for its continuous support in strengthening the health sector in Cross River. Although Cross River continues to have no documented cases, we need to be on our guard to do even more to ensure that the pandemic is brought to a speedy end or controlled to the best of our ability. We want to seize this opportunity to continually invite health practitioners to come to Cross River and strengthen our health system. We really appreciate this support, Mr Esu said. Other states supported by USAID for the upgrades include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Kano, Niger, and Oyo. The agency disclosed that the U.S. has so far dedicated more than 92 billion naira ($237 million) to the COVID-19 response in Africa, with 18 billion naira ($48.3 million) committed to supporting the effort in Nigeria alone. According to the agency, this includes seconding of 55 USAID and other U.S. agency staff to Nigerias Presidential Task Force as well as providing valuable technical assistance under the NCDCs COVID-19 response plan. USAID said its and other staff would also assist on epidemiology and surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communications, and humanitarian operations. (NAN) ProofdDr Serebour Quaicoe, the Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission (EC), has affirmed that the Commission has made no decision on Ghanaians stranded abroad as it readies to compile a new voters register. According to him, the commission would have to take a decision on such persons at a later date should they be unable to come down to register during the 38-day mass registration which begins on June 30. As part of measures to stop the importation of the COVID-19, President Nana Akufo-Addo shut the countrys borders since March although the government was readying to evacuate Ghanaians stuck abroad and there is no certain date of their return. Dr Quaicoe explained that as the borders remained closed, it was impossible for the EC to also go abroad to register such persons, ruled out transfer of votes in the upcoming general elections, to transfer ones vote, one must have registered 12 months prior to the transfer and with less than six months to the election, nobody would qualify to transfer their votes with six months of registering. Despite the structured period being used for the registration, we will spend more time at a location should natural activities like rain mar the registration since there will be a mopping up exercise across the country as well and with the compilation of a new voters register in the offing, the electorate will be expected to register at where they reside or will be voting in December, he assured. The Supreme Court is set to deliver its judgment on June 23 on whether or not the old voters ID, which the EC has described as a fruit of a poisonous tree, should be accepted as proof of identity for the compilation of a new voters register. Source: The Ghanaian Times Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On Sunday, White House Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow made clear that the Trump administration will not allow an extension of emergency jobless aid to workers laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic. Were paying people not to work, the former Wall Street executive declared. Almost all businesses, he said, understand that the additional unemployment benefit is, in effect, a disincentive for people to get back to work. Three months ago, Congress passed the CARES Act. While handing vast sums to big business, it included a $600-per-week emergency payment by the federal government to supplement the far lower state unemployment benefits, which are, for example, capped in Michigan at approximately $350 per week. More than 20 percent of the US workforcesome 36.5 million peoplehave been thrown out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For millions of people in newly unemployed households in America, the additional $600 assistance has been a vital lifeline, allowing them to avoid hunger and homelessness. Even with the subsidy, which millions of workers have never received, the number of food-insecure households has more than doubled, hitting between 22 and 38 percent, as food pantries across the country report running out of food. And millions of families are facing foreclosure and eviction. Kudlow complained that the $600, plus state unemployment benefits, was better than their salaries would get if workers had never lost their jobs. But this is not an expression of the generosity of the government, but rather one reflection of how low wages are in the United States for millions of workers. Amid a wave of mass layoffs and corporate consolidations triggered by the pandemic, in which an estimated 42 percent of jobs lost during the pandemic will not return, the White Houses refusal to extend emergency unemployment aid will mean destitution for many working class people. Kudlows aim is open and brutal: to extort workers into returning to factories that have become hotbeds for the transmission of COVID-19, even as the disease is in the midst of a major resurgence throughout large portions of the country. Nationwide, over 24,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 in meatpacking plants alone, and at least 87 workers have died. In Kansas, nearly 3,000 meatpacking workers have been infected, accounting for approximately one-third of all cases in the state. Auto plants are likewise breeding grounds for the virus, except the companies are not publicly reporting how many workers are getting sick. Every major automaker, including GM, Ford, FCA, Toyota and Tesla, has a policy of not announcing cases in their factories. But according to sporadic press reports based on anonymous tips from workers, there have been dozens of cases in the auto plants. One worker at the Navistar truck plant in Springfield, Ohio wrote to the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter on Monday to report that five workers had tested positive for COVID-19, and 20 more were waiting on results. Navistar resumed production at the plant one month ago. The factories have become, in the words of Karl Marx, houses of terror, in which any shift could mean a death sentence. Even in factories without reported cases, conditions are intolerable. Instead of reducing line speeds to allow for social distancing, workers have reported employers simply switching off fans to keep air from circulating. In the middle of summer, surrounded by hot machines, with no fans and having to wear masks, workers are passing out from exhaustion or suffocating on the lines. Large numbers of workers are refusing to come to work under conditions where it could result in death for themselves and their loved ones. Nationwide, some 30 percent to 50 percent of meatpacking employees were absent last week, according to figures from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. At some auto plants, more than 25 percent of workers are absent on any particular day. Worker absences have disrupted the efforts of the corporations to return to maximum capacity. They have sought to make this up by compelling newly hired and temporary workers to work 60 hours or more a week. But among these workers there is growing resistance to efforts to abandon all safety measures to meet production targets. Just one day after Kudlows interview, on Monday, the Federal Reserve announced that this week it would begin its previously announced plan to directly purchase corporate bonds. This sent stock values soaring at the prospect of a further infusion of hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer cash onto corporate balance sheets. The message was clear: When it comes to bailing out the billionaire financial oligarchy, no expense will be spared. But when it comes to keeping workers from starving or being evicted, government assistance is an unacceptable disincentive to ramping up production and an obstacle to profit-making. Kudlow, the multimillionaire ex-director at investment bank Bear Stearns, is speaking as the bagman for Wall Street and the major corporations. They know that forcing workers back on the job under conditions where the pandemic continues to rage will lead to mass infections and mass deaths. Internally, the Trump administration is working with models of how many hundreds of thousands more people will die from its policies. That is why the White House is pushing for corporations to be granted immunity from liability for infections at their workplaces. The great secret of capitalism, denied by all of its economists, experts and pundits, is that no matter how many trillions of dollars are handed out to corporations by the government, the profits of the financial oligarchy are made only through the exploitation of the working class. Twelve years of central banks effectively printing unlimited money have massively expanded corporate valuations on the stock market, fueling the enrichment of the financial oligarchy through the expansion of corporate debt. But to service these debts, corporations are required to ensure the uninterrupted extraction of surplus value from their workers. The claim that workers should risk their lives so that the giant corporationswhich spend hundreds of millions each year on executive paycan service their debts is absurd and irrational. All claims of what can and cannot be afforded within the framework of capitalism must be rejected. The refrain that there is no money to pay for safe working environments or provide support to those affected by the economic shutdown is belied by the $4 trillion handed out to Wall Street. Every institution of society, from the corporations, to their partners in the trade unions, to the Trump administration and both big business parties, is arrayed against workers, seeking to get them back into death-trap factories with the aim of enriching the financial elite. As the Socialist Equality Party wrote in its statement, Build rank-and-file factory and workplace committees to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus and save lives!: This is why workers require their own organizations. In every factory, workplace, and office, workers should organize and elect trusted and respected workers who will represent them. They should utilize all available tools, including social media, to reach out to workers throughout their industry and in other sectors to coordinate their activities and share information. With COVID-19 cases surging throughout the country, it is all the more critical that workers assert control over their own workplaces. Workers must form rank-and-file safety committees to establish control over line speeds and social distancing. In factories where COVID-19 is spreading, these committees must immediately stop production. Inseparable from the demand for safe workplaces is the fight to ensure that workers made unemployed by the crisis receive a guaranteed living wage, and that they do not suffer any diminution of their incomes as a result of the pandemic. The demands of workers for safe workplaces are in harmony with the calls by scientists and medical professionals for serious measures to contain the disease. The struggle for a rational, scientific response to COVID-19 requires a fight against the capitalist system and the dictatorship of the financial oligarchy over society. An advocacy group revealed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have spent over $50,000 to provide security for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their stay in Canada. With the access to information request, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation have found out that RCMP has consumed $56,384 for overtime and logistics costs with the couple's security between November 18, 2019 and January 19, 2020. Furthermore, salaries or any overtime costs after Jan. 19 are not included in the said figure. Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Aaron Wudrick pointed out that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "refused to even acknowledge Canadian taxpayers were on the hook for Harry and Meghan's security costs." He also implied that it was unfair for the taxpayers to cover the former royal's security, considering that they are one of the "famous and wealthy couples in the world." "More than $50,000 is nothing to sneeze at, especially when you consider the fact that this is taxpayers' money covering bills for one of the most famous and wealthy couples in the world," Wudrick explained. "Had the government not cut them off and had Meghan and Harry stayed in Canada, the bill could have easily turned into millions." It was previously reported that over 80,000 people signed an online petition opposing the taxpayers' support for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The petition, which was launched last January , requested PM Trudeau to refrain from using the public's money to shoulder the security of the high-profile personalities visiting the country. Following this, a survey showed that 73 percent of Canadians believed that the Sussexes must pay their own security and opposed that this must be covered by the taxpayers. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Spent The Holidays In The Great White North Back in December 2019, multiple reports mentioned that the ex-royals spent their Christmas vacation in North Saanich located in Greater Victoria. "We were having a coffee in Sidney and this friend of mine was up on the mountain and he ran into Harry and Meghan with some security people. He said things were quite astir," an anonymous hiker told CTV News. In more royal family related news, after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they were stepping down from their roles as senior members of the royal family back in January, the couple bolted to Vancouver to seek their independence outside the monarchy. A month after their bombshell news, the Ministry of Public Safety confirmed that the RCMP had been providing bodyguards for the controversial couple since November. Aside from the 35-year-old prince and Duchess Meghan, it was also reported in 2016 that the national police service spent a whopping $2 million for the security cost of Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children during their family vacation in Canada. After Prince Harry and Meghan's brief stay in Canada, the trio secretly relocated to California and are currently living in an $18 million hilltop Beverly Hills mansion owned by media mogul and Madea creator Tyler Perry. READ MORE: Beyonce Pens POWERFUL Letter Demanding Justice For Breonna Taylor Two babies have died after co-sleeping with their parents. The deaths, both in northern Tasmania, have prompted a coroner to issue a blunt warning about the dangers of adults and infants sharing a bed. 'Baby E' was five months old when she suffocated while in the same bed as her parents and four-year-old brother in May 2018. In October of the same year, the mother of 'Baby I', who was about a month old, woke to find her unresponsive after the pair fell asleep together on a couch. Coroner Simon Cooper said both deaths were a stark and tragic reminder of the dangers of adults sleeping with infants. Children sleeping with their parents have a heightened risk of sudden infant death syndrome and fatal sleeping accidents (stock image) 'Coroners and child health care professionals have warned, over and over again, of the danger to infants of co-sleeping,' he wrote in findings published on Tuesday. 'I take this opportunity ... to remind parents and carers of the importance of ensuring that an infant sleeps safely by him/herself in a cot or bassinet.' Mr Cooper said there were no suspicious circumstances in either death. Co-sleeping is associated with an increased risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy, including sudden infant death syndrome and fatal sleeping accidents in some circumstances. But some parents still choose to have their child sleep with them. Some parents who co-sleep with their babies believe that it helps their babies feel safe and secure, while others find it more practical for night feeds. Councilman Jared Brossett checked himself into an inpatient treatment program on Monday, a day after he was arrested for allegedly driving drunk, careening his city-provided SUV across the Elysian Fields Avenue neutral ground and smashing head-on into another vehicle. The Sunday morning crash hasn't drawn calls for his resignation from the council or other local officials. However, it has already prompted a review of policies governing the councils use of city vehicles outfitted with police lights and sirens, a perk each member receives. All of the details of Brossetts arrest are not yet known, but both the New Orleans Police Department and the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office said he hadn't received any special treatment after being detained. In a statement emailed to the media on Monday, Brossett, who was captured in a post-crash video slurring his words as he spoke with a witness, did not mention the other driver or the specifics of the crash. He asked for prayers as he commits himself to the hard work of becoming a better person. I want to sincerely apologize to my family, particularly my mother, my colleagues, the citizens of New Orleans, all those involved and everyone that I have disappointed, Brossett said. To all those that I have let down, I cannot express how profoundly sorrowful I am. Brossett did not indicate he had plans to step down. During an unrelated press conference on Monday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said that she remained supportive of Brossett, who has been an ally of hers on the council. Whatever he needs, if I can help, he has it, Cantrell said. Jared Brossett's colleagues condemn drunk driving after arrest; LaToya Cantrell 'supportive' New Orleans City Councilman Jared Brossett's drunk driving arrest drew quick rebuke from several of his colleagues Monday and has prompted a r But even if he retains his position, the crash and its aftermath may prove a serious political liability for a councilman who is term-limited and had widely been expected to try to move up to the next rung on the political ladder by seeking an at-large seat in the 2021 elections. Brossett drove his SUV across the neutral ground in the 2400 block of Elysian Fields just after midnight on Sunday, crashing directly into an on-coming SUV. Video of the crash showed both vehicles severely damaged. While the video from a witness on the scene showed Brossett walking around, it was not clear how badly hurt the other motorist may have been. Jonathan Fourcade of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services said the 33-year-old man emerged well enough to decline a ride to the hospital. Authorities have not released any additional details about the man, and he has not come forward to discuss the crash. In a cellphone video shot by a witness, either the motorist or someone else appears to be engaged in a conversation in a foreign language. Police records released Monday did not have the same level of detail as the video from the witness. The video shows Brossett slurring the words, Were trying to resolve the issue, Im working with you, and Its all gravy. I love you, at various moments. Motorist hit head-on by Councilman Jared Brossett declined EMS treatment Though he lay immobile on the neutral ground after the wreck and didnt answer when a witness asked if he was still alive, the man hit head-on The records show police smelled alcohol on Brossetts breath and he was taken to the hospital to be evaluated. Once there, he refused a breath test and performed poorly on tests of eye movement and balance, police said. After officers determined he was intoxicated, Brossett again refused to submit a urine or blood sample. The hospital interactions were not filmed by body-worn cameras because hospital policy forbids it, according to police records. Other interactions with police were, however. WVUE-TV obtained body-worn camera footage of Brossett sitting in the back of an ambulance being asked for his phone number. It's unclear from the video if Brossett was unable to answer or was avoiding answering the question. After being discharged from the hospital, Brossett was taken to a facility used to test suspected drunk drivers and once again refused a breath test, according to police. Brossett was jailed around 6 a.m. on misdemeanor counts of driving while drunk and reckless operation of a vehicle. +2 Councilman Jared Brossett says he'll seek treatment after DWI arrest: 'I want to sincerely apologize' A day after he was arrested for driving drunk and barreling his city-owned SUV into another vehicle, New Orleans City Councilman Jared Brosset Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office attorney Blake Arcuri, whose agency operates the jail, said he called Criminal District Court Judge Franz Ziblich to notify him of Brossetts arrest. Ziblich ordered Brossett released on a $3,500 recognizance bond. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Its not clear how long Brossett was jailed, but it appeared to be less than two hours. Arcuri rejected the notion Monday that Brossetts brief stay in jail amounted to preferential treatment. Arcuri explained Monday that it is the Sheriffs Office policy to ask a judge or a magistrate for speedy releases when the agency thinks arrested people are likely to be released on their own recognizance in a few hours anyway. Arcuri noted the jail snapped Brossetts mugshot, made it available to news media and ran his prints through an FBI database, as with other inmates. New Orleans Traffic Court officials said Brossetts arraignment in the case is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 10. Brossetts attorney, Brian Capitelli, declined to comment Monday. If eventually convicted of drunk driving, Brossett would face between 10 days and six months in jail as well as a fine of between $300 and $1,000. Brossett, 37, previously completed an alcohol and substance-abuse education course following a 2006 DUI arrest in Miami, to which he pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of reckless driving, according to Florida court records. Details of his May 14, 2006, arrest werent available Monday. His bond was posted by Winston Reid, who was and still is the citys code enforcement director. Councilman Jared Brossett completed rehab once before, after 2006 DWI case When New Orleans City Councilman Jared Brossett on Monday announced he was enrolling in rehab after an alleged drunken crash a day earlier, it Brossetts plea came with his agreement to participate in a DUI education program, perform community service, attend a victim-impact panel and complete probation. At one point, the presiding judge issued a warrant calling for Brossetts re-arrest after a missed court appearance. But records show he completed his probation successfully by Oct. 25, 2007. Brossett, whose political career spans a decade, was widely rumored to be eyeing a run for at-large councilman next year. But the drinking problem he admitted to Monday casts doubt on whether he can mount a successful campaign. Political consultants privately said Brossett would face an uphill battle in any future races, given the arrest and his behavior in widely-shared videos of the aftermath. That comes on top of his poor showing in a citywide race in 2018 for Clerk of Civil District Court, where he could not get a majority of votes in four of five council districts, including his own. Thats not to say a councilman has never been hit with a DWI and subsequently re-elected. Former City Councilman Roy Glapion was arrested for driving while drunk a month before his 1998 re-election to the District D seat, a race in which he beat out a lone Republican challenger. Glapion, who would die of cancer the following year, apologized to voters and voluntarily took a breath test that night. He had no other records of similar instances, something political analysts said helped his re-election bid. On Monday, Brossetts colleagues on the council issued statements generally supporting his decision to seek treatment and noting both the difficulty of that process and the importance of taking responsibility for ones actions. +2 Watch: Video shows Councilman Jared Brossett after alleged DWI wreck A witness to the car crash that landed City Councilman Jared Brossett in jail on a drunken-driving charge Sunday morning said the councilman's While Brossett is seeking treatment, other council members will step in to pick up his duties. Councilwoman Helena Moreno will chair the Budget Committee in his absence and Councilman Jason Williams will temporarily take over the Emergency Preparedness and Cyber Security Committee, which Brossett formed earlier this year. Councilmembers will also step in to provide constituent services to the neighborhoods he represents. It was not clear on Monday whether Brossett would have to forgo some of his roughly $100,000 salary while he is not engaged in the councils business. The basic rules the council sets for itself do not address an extended absence and state law generally prohibits elected officials from having their salaries cut mid-term. The incident has brought heightened scrutiny to the entire council, which has long operated under loose guidelines for the personal use of taxpayer-financed vehicles. Several council members said the crash had already prompted a review of the policys governing take-home vehicles. This council owes it to the entire City of New Orleans as well as the leaders of tomorrow to take an in-depth look at those policies, Williams said. [June 16, 2020] United Nations Development Program, MCIT Egypt and Avaya Collaborate to Launch AI-Powered COVID-19 Diagnosis Service for People of Determination As further demonstration of its commitment to deliver equality of experience for all segments of society, Egypt's Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (MCIT), has joined forces with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Egypt and Avaya Holdings Corp. (NYSE: AVYA), a global leader in solutions to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration, to extend the capabilities of WASEL - its dedicated contact center service for people of determination - with the addition of automated testing for COVID-19 symptoms for the deaf and hard of hearing. A world first, this chatbot utilizes AI to enable sign-language based interaction, providing users intuitive access to critical COVID-19 related information and support. The service is conveniently available via the Tamkeen website or WASEL smartphone application. This initiative aligns with the efforts of the MCIT to support the Egyptian government's plan to effectively mitigate COVID-19 challenges, and the State's vision of deepening social integration by utilizing smart technologies that foster inclusivity through all segments of society. Speaking at the launch of the service, Amr Talaat, The Minister of Communications and Information Technology in Egypt explained that this first of its kind service in the Arab World and Africa represents the Ministry's latest effort to "reach all segments of society, provide technical support to face the current crisis and keep citizens safe." UNDP's Resident Representative in Egypt, Randa Aboul-Hosn, stressed the importance of using ICT olutions and smart technologies to combat the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate its negative effects, especially for people with special needs. She highlighted that her organization's partnership with MCIT Egypt and Avaya (News - Alert) has successfully materialized into an easy-to-use solution that is carefully designed to help deaf and hearing-impaired people cope with the challenges imposed by the ongoing pandemic. One of the key benefits of advanced AI-based solutions such as the one employed by MCIT is that they reduce the workload on call center agents in critical sectors such as healthcare, banking, education and government, that are experiencing a surge in service requests from concerned customers and citizens. "We are proud to extend our partnership with MCIT Egypt to find innovative ways in which we can leverage technology to enable the delivery equality of experience for every citizen, and thus help to build a more inclusive society," said Ahmed Fayed, Country Manager - Egypt & Libya, Avaya. "In these unprecedented times, we are witnessing how technology is playing a fundamental role aiding businesses and communities stay connected and safe. We hope that this incredible initiative by the Egyptian government may serve to inspire other nations to consider launching similar programs." About Avaya Businesses are built on the experiences they provide, and every day millions of those experiences are built by Avaya (NYSE: AVYA). For over one hundred years, we've enabled organizations around the globe to win - by creating intelligent communications experiences for customers and employees. Avaya builds open, converged and innovative solutions to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration - in the cloud, on-premise or a hybrid of both. To grow your business, we're committed to innovation, partnership, and a relentless focus on what's next. We're the technology company you trust to help you deliver Experiences that Matter. Visit us at www.avaya.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain "forward-looking statements." All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking" statements for purposes of the U.S. federal and state securities laws. These statements may be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "our vision," "plan," "potential," "preliminary," "predict," "should," "will," or "would" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control. The factors are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC (News - Alert)") available at www.sec.gov, and may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The Company cautions you that the list of important factors included in the Company's SEC filings may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release may not in fact occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. Source (News - Alert): Avaya Newsroom View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005242/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A former RUC detective who has played a central role in the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance has said people should remain hopeful that she could still be alive. Jim Gamble was speaking after Madeleine's parents denied receiving a letter from German investigators stating there is evidence or proof she is dead. Widespread media reports claimed the correspondence saying that German police have "concrete evidence" Madeleine is dead but cannot reveal what it is had been sent to the couple. Kate and Gerry McCann posted a statement on the Find Madeleine website yesterday to deny the claims. The couple said the news had caused "unnecessary anxiety to friends and family and once again disrupted our lives". Mr Gamble said he stood by his belief that Madeleine, who vanished during a family holiday on Portugal's Algarve coast 13 years ago, could still be alive. Expand Close Former policeman Jim Gamble / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former policeman Jim Gamble "We all now need to wait until there is another break in the investigation," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "In the interim period - and until there is evidence produced that proves to the contrary - then we have got to retain a level of hope, because why wouldn't we?" The Bangor man was the senior child protection officer in the UK's first investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine. In a statement issued on Tuesday the McCanns said: "Since the recent police appeals regarding Madeleine's disappearance there have been many inaccurate stories reported in the media. "The widely reported news that we have a received a letter from the German authorities that states there is evidence or proof that Madeleine is dead is false. Expand Close Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of Madeleine PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of Madeleine "Like many unsubstantiated stories in the media, this has caused unnecessary anxiety to friends and family and once again disrupted our lives. "As we have stated many times before, we will not give a running commentary on the investigation. "That is the job of the law enforcement agencies and we will support them in any way requested." The couple also said that they did not have a family spokesman and are not actively paying any lawyers to represent them. German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, who is leading the investigation into the main suspect in Madeleine's disappearance, told the PA news agency that a letter had been written to the couple, but he would not reveal what it said. "I'm not able to say whether the letter has reached the family or is still on the move," he said. "They don't know all our evidence. "But they know that we assume that Madeleine was killed by our suspect." Mr Wolters said prosecutors have "concrete evidence" but not "forensic evidence" that Madeleine was killed by the suspect and may "know more" than Scotland Yard, which is still treating the case as a missing person investigation. German investigators believe 43-year-old Christian Brueckner killed Madeleine soon after abducting the toddler from a holiday apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007. Brueckner is in jail in Germany for drug dealing. He is appealing against a conviction for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz. He has not yet spoken to investigators, who say they are convinced that he has committed other sex attacks. Brueckner is a suspect in a string of unsolved crimes, reportedly including an attack on a 10-year-old British girl in Praia da Luz in 2005, one of a series of incidents in which young girls were targeted. He is being investigated over the disappearances of Rene Hasee, who went missing at the age of six while on holiday with his family in Portugal in 1996, and Inga Gehricke, who was five when she vanished from a forest in the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany on May 2, 2015. It has also been reported in the German media that Brueckner is a suspect in the rape and murder of 13-year-old Tristan Brubach in Frankfurt in March 1998. Mike Kellner and his team of volunteers in Morengo, Illinois have been steadily working away on the restoration of Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2595 for much of the past four decades, and we have covered their remarkable grassroots effort from time to time. Recently, we had the opportunity to catch up on progress with the Vintage Aviation Museums Director, Sean OBrien, who shared the latest developments with us which we thought our readers would enjoy learning about. As we have reported previously, Kellner found the aircraft in a farmers field near Bangor, Maine as a hodgepodge of chopped up components back in the mid 1980s. Somehow, he had the vision (and the fortitude) to see this jumble of battered parts as having the potential of one day going back together again as an airworthy B-17. The project got under way in earnest during the mid 1990s. While Kellner and his intrepid volunteers work on a shoestring budget, they have wrought miracles with their efforts. The Fort is well on her way to becoming whole again. Interestingly, this aircraft never served as a bomber during her combat-life (in the CBI), but rather as the sole-example of the XC-108A, a cargo conversion of the Fortress. However, Kellner is restoring the aircraft back to her original guise as a B-17E bomber variant, the same as when she rolled off Boeings production line in April, 1942. Desert Rat, as Kellner and his team have re-dubbed her, will be the oldest Flying Fortress in the skies when she finally flies, although this record may eventually be surpassed by a B-17C which the Vintage Aviation Museum also has on the books. The restoration team has been hard at work tying up loose ends on the fuselage, as of late, including the ball turret surround, the cat walk truss in the bomb bay and the wing attachment channels. The elevator trim tabs are now completed. The bomb bay doors are getting close to being finished, with one of them recently being test-fitted. The restoration team has also acquired a top turret assembly. This was a huge win for the team as the early turrets are very hard to come by. It is currently in good hands at North American Restorations where turret restoration guru, Harland Avezzie, will work his magic to restore this rare artifact. Obrien noted, We are still working on getting new wing spars made. Once this happens the restoration on the wings should progress rather quickly. The wing spars are a challenging phase of the restoration due to their design. They are not extruded, but rather they are made through a process known as tube drawing. And to compound this issue, each spar tube is almost 25ft long, tapering from one end to the other! Few machines have the ability to make a tube like this in that length. Boeing is unable to assist, as they no longer have any of the tooling, so we are looking into other companies. We have been in contact with a company in England who may be able to help. We will update once we know more! In the meantime the restoration team will do what they can on the wings while they await the new spar tubes. The wing tips are done. Any donations are greatly appreciated and will help the restoration process. Donations can be made thru our website and they are tax deductible. Desert Rat is one of three projects within the Vintage Aviation Museum, a 501c3 non-profit organization. If anyone would like to help with these aircraft, they can visit www.vintageaviationmuseum.com to click on the donate button on the front page. If you wish to contribute to the restoration of these important aircraft, whether it be with parts, labor or cash, please contact the Vintage Aviation Museum HERE to find out how. The organization also has a web store with some cool products to buy HERE as well. Desert Rat also has its own dedicated Facebook page HERE which some of our readers may enjoy viewing too! In the first such move, the Delhi government on Tuesday directed the 5-star Taj Man Singh hotel to isolate all its rooms and place them at the disposal of Sir Gangaram Hospital with immediate effect to accommodate Covid-19 patients. The national capital is fast running out of hospital beds amid a surge in coronavirus cases and is struggling to contain the pandemic, after critics said it did too little to prepare and reopened shopping malls and temples too soon. Delhi Government directs Taj Man Singh hotel to isolate all their rooms & place them at disposal of Sir Gangaram Hospital with immediate effect for accomodating #COVID19 patients. pic.twitter.com/np7cA0Lkeq ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 Taj Mansingh Hotel is located in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi. The order also said that the hospital would be responsible for proper disposal of biomedical waste generated at the hotel. All hotel staff will be provided with protective gear and basic training to handle COVID-19 patients, it said. Ambulance for transfer of patients will be the hospital's responsibility, while food, housekeeping service and disinfecting of premises will be done by the hotel. The charges for using the rooms will be collected by the hospital, which will then hand it over to the hotel, the order said. If the need arises, the hospital can arrange for the stay of its doctors, nurses and paramedical staff at the hotel itself. The hotel and the hospital management can decide the rates mutually, the authorities said. Some families of people infected with COVID-19 have complained about having to hunt for beds for their relatives after hospitals turned them away. Others said patients had been left unattended in corridors of government-run hospitals, while local media reports of dead bodies in a hospital lobby prompted the Supreme Court to order the AAP government to get its act together. Less than a month ago, Kejriwal said the city's hospitals were well equipped to fight the virus as the lockdown had given authorities enough time to prepare. "Delhi will win, corona will lose," he said. While Delhi had around 10,000 novel coronavirus cases at that time, the number had jumped to 41,000 on Monday. India's total numbers stood at 3,32,424, with Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai fueling the rise in infections. Cases in the capital are set to surge. The government estimates it will have 5,50,000 COVID-19 cases by the end of July, around 13 times current numbers, and will require 150,000 beds by then. (With inputs from PTI) Gerry and Kate McCann said reports claiming German authorities have sent them evidence showing their daughter is dead are false. (Sipa USA) The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have branded reports they have received a letter from German authorities saying that there is evidence that she is dead as false. On their website, Gerry and Kate McCann hit back reports they had received a letter from German authorities suggesting she was dead. It follows revelations that a German prisoner is being investigated as part of a murder investigation into Madeleines disappearance, while the Metropolitan Police continues to treat the case as a missing person investigation. German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, who is leading the investigation into the main suspect in Madeleines disappearance, told the PA news agency that a letter had been written to the couple but would not reveal what it said. However, according to The Sun newspaper he said: We have written to the McCanns to tell them Madeleine is dead and explaining we just cannot say what the evidence is. We have concrete evidence that our suspect has killed Madeleine. British police have been informed but dont have all the evidence we have. The results of our investigation have been shared but not every detail has been passed to Scotland Yard. I dont think the McCanns have been informed of all the details but they know the results. Madeleine McCann is thought to be dead and a suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder, German authorities say. (PA Images) Addressing the claims, the McCanns statement read: Since the recent police appeals regarding Madeleines disappearance there have been many inaccurate stories reported in the media. The widely reported news that we have a received a letter from the German authorities that states there is evidence or proof that Madeleine is dead is FALSE. Like many unsubstantiated stories in the media, this has caused unnecessary anxiety to friends and family and once again disrupted our lives. German authorities have said they are investigating a man called Christian B over her murder. The Praia Da Luz apartment from where Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007. (PA) They are investigating him in connection with her disappearance in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. The suspect is reportedly in prison. Story continues As we have stated many times before, we will not give a running commentary on the investigation that is the job of the law enforcement agencies and we will support them in any way requested, the McCanns statement continued. Furthermore, we do not have a family spokesperson nor are we actively paying any lawyers. Any recent comments attributed in the media have not come from us unless they have been posted on our website. If there are important developments that can be made public, they will be issued through official police channels. As we unveil this year's Disruptor 50 list amid nationwide protests and calls to end racial inequality and senseless violence against Black people, the list has a glaring absence. There are no Black CEOs. While we give weight to the diversity of a company's management, board and employee base, as one of the quantitative metrics used to calculate the list (more on that here and below), the lack of Black CEOs on this year's list is another reflection of the massive inequity in American business. It speaks to the fact that Silicon Valley's vast networks of capital exist in a community that traditionally has excluded Black entrepreneurs. This has sidelined many of them from the financing that has delivered generations of tech-driven start-ups (most of them with white male CEOs) to the public markets and generated billions of dollars in wealth. A starting point for understanding the lack of Black representation among founders of the biggest, fastest-growing venture-backed companies for which the Disruptor 50 list is a proxy is understanding the lack of diversity in the institutions that write those venture capital checks. More than 80% of VC firms don't have a single Black investor, and the numbers show they are overlooking companies with Black founders. Just 1% of venture-funded start-up founders are Black, according to BLCK VC, an organization to connect and advance Black venture capital investors. And Black women represent 0.2% of venture-backed founders. PitchBook reports that 9,300 U.S.-based start-ups raised money last year. And yet there are just 209 companies on this Black Founder List of U.S.-based VC-backed Black founders of for-profit start-ups compiled by POCIT (People of Color in Technology). More from Disruptor 50: Meet the 2020 CNBC Disruptor 50 companies The technology that will dominate daily life on the other side of coronavirus What Amazon can learn from its South Korean archrival about navigating through the pandemic The companies on the list are mostly at the early stages of their development over 60% of those companies are at the Series A stage, according to Crunchbase. That means they're relatively young, compared to the later-stage companies on the Disruptor 50 list, which places a heavy weight on size and growth rate. Just 10 of those 209 Black Founder List companies nominated themselves for this year's Disruptor 50 list, among more than 1,300 nominees. Robert Reffkin, CEO of Compass Anjali Sundaram | CNBC Those statistics mean there aren't many Black-led companies that have drawn the funding to reach unicorn status, or a valuation of $1 billion or more. This year the majority, 36 companies of the Disruptor 50, are unicorns, as the list aims to identify the largest, fastest-growing private companies. At the moment, there's only one company on CB Insights' Unicorn List with a Black CEO: Compass, whose founder and CEO Robert Reffkin spoke recently on CNBC about racial inequality. The lack of diversity in the leadership of start-ups echoes the lack of diversity at the world's largest public companies. There are only four Black CEOs on the Fortune 500 list. A missed opportunity Why are there not more Black founders and executives at start-ups? A study by Kauffman Fellows and MaC Venture Capital called "Deconstructing the Pipeline Myth and the Case for More Diverse Fund Managers" finds that the source of the diversity gap is not solely an educational pipeline problem, as there has been a sharp increase in the number of Latinx and Black students earning post-secondary degrees. From 1980 to 2016, the share of master's degrees awarded to Black students grew from 6% to 14%, and those to Latinx students rose from 2% to 10%. Black and diverse founders represent a huge, untapped, economic opportunity for investors, because they, on average, deliver higher returns. Diverse founding teams defined as a group with at least one founder with a non-white perceived ethnicity have earned a 3.26x median realized multiple on IPOs and acquisitions, 30% more than the 2.5x realized multiple for all-white start-up founding teams, according to the Kauffman Fellows study. It also finds diverse executive teams have an even greater advantage: yielding a 3.3x return, 65% higher than the 2x return for white executive teams. These findings are echoed in a 2018 Boston Consulting Group study: "How Diverse Leadership Teams Boost Innovation." Companies with above-average diversity scores report 45% average revenue from innovation, compared to 26% for companies with below-average diversity scores. Graduates from the Harvard Business School MBA program. Neal Hamberg | Getty Images There are clear financial arguments for investing in Black-led companies, so why are investors missing out on this opportunity? The Kauffman study finds it comes back to the bias intentional or unconscious of the small, largely homogeneous community of venture capital investors writing checks. A key factor that could build diversity among successful CEOs: having more diverse investors, particularly at those crucial early stages, to identify and support promising entrepreneurs at the seed and A-round and beyond. We've seen some recent announcements about new funds focused on diverse founders, such as SoftBank's $100 million minority-focused fund, and Andreessen Horowitz' Talent x Opportunity fund. But to achieve meaningful long-term change in Silicon Valley and among the most valuable start-ups, it is key that all funds understand the financial opportunity in investing in diversity. All of this brings us back to the lack of Black CEOs on the CNBC Disruptor List this year and an explanation of how we compile it. We have a 55-person advisory board, comprised of academics in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship at institutions around the world. They've helped us put together an algorithm that weighs 17 different quantitative criteria based on data that companies give us and data drawn from outside sources. The calculation is 75% quantitative: sales and user growth, as well as the scalability of a company, are among the most important of these metrics. The diversity of a company's executive team, board and employee base ranks as a more important factor than a company's funding or valuation. The remaining 25% of a score is qualitative determined by a committee of more than 50 CNBC reporters, editors and staff. The qualitative assessment takes into account how much the company has innovated in the past year, the uniqueness of each company's business model and, in this year's case, how well it has adapted to Covid-19 and the resulting economic downturn. While this year's list has no companies with Black CEOs, it is diverse in many other ways. The list is the most geographically diverse in the Disruptor 50's eight-year history, a reflection of the fact that the venture capital community has increasingly looked outside the bubble of Silicon Valley for investment opportunities. This Disruptor 50 list features unicorn start-ups from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Denver and Columbus, Ohio. While 7% of the Fortune 500 have a female CEO, 12% of the CNBC Disruptor 50 are led by women. (Both those percentages speak to persistent gender inequity.) The list also features CEOs and founders who are Latinx, Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern, among other backgrounds. Many of the CEOs are immigrants to this country. And many of this year's Disruptor 50 have diverse workforces. Twelve companies, nine of which are based in the U.S., told us that more than half of their employees are non-White. (Fifteen companies didn't answer that question.) A demonstrator raises his fist in the air while sporting a mask as he makes his way with thousands of others across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif. Saturday, June 6, 2020 during a march in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Jessica Christian | San Francisco Chronicle | Getty Images NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP >> Newtown Township will be applying for federal funding to bolster its career firefighting force. And its crossing its fingers and hoping the third times a charm. At its Jan. 12 meeting, the board of supervisors voted unanimously to resubmit its SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to... [June 16, 2020] New SOC Research Reveals Security Teams Overconfident in Detecting Cyberthreats, Not Focused on Threat Dwell Time Exabeam, the Smarter SIEM company, today released its annual '2020 State of the SOC Report,' examining the processes and effectiveness of corporate security operations centers (SOCs). This year's study reveals that 82% of SOCs are confident in the ability to detect cyberthreats, despite just 22% of frontline workers tracking mean time to detection (MTTD), which helps determine hacker dwell time. Compounding this unfounded confidence, 40% of organizations still struggle with SOC staff shortages and finding qualified people to fill the cybersecurity skills gap. The survey, conducted among 295 respondents across the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Germany and Australia, was also fielded to determine how analysts and SOC management view key aspects of their operations, hiring and staffing, retention, technologies, training and funding. "From 2018-2019, we learned that dwell time - or, the time between when a compromise first occurs and when it is first detected - has grown. Based on this, it is surprising for SOCs to report such inflated confidence in detecting cyberthreats," said Steve Moore, chief security strategist at Exabeam. "We see great progress in the SOC with attention paid to employee well-being, measures for better communication and more. However, disparate perceptions of the SOCs' effectiveness could be dangerously interpreted by the C-suite as assurances that the company is well-protected and secure, when it's not." Highlighting the imbalance isthat SOC leaders and frontline analysts do not agree on the most common threats facing the organization. SOC leaders believe that phishing and supply chain vulnerabilities are more important issues, while analysts see DDoS attacks and ransomware as greater threats. Technology Trends Small- and medium-sized teams especially are more concerned with downtime or business outage (50%) over threat hunting as an operational metric, yet threat hunting stands out as a must-have hard skill (61%). Other prominent findings include: SOC outsourcing in the U.S. has declined YoY (36% to 28%) U.K. outsourcing had a YoY increase (36% to 47%) Germany reported 47% outsourcing, primarily of threat intelligence services Australian SOCs struggle in most categories and need improvement in technology updates, monitoring events and responding to/analyzing incidents In general, monitoring and analytics, access management and logging are higher priorities this year for all SOC roles. More than half of SOCs were found to log at least 40% of events in a SIEM The U.K. utilizes logging the most, compared with geographic counterparts SOCs are least able (35%) to create content, the skill around the creation of detection logic, validation, tuning and reporting To support this, most SOCs expect to see security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) tools take precedence over other technologies in upcoming years. Staffing Trends The U.S. and the U.K. SOCs have shown YoY improvements in recruiting costs and identifying candidates with the right expertise. Workplace benefits, high wages and a positive culture were this year's top drivers for retention in nearly 60% of SOCs. Notably, there remain challenges: 23% of SOC personnel across the U.S. and 35% across Canada report being understaffed by more than 10 employees 64% of frontline employees in the SOC reported a lack of career path as a reason for leaving jobs Less effective SOCs reported feeling they lacked the necessary investment in technology, training and staffing to do their jobs well For more information, or to download the full report, please visit https://www.exabeam.com/library/the-exabeam-2020-state-of-the-soc-report/. About Exabeam Exabeam is the Smarter SIEM company. We help security operations and insider threat teams work smarter, allowing them to detect, investigate and respond to cyberattacks in 51 percent less time. Security organizations no longer have to live with excessive logging fees, missed distributed attacks and unknown threats, or manual investigations and remediation. With the modular Exabeam Security Management Platform, analysts can collect unlimited log data, use behavioral analytics to detect attacks, and automate incident response, both on-premise and in the cloud. Exabeam Smart Timelines, sequences of user and device behavior created using machine learning, further reduce the time and specialization required to detect attacker tactics, techniques, and procedures. For more information, visit https://www.exabeam.com Exabeam, the Exabeam logo, Threat Hunter, Smarter SIEM, Smart Timelines and Security Management Platform are service marks, trademarks or registered marks of Exabeam, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective owners. 2020 Exabeam, Inc. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005218/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has planned to evacuate Ghanaians stranded in New York back to Accra on June 25, 2020. They will be evacuated via an Ethiopian Airlines flight. There will be a 14-day mandatory quarantine upon their arrival in Accra and the cost of the quarantine, as well as that of the flight, will be borne by the evacuees, who have already registered with the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations and the Consulate General of New York. This was made known by the Consul General in New York in a notice dated Monday, June 15, 2020. Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has disclosed that Ghana has so far evacuated 856 stranded Ghanaians back to Ghana. At a media briefing organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra, Tuesday morning [June 16, 2020], Ms. Botchwey So far 856 Ghanaians have been assisted to come back home, she said in an answer to a question on how many stranded Ghanaians have been evacuated to Ghana since the border closure as a result of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), She hinted that some Ghanaians who travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seek greener pastures but have become stranded are also being evacuated. According to the Minister, the first batch has arrived and the other batch is currently en route to Ghana. The people in Dubai were part of those brought back and another group are on their way as we speak. They are people who were found loitering because of the circumstances of how they live. In such places as Dubai, many of them worked as artisans, maidservants, or domestic workers. They live in dormitories and work in hotels as well and once your employers lose their job, they kick you out and those in such countries were kicked out so they were living anyhow, she said. more to follow... Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video An Indian military spokesman said on Tuesday that three Indian soldiers were killed during the fighting, which involved rocks and wooden clubs, and 17 others succumbed to injuries and cold in the freezing, high-elevation terrain. Preliminary reports indicated that the soldiers had not been shot. Indian media reported that Chinese soldiers had been killed, but this was not confirmed by Beijing. The two countries had been working to de-escalate border tensions following several face-offs between Chinese and Indian troops in recent weeks. Context: The violence is a continuation of a long-running dispute between India and China about the precise location of their jagged Himalayan border, known as the Line of Actual Control. They fought a war over it in 1962 that ended in an uneasy peace. Whats next: Neither side wants a war, especially India, because China has a far superior military, Jeffrey Gettleman, our New Delhi bureau chief, told me. Both sides are now trying to calm things down, at least thats what the governments are telling us. Whats actually happening up on the Himalayan border, thats another story. Its a very remote area, off-limits to all but a few lonely herders and Indian and Chinese troops. Journals used to take many months, or a year, to scrutinize and edit a complicated study, now peer review may be condensed to as little as 48 hours. One study promised that popular blood-pressure drugs were safe for people infected with the coronavirus. Another paper warned that anti-malaria drugs endorsed by President Donald Trump actually were dangerous to these patients. The studies, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and The Lancet, were retracted shortly after publication, following an outcry from researchers who saw obvious flaws. The hasty retractions, on the same day this month, have alarmed scientists worldwide who fear that the rush for research on the coronavirus has overwhelmed the peer review process and opened the door to fraud, threatening the credibility of respected medical journals just when they are needed most. Peer review is supposed to safeguard the quality of scientific research. When a journal receives a manuscript, the editors ask three or more experts in the field for comments. The reviewers written assessments may force revisions in a paper or prompt the journal to reject the work altogether. The system, widely adopted by medical journals in the middle of the 20th century, undergirds scientific discourse around the world. The problem with trust is that its too easy to lose and too hard to get back, said Dr Jerome Kassirer, former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, which published one of the retracted papers in early May. These are big blunders. If outside scientists detected problems that werent identified by the peer reviewers, then the journals failed, he said. Like hundreds of other researchers, Kassirer called on the editors to publish full explanations of what happened. In interviews with The New York Times, Dr Richard Horton, the editor-in-chief of The Lancet, and Dr Eric Rubin, editor-in-chief of the NEJM, said that the studies should never have appeared in their journals but insisted that the review process was still working. We shouldnt have published this, Rubin said of the study appearing in the NEJM. We should have had reviewers who would recognize the problem. Horton called the paper retracted by his journal a fabrication and a monumental fraud. But peer review was never intended to detect outright deceit, he said, and anyone who thinks otherwise has a fundamental misunderstanding of what peer review is. If you have an author who deliberately tries to mislead, its surprisingly easy for them to do so, he said. In addition, the editors said, there is an urgent need to rapidly publish new findings to improve treatments for desperately ill coronavirus patients. Since the pandemic began, The Lancet is receiving three times the usual number of papers for consideration, Horton said. And the NEJM has fielded as many as 200 submissions in a day, including essays, according to Rubin. Im an infectious disease doctor, I treat COVID-19 patients, Rubin said. Ive been in the hospital recently treating patients, and we have no idea what to do. Im the primary driver at the journal of saying, We have to get data out there that people can use. We are very careful, he added. At our editorial meetings, this comes up almost every day. If we publish this, will it hurt people? Thats our biggest concern. The NEJM and The Lancet are among the oldest, most respected and most widely read medical journals in the world. They were established in 1821 and 1823 and are ranked often first and second among general-interest medical journals by their impact factor, the frequency with which their studies are cited in other research. A report in one of these journals can have immediate repercussions both for patients and for research. After The Lancets initial publication of the study concluding that the anti-malarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine endangered the lives of coronavirus patients, the World Health Organization and other groups halted clinical trials of the drugs while safety reviews were conducted. The reputation of these journals rests in large part on vigorous peer review. But the process is opaque and fallible: Journals generally do not disclose who reviewed a study, what they found, how long it took or even when a manuscript was submitted. Horton and Rubin declined to provide those details regarding the retracted studies, as well. Critics have long worried that the safeguards are cracking, and have called on medical journals to operate with greater transparency. We are in the midst of a pandemic, and science is moving really fast, so there are extenuating circumstances here, said Dr Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, which tracks discredited research. But peer review fails more often than anyone admits, he said. We should be surprised it catches anything at all, the way its set up. Journals used to take many months, or even a full year, to scrutinize and edit a complicated study, a process that included several weeks for outside experts to peer review the research. Now peer review may be condensed to as little as 48 hours; some studies deemed of vital importance to patients may be published online within 20 days of submission. There is always a tension between getting it fast and getting it right, said Dr Marcia Angell, another former editor-in-chief of the NEJM. I always favoured getting it right. But in the current pandemic, that balance may have shifted too far toward getting it fast. Its not just the journal editors who are inundated. Knowledgeable scientists who donate time as peer reviewers are already stretched thin, trying to understand how the coronavirus affects the body, or to find treatments and vaccines. The research is happening at an unprecedented pace. I think the academic system is saturated its at capacity, said Dr Peter Juni, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Toronto who has reviewed papers for scientific journals. People are tired; theyre working at the edge of their limits. They struggle to get good peer reviewers and try to do as well as they can, but the system is at risk of failing, as you see here. The retracted paper in The Lancet should have raised immediate concerns, he added. It purported to rely on detailed medical records from 96,000 patients with COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, at nearly 700 hospitals on six continents. It was an enormous international registry, yet scientists had not heard of it. The data were immaculate, he noted. There were few missing variables: Race appeared to have been recorded for nearly everyone. So was weight. Smoking rates didnt vary much between continents, nor did rates of hypertension. I got goosebumps reading it, said Juni, who is involved in clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine. Nobody has complete data on all these variables. Its impossible. You cant. Both retracted studies were led by Dr Mandeep R. Mehra, a widely published and highly regarded professor of medicine at Harvard, and the medical director of the Heart and Vascular Center at Brigham and Womens Hospital. In a statement last week, Mehra apologized for the retractions, which he attributed to an eagerness to publish helpful information during the pandemic. He stopped short of calling them fraud, saying only that the data could not be verified by independent auditors. The data in both studies were produced by a small company outside Chicago called Surgisphere, run by another of the papers authors, Dr Sapan Desai. In an interview with The New York Times in May, Desai vigorously defended his work and the authenticity of his data registry, which he said included patient records from 1,200 hospitals and other health facilities around the world. But when the NEJM and The Lancet demanded independent audits, he refused, citing confidentiality agreements with client hospitals. Following the retractions, Desai has declined further comment. This got as much, if not more, review and editing than a standard regular track manuscript, Rubin, the editor-in-chief of the NEJM, said of the heart study, which was based on a smaller set of Surgisphere data that appeared in the medical journal. We didnt cut corners. We just didnt ask the right people. He said the journal should have tapped outside experts familiar with big hospital data sets to be involved in the peer review. And The Lancet, Horton said, will demand independent verification of the quality of a database when reviewing studies from now on. But, both editors said, peer reviewers, cannot be expected to detect outright fabrication. Reviewers do not examine the raw data underlying the studies they review, except in exceedingly rare cases. That would be too laborious, and reviewers are not paid for their time. But editors and reviewers do know who the study authors are, critics note, and that may bias them toward a positive review even when data are suspect. Mehra is well respected in scientific circles. We do tend to trust our authors, Rubin said. All journals do. Both editors pointed out that Mehra had signed statements indicating he had access to all of the data and took responsibility for the work, as did other co-authors. The politicization of the pandemic also may have played a role in The Lancets publication, critics charge. Trump has vigorously endorsed hydroxychloroquine as both preventive and curative treatment for COVID-19. The studys conclusions at first appeared to rebuke the president. Horton is no fan of Trump, calling his decision to withhold funding from the WHO in April a crime against humanity. Every scientist, every health worker, every citizen must resist and rebel against this appalling betrayal of global solidarity, Horton wrote on Twitter. On Friday, he said he chose to publish the hydroxychloroquine study only because it showed an immediate danger in the widespread use of the drug. The clinical trials should not have been halted, he added. Because of the political context, and people using this drug on the basis of minimal evidence in its favour, it seemed very important to publish work that at least gave some sense of whether the drug was safe or not, he said. That was the motivation behind the publication. Journal editors are caught in a Catch-22 of sorts, said Dr Hassan Murad, of the Mayo Clinic, who works with a federal project to review medical evidence. You want to push the information out quickly to practitioners. Its a pandemic, its an urgent situation. At the same time, you want quality control. Roni Caryn Rabin c.2020 The New York Times Company From: Dr. Donald C. Martin -- Graduate Study Expert Chicago , IL Tuesday, June 16, 2020 Four Grad School Myths Debunked Chicago, Illinois: Four Grad School Myths Debunked -- Don't let these common myths stop you from earning your graduate degree Myth #1 It's too expensive and I can't afford it Let's face it; education is expensive. But it always has been, regardless of the economy. Fortunately, there are many opportunities to get others to pay for your graduate studies so you can earn your degree with minimal personal expense or debt. Check with your current employer. Many offer educational benefits. Work for the college or university you attend. Apply for outside scholarships and fellowship funding. As tuition costs rise, so usually does funding for scholarships, and far more financial help is available than you may think. Myth #2 I'm too old to go back to school Statistics show that, in many institutions, the average graduate student is in his or her mid to late thirties. This is happening more and more every year ( https://blog.powerscore.com/gre/bid-223716-are-you-too-old-to-go-to-graduate-school/ ). Institutions are very welcome older students with work and life experience because of the value they add to the discipline being studied and to discussions in the classroom. Online, part-time, evening and weekend programs are proliferating in response to the growing number of older students returning to school. There are many good ones. Take the time to research your options and what works best for your situation. Myth #3 My undergraduate academic record isn't good enough, and I won't get accepted Admissions committees do not just look at grades. They look at everything in your application including letters of recommendation, essays, the courses you took, internships, and work/life experience. The older and further away you are from your undergraduate degree, the less important your previous grades will be. If you believe your academic record is lacking, take one or two grad courses and get an A. It shows you're serious about your education and what you're capable of doing. Myth #4 - It isn't worth going unless I get into a top-ranked school or program There are plenty of examples of people who went to all the top schools yet have failed dismally. Employers know this; and when it comes right down to it, they value who you are, what you can bring to the table and the degree itself far above the institution you attended. Getting your graduate degree from any institution demonstrates to employers that you have what it really takes to succeed persistence and determination. More than 30 members of a notorious Boston street gang were raided and charged with violent crimes amid a major federal operation to dismantle it after almost three decades of terror across the city. A total of 31 members and associates of the Dorchester-based NOB gang are facing federal charges after authorities carried out several overnight raids to 'take the most violent members of that gang off the street', US Attorney Andrew Lelling announced Tuesday. NOB - which stands for Norton, Olney and Barry streets - is associated with the Wendover Street gang and has been embroiled in 'violent feuds' with the rival Cameron Street gang for decades, authorities said. NOB gang members face charges including sex trafficking, murder, armed robbery, armed assault, witness intimidation, firearms crimes and drug trafficking. Authorities said one of the sex trafficking victims was a 16-year-old girl, while firearms uncovered during the arrests have been tied to a 2016 shooting incident at UMass Dartmouth as well as eight other shootings. The major clean-up was announced in a press conference at the Boston federal courthouse Tuesday and follows an investigation across local, state and federal agencies which began back in summer 2019. One suspect, Michael Brandao, is accused of murder and attempting to commit murder as a juvenile and drug trafficking as an adult as part of the NOB gang More than 30 members of a notorious Boston street gang were raided and charged with violent crimes amid a major federal operation to dismantle it after almost three decades of terror across the city, authorities announced in a press conference Tuesday (above) 'Today's operation was intended to dismantle the NOB gang, and take the most violent members of that gang off the street,' Lelling said. Fifteen gang members were arrested early Tuesday, 11 were already in state custody and now face federal charges, and six are fugitives with federal warrants out for their arrests. The raids took place across Boston, Lynn, Everett, Fall River and other towns and there are 11 search warrants being carried out in Boston, Weymouth, Brockton, Everett, Attleboro, Fall River and Providence, Rhode Island. More than 20 firearms have so far been seized, including an AK-47. One suspect, Michael Brandao, is accused of murder and attempting to commit murder as a juvenile and drug trafficking as an adult, according to the complaint. Authorities carried out several overnight raids to 'take the most violent members of that gang off the street', US Attorney Andrew Lelling announced Tuesday (above) Lelling said Brandao has also produced rap videos openly talking about shootings and murders on behalf of the gang. Other suspects detailed in the complaint include Kevin Barros, Ricky Pina, David Rodriquez, Wilson Goncalves-Mendes, Joshua Teixeira, Joseph Gomes, Alidio Barbosa, Samael Mathieu, Moses Cabral, Delven Carvalho-Centeio, Darius Bass, Damian Cortez, Anton Lopes and Brian Cardoso. Boston Police Commissioner William G. Gross said at the press conference the gang 'has been terrorizing the neighborhoods of Dorchester and Roxbury and also neighborhoods in the Commonwealth and outside for years, almost three decades.' He added that he doesn't expect the suspects to be back out on the streets anytime soon. 'I don't expect to see these individuals out on the street the next day wearing a bracelet,' Gross said. Gross heralded it 'a great day' at a time of 'anti-police sentiment'. 'We have your back, even in a time of anti-police sentiment,' Gross told the community. 'We will do our jobs... We know the good folks in the community have our backs too.' FBI Special Agent Joseph R. Bonavolonta said the arrests were the outcome of a 'meticulous yearlong investigation' that 'dealt a crippling blow to what is one of the city's most brazen and violent gangs.' He blasted the suspects for engaging in 'a ruthless and senseless string of attacks and murders' and for 'terrorizing the communities in which they operated all across the state'. 'Today we saw that organized crime is no match for law enforcement,' he added. More than 20 firearms have so far been seized with some pictured above. A total of 31 members and associates of the Dorchester-based NOB gang are facing federal charges Bonavolonta added that some suspects had committed crimes stretching from Maine to Connecticut to Rhode Island and that they tried to gain respect 'by shooting and murdering their rivals.' Twenty members and associates have been charged with crimes including racketeering conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking, crossing state lines for the purpose of prostitution, firearms charges and bank fraud. Two associates were charged with drug trafficking and gun violations, and the remaining nine with conspiring to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. Paulina Porizkova has shared a stunning bikini photo of herself posing in front of a rainbow in honor of Pride Month, revealing she had 'secretly hoped for a gay son.' The 55-year-old model took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a throwback snapshot of herself frolicking in the ocean in a gold string bikini. She added a rainbow in the background of the picture to show her support for the LGBTQ community. In the caption, she opened up about the gay men she met as a young model in Paris while sharing that when her sons Jonathan and Oliver Ocasek were growing up, she wished that they were gay. Pride Month: Paulina Porizkova, 55, showed her support for the LGBTQ community on Tuesday by sharing a throwback bikini photo of herself featuring a rainbow Proud mom: In the caption, she praised her gay friends and admitted that she had wished her sons Jonathan and Oliver Ocasek were gay when they were growing up 'I had no idea what gay was until I got to Paris, where I immediately developed a crush on every gay man around me so well dressed, so well spoken, so fun, so sensitive, so talented, so good looking! only to find out their interest in me was not reciprocated,' she recalled. '"Hes not into girls, cherie." At first I thought this meant "he" only liked "women" as opposed to girls. But it nearly never failed if I crushed on a guy he was invariably gay. I call that having great taste in men.' Paulina met her late husband, The Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, while the band was filming the music video for Drive in 1984 and became his third wife in five years later. They had two sons together, Jonathan, 26, and Oliver, 22, and the mom admitted that she would have liked at least one of them to be gay. Family: Paulina had Jonathan, 26, and Oliver, 22, with her late husband Ric Ocasek. The Cars frontman passed away less than a year ago Memories: On Monday, she posted a throwback photo of herself with her longtime pals Brian Magallones, a celebrity hairstylist, and Sutan Amrull, a makeup artist and drag performer 'Being a mom of two sons, I secretly hoped for a gay son,' she explained. 'Well, maybe not so secretly, my sixteen year old had to break it to me gently: "mom, Im sorry, but I dont think Im gay." Likewise, my gay girlfriends (unfortunately didnt encounter as many) were really hot to me. But less I was blinded by gay fabulousness its necessary to acknowledge the darkness: the pain of growing up feeling different, alone, being relentlessly picked on, threatened, afraid. 'You know what Im proud off?' she asked. 'My amazing, fabulous gorgeous talented LBGTQ friends who, despite growing up in the dark, nevertheless chose to grow into the light, to shine and sparkle and reflect that light onto the rest of us.' At the end of the post, she revealed that the photo was taken during her pre-pandemic trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and she inserted the rainbow to ensure her 179,000 followers would read the post. Using her platform: Last week, she showed her support for the Black Lives Matter movement, while posting an old modeling photo of herself with Khadija Adam Ismail Stunning: Paulina has been sharing a number of throwback photos from her pre-pandemic vacation in Costa Rica and Nicaragua Keeping it real: The model, pictured in Nicaragua, added a rainbow to her Pride-inspired photo, explaining: 'It seems I have to be in bikinis to get noticed' 'It seems I have to be in bikinis to get noticed,' she noted. The day before, she celebrated both her friend's birthday and the landmark Supreme Court ruling that civil rights law protects gay and trans people from discrimination in employment. She posted a throwback picture of herself with her longtime pals Brian Magallones, a celebrity hairstylist, and Sutan Amrull, a makeup artist and drag performer. 'Memory lane Monday: when we first started shooting ANTM, and had a day off in Sao Paulo to clown around in a pool,' she wrote. '@brianmagallones and I met @sutanamrull on the set of ANTM and have been besties ever since. 'And here we are, ten years and many high jinx later. HAPPY BIRTHDAY my beautiful friend! And what a nice gift today from the Universe for the Supreme Court make a decision to protect LGBTQ rights!' Over the past few months, Paulina has been posting a mix of sultry bikini pictures, throwback photos, and snapshots of herself sporting messy hair and comfy clothes while in quarantine. No shame: A few weeks ago, she shared a makeup-free photo of herself first thing in the morning, saying: 'This is what I actually look like' The real deal: Paulina has been posting a number of candid images of herself in her home in upstate New York while in quarantine Along with the images, she has been sharing candid reflections about her life and what's going on in the world, including the pandemic and the ongoing protests over George Floyd's death at the hands of the police. Last week, she showed her support for the Black Lives Matter movement, while posting an old modeling photo of herself with Khadija Adam Ismail. 'At the front door of this house it says BLACK LIVES MATTER. If you dont like it, please dont enter,' she wrote. 'Khadija was Yves Saint Laurents favorite model so much so that he built an entire collection around her. We became fast friends when she moved to the States. 'I suspect I was horribly ignorant of race and all the racism she had to endure on a daily level in our biz,' Paulina admitted. 'What I remember was thinking she was the most beautiful creature I had ever known, and she wasnt getting as much work as she should have. 'I have zero memory of what Khadija and I were advertising here, but to get to work with your friend was such a treat. Also, this was the shoot in which I realized my face was huge,' she recalled. Memory: Paulina has been morning the death of her estranged husband Ric, who passed away on September 15 at the age of 75 Memories: Paulina met Ric while the band was filming the music video for Drive in 1984 and became his third wife in 1989 When Khadija and I put our faces next to one another as we initially posed my head seemed inappropriately gigantic. As professional models, however, we found a solution.' It's been a difficult few years for Paulina, who has had to mourn both the end of her marriage and the death of her estranged husband Ric. She had announced in May 2018 that they had split quietly the previous year after 28 years of marriage. Though they were divorcing, they continued to share a New York townhouse and that is where Paulina found the famed rock star dead. A medical examiner determined that the musician died on September 15 at the age of 75 from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with pulmonary emphysema being a contributing factor. Since his passing, Paulina has been incredibly open about her struggle to process her emotions about his death. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday has accused Rivers State Governor Nyesome Wike of killing the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). According to the ruling party, Wikes inglorious roles when the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration introduced the 16 is greater than 19 political formula led to the bodys collapse. This was made known by the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, during a brief chat with newsmen in Abuja. This comes a day after Wike, described the NGF as a toothless bulldog, saying it had gone into coma under the APC because it failed to save Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki who is seeking reelection on APCs platform. Advertisement However, the APC deputy spokesperson said Wike was still living in the past when impunity was the order of the day. He, therefore, urged the Rivers governor to wake up to the reality of a new era of justice, fairness and true democracy under the administration of the APC. He said: The Governors Forum is well alive under civilised Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Read Also: Obaseki Was Disqualified By Someone Who Doesnt Have A Certificate Wike Does Governor Nyesom Wike think Nigerians can forget in a hurry the major role he (Woke) as a PDP minister played when the then Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi scored 19 votes, but former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang who scored 16 votes was recognised as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum? Wike also needs to reminded on the major role he played as a foot soldier who engineered the banning of the then Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva from participating in the PDP governorship primary election scheduled in 2011. If the Nigeria Governors Forum has been killed as Wike states, it is clear who the killer and grave digger is. President Donald Trump blew up after hearing and seeing a devastating poll by CNN showing him trailing former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 campaign by a stunning 14-point margin President Trump only believes in polls when they show him winning. Its just that simple. So seeing the last CNN poll showing him down to former Vice President Biden, he blew up into a rage and demanded that his lawyers sue CNN unless the networks immediately retract the poll. CNN promptly laughed off the demand. Then on Monday, Trumps favorite pollster Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research showed Bidens lead amounted to 10 points. After the C+ rated poll by Nate Silvers FiveThirtyEight.com adjusted, weighted the polling the Bidens lead stood to a 16 point lead nationally for the former Vice President. The case for Trump and or his campaign to sue CNN was summarily destroyed, as is often the case with his threatened litigation. The facts destroy his accusations and credibility. Then Just the News, media outlet started by Trump ally John Solomon, a poll that anyone who knew whats going on would call friendly, released the results from polling it conducted with longtime pro-Trump pollster Scott Rasmussen. According to that last poll, Trump is down 12 points Biden, 36% to 48%. Thus proving with two of the friendliest polls conducted is showing a potentially devastating result on November 3, 2020, Election Day for the sitting president. They virtually guarantee the Electoral College wont save Trump, and even wide bands of a margin of error dont help him much. Theyre just three polls in total, of course but in combination with the CNN poll results and the many others now showing since the beginning of June that Trumps approval rating is plummeting , and things are starting to look bleak for the president. His numbers are now approaching the lows we saw in December of 2017 when Trump miss-handled the Charlottesville racist demonstrations by coming out saying there were good people on both sides. It remains possible Trump could still recover and be re-elected, but this late in the election cycle with so many state polls of swing states showing him down to Biden, its clear he needs a significant change, of course. It is failing that either a miracle of divine intervention or a strategy to steal the election was required. With Democratic Governors in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and a sincere Republican Ohio governor, his chances of just stealing the election arent good. Rasmussen didnt pull any punches in its assessment of the Presidents reelection chances: There is no way to describe these numbers as anything but bad news for President Trump, Rasmussen said. If the election were held today, he would lose and lose badly. The Republican majority in the Senate would certainly be at risk as well. Rasmussen went on to say The only real concern for Democrats in this polling is that the election is not being held today These numbers would have been unimaginable a few months ago before the pandemic, the lockdowns, and the murder of George Floyd. Depending upon how events unfold, things might look much different in November than they do today. But for now, Biden is the clear leader in the race. State-level polls are confirming Rasmussens assessment. A news Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll found that Trump leads Biden by only a single point in the Hawkeye state, which few expected to be competitive. If Trump only wins the state by a narrow margin in November, its pretty much a foregone conclusion that hes lost the White House. In Iowa, Joni Ernst, the incumbent Republican Senator up for reelection is trailing her Democratic opponent by 3 points. An ominous sign for Trump New York Times Maggie Haberman wrote in her column about the Iowa poll results Not as high a gap in this one but yet another poll where Trumps job approval is a few ticks ahead of his ballot share,which some pollsters see as a sign that even some of those who like how hes doing is exhausted by him. CNN Poll: President Trump losing ground to Biden [June 16, 2020] OSE Immunotherapeutics Announces Results of 2020 Virtual Combined General Meeting NANTES, France, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OSE Immunotherapeutics (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE) today announced that all the resolutions submitted to a vote at the Combined General Shareholders Meeting were approved as proposed by OSE Immunotherapeutics Board of Directors. The Company conducted the General Meeting virtually following the provisions of the French ordinances related to COVID-19, dated March 25, 2020. The results of each resolution voted on can be found on the Companys website in the Investor General Shareholders Meeting section: https://ose-immuno.com/en/general-shareholders-meetings/. A total of 103 shareholders voted by mail, in accordance with the terms and conditions indicated in the notice of the Meeting. In total, the shareholders who voted hold 9,323,962 shares (representing 61.65% of the share capital) and 14,190,017 voting rights (representing 67.58% of the voting rights). During the virtual meeting, Dominique Costantini, Chairman, and Alexis Peyroles, Chief Executive Officer of OSE Immunotherapeutics, provided an overview of the Companys latest advances and growth strategy. Alexis Peyroles, CEO of OSE Immunotherapeutics, commented: 2019 and the first semester of 2020 were marked by major clinical progress. Specifically, Tedopi showed positive results in Step-1 of its Phase 3 clinical trial in NSCLC patients after failure of checkpoint inhibitor treatments. This confirms the clinical benefit Tedopi can provide in patients with advanced stage cancer and who need new therapeutic options. In 2019, our partnered products also achieved key clinical milestones: BI 765063 entered Phase 1 in advanced solid tumors in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, and OSE-127 has shown positive Phase 1 results in partnership with Servier. The OSE-127 results provide a firm foundation for two Phase 2 trials planned to start in 2020: in ulcerative colitis, sponsored by OSE, and in Sjogrens syndrome, sponsored by Servier. Our cash position, recently reinforced by a 7 million non-dilutive loan agreement granted by the French State, provides us with financial visibility until Q3 2021 to advance our clinical and preclinical programs in immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases, as well as our recently-announced development of a prophylactic vaccine against the pandemic virus SARS-CoV-2. This cash position and flexibility should be further reinforced by the milestone payment which is due at first patient-in in the Sjogrens Phase 2a study, demonstrating the resilience of our business model. We continue to create value for all OSEs stakeholders by advancing our differentiated development programs based on quality science. Latest major clinical advances of four differentiated therapeutic programs in immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases Tedopi is a combination of 10 neoepitopes intended to induce specific T-lymphocyte activation The Companys most advanced product demonstrated positive top-line results for the Step-1 of its 'Atalante-1' Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment failure (PD-1/PD-L1). The Step-1 results show primary endpoint met with at least 12-month survival in Tedopi treated patients. Based on these positive data, OSE Immunotherapeutics will engage in discussions with regulatory authorities to determine the best options for Tedopi . In parallel, given the significant value added by positive Step-1 results, the Company continues exploring potential partnership opportunities for the product. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and its potential impact on Step-2 of Atalante 1, voluntary definitive stop of recruitment was decided early April 2020, motivated by the risks for the patients and on the data integrity of this now cancelled Step-2 part of the study. treated patients. Based on these positive data, OSE Immunotherapeutics will engage in discussions with regulatory authorities to determine the best options for Tedopi . In parallel, given the significant value added by positive Step-1 results, the Company continues exploring potential partnership opportunities for the product. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and its potential impact on Step-2 of Atalante 1, voluntary definitive stop of recruitment was decided early April 2020, motivated by the risks for the patients and on the data integrity of this now cancelled Step-2 part of the study. Tedopi is also in a Phase 2 clinical trial, called TEDOPaM, in patients with pancreatic cancer in monotherapy and in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab), a trial sponsored by the GERCOR cooperative group in oncology and supported by Bristol Myers Squibb. Due to the COVID-19 situation, patient screening and accrual in the TEDOPaM study has been impacted by the COVID-19 situation and are currently suspended. BI 765063 (OSE-172), a myeloid checkpoint inhibitor being developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim BI 765063 is in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial in advanced solid tumors. The study is a first-in-human dose finding study of BI 765063 administered as a single agent and in combination with Boehringer Ingelheims monoclonal PD-1 antibody antagonist, BI 754091, a T lymphocyte checkpoint inhibitor. The trial aims to characterize safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and preliminary efficacy of the immunotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors. OSE-127, a monoclonal antibody antagonist of the interleukin-7 (IL-7) receptor being developed in partnership with Servier The Phase 1 clinical study of OSE-127 was completed at the end of 2019. The results demonstrated a good safety and tolerability profile for OSE-127. All pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters were consistent and demonstrated a dose-proportionality across the several dose-levels up to 10 mg/kg. Based on these positive data, two Phase 2 trials are planned to start in 2020: n ulcerative colitis, sponsored by OSE and in Sjogrens syndrome sponsored by Servier. Research & Development In May 2020, OSE Immunotherapeutics announced its commitment to the fight against COVID-19 through initiation of a prophylactic vaccine program. CoVepiT vaccine technology leverages the Companys expertise in peptide selection and optimization and proprietary Memopi technology to explore a T lymphocyte immune response for COVID-19. First preclinical results are expected in H2 2020 and, if they are positive, clinical trial could possibly start by year's end. technology to explore a T lymphocyte immune response for COVID-19. First preclinical results are expected in H2 2020 and, if they are positive, clinical trial could possibly start by year's end. Identification of a new myeloid checkpoint target CLEC-1 (a C type lectin receptor) and of the first monoclonal antibody antagonists of CLEC-1 blocking the Dont eat me signal represent a novel approach in cancer immunotherapy. These findings come from a research program conducted by OSE's R&D team in collaboration with Dr Elise Chiffoleau (Center for Research in Transplantation and Immunology, UMR - INSERM 1064, Nantes University Hospital) Preclinical progress confirm that bispecific antibody checkpoint inhibitor platform BiCKI and bifunctional therapy targeting PD-1 and IL-7, BiCKI -IL-7 has the potential overcome resistance mechanisms to anti-PD(L)-1 therapies and could potentially address the needs of a patient population in immune escape from checkpoint inhibitor treatment. and bifunctional therapy targeting PD-1 and IL-7, BiCKI -IL-7 has the potential overcome resistance mechanisms to anti-PD(L)-1 therapies and could potentially address the needs of a patient population in immune escape from checkpoint inhibitor treatment. Latest data on CLEC-1, BiCKI and BiCKI -IL-7 have been selected for oral and poster presentations at the 2020 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting II to be held end of June. and BiCKI -IL-7 have been selected for oral and poster presentations at the 2020 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting II to be held end of June. Based on OSE's diverse scientific and technological platforms (neoepitopes, immune response agonist and antagonist monoclonal antibodies), the Company is pursuing new innovative research programs. A dynamic partnership business model based on innovative products to generate non-dilutive revenues and to finance its R&D programs In March 2020, OSE Immunotherapeutics and Servier signed an amendment to the two-step global licensing option agreement for OSE-127. Under this amendment, both companies have agreed to modify the provisions regarding the potential exercise of the option, amending step 2 of the option agreement, making OSE eligible to receive a 5 million milestone payment from Servier upon the enrollment of the first patient in the Phase 2a clinical study in Sjogrens syndrome and the remaining 15 million payment upon exercise of an option at the completion of both Phase 2 clinical trials, and in priority upon completion of the Phase 2a clinical study in Sjogrens syndrome. The previous version of the agreement had the full 20 million milestone payment due upon completion of Phase 2 clinical study in ulcerative colitis. The initiation of both Phase 2 clinical trials is subject to the evolution of the COVID-19 situation and will take place once all preparatory steps are achieved and once hospitals and healthcare professionals are able to ensure safe practices during clinical research and patients care. The initiation of both Phase 2 clinical trials is subject to the evolution of the COVID-19 situation and will take place once all preparatory steps are achieved and once hospitals and healthcare professionals are able to ensure safe practices during clinical research and patients care. A new licensing deal was signed in November 2019 with Chong Kun Dang (CKD) Pharmaceutical Corporation for potential registration and commercialization of Tedopi in South Korea. Financial terms of the contract include both upfront and short-term milestone payments of 1.2 million with total milestone payments of 4.3 million, as well as royalties on sales and transfer price in the high twenties percentage. in South Korea. Financial terms of the contract include both upfront and short-term milestone payments of 1.2 million with total milestone payments of 4.3 million, as well as royalties on sales and transfer price in the high twenties percentage. OSE Immunotherapeutics is evaluating the best options for continuing sustainable development of FR104, a Phase 2-ready asset, in autoimmune diseases and/or in transplantation, including worldwide partnering opportunities. The Company is also exploring global partnership opportunities for Tedopi on the heels of positive Step-1 results of Phase 3 in NSCLC and with an ongoing Phase 2 in pancreatic cancer. ABOUT OSE Immunotherapeutics OSE Immunotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and partnering therapies to control the immune system for immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The company has several scientific and technological platforms including neoepitopes and agonist or antagonist monoclonal antibodies, all ideally positioned to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases. Its first-in-class clinical and preclinical portfolio has a diversified risk profile: Tedopi (innovative combination of neoepitopes): the companys most advanced product; positive results for Step-1 of the Phase 3 trial (Atalante 1) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer post checkpoint inhibitor failure; due to COVID-19, voluntary definitive stop of new patient accrual in the Step-2 initially planned in the trial. In Phase 2 in pancreatic cancer (TEDOPaM, sponsor GERCOR) in combination with checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo . (innovative combination of neoepitopes): the companys most advanced product; (Atalante 1) in post checkpoint inhibitor failure; due to COVID-19, voluntary definitive stop of new patient accrual in the Step-2 initially planned in the trial. In (TEDOPaM, sponsor GERCOR) in combination with checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo . BI 765063 (OSE-172, anti-SIRPa monoclonal antibody): developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim ; myeloid checkpoint inhibitor in Phase 1 in advanced solid tumors . (OSE-172, anti-SIRPa monoclonal antibody): developed in ; myeloid checkpoint inhibitor in . FR104 (anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody): positive Phase 1 results ; Phase 2-ready asset in autoimmune diseases or in transplantation . (anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody): ; . OSE-127 (humanized monoclonal antibody targeting IL-7 receptor): developed in partnership with Servier ; positive Phase 1 results ; two independent Phase 2 planned in ulcerative colitis (OSE sponsor) and in Sjogrens syndrome (Servier sponsor) to start in 2020. (humanized monoclonal antibody targeting IL-7 receptor): developed in ; ; two independent planned in (OSE sponsor) and in (Servier sponsor) to start in 2020. BiCKI : bispecific fusion protein platform built on the key backbone component anti-PD-1 (OSE-279) combined with new immunotherapy targets; 2 nd generation of PD-(L)1 inhibitors to increase antitumor efficacity . Additional innovative research programs . : platform built on the key backbone component anti-PD-1 (OSE-279) combined with new immunotherapy targets; 2 generation of PD-(L)1 inhibitors to increase . . CoVepiT: a prophylactic vaccine against COVID-19, developed using SARS-CoV-2 optimized neo-epitopes. First preclinical results expected start of H2 2020, possible clinical trial by year end. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, accrual of new patients in the clinical trial TEDOPaM is temporarily suspended and initiation timelines for both Phase 2 trials of OSE-127 could be impacted during the coming months. For more information: https://ose-immuno.com/en/ Click and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn https://twitter.com/OSEIMMUNO https://www.linkedin.com/company/10929673 Contacts OSE Immunotherapeutics Sylvie Detry [email protected] +33 153 198 757 U.S. Media: LifeSci Communications Darren Opland, Ph.D. [email protected] +1 646 627 8387 French Media: FP2COM Florence Portejoie [email protected] +33 607 768 283 U.S. and European Investors Chris Maggos [email protected] +41 79 367 6254 Forward-looking statements This press release contains express or implied information and statements that might be deemed forward-looking information and statements in respect of OSE Immunotherapeutics. They do not constitute historical facts. These information and statements include financial projections that are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by OSE Immunotherapeutics management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements include statements typically using conditional and containing verbs such as expect, anticipate, believe, target, plan, or estimate, their declensions and conjugations and words of similar import. Although the OSE Immunotherapeutics management believes that the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, the OSE Immunotherapeutics shareholders and other investors are cautioned that the completion of such expectations is by nature subject to various risks, known or not, and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of OSE Immunotherapeutics. These risks could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by OSE Immunotherapeutics with the AMF. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This press release includes only summary information and should be read with the OSE Immunotherapeutics Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on 15 April 2020, including the annual financial report for the fiscal year 2019, available on the OSE Immunotherapeutics website. Other than as required by applicable law, OSE Immunotherapeutics issues this press release at the date hereof and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information or statements. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] TORRINGTON Finding an open child care center is something many parents are facing this week as they return to work, while demand is exceeding the number of places that are open. Torrington held an online forum Monday to discuss the states Phase 2 reopening plans, which includes day care centers and preschools. Gov. Ned Lamonts latest amendments to executive orders regulating businesses during the pandemic allow these facilities to have up to 50 people, but no more than 10 at a time can be in a classroom or play area. Because some child care centers are not reopening immediately, some that are, are overwhelmed. And many summer day camps, often held at local churches and parks and recreation departments, have been canceled. Theres just not enough room for everyone right now, said Jana Freer, child and family services director of the Northwest Connecticut YMCA. Our phone is ringing off the hook. The only thing we can do is help the people who are going back to work. There are places that arent open right now, because they cant afford to be. We have people going back to work, and they want to send their kids to day care. Its so difficult. Joining Economic Development Director Rista Malanca on the call were city representatives including Tom Stansfield from the Torrington Area Health District, fire chief and Emergency Management Director Peter Towey, city planner Martin Connor and Mayor Elinor Carbone. Cassandra Weik, program support coordinator for Brooker Memorial, also said the early childhood education and health center was receiving many calls from parents. Were getting calls from families who have (been) with us, and those who have not enrolled their children, and theyre all looking for child care, she said. People are also using 2-1-1 to check on our status. We are at limited capacity right now, and were reaching out to families who previously enrolled for the summer to find whos coming back and whos not, Weik said. Well move from there; we need to find out whos coming back. Weik is working with Malanca to post updates on state policies and procedures on the city website, torringtonct.org, as well as Brooker Memorial, to provide information on available child care for parents. She agreed that both sides of the child care challenge were feeling overwhelmed. Its a general feeling, she said. If I can do anything to help, Im trying to do that; luckily, so far, were running very smoothly at Brooker Memorial. Im happy to be a resource to people who are stressed or looking for guidance. Freer, who posted a video on the YMCAs Facebook page detailing the YMCAs preventative measures, said she made the video to show parents what is in place to keep children safe. In the video, Freer explained that the children would have their temperature taken when they arrive, wash their hands, and stay in the same group all day. Schedules are being staggered to keep groups of children independent from each other; and to avoid crowding, and each child will be delivered to their parents at the door at the end of the day. Theres a lot of misconception on whats going on inside the day care centers people think kids are getting a physical going through the door, that theyre staying separated once they get inside, things like that, Freer said. The kids are still having a fun-filled day. I think the video has been a great tool for parents, to see what were doing, Freer said. Theyre still playing and learning and exploring. Jan Sosnicki, director of Hilltop Christian Education Center, said she recently was on a group conference call with Beth Bye, head of the states Office of Early Childhood. It sounded to me like they were going to (increase) the number of children allowed, but they werent sure when, Sosnicki said. Hilltop follows the local school calendar, meaning it closes when school is out for the summer season. We dont plan to reopen until the start of the school year, so we wanted to know what was going to be expected. Sosnicki said. Sosnicki said many parents were concerned about sending their children to day care now. I got a call from a family who has been with us for two years, and theyre pulling their 4-year-old because theyre concerned about the virus, she said. So itll be interesting to see what happens. Im curious to see how this will play out. To reach Rista Malanca, businesses can email Rista_malanca@torringtonct.org. To reach Cassandra Weik at Brooker Memorial, call 860 489-1328 ext 129. 1492 and all that. Muhammad XII of Granada, King Boabdil, surrendered the Emirate of Granada, the city of Granada and the Alhambra palace to the forces of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Christopher Columbus came across an island he named San Salvador, checked out Cuba and Hispaniola and eventually made it back to Spain in March 1493. In Barcelona, he met the Catholic Monarchs and reported his findings. Spain was thus on the way to being a fully Catholic society. The Muslims of Granada were given the options of being exiled, converting to Christianity or becoming slaves. The Jews were at the same time being offered the same deal. An enforcer of strict Catholicism was the Spanish Inquisition, which had been established in 1478 by Isabel and Ferdinand. Coincidental with this religious cleansing, Columbus had laid the groundwork for Spains imperialism. The rivers of gold beckoned. In Palma, as you will no doubt be aware, there is a statue of King Jaume I. Rei en Jaume conquered Majorca, and in the process thousands of Muslims were slain. This was part of the Reconquista, the centuries-long elimination of Muslim occupation that came to its conclusion in Granada. Yet Jaumes conquest owed as much to his own empire-building necessities as it did to crusading against Islam. The hero of Majorca, no one, to the best of my knowledge, has ever seriously suggested that his statue should be removed. But Jaume, viewed from a distance of almost 800 years, could be styled as having made the Moors his victims. Over 250 years later, Columbus made his discovery. What happened to the indigenous populations after the first of his voyages and the arrival of the conquistadors is a matter of debate, as is the scale of the decimation of these populations, the Taino especially. Disease (smallpox), brutal repression and slavery are all part of this debate. For some, Columbus was responsible for genocide, even if there is stronger evidence related to conquistadors such as Juan Ponce de Leon. But Columbus was the symbol, and in Barcelona they created a monument to him, one that commemorated his meeting with the Catholic Monarchs, pursuers of Jews and Muslims and the patrons of the Inquisition. At the weekend, some 200 or so people demonstrated in Barcelona. Their call was the removal of the Columbus statue. The reason for demanding this was the genocide. Political voices, such as that of the coordinator for Podemos in Andalusia, Teresa Rodriguez, support the dismantling of this statue and the statues of others who made their fortunes out of the slave trade. Let us stop paying tribute to these figures out of respect for people of other races who were victims of this (slavery) in former times. Events in the US had already filtered through to Spain, but now it was events in England which were having an influence. But whereas Edward Colston was someone with whom familiarity was not widespread, Columbus is known by all. The day in 1492 when he came across San Salvador is the twelfth of October. It is Spains National Day, less often referred to nowadays as the Dia de la Hispanidad. On this day each year, the largest Spanish flag in the world is raised on a mast in Madrids Plaza de Colon. Cristobal Colon is Christopher Columbus. Perhaps it might therefore have been expected that there would be a protest in Barcelona. But sentiment against Columbus has little or anything to do with Catalan nationalism; there are, after all, hypotheses that he was Catalan and indeed that he was born in Majorca. The belief that he should not be revered stems not from nationalism but instead, as Teresa Rodriguez has remarked, by considering him according to the values of today. She accepts that there is a debate about contextualising him in terms of how things were 500 hundred or more years ago, but it is current values which should count. But how far should this all be taken? This is why I mention Jaume I, whose mediaeval aspirations and barbarism were hardly unusual. A case against him and his statue could be made, but for what real purpose? He is an iconic figure, so therefore his statue is iconic. Jaume was the founder of Christian Catalan Majorca. Columbus is likewise iconic, and he is so on a global level. One does perhaps have to accept that real and total saintly behaviour from history is hard to find. There is in Majorca, but especially more so in California, opposition to a Majorcan saint - Juniper Serra - whose missionary activities were a legacy of the conquistadors and which were, it is argued, based on the mistreatment of indigenous people. Statues of him have been been vandalised. There are sensitivities, and one fully appreciates these. It is a dilemma, absolutely it is, but there are certain figures, e.g. Edward Colston, about whom there is far less dilemma than with others. Saif Ali Khan is angry about the film industrys sudden outpouring of love for Sushant Singh Rajput after his death on Sunday. He feels that a day of silence would be more appropriate than the hypocrisy of pretending to care. In an interview with The Times of India, Saif called the news of Sushants death just awful, but hit out at those talking rubbish in the wake of the tragedy. There are so many people whove made comments so quickly. And it just seems to me that people are somewhere gaining some mileage from this poor fellows tragedy, you know, whether its to show compassion or to show interest or to show some political stance. So many people are talking rubbish in this nonstop kind of barrage on social media and its just embarrassing, really, I think, he said. Out of respect for him, for Sushants tragedy, maybe a day of silence or introspection would be a little more becoming than this outpouring of love an outpouring of love from people who obviously didnt care about him and people who famously dont care about anybody else, he said. Also Watch | Sushant Singh Rajput funeral: Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, others attend Saif said that the film industry was famously competitive and the pretense of caring for Sushant was an insult to him. I mean, we dont care about anybody. You know, its a very cutthroat line of work. But to pretend that you do care is like the ultimate hypocrisy and I think thats an insult to the dead, you know, its an insult to the soul thats gone, he said. The sudden display of love for Sushant is a little much to digest for Saif, who admitted that though nobody really cares in this town, they want to come across as empathetic to their fans. He added that people writing lengthy social media posts are unlikely to show the same level of love and compassion in real life. We live in an age where people write 10 lines for you on Twitter and will walk past you on the street - wont even touch you or shake your hand. You know, you get wished for your birthday, but people dont actually call you. Theres no contact, he said. There has been talk of Sushant being failed by bigwigs of the film industry. Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur had tweeted after his demise: I knew the pain you were going through. I knew the story of the people that let you down so bad that you would weep on my shoulder Kangana Ranaut shared an angry video, in which she said that the late actor was not given his due as he was an outsider, and was constantly told that he was worthless. However, Saif does not completely agree with this. People are failing people constantly. Everyone talking about him, even those saying who failed you or didnt fail you is, I think, somewhat exploiting his name. To take any stand at the moment, apart from just sorrow, and just saying that Im really sad that he had no way out except this - any other comment is somewhere manipulating the situation, I feel. You have come across this as an opportunity to take a shot at somebody, and youre taking a shot, he said. Also read: Vivek Oberoi shares details of Sushant Singh Rajputs funeral, calls it a wake-up call for film industry When asked about Bollywood camps having an impact on an actors career, Saif said, These are the wrong comments to make now. I mean, you can say, listen, its just really bad, what happened. Its really sad that this is the only way he could see out. But to blame anybody or to you know, draw these camps out, this is pathetic. I think its a function of lockdown plus social media. And its sad that film people cant think beyond films. We will all assume that this terrible thing happened to him because of his films. There is more to life. Maybe he was upset about other things in his life. Maybe it was a personal reason. Maybe its nothing to do with films. If you cant see beyond that, you will put everything on that the movies you do. Saifs daughter Sara Ali Khan, who made her Bollywood debut opposite Sushant in Kedarnath, was shocked and very, very, very upset by the news. She liked him very much. She was quite impressed with certain aspects of his personality. She told me he was very intelligent, that he could discuss, you know, Jean-Paul Sartre and he could discuss various aspects of philosophy and engineering and that he had learned how to shoot with a bow and arrow left handed, and he was very fit as well as very hard-working, and a good actor, Saif said, adding that she always talked of him as being a really remarkable person. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more The 27th Annual Longest Dam Race will be held on June 10, 2021 at Kiwanis Park in Fort Peck, MT. Entry fee is $25. $10 for children 10 and under & $5 for each additional event. Events Include: 10K & 5K Run, 5K Walk, 1 Mile Run/Walk both competitive and casual & 10 Mile Novice Bike Race. Registration starts at 7 a.m. 8 a.m. - 10K Run 9 a.m. - 5K Walk 9:30 a.m. - 5K Run 10 a.m. - Novice Bike Race (10 miles) 10:30 a.m. Competitive & Casual 1 Mile Run The Longest Dam Race is sponsored by the Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture. For more information, call 406-228-2222 or www.glasgowchamber.net. Sign up with this link Current Results back thru 2016 [June 16, 2020] Al-Ahliyya Amman University in Jordan Selects Ellucian to Drive Modernization Efforts Ellucian, the leading provider of software and services built to power higher education, today announced that Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU), the first private university in Jordan, has selected several Ellucian solutions to support a university-wide initiative to transform the digital experience for students, faculty and staff. Together with strategic partner ICC, Ellucian will deploy Ellucian Banner Student and Ellucian Mobile at the preeminent Middle East institution. Ellucian's solutions will empower AAU to be more agile, efficient and data-driven as higher education evolves to meet the needs of today while also preparing for the future. "To create a modernized on-campus experience, we needed a partner with extensive experience in higher education, a keen understanding of the student experience, and a track record of continued investment in enhancing its solutions," said Al-Ahliyya Amman University President Dr. Sari Hamdan. "While attending Ellucian Live in 2019, we saw first-hand the positive impact Ellucian's offerings had on institutionsaround the world, and the specific benefit it could bring to our students and staff. We look forward to transforming the AAU digital experience with Ellucian and amplifying our international profile." "In these rapidly evolving and challenging times, institutions around the world are investing ahead of the curve in technologies that improve student experience overall," said Ellucian President and CEO Laura Ipsen (News - Alert). "We're excited to welcome Al-Ahliyya Amman University as our first customer in Jordan, and believe their innovative leadership and focus on student success will propel the university to the highest ranks in the region." "We are thrilled to work with Al-Ahliyya Amman University as they achieve their dynamic vision of an unparalleled digital experience for students and staff alike," said Ellucian Senior Vice President and Managing Director EMEA and APAC Darren Hunt. "Ellucian's solutions, combined with our higher ed specific expertise, will help modernize the on-campus experience and inspire other schools in the region to explore similar new technological solutions." Ellucian Technology to Support International Recognition and Ranking AAU is undergoing a campus-wide digital transformation initiative designed to improve the overall student experience by offering innovative technology solutions. Ellucian Banner will create a central repository for student data, enabling much easier access to information from mobile and other devices, as well as establishing tools to support student success. By streamlining student information management, Banner will help AAU deliver a more transparent and intuitive digital experience. ICC, a leading software and services provider in the Gulf countries, Middle East and North Africa, is an important strategic partner in this initiative. Leveraging its expertise in higher education in the region, ICC will support the implementation and management of Ellucian solutions and collaborate with the university to ensure it receives the highest quality service while addressing AAU's strategic business needs. The advanced capabilities enabled by Ellucian solutions will support AAU's position as a leader in its increasingly competitive higher education market and help to increase its ranking among other institutions in the region. By unifying institutional data on a single platform, the university will accelerate efforts to boost its accreditation and provide a foundation to add additional recruiting and advancement solutions in the future. COVID-19 Resources from Ellucian As institutions, educators, students, and staff face great change and disruption during the coronavirus outbreak, those who serve higher education are working together to help continue the delivery of vital services and ongoing education to students everywhere. In support of our customers, partners, and the higher education community, Ellucian is continually updating available resources, including webinars, articles and community discussions on business continuity, the CARES Act, online learning, student well-being and more. About Ellucian Ellucian is the market leader charting the digital future of higher education with a portfolio of cloud-ready technology solutions and services. From student recruitment to workforce analytics; from fundraising opportunities to alumni engagement; Ellucian's comprehensive suite of data-rich tools gives colleges and universities the information they need to lead with confidence. Working with a community of more than 2,700 customers in over 50 countries, Ellucian keeps innovating as higher education keeps evolving. Drawing on its comprehensive higher education business acumen and suite of services, Ellucian guides its customers through manageable, sustainable digital transformation-so that every type of institution and student can thrive in today's fast-changing landscape. To find out what's next in higher education solutions and services, visit Ellucian at www.ellucian.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005007/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Lambert Strether of Corrente. #COVID19 At reader request, Ive added this daily chart. The data is the John Hopkins CSSE data. Here is the site. Here are the major regions of the United States since pandemic start (linear scale): This is the same chart as yesterday, updated to show how much of an outlier New York is (and, to a lesser extent, its neighbor New Jersey). Nobody seems to be asking why, not even in the medical literature. Of course, one could argue that other states will be like New York soon enough. Politics But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51 They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord Since were getting closer to the election, maybe its time to start looking at the electoral map, updated June 15 and unchanged today: Click the map to create your own at 270toWin.com So, taking the consensus as a given, 270 (total) 204 (Trumps) = 66. Trump must win 66 from the states in play: AZ (11), FL (29), MI (16), NC (15), PA (20), and WI (10) plus 1 to win not tie = 102. 102 66 = 36. So if Trump wins FL, MI, NC, and PA (29 + 16 + 15 + 20 = 80), he wins. Thats a heavy lift. I think Ive got the math right this time! * * * 2020 Biden (D)(1): Biden fundraising surged in May [Politico]. Joe Bidens presidential campaign announced it raised $81 million last month, fueled by his rise in the polls against President Donald Trump and growth in his online fundraising operation. The $80.8 million haul by Biden and two committees associated with the Democratic Party came as Bidens campaign tripled the number of online donors since February and counted 1.5 million new supporters in the last few weeks, according to an email sent Tuesday to supporters. The new fundraising numbers partly reflect the full fundraising weight of the Biden Victory Fund, a joint enterprise with the Democratic National Committee established in May. Before the fund was established, Biden and the DNC raised $60.5 million in April, 30 percent less than the sum the campaign announced Monday. But its not just big donors fueling the campaign, which said in its email that half of its May donors were new and that educators remain the largest occupational group in its donor base. UPDATE Biden (D)(2): Kamala Harris is reportedly front-runner to become Bidens running mate [Atlantic Journal-Constitution]. Longtime lawmakers and young liberal activists, state party officials and Biden loyalists have been increasingly vocal about their view that in a moment of extraordinary national upheaval over race, Biden must give deeper consideration to placing a black woman on the ticket. Other African American women reportedly being considered are former Georgia lawmaker Stacey Abrams, who was unsuccessful in a 2018 bid for governor; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; U.S. Rep. Val Demings, who won her Florida congressional seat in 2016; and former national security adviser Susan Rice, who has never run for any office. Bidens VP is Bidens heir presumptive, and likely to run for President in 2024 and 2028. UPDATE Biden (D)(3): Warrens outreach to black voters could help VP standing [Associated Press]. Warren told an audience of more than 600 [at Higher Heights For America] that when her eldest brother died of the coronavirus in April he was alone. I couldnt be with him. But she said Biden called and told funny stories that made me laugh in a way that reminds us all of the good times that we have had with someone we have loved and lost.' I guess Im just an old-fashioned material benefits guy. Performative empathy doesnt make it with me. UPDATE Biden (D)(4): Warren allies send letter urging Biden to pick her as running mate [WaPo]. More than 100 liberal activists, leaders and celebrities signed a letter urging Joe Biden to select Sen. Elizabeth Warren as his running mate, intensifying pressure on the presumptive Democratic nominee from the left as he faces competing demands to pick a black woman. The letter portrays Warren (D-Mass.) as the best prepared prospect to serve as president and one uniquely capable of helping Biden politically in the November election. It asserts that he is already strong among nonwhite voters but could use help winning over disaffected voters who backed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the primary even as some of them have soured on Warren. A crisis election as big as 1932 requires a big running mate. So why not the best? says the letter, which bears the names of an array of left-leaning figures ranging from actress Jane Fonda to leading activists such as Ady Barkan and Charles Chamberlain. A crisis as big as 1932 also requires a big candidate at the top of the ticket, but never mind that. Much as it would be amusing to watch The Mother Of All SIster Souljah moments play out among the Black Misleadership Class after Biden picks Warren incidentally giving James Clyburn a richly deserved lesson in real-time karma I cant see it. Of Abrams, Bottoms, Demings, Harris, and Rice, only Harris and Rice seem to me to have the stature to succeed Biden. And, I suppose, Condi Rice, horrible though that may seem. What a pitifully thin bench. Trump (R)(1): Second Michigan poll shows Trump even farther behind, with Biden leading by 16 points [Detroit Free Press]. The damage done to President Donald Trumps standing in Michigan following recent protests outside the White House and in cities across the U.S. may have been even greater than originally believed, a new poll released to the Free Press said Tuesday. Two weeks ago, EPIC-MRA of Lansing, a polling firm that does work for the Free Press, released a survey showing former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, leading Trump 53%-41% in Michigan, a 12-point edge. But a second poll, started on May 31, a day after the first poll began, and concluded a day later than the first poll, on June 4, showed Biden leading Trump 55%-39% in Michigan, a 16-point margin. Michigan is not a swing state. * * * Realignment and Legitimacy The Still-Vital Case for Liberalism in a Radical Age [Jonathan Chait, New York Magazine]. David Shor is a 28-year-old political data analyst and social democrat who worked for President Obamas reelection campaign. On May 28, Shor tweeted out a short summary of a paper by Princeton professor Omar Wasow. The research compiled by Wasow analyzed public opinion in the 1960s, and found violent and nonviolent protest tactics had contradictory effects. [Moral panic ensued.] Civis Analytics undertook a review of the episode. A few days later, Shor was fired. And then theres the Lee Fang debacle. Chait, to me, is clearly in stopped clock mode here; hes accidentally right. I dont see this controversy as an argument for liberalism as such, but rather as a function of liberal society that it would be useful to retain. For example, I purchased probably ill-advisedly, its an enormous tome Yuri Slezkines House of Government, which describes Russian radicalism in the early 1900s. Its very clear that there was a strong tradition of debate, with arguments freely made, and people admitting victory or defeat. This is the very reverse of what Shor and Fangs detractors are trying to do (as well as those DSA morons who got Adolph Reed cancelled). If you want to act like a post-1917 Bolshevik youve got to deliver like the pre-1917 Bolsheviks did, and to have a party line, youve got to have built a party. Intra-PMC dogpiles dont cut it. Stats Watch At reader request, I added some business stats back in. Please give Econintersect click-throughs; theyre a good, old-school blog that covers more than stats. If anybody knows of other aggregators, please contact me at the email address below. Retail: Retail Sales Significantly Improves in May 2020 [Econintersect]. Retail sales SIGNIFICANTLY improved according to US Census headline data but still remains in contraction year-over-year. The three-month rolling average again declined.. There was an upward adjustment to last months data. The real test of strength is the rolling averages which declined. Overall, this report is considered much better than last month. Improved and good are not the same thing. Manufacturing: April 2020 Headline Manufacturing New Orders Continue In Coronavirus Decline [Econintersect]. US Census says manufacturing new orders significantly declined month-over-month with inventories declining modestly. Our analysis shows the rolling averages significantly declined and remain in contraction. It should be noted that this recession began with a drop in inventories and not an increase which is associated with other recessions. Manufacturing: May 2020 Headline Industrial Production Modestly Improves But Remains Deep In Contraction [Econintersect]. The headlines say seasonally adjusted Industrial Production (IP) declined month-over-month and remains deep in contraction year-over-year. Our analysis shows the three-month rolling average declined. Note that manufacturing is in contraction year-over-year and capacity utilization is also in contraction year-over-year. Consider this report insignificantly better than last month. Debt: March 2020 Loan Performance: Delinquency Rates Remain Low Despite Early Impacts of the Pandemic [Econintersect]. The Loan Performance Insights Report for March 2020 shows 3.6% of mortgages were in some stage of delinquency (30 days or more past due, including those in foreclosure). This represents a 0.4-percentage point decrease in the overall delinquency rate compared with March 2019, when it was 4%. * * * Mr. Market: Dow nearly erases all of its opening gains amid Powells Senate testimony [MarketWatch]. The U.S. stock market was seeing its opening gains evaporate as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell was delivering the first of two days of semiannual testimony in front of Congress. * * * Todays Fear & Greed Index: 52 Neutral (previous close: 53 Neutral;) [CNN]. One week ago: 67 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Jun 16 at 12:53pm. The Biosphere PG&E Likely to Plead Guilty to Multiple Deaths from Camp Fire [KNX10]. Pacific Gas & Electric is expected to plead guilty Tuesday to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter during a court hearing in which the nations largest utility will be confronted with its history of neglect and greed that culminated in a wildfire that killed 85 people and wiped out most of a Northern California town. Besides the mass killings, PG&E also will plead to one felony count of unlawfully causing a fire. Mass killings. Bigger and more frequent monster waves in Southern Ocean threaten to gobble up coastlines amid climate change [South China Moring Post]. Monster waves in the Southern Ocean that have already been shown to reach as high as eight-storey buildings will grow larger and more frequent under climate change, scientists report. Fortunately, there was little shipping traffic in the ocean; what vessels are operating range from icebreakers and research boats to fishing vessels and small cruise liners. Health Care Low-cost dexamethasone reduces death by up to one third in hospitalised patients with severe respiratory complications of COVID-19 (press release) [RECOVERY]. On 8 June, recruitment to the dexamethasone arm was halted since, in the view of the trial Steering Committee, sufficient patients had been enrolled to establish whether or not the drug had a meaningful benefit. A total of 2104 patients were randomised to receive dexamethasone 6 mg once per day (either by mouth or by intravenous injection) for ten days and were compared with 4321 patients randomised to usual care alone. Among the patients who received usual care alone, 28-day mortality was highest in those who required ventilation (41%), intermediate in those patients who required oxygen only (25%), and lowest among those who did not require any respiratory intervention (13%). Dexamethasone reduced deaths by one-third in ventilated patients (rate ratio 0.65 [95% confidence interval 0.48 to 0.88]; p=0.0003) and by one fifth in other patients receiving oxygen only (0.80 [0.67 to 0.96]; p=0.0021). There was no benefit among those patients who did not require respiratory support (1.22 [0.86 to 1.75]; p=0.14). Given the public health importance of these results, we are now working to publish the full details as soon as possible . It seems the key benefit is to reduce deaths for those who have gone on ventilators. But this is a press release. Coronavirus breakthrough: dexamethasone is first drug shown to save lives [Nature]. An inexpensive and commonly used steroid can save the lives of people seriously ill with COVID-19, a randomized, controlled clinical trial [the RECOVERY trial] in the United Kingdom has found. The drug, called dexamethasone, is the first shown to reduce deaths from the coronavirus that has killed more than 430,000 people globally. In the trial, it reduced deaths by about one-third in patients who were on ventilators because of coronavirus infection.. the pattern of response with a greater impact on severe COVID-19 and no effect on mild infections matches the notion that a hyperactive immune response is more likely to be harmful in long-term, serious infections, says Anthony Fauci, head of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. When youre so far advanced that youre on a ventilator, its usually that you have an aberrant or hyperactive inflammatory response that contributes as much to the morbidity and mortality as any direct viral effect. In principal, Im all for cheap, off-patent, already-tested drugs repurposed for COVID-19. But I think Nature should hold its water; this is a press release. Ditto Fauci, who wittingly or not ramped Gileads stock, also based on a press release about remdesivir. * * * Dr. Fauci Explains Why Public Wasnt Told to Wear Masks When COVID-19 Pandemic Began [The Street]. So, why werent we told to wear masks in the beginning? [FAUCI] Well, the reason for that is that we were concerned the public health community, and many people were saying this, were concerned that it was at a time when personal protective equipment, including the N95 masks and the surgical masks, were in very short supply. And we wanted to make sure that the people namely, the health care workers, who were brave enough to put themselves in a harm way, to take care of people who you know were infected with the coronavirus and the danger of them getting infected. United, other major airlines tell passengers to wear face masks or risk getting banned [MarketWatch]. United has required face masks for passengers since May 4, but on Monday, the airline said that starting June 18, those who dont comply with the rules will be placed on an internal travel restriction list, losing their travel privileges on United for a duration of time to be determined pending a comprehensive incident review. In a statement, United said flight attendants will first explain the policy and ask scofflaws to put on their mask, or offer them one. If they dont comply, flight attendants will do their best to de-escalate the situation and give them a written policy reminder card. If they still dont comply, the flight attendant will file a report of the incident, which will initiate a formal review process. Dont expect air marshals to drag out offending passengers no physical action will be taken onboard. Maybe hand them a mask? Swiss develop first see-through surgical mask [SwissInfo]. researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), EMPA has been working for two years on a completely transparent surgical mask. They have now finalised a biomass-based material to manufacture the so-called HelloMasks and have created a start-up called HMCARE, based on the Biotech campus in Geneva, to market them. You can find prototypes of masks that are partly transparent, but theyre just normal masks with some of the fabric replaced by clear plastic, Pelet says. Since that plastic isnt porous, however, it makes it hard for the wearer to breathe and fogs up easily. The EMPA and EPFL researchers spent two years finding the right combination of transparency, resistance and porosity. The masks are also biodegradable. Flushing the Toilet May Fling Coronavirus Aerosols All Over [New York Times]. Scientists have found that in addition to clearing out whatever business youve left behind, flushing a toilet can generate a cloud of aerosol droplets that rises nearly three feet. Those droplets may linger in the air long enough to be inhaled by a shared toilets next user, or land on surfaces in the bathroom. This toilet plume isnt just gross. In simulations, it can carry infectious coronavirus particles that are already present in the surrounding air or recently shed in a persons stool. The research, published Tuesday in the journal Physics of Fluids, adds to growing evidence that the coronavirus can be passed not only through respiratory droplets, but through virus-laden feces, too. Hmm. Has anybody done a study on COVID-19 in countries with sit-down toilets vs. those with squat toilets? Meanwhile, close the lid! The nose, it seems, is protected by bacterial guards [The Economist]. Nasal probiotic therapy to help people with chronic sinus infections. Speculating wildly, one wonders if theres a nasal probiotic approach to viruses. Most Coronavirus Tests Cost About $100. Why Did One Cost $2,315? [New York Times]. The question is, why dont all Coronavirus test cost $0? Because were in the midst of a pandemic? Black Injustice Tipping Point UPDATE This is lovely: It just took 3 hours to get across the Bay Bridge due to Black Lives Matters protest. Everyone around us seemed to understand. I am elderly & supposed to avoid crowds/ protests. I am happy that a protest found me. The young protestors were giving out water & cookies. Susan (@mission2e) June 15, 2020 Bethel police investigating 10 incidents after counter-protesters descended on BLM march [Cincinatti Enquirer (DJ)]. The Bethel Police Department is investigating about 10 incidents that stemmed from a clash between counter-protesters and a Black Lives Matter march on Sunday including a protester being punched in the back of the head. Police officials said the group Bethels Solidarity with Black Lives Demonstration worked with police for several days to coordinate the event on Plane Street. According to a statement, police said they expected 20 to 25 people. More protesters than expected showed up bringing the total to between 80 and 100 people, then counter-protesters began making their way to Bethel as well. These groups included several motorcycle gangs, back the blue groups, and second amendment advocates, Bethel officials said in the statement. The crowd swelled to around 800 people, police estimated, included about 250 on motorcycles. Interestingly, Jesse R. Grant, Ulysses S. Grants father, was Mayor of Bethel, for a time. Grant was born there. Police State Watch Horrified and disgusted beyond words' [Albuquerque Journal]. One man was shot in Old Town as a protest over the La Jornada sculpture in front of the Albuquerque Museum erupted into violence Monday evening. The shooting occurred during a clash following a peaceful protest to remove the controversial sculpture, a monument that features conquistador Juan de Onate. The night began with peaceful protest and prayer but tensions began to escalate when protesters took a pickaxe to the statue and members of the heavily armed New Mexico Civil Guard, a civilian group, tried to protect the monument. Heres the detail: The shooting occurred during a fight between a man in a blue shirt and people trying to pull down the statue. The man was pushed onto the street, and then protesters started advancing toward him, some threatening him. The man in the blue shirt pulled a can of pepper spray from his pocket and sprayed it. At that point, the man in the blue shirt appeared to have pulled a gun and fired about five shots, wounding one person. The man who was shot appeared to have been one of the individuals advancing on the man in the blue shirt. (This matches a lot of tweets I saw go by.) Note that creepy and disturbing as I find the mercenary stylings of the heavily armed New Mexico Civil Guard, they didnt do the shooting; it seems an outlier, Blue Shirt Dude, did. This is oddly parallel to Minneapolis, where the Third Precinct was also burned down by an outlier. Thats the locals. Now the Post Members of armed civilian group arrested, suspected gunman identified after man is shot at Albuquerque protest [WaPo]. In a second video that captured the moments following the shooting, the gunman sat in the middle of a road as the New Mexico Civil Guard members formed a circle around him. One man carrying a semiautomatic rifle, and wearing camouflage fatigues and a military-style helmet, kicked the handgun away from the man and stood with his foot on top of the weapon. At the very least, usurping a police function. I suppose Blue Shirt Dude could have been an agent provocateur, but that seems more devious than militias usually are. The hanging deaths of two black men were initially dismissed. Now they are getting intense investigations [Los Angeles Times]. When Malcolm Harsch, a 38-year-old Black man, was found hanging from a tree in Victorville two weeks ago, authorities said they saw no evidence of foul play. A week later, when Robert Fuller, another Black man, was discovered hanging from a tree in Palmdale, the initial cause of death was listed as suicide. But after protests and questions in the two deaths, the FBI announced Monday that it was examining both cases. Local authorities say both the Fuller and Harsch cases remain under investigation. For some, the specter of two Black men found hanging in separate High Desert communities in such a short time seemed suspicious. Ya think? Class Warfare Opinion: The United States of Despair is gripped by two simultaneous pandemics that expose a widening inequality gap [Anne Case and Angus Deaton, MarketWatch]. But the U.S. has been experiencing a great divergence at home for two generations, and COVID-19 promises to widen the countrys already vast inequalities in health and income. The effects of the virus are stratified by educational attainment, because those with more education are likelier to be able to continue working and earning from home. Unless they are among the highly educated workers in health care and other front-line sectors, they can sit back and watch the stock market propel the value of their retirement funds ever higher. By contrast, the two-thirds of workers who lack a four-year college degree are either nonessential, and thus risk losing their earnings, or essential, and thus at risk of infection. Whereas college graduates have largely been able to safeguard both their health and their wealth, less-educated workers must risk one or the other. For this reason, the income and longevity gaps that the trend in deaths of despair has revealed are now widening further. But while less-educated whites have borne the brunt of the first epidemic, African-Americans and Hispanics have been disproportionately killed by COVID-19. As a result, the previous convergence of white and black mortality rates has been derailed. Oddly, or not, falling life expectancy even for the Samders campaign has never been a political issue. And yet the numbers and the consequences are horrific. News of the Wired GitHub to replace master with alternative term to avoid slavery references [ZDNet]. Personally, Ive always thought that master-slave architectures were. oddly named. Perhaps the same with black list and white list. But what next? Block chain ? Thread For people who aren't software devs, here is what's wild about this: the "master" terminology for the main branch isn't from the "master/slave" complex of terms. It's named and functions on analogy with a "master recording" or "master tapes" it's the thing you make copies of. Jon Stokes (@jonst0kes) June 16, 2020 Github was acquired by Microsoft, so were seeing a big corporation taking out woke insurance. * * * Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (TH): TH writes: What? Yet more roses? Yep. * * * Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals: Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated. If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you! As the coronavirus really began to take hold in the U.S. earlier this year, experts warned that hospitals would soon be overrun with patients but health systems never ran out of beds, even in New York City. Between the lines: The hospitalization rate was much lower than predicted, ProPublica reports. Data from Wuhan, China, suggested that about 20% of known coronavirus cases required hospitalization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that for every person who died of the virus, more than 11 would be hospitalized. The real number is around four hospitalizations per death. State hospitalization rates vary from 6% to more than 20%, according to the COVID Tracking Project. In New York City, where around 20% of the adult population had coronavirus antibodies by mid-April, that translates to a hospitalization rate of about 2%, Nathaniel Hupert, an associate professor at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-director of the Cornell Institute for Disease and Disaster Preparedness, told ProPublica. Worth noting: Hospitals also were good at increasing their number of beds. And the number of non-coronavirus patients was drastically reduced, both because elective care was postponed and some patients with other emergencies stayed home. What we're watching: There were plenty of lessons learned from the first wave of the pandemic that can be applied going forward, particularly as the situation worsens in some states. Go deeper: Insurers limit which coronavirus tests they'll pay for Editor's note: The photo caption on this story has been corrected to note that it was taken in Washington, D.C. (not California). A 70-year-old Seattle man emerged from the hospital to cheers last month after 62 days of fighting COVID-19 on his way to getting a clean bill of health. Then he received a 181-page bill for $1,122,501.04 for his stay. Empty Hospital bed (Getty Images) Michael Flor recently showed the astronomical bill to the Seattle Times, noting that it's more an explanation of benefits because Medicare and other insurance will pay for nearly all of it. "I opened it and said holy (bleep)!" Flor told the newspaper. Flor's out-of-pocket costs after insurance are still $6,000, but he may not have to pay it because the stimulus package approved by Congress in May included $100 billion for hospitals and insurance providers to account for the costs of the coronavirus pandemic. Flor spent 62 days in the Swedish Medical Center in Issaquah, Washington, coming so close to death that a nurse one night held up a phone so his family could say goodbye. He shared the breakdown of expenses, which included $408,912 for 42 days in an isolation chamber, and $82,215 for the 29 days he was on a mechanical ventilator. I feel guilty about surviving, Flor told the Seattle Times. Theres a sense of, Why me? Why did I deserve all this?' Looking at the incredible cost of it all definitely adds to that survivors guilt. Flor is the latest coronavirus survivor to illustrate the astronomical costs of care associated with the illness. New York woman Janet Mendez, 33, told The New York Times that she received an invoice for $401,885.57 for spending 19 nights at Mount Sinai Morningside after falling ill with COVID-19 in late March and early April. The hospital reduced the bill by $326,851.63 as a result of a "financial assistance benefit," leaving Mendez on the hook for more than $75,000, which she submitted to her insurance carrier, Cigna. A hospital spokesman told the Times that Mendez receiving the bill for $401,885.57 was an isolated error and that no patient at the hospital is expected to directly pay for their COVID-19 care. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday delivered a watershed victory for LGBT rights, ruling that a landmark federal law forbidding workplace discrimination protects gay and transgender employees. The 6-3 ruling represented the biggest moment for LGBT rights in the United States since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. In the new ruling, the justices decided that gay and transgender people are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex as well as race, color, national origin and religion. Workplace bias against gay and transgender employees has remained legal in much of the country, with 28 U.S. states lacking comprehensive measures against employment discrimination. The rulings in two gay rights cases from Georgia and New York and a transgender rights case from Michigan recognize new worker protections in federal law. The ruling was authored by conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017. Chief Justice John Roberts, another conservative, along with the courts four liberal justices, joined Gorsuchs opinion. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh dissented from the ruling. Trumps administration had opposed the LGBT workers in the litigation. The legal fight focused on the definition of sex in Title VII. The plaintiffs, along with civil rights groups and many large companies, had argued that discriminating against gay and transgender workers was inherently based on their sex and consequently was illegal. Trumps administration and employers accused of discrimination in the cases argued that Congress did not intend for Title VII to protect gay and transgender people when it passed the law. An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex, Gorsuch wrote in the ruling. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids. The court ruled in two consolidated cases about gay people who have said they were fired due to their sexual orientation. One involved a former county child welfare services coordinator from Georgia named Gerald Bostock. The other involved a New York skydiving instructor named Donald Zarda who died after the litigation began, with the matter then pursued by his estate. The court also ruled in a case that involved a transgender funeral director named Aimee Stephens fired by a Detroit funeral home after revealing plans to transition from male to female. Stephens died in May. Stephens wife Donna is now representing the estate. Trumps Justice Department reversed the governments position taken under Democratic former President Barack Obama that Title VII covered sexual orientation and gender identity. Strongly supported by evangelical Christian voters, Trump has taken actions that have undermined gay and transgender rights since taking office in 2017. Trumps administration last week issued a rule that would lift anti-discrimination protections for transgender people in healthcare. His administration also has backed the right of certain businesses to refuse to serve gay people on the basis of religious objections to gay marriage, banned most transgender service members from the military and rescinded protections on bathroom access for transgender students in public schools. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley in Washington; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham) Low turnout greeted the first day of re-opening for final year students of tertiary institutions which were compelled to shut down in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country. Ghanaian Times reporters visited various campuses and observed that the University authorities have taken delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including face or nose masks, liquid soaps, tissue papers and thermometer guns from the National Council of Tertiary Education (NCTE), which are to be used by lecturers and teachers to protect themselves. Although some have maintained their virtual class work model through on-line learning and teaching during the three months absence of physical presence on campus, others have taken advantage of easing of the restrictions to recall students to campus to complete the academic calendar. At the University of Ghana, Legon campus, some students were seen arriving at their various halls of residence to resume academic work. As directed, hygiene protocols to help stop the spread of the virus had been put in place at the various lecture and residential halls. While, the Central University College and the Ghana Telecom University College took advantage of the online learning and teaching to the extent of conducting examinations for their final year students the Methodist University College has however recalled the students to campus to use six weeks for assessment and examinations for both postgraduate and Level four students numbering about 1,200. Professor Asabere Ameyaw, President of the Methodist University College, said enough measures to promote social distancing and personal hygiene had been instituted to check the spread of the disease campus. He said students had been asked to bring their own food from home due to the closure of the canteen and were dissperse as soon as lectures or examinations were over adding that a COVID-19 response team was on stand-by to respond to any unforeseen circumstances that may come up. At the Ghana Telecom University College, Vice President, Professor Isaac Abeku Blankson said as ICT oriented institution, they took advantage of the on-line platform to complete the academic calendar well ahead of time. At the Central University College at Mataheko, the reporter was informed by the security personnel present that the students have completed their examinations,thus,there was no need for them to return to campus. AMA TEKYIWAA AMPADU AGYEMAN, REPORTS that at the Koforidua Technical University(KTU), lectures started at about 7:00 AM with both lecturers and students wearing their nose masks. Security personnel at entrance had the thermometer guns and were checking temperatures of all who entered the campus. Veronica buckets were also placed at the entrance and vantage points of the university to promote proper and regular hand washing. Registrar of KTU, Dr Nii Annang Mensah-Livingston explained that the university was expecting about 3, 600 final year students to return to complete the semester and write their examinations. He said lecture halls had also been rearranged and their sizes reduced in line with the Presidents directive, adding number of students in our GETFund Hostels has also been reduced and our COVID-19 Response team had also interacted with private hostel owners to also observe the safety protocols. In case of emergencies, he noted that an isolation room had been made available while awaiting the Eastern Regional COVID-19 response team to pick them up for further health checks. At the All Nations University, the Registrar, Reverend Adraina Ion said final year students would not be returning physically as they would be completing their courses online, adding that, safety protocol measures had been put in place at the University. DAVID O. YARBOI-TETTEH REPORTS from the Winneba campus of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) that few students had reported to campus as of 11:00 AM yesterday. Their temperatures were taken as some officials handed over to the students their face masks. The Public Relations Officer of UEW, Ernest Azutiga, said the institution had received 38,000 facemasks and other essentials to be distributed to the students and lecturers in all the four campuses of UEW including Winneba, Ajumako, Kumasi and Ashanti Mampong. He indicated that, management of UEW had also installed 137 automatic hand sanitisers at the various academic facilities and halls of residence on campus. At the University of Cape Coast (UCC), arriving students underwent protocols including hand washing, use of sanitisers, temperatures taken and students identity checked before being allowed to enter the hall. At the Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU), the atmosphere was calm with few of the students going through the registration process. Some of the students who were staying outside campus, had also moved to take up residence on campus in order to protect themselves from contracting the virus. Public Relations Officer of CCTU, Fred Opare Baako said the institution had taken delivery of over 5,000 face masks, thermometer guns, liquid soaps, Veronica buckets and tissue papers from the government. The authorities, he said, had put in place measures to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. From Takoradi, Clement Adzei Boye, reports that the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and Takoradi Technical University (TTU) had reopened to students for academic work to begin. The Registrar of UMaT, Mr Matthew Kwabena Okrah indicated that, to safeguard the health and safety of the University community, the Security Unit would enforce the No Mask, No Entry directive. He announced that students would report to the UMaT Clinic upon arrival, for screening from June 15 to 17. Additionally, the Security Unit would further ensure that there would be no mass gatherings including church services or meetings, association meetings, or any form of gathering of students apart from lectures on campus. The management assured students and parents that it was working to ensure the safety of all members of the university community. For his part, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for TTU, Kow Richardson, explained that final years would spend four weeks for lectures in addition to the virtual lectures which took place during the close- down of school. This, he said, would be followed by a two-week examination. All students and lecturers, he noted, would be provided with the needed PPEs including hand sanitisers and nose masks with no mask, not entry notices posted at all vantages points. KINGSLEY E.HOPE in KUMASI reports from the Kumasi Campus of UEW that, there was low turnout at the time of visit by the Ghanaian Times as at 11:30 am. The few students that had reported were given personal protection equipment by management of the institution as it was observed that Veronica buckets were strategically being fitted. Some of the few students who were spotted on campus during the Ghanaian Times visit could not hide their joy for the reopening of lectures as they claimed staying home for long made them rusty. Similarly at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), there was very low turnout at the campus on the first day of re-opening school although management had instituted safety protocols as directed. At Christian Service University College, a private university, at Kwadaso in Kumasi, the institution was already two weeks into their take home virtual examination with one week to complete. It was gathered that, the final year students were already done with their examination and working on their thesis as management of the institution was already preparing for the 2020/2021 academic year. Source: The Ghanaian Times Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Days after they appeared to have settled the six-weeks-long eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation between their troops along the undefined Line of Actual Control (LAC), India and China, on Monday evening engaged in their first deadly conflict in at least 45 years, resulting in 20 deaths on the Indian side, including that of a commanding officer, and possibly 43 casualties including injuries on the Chinese side, pushing the bilateral relationship between the two nuclear powers to an all-time low. The immediate spark for the conflict at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh isnt known, although it could have been about Chinese soldiers dragging their feet about removing some of the installations they erected in May in an area India claims as its own. The troops have since disengaged, the Indian Army said in a statement confirming the number of dead at 20. Indian Army officials claimed 43 Chinese were killed or seriously injured, citing radio intercepts and other intelligence. HT couldnt independently verify this. Also read: Have disengaged, says Indian Army day after 20 soldiers killed in clash with PLA The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava blamed Chinese troops for the incident, and referred to the meeting between army commanders of the two sides on June 6 that agreed on a process of de-escalation after the two sides deployed heavily on their respective sides of the LAC, which has never been defined. While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect LAC in the Galwan Valley, he said. Colonel Zhang Shuili, a spokesperson for the PLAs Western Theater Command, in turn, blamed India for the clashes, on similar lines that the Chinese foreign ministry did earlier. In the evening of June 15, in the area of the Galwan Valley on the Sino-Indian border, the Indian Army, contrary to its commitments, once again crossed the LAC and carried out illegal activities, deliberately launching provocative attacks, Zhang said in a statement issued in Mandarin. Earlier, a spokesperson for that countrys foreign ministry said that on June 15, the Indian side severely violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line and attacked the Chinese forces. Also read: Proud that our son gave his life for country, say parents of Col Santosh Babu Experts said the motives for Chinas aggression in eastern Ladakh could be varied. Is this about Indian infrastructure development along the DSDBO [Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie] road? Article 370? To settle the border unilaterally on their terms through fait accompli? General assertiveness East and West? Something else? asked Vipin Narang, associate professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These are the first Indian casualties in a border skirmish with the Peoples Liberation Army since October 1975 when Chinese troops ambushed an Indian patrol in Arunachal Pradeshs Tulung La sector and shot four soldiers dead. However, no shots were fired this time. Hindustan Times has learnt rival soldiers exchanged blows, threw stones at each other and Chinese troops even attacked Indian soldiers with rods and nail-studded clubs during the brawl that went on for over six hours. Under an informal understanding between the two sides, evolved over years of discussions over a contentious LAC, forward troops either do not carry guns, or, if they do, keep them slung on their backs with the magazines in pouches and not clipped on. Some soldiers on both sides fell into the water. This wasnt the first time the two armies engaged in fisticuffs or used stones and rods to attack each other in the area. In New Delhi, defence minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the developments along the LAC and also held two meetings with chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs to assess the ground situation and review options, defence ministry officials said. External affairs minister S Jaishankar was also present in one of the meetings. Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane cancelled a scheduled visit to Pathankot on Tuesday in the wake of the border confrontation. The Chinese army also suffered casualties in the face-off but there was no immediate confirmation of the numbers.Indian Army officials who asked not to be named said 43 may have died or been injured. They added that enhanced air activity was witnessed on the Chinese side, possibly indicating the bodies of the PLA soldiers were being lifted. The flashpoint came when the Indian soldiers removed an observation post set up by the Chinese troops on the Indian side of the LAC, officials said. The deceased included Col B Santosh Babu, commanding officer of 16 Bihar, Havildar K Palani of 81 Field Regiment and Havildar Sunil Kumar Jha, also of 16 Bihar. The army statement added that 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand-off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total killed in action to 20. The army said the incident took place at a time the de-escalation process was underway in the Galwan Valley. It said senior military officials of the two sides met to defuse the situation. Major General Abhijit Bapat, commander of the Karu-based HQs 3 Infantry Division and his Chinese counterpart held talks at the site of the clash. The outcome of the talks was not immediately known. The ongoing border scrap began with a confrontation between rival patrols near Pangong Tso on the night of May 5-6. It now seems to have gone from bad to worse even as army delegations from India and China have held a series of discussions along the LAC to break the stalemate. Former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd) flagged concerns about the serious escalation along the LAC, saying that it reflected the heightened tensions on the ground. This will require diplomatic intervention, he said. The deadly clash came on a day army delegations from India and China held talks at two locations along the LAC --- brigadier-ranked officers met in the Galwan Valley and Colonel-ranked officers in Hot Springs --- as part of continuing efforts to resolve the standoff. Army chief General Naravane last week said disengagement of Indian and Chinese forces was taking place in a phased manner along the LAC where the situation was under control. Officials said limited disengagement of forces at Galwan Valley, Patrolling Point 15 and Hot Springs began after a meeting between Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the Peoples Liberation Army in the South Xinjiang region, on June 6. The situation remains tense at Pangong, which has been at the centre of the ongoing border scrap and where troops are still locked in a face-off. Last months violent confrontations between Indian and Chinese soldiers in eastern Ladakh and north Sikkim triggered a military buildup on both sides of the LAC that stretched from Ladakh to Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, as reported by Hindustan Times last week. The Chinese buildup began immediately after clashes between border troops in Ladakh and Sikkim on May 5-6 and May 9, and predated the June 6 meeting between Lieutenant General Singh and his Chinese counterpart. HT was the first to report on May 10 about border tensions between India and China flaring up when 150 soldiers were involved in a tense standoff in north Sikkim a day earlier. Four Indian and seven Chinese soldiers were injured at Naku La during the confrontation. Scores of soldiers from the two countries were also injured near Pangong Tso on the night of May 5-6, with the scuffle involving around 250 men. We remain firmly convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity, the external affairs ministrys Srivastava said. (With inputs from Sutirtho Patranobis in Beijing and Rezaul H Laskar in New Delhi) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Yahoo Life Videos Mining kids original thoughts as a source of entertainment has a long and cute history, from Johnny Carsons reading of school-age kids letters on the Tonight Show in the 1970s and Rosie ODonnell sharing childrens jokes on her 1990s talk show, to Jimmy Kimmel featuring kids in video bits and, of course, the ongoing series Kids Say the Darndest Things and Kids React. But with Recess Therapy the runaway-hit Instagram series that asks kids on the street to weigh in on topics from superheroes to climate change creator, host and producer Julian Shapiro-Barnum is looking to shift from that groundwork. I use it kind of as a counter text [to the] vetted kids who have gone through probably a couple rounds of interviews, he tells Yahoo Life. I've always found what makes Recess Therapy special is that it can be any kid no studio [or] casting call or anything. Its really just the kids walking around Brooklyn. And unlike some of the historic ways of approaching kids and their humor, he adds, I try to meet them exactly where they're at and, like, feel like a peer with them a little bit. RICHMOND, Va. - Police fired a chemical irritant, stun grenades and rubber bullets at protesters outside police headquarters Monday night, the second straight night of angry demonstrations at the downtown building in Virginia's capital. A crowd of about 200 to 300 people had converged on the headquarters to find riot police, an armored vehicle and a line of city dump trucks and work trucks forming a barrier around it. Social media accounts showed photos and videos of police shooting at least three rubber bullets at protesters who wielded laser pointers. A little more than an hour into the confrontation, officers fired numerous canisters that cleared people out of a parking lot across the street from the headquarters. It was a much quicker and more severe response than the night before, when protesters kept up a tense confrontation until nearly 2 a.m. Monday before police used tear gas to clear them out. The standoff that began Sunday evening was sparked by an incident in which a city police vehicle struck several demonstrators on Saturday. One person was taken into custody after authorities said she crossed a police line and struck with a bullhorn an officer who tried to stop her. Richmond police said Monday that three officers were injured Sunday, and several city vehicles and privately owned buildings were damaged or vandalized. The department said pepper spray was deployed after the crowd disregarded warnings to disperse. The confrontation began Sunday, shortly before 10 p.m. outside Richmond police headquarters on Grace Street. A crowd of about 300 protesters, many dressed in black with black head and face coverings, converged in a parking lot across the street from the building. They confronted several dozen officers in riot gear, standing in a line along the block and holding clear shields. An armored vehicle was behind the police in the entrance to the building's parking garage. Several officers looked down from the roof. City dump trucks had been stationed at either end of the block to seal it off to traffic. Almost immediately, the officers put on gas masks. Soon a helicopter was circling overhead, aiming a spotlight onto the crowd. The protesters chanted "Black Lives Matter" and "no justice, no peace," while several stood close to the officers yelling profanities and shining lights in their faces. Some protesters carried knives on their hips; one had a samurai sword in a sheath. The police wore body armor, carried rifles and kept their hands on what appeared to be cans of pepper spray. They were from both city and state police, joined later by Henrico County police. One protester, a recent law school graduate, said she was pepper-sprayed for trying to record the badge numbers of officers. After the pepper spray was deployed, the crowd backed up a little. But protesters surged forward again, yelling taunts. Police deployed spray a second time after a protester seemed to lunge at an officer, who pushed the man back with his shield. Around 10:50 p.m., some protesters began telling others in the crowd to leave or back off. A young woman who had been helping lead the protest had been taken into custody early in the confrontation, and several others now told the crowd that they wanted to de-escalate as part of negotiations to have the woman released. About two-thirds of the group left. Those who remained stepped back and urged one another not to provoke the police or throw anything. They chanted "Let her go" and "We won't leave without her," referring to the person taken into custody. By midnight, the number of protesters had grown again. More police had come onto the street as well. They once again stood face to face, but the tension seemed to have ebbed. Protesters confronted individual officers with messages that ranged from profane taunts to heartfelt pleas for peace. "Why you fighting against people you're supposed to protect?" one man asked an officer who stared straight ahead. "You got your hand on your pepper spray," another man said. "Do you not see the problem here, man?" When one officer seemed to be physically overcome and stooped to remove his gas mask, some protesters ridiculed him while others stepped in to defend him. "We're not against him," one man said. The crowd thinned over the next two hours, and many of the officers - who were regularly rotated off the line with fresh replacements - had removed their gas masks. But shortly before 2 a.m., they fired tear-gas canisters into the parking lot. Some protesters hurled them back. Many dispersed, but social media images showed a few keeping up the vigil into the morning hours. "This demonstration escalated into rioting and violence that lasted throughout the night and into the early morning hours," Richmond Police Chief William Smith said in Monday's statement. "Last night's actions far exceeded what is considered to be lawful First Amendment activity. Organizers were intent on provocation and creating mayhem by throwing rocks and other objects at the officers on duty, who showed great restraint in response to these attacks." The event that sparked the confrontation took place Saturday evening. A police SUV drove up onto a curb, striking multiple people who were blocking the vehicle's path near the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Avenue, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. No one appeared to be seriously injured, the newspaper said. Several videos of the incident were posted on social media. The incident occurred as demonstrations continued in Richmond and elsewhere after the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. Early Sunday, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a Democrat, tweeted that he was asking the local commonwealth's attorney for a "full investigation" into the Saturday night incident. "While the investigation is underway, I have instructed the Richmond Police Department to place the officer involved on administrative leave pending the result of the investigation," Stoney tweeted. Stoney has also called for a disciplinary review of officers who tear-gassed peaceful demonstrators at the Lee statue earlier this month. - - - The Washington Post's John McDonnell contributed to this report. INDIANAPOLIS, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced today that less than 30 percent of people with migraine are taking a recommended prescription medication, highlighting the need for improvement in migraine care. These data are from the initial cohort of the OVERCOME ( O bser v ational Survey of the E pidemiology, T r eatment and C are o f M igrain e ) study, which collected responses from more than 21,000 people living with migraine. The OVERCOME study aims to further understand the burden of migraine and stigma experienced by people living with the disease, identify barriers to the appropriate treatment of migraine and assess how the introduction of novel treatment options may influence delivery of migraine care and outcomes. The results were shared during the American Headache Society's 2020 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting. "For millions of people living with migraine, the journey to an appropriate treatment program is fraught with gaps," said Susan Hutchinson, M.D., Orange County Migraine and Headache Center, Irvine, CA and scientific advisor to the OVERCOME study. "There are a variety of reasons at play, but it begins with the fact that many may not realize what they are experiencing is a migraine and not just 'another bad headache.' By increasing understanding of this disease, both among the public and with healthcare providers, we can improve the chances a person living with migraine will take the important step of receiving a diagnosis and ultimately, receive appropriate treatment." Using data from OVERCOME, the authors assessed the proportion of people living with migraine and migraine-related disability - as measured by the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) - who completed three critical steps in migraine management: 1) actively sought care with a healthcare professional, 2) received a migraine diagnosis, and 3) took a recommended prescription medication1. The objectives were to assess how many respondents completed each step and to understand migraine-related characteristics such as migraine pain severity and related disability, sociodemographic features and where respondents sought care for their migraine. Among OVERCOME respondents with migraine who may benefit from acute prescription medication and experienced at least mild migraine-related disability (MIDAS>6) (n=12,212), 63 percent sought care (n=7,695) and of those, 75 percent were diagnosed with migraine (n=5,802). Within the diagnosed population, only 59 percent took a recommended acute prescription medication (n=3,401). Overall, only 28 percent of the population completed all three steps to appropriate care. Among OVERCOME respondents who were candidates for a preventive medication (n=5,873), which includes people who experienced four or more migraine headache days per month and moderate or severe migraine-related disability (MIDAS >11), 69 percent sought care (n=4,053) and of those, 79 percent received a migraine diagnosis (n=3,218). Of those who sought care and received a diagnosis, only 28 percent took a preventive medication for migraine (n=902). Overall, only 15 percent of this population completed all three steps to appropriate care. "Even in light of recent new treatment options in the field of migraine, we still face an uphill battle as too many continue to be underserved," said Robert E. Shapiro, M.D., Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont and scientific advisor to the OVERCOME study. "An important aspect of migraine care that is truly diminished and may contribute to these findings is the stigma felt by many living with the disease. A person's reluctance to seek care or take medication for their migraine can be rooted in the fear of how a friend, employer, or even a loved one may view them for doing so." For both populations, possessing health insurance and higher levels of migraine-related disability increased the likelihood that respondents would complete all three steps. Another common theme across both populations was approximately 10 percent of respondents sought care in an emergency room, urgent care or retail clinic setting only and as a result, were unlikely to receive an accurate diagnosis or take a recommended medication. "The OVERCOME study provides a snapshot into the current state of migraine in America, while reminding us there is much work to be done," said Eric Pearlman, M.D., Ph.D., senior medical director, U.S. neuroscience, Eli Lilly and Company. "We are in a golden era for migraine care with the introduction of new therapeutic options for both the acute and preventive treatment of the disease, but if we don't address the need for better education, less stigma and improved access to care, we are falling short." About the OVERCOME Study The O bser v ational Survey of the E pidemiology, T r eatment and C are o f M igrain e (OVERCOME) study aims to further understand the burden of migraine and stigma experienced by people living with the disease, identify barriers to the appropriate treatment of migraine and assess how the introduction of novel treatment options may influence delivery of migraine care and outcomes. The OVERCOME study is a prospective, web-based patient survey designed to follow U.S. population samples with migraine for two years following their enrollment. The first population sample of 21,143 began enrollment in 2018. In parallel to this population sample, the OVERCOME study also included 10,000 people who did not have migraine, providing a unique perspective about how migraine is perceived by those who do not have the disease. The second population sample of 20,782 with migraine was initiated in late 2019. About the OVERCOME Scientific Advisory Board The OVERCOME study is being conducted by Kantar on behalf of Eli Lilly and Company with expert guidance provided by some of the leading voices in migraine research today, including: Richard B. Lipton (Study Chair), M.D., Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Director, Montefiore Headache Center, Montefiore Health System (Study Chair), M.D., Department of Neurology, of Medicine and Director, Montefiore Headache Center, Montefiore Health System Sait Ashina , M.D., Department of Neurology and Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, and Harvard Medical School , Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center , M.D., Department of Neurology and Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, and , Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Dawn C. Buse , Ph.D., Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Clinical Health Psychology Doctoral Program of the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University , Ph.D., Department of Neurology, of Medicine, Clinical Health Psychology Doctoral Program of the Ferkauf Susan Hutchinson , M.D., Orange County Migraine and Headache Center , M.D., Orange County Migraine and Headache Center Michael L. Reed , Ph.D., President, Vedanta Research , Ph.D., President, Vedanta Research Robert E. Shapiro , M.D., Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve upon the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and www.lilly.com/newsroom/social-channels. P-LLY 1 Recommended medications refer to those with established/probable efficacy as identified by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN)/American Headache Society (AHS) guidelines (Silberstein SD, et al. Neurology. 2012; 78:1337-1345) and the AHS position statement regarding new migraine treatments (American Headache Society. Headache. 2019; 59:1-18). SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company Related Links http://www.lilly.com Tilt Biotherapeutics, a Helsinki, Finland-based clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, secured an additional 6.2m in funding. The round included 4.5m equity featuring a 0.5m convertible loan and a long-term Government loan from Business Finland of up to 1.7m. Since its formation in 2013, the company has secured 17.5m of funding with investors including Lifeline Ventures and Finnish private investors as well as the European Innovation Council, and Business Finland. In addition, Tilt has also secured additional payments through a collaboration with Biotheus for licensing rights to TILT-123 in Greater China. The company intends to use the funds to advance its proprietary cytokine armed oncolytic adenovirus, TILT-123, into Phase 1 clinical trials in Europe and the United States, and to prepare for Phase 2 trials. TILT-123 has completed GLP preclinical studies and CMC for Phase 1 studies. These studies are planned in solid tumors as TILT-123 monotherapy or in combination with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) or checkpoint inhibitors. Tilt will also use the funding to develop an innovative production process to scale up GMP manufacturing. Established in 2013 as a spin-out from the University of Helsinki, and led by CEO Akseli Hemminki, a biotech entrepreneur and cancer clinician who has personally treated almost 300 patients with ten different oncolytic viruses, Tilt is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cancer therapeutics based on its proprietary oncolytic adenoviruses armed with molecules including cytokines that can stimulate, or suppress, T cells. The companys patented TILT technology, which can be delivered locally and systemically, modifies the tumor microenvironment and eliminates its ability to suppress immune responses to cancer, thereby enhancing T-cell therapies such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T therapies. Its lead asset, TILT-123, is a 5/3 chimeric serotype adenovirus armed with two human cytokines; TNF alpha and IL-2. The approach has been recognized by industry leaders including Germanys Merck KGaA and the USAs Pfizer, who are collaborating to investigate TILT-123s therapeutic effect in combination with the PD-L1 inhibitor, Avelumab (Bavencio), in clinical trials. In 2019, Tilt established an additional partnership with Biotheus, a privately held Chinese company based in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China, for the development and commercialization of TILTs proprietary oncolytic virus TILT-123 in Greater China. The company also announced two new appointments to its board of directors, Kenneth Forssell, an entrepreneurial leader with over 25 years experience in global pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including GSK, and Pekka Mattila, co-founder and CEO of Desentum Oy. In addition, Jyrki Liljeroos has been appointed to an advisory role for the board of directors. FinSMEs 16/06/2020 Depending on who you believe, Virgin Australia is either set to return a prettier competitor to Qantas or a toothless crone set to putter until Singapore Airlines takes over. But putting the fear-mongering aside, there are a few pieces of solid information among the rumours Australian travellers ought to know. Of course, no-one has a crystal ball. But industry experts predictions are the next best thing. Enter: Cyrus Capital (one of the two remaining firms left in the bidding for Virgin Australia) senior advisor, Jonathan Peachey, who recently said Virgin had become too complex and corporate as it had become a full-service Qantas rival. Crucially, as the Sydney Morning Herald reports, After running at a loss for each of the past seven years, Mr Peachey said Virgins financial performance could be turned around within two to three years if it was simplified and focused on profitable routes, subject to how quickly the market recovers from COVID-19. As for stock holders: We absolutely believe the business can return to the public markets as well, Mr Peachey said. Were fully expecting to remain involved to that point and then beyond. Theres no intention or need to do a quick flip here. Mr Peachey, who previously ran the Virgin Group in the USA, also said: We would like to bring back that core DNA of the Virgin brand and reinvigorate the service and the culture, relaunching Virgin Australia as a smaller, simpler middle-market airline. This would include a savvy-priced business class alongside cheap (but not Jetstar cheap) leisure travel fares. The business should sit below that very top tier of where Qantas plays so strongly in, and above and maybe overlapping slightly where Jetstar sits. We dont intended to take the business right the way down to the ultra-low cost space we dont think the market needs that with Jetstars presence. As Professor Rico Merkert, Professor and Chair in Transport and Supply Chain Management at the University of Sydney (and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Air Transport Management) told DMARGE recently, this could be the perfect time to make such changes: Having the fleet currently grounded due to COVID-19 is actually good and potentially a perfect time for a take over as there would be no disruption to the operations and as it will take at least another 2-3 months before the skies are open again. There would also be some time for re-branding campaigns etc. Professor Merkert also told DMARGE: If Virgin gets one strong holder and a clear strategy that focuses on a simplified domestic network then I would see them as a profitable, economy supporting and job generating enterprise in 5 years time. How might this be achieved? One example of cutting complexity, turning back to Cyrus advisor Mr Peachey, would be to shut down Virgin Australias loss-making budget wing Tigerair something Mr Peachey has suggested would happen in the event of a Cyrus takeover. This is also something that appears consistent with Virgin Australias current CEOs plans. As The Sydney Morning Herald reports, Stripping Virgins domestic fleet back to its Boeing 737s (it has 85 in the group) and replacing its long-haul Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s with new Boeing 787 Dreamliners is a key part of current Virgin CEO Paul Scurrahs turnaround plan. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Peachey endorsed Mr Scurrah and his management team and said Cyrus was we are very much in alignment with them. As the situation stands right now, Cyrus Capital and Bain Capital are the final two bidders for Virgin Australia, with the final deadline for bids being the 22nd of June. Read Next Global money transfer service Azimo is offering free remittances to migrant workers after the United Nations called for a zero-fee remittances day. The company will offer a fee-free transfer to all customers on June 16, the UNs International Day of Family Remittances. The UN created the International Day of Family Remittances to raise awareness of the contribution that migrant workers make to the developing world. In 2019, remittances overtook foreign direct investment as the largest source of capital flowing into developing countries. The majority of remittances go to rural areas where 75% of the worlds poorest people live. Globally, the accumulated remittances to these areas over the next five years are expected to reach $1 trillion. Most of the money is spent on essential goods and services, and more than half of all Azimo transfers are for day-to-day family support. Richard Ambrose, Azimo CEO, said: Migrant workers are some of the most entrepreneurial and hard-working people in the world, their contribution to the global economy in both the public and private sector is vast and underappreciated. It is difficult to imagine a society without migrant workers. Nearly 30% of the doctors and 20% of the nurses in the NHS are foreign-born. These people have been risking their lives on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis, often while supporting family members in their home country. The food production and retail industries that have kept the country functioning during lockdown also could not operate without migrant labour. Were pleased to offer fee-free transfers on June 16 to anybody who needs to send money to their loved ones. One billion people around the world are involved in family remittances, with 200 million migrant workers sending money home to their 800 million family members. Middle and low-income countries received around $550 billion of remittances in 2019. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said: Family remittances have a direct impact on the lives of one billion people one out of seven individuals on Earth. Added together, remittances are three times greater than Official Development Assistance and surpass Foreign Direct Investment. Azimo operates one of the largest online money transfer networks in the world. Customers in 25 European countries can send money to more than 200 countries and territories. Kaitlyn Bristowe after being strung along with proposal implications on Monday's recap of her season as The Bachelorette was instead invited to join DWTS. The 34-year-old reality star appeared remotely alongside boyfriend Jason Tartick, 34, during the second half of 'The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons Ever!' from their Nashville home and told host Chris Harrison, 48, about how they met on her podcast before they both expressed their gratitude for the Bachelor franchise. 'By the way, I know you mentioned meeting your future wife . ...You know I'm an ordained minister,' Chris said. Surprise proposal: Kaitlyn Bristowe after being strung along with proposal implications on Monday's recap of her season as The Bachelorette was instead invited to join DWTS 'Oh, are you?,' Jason replied. 'Oh my gosh. Don't even do this. My stomach just sank because I was like, wait is this happening right now?' Kaitlyn said. Kaitlin checked Jason's pocket and thought she felt a ring box, but it turned out just to be his earphones case. 'I love that we just zinged her and didn't even try to,' Chris said. Remote appearance: The 34-year-old reality star appeared remotely alongside boyfriend Jason Tartick, 34, during the second half of 'The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons Ever!' from their Nashville home The host: Chris Harrison reminded the couple that he was an ordained minister leading Kaitlyn to believe that Jason was about to propose to her Cute couple: Jason and Kaitlyn, shown last November in Santa Monica, California live together in Nashville He added: 'In all seriousness, I do have a real question for you Kaitlyn. This is a question I'm so excited to ask you because, well, your life is about to change.' 'What?,' Kaitlin said anxiously before checking with Jason and asking him, 'Do you know about this?' 'Kaitlyn, will you be on the next season of Dancing With The Stars?,' Chris asked her. Inside knowledge: Kaitlyn turned to Jason and asked if he knew what Chris was about to ask her The Canada native was clearly stunned and gasped before excitedly asking, 'Are you serious?' 'Play it cool Kaitlyn, play it cool!,' she then told herself while trying to constrain her exhilaration. Kaitlyn proclaimed that she was on the verge of tears and told Chris the invitation was a complete surprise. Clearly stunned: The Canada native was clearly stunned and gasped before excitedly asking, 'Are you serious?' 'That is the last thing in the world I thought you were going to say. I thought you were going to ask me to take over your job ... I don't know,' she said. 'Is that a yes?' Chris asked. 'Yes, yes! I'm so honored to say yes,' she replied. Invitation accepted: 'Yes yes! I'm so honored to say yes,' Kaitlyn replied to Chris Kaitlyn grew up in Alberta, Canada as the daughter of a ballerina and moved as an adult to Vancouver, British Columbia for a dance scholarship and also became a spin-class instructor. She was a contestant on season 19 of The Bachelor and was the star of season 11 of The Bachelorette. Jason competed on season 14 of The Bachelorette starring Becca Kufrin, 30. Kaitlyn last month released her debut single If I'm Being Honest and the catchy pop country tune ranked on Billboard's Emerging Artists Chart. New song: Kaitlyn, shown in a still from last month's finale of The Bachelor: Listen To Your Heart, released her debut single If I'm Being Honest and the catchy pop country tune ranked on Billboard's Emerging Artists Chart Greatest ever: Shawn Booth and Kaitlyn are shown in a still from season 11 of The Bachelorette, which was recapped on Monday's episode of 'The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons Ever!' She and Jason started dating in January 2019 and live with their two golden retrievers in Nashville. Hannah Brown, 25, who starred on season 15 of The Bachelorette in November won season 28 of Dancing With The Stars. The Bachelor contestant Melissa Rycroft, 37, competed on seasons eight and fifteen of DWTS and won the Mirrorball Trophy her second time around. Reigning champion: The Bachelorette star Hannah Brown last November won season 28 of Dancing With The Stars with pro partner Alan Bersten The staffer who secretly recorded a phone call last month between Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and GOP leaders may have committed a felony if nobody on the call authorized the recording, according to a memo from the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau. Citing the LRB memo, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, who is a candidate for the 5th Congressional District, renewed pressure on Evers to reveal who in the governors staff recorded a May 14 phone call between Evers and Republican legislative leaders. If the governor didnt know that his staff was recording him, this is a bigger problem than he thinks, Fitzgerald said in a statement. The governor should be in control of his office the buck stops with him. So if one of his staff committed a felony, he needs to hold that person accountable. Like most states, Wisconsin, is a single-party consent state, meaning one legally does not need to disclose that he or she is recording a conversation if that person is a party to the conversation. A Monday legal memo from LRB chief Rick Champagne notes Evers chief of staff Maggie Gau and chief legal counsel Ryan Nilsestuen as the only staffers from the governors office to announce as participants on the call. According to the LRB memo, the recording would be legal if it was recorded or authorized by Gau or Nilsestuen. In other words, it is not unlawful for a person who is a party to the communication to record or authorize another person to record the conversation without the knowledge or consent of the other parties, according to the memo. Nilsestuen said during a Thursday media briefing that staff had authorized the recording, but would not say who authorized or recorded the call. Illegally recording a phone call is considered a Class H felony, subject to a fine of up to $10,000 and six years in prison. Evers has declined to identify the staffer who recorded his conversation with Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, after the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Evers stay-at-home order. None of the three knew the call was being recorded by one of Evers staffers. Evers office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the LRB memo. While Evers has said staff will not record future phone conversations, he has declined to share what, if any, disciplinary action would be taken. The incident has prompted bipartisan calls for the staffer to be fired, with some Republicans comparing Evers to former Republican President Richard Nixon for the secret recording. The governor needs to immediately make clear who from his office created the recording, who authorized it, and what disciplinary actions his staff is facing, Fitzgerald said. After bipartisan condemnation of these actions, he also needs to assure legislators that no more recordings exist between our members and the governor or his staff. Capitol secrets: 10 little-known facts about the state Capitol Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Head of Kherson regional council Vladyslav Manger censor.net.ua This morning, officers of State Security Service of Ukraine detained Vladyslav Manger, the head of Kherson regional council, who is suspected of ordering and organizing an attack on Ukrainian journalist Kateryna Handziuk, in one of Kherson's hospitals. They are transporting him to a court hearing that will take place in Kyiv. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General on Telegram. "Pursuant to the decision of the investigating judge of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv, on June 16, 2020, the Security Service of Ukraine detained, the head of Kherson Regional Council, a suspect in ordering and organizing an attack on Kateryna Handziuk," the statement said. Now law enforcement officers are taking him to the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv, where the investigating judge will consider the request of the Office of Prosecutor General to remand him in custody without the possibility of bail. As we reported earlier, the person of interest in the murder case of Kateryna Handziuk Vladyslav Manger filed the complaint to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). It is obvious that Ukraine got for the answer our appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which we filed last year. Finally, as I understand, it is communicated. Toward the fact that during a year a person is accused of a crime but the case is not passed to the court, no evidence provided, Manger's lawyer Dmytro Ilchenko noted. A wrangle between the Department of Education and the Information Commissioner over school fire safety records has gone to the High Court after the Department appealed a direction to release the reports under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation. The case is among a number of FOI decisions reviewed by Information Commissioner, Peter Tyndall, last year. The case involving the Department of Education centres on a request for fire safety assessments carried out at a large number of schools where structural defects were detected. The Department said it had commenced legal proceedings against a named construction firm and argued that the documents were in draft form, commercially sensitive, being deliberated on, and sub judice and that it was not appropriate to make them publicly available. The Information Commissioner, however, dismissed the Departments arguments and directed it to release the school fire safety records in the public interest. The Department has appealed that direction to the High Court, which has yet to determine if the records should be released. Separately the Commissioner has called for a review of the Freedom of Information Act to include the establishment of an appeals tribunal to reduce the burden on courts and to broaden the Act to include all bodies in receipt of significant public funding. After five years experience of operating the 2014 FOI Act it is clear to me that there is considerable room for improvement. I have made a number of recommendations aimed at improving the Act for everyone, including users and public bodies, Mr Tyndall said. His annual report also highlights lengthy delays in the Central Policy Unit of the Department of Public Expenditure, which can determine if bodies are included under the Act. The Commissioner said the inclusion of the Office of the Secretary General to the President under the Act had been re-opened but that no decision has been made in two years. While I understand that the advice of the Office of the Attorney General was sought, it is difficult to understand how it can take so long for a determination to issue, he said, adding he has no option but to wait for a decision. This is yet further evidence, in my view, of the need to revise this provision, and of the need to conduct a review of the overall operation of the Act, Mr Tyndall stated. The Information Commissioner received 65 requests to review FOI decisions last year the highest number of review requests in 10 years. Almost 40,000 FOI requests were made to all public bodies last year, representing an increase of 179% over the last 10 years, the annual report shows. The HSE received the most FOI requests in 2019, accounting for more than 11,500 requests or 30% of all requests to public bodies. Most of the requests to the HSE were for personal information. The Commissioner also expressed frustration over the number of frivolous and vexatious requests and applications received by his office: It is a source of immense frustration for all those charged with operating the FOI regime that such individuals appear to have no regard for the significant administrative burden that this creates. 3 1 of 3 NOAA Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Right on schedule, dust from the Sahara Desert is headed our way. The African dust cloud is slowly traveling westward across the Atlantic Ocean. Small amounts of the dust could land in Southeast Texas next week, according to Houston's ABC 13. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pia Ohlin and Camille Bas-Wohlert (Agence France-Presse) Malmo/Stockholm, Sweden Tue, June 16, 2020 07:48 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdefee00 2 World Sweden,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,coronavirus-effect,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,COVID-19-death-toll,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,summer-vacation Free Sweden has long enjoyed a strong reputation as a world leader on issues like gender equality and human rights, but its reputation is taking a beating over its softer approach to the new coronavirus, with Swedes now unwelcome across much of Europe. As many European nations reopened their borders on Monday, at least seven countries have barred Swedes from entering -- including closest neighbors Denmark, Norway and Finland -- and five others require them to quarantine if they do enter. As of Monday, the Scandinavian country had 4,891 COVID-19 deaths -- and one of the highest death rates in the world at 484 deaths per million. Finding itself in the position of pariah is uncharted territory for Sweden, named by the Reputation Institute as the world's most reputable country in 2016, 2018 and 2019 lauded for its transparency, safety and universal healthcare and for being ethical and progressive. But for now, Sweden's approach to corona has left the country in the cold and many Swedes have had to cancel their summer travel plans. Sven Hultin, a 54-year-old human resources executive, was, like many Swedes, taking the criticism in his stride. "I talk with people across the world all the time and they really do not share the same hostile view as communicated by media and politicians," Hultin told AFP. But if people "are scared of us for any reason, that is their coping strategy and I respect it," he said, adding his family had had to cancel trips in Europe this summer. What were they thinking? Anna Holmryd, a 57-year-old civil servant, said she didn't understand the focus on Sweden, saying "the virus doesn't recognize borders." "I think we have as much coronavirus in Sweden as in other countries but everyone is talking a lot about Sweden... I think it is strange to distinguish between countries," she said. Alejandra Pizarro Correa, a 44-year-old entrepreneur, said she thought "the image of Sweden has changed quite a bit. People are wondering what Sweden was thinking." Unlike most nations, Sweden never locked down to curb the virus' spread, instead allowing schools for under-16s to remain open, as well as restaurants, cafes, bars and most businesses. Swedes were, however, urged to work from home if possible, and respect hygiene and social distancing guidelines. Those over the age of 70 and in groups at risk were urged to stay home. Visits to homes for the elderly were also banned and gatherings limited to 50 people. Nikola, a 39-year-old who works in customer service for an insurance company, said European countries were right to lock Swedes out. "They're right. We haven't taken corona seriously compared to other countries. We have almost 5,000 dead in Sweden, there are not even 5,000 dead in all the other Nordic countries combined," he told AFP. Ewa Lagerqvist, the head of national tourism organization Visit Sweden, said the negative press "has of course affected Sweden's image" abroad and there would be fewer tourists than usual this summer. But she was confident things would eventually return to normal, with Visit Sweden already seeing more interest in the country now than a few months ago. "Many [tourists] come to Sweden because they're interested in our lifestyle, nature and culture," she told AFP. Will wounds heal? Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde said she was worried about the negative view of Sweden abroad, especially in the Nordic region where strong cross-border ties have existed since the 1950s, including passport-free travel. "I'm worried that the Nordic cooperation will be negatively affected," Linde told daily Dagens Nyheter on Sunday. "Suddenly there's rivalry and hard feelings between people where there haven't even really been borders before." "I'm worried about how long these wounds will last," she said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven insisted that the situation was improving in Sweden. "During a period where we have a high number of people being tested, it looks like we have a sudden increase in cases. But the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 is going down and the number of deaths is going down. So authorities have to start comparing apples with apples, instead of apples and oranges," he told Swedish Television on Sunday. Reports of one member of the British royal family surfaced amid the ongoing movement and protest of Black Lives Matter. Princess Michael of Kent is christened as the most controversial member of the royal family. She is Queen Elizabeth II's first cousin-in-law. Princess Michael has earned an ill-famed character for being hating towards people of color. New reports of her racism have surfaced once again because of a recent testimony by a TV personality and founder of "The Beautiful Body" lifestyle website, Nicole Young. Nicole Young is a lifestyle expert, and according to her website, she remembered the offensive encounter she had with Princess Michael from way back 2004. Speaking to the New York Post, the expert detailed the incident and claimed that the Princess had candidly told her to go back "to the colonies." Nicole said, "I think about it every single day." She also believes that Princess Michael may be the reason why Meghan Markle didn't want to live at Kensington Palace. "Can you imagine Meghan Markle having to live next door to that?" When the original occupants beside Prince William and Kate Middleton's apartments didn't want to budge, namely, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry were supposed to take the flats near Princess Michael, as per The Sun. "The fact that they would have Princess Michael living at Kensington Palace, knowing she's hideous, is outrageous," Nicole told the New York Post. "And they wanted Meghan to move there? No." pic.twitter.com/vJ577YudOq Anyone else remember Princess Michael of Kents choice of jewelry when she met Meghan? The nastiness she dealt with came from INSIDE the house too. So glad they are free to pursue what happy means to them. #Meghan ShashiChi (@ShashiChi) January 8, 2020 In 2017, Princess Michael sparked controversy after wearing a Blackamoor brooch. It is a style that displays black people as slaves. She allegedly wore it at Queen Elizabeth II's annual Christmas lunch where she was about to meet Meghan Markle for the very first time. When her actions were put in the spotlight, Princess Michael apologized. Princess Michael the Racist Royal Though it already happened 16 years ago, it was when Nicole had an exclusive dinner in the celebrity hangout restaurant, Da Silvano. There were other high-profile people at the event, such as AJ Calloway, Tamera Reynolds and music producer Philmore Anderson. Seated right next to them was Princess Michael. Speaking to the New York Post in 2004, Nicole recalled, "We were loud, laughing and carrying on. But it's Da Silvano - it's a boisterous place." However, Prince Michael was said to be unimpressed and pissed off that a couple of minutes after she arrived, the royal said to have slammed her open palm on the table and demanded the other party to be quiet. Nicole Young's company was mortified and said to have been shocked at what the woman did, said that it usually happened in a "school classroom," but never in a restaurant. After that moment, Princess Michael has reportedly requested to move to another table. She then allegedly pumped her fist, saying, "You need to go back to the colonies!" Nicole explained how furious she felt, sharing, "I got up and went to her table in the back and let her have it. AJ came up behind me and whispered in my ear, 'Don't make yourself the criminal.'" She then said she will never ever forget that incident and have always reminded herself to always speak up when you know somebody is being rude and disrespectful towards you. READ MORE: Meghan Markle Failure: Palace Sees Danger Signs JUST Days After Prince Harry Wedding ATLANTA, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power is offering a special payment plan to help customers with past-due account balances accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers who enroll will be able to pay past-due balances over a six-month timeframe between October 2020 and March 2021 with no late fees. The suspension of disconnections has also been extended until July 15 to continue assisting customers through the impacts of COVID-19. In addition to the special payment plan, Georgia Power is offering customers the following options: For customers enrolled in PrePay: Georgia Power customers who are currently enrolled in this plan and have past-due account balances can make payments for current energy usage and have a portion of their payments (25 percent) go toward their outstanding balance. No late fees will be charged if outstanding balances are paid before April 2021 . Georgia Power customers who are currently enrolled in this plan and have past-due account balances can make payments for current energy usage and have a portion of their payments (25 percent) go toward their outstanding balance. No late fees will be charged if outstanding balances are paid before . For customers not enrolled in PrePay: Georgia Power customers with past-due account balances may be eligible to switch to the PrePay rate plan. Customers can sign up by July 15 with no deposit to take advantage of its special provision for paying outstanding balances with no late fees if paid before April 2021 . "We recognize that our customers across the state have endured an extraordinary burden due to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Kevin Kastner, Georgia Power vice president of Customer Service. "We appreciate the support of the Georgia Public Service Commission as we work to help our customers navigate through these unprecedented times." Georgia Power customers can sign up for a special payment plan at www.georgiapower.com/paymentplan, by logging onto My Account on www.georgiapower.com, or by calling 1-888-660-5890. Relief on summer bills On June 1, Georgia Power announced that the typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours will receive an $11.29 credit on their June Georgia Power bill. This reflects implementation of a one-time $51.5 million credit for customers, approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC also recently approved Georgia Power's plan to reduce its fuel rates by 17.2 percent and total billings by approximately $740 million over a two-year period. The implementation of a special interim reduction will provide customers additional relief during the COVID-19 pandemic through even lower fuel rates over the upcoming summer months. The lower fuel rate and special interim reduction will lower the total bill of a typical residential customer using an average of 1,000 kilowatt-hours by a total of $10.26 per month from June through September 2020. Energy Assistance Programs Georgia Power partners with nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations to offer assistance programs to those in need. These programs include: Georgia Power's Senior Citizen Discount Georgia Power customers 65 years of age or older who meet the income requirements for eligibility can receive up to $24 a month off their bill. Georgia Power customers 65 years of age or older who meet the income requirements for eligibility can receive up to a month off their bill. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Georgia Power supports the Division of Family & Children Services to help qualifying, low-income households pay their home energy bills. Georgia Power supports the Division of Family & Children Services to help qualifying, low-income households pay their home energy bills. The Salvation Army's Project SHARE Established in partnership with The Salvation Army, Georgia Power customers can provide assistance to residents in the same community for expenses, such as utility bills, housing, food and medical necessities. Visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/EnergyAssistance for more information. Tips, Tools & Resources Georgia Power encourages its customers to use online tools to help manage their energy such as the My Power Usage program, a free service connected to many Georgia Power online accounts that allows customers to track their daily energy use, project their monthly bill, and set daily or monthly usage alerts. Customers can take advantage of the company's free Online Energy Checkup. The 15-minute quick and easy service provides a customized report to help customers understand their energy use and find ways to save money where you can use your actual power bills to give you a customized report. You will enter information about your home and family to measure how you use energy. Whether customers own a home or rent, tailored tips are available at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Save. This site also includes access to a variety of rebates and incentives for both homes and businesses. Energy efficiency measures for customers include continued development and implementation of new plans and programs approved in the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan. About Georgia Power Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower [facebook.com]), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower [twitter.com]) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power [instagram.com]). SOURCE Georgia Power Related Links http://www.georgiapower.com "Visit Myrtle Beach is gearing up for a very important season. Our attractions, hotels and restaurants are looking forward to providing memorable experiences to guests. Our 60 miles of coastline is just one of the many draws that bring travelers to Myrtle Beach from near and far," said Karen Riordan, president and CEO of Visit Myrtle Beach. "It's time to get back to where we all belong and cherish time spent outdoors with those who matter most. We are excited to welcome people back to the Grand Strand, and we encourage travelers to visit Myrtle Beach responsibly." The Grand Strand provides an array of experiences that will leave you feeling refreshed with a healthy dose of sunshine and Vitamin D. From riding the waves at the beach, digging your toes into the sand, kayaking through beautiful marshes or eating authentic Southern-style cuisine, Myrtle Beach is home to it all. Wide Open Spaces: There are few places as beautiful as Myrtle Beach State Park to connect with nature, find total solitude and discover a sense of freedom amidst scenic oceanfront views and wildlife viewing. By day, you can fish at the nearby Myrtle Beach Pier or hike the trails and by night, pitch a tent and roast marshmallows over a fire while looking up at the stars. to connect with nature, find total solitude and discover a sense of freedom amidst scenic oceanfront views and wildlife viewing. By day, you can fish at the nearby or hike the trails and by night, pitch a tent and roast marshmallows over a fire while looking up at the stars. Camping is a great way to enjoy the beach and nature while social distancing! The Myrtle Beach area is the "camping capitol of the world" and offers many camping options, from tent camping to mega RV parks loaded with amenities. area is the "camping capitol of the world" and offers many camping options, from tent camping to mega RV parks loaded with amenities. Home to more than 900 works by 300 of the greatest names in American sculpture history, Brookgreen Gardens is a haven for cultural experiences without the crowds. After all, it is on the site of a former rice plantation. Visitors can learn about Lowcountry History, view masterful art sculptures, observe wildlife native to the area and explore the Southern Light exhibit by British artist Bruce Munro . This collection of large-scale illuminated works of art were designed specifically for the natural garden rooms at Brookgreen Gardens. Tickets can be found here. . This collection of large-scale illuminated works of art were designed specifically for the natural garden rooms at Brookgreen Gardens. Tickets can be found here. The Radical Ropes Adventure Park in Myrtle Beach is an exhilarating aerial park with kid-friendly activities the whole family can enjoy. Experience adrenaline-pumping action on the extreme zip lines or visit the Kids Course for simple obstacles. Whatever adventure you choose, guests can take in incredible views of the ocean from the tree line. Adventure on the Water: Enjoy pristine wilderness and the untouched natural environments of Myrtle Beach during a not-to-miss kayak tour at Black River Outdoors. This private guided eco-tour will take you through beautiful salt marshes where you can catch glimpses of wildlife, including alligators, snakes and more. during a not-to-miss kayak tour at Black River Outdoors. This private guided eco-tour will take you through beautiful salt marshes where you can catch glimpses of wildlife, including alligators, snakes and more. Visitors who love the water will have to experience Action Water Sportz. They provide jet ski rentals, dolphin watch tours and more to satisfy every aquatic adventure need. It's here, guests can explore the beautiful Intercoastal Waterway while taking in scenic views of the Grand Strand. In the charming neighborhood of North Myrtle Beach , travelers can discover the Shark Wake Park for cable wakeboarding, knee boarding or a fun floating obstacle course with slides, climbing towers and more Outdoor Dining with a View: At Sea Captain's House, patrons can experience an authentic seafood meal while gazing out to sea on their outdoor patio. The restaurant is located on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach and provides a great atmosphere and even better southern hospitality. and provides a great atmosphere and even better southern hospitality. On the serene shores of Murrells Inlet , visitors can head to Drunken Jack's and enjoy culinary fare in the seafood capital of South Carolina . Sit out on the patio to experience panoramic views of the beautiful marsh while indulging in seafood and drinking incredible spirits. Visitors can also see wildlife, including goats and peacock's, while sitting outdoors at Drunken Jack's and gazing out at the nearby Goat Island. , visitors can head to Drunken Jack's and enjoy culinary fare in the seafood capital of . Sit out on the patio to experience panoramic views of the beautiful marsh while indulging in seafood and drinking incredible spirits. Visitors can also see wildlife, including goats and peacock's, while sitting outdoors at Drunken Jack's and gazing out at the nearby Goat Island. RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar is an oceanfront dining destination along the Grand Strand coastline and Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. With a laid back atmosphere and dynamite food, RipTydz is a great spot to relax and enjoy the ocean breeze with a drink in hand. The menu includes a mix of fresh seafood, steak, tacos and more. More details on these experiences and planning your 2020 Myrtle Beach getaway can be found at VisitMyrtleBeach.com. For lodging deals, check out https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/hotels/deals/ We also encourage you to visit Myrtle Beach responsibly: https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/plan/visitor-resources/healthy-travel-information/. About Myrtle Beach, S.C. Stretching from Little River to Pawleys Island and comprising 14 distinct communities, the Myrtle Beach area is home to 60 miles of sandy beaches, an assortment of entertainment and family attractions and world-class golf. Popularly known as the Grand Strand, the Myrtle Beach area presents the quintessential vacation experience peppered with plenty of Southern hospitality. For additional information on the Myrtle Beach area, visit www.VisitMyrtleBeach.com or call (888) Myrtle-1. SOURCE Visit Myrtle Beach NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lavazza Group, the Italian Coffee manufacturer founded in 1895, is delighted to announce the appointment of Davide Riboni, President of the North and Latin American Lavazza businesses (known as LPCC, or Lavazza Premium Coffee Company) to also lead as President of Lavazza Professional NAAP (North America Asia Pacific). The appointment expands Riboni's duties to lead both portfolios, which include the Flavia system and Lavazza Expert range, products key to the goal of leading the OCS segment. Davide brings 6 years of experience within the Lavazza Group. He led the Group Commercial Strategy department in HQ in Turin, Italy from 2014 to 2016, before moving to the US to become President & CEO of LPCC. Davide has led LPCC through a deep turnaround, resulting in a doubling of the business size. Prior to joining Lavazza Group, Davide spent several years working in the Consumer & Retail practice of AT Kearney and The Boston Consulting Group. The appointment comes as part of the Lavazza Group's ambitious plans for the future, to further reinforce its position as a leader in the coffee business. This announcement follows a number of successful acquisitions, expanding Lavazza from an Italian company with international distribution, to a multi-national, multi-brand, global business with continued plans for growth. Lavazza Group saw a revenue increase of over 18 percent in 2019, following organic growth and acquisitions, including the purchase of the Drinks business from Mars Inc. in 2018 (now Lavazza Professional Business Unit). About Lavazza Group Lavazza, founded in Turin in 1895, has been owned by the Lavazza family for four generations. As one of the world's most important coffee roasters, the Group now operates in more than 140 countries through its subsidiaries and distributors, with 70%of turnover generated on international markets. Lavazza employs a total of over 4,000 people and in 2019 generated sales of 2.2 billion. Companies that form part of the Lavazza Group include France's Carte Noire and ESP (acquired in 2016 and 2017 respectively), Denmark's Merrild (2015), North America's Kicking Horse Coffee (2017), Italy's Nims (2017), and the business of Australia's Blue Pod Coffee Co (2018). At the end of 2018, following an acquisition, the Lavazza Professional Business Unit was created, which includes the Office Coffee Service (OCS) and Vending systems Flavia and Klix. Contact: Will Davis [email protected] 212-463-7245 SOURCE Lavazza Group Several people are sharing fond memories of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, after his death on Sunday. One of them is writer-director Charudutt Acharya, whose father PB Acharya was the governor of Assam from 2014-19. In a Facebook post, Acharya has recalled how Sushant visited the state when it was ravaged by floods in 2018, and made a donation of 1.25 crore, with no fanfare. He wrote, The news of Sushant Singh Rajputs death has plunged my family in a pall of sadness. All four of us were HUGE fans. The missus had a special soft corner for him, since his super hit Pavitra Rishta serial days. She would always tell me, Charu see this boy will go very far. He will be the next SRK from TV. Just watch... He was getting there...and now this... Acharya continued, But one person who is genuinely gutted without having seen a single serial or movie of Sushant Singh, is my father PB Acharya. From 2014 to 2019, my father was the Governor of the state of Nagaland. In 2018, a massive flood had ravaged the state. The government of Nagaland had put out an appeal to all the citizens of the country to donate to the CMs Flood Relief Fund. At that time, Sushant was shooting in Delhi. Sushant came to Dimapur, and handed over a cheque of 1.25 crores to the CM Neiphiu Rio. There was no fanfare. There was no major publicity. (He had made a similar quiet donation of 1.25 crores to the Kerala CMs Fund too), Acharya added. Later, he called my father in Kohima and spoke quite warmly. My father thanked him for his kind and large hearted gesture and invited him to Kohima. Sushant expressed his desire to visit Kohima too. But the journey from Dimapur to Kohima is only by road and takes four hours. And in the flood situation, it could have taken much longer. And Sushant had to rush back to Delhi for his shoot. Acharya concluded, So he returned to Delhi from Dimapur itself, promising to visit Kohima and the rest of the state, someday soon. That never happend. And now, most unfortunately, will not happen ever. But the people of Nagaland and the Government of Nagaland will remember Sushant Singh Rajput for ever. Yeh hoti hai asli hero ki entry. At the time, Sushant had replied to the CMs gratitude, and written in a tweet, Thank you Sir for your precious time. We,with our full force and determination would work incessantly till the time our #Nagaland is perfectly restored. And this wonderful Gong does make a wonderful sound of friendship. Thanks once again Sir. I am moved at the kind gesture made by @itsSSR and his team towards #NagalandFloods and willingness to help #Nagaland at this crucial hour. Your contribution is encouraging and I hope to see the rest of the nation come forward selflessly, to #DonateForNagaland pic.twitter.com/8ieoGohd0J Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) September 4, 2018 Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs US-based sister reveals what her son said when she told him Mamu is no more Sushant died by suicide on Sunday, at the age of 34. He was reportedly suffering from depression. He was cremated at Mumbais Vile Parle crematorium on Monday, and the service was attended by the likes of Shraddha Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Abhishek Kapoor and others. The actor was known for his acclaimed performances in films such as MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Sonchiriya, Kai Po Che, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, among others. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON American motorcycle brand Harley Davidson is offering a discount of worth Rs 90,000 on its Street Rod 750 for defence personnel who buy the vehicle from the Army Canteen. According to a report, non-army people will be given a discount of Rs 56,000 while those in the defence services will get an additional discount of Rs 33,394 which in total will reduce the price of their motorcycle by Rs 90,000. Whoever wants to buy the Street Rod motorcycle can get the same through various Harley Davidson dealerships across the country. Originally, the price of this bike was Rs 6.55 lakhs ex-showroom, but after the discount, it has come down to Rs 5.99 lakh ex-showroom. However, it must be noted that the price cut is currently only available for Vivid Black colour. Other shades of the motorcycle like River Rock Gray Denim, Stone Washed White Pearl and Performance Orange will cost Rs 68,000 more. Also Watch: Interested buyers need to deposit a sum of Rs 10,000 to make the booking and pay a minimum of 15 per cent of the bikes on-road price for being eligible to get the EMI option. For the unversed, Harley Davidson Street Rod is the second most affordable motorcycle from the American brand. The cheapest one though is the Harley Davidson Street 750. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 08:36 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf03bd6 1 National human-rights,law,justice,reconciliation,Komnas-HAM,Attorney-General-Office,Paniai,investigation Free The sluggish handling of past human rights violations has raised questions about the governments commitment to resolve them, as the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) declared 2019 a gloomy year for the human rights agenda. The commission cited its frustrations at the current back-and-forth with the Attorney Generals Office (AGO) after the latter sent back preliminary investigation dossiers on the Paniai tragedy in Papua, reportedly citing administrative errors. The case, widely referred to as the Bloody Paniai case, occurred when security forces opened fire at a crowd of demonstrators in the Karel Gobay Field in Madi district, Paniai regency in December 2014. The incident, which was declared a gross human rights violation by Komnas HAM in February this year, claimed the lives of five students and left 21 other civilians injured. The commission has written twice to President Joko Jokowi Widodo providing options for resolving past human rights abuses, Komnas HAM commissioner Amiruddin Al Rahab recently said, to little effect. He argued that the Paniai incident presented an opportunity for the government to take that first step toward resolving past cases. The time span of the cases [may be too] long. We believe that the recent incidents could be solved first if there was the will to do so, said Amiruddin. Komnas HAM has fulfilled all the material requirements necessary for an investigation, so it is up to the attorney general to use the human rights paradigm in solving these cases. According to Komnas HAMs own records, at least 11 other cases of alleged gross human rights abuses have been left in abeyance since the commission submitted its dossiers to the AGO. Among them are the Trisakti and Semanggi shootings between 1998 and 1999. Read also: Jokowi vows to settle past human rights abuse cases. But which ones? A leading expert at the Office of the Presidential Staff (KSP), Donny Gahral Adian urged the AGO to resolve the Paniai case as soon as possible, saying that the government could not afford to have its commitment to human rights thrown into doubt. If there is such a case like Paniai, the government urges the AGO to resolve the case as quickly as possible so that [the facts become] clear and the victims are afforded their rights, he said. To be clear, [the governments] commitment to upholding human rights cannot be doubted because the government wants rights to be respected, valued and upheld in line with Pancasila. Read also: 'We demand proof, not promises': Papuans urge Jokowi to bring justice to Paniai tragedy The commission has questioned the AGOs insistence that it must provide complete evidence of its investigation into cases of human rights abuses, although it is not legally allowed to do so. Citing Law No. 26/200 on human rights courts, commissioner Munafrizal Manan has said that Komnas HAM is authorized only to conduct a penyelidikan (preliminary investigation), which determines whether or not a case constitutes a violation. Read also: Palace denies 2014 Papua killings constitute gross human rights violation The investigation dossier of the Paniai case has been returned twice to Komnas HAM, on March 19 and May 20, with the AGO arguing that the dossier had yet to satisfy requirements. AGO spokesman Hari Setiyono denied Komnas HAMs claim that it was reluctant to follow up on past human rights abuses, saying that the office had also given clear instructions for the commission to be able to meet administrative requirements. The letter from the Attorney General as a penyidik [investigator] to the Komnas HAMs penyelidik [examiner] is very clear on that. There is no reluctance on the governments part, in this case the AGO, in processing this case, Hari told The Jakarta Post via text messages last week. In its annual report, Komnas HAM said that 2019 was a gloomy year for human rights, noting that progress on the issue was sluggish as politics took center stage last year. The commission highlighted several key events, including riots in Jakarta in May following protests over the result of the presidential election, and another riot in September following mass protests against the House of Representatives plan to sign controversial bills into law. We all know that the situation is not conducive for human rights as there are many instances of hate speech, as well as the Mays riots, said Amiruddin. Those claimed peoples lives and until now, have not been properly investigated. Komnas HAM received 2,757 complaints from the public across Indonesia last year. The top four complaints were related to rights to welfare (1,119 complaints), rights to justice (888 complaints), rights to safety (130 complaints) and the right to life (93 complaints). The majority of the complaints were related to land and labor disputes as well as unlawful conduct in law enforcement and threats of violence, among others. This shows that the basic rights of human beings are still an issue in this country, said Munafrizal. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Tuesday that the violent face-off in the Galwan Valley region in eastern Ladakh on Monday happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally the change status quo India and China have been discussing, through military and diplomatic channels, to de-escalate the situation in the Galwan Valley region in eastern Ladakh, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday. Spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava asserted that the violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change status quo. The MEA said that both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had agreement arrived at earlier at higher level been scrupulously followed by Chinese side. "Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). We expect the same of the Chinese side," MEA spokespeson Anurag Srivastava said. "We remain firmly convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity," the MEA added. The violent face-off between Indian and Chinese solders in eastern Ladakh on Monday was the first such incident involving fatalities after a gap of 45 years and signalling a massive escalation in the five-week border standoff in the sensitive region. An Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed during the violent clash on Monday, however, the extent of casualties on the Chinese side is not immediately clear. Meanwhile, the Chinese military has accused the Indian troops of crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The state-run Global Times newspaper quoted the People's Liberation Army Western Theatre Command spokesperson as saying that "Indian troops again crossed the line of actual control in the Galwan Valley region and purposefully launched provocative attacks, leading to severe clashes and casualties." It did not elaborate. With inputs from PTI 48th Fighter Wing downed aircraft, pilot found deceased By 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published June 15, 2020 RAF LAKENHEATH, United Kingdom (AFNS) -- One pilot was killed when their U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle crashed at approximately 9:40 a.m (BST) June 15, in the North Sea. The name of the deceased pilot is being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified. The aircraft, from the 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, was on a routine training mission with one pilot on board at the time of the crash. U.K. search and rescue were called to support. The cause of the crash is under investigation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Many have spent this extra time at home digging through their closets and basements, spring cleaning their homes and apartments albeit a little bit more universal than usual given the recently lifted lockdown. In excavating forgotten boxes and old purchases, you might have found more than a few things you dont want and until recently, go-to places to donate your old clothes or appliances have been closed. So here are seven open spots to consider dropping off your donations. Goodwill Goodwill locations throughout Wisconsin have reopened, albeit with reduced hours and new safety precautions. For instance, masks are required if you plan on heading inside any location, and make sure that any donations you have are either boxed or bagged. There are approximately ten locations spread throughout the Milwaukee area, so there are plenty of options for donating drop-offs. Chosen Family Closet Located at 217 W. Wisconsin Ave., Chosen is a Waukesha-based non-profit that supports families that foster or adopt. They are looking for gently used or new, baby and children's clothes, new furniture, toys and more. Chosen also has a more explicit religious core to its mission and how it assists the community, with the website offering prayer support programs in addition to gathering items and donations for families. Chosen accepts donations by appointment; for more information, visit their website. A non-profit profit further from Downtown, Lake Country Caring (603 Progress Dr., Hartland) is looking for new or gently used clothing, hygiene products, dishware, toys, appliances, furniture and more to provide for those who need it most. Lake Country Caring is resuming item drop-offs on Monday, June 15, and donations must be bagged and boxed. This famed non-profit needs no introduction, but The Salvation Army is accepting just about every new or used item imaginable, including some vehicles and electronics. Donations can be dropped off at all donation centers, and they can even pick up items by appointment. Habitat for Humanity The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Wauwatosa has recently reopened at 3015 N. 114th St. As a part of Habitat for Humanitys efforts to support affordable housing, ReStore sells appliances, furniture and more to support the mission of the international nonprofit. They will pick up used furniture, appliances, building materials and more after scheduling a pickup time through their website or by phone. Donations can only be dropped off at the Wauwatosa location for now, until the other locations reopen. An institution in Milwaukee that has operated for over a hundred years, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission offers items to thousands in need every year, in addition to other programs. They are looking for used clothing, shoes, towels, utensils, cleaning supplies and small appliances. Items can be dropped off at the main campus donation center found at 830 N. 19th St. The Guest House The Guest House aims to address all aspects of homelessness, serving over 1,500 people annually. Currently, they are not looking for any used clothing, but they are accepting toiletries, puzzle books, adult coloring books, masks, and cleaning and art supplies. To schedule a drop off at The Guest House, located at 1216 N. 13th St., contact the email on their website. A man was shot Monday night as protesters in New Mexicos largest city tried to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador outside the Albuquerque Museum. The man was taken to a hospital but his condition was not immediately known, Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said. The city announced the statue will be removed until officials determine the next steps. A confrontation broke out between demonstrators and a group of armed men who were trying to protect the statue of Juan de Onate before protesters wrapped a chain around the statue and began tugging on it while chanting, "Tear it down. One protester repeatedly swung a pickax at the base of the statue. Moments later a few gunshots could be heard down the street and people started yelling that someone had been shot. Gallegos said officers used tear gas and flash bangs to protect officers and detain those involved in the shooting. He said they were disarmed and taken into custody for questioning as police worked to secure the scene. Gallegos said detectives will be investigating but he did not immediately release any other information. The shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city, Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. Our diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us. Our hearts go out to the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight. This sculpture has now become an urgent matter of public safety. The violence came just hours after activists in northern New Mexico celebrated the removal of another likeness of Onate that was on public display at a cultural center in the community of Alcalde. Rio Arriba County officials removed it to safeguard it from possible damage and to avoid civil unrest ahead of a scheduled protest. Related Content Kingsley Agyemang 16.06.2020 LISTEN The Scholarship Secretariat has interviewed 12,000 applicants from the Northern region. About 600 students from the Tamale metropolis applied for scholarships this yearr. The Registrar of Ghanas Scholarships Secretariat, Kingsley Agyemang, told journalists in Tamale that government has budgeted Ghc 80 million to be disbursed to qualified applicants. This is the third face of the scholarship secretariat local decentralization introduced by President Akufo Addo and an amount of GH 80 million will be used to support the qualified students. He noted that qualified applicants from all local tertiary institutions in the region went through online application and attitude test before they were shortlisted for the interview. The registrar indicated that MMDCEs, traditional leaders, representative from GES , seating Mps and two other members from the scholarship secretariat are among the panelist interviewing the applicants. The applicants are scored in four areas namely comprehension, current affairs , attitude test and class of applicant . Mr. Agyemang said panelist will score the applicants on a system during the interview which transfers the total scores automatically to the National data base in Accra. This is to ensure that there's transparency and accessibility to education and to ensure that more people get access to tertiary education . He revealed that the process is performed simultaneously in the 260 MMDAs across the country. In all about, 75,000 applicants were selected across the country to go through the interview process. ---Daily Guide Businesses have been warned to be on the look out for counterfeit $50 notes with Chinese writing printed on them. Two of the fake Australian $50 notes were used over the weekend at stores in the town of Murwillumbah, northern New South Wales. The notes have blue and white Chinese characters printed over the clear window in the corner. The Australian $50 notes were used over the weekend at local businesses at Murwillumbah in New South Wales' far north-east Tweed-Byron Police District shared a picture of the counterfeit money to Facebook and are urging businesses to watch out for the fake cash. The note has sparked wild conspiracy theories with one person questioning whether it was 'invasion currency'. Another noted that some cultures burn money when someone dies and use fake notes like the counterfeit one pictured. But it was quickly pointed out the fake money is easily obtainable and can be purchased online. The exact same notes are available on sites such as AliExpress and Wish, and can also be purchased in all denominations. One user also pointed out the notes are used overseas for training and are printed on paper rather than plastic like Australian currency. 'They appear to be training notes, which are used overseas to train tellers what currency from other countries look like,' the person said. The notes have distinctively fake blue and white characters on the part of the note where the clear window usually is The exact notes are available on sites such as AliExpress or Wish, and can also be purchased in all Australian notes such as $5 or $10 notes 'The notes have been printed on paper and have large blue and white Chinese characters where a real note's clear security window would usually be.' Other users agreed and said the Chinese characters on the end of the notes indicate they are to be used for training. The Reserve Bank of Australia advises residents who think they have a counterfeit note to handle it as little as possible. They also advise people to write a detailed description of how they came to be in possession of the note and finally report the matter immediately to State or Federal police. The most senior judge in England and Wales has backed the restriction of the right to trial by jury to avoid an uncontainable backlog of cases building up during the coronavirus pandemic. The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, said a judge and two magistrates could decide guilt or innocence instead of jurors in either-way cases. The offences, which can either be heard in a magistrates or crown court, can currently progress to full trial at a defendant's request. Lord Burnett said he would support new laws to enable the change for a short time. That would retain the lay public involvement in trials, but give rise to none of the difficulties of social distancing that attach to having a jury involved in a trial, he told BBC Radio 4s Law in Action programme. It is worthy of serious consideration. Either-way offences include theft, burglary, drug possession and actual bodily harm. The most serious crimes, such as murder, rape and robbery, can only be dealt with by crown courts. There are currently more than 35,600 outstanding crown court cases and the coronavirus pandemic sparked new Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance suggesting that fewer suspects would be charged. The Bar Council, which represents barristers, said juries were an essential part of the criminal justice system Chair Amanda Pinto QC said: The need to address the backlog of cases built up over years must not be allowed to override the need for victims of crime and those accused of crime to see and feel that justice is being done in all cases, serious cases included. A panel of three is not the same as a jury of randomly-selected men and women from different backgrounds and of different ages, who bring their collective life experience to bear when evaluating the evidence. Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Show all 7 1 /7 Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the hot weather at Bournemouth beach in Dorset on 20 May PA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the hot weather at Bournemouth beach in Dorset on 20 May PA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Beachgoers bask in the sun on Brighton Beach in Brighton on 20 May EPA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the sunshine on Birling Gap beach on 20 May near Eastbourne Getty Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Seagulls are perched on a street lamp as beachgoers bask in the sun on Brighton Beach EPA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People head to the beach as England basks in sunshine in Blackpool Getty Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Parts of the country were expected to reach 29 degrees celsius, luring sunbathers and testing the capacity of parks and beaches to accommodate social distanced crowds. Getty Lord Burnett also reiterated his support for reducing the number of jurors from the current 12 to as few as seven - a measure previously taken during the Second World War. It seems to me that is a serious option that should be considered, he said. A smaller jury means that one could conduct more jury trials. A small number of criminal trials restarted in England and Wales last month, but social distancing requirements mean they must be spread across three courtrooms - dramatically reducing capacity. One contains the parties in the case, including the judge, defendants, jurors and lawyers, the second is for the press and public and a third for jury deliberations. So long as social distancing is with us, particularly requiring people to keep 2m apart, restarting jury trials will not be able to deliver anything approaching the number of trials that would ordinarily be conducted each week or month across England and Wales, Lord Burnett said. There are going to have to be difficult decisions made about prioritisation - which cases really need a physical courtroom and which dont. A scheme where jurors watch a video feed of trial proceedings from another room is being tested but has little support because it seemed to make the jury spectators rather than participants, he added. The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Ian Burnett, at the Royal Courts of Justice (PA) The Lord Chief Justice said the system could face really serious problems depending on how long social distancing continues, and whether it reduces to 1m. If this emergency comes to an end within a relatively few months then the backlog - uncomfortable though it might be - would be containable without making very substantial changes, he added. But if we are in something approaching the same position in four, five, six months or more then the government and parliament has a difficult choice Recommended Criminals could go free if victims drop out of delayed court cases Do we conduct these trials in a way that ordinarily wouldnt be thought appropriate or are we content for them simply to be put off for a very long period? The judge said long delays were highly undesirable, following warnings from victims advocates that complainants may drop out of prosecutions because of the additional distress caused. The use of external spaces, such as conference centres and university lecture theatres, is also being trialled for some types of court case. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: We have been working closely with the judiciary throughout the pandemic to keep the justice system moving safely. Last month we restarted a small number of jury trials to help ease the pressure on outstanding cases, another 40 courts reopen this week and we will shortly announce further measures to continue on the careful path to recovery. Central Pennsylvania prosecutors cant use key evidence in a child-sex case because the state police didnt read the accused man his rights before interrogating him, a state Superior Court panel has ruled. That decision backs a ruling by Lebanon County Judge Samuel A. Kline, who didnt hide his exasperation at that law enforcement oversight. At issue in the appeal the county district attorneys office filed was whether police should have informed Neil Goldstein of his Miranda rights including his right to remain silent and to have an attorney before questioning him. President Judge Emeritus Kate Ford Elliott wrote in the state courts opinion that Goldstein was under investigation on accusations that he had been sending sexually inappropriate message to a teenage girl on Snapchat. Besides failing to read Goldstein his rights, police seized his cell phone without a warrant during the March 2018 interrogation session at the state police barracks in Jonestown. Seven months later Goldstein was charged with criminal solicitation to commit sexual abuse of children, unlawful contact with a minor, criminal use of a communication facility, corruption of minors and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. His lawyer promptly asked Kline to suppress any statements Goldstein made during the interview because of the failure to Mirandize him. Kline agreed, rejecting the prosecutions claim that Goldstein, who went to the police barracks voluntarily, wasnt in custody when he was questioned. After all, as Kline and Elliott noted, Goldstein was questioned while in a room with two troopers with the door closed. Elliott cited Klines questioning of one of the interrogators, Trooper Daniel Womer, during a suppression hearing. You knew there was some probable criminal conduct afoot. Is that correct? Kline asked. Yes, Womer replied. Why wouldnt you Mirandize him? the judge continued. Again, he wasnt in custody, Womer said. He wasnt in custody? He was at the state police barracks with the door closed. You and who else was in the room? the judge asked. Trooper Conforti. Two troopers are in the room, and thats not custody? Kline shot back. He wasnt under arrest, Womer said. Oh, my gosh, Kline exclaimed. He had the same reaction after questioning the other trooper. We agree with (Kline) that under the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable person in Goldsteins position would not have believed that he was free to terminate the interview and leave the interrogation room, Elliott wrote. Miranda warnings were warranted in this instance. She also supported Klines conclusion that the troopers didnt have grounds to seize Goldsteins cell phone without a warrant. The troopers claimed they had to confiscate the phone immediately to prevent Goldstein from erasing evidence. Yet, as Kline and Elliott noted, the troopers were required by law to promptly seek a warrant for the phone after seizing it. They didnt do so until more than a month later. Neither Trooper Womer nor Trooper Conforti offered any explanation at the suppression hearing as to the cause of this delay, Elliott wrote in seconding Klines suppression of the cell phone evidence. Five soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) were killed and 11 others injured in Ladakh's Galwan Valley clash with Indian Army, the Chinese media reported on Tuesday. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Global Times reporter, Wang Wenwen, said that no bullets were fired and it was hand-to-hand combat. Wenwen cited reports saying that the incident took place at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the China-India border on June 15. Reports say 5 PLA soldiers were killed and 11 were injured at LAC China-India border yesterday. Wang Wenwen (@WenwenWang1127) June 16, 2020 No bullets were fired. It is hand-to-hand combat... https://t.co/QEZCM49BUH Wang Wenwen (@WenwenWang1127) June 16, 2020 In eastern Ladakh, a Colonel-rank Army officer and two soldiers were killed during a violent clash with Chinese troops at one of the standoff points in the Galwan Valley. Colonel Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment, and two other valiant soldiers were martyred during the clashes. The incident took place on June 15 at night. Indian Army officer, 2 jawans martyred in violent clash with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley The 'shocking' bloodshed incident at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a first to take place in the last 45 years. Confirming the report, an Army official said that the incident came during the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley and that senior military officials of both sides are currently meeting to defuse the situation. According to sources, 3-4 casualties have been reported on the Chinese side too. While calling India to not take unilateral action on the killing of its troops in the border standoff, China accused Indian soldiers of crossing border and attacking Chinese personnel, that caused the latest standoff. Details of what exactly led to the violent face-off are not clear at the moment although reports state that no firearms were used and deaths took place after stones were pelted by troops from both sides. A large number of Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks said PTI. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in a standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok, and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions and demanded their immediate withdrawal for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row. The number of warheads dropped from 13,865 to 13,400 due to cuts in the US and Russia. Chinas arsenal grows from 290 to 320. The stockpiles of Pakistan, India and North Korea are also up; Israels is stable. Differences between Washington, Moscow and Beijing could undermine decades of anti-proliferation action. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) The number of nuclear warheads in the world has declined, except in Asia with China showing the greatest increase, this according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released today. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of nuclear warheads dropped from 13,865 to 13,400, with the United States and Russia which together still possess more than 90 per cent of global nuclear weapons dismantling part of their retired nuclear weapons under the 2010 New Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty START. By contrast, China has gone from 290 to 320 nuclear warheads. To get to the level of the US and Russia, Chinas military is working on building a nuclear triad with new land- and sea-based missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft. Pakistan has the largest number of warheads after China at 160, up by ten over last year. Pakistans historic rival, India has 150 warheads, up from 130-140. Israel, which last year had between 80 and 90 warheads, now has 90. North Korea, which has been isolated from the international community (except for China and to a lesser extent Russia) and under international sanctions for its nuclear missile programme, is estimated to have 30 to 40 warheads, up from 20 to 30 in 2019. This shows that the moratorium on nuclear and ballistic tests, unilaterally decreed by the Kim Jong-un regime in 2019 as part of the negotiations with the Trump administration, did not dampen its military ambitions. Unlike the United States, Russia, Great Britain and France, Asias nuclear powers do not share information about their nuclear capabilities, especially with respect to the deployment, status and size of their stockpile. For example, Israel has a long-standing policy of not commenting on its nuclear arsenal. The 2010 New START treaty is scheduled to expire in February 2021; negotiations between Washington and Moscow for its extension have made little progress. This is due in part to the US administrations insistence that China must join any future nuclear arms reduction talkssomething that China has categorically ruled out. For analysts, the stalemate between the three powers all engaged in the modernisation of their respective nuclear forces could undermined decades of multilateral action to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. I mitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the old adage runs, and few directors have been referenced to the same extent as Alfred Hitchcock. With a style so pronounced that it later becomes an adjective Hitchcockian being a byword for tension-building suspense pieces his thrillers rank among the most influential ever committed to celluloid, inspiring generations of filmmakers that followed and changing the way movies were made forever. While he started a few years earlier, it was the 1927 film The Lodger with which Hitchcock first developed his trademark style, with the atmospheric crime drama marking the most significant early point in a career consisting of more than 52 major works. The Leytonstone-born directors desire to entertain shone through his entire back catalogue, with an understanding of the mechanics of film and an empathetic approach to audiences which always came through strongly; he once noted, drily, The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder. With his 1960 masterpiece Psycho turning 60 today, take a look back at five of the directors most influential scenes, each which changed the face of cinema. Psychos shower scene Hitchcock set out to shock audiences like never before with Psycho, and he planned to do it by setting up the narrative with Janet Leigh as the heroine, only to kill her off within the first half an hour. In fact, Hitchcock famously insisted that theatres refuse to let in any latecomers to achieve the proper effect. The scene is one of the most well known in film, and the visceral elements combined for an assault on the senses one which left audience members at the time fainting in the cinema. It was all there: Bernard Herrmann's jagged score simulating the thrust of a knife, the blood running through the plug hole, the piercing scream, the nudity shocking for audiences at the time and the terrifying figure of the murderer initially obscured through the shower curtain. All of it combined to create a sensory film experience that would stay with audiences forever. The key to its power, though, is that it defies convention of traditional narrative, with the viewer left feeling as though the rug has been pulled from under them so early on. The fascination with the scene continues seven decades on. Alexandre O. Philippe made 78/52 in 2017, an entire film dedicated to that one scene, while its been referenced on countless occasions spoofed in everything from the Simpsons to Mel Brookss High Anxiety, while Brian De Palma has riffed on the scene in films including Carrie and Phantom of The Paradise. Vertigos dizzying zoom One of the finest examples of Hitchcock as a technically pioneering filmmaker came in 1958, with the introduction of the famous dolly zoom in classic thriller Vertigo. Here, Hitchcock is emphasising his protagonist's fear of heights to a mind-bending degree. As Scottie (James Stewart) stares down a tower shaft, it shifts; watching, it is a dizzying and disorienting experience. The effect involves moving the camera towards the subject, while the zoom is manipulated to keep the subject the same size. In practice, it is far more than a visual gimmick, showing the filmmakers signature blend of functionality and flair at its best. The effect has since become a much-copied trope of filmmaking in Hollywood, with Steven Spielberg paying tribute to it in Jaws, Martin Scorsese employing it subtly during a diner scene in Goodfellas and Peter Jackson using it during the first interaction with the ring wraiths in Lord of the Rings. Rear Window's opening sequence The opening sequence from Rear Window, which sees the protagonist peer into his neighbours homes, manages to create a stranger, more intoxicating atmosphere in a few moments than many thrillers manage throughout an entire film. Other movies like the 1947 noir Lady in the Lake had made effective use of point of view shots (POV) before it, but Rear Window made it an art form. The directors fascination with voyeurism and masterful control of tension and suspense is perhaps best encapsulated in this 1954 masterpiece. It focuses on Jimmy Stewarts bed bound photographer who begins to spy on his neighbours out of boredom, stumbling upon what he believes to be a heinous crime conducted inside a nearby house. The use of POV camera angles involved the viewer at a visceral level, scanning from one open window to another and propelling them into the movie itself. The result is one of the most immersive movies ever made. Its vast legacy is difficult to quantify, although its influence is clear to see in movies like John Carpenter's 1978s slasher film Halloween, with a terrifying opening sequence which peers into an unsuspecting couples home, and owes a great debt to Hitchcock. 1948s Rope 1917 fascinated fans with its ostensibly one-shot approach last year, but the concept is nothing new in Hollywood. Birdman attempted a similar effect in 2014, but Hitchcock first achieved it back in 1948. Taking place over one seemingly continuous sequence, Rope was one of the most ambitious films of the directors career, with a series of beautifully hidden cuts used to tell the story over the course of one spring afternoon in New York. While not one scene in particular, the entire film shot to resemble one single sequence. The fact that Hitchcock was pushing boundaries like this 70 years before the likes of 1917 speaks volumes about the directors innovation and restless creativity. North By Northwests plane on the horizon Hitchcock made some of the best spy movies of the early 20th century, with The 39 Steps and Notorious both bubbling over with intrigue and espionage. The most influential of them all though, was North By Northwest. Cary Grants charismatic and jet-setting lead set a blueprint for James Bond a few years later, while the most celebrated scene from the movie is also directly referenced in the Bond series. The scene in question is Hitchcocks most bombastic action sequence ever. It sees Grant's initially unassuming character step off a bus into a deserted field, before being pursued by a crop duster aircraft, which dives and screams past him time after time. The suspense and tension Hitchcock achieves by having the plane appear initially faint on the horizon, gradually coming closer and closer towards the camera before it appears mere meters above Grant's head, is as thrilling as anything he ever put to screen. It was replicated in the Bond movie From Russia With Love, with Bond fleeing a helicopter in similar fashion, but that sequence didnt get close to matching the original. North Korea appears to have blown up its joint liaison office with South Korea in the border town of Kaesong, according to the Souths state news agency. Yonhap published images showing dark smoke rising above Kaesong, and quoted the Unification Ministry as saying the office was destroyed shortly before 3pm local time. It comes after North Korea threatened to send its military into the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between the two countries on Tuesday, and amid worsening tensions over a campaign by defectors to send leaflets over the border back into the North. The liaison office was located in the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), a business park inside North Koreas territory that was set up in 2004 and largely funded by the South to improve bilateral relations. The park allowed wealthier South Korean companies to run factories with North Korean labour, and operated successfully for 12 years until the project was paused in 2016. South Koreas presidential office said the country would respond sternly if North Korea continues to raise tensions. Deputy national security adviser Kim You-geun told a briefing that the destruction of the office, which was built in the KIC in 2018, broke the expectations of all people who hope for the development of inter-Korean relations and lasting peace on the peninsula. Were making clear that the North is entirely responsible for all the consequences this might cause, he said. The office was one of the key tangible outcomes of talks between Kim Jong-un and South Koreas president Moon Jae-in, part of a period of blossoming peaceful relations following the Kim-Donald Trump summit in Singapore in June 2018. It has become a symbol of relations between the two countries, and the liaison office was mentioned specifically on Saturday amid threats made by Mr Kims sister, Kim Yo-jong. Ms Kim, who has been placed in charge of inter-Korean relations by her brother, warned that South Korea would before long witness the tragic scene of the useless North-South joint liaison office completely collapsed. Ms Kim also said she was ordering the military to be ready in case it was decided that they should be deployed in the DMZ, ostensibly to stop the leafletting by two prominent North Korean defector groups. The South Korean government has promised to crack down on the leafletting, which it said would be stopped during 2018 talks between Mr Kim and the Souths president Moon Jae-in. Earlier on Tuesday, the North Korean military said it was studying an action plan drawn up by the government and that it stood ready to turn the front line into a fortress and heighten military vigilance. Analysts say Pyongyang appears to be taking an increasingly antagonistic approach to inter-Korean relations, in order to build leverage that bypasses a Trump administration that is now entirely focussed on American domestic affairs and the November presidential election. Harry Kazianis, senior director of Korean Studies at the Washington-based Centre for the National Interest, said North Korea had decided to start another crisis after failing to achieve sanctions relief from denuclearisation talks with the US. Todays actions have zero to do with leaflets sent over the DMZ, but [rather] the anger it feels towards the Moon government for not delivering bigger incentives in recent years of detente, he told The Independent. It must be presumed that North Korea will continue to make grand gestures, Kazianis said, and this could include the first test of a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) since 2017. With the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War coming up on 25 June, as well as Independence Day in the US on 4 July, North Korea will have ample opportunities to make as big a splash as possible, he said. China and Russia both issued statements calling for calm on the Korean peninsula on Tuesday. The Kremlin said it was following developments closely, and called for restraint on all sides. In the case of Mr. McCray, a 24-year Air Force veteran who retired as a master sergeant, and so many others, that presumption is preposterous. He was the one who was surrounded; he was the one who called 911; he was the one standing on his own land. Like Mr. Cooper, who was within his rights to ask that a white woman leash her dog in compliance with Central Parks rules, Mr. McCray did nothing wrong. Yet both men faced racial hostility and threats. Mumbai, June 16 : Lakshmi Vilas Bank has signed a non-binding letter of intent (LoI) with Clix Capital Services and Clix Finance for a proposed amalgamation of the Clix Group with the bank. In a regulatory filing, Lakshmi Vilas Bank said that under the non-binding LoI, the proposed amalgamation is subject to completion of mutual due-diligence in an exclusive window of 45 days, and will be subject to regulatory and other customary approvals. "In the event the discussions between the contracting parties in relation to the proposed transaction is successful and definitive agreements are executed, we will make appropriate disclosures as required under the provisions of applicable law," it said on Monday. In another filing, the bank earlier said that Clix Capital Services had approached Lakshmi Vilas Bank for a potential investment in the bank. Shares of Lakshmi Vilas Bank hit the 5 per cent upper circuit on Tuesday following the announcement. Currently, its shares on the BSE are at Rs 16.06, higher by 4.97 per cent from its previous close. The bank in the past couple of years has faced liquidity and asset quality issues and has been looking for prospective investors and buyers. It had come up with a merger plan with Indiabulls Housing Finance last year but it was not approved by the Reserve Bank of India. This is the terrifying moment an enraged Texas man opened fire on a car and shouted 'you're gonna end up f******g dead.' Motorist Charles Landers, 50, claims he was looking for a fishing spot in Grayson County when gunman Michael Truelock, also 50, stopped his vehicle and began to verbally attack him. In the video Landers can be heard saying: 'I didn't know this was your house.' Truelock replied: 'Yeah, you f******g did too.' He then appears to point his firearm through the window and says: 'You're gonna end up f******g dead. That's what's fixin' to happen to you.' Landers desperately tried to drive away as Truelock (pictured) moved his gun further into the car window and said: 'You don't think I won't put it in your f******g head. You ain't driving nowhere you're in my f******g driveway motherf****r.' The central pillar of Landers' Kia behind the driver's seat with a bullet hole left by Truelock as he sped away Landers desperately tried to drive away as Truelock moved his gun further into the car window and said: 'You don't think I won't put it in your f******g head. You ain't driving nowhere you're in my f******g driveway motherf****r.' He then sped off, leading to Truelock firing a bullet at the back of his car. Landers claims he was so terrified while trying to escape that he crashed into a ditch during the incident in Fannin County, Texas, USA. He added: 'I thought he was going to get in his car and chase me. I was doing 70-80 down this gravel road and I fishtailed and hit a ditch and totaled my car. 'I then crawled across the other side of the road because I thought he was going to kill me.' Truelock was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and made bond the following day. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 13th, 2020. Landers eventually decides to speed off (right), leaving Truelock to fire a bullet into his vehicle Under Texas law he could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 USD. Truelock's attorney, Scott Smith, declined to comment, except to say that Landers' version of events was 'incorrect'. Fannin County Sheriff's Office confirmed the incident was now in the hands of the District Attorney. Russia on Tuesday vowed to stand by its ally Iran and resist attempts to promote an anti-Iranian agenda amid tensions over Tehran's nuclear programme. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the comments during a visit to Moscow by his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, as Iran sought to fend off criticism over granting access to sites where past nuclear activity may have occurred. The standoff comes as a landmark deal brokered in 2015 between Iran and world powers to limit Tehran's nuclear programme continues to unravel. "We will be doing everything so that no one can destroy these agreements," Lavrov told reporters after talks with Zarif. Lavrov accused the United States of trying to "manipulate" the United Nations Security Council in order to put pressure on Iran. "Washington has no right to punish Iran" by leveraging the UN Security Council, Lavrov said, adding that US plans to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic republic "contravene international law." Moscow's top diplomat said at the start of the talks that Russia would firmly oppose any attempts "to promote an anti-Iranian agenda". Zarif described developments around the Iranian nuclear deal -- formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- as "very dangerous". Iran had committed to curb its nuclear activities for sanctions relief and other benefits. But Tehran has slowly abandoned its commitments since US President Donald Trump's decision two years ago to renounce the deal and reimpose sanctions. Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is now almost eight times the limit fixed in the accord, according to an assessment by IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog. However, the level of enrichment is still far below that needed for a nuclear weapon. The head of the IAEA on Monday called on Iran to allow prompt access to two sites where past nuclear activity may have occurred. In Moscow, Zarif implied Washington was also using the International Atomic Energy Agency to further its own interests. Iran "won't allow the IAEA to become an instrument of abuse" for countries that want to scrap the Iran deal and "destroy all international obligations," he said in translated remarks. He added that Iran had fully cooperated with the IAEA. Search Keywords: Short link: Ahlam Aref Ahmad Al-Tamimi is on the FBIs most-wanted list for her role in the 2001 bombing of a Jerusalem pizzeria. The Trump administration is considering withholding aid to one of its closest Arab partners, Jordan, in a bid to secure the extradition of a woman convicted in Israel of a 2001 bombing that killed 15 people, including two US citizens. What you need to know Ahlam Aref Ahmad al-Tamimi is on the FBIs list of most wanted terrorists for her role in a suicide bombing at a crowded Jerusalem pizzeria. It was one of the deadliest attacks during the second Palestinian Intifada. Al-Tamimi, a Hamas activist, was arrested by Israel weeks after the bombing and sentenced to 16 life terms for choosing the target and guiding the bombers there. She has lived freely in Jordan since Israel released her in a 2011 prisoner swap with Hamas. Jordanian authorities have rebuffed US requests to turn her over, despite an extradition treaty. Why is this happening now? The State Department said billions of dollars of foreign assistance to Jordan could be used as leverage to get Jordanian authorities to extradite al-Tamimi. The threat came in written answers submitted by the administrations nominee to be the next US ambassador to Jordan, Henry Wooster, to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in response to questions posed by Senator Ted Cruz. The United States has multiple options and different types of leverage to secure Ahlam Aref Ahmad Al-Tamimis extradition, Wooster wrote. Asked specifically if aid to Jordan would be part of that leverage in the Tamimi case, Wooster replied: If confirmed, I would explore all options to bring Ahlam Aref Ahmad Al-Tamimi to justice, secure her extradition, and address the broader issues associated with the extradition treaty. What is next? The extradition issue is likely to be raised this week when Jordans King Abdullah II speaks to several Congressional committees to voice his opposition to Israels plans to annex portions of the West Bank. The reference to aid in Woosters response was unusual. Previously, the Trump administration, and the Obama administration before it, had taken a low-key approach to al-Tamimi, bringing it up in private conversations with Jordanian officials but shying away from a public fight with one of the rare Arab countries that recognize Israel that has been a dependable source of intelligence information about the region, including neighbouring Syria. The US has long been a significant provider of aid to Jordan. In early 2018, the Trump administration signed a five-year, $6.4bn, aid agreement with Jordan that increased the annual amount of aid by $275m to $1.3bn. A Houston police sergeant who posted racist comments on social media retired Monday ahead of a scheduled disciplinary hearing, according to police. Sgt. Robert Clasen, a 25-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, was relieved of duty following a lengthy rant Thursday that blamed African Americans for systemic racism. Police learned of the post Friday. The following day, Clasen was served with a notice of a disciplinary review hearing set for 11 a.m. Monday that would have included Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and members of the command staff. However, Clasen submitted his letter of retirement effective 10 a.m. Monday, police said. Clasen's rant apparently was triggered by nationwide protests over the killing at the hands of Minneapolis police of George Floyd, a longtime Third Ward resident George Floyd. Clasen argued that officers have adapted in recent decades to the needs of the community, such as wearing body cameras and reporting use-of-force to supervisors. In his post, he also blamed blacks for social injustices, saying they havent taken the needed steps to break the cycle of poverty. Stop scaring your kids: The cops arent out to kill them, theyre here to help and protect them, Clasen wrote. White people dont hate them and nobody is out to get them. He added: The Black Community needs a BIG GIANT MIRROR and it needs to stand in front of that mirror and say individually, I am the problem. Not the cops, not the system, not racism, not white people, not Donald Trump, I am the problem and I am the solution. Houston Police Officers Union President Joe Gamaldi denounced the post as "vile." Nicole Hensley contributed to this report. julian.gill@chron.com Spain could impose a quarantine on arrivals from the UK from next week if the British government maintains similar measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus, according to Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya in an interview on the BBC's Hardtalk programme. "We will be looking at what the UK does and we will be in dialogue with the UK to decide whether or not we should introduce reciprocity, as they have different measures from the rest of the EU," she said. On 8 June, the British government imposed a 14-day quarantine on travellers arriving in the country from any international destination but Chancellor Rishi Sunak said on Sunday that the 14-day quarantine was being reviewed and that the authorities were looking at "all options", including opening air bridges with other countries. Gonzalez Laya described the current situation as "fluid" and insisted that both parties will remain in contact to make decisions in accordance with the "health situation", which, she said, is now "a little better in Spain than in the United Kingdom". The Spanish government had planned to reopen its country's borders on 1 July but brought this decision forward by ten days to receive tourists from the EU and the Schengen area. Portugal, at the request of the Portuguese government, will keep its land border with Spain closed until 1 July. This was later confirmed to include the UK. The British Embassy in Madrid tweeted on Monday: "You may have seen the announcement this weekend that Spain will open its borders with some countries from 21 June. The Spanish government has confirmed to us that the UK is included within the group of countries to whom these border relaxations will apply." Madrid has also decided that it will reopen its borders to third countries outside the Schengen area from 1 July if their epidemiological situation is similar to or better than in the EU, there is reciprocity with regard to travel and they accept certain health conditions. Kuwait and Bahrain's apps put users' privacy and security at risk, Amnesty International says. Users of the "BeAware Bahrain" app are required to register with a national ID number Image copyrightReuters Kuwait and Bahrain have rolled out some of the most invasive Covid-19 contact-tracing apps in the world, putting the privacy and security of their users at risk, Amnesty International says. The rights group found the apps were carrying out live or near-live tracking of users' locations by uploading GPS co-ordinates to a central server. It urged the Gulf states to stop using them in their current forms. Norway has halted the roll-out of its app because of similar concerns. The country's data protection authority said the app represented a disproportionate intrusion into users' privacy given the low rate of infection there. Researchers at Amnesty's Security Lab carried out a technical analysis of 11 apps in Algeria, Bahrain, France, Iceland, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Norway, Qatar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain's "BeAware Bahrain" and Kuwait's "Shlonik" stood out, along with Norway's "Smittestopp", as being among the most alarming mass surveillance tools, according a report published on Tuesday. Most contact-tracing apps rely solely on Bluetooth signals, but Bahrain and Kuwait's capture location data through GPS and upload this to a central database, tracking the movements of users in real time. The researchers say Bahraini and Kuwaiti authorities would be able to easily link this sensitive personal information to an individual, as users are required to register with a national ID number. Other countries' contact tracing apps anonymise users. Accessing such data could help authorities tackle Covid-19, but Claudio Guarnieri, head of Amnesty's Security Lab, said the apps were "running roughshod over people's privacy, with highly invasive surveillance tools which go far beyond what is justified". Mr Guarnieri added: "They are essentially broadcasting the locations of users to a government database in real time - this is unlikely to be necessary and proportionate in the context of a public health response. Technology can play a useful role in contact tracing to contain Covid-19, but privacy must not be another casualty as governments rush to roll out apps." Mohammed al-Maskati, a Bahraini activist who is the Middle East digital protection co-ordinator for the human rights group Front Line Defenders, said there was also a concern the information collected by the apps might be shared with third parties. Bahrain's app was linked to a television show called "Are You At Home?", which offered prizes to users who stayed at home during Ramadan. The issues uncovered by Amnesty's investigation are particularly alarming given that the human rights records of Gulf governments are poor. "When you equip a repressive state with the means to surveil an entire population - whether it's in the name of public safety or not - you can be certain that it's only going to enhance their means of control and repression to then track down dissidents or anyone that they consider to be a public threat. And in a lot of places like the Gulf, that means activists," says Sarah Aoun, chief technologist at privacy campaign organisation Open Tech Fund. There is also a concern that the technology will continue to be used after the threat of the coronavirus recedes, Ms Aoun adds. "Historically, there's been no incentive for governments to limit their overreach into people's privacy. On the contrary, if you take a look at 9/11 and the aftermath of that, it essentially ushered a new era of surveillance in the name of protecting citizens. And this time is no different." Mr Maskati says critics will be unable to rely on regulatory oversight bodies in Gulf states for protection. "If privacy is violated in a country like Norway, I can resort to regional tools such as the European Court of Human Rights and European Committee of Social Rights. But in our region there is not any such tool. On the contrary, resorting to local authorities may present an additional risk." Bahrain and Kuwait did not respond to the BBC's request for comment. BBC Restaurants and bars in New York started to reopen last weekend, with capacity limits and other restrictions imposed by the state to slow the spread of the coronavirus. And while Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues to relax the rules, hes also warned bar and restaurant owners that they must follow the limits still in place. Otherwise, he said, the state could use its power to suspend their licenses to serve alcohol. Its not an idle threat. Since Cuomos March 16 executive order that closed restaurant dining rooms, the State Liquor Authority has suspended the licenses of 18 establishments statewide found to be in violation of the shutdown order. At least two of those have paid $10,000 fines and have had their licenses restored, SLA spokesman William Crowley said. One other settlement is pending. The only bar in Central New York to lose its license so far is Old Timers Inn at 2018 County Route 1 in Scriba, Oswego County. It remains closed. In all, eight of the 18 license suspensions came at places in Upstate New York (above or west of the lower Hudson Valley). Another 55 places across the state have been charged with violating Cuomos orders, with suspensions still possible, Crowley said. And in the first few days of limited reopening, Cuomo said Sunday, the state received another 25,000 complaints, mostly in New York City and Long Island. Until last weekend, the bars and restaurants that lost their licenses had allowed customers to enter and consume alcohol or food in violation of the order. The last suspensions for that violation came on May 29. The phase three limited reopening of bars and restaurants started in Central New York and other parts of the state over the weekend. The restrictions in place now include limited seating to 50% of capacity, having servers wear masks at all times and patrons wear them unless seated, and social distancing. On Monday, Cuomo increased the size limit of gatherings allowed from no more than 10 to no more than 25 people, but the 50% capacity limit remains in place. Local government agencies, such as county health departments, are required to enforce the rules. Below are the 18 bars across the state that have had their licenses suspended since March 16. Each was found in violation of the order against on-premises dining or drinking when it was in place, and each had been given warnings prior to being charged. Bars whose licenses are suspended have the right to appeal. Hudson Brewing, 99 South 3rd Street, Hudson, Columbia County. (Suspended May 29) Metapan Pizzeria Ristorante, 326 Webster Avenue, New Rochelle, Westchester County. (May 29) The Hangar Bar & Grill, 11911-11913 Metropolitan Avenue, Queens (May 29) Hangar Astoria Bar & Grill, 24-43 Steinway Street, Queens (May 29) Matts Place, 1235 County Route 16, Beaver Dams, Schuyler County (May 13) Mr. Quiggleys, 635 West Avenue, Lockport, Niagara County (May 13) Loopies Pub, 410 Mohawk Drive in Tribes Hill, Montgomery County (Suspended May 13. License restored June 10 after it paid a $10,000 fine) Bourbon Street of Monroe, 78 Mill Pond Parkway in Monroe, Orange County (May 13) Old Timers Inn, 2018 County Route 1 in Scriba, Oswego County (May 7) Water Street Brewing Co., 68 Water St., Binghamton. (Suspended May 7. License restored June 10 after it paid a $10,000 fine) The Atlantic Boat Club, 990 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn (April 24) Antojitos De San Cecilio, 90-04 Jamaica Avenue, Queens (April 20) Uncle Henrys, 309-311 Halstead Ave., Harrison, Westchester County (April 15) St. Bees, 4466 Baychester Ave., the Bronx (April 15) Swannie House, 170 Ohio St., Buffalo (April 7) AJs, 10250 Main St., Clarence, Erie County (April 7) Cafe Serata, 1808 Hone Avenue, the Bronx (April 1) New Oriental Guyana Restaurant, 115-22 Liberty Ave., Queens (Suspended March 24. It has made a conditional offer to pay a $25,000 fine) MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus pandemic means no July 4 fireworks for most Central NY communities CNY autistic teen in group home cant understand why family stopped visiting Update: Coronavirus spreads slowly in Onondaga County, new data shows Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. A PhD thesis from the LSE - May 2015 on India China Relations 1949-62 Abstract In the early hours of 20 October 1962, the Chinese Peopleas Liberation Army (PLA) launched a series of devastating assaults on Indian posts stretched along thousands of miles of mountainous border. The attack drew a line under several years of acrimony over the border and an even longer period of uncertainty and ambiguity regarding each sidesa respective claims. However, the Sino- Indian War was far more than just a territorial scrap, bloody as it was. It was widely perceived as a Chinese attack on Nehruvian non-alignment, a peculiar foreign policy posture that he had developed to counter the Cold War. By rejecting Nehru so firmly, Beijing was demonstrating a clear turn from the moderation it had pursued in tandem with the Soviets to engage non-socialist Asia through the mid-1950s. Maoas attack on India was then a firm rejection of both Delhias moderation and Soviet partnership and a major turning point in the history of the Cold War and Asia. This thesis adds to the existing histories of the war by exploring Sino-Indian relations from 1949 when the two Asian giants cautiously swapped ambassadors. The ambiguous relationship between Beijing and Delhi is examined from the perspective of Nehruas ambitious overall foreign policy agenda, rather than just a narrow focus on the border and Tibet. The deterioration of ties between Delhi and Beijing is often characterised as the result of conflicting territorial and indeed imperial ambitions. But it is also true to say that from early in the 1950s there was a remarkable effort at collaboration and accommodation of their respective ambitions. Simultaneously, collaboration was always underpinned by an acute sense of competition for influence in Asia, in particular over the appropriate model of development for the region. In particular, this thesis gives far greater emphasis on Beijingas function within the dynamics of Sino-Indian relations, and shows how vital were the ideological shifts within the Chinese leadership. The ideologically framed judgements about Indian economic development policies had a major impact on how Beijing assessed the ongoing feasibility of its entire experiment with a moderate foreign policy in general and cooperation with Delhi specifically. By illustrating how these understandings of India also affected Chinese views of the Soviet leadershipas competence, this thesis also makes an important contribution to the historiography of the Sino-Soviet split. Ultimately, relations collapsed with Delhi not just because of hard territorial interests, but because Mao came to believe that the continued deferral of revolutionary goals was leaving the field clear for reactionary elements in China, India and beyond download and read the full thesis here: European wheat prices extended their fall to hit a near three-month low on Monday, pressured by good supply prospects, a rise in the euro and a broader slide in equity and commodity markets on concerns of a fresh coronavirus wave Front-month September milling wheat on Paris-basedEuronext was down 1.1% at 1617 GMT to 181.50 euros a tonne, a price unseen since March 19. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week raised world ending stocks to a record-high 316.1 million tonnes, while leading Russian consultancies raised forecasts for this year's wheat harvest in the world's largest wheat exporter, tempering concerns about the effects of a dry spring. Optimism was also increasing that recent rain would prevent further dryness stress to crops, notably in Germany. "Large volumes of rain fell over the weekend including (in)some in the driest parts of north and east Germany," one German trader said. "Most of the rain this week is forecast in south and central Germany which already have enough moisture, but I think there is more confidence that enough rain has fallen nationally to prevent major additional problems to the crop." "The Rhine is also back to normal, which is good news for smooth logistics." The European Union's crop monitoring service MARS, citing dry weather in northeast Europe in the past month, again cut EU soft wheat yield average for 2020, now seen at 5.60 tonnes per hectare (t/ha), down from 5.72 t/ha in May and 6.6% below last year. Wheat in Germany suffered from a dry start to the spring, but there have been several rainfalls so far in June. Standard bread wheat with 12% protein for September delivery in Hamburg was offered for sale unchanged at around 1.0 euro under the Paris December contract. NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the purchase cost of solar panels witnessed an 80% slump, from 1980 to 2010. The prices declined by another 50% during 20152019, from $0.70/Watt (W) to $0.35/W. This is one of the major factors which would help the global solar street lighting market grow from $5.7 billion in 2019, to $14.6 billion by 2030, at a 9.4% CAGR between 2020 and 2030. Get the Sample Copy of this Report at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/solar-street-lighting-market/report-sample With the decreasing prices, it is becoming easier for government as well as private organizations to procure photovoltaic (PV) panels. In addition, with sunlight being the most abundantly available electricity generation natural resource, its utilization, to power street lights, is rising around the world. Moreover, solar is one of the cleanest forms of energy, as electricity generation via this method produces almost no harmful emissions. Asia-Pacific (APAC ) is currently the largest region in the solar street lighting market, and the situation wont change till 2030. The region is at the top of the world in terms of solar energy production; the International Energy Agency (IEA) says that China accounted for around 42.8%of the total installed capacity of PV panels in the world in 2018. Moreover, in 2019, China constructed a 1-km solar highway, with PV panels embedded beneath a type of transparent concrete. The electricity generated by this highway is being used to power street lights, surveillance cameras, billboards, and toll booths. Browse report overview with 135 tables and 68 figures spread through 193 pages and detailed TOC on "Solar Street Lighting Market Research Report: Global Industry Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2030" at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/solar-street-lighting-market Client Wins Being Seen by Players as Definite Measure for Sustained Growth Companies offering solar street lighting solutions are rapidly pursuing client contracts, in order to better their fortunes by supplying an increasing number of panels, lights, and other components. Make enquiry before purchase: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/send-enquiry?enquiry-url=solar-street-lighting-market For instance, SolarOne Solutions Inc. won a contract to install 80 off-grid solar street lights at the Eagle Butte community center, in January 2020. The lights to be supplied work entirely on the power produced by the sun, therefore have zero carbon footprint. In the same vein, in June 2019, 20 Philips SunStay solar street lights were installed at the Infanta Elena Park in Seville, Spain, by Signify N.V. Each of these compact lighting installations consists of a luminaire, solar panel,battery, and charge controller, which makes it easy to install and repair. More Reports of Semiconductor and Electronics by P&S Intelligence Outdoor Lighting Market APAC is also the fastest-growing region and is expected to retain the pace throughout the forecast period in the outdoor lighting market. This can be attributed to the growing population and sustained growth in urbanization in the developing countries. https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/outdoor-lighting-market Horticulture Lighting Market The extension of the government support for energy-efficient products, legalization of medical marijuana, and increase in the demand for food are the key reasons behind the adoption of artificial lights for agriculture. This is why compared to $3.2 billion in 2019, the global horticulture lighting market is projected to generate $20.3 billion revenue in 2030. https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/horticulture-lighting-market Emergency Lighting Market North America is the largest market for emergency lighting, contributing over 30% to the global emergency lighting market in 2018. This is attributed to rise in construction of commercial and residential buildings in the U.S., increasing focus of the U.S. government on energy efficient lighting in buildings, and strict safety norms toward the installation of emergency lights in commercial buildings in the country. https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/emergency-lighting-market 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: P&S Intelligence International: +1-347-960-6455 Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com DALLAS, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Catapult Health, a leading provider of onsite and virtual preventive healthcare, today announced it will host a webinar on Tuesday, June 23, titled "Virtual Preventive Checkups: A New Solution for a New Day." This session will discuss ways that the pandemic continues to impact population health both directly through the virus and indirectly via chronic conditions and mental health, while boosting virtual care. Resources available for employers to assist their employees will also be addressed. During this webinar, attendees will receive insights from leading family practice, epidemiology and mental health professionals into how COVID-19 will likely evolve this summer, the seen and unseen workplace impacts that require preparation, and how these events may alter employer-sponsored healthcare. New approaches for employers addressing shifting preventive care needs will also be outlined. Webinar Panel Details: Who: Tara Cavazos, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, founding principal, Lakewood Family Health Clinic Timothy Church, MD, MPH, PHD, chief medical & strategy officer, Naturally Slim Kevin Gilliland, PsyD, executive director, Innovation 360 Moderated by: David Michel, CEO, Catapult Health When: Tuesday, June 23 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT Length: 30 minutes Register: Click here to register "The current pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future," said David Michel, CEO of Catapult Health. "As individuals have been more isolated and put off seeking non-urgent care, extra focus is being placed on addressing an increase in chronic conditions and mental health concerns. Employers looking to support their employees' preventive care and address possible concerns before they progress, need to understand how their health requirements are evolving and the tools available that support evolving workplaces." About Catapult Health Catapult Health incorporates clinical results to drive health savings, conducting preventive care checkups at the workplace through onsite and telehealth resources. Patients receive their blood chemistry, depression screening and other test results in real time, in consultation with a board-certified Nurse Practitioner. For more information, please visit us on Facebook, LinkedIn or at www.catapulthealth.com. Media Contact: Lee Dukes 214-906-7035 [email protected] SOURCE Catapult Health Related Links https://www.catapulthealth.com by Mathias Hariyadi The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) objects to the process, "carried out secretly" amid the great silence due to COVID-19, without any public debate. Jakarta (AsiaNews) Some Muslim groups have come out against a bill before the House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat) that would legally institute the Pancasila Agency. The bill, the Pancasila Ideology Direction Act (RUU Haluan Ideologi Pancasila), is still before the House. Dozens of Muslim groups object to it, including the powerful Indonesian Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia, MUI). According to the latter, the process as inappropriate as it is "carried out secretly" amid the "great silence" due to COVID-19, without any public debate. "This bill will only trigger public protests from Muslims who have fought to protect Pancasila" in the past, said the head of the MUI legal department. A crucial matter For several Muslim groups, one of the main issues is the absence of a final decision by the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat, MPR). The 30 September Movement-Communist Party of Indonesia (Gerakan 30 September/PKI) of 30 September 1965 represents a turning point in modern Indonesian history, involving several high-ranking army generals. The violence caused outrage in the House and the MPR. It marked the end of President Sukarnos rule and brought to power General Suharto. Under the new Suharto regime, the House officially banned the Indonesian Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) and all forms of Communism and Marxism.[*] The absence of a resolution (TAP) by the MPR on the bill has sparked bitter criticism from the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest moderate Islamic organisation in the country. The UNs governing body (PBNU) has criticised the House's move, saying it could trigger a long debate about the countrys politics. For Rumadi, a member of the UN's governing body, "The bill is not in line with the situation. His view reflects the heated debate in 1945 between "nationalist" and "secular" Muslims over the Jakarta Charter, which was drafted by members of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence on 22 June 1945. The latter subsequently formed the basis of the preamble to the Constitution of Indonesia and included the obligation for Muslims to abide by Sharia. Since then, Indonesian Muslims, who constitute 90 per cent of the countrys population, have been divided over the issue. Secular nationalists believe in a radical separation between state and religion, whilst Islamic nationalists, whilst not demanding a fully Islamic state, argue that the Constitution should include recognition of the special place of Islam. In 1959, conflict broke out when a radical Islamic group tried to assert Islam as the foundation of the nation. The same thing happened again in 2000, during the process of amendment of the Indonesian Constitution, when the seven words in the Jakarta Charter that give Islam a special place were reiterated. The issue of "Pancasila is concluded and final, both legally and politically, as required by the 1945 Constitution," said Rumadi. The Houses response According to the House, the bill under discussion simply aims to legalise the presence of the Pancasila Ideology Development Board (BPIP)[]. The BPIP is currently based on Presidential regulation (Perpres) No. 7/Year 2018 and not on Act of Parliament. Therefore, the main goal is to give BPIP greater legal status. But for most Indonesian citizens and Muslims, the bill also includes something very unpopular like the Three Principles (Trisila) and the One Principle (Ekasila) in Chapter 7 of the bill. [*] MPAP TAP n. XXV / MPRS / 1996 [] Badan Pembinaan Ideologi Pancasila After reviewing the options available to us, we concluded that Genedata Screener matches perfectly with our vision of being totally compatible with other digital innovation initiatives currently ongoing at Servier. Genedata, the leading provider of enterprise software solutions for biopharmaceutical R&D, today announced that leading French biopharmaceutical company Laboratoires Servier has selected Genedata Screener as part of its drug discovery research computational platform. Servier chose Genedata Screener to establish a unified and universal data analysis system to extract insights from data from multiple sources, stored in various locations. The company will use Genedata Screener to significantly increase the speed and decrease the cost of medium- to high-throughput experiments employing complex technologies such as high-content screening and biophysical screening, including surface plasmon resonance, bio-layer interferometry, and thermal shift analysis, among others. Genedata Screener federates data from in vitro screening assays, harmonizing and integrating all analysis workflows at Servier into one platform. To further boost Serviers research efficiency, Genedata Screener will also integrate with instruments from manufacturers and data from contract research organizations that partner with the company. All elements of the platform are expected to be operational in 2020. Servier was looking at consolidating in vitro assay data analysis in a single state-of-the-art application explained Jean-Philippe Stephan, Ph.D., Director, Center of Excellence Pharmacological Screening, Compound Management and Biobanking at Laboratoires Servier. After reviewing the options available to us, we concluded that Genedata Screener matches perfectly with our vision of being totally compatible with other digital innovation initiatives currently ongoing at Servier. Through the deployment of open and intuitive tools, our objective is truly to enable our collaborators to capitalize on all R&D data, interconnecting and federating multiple expert solutions to further optimize our innovation capabilities to better address patients unmet medical needs. Othmar Pfannes, Ph.D., CEO of Genedata, added, We are honored to be selected by Servier as the ideal partner for its ambitious digital transformation project. Genedata Screener, a component of the Genedata Biopharma Platforman interconnected suite of several Genedata systems that can be used stand-alone, or in combination to provide a fully integrated solution for biopharma R&Dis ideally suited to facilitate the companys aims of establishing a world-leading R&D center with the ability to fully engage with data from any location in the world, to rapidly derive valuable scientific and business insights. About Genedata Genedata transforms data into intelligence with innovative software solutions and domain-specific consulting services that automate complex, large-scale experimental processes and enable organizations to maximize the ROI in their R&D, spanning early discovery all the way to the clinic. Founded in 1997, Genedata is headquartered in Switzerland with additional offices in Germany, Japan, Singapore, the UK, and the US. http://www.genedata.com LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube Contact Miles Fisher-Pollard Genedata Public Relations Phone: +41 61 511 85 61 pr@genedata.com Disclaimer The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties related to contract cancellations, developing risks, competitive factors, uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, demand for products and services, development of markets for the Company's products and services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. All product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. Amid a soaring number of coronavirus cases, Saudi Arabia is expected to call off or scale back this years hajj pilgrimage for the first time since 1932. While a decision is yet to be announced, Muslim nations are reportedly pressing the kingdom to give its much-delayed decision on whether the pilgrimage will go ahead as scheduled in late July. With COVID-19 spreading rapidly across the world, while several countries withdrew from the pilgrimage, others urged its citizens to postpone their plans until next year. While speaking to an international media outlet, a Saudi official reportedly said that the delay in announcing its decision shows that the authorities understand the political consequences of calling off the hajj or reducing its scale. The official added that even if at the last minute the Saudi authorities say that they are ready to do a full hajj, several countries will not be in a position to participate. It is also anticipated that with the pilgrimage will mainly see local residents this year due to the ongoing suspension of international flights. READ: Saudis See High Hopes For 2020 Upended By Coronavirus Pandemic Countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Senegal and Singapore has already withdrawn the pilgrimage. Indonesia, being the world's biggest Muslim-majority country sends more than 2,20,000 people every year to Hajj, however, Fachrul Razi, Indonesia's religious affairs minister said during a news conference said, The government has decided to cancel the Hajj 2020 as the Saudi Arabian authorities failed to provide certainty. This was a very bitter and difficult decision. But we have a responsibility to protect our pilgrims and Hajj workers. READ: UN Chief Takes Saudis Off Blacklist For Harming Yemen's Kids Coronavirus outbreak Saudi Arabia is reportedly likely to cancel hajj pilgrimage this year as the kingdom is struggling to contain the deadly virus. According to Johns Hopkins University tally, Saudi Arabia has reported over 132,000 cases so far and nearly 1,011 deaths. Earlier this month, the kingdom also reimposed 3 PM curfew in Jiddah and banned prayers in mosques. Even with an increasing number of cases, the kingdom planned a phased reopening amid an economic crisis. While in the first phase, the Saudi authorities eased curfew in all areas, apart from Mecca and allowed cares to ply between 6am and 3pm, in phase two the officials allowed Friday prayers at mosques. The third phase, on the other hand, is expected to begin on June 21. Meanwhile, Domestic travel restrictions - including internal flights - have also been lifted. (Image: AP) READ: French Court Sentences Six To Jail Over Kickbacks From Arms Sales To Pakistan, Saudi READ: UN Chief Says Missiles, Drones Used To Attack Saudi Arabia Of 'Iranian Origin' New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday (June 16) summoned Pakistan's Charge d'affaires to India Syed Hyder and lodged a strong protest over torture of two Indian officials in Islamabad. The two staff members of the Indian mission, who are working as drivers in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, were detained for over 12 hours on June 15 and reportedly thrashed, manhandled and forced to confess of their involvement in a hit-and-run case. Reports said that they were picked up by around 15 to 16 armed persons who had come in 5-6 cars at around 8:30-45 hours from a petrol station close to the mission. They were blindfolded with a rucksack thrown over their heads and handcuffed and were then taken to an unknown destination The Indian officials were regularly punched, beaten with rods and wooden sticks and were made to drink filthy water as they abductors forced them to confess under duress that they had committed an accident. Armed men also forced the Indian staffers to confess that alleged Intelligence officials in the High Commission compel them to bring people from outside in their cars for meetings inside the High Commission. Reports said they were interrogated regarding the specific role and function of all High Commission officials down to the lowest staff. Also Read: Punched, beaten with rods, forced to drink filthy water: Pakistan tortures, manhandles 2 Indian staffers During the interrogation, they were repeatedly threatened that this is how the other members of the High Commission would be treated as well in future. Following the investigation, the drivers were then taken for a medical checkup where they were also injected with what was claimed to be a tetanus shot. On Monday, at around 9 pm, they were handed back to the Indian High Commission and although they were able to walk, they carried extensive injury marks to their neck, face, thighs and rear, indicating extensive manhandling. On June 15 evening, the MEA had summoned Pakistan's Charge d'affaires to India Syed Hyder Shah over two officials of Indian High Commission going missing in Islamabad. In the demarche, it was made clear to the Pakistani CDA that there should be no interrogation or harassment of the Indian officials and the responsibility for their safety and security lay squarely with the Pakistani authorities. Is Chief Rick Smith up to the task of reinventing policing in KC post-George Floyd? Ask any restaurant that made it through the coronavirus lockdown: Self-reinvention isn't an extravagance. It's a requisite for survival. After the brutal killing of George Floyd, the same can now be said for the age-old art of policing. It will simply have to be reimagined across the nation. For those who peek behind the paywall . . . Here's a glimpse at the newspaper making a very obvious attack against the top cop. If he can last the rest of 2020 . . . The influence of the paper has obviously faded.Check the link tease: Qatari capital to host first peace talks between Afghan government, Taliban Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 6:00 AM Afghanistan's government and Taliban have agreed to hold their first high-level meeting in a long-awaited peace process in Qatar. Both sides announced on Sunday that the talks known as the intra-Afghan dialog will be held in the Qatari capital Doha, where Taliban reached a peace agreement with the US earlier this year before engaging in the political process with Kabul. No date has been announced for the meeting, but it is expected to take place within one week after the release by the Afghan government of 5,000 Taliban prisoners. Kabul has already released 3,000 prisoners under the agreement signed between the United States and the Taliban in February, which outlines a roadmap for withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan as well as peace talks to end the 2001-present war. Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan Presidential Palace, said in a tweet on Sunday that Doha would host the first session of talks, and that no permanent venue had been agreed. The Afghan-Taliban talks were slated to start on March 10 as per the militant group's deal with the US, which excluded Kabul, but the process has been delayed due to the existing disagreements between the two Afghan warring sides and a slow process of releasing the prisoners. The prisoner swap is regarded as a confidence-building move ahead of the negotiations. In recent weeks, however, the Taliban militants have sharply intensified their acts of violence against Afghan government forces. The Kabul government said Sunday that Taliban had carried out 222 attacks against positions of Afghan security forces in a single week, killing or wounding 422 of them. Afghanistan says the stepped-up violence is a Taliban tactic to put "psychological pressure" on the Kabul government ahead of the talks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Is it possible that the most modern, most startlingly avant-garde novel to appear this year was originally published in 1881? This month sees the arrival of two new translations of The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas, the Brazilian novelist Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis masterpiece, a metafictional, metaphysical tale narrated by a man struck dead by pneumonia. Too grim? I neglected to mention that hes being carried into the afterlife on the back of a voluble and enormous hippopotamus. If we imagine the historical progress of the novel like the evolution of man from a crouching primate to upright homo sapiens Machados book represents the moment when the novel learned to dance. The book draws from the omnivorous taste of its creator: Greek tragedy, Shakespeare and Schopenhauer, leavened by the picaresque tradition of Cervantes and Laurence Sterne. Its formal experimentation and playfulness are regarded as precursors to the novels of Nabokov, Calvino and the American postmodernists. The story follows the feckless, peerlessly lazy nobleman Bras Cubas as he reflects on his life from beyond the grave. What a record of failures! He never married, never fathered children. His career ambitions were foolhardy and thwarted. Even his mistresses inspired in him only lukewarm passion and vague pity. He is unremittingly pretentious, preening and superb company. We read not for plot, in the usual sense, but to be close to Bras Cubas, his disarming candor and deeply merited self-disgust, and for the questions he prompts: What is a life, if defined outside of incident and achievement? What is a novel? Murder In The Car Park Rating: Inside Monaco: Playground Of The Rich Rating: There's a doctorate waiting for the first psychologist to publish a scientific paper on PC-PLoD syndrome Post Constabulary Persistent and Loquacious Droning. In other words, an old copper who never shuts up. Getting information out of them when they're on the force is a constant frustration. 'We are not at liberty to comment on an ongoing investigation,' they intone. And: 'That information is classified at the present time.' Yes, but... 'No further questions.' There's a doctorate waiting for the first psychologist to publish a scientific paper on PC-PLoD syndrome Post Constabulary Persistent and Loquacious Droning. Pictured Matthew Batte starring as Daniel Morgan in Murder In The Car Park The minute they hang up their lanyards, it all changes. Buy an ex-detective a pint, ask him about a case 30 years ago and he'll talk himself hoarse then email you details he forgot to mention. The producers of the true crime documentary Murder In The Car Park (C4) recklessly invited about a dozen former crime squad officers from a South London nick to tell them about an unsolved killing from 1987. These shows usually run to an hour. The opening episode of this one lasted over 90 minutes, and the story barely got going. We heard the minutiae of the case from every view-point, with old CID scores being settled and ancient grievances dredged up. Feathered flap of the night: All seemed lost in The Salisbury Poisonings (BBC1) when the swans started falling over. If Novichok nerve agent was in the river, the city would have to be evacuated. Luckily, the birds were OK just feeling a bit fowl. Advertisement The first five minutes were taken up with a heated debate about whether the Super in charge had a swift double Scotch to calm his nerves after seeing the body. If he did, no one could blame him. Daniel Morgan, a debt collector with a private investigations agency, was discovered in a pub car park, in a pool of congealed blood with an axe in the side of his head. 'It did have the hallmark of an execution,' mused one former policeman. He's right that this wasn't a mugging Morgan had a 1,000 roll of banknotes, untouched in his pocket but an executioner usually takes his axe home with him. Just ask Anne Boleyn. Anyone who leaves their cleaver embedded in the skull is either a berserk Viking or an amateur with a grudge. Deciding on the latter option, detectives quickly brought in Morgan's business partner for questioning, private eye Jonathan Rees. But the sergeant sent to take Rees's statement happened to be his best mate . . . who forgot to tell his boss that he was drinking with Rees and Morgan in the Golden Lion, minutes before the murder. In fact, half the crime squad were regulars at the Lion. Suddenly, this case looked murkier than the dregs of a barrel of Worthington E. Rees was later charged with the murder but proceedings were discontinued and a not-guilty verdict entered. The killer has never been found. No danger of the police in Monaco leaving a murder investigation unfinished. They reacted with an armed rapid-response unit when two tourists tried to do a runner without paying for their pizza. Inside Monaco: Playground Of The Rich (BBC2) took a tour of the police armoury and described the force as 'Prince Albert's private army'. Every copper has more weapons than Rambo and is trained to show zero tolerance even for motoring offences. Monika Bacardi pictured with her classic Rolls Royce in BBC2's Inside Monaco: Playground Of The Rich By a surprising coincidence, Monaco has the lowest crime rate in Europe. Fancy. The only crooks are the billionaires dressing up as Chicago gangsters and their molls, for a Speakeasy night at the Casino. The Prohibition era was recreated in every detail . . . with added alcohol. This documentary, which was so obsequious towards the royals last week, did manage to stop slavering over all the wealth, at least for long enough to visit the women's block of the prison. There, the Mediterranean can be seen twinkling beyond the bars. A view to kill for, perhaps. Recent years have seen more and more national and international awards emerging for literary works in Arabic, including the annual International Prize for Arabic Fiction (the Arabic Booker Prize), the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature awarded by the American University in Cairo, and the Sheikh Zayed Book Awards in the UAE recognising works and authors. The UK-based Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation has been awarded every year since 2006 and is different from other prizes in that it recognises specifically translation. It is awarded to what in the opinion of the judges is the best literary translation each year from Arabic into English. The Prizes Website adds that it is given to a published translation in English of a full-length imaginative and creative Arabic work of literary merit published after, or during, the year 1967 and first published in English translation in the year prior to the award. Previous winners have included Farouk Abdel-Wahab for his version of Egyptian author Khairy Shalabys The Lodging House in 2007 and Roger Allen for his version of Moroccan writer Bensalem Himmichs A Muslim Suicide in 2012. This years Prize, awarded in London in February, went to a translation by Leri Price of Syrian writer Khaled Khalifas novel Death is Hard Work. Khalifa is already well-known to English-language readers, since earlier novels, perhaps particularly No Knives in the Kitchens of this City, have also been translated and enthusiastically received. He has become one of the best-known chroniclers of the ongoing crisis in Syria along with fellow novelist Samar Yazbek and commentator Yassin Haj Saleh. However, the Banipal Prize, like other awards, is not, or should not be, a winner-takes-all contest, since its longlist and shortlist, published in the run-up to the final decision of the judges, contain intriguing samples of the range and variety of the Arabic literary works making it into English translation each year and are significant tests of their quality. This years shortlist included Jokes for the Gunmen by Palestinian-Icelandic writer Mazen Maarouf translated into English by Jonathan Wright, Celestial Bodies by Omani novelist Jodha Alharthi translated by Marilyn Booth, and My Name is Adam by Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury translated by Humphrey Davies. Jokes for the Gunmen and Celestial Bodies are early career novels (the former is a collection of linked short stories), whereas My Name is Adam is an addition to an already distinguished body of work that has seen Khoury publish some 15 novels, among them the critically acclaimed Gate of the Sun. This was made into a film directed by Egyptian filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah in 2004, and its subsequent English translation, also by Davies, was awarded the inaugural 2006 Banipal Prize. While the first two novels may have been firsts for their writers, they were far from being so for their translators, both of whom have distinguished track records. Wright has translated well over a dozen Arabic literary titles into English and has previously won the Banipal Prize on two occasions, the first for his translation of Egyptian novelist Youssef Zeidans Azazeel in 2013, also the 2009 winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, and the second for his translation of Kuwaiti novelist Saud Alsanousis The Bamboo Stalk in 2016, which earlier won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2013. Booth, also an academic at Oxford University in the UK, has translated many works of modern Arabic literature into English, perhaps one of the best known being her translation of Girls of Riyadh by Saudi novelist Raja Alsanea, which gave rise to some controversy between writer and translator when it first appeared. She has produced many translations of works by contemporary women authors, including several by Lebanese novelist Hoda Barakat and by Egyptian writer Nawal al-Saadawi, and is the translator of Egyptian novelist Latifa al-Zayyats classic novel The Open Door. Davies is a veteran translator, responsible for the translation of contemporary popular novels such as Egyptian novelist Alaa al-Aswanys Yacoubian Building, as well as heavyweight older materials, such as his inventive translations of 19th-century Lebanese writer Ahmed al-Shidyaqs Leg over Leg and 17th-century Egyptian writer Yusuf al-Shirbinis Brains Confounded by the Ode of Abu Shaduf Expounded in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Price, the winner of this years Banipal Prize for her translation, thus found herself in very distinguished company. JOKES FOR THE GUNMEN: Maazen Maaroufs Jokes for the Gunmen, published under the same title in Arabic in Beirut in 2015, appears in a fresh and idiomatic translation by Jonathan Wright in an English edition from British publisher Granta Books.It is a book marked by civil conflict, and, though Maarouf is probably too young to remember much of it (he was born in 1978), also the Lebanese civil war. Most of the violence is indirect or represented in the form of jokes, with the gunmen of the title being engaged in a series of surreal encounters with the books young narrator in linked short stories.That was my little mission in the war, he explains in the first story. When the fighting was intense and the gunmen were using heavy weapons such as mortars and RPGs, my terrified mother and brother would lie flat on the floor in the corridor while I stood near the television, tending a tiny pepper plant. Just as I didnt understand what was happening in the neighbourhood, I didnt understand why my father had chosen a pepper plant, he adds.Later, there is a deal with a group of gunmen in order to gain their protection. There was always a group of young men standing near the school, the narrator explains. Five or six of them. We used to call them the hippopotamuses They were known to be quiet but also vicious, and they worked by the hour.Other than the gunmen, glimpsed at checkpoints or loitering in the streets, the characters are restricted to the narrators immediate family. His father disappears after what may be a botched kidnapping, and his uncle dies three times in the space of a week. Later, the father reappears, this time in a shady bar. It was one level below ground. Long and narrow, it was shaped rather like a rectangular biscuit, he explains. My father was the gramophone operator in the bar He spent hours and hours standing behind the bar, turning the handle of a Berliner gramophone from 1900 there was no electricity and the bar was lit by candles.The bar is destroyed in a bombing, rather like the cinema in the next short story. When one of the occupying armys tanks shelled the projection room at the top end of the auditorium, most of the families [taking shelter there] gathered on the stage and hid behind the curtain, the narrator explains. Perhaps the deadpan manner should not be confused with humour, however black, even if much of what goes on seems to be some kind of monstrous joke.I dont have a sense of humour, to be honest, the narrator says in a story called The Angel of Death, an odd admission in a book of jokes. And I dont understand why people smile.Also from the Levant, this time Palestine as seen from New York, is My Name is Adam, the first volume in the Children of the Ghetto series by Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury in a handsome edition published by MacLehose. The novel was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2017 and appeared in Arabic in 2012 under the same title.Khoury is at the other end of his career to Maarouf and is one of the elder statesmen of the contemporary Arabic novel. His intention in this book seems to be to retell the history and aftermath of the Nakba, the loss of Palestine in 1948, through memory fragments brought together in the consciousness of a single character whose name is Adam.These reflections are characterised by their range, taking in not only events in Lydda (Lod) in 1948 and the expulsion of the narrators family during the establishment of the state of Israel, but also much that has happened since. The book includes a glossary that tracks down some of the many references, but Davies and his editors have employed a light touch. The novel may be a challenging read for those not familiar with at least some of the events that float in and out of the text.Many of these are public, while some are more like private jokes, like, for example, when the narrator attends a screening of Gate of the Sun only to note the presence of its director and author sitting next to him. From the modern literary canon, Egyptian writer Taha Hussein makes an entrance, as do the Palestinians Ghassan Kanafani, Jabra Ibrahim Jabra, and Mahmoud Darwish, introduced as suggesting possible ways of approaching Palestinian experience. From the classical canon, there are mentions of Waddah al-Yaman, Imru al-Qays, al-Maari, al-Jahiz, and many others, with these being lighted upon as possible sources for a contemporary novel or as a kind of closely woven intertextual backcloth.The novel is framed by the idea of abandoned notebooks produced by its narrator Adam Dannoun while living in New York. Maybe it should be seen as notes towards writing a novel rather than the thing itself, an extended monologue, writing about writing, a meditation on the difficulty of stitching together memories to make a single narrative.I dont feel comfortable with messages in literature, political or otherwise, the narrator writes. Literature exists without reference to any meaning located outside of it, and I want Palestine to become a text that exists without reference to its current historical condition.CELESTIAL BODIES: Published in translation by British publisher Sandstone Books, Omani novelist Jokha Alharthis Celestial Bodies appeared in Arabic under the different title of Women of the Moon in 2010. Its translation by Marilyn Booth won the 2019 Man Booker International Prize.Taking the form of a continuous narrative, though one told in different ways, the novel is divided into short sections headed by the names of different characters. It recounts the lives of a family, particularly three sisters, in the village of Al-Awafi in Oman. Sometimes there is an external narrator, with something like free indirect style being used. Sometimes events are recounted through internal monologue, with the narrative directly reproducing a characters thoughts.The main impression is one of change over time, with Al-Awafi, like the rest of Oman, being transformed by economic development and the arrival of new patterns of life from abroad. Mayya, for example, one of the sisters, has grown up in a world in which womens lives are circumscribed by the walls of the family compound, and life-changing decisions, including on marriage, are taken by family members, not by individual women themselves.She marries Abdallah, the son of local merchant Sulayman, having not previously seen him before the engagement is announced. Soon, there are three children, London, a daughter, being the first. Perhaps she is named after the English capital as an act of defiance, since, as a relative exclaims, does anyone name their daughter London? This is the name of a place, my dear, a place that is very far away, in the land of the Christians.As the daughter grows up, life around her begins to change. When London graduated from the Medical School at Sultan Qaboos University, she said, papa, I want a BMW, Abdallah remembers. And when we moved to our new house [in the capital Muscat], Mayya moved the Farrasha [sewing machine] into the storage room She was very happy about the move. She didnt want to remain under her mothers control for the rest of her life, she said. And when she had Muhammad she stopped sewing.New pastimes open up, London and her friends being absorbed in their never-ending expeditions from one mall to the next in her car. There are new possibilities in business and education. Old family houses are sold, and new apartments obtained, not only in Muscat, but also abroad. The past seems to be receding from present generations, play-stations, BMWs, and consumer goods replacing shopping in traditional village souqs.Booth evokes the atmosphere of Alharthis novel by retaining many Arabic expressions, a rough-and-ready contemporary English, sometimes close to slang, coexisting with them. Mayas mother was in the room, and she wasnt pleased. Laysh ya hibbat ayni! My dear woman, why would you want to name her for me? Shes forgetting those days when she didnt even have a dishdasha to cover her body, way back before she married my boy. Ya ayni alayk, you poor boy, my Sanjar. Your luck took a wrong turn with that viper.Finally, there is Khalifas Death is Hard Work translated by Leri Price in an English version that won this years Translation Prize. The novel appeared in Arabic under the same title in 2016, and it is published in English by the British literary publisher Faber and Faber, not previously known for publishing Arabic fiction.The framework is a journey from Damascus to Aleppo during the ongoing Syrian Civil War, with the members of an ordinary family, two brothers and a sister, being pushed into taking extraordinary measures in order to carry out their fathers dying wish to be buried in his home district. Along the way there is much to be learned about the workings of the social system in Syria, both under more normal circumstances and during the violence of civil war.Leaving Damascus, there is the first of a series of run-ins with the security forces and the inevitable production of IDs. When it was their turn at the checkpoint, the agent on duty told Hussein, one of the brothers, that the Mukhabarat [intelligence agencies] would have to check their identity cards while he examined the corpse. Vertiginous amounts of bureaucracy are required in order to obtain the necessary paperwork, first at the civil-records office, then at the central registry, and then at the relevant military hospital.All these steps can be avoided on the payment of a bribe disguised as a goods-transit agreement. The agent gave him a sardonic glance, but they agreed on twenty thousand liras.On their journey to Aleppo, silence reigns among the family members, each lost in thought about their past and present situation. Abdel-Latif, the father, had retreated into the past during his final years as a way of denying present circumstances. His sons have retreated into private routines designed to put as great a distance as possible between themselves and others.Thousands of people disappeared without a trace, simply for being born in areas controlled by the opposition Kidnappings, ransoms, and random arrests were widespread and tit-for-tat responses meant that they only escalated in frequency. Peoples movements were tightly controlled. Any error could be costly. The best strategy for one brother is to cut short any burgeoning friendships with colleagues by the time they started furtively discussing indications they had gleaned which pointed to recent regime losses, using codewords familiar to opposition sympathisers, he had already started ignoring them, the narrator comments.The novel presents a terrifying picture of a Syria in which death, like life, is hard work. It makes for a bleak diagnosis in Prices stylish translation, but also a mesmerising one. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: But now the CIA and its assortment of supporting organizations seems to have run out of color choices. How else can one explain that their latest attempt in Belarus is called a "slipper revolution". U.S engineered attempts to overthrow a foreign government by stirring civil arrests are usually named after a color or, at times, a flower. Thus we had an "rose revolution" in Georgia, a "green movement" in Iran and an "orange revolution" in the Ukraine. The U.S. State Department funded Belsat.eu TV station was the first to mention slippers in a picture caption on May 31. No, the Guardian, which published the 'Slipper revolution headline today but later changed it, did not come up with that stupid moniker by itself. On June 6 the U.S. government funded RFE/RL was the first to use it in a headline. When these western government funded organizations and media come up with explainer pieces about one not yet westernized country at the very same time one can be sure that something is up. Someone has obviously briefed these folks. Yesterday the U.S. government and NATO funded Atlantic Council mentioned slippers in a Belarus piece. The Washington DC based and funded Center for European Policy Analysis avoided the 'slippers' but its yesterday published piece on Belarus covers the same ground . With some 9.5 million inhabitants Belarus is rather small. Since 1994 it is ruled by President Alexander Lukashenko. He has stuck to Soviet-era policies. The country has a well developed industry that mainly exports heavy machinery. Large parts of the economy are still state owned and support the local towns and cities. The country thereby avoided the economic catastrophe that happened in Russia under Boris Yelzin but it also missed out on the economic development that happened in Russia after President Vladimir Putin took over. Since 1995 Russia and Belarus have an agreement to form a Union State: The Union State does provide citizens of Russia and Belarus the right to work and permanently settle in either country without formal immigration procedures otherwise mandatory for foreign nationals. They retain their national passports and other identification papers. The treaty, signed in 1999, also includes a common defense and economic integration as well as a Union parliament and other institutions. It is essentially aimed at integrating Belarus (and other former Soviet Union states) with Russia. But within a full fledged Union State Lukashenkos personal role would be largely diminished. He has dragged his feet whenever Russia made attempts to push for further steps towards it. Russia has subsidized the price of natural gas and crude oil it delivers to Belarus. The oil is only partly used within the country itself. Belarus refines it and sells the resulting products for hard currencies into western markets. The subsidized oil was until recently the 'integration rent paid by Russia to keep Belarus near to its side. In late 2019 Lukashenko and Putin met for a summit in Sochi. Putin again pressed for more progress towards forming the Union State while Lukashenko continued to drag his feet. In consequence Russia cut the 'integration rent by demanding higher prices for its oil. Back from Sochi and faced with a diminishing economy Lukashenko changed tact. He openly courted the U.S. and other western countries and suddenly emphasized Belorussian sovereignty. He even bought U.S. shale oil: Lukashenko has long balanced keeping Russia close but not too close. He rarely throws up any roadblocks to Russian policies. But Lukashenko also has resisted the Kremlins push for the two countries to form a unified state something they agreed to in 1999. ... So when they failed in December to agree on a new price for oil Moscow sells to Minsk, Russia temporarily cut the supply. Lukashenko then vowed to diversify Belaruss oil suppliers. He delivered by purchasing shipments from Azerbaijan, Norway and Saudi Arabia all in the past five months, capitalizing on a coronavirus-induced shock to oil prices. ... Pompeo visited Minsk in early February, when he first offered to sell American oil at a competitive price. It marked the first trip to Belarus by the top U.S. diplomat since Lukashenko took power. Then in April, the two countries formally reestablished diplomatic relations when Julie Fisher, a top State Department official for Europe, was named ambassador to Belarus a position that had been vacant for more than a decade. Lukashenkos unsustainable stunt of buying oil elsewhere worked to a certain extend. In May Russia again agreed to deliver oil to Belarus but only half the amount of previous years. But to get nearer to the 'west' also has a price. A U.S. ambassador in town means that regime change plots are never far away. The sudden attention that Belarus now receives from U.S. aligned organizations is a sure sign that one is underway. On August 9 Belarus will hold presidential elections. Lukashenko will do his best to win again. Color revolutions are usually launched over controversial elections. The results are publicly put into doubt even before the election begins. When the results finally arrive western media will claim that they divert from the expectation it created and therefore must have been faked. People will be pushed into the streets to protest. To increase the chaos some sharp shooters may be put to work to fire at the police and at protesters like it was done in Ukraine. The revolt ends when it is flogged down or when the U.S. favorite candidate is put into place. Last year the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy financed at least 34 projects and organizations in Belarus. The U.S. does not do that out of charity but to put its finger on the scale. The U.S. seems to have at least two candidates in the race. The first one is the Navalny like rabble rousing 'slipper man: During the early stages of the current election campaign, thousands have been queuing up in towns and cities to sign petitions backing the candidacies of Lukashenkos main rivals. Candidates must collect 100,000 signatures by early July in order to be eligible for the ballot. Some anti-Lukashenko protesters have begun brandishing slippers in response to popular YouTube vlogger and presidential hopeful Syarhey Tsikhanouskis call to squash the Belarus president like a cockroach. This has led to tentative talk of a looming slipper revolution in line with the branded protest movements that have succeeded in toppling authoritarian regimes elsewhere in the former Soviet Union. Two candidates can probably be taken seriously: Viktor Babariko is the former head of Belgazprombank, while Valery Tsepkalo is a former senior Lukashenko administration official who served as Belarusian ambassador to the United States before more recently heading up the Belarus Hi-Tech Park, one of the largest IT clusters in Central and Eastern Europe. Unlike the puppets and outsiders who are generally permitted to run against Lukashenko, Babariko and Tsepkalo have the necessary seniority and establishment experience to be taken seriously as alternatives to the current political status quo. Babariko, as former head of a Gazprom bank, is presumed to be Russias favorite candidate while Tsepkalo is likely the one who the U.S. would like to see in office. Both have quite similar neoliberal programs which argue for privatization and a more open economy. Lukashenko may take steps to remove candidates who could endanger his position. Police say they found $900,000 in a house owned by the 'video blogger Tsikhanouski. He is also accused of attacking police at an unsanctioned rally. Last week Babarikos former bank was raided over accusations of a tax evasion scheme. Tsepkalo was fired as head of the Belarus Hi-Tech Park after he had used it to enrich himself. There are several obvious fraud cases that could be raised against him. The economy of Belarus is likely to shrink this year. Lukashenkos response to the Covid-19 epidemic has been as bad as Trumps. The state income from refining and selling products from subsidized Russian oil is down. There are reasons to vote him out of office. But there are also reasons for wanting him to stay. The GDP per person in Belarus is around $20,000 (PPP). That is double the number of its neighbor Ukraine and some 30% lower than in Russia. Income equality in Belarus is relatively high. Social security and services function to a significant degree. It is not at all reasonable to claim that Lukashenko could not be a legitimate election winner. A color revolution, as it is now in preparation, would probably end up destroying the country. Should Belarus fall into the hand of a 'western' sponsored candidate its future would be bleak. The state owned industries would be privatized for pennies and much of the Soviet Union like social system, which still works well for most of its people, would be dismantled. The economic relations with Russia would suffer. In the end Belarus would probably be worse off than even the Ukraine. The long term future of the country lies with Russia which at has the resources and interests to manage it well. The economies of both countries are already highly integrated. Their people speak the same language. They have a common history and the same religion. Russia has high interest to keep Belarus within its realm. It is difficult to predict how it will react should a U.S. directed color revolution proceed. A fleet of EasyMile EZ10s, which are creating new transport connections in the German city of Monheim, on the Rhine, have been awarded the Reallabore Innovation Prize by the countrys Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Monheim is the first municipality in Germany to set up a bus line with automated, electrically-powered and therefore emission-free, vehicles on public roads. It is demonstrating how self-driving electric minibuses can be safely deployed to transport passengers on urban roads. ') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> A fleet of five EZ10s have been operating on the A01 bus line for several months. The route covers a distance of nearly 3km between the city centre and old town revitalising the citys public transport system. For the operator Bahnen der Stadt Monheim (BSM), the local public transport company, the autonomous bus fleet also offers a unique opportunity to gain new insights into the acceptance of autonomous vehicles in local public transport, making a forward-looking contribution to the mobility of tomorrow. With our autonomous bus fleet we are showcasing the opportunity of digitization to everyone. It is the future of mobility in the streets of Monheim today says Mayor Daniel Zimmermann. The Reallabore Award is held by the Ministry of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). New technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain or drone technology are tested in regulatory freedom. These so-called regulatory sandboxes offer a special opportunity to learn not just about innovation, but also about the rules and regulations underpinning it. This also intends to lay foundations for the further development of the legal framework, a process that is particularly important for an autonomous future. The regulatory sandboxes are a source of inspiration for new business models and technologies, and encourage the use of pioneering technologies under real conditions. BMWi is encouraging companies, researchers, policy-makers and administrations to initiate innovation together. In view of the high pace of digital change, we need to experiment not only with our technologies, but also with our rules and regulations, so that we can test them and learn. This is what regulatory sandboxes are for, says Peter Altmeier, federal minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. Unemployment will skyrocket when the JobSeeker boost and JobKeeper payments end in September, the federal government has warned. As the COVID-19 outbreak escalated, JobSeeker payments - previously known as Newstart - have doubled from $565.70-a-fortnight to $1,115. The government has signalled the six-month, $550 coronavirus supplement will end in September. JobKeeper has since late April paid workers $1,500-a-fortnight in wage subsidies so their main employer could keep them on the payroll during the COVID-19 shutdowns. Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter warned on Tuesday it would be wrong to think everything could shift back to a pre-pandemic state at the end of September when both welfare schemes, announced in March, ended. Unemployment will skyrocket when JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments end in September, the federal government has warned Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there would be jobs and businesses lost once the government supports were removed 'Some of the jobs that are being supported through that wage subsidy are not going to be sustainable in the long run,' he said. 'There will be a shift between JobKeeper and JobSeeker at some point and to some degree.' There are now 1.6million people on the JobSeeker unemployment benefits, while another three million Australians receive JobKeeper payments through their employer. The JobKeeper scheme is legislated until September but is being reviewed, with the outcome to be announced on July 23. It has ended early for the child care sector, which the government has moved on to a separate support plan. 'The idea that things will return seamlessly to the way they were six months after JobKeeper commenced is just a false apprehension and we have to plan ourselves and work ourselves out of this, not just hope for the best,' Mr Porter said. Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter warned unemployment won't shift back to a pre-pandemic state at the end of September when both subsidy schemes come to an end The minister cautioned that governments had limited resources and had to apply them for maximum effect. His remarks come a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there would be jobs and businesses lost once the government supports were removed. Mr Morrison told the forum on Monday that keeping wage subsidies and other support measures in place for too long would damage the super-charged growth Australia needs to escape the crisis. ACTU secretary Sally McManus said there were clearly big sections of the economy that would still be more or less in stasis when September arrived. She warned workers wouldn't stand for permanent pay cuts as the Australian economy recovered from coronavirus. While industrial relations changes had been needed to deal with the crisis, it was important not to conflate that with what would be needed in the future as the system was reformed. 'If we let these discussions get coloured or affected by the current situation, we could then be building solutions that are really crisis solutions,' Ms McManus told the CEDA forum. 'The union movement clearly won't have a lot of patience if some employers come and say they want changes because of the current situation and for those to be permanent.' But she said workplace laws could have a role to play in preventing a second wave of coronavirus infections, which would be 'unthinkable' for the economy. Australia's unemployment rate has surged to a five-year high following the COVID-19 business closures, with many more people not counted in the official statistics. The jobless rate soared from 5.2 per cent in March, before the coronavirus shutdowns of non-essential businesses, to 6.2 per cent in April. Economists are expecting the May labour force figures, due out on Thursday, to show another increase in unemployment. The jobless rate soared from 5.2 per cent in March, before the coronavirus shutdowns of non-essential businesses, to 6.2 per cent in April The government also warned extending JobKeeper could put spending on vital services, including schools and hospitals, at risk. The $70billion wage subsidy scheme is costing taxpayers $20billion every month. Mr Morrison insisted 'it is not a wise or responsible course' to keep the emergency measure in place, revealing the economy is expected to shrink by $100 billion this year. Both the Reserve Bank of Australia and Treasury are expecting the official unemployment rate to hit ten per cent this month as the health pandemic caused an even faster downturn than the 1930s Great Depression. The number of payroll jobs plunged by 7.5 per cent or about 980,000 in the 11 weeks to May 30, the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed on Tuesday. The meant the number of people with a job had fallen from 13million to 12million in little more than two months. Risk of having a mental condition ^163% Increase in risk of depressive disorders. ^91% Increase in risk for general anxiety disorder. ^73% Increase in risk for PTSD. Cognition and emotions ^64% Increase in feelings of depressed mood. ^47% Increase in anxiety levels. ^28% Increase in stress levels. ^23% Increase in negativity. "The May numbers are stunning, especially when we look at differences by gender," noted Louis Gagnon, CEO, Total Brain. "This universal mental health deterioration is unprecedented; underscoring the importance of assessing, monitoring and supporting brain health, particularly with women who have been playing double and triple roles since the pandemic erupted. The Mental Health Index shines a light on an issue that cannot be ignored." The Mental Health Index: U.S. Worker Edition was released today by Total Brain, in partnership with One Mind at Work and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions (National Alliance). The National Alliance, a nonprofit network of business coalitions, is the newest organization to join forces with Total Brain to bring a standardized national mental health benchmark to business leaders nationwide. The effects of anxiety and depression in the wake of COVID-19 are also taking a direct hit on employee performance and productivity: Productivity is down. U.S Workers are taking 8% longer to complete cognitive tasks - an improvement from a peak of 15% in April 2020 Aged 20-39, are taking 20% longer to complete tasks Performance is suffering. Ability of working adults, age 40-49, to recall information has worsened by 7%. Employees, age 40-59, are making 42% more mistakes. "We've known that COVID-19 is driving growing concerns about mental health, which many are referring to as the second wave," said Michael Thompson, president and CEO, National Alliance. "What we didn't have was the data to understand the magnitude of the issue. The results should be a wake-up call for corporate America." "The Mental Health Index raises real concern for the overall mental well-being of our nation's workforce," said Garen Staglin, chairman and co-founder, One Mind at Work. "We believe that the Mental Health Index will serve as an important driver of awareness and action as we continue to bring together business leaders and employers who are committed to transforming approaches to mental health in the workplace." The Mental Health Index: U.S. Worker Edition is a monthly report powered by Total Brain, a leading mental health and brain performance self-monitoring and self-care platform. The Mental Health Index was launched in April 2020. For more information and additional insights on findings from the Mental Health Index, Total Brain, the National Alliance and One Mind at Work are hosting the first in a complimentary series of webinars on Friday, June 19 at 12 p.m. Eastern. To learn more and register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3806035773333986571. Methodology Launched May 19, 2020, the Mental Health Index: U.S. Worker Edition is based on 500 anonymized neuroscientific assessments (not a survey) randomly selected among thousands of Total Brain assessments taken each week by U.S. workers coming from: all levels (entry, junior, intermediary, senior) all disciplines (clerical, administrative, professional, trades) a wide range of private industries (service, manufacturing, retail, technology, etc.) a wide range of public sector institutions (cities, schools, hospitals, etc.) The assessment uses standardized tasks that measure and benchmark 12 brain capacities and standard screening questions (e.g., DASS, PHQ2/9, GAD 2/7, CAGE-AID) to measure the risk of seven mental conditions with 70-80% accuracy. This is very different from survey data that reports on panel participants' perceptions of themselves. Determination of statistical changes from one period to the other is established via one-way anova and linear regression analyses, using a 0.05 alpha. About Total Brain Total Brain is based in San Francisco and publicly listed in Sydney, AUS (ASX:TTB). Total Brain is a mental health and brain performance self-monitoring and self-care platform that has over 800,000 registered users. Benefits for employers and payers include productivity improvement and healthcare cost reduction. Follow Total Brain on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . About One Mind One Mind is a leading mental health non-profit that catalyzes comprehensive action across the scale of the brain health crisis, working from science to patients to society. Moving toward our VISION of HEALTHY BRAINS FOR ALL, One Mind is accelerating treatments and cures for mental disorders and providing hope to patients and their families. Launched in 2017, One Mind at Work is a global coalition of leaders from diverse sectors who have joined together with the goal of transforming approaches to mental health and addiction. One Mind at Work now includes more than 25 global employers and 18 research and content partners. The coalition covers nearly 6 million people under its charter. About the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions (National Alliance) is the only nonprofit, purchaser-led organization with a national and regional structure dedicated to driving health and healthcare value across the country. Its members represent private and public sector, nonprofit, and Taft-Hartley organizations, and more than 45 million Americans, spending $300 billion annually on healthcare. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with on Twitter or LinkedIn. Contact: Kelly Faville Rocket Social Impact 978-621-6667 [email protected] SOURCE Total Brain Related Links https://www.totalbrain.com/ A stable government is needed and it is important that it the Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Green Party majority coalition forms a Government for all the people, says Laois Offaly Fianna Fail. Fianna Fail TD for Laois-Offaly, Sean Fleming, has welcomed the publication of the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future. Deputy Fleming said, The people of Ireland want a new Government in place. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic a major rebooting of the economy is needed, and people want to get back to work and earning a living. It is essential that the major issues in health and housing are dealt with. A stable Government is needed. In Laois-Offaly the majority of voters voted for the Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Green Parties. The majority of people nationally voted for the Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Green Parties. The majority of TDs in Dail Eireann are from the Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Green Parties. It is important that this majority forms a Government for all the people. I believe this is the best deal possible in the current circumstances. Ballot papers will be issued to all Fianna Fail members this week and I am asking them to support this Programme for Government and to return their ballot papers as soon as possible, concluded Dep Fleming. I want to have more time to see how the numbers look before we make changes, especially as we see surges in other parts of the country, Northam said. Mr. Hunter had the idea for Bookshop nearly a decade ago, when he was working as the editor in chief of Electric Literature, a nonprofit digital publisher. He had watched with alarm as independent bookstores struggled to adapt to the rise of online retail. But he found little support for the proposal. The people I spoke to didnt really think it had a chance, so I didnt pursue it, he said. Then, in early 2018, Mr. Hunter, who is now the publisher of the independent press Catapult and the website Lit Hub, met with representatives of the American Booksellers Association. The trade group asked Mr. Hunter for suggestions on how to improve IndieBound, its e-commerce site for independent stores. Instead, he proposed building something from scratch a site that would offer seamless online shopping for book buyers who want to support local bookstores. Shoppers can select a particular store to buy from, or they can buy straight from Bookshop. Orders are fulfilled through Ingram, a large book distributor, and mailed directly to customers, so stores dont have to have the books in stock or process inventory. Bookstores get 30 percent of the list price less than they would typically make from a direct sale but dont have to pay for inventory or shipping. Bookshop doesnt profit from the sales that go through particular stores. Instead, it makes money through its direct sales and from affiliate sales, when media organizations, book clubs and social media sites feature links to Bookshop in book reviews or other coverage. The site now has more than 8,000 affiliates, including The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, BuzzFeed and New York magazine. IndieBound, which runs a similar affiliate sales program, is merging its operation with Bookshops. (For books that are sold directly by Bookshop, or through media affiliates, 10 percent of the list price goes into a profit pool that gets distributed to independent bookstores; so far, the site has funneled about a million dollars into the pool.) The launch nearly coincided with the pandemic, which has devastated brick-and-mortar bookstores. In April, bookstore sales plummeted to $219 million, a decline of more than 65 percent from April 2019, according to figures released Tuesday by the Commerce Department. In the first four months of this year, bookstore sales fell by 23 percent compared to the same period in 2019. Some stores are barely scraping by. Lisa Neuheisel, the owner of the Sequel Bookshop in Kearney, Neb., closed her store to customers on March 22 and didnt have a way for them to shop online. She created a page for her store on Bookshop after she saw another booksellers Facebook post linking to the site. Bookshop accounted for roughly half her sales in April and May, while the rest were curbside pickup, she said. The sales have been a lifeline for us, she said. Image Danielle Mullen signed on with Bookshop when the pandemic forced her to close her store, Semicolon. It meant we could stay in business, and thats all were trying to do, she said. Credit... Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune Danielle Mullen, the owner of Semicolon, a year-old bookstore in Chicago, also joined Bookshop in mid-March. During April and May, Bookshop accounted for around 70 percent of the stores roughly 1,800 orders. It meant we could stay in business, and thats all were trying to do, she said. Hours after Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush went on national TV to warn protesters to keep their hands off the Alamo, fellow statewide elected Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick took to social media to blast Bushs management of the San Antonio icon. Nobody has put the @OfficialAlamo at more risk than @georgepbush with the outrageous reimagining plan, lousy management, lack of transparency and moving the cenotaph, Patrick said on Twitter. That post came about 4 hours after Bush went on the Fox News Channel to say the state has responded to elevated threats from Antifa with more guards to protect the Alamo. Downtown has seen nearly nightly protests calling out police brutality since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis three weeks ago. We responded in kind with a show of force to send a very clear message that you dont mess with Texas and you dont mess with the Alamo, Bush told Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade. Patrick took it as an opening to once again to publicly criticize Bush, who has increasingly been the target of Patricks jabs. Bushs agency is responsible for overseeing the redesign of Alamo Plaza. Patricks antagonism toward Bush has grown since an October 2019 article in the National Review, a conservative publication, in which Bush is discussed as being ready to run for either governor or lieutenant governor in the future. While he wouldnt challenge current Governor (Greg) Abbott or Lieutenant Governor Patrick, if an opening presents itself he would absolutely consider serving Texans in a higher role. When that moment arises, hes ready, Bush adviser J. R. Hernandez is quoted by the publication saying. Abbott, Patrick and Bush are all up for re-election next in 2022. In 2018, Bush, who turned 44 in April, won his second term running the GLO by winning 53.7 percent of the vote the second-highest percentage among the 8 statewide Republican officeholders who won re-election that year. Patrick, who turned 70 in April, won 51.3 percent of the vote in his re-election. In March, the 184th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo, Patrick faulted Bush for the $450 million restoration being badly off track and Patrick threatened to take the authority to manage the Alamo out from the General Land Office. If the General Land Office cannot handle this important job, and to date it does not appear it can, I will recommend we identify another entity to provide oversight, Patrick said then. A key bone of contention for critics of the Alamo Plaza redesign is the proposed moving of the six-story monolithic Cenotaph. There has been a plan to move that monument about 500 feet south to make way for a public-private project to build a museum and convert Alamo Plaza into a more space, free of traffic and the Cenotaph. The monument honoring the fallen Alamo defenders sits at the north end of the plaza, where it was dedicated in 1940 as part of the Texas centennial. Design experts and scholars have long argued that the Cenotaph depicting David Crockett and other defenders carved by Italian-born sculptor Pompeo Coppini is out of scale and context with the mission-era Alamo church and Long Barrack. It has all made Bush a target of some Alamo enthusiasts who dont want the monument moved. In December, Bush took to social media to blast false rumors that he was secretly wanting to build a statue of Mexican General Santa Anna near the Alamo. The idea that I would EVER place a statue of Santa Anna at the Alamo is patently false. Enough is enough. This is an outright lie, and is quite frankly, flat out racist, Bush said in a statement. Bush questioned if he was targeted for the criticism because of his parents. One must ask themselves, why am I being accused of honoring the murderous dictator Santa Anna? Bush wrote. Is it because my mother (now a naturalized citizen) is from Mexico? I was born in Houston, my wife is from San Angelo, and my boys were born you guessed it here in Texas. That triggered another rebuke from Patrick who put out a statement accusing Bush of calling everyone who disagrees with the direction of the Alamo restoration project a racist. Recently, the GLO Commissioner and a member of his staff have derided anyone who disagrees with the Alamo redesign as a small vocal minority who are liars and racists, Patrick said in a written statement. This is offensive and inaccurate. The 31 members of the Texas Senate represent over 28 million Texans. They are not a vocal minority nor are they liars or racists. Bush fired back: To twist my words and put out a statement saying that I called Honorable State Senators and anyone who opposes me racist is wrong. It is a very dangerous mistake for an elected official with his power to make. Unlisted public companies are planning to move to the Ho Chi Minh and Ha Noi stock exchanges to increase share liquidity and capital. The Deo Ca Tunnel connects the two provinces of Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa in the central region of Viet Nam. The project investor Deo Ca Traffic Infrastructure Investment JSC (UPCoM: HHV) is planning to move shares from the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) to the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) in June 2021. Photo deoca.vn Deo Ca Traffic Infrastructure Investment JSC (UPCoM: HHV) will propose shareholders approve a plan to cancel trading on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) to list on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) in June 2021. The company is trading more than 227 million shares on UPCoM. The switch will allow the company to raise capital, thus funding its infrastructure investment projects. Deo Ca Traffic Infrastructure Investment is the investor of many build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects such as Bac Giang-Lang Son Highway, Deo Ca Tunnel and Phuoc Tuong-Phu Gia Tunnel. In 2020, the company will need VND730 billion to invest in the two former projects. In 2019, the company earned VND477 billion (US$20.5 million) and VND155 billion in total revenue and profit, respectively. Earnings targets for 2020 are expected at VND1.7 trillion worth of revenue and VND185 billion worth of profit, up 260 per cent and 19 per cent on-year. Equitised Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JSC (UPCoM: BSR) has filed to list its 3.1 billion shares on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX). The filing has been received. The listing will make BSR shares more liquid, allowing the Government to proceed with its divestment plan, according to the board of directors. Ending the first quarter, BSR posted a record loss of VND2.35 trillion. The company targets a total output of 5.56 million tonnes of products for 2020; a total revenue of VND80.68 trillion and a total post-tax profit of VND1.18 trillion. The post-tax profit for the whole year is expected to drop nearly 60 per cent on-year as crude prices are expected to trade at $60 a barrel on average this year. Earnings targets can be adjusted upon the movement of oil prices. Other popular names that are considering a bourse switch included industrial park developer Nam Tan Uyen JSC (NTC) and some lenders like VietBank (VBB), LienVietPostBank (LPB) and KienLongBank (KLB). UPCoM is seen as a transit station to encourage unlisted companies to trade their shares on the Vietnamese equity market. This is also the secondary option for those that are removed from the two stock exchanges to keep their shares liquidating. Information and earnings quality standards on UPCoM are often lower than the two exchanges, so the majority of stocks are not as attractive to investors. Therefore, the market liquidity is lower than that of the two exchanges. On Monday, the market index UPCOM dropped 0.73 per cent to end at 55.54 points with nearly 41.5 million shares being traded, worth VND439 billion. Trading volume and value of the HNX were double UPCoMs while those of the HoSE were 17 and 52 times higher, respectively. If those firms are qualified for HoSE and HNX listing, it means they are able to meet stricter requirements set by the two exchanges, thus allowing shares to be more active to benefit shareholders and investors. VNS Market regulator agrees on financial leveraging for UPCoM stocks Margin lending may be allowed on the Unlisted Pubic Company Market (UPCoM), the State Securities Commission (SSC) vice chairman Pham Hong Son said on Wednesday. By Express News Service BENGALURU: A survey conducted in Bengaluru showed that 91% of the 2,396 domestic workers spoken to, lost their salaries in April. It was conducted for in the first two weeks of May by Domestic Workers Rights Union, Bruhat Bangalore Gruhakarmika Sangha (BBGS) and Manegelasa Kaarmikara Union. Most of them worked in apartments of employees from software and multinational companies. A report titled, The COVID-19 pandemic and the invisible workers of the household economy, submitted to the Labour department on Monday said, 2,180, or 91% of workers lost their salaries in April. This is despite the guidelines from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for employers to pay full wages to their employees. They were told that as the employers themselves are not working and getting less money, they dont see the need to pay them. The report estimates that there are around 4 lakh domestic workers in Bengaluru, of which majority are women. As many as 2,084 or about 87% of the workers were told not to come for work since the lockdown in March and were not sure if and when they would be called to work again. 341 workers in the areas surveyed by BBGS and 150 workers in the areas surveyed by Manegelasa Kaarmikara Union lost their jobs entirely during the lockdown. 50% of all workers above the age of 50 lost their jobs during the lockdown, the report added.In March, some of the employers paid them only for the number of days worked. Domestic workers faced discrimination by RWAs such as being told not to use the lift, stairs or common area for fear of spreading the coronavirus. Many were paid lesser during the lockdown as they could not report to work. The government is not recognising them as unorganised labourers and has not released any compensation for them as done for cab, auto drivers and others who received Rs 5,000, said Radha, activist, Domestic Workers Rights Union. There was a Covid case from Ragigudda slum and other women from the slum were told not to come to work, Radha added. Cynthia Thompson crosses the street while wearing a mask in downtown Ventura. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Officials in Ventura County have expressed concern over an uptick in the number of COVID-19 patients being cared for in local hospitals and said they might slow reopenings if the trend continues. While coronavirus cases have been going up as more California businesses reopen, officials have said they think the increase is caused by an increase in testing, not by community spread. They have pointed to hospitalization rates as a better sign of whether the virus is surging. And although hospitalizations remain flat in many places in the state, they are increasing somewhat in a handful of regions, including Ventura County. The number of hospitalized patients in Ventura County ticked down over the course of a few days in the last week from 42 to 37 but that the trend has since reversed, and hospitalizations hit 47 on Tuesday. That range is still significantly higher than two weeks ago, when only about 20 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, according to county Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin. Though health officials say there is still plenty of space in its hospitals, its possible the county could have to press the pause button on reopening additional sectors of the economy if hospitalizations continue to rise. At this point, it would be foolhardy to just open up and continue to open up everything given what our numbers are doing, Levin said during Tuesdays meeting of the county's Board of Supervisors. Ventura County allowed in-restaurant dining and in-store shopping to resume on May 21, permitted hair salons to reopen on May 26, and allowed gyms and bars to reopen last Friday. California officials are set to allow counties to decide starting this Friday to reopen nail salons, tattoo shops and massage therapists in counties that have filed paperwork to accelerate their reopening. Ventura County officials, however, said they may decide, for now, to keep nail salons and tattoo shops closed and not allow massage therapists to resume operations in light of the concerns about the increased coronavirus hospitalizations. Story continues Levin said he personally would have no issue with further reopening if the data support such a move. Even as more spaces reopen, though, he said its vital that residents continue to observe physical distancing to stem the spread of the virus. We have met the enemy, and they are us, he said. And many of us have to do a better job of social distancing and quarantine. Some of us are doing a great job; were stalwarts. If we can do this and I know we can we can prevent the state from telling us that we must take a step back from some of the gains weve made in opening our activities and businesses. Statewide as of Sunday, officials reported there were 3,102 patients with a confirmed case of the virus in California hospitals and 1,220 patients with suspected cases. The combined tally is the first increase in the number of hospitalizations following a six-day decline. In Los Angeles County, 1,285 people were in hospitals, health officials said Monday. Dr. Christina Ghaly, the director of the county's Department of Health Services, said officials are working with the state to prepare for the possibility of an influx in patients, which could potentially overwhelm facilities in the county. Health officials noted last week that coronavirus transmission continues to worsen in Los Angeles County, bringing with it the chance that the nations most populous county could run out of intensive care unit beds in two to four weeks. The numbers have not reached danger levels yet, but health officials said they are monitoring conditions carefully for any signs of new pressures on hospitals. Santa Barbara County and the San Joaquin Valley are also being closely watched for increasing coronavirus hospitalizations, according to the state Department of Public Health. Santa Barbara County is seeing increased hospitalizations in the northern part of the county. The increase has been blamed on rising community transmission amid increased gatherings, as well as workplace spread. Outbreaks in skilled nursing facilities are also a factor. The same problems are being blamed for an increase in hospitalizations in San Joaquin County, east of the San Francisco Bay Area. And in the the broader San Joaquin Valley, one of the nations most important agricultural areas and home to some 4 million residents, increasing hospitalizations were reported in Kern and Kings counties, where nursing home outbreaks are a contributing factor. In the last three days, five counties have experienced more than a 10% rise in patients hospitalized with COVID-19: Contra Costa (13%), Kings (18%), San Joaquin (12%), Santa Barbara (27%) and Stanislaus (42%). Increasing hospitalizations and elevated disease transmission have also been recorded in Kern County amid outbreaks at state and federal prisons as well as because of residents in nearby counties being admitted to the Kern County hospital, state officials said. Kings County has reported a number of outbreaks, including at a meatpacking plant in Hanford and an Adventist Health hospital. An outbreak at Avenal State Prison caused the virus to spread to nearby areas including Fresno County carried by prison employees returning home. In Tulare County, home to cities including Visalia, Tulare and Porterville, state officials are closely monitoring elevated disease transmissions related to outbreaks in nursing homes and workplaces, as well as the difficulty in preventing transmission within households. And Imperial County, east of San Diego, is also experiencing elevated disease transmission as Americans return from Mexico, which is experiencing a worsening outbreak. A recent surge in hospitalizations in Sacramento County was linked to members of the same household who gathered for birthday parties and a funeral. Dr. Olivia Kasirye, the countys health officer, said many people think were out of the woods," but health experts continue to warn of the seriousness of the virus and the need for safety and health precautions as larger swaths of the state continue to reopen. On Monday, California reported nearly 3,400 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest number at the start of a week since the outset of the pandemic. Despite the continued rise in infections, Californias top health officials have said that overall case counts are not necessarily a measure of how the state is faring in its fight against the novel coronavirus, noting that increased testing can drive up the number. Weve ramped up testing in an extraordinary way, nearly hitting our goal that was set for August not June, not July, but August of getting to 60,000 to 80,000 tests a day, said Dr. Mark Ghaly, the states secretary of Health and Human Services. Were already knocking on that door, averaging in the mid- to high 50s over the past few days across the state. Officials, instead, are closely monitoring two metrics as they gauge how California is handling the pandemic: the positivity rate, or the percentage of people who have tested positive, and the daily number of hospitalizations. A rise in the former could mean an uptick in community transmission separate from increased testing. A rise in the latter may mean that more people are becoming seriously ill, possibly jeopardizing the ability of the healthcare system to deal with the influx in patients. Not only does the hospitalization rate worry health officials, but so does the number of ICU patients. While the number of people in intensive care units for confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections is down statewide falling about 4% last week from six weeks ago parts of California are seeing spikes. According to a Los Angeles Times analysis, Orange County has experienced a 76% jump in coronavirus intensive care unit hospitalizations in the last six weeks. During the week of May 4, the county reported a seven-day average of 94 people with confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections in its ICU beds. Last week, that number rose to an average of 165. The eight-county San Joaquin Valley has seen a 45% rise in coronavirus ICU hospitalizations in the last six weeks, jumping from a seven-day average of 79 people to 114. There was a 38% increase in coronavirus ICU patients in San Bernardino County, rising from a weekly average of 67 ICU patients six weeks ago to 93 last week Ventura County saw its seven-day average of coronavirus patients rise from 18 six weeks ago to 21 last week, while San Diego County observed a seven-day average of 139 coronavirus ICU cases six weeks ago, which climbed to 147 last week. Still, other areas including Los Angeles County and the Bay Area have recorded a decline among ICU beds for coronavirus patients. The nine counties around San Francisco Bay have seen ICU bed use fall by 31% over the last six weeks Los Angeles County has seen its ICU cases consistently decline. Six weeks ago, the seven-day average of daily coronavirus ICU hospitalizations for patients with confirmed and suspected infections was 633; last week it was 501, a decline of 21%. In the seven-county Sacramento area, the seven-day average of daily coronavirus patients in the ICU was 23 six weeks ago; last week, it was 29. And in Riverside County, which was also hit hard early in the pandemic, has seen a 17% decline in ICU cases. Six weeks ago, the seven-day average was 105, while it was 87 a week ago. Times staff writer Alex Wigglesworth contributed to this report. GRAND RAPIDS, MI The Grand Rapids Police Department has launched an internal investigation into the actions of one officer during the May 30 riot in downtown Grand Rapids. The incident under investigation was captured in a video posted on social media. It shows a man walking toward police and pointing at officers, who were wearing riot gear. An officer then approaches the man and sprays him with a chemical agent. Another officer, at a close distance, then fires a projectile at the man, striking him in what appears to be the shoulder. Chief Eric Payne, during a discussion Tuesday morning with the Grand Rapids City Commission, said one officer is on leave as a result of the investigation. We would like to have a determination from the prosecutor and have this internal investigation wrapped up as soon as possible, he said. But we want to make sure were thorough and complete. Sgt. Dan Adams declined to answer additional questions about the incident, citing the ongoing investigation. He would not say which officer captured in the video was placed on leave the one who sprayed the man with a chemical agent, or the one who fired the projectile. Adams did not respond when asked to provide the name of the officer placed on leave. A peaceful protest drew thousands to downtown Grand Rapids on May 30 in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who died when a a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Later that night, the protest devolved into a riot, with participants burning police cars, smashing storefront windows and looting businesses. The riot cost an estimated $2.4 million, according to the latest estimate by the city of Grand Rapids. The figure includes damaged buildings and broken windows, as well as police overtime and expenses related to supplies and equipment. Read more: Wrong-way drivers are deadly, ongoing concern on West Michigan freeways Michigan cut off unemployment for thousands of eligible residents. Its not the first time. Tuesday, June 16: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan At the beginning of the 20th century, bisons were almost extinct. In 2013, conservationists resettled a herd in the Rothaar Mountains. (Photo: Timo Deible, Karlsruhe Zoo) The 10-year plan for conserving biodiversity adopted as part of the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) failed to reach its targets for 2020. A scientist from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) proposes therefore a prominent political target to give discussions of species conservation more vigor. Together with a group of experts from other research institutions, he proposes to limit species extinctions to 20 per year. This is reported in Science. (DOI: 10.1126/science.aba6592). The 2-degree target of the Paris Agreement aims to make climate policy focus on the measures needed to stop climate change. But such a target does not exist for species conservation. Humankind depends on biodiversity, says Professor Mark Rounsevell, Head of the Land Use Change and Climate Research Group of the Atmospheric Environmental Research Division of KITs Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research. Without the services provided by ecosystems, such as crop pollination by insects, we lack the fundamental basis of our life support system. Politics needs a clear target to conserve biological diversity in order to maintain the supply of ecosytem services. In the opinion of Rounsevell and a group of other researchers, their demand to lower species extinctions to 20 per year over the next 100 years is easy to communicate and measure. The scientists would like to see this target included in the CBD that will be newly negotiated next year. The last 20 so-called Aichi biodiversity targets agreed upon by the CBD signatories covered worldwide protection of ecosystems and support of sustainability, among others. The proposal of Rounsevell and other experts is based on existing studies of the stress limit of our planet. In addition to ocean acidification, air pollution, or freshwater consumption, loss of biodiversity is a major factor that might irrevocably endanger the stability of worldwide ecosystems. When exceeding a certain threshold value, researchers expect long-term negative impacts on the environment. To prevent these, species extinction should not exceed more than ten times the background (i.e. prehistorical) rates. With presently about two million species described, this corresponds to about 20 extinct species per year, Rounsevell says. This includes all fungi, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates as well as all ecosystem types, whether terrestrial, freshwater, or marine. In the longer term (beyond 100 years) the ambition should be to return extinctions to background rates. Necessary Measures Will Improve the Overall State As the species extinction rate has increased continuously to date, far-reaching political measures would be required to reach the target of the biodiversity researchers. This would positively affect the overall state of ecosystems. The 2-degree target in climate protection works in a similar way. Although temperature is just one of several factors used to represent the complex climate system, the measures required to reach this target will improve climate protection in general. A reduced temperature increase will indirectly affect the rise of the sea level or the occurrence of weather extremes, such as storms or strong rainfall. Potential action options proposed by Rounsevell and the group of researchers based on recommendations by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) include extension of nature protection areas, increased funding of species protection, further development of ecolabels, or strict prosecution of wildlife trade. As biodiversity varies greatly at the regional level, Rounsevell considers it important to adapt political measures to local and regional conditions. Each country has to develop its own catalog of measures and to take responsibility for reaching the target, the environmental researcher says. Success of the new approach to species protection should be monitored continuously. To find out how the rate of species extinction will develop, large-scale monitoring projects will be required, Rounsevell says. If the efforts to protect biodiversity are successful, then the the number of extinct species per year can be reduced to lower values later on. Original Publication: Mark D. A. Rounsevell, Mike Harfoot, Paula A. Harrison, Tim Newbold, Richard D. Gregory, Georgina M. Mace: A biodiversity target based on species extinctions. Science, 2020. (DOI: 10.1126/science.aba6592) Weitere Materialien: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6496/1193/tab-article-info More about the KIT Climate and Environment Center: http://www.klima-umwelt.kit.edu/english Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. As a hug, a handshake, or a meal became so infectious they blurred the lines between life and death, nations began to panic. The division between essential and non-essential became synonymous between legal and illegal. And the church was deemed non-essential. What ensued played out differently across the world. In the US, a pastor was arrested for holding a service, a governor ordered a ban on church gatherings requiring judicial intervention, and President Trump eventually declared churches essential only after liquor stores were given the same treatment. Other nations were less dramatic. Churches may have been closed, but no one cried foul at losing religious freedom. Yet, for many watching from afar, the Shakespearean drama which ensued in the United States unearthed an entrenched idolatry. For the love of freedom Freedom. Let the world roll in your mind as you consider everything freedom allows you to do. We live in a society where security is traded for liberty. We enjoy the taste of freedom, with notable limitations to keep ourselves safe. It is an imperfect balance, but we accept it, embrace it, and defend it on foreign shores against those who disagree with our version of freedom. We have become so accustomed to freedom, that the thought of a pandemic requiring churches to close, seems preposterous. A form of religious intolerance, persecution, and a threat to our very essence as Christians. Article after article beg us: Is it sinful to attend church online? Is it really preaching if the physical pews are empty? Should this divide the church? These questions, stripped back, all point to an absence of physical freedom, yet we have painted it as a loss of Christian purpose and identity, to the point of calling it sin. Yet, the very sin we think we are committing by not going to church, overshadows the very idolatry of freedom we so cherish. Obey your Government The modern experiment with liberal democracy is arguably unparalleled in history. The power of the informed citizen to safely and assuredly elect the very individuals dividing the lines of legality is incredibly novel in not simply the history of the world, but notably the history of the church. In a tapestry of tyranny, monarchies, autocratic societies, and totalitarian theocracies, the churchs historical relationship with the powers that be has been uncomfortable at best. Yet, many of us find ourselves in an era where we not only elect our leaders, but we are also guaranteed the constitutional freedom of our faith irrespective of which political party comes to power. For the vast majority of us today, the thought of not being allowed to attend church is foreign enough to result in civil disobedience in the mist of a pandemic. Yet Paul writes simply in Romans chapter 13, verses 1-2, Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves. At a time when Paul was in prison by the powers that be and Christianity was still considered a Jewish cult, he writes these unfathomable words. The questions it raises provide no simple answer, but the very thing they do not do is allow the exercise of personal freedom to trump government authority. Tempting God There are many exceptions we could draw to this, and there many Christians around the world facing daily persecution by their home governments. I used to live in one of those countries. THAT is an issue of religious freedom that we should pray earnestly for our brothers and sisters for. When it comes to a pandemic, let us not forget Martin Luthers words, when he spoke of the role of the pastor during the Black Death. Challenging notions that the plague they faced was a result of divine judgement and medical treatment was unbiblical, Luther responds, Very well, by Gods decree the enemy has sent us poison and deadly offal. Therefore I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate my house, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid persons and places where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me, and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbour needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely, as stated above. See, this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God. Luther reminds us that the Christian disposition to such a crisis is very simple, and is no different from any other: consider no other above yourself, always put the welfare of others first, honour Christ in all. Let us not think our personal freedoms superior to such a calling. Shocking footage has emerged showing a police officer repeatedly punch an Aboriginal man as other officers pin him to the ground. Stunned onlookers filmed the chaotic scene as the man, 28, was arrested on Albert St, in Adelaide at 9.30pm on Monday. The footage shows at least three officers holding him to the ground for several minutes. At one point the man can be seen sitting on the ground with his head pushed against the fence by an officer. As two officers hold the man to the ground one police officer then appears to punch the man in the stomach. Sirens and screams can be heard as other officers tell the crowd of onlookers to stand back. 'Let his head up, let his head up,' a woman yells. 'Get off his head, get off his head, get his head up.' 'What's wrong with you,' a man can be heard asking. Another woman says: 'This is f***ing wrong.' Emma Pereira told Adelaide Now she started filming the incident after Mr Henry was 'tackled' by the officers. She alleged the officers 'lay into him with physically closed fists'. 'His head was pinned to the cement and he was not moving, so it didn't really warrant a punch in the ribs,' she said. She also claimed police used pepper spray on Mr Henry. Ms Perteira has shared the footage on social media, captioning the post: 'This is how 'black lives matter'.' The movement has seen protests spring up around the western world in response to American demonstrations following the death of black security guard George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. Thousands of Aboriginal rights activists attended rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide earlier this month despite health officials warning they could cause COVID-19 outbreaks. The footage shows at least three officers holding him to the ground for several minutes As two officers hold the man to the ground one police officer then appears to punch the man in the stomach. A spokesman from South Australia Police told Daily Mail Australia they were called to the address over an alleged 'high risk domestic violence matter' after a woman was taken to hospital. He said as police approached the address they saw a man leaving the area of the house on a bicycle. 'Police at this time advised the man that they had suspicions concerning him being in possession of illicit drugs. He was asked to place his hands on his head while a search of his person was undertaken. 'The man originally was compliant and after a short time he began to refuse. Police attempted to arrest the man who resisted and a struggle ensued. As police attempted to restrain and handcuff the man, he allegedly grabbed the body worn camera worn by one of the officers. He said police then called for urgent assistance as onlookers became agitated. Defensive spray was deployed and other police arrived. He said an internal investigation has commenced and will be conducted in strict accordance with the statutory provisions outlined in the Police Complaints and Discipline Act 2016. The man was arrested and charged with hinder police, resist police and property damage. As part of the initial review, the man has been released from police custody and the incident is the subject of further investigation. Both the man and one of the police officers received minor injuries. Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Australian cities in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Pictured: A protest in Sydney Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 02:35:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Members of a Chinese medical team visit a health center belonged to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at the Al-Amari refugee camp in the West Bank city of Ramallah, June 15, 2020. A Chinese medical team arrived in Palestine on June 10 to help Palestinians fight against COVID-19. The 10-member team, sent by China's National Health Commission, consists of experts specialized in various medical fields including infectious diseases, virus examination and health management. The week-long visit until June 17 is aimed at enhancing bilateral relations in the health sector and the exchange of expertise in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese medical expert team on Monday visited a refugee camp and a COVID-19 testing center in the West Bank city of Ramallah in Palestine. At the Amari Refugee Camp, the team visited a health center run by the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), where health workers at the center briefed the team on their anti-coronavirus measures. The Chinese experts also met with the Public Committee of Amari Refugee Camp, which is a social organization in charge of the public affairs of the camp, in coordination with the UNRWA. During the meeting, health workers and officials of the Palestinian health ministry said the refugee camp's health situation is facing challenges due to the increasing demand for health services amidst the pandemic and the poor conditions in the camp. After the refugee camp visit, the Chinese medical experts also visited the Primary Healthcare Center in Ramallah district, which serves as a COVID-19 testing center for the entire district. On Monday, Palestine announced that 10 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the West Bank, bringing the total cases to 686. The Chinese medical team, which arrived in Palestine on June 10, was put together by China's National Health Commission with the members selected by the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission. They are scheduled to hold a series of meetings with Palestinian counterparts until June 17. Prior to this visit, China had sent medical supplies to Palestine and organized several meetings between Palestinian and Chinese medical experts via video conferences. Enditem A giant Galapagos tortoise credited with saving his own species after fathering hundreds of offspring in a breeding programme has returned to his homeland. Diego, along with 25 other male tortoises, was released back to his native Espanola, one of Ecuador's Galapagos islands, aged 100 on 15 June after retiring earlier this year. He had been taken to Galapagos National Park in Santa Cruz island as part of a breeding programme that was launched during the 1960s in an attempt to save the region's tortoise species. The successful programme produced more than 2,000 giant tortoises since it began, with the Diego laying claim to around 40 per cent of that total, park rangers said. Before the programme began, there were only 15 Chelonoidis hoodensis in the region, according to Jorge Carrion, the Galapagos National Park director. We are closing an important chapter in the management of the park, minister Paulo Proano wrote in a tweet on Tuesday. The national park service believes Diego left the Galapagos Islands 80 years ago during a scientific expedition. He was one of three male tortoises involved in the breeding scheme which involved 12 females after being recruited from the US zoo where he had been living for 30 years, Galapagos Conservancy previously said. One hundred-year-old Diego and his fellow breeders had been put in quarantine before returning to the wild so that they didn't carry seeds from plants that are not native to Espanola. Recommended Tortoise detained for blocking road The island has sufficient conditions to maintain the tortoise population, which will continue to grow normally, said Washington Tapia, the director of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative earlier this year. A species of giant tortoise that was believed extinct was discovered on another Galapagos island earlier this year, Ecuador's government said. The Fernandina Island tortoise had previously only been seen once before at the start of the 20th century. Putting the toilet lid down after defecating and before flushing could help stop the spread of COVID-19, a study has found. The coronavirus is hardy and can survive a trip through a human's digestive system. It is often still present in faeces weeks after symptoms have stopped. Flushing stools kicks a cloud of infectious particles up to 3ft (one metre) above the water, due to turbulence created by the rapid flow of water, a study has found. Some particles are trapped by the bowl or the water, but in an uncovered toilet, up to 60 per cent of droplets escape above the rim. Researchers say the virus could then either directly infect another person or settle on a nearby surface, such as a worktop or door handle. In order to combat this, scientists urge people using shared or public toilets to close the lid after concluding their business and before pulling the chain. Flushing stools kicks up a cloud of infectious particles up to 3ft (one metre) above the water due to turbulence created by the rapid flow of water, a study has found. Pictured, computer simulations showing the vortices (left) created by a flushing toilet which transport particles (right). The coloured particles on the right show the distance particles can travel, with warm colours (red) travelling further than cold colours (blue) In an uncovered toilet, up to 60 per cent of ejected droplets escape above the seat due to the turbulence from the flushing water (stock) Previous research has found SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, can be transmitted via faecal particles. A study published last month in the Lancet identified virus particles in the excrement of COVID-19 patients nearly 5 weeks after the patients tested negative. These particles were still viable and could cause faecal-oral transmission of the coronavirus, the researchers warned. Despite this, the general public is less aware of this potential route of transmission than they are other methods of infection. The coronavirus is hardy and can survive a trip through a human's digestive system and is still present in faeces, often for weeks after symptoms have stopped. Pictured, water level in a toilet before it is flushed, as seen in the researcher's computer simulations Simulations showed that water cascading down the side of the ceramic hits the opposite side of the bowl and this creates vortices, similar to a tornado or whirlpool. This sends infectious droplets out of the toilet bowl. Pictured, the computer showing the droplets after the toilet has been flushed Can coronavirus be spread by faeces? A study published in May 2020 in the Lancet found virus particles were present in faeces of COVID-19 patients nearly 5 weeks after the patients tested negative. These particles were still viable and could cause faecal-oral transmission of the coronavirus, the Chinese researchers warned. Faecaloral transmission has previously been seen in people with SARS and MERS. Researchers say routine stool sample testing, as well as the existing throat swabs. should be used to make sure a person is clear of the virus. Scientists also call for strict precautions to prevent transmission from the virus found in faeces. A new study shows the toilet lid should be put down before flushing to ensure infectious particles do not drift around the bathroom or cubicle. Turbulence from the cascading water designed to remove faecal waste creates vortices which can carry infection droplets from stools up to 3 ft above the water level. Up to 60 per cent of the ejected particles rise high above the rim and they can remain airborne for more than a minute. Advertisement Great attention has been paid to airborne transmission, indirect transmission via a surface and direct human-to-human transmission via large droplets produced when coughing or sneezing. Many people are now wearing masks and using hand sanitiser or anti-viral wipes to reduce the risk of transmission, but few are aware of the risks posed by faeces. To understand more about the infection risk to others of going to the toilet, researchers from Yangzhou University ran a series of computer simulations. They looked at two common types of toilet flushing mechanism, one with a single water inlet and one with two inlets to create a rotating flow. Simulations showed that water cascading down the side of the ceramic hits the opposite side of the bowl and this creates vortices, similar to a tornado or whirlpool. As the water continues to pour in to flush away the deposited waste, the vortices rise into the air. Infected droplets, which could be carrying any virus, including influenza or the coronavirus causing the current pandemic,are carried on this wind. The turbulence can see then rise up to 3ft (one metre) into the air and, once they escape the bowl, the air currents can carry them across a cubicle or bathroom. Droplets are so small in size and mass that they remain airborne for more than 60 seconds. 'One can foresee that the velocity will be even higher when a toilet is used frequently, such as in the case of a family toilet during a busy time or a public toilet serving a densely populated area,' said co-author Ji-Xiang Wang, of Yangzhou University. The full findings have been published in the journal Physics of Fluids. The promotion is available for more than 30 cottages, ranging from one-bedroom properties to six. Homeowners Collection Vacation Rentals, one of Seasides largest vacation rental companies, has announced a new Close the Gap special promotion, available now through August 15, 2020. Guests with flexible travel dates can save 20% on select vacation rental cottages in the beautiful Seaside, Florida community. The Close the Gap promotion offers an incentive to travelers to stay in a gap in a vacation rentals availability calendar, with only a two-night minimum. As guests book their summer stays, some vacation cottages have shorter openings in the booking calendar. As a result, travelers with the flexibility to stay on gap days can see significant savings on their vacation through the Close the Gap discount. All cottages managed by the Homeowners Collection are located in the picture-perfect community of Seaside, which has rallied together to give visitors the Seaside experience they love while practicing social distancing and implementing other health and safety best practices. Set in the northwest Florida panhandle along scenic Highway 30-A, the areas white sand beaches are often named as some of Americas most beautiful beaches. Currently the promotion is available for more than 30 cottages, ranging from one-bedroom properties to six. The Close the Gap promotion is based on availability and cannot be used in conjunction with other offers. To see available cottages and other details, visit https://homeownerscollection.com/special/close-gap-20-savings. To book a stay, call 1-855-411-1557. Vacation rentals continue to be the safest travel lodging, as guests do not have to co-mingle with other guests in crowded public spaces. Homeowners Collection has implemented new cleaning procedures, including a check-in time of 9 a.m. and checkout time of 5 p.m. to allow time for a deeper cleaning, as well as other operations protocols to protect guests and staff like its no-contact check-in. It is monitoring and adhering to all local, state and federal guidelines. For full details, visit the COVID Disinfecting and Operations Procedures page: https://homeownerscollection.com/covid-19-operations-disinfecting About Homeowners Collection Vacation Rentals Homeowners Collection Vacation Rentals is an exclusive collection of premier vacation rentals operated by the homeowners of Seaside, Florida. The company manages more than 95 vacation rentals directly in Seaside, one of Americas most celebrated beachfront communities. For more information, call (855) 411-1557 or visit the collectives website at https://homeownerscollection.com. Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Site in Quang Binh province. Fees for tourism services will be cut to attract more visitors. (Photo: toquoc.vn) The large discount, which will be applied to tours of some famous caves in the area, aims to attract more visitors and stimulate tourism development in the province after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the provincial People's Council at a working session this week. The meeting was held to discuss urgent issues including those related to tourism challenges for the rest of 2020 and finPhong Nha Caved solutions to help tourism enterprises overcome obstacles amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, tours that take visitors to will have entrance fees reduced from 150,000 VND (6.5 USD) to 75,000 VND (3.2 USD) per person. The rate for entrance fees to Tien Son and Nuoc Mooc caves will be down from 80,000 VND to 40,000 VND each. Fees for visiting Thien Duong and Me Bong Con caves are discounted from 250,000 VND to 125,000 VND, respectively. Meanwhile, the cost for other tours will also be reduced by 50 percent including the route through Rao Thuong - En Nuoc Lanh caves which is now at 240,000 VND and Tu Lan cave system, which is 140,000 VND for four days and three nights visiting a total of seven tourist spots. In particular, those who want to conquer Song Doong the largest cave in the world will now have only to pay 4.4 million VND for the entrance fee per person. Moreover, tourists will benefit from discounts on transportation costs, accommodation and food at restaurants during the tours, according to the provincial tourism authority. Quang Binh province's Department of Tourism said that, since the beginning of the year, due to the effects of the pandemic, the number of tourists to the locality dropped sharply but it has begun to recover since the social distancing measures were eased and the province opened its doors to welcome visitors back. The department said the number of visitors at weekends has started to increase. It revealed an approximate number of 35,000 people visiting the province during the 45th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day on April 30 and May Day. The visitors mainly came from Hanoi and neighbouring provinces. The provincial tourism authority has directed tourism businesses in the province to change the structure of the tourist service market from serving foreigners to focusing on domestic customers and diversify tourism products with more reasonable prices to meet demands of tourists with new conditions of operation due to the pandemic. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Warsaw, Poland Tue, June 16, 2020 08:28 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf0339e 2 World Poland,anti-gay,LGBT,politics,gay-rights,LGBT-rights Free A group of mothers of Polish gay people protested on Monday against the use of anti-gay rhetoric by President Andrzej Duda and other conservative politicians. Ahead of a presidential election on June 28, Duda is ramping up a campaign against "LGBT ideology" which he likened to communism in a speech on Saturday. "What you are saying about our children is painful and enormously harmful," said Helena Biedron, the mother of left-wing presidential candidate Robert Biedron and one of the women at the demonstration in Warsaw. "Mister President, we are scared for our children," said Biedron, standing outside the presidential residence. "We do not want to lose them just because someone who thinks they are not human attacks them, kills them or pushes them to suicide," she said, adding that anti-gay language was "depriving them of humanity". Duda, who is from the governing nationalist Law and Justice Party, is hoping his campaign will win the support of Poland's powerful Catholic Church and a traditionally-minded section of Polish society. "During the entire communist era, communist ideology was imposed on children. That was Bolshevism. Now people are trying to brainwash them with a new ideology. It's a sort of neo-Bolshevism," Duda said on Saturday. "They are trying to make us believe that this is about people but it is an ideology," he said. Several other politicians have espoused similar positions in recent weeks and gay rights were also a key issue ahead of parliamentary elections in October. According to the latest opinion polls, Duda has around 40 percent support but his main rival, Warsaw's centrist mayor, Rafal Trzaskowki, is catching up quickly. Kourtney Kardashians recent Instagram post sparked rumours of her patch up with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick. The beauty mogul has made fans go gaga over her picture which sees her wearing Scotts flannel shirt. The post has created a major buzz on social media as fans cant help but think that the duo is vacationing together. Kourtney Kardashian donning Scott Disicks shirt ALSO READ| Kim Kardashian Shares Glimpses Of Saint Bonding With Kourtney Kardashian's Son Reign Taking to Instagram, Kourtney Kardashian was seen cuddling a lamp on her trip to Wyoming. The beauty mogul can be seen having a gala time amidst nature. However, what caught fans attention is her flannel shirt which looked very similar to her ex-lover Scott Disicks shirt. The ex-couple share three children and are co-parenting them together. ALSO READ| Kourtney Kardashian Shares Throwback Pic From A Trip, Calls It An 'escape To The Desert' While it isnt unusual for Scott Disick to join Kourtney Kardashian for trip with her kids. But fans of the pair are speculating that the couple may get back together soon. Kourtney Kardashian is enjoying the natural beauty and has been constantly sharing photos of her children taken in a picturesque background. But her Instagram posts show no signs of Scott. Kourtney Kardashian paired the flannel shirt with baggy jeans and has tied her hair in a ponytail. Media reports also suggest that Kourtney Kardashian is accompanied by her sister Kim Kardashian along with husband Kanye and their kids. The trip also reportedly includes Kylie, Stormi and Khloe with her kids. ALSO READ| Sofia Richie And Scott Disick Parted Ways Because Of Kourtney Kardashian? Kourtney Kardashian & Scott Disicks relationship. Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick first in the year 2006 in Mexico. The duo attended the same house party thrown by Kourtney Kardashians ex Joe Francis. The two reportedly hit it off right away. Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick were reportedly together for 12 years. Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick are known to have one of the best co-parenting relationships in Hollywood. The duo is raising their kids together. In an interview, Scott Disick was seen saying that he is not going to make his kids miss out on things only because the two couldnt figure out how to be a couple. ALSO READ| Kourtney Kardashian Misses The Set Life, Shares A Throwback Picture; Check It Out 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. HOLYOKE One person was injured and the exteriors of two nearby homes were damaged after a fire broke out in a garage Monday. The cause remains under investigation by the Ludlow Fire Department and the Massachusetts Fire Marshals office. It is considered accidental, Ludlow Fire Chief Ryan Pease said. The fire was reported shortly before 4 p.m. in a detached one-car garage located between 87 and 91-93 Hubbard St. An employee for CA Lumber Yard and Construction, which is located across the street from the homes, saw the fire and was able to assist the victim before firefighters arrived, he said. The man was brought to the hospital by Wilbraham Fire Department ambulance suffering from burns. Pease said he did not have more information about his condition. When firefighters arrived, the garage was engulfed in flames and the fire was spreading to the homes which are about five and 10 feet from the building, he said. Police and fire evacuated the five-family home at 91-93 while other fighters quickly started pouring water on the homes to prevent them from further damage. The guys did a heck of a job to keep the fire from spreading to the interior of the two houses, Pease said. The exterior of the five-family did have some exterior fire damage and both were damaged by the heat but all residents were allowed to return to the homes, he said. The garage was destroyed in the fire, Pease said. Firefighters were assisted by Ludlow Police and the Wilbraham Fire Department, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:37:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia on Tuesday registered 4,267 new COVID-19 cases, raising the tally of infections in the kingdom to 136,315. The death toll increased to 1,052 after 41 new fatalities were added, Saudi Health Ministry tweeted. - - - - DOHA -- Qatar's Health Ministry on Tuesday announced 1,201 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 82,077. Meanwhile, 1,780 more people recovered from the coronavirus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 60,461, while four more people died, increasing the fatalities to 80, the official Qatar News Agency reported, quoting a statement by the ministry. - - - - LONDON -- Another 233 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Monday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 41,969, the British Department of Health and Social Care said Tuesday. As of Tuesday morning, 298,136 people have tested positive for the disease in Britain, a daily increase of 1,279, according to the department. - - - - ISLAMABAD -- The Chinese government on Tuesday donated the sixth batch of anti-COVID-19 medical supplies to Pakistan at the Islamabad International Airport to help the country fight against the pandemic. - - - - LONDON -- The number of employees on British payrolls fell by more than 600,000 as lockdown restrictions hit labor market heavily amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Tuesday. Enditem While most companies announce salary cuts and job losses, there are some that are doing the opposite - hiring more, increasing pay and offering promotions. Amazon, Sahara Group, HCL Technologies, Capgemini India, and Nestle India are among the group of companies that have vowed to hike salaries of employees and give them promotions. Here's a list: AMAZON INDIA E-commerce major Amazon India on May 22 said it will add 50,000 'seasonal' or temporary roles to meet the surge in online demand for products in the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. CAPGEMINI French tech major Capgemini that employs close to 1.5 lakh people in India, decided to give a single-digit hike to 70 per cent of its staff in April. The rest of the organisation will get increments effective from July 1. HCL TECHNOLOGIES HCL Technologies has also said that it will not cut salaries of its 150,000 employees. It said that it will honour promised bonuses for the previous year. HCL Tech had said earlier that it would honour the nearly 15,000 job offers already made to freshers. COCA-COLA Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) had promised to give 7-8 per cent salary increment to its 7,000 direct employees. The company had also stated that there would be no lay-off or salary reductions because of the disruption caused by coronavirus pandemic. The company would be following the same compensation norms as it did in 2019, HCCB added. HCCB has 15 factories across India. Popular beverages such as Coke, Sprite, Thums Up are made in these plants. NESTLE Nestle, the food giant with a massive presence in India with brands like 'Maggi' has said that it will pay full salaries to employees affected by work stoppages for a minimum of three months, to protect them from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. The Kit-Kat chocolate and Nescafe coffee maker also said it would provide cash advances or loans to those in financial difficulties. The company had also put in place generous sick leave arrangements for employees who may have contracted the virus. SAHARA GROUP The Sahara Group has said it has given pay hikes and promotions to its employees. Based on productivity, the company said it has given promotion to its 4,05,874 field workers. Along with this, as many as 4,808 office workers were given a promotion with salary increment, the statement said. Further, it said that there will be no layoffs of workers from any of its business verticals due to the coronavirus situation. The Sahara Group is also planning to recruit people who have recently migrated back to Uttar Pradesh from different states in the wake of pandemic. At present, the Sahara Group has 14 lakh workers associated with its various business verticals. TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES TCS has said it will not retrench any of its nearly 4.5 lakh employees, but has decided not to give any salary hikes this year. The Tata group company said it will honour each of its commitments on new hires by recruiting all the 40,000 people who were given offers. PANACEA INFOSEC Cybersecurity firm Panacea Infosec had committed to raising its headcount by 40-45 per cent in 2020 to meet the rising demand for cybersecurity consulting, auditing and compliance among businesses in the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic and work-from-home culture. The company currently has offices in Delhi and Kolkata and will open new offices in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Meanwhile, several edtech startups like Vedantu, Unacademy, upGrad, Byju's, Simplilearn, and others have also ramped up hiring process for the roles of managers and educators amid the lockdown. Simplilearn now has over 100 job openings for permanent roles and 500 vacancies for specialised roles. According to ManpowerGroup estimate, as of June, there were approximately 12,000 job vacancies for permanent roles across edtech companies in India. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 05:27:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on June 16, 2020 shows the U.S. Federal Reserve in Washington D.C., the United States. The U.S. economy may be entering a phase of bouncing back, with the easing of social distancing measures and resumption of business activities, but employment and output will be "well short" of the pre-pandemic level, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Tuesday. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) WASHINGTON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. economy may be entering a phase of bouncing back, with the easing of social distancing measures and resumption of business activities, but employment and output will be "well short" of the pre-pandemic level, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Tuesday. Despite the reopening, most forecasters think "that will leave us well short of where we were in February, full employment with the economy really working broadly across all of its areas," Powell said in a virtual hearing before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. "There are parts of the economy that will struggle to return to their old ways of activity, because they involve getting people together closely in large groups," said the Fed chairman. "And so it's going to take some time to rebuild confidence." At the hearing entitled "The Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress," Powell said in his opening remarks that beginning in mid-March, economic activity fell at an "unprecedented" speed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the measures taken to control its spread. "Even after the unexpectedly positive May employment report, nearly 20 million jobs have been lost on net since February," he said, noting that the reported unemployment rate has risen about 10 percentage points, to 13.3 percent. The decline in real gross domestic product this quarter is "likely to be the most severe on record," Powell said. The central bank chief reiterated that the burden of the downturn has not fallen equally on all Americans, saying that "those least able to withstand the downturn have been affected most." "Low-income households have experienced, by far, the sharpest drop in employment, while job losses of African Americans, Hispanics, and women have been greater than that of other groups," Powell said. "If not contained and reversed, the downturn could further widen gaps in economic well-being that the long expansion had made some progress in closing," he said. Powell said some indicators recently have pointed to a stabilization, and in some areas a modest rebound, in economic activity. "That said, the levels of output and employment remain far below their pre-pandemic levels, and significant uncertainty remains about the timing and strength of the recovery," he added. "Much of that economic uncertainty comes from uncertainty about the path of the disease and the effects of measures to contain it," said the central bank chief. "Until the public is confident that the disease is contained, a full recovery is unlikely." As reopening efforts continue across the nation and employment starts to pick up, the Fed chair said that "we have a long road ahead of us to get those people back to work." Enditem The Sarvashramik Sanghatna has said that the government should give them a monthly allowance and food supplies. Mumbai: The COVID-19 pandemic has hit all sections of the society, but domestic helps, who are otherwise in high demand in urban areas, are among the worst affected with majority of them without wages for last two months. Though a lot of restrictions have been lifted and many business have restarted operations, there is no clarity on resumption of work by domestic helps, prolonging their misery. The Sarvashramik Sanghatna, a union of domestic workers in Maharashtra, has said that if they are not allowed to resume work, the government should give them a monthly allowance and food supplies. Most of the domestic helps got their March salaries since they had worked for 25 days. But since April, some have got half of their wages while many have not got anything, the Sarvashramik Sanghatna's president Uday Bhat told PTI. "The maids are ready to abide by all safety norms regarding COVID-19. It is not true that if they provide a medical certificate of being free of coronavirus, the maids or their employerscan't get infected at a later stage. The onus is not on the maids alone," he said. Bhat said his organisation, which has nearly 19,000 members in the state, mostly in Mumbai and Pune, earlier wrote to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to give directions to housing societies to allow domestic workers inside. The Pune civic body has issued such a circular, he said. "If that doesn't happen, the government should give them a monthly allowance directly in their bank accounts and also food supplies. The domestic helps, majority of whom are women, are the most vulnerable as many of them are the sole breadwinners of their families," he said. "We are demanding that the maids be given the status of labourer so that they can avail the benefits of social security schemes, fixed wages, and also violations of rules should attract penal action," he said. In 2010, the Maharashtra State Domestic Workers Welfare Board Act came into force. But, very few domestic workers can avail benefits of insurance cover, allowances for pregnancy leave and fund for family in case of death, he rued. Hira lad, a domestic worker from Mumbai's Santacruz area, said she has been at home since the last three months. She said her son is a gym instructor, but since gymnasiums are closed he is also at home, while her daughter-in-law, who is a trained nurse, is on maternity leave. "My employers are paying me half the salary while my son is managing through his savings. How long will this last? I am worried. I keep calling my employers every month to remind them that I am ready to work. But, they say they are sorry, as no decision has been taken yet," Lad said. Sameera Kelkar, a private firm employee residing in suburban Andheri, agreed that maids are going through lot of hardships at this time. Kelkar said she has been paying her maids half of their salary for last two months. "We are not allowing any outsider in our society, including maids, and we are also not going out. Everyone is working from home and also doing the household work. It is sad that the poor are finding it difficult to make their ends meet in such unprecedented times," she said. The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has come down heavily on the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for failing to meet the targets to reduce the transmission and distribution losses, mainly power theft. In its tariff order for the financial year 2020-21 that was announced on June 1, the regulator noted that the power corporation failed to do the needful despite its having allowed huge capital investments for the purpose. It brought on record that against the target of distribution losses of 12.5% for the financial year 2017-18, the PSPCL recorded 14.19% losses. Also, during the financial year 2018-19, the corporation recorded distribution losses of 12.94% against the target of 11.89%, it added. In response to the regulators queries before finalisation of tariffs, the PSPCL referring to its provisional data up to December 31, 2019, said it registered distribution losses of 11.21% which came down by 0.31% from the corresponding period last year. Terming the figures provisional, the PSERC asked the corporation to identify high-loss feeders and areas and take corrective measures. EMPLOYEES GHERAOED AND MANHANDLED Much to the dismay of the PSERC, the corporation reported distribution losses exceeding a whopping 25% in 12 of its distribution divisions. Of the total 109 power distribution divisions in state, 10% reported losses that the PSPCL says are beyond its control. It attributed these losses to rampant power theft. As per the energy audit for the financial year 2019-20, the divisions with huge distribution losses include Amritsar (west), Amritsar (suburban), Ajnala, Tarn Taran (city), Patti, Bikhiwind, Patran, Lehragaga, Bhagta Bhai, Zira, Baghapurana and Malout. Surprise raids to curb power were made but the employees were gheraoed and manhandled. Rural feeders in these areas report more losses, the PSPCL said in its reply as recorded in the tariff order. The corporation said 1.25 lakh connections were checked and 11,593 cases of theft were detected in these divisions by the end of December 2019, with the losses pegged at 21.87 crore. During the same period, 13.81 lakh connections were checked across the state and 1.28 lakh cases of theft were detected. A sum of 157.54 crore was levied as penalty. The PSPCL submitted the loss figures (of 12 divisions) without indicating the reduction in losses achieved in these divisions during the financial year 2019- 20, said PSERC said in its tariff order and directed the corporation to share a quarterly report on the action being taken and the status of losses achieved in these divisions. OFF THE TARGET The divisions with huge distribution losses are Amritsar (west), Amritsar (suburban), Ajnala, Tarn Taran (city), Patti, Bikhiwind, Patran, Lehragaga, Bhagta Bhai, Zira, Baghapurana and Malout. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Texas EquuSearch A Crosby firefighter remains missing a day after he was ejected from a Jeep that crashed on the Galveston Causeway, authorities said. Kent Zavala, 20, was riding in the soft-top Jeep around 8:15 p.m. Sunday with his dog and two passengers when the vehicle crashed into a guard rail, police said. Zavala and his dog were ejected, but authorities later rescued the dog. RNC Announces Results of Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders Posted by Publisher Internet RNC Minerals (?RNC?) (TSX: RNX https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/rnc-minerals-corp/ ) is pleased to announce the voting results of its annual meeting of shareholders held today in Toronto. Election of Directors The nominee directors listed in RNC?s management information circular dated May 8, 2020 were elected as directors. Shareholders represented by proxy at the meeting voted as follows: Other Items The resolution to reappoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditors of the Corporation to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and to authorize the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors was approved by 99.8% of the votes cast on the resolution. The special resolution to authorize a change in the name of the Corporation to ?Karora Resources Inc.? was approved by 96.4% of the votes cast on the resolution. The special resolution to authorize a consolidation of the common shares of the Corporation as set out in the management information circular sent to shareholders in respect of the meeting was approved by 88.2% of the votes cast on the resolution. About RNC Minerals RNC is focused on growing gold production and reducing costs at its integrated Beta Hunt Gold Mine and Higginsville Gold Operations (\HGO\) in Western Australia. The Higginsville treatment facility is a low-cost 1.4 Mtpa processing plant which is fed at capacity from RNC\-\-s underground Beta Hunt mine and open pit Higginsville mine. At Beta Hunt, a robust gold mineral resource and reserve is hosted in multiple gold shears, with gold intersections along a 4 km strike length remaining open in multiple directions. HGO has a substantial historical gold resource and highly prospective land package totaling approximately 1,800 square kilometers. In addition, RNC has a 28% interest in a nickel joint venture that owns the Dumont Nickel-Cobalt Project located in the Abitibi region of Quebec. Dumont contains the second largest nickel reserve and ninth largest cobalt reserve in the world. RNC has a strong Board and management team focused on delivering shareholder value. RNC\-\-s common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol RNX. RNC shares also trade on the OTCQX market under the symbol RNKLF. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains \forward-looking information\ including without limitation statements relating to the liquidity and capital resources of RNC, production guidance and the potential of the Beta Hunt Mine, Higginsville Gold Operation and Dumont Nickel Project. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of RNC to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash operating costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to RNC\-\-s filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the most recent Annual Information Form, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although RNC has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and RNC disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Cautionary Statement Regarding the Higginsville Mining Operations A production decision at the Higginsville gold operations was made by previous operators of the mine, prior to the completion of the acquisition of the Higginsville gold operations by RNC and RNC made a decision to continue production subsequent to the acquisition. This decision by RNC to continue production and, to the knowledge of RNC, the prior production decision were not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, which include increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Corporation?s cash flow and future profitability. Readers are cautioned that there is increased uncertainty and higher risk of economic and technical failure associated with such production decisions. For more information, please contact: Rob Buchanan Director, Investor Relations T: (416) 363-0649 www.rncminerals.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Leela K Ponappa By While the facts regarding the developments in Ladakh are not yet fully known, media reports indicate that matters are serious and a cause of concern. Border engagements of this kind do not happen spontaneously, particularly when the Chinese build-up had reportedly begun some months ago. Military engagement on a sensitive border cannot take place without orders from above. The situation will either escalate or both sides will talk it out, with India aiming to revert to the status quo ante, although sanguine official comments about the extent and areas of disengagement created doubts. China respects strength and India will have to demonstrate that it has the strength. The process is likely to be long drawn out. The fact that China has a definite intention and proactive strategy is clear. Political niceties apart, China would like to see India as a weaker power and will, characteristically, try to bully its way through the whole situation. Chinas actions need to be viewed not just in the context of the ground situation in Ladakh or along the entire border but within Chinas global strategy of establishing itself as a global superpower and regional hegemon. India must have the capabilities in terms of infrastructure, equipment, training and supplies to sustain its position in the long term. Speak softly and carry a big stick was a policy advocated in 1900 by a former US President Theodore Roosevelt (apparently quoting a West African proverb). India should not make the mistake of turning this advice on its head by speaking too loudly and not carrying a big enough stick. The work required to develop sound infrastructure in Ladakh for our armed forces and local communities needs to be done in a quiet, consistent manner without the hoop-la of publicised events. And the governments communication strategy will need to be delicately balanced, while taking the public into confidence on the actual ground situation. There should be no mixed signals or multiple voices. (The writer is a former Deputy National Security Adviser and Ambassador) ALSO READ: RIP Colonel Santosh Babu: My son was too young to die, says father; mother heartbroken, but proud Ladakh martyr Havildar Palani served country for 22 years, had plans to retire next year Sepoy KK Ojha's daughter was born just 17 days ago, never got to see her John Madigan, a Ballarat blacksmith who led the Democratic Labour Party out of the wilderness in 2010 by winning its first Senate seat in three decades, has died after a two-year battle with cancer. Former prime minister Tony Abbott led tributes to the 53-year-old who died on Tuesday morning at a palliative care home near his home in Hepburn Springs, north-west of Melbourne, with his family by his side. John Madigan, left, pictured with Nick Xenophon, who called him "a man of enormous integrity". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Abbott called Madigan a "very decent man" with an "old-fashioned sense of courtesy and respect for others". "John Madigan was a fine representative of a worthy political tradition. The DLP sought to be the Labor Party at its best: strong on Australian values and determined to get working men and women a fair go," he said on social media. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would cut the number of US troops in Germany to 25,000, claiming the country had failed to meet NATOs defence spending target and accusing it of taking advantage of the United States on trade. The reduction of about 9,500 troops would be a remarkable rebuke to one of the USs closest allies and trading partners and undermine a pillar of post-war European security: that US forces would help defend alliance members against Russian aggression. It was not clear whether Trump would be able to carry through on his plan, which first emerged in media reports on June 5, given criticism from some of the presidents fellow Republicans in Congress who have argued a cut would be a gift to Russia. Speaking to reporters, Trump accused Germany of being delinquent in its payments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and pledged to stick with the plan unless Berlin changed course. So, were protecting Germany, and theyre delinquent. That doesnt make sense. So, I said, were going to bring down the count to 25,000 soldiers,' Trump said, adding that they treat us very badly on trade but providing no details. In 2014, NATO set a target that each of its 30 members should spend 2 percent of GDP on defence. Most, including Germany, do not. Plan triggers unease Trumps remarks were the first official confirmation of the planned troop cut, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal and later confirmed to Reuters by a senior US official who spoke on condition of anonymity. That official said it stemmed from months of work by the US military and had nothing to do with simmering tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel who recently declined the presidents invitation for an in-person summit of the G7 nations. Asked about Trumps statement, German Ambassador to the United States Emily Haber said US soldiers were in Europe to defend transatlantic security and in an arrangement that also benefitted the United States. This is about transatlantic security but also about American security, she told a virtual think-tank audience, saying US-German security cooperation would remain strong, and that her government had been informed of the decision. Last week, sources told Reuters that German officials as well a number of US officials at the White House, State Department and Pentagon were surprised by the Wall Street Journal report and they offered explanations ranging from Trumps pique over the G7 to the influence of Richard Grenell, the former US ambassador to Germany and a Trump loyalist. There is sure to be significant bipartisan opposition to this move in Congress, so it is possible any actual moves are significantly delayed or even never implemented, said Phil Gordon of the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank. This move will further erode allies faith in NATO and US defence guarantees, Gordon added, saying it may also weaken the deterrence of Russia or anyone else who might threaten a NATO member. Digital bank N26 is to put it up to its more traditional rivals by offering a new business current account where customers get cash back on all purchases. The N26 Business Metal account is designed specifically for freelancers and the self-employed. It offers 0.5pc cash back on all purchases. The likes of Permanent TSB and An Post offer cash back from selected retailers when money is spent on their debit cards, but this is the first time consumers are being offered cash back on all purchases. Monthly cash-back payments will be made into accounts. It means that account holders will get 5 back a month for every 1,000 spent on the account a month. The fintech said account holders will receive the money straight back into their account monthly to be able to reinvest it into their business or use the additional funds to help manage their cash flow. N26 Business Metal costs 16.90 per month to customers. The digital bank has 100,000 customers in this country. In a bid to lure business customers, the new account offers travel, mobile phone and medical insurance cover, which includes family members. It also offers insurance for car and bike rentals. N26 said Business Metal customers will be able to make payments anywhere in the world with zero foreign transaction fees, and it promises Mastercard's best exchange rate will apply, in a move designed to lure business people who are required to travel. Both N26 and Revolut have been hoovering up new customers, particularly those who travel extensively or who purchase large amounts in foreign currencies, as they have more to offer for competitive foreign exchange deals than traditional banks. However, Revolut is due to charge 0.5pc on transactions in a foreign currency above 1,000 a month on its basic debit card account from August. The N26 Metal account also comes with free unlimited international ATM withdrawals. Account holders will also have access to a selection of partner deals with the likes of Google Ads and Boosted. Business Metal customers will also have access to what the bank calls a dedicated priority customer support. Sarunas Legeckas, head of N26 in Ireland, quoted Central Statistics Office numbers showing there are around 323,900 self-employed individuals in Ireland. Started in Berlin in 2013, N26 now has more than five million customers, although is it not profitable. It has a full banking licence from Germany, allowing it to "passport" into this country. It recently raised more than $100m (91.6m) to fund its expansion plans. Daragh Cassidy of price comparison site Bonkers.ie said cash-back offers are rare in this market. But he pointed out that anyone signing up would need to spend a minimum of 3,380 a month on their card before they would fully recoup the 16.90 monthly fee. China warned US not to interfere with its relations with India With no sign of disengagement along LAC by China, Delhi pins hopes on diplomacy 1 officer, 2 jawans of Indian Army martyred at Galwan Valley India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 16: One officer and 2 jawans of the Indian Army have been martyred at the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The incident took place during a violent stand off last night between India and China. Senior military officials of the two sides are meeting to defuse the situation. During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation, a statement from the Army said. Army colonel & 2 Jawans martyred in violent faceoff with Chinese troops at LAC | Oneindia News Indian-Chinese forces clashed with stones and sticks at Galwan Valley The two sides had managed to make headway last week, when the Lt. Generals of both sides had met. Army Chief M M Naravane said that the disengagement was in process. On Saturday, Army Chief M M Naravane had said hat the military dialogue would hopefully resolve the issue. He also said that the disengagement of troops had begun in a phased manner. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, while reacting to the incident said, "We call upon India not to take unilateral actions or stir up trouble." Indiana Connections Career Academy Celebrates Class of 2020 With our students being able to explore and focus on career interests, we are confident these scholars will make a positive difference in the world. Indiana Connections Career Academy, a tuition-free, 9-12 online public school, recently held a graduation ceremony to honor the nearly 100 graduates in the Class of 2020. Although students were unable to celebrate this milestone in-person, the school saluted the graduating seniors with a virtual ceremony. Family members, friends, teachers, and administrators were still able to get together to commemorate this achievement with this years seniors. Our students have shown an incredible amount of dedication, resilience, perseverance and self-motivation to reach this milestone, said Stephanie Chi, principal of Indiana Connections Career Academy. With our students being able to explore and focus on career interests, we are confident these scholars will make a positive difference in the world. This years valedictorian Dakodha Epps shared her thoughts during her graduation ceremony speech, Lesson number one. Make sure you keep some people in your corner that support you not only support you but encourage you. Those people are essential. Lesson number two. Do whats right even when no one is looking. Lesson number three. Keep your parents on your team through this journey called life. In its third year of operation, Indiana Connections Career Academy students pursue graduation requirements to earn a high school diploma while also completing a career-focused program that prepares them for joining the workforce in one of Indianas high-growth fields. During their senior year, students will gain valuable real-world experience through internships, externships and other work partnerships. Career clusters include: Health science (nursing and healthcare specialties) Hospitality and human services (cosmetology, culinary arts, hospitality management and human and social services) Information technology (programming) Manufacturing, trades, and transportation (logistics and supply chain management) Arts, A/V technology and communication (web and digital communications and visual arts) Business and Marketing (entrepreneur, marketing, and management) Nearly half of graduates, 48 percent, plan to attend two- or four-year colleges or universities. Additional graduates have plans to enter the workforce directly upon graduation (32 percent) or attend vocational training programs (10 percent). The complete graduation ceremony can be viewed online. With the ability to work anywhere there is an Internet connection, students hail from small and large cities in Indiana including Evansville, Fort Wayne, Franklin, Indianapolis, Martinsville, Shelbyville, South Bend and more. Enrollment is currently underway for Indiana Connections Career Academys 2020 - 2021 school year. Details about upcoming information sessions and other events are available online or by calling 1-800-382-6010. For more information about Indiana Connections Career Academy, visit http://www.IndianaConnectionsCareerAcademy.com. About Indiana Connections Career Academy Indiana Connections Career Academy is a 9-12 virtual charter school authorized by Ball State University that offers students statewide a high-quality, highly accountable, tuition-free, public education option. Indiana Connections Career Academy delivers superior, personalized education for students, with the freedom and flexibility to experience our online learning community from anywhere - with a special emphasis on career readiness. The combination of state-certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. For more information, call 1-800-382-6010 or visit http://www.IndianaConnectionsCareerAcademy.com. KYODO NEWS - Jun 16, 2020 - 13:53 | All, Japan A former Japanese justice minister and his wife who are at the center of an election scandal have decided to quit the ruling Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, party sources said Tuesday. Katsuyuki Kawai, a lower house member, and his wife Anri, an upper house member, are suspected of buying votes in the House of Councillors election in July 2019. Anri Kawai won her seat in the poll. Their departures are another setback for Abe, who is struggling to regain public trust in his administration since coming under fire for its coronavirus response and a gambling scandal by a top prosecutor during a state of emergency. Abe has close ties with Katsuyuki Kawai, trusting him as a foreign policy adviser. Prosecutors are seeking to build a case against the Kawais in violation of the Public Offices Election Law and planning to question the couple on Thursday, a day after the current Diet session ends, according to sources close to the matter. Lawmakers have special immunity from arrest while the Diet is in session. The couple has denied vote-buying allegations over the course of voluntary questioning by prosecutors. It is easy to argue decades or even centuries later whether some of Sydney's statues are of significant or appropriate historical stature to merit a place of prominence in our parks and plazas. The fact is they were erected in an era when their place was considered appropriate. With what authority do we undo that thinking and tear them down? The 13-tonne Alison Lapper Pregnant statue in Trafalgar Square. She posed naked for artist Marc Quinn in what the artist says was a tribute to motherhood. Credit:AP There is merit in Bill Shorten's suggestion at the time the statues of Governor Macquarie, Captain Cook and Queen Victoria were defaced in 2017. The then Labor leader's idea was for additional plaques to indicate that contemporary thinking may have moved on. But the best solution is to look forwards rather than backwards. There are scores of candidates from all races, cultures and creeds who might be nominated for statue status. To that end, we would do well to emulate an idea that works well in London's Trafalgar Square. File Photo New Delhi: Most doctors are recommending the use of sanitizer to prevent coronavirus, but the same sanitizer can be a danger to you instead of protecting you. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has for the first time issued an alert saying that sanitizers are being sold in the country which can be dangerous and toxic. Advertisement CBI They can endanger people's lives. Based on information obtained from Interpol, the CBI has warned police and law enforcement agencies across the country that several gangs are selling highly toxic sanitizers. This information was given by the authorities on Monday. Officials said Interpol, a global police cooperation agency, had reported that fake hand sanitizers were being made using methanol. Methanol is a very toxic substance. They said that information about the use of toxic hand sanitizer during Covid-19 has also been received from other countries. Hand Sanitizer Advertisement "Methanol can be very toxic and can be dangerous to the human body," an official said. Officials said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had immediately alerted the police officials after receiving the information from Interpol. He said that in the wake of the Corona epidemic all over the world, many organized criminal groups have emerged at the international level which are making money through illegal activities. President Trump is holding a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday. It's the first one he's held since the coronavirus crisis erupted, and like everything he does, it's attracted considerable criticism. The main objection is that Trump shouldn't be having the rally at all because mass gatherings are dangerous at a time when COVID-19 is still raging across America. There's certainly merit to that argument, especially when the US is seeing a spike in cases in many states. And it's an argument the mainstream media is keen to fuel. 'President Trump plans to rally his supporters next Saturday for the first time since most of the country was shuttered by the coronavirus,' tweeted NBC News, which prides itself on impartiality especially when it comes to politics. 'But health experts are questioning that decision,' it added, including a link to an Associated Press report headlined: 'Extraordinarily dangerous: Trump rally draws grave concerns from top health officials. 'I'm concerned about our ability to protect anyone who attends a large, indoor event, and I'm also concerned about our ability to ensure the president stays safe as well.' said one official.' President Trump plans to rally his supporters on Saturday for the first time since most of the country was shuttered by the coronavirus. Pictured: Trump speaks during a rally on March 2, his last rally since the pandemic After thousands turned up to the Black Trans lives matter rally in Brooklyn, Trump tweeted: 'The Far Left Fake News Media, which had no Covid problem with the Rioters & Looters destroying Democrat run cities, is trying to Covid Shame us on our big Rallies. Won't work!' The rally for Black trans lives drew thousands to Brooklyn Museum plaza - As Black Lives Matter protests continued around the country The AP report promoted by NBC News was full of negativity about the rally. 'Trump's rallies typically draw tens of thousands of supporters,' it said, 'They usually stand outside in line for hours before passing through airport-style security and cramming into an arena, where they sit side by side or stand shoulder to shoulder. The rallies are typically raucous, with much shouting, cheering and chanting.' It quoted Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard's Global Health Institute, who called the upcoming Trump rally 'an extraordinarily dangerous move for the people participating and the people who may know them and love them and see them afterward.' It also quoted Tulsa City-County Health Department's director, Dr. Bruce Dart, who said he wished the rally would be postponed to a later date 'when the virus isn't as large a concern as it is today.' Dr Dart added: 'I think it's an honor for Tulsa to have a sitting president want to come and visit our community, but not during a pandemic.' This all seems perfectly reasonable. Yet just 83 minutes earlier, the same NBC News had tweeted 'Rally for Black trans lives draws packed crowd to Brooklyn Museum plaza - As Black Lives Matter protests continue around the country, throngs in New York City put a lens on the dangers facing the Black transgender community.' It included a link to a report by one of its own staffers, the self-styled 'breaking news reporter' Doha Madani, whose opening paragraph read: 'Protesters packed the courtyard of the Brooklyn Museum and surrounding parkway in New York City on Sunday in support of Black trans lives, merging the fight to protect two deeply marginalized groups.' Madani wrote that 'a swarm of attendees covered the plaza in front of the museum and took over the road on Eastern Parkway, likely in the thousands.' There were, as per the concerns expressed about the forthcoming Trump rally, thousands of people crammed together at the Brooklyn's trans lives matter rally, sitting side by side or standing shoulder to shoulder and the rally was raucous, with much shouting, cheering and chanting It was clear from TV footage of the rally that social distancing at the Brooklyn rally was almost non-existent It was clear from TV footage of the rally that social distancing was almost non-existent. There were, as per the concerns expressed about the forthcoming Trump rally, thousands of people crammed together, sitting side by side or standing shoulder to shoulder and the rally was raucous, with much shouting, cheering and chanting. Yet not once did Madani mention any warning about mass gatherings of this type being dangerous due to coronavirus. CNN's far longer report on the same rally, written by Lauren Holt, was headlined, 'Thousands show up for black trans people in nationwide protests,' and also failed to make reference to any health expert warnings about the coronavirus-related dangers. But in a separate report about Trump's Tulsa rally, after the President tweeted 'Almost One Million people request tickets for the Saturday Night Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma!', CNN's Chris Cillizza wrote that 'Trump's hyping of the Tulsa rally runs directly counter to what Oklahoma's health experts are saying about it.' And he too quoted Dr Dart: 'COVID is here in Tulsa, it is transmitting very efficiently, I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn't as large a concern as it is today.' Cillizza added: 'Trump's rally appears to directly violate his own administration's guidance on large gatherings amid the (still) ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to the CDC, the 'highest risk' of Covid-19 transmission is posed by 'large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area.' So exactly like the Black Trans Lives Matter rally then? Trump, naturally, has seized on what he sees as brazen hypocrisy. 'The Far Left Fake News Media, which had no Covid problem with the Rioters & Looters destroying Democrat run cities, is trying to Covid Shame us on our big Rallies,' he tweeted yesterday. 'Won't work!' Aside from his typically ludicrous categorisation of my old network, he's surely got a point about the double standard? It's true, as Cizzilla points out, that Trump's rally is inside, not outside, and therefore, according to most current scientific advice, poses more of a risk to those who attend. President Trump's rally in Tulsa is reckless, particularly as it's being led by the man who has presided over the worst COVID-19 death toll in the world But it's also true that both his rally and the Black Trans Lives Matter rally involve thousands of people congregating with very little social distancing for causes that they believe in, in direct contravention of CDC advice. And it's a fact that there was far more media criticism of Trump-supporters who flouted lockdown rules a few weeks ago to protest about infringement of their 'freedom' than there has been about any of the Black Lives Matter protests, including this latest one. The two-faced attitude is best epitomised by Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., who tweeted last Monday that she had joined a 'Healing and Hope' rally 'to speak with our community as America grieves.' Three days later, she'd had a sudden dramatic rethink about rallies. 'The president's plan to hold mass rallies in Florida and elsewhere as we experience a resurgence in COVID cases is irresponsible and selfish,' she tweeted. I feel conflicted about the failure of Black Lives Matter protestors to socially distance. I passionately support the battle for racial equality in the wake of the horrific George Floyd murder, and the right to protest is a fundamental one in any democracy. I also buy into the justification one of my own sons gave me when he attended a BLM rally in London that racism is a virus which is just as deadly as coronavirus, and George Floyd didn't choose to be killed in the middle of a pandemic. But given we now know that black Americans are the most susceptible to dying from COVID-19, it is undeniably reckless to amass in large numbers without making any real effort to stay apart, and with many not wearing masks or gloves. I also feel that President Trump's rally in Tulsa is reckless, particularly as it's being led by the man who has presided over the worst COVID-19 death toll in the world. We're told that every attendee will receive a temperature check, hand sanitizer and a face mask before heading into the rally. But holding a huge indoor event like this at a time of ongoing grave public health crisis in America is yet another irresponsible act by the President during this pandemic. At the very least, he should move it to an outdoor venue. However, you can't support the BLM protests going ahead, with no criticism of the lack of social distancing, but say Trump's rally should be banned on health grounds. That's just rank hypocrisy. Reliance Industries Ltd's (RIL) consumer businesses, which include its retail business and telecom services, are at the cusp of a strong growth, according to a report by Goldman Sachs. It also said that RIL's oil to chemical (O2C) business will continue to generate free cash flow even at cycle-low margins. "We forecast consumer businesses to deliver FY20-23 EBITDA CAGR of 36 per cent and drive 52 per cent of EBITDA contribution in FY23, compared to 35 per cent/14 per cent in FY20/FY18," it said. As per the report, the growth is likely to be driven by faster market share gains in retail on a combination of new stores addition and new commerce-led hyper growth, monetisation of the customer base for its telecom business, and ability to gain market share from highly levered peers in the current downturn. It noted that Reliance Retail, with FY20 core retail revenue of over $13 billion, is the largest retailer in India and market leader in three of the largest retail categories, food and grocery, electronics and fashion and apparel, which together represent 76 per cent of the retail market in India. The report said that Reliance has the largest store network and in several categories the most profitable underlying business. "Reliance's market share in tier 3-4 cities is a real differentiator when compared with other modern retailers, online and offline, with Reliance having a significant lead in developing the ecosystem in these towns," it said. Reliance Retail is likely to have 12 per cent market share of the overall grocery gross merchandise value (GMV) by FY29, against 1.9 per cent in FY21. Goldman Sachs reinstates a 'Buy' rating for RIL with a 12-month target price of Rs 1,755. It said that four potential catalysts for RIL are likely over the next 12 months, including rapid earnings recovery with limited volume risk in energy business and ability to gain market share in consumer businesses from highly levered peers amid the downturn and product launches like Enterprise, IOT among others. Stepping up in free cash flow generation from declining capital expenditure intensity, and accelerated deleveraging and value unlocking through strategic stake sales across all key divisions would also help the company. by Sumon Corraya Some priests and nuns from Bangladesh work abroad as missionaries; others will do the same in the future. Thirty years ago, the local Catholic Church needed the help of international missionary groups like PIME, the Xaverians, and the priests and nuns of the Holy Cross. Dhaka (AsiaNews) The Catholic Church in Bangladesh has been blessed recently with 21 new deacons, whilst three seminarians currently studying abroad will ordained in the near future. Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country with a small Christian community. Catholics number around 390,000. The Major Seminary of the Holy Spirit in Banani (Dhaka) is the countrys only seminary and currently has 125 seminarians. Some of the newly ordained deacons study at Holy Spirit Seminary. Six seminarians were ordained at the Holy Cross Scholasticate in Rampura (Dhaka). Other seminarians are from six other Dioceses. In Bangladeshs history, this is the first time that 24 seminarians become deacons almost at once. For some priests, they come as blessings from the Almighty God. Two of the seminarians ordained to the deaconate come from the Diocese of Barisal. Father Anol Terence D 'Costa, a priest in Barisal, took part in the training programme for deacons. The Catholic Church seems blessed because young people are attending the seminary to become priests, he told AsiaNews. This is a good sign. The countrys religious vocation is good. We are very happy. It seems that the contribution of parents, teachers, priests and nuns is also good. "Young people are getting a proper education from their family, priests and nuns; for this reason, they choose to join the religious life. Father Anol notes that the ordination of deacons generally takes place every year at the Major Seminary of the Holy Spirit in Dhaka. But owing to the pandemic and the lockdown, this year it took place in the dioceses where the seminarians come from. "Now the deacons will help the priests in their own diocese, in accordance with the directives of their bishops, said Father Anol. We are helping the needy during this coronavirus pandemic, and the deacons will be involved in this work, including family visits and pastoral care. Some newly ordained deacons spoke about how they discovered their religious vocation and feelings. One of them, Lanard Rozario, hails from Tumilia, a parish in the Archdiocese of Dhaka. My parents and relatives encouraged me to be a priest, he said. Their encouragement helped me decide to enter the seminary and today I have become a deacon and I am very happy. What I wished in life has come true, he added. Deacon Richard Babu Halders story is similar. He hails from Narikelbari, a parish in the Diocese of Barisal. Speaking to AsiaNews, he said "I wanted to be a priest since childhood. Now I hope to become one as I reach the final stage. My mother and grandmother encouraged me a lot. I looked at the holy life of a local priest, Father Sylvester, and was inspired to become a religious. Father Sylvester dedicated his life to Almighty God, as a servant of Jesus Christ, and so I shall work for all people of faith and take care of their spiritual life. Seminarian Anil Ignatius Marandy was ordained deacon in the Diocese of Rajshahi. In addition to providing pastoral care in the parish, he wants to devote himself to prisoners, workers and children. Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi celebrated his ordination Mass. As deacons you will have to be in the service of what falls within your responsibility, Bishop Rozario said in his homily. You will have to work according to what God needs. You dont need to make us happy; you must be faithful to God. The bishop expressed his best wishes to the newly ordained deacons. The number of male religious vocations in the Catholic Church of Bangladesh is adequate. But in this super modern era of globalisation female vocations are on the decline. Some priests and nuns from Bangladesh work abroad as missionaries. Others will do the same in the future. Thirty years ago, the countrys Catholic Church received the help of several international missionary groups such as PIME, the Xaverians, and the priests and nuns of the Holy Cross. Few of the latter are left whilst local priests and nuns are now the majority. BETHESDA, Md., June 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Homesnap , the leading provider of technology solutions to the real estate industry, today announced it has been named a 2020 Top Workplace by The Washington Post . This is the third consecutive year Homesnap has received this accolade, a testament to the company's hard-working team and strong culture. "We are honored to be included on The Washington Post's Top Workplaces List for the third year in a row," said John Mazur, Homesnap CEO. "We work hard as a company to foster a positive culture where all of our employees feel included and appreciated, and have opportunities to grow and thrive. This award is further validation of the exceptional talent we have and the unique culture we have built over the past eight years." The Top Workplaces list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through an anonymous third-party survey measuring several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection. This year The Washington Post honors more than 200 companies, including government contractors, law firms, nonprofits, schools, and businesses. "Homesnap is thrilled to once again be named a Top Workplace. This recognition reflects our inclusive corporate culture and our commitment to Homesnap's core values including collaboration, curiosity and customer focus, which unite our team, inspire innovation and fuel our growth," said Dana Aldis, SVP of People and Customer Experience at Homesnap. "This recognition is made possible because of our team, so I thank them for helping us create and continue to improve our great workplace." This award is just one of more than 40 accolades Homesnap has received for both its products and workplace culture since its founding in 2012. Homesnap was recently recognized as an Inc. 2020 Best Workplace and was named to HousingWire's 2020 TECH100 list as well as the Forbes 2020 List of America's Best Startup Employers . From 2016 to 2019, Homesnap experienced annual employee growth of over 50%. The full list of 2020 Top Workplaces along with additional content will run in print in a special Top Workplaces magazine on October 14, 2020 and will be available on WashingtonPost.com . The Washington Post will also host an awards ceremony in October 2020 to recognize the 200 top-ranked companies. ABOUT HOMESNAP With easy to use mobile technology fueled by unmatched, real-time data intelligence, Homesnap is changing the way real estate agents connect with consumers and serve their clients. Homesnap combines people, property and data with enterprise-grade software for real estate professionals to run and grow their business at every stage of the real estate transaction. The industry-endorsed Homesnap platform leverages AI, machine learning and big data from over 500 data sources and over 230 MLSs to provide more than one million U.S. agents with access to powerful mobile software that automates workflow and optimizes the search and sell experience for their clients. With the Homesnap mobile app, the highest rated consumer home search application; Homesnap Pro, the industry-standard mobile business platform for agents; and the Homesnap national home search portal, a joint venture with the industry-backed Broker Public Portal, the integrated Homesnap platform is transforming the real estate business. More information can be found at www.homesnap.com . ABOUT THE WASHINGTON POST The Washington Post is an award-winning news leader whose mission is to connect, inform, and enlighten local, national and global readers with trustworthy reporting, in-depth analysis and engaging opinions. It combines world-class journalism with the latest technology and tools so readers can interact with The Post anytime, anywhere. MEDIA CONTACTS Abby Sanders, Director of Communications & Events Maggie Nemecz, PR Associate Manager Phone: (202) 808-0223 Phone: (202) 750-5889 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] SOURCE Homesnap Related Links https://www.homesnap.com The police officer who was poisoned with novichok has hit back at an online backlash to his wife's apparent handling of the attack following the broadcast of the second episode of the BBC drama 'The Salisbury Poisonings'. Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey publicly defended his wife Sarah after her portrayal in the latest episode of the hit series, which aired last night. In that episode, Sarah, played by actress Annabel Scholey, learns that DS Bailey had contaminated their home after returning from carrying out his investigation of a chemical weapons attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March 2018. In a panic, she searches the home for their pet cat, angrily tells the liaison officers to 'p*** off' and pours herself a glass of white wine. Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey publicly defended his wife Sarah after her portrayal in the second episode of the BBC series 'The Salisbury Poisonings', aired on Sunday night DS Nick Bailey pictured with his wife Sarah Bailey, who are portrayed by actors Rafe Spall and Annabel Scholey respectively for the hit BBC drama DS Bailey and Sarah portrayed by Rafe Spall and Annabel Scholey respectively for the BBC However, some Twitter accounts were quick to ridicule Sarah's portrayal, with one user commenting: 'So you come home from hospital after finding out your husband 'Mr Sweaaty Bed' who collapsed on the floor, has been poisoned by Novichok. 'So after kissing him goodbye, you go home to your kids sleeping in the same bed and decide to jump in to! #TheSalisburyPoisonings'. Another posted 'change the bloomin bed linen' while a third said: 'Yeah let's drink from a glass in a house potentially covered in life ending toxin'. However, DS Bailey took to Twitter to slam 'armchair experts' criticising his wife Sarah's handling of the 2018 nerve agent attack. DS Nick Bailey pictured with his wife Sarah Bailey, who are portrayed by actors Rafe Spall and Annabel Scholey respectively for the hit BBC drama Twitter accounts were quick to ridicule Sarah's portrayal as she learns that DS Bailey had unknowingly contaminated their house after his investigation of the Skripals in March 2018 The Wiltshire police officer said: 'I've seen quite a bit of negativity towards my wife regarding episode 2 and the way she handled it. DS Bailey was poisoned by novichok during his investigation of the March 2018 attack 'Those scenes with Sarah could never truly reflect the extreme emotion and trauma she went through that day. Cut her some slack and be kind.' In response, dozens of Twitter accounts praised DS Bailey and Sarah. A social media user posted: 'Yes, well said. She must of been going through hell. Trying to protect you, your two girls and herself must of been so hard.' One said: 'I'd hope also that reasonable people would realise that this is dramatised and not a minute by minute reconstruction of every single event. But some people aren't reasonable.' A third wrote: ''Typical twitter armchair experts, ignore. No one can ever know how they would react in that position where losing your husband was a very real threat. 'Wishing you and family well and thank you for your continued service.' DS Bailey (portrayed by actor Rafe Spall) pictured in the BBC drama 'The Salisbury Poisonings' DS Bailey posted on Twitter: 'I've seen quite a bit of negativity towards my wife regarding episode 2 and the way she handled it. 'Those scenes with Sarah could never truly reflect the extreme emotion and trauma she went through that day. Cut her some slack and be kind' Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey (left), who was poisoned by the nerve agent novichok in 2018, is being portrayed by the actor Rafe Spall (right) in the BBC drama Another commented: 'What you guys went through is my worst nightmare. You're both incredible, don't let anyone tell you any different.' In the second episode, Sarah also has to cope with her husband's name being revealed by Wiltshire Police and broadcast on BBC News. She also consoles their two daughters about DS Bailey's condition, and is told that doctors are considering putting him into an induced coma. Following a growing backlash on Twitter to Sarah's behaviour as dramatised by the BBC, Sarah Bailey took to social media to clarify that she 'changed the bed (twice)' DS Nick Bailey pictured with his wife Sarah Bailey, who are portrayed by actors Rafe Spall and Annabel Scholey respectively for the hit BBC drama The Wiltshire police officer said: 'I've seen quite a bit of negativity towards my wife regarding episode 2 and the way she handled it. 'Those scenes with Sarah could never truly reflect the extreme emotion and trauma she went through that day. Cut her some slack and be kind' DS Bailey had unknowingly contaminated their home after returning from carrying out his investigation of a chemical weapons attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March 2018 Novichok had been used in March 2018 in Salisbury in the attempted assassination of former Russian double agent Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia. The British government accused Russia of attempted murder and announced a series of measures against Moscow including the expulsion of diplomats. Over 150 diplomats were expelled by nearly 30 other countries. According to British intelligence, agents of Russia's military intelligence (GRU) Anatoly Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin were behind the Skripal poisonings. 'The Salisbury Poisonings' follows the aftermath of the poisonings of Sergei and Yulia Skripal According to British intelligence, agents of Russia's military intelligence (GRU) Anatoly Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin were behind the Skripal poisonings The incident further strained relations between London and Moscow, with tensions already high as the pair back competing factions in wars in Syria and Ukraine. Last November, the Soviet-era nerve agent novichok was added to the OPCW global chemical weapons watchdog's list of banned toxins. BBC1's 'The Salisbury Poisonings' is a three-part TV drama which retells the events that occurred in Salisbury during 2018. It is being broadcast between June 14 and June 16. SimpleRetail: Powering the future of Retail We built SimpleRetail as a solution that gives retailers an edge by offering a differentiated digital buying experience inside and outside the store for their consumers, while doing this in a hyper-efficient manner that improves the efficiency of their supply chain. Applexus today launched the latest version of their SimpleRetail solution to address the retail industrys need to provide an engaging and consistent shopping experience across all channels. In the new normal after COVID-19, consumers will move from buying traditional in-store to curbside, delivery and buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) channels. To win in this changed landscape, retailers must rapidly provide an engaging buying experience across all channels. SimpleRetail is an intelligent digital store and consumer experience platform. Powered by AI, it offers superior curbside, delivery, and touchless in-store buying experiences, while also transforming retail store operations to deliver this efficiently. Over the years, Applexus has built store management and consumer engagement solutions for leading retailers as part of their enterprise transformation programs, said Sam Mathew, CEO of Applexus. We built SimpleRetail as a solution that gives retailers an edge by offering a differentiated digital buying experience inside and outside the store for their consumers, while doing this in a hyper-efficient manner that improves the efficiency of their supply chain. Digital buying was not a priority for many retailers in the past due to disconnected systems and processes that led to poor profitability. Retailers lose around ten dollars per online order, said Nittu Thomas, COO of Applexus. Providing the right digital buying experience is not about just creating a new app. Retailers have to streamline and reimagine their store operations and supply chain to do this in an efficient way. SimpleRetail enables retailers to improve both top-line and bottom-line by creating cross-sell opportunities, reducing lost sales and significantly improving efficiencies of store operations. SimpleRetail Consumer Engagement solution: SimpleRetails Consumer Engagement app allows the consumer to shop from the comfort of their homes, creating a personalized shopping experience with curbside pickup, BOPIS, and deliver to home options. The app offers a real-time view into store inventory, leverages AI to deliver personalized product recommendations and promotions, and provides an end-to-end, engaging pick-up or delivery experience. When a customer chooses to visit the store, the app enables a touchless shopping experience with features like product locator, smart product identification and self-checkout, avoiding the need for customers to stand in queue. SimpleRetail Store Operations solution: Store Associate app enables efficient pick-pack and delivery operations with intelligent work allocation and customer collaboration features. If the customer visits the store, the store associate can provide the customer a premium customer service experience leveraging the clienteling features of SimpleRetail. In-store Operations module includes features such as auto-replenishment, smart inventory management, delivery optimization and social distancing enablement. These capabilities enable optimal efficiencies of in store processes and the ability to meet customer promises. Mobile Point of Sale module elevates traditional POS to provide features such as custom ordering, product recommendations, and the endless aisle. SimpleRetail Central Office solution: Central Office solution includes the Customer and Loyalty Management module that provides a 360-degree customer view, enables customer segmentation, and suggests targeted offers and pricing. The Products, Pricing and Promotion module enables efficient promotion management, and can be tied into leading ERP solutions such as SAP. The Insights and Analytics module delivers actionable insights to store management, through effective visualization of data with prebuilt KPI dashboards. SimpleRetail Plug and Play Integration Framework Plug and Play Integration Framework integrates the SimpleRetail solution with leading ERP systems and core applications that the retailer has invested in. SimpleRetail has over 50 pre-built integrations with SAP to ensure that retailers data is always in sync, and helps to realize the efficiencies possible through the power of an ERP solution. We built SimpleRetail with a vision to fit right into the investments that a retailer has made. Our retail clients need to add new capabilities that they may not have today to enable multi-channel delivery across click-and-collect, delivery and touchless in-store purchasing, said Chris Couch, Vice President and General Manager - Retail Solutions. Our clients need to add these capabilities quickly, with fewer solutions that integrate seamlessly, to provide efficiency along with better experience. For more information about SimpleRetail, visit https://www.mysimpleretail.com or https://www.applexus.com/simpleretail. About Applexus Applexus is a global technology leader offering business consulting and SAP services to customers in the retail, fashion, and consumer products industries. Applexus specializes in delivering on the promise of the intelligent enterprise through transformative business solutions on SAP S/4HANA. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Applexus operates out of centers in USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and India. We are committed to making a positive impact by serving our communities worldwide. Applexus Contacts: Chris Couch +1(404) 861-3191 christopher.couch@applexus.com Nittu Thomas +1(201) 290-6202 nittu.thomas@applexus.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/applexus Twitter: https://twitter.com/Applexus A civil rights activist sentenced to five years in prison for her activism in support of unpaid workers says she was urged to write a letter requesting a pardon from the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. "I refused. Therefore, I must report to Qarchak Prison next Sunday," 25-year-old Sepideh Qolyan (Gholian) said Tuesday, June 16, in a video message on her Instagram page. Qolian who spend more than a year in prison was granted a temporary release on bail during the COVID-19 outbreak but was called back to report to court. "When I entered the courthouse in Evin (Tehran's infamous prison), the judge presiding over the First Branch court told a soldier to send me in. I asked what was the issue of pardon about? They told me I should write a petition requesting a pardon from the leadership (Khamenei), and they will see what they could do for me," Qolyan disclosed on her Instagram account, adding, "When I said that I refuse to do so, they said that I will be arrested and transferred to Qarchak prison." Qolian was convicted for her involvement in three separate legal cases, including the Haft Tapeh Sugar Mill protests in 2018, reporting about ethnic Arab prisoners, and revealing the role of a state-run TV reporter in interrogating suspects. She has also said in her Instagram post that she had prepared a detailed report on the issue of pardon by the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader, and will publish it on Sunday, before presenting herself to the notorious prison, Qarchak, south of the Iranian capital city, Tehran. Yahoo Life is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. This four-piece kit comes with eye cream, moisturizer, balm and exfoliant. (Photo: QVC) We just found an unbelievable deal your skin will want to soak up immediately: This TATCHA Ageless Face & Eye 4-piece Ritual set is a whopping $237 off! Right now, you can snag TATCHA moisturizer, exfoliant, balm and eye cream for just $163.50, down from $401. This deal is sure to sell out fast, so hop to it! San Francisco-based TATCHA honors Japanese heritage with simple skincare formulated and made in Japan. The 2.1-ounce Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder got a perfect five-star review on TATCHAs site. Its an exfoliant made with rice and papaya enzymes to cleanse skin, remove dullness and help with skin cell turnover. I love how clean and not dry my face feels after using this product, says a happy camper. It works into a really nice lather and leaves skin so smooth. The .28-ounce Serum Stick is a moisturizing, hydrating balm featuring squalane, Japanese lemon balm extract and superfoods that reviewers love for its convenience and hydration. Its easy to apply and perfect to carry in my cosmetic bag, says a fan. I love that it leaves my skin super hydrated and its texture is very soft. If I have noticed my most renewed skin thanks to this product. TATCHAs Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream (1.86 ounces) features peony, yomogi, squalane, rice bran extract, red algae, green tea and a HADASEI-3 bioactive complex to moisturize and fight free radical attack. And this reviewer says its great for mature skin: I am a 63-year-old woman who discovered TATCHA products last year and quickly became a fan. I use the Silk Cream during the day, under primer and make-up, and love to apply the Ageless Enriching Cream (and eye cream) at night. I wake up with hydrated, radiant and soft skin. Strongly recommend it. Formulated with peony and honeysuckle, Ageless Revitalizing Eye Cream (.38 ounces) is a topical that helps soften the appearance of dry lines and help reduce the appearance of dark circles. And this TATCHA shopper says it has anti-aging perks: It also seems to lift the eyelids as well! Worth every penny. Story continues Japanese brand Tatcha is packed with natural, good-for-you ingredients. (Photo: QVC)hoto: QVC)hoto: If youd rather not shell out the moolah all at once, you can pay in three interest-free installments of $54.50. Enjoy! Shop it: TATCHA Ageless Face & Eye 4-Piece Ritual, $164 (was $401), qvc.com Read More from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoos newsletter. While it's only about a 10-kilometer stretch, Juno Beach is home to one of the largest aggregations of nesting green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Florida and is one of the highest-density nesting beaches in the state. Although this high-profile turtle population has routinely been monitored for nest counts since 1989, an in-depth health assessment of these turtles has never been conducted. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and Loggerhead Marinelife Center have conducted the most comprehensive health assessment for a green turtle rookery in the world to date. Findings from the study provide critical insights into various aspects of physiology, biology, and herpesvirus epidemiology of this nesting population and are especially timely as the world observes "Sea Turtle Day." Results, recently published in the journal Endangered Species Research, are hopeful for this population of green sea turtles in southeastern Florida and offer important data on the profile of health for future comparative investigations. "Effective conservation measures cannot take place unless the animals we are trying to protect are healthy," said Annie Page-Karjian, D.V.M., Ph.D., lead author, assistant research professor and clinical veterinarian at FAU's Harbor Branch. "Chronological and longitudinal studies of biology, physiology, and overall health in both free-ranging and captive populations are critical for supporting large-scale efforts to promote sea turtle population recovery." A total of 4,343 green turtle nests were documented on Juno Beach in 2017, which was the busiest nesting year on record for this beach. For the study, researchers collected blood samples from 60 female green turtles that nested on Juno Beach in 2017. They evaluated a broad suite of biological and health data, including measures of reproductive success, morphometrics, hematology, plasma chemistry, plasma protein fractions, haptoglobin, corticosterone, and measures of oxidative stress, antioxidative capacity, and innate immunity. They also tested for two herpesviruses of green turtles, ChHV5 and ChHV6, which are implicated in fibro-papillomatosis (FP) and respiratory and skin disease, respectively. FP is a debilitating disease of sea turtles characterized by neoplastic growths on the skin, shell, and/or internal organs. Results showed that all 60 turtles included in the study were in good body condition with no external FP tumors. Five of the 60 turtles (8 percent) tested positive for ChHV5 and all turtles were negative for ChHV6. Of the 41 turtles tested for antibodies to ChHV5 and ChHV6, 29 percent and 15 percent tested positive, respectively, and 10 percent tested positive for antibodies to both viruses. Notably, there were no statistically significant differences between health variables for nesting turtles that tested positive for ChHV5 DNA versus those that tested negative; and also no differences between turtles that tested positive for ChHV5 or ChHV6 antibodies and those that did not. Findings from the study suggest that these viruses are endemically stable in Florida's adult green sea turtles. Researchers differentiated between previous viral infection versus recent infection/reactivation, and evaluated the results alongside health analytes to understand whether either infection state was associated with detectable physiological changes. "The fitness of the turtles examined for this study is likely representative of the health of the ecosystems in which they forage and the oceanic corridors through which they migrate," said Page-Karjian. "As human activities continue to affect sea turtle population recovery, these comprehensive baseline data from our study will provide a valuable resource for evaluating the impacts of various stressors such as habitat degradation on the population over time and will help inform wildlife and environmental policy management." Green turtles are the second most common sea turtle species to nest on the coast of Florida, after loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Sea turtles are considered to be sentinel species of environmental health, whereby sea turtle health is thought to reflect the health of the ecosystems they inhabit. Thus, examining sea turtle health is an important component of any coastal ecosystem health survey that includes sea turtle developmental, foraging, and/or nesting habitat(s). Conservation threats to sea turtles in Florida are numerous, and include habitat encroachment and pollution, illegal harvesting, artificial beach lighting and coastal armoring, and human interactions such as entanglement, hook ingestion, and boat strike trauma. Diseases, including FP, also directly threaten sea turtle conservation. ### Collaborators of the study include the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia; Inwater Research Group in Jensen Beach; University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine; Southeastern Louisiana University; the Sea Turtle Conservancy; and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. This work was supported by grants from the Sea Turtle Conservancy's Florida Sea Turtle License Plate Grants Program (17-036R); the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians' Wild Animal Health Fund; and the Florida Save Our Seas Specialty License Plate Fund (administered by the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation). The work was permitted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The University of Miami Avian & Wildlife Laboratory provided technical assistance with sample analysis. About Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute: Founded in 1971, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University is a research community of marine scientists, engineers, educators and other professionals focused on Ocean Science for a Better World. The institute drives innovation in ocean engineering, at-sea operations, drug discovery and biotechnology from the oceans, coastal ecology and conservation, marine mammal research and conservation, aquaculture, ocean observing systems and marine education. For more information, visit http://www.fau.edu/hboi. About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU's world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU's existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit fau.edu. MINERAL WELLS, W.Va., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A U.S. District Court judge blocked an effort by Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood to overturn an arbitrator's ruling that prevented the company from making unilateral changes to health care benefits for its retirees. In his ruling, Judge Thomas E. Johnston rejected the aluminum company's argument that it had the right to modify health and prescription drug coverage for retired workers and agreed with the arbitrator that the coverage was subject to the terms of USW's collective bargaining agreement with the company, which went into effect in 2017 and runs through Sept. 19, 2022. "This is a significant victory for this group of workers, many of whom devoted decades of their lives to this company," said Ernest R. "Billy" Thompson, the USW's director of District 8, which represents thousands of workers in West Virginia and three neighboring states. "They deserve the benefits that they earned over a lifetime of hard work, benefits that this company negotiated into their union contract." The dispute began in August 2018, when the Ravenswood, W.Va., company informed its retirees in a letter that it was planning to terminate their group medical and drug coverage at the end of that year and replace it with health reimbursement accounts that they could use to purchase supplemental Medicare coverage. The union filed a grievance objecting to the company's plan, which ultimately led the two sides to arbitration. The arbitrator's ruling, upheld by Judge Johnston in his June 11 decision, ordered that "the retiree benefits in question must be maintained, unchanged, through the entire term of the 2017 agreement." The USW also sued to obtain an injunction, which prevented the changes from taking effect while the arbitration proceeded. "We have collective bargaining agreements to prevent exactly this kind of scenario to keep corporations from making unilateral, top-down decisions like this, decisions that hurt working people," Thompson said. "I hope that this ruling sends a clear message that employers can't simply decide to ignore the pieces of their contracts that they don't like." The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations. Contact: R.J. Hufnagel, [email protected], 412-562-2450 SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW) Related Links http://www.usw.org A man has been taken in for allegedly murdering and stealing from the owner of a coffee shop in Vietnams Mekong Delta after paying her for sex last week. Police in Long An Province confirmed on Monday they had apprehended Nguyen Vu Thanh Hoai, 23, while he was hiding in Ho Chi Minh City. Hoai is the prime suspect in the murder of P.T.N., 35, who ran a cafe in Hoa Khanh Dong Commune, Duc Hoa District, Long An Province. Preliminary reports said that Hoai caught a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Long An on the afternoon of June 9. He then entered a local coffee shop, with N., the owner, the only one present. Hoai offered to pay N. VND350,000 (US$15) to have sex with her, to which she agreed. Following their sexual intercourse, Hoai choked the victims to death before tying up her arms. Nguyen Vu Thanh Hoai is seen in a supplied photo captured from CCTV footage. He took her phone, VND280,000 ($12) in cash, and two gold rings, before shutting the door of the coffee shop and running away. Hoai traveled back to Ho Chi Minh City and sold one of the rings for VND2 million ($86). He then headed to Da Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong and sold the other ring for VND1 million ($43). The suspect eventually returned to Ho Chi Minh City. A friend discovered N.s body on June 10. Police officers launched an investigation into the case and were able to capture Hoai while he was in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday night. At the police station, Hoai claimed he had committed the crime to pocket some money for personal use. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A doctor accused of indecently assaulting a 16-year-old girl and four other female patients at a Sydney sleep clinic says he was providing "non-conventional treatment" to the teenager with her consent, a jury has heard. Ali Khorami, a GP, worked as a night-shift sleep technician at the Woolcock Clinic in Glebe in 2018, where his role was to watch two to three sleeping patients per night and provide assistance if they needed it. Mr Khorami is alleged to have variously put his hand on the patients' groins, put his penis on them, and fondled his genitals while touching the patients or standing close to them. He is also accused of drugging one woman with prescription medication which made her drowsy. He allegedly indecently assaulted the 16-year-old in July 2018 by walking into the room while she was sleeping and placing his penis on one of her hands and her feet. In opening remarks in the NSW District Court on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Roger Kimbell said the teenager and other patients, aged between 16 and 29, were filmed as part of their sleep studies and the jury would be shown "quite confronting" footage of the incidents. You are here: China Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday urged efforts to achieve fruitful results from the 127th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as Canton Fair, which is being held online. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when attending the event's virtual opening ceremony in Beijing. He called for efforts to ensure the security of the industrial chain, maintain stability in foreign trade and investment, and promote cooperation for win-win results. Li inspected online showrooms of enterprises. The event was held online due to COVID-19. Despite the change, the 127th fair drew nearly 26,000 enterprises from home and abroad. While visiting the showroom of China's home appliance giant Gree, Li said the online Canton Fair demonstrated the country's resolve to expand opening-up and jointly ensure the security of international industrial and supply chains. Li also visited ergonomics product manufacturer Loctek. The Ningbo-based firm has tapped into international e-commerce to achieve export growth and is planning to expand its overseas warehouses. The premier urged efforts to develop more overseas warehouse platforms to serve small and medium-sized enterprises, noting that developing international e-commerce can help firms survive and thrive amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During his inspection, Li also highlighted China's commitment to further facilitating imports, increasing the inflow of readily marketable products, and sharing the opportunities presented by the huge domestic market with enterprises around the world. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the daily CCP virus briefing at the White House in Washington, on April 19, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Pence: Spikes in COVID-19 Cases Caused by Dramatic Increase in Testing The United States is seeing strong drops in COVID-19-related hospitalization and mortality rates, with the exception of a few places, Vice President Mike Pence said, attributing the vast majority of new cases to a surge in testing. Speaking at a White House roundtable on June 15, Pence said that increased cases of COVID-19 infections in some states were caused by a dramatic increase in testing. Our team has been working with governors over the past week. Were carefully analyzing those new cases, and we really believe that the vast majority of new cases is a reflection, as you said, of a dramatic increase in testing, Pence said, responding to a question from President Donald Trump about nationwide case counts of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Trump reinforced the message at the roundtable, saying, If we stopped testing right now, wed have very few cases, if any. Nationwide, the positive case rate is falling, though at a slower rate than testing, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows. Pence, who heads the White House coronavirus task force, called the overall COVID-19 numbers remarkable. With more than 22 million tests performed across America, weve seen the overall positive test rate drop dramatically & hospitalizations decline everywhere. We commend the American people for the steps theyve taken, bringing us to the point where we can safely reopen America, he noted in a tweet. The positive test rate Pence refers to is a measure, expressed as a percentage, of the total daily number of virus tests conducted nationwide and of those tests, how many were positive on a given day. Its sometimes noted as a multi-day average, with the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center expressing the positive test rate as an average percentage of tests that were COVID-19 positive over the previous seven days. The rate of positivity is an important indicator because it can provide insights into whether a community is conducting enough testing to find cases, the Johns Hopkins center stated. If a communitys positivity is high, it suggests that that community may largely be testing the sickest patients and possibly missing milder or asymptomatic cases. A lower positivity may indicate that a community is including in its testing patients with milder or no symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that in countries with extensive COVID-19 testing, the test-positivity rate should remain at 5 percent or lower for at least 14 days. In the United States nationwide, the test-positive figures have dropped dramatically since hitting a peak of 21.8 percent in early April, and have remained flat for the past week or so, as of June 16 coming in at 4.5 percent. The test-positivity rate can be considered as a decent proxy for the severity of an outbreak under some circumstances, according to Jason Andrews, an infectious-disease professor at Stanford, in remarks to the Atlantic; lower numbers are broadly suggestive of an outbreak that is less severe. A factor that decreases the utility of the positive test rate in measuring the severity of an outbreak is insufficient testing, according to other epidemiologists cited by the publication. Pence said at the roundtable that California Gov. Gavin Newsom told him that on Saturday alone, California performed 78,000 tests all across the state. And yet, in the state of California, their hospitalization numbers remain flat, their positivity numbers remain flat. And in those areas wherejust a few stateswhere were seeing positive rates go up, well be talking to governors today, in states like Georgia and Arizona and Texas, about deploying additional CDC personnel to help them identify where those outbreaks are occurring and how we can mitigate those efforts, Pence added. According to Johns Hopkins, as of June 16, Arizona recorded a seven-day average of its test-positivity rate at 16.3 percent, Texas registered 7.1 percent, and Georgia came in at 6.9 percent, with all three states seeing a rise in the longer-term trend line. Pence attributed some of the spikes in infection numbers to highly localized outbreaks, such as in three prisons in Texas that accounted for literally hundreds of new cases in a single day. Overall, the American people, I think, are to be commended, Pence said, because of the steps theyve taken and continue to take to mitigate the spread of the deadly bug. Where we saw coronavirus positive cases six weeks ago over 30,000, now its averaged in recent weeks roughly 20,000 new cases a day, he said, adding that the positivity rate remains flat, hospitalizations for coronavirus are declining all over the country, and most importantly, our fatality rate continues, over a seven-day average, to continue to decline. Portraying the COVID-19 numbers as supportive of further opening up, Pence said its important to focus resources on the most vulnerable. Its important that we continue to focus resources on those that are vulnerable, even while we see overall, across the country, cases going down, hospitalizations going down, and most importantly, our mortality rate is going down all across America, he said. AstraZeneca's potential coronavirus vaccine is likely to provide protection against contracting COVID-19 for about a year, the company's chief executive told a Belgian radio station on Tuesday. The British drugmaker has already begun human trials of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, with a phase I trial in Britain due to end soon and a phase III trial already begun, Pascal Soriot told broadcaster Bel RTL. "We think that it will protect for about a year," Soriot said. AstraZeneca said on Saturday that it had signed contracts with France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands to supply the European Union with up to 400 million doses of the potential vaccine. It has also agreed deals with Britain and the United States. "If all goes well, we will have the results of the clinical trials in August/September. We are manufacturing in parallel. We will be ready to deliver from October if all goes well," Soriot said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 19:38:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, co-chairs the fifth meeting of the China-Cambodia intergovernmental coordinating committee with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong via video, in Beijing, capital of China, June 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, co-chaired the fifth meeting of the China-Cambodia intergovernmental coordinating committee with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Hor Nam Hong, on Tuesday in Beijing via video. The two sides announced the establishment of a "fast-track lane" for personnel exchanges and a "green channel" for goods, and agreed to complete the negotiation of the China-Cambodia bilateral Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible. They also agreed to set up consular offices with each other, and officially launch Cambodian mango exports to China. Both China and Cambodia expressed opposition to politicizing and stigmatizing the COVID-19 pandemic. Hailing that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Wang said China is willing to work with Cambodia to win the battle against the epidemic, as well as promote economic and social development. For his part, Hor Nam Hong said that Cambodia supports the national security legislation in Hong Kong, and backs multilateralism and China-ASEAN cooperation. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 19:41:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The head of Beirut Traders' Association said on Tuesday that over 25 percent of the shops in the Lebanese capital closed in the past six months over the U.S. dollar shortage and drop in people's purchasing power, the National News Agency reported. "We also expect 25 percent more of shops to close during the coming six months given the current economic crisis," Nicolas Chammas said during a meeting held at Beirut's Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture with representatives of the different trade sectors in Lebanon. Chammas urged officials to provide all traders with facilities to enable them to withdraw their deposits from banks and transfer money to buy products from abroad to maintain their businesses. He also urged exemption of traders from income and municipality taxes in 2020. Lebanon has witnessed in the past few months a shortage in the U.S. dollar amid an economic slowdown and the drop in cash injections from Lebanese abroad. Enditem Flash U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that it was "highly inappropriate" for John Bolton, his former national security adviser, to write a memoir about his work in the White House. "Maybe he's not telling the truth, he's been known not to tell the truth, a lot," Trump told reporters during a White House meeting with cabinet members. "I will consider every conversation with me highly classified," he claimed. "If he wrote a book and the book gets out, he's broken the law and I would think you would have criminal problems." The president also asked Attorney General William Barr to weigh in on the issue. Barr said that the administration didn't believe Bolton had completed the process by which books are cleared by the executive branch for publication. Bolton plans to release his memoir, "The Room Where it Happened," on June 23. A foreign policy hawk and Trump's third national security adviser, Bolton was ousted last year over disagreements with the president on a range of issues. Eric Rosenberg, M.D., F.A.C.P. I have known Dr. Rosenberg for many years, starting when we were on the Board of Directors together for a healthcare company. He has a long history of experience and success in leadership capacities. We are very excited to add him to the team! -- Ed Mercadante, CEO MediTelecare is proud to announce that Eric Rosenberg, M.D., F.A.C.P. is joining the company as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Rosenberg will work to help MediTelecare achieve its strategic objectives. He will be directly involved with helping management transform the company to a more value-based approach for the delivery of behavioral health care to residents in Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, and Continuous Care Communities. Dr. Rosenberg is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics and has practiced primary care for over 33 years. In addition, he is well-known as an entrepreneurial healthcare thought leader. He was the Co-Founder of ProHealth Physicians, a primary care-focused medical group that provided over 9% of the primary care in Connecticut and had revenue over $250 million. Dr. Rosenberg was also the Co-Developer of ProHealth Physicians Laboratory. Some of his accolades include being in the top 1% of U.S. physicians for patient satisfaction in a 2018 Press-Ganey survey, being on the Castle-Connolly Inc. top doctors lists from 2005 2019, and being named One of the Nations Top Primary Care Physicians in 2000. He also taught clinical Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. I have known Dr. Rosenberg for many years, starting when we were on the Board of Directors together for a healthcare company. He has a long history of experience and success in leadership capacities. We are very excited to add him to the team! -- Ed Mercadante, CEO MediTelecare is looking forward to having Dr. Rosenberg join the team during a critical phase of its growth. About MediTelecare: MediTelecare is the industry leader in providing behavioral telehealth services to residents of skilled nursing and long term care facilities. The companys clinical team consists of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, and clinical social workers providing behavioral telehealth services to over 20,000 residents and patients in Skilled Care facilities and Assisted Care communities across 16 states. MediTelecare services provide client groups with a digital hub that includes Televideo communication, software tools and other virtual telemedicine technologies to streamline diagnostic evaluations and design personalized treatment plans for each residents needs. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will be streaming a Mozart horn concerto on June 17. In 2016 New Zealanders were enthralled by NZSO horn player Samuel Jacobs performance of Mozarts beloved Horn Concerto No. 4. Critics praised the Section Principals exquisite interpretation of Mozarts famous concerto as Glorious and the epitome of breezy bonhomie. The best part about this piece is that its the perfect format to display Mozarts lyrical genius alongside his sense of humour, says Samuel. The NZSO is delighted to again showcase Jacobs extraordinary ability and supreme musicianship with a free streaming of his 2016 performance. The streaming will premiere at live.nzso.co.nz at 7.30pm on June 17 and can be viewed via smart TV, mobile phone, tablet or computer. Since the COVID-19 restrictions, the NZSO has streamed more than 40 new performances by Orchestra players in their homes, along with some earlier filmed concerts. These have been enjoyed by many people, including viewers experiencing the NZSO for the first time. On June 10 the Orchestra live-streamed a new performance of Beethovens iconic Fifth Symphony from Wellingtons Michael Fowler Centre. Other NZSO streamed concerts and performances are also available to view on demand at live.nzso.co.nz. These include the Johann Sebastian Bach series Sei Solo, Ryman Healthcare Presents Discovering Beethoven, the Shed Series concerts Heritage and Speed, and Play Our Part, featuring NZSO players and international guests performing in their homes. For families the NZSO has also produced Music Room, a ten-part series of educational videos. Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on June 15. At the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) Mai is Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva. The event, chaired by President of the Council - Austrian Ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, was joined by representatives of 47 member countries, more than 100 observation countries, international and non-governmental organizations based in Geneva. Participates focused their discussions on mechanisms and committees of UN human rights treaties, Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism on human rights, the situation of human rights in Palestine and occupied Arab territories, Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action on human rights, anti-racial discrimination and xenophobia, and technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights. The session will consider the adoption of about 40 draft resolutions and decisions on human rights issues related to some countries such as Iran, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), Myanmar, Syria, South Sudan, Nicaragua, Palestine and Libya. After the closing ceremony of the session on June 19, the UN Human Rights Council will continue to consult on the time and method of organising the 44th session, which was slated for June but has been postponed due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Based on new measures of Switzerland to respond to the pandemic and the consensus of other countries, the 44th session is expected to be held in July. VNA On Tuesday, President Donald Trump will sign an executive order that will address police misconduct and the excessive use of force during arrests. The law would set financial incentives to urge law enforcement to take up best practices during arrests and making a tracking program for less than competent individuals. The decision comes amid several Black Lives Matter movements surging throughout the nation, calling for reforms to the current policing system. Protesters have forced Trump to act on the issues at hand after the deaths of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Reforming policing systems On Monday afternoon, Trump told reporters that they would be discussing the issues and events that have been happening for the last month. The US president said they would be coming up with solutions to address the problems. Trump noted that the main objective of the discussions will be maintaining law and order, but that justice and safety were also priorities. He added by saying there are plenty of competent individuals in law enforcement, and he promised they would do better. White House officials said that the order was drafted with inputs from law enforcement and the families of victims of police brutality. Patrick Yoes, the president of the National Fraternal Order of Police, announced his support for the order in a statement after reviewing the details written within. Yoes noted the order balances the safety needs of the public and officers while also addressing the need for lasting and meaningful police system reform. According to The New York Times, the order would also urge social workers to assist police officers in responding to reports. It also encourages the spreading of information across different police departments about officers with multiple complaints filed against them. Officials emphasized that providing financial incentives is vastly different from protesters' call to defund the police. Also Read: George Floyd, Black Lives Matter: Black Man Carries Injured White Man, Brings Hope for Equality Defunding the police? One of the officials also revealed that what they wanted to do was to incentivize individuals who perform on the best standards, which would urge them to improve their training and the retention of good officers. They added that the problem would never be solved by demonizing the police force, but rather, you'd have to work with law enforcement to move forward and make progress, as reported by CNBC. In addition to the order, House Democrats have put forward a proposal to ban chokeholds, no-knock warrants, and several other policing changes. One crucial point of discussion would be how to hold police officers accountable for their actions during misconduct cases. Democrats plan on having citizens receive compensation for damages if police officers violate their constitutional rights. Republicans, on the other hand, oppose the idea of curbing protections that shield police officers from multiple charges of rights violations. Restraining techniques such as chokeholds could prove to be obstacles, but Republicans have sided with Democrats in urging the banning of the violent methods nationwide. On Monday, Trump said, "Maybe they can get something passed, and maybe they can't." He added that it would have to be passed by one individual and that it would be him, which is why they'll be signing it tomorrow. Related Article: Donald Trump Not Well? Speculations About Dementia and Stroke Surface After Seen Unsteadily Walking @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. When local governments reflect on 2020, one of their takeaway lessons might be the importance of adaptability. Although gov tech giant Accela had this in mind before agencies from coast to coast had shuttered their offices, the company today announced a new civic application to help fire departments make prevention work more flexible.Accelas new SaaS tool for fire prevention is its eighth in a series of civic applications, starting March 2018, all of which aim to replace paper-based processes with digital workflows and automated steps. The companys news release said the new fire prevention application streamlines aspects of fire plan reviews, inspections and fire permitting, and it includes mobile tools for team inspections and training.Aaron Williams, Accelas senior director of solution architecture, said the application is essentially for anything a fire department needs to document, permit or inspect, which in many places includes thousands of occupancies a year. He said normally this would involve reams of printed paper, hand-delivered inspection notices, clipboards, file cabinets and potentially a lot of staff time.That used to be a three-week process for them to do a sweep of annuals, and now that three weeks is almost entirely gone, because all you have to do is store it in your system, Williams said. This will automatically schedule the inspections on the annual date, and the inspections are routed out to the stations over the Internet through our software and performed on mobile devices. Youre essentially eliminating paper entirely from the process.He said the product comes in three iterations: an entry-level fire essentials package, which can transition a department off of a paper process in a matter of weeks; a more robust fire extended version with more features and dashboards; and a fire enterprise version for inventory management and team inspections of higher-occupancy structures like high-rises and stadiums.Accela has been selling software to expedite fire prevention processes for years, but under the original series of civic solutions, now being phased out in favor of new civic applications. Williams said Accelas original civic platform of solutions was a development tool that gave governments the ability to configure their business processes, but some of those configurations became hard to maintain.What happened is, the solutions evolved with agencies internally over time, and they were as good as the last IT department. The machine got so big and so complicated, you needed more people to maintain it, he said. With civic applications, you dont need that product manager anymore, because Accela has that product manager, focused on building that product, fixing bugs, enhancing features.Besides being the next application in the series, Williams said the new fire prevention software was partially inspired by other work with government agencies through COVID-19, asking them what they needed. He said a lot of them had to close their offices that handled permits, so they were looking for mobile, digital alternatives.They needed to get online, like, tomorrow, or in the next few days. So we created generic solutions where you could just set the thing up, not very invasive for your staff, he said. A bunch of people used it, and we saw the opportunity to do the same thing with fire.Accelas news release corroborated the idea that governments are going mobile: More than 80 percent of the companys new customers since the pandemic purchased solutions in the cloud, and 66 percent of its entire customer base is in the cloud. Google trends data has suggested that more people are searching for information about coronavirus symptoms, raising fears of a second wave. On Monday, U.S. searches for 'coronavirus symptoms' hit a three-week high on Google. Over the past week, Arizona, South Carolina and Texas were the top states for such searches. Nationwide searches for 'coronavirus testing' hit their highest level since May 26 over the weekend, indicating a renewed interest in getting tested for COVID-19. Washington DC, Maryland and New Mexico were the top locations searching for 'coronavirus testing' over the past 30 days. Searches for both 'coronavirus symptoms' and 'coronavirus testing' remain far below their peaks in mid-March. On Monday, U.S. searches for 'coronavirus symptoms' hit a three-week high on Google Over the past week, Arizona, South Carolina and Texas were the top states for such searches While some fear the trend data indicates a 'second wave' of coronavirus cases is looming, Google Trends data is notoriously bad at predicting outbreaks. From 2008 to 2015, Google tried to predict seasonal influenza trends using search data with its 'Google Flu Trends' tool, which measured searches for such terms as fever and cough. The project was quietly killed off after scientists denounced it as an utter failure, noting that in 2013 Flu Trends was off by 140 percent at the peak. Nationally, deaths and new cases of coronavirus continue to decline steadily. On Monday there was an increase of 19,968 cases in the U.S. and 395 deaths. As of Tuesday, a total of 2,114,180 positive cases have been recorded in the U.S. with at least 116,130 deaths. At the height of the pandemic in April there were around 36,000 cases and 2,500 deaths a day in the country. However, as different states pursue different strategies for reopening their economies, many have been pouring through data seeking evidence that ending lockdowns causes a spike in cases. The two most populous U.S. states took markedly different approaches to reopening on Monday, with New York scolding local governments for not enforcing social distancing and California encouraging counties to restart economies if they met criteria. Nationwide searches for 'coronavirus testing' hit their highest level since May 26 over the weekend, indicating a renewed interest in getting tested for COVID-19 Searches for 'coronavirus testing' on Google are seen over the past seven days Scenes of merrymakers gathering outside bars prompted the governor of New York, the state hardest hit along with New Jersey by the coronavirus pandemic, to urge local officials and businesses on Monday to strictly enforce reopening guidelines. 'To the local governments I say, 'Do your job,'' Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters. Over the weekend he criticized New York City street crowds outside bars and asked people to adhere to six feet of distance from others. Both Cuomo and neighboring New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said they were keeping open the option of reimposing restrictions if officials fail to stop large public gatherings that risk leading to a second wave of infections. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has left it up to individual counties on when to reopen once they meet state guidelines. He reminded county officials of the risks of not restarting economies, as well as reopening them. Scenes of merrymakers gathering outside bars prompted the governor of New York to urge local officials and businesses on Monday to strictly enforce reopening guidelines People drink outside a bar in the East Village neighborhood of New York City on Saturday Newsom told a news briefing on Monday people could not be 'locked away for months and months and months,' especially those among the 5.5 million Americans in California who have lost their jobs since mid-March. He said some had also lost health coverage and were among the many people suffering severe mental and physical health problems during the pandemic. In enforcing coronavirus restrictions, he said the state and counties could not 'see lives and livelihoods completely destroyed without considering the health impact of those decisions as well.' 'As we mix, as we reopen, inevitably we're going to see an increase in the total number of cases; it's our capacity to address that that is so foundational,' said Newsom. California is one of four states that is projected to see the biggest spike in deaths in the months ahead, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. Its new forecast on Monday forecast over 200,000 deaths due to COVID-19 in the United States through the beginning of October, mainly due to reopening measures under way. The IHME, whose estimates are cited by many health experts, projected Florida will see its deaths nearly triple to 18,675 deaths from 6,559 on June 10, while California can expect to see deaths increase by 72 percent to 15,155 from 8,812, it said. Georgia and Arizona also have sharp increases in deaths forecast by the institute. New York and New Jersey between them account for more than a third of the more than 116,000 U.S. deaths, but deaths and hospitalizations have been on the decline of late. Both states have followed strict health guidelines for reopening businesses when all measures of infection drop - new cases, deaths, hospitalizations and positive rates among those getting tested. Scott Gottlieb, the former Food and Drug Administration director who has advised the White House on the coronavirus, said on Monday that flare-ups needed to be addressed with aggressive contact tracing and targeted responses. 'Were not going to be able to shut down the country again this summer. We're probably not going to be able to shut down the country again this fall,' he said on CNBC. Selfridges was among a number of stores that reopened on 15 June after closing due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Getty Images) Yahoo Lifestyle is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. High street stores were advised to close back in March amid the coronavirus pandemic, and now three months later have been given the go ahead to reopen on June 15 by the government. Some brands kept their websites open for shoppers to continue shopping online, while others were forced to close entirely. Popular shopping destinations and department stores across the UK, had been deserted during lockdown, but scenes now look very different. The reopening of stores has seen customers flock to their much-loved retailers, such as Primark, Nike and Selfridges. But with social distancing measures still in place there have been reports of queues spanning hundreds of metres long, as well as stock not being replenished on the shop floor for a number of days for customer and staff safety. Which high street brands have reopened, and what safety measures are in place for staff and shoppers? From designer labels to popular department stores and affordable labels, we have compiled the popular destinations you can shop in store once again. Anya Hindmarch | Shop here British designer brand, Anya Hindmarch, has reopened its London stores, but are making sure masks and hand sanitisers are available for staff and shoppers. Victoria Beckham | Shop here Victoria Beckham Dover Street opened its doors on Monday 15 June. The store has social distancing measures in place for shoppers. Selfridges | Shop here Selfridges in London, Birmingham, Manchester Exchange Square and Manchester Trafford opened at the start of the week with added safety measures, but with restricted opening hours. Story continues Liberty London | Shop here Liberty London closed inMarch but has since reopened. Social distancing measures are in place, which include one person on the stairs at a time, social distanced queues, as well as limited opening hours. House of Fraser | Shop here House of Fraser has reopened and is ensuring customers keep a two-metre distance, follow the arrows in store, and are encouraged to use contactless payments where possible. While staff will be wearing the necessary PPE safety equipment. Dune | Shop here Dune has opened select stores in keeping with the governments guidelines. Similar to other stores that have reopened Dune has social distancing measures in place and is offering customers hand sanitiser and face coverings. The Body Shop | Shop here The Body Shop has opened their stores, but with some changes. It has new opening hours, is offering customers the opportunity to have online consultations instead of face to face, and click and collect their online purchases. Topshop | Shop here Topshop is welcoming customers back to their England stores and most of their shops in Northern Ireland as of June 15. However, they have made alterations to the layout of their store to ensure there is socially distanced shopping, less shoppers in store at one time, and contactless payment options are preferred. One thing to note is personal shopping and fitting rooms will stay closed. John Lewis & Partners | Shop here John Lewis & Partners has started to reopen their stores to customers, with social distancing measures in place for customers and staff safety. A limited number of shoppers are allowed in the store at a time, a minimum of two metres distance is required, and hand sanitiser is dotted around the store too. Staff will be wearing PPE if they choose, but certain facilities such as their dining and personal shopping will be closed. Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula has slammed COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, saying the controversial trade unionist to leave politics to politicians. According to the embattled Ford Kenya Party leader, Atwoli has been interfering in Luhyaland politics and confusing the community. He faulted Atwolis appointment of Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa and Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya as Luhya spokespersons describing it as a sham. Atwoli is a failure. He has failed to cushion the Kenyan worker whose salary is deducted to enrich him. Majority of workers, especially in flower farms and industries are suffering. What has he done to help them? Let him stick to his mandate and leave politics to politicians, said Weta. Atwoli has no authority to choose any politician as the Mulembe people spokesperson. He is a failure himself. Let him stop chest thumping because nobody appointed him as our patron, he added. The former Senate Minority Leader further accused the COTU boss of inviting only a select few Luhya leaders to his Kajiado home to serve his selfish interests. I and my ANC counterpart Musalia Mudavadi were never invited by Atwoli. This means he had a hidden agenda and self-interests towards leaders he could easily manipulate. We are not part of the dubious meetings, he said. At the same time, Wetangula denied supporting Deputy President William Ruto. He maintained that he is also in the race for the top seat. You have seen me crisscrossing the country from Mombasa to Turkana, Kuria to Embu and Garissa to Busia. Why should I be wasting resources and energies if I am supporting Ruto? That is propaganda being peddled by people with ill intentions, said Mr Wetangula. The UK and European Union moved a step closer to reaching a deal over their future relationship, with the blocs top officials confident Boris Johnson is willing to compromise and the prime minister saying the prospects for an accord are very good. An hour-long video call on Monday between Johnson and the blocs leadership has injected fresh momentum into the deadlocked negotiations, according to people on both sides with knowledge of the conversation. The EU inferred from Johnsons contributions that he is willing to soften his position and European officials told him they are ready to do the same. I dont think we are actually that far apart -- what we need to see now is a bit of oomph in the negotiations, Johnson said in a pooled TV interview after the call. The faster we can do this the better: we see no reason why you shouldnt get that done in July. Johnsons first direct intervention in the discussions since the UK left the bloc at the end of January marks the start of six weeks of intensive discussions to reach an agreement. After three months of trade talks ended in stalemate, both sides wanted to use Mondays meeting to assess whether a deal is still attainable before Britains final split with the bloc at the end of the year. In a sign that major obstacles remain, EU Council President Charles Michel warned the EU isnt prepared to buy a pig in a poke in any rush to sign an agreement. In a Twitter post, he reiterated that the contentious requirement for a level competitive playing field between the two sides will be essential for any accord. We wont just speed up, Michels spokesman Barend Leyts said on Twitter. We have to remain focused on content and consequences. Intensive Talks Formal discussions will resume on June 29 in a more concentrated format than the previous series of talks every three weeks. The British government, which has ruled out extending the December deadline for negotiations, had been pushing for the discussions to be sped up. In a sign that the EU is responding to that pressure, the two sides also committed to if possible, finding an early understanding on the principles underlying any agreement -- implying that an outline of a deal could be reached before it is fleshed out. While Johnson said he doesnt want the talks going on until the autumn, winter, as perhaps some in Brussels would like, the UK last week agreed to a timetable that includes a negotiating round in mid-August. During the video call, Johnson didnt set out a hard deadline, according to a person based in Brussels. Privately, officials from Brussels and London say they are focusing on reaching an accord between mid-August and a summit of EU leaders scheduled for mid-October. No Backtracking Johnson told EU officials the UK is committed to the terms of the Brexit Political Declaration, which set out the broad parameters for the two sides future ties, a person familiar with the conversation said. The declaration includes some of the EUs key demands but the British government has questioned it since agreeing to it, saying it isnt legally binding. Previously, the blocs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, accused Johnson of backtracking on the commitments. Since the negotiations started, both sides have struggled to make progress on a free-trade agreement and other aspects of their future relationship, such as fishing rights and security cooperation. The UK still rejects the EUs call for a level playing field, which would bind Britain to some European rules in areas such as state aid and environmental law. Those differences may not be irreconcilable, according an official with knowledge of the talks -- but neither side has yet broken with its key red lines. In particular, the UK is sticking to its refusal to allow the European Court of Justice to be involved in settling any disputes between the two sides, a key demand of the EU. Johnsons call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Michel and other EU officials, came after he formally ruled out extending the negotiating period beyond the end of the year. Failure to get a deal by then would see Britain and the EU trading on World Trade Organization terms, meaning tariffs and quotas would be imposed at a time when the regions economy is still reeling from the coronavirus. On June 15, the Supreme Court declined to take up cases connected to the scope of the Second Amendment, which talks about gun reform in the United States. Limiting the availability of firearms The justices turned down petitions asking to limit the accessibility and availability of some models of firearms, the petition also asks to create a law about when firearms can be carried in public. The Second Amendment protects an American citizen's right to keep and bear arms for self-defense and it has been over a decade since the landmark 5-4 ruling in District of Columbia V Heler that took place in 2008. The Supreme Court had not touched the topic of the Second Amendment since 2010. In April 2020, the Supreme Court also declined to weigh in on Second Amendment cases. Out of the 10 cases, five of them covers the question of whether the Second Amendment allows the government to limit the ability of the Americans to carry their firearm outside. Two of the cases covers challenges to state laws, and it talks about the banning of semiautomatic rifles and magazines, one of the case is from Illinois and one is from Massachusetts. The other three cases had a narrow coverage. All 10 cases were not opened by the Supreme Court. The executive director of the Center for Firearms Law at Duke Law School, Jacob Charles, said he was surprised that the Court denied all 10 cases connected to the Amendment considering that it has been pushed by the lower courts and the public for years. Also Read: Supreme Court Favors LGBTQ+ Workers, Rules They Are Protected from Discrimination by Civil Rights According to Charles, the petitions that the Court denied states the questions in Second Amendment law which includes what type of firearms the Constitution protects and whether citizens can carry their firearms outside of their home. For now, it seems like the Supreme Court is letting the issues about the Second Amendment get sorted out by the lower courts. Gun safety and banning semiautomatic firearms In the past few years, three justices in the Court have talked about their desire to review a case connected to the Second Amendment. In May 2020, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that he believes the lower courts are pressuring them to take up the said cases. He also said that the Supreme Court will address the issues soon. In 2018, Justice Clarence Thomas said that the lower courts were treating the rights of the Second Amendment arrogantly. The chief counsel and vice president of pro-gun safety organization called Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Mr. Jonathan Lowy, said that the decision of the Court to not open any cases connected to the said Amendment is well-reasoned. Lowy said in a statement that the decision of the Supreme Court is welcome, but they are vigilant that there remains an effort to reverse it and to undermine the country's progress in instituting gun safety measures and that those arguments have found sympathy with a lot of the Justices. The Second Amendment has been the topic of debates for years, as the number of shootings in schools and public places had increased. Related Article: Another Lynching? Black Man Found Hanging from a Tree in Victorville, California @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Decatur has hit all-time highs this month, filling beds and taxing staff as the state struggles with a wave of new cases. Nearly one-third of those patients will require ventilators during treatment, said Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers. Cases are surging in Alabama. The department of public health reported record-high numbers of new coronavirus cases in recent days, with more than 1,000 cases added on Sunday. The average number of patients hospitalized with coronavirus in Alabama also hit a high yesterday of 617, up about 100 people from May 31. Thats the rolling seven-day average on hospitalizations, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. The virus has hit some areas harder than others and not all of the states hospitals have experienced surges. Some areas, such as Mobile, have seen a huge drop in patients. Viewing Alabama as a whole, capacity remains adequate to handle patients with coronavirus and other emergency needs, said Dr. Donald Williamson, president of the Alabama Hospital Association. System-wide is fine, Williamson said. We still have 900 ventilators and 21 percent of available ICU beds. The problem is clearly not a system-wide issue. Its a localized issue The virus has battered Tuscaloosa, where staff at DCH Regional Medical Center cared for 70 patients on Monday afternoon, up from 67 the day before. The number of coronavirus cases in Tuscaloosa County nearly tripled during the last three weeks. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said in late May many new cases had come from long-term care facilities. Right now, I would classify the situation as manageable but fragile, said Andy North, spokesman for the DCH Regional Medical Center. The hospital has not run low on beds or equipment but caring for a large number of critically ill patients has taken a toll on the staff, North said. Hospital leaders have hired additional nurses to relieve some of the pressure. Montgomerys two largest hospital systems, Baptist Health and Jackson, have been treating high numbers of coronavirus patients for the past two weeks, with no decrease in sight. Staff at two Baptist hospitals treated a total of 93 patients for coronavirus on Monday, with another 32 awaiting test results. It remains fairly consistent right now and we are not experiencing enough of a decline for it to make an impact yet, said Kadie Agnew, spokeswoman for Baptist Health. Our team members continue to manage the situation well, especially considering the challenging circumstances. Jackson Hospital has 57 patients with coronavirus and another 8 awaiting test results roughly the same numbers they had in late May, when Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed announced a shortage of ICU beds in the city. Mia Mothershed, a spokesman for Jackson, said the numbers dipped slightly this weekend but then increased again Monday. Williamson said some hospitals have activated surge plans, converting regular intensive care beds into COVID intensive care beds. Equipment and bed numbers are not the biggest concern, he said. Staff members are not only overworked, they are also at high risk for COVID-19 infection, which can cause worker shortages. Staffing is now the biggest concern, Williamson said. People are working very long hours in a situation where you have constant filled ICUs in a situation where some of the patients are not going to make it. Its very hard on staff. UAB reported its highest number of coronavirus patients Monday, with 68 confirmed cases. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo said the increase could be linked the end of restrictions on businesses and gatherings in Alabama. The timing of this is pretty perfect, she said. People are mixing more, people are letting their guard down, people arent wearing masks and theyre mingling and creating more opportunity. Some hospitals have seen decreases in coronavirus patients. East Alabama Medical Center in Lee County, a hot spot in the early days of the lockdown, had 42 coronavirus cases on May 1, but that number dropped to 18 on Monday. The number of hospitalized patients in Mobile has also fallen from a high of 51 patients during the week of April 20 to just one patient last week, according to the Mobile County Department of Health. Hospitalizations have also remained low in much of the Huntsville Hospital system, with the exception of Decatur Morgan Hospital, which has 17 coronavirus patients. Only 19 coronavirus patients are being treated across the systems other 10 hospitals, said Dr. Pam Hudson, CEO of Crestwood Medical Center. I think its a fortunate circumstance but Im holding my breath for the next couple of weeks, Hudson said during a briefing on Monday. Williamson said waves of very ill patients could strike communities that havent yet suffered outbreaks of coronavirus. Theres nothing unique about Montgomery, he said. The same community transmission thats going on in Montgomery could happen in Huntsville. It could happen in Birmingham. If the number of new cases continues to increase in Alabama, Hudson said she expects the virus to reach more north Alabama residents, including those who may be older and sicker and more likely to require hospital care. Its possible our most vulnerable citizens have not participated in the reopening, Hudson said. And as their loved ones participated in the reopening and perhaps got exposed, that that will be the next wave of cases. I certainly wouldnt receive the news of no big changes in hospitalizations as overly reassuring. Al.com staff reporters Paul Gattis and Anna Claire Vollers contributed to this report. Were talking about once (students) get into school, once they pass a metal detector and a wand check, and do all the things that they have to do to get into the school, we need those kids to focus on learning, focus on being a good person, focus on the skills we want them to have to succeed in life, Sawyer said at a news conference outside City Hall. District health boards will be slashed and new government health agencies created in a massive overhaul of the health system. The government has released its final Health and Disability System Review which aims to bring the biggest change to the health system since DHBs were created nearly 20 years ago. It proposes a series of changes to reform a system which it describes as complicated and often failing Maori, disabled people and rural communities. The key changes are: Slashing DHBs from 20 to between 8 and 12 No longer having elected DHBs, they will be appointed instead Creating Health NZ - a new crown entity that will oversee services and finances and report to the minister Create a new Maori Health Authority Have greater sharing of services between DHBs "The review is very clear, we can do better," Health Minister David Clark told media this afternoon. "Our system is complex and fragmented," he says. "Local planning must drive decisions, our health and disability system needs to better understand the real needs of the community and when and where services should be available." The government is committing to an ongoing programme of reform to build a stronger health and disability system, he says. "This will take time, you can't make changes to a system as large and complex as our health and disability system overnight." The report recommended cutting the number of DHBs in the next five years, with the democratic voice on them gone. At the moment there is a mix of elected and appointed members on most boards. It wanted them to work together better to end the lottery of post code care. With a country of just five million people, highly specialised services could not be in every area and they should be shared and integrated across the country, the report says. The new Health NZ crown entity would focus on finances and operational work. It would have eight board members and a chair, with an equal number of Maori and Crown representatives. The Ministry of Health would still focus on health policy. The new Maori Health Authority would sit alongside the Ministry of Health to focus on Maori outcomes. It would work to build kaupapa Maori health systems and a greater Maori workforce. It would not be possible to improve Maori health, which is worse as a population than the rest of the country, without making the system more suited to Maori values, the report says. The report's lead author, Heather Simpson, said there was not yet a consensus among the panel that created the report about whether that authority should control the funding and commissioning of services for Maori health. The health system had to shift focus in all areas from treatment to wellbeing, the report says District health boards should clearly and transparently set money aside for primary health care - that's GP level care, it says. And it wants the disability system simplified, saying it did not serve disabled communities well. Rural communities were also disadvantaged and DHBs needed to work out how to serve them better, it says. There should also be a focus on recruiting and retaining staff, simplifying IT systems and planning better for building work. The government says the Cabinet has accepted the direction of the review and the need for reform. However, decisions on the individual recommendations would be made in the coming months. The decisions on individual changes will be mostly made under a new government, Clark says. He says it's essentially a three to five year plan. "I would be expecting a new government would want to progress this as quickly as possible, the direction of travel is very clear and the opportunity is huge." It's a once in a generation opportunity, he says. "I'm quite excited by the opportunity." Clark says there isn't much in the report he would disagree with. -RNZ/Rowan Quinn. Change Starts at Home Local Concerns Shirley Jefferson participated in one of the epochal events of the 1960s civil rights movement, marching across the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Ala., with Martin Luther King Jr., an event that helped prompt passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. I have integrated this country, she says. I integrated my high school when I was 17 years old.She wasnt about to sit out the current season of protests against police brutality and racism. Jefferson is an associate dean at Vermont Law School, located in South Royalton, a village with 694 residents. That was the right place to hold a march, she says.This is my community, Jefferson says. It was important that we do something for our people here not to join somewhere in Burlington or Boston, but do our own stuff here and galvanize our people here in our community, where we live.Such insistence on homegrown response has led to rallies and marches taking place in hundreds of small cities and towns that have rarely, if ever, seen them before. Protests are fairly common in big cities such as Washington and New York. The current wave of protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has spread farther and wider than any that has come before.Black Lives Matter protests have occurred not just in Minneapolis, but also in Owatonna, Minn. (population 25,766). Not just in St. Louis, but in Maryville, Mo. (population 11,687) as well. Not just in Philadelphia, but also Elizabethtown, Pa., (population 11,450). Pennsylvania has seen protests in 61 counties. The state has a total of 67 counties.There were versions of the Womens March of 2017 , which took place the day after President Trumps inauguration, in an estimated 650 locations. Over the past couple of weeks, protests have been counted in more than twice as many cities and towns. This is total speculation, but if you told me there were 3,000 protests, that would be believable to me, says Jeremy Pressman, a University of Connecticut political scientist who studies protests.The current protests are unusual, at least since the 1960s, in terms of being both large and sustained, Pressman notes. The Womens March involved some 4 million protesters , but it occurred on a single day (followed by smaller sequels since). The Occupy Movement of 2011 spread to nearly 1,000 cities around the world, with encampments in Washington and London lasting as long as five months, but the number of participants was nowhere near as large as the current protests.There may be several explanations as to why the Black Lives Matter protests have become so widespread. The movement has spent several years laying the groundwork, working on organization, messaging and ideas even before the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., sparked nationwide protests in 2014.The current generation of young people is the most racially diverse in U.S. history. Just under half of Americans now aged 8 to 23 belong to racial or ethnic minority groups . One recent poll found that nearly 90 percent of those aged 13 to 25 support the Black Lives Matter movement and believe that black Americans are treated differently from other Americans.Many of the small-town marches have been organized by local high school or college students. Pressman says theyve grown up used to seeing small clusters of people, organized by Indivisible or other anti-Trump groups, standing on street corners and waving signs. Often the story is that a young student, whos 17 or 19, who thinks, My town should have a march, Pressman says. They tell their friends and put it on Facebook, but instead of their 15 friends, 300 people show up.Race is an issue everywhere, but theres a difference between being part of a sizable black population in Philadelphia and New York and being almost alone as one of a small number of black people in a small city in, say, Oklahoma or Nebraska. Those individuals are now being recognized by their neighbors, with all-white or nearly all-white rallies are taking place in small cities all over the country.Last August, Malik Dayo helped organize a protest in Ogden, Utah, following the fatal shooting of Jovany Mercado by four police officers. Despite the local nature of the incident, that demonstration attracted only a few dozen people.Clearly, the time is ripe for more people to protest. I expected 30 to 40 people thats what I usually get at my protests, Dayo told the Ogdenduring a May 30 demonstration in Ogden. But we had close to 1,000 people here today.There are sometimes local issues that come up during protests. Protesters keep turning out in Petal, Miss., demanding the resignation of Mayor Hal Marx, who tweeted in response to George Floyds killing, If you can say you cant breathe, youre breathing. Most likely that man died of overdose or heart attack. Video doesnt show his resistance that got him in that position. Police being crucified. Marx has deleted the tweet and apologized.In many cities, mayors and police chiefs are marching and kneeling alongside protesters. In others, there has been the same sort of violence thats occurred in larger cities both property damage caused by protesters and tear gas sprayed by police.Some protesters have been met by armed residents who say theyre exercising their Second Amendment rights even as the demonstrators exercise their First Amendment rights. Law enforcement agencies have sometimes had to tamp down rumors, spread on Facebook or other social media platforms, that small cities were about to be invaded by antifa or other outside agitators.On Monday night, a man was shot and wounded in Albuquerque. A group of protesters were attempting to pull down a statue of a Spanish conquistador and shots were fired by a group of heavily armed vigilantes. To menace the people of New Mexico with weaponry with an implicit threat of violence is on its face unacceptable, said New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. That violence did indeed occur is unspeakable.The organizers of small-town protests want not just to respond to national issues, but to make clear where their own city stands. Vidor, Texas, which is about 95 miles east of Houston, has long been a notorious sundown town (where black people had reason to feel unsafe at night, or often during the day). In 1993,ran a cover story about Vidor, illustrated with a Klansman and describing it as Texas Most Hate-Filled Town .Vidor, Texas, will now be known for love, the Rev. Michael Cooper , who chairs the Beaumont chapter of the NAACP, declared at a Black Lives Matter rally there on June 6. The rally was organized by Maddy Malone , a 23-year-old, fourth-generation Vidor resident.People who grow up in a small town often dream about leaving it behind and recreating themselves in a big city. Right now, in this protest moment, young people seem interested in reclaiming their home towns, says Pressman, the UConn political scientist. I dont want to leave behind my small town, he says, describing the mindset. I care about this town and I want to voice to people here what Ive seen in our town and in our country.Its the old idea that change begins at home. Back in 1965, Selma was a city of less than 30,000 people and represented a turning point in the civil rights movement. It starts at home, says Jefferson, the Vermont Law School associate dean. Youve got to take a stand. You cant just sit back silently now. European stocks rallied Tuesday as investors reacted to the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest announcement, while news of a new lifesaving coronavirus drug further boosted risk appetite. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed up by around 3%, with construction stocks soaring 4% to lead gains as all sectors and major bourses finished in positive territory. Investors on Tuesday were focused on central bank announcements, particularly after the Fed announced Monday more measures to support the market. The Fed said it would buy individual corporate bonds, marking a broader approach to corporate bond buying. Previously indicating it would eventually buy bonds on the primary market, Monday's announcement by the U.S. central bank marked an expansion of that into the secondary market. Wall Street will be further buoyed Tuesday after Bloomberg reported that President Donald Trump's administration is drawing up a $1 trillion infrastructure package. In rural Tamil Nadu, a health sub-centre is the first institution from the primary health care system that anybody from the community would turn to, Editor's note: This multimedia series documents the mechanics of how 12 districts in Tamil Nadu worked during the COVID-19 lockdown; told through the stories of healthcare workers, sanitary workers, district officials, other essential workers, administrators, locals and patients. The series resulted from three weeks of travel through the state. *** Arivazhagan and Mr M* are two truckers from Sornavur Keezhpathy village. Both of them drive to different cities, as the occasion or work demands. In the last week of April, both of them made one trip each to Koyambedu Wholesale Market in Chennai. They were part of the hundreds of truckers and essential workers who ended up in institutional quarantine for weeks after, due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Koyembedu market. A cluster which sent administrators across northern Tamil Nadu into a tizzy. Koyembedu Market was eventually shut down, after major delays, on 5 May. Arivazhagan returned from Koyembedu on 27 April and was shifted to a quarantine facility only 4 days after. He however tested negative. Mr M wasnt as lucky. He tested positive and was shifted to a COVID-19 isolation ward immediately after, where he stayed put for 14 days. Arivazhagan spent 10 days in a quarantine facility. Both of them have now finished their home quarantine as well. Arivazhagan has resumed driving loads to other cities, whereas Mr M doesnt want to do that in the near foreseeable future. Mr N* says the same to this reporter. Mr N tested positive after returning from Koyembedu and was isolated for 14 days. My wife was pregnant when I tested positive. She was also tested soon after, and thankfully, she tested negative, says Mr N. After he returned home, he hasnt stepped out much. I wont go back to Chennai ever again, at least not now, he tells me. Like most clusters, the one emanating from Koyembedu created a lot of fear among, and about truckers. The Koyembedu cluster turned everything around for districts which were all doing well. From double digits, cases moved to triple digits within days. Cuddalore jumped from 26 to more than 200 in the first week of May. Similar was the case with adjoining districts. After weeks of stability, this blow caught many unawares. COVID Control Rooms started facing the heat, as this sudden escalation needed deeper, widespread tracing and mapping. Some from Koyembedu had returned without informing officials, others had skipped past checkposts. Panic was spreading in the villages about these Koyembedu returns. People were not presenting themselves voluntarily, because of this panic. While those at the district headquarters can try and break their heads about how to keep track of every individual who returns, the ones who can actually do it are those at the village level. One set are panchayat officials and the other, more important players are those working at Health Sub-Centres (HSCs). This is because a HSC is the first institution from the primary health care system that anybody from the community would turn to, for all medical purposes. This would be the first institution a symptomatic person would approach. And the institution which will have to keep track of how you are doing, till the virus leaves you. For example, when Arivazhagan returned from institutional quarantine facility, the village nurses from Sornavur HSC kept track of his progress by regularly visiting him and supplying him with zinc and iron supplements from time to time. Tamil Nadu has 8682 such HSCs. Why is the role of HSCs crucial, especially in the middle of a pandemic? Across the districts that this reporter visited, all administrators, be it from the Revenue Department or from the Health Department, reiterated the importance of an effective HSC. Effectiveness isnt just a measure of facilities available at the HSC, it is also about the interpersonal relationships that healthcare workers from the HSC develop over the years in the areas that they are working in. These interpersonal relationships are crucial in taking the populace into confidence, while planning towards managing a pandemic. Tracking a pandemic is a major task, but that doesnt mean that those with other ailments or medical needs can be neglected. This is also where a HSC plays a crucial role. The role of a HSC is to make healthcare accessible to everybody, under all circumstances. To understand how an HSC operates, here are some of the key players, explaining their duties themselves. S Velankanni, 51 Village Health Nurse I have worked here for 31 years. This HSC caters to 3,476 people, spread across 3 villages. After the lockdown was announced, we first planned on how to keep track of antenatal and postnatal mothers. We needed to ensure that they got their supplements on time, and we also had to plan for deliveries in the middle of a lockdown. After two ares within my HSC limits turned into containment zones, we told them not to travel out for anything. Instead, we went there to meet them and provide them with the supplements they needed. It would have been risky for them to step out. Follow LIVE updates on the coronavirus outbreak here Regular immunisation drives were obviously hit, but we figured out a plan around it. We would do only 15 children at at time, while taking all precautions necessary. We took at least half an hour with each child. As far as COVID-19 is concerned, I moved to the HSC after the onset of the pandemic. I have been here for more than two months now, and I have visited my family only on a few occasions. This is to ensure that I am here at all times and can keep track of any emergency. The work marked out for us is to coordinate with officials from the panchayat and mark the houses with people who are quarantined. After this, monitor everyday for symptoms. We keep the communication channels open always. We are constantly talking to them, and reassuring those who are positive or under quarantine that they will be fine. I know these villages like the back of my hand. The people here have known me for decades as well. They respect me. Developing this rapport is crucial, as people listen to me only because of this. So if I tell them that quarantine is good for them, even the most adamant of people will listen to me. We have had cases where people tore out quarantine stickers and refused to cooperate. Eventually, locals from the village also help us to make people see reason. Harikrishnan, 46, Senthil Kumar, 47, Shankar, 47 and Pichai Muthu, 47 Formerly Domestic Breeding Checkers, now COVID workers (Harikrishnan, representing the four) Earlier, we used to survey our areas to keep a check on dengue breeding grounds. Now, we have two roles. One is to coordinate with the health inspectors and ensure that all containment zones are sanitised everyday. The second is to track people who are returning back to the village from outside the district. Our networks are widespread across the villages we work in. On an everyday basis, while we are sanitising containment zones and areas around the village, we keep a check on people who have returned. Even before many of them return back, we receive calls about it. This helps us visit the place immediately and mark it, if there is an individual who has returned from a red zone. Panchayat officials provide us lists, but more importantly, we are directly connected with the people. Many are also scared, so they themselves come to us with information. More importantly, we make sure that the HSCs are fully sanitised as these are nodal points for all medical activities. Patients coming in need to be safe, as well as those who are working here. So, here at the HSC, sanitising activities are more intensive. Dr Karthikeyan, 39 Medical Health Officer While services at the primary healthcare level werent hit, one major problem has been that patients werent able to access tertiary services like they could before. Patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) travel for check ups or scans once every three to six months. This was affected during the lockdown. Otherwise, our COVID-19 duties have been to carry out house-to-house surveys and check for ILI (influenza-like illness), particularly so in containment areas. M Sankar, 55 Block Health Supervisor I am regularly talking to those quarantined in institutional facilities from this block. Let me tell you, at times managing them is really difficult. Some of them would tell us to let them go as they were missing their wives and that their wives would take better care of them. One person even attempted to run away. At times they are soft, but they can get really frustrated and aggressive. We also lose our patience at times, but ultimately we have to communicate to them why they have been quarantined. M Renuka, 56 Sector Health Nurse Since our block is a Universal Health Coverage Block, we provide 12 services. These are antenatal and postnatal care, regular health monitoring of children under 5 and adolescents, family welfare services, treatment for minor ailments, mental health support, ENT and ophthalmology services, trauma care, geriatric care, tracking non-communicable diseases and palliative care. Catering to patients dependent on us for these services during the lockdown was a challenge, but we managed to pull through. From March, we have been making regular announcements regarding COVID 19 across our HSC limits. Some are through recorded messages which we play across the village. We also travel across villages during surveys, and a lot of time during this is spent on answering queries related to COVID-19. V Deepa, 27 Mid-level Health Provider I keep track of all patients with non-communicable diseases. This includes those with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases and kidney conditions. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I had to ensure that all such patients received their medication. There are 156 such patients under me, and Ive been tracking their progress and supplying them with the requisite drugs from time to time. We home deliver these medicines. I also refer people who display mental health problems. What I noticed during the COVID-19 lockdown is, though many were affected due to loss of income, what really was an issue was alcohol withdrawal. Initially it was very bad. Since Pondicherry is also close by, access to alcohol is very easy. A sudden stop set a lot of people into a frenzy. People tried selling illicit liquor here too. We had to intervene and get the police involved to stop it. We tried to educate people about the various instances where illicit liquor killed people in surrounding districts. It is not like they didnt know but this sudden unavailability seemed to have made people do all this. We told wives of many of these men to keep vigil. They have to or else theyll only suffer, if their husband drinks illicit liquor and dies. K Gunavati, 32 Women Health Volunteer My usual duty is to keep track of anybody showing symptoms of non-communicable diseases in our area. I do this by regular blood samples collection and testing. I also help Deepa (quoted above) refer mental health patients. I conduct a survey where I ask questions based on their work, sleeping habits and behaviour. Based on their responses or mannerisms, we refer them to the psychiatrists who visit every week. I also counselled people to not let the lack of alcohol worry them during the lockdown. But what I noticed is after a month, many told me they were feeling better after they stopped consumption of alcohol or tobacco. They told me that coronavirus has made them forget alcohol. *Names withheld to protect the identities of COVID-19 patients But when the officers tried to arrest Brooks, he resisted. Even though watching footage doesnt allow us to read minds, its pretty clear from the video that Brooks panicked. Well never know why. But I know that whenever Ive been pulled over by police, Ive felt a frisson of panic at the prospect of being thrown into the maw of a criminal justice system that treats black men like inventory in a vast warehouse of horrors. That doesnt excuse resisting arrest, though, and by doing so, Brooks clearly escalated the situation. File image of health workers wheeling a patient with Covid-19 symptoms on a hospital trolley: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images A 32-year-old nurse - among at least nine others - died from the coronavirus in April after a retired New York surgeon with the illness was admitted to a high end dementia care facility in Los Angeles. According to the LA Times, the nurse, Brittany Bruner-Ringo, died on 20 April. Since then, more information on the surgeon and the trail of infected individuals left in the wake of his travels have emerged. A month before Ms Bruner-Ringo's death, the surgeon boarded an American Airlines flight in New York City bound for Los Angeles. Just before his flight, the man was discharged from a hospital that had seen a spike in coronavirus cases. The other 499 passengers on the flight were not informed by health officials that the former surgeon had previously been exposed to Covid-19. When he arrived in Los Angeles, he was taken to Silverado Beverly Place, a luxury dementia care facility, where Ms Bruner-Ringo was employed. Employees at the facility said the surgeon was allowed to mingle and even eat with other individuals before his symptoms were identified. Ms Bruner-Ringo warned at the time that the surgeon had a fever and a cough when he arrived. The facility denies that the nurse made those claims, while her family and friends claim she spoke with them about the man's symptoms following his arrival. Though heavily redacted medical records obtained by the Canyon News suggested the man had no signs of cough or respiratory illness, an employee speaking to the LA Times said that the man was aware of his illness and wished to go to a hospital. She recalled asking the man to stay in his room to help prevent the spread of the pandemic, which prompted him to discuss his symptoms. "Yes, I know the situation. And I am really hot and have it, and I need to go to the hospital," he said. The day after he arrived, he was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with a 101.9 fever and a cough. Exactly one month later, Ms Bruner-Ringo died from the virus and approximately 50 residents and staff at the facility had tested positive for the virus. Story continues The surgeon did recover from his bout, but the individuals who flew with him to Los Angeles were never notified that they may have been exposed. County health officials did not learn of the surgeon's situation until 11 days after he'd tested positive. When California's former state epidemiologist, Dr George Rutherford, learned that none of the passengers who flew alongside the man had been notified of their exposure, his reply was "Christ, that's a problem. Read more FDA revokes emergency use of Trump-promoted drug for Covid-19 President says the government has proof veteran politician is still alive months after his kidnapping in late March. Malis President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has said leading opposition leader Soumaila Cisse, who was kidnapped days before the countrys parliamentary election in March, is alive. In a speech in the capital, Bamako, Keita said on Tuesday the government had proof that Cisse was still alive after months in captivity. We know who his captors are, he said, without elaborating. And if it pleases God, he will come back soon. Last month, Cisses family told Al Jazeera the government was moving too slow in securing the release of the 70-year-old, the runner-up in a 2018 presidential election and president of the Union for the Republic and Democracy party. Unidentified gunmen seized Cisse on March 25 while he was campaigning in the restive Timbuktu region ahead of the May 29 vote. Despite a years-long conflict raging in Mali, Cisses abduction was the first of a politician of his rank. Security officials have since said they suspect al-Qaeda-linked fighters of being behind the kidnapping. Mali has been struggling to contain an armed campaign that began as a localised revolt in the countrys north in 2012 before spreading to the centre of the country and then to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso. A French military intervention, military campaigns by national armies and one of the UNs largest peacekeeping forces have failed to stem the violence, which killed 4,000 people in the three countries last year and displaced hundreds of thousands, according to UN figures. The conflict has exacerbated ethnic tensions and local grievances over poverty and the absence of the state, giving rise to ethnic militias and bolstering support for armed groups, some of which are linked to al-Qaeda and the ISIL (ISIS) group. Separately on Tuesday, Keita said he would hold talks on establishing a new unity government, after weeks of escalating criticism over the several crises besetting the country, including the worsening security situation. Economic stagnation, faltering public services and a widespread perception of corrupt governance have also fed opposition to the president. On June 5, tens of thousands of people rallied in Bamako, demanding Keitas resignation over his perceived mismanagement of the country. That protest was organised by a coalition of political opposition groups, which has since rebranded itself the June 5 movement. The rally also followed sporadic demonstrations last month over the outcome of the parliamentary elections, which Keitas party won, as well as over coronavirus restrictions. On Tuesday, Keita said he would begin consultations for the formation of a government of national unity, in an apparent overture to Malis political opposition. He also suggested first steps towards reforming the constitutional court and the national parliament. 15.06.2020 LISTEN The major source of household energy by most households in rural and urban communities in developing countries is firewood and charcoal. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2000, there is a positive relationship between growth in population and rate of charcoal use in many developing regions of the world. Wood fuel supplies about 95 percent of the domestic and commercial cooking energy needs. The demand for charcoal and fire wood is expected to increase from 15.9 million m to 20.69 million m from 2010 to 2020. FAO estimates that 11.3 million hectares of forests are lost annually to agriculture, commercial timber harvesting and uncontrolled fuel wood production and consumption, with 90 percent of these cleared forest never replanted. Meanwhile Africans traditional household depends on wood fuels to meet its daily energy needs will not end anytime soon. Many have estimated that more than 90 per cent of the people in Africa depend on either firewood or charcoal for cooking and other heat applications. In Ghana, wood fuel account for about 71 per cent of energy source for industrial, commercial and household use. In 2010 the Energy Commission of Ghana reported that firewood is the major fuel energy source for rural households while charcoal is used by over 50 per cent of urban household for cooking. As the demand for charcoal continue to rise , despite the introduction of alternative sources of energy such as LPG and electricity in the communities, Ghana also continue to lose its forest cover , the country has lost close to 70 percent of its wildlife and about 75 percent of its 8.2 million hectares of forest due to over reliance on woody biomass as household and industrial energy source. Energy from wood has contributed significantly to the accelerating rate of natural forest depletion particularly in the Savannah zone. It is estimated that, between 1990 and 2010 Ghana lost almost 34 percent of its forest cover, representing about 2.5 million hectares at an annual deforestation rate of approximately 2 per cent (Forest Resources Assessment 2010). Despite the economic benefits associated with charcoal production and related threat to the society, little attention has been paid to the manner in which charcoal is produced due to incoherent policies. Charcoal production, transportation and distribution remain informal and unregulated therefore rendering them inefficient and risky. Local discussions have lately suggested a complete ban on production. These discussions are fueled by the effects of the charcoal industrys activities on the environment. Despite the economic importance of bioenergy, the industrys environmental problems are huge. These are credited to the felling of trees from farm lands and from virgin forest without replacement. Traditionally, all forest lands were owned by families, clans, stools and or skins in the pre-colonial era, the forest ordinance of 1927 indicates that reserve forest lands are owned by traditional authorities but held in trust and managed by the government. As a result, traditional owners have no right of access to the trees in reserved forests, except on permit from the Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission through the permit system. Access is granted to the collector on acquisition of a permit at a fee for a specified period. According to Ghanaian forest laws, some commercial and medicinal trees in the forest reserves and some plant species are not permitted to be fallen as wood fuel except under a special permit issued by the Chief Conservator of forest with the approval by of the Forestry Commission. Access to off-reserve wood fuel resources for commercial charcoal production is purely based on informal arrangements with traditional or private or family land owners, different negotiations are made for exploitation rights. Chiefs may not have enforcement powers as some savanna zone citizens may expect them to have. however, they can pass by-laws or judgement in favor of the forest because the Chieftaincy Act of 2008, Act 759, section 35. (I) enjoins divisional councils to have the same powers as a District Court in civil matters. Where a chief protects or delivers stool property from an individual or group, section 47 of act 759 of the chieftaincy act provides that the person or group who fails to comply with the chiefs order, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than twelve months or to both and also to a further fine of not more than. ten penalty writs for each day on which the offence continues. In this regard, stool or skin lands may fall under stool or skin property because section 44 of the Chieftaincy act 2008 act 759 highlights stool property to consists (1) the stool or skin itself and all the insignia of that stool, (2) any other movable and immovable property handed over or declared as stool property to the chief on installation; and (3) any property movable or immovable acquired as stool property or with stool resources after the installation of the chief. Under above provisions divisional judicial committees therefore have the powers to pass judgement and or issue orders to ban charcoal production in their traditional areas. However, orders issued by traditional authorities is for the security agencies to aid in their enforcement. By the act of parliament (Act 451, 1997) the Energy Commission was established and given the statutory mandate to manage and regulate the utilization of energy resources in Ghana which includes wood fuel resource. Other official stakeholders in the attainment of broad objective of efficient utilization of the wood fuel resource and associated value chain include: Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resource, Ministry of Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Environmental Protection Agency and Ghana Export Promotion Council. The 2010 bio-energy policy drafted by Energy Commission of Ghana is to develop the wood fuel subsector. The objectives of the wood fuel policy are to promote and ensure sound management as well as expansion of the countrys natural forest for sustainable supply of wood fuel. Key institutions associated with the wood fuel subsector which need equal attention include the Forestry Commission, Traditional Authorities, District/Municipal/Metropolitantan Assemblies, Police, Customs Officials, and Energy Commission. Wood is sourced from public and private forest lands in both reserved and off-reserved areas. While the management of reserved forests is strictly under the control of the forestry Commission, the supervision of forests in the off- reserve areas is by Traditional Authorities and Private Landowners. The Forestry Commission has obligations for monitoring and enforcing rules related to charcoal production on private lands and plays a large role in regulating the transport of charcoal. Formally, the Forestry Commission issues a permit at a fee for the collection of wood for charcoal production from reserved forest areas for commercial purposes. The conveyance of charcoal beyond the boundaries of production areas are also taxed by the District Assembly at the forest gate on issuing of a waybill. Police and Customs Officials at various check points and borders check waybills to ensure the authenticity of source of products. Local District and Metropolitan assemblies also collect tolls in respective markets as well as at the retailing points. Bioenergy is an unavoidable domestic and commercial fuel in Ghana. The bulk of the charcoal produced in-country is from the savannah regions and these regions are arguably the poorest and most venerable communities. It is important to score that charcoal is not a major source of cooking fuel for rural households but rather a source of off-farm income generating activity in the long lean seasons. The ramifications from the use of the forests as energy resource affects the entire society whiles its benefits accrue to only the individual users. The Energy Commission (2010) reveals that there is an imbalance between wood fuel consumption and yield in Ghana. In Energy Commissions view the overdependence on wood fuel would increase its consumption levels by four times from 2000 figures in 2020. Demand for wood fuel in Ghana in 2000 was about 14 million tons but projected to increase to between 54-66 million tons by the close of 2020. The projected increase in wood fuel consumption is in tandem with the FAO s prediction of a continuous increase in charcoal consumption in Sub Sahara Africa. It must also be noted that, the major charcoal producing areas in Ghana (Buipe, Yeji, Bole, Bamboo, Salaga, Atebubu, Wa East, Sissala East, Sissala West) are showing physical signs of forest depletion because of over extraction from the forest without commensurate replacement. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2003) also discloses that denudation has taken place in some areas of the towns and villages in the savannah, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and West regions of the country. This put the sustainability of charcoal production in jeopardy. Shutting down commercial charcoal production is challenged by its role in employment creation and the provision of household income. Energy production comes with winners and losers, either economically, social justice or community cohesion. As the production of wood related energy has being growing higher in Savanna Regions some oppositions called on traditional authorities to disempower producers, others belief chiefs are neck-deep in the center and therefore lost control. Regardless, palaces have issued authority notes or orders to ban producers or transporters of the commodity, all in responds to concerns over climate change that impact crop yields, bush fires, the survival of other animal and plant species, possible disaster from wind and road accidents caused by over-load of charcoal in over-aged vehicles. Apart from the negative effect on economic development, it is our health that is at stake. In the future, rising temperatures will make life impossible in many settlements that are already struggling with heat. Nationally, access and sustained consumption of clean energy sources are essential for a nations overall socio-economic development and improved human welfare. Utilization of clean energy among the residents is connected with economic prospects and provision of basic needs that are essential for the sustenance of life including health care, food and housing. Hence, sustainable socioeconomic development at the domestic setting is directly linked to the preference and intensity of energy consumed. There is a clear need for governance structures and organizational formats that are participatory, inclusive and mindful of the wellbeing of local people. How can local communities become empowered to drive project development and meaningfully engage in the low-carbon (LPG) transition? citizen perceptions of the energy transition and the kinds of roles they see themselves playing in its implementation should be encouraged. In theory, Protecting the ecosystem involves numerous different cross sectorial stakeholders that are more informed by public policy and is more likely to include the social groupings directly affected than has hereto before now. However, given societal responses invariably require a radical reorganization of socio-economic structures in order to accommodate change. This will only occur when enough stakeholders are given the appropriate mix of policy tools, support mechanisms and finances to empower them to meaningfully engage in biofuel (firewood and charcoal) control. The type of access right to wood resources for firewood or charcoal in Ghana primarily depends on whether the resource is located in designated on-reserve or off-reserve forest areas. Ghana small scale occasional charcoal producers secure dead woods from their own farmlands while large scale producers from the Sissala tribe, negotiate with farmers including landowners to purchase exploitation rights on their farmlands in return for cash or a certain amount of charcoal. Although customary laws do not prevent tenants from planting trees, landowners do not encourage tree planting by charcoal burners. This is so because of increase insecurity of landlords to land rights when trees are planted by tenants, most land owners perceive an attempt by a tenant to plant trees as equivalent to claiming permanent ownership of the land., given the long production period of trees. Therefore, robust multisectoral coordination is needed if there is a greater need for educating land owners, the traditional and local communities to better understand the intersectional experiences, roles and dangers associated with forest degradation. In the past, there have been policies often driven by misplaced assumptions that by simply providing appropriate amount of information or issue orders by authorities, citizens will comply accordingly by switching away from negative behaviors and engaging in more ecologically sustainable practices. Fortunately, there is now growing awareness in policy-making circles that people rarely respond in this way. Continuing to provide lip service to polices or indeed ignoring citizens perspectives of the energy system is costly and time-consuming and has already started slowing down our ecological growth. The reasons for this are in triplet, In the first place it is difficult for the society to understand climate change. Also, environmental polluters are not necessarily those directly affected by their act. Finally, the awareness of having to act against climate change is little pronounced in the public eyes. Society will react if they can physically see or feel the obvious consequences of a pressing problems resulting from environmental damage. It is only after some natural disaster that the public becomes aware of the possible dangerous consequences of climate change and its effects on the environment. Most communities in Savanna Zones have no access to electricity which is considered as an efficient and clean energy source for cooking and heating. The regions are reported to have exhibited over (90 per cent) dependency on non-clean energy sources. Ghanas progress in promoting clean energy consumption at the household level has its own steeplechases. The first hurdle corresponds to factors affecting preference for various energy sources, second on the purchasing power of consumers and finally availability of clean energy. In urban Ghana, over 60 per cent of domestic energy use is from bioenergy whiles nearly 80 per cent of Ghanas population rely on wood sources in meeting their cooking needs. Other sectors which rely on biomass include the industrys micro and small enterprises. The proportion of households relying on non-clean energy is projected to rise steadily by close of 2020. Access and consumption of clean and efficient energy remains one of the fundamental enablers that is implemented through various national plans and programs such as the Mini Cylinder Free Distribution Programme and the Cylinder Recirculation Programme. The above-mentioned projects attempted establishing a clear path towards universal access to clean energy, and remain pertinent in changing the landscape of energy preference and consumption among households in Ghana. It is governments plan to ensure that 50 per cent of Ghanaians have access to cleaner and safer environmentally friendly LPG at domestic, commercial and industrial settings by 2030. In respect of this, government in 2014 collaborated with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to start the distribution of 50,000 cook stoves and LPG cylinders in rural communities . NPA also engaged LPG marketing companies and local dealers in attempt to set up Mini-refill plants in low access areas in the country. This move seeks to create demand by incentivizing private LPG marketing companies to move to site, discourage the use of wood as a source of fuel and eradicate the harmful effect that continued burning of firewood had on the environment. The CRM of LPG distribution will help Ghana achieve a market driven structure that ensures safety in the LPG value chain, and increases access and adoption of LPG as a clean fuel by consumers. The value chain will also lead to the creation of more jobs . Despite these Considerable efforts being made in reforming the sector, consumption of clean energy sources remains relatively low at the household level as these households defy government interventions to continue to use non-clean multiple energy sources such as firewood, charcoal and sawdust. Households with the highest income levels or higher levels of education are less likely to use wood fuels. Married or large household heads are likely to use higher proportions of wood fuels as compared to a single or small household heads. Homes with a higher level of education will most likely consume higher percentages of clean energy such as electricity, liquefied petroleum gas, and other traditional fuel substitutes such as kerosene. The unemployed youth or farmers who are jobless during the lean season will most likely venture into commercial charcoal production as a temporal means of livelihood. Promotion of clean energy use should therefore target consumers with lower educational levels as well as those in the lower income segments and large families. The need to encourage LPG consumption especially among the urban poor and rural households by reducing the upfront cost of acquiring LPG cylinders is paramount but not a final solution to the problem. In the writers view, feasible solutions are those energy access programmes which sensitize households on the utilization of clean energy, these programmess are important especially for illiterate households whose preferences and consumption decision are based on oblivious opinions. Also burning charcoal or fetching firewood in the wild bushes in the rural setting is relatively for free as opposed to the high price of LPG. Therefore, no rational consumer in the village, giving price as the factor would choose LPG over firewood or charcoal. The possibility of the rural woman using the free 6kg cylinder distributed as a decorative in the kitchen whiles continue to hunt for wild firewood is high. Government efforts to establish Gas Refill Stations in nearby villages with the intention of arresting the situation also comes with challenges. A private entrepreneur who is operating an LPG Refill Station in a nearby village will not give incentives if the government did not to consumers transporting from far or nearby villages. The cost of LPG gas for villages that do not host Gas Refill Station would, therefore, be the cost of actual LPG price plus the cost of transportation. Using LPG in these villages would, therefore, be expensive than using LPG in urban communities with minimum transportation cost. Resultantly, no rational consumer in these rural communities would elect high price LPG over readily available and relatively cheap or free firewood. Discouraging the burning of charcoal in the Savanna Regions even though extremely difficult, will require the effective deployment of supply (producer) and demand (buyer) dynamics by the central government. At the suppliers (88 per cent male) side, the production of charcoal is a 100 per cent rural activity and among the uneducated and unemployed youth, so the government needs to redirect youth engagement in these areas from charcoal burn to accessible and affordable education. As charcoal burning is considered a commercial activity in these areas it is also prudent that the government make agriculture an attractive business and an all-year-round activity in order to preoccupy the rural youth. At the demand side, Charcoal Marketers (93 percent female illiterate) dominate in the major cities including Accra and Kumasi. To discourage buying charcoal among the urban society, other substitutes to the commodity such as LPG, Kerosene and Electricity must be made abundantly available and cheaper in the markets. It is made possible if central government did not only declare harvesting wood products as illegality but also ensure that the law enforcement agencies and the Forestry Commission are retooled and made stronger than individuals, else we would continue to remain dreamers in our attempt to save the environment. Let me yank the blame from the neck of our revered Chiefs and place it on Central Government, Local Government Authorities, States Agencies (the Forestry Commission, the National Petroleum Authority, the Energy Commission, and Ghana Gas ) and the Security Services (Ghana police service, Ghana custom, and preventive service) as these departments and agencies are required by law given the acts that established them to protect and defend the environment, to educate on the use and make available alternative sources of energy at our doorstep, to formulate policies and to enforce the laws in our interest. Chiefs are the only custodians of lands who report their frustration and wishes to the central government to act upon. To some extent they make local laws, they do not enforce them. The awards season wont be any longer this year. But its definitely going to be stranger. With the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences pushing back the date of the 93rd Academy Awards from Feb. 28 to April 25, citing the production shutdown from the coronavirus pandemic, the window of campaigning and releasing would-be contenders will likely be delayed two months as well, setting off a domino effect that will affect film festivals, the Golden Globes and every other awards show that rides on the coattails of the Oscars. (The British Academy Film Awards, Englands equivalent of the Oscars, immediately followed suit Monday, punting its ceremony two months back as well.) Practically, the eight-week delay provides, in the words of academy President David Rubin, additional time for filmmakers to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyones control. Movies that suspended production, like Ridley Scotts medieval thriller The Last Duel, could resume filming without having to rush to meet the traditional year-end qualifying release date. And effects-heavy blockbusters like Denis Villeneuves intriguing adaptation of Frank Herberts sci-fi/fantasy opus Dune will have extra time to complete post-production. But the shift will also generate all kinds of unforeseen ramifications provided, of course, that a second wave of COVID-19 doesnt arrive in the next few weeks or months, necessitating a new round of postponements. Typically, awards hopefuls play at the fall film festivals in Venice, Telluride, Toronto and New York, looking to build buzz in late August, September and early October ahead of their theatrical runs. Six of the nine movies nominated for best picture this past season screened at those festivals, with Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood premiering at Cannes (as did Oscar-winner Parasite before moving to Telluride and Toronto). Little Women and 1917 arrived in December. Those fall festivals have so far held their dates this year, with organizers saying theyll take place in some modified form, likely a hybrid of digital and in-person events incorporating, in the words of Telluride organizers, necessary safety tweaks. (Toronto will update its plans later this month, a spokesperson says.) But as the Venice, Telluride and Toronto festivals will now take place eight months ahead of the Oscars, their relevance to this years awards season seems iffy. Awards season is long enough in normal circumstances, says a veteran Oscar campaign consultant, who asked not to be identified because of client relationships. I can see a lot of movies bailing on those festivals, if, for no other reason, the idea that its crazy to think about A) air travel and B) sitting in an enclosed space breathing recirculated air with hundreds of other people right now. Eight months is an eternity, added another campaigner. Any momentum you get from those events will be gone by Christmas. The delay could turn the 2021 Sundance Film Festival into an Oscar launch pad for a ceremony that is now scheduled to take place just three months later. The academys date shift will likely mean that indie Oscar hopefuls will use next years festival, slated to take place Jan. 21-31, to gain attention just weeks before voting begins on March 5. In any case, look for best picture awards contenders to fill up January and February dates once studios begin to set their release schedules. Then again, a spike in COVID-19 cases could make all these dates and plans irrelevant. Cancellations and postponements have dominated the news since the pandemic began, and even as states reopen, the circumstances that would lead to any semblance of normalcy remain in flux. Last week, amid coronavirus hospitalizations increasing in 18 states, Warner Bros. delayed the release of Christopher Nolans highly anticipated Tenet by two weeks to July 31. And with no timeline on when movie theatres in New York may reopen, even that date could be an exercise in optimism. But indulging for a moment in optimism, the current climate could level the playing field a bit, with streaming movies now eligible and pricey parties and galas taken off the table, allowing voters to focus on the films absent much of the hype. And though the academys streaming site for members wont be going year-round until the 94th Oscars, one would presume that voters will use some of that extra time on their hands this year to keep up with great movies like (hint, hint) Kelly Reichardts fabulous First Cow. Or they could just be watching whatever Netflixs all-seeing algorithms put on their homepages. If so, everyone should be watching Spike Lees essential, inventive drama Da 5 Bloods right now. I cant tell you if the Oscars will actually take place in April or be delayed yet again. But whenever they happen, Delroy Lindo will be leaving with a trophy. There will be precautions for the heat and bottled water as well, Xinhua news agency quoted Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale as saying in a tweet on Monday. Washington, June 16 (IANS) Supporters of US President Donald Trump will get their temperature checked and receive masks and hand sanitizers before entering his campaign rally venue in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday, an official said. Saturday's rally is first of its kind for Trump in more than three months. Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told CNBC News that masks will be optional but each attendee of the Tulsa rally will receive one. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump claimed Oklahoma "has done very well" in addressing the coronavirus outbreak. "Oklahoma is at a very low number," Trump said. "They've done really fantastic work." As of Monday, there were more than 8,400 coronavirus infections in Oklahoma with 359 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Nationwide, there have been 2,113,372 confirmed cases and 116,135 deaths. Vice President Mike Pence said on Monday that Oklahoma has "flattened the curve". "Their hospital capacity is abundant. The number of cases in Oklahoma -- it's declined precipitously, and we feel very confident going forward with the rally this coming weekend," Pence said. After a public outcry against its timing, Trump had rescheduled the Tulsa rally, originally scheduled for Friday, the Juneteenth, a day that memorializes the end of slavery in the US. Tulsa was home to one of the worst incidents of racial violence in the nation's history, where many African-Americans were massacred 99 years ago. The rally will come after nationwide protests over police brutality and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25. The editorial board of Tulsa World, a local newspaper, on Monday called on Trump to reconsider hosting the rally. "Tulsa and the nation remain on edge after the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis," the board wrote. "There may also be confrontation and inappropriate behaviour from some." It also added that the city "is still dealing with the challenges created by a pandemic". "The city and state have authorized reopening, but that doesn't make a mass indoor gathering of people pressed closely together and cheering a good idea," according to the editorial. "There is no treatment for COVID-19 and no vaccine. It will be our health care system that will have to deal with whatever effects follow." Trump pushed back against the criticism, tweeting on Monday that the "Far Left Fake News Media" is "trying to COVID shame us on our big rallies" despite having "no problem" with the massive protests that have taken place across the nation following Floyd's death. "Won't work," he added. A registration form for the Tulsa rally says: "By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. "By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.," as well as the rally site or organizers, "liable for any illness or injury". On Monday, Trump also tried to downplay concerns over a rising number of coronavirus cases in some states, attributing them to more testing. "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, if any," Trump told reporters at the White House. "Without testing, or weak testing, we would be showing almost no cases," he said additionally in a tweet. "Testing is a double edged sword - Makes us look bad, but good to have." --IANS ksk/ Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz has commented regarding the extension of non-essential travel restriction on the border. His statement can be read in full below: The City of Laredo fully understands the threat of the novel coronavirus and will continue to work to keep all residents safe. We respect the difficult decision by DHS to continue travel restrictions at the border until July 21, but we also know that this will further complicate economic recovery efforts in border communities. Trade and essential travel remain unaffected by this decision, yet much of our local economy depends on shoppers and visitors from both sides of the border. I ask our leaders in Austin and in Washington that when they are drafting relief bills to place special attention on border communities such as ours that are being uniquely affected in more ways than one. Both the United States and Mexico must do more to prevent further outbreaks and hotspots so that cross-border business and daily life can continue. It is up to every person to follow health guidelines and minimize the spread of the coronavirus by practicing good hygiene, wearing face coverings, maintaining social distancing and avoiding crowds. Only by working together can we flatten the curve and stop the spread. BANGALORE, India, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A fuel cell refers to an electrochemical cell that transforms the chemical energy into electricity. A fuel cell 's principal components include an anode, cathode, and electrolyte. Compared with conventional combustion-based technologies currently used in many power plants and passenger vehicles, fuel cells have several benefits. The different types of fuel cells analyzed in this report are PEMFCs, SOFC, MCFC, PAFC and SOEC. The global Fuel Cell market size is valued at 5.057 Billion USD in 2020 and is expected to reach 40.030 Billion USD by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 34.0% during 2021-2026. Get Detailed Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Fuel Cell Market https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-24V110/Global_Fuel_Cell TRENDS INFLUENCING THE FUEL CELL MARKET SIZE Due to favorable regulatory policies and increasing emphasis on renewable energy technologies, the rapid implementation of the FCV's (Fuel Cell Vehicles) is stimulating the growth of Fuel Cell market size. Furthermore, extensive R&D activities and innovations along with shifting preference towards low-emission fuels will boost the outlook for the industry. Continuous deployment through small and large power generation systems to provide electricity to remote and off-grid areas would significantly accelerate the growth of fuel cells market size. This growing demand for electricity is fostering the deployment of SOFC fuel cells Strict government regulations aimed at reducing the increasing levels of pollution, and enhanced fuel cell efficiency are other factors that are expected to propel the growth of fuel cell market size. The growth of the DMFC segment will be driven by accelerating demand for portable power sources in military applications, forklifts, commercial warehouses, consumer electronics and mobile battery chargers DMFC uses polymer sheath as an anode catalyst for electrolyte, and platinum-ruthenium. Their reaction separates hydrogen from liquid methanol and reduces fuel reformer usage. The generation of power-based electricity is efficient in reducing carbon dioxide emissions or any other harmful pollutants. Fuel cell technology therefore plays a vital role in addressing environmental issues, as well as in encouraging the use of renewable energy carriers. Ongoing product innovations and innovation are expected to offer emerging players new opportunities. Two of the constraints associated with the fuel cell industry and market are the catalyst's high price, which increases the fuel cell price and the lack of fuel cell infrastructure. Increasing demand for reliable and uninterrupted supply of electricity across remote and off-grid areas along with growing sales of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) will increase demand on the market. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-24V110/global-fuel-cell FUEL CELL MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS North America accounted for the largest market share in 2019, with the promotion and acceptance of electric vehicles expected to continue to lead over the forecast period. However, in terms of shipments accounted for the largest market share in 2019, with the promotion and acceptance of electric vehicles expected to continue to lead over the forecast period. However, in terms of shipments By region, the Asia-Pacific region has the highest share of income, with more than 36 percent in 2019. Asia Increasing demand for combined heat and power systems is expected to boost the region 's market for fuel cells. Asia-Pacific is one of the promising regional fuel cell markets in the coming years, owing to favorable government policies in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea that push clean energy use. Among the technologies available for fuel cells, the PEMFC is the most used fuel cell in the region Inquire for Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-24V110/Global_Fuel_Cell COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE The high cost is a big constraint in purchasing fuel cells. However, recent innovations such as the incorporation of portable high-efficiency technologies are likely to reach a broader audience segment. With new goods, multiple players enter the market. Emerging technology, such as a new type of fuel cells, is expected to boost competition in the coming years. The industry's leading producers are Bloom Energy, Panasonic, and Toshiba ESS, which together account for 50.10% of revenues. Other top companies in the fuel cell market are: Ballard Power System Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited FuelCell Energy Hydrogenics Corporation AFC Energy PLC Ceres Power Holdings PLC Doosan Corporation Plug Power POSCO ENERGY Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Panasonic Corporation GM Honda Others. SEGMENT BY TYPE PEMFCs SOFC MCFC PAFC SOEC Others. BY THE END USERS/APPLICATION Transport Stationary Portable. Buy Now for Single User: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-24V110&lic=single-user Buy Now for Enterprise License: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-24V110&lic=enterprise-user SIMILAR REPORTS : Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Market Report The Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) market was valued at USD 529.5 Million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 1281 Million by 2026, at a CAGR of 13.3% during the forecast period. In this study, 2019 has been considered as the base year and 2020 to 2026 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). A solid oxide fuel cell (or SOFC) is an electrochemical conversion device that produces electricity directly from oxidizing a fuel. The portability of these fuel cells and their compact design are the main SOFC features that are expected to increase the SOFC market size. The SOFC market growth over the forecast period is expected to be hampered by high marketing and catalyst costs and uncertainty in infrastructure establishment. Planar SOFC has the highest electrical efficiency that allows great potential for applications in the military, leading to higher demand. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-10131/global-solid-oxide-fuel-cell-sofc Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market Report The global Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market size was USD 1686 Million in 2019. Japan was the largest consumer market with a market share of 27.31% in 2011 and 30.12% in 2015, with an increase of 10.28%. North America ranked second with a market share of 25.34% in 2015. This report presents the Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market size (value, production, and consumption), splits the breakdown (data status 2014-2019 and forecast to 2025), by manufacturers, region, type, and application. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-26E44/global-hydrogen-fuel-cells Microbial Fuel Cell Market Report The Global Microbial Fuel Cell Market size is expected to grow from USD 210.68 Million in 2018 to USD 635.68 Million by the end of 2025 at a CAGR of 17.08%. The factors attributable to the market growth are Increasing energy demand and increasing environmental awareness, and increased use in applications such as water treatment, commercial waste treatment, and hydrogen generation. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/360I-Auto-3T45/global-microbial-fuel-cell-market Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) Market Report The Direct Methanol fuel cell market size was valued at 100 Million USD in 2018 and is projected to reach 160 Million USD by 2025, at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period. This report presents the worldwide Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) market size (value, production, and consumption), splits the breakdown (data status 2014-2019 and forecast to 2025), by manufacturers, region, type, and application. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-1756/global-direct-methanol-fuel-cell-dmfc Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Market Report The Global Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Market size will increase to USD 1573.1 Million USD by 2025, from 604.5 Million USD in 2018, at a CAGR of 14.6% during the forecast period. Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, also known as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells (PEMFC), are a type of fuel cell being developed mainly for transport applications, as well as for stationary fuel-cell applications and portable fuel-cell applications. Top companies manufacturing membrane fuel cells are Ballard, Plug Power, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, Hydrogenics, and Sunrise Power. Ballard is the largest manufacturer; its revenue of the global market exceeds 17% in 2018. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-2110/global-proton-exchange-membrane-fuel-cells-pemfc Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Market Report The Global Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Market size will reach 90,000 Million USD by 2025, from 820 Million USD in 2018, at a CAGR of 79.8% during the forecast period This industry analysis presents market size, historical breakdown data (2014-2019), and forecast (2019-2025) for global Electric Vehicles Fuel Cell. Output, revenue, and market share of the electric vehicles fuel cell by manufacturers, key regions, and type. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-15R198/global-electric-vehicles-fuel-cell Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Market Report The Global Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Market size was valued at USD 651.9 Million in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 42,038.9 Million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 66.9% from 2019 to 2026. Key factors impacting the global market growth include a surge in environmental issues, increased policy efforts to build hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure, strong initial infrastructure investment, and technical innovation and future potential. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Auto-1O245/hydrogen-fuel-cell-vehicle Automotive Fuel-Cell Market Report This report studies the global market size of Automotive Fuel-Cell especially focuses on key regions like the United States, European Union, China, and other regions (Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia). Furthermore, it analyses the Automotive Fuel-Cell production, revenue, market share, and growth rate for each key company, and also covers the breakdown data (production, consumption, revenue, and market share) by regions, types, and applications. history breakdown data from 2014 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-14W342/global-united-states-european-union-and-china-automotive-fuel-cell ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains detail research methodology employed to generate the report, Please also reach to our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp : +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports Logo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports Former Superior Court judge Yolanda Ciccone was approved by the State Senate as the new Middlesex County prosecutor on Monday. Ciccone was approved for a five-year term 38-0 during a remote vote Monday morning, with two state senators not casting votes. She will replace Acting Prosecutor Christopher Kuberiet, who has been in the office since August 2019 when Andrew C. Carey left the position to become an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Camden. On behalf of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office I would extend my sincerest congratulations to Judge Yolanda Ciccone and look forward to working with Prosecutor Ciccone in the future on behalf of the People of the County of Middlesex, Kuberiet said in a statement. Its not clear when Ciccone will be sworn in. Ciccone began her career in the Middlesex County courts in 1976, and was appointed to the bench in 1991. She left for Somerset County in 2006, where she has worked as an assignment judge for the past 13 years. She announced her retirement from the bench in May. Ciccone holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. Acting Warren County Prosecutor James Pfeiffer was also approved by the Senate Monday morning to take on that role in full capacity for the next five years. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. BALTIMORE (AP) Jeremy Rooks works the evening shift at a Georgia fast-food restaurant these days to avoid being on the street past dusk. He needs somewhere to go at night: He and his wife are homeless after the extended-stay motel where they had lived since Thanksgiving evicted them in April when they couldnt pay their rent. They should have been protected because the states Supreme Court has effectively halted evictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. But Rooks said the owner still sent a man posing as a sheriffs deputy, armed with a gun, to throw the couple out a few days after rent was due. The pandemic has shut housing courts and prompted most states and federal authorities to initiate policies protecting renters from eviction. But not everyone is covered and a number of landlords some desperate to pay their mortgages themselves are turning to threats and harassment to force tenants out. Every day, they tried to basically get us out of there. It was basically like a game to them, said Rooks, who wasnt able to make his rent at the Marietta, Georgia, motel after his employer paid him late and his wife was laid off in the pandemic. One of us had to stay in a room at all times because they wouldnt redo the keys for us. The evictions threaten to exacerbate a problem that has plagued people of color like Rooks long before the pandemic, when landlords across the U.S. were filing about 300,000 eviction requests every month. The data and analytics real estate firm Amherst projects that 28 million renters, or about 22.5% of all households, are at risk of eviction. Tenant advocates expect that number to increase significantly unless protections are put in place, and project that many of those affected will be African Americans and households led by women, both of which historically are more likely to be evicted. Poll: Black Americans most likely to know a COVID-19 victim In a sign of what could happen nationally, Virginia has seen a crush of proceedings since eviction hearings resumed May 18. About 700 cases already have been heard statewide, according to Christie Marra, director of housing advocacy for the Virginia Poverty Law Center. On top of that, 2,200 cases are on the docket for the end of June and early July in Richmond, which has one of the countrys highest eviction rates. Rachel Garland, an attorney at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, said her group has experienced a spike in calls from tenants who lost their jobs due to the lockdown and fear being evicted. Philadelphia had the fourth-highest eviction rate in the country. Even if they cant be evicted right now, if the courts are closed, the landlords are sending threatening emails, text messages, asking for rent, threatening to lock tenants out, Garland said. Alieza Durana of Princeton Universitys Eviction Lab said affected tenants face high rates of depression and suicide from the stress, along with mounting debt and homelessness. Additionally, court judgments and debt collection actions against renters are reported to credit bureaus, affecting their ability to access housing for years. Jose Ortiz, deputy director of Essex/Newark Legal Services, which includes New Jerseys largest city, said hes heard complaints from tenants who have been asked to exchange sex for rent and instances where landlords have threatened to alert immigration authorities about tenants living in the country without legal permission if they dont pay their rent. They are not working. They dont have the income to pay their bills and they are afraid about what will happen once the eviction ban is lifted, Ortiz said. Are they going to be displaced? Is there going to be a mad rush to the courthouse to get these tenants evicted? Tenants also are complaining about landlords locking them out and shutting off utilities. Unable to pay her April rent in full on her townhouse in Millersville, Maryland, Dawn McBride said she began getting texts from her landlord suggesting she find work at Walmart or Costco. She said the landlord then tried to get her to sign a rent-deferral agreement, but wouldnt let her fully read it. She ultimately was handed a 30-day notice to vacate because her lease was month-to-month, a strategy landlords increasingly are using. Honestly, it stresses me out a lot because its me and my children, said McBride, who lost her pet-sitting job. And, you know, Im just like, `Where are we going to go?' Some tenants facing eviction have turned the table on landlords and are organizing rent strikes. From New York to Chicago to San Francisco, tenants are banding together and demanding landlords negotiate with an eye toward forgiving their rent entirely until the pandemic ends. Many like Diana Hou, who lost her job with a political campaign and has helped organized a rent strike in her Brooklyn building with her half-dozen roommates. are pushing for legislation at the state and federal level to provide rent and mortgage relief. Many of us are worried about our prospects of securing housing without income and with a looming debt of unpaid rent. For the majority of the house, not being able to secure housing would mean homelessness in the middle of a pandemic, Hou said. Jay Martin, executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program, which represents 4,000 building owners in New York, said he doesnt condone rent strikes but sympathizes with tenants plight. Renters need a bailout, Martin said, adding that landlords are supporting federal proposals that would cover back rent and future payments. Without those measures, he predicted a drop in property and real estate taxes that would sap state and city budgets. The federal governments $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package includes eviction moratoriums for most people living in federally subsidized apartments, as well as homes covered by federally backed mortgages. A second $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed in May by the U.S. House would provide about $175 billion to pay rents and mortgages, but has almost no chance of passing in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate. State and local lawmakers across the country also are stepping in with assistance and proposals aimed at averting a wave of evictions. New Jersey lawmakers passed a $100 million rent relief bill, while in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation directing $175 million of the federal coronavirus rescue package to rent and mortgage relief. Boston is providing $8 million for rental assistance, Baltimore has designated $13 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to start a rental assistance program, and Philadelphia provided $10 million to help about 13,000 people with their rent. Other proposals would offer long-term payment plans for those unable to afford rent and programs like mediation before cases head to housing court. We have to do something, said Philadelphia Council member Helen Gym, whose bill would prevent evictions until two months after the states emergency order was lifted. We cant go back to business as usual in a city that evicts 18,000 people a year, she said. That is just not sustainable. An Ethiopian military leader issued a warning to Egypt today over the Nile river dam dispute involving the two African countries. The countrys deputy army chief told state media that Egypt should be aware of Ethiopias military capabilities as Egypt continues to oppose Ethiopias plan to start filling the hydroelectric dam next month. Egyptians and the rest of the world know too well how we conduct war whenever it comes, said Gen. Birhanu Jula, as reported by The Associated Press. Ethiopia began building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in 2011. It will serve as a hydroelectric power source when completed. The dam is on the Blue Nile River in northwest Ethiopia near the border with Sudan. A major tributary of the Nile, the Blue Nile joins the White Nile in Sudan; the Nile then flows into Egypt. Egyptian officials say they believe an unrestricted filling of the dam will reduce the Niles water levels to an extent that endangers the countrys water and food security. Negotiations on the dam are ongoing between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. Egypt has tried to get Sudan on its side in the talks following border clashes between an Ethiopian militia and Sudanese forces recently. Julas comments threaten to add more tensions to the deliberations. Recent remarks by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took a less confrontational tone, but the leader said the dam is necessary for Ethiopias prosperity. We dont want to hurt anyone else, and at the same time it will be difficult for us to accept the notion that we dont deserve to have electricity, he said this week, according to The Associated Press. The state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported today that Egypts Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry warned Ethiopia that Egypt remains opposed to the filling of the dam before an agreement is reached. Egypt stresses that Ethiopia should not take any unilateral action in violation of its legal obligations, the Egyptian ministry said Thursday, citing past agreements. Talks resumed this week via videoconference between the three countries after stalling in February under US and World Bank supervision. The United States, the European Union and South Africa have been participating as observers in this week's talks, according to Al-Ahram. South Korea Urges North to Keep Up Joint Peace Efforts Following Communication Cut-Off Sputnik News 10:12 GMT 15.06.2020(updated 10:14 GMT 15.06.2020) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on Pyongyang on Monday to persevere in their joint peace efforts in his first official remarks after North Korea cut all communication channels with Seoul. "The direction the two Koreas should go together is clear. We should not stop the current inter-Korean relations again, which have overcome a longtime severance and the crisis of a war with difficulty," Moon said, as cited by the Yonhap news agency. The president's remarks come on the 20th anniversary of the Joint Declaration, adopted during a historic summit between the late leaders of the two nations, South Korea's Kim Dae-jung and North Korea's Kim Jong Il. According to Moon, it is not easy to commemorate such an event after Pyongyang's decision to cut all communication lines with Seoul and threats of military action. "(We) can't let the promise of peace on the Korean Peninsula, which I and Chairman Kim Jong-un made in front of 80 million Koreans, revert," Moon noted, referring to the truce agreed on with the North Korean leader in 2018. Commenting on stalled denuclearization talks between the United States and North Korea, Moon suggested that Seoul and Pyongyang explore "breakthrough" on their own, without waiting for external conditions to improve. Relations between the Asian neighbours soured last week as North Korea threatened state-level action if Seoul failed to curb the campaign by South-based defectors of flying anti-Pyongyang leaflets on balloons across the border. Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, said the counteraction would include demolishing the inactive South Korean industrial compound in Kaesong, shutting down the joint communications office and withdrawing from the bilateral military agreements. On 9 June, the Korean Central News Agency said that all communication channels with South Korea had been completely cut, including military channels and the highest-level channel between the heads of state. According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, their counterparts from the North have stopped responding to military communications. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Editors note: Quynh Trung is a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper journalist based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In this editorial originally written in Vietnamese and published in the June 15, 2020 issue of the Tuoi Tre daily, he commented on a recent incident where a China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Vietnamese fishing boat and took the fishers belongings while they were operating in Vietnamese waters about eight nautical miles southwest of Linh Con Island in Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago on June 10. Sixteen Vietnamese fishermen who returned to the Sa Ky Port in Quang Ngai Province on June 6 are haunted by memories of their boat being rammed by a Chinese steel vessel within Vietnamese waters in the East Vietnam Sea. The incident caused damage worth around VND500 million (US$21,500). Around one year ago, Vietnamese fishermen brought 32 Chinese fellows back to the same port in July 2019 for healthcare checks after the Vietnamese people had saved them from their sinking ship in the Truong Sa [Spratly] archipelago under Vietnams sovereignty. These similar happenings, whose results are completely different, speak volumes. The 16 Vietnamese fishermen reported that their boat, No. QNg 96416 TS, was hit by the Chinese vessel with hull number 4006, leaving the Vietnamese boat half-submerged in water on June 10. Four days later, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited preliminary findings from authorities that the steel vessel 4006 and a speedboat of China allegedly approached the Vietnamese fishing boat and caused big waves so that water flowed into the boat, thus placing it in danger of sinking. It will take more time to investigate the incident, but the findings provided enough grounds to affirm that the acts of the Chinese vessels had endangered the lives of the Vietnamese fishermen. The behavior must be condemned since it infringes upon Vietnams sovereignty and violates the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), to both of which China is a party. This is not the first time that Chinese vessels have attacked Vietnamese fishing boats. On April 2, fishing boat No. QNg 90617 TS, which was operating in the waters off Phu Lam Island in Vietnams Hoang Sa, was suddenly rammed and sunk by the Chinese coast guard vessel with hull number 4031. Following the incident, the U.S. Department of State expressed its concerns and stressed that the behavior of China stood in contrast to the United States vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific in which all nations, large and small, are secure in their sovereignty. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded Chinese authorities launch an investigation into the incident, punish severely any civil servants involved, and compensate the Vietnamese fishermen properly. Why do Chinese vessels frequently threaten and collide with other vessels? The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, a country whose fishermen were victims of China in the past, issued a statement which opposed the Chinese vessels attack on the Vietnamese fishing vessel in April 2020 through an implicit message of trust. The department said, COVID-19 is a very real threat that demands unity and mutual trust. In the face of it, neither fish nor fictional historical claims are worth the fuse thats lit by such incidents. Such incidents undermine the potential of a genuinely deep and trusting regional relationship between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, according to the department. Aside from violations of international law, the use of force by Chinese ships also flouted the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Vietnam Sea and went against the common perceptions of the two countries senior leaders on the humane treatment of fishermen. The ocean is immense, so not only the rules of law but also the people of conscience think about saving human lives first. How is it possible that there are people who deliberately endanger the lives and properties of honest people? Such acts are deemed inhumane. The number of deliberate vessel collisions has been on the increase. For this reason, the Chinese government cannot be free of blame since these incidents against the common perceptions have recurred in a short period of time. Such fishing vessel attacks are not only condemned for their inhumane nature but also undermine the trust between the two countries, one that is difficult to gain but also easy to lose. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Televangelist Rod Parsley under fire for claiming Americas founders released all their slaves Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Televangelist Rod Parsley, who leads the Columbus, Ohio-based World Harvest Church, has come under fire for a recent message he shared on social media in which he urged people not to hate Americas slaveholding founding fathers as a national conversation rages around the removal of confederate monuments. The message appeared to have been shared by Parsley on Facebook last week but the content is now restricted according to Facebook. Gospel recording artist and songwriter Ted Winn ll reposted the message on his Facebook page and it has since been making the rounds on social media. In the message, titled We have a responsibility to be silent no more, a time to speak race in America, Parsley, who leads a multi-racial congregation, addresses his black, Asian, Arab, Hispanic and even my white brothers and sisters" to hear the heart of God and to be done with bitterness and hate. We live in a great land. Let me shout it before you respond to me. It was founded by people just like you. Flawed people. But those framers framed the liberties that every one of us enjoy today. If you hate America, please give me your alternative. Dont hate our founders, thats a lie. Dont discard their legacy, Parsley said. Well, they had slaves, he continued, highlighting running criticism of some of the founding fathers to which he responded. Every one one of them freed their slaves either during their life or upon their death. And we fought a Civil War. Our nation has been washed in the blood of the bloodiest war ever fought We could stand here today and speak out against a curse. Maybe I could call it the birth defect of America, he said. He then asked if children born with birth defects should be thrown as having no value. Shall we throw America away? Should we throw the idea of America away because its still not perfect? Or should we stand up and fight to make it a more perfect union? Lets stand up together, hand in hand, arm in arm and lets build a nation better than the one our framers could even envision, Parsley insisted. He then cited Winston Churchill in arguing that if we open a conflict between the past and the present, well lose the future. We have to dream bigger, we have to believe stronger. And as for me and my house this is the time to stand tall in all the beauty of who we are. Hold tightly to the wisdom of our fathers. To dream their dreams of a righteous America. And become that generation where black men say to white men, white men say to Asian men, Asian men say to Hispanic men, lets join hands together and under God lets be silent no more. Lets restore America. In his criticism of the message, Winn argued that Parsley sterilizes and minimizes racists. He falsely claims, all the framers of the country freed their slaves. Jefferson did not! They were racists! The history of America should not be forgotten because that history informs the present. I am so exhausted listening to white evangelicals defend, support and perpetuate white supremacy. The ways in which they masquerade racism as Christianity is disgusting! This video should come as no surprise as Rod Parsley, and many other white evangelicals are avid Trump supporters. If you support a racist then you are either racist or complicit. No black person should ever support Rod Parsley or anybody else who is not clearly anti-racist and working to deconstruct systemic racism! Full stop!! Winn said. Professor and Dean of the Howard University School of Divinity Yolanda Pierce also argued on Twitter that Parsleys comments were insensitive and historically inaccurate. Rod Parsley's latest message was historically inaccurate, insensitive, and patronizing. When you know better, as he does, you should do better, she wrote. Terrence Chandler-Harrison, lead pastor at The Liberty Church-Clarksville in Tennessee, argued that racism should not be characterized as a birth defect but a most egregious sin that it is. Racism was NOT this nations birth defect; racism IS this countrys chief, most vicious, and most egregious sin. It is the deliberate and systemic subjugation of all non-whites that extends beyond mere bias and preferential treatment, he wrote in a thread on Twitter. And no, we cant move on because the toxic tentacles of racism are still far-reaching. Racism STILL impacts: funding, housing, education, zoning, legislation, representation, distribution, and policingjust ask your black and brown members, Harrison said. He noted that an alternative to America would have been Africa, but we were robbed of that too. So do us all a favor: take less time asking the myriad of black members at your church to sow sacrificial seeds for pseudo breakthroughs & spend more time listening & learning from their learned experiences, he said. In an apparent response to the controversy Monday evening, Parsley acknowledged making a "misstep" and committed to listening more. "As a white man from the hills of eastern Kentucky, I cant possibly identify with the plight of people of color in our country. But what I can do is speak out. And I can also admit when I make a misstep. Especially when it hurts, disappoints, or confuses those I love and am called to serve," he said. "So let me be unequivocally clear: Slavery was and slavery is a blight on our nation and the world. It was and is an egregious, heinous, despicable sin that grieves my heart and the heart of God. I would never attempt to defend the indefensible atrocities inflicted upon people of color by our founders and generations after them." He noted that he believes that together, the church could "make history right now" by standing "hand in hand with black people against the evils of racism in our nation." "I pray you hear and know my heart is never, ever to hurt you. And it is always to unite in solidarity WITH you. After 46 years of Gospel ministry, I dont always get it right. But what I can get right is to listen and to hear you and to see you. And I will continue to use my voice to stand alongside you. God being my help." New estimate suggests that 18% of Sun-like (G-type) stars could have a planet the size of Earth orbiting in their conservative habitable zone. Determining the abundance of Earth-size planets in the habitable zones of their stars, where liquid water could exist on a rocky planets surface, is one of the major goals of exoplanetary science. NASAs exoplanet-finding mission Kepler was specifically designed with this goal in mind. Aside from being the first mission capable of finding and characterizing Earth-sized planets in year-long orbits around Sun-like stars, Kepler revolutionized our perspective on the diversity of planets in the Milky Way. Dr. Michelle Kunimoto and Dr. Jaymie Matthews, astronomers from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of British Columbia, base their results on an independent planet catalog compiled from their search of nearly 200,000 stars observed over the Kepler mission. Our calculations place an upper limit of 0.18 Earth-like planets per G-type star, Dr. Kunimoto said. Estimating how common different kinds of planets are around different stars can provide important constraints on planet formation and evolution theories, and help optimize future missions dedicated to finding exoplanets. Our Milky Way has as many as 400 billion stars, with 7% of them being G-type. That means 5 billion stars may have Earth-like planets in our Galaxy, Dr. Matthews added. Previous estimates of the frequency of Earth-like planets range from roughly 0.02 potentially habitable planets per Sun-like star, to more than one per Sun-like star. Typically, planets like Earth are more likely to be missed by a planet search than other types, as they are so small and orbit so far from their stars. That means that a planet catalogue represents only a small subset of the planets that are actually in orbit around the stars searched. Dr. Kunimoto and Dr. Matthews used a technique known as forward modelling to overcome these challenges. We started by simulating the full population of exoplanets around the stars Kepler searched, Dr. Kunimoto said. We marked each planet as detected or missed depending on how likely it was my planet search algorithm would have found them. Then, we compared the detected planets to my actual catalogue of planets. If the simulation produced a close match, then the initial population was likely a good representation of the actual population of planets orbiting those stars. The teams paper was published in the Astronomical Journal. _____ Michelle Kunimoto & Jaymie M. Matthews. 2020. Searching the Entirety of Kepler Data. II. Occurrence Rate Estimates for FGK Stars. AJ 159, 248; doi: 10.3847/1538-3881/ab88b0 Britain got its first glimpse of the predicted jobs market meltdown yesterday as stark figures showed the number claiming out-of-work benefits had soared to almost three million. And the statistics also revealed that the total on company payrolls had slumped by more than 600,000. The number claiming either Jobseekers' Allowance or Universal Credit more than doubled between March and May rising by 1.6million to 2.8million, the Office for National Statistics said. The rush for support eclipsed that seen during the first year of the Great Depression, the Institute for Employment Studies warned. A graphic, pictured, demonstrates the extent of the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the UK economy Cancelled ops logjam may last five years The backlog of cancelled NHS operations could take up to five years to clear, the country's top surgeon has warned. Professor Derek Alderson, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, told MPs the NHS must not continue as a 'Covid-only' service while millions wait for surgery. Experts have called for more dedicated coronavirus-free hospital sites to reduce the waiting list, which they fear could top 10million by Christmas. Professor Alderson told the Commons health committee: 'Dealing with the backlog is not achievable simply in weeks... it may take us a few years to catch up.' Health leaders told MPs that waits for NHS treatment have gone up by one week every week of the outbreak. Advertisement Although these benefits can be claimed by some workers on very low pay, separate ONS figures yesterday suggested that many of these new claimants had actually lost their jobs. The number of workers on UK payrolls fell by 612,000 between March and May. At the same time, official figures showed that the number of furloughed workers claiming taxpayer support under Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Job Retention Scheme had topped nine million for the first time. Business leaders, economists, and politicians said they feared a fresh 'tsunami of job losses' in the coming months as the scheme was wound down. The new figures triggered a string of fresh calls for Boris Johnson to scrap the two-metre social distancing rule and to ease the lockdown. Both moves are seen as vital to restarting the economy and minimising job losses long term. Yesterday's ONS data showed that the official headline rate of unemployment had barely budged at 3.9 per cent between February and April covering the first five weeks of lockdown. But the warning signs were flashing everywhere else in the official data on benefits claimants and payroll numbers. There was also a record slump in the number of hours worked. And the ONS registered the biggest fall in job vacancies on record between March and May. Former foreign secretary Lord Hague described the lockdown as an 'economic catastrophe'. Non-essential shops up and down the country have reopened this week, which is set to provide a big boost to the economy. Pictured: A man wearing a protective face mask in front of a store window at London's Oxford Circus Former foreign secretary Lord Hague, pictured, described the lockdown as an 'economic catastrophe' Rishi Sunak, pictured, is already drawing up plans for an emergency budget pencilled in for early next month to kickstart the economy, retrain workers and create jobs 'I went from landing an 80k-a-year job to a P45 in just three months' After 14 years running her own company, Naomi Timperley took up a high-flying role as a consultant at a regional business in January. The 48-year-old mother of two from Sale, Greater Manchester, was headhunted for the high-powered executive position at a major company and given an 80,000-a-year salary. But after the virus hit, the project she was working on was put on hold and she was let go on April 1 despite asking to be furloughed. Naomi Timperley, pictured, took up an 80,000-a-year role in January but after the virus hit, she was let go on April 1 Mrs Timperley said: 'It was my first full-time job for 18 years so it was a big, big deal for me.' After her project was put on hold, Mrs Timperley sent a list of other ideas to her bosses and asked to be furloughed if all else failed. Days later she was let go. She said: 'I've been quite lucky because I've been able to go out to my network and post on LinkedIn. 'The response that I got was phenomenal so I have had things come out of it. It has been extremely stressful for the whole family. 'We will just have to be very careful financially until I can replace the work.' Advertisement Tony Wilson, director of the Institute for Employment Studies, said: 'If the public health crisis is just starting to ease, today's figures show that the unemployment crisis is only just beginning.' Mr Sunak is already drawing up plans for an emergency budget pencilled in for early next month to kickstart the economy, retrain workers and create jobs. Yesterday he acknowledged that the ONS figures 'confirm that coronavirus is having a severe impact on our economy' but added that the Government had provided 'lifelines' to thousands of businesses and millions of workers. 'As we look to bounce back, one of the best ways to protect people's livelihoods and provide opportunities to those who have lost jobs is to safely reopen our economy so people can return to work,' he said. 'We've set out our plan to do this in a gradual and safe fashion.' But furloughed workers were told to prepare for a 'jobs meltdown' over the summer as firms rush to shed staff before being forced to contribute to their wages again. Latest figures show 9.1million jobs have been furloughed under the Job Retention Scheme, at a cost of 20.8billion so far. HM Revenue & Customs also revealed that 2.6million self-employed workers are receiving support under a separate scheme which has cost 7.6billion. It means in total the incomes of 11.7million workers more than 40 per cent of the private sector workforce are being paid by the state. The Job Retention Scheme pays 80 per cent of the wages of furloughed employees, up to 2,500 a month. But it is set to be gradually wound down from the start of August, with businesses initially told to pay the National Insurance and pension contributions of furloughed staff, before it is shut at the end of October. Experts predict many redundancy letters will be sent out from this week because employers have to give 45 days' notice before cutting roles. Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co., leaves the Supreme Court in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019. Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou is raising a new argument in a Canadian court in a bid to fight extradition to the United States on bank fraud charges, court documents released on Monday showed. Meng's lawyers claim the case that the United States submitted to Canada is "so replete with intentional and reckless error" that it violates her rights. Meng, 48, was detained in Vancouver on Dec. 1, 2018, at the request of the United States, where she is charged with bank fraud and accused of misleading HSBC Holdings Plc about Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's business in Iran. Meng, the daughter of billionaire Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, has said she is innocent and is fighting extradition. The arrest has strained China's relations with both the United States and Canada. A PowerPoint presentation that Meng gave to a HSBC banker in Hong Kong in 2013 has been cited as key evidence against her. In that presentation, Meng said that Skycom Tech Co Ltd - a firm that operated in Iran - was "a business partner of Huawei," while the United States has described it as an unofficial subsidiary. Meng's lawyers argued the prosecutors omitted key disclosures Meng made in the presentation regarding Huawei's ongoing business operations in Iran and that Skycom worked with Huawei in sales and service in Iran. Without those disclosures, the lawyers said, the U.S. summary of the PowerPoint was "materially misleading." Meng's lawyers also pointed out that the case said only "junior" HSBC employees knew of the relationship between Huawei and Skycom. Meng's lawyers said it is implausible that HSBC senior management was unaware of the relationship, given Huawei was one of HSBC's biggest clients. LONDON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After a landslide win in the June 5th general election, the Team Unity coalition secured a second term in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis. An almost identical cabinet was sworn in on June 14th, led by Prime Minister Timothy Harris. Mark Brantley remains the Premier of Nevis and Foreign Minister of the twin-island nation. Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, spoke with PM Harris on June 12th. He congratulated his Caribbean counterpart on his re-election and reiterated his openness to continue a strong collaboration between the two nations. "Prime Minister Trudeau began by congratulating Prime Minister Harris on his recent re-election and looked forward to continued work on shared priorities, including efforts to support greater resilience to climate change, investments in infrastructure, and economic growth and prosperity," cites a readout from the office of the Canadian PM. "The prime ministers expressed their shared commitment to strengthening regional and global partnerships and institutions to build a fairer, more inclusive world for all countries, and to address the unique challenges faced by small island states around the world. The two leaders also spoke of the strong friendship between Canada and Saint Kitts and Nevis, built and maintained through investment, shared values, and enduring people-to-people ties." During the cabinet swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, Dr Harris said: "To deliver on our plan for safer streets, bigger and better homes, more opportunities for our young people I have assembled a talented team." Some of the points he highlighted as part of the government's agenda for the second term include the development of several projects funded by the country's successful Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. This includes the Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP), the Poverty Alleviation Programme, and the tourism industry. "Our philosophy of government for all is what led us in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria to assist thousands of suffering citizens and residents," PM Harris said on Sunday. This includes "our popular Poverty Alleviation Programme that has made life better for thousands of people everywhere," he told the ceremony attendees saluting some of the Programme beneficiaries in the crowd. Over the past five years, St Kitts and Nevis saw a radical improvement in its fiscal management, foreign direct investment, public safety, and visa-free mobility for its citizens. [email protected] www.csglobalpartners.com SOURCE CS Global Partners Prosecutors attempting to prove Bradley Edwards is the Claremont serial killer have labelled a decision to not test a crucial left thumbnail clipping for DNA for more than a decade as the proverbial pot of gold. The clipping was taken from murder victim Ciara Glennon during her post-mortem in April 1997 after her body was discovered in bushland north of Perth 19 days after she vanished from a night out with friends. Bradley Edwards has denied murdering Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon. Credit:Stephen Kiprillis The nail was transferred to a UK forensic lab in 2008, where a new method of testing called low copy number testing had recently been developed to enable minute amounts of DNA to be detected. The fingernail was chosen after investigators trying to solve the murders of Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ms Glennon in Perth realised two of Ms Glennons fingernail clippings had not been swabbed during more primitive DNA testing carried out in 1997, 2001, 2003 and 2004. Michigan has 125 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 18 more people have died from the disease. Michigan health officials confirmed it now has 60,189 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, June 16. Sixty-one of the states 83 counties didnt report new confirmed cases. Macomb County reported 31 new COVID-19 cases, up from 9 on Monday. Oakland County also reported 31 new cases, up from 5 yesterday. Following them is Genesee County (5), Kent County (15), Saginaw County (7), Washtenaw County (7), St. Joseph County (6), Oceana County (4), Tuscola County (4) and Calhoun County (4). Tuesday, June 16: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Browser does not support frames. Wayne County, including Detroit, removed 12 of its total cases. Detroit removed 85 of its cases confirmed yesterday and Wayne County added 73 cases today. The city of Detroit stated new addresses obtained by its health department led to the reclassification of several cases to other jurisdictions, resulting in a decrease in the number of confirmed cases. The Department of Health and Human Services said its likely these individuals resided in other counties and they were reclassified into another jurisdiction after that information was determined. In some cases, when test results come back and are automatically uploaded into the Michigan Disease Surveillance System, they contain the providers address (where they were tested), said Lynn Sutfin, MDHHS public information officer. This gets corrected once the local health department makes contact with them. Wayne County still has the highest reported number of confirmed cases, 21,049. Browser does not support frames. Heres a look at the Michigan counties with the most confirmed cases. While not in order, the counties listed below are also the 10 most-populous counties in the state. 1. Wayne County: 21,049 cases (2,558 deaths) 2. Oakland County: 8,564 cases (1,028 deaths) 3. Macomb County: 6,926 cases (854 deaths) 4. Kent County: 4,101 cases (112 deaths) 6. Genesee County: 2,091 cases (258 deaths) 7. Washtenaw County: 1,382 cases (101 deaths) 8. Saginaw County: 1,136 cases (117 deaths) 9. Kalamazoo County: 898 cases (62 deaths) 10. Ottawa County: 865 cases (46 deaths) Nearly 1 million people have been tested for COVID-19. The state processed 11,960 tests on Monday, June 15. Michigan mandates testing after confirming nearly 2,000 coronavirus deaths in nursing homes Dozens of the 250 testing locations statewide offer free testing, and individuals seeking a test no longer need a doctors note to get one. To find a testing site near you, check out the states online test finder, here, send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov, or call 888-535-6136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. For more statewide data, visit MLives coronavirus data page, here. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. Read more on MLive: Confirmed coronavirus cases in Michigan near 60,000 Monday, June 15: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan unemployment claims decline, thousands still filing Michigan retailers caught in a no-win situation of enforcing mask use Michigan barber the lone license suspension during coronavirus pandemic The Police on Tuesday, arraigned a driver, Christopher Okpe, 28, in an Upper Area Court in Gwagwalada, FCT, for allegedly reneging on his promise to marry a woman. Mr Okpe is charged with one count of deceitful inducement. The prosecution counsel, Emeka Ihekoronye, alleged that on May 5, 2020, Angela Sunday of Old Kutunku, Gwagwalada, Abuja, reported that in 2019, she was pregnant for the defendant. Mr Ihekoronye said the defendant promised the complainant that after giving birth, he would marry her. The prosecutor said the complainant later gave birth to a baby girl but the defendant never fulfilled his promise rather, he sent her out of his house. Mr Ihekoronye in his objection prayed the court not to grant bail to the defendant, adding that the offence was not bailable and not compoundable. He also said the defendant had been sending text messages threatening the complainant and members of her family. The prosecution counsel said the offence contravened section 383 of the Penal Code. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offence. Counsel to the defendant, Ayam Michael, told the court to discountenance the objection by the prosecution counsel, adding that the matter before the court was a mere allegation. The judge, Sani Umar granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum. Mr Umar ordered that one of the sureties must be a community leader and must own a house within the jurisdiction of the court. He added that the photocopy of the Certificate of Occupancy must be submitted to the court. Mr Umar held that the defendant will be detained in the police station for one week in case he failed to meet the bail conditions. He adjourned the case until July 1 for hearing. (NAN) Marketing, Bank Statement, Servicing Products; Webinars and Events; Freddie and Fannie in the News What? You arent offering a 30-year rate below 3% yet? Better catch up, because that is where the mainstream press is telling borrowers rates are. Of course, us capital markets folks hate it when newspapers talk about rates, and LOs dont like explaining how trivial items such as risk and credit score can influence someones pricing. Meanwhile, on the back end, Congress and regulators are discussing an extension of the foreclose moratorium that expires on June 30. One month? Or past Labor Day? (Time flies werent we supposed to be done with this pandemic hoax at Easter?) What is also being discussed are non-bank servicers and their financial health, which by most accounts is better than it was three months ago, so that is good news, although it lessens the chance of a liquidity facility. Of course things are happening at the state level as well. Replacing a statue in Tennessee? (With an entire statue, or just a bust?) Lender Services and Products Maxwells digital mortgage platform continues to make waves in the industry for small to midsize lenders doing $300M or $3B. Their POS experience has expanded quickly, providing meaningful benefits for the 200 lenders who have partnered with them. Yes, were a point-of-sale and now, with our scale, our technology allows us to leverage the power of our community of lenders to offer access to value previously only accessible by the largest lenders, says John Paasonen, the founder and CEO. As we continue to invest millions in our technology, were committed for the long-term to making our lender partners successful. With over billions facilitated through the platform every month, Maxwells growth has been a testament to their commitment to partnership. Learn more about Maxwells unique approach to being a lenders digital mortgage partner Whats next for servicers now that the tsunami of forbearance requests appears to be ebbing? Jane Mason, CEO of Clarifire, a leader in SaaS automated workflow technology, believes the real challenge has just begun. After a record surge in mortgage delinquencies in April, and with efforts to redefine mortgage relief under the CARES Act still ongoing, servicers must shift their focus to streamlining their default servicing operations immediately, Mason said. This is not a simple proposition. Troubled homeowners are relying on servicers to guide them through their relief options. Having just scaled to meet huge volumes of forbearance requests, servicers must now rapidly expand and execute loss mitigation activities amid a completely tumultuous, unpredictable business environment. To navigate this shift, Mason pointed out that servicing organizations may need to rethink their approach to technology. For most servicers, dynamic, automated processing technology may be the only way to achieve the flexibility and efficiency theyll need in the weeks and months ahead, she said. Of course managing LO comp with old-school spreadsheets drains time and resources, but who knew it could deplete your organization to the tune of $1 million per year!? A top-ten lenders cost-benefit analysis showed jaw-dropping annualized savings from automating manual tasks, eliminating redundant processes, and reducing overpayments with incentive compensation management (ICM) platform CompenSafe. The lender found it was spending $346,000 a year in manual comp calculation labor costs and between $500,000$1 million per year in overpayments caused by manual calculation errors! According to the lenders analysis, implementing CompenSafe will allow it to recoup an estimated $900,000 in annualized savings. LBA Ware has made the analysis available for download here. Right now risk experts face a conundrum: payroll data is dangerously outdated, but securing a manual VOE adds delays and opportunities for fraud. But there is good news. In a recent MBA Newslink article, FormFree Founder and CEO Brent Chandler writes that borrowers hold the key in their unique bank account activity and bank statement data. FormFrees AccountChek 3n1 Report already verifies borrower assets, employment and income with direct-source, consumer-permissioned data. And Chandler has shared that soon FormFree will launch a solution that lets applicants deliver their financial DNA to lenders in an underwriter-friendly format. Contact Christy Moss or Gregg Palmer to see how FormFree is overcoming legacy indicators of creditworthiness. Heres why Im so excited about AuI (Authentic Intelligence), Everybodys heard of AuIs cousin Artificial Intelligence. AI is great, or will be someday. But personally, I dont think it will ever replace AuI. Plus, Authentic Intelligence is fully developed, right now. In fact, you already own it. AuI is about using your experience and your knowledge to win business. Its knowing this is a relationship business. A trust-based business. Pretty exciting, right? Authentic Intelligence, nothing artificial about it. Check out how Usherpa helps you use AuI to explode your business. Webinars and Events LAST CALL, WOMEN IN THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY! Its not too late to register for tomorrows live Ask Us Anything event hosted by Breakthrough. Breakthrough is a new forum for women in the mortgage industry created by XINNIX Founder & CEO, Casey Cunningham, and New American Funding President & Co-Founder, Patty Arvielo to connect women mortgage professionals from coast to coast to empower and encourage one another to break through the personal and professional barriers to success. Questions for Patty and Casey can be submitted in advance on the Breakthrough Facebook event or by using #BreakthroughAUA on social media. Join the conversation today by following Breakthrough on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. How can mortgage lenders leverage social media to generate quality leads? On Thursday, June 18 at 11 am PST, the California Mortgage Bankers Association's (California MBA) Mortgage Technology and Marketing Committee is hosting a webinar, An Innovative Social Media Solution that Powers Lead Generation. Sun West Mortgage Company will share how they built an advanced digital marketing and social media process using the OptifiNow CRM platform and C Squared Social, a targeted digital advertising platform. Click here to register and learn about the power of social media-driven lead generation and automated marketing. Join National Mortgage Professional Magazine and Calyx on Thursday, June 18 at 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific, for "Tips for Success: Serving your Borrowers in a Remote World." Properly serving your borrowers can be tricky these days, especially in this unpredictable lending environment. But experienced originators understand the power of adaptability. In this webinar, well outline how the right technology can help you meet your borrowers needs and keep your pipelines flowing. Join us to learn why now is the time to evaluate your technology stack, key factors in offering a contact-free digital mortgage experience, and effective marketing strategies to keep your borrowers engaged. Click here to register. 10,675 Mortgage and Real Estate professionals have already registered! Join them for Sales Mastery 2020: LIVE Digital Experience. Take your business and your team to the next level with industry best practices and cutting-edge LIVE training with our incredible line up of over 40 game-changing presentations and 12 On-Demand Breakout sessions. Learn from world-class keynote speakers such as Todd Duncan, Dr. John C. Maxwell, James Clear, Dr. Rebecca Heiss, Katie Lance, and many more. Check out daily agenda updates here. Get a front-row seat to trusted industry experts presenting solutions to the most relevant issues impacting your business that will change your world for years to come. Don't miss the Sales Mastery 2020 LIVE Digital Experience! Register Now! Executive leaders, bring your entire company with our ENTERPRISE DIGITAL SOLUTION! Celebrate Sales, Operations, Leadership, Marketing: EVERYONE for one low price with 30-days of viewing. NAMMBA is hosting a special state of the industry town hall series titled The COLOR of COVID on Friday, June 19, from 1- 4PM ET. This special town hall will include an open discussion on how COVID 19 has impacted communities of color across the country and solutions the industry can implement to reduce foreclosures. Additionally, MBA's SVP of Affordable Housing Initiatives, Steve OConnor, will share information about MBA's Black Homeownership Initiative. The event will bring together industry stakeholders, policy makers, and CEOs to discuss how we can focus on helping communities of color grow home ownership post COVID-19. Freddie and Fannie in the News Remember that no one is going to hire an advisor to eliminate their own job. In early February, the FHFA hired Houlihan Lokey Capital as a financial advisor to assist in the development and implementation of a roadmap to responsibly end the conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises). While developing the roadmap, Houlihan Lokey will consider business and capital structures, market impacts and timing, and available capital raising alternatives, among other items as outlined in the previously published Statement of Work. Yesterday it was Freddie Macs turn, as J.P. Morgan was picked as a financial advisor to help facilitate the companys recapitalization and exit from conservatorship. The announcement comes following a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process the company announced in May. (Darn it! I knew that I should have returned their phone call a few weeks ago.) J.P. Morgan will provide strategic counsel and perform a range of tasks to help facilitate Freddie Macs exit from conservatorship, including advice and assistance on valuation analysis, consideration of potential capital structures and assessment of capital raising alternatives. And, in an amazing coincidence, yesterday Fannie Mae announced it has hired Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as underwriting financial advisor to assist in developing and implementing a plan for recapitalizing the company and responsibly ending its conservatorship. Selecting an underwriting financial advisor is an important milestone in meeting Fannie Maes 2020 FHFA scorecard objective to prepare a responsible transition plan for a potential exit from conservatorship. And the FHFA will reconsider its January 31 proposal that would have increased some requirements for mortgage companies working with Freddie & Fannie, the government-sponsored enterprises. Yup, the Federal Housing Finance Agency will re-propose its updated minimum financial eligibility requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac seller/servicers. The new benchmarks will take into account the impact from the coronavirus, and are a tangible step forward in the effort to end GSE conservatorship. Smaller lenders requested a delay in the proposal's implementation and welcomed the move. Keep in mind that the new proposal might not be good news, as in capital requirements could actually go up. Recall that the FHFA had proposed a higher capital requirement for single-family seller/servicers, particularly on their Ginnie Mae books of business. Although the minimum net worth standard would have remained unchanged at $2.5 million plus 25 basis points on the unpaid principal balance on their single-family Fannie/Freddie portfolio, seller/servicers would have been required to hold 35 bps on their Ginnie business. On top of that, the enterprise base liquidity requirement was set to go from 3.5 bps to 4.0 bps, but would have risen more sharply to 10 bps on the UPB of Ginnie loans. Now we can all comment again, as hopefully the new requirements arent more onerous. For example, "The Community Home Lenders Association commends FHFA Director Calabria for his announcement that FHFA would be reproposing and reassessing updated financial seller/servicer requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mae, in light of COVID-19," said Scott Olson, executive director of the CHLA, said in a press release. For Fannie Mae Lender Letter updates that extend temporary policies, view its Updates and Resources. At the direction of FHFA and in alignment with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae issued LL-2020-09, introducing a new temporary structure for incentive fees for completed repayment plans, payment deferrals/COVID-19 payment deferrals, and Fannie Mae Flex Modifications. Fannie Mae LL- 2020-08 formalizes the previously announced policy change limiting servicers responsibility to advance principal and interest due for certain delinquent loans to four months of missed payments. This update will become effective for August 2020 remittance activity based on July 2020 reporting activity. Fannie Mae has updated LL- 2020-07, COVID-19 Payment Deferral, to: communicate the $500 incentive fee and reference the new workout option incentive fee structure introduced in Lender Letter LL-2020-09; provide a revised COVID-19 payment deferral agreement; and clarify certain policies. Fannie Mae update SVC 2020-02 includes changes to the pre-modification housing expense-to-income ratio calculation for imminent default and cash contribution, with updated instructions to servicers regarding escrow shortages that are part of the full monthly contractual payment, and an update to the Mortgage Assistance Application (Form 710). Fannie Mae has a LIBOR transition page for information and updates to help you transition to alternative reference rates. Resources include FAQs, playbooks, and timelines for single-family adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), mortgage-backed securities (MBS), and credit risk transfer (CRT). Capital Markets Vice Capital Markets reported an increase in trade volume over the past 90 days, shattering many of its internal company records. Since March, the monthly totals reaching $13.4 billion, and Vice saw a 13% increase in its client base. Read the full announcement here. MCT would like to know the topics you would like to learn about, such as profitability strategies, advanced hedging, or best execution, and submit your ideas by taking this one-minute survey. Dont forget to subscribe to the MCT newsletter to receive updates on the topics you voted for! Yesterday The same news is somehow now new news? Equities were moved by Fed bond-buying and America's reassessing of some reopenings. The Fed followed through on a pledge to buy corporate bonds through its Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility, an emergency lending program that so far has purchased only ETFs. The Fed says it will follow a diversified market index of U.S. corporate bonds created expressly for the facility. Reports state 22 states have rising coronavirus cases including California, Texas, and Florida. Nine states have flat cases while 19 states have declining cases. The 10-year Treasury yield ended the day unchanged at 0.70 percent. As far as economic releases went, the Empire State Manufacturing Survey contracted slightly, but was well above expectations. Its important to take these upcoming readings with a grain of salt, as month-over-month figures could paint a better picture than reality after such truly depressed conditions in April and May. NEC Director Larry Kudlow says he expects a V-shaped recovery, and wants to offer a $600 incentive for Americans to return to work because he believes enhanced unemployment benefits are a "disincentive" to work. Finally, the Mortgage Bankers Associations (MBA) latest Forbearance and Call Volume Survey revealed that the total number of loans now in forbearance increased microscopically from 8.53 percent of servicers portfolio volume in the prior week to 8.55 percent as of June 7. According to MBAs estimate, almost 4.3 million homeowners are now in forbearance plans. Todays economic calendar is already underway with the Bank of Japan leaving rates and asset purchases unchanged, and in the U.S. May retail sales (bouncing back at +17.7 percent, +12.4 percent ex-auto). Later today brings Redbook same store sales for the week ending June 13, May industrial production and capacity utilization, the NAHB Housing Market Index for June, and Fed remarks from both Vice Chair Clarida and the semi-annual monetary policy testimony from Chair Powell. The NY Fed will conduct two FedTrade purchase operations totaling up to $4.349 billion starting with $1.372 billion UMBS15 2 percent and 2.5 percent followed by up to $2.977 billion UMBS30 2.0 percent through 3.0 percent. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices worse/down a few ticks and the 10-year yielding .76 after the solid retail sales figure. Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division this month became the first combat troops to receive the Army's new M110A1 Squad Designated Marksman Rifle. Army weapons officials fielded the new semi-automatic 7.62x51mm SDMR to soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team at Fort Stewart, Georgia in early June, according to a service announcement. Read Next: India Says 20 Soldiers Killed in Clash with Chinese Troops The Army adopted the variant of the Heckler & Koch G28/HK417 as part of an effort to make infantry squads more lethal at longer ranges ahead of the service's planned fielding of the new 6.8mm Next-Generation Squad Weapon system in 2023. Sergeants from the Raider brigade learned how to disassemble and assemble the new rifles before taking them to the sniper range for zeroing with live rounds. "We have given them a rifle that is precise and capable of closing the capability gap of 300-600 meters, which means it fills the maximum firing distance gap between the standard issue rifle and the sniper rifle," David Parris, a former infantryman assigned to the team civilian experts from the Army's Tank-automotive and Armament Command out of Detroit, said in the Army's release. Once the fielding process is complete, these sergeants will act as trainers for squad designated marksmen in their units, according to the release. The Army began pushing to arm infantry squads with more potent weapons in 2017, when leaders told Congress that the service's M855A1 5.56mm enhanced performance round would not penetrate modern enemy body armor. Ultimately, the Army plans to equip infantrymen with rifle and automatic rifle variants of the NGSW, which is chambered to fire a specially-designed 6.8mm projectile. As a short-term fix, the Army selected the new M110A1 -- a weapon it originally chose in 2016 as its new Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System -- to serve as the SDMR. It will be used with the service's new 7.62mm enhanced performance round to give squads more penetrating power to defeat enemy body armor, Army officials say. "This weapon is an upgrade to the whole squad layout, said Sgt. Patrick Nissen, a scout from the 1st ABCT's 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment. "I shoot long range, both in the Army and recreationally, and I really like getting down behind this weapon. ... It is a great rifle, and I really do enjoy it." During the war years, soldiers used the Enhanced Battle Rifle 14 in Iraq and Afghanistan. A modernized version of the 7.62mm M14, the EBR was equipped with an adjustable aluminum stock with pistol grip, scope and bipod legs and was capable of reaching out to hit enemy fighters at longer ranges. But it was heavy, weighing just under 15 pounds. The M110A1 SDMR weighs about 11 pounds. Heckler & Koch Defense Inc. officials announced last year that they planned to deliver up to 6,000 new SDMRs to the Army this year. The rifles are manufactured by H&K in Oberndorf, Germany and then shipped to the H&K-USA facility in Columbus, Georgia, where H&K-USA workers install scopes and mounts purchased by the Army under a separate agreement. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related: Army and Marines to Arm Snipers with Special Operations Multi-Caliber Sniper Rifle With coronavirus infections on the rise, ahead of the formulation of new strategies, the Assam government has decided to launch the Assam Targeted Surveillance Programme (ATSP) on Wednesday to randomly test 50,000 samples in 11 days, according to officials here on Tuesday. Assam Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Samir Kumar Sinha said the random testing under the ATSP would be conducted in four categories of people. In his order, which was tagged to the twitter handle of Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Sinha said under the ATSP, random testing of people and workers involved in truck parking, loading and unloading of goods, including railway goods and godowns, would be conducted. Similar random testing would be conducted on all frontline district officials, including health workers, police personnel, officials of the transport department and the district administration, those associated with Covid-19 management, hotel staff and family members of people released from the institutional quarantine centres. Earlier, the Health Minister said if a sizable number of positive cases were found after testing 50,000 samples, several stringent measures, including total lockdown, would be re-imposed in Guwahati and other vulnerable places. "The new strategies are being considered to check the coronavirus spread in Assam," Sarma said. Assam has tested 2.20 lakh samples and found 4,319 Covid-19 cases. It has now 2,103 active cases. While 2,205 patients have recovered, eight people, including a 16 years-old girl, died. Assam's neighbour Mizoram, which has inter-state borders with Covid-19-hit Tripura and Manipur, on June 8 re-imposed lockdown for two more weeks to curb the coronavirus spread following return of natives from different parts of the country. Of the eight northeastern states, only Mizoram was a green state until June 1 as the state, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh, became Covid-19 free after its lone patient recovered on May 9. However, with the return of thousands of natives from southern and western states, Mizoram's Covid-19 cases climbed to 121 in two weeks. All the 120 new cases (after one recovered) are active. Iran warns IAEA board against falling under US, Israel pressure Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 9:19 AM Iran's Foreign Ministry has warned the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Board of Governors against targeting Tehran under pressure from the United States and Israel. "Should an unconstructive decision as such be taken, Iran is likely to respond with a proportionate reaction," ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in Tehran on Monday during a regular press briefing, adding, "They can probably guess what Iran's reaction will be." The board is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting and discuss a range of matters later Monday, but a controversial report that the IAEA recently released about Iran is expected to take center stage. The report apparently alleged that "Iran has for months blocked inspections at two sites where nuclear activity may have occurred in the past," AFP reported earlier in the month. The Islamic Republic, however, strongly rejects any allegations of non-cooperation with the IAEA, insisting that it is prepared to resolve any potentially outstanding differences with the United Nations nuclear agency. "The basis of the meeting is allegations made by the Zionist regime," Mousavi said, denouncing the IAEA for acting on Israel's claims. The agency should instead retain its neutrality and base its reports on concrete and legally-obtained information. Tel Aviv and Washington are notorious for continually alleging the existence of diversionary aspects to Iran's nuclear activities. This is while the agency has closed a dossier addressing "possible military dimensions" of the Islamic Republic's nuclear energy program. "They are opening up a closed case. The basis for their allegations is the information that is claimed to have been obtained through espionage by the Zionist regime and [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu," Mousavi said. The spokesman called it "regrettable" that the agency has chosen to ignore Tehran's long history of cooperation with it in favor of the accusations leveled by the Israeli regime, which is infamous for its antagonism towards Iran's Islamic establishment and the international order. However, the official hoped that the Board of Governors' meeting would not lead to the issuance of any resolution targeting Iran, cautioning that such a decision "would somehow complicate Iran's cooperation with the agency." Arms embargo extension 'red line' Mousavi also addressed the issue of the United States' intention to extend an arms embargo against Iran that will expire in October under a 2015 nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic and world powers. The US illegally and unilaterally left the agreement officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. Washington, however, claims that it is still a JCPOA member because it is "named" so in the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the nuclear agreement. Mousavi expressed hope that no party would try to have the embargo prolonged, calling its potential extension "a red line." UN Yemen report 'baseless' The ministry spokesman separately pointed to a recent report by the UN Secretariat alleging that "the cruise missiles and/or parts thereof" that hit Saudi Arabian oil facilities last year "are of Iranian origin." Mousavi denounced the report as baseless, saying it has been produced under pressure from the US and the Saudi regime. Yemen's popular Houthi Ansarullah movement has claimed full responsibility for the missile strikes that came in retaliation for the Saudi invasion of the impoverished country. Underlining Washington's influence on the world body and its activities, Mouasvi, said, "Note that the US has been holding international organizations hostage for years on end." South Korea not allowed to block Iran assets The official finally pointed to South Korea's blocking of Iranian assets under pressure from the US which has imposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran since leaving the JCPOA in 2018. Mousavi said Tehran has long been seeking to unblock the assets, adding Seoul "is not allowed" to retain them for an extended period under the pretext of toeing the line on Iran sanctions. He called the sanctions "an arbitrary decision" by a country which is trying to exert pressure against Iran and its trade partners in a bullying manner, advising South Korea not to sacrifice its 50-year-old-plus relations with the Islamic Republic for the sake of the United States. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bank of Ireland shares shot up as much as 11pc on Tuesday, leading an Irish stock market surge turbo charged by increasing certainty of a centre right led government and the prospect of a construction heavy stimulus package. AIB (+9.16pc) and landlords Hibernia Reit (+3.50pc) and Ires Reit (+1.46pc) were also swept higher as the market digested the implications of the programme for government (pfg) published on Monday. The ISEQ 20 index of major Irish shares outperformed European peers on Tuesday, led by the banks. Davy analysts Diarmaid Sheridan said global shares were up anyway on Tuesday after fresh support from the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan. In Ireland, the increased likelihood of a centre right government gave an added boost to bank shares in particular which had sold off sharply after the February 8 general election on the prospect a left wing Sinn Fein led government might emerge, he said. Concrete moves to put a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Green government in place by the end of this month have removed that perceived risk. The prospect of a stimulus plan including retrofitting and mortgage supports for homebuyers is also seen as positive for banks, he said. Builders Cairn and Glenveagh and builders suppliers like Kingspan also saw shares rise. D avid Cameron has warned that merging the Department for International Development (DfID) with the Foreign Office will cause the UK to lose respect on the world stage. The former Conservative leader said that Boris Johnson's decision to merge the two departments was a "mistake", in a pointed public rebuke of his former political rival. "More could and should be done to co-ordinate aid and foreign policy, including through the National Security Council, but the end of DFID-UK will mean less expertise, less voice for development at the top table and ultimately less respect for the UK overseas," he tweeted. Mr Johnson announced the move on Tuesday to MPs, saying: Distinctions between diplomacy and overseas development are artificial and outdated. The new combined department, which will be known as the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office when it launches in September, will be led by Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab. Mr Johnson has signalled that funding for the new department may be directed in areas of strategic geopolitical interest for Britain, such as Ukraine. But the Government has said it will maintain a statutory commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of gross national income on overseas aid. In his rare intervention into current political debates since leaving office, Mr Cameron - a long-term public supporter of DfID - added that he believes that the Prime Minister was was "right to maintain the commitment to 0.7 - it saves lives, promotes a safer world and builds British influence". He was joined in his criticism of the merger by fellow former premiere Tony Blair, who criticised the move as wrong and regressive. In a statement, Mr Blair said: I am utterly dismayed by the decision to abolish Dfid. We created Dfid in 1997 to play a strong, important role in projecting British soft power. It has done so to general global acclaim. It is a leader in both programmes and thought in development, helping millions of the worlds most vulnerable to be relieved of poverty and killer diseases. The strategic aims of alignment with diplomacy and focus on new areas of strategic interest to Britain could be accomplished without its abolition. Wrong and regressive move. Also among those condemning the decision were former international development secretaries from the Prime Minister's own party. Justine Greening attacked the move being made while the fight against Covid-19 is ongoing, saying: People will find it hard to see why its a priority to have a departmental organisation. Tony Blair has weighed into the debate / PA Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the announcement is a distraction from how poorly the Government is handling the pandemic. Sir Keir said: We should see this statement for what it is, the tactics of pure distraction. He added: A few hours ago the ONS figures showed a fall of 600,000 people on the payroll. The economy contracted by 20% in April and we could be on a verge of the return to mass unemployment, something weve not seen for a generation. Weve also one of the highest death rolls from Covid-19 in the world, at least 41,700 deaths and likely to be far greater than that. And in the last hour the Government has u-turned on free school meals. Loading.... Mr Starmer said: This statement is intended to deflect attention from all of that and can I assure the Prime Minister it will not work. Happy Accidents A Memoir Jane Lynch Hyperion/Voice: 304 pp., $25.99 Advertisement -- Way back in the mists of time, when Lea Michele was a name known only to theater geeks and Dont Stop Believin still belonged to The Sopranos, the thing that excited most critics, and many fans, about this new show Glee was not so much jazz hands as Jane. Jane Lynch, the hilarious performer whose appearances on shows as diverse as Two and a Half Men and The L Word, in the films of Christopher Guest and Judd Apatow, were always stellar if all too brief. Finally, she had landed a steady gig on a big show -- the whole musical thing might not work, the young unknowns might turn out to be duds, but at least this crazy new show had Lynch. Glee, of course, went on to redefine hit and Lynch, finally, got her due: Not only did she win an Emmy last year, shes nominated again, and hosting Sunday nights ceremony. But in the shows down months, while everyone else took to the road with live shows, Lynch apparently stayed home and wrote her memoir, Happy Accidents, proving, once again, that theres no predicting things in Hollywood. Those expecting something like the breezy wit and easily excerpted essays that marked Tina Feys Bossypants or the bipolar fearlessness of Lynchs own comedy will be disappointed. Theres plenty of fearlessness in Happy Accidents, but it is of a much more straightforward variety. What Lynch has written, in simple declarative English, is a no-frills, plain-spoken memoir in which the juicy stuff -- her struggles with alcoholism and her sexuality, the emotional and financial turmoil of a performers life -- is related in the same calm, clear-eyed tone as the boring stuff -- her loving family, her supportive friends, her happy marriage. Tossing brand to the wind, Lynch is, for once, not going for laughs; shes going for something remarkably close to wisdom. She was a child of the American heartland (Dolton, Ill., a suburb of Chicago) circa the late 60s, early 70s, and her life has echoes of quintessential Boomerdom. Her father worked in a bank, her mother was a homemaker, and as much as she loved and admired her, young Jane had no interest in such a life. She knew early on that she was different -- for one thing she wanted to perform; for another, she liked girls. This sense of otherness was thrilling and terrifying, amping up the normal roller coaster of adolescence so that Lynch found herself embracing the melodramatic potential of it all and soothing herself with a lot of alcohol. Beginning with a transformative experience in a high school production of Godspell followed by a theatrical arts degree at Illinois State University, an MFA from Cornell and a brief unhappy stint in New York, Lynch returned to Chicago. There, after landing a role in a local production of Shakespeares The Comedy of Errors that she quickly sabotaged -- The combination of being in a Shakespeare company and having an MFA from Cornell turned me into an even bigger more impossible pain in the ass than Id been before -- Lynch discovered Second City and her calling in life: improvisational comedy. Happy Accidents is, on one level, a straightforward, well-observed chronicle of Lynchs life. She leaves Second City and gets a break playing Carol in the play The Real Live Brady Bunch, which becomes a huge hit. She drinks so much she finally decides to stop (replacing booze with NyQuil). The show moves Lynch to New York, where she blows her sobriety and then ditches the NyQuil and joins AA, becomes obsessed with the Indigo Girls and yoga, and discovers the gay and lesbian community center. She moves to L.A., finds a good therapist and decides to come out to her parents who are, not surprisingly, not surprised. She gets a role in The Fugitive, does a one-woman show, meets Christopher Guest and is cast in Best in Show. Then comes A Mighty Wind and The L Word, a role as Meryl Streeps sister in Julie & Julia, and though shes working all the time, she cant seem to get one steady job until, of course, Glee. She finally really truly falls in love, wins an Emmy and gets to work with Carol Burnett, who wrote the foreword to the memoir. There is name-dropping, but not a lot; praise for other performers, but not a sickening amount. There is frustration over the difficulties of being a female performer who doesnt fit the beauty ideal, of being praised but not hired, of being hired but not put on contract, but Lynch is not big on pointing the finger except at herself. Or at least at past versions of herself, when she isolated herself and then shivered in loneliness, pushed people away and then moaned about not being loved. The only problem with Happy Accidents is the title -- theres nothing accidental about Lynchs success as a performer and nothing accidental about her ability to tell this complex story with such refreshing simplicity. Just as she continued to put one foot in front of the other as a performer, she also did the necessary work to become the sort of person able to look back over a life that would drive many memoirists to hyperbole if not histrionics with astonishing perspective. There is nothing salacious about Happy Endings, nothing incendiary or shocking, no moments of high drama or soul-rattling revelation. But it doesnt need any of that because, of course, it has Jane Lynch. -- mary.mcnamara@latimes.com Lavrov says, after meeting Zarif, Russia will do everything to preserve nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Russia has promised to stand by its ally, Iran, amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear programme as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Moscow. Lavrov said on Tuesday Russia would do everything to preserve a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers that started to unravel two years ago when the US renounced it and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. We will be doing everything so that no one can destroy these agreements, Lavrov told reporters after face-to-face talks with Zarif. Washington has no right to punish Iran. He said Russia would firmly oppose any attempts to use this situation in order to manipulate the (United Nations) Security Council and to promote an anti-Iranian agenda. On his part, Zarif described developments around the Iranian nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as very dangerous. Abandoned commitments Iran committed under the deal to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief and other benefits. But the Islamic Republic has slowly abandoned its commitments after US President Donald Trumps decision to withdraw from the deal. Irans stockpile of enriched uranium is currently almost eight times the limit fixed in the accord, according to an assessment by the UNs nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, the level of enrichment is still far below what would be needed for a nuclear weapon. On Monday, the IAEA called on Iran to allow prompt access to two sites where past nuclear activity may have occurred. TORONTO and BARBADOS, June 15, 2020 /CNW/ - Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. (the "Company") announced today that at the annual and special meeting (the "Annual Meeting") of holders of common shares (the "Shareholders") of the Company held on June 15, 2020, the Shareholders of the Company voted in favour of the adjournment of the Annual Meeting until June 30, 2020. The re-convened Annual Meeting will be held virtually at https://web.lumiagm.com/221850876 on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (Toronto, Canada) (11:00 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time (Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago) and 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (Jamaica)). Details for the Annual Meeting are provided on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile, at https://docs.tsxtrust.com/2173 and on the Company's website at https://www.sagicor.com/en/Investor-Relations/Annual-General-Meeting. The business to be transacted at the re-convened Annual Meeting will be the same as set out in the notice of the Annual Meeting dated May 1, 2020. Proxy forms already received will remain valid at the re-convened Annual Meeting. Proxy voting has been reopened following the adjourned Annual Meeting until June 26, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (Toronto, Canada) (11:00 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time (Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago) and 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (Jamaica)). For those registered Shareholders who have yet to vote or wish to participate on June 30 at the re-convened Annual Meeting, control numbers may be obtained by emailing [email protected]. About Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. (TSX: SFC) is a leading financial services provider in the Caribbean, with almost 180 years of history, and has a growing presence as a provider of life insurance products in the United States. Sagicor offers a wide range of products and services, including life, health, and general insurance, banking, pensions, annuities, and real estate. Sagicor's registered office is located at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda, with its principal office located at Cecil F De Caires Building, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados. Additional information about Sagicor can be obtained by visiting www.sagicor.com. SOURCE Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. For further information: Media, Ingrid Card, Vice President, Group Marketing, Communications & Brand Experience, Tel: 246-230-5315, [email protected]; Investors, Samantha Cheung, Executive Vice President, Investor Relations, Tel: 416-898-4324 or 1-800-342-0719, [email protected] or [email protected] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin -- (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, June 17 2020 The Indonesian Military (TNI) suffered from two separate aircraft crashes in less than two weeks, which will seriously affect its readiness to carry out missions, especially during the recent regional dynamics. On Monday, an aging British-made Hawk 209 crashed just as it was about to land at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru, Riau, from a routine training mission. The pilot safely ejected before the single-seater, single-engine fighter crashed into a residential area about 5 kilometers from the air force base. Following the crash, Air Force chief of staff Air Chief Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo on Tuesday suspended the operation of all Hawk jet fighters pending investigation results. The pilot, First Lt. Aprianto Ismail, reported a strange loud noise before the aircraft suffered from a power failure. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Photo taken on April 22, 2020 shows the medical face masks donated by China Railway Group Limited at the stockhouse of Lao Health Ministry in Vientiane, capital of Laos. (Photo by Pan Longzhu/Xinhua) Xi said he is deeply gratified to know that China's assistance has played a positive role in Laos' fight against the coronavirus disease. He also said he believes that with joint efforts of China and Laos as well as the international community, a final victory will surely be achieved in the battle against the pandemic. BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Laos in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, said General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. In a verbal message sent to Bounnhang Vorachith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos, Xi said he believes that with joint efforts of China and Laos as well as the international community, a final victory will surely be achieved in the battle against the pandemic. File photo shows Xi Jinping (R), general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, holding talks with Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit, who is also general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Expressing his pleasure to receive a warm and friendly letter from Bounnhang, Xi said he is deeply gratified to know that China's assistance has played a positive role in Laos' fight against the coronavirus disease. On behalf of the CPC and the Chinese government and people, Xi extended sincere congratulations to the Lao side on the initial victory the neighboring country has achieved in COVID-19 prevention and control under the strong leadership of the LPRP Central Committee headed by Bounnhang. Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two parties and countries, and stands ready to work with Bounnhang to push for sound implementation of the important consensuses the two sides have reached, and steadily carry forward the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future, so as to create more benefits for the two countries and their people. Lao Minister of Health Bounkong Sihavong (2nd L) sees off the Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team at the Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, April 12, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) In a letter of gratitude sent to Xi earlier on China's support for Laos' fight against COVID-19, Bounnhang noted that the CPC and the Chinese government, at the request of Laos and under Xi's instructions, swiftly sent a team of medical experts to Laos, and have provided a large amount of anti-epidemic supplies and therapeutic drugs, in order to help Laos contain the virus outbreak and treat the patients. China's assistance, he added, fully reflects the time-honored close friendship and the brotherly and comradely relationship of cooperation and mutual assistance between the two parties, countries and peoples, vividly demonstrates the spirit of the Laos-China community with a shared future, and has made important contributions to Laos' effective response to the COVID-19 epidemic and protection of people's lives and health. Representatives from Lao Ministry of Health and designated hospitals attend a video conference on COVID-19 prevention and control with medical experts from China's Shanghai in Vientiane, Laos, April 13, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) On behalf of the LPRP Central Committee, the Lao government and the Lao people of all ethnic groups, as well as in his own name, Bounnhang extended sincere gratitude and high respect to Xi and, through Xi, to the CPC Central Committee, the Chinese government and the brotherly Chinese people, who have for long attached great importance to, cared about and supported the revolutionary and construction causes undertaken by Laos' party, government and people of all ethnic groups. He wished the brotherly Chinese people continuous and greater successes in advancing the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and realizing China's two centenary goals under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at its core. He also expressed his hope that the traditional Laos-China friendship, the long-standing and stable Laos-China comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation and the building of the Laos-China community with a shared future will continue to flourish and bring more tangible benefits to both peoples. Hundreds of sunseekers from Germany landed on the Spanish island of Mallorca on Monday, the first tourists allowed into the country since borders were shut in March to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. More than 1,500 German holidaymakers are expected in the Balearic Islands as part of a pilot project that will open a chink in a sector that accounts for 12% of Spains economy, before restrictions are loosened next week. Visitors temperatures were taken at the airport and regional leader Francina Armengol said they must follow health and safety rules. This virus is still infecting, still killing people all around the world, so until there is a vaccine our best way to be safe is a mask, keeping our distance, and washing our hands, she told a news conference. Installed by a hotel pool and free of the mask the group wore in transit, tourist Marcel Leifholz said, It is easier to switch off here, the weather isnt as changeable as in Germany. Hotels on the Mediterranean islands are limited to 50% occupancy and will have infra-red cameras to measure body temperatures. The scheme was authorised to host as many as 10,900 through July 1, but will end up covering around 1,500 exclusively after the government decided to reopen to most European visitors from June 21, when other tourism should start up alongside the pilot. Another pilot flight arrived in Mallorca later on Monday, airport operator Aena said. One of the worlds most popular tourist destinations, Spain is now due to start letting in visitors from outside Europe from July 1. European nations eased border controls on Monday following a broad decline in the number of coronavirus cases, but pre-crisis travel levels are a way off. Last year, Germans made up one third of international tourists to the Balearic Islands, an archipelago off Spains east coast that includes the party island of Ibiza. Spains virus lockdown caught Mallorca as it was gearing up for summer and has shaved weeks off the tourist season, but senior TUI executive Sebastian Ebel said the island had reason to hope business would be good. Its Germans favourite destination - the closeness, the hospitality and the high health standards will encourage people who are still uncertain to come, Ebel told the news conference. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter North Korea has blown up the inter-Korean liaison office in their city of Gaesong just above the North-South border and the destruction was forewarned as part of Pyongyangs series of threats to escalate tensions. The North has been sharply criticizing the South Korean government for not doing enough to stop citizens groups flying balloons into the North that contain anti-Pyongyang leaflets. [The] South Korean government did show strong willingness to restrict these leaflets sent by North Korean defectors in the South. But North Korea is adamant to bring inter-Korean relations back to the hostile era and seems to conclude that theres nothing more to expect from South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Cheong Seong Chang, Director of Center for North Korean Studies at The Sejong Institute in Seoul, told ABC News. The destruction is largely a symbolic act but designed to send a strong message to South Korea. MORE: US charges North Koreans, Chinese nationals in multi-billion dollar money laundering scheme PHOTO: Smoke rises in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, seen from Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. South Korea says that North Korea has exploded an inter-Korean liaison office building just north of the tense Korean border. (Yonhap via AP) MORE: Trump, South Korea pour cold water on rumors about Kim Jong Un, nearly three weeks after last appearance Pyongyang has continuously displayed anger and disappointment over the deadlocked nuclear negotiations. Analysts say this is part of a carefully choreographed staged plan to attract international attention back to nuclear issues as North Korea is running out of time to reach a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump who faces presidential elections in November. Pyongyang wants South Korea to play a more significant role to push Washington to come back to nuclear negotiations. The demolition of the building, a symbol of peace and reconciliation between the two Koreas, posed a serious setback to South Koreas Moon administration that worked hard to open dialogue with the North. North's destruction of the inter-Korean joint liaison office violated expectations for the development of inter-Korean relations and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula. This government makes it clear that the North is fully responsible for all the consequences. We express our stern warning that we will respond strongly if the North continues to take steps to aggravate the situation, National Security Council Secretary General Kim You-geun said in a statement on behalf of South Koreas presidential office. North Korea blows up liaison office with South Korea originally appeared on abcnews.go.com President Trump said Monday that he's 'heard some great reports' about the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine treating the coronavirus, so didn't understand why the Food and Drug Administration revoked its emergency use authorization for the drug. 'I have heard so many people who are so thrilled with the results from Hydroxy,' Trump said. During a White House meeting, Trump told reporters that he 'didn't know about the report' that the FDA put out, but he had heard good things out of France, Spain and other places. President Trump said during a roundtable event Monday that he had 'heard some great reports' on the effectiveness of using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, despit the Food and Drug Administration revoking its emergency use authorization for the drug Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Monday that hydroxychloroquine is still being studied for possible use at an earlier stage of COVID-19 progression Trump turned to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar noting that the only place he hadn't heard good news about the malaria drug was 'coming out of Alex's agency,' asking the cabinet head what gives. Azar said the drug is still being studied for possible use at an earlier stage of the disease. 'A lot of the data that has come out that was more negative was people who were quite ill in the hospital,' Azar said. Based on new evidence, the FDA said Monday it was no longer reasonable to believe that hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine may be effective in treating the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The FDA also warned that the drugs have been shown in lab studies to interfere with Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir - the only medicine so far to show a benefit against COVID-19 in formal clinical trials. The move comes after several studies of the decades-old malaria pills suggested they were not effective either as a treatment for or to prevent COVID-19. British scientists earlier this month halted a large trial after deciding that hydroxychloroquine was 'useless' at treating COVID-19 patients. Hydroxychloroquine's anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties suggested it might help COVID-19 patients, and the FDA authorized its emergency use in March at the height of a pandemic for which there were no approved treatments. The early enthusiasm was partly based on laboratory experiments in which the drug appeared to neutralize the virus. Chloroquine, which is not approved for any use in the United States and has more side effects, has not fared any better in human clinical trials. In March, Trump said hydroxychloroquine in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin had 'a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine,' with little evidence to back up that claim. He later said he took the drugs preventively after two people who worked at the White House were diagnosed with COVID-19, and he urged others to try it. 'I can't complain about it, I took it for two weeks and I'm here - here we are,' Trump told reporters Monday. He answered in the affirmative when asked if he would still give quantities of hydroxychloroquine to Brazil. Trump said he would because Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had asked for it. Brazil has become a coronavirus hotspot in the last several weeks, as deaths near 44,000 Brazilians. Last month ths U.S. sent 2 million doses of hydroxychloroquine to Brazil. But France, Italy and Belgium late last month halted use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients. In the U.S., Americans can still get the drug and use it against COVID-19 if their doctors prescribe it. San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Tuesday will introduce a sweeping proposal for the November ballot to reform the citys complex patchwork of business taxes and potentially unlock around $300 million in revenue that has been collected, but remains off-limits and unspent because of ongoing legal disputes. The measure largely reflects the conclusions of an examination of the citys business taxes that began last summer. That review, reflecting input from city leaders and the business community, was intended to shape a ballot measure that would simplify and stabilize the tax system, while potentially bringing in more money. But with the city and much of its business community confronting an unprecedented economic collapse brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Breeds measure, which would raise an estimated $300 million for the general fund over the next two fiscal years, takes on added urgency. Business taxes are among the biggest revenue sources for San Franciscos general fund, ordinarily bringing in more than $1 billion annually. By October, city officials will have to find a way to close a $1.7 billion hole in the general fund over the next two fiscal years attributed to the coronavirus crisis. The mayors initiative is not intended to be the end of ongoing deliberations over business-tax reform, nor is there any guarantee that the version of the measure shell introduce Tuesday will be what voters see in November. Rather, it will help set the boundaries for what likely will be a frantic few months of debate with the Board of Supervisors to create a unified vision of business-tax reform that the citys elected leaders can uniformly support ahead of the election. In a world where we are living with COVID-19 and its impact on our budget, we have to be creative and collaborative to do whats best for San Francisco, Breed said in a statement. I look forward to continuing our work with the Board of Supervisors, the business community, and all those who are focused on meeting the challenges our city is facing. In an effort to demonstrate a good-faith commitment toward the negotiations, Breed will introduce one version of her measure with the Board of Supervisors that can be debated and amended before its finalized for the ballot. While Breed and the board agree on the broad contours of a plan for reform, they have not yet agreed on how much to increase the gross-receipts-tax rate, which is based on a companys total gross revenue, or how quickly to raise it. Both the mayor and the board agree an increase is necessary, but Breed is aiming for a smaller, more gradual rise to reduce the pressures on businesses already decimated by the pandemic. Supervisors are looking to raise rates more quickly to bring in as much money as possible. As a backup in the event discussions with the board fray or fall apart, Breed is also signing a second measure directly onto the ballot that would enact several reforms that reflect where she, the business community and the board are generally aligned. That version will not include the proposed gross-receipts-tax increase, which would gradually take effect as the economy improves. The board is expected to submit on Tuesday its own tax-reform ballot proposal, which likely will include the supervisors opening gambit around the pace and size of the tax increase. We are proposing a balanced measure that provides relief to our small businesses, jump starts our economy, and prevents massive cuts to our critical public services by asking our most profitable corporations to pay their fair share, Board President Norman Yee said in a statement. There will be many discussions as we move this proposal ahead and we are committed to seeing a strong, unified measure for Novembers ballot. But both sides say theyre optimistic that a deal can be reached in time to present a harmonized plan for reform in front of voters. I think theres wide agreement that negotiations will continue, and we hope to have a single proposal that everyone can get behind. I believe thats very doable, thats my goal for sure, Supervisor Matt Haney said. Four elements embedded in both versions of Breeds measures reflect the areas of the broadest agreement between her administration and the board. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. One element of the proposal would free up the roughly $300 million in business taxes that the city has collected but cannot be spent pending the outcome of two court cases. Pro-business and anti-tax groups have sued the city claiming officials illegally allowed a pair of 2018 ballot measures to pass with simple majorities, rather than two-thirds supermajorities. The city won both cases at the trial court level, but both are being appealed. While the taxes are still being collected, City Controller Ben Rosenfield has said the city cannot spend the money until the cases are fully resolved, which likely will take years. To get around that blockade, Breeds proposal would allow the city to start using the money its already collected for homelessness and child care programs under those previously approved ballot measures. If the city loses its court cases, and those prior taxes are struck down, the city could use the new tax, which would replace them, to pay for court-ordered refunds and to continue funding the child care and homelessness programs. If the city wins, it could begin freely using the 2018 taxes and the new taxes would be shelved. The new taxes would be created along with the rest of the provisions in the mayors proposal if the measure gets a simple majority of votes but they would take effect only if the city loses the court cases. There would be no clear standing for anyone to challenge the new tax since the money would be deposited into the citys general fund, and such taxes require only a simple-majority vote. Breeds measure would also do away with the payroll tax for most businesses, a city goal nearly a decade in the making. The measure would also expand the number of businesses subject to the citys gross-receipts tax. If the measure passes, businesses making $1.5 million or less in gross receipts would be exempt from the tax. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa Ant Middleton has issued an apology for labelling the Black Lives Matter movement 'absolute scum'. In a now-deleted tweet, the SAS: Who Dares Wins star, 39, claimed the organization - dedicated to bringing 'justice, healing, and freedom' to black people in protest against police brutality - and EDL 'aren't welcome on our streets' after far-right groups gathered around British memorials and clashed with police on Saturday. The ex-soldier has since expressed his regret over his comments, insisted he 'didn't want to imply that BLM and EDL are equivalent', and declared he's 'anti-racist and anti-violence.' 'I am anti-racist and anti-violence': Ant Middleton has issued an apology for labelling the Black Lives Matter movement 'absolute scum' According to The Mirror, the original tweet read: 'The extreme left against the extreme right. When did two wrongs make a right. 'It was only a matter of time. BLM and EDL are not welcome on our streets, absolute scum. What a great example you are to your future generation. Bravo.' (sic) The media personality attempted to clarify his comments as he uploaded a video to apologise for his 'inappropriate and offensive' message. Ant, who joined the British Army aged 17 in 1997 before he served in the Royal Marines from 2005 until 2012, said: 'I would just like to clarify a tweet I made this weekend, which I deleted after I realised it could cause offence. Regret: In a now-deleted tweet, the SAS: Who Dares Wins star, 39, claimed the movement and the far-right EDL 'aren't welcome on our streets' after groups clashed with police on Saturday ANT MIDDLETON'S FULL APOLOGY FOLLOWING HIS CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK LIVES MATTER 'I would just like to clarify a tweet I made this weekend, which I deleted after I realised it could cause offence. 'I retweeted a video of the violence, terror and chaos which was happening in the streets of London. 'At no point was I calling the BLM scum and comparing the two organisations. The word scum was used to describe those who was causing terror and setting a bad example for the future generation. 'I was angry and I just wanted to get that tweet out to say it was unacceptable. For people who know me, I'm a people's person. 'I love people, I am anti-racist, anti-violence, having lived and seen what violence does to people and countries. I apologise if my tweet came across as offensive, I'm here to push positive change.' Advertisement 'I retweeted a video of the violence, terror and chaos which was happening in the streets of London. 'At no point was I calling the BLM scum and comparing the two organisations. The word scum was used to describe those who was causing terror and setting a bad example for the future generation. 'I was angry and I just wanted to get that tweet out to say it was unacceptable. For people who know me, I'm a people's person. 'I love people, I am anti-racist, anti-violence, having lived and seen what violence does to people and countries. I apologise if my tweet came across as offensive, I'm here to push positive change.' The TV star captioned his clip: 'Posting a message in relation to a tweet I took down over the weekend. I took it down immediately but I wanted to make sure I've been clear and upfront about why I took it down...' (sic) Over the weekend, he also tweeted: 'What I have witnessed today has truly saddened me! Extreme groups running riots, threatening the very safety of the country that Ive fought and sacrificed for! 'How are we to bring up our children in this country when you are destroying it! Cant you thugs see what youre doing?!' (sic) A Channel 4 spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Channel 4 has a clear commitment to being an anti-racist organisation. 'Comments made by Ant Middleton on his social media accounts are entirely his own and in no way represent the views of Channel 4. 'We have spoken to him and he has apologised.' 'I want to be clear': The media personality attempted to clarify his comments as he uploaded a video to apologise for his 'inappropriate and offensive' message 'Can't you thugs see what you're doing?!' Ant shared his disappointment at the violence he witnessed at demonstrations in the English capital Daredevil: The TV star is best known for his role as the Chief Instructor on the Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins The official Black Lives Matter protest planned for Saturday in London was cancelled by the movement over fears it would be hijacked by far-right groups. Anti-racism protesters marched peacefully, while a large number of far-right hooligans attacked police as they claimed to protect the country's historical monuments following calls for the statues to be removed, after slave trader Edward Colston's sculpture was thrown into the river in Bristol. Weyman Bennett, of Stand Up To Racism, told The Mirror it was 'mad' for Ant to compare BLM with the EDL, stating: 'There is a side calling for justice and the other is not. 'Channel 4 have to go through a process of educating and making sure Ant Middleton takes the right side of history.' Caution: The BLM protest planned for Saturday in London (some anti-racism protesters pictured) was cancelled by the movement over fears it would be hijacked by far-right groups George Floyd's death at the hands of a white police man has sparked weeks of demonstrations across the world over police brutality against black people. George, 46, an African-American man, died on May 25 after Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The policeman accused of killing George was taken into custody last month and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, officials said. Black Lives Matter, which was first founded in 2013 following the acquittal of George Zimmerman and was nationally recognized for its involvement in the Ferguson protests in 2014, has been galvanized once more following the death of George. The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 435,000, with more than 8 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness. Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions. Turkmenistan Turkmenistan, the only country in Central Asia that has not officially registered coronavirus cases, has reportedly locked down two major hospitals amid concerns of a possible COVID-19 outbreak. Sources close to health authorities told RFE/RL on June 15 that medical personnel at the Infection Hospital in Ashgabat had not been allowed to leave the facility for days and were barred from using phones. "One of the physicians managed to call his relatives and told them to leave their homes as little as possible and to not send their children to kindergartens," one source said. A hospital employee told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that the medical institution was overwhelmed with patients with pneumonia, including people in grave condition, some of whom had died. Sources close to local health authorities in the capital of the eastern Lebap province, Turkmenabat, told RFE/RL on June 15 that a major hospital in the city had been locked down as well after a coronavirus test of one nurse came positive for the second time. According to the sources, the hospital is currently cordoned off by police and its medical personnel for the first time since the pandemic had started received individual protection garments and equipment. Another source close to the government told RFE/RL that Turkmen officials were getting ready to officially announce for the first time registered coronavirus cases in the country. It has been impossible to get either confirmation or denial of that information from the officials of the tightly controlled Central Asian nation. With reporting by RFE/RL's Turkmen Service Two New Jersey Transit customers were arrested last week after attacking train conductors in separate incidents, officials said. A 29-year-old Plainfield man on a New York-bound Northeast Corridor train refused to pay his fare and then punched a conductor in the face, head and neck multiple times at about 1:15 p.m. on June 9, a New Jersey Transit spokesman said Monday. Sherely Alexandre first provided officers a false name when he was taken into custody at the Newark Liberty International Airport station. He was charged with aggravated assault, hindering apprehension and theft of services before being brought to the Essex County jail. The conductor was treated at a local hospital for injuries not considered life-threatening. Less than two hours later, a 24-year-old New York City man pushed and shoved a conductor and took the conductors radio while on a Summit-bound Morris & Essex train, officials said. Adolpho Bonner, of the Jamaica section Queens, was arrested when the train arrived at Secaucus Junction shortly after 3 p.m. He was charged with aggravated assault and released. The conductor declined to be treated. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China and urged both sides to exercise "maximum restraint," his spokesperson said on Tuesday. A total of 20 Indian Army personnel were martyred during a violent clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley on Monday night, escalating the already volatile border standoff between the two sides, an Army statement said on Tuesday. Eri Kaneko, Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, made the comments at the daily press briefing. Follow live updates on the LAC faceoff here We are concerned about reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China and urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint. We take positive note of reports that the two countries have engaged to deescalate the situation, Kaneko said. Kaneko was responding to a question on the death of Indian Army personnel in a violent face-off in Ladakh's Galwan Valley amid escalating tensions at the LAC. Initially, the Indian Army said one officer and two soldiers were killed. Later in the night, an Army statement said 17 more soldiers who "were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20." "Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020," it said, adding that the "Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation. China has not released any information on the casualties suffered by the People's Liberation Army soldiers during the violent face-off in eastern Ladakh. Labour has called on the government to commit to a back to work Budget to prevent soaring unemployment in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Anneliese Dodds, Labours shadow chancellor, accused the government of following a slow and confused response to the Covid-19 health emergency with a similarly lethargic approach to jobs, despite the huge long-term costs of high unemployment. Tabling an urgent question in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Ms Dodds accused the government of taking a one-size-fits-all approach to its financial support packages such as the furlough scheme which is due to close at the end of October. She called for a clear exit strategy from the scheme, as well as a grants system for the self-employed, and accused the Treasury of instead having planned an exit without a strategy. Jesse Norman, the financial secretary to the Treasury, responded that the government would do whatever is needed to support the economy. He pointed out that furloughed employees can go back to work part-time from July with continued government support, which he said would ensure that no business faces a cliff edge. It came as new data revealed the number of people on UK payrolls slumped by 612,000 between March and May, while job vacancies plunged by 60 per cent and universal credit and jobseekers allowance claims rose sharply to 2.8 million. Economists have raised fears that unemployment figure will rise to above 10 per cent when emergency support measures are withdrawn a level not seen since the 1980s Ms Dodds pointed to figures from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forecasting that the UK would suffer an 11.5 per cent hit to GDP this year the largest of any developed nation. The shadow chancellor asked: Will the Treasury change its one-size-fits all approach to the furlough and self-employed schemes, which risk additional waves of unemployment? Will it act to encourage young people to stay in education and training? Will it build on previous schemes like the future jobs fund to support the young unemployed to other hard-hit groups like older workers? The UK was falling behind other countries that have already announced stimulus packages to boost their economies, Ms Dodds said. Some analysts have warned of large-scale economic damage and job cuts unless the government takes a more nuanced approach to its financial support measures. Businesses in sectors such as hospitality, leisure and tourism face a much larger hit than others and may have to lay off staff without further targeted support. Pubs are due to re-open on 4 July at the earliest but the hospitality trade body warned last week that thousands would not be able to do so without government support. UK Hospitality, the sectors trade association, wrote to ministers urging the government to step in to offer direct financial help to save the nations pubs, which have not been open since mid-March but have been racking up rent bills in the meantime. Hundreds of thousands of jobs in bars, pubs and restaurants could be lost without tailored support, the body warned. In the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Norman pointed to existing grants and tax reliefs for hospitality firms that the government announced in March as evidence that its response had been targeted. The spending watchdog concluded that the 392million annual budget for Immigration Enforcement, one of the divisions run by Home Secretary Priti Patel (pictured), was not good value The Home Office does not know how many illegal immigrants are in Britain, a damning official report reveals today. The National Audit Office (NAO) also disclosed that illegal immigrants who evade detection for two years are disregarded. The spending watchdog concluded that the 392million annual budget for Immigration Enforcement, one of the divisions run by Home Secretary Priti Patel, was not good value. It called for officials to produce a proper estimate of how many people are living in the UK illegally. The last government figure 430,000 is 15 years old and some unofficial research puts the latest total at 1.2million. The NAO also found that thousands of tip-offs about suspected immigration offenders were never investigated and fewer were being removed 12,000 in the first 11 months of last year compared with 28,000 in 2015. A Dungeness lifeboat is pictured on April 25 after picking up an inflatable dinghy which is thought to have been used to carry migrants across the English Channel It said enforcement teams were carrying out fewer raids and visits and were relying on faulty or outdated information. Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: 'While the Home Office has introduced significant changes to its enforcement activity, it cannot demonstrate that overall performance is improving. 'The Department needs a better understanding of the impact of its immigration enforcement activity on its overarching vision to reduce the size of the illegal population and the harm it causes.' The report said: 'Although there would be significant uncertainty around any estimate it (the department) developed, such an estimate could help the department to demonstrate that its activities are effective in deterring attempts to enter or remain in the UK illegally.' Meg Hillier, head of Parliament's financial watchdog, said it appeared the Home Office had 'no idea' how many people are in the UK illegally 'and doesn't seem interested in finding out'. Ms Hillier added: 'The Home Office has no idea how many people are in the country illegally and doesn't seem interested in finding out. 'It can't demonstrate that its actions to control illegal immigration are working as intended, and doesn't understand how different aspects of its work fit together.' Joyce may have been inspired to write The Dead during his unhappy time in Rome. Rome was rather tense in 1906. Pope Pius X, still smarting from his loss of the papal states some 30 years earlier, refused to move beyond the sanctuary of St Peters while the Savoy family, his rivals and Italys new monarchs, built rather grand monuments, empty gestures of grandeur. Into this tension walked 24-year-old James Joyce; a man desperately trying to escape tensions of his own. Since leaving Dublin, Joyce had been living in the Adriatic coastal town of Trieste, in northeast Italy. He had made quite an impact on the expatriate community and their hangers-on. Many people befriended Joyce and seemed endlessly willing to help him and his wife as they struggled to come to terms with the realities of raising a young family. But Joyce was a restless and flamboyant character whose fondness for alcohol worried his wife and riled his English school employers. Joyce even lured his brother Stanislaus to Trieste, knowing full well the extra income would help maintain his indulgent lifestyle. To make matters worse, the school director absconded, leaving the school in disarray and Joyce without a regular income. There was always trouble in Trieste. Perhaps Rome, with all its mysterious splendour and history, could inspire him to greatness. Destiny and fame surely awaited him. This was the city of the Caesars. It was where Keats died, where Goethe had roamed the Forum and Joyces great hero Ibsen spent many happy months. Joyce fixed his mind on the eternal city and went about securing a job for himself with little difficulty. Aided by a letter of recommendation from a former lord mayor of Dublin, Timothy Harrington, Joyce was offered a temporary post in the bank of Nast, Kolb and Schumacher, which stood at the corner of Via del Corso and Via S. Claudio, today the site of a large department store. Arriving in Rome on 31 July 1906, the Joyce family took lodgings on the third floor of a house at 52 Via Frattina, where today a plaque commemorates his stay. The accommodation was small but close to his work and the bars and cafes around the Spanish Steps. From the very beginning, however, his letters to Stanislaus speak negatively of the city and its people. According to Joyce, the area around the Colosseum was simply like an old cemetery with broken columns of temples and slabs. In a letter to his brother, he wrote, Rome reminds me of a man who lives by exhibiting to travellers his grandmothers corpse. Its clear that the citys former glories did nothing for such a modern man. But he clearly admits his own shortcomings and demonstrates his indignation in another letter to Stanislaus, lamenting: I wish I knew something of Latin or Roman history. But its not worthwhile beginning now. So let the ruins rot. His work in the bank was soul-destroying. He often had to work 12 hours a day, copying up to 200 letters in an office where he had no interaction with the public. He had nothing but contempt for his colleagues who spoke endlessly of their ailments. His brother received constant updates on how difficult life in Rome was. And although Joyce was earning more money in the bank, he frequently begged his brother to send more cash. By November, Joyces landlady was tiring of his excessive alcohol abuse and requested that he leave the accommodation on Via Frattina. Joyce expected to charm his way out of the tight spot but the signora stuck firmly to her guns and Joyce found himself homeless with his young family. After four days spent searching, the young writer moved into Via Monte Brianzo 51, near Piazza Navona. By Christmas, Joyce was forced to take another job as a teacher, but it wasnt enough and the family dined on pasta on a thoroughly depressing Christmas Day. While he struggled to make ends meet in Rome nothing came from his pen. He found no time to write and no immediate inspiration. The Roman ruins compounded his misery. He complained of nightmares involving death, corpses, assassinations, in which I take an unpleasantly prominent part. The intrigues and gore of ancient Rome infiltrated his psyche and it seems he began to develop a strange appreciation of his native Dublin, something not so keenly felt since his departure. It was at this time that the ideas for his wonderful short story, The Dead, began their gestation. Perhaps the simple Christmas lunch and signora Dufours apparently barbarous treatment of his family led to dreams of more lavish feasts and what the storys hero Gabriel Conroy refers to as unique Irish hospitality. In the same breath Joyce, through Gabriel, a character all the while fixated on the attractions and trappings of continental Europe, acknowledges those things that Ireland has to offer the world by way of this tradition. Romes somewhat crude irreverence for the dead who are constantly on display, whether through imperial Romes whimsical caesars or greedy popes, is in sharp contrast to the quiet, melancholy image of Dublin covered in snow. The romance and bombast of Michelangelo, Bernini and Borromini contrasts with the humble but no less passionate Michael Furey in The Dead who, we find out, courted Gabriels wife Gretta and died of consumption but may, as Gretta reveals, have died for me. Eventually, Joyce had had enough and he decided to leave Rome. The day before leaving he was given his last pay cheque from his bank job, and splashed out on a few farewell drinks. As he drank, two men managed to get a look inside his wallet and when Joyce left the cafe they attacked and robbed him. Luckily, he had left some of his pay at his lodgings and with it he packed his son and his wife onto a train for Trieste and left Rome. He never returned. By Jonathan deBurca Butler Bloomsday, to celebrate the events in Joyces masterpiece Ulysses, is on 16 June each year. Under the title Omniscientific Joyce, the 27th International James Joyce Symposium takes place online from 14-18 June 2021, hosted by the Trieste Joyce School, Universita degli studi di Trieste with the support of the English Department at University of Massachusetts Amherst. For full details see Joyce 2021 website. This article first appeared in the June 2011 edition of Wanted in Rome magazine. Washington, June 16 : US President Donald Trump claimed that it was "highly inappropriate" for John Bolton, his former National Security Adviser (NSA), to write a memoir about his work in the White House. "Maybe he's not telling the truth, he's been known not to tell the truth, a lot," Xinhua news agency quoted Trump as saying to mediapersons during a White House meeting with cabinet members. "I will consider every conversation with me highly classified," he claimed. "If he wrote a book and the book gets out, he's broken the law and I would think you would have criminal problems." The President also asked Attorney General William Barr to weigh in on the issue. Barr said that the administration didn't believe Bolton had completed the process by which books were cleared by the executive branch for publication. Asked what the Department of Justice was doing about Bolton's book, the Politico news website quoted Barr as saying that there were "a number of things, but the thing that is front and centre right now is trying to get him to complete the process - go through the process and to make the necessary deletions of classified information". When a reporter asked whether the Department was going to court to block Bolton's book, Barr said: "I said what we are doing is trying to get him to complete the clearance process that is required." Bolton plans to release his memoir, "The Room Where it Happened", on June 23. A foreign policy hawk and Trump's third NSA, Bolton was ousted last year over disagreements with the President on a range of issues. In the book, according to a news release put out on June 12, Bolton accuses Trump of repeatedly endangering national security - and committing a series of potentially impeachable offenses - to boost his re-election prospects, said the Politico report. Bolton will also knock House Democrats for too narrowly tailoring their impeachment inquiry last fall, arguing that he could provide evidence of similar transgressions "across the full range of his foreign policy". Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. As migrants return slows down, Covid-19 cases decline in Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and MP For the first time in the past one week, eastern and central states, which received most of the returning migrant workers, have witnessed a decline in the number of the cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) since May 1, shows data. Read more Furious at torture of 2 staffers, India considers reducing mission strength in Pak India could consider reducing its diplomatic presence in Pakistan in light of the abduction and torture of two high commission staffers who had stepped out on Monday, people familiar with the development told Hindustan Times. Read more Kangaroo fell into a mine shaft. Watch how it was rescued In todays edition of happy animal rescue, a kangaroo was rescued from a mineshaft that it fell in thanks to a bunch of nice people. A video of the animals rescue was shared live and has since been collecting several appreciative reactions. Read more 100 days of Covid-19 moments: Living through the long wait The extroverts have settled in, the introverts are reaching out. The plates are piling up in the sink even as everyones fed up of home cooking. See how one hundred days of pandemic life has changed us in unexpected ways. Read more Saif Ali Khan calls Bollywoods sudden love for Sushant Singh Rajput ultimate hypocrisy, says thats an insult to the dead Saif Ali Khan is angry about the film industrys sudden outpouring of love for Sushant Singh Rajput after his death on Sunday. He feels that a day of silence would be more appropriate than the hypocrisy of pretending to care. Read more Nokia 5310 XpressMusic phone launched in India: Check price, specifications The 2020 version of the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic phone is official in India. The new feature phone comes in a new avatar but keeps the iconic dedicated music buttons. Read more Rohit, Gayle, AB de Villiers dont have ability to rotate strike like Kohli: Gambhir When Chris Gayle demolishes bowling attacks or Rohit Sharma pulls the fast bowler off his front deep into the stands or when AB de Villiers nonchalantly scoops and reverse sweeps to collect boundaries easily, they look terrific. Read more Covid-19: Centre tells states to draw up rates for private hospitals Hindustan Times National Political Editor, Sunetra Choudhury brings you the top stories you need to know. Sunetra talks about the number of covid-19 cases in India, Centre tells states to draw up rates for private hospitals, PM to begin sixth round of consultations with states today, lockdown back in Chennai and more. Watch to know more Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global gamma knife market secured US$ XX Mn in 2015, and is expected to grow at more than xx% CAGR through 2025, accounting for over US$ XX Mn in terms of revenues. Strong growth is expected in regions such as India, South Korea, the U.S., Japan, EU5 and China. Varian and Elekta medical systems are likely to retain their dominance in developed economies, whereas Huiheng Medical, Inc. based at China will consolidate its position in Asia Pacific. Currently, North America, the biggest market for the gamma knife is likely to demote to second position due to robust acceptance of the gamma knife equipment in Asia Pacific. Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3377 Drivers and Trends of Market Inclination towards non-invasive treatments have positively impacted adoption of radiation therapy, with Gamma Knife, LINAC and Cyber Knife gaining traction in healthcare sector. Positive perception toward gamma knife, rising preference for minimally-invasive surgeries and huge success rate are among the key factors anticipated to propel adoption of gamma knife treatment over the forecast period. Medical tourism, emphasis on R&D and increasing expenditure per capita on healthcare are some other factors anticipated to support growth of the market in long run. Improvements in technology that makes gamma knife more effective and safer are also expected to expand its adoption among end-users throughout the forecast period. Yet, high cost continues to be main challenge for widespread adoption and is likely to limit its adoption in developing economies. Brain Metastasis to Remain Largest Disease Indication Segment Gamma knife treatment is applicable to treat various disease indications, including trigeminal neuralgia, cancer, brain metastasis, and AVM. Among these, application of gamma knife for remedying brain metastasis is likely to account for significant percentage of total market revenues, trailed by cancer and trigeminal neuralgia. Brain metastasis is likely to remain largest disease indication segment for gamma knife market over the forecast period. Asia Pacific Gamma Knife Market to Expand at Significant CAGR Get Request for Table of Contents: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/requesttoc/3377 Asia Pacific is likely to pip both Europe and North America to emerge as the largest market for gamma knife by 2025-end. Increasing adoption of gamma knife equipment in India, South Korea, Japan, and China will support expansion of the gamma knife market in Asia Pacific. The gamma knife market in Asia Pacific is estimated to expand at CAGR of more than 10% throughout the forecast period. APEJ will emerge as more lucrative region than Europe and North America however, collectively secure nearly two-fourth revenue share of the global gamma knife market by the end of 2025. Prominent Market Players Strategies to Maintain Market PositionHuiheng Medical, Inc., Elekta, and Varian Medical Systems are prominent gamma knife equipment manufacturers. These players are likely to maintain their position in the market through continuous innovative product development and stepping in into new markets More Info of Impact Covid19@ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/3377 The River Ran Red illustrates the story of adventurous men, enticed by the excitement of war and free land BARDSTOWN, Ky., June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A group of young, adventurous men known as the Mustangs leave Kentucky for Texas in 1835 to join colonists in their revolution against Mexico in John E. Swindells historical novel titled The River Ran Red: A Story of Kentuckians in the Texas Revolution against Mexico (published by Archway Publishing). When William Pope DuVal returns to Kentucky after governing Florida for over a decade, his children move throughout the state to pursue their passions. Shortly after, two of DuVals sons decide to join the Kentucky Mustangs to aid other colonists in Texas fight against Santa Anna. They travel by river boat from Louisville and schooner from New Orleans to the Texas coast where they joined the forces of one James Fannin. In search of adventure and free land, all the volunteers pay a high price in helping Texas separate from Mexico. People today seem more than willing to enter wars in other countries, often with unexpected outcomes, Swindells comments, adding that he hopes to show that Texas becoming a Republic was not exactly as popular history portrays the events. The River Ran Red is available for purchase online on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/River-Ran-Red-Kentuckians-Revolution/dp/1480887595. The River Ran Red By John E. Swindells Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 360 pages | ISBN 9781480887596 Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 360 pages | ISBN 9781480887619 E-Book | 360 pages | ISBN 9781480887602 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, John E. Swindells, completed a Bachelor of Arts in zoology at the University of Texas before entering active duty as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. After serving more than 30 years, Swindells retired with the rank of colonel. He served two tours in Vietnam and several years in Germany during the Cold War. Along the way, he earned a masters degree in anthropology and a second in science education. After retirement, he taught high school science in Virginia. He has four children and four grandchildren. He presently lives in a 200 year-old farmhouse in Bardstown, Kentucky, with his wife, a houseful of pets and a yard full of wild animals. His wife, Jean, is a retired teacher of high school chemistry. Swindells has also written a trilogy entitled American Odyssey with volumes titled Alaskan Genesis, High Plains Exodus and Land of Rivers. Story continues Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the worldwide leader in self-publishing, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit www.archwaypublishing.com or call 888-242-5904. Attachment Marketing Services Archway Publishing 888-242-5904 pressreleases@archwaypublishing.com By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijan can play a critical role in the implementation of the EU strategy and is ready to assume this role, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at the online meeting of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) held on June 11. Mammadyarov made this remarks while commenting on the significance of the transport-logistics system of Azerbaijan. On the Eastern coast of Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan holds intensive dialogue with Turkmenistan and Afghanistan for the materialization of the Lapis-Lazuli transport corridor. My country can play a critical role in the implementation of the EU strategy and we are ready to assume this role. We do hope that extension of our strategic cooperation in the field of energy to the field of transport-logistics will be an important contribution to the strengthening of EU-Azerbaijan partnership. Mammadyarov pointed out that Azerbaijans transport-logistics system has a significance increasingly recognized for its importance. In this regard, he said that Azerbaijan is holding works on EaP and Central Asia flanks. Together with other EaP countries within GUAM, we are working to develop a transport corridor which will provide an alternative route to Central Asia and beyond. We collaborate with the Central Asian countries also within the OSCE project Promoting green ports and connectivity in the Caspian Sea region and welcome the EUs support to it, the minister added. Regarding the energy sector, Mammadyarov said that the Southern Gas Corridor is nearing completion, and this project will be the most tangible result of the strengthened links in the Eastern Partnership. We appreciate the responsible behaviour of our partners in TAP in supporting the COVID fight of affected local communities and ensuring timely execution of the project, he added. Furthermore, the minister, touching upon the bilateral cooperation in the framework of the EU Joint Communication, emphasized that the tailor-made approach is a very policy which Azerbaijan seeks in its relations with the EU. It is a partnership based on equality and mutual respect. The success of the negotiations on a new bilateral agreement will depend on the flexibility of negotiating sides to find mutually acceptable solutions to the remaining issues, said Mammadyarov. Noting that Azerbaijan welcomes the EUs support for resilient institutions, rule of law and fight against corruption through enhancing security dialogues with partner countries, the minister said: After the successful 2nd meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Security Dialogue held in Baku last December we look forward to continued fruitful exchanges on emerging regional and international security threats. We believe that future EU-Azerbaijan cooperation will also contribute to the realization of the national development priorities, Mammadyarov said. The minister said that Azerbaijan continues to pursue the strategic development agenda aimed at accelerating economic diversification, fostering inclusive growth and supporting post-COVID economic recovery. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz South Africa: Call for youth to work with government President Cyril Ramaphosa has encouraged the youth to work with government in creating an inclusive economy that will rid South Africa of inequality, poverty and unemployment. There has to be life beyond COVID-19. We are looking forward to creativity, innovation and new ideas from young people and we want young people who are going to speak out and step forward, the President said. President Ramaphosa on Tuesday participated in an interactive panel session with young people as part of the virtual Youth Day commemorations. Youth Day pays tribute to the school pupils who lost their lives during the 16 June 1976 uprising in Soweto. This years Youth Month coincides with the 30th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela and takes place under the theme: Youth Power; Growing South Africa Together in the Period of COVID-19. The President challenged the youth find opportunities post-COVID-19. COVID-19 is pregnant with opportunities so I am challenging young people to see that post COVID-19 is a new platform. We need to set up different ways of running our economy, of the ownership of economy and managing our economy and production. Technology is going to underpin nearly everything that we are going to do, this is ushering in a new digital society, he said. The President also encouraged young people to produce products. That is how we want to grow our economy, as government we need to find those gems and invest in them. I want businesses to be helped and supported. I want change agents, activists, young people who are progressive, young people who are deeply rooted in principles and values. Young people who will also build a country that will rid our country of gender-based-violence, xenophobia, young people who will be imbued with the spirit that we should have tolerance and respect for one another, for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community and disabled people in our communities must also be empowered, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 21:11:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TAIYUAN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- In Yaounde, the capital city of Cameroon, Chinese doctor An Buyue wakes up early to prepares for the day's work. As chief of a 20-member medical team from north China's Shanxi Province, she barely had enough sleep in a day in certain periods. Working overtime has become a routine for the medical team, which is in Cameroon for a one-year foreign aid mission. An told Xinhua in a telephone interview that the team began to offer training sessions on COVID-19 prevention and control for the Yaounde Gynaecology, Obstetrics, and Pediatrics Hospital on February 4. "We explained the etiologic feature, clinical manifestation, and therapeutic method of the disease, and suggested the hospital adopt strict measures like preview and triage when receiving patients," said An. She noticed that the director of the hospital studied their epidemic prevention and control recommendations. Soon after that, their recommendations such as putting up anti-epidemic awareness posters, setting up a fever clinic, and maintaining social distance in the hospital were adopted. An said other Chinese medical teams in Africa have also participated in fighting against the pandemic alongside their African peers. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the African continent surpassed 232,815 as of Sunday, according to the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The death toll stood at 6,244 as of Sunday morning, according to the center. Chen Haiyun, chief of a Chinese medical team to Togo, said they have participated in disease prevention work in the country, including offering COVID-19 prevention and control training to the regional health center of Lome-Commune. An said in the face of a shortage of protective supplies, members of the Chinese medical team used to wear expired masks while treating outpatients. She added that luckily, none of the Chinese doctors in Cameroon have been infected. With an improvement in domestic epidemic prevention and control situation, China has increased medical assistance to other nations in need. On April 3, An's team received a batch of epidemic prevention materials dispatched by the Chinese National Health Commission. Soon after that, the second and the third batches of medical supplies were sent to Chinese medical teams in Africa. "We really can feel the strength of our country. Now that our safety is ensured, we can focus more on protecting locals in Africa," said An. China set up its first medical team to provide aid to foreign countries in 1963. According to the National Health Commission, China had sent more than 26,000 medics to 71 countries and regions in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceanian by the end of 2019, providing diagnosis and treatment to over 280 million local patients. Enditem Advertisement Prime Minister Boris Johnson today hailed the 'biggest breakthrough yet' in the UK's coronavirus fight as officials announced they have found a drug that could save up to a third of critically-ill Covid-19 patients. Dexamethasone, a cheap steroid that has been around for decades, has become the first medicine proven to reduce the death rate among hospitalised patients. An Oxford University scientist who led a British trial of the drug, Professor Peter Horby, said at today's Downing Street briefing that treating eight people with the drug could save one life and cost just 40 in total. It could save up to 35 per cent of patients relying on ventilators - the most dangerously ill - and reduce the odds of death by a fifth for all patients needing oxygen at any point. Mr Johnson said at today's press conference: 'I'm absolutely delighted that the biggest breakthrough yet has been made by a fantastic team of scientists right here in the UK... I think there is genuine cause to celebrate a remarkable British scientific achievement [and] the benefits it will bring not just in this country but around the world.' Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier described the results which prompted officials to instantly approve the drug for NHS patients as 'astounding'. He claimed it will help to 'save thousands of lives while we deal with this terrible virus'. England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty called it the 'most important trial result' so far, while Number 10's Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said it was 'tremendous news' and added: 'This is a drug that can be used immediately across the world.' Dexamethasone, first created in the 1950s, is usually given to treat ulcerative colitis, arthritis and some types of cancer. It is already licensed and proven to be safe, meaning it can be used in human patients immediately, and is a generic drug, meaning it can be manufactured cheaply and en masse by companies all over the world. Results of the RECOVERY trial, which involved 6,000 Covid-19 patients and was led by Oxford University scientists, suggest the steroid can prevent death in one in eight ventilated coronavirus patients and one in 25 on breathing support. It is the first trial to show a treatment provides significant impact in reducing the risk of death. But the drug given as either an injection or once-a-day tablet on the NHS had no benefit for people who were hospitalised with the virus but did not require oxygen. Dexamethasone is now the second drug available in the NHS arsenal to treat Covid-19, after Ebola medicine remdesivir was last month given the green light in another scientific breakthrough. Health chiefs said they imposed a ban at midnight last night to prevent companies from exporting the drug to other countries, in order to protect the UK's supply. They have already stockpiled 200,000 courses of the drug for British patients, after buying it ahead of the results of the trial. Britain is the first country to approve dexamethasone for Covid-19 patients, the Department of Health said, although clinical trials of the drug are ongoing in other countries including France, Iran, Spain and Argentina. If other countries approve the drug for patients most will be able to obtain their own supplies from domestic firms. Professor Martin Landray, lead researcher, said dexamethasone could have saved up to 5,000 lives if it was used throughout the UK's crisis. He said: 'If you were to design a drug that treats coronavirus, this would be exactly how you'd hope it works.' The steroid prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation, a nasty Covid-19 complication that makes breathing difficult. In seriously unwell patients, the lungs become so inflamed they struggle to work. One 69-year-old patient who suddenly became gravely ill with the virus is adamant that it saved his life after he was given it experimentally at a hospital in Cambridge. In other coronavirus developments in Britain today: Two women travelling to New Zealand to visit a dying parent tested positive for Covid-19, ending the country's 24-day spell of no new cases; Lord Hague called lockdown a 'national disaster' and demanded an immediate end to the two-metre rule as data showed a 600,000 dive in payroll workers and 125 per cent increase in benefit claims; Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall returned to work in their first public outing since the beginning of lockdown, making an unannounced visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital this afternoon; Swimmers will be asked to arrive to pools with their costumes under their clothes and to avoid the butterfly stroke under new guidelines from the sport's governing body; China has put parts of Beijing back into lockdown and reimposed some travel restrictions in an attempt to contain a new coronavirus outbreak amid fears that a second wave is about to hit the country. In the biggest coronavirus breakthrough to date, dexamethasone was found to reduce the risk of dying by coronavirus by up to a third Prime Minister Boris Johnson hosted today's Downing Street press conference where he hailed the approval of dexamethasone as the 'biggest breakthrough so far' in Britain's coronavirus battle Mr Hancock said: 'Im absolutely delighted that today we can announce the worlds first successful clinical trial for a treatment for Covid-19. 'This astounding breakthrough is testament to the incredible work being done by our scientists behind the scenes. 'From today the standard treatment for Covid-19 will include dexamethasone, helping save thousands of lives while we deal with this terrible virus.' WHAT IS DEXAMETHASONE? The steroid drug is a type of anti-inflammatory medicine used to treat a wide-range of conditions. It is given via an injection or once-a-day tablet and is sold under the brand names Ozurdex and Baycadron. In coronavirus patients, the steroid reduces inflammation in the lungs triggered by an overreaction by the immune system. One in 10 symptomatic Covid-19 patients are thought to suffer from the nasty symptom, known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS causes the immune system to become overactive and attack healthy cells in the lungs. This makes breathing difficult and the body eventually struggles to get enough oxygen to vital organs. Dexamethasone was first made in 1957 and was approved for medical use in 1961. The steroid is also used to treat conditions that cause inflammation, conditions related to immune system activity, and hormone deficiency. These include: allergic reactions rheumatoid arthritis psoriasis lupus eczema flare-ups of intestinal disease, such as ulcerative colitis multiple sclerosis pre-treatment for chemotherapy to reduce inflammation and side effects from cancer medications adrenal insufficiency (a condition where the adrenal glands dont produce enough hormones) Dexamethasone is known to cause a number of mild to moderate side effects, including vomiting, heartburn, anxiety, high blood pressure, muscle weakness and insomnia. Advertisement He said Britain was 'leading the way' in the global coronavirus fight and thanked the 'brilliant scientists' and 'thousands of patients' who took part in the study. The RECOVERY trial has recruited more than 11,500 Covid-19 patients from 170 NHS hospitals across the country and is the world's biggest trial testing existing drugs. A total of 2,104 patients were randomised to receive 6mg of dexamethasone once a day, either by mouth or by intravenous injection for 10 days. Their outcomes were compared with 4,321 patients given standard care alone, which involves painkillers and, in some cases, antibiotics. For patients on ventilators, the drug cut the risk of death from 40 per cent to 28 per cent. In patients who required oxygen, the risk was reduced from a quarter to a fifth. One patient who received the medication at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, is convinced it saved his life. Pete Herring, 69, said he was at high risk of dying with Covid-19 because he has high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and had recovered from bowel cancer 15 years earlier. He was so breathless he couldn't talk by the time an ambulance came to get him from his home in Ely, Mr Herring told The Sun, and spent five days in intensive care before recovering. He said: 'I didn't think twice about taking part in the trial and said yes straight away. If you can help others in a similar situation then you absolutely should. 'I am glad I did it. I feel incredibly lucky I was given dexamethasone. I am pretty certain that it made a difference to my outcome. And the overall results of the trial are pretty amazing. I am over the moon that they are now rolling out the use of the drug across the country.' Thirteen per cent of sufferers who did not need any breathing assistance also died, regardless of whether they took dexamethasone. There was no benefit among patients who did not require oxygen. The preliminary results - not yet published in a scientific journal - did not observe any notable side effects or adverse reactions. But dexamethasone is known to cause a number of mild to moderate side effects, including vomiting, heartburn, anxiety, high blood pressure, muscle weakness and insomnia. Professor Landray, an epidemiologist at Oxford University, said: 'There is a clear, clear benefit. 'The treatment is up to 10 days of dexamethasone and it costs about 5 per patient. So essentially it costs 35 to save a life. This is a drug that is globally available.' Professor Landray warned people should not go out and buy it to take at home because it has no effect on people with mild symptoms and could cause nasty side effects. Co-lead study author Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases at Oxford, said: 'Dexamethasone is the first drug to be shown to improve survival in Covid-19. This is an extremely welcome result. England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty described it as the 'most important trial result' so far, and the chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance said it was 'tremendous news in the fight against this virus' 'The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients. NHS REGULATOR STOPS RECRUITMENT FOR HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE TRIALS The UK's drug regulator has stopped scientists from signing any more Covid-19 patients up to trials of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine. Hydroxychloroquine caused a storm last month when US President Donald Trump announced he was taking it regularly in a bid to protect himself from coronavirus. Trials of it as a therapy for the viral disease are ongoing in the UK but the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) today told those running the trials not to sign anyone else up. It said that it wanted to see better results proving the safety of the drug before it is used any more widely. Some studies have shown that large doses of the medication can have damaging effects on the heart and lead to irregular rhythms which can cause deadly complications. Dr June Raine, CEO of the MHRA, said: 'We have told those conducting clinical trials using hydroxychloroquine to treat or prevent COVID-19 to suspend recruitment into their trials. 'Neither hydroxychloroquine nor chloroquine are licensed to treat COVID-19 related symptoms or to prevent infection. 'It is important to note that patients taking hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to treat other health conditions can continue to do so, as advised by their healthcare professional, as the balance of benefits and risks remains favourable in the licensed uses.' Advertisement 'Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide.' Health bosses hailed the results as a 'huge breakthrough' which will 'dramatically improve Covid-19 survival' for patients in the UK. NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said: 'NHS hospitals, researchers and clinicians have worked together at breakneck speed to test new treatments for covid-19, and it is amazing to see work that would normally take years bear fruit in just a matter of months. 'This research agility is not only important for coronavirus patients, but augurs well for the streamlined innovation that the NHS and the UK life sciences now must pioneer.' Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, added: 'This is a huge breakthrough in our search for new ways to successfully treat patients with Covid, both in the UK and across the world. 'It is thanks to NHS staff and patients who participated in the trial that from now, we are able to use this drug to dramatically improve Covid-19 survival for people in hospital who require oxygen or ventilation.' The Governments Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said the news was 'particularly exciting' because the drug was so widely available and cheap. He added: 'This is a ground-breaking development in our fight against the disease, and the speed at which researchers have progressed finding an effective treatment is truly remarkable. 'It shows the importance of doing high quality clinical trials and basing decisions on the results of those trials.' Dr Nick Cammack, head of the research-charity Wellcome Trust, which is conducting its own studies into Covid-19 therapies, added: 'This is a major breakthrough: dexamethasone is the first and only drug that has made a significant difference to patient mortality for Covid-19. 'Potentially preventing one death in every eight ventilated patients would be remarkable. Finding effective treatments like this will transform the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on lives and economies across the world. Man who was treated with dexamethasone says it 'almost certainly' saved his life Pete Herring , 69, who was rushed to hospital with coronavirus in April, believes the drug 'almost certainly' saved his life Pete Herring believes simple steroid dexamethasone 'almost certainly' saved his life. The 69-year-old was rushed to hospital coronavirus ravaged his lungs. He was so unwell, his partner had to dial NHS 111 and speak to the operator on his behalf. Within hours of arriving at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in late April, the former John Lewis manager was placed on oxygen support in intensive care. As his breathing worsened, he volunteered to take part in a new drugs trial and was lucky enough to be given dexamethasone. Mr Herring, from Ely in Cambridgeshire, said the treatment saved his life. 'When I went into hospital, my breathing was pretty bad and the doctors put me on oxygen,' he told the Sun. 'I was quite worried, as I have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, and had bowel cancer 15 years ago, so I was high risk. 'The team said I was 24-hours away from being placed on ventilation, and nobody wants that. 'The treatment saved my life. I can't say for certain, but my breathing was getting worse and then I turned the corner. 'Five days later I was out of intensive care and just over a week after I went in, I was back at home. 'I am feeling absolutely wonderful now. I have bounced back and am full of energy. 'I cannot thank the team at Addenbrooke's Hospital [pls keep] enough. The standard of care was second to none. 'I feel incredibly lucky I was given dexamethasone. I am pretty certain that it made a difference to my outcome. 'I am over the moon that they are now rolling out use of the drug across the country' Advertisement 'While this study suggests dexamethasone only benefits severe cases, countless lives will be saved globally. 'Dexamethasone must now be rolled out and accessed by thousands of critically ill patients around the world. It is highly affordable, easy to make, can be scaled up quickly and only needs a small dosage. 'Any and every successful treatment against Covid-19 must be made available to everyone who needs it globally, regardless of their ability to pay.' Earlier this month the RECOVERY trial found that the promising anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine does not treat coronavirus. A total of 1,542 patients were randomly given hydroxychloroquine and compared with 3,132 patients randomised to receive standard care in the Oxford trial. After 28 days, 25.7 per cent of patients taking the malaria tablets passed away from the virus compared to 23.5 per cent who were not given the medicine. Dexamethasone and hydroxychloroquine are just two of five promising therapies being trialled as part of the RECOVERY study. Participants are also being given the HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia; azithromycin, a commonly used antibiotic; and tocilizumab, an anti-inflammatory given by injection. Professor Landray had previously admitted he did not expect one single drug to treat coronavirus. Just two months ago he said there was an 'extraordinarily' low chance of one of the five medicines being effective on its own and claimed it was more likely a combination of several drugs will have 'modest effect' on patients. Remdesivir became the first medicine approved for coronavirus patients in Britain when it was approved by health chiefs at the end of May after a separate trial showed promising results. Adults and teens battling severe bouts of Covid-19 will be allowed to get remdesivir if they fit specific criteria, officials announced. It made the drug, which destroys a part of the virus, the closest thing the NHS had to a cure or treatment for the life-threatening disease. Britain's approval of remdesivir came three weeks after US bosses gave it the green light on May 1, putting the UK weeks behind once again. Matt Hancock said at the time that the experimental Ebola drug was the 'biggest step forward' in treating Covid-19 since the outbreak spiralled out of control. Studies have shown mixed results for remdesivir, with no firm proof that the drug can slash the risk of death in Covid-19 patients. Until then, there were no drugs that had been approved specifically for the purpose of treating patients with Covid-19. Doctors have tried to save people with serious infections by giving them oxygen therapy such as through ventilators for the most sick. WHAT WAS THE FIRST COVID-19 DRUG TO BE APPROVED ON THE NHS? Remdesivir became the first medicine approved for coronavirus patients in Britain when it was approved by health chiefs at the end of May. Adults and teens battling severe bouts of Covid-19 will be allowed to get remdesivir if they fit specific criteria, officials announced. It made the drug, which destroys a part of the virus, the closest thing the NHS had to a cure or treatment for the life-threatening disease. Britain's approval of remdesivir came three weeks after US bosses gave it the green light on May 1, putting the UK weeks behind once again. Matt Hancock said the experimental Ebola drug was the 'biggest step forward' in treating Covid-19 since the outbreak spiralled out of control. Studies have shown mixed results for remdesivir, with no firm proof that the drug can slash the risk of death in Covid-19 patients. Until then, there were no drugs that had been approved specifically for the purpose of treating patients with Covid-19. Doctors have tried to save people with serious infections by giving them oxygen therapy such as through ventilators for the most sick. Advertisement Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 19:21:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The "Tell China's Stories" contest, a campaign encouraging people to use their works to spread stories about China and Chinese culture around the world, held its awards ceremony for last year's contest and kicked off the contest for this year online Tuesday, said its sponsor. For last year's campaign, which was launched on April 28, 2019, a total of 40 works were awarded out of 3,893 works submitted by Chinese and foreign contestants, including both professional and amateur individuals and organizations, according to the China International Publishing Group (CIPG), the sponsor of the campaign. Three works were awarded the top prize, including one telling the story of a 64-year-old American volunteering at a tourist information booth in Beijing's traditional alleyways. Du Zhanyuan, head of the CIPG, said this year's contest, set to run from June to the end of the year, will encourage contributions focusing on contemporary themes such as China's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic and the country's efforts in poverty reduction. Marking the third of its kind, this year's event will feature local contests, contests on specific themes as well as a competition for university students. Enditem In a heartfelt note on social media, Dil Bechara director Mukesh Chhabra has said that Sushant Singh Rajput was like a brother to him and he will always miss him. Mukesh Chhabra, the director of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajputs last film- Dil Bechara on Tuesday penned down a note mourning the demise of the actor. Chhabra took to Twitter to post the note along with a throwback picture of himself kissing Sushant on the cheeks. He began the note by stating how he close he was to the departed actor expressed disbelief over his demise. Sushant was like a brother to me, it is so unfortunate and heartbreaking and I cannot even put it down in words. Sushant was an introvert but he was really intelligent and talented beyond words, wrote Mukesh. The industry has lost a gem, an irreplaceable gem. Deeply saddened and shocked. I still cant believe it. Our endless conversations have come to an abrupt end. I hope you are in a better place my brother, will always miss you and love you, he added. Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput demise: Forensic team arrives at actors residence after family suspects foul play Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan pens emotional tribute to Sushant Singh Rajput, asks why did he end his life The director had also reached at Rajputs funeral at Mumbais Vile Parles Pawan Hans crematorium. Chabbra had directed Dil Bechara which is the last film by the departed actor. The romantic flick is adapted from the famous novel The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. Rajput had allegedly killed himself by hanging at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on Sunday. However, no suicide note has been recovered from Rajputs residence, police said. His last rites were performed earlier today at Mumbais Vile Parle amid heavy downpours. Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput funeral: Last rites of MS Dhoni actor performed in Mumbai For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App Massachusetts health officials confirmed that another 23 residents are reported to have died from coronavirus. The death toll from COVID-19 is now 7,647. Officials also confirmed another 87 cases of the virus, including 29 probable cases. Officials estimate there are now at least 105,690 confirmed and probable cases of the virus. Mondays stats are based on 4,492 molecular tests and 304 antibody tests. Gov. Charlie Baker said on Monday the average positive test rate has declined to roughly 3%, which represents a 90% drop in the infection rate since April 15. There are roughly 1,000 people still hospitalized with the virus. The latest figures come as Baker announced on Monday that his administration will launch 50 pop-up testing sites across the state to provide testing for residents that have recently attended large gatherings or protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. The sites will offer free COVID-19 testing Wednesday and Thursday this week. The protests, which have taken place across the United States and parts of the world, have coincided with the second phase of Bakers reopening plan. Were urging anyone who has attended a large gathering over the last two weeks to get tested for COVID-19 at one of these sites, he said. Anytime large groups of people come together, theres a risk for transmission. More than 700,000 coronavirus tests have been carried out in Massachusetts since the pandemic began. Officials have said they want to increase lab testing capacity to 45,000 a day by the end of July. Coronavirus in Mass.: Cases, maps, charts and resources Here are the cases listed by county: Barnstable County: 1,489 Berkshire County: 579 Bristol County: 7,925 Dukes County: 42 Essex County: 15,627 Franklin County: 353 Hampden County: 6,489 Hampshire County: 926 Middlesex County: 23,227 Nantucket County: 13 Norfolk County: 8,872 Plymouth County: 8,512 Suffolk County: 19,334 Worcester County: 11,991 Unknown location: 311 Related Content: Iraq condemns Turkish violation of its airspace to hit PKK positions in Kurdistan region Iran Press TV Monday, 15 June 2020 1:35 PM Iraq has denounced recent Turkish violation of its airspace to target a refugee camp in the Arab country's northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region as a flagrant violation of its sovereignty. The media office of Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC), in a statement carried by the official Iraqi News Agency on Monday, announced that "a total of 18 Turkish fighter jets penetrated the Iraqi airspace, headed toward [the towns of] Sinjar, Makhmur, al-Kuwair and Erbil to reach Shirqat district, which is 193 kilometers (119 miles) away from the Turkish border and deep inside the Iraqi territory, and targeted a refugee camp near Makhmur and Sinjar." The statement added, "The Turkish aircraft did not leave the Iraqi airspace until late last night," condemning the move as "provocative, inconsistent with the principles of good neighborliness, and a blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty." "Given commitment to the common interests of the two countries, such operations must be ceased and not repeated again. Iraq is fully prepared for bilateral cooperation and can control security conditions on common borders," it highlighted. Turkey's Defense Ministry stated on Monday that Turkish forces launched Operation Claw-Eagle the previous night, targeting members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group in northern Iraq. The ministry said on its official Twitter page that Turkish fighter jets had destroyed caves, where the terrorists were taking shelter, and that the caves had collapsed on them. The jets destroyed at least 81 targets amid airstrikes against the terrorists. The operation used domestically-produced weapons and ammunition, and "struck a major blow" to the terrorists in northern Iraq's Sinjar, Qandil, Karacak, Zap, Avasin-Basyan and Hakurk regions. The Turkish jets safely returned to their bases following the operation. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and refueling aircraft also took part in the operation, the statement pointed out. PKK militants regularly clash with Turkish forces in the Kurdish-dominated southeast of Turkey attached to northern Iraq. A shaky ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015. Attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since. Turkish ground and air forces frequently carry out operations against PKK positions in the country as well as in northern Iraq and neighboring Syria. More than 40,000 people have been killed during the three-decade conflict between Turkey and the autonomy-seeking militant group. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Could remnants of DNA from a now-extinct human subspecies known as the Denisovans help boost the immune functions of modern humans? An international study co-led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of the City of Hope, and published in the scientific journal PLOS Genetics, represents the first characterizations of genes in the DNA of healthy individuals from geographically and genetically distinct populations in Indonesia. Scientists studied genomic diversity among 116 individuals from three Indonesian populations: the Mentawai on the west coast of Sumatra; the Sumba in central Indonesia; and the Korowai, a group of hunter-gatherers from the western side of the isle of New Guinea. The Korowai are of particular interest, as their DNA holds the world's last remaining significant remnants of genetic code -- as much as 5% -- from a cousin of modern humans called the Denisovans, the study says. Like the better-known Neanderthals of Europe, the Denisovans of Asia also are an extinct human subspecies who lived tens of thousands of years ago. And just as Neanderthals passed on certain immune properties to those of European ancestry, the Denisovans may have passed on protective immune genes to their southeast Asian decedents. "Genome sequencing efforts have mainly focused on populations of European descent," said Dr. Heini Natri, a TGen postdoctoral fellow and one of the lead authors of the study. "Most of the world is deeply understudied. As we move further into the age of personalized and genomic medicine, understanding how genetics drives disease-risk across diverse populations is crucially important." Why study Indonesia? Spread across more than 17,000 islands between mainland Asia and Australia, Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago. Geographically as large as the U.S. or Europe, Indonesia's 273 million inhabitants make it the world's fourth most populous nation, after China, India and the U.S. And yet, Indonesia has been largely excluded from the genomics sequencing boom of the past decade, and there previously have been no analyses of diversity in gene regulation in either Indonesia or the other island nations of Southeast Asia. "This lack of information from Indonesia is alarming as it is an epicenter of infectious disease diversity, such as malaria and other emerging tropical diseases," Dr. Natri said. "Immune pressure from infectious diseases are responsible for some of the strongest selective forces on humans throughout our species' evolutionary history, and Indonesia offers unique advantages for studying responses to these diseases." Because of Indonesia's island environment, its many isolated villages and the relatively low population density on most of its nearly 6,000 inhabited islands, the study suggests there is low genetic diversity among those who live on each island, and even in each village, but also high genetic diversity among people from island to island, "making it a near-unique study system for examining gene-by-environment interactions," the study said. Scientists focus on immune properties of ancient human DNA Dr. Nicholas Banovich, an Assistant Professor in TGen's Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, a human geneticist, and a senior author of this PLOS Genetics paper, said the study's results highlight genes involved in the function of immune cells. This suggests a potential adaptive response to local environmental pressures, including pressures from various tropical diseases. "One of the unique aspects of Indonesia is individuals on the island of New Guinea have high remnants of DNA from one of our extinct ancestors, the Denisovans," Dr. Banovich said. We found these remnants of ancient DNA are driving changes in genes involved in immune function. This study demonstrates the power of including understudied populations in an effort to increase the overall understanding of human genetics." Dr. Nicholas Banovich, Senior Author and Human Geneticist, Assistant Professor, Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute The international team is continuing its study, integrating more genetic data, exploring patterns of local ancestry, and how archaic human genes are imbedded in modern-day populations. "We are now attempting to pinpoint individual genetic changes -- in particular, those that are carried over in these remnant DNA fragments from Denisovans -- which regulate how much or how little a gene is turned on, and how these genetic changes may shape immune response," Dr. Natri said. When Firefly returns to office working, it will be based at offices in River House on High Street in Belfast Belfast was chosen out of seven cities around the UK and Ireland for 52 new jobs paying an average of 44,000 with online education firm Firefly Learning, it has emerged. But the world it operates in has been transformed since the company started talks with economic development agency Invest NI to open up in Northern Ireland. Firefly's new staff will all be working from home, along with their 75 colleagues in the company's main hubs of London and Sydney, as well as premises in Dubai and Berlin. Simon Hay, who co-founded the firm with Joe Matheson when they were GCSE students, announced the investment in Belfast. He said demand for its remote learning platform had exploded with the advent of homeschooling following lockdown. The company has seen 13 times its normal levels of usage with more queries in a week than in a month before lockdown. "We're gluttons for punishment and wanted to do whatever we could to mitigate the impact so we said we would give our platform away for free to any school which can benefit from it," Mr Hay said. He explained lockdown had accelerated culture change in schools by "decades". "They are naturally cautious institutions. It doesn't translate into cash for us today but we do see it as coming of age for remote education in the next couple of years," he said. "We'd like to be at the heart of that and Belfast to be at the heart of that for us." Welcoming the investment, Economy Minister Diane Dodds said: "School closures have meant many education establishments have had to look to new ways to help teachers and parents home school children. "Firefly's online learning platform was already in use by many Great Britain-based schools, but has seen a marked increase in use during the recent months of lockdown. "Invest NI has been working with the company over recent months to progress Firefly's plans to set up a 52 person team in Belfast. "The company is still committed to this investment, with nine roles already in place and staff working from home. "The company is offering very attractive salaries and will contribute additional salaries of more than 2.3m per annum into the economy when all jobs are in place." Invest NI has offered 520,000 of support. The company has already filled nine of the roles but is still looking for developers, UX researchers, designers, and back end and mobile app developers with experience in technologies such as Microsoft, JavaScript, iOS and Android. Mr Hay said: "Obviously these new members of our team will be working from home, but we have everything in place to remotely welcome them and help them settle into our team." When the company does return to office working, it will be based at offices in River House on High Street in Belfast, run by shared workspace specialist Clockwise. Mr Hay said the company had sized up seven cities in the Republic, Scotland and Wales against 10 criteria when choosing where to base the new jobs. "We were primarily focused on the right talent pool and in Belfast found loads of people with skills we wanted, though they're not necessarily in start-ups but in big corporates," he said. "But I think we are a bit more differentiated and think we'll be able to attract and retain great team members for the long-term. "We think somewhere like Belfast has lower living costs but a higher quality of life, and it's an attractive destination in its own right as well." And the company was a labour of love, he admitted. "I'm 34 and this company has been part of my life for longer than it hasn't been," Mr Hay said. "For a long time in our early days it was a hobby or sideline, through school, university and a Phd. We worked as traders and were ducking off the trading floor to take calls from schools. By the time we quit our jobs, we knew we were onto something." And he said that lockdown had accelerated the pace of change in how firms work. "River House have been really helpful and supportive. But across all our sites, we're spending a fortune on space that we're not able to use at the moment," he added. In the future the firm might refit spaces to include more 'creative' breakout areas. And overall, people were likely to be given the option of when to come in. Mr Hay said: "Come in as a team when they're in a project which really benefits from being able to stand around the same whiteboard. Go in when it suits you but not otherwise. "That's the way we'll end up, though we were heading in that direction before lockdown." UK bank lobbyist resigns over 2008 remarks about financier Staveley FILE PHOTO: Dubai International Capital's chief negotiator Staveley smiles before the Champions League semi-final match in Liverpool By Kirstin Ridley LONDON (Reuters) - A senior British bank lobbyist has resigned over comments he made in 2008 about businesswoman Amanda Staveley, who arranged billions of pounds of rescue financing for Barclays at the height of the credit crisis when he was at the bank. Stephen Jones, expected to give evidence in a $2 billion London court battle between Staveley and Barclays next month, offered his resignation as chief executive of UK Finance on Tuesday, which the board accepted. "Stephen has rightly acknowledged that the comments he made in 2008 were inappropriate and do not meet the standards expected of leaders in our industry," said UK Finance's chairman, Bob Wigley. Jones, who was a senior Barclays banker in 2008, told UK Finance staff last week that he could not defend his remarks, which have been referred to in a civil lawsuit against Barclays by Staveley's PCP Capital private equity group. "The comments I made ... are wholly inappropriate and do not meet the standards of language and behaviour we rightly expect," he told staff last week in a memo seen by Reuters. "As I hope you know, I am and have always been a strong advocate for diversity in all respects," he added. He has separately apologised to Staveley, who was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday. After a 30-year career in financial services, Jones became the first chief executive of UK Finance, a banking industry body set up in 2017 to represent more than 250 companies across the industry. PCP's written opening statement to the court mentions "thoroughly unpleasant comments" by Jones to a colleague about Staveley in 2008 and refers to other personal comments by senior Barclays staff of the time, criticising her professional skill and competence. Transcripts of internal calls between Barclays executives could be read aloud in the case, which hinges on the terms Barclays offered Qatar and PCP's syndicate -- which included Abu Dhabi investors -- for taking part in a 7.3 billion pound ($9.2 billion) cash call in October 2008. Story continues PCP is claiming damages for alleged deceit in a dispute over whether Barclays reneged on representations that PCP's consortium would get the same terms as Qatar. Barclays has dismissed the case as misconceived and without merit. ($1 = 0.7949 pounds) (Reporting by Kirstin Ridley; editing by Simon Jessop, Kevin Liffey and Jonathan Oatis) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 07:57 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf77473 1 Politics novel-baswedan,KPK,Attorney-General,house-of-representatives Free House of Representatives Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, is set to question Attorney General ST Burhanuddin regarding the one-year prison sentence demanded by prosecutors for two police officers accused of attacking Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan. Commission III chairman Herman Hery said on Monday that lawmakers would invite ST Burhanuddin for a hearing and demand an explanation. We will ask the attorney general in a hearing at the end of this month. It will be one of the agenda points, the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician said. Herman, however, refused to comment on the sentence demand, noting that the judges handling the case had yet to hand down the verdict. "We don't have access to the police investigation report. We cannot interfere with the case. The investigator is also not allowed to give the material to us," he said, "But since this [case] has sparked controversy, we will ask the attorney general later. The one-year prison sentences sought for the defendants, Chief Brig. Ronny Bugis and Brig. Rahmat Kadir, has left many people disappointed. Some expressed their bewilderment over the short imprisonment demanded by the prosecutors through sarcastic videos and memes in social media. Read also: 1-year prison sentence demanded for cops who allegedly attacked Novel Baswedan Ronny and Rahmat have been accused of attacking Novel with acid because of the latters work as an investigator for the KPK, which saw several powerful and corrupt politicians and government officials, as well as police officers, end up behind bars. Shortly after he was arrested, Ronny said he considered Novel, who previously served as a police officer, a traitor. Noting that the attack had left the KPK investigator disabled for the rest of his life, Commission III lawmaker Habiburokhman said the prison sentence demanded for the alleged attackers was "too light". The one-year sentence hurts our sense of justice," the Gerindra Party politician said. He contrasted the sentence demand with at least three acid attack cases that had been brought to trial before, in which prosecutors demanded 10-year prison sentences each for defendants in the Bengkulu District Court in Bengkulu and the Pekalongan District Court in Central Java. Prosecutors demanded 3.5 years of imprisonment for the defendant in a similar case at the Denpasar District Court in Bali. "I will not interfere in the case, but logically, the sentences for Novel's [attackers] should be heavier than the three aforementioned cases," he said. IBM Services and Red Hat technology to help the bank innovate while reinforcing security and compliance readiness ARMONK, N.Y. and MEXICO CITY, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco Sabadell, the first 100% mobile bank in Mexico, is working with IBM Services (NYSE: IBM) to continue innovating with digital solutions and services. Banco Sabadell will host its infrastructure on the IBM public cloud and use Red Hat Enterprise Linux to modernize applications and deliver innovative services to its customers. IBM Services helps Banco Sabadell reimagine service excellence for Mexico's first fully digital bank IBM Services and Red Hat technology to help the bank innovate while reinforcing security and compliance readiness In an increasingly digital economy, technology helps businesses transform and develop new services. Without physical branches, Banco Sabadell has selected IBM Services to help expand and manage its banking as a service model (BaaS). The collaboration is designed to help the bank address their flexibility, scalability and security needs in order to offer an innovative online banking platform aimed at reaching its 1 million clients across the country, while addressing local industry regulations. One of the bank's main initiatives is the BaaS model, made possible by IBM's API Connect. The solution integrates the bank's APIs, creating a workspace that serves as the first point of contact for fintechs and large companies to collaborate and create new online financial services and apps. IBM will support Banco Sabadell's IT infrastructure in Mexico, managing its IT operations on the IBM public cloud to allow for a secure, agile and scalable approach to its business transactions. The IBM public cloud is the industry's most secure and open public cloud for business. Sabadell has migrated its applications to IBM Cloud that can accommodate their high security standards and be adaptable to address continuous regulatory changes. Additionally, IBM Cloud services running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux will offer Banco Sabadell an opportunity to efficiently manage its bank environment with flexibility and speed to help enhance their customer experiences. "Being pioneers in a bank as a service model has represented a great challenge that required IBM's extensive industry experience," said Banco Sabadell's COO, Fernando Boza. "We have chosen IBM as our global technology partner to support the development of a modern IT infrastructure based on IBM Cloud, which will allow us to continue offering better services and improving client experience." "We are pleased to be on this pioneering digital journey with Banco Sabadell, Mexico to be the country's very first fully digital bank," said IBM's General Manager, Latin America, Ana Paula Assis. "I'm excited and confident that IBM's secured and open public cloud strategy, combined with our deep financial services industry experience, will help the bank drive innovation around its operations to provide new and enriched experiences for its clients, while helping to reshape the future of banking for the entire territory." IBM Services has been helping financial institutions around the globe envision the future of banking and deliver customer excellence with cloud technologies. IBM is addressing the industry's key issues like managing data, security, services, and workflows across a hybrid, multi-cloud environment, with a suite of solutions including IBM Multicloud Manager, IBM Cloud Paks, Cloud Garages and Cloud Migration Services. IBM also rolled out the first Financial Services-ready public cloud late last year to help the industry address compliance in a safe, secured, cost effective and responsible manner. IBM Mexico and Banco Sabadell signed this transaction in IBM's first quarter of 2020. About Banco Sabadell With more than three years of operation in Mexico as a Multiple Banking Institution and with a presence in 10 cities in the country. As of December 31, 2019, Banco Sabadell ( www.bancosabadell.mx ) had a gross placement of 78,840 million pesos, and a fund raising of 42,693 million pesos. In Mexico, it is the first bank created 100% mobile for individuals and the first banking institution to join the Fintech Association of Mexico, which allows it to enrich its digital strategy and be a pioneer in products with a focus on Banking as a Service. It has a customer centric model and from which its decisions and diversification of its business are derived. It belongs to the Banco Sabadell Group, the fourth Spanish banking group with total assets that exceed 225,000 million euros. It constitutes a leading franchise in the segment of companies and entrepreneurs with international activity in 20 countries and has more than 2,500 offices and around 26,000 employees. IBM Services For more information about IBM Services, please visit https://www.ibm.com/services Contacts: Paola Jimenez Communications, Banco Sabadell [email protected] (55) 5262 3200 (ext. 12721) Tricia Vuiton Communications, IBM [email protected] +1 (845) 490-7582 SOURCE IBM Related Links www.ibm.com Israel will receive a donation of Remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug for COVID-19, from its U.S. manufacturer, Israel's prime minister's office said on Tuesday, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The Israeli cabinet approved in a telephone vote the decision by the Health Ministry to issue a permit to accept a donation of the drug from Gilead Sciences Inc, the U.S. biopharmaceutical company that produces the drug. The supply of the Remdesivir is limited, and it is not being commercially marketed but distributed globally without payment, according to a document distributed to the ministers. The drug has shown promise in early clinical trials in treating COVID-19 patients in the early stage of the infection. Gilead received an emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on May 1 for "emergency use" of Remdesivir for the treatment of hospitalized patients. Now, the California-headquartered biopharmaceutical giant is expanding quickly the supply of the drug to enable more clinical trials. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. From the moment they entered Los Angeles City Hall on Monday, Black Lives Matter-LA volunteers and their allies were met with a living, breathing example of what they're fighting to change: a police officer with a thermometer. "These are things we would typically ask healthcare professionals to do," BLM researcher David Turner said to council members, "but when we have this disproportionate rate of spending on law enforcement, they get tasked to do things they shouldn't be doing." Black Lives Matter - LA researcher David Turner. (Screen grab from Channel 35) It's a case activists from Black Lives Matter-LA have been eager to make to elected officials for years. And on Monday they got their chance to lay out the research behind what they call the People's Budget, first introduced last month. After scores of marches against police violence and protests taking over the streets of L.A., Council President Nury Martinez agreed last week to host the lead organizers behind the alternative budget. The event came together thanks to behind-the-scenes work by former Council President Herb Wesson, said a source familiar with planning. "We can always do better to ensure that everyone is included in this [budget making] process," said Councilman Paul Krekorian, who heads the Budget and Finance Committee. OUR RACE IN LA SERIES BLM-LA co-founder Melina Abdullah led a panel of community leaders who presented a plan to take General Fund money -- nearly 54% of which is currently earmarked for the LAPD -- and instead invest in social services, including housing, mental healthcare, and early child development. In place of armed officers, it funds community safety alternatives -- including domestic violence intervention and conflict mediation. This movement began to gain steam after L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced deep and painful cuts to the city budget that exempted the police and firefighters. "We've been calling for the defunding of police for at least five years," Abdullah said. She noted that the widespread activism following the killing of George Floyd has created a new landscape.. "This is a moment where the world has cracked open, and you all have the opportunity to really be courageous and do something different in the city of Los Angeles." Turner, the BLM researcher, said the People's Budget team surveyed roughly 24,000 Angelenos about city spending. 55% of respondents were people of color and the survey was distributed by dozens of community groups. Pie chart of city spending priorities based on survey results for The People's Budget. (Screen grab Channel 35) "Overwhelmingly the call was that we wanted to invest in universal needs and divest in traditional forms of policing," Turner said. Survey respondents said they would spend just 1.6% of city resources on police. "To be frank, in terms of policing, we have a really low bar of imagining differently for public safety," said actor and activist Kendrick Sampson, who shared his experience getting shot seven times by Los Angeles police officers' foam bullets after an "amazing, powerful" protest and march starting from Pan Pacific Park in the Fairfax district on May 30. "The demonstration was met with violence from LAPD and I can't explain why to this day," Sampson said. "Black, indigenous and brown folk in this country need healing -- deserve healing, but instead we are met by more trauma by these systems," he added. Actor and activist Kendrick Sampson. (Screen grab from Channel 35) Abdullah's voice was thick with emotion when she talked about Angelenos who have died at the hands of police in recent years, especially Jesse Romero, a 14-year-old boy who was shot and killed by an LAPD officer in Boyle Heights in 2016. "In this moment, you will have an opportunity to be courageous to not think about the political calculations," Abdullah told councilmembers. "This should not be about your own political ambitions. This should be about what kind of world do you want to make? The world is speaking right now." Council President Martinez paused before she opened her mic to respond. "I know why I got into politics: to try to change it from inside," she said. "And so when you talk about being a mom -- I'm here because I am a mom. And I'm here because I've been trying to reimagine Los Angeles in my neighborhood for 47 years." City Council President Nury Martinez. (Screen grab Channel 35) Budget chair Paul Krekorian echoed an argument he's made in council meetings previously: America's social safety net is failing communities, and city government alone can't pick up all of the slack. "Whether it's police-community interactions, whether it's education, healthcare, housing issues and homelessness -- all of that has been driven in the wrong direction for the last 40 years because of our country's failure to invest in mental health care," he said. "We need as a country to do one heck of a lot more there." After the People's Budget presentation, the council's Budget and Finance Committee met and passed a motion directing city analysts to identify 100-$150 million in cuts to the LAPD's budget. It would scale back planned increases in police funding for FY 2020-21, though not impose cuts as deep as many departments face under Garcetti's austere COVID-era budget. And the measure's not a done deal yet. The full council is scheduled to consider it on Tuesday. City Councilman Paul Koretz voiced concern. "I'm very skeptical about the advisability of chopping up the LAPD's budget without adequate analysis," he said, suggesting the funding could be redirected to officer training programs. A group of Taiwan Air Force technicians run behind a US-made F-16V fighter jet during an exercise at a military base in Chiayi, southern Taiwan on Jan. 15, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images) On the Taiwan Strait, China Only Respects Strength Commentary After spending the past three decades preparing to conquer Taiwan, the Chinese regime has heightened its threatening military posture against the island democracy, with threats of blockade and invasion, in the first half of 2020. However, there are some who suggest that excessive U.S. support for Taipei could also cause a military crisis. In a June 3 article in The Diplomat, Daniel Russel, the Obama administrations former assistant secretary of state for East Asia, asks whether there may be a perfect storm that could cause China to attack de facto independent Taiwan, with unification being a political and strategic imperative for Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping. Russel correctly observes that CCP anxieties are heightened as its political warfare strategy touted as a solution of one country, two systems was rejected in Hong Kong. This rejection was linked to supporting opposition by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who has been strengthened by her reelection in January and her leadership in preventing massive deaths from the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Russel then notes that, in some ways, support for Taiwan given by the Trump administration and the U.S. Congress may not be comparable to steps taken by previous administrations, suggesting, the painstakingly constructed framework of the one China policy may not survive if Taiwan is used as an instrument of pushback against China. Following the de-recognition of Taiwan in 1979, the our one China policy largely created by the State Department guided U.S. relations with non-state Taiwan. A major goal of the new U.S. policy was to limit arms sales to Taiwan so that it wouldnt obtain offensive military capabilities that might anger China. Aspects of this were continued by the Obama administration, which didnt sell Taiwan a single decisive new weapon system. It was the Trump administration that sold upgraded F-16 fighters to Taiwan in 2019, despite requests going back to the George W. Bush administration. How did China respond to U.S. arms sales restraint? Following the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre in Beijing, the CCP embarked on a massive program of technical investment to propel a military buildup designed to make China the worlds preeminent military power, with the early goal of a military conquest of Taiwan if it couldnt be coerced into surrender. Today, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has two aircraft carriers, 20 modern air defense destroyers, 40 new anti-submarine warfare frigates, and 65 modern conventional submarines for naval blockade operations. In April and May, as the world was reeling from the CCP virus pandemic, the PLA was practicing blockade operations around Taiwan, with aircraft carriers and destroyers of the PLAN cooperating with anti-ship-missile-carrying H-6K bombers, about 100 of which are now with the PLA Air Force. The most important objective for a PLA blockade of Taiwan will be to defeat U.S. forces already in Japan, Guam, and Hawaii that may try to assist Taiwan. In July 2019, the PLA Rocket Force tested its 1,700-km (about 1,056 miles) range DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) as part of exercises in the South China Sea. These are difficult to shoot down and will be coordinated with air-launched ASBMs fired by H-6N bombers, anti-ship cruise missiles fired by H-6K bombers, and cruise missiles fired by PLAN submarines. The one U.S. Navy aircraft carrier battle group based in Japan may not survive such an onslaught of PLA missiles. PLA Rocket Force 4,000-km (almost 2,500 miles) range nuclear- and ASBM-capable DF-26 missiles can reach Guam. The defeat of U.S. forces and a blockade of Taiwan will likely precede its invasion, which the PLA has been building toward for 30 years. Following reforms of late 2015, the amphibious PLA Marines are being expanded as is the PLA Airborne Force, intended to capture ports and airfields for follow-on forces. Scores of large civilian roll-on-roll-off (RORO) ferries and large car carriers stressed for heavy armor will carry the bulk of PLA troops and armor to Taiwan. Chinese airlines alone could move hundreds of thousands of troops to captured Taiwan airfields. Past U.S. adherence to what is called our one China policy, to distinguish from Chinas one China policy, did nothing to stop 30 years of Chinese military buildup now aimed at Taiwan. It has been the strength of the U.S. military forces in Asia and the willingness of Washington to sufficiently arm Taiwan that has prevented China from attacking Taiwan. When China doubts the strength of U.S. forces, or the ability of Taiwan to defeat an invasion, such an attack becomes more possible. Arming Taiwan and modernizing U.S. forces in Asia offers the greatest chance for preventing a Chinese attack that could also engulf the United States in war. A CCP-controlled Taiwan will quickly become a PLA naval and nuclear military base that will isolate U.S. ally Japan and better enable the global projection of the PLA. Democratic Taiwanese will then face mass executions, imprisonment, and CCP totalitarian oppression. Washington now has precious little time to rebuild U.S. military strength in Asia and to change U.S. policy by helping Taiwan to rapidly acquire offensive military capabilities to attack advancing PLA invasion forces. To its credit, the Trump administration is now developing new short-, medium- and intermediate-range missiles and very-long-range artillery to begin to address the PLAs nearly 2,000 theater-range missiles. Its time to sell Taiwan 500- to 1,000-km range missiles to attack PLA embarkation points. Its also necessary to consider an emergency shipment of 200 of the 300-km range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) short-range ballistic missiles. Washington and Taipei can take measures now to deter a Chinese invasion. Tsai recently committed to increasing the size of Taiwans reserve forces, and Taiwan is beginning to produce some offensive missiles. Washington can end the failed restraint of our one China policy and enable Taiwan to destroy PLA invasion forces before they can cross the Taiwan Strait. Richard D. Fisher Jr. is a senior policy analyst with the International Assessment and Strategy Center. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A military court has ordered that a Nigerian general who authorised the transportation of a large sum of money that was reportedly stolen by soldiers who conveyed the cash, be demoted and dismissed. The general court-martial found Hakeem Oladapo Otiki, a major general due to retire this year, guilty of five charges and ordered that he should be sacked with disgrace and dishonour, PR Nigeria, which distributes statements for security agencies, reported Tuesday. Mr Otiki was the General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army 8 Division in Sokoto in July 2019 when he sent five soldiers to haul cash from Sokoto to Abuja by road before the money allegedly got missing. The court, headed by the armys chief of policy and plans, Lamidi Adeosun, found Mr Otiki guilty of disobedience to service orders, theft of public property, diverting operational money and engaging in private businesses. The tribunal ordered he be demoted from major general to brigadier general and dismissed. The court also ordered that all monies totalling N135.8 million, $6,600 recovered be returned to the coffers of the Nigerian Army. It also ordered that another N150 million which could not be accounted for, be returned to the coffers of the Nigerian Army. The judgement is, however, subject to approval of the army council. In his final submission, Mr Otikis lead lawyer, Israel Olorundare, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, pleaded for clemency and urged the Nigerian Army to show mercy. Mr Olorundare told the court that the accused officer had returned N100 million that was stolen by the soldiers detailed to escort the money to Kaduna, and that some of the projects for which N150 million was released to Mr Otiki were either completed or about to be completed. Mr Olorundare told the court that the accused officer is the breadwinner of his family. He said: A career built for 35 years is coming to an end on a very sad note. After the sentencing, the lawyer said the defence will make a representation to the appropriate convening authority to note that Mr Otiki did not steal the transported money, and that he was the one who reported the incident. READ ALSO: Aside from this, he still sourced for the money and returned it to the authorities. So, there is really a need to take another look at the judgement, he said. PRNigeria reported that Mr Otiki whose wife is seriously ill, is also sick and was brought to the premises of the court-martial on a wheelchair. Mr Otiki was appointed GOC of 8 Division in March 2019. Before the appointment, he was the Commander Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna. PRNigeria reported that the accused officer was a contemporary of the president of the court martial, Mr Adeosun, a lieutenant general. Both were admitted to the Nigerian Defence Academy at different times in 1983. Other members of the general court-martial include A. Tarfa, major-general; F.O Agbugor, major-general; F.A. Nadu, major-general; N. Mohammed, major-general; C.T. Olukotu, major-general and C.C. Okonkwo, major-general. A joint research team from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Institute of Physics at Chinese Academy of Science, Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Beihang University in Beijing and Fudan University in Shanghai, has provided a successful example of modern era quantum material research. By means of the state-of-art quantum many-body simulations, performed on the world's fastest supercomputers (Tianhe-I and Tianhe-III protype at National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin and Tianhe-II at National Supercomputer Center in Guangzhou), they achieved accurate model calculations for a rare-earth magnet TmMgGaO4 (TMGO). They found that the material, under the correct temperature regime, could realise the the long-sought-after two-dimensional topological Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) phase, which completed the pursuit of identifying the KT physics in quantum magnetic materials for half a century. The research work has been published in Nature Communications. Quantum materials are becoming the cornerstone of the continuous prosperity of human society. From the next-generation AI computing chips that go beyond Moore's law (the law is the observation that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles about every two years, our PCs and smartphones are all based on the success of it. Nevertheless, as the size of the transistors are becoming smaller to the scale of nanometer, the behaviour of electrons are subject to quantum mechanics, Moore's law is expected to breakdown very soon), to the high speed Maglev train and the topological unit for quantum computers, investigations along these directions all belong to the arena of quantum material research. However, such research is by no means easy. The difficulty lies in the fact that scientists have to solve the millions of thousands of the electrons in the material in a quantum mechanical way (hence quantum materials are also called quantum many-body systems), this is far beyond the time of paper and pencil, and requires instead modern quantum many-body computational techniques and advanced analysis. Thanks to the fast development of the supercomputing platforms all over the world, scientists and engineers are now making great use of these computation facilities and advanced mathematical tools to discover better materials to benefit our society. The research is inspired by the KT phase theory avocated by J Michael Kosterlitz, David J Thouless and F Duncan M Haldane, laureates of the Nobel Prize in Phyiscs 2016. They were awarded for their theoretical discoveries of topological phase and phase transitions of matter. Topology is a new way of classifying and predicting the properties of materials in condensed matter physics, and is now becoming the main stream of quantum material research and industry, with broad potential applications in quantum computing, lossless transmission of signals for information technology, etc. Back in the 1970s, Kosterlitz and Thouless had predicted the existence of topological phase, hence named after them as the KT phase, in quantum magnetic materials. However, although such phenomena have been found in superfluids and superconductors, KT phase has yet been realised in bulk magnetic material. The joint team is led by Dr Zi Yang Meng from HKU, Dr Wei Li from Beihang Univeristy and Professor Yang Qi from Fudan University. Their joint effort has revealed the comprehensive properties of the material TMGO. For example, in Figure 2, by self-adjustable tensor network calculation, they computed the properties of the model system at different temperatures, magnetic field, and by comparing with the corresponding experimental results of the material, they identified the correct microscopic model parameters. With the correct microscopic model on hand, they then performed quantum Monte Carlo simulation and obtained the neutron scattering magnetic spectra at different temperatures (neutron scattering is the established detection method for material structure and their magnetic properties, the closest such facility to Hong Kong is the China Spallation Neutron Source in Dongguan, Guangdong). As shown in Figure 3, the magnetic spectra with its unique signature at the M point is the dynamical fingerprint of the topological KT phase that has been proposed more than half-a-century ago. "This research work provides the missing piece of topological KT phenomena in the bulk magnetic materials, and has completed the half-a-century pursuit which eventually leads to the Nobel Physics Prize of 2016. Since the topological phase of matter is the main theme of condensed matter and quantum material research nowadays, it is expected that this work will inspire many follow-up theoretical and experimental researches, and in fact, promising results for further identification of the topological properties in quantum magnet have been obtained among the joint team and our collaborators," said Dr Meng. Dr Meng added: "The joint team research across Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai also sets up the protocol of modern quantum material research, such protocol will certainly lead to more profound and impactful discoveries in quantum materials. The computation power of our smartphone nowadays is more powerful than the supercomputers 20 years ago, one can optimistically foresee that with the correct quantum material as the building block, personal devices in 20 years' time can certainly be more powerful than the fastest supercomputers right now, with minimal energy cost of everyday battery." ### About the team Dr Zi Yang Meng is the world leading expert in developing and employing large scale quantum Monte Carlo simulation upon quantum many-body systems, and have recently made breakthrough in quantum metal research (Breakthrough in Understanding Quantum Metals: https://www.hku.hk/research/stories/20645/); Dr Wei Li is the developer of state-of-art tensor network approach that could compute the temperature and magnetic field response of quantum many-body systems; Professor Yang Qi performed the quantum field theory analysis of the numerical results and make sense of it all. About the Tianhe Supercomputers Tianhe-1 and Tianhe-2 are the large supercomputers in China, they are among the world fastest supercomputer and were the No.1 in 2010 and 2014 in the TOP500 list https://www.top500.org/. Tianhe-3 supercomputer is expected to be in usage in 2021 and will be world first exaFLOPS scale supercomputer. The quantum Monte Carlo and tensor network simulations performed by the joint team make use of the Tianhe supercomputers and requires the parallel simulations for thousands of hours on thousands of CPUs, it will take more than 20 years to finish if performed in common PC. The work was supported by the Research Grants Council of HKSAR, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the National Science Foundation of China. The joint team would in particular like to thank the Computational Initiative at the Faculty of Science and the Information Technology Services at the University of Hong Kong, for their understanding, support and promotion of the large-scale computational oriented researches. Link of journal paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-14907-8 Images download and captions: https://www.scifac.hku.hk/press The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic has thrown those planning for subsequent visits to hospitals in a dilemma, as they might face the exposure to the virus when refilling their prescriptions. Fortunately, online medical care services are giving them a new and safe solution. Through online hospitals and medical service platforms, patients are now able to consult doctors, do follow-up checks, have the medicine delivered, and even settle medical insurance on the internet. A 64-year-old citizen surnamed Song in East Chinas Jiangxi Province, who suffers from Parkinsons disease, has benefited from such an online real-time clinic under the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital affiliated with the School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. After consulting the doctors online, she soon received a solution on follow-up checks and drug delivery, and avoided the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus at the hospital. Due to the pneumonia outbreak, the amount of online diagnosis and treatment at hospitals affiliated to or supervised by the National Health Commission (NHC) saw a 17-fold year-on-year increase, according to data from the Department of Planning and Information at the NHC. The number is over 20 times higher for some third-party online medical service platforms. According to Cai Xiujun, president of the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, the hospital has launched consultancy hotlines, livestreaming, free consultations, AI-assisted self-examination system and psychological hotlines amid the pandemic. More than 17 million people have registered on the self-examination system, he added. After the hospital started offering online medical insurance settlement service since Feb. 15, it became the first hospital in China to offer online follow-up examination for chronic patients, online drug delivery and automatic settlement of medical insurance. So far, the hospital has received a total of more than 168,000 pieces of consultations, given online health consultations to over 238,000 people and provided prescription refilling and medicine delivery services for 12,120 chronic patients. Internet technology has been seeing an increasingly wider application in the medical sector. With the help of 5G technology, the China-Japan Friendship Hospital (National Telemedicine and Connected Health Center) has carried out remote consultations for 85 pneumonia patients in Central Chinas Hubei Province, and five online patient rounds, as well as given 15 livestreaming lectures on COVID-19 prevention and control. A smart system was developed by AI experts under the organization of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, by which medical workers admitted and treated 27,600 COVID-19 patients at 537 quarantine sites in Hubei through telemedicine. Besides, the internet was also used to enhance psychological assistance during the epidemic as the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and the Peking University Sixth Hospital launched online psychological consulting services. With the efforts of medical workers, hospitals, and the society, both the amount and quality of online medical services have secured continuous growth. A large number of doctors are joining online consulting services, and online hospitals are emerging in Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Hunan, Hubei and Gansu. Additionally, internet companies such as Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, WeDoctor and haodf.com are also providing technical and platform supports for free. A sound online medical ecology led by the government, participated by various parties and characterized by joint innovation, contribution and shared benefits is taking shape, which will facilitate the rapid development of the new business, said Liu Wenxian, deputy director of the Department of Planning and Information at the NHC. China will make overall plans to encourage the integration of online and offline medical services, strengthen supervision, and standardize services to better promote the healthy growth of Internet-driven medical care business, Liu added. As people gradually become used to seeking online medical services, the industry will diversify its content, and stimulate the development of relevant industrial groups, thus driving the overall development of the healthcare services, said Lu Qingjun, director of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital (National Telemedicine and Connected Health Center). By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Some 635 drivers were fined for violating the strict quarantine regime imposed on June 14-16, that forbade residents from leaving their homes, Main traffic police department under the Azerbajiani Ministry of Interior reported on June 16. The lockdown violators were brought to administrative responsibility under Article 211.1 of the Code of Administrative Offence from 00:00 on June 14 to 06:00 on June 16 in Baku, Sumgayit, Lankaran, Absheron, Yevlakh, Ismayilli, Kurdamir and Salyan regions. As reported earlier, during the weekend lockdown imposed June 6-7, police in Azerbaijan fined 2,524 drivers for violation of special quarantine regime. On June 9, a decision was taken to impose a two-day nationwide quarantine regime in Baku, Ganja, Lankaran, Sumgayit, Absheron, Yevlakh, Ismailli, Kurdamir and Salyan regions, that was effective from The difference between two weekend lockdowns is that with during second one dog owners were allowed to walk pets during lockdown without the need of obtaining a permit. Moreover, residents with a work permit were allowed to go to work by using their private cars, whereas during the first lockdown they could only go there by service car, bicycle or by foot. Earlier, TABIB Chairman Ramin Bayramli, in speaking at the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers, said that another weekend lockdown may be imposed in certain parts of the country this week. However, the official decision has not been made yet. Azerbaijan first introduced special quarantine regime on March 24 and the fourth stage of quarantine regime easing came into force on May 31. T he violent far-Right protests in London shocked many commentators and the public. But they werent such a shock to those of us who are on the receiving end of daily racist abuse online and on the streets. For years black and brown people have been trying to tell the rest of Britain how bad things are, and that the hardcore doing Nazi salutes are just the tip of the iceberg. The truth is these racists do represent a part of this country, and they didnt just appear out of the blue. They were moulded by our political narrative and the tabloid press. So rather than sweeping Saturdays scenes under the carpet, we must face the uncomfortable truth. In London, one of the most multicultural cities in the world, we just had the biggest counter-demonstration against anti-racism and Black Lives Matter in the world. My fellow Brits, there is a serious racism problem. Faiza Shaheen, Director, Class think tank Editor's reply Dear Faiza The weekends far-Right acts of violence were deeply upsetting. As a woman of colour from a Muslim background, Ive experienced more racism over the last few years and hate crime is rising. We need the police and political leaders to take the rise of the far-Right far more seriously than they do, especially after the murder of Jo Cox. I also believe the majority of the UK abhors this behaviour; we must not let racist thugs spread division and hate. Ayesha Hazarika, Columnist Rashfords right on school meals Marcus Rashford is right to call on the Government to adequately fund free school meals during the summer; this is a pandemic that has affected those on low incomes disproportionately. He is doing his bit. Kids need food and support during these times. Time for ministers to step up to the mark. Gary Martin The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has sent a show-cause notice to billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala for alleged insider trading in the shares of education firm Aptech. The IT education and training company is owned by him and his family and is the only firm in the ace investor's portfolio in which he holds management control. The markets regulator is probing the roles of Jhunjhunwala, his family members, and other board members of Aptech, including investor Ramesh S Damani and director Madhu Jayakumar. SEBI in its notice stated that it plans to freeze Jhunjhunwala's bank accounts to the extent of the "alleged profits made", a source told the Economic Times. Also Read: Rakesh Jhunjhunwala lost Rs 249 crore with this stock in a month The stock market regulator had in January this year called his brother Rajesh Kumar, wife Rekha, and mother-in-law Sushiladevi Gupta for questioning in the matter. Jhunjhunwala also appeared before SEBI's investigating officer at regulator's headquarters in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex, and was interrogated for a couple of hours. Insider trading is the illegal practice of trading on the stock exchange to one's own advantage through having access to confidential or non-public information. The markets regulator is specifically investigating a time period between February 2016 and September 2016, during which the alleged "irregular trading" was reported with the help of insider information. Also Read: This stock held by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala has gained 38% since March, did you miss the rally? As per reports, its shares were locked in the upper circuit at Rs 175.05 on September 7, 2016, after his brother and wife bought 7,63,057 shares in the company via block deals. In total, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala holds 24.24 per stake in Aptech, which is valued at Rs 160 crore. His shareholding in Aptech has increased gradually since 2005 when he bought a 10 per cent stake in the firm. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala manages his own equity portfolio through Rare Enterprises, in which he is a partner. New Delhi: Colonel B Santosh Babu's mother is proud of her son's sacrifice but is also sad at losing her only son, who was martyred on June 15 night during the violent clashes with the Chinese troops at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. On receiving the news of Colonel Santosh Babu's sacrifice, his family that hails from Suryapet town in the Nalgonda district (Telangana) said they are proud of their son who sacrificed his life for the motherland. Martyred Colonel Santosh's mother Manjula said, "I'm proud of my son who gave the supreme sacrifice for motherland but as a mother, I'm sad today." She added, "He was my only son. I came across the news in the afternoon, while my daughter-in-law got the news in the morning." Colonel Santosh is one of the three soldiers who were martyred during the violent clashes with the Chinese troops at the LAC in the Galwan Valley (Eastern Ladakh). Colonel Santosh was the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment and was posted on borders for over a year and a half. He is survived by wife Santoshi, a 9-year old daughter Abhinav and a 4-year old son Anirudh. The news of the first instance of violence leading to fatalities between India and China in over four decades at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has shocked everyone across India. Meanwhile, MEA's official statement read, "Senior Commanders had a productive meeting on June 6, 2020, and agreed on a process for such de-escalation. Subsequently, ground commanders had a series of meetings to implement the consensus reached at a higher level. While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley." The statement also said, " On the late-evening and night of June 15, 2020, a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side." Earlier in the evening today, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Prime Minister Modi and briefed him on the situation. According to reports, he was accompanied by the Army chief MM Naravne and Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat. Before briefing PM Modi, Jaishankar along with MM Naravne and Bipin Rawat visited the residence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh where they held brainstorming session over the Galwan Valley standoff incident as well on the overall situation in the eastern Ladakh. Its a risky move given that the gaming market is still quite niche in the country. So, what convinced JBL that this was a good idea? JBL, audio and gaming. Out of these three, two go hand in hand, but the third feels out of place. While several audio brands have entered the gaming industry with several products, Harmans JBL stayed committed to music. But this year, it is trying to change this practice and has brought in its own Quantum series of gaming headphones. While these headphones have been around for a bit for other markets, they were launched in India today. Its a risky move given that the gaming market is still quite niche in the country. So, what convinced JBL that this was a good idea? For JBL, this was an opportunity to tap in early and make a mark in one of the markets thats climbing slow but has immense potential. The growth in the gaming industry in India is testimony to the consumers willingness to invest, explained Vikram Kher, Vice President- Lifestyle Audio, HARMAN India to HT Tech. Kher said that what might be JBLs success mantra and become its key to survive in the gaming industry is that they have something on offer across price ranges. To address a wide consumer base, that goes from a discerning, casual or price conscious gamer, all the way to the competitive gamer looking for the best-in-class technology to win, we have something for everyone in the range, Kher said. JBL Quantum 400 (Hindustan Times) And whats clever here is that JBL didnt launch just one or two or four gaming headphones. There are seven of them spanning across the price spectrum. Were talking from a budget 2,500 (Quantum 100) to a rather generous 30,000 (Quantum One). Now thats an impressive landmine tactic - wherever you step, youll end up finding at least one JBL Quantum headphone in a price range that works for you. But of course, JBL will have to deal with rivals who have already been selling their products in the gaming space. Catching up and beating them is possibly a herculean task, but JBL is counting on one thing to give them the push ahead - the brand name. JBL is already a well-known legacy brand when it comes to audio products and this might help them carve a solid space in this domain. Thats what Kher is counting on. Also read: JBL's first Quantum gaming headphone in India: In Pics No other player in the market brings the kind of legacy and understanding we have in sound. We offer unprecedented focus on sound for survival while gaming, at the back of 70 years dedicated to sound, said Kher. This move to the gaming space could have been made before but according to Kher, JBL was looking for the right moment. Currently, JBL enjoys high awareness amongst millennials in India - a large part of that audience is also a part of the growing gaming community, Kher points out. JBL Quantum 400 (Hindustan Times) However, JBL is aware that they might not be able to convert brand-loyal gamers who have settled in, so they are planning to tap in on those who havent yet, at least for now. With the disproportionate popularity of mobile, PC and console gaming in the last few years we have an opportunity to convert new gamers who arent brand loyalists yet, he said. With channelized marketing efforts, something we have been doing successfully for all categories of headphones and speakers, we are confident of shaking up the status quo in the category, Kher added. That said, JBL is not just focussed on injecting more headphones into the market, hoping that with a growing gaming industry, its sales will also grow. It is instead, investing in channel expansion along with sales and marketing efforts to reach its target audience. For JBL, entering the Indian gaming section seems to be a logical, but a late move since rivals have already tapped on to the market share. It will be interesting to see how the company plans to scale up its presence in the gaming industry. JBL Quantum 400 (Hindustan Times) Technology is ever evolving. We already have a huge range of audio offerings for our consumers across categories. In fact we have invested deeply in creating high personalised categories to address the growing audio needs of consumers, and have seen great results. There is always scope for more innovation, said Kher. WTM Global Hub WTM Portfolios new online portal is again partnering with BBC Global News to turn the spotlight on European destinations recovering from the impact of Covid-19. They will host a webinar on June 18 at 2pm BST, which will be the latest in a packed series of online debates organised by WTM Global Hub. Called Destination Europe: Where do we go from here?, the webinar will explore the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic, emerging trends and how tourism boards can help the industry to recover. The hour-long session will be moderated by Rajan Datar a presenter on BBC World News and the BBCs The Travel Show with panellists from tourism agencies in France, Ireland and Hungary. The expert panellists will be: Caroline Leboucher, Chief Executive of Atout France; Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland; and Fruzsina Zakarias, Director of International Relations at the Hungarian Tourism Agency. Claude Blanc, WTM Portfolio Director, said: Were delighted to be partnering with the BBC again to bring another insightful webinar to the WTM community around the world, to keep everyone updated with the latest trends and innovative recovery strategies. Rajan Datar is a hugely respected and versatile broadcaster and journalist, with experience on national newspapers as well as the BBC." He will ask key questions to our distinguished panel and attendees will also be able to pose their own questions during the webinar." Since we launched WTM Hub and our expert webinars in April, we have hosted a wide range of well-known experts and top industry leaders talking about the critical issues affecting the global travel trade during this unprecedented upheaval." These interactive webinars have attracted thousands of attendees from around the world, who have heard about the impact of challenges such as quarantine, travel bans and social distancing on airlines, airports, hotels and resorts as well as ideas about how the industry will emerge from the crisis.," Blanc said. Destination Europe: Where do we go from here? starts at 2pm BST on June 18 and will be the 12th webinar on WTM Hub. Caroline Leboucher was appointed Chief Executive of Atout France in May 2019, having moved from Business France, where she promoted foreign investment in France. Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, oversees more than 160 staff in 21 markets. Ireland welcomed more than 11 million overseas visitors in 2019, supporting 325,000 jobs. Fruzsina Zakarias, joined the Hungarian tourism board just in time to experience the sectors most significant challenge to date, the shock caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and has been working on a strategy to rebuild Hungarys international tourism in the post-Covid period. Launched on April 23, WTM Global Hub aims to support travel industry professionals around the world. WTM Global Hub can be found at http://hub.wtm.com/. - TradeArabia News Service Emma Watson, the actress and activist who made her name as Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" films, joined the board of the French fashion giant Kering Tuesday, in a major coup for the world's second biggest luxury group. The British star, who was born in Paris, is the face of the Good On You app, which rates fashion brands on their ethical and sustainability credentials. Although Kering is seen to have the environmental edge on its rival LVMH, its top labels Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga are only rated "Not good enough" or "It's a start" by Good On You. Saint Laurent has also run into trouble with feminists and the regulators over a 2017 "porno chic" advertising campaign that was condemned as degrading to women. Watson "is one of the world's most popular actors and best-known activists," Kering said in a statement after on the appointment of the 30-year-old, a high-profile women's rights advocate as well as a UN goodwill ambassador. "Emma Watson is also a pioneer in advocating for sustainable fashion," Kering added. She was nominated onto the board alongside the Ivory Coast-born former CEO of Credit Suisse Group Tidjane Thiam and Jean Liu, the president of "the Chinese Uber" Didi Chuxing, by shareholders at Kering's AGM. - Millennial moral compass - Since the end of the "Harry Potter" franchise in 2010, Watson, has combined acting in hit films such as "Little Women" with going back to university, championing reading groups and heading up the UN's HeForShe gender equality campaign. She also coined the phrase "self-partnered" to describe her contentment as being single. Having lost Stella McCartney -- arguably the world's most ethnical luxury label -- to LVMH earlier this year, recruiting Watson is a coup for Kering which is keen to win over millennials. Watson is often seen as a moral compass for her generation. Thiam, 57, resigned from his position at Credit Suisse in February following a scandal involving internal espionage of former executives of the bank, of which he said he had no knowledge. "Throughout his career, Mr. Thiam has led organisations in both the private and public sectors, and has developed projects and programmes that stimulate businesses and economies," Kering said. The appointment of Jean Liu, 42, president of the mobile transport platform Didi Chuxing, means that China, a crucial country for Kering in terms of sales, is represented on the board for the first time, said Sophie L'Helias, lead independent director. Kering chairman and CEO Francois-Henri Pinault -- who is married to Hollywood star and activist Salma Hayek -- welcomed the appointments. "Their respective knowledge and competences, and the multiplicity of their backgrounds and perspectives will be invaluable additions," he said. "The collective intelligence that comes from diverse points of view and the richness of different experiences are crucial to the future of our organisation." The Kering group employed more than 38,000 people worldwide at the end of 2019. Its turnover stood at 15.9 billion euros ($17.9 billion) last year, for a net profit of 2.3 billion euros. From the red carpet to the boardroom for Emma Watson as she joins the directors of luxury group Kering COVID-19 Testing Available for Anyone Who Was at Large Gathering BOSTON Anyone who's been at a large gathering in recent weeks can be tested free for COVID-19. The governor's office made the announcement on Monday that 50 pop-up sites would be offering the confidential tests on Wednesday and Thursday, July 17 and 18. "Obviously, there's been a significant increase in the number of people participating in demonstrations across Massachusetts and around the country," said Gov. Charlie Baker. "Thousands of people have been congregating in large groups over the past several weeks to exercise their First Amendment rights in the wake of the George Floyd murder. "These gatherings are coinciding with reopening [of the state], meaning more and more people are moving around, and around each other." There are only two popup sites in Berkshire County available for the free testing: Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington. Regular testing is only available at BMC and CVS, also in Pittsfield. Berkshire Health Systems is using its COVID-19 hotline at 1-855-262-5465 for making appointments. Individuals who want to be tested can be given a physician's order and appointment at either BMC or Fairview. The two testing locations will have expanded hours this Wednesday and Thursday for this special testing, with the drive-thru tents open from noon to 7 p.m. Tens of thousands have marched in almost daily protests since Floyd's murder in police custody at the end of May. While many protesters appear to be taking precautions washing hands or using hand sanitizer, wearing masks and attempting social distancing the nature of the protests bring large numbers of people together. Berkshire County has had several protests related to Floyd as well as two educational rallies, and a number of small graduations. Baker said people who attended large events should be tested even if they are feeling fine. "We need to keep up our fight to slow the spread of COVID-19 here in Massachusetts. Some people who have the virus don't show symptoms and could spread the virus to others including family members," the governor said. "By getting tested, you can help keep yourself and your close contacts safe from the virus." Massachusetts is in its second week of the second phase of a four-phase reopening process. This also has brought people out into stores, outside dining and back to work. The positive rate for the novel coronavirus has dropped dramatically since April and there are now fewer than 1,000 people hospitalized for the deadly disease, a drop of 90 percent. Berkshire County's numbers remain low compared to other areas of the state and nation at 579 confirmed cases and 42 deaths since March. There has not yet been a spike in cases seen since the large demonstrations in Boston two weeks ago but the governor said it was too soon to tell. Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders said testing in Boston after the large demonstrations was 1,200 to 1,500 a day but those results are not yet back. There is an anticipation of 10,000 new tests being done statewide on Wednesday and Thursday. More than 700,000 people have been tested statewide to this point. "I think the most appropriate thing we need to do is make sure that our testing ability can ramp and that we do have a pretty significant tracing program in place to be sure that we can actually reach out connect with and help those people isolate," Baker said. "It's hard to see how such behavior will help the Kim regime get what it wants from the world, but clearly such images will be used for domestic propaganda," Easley said. "So Seoul needs to impose additional costs demonstrating to Pyongyang that its threats are counterproductive." A British backpacker has detailed the six things she 'hated' about living in Australia - including the scorching summer, cockroaches and chorizo. Daryl, from Sussex in England, was on a working visa when she lived in Cronulla with her Australian boyfriend James from October 2018 and June 2019. The couple decided to return to the UK because they were 'missing home' after spending eight 'beautiful' months in the beachside suburb of Sydney. Earlier this week, a resurfaced video emerged of Daryl sharing the things she wished she knew before relocating to Australia - including pricey fruits and vegetables, 'weird' chocolate, 'loud' birds and Aussie slang. And in another light-hearted YouTube video, the young traveller listed the things she 'hated' about living in the country. 'I don't actually hate living in Australia, I absolutely adore it, I really love it. It [was] an amazing experience but it's just a few things that I don't like,' she said. Scroll down for video British backpacker Daryl (pictured) has since moved back home to England after detailing the six things she 'hated' about living in Australia HOMESICKNESS One of the things Daryl hated about living in Sydney was moving away from her family and friends to be on the other side of the world. 'I feel like anybody who moves away from their family and friends will experience at some point - homesickness is the worst thing in the whole world,' she said. 'It's awful, what can you do? We're out here, we're having a great time... you have to enjoy the experience but it's the worst thing about living [in Australia]. 'We are literally on the other side of the world so it's hard to just pop back home for like a week... it wouldn't even be worth it if we were to go back for a week.' However, Daryl said she was able to overcome the homesickness by keeping in touch with her family and friends as much as possible. 'You realise that absolutely nothing is changing while you're away so it makes it a bit easier,' she said. SCORCHING SUMMER Daryl said another thing she struggled with in Sydney was the scorching weather during the 'hottest summer' when she was living here. 'Summer was incredibly hot,' she said. 'So we used to go to the beach kind of first thing in the morning so we could still play in the water and everything before the midday sun. 'We used to sometimes go out for lunch around 12 o'clock and we'd see people running up and down the seafront when it's like peak heat. 'I don't know how they were doing this but I was like "how are you not passing out?" It's crazy I suppose you would just get used to it but for me, it was too hot.' She lived in Cronulla with her Australian boyfriend James from October 2018 and June 2019 HIGH COST OF LIVING Daryl said while living in Sydney, she noticed the high cost of living. 'Everything is really expensive, apart from public transport,' she said. 'The first thing we were shocked by when we came here, we went to get some dinner - a pepper or a "capsicum" you guys like to call it - it cost over $3. 'We thought "how are you justifying spending this much on vegetables?" but with that being said you do earn more money [in Australia] so it is all relative but it's still expensive.' FOOD 'Although they have some incredible food, there are some foods that we don't really eat [in Australia] because it's not the same as what we had in England,' she said. Daryl said she noticed the ingredients she purchased in Sydney to recreate her favourite dish - chicken chorizo pasta - didn't taste the same. 'I used to make this amazing pasta - it's delicious and the chorizo is the best part of the dish. But then we came here, we bought some chorizo but it's kind of soft and it's just like a sausage - it's not the same in any way whatsoever,' she said. 'I've tried cooking it in different ways and it just isn't the same.' She said the chocolate in Australia didn't taste as good as England and she noticed there was a lack of flavour options for crisps. Daryl (pictured) criticised the slow wi-fi as well as the food and bugs BAD INTERNET 'The internet is so bad. I read somewhere online and it said that Kenya has better internet than Australia,' Daryl said, as she laughed. She said when she was doing some temp work in Australia, she said the internet completely stopped working when other people logged in. 'You can't get on the internet, you can't make a call out. If people call in, you cannot hear anything,' she said. BUGS Besides the snakes and spiders, Daryl said she couldn't stand the pesky flies and cockroaches in Australia. 'There are a crazy amount of flies - it's ridiculous and cockroaches. So we have had, I can't even tell you how many cockroaches we've had in here, they've been like babies and adults,' she said. 'When we moved in, we didn't have fly screens and it was summer so in the evening when it was a bit cooler, we wanted to open up the windows, you'd get these cockroaches flying in. 'Then we got fly screens but it doesn't stop the cockroaches coming in, I don't know how they come in, no idea.' Daryl said she would do a deep clean of her flat and vacuum everything but the cockroaches still found its way into her home. 'I haven't ever seen any cockroaches when I was [vacuuming] so I don't know where they hide in the day, don't know how they get in - they're horrible,' she said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 By Eldar Janashvili - Trend: The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) held a foreign exchange auction with the participation of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), during which Azerbaijani banks acquired $30.9 million, Trend reports citing CBA. According to CBA, demand from the banks at the auction dropped by 24.1 percent or by $9.8 million compared to the previous auction. Considering the number of days remaining before the next scheduled auction, as well as with the aim of ensuring uninterrupted currency trading by the banks, the demand of banks at the auction will be fully provided during weekends. The first foreign exchange auction in a long time was held with the participation of SOFAZ on March 10, 2020, during which Azerbaijani banks acquired 323.2 million manat ($190.1 million). The CBA began to hold foreign exchange auctions through unilateral sale of foreign currency in competitive conditions since mid-January 2017. In March 2020, it was decided to hold extraordinary foreign exchange auctions in connection with the increased demand of the population for foreign currency amid the failed OPEC+ deal, which entailed a sharp decline in oil prices. (1 USD = 1.7 AZN on June 16) --- Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili Doctors have revealed accounts of their experiences at Royal Perth Hospital in response to WAtoday's report on surgeons and specialists planning to leave the hospital over bullying allegations they have labelled ridiculous. The senior physicians said an "unfair and broken" complaints system meant the welfare of patients could be put at risk in what AMA (WA) president Andrew Miller described as a "clash of generations". AMA president Andrew Miller said a bad culture had arisen within the health department because of the inadequate complaints processes. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola One is old-school, tough and resilient, the other brought up on empathy and collaboration. But surgeon Rhea Liang, who chairs the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' Operate With Respect education committee, said on social media that framing the issue as a generational divide "buys into false stereotypes and is disrespectful to medical staff of all ages and stages who believe in respectful behaviour". WYOMING, MI Sharing a patrol car, Wyoming police sergeants Chris DeBoer and Rob Meredith got ahead of a wrong-way driver on U.S. 131 to alert other motorists to get out of the way. Staring at headlights coming at them, the two officers decided they had to do more. Shekhar Kapur, who directed Heath Ledger in the 2002 war drama The Four Feathers, has revealed that he spoke with the late actor hours before he died of a drug overdose. The filmmaker said that they were supposed to meet on the day that the actor unexpectedly passed away. I worked with this fantastic actor called Heath Ledger and I did one of his first films. I was in New York and we were talking about a film we were going to do - The Nine O'Clock War - and he was going to do the lead role in it. We were going to meet, Shekhar said during an Instagram live with Manoj Bajpayee. However, their meeting was pushed, as Heath was feeling tired and jet-lagged. He called me and he said, Shekhar, mind if we dont meet this evening? I am a little jet-lagged. Lets meet tomorrow. I said okay. He said, Call me at 9.30, just wake me up. At 9.30 in the morning, I felt, Oh my God, I shouldnt really wake him up. He is jet-lagged. Around 11.30, the friend I was staying with said, Shekhar, sit down, I have something to tell you. Heath Ledger is dead. I said, Hang on, I just spoke to him. And he was gone, Shekhar said. In 2008, Heath was found dead in his Manhattan apartment, with a bottle of prescription sleeping pills near him. According to the New York City medical examiners office, it was a case of accidental drug overdose. Also read: Vivek Oberoi shares details of Sushant Singh Rajputs funeral, calls it a wake-up call for film industry The topic of Heaths untimely demise came up as Shekhar was discussing Sushant Singh Rajputs death with Manoj. Manoj expressed his unhappiness with the analysis of the death, saying, When I see the cacophony around me and people trying to find the reason behind the suicide...everyone has their own theory and we are not talking about the contribution that he has made at such a young age, the journey that he took and where he reached...it is leaving a very bad taste in my mouth. He added, Why cant we celebrate the person that he was? Shekhar felt that it was because part of us loves drama. He said, Because we are in the movie business and any business that has a high profile, people look for drama. Right now, we are going through the phase where everybody is talking, it is dramatic. I am hoping that the dramaticness of it all will go away We are short-term attention span people. This is what social media has made us. Gone are the days when the mind was settled but hopefully, in Sushants case, the mind will settle and when it settles, we will watch his films again and again and we will understand what he brought to this business. The filmmaker went on to add that Heath is now remembered for his films, performances and the Joker (The Dark Knight) he played, which will be ever-memorable. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more [June 15, 2020] Unique Bluetooth contact tracing card -- first "line of defence" against potential new COVID-19 outbreaks SYDNEY, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Best practice in the era of COVID-19 relies upon the timely and trusted application of outbreak management protocols, and Singaporean companies are invited to trial an innovative contact tracing solution. Presently being piloted across the Asia-Pacific, Contact Harald http://contactharald.com/bus-health is an app-free, wearable, stand-alone card-to-card based contact tracing system that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Designed for "closed environments" like aged care facilities, food manufacturing factories and fulfilment warehouses the Australian-designed system records card-to-card interactions within a defined area. Each card records when those wearing a Contact Harald card have been in close proximity (within two metres of each other) for two minutes or longer. Speed and privacy are of the utmost importance. When any potential new case of a transmissible disease is identified, memory-based recall can prove problematic. With Contact Harald, "trace, test and isolate" actions can be undertaken immediately, without having o wait days or weeks trying to manually track down contacts. Deidentified proximity data is uploaded securely to an encrypted server with no personal information stored on individual cards. "The second wave took Singapore off guard, and we know the nature of this virus makes getting back to work rather complicated," said Matt Denton, the award-winning former Apple designer behind the Contact Harald platform. "With subsequent waves of the pandemic on the cards, I encourage Singaporean businesses to take the time now to trial and install systems to ensure they are properly prepared. "Designed with speed and accuracy at its heart, this unique platform can quickly identify, contact and isolate any potential sources of infection," said Mr Denton, noting that the striking green Contact Harald cards also offer a visual compliance cue which can help with staff morale and visitor confidence across all industry sectors. If there is a possible infection spread, Contact Harald snaps into action: data is cross referenced, and alerts can be selectively issued by SMS and/or emails to everyone who was in close contact - all without the need for complicated set-up procedures or expensive IT infrastructure. Currently establishing a "quick start" system, the Contact Harald local support team can supply kits of firmware-loaded cards/lanyards, onboarding/uploading videos plus seven-day software access to interested businesses. Trial kits can be requested by emailing [email protected] or by calling +61 419 381 103. "We anticipate wide demand for the card-to-card contact tracing kits. Priority will be given to residential long-term care providers and nursing homes, as these have been identified as areas of high risk, "said Mr Denton. Using simple, practical steps to enhance duty of care, Contact Harald can help safeguard business continuity and viability by: offering a visual compliance tool speeding up contact tracing time maintaining privacy freeing up staff to continue doing essential work Request a trial kit today to discover how simple, fast and effective Contact Harald is. Contact Harald Support Team David Timmins Email : [email protected] Phone: +61 419 381 103 Web: http://contactharald.com/bus-health Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200615/2830726-1LOGO SOURCE Contact Harald [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 21:55:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed an order to release the newly-revised regulations on the education in military academies. Focusing on nurturing a new type of high-quality and professional military talents, the regulations aim to regulate every aspect and the whole operation process of the education in military academies. With 11 chapters and 90 provisions, the regulations have implemented the requirements of enhancing the political loyalty of the armed forces, defined the roles and tasks of the academies' teaching and scientific research work, and specified the requirements for the leaders, faculty members and cadets in the academies. The regulations will also help focus all teaching activities on improving the capabilities to fight and win, and offer a strong guarantee to cultivate revolutionary officers and soldiers of the new era with faith, ability, courage and integrity. With an emphasis on reform and innovation, the regulations will boost the modernization of military academies' educational ideas, policies, content, methods and administration. The regulations will go into effect on July 1, 2020. Enditem President Donald Trump on Tuesday will sign an executive order calling for police reforms in the wake of nationwide outcry over racial injustice and police brutality ever since the May 25 killing of George Floyd. On Monday, the president told reporters the order would help preserve law and order," and justice and safety. I think this will be very comprehensive, he said. The president has expressed sympathy for peaceful protesters and the family of Floyd, who died after being pinned down under a white police officers knee for nearly 9 minutes. But Trump has talked more frequently about law and order and cracking down on looting and unrest than he has about plans to address systemic racism. He recently told a reporter that a rebounding economy would help heal race relations. But Trump administration aides told Politico the executive order to be unveiled Tuesday afternoon comes after discussion with police officers, mayors, faith leaders, conservative African Americans and victims families. They said the order addresses some of the issues that have sparked calls for reform without demonizing police; Trump has said that most police officers are outstanding. The order will create a national database of police misconduct, preventing officers from moving from department to department if they have a track record of complaints of aggressive behavior or excessive force, Politico reported. The order also calls on social workers and mental health professionals to worker more closely with frontline officers. And similar to many police departments and municipalities across the country, the order may include new training guidelines on de-escalation and the use of force. On Monday night, the White House tweeted that the order would help law enforcement build trust and effectively serve the community as our first line of defense here at home. President @realDonaldTrump stands behind our dedicated law enforcement all the way. Tomorrow, he will sign an Executive Order on policing to help law enforcement build trust and effectively serve the community as our first line of defense here at home. The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 16, 2020 Both public safety and public trust are crucial to the law enforcement mission, the White House added. Tomorrows Executive Order will uphold clear and high policing standards, promote accountability in law enforcement and help equip police officers for constructive community engagement. Many police departments including Boston, Cambridge and Arlington have looked to adopt or fully comply with the 8 Cant Wait campaign, which advocates for more restrictive use of force policies in order to save lives. Departments have implemented reforms and clarified policies around de-escalation and restrictions on use of force, including banning chokeholds. Many departments have also updated policies to require officers to intervene if they witness a fellow officer using excessive force, and also made clear that officers must report such instances to superiors. Some municipalities, many protesters and some progressive lawmakers, are pushing for reforms that divert funds from police departments and into social and community programs, education and the arts. The president is scheduled to make remarks from the White House and sign the executive order at noon. Related Content: Vice President Mike Pence makes remarks during an event on protecting seniors with diabetes, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington on May 26, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Pence Says Officials Looking at Other Venues for Trump Tulsa Rally WASHINGTONOfficials are considering other venues in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for President Donald Trumps first campaign rally since the CCP virus shutdown, Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday. A Trump campaign official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said later the rally would be held at the BOK Center arena in Tulsa as planned, but the campaign is also considering other areas adjacent to the arena to allow the president to address even more people. Pence acknowledged the health risks of bringing so many people togetherthe campaign said it had received more than 1 million ticket requestsduring an interview with Fox News. Its all a work in progress. Weve had such an overwhelming response that were also looking at another venue. Were also looking at outside activities, and I know the campaign team will keep the public informed as that goes forward, Pence said. But its one of the reasons that were going to do the temperature screening and were going to provide hand sanitizers and provide masks for people that are attending. First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Karen Pence greet supporters at a rally where Trump formally announced his 2020 reelection bid in Orlando, Fla., on June 18, 2019. (John Raoux/AP Photo) Pence said officials were discussing options with Oklahomas governor. The campaign rally will be Trumps first since early March, when the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic led to quarantines and the shuttering of the U.S. economy. Trump is seeking reelection in November against presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. From left to right, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, former Vice President Joe Biden, and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), at a campaign rally at Renaissance High School in Detroit, Mich., on March 9, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) One of the reasons we chose Oklahoma is because Oklahoma has done such a remarkable job in reopening their state, Pence said. However, CCP virus infections are on the rise in the state, particularly around Tulsa. The citys chief health officer has expressed concern about holding such a large indoor and said he wished the rally could be postponed. By Doina Chiacu Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. New Delhi, June 16 : Twenty Indian Army men, including officers, were killed in an unprecedented violent clash with Chinese People's Liberation Army troops at Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh on Monday night, the Indian Army said on Tuesday. Sources said that the death toll is likely to go up as many soldiers have been brutally injured. Indian Army issued a statement on Tuesday night wherein it said, "17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the standoff location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20." The force further stated that Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged in the Galwan area where they had earlier "clashed on the night of June 15 and June 16, 2020." The force further stated that Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation. An unprecedented violent clash took place in Galwan Valley at the Line of Actual Control with Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers attacking a small group of Indian Army men on patrol, resulting in fatalities which included the commanding officer of the Indian Army. The intensity of the fight increased with reinforcements from the both sides and it continued until late night till the time they got exhausted. Many Indian soldiers went missing during the fight. Early on Tuesday morning, both Indian and Chinese top military officials rushed and called for a meeting to defuse the situation. These are the first casualties faced by the Indian Army in clash with the People's Liberation Army since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. Earlier in the day, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the prevailing situation in Eastern Ladakh. Singh met Modi after he held a meeting with External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and the three service chiefs in the South Block here to review the situation. Singh asked the service chiefs to explain the current situation in Galwan Valley and what course of action could be taken from hereafter diplomatically. Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane was to visit Kashmir on Tuesday morning but following Monday night's developments at the LAC, it was cancelled. Sources in Indian Army stated: "The Defence Minister reviewed the current operational situation in Eastern Ladakh, consequent to Monday's violent faceoff on the Line of Actual Control along with the Chief of Defence Staff and the three service chiefs. The External Affairs Minister was also present during the meeting." It is yet to be ascertained as to how many Chinese soldiers were killed in the clash, but the MEA spokesperson has stated that "both sides suffered casualties". On Monday, Brigade Commander and company level talks happened in Eastern Ladakh between India and China. The talks were happening near patrolling point 14 near the mouth of Galwan Valley and patrolling point 17 in the Hot Springs area. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text It has been a decade since the deadly ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan and, although the destroyed shops and buildings have been repaired, it's difficult to gauge how much damage remains in the people who survived the horrific chaos of those days in 2010. Nearly one week of killing and destruction -- mainly in the cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad -- left at least 470 people dead, more than 2,200 serious injured, and some 400,000 displaced, mostly ethnic Uzbeks. Many questions remain unanswered, including who was responsible for starting the violence and why? These are questions that may never be answered. In a June 9 report from Human Rights Watch (HRW), Central Asia researcher Mihra Rittmann said: "Justice has been elusive for so many people who suffered horrific crimes during and after the violent events of June 2010." She added: "While southern Kyrgyzstan has long ceased to be a site of open ethnic conflict, until there is accountability for past abuses there will always be legitimate concerns about the prospect of long-term stability in the region." The so-called "June Events" from a decade ago occupy a strange place in the minds of the people of Kyrgyzstan. Everyone remembers them and has an opinion about what happened and why, but it is a subject few want to talk about and -- if they do, whether Kyrgyz or Uzbek -- they're likely to say their people were the victims. Loaded Issue The 10th anniversary of the arrest of Azimjon Askarov, now 69, was marked on June 15, 2020. An ethnic Uzbek rights activist from Kyrgyzstan's southern town of Bazar-Korgon, Askarov was apprehended by security forces as the violence was ending. Askarov said he was chronicling the violence, but a Kyrgyz court found him guilty of fomenting ethnic hatred, instigating disorder, and involvement in the murder of a policeman killed during the tumult. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. International rights group criticized the case against Askarov, saying he was mistreated in detention, and decried his subsequent conviction. The U.S. State Department conferred the 2014 Human Rights Defender Award on Askarov and in 2016 the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released a statement calling for Askarov's immediate release after "UN experts" found he had been "arbitrarily detained, held in inhumane conditions, tortured and mistreated, and prevented from adequately preparing his trial defense." Kyrgyz authorities complained about the U.S. State Department award and rejected the United Nation's call to free Askarov, calling it an internal affair. Askarov's case is a loaded issue for Kyrgyz politicians in the capital, Bishkek, where few appear anxious to take his side on this matter. In southern Kyrgyzstan itself, life goes on and, while there are signs of progress in the reconciliation of the two ethnic communities and normalcy in life, there are also signs that things are far less than perfect. Back To School Nick Megoran is a political geography professor at Newcastle University in Britain and one of the leading international experts on the region who has been working and conducting research in the Ferghana Valley -- on both sides of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border -- since the mid-1990s. Megoran used the example of Uzbek schools in southern Kyrgyzstan as one barometer of gauging the recovery. "The formation of the Kyrgyz and Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republics in the 1920s created significant national minority communities on either side of their new Ferghana Valley boundary [but]...Soviet authorities made a provision for minority schooling, with Uzbek-language schools in the Kyrgyz SSR and Kyrgyz-language schooling in the Uzbek one," Megoran told RFE/RL. Megoran said that, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, there were efforts in both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to maintain this arrangement. "In Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of Education established the Kyrgyz-Uzbek University in Osh and the Uzbek Humanities-Pedagogical Faculty of Osh State University," Megoran said. After the June 2010 violence, however, "the name of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek University was hurriedly changed to the 'Osh State Social University,' and Osh State University's Uzbek Humanities-Pedagogical Faculty was evicted from its building and downgraded to a department of the university's philology faculty." All of those actions were blows to ethnic Uzbeks in the educational sphere. Megoran also noted that, since 2000, "the number of Uzbek-language schools in Kyrgyzstan has fallen from 141 to 43." The June 9 HRW report cited earlier included comments from "an ethnic Uzbek lawyer from southern Kyrgyzstan who asked not to be named out of fear of reprisals." This lawyer told HRW: "Psychologically, it stays with you. An act of reconciliation did not take place. Many friends, people who suffered, whose relatives were jailed -- no one ever answered for [the abuses]." He added: "It makes you feel psychologically vulnerable. You still feel [vulnerable] today." Signs Of Progress However, some members of the Uzbek community in southern Kyrgyzstan do see some progress. RFE/RL spoke with two ethnic Uzbeks who live in Osh. While they were optimistic, one requested to speak on condition of anonymity, so pseudonyms will be used. "Compared to 10 years ago, it is very different. Even five years ago there were problems, but now Uzbeks feel better...now it is more comfortable," Timur told RFE/RL. Timur said Osh is more secure and that there was the "rule of law" there. "Uzbeks go everywhere [in Osh city] and Kyrgyz come to restaurants in Uzbek neighborhoods." Sobir agreed, saying, "Tension has been gone for many years. Uzbeks and Kyrgyz have friendly relations." However, both Timur and Sobir said that the main language of communication in Osh is now Kyrgyz. "Kyrgyz accept the Uzbek language," Timur said, but "Kyrgyz would prefer to hear the Kyrgyz language from Uzbeks." But he admitted he does not speak perfect Kyrgyz and usually says he is from Uzbekistan, an explanation Kyrgyz in Osh seem to accept. Sobir echoed that comment, saying, "The languages are similar. Uzbeks learn Kyrgyz very well." What Kyrgyz and Uzbeks discuss and do not discuss is interesting. Timur said, "Uzbeks talk about politics and other things with Kyrgyz," but they "don't talk about ethnic questions." Sobir said, "[Uzbeks] have stopped talking about [the turmoil in 2010]. It is like a wound that people don't want to touch." Sobir said interethnic relations were mended within a few years of the June 2010 events, but Timur added: "Even five years ago there was harassment [of Uzbeks by Kyrgyz]," though he did not elaborate. Timur credited the new leadership in Uzbekistan as "the most important thing for ethnic relations" in southern Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan's first president, Islam Karimov, died nearly four years ago. Karimov's government was increasingly hard on Kyrgyzstan, especially after the 2005 and 2010 revolutions there that ousted the country's presidents, which Karimov, and many other leaders, looked upon as setting a dangerous precedent. Karimov's death was announced in early September 2016 and his prime minister, Shavkat Mirziyoev, came to power. Mirziyoev adopted a more congenial policy toward Uzbekistan's Central Asian neighbors. The Uzbek leader traveled to Kyrgyzstan in September 2017 and while he was there he announced that several border-crossing points along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek frontier that had been closed since 2010 would reopen. Shortly afterwards, at the Dostuk crossing near Osh, thousands of people from both sides of the border came out and held an impromptu celebration, complete with food and music. Mirziyoev announced that Uzbekistan would help build a new Uzbek-language school in the city and then, Megoran reminded, "On a separate occasion [Mirziyoev] visited the ethnic Kyrgyz village of Manas, in Uzbekistan's Jizzakh region, and ordered it and its school to be wholly refurbished, returning 45 days later to inspect the outcome." Sobir noted that the changes instituted by Mirziyoev coming to power had made a big difference to the situation in southern Kyrgyzstan. The coronavirus pandemic led to authorities closing the border temporarily, but Sobir said prior to this health measure, frequent visits by Uzbeks from Uzbekistan and the opportunity for Kyrgyz to travel in the other direction -- many as tourists going to see the ancient Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan: Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and other places -- has helped repair damage in relations between the two ethnic groups. Though it has helped, not everything has totally healed yet. "The topic of justice comes up when Uzbeks gather [without any Kyrgyz present]. At any gathering [of Uzbeks] it comes up," said Timur. U.S. News & World Report ranked Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital among the nations best childrens hospitals in eight specialties. Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital has been honored once again by U.S. News & World Report on their annual best childrens hospitals list. This year, the hospital ranked in eight specialty areas, more than it has ranked for in a single year. Johns Hopkins All Childrens also had the most specialties ranked in Florida and was the only childrens hospital on Floridas West Coast to make the list. The 2020-2021 list ranked Johns Hopkins All Childrens among the top 50 in the following specialty areas: Neurology and Neurosurgery #27 Diabetes and Endocrinology #33 Nephrology #39 Cancer #41 Neonatology #44 Urology #46 Pulmonology and Lung Surgery #47 Orthopaedics #50 We are humbled and honored by this recognition of the depth and breadth of services we offer to this community and its children and families, says Thomas Kmetz, president of Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital. There is much uncertainty in the world right now with COVID-19, but families can be assured that we are here to take care of their kids as we have been for nearly 100 years. More than 100 pediatric hospitals across the country participate in the survey each year, including the Johns Hopkins Childrens Center in Baltimore, which ranked nationally in 10 specialty areas. Since joining the Johns Hopkins Health System in 2011, specialists at All Childrens have collaborated with colleagues in Baltimore on a variety of treatment and research initiatives. Read additional details about Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital rankings. About Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital in St. Petersburg is a leader in childrens health care, combining a legacy of compassionate care focused solely on children since 1926 with the innovation and experience of one of the worlds leading health care systems. The 259-bed teaching hospital, stands at the forefront of discovery, leading innovative research to cure and prevent childhood diseases while training the next generation of pediatric experts. With a network of Johns Hopkins All Childrens Outpatient Care centers and collaborative care provided by All Childrens Specialty Physicians at regional hospitals, Johns Hopkins All Childrens brings care closer to home. Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital consistently keeps the patient and family at the center of care while continuing to expand its mission in treatment, research, education and advocacy. For more information, visit HopkinsAllChildrens.org. Three Katyusha rockets landed near Baghdad's airport late Monday, according to the Iraqi military, in the latest in a flurry of similar attacks in the capital this month. The military said Tuesday a rocket launcher was discovered in the Al-Makaseb neighborhood, southeast of the airport. No one was hurt and there were no reports of damage. The rocket attack is one of several this month and the second to target the Baghdad International Airport. On June 8, a rocket the military said was launched from south of the airport landed without causing any casualties. Days later, on the eve of a highly anticipated meeting between American and Iraqi officials over the future of US troops in the country, a rocket landed near the US Embassy inside Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone. Then, over the weekend, Iraqi security forces thwarted a separate rocket attack Sunday near Camp Taji, a military base north of Baghdad that houses US troops. No group has claimed responsibility for the spate of rockets, but US officials have blamed similar incidents in recent months on Iranian-backed Iraqi militias. In March, a barrage of rockets struck Camp Taji, killing two Americans and one British service member. The Pentagon accused Kataib Hezbollah and retaliated with strikes on the Shiite groups weapons depots. Later that month, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Shaykh Adnan al-Hamidawi, the militias special operations commander. Kataib Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militias operating outside the control of the Iraqi government remain a significant problem, David Schenker, US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, said following the top-level strategic talks in Baghdad last week. This rocket being fired at the United States, at the embassy in Baghdad, highlights exactly why we have to have this strategic dialogue. This is not normal for friendly states in foreign capitals to have their embassies routinely shelled, Schenker said. The Baghdad airport targeted in Mondays rocket attack was also the site of the US drone strike in January on Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the head of Irans Quds Force. The air raid, which also killed militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, prompted Iran to launch a ballistic missile attack that left dozens of American troops with traumatic brain injuries. The man suspected of having killed Madeleine McCann is now under investigation for the sickening rape and murder of a 13-year-old boy in Frankfurt, whose body was mutilated. Christian Brueckner, the suspect in the case of the disappearance and believed murder of Madeline McCann, has been named by the Frankfurter Neuer Presse as a potential suspect in the murder of Tristan Brubach in March 1998. Brubach's body was found in an underpass known as the Liederbach near the Frankfurt-Hochst train station in the city of Frankfurt in the German state of Hesse. He had been beaten unconscious, strangled, raped and tortured, according to reports. The cause of death was a long cut to his throat and his body had been mutilated, with parts of his body having been removed. The removed body parts were never recovered. Pictured: The 13-year-old Tristan Brubach, who was killed in 1998. The man suspected of having killed Madeleine McCann, Christian Brueckner, is now under investigation in the brutal murder of Burbach in Frankfurt Three adolescents reportedly saw the murderer from a distance and the description they gave to police of the perpetrator was reportedly similar to that of Christian Brueckner. At around 3.20 p.m., Brubach had been seen alive by the three teenagers in Frankfurt, and 10 minutes later they saw a man in the tunnel put something on a concrete platform and 'tamper' with it. Prosecutors believe the boys witnessed the murder of Burbach at a distance, but did not realise at the time what they had seen. From descriptions from the witnessed, an e-fit composite sketch of the suspect was produced and distributed at the time. A year later, in March 1999, Burbach's rucksack was found in a forest in Niedernhausen, 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the crime scene. The rucksack contained a Czech-language road atlas of Germany. Left: Christian Brueckner, who is now the prime suspect in the Madeline McCann case, and is also a possible suspect in the murder of 13-year-old Burbach. Right: A phantom composite of the man suspected of killing Tristan Brubach Burbach did not speak Czech, so the map was not believed to have belonged to the boy, resulting in German investigators to expand their inquiries into the Czech republic and Slovakia, although no solid leads emerged. Chief Prosecutor Noah Kruger told German daily newspaper Bild: 'We are checking whether there are any connections between the two cases. In itself, however, this is not unusual, but routine. The sequence of events and the e-fit from the Tristan case could be similar.' There are parallels between the two cases, with Burbach, like Madeline McCann, only being left alone for a few minutes when he disappeared. The suspect was never found. Brueckner, 43, has been linked to a series of child abductions and murders in Portugal and Germany since he was named as the main suspect in the Madeline McCann case. He is in jail in Germany for drug dealing and is appealing against a conviction for the 2005 rape of a woman near the Praia da Luz resort where McCann went missing from in southern Portugal. Pictured: Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in Praia da Luz, Portugal on May 3, 2007. Christian Brueckner is now the prime suspect in that case, and is now a potential suspect in the murder of 13-year-old German boy Tristan Burbach as well Kozhikode: The Uri terror attack loomed large as the BJP National Executive met on Friday ahead of the two-day National Council meeting starting on Saturday amidst demands for tough action against Pakistan. The party itself sought to focus on the pro-poor agenda during the deliberations with BJP President Amit Shah asking its state governments to execute the schemes aimed at the welfare of the poor in the centenary birth anniversary year of its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay. On the first day of the three-day exercise, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate from Saturday, Shah focused on the partys garib kalyan agenda in his address to the office-bearers. Modi, who is scheduled to address a public meeting on Saturday, is expected to speak on the Uri incident at a time when there has been a clamour within the party and outside for action against Pakistan. Against the backdrop of the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers were killed, a key leader maintained that the party appreciates the sentiments in the country and that action will keep happening against Pakistan. BJP fielded its General Secretary Ram Madhav, who has advocated punitive action against Pakistan, before the media to outline the Councils focus on antyodaya (uplift of the last man) and say how it is an occasion for the party to rededicate itself to Upadhyays ideals. Madhav parried a volley of questions about the partys position on the Uri attack but made it clear that it will be deliberated in the Council. We are a party of grassroot workers. We understand and appreciate the sentiments in the country, he said. Prodded again, Madhav said, A lot has happened in the last three days, especially on the diplomatic front. The party will air its views in the coming days, he said. Lets wait for a while. There is joy in wait. You (media) will get your food, Madhav said. Asked about the lack of action despite leaders, including him, making strong comments against Pakistan, he said, You want only statements or action too? Actions too will keep happening. Soon after the Uri attack, Madhav had spoken about India adopting the policy of for one tooth, complete jaw, asserting that the days of strategic restraint are over. There has been criticism of the Prime Minister with some detractors recalling the attacks he had made against the UPA government for its alleged soft attitude towards Pakistan-sponsored terror. Shah will also speak on Saturday and deliver his address to the Council on Sunday when Modi will give the valedictory speech. Both leaders will touch on the Uri incident in their speeches, party leaders said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (Natural News) Facts: America is accused of racism, of holding racial minorities back by way of system-wide white supremacism, and yet Jews, black Nigerians, Indian Americans (from India), and Asians are more successful in America than whites, and their respective imprison rates are lower than whites. (Article by John Nolte republished from Breitbart.com) How is it possible in a country that were told is riddled with the cancer of white supremacism for those four groups to enjoy a higher standard of living and more success than their all-powerful, white oppressors? The asking of the question answers the question. Facts Police shootings of unarmed people (including blacks) have dropped dramatically over the past few years. Black and white deaths at the hands of police officers are almost perfectly representative of the countrys racial make-up involving police interactions. The black imprisonment rate has been dramatically shrinking since 2006. Black and whites are equally satisfied with their local police. The black unemployment rate just hit record lows. President Trump just signed long overdue criminal justice reform. Every single American white and black was appalled by what happened to George Floyd and wants to see his family receive justice. Facts Below are the most controversial deaths of black Americans at the hands of police officers going back a full three years plus those going back further that became national stories. Im not here to question whether or not the police acted appropriately in each case. It is enough that they are controversial. Below is the name of the victim, the city/state where the death occurred, and the political party in charge of the police at the time Rayshard Brooks Atlanta, GA Democrat George Floyd Minneapolis, MN Democrat Breonna Taylor Louisville, KY Democrat Manuel Ellis Tacoma, WA Democrat Atatiana Jefferson Fort Worth, TX Republican Javier Ambler Austin, TX Democrat Tony McDade Tallahassee, FL Democrat Dion Johnson Phoenix, AZ Democrat Jemel Roberson Chicago, IL Democrat Botham Jean Dallas, TX Democrat Stephon Clark Sacramento, CA Democrat Jordan Edwards Dallas, TX Democrat Eric Garner NY, NY Democrat Laquan McDonald Chicago, IL Democrat John Crawford, Beavercreek, OH Republican Freddie Gray Baltimore, MD Democrat Out of those 16 names, 14 happened in cities or towns where a Democrat is in charge of the police department. No one is stopping any of those cities from instituting police reforms other than the Democrats who refuse to institute police reforms. Facts Have you noticed that during this three-week Woke Purge that those in powerful positions who are getting fired or canceled for some sort of discrimination hail from far-left institutions like the corporate media and Hollywood? Facts Look at all the left-wing celebrities confessing to how they have tolerated racism from friends and co-workers Among many others, you have Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard, Debra Messing, Kristen Bell, Julianne Moore, Justin Theroux, and Stanley Tucci confessing to: Every not so funny joke. Every unfair stereotype. Every blatant injustice, no matter how big or small. Every time I remained silent I take responsibility. With that in mind, let me share something with you Im a white guy who lives in the rural South. We moved here from Los Angeles in 2011, and over the last nine years, I have heard exactly one off-color racial remark. One. Some guy suggested I name my black dog Obama. Thats it. Over nine years as a white guy living in the South, thats it. I didnt lecture the guy. I didnt get in his face. But my immediate reaction, which I didnt even have time to think about, made it clear I didnt care for the remark. He responded with a quick sorry, and nothing of the kind was ever said again over the two or three times I had to deal with him after that. So, let me ask you What the hell is going on in left-wing Hollywood where a pile of white actors are so ravaged by guilt they feel compelled to apologize for all the times they remained silent, every time they tolerated a racist joke or act of discrimination? Ill tell you what the hell is going on in left-wing Hollywood This. No, seriously, click on that link. Read it, and then sit back and ponder just how racist Hollywood must be where over 18 years and 14 seasons not one black man or woman was picked to star as ABC/Disneys bachelor or bachelorette. Think about how blatantly racist things are in Hollywood, things are at ABC/Disney, where it took nearly two decades in 21st century America for the studio to choose a black bachelor or bachelorette. Facts All these cities where black Americans are gunned down, where blacks claim they live under systemic racism All of them are run by Democrats all of them and in most cases, have been for generations: Chicago, Minneapolis, Baltimore. St. Louis, Oakland, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Austin, Charlotte, Atlanta, Detroit, New Orleans, Flint, Memphis, Birmingham and on and on and on Democrats, Democrats, Democrats, Democrats Facts This lunacy about defunding the police embraced by Democrats, left-wing celebrities, and left-wing media elites will ravage black America in a way so disproportionate to the rest of the country, it will make your head spin. My heart breaks for the urban blight and the death toll that always comes with it. Facts The failing public schools, especially in urban areas, are run exclusively by Democrats, and it is Democrats who fight the hardest to ensure there are no reforms No school choice, no vouchers, no charter schools, no hope Facts The looting and burning, the destruction over the past few weeks that has been encouraged and excused by the left-wing media, left-wing celebrities, and Democrats, is almost exclusively occurring in predominantly back neighborhoods. White media elites, white celebrities, and white Democrats are openly encouraging marauders of every color to destroy black neighborhoods and are couching this evil as virtue. Facts No one can express the following more eloquently than a black Berkeley professor who must remain anonymous in order to protect his/her job: [emphasis added] The vast majority of violence visited on the black community is committed by black people. There are virtually no marches for these invisible victims, no public silences, no heartfelt letters from the UC regents, deans, and departmental heads. The message is clear: Black lives only matter when whites take them. Black violence is expected and insoluble, while white violence requires explanation and demands solution. Please look into your hearts and see how monstrously bigoted this formulation truly is. Facts From this same professor: The ever-present soft bigotry of low expectations and the permanent claim that the solutions to the plight of my people rest exclusively on the goodwill of whites rather than on our own hard work is psychologically devastating. No other group in America is systematically demoralized in this way by its alleged allies. A whole generation of black children are being taught that only by begging and weeping and screaming will they get handouts from guilt-ridden whites. No message will more surely devastate their futures, especially if whites run out of guilt, or indeed if America runs out of whites. If this had been done to Japanese Americans, or Jewish Americans, or Chinese Americans, then Chinatown and Japantown would surely be no different to the roughest parts of Baltimore and East St. Louis today. The History department of UCB is now an integral institutional promulgator of a destructive and denigrating fallacy about the black race. Democrats, the media, Hollywood, and the organized left have made it their mission to devastate black America To keep blacks poor, angry, frustrated, and bitter even as other minority groups somehow flourish under all this systemic oppression. Read more at: Breitbart.com In a letter, the cardinal calls on the faithful to seize the opportunity despite the tragic period. The coronavirus has changed the way people meet, whilst strengthening relations. We need "a new language" from the clergy to answer people's questions. Many religious and lay people and "different charisms" stand as examples. Baghdad (AsiaNews) Life "after the coronavirus" must resume "with more humanity and vigour" and faith must become "more mature and deeper, writes the Chaldean patriarch, Card Louis Raphael Sako, in a letter to the faithful. The COVID-19 pandemic offers a chance for spiritual and moral growth so that there is no need to return "to the previous situation. Instead people should use this tragic time of lockdown, distancing and disrupted social life to rediscover a more authentic faith. The world will not go back to what it was, the cardinal stresses in his message. Home isolation has changed our life, our vision, our projects, our relationships. This has "affected all of humanity and all religions. It has forced the closure of churches for Holy Week and Easter, as well as the probable cancellation by Saudi Arabia of pilgrimages "because of the coronavirus". On the one hand, the pandemic has upturned how people meet each other by forcing world leaders to hold meetings via teleconferencing since they cannot travel. The Eastern Churches will do the same "if the situation persists, with a synod via streaming. On the other, the health emergency has created a positive situation of human solidarity and strengthened relations. This is what we see in the dedication of doctors, priests, volunteers and support staff, who have put their lives in danger to provide needed things and treat people. For the Chaldean primate people "have become more thoughtful, inclined to introspection; they are more critical and want reforms. They no longer accept that religion be imposed on them by law or pressure. Instead, they want it to come from inner persuasion and personal choice. This change requires "a new language on the part of the clergy, one that can inspire wonder in the faithful who can thus "welcome the good news and desire to experience it, boosting the attractiveness of the Church and trust in her. Priests, Card Sako notes, are not "supervisors nor employees, but fathers and shepherds" in contact with the faithful whose needs they know. Renewal must not be done [. . .] by playing on words on important topics, but by tackling them with great precision and clarity. Speaking of those who claim that the COVID-19 pandemic is Gods punishment, the cardinal says that Such an idea goes against the central values of Christ's message, which emphasises that God is love, full of mercy and goodness. For him, the pandemic is "an opportunity" to "get closer" and the strength of the Church lies in her ability to meet the challenges with courage and clarity rather than rely on "tradition" as if it were an absolute dogma. We Christians, he goes on to say, must read the Beatitudes more deeply, not cursorily. The Beatitudes are a spiritual and living Magna Carta to overcome injustice, discrimination, pain, and bring about hoped-for change. The Apostle Paul mentioned different charisms, writes Card Sako. There are "wonderful lay people who can take on great responsibilities in the Church, cooperating in her progress. We have people like Chiara Lubich and Kiko Arguello, as well as prominent religious such as Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In our East, we have Brother Nour, founder of the Faith and Light movement and NourSat, and Melhem Khalaf, founder of the Joy of Gift community. In Iraq there is Imad Hasib, founder of the Love and Joy community; the late Alhan Nahhab, founder of Bethany; and two sisters, Khalida and Shmirayta of the House of Hope. Hundreds of people told the Portland City Council during an hours-long budget hearing Wednesday to make drastic cuts to the citys police force or dismantle it altogether. Calls to defund and break up police departments across the nation have gained steam in the week since the Minneapolis City Council pledged to disband its police department after the police killing of George Floyd. Laredo Police Chief Claudio Trevino issued a special order on Monday amending LPDs policy to prohibit officers use of chokeholds when detaining a subject, unless as a last resort that it is the only means of protecting themselves or another from imminent threat of harm or death. This is effective immediately. READ MORE: Laredo city officials address protests and calls for change locally This comes as Laredo City Council, like local governments across the country, take a closer look at their police policies and budgets in light of George Floyds death at the hand of a Minneapolis police officer in May. Laredos council members widely praised the professionalism of the citys police officers and the modernization of the department under Chief Trevino, where 65% of uniformed officers have been equipped with body cameras. But they voted to take up several policy issues through the Public Safety Advisory Committee, which is made up of the police chief, city manager, deputy city manager and four council members, and where police present projects and address emergency public safety issues. Because storage of video footage is so expensive, police officers body cameras are not constantly recording. Council voted for the committee to discuss the feasibility of dash cams and body cams to capture the majority of officers shifts. They also voted for the committee to discuss creating a memorandum of understanding between LPD and Border Regional Behavioral Health Center regarding crisis intervention; for any incident of excessive use of force or an officer-involved shooting to be investigated by an outside law enforcement agency; and creating a hotline to gather use of force complaints, anonymously or on the record. Trevino was directed to come back to council in two months with any recommendations regarding these suggestions. Councilman George Altgelt floated that the committee discuss these four specific policies. He also suggested they analyze the feasibility of a citizen review board to oversee use of force complaints, and the mandatory retirement for officers at age 57, both of which council denied discussing any further. Trevino said that there is always room for improvement, and that George Floyds death spurred him to immediately review LPDs policies to see if there was any potential for this kind of incident in the Laredo community. The mayor said he received easily 100 texts and emails from the public imploring council to ban chokeholds. This change was discussed with the public, the police union and city staff before it was added to their policy, the chief said. Altgelt called it the best news ever. READ MORE: Laredo man's death in Iowa due to COVID makes waves locally after his story goes viral City Council on Monday also approved dates for the citys annual budget workshop, which will take place Aug. 10-13. The city manager will present the proposed budget on July 27. Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com Half of Australians given a taste of working from home during the coronavirus pandemic don't want to come back to the office full time. Millions around the country have spent the past three or more months typing away from bedrooms and kitchen tables as workplaces shut down. Many offices are reopening as new cases slow to a crawl, but after getting the hang of Zoom meetings and boosting their WiFi, most workers want to stay away. A staggering 86 per cent of staff want to spend at least one day a week permanently working remotely, a new survey found. Half of Australians given a taste of working from home during the coronavirus pandemic don't want to come back to the office (stock) Of the 1,000 employees who spent at least some time working from home during the pandemic, 28 per cent never want to come back to the office. Another 39 per cent want to work from home one or two days a week, and 20 per cent for three or four days a week. Staff were confident they could pull it off with 73 per cent believing their employer would be open to them working from home. Twenty-two per cent said their manager had already offered it, and 56 per cent planned to ask their managers to arrange it. Only eight per cent of respondents have been denied and another 14 per cent are too afraid to ask. Younger workers were more worried about raising the issues and with good reason - just 15 per cent of staff under 30 have been offered the option while double that number of over-50s have. Millions around the country have spent the past three or more months typing away from bedrooms and kitchen tables as workplaces shut down. Pictured: Phoenix Crawford does school work on a laptop while his mum Donna Eddy replies to emails in their Sydney home Half those surveyed said working from home wouldn't hurt their productivity and 33 per cent said it would improve their output. Being able to have virtual meetings, share and update work documents and schedules, and the ability to effectively present to clients were the biggest requirements. Jeff Downs, chief executive of corporate communications firm Redback Connect which commissioned the survey, said staff wanted better work-life balance. 'Many people have discovered just how much work they can achieve while working at home especially if they have the right digital resources,' he said. 'If employers listen to their employees, we may see a decentralisation of the workforce from the cities to the suburbs. 'The time they spend commuting to and from work they can now devote to getting outdoors in the mornings or evenings, or spending with family without sacrificing productivity.' A staggering 86 per cent of staff want to spend at least one day a week permanently working remotely, a new survey found. Pictured: Victoria Bowes works from her home station in Adelaide Other results of the survey commissioned by corporate communications firm Redback Connect Mr Downs said remote meeting technologies meant workers didn't need to travel away from their families as much for work. 'Whether they live regionally, interstate, or internationally, many can now meet online almost as effectively as they could face-to-face,' he said. Mr Downs said many employees already wanted to work from home at least part time and the pandemic had shown it was viable. 'Previously, some employers have resisted this, even stigmatised it as being for slackers,' he said. 'Now they have had to accede to it for their businesses to survive isolation ultimately underwriting the script of how their workplaces work and collaborate, probably for the better.' International medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has announced the painful decision on June 15 of ceasing all its activities at Dasht-e-Barchi in Kabul, Afghanistan. This came after a brutal attack on its maternity ward on May 12 killed at least 16 mothers, one MSF midwife, two children of seven and eight years old, and six other people who were present at the time gunmen entered the facility. In the official announcement, MSF has closed the maternity ward with the understanding that officials have not found any information about the perpetrators and motive of the attack nor has anyone claimed responsibility. It has been over a month since the assault was carried out in the facility and while the Afghan government has placed the blame on the extremist group Taliban, it has denied any involvement. MSF noted that the radicals groups have refuted and condemned the accusation and even foreign governments have placed the blame of the fatal attack on extremist groups. BREAKING: Our teams have made a painful decision to end activities and withdraw from Dasht-e-Barchi in Kabul, following the brutal attack on 12 May in which 16 mothers were systematically shot dead in the maternity hospital.https://t.co/gsZc6NvPxG pic.twitter.com/VtKOYnTxH8 MSF International (@MSF) June 15, 2020 Read - Iran On IAEA Meeting And Row With Afghanistan Read - 18 People Killed In Separate Attacks In Afghanistan We have to accept the reality MSF Director General Thierry Allafort-Duverger has said that the organisation has to accept the reality. He said that he knew the presence of MSF was risky but they couldnt believe someone would end up taking advantage of vulnerable women who were about to give birth. According to him no amount of secut=rity of thick walls could prevent such assaults from happening again. Therefore, the decision has been communicated to the staff and international partners. We were aware that our presence in Dasht-e-Barchi carried risks, but we just couldn't believe that someone would take advantage of the absolute vulnerability of women about to give birth to murder them and their babies, says MSF Director-General. But it did happen. Today, we have to accept reality: higher walls and thicker security doors wont prevent such horrific assaults from happening again, says Allafort-Duverger. To remain would mean to factor in such loss of human lives as a parameter of our activity, and this is unthinkable. Read - Trump Authorises Sanctions On ICC Officials Probing Afghanistan War Crimes Case Read - Afghanistan: 1000 Doves Starve To Death After Blue Tiled Mosque Shuts Amid Lockdown Image Source: AP The Texas Democratic Party is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on its lawsuit seeking to expand mail-in voting during the pandemic. The party announced Tuesday that it filed an application asking the nation's highest civil court to lift an appellate court decision and allow voters lacking immunity to the new coronavirus essentially all Texans to vote by mail. If the high court rejects the case, this could be the end of the road for a monthslong back-and-forth legal battle that has mostly resulted in losses for the Democrats. Of the 16 states that require an excuse to vote by mail, all but two Mississippi and Texas have relaxed their rules in response to the pandemic and allowed all voters to do so for the midyear primaries. Texas requires any voter under the age of 65 to have an excuse for voting by mail, such as a disability or travel outside their home county on Election Day. Still, a broadly worded ruling from the Texas Supreme Court leaves it up to individual voters to decide whether they qualify for mail-in ballots under the disability clause and could increase the number of Texans voting by mail. The state court ruled last month that voters can take into consideration the risk of COVID-19 as long as its in conjunction with other aspects of their health history. Some Texas counties have already begun issuing guidance citing that decision. The Democrats have since dropped that state-level lawsuit to focus on the federal case. Chad Dunn, the partys lawyer, said hes looking for a decision with more clarity. The voter is given no guidance, Dunn said of the ruling. Voters shouldnt have to decide or determine whether or not their local DA or their local county attorney is going to later think the excuse they used to check the disability box is sufficient. In the federal case, a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this month blocked a U.S. District judges order expanding mail-in voting to anyone at risk of contracting COVID-19 and said the issue should be up to the state Legislature, not the courts. Alejandro Garcia, spokesman for the Texas Attorney Generals Office, which is representing the state, said the 5th Circuit came to the right conclusion. The Fifth Circuits powerful and well-reasoned opinion correctly found that the state likely would prevail on its argument that Texass mail-in voting laws comply with the U.S. Constitution, Garcia said. This is clearly a ploy by the Texas Democratic Party to further confuse Texas voters. This office will continue to defend the integrity of our electoral process. The state has argued that allowing more mail-in voting would leave the state open to increased voter fraud. Multiple academic studies have shown that while fraud is more likely with mail-in voting than in-person, cases of voter fraud on the whole are exceedingly rare. Dunn said he expects Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito who handles appeals from the 5th Circuit to decide whether to intervene within a few weeks considering the urgency of the matter, with the primary runoff coming up July 14. Early voting starts June 29, and the deadline for counties to receive applications for mail-in ballots for the runoff is July 2. The Supreme Court generally goes into summer recess in late June and reconvenes in October. HOW THE RULES STAND NOW: Texas voters will decide for themselves if they need mail-in ballots for July runoffs If the high court chooses not to reverse the appeals court, Dunn said the party is asking that it immediately review the case in its entirety. The case alleges that Texas mail-in voting law discriminates against voters under age 65 and violates the 26th Amendment, which says that the right to vote cant be denied or abridged on account of age. Ideally, wed get this decision tomorrow, so that not just election officials but campaigns, candidates, voters, citizens everybody involved in the process can begin to plan how theyre going to participate over the next several months, Dunn said. But ultimately, a ruling by early October would provide sufficient time for citizens to submit a vote-by-mail application for November. Dr. David A. Rosman, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, called cruel" the reversal by the Trump Administration of a 2016 regulation under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that prohibited various forms of discrimination by health care providers against LGBTQ patients, women, and non-English speaking patients. The change is seen in step with the administrations goal of re-defining sex discrimination narrowly, meaning on the basis of being male or female and not on the basis of gender identity or orientation. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services final rule endorses discrimination by removing a prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, and allowing providers to deny care if performing a procedure violates the providers moral or religious beliefs, said Rosman in a released statement. Additionally, the administration strikes provisions to ensure patients language access, furthering its discriminatory tendencies. Together, these measures will seriously harm LGBTQ patients, women seeking abortions and other reproductive health care, and non-English speaking patients, making it harder for many individuals seek care. He added, "The elimination of nondiscrimination protections in health care is not only abhorrent, but it perpetuates stigma and will have serious consequences to the physical and mental health of untold members of the LGBTQ community, women and non-English speaking patients, erecting barriers to comprehensive, non-discriminatory health care premised on intolerance and bias, which MMS vehemently denounces." The stress and fear felt by our patients who are targeted by this bigoted and hateful line of thinking is demoralizing and dangerous," Rosman said. The Massachusetts Medical Society holds strong our policy that health care is a basic human right and we remain committed to working for the best possible health care for every patient, regardless of racial identification, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, disability, immigration status, or economic status. On its site, Health and Human Services describes the change as one that is cost-saving and that eliminates certain provisions of the 2016 Rule that exceeded the scope of the authority delegated by Congress in Section 1557. HHS will enforce Section 1557 by returning to the governments interpretation of sex discrimination according to the plain meaning of the word sex as male or female and as determined by biology. President Donald Trump hopes to acknowledge a nationwide uproar over police brutality while preventing rifts with police and other law enforcement groups integral to his political future. With an executive order set to be unveiled at a White House event on Tuesday, the president is expected to lay out the case for the creation of a national database of police misconduct, so officers with a history of overly aggressive behavior cannot simply move to another department or state to escape scrutiny, according to a senior administration official. The order will also urge social workers and mental health professionals to work more closely alongside frontline officers. Finally, it will offer guidelines for new training and credentialing for police officers on de-escalating tense situations, and the best times to use force, according to the senior administration official, who said the goal of the order was not to demonize police officers. The White Houses latest move, following weeks of protests in communities across the nation, has been crafted in close consultation with police officers, mayors, conservative African Americans, faith-based leaders and the families of victims, according to people familiar with the planning. Maintaining the political support of police and appearing like a law-and-order president has been a leading imperative for Trumps top aides and political advisers as some liberal activists push to defund police departments and divert money to community programs. In an unrelated White House event on Monday, Trump said the overall goal for the executive order is the desire to maintain law and order as well as justice and safety. I think this will be very comprehensive, Trump added, even as the exact details of the order were still being worked out. Trump aides and allies view policing as an area where Republicans can draw sharp contrasts with Democrats ahead of the general election. Part of that contrast is acknowledging the killing of George Floyd and several other innocent African Americans at the hands of what the White House views as rogue police officers. The approach is built on recommending tweaks to policing while leaving wholesale changes to mayors and other local government officials. Story continues The reality is you have to respect our federalist system, said Ken Blackwell, the former mayor of Cincinnati, former Ohio secretary of state and a longtime conservative leader and Trump supporter. Safe streets cannot be guaranteed from the Oval Office or the governors mansion. That is local leadership. The executive order will not allot any additional money for new training or the national database, but a senior administration official said police departments that undertake such credentialing will receive priority for federal grants. Additional money for training or police programs will have to come from legislation from Congress, another senior administration official said. Senate lawmakers may not proceed until sometime next month. The President is committed to making sure law enforcement has the resources and the respect they deserve to be able to do their job, counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway said Monday on Fox News. Somebody like the murderous cop in Minneapolis against George Floyd, he had more than a dozen complaints against him. The union is protecting him, he's eligible for a pension. It's all kind of things that can be done so we can ensure people are doing their job. Top White House aides including senior adviser Jared Kushner, JaRon Smith, chief of staff Mark Meadows and the acting director of the Domestic Policy Council Brooke Rollins spent the last week developing the executive order, along with Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. They hoped to introduce policies that Democrats can also support, while leaving any major details for police reform to future legislation, said two people familiar with the internal discussions. We are looking forward to tomorrow and for the president to have the opportunity to have a discussion where he has both police officers and police officer representatives in the room with families of people who were killed by police officers to have the discussion that the country needs to have so that we can turn the anger in this country right now into action, said a senior administration official. By Asad Mirza While the countries across the globe are grappling with Covid-19s current situation and its aftermath, they are also focussing on how to handle and manage their doomed economies. In this regard, the bulwark of the global economic system, i.e. countries like Germany, France and to some extent the US have already started taking remedial steps to move their countries economy back on trails, while countries like India are continuously changing their tactics and response to COVID-19 and harping on taking unrealistic, unfeasible, laughable and ludicrous economic measures. Support TwoCircles German response Countries like Germany are finalising the plans to increase government spending to provide a stimulus to the economy as a whole. They have named it deficit spending and are working in tandem with its EU partners like France. On 3 June the new partnership announced a stimulus package worth at least 130bn ($148bn). Meanwhile, Germany has agreed with France that the EU should issue 500bn in common debt to fund investments in member states hard hit by Covid-19. Financial analysts who have always been wary of the German rigidity on financial matters are besides glee on this new turn around and solidarity by the German leadership. During the crash of 2008 German politicians were vary of the US-led crass Keynesianism. But this time around they have taken a swift response, which is also bigger in size and better in design according to financial analysts. To aid more consumption the package gives more benefits to the masses and cuts down VAT, besides it also offers 50bn for new investment, much of it focusing on green initiatives to tackle the climate challenge and fund technologies which are in consonance with long term climate goals. According to The Economist, the catalyst, this time is, of course, the Coronavirus. Figures indicate that Germany faces a deep recession, its manufacturing and exports sectors are in red, and 7.3million workers are on furlough pay, which ultimately will be a big burden for German companies and government, both. But the German financial plan may help it to come out of this successfully. The architect of this economic package, Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) hopes to succeed Mrs Merkels Christian Democrats (CDU) at the next years elections, as results of most of his economic chivalry will be there for everyone to see. Britains response On the other hand, Britains economy is likely to suffer the worst damage from the Covid-19 crisis of any country in the developed world, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Labour Party has severely criticised the Conservative government, as reported in The Guardian the shadow chancellor (finance minister) Anneliese Dodds, has blamed the deeply worrying OECD forecast on the governments failure to get on top of the health crisis, delay going into lockdown and chaotic mismanagement of the exit from lockdown, which she argued made the economic impact of the crisis worse. According to OECD, unemployment in Britain could increase to 9%. This could make its situation more difficult if it failed to secure a lasting agreement with the EU on trade and access to the single market. Adding to pressure on No. 10 to agree on concessions with Brussels to secure a Brexit deal amid the economic damage caused by the pandemic, the credit rating agency Moodys warned that a no-deal Brexit would significantly damage the UKs potentially fragile recovery from its deepest recession in almost a century, The Guardian reported. Laurence Boone, the OECDs chief economist has predicted a forecast for both a single and double lockdown, as per him the UK economy could contract by an unprecedented 14% if the government needed to impose a second lockdown this year. So why is the UK set to do much worse than Germany? One factor identified by the OECD is the importance of the service sector to the UK economy. Trade, tourism, real estate and hospitality together make up a sizeable chunk of gross domestic products and all have been hard hit by the lockdown. Having delayed imposing restrictions, the UK needed a near-blanket ban on activity from late March to early May to control the spread of the pandemic, which it didnt. Business and consumer confidence has been eroded, unemployment is rising coupled with the uncertainty of how quickly restrictions will be lifted. Indian response Now contrast this with India, World Bank in its latest edition of the Global Economic Prospect report, released last week, sharply scaled down its projections for Indias economy, forecasting 3.2 per cent contraction in the fiscal year 2020-21 because of the COVID-induced lockdown. Only the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remains one of the few institutions, which still foresee Indias economy growing. It pegged growth at 1.9 per cent in 2020-21. The OECD on Wednesday projected that Indias economy will contract 7.3 per cent in the current fiscal year if there is a second wave of the coronavirus later this year. This is so far the steepest contraction that any agency has predicted for the country. As per OECD an inclusive growth strategy over the long run should include prioritising social investment and income support for the poor. This can be financed by reducing energy and fertiliser subsidies that mostly benefit the rich, it added. The question, which begs an answer here, is, why do Britain and India seems travelling together on the path of doom, while countries like Germany and France have been able to devise a strategy to steer their economies back to black? Perhaps, the answer lies in the quality of politicians in the two countries. Both leaders seem at a loss to control and take early and bold steps, besides no inkling of how the economy works, which has led to this current precarious situation. And maybe some Indian leaders are still inspired and led by their colonial masters in matters related to the grey matter. Asad Mirza is a senior journalist and commentator based in New Delhi. He was also associated with BBC Urdu Service and Khaleej Times of Dubai. He writes on Muslims, educational, international affairs and interfaith issues. He can be emailed at [email protected]. Flash A number of European countries on Monday started exiting border controls cautiously at different paces while striving to reduce tourism fallout and pushing vaccine development. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Europe has registered 2,187,307 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 182,976 deaths as of 10:00 a.m. CET (0800 GMT) on June 15. Reopening border Lots of European nations, including Germany, France, Belgium and Denmark, began to relax their border controls on Monday. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announced last week that controls along Germany's land borders with Switzerland, France, Austria, and Denmark would be lifted from Monday, adding that the government would reconsider its plans if the COVID-19 situation worsens. From June 16, EU citizens and Swiss nationals can enter Germany again unhindered, without controls and without quarantine regulations, according to the federal government's decision. The decision is with a few exceptions. For example, controls for foreigners arriving by plane from Spain will not end until June 21. The German government on Monday lifted its travel warnings for the European Union (EU) members, the Schengen-associated states and Britain, except Spain, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The warnings were replaced by individual travel advice. According to the German Federal Foreign Office, travel warnings would remain in force or would be issued again if there were a high number of newly infected people, as currently applied to Sweden. The benchmark was a number of more than 50 newly infected persons per 100,000 inhabitants over the last seven days. In neighboring France, travelers from countries outside the Schengen area will have to wait until July 1. In Belgium, the authorities reopened its border to other EU members, non-EU Schengen countries -- Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway -- as well as Britain. While Belgium gives the green light to other European countries, the same does not necessarily apply in the other direction. According to the information posted online by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgians can currently only visit Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Liechtenstein and Switzerland without restrictions. Non-essential travel outside the EU and Schengen area is still prohibited. The development came after the European Commission requested member states to have their borders reopened by July 1. Embracing tourists Spain planned to reopen its frontiers with the EU countries -- with the exception of Portugal -- on June 21. But a pilot scheme of tourism was kicked off on Monday. The first group of an estimated 10,900 German tourists expected to visit the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza between now and July 1 landed at Palma de Mallorca Airport on Monday morning. They are the first tourists allowed to enter Spain since the declaration of the State of Alarm and the subsequent lockdown. All the tourists had to undergo a safety and security check, which included filling in a form still in flight to give details of where they would be staying during their visit, which must last a minimum of five nights. They also had their temperature checked on arrival. The pilot scheme is considered a trial for a wider opening of the tourist sector both in the Balearic Islands and in the rest of Spain in the coming weeks. In addition, Greece reopened its gates to tourists on Monday, with protecting the health of visitors and locals being its top priority, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced. International flights for tourists to Athens and Thessaloniki airports have resumed from Monday. Rekindling hope Italy, once hit hard by the coronavirus, recorded 26 new COVID-19 fatalities in the past 24 hours, the lowest daily increase in the country since March 3. Along with some European partners, the country signed a contract with AstraZeneca pharmaceutical company for buying up to 400 million doses of a potential coronavirus vaccine. The contract with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical followed a deal agreed between Italy, Germany, France, and the Netherlands in the previous days in order to ensure the availability of the vaccine in the European markets, once ready. "Italy has not yet purchased doses of the vaccine -- which are not yet available -- but rather signed a contract to keep supporting this scientific research," Italy's Deputy Health Minister Pierpaolo Sileri told state-run RAI Radio 1 on Monday. "Presuming to have it ready for autumn may be premature, yet it (the vaccine) could arrive by the end of the year, or beginning of 2021," he added. But there is still no way to know how subjects will respond to the new formula or how the new approach to administering the vaccine will go over. When Ervin used a different electrical pulse system in an Ebola DNA vaccine trial in 2018, Boom! They were ready to jump off the table, he said, adding that he wished he could have paid the subjects extra. (Ervin runs trials for many biotech companies and is not involved in deciding dosages or implementation methods. His job is to follow the companys instructions and report back, he said.) Following scorching temperatures to begin the week, the north-central United States are facing a different weather threat at midweek. The region had a taste of severe weather to begin the week as dangerous thunderstorms buffeted portions of the region with hail and rain on Sunday. Western North Dakota took the brunt of the hail pummeling on Sunday as baseball-sized hail was reported in Adams and Hettinger counties. After a brief reprieve from the severe threat on Monday, residents in the north-central U.S. once again faced the threat for severe thunderstorms Tuesday evening. In general, the strongest storms targeted the Dakotas, with hail and locally damaging wind gusts presenting the greatest hazards. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Into Wednesday evening, the threat for severe thunderstorms will shift eastward into southern Manitoba, the eastern Dakotas and northwestern Minnesota. "A pocket of cold air in the upper atmosphere moving eastward from the Rockies, in tandem with a cold front, will cause storms to be much more widespread on Wednesday than on Tuesday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson said. When the cold front digs into the area, it will encounter very warm air and increasing moisture at the surface, which will provide plenty of atmospheric fuel for some explosive storms. "Threats into Wednesday night will be similar to Tuesday, but will extend over a larger area," Adamson said. "However, local flash flooding and isolated tornadoes will be additional threats as compared to Tuesday." Storms that develop may be able to congeal into damaging lines of thunderstorms, rather than individual cells. If storms are able to congeal, the threat for widespread wind damage will increase, as will the threat for isolated tornadoes. A few cities under the threat for large hail, torrential downpours and damaging winds with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 70 mph (110 km/h), and even an isolated tornado or two include Aberdeen, South Dakota; Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Story continues Drier and cooler weather is forecast for much of the region after the cold front departs and storms wind down later Wednesday night. Many locations will have a return to seasonable conditions, with high temperatures on Thursday expected to be 15-20 degrees lower than Wednesday. While not likely to bring widespread severe weather, thunderstorms over part of the Upper Midwest will bring locally heavy rain and gusty winds during the day on Thursday. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. Another Russian Researcher Charged With High Treason By RFE/RL's Russian Service June 15, 2020 The Russian authorities have charged the president of the St. Petersburg-based Arctic Academy, Valery Mitko, with high treason in an ongoing spate of similar investigations targeting Russian academics. Mitko's lawyer, Ivan Pavlov, said on June 15 that the 78-year-old researcher had been under house arrest since February and his case was being investigated by the Federal Security Service (FSB). Mitko is accused of transferring classified materials to China, Pavlov said, adding that his client had pleaded not guilty. According to the lawyer, Mitko, who regularly traveled to China for teaching, had taken with him materials "exclusively related to his scientific and teaching activities." On June 5, a court in St. Petersburg extended Mitko's house arrest until October 10. The scientist is barred from walking or communicating with others directly or via mail, the Internet, or telephone. Treason charges against researchers and scientists have become a regular occurrence in Russia in recent years. The news about Mitko comes four days after a Russian court granted early release to a 79-year-old former space researcher, Vladimir Lapygin, who was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2016 on a treason conviction and recognized as a political prisoner by the rights group Memorial. Lapygin, who worked for a research branch of the Russian space agency Roskosmos, was also found guilty of handing classified materials to China, which he denied as well. With reporting by Interfax and RIA Novosti Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/another -russian-researcher-charged-with- high-treason/30671524.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammed Gargash, in a historic public appearance by a senior Arab government official before a global Jewish organization, today addressed the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Virtual Global Forum. Gargash and other senior UAE officials have welcomed AJC delegations on regular visits to the Gulf state for more than 20 years. "AJC has been a quite remarkable bridge for the region. The fruit of AJC work has been impressive and substantive," he said. In a wide-ranging conversation with Jason Isaacson, AJC's Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer, the minister commented on the Gulf state's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, regional security challenges, possible relations with Israel, ties to the United States, and what he sees as opportunities to resolve conflicts in a post-COVID-19 world. "The pandemic will not change the fundamentals of regional politics," but the experience of cooperation among nations dealing with the pandemic opens opportunities to de-escalate tensions and resolve conflicts through diplomacy, he said. In this, Gargash spoke specifically about the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and ongoing threats from neighboring Iran. The UAE's pragmatic foreign policy is reflected in its approach to Israel. "I think we can have a political disagreement with Israel and try to bridge other differences," said Gargash. "We have no relationship with Israel, but the pandemic is an area where we have to cooperate together because it affects human beings," he said. Working with Israel through the UN to get help to the Palestinians "doesn't change our position regarding the issue of the day annexation." Among Arab countries, Gargash said the UAE is not a trailblazer in engaging Israel. "The reality is you have major countries in the region that have normal diplomatic relations with Israel Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and other countries in the Gulf area dealing with Israel in various capacities," he said. But he made clear that the UAE is part of the Arab consensus that supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The UAE favors Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to achieve peace and opposes any annexation of West Bank territory. On the UAEs handling of COVID-19, the minister said developing and activating a plan as early as January was key. "We benefited from foresight. At the end of January we saw a challenge on the horizon in China." The UAE's established hubs in business and transportation, plus prioritizing philanthropy in its foreign policy, enabled the UAE to deliver testing kits and personal protective equipment to some 70 countries worldwide. "Philanthropy is part and parcel of our foreign policy. The UAE ranks highest in percent of GDP in contributing to other countries," he said. The UAE approach internationally also reflects the country's tradition for tolerance of other faiths and ethnicities. "I grew up in small town that today is the city of Dubai. There was a church, a Hindu Temple, communities of Christians and Hindus. I don't remember growing up in a one faith town," said Gargash. "The Middle East region, the Arab world, should be more tolerant of diversity. Demonizing the other has not helped." On UAE relations with the United States, the minister emphasized that "America is our main and most important strategic ally. We want to see an America engaged in the region. When the U.S. is engaged, we are better." Whoever is president, he continued, keeping America engaged in the region is important. He stressed that the UAE does not want the U.S. involved in another war in the region, but does see the U.S. as a deterrent against threats, such as Iran, keeping sea lanes open and oil flowing. "America is a pillar of stability," he said. The AJC Global Forum is the global Jewish advocacy organization's signature annual event. Originally scheduled to take place this week in Berlin, Germany, the venue was changed to an online meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 7,500 people have now registered for the AJC Virtual Global Forum, June 14-18. SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org North Korea destroyed a de facto embassy shared with its peninsula neighbor on Monday, further escalating tensions just hours after threatening to move military forces back into the demilitarized zone. South Korea said the destruction of the building, which was opened with great fanfare in 2018 to facilitate communications in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, abandons the hopes of everyone who wanted the development of inter-Korean relations and peace settlement in the Korean Peninsula. The government makes it clear that all responsibility of this situation lies in the North, the South added. North Koreas state media said that the four-story building was tragically ruined with a terrific explosion. In March 2019, North Korea said it was withdrawing from the office after failed summit with the United States. Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Koreas dictator Kim Jong-un, threatened to destroy the building in a statement Saturday, calling it useless. If the South Korean authorities have now [the] capability and courage to carry out at once the thing they have failed to do for the past two years, why are the north-south relations still in stalemate? she said. North Korea has ramped up tensions in recent weeks, with the foreign minister saying last week that even a slim ray of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula has faded away into a dark nightmare. In a statement marking the second anniversary of President Donald Trumps meeting with dictator Kim Jong-un, North Korea said it would continue to boost production of nuclear weapons, in order to build up a more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from the U.S. More from National Review London On Thursday night, British chat show host Trisha Goddard discussed the impact of an impersonation of her by a white comedian in blackface that was popular on television here in the early 2000s. "I've only recently discovered how bullied my children were" as a result of the character, Goddard said on the BBC program "Newsnight." "Let me be clear on this. If the parody was just of me, that would be one thing. But it was racial, over-the-top: the big lips, the big wide hips, the rice and peas." It was "all the things that every black child has been bullied about," she said. The character was one of several caricatures of black celebrities on the show "Bo' Selecta!" that were played by white comedian Leigh Francis, wearing masks with grotesquely exaggerated features. At the time, musician Craig David described in interviews how humiliating he found the show's character based on him. Francis apologized for the impersonations early this month in an Instagram video, saying, "I didn't realize how offensive it was." A few days later, broadcaster Channel 4 removed the show from its streaming service. "Bo' Selecta!" is one of a host of once-popular British comedy shows that were pulled from streaming services here, including Netflix and the BBC's iPlayer, last week because they include blackface or racial slurs, some from as recently as 2010. For many Britons, blackface is understood to be an ugly relic of the country's past, used to ridicule and demean people of color and perpetuate racist stereotypes. Blackface on British TV is largely associated with "The Black and White Minstrel Show," a now notorious but once extremely popular variety show that featured people singing in blackface. The BBC stopped airing it in 1978, but the shows pulled last week, including "The League of Gentlemen," "Little Britain" and "The Mighty Boosh," highlight how many more recent depictions have been accepted on British television. Now, with the mainstream representations of black lives at the forefront of many people's minds, after tens of thousands attended Black Lives Matter protests across the country, and protesters removed a slave trader's statue in Bristol, British television is having to grapple with these recent racist depictions. Gina Yashere, a British comedian and the executive producer of the CBS series "Bob Hearts Abishola," said in a telephone interview that it shouldn't have taken George Floyd's killing and the global response to make people rethink blackface. Black comedians had been pointing out that using blackface in comedy was wrong "for years," she added. "We were told we had no sense of humor. We were told we were being negative," she said. "We were told that it was sour grapes, that we were jealous." "They say, 'Oh, it's just us playing characters,'" Yashere added. "It isn't characters. It's always in comedy and it's always sending up black people." Some of the shows pulled from streaming services were made by household names here. On Tuesday, the BBC removed "Little Britain," a sketch show created by David Walliams and Matt Lucas that aired from 2003 to 2005, from its streaming service because it featured Walliams playing an obese black woman in a sauna. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "Times have changed since 'Little Britain' first aired," a BBC spokesman said in an emailed statement. The pair also played minority characters in their follow-up BBC show from 2010, "Come Fly With Me," which was not available for streaming. Lucas was appointed a host of "The Great British Baking Show" this year. On Wednesday, Netflix removed the surreal comedy shows "The League of Gentlemen" and "The Mighty Boosh" from its platforms. Noel Fielding, who is also a host of "The Great British Baking Show," appeared as a character called The Spirit of Jazz in one "Mighty Boosh" sketch, wearing dreadlocks and blackface. ("The League of Gentlemen" and "The Mighty Boosh" are still available to stream on the BBC's platform.) Ava Vidal, a British comedian, said in a telephone interview that she had never been surprised about the use of blackface in these shows. "I think it's so ingrained, people don't even realize what's going on," she said. "You've got to let black people and people of color decide what racism is." It's not just on comedy series. On Wednesday, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly two high-profile presenters of British reality TV posted an apology on social media for "impersonating" people of color in order to prank other celebrities on their show "Saturday Night Takeaway." Then it emerged that UKTV, another streaming service, had taken down an episode of the John Cleese comedy "Fawlty Towers" that contains racial slurs. (The segment had long been edited out of the episode when it was broadcast on television but is still viewable on Netflix.) On social media, some people of color expressed concern that the pushback around removing an episode of a "classic" comedy like "Fawlty Towers" risks distracting from the wider debate about race in Britain. Whether to resume shooting or not thats whats uppermost in the minds of everyone in the Telugu Film Industry. Opinion seems to be divided on the matter. Telugu Movie Artistes Association (MAA) president Naresh says, I am ready to shoot if all the precautions are taken. But I spoke to several character artistes and others and they expressed some fear about restarting shooting. We actors cant maintain physical distance from each other in our work, we cant wear protective gear, and we have to submit to being touched by make-up artistes, he points out. The MAA president says that he is calling up actors individually to get their views on whether or not shooting should be resumed. I spoke to some actors who stay in Mumbai and they said that they dont want to travel. They feel a bit afraid of staying in hotels too, as they dont know how things will go, we dont have a clear picture, he said, adding, the Telugu Film Chamber has to take a decision about it. Apart from the lead pair and top technicians, most of the others involved in a shooting schedule get paid on a daily basis. Its now three months since shootings were held. We sent messages to all the 900 members and the MAA, and I in my personal capacity, helped nearly 120 actors, Naresh says. (Natural News) French researchers have found that even mild cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) can produce antibodies in almost all patients. In addition, they reveal that the patients defenses against the virus increase as he starts recovery. The report, which is posted on the medRxiv server, adds evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 could acquire some degree of immunity. But its still unclear how long recovered patients carry immunity or to what degree. The issue of whether a person develops immunity against the coronavirus is something that continues to baffle scientists and policymakers alike. Currently, even scientists are divided on the idea that people with COVID-19 develop an immunity to it, and many public health policies are hinged on people developing immunity from the disease, or herd immunity. Based on initial reports, patients who have mild COVID-19 symptoms either lack or have a limited presence of antibodies. Most patients with mild symptoms develop antibodies In the current study, researchers from the Pasteur Institute in Paris took samples from over 160 health workers from the CHU de Strasbourg Hospital in France. The health workers all tested positive for COVID-19 after a super-spreader event a five-day prayer and fasting gathering at an evangelical church in eastern France. While the health workers who participated in the study had the coronavirus, they werent ill enough to be admitted to hospital. The team noted that most COVID-19 studies on immunity looked at patients who were hospitalized following severe illness and then recovered. Their study, in contrast, focused on mild cases, which make up for around 80 percent of all infections. The researchers used two assay tests to determine if the participants had developed antibodies a commercially available test kit, and a test designed by the team to identify if antibodies were produced and if they have the ability to neutralize the virus. From the results of the second test, 99.4 percent of the participants produced antibodies only one participant, a 58-year-old man, had no antibodies detected. The team also noted that a persons antibody response grew stronger as he recovered. The antibodies were also effective in fighting off the virus. (Related: Coronavirus hijacks immune cells to create cytokine storms, says new study.) The [neutralizing] activity is present much later than the appearance of antibodies and this is encouraging, senior author Olivier Schwartz told Le Monde newspaper. He also added that his team is looking forward to studying the participants further to see how long the antibodies stay in their system. The researchers also noted that the ability of antibodies to neutralize the virus becomes stronger over time. In particular, the neutralization activity of the antibodies was at 97 percent four weeks after the onset of symptoms. This could mean that most individuals with mild COVID-19 symptoms develop antibodies within a month after exhibiting symptoms. Although not yet demonstrated, several lines of evidence suggest that the presence of [neutralizing] antibodies may be associated with protective immunity for Sars-CoV-2 infection, the researchers concluded in their report. They added that patients who recovered from SARS-CoV, the virus responsible for the 2003 SARS outbreak, had antibodies that persisted for at least two years after the infection. Meanwhile, a separate study from the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported a case of a monoclonal antibody from a recovering COVID-19 patient. In the report, which was published in Nature, the team noted that the antibody exhibited a strong ability to kill the virus when it was used in treatment, as well as prevent the increase in viral load during preventive treatment. Pandemic.news has more on the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Sources include: TheGuardian.com MedRxiv.com Oswego, N.Y. A man found injured in the stairwell of an Oswego park this weekend had been assaulted and robbed and is currently hospitalized in critical condition, police say. Oswego police said officers were called to West Linear Park around 3:33 p.m. Sunday after an injured man was spotted in the stairwell leading from West First Street to the park. The stairwell is located near the Utica Street bridge, along the Oswego River. The man was taken to Oswego Hospital, but was then transferred to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. He is currently listed in critical condition, but is said to be stable, police said. On Monday afternoon, police arrested Adam G. Bishop, 42, on charges of first-degree assault and first-degree robberyboth felonies. Police said Bishop and the man had gotten into a verbal dispute that turned physical that left the victim with serious physical injuries. During the fight, Bishop stole an undisclosed amount of money from the other man, police said. Bishop was arraigned in court and is currently being held in the Oswego County Jail. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Oswego Police Department at 315-342-8120. The former mayor of a Welsh town who sparked fury with a Facebook post comparing black protesters to monkeys has claimed it 'wasn't meant as an insult' in a dramatic U-turn. Councillor Peter Kraus shared a contentious Facebook post to his page on Monday which appeared to liken an image from the George Floyd clashes in New York to a photograph of monkeys swarming a car at a safari park. He claimed earlier today he had only found out about the post when he was contacted by the Pembroke Dock Town Council clerk, amid outrage and accusations of racism. The former mayor for Pembroke Dock, who has deleted the controversial post, denied responsibility hours ago, saying: 'That's a hacker. That's nothing to do with me whatsoever. I'm getting friend requests all the time, and they double up - it's that sort of thing.' But Mr Kraus has now made a dramatic U-turn and confessed the post was meant to show 'we are worse than animals', adding it was 'not meant as an insult to black people.' The former mayor of Pembroke Dock Peter Kraus (pictured) previously claimed he was hacked after a shocking post comparing black protesters to monkeys appeared on his Facebook page The shared post (pictured) appeared to liken an image from the George Floyd clashes in New York to a photograph of monkeys swarming a car at a safari park Mr Kraus said: 'The point I was making was that we are worse than animals. It is bad enough with this pandemic without all these crazy things that are going on everywhere. It was not meant as an insult to black people. 'We are all humans, I have lots of black friends in London and all over the world who I respect; I am a person who loves peace, that is why I started a charity Over the Rainbow Dream Come True in 1999. I absolutely hate all this violence that is going on.' The councillor had previously claimed he didn't know how the post had appeared on his Facebook page, while insisting he must have been hacked. 'I don't know how I was hacked. All I know is I had a thing from the town council to say about this picture on there which I never even put on. That's how it is,' he said today. 'It must have been posted to my timeline because the town clerk phoned me and said "What the hell is going on?" I've got lots and lots and lots of friends who are, black, white, and you name it as well, all over the world.' Mr Kraus was mayor of Pembroke Dock from 2012 to 2013. He is an elected town councillor representing Llanion Ward and, according to his LinkedIn profile, works with the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society. The councillor also claimed his voluntary work commitments meant he rarely found time to use his computer - despite having made 62 posts to his Facebook in the past two days. 'I was made aware yesterday. I don't know when it was put on there,' he said. 'All of a sudden I had a phone call from the town clerk to say about this picture, so as I said, it's totally out of my hands. Mr Kraus has now made a dramatic U-turn and confessed the post was meant to show 'we are worse than animals', adding it was 'not meant as an insult to black people' Residents from the town in south west Wales took to social media to criticise Mr Kraus for the post, with many accusing the former mayor of racism 'The thing is, I do lots for the town, volunteer work for the town. And what it is, I don't have time to go on the computer very often now.' Labour councillor Joshua Beynon confirmed on Twitter that Mr Kraus has been reported to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for the post. The 22-year-old had recently campaigned for purple lights to illuminate the town in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, which was spurred into action last month when George Floyd, 46, was killed. The black man had gasped 'I can't breathe' as white police officer Derek Chauvin, who has since been charged with second-degree murder, knelt on his neck for nine minutes. Sharing a comment about Mr Kraus' post, Mr Beynon said: 'Purple lights seem to have brought out the racists.' He said he has faced criticism from a 'small minority' for promoting the Black Lives Matter movement. 'After the past week, I'm sad to see another derogatory post, this time one that compares black people to monkeys, it is the lowest of the low,' he told MailOnline. Mr Kraus (middle) was mayor of Pembroke Dock from 2012 to 2013. He is now an elected town councillor representing Llanion Ward Labour councillor Joshua Beynon (pictured) confirmed on Twitter that Mr Kraus has been reported to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for the post The 22-year-old had recently campaigned for purple lights to illuminate the town in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement 'While it seems that there is a lot of hatred and negativity around, this whole event has highlighted the urgent need to fight racism that is clearly evident in our county. 'I will continue to call it out when I see it.' Residents from the town in south west Wales took to social media to criticise Mr Kraus for his post, with many accusing the former mayor of racism. One user said: 'Cllr Kraus has shared this disgusting racist post on his Facebook. He is an elected official. This is an outrage.' Another added: 'This is the kind of thing we're dealing with in Pembrokeshire, the post shared by local town councillor Peter Kraus. 'I've called out racism locally this last week on various posts and been labelled a 'lefty' and a 'snowflake.'' A spokeswoman for Pembroke Dock Town Council said: 'With regards to the post which Cllr Peter Kraus posted on his personal page, the Town Council will be investigating the matter further as there have been complaints received. 'The Town Council do not condone posts of the racial nature as posted by Cllr Kraus and take actions like this very seriously.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 07:38:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A customer has her body temperature checked before entering a restaurant in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, June 15, 2020. Restaurants, clothes markets, private preschool education institutions and long-distance bus services in low-risk areas in Uzbekistan are allowed to reopen since June 15. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua) GREENVILLE, S.C., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC), has announced the addition of Fox Hill Business Park -- the county's first major Class A business and industrial park in years as it celebrated 2019's strong job creation and capital investment. Greenville County, S.C. announced 2019 capital investment of $401.8 million, along with 2,178 new high-paying jobs, with mean wages well above South Carolina averages. Those metrics rank 2019 as among the County's best years ever. The highlight of the meeting was the announcement of Fox Hill Business Park, located on 172 acres in the City of Fountain Inn and being brought to life by Sudler Companies, a family- and veteran-owned and operated development firm based in Chatham, New Jersey. "Until today, and despite a well-earned reputation as one of America's leading destinations for business and industry growth and success, Greenville has not announced a new Class A business park in years," stated GADC President and CEO Mark Farris. "Coupled with the expanded inventory of sites and speculative buildings we can offer, Fox Hill will help ensure continuing energy among new and expanding corporate citizens looking to grow in Greenville." After extensive review, an ideal tract totaling 172 acres capable of accommodating up to 2.5 million square feet of manufacturing or distribution space was identified. "With an eye towards high quality property development, we ultimately selected The Sudler Companies, a highly respected leader in American real estate development for more than a century, as the optimal partner to develop Greenville County's new Business Park," said Mr. Farris. Fox Hill Business Park features immediate access to I-385, I-85, the Inland Port, and Greenville Spartanburg International Airport. A short drive to the Port of Charleston, it offers easy access to the booming Southeast's hubs of industry and commerce. Sudler Companies is a vertically integrated development firm that includes construction and property management departments and owns and manages over 9 million square feet of commercial real estate across America. Since its founding in mid-2001, the GADC team's efforts have resulted in the announcement of more than 29,000 new jobs and in excess of $5.3 billion in capital investment in Greenville County. To learn more, please visit www.goGADC.com or call (864) 235-2008. To learn more about workforce opportunities, visit www.jobsingreenvillesc.com. SOURCE Greenville Area Development Corporation Related Links http://www.GoGADC.com Several teachers working with private unaided schools across the state are in distress as they are not paid for the last few months due to nationwide lockdown. Expressing their plight to primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar during the phone-in programme organised by Deccan Herald and Prajavani on Monday, a teacher even threatened to end life, if government fail to take note of their financial crisis and help. Many teachers contacted the minister and explained what they were undergoing during this pandemic as school managements are not paying them salaries since March and requested the government to announce a package. One particular teacher said, The government which released packages to auto drivers has sidelined private school teachers. If this continues, we will have to end our lives. Kumar said, Teachers should not think about such extreme steps. We are aware of the problems faced by private school teachers and the same has been discussed with the Chief Minister and requested for a package. The CM also responded positively and is waiting for revival of the states economy. A letter by the private school Hindi language teachers association, circulated on social media, highlighted that some teachers were suffering depression due to the financial crisis. Shivanna H, state president of the association, said, Many teachers working with private unaided schools are suffering without salaries. Some teachers even slipped to depression. We request the government to rescue private school teachers. As explained by teachers, some elite schools announced pay cuts for teachers as the state government banned online classes up to class 5. I teach for primary school kids and the school was paying me considering that online classes were conducted. As the government put a restriction on the same, the school sent me an email saying 60% of my salary will be cut, said a private school teacher from Bengaluru. Some callers requested the minister not to conduct SSLC exams, considering the health of students. But the minister convinced them by saying, We have made all preparations to ensure the safety of children. Students and parents need not worry. MasterChef Australia: Back To Win contestant Tessa Boersma left fans and the show's judges baffled on Tuesday night after serving up her 'elevated meat and three veg'. The 28-year old, who was seen cooking a huge rib-eye in the immunity challenge, had many fans scratching their heads when it came time to plate. While judge Jock Zonfrillo revealed he had 'mixed feelings' about the dish, fans at home were puzzled by where the rest of her steak had disappeared to. Scroll down for video Seconds? On Tuesday, MasterChef Top 8 contestant Tessa Boersma failed to impress the show's judges and fans with her 'elevated meat and three veg' Minimal: The 28-year old, who was seen cooking a huge rib-eye in the immunity challenge, also had many fans scratching their heads when it came time to plate 'Did Tessa shove the other three-quarters of the steak in her handbag for her dog?' one fan commented, before another pondered: 'What happened to the other 80 per cent of the steak that Tessa cooked but didn't serve?' Meanwhile, other fans pointed out Tessa's plating was far from her usual standard. 'That's weird plating Tessa. Also seems to be a bit messy,' one fan wrote, before another quipped: 'Tessa's plating is so 1990.' Where did it go? While judge Jock Zonfrillo revealed he had 'mixed feelings' about the dish, fans at home were puzzled by where the rest of her steak had disappeared to Bon appetit: 'Did Tessa shove the other three-quarters of the steak in her handbag for her dog?' one fan commented, before another pondered: 'What happened to the other 80 per cent of the steak that Tessa cooked but didn't serve?' Prior to being judged, Tessa said: 'I've packed a lot of flavour into that dish.' 'I know that my ribeye steak is perfectly cooked, so I hope the judges enjoy it as well,' she added. Jock, 43, believed the steak was 'cooked further than it should be'. 'You know, she had 60 minutes - more than enough time to cook that at a lower temperature,' he added. Moo! Jock believed the steak was 'cooked further than it should be' while some fans disagreed Some fans, however, defended the young chef, with many shocked the judges thought the steak was overcooked. 'Overcooked steak? F**K RIGHT OFF JOCK! These w**ker chefs and their obsession with waving a piece of steak over a grill and charring the outside and calling it cooked is f**king BULLS**T! Do they want to be served a whole cow still mooing,' one fan ranted. Another added: 'Honestly on #MasterChefAU they could serve a mooing cow and the judges would say the steak is overcooked.' 'That steak was still bloody! How was that overcooked,' a third commented. MasterChef continues Sunday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten Balmorhea State Park will be expanded after a 643-acre land acquisition recently was completed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. This acquisition, which was seven years in the making, will increase the size of the 108-acre park to a total of 751-acres and enhance opportunities for nature trails, nature watching and scenic overlooks. Included in the acquisition is Carpenters Hill, which was originally part of the historic landscape of the park when built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, according to a press release. TUBE TIME: Tubing is back on in Texas. Here's what you need to know. TPWD doesnt have a date for when this extra acreage for Balmorhea will be open to the public This acquisition was made through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was established by Congress in 1964 to provide recreation opportunities such as parks. The fund invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing. Work is continuing on multiple construction projects at Balmorhea State Park, including removal and replacement of all existing septic systems, replacement of the chain-link fence surrounding the pool to one made of wrought iron and limestone, reconstruction of the CCC-era pergola , completion of repairs to the campground and San Solomon Courts and renovations to the managers house and concession building. Balmorhea State Park, located north of Fort Davis, is home to one of the most unique aquatic environments in Texas, the San Solomon Springs. The springs are perfect habitat for numerous species of aquatic animals, including two small, endangered desert fishes -- the Pecos gambusia and the Comanche Springs pupfish, according to the release. Pressure to ease lockdown further as release of unemployment data looms The Government is facing further pressure to cut lockdown restrictions as ministers brace for the latest figures on coronavirus-related job losses. The latest unemployment data will be published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday, only hours before the Prime Minister meets with his Cabinet. With the ONS figures expected to make for grim reading given the economic fallout from Covid-19, Tory grandees have called on Boris Johnson to ease the restrictions currently in place. It comes after customers turned out in force yesterday as England's high streets reopened after a three-month shutdown, with footfall rising by more than 50 per cent. Protestors descend on Atlanta following killing of Rayshard Brooks More than 1,000 people have marched in Atlanta calling for justice for Rayshard Brooks, whose killing is the latest to spark further nationwide outrage at police brutality and racial injustice. As demonstrators gathered on the Georgia state Capitol, President Donald Trump told reporters the shooting in Atlanta was "a terrible situation" and "very disturbing". Relatives of 27-year-old Mr Brooks have called for justice and "drastic change" in policing after a white Atlanta officer fatally shot the African-American man in the back. His death has been declared a homicide. Madeleine's parents told by letter that their daughter is dead German police have told the parents of Madeleine McCann their daughter is dead but said they cannot confirm how they know, according to reports. Hans Christian Wolters, who is leading the investigation into the main suspect in Madeleine's disappearance, reportedly wrote to Gerry and Kate McCann to confirm her death. Investigators believe Christian Brueckner killed Madeleine soon after abducting her from a holiday apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in May, 2007. New Zealand's new coronavirus cases travelled from London New Zealand has confirmed two new Covid-19 cases, ending a 24-day streak of no new infections in the country. Health officials said this morning that two women from the same family who flew from London to see a dying parent had tested positive. Before they were tested, the women had been given an exemption to leave quarantine on compassionate grounds and had travelled from Auckland to Wellington by car. Last week the country lifted all domestic restrictions, declaring that the country was virus-free. Oscars pushes back next ceremony due to pandemic The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that it is officially going to push back the next Oscars ceremony. The event will be moved to April 25 from February 28, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Because of the delay, the eligibility window for films is extending to February 28 instead of December 31. The organisation has not yet said whether or not the show will have the typical red carpet and live audience that viewers have grown to expect. The boss of British pharma giant AstraZeneca today claimed its unproven Covid-19 vaccine may protect people from catching the disease for a year. Its AZD1222 jab, developed by Oxford University, is currently being trialled on more than 10,000 people but there is no scientific evidence it works. Pascal Soriot, the firm's chief executive, admitted he was confident it would prevent infection for 'about a year', despite results from the trial not due until August. AstraZeneca is banking on the experimental jab working after signing multiple deals with countries around the globe to supply billions of doses of the vaccine. The Cambridge-based firm on Saturday agreed to dish out up to 400million doses in Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. It has already inked deals to produce 400million for the US and 100million for the UK, with the aim to start supplying them by October. AstraZeneca also has a deal in place to produce a billion doses of the vaccine to low- and middle-income countries by next year. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot has said he expects to distribute a billion doses of the vaccine by the end of 2020 How the vaccines from Imperial College London and Oxford University would work AstraZeneca's jab is known as a recombinant viral vector vaccine. Researchers place genetic material from the coronavirus into another virus thats been modified. It is then injected in the hope of producing an immune response against SARS-CoV-2, allowing the body to spot the virus and destroy it. This virus, weakened by genetic engineering, is from the adenovirus family, which can cause common colds. If the vaccine is proven to work, it will train the body to destroy the real coronavirus in the future. Mr Soriot told Belgian radio station Bel RTL today: 'We think it will protect for about a year. WHAT IS THE OXFORD VACCINE? The vaccine is called AZD1222 and is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) from chimpanzees that has been genetically changed so it is impossible for it to grow in humans. The intellectual rights to its vaccine are owned by the University of Oxford and a spin-out company called Vaccitech. Clinical teams at the Oxford University's Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group began developing the vaccine in January. It's a type of immunisation known as a recombinant viral vector vaccine. Researchers place genetic material from the coronavirus into another virus thats been modified. They will then inject the virus into a human, hoping to produce an immune response against SARS-CoV-2. This virus, weakened by genetic engineering, is a type of virus called an adenovirus, the same as those which cause common colds, that has been taken from chimpanzees. If the vaccines can successfully mimic the spikes inside a person's bloodstream, and stimulate the immune system to create special antibodies to attack it, this could train the body to destroy the real coronavirus if they get infected with it in future. It was developed so rapidly by Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology, and her team because they already had a base vaccine for similar coronaviruses. The team have gone through stages of vaccine development that usually take five years in just four months. However, Professor Gilbert said that none of the normal safety steps had been missed out. Advertisement 'If all goes well, we will have the results of the clinical trials in August/September. We are manufacturing in parallel. We will be ready to deliver from October.' Following an initial phase of testing on 160 healthy volunteers between 18 and 55, the study of AZD1222 has moved to phases two and three. It is now being trialled on more than 10,000 people, include children and the elderly, to see if it can prevent infection. The University of Oxford announced this month that the vaccine was being partly trialled in Brazil because of fears the virus is dying out in the UK. Falling levels of the virus circulating in Britain, where the outbreak is fading, means it will be increasingly difficult to test the vaccine because there is nothing to test it against. In Brazil, however, Covid-19 cases are still rising rapidly and its outbreak is second only to the US, with 868,000 confirmed diagnoses and over 43,000 dead. The vaccine will be tested on 2,000 people working in healthcare environments between the ages of 18 and 55, said the Federal University of Sao Paulo, which is in charge of the study. The president of the university, Soraya Smaili, said the volunteers 'must be health professionals between 18 and 55 years old and be at high risk of infection, for example, cleaning and support staff in units treating COVID-19 patients'. Professor Smaili added the vaccine was being tested in Brazil 'ecause we are in the acceleration phase of the epidemiological curve'. Britain, on the other hand, is coming out the other side of its peak and case numbers are declining, meaning it will be hard to measure the effects of a vaccine because so few people are getting infected. The other 8,000-plus trialists are testing the vaccine in the UK. But despite no evidence the jab works yet, AstraZeneca has struck deals with Europe, the US and the UK to produce billions of doses of it. A deal with Europes Inclusive Vaccines Alliance was made on Saturday, which guarantees the vaccine for Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. The agreement with AstraZeneca also aims to make the vaccine available to other European countries that wish to take part. Mr Soriot said: 'This agreement will ensure that hundreds of millions of Europeans have access to Oxford Universitys vaccine following approval. 'With our European supply chain due to begin production soon, we hope to make the vaccine available widely and rapidly.' The jab is being sold 'at cost', meaning AstraZeneca will make no profit from the supply of the vaccine in a bid to help halt the global pandemic. But this will only be the case until the World Health Organization (WHO) officially brings the global threat level down. Estimates suggests the world will need around 4.5billion vaccine doses to put an end to the pandemic. The virus is so hard to track and spreads so easily that experts believe it will continue to spread through the human population indefinitely, if a vaccine cannot be found. AstraZeneca announced a deal last month with Oxford BioMedica to manufacture the Covid vaccine at its manufacturing centre in Oxford. AstraZeneca will have access to the company's 84,000-square-foot factory and will turn out most of the clinical and commercial supply of the vaccine this year. The firm also announced a licensing deal with the Serum Institute of India to provide 1billion doses of the vaccine to low- and middle-income countries by 2021. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) in Norway and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in Switzerland, will help manufacture 300million globally accessible doses of the coronavirus vaccine this year. Second coronavirus vaccine in Britain is on track to start human trials as soon as TOMORROW and doses could cost just 3 per person if it is proven to work The second coronavirus vaccine made in Britain is on track to start human trials as soon as Wednesday, and could cost just 3 per person if it's proven to work. Imperial College London scientists expect approval for the first phase of human trials - which will check if their vaccine is safe - to come through today. The first 120 participants will be given the jab about 48 hours later after scientists have checked they haven't already had the coronavirus. Professor Robin Shattock, who has been in charge of developing the jab candidate, said the team want to make it as cheap as possible so the entire British population could be vaccinated for the 'really good value' of just under 200million. The Imperial project already has enough money to produce enough of the vaccine for the entire NHS and all social care workers. If the trial starting this week is successful a second one, involving 6,000 people, will come later. But Professor Shattock said the vaccine won't be available until at least 2021 even if everything goes according to plan. The first UK-made vaccine to go into clinical trials was developed by Oxford University, and the Government hopes it will be ready by September. The second coronavirus vaccine from Britain is on track to start human trials as soon as Wednesday, and could cost as little as 3 per person if proven to work (stock image) Professor Robin Shattock (pictured), who is heading up trials of the potential jab, estimates the British population could be covered for a 'really good value' of about 200million What is the difference between the vaccines being developed by Oxford University and Imperial College? The science behind both vaccine attempts hinges on recreating the 'spike' proteins that are found all over the outside of the COVID-19 viruses. Both will attempt to recreate or mimic these spikes inside the body. The difference between the two is how they achieve this effect. Imperial College London will try to deliver genetic material (RNA) from the coronavirus which programs cells inside the patient's body to recreate the spike proteins. It will transport the RNA inside liquid droplets injected into the bloodstream. The team at the University of Oxford, on the other hand, will genetically engineer a virus to look like the coronavirus - to have the same spike proteins on the outside - but be unable to cause any infection inside a person. This virus, weakened by genetic engineering, is a type of virus called an adenovirus, the same as those which cause common colds, that has been taken from chimpanzees. If the vaccines can successfully mimic the spikes inside a person's bloodstream, and stimulate the immune system to create special antibodies to attack it, this could train the body to destroy the real coronavirus if they get infected with it in future. The same process is thought to happen in people who catch COVID-19 for real, but this is far more dangerous - a vaccine will have the same end-point but without causing illness in the process. Advertisement Speaking to The Times, Professor Shattock said: 'We already have money from the government to make five million doses that would cover 2.5million people. 'That is enough for the entire health service and for care home workers. 'But we also have the capacity, should we be called upon, to make enough vaccine for all the adult population in the UK.' He estimated the vaccine would be 'roughly 3 for each person to be immune, assuming it works. Thats really good value.' Imperial has formed a new social enterprise called VacEquity Global Health (VGH) to develop its vaccine. Imperial and VGH will waive royalties for the UK and low-income countries 'and charge only modest cost-plus prices to sustain the enterprise's work, accelerate global distribution and support new research', the College said in a statement. 'The social enterprise's mission is to rapidly develop vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) infection and distribute them as widely as possible in the UK and overseas, including to low- and middle-income countries,' it said. The technology used to make Imperial College London's vaccine makes it easy to scale up production rapidly. The team have taken the sequence for the surface protein of the virus, a tiny amount of genetic material known as RNA. They would inject the genetic code into a person's muscle - such as their arm - inside fat droplets. The muscle cells are then told by the RNA to start expressing high levels of the coat proteins of the virus. This creates the illusion of the virus inside the body. Because the outside of the coronavirus is present in the body, the immune system thinks the whole virus is there and starts to attack it. But the segments that are in the body are incomplete and unable to cause any illness. After the immune system has reacted to something once, it should store the memory of how to do so in antibodies. If these antibodies are produced, and remain in the body, someone can be considered protected from the virus in future. It is hoped that if a person who receives the inoculation then contracts the coronavirus, they will be protected against COVID-19. Because the piece of RNA is so tiny, a relatively small batch of them could be enough to vaccinate millions of people. 'In the equivalent of a litre bottle of lemonade [of RNA], we can make up to two million doses,' Professor Shattock said at a Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) webinar last week. 'Thats very different to conventional approaches that might need 10,000 litres or more to make the same number of vaccines. 'The advantage is we can make a lot of vaccine very quickly.' The other leading British vaccine candidate, from University of Oxford, uses a different approach. Known as a recombinant viral vector vaccine, researchers place genetic material from the coronavirus into another virus, called an adenovirus, thats been modified. They will then inject the virus into a human, hoping to produce an immune response against SARS-CoV-2 but not illness. This could train the body to destroy the real coronavirus if they get infected with it in future. The Oxford vaccine, called AZD1222, has been in human trials since April 23, while Imperial's trials are expected to start today. The first 300 participants to be given the jab will be used to check the vaccine is safe in humans, having proven to be safe in animals. A larger trial, involving about 6,000 people, will follow in October. The results wouldn't be available until early 2021, the team believe. The results from Oxford's trial are expected in August at the earliest, but could be stalled because the level of infection in the UK is lower than before. Despite the long list of processes ahead of the Oxford vaccine - including publication of data which needs to be validated by regulators - steps have been taken to get the vaccine ready by the autumn of this year. Business Secretary Alok Sharma said in May the Government is hoping to be in a position to roll-out a mass vaccination programme in the autumn of this year. Drug firm AstraZeneca has secured a deal with the Oxford team to manufacture the vaccine. Pascal Soriot, chief executive of Cambridge-based AstraZeneca, said mass production has already started at factories in India, Oxford, Switzerland and Norway. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme he said: 'We are starting to manufacture this vaccine right now. And we have to have it ready to be used by the time we have the results.' A deal has been was signed to produce 100million doses of Oxford's vaccine for the UK - 30million of which will be ready by September if it is proven to work. AstraZeneca has agreed to supply a coalition of European nations with 400million doses of a vaccine. It made the agreement with the Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA), which includes France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The IVA was formed this month in order to give its members 'a stronger negotiating position in the race for a coronavirus vaccine', according to a statement from the Netherlands government. Both the Oxford University and Imperial College London vaccine projects are viewed as two of the world's 'frontrunners'. But Professor Shattock said there are 'quite a lot of differences' between the vaccines developed by Imperial and Oxford. Professor Shattock said: 'We are often pitted against each other or seen to be in race. 'But actually we are collaborating closely together and exchanging material. The two approaches may well be able to be used together in a prime boost approach. 'So we are not actually trying to beat each other, but work together to make a vaccine available in the fastest possible time.' Professor Shattock added: 'There is no guarantee or certainty that A; a vaccine will work, and B; that data is reliable and robust enough to get it licensed.'There is a lot of speculation. We really need to deal with facts and data rather than overpromising and under delivering.' There seems significant confusion in the government over how best to play the incursion of Chinese soldiers in extraordinary numbers into whats been indubitably seen as our side of the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh since the 1962 conflict, with two top Cabinet ministers appearing to make somewhat loose and pointless public remarks. Indeed, these even give the impression of being suggestio falsi since nothing has happened on the ground so far that may give Indians reassurance about the recovery of ground lately lost to China in a crucial border area in Ladakh. Days before talks to defuse the increasingly tense military situation were to begin on June 6 in the high Himalayas practically on the field of battle in Ladakh at the top military level with the Indian side led by the commander of 14 Corps, defence minister Rajnath Singh said in a television interview that the Chinese forces had come in achchi khasi sankhya (substantial numbers), but the Indian forces were also doing what was needed. Where exactly had they come was it in areas that India has long regarded as its territory (without Beijing objecting), or along Chinas side of the unmarked LAC? This was not made clear. Our experts including former Army Chiefs and retired heads of the Northern Command have concluded, however, that Chinese soldiers are on the Indian side up to 40 to 60 sq km deep. On the whole, the Raksha Mantris statement, although loose, left the impression of being transparent the first time from the government since the first Chinese thrust was reported in early May. His remarks were widely seen as acknowledging the harsh reality of the Chinese intrusion, and Indias inability to send them back. If this werent the case, what exactly is India now seeking to negotiate with the Chinese, while urging them in these talks to withdraw to the ground positions held by the two sides in the month of April? What was the need for urgent talks if the PLA soldiers hadnt marched into our territory? After the Leh corps commander held day-long technical conversations with a senior Chinese officer on June 6, neither side briefed the media. There was obviously much to be sorted out beyond the glare of publicity; the stakes were too high. Even the television channels that routinely amplify the governments chauvinistic and barely concealed communal messaging when it comes to Pakistan or even Kashmir were evidently under orders to keep mum. An official statement was unambiguous: Indian and Chinese officials continue to remain engaged At this stage therefore any speculative and unsubstantiated reporting about these engagements would not be helpful and the media is advised to refrain from such reporting. This was really an instruction. It was clear that if the government hid the facts around the Chinese incursion, the media was asked to desist from probing. It was in this atmosphere, on June 7, while addressing party cadres in Bihar through the virtual mode to prepare for Assembly polls in that state, that Union home minister Amit Shah said, like only a braggart can, that besides the United States and Israel, India was the only country in the world that knew how to defend its borders. This is false of course and empty boasts can throw a spanner in the works when delicate discussions are on. But Shah seems unequal to the demands of high politics or even plain subtlety. China is not likely to be amused at being left out of the list of nations that can keep aggressors at bay. A blunt instrument may have its uses, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi would do well to cool the ardour of the overenthusiastic faithful. For the first time since 1962, the Indians had no idea that their ground was being occupied in broad daylight. Sixty years ago, Jawaharlal Nehrus India had no military or intelligence resources to speak of to defend its territory marked on any version of British-era maps. It was only after the event that it came to know of China seizing Aksai Chin and building the Tibet- Xinjiang road through that icy waste where not a blade of grass grows, to recall the peace-romantics sloppy words. Not long after, the first Prime Minister had to pay for betting on an era of tranquility with the Chinese because he had pleaded for them at world forums in the (unrealistic) hope of building an axis of peace in Asia in order to deny imperialism a field of play. He had read the book of history but omitted the chapter on power politics. Later, Nehru spoke of Beijings betrayal, but the Chinese were giggling all the way to the bank. Modi doesnt have the privilege, unlike Indias first leader did, of being the Mahatmas first disciple, and a visionary of peace. He dreams only of narrow gains of politics at home, of tying the knot with the great powers on the chessboard of world affairs, of being bossy around the home frontiers, and being cagey and cautious and somewhat worshipful in negotiating with Beijing. What explanation can such a man offer for sleeping on the job? The PM has to therefore live with the terrifying truth that Chinese soldiers have indeed marched in unimpeded with their weapons of war into our territory. A national security adviser especially awarded Cabinet rank, and a newly created Chief of Defence Staff, who has no need to answer to the defence ministry bureaucracy, have been of little avail. True, India has a modest defence spend, seen regionally or globally. But it has enough resources, unlike in Nehrus day, to detect any foray by an army of interlopers. Not since 1962 has Chinas Peoples Liberation Army assembled against India vast numbers of troops, tactically deployed and backed by heavy guns and armour. The Chinese military disposition mocks the 1993 agreement on the maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas, and four subsequent compacts on confidence-building and border management. The situation is very serious. It must be finessed through talks on equitable terms and without hoodwinking the people. - Malik Obama shared a birth certificate on Twitter which showed that Barack Obama was born at the Coast General Hospital Mombasa - However, netizens rubbished the document as fake as it had a South Australian seal and it also indicated Kenya was a Republic in 1961 which was not the case - His sister Auma Obama blasted him for the slander and said he was consumed by jealousy and bitterness due to Barack Obama's success - Lawyer Miguna Miguna also asked Malik to let the former US president live in peace and not to help Trump soil his name - In response to Miguna, Malik said Barack Obama was stingy and had humiliated his family despite the love they had shown him The apparent sibling rivalry between Malik Obama and Barack Obama is far from over and has further escalated after the former unleashed a document alluding that the former United States president was born in Mombasa Kenya. Malik, who has never shied off from expressing his hatred for his half-brother, took social media by storm after posting the alleged Barack Obama's birth certificate. READ ALSO: Maria, Tobi and Kobi step out looking like snacks during girls' day out Malik Obama shared a document which showed that Obama was born in Mombasa. Photo: New York Times. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Coronavirus is real: Kenyans confess COVID-19 is real by admitting they know someone diagnosed with disease The document shared on Twitter showed that the 44th president of the US was born at the Coast General Hospital in Mombasa on August 4, 1961, but many hawk-eyed netizens noticed the document had a South Australian seal and also indicated Kenya was a republic which was not the case. Online users were quick to castigate him and Auma Obama, his sister, said Malik's efforts to soil Barack Obama's name was fueled by jealousy and bitterness. READ ALSO: Thick thighs save lives: Lilian Muli goes on date in tiny, tempting dress "So blindly consumed by jealousy and bitterness that you will go to any length to slander your younger brothers name - literally! Just because he has outshone you in every single aspect of his life. Seek relevance elsewhere, big brother!" she said. Exiled Kenyan lawyer Miguna Miguna also came to the defence of the former US head of state and asked the embittered older Obama to stop supporting Donald Trump in ruining the former president. "Chief: Let your brother live in peace. Stop helping Donald Trump- a white supremacist - smear your brother in the mud," Miguna said. READ ALSO: Eastleigh: Mfanyabiashara apokonywa KSh 800k hadharani This only elicited bitter emotions from Malik who said his younger brother had abandoned them and humiliated them despite his family loving him very much. "What he has done to me is like what Uhuru did to you. We loved him with all our hearts but he turned his back on us and poured humiliation upon humiliation on us," Maliq said. In September 2019, Malik Obama took to Twitter to cry foul over Barrack Obama's new acquisition of a KSh 1.5 billion house. READ ALSO: Muigai Wa Njoroge: Kikuyu musician unleashes hit song criticising Uhuru's govt, dynastie The feud between the two brothers dates back to the 1990s before any of them was a formidable individual in society. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. We have no mercy for Kirinyaga people - Kenyans react to Governor Waiguru ouster. | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 362 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, raising the statewide total to 79,483. Across Pennsylvania, 6,276 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, including 33 new fatalities reported Tuesday, the health department said. More than two-thirds of the states coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. The health department released new statistics Tuesday; the numbers reflect coronavirus cases and deaths reported as of midnight. There are 523,609 people who have tested negative for COVID-19, the health department said. The number of new cases has dropped in recent weeks, even as testing has expanded. Its been more than a month since the state has reported 1,000 new cases in a single day. In addition, fewer people are being treated for the coronavirus in hospitals, according to the health department. The health department website shows 813 coronavirus patients are being treated in hospitals, which is less than one-third of the number treated during the peak of the virus. Most of those hospitalized are 65 or over, the health department said. Gov. Tom Wolf hailed the drop in new cases at a news conference Monday. Its because Pennsylvanians have really taken this seriously, Wolf said. Reopening Pennsylvania Over the last few weeks, Wolf has been gradually easing restrictions designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus. On Friday, the Wolf administration moves eight more counties into the green phase, the least restrictive in the governors color-coded plan to gradually reopen Pennsylvania (red, yellow and green). These counties will go green on Friday: Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Perry, Pike, and Schuylkill. Currently, there are 46 counties in the green phase, while 21 counties are in the yellow phase. There are no counties in Pennsylvania in the red phase, denoting a stay-at-home order. Nursing homes Statewide, 4,279 coronavirus deaths have occurred in nursing homes and personal care homes, the health department said. There are 16,720 residents in long-term care facilities who have contracted COVID-19, along with 2,955 employees, according to the health department. A total of 19,675 people in those facilities have been infected. Cases have been found at 650 facilities in 47 counties, according to the health department. More from PennLive We believe theres a clear and present danger: Three Mile Island decommissioning in question When will Pennsylvania colleges start their fall semesters? Heres what we know for some schools Penn State to resume classes in the fall: what students need to know Pa. Turnpike officials defend decision to make toll road cashless, lay off nearly 500 workers Gov. Tom Wolf talks about coronavirus in Pa., directs $260M for those with intellectual disabilities and autism A small business owner in Los Angeles is considering changing the name of her company after she was confused with a woman dubbed the 'San Francisco Karen. Melissa Milosavljevic and her husband Ivan are the owners of MyLAFace based in Los Angeles, which has been confronted with a wave of backlash over a viral video they had nothing to do with. Their company was confused by social media users with LAFace, the skincare brand of Lisa Alexander, a white woman who was shown in a video last week calling the cops on a Filipino man chalking Black Lives Matter on the front wall of his own home. The Milosavljevics have said they received a massive influx of negative reviews and calls looking for the racist Lisa after people angered by the video misdirected their fury at their company. Alexander, 54, had already deleted her companys website and all her social media accounts before the video began to be widely shared last Friday. Melissa Milosavljevic, pictured, said she almost passed out when she saw the sudden negative feedback her company MyLAFace has been receiving. It had been confused with LAFace owned by Lisa Alexander, now dubbed the 'San Francisco Karen' Social media users hoping to target Lisa Alexander, pictured here in the viral video, instead sent negative reviews and phone calls to the wrong company based in a different city Melissa Milosavljevic first noticed that something was amiss when their website saw a jump of 5,000 views and its Yelp page was suddenly receiving a string of terrible reviews last Friday. I literally just froze and told him something has happened with my business and I almost passed out, she told ABC7. The couple initially thought that Yelp had been hacked but then saw in their Twitter mentions that they were repeatedly being tagged in the video of Alexander and noticed the similarity between their companys name. Somebody had posted a comment saying heres her business, her business Yelp, lets go after it but it had by wifes business, Ivan said. On Twitter, the company's account was hit with with tweets accusing them of being racist. 'The company paints clown faces on racists,' one person wrote. Melissa also shared images of texts she'd received which asked her 'can you do me in blackface, Karen?' Even after the couple tried to rectify the situation, people answered 'that won't fix your problem'. 'But you can't spell Melissa without Lisa, I'm just saying', another user named Matt added. 'She lied about knowing the owners of the house. This is most likely another lie,' wrote user Winona Johnson. Twitter users attacked Milosavljevic after she was wrongly targeted as the San Fran Karen Melissa also shared images of text messages she is receiving calling her racist Melissa began to message people individually to tell them that she was not Lisa Alexander and tweeted to clarify on Saturday, but the bad reviews kept coming in. Please, I have no affiliation with LA Face (Lisa Alexander Face) Products, Melissa wrote. She is located in San Francisco. I am in Los Angeles (hence the LA in MyLAFace). My business is being falsely targeted because of a name coincidence. Everyone. This is the wrong business. MyLAFace (in Los Angeles) has absolutely NO affiliation with LAFace products, she added. Please stop posting your negative reviews to my business. I am not Lisa. I am Melissa and I have never harbored or expressed any racist feelings or comments.' Melissa Milosavljevic, pictured, first noticed that something was amiss when their website saw a jump of 5,000 views and was suddenly receiving a string of terrible reviews last Friday Melissa was forced to tweet to try to clear up the confusion over the companies She pleaded online for people to stop the negative reviews of her company The couple eventually posted a disclaimer on their website that they were not linked to Alexander and announced that they would be donating some of their profits to the NAACP. MyLAFace is pledging 5% of all profits to the NAACP to help eliminate race-based discrimination during the first month of reopening. Let's end racism! they announced. On Tuesday as the tweets and phone calls continued, the victim of Lisa Alexanders video also rushed to their aid to clarify that Melissa was not the woman seen in the video and her company was not linked. Guys, Send MyLAFace in Los Angeles, some serious online love and locally some business! James Juanillo, 50, wrote. Im a small business owner myself and Im NOT OKAY with hurting Melissa Milos business for a coincidence. Show MyLAFace some LOVE!!!!' The couple has said, however, that they will use this negative experience as a learning curve. One person commented, Im sorry this happened to you but imagine you wake up, you do nothing wrong on your own but all of a sudden your whole life is turned upside down and this is what people of color experience daily, Ivan said. I will not forget that, that was very eye-opening. The Milosavljevics, Ivan and Melissa pictured, have said they will learn from the experience Melissa Milosavljevic placed this disclaimer on the site with the hope of stopping the reviews She later committed to donating a portion of her profits to the NAACP The victim shown in Lisa Alexander's video, James Juanillo, jumped to Melissa's aid on Tuesday and repeated how she was not the woman in the video and her company was not linked They added that they will now think about renaming the business if the attacks continue, ABC7 said. Yelp has since placed an unusual activity alert on their website to warn users that it has been the subject of news stories and that it is monitoring the reviews left for the company. This business recently made waves in the news, which often means people come to this page to post their views on the news, the alert reads. While we dont take a stand one way or the other when it comes to this news event, we work to verify that the content you see here reflects personal consumer experiences with the business rather than the news itself. As a result, weve temporarily disabled the posting of content to this page. A Yelp spokesperson told ABC7: Ive flagged this to our user support team, and theyll be removing the reviews in question since they violate out content guidelines for not reflecting firsthand experiences with the business. The confusion emerged as angered social media users looked to target Lisa Alexander after the video of her interaction with Juanillo went viral. The white man seen in the video with her, Robert Larkins, 57, and who also told Juanillo that he was defacing private property, has since been fired from the company he worked for. The pair confronted Juanillo, who was painting a Black Lives Matter stencil onto the partition wall in front of the home he rents with his husband and five of their friends. Larkins and James Alexander told him he was acting illegally, claimed the home wasn't his property and that they knew the owner. Juanillo had chalked Black Lives Matter onto the wall in front of his house when he was approached by Lisa Alexander and Robert Larkins and told he was committing illegal activity Make up designer Lisa Alexander stopped on the street to approach a man who she believed was writing on private property. James Juanillo recorded the interaction in which he was berated by Alexander, pictured, and Larkins as they claimed he didn't own his house James Juanillo posted the video of the encounter on Friday which has been retweeted more than 159,000 times. He claimed Alexander lied and said she knew who lived in his home during the encounter which happened Tuesday, June 9 She has since apologized, saying she had no business intervening but Birch Box, a popular beauty subscription service, has dumped her line of cosmetics, LA Face. The pair were filmed approaching Juanillo outside the home - which is worth an estimated $13million - and telling him not to spray paint the wall, claiming he was acting illegally. 'Is this your property? 'I'm asking you if this is your property,' Alexander said while Larkins filmed her with his cellphone. 'Why are you asking?' Juanillo replied. Larkins chimed in: 'Because it's private property. 'So, are you defacing private property or is this your home? 'You're free to express your opinions but not on people's property.' Juanillo did not tell the pair that he lived inside and had done since 2005. 'But if I lived here and it were my property it would be fine?' he said, prompting the pair to nod. James Juanillo wrote Black Live Matter on the small black wall in front of his house, pictured Robert Larkins, 57, and who also told Juanillo that he was defacing private property and recorded the interaction has since been fired from the company he worked for Alexander, who is white and the CEO of makeup company La Face Skincare, issued a statement Monday saying that she was sorry she had disrespected James Juanillo and that she should have minded her own business. She is pictured here right He then said: 'And you don't know if I live here or if this is my property.' Larkins and Alexander shot back: 'We actually do know. 'That's why we're asking.' He said: 'Oh really? Because you live here?' Alexander shot back: 'No, because we know the person who does live here.' She and Larkins then walked off. The video emerged afterwards. Neither of the building's owners say they know either Alexander or Larkins. Brad Gilbertson, one of the owners, told ABC: 'She just claimed she knew the owner of the house. She doesn't know me. I thought she was out of line.' In her apology, Alexander said: 'I want to apologize directly to Mr. Juanillo. 'There are not enough words to describe how truly sorry I am for being disrespectful to him last Tuesday when I made the decision to question him about what he was doing in front of his home. 'I should have minded my own business.' It is the latest in a string of racially charged incidents across America in which white people have wrongly accused black people of crimes and in some instances, called the police on them. Veteran Italian businessman and press magnate Carlo de Benedetti's latest challenge is hardly his least: launching a progressive news website and paper in the middle of an economic crisis. "Domani" (Tomorrow), a web-based publication with print editions, is to begin publishing in September, giving voice to what De Benedetti called under-served "progressive, liberal and reformist" ideas. "We will cover politics, economics, the environment, international issues," the former owner of La Repubblica daily told AFP. "No columns, no gossip, just facts." One of the most influential figures in Italian capitalism, the 85-year-old businessman and former boss of electronics firm Olivetti stepped down as president of all his companies in 2009. De Benedetti said he hoped the new initiative would "last beyond my time on this earth". And he defended the idea of launching another newspaper in this politically fractious country -- and during a coronavirus-induced economic crisis. "It seems to me that after the change of ownership of the Repubblica-Espresso group, Italy found itself without 'a liberal voice', as they say in the United States. Let's say reformist or progressive. I think a broad public needs a newspaper as a point of reference," he said. - Uphill challenge - Eight years ago, De Benedetti transferred to his three sons his holdings in the GEDI press group, Italy's leading media group and publisher of the dailies La Repubblica and La Stampa, among others. But last year, in an interview with Il Corriere della Sera, he sharply criticised his sons' management, saying they had "neither the competence nor the passion required to be publishers" and tried unsuccessfully to regain control of GEDI. Ultimately, the Elkann-Agnelli family, via its holding company Exor, become GEDI's main shareholder by buying the De Benedetti family's 43.78-percent stake. De Benedetti said he planned to fund the paper with 20 million euros ($22.5 million) of his own money, divided between the publishing company and a foundation to be set up. "After a first phase, which I will personally finance, I have undertaken to transfer ownership of the newspaper to a foundation, which will guarantee its neutrality with regard to economic interests," he said. The Guardian in Britain and Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung operate under a similar foundation model, he noted. Carlo Alberto Carnevale-Maffe, a professor of business strategy and entrepreneurship at Milan's SDA Bocconi School of Management, said De Benedetti faced a "practically impossible challenge." "Economically the market has never been so bad," he said, adding nonetheless that there might still be room for original journalism, including investigative work. "But it's not easy to make it profitable," the specialist warned. Domani's newsroom of 17 journalists is to be headed by Stefano Feltri, who supervises ProMarket.org, a free-market online journal sponsored by the Stigler Center at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. De Benedetti said the new paper will have a clear stance "against all types of populism and sovereignty, against racism, in favour of the market, freedom and Europe". "We want to be a paper that looks at news with the eyes of tomorrow and not yesterday," he said, before adding that he would put even more money into the project "before he dies". ALBANY The top assistant to Albany County District Attorney David Soares confirmed Tuesday that he suspended Matthew Toporowski, a challenger of Soares in next week's Democratic primary, for a week in the spring of 2014 and personally asked for his resignation a year later. The statement by Chief Assistant District Attorney David Rossi directly contradicts Toporowskis repeated statements that he was never disciplined during his 21-month tenure at the district attorneys office, and that he resigned voluntarily. While I prefer to not discuss the specifics of Mr. Toporowski's disciplinary record without his authorization, I can't allow him to continue to lie to the public about it, Rossi said in an email, in response to questions from the Times Union about the former prosecutor's job history. I was present when he was suspended for a week in April of 2014. I personally counseled Mr. Toporowski on several occasions about his behavior as a prosecutor, and I personally asked him to resign in March of 2015." Toporowski, 34, has refused to authorize his former office to release his personnel file. Multiple people familiar with the matter told the Times Union that Toporowski's 2014 suspension was related to a photo showing him with two female students at an Albany Law School function that was posted on social media. The photo, in which all three were fully clothed but appear to be parodying a sex act, was brought to the attention of Soares office. Toporowski was subsequently called into a meeting with Soares, Rossi and a third prosecutor. Toporowski apologized and was suspended for a week, which resulted in the loss of vacation time he had accrued at the office, people familiar with the matter said. On Tuesday afternoon hours before Rossi released his statement the Times Union asked Toporowski if he ever attended a dance-type function at Albany Law School in 2014 while he was working at the Soares office. Not that I can recall, he said. The candidate, now a lawyer with the Wagoner Firm, gave the same answer when asked if he ever engaged in a pose with two students at the function and if the photo had been posted on social media. Asked if anyone at the district attorneys office had spoken to him about the photograph and its subsequent posting, Toporowski again replied, No, not that I can recall. Asked if he had been told to take a week off for any reason, Toporowski repeatedly refused to directly answer beyond saying he had never been "disciplined" while working for Soares' administration. He said he did not know if he would consider such a sanction to be a form of discipline. In a more than 15-minute interview, Toporowski said he was never disciplined at that office or words to that effect at least 11 times. He repeatedly replied same answer to other questions. I stand by my reputation in the legal community and the community at large, Toporowski said, reiterating his campaign's account that he had left Soares' office because he disagreed with the offices over-prosecute, over-punish approach. After being sent an email of Rossis subsequent remarks, Toporowski's memory became more lucid: In 2014, Soares told me that it was inappropriate to allow for a photo from a party to be posted to social media and encouraged me to take a week off, which I did, he said in a statement sent by his campaign. As I've said repeatedly, I disagreed regularly with top office staff because they insisted on harsh punishments for low-level offenses," he said. "In March 2015, Mr. Rossi told me that Soares would not be happy that I did not push for jail time in a very simple case and that I should consider leaving the office. I do not consider that a formal request for resignation. I decided to resign at that time." Toporowski, who faces Soares in the June 23 Democratic primary, worked for the district attorney from July 2013 to March 2015. Rossi, who has prosecuted some of the county's most high-profile cases, has served in the office since 1998 and been Soares' top assistant since 2009. Soares is seeking a fifth four-year term. "David Soares and his top staff know that their prosecutorial and criminal justice policies are so awful that the only way they can win is to personally attack me to the point of unethically mischaracterizing personnel matters," Toporowski said in his statement. His 2014 suspension was not related to an incident the Times Union first reported Saturday. In that matter, Albany Police Detective David Bernacki said he responded to Toporowskis home on Dec. 20, 2013, after Toporowski had allegedly been assaulted. The detective told the Times Union last week that he heard Toporowski direct racial slurs to the biracial alleged assailant, including the n-word. Toporowski, who identifies as Hispanic, denied making the slurs an assertion that was backed up by a second officer at the scene, Kyle Haller, and a friend of Toporowski's who was on the scene. (Both men attended high school in Saugerties with Toporowski.) The charges against the young man were eventually dropped; the Times Union has been unable to contact him. Interviewed for that story on Friday, Toporowski said, "I was never disciplined while working at the DAs office, and insisted he had never been asked to resign. Early voting in the primary began on Saturday. Toporowski has been endorsed by Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, musician John Legend and some of Albany's most prominent black leaders. He was endorsed on Tuesday by state Assemblyman Phil Steck of Colonie and via telepresence author and former gubernatorial and congressional candidate Zephyr Teachout. BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will co-chair the fifth meeting of the China-Cambodia intergovernmental coordinating committee with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong on Tuesday via video, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive, strategic, cooperative partnership between the two countries and the first anniversary of signing the action plan for building a shared future for China and Cambodia. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a news briefing that the two countries have helped each other through thick and thin, and achieved a major victory in the fight against COVID-19, tightening bilateral ties. China is ready to review the implementation of the action plan for building a shared future for the two countries over the past year. This meeting will facilitate the exchanging of views on strengthening cooperation in various fields, and other international issues of concern to both countries, amid normalizing COVID-19 prevention and control, said Zhao. "China believes that this meeting will inject new impetus into deepening China-Cambodia ties and promote the construction of a shared future for China and Cambodia," said the spokesperson. A man burns an image of Chinese President Xi Jinping during a protest in Ahmedabad, India, on June 16, 2020. (Ajit Solanki / Associated Press) The Indian army said Tuesday that 20 of its soldiers were killed in a border skirmish with Chinese troops, the deadliest clash on the two Asian giants' disputed frontier in more than half a century. Army officials had said earlier that three were killed in the confrontation on rugged, icy terrain high in the Himalayas, but raised the death toll late in the day, saying that 17 wounded troops had died after being "exposed to subzero temperatures in the high-altitude terrain." China and India have disengaged from the disputed Galwan area where they clashed overnight on Monday, Indian army officials said. The Chinese government said Wednesday that it is seeking a a peaceful resolution to the dispute. Both sides agree to resolve this matter through dialogue and consultation and make efforts to ease the situation and safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area, foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing. The fighting in the remote Galwan River valley marked a dramatic escalation in tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have long quarreled, mostly peacefully, over their 2,500-mile border. The rise of powerful nationalist leaders in China and India has stoked friction and anxiety in the relationship, especially after each side accused the other of illegal incursions last month and deployed thousands of troops to the border. Indian security analysts said the two sides were attempting to negotiate a truce in Galwan, one of several locations where troops are facing off, when Indian soldiers accused the Chinese of failing to dismantle all their tents in the disputed valley. A melee broke out involving hundreds of soldiers armed with rocks and clubs. The Indian army described the clash as a violent face-off and said Chinese troops had also been killed or wounded, but China did not offer any information on its casualties. A Chinese military spokesman, Zhang Shuili, blamed Indian troops for crossing the border in breach of a truce and called on India to "return to the right track of resolving differences through dialogue and talks." Story continues China's military is much stronger than India's, but neither side, buffeted by coronavirus outbreaks and other, external challenges, is eager for all-out conflict. Both are economic powers with global ambitions, but for decades they have managed the tensions over their border left over from a brief war in 1962 with remarkable restraint, claiming never to fire a shot. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, foreground, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016. The rise of the two nationalist leaders has stoked friction and anxiety in the India-China relationship. (Manish Swarup / Associated Press) No troops had died on the border in more than four decades, and India has mostly sought common ground with its larger neighbor. The scale of this clash suggests that the uneasy relationship could be in for rockier times. "I think neither side can hew to the old pretenses that all their disputes are manageable, which is the line that both countries took for the last several decades," said Ashley Tellis, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "The pride that both countries took in not having fired a shot, not having lost lives despite all the disputes all that now has disappeared." The violence reflects Chinas willingness under the ever-more-muscular leadership of President Xi Jinping to defend or assert territorial claims while its regional neighbors are busy battling the coronavirus. Claiming to have squashed the virus through draconian containment measures, Beijing has denounced international efforts to investigate the origins of the outbreak and has continued its aggressive naval buildup in disputed areas of the South China Sea. China truly doesnt want to have conflict with India but is also unafraid of conflict with India, Hu Xijin, editor of the nationalist tabloid Global Times, wrote Tuesday on Weibo, a Chinese social media site. Hope India remains self-aware and doesnt forget the lessons of history," Hu wrote. "There are no possible benefits to themselves or to the region if they provoke more conflict at the China-India border. Hope they don't seek further lessons from China. According to Indian security analysts, Chinese troops crossed the border at several points hundreds of miles apart last month, brawling with Indian soldiers and traversing rugged ground to penetrate at least two miles deep in some areas. The Chinese have fortified their positions with bunkers, trenches and roads, leading Indian officials to conclude that the Peoples Liberation Army is attempting to redraw the boundary unilaterally. Thousands of Chinese troops were sent to the area, backed by tanks and armored vehicles, prompting India to deploy large numbers of reinforcements. Yet for weeks, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis government played down the tensions. Indian and Chinese commanders met several times in recent weeks, although neither side appeared to budge from its position. The trigger for the Chinese incursions appeared to be an increase in road construction by Indian forces. Chinese analysts said the road-building crossed into Chinese territory, which India denies. Han Hua, professor of international studies at Peking University, said India's infrastructure buildup occurred without enough "constructive communication" to assuage China's concerns. They are building roads, and they are building a lot," Han said. "Its hard to say if theyre on Chinese territory or not. Its disputed. This conflict is not an accident it was inevitable. A 2008 photo shows a Chinese soldier, left, with an Indian soldier at the Nathu La border crossing in northeastern India's Sikkim state. (Diptendu Dutta / AFP/Getty Images) The disputed border, known as the Line of Actual Control, cuts through parts of Kashmir on the Indian-held side and Tibet on the Chinese side. Tensions have been simmering since 2017, when Indian troops blocked Chinese construction crews and border guards who were attempting to extend a road through territory claimed by the tiny kingdom of Bhutan. The result was a two-month standoff that ended after both sides agreed to withdraw their forces from the plateau. Especially alarming to New Delhi was that Mondays clash occurred in a valley between the Indian region of Ladakh and the Chinese territory of Aksai Chin that India believed was firmly in its possession. An Indian army truck drives near Pangong Lake in India's Ladakh border region in 2018. (Manish Swarup / Associated Press) Chinese troops occupied the Galwan valley during the 1962 war, then withdrew, but its status has never been resolved. In the Chinese military statement Tuesday, Zhang said the valley "has always belonged to China." Ajai Shukla, a former Indian army officer and a newspaper columnist, said the Chinese had stationed troops on surrounding hilltops, where they overlook a road leading to an important Indian airstrip. Elsewhere along the border, the Peoples Liberation Army has deployed artillery units and is building huts, suggesting it "is preparing for a long confrontation," Shukla wrote in the Business Standard newspaper. Brahma Chellaney, a professor of strategic studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi, said that under Xi, China is increasingly seeking to redraw its land and sea frontiers.... Its success in the South China Sea, where it has fundamentally changed the status quo without firing a shot, has emboldened its moves in the Himalayan borderlands. Chellaney said the lack of significant international pushback over China's mass incarcerations of Muslim citizens in Xinjiang and its crackdown in Hong Kong had also emboldened Beijing. As long as China pays no significant geopolitical price for its expansionist agenda," he said, "it will continue on the present path. Chinese analysts portrayed India as the aggressor, drawing comparisons to Modi's decision last year to revoke autonomy for Kashmir, the Muslim-majority border territory that is at the center of a bitter dispute with Pakistan. Liu Zongyi, research fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said Modi's Hindu nationalist agenda used "attack as a defense, not just toward Pakistan but also toward China." Chinese nationalism also makes it difficult for the Peoples Liberation Army to withdraw, Liu said, arguing that China had already given up too much to Indian control in the border region. "We cant pull back more, he said. Su reported from Beijing and Bengali from Singapore. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Too Hot to Handle Queen Francesca Farago Deems This the Most Important Part of a Relationship Francesca Farago Says It Takes Balls to Go After What You Want Reality TV might not be for everyone, but Francesca Farago took it as a fun opportunity to do something new and exciting. I have friends who have been on shows that have always said how it changed their lives for the better, so I thought why not! she told AskMen. Unbeknownst to her, Farago was about to partake in one of the craziest competitions to come out of 2020 Too Hot to Handle, a Netflix original where keeping it in your pants is the only way youll walk out of there with any type of prize money. RELATED: Lexy Panterra Is Capitalizing on Her Global Brand, One Twerk at a Time I wasnt sure if it was going to be a dating show, or a show like Survivor," explains Farago. I honestly had no clue. When I found out the premise I was very shocked, but I knew that no matter what, I was going to completely immerse myself in the experience. I learned a lot about myself and how to handle situations with other people. I grew as a person, taking all the lessons I learned and applying them to my daily life. Along with her share of the $75,000 pot, she also left the series with co-star Harry Jowsey by her side. But aside from the boy and a couple bucks, Farago took home something even more vital than cash: Knowing that emotional bonds are what kind a relationship strong, not sex, noting that the emotional connection is the most important part of a relationship. As for her next chapter, well leave Farago to fill you in on life since leaving the beach, always going after what you want, and love for a famous Emily. Georgie Lawson of Georgie Photography. _gilphoto on Instagram AskMen: With 4.7 million Instagram followers, how do you sort through all of the messages whether love or hate that you receive on social media? Francesca Farago: The most shocking thing about the show was the amount of love I received afterwards. Im grateful that there hasnt been much hate. Of course, people still find things to pick apart, but my motto is if you dont have haters, you're doing something wrong. Are pick-up lines online better or worse than in real life? And more importantly, have they worked? I think the best ones are the creative, funny ones. Dont be afraid to say something stupid or to come across silly. I'm usually just flattered that people try. It takes balls to go after what you want, and I think thats a really attractive quality. Do you have a favorite quality in a man that others might overlook? Respect. If someone truly values you, they will respect you. They will always have your back and be on your team. Even if you're in the wrong, theyll defend you. On a similar note, what's something you wish all men would start doing when out with a date? Holding hands. Opening doors. Basic chivalry goes a LONG way, trust me. For those still trying to date while social distancing, do you have any date suggestions that can be done remotely? FaceTime as much as possible. You can get creative with FaceTime dates by going to a beach or park and enjoying nature. What is it that allows you to feel your sexiest self or most empowered? Confidence is key. Comparing yourself to others is a downward spiral. Know that what you have to offer is good enough and if someone cant see that, they are not meant for you. Pick any woman you really idolize, and tell us why you think should we follow them on social media right now. I love Emily Ratajkowski. Her brand and messaging is very empowering. Shes definitely one of my role models. How have you gone on to prove to audiences that you are way more than just a beautiful woman with a large following? Being authentic is important. I dont worry about looking perfect in an IG story or making an embarrassing TikTok video. It shows fans that Im a normal person, and I do normal things. Im grateful that I have an audience that looks up to me, but being yourself is key. Im also staying true to myself as I grow my businesses; expanding Farago the Label, and creating a skincare and clothing line. And finally, whats life like right this moment, and where do you see yourself 5 years down the road? [Im] moving to LA, growing my business, and staying true to myself. Im so grateful for the opportunities that the show has given me. [In 5 years,] I see myself married and starting a family maybe living on a ranch or farm with some pigs and chickens. As for my brand, I want to continue to expand it and run multiple businesses. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. You Might Also Dig: Vijayawada: Despite critical times, Andhra Pradesh government has come up with a full-fledged budget ensuring enough funds to welfare schemes. On the first day of Assembly session, Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath presented Rs 2.24 lakh crore budget for the fiscal year 2020-21. There is an estimated revenue deficit of Rs 18,434 crore and fiscal deficit of Rs 48,295 crore. The government has allocated Rs 25,311 crore for BC welfare in this year, while it was Rs 15,061 crore during the last year. Similarly, the government allocated Rs 15,735 crore and Rs 5,177 crore for welfare of SC and ST communities respectively this year. Notably, Rs 15,000 crore and Rs 4,981 crore were allocated for the same in 2019-20. For the welfare of the Kapu community, Rs 2,846 crore has been allocated this year. It was Rs 2,000 crore last year. Further, the government has proposed to build 30 lakh houses for poor people, with an estimated budget of Rs 8,000 crore. The government aims to construct 6.25 lakh houses by the end of this year. Moreover, Rs 11,805 crore has been allocated for various irrigation projects under the water supply department. Deputy chief minister Pamula Pushpa Srivani lauded the chief minister for introducing new schemes amid the lockdown and COVID-19 scare. ZURICH, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Geneva Association is pleased to announce the elections of three new Board members: Michel Khalaf , President and CEO, MetLife , President and CEO, MetLife Anna Manning , President and CEO, Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) , President and CEO, Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) John Neal , CEO, Lloyd's of London Charles Brindamour, Chairman of The Geneva Association, said: "I would like to welcome Michel Khalaf, Anna Manning and John Neal to the Geneva Association Board of Directors. I look forward to working with them to address the challenges before our industry and advance The Geneva Association's important mission to promote insurance as a force for good." Michel Khalaf commented: "What we do as an industry forms a vital part of the social safety net and provides financial security for people across the world. In these challenging times, The Geneva Association will play a key role in shaping the conversation around risk, regulation and the future of insurance. I am honoured to join its Board of Directors." Michel Khalaf has been President and CEO of MetLife and a Geneva Association member since May 2019. Anna Manningadded: "As insurers and reinsurers, we strive to protect people and businesses during their most challenging times. The sheer scale of COVID-19 has made abundantly clear the responsibility and purpose of the insurance industry. The Geneva Association's work to highlight insurance's contributions to societal resilience is therefore more important than ever, and it is an honour to be a part of it." Anna Manning joined RGA in 2007, became President in 2015 and the CEO in 2017. She has been a Geneva Association member since 2017. John Neal remarked: "The Geneva Association is unique among think tanks for its deep understanding of the insurance industry, enabled by regular, meaningful interactions with its insurance CEO members. I look forward to helping guide the organisation's ambitious research agenda on global risks, so that we can really impact society." John Neal was appointed the CEO of Lloyd's of London in October 2018 and has been a Geneva Association member since 2013. The appointments of Michel Khalaf, Anna Manning and John Neal to the Geneva Association Board of Directors took effect 10 June 2020. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1190832/New_Board_Members.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/714100/Geneva_Association_Logo.jpg Contact: Pamela Corn Director of Communications +41 44 200 49 96 pamela_corn@genevaassociation.org London: Boris Johnson's one-time rival for the prime ministership says his victor's decision to merge Britain's aid department with the Foreign Office will strengthen the UK's hand against China. The Whitehall shake-up - which has been expected since Johnson's elevation to the Prime Ministership last year - will come into effect in September. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson departs from 10 Downing Street on his way to make a speech on 'Global Britain' in Parliament. Credit:Bloomberg Conservative MP Jeremy Hunt, Johnson's leadership rival said he "wrestled" with the same question when he was foreign secretary between 2018 - 2019. On Tuesday he backed Johnson's move, citing China's use of aid money as part of its aggressive foreign policy, which has included mask diplomacy during the pandemic as well as President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative, aimed at building Chinese-controlled trade routes. A Sharadhaa By Express News Service BENGALURU: The state government on Monday gave permission to shoot movies, but with strict guidelines to be followed to prevent spread of COVID-19 infection. Confirming this, Jairaj D R, President, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce said earlier a memorandum was submitted by Film Chamber to the government, requesting permission to shoot. Accordingly, the Information Department along with Health Department came up with certain guidelines, which were further clarified with KFCC members before orders were released on Monday. The production houses have to strictly adhere to a six-page list of 18 guidelines laid down by the government. To begin, shooting is permitted only for those films which are currently in the last leg of shooting, with only 50 people allowed on the sets, Jairaj said. This could be further relaxed with the regular shooting process. 'KGF Chapter 2' (L) and 'Yuvarathnaa' have a few days of shoot remaining. Other guidelines include maintaining health records of crew members. And in case of emergency like any one testing positive, the production house should take the responsibility of admitting them to a designated COVID hospital. This apart, thermal screening, check on mild cough and fever, sanitisation of the sets, social distancing, avoiding handshakes, wearing masks, maintenance of makeup room and restrooms are included in the guidelines. Producers will be responsible for obtaining self-declaration forms. Child artistes till 10 years and senior actors are allowed to shoot after seeking medical clearance. Appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits should be worn by the make-up artist, and every tool should be disinfected after use, besides encouraging the artistes to bring in their own makeup kits, Jairaj said. This will be passed on to all the departments of the film industry on Tuesday and we have been strictly asked to follow the health protocol. Government is also considering reopening theatres, and they will soon take a call, he said. Earlier, oral permission had been granted to allow TV soaps and post-production works of various movies, but now it has been permitted other fraternities as well, with the government passing orders on Monday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Tue, June 16, 2020 17:45 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf391bb 2 World France,police-brutality,police-reform,black-lives-matter,George-Floyd,Racism,racial-issues,racial-tension,racial-discrimination,racial-incidents Free The French government has suspended a ban on chokeholds by the police, a technique that has been widely denounced by Black Lives Matter activists at rallies against racism. The ban was announced last week after demonstrations spurred by the death of George Floyd in the US, a black man who pleaded "I can't breathe" as an officer kneeled on his neck. But the move sparked furious protests from police unions, who said the long-used technique was essential for ensuring officers' safety, and accused the government of failing to appreciate the perils of their work. "While awaiting a clarification of the new framework and when circumstances require it, the technique known as a chokehold will continue to be used with restraint and discernment," national police chief Frederic Veaux said in a letter to staff on Monday, seen by AFP. In particular, the technique can be used when a person resists arrest or threatens an officer or other people. Veaux said a commission would be set up on Wednesday to begin working on possible "substitution techniques", with recommendations due by September 1. Police unions, which have staged angry protests across France that saw officers throw down their handcuffs while rejecting claims of systemic racism or violence, welcomed the reversal. "It's a step in the right direction, but it won't be enough to dissipate the anger among the police," said Patrice Ribeiro, head of the Synergie-Officiers union. "It's a note that comes late but is welcome," agreed Yves Lefebvre of the Unite-SGP-FO union. Police forces in several countries are debating the continued use of chokeholds, as protesters call for reforms in the wake of Floyd's death, the latest in a series of black Americans killed in police custody. This month, the state of New York adopted a chokehold ban among several laws aimed at ending excessive force by officers. In France, the protests have coalesced around the case of Adama Traore, a 24-year-old black man who died at a police station shortly after his arrest in 2016. Traore's family claim he was suffocated as officers held him down, an accusation that medical assessments ordered by French investigators have rejected. Prosecutors said this month that the inquiry was still going on. Washington A grim blame game with partisan overtones is breaking out over COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents, a tiny slice of the population that represents a shockingly high proportion of Americans who have perished in the pandemic. The Trump administration has been pointing to a segment of the industry facilities with low federal ratings for infection control and to some Democratic governors who required nursing homes to take recovering coronavirus patients. Homes that followed federal infection control guidelines were largely able to contain the virus, asserts Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, which sets standards and pays the bills. "Trying to finger-point and blame the federal government is absolutely ridiculous," she says. Verma says data collected by her agency suggest a connection between low ratings on safety inspections and COVID-19 outbreaks. But several academic researchers say their own work has found no such link. Advocates for older people say the federal government hasn't provided needed virus testing and sufficient protective gear to allow nursing homes to operate safely. A White House directive to test all residents and staff has been met with an uneven response. "The lack of federal coordination certainly has impeded facilities' ability to identify infected persons and to provide care," Eric Carlson, a long-term care expert with the advocacy group Justice in Aging, told lawmakers. "That absence remains important as facilities are attempting to open up, which requires an extensive reliance on testing." Democrats are critical of the Trump administration response. "We need action," says Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. "We need a plan from CMS and we need resources to stop the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes." Nationwide, more than 45,500 residents and staff have died from coronavirus outbreaks at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, according to a running count by The Associated Press. That's about 40 percent of more than 115,000 total deaths. Nursing home residents are less than 1 percent of the U.S. population. It's a sensitive election year issue for President Donald Trump, who's trying to hang on to support from older voters. A recent CNN poll found that 54 percent of adults 65 and older said they disapproved of how Trump is handling his job as president, while 44 percent approved. With more coronavirus legislation possible this year, congressional Democrats are pressing for a national testing plan and additional resources for nursing homes. Republicans are mainly seconding the administration's arguments. During a recent briefing for lawmakers, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican, blamed New York Democratic Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for the high numbers of deaths in his state. A since-rescinded state directive that nursing homes had to accept recovering coronavirus patients "ended up being a death sentence" in New York and several states with similar policies, Scalise said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Scalise echoed earlier, less forceful, comments from CMS head Verma, who has said such state orders were "not appropriate" and "may have contributed to this issue as well." But Harvard researcher David Grabowski, who serves on a nonpartisan commission advising Congress about Medicare, says neither state policies, nor "bad apples" among nursing homes, have driven the outbreak. Instead, Grabowski says it's simpler: Because the virus can be spread by people who show no symptoms, that means if it's already in a community, the staff can unwittingly bring it into the nursing home. Once inside it easily spreads among frail residents living in close quarters. "The secret weapon behind COVID is that is spreads in the absence of any symptoms," Grabowski told lawmakers at a recent briefing. "If COVID is in a community where staff lives, it is soon to be in the facility where they work." He proposed a federal effort to regularly test nursing home staff and residents, along with greater supplies of masks, gowns and other protective gear. "The federal government needs to own this issue," said Grabowski. He said his own research, along with studies by experts at Brown University and the University of Chicago did not find a relationship between facilities with low federal ratings and COVID-19 outbreaks. The nursing home industry says just one-time testing for every resident and staffer would cost $440 million, and facilities struggling financially would not be able to bear the expense of regular staff testing. Donald Trump says the US will withdraw thousands of troops from Germany, reducing its military presence in the country by roughly a third, after he accused German officials of being delinquent in its Nato payments. The president told reporters on Monday that the US is protecting Germany and theyre delinquent, that doesnt make sense. In 2014, Nato members had supported spending 2 per cent of their gross national product on military by 2024. Germany had expected to reach that target by 2031. Mr Trump claimed that Germany is delinquent for billions of dollars and said he was reducing the US military presence to roughly 25,000 service members as retaliation until they pay. The country houses roughly 34,000 troops, a figure that has declined significantly following the peak of the Cold War, as Germany served as a key point for the US and Nato allies between the USSR and the rest of Europe. There also are thousands of civilian staff members with the US Department of Defence. Germany has since stationed thousands of troops as a staging area for Middle East deployment. Germany doesnt owe the US, or Nato, as members pledge to spend 2 per cent of their GDP is not contingent on other countries support Following the presidents comments, German Ambassador Emily Haber said US troops are in Europe to defend transatlantic security and to project US power abroad, according to Reuters. Our cooperation on military and security matters has always been very close and will remain so, Ms Haber said during an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, Reuters reported. US troops ... are not there to defend Germany. They are there to defend the transatlantic security. ... They are also there to project American power in Africa, in Asia. Mr Trumps remarks suggest that the troop drawdown is a form of sanction against the country, saying that the troops are well-paid soldiers who spend vast amounts of money while living there. The move, which has not been approved by lawmakers or discussed with Nato or Germany officials, has faced criticism from several prominent Republicans, allies of the president, who have written a letter demanding the president reverse his decision fearing that a slimmer military presence in Europe could encourage Russian aggression and opportunism. In a letter to the president, 22 Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee called the move another favour to Russian President Vladimir Putin. National security adviser Robert OBrien had signed off on the drawdown last week, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the move. A US official told the outlet that the decision had been in the works since September. In their letter, the Republicans wrote that we strongly believe that Nato allies, such as Germany, should do more to contribute to our joint defence efforts ... At the same time, we also know that the forward stationing of American troops since the end of World War II has helped to prevent another world war and, most importantly, has helped make America safer. Four Republican members of the committee Mo Brooks, Scott DesJarlais, Ralph Abraham and Matt Gaetz did not sign the letter. Vietnamese schoolgirl Nguyen Doi Chung Anh was forced to stay in her Hanoi home for months because of COVID-19 restrictions. The ten-year-old spent much of her time inside creating artwork. Her pictures explore both the sadness and the heroism of the worlds battle with the pandemic. Chung Anh uses colored pencils to make her drawings. One picture shows the spread of coronavirus in Europe and America. It includes representations of famous national landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In the picture, the Statue of Liberty is crying. Chung Ahn also draws pictures that representing Vietnams efforts to contain the virus. One shows two Vietnamese soldiers holding a passenger plane that has been struck by the virus. Another shows war planes from which medical workers spray the passenger plane with disinfectant. Those pictures represent the flight VN54, which brought new infection to the country after Vietnam reported it was virus-free.I drew this with hope that they can keep their spirits high to prevent an outbreak, Chung Anh said, speaking of the frontline workers, adding This girl is me, here I am drawing and these things are my imagination. Several pictures show the cruise ship Diamond Princess. More than 700 passengers and crew on the ship became infected with the new coronavirus. The ship was held under quarantine at a Japanese port for more than three months. Fourteen people died, all of them passengers. Another shows doctor Li Wenliang of China. He warned about the danger of the virus in December, the month it was first reported. Chinese officials punished him for that action. Many people consider Li a hero. He became infected with coronavirus and died of COVID-19 in early February. He was only 34 years old. Chung Anhs mother says the drawing is her favorite. She said her daughter understands the sacrifice of the doctors who risked and lost their lives. Im Susan Shand. The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story spray v. liquid that is forced out of a container in a stream of very small drops drawing n. a picture, image, etc., that is made by making lines on a surface with a pencil, pen, marker frontline - adj. care workers, nurse, doctors and others who help in an emergency cruise n. a pleasure ship that holds thousands of people quarantine - n. to isolate someone who has an infections disease Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a meeting with chief ministers and heads of 21 states and Union territories to discuss the prevailing coronavirus situation in the country. During the meeting, the prime minister reiterated the significance of do gaj ki doori and underscored the importance of maintaining social distancing. He said wearing masks, regular hand washing and use of hand sanitisers are of the utmost importance in the fight against Covid-19. It has been few days, but Uttarakhand has done a lot of work in the direction of Atmanirbhar Bharat. We have injected more than Rs 300 crore projects. The industry which came to halt due to COVID19 has now resumed & over 90% of it is working: Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat pic.twitter.com/yfrkJWsWOf ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 PM Modi also said that with the beginning of Unlock 1, economic activities across the country have resumed and green shoots have begun to be visible in the economy. When India's fight against #COVID19 will be analysed in future, this time will be remembered for how we worked together and served as an example of cooperative federalism: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in meeting with CMs of 21 states & UTs via VC pic.twitter.com/OQLdN9YTdU ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 This was PM Modis sixth video conference with chief ministers of different states and Union territories (UTs) amid the coronavirus pandemic. The states and UTs attending Tuesdays video conference include Punjab, Assam, Kerala Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Nagaland, Ladakh, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat was among the chief ministers who spoke during the interactive session and said that the state government has done a lot of work in the direction of achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat. Here are PM Modis top comments from todays meeting: The more we can stop corona, the more it will stop growing, the more our economy will open, our offices will open, markets will open, the means of transport will open, and so will new employment opportunities. Because of the efforts made in the last few weeks, green shoots have begun to be visible in our economy. When Indias fight against Covid-19 will be analysed in future, this time will be remembered for how we worked together and served as an example of cooperative federalism. Because of the efforts made in the last few weeks, green shoots have begun to be visible in our economy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/lz6Ysf7XRo ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 To even think of stepping out without a mask or face cover is not right at present. Do gaj ki doori, hand-washing and use of sanitisers is of utmost importance. With markets opening&people stepping out, these precautions are even more important. For us the death of even one Indian is unsettling but it is also true that India is one of the countries where there have been least deaths due to Covid-19. The Covid-19 recovery rate has gone above 50% in India. 2 weeks have passed since #Unlock1, our experience during this time could be beneficial for us in future. Today I will get to know ground reality from you, your suggestions will help in chalking out future strategy: PM in meeting with CMs of 21 states & UTs via VC #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/0NaHJoM1Qo ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 In the last few weeks, thousands of Indians returned to India from abroad and hundreds of migrant workers reached their home towns. Almost all modes of transport have resumed operations, still, Covid-19 impact has not been that huge in India as in other parts of the world. Two weeks have passed since Unlock-1, our experience during this time could be beneficial for us in future. The National Trust has acquired a romantic beauty spot in Exmoor which inspired the 19th-century novel Lorna Doone. The charity bought the nine acre site on the border of Devon and Somerset for 1.5 million shortly before coronavirus lockdown measures were introduced in March. But the National Trust stressed the site is likely to be its last acquisition for 'quite some time' as the lockdown has significantly affected the charity's finances, with an estimated 200 million loss of income this year. The idyllic site includes Lorna Doone Farm in Malmsmead, near Lynton and the nearby Cloud Farm campsite in the wild Exmoor landscape which inspired RD Blackmore's 1869 novel. In the book, Blackmore describes the deep green valley 'carved from out the mountains in a perfect oval' and wooded hills 'swept up to the sky-line' as well as a river 'gilded out from underground with a soft, dark babble'. The National Trust has acquired an idyllic site in Exmoor including the Cloud Farm campsite (pictured) which helped inspire RD Blackmore's 1869 novel Lorna Doone Pictured: Amelia Warner as Lorna Doone and Richard Coyle as John Ridd in a BBC One adaptation of the 1869 novel Set in late 17th-century Exmoor, Lorna Doone tells the story of John Ridd, a farmer who finds forbidden love after his father is slain by the lawless Doone clan who inhabit an area near to the Badgworthy Water river. April Braund, visitor experience manager for the National Trust, said the landscape featured in Lorna Doone was at the 'heart of the site'. 'We are hoping that by making this beautiful spot more accessible, we can encourage more people to connect with nature,' she said. The National Trust will improve facilities currently at the site, such as a tearoom, holiday accommodation and campsite, car park and public toilets. Public rights of way connect it to other National Trust places including Watersmeet, a five-mile walk along the East Lyn river, which also features heavily in the novel. The National Trust stressed the site (pictured) is likely to be its last acquisition for 'quite some time' as the lockdown has significantly affected the charity's finances The charity already cares for wildlife in the area including beavers and water voles on the nearby Holnicote Estate and has worked to entice the high brown fritillary and dark green fritillary butterflies back to the landscape. Kev Davies, lead ranger for the area, said 41 per cent of species in Britain are in decline and the trust is keen to reverse that on its land. Pictured: Lorna Doone by RD Blackmore 'The countryside in and around the Lorna Doone valley is a great place for seeing wildlife,' Mr Davies said. 'There's red deer at Watersmeet, peregrines, ancient oaks and further afield on the Holnicote Estate, beavers and water voles.' The 150th anniversary of the publication of Lorna Doone was celebrated across Exmoor last year. Blackmore's romance novel has never been out of print and has inspired films, TV series, songs and even a shortbread biscuit. Rob Joules, general manager for the north Devon coast and countryside, said the National Trust's acquisition of the site would ensure its future. 'Every penny donated or spent on site will be reinvested on our land in the area, helping nature thrive and adding to the enjoyment of people,' Mr Joules said. 'It's great that visitors will be able to stay in this landscape and able to get active in the outdoors by walking along the river, up on the moor or down to the sea along the South West Coast Path. 'By diversifying our income streams on this part of Exmoor we will be able to increase the funds we spend improving access, creating amazing outdoor experiences and space for nature to thrive.' Heres the lefts line on John Bolton and his forthcoming book: Despise Bolton, but Read His Book Anyway. President Trump concurs with the first part, but dissents from the second. And, he would add, if you do read his book, dont believe what he writes. My line on Bolton and his book cant be summarized as easily. However, it includes the following thoughts: First, if the book contains classified information, as Trump claims, it should not be published until all such information is removed. The process of ensuring that classified information isnt revealed may cause publication to be delayed substantially, but so what? The need to protect such information from disclosure outweighs any need to publish the book by a particular date. Second, if, as Trump claims, Bolton has violated any criminal law in connection with this book, he should be prosecuted. Third, as long as Bolton is providing a truthful account of his time as National Security Adviser and is complying with all legal requirements, I dont have a problem with his book. The more Americans know about a presidents foreign policy decisionmaking, the better able we are to assess the presidents performance. There are limits to what we can know, given considerations of national security. But if those limits are observed, publication of a truthful account serves the public interest. Fourth, I think, in particular, that Bolton has useful information to provide about President Trumps temporary withholding of aid to Ukraine. This was the subject of an impeachment proceeding, after all. Although that proceeding is over, its occurrence makes the matter one of historical significance. Fifth, if reports about the contents of Boltons book are accurate, I question whether Bolton is offering a fully honest and fair-minded account of Trumps foreign and national security policy, and the process by which it is formulated. According to the books publisher, President Trump is addicted to chaos and embraced our enemies and spurned our friends. He also was deeply suspicious of his own government. I have no trouble believing that Trump is addicted to chaos and that, for good reason, he is suspicious of precincts of our government. However, Bolton is painting with too broad a brush if he claims that Trump has embraced our enemies. As president, Trump has been much tougher on Iran and China than were his predecessors. He has been somewhat tougher on Russia. And I dont think its fair to say that he has embraced North Korea. Yes, he established relations with its dictator, and has spoken of a potential embrace, conditioned on North Korea giving up its nukes. But he hasnt made any important concessions to the regime that Im aware of. As for our friends, Trump certainly hasnt spurned Israel. That was Obama. Trump has asked our European allies to pay more to NATO and has given them a somewhat hard time on trade. But driving a hard bargain with an ally isnt the same thing as spurning it. Sixth, Bolton reportedly also claims that every decision Trump made was centered on his reelection. It would be surprising if Trump didnt include electoral considerations in his foreign policy/national security calculus. Most presidents do. (Think of President Obamas statement to the Russian president that he can be more flexible after the election.) However, its far from clear that Trumps key decisions are driven by electoral concerns. For example, Trump was willing to risk a trade war with China, the result of which might have damaged our economy, to the detriment of his reelection prospects. Seventh, the real driver of Trumps foreign policy/national security policy seems to be the platform on which he campaigned for the presidency. Trump is basically doing (or trying to do) what he said he would so e.g. get tough with China, overturn the Iran nuclear deal, end or wind down foreign wars, etc. Bolton may not like portions of Trumps agenda, but theres nothing dishonorable or inherently wrong with a president implementing the policies he campaigned on. Within limits, its a good thing to do. Eighth, this brings me to what is perhaps the most interesting question in all of this: Why on earth did Trump select Bolton to be his National Security Adviser? He must have known that Bolton is opposed to key aspects of the Trump agenda. The decision to select Bolton is another in a long line of misguided (from Trumps standpoint) personnel decisions. It may be the most inexplicable. Ninth, the question of why Bolton accepted the post doesnt perplex me. From his standpoint, this was the opportunity of a lifetime the chance to have a say in vital national security matters and to try to steer Trump away from policies antithetical to Boltons views. Its not surprising, though, that the venture ended badly. Tenth, I respect John Bolton, but wonder whether the bad taste his experience at the White House left in his mouth has undercut the objectivity of his account. Once his book is finally published, well have a better idea of whether this is the case. New Delhi, June 16 : The sixth video conference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Ministers of different states and Union Territories (UTs) got underway on Tuesday afternoon to decide the strategy to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic going forward. The sixth interaction has been split into two days. Chief Ministers or representatives of 21 states and UTs are attending Tuesday's meeting. The video interaction started soon after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed Modi about the prevailing situation in Eastern Ladakh, where Indian Army faced multiple casualties during a violent face-off with the People's Liberation Army of China. The states and UTs attending Tuesday's video conference include Punjab, Assam, Kerala Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Nagaland, Ladakh, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. However, only a few will be allowed to speak during the interaction. The Chief Ministers who will be allowed to speak on Tuesday's include Punjab CM Amarinder Singh and Tripura CM Biplab Deb, among others. Sources said the focus will be to increase testing facilities, give attention to urban clusters and stringently isolate the containment zones. So far, five such interactions have taken place ever since the first lockdown was implemented to contain the spread of coronavirus. India has more than 1,53,000 active Covid-19 cases as on Tuesday. Select will be available at your local Connecticut dispensary WAKEFIELD, Mass., June 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company"), a leading multi-state cannabis operator in the United States, today announced it will expand its line of Select brand products into Connecticut. Select Elite Live cartridges will be available at local medical dispensaries across the state. Select, which was acquired by Curaleaf in February 2020, is available in Oregon, California, Arizona and Nevada, and recently expanded to Colorado, Michigan, Maryland and Oklahoma. All Select products are formulated with strain-specific terpenes to enhance flavor. Curaleaf will expand its product line in the coming months across several states to include Select Elite Live cartridges, oil infused with freshly harvested live resin terpenes. "We are committed to providing essential medicine to over 40,000 patients in Connecticut with consistent, high quality Select products," said Joe Bayern, President of Curaleaf. "We also commend state lawmakers for adding chronic pain and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome to its list of MMP qualifying conditions, and we look forward to providing quality medicine to current and future patients." During the COVID-19 outbreak, cannabis businesses have been deemed an essential service in most states, including Connecticut. Curaleaf remains committed to serving patients with the products and service they rely on while implementing heightened safety and sanitation measures in all its facilities. About Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf") is a leading vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator with a mission to improve lives by providing clarity around cannabis and confidence around consumption. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the company and its brands, Curaleaf and Select, provide industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult-use markets. The company currently operates in 17 states with 57 dispensaries, 15 cultivation sites and 24 processing sites. Curaleaf employs over 2,200 people across the United States. For more information please visit www.curaleaf.com. For more information please visit www.curaleaf.com. INVESTOR CONTACT Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Dan Foley, VP, Finance and Investor Relations [email protected] MEDIA CONTACT Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Tracy Brady, VP Corporate Communications [email protected] FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This media advisory contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements or information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", " expects" or, "proposed", "is expected", "intends", "anticipates", " or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forwardlooking statements and information concerning the expansion of the Select brand of products into Connecticut. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the company with respect to the matter described in this new release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors and Uncertainties" in the Company's latest annual information form filed September 23, 2019, which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we 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 law. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. SOURCE Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Related Links https://www.curaleaf.com CHESTER TOWNSHIP A 22-year-old Chester City man is in custody for allegedly firing at a parked Chester Township police vehicle early Sunday morning. Pennsylvania State Police stated in a release that Dimitrius Barriera-Rivera drove by the marked police vehicle and fired three rounds from a semi-automatic firearm. An officer was inside the vehicle on stationary patrol, but no one was injured, according to police. Fortunately the shots fired did not hit the officer, the patrol vehicle and any innocent civilians, PSP spokeswoman Jessica Tobin wrote in an email. The shooting occurred at about 12:40 a.m. in the area of northbound Interstate 95 near the Commodore Barry Bridge when a silver 2007 Toyota Scion SC drove past the police vehicle and opened fire, according to the release. The Scion took off but was recovered a short time later in Chester City, along with Barriera-Rivera, according to the release. Police say numerous pieces of evidence were collected from the Scion and the defendant later confessed to state police investigators. Barriera-Rivera was preliminarily arraigned Sunday before Magisterial District Judge W. Keith Williams II on three counts of aggravated assault, attempting to cause serious bodily injury to designated individuals, all felonies of the first degree; as well as three counts of reckless endangerment; obstruction; false reports and driving with a suspended or revoked license, all misdemeanors. Barriera-Rivera is currently in custody at the county prison in Concord, having failed to post bail of 10 percent of $75,000. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 9 before Magisterial District Judge Georgia L. Stone, according to court records. Investigation of the incident is still ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Trooper Matthew Smith at 484-840-1000. The former mayor of a town in south Wales has been accused of sharing vile, racist stuff after one of his Facebook posts appeared to compare black protesters to monkeys. A composite photo making a comparison between a group of African-Americans surrounding a US police car and baboons surrounding a car at a safari park was shared on the social media site by the account of Councillor Peter Kraus. The independent politician, who serves on Pembroke Dock Town Council, initially claimed his Facebook page had been hacked and someone else had posted on his timeline. However, he later defended the image in an interview with his local newspaper the Western Telegraph and claimed he did not mean to insult black people. The point I was making was that we are worse than animals, he said. Referring to recent Black Lives Matter protests, he added: It is bad enough with this pandemic without all these crazy things that are going on everywhere. It was not meant as an insult to black people. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 January 2022 Demonstrators outside Downing Street during a Kill The Bill protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in London. PA UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images Mr Kraus, the former mayor of Pembroke Dock, earlier told the MailOnline someone else was responsible for the post. I dont know how I was hacked, he said. All I know is I had a thing from the town council to say about this picture on there which I never even put on. Thats how it is. He added: It must have been posted to my timeline because the town clerk phoned me and said What the hell is going on? Ive got lots and lots and lots of friends who are, black, white, and you name it as well, all over the world. Fellow town councillor Joshua Beynon shared with The Independent a screengrab of the offending image on Mr Kraus Facebook timeline and said he had reported Mr Kraus post to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. When I saw it on [Mr Kraus] page and I was shocked and disgusted, said the Labour councillor, who has also shared the photo with the ombudsman. Unfortunately it goes to show the kind of vile, racist stuff being shared online. Its 2020 and we have to do a whole lot better than this. Mr Beynon, 22, recently campaigned for purple lights to illuminate the Pembrokeshire town in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests. The Independent has contacted Mr Kraus for comment. The link-up will create a body with almost 450m in assets and around 100,000 members. Stock picture The biggest credit union in the country is set to be created from the merger of two Co Galway lenders. St Anthony's and Claddagh Credit Union plans to link up with St Jarlath's Credit Union. The two credit unions say members will be given a chance to vote on the proposal once it is confirmed to be in line with regulatory and legislative requirements by the Central Bank. The link-up will create a body with almost 450m in assets and around 100,000 members. Between them, the credit unions have a total of 12 branches across Galway county and city. The next largest credit union, by assets, is St Canice's in Kilkenny, followed by the Health Services CU. The chairperson of St Anthony's and Claddagh, Mark Grogan, said the two Galway lenders have been collaborating on a number of initiatives in recent years. He said a merger is the obvious way to enhance the strength and capacity of both organisations. St Jarlath's chief executive, John Doyle, said that, if approved, the merger would be likely to lead to an extended branch network and provide enhanced services to its members. The matter is likely to be considered for approval at the AGMs of both institutions later this year. Beneficial Kevin Johnson, CEO of the Credit Union Development Association, a representative body, said combining the resources of the two successful credit unions will create one of Ireland's most significant credit unions, which will be hugely beneficial for members, local communities and Galway in general. Meanwhile, the Irish League of Credit Unions, another representative body for the sector, has welcomed the inclusion of specific commitments to credit unions in the Programme for Government. The commitment to a review of the policy framework was singled out. The league claimed there is a disconnect between the Minister for Finance, who has official responsibility for credit union policy, and the Central Bank, which is responsible for regulation. It said the Central Bank has no developmental role and claimed it has no understanding of the volunteer-led movement. The league said it will work with the new government to help the sector. With fake currency charge, Pak trying to create persona non grata case against Indian officials India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 16: Pakistan has claimed that the two officials that it had arrested and later released had fake currency on them. India has denied this and says that Pakistan had held the officials up only to create a case of persona non grata. The two officials who were arrested were released after India issued a strong demarche. Tit for tat: ISI hand in disappearance of two Indian officials in Pakistan They were handed over to the two Indian High Commission officials. Sources said that they were injury marks on the bodies of the two officials. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain hospitalised, to take COVID-19 test| Oneindia News While the Pakistan media had initially said that the officials were arrested in a hit and run case, later it was claimed that they were in the possession of fake currency to the tune of Rs 10,000. After the two officials were handed over to the Indian mission in Islamabad, they were subject to a medical test. There has been marked tensions between India and Pakistan of late. Following the expulsion of 2 Pakistan officials from India on charges of espionage, the situation in Islamabad remains tense. Indian officials in Pak high commission released, visible injuries noticed The two Indian staffers posted at the Islamabad mission had stepped out on some work on Monday morning. When both the officials did not reach their destination, high commission officials informed both the foreign offices in New Delhi and Pakistan. The Indian High Commission is finding it hard to resume normal functioning owing to aggressive surveillance of its officials by Pakistan. India, it may be recalled had registered a protest in the form of a note verbale to Pakistan. The behaviour of the officials of Pakistan violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, India had said. It may be recalled that India's Charge d' Affaires, Gaurav Ahluwalia was chased in the Pakistan capital, Islamabad by a motorcycle borne person suspected to be from the ISI. The incident took place on June 4. Sources tell OneIndia that this is clearly the handiwork of the ISI and is meant to avenge India's actions against its officials, who were caught trying to gather sensitive information about the movement of Indian troops. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:02:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Tafara Mugwara, Zhang Yuliang HARARE, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Liu Bing (Ice Liu), was a teenager when she moved from China to Zimbabwe, a country she has proudly called home for years. As someone who is fascinated by different cultures and environments, she immediately fell in love with her new home. "The atmosphere here is relaxed," she told Xinhua in an interview. "I had many chances to go to other countries, but I like Zimbabwe, and I am here." She was invited to work on an international collaborative music video project called Lovely Zimbabwe with a group of artist from different parts of the world. The ten-member group, which is made up of foreign artists singing about the beauty of Zimbabwe in their native languages, aims at marketing Zimbabwe one of the best places to visit. The artists' colorful performance is complemented by magnificent scenery in the music video's background that makes Zimbabwe a stunning tourist destination. The tourism sector is one of Zimbabwe's major economic mainstays, contributing significantly to the country's GDP. About 2.6 million international tourists visited the Southern African country in 2018. The expenditure by tourists in Zimbabwe has also risen remarkably over the past decade, rising from only 523 million U.S. dollars in 2009 to over 1 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. The country's most remarkable products are its abundant animal species and natural environment, a number of medieval era city ruins and multiple world heritage sites, several national parks and its friendly people. Liu was disappointed as the tourism industry in Zimbabwe has been severely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism industry is one of the sectors in Zimbabwe bearing the brunt of COVID-19. But the tourists are coming back and the industry is recovering. On May and June, Zambia and Zimbabwe re-opened the Victoria Falls to the public, two months after closing the World Heritage Site due to the pandemic. "Come to Zimbabwe, that is what we are writing in the song, come to Zimbabwe, yes, come to Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe is a very cool place," said Liu. She said the song is expected to add value to the ongoing government efforts in presenting Zimbabwe as a unique tourist destination and to motivate more Chinese tourists to visit the country. "We need more people to come to visit, to invest in Zimbabwe. We need to show the world how nice Zimbabwe is," she said . Liu said she wants to continue promoting arts and culture between China and Zimbabwe through various initiatives such as the Dreamstar Zimbabwe Talent Search, a program that sponsors artists to tour China through cultural exchange programs. Abraham Matuka, founder of the Lovely Zimbabwe project, said music can be instrumental in popularizing tourist destinations and can significantly boost tourist numbers. Matuka said besides marketing Zimbabwe as a prime tourist destination, the song also promotes cultural understanding among nations. "By singing in Mandarin, she would be appealing to the whole Chinese people and most of the people who understand Mandarin would know that Zimbabwe is a beautiful country. Music is one of the best tools in terms of communication. It's universal. So we use the aspect of people to people diplomacy through music," said Matuka. Over the years, Zimbabwe has embarked on various strategies to ensure sustainable long-term growth of the tourism sector, including duty exemptions for the importation of tourism capital goods and safari vehicles, promoting investment in tourism-related infrastructure and adopting favorable visa policies. In 2018, a major marketing campaign was signed between the Ministry of Tourism and a Chinese firm Touchroad International which brought Zhejiang TV and Radio into the country to film Zimbabwe's key tourist attractions. While Chinese outbound tourism has increased rapidly over the years, reaching 149 million overseas trips in 2018, only a few Chinese tourists choose Zimbabwe as their travel destination. Zimbabwe received about 19,000 Chinese tourists in 2018, and the country has set a target to receive at least 150,000 Chinese tourists by 2025. Enditem An Indigenous agency serving families in Toronto is launching a new pilot project in the hope of mitigating the harm children have faced from spending too much time indoors as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown. The project began Monday and will provide families with the opportunity to meet with the agency for wellness checks in parks around Toronto, said Jeffrey Schiffer, executive director of Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, we really witnessed a lot of the prevention programs that the community relies on disappear, he said. As a result there has been less opportunity for Indigenous families to seek support for things like domestic abuse, Schiffer said. Vulnerable kids are struggling right now with a lot of mental health challenges, isolation, anxiety, depression, problems concentrating, and for Indigenous people this is really acute because of the history of disease pandemics for Indigenous folks. So far, 30 families have agreed to take part over the next four weeks in the pilot, which was designed with the help of the City of Torontos Indigenous Affairs Office, Toronto Public Health and the provincial Ministry of Parks, Forestry, and Recreation. The service will also provide programming to ensure children stay active while respecting the health guidelines currently in place. Everybody right now is really concerned about the immediate health effects of COVID-19, and thats very important, and were concerned about that, too. But what were also concerned about is what happens if kids are inside for six months, Schiffer said. A lot of affluent families in Toronto have backyards and areas where they can take their kids outside regularly. If youre an Indigenous mom living below the poverty line in a Toronto Community Housing building with four kids, its not easy to get your kids outside. To ensure the privacy of the families involved, the three parks selected for the pilot project were not made public, though the centre said they are in the Mount Dennis, Kingston/Galloway and Malvern areas. A researcher from the University of Torontos Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and another from the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute at Sick Kids hospital will also be participating to assess the pilots impact on the mental health of the families taking part. We spoke a lot with our Italian colleagues when the COVID-19 pandemic first started because they were so far ahead of it in terms of the impact of the disease. One thing we heard really clearly from them was the importance of getting children outdoors, said Barbara Fallon, a U of T professor and Canada Research Chair in child welfare. One study out of the Miguel Hernandez University in Elche, Spain, based on surveys with more than 1,000 parents in Italy and Spain, found many children have been experiencing difficulty concentrating, boredom, irritability, restlessness, nervousness, and feelings of loneliness since the pandemic. However, children from Italy tended to report less of these issues, Fallon noted. One of the hypotheses is that Italian children were outdoors more than Spanish children, she said. Past studies have also shown access to green space coincides with lower rates of depression among children and that being outdoors helps them cope with stressful events, said Steven Miller, a senior scientist in pediatric neuroscience at Sick Kids and one of the researchers assisting in the pilot. Schiffer said he hopes the pilot can provide an opportunity to reflect on what reconciliation looks like in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially since Indigenous people often connect to land for wellness and healing. Disease epidemics are not new for Indigenous people. Theres a deep history of disease epidemics here in Turtle Island and so theres a lot of intergenerational trauma being triggered right now by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it cannot proceed with the planned reopening of churches and mosques in the state given the current evaluation of coronavirus infections in the state. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State governor, said this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the state house, describing the decision as a tough one. Mr Sanwo-Olu said since the announcement of June 19 as the date for reopening of religious centres on conditions that they will strictly comply with health guidelines, the state has been closely monitoring the situation and has now concluded that any form of re-opening cannot proceed. We are now hereby suspending, with immediate effect, the plan to re-open religious houses and places of worship in Lagos State, until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and continue to base our decision-making on data modelling; as well as on the responsibility we have to act in a manner that ensures the protection of all of you the people of Lagos State. This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, it is simply in line with our ongoing evaluation of evolving scenarios regarding the course of the infection in Lagos State and the corresponding public health advisory guidelines issued by the experts. Therefore, until further notice, all places of worship in Lagos State will remain closed. Social and events centers, and social clubs, will also remain closed, for now, Mr Sanwo-Olu said. The governor said as of Monday, Lagos State had recorded 7,319 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection. Of this number, 1,137 have fully recovered and been discharged, while 82 have died, leaving 6,100 active cases under management in the state, he said. Our dear state, therefore, continues to be the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, with about 44% of the total number of confirmed cases nationwide. Let me make this clear, that we are now fully in the phase of personal responsibility, regarding this pandemic. This means that, while the Government maintains its responsibility to take protective decisions for the common good, what will ultimately save us all and defeat this virus are the sensible personal decisions that we take on a daily basis, Mr Sanwo-Olu said. He further said while the government continues to do everything to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the people, citizens must be responsible. Decisions to use masks anytime you are out of your house, to avoid non-essential travel, to stay at home when we dont have any business being outside, to wash or sanitize our hands regularly these are the simple but necessary steps that will save and protect us all. Mr Sanwo-Olu added that the steady increase in the number of confirmed cases is by no means unexpected, considering that the infection is at a community transmission stage. He said the more tests are done, the more positive cases will emerge. The governor urged Lagos residents to comport themselves in a responsible manner while the government continues to do what it can to ensure public safety. After three Indian soldiers were killed in a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese sides at Galwan Valley, Beijing on Tuesday accused India of "crossing the border" and carrying out provocative attacks on Chinese soldiers. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters Indian troops crossed the border twice on Monday, "provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides", reported news agency AFP. The statement came after India said that it has lost one Army officer and two soldiers during a clash with Chinese soldiers at Galwan Valley in Ladakh on Monday night. "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation," stated the official statement by the Indian Army. China has also reported casualties after the clash. Also Read: India-China standoff live updates: Around 4 casualties on Chinese side as troops clash China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing has lodged "strong protests and solemn representations" to Delhi. Without making reference to any fatalities, he said, "We again solemnly request that India follows the relevant attitude and restrains its frontline troops." "Do not cross the border, do not provoke trouble, do not take any unilateral action that would complicate the border situation," he added. Also Read: India-China tensions: One officer, 2 jawans die after clash with Chinese troops As per media reports, there have been 3-4 casualties on the Chinese side too. Also, the clashes were hand-to-hand combat and no firing had taken place. With agencies inputs Our equipment started that fire, utilitys CEO says as company admits to involuntary manslaughter in California court. In an unprecedented case of a corporation being held accountable, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has confessed to killing 84 people in a devastating wildfire that wiped out the Northern California town of Paradise in November 2018. PG&E Chief Executive Officer Bill Johnson entered individual guilty pleas on Tuesday on behalf of the company for 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the fire, which was blamed on the companys crumbling electrical grid. It was the deadliest corporate crime in United States history. Our equipment started that fire, said Johnson, who apologised directly to the victims families. PG&E will never forget the Camp Fire and all that it took away from the region. Although the admission was part of a plea deal, it came during a dramatic court hearing designed to publicly shame the nations largest utility for neglecting its infrastructure. The name of each victim was read aloud in a courtroom before Butte County Superior Court Judge Michael Deems while the images of the dead were shown on a large screen. PG&E also pleaded guilty to one felony count of unlawfully starting a fire. Later on Tuesday, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey is expected to release a long-awaited report detailing the corporate misconduct that ignited the November 2018 wildfire that destroyed Paradise, California, located about 275km (170 miles) northeast of San Francisco. In this case, PG&E has agreed to pay a maximum fine of $3.5m for its crimes in addition to $500,000 for the cost of the investigation. The amount is relatively low, because California law limits the penalty for each manslaughter. Profits over safety The San Francisco company will not be placed on criminal probation, unlike what happened after its natural gas lines blew up a neighbourhood in San Bruno, California, killing eight people in 2010. That tragedy resulted in a criminal conviction that put San Francisco on a five-year probation that ends in January 2022. With no prospect of jail time for a corporation, Ramsey tried to use Tuesdays hearing to force PG&E to confront the death and destruction stemming from its corporate culture of placing a greater priority on profits for its shareholders than protecting the safety of the 16 million Northern Californians who rely on the utility for power. We want this to be impactful because this cant go on any longer, Butte County District Attorney Ramsey told The Associated Press news agency. There is going to have to be a sea change in PG&Es method of operation. The Soda Rock Winery erupts in flames in 2019 during one of Californias wildfires [Peter Dasilva/EPA] PG&E is hoping to emerge from its nearly year-and-half-long bankruptcy. The company has agreed to pay $25.5bn for losses from the 2018 fire and other blazes in 2017 blamed on its crumbling equipment. The California Public Utilities Commission fined it a further $1.9bn. The company says it has already made changes that will create a more reliable and safer electrical grid, although it still expects to rely on deliberate power outages during the next few years to minimise the risks of causing more fires. As part of a deal with California power regulators, PG&E will replace 11 of its 14 board members. CEO Johnson will step down on June 30. Despite PG&Es pledge, critics fear more danger looms during an upcoming wildfire season after an unusually dry winter in Northern California. Tuesdays hearing served as the first phase of Butte Countys retribution against PG&E. The judge has set aside time for survivors and those who lost loved ones and homes in the fire to address the court on Wednesday and perhaps beyond. The company will be sentenced on Thursday or Friday, but it will likely be just a formality, as the utility had already agreed to plea terms. Some readers may recall how earlier in this COVID-19 pandemic, a parachute analogy was deployed to caution local and state governments against reopening economies too fast. Those most eager to reopen countered that the curve had been flattened, hospital beds were readily available and deaths were less than projected. But that success was due to measures such as social distancing and the wearing of masks. COVID-19 never left. There still is neither treatment nor a vaccine. To stick with the analogy, to rush back into business as usual would be like jumping out of a plane with a parachute, and because it works and is slowing your descent, deciding, in midair, that you no longer need it. Texas was among the first states to loosen its stay-at-home orders when Gov. Greg Abbott announced a phased reopening May 1. We commended his measured approach but also worried it was too soon. Last Friday was the first day Texas restaurants could operate at 75 percent capacity. Also, last Friday, Texas reported 2,166 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, a record high. The record didnt last long. The next day, 2,242 new patients were hospitalized, but that number was topped Sunday with 2,287 more patients, which was exceeded Monday with an additional 2,326. Abbott has said hes concerned about these rising numbers but hes not alarmed. Is he concerned enough to make everyone wear a mask in public? One part of Abbotts decree to which we vociferously objected was that while he recommends the wearing of masks, he refuses to make them mandatory and has superseded the orders of local governments, such as San Antonio, which did. So, it was interesting to hear Abbott on Monday cite the number of young people in their 20s testing positive for COVID-19 and criticize them for wait for it not wearing masks. Theyre not wearing face masks, theyre not sanitizing their hands, theyre not maintaining the safe distancing practices, he said in an interview with multiple media outlets. They should be doing all these things, and maybe they would if Abbott would require masks. Last week, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff wrote Abbott a letter saying that while he supported the May 1 lifting of restrictions, he didnt agree with the governors decision to limit the authority of local jurisdictions to enforce mask orders. Wolff asserted the governors decision contributed to more people not wearing masks and asked Abbott to reconsider. Abbott responded: Judge Wolff and I have a philosophical difference. He believes in government mandates. I believe in personal responsibility. Every interview that Ive had on TV, I talk about the individual responsibility to wear a face guard to make sure that you dont either transmit COVID-19 or that you dont get it. Its up to every individual in the state to make sure that we slow the spread of COVID-19. Its also up to the highest-elected individual in the state to see that we slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a face guard, which hes now criticizing people for not doing. Will Abbott accept personal responsibility for the spike in COVID-19 cases in Texas? Its a spike that signals an extension of the first wave of COVID-19 not a second wave because the virus never left. We wonder about Abbotts philosophical difference with Wolff over mask requirements. Does he not believe in the government requiring a 1-year-old child be securely fastened in an infant car seat? Would he allow restaurants to operate at 100 percent capacity instead of his government-mandated 75 percent? Should wearing seat belts or having vehicle insurance be a personal decision? Last week, the current issue of PNAS, or Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, published a study, led by a Texas A&M professor, that found that not wearing a mask dramatically increases a persons chances of being infected by COVID-19. This confirms what we know. It confirms what Abbott knows. It shows that masks are necessary for reopening Texas economy. The governor should exercise his individual responsibility and use the power of his office to make wearing masks mandatory in Texas. Srinagar, June 16 : The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday quashed the detention of senior National Conference (NC) leader Ali Mohammad Sagar under the under Public Safety Act (PSA). The court had earlier reserved its judgment on a petition filed against Sagar's detention. NC Vice-President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shared the news on his Twitter handle: "I hope @MehboobaMufti's legal team take heart from today's judgement in the J&K High Court quashing Sagar Sb's PSA detention to pursue Ms Mufti's case in the Supreme Court with increased determination & vigour. She deserves to be freed without further loss of time." He hoped that the authorities would now set free two other politicians, Hilal Ahmad Lone of the NC and Nayeem Akhtar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). "Although Nayeem Sb & Hilal haven't challenged their detentions in court, I hope the authorities see the writing on the wall and realise their continued PSA detention is indefensible. The two must be released as must all the others under illegal house arrest," Omar said. Former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti continues to remain under detention under the PSA. Thirteen people, including children, were killed in air strikes in Yemens northern province of Saada, the rebels and medical sources said Tuesday, as international aid groups condemned the raids. Iran-backed Huthi rebels and Yemens internationally-recognised government supported by a Saudi-led military coalition have been at war since 2014, creating what the United Nations calls the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. The Huthis Al-Masirah TV said 13 people, including four children, were killed late Monday in coalition air strikes on their vehicle in the rebel stronghold of Saada. Medical sources confirmed to AFP that four children were among those killed. Were horrified to learn of the deaths of 13 civilians, including four children, today in Yemen, said the country director for Save the Children, Xavier Joubert. This comes on the heels of UN chief Antonio Guterress decision to remove the Saudi-led coalition from a list of groups violating childrens rights. The UNs newly-published annual report on children in conflict zones said the toll had fallen since an agreement signed in March 2019. Both the coalition and the rebels have been accused by the UN and rights groups of committing violations in Yemen that could amount to war crimes. Its a very sad irony that this attack happened on the day that the annual UN report on Children and Armed Conflict is coming out, said Joubert. Oxfam and other international organisations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), also condemned the raids. We condemn all violence by all parties to the conflict, said Muhsin Siddiquey, Oxfam country director in Yemen. Mohamed Abdi, NRCs country director, said an investigation must take place, and warring parties responsible for their deaths must be held accountable. The Saudi-led coalition, for its part, said it intercepted on Tuesday a ballistic missile launched by the rebels from Saada towards the border region of Najran. The launch came a day after the coalition destroyed a number of bomb-laden drones targeting the southern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. The coalition did not immediately respond to AFPs request for comment on the Saada air raids. The coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, shortly after the Huthis seized the capital Sanaa. Tens of thousands of people, many of them civilians, have since been killed. BP will make the biggest writedown in a decade on the value of its business, as the British oil major predicts the coronavirus pandemic will hurt long-term demand and accelerate the shift to cleaner energy. The company sees oil and gas being about 20% to 30% cheaper than before in the coming decades, and expects the cost of carbon emissions to be more than twice as high -- both threats to its longstanding dividend. BP is reviewing its projects against these new price assumptions, which could result in some oil discoveries being left in the ground. The risk of so-called stranded assets is just one of many challenges the industry faces as trends in energy consumption shift and policymakers pursue green targets. Under its new Chief Executive Officer Bernard Looney, BP has been quicker than many of its peers to acknowledge and plan for these changes. Yet moves toward a more sustainable future are bringing financial pain today, and investors are asking fundamental questions about the value of oil majors. BP will take non-cash impairment charges and write-offs in the second quarter, estimated to be in a range of $13 billion to $17.5 billion post-tax. That could increase gearing -- the ratio of net debt to equity -- toward 50%, by far the highest in the industry, said RBC analyst Biraj Borkhataria. "BP's balance sheet was stretched even without this impairment, and is likely to look even more stretched following it," Borkhataria said in a note. Shares of BP fell 3.9% to 310.35 pence as of 10:19 a.m. in London. "BP now sees the prospect of the pandemic having an enduring impact on the global economy, with the potential for weaker demand for energy for a sustained period," the company said in a statement on Monday. "The aftermath of the pandemic will accelerate the pace of transition to a lower carbon economy." In February, BP outlined its ambitions to become a "net-zero" company by 2050. The company acknowledged that production will decline in the long term, and said whatever is pumped in 2050 "will have to be de-carbonized." Peers including Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Total SA and Equinor ASA have also set out agendas for what's becoming an existential challenge for the oil industry. Two of those companies -- Shell and Equinor -- cut their dividends last quarter. A growing number of analysts expect BP to follow. "It does now look increasingly likely that BP will reduce the dividend alongside the second quarter results," Barclays said in a note. "With the shares trading on a 10% dividend yield, this already seems to be factored into the share price." BP's revised investment appraisal long-term price assumptions from 2021 to 2050 now average $55 a barrel for Brent crude, down from $70 previously, and $2.90 per million British thermal units for Henry Hub gas, compared with $4 before. It expects the cost of emitting a ton of carbon dioxide to be $100 in 2030, up from a previous assumption of $40. These new prices are "broadly in line" with the Paris climate goals, BP said. "This huge dent in BP's balance sheet suggests it has finally dawned on BP that the climate emergency is going to make oil worth less," Charlie Kronick, senior climate adviser for Greenpeace U.K., said in a statement. "BP must protect its workforce, and offer training to help people move into sustainable jobs in decommissioning and offshore wind." The company is scheduled to publish its second-quarter results on Aug. 4. Looney will give a more detailed road map for BP's transition to clean energy and net-zero emissions in September. A Sunnyside teenager was killed in a shooting that Houston police detectives called an "accident" Tuesday morning. The boy, 16, was playing a pick-up basketball game in the 4700 block of Clover Street when a small group went inside an apartment to cool off around 10:30 a.m. The teen had a handgun in his possession, and it somehow fired on" accident" while the group of teens were inside the home, according to Houston police detective Sgt. Mark Holbrook. DOG BITES: Houston ranks first in country for postal workers bitten by dogs The initial 911 caller told officers the boy accidentally shot himself, according to HPD spokesperson Kese Smith. Paramedics rushed him to nearby Memorial Herman Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Holbrook did not know who owned the gun. Officers who responded requested that homicide take a look at the case to determine if any foul play occurred, Smith said. What led to those officers' suspicion is unclear. Several witnesses were placed in the back of police cruisers, some with brown bags wrapped around both hands. They have since been released. No one will be criminally charged, Holbrook said. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com With Turkeys failure to ensure the security of the M4 highway, speculation about an assault by the Syrian government is increasing writes Al-Masdar. A high-level Syrian field source confirmed on Sunday that the additional deadline Russia granted to Turkey to open the international M4 highway in a peaceful manner has ended, noting that a massive amount of reinforcements have reached the Syrian armys frontlines. According to a field source close to Sputnik Arabic, The Syrian army sent a large number of military reinforcements to contact lines with armed terrorist groups in the Idleb countryside, pointing out that the Army is dealing with daily attacks by the jihadist forces there. The source pointed out that, the movements of the militants and their forces have been exposed by the monitoring units in the Syrian army, and we have dealt with them several times during the past week and we were able to destroy their equipment and armored vehicles that were preparing to attack our military sites in the Idleb countryside. We are involved in high-level coordination with the Russian side, which ended with the Turkish side, despite an additional deadline that ended today to open the international road (M4) in a peaceful way, but it seems that the Turks are not serious about dealing with this matter, and cannot control their groups. Regarding the possibility of a resumption of military action in the Idleb countryside soon, the source stressed that, this matter has become a reality, as the Syrian army will not remain on the defensive in the face of these almost daily repeated violations, and we are currently putting the finishing touches to the military action plan in coordination with allies on the ground The source revealed that, strategic areas should be under the control of the Syrian army in the next stage, including Jabal al-Zawiya in Idleb and the rest of the al-Ghab Plain in the Hama countryside. Regarding the date of the start of the military action, the source preferred not to give an exact date, but said it should be coming soon. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Cherokee Nation It is critical to build coalitions with African Americans to advance our issues and theirs. Former Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller, November 14, 2000 The Cherokee Nation First Lady and I recently watched with horror the footage of George Floyd, a black man, being killed by the vicious actions of Minneapolis police officers. We grieve for his family. We have watched with great interest as protestors across the country have spoken out against the injustice. We have watched with concern, as some of the protests have turned violent. More than anything, though, the events of the last two weeks have reminded us that the United States still has much work to do on the issue of justice for minorities in this country. We have watched all of this, and discussed this, with our daughter Jazzy. This is a country of high ideals, though at times it falls short of those ideals. The United States, through local criminal justice systems, visited injustice and injury upon our ancestors in the 19th century prior to our forced removal. In some parts of Indian Country, this is still true today. Today, far too many people responsible for fairly enforcing law and administering justice inflict injury and injustice on far too many black men and women. It is happening in this country. It is wrong, and it ought to change. People of good faith, compassion and a sense of justice given to them by the Creator ought to say it. Two Confederate monuments were lifted by crane and removed from the Cherokee Nation Capitol Square in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on June 13, 2020. Photo: Anadisgoi / Cherokee Nation We ought to do something about it, so that is why I am saying it. That is also, I suspect, why Chief Mankiller said it 20 years ago. I think Chief Mankiller would say the same if she were with us today. This country is also a nation founded, and shaped for the better, by dissent. Chief Mankiller, before she was Principal Chief, showed Cherokees the value and honor of protest of agitation and inflicting some discomfort on the comfortable to push for change when she protested for Native American rights in the 1960s. She stared down the federal government as she helped occupy Alcatraz Island to protest the historic dispossession of that land and other land from Native peoples. She also protested for womens rights. Chief Mankiller, as reflected in the quote above from 2000, believed Native Americans should be part of a larger struggle for civil rights. Chief Mankiller did all of this peacefully and thoughtfully, but also fiercely and therefore effectively. We are seeing many examples of that across the country today among those peacefully protesting. Finally, this is a country that includes shining examples of some of the best, brightest and most dedicated public servants filling the ranks of many police departments across the country. Many such departments are in our region, but none is better in this country than the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service. CNMS is a highly trained police and rescue force in whose hands I would put my own life. CNMS is made up of men and women whose professional judgment for fair treatment of people of any race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, national origin or any other characteristic and deep respect for peaceful public protest is a model for the country. When I think about how Cherokee Nation might contribute to the national dialogue on police reform, my first instinct is to invite policymakers across the country to spend some time with the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, a model for how law enforcement should be done. Of course, given the national stature of Marshal Shannon Buhl, the department is already doing that. Perhaps we should do more. I am open to ideas. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. watched as crews removed two Confederate monuments from the Cherokee Nation Capitol Square in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Both monuments were placed on the capitol square nearly a century ago when the property was owned by the state. The tribe did not place the monuments. Photo: Cherokee Nation No discussion of race and Cherokee Nation is complete, of course, without a frank acknowledgment of the status of the descendants of Freedmen. It took over 150 years for the descendants of black people enslaved under the laws of Cherokee Nation to secure citizenship promised them in the Treaty of 1866. They did so in 2017. Cherokee Nation has been a better nation for it ever since. Likewise, the United States will be a better nation with further racial healing. Cherokee Nation has a role in that healing process. The recent events have spurred the First Lady and I to have some deep and difficult conversations about race, justice and protest with our daughter Jazzy. Her interest and thoughtful questions on those subjects have been, as rough as the last several weeks have been, a silver lining for our family. Its also occasioned my reflection on the life and beliefs of Chief Mankiller on the subject of civil rights. I would love for Jazzy to grow up to be a Cherokee Chief. But, whether that happens or not, I hope shes every much a fighter for civil rights as Chief Mankiller, and I hope she grows up in a world where justice for black people increases and violence at the hands of law enforcement decreases until justice is finally served. If we follow Chief Mankillers example and wisdom, it is possible. Chuck Hoskin Jr. is the 18th elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the largest Indian tribe in the United States. He is only the second elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from Vinita, the first being Thomas Buffington, who served from 1899-1903. Prior to being elected Principal Chief, Hoskin served as the tribes Secretary of State. He also formerly served as a member of the Council of the Cherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years. Join the Conversation Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand have over the last week reported a decline in Covid-19 cases for the first time since May 1 when migrant workers left jobless by the Covid-19 pandemic started returning to their homes in larger numbers with the start of special trains for them. A bulk of the workers employed in better-off places like Maharashtra are from these four states. The return of the workers coincided with a spike in the number of infections in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand As many as 356 cases daily were reported in the second week of June in Uttar Pradesh, compared to 412 in the first week of the month. Over 500 cases were reported on Saturday and Sunday because of the results of the pending test reports. Otherwise, the rate of increase has gone down, said principal secretary (health and family welfare) Amit Mohan Prasad. Officials said the return of three million workers to Uttar Pradesh since mid-April caused a spike in Covid-19 cases in the state. Prasad said till June 14, there were 1.6 million migrant workers under home quarantine and only 1,455 of them had coronavirus symptoms. Samples of those who showed symptoms have been taken, he said. Bihar health secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh said the number of cases has increased but the rate of growth has slowed down. There was a 10.81% increase in the cases in the second week of June compared to about 12% in the first. The peak of returning migrant workers is over, said Singh, explaining the decrease. The number of cases in Bihar increased to 6,581 on June 15 from 3,923 on June 1. The railway ministry also reduced the number of special trains from June 15 because of a decrease in their demand. According to Bihar public relations department, around 2.1 million workers have returned to Bihar since May 1. Only 2,50,000 of them came in the first two weeks of June. Most of the migrant workers, who arrived by Shramik special trains to Bihar between May 3 and June 11, have completed their mandatory [14-day] quarantine period, said Anupam Kumar, Bihars public relations secretary. Anupam Kumar said only 6,082 workers were in quarantine centres as on Monday. He added they expect the cases to go down as very few workers are expected to return. Jharkhand has on average reported 50 cases daily after June 8 when it recorded the highest ever single-day spike with 187 infections. From 610 cases on May 31, the states tally on June 15 increased to 1,151. The inflow of migrants was very high in May leading to a huge backlog of untested samples. As we cleared the backlog, there was a spike in cases, said state health departments principal secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni. The inflow of migrants has substantially reduced... we have seen a downward trend of the Covid growth... The number of cases recorded in Madhya Pradesh fell from 1,424 in the last week of May to 1,401 in the second week of June. Officials said it is because only 54,282 workers have returned to the state in June compared to over 300,000 in May. ...49,280 are under home quarantined and remaining under institutional quarantined, said an official. (With inputs from Ranjan in Bhopal) En espanol | Since mid-March, when the coronavirus outbreak was declared a national emergency, employers across the nation have had to change how they do business. From the new safety practices designed to protect workers and customers of businesses like grocery stores to the work-from-home orders that many employers have mandated, doing your job during the pandemic has been anything but business as usual. But now that more companies are opening their offices once again, many older workers and people with underlying health conditions who are more susceptible to severe complications from COVID-19 are wondering whether it's safe to return. With guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many companies are starting to implement new practices to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Workplace safety experts say one key to protecting employees health will be open and ongoing communication between workers and their bosses. "One of the things that I think older workers need to be aware of is that they should not hesitate to ask questions of their employers, says Lawrence Sloan, CEO of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the organization for professions that focus on occupational health and safety. If you are returning to work for the first time in months, I think all employees have the right to ask their employers about understanding what the new workplace policies are that are going to be put into place." CDC guidelines for office buildings What those policies might look like is starting to come into clearer focus. The CDC recently released new guidance for what office buildings might do to deter the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The office recommendations include: Temperature and symptom checks when employees arrive at work Desks that are at least 6 feet apart or separated by plastic dividers when that's not possible Limits on how many people may be in an elevator at one time Improving the airflow through the office, either by opening windows or modifying the air-conditioning/heating system Closing off common areas to prevent workers from gathering Masks worn as much as possible Prohibiting handshakes, hugs and fist bumps, among other recommendations Right now, these office guidelines are not mandatory across the nation, with each state and employer left to decide whether to implement them in part or whole. "It's a real patchwork out there in the United States, says Debbie Berkowitz, worker health and safety director for the National Employment Law Project, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of workers. But if you're going to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the community, you have to make sure you're mitigating the spread of the disease in the workplace. You don't want people to get it at work and then spread it back out into the community." Some older workers worry There is evidence to suggest that older workers are concerned about coming back into the office. Qualtrics, a company that helps employers measure their workers satisfaction, in late April found that 7 in 10 people 55 and older were concerned about the possibility of returning to work. Tensions between North Korea and South Korea increased Tuesday after Pyongyang threatened to move forces into the demilitarized zone between the two countries and blew up their joint liaison office in the North Korean city of Kaesong. "I feel it is high time to surely break with the South Korean authorities," said Kim Yo Jong, the increasingly influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to the BBC. South Korea on Tuesday confirmed that Pyongyang was responsible for the office's dramatic demolition, with Kim You-geun, first deputy chief of Seoul's National Security Council saying it "betrayed the hopes of peace on the Korean Peninsula." - - - How substantial is this escalation? The now-demolished liaison office was opened in 2018 after a historic summit between South Korean leader Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un. "From today, South and North Korea can hold face-to-face discussions 24 hours a day and every day of the year on matters concerning improving inter-Korean ties and promoting peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula," South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said at the time. Closed over coronavirus concerns since January, it served as a de facto embassy between the two countries, which are technically still at war despite a 1953 armistice. After 2018, relations seemed to improve, with plans to sign a formal peace treaty. The countries even discussed a bid to host the 2032 Olympics together. The liaison office was a key element in their plan to broaden cooperation and remained a symbol for those efforts until Tuesday. - - - What's behind the rising tensions? The escalation comes amid plans by North Korean defectors living in South Korea to drop propaganda material in the North. Similar leaflet campaigns in the past have contained anti-Kim messages and were a source of strain, along other moves perceived by Pyongyang as provocations, such as joint South Korean-U. S. military exercises. But the leaflet drops are not being organized by South Korean officials - who in fact have condemned the plans - prompting analysts to argue that the North Korean escalation is the result of broader strain. North Korea may primarily be seeking to exert pressure on South Korea and the United States amid stalled negotiations over North Korean sanctions relief in return for denuclearization progress. The North has long perused a strategy in which it seems ready to strike a detente, only to return to a more aggressive posture. - - - Why have denuclearization talks stalled? Almost exactly two years ago, a historic meeting between President Donald Trump and Kim in Singapore sparked hopes that North Korea could denuclearize. But those initial hopes proved to be premature. Amid stalled negotiations, North Korea last year imposed a deadline, threatening that the fate of the talks was in the hands of the United States and suggesting that Pyongyang would not make further concessions. Pyongyang's deadline passed last year after U.S. officials rejected it as arbitrary. In response, North Korea has stepped up provocations over the first half of 2020. Last week, North Korea said it would cut hotlines with the South. Disagreement between the United States and North Korea largely has centered on the degree to which Washington would be willing to lift sanctions in return for denuclearization moves. Last spring, Pyongyang offered to close its Yongbyon nuclear complex, but the United States rejected demands to drop key U.N. sanctions resolutions in return, saying North Korea had to do more to expect such a move. The Reuters news agency reported last year that U.S. officials have pushed for a "complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization" by North Korea. The stalled talks have prevented previously agreed-upon South and North Korean projects from beginning or resuming, including new infrastructure links. - - - What is behind the rise of Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong? The latest escalation followed months of speculation over Kim's younger sister Kim Yo Jong, who has taken on a more public role in the regime. On Saturday, she threatened destruction of the liaison office and called it "useless." Her growth in visibility sparked speculation over the North Korean leader's health in April. Kim Jong Un reemerged in early May, disproving theories that he was dead or incapacitated. But the rumors highlighted a power vacuum that could emerge if the leader were incapacitated. Kim Yo Jong's public profile in North Korea's tightly controlled propaganda media outlets has been welcomed by some in South Korea who have hopes for closer ties. Amid escalating U.S.-North Korean tensions, Kim Yo Jong traveled to South Korea in 2018 to attend the Winter Olympics in an apparent North Korean effort at the time to drive a wedge between the White House and the government in Seoul. But others cautioned that her initial charm campaign may not last and that it is unlikely to result in rapprochement. Tuesday's escalation boosted skepticism that she could come to serve as a moderating force. - - - Could the escalation lead to another Trump-Kim summit? Chances of another summit between the two leaders appear to be slim at this point, given threats by North Korea's Foreign Ministry last year that "the fate of the future DPRK-U.S. dialogue depends on the U.S. attitude." - - - The Washington Post's Min Joo Kim in Seoul and Simon Denyer in Tokyo contributed to this story. NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Illusive Networks, the leader in deception-based cyber defense solutions, is introducing new on-demand forensics capabilities as part of its continued efforts to streamline security operations. Security operations center (SOC) teams today are grappling with massive increases in alerts due to COVID-19 work-from-home initiatives and aggressive increases in state-sponsored and organized criminal attacks. Incident response teams waste valuable hours sifting through multiple tools and systems, looking for the contextual data needed to validate escalation. Illusive's precision, real-time forensics reduce response time by up to 90% and enable SOC teams to increase focus on broader correlation, analysis, and eradication efforts. Using Illusive Networks' Forensics On Demand solution, SOC teams can reclaim a vast chunk of the expensive time and effort lost to manual activities typical in the processes of triage, ticket enrichment, investigation and validationwhile becoming more proactive and efficient in incident response. With Illusive's agentless technology, incident response teams especially tier 2 analysts charged with investigating whether an incident merits further action can initiate forensics collection on any targeted machine at any time. In mere seconds, Illusive returns precise intelligence that typically would require hours of manual intervention and analysis to compile. Security teams also gain essential decision-making context needed to prioritize alerts. A wealth of forensic data collected directly from where the attacker is operating offers knowledge of where in the network the attacker is lurking and how far they are from privileged credentials. One multinational energy company was able to significantly cut investigation time and obtain a complete timeline of each incident's progress leveraging Forensics On Demand. Read more here: https://go.illusivenetworks.com/energy-company-case-study The Illusive Platform provides a rich timeline of artifacts, reveals misconfigurations and vulnerabilities, detects infiltration, and discovers real-time connections. Forensic intelligence can be gleaned from any system-generated security event, including other cybersecurity solutions, such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM). Illusive's comprehensive forensic API allows easy integration with Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) systems and customized workflows. With rich, detailed forensics from any machine at the SOC's fingertips, incident response teams have the flexibility to save time and money by reducing the number of agents needed to investigate attacks. This increases the volume of events they are able to effectively investigate, and minimizes the burnout that comes with chasing a large amount of false positives. Ofer Israeli, CEO, Illusive Networks, said: "Cybersecurity solutions rely on constantly aggregating data which results in a prodigious number of alerts, causing analysts to become overloaded. By allowing analysts to retrieve forensics on demand from any machine at any time, we've removed the need to waste time sifting through the noise. The Illusive Platform produces fewer, more accurate alerts, enabling organizations to focus on higher priority investigations, reduce SOC burnout and ultimately lower the overhead associated with effective threat detection." For more information, read the feature brief here: https://www.illusivenetworks.com/soc-efficiency/ About Illusive Networks Illusive Networks uses next-generation deception technology to stop cyber-attacks by paralyzing attackers, destroying their ability to make decisions, and depriving them of the means to move sideways towards attack targets. Illusive's inescapable deception and attack surface reduction capabilities eliminate high-risk pathways to critical systems, force attackers to reveal themselves early in the threat lifecycle, and capture real-time forensics that accelerate incident response. Built on agentless, advanced automation, and requiring very little security team support, Illusive immediately shifts the advantage to defenders, freeing precious resources from the complicated and data-heavy approaches that overloaded them in the past. For more information, visit www.illusivenetworks.com , contact us at [email protected] or follow on LinkedIn , @Illusivenw on Twitter and Facebook . Media Contact: Corey Eldridge 1-831-440-2414 [email protected] SOURCE Illusive Networks Related Links http://www.illusivenetworks.com MIDDLETOWN Leaders and staff of the local YMCA are geared up and ready to welcome guests back Monday with safety procedures in place and limited or modified services to prevent spreading of coronavirus. During phase two of Gov. Ned Lamonts plan, he is allowing gyms, pools and other activity centers to open their doors Wednesday, however, the Middlesex YMCA and other locations in the area set their reopening date as June 22. That allows staff to align procedures with nearby states, such as Rhode Island, to maintain continuity, said Heather Chandor, vice president of operations. Following the decision to resume fitness classes until at least the next couple weeks at the 99 Union St. location, the Y will continue its online classes, as well as conducting others at YMCA Camp Ingersoll in Portland, where there are acres of outside space. Members can access these on the website and mobile app, Chandor said. There will be a number of hour-long slots throughout the day, and reservations are required. The same is true of the larger pool, where members will sign up to swim in one of six lanes. One person will be allowed in each roped-off area to adhere to safety guidelines. Many other YMCAs across the country are saying their swimmers love the reservation system and hope it will continue, said communications coordinator Linda Heinhorn. It is really the only way that we can ensure to control the amount of folks in our building, and in our spaces, to make sure were sticking to social distancing rules, Chandor said. Those entering the Y will be required to wear a mask before swimming or using the equipment. They can remove them once they begin activities, except in the strengthening and weights area, Chandor said. After each hour, staff will disinfect the areas for 15 minutes. We want to make sure we can get those high-traffic areas door handles, that kind of stuff to ensure thats clean, she said. We are doing the very best that we can to make it feel as comfortable and safe as possible for our members and staff, Y President Michele Rulnik said. We want to make people feel welcome, and like theyre home again, but theyre going to have to accept that their home looks a little bit different. Were eager to get people back in the building, even if we have to see them from 6 feet apart and with a mask on, she said. Cardio machines are now 12 feet apart. Its a much larger, complex task to open a facility of our size, with so many different areas, Heinhorn said. There are, for instance, a number of stairwells and multiple entrances all over the YMCA, which was built in 1929. An added challenge is making sure children in the preschool and campers in the summer enrichment programs dont come in contact with members in some of these very small rooms. This has affected everything from operations to staff training to programming. It really has hit every level, Chandor said. Feedback as a result of a member survey showed patrons were all over the spectrum in terms of feeling comfortable about coming back, including seniors. Chandor predicts 25 percent will come back initially, and within a few weeks, others may join them. We have some of the healthiest 70- and 80-year-olds in the world working out at the Y, who are healthier than many of our younger people, Heinhorn said. Weve got some strong, healthy older members who may be coming back sooner than we expected. Theyre amazing. Theyre my role models, Rulnik said. Every time I dont want to work out after a long day, I think about them. I was following one of them up the stairs, huffing and puffing. Theyre jogging and doing jumping jacks at the top of the stairs, Heinhorn said with a laugh. I have extra energy the last couple days, because there are more people around. I dont feel so isolated in my office, Rulnik said. You can see people start to relax and light up now. Theyre back, and theyre ready to see people they havent in a long time. The biggest challenge presently is keeping the faith that things will go well, Rulnik said. Some Ys across the country may be forced to close permanently for lack of funding. Fortunately, the Middletown Y has a strong rainy day fund, although it was intended for maintenance and other upgrades. Spaces, with lots of small rooms in close quarters, and a number of hallways, arent easily adaptable, Heinhorn said. This grand, beautiful old building was built really, really well, but it was not built to be easily renovated to address more modern needs, Rulnik said. Staff spirits will be high, Heinhorn said. One of the things that makes us unique is this national Y connection and the focus on our core values. A listen-first mentality has been emphasized during reopening training: having the staff ready to respond to a wide range of emotions when members return, Heinhorn said. Were ready to respond with empathy, compassion and positivity. For information, visit midymca.org or middlesexymca on Facebook, or call 860-347-6907. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Picture an employee who tries and fails to commit suicide by self-immolation and is subsequently fired. He sues for discrimination, claiming that he tried to kill himself because of the hostile racial atmosphere in the workplace. Has he a leg to stand on? The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, in a case called Fernandez v. Trees Inc., recently ruled that the answer is yes. Given both the difficulty of winning hostile environment lawsuits and the recent, widespread admissions by business leaders that they have a lot to learn about race, the decision is worth a closer look. Lets begin with the facts. Cuban-born Alexis Fernandez worked for a tree-trimming company. According to the courts summary, Fernandezs supervisor had a physical altercation with another employee, also Cuban, after which the boss began on a near-daily basis to make derogatory comments about Cubans, including a promise that none would ever be hired again.(1) Despite employee complaints, the boss continued his stream of insults, some of them vulgar. Two months after the altercation the following incident occurred: Fernandez attempted to commit suicide at the job site by dousing himself with gasoline and reaching for a lighter; a coworker tackled him before he succeeded. Fernandez was subsequently terminated. His lawsuit claiming a hostile environment was dismissed by the trial court largely on the ground that he had failed to show that the harassment was sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the terms and conditions of employment and create a discriminatorily abusive working environment. The resolution of that question turned in part on whether his suicide attempt was related to his bosss insults. The court of appeals admitted that the evidence was weak on this point but nevertheless sent the case back to the trial court to let Fernandez put his claim before a jury. Believe it or not, thats an unusual result. Although theres been talk since Ronald Reagan was in the White House that litigation alleging what the courts often call a discriminatorily abusive working environment will eventually deluge workplaces, the flood has never happened because the wall is so high. These lawsuits are dismissed unless the plaintiff can meet a series of precise and difficult tests. The Supreme Court long ago created high standards for what plaintiffs must prove and also carved out broad safe harbors for employers unaware of the harassment.(2) Story continues Lower federal courts have added further layers of difficulty. A glance at a trio of recently decided cases shows the height of the wall that judges have constructed to prevent the predicted flood of hostile environment claims. On June 9, a federal court in Michigan dismissed a hostile atmosphere complaint by an employee who complained of teasing by coworkers about her breast size. This might seem to the casual reader an easy and obvious win for the plaintiff, but it isnt. Here, the teasing was mainly by female coworkers. Therefore, wrote the court, a female employee cannot prevail unless she alleges that the harassers are homosexual, that they have a general hostility to women in the workplace, or that they treat men more favorably. Similarly, on June 1, a federal court in New York no hotbed of judicial conservatism! dismissed a hostile environment suit by a city police lieutenant who claimed among other things that he had been in effect demoted by a series of transfers to less prestigious assignments, such as from the unit that protects the mayor of New York to (truly) the Trump Tower Protection Unit. The lieutenant, who was Hispanic, also claimed that some lower-ranking non-Hispanics in his unit were given better positions. The trouble was, he failed to allege any ridicule or insult accompanying the transfers, and, with respect to the most recent transfer, did not in the courts judgment adequately plead discrimination. And back in May, another federal court dismissed a complaint by a former assistant manager of a Dollar Tree store in Brooklyn who had been fired for allegedly inappropriately touching a subordinate. The fired assistant manager sued, claiming that the true reason for his dismissal was racial discrimination. Among other things, he alleged a hostile environment in the store. Coworkers insulted and abused him, he alleged, because he was black and born in the U.S. whereas the others, although also black, were from the islands mainly Jamaica. But none of those workers were involved in the decision to fire him. Moreover, even though the court exercised an extra measure of caution because direct evidence of discrimination is rare, it was unable to find evidence that the managers race or national origin played a role in the insult or the termination. Thats what I mean by hard to win. And despite what one might have expected, not even the advent of the #MeToo movement seems to have had much effect on this trend. True, studies of lawsuit outcomes are colored by the likelihood that a defendant with a good chance of losing will settle; there must be some cases where the plaintiff gets paid without going to trial. Moreover, an unknown number of such cases are handled administratively. Still, the 11th Circuits action remains noteworthy. Fernandez is a small case, but the outcome suggests that if judges are little more lenient in letting such suits go forward, we might discover that the problem of a hostile environment is more pervasive than critics like to think. (1) Because the suit was dismissed by the trial court, the court of appeals proceeds by reading the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. This recitation of facts is from the 11th Circuits opinion, with this proviso in mind. (2) In particular, plaintiffs must prove that the harassment is severe and pervasive, and employers are not liable if they have systems in place to report incidents and the employee doesnt use them.Empirical studies, however, have found that victims of at least sexual harassment are unlikely to use or trust the employers internal systems.(See pages 127-128 of this book.) This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Stephen L. Carter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of law at Yale University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. His novels include The Emperor of Ocean Park, and his latest nonfiction book is Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America's Most Powerful Mobster. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. The U.N. to Host Special Session Next Week to Investigate Police Brutality in America The U.N. will be examining systemic racism and police brutality in the U.S. in the upcoming weeks. The Human Rights Council, an inter-government system with 47 members, said on Monday that it will be looking into the deaths of black people in America and the treatment of the cases in the justice system. This comes after a number of African nations called for the U.N. to investigate this epidemic of police brutality. Structural racism and police violence are issues, which are commonly raised by states and civil society at meetings of the council, as are unlawful killings by police and racial bias in policing. And, the aim, of course, is to prevent such abhorrent acts. U.N. human rights spokesman Rolando Gomez told Voice of America. ADVERTISEMENT Burkina Faso led the request on behalf of the 54 other African nations. They pointed out specifically the case of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes while other officers stood to the side. This sparked weeks of continuous protests worldwide. The tragic events of 25 May in Minneapolis that led to the death of George Floyd led to protests around the world in protest of injustice and police brutality that persons of African descent face on a daily basis in many regions of the world. The death of George Floyd is unfortunately not an isolated incident. Many other cases of persons of African descent having faced the same fate because of their origin and police violence exist. Dieudonne W. Desire Sougouri, Burkina Fasos ambassador to the U.N., said in the formal urgent debate request. Separately, the outrage of Floyds death and the epidemic of police brutality and systemic racism lead to protests and calls for action. The Human Rights Council noted that 600 activist groups and victims relatives had called last week for a special session. And, a group of U.N. leaders, including World Health Organization Head Tedros Ghebreyesus, signed a statement calling for world leaders for action. The statement read: We owe it to George Floyd and to all victims of racial discrimination and police brutality to dismantle racist institutions. As leaders in the multilateral system, we believe it is incumbent upon us to speak for those whose voices have been silenced, and advocate for effective responses that would contribute to fight systemic racism, a global scourge that has been perpetuated over centuries. In early 2018, the U.S. withdrew from the U.N.s Human Rights Council. Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said that the U.S. could not be a part of a U.N. body that was a protector of human rights abusers, and a cesspool of political bias. Header image courtesy of Aotearoa via WikiCommons. More from BUST Ditch Your White Savior Complex: 10 More Documentaries To Watch About Racism Instead Of The Help Supreme Court Provides Historic Win For LGBTQ+ Community On Employment Discrimination 12 Books By Black Women Authors To Add To Your To-Read List Georgia is a journalism student at The New School in Manhattan who loves writing, watching cartoons and intersectional feminism. She is an avid napper and cat lover. Because she is behind on the times, follow her only recently made twitter @georgiagrdodd. W earing face masks helps significantly reduce airborne transmission of coronavirus to other people in cities, research has found. Scientists at Texas A&M University examined the person-to-person spread of Covid-19 as part of a study into preventative procedures and trends in New York City, Italy and the pandemic's epicentre of Wuhan in China. Researchers found that wearing a mask was key to preventing infected droplets reaching healthy people, and also those with the virus from spreading it. The study - titled Identifying airborne transmissions as the dominant route for the spread of Covid-19 - was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Graph from the study shows difference of virus spread in New York after face mask rules were introduced, versus rest of US (Texas A&M University) / Texas A&M University Airborne transmission between people occurs through droplets in coughs and sneezes, and even talking. In New York City, scientists calculated the number of infections was reduced by more than 66,000 over about three weeks, or around three per cent daily, in April - after face masks became a mandatory - following stay-at-home and social distancing orders. New Yorkers have been told they must wear a face covering when outside their home if they cannot maintain at least six feet from others. But in the rest of the US infections continued to rise over the same period, research data shows. Further examination of the infection rates in northern Italy earlier that month, the former European centre of the outbreak, found infections had been reduced by more than 78,000 over a month as people were mandated to wear masks in shops and on public transport. In London, more than 3,000 extra British Transport Police officers and railways staff have been deployed to ensure travellers on public transport obey new rules to wear masks that were brought in only this week. Passengers can be fined 100 or refused access to public transport for non-compliance. The true total of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK is believed to have passed 53,000 - far higher than Department of Health data shows - according to the Office for National Statistics. Staff at Clapham Junction are among 3,000 workers and police officers trying to ensure Londoners stick to the face mask rules / Daniel Hambury Lead study author Renyi Zhang, distinguished professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M, said that in China mandated face-coverings helped manage the outbreak as people were already used to wearing masks in the battle to protect themselves against air pollution. He said: Our results clearly show that airborne transmission via respiratory aerosols represents the dominant route for the spread of Covid-19. "By analysing the pandemic trends without face-covering using the statistical method and by projecting the trend, we calculated that over 66,000 infections were prevented by using a face mask in little over a month in New York City. We conclude that wearing a face mask in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent inter-human transmission. "This inexpensive practice, in conjunction with social distancing and other procedures, is the most likely opportunity to stop the Covid-19 pandemic. Mumbai, June 16 : Veteran actor Dalip Tahil has featured in an international hort film to celebrate Bloomsday, which commemorates and celebrates the life of Irish writer James Joyce. Titled "A New Day Will Be", the short film uses Joyce's timeless words to create a contemporary take on "Ulysses" with performers from more than 40 locations. "We are going through some very testing times. The short film is a poetic narration of all of humanity's sentiment about this phase of our lives," said Dalip. "From silence, isolation, the desire for human touch and the quest for a vaccine, through remembrance and resilience, to hope, love and finally affirmation, the film tries to capture the emotions of people across borders. I am happy to have been part of this project," he added. Apart from Dalip, the performers also include actors Olwen Fouere and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, former US Democratic Presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg and Beto O'Rourke, and novelist Colum McCann. The original score is composed and performed by Caoimhin O Raghallaigh. Meanwhile, Dalip alsolent his voice in an spiritual album titled "Guru Naam", which commemorated the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. [June 16, 2020] ABBYY Open-Sources NeoML, Machine Learning Library to Develop Artificial Intelligence Solutions ABBYY, a Digital Intelligence company, today announced the launch of NeoML, an open-source library for building, training, and deploying machine learning models. Available now on GitHub, NeoML supports both deep learning and traditional machine learning algorithms. The cross-platform framework is optimized for applications that run in cloud environments, on desktop and mobile devices. Compared to a popular open-source library, NeoML offers 15-20% faster performance for pre-trained image processing models running on any device.* The combination of higher inference speed with platform-independence makes the library ideal for mobile solutions that require both seamless customer experience and on-device data processing. As open source becomes a staple in the development of mission-critical software, with 95% of IT leaders asserting that it is strategically important, ABBYY aims to support advancements in artificial intelligence by open-sourcing its machine learning framework. Developers can use NeoML to build, train, and deploy models for object identification, classification, semantic segmentation, verification, and predictive modeling, in order to achieve various business goals. For instance, banks can develop models to manage credit risk and predict customer churn, telecom companies - to analyze the performance of marketing campaigns, retail and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) - to build remote client identification with face recognition and data verification. One of the key advantages of the framework is its dramatically more efficient use of available cloud resources. NeoML is designed as a universal tool to process and analyze data in a variety of formats including text, image, video, and others.It supports ??C++, Java, and Objective-C programming languages; Python will be added shortly. NeoML's neural network models support over 100 layer types. It also offers 20+ traditional ML algorithms such as classification, regression, and clustering frameworks. The library is fully cross-platform - a single code base that can be run on all popular operating systems including Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android (News - Alert) - and optimized for both CPU and GPU processors. "The launch of NeoML reflects our commitment to contribute to industry-wide AI innovation," said Ivan Yamshchikov, AI Evangelist at ABBYY. "ABBYY has a proven track record of technological innovation with over 400 patents and patent applications. Sharing our framework allows developers to leverage its inference speed, cross-platform capabilities, and especially its potential on mobile devices, while their feedback and contribution will grow and improve the library. We are thrilled to promote advancements in AI and support machine learning being applied to increasingly high-value and impactful use cases." NeoML supports the Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX), a global open ecosystem for interoperable ML models, which improves compatibility of tools making it easier for developers to use the right combinations to achieve their goals. The ONNX standard is supported jointly by Microsoft, Facebook (News - Alert), and other partners as an open source project. ABBYY invites developers, data scientists, and business analysts to use and contribute to NeoML on GitHub, where its code is licensed under the Apache License 2.0. The company offers personalized developer support, ongoing review of reports, regular updates, and performance enhancements. Going forward, ABBYY plans to add new algorithms and architectures, as well as further increase the speeds achievable using the framework algorithms. To learn more about NeoML, please visit: https://github.com/neoml-lib To learn more about ABBYY's Digital Intelligence solutions, please visit: https://www.abbyy.com/ *According to internal tests. About ABBYY ABBYY is a Digital Intelligence company. We provide a Digital Intelligence platform that delivers a complete understanding of business processes and raises organizations' Digital IQ. Our technologies are used by Fortune 500 companies in finance, insurance, transportation, healthcare and other industries helping them make intelligent business decisions. ABBYY is a global company with offices in 13 countries. For more information, please visit www.abbyy.com/company. ABBYY and the ABBYY Logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ABBYY Software Ltd. Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners and are hereby recognized. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005112/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Rotunda Rumblings Keep it civil: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that LGBTQ people are covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which will affect some 500,000 Ohioans. Now that gay and transgender people have more protections from discrimination in the workplace, Laura Hancock looked into why advocates continue to push for the Ohio Fairness Act. Work more: Julie Washington spoke with LGBTQ civil rights organizations in Northeast Ohio, who had mixed reactions to the ruling -- one arguing that the Title VII protections already existed for the community to others saying they are excited about the decision. All of them said they will continue to work for more rights. Deaths increase: The Ohio Department of Health reported 16 more Ohioans have died with the coronavirus, for a total of 2,573, Hancock reports. Trends hold steady: Mondays report on coronavirus cases in Ohio showed the death total increased 6.5% in the last week, while the case total was up 7.1%. Unlike some other states, Ohio is not seeing a spike, according to the latest numbers, reports Rich Exner. The rolling seven-day averages for both cases and deaths have generally been flat over the last week, though up slightly after hitting two-month lows toward the end of last week. Scratching the surface: State Sen. Bill Coley, a key Republican lawmaker on gambling policy issues, thinks the Ohio Lottery could do more to try to off-set school funding cuts amid the coronavirus crisis. Coley told Andrew Tobias the state lottery could use promotions and other ways to make more money. A lottery spokeswoman said the agency is happy to continue conversations with the legislature and the governors office. Educating Congress: Cleveland schools CEO Eric Gordon on Monday testified at a U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor hearing on how the coronavirus has affected public education. This crisis has created an opportunity to create a much more personalized system of learning that takes advantage of both remote and in-school learning to provide a more customized learning experience for our students, Gordon told the committee. Remember this guy? A man who was identified as carrying an anti-Semitic sign at a Columbus coronavirus protest in April has been slapped with federal weapons charges, John Caniglia reports. Not so fast: GM might not be able to zoom out of Ohio without repaying $60 million in subsidies given for the now-shuttered Chevy Cruze plant in Lordstown, state officials say. The clawback, which the automaker is fighting, would be one of the biggest in U.S. economic development history, writes Dan OBrien, in a piece for ProPublica and The Business Journal in Youngstown. A fair amount: The Ohio Controlling Board on Monday approved spending $4.7 million to help county and independent fairs operate this year while trying to protect against spreading the coronavirus. Each fair that offers a junior fair can get up to $50,000 to help cover coronavirus-related costs, while those without a junior fair can get up to $15,000 to be used on next years fair, according to Senate President Larry Obhof. Voting voices: Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRoses bipartisan November election task force is scheduled to meet again today at 10 a.m. In counter programming, elected Democrats from around the state will hold a virtual press conference at the same time to push for reforms to prepare for the November election. Among the Democrats participating in that call are Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval and Portage County Commissioner Kathleen Clyde. Market conditioning: Eight economists, engineers, public policy analysts and former policymakers sent a letter to the governors of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia warning that a proposed petrochemical plant on the banks of the Ohio River in Belmont County wont produce the jobs and economic activity hoped for, due to the current plastics market, the Dispatchs Beth Burger reports. JobsOhio has spent $70 million trying to lure two Asian chemical companies to build it. Schools suing: A dozen Ohio Horizon Science Academies are suing the state, including institutions in Cleveland and Columbus. Officials at the charter schools believe the Department of Education wrongfully denied the schools grant requests using criteria not stated in the grant application. The lawsuit claims the applications were denied because the company that Horizon Science Academies contracts with, Concept, did not appropriately register with the state, Emily Bamforth reports. Hunger during the pandemic: The food insecurity rate is now 23% in Ohio, up from recent months, thanks to the job losses during the pandemic, the Dispatchs Cathy Candisky reports. Food bank advocates would like to see Congress increase SNAP benefits. Life is funny: New research from Ohio State University has found politicians who are trying to be funny should maybe reconsider. Researchers tested political messaging from fictitious candidates using both standard language and inserting puns. The fake politicos with puns inserted in their messaging were taken less seriously. Full Disclosure Five things we learned from state Rep. Michelle Lepore-Hagans Feb. 18 financial disclosure. Lepore-Hagan is a Democrat from Youngstown. 1. She didnt report other employment outside the Ohio House, where she earned $$50,000 to $99,999 last year. 2. The Ohio House reimbursed Leopre-Hagan $5,008 for mileage between home and Columbus. 3. She has a pension with the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, a mutual fund with Ohio Deferred Compensation and stock from a 401(k). 4. At one point last year she owed more than $1,000 each to the Associated School Employees Credit Union, PNC Visa and TJ Maxx. 5. She didnt report receiving any free meals or beverages or gifts. On the Move State Rep. Emilia Sykes, the Ohio House Democrats leader, has been nominated for the Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award, given by EMILYs List, an organization that supports pro-abortion rights Democratic women. Five other female state lawmakers from across the U.S. have also been nominated, and the winner is chosen with online voting. Anthony Spaetzel, a staffer for the House Republican Campaign Committee, has been named campaign manager for state Rep. Dave Greenspans re-election bid. Birthdays Scott Stockman, Ohio Senate Democrats legal counsel Straight From The Source Listen Hellboy. You talk good game when youve got Hollywood makeup & stuntmen. But Ill bet $10kto the nonpolitical charity of your choicethat you couldnt last 5 min in the wrestling ring w/ @Jim_Jordan w/o getting pinned. You up for it? Or does your publicist say too risky? - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, challenging Hellboy actor Ron Perlman after Perlman tweeted that U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida was lucky because if it werent for Jordan, he would be the ugliest politician walking. Perlman counter-offered: Ill give 50k to Black Lives Matter and you can keep all the tax payer money you were thinking of spending. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. I was last in India in November. Back then, my meetings were about subjects such as financial services, rural poverty, and philanthropy. No one even mentioned the word pandemic. Just six months on, there is now talk of little else, with the world rocked by a disease, causing human, economic, and social misery on a scale most of us have not experienced in our lifetimes. As Bill Gates shared with Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Indias response to Covid-19 to date is encouraging. The actions taken so far have kept the loss of life and livelihoods well below those experienced in countries in Europe and the United States (US). Our foundation is supporting this national response with technical assistance, digital tools, training for health care workers, and other programmes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. But like every other country in the world, Indias weapons against the virus are mainly limited to measures such as physical distancing, closing shops, stay-at-home orders, and suspending travel. Thats because there are no drugs to treat the disease, and no vaccine to stop people catching it in the first place. The good news is that India is also responding to this global challenge. And the genius of its scientists, inventors and engineers,the capacity of its drug-manufacturers, its ability to meet the highest safety standards for medicines, and culture of collaboration put it at the forefront of the race to rescue the world from this pandemic. Ultimately, beating Covid-19 will take innovation to get the solutions we need; equity to ensure they are affordable, available and accessible to everyone who needs them; and global cooperation because this is a challenge too immense for one country or one company to go it alone. Just consider what India has already accomplished on these fronts, and its clear that this is its moment to lead. When it comes to innovation, India is already a significant player in global health research and development. Thanks to vaccines developed by Indian companies, including Serum Institute, BioE, and Bharat Biotech,who our foundation has partnered with, fewer children around the world than ever before are dying from diseases such as measles, pneumonia and rotavirus. This expertise gives Indias vaccines industry a significant advantage in developing cost-effective, quality-assured vaccines as it turns its attention to Covid-19. Today, Indian companies have 30 potential vaccines in their pipelines, with several of the most promising backed by government funding. Our foundation is partnering with the department of biotechnology, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to provide insights from our global research and development work that might inform Indias vaccine development efforts. And its not just vaccines. India already manufactures many anti-viral drugs that could be re-purposed and scaled-up for use in mild cases of Covid-19. Our foundation is also working with Indian pharma companies to look at the potential of transferring production techniques for drugs created by US pharmaceutical giants to Indian plants for manufacturing and global supply. Then there is the issue of equity. With an ability to not only develop vaccines and medicines but a proven track record to manufacture them to a high standard, in high volumes and at low cost, India is critical to saving millions of lives in the poorest countries. Beyond vaccines and treatment, India can offer unique solutions for the world. For example, the rapid development and deployment of affordable diagnostics and medical devices from basic test kits to ventilators and high-end medical equipment that are particularly suited for use in rural and remote villages with no electricity or regular power supply. There is also a clear role for advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence to enhance diagnosis and contact tracing. Indian start-ups have been successfully piloting such efforts for a while, and these technologies could be crucial for frontline workers, especially where there is an acute shortage of doctors, radiologists, and other specialists. Finally, on global collaboration, India has seen excellent results through cooperation with several international organisations, private companies, public sector research institutes, and academia. The rotavirus vaccine, ROTAVAC, for example, is a joint venture involving the Indian government, Bharat Biotech, the international non-profit PATH, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and others. If there is a breakthrough in the global efforts on Covid-19 research and development, Indian manufacturers have demonstrated the collaboration necessary to manufacture large quantities of cost-effective vaccines to deliver to a waiting world. India along with our foundation is also a founding-member of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI), which is overseeing a global effort towards a Covid-19 vaccine. And the country also has a role to play with multilateral endeavours which are critical to consign this virus to the history books. The time is right for India to play a leading role in the fight against Covid-19. It has all the capability and capacity needed to do it. And as someone who has seen its remarkable transformation over more than a decade, I am more convinced than anyone of Indias strengths and potential. Now we need to make full use of them.The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation stands ready as a partner to help India find a global solution to this global crisis. Mark Suzman is chief executive officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation The views expressed are personal Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 22:24:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANGZHOU, June 16 (Xinhua) -- In 2007, Jin Yuepin made a life-changing decision. He came back to the county of Qingtian in east China's Zhejiang Province, after spending 28 years in France. "When I came back in 2007, I was shocked by the vast, desolate fields in my village and decided to do something," said Jin. Jin and some other overseas returnees started wading into the water in the Chinese market by cultivating the Qingtian field-grown carp in the idle farmlands. Raising carp in the fields is a tradition that has more than 1,200 years of history in Qingtian. In the past, local farmers in Qingtian put baby carp in the rice fields, where bugs and plankton were natural prey for the fish. Meanwhile, the fish helped rid the fields of bugs while loosening the soil. This symbiosis even won recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as it was identified as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in 2005. But Jin's first venture turned out to be a complete failure. "We failed in the beginning because we didn't have much experience as overseas returnees," he said, adding that in the first three years of the failed cultivation, they lost more than 4 million yuan (about 565,100 U.S. dollars). But Jin is not one to give up easily. Jin concluded from the failures that the traditional cultivation methods he inherited from the older generations may not always apply to the modern context. "In the past, farmers didn't care much about how many fish survived because they only needed to meet their own demand, but we must ensure a decent survival rate for our business," he said. To overcome the challenge, Jin attended a university in Shanghai in 2011 to learn about fish cultivation technologies. "Those failures taught me a good lesson. After learning, I grasped scientific technologies," he said. "We integrated old nuggets of wisdom with modern innovation and eventually succeeded." While maintaining traditional fish raising methods, Jin and his partners paid more attention to controlling the water quality and hydrogen levels to improve the survival rate of the carp. In 2011, Jin and local farmers jointly established a rural cooperative, involving more people in the fish business. They are currently enjoying the success of their business, Jin said. Meanwhile, a study base has been established in the locality, allowing students from home and abroad to experience the distinctive culture in Qingtian. Jin hopes to promote the symbiotic relationship between rice and fish so that more people will get to know the cultural heritage. Jin said he regularly shows the changes in his hometown to his overseas family members and friends via livestreaming or video calls. "We plan to bring more young people to Qingtian to help develop our hometown," he said. Enditem Her dedication to health and fitness has not gone unnoticed in recent weeks. And on Tuesday, Rebel Wilson, 40, drove her Instagram followers wild as she shared a slew of sultry snaps which further highlighted her significant weight loss. The actress oozed confidence as she worked her angles in front of a camera while clad in a belted royal blue dress which plunged down the middle to show off her assets. Wow! On Tuesday, Rebel Wilson, 40, drove her Instagram followers wild as she shared a slew of sultry snaps which further highlighted her significant weight loss Styled by Elizabeth Stewart, Rebel looked incredible in the flirty blue number which showcased her trim midriff and fell just above her knees. Looking every inch the blonde bombshell, the Pitch Perfect star's glamorous new look was completed with a bouncy blow dry and a dewy coat of make-up. Promoting her new show, LOL: Last One Standing, Rebel captioned the snap: 'Press for LOL Australia coming globally June 19 only on Amazon Prime Video.' Her newly slimline physique didn't go unnoticed by her fans, who praised her and begged her for health and fitness secrets. Before and after: Rebel's newly slimline pictures have showcased her dedication to health and fitness after she vowed whittle down to 75kg - (R) Pictured 2011 Transformation: The actress oozed confidence as she worked her angles in front of a camera while clad in a belted royal blue dress which plunged down the middle to show off her assets One fan wrote: 'You look fantastic...your glowing skin, beautiful figure, healthy hair. Great going, girl!'. Another wrote: 'Tsk girl!! Dayummm!! You looking hot and full of confidence and you looked hot and full of confidence before too! Love ya. One fan even hilariously left the comment: 'Adele who?' - in reference to the British songstress who left her fans in shock after shedding a mammoth 7 stone. Last month, Rebel revealed she had set herself an ambitious weight loss goal for the coming months. Blonde bombshell: Pitch Perfect star's glamorous new look was completed with a bouncy blowdry and a dewy coat of make-up 'Looking amazing!' Her newly slimline physique didn't go unnoticed by her fans who praised her glow and begged her for health secrets The funny woman, who is usually quite guarded with her private life, wants to slim down to 75kg (11.8 stone, or 165 pounds). Rebel told her Instagram followers: 'Even if you have to crawl towards your goals, keep going - it would be worth it. 'Try and give a little bit of effort each day, I know some days are frustrating as hell, you feel like giving up, you get annoyed at the lack of progress.' The How To Be Single star first announced her plan to make her health a priority at the beginning of the year. 'Adele who?' One fan even compared her British songstress Adele (pictured) who left her fans in shock after shedding a mammoth 7 stone 'Okay so, for me 2020 is going to be called "The Year of Health",' Rebel wrote on Instagram on January 2. 'So I put on the athleisure and went out for a walk, deliberately hydrating on the couch right now,' she added. 'And [I'm] trying to avoid the sugar and junk food, which is going to be hard after the holidays I've just had but I'm going to do it! Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 01:00:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on June 15, 2020, asks the world's leading companies to take bold action to address environmental, social and governance risks. (Xinhua) "Now more than ever, as big decisions are made about our future, companies need to address environmental, social and governance risks holistically and move beyond business-as-usual," says UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. UNITED NATIONS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday asked the world's leading companies to take bold action to address environmental, social and governance risks. Serious threats, including climate change, poverty, loss of biodiversity and widening social inequalities, could undermine the human future. And the coronavirus pandemic has underscored the world's fragilities, which extend far beyond the realm of global health, Guterres told the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit. Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world. It calls on companies to align their operations and strategies with 10 universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. "Now more than ever, as big decisions are made about our future, companies need to address environmental, social and governance risks holistically and move beyond business-as-usual," he told the virtual event. He asked companies to take more ambitious and comprehensive action across their operations and value chains by setting goals in line with UN best practice business benchmarks across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. "It is especially important for you to support efforts to achieve emissions reductions of 45 percent from 2010 levels this decade, and to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century. The world also needs a business community fully committed to transparency and accountability." From its inception, the UN Global Compact has advanced the vision that when businesses unite, they can be a powerful force for good. In an unprecedented time of global uncertainty and crisis, this vision has never been more important, he said. An American man who had been wanted for more than 19 years by Bancroft OPP in a drug investigation has been arrested in Verner, Ont., between North Bay and Sudbury. The man was also wanted by police in Texas and was being hunted by the OPP and the Canada Border Services Agency. In a raid Thursday at about 6:30 a.m. at a home on Millrand Road in Verner, about 380 kilometres northwest of Peterborough, the man was arrested without incident, police said Monday. Officers from the West Nipissing and Bancroft OPP detachments, the OPP emergency response team, the OPP tactics and rescue unit, the OPP canine unit and CBSA investigators took part in the arrest. An arrest warrant for the man was issued by Bancroft OPP after a June 2, 2001 drug bust at a home on Mooney Road, north of Bancroft, about 125 kilometres northeast of Peterborough. Investigators seized more than 200 marijuana plants and located equipment associated with an extensive indoor growing operation, police said. Officers also recovered suspected methamphetamine, a loaded firearm as well as nearly two dozen pit bull dogs from the home. Joe Dan Bates, 64, was charged with careless use of a firearm, possession of marijuana and possession of more than three kilograms of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. He was remanded into custody and is to appear for a bail hearing by video before the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on June 18. The investigation is continuing. Once Canadian criminal proceedings are completed, the accused will be turned over to the CBSA to be processed under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News Every day, MySA.com compiles the latest headlines and helpful links on the COVID-19 pandemic in the San Antonio area. COVID-19 updates: Bexar County reported 436 more cases of the virus Tuesday the largest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic. Payroll Vault, the nations first and only payroll and HR management franchise, has launched a new partnership with 919 Marketing, an award-winning national franchise marketing and public relations agency, to lead its national franchise development and brand awareness initiatives. Payroll Vault, the nations first and only payroll and HR management franchise, has launched a new partnership with 919 Marketing, an award-winning national franchise marketing and public relations agency, to lead its national franchise development and brand awareness initiatives. Payroll Vault, a pioneer in the third-party payroll service industry, has engaged 919 Marketing to further accelerate the companys national franchise sales strategy and to provide a new level of marketing support to the existing network of Payroll Vault franchisees. Over the years, we have seen an increased desire for a more localized and personalized approach to payroll service for small-to mid-size businesses, said Sean Manning, CEO/Founder of Payroll Vault. These are businesses that are tired of 1-800 numbers and faceless payroll service providers. They are hungry for a local, high powered professional that can provide a higher level of service and accountability. Referring to the partnership, Manning went on to say, We conducted a thorough review process in our search for the right marketing partner, and 919 was the clear winner to help us scale our business. We cant afford to make bad marketing decisions, and their proprietary 919Insights data analytics platform enables us to know the exact topics prospective franchisees and small business decision makers are actively searching for online and on social media channels. Payroll Vault was founded in 2008 and began franchising in 2012 redefining payroll services by specifically focusing on our countrys small businesses. Payroll Vault delivers a value-driven model that provides clients with highly individualized services and support on a local level rather than outsourced overseas. In addition to payroll services, Payroll Vault also offers ancillary services such as: HR Services, Time & Attendance, Workers Compensation and more. "We're honored to have been selected by Payroll Vault to boost their franchisee recruitment marketing and brand awareness initiatives in the U.S.," said David Chapman, 919 Marketings Founder and CEO. "We feel this is a positive and exciting step in the development of an emerging brand. Our team is eager to make Payroll Vault a household name." To learn more about Payroll Vault, visit https://www.payrollvault.com/. For more information about Payroll Vault franchising, visit http://www.payrollvaultfranchise.com. For more information about 919 Marketing, please visit https://919marketing.com/. About Payroll Vault Franchising: Payroll Vault Franchising provides entrepreneurs the opportunity to start up their own full-service, local payroll business with the support of a team of experts and a nationally recognized brand. Founded by a CPA with decades of experience, Payroll Vault supports its franchisees on business best practices and provides systems and strategies to operate a payroll business in an increasingly growing industry. With the franchise launch in 2012, Payroll Vault Franchising has grown rapidly due to its unparalleled client service and is recognized as a national leader, receiving numerous accolades and awards in the industry. For more information, visit http://www.payrollvaultfranchise.com. About 919 Marketing: Serving the franchising industry for more than a decade, 919 is ranked by INC. as the fastest-growing franchise content marketing and PR agency in the country. 919Insights, the franchise industrys exclusive AI-powered data analytics platform, uncovers and tracks actual buyer engagement and conversion on your brand website and social media platforms, and the platforms of your major competitors. The resulting buyer intelligence powers 919s in-house franchise content marketing services; brand strategy and messaging, LINK strategic planning and research, CEO branding, crisis communications, national and local market PR, social media marketing, organic and paid search, creative services, and full-scale video production. 919 Marketing is a proven, go-to source for national companies of all sizes that want to grow their businesses. For more information, please contact David Chapman, CEO, at 919-557-7890 or email dchapman@919marketing.com. The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is a two-row crossover that makes a great option for drivers in the area. Car shoppers in the Ontario, California, area can research which vehicle might be right for them online from the comfort of home thanks to the Ontario Volkswagen dealerships website. The local auto dealer has started providing informative model research pages on the site to help give shoppers the details they need to make an informed decision about which vehicle they should choose. Thus far, the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Passat and Tiguan have been covered in these pages. Each page gives a bit of the nameplates history, easy access to the models available inventory, a place to submit questions to the dealerships staff and plenty of details about the current model. This information includes things like powertrain information, interior capacities and space, safety technologies and more depending on the type of vehicle each page covers. For example, the page focusing on the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan highlights the compact crossovers 2.0L powertrain specifications, gives the rundown on passenger volume and cargo capacity depending on how many rows of seating, and more. All of this information and more is available on the dealerships website, http://www.ontariovolkswagen.com. Specific questions regarding the 2020 VW Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan or any other model can be directed to the dealerships sales team by calling 909-284-9914. Ontario Volkswagen is located at 701 Kettering Dr. in Ontario. An upsurge in possum numbers at Dunns Bush Reserve near Puhoi has prompted The Forest Bridge Trust to appeal for more volunteers to trap the pests and other predators. Forest Bridge spokesperson, Liz Maire of Manly, says Covid-19 hindered pest eradication efforts as trappers were unable to continue their work during the lockdown imposed by Covid-19. She adds that the colder months are an excellent time for trapping as food is more scarce and hungry pests are more attracted to bait in traps. The trust says volunteer trappers have caught more than 200 pests, including more than 100 possums and dozens of rats, over the last 18 months in Dunns Bush a 100ha reserve, which is located 7km north-west of Puhoi. But Liz says pest re-invasions and other demands on trappers lives means there is a need to boost the number of volunteer trappers. The goal of a predator-free New Zealand by 2050 cant be achieved without small local projects like these, she says. Liz says trapping can be done by young and old. A family, for example, could volunteer to manage one or more trap lines. Volunteer trappers need to be reasonably fit to attend to lines off the beaten track and have about four hours a month to devote to trapping. Trappers must also be comfortable dealing with dead pests. For those not so fit or uncomfortable dealing with dead animals, volunteer coordination roles are available. Liz says benefits include free training, exercising with a purpose, being allowed off track in a beautiful area of native bush and being part of a team effort for a worthwhile conservation project. Dunns Bush is classified as a Biodiversity Focus Area by Auckland Council basically it means its a really special place, she says. Dunns Bush was gifted to the QEII Trust in 1994 by conservationists Arthur and Val Dunn. The bush contains a diverse range of native plants from large trees such as kauri, puriri, taraire and groves of nikau palms, to small native orchids and ferns, and everything in between. The bush is also an important refuge for native wildlife, including birds, invertebrates and reptiles. To volunteer, contact Liz Maire on 012 234 0831 or email: educator@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz In 2013, Alhaji M. Ceesay and Ebrima Jobe, two American citizens of Gambian descent, joined a long list of Gambias disappeared people. Seven years later, one the alleged persons implicated in their disappearance, Michael Sang Correa, was indicted last week before the US District Court of Colorado. In its indictment, the US Department of Justice alleges that the Gambian national is responsible for the torture of at least six people in 2006, following an attempted coup against the former president Yahya Jammeh. Correa who was residing in Denver, Colorado has been detained in the US since September 2019 by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for overstaying his visa. Behind this case, theres been a long history of complicated relationships between Gambias former dictator and the United States, especially in the last four years of Jammehs rule over the fate of the two American citizens, whose last known whereabouts was the West African country. As part of its mandate, the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) established in January 2019, is to make known the whereabouts of the disappeared. In the case of Jobe and Ceesay, the Commission had thoroughly investigated how they were killed. And in July last year, the US got a first answer to what happened to their citizens when they heard a confession from a Jungler involved in their execution, who narrated how they were arrested as well as where they were taken and how they were executed. Jammeh ordered us to chop them into pieces Omar Jallow alias Oya was a member of Jammehs hit squad who participated in illegal execution of about 48 people, he told the truth commission in July 2019. According to Jallow, Jobe and Ceesay were picked up in Brusubi, about 40 minutes drive from Banjul. A team of Junglers mounted a checkpoint, being aware that the two Americans car took off from a hotel in Kololi, about 10 minutes drive from Brusubi. A member of the Junglers reportedly doing a reconnaissance on the two was Michael Correa, according to Jallow. They were at a hotel and Michael Correa was there observing their movements. If they came out, we would be called to go and arrest them. That was what happened, said Jallow. We were in constant communication with Michael Correa who was behind them, monitoring their movements. When their vehicle came, we stopped it. We asked them out. There were five people, including two girls and a driver. According to Jallow, they were suspected of plotting to overthrow former president Jammeh. Jobe and Ceesay would be interrogated, their house searched, and later executed. Jammeh ordered us to chop them into pieces, said Jallow. Recommended reading Gambias full terror exposed before the TRRC First ever prosecution of a Jungler The United States welcomes the additional information that has come to light as this provides an opportunity to renew our investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths, said the US embassy in a statement in July 2019, after the revelations before the TRRC. We will pursue a close partnership with Gambian authorities based on these new revelations to continue to investigate the disappearance of these American citizens, added the statement. In 2006 Gambian authorities quashed a coup led by the then army chief Colonel Ndure Cham. Cham would later be executed by Junglers following his arrest a few years later. Dozens of people were arrested following the foiled coup, some of whom were tortured at the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency. Correa faces one count of conspiracy to commit torture and six counts of inflicting torture on specific individuals. The indictment of Correa is the first prosecution of a member of Jammehs death squad anywhere in the world. Among the six Junglers arrested in Gambia after the fall of Jammeh, four are free, and two are kept in detention without charges. The prosecution of Correa in the United States will be also the second biggest of Jammeh-era crime, after the arrest of Gambias former interior minister Ousman Sonko who is on pretrial detention in Switzerland. Sonko faces charges of crimes against humanity. Involved in Operation magic pen But before the TRRC, there were even more serious allegations against Corea. In December 2004, Deyda Hydara, a prominent Gambian journalist who was a president of the countrys Press Union, was shot dead. Hydara was killed in a drive-by shooting as he drove home from work. According to Jungler Malick Jatta who admitted before the TRRC, in July 2019, he was involved in the killing three taxis took part in this operation dubbed operation magic pen, and Correa was in one of the taxis. Correas group was led by another prominent Jungler, Malafi Corr. Corr would later be executed with Gambias former intelligence chief Daba Marenah and three others in 2006. The five were accused of involvement in a foiled coup that year. Correa was again named by Jungler Alieu Jeng to have participated in the operations that led to the execution of Marenah and his colleagues. Jeng testified before the Commission in August 2019. Two months before, when he appeared before the TRRC in June 2019, captain Buja Darboe, one of the soldiers implicated in the 2006 coup, accused Correa of involvement in their torture. After Correas indictment, Baba Hydara, son of the murdered Gambian journalist, expressed his relief: Hearing Correas indictment in US means so much for victims of former president Yahya Jammeh, not just his direct victims. This shows that no matter where they run to or hide, eventually justice will catch up with them, said Hydara to Justice Info. Justice for victims, loss for the truth commission? Before Gambias Truth Commission, Correa is certainly a person of interest. Mr. Correa has been adversely mentioned by several TRRC witnesses, Dr Baba Galleh Jallow, its executive secretary, told Justice Info. We would have loved for Correa to appear before the Commission, so we can get his own side of the story for whatever it is worth. He may have come and told the truth or not, said Jallow. However, the TRRC had never made attempts to seek his extradition from the United States, he confirmed. His failure to appear before the Commission does not necessarily leave a significant gap in our investigations because we have already heard from many witnesses, including his fellow Junglers, of his role in human rights violations, added Jallow. On June 12, Gambias Justice Ministry welcomed Correas charges. Abubarcarr Tambadou, the countrys justice minister, hailed the strong support Gambia receives from United States. The indictment of Mr Correa by US authorities is an extraordinary legal milestone, said Tambadou. It demonstrates that no matter where such crimes are committed, and wherever the culprits may be hiding, global accountability mechanisms will reach them, and that there is no hiding place for those who commit such crimes in todays world. The Government of The Gambia will continue to cooperate with US authorities. As Inova Health System sought donations in March to buy personal protective equipment for its staff to treat COVID-19, Zach Mote, a police officer turned brewer, came to their aid. Even though his Water's End Brewery taproom in this Washington, D.C., suburb had been forced to close, he enlisted the help of nearby Beltway Brewing to make a new ale, PPE beer. They've donated the more than $18,000 from its sales to the hospital system to help buy masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment. Inova, which serves some of Washington's wealthiest suburbs, told bondholders last year that it had $3.1 billion in investments it could liquidate in three days. It has received more than $144 million in advanced Medicare payments and $49 million in other federal coronavirus assistance. As of early June, Inova has raised $4.3 million from more than 3,300 donors by appealing for donations to its Emergency Preparedness Fund. "The optics of this aren't great," said Niall Brennan, president of the nonprofit Health Care Cost Institute, a research and policy organization, when asked about the fundraising effort at Inova. "This is one of the wealthier hospital systems in the area, and they should not be appealing for charitable donations for PPE." Inova is one of several large hospital systems raising money to offset the cost of their vital role in combating the COVID pandemic. Yale New Haven Health, the largest hospital system in Connecticut, and UCLA Health in California are also soliciting donations to pay for PPE and other needs. The pandemic upended hospitals' usual financing equations forcing them to cancel lucrative nonemergency procedures and redirect much of their energy to treating a new disease that can keep patients in the hospital for weeks. But it has also engendered new fundraising efforts as it has raised hospitals' visibility. "Some of this is tapping into the large reservoir of goodwill that the hospital has amassed because of their efforts over the course of the pandemic," Brennan said, "and many people want to help and are not sure how, beyond staying at home." The efforts come even though the federal government has rushed out billions of dollars in relief funding to hospitals around the country, which hospitals say is not enough to defray their losses from the coronavirus outbreak. The relief "will not fully cover our COVID-related losses, estimated at more than $200 million," UCLA Health, which received nearly $55 million in federal coronavirus grants and $276.5 million in advanced Medicare payments, said in a statement. "On the long road to recovery, we will continue to accept the generosity of those who support our mission." Inova's top fundraising official, Sage Bolte, said the federal funding did not come close to meeting Inova's needs. The hospital system's revenue is down more than $100 million from last year, she said, and the system spent tens of millions of dollars helping it gear up to handle COVID-19 patients. Inova laid off 427 employees in nonclinical positions, a spokesperson said. Inova made a $1 billion profit in 2019, with the gain coming mostly from investments, according to its audited financial statement. Still, the fundraising does raise concerns among some experts. Gerard Anderson, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Hospital Finance and Management in Baltimore, said hospitals don't usually raise money for everyday equipment. "It's a cost of doing business," he said. "They are taking advantage of their goodwill here," he added. Simone Singh, assistant professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan, also questioned the need for PPE fundraising. "A health system like Inova that is doing so well financially certainly should have the resources to purchase necessary PPE for their employees without having to rely on community fundraisers," she said. Water's End and Beltway Brewing are donating $6 of the $18 cost for six-packs of the PPE beer, a bitter West Coast-style India pale ale. The label shows "PPE" stands for "People Performing under Extreme conditions." The first batch of PPE was so successful it sold out on the first weekend in April. When they sell out the second batch of beer, made in late May, Mote said, the total donations to Inova should be about $27,000. Mote said that, when he reached out to Inova, he did wonder how giving thousands of dollars to a multibillion-dollar company would make a difference. When Bolte showed up in April to watch the PPE beer being canned, Mote told her: "This is probably just a drop in the bucket for you." But Mote said she explained how the price of masks, gloves and other PPE had risen dramatically and how supplies were tough to get in April. Since then, he's been reassured he made the right move. "I got the impression that these donations have made an impact," he said. "A lot of people don't realize that while the number of COVID cases are improving, a lot of people are going to work and putting themselves at risk," Sten Sellier, Beltway's president, said about his reasons for helping to make PPE. "That's something we wanted to bring attention to." "This was a way to recognize and give attention to people who do the hard jobs and handle the risks," said Mote, who employs 10 people. The brewery has survived by converting its taproom into a packaging line and selling PPE and its other beers in a drive-thru set up in its parking lot. Inova's Bolte said the hospital is grateful for all the businesses and individuals who donated to the emergency fund. Local defense contractors General Dynamic and Northrop Grumman have made six-figure donations, she said. "The donations have truly made a difference in our supply of PPE to help us go on," Bolte said. In May, Inova began resuming elective procedures that were put on hold in March, she said. The hospital system, she added, has enough PPE for staffers now but is gearing up for another surge in COVID cases this fall. Authorities in Berlin have placed 369 households under quarantine after dozens of people tested positive for coronavirus. Officials in the southern district of Neukoelln said the outbreak involved homes in seven different locations and in some cases with 10 people living together. Berlin's top health official, Dilek Kalayci, urged those residing in the German capital to use a new government-backed contact tracing app, rolled out today, to help limit the spread of the virus. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was in Berlin today, where 369 households have been placed under quarantine As of Monday, Berlin had recorded a cumulative total of 7,368 cases of Covid-19 and 208 deaths since the outbreak began. Nationwide, meanwhile, Germany has seen 188,044 positive cases and 8,885 deaths. Officials say the new tracing app is so secure that even government ministers can use it - although developers acknowledge it is not perfect yet. Smartphone apps have been touted as a hi-tech tool in the effort to track down potential Covid-19 infections. Experts say finding new cases quickly is key to clamping down on fresh clusters, especially as countries slowly emerge from lockdowns and try to avoid a second wave of infections and deaths. But governments in Europe have run into legal and cultural hurdles trying to reconcile the need for effective tracing with the continent's strict data privacy standards. Germany, where a person's right to their own data even after death is rooted in the constitution, has proved a particular challenge. Early government suggestions to use mobile phone tower information and GPS co-ordinates for the app prompted a swift backlash. 'Tracking where a person is in real time, that does remind us of China and its surveillance system,' said Frederick Richter, who heads the independent Foundation for Data Protection. It also recalls Germany's own history of dictatorships. Both the Nazis and East Germany's communist regime amassed vast amounts of information to persecute dissidents and undesirables. 'That's why we have always been very sensitive in Germany when it comes to the state collecting information on its citizens,' Mr Richter said. Like many other European tracing apps, Germany's system now relies on low-energy Bluetooth technology that is standard in modern smartphones. As of Monday, Berlin had recorded a cumulative total of 7,368 cases of Covid-19 and 188,044 nationwide, as shown in a graph, pictured As of Monday, Berlin had recorded a cumulative total of 208 deaths, with 8,885 nationwide, as shown in a graph, pictured The app scans the user's surroundings and records which other smartphones with the app are nearby and for how long. If someone using the Corona-Warn-App tests positive for Covid-19, they can inform others who were in close proximity for at least 15 minutes that they might be infected. Developers say their most recent tests correctly identified 80 per cent of people's contacts. That still leaves 20 per cent who were either not recognised as having been close to an infected person or deemed exposed even though they were more than two meters away. 'This app is no cure-all, it doesn't give you a free ride,' said health minister Jens Spahn, noting that face masks and manual tracing will still be required. 'But it's an important tool to contain the pandemic.' He acknowledged there was likely to be an increase in people seeking to get tested because of the app. 'I'd rather a test too many than a test too few,' said Mr Spahn. Concerns have also been raised about the hotline some users will need to call to get their positive test result recorded in the app. This opens the door to trolls who could try to trick hotline staff, setting off a cascade of consequences for everyone they were close to in restaurants, supermarkets or public transport. Opposition parties have called for a law to ensure private businesses do not try to push customers or employees into using the app, either through incentives or sanctions. A phone showing the newly-released 'Corona-Warn-App' developed by the German government for tracking Covid-19 infections during the coronavirus pandemic, which was rolled out today The German government insisted that 'voluntary means voluntary' and the app would be continually improved. Asked whether the app meets security standards for top-tier officials, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said the country's IT security agency has been involved from the start. 'I presume that from their side there can be an unreserved recommendation to members of the federal government to use this app,' said the spokesman, Bjoern Gruenewaelder. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender, a judge, announced they were using the app. Sceptics are more likely to be reassured by Germany's Chaos Computer Club, which bills itself as Europe's largest hackers association. The group has a history of punching holes in government and corporate IT systems and of campaigning against surveillance technology. Linus Neuman, a club spokesman, praised the German app developers' transparency for using the coding site Github to let the public look over their shoulder and recommend improvements. He also suggested that choosing to store data only on people's phones, rather than on central servers the way France has done, would help minimise privacy risks. 'We can't guarantee that someone won't find a weak spot in (the code) tomorrow,' said Mr Neumann. 'But we can say that these weak spots will have a lower overall risk than if the German government had pursued a centralised approach.' The German government says its app cost 20 million euros (18 million) to develop and will require 2.5 million to 3.5 million euros per month to operate. It is available in German and English, with Turkish and other languages to follow. Pakistan's spy agency - the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) - on Tuesday briefed the country's top military leadership about the situation on the Line of Control. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza, Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi and Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan visited the ISI headquarters in Islamabad. ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hamid briefed them on the regional security situation. Follow live updates on India-China border tension "Comprehensive briefing was given to military leadership on regional security issues with special focus on the situation of LoC," according to the army. The top-level huddle of the armed forces coincided with the reports of violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh. The ISI is Pakistan's powerful spy agency. In 1950, it was officially given the task of safeguarding Pakistani interests and national security, inside and outside the country. British holidaymakers face being quarantined if they travel to Spain unless the UK government drops its own restrictions, it emerged today. Madrid has warned that 'reciprocal' coronavirus controls will be placed on travellers despite the country opening up to most of the rest of Europe from this weekend. The news will heap pressure on ministers to think again about the 14-day isolation rule for arrivals in the UK, which has been condemned as pointless and damaging by many Tories and the aviation industry. But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps seemed to reject the idea of a rethink this morning, saying there would be no change to the system until June 29 'at the earliest'. There have been hopes that 'air bridges' would be put in place with low-infection countries before then to salvage the summer for travellers. Airlines have been gearing up for a new wave of British tourists, with easyJet offering cut-price deals and British Airways planning to restore half of its daily flights to Spain in July. Thousands of German tourists have been lounging on Spanish beaches this week after they were encouraged to fly to the Balearic Islands in a pilot project. Pictured is Palma de Mallorca Transport Secretary Grant Shapps seemed to reject the idea of a rethink this morning, saying there would be no change to the system until June 29 'at the earliest' However, the UK Foreign Office is still advising against all 'non-essential international travel' - a warning which will invalidate most travel insurance policies if it is ignored - and returning Brits will face quarantine. By contrast, thousands of German tourists have been lounging on Spanish beaches this week after they were encouraged to fly to the Balearic Islands in a pilot project. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has brought forward the resumption of the tourist season to this Sunday, saying that recovery of the sector 'is key for this government'. Officials had suggested that the UK would be included in exemptions granted to all EU states. But Spain's foreign affairs minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said today that there is likely to be 'reciprocity' with the UK's tough restrictions. She told the BBC's HARDtalk programme: 'We will be checking what the UK will be doing and we will be in dialogue with the UK to see whether or not we should be introducing reciprocity as they have different measures than the rest of the EU.' Ms Gonzalez Laya added that the situation was 'fluid' and she wanted to 'engage in a dialogue with the UK authorities to make sure that we both take the message that best corresponds to the health situation, which today is a little bit better in Spain than it is in the UK'. 'Hopefully by the time we open our borders, the UK would have moved forward also,' she added. It came as borders were thrown open across Europe as a raft of countries including Germany and France lifted three months of coronavirus checks. Appointment 16 June 2020 As general manager of Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona, Arizona, Nick Solomon is a veteran of the hospitality industry with nearly two decades of experience, successfully launching and managing multimillion-dollar, luxury hotels within one of the world's leading hotel brand's portfolio. With a passion for team member experience and guest engagement, Solomon started his career with The Ritz-Carlton where he worked his way up the ranks within the five-star hotel. Catching the eye of the Marriott corporate team early on, Solomon led nine different opening teams for The Ritz-Carlton brand around the globe including Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, and The Ritz-Carlton, Bacara in Santa Barbara. He also led front-of-house and back-of-house operations at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel and The Ritz-Carlton, Marina Del Rey in Southern California.In addition, Solomon was also responsible for launching 50 percent of Marriott's EDITION brand, a unique collection of luxury boutique hotels, in major markets across the United States including The Miami Beach EDITION, The New York EDITION, The Times Square EDITION and The West Hollywood EDITION, where he most recently served as the assistant general manager. Originally from Dana Point, California Solomon's passion for surfing led him to the Gold Coast of Australia where he received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Bond University in Queensland. Now trading the beach for the famed red rocks of Sedona, Ariz., Solomon looks forward to a new kind of outdoor lifestyle within the resort town that attracts more than four-million-visitors annually. MILFORD The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association has agreed to a 90-day moratorium on the purchase of surplus military equipment, according to a release from the Milford Police Department. The association represents over 100 Municipal and University Police Chiefs that lead over 8500 municipal police officers in our state, according to the release. Members include the police chiefs in New Haven, Hamden, Bridgeport, Stamford, Greenwich, and Yale University, according to the associations website. The moratorium refers to surplus military equipment acquired under the Federal 1033 Program. Keith Mello, chief of the Milford Police Department, is also the president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. Gov. Ned Lamont prohibited the purchase or acquisition of military and military-style equipment from the federal government by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection until further notice in an executive order Monday. Here at the state level we have an indefinite pause, Lamont said Tuesday. I hope their pause is a lot longer than 90 days. The move comes as protesters across the country call for reform and justice in the wake of the death of George Floyd as the result of a Minneapolis police officers kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes. Mello previously called the Floyds death beyond disturbing, in a statement, saying it cast a stain over the law enforcement profession. Mello said the behavior of the officers involved reflect failures in police tactics, judgment and training. Of equal concern is the lack of intervention by other officers on the scene, Mello said. We are reminded that we are leaders in our communities, especially during a time of crisis. Our oath and our ethics require us to act whenever we are witnessing an unjust act, even by another police officer. He said these actions by officers in Minnesota erode the layers of trust, confidence and goodwill so many law enforcement officers in Connecticut have built within their communities. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, this is the foundation of our profession, Mello said. Any violation of these core tenets is inexcusable. Reporter Kaitlyn Krasselt contributed to this story. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com We are totally appalled by it, it should not have happened, and it was a mistake, said Brian Carovillano, The A.P.s managing editor. Under the current climate, its especially appalling. It also appeared in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette during a week when that paper told a black reporter that she would not be assigned to cover protests and assigned a black photojournalist to photograph the reopenings of a church and an ice-cream parlor instead of the demonstrations he said he had been scheduled to shoot. During the weeks of anti-racism protests, high-ranking editors at The New York Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer have resigned as many media organizations faced questions over the content they have published and their workplace cultures. The Associated Press provides more than 2,000 stories a day to media organizations, including The Times, that pay to use them. It is led by Gary B. Pruitt, the president and chief executive, and Sally Buzbee, the executive editor. Mr. Carovillano said a longtime desk editor assembled Today in History about six weeks ahead of time, using material from the organizations database. Thought for Today quotes are recycled. The line from Davis had run three times every four years on his birthday since 2008. Newspapers across the country receive seven installments of the Today in History a week in advance. The batch including the Davis quote was sent May 25. In an interview Tuesday, he said he plans to detail for the committee how, as attorney general, Barr has been increasing the powers of the president to the point that hes almost an autocrat, noting that its not too strong to say that Mr. Barr is working to dismantle many if not most of the reforms put in place after the Watergate scandal that led to Richard M. Nixons resignation as president. Barr always had those ideas, Ayer added. Its just that now with the president being who he is, [Barr] is in a position to move ahead. SEOUL, June 16 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Unification Ministry said on Tuesday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) demolished an inter-Korean liaison office in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong by an explosion. The South Korean ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said in a brief statement that the DPRK blew up the Kaesong joint liaison office at 2:49 p.m. local time (0549 GMT). The liaison office was opened in September 2018 for the round-the-clock communications between the two Koreas in accordance with the Panmunjom Declaration. The declaration was signed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un after their first summit on April 27, 2018 at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom. The joint liaison office has been temporarily closed since January over the COVID-19 outbreak. According to a military source cited by multiple local media, an explosion was heard and smoke was seen rising from the Kaesong Industrial Complex, an inter-Korean factory park in Kaesong housing the liaison office. An official at the South Korean defense ministry told Xinhua over phone that the ministry had nothing to confirm over the issue. The explosion came after Kim Yo Jong, first vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and younger sister of the DPRK leader, said in a statement Saturday night that she had given instructions for decisive action to be taken. "If I drop a hint of our next plan the South Korean authorities are anxious about, the right to taking the next action against the enemy will be entrusted to the General Staff of our army," she said, indicating a demolition of the liaison office. The DPRK has repeatedly lashed out at South Korea in protest of anti-DPRK propaganda leaflets sent by defectors and activists across the border. Pyongyang closed its joint liaison office and cut off all communication lines with South Korea last week. South Korean President Moon on Monday offered to have dialogue with the DPRK to find a breakthrough, saying the time has come that the two Koreas "would no longer sit and wait for improved conditions." Moon said he wished to actively find and put into practice the projects that the two Koreas can choose and push for on their own, expressing his anticipation that the DPRK would open its door for dialogue and put ideas together. Denuclearization talks between the DPRK and the United States have stalled since the second summit between top DPRK leader Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump ended with no agreement in February 2019 at the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. The South Korean president proposed in April to resume inter-Korean cooperation with the DPRK by jointly tackling the COVID-19 outbreak. Naas Racecourse gears up for a Super Saturday of Racing with RTE to broadcast for the first time in over 30 years at the Kildare track on Saturday 20th June. Naas were the first track to host racing in Ireland on June 8th since the coronavirus shutdown. This Saturday the team set the stage for another race meeting behind closed doors with RTE broadcasting from 5pm-6pm. RTE will show two live races, the Irish EBF Plusvital Polonia Stakes and the Sole Power Sprint Stakes. The remaining races will be pre-recorded and sponsored by the Irish EBF, the Irish National Stud and P&T Stapleton Sobac Soil. Plusvital Irish EBF Polonia Stakes is the feature race on the day and has attracted 18 entries. In form trainer, Jessica Harrington is hoping her fine run will continue into this weekend and has three entries in the race including recent Naas Committed Stakes winner Punita Arora. Punita Arora has come out of her recent Listed win at Naas well and weve put her in the Polonia Stakes there on Saturday. The ground conditions suited her perfect the last day and we are hoping she can improve again. The plan at the moment is to run her on Saturday and come back to Naas again for the Group 3 Lacken Stakes in July. My other two entries For The Trees and Between Hills are both in good form and we will make a decision on them closer to the weekend Tango also heads 3 entries in the race for Champion Trainer Aidan OBrien. She was impressive last season when winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Legacy Stakes at The Curragh. OBriens other two entries are Precious Moments and Eden Quay. Ciara Watt, General Manager of Plusvital commented: I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Naas Racecourse and all our customers for their support over the last few months and wish everyone the very best of luck for the Listed Plusvital Irish EBF Polonia Stakes. The second listed contest on the card is The Sole Power Sprint Stakes, sponsored by the Lynam and Power Family. Denis Hogan will be hoping his other top sprinter, Make A Challenge can also come out on the right side of rivals Southern Horse and Sergei Prokofiev like stable mate Sceptical to give him another 5f winner at the track. The two handicaps on the card are sponsored by Tom Stapleton of Sobac Soil. The rated Handicap has attracted 25 entries and an interesting horse to note is Gerard Keanes runner Blametheshady, who went through Goffs sales rings for 150,000 as a foal in 2016. The Kodiac gelding has one win from one run. The Irish National Stud have come on board to co-sponsor the Free Eagle Irish EBF Fillies Maiden. Some interesting newcomers are among the 23 entered in the maiden, including Elizabethan, a full sister to multiple group 1 winner U S Navy Flag. Eamonn McEvoy, General Manager of Naas Racecourse said : After a 30 year break, we are delighted to be welcoming RTE Television back to Naas Racecourse on Saturday and we hope this will be a trend to continue in the future. I really enjoyed watching their work over the weekend from The Curragh, where, as ever their team gave great coverage to some top class racing. Saturday's card will be very competitive with two high class listed sprints to compliment an array of handicaps and exciting maidens. San Antonio Parks and Recreation and the San Antonio Parks Foundation announced Tuesday that the official Fourth of July celebration at Woodlawn Lake Park has been canceled this year due to COVID-19. The yearly San Antonio tradition is the latest large-scale event to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The celebration usually brings out throngs of people to the park for live music, a carnival, food and a fireworks display. Local government made the decision to skip this year's event "out of an abundance of caution." Crowds of shoppers flocked to luxury retail outlets in Bicester Village, Oxfordshire, as non-essential businesses were allowed to reopen across England on Monday, June 15. Long lines were also seen outside outlets for Primark, a budget clothing chain, in several cities. Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, non-essential stores in Northern Ireland were due to reopen on Friday, while guidance had yet to be issued in Wales and Scotland. Non-essential stores had been closed for more than two months following the lockdown introduced to slow the spread of COVID-19. Twitter user RiileySearle, who filmed these videos at Bicester, posted: Nice social distancing [at Bicester Village] today, if a second wave comes, its from these shops being open. One video shows a large group of people gathered outside a store for high-end shoemaker Christian Louboutin. Credit: @RiileySearle via Storyful The backlog of NHS operations cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic may take up to five years to clear, the UK's top surgeon warned today. Professor Derek Alderson, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said it was 'completely unrealistic' to think elective surgery will be back up and running anywhere near capacity this year. Around 2million routine ops were cancelled from April 15 for at least three months in a desperate effort to free up hospital beds for Covid-19 patients. It stopped hospitals from being overwhelmed but fuelled a waiting list crisis that was already plaguing the health service well before the pandemic. A record 4.4million people were waiting for ops such as joint replacements, cataract removals and hernia repairs before the outbreak took hold. NHS bosses predict the waiting list to grow to at least 10million by Christmas. Professor Alderson told the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee today that the only solution was for the NHS to renew its contract with private hospitals to create 'Covid light' zones. During the committee session, which focused on delivering NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyond, MPs were told that appointments in A&E departments could become a permanent measure to prevent overcrowding following the pandemic. The committee also heard that the effect of coronavirus on oral health had been 'catastrophic', with more than 8 million dentist appointments being cancelled in England alone. Professor Derek Alderson, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said it could take 'four to five years' to clear the list of people waiting for elective surgery in England The average waiting time for NHS treatment has shot up during the coronavirus epidemic because hospitals were forced to cancel non-urgent operations to make room for an expected surge in Covid-19 patients He told MPs: 'I think that dealing with the backlog is not something that's achievable simply in weeks, you know, we stopped for 12 weeks so we can catch up in 12 weeks - I mean, that to my mind, is completely unrealistic. 'This is certainly many months, it may take us a few years to catch up, and as I say we have to be able to sustain that effort. 'We really do need a programme recovery of surgery and the sustainability of surgery that probably looks at four or five years in order to have a resilient system and take things forward in the best possible way.' Professor Alderson added: 'We believe that, at the moment anyway, and for the foreseeable future, the capacity within our NHS resource alone is insufficient for us to be able to get surgery started again and maintain a sustainable resilience service as we move into this window.' 'We believe that it's essential that we retain access to independent sector facilities for NHS patients, so that people can be operated on by priority, by clinical need.' Health bosses estimate that at least 10million people in England will be stuck on waiting lists for operations such as hip and knee replacements by Christmas. Hospitals will only be able to run at about 60 per cent capacity until a Covid-19 vaccine is developed because of new NHS infection control and social distancing measures, the NHS says. The health service is also bracing for its worst winter on record, when it will have to battle an influx of patients with seasonal flu and Covid-19. The number of people waiting for diagnostic scans and tests - such as MRI scans - has dropped because fewer people were getting non-coronavirus medical help during the UK's crisis A&E visits to hospitals in England tumbled as people became afraid of catching Covid-19 in hospital or adding extra stress to the already-stretched health service Almost 2.5MILLION patients are caught in coronavirus cancer backlog Almost 2.5million patients have missed out on vital cancer tests and treatment because of the pandemic. The NHS faces the shocking backlog of cases as it tries to return to normal and also cope with new victims of the disease. Cancer Research UK says 2.1million patients are awaiting crucial screening for breast, cervical and bowel cancer. Another 290,000 have missed out on urgent referrals to confirm or rule out tumours. And at least 21,600 patients have had surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy postponed in the past nine weeks. Some of these procedures would have saved lives or extended them, granting precious extra time with loved ones. It is also thought patients with warning signs of cancer have avoided seeking help because they are worried about contracting coronavirus in a surgery or hospital. The numbers awaiting cancer treatment are extremely worrying, according to Sarah Woolnough, policy chief at Cancer Research UK. She added: 'We're going to have this huge backlog to clear. It's a massive backlog of services and treatment to deliver. It's absolutely huge, it's thousands and thousands and thousands.' Advertisement Professor Alderson said ministers should consider using the hastily-built Nightingale Hospitals - designed specifically for coronavirus patients to take pressure off the NHS - to get routine surgeries up and running if there is a second wave of Covid. He added: 'I think that it would be no bad thing if there were provision made at least to understand how we might retain access to the Nightingale units in a worst-case scenario second wave flu epidemic sector.' Professor Alderson said joint replacement patients were among the worst-affected by the pandemic. 'Numerically I think in the NHS at the moment, people waiting for joint replacement probably constitute one of the largest, if not the largest, group of patients who are waiting for unacceptably long times for their surgery,' he said. 'We know that in April this year, we saw one million fewer patients than in the corresponding period last year. 'There's over a million people on our waiting list for more than 18 weeks now, along with, typified by orthopaedic patients expecting to have a joint replacement, who are in pain, increasingly dependent on painkillers, increasingly disabled, and who really need this surgery. 'And we know that it makes such a difference to the quality of life for orthopaedic patients to have new joints.' MPs were also told that appointments in A&E departments could become a permanent measure to prevent overcrowding following the coronavirus crisis. Dr Katherine Henderson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said NHS 111, which has seen an increased input from clinicians during the pandemic, could be used as an initial contact point. She said that patients could then be offered booked appointments into urgent treatment centres and 'hot clinics', where those with known health problems could be directed to a specialist. 'We are absolutely dedicated to still being the safety net for patients, but the problem beforehand was that we'd become the safety net for the system,' Dr Henderson said. 'We were becoming very, very crowded, and we had people in corridors. And the idea that you could have a vulnerable 80-year-old with a hip fracture in a corridor next to someone else who could have Covid is just impossible. 'So, we cannot let that happen and we need to find a way of making it possible for people to get the care they need where they need it, which doesn't always require necessarily going to the emergency department. She said this would need to be carefully considered before being implemented so that it did not exacerbate health inequalities. Dr Henderson added: 'Ten per cent of the most deprived areas use A&E twice as much as those in the wealthiest areas. 'If we put in place complicated arrangements we may make those health inequalities even worse.' Mick Armstrong, chair of the British Dental Association, told MPs the effects of the pandemic on oral health have been 'catastrophic'. 'Dentistry was not in a great place when we started. We've got access problems which have been raised in both Houses, and also in the previous Health Select Committee, with widening inequalities, rock-bottom morale and retention problems, so the pandemic has just made that that much worse,' he said. 'The effects on general practice, NHS and private, has been devastating and is probably existential. The effect on oral health has been catastrophic.' Mr Armstrong, who works as a frontline clinician in West Yorkshire, told MPs: 'We've cancelled 8 million courses of treatment nationally. 'Our practice alone has cancelled 6,000 appointments and we will be cancelling another 3,000 until September just to deal with the urgent case backlog. 'So 12,000 dentist practices in the country have been effectively replaced by 500 urgent care centres, they've done a sterling job in treating the most urgent, but it's clearly no replacement.' Cancer time bomb fears as NHS figures show 60% drop in urgent referrals made in April compared to last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic Thousands of cancers could have been missed due to a huge drop in referrals amid the coronavirus crisis, shocking figures today suggested. NHS statistics show 79,573 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in April 2020 60 per cent down from 199,217 in April 2019. Cancer charity MacMillan says roughly 210,000 people should have been referred in April this year, suggesting roughly 130,000 people were missed. Around 7 per cent of those would usually require cancer treatment, meaning around 9,000 people might have went undiagnosed. Experts told MailOnline today 'it's not that there are less people with cancer, it's that they are not being diagnosed because of a bottleneck in the NHS'. The health service is facing a shocking backlog of cases as it tries to return to normal after shutting down most of its services to cope with the pandemic. Leading charities estimate 2.5million cancer patients have missed out on vital tests and treatment this year because of the crisis. Figures also showed the number of people waiting over a year for NHS treatment trebled in April, magnifying the damaging knock-on effect of Covid on the nation's health. NHS statistics show 79,573 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in April 2020 60 per cent down from 199,217 in April 2019 NHS England data shows urgent breast cancer referrals showed an even bigger drop - down from 16,753 in April 2019 to 3,759 in April 2020, a fall of 78 per cent. The number of people who had to wait no more than two months from GP referral to first treatment for cancer was also down 20 per cent, from 13,519 to 10,792 year on year. Karol Sikora, a consultant oncologist and professor of medicine at the University of Buckingham Medical School, told MailOnline: 'We know there should be 30,000 new cancer patients every month. 'But this month there have been less than 5,000 that have come for treatment in England. 'It's not that there are less people with cancer, it's that they are not being diagnosed because of a bottleneck in the NHS. 'The whole thing has set us back a year, no other country has struggled this much to open healthcare back up.' Cancer Research UK claimed almost 2.5million patients have missed out on vital cancer tests and treatment because of the pandemic. It said 2.1million patients are awaiting crucial screening for breast, cervical and bowel cancer. Another 290,000 have missed out on urgent referrals to confirm or rule out tumours. And at least 21,600 patients have had surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy postponed in the past nine weeks. Some of these procedures would have saved lives or extended them, granting precious extra time with loved ones. It is also thought patients with warning signs of cancer have avoided seeking help because they are worried about contracting coronavirus in a surgery or hospital. Sarah Woolnough, the charity's executive director of policy and information, said: 'It's devastating to see the impact that Covid-19 is having on cancer patients. 'These figures show just how much the virus has affected cancer waiting times. The dramatic fall in the number of urgent referrals and the drop in people receiving treatment on time in April is hugely concerning. 'It means that tens of thousands of patients are in a backlog needing vital cancer care.' By Jung Min-ho The U.S. Embassy in Seoul took down a "Black Lives Matter" banner from its mission building Monday, only two days after the banner was unfurled in solidarity with "the fight against racial injustice and police brutality" in the United States. In a statement sent to The Korea Times Tuesday, an embassy spokeswoman said Ambassador Harry Harris removed the banner to avoid misapprehension that he supports any specific groups leading the protests. "The ambassador's intent was not to support or encourage donations to any specific organization," the spokeswoman said. "To avoid the misperception that American taxpayer dollars were spent to benefit such organizations, he directed that the banner be removed. "This in no way lessens the principles and ideals expressed by raising the banner, and the embassy will look for other ways to convey fundamental American values in these times of difficulty at home. "As Secretary of State Pompeo recently said, 'America is rightly outraged at the brutal killing of George Floyd and our country will prosecute his killers and respect the right to protest peacefully.'" But according to CNN, the real reason behind the decision was a request from the U.S. State Department. Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNN reported "Senior State Department leadership" asked the embassy to remove the banner. The Korea Times confirmed that the embassy also removed a large rainbow flag, which had been displayed next to the banner. It is unclear why the embassy did so after unfurling it two weeks ago. The banner was widely seen as a rare show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement by a Trump appointee. Protests against racism and police brutality erupted around the country following the alleged murder of George Floyd, 46, who died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25. (Photo : REUTERS/Sergio Perez) Visitors gather outside the Nokia booth at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 26, 2019. (Photo : cnsphoto via REUTERS ) Workers place a China Mobile 5G sign on an equipment as they set up a 5G network base station in Fenggang, Guizhou province, China May 26, 2020. Picture taken May 26, 2020. Finland-based Nokia Oyj confirmed on Monday its partnership with American semiconductor company Broadcom to create chips for Nokia 5G equipment. The latter is the third company Nokia signed a deal with, after Marvell and Intel. Initially, Nokia chose Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) chips for its 5G equipment. Although customers could reprogram this type of chip, issues of high costs and supply forced it to switch last year. READ ALSO: [BREAKING] Huawei Warning: Global 'Shockwaves' May Happen After Huawei Founder's Daughter Arrested "We still stand by the decision of going with FPGAs because it was the right thing to do at that time," Nokia's head of mobile networks marketing Sandro Tavares told Reuters. Tavares also said that the market evolved faster after they announced the shift in strategy, so the company needed to "speed up the process of developing new suppliers." Competing with Ericsson and Huawei, Nokia announced that its 5G products could not reach the market in time due to delays by one supplier, which was identified by analysts as Intel. To address the cost issue, Nokia is now using cheaper custom chips while it is adding more suppliers to diversify the supply. A key performance indicator for Nokia is reducing the cost of its chips. From about 10% last year, about 17% of its 5G equipment now has custom chips in the first quarter. Meanwhile, it is not clear when Nokia's 5G equipment with Broadcom chips would hit the market or whether the company would have additional chip suppliers. Nokia aims to increase 5G production with custom chips to over 35% by the end of the year and to reach 100% by 2022 while improving its gross margins. Nokia to provide 10% of China Unicom's 5G Network The Finnish telecom manufacturer also announced on Monday that China Unicom had selected it to supply about a 10% share of its 5G core network. The announcement confirmed an earlier statement by Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri furnished to Reuters. "China Unicom has chosen Nokia to support the buildout of its 5G SA Core network in China, marking an expansion of Nokia's existing 4G working relationship with the Chinese communication service provider," Nokia said in a statement. In an interview in April, Suri told Reuters that Nokia had won a 10% share of China Unicom's 5G core network, alongside rivals Huawei and ZTE. The company also said that the core network performs various functions such as setting up bandwidth management, scaling, connections, and securing the network. With 5G added to its roles, Nokia would open up the network to support software-enabled uses, which include network slicing. Nokia did not win any 5G radio network in larger China, which includes masts, antennas, and other equipment, although it continued to advance its core network sales in China. According to Forbes, Nokia Oyj has a market worth of 20.5 billion USD, while its sales reach 25.8 billion USD as of last month. It ranked 95 among the Top 100 Digital Companies for 2019. Read also: Microsoft Bans Face-Recognition Service to Police as False Matches Lead to Unjust Arrests 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Strata Manufacturing, an advanced composite aero structures manufacturing company owned by UAE-based Mubadala Investment Company, has completed works on its new facility set up at Al Ain in a joint venture with Belgiums materials and chemicals company Solvay. The completion of Strata Solvay Advanced Materials (SSAM) facility heralds the beginning of Stratas diversification journey, with the Al Ain manufacturer now the Middle East and North Africas first supplier of aerospace-grade pre-impregnated carbon fibres and the fourth globally. The completion of the facility also marks a new chapter in Abu Dhabis drive towards a sustainable homegrown manufacturing sector, said a statement from Mubadala. The 8,500-sq-m SSAM facility is currently being equipped with the latest technology and machinery prior to the testing and qualifying of processes designed to supply carbon fibre prepreg materials for primary structure applications in Boeings 777X programme, it added. According to Mubadala, the key positions in the Al Ain unit have already been assigned to Emirati nationals: Khalid Al Nuaimi, a Strata engineer, will head the Strata Solvay project and manage communications between the two companies, as well as execute the business plan, budget and purchasing of equipment for the facility. Ghubaisha Al Ameri, currently a quality engineer at Strata, will also transition to the new team. Strata Chairman and Mubadala Head of Aerospace Badr Al Olama said: "This latest milestone achieved by Stratas Made with Pride in the UAE success story is a testament to Mubadalas growth strategy." "The constant enhancement and expansion of Abu Dhabis aerospace manufacturing capabilities reflects our commitment towards product and service excellence for our partners, customers and the global market," noted Al Olama. Strata works with leading aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus, Boeing, Leonardo, and Pilatus. Based at Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park, Strata supports the development of a leading aerospace hub in Abu Dhabi as part of the emirates economic diversification initiatives. Strata CEO Ismail Ali Abdulla said: "The completion of the SSAM facility signals a new era for the regions aerospace sector and cements the UAEs global aerospace manufacturing capabilities. The manufacturing capabilities that SSAM brings to the region significantly diversifies our product portfolio." "Equally important are the opportunities this joint venture provides for developing the skills of our local Emirati workforce," remarked Ali Abdulla, who will soon be taking over as SSAM board chairman. "This facility is a cornerstone of our future growth aspirations and underlines the importance of STEM education to enable our next generations career choices. We are excited about these developments and look forward to a close and highly-productive collaborative working relations with Solvay," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Boris Johnsons historic decision to abolish the standalone Department for International Development (Dfid) and roll its functions into the Foreign Office is long overdue. Ever since David Cameron expanded Britains aid budget to 0.7 per cent of GDP, scandal after scandal has emerged about millions of pounds of hard-pressed UK taxpayers money being shovelled into dubious projects to meet this arbitrary target. The budget for this bloated department has reached an astonishing 14.6billion this year. Incredibly, Dfid now has 3,700 employees, and cost 326m to operate last year alone. For that, youd expect money to be spent on vital projects truly improving the lives of desperate people in the worlds poorest countries. Sadly not. Here are a few examples of how taxpayers money was frittered away by this unlamented department: The DFID British Aid funded girl band, 'Yegna' dubbed the Ethiopian 'Spice Girls', who benefitted from a 11.8m hand out between 2015 and 2018 to an organisation called Girl Effect 99m to boost Chinas economic growth Started: 2018 China is the worlds secondlargest economy, now funding - on a commercial basis Hinkley C nuclear power plant plus other infrastructure projects here. Yet Dfid has spent hundreds of millions on 57 aid projects in China. As much as 99m was allocated to promoting inclusive growth. There is 95,000 (enough for three NHS nurses) being spent on helping China come up with climate risk assessment - in a country building coal-fired power stations. We are also spending an undisclosed sum tackling salt consumption among Chinese children and their families, plus almost 60,000 on offshore wind turbines to support Chinas transition to a low-carbon economy. 300m in free money for people in Pakistan Started: 2012 Seemingly having run out of ideas for grand aid projects to fund, the UK Government doled out money directly to hundreds of thousands of Pakistani families. Three years ago, photos emerged of people in Peshawar queuing at a cashpoint to withdraw money on cards loaded with funds from UK taxpayers. Costs ballooned from 53m in 2005 to 219m between 2011-2015. One MP said it was akin to exporting the dole.' Palm oil plantations in the Congo 2013 ongoing Palm oil plantations have been widely condemned for their terrible environmental damage, but it hasnt stopped Dfid sending millions to subsidise Congolese agribusiness Feronia, which runs a palm oil farming and processing business in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dfid hasnt disclosed exactly how much it has spent but the subsidy takes up a share of the 63m of UK taxpayer money that was sent to the DRC this year. 25m for rainmakers who watch ants 2009 2014 UK taxpayers shelled out an astonishing 25m on a project that included persuading Kenyas meteorologists to work with Nganyi rainmakers who claim to be able to forecast rain by watching ants and listening to the call of certain birds and the croaks of toads, but were said to be flummoxed by climate change. The plan was to come up with a consensus weather forecast. At the beginning of the project, the interactions between the meteorologists and rainmakers was characterised by mutual scepticism, Dfid admitted, perhaps not surprisingly about the project, two years after it began in 2009. The two groups . . . successfully made joint seasonal weather forecasts. Thank goodness for that. 29m for climate change in Tanzania 2015 ongoing As residents along the Rivers Wye and Severn found in February, the Government may not have much of a plan on how to protect British homes against flooding, but it is nice to know 29m of taxpayers money has been allocated to building urban resilience to climate change in Tanzania. 95m to India despite 100m Moon landing Ongoing Since 2017, India has spent 100m launching a probe that got to the Moon last year and even has its own foreign aid programme, which spent 620m in 2018. Despite this, British taxpayers have given 95m over two years in aid to the country, including 26,000 on promoting the employment of women in Indias energy sector. Share of 12m for the Ethiopian Spice Girls Ended 2017 The Government planned to hand out 11.8m between 2015 and 2018 to an organisation called Girl Effect, which promoted empowerment of women in the developing world. It included funding a girl band called Yegna, often dubbed the Ethiopian Spice Girls. The project was stopped after a review by Priti Patel, now Home Secretary, when she was International Development Secretary in 2017. 11m for solar panels in Nigeria Ongoing The UK's taxpayers fund 50 projects in Nigeria, among them a project to install 11.3m of solar panels to promote green energy. But we also give 19.5m to promote Nigerias oil industry. 2.5m to cut red tape in Serbia Started 2017 Astonishingly, given how successive governments load red tape on firms here, such as requiring them to fill in tax returns every three months rather than yearly Dfid threw 2.5m at a project to cut the state regulatory burden in Serbia, by helping authorities issue licences and permits online. Next three days are critical to curbing Beijing's COVID-19 outbreak: CDC expert Global Times Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2020/6/16 0:34:20 The Beijing's COVID-19 outbreak likely began around the end of May and the next three days will be critical and decisive for China's capital to curb the epidemic, a top expert from China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. Wu Zunyou, a top epidemiologist with China's CDC, told China's Central Television (CCTV) Monday night that the infection in Beijing's Xinfadi wholesale market was possibly caused by contaminated goods or the transportation process. A Beijing CDC researcher said that the genome sequencing showed that the coronavirus was from a European strain. The next three days will be critical for Beijing to curb the outbreak, as people infected with the coronavirus start to show symptoms, he said. The earliest cases in Beijing were likely infected with coronavirus near the end of May. "The earliest diagnosis was on June 11 We believe that person was infected in late May or early June," Wu said. The current epidemic situation in Beijing is still a local event with a very limited scope. It is not necessary to adjust the response level of the entire city. Currently the controls of the Xinfadi wholesale market is robust and "we have confidence that the current outbreak will not spread widely," Wu said. Beijing has reported 79 COVID-19 active confirmed cases as of press time. The city also reported six asymptomatic carriers on Monday, taking their total number to seven. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A new report by the human rights organisation found Congolese security forces brutally and systematically cracked down on protesters between 2015 and 2018. Amnesty International is pushing for justice for hundreds of people killed in pro-democracy protests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A new report by the human rights organisation found Congolese security forces brutally and systematically cracked down on protesters between 2015 and 2018. They were opposing President Joseph Kabilas attempts to remain in power beyond his second constitutional term. By the end of 2018, at least 320 people had been killed and 3,500 had been injured in the capital, Kinshasa. Al Jazeeras Mohammed Adow reports on one familys quest for justice. Here are todays top headlines from around the world. Trumps showmanship is now backfiring on him Donald Trumps showmanship a key ingredient in his unorthodox reality show-style approach to the presidency is beginning to fail him, increasingly emphasizing his disconnect with many Americans and struggles to manage crises besieging the White House. Black Lives Matter protester seen carrying a white man through an angry crowd in London says he wants equality for all races and people Patrick Hutchinson wants his younger relatives to live in a better world than him. 3 US Navy aircraft carriers are in the Pacific and Chinas not happy The deployment of three 100,000-ton US Navy aircraft carriers to the Pacific Ocean for the first time in years has drawn swift reaction from China, with state-sponsored media saying Beijing will not back down to defend its interests in the region. New York says its tamed the beast of coronavirus while some states see record hospitalizations The number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have gone up in some states, a bleak reminder that the pandemic thats infected more than 2 million people is not over. Messi milestone in first game back for Barcelona There was another milestone for Lionel Messi in his first game back for Barcelona while another forward also had a night to remember. Revisiting Lady Bird Johnsons whistle-stop tour and what Melania Trump isnt using the first ladys office for When a country is hurting at its core, or missteps made or when messages have fallen through, thats traditionally when the first lady steps in. Beyonce pens open letter to Kentucky attorney general demanding justice for Breonna Taylor Beyonce is calling on Kentuckys attorney general to bring about justice in the wake of Breonna Taylors death and ultimately demonstrate the value of a Black womans life. Chinas new coronavirus outbreak sees Beijing adopt wartime measures Beijing is reintroducing strict lockdown measures and rolling out mass testing after a fresh cluster of novel coronavirus cases emerged from the citys largest wholesale food market, sparking fears of a resurgence of the deadly outbreak. Elon Musks tunnel project hit a milestone. But the future is unclear. Three years ago, Elon Musk pitched a grandiose vision for the future of intracity vehicle travel: layers of tunnels that would efficiently speed vehicles through cities. Drivers would maneuver their own Teslas to street-level elevators, which would lower them to be whisked away on autonomous electric sleds at speeds up to 120 mph. Taiwan airport offers pretend to go abroad airport tours amid Covid-19 pandemic (CNN) With planes grounded and most tourism on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, one Taiwanese airport has come up with a unique solution to help citizens get their travel fix. Taipeis Songshan airport will give 90 people the chance to take a tour of their airport and relive the experience of going through immigration, boarding a plane and then disembarking and returning home. Powerful Black Lives Matter protests draw massive crowds in their third weekend The protests that sprung up after the police killing of George Floyd on May 25 are now in their third weekend, and theres no sign that theyre slowing down. Crowds gathered in major cities around the country (and the world) while residents in smaller localities also turned out to stand against systemic racism. Samsung teams with BTS for special edition Galaxy S20+ and Buds+ Calling all BTS fans: get ready to step up your Army game with some new merchandise particularly a smartphone. On July 9, which marks the seventh anniversary since the fandom first received its name, Samsung is releasing a BTS-edition Galaxy S20+. In honor of Trumps birthday, people tweet praise for Obama Donald Trump turned 74 on Sunday. So, naturally, people celebrated the occasion by tweeting about the person who perhaps gets under his skin the most: Barack Obama. (Sunday was also Flag Day, but we feel like that wasnt the impetus here.) Trump admin strips away healthcare protections for transgender people You wouldnt be blamed if you havent heard about the Trump administrations latest rollback of protections for transgender people. With the coronavirus pandemic, the economic crisis, and the continuing protests against the police killing of George Floyd, theres a lot going on. Donald Trumps bizarre walk down a ramp is a whole thing now Donald Trump spoke at West Points commencement on Saturday. After the speech, he left the stage by walking down a ramp. Youd think this would be a pretty straightforward exit, but it was not: Trump scooted down the ramp with noticeable caution, then spent the lead-up to his own birthday tweeting lies about it to defend himself. Uber lost out on Grubhub. Thats bad news for Uber Eats. For the past few weeks, rumors were flying that Uber Eats was combining forces with Grubhub. Then a European delivery app swooped in and shook everything up. Just Eat Takeaway, a Dutch company dominant in the European market, acquired Grubhub for $7.3 billion, providing some serious competition for Uber Eats and DoorDash. ABC announces Matt James as the first Black Bachelor Matt James is making reality TV history as The Bachelors first Black lead. James, who fans of the franchise may know as former contestant Tyler Camerons best friend and business partner, was originally cast as a contestant on Clare Crawleys upcoming season of The Bachelorette. AMDs Ryzen 3000 series of CPUs have been available in various forms for about a year now. Power users and PC gamers will have to wait a bit longer before upgrading to the forthcoming 4000 desktop series, though. As a stopgap, the chip maker is releasing the Ryzen 3000XT series, which uses a 7nm manufacturing process. AMD says that these chips will have a four percent performance boost over those from the 3000 series. The Ryzen 9 3900XT, 7 3800XT and 5 3600XT processors have 12, eight and six cores, respectively. The 3900XT will cost $499, the 3800XT will be $399 and the 3600XT will cost $249. The new chips top off at 4.7GHz, which should be powerful enough to run the latest games, edit 4K footage or run 3D rendering applications. All three will be out on July 7th. In addition to the new CPU announcements, AMD also released its B550 chipset, which is the company's first mainstream chipset with support for PCIe 4.0, following last year's "enthusiast" X570 chipset. Motherboards incorporating the new B550 chipset are available from today. These will provide more bandwidth for graphics cards and SSDs than the B450 motherboards they replace. Hopefully motherboards will incorporate the PCIe 4.0 chipset soon. Meanwhile, if gamers and media producers are looking to update their CPUs, it might be a good idea to wait for the Ryzen 4000 series for desktops. But if they need a new setup imminently, the 3000XT series could be a better choice than the standard 3000 CPUs. On June 15, three New York City police officers were hospitalized after they drank milkshakes at a Shake Shack branch in New York City. According to reports, the milkshake was laced with bleach. Intentional poisoning? The three officers went to a Shake Shack branch in Lower Manhattan, and during their meal, all three of them began to feel sick. On June 16, the New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association or NYC PBA released a statement that states the three officers had ingested bleach. According to the NYC PBA, the officers discovered bleach had been placed in their milkshakes and the contamination was not discovered until the three officers had already drunk their beverages. The three officers were immediately rushed to the local hospital and they are currently receiving treatment. However, both the New York Police Department and Shake Shack, tweeted that after a thorough investigation, there was no evidence that the poisoning was done deliberately nor was it done by any of the employees of the restaurant. This is in spite of what the NYC PBA had stated. NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison did not elaborate on the investigation or how the chemical got into the milkshakes of the officers in the first place. The Detective's Endowment Agency or DEA issued a statement and said that they believed that the officers had been intentionally poisoned. In the statement, the DEA said that fortunately, the three officers were not seriously harmed and are all expected to recover soon. The DEA also addressed the growing disdain of the public towards police officers in the country. Also Read: Ex-Police Officer Charged with Death of George Floyd Still Eligible for $1M Pension The statement read that police officers are currently under attack by criminals who dislike the force and that the "cowards" will go to great lengths to harm a member of the law enforcement. Shake Shack tweeted that they are horrified by the reports of the three police officers injured in one of their branches and that they are working with the police in their investigation of the incident. Alert at all times Both the DEA and the NYC PBA warned police officers to be careful when purchasing and consuming food while they are in uniform. The DEA urges police officers across the country not to purchase food from locations that are unknown to them. The department also asked the police to be alert and to keep their eyes open. The DEA added that police officers must inspect their vehicles and stay with their partners at all times. The DEA also encouraged the officers to back each other up if necessary. Meanwhile, the NYC PBA stated that members of the law enforcement are advised to inspect any food item that they bought while on duty, in case it is contaminated. If possible, the NYC PBA encouraged officers to eat in groups of two or more and to remain alert during the duration of their meal period. New York is one of the states that has participated in the protest against police brutality and systemic racism, the protest began on May 25, after an unarmed black man, George Floyd, was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. Related Article: Another Lynching? Black Man Found Hanging from a Tree in Victorville, California @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the notification for National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II) 2020 today. The notification will be released on its official website at upsc.gov.in. According to the revised calendar issued by UPSC, the NDA, NA (II) notification 2020 was earlier scheduled to be released on June 10 but was postponed to June 16. The last date to apply is June 30. UPSC will conduct a common exam for both NDA, NA exam I and II will be held on September 6. Educational Qualification: For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University. Check official notification of UPSC NDA.NDA (I) 2020 For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme at the Indian Naval Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University. Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply for this examination. Candidates appearing in the 11th class exam are not eligible for this examination. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) The cities of Manila and Muntinlupa on Tuesday announced relaxing their curfew. Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso said the new curfew hours in the city is now from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The schedule formerly ran from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. He noted that the move to ease restrictions will benefit businesses, as the national government also allowed the dine-in option in restaurants at a limited 30% capacity. Matapos lang itong state of health emergency ay unti-unti ko po yang il-lift [Once this state of health emergency ends, I will gradually lift the curfew hours], Moreno said in an online briefing aired on his Facebook page. He clarified, however, that he will not be lifting the curfew for minors, as he cited the need to ensure their safety. Meanwhile, curfew in Muntinlupa City will now be implemented from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. A penalty of 500 awaits first-time violators, which will increase to 1,000 for succeeding offenses. In addition, violators will incur a barangay blotter and cancellation of local grants and benefits from the local government. Alabang Public Market schedule In an effort to manage the COVID-19 situation in the city, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi also approved a market schedule regulating the operations of the Alabang Public Market. District 1 and non-Muntinlupa residents will only be allowed on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, while District 2 residents may visit the market on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Monday is designated for disinfection and sanitation of stalls and other areas of the market, the city government added. Besides wearing face masks, all those entering the market are required to present a valid identification card, which contains their district residence address. Stall owners are also mandated to install clear barriers and provide disinfectants for the use of customers and vendors. Those who fail to abide by these rules may face closure, suspension, or revocation of business permits or licenses. Photo credit: Matteo Colombo - Getty Images From House Beautiful Attention, stargazers! Grand Canyon National Park is hosting its annual "Star Party" online this year. So, regardless of travel plans, you can tune in for free to learn more about astronomy and watch Arizona's starry night skies from home. Every night this week, Grand Canyon National Park is premiering two videos on its Facebook page. The first video will feature a guest speaker from the park's Star Party Speaker Series. Ranging from historians to astronauts to professors, the speakers will share their presentations over a video conferencing feed. Since the speakers have such a diverse range of expertise, you'll be able to learn about a variety of space-related topics. You can retrace the footsteps of the Apollo Astronauts to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with a historian, and join an astrophysicist as she unveils the plans for the NASA James Webb Space Telescope. You can also join a course on astrophotography for beginners, so you can learn how to take photos of the night sky. In the second video, astronomers will connect video cameras to their telescopes for the virtual star party. Over the course of an hour (or an hour and a half), the astronomers will pick out 10 to 12 celestial objects. If you have questions while you tune in to the videos, the speakers and astronomers in Arizona will populate the the chatrooms during the premieres to engage with viewers. From June 13 to June 20, the first video will go live at 6 p.m. PDT, and the second video will premiere at 7 p.m. PDT. Find the full schedule for Grand Canyon National Park's Star Party here. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram. You Might Also Like Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday dismissed growing alarm over hospitals now swelling with coronavirus patients, insisting there is still plenty of space available even as some facilities have neared or surpassed capacity. Speaking on yet another day of record high hospitalizations, Abbott rejected new calls from municipal leaders for stricter safety requirements and said he is confident the state can continue to reopen as long as everyday Texans pitch in to contain the spread of new infections. As we begin to open up Texas and Texans return to their jobs, we remain laser-focused on maintaining abundant hospital capacity, said Abbott, a Republican. The best way to contain the spread of this virus is by all Texans working together and following simple safety precautions. IN-DEPTH: Gov. Abbott concerned but not alarmed by coronavirus surge as he further loosens business restrictions On Tuesday, the Department of State Health Services reported just over 2,500 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals, the highest single-day total since the pandemic began and nearly 67 percent more than on Memorial Day in late May. State and local leaders have pointed to the holiday weekend as one likely cause for the increase. Statewide, there are still thousands of hospital beds and ventilators available. But in some of the largest cities, including San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, the surge is pushing new limits. In Harris County, some hospitals said late last week that their intensive care units were near or above capacity. Bill McKeon, CEO of the Texas Medical Center, said the groups number of COVID-19 patients has nearly doubled from its previous peak in late April. Many of the patients admitted now are younger and generally healthier, but are still susceptible to serious illness or death from the disease. OVER THE WEEKEND: Texas set a new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations in four of the last five days If it continues to grow at this rate, were going to be in real trouble, McKeon said of the admissions. He added that while it doesnt seem feasible to reimpose lockdowns or other restrictions, state leaders should consider slowing the reopening if the uptick continues. Abbott, though, appears committed to seeing the economic revival through, saying he also expects schools to reopen in the fall with students and teachers in classrooms. He has argued that the states overall death rate from COVID-19 is still low compared to other states, and that new cases are coming mostly from nursing homes, jails and prisons, where testing has increased and cases are easier to contain. The governor also revived an earlier claim that Texans under the age of 30 represent a large portion of new cases, citing news accounts from select counties, and suggested that bars reopening could be the cause. On Monday, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission threatened to temporarily close down bars that fail to comply with limits on occupancy. Abbott remained unwilling Tuesday to allow local officials to enforce their own mask ordinances, even as he acknowledged that many Texans are not wearing them. He instead accused Democratic county judges of not having done enough to punish businesses that fail to comply with other protocols, such as limits on public gatherings. While they have the authority, Abbott said, many havent lifted a finger. There have been thousands of citations issued since March over emergency violations, though analyses by Propublica and the Dallas Morning News found that they varied widely by county. On Tuesday, mayors in several cities, including Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth, sent a letter to the governor pleading for the ability to mandate masks. People in many of our cities are still refusing to wear these face coverings even though these coverings are scientifically proven to help prevent the disease from spreading, they wrote. A one-size-fits-all approach is not the best option We should trust local officials to make informed choices about health policy. The Texas Democratic Party said Tuesdays record-high hospitalizations is even more evidence of a failed top-down response to the pandemic. Texans can do and deserve much better, said spokesman Abhi Rahman. While other states continue to see their cases fall, cases in Texas continue to increase. This is because of Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts mismanagement. Cases are rising quickly in several southern states, including Arizona, Georgia and Florida, which avoided early surges and were among the first states to begin relaxing restrictions. Like those, Texas is also seeing record increases, with 3,011 new cases on Tuesday, the highest since the pandemic began, according to a Hearst Newspapers data analysis. The states rolling average is now more than 2,000 cases per day. Abbott has attributed much of that to expanded testing and isolated outbreaks, though new cases have often outpaced testing in recent weeks. His remarks on Tuesday appeared to mirror language pushed Monday by the Trump administration, based on audio of a phone call that the New York Times obtained between governors and Vice President Mike Pence. On Tuesday, Abbott singled out a handful of counties where he said cases appeared to have risen, but where the actual story was likely less worrisome. He noted that one countys spike had been from a computer error, and another has a large prison population. In Hays County, he said it appeared that several days worth of results had been bundled into one, making the situation seem more dire than it was. State Rep. Erin Zwiener, a Democrat who represents the area, disputed the assessment. While I appreciate his attention to our circumstances, his comments contained several inaccuracies that minimize the severity of the situation in Hays County, she said in a statement. We are seeing exponential growth in cases, and our community has every reason to take action. Two days after Pennsylvanias primary election, Philadelphia elections officials suddenly stopped counting votes. They had to make sure no one had voted twice once by mail and once in person and they couldnt count a stack of mail ballots in the meantime. Workers turned to scanning the poll books that people sign when they vote in person, and compared those to the list of mail ballots that had been returned, flagging any overlap. For five long days, the counting stopped. In the end, the process largely worked: Officials identified 40 people who had returned a mail ballot and then also voted in person. The mail ballots caught in time were excluded to prevent double voting. (Four double votes had already been counted.) Theres no evidence of fraud, and the problem wasnt widespread. The June 2 primary was the first election in which any Pennsylvania voter could vote by mail, and coronavirus fears helped fuel an unexpected surge in mail ballot requests some of which would have been returned too late to count were it not for last-minute deadline extensions granted by Gov. Tom Wolf and some county courts. People were likely trying to ensure their votes were counted and were inadvertently allowed to vote at their polling places. Theyre not familiar with the process. They havent really done it ever before, said Lisa Deeley, chair of the Philadelphia Board of City Commissioners, which runs elections. We didnt have an opportunity to educate the poll worker or the voter as thoroughly as we could have or should have. But it nevertheless raises a concern about November, when Pennsylvania is expected to play a critical role in deciding who wins the White House and results could take days to determine. If Philadelphia and other counties want to catch this kind of accidental double voting, theyll need time to do so. In the meantime, the world will wait to find out who won. READ MORE: From election night: We wont know the results for days. Heres what that means for November. How double voting happens and how to spot it Once you request a mail ballot, youre not supposed to be able to vote at the polls. If you try, youre supposed to be given a provisional paper ballot, which is set aside and only counted after officials confirm you were allowed to cast it. Election officials mark your name in the poll books as having requested a mail ballot or voted by mail. When you check in, poll workers should flag you as not being allowed to vote on the machines. But Philadelphia poll books were printed a week before the deadline to request a mail ballot. Almost 92,000 voters mail ballot requests were processed after the books were printed. Thus, the poll books didnt identify those voters as having requested or cast mail ballots. City officials printed those names separately, and poll workers were supposed to use that list to ensure nobody double voted. But even those who are listed in the books or on the separate list can be allowed to vote in person at times, due to poll worker error. That can happen when the workers ignore the mark in poll books signaling that a person had requested or submitted a mail ballot, or fail to consult the printed list. Thats what happened to Denise Furey, a Republican ward leader, treasurer of the citys Republican Party, and an official with the state GOP. She sent in her mail ballot but received no confirmation of its being received. So she went to the polls just in case. I assumed I was going to be filling out a provisional ballot; I said that to the lady at the front desk when I walked in, Furey said. Instead, she said, the poll worker let her vote on the machine. Furey said she was instructed to sign right over the mark that declared her ineligible to vote in that way. There needs to be procedures put in place. And really, what it comes down to is the election board workers probably need better training in the future, she said. I just think that it was a mistake made on the part of some poll workers, and it was a new system. Things are different, it just unfortunately happened. Knowing that poll workers make mistakes, Philadelphia elections officials only counted an early batch of ballots the ones that had been received before poll books were printed before putting everything on hold. They found the 40 people who cast two ballots. Of those, 36 were caught in time to prevent being counted twice. The long wait for results Theres no evidence of a conspiracy to cheat the system. Four votes out of 347,000 about 0.001% were double counted. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees elections, said local officials have a responsibility to engage in reconciliation that ensures the integrity of the election results. But the law doest say how. That means officials will have to decide again in November whether to move quickly to count results that may have some double votes in them or spend days checking poll books as everyone anxiously waits. Obviously, it was frustrating from the perspective of all of the candidates and their teams in terms of when we received results, and we wish there could be some way to figure this out better in advance of election day, said Adam Bonin, a Democratic election lawyer in the city. Harrisburg needs to be a part of that solution. Otherwise, to get the most accurate results, well all be waiting again next election. This time, it took more than a week for some races to be called. Our main thing is to have an accurate count, Deeley said. If you get it done quick and its wrong, it doesnt matter. Accuracy should always be the priority. Residents are evacuated from the facility dedicated to the Virgin Mary because of possible coronavirus infections. The site has been sanitised. Iraq has reported more than 21,000 cases with 650 deaths. For the Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad, things are getting worse because of the invisible enemy who knows no mercy and affects all ages. Baghdad (AsiaNews) The coronavirus outbreak is getting worse in the capital, and other parts of the country. "The situation is becoming more and more precarious, day after day, this according to Mgr Shlemon Audish Warduni, Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad. Speaking to AsiaNews, the prelate noted that Christians too are becoming victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, more every day. What is more, the largest Christian centre for displaced people in the capital, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was shut down by the Human Rights Commission. The facility, which held up to 135 families from Mosul and the Nineveh plain who had fled the Islamic State (Is) group in the summer of 2014, is located near the headquarters of the Assyrian Democratic Movement. Recently, it reported some cases of the novel coronavirus. Everything began when a woman came down with symptoms compatible with COVID-19. She works at a hospital run by nuns and apparently infected her husband and daughter. Three other cases followed in another family. Many of the families living at the Virgin Mary centre come from Bakhdida and the Nineveh Governorate. Before the lockdown it held 114 families, for a total of 345 people. Last March it was thoroughly sanitised, but it did not escape recent infections. The decision to shut it down was taken to prevent further spreading of the virus, local sources said. Still, leaving the camp has meant more hardships for families already struggling to find work and means to survive. Young people and seniors, people of all ages, have been affected. This virus touches everyone and knows no mercy, said Bishop Warduni. A tragedy of this magnitude was unthinkable. There is no way out. Over the centuries we have had episodes, negative events, for which penance was done. Today even this does not seem to be enough, it is something terrible . . . Even bad people are asking for mercy, because they are afraid. Recently, the Chaldean patriarch, Card Louis Raphael Sako, released a letter with his thoughts about the pandemic, stressing that its tragic implications can provide an opportunity "for a deeper faith" and a "more caring" society. For Bishop Warduni, It is worse than a war because we do not know where this invisible enemy is coming from; we do not know what it is. Only a few days after it enters our body does it manifest itself" in all its scope. Lately, the situation "has worsened" with "hundreds" of cases every day. I started translating a book dedicated to Our Lady, said the prelate. We hope that our heavenly Mother, who stood below the cross, can be a source of salvation for humanity. Iraq has officially reported 21,315 cases of the novel coronavirus with 652 confirmed deaths. One Indian Army officer and three jawans lost their lives at Galwan region in Ladakh after clashes broke out between the Indian side and the Chinese. The incident took place on Monday night. This is the first instance of casualty between the two sides since 1975. The Indian Army will hold a press conference at 2pm today. The Indian Army confirmed the developments and issued a statement soon in the matter. "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation," stated the official statement by the Indian Army. Tensions have been escalating between India and China, following which the two sides resorted to talks. The talks are being held at the levels of Brigade Commander and Battalion Commander level in Eastern Ladakh in Galwan Valley and Hot Springs area. While talks were under way, there has not been much movement in the stand-off locations. The Chinese Army had earlier pulled back its troops from the Galwan Valley. PP-15 and Hot Springs in Eastern Ladakh by 2-2.5 km. The Indian side also brought back some of its troops and vehicles from these areas. Satellite images on social media show that there is some troop built-up on both the sides of the LAC by both the countries. Also read: India-China tension: Country will never compromise on 'national pride', says Rajnath Singh Also read: India-China standoff near Ladakh may not be over yet; here's why The Berejiklian government will give small businesses a one-off $3000 grant to help with marketing and advertising costs, office fit-outs and training staff to adapt to the new four-square-metre economy. The grants, which will start from July 1, come as new data reveals the number of workers on a payroll in Sydneys CBD is still 11 per cent lower than before the restrictions, despite signs of improvement in the citys pandemic-hit jobs market. NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet delivers a budget update in the Legislative Assembly. Credit:Nick Moir Sydneys eastern suburbs also remains badly affected with payroll numbers down 8.4 per cent compared with mid-March. But the falls have been less acute in outer metropolitan areas especially the Baulkham Hills-Hawkesbury (-4.8 per cent), Sutherland (-4.8 per cent) and Blacktown (-5.1 per cent). Warsaw (AFP) - Germany and NATO on Tuesday underlined the importance of US troops in Germany for security on both sides of the Atlantic, a day after President Donald Trump announced he would slash the number stationed there. "We think that the US presence in Germany is important for the security not just of Germany but also for the security of the United States and especially for the security of Europe," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said during a visit to Poland. Trump said he was reducing the numbers because Germany was "delinquent" in contributions to NATO and had treated the United States "badly" on trade. Trump said there are 52,000 US soldiers stationed in Germany and he will bring this number down to 25,000. But according to the Pentagon, there are only between 34,000 and 35,000 US soldiers permanently stationed in Germany. Rotation of units means the overall number can only temporarily top 50,000. Maas said Germany had not been given any details on when and how the redeployment might take place. "Neither the State Department nor the Pentagon has been able to provide any information about this," he said, adding that any changes to Europe's security architecture "definitely need to be talked about". NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also said that US troops in Europe made both sides of the Atlantic safer. Defence ministers from the alliance will discuss Trump's plans during video talks on Wednesday and Thursday. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov declined on Tuesday to comment on Trump's move, calling instead for the "resumption of a normal dialogue" with NATO members amid tensions over Moscow's actions in Ukraine and the Middle East. France called for Europe's greater "strategic autonomy" within NATO in the wake of the US withdrawal, according to comments by French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian due to be published on Wednesday. Story continues Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda for his part said in a statement to AFP that the US presence in Europe was "the foundation of NATO deterrence". "We expect that some of the troops that the United States plans to relocate from Germany will stay in Europe," he said, adding that Lithuania "would be glad to host US troops on a regular basis". - Permanent US presence in Poland? - The move has been criticised as weakening America's commitment to European defence as well as its ability to wield influence in the Middle East and Africa. US troops have been stationed in the geopolitically vital country since the end of World War II, forming the bulk of NATO's conventional defence against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The resurgence of Russia's military ambitions under President Vladimir Putin has given the US presence new importance in the last two decades, with central and eastern European states leading the way in pressuring for stronger US defences. Speaking at a joint press conference with Maas, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said his government had been in discussions about boosting the number of US troops in Poland, but the two issues were separate. "I want to underline that these talks (with the US) have no connection with the recent US declarations and US-German relations concerning the presence of, or reduction of, US forces in Germany," he said. "From our standpoint, US forces in Germany also serve our security. We would want that presence in Germany to be continued." A country of 38 million people on NATO's eastern flank, Poland has long campaigned for a permanent US troop presence on its soil to ward off Russian adventurism. Trump has already upped his country's troop rotations in Poland to 5,500 personnel as part of a wider NATO response to concerns in the region triggered by Russia's 2014 annexation of territory from neighbouring Ukraine. Having spent decades under Soviet rule before 1991, Baltic NATO ally Latvia also hailed the possibility of fresh US deployments to the sensitive region bordering Russia. "We would welcome more American involvement in the safety of Baltics, including permanently stationed US troops here," Latvia's defence minister Artis Pabriks told AFP in Riga. Geneva: India on Tuesday described Pakistan as "epicentre of global terrorism" and asked Islamabad to exercise "good neighbourliness" and stop systematic persecution of its religious minorities. In India's Right to Reply at the 43rd Session of UN Human Rights Council here, First Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, Vimarsh Aryan, said the pathetic situation of minorities in Pakistan is well known where the systematic misuse of blasphemy laws has condemned their lives utterly miserable. "A country that categorizes its minority communities into second or third tiers of citizenship is evoked with sudden sympathy for minorities in other countries," Aryan said as he rejected all the untenable and unsolicited remarks made by Pakistan against India. Noting that Pakistan set up a minority commission after more than 60 years of its existence, he said that no minorities can represent themselves in the so-called minority commission. Pakistan "should practise tolerance towards their minorities and good neighbourliness towards us so that the South-Asian region sees eternal peace the absence of which can mostly be attributed to Pakistani deep state," he said. Referring to the death sentences meted out regularly under the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, he said the country has the distinction of having more cases under the controversial law than the rest of the world combined together in the last decade. "Systematic socio-economic discrimination, onslaught against religious and ethnic minorities with the full state support are manifested in organized attacks on Churches in Punjab, denial of last rites for Hindu community in Sindh, religious apartheid against Ahmadis, burning of houses belonging to Hindu Bheel community in Sindh, abduction of minor Hindu girls for sexual exploitation in Sindh, abduction of a Christian girl in Lahore...," he said. "One can only advise this country to stop looking others but rather rectify its ongoing structural discrimination and policies against its minorities," the Indian diplomat said. "This epicentre of global terrorism very irresponsibly harps on self-determination of the already democratic Jammu and Kashmir," he said. Aryan said India's decision in Jammu and Kashmir is "within our sovereign right and is an internal matter of India. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India." Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up international support against India for withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5 and bifurcating it into two Union territories. India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda. "Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and will continue to be an integral part of India, and Pakistan should cease to covet it," he added. Its a new maneuver by the regime, a new assault in an attempt to give a hint of credibility to the electoral farce that its planning to carry out this year to supposedly elect a new National Assembly, said Allup, vowing not to participate in any fraudulent elections. Read more: Manulife Hong Kong recognised as trusted brand by Readers' Digest The platform was developed following the Insurance Authoritys (IA) announcement encouraging insurers to provide temporary facilitative measures that allow consumers to purchase certain insurance products without attending a physical meeting in person with an agent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was approved by the IA through the Insurtech Sandbox programme, which provides a testing ground for new technology to be applied in business operations. Weve continued to see strong demand for insurance products as people become more health-conscious and think of their protection needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Damien Green, chief executive officer of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau. The recent facilitative measures and Insurtech Sandbox from the Insurance Authority have created a prime opportunity for us to do the right thing for customers, breaking the short-term constraint on face-to-face meetings with a new insurtech solution. It has the potential to become a meaningful alternative to traditional in-person face-to-face meetings, for customers who want choices and greater ease and convenience. R estaurant chain bosses have called for increased support for the UKs dining sector to prevent mass redundancies due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bosses for 90 chains including Itsu, Pret A Manger and Wagamamas have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It comes as pressure grows on the Government to reduce the social distance guidance from two metres to one to help the hospitality industry back on its feet. The bosses wrote: "Without Government support to help restaurants to generate revenue and cover costs, tens of thousands of restaurants may be forced to permanently close their doors in the coming months." Welcoming the steps, including the Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and cheap taxpayer-backed loans to businesses, the owners warned job losses can be expected. It said: "This crisis is far from over and the potential consequences are deeply concerning. A huge number of restaurants across the country are facing the prospect of bankruptcy." A recent survey by Deliveroo, which organised and signed the letter, found more than half of small and independent restaurants said they would have to close within three months without further support. "Without Government support to help restaurants to generate revenue and cover costs, tens of thousands of restaurants may be forced to permanently close their doors in the coming months," it said. They suggested that as long as social distancing measures remain in place, restaurants should be given grants for updating sites to become Covid-secure, cut VAT, reduce tax burdens, extend the furlough scheme and offer landlords mortgage holidays. The letter, signed by Deliveroo's partners, also said all restaurants should be permanently allowed to operate for takeaway services, and pub licence laws should change to allow customers to buy alcohol for takeaway and delivery. It was unclear from the letter how much the changes would cost the Exchequer, but the signatories pointed out customers spent 40 billion in restaurants last year, with one million employees. The letter added: "Unless your Government takes urgent action, shuttered restaurants in towns and cities across the country will be a permanent reminder of the damage this pandemic has done." Current rules say restaurants can reopen for business next month, but, many are concerned that customers will stay away and keeping social distancing may hit profits is full service cannot return. Signatories include Julian Metcalfe, founder and chief executive of Itsu; Pano Christou, chief executive of Pret A Manger; Emma Woods and Nigel Sherwood, chief executive and chief operating officer of Wagamama's, and Neil Manhas, general manager for Pizza Hut UK. A Government spokeswoman said: "We are working closely with the hospitality sector to develop safe ways for restaurants, bars and cafes to reopen as soon as we can from July. "These businesses can continue to access our extensive package of support, including our job retention scheme which has been extended until October - meaning it will have been open for eight months and will continue to support businesses as the economy reopens and people return to work. "This is in addition to the 100 per cent business rates holidays, tens of billions of pounds worth of business loans, guarantees and tax deferrals, and cover for the cost of statutory sick pay." The government has authorised the use of a drug which has been shown to reduce the risk of death by up to one-third among severely ill coronavirus patients. Dexamethasone, a cheap anti-inflammatory drug, has been immediately approved to treat all UK hospitalised patients requiring oxygen, including those on ventilators, from today. The move comes just hours after University of Oxford researchers announced that the drug showed the potential to reduce the mortality rate of Covid-19. As part of the government-funded Recovery Trial, a randomised group of 2,104 patients was given 6mg of dexamethasone per day for 10 days, while another group of 4,321 was given normal treatment. Dexamethasone reduced deaths by one-fifth in patients on oxygen feeds and by one-third in those who needed a ventilator to breathe, preliminary results showed. Announcing NHS approval for the drug, health secretary Matt Hancock said: Im absolutely delighted that today we can announce the worlds first successful clinical trial for a treatment for Covid-19. This astounding breakthrough is testament to the incredible work being done by our scientists behind the scenes. From today the standard treatment for Covid-19 will include dexamethasone, helping save thousands of lives while we deal with this terrible virus. Guided by the science, the UK is leading the way in the global fight against coronavirus with the best clinical trials, the best vaccine development and the best immunology research in the world. The government has stockpiled 200,000 courses of dexamethasone since March, and placed oral and injection solutions on a list of medicines banned for export from the UK at midnight on Tuesday. A total of 2.1bn of public money has been pumped into the University of Oxfords Recovery Trial, which, with more than 177,00 patients enrolled, is the largest randomised clinical study anywhere in the world. Martin Landray, professor of medicine and epidemiology at the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, and one of the trials chief investigators, said in a statement: These preliminary results from the Recovery Trial are very clear dexamethasone reduces the risk of death among patients with severe respiratory complications. Covid-19 is a global disease it is fantastic that the first treatment demonstrated to reduce mortality is one that is instantly available and affordable worldwide. Chris Whitty, Englands chief medical officer, said that it was the most important trial result for COVID-19 so far. Nick Cammack, of the Wellcome health foundation, called for the drug to be made available to anyone who needed it around the world, whether they could afford to pay for it or not. It is highly affordable, easy to make, can be scaled up quickly and only needs a small dosage, he added. This is extremely promising news and a significant step forward, but we still have a long way to go. To end this pandemic, we still need better diagnostics to detect, medicines to treat and vaccines to prevent Covid-19. Reformation Bible College Announces the Launch of its Online Foundation Year Program NEWS PROVIDED BY Reformation Bible College (RBC) June 16, 2020 SANFORD, Fla., June 16, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- Beginning in the fall 2020 semester, Reformation Bible College (RBC) will offer its Foundation Year certificate program in a fully online format as an alternative to the on-campus certificate. RBC is now accepting applications for this program, which starts on August 17. Foundation Year is a twenty-four credit-hour certificate designed for students who desire to be equipped with a solid foundation in biblical, theological, and philosophical studies from a Reformed Christian perspective. After completing this two-semester program, graduates will receive a Certificate in Theology, preparing them to pursue their chosen vocation or continue their education with an undergraduate degree program on the RBC campus in the Orlando area. Dr. Stephen Nichols, president of RBC and professor of apologetics, said: "This is a significant step forward in the life of our young college. With the help of technology, we'll be able to train students through a comprehensive program of biblical studies and expand the borders of our RBC community beyond Central Florida." Seeking to provide the best distance-learning experience available, the program enables students to participate in live classes, engage with professors and fellow students in real time, and revisit recorded lectures at their convenience. As an increasing number of high school graduates are postponing their transition to college, Dr. Nichols expressed the importance of making Foundation Year available online: "We've considered the challenges of the current moment and the year ahead, so we decided to offer an online certificate program for students who are considering a gap year or have concerns about on-campus study at this time." He added: "As a parent myself, I cannot imagine a better way for my son or daughter to deepen their knowledge of Scripture while learning from faculty that I know will care for their academic and spiritual growth. It is my hope for every online Foundation Year student to experience the power of God's Word and to hold onto its truth and promises for their entire lives." With a curriculum designed to help produce the next generation of articulate Christians who understand the Bible and their faith deeply, students earning the one-year certificate online pay only $4,600 in tuition and fees. In addition to no application fee, Reformation Bible College has also waived the $300 enrollment fee for those who complete an online application and submit all required documents by July 15. Interested parties can learn more about the Foundation Year online program by visiting ReformationBibleCollege.org/online or by contacting Admissions at admissions@reformationbiblecollege.org. About Reformation Bible College Reformation Bible College exists to educate students in the historic Christian faith, as affirmed in the Reformed confessions, so that they know, worship, and serve God in all of life. Founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul in 2011, RBC provides undergraduate degrees and certificate programs that are designed to prepare students for faithful Christian service in any vocation or calling. Students forge strong character through a well-rounded education, equipping them with a deep knowledge of God and His holiness. SOURCE Reformation Bible College (RBC) CONTACT: Madie Martin, Director of Admissions, 888-722-1517, admissions@reformationbiblecollege.org Related Links reformationbiblecollege.org Armed men killed at least 24 Malian soldiers in an ambush on an army patrol in the Segou region near Malis border with Mauritania, the army said Monday. Malis Armed Forces said eight soldiers survived Sundays assault in Bouka Were, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Mauritanian border. The army said four vehicles were destroyed. Malis security has deteriorated in the past few years. Al-Qaida and Islamic State-affiliated extremists are present and stage regular attacks. Since 2015, extremists have been moving from the arid north into the countrys more populated centre, stoking animosity and deadly violence between ethnic groups in the region. Until there are effective treatments or vaccines, the COVID-19 pandemic will remain a significant threat to public health and economies around the world. A major hurdle to developing and testing new anti-viral therapies and vaccines for COVID-19 is the lack of good, widely available animal models of the disease. Researchers at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and Medical University, Guangzhou, in China, have developed a simple tool to overcome that bottleneck. The researchers have created a gene therapy approach that can convert any lab mouse into one that can be infected with SARS-CoV-2 and develops COVID-like lung disease. The international team, led by Paul McCray, MD, and Stanley Perlman, PhD, at the UI, and Jincun Zhao, PhD, at Medical University, Guangzhou, have made their gene therapy vector freely available to any researchers who want to use it. "There is a pressing need to understand this disease and to develop preventions and treatments," says McCray, UI professor of pediatrics, and microbiology and immunology. "We wanted to make it as easy as possible for other researchers to have access to this technology, which allows any lab to be able to immediately start working in this area by using this trick." The "trick" is the use of an adenovirus gene therapy vector that is inhaled by the mice to deliver the human ACE2 protein into mouse airway cells. This is the protein that SARS-CoV-2 uses to infect cells. Once the mouse airway cells express the hACE2 protein, the mice become susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and they develop COVID-19-like lung symptoms. Although the disease is not fatal in the mice, the animals do get sick, losing weight and developing lung damage. Importantly, the vector is readily adaptable to any strain of mice (and other lab animals), which means research teams can rapidly convert mice with specific genetic traits into animals that are susceptible to SARS-Cov-2, allowing them to test whether those traits influence the disease. Reporting in Cell, the researchers showed that mice treated with this gene therapy could be used to evaluate a vaccine and several potential COVID-19 therapies, including a preventative strategy known as poly I:C, which boosts the innate immune response, convalescent plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients, and the anti-viral drug remdesivir. In each case, the therapies prevented weight loss, reduced lung disease, and increased the speed of virus clearance in the mice. The team also showed mice are useful for studying important immune responses involved in clearing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Mice are the most commonly used experimental animal for studying human disease in the lab because they are accessible, inexpensive, and easy to use. They are also one of the easier animal models to use in biosafety level three environments, which are needed for work on COVID-19. However, due to differences between the human and mouse ACE2 protein, wild-type mice are not susceptible to the SARS-Cov-2 virus. The gene therapy vector is essentially an off-the-shelf tool that allows labs to create their own COVID-19 mouse model within a few days. McCray, Zhao, and Perlman developed this approach in 2014, when Zhao was a postdoctoral researcher in Perlman's UI lab, to create mouse models of MERS. "You can create these mice very quickly. You don't have to breed the strain, which is very time consuming and expensive," McCray explains. "We think this technology will be useful for investigating COVID-19 lung disease and rapidly testing interventions that people think are promising for treating or preventing COVID-19." ### McCray credits the UI's long-standing expertise in gene therapy vector development as a basis for this advance. The vector was made in the University of Iowa Vector Core, which is an outgrowth of the UI Center for Gene Therapy for Cystic Fibrosis funded by the National Institutes of Health. The vector is freely available through the BEI Resources Repository at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The research was supported by the grants from the NIH (AI060699 and AI129269 and DK-54759), and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Zhao and his team also received funding from several Chinese governmental organizations. McCray also is supported by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. At Toyota of Lancaster, the 2021 Corolla Hybrid is available with a variety of options and in a wide range of colors. Toyota of Lancaster already has over 200 2020 new Toyota models in stock, but recently, the Los Angeles area dealership accepted several 2021 Corolla Hybrid models into its inventory. With 2020 in full swing, Toyota of Lancaster already has over 200 2020 new Toyota models in stock, but recently, the Los Angeles area dealership accepted several 2021 Corolla Hybrid models into its inventory, letting its shoppers grab the latest iteration of the compact hybrid. The Corolla is a favorite in the compact car market. Featuring four-doors, a unique style and a reliable reputation, many choose it as their compact car of choice. With the addition of a hybrid variant to the lineup, the Corolla becomes even more appealing. This particular hybrid has a strong efficiency rating with 53 mpg in the city and 52 mpg out on the highway. On the inside, the Toyota hybrid is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features along with radar cruise control, auto high beams, lane departure alert, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and more. Much of this info and more can all be found on a 2021 Corolla Hybrid research page that Toyota of Lancaster has recently added to its website. Here, those interested in the compact Toyota hybrid can learn all about its features, options and more. For Toyota, as well as most other car brands, the next years car models typically start arriving in summer and continue to arrive into the new year. Other 2021 models that car shoppers can expect to find at Toyota of Lancaster in the coming months include the 2021 Sienna, the all-new 2021 Venza, the plug-in hybrid 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, the 2021 Avalon with all-wheel drive and 2021 versions of the rest of the Toyota lineup. Those looking for a compact hybrid in the Los Angeles County area should reach out to Toyota of Lancaster through its website at http://www.toyotaoflancaster.com or via phone at 661-948-0731. The Toyota dealership can also be visited in person. The dealership is located at 43301 12th St. W, Lancaster, California 93534. Baghdad on Tuesday handed a formal letter of protest to the Turkish ambassador after summoning him over air strikes perpetrated by Ankara against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq. Iraq's foreign ministry said in a statement it condemned "a violation of (its) sovereignty" during a Turkish aerial operation against bases of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK, which has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, is banned as a terrorist group by Ankara and its Western allies. PKK bases are not explicitly authorised but are implicitly tolerated by an autonomous Kurdish administration in northern Iraq. The Turkish military, which regularly carries out operations against the PKK in southeastern Turkey and its rear bases across the border, on Sunday night launched raids against the northern Iraqi territories of Kandil, Sinjar and Hakurk. While the aerial attacks did not result in casualties, they "terrorised the population", the Iraqi foreign ministry said. Search Keywords: Short link: India's COVID-19 death toll neared the 10,000-mark on Tuesday as the Centre scaled up the daily testing capacity to three lakh samples and Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated his sixth round of consultations with chief ministers in three months laying emphasis on both life and livelihood. IMAGE: A healthcare worker collects swab sample of a toddler for the COVID-19 test at DRR Municipal Indoor Stadium, during the fifth phase of ongoing lockdown, in Vijayawada. Photograph: PTI Photo The country registered over 10,000 new COVID-19 cases for the fifth day in a row pushing the number of infections to 3,43,091 while the death toll rose to 9,900 with 380 new fatalities, according to the Union health ministry data. The country is in the eighth position in the global COVID-19 death tally which totalled 4,37,283. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi accounting for 70 per cent of the fatalities. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, said the COVID-19 situation in the country is worsening each passing day and not improving. You see the COVID-19 situation is not getting any better with each passing day. It is only getting worse in the country," a three-judge bench headed by Justice R F Nariman said while hearing a plea for extending the parole of a Punjab-based businessman accused in a drug racket case. IMAGE: A worker wearing protective gear sanitises a room at a hotel in Kolkata. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters On Friday, the apex court said the COVID-19 situation was grim in Delhi and four other states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat. In his video interaction, Prime Minister Modi said on the one hand health infrastructure should be boosted with emphasis on testing and tracing while on the other economic activity also needed to be increased. Noting that it is important to review the experiences as "Unlock 1" for a graded exit from the lockdown completes two weeks, he said "timing" is very important to deal with any crisis and decisions taken at the right time have helped a lot in controlling the coronavirus infection in the country. 'Unlock 1' was set in motion on June 1. "Today, the recovery rate in India is above 50 per cent... Death of anyone from coronavirus is tragic. For us, the death of even one Indian is discomforting. But it is also true that today India is among the countries in the world with the lowest deaths due to coronavirus," Modi said. We have worked day and night to save the lives of every Indian, he told the chief ministers and Lt Governors of 21 states and union territories--his sixth interaction with them since the outbreak of COVID-19. IMAGE: A vegetable vendor pushes his handcart past healthcare workers wearing personal protective equipment after a check up for the coronavirus at a slum in Mumbai. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Around 52.46 per cent of the patients have recovered, the health ministry said. The number of active cases stood at 1,53,178 while 1,80,012 patients have recovered, it said in the daily COVID-19 update. Modi also said the economy is showing "green shoots" as the country emerges from the coronavirus lockdown and asserted that the fight against the pandemic is a fine example of cooperative federalism where the Centre and the states are working together. The lockdown to fight the pandemic was imposed on March 25. "Rail-road, air-sea, all routes have been opened. But despite this, despite our country being so populous, coronavirus infection in India has not shown the same devastating effect that it has shown in other countries." Modi also struck a note of caution saying the slightest carelessness, laxity, lack of discipline will weaken all the fight against coronavirus. He asked the participants to continuously keep driving home the fact that danger of the virus is not over yet, and the need to remain vigilant while opening up the economy. "We always have to keep in mind that the more we can stop coronavirus, the more it will stop growing, the more our economy will open, our offices will open, markets will open, transport will open, and so will new employment opportunities," he said. On Wednesday, the prime minister will interact with chief ministers of 15 states, including Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and the LG of Jammu and Kashmir. These states are among the worst affected. The Union health ministry said the capacity for testing COVID-19 is being continuously ramped up and now three lakh samples can be tested each day, as scientists and medical experts pushed for ramping up tests to also cover all asymptomatic cases in the identified red zones and hotspots across the country. A network of 907 labs -- including 659 labs in the government sector and 248 in the private sector -- have been established as on date, the ministry said, reiterating that RT-PCR is the gold standard frontline test for diagnosis of COVID-19. RT-PCR is a throat/nasal swab test. A total of 59,21,069 samples have been tested for COVID-19 so far with 1,54,935 samples analysed in the last 24 hours, it said. Besides, in order to enhance the testing capacity in Delhi, each of the 11 districts shall now have assigned labs for exclusively testing the samples from the respective districts, the ministry said in a statement. The samples from each district are being sent to these labs to ensure timely testing and getting the results without any delay. Currently there are 42 labs in Delhi with daily testing capacity of about 17,000 samples. At a video conference in Hyderabad, a group of medical experts and scientists said there is a need to evolve a rational state testing policy based on the local conditions rather than strictly adhering to the broad guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research. The meeting by Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan with the experts including the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology Director Rakesh Mishra was convened to seek their opinion on evolving a "discrete, proactive and concrete strategy in combating COVID-19." IMAGE: An ambulance driver waits for the relatives to unload the bodies of people who died due to the coronavirus for their cremation at a crematorium in New Delhi. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters "Since lockdown is not an affordable option, for a prolonged period, the only strategy that can be adopted is test, trace and treat," the experts were also quoted as having said in a Raj Bhavan release. Of the total 9,900 COVID-19 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 4,128 fatalities followed by Gujarat (1,505), Delhi (1,400), West Bengal (485), Tamil Nadu(479), Madhya Pradesh (465), Uttar Pradesh (399), Rajasthan (301) and Telangana (187). The death toll reached 100 in Haryana, 89 in Karnataka, 88 in Andhra Pradesh and 71 in Punjab. Jammu and Kashmir has reported 62 fatalities, Bihar 40, Uttarakhand 24, Kerala 20 and Odisha 11. Jharkhand, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh have registered 8 deaths each while Chandigarh has reported 6 and Puducherry 5. Meghalaya, Tripura and Ladakh reported 1 fatality each, according to the health ministry. More than 70 per cent deaths have occurred due to comorbidities, the ministry said. Comorbidity is the state of having multiple medical conditions at the same time, The Union Health ministry also said that as part of efforts to provide reasonable health care to COVID-19 patients, some states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh have reached an agreement with the private sector, Amid possibilities of a likely shortage of healthcare infrastructure, the ministry asked states and UTs to proactively engage with private healthcare providers to facilitate enhanced bed availability and critical care health facilities and to ensure fair and transparent charges for services provided. "Some states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have already taken the initiative. "They have negotiated and reached an agreement with the private sector on reasonable rates and arrangements to provide critical care for in-patient COVID-19 admissions," the ministry said in a separate statement. In a boost to the fight against COVID-19, the US handed over to India 100 ventilators, valued at about $1.2 million, as part of US President Donald Trump's offer of assistance to New Delhi. US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster handed over the first shipment of 100 ventilators to Indian Red Cross Society Secretary General R K Jain at an event at the IRCS national headquarters in Delhi. New Delhi: In a massive escalation between India and China, at least 20 Indian Army soldiers, including a Colonel, have been martyred in a violent clash on Monday night with Chinese troops at the Galwan Valley in the Ladakh sector. Initially, the Indian Army had confirmed only three casualties. However, in a statement issued late on Tuesday, it added that 17 soldiers later succumbed to critical injuries and the sub-zero temperatures. According to official sources, an unknown number of Indian soldiers, including officers, who were reportedly in the captivity of the Chinese Army were released after a high-level meeting between the two sides. The two sides used batons, iron rods and stones to attack each other, with the Chinese Army too suffering casualties. However, Chinese government did not release its casualty figures. This is for the first time in 45 years that Indian soldiers have been killed at the line of actual control (LAC), with last such incident recorded in 1975, when four soldiers from the Assam Rifles were ambushed in Arunachal Pradesh. The incident happened at Patrolling Point 14 in Galwan Valley, which comes under the 16 Bihar regiment of the Indian Army. As per initial reports, Indian troops were there to see the disengagement from the area by the Chinese Army when they were suddenly attacked by PLA soldiers. Soon back-up patrols from both sides also joined. The clash between the two armies, which included hundreds of soldiers from both sides, went on the mountainous area till mid-night, said sources. Colonel Santosh Babu, Commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment, was killed during the clash. Indian army said that no firing happened during the clash. Major Generals from both the armies met on Tuesday morning on the issue. During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers, said a statement issued by Indian Army. In a revised statement, it added, 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20". Earlier, during another clash on May 5 at Pangong Tso, Commanding Officer (a Colonel) of 11 Mahar of the Indian Army was seriously injured. A late night meeting of top government ministers, including defence minister, home minister and external affairs minister, was held at Prime Ministers home in 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, said sources. Defence minister Rajnath Singh also reviewed the current operational situation in Eastern Ladakh with the CDS General Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar was also present during the meeting in the morning. However, Modi did not mention Ladakh incident during a speech delivered during a meeting with the chief minsters on COVID-19 situation which was telecast live. A Chinese military spokesperson said that Indian troops had broken their promises and crossed the line of actual control in the Galwan Valley region on Monday evening and launched provocative attacks, leading to severe clashes and casualties, according to Chinese state-owned media Global Times. People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theater Command spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Shuili said China had always owned sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region, and the Indian border defense troops were inconsistent with their words and seriously violated the consensus made during the army commander-level talks to harm the relations of the two militaries and the "feelings of the two countries' peoples". India should stop all provocative actions, meet the Chinese side halfway and come back to the right path of solving disputes through talks, Zhang said. The clash has taken place just two days after army chief General MM Naravane had said that Indian and Chinese troops were disengaging in a phased manner starting from Galwan river area at the LAC in Ladakh. Both armies are involved in a stand-off at a number of places in Ladakh including Galwan, Hot Springs and Pangong Tso where Chinese troops have violated the LAC. GRAND RAPIDS, MI A federal judge has issued an order requiring the owners of the failed Edenville Dam in Midland County to employee an engineer to inspect what remains of the structure. Grand Rapids-based U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney on Monday, June 15, issued the order as requested by Michigans Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (or EGLE). Maloney ordered Lee Mueller, owner of Boyce Hydro Power LLC (which itself owns the Edenville Dam), to employ an engineer to perform an inspection of the site and immediately determine whether the risk posed by the Tobacco River side of the Edenville Dam is substantial enough that immediate actions should be taken to mitigate the risk to public safety, natural resources, and public transportation and what that action should be. The judge further ordered Muellers engineer to prepare a comprehensive report that (a) evaluates the safety and stability of the remaining portions of the Edenville Dam; (b) identifies any deficiencies that may pose a risk to the remaining dam structure, natural resources, and/or public transportation; (c) recommends necessary measures to mitigate any identified deficiencies; and (d) establishes a timeframe to complete all measures necessary to mitigate the deficiencies. Mueller has until Friday to report the engineers finding to EGLE and the court, with a report to be submitted by July 24. On May 22, EGLE issued an emergency inspection order requiring Mueller to have an engineer evaluate the dam and report findings by May 24. Mueller did not respond to the order. EGLE personnel on June 2 contacted Mueller by email and provided him with a new due date of June 3. Mueller responded that his engineer would begin the inspection during the week of June 8. EGLE has since learned that the engineer was scheduled to be on site on June 10, but it is not clear whether the inspection occurred, and if so, whether the findings were reported to EGLE, Maloney wrote in his order. This lack of clarity led to the state seeking an order requiring Mueller to have the inspection performed immediately. Maloney further wrote that EGLE appears likely to succeed on its claim that Defendants must comply with the emergency inspection order. Furthermore, the state has alleged irreparable harm if the temporary restraining order were not issued. The Edenville Dam collapse has already caused extensive damage to the downstream areas, Maloney wrote. Plaintiffs allege that there are cracks in the Edenville Dam that are 60 feet long, and that citizens have been venturing into the destroyed area to recover property lost in the flood. If another storm were to come through the area, the damaged dam presents a grave risk to property and public health. Mueller has slow-walked his response, Maloney wrote, without regard to the possibility that now-damaged dam could cause another mass flooding event. As is, the dam presents a great risk of irreparable harm. The Edenville Dam failed on May 19, the same day the nearby Sanford Dam was also breached. Massive flooding resulted in the surrounding area. What remains of the Edenville Dam continues to hold back a substantial amount of water, Maloney wrote. The state claims the partial dam is causing ongoing damage by diverting the flow of the nearby Tobacco River and preventing the repair and reopening of highway M-30. Numerous lawsuits, both on the state and federal levels, have also resulted. Judge Maloney on Monday also denied a motion filed by the state to have a federal case remanded in Ingham County Circuit Court. Related: Michigan sues Edenville Dam owner, seeks flooding damage compensation After Edenville Dam failure, lawsuits pour in against owners, state regulators Attorney Geoffrey Fieger joins in lawsuits seeking damages in wake of Midland dam failure and flooding After Edenville Dam failure, lawsuits pour in against owners, state regulators FEMA arrives to assess damage in Midland County, but notes much of their work will be done virtually Economic impact, future of failed dams repair weigh heavy on residents around Wixom Lake Our whole life is gone, says woman whose Sanford home was washed away in Midland floods Failed dam owner fought with state over Wixom Lake levels before flood Feds warned years ago Edenville Dam couldnt handle a historic flood South Koreas presidential office said on Tuesday it will respond sternly if North Korea continues to raise tensions after destroying a joint liaison office that was a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation. The destruction of the office broke the expectations of all people who hope for the development of inter-Korean relations and lasting peace on the peninsula, deputy national security adviser Kim You-geun told a briefing. Were making clear that the North is entirely responsible for all the consequences this might cause, he said. San Francisco, June 16 : Kobo, an ereader company which is a subsidiary of Japanese media and ecommerce group Rakuten, has asked for a probe into the Apple App Store for possible violation of competition rules in the European Union, according to a report in the Financial Times. As per the complaint, charging 30 per cent commission for e-books sold through the App Store was anti-competitive as the tech giant promoted its own product Apple Books, said the report on Monday, citing sources familiar with the complaint. The complaint was reportedly sent to the European Commission in March. A similar complaint was last year sent to the Commission by Swedish music streaming service Spotify. Spotify accused Apple of unfairly hindering its rivals and favouring Apple Music through its App Store policies. Rejecting Spotify's assertions, Apple had earlier argued that Spotify was really driven by "financial motivations" and wanted to benefit from the App Store's infrastructure without contributing to it. The European Commission has not yet ruled on Spotify's complaint, the Financial Times report said. These are not the only two complaints against the App Store in the EU. Tracking app maker Tile last month sent a letter to the commission, accusing Apple of anti-competitive behaviour. Apple "strenuously" denied the allegations. A shootout on the citys westside Tuesday morning sent two people to the hospital. Birmingham police and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched shortly before 9:30 a.m. to Fourth Avenue West on a report of people shot. Sgt. Rod Mauldin said Shot Spotter detected multiple rounds fired in the areas of Fourth Avenue West and Second Avenue West around 11th Street. The crime scene stretched at least two blocks on Fourth Avenue West with at least two dozen shell casings from two different guns littering the roadway. A man was found with a gunshot wound to the back. He was taken to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries. A second victim a female was later found at OReilly Auto Parts on Third Avenue West. She had been walking around the neighborhood after she was shot before police and medics finally were able to locate her. She had been grazed on the right side of her face. Mauldin said investigators believe two vehicles were possibly shooting at each other, though it is early in the probe. It wasnt immediately clear whether the victims were involved or caught in crossfire. At least one occupied apartment and one vehicle were damaged in the gunfire. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. MBARI scientists use the Benthic Rover (top left) and ROV Doc Ricketts (top right) to study animal communities at Station M. Some of the seafloor animals living in the area include large sea cucumbers in the genus Psychropotes (bottom left), sponges, and a sea pen (bottom right). Credit: MBARI For 30 years, MBARI ecologist Ken Smith and his colleagues have studied deep-sea communities at a research site called Station M, located 4,000 meters (2.5 miles) below the ocean's surface and 290 kilometers (180 miles) off the coast of Central California. A recent special issue of the journal Deep-Sea Research features 16 new papers about research at Station M by scientists from around the world. These papers cover a wide range of topics, from satellite observations of the sea surface to the behavior and genetics of deep-sea life. The deep seafloor is one of the largest and least known habitats on this planet. The flat, muddy expanses of the deep ocean floorknown as the abyssal plaincover more than 50 percent of Earth's surface and play a critical role in the Earth's carbon cycle. Scientists visit from time to time, but they rarely get to stay long. That's one reason why the long-term studies at Station M are so remarkable. Animals on the deep seafloor get most of their food from the sunlit surface waters thousands of meters above. This food typically arrives in the form of marine snowbits and pieces of dead algae or animals that sink to the muddy ocean bottom. This detritus carries carbon from the surface waters to the deep sea. Because much of this carbon originates as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, sinking marine snow indirectly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and sequesters organic carbon in the deep ocean over geologic timescales. Station M is the only deep-sea site in the world where scientists have conducted long-term, continuous measurements of both the supply of carbon to the seafloor and the consumption of this organic carbon by deep-sea animals and microbes. Over the past three decades, Smith and his colleagues have developed and used a whole suite of oceanographic tools to study Station M. These include satellites, research ships, bottom trawls, human-occupied vehicles such as Alvin, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), a robotic seafloor rover, seafloor landers, coring devices, fish traps, sediment traps, respirometers (which measure oxygen consumption), current meters, and time-lapse cameras. The underwater observatory at Station M includes instruments and robots that operate autonomously 24 hours a day, seven days a week. MBARI scientists only need to visit the site once a year to collect and download data, service instruments, and swap out batteries. The results of this research have dramatically changed marine biologists' perceptions of life in the deep sea. For one thing, the data show that the deep seafloor is far from staticphysical conditions and biological communities can change dramatically over time scales ranging from days to decades. Research at Station M also confirmed that changes on the seafloor directly relate to conditions near the sea surface. For example, huge populations of algae or gelatinous animals such as salps may consume available nutrients and food in surface waters, then die and sink rapidly to the bottom. The resulting "blizzard" of detritus provides a feast for deep-seafloor organisms, allowing some species to reproduce and dominate seafloor communitiesat least until most of the food is used up. Such "feast and famine" cycles affect some seafloor animals more than others. For example, some species of sea cucumbers were rare at Station M in the 1990s, then became extremely abundant, and then disappeared entirely. Other sea cucumbers had relatively stable populations throughout the 30-year study. The 16 research papers in the special edition of Deep-Sea Research cover these topics and many more. Two of the papers focus on connections between processes at the sea surface and the amount of carbon reaching the deep seafloor. Three papers examine the types and amounts of material sinking down through the water. Two other papers describe changes in the chemical and biological conditions on the seafloor. The remaining nine papers describe animals and microbes living on and near the seafloor and how these organisms respond to changes in their environment. The papers in this volume provide an overview of ongoing research at Station M and show how this research has improved scientists' understanding of the biogeochemistry, biology, and ecosystems on the deep seafloor. As human impacts in the ocean become more pervasive, research at Station M and at similar sites around the world are essential to understanding this vast but little-studied environment. Long-term studies such as the Station M time series are also essential for understanding long-term changes in the ocean and in Earth's climate. Smith and his research team hope to continue their work at Station M to find out if the surprising changes in seafloor communities will continue. They will also be developing new technologies that will allow researchers to monitor conditions at Station M from shore in real time. Explore further Deep-sea animal communities can change dramatically and erratically over time A Mandeville area man was arrested by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office Tuesday and booked with counts of child pornography, according to a news release. The Sheriff's Office began investigating Michael Bush Sr. after an out-of-state family member contacted the agency in early March with concerns that he might be grooming underage guitar students. The relative told detectives that they had found images of child pornography 20 years ago on a laptop owned by Bush. Detectives, in joint investigation with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations, searched Bush's Mandeville area home on May 29 and confiscated electronic devices, which were found to have three images of child pornography. Covington man who allegedly shot stray bullet at patrol truck with deputy inside arrested: STPSO A Covington man who allegedly fired a semi-automatic weapon 17 times and struck a marked St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office patrol truck whil Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Detectives also found marijuana and drug paraphernalia at his home. Bush was booked on three counts of pornography involving juveniles and one count each of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about the case to contact St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Detective Varnado at 985-726-7842. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 18:55:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, June 16 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's presidential Blue House expressed strong regret Tuesday over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s demolition of the inter-Korean joint liaison office in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong by explosion. Kim You-geun, first deputy director of the Blue House National Security Office (NSO), told a press briefing that the South Korean government expresses strong regret over the DPRK side's unilateral explosion of the inter-Korean joint liaison office building that was opened according to the Panmunjom Declaration. Kim said the demolition was an act of letting down the expectations of all who wish for the development of inter-Korean relations and the settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula. The comment came after South Korea's Unification Ministry said in a statement that the DPRK blew up the Kaesong joint liaison office at 2:49 p.m. local time (0549 GMT). Chung Eui-yong, top national security advisor for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, convened a National Security Council (NSC) standing committee meeting to discuss countermeasures toward the DPRK's action. The liaison office was opened in September 2018 for the round-the-clock communications between the two Koreas in accordance with the Panmunjom Declaration. The declaration was signed by South Korean President Moon and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un after their first summit on April 27, 2018 at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom. Enditem The Supreme Court currently has a reliable five-member conservative majority on many issues like business regulation, campaign finance, voting rights and the death penalty. On several of these issues, the court has issued sweeping decisions that throw out earlier precedents. On other issues, however, the court does not lean so far to the right. The list includes immigration, antitrust and the census, all subjects on which at least one conservative justice has joined the courts liberal members to issue liberal or moderate rulings. After Justice Anthony Kennedy retired in 2018, it wasnt clear which category L.G.B.T.Q. rights would fall into. Kennedy had written landmark opinions on gay rights, including the 2015 legalization of same-sex marriage. And when Brett Kavanaugh replaced Kennedy in 2018, many civil-rights advocates were anxious. Yesterdays big Supreme Court decision holding that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protected gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination seems to answer the uncertainty: Even post-Kennedy, the court still leans left on L.G.B.T.Q. rights. Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"): Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 16 June 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 36,594 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,934 pence 24.31 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,858 pence 23.36 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,900 pence 23.89 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 16 June 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 22,679 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 24.20 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 23.50 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 24.14 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 16 June 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 48,059 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 24.40 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 23.45 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 24.01 USD PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 35.74 USD 28.08 GBP which was calculated as of 9 June 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 196,241,350 Public Shares outstanding, or 202,196,769 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 14,715,400 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies. The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected. About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005881/en/ Contacts: Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk Tensions between the two Asian giants escalate as 20 Indian soldiers reportedly killed in Ladakh region. A military standoff between India and China over their disputed border has escalated into violent clashes that has left at least 20 Indian troops dead. Tensions flare on a fairly regular basis between the two regional powers over their 3,500-kilometre (2,200-mile) frontier, which has never been properly demarcated. But the incident late on Monday, which an Indian army spokesman described as a violent face-off, was the first such confrontation since 1975 in which soldiers have died. Reports of Chinese casualties have not yet been confirmed. What prompted the face-off? The two Asian superpowers have for decades been fighting over the largely uninhabited region. They fought a brief war in 1962 but they have become more frequent in recent years. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours escalated in May in Indias Ladakh region, which borders Tibet. Indian officials say Chinese soldiers crossed the boundary at three different points, erecting tents and guard posts and ignoring verbal warnings to leave. On May 9, several Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in a high-altitude cross-border clash involving fists and stone-throwing in Sikkim state. Indian officials said Chinese troops within days encroached over the demarcation line in the Ladakh region, further to the west. India then moved extra troops into the area. Defusing tensions In a bid to resolve tensions, the two sides held talks last week in the border outpost of Maldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) the de facto border between the two countries. 200616172525853 At the time, Indias foreign ministry said the two sides would continue the military and diplomatic engagements to resolve the situation and to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas. And China said it had reached a positive consensus with India over resolving the border tensions through diplomatic and military channels. But there has been no real breakthrough in talks. Indian news reports suggest that India appears to have effectively ceded to Chinese areas that the Peoples Liberation Army occupied in recent weeks, notably parts of the northern side of the Pangong Tso lake and some of the strategically important Galwan river valley. Meanwhile, following the announcement of the latest deaths, Chinas foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said Indian troops crossed the border line twice on Monday, provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides. Commenting on what might come next, defence analyst Shukla told Al Jazeera: It will basically take a military-to-military dialogue and a diplomat-to-diplomat dialogue both are under way to bear fruit. So far, they have not really borne fruit. Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Tuesday accused the BJP-JJP government in Haryana of not doing enough to control the rising coronavirus cases. Addressing mediapersons, he alleged that the state government was taking this crisis lightly. Referring to the impending assembly bypoll for Baroda seat, the MP said the BJP was already in election mode while the state was in the SOS mode. What is the BJP celebrating by holding political rallies across the state? Is the fight against coronavirus over? he asked. Deepender said despite the fact that Covid-19 cases were increasing at a fast pace in Haryana, the state government was more interested in political propaganda than focusing on the deteriorating situation. The BJP is more worried about the Baroda assembly bypoll than the safety and lives of the people. BJP MPs and ministers are flouting MHA guidelines by holding political meetings in Baroda and Gohana, he alleged. JD Greear tells SBC its time to retire the Broadus gavel, named after slaveholder Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear has urged that the denomination to stop opening its annual meetings with a gavel that carries the name of John Broadus, a 19th-century Southern Baptist leader who was a slaveholder. When I presided over the Annual Meeting in Birmingham, I was presented with a gavel to use, so I used it, Greear said in a statement. Knowing that it was the Broadus gavel and knowing John A. Broadus views on race, I must admit that while we stood there, I felt a sense of unease. Greear, who has long been a champion of intentional diversity in the SBC, continued, To be fair, John Broadus seems to have changed some of his positions later in life, and for that I am thankful. But the reality is that given the role that slavery played in the formation of the SBC, mixed messages were still being sent. He urged, Southern Baptists, I think it is time to retire the Broadus gavel. While we do not want to, nor could we, erase our history, it is time for this gavel to go back into the display case at the Executive Committee offices. Greear, who leads The Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham area, quoted his friend O.S. Hawkins, president of Guidestone Financial Resources, as having said: We need to be less about 1845 and more about 2025. The SBC is the nations largest Protestant denomination and was founded in 1845. While the Broadus gavel has been used continuously to open the convention since 1872, others were incorporated as well, said Greear. So at the SBC annual meeting next year in Nashville, Greear said, There are different options that I will consider using. According to The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's 2018 report on slavery and racism in its history, Broadus owned slaves and argued that slaveholding was morally just. He had also drafted resolutions pledging Southern Baptist support for the Confederacy. It was in 1882 when Broadus repudiated American slavery. Following the recent death of a 46-year-old black man, George Floyd, which was caught on a video showing him lying on the ground, handcuffed and restrained by three officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Greear urged Southern Baptists to see racial injustice as a real issue that must be addressed. We realize that especially in a moment like this one, we need our brothers and sisters of color. We need the wisdom of leadership that God has written in their community. We know that many in our country, particularly our brothers and sisters of color, right now are hurting, he said. During an SBC presidential address last week, Greear endorsed the black lives matter movement while denouncing the Black Lives Matter organization that sparked the movement in 2013. Black lives matter, Greear said after acknowledging the SBCs racist past and highlighting the denominations growing diversity, as well as the ongoing civil unrest over racial inequality. I realize that the movement and the website have been hijacked by some political operatives whose worldview and policy prescriptions would be deeply at odds with my own, but that doesnt mean that the sentiment behind it is untrue. I do not align myself with the Black Lives Matter organization, he said. I think saying bold things like defund the police is unhelpful and deeply disrespectful to many public servants who bravely put themselves in harms way every day to protect us. But I know that we need to take a deep look at our police systems and structures and ask what were missing. Where are we missing the mark? And Ill say that we do that because black lives matter. We know that honoring Christ in this moment means listening to those who hurt, lamenting with them, and bearing their burdens. The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Is-haq Oloyede, on Tuesday said that 612, 557 candidates were offered admission into various tertiary institutions in 2019. Mr Oloyede disclosed this in Abuja at the 2020 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria. He said about 510, 957 admission spaces were, however, unused by tertiary institutions in 2019. Out of 1, 157, 977 candidates who sat for UTME in 2019, about 612, 557 were admitted, he said. Mr Oloyede added that candidates waiting for their Senior School Certificate Examinations results would only be considered when they were uploaded on its website. In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, directed JAMB and tertiary institutions to proceed with the conduct of 2020/2021 admissions. Mr Adamu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, urged JAMB and tertiary institutions to consider candidates with previous years Senior School Certificate Examination and other qualifying results. He said the government would make arrangements that would accommodate applicants who would be taking the examination when the opportunity to do so had worked out. As major stakeholders, we must jointly come up with reactions that would realign our programmes to these new realities while these reactions are being fine-tuned to check their capacities and capabilities to withstand the new reality. JAMB and tertiary institutions could take advantage of the current situation and consider candidates with previous years Senior School Certificate Examination and other qualifying results to proceed on with the admission process. Whatever arrangement that the country comes up with in the long run will surely accommodate those who will be taking the examination when the opportunity to do so is worked out, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that admission processes were expected to commence in August based on the guidelines released by JAMB. NAN also reports that various institutions were warned not to charge more than N2, 000 for their screening exercise. (NAN) Colleges should share responsibility for pandemic-caused damage Amid mounting calls from college students to refund their tuition fees to make up for "lowered" educational quality because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Konkuk University has decided to cut fees for the fall semester. Korean university students have demanded their schools pay back at least part of their tuition fees for the spring semester, during which they had to take online classes and could not use essential facilities. However, schools rejected such calls, citing a lack of financial resources as reasons. The education ministry also backed off, leaving the decision to schools. All this shows why Konkuk's decision is noteworthy. It was also significant that the school authorities reached the conclusion after lengthy discussions with the student council. University officials and student representatives have had eight meetings since April and agreed on the partial refund of the spring semester fees by cutting fees for the fall semester. The two sides reportedly plan to fix the amount of refunds by the end of the week. If so, it will mark the first case of a tuition refund to compensate for students' loss of the right to receive a quality education. However, most other universities still maintain that it is all but impossible to cough up tuition fees because of pandemic-related costs of setting up online classes and running disinfection and quarantine programs on campus. It may be unreasonable to force universities to take all the responsibility for the pandemic-caused loss. Nevertheless, the schools can hardly say they have tried sincerely to reduce the "damage" students have suffered. More disappointing is that the educational authority has just sat and watched the development with arms crossed. The ministry has even turned a deaf ear to the Korean Council for University Education request to use the government's support fund in a more flexible way to use its financial resources for tuition refunds. Other universities should follow Konkuk's example, and the ministry should accept the council's request. It is clearly beyond the pale for the government and schools to pass losses for damages resulting from the novel coronavirus pandemic on to students and their parents. Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu (37), who was killed in a clash with Chinese troops in Ladakhs Galwan valley on Monday night, would have been spending his time with his old parents in Telanganas Suryapet town by now, had he not been held up due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He had been trying for a transfer to Hyderabad for a long time and it was approved in February after he was promoted from Lt Colonel to Colonel in February. But even before the formalities of his transfer were completed, the Centre announced lockdown in the country and he was asked to continue in the Indo-China border at Ladakh till further orders, his uncle Ganesh Babu said. The news about Santoshs death reached his parents B Upender (63) and Manjula (58) at around 2 pm on Tuesday, leaving them in deep shock. Also read: Indian officer, two others killed in clash with PLA; casualties on both sides We have been watching the news about clashes between Indian and Chinese troops at the border on television. But since no names were mentioned in the news, we never thought our son would be among the dead. But when I received a call from my daughter-in-law in Delhi, we realised that my son was martyred, Upender, a retired employee of State Bank of India, told Hindustan Times. Family members of Colonel Santosh Babu, who was killed in action during a clash with Chinese troops, at their residence in Suryapet on Tuesday. (PTI) The Colonels family wife Santoshi, daughter Abhigna (9) and son Anirudh (4) reside in Delhi. He spoke to me only two days ago and told me he might get relieved in September once the Covid-19 pandemic subsides. But he has left us forever, Upender said. Santoshs sister Sruthi, is a homemaker. He had nurtured an ambition since childhood to join the armed forces. In fact, I wanted to join the Army in my student days, but somehow, the family circumstances did not permit me. I realised my dreams through my son, he said. Also read: Have disengaged, says Indian Army day after 20 soldiers killed in clash with PLA After the primary schooling in Suryapet, Santosh took admission in Sainik School, Korkukonda, under Union Ministry of Defence in Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh, where he studied up to Class 12. Later, he joined the graduation course in National Defence Academy in Pune and then the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. In 2004, he was commissioned into the 16 Bihar regiment and his first posting was in Jammu. Since then, he had been working on the borders in various locations. He was a brilliant guy both in studies and duties. I never expected that he would desert us like this. But I am proud he gave up his life for the country, Upender said. His mother Manjula was shocked but more composed than her husband. I am shocked. But I am also feeling proud for my son who laid down his life in service of the country. The mortal remains of Santosh are expected to be brought to Hyderabad by 9.30 am on Wednesday and would be straightaway taken to Suryapet by afternoon for cremation. Indian companies have invested $22.6 billion in the United States so far and created nearly 125,000 jobs, says a new survey report by an Indian industry body released Monday. The actual investment numbers might be much higher because the survey Indian Roots, American Soil by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was based on responses from 155 companies in the US, and not all of them. There are many more according to industry sources and they have been either slow or reluctant to respond to questionnaires. But there was no readily available guesstimate of them or their worth. The last CII survey, in 2018, had pegged the total investment at $18 billion, based on responses only from 100 companies. The report highlights the significant investments made by Indian industry in the US, including in the area of research and development, Taranjit Sandhu, Indian ambassador to the US, said at the launch of the report at a virtual conference. The ambassador also pointed to the contribution by Indian companies to local communities through their CSR initiatives such as supporting students, organizing skilling sand training programmes. The reverse investment by US companies in India is $46 billion as of 2018, according to the US trade representatives office. The report, released every two years, measures the growing presence of Indian companies in the United States as proof India-US economic ties are not a one-way street. And, equally importantly, it provides a counter-narrative to criticism in recent years that Indians are taking away American jobs through outsourcing. The findings are specially instructive now as the Trump administration continues to erect more barriers for Indian IT services companies explicitly naming some of them from the podium of the White House press briefing room once in line with the presidents Buy American, Hire American vision. This report tells the continuing story of successful and innovative Indian companies attracted to the United States as one of the best places to do business, and the US locations eager to welcome those companies, said Diane Farrell acting deputy-undersecretary of commerce, at the virtual launch. Washington DC is in the first phase of opening up from Covid-19 restrictions and teleworking and remote conferences and meetings are still the preferred mode of operation in a city that thrives, otherwise, on schmoozing, face-to-face meetings and showing up to be seen and note others at these events. Information technology and telecommunications companies led by industry giants TCS, Infosys and Wipro accounted for the largest share of Indian presence with 27.10%. They were closely followed by life sciences, pharmaceuticals and healthcare at 24.52%. Manufacturing and automotive were next with 19% and 10% respectively. But the numbers do not adequately reflect the growing outsized influence of Indian companies in these sectors. Welspun India is the chief provider of pipes for a pipeline bringing crude from Canada to refineries in the US. And Mahindras has emerged as a major automotive player. It is a key challenger to John Deere tractors, the market leader, and maker of off-road vehicles It has made it to the shortlist of contenders to provide the US postal service with its ubiquitous right-hand drive vehicles. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo recognized its contribution to the Trump administrations battle against the Covid-19 outbreak recently. Mahindras automotive plant in Detroit, Michigan switched to producing protective gear used by healthcare professionals dealing with Covid-19 patients. Texas was the top destination for Indian companies with $9.4 billion in investments, followed by New Jersey with $2.4 billion, New York with $1.79 billion, Massachusetts and California tied with $858 million, and Missouri with $595 million and Indiana, vice-president Mike Pences home state, with $565 million. Texas came first in every category in this years report, noted John Corny, the senior Republican senator from Texas who co-chairs the India caucus in the senate. Indian Americans have made so many important cultural, economic and scientific contributions to our country and Texas values your hard work and innovation. So keep up the good work! Dozens of protesters swarmed Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's vehicle on Monday, demanding that the government take action in searching for thousands who have disappeared in the country's war against drugs. According to a report by Reuters, the protesters bore banners with images of their relatives who went missing. Some demanded the leader to step out of his vehicle and talk to them like he had with El Chapo's mother in late-March. Read more: El Chapo Was Illegally Extradited to the US, According to his Mother The Mexican government believes there are over 61,000 missing people in the country, most of whom are victims of violent drug gangs. While some are recovered, many are never found. On June 9, four armed men stormed a vehicle in Chapala, Jalisco and forced a young Mexican couple-Griselda Gutierrez Rodriguez, 28, and Angel Adan Martinez, 26-to abandon their car. Both victims were reported missing on June 10 after Rodriguez's sister received a tip about an abandoned truck sitting on the side of the road. Their disappearance was the eighth in the past week, and the 31st reported this year, Politicopathy said. In early June, authorities found the body of a missing Mexican congresswoman who had been missing for a month. In a report by The Guardian, the 38-year-old lawmaker Anel Bueno was abducted by armed men in Ixtlahuacan on April 29 while raising awareness about the COVID-19 pandemic. The town is known as one of the country's most murderous regions due to the presence of the drug trade. Ixtalahuacan is a half-hour drive from Tecoman, a seaside town known as the country's most dangerous municipality. In 2017, authorities reported 172.5 deaths per 100,000 town residents. Read more: Mass Murder: 25 Unidentified People Found Dead in Mexico's Jalisco State As Mexico's drug war escalated, mass graves became a common occurrence. Last year, officials found over 100 clandestine cemeteries where the bodies of the people considered to be enemies of drug cartels were recovered. In August 2019, officials released the first official tally where they revealed finding 3,025 secret graves across the country. The gravesites held more than 4,874 bodies, most of whom have yet to be identified. More than 520 of the 3,025 graves were discovered since Lopez Obrador won the presidential election with promises of creating reliable databases and developing a task force to search for the missing persons. In today's Mexico, most disappearances are associated with drug cartels. The disappearances became more common after former Mexican President Felipe Calderon launched a military offensive against organized crime just days after he took office in December 2006. Calderon deployed 50,000 masked troops across the nation. His initiative led to the capture of cartel bosses, but the movement only forced the flow of drugs northward. During his administration, an estimated 100,000 people became victims of violent acts. Thousands went missing. Journalists, judges, and politicians became targets of assassinations. More than 200,000 people have been killed since then. And with the data of missing people becoming notoriously sketchy, desperate relatives were forced to spearhead search efforts, scouring mountains for signs of hidden graves. Want to read more? By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: The Bahrain Odia Samaj on Monday sought intervention of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for reduction of airfare fixed for repatriation of Odia workers stranded in Gulf country due to lockdown. Founder of the forum Arun Kumar Praharaj said the fare of Bahrain-Bhubaneswar Air India flight scheduled to leave on June 20 under Vande Bharat Mission is 148 Bahraini Dinar (BHD), around `30,000 in Indian currency, compared to around 85 BHD for Bahrain to Chennai or Dubai to Bhubaneswar. The ticket cost is too high for the Odia workers who have remained stranded in labour camps of the country for the last three months without any job, Praharaj said while pointing out that many of these workers are now dependent on the community help for their daily ration as all their savings have exhausted during lockdown period. He requested the Chief Minister and the Union Minister to pursue the matter with the Centre to keep the airfare below 100 BHD for the distressed Odia workers.The forum has also sought the intervention of Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Nodal Officer of Ministry of External Affairs Rahul Srivastava in this regard. We are hopeful that the Centre will look into the matter and take steps to reduce the fares, Praharaj said. The brutal treatment of George Floyd that resulted in death has hit on a chord with far-reaching intensity. The specifics were revealed because Damella Frazier, 17, had the presence of mind to film the almost-unbelievable incident that occurred in Minneapolis on May 25,2020. In this case, a video is worth more than 1,000 words. There is no escaping the graphic image of George, 46 years old, with his body beneath a police vehicle while police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Georges throat, refused to move despite Georges plea, I cant breathe. Were it not for the revelatory, indisputable clarity of image and sound, chances are this murder would have failed to attract attention worldwide. The image cannot be unseen, Georges entreaty cannot be unheard. The intense, continuing, all-encompassing abhorrence of the nature of the death of George Floyd is unprecedented in recent history. Protests have been held outside the American embassy in London and in Copenhagen . In Italy, senior correspondent Massimo Gaggi observed that the dissidents in the groups in Italy have included a diverse mixture of gender, religion, and nationality, and race. There is evidence that the value of human life is being re-examined. The customary acceptance of the violation of human rights appears to have run its course. For African Americans the current outrage is fueled by the cumulative nature of abuse levied on their community for generations. For many in this community, very little has been achieved in terms of equality since the forced deportation of slaves from Africa. In 1968 riots broke out after the murders of first, Martin Luther King, Jr, and then, Robert Kennedy, who understood the necessity of equality. At that time there was considerable outrage about the war in Viet Nam and the enforced draft. The fire burned, but the fervor was not maintained. More recently, the exposure of the treatment of Eric Gardner, Michael Brown and Freddie Gray, among others, has made it impossible to ignore the double standard that is imposed upon people of color. Abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who was, himself, born into slavery, declared: The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion. One writer has pointed out that violence and force have, traditionally, been utilized in the service of liberty. Thus, the American Revolution. This conclusion has proven to be accepted in cases of white rebellion and criticized when employed by individuals of color. The arrival of the corona virus, worldwide, in 2020 set the stage for a long-delayed explosion. Routines were disrupted. Employment was shut down. The Black community suffered (and continues to sustain) the lions share of misfortune. It is not possible to deny that below par education, medical assistance and job opportunity fed the fire of awareness of broken promises and systemic degradation. The fear of contagion by anyone, not just a scapegoated group, prevailed. Safe distancing, the wearing of masks, the need to stay home, the death toll, pictures of coffins piled in the street, all combined to stir up an understandable paranoia and uncertainty. The pressure cooker of life exploded at the sight of Derek Chauvins knee on George Floyds throat. It did not help to learn that George expired at the 6minute point, but was pinned down for an additional 2minutes and 46 seconds as Chauvin refused to adjust his stance and/or turn George Floyd over. The world witnessed an extermination. The Presidents statement.When the looting starts the shooting starts was interpreted as inflammatory at a time when large portions of the citizenry of the United States required a message of comfort. Although the President claimed it was a statement and not a threat, it served to intensify the long-held fury of individuals who have experienced unmitigated discrimination. Protestors who had generally operated within their respective bubbles came to understand that there was strength in numbers and a common cause. Groups such as Indivisible and Move On are working cooperatively. This is one aspect of the current state of dissension that, previously did not exist. The groups that are challenging the status quo are instructing those who wish to join them on how to do so safely. Enough, this must end has been reported as a common attitude cross-culturally. Those who are not angry have communicated a weariness and abhorrence of so-called class discrimination. Professor Dana Fisher summed up the situation when she wrote: Anxiety meets moral outrage traveling at the speed of social media. The time of hiding intolerance has passed. Remember that a 17-year-old Black girl set the spark that grew into a conflagration. Now that the curtain has been pulled back, it will be difficult to bend the truth and cover up situations of abuse. Without a mitigating Influence the road between peaceful and violent demonstrations will continue to narrow. There are those who believe that the time has come, not for rebellion, but for revolution. It is possible that this time of isolation and rage will lead to a reconsideration of human rights and values. The belief that there is not enough to go around , which is prevalent in some circles, is an incorrect paradigm. True, some may be asked to relinquish a portion of material goods. But, what about generosity, empathy, and kindness? These attitudes have been proven to provide a long-lasting contentment that will never be provided by stuff. Yale professor, Laurie Santos, teaches about happiness. Her course has been a blockbuster. Psychology and the good life is the most popular course that has ever been offered at Yale. With a focus on enlightened self-care and gratitude, Professor Santos has left a powerful footprint at this Ivy League bastion of the privileged. A recent mantra that has emerged is, Stop the pain! It is important to take this incantation seriously. If the pain is ignored, it is likely that past compliance with bigotry(which was often the only option) will continue to detonate an all-encompassing call for mutiny. Change is hard, maintaining toxic traditions is dangerous. Things to think about. CITATIONS Associated Press (05/31/2020 ) World Alarmed by Violence in U.S.; Thousands March in London. nytimes.com Fisher, Dana (06/07/2020) Im a Professor Who Studies Protests and Activism. Heres Why the George Floyd Protests Are Different. businessinsider.com Jackson, C.J.(06/01/2020) The Double Standard of the American Riot. theatlantic.com Rinsker, J.(06/05/2020) Its Been Setting in on Me That This is Like a Cycle theatlantic.com Walker, A.(05/29/2020) George Floyd Death. Why His Killing in Minnesota Could be The Moment to Bring Lasting Change. news.sky.com Wood, G. (05/31/2020) How do You kneel on a Neck For Nine Minutes? theatlantic.come Indians holds photographs of Chinese president Xi Jinping during a protest against China in Ahmedabad, India, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. The Indian army said Tuesday that 20 of its soldiers were killed in border clashes with Chinese troops, Reuters and The Associated Press reported, citing an army statement. They mark the first deaths in 53 years in the standoff between these two nuclear-armed powers. The army originally reported that three Indian soldiers had died, but later said 17 additional soldiers succumbed to injuries they suffered, according to the news agencies that cited an army statement. The world's two most populous countries are locked in a territorial dispute along their mountainous 2,175-mile frontier. No shots have been fired since 1975, with troops occasionally engaging in hand-to-hand scuffles and throwing rocks, as early reports indicated was the case Tuesday. But experts worry that tensions are escalating between India Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a friend of President Donald Trump and an increasingly assertive China. In the past year, China has increased its nuclear arsenal from 290 to 320 warheads, and India from 130-140 to 150 warheads, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI. The army said in a statement late Tuesday that the two sides "have disengaged" from the disputed Galwan area where they clashed overnight on Monday, according to The AP. In an earlier statement, the Indian army said that one of its officers and two soldiers were killed in a "violent faceoff" in Galwan Valley, in the mountainous region of Ladakh. More from NBC News: Senior military officials from both sides were meeting to defuse the situation, it said. China blamed India, whose troops it said "crossed the border for illegal activities and launched provocative attacks against Chinese personnel," the state-run tabloid newspaper, the Global Times, said citing a foreign ministry briefing. "The Chinese side has lodged a strong protest and solemn representation to the Indian side, urging it to strictly restrain its front-line troops according to the consensus," it said. Hu Xijin, the influential editor-in-chief of the Global Times, tweeted, "I want to tell the Indian side, don't be arrogant and misread China's restraint as being weak. China doesn't want to have a clash with India, but we don't fear it." The latest flare-up started last month, starting with more reports of rock-throwing and culminating with thousands of troops now camped either side of the Galwan Valley. The dispute dates back to the 1860s, when British colonial rulers in India drew a border that was later disputed by China. This flared into a conflict in 1962, when Chinese forces invaded and drove back their Indian counterparts in what is still remembered as a chastening defeat. In the 1990s, both sides signed an agreement reaffirming their promise not to use military force. A Londonderry suicide prevention centre which was at risk of closure has been given an emergency cash boost by the Health Minister. The Community Crisis Intervention Centre (CCIS) in the city, operated by the social justice charity Extern, was at risk of imminent closure after Robin Swann had previously confirmed in a letter that his department would not provide further funding. The Department of Health funded the CCIS in Derry through funding from the confidence and supply deal between the Conservative Government and the DUP until March 31 as a pilot project. This funding was continued for three months as an interim measure during the pandemic. Visiting their Derry office on Tuesday, Mr Swann agreed an extension of 32,400 in funding to be allocated to the organisation in order to keep services running for a further three months. I hope this funding provides both the breathing space and an opportunity for renewed discussion with stakeholders to try and reach a longer-term funding solution for the initiative, said Minister Swann. The service has shown positive benefits for those clients who are in crisis and I sincerely hope that funding is secured to enable the service to continue. It is incumbent on the Council who commission the service to secure a sustainable funding solution going forward. I encourage all stakeholders to use this additional period as an opportunity to have those conversations and engage extensively with Extern to identify lasting funding options. While the intervention has been praised - it is believed the annual budget for CCIS is around 215,000, leaving a significant shortfall. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood who is also MP for Foyle welcomed the funding allocation today but warned that it is only a short-term measure. Minister Swann visited Derry today and had the opportunity to see firsthand the powerful work that the Community Crisis Intervention Service do in our city and across the North West, he said. This vital service was at risk of closure in a matter of weeks due to funding pressures. I am delighted that Minister Swann has agreed to fund the Service until September, preventing imminent closure. As welcome as this relief funding is, we still need to fight to ensure a long-term and sustainable funding solution for this critical service, which currently will not stay afloat past September. I will continue to engage with Extern, Derry and Strabane District Council and Executive Ministers to ensure necessary funding is made available. It is vital to keep this service going, allowing the fantastic staff and volunteers to continue to save lives and support our most vulnerable. YEREVAN. Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan is delivering remarks at the National Assembly of Armenia. He is presenting his petitions to strip parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader, MP, and business tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan of his parliamentary immunity, launch criminal proceedings against him, and take Tsarukyan into custody. To note, the National Security Service (NSS) investigators on Sunday searched Gagik Tsarukyan's mansion and the enterprises belonging to him. Then, the NSS issued statements on three criminal cases involving the PAP leader. Accordingly, the first of these criminal cases is about illegalities at Casino Shangri La owned by Gagik Tsarukyan. According to the NSS statement, this gaming hall operated without a license, which caused more than 29 billion drams in damage to the state. The second statement was about vote buying during the 2017 parliamentary election. And while Tsarukyan was still being questioned, the NSS disseminated a statement on a third criminal case. Accordingly, the officials of Arinj communitywhere Gagik Tsarukyan residesin Kotayk Province had legalized the illegal structures on a 7.5-hectare agricultural land that was unlawfully leased, and then had illegally alienated this land to "New" LLC belonging to Tsarukyan. And as a result of this illegality, about 370 million drams were not transferred to Arinj's budget. "We are honored to be named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens for the 12 th consecutive year. This recognition is a continued testament to the outstanding work being done by our team members and company to build business and social value," said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods. "During these uncertain times, it is more important than ever that companies continue to support the communities where they live and work. Hormel Foods continues to be a leader in this area by donating more than $1 million and 1 million meals to hunger-relief efforts, supporting senior citizens and graduating seniors, in addition to our ongoing social and environmental commitments." The 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking is based on 141 ESG transparency and performance factors in eight pillars: climate change, employee relations, environment, finance, governance, human rights, stakeholders and society, and ESG performance. Using a methodology developed by 3BL Media, all Russell 1000 Index companies are researched by ISS ESG, the responsible investment research arm of Institutional Shareholder Services. There is no fee for companies to be included in 100 Best Corporate Citizens. To compile the ranking, corporate data and information is obtained from publicly available sources only, rather than questionnaires or company submissions. Companies have the option to verify data collected for the ranking at no cost. Data and information used in the 2020 edition of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking is from March 6, 2019 to March 13, 2020. "Achieving the transformational targets in the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals in this decade means we need all companies to embed ESG issues into their business," said Dave Armon, CEO of 3BL Media. "The best corporate citizens of 2020 are leaders, demonstrating how transparency, ambitious goals, robust strategies and accounting for all stakeholders builds business and social value." Third-party organizations continue to recognize Hormel Foods for its efforts. Recent recognition includes: being named a Best for Vets Employer by Military Times, being named one of the World's Best Employers by Forbes and being ranked No. 8 in the consumer foods products category on Fortune's list of the World's Most Admired Companies, among many others. For access to the complete 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2020 ranking and methodology visit: https://100best.3blmedia.com/. ABOUT HORMEL FOODS INSPIRED PEOPLE. INSPIRED FOOD. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three straight years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for the 12th year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement Inspired People. Inspired Food. to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/. ABOUT THE 100 BEST CORPORATE CITIZENS RANKING The 100 Best Corporate Citizens debuted in 1999 in Business Ethics Magazine and appeared annually in Corporate Responsibility Magazine for many years. 3BL Media has managed the ranking since 2018. To compile the ranking, each company in the Russell 1000 Index is ranked according to its transparency and performance on 141 environmental, social and governance factors. ABOUT 3BL MEDIA 3BL Media delivers purpose-driven communications for the world's leading companies. Our unrivaled distribution, leadership and editorial platforms inspire and support global sustainable business. Learn more here . SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation Related Links http://www.hormel.com The software site GitHub has announced that its abandoning old language in favour for more politically correct terms. GitHub Chief Executive Nat Friedman said on Twitter that the company is changing the term master to main. Friedman confirmed the change in a reply to to Google Chrome developer Una Kravets. In coding, master code is the main version of the code, but Kravets made the argument that the new term is shorter, easier to remember, and could make black people in the technology community feel more comfortable. The move comes as many companies are having conversations about racial issues in the industry, following the protests over the death of George Floyd. Petr Baudis, who chose the names master and origin in early Github tooling in 2005 said that he had wished many times that he had chosen main and upstream instead. Product manager for the site Maya Kaczorowski is also gauging what the security community would prefer as default terms when coding. Recommended Xbox feature means players will get games on new console for free GitHub users can already use their preferred terms for versions and branches of projects, but its likely that a change in default terminology would have a ripple effect. The website, which is owned by Microsoft, hosts 50 million developers projects. The old language not only reflects racist culture, but also serves to reinforce, legitimize, and perpetuate it, according to a study into the terminology in 2018. GitHub is not the only website changing its phrasing in order to be more inclusive. Apple engineer John Wilander tweeted that he is changing terminology from blacklist and whitelist to block list and allow list. LinkedIn engineer Gabrial Csapo also said hes in the process of opening up issues for a bunch of libraries...that employ these phrases Many others made changes years prior. Drupal used primary and replica in its code from 2014, instead of master and slave. The Python programming language removed such references in 2018. Chromium, the open source browser project developed by Google, also made the change to more inclusive language. V.Narayan Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Delhi-NCR Posts: 3,091 Thanked: 37,800 Times Re: New Zealand declared free of Covid-19 We must admire what they have achieved and that too in a remarkable short time. Good for them. Some may say, 'oh but their population is smaller than that of Pune' or not having land borders helps or their medical infrastructure is so good {which it is}. But it is easy to forget they invested time in early March to think this through before acting - to think through what was the aim, what cost were they willing to bear, what action will they take and most important of all what tone of communication they will set. Sadly with our over dramatic "chaar ghante mein desh ko band kar diya" bravodo and misplaced theatrics we pushed the nation with virtually no homework or planning. A District Magistrate I spoke with told me he was informed about the lockdown 2 hours before leaving him no time to prepare and for weeks almost no resources other than what he could garner from within his limited basket and from local factories and institutions. The prices of dry fruits have declined as much as 20 per cent in the last three months, mainly due to the current US-China tussle and sluggish demand due to the lockdown. The prices of dry fruits like almond, cashew or pistachio having high nutritional value have fallen by Rs 200 per kg. "The prices of all dry fruits, whether it is cashew, pistachio or raisins, have fallen. But most of the decline has come in American almond kernel," Anil Mehra, national president of the Federation of Grocery and Dryfruit Commercial Association (Amritsar) told PTI. He said good quality almonds which were available at Rs 700 per kg two months ago, is now available at Rs 550 or even less. "The price in the wholesale market has come down by 15 to 20 per cent. Good quality almond which was Rs 690 to 800 per kg, it is now being sold at Rs 500 to 700 a kg. Similarly, cashew nut (four piece) has reduced from Rs 550 to Rs 400 per kg. Good quality pistachios which used to be Rs 1,200 are now being sold up to Rs 1,000 / kg which means a drop of Rs 200, " according to Shailendra Bhatia of Delhi Trading Company in Jaipur. According to traders, the highest decline in dry fruits has come in almonds, cashew and pistachios. There is not much difference in the price of other nuts like walnuts, figs, raisins. Businessmen believe that the major reason for the large fall in prices is the lockdown. According to Mehra, during the lockdown period imported items could not be sold. Due to demand-supply gap, prices fell. The highest consumption of dry fruits is in sweets, hotel industry and marriage. Traders said neither sweets were made for two months due to the lockdown, nor did the hotel open or marriages happened, so demand reduced drastically. Prahlad Agarwal, president of the Jaipur Grocery and Dry Fruit Association, said that a major reason for the decline in the price of almond kernel is the ongoing tussle between the US and China. The two major importers of American almonds are China and India. China is no longer buying almonds from the US, so its prices have also broken in the American market. Bhatia said that from last two months sale did not happen due to the lockdown and still 20 25 per cent of sales are being done. Another businessman Chandrasekhar Malpani said that the dry fruits sales have come down by half due to the lockdown and off season. Also Read: India-China border news live updates: 5 died on Chinese side, 11 injured in Ladakh, reports say Also Read: Coronavirus update: PaisaBazaar lays off half of its workforce; over 1,500 impacted Also Read: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain admitted to hospital due to fever; tested for COVID The man, 54, was shot in the head just before 3 a.m. Tuesday in the 7600 block of North Marshfield Avenue, police said. The shooting occurred after a car stopped and someone inside began talking to a group of men in the street. It has been over three months since Breonna Taylor, a 26 year-old Black EMT, was shot and killed in her Louisville home by members of the citys police department. Stymied by what they describe as a concerted lack of cooperation from the Louisville Police Department (LMPD) and the citys Mayors Office, Taylors family and their legal representatives are now calling for action from the Louisville City Council. We urge the council to monitor these ongoing deprivations of the truth and justice and to take whatever actions necessary to stop these obstructions of justice. We urge the public to demand an administration which really will be transparent, a statement from the Taylor familys legal team sent to TIME on Tuesday reads, noting that the deadlines for relevant records and documentation from the LMPD, the Mayors Office and the Louisville Metro Coroners Office have passed. This silence has gone on for far too long. The Louisville Police Department did not respond to TIMEs request for comment. People gather with balloons for a vigil in memory of Breonna Taylor on June 6, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. | Brett CarlsenGetty Images Taylor, 26, was shot eight times in her apartment by three Louisville Police Department (LMPD) officers executing a no-knock warrant as part of a narcotics investigation in March. After arriving at Taylors residence, the officers were shot at by a man, Kenneth Walker, who was in the apartment and believed the officers were trying to break in. Walker was initially arrested and charged with the attempted murder of a police officer, but has since been released and the charges have been dropped. Neither Taylor nor Walker had a criminal history or drug convictions, and no drugs were found in Taylors apartment. Actions speak louder than words. Of all the cities dealing with the tragedies of officer-involved shootings and violence inflicted upon black lives, Louisvilles administration has been the least transparent, the slowest and the most frustrating. This administration simply believes it is above the law, the legal teams statement says. Story continues Read more: Why Are Black Women and Girls Still an Afterthought in Our Outrage Over Police Violence? On June 11, the Louisville police department (LMPD) released an incident report on the killing of Breonna Taylor but the four page-long report was redacted to the point that it contains almost no information. The LMPD has said since that the lack of information was the result of a reporting programs technical error and that they are taking immediate steps to correct the report. The incident report lists Taylor as the victim and officers Myles Cosgrove, Brett Hankison and Jon Mattingly as the offenders. Despite being shot eight times, Taylors injuries are listed as none. Under a Notes/Narratives section, the report notes a PIU Investigation which means the LMPDs Public Integrity Unit is investigating the incident. The police report released by Louisville Metro Police Department regarding the murder of Breonna Taylor is indicative of the lack of investigation done by the department. It shows an attempt to cover up Breonnas murder and the unwillingness and/or incompetence of the departments Public Integrity Unit (PIU) to investigate its own officers, Taylor family attorney Lonita Baker said in an earlier statement provided to TIME. The Department continues to withhold information and evidence from the attorneys and the public and the delays are unacceptable and inexcusable. Its time for the Mayor and the Department to be held accountable for the continued miscarriage of justice in this case. None of the officers involved have been fired or arrested. The LMPD is also reportedly investigating sexual assault allegations against Hankison that have recently been made public. Its issues like this that erode public confidence in LMPDs ability to do its job, and thats why Ive ordered an external top-to-bottom review of the department, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement on June 10. I am sorry for the additional pain to the Taylor family and our community. But Fischer is also involved in keeping relevant documents from the Taylor familys attorneys, their statement alleges. Under the direction of the mayor, the coroners office and the merit board produced [documents including Taylors autopsy report, LMPD personnel files, and inter-departmental communications] directly to counsel for the city and withheld it from our office, the attorneys write. And the mayors office simply violated the subpoena to himself, exposing the mayor to potential contempt. The Mayors office did not immediately respond to TIMEs request for comment. Read more: Black Lives Matter Activists Want to End Police Violence. But They Disagree on How to Do It Beyonce Knowles wrote a letter to Kentuckys Attorney General Daniel Cameron calling for the officers involved in the shooting be arrested and charged; Cameron responded to the letter on Tuesday, but saying only that his office would not comment on the ongoing investigation. (Taylors familys legal team have also filed an appeal with the Attorney Generals office over the LMPDs denial of open record requests.) Campaigns and calls for charges have been amplified across social media in recent weeks, buoyed by the release of a 911 call which was made public on May 28, during which Walker is heard yelling Somebody shot my girlfriend. Somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend, Walker says in the call. He tells the 911 dispatcher that Taylor is on the ground and that she has been shot in the stomach. Taylors family claim this is the only piece of evidence they have requested that the LMPD has produced. An LMPD spokesperson has said the officers knocked on Taylors door multiple times and announced themselves as police, but a defense attorney for Walker said that was not the case. Authorities also say that the officers did not have body cameras, but Sam Aguiar, an attorney for Taylors family, has noted that two of the officers involved had been assigned cameras in the past. Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor's mother, is overcome with emotions during a vigil for her daughter on June 6, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. | Brett CarlsenGetty Images The police are not here to protect and serve. Theyve never been able to do that. We want to end mass incarceration and part of that is removing the police officers from our neighborhood, and building our own community and safety defense mechanisms and we can do that, Chanelle Helm, the coordinating organizer for Black Lives Matter Louisville, said during one of many protests and demonstrations organized in Louisville in recent weeks. We have to start creating legislation that is equal for all people, whether its tax reform, whether its in our criminal legal system, whether its in education, Keturah Herron, a member of the Kentucky American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Black Lives Matter Louisville, told lawmakers during a session at the state Capitol on June 4. On June 11, the Louisville Metro Council unanimously voted to ban no-knock warrants in the city, naming the new policy Breonnas Law. All [Breonna] wanted to do was save lives, so with this law she will continue to get to do that, Tamika Palmer, Taylors mother, said after the law was passed. She would be so happy. Baker says the family is grateful for the passing of the law but that the LMPD needs to show that they will hold their officers accountable. Your silence is complicity. Your honesty and decision to speak out against these actions and against racism will help rebuild this city and unite us all. Please take these critical first steps and trust our community to respond favorably, Baker said in the statement. Actor Kim Soo-hyun will return to the small screen with a new TV series slated for release this weekend. After completing his mandatory military service in July last year, he had been looking for a new project and is making his comeback with the romantic comedy, in which he creates good chemistry with actress Seo Ye-ji. "It's been quite a while, so I feel nervous but I'm also very excited," Kim said at a press event last week. The upcoming series will begin airing on cable channel tvN on Saturday and will also be available on Netflix for global viewers. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Rossville man charged in a devastating crash Saturday involving a pregnant woman allegedly told police he was speeding, but another driver in an Audi cut him off. Alexander Iacone, 21, was arraigned Sunday in Criminal Court in St. George on charges that include second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, court records show. 'I was driving, I got cut off by an Audi,' Iacone told police at the time of his arrest, according to an account in the criminal complaint. 'I knew I was speeding.'" The defendants license had been suspended or revoked four times leading up to the incident, which he told police he was aware of at the time, the complaint alleges. The defendants attorney did not immediately return a request for comment Monday. Members of the NYPDs Collision Investigation Squad had determined Iacone was traveling at a high rate of speed in a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee on the northbound side of Hylan Boulevard, when he crossed into a turning lane and lost control of the vehicle, police said. The Richmond County District Attorneys Office described Iacones actions in the criminal complaint as traveling in the wrong lane of traffic. At the same time, a 26-year-old male operator of a 2018 Nissan Rogue was headed southbound on Hylan Boulevard and attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Cornelia Avenue when the crash occurred, police said. According to a law enforcement source, a pregnant, female passenger in the Nissan Rogue was transported to Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, where doctors performed an emergency C-section, however, the baby succumbed to injuries and died. The woman was listed Sunday in serious, but stable condition. The male driver -- who shares the same last name as the woman, and is two years younger -- reportedly suffered lacerations to both knees, in addition to a laceration to his left hand that required stitches. A pending autopsy from the city medical examiner will determine if the child had taken its first breath at the hospital, which then -- based on New York State law -- could lead to homicide charges, the source said. A Criminal Court judge set bail for Iacone at $30,000 bond or $15,000 cash. I had to chuckle when I interviewed Quentin Brown and asked him about his impression of Lincoln. We arrived on July 2nd, and all we heard for the next two days was bam, crackle, boom. Were from Virginia, and people there just dont shoot so many fireworks. Quentin and Karla Brown were certainly given a rip-roarin reception as they unpacked their moving truck when they arrived in Nebraska in 2019. Another early welcome was an invitation to participate in the Leadership Lincoln Executive Series. There was information on my desk at Educare when I showed up for my first day at work, said Brown. Leadership Lincoln has been a great welcome for us. Its one thing to network where youve grown up, but to come to a completely new place where you dont know anyone, its difficult. Leadership Lincoln has given us an opportunity to make friends and build relationships. Brown noted that the experience of monthly day-long seminars has been worth it for the two of them. It introduced us to a lot of components of Lincoln that we wouldnt have seen in any other way, he said. Its helped me with my job, and its given Karla and me a great opportunity to meet people. Weve enjoyed the program. Ghana, through the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service, is partnering the USAID to launch the National Radio Reading Programme for early grade reading. The programme aims at improving early grade reading in English and in Ghanas eleven official languages of instruction. Ms Stephanie S. Sullivan, the US Ambassador to Ghana, at the launch of the programme in Accra, explained that it would provide distance learning instruction for Kindergarten through fourth grade students. In addition to reading content, she said the radio programme would include health and safety behaviour-change messaging for students, focusing on hand washing, physical distancing, and child protection. Other contents would be messaging to parents and caregivers on supervising homework, family health, and hygiene, and ways to prevent bullying, sexual assault, and early pregnancy. Ms Sullivan said the two countries had over the past seven years worked side by side to strengthen Ghana's educational system through varied interventions such as developing a phonics-based programme to improve reading levels for pupils in early stages. Ghanaian children are out of school now because of the COVID-19 pandemic and to address this challenge and ensure the continuous success of the nations early grade the reading programme was launched, Ms Sullivan said. I am excited about, and grateful for, our continued partnership with the Ministry of Education. Through our collaboration, we have witnessed tremendous success in Ghanas literacy rates over the years and look forward to an even brighter future. The Ambassador commended the Ministry of Education for its diligent and tireless work to ensure that Ghanaian children continued to learn during this challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also thank FHI 360 especially for its commitment as an international non-profit organisation to improve the health and well-being of people around the world, including here in Ghana, she said. She commended the international and local partners of the programme like the LEGO Foundation, The Right to Play, Lively Minds, the Otumfuo Foundation, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, and UNICEF for their support. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 15:32:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Seven militants have been confirmed dead as a clash erupted in Gereshk district of the southenr Helmand province on Tuesday, district police chief Mohammed Ismael Khapalwak said. The clash, according to the official, broke out early Tuesday morning and lasted for a while and the militants fled away after leaving seven bodies behind. Taliban militants have yet to make comment. In similar clash, three militants were also killed in the neighboring Sangin district a day earlier on Monday, according to local officials. Enditem WASHINGTON Driven by a swift-moving national debate, Senate Republicans are on the brink of introducing an extensive package of policing changes with new restrictions on police chokeholds and other practices as Congress rushes to respond to mass demonstrations over the deaths of George Floyd and other black Americans. Its a sudden shift of GOP priorities with President Donald Trump signaling support. The White House is set to announce its own executive actions on law enforcement procedures in a matter of days, a crush of activity that shows how quickly police violence and racial prejudice are transforming national politics. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell opened the chamber Monday declaring that Senate Republicans are developing a serious proposal to reform law enforcement. While the emerging GOP package isnt as extensive as the sweeping Democratic proposal, which is headed for a House vote next week, it is perhaps the most far-reaching proposed changes to policing procedures from the party long aligned with a law and order approach. Confronted with a groundswell of public unrest over police violence, in cities large and small nationwide, even the most conservative senators are joining the effort. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the sole African American Republican in the Senate, has been crafting the package set to roll out Wednesday. He said the chokehold, in particular, is a policy whose time has come and gone. Over the weekend, the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks by a white officer in Atlanta led to a renewed public outcry, more street protests and the police chiefs swift resignation. Democrats have said the GOP package doesnt go far enough to match the outpouring of support for reforms. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned Republicans not to settle for minor changes. Now is the time to seek bold and broad-scale change, not change around the margins, Schumer said Monday. With the political debate fluid, it is unclear whether the parties will be able to find common ground. The proposals share many similar provisions but take different approaches to address some of the issues. Neither bill goes as far as some activists want in their push to defund the police by fully revamping departments. The debate is changing almost daily, complicated by the fall election, with the Senate Republican majority at risk. McConnell, who is also up for reelection in November is backing the GOP effort after the death of Breonna Taylor when police entered her home in Lousiville. Its a dynamic political environment in the aftermath of the killing of black Americans and the outpouring of protests and Black Lives Matter demonstrations that have overwhelmingly altered the national conversation. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider policing issues at a hearing on Tuesday. Central to the Republican package would be the creation of a national database of police use-of-force incidents, a way to improve transparency so law enforcement officers cannot transfer from one department to another without public oversight of their record. The Democrats have a similar provision. The GOP bill would encourage police body cameras and include a long-stalled effort to make lynching a federal hate crime. Additionally, the Republican package is expected to restrict the use of chokeholds by withholding certain federal funds to jurisdictions that continue to allow the practice, according to a Senate Republican unauthorized to discuss the pending bill and granted anonymity. While chokeholds have become a symbol of police brutality and a ban is included in the Democrats bill the maneuver is already banned in many departments. Police nationwide are far more likely to kill someone by shooting. Yet, the Republican bill does not go as far as the Democratic proposal, particularly on the the issue of qualified immunity, which aims to enable those injured by law enforcement personnel to sue for damages. The White House has said that is a line too far. As an alternative, Scott has suggested a decertification process for officers involved in misconduct. Still, Democrats signaled a willingness to look at the Republican approach for areas of common ground. Nothing is a non-starter, said Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, the Houses third-ranking Democrat, on a conference call with reporters. Democrats face criticism over activists calls to defund the police, and party leaders in Congress have distanced themselves from that approach. The defund movement describes a range of options, from dismantling departments to shifting policing resources to other community services. The Democratic bill does not go that far, but would instead provide grant money to departments that want to consider new ways of policing. Nobody is going to defund the police, Clyburn said Sunday. We can restructure the police forces, restructure, reimagine policing. That is what we are going to do. Leading civil rights groups have backed the Democratic bill but its unclear if the Republican proposal will be extensive enough to gain broad support. At the same time, the large police union, the influential Fraternal Order of Police, said in a statement it is working with Congress and the White House on the proposals, having provided feedback on the Democratic bill and substantial input on the emerging GOP package from Scott. The House Judiciary Committee is set to consider the Democrats bill on Wednesday ahead of next weeks scheduled House vote. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Balsamo and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report. SAN JOSE, Calif., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Business leaders looking to IT to meet today's social distancing requirements in the workplace New solutions to maintain seamless and secure productivity for a remote workforce New offerings to support Healthcare and Education as they transform to new business models Today at CiscoLive! Digital, the virtual event attended by over 100,000 customers, partners and members of the public, Cisco announced a new portfolio of solutions focused on business resiliency. In this uncertain world, keeping businesses up and running has become a major focus for business leaders. According to CFO's surveyed in the fifth PwC COVID-19 CFO Pulse Survey, organizations' highest focus is on changing workplace safety measures and requirements (87%) as they transition back to the workplace. In addition, close to half of all CFO's say their companies will make remote work a permanent option for roles that allow it. Cisco's new portfolio addresses both these key challenges head-on; the need to enable a secure remote workforce and the requirement to support a trusted workplace. As organizations grappled with their initial response to the pandemic, many embraced solutions focused on business continuity, working with Cisco Customer Experience (CX) and Cisco partners to keep their organization running and productive, at speed and scale. In the next phase of response to the pandemic and in preparation for future events, CIOs, IT and operations leaders are focused on implementing an IT environment that will adapt and learn from the lessons of the past few months. A majority (72%) of CFO respondents to the PwC survey expected greater resilience and agility to be byproducts of the pandemic experience, along with 49% saying their technology investments they are making during this time will position them better for the long term. "Over the past several months we've seen major disruption to many industries and organizations at a pace like never before. Businesses that once mapped digital strategy in one to three-year periods have been required to scale their initiatives essentially overnight," said Chuck Robbins, Chairman and CEO, Cisco. "Cisco's new business resiliency portfolio will help customers reevaluate their business strategies and implement solutions more quickly and easily than ever before." Developed from Cisco's experience of supporting thousands of customers through the COVID-19 pandemic to date, the business resiliency portfolio offers industry solutions including healthcare and education, simpler consumption models and services to accelerate impact for customers. The portfolio will continue to expand to cover areas such as social distancing in the workplace, effective virtual employee engagement at scale and pop-up connected clinics. Highlights of the new portfolio are listed below: Industry solutions Healthcare and Education organizations found their operations immediately disrupted during this pandemic. With Cisco's support, within days, many were able to turn on distance learning, or to transition to virtual administration and ramp telehealth visits quickly. Cisco continues to support their resiliency and transformation. New solutions for these industries include: Distance learning secure collaboration technology and expertise to keep the 1.2 billion children and young people currently learning outside of their usual environment, connected and learning worldwide. This solution is being used by organizations such as Babson College in Boston MA. secure collaboration technology and expertise to keep the 1.2 billion children and young people currently learning outside of their usual environment, connected and learning worldwide. This solution is being used by organizations such as in Temporary Connected Field Hospital a packaged IT infrastructure kit that can be set up and operational in 5 days or less to support hospital surges or to provide a temporary facility. The solution includes wireless networking technology to access data, voice and video, integrated network security and deployment guidance and support. This solution was developed based on Cisco and our partners experience supporting temporary hospitals such as the NHS Nightingale field hospital in the U.K. and the University of Maryland Medical System in the U.S. "Babson College's trusted relationship with Cisco - leveraging its networking equipment as well as its safe and reliable Webex and Teams platforms - enabled us to quickly transition all 650 courses plus 100% of our students, faculty, and staff to fully online." Said Dr. Phil Knutel, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Babson College Secure Remote Workforce Solutions Customers turned to Cisco during the pandemic to enable workforce productivity with secure, scalable, solutions. These are now available as packaged solutions to support organizations as they discover more about what enhancements are needed to their initial approach, including: Remote Contact Center - technology and deployment services that enable contact center agents to work from home using either cloud solutions or provide secure remote access to their existing on-premise technology - technology and deployment services that enable contact center agents to work from home using either cloud solutions or provide secure remote access to their existing on-premise technology Flexible Remote Access expertise and technology to enable employees to access the network, collaboration endpoints, and business applications. The portfolio offers a variety of products and services to meet customer needs, including those that opt for hardware, software, or bring-your-own device solutions. expertise and technology to enable employees to access the network, collaboration endpoints, and business applications. The portfolio offers a variety of products and services to meet customer needs, including those that opt for hardware, software, or bring-your-own device solutions. Secure Remote Worker enable security for remote access at scale with tools to analyze current VPN capacity, determine an implementation plan with Cisco Security technology, and work on planning, design, and configuration of a VPN network to help securely manage remote employee access. Trusted Workplace Solutions Organizations are grappling with their journey to the next normal, including how to facilitate a safe "return to office", and power new business models and modes of work that support requirements for employee and customer safety. Cisco will support this transition with solutions such as: Virtual Visitation for Correctional Facilities secure video collaboration software and hardware that integrates with inmate management systems and allows for virtual visitations with family, counsellors, health providers and attorneys. Cisco can enable upgrades to supporting infrastructure such as datacenters and networking equipment, security, and training/onboarding for users. Virtual visitation allows institutions to improve wellbeing, increase access and reduce risk. secure video collaboration software and hardware that integrates with inmate management systems and allows for virtual visitations with family, counsellors, health providers and attorneys. Cisco can enable upgrades to supporting infrastructure such as datacenters and networking equipment, security, and training/onboarding for users. Virtual visitation allows institutions to improve wellbeing, increase access and reduce risk. Remote Office Connectivity Extend a corporate network to adjacent and remote locations that meet user demands for more bandwidth, faster connectivity, and higher security. Services and technology help customers design, build, and operate a Wireless LAN solution that gives users secure access to business applications with a secure and reliable wireless experience. Extend a corporate network to adjacent and remote locations that meet user demands for more bandwidth, faster connectivity, and higher security. Services and technology help customers design, build, and operate a Wireless LAN solution that gives users secure access to business applications with a secure and reliable wireless experience. Social Density Monitoring and Insights Expertise and technology to support social distancing in the workplace. Built on Cisco's DNA Spaces and leveraging wireless infrastructure, this solution will provide behavioral insights from across locations, allowing organizations to make decisions to promote workplace safety. Available from July. Additional resources Learn more about Cisco Business Resiliency Solutions Read about Cisco's work with NHS Nightingale hospital in London, U.K. Watch this overview of Cisco CX work supporting University of Maryland Medical System in U.S. About Cisco Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the Internet. Cisco inspires new possibilities by reimagining your applications, securing your data, transforming your infrastructure, and empowering your teams for a global and inclusive future. Discover more on The Network and follow us on Twitter. Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc. Related Links www.cisco.com Karna Gurung tested positive for COVID-19 and spent more than a month in the ICU. Now, the 32-year-old says he wants to warn others, especially those in the refugee community, to not let their guard down when it comes to the pandemic. "Karna won the coronavirus," Gurung told KETV. On May 31, he was escorted out of Nebraska Medical Center and greeted by a wave of support from family and close friends. Gurung spent more than 40 days in the hospital after battling the coronavirus; 33 of those days were in the ICU. "I came to know that I was in the very last stage of my life," Gurung said. Despite taking all the recommended precautions, Gurung, who is diabetic, said he still caught the virus. "I used masks, gloves, sanitizer," he said. Gurung said he still doesn't know how exactly he was exposed. He said it started with a cough, which brought him to a clinic where he tested positive. "On the tenth day, I got very, very sick," he said. Gurung was taken to Nebraska Medicine, where he said doctors used artificial lung technology called 'ECMO' (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and Remdesivir, a drug used to treat COVID-19. "After 33 days in the ICU, in a coma, I opened my eyes," Gurung said. But his battle was far from over. Once awake, Gurung said he was unable to move. He underwent therapy to walk, talk and eat again. "It's my luck that I went to such a good hospital where they have good treatment procedures," Gurung said. He's no stranger to hardship, though. Gurung fled his home country of Bhutan, seeking refuge in Nepal in the early 1990s, after civil protests. "We had to run away from the country to save our life," Gurung said. In 2009, Gurung said the U.S. government resettled his family in Omaha. "One of the things, in terms of what's happening with COVID, is that a lot of those families and a lot of our Asian refugees as a whole, beyond just Bhutanese are disproportionately being impacted," the CEO for Omaha's Charles Drew Health Center told KETV. Kenny McMorris said the center has seen an uptick with positive COVID-19 cases in Asian populations. "One of the things we found is that we have a significant number of Asian-Americans that were actually working in a meatpacking plant," McMorris said. McMorris also said refugee families may be more susceptible to the pandemic because of their often, tight-knit community: "One- or two-bedroom apartments, multiple families. So it's very hard, in the event that they contract the virus, to isolate and quarantine." Before the coronavirus, Gurung said he spent much of his time advocating for other refugees, and he doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. "I'm determined to work more for the community, more for the humanity, and more for the businesses and for quality life," Gurung said. Gurung also said that what he wants now is for people to continue taking COVID-19 seriously. He wants leaders to put both time and money into making sure a vaccine can be available. By AFP NEW YORK: Egypt has arrested a veteran journalist who has been openly critical of the government after he appeared on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Mohamed Monir, 65, was arrested by plainclothes police officers early on Monday, the New York-based advocacy group said. "Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Mohamed Monir and drop these baseless charges," it said. "Monir is already in failing health, and to detain him pending trial during a pandemic is exceptionally cruel." Monir has been remanded in custody for 15 days on charges of joining a terrorist organisation, spreading false news and misusing social media. His arrest comes as Egypt steps up a crackdown on the press that it has been waging since Abdel Fattah al-Sisi became president in 2014, a year after he led the army's overthrow of his Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi. The government regards Monir as a mouthpiece for Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, now blacklisted as a terrorist organisation. Police had previously raided Monir's apartment on Saturday. He was not home at the time but he obtained footage of the raid from a camera in his building which he shared online. In a defiant video message he posted on Facebook, Monir vowed that the authorities' attempt to arrest him would not stop him speaking out. In a family statement posted on Monir's Facebook page, his daughter Sara said: "He was merely exercising his freedom of speech and his words did not contain any incitement against the nation." In May, the CPJ documented the arrests of at least four Egyptian journalists, including Sameh Haneen, a Coptic Christian who also faces charges of joining a terrorist organisation. The interior ministry later published video footage of an alleged confession by Haneen, in which he claimed he had been paid thousands of dollars for producing videos critical of the goverment for Al Jazeera at the request of members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt and its Gulf allies -- Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- have boycotted Qatar since June 2017, accusing it of supporting radical Islamists and being too close to Iran, charges it denies. Egypt ranks as the third worst jailer of journalists behind China and Turkey, according to the CPJ. Morgan Stanley's former diversity chief is suing the company for racial discrimination after she claims she was fired over her attempts to restructure a training program to promote black financial advisers. Marilyn Booker worked for Morgan Stanley for 26 years, including 16 as the bank's head of global diversity, before being fired in December, according to a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday. In the suit Booker claims that the company has spent years blocking efforts to address inequalities within its ranks while publicly championing diversity and inclusion, particularly in recent weeks in the wake of George Floyd's death. 'Rather than seriously examine its own role in perpetuating inequalities in hiring, pay and promotion, and in fostering toxic workplace cultures and consumer discrimination, Morgan Stanley has instead repeatedly stopped short of any meaningful major overhauls during prior opportunities for change,' the suit states. 'Most troubling, Morgan Stanley has, in true hypocritical fashion, actively sought to silence those who speak out and try to advocate for change when it comes to diversity and inclusion. 'Marilyn Booker was one such Morgan Stanley victim. She paid the ultimate price by losing her job merely because she pushed too hard for reforms that would disrupt the status quo on White dominance and result in more Black and minority employees at Morgan Stanley.' Morgan Stanley's former diversity chief Marilyn Booker (pictured) is suing the company for racial discrimination after she claims she was fired over her attempts to restructure a training program to promote black financial advisers The reforms mentioned in the suit included Booker's plan to restructure a program for training black financial advisers in a way that she thought could help more recruits succeed. Booker, who is black, filed the complaint on behalf of other black, female employees at Morgan Stanley, naming the company, its CEO James Gorman and Booker's former boss Barry Krouk, a senior executive in the wealth management division, as defendants. The suit is one in a long line in the past 15 years that have accused Wall Street firms, whose executive ranks are dominated by white males, of hampering the careers of black employees. Booker, however, is one of the most high-profile former employees to take legal action, having previously testified before Congress during a hearing about the industry's shortcomings with diversity. Morgan Stanley responded to the suit in a statement to CNBC which read: 'We strongly reject the allegations made in this claim and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in the appropriate forum. 'We are steadfast in our commitment to improve the diversity of our employees and have made steady progress while recognizing that we have further progress to make. 'We will continue to advance our high priority efforts to achieve a more diverse and inclusive firm.' Booker (second left) worked for Morgan Stanley for 26 years, including 16 as the bank's head of global diversity, before being fired in December, according to a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday Booker was hired by Morgan Stanley in 1994 as its first global head of diversity and for years served as the public face of the bank's efforts to diversify. In 2011 she moved to the company's wealth management arm and started Urban Markets, a group which sought to bring in more black money management clients and help black communities build wealth. She remained in that role up until she was fired late last year. Booker said she initially tried to handle her dismissal quietly, continuing to offer help and advice to black employees who reached out to her. That changed in recent weeks when protests over racial inequality gripped the nation - driving her to speak out about her experience at Morgan Stanley. 'My story is the same story as those of many black people on Wall Street,' Booker told the New York Times. 'Our fate has been tied to the goodness of whatever white person is in charge. That is no way to have a career.' Morgan Stanley, its CEO James Gorman (left) and Booker's former boss Barry Krouk (right), a senior executive in the wealth management division, are named as defendants in the suit Booker called attention to the relatively small amount of money Morgan Stanley devotes to diversity programs. She pointed to CEO James Gorman's announcement last week that the company would dedicate $25million to a new initiative inside the bank and would donate $5million to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 'Morgan Stanley made $41billion last year that's a drop in the bucket, it's not even a rounding error,' Booker said of Gorman's pledge. 'People have to put these things in context. If there's a real business initiative that they're focused on, he'd put more than six basis points into it.' During Booker's tenure at Morgan Stanley several black employees have sued the company claiming that they were marginalized and isolated at work and then pushed out if they spoke up. In 2007 the bank settled a class-action suit for almost $24million over middle managers' treatment of black employees. Under that settlement it agreed to spend $7.5million of that on an overhaul of its hiring and management practices. But employees who have passed through the firm since then say not much has changed. In just the past four years, at least eight former employees have sued the company for racial discrimination. Nigerian rapper, Erigga, has shared a few words about rape as he directed a piece of advice to his fans and followers. The rapper, taking to his Twitter page, advised men not to ever force a woman for sex as she shared that the body belongs to the woman. His tweet is coming up after the many reported rape cases in the country. READ ALSO Never Date Girl Dumped By A Yahoo Boy Rapper Erigga Advertisement Sharing on Twitter, the rapper wrote: No force her if she like you she go give you Na she get her body young man See His Post Here: Across continents, pandemic-weary communities are emerging from months of shutdowns and restrictions as politicians and businesses urge people to return to work. Lives have been upended, bank accounts have suffered, and many people are craving a return to old routines. But the novel coronavirus persists. Measured in terms of new confirmed cases - figures that experts agree are underestimated - it is surging rather than dwindling. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization reported the highest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic: 136,000 new infections on June 7. (The tally by Johns Hopkins University has slightly different figures.) Days later, the United States surpassed 2 million confirmed cases, cementing its place at the top of the confirmed infections ranking. Overall, more than 7.3 million people worldwide have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and more than 413,000 people have been confirmed to have died from covid-19. And those are just the infections and deaths we know about. Even if the recent surge in confirmed numbers may be due in part to increases in the availability of testing, the virus is nowhere near going away, experts say. As early hotspots begin to recover, the epicenters of the pandemic shift. Amid a widespread relaxation in restrictions, from Israel to Iran to South Korea to China, new clusters have formed. Three months after much of the world shut down, the United States, Brazil, Russia and India are reporting the highest number of new daily cases. --- United States What began in Washington and New York states has come for Arizona, Florida and Texas. Lockdowns helped slow the initial spread as testing lagged. But states have largely lifted measures, and on Sunday, both Alabama and South Carolina hit single-day records in new confirmed cases. Hospitals in Houston are reporting record numbers of patients. Public health experts warn that states moving to reopen too fast could lead to fresh round of infections. Numbers so far indicate that has been the case. Coupled with the masses of people who've marched together in protests against racism and police brutality, the coming weeks could see further increases. Being outdoors at a distance from others, wearing a mask, and washing hands, scientists say, are among the best preventive measures. At the same time, experts are already warning about the winter, when the flu hits hospitals, schools and workplaces, compounding stress on the system. --- Brazil The virus spread through Asia. Then it surged in Europe. Now Latin America is the center of the global pandemic, according to the WHO. Even countries in South America that were quick to shut down, like Peru and Chile, are seeing infections rise as they ease their restrictions. But Brazil - where the federal government, led by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, has downplayed the virus - never went into a complete lockdown. Instead, governors and mayors at their own discretion closed schools and shops as the virus kept expanding its reach and the president kept belittling its severity. What began as a cluster among rich Brazilians with the resources to travel has turned into a crisis hitting neglected poor and indigenous Brazilians hardest. Now, as the above graph shows, Brazil's outbreak is still widening. The country has confirmed more than 42,000 covid-19 deaths and more than 867,000 cases. --- Russia Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In mid-March, Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted that the novel coronavirus, then wreaking havoc across Europe, wasn't a problem for him back at home. Months later, Russia has the third highest number of confirmed cases and among the fastest growing outbreaks worldwide. Given trajectories elsewhere, that's not much of a surprise: Russia's shutdowns, which it is easing, helped to slow but not stop the virus. But what is "difficult to understand," WHO expert Mike Ryan said during a briefing last week, is how Russia has maintained such a low mortality rate - just over 7,000 confirmed, deaths - in tandem with rising infections. Doctors and nurses have been speaking out, despite the danger of doing so in the repressive state, about dire conditions in hospitals. In a rebuke to the official narrative, Russian officials last week issued revisions that raised some death tolls for April and May. The virus, after all, is immune to Putin's usual tactics for maintaining control. --- India India imposed one of the world's strictest lockdowns on its more than 1.3 billion people in March. By May, the country started to lift restrictions. But even with strict restriction in place, India's case numbers continued to rise. That's because India hasn't yet been able to flatten its curve, with the lockdowns succeeding only somewhat in slowing the rate of the virus' spread. Some 99 percent of the hospital beds in Mumbai, a city of 12 million people, are filled. Delhi's chief minister warned last week that at the number of cases there could reach 500,000 by July, up from the city's current 35,000 confirmed infections. Sick people already struggle find an open hospital bed. Thats true, of course. They also could not have imagined that it would cover sexual harassment of male employees and yet in 1998 the Supreme Court found unanimously that it did. Statutory prohibitions often go beyond the principal evil to cover reasonably comparable evils, and it is ultimately the provisions of our laws rather than the principal concerns of our legislators by which we are governed, the court said then, in an opinion written by Justice Antonin Scalia. Justice Gorsuch, who succeeded Justice Scalia on the bench, reiterated this basic concept on Monday: The limits of the drafters imagination supply no reason to ignore the laws demands. When the express terms of a statute give us one answer and extratextual considerations suggest another, its no contest. Only the written word is the law, and all persons are entitled to its benefit. While were on the subject of legislators intentions, it is worth noting the historical irony behind the inclusion of sex in the civil rights law which was, after all, targeted primarily at racial discrimination. The term was added at the last minute by Representative Howard Smith, a staunch segregationist from Virginia, in the hope that lawmakers would see it as a bridge too far and vote down the entire bill. Mr. Smiths failed gambit continues to pay off in ways that he surely never could have dreamed. Still, there are reasons to be cautious. Justice Gorsuchs commitment to textualism, a method of interpreting laws by looking solely to their plain words, achieved a just result in this case, but when applied too rigidly it can lead to very unjust results. In his previous job on a federal appeals court, then-Judge Gorsuch wrote an opinion holding that a trucker could legally be fired for abandoning his broken-down truck in subzero temperatures based on a wooden reading of the word operate. In short, this particular victory for gay rights was based not on the fundamental equality or dignity of gay and transgender Americans, as previous Supreme Court decisions have been; it was based on the meaning of a single word. The opinion also hints at a potentially serious obstacle on the horizon: claims by employers that being prohibited from discriminating against gay and transgender workers violates their religious convictions. Such claims are likely to find a sympathetic ear among this Supreme Courts conservative majority, which has repeatedly voted to protect if not promote religion and religious objectors. For now, however, Mondays decision is a victory to savor, the next major step in a line of gay rights decisions stretching back nearly a quarter century, and until now written solely by Justice Anthony Kennedy. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who succeeded Justice Kennedy in 2018, graciously admitted as much in his own dissent. Although he disagreed with the majoritys opinion, he wrote: It is appropriate to acknowledge the important victory achieved today by gay and lesbian Americans. Millions of gay and lesbian Americans have worked hard for many decades to achieve equal treatment in fact and in law. They have exhibited extraordinary vision, tenacity and grit battling often steep odds in the legislative and judicial arenas, not to mention in their daily lives. They have advanced powerful policy arguments and can take pride in todays result. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 15:40:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, June 16 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Unification Ministry said on Tuesday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) demolished an inter-Korean liaison office in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong by an explosion. The ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said in a short statement that the DPRK blew up the Kaesong joint liaison office at 2:49 p.m. local time (0549 GMT). The inter-Korean liaison office opened in September 2018 for the round-the-clock communications between South Korea and the DPRK. According to a military source cited by multiple local media, an explosion was heard and smoke was seen rising from the Kaesong Industrial Complex in the afternoon. An official at the South Korean defense ministry told Xinhua over phone that the ministry had nothing to confirm over the issue. The explosion came after Kim Yo Jong, first vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and younger sister of top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, said in a statement Saturday night that she had given instructions for decisive action to be taken. "If I drop a hint of our next plan the South Korean authorities are anxious about, the right to taking the next action against the enemy will be entrusted to the General Staff of our army," she said, indicating an demolition of the joint liaison office. All communication lines between South Korea and the DPRK were severed last week by Pyongyang in protest of anti-DPRK propaganda leaflets sent by defectors across the inter-Korean border. Enditem Hundreds of people have called city police this week to report a new telephone fraud scheme. Police say people are receiving calls from someone claiming to be from Service Ontario or the Canada Revenue Agency, who then demands the persons social insurance number and other information. The caller can be convincing and threatens arrest, police say. Residents should be vigilant when receiving a phone call from any person claiming to be from Service Canada, CRA or any other agency, organization or individual requesting personal information over the phone, city police state. We remind residents to never give ANY personal information over the phone or through email or text, especially your SIN number, credit card number, passport number or any banking information, before confirming the identity of the caller. Fraud victims are encouraged to call police at 705-876-1122 or go to https://www.peterboroughpolice.com/report/a-crime/. Another resource is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm No Beijing, only Delhi says former Nepal PM on ties with India Pause map, let us talk, India to Nepal India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 16: New Delhi has indicated that it is willing to talk with the K P Oli government in Nepal, provided the latter creates a conducive atmosphere. Sources tell OneIndia that Nepal must first put on hold the process of getting parliamentary sanction for the country's new map. Only then, we can sit across the table and talk the source also said. On Monday, Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh had said that India will sort out the differences with Nepal through dialogue. Bound by roti and beti, Singh on relations with Nepal He asserted that the road built by India till the Lipulekh Pass was very much within its territory. If the road built by India has caused any misunderstanding among the people of Nepal, then it would be sorted out through dialogue, Singh said at a virtual rally for Uttarakhand. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain hospitalised, to take COVID-19 test| Oneindia News India and Nepal are both bound by roti and beti. No power in the world can break it, he also said. Our relations are not only historical and cultural, but spiritual as well, Singh further added. How can relations between India and Nepal break, Singh further questioned. On Sunday, the upper house of the Nepalese parliament accepted the proposal to consider the bill to amend the country's Constitution to endorse the new map which included the territory claimed by India- Lipulekh Pass, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani. This territorial claim has become an irritant for India's relations with Nepal. This would also give China the advantage as it has been competing with India for geopolitical influence over Nepal. According to the Obama Foundation website, more than 1,000 people are killed by police every year in America, while black people are three times more likely to be killed than white people. The pledge aims to redefine public safety in order to recognize the humanity and dignity of every person, according to the website. An Astra rocket standing on the launchpad in Kodiak, Alaska. Astra / John Kraus Rocket builder Astra will try again for its first orbital rocket launch in July, as the San Francisco-area startup navigates the coronavirus pandemic environment while trying to begin flying satellites to space regularly. The company suffered a setback in March when a fire broke out as Astra was getting its Rocket 3.0 ready on the launchpad. But the company diagnosed that issue and will ship a new rocket up to Alaska at the end of this month, for a launch window that opens on July 20. Astra is aiming for orbit with this launch, although CEO Chris Kemp explained to CNBC on Monday that he defines success as a stable flight for the first part of the launch. "Our strategy here is to see the first stage perform, and then we have two more flights," Kemp said. "We still intend to iterate towards orbit." His company's rocket stands about 40 feet tall and falls in the category of small launch vehicles. These small rockets have become more popular due to an increase in the number of small satellites and spacecraft, often the size of a mailbox or washing machine, looking for rides to orbit. Currently the small rocket business is dominated by Rocket Lab, which has launched 12 missions to orbit successfully. Astra has raised about $100 million to date, from investors including Advance (the investment arm of the family of the late billionaire S.I. Newhouse), ACME Capital, Airbus Ventures, Canaan Partners and Salesforce founder Marc Benioff. Astra's board includes Advance senior executive Nomi Bergman and ACME Capital partner Scott Stanford. While Astra has enough cash on hand to get to early 2021, Kemp said that he's "going to be restarting that fundraising process" in the next month. Astra previously planned to raise new capital in the second quarter but that changed when the pandemic hit. "That is a function of the market recovering, at least for now," Kemp said. "I think our calculus has now shifted a little bit, because there's been a lot of inbound interest about investing in the company right now." Astra trimmed its staff through a mix of furloughs and layoffs when the coronavirus pandemic began, but Kemp said that the company's been able to bring back 10 of those who were furloughed. The company now has a total of 119 employees, including eight who remain furloughed. "We brought those folks back because they accelerated our ability to deliver another launch in July," Kemp said. Next week Astra plans to do a test of its Rocket 3.1 at the company's headquarters in Alameda, California. Known as a "hot fire," Kemp said the test will see Astra fire up the rocket's engines for 10 seconds. "Then we pack it up and ship it up to Alaska," Kemp said. Astra tests a rocket at its headquarters on the San Francisco Bay in Alameda, California. Astra Kemp went into more detail about the company's March anomaly, which destroyed its Rocket 3.0 during launch preparations. He said that, "after a really successful rehearsal," a valve on the rocket stuck open while Astra was letting the fuel out of the rocket. "It occurred during a phase of the tanking process where the relief valve couldn't relieve the pressure fast enough," Kemp said. The valve is a piece Astra had built in-house and tested "thousands of times successfully," Kemp noted. It took several months of Astra trying to reproduce the failure before the company found the root cause. In the process of doing that, Astra also put in three levels of redundancy so it won't happen again. "So it's kind of like a big pause button was pressed, and then we're hitting play again," Kemp said. Demand for launch during the crisis Astra's rocket 3.0 during launch preparations in Kodiak, Alaska. Astra / John Kraus Astra is one of many companies in the space industry deemed "mission essential" by the Pentagon when the coronavirus crisis began. After nearly a decade of private capital flowing into young and growing space companies, analysts say the pandemic froze funding and some executives described a "slog" ahead for the industry. Kemp agreed that COVID-19 has had an impact, saying that "it's made a lot of things a little harder" and created friction in his company's development. "Things don't become impossible. Things take a little bit more time," Kemp said. Only about 15% of Astra's employees were coming into its facilities daily in March, but that number has gone back up to 90% now, Kemp noted. A big part of Astra's push to get back to the launchpad is that the company has a huge backlog of customers that are waiting to fly various payloads," Kemp said. He added that the company has not "lost a single customer" during the crisis and has actually "increased the number of things that we'll be flying for them in every case." "I think that speaks to the demand that's out there and the lack of supply," Kemp said. A single customer can buy a dedicated Astra launch for about $2.5 million. That makes its rockets competitive against other companies offering small rocket rides to space, as Rocket Lab's larger Electron goes for about $7 million. Astra's strategy Kemp emphasized that Astra remains focused on scaling its product. Its first step is getting to orbit within the next three launches. But after that, Kemp says Astra will be able ramp up its production due to the simplicity of its rockets. Astra's production doesn't use carbon fiber or 3D printing, which Kemp described as "high cost manufacturing" processes and "terrible ways to make anything at scale." Astra has brought 95% of its supply chain in-house, which Kemp said means "we literally take raw materials in one loading dock and send rockets out the other." "It's designed so that we can do thousands of launches a year ultimately," Kemp said. "Our strategy remains: Simplify everything as much as possible, automate everything as much as possible and focus on scale." Inside Astra's rocket production facility in Alameda, California. Astra Children need to know the truth about the police. Schools are where they should learn it, yet school officials are lining up to eject law enforcement resource officers. Its a knee-jerk reaction to one enormous tragedy. Our country consists of more than 1 million full-time cops working for municipalities, counties, states and the federal government. Of all those officers, one man knelt on the neck of George Floyd and apparently murdered him. The other 99.9% of law enforcement officers did not choke Floyd, and none have publicly defended the killing. Three other cops at the scene should have stopped officer Derek Chauvin, the suspected killer who was immediately fired and charged within days. All four on the scene are charged with murder; other cops had nothing to do with it. Nearly 100% of people are upset and outraged by the killing. We are so collectively outraged that demonstrations have continued for weeks throughout the United States. Some city leaders are hurriedly working to disband their police departments. And school districts are starting to eject police resource officers from schools. Children watching this are likely to take an unfortunate message: cops are scary, menacing, racist and mean. Not four cops in Minneapolis, but all or most cops are bad. It must be true because schools are treating them as criminals unwelcome in the hallways. The evil action of one Minneapolis cop, and the evil inaction of another three, raises issues about what other cops might do when the camera of a passerby does not expose it. Protesters and politicians are right to examine police policies and training so each can be improved. We deserve the absolute highest service from law enforcement, and that should never include anything approaching the deadly atrocity in Minneapolis. Cops should save lives, not end them. Politicians and protesters are wrong to take this out on 99.9% of cops who did not kill George Floyd. Most of them spend their days and nights saving lives and protecting property. Without officers in schools, a childs image of law enforcement will mostly be formed by the scene of Floyds murder and the messages of politicians and protesters creating a misleading and derogatory image of cops. We will infect young generations with the misleading idea that officers are armed monsters who wantonly attack and kill. We cant help what socialist politicians do in Minneapolis, Denver, Seattle and other far-left cities that lack common sense. We can distinguish ourselves by spending more on law enforcement, keeping officers in schools, and serving the public with the best-trained, most compassionate, and competent law enforcement in the country. We can have the law enforcement personnel who extinguish racism and other forms of irrational injustice. Lets be the family friendly, business-friendly, military-friendly, minority-friendly safe cities in which to live. Building on and maintaining that distinction means supporting and maintaining a law enforcement presence that protects and defends all aspects of our community most especially the schools entrusted with our children. The Gazette, Colorado Springs, Colorado Theres only so much airlines can do to force a passenger to keep a mask on after takeoff. Still, seven major U.S. carriers agreed to ensure passengers are warned about face covering policies before they get to the airport. The airlines also agreed to impose penalties on those who dont comply. [June 16, 2020] POSaBIT Reports Full Year 2019 Financial Results POSaBIT Systems Corporation (CSE: PBIT), a leading financial technology company delivering unique payment processing and point-of-sale (POS) systems for cash-only businesses with a focus on the cannabis industry, is pleased to report its financial results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019. "We are very happy with our 2019 results, nearly doubling our revenue from 2018 and almost tripling our total transactional sales. POSaBIT finished the year with annual revenue of $4.2 million, inclusive of all revenue from the POSaBIT Payments business and our growing POSaBIT Point of Sale business. We continued our rapid expansion into new markets and now have active merchants in 10 US states," said Ryan Hamlin, co-founder and CEO of POSaBIT. "In 2019, we really started to gain a lot of traction with our feature-rich Point of Sale offering and have been onboarding a bevy of new merchants switching away from their existing POS provider to POSaBIT. We are very well-positioned to take advantage of the large and growing cannabis industry and poised for continued strong growth." "Looking ahead to 2020 year end, we remain focused on delivering strong results. Our performance-to-date in 2020 has hit our forecast, led by continued traction in the market for our fully integrated point of sale and payments platform. The recent Covid-19 outbreak has accelerated the need that many merchants have to provide their customers with cashless payments - something POSaBIT has been supplying to the industry for over four years. We believe both the expansion of our payments business and the accelerated growth of our point of sale positions us for another strong year. We are projected for another 80% to 100% growth of revenue and sales, and, as a result, we are maintaining our positive outlook for the year," Hamlin concluded. Financial Summary In United States dollars Years ended December 31, 2019 2018 $ $ Total revenue 4,175,223 2,443,043 Total cost of sales (3,577,179 ) (2,249,753 ) Gross margin 598,044 193,290 Total operating expenses (5,575,333 ) (3,378,590 ) Total other expenses (357,173 ) (709,452 ) Loss (5,234,462 ) (3,894,752 ) Basic and diluted loss per shares (0.08 ) (0.17 ) Basic and diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding 67,671,665 23,013,011 Full Year 2019 Financial Summary Transactional Sales Transactional sales totaled $54 million, representing an increase of 148% compared with $21.8 million in 2018. Revenue Total revenue was $4.2 million, up 75% compared with $2.4 million in 2018. Gross Profit Gross profit increased 210%, or $598 thousand, compared with a gross profit of $193.2 thousand in 2018. Loss Loss was $5.2 million, or a loss of $0.08 per basic and diluted share, compared with a loss of $3.9 million, or a loss of $0.17 per basic and diluted share in 2018. Financial Reports Full details of the financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2019 are described in the company's consolidated financial statements with accompanying notes. The consolidated financial statements and additional information about POSaBIT are available on the company's website at www.posabit.com/investor-relations or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Financial Outlook POSaBIT provides guidance based on current market conditions and expectations. Please refer to the comments below regarding forward-looking statements. POSaBIT reaffirms its full year 2020 outlook of: Transactional sales will grow by more than 100% to over USD $135 million, assuming the average store processes between USD $350,000 and USD $500,000 per year through the POSaBIT service Revenue to grow in the range of approximately 80% to 100% Cost of sales in the range of $5.5 million to $6.0 million Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our business strategy, product development, timing of product development, events and courses of action. Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, outlook, expectations or intentions regarding the future including words or phrases such as "anticipate," "objective," "may," "will," "might," "should," "could," "can," "intend," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "plan," "is designed to" or similar expressions suggest future outcomes or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements about: our expectations regarding our expenses, sales and operations; our future customer concentration; our anticipated cash needs and our estimates regarding our capital requirements and our need for additional financing our ability to anticipate the future needs of our customers; our plans for future products and enhancements of existing products; our future growth strategy and growth rate; our future intellectual property; and our anticipated trends and challenges in the markets in which we operate. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which POSaBIT will operate in the future, including the demand for our products, anticipated costs and ability to achieve goals. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions; the ability to manage our operating expenses, which may adversely affect our financial condition; our ability to remain competitive as other better financed competitors develop and release competitive products; regulatory uncertainties; market conditions and the demand and pricing for our products; our relationships with our customers, distributors and business partners; our ability to successfully define, design and release new products in a timely manner that meet our customers' needs; our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; competition in our industry; our ability to maintain technological leadership; our ability to manage risks inherent in foreign operations; the impact of technology changes on our products and industry; our failure to develop new and innovative products; our ability to successfully maintain and enforce our intellectual property rights and defend third-party claims of infringement of their intellectual property rights; the impact of intellectual property litigation that could materially and adversely affect our business; our ability to manage working capital; and our dependence on key personnel. POSaBIT is an early stage company with a short operating history; it may not receive any future product sales revenue or achieve profitability; and it may not actually achieve its plans, projections, or expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from POSaBIT's expectations include, consumer sentiment towards POSaBIT's products and blockchain/cryptocurrency exchange technology generally, litigation, global economic climate, loss of key employees and consultants, additional funding requirements, changes in laws, technology failures, competition, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither we nor any of our representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this news release. Neither we nor any of our representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, resulting from the use of the information in this news release or for omissions from the information in this news release. About POSaBIT POSaBIT (CSE: PBIT) is a financial technology company that delivers unique and innovative, blockchain-enabled payment processing and point-of-sale systems for cash-only businesses. POSaBIT specializes in resolving pain points for complex, high-risk, emerging industries like cannabis with an all-in-one solution that is compliant, user-friendly and utilizes top-of-the-line hardware. POSaBIT's unique solution provides a safer and transparent environment for merchants while creating a better overall experience for the consumer. For additional information, visit: www.posabit.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005347/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Disgraced former NSW Labor minister Milton Orkopoulos has appeared in court after being accused of raping an 11-year-old boy four times in the 1990s. Orkopoulos, 62, appeared briefly in Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday via audio-visual link from Sydney's Long Bay prison. He is accused of sexually abusing two boys more than two decades ago while serving as a Lake Macquarie Councillor. Orkopoulos, wearing glasses and prison greens, said nothing during the brief hearing and did not apply for bail, which was formally refused. Disgraced former NSW Labor minister Milton Orkopoulos (right) has appeared in court after being accused of sexually abusing two boys in the 1990s He is accused of sexually abusing two boys in the 1990s while serving as a Lake Macquarie Councillor Orkopoulos has been charged with 15 offences including aggravated indecent assault with a person under 16 years of age, committing an act of indecency with a person under 16 years, aggravated sexual assault and causing a child aged under 14 to participate in child prostitution. All but two of the charges relate to one of the alleged victims. Orkopoulos raped the 11-year-old boy three times at Caves Beach and another time at Swansea in December 1998, court documents allege. He is also facing two counts of aggravated indecent assault against another boy at Seal Rocks on the NSW Mid-North Coast. He spent 11-and-a-half years in jail after he was convicted of 30 child sex, drug and child pornography offences between 1995 and 2006. Orkopoulos was granted parole in December 2019. He was arrested in January for allegedly setting up an Instagram account and not telling police within the required seven days. He had his parole revoked in February after Corrective Services NSW officers told police he used the mobile phone of a fellow resident at the Malabar halfway house where he lives in Sydney's southeast. Defence lawyer Omar Juweinat told the court Orkopoulos had since his arrest on Monday been moved into the prison's maximum security area. Orkopoulos had been held in the prison's less secure remand section before Lake Macquarie detectives charged him with fresh child abuse offences. Magistrate John Chicken adjourned the case to August 20 when the police brief of evidence against Orkopoulos was expected to be complete. Mr Chicken ordered authorities to assess Orkopoulos for mental health issues. British actress Denise Welch poses on the red carpet upon arrival for the World premiere of the television series "The Crown - Series 3" in London on November 13, 2019. (Photo by Isabel Infantes / AFP) (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images) Denise Welch has said alcohol ruined [her] life for 15 years while sharing a message warning of the dangers of alcohol. The Loose Women panellist, who has been sober since 2012, shared a tweet in which she described alcohol as the most dangerous drug due to the fact that is not illegal. The 62-year-old posted: "Alcohol is the most dangerous drug because its legal. Violence is fuelled by it. In most domestic abuse incidents alcohol is a major contributor. Read more: Andrea McLean didnt mean to publicly address breakdown "It is a major cause of anxiety & depression and yet we celebrate it everywhere. It ruined my life for 15 yrs." Alcohol is the most dangerous drug because its legal. Violence is fuelled by it. In most domestic abuse incidents alcohol is a major contributor. It is a major cause of anxiety & depression and yet we celebrate it everywhere. It ruined my life for 15 yrs. Denise Welch (@RealDeniseWelch) June 15, 2020 She followed up the message by thanking those who had reached out in the comments, and that a "similar thread" ran through most of the replies as others shared their experiences. Back in April, the former Coronation Street actor celebrated eight years of sobriety and credited her husband Lincoln Townley with helping her to make the change in her life. She said in a video: "Today, April 18th I am celebrating being 8 years sober and I just want to thank everybody who has supported me on this journey. If it wasn't for my husband Lincoln who got sober with me I don't know where I would be." Welch and her artist husband went into their sobriety journey together as Townley's also credited her with helping him. Lincoln Townley and Denise Welch attend the 2019 British Academy Britannia Awards presented by American Airlines and Jaguar Land Rover at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 25, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/BAFTA LA/Getty Images for BAFTA LA) They have been married for almost seven years after tying the knot in July 2013. Welch was formerly married to actor Tim Healy with whom she shares two sons, The 1975 frontman Matty, 31, and 19-year-old Louis. Story continues The mother-of-two is also open about her battles with depression, last year sharing videos chronicling a depressive episode. Read more: Ruth Langsford almost quit TV career after sisters death She shared with her Twitter followers: "Trying to explain depression to those who are fortunate not to suffer is difficult, but its kind of like, it is what it says on the tin. Depression depresses every single emotion you have so that theres a flatness and a void there. How I describe it is that the colour goes out of my life. Jacksonville native Steven Davidsmeyer was deployed July 27 to a war zone in Afghanistan with the Illinois Army National Guard. Within weeks of returning home, Davidsmeyer, 30, found himself in a different type of war zone this one in his home state. Davidsmeyer was deployed June 1 to Chicago to help police handle protests and looting stemming from the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and the Black Lives Matter movement. It was different to act in an infantry role on U.S. soil, said Davidsmeyer, a Guard sergeant. It was a totally different experience. I met a lot of really good people, he said of both protesters and police. The line between peaceful protesters and looters was blurry at first, making his job harder, he said. Once that line was there it made our job a lot easier the protesters, the police and the National Guard were all on the same page, Davidsmeyer said. The line was the protesters versus the looters. The Guards job while in Chicago was not to detain or arrest people but to help others in the safest manner possible. We have no arresting authority; our job is the preservation of life and then the protection of assets, he said. The police were just fantastic, but they were very stressed, he said. With 2020 being such an eventful year so far, being in a foreign country during it all was an interesting experience, especially when coming home, Davidsmeyer said. We came back to the whole COVID thing, he said. When we left, it was normal here. Then we came back to people wearing masks. Returning April 17, Davidsmeyer and his fellow Guardsmen were sent to Texas for quarantine. We spent two weeks in tents for quarantine, but I worked out like crazy because I want to go into the Special Forces, he said, adding that the quarantine was 100% the right thing to do. Davidsmeyer first joined the National Guard in Minnesota in 2010 because they had an infantry. I wanted to do it because it was the hardest thing, he said. After transferring to the Illinois Army National Guard two years ago, Davidsmeyer now is ready to take the next step in his military career. Sometime in July Davidsmeyer will be leaving the Guard and joining the U.S. Army to pursue his career with the Special Forces. While he was deployed to Afghanistan, he met and was guided by some current Special Forces members, he said. I think what they do is the most good, he said. For all sides. Davidsmeyer is prepared to go through the rigorous training, which could take 18 months to complete. He feels its worth it. It will be a long, lengthy process and it will be physically challenging, he said. Davidsmeyer is proud of his service, but hes equally passionate about something else teaching and the people who do it. I am honored (when people thank him for his service), but teachers are not thanked enough and not just military teachers but all teachers, he said. Google has sparked outrage and accusations of censorship after banning right-wing website ZeroHedge and cautioning The Federalist from its ad platform. What exactly Google complained to The Federalist over remains murky and it's unclear if they ever threatened to ban it from the ad platform. The row began with an NBC report which suggested Google acted after receiving a report from a British think tank that flagged that The Federalist had used a 'black crime' tag to categorize content. It also flagged a story in which a journalist claimed the media was 'lying' by reporting that white supremacists were involved in looting. It specifically singled out CNN and the New York Times. ZeroHedge was flagged by the think tank for claiming the BLM protests sweeping the nation were being funded by Democrat mega-donor George Soros. A Google spokeswoman was quoted by NBC as saying it had 'removed both sites' ability to monetize'. However later, Google said it had never demonetized The Federalist - which is run by Meghan McCain's husband - and that it got in touch to address something in the website's comments section that violated standards. A spokesman would not give any more details of what the offensive comment was when contacted by DailyMail.com and they refused to say when or why ZeroHedge was demonetized. Google tweeted that it had told The Federalist to remove the comment section after some content posted there violated its policies, without specifying what the offensive comments were Meghan McCain tweeted: 'Google is now trafficking in digital fascism. How soon until all conservative speech and publications are completely banned?' Donald Trump Jr. said the company was trying to have it 'both ways' by on the one hand seemingly trying to hold The Federalist accountable for comments posted on its site while shirking responsibility for what appears on its own search results page - something that has recently been called into question by the president as tech giants' way of getting out of being sued. The Federalist is run by Meghan McCain's husband Ben Domenech Their decision to demonetize ZeroHedge is likely to annihilate whatever revenue it made and is the most dramatic step Google has taken in stripping sites of their ability to make money through ads. The company has in the past been accused of promoting left-wing sites over right-wing counterparts but insists its algorithms are impartial. The report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate that was given to NBC cited ten websites including Brietbart and The Gateway Pundit, two other well-known conservative websites. The ten websites flagged were American Greatness, Moonbattery, American Thinker, Big League Politics, Zero Hedge, WND, The Washington Standard, Gateway Pundit, Breitbart and The Federalist. Google refused to say whether any of the other sites had been demonetized. The think-tank piece flagged two articles by ZeroHedge. One was said the movement was a 'George Soros astroturf campaign for leftists and their agenda to reshape the fabric of American society.' The other said it was 'practically a revolutionary operative of the CIA via Soros'. The Federalist's violations, according to the think tank, were the 'black crime' tag, under which stories appeared, and an article alleging the media had lied. Meghan McCain's husband runs The Federalist. She tweeted that the company was trafficking 'in digital fascism' Donald Trump Jr. piled into the debate, saying big tech 'wants to have it both ways' That story, published on June 3, read: 'Over the weekend we were told, for example, that the looting and violence was being instigated not by left-wing anarchists and antifa groups but by the medias favorite villains: white supremacists. 'CNN, whose Atlanta offices were vandalized Friday, went on and onwithout a shred of evidence to back it upabout how white supremacists might be infiltrating the protests and stirring up trouble. 'The New York Times, in a report that even quoted a senior police official in New York City saying outside anarchist groups were coordinating mayhem before the protests began, nevertheless veered into a long aside about how far-right accelerationists were hoping the unrest would bring about a long-sought second civil war. 'By Monday, no one was talking about the white supremacist agitators anymore. The media had moved on to better, more plausible lies.' That story remains online but the 'black crime tag' has been removed. NBC suggested that it supplying the report to Google was what prompted Google then contacting The Federalist. 'We have strict publisher policies that govern the content ads can run on and explicitly prohibit derogatory content that promotes hatred, intolerance, violence or discrimination based on race from monetizing. NBC gave Google this report by a British think tank that listed 10 websites and claimed they were racist in their coverage of the protests. Google now insists it had nothing to do with the report and was over the comments section, despite a spokesman earlier saying the site had been defunded 'When a page or site violates our policies, we take action. In this case, weve removed both sites ability to monetize with Google,' a spokeswoman said. But the company later tweeted: 'The Federalist was never demonetized. 'We worked with them to address issues on their site related to the comments section.' Ben Domenech, The Federalist publisher and McCain's husband, declined to comment when approached by DailyMail.com on Tuesday afternoon. The move is the latest in efforts by tech companies to crack down on content it deems inappropriate that more often than not, comes from conservatives. A poignant recent example was Twitter censoring President Trump's tweet about the Minneapolis protests, where he said: 'When the looting starts, the shooting starts.' The decision prompted Trump to sign an executive order targeting social media giants. 'A small handful of social media monopolies controls a vast portion of all public and private communications in the United States. 'They've had unchecked power to censor, restrict, edit, shape, hide, alter, virtually any form of communication between private citizens and large public audiences,' he said at the time. To say that China dominates the electrified trucking market would be kind of an understatement, but the vehicle sales appear poised to grow more globally and soon. The big picture: The vast majority of annual sales are in China, while in the U.S. and Europe, "most heavy-duty electric truck activity is in demonstration and customer trials," the International Energy Agency notes in its latest snapshot of electric vehicle trends and policies. Tesla plans to bring its semitruck into volume production. More broadly a suite of companies including startups and legacy players like Daimler hope to scale up production of battery-powered models. Most recently there's been a burst of attention on the startup Nikola Motors, which is planning to start building battery-powered and hydrogen fuel-cell models. Nikola says it has 14,000 preorders for its fuel-cell heavy-duty truck slated to begin production in 2023, and a spokesperson tells me they're mostly in the U.S., Europe and Canada. What we're watching: The shifting policy landscape could broaden adoption outside China, where vehicle electrification has lots of domestic policy support. The new 50m beef support package announced by the Government of Agriculture could be used to compensate beef finishers who sold cattle over the past 12 months. The Department held an initial consultation with farming organisations yesterday to discuss the distribution of the 50m deal, which came as a surprise to many when announced last week. The scheme is designed to compensate finishers for poor prices due to Covid-19, but the substantially reduced kill since the lockdown has raised fears that a limited number of farmers would qualify. It's understood the Department is anxious that the scheme include as many beef finishers as possible and the scheme will not include the conditions the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) scheme had and this may increase the qualifying period by as much as 12 months. The scheme may be set to include cattle sold up to last week and it's understood that while cull cows will be eligible for payments, factory-owned animals will not be included. The Farming Independent also understands farmers who sold finished cattle through marts may qualify for the compensation package. However, it will be up to the farming organisations to recommend exactly what cattle would qualify as 'finished' animals if sold through the marts. Efforts will be made to ensure that farmers who held cattle for the majority of the finishing period will be eligible. The package is designed to aid beef farmers who have been affected economically by Covid-19, which saw significant restrictions imposed on March 24, including reduced services at the marts. With 90pc of Irish beef exported, Covid-19 hit worldwide demand for beef, particularly in the food services sector - a major buyer of Irish beef. Engage Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said that while the Department will engage with farmers on any conditionality around the scheme, he hopes to keep it as simple as possible, and the target is to start payments this autumn. He said that while the scheme is exclusively for finishers, such a targeted measure will help other beef farmers, especially when it comes to buying weanlings at the back end of the year. ICSA president Edmond Phelan said the EU should "double up" the 50m exchequer payment for beef finishers to ensure a realistic payment can be made on all finished stock, including suckler cows and finished cattle sold in marts. "The EU has done nothing to date to support losses suffered by farmers arising from Covid and it is time to rectify this," he said. "The 50m is actually a very limited amount of money relative to the amount of cattle farmers." ICSA said the full funding should be divided over all eligible animals rather than a fixed payment per head. "While the Covid crisis is the justification for this payment, the reality is that cattle killed in the past 12 months have all lost money and we want to ensure that the money is fairly allocated to active farmers," said Mr Phelan. ICMSA's Pat McCormack confirmed that his association would be insisting that all farmers finishing beef would be included in the scheme. "Obviously we'll want all farmers finishing beef to be included and we do think the position of weanling and store producers has to be considered." IFA livestock chairman Brendan Golden said the Covid-19 crisis has impacted significantly on markets, especially the vital food service sector. Winter finishers selling cattle have sustained losses of up to 200 per head compared to pre-Brexit and pre-Covid prices, he said. DAKAR, Senegal When Daniel Khan Mbuh died in a hospital in northern Cameroon, the hospital declared the cause of death to be Covid-19 then released the body to the family instead of arranging for a safe burial, his daughter Stella said. Ms. Mbuh said she was told the house where she had been caring for her father in the city of Bamenda would be disinfected. Nobody came. When she tried to get tested, the hospital refused, saying there were not enough test kits. And she was never advised to self-isolate, so she simply imposed her own two-week quarantine on herself and her siblings. They said they are following contacts, Ms. Mbuh said of health officials, but I am one of the contacts. And I am not being followed. The spread of the new coronavirus is now accelerating in many countries in Africa, where medical resources are stretched, rumors are rife and efforts to stop the pandemic are sometimes haphazard. This was the moment a man in Indonesia demonstrated how to help a king cobra shed its skin. The clip, filmed on June 15, shows Danu bathing the snake before helping it shed its skin. Because of the aggressive nature of a teenage king cobra, Danu proceeded with caution when holding his head and washing it. "Pet king cobras sometimes need help with shedding their skin. They do it to keep it clean and also when they get bigger and older," Danu told Newsflare. "Uniquely, once the cobra is bathed, it will calm down, then it will come to get a drink, the king cobra will raise his body up to drink," he added. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy ("Ivy"), a national leader in outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy services, is pleased to share that its participation as an in-network provider with Aetna Health Plans ("Aetna") has expanded to encompass two additional states: Michigan and Indiana. Beginning on June 15th, Aetna members have in-network benefits at all Ivy Rehab Network locations in both states. "Our participation as an in-network provider for Aetna in Michigan and Indiana comes at a time when many individuals are in need of high quality, easily accessible health care options," said Troy Bage, Ivy's COO. "Ivy continues to innovate through new therapy programs and expanded options for how patients receive treatment, including telehealth and in-home care, and we are thrilled to now provide these options to our Aetna patients in these two states." The Ivy Rehab Network operates 27 facilities throughout Michigan and five in Indiana. The clinics in Michigan not only include Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy facilities, but the state is also home to a number of Ivy's partner brands: Northern Physical Therapy, Generation Care, Leaps and Bounds Therapy Services, Ivy Rehab for Kids, and Grand River Physical Therapy Specialists. All brands that comprise the Ivy Rehab Network are known for their world-class clinical providers and dedication to patient outcomes, in addition to offering appointments within 24 hours, with or without a prescription. About Ivy Rehab Founded in 2003, Ivy Rehab is a rapidly growing network of over 225 best-in-class outpatient physical, occupational, speech therapy and ABA clinics located throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southeast regions of the United States. The Ivy Rehab Network consists of multiple brands all dedicated to providing exceptional care and personalized treatment to get patients feeling better, faster. With the support of leading middle-market private equity firm Waud Capital Partners, Ivy Rehab will continue its strategic growth via the ongoing investment in great new partners who embrace our mission, vision, and values as well as a culture of being "All About the People." About Aetna Aetna, a CVS Health business, serves an estimated 39 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. Contact Information: Ivy Rehab Network Jeremy VanDevender [email protected] SOURCE Ivy Rehab Network Related Links https://www.ivyrehab.com As Covid-19 cases surged past 4,100 in Odisha, opposition BJP and Congress on Tuesday accused the Naveen Patnaik government of scaling down testing for Covid-19. BJP state general secretary Golak Mahapatra alleged that while chief minister Patnaik last month had announced conducting 15,000 tests daily in June, the number of tests have now gone below 3,000 over the last few weeks. On June 15, a total of 2,988 tests were conducted, on June 14 the number of tests were 2,499. The number of tests is going down over the weeks, alleged Mohapatra. He also demanded that all inmates of quarantine centres across the state should undergo Covid-19 tests. On the other hand, neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is testing 15,000 people daily and has so far tested five lakh people. Congress MLA Suresh Kumar Routray also criticized the government for testing only two lakh people while over five lakh migrants have returned to the state. From 5,000 tests a day in May, it is inexplicable how the number of tests came down drastically, he said, alleging that the government has failed the migrants by not providing adequate testing facilities. Reacting to Mahapatras charges, BJD spokesperson Dr Sasmit Patra said the BJP and Congress should not play politics in the times of pandemic. Odisha is conducting Covid testing of all symptomatic persons as per the ICMR guidelines. Though testing capacity has been increased to 15,000 per day Odisha is carrying out the tests as per ICMR and Government of India guidelines. The same testing process is also being followed by BJP and Congress-ruled states across the country, said Patra. Pulseway Patch provides the powerful patching solution both IT departments and managed service providers (MSPs) need to minimize external threats and ensure business continuity. Pulseway, a world leader in mobile-first, cloud-based remote monitoring and management (RMM) software, has announced the launch of Pulseway Patch, a stand-alone patch management product. Previously available only as part of Pulseways RMM platform, Pulseway Patch allows users of other IT management solutions to access this valuable functionality. With the recent dramatic rise in remote working combined with increasingly sophisticated malware attacks, it is essential that organizations of all sizes can patch OS and 3rd party applications quickly, says Marius Mihalec, Founder and CEO of Pulseway, Pulseway Patch provides the powerful patching solution both IT departments and managed service providers (MSPs) need to minimize external threats and ensure business continuity, without the need to change any existing RMM they may be using. Pulseway Patch ensures complete IT network security by keeping operating systems and software up to date. Since the patching process is automated, all systems are updated instantly once a patch is available. With such advanced security, businesses can stop worrying about vulnerabilities in their IT network and focus instead on core business tasks. Pulseway Patch comes with a variety of out-of-the-box commands, as well as a range of innovative features that are critical to keeping software vulnerabilities at bay, including: Mass deployment: Pulseway Patch allows technicians to automatically discover endpoints in minutes to ensure that patches are mass deployed to every endpoint that needs them. OS Patching: Operating systems like Windows, can be patched and maintained up to date. This prevents IT networks from becoming vulnerable to cyberattacks that target outdated operating systems. Third-party patching: Pulseway Patch includes direct access to 85+ commonly-used third-party titles with new titles added every week. If you need to patch other software that is not on the list, you can easily add it through the Custom Titles module. Patching automation: By creating patching policies, technicians can schedule and automate the patching process and keep their IT environments up to date without any manual intervention. Central management: With Pulseway Patch, it is possible for technicians to centrally manage all their patching tasks from a single, unified platform to ensure consistent patching throughout the network. Reporting: Pulseway allows the generation of customized reports on your patching status. This helps businesses stay up to date with their patching tasks and regularly monitor and document the overall security health of their IT environment. Pulseway Patch is easy to install, efficient to use and, by using the powerful Pulseway mobile app already familiar to Pulseway RMM users, technicians can remotely manage the entire patching process across their entire network from anywhere by just using their smartphones. In addition, Pulseway Patch helps businesses adhere to various regulatory and legal data protection standards by keeping the entire network up to date. This helps businesses avoid data breaches and any resulting reputational and financial damages. Pulseway Patch starts from $0.90 per endpoint per month, quantity and term discounts apply. All MSPs and internal IT departments need a powerful patching solution, but many of them either do not know such products exist or think they are cost prohibitive, commented Marius Mihalec. We have launched Pulseway Patch as a stand-alone product so MSPs and IT departments can quickly and flexibly add a feature rich patching solution to their existing management processes whether manual or automated with RMM and start using it seamlessly. With this solution, businesses can rapidly see significant ROI by eliminating much of the costs and effort associated with preventing vulnerabilities in their software ecosystem. For more information, visit: http://patch.pulseway.com About Pulseway MMSOFT Design, Ltd. is the maker of Pulseway, a mobile-first IT management software that helps busy IT administrators look after their IT infrastructure on the go. Pulseway is used by over 6,000 businesses worldwide including DELL, Louis Vuitton, Canon and Siemens. Japan's deployment of the Aegis Ashore missile defense system will be put on hold due to the ballooning price tag and the logistics of rolling out the hardware, Defense Minister Taro Kono said Monday. "When considering the costs and the time frame, we have no choice but to decide it was not logical" to keep the original schedule, Kono told reporters. The U.S. State Department approved the sale of the system to Japan, which at the time had an estimated price tag of $2.15 billion. But a slew of problems has raised the estimated costs of operating it for 30 years to over $4 billion. The project was seen as a symbol of the strengthening alliance between Japan and the U.S. Beyond the role it plays in countering the North Korean threat, President Donald Trump has also aggressively pushed American arms exports. The ministry soon will submit a report to Japan's National Security Council and formally halt the program. Japan currently has a two-tier approach to missile defense: a ship-based Aegis system that takes a first crack at shooting down missiles while they are in the so-called post-boost phase of flight, and a land-based Patriot system to destroy them when they are in the re-entry phase. The plan was to create a three-tiered approach, where a land-based Aegis would shoot down any missiles missed by the ships. Aegis Ashore is also considered more effective if multiple missiles are launched at Japan. It was also a response to the burden on the ship-based system. Japan's initial strategy was to rely solely on the ship-based defense, where eight Aegis-equipped vessels would rotate and defend against incoming missiles. But the repeated missile launches by North Korea have exposed how much stress the ships undergo in keeping up the defense shield. "My impression is that the U.S. government and industry were very surprised by this," Michael Green, senior vice president for Asia and Japan Chair at Washington think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Nikkei Asian Review. "If so, that is not the kind of surprise that makes for good alliance relations," the former National Security Council senior director for Asia under President George W. Bush said. The blueprint of the Aegis Ashore deployment called for installing the land-based missile shield at one site in eastern Japan and another in the west as a deterrent against North Korean rocket attacks. The U.S.-developed system would be operational as early as 2025. The original price tag was roughly 80 billion yen, or $745 million per site. Since the defense of Japan would require two locations, the overall cost was sold as around $1.5 billion. That estimate quickly lost validity. After the cabinet approved the deployment in 2017, the cost went up to 100 billion yen per installation in the fiscal 2018 national budget. Billions of yen more were necessary to prepare the land for the buildings. Thousands fill the streets in support of Black Trans Lives Matter and George Floyd in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on June 14, 2020. (Michael Noble Jr./Getty Images) Catholics and Orthodox Jews Sue New York Governor Over Lockdown Regime Two Catholic priests and three Orthodox Jews on June 10 sued New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General Letitia James, and Mayor Bill de Blasio for violating their constitutional rights by the selective targeting and enforcement of the pandemic-related lockdown orders. In a lawsuit filed in the federal court for the Northern District of New York, the plaintiffs claim that Cuomo, James, and de Blasio have demonstrated a double standard by allowing mass protests for causes they favor while cracking down on religious congregations. Cuomos numerous executive orders specifically singled out religion for regulation under the lockdown regime, the lawsuit claims. These orders, both the emergency stay-at-home and reopening plan declarations, clearly discriminate against houses of worship. They are illegally content-based, elaborate, arbitrary, and pseudo-scientific, Christopher Ferrara, the attorney for the plaintiffs and the special counsel at the Thomas More Society, said in a statement. The governor and his agents, along with New York Citys mayor, have employed favoritism and political platforms against people of faith. Cuomo and James didnt respond to requests for comment. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks at his daily CCP virus briefing in Albany, N.Y., on April 17, 2020. (Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images) The City has to adopt and follow the Governors Executive Orders, de Blasios office said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times. The lawsuit points to the clashing realities, documented in videos posted on social media, of police officers clearing Jewish children and mothers from a playground in Brooklyn not long before the city allowed tens of thousands to gather in the same borough in support of black trans lives. Days prior to the enforcement at the playground, de Blasio appeared at a political protest in the same borough and spoke while not wearing a mask. On June 14, a massive crowd gathered in the courtyard of the Brooklyn Museum for a Black Trans Lives Matter rally. A day later, city workers were recorded welding shut a gate to a large playground in a predominantly Jewish community. The lawsuit was filed by Rev. Steven Soos and Rev. Nicholas Stamos who serve for the same ministry in upstate New York. Joining the priests are three Orthodox Jews from Brooklyn: Daniel Schonborn, Elchanan Perr, and Mayer Mayerfeld. The plaintiffs claim that the state has explicitly engaged in the regulation of religion by singling out congregant worship in the initial lockdown orders and the subsequent reopening orders. Meanwhile, the lawsuit claims, de Blasio and Cuomo have endorsed the mass protests in the wake of the police-custody death of George Floyd, including a protest the mayor attended in person. The lack of a spike in new cases after the George Floyd protests around the country, in addition to other large gatherings elsewhere, suggest that the science underlying the lockdowns was flawed at best and should no longer deter judicial intervention in defense of First Amendment liberty for all, not just the groups and activities defendants favor, the plaintiffs say. The plaintiffs call on the court to block the enforcement of the executive orders and to ultimately declare them unconstitutional. It is time to end New Yorks experiment in absolute monarchy, the lawsuit states. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned down a Justice Department request for review of a ruling by a federal appeals court in San Francisco that upheld a California law aimed at protecting undocumented immigrants. The action leaves last year's decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as the final ruling in the case. The law, SB 54 of 2017, known as the California Values Act, bars local officials from informing federal officials about immigrants' release dates from jail except in serious criminal cases. The measure also requires a court warrant before an immigrant can be transferred from local to federal custody. The Justice Department, which sued the state, argued it interfered with federal immigration law. California contended the statute merely prohibited the federal government from requiring local officials to do its own job. The 9th Circuit agreed last year, saying that a doctrine defined by the U.S. Supreme Court provides that the federal government can't commandeer state and local resources to enforce federal law. The high court declined to review the case in a brief order issued without comment. The order indicated that Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito voted in favor of hearing the appeal. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who defended the law, said in a statement, "We're heartened by today's Supreme Court decision." "We're protecting Californians' right to decide how we do public safety in our state. The Trump Administration does not have the authority to commandeer state resources," Becerra said. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Afam Onyema has been running GEANCO since 2007. (GEANCO) When Afam Onyema listened to a class day speech delivered by U2s Bono back in 2001 it sparked something inside of him. At the time he was about to graduate from Harvard school and following a further stint at Stanford looked set for a lucrative career in corporate law. But fast forward almost two decades and having turned his back on the legal industry, Afam is now the chief executive officer of the GEANCO Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing educational opportunities to girls, leading medical missions and building improved medical facilities in Nigeria. So what was it about Bonos speech that so inspired him? It was ironic because at the time I wasnt a big U2 fan, he says. I thought a musician was going to come and give a really lame speech. It was during the AIDS crisis in Africa and he gave, what remains to this day, one of the best speeches Ive ever heard. Afam recalls Bono issuing a call to action to the Harvard students before him. He said he remembered as a child learning about the US landing on the moon and thinking America could do anything. And he told us that if anyone should have an ethos to change the world, it should be us coming out of this school. And while Afam doesnt credit Bono entirely for shaping his future, that speech definitely provided an awakening. I didnt at that moment decide I was going to leave everything, but it certainly got me talking more to my dad about his dream. (GEANCO) The dream he refers to is that of his father, Godwin Onyema, an obstetrician who immigrated to Chicago in the 70s with his nurse wife and the plan of learning modern medicine, raising some money, getting some support and then heading back to Nigeria to use medicine to help save lives. In the 40s/50s my father was assigned to be the assistant of a British missionary doctor and it was really through that wider experience that he fell in love with medicine, Afam explains. And he made a promise to that doctor, who is still alive, that one day he would become a doctor like her and help his community. And that was really his dream. Story continues At the time, however, it wasnt Afams. Growing up I would hear about his dream but it didnt really resonate, he explains. That was his goal, his plan. It wasnt until he went to Harvard that things started to change. People were so focussed on being financially successful, or politically powerful or culturally relevant, which are all important goals. But for me I started to think about what I could do beyond that. So I started talking to my dad more and more about his dream and how I could get involved. GEANCO runs a sponsorship programme for girls impacted by terrorism in Nigeria. (GEANCO) While attending law school Afam began planning, then building the organisation. But having graduated from Stanford, the time came for Afam to choose between accepting the numerous corporate law offers hed received in Los Angeles or running the foundation. I knew that I couldnt do both well and if I didnt do the foundation really it would just die because there was no one else at the time who had the ability to see it through, he explains. And so, in 2007, GEANCO, an anagram of the first initial of the family members who helped create it, was officially born. Afam describes the organisations first medical mission to Nigeria as being pivotal in helping make up his mind between law and the organisation. I wasnt able to go because I was in law school at the time, but I saw the pictures and heard the stories of people getting new hips and knee replacements on the mission. And you just realise that persons life was changed forever. The immediacy and depth of being able to make a direct lasting impact on people who have no one else really hit me, he explains. My moto in life is how can I be of service? How can I empower people? And though it has its uses, theres not a whole lot of service or empowerment in corporate law. Even though financially and professionally GEANCO was a challenging choice, in terms of aligning with my values, being able to be useful and building something from scratch it was the right choice to make and I havent regretted it for a second. The charity runs medical missions to Nigeria helping to provide hip and knee replacements. (GEANCO) As well as carrying out regular medical missions GEANCO also runs a scholarship programme for girls. Started with David Oyelowo, the programme helps provide full tuition, medical care, and social and psychological support to young female victims of terrorism and gender inequality in Nigeria. But it is perhaps the difference the organisation is making to maternal health that has seen one of the biggest impacts. My dad is a obstetrician/gynaecologist so maternal health has always been central and core to our family, and the more research you do you realise that it is core and central to an entire community, Afam explains. Women dying in childbirth, women who cant deliver safely, babies who cant live past certain ages. Thats the foundational work were able to help with. GEANCO is making a real difference in this area having partnered with a company to provide advanced technology to screen and treat pregnant women for anaemia. Nigeria has the worst anaemia problem than anywhere else. More people die of anaemia or anaemia related causes in Nigeria than anywhere, Afam explains. The new technology enables faster detection of anaemia and those who are discovered to be severely anaemic in their last trimester receive funding for their maternal care. They can go to the doctor, get their vitamins, go to check ups and we take care of the bill, Afam adds. In addition the organisation has a safe delivery programme, which helps to reduce both infant and maternal mortality. Some of the reasons women die during pregnancy and childbirth in Nigeria are because there isnt basic hygiene and medicine, so we provide kits which contain all the basics needed to deliver a baby, Afam explains. Of course, the spread of coronavirus has meant the organisation has had to react by providing PPE and training to birth attendants to help them deliver safe care to pregnant women. We took it for granted everyone knows how coronavirus is prevented, but there was a lack of knowledge there so we helped train and equip birth attendants so they could do their job better, he explains. COVID-19 has impacted the scholarship programme too with schools being forced to close. The organisation has reacted by providing tablets and loading them with hundreds of books so that the girls, and pupils from the partner schools can at least read and keep their minds stimulated. The organisation has been responding to the coronavirus crisis. (GEANCO) Over the years the organisation has received support from many A-list celebrities including but not limited to Oprah Winfrey, Daniel Craig, Chris Rock, Charlize Theron, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Benedict Cumberbatch. The latter provides Afam with one of many pinch-yourself moments after being invited on set of The Avengers with one of the organisations major donors. There we were having lunch with Benedict Cumberbach, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior and Chris Pratt, he recalls. Chris Pratt was telling a story about almost getting killed by a bear and Tom Holland was talking about mortgages. It was so surreal. It was definitely one of those moments where you shake your head. Another of those moments came last November during the last medical mission he attended. I spent over a year fundraising, begging for money, and begging people to come on the mission, dealing with visas and flights and logistical issues, he explains. But being in the hospital on the first morning and seeing everything come together was amazing. I remember feeling so grateful. That sentiment was echoed on the final day when the patients helped are treated to a special celebration. Theyre all on crutches as theyve had surgery, theyre all dressed up in their best outfits, theres Nigerian music playing and everyone is high five-ing and theyre just so happy. That is the most touching moment for me, he adds. The organisation was originally the dream of Afam's father, Godwin. (GEANCO) When he looks to the future, Afam says he hopes the organisation will be able to provide many more of those special moments. He hopes to continue to provide supplies equipment through the coronavirus crisis, tablet programme. Weve done 300, but Id like to do 3000, then 30,000, he says. Even beyond coronavirus, getting more kids reading, engaged thats something Im really excited about. He also hopes to grow the scholarships programme and reach more pregnant women to help them to deliver safely, and further bring down the maternal mortality rate. Were really excited about what were doing, he adds. Our goal is just to do more of it. Yahoo UK supporting GEANCO with podcast series featuring your stories Yahoo UK is supporting GEANCO with a brand new podcast series titled STOR14S. We asked Yahoo readers to submit stories and recorded the 14 best as radio plays (with help from a few famous friends). Benedict Cumberbatch reads the first story, which can be listened to free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify from 6pm on June 18th. If you enjoy this story, and the other 13, please consider donating 5 to the great work of our friends at GEANCO, who are helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and improving lives in Nigeria. You can donate by clicking on the button below the video, or by visiting their website here. The cultivation of coffee, cocoa and vanilla secures the income of many small-holder farmers and is also a driver of land-use change in many tropical countries. In particular, cultivation in agroforestry systems, in which these crops are combined with trees that provide shade, is often considered to have great potential for ecologically sustainable cultivation. Researchers at the University of Gottingen are now showing that the land-use history of agroforestry systems plays a crucial role in assessing the sustainability of agroforestry. The results have been published in the journal Conservation Letters. Tropical agroforests differ greatly in their land-use history, i.e. the former use of the land now occupied by agroforests. On the one hand, an agroforest can be established directly in a forest - in this case the undergrowth is removed and replaced by vanilla vines, coffee or cocoa bushes. In the process, many plant and animal species and important ecosystem services are lost. On the other hand, an agroforest can be established on land that is open - for example on a pasture or cornfield which was forest in former times but had been cleared for farming. In this case, the land would be replanted with trees, and so animal species that depend on trees may benefit. Trees also store carbon and may have a cooling effect, which can reduce global warming. "Our results show that agroforestry systems can only lead to a significant enhancement of the landscape for biodiversity if they are established on open land," says Dominic Martin, first author of the study. "The conversion of the remaining species-rich tropical forests into coffee, cocoa or vanilla plantations should, however, be avoided." This requires incentives, adds Professor Holger Kreft, Head of the Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography Group at the University of Gottingen. "Sustainability labels should take this into account and avoid giving certification to plantations that were previously forest. It is really only in this way that the ecological advantages of cultivation in agroforestry systems can be achieved. This can then help to ensure that our morning coffee can be enjoyed without a bitter aftertaste," says Kreft. ### The study comes from the multidisciplinary project "Diversity Turn" at the University of Gottingen, which is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony. Original publication: Dominic Martin et al. (2020) Land-use history determines ecosystem services and conservation value in tropical agroforestry. Conservation Letters. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12740 Alternative link: https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/conl.12740 Contact: Dominic Martin University of Gottingen Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography group Busgenweg 1, 37077 Gottingen, Germany Tel: +49 (0)551 3933167 Mobile: +49 (0)17 629564000 Email: dominic.martin@uni-goettingen.de http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/128741.html Professor Holger Kreft University of Gottingen Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography group Tel: +49 (0)551 3928757 Email: hkreft@uni-goettingen.de It is all too easy to laugh off the insurrectionists who have grabbed a few blocks of Seattle's Capitol Hill, built border walls, and declared it an "Autonomous Zone" (CHAZ), now re-branded by at least some there as an "Organized Protest" (CHOP). Such coverage as the MSM have offered picked up on Seattle's Mayor Jenny Durkan's view, who likened it to a "block party" and predicted "a summer of love." A cottage industry of progressive media outlets targets Fox News, the only major national outlet that offers extensive coverage, for scorn, and scoffs at the notion that there is anything to worry about. Eric Scigliano in Politico, for instance: Over the course of two evenings and an afternoon in the zone (plus a night observing a police/protest showdown there the week before), it seemed by turns like a commune (as in Paris 1871), an anarcho-syndicalist and small-L libertarian dream, a '60s-style teach-in, a street fair and street market, a campout and weekend party, a poetry slam and pilgrimage, a school service day, a mass healing circle, a humbler urban version of Burning Man, and of course a protest rally. You'd hardly guess all that from the breathless attention Fox has lavished from Day One on this tiny strip of Seattle[.] For now, aside from reports of shakedowns of merchants and sporadic violence, the atmosphere seems mostly calm, even festive. Requests for donations of supplies demonstrate that this enclave is far from autonomous and depends on handouts from the society against which it rebels. But it's worth taking seriously the revolutionary dynamic that operates when radicals declare the old laws and norms inoperative and proceed to implement their ad hoc version of utopia. Guy Benson yesterday pointed to a sign that I take very seriously: They're chanting about beheading people who don't get with the ideological program, in the tradition of the blood-drenched French revolution? This "festive block party" is pretty dark, man: Does anybody know what happened to the people who did not get on board with the French Revolution? CHOPPED, the crowd answered. pic.twitter.com/FfyUAvcUhM Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) June 15, 2020 Until our regime is toppled (and don't kid yourself: that is the goal of not only some of the demonstrators, but more importantly the people who have been plotting for decades), the people on Capitol Hill are unlikely to be executed for insufficient revolutionary purity, especially considering that President Trump threatens intervention if local authorities do nothing. But what about isolated compounds that may or may not exist where radicals who believe in armed struggle, as the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club seems to embrace? We have a vivid example of the revolutionary dynamic among Marxist rebels that took place almost half a century ago in Japan, a period in which I lived there and followed these events closely. The United Red Army (URA, or Rengo Sekigunha in Japanese), a revolutionary faction that formed out of a merger between two earlier mostly campus-based groups, attempted to bring about a communist revolution through airliner hijacking and hostage-taking, armed violence (obtaining firearms by robbery), and launching violent attacks on the police (sound familiar?) and other symbols of the establishment. Their fantasy was that capitalist oppression was so severe in Japan that the populace would rise up in support once the powerlessness of the state was demonstrated. It was poppycock, but it garnered considerable sympathy from academic and media circles, who were then nearly as left-leaning as our own media and academia are today. (A major contributing factor was that the sole force that resisted the military takeover of Japan and resulting fascism was the Japan Communist Party, whose leaders were jailed and killed during the war. This lent enormous prestige and credibility to Marxists in postwar Japan, as the nation dealt with its excursion into totalitarianism and subsequent catastrophic defeat.) In late 1971, the URA operated out of rural training camps, where they practiced their violent tactics and began the process of what they called "self-criticism." Eventually, the URA abandoned the rural camps and ended chased and holed up in a mountainside inn. It led to the execution of those insufficiently radical. Noah Ostrow writes of the process: They found the bodies in the snowy foothills of the Japanese Alps. The police had already been tracking the revolutionaries for some time. After the radical leftist group now known as the United Red Army had hijacked Japan Airlines Flight 351 and with an important government hostage in stow had managed to divert the plane to North Korea, they had emerged as Japan's public enemy number 1. Internationally embarrassed by their inability to stop the hijacking, the national police had redoubled their focus on the the [sic] underground group. Months of hard work had finally led the police here, deep into the snowy mountains of Gunma Prefecture. Days spent trudging through the snow drifts after rumor and speculation had proved fruitful; they'd managed to discover the URA's remote and recently-abandoned hideouts. All clues indicated some 30 people had lived here very recently. But they also pointed to something far darker. As other police continued tracking the fleeing revolutionaries eventually catching up with them in the mountains near Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, for what would become one of Japan's most shocking hostage situations the detectives examining the scene at the abandoned inn began to recognize the telltale signs of acts of violence. They found shreds of clothing that had been cut off of various people a common method for removing the garb of those for whom rigor mortis has set in, making the usual removal of clothing nearly impossible. Staining on the ripped garments also demonstrated that these garments had likely been worn in the last moments of their wearers' lives. Lastly, a large quantity of personal items and baggage mysteriously remained, including the sorts of hiking backpacks that those fleeing the inn would have likely taken with them. To the detectives, it seemed more than clear. Murder had taken place amongst the revolutionaries of the United Red Army. And yet, where were the bodies? It all came to light in the days that followed, as the police ensnared and captured the various fleeing URA soldiers. While the leadership remained tight-lipped, some of the rank-and-file among the arrested began to tell of the horrors that had occurred at that inn horrors that they themselves had participated in. The location of the 12 bodies, the former comrades and now victims of the surviving URA members, was revealed. The final siege of the mountainside inn was televised live in Japan, and I was watching, as transfixed as the Japanese public by the spectacle and the ultimate horror of the orgy of violence that gripped the radicals in their version of an autonomous zone. Think it can't happen here? Don't be so sure. On the upside: In the end, the spectacle dealt a severe setback to radicalism in Japan, discrediting it in the public's eyes, and perhaps causing some reflection on the part of those who and sympathized with them, including those in the media. Image credit: Musee de la Revolution francaise. FELTON, California, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Honey Wine Market size is expected to reach USD 817.03, million by 2025, according to Million Insights, registering a 10.41% CAGR over the forecasted period, from 2019 to 2025. The increasing trend of flavored wine along with rising disposable income in emerging countries has majorly driven the market. Moreover, increasing demand for antioxidant beverage and sparkling wine is anticipated to drive the demand of honey wine. Further, growing penetration of market players, especially in emerging countries and shift in consumer preference towards a wide range of wine products is driving the market. Moreover, social media plays an important role to provide direct link between consumers and producers which is highly effective to increase brand awareness among consumers. Thus, increase in influence of social media and e-commerce is expected to provide new opportunities in the next few years. Please click here to get the sample pdf and find more details on "Honey Wine Market" Report 2025. Geographically, Europe accounted for the largest market share, in 2018. Increase in demand in several countries like Italy, U.K., and France. In addition, the presence of key market players and continuous product launches are projected to fuel market growth. Several manufacturers are spending in R&D and implemented several strategies such as mergers and acquisition, product innovation to expand their geographical presence. The major players included in the Honey Wine market are Medovina Meadery, Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. LLC, Redstone, Schramm's Mead, Brothers Drake, Real Beer Media, Inc, Humble Bee Wines, and Beecraft Mead. Further key findings from the report suggest: By product, the spices segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR of more than 12.0% from 2019 to 2025. Off-trade distribution channel accounted for largest market share of more than 70%, in 2018. Europe has dominated the global market, in 2018 and expected to grow with significant CAGR over the forecast period. has dominated the global market, in 2018 and expected to grow with significant CAGR over the forecast period. Key market players operating in this market are Medovina Meadery, Redstone, Schramm's Mead, Brothers Drake, and Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. LLC, Browse 80 page research report with TOC on "Global Honey Wine Market" at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/global-honey-wine-market Million Insights has segmented the global honey wine market on the basis of product, distribution channel, and region: Honey Wine Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025) Fruits Spices Herbs Others Honey Wine Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025) On trade Off trade Honey Wine Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025) North America U.S. Europe France Italy U.K. Asia Pacific China Australia Central & South America Brazil Middle East & Africa Browse latest market research reports available with Million Insights: About Million Insights: Million Insights, is a distributor of market research reports, published by premium publishers only. We have a comprehensive market place, that will enable you to compare data points, before you make a purchase. Enabling informed buying, is our motto and we strive hard to ensure that our clients get to browse through multiple samples, prior to an investment. Service flexibility & the fastest response time are two pillars, on which our business model is founded. Our market research report store, includes in-depth reports, from across various industry verticals, such as healthcare, technology, chemicals, food & beverages, consumer goods, material science & automotive. Contact: Ryan Manuel Research Support Specialist, USA Million Insights Phone: +1-408-610-2300 Toll Free: 1-866-831-4085 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.millioninsights.com/ Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Million Insights Watch June 15, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Republican Voters Against Trump released a new ad on Friday bringing to light old compliments given to Former Vice President Joe Biden by South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. In 2015, Graham said, What is Donald Trumps campaign about? Hes a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot. You want to know how to make America great again? Tell Donald Trump to go to hell. The RVAT Ad goes on to include Grahams former effusive praise of Bidens character, made by before Trump won the presidency, in which he says the former VP was as good a man as God ever created. If you cant admire Joe Biden as a person, theres probably, you got a problem. You need to do some self-evaluation, because whats not to like? Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Graham continues saying, He is as good a man as God ever created. He said some of the most incredibly heartfelt things that anybody could ever say to me. Hes the nicest person I think Ive ever met politics. The ad ends with Graham calling on Republican voters to reject Trump adding, This is a defining moment in the future of the Republican Party. We have to reject this demagoguery. And if we dont reject Donald Trump, weve lost the moral authority, in my view, to govern this great nation. - " Source " - Post your comment below Citywide Photo: Al Barna/SF Neon The Bay Area's shelter-in-place order has brought countless events usually held as in-person gatherings online. We're aiming to support local businesses in San Francisco and Oakland by highlighting five of these events each day. Got a suggestion for an online event based in SF or Oakland? Email our events reporter, Teresa Hammerl. Here's your SF and Oakland online event calendar for Tuesday, June 16. Tune in to a conversation about COVID-19, policing, and inequality in Oakland; hear from three organizers of large protests against police brutality; or learn about vintage neon signs in the Tenderloin. Youth Activism For Black Lives Photo: Museum of the African Diaspora/Facebook Join the Museum of the African Diaspora for an online conversation with three young people who organized two of the largest protests against racism and police brutality in the Bay Area in recent weeks. Oakland's Xavier Brown and Akil Riley, both 19, planned a gathering that brought 15,000 people together in protest, while Simone Jacques, 17, of San Francisco organized a thousands-strong action in the Mission. The trio will discuss their efforts with Veronica Garcia, who works with youth initiatives at the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. When: Tuesday, June 16, 4 p.m. How to join: Register in advance Price: Free A Path Forward with SFPD Chief Bill Scott & DA Chesa Boudin In the midst of the ongoing protests, Mission-based community space Manny's will be bringing together SFPD Chief Bill Scott and District Attorney Chesa Boudin to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement and the call for police reforms. What's the path forward? How can San Francisco lead? What are the solutions and how do we get there? Following the conversation, participants will be asked to join a set of online breakout rooms with facilitators for a discussion on how to get involved. When: Tuesday, June 16, 6 p.m. How to join: Via Eventbrite Price: $0 $10 (sliding scale) Oakland Voices Tonight: Cat Brooks on Race, Policing, and COVID Story continues Image: Oakland Voices/Facebook For an East Bay-centric look at the protests, tune in to this conversation with Cat Brooks, executive director of Justice Teams Network and co-founder of the Anti Police-Terror Project. Brooks led the fight for justice for Oscar Grant, who was killed by a BART police officer in 2009; here, she'll discuss how to radically transform the ways communities are policed and incarcerated. When: Tuesday, June 16, 7 p.m. How to join: Via Oakland Voices Price: Free Neon and Ghost Sign History Tour: Tenderloin East Photo: VIA SF NEON In this one-hour virtual tour, SF Neon will showcase a selection of vintage neon signs and ghost signs (hand-painted advertisements left on buildings, often advertising long-gone products) in the Tenderloin. Expect to see historic photographs, video clips, maps, and research compiled by SF Neon preservationists Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan, as well as Kasey Smith, creator of the SF Ghost Sign Mapping Project. When: Tuesday, June 16, 7:45 p.m. How to join: Via Eventbrite Price: Free Oakland Slam: Black Artists Showcase Image: The Oakland Poetry Slam & Open-Mic/Facebook This Oakland-based poetry slam is focusing on black writers for its latest edition, headlined by award-winning author and actress Meccamorphosis. A pre-show workshop will allow poets to hone their skills. The event is a fundraiser for the Afro Urban Society, a creative community of artists and culture workers dedicated to celebrating the unique expressions of "Urban Africans" through performance and community activism. When: Tuesday, June 16, 7:15 p.m. How to join: Via YouTube Price: Free, donations are welcome Microsoft has helped the Japanese government create a contact-tracing app that officials hope will prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections, following more than monthlong delay in Tokyo's decision-making on the policy. The plan is to have the software available for download as soon as this week, once Apple and Google sign off, Nikkei has learned. The app was originally supposed to debut in early May, but the government's selection process dragged on longer than expected, even as people in urban areas began congregating again after a state of emergency was lifted. "We wanted to introduce the app when the sense of urgency was high among the public, but we did not make it in time," a government source involved in the discussions said. The app will use Bluetooth wireless communication to collect contact data when users come within 1 meter of each other for at least 15 minutes. If a person tests positive for the novel coronavirus, the app searches through two weeks' worth of data and informs the people who were in contact with the patient. The Japanese government in May decided to hire a team of developers from Microsoft to create the app based on core technology developed by Apple and Google. The government had originally planned to commission Code for Japan, a Tokyo-based organization, to lead the development project. But shortly thereafter, Apple and Google imposed a host of conditions on using their software. One stipulation limited the software only to public health agencies. These conditions dealt a setback to the government's plans, which which were led by Cabinet Secretariat. Oversight of the app was then transferred to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. From there, the consensus began to favor a major tech company as a more reliable development partner. Code for Japan was taken off the project, putting roughly a month's worth of work to waste. During the time taken to select an alternate developer, more than 40 countries rolled out their own contact-tracing apps. Although Japan's app will be available soon, persuading enough people to use it presents another challenge. Such tools need to reach 60% penetration to be effective, according to a University of Oxford estimate. That would mean the app would need to achieve as many downloads as the popular chat app Line. Even in Singapore and Iceland -- two early adopters of contact-tracing apps -- usage stands at 40% or less. It is impossible to ignore either of the pressing public health crises our nation is facing, and thus recommendations have been put in place for how to protest as safely as possible while continuing to try and control the COVID-19 pandemic. That being said, we implore the police officers of our state to lead by example and wear a mask at all times around others. This simple step would show everyone that you respect and uphold all aspects of public safety. Our city could be facing a second surge, and we must all do our part to try and decrease the risk of more lives needlessly lost. Please, wear your masks. Relatives of 2015 Egyptian plane crash victims denied increase in compensation RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 12:02 16/06/2020 MOSCOW, June 16 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has dismissed a claim of relatives of victims killed in the Kogalymavia airlines plane crash in Egypt in 2015 to increase compensation up to 460,000 rubles, their lawyer Igor Trunov has told RAPSI. The court has refused to increase the sum of compensation despite a prosecutors statement on such a necessity, Trunov has stated. The Airbus A321, operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia, crashed into a mountainous area of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on October 31, 2015, leaving 224 people dead. The airliner was flying from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg in Russia. A militant group linked to Islamic State terrorist organization, prohibited in Russia, said in a statement that it had brought down the plane in response to Russian airstrikes in Syria. As a consequence of the attack, Russia cancelled air travel and tourist visits to Egypt. A 14-year-old girl on Tuesday told an FCT High Court in Kubwa how her grandfathers 21- year-old caregiver, Godwin Onuminya, raped her. The girl, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) three student resident in Kubwa, Abuja, was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Adama Musa. The defendant is being prosecuted by the police on a one-count charge of rape. The girl told the court that she returned home from school at 1 p.m. and entered her room to change from her school uniform on November 4, 2019. While trying to wear my trouser, Onuminya, hurriedly entered my room and held my leg, I tried to shout, but he covered my mouth and nose, thereby suffocating me. I hit him with my left elbow, then he pushed me on the bed, I struggled with him and heard a crack on my neck while he twisted it, and I fell unconscious, she said. She further said when she opened her eyes, she found herself in Pison Hospital, Kubwa, and saw Mr Onuminya and her uncle, Joseph James, standing. I felt pains on my neck, private part and all over my body. The nurses asked me if I could remember what happened, then Onuminya winked at me and signalled me with his hands to keep quiet. I noticed blood on my pant and pink trousers and I saw a drip on my hand, so I asked the nurses why I was bleeding from my private part and they confirmed that I was raped, she said. The girl also said she was referred to Police Hospital, Dei-dei, where she was examined by a doctor and her blood samples were taken. She said she was taken home by a relative and wrote her statement at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), FCT Command, on November 5. The prosecution counsel, during cross-examination, asked the girl where the blood-stained underwear and trouser were and how many people were in her house when she was raped. In response, the girl said her underwear and trouser are with the police, adding that her grandfather and Mr Onuminya were the only people at home. My grandfather had a mild stroke in 2018 and needed assistance to walk, so Onuminya aids him, she said. Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya adjourned the matter until June 17 for the continuation of trial. (NAN) Shantell Phillips is not sure whether she and her two children will return to Humble ISD schools next year. Phillips, an IT aide in middle and high schools, said her 17-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son learn better in actual classrooms which closed in mid-March to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Alexis misses her friends, and Jayden wants to return to normalcy. Is normalcy worth the risk? Phillips wonders. My kids really need to be in school, Phillips said. But for me as a parent, Id rather them be safe than to be exposed. Education leaders across Houston say they are working to welcome students like Alexis and Jayden back in the fall, but if guidelines released by the Texas Education Agency for in-person summer school are any indication of what's to come, little will feel familiar. Strict limits on class sizes and the number of students on school buses could mean children come to campus in shifts, with some days dedicated to online-only learning from home. Students may start their days in school with temperature checks and handwashing. Lunch may have to be eaten in classrooms instead of cafeterias to maintain physical distancing. The full contours of safety mandates could become clearer Tuesday, when Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath is expected to unveil state guidance to superintendents for the 2020-21 school year. The new rules likely will look different than those issued for hosting in-person summer school, which initially included a mandate of no more than 11 students in a typical classroom and a recommendation that districts consider the use of face masks for students and staff. TEA officials relaxed the classroom size limit this week to allow 22 people in a classroom, provided each person has 45 square feet of space and desks remain 6 feet apart. Still, many questions remain unanswered: What will daily and weekly schedules look like? What happens if a teacher or a student tests positive? What will it take for restrictions to ease? How will districts afford some potentially costly changes to meet the new safety rules. In Spring ISD, Superintendent Rodney Watson is planning four scenarios for the upcoming school year: campuses reopening with minimal social distancing; in-person classes resuming with stringent social distancing; returning to school with rolling closures in the event of an outbreak; and hosting all learning remotely. Spring officials overhauled their academic calendar for 2020-21 to help accommodate the potential for campus closures an option also employed by Alief ISD and under consideration in Houston ISD. Students in Spring are scheduled to return to school on Aug. 17 and end the year on June 25, but seniors last day will be May 28. The revised calendar will have four week-long intersession breaks, which Watson said will give the district options to make up in-person instructional time if COVID-19 forces new closures. Its a safety issue, Watson said. What we can do with the possibility of the pandemic again in fall or next year? Its a risk for the safety and security of students and staff. If classrooms reopen in August, school schedules also could look much different. Amid the push for social distancing, many districts are considering a hybrid model, in which some students attend in-person classes for part of the week while remaining home for the rest. In Spring Branch ISD, district officials are considering three hybrid scenarios: bringing in the youngest students in each school daily while limiting face-to-face instruction to one or two days for other students; hosting in-person classes for half of the students two days per week, with the other half attending two different days; and bringing half the students into school for four consecutive days, with the other half rotating in for four days the following week. Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre also is examining how to provide as much in-person instruction as possible to students transitioning to new campuses, who he said need a solid foundation before they move on to higher grades. Under one scenario, those students would be on campus every day, while older students would go to campuses only two or three times a week. Still, some in Fort Bend are worried about coming back, especially students and staff who have underlying health problems, Dupre said. Those concerns led Fort Bend to offer full-time remote instruction for those uncomfortable returning, with administrators fearful some students might never come back. We had a lot of talk about homeschooling, and we understand, but we can keep your child at home and still serve them, which maybe more productive than many trying to do home school for first time, Dupre said. No one I know is expecting that were going to be back to full time. While Houston-area districts appear likely to begin 20-21 with a hybrid model, school leaders also should be planning for shutdowns of all campuses as well as the return of all students at various points throughout the year, said Duncan Klussmann, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Houstons College of Education. I think the reality has sunk in that this isnt just going to be a fall issue, said Klussmann, who served as Spring Branch ISDs superintendent from 2004 to 2015. This could be a 2021 issue and maybe even beyond that. shelby.webb@chron.com jacob.carpenter@chron.com [June 16, 2020] Nicoya Receives Funding to Develop Portable COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Nicoya, a leading provider of advanced analytical instruments for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, will receive advisory services and up to $299,190 in research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to develop a portable COVID-19 diagnostic test called Atlas. This funding comes as part of a joint challenge issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) through the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) program. The saliva-based test will be able to detect COVID-19 infection in less than 20 minutes, with an easy-to-use device that can be employed in a variety of settings. "Accessibility continues to be a large barrier in achieving population testing goals," said Ryan Denomme, co-founder and CEO of Nicoya. "There is an urgent need for diagnostic kits that can provide users with immediate results, rather than having to rely on testing labs that can take two to five days. Delays increase the possibility of infected people spreading the virus further, or uninfected people facing unnecessary quarantine. Atlas will fill an important void in the current testing space, as a portable COVID-19 test that can fit seamlessly into economic re-opening strategies." Atlas will be a single-use, disposable device that will detect active infection by testing for SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins. To make the test as accessible as possible, Nicoya is powering it with smartphone technology so that it can deliver lab-quality results to an app in under 20 minutes. The test will be performed with a saliva sample, rather than the more common nasopharyngeal swab samples. With Atlas, Nicoya hopes to make testing more available everywhere, from remote communities to front-line screening procedures. According to the World Health Organization, diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is critical to tracking the virus, understanding its epidemiology, informing case management and suppressing transmission. The NRC IRAP-ISC COVID-19 Challenge Program is expediting solutions for rapid testing in decentralized and point-of-care settings. "Our government is mobilizing resources to combat COVID-19 and I'm proud that Nicoya was one of four Phase I funding recipients of the Point-of-Care Diagnostic Test Kit Challenge," said Raj Saini, Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre. "Nicoya is an exemplary company already working hard on pioneering innovative research and finding solutions together, and this approach is a pillar to ensuring we have both short and long-term solutions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic." In keeping with their mission to improve human life, Nicoya's biosensor solutions have been enabling advanced scientific research for years. The Nicoya team is now leveraging its deep expertise in areas such as nanotechnology, microfluidics and biochemistry to develop Atlas as a viable solution for containing COVID-19 and preventing the spread of future viral diseases. The development of an Atlas prototype is currently underway for Nicoya. "With this funding and support, we have the opportunity to expedite research and development of Atlas, and we're working extremely hard to bring it to the public as quickly as possible," Denomme explained. For additional information and updates on Atlas, please visit www.nicoyalife.com. About Nicoya Nicoya is a leading provider of advanced analytical instruments for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The Canadian company's mission is to improve human life by helping scientists succeed. Its instruments are used by hundreds of world-renowned researchers in over 40 different countries. Information about Nicoya can be found at nicoyalife.com, on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005295/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Express News Service As digital gains prominence over the physical world in this pandemic, art galleries in Delhi are looking for ways to provide a platform for artistic expressions. One such initiative is by Prameya Art Foundation called PRAF Discover. Anahita Taneja, co-conceptualiser of PRAF with Shefali Somani, says, In line with Prameya Art Foundations primary commitment to young, emerging artists, we are inviting proposals for well-thought, conceptually rigorous, online solo exhibitions of recent/past works by artists who do not already have traditional support systems in these times, such as a gallery that has committed to their practice, and have never had a solo exhibition prior to this. This will continue in the coming months as a rolling open-call for proposals, and our aim is to make this opportunity available for as many artists as possible, since for the foreseeable future we do not see physical spaces functioning the way they used to. Artists interested in sharing their work at the platform may write to info@praf.in with a brief motivation letter, detailed CV, a concept note/artistic statement and 8-10 images of work that they would like to exhibit. Applicants may send this details in either Hindi or English based on their preference. Submissions will be reviewed every two weeks. The first in the series is Ishita Chakrabortys artworks featuring three different mediums poetry, drawings and installation. Chakraborty is currently pursuing the MFA program at the Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland, and her primary themes include inkless drawings, installation, poetry, video and sound within the contexts marked by the traces displacements, traumas of colonialism, language and identity. To apply Artists interested in sharing their work at the platform may write to info@praf.in with a brief motivation letter, CV, a concept note/ artistic statement and 8-10 images. Mayor John Engen expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement, condemned self-appointed militia members carrying weapons to protests, and called for community conversations around the subject of equity in a letter he issued Monday. The letter, available on the city's website, is in response to an outpouring of community feedback calling for change in the wake of the death of George Floyd. The unarmed black man died last month after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck after nearly 9 minutes, sparking huge and ongoing protests around the nation and the world. "I find white supremacy, racism, bigotry and hate deplorable and the long, relentless history of systemically subjecting people of color to discrimination, violence and injustice heartbreaking," Engen said in the letter. Engen wrote he believes black lives matter and expressed support for the movement, in addition to saying the city will hold community listening sessions, invest in programming about equity, and work to create a community plan to end discrimination and promote social justice. Over the last 10 days, the mayor's office has received more than 200 emails from the public about police, racism and militia downtown, according to city spokesperson Ginny Merriam. Following Sunday's Black Lives Matter protest where speakers urged attendees to voice their concerns to Engen and provided his office phone number, email, and pens and paper Engen personally received 16 emails, in addition to about 20 voicemails and 12 emails to his general office, Merriam said. Merriam said three handwritten letters had been dropped off as of Monday evening. On Sunday, Emmett Ball wrote a letter at the protest asking the city to direct more of its funding into community institutions rather than continuing to bolster the police department's budget. In one email shared with the Missoulian, a woman asked Engen to help make Missoula a place where "black people arent perpetually abused by systemic racism." "The systems in place not only act against black and indigenous people but they fail to support these targeted groups with means to help create equality," the email read. "I ask you and your government to fund and support getting black and indigenous people the equality they deserve through programs for homelessness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and more." Other emails called for additional funding for community programs, as well as a task force that looks at structural racism in Missoula. Engen did not directly address requests for reallocation of funds to support community programs in the letter, although he said he "slowed down" a funding request to add changing and showering facilities to the Missoula Police Department's building. The funding request drew public criticism across social media and in communications to the city as residents have called for the city to defund the police. Engen said he still believes there is a "clear and pressing need" to move forward with the locker room project, but said he will put the decision in the hands of the City Council. Merriam said the locker and shower room request is not a formal proposal before the council and that it will have to come before the Missoula Redevelopment Agency board, although it will not be an item at the board's meeting this Thursday. Other emails to Engen over the weekend called for city policies that prevent armed militias from intimidating people engaged in peaceful protest, and expressed concern over an incident in which a black teenager was briefly detained at a Black Lives Matter protest in Missoula. The incident has led to a police investigation and possible charges against those who said they were there to protect the community from "Antifa." Engen said in the letter that if he was not "constrained by the constitution and laws I swore to uphold, thered be no self-appointed 'militia' carrying weapons on the Missoula County Courthouse lawn or on the streets of Missoula." At Monday nights City Council meeting, Greg Martin, a Missoula resident, said he was disappointed that Engens letter did not mention the failure of the police in arresting an unarmed black man while he was being detained by armed white militia. It shows you everything you need to know about racism and why there are calls to defund police when our police department seems more willing to trust a group of rogue militants with guns than a man they're holding against his will, Martin said. Why is it that those armed white militia members somehow had more protection than the unarmed man they arrested? Engen and City Council members have previously noted that the city is limited by state laws in regard to where firearms are allowed. Open carry is legal in Montana, with the exception of some places such as City Hall, council chambers, polling places and city parks, although a ballot initiative in the Nov. 3 election aims to remove local governments' authority to regulate the carrying of permitted concealed weapons. Engen also addressed feedback calling for him and the City Council to defund police, which he said he understands as a need to "increase investment elsewhere to get to the root of inequality and injustice." Engen said he believes officers of the Missoula Police Department are committed public servants but said there is also room to grow and adapt. He again touted Chief Jaeson White's revision of the department's use-of-force rules, which he said were under review prior to Floyd's death. Engen also said he and White have been discussing an increase to the department's training budget to better help officers understand implicit bias and procedural justice. Engen said he is also joining Missoula City Council members who have called for a series of listening sessions "so we can hear you, live and in person, in an organized way to learn more." He cited the city's 10-year plan to end homelessness as an initiative that is leading to community-wide change. Six years into the plan, the city has gone from nearly 1,000 unhoused residents to fewer than 350 unhoused residents this year, Engen said. "Folks mocked our plan when we rolled it out. But we made the right investments in people and moved forward," the letter read. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 10 Funny 7 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Rachel Khoo's kitchen is up for sale. (Dexters) Rachel Khoo has put her own little Paris-style kitchen on the market for 665,000. The TV chef who rose to fame with her BBC series The Little Paris Kitchen and is now co-host of Netflix baking reality series Zumbo's Just Desserts designed the open plan apartment in north-west London inspired by her time living in the French capital as a Cordon Bleu student. Khoo said: For the design of this home I wanted to focus on functionality and beauty, a home designed for urban living. I think lockdown restrictions are making Londoners re-evaluate the functionality of their homes and any wasted space such as bedrooms that could be more flexible, an element of European design that I love. Read more: Gordon Ramsay unrecognisable as he dons disguise for reality series Rachel Khoo's open plan kitchen was inspired by her time living in Paris. (Dexters) The centrepiece of the home is undoubtedly the kitchen, which has real soul, it is a wonderful space to cook in. Here I have hosted everything from cookery workshops, to brunches for food writers, to dinners for my friends. I think this apartment is perfect for a young professional who wants an adaptable live-work space, or someone who adores cooking who wants a statement kitchen to call their own. As a chef the kitchen is the most important room for me, and this kitchen is truly the heart of the home. Khoo has filmed recipes for her YouTube channel in the stylish kitchen. The Croydon-born chef grew up in south London and moved to Paris in 2006 to study a Le Cordon Bleu school. She rose to fame after publishing her bestselling recipe book The Little Paris Kitchen, which coincided with her first series on BBC in 2012. Rachel Khoo believes the kitchen is the centrepiece of the home. (Dexters) The celebrity cook has relocated to Stockholm after marrying Swedish husband Robert Wiktorin. They have two sons, born in 2017 and 2019. Read more: Rachel Khoo reveals how to enjoy Paris like a local Last year Khoo published My Swedish Kitchen and filmed a TV series of the same name. The two-bedroom flat is on the market with Dexters Kensal Rise. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Lifestyle Months after Prince Andrew appeared on live TV for a bombshell BBC interview about his ties with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his close friend claimed that the event is now a source of regret for him. In November 2019, Prince Andrew agreed to do a TV interrogation about him and Epstein in pursuit of clearing his name. But instead of gaining people's sympathy, he received a massive backlash for allegedly lying throughout the program. During that time, the Duke of York denied sexual impropriety and debunked the claims made by Virginia Roberts Giuffre -- the alleged sex slave of the now-deceased pedophile. Aside from that, Prince Andrew referred to all trafficking-related crimes as "unbecoming" but said later on that he did not regret being friends with Epstein. He had his time to show remorse for Epstein's victims, but the duke never did and even failed to show empathy. One year later, an insider revealed that Prince Andrew now regrets not showing enough sympathy for Epstein's victims. "I don't think he regrets the intention behind the interview, which was to clear the air for his family, the royal family, and the institution," the source told Sunday Times (via Express U.K.). "But the fact he was unable to appropriately or sufficiently convey his sympathy for the victims of Epstein, is, of course, a source of regret." Prince Andrew Tried To Support The Victims Although he failed to show that he felt apologetic to the victims, the Duke of York tried to lament with them through a statement he penned days after the BBC interview. The consequences of the live appearance, which affected not only the royal family but also his corporate partnerships with various sponsors and charities, finally became clear to him. "His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure," Prince Andrew's statement read. "I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives." In the same statement, he announced that he asked Queen Elizabeth II to allow him to step back from his public duties "for the unforeseeable future." He also promised that he would help the authorities on their investigations. Despite his pledge to cooperate, there has been an exchange of words between the duke's legal team and the U.S. prosecutor in charge of the FBI investigation since Prince Andrew is reportedly offering zero cooperation. In return, the royal's legal team refuted the claims that the Duke refused to cooperate with the investigation. "The Duke of York has on at least three occasions this year offered his assistance as a witness to the DOJ," Prince Andrew's side said. They added that the U.S. DOJ breached their own confidentiality rules when they claimed that the duke did not want to take part in the investigation. Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, hit back at the allegations and said that Prince Andrew had "sought to falsely portray himself." As of now, Prince Andrew can only show that he really regrets not showing sympathy if he will present himself to the court soon. READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II Heartless? Queen Sparks Anger Of Animal Activists! New Delhi, June 16 : On-demand food delivery platform Swiggy has launched a Jumpstart Package for its restaurant partners, which are either operational for delivery or restarting operations, towards business revival, continuity and growth. To enable smooth cash flows for partners, Swiggy has activated bi-weekly payments options for the restaurants. Restaurants will also have access to subsidized financing through the Swiggy Capital Assist programme, the company said in a statement. "This initiative will catalyse our efforts to drive focused execution in enabling quick wins for our restaurant partners while catering to evolving consumer needs," said Paul Varghese, VP Supply at Swiggy. The 'Jumpstart Package' will focus on easing key aspects involved in resuming operations and reducing the overall investment required to bring back customers. Since the launch of this initiative, over 40,000 restaurant partners have already availed this package. To resume operations, restaurant partners will be supported with establishing safety and hygiene protocols. Swiggy will share training content on the best practices to be followed at restaurant premises. Safety grade packaging material and safety kits will be made available at up to 40 per cent off directly through Swiggy. "Restaurants will have an option to regularly upload videos and images of the safety practices followed by them, on the restaurant's menu page on the Swiggy customer app to help build trust among customers," said the company. "Building on these efforts, ensuring business revival, continuity and growth for restaurant partners will be absolutely crucial to enabling Swiggy and the industry overcome this challenging phase," added Varghese. "The aggregators and cafes need to work in tandem as a team to stay afloat. So, any relief for a month or two would go a long way in helping the industry," said Pranav from Tiny Tuscan, Gurgaon. Sutapa from Klezhmer Hospitality, Kolkata added: "Hearing about the service offerings as a part of the jumpstart package was great and we look forward to availing the service as required". Earlier this month, Facebook-owned Instagram partnered with Swiggy and Zomato to support small businesses in India. The photo-messaging app announced the rollout of the food order sticker in India that will help businesses from the food industry stay in touch with their customers and allow customers to support their favourite businesses too. The Tennessee Department of Education has released the second set of reopening toolkits in a series of over 20 topic-specific resources to assist district leaders in making local decisions for school reopening this coming school year. Our department has invested a tremendous amount of time, thoughtfulness, and expertise to ensure we provide the best guidance for district and school leaders as they make local decisions, and I am grateful for the effort across the department and state, said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. Today, these five toolkits are available for districts to utilize: Technology: This toolkit highlights the important role technology may play in daily instruction, whether taking place in the school building or in a distance learning environment. Schools may leverage this opportunity to further build on their instructional technology strategies, offering students and teachers additional blended learning experiences to further promote academic progress, but will first need to survey the capacity and needs of their students and staff. Wellbeing & Mental Health: This toolkit is designed to assist district leaders, school administrators, and school counselors in providing opportunities to support wellness of school staff and social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of students. The guidance in this document also outlines important considerations for continuing emotional and mental health supports for an in-person, virtual distance learning environment, or hybrid approach. Counseling: This toolkit will assist district leaders, school administrators, and school counselors in providing opportunities to support wellness of school staff and social, emotional, physical, and academic wellbeing of students. Early Childhood: This toolkit provides developmentally appropriate guidance to assist programs in their planning for safe reopening of early childhood programs. Consolidated Funding: This toolkit provides a checklist, best practices, and information on braiding and blending to maximize funding. It also includes timelines and resources that will be helpful to districts as they work to utilize available funding to meet their unique needs. To reflect district practices and findings, the department will continue to update toolkits after release. Todays release makes ten total toolkits available for districts to use as they make decisions for the coming school year. The first five toolkits in the series were released yesterday and the additional toolkits will be released over the next two weeks following this schedule: Monday, June 15, 2020 School Nutrition Transportation Special Populations Finance Implementation Guide Templates: Tennessee Department of Education Pathway Selection Tool 2020-21 School Calendar Template Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Academics Charter Schools Nonpublic Schools Access & Opportunity Postsecondary Transitions Thursday, June 18, 2020 Staffing Professional Development Assessing Student Learning Governance Friday, June 19, 2020 Health & Public Health School Improvement Safety & Operations Procedures and videos Monday, June22, 2020 Continued Learning Plans, Template, and Example Expanded Planning Tool Last week, the department released an Overview Guide for LEAs, which is intended to provide broad questions and considerations for local districts as each seeks to make the best local decisions for the fall. The reopening toolkits, along with other guidance documents and resources, are available to schools and districts on the Tennessee Department of Educations reopening guidance webpage: https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/update-on-coronavirus/reopening-guidance.html. Anand Mahindra said on Tuesday that the truth behind the killings of Indian soldiers following a violent face-off between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) will eventually come out. Taking to Twitter, the Mahindra Group Chairman stated that the country should right now stand by the martyred troops' families and the armed forces. "We will eventually learn about the details of what happened in Ladakh. That is our right. But right now, we must grieve with and stand by the families of our martyred soldiers. And stand solidly in support of our armed forces," Mahindra tweeted. We will eventually learn about the details of what happened in Ladakh. That is our right. But right now, we must grieve with & stand by the families of our martyred soldiers. And stand solidly in support of our armed forces. a anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 16, 2020 The violent physical clashes took place on Monday night, leading to the killing of an Indian Army officer and two soldiers. Also Read: India-China border news live updates: 5 died on Chinese side, 11 injured in Ladakh, reports say The scuffle took place in Galwan valley where senior military officials from both sides are holding meetings to defuse tensions between. The trigger for the face-off was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another route connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley. Meanwhile, Defence minister Rajnath Singh also chaired a high-level meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat and three service chiefs to take stock of the on-ground situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The incident comes days after Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane said both sides have begun disengaging from Galwan Valley. Students have been prevented from taking their secondary exams by armed groups, who have restricted their travel and rejecting requests reports Sada Al-Sham. Idleb governorates education director Abdelhmeid Maamar said that the Saraqeb crossing opened for students to exit and submit their secondary and junior exams starting from Monday at 8am. But armed groups and the Turkish side are greatly restricting students and preventing them from heading to safe areas to submit their exams. In a statement, Maamar said that there is a working team waiting for the students to leave the Saraqeb crossing, and that the authorities responsible for securing the students have taken all steps to cooperate with the Red Crescent. These steps have included securing buses to transport students from the Saraqeb crossing to the hosting centers set up to accommodate students in Hama province. The Hama directorates of education and health, and the Idleb health directorate, cooperated to set up 12 centers. They are equipped with everything the students need, including full health supervision and personal health packages for each student. Maamar added that gunmen last year arrested students after they finished their exams, subjecting them to prison and destroying their ID cards. He clarified that students were barred from taking the exams that would determine their academic paths. This is consistent with other practices of armed groups that have made Idleb a cultural black spot, in order to serve the groups aspirations of spreading ignorance and spreading these ideas in an area of Syria with a deep cultural history. According to Maamar, There will be remedial lessons in all subject areas in the residence centers for every impacted student. Each center has a hall or two halls for this purpose, and we have 27 exam centers this year. Seven of the centers are for basic education and the other 20 are for secondary education. There are 2,680 targeted students in both basic and secondary education, in various subjects. He clarified that basic education certificate exams were postponed for students in the three governorates of Aleppo, Idleb and Raqqa in order to protect students safety. Maamar added that he had recordings of voice messages condemning the Turkish side and gunmen, who prevented the students from moving. There are obstacles from the Turkish side, and students were shot at while they tried to approach the Saraqeb crossing to leave the hotspots toward Hama province, Maamar said. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. On Monday, producer Anushka Sharma and the OTT platform Amazon, where the series is available to stream, received a notice from the Punjab and Haryana High Court on a petition saying the web series Paatal Lok had defamed the Sikh community. The notice of motion was issued to the Union of India and 15 other respondents by the bench of Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi. It is said that the content shown in episode three of the show that has upset the community. The man behind the complaint petitioner-advocate Gurdeepinder Singh Dhillon said, The respondents have purposely and maliciously within intent of creating communal disharmony and caste based clashes have shown two communities in a bad light," Theres no statement issued from Anushka Sharma or the OTT platform so only time will tell how this one plays out. Anushka Sharma made her debut in the digital space as a producer with the web series Paatal Lok. The show focused on the dark side of humanity which is fuelled by greed and thirst for power. While the show got some serious praise thanks to the casts stellar acting and excellent storyline, the production house now finds itself in legal trouble. Goa, popular among tourists as a beach destination, is also a melting pot of rich heritage and culture. The state boasts of an ancient culture and modern lifestyle and tourists as well as natives, can get a slice of history with them on every visit to Goas cultural hubs. Museum of Goa, Houses of Goa Museum, Bigfoot Cross Museum, Goa Chitra, Mario Miranda Museum and the Moda Goa Museum, expected to open this December are some of the museums one can visit on their Goa trip, especially if you set out to explore the state as a local. Due to the coronavirus-led lockdown, that came into effect in March 2020, the museums, which used to otherwise a large number of visitors or normal days, have remained closed. Though a lot of curbs have been lifted in Goa in Unlock 1.0, museums have not yet been allowed to reopen. Owners of Goas heritage museums, which were struggling to stay afloat due to the COVID-19 crisis, are hopeful that the state government will allow them to reopen their premises for visitors soon. Maendra Alvares, the curator of Big Foot museum at Loutolim village in South Goa district, said his gallery has been shut for over two-and-a-half months now. But, he is hopeful the government will allow museums to reopen. The Big Foot Museum, spread across 12 acres, has a sculpture of Mirabai, which has been registered in the Limca Book of Records as the longest laterite sculpture in India. Victor Hugo Gomes, curator of Goa Chitra museum, says We have temporarily closed the place. It has been financially draining, but personally I got time to sit and document whatever I have been collecting all this while. We have already installed a sanitisation booth for visitors. They will be provided face masks and social distancing will be maintained during tours of the place, he said. Gomes is also hopeful that once the museum opens, the footfalls will not be less than earlier. UNESCO warned last month that nearly 13 per cent of museums around the world may never reopen, as about 90 per cent of them globally have had to close their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two studies by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Council of Museums (ICOM) said museums have been especially affected by the pandemic, with nearly 90 per cent of them, or more than 85,000 institutions, having closed their doors for varying lengths of time during the crisis. -- with PTI inputs Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter FILE PHOTO: The logo of Samsung Electronics is seen at its office building in Seoul By Sankalp Phartiyal, Saurabh Sharma and Rupam Jain NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics should get tax and other incentives from India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh as the South Korean company looks to invest some 53.67 billion rupees ($705.75 million) in a smartphone display manufacturing plant in the state, India's lead investment promotion body said in a letter. Samsung, one of the top smartphone sellers in India, signed a memorandum of understanding with Uttar Pradesh in 2019 on the project. A source familiar with the matter said this would relocate manufacturing previously done in China. The letter, seen by Reuters, was sent to Uttar Pradesh's state government by Invest India in April. Reuters could not determine if the promotion body discussed the letter with Samsung. The Korean company and Invest India did not respond to requests for comment. Samsung expects to create some 1,300 jobs at the plant, the letter said. The facility is likely to begin operations in 2021, the source said. "We are submitting our recommendations to incentivise setup of HiTech industries in Uttar Pradesh and facilitate a key investor - Samsung Display in relocating its operations to India," the Invest India letter said. Invest India said in the letter Samsung could benefit from higher capital incentives on the overall investment over a 20-year-period, including reimbursement of spending on IT infrastructure. Satish Mahana, Uttar Pradesh's minister for industrial development, said the incentives were under consideration and a decision was yet to be taken. The investment by Samsung would be a plus for India which is vying with nearby rivals such as Vietnam to attract global smartphone companies under the government's "Make in India" drive. "Presently, competing nations such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand are offering targeted incentive packages on capital expenditure," the CEO of Invest India said in the letter. "It is imperative that India also promote investments through appropriate fiscal and non-fiscal incentives." Invest India, set up in 2009, is a non-profit venture under the Indian government's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, its website said. Story continues Samsung already operates one of the world's biggest mobile phone manufacturing plants in Uttar Pradesh. Having a local display manufacturing business would help Samsung save on import taxes that India plans to levy on display imports, and boost its smartphone export capabilities. (Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal, Saurabh Sharma and Rupam Jain. Editing by Jane Merriman) Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 14:26:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PYONGYANG, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The military of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Tuesday it is getting itself fully ready for providing a sure military guarantee to any external measures to be taken by the Party and government. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a statement released by the General Staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA) as saying that the army was keeping close watch "on the current situation in which the north-south relations are turning worse and worse," and it would "rapidly and thoroughly implement any decisions and orders of the Party and government." The statement said the army had accepted a government's opinion "on studying an action plan for taking measures to make the army advance again into the zones that had been demilitarized" under the north-south agreement in 2018, as well as to "take a thorough-going security measure for positively cooperating with our people from all walks of life in their large-scale leaflet scattering struggle against the enemy." "We will map out the military action plans for rapidly carrying out the said opinions to receive approval from the Party Central Military Commission," it said. The DPRK has repeatedly lashed out at South Korea since last week in protest against anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets sent by defectors and activists across the border. Pyongyang has also closed its joint liaison office and cut off all communication lines with the South. Enditem Rebel Wilson has admitted she has been looking for a partner on the popular celebrity dating app, RAYA. And the Hollywood actress claims she once saw American actor Ben Affleck while swiping on the exclusive service. Speaking to Nova's Fitzy and Wippa on Tuesday, the 40-year-old star said she was still unlucky in love despite her recent efforts. Scroll down for video Australian actress Rebel Wilson (pictured) is looking for love on celebrity dating app Raya and claims the app is full of famous faces While Rebel didn't disclose to the Australian radio station who she'd matched with on Raya, she did reveal she had seen Daredevil actor Ben Affleck on it. '[I've seen] Ben Affleck! I hear Channing Tatums on there, but he hasnt come up on my feed yet so Ill keep swiping!' she joked. She explained that the app was global, and included actors, models, athletes and musicians. '[I've seen] Ben Affleck!' Rebel claims she spotted American actor Ben Affleck using the members-only app in the past. Pictured: Ben in March 2020 'The problem is you cant meet anybody!' In Sydney during coronavirus lockdowns, Rebel says it's been hard to date as some of her potential matches are intestate or overseas 'The problem is you cant meet anybody! Theyre normally overseas or interstate and some states still have their borders closed. Im not a danger!' Rebel said of how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted her dating life. Page Six first reported that Ben, 47, had been spotted on the members-only app back in October 2019,. The Batman star split from actress wife Jennifer Garner in 2015, before finalising their divorce in 2018. 'I know people who are on them, but not me': In February, Ben told Good Morning America that any dating profiles people have seen were fake. Pictured: April, 2020 Despite reports Ben was using Raya, the actor has denied ever using dating profiles. In February, he told Good Morning America that any profiles people have seen were fake and 'not me'. He said at the time: 'I know people who are on them and they have a fun time, but not me. I would love to have a relationship that was deeply meaningful and one to which I could be deeply committed.' Ben is dating Cuban actress Ana de Armas, 32. The train grinds to a halt shortly before 1 a.m. At the far end of the platform at the 96th Street and Second Avenue station - the end of the Q line - Erling Galan logs the arrival time on his iPad. The 20-year-old waits awhile before signaling his team to move in. Passengers have to leave the station first. And police officers need to usher away any homeless people who linger on the train. That always takes a minute. Sometimes a few. After all large pieces of trash have been swept away, Alejandro Valencia enters the first car, wiping down seats and railings with brightly colored cloths drenched in a fluid made to eradicate every virus, from hepatitis to HIV and SARS-CoV-2 -- the coronavirus. Next comes David Peralta, spraying an electrically charged, bacterial-killing mist that clings to surfaces. Roman Ortiz, equipped with a floor mop, rounds out the crew. Down the platform, their colleagues are going through the same regimen. It's tedious work. But if they move quickly, the train's 10 cars could be cleaned in minutes. The next train won't arrive for another 20. And the subway just closed for the night. "My mom used to clean in the train stations," says Galan, who emigrated from Ecuador about 11 years ago. "Then she got me into the job." Every night for the past month, crews like Galan's shoulder the Herculean task of making sure each and every one of the subway system's more than 6,000 train cars is cleaned and disinfected in time for the morning commute. Although ridership on the system's more than two dozen routes and shuttle services is still down roughly 80% from pre-covid levels, the subway remains the lifeblood of the city. For many of New York's easily forgotten and largely overlooked essential workers with less-than-glamorous but important jobs -- like stocking shelves in grocery stores or serving as doormen and security guards -- it's the only way to get to work. The truth is, even during the height of the pandemic, as hundreds of New Yorkers died each day and ridership plunged, people still took several hundred thousand trips daily between the system's 424 stations. Now, as New York heads toward its second stage of reopening, which will include office buildings, in-store shopping and outdoor dining, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is faced with assuring an army of white-collar workers that it's safe. For the past month, the agency has been shutting down the system between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. each day -- the first disruption in history to its round-the-clock service. At that time, police officers and social workers help homeless riders, who for years have found nightly refuge on trains, move into shelters instead. And roughly 3,000 MTA staff and contractors descend on the stations, thoroughly scrubbing both them and the subway cars. So far, according to Patrick Warren, the MTA's chief safety and security officer, it's working as planned. More than half of the homeless population that they've helped have stayed in the shelters. And trains and stations, long associated by New Yorkers with rats and the smell of urine, have never been cleaner -- thanks to the workers. "They feel like they're part of something big in New York City," says Warren, an Army veteran and West Point graduate. He points to Peralta, who resembles a cast member from "Ghostbusters" as he carries the electrostatic sprayer on his back. The machine, Warren explains, electrically charges the disinfectant before it leaves the nozzle as a mist. That effectively turns the mist into a magnet, which makes it spread evenly across surfaces. Peralta, 20, shrugs when asked if it's heavy. Fully loaded with 10 liters of disinfectant, it weighs at least 50 pounds and is capable of cleaning three trains before a refill. He and the others no longer wear the full-body suits that cleaning crews donned during the height of the pandemic - just masks, gloves and safety glasses. With heat spewing from the air conditioners atop idle trains, coveralls would have been unbearable. Valencia, 35, moves swiftly between the cars. He has three different microfiber cloths: one yellow one to wipe down the seats, a red for all metal handles, a blue for the driver's cabin. Like the others in the dozen-strong team overseen by Galan, he's Hispanic, part of the mass of workers hailing from outside the U.S. who do the jobs that ensure the city can function. He studied journalism and architecture at university and worked as a radio producer in Colombia, his home country, before emigrating five years ago. "But you know, for this situation -- for the covid -- I need money, man," he says. When he and the others are done, Galan again notes the time and logs it in the MTA app that tracks cleaning. Each station is scrubbed twice a day, and trains are cleaned periodically throughout the day, on top of the nightly scrub-downs. Minutes later, the train departs, and a new one arrives. Even during the four-hour nightly shutdown, the trains continue running to shuttle MTA staff around. When their shift wraps up at 5 a.m., Valencia and the others begin their journeys back to their homes in Queens. Most of them go by train. Actors Yoo Ah-in, right, and Park Shin-hye pose for a photo during a press conference for the film "#Alive" held at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University Entrance Branch in Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-soo Actors Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-hye are set to play two contrasting characters who struggle to survive and escape a zombie-hit apartment complex in the survival thriller "#Alive." Based on the 2019 U.S. zombie horror film "Alone," the story follows two protagonists isolated in their apartments as a zombie apocalypse erupts outside. Yoo Ah-in plays Joon-woo, a game streamer and electronics geek, while Park Shin-hye plays Yu-bin, an individualist who likes hiking. The two very different characters employ their own methods and team up for survival when all contact with the outside world is cut off. "Joon-woo is a boy-next-door type of character who many people will be able to relate to. He's an ordinary and friendly guy who has comical undertones," Yoo said during a press conference for the film held at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University Entrance Branch, Monday. Yoo shared he used post-apocalyptic zombie comedy horror film "Zombieland" as a reference to highlight the comical aspects of his character. Congress has accused the centre of maintaining silence on the issue of violent border stand-off with China across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Rajnath Singh take the nation into confidence following the killing of three Indian Army personnel during the de-escalation at the line of actual control (LAC) with China on Monday night. An official statement posted on the partys twitter handle, says the government must come forward to explain the circumstances of the latest development and lists four questions for the centre to answer. Will the PM and the Rakhsa Mantri take the nation into confidence as to how could our officer and soldiers be killed as the Chinese were reportedly withdrawing from our territory in the Galwan valley? How and under what circumstances were our officer and soldiers martyred? Congress asked in one of the questions. Earlier in the afternoon, the army issued a statement which said it had suffered multiple casualties, including that of an officer, in a violent face off with Chinas Peoples Liberation Army on Monday night in eastern Ladakh. It also added that there were casualties on both sides. It added that the incident happened during the de-escalation process in the Galwan valley. HT learns that the officer killed in the clashes last night was the commanding officer of the unit involved and that one of the other casualties is that of a JCO. These are the first Indian casualties in a clash with the PLA since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. The army also said that senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting to defuse the situation. Also Read: Indian, Chinese army officials hold meeting to defuse tension after face-off in Ladakh All the deaths are from thrown stones and rods that were used by the soldiers, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The army, however, did not comment on this. Also Read: Indian officer, two others killed in clash with PLA; casualties on both sides The Congress statement said that in the last five decades not a single casualty or martyrdom of our soldiers has occurred or happened on the Indo-China border and demanded that the prime minister takes the nation into confidence. Will the Prime Minister and Defence Minister now come forward to tell the Nation as to how much of our territory has been illegally occupied by the Chinese, post April/May 2020, and what are the circumstances that have led to the killing of our brave officer and soldiers by the Chinese, instead of the Chinese being forced to retreat to their original position on Line of Actual Control? Will the Prime Minister come forward and take the nation into confidence, asks the statement. ALBANY - State Senate Minority Leader John J. Flanagan announced Tuesday he will be stepping down as a state legislator effective June 28 to take a job with Northwell Health. Flanagan announced earlier this year he would not pursue reelection to his District 2 seat, which covers a portion of Long Island, opening up the Senate seat to a new face. As I have often said over the course of my career in public service, it has been my extraordinary honor and privilege to have served the people of New York in both the Assembly and Senate, Flanagan said in an emailed statement. My life has been immeasurably enriched by the thousands of people whom I have met along the way, and I leave Albany with my head full of life lessons and my heart full of fond memories. The outgoing senator will join Northwell on June 29 as vice president of regional government affairs in Suffolk and eastern Nassau counties, according to a news release on the health systems website. Flanagan will serve as the regions liaison with legislative officials and government regulatory agencies at the federal and local level. Flanagan, who has served in the state Legislature for more than three decades, leaves along with several other Republican senators who had announced they would not seek reelection. The state's GOP Chairman, Nick Langworthy, thanked Flanagan for his years of service in an emailed statement Tuesday afternoon, noting the senator's advocacy for education and school children. Flanagan has been best known in recent years as chair of the chamber's Education Committee, where his voice has been heard amid the bruising debates over the Common Core and education funding. Two of the fiercest opponents in the current education wars lauded him: the New York State United Teachers union, for understanding the deep concerns of students, parents and educators; and the pro-charter school group StudentsFirstNY, for being a champion of school choice expansion. Flanagan also was a vocal opponent of the bail reforms that went into effect this year, calling for changes to the measures. Senate Republicans will be meeting via Zoom on Friday to select a new minority leader. Senators Rob Ortt, of North Tonawanda, and Patrick Gallivan, of Elma, both expressed interest in taking on the post. Sen. Joseph Griffo, the deputy minority leader for the caucus, declined to fill the top post. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Glenville Republican Sen. James Tedisco issued a statement saying that he would not pursue the minority leadership position, but called on the next leader to be a representative from upstate. "Right now, it's clear we have one voice from one political affiliation from one region of the state controlling all levers of power in state government," Tedisco said. "We need a strong upstate voice to bring a more regional and holistic approach and greater checks and balances to Albany." Langworthy said he looked forward to working with the conference's next leader. "I look forward to working with the next Senate Republican leader in short order to ensure we regain Republican strength in the Legislature to challenge Andrew Cuomo's dictatorial rule and the extreme left agenda that has gripped our state government," he said. "Freedom, prosperity, and law-and-order are on the ballot this November, and Republicans are excited and energized to win." BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16 Trend: A high yield of wheat and barley varieties brought from France has been recorded in Azerbaijans Khachmaz district, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Agriculture. Foreign varieties selected due to high yield and resistance to changes in weather conditions were originally planted on the fields of a joint Azerbaijani-Turkish seed-growing and research enterprise, where a test planting of two varieties of soft wheat and one grade of barley suitable for brewing was carried out on 100 hectares. Specialists from Azerbaijan Scientific-Research Institute of Crop Husbandry, the Scientific-Research Institute of Fruit Growing and Tea Growing, as well as the Guba Regional Agrarian Science and Innovation Center inspected the cultivated areas, which revealed that the average barley yield per hectare in the cultivation areas of the Ramata variety reached 53 centners. For comparison, the average barley yield is about 30 centners, and the average wheat yield in the Khachmaz district is 30-40 centners per hectare. The yield of wheat varieties brought from France exceeds 60 centners per hectare. The main purpose of the test planting of new French varieties is to study their advantages compared to local varieties. Given this family, it would be utterly naive to say it has nothing to do with money, Mary Trump said. But for both me and my brother, it has much more to do with that our father be recognized. He existed, he lived, he was their oldest son. And William is my fathers grandson. He is as much a part of that family as anybody else. He desperately needs extra care. The violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley of Ladakh took place without any gunshot exchange. Soldiers from both sides engaged in hand-to-hand clashes with each other without gunfire, according to sources. Stones, batons and metal clubs were also used in the attack as Indian troops clashed with their Chinese counterparts to push them back to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the sources added. The face-off led to three casualties on the Indian side, with the killing of an Indian Army officer and two soldiers, while at least 11 other soldiers were injured in violent physical skirmishes. Also Read: India-China border dispute: Key developments dat led to killings of soldiers "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place on Monday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers," the Army said in a brief statement on Tuesday. Tensions have been brewing between the two sides over the past few weeks. The trigger for the face-off was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another route connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley This is the first incident in over four decades leading to fatalities on the India-China border. In 1975, four Indian troops of Assam Rifles Jawans were killed in a Chinese ambush in Arunachal Pradesh. Senior military officials from both sides are holding meetings in Galwan Valley of Eastern Ladakh to defuse tensions between the two countries. Also Read: India-China standoff live updates: 5 died on Chinese side, 11 injured, reports say Airport bosses are pushing for flights between Canberra and Wellington to begin in two weeks to kick-start the tourism industry. Canberra Airport managing director Stephen Byron said many businesses wouldn't recover from the economic downturn of the coronavirus if the route isn't approved soon. Tourism has taken a massive hit since Australia's borders were closed to international visitors in mid-March to slow the spread of COVID-19. The 'trans-Tasman bubble' linking New Zealand and Australia would be a much-needed cash injection but both governments need to agree to a plan. Officials have said the flight path would most likely open in August but industry insiders say that may be too late. Airport bosses are pushing for flights between Canberra and Wellington to begin in two weeks to kick-start the tourism sector (Pictured: A couple Sydney International Airport in March) Canberra Airport managing director Stephen Byron has warned many businesses within the tourism sector may never recover if the route is not approved soon (Pictured: Travellers leaving Sydney in March) 'The incremental opening of the trans-Tasman bubble in the first half of July rather than as late as September 1 could be the difference between an economic recession or a deep-seated depression,' Mr Byron said in a letter to cabinet ministers. 'To this end I would formally request that the Australian government, subject to the prevailing health advice, consider approving flights from Wellington to Canberra; to commence in the period between 1 July 2020 and 14 July 2020 and run on a daily basis thereafter; and no quarantine restrictions be placed on arriving passengers.' He is calling for the Morrison government to approve the flight path, The Australian reported. Mr Byron wants to create a 'green zone' at the international terminal for travellers flying between New Zealand and Australia to ensure there is no mingling with other international flyers. The 'trans-Tasman bubble' would allow Australians and New Zealanders to travel freely without a 14-day quarantine period. The Trans-Tasman Safe Border Group, which is made of up 40 experts, has been working on a plan to iron out any potential issues with the travel bubble. The Trans-Tasman Safe Border Group, which is made of up 40 experts, has been working on a plan to iron out any potential issues with the travel bubble In New Zealand, tourism is the country's biggest export industry, generating $16.2billion directly to the GDP. And Australians are the biggest contributor to that, with 1.5 million Aussies visiting the country in 2019, pouring $2.5billion into the New Zealand economy. New Zealanders are the second biggest tourism group behind China, with 1.43 million Kiwis jumping across the ditch for a holiday last year. But their $2.6billion contribution to the Australian economy is only a fraction of the $12.4 billion Chinese visitors bring While holidaymakers continue to hold out hope for a trip across the ditch soon, issues remain with domestic travel. The Queensland government aims to reopen its state borders on July 10, while South Australia plans to reopen its borders to visitors from all jurisdictions on July 20. Visitors from Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania were granted access to SA on Wednesday. Tasmania and WA have not set a date. Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: The MHA said that Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday directed Delhi chief secretary to install CCTV cameras in COVID-19 wards of every COVID-19 hospital in the National Capital, 'so that there is proper monitoring and problems of patients can also be resolved'. Auto refresh feeds The Western and Central Railways have decided to start local train services in Mumbai for essential services staff identified by the state government from Monday. While the Western Railways will run 60 pairs of trains, the Central Railways will operate 100 pairs. Entry at stations will be given only on the basis of ID cards. The general public will not be allowed to travel on these trains. A senior official of the NDMC said the hospital's strength is 980 beds. "Out of these, 37 are unavailable due to a building being declared dangerous. Also, 111 of these are complement beds," the official said. The Hindu Rao Hospital, run by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), was on Sunday declared as a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, according to an official order. Hindu Rao Hospital is the largest civic facility in the national capital. With over 20.9 lakh reported cases till date, the United States is the worst-affected country in the world. The US is followed by Brazil, Russia, the United Kingdom and India. Total confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the world stand at 78.9 lakh, according to the Johns Hopkins University CSSE. This figure includes COVID-19 patients who have recovered and the overall global death toll which stands at 4.3 lakh. The BJP, Congress, AAP and BSP have been invited for the meeting. The COVID-19 case tally has reached nearly 39,000 and the virus has claimed more than 1,200 lives in the capital. A home ministry official said Shah will discuss measures for the management of COVID-19 with the political parties. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called a meeting of all political parties of Delhi on Monday to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the national capital amid a recent spurt in coronavirus cases, an official said. Ghana has one of highest number of confirmed cases in Africa because of its robust testing, with more than 11,400 cases. Health authorities have reported 51 deaths. In a state broadcast on Sunday night, President Nana Akufo-Addo said the health minister had "contracted the virus in his line of duty" leading the West African nation's fight against COVID-19. Ghana's president has announced that Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu has contracted COVID-19 and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. Selected local train services are resuming services in Mumbai from Monday, 15 June, but only for essential staff, after more than two-and-a-half months of remaining shut due to the lockdown. The Delhi government withdraws its order to turn all nursing homes with a capacity of 10 to 49 beds into coronavirus care facilities, just a day after issuing it, reports PTI. The governments decision came after the Delhi Medical Association wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and expressed concern that other patients would suffer because of the order. Ten of the other cases were brought from outside the country and three were found in Hebei province just outside Beijing. The National Health Commission reported 177 people in treatment for COVID-19, while 115 were in isolation and under monitoring for showing signs of the illness or having tested positive without giving off symptoms. China has reported 49 new confirmed coronavirus cases as the capital Beijing re-instituted measures to contain a new outbreak. Of the new cases, 36 were reported on Monday in Beijing, traced to a wholesale market that supplies much of the city's meat and vegetables. Currently, the recovery rate is 50.60%. This indicates that of all the cases of Covid-19, half of them have recovered from the disease, said an official statement from the ministry. Indias recovery rate of coronavirus patients has crossed 50% according to the data released by the ministry of health on Sunday, which in terms of numbers translates to 1,62,378 patients cured of Covid-19 so far, including 8,049 recoveries recorded over the past 24 hours. All of Anand Vihar Railways station platforms have been reserved for the deployment of isolation coaches for coronavirus patients. Indian Railway has suspended has suspended all train services from Monday at Delhi's important Anand Vihar railway station. The decision comes following a decision by the Centre to provide Delhi government with 500 railway coaches, turned into isolation wards, to augment the shortage of beds in view of the rising number of coronavirus cases in the city, reports Prasad Bharati Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh denies community transmission even as cases rise. It is taking place within the quarantine centre, it is due to the lack of discipline among the inmates, he tells ANI. Indian Railways has so far deployed 204 isolation coaches in four states. 54 isolation coaches have been deployed at Shakurbasti railway station depot in Delhi. According to the railway, 10 coaches with 160 beds were sent to Shakurbasti station on 31 May. Soon, a total of 500 coaches will be deployed in Delhi, reports Prasad Bharati. Nine new cases in Nagaland, says S Pangnyu Phom, the state minister for health and family welfare. With this, the total number of infections in the state stands at 177, of which 89 are active cases and 88 have recovered. The first such train left from Virar for Churchgate in the morning, the official said. The Railways on Monday resumed suburban train services in Mumbai for ferrying essential staff. The Central Railway and Western Railway decided to run "selective suburban services" over mainline and harbour line only for essential staff as defined by the state government, a senior official said. India reports 11,502 new cases and 325 deaths, according to Union health ministry. The total number of cases has now gone up to 3,32,424, and the toll is at 9,520. India is now the fourth most-affected country in the world. With 1,07,958 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu (44,661) and Delhi (41,182). Six cruise liners have arrived in the port since June 12 and some more are scheduled to dock to disembark Indian crew members stuck on these "floating luxury hotels" after the pandemic halted their operations at various places across the globe The Mumbai port has handled 321 ships and nine million metric tons of cargo during the coronavirus-induced lockdown period, a top official said tonight. The port is fully operational now, the official said. A total of 1,15,519 samples have been tested in the last 24 hours, says the Indian Council of Medical Research. So far, India has tested 57,74,133 samples. In a bid to stem the spread of the contagion, the authorities in Beijing have conducted the nucleic acid test on 29,386 people who had visited the Xinfadi wholesale market since May 30, Gao Xiaojun, spokesman for the Beijing Health Commission, said on Monday. China has begun the mass testing of hundreds of people who had visited a Beijing wholesale market which sparked a fresh bout of coronavirus cases even as the country reported 67 new COVID-19 infections including 42 in the capital. 29 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in CRPF, taking the total number of positive cases to 620, of which 189 are active and 427 have recovered. The toll is now at 4, according to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). According to the analysis of the Delhi government data, the number of cases crossed the 30,000 mark on 9 June and it crossed the 40,000 mark on 14 June. It took eight days for the number of cases to rise from 20,000 to 30,000 in Delhi, while it took 13 days for the tally to progress from 10,000 to 20,000. The COVID-19 tally climbed by over 10,000 and breached the 40,000 mark in just six days in Delhi with an average of over 1,600 new cases on a daily basis, a sharp spike from the 79 days it took to reach the 10,000 mark, according to an analysis. Those who test negative for COVID-19 by rapid antigen test should be definitely tested sequentially by RT-PCR to rule out infection, whereas a positive test should be considered as a true positive and does not need reconfirmation by RT-PCR test, said ICMR in an advisory on Sunday. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended the use of Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection assay (antigen detection test) as a point of care diagnostic assay for testing under certain settings in combination with RT-PCR test. In Seoul, health authorities are scrambling to trace infections linked to entertainment and leisure activities, church gatherings, warehouse workers and door-to-door sellers. At least 1,346 infections are linked to international arrivals, mostly South Koreans returning home from abroad. South Korea has reported 37 new cases, bringing its caseload to 12,121 infections, including 277 deaths. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 25 of the cases came from the Seoul area, reports AP. Speaking to ANI, Delhi BJP chief Adesh Kumar Gupta, who is going to be a part of the meeting which will be held shortly, said that there are few suggestions like slashing private lab rates for COVID-19 testing, centralisation of COVID clinics and hospitals and roping in NCC and NSS volunteers to fill the requirements of ever-dwindling medical support staff, that as party chief he would discuss in the meeting. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called an all-party meeting to discuss the management of COVID-19 situation in the national capital. At the meeting, the Delhi BJP will suggest that private lab rates for COVID-19 testing be slashed by half and NCC and NSS volunteers are roped in for helping short-staffed hospitals. Last week, Dr Mahesh Verma who is chairman of the government panel along with Gyanesh Bharti, Commissioner South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and Dr R Verma, DGHS at the Union Health Ministry visited four major hospitals which are providing treatment to the COVID-19 patients. These hospitals include - Lok Nayak Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Dr RML hospital. Recently, the Centre-run Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in the city procured a refrigerated container to store bodies after the available space in the mortuary was exhausted. As the number of coronavirus deaths are on the rise in the national capital, a Delhi government panel has recommended strengthening the mortuary capacity in hospitals by installing refrigerated containers to keep the dead bodies. Heavy pre-monsoon showers in Maharashtras Jalgaon district led to the flooding of the ground floor of the COVID-19 hospital, forcing its staff to shift patients to upper floors at midnight, an official said on Sunday. The city in north Maharashtra started receiving downpour on Saturday late night which continued for at least two hours, said an official from the Godavari Medical College where COVID-19 patients were being treated. The patients were on the ground floor as many of them and their relatives are more than 50-year old, he said. Shah apprised the leaders of four major political parties of Delhi on the steps taken to check the coronavirus pandemic and sought their views on the issue, a Home Ministry official said. Leaders of the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and the BSP have attended the meeting. Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with the leaders of all political parties of Delhi on Monday to discuss about the novel coronavirus situation, officials said. The meeting was held in the wake of rising novel coronavirus cases in Delhi. Maharashtras Nashik district records 12 new coronavirus cases on Monday, PTI reports. The districts tally rises to 1,985 and the toll stands at 121. Rajasthan on Monday reported 78 new cases of COVID-19 and 2 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 12772 with total toll at 294. The number of active cases stands at 2,847, according to the state health department According to the Ministry of National Health Services, 29,085 tests were done in the last 24 hours taking the total number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the country to 897,650. Pakistan's COVID-19 cases reached 144,676 after 5,248 new infections were detected, while 97 more people have succumbed to the coronavirus, pushing the death toll to 2,729, the health ministry said on Monday, reports PTI. Regulated Market in Siliguri to remain shut for the next 7 days as ordered by the Darjeeling district administration. Few cases of COVID-19 were linked to the market, reports ANI. Earlier PTI had reported that a peak stage of COVID-19 pandemic in India has been delayed by the eight-week lockdown along with strengthened public health measures and it may now arrive around mid-November during which there could be a paucity of isolation and ICU beds, and ventilators, according to the mentioned study. The news reports attributing this study to ICMR are misleading, the medical body took to Twitter to clarify. This refers to a non-peer-reviewed modelling, not carried out by ICMR and does not reflect the official position of ICMR. Assam reports 40 new COVID19 cases on Monday, taking the total number of cases to 4158 including 1960 recoveries and 8 deaths. The number of active cases stands at 2187, said state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay 4 April notification of Health Ministry on PCPNDT Act which has suspended rules regarding registration of labs, clinics and maintenance of records relating to pre-conception and pregnancy. "The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly Wholesale Price Index (WPI), stood at (-) 3.21 percent (provisional) for May 2020 as compared to 2.79 percent during the corresponding month of the previous year," the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement. Wholesale prices in the country witnessed deflation of 3.21 percent in May due to sharp decline in prices of fuel and power, even as food articles turned expensive. After attending the all party meeting, Delhi BJP chief Adesh Kumar Gupta said Shah approved the party's demand to waive off 50 percent charges on testing. The Delhi government will ramp up coronavirus testing and start conducting 18,000 tests per day by 20 June, home minister Amit Shah decided during a meeting he held with leaders of all the political parties in Delhi Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that there are no plans to impose a lockdown in the state, even as the number of coronavirus cases rose to 23.544. An 18-year-old man succumbed to COVID-19 here on Monday, becoming the youngest person to die of the disease in Jammu and Kashmir, officials told PTI. With the fresh death, the toll due to COVID-19 in the union territory has risen to 61. Addressing the third edition of the Annual Conference of Protectors of Emigrants via video-conferencing, he said the protectors of emigrants must also rise to the challenge of reviving the post-COVID economy and engage with the post-COVID world. India has been engaged with foreign governments to ensure the welfare of prospective migrants, and is currently focussed on mitigating the negative economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indian talent abroad, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says no plans of another lockdown in the National Capital, reports ANI. With this, the total number of disaster response men getting infected with the disease has increased to 158. Odisha has now 1,333 active cases, while 2,708 people have recovered from the disease. The new cases included nine disaster response personnel of the state fire service, who were engaged in the post-cyclone-Amphan restoration works in West Bengal and had returned from there," an official said. Odisha's COVID-19 tally on Monday crossed the 4,000-mark, with 146 more people, including nine disaster response personnel, testing positive for the infection, a Health Department official said. With these fresh patients, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state rose to 4,055, he said. Health Experts Committee, which held discussions with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami today, have recommended tightening restrictions in Chennai to contain the spread of COVID-19, the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has tweeted. The Kerala government releases guidelines for short-term visits to the state. The order says, "They (visitors) shall provide details of local itinerary along with purpose of visit, local accommodation and contact person. Any deviations from this shall be informed to authorities with valid reasons." Gautam Buddh Nagar, adjoining Delhi, in western UP is one of the worst-hit districts and has recorded 935 positive cases, including 12 deaths, till Sunday, according to an official figure. So far, 17 of the 23 policemen have recovered from COVID-19, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Ankur Aggarwal, who also the police nodal officer for the infection. Four more police personnel in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar tested positive for COVID-19, taking the number of policemen detected with the infection to 23, officials said on Monday. On the interim plea seeking a stay on the investigation and further proceedings, the court has listed the matter for Tuesday for hearing hearing arguments. Justice C Hari Shankar, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, issued notice to the Delhi government and listed the matter for further hearing on 11 August. The Delhi High Court Monday sought response of the AAP government on a plea by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) seeking quashing of an FIR lodged by Delhi Police against it for allegedly violating COVID-19 regulation norms. The Delhi government issues an order to private and government laboratories, asking them to work with their full capacity and increase their coronavirus testing capacity, ANI reports. According to the order, private labs will have to give results within 48 hours. Andhra Pradesh on Monday reported 246 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths in the last 24 hours. The total number of confirmed cases and toll has risen to 5,087 and 86, respectively. A division bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and SP Tavade refused to accept the contentions raised in a petition filed by Air India pilot Deven Kanani, who said the middle seats of all international and domestic flights should be kept vacant to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The Bombay High Court on Monday permitted all flight operators to allow passengers to occupy middle seats in flights but said they should strictly comply with guidelines of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He said, "Centre is providing 500 isolation coaches to Delhi governement. 50 coaches have already been deployed at Shakur Basti containing 900 beds. Around 180 coaches will be placed at Anand Vihar and some at another station by tomorrow." Northern Railways CPRO Deepak Kumar on Monday said that 500 isolation coaches will be given to the Delhi government, of which 50 have already been deployed at a location in the National Capital. The move came after health experts recommend the tightening of lockdown restrictions in Chennai earlier on Monday, in a meeting with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisaamy. The ruling AIADMK on Monday tweeted that the Tamil Nadu government will impose a "full lockdown" in the Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpet, and Kanchipuram districts of the state from 19 June, in view of the rising cases of coronavirus. However, no guidelines were issued by the government so far. "The decision was taken in a video conference meeting with the state education minister. He has also agreed upon reopening schools in areas away from the cities that are COVID-19 free after taking adequate precautionary measures," the statement added. The Maharashtra CMO on Monday said that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray "has agreed upon starting the academic year for students through digital and online platforms on a pilot project basis". The Uttar Pradesh health department on Monday said that 476 fresh cases of coronavirus and 18 deaths were recorded in the state, taking total number of cases to 14091 and toll to 417. Number of active cases stands at 5,064. He added that the cost of testing and treatment will be fixed by the government. Karnataka medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar said that that the state government will make a decision on "roping in private hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients". The highest single-day spike of 178 deaths was reported in Maharashtra on Monday, along with 2,786 new coroavirus cases. Total number of cases in the state is now at 1,10,744, including 56,049 discharged and 4,128 deaths. The BMC said that the total number of containment zones in Mumbai stands at 828. 30 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Jharkhand on Monday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 1793 including 784 active cases and 1000 recovered, the state health department said. The West Bengal health department on Monday said that the COVID-19 toll in the state rose to 485 with 10 more casualties, while 407 new coronavirus cases took total to 11,494. "Bangladesh unveiled a three colour zoning system based on the severity of the COVID-19 cases, as the country reported 38 deaths and 3,099 infections in the last 24 hours. The Cabinet Division order for the first time introduced a zoning system identifying areas as "red, yellow and green"zones based on coronavirus prevalence. It said that offices in particular spots of red zones would remain under general holiday until June 30," News18 reported. In March, Trump said hydroxychloroquine used in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin had "a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine", with little evidence to back up that claim. The move comes after several studies of the drug suggested it was not effective, including a widely anticipated trial earlier this month showed it failed to prevent infection in people who have been exposed to the virus. The FDA said based on new evidence, it was no longer reasonable to believe that oral formulations of hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine may be effective in treating the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday revoked the emergency use authorisation for malaria drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a treatment for COVID-19, the use of which has been championed by US President Donald Trump. 219 new COVID-19 cases reported in Telangana today, taking the total number of cases in the state to 5,193: State Health Department The European Unions 27 nations and a number of other European states arent expected to start reopening to visitors from outside the continent until at least the beginning of July and possibly later. Germany and France dropped border checks nearly two weeks after Italy opened its frontiers. Greece welcomed visitors Monday with passengers on flights from other European countries not having to undergo compulsory coronavirus tests. The virus is far from being wiped out, and the need for constant vigilance came into sharp focus again as China, where COVID-19 first emerged last year, rushed to contain an outbreak in the capital of Beijing. European countries reopened borders Monday after a three-month coronavirus shutdown, although international visitors are still being kept away and there was uncertainty over whether many Europeans will quickly embrace travel outside their home countries. Gujarat health department said that 514 new cases of coronavirus were reported in the state on Monday, taking the total number of cases to 24,104, while the toll rose to 1,506 as 28 patients succumbed to the infection. Three TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) MLAs in Telangana have tested positive for COVID19, till now, ANI reported. Their contacts are being identified and tests will be conducted accordingly, the state health department was quoted as saying. To stay in Germany was not an option for us, Hofman said. We are totally happy that we can get out. Martin Hofman was delighted to board a flight from Dusseldorf to the island of Mallorca because he said his vacation couldnt be postponed. Spain put its tourism industry to the test Monday by allowing thousands of Germans to fly to its Balearic Islands without a 14-day quarantine. Officials said the pilot program will help authorities gauge whats needed to guard against possible virus flare-ups. Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The MHA said that Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday directed Delhi chief secretary to install CCTV cameras in COVID-19 wards of every COVID-19 hospital in the National Capital, "so that there is proper monitoring and problems of patients can also be resolved". "He also directed the Delhi chief secretary to establish back-ups for canteens supplying food, in case there is an infection in one canteen, patients can continue to get food without disruption. He also said that psycho-social counselling of doctors and nurses engaged in the treatment of COVID-19 patients should be done. This will ensure that not only are they physically but also psychologically fit to fight the pandemic," the statement added. Karnataka medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar said that that the state government will make a decision on "roping in private hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients". He added that the cost of testing and treatment will be fixed by the government. The Centre said that in the last 24 hours, 7,419 COVID-19 patients have recovered, which takes the total number of recovered patients to 1,69,797 patients so far. While the total number of cases according to the Centre's 8 am update is 3,32,424, the statement added, "The recovery rate rises to 51.08 percent which is indicative of the fact that more than half of positive cases have recovered from the disease." AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Monday attended an all-party meeting on the coronavirus situation in Delhi, which was also attended by Home Minister Amit Shah. After the meeting, Singh said that decision to ''appointment of IAS officers to monitor Central, state and private hospitals'' was also discussed in the all-party meeting. "He confirmed that the Delhi government will start conducting 18,000 COVID-19 tests per day by 20 June," NDTV reported. Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday announced a 'maximized restricted lockdown' from 19 to 30 June in areas of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur districts which come under Metropolitan Chennai Police limits. The ruling AIADMK on Monday tweeted that the Tamil Nadu government will impose a "full lockdown" in the Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpet, and Kanchipuram districts of the state from 19 June, in view of the rising cases of coronavirus. The move came after health experts recommend the tightening of lockdown restrictions in Chennai earlier on Monday, in a meeting with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisaamy. The Delhi government issues an order to private and government laboratories, asking them to work with their full capacity and increase their coronavirus testing capacity, ANI reports. According to the order, private labs will have to give results within 48 hours. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says no plans of another lockdown in the National Capital, reports ANI. Home minister Amit Shah assured at an all-party meet that a new testing policy will be implemented to ensure everyone has the right to testing. A proposal has been made to increase the capacities of hospitals run by the Delhi government and Centre by 1,900 and 2,000 beds respectively. The Delhi government will ramp up coronavirus testing and start conducting 18,000 tests per day by 20 June, home minister Amit Shah decided during a meeting he held with leaders of all the political parties in Delhi. 29 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in CRPF, taking the total number of positive cases to 620, of which 189 are active and 427 have recovered. The toll is now at 4, according to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). An all-party meeting called by Home Minister Amit Shah begins. Shah had called a meeting of all political parties of Delhi to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the national capital amid a recent spurt in coronavirus cases, an official said. The BJP, Congress, AAP and BSP have been invited for the meeting. A total of 1,15,519 samples have been tested in the last 24 hours, says the Indian Council of Medical Research. So far, India has tested 57,74,133 samples. India's COVID-19 recovery rate on Monday crosses 51 percent, improves to 51.08% as on 15 June, 2020. The COVID-19 tally climbed by over 10,000 and breached the 40,000 mark in just six days in Delhi with an average of over 1,600 new cases on a daily basis, a sharp spike from the 79 days it took to reach the 10,000 mark, according to an analysis. It took eight days for the number of cases to rise from 20,000 to 30,000 in Delhi, while it took 13 days for the tally to progress from 10,000 to 20,000. With 1,07,958 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu (44,661) and Delhi (41,182). India reports 11,502 new cases and 325 deaths, according to Union health ministry. The total number of cases has now gone up to 3,32,424, and the toll is at 9,520. India is now the fourth most-affected country in the world. Indian Railway has suspended all train services from Monday at Delhi's important Anand Vihar railway station. The decision comes following a decision by the Centre to provide Delhi government with 500 railway coaches, turned into isolation wards, to augment the shortage of beds in view of the rising number of coronavirus cases in the city, reports Prasad Bharati The peak stage of COVID-19 pandemic in India has been delayed by the eight-week lockdown along with strengthened public health measures and it may now arrive around mid-November during which there could be a paucity of isolation and ICU beds, and ventilators, according to a study. The Western and Central Railways have decided to start local train services in Mumbai for essential services staff identified by the state government from Monday. While the Western Railways will run 60 pairs of trains, the Central Railways will operate 100 pairs. Entry at stations will be given only on the basis of ID cards. The general public will not be allowed to travel on these trains India saw its highest single-day spike of 11,929 novel coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the number of infections to over 3.20 lakh on Sunday, while the toll crossed the 9,000 mark with 311 more deaths, the Union Health Ministry said. This is the third day in a row there were more than 10,000 cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in India, which is the fourth worst-hit nation by the pandemic. With 9,195 fatalities till Sunday, India is the ninth worst-hit nation in terms of COVID-19 deaths in the world. According to the Union health ministry data, the country recorded 311 new deaths in the 24-hour period till Sunday morning while the recovery rate rose to above 50 percent with 1,62,378 patients cured so far, leaving 1,49,348 cases active. A total of 8,049 COVID-19 patients have been cured till Sunday 8 am taking the recovery rate to 50.60 percent, the health ministry said. The Johns Hopkins University, which has been compiling COVID-19 data from all over the world, put India in the ninth position in terms of toll and fourth in terms of the total caseload. State-wise cases and deaths As many as 113 out of the 311 deaths in the past 24 hours were from Maharashtra, followed by 57 in Delhi, 33 in Gujarat and 30 in Tamil Nadu. There were 20 more fatalities in Uttar Pradesh, 12 in West Bengal and 10 in Rajasthan. Haryana and Telangana registered eight more coronavirus deaths each, followed by seven in Madhya Pradesh, three in Bihar. Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Punjab and Uttarakhand reported two deaths each. Of the total 9,195 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 3,830 fatalities, followed 1,448 by Gujarat and 1,271 in Delhi. The toll from the pandemic rose to 463 in West Bengal, 447 in Madhya Pradesh, 397 in Tamil Nadu and 385 in Uttar Pradesh. There have been 282 COVID-19 deaths in Rajasthan and 182 in Telangana. The number of fatalities reached 82 in Andhra Pradesh, 81 in Karnataka, 78 in Haryana and 65 in Punjab. Jammu and Kashmir has reported 55 COVID-19 deaths, followed by 39 in Bihar, 23 in Uttarakhand and 19 in Kerala. Odisha registered 10 deaths so far, followed by eight each in Jharkhand and Assam, and six each in Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh. Five people have succumbed to the contagion in Chandigarh, followed by two in Puducherry, and one each in Meghalaya, Tripura and Ladakh, the ministry said. More than 70 per cent of the deaths have happened due to comorbidities, it added. The maximum number of cases are from Maharashtra with 1,04,568 infections, followed by 42,687 Tamil Nadu, 38,958 in Delhi and 23,038 in Gujarat. The tally rose to 13,118 in Uttar Pradesh, 12,401 in Rajasthan and 10,698 in West Bengal. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 10,641 in Madhya Pradesh, 6,824 in Karnataka, 6,749 in Haryana and 6,290 in Bihar. As many as 5,965 people have contracted the deadly disease in Andhra Pradesh, followed by 4,878 in Jammu and Kashmir, 4,737 in Telangana, 3,723 in Odisha and 3,718 in Assam. There are 3,063 cases in Punjab and 2,407 in Kerala, while 1,785 people have been infected in Uttarakhand and 1,711 in Jharkhand. A total of 1,512 people are afflicted with the disease in Chhattisgarh, followed by 1,046 in Tripura, 523 in Goa and 502 in Himachal Pradesh. The number of coronavirus cases rose to 449 in Manipur, 437 in Ladakh and 345 in Chandigarh. Puducherry has registered 176 COVID-19 cases so far, followed by 163 in Nagaland, 107 in Mizoram and 87 in Arunachal Pradesh. Sikkim has 63 COVID-19 cases, while there are 44 infections in Meghalaya and 38 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have registered 35 COVID-19 cases so far. The figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research, the ministry said, adding that 7,436 cases were being reassigned to states. Statewise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation, it added. Shah calls for meeting of Delhi political parties tomorrow Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called a meeting of all political parties of Delhi on Monday to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the national capital amid a recent spurt in coronavirus cases, an official said. The BJP, Congress, AAP and BSP have been invited for the meeting. The COVID-19 case tally has reached nearly 39,000 and the virus has claimed more than 1,200 lives in the capital. A home ministry official said Shah will discuss measures for management of COVID-19 with the political parties. On Sunday, the home minister held two high-level meetings with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, mayors and commissioners of Delhi's three municipal corporations to strengthen the strategy to fight the pandemic. Announcing a slew of measures to check the spread of the virus after the meeting with Baijal and Kejriwal, the Union home minister announced that COVID-19 testing will be doubled in Delhi in the next two days and subsequently increased by three times. Use of Remdesivir advised on 'limited evidence', says health ministry The Union health ministry issued a clarification that the use of Remdesivir under emergency use may be considered in patients with moderate disease (those on oxygen) but with no specified contraindications. "An updated Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19 has been released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 13th June, 2020 in which the drug Remdesivir has been included as an investigational therapy only for restricted emergency use purposes along with off label use of Tocilizumab and Convalescent Plasma.The statement said the protocol also clearly mentions that the use of these therapies is based on limited available evidence and limited availability at present," it said. The ministry also said that the emergency use of the drug is subject to conditions like written informed consent of each patient, submission of results of additional clinical trials and active surveillance data of all treated patients, risk management plan along with active post marketing surveillance and reporting of serious adverse events also to be submitted. With inputs from PTI More than 100 people have been infected in the Chinese capital (AP) Chinese authorities have locked down a third area in the capital Beijing as they rush to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus outbreak which has infected more than 100 people. The resurgence in China, which appeared to have largely contained the virus, highlights public health experts' calls for vigilance as many nations move forward with easing virus restrictions to revive their economies. Officials in New Zealand, which had not seen any new cases in three weeks, said they are investigating after two women who flew in from London to see a dying parent were allowed to leave quarantine and drive halfway across the country before they were tested and found to be positive. The Philippines has also reimposed a strict lockdown on the city of Cebu after a rise in cases. China reported 40 more coronavirus infections nationwide on Monday, 27 of them in Beijing, bringing the city's total to 106 since Thursday. At least one patient is in a critical condition and two are in serious condition. Four cases were also reported in neighbouring Hebei province, with three linked to the Beijing outbreak. Most of the cases have been linked to the Xinfadi wholesale food market, and people lined up around the city for a mass testing campaign targeting anyone who had visited the market in the past two weeks or come into contact with them. About 9,000 workers at the market had been tested previously. The initial spread happened among market workers, according to Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. He told state broadcaster CCTV that authorities detected the outbreak early enough to be confident they can contain it. "For those who were infected, they will start showing symptoms either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," he said. "So, if there's no sharp increase of newly reported cases tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, the outbreak this time will basically stay at the current scale." Authorities locked down seven residential compounds in Beijing's Xicheng district, where the first case was confirmed on Thursday. They also barred residents of areas considered high-risk from leaving Beijing and banned taxis and car-hailing services from taking people out of the city. The number of passengers on buses, trains and subways will also be limited and all are required to wear masks. Fresh meat and seafood in the city and elsewhere in China is also being inspected, though experts have expressed doubt the virus could be spread via food supplies. Nonetheless, Chinese media reports said that salmon had been pulled from shelves in 14 cities including Beijing after the virus was found in a sample taken from a salmon chopping board at Xinfadi market. The market has been closed for disinfection, as has a second market where three cases were confirmed. Residential communities around both markets have been placed under lockdown, affecting 90,000 people in a city of 20 million. China had relaxed many of its coronavirus controls after the ruling Communist Party declared victory over the virus in March. The infection was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. The two women in New Zealand had travelled from Auckland to Wellington by car. Director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield said that as part of their travel plan, the women had no contact with any people or any public facilities on their road trip. The women remain in isolation in Wellington, and tests are being conducted on passengers and staff on their flights, others at the Auckland hotel they initially stayed at in quarantine as well as a family member they met in Wellington. South Korea has also been battling to prevent a resurgence of the virus, reporting 34 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday. Half were found in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where health officials have been scrambling to stem transmissions linked to leisure and religious activities and low-income workers who could not afford to stay at home. Hundreds of recent cases have been linked to nightspots, church gatherings, a huge e-commerce warehouse and door-to-door salespeople amid an erosion of citizen vigilance. Despite concerns, the Seoul government has so far resisted calls to reimpose stronger social distancing guidelines after they were eased in April, fearing further damage to the fragile economy. Philippine officials, meanwhile, have reimposed a strict lockdown on the central city of Cebu and retained quarantine restrictions in Manila for another two weeks as infections continue to spike. President Rodrigo Duterte said: "The battle with Covid isn't over." The epidemic continues to grow sharply in India, which recorded 10,667 new cases, taking the tally to 343,091. Health services in the worst-hit cities of Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai have been swamped by the rising infections. Nearly 10,000 people have died. In the United States, vice president Mike Pence encouraged governors to highlight the "good news" around efforts to fight the virus despite several states reporting a rise in infections, which could intensify as people return to work and venture out during the summer. Mr Pence said in a private call with governors that except for a few areas, the US is seeing strong drops in virus-related hospital admission and mortality rates. In audio of the call obtained by The Associated Press, Mr Pence urged governors to make it clear to residents that "there's a lot of really, really good news". White House officials have played down the severity of the virus surge in places like Arizona and Texas. On Monday, the nation's second-most-populated state set a one-day high in hospital admissions for the seventh time in eight days. Arizona's hospitals were at about 82% capacity. Meanwhile, Germany and France dropped border checks nearly two weeks after Italy opened its frontiers. Greece welcomed visitors, with passengers on flights from other European countries not having to undergo compulsory coronavirus tests. The European Union's 27 nations and other European states are not expected to start reopening to visitors from outside the continent until at least the beginning of July and possibly later. Spain allowed thousands of Germans to fly to its Balearic Islands without a 14-day quarantine in a pilot programme designed to help authorities gauge what is needed against possible virus flare-ups. After slaughterhouses in several states were closed when thousands of workers tested positive and dozens died, the industry publicly lobbied the Trump administration to intervene with state and local officials or risk major meat shortages across American grocery stores. Indeed, some retailers put limits on the amount of meat customers could buy, and the fast-food chain Wendys, at one point, ran low on hamburger. But the meatpackers, including Smithfield, which Chinas largest pork producer bought in 2013, did not emphasize, at least not publicly, that keeping the plants open would also protect their long-term investments in exporting to a country that is vital to their growth. Analysts say the meat shortages have subsided, with most plants having reopened, though many are still operating at slower speeds. As some meat companies continue to test their workers, they are still discovering positive cases. So far, 25,523 meatpacking workers have tested positive and 89 have died, according to the Food & Environment Reporting Network, which has been tracking the outbreak. After decades of relatively stagnant pork consumption in the United States and a recent thaw in the trade war with China, this was the year that the pork exports were set to take off. The meat companies were saying the sky was falling, and it really wasnt, said Tony Corbo, a senior lobbyist at Food & Water Watch, a consumer and environmental watchdog group. It wasnt that there was not enough supply. It was that the supply was being sent abroad. [June 16, 2020] Cegid's Customer Satisfaction Rises Nearly 10% Using Genesys Cloud SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With hundreds of thousands of customers across 75 countries, Cegid is a leader in business management solutions for accounting, finance and tax, payroll and human resources, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and retail. The company is the third ranked software as a service provider in France and has earned a reputation as an industry trailblazer for being one of first to adopt and integrate cloud technology into its solutions. As a result of moving its contact center to the cloud with Genesys, the global leader in cloud customer experience and contact center solutions, Cegid improved the service it delivers to some of the world's biggest brands and a variety of small to medium sized businesses (SMB) as clients. Cegid CIO Thierry Galvagni said, "Since deploying Genesys Cloud, we've already increased customer satisfaction by nearly 10% and gained a 20% improvement in meeting our SLAs." In addition, the company is now able to more accurately measure customer service effectiveness, and its managers have greater visibility into specific key performance indicators. This has enabled Cegid to provide better training and more accurate reporting. Before using the all-in-one solution and world's leading public cloud contact center platform from Genesys, Cegid's customer data was siloed across disparate on-premises systems. To support the company's global expansion, Cegid needed to ensure it could connect every customer interaction across voice and digital channels to provide more personalized service. "Our former system wasn't as flexible or adaptable as our business needed, which made it difficult to optimize inbound and outbound calls," explains Thierry Galvagni. "It was also challenging to connect back office systems to our previous platform, which meant customer records did not always follow the caller. We needed to move to a cloud-based solution to support our international growth and provide our customers with an experience that matched our in-house software. Genesys Cloud met all of these needs." Providing best-in-class support Cegid itegrated its call ticketing system with Genesys Cloud and optimized its call flows. This enables its customers to reach the right expert the first time so their issues can be resolved quickly. "Our technology is critical to our customers' businesses," Thierry Galvagni explains. "Part of our offering is to design and build payroll solutions, and if there is an issue, we need to be able to resolve these straight away. Genesys Cloud enables us to route our customers to the most appropriate agent and solve their issues rapidly to offer the best experience to our customers." Genesys Cloud has also allowed the company to streamline its 70 previous IVR numbers down to just two, simplifying management. Cegid's agents have also experienced benefits as a result of using Genesys Cloud. One example is improved access to historical and real-time customer data, allowing agents to provide a more connected experience. Rapid response to crisis In addition, the shift to a cloud contact center platform enabled Cegid to respond rapidly to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Thanks to the agility of Genesys Cloud, we were able to get 400 agents working from home in just two days with no impact on our customers," says Thierry Galvagni. "We would never have been able to do this with our previous legacy supplier. Genesys has been a critical part of our COVID-19 business continuity plan in ensuring the health and safety of our employees while continuing to deliver the high-quality service our customers deserve." According to Thierry Galvagni, the transition to remote working was seamless for employees because they have the same access to Genesys Cloud at home as they do in an office. "Removing the need to commute during this difficult time has reduced stress for our employees, while enabling us to ensure their health, safety and well-being," he explains. A global solution Cegid began its contact center transformation with its Lyon, France location and plans to extend the solution to its 15 global subsidiaries in the near future. "We've tested Genesys Cloud to ensure it can scale to include every employee, and the solution has proven to be an effective, cost-efficient replacement for our contact center systems around the world," Thierry Galvagni adds. In addition, Cegid is considering integrating Genesys Cloud with its customer relationship management solution as well as introducing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, such as voice bots, chat bots and predictive engagement. About Genesys Every year, Genesys delivers more than 70 billion remarkable customer experiences for organizations in over 100 countries. Through the power of the cloud and AI, our technology connects every customer moment across marketing, sales and service on any channel, while also improving employee experiences. Genesys pioneered Experience as a ServiceSM so organizations of any size can provide true personalization at scale, interact with empathy, and foster customer trust and loyalty. This is enabled by Genesys Cloud, an all-in-one solution and the world's leading public cloud contact center platform, designed for rapid innovation, scalability and flexibility. Visit www.genesys.com. About Cegid Cegid is a major provider of business management solutions for CPAs, financial and tax managers, as well as for HR, payroll and retail professionals. With proven experience as a leader in SaaS management solutions, Cegid provides assistance in the digitalization of companies and public sector bodies. Cegid's vision of business is both pragmatic and forward thinking, and the company has mastered new technologies so as to provide useful innovation, not to mention unique expertise in terms of regulatory matters. Cegid is with its clients for the long haul. In a constantly changing world, Cegid is opening up new possibilities so that every area of a business can increase its added value. Cegid has 3,000 employees and sells its solutions in 75 countries. In 2019, Cegid recorded a turnover of 480 million. Pascal Houillon has been the CEO since March 2017. For more information: www.cegid.com/en/ 2020 Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. Genesys, Genesys Cloud, Experience as a Service, and the Genesys logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Genesys. All other company names and logos may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies. Contact: Shaunna Morgan Senior Public Relations Manager Genesys [email protected] +1 317-493-4241 Adriana Saldana Sterling Communications [email protected] +1 408-395-5500 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cegids-customer-satisfaction-rises-nearly-10-using-genesys-cloud-301077452.html SOURCE Genesys [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech during the 121st founding anniversary of the Philippine army on March 20, 2018. Ted Aljibe | AFP | Getty Images The head of a Philippine news website known for its scrutiny of President Rodrigo Duterte was found guilty of "cyber libel" by a Manila court on Monday one of the latest signs of "an orchestrated attempt" to silence critics of the Duterte government, an expert told CNBC. Maria Ressa, chief executive and executive editor of Rappler, faces a jail term of up to six years over a 2012 article linking a wealthy Philippine businessman to murder, drug dealing, human trafficking and smuggling, reported the Associated Press. The case is among the numerous lawsuits filed against Ressa and Rappler, and has drawn concerns globally about deteriorating press freedom in the Philippines under Duterte. The Southeast Asian country was considered by many as one of the countries in the region with the freest media before he took leadership. "There seems to be, after this verdict, a growing threat to democracy and freedom. That's the view of a lot of people and surprisingly, even the business sector in Philippines," Victor Andres Manhit, managing director for the Philippines at advisory firm BowerGroupAsia, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Tuesday. ... there seems to be this orchestrated attempt to silence critics of the government and it creates a chilling effect on media that has been proud ... of being the freest, vocal and critical if needed against any sitting government in the Philippines. Victor Andres Manhit managing director for the Philippines, BowerGroupAsia Manhit pointed out that prior to Ressa's conviction, the country's leading broadcaster ABS-CBN which has also been critical of Duterte was forced off air last month after its license expired. The Philippine Congress, which grants such a license, reportedly sat on bills supporting the network's license renewal. A few years earlier in 2016-2017, owners of the country's top newspaper, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, were reportedly pressured to sell the publication to a Duterte ally after publishing reports critical of the president's drug war. The deal later fell through, according to a report by Agence France-Presse. "So, it puts into context that there seems to be this orchestrated attempt to silence critics of the government and it creates a chilling effect on media that has been proud ... of being the freest, vocal and critical if needed against any sitting government in the Philippines," said Manhit. Who is Maria Ressa? Ressa is an award-winning veteran journalist who has become a symbol of the fight for free and open media in the Philippines. Time magazine named a group of journalists for its "Person of the Year" award in 2018, and she was among those listed. Philippine journalist Maria Ressa (2nd R), is escorted by police after an arrest warrant was served, shortly after arriving at the international airport in Manila on March 29, 2019. STR | AFP | Getty Images After a career that included stints at American network CNN and Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN, she founded online news site Rappler in 2012. But Ressa and Rappler became the target of multiple legal charges following their critical reporting of the Duterte government. The verdict on Monday, which found Ressa and another Rappler journalist guilty of cyber libel, received condemnation from a range of parties including rights groups, media watchdogs, as well as local and international politicians. Through the verified account of its global public policy team, Twitter said "governments should not impinge on the fundamental values" of a free press. Others criticized the cybercrime law that the journalists allegedly violated. The law was enacted in September 2012, months after the article at the center of the lawsuit was published, and Rappler's lawyers argued that the law cannot be retroactively applied, reported AP. But the country's Department of Justice, which brought the charges to court, said the website had updated the story in 2014 which meant it effectively republished the article, according to the AP report. Rappler acknowledged that it corrected a misspelled word in the article on February 2014, but said it didn't make any other changes, the report said. Ressa has denied any wrongdoing and was allowed to post bail, according to the report. For the Philippines in particular, this is a devastating blow to a country once known for a vibrant, free press. International Center for Journalists "This is a miscarriage of justice," read a statement by the International Center for Journalists, a Washington-based non-profit organization. "For the Philippines in particular, this is a devastating blow to a country once known for a vibrant, free press," it added. Following the court verdict, Duterte's spokesman said the president has never filed a libel complaint against "any journalist who got on his nerves." "He believes in free thinking, free speech, and he believes that government officials should not be onion-skinned," said Harry Roque, the presidential spokesperson, as quoted by government newswire Philippine News Agency. Duterte's expanding power The verdict against Ressa came as several political analysts pointed out that Duterte, who came to power in 2016, has been using the coronavirus pandemic to expand his executive powers. Earlier this year, the country's Congress granted the president temporary sweeping powers to manage the virus outbreak, including access to billions of government funds, as well as the authority to control supplies and public utilities, reported Reuters. You can smell the gin distillery before you see it the whiff of alcohol floats down the street outside. And if you head inside on the right morning, you will find a moustachioed chemist infusing that alcohol with juniper berries, coriander seeds and aniseed. But on Thursday the chemist, Michael Levantaci, was mixing something very different. He had put the herbs and fruit to one side, and was instead standing on a stepladder, pouring glycerin and ether into a silver vat. The former makes the alcohol kinder to the touch, the latter makes it undrinkable. The Rubbens Distillery has been making gin since 1817, when Belgium was still part of the Netherlands. Since the coronavirus crisis started, prompting a Europe-wide shortage of disinfectant, it has also bottled approximately 37,000 gallons of hand sanitiser. I prefer the gin part, says Levantaci, who invented most of the distillerys 19 gin and liqueur recipes. Recommended Distillery owner keeps spirits high by producing hand sanitiser Hendrik Beck, whose family of farmers owns and runs the firm, says that at the moment, its not about making a fancy product. We just wanted to help, he says. Across Europe, the crisis has forced thousands of companies to improvise either to stay afloat, or to cater to a new pandemic-related niche. In France, perfumeries make disinfectant. In Denmark, a gourmet restaurant now sells only burgers. Elsewhere in this Belgian town, a lingerie manufacturer pivoted from corsets to Covid, and now produces face masks. But the Rubbens Distillery is one of the first to turn a coronavirus sideline into a major part of the business. Many firms switched back to their original focuses by the time restrictions started to ease. By contrast, even as Belgian society has begun to reopen, the distillery is producing roughly twice as many gallons of hand sanitiser every week as gin. What began as an experiment is now, post-lockdown, an important product for the firm. The distillerys vats are checked monthly by officials to make sure it isnt creating moonshine (Getty) (Getty Images) Every second week, Levantaci still prepares some of the distillerys usual gins and liqueurs pouring herbs and berries into an antique copper distillation machine built in 1930. But every other week, he oversees the production of around 8,000 containers of hand sanitiser. To bottle it, the company has repurposed most of the machines used for the gin. It is a Rube Goldberg-style setup: the bottles wobble through the factory on a shiny silver conveyor belt while they are affixed with labels. Then they are scooped up by a spinning cylinder and filled with sanitiser through a series of nozzles. Finally, workers screw on their caps by hand. To avoid contaminating the gin, the firm keeps the sanitiser away from the pipes that carry the gin around the brick-walled factory. But to package the sanitiser, the team has repurposed thousands of containers usually used to stock a creamy liqueur. And to cope with demand, the company has reassigned waiters and chefs from the distillerys now-shuttered brasserie to help seal and package the bottles. The genesis of the factorys new approach came days after Belgium entered lockdown in March. The firms side-business, the restaurant, had been ordered to close to stop the spread of the virus. Its gin-tasting events had been cancelled. Revenues plummeted. Then Beck heard about shortages of disinfectant in Belgian hospitals and shops, and read about a distillery making hand gel in Britain. In order to reduce tax on sales of the disinfectant, the distillery needed to prove to the government that it could not secretly be drunk for pleasure The British company had been able to create a new sanitiser within days simply by harnessing most of the same machines and raw materials it used to make gin. And I thought, Beck remembers, That doesnt sound too difficult. He and Levantaci consulted with local pharmacists, analysed a guide to making sanitiser produced by the World Health Organisation, and received the relevant permissions from the central government in Brussels all in the space of a weekend. They discovered they could not make a disinfectant gel. The ingredients were too hard to source at the time. But they could make a liquid sanitiser by adding two easily-available chemicals ether and glycerin to their existing stocks of raw ethanol. The permissions arrived Sunday, 22 March; the first orders from a hospital in Bruges on the Monday; and the first deliveries on the Tuesday. After that, they did not even have to advertise their new service. Demand was so high that word spread organically. Soon, Beck reckons, roughly 20 hospitals and 300 pharmacies had cold-called him not only from Belgium, but across Europe. Officials in Lombardy, one of the areas of Italy most affected by the crisis, even contacted Beck in desperation, he says, before he pointed them towards options closer to home. When their delivery truck arrived at another hospital in eastern Belgium, the driver said there was almost a party when he drove up, Beck recalls. They were a lifesaver, says Jan Cerpentier, a pharmacy manager working 70 miles away on the French border. Cerpentiers stocks had been empty for 10 days before he found out about Rubbenss new line, he says. There was no one else who could deliver. The products success also gave rise to an odd ritual. In order to reduce tax on sales of the disinfectant, the distillery needed to prove to the government that it could not secretly be drunk for pleasure. Many distilleries across Europe, like this one near Dublin, have been repurposed to help beat coronavirus (AFP/Getty) (AFP via Getty Images) That means Levantaci is joined several times a month by a government official, who watches him ceremonially pour ether into a vat of ethanol, demonstrating it is not some kind of illicit moonshine. But the success has also posed a small quandary for Beck. He needs the revenue from sanitiser sales to offset the closure of the restaurant and a couple of shops he runs elsewhere in Belgium. Equally, he does not want to be construed as a profiteer. So he sells at what he feels is a democratic price roughly 2.40 per pint. Moreover, that allows him to reemploy some of the restaurant staff he was forced to lay off in March. Physically, its hard work, says Nathalie Goosens, the restaurants former sous-chef, who now helps bottle the liquid. But Im happy to have work at this time, she adds. It is not quite what Levantaci dreamed of doing when he started this job. As a distiller, he says, gin-making feels like more of a craft. It is also not clear whether the factory will be able to cope with preparing both gin and hand sanitiser once demand for gin increases in the run-up to Christmas. But for the time being, Beck is proud and glad to help in an emergency and happy to raise the companys profile among local businesses and institutions. An administrator at a nearby school recently called to order more sanitiser. Oh, Beck remembers the administrator saying with surprise, So youre also a distillery? The New York Times As many as 155 Indian companies have invested USD 22 billion in the US, thus creating nearly 125,000 jobs in the country, according to a report issued by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on Monday. The report, Indian Roots, American Soil 2020, is a state-by-state breakdown of tangible investments made and jobs created by 155 surveyed Indian companies doing business in all 50 states, as well as Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Texas, California, New Jersey, New York and Florida are home to the greatest number of workers in the US directly employed by the reporting Indian companies, the report said. Indian-Americans have made so many important cultural, economic and scientific contributions to our country and Texas values your hard work and innovation. So keep up the good work! said Senator John Cornyn, who is also co-chair of the Senate India Caucus. CII said that the surveyed companies disclosed the highest amounts of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Texas, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Massachusetts. The states with the top concentrations of Indian companies reporting were New Jersey, Texas, California, New York, Illinois and Georgia. Together, 155 Indian companies employ nearly 125,000 people across 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The total value of tangible investments made by these 155 companies exceeds USD 22 billion, the CII said. According to the report, the top five states in which Indian companies have generated maximum employment are: Texas (17,578 jobs), California (8,271 jobs), New Jersey (8,057 jobs), New York (6,175 jobs) and Florida (5,454 jobs). The top five states in which Indian companies have contributed the highest foreign direct investment are: Texas (USD9.5 billion), New Jersey (USD2.4 billion), New York (USD1.8 billion), Florida (USD915 million), and Massachusetts (USD873 million). Indian investments in 20 US states stand at over USD 100 million each, CII report said, adding that 77 per cent of the companies plan to make more investments in the US. As many as 83 per cent of the companies plan to hire more employees locally in the next five years. Now, as the world, and both India and America grapples with the coronavirus, we need to take this moment to rededicate to building good jobs for Americans, for Indians, said Senator Mark Warner, C-Chair of the Senate India Caucus. We need to recommit ourselves to building stronger relationships between India and the United States, he said. The Indian American community has made significant contributions to American society whether it be through the arts, military, business, or medicine, said Congressman Ami Bera, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and the longest serving Indian American in the Congress. The surveyed companies also provided data regarding their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and research and development expenditures, which totalled USD 175 million and USD 900 million, respectively. The report draws attention to the contribution made by Indian companies to local communities through their CSR initiatives like supporting students, organising special skill and training programmes, Indias Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu said. This report tells the continuing story of successful and innovative Indian companies attracted to the US as one of the best places to do business, and the US locations eager to welcome those companies, said Diane Farrell, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for International Administration, US Department of Commerce. The growing ties and investment between US and Indian business communities support jobs and opportunities for both our nations and help us respond to global challenges, like COVID-19, said Peter Haas, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of CII, said the survey results show that the US is a preferred investment destination for Indian companies which are contributing significantly to supporting local jobs. The results in the survey capture a snapshot in time, documenting tangible investments and direct jobs only, so I believe that the actual economic impact of Indian FDI in the US is much larger, he said. It is critical that the US Government continues to provide a supportive policy environment for Indian companies to flourish and enhance their operations in the US, especially to aid economic recovery at this time, Banerjee said. Kapil Sharma, chair, CII India Business Forum USA and Vice President, Government and Public Affairs North America, Wipro said in the current scenario, Indian companies in the US have demonstrated their values-based leadership, working to limit the spread of COVID-19, to protect the safety of its workers, and to help restart the US and Indian economies. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON TORONTO - When hospitality business Donnelly Group rang in the new year, opening two Hobo Cannabis Company stores in March and April were top priorities. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 16/6/2020 (584 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Employee Sophia Lovink shows off a bag of merchandise at the HOBO Cannabis Company during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Thursday, June 11, 2020. When hospitality business Donnelly Group rang in the new year, opening two Hobo Cannabis Company stores in March and April were top priorities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette TORONTO - When hospitality business Donnelly Group rang in the new year, opening two Hobo Cannabis Company stores in March and April were top priorities. But shortly after it hired and trained 80 employees for the Ottawa stores and readied pot products to fill their shelves, trouble arrived: COVID-19. "Just as quickly as we opened those two Ottawa locations, we had to close them because cannabis stores were delisted from the essential businesses list," said Harrison Stoker, Donnelly's vice-president of brand. "We were super nervous. Our opening journey in Ontario has been anxiety-filled." The company scrambled to launch curbside pickup and delivery and tentatively layoff their new workers. To complicate matters further, Hobo opened another cannabis store in late May at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square, but it too had to close temporarily as a precaution during anti-Black racism protests at the start of June. Suddenly, Hobo and dozens of other cannabis companies across the country who were wading into pot retail just as the pandemic hit found themselves in trouble. Stores in many provinces were forced to shut their doors to stop the spread of COVID-19 and licensed producers were busy laying off hundreds of workers as they struggled to stay afloat. It was a very different outlook than the one anticipated by entrepreneurs, who had been plotting shop openings for months if not years. "The pandemic was not in the plan and I don't think I was the only one caught off guard," said Corey Gillon, chief executive of Choom Holdings Inc., who opened a store on May 15 at the Olympic Village in Vancouver. A handful of stores sprouted up alongside Gillon's in B.C. In Alberta, officials said 36 new private retailers opened between March 16 and June 11, bringing the provincial total to 469. Over in Ontario, where restrictions were eased to allow another wave of entrepreneurs to open cannabis stores, the province's alcohol and gaming commission said customers were welcomed to 13 stores in March and April. Twenty-nine also received retail store authorization, which allows them to start buying product but requires them to pass further inspections before opening. At the end of May, Alchemy Canna Co. joined the fold with a store fashioned out of a shipping container in Toronto. "To open up and get a big crowd in front of your store is pretty tough, even without a pandemic," said Richard Browne, Alchemy's chief executive, who tried to drum up business with gift bag and bike giveaways. "People are still staying at home and are not really used to going outside of their houses unless it's for groceries. Browne also had the challenge of dealing with an employee who tested positive for COVID-19. He had to close the store temporarily, delay the opening and get all the staff tested twice. "Everything is a-okay now, but it got us into the frame of mind that we have to be extra, extra careful moving forward," he said. Staff are being vigilant about wearing gloves, doing deep store cleanings and wiping off customer touchpoints as much as possible. Those measures were also on the mind of John Arbuthnot, the chief executive of Winnipeg-based Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. In the early days of COVID, he rushed to get Plexiglas barriers for a store he opened on June 10 in Calgary's First Alberta Place. "We got in before the grocery stores and missed the shortage of those materials," he said, just an hour after his shop welcomed guests for the first time. Usually, opening day brings senior management to town, but COVID-19 travel restrictions meant no team from head office was on hand. Aside from travel, Arbuthnot said the biggest headache Delta 9 faced was shipping delays on everything from furniture to ancillary products. It's an obstacle Gillon knows well. As the pandemic ravaged Canada, he accepted that the large piece of millwork he hoped would grace Choom's store would probably not show up on time necause it was trapped in Ontario. But Gillon still counts Choom as lucky. Most of its stores are in Alberta and B.C., where businesses reopened sooner because COVID-19 cases pale in comparison to Ontario and Quebec. "Overall, there was a bit of delays here and there but nothing that really threw us off too much," he said. Mimi Lam has faced far more challenges as she works towards opening a trio of Superette stores with diner- and deli-style flourishes in Toronto this summer. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Because of COVID-19, she has encountered construction delays on the stores and job fairs, onboarding and training have all had to move online. "Typically retail store setups require hands on deck, but we are staggering our setup over two weeks to limit how many team members are in-store at a time," she said in an email. Even inspections are being done virtually, but she's still enthusiastic about being a cannabis store operator. Browne is too. He said he has no regrets about opening during a pandemic. "You have to have to figure out whether it's worth it for you to rush into opening up during the pandemic, but I think it is all worth it." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2020. In fact, seven-day averages in several states with coronavirus outbreaks have increased since May 31, and in at least 14 states, positive cases have outstripped the average number of tests that have been administered, according to an analysis of data collected by The New York Times. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that coronavirus hospitalizations have decreased nationally, though positive cases have increased and the number of deaths attributed to the disease caused by the coronavirus, COVID-19, could increase as more data becomes available. Private hospitals in Telangana say they will petition the state government over the upper limit fixed by it regarding the treatment of a Covid-19 patient in their hospitals. A meeting of various private hospitals in the state would be held in Hyderabad on Wednesday to discuss the implications of the governments order and request it to reconsider its decision. We shall work out the actual costs to be incurred by the private hospitals to treat a Covid-19 patient. We shall come out with a formula and place it before the government. We are planning to seek an appointment with the health minister and other senior officials shortly, Dr B Bhaskar Rao, president of Telangana Super-speciality Private Hospitals Association, told Hindustan Times. The Telangana government, which announced on Sunday that the private hospitals would be allowed to admit and treat Covid-19 patients in the state, issued an order on Monday capping the cost of treatment for such patients. According to the order issued by special chief secretary (medical and health) A Santhi Kumari, the cost of the package to be charged by the private hospitals, including corporate hospitals, cannot exceed Rs 4,000 per day in normal wards (including isolation), Rs 7,500 in Intensive Care Units (ICU) without ventilator and Rs 9,000 with ventilator support. The package includes monitoring (of patient) and investigations like CBC, urine routine, anti-HIV, ultrasound, ECG, 2D Echo, X-ray etc, apart from drugs, consultations, bed charges, meals and procedures like urinary tract catheterisation etc, the order said. The hospitals, however, could charge additionally for PPE, interventional procedures like bronchoscopy, biopsy and pleural tapping, administration of high-end drugs and high-end investigations like CT-Scan, MRI, PET scan, etc. We do not know how the government has arrived at this figure of upper limit of treatment cost for Covid-19 in private hospitals. The officials have neither consulted us nor discussed with us the cost of treatment for Covid-19, Bhaskar Rao said. The private hospitals, Rao underscored, have to make a lot of arrangements for treating the Covid-19 patients. We have to create separate isolation facilities, wards and ICUs without causing any inconvenience for other patients. We have to have dedicated manpower, including doctors and para-medical staff, exclusively to deal with Covid-19 patients, as they are not supposed to attend to other patients. We have to provide them PPEs and other facilities. The cost of treatment has to be worked out taking into consideration all these factors, Rao pointed out. Upon being told that private hospitals are allowed to charge extra for antibiotic injections, various other procedures and creating additional facilities, Rao said there was no clarity from the government in this regard. For example, we cannot use the equipment like a ventilator used for Covid-19 patients for other patients immediately. We have to fumigate the equipment thoroughly before using it again, he said. The association president wondered why the government should worry about charging the Covid-19 patients by private hospitals. Only those who can afford treatment will come to us. There are enough government hospitals to provide free and affordable treatment to other Covid-19 patients. Even Gandhi Hospital still has enough beds. Only if the government hospitals are insufficient to tackle the huge number of cases, the patients will come to private hospitals, Rao argued. Margarita del Val, a Spanish virologist and immunologist, is coordinating a cross-disciplinary initiative by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) named Salud Global/Global Health, which encompasses around 200 research groups working on a global approach to the Covid-19 pandemic, from prevention and detection to communication. Del Val, a native of Madrid, says that the best part about the comprehensive initiative is the fact that experts from various fields are exchanging ideas and helping resolve issues with international cooperation thats never been seen before. But this expert also warns that a pandemic is, by its very nature, unpredictable, and that mathematical models are subject to societys own reaction to the disease. A societys capacity for action is extremely powerful, she says. If we had chosen not to confine ourselves, the pandemic would have been explosive. But if we keep going like this, there might not be a second wave. Its up to us. The following is an abridged version of the original interview in Spanish. Question. New outbreaks in China have led authorities there to confine the citizens of certain neighborhoods in Beijing. Will there be a second wave in Spain? Answer. Iran is experiencing a second wave right now and it is nearly as bad as the first one, which was already intense. The virus emerged in China, and one of the first countries to be affected was Iran. After that came Italy and Spain, and then we forgot about the rest of the world. Singapore has already been through three small waves. Q. So there could be a second wave with the warmer weather? A. Yes. Iran is an example. Beijing now has an outbreak, and because they take drastic measures, theyve decided to effect closures. In [the Basque city of] Bilbao, where there are also significant outbreaks tied to hospitals, they could have made a decision to close as well, but the strategy there is different. Yet the risk clearly exists. It is up to us to ensure that the outbreaks do not become a second wave. It could happen at any moment. It is up to us to ensure that the outbreaks do not become a second wave. It could happen at any moment Q. The previous pandemic, dating back to 2009 and involving influenza A or swine flu, had two waves. A. In Madrid there was a first wave between early July and early August. Then there was a worse one that began in the fall. It is a different disease, but also a respiratory one, with similar incubation periods. And there was a second wave. In July, a large amount of the population had no immunity or very slight immunity, especially those under 50. There were so many people who could catch it that a wave began in the summer, when the virus found a lot of hosts to infect. This time around, in Spain, we have a lot more people likely to catch the virus than before. With the flu, people over 50 had some degree of cell immunity. But right now, 95% of the Spanish population is susceptible to the coronavirus. That is a lot of tinder. Q. How much of the virus is currently in circulation? A. There is a lot of virus in circulation, more than before the state of alarm [declared on March 14]. It is difficult to provide an estimate, but there is more of it now. Lets see if the [Health] Ministry stabilizes its figures so we can compare them with the earlier ones. There are more outbreaks now. All the people who are about to undergo surgery now after postponing it for three months and who havent died already for failing to get surgery or medical assistance, in what is known as collateral deaths are getting PCR tests. And these are detecting that completely asymptomatic people are positive for coronavirus, and they represent a significant number of people who can pass on the disease. Q. What is preventing us from being in the middle of a new wave? A. The fact that most people are wearing face masks, that many still havent gone back to work, that social distancing is being observed, that we are being careful... If it wasnt for that, it would be here already. Stopping a wave requires several measures: closing schools, confinement, masks, limited access to parks. Just one doesnt work Q. Iran opened its mosques, which may explain the new outbreak. Experts are insisting on avoiding closed spaces. A. It is important to make outbreaks public so we can properly understand what kind of situations are dangerous. Now that major outbreaks have been analyzed, we know they took place at healthcare centers or senior centers, places with a lot of contact and very vulnerable people, and in closed places: restaurants, bars, workplaces, concerts, choir practice which takes place indoors and involves heavy breathing , gyms, religious ceremonies... Another key factor is spending a lot of time near an infected person. Q. Now that we know more about airborne transmission, whats the recommendation for the population? A. Wearing a face mask. At first they were being recommended in Asia, but we didnt believe there was a need because they didnt back it up with data. We have had a somewhat cavalier attitude towards anything coming out of Asia, and I think this has been a lesson in humility. As a hyper-skeptical scientist myself, I had my own doubts due to the lack of data. Stopping a wave requires several measures: closing schools, confinement, masks, limited access to parks. Just one doesnt work. We still dont know which one is the most important. We know the problem is the accumulated air, its not enough for an infected person to simply walk by you. Q. How should we prepare for a second wave? A. In my view, with a cellphone app. The problem with contact tracing is that you might remember a lot of people you were in touch with, but how do you find those people? And lets not even mention public transportation in big cities. We give information to Facebook, which has vast amounts of data on each one of us, or every time we do a search on Google. There should be an application and remote working should be extended: flexible schedules, flexible days. Q. What if that second wave coincides with seasonal flu? A. That would be terrible, because the symptoms overlap. More diagnoses will be necessary, everyone with respiratory symptoms will have to be tested for coronavirus. And in the fall and winter, thats a good chunk of the population. Q. Are there enough labs to take on that workload? A. No. But at the CSIC we are getting ready to do so. Weve been doing so since March, since the beginning of the confinement, but we never received any samples. Q. Many research labs offered to do PCR tests. Are you frustrated that you were not able to help make diagnoses during the peak of the pandemic? A. We offered researchers, alternative reagents from those being used at hospitals so we would not compete with them, with perfect sample tracing methods... It could have been done in many places, but it wasnt. So yes, we are frustrated and yes, also angry. Especially after seeing what happened in Madrids senior homes, where tests were not carried out in many cases. Those who did [carry out tests] isolated the positive cases, and transmission was avoided, and deaths. The key was diagnosis, and we have been offering it, but it has not been accepted. English version by Susana Urra. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Can fly Airbus320, squat 450 lbs. Love to shoot and edit. That is the Twitter bio of Gaurav Taneja, the AirAsia India pilot who was suspended by the airline. Taneja, who goes by the name of Flying Beast on social media, alleged that he was suspended for pointing out violations at the airline that had compromised safety of pilots, passengers and the aircraft. Though the airline, a joint venture between Tata Sons and AirAsia Berhad, has declined to comment saying it is an internal matter, Taneja has made it a topic of social media chatter. His followers - 2.9 million on YouTube and 2.25 lakh on Twitter - ensured that the pilot's posts and videos were trending the whole day on June 15. The YouTube video, where the pilot listed the three issues that he had flagged at the airline, got 3.1 million views by the morning of June 16. The popular sentiment even forced industry regulator DGCA to step in. The DGCA said it had taken note of the "concerns raised by some stakeholders against a particular airline and its approach to safety." The regulator has started investigating the matter and "shall take appropriate action based on the outcome of the said investigation." It is a rare event, point out senior pilots in the industry, that the industry regulator has made a public statement on a pilot's suspension. Who is Gaurav Taneja, the whistleblower pilot suspended by AirAsia India? Moneycontrol is not in a position to go into the merits and demerits of the allegations levelled by Taneja against his employer. At the same time, what are the three issues that the pilot raised? Are these issues that other pilots in the industry have also faced? Moneycontrol talked to several pilots, safety experts and a senior HR executive to understand the same. "Some of the concerns raised by Taneja are relevant. Some may not be," says a senior pilot. Let's take them one by one. The fear of taking a sick leave In the YouTube video where Taneja details the circumstances around his suspension, the AirAsia India pilot talks about an environment that discouraged pilots from taking a sick leave despite being unwell. This is a job that is responsible for about 200 people's lives and needs a high level of physical and mental fitness. Pilots from other airlines agreed with Taneja. "Pilots do fear asking for a sick leave, as it may lead to punitive action," a pilot with over 20 years of flying experience, told Moneycontrol. The punitive action may be in the form of a lower bonus, at the end of the year. "On any other job, one could go to work despite feeling a bit under the weather. As a pilot, I can't afford to do that," says the pilot cited above. At the same time, added another aviator, the management also takes notice if a pilot is repeatedly taking sick leave or takes off on festivals despite being rostered to fly. One does not know the factors around Taneja's allegations, and only the investigation by DGCA can throw light. SOPs not being followed Taneja alleges that the airline was not strictly adhering to the SoPs issued by the government, on flying amidst COVID-19 times. Though the pilot doesn't get into the details on which SoPs were not being followed, one gathers he was talking about the procedures to be followed within the aircraft. Taneja alleges that he was forced to delay a flight by 40 minutes because SoPs were not being followed. Is it the responsibility of the pilot-in-command (PIC) to ensure SoPs are followed in the flight, or should he just leave it to the ground handling team? It's a topic that seems to have different views. "Pilot becomes responsible for the aircraft only once the doors are closed. Otherwise, he should let the ground handling team manage it," says a senior executive from the industry. Country's largest airline IndiGo, another senior executive pointed out, details in its manual that the PIC assumes command of the flight the moment he signs the aircraft acceptance, and he is responsible "for the safe execution of the flight and for the safety of the occupants...and orderly conduct of the flight.." The 'flight' is the key word here. The manual defines 'flight' to represent the period between 'doors closed' and 'doors open.' Amit Singh, an industry veteran and Fellow of London's Royal Aeronautical Society, points to the Civil Aviation Regulations - which advises airlines on several aviation aspects. "The pilot-in-command shall be responsible for the safety of all crew members, passengers and cargo on board when the doors are closed," says the CAR. So going by the CAR, is Taneja technically responsible for the SoPs that are to be done before the doors close? A senior pilot agreed with the CAR guidelines, but added that when it comes to the COVID-19 SoPs, the policy may differ from airline to airline. On Taneja's concerns, one will have to wait for the investigations to reveal if he was following the protocol laid down by the company, or not. Flap 3 or Flap 4 Taneja's third and final point was on Flap 3 and Flap 4. Flaps are installed on an aircraft's wings and are mainly used to create a drag in the speed of the plane while landing or taking off. This in turn can reduce the distance required for landing and take-off. Flap 3 saves fuel - about 8kg - a reason why nearly all airlines advise their pilots to use this mode, rather than Flap 4. But in the case of AirAsia India, alleges Taneja, the airline had made it mandatory for its pilots to use Flap 3, for 98 percent of their landings. In one particular month, Taneja says, he had done 10 landings, out of which seven were done using Flap 3, thus making it only 70 percent. Two of the landings, says Taneja, were in Imphal where landing is complicated and thus he used Flap 4. Should he have compromised on passenger safety to save fuel, he asks. Again, industry has differing views on this. "AirAsia India isnt wrong in asking him to do a F3 landing to conserve fuel. Its done the world over," says a senior pilot with a private airline. At the same time, pilots point out that few airlines put a target to using Flap3. "It's an advisory. There are better ways to save fuel. In fact, if you plan your descent properly, a pilot can save more than 100 kg of fuel," says a senior pilot. Amit Singh says the solution may lie in wording the advisory. "If the airline wants its pilots to consistently perform FLAP 3 landings instead of Flap Full, then what should the policy read? As per my understanding, the policy should be: "Normal flaps for landing is Flap 3 but, at the discretion of the pilot in command, up-to a maximum of 2 percent landings can be performed with Flap Full. "People tend to avoid risk when a positive frame is presented but seek risks when a negative frame is presented," Singh says in his blog Mindfly. One can't say if a different framing of the advisory would have prompted Taneja to react differently. At the same time, it's an interesting thought. Can policymakers bring in more positivity to their regulations? The style While the three issues raised by Taneja have set off a debate in the industry, executives have also discussed the method the senior pilot has used to air his grievances. Few employees take to social media to raise allegations against their employer. And that, say experts, may not be the ideal way. "Talking about it is publicly about an organisation, there is a reputational risk of the company. From an HR point of view, it is not at all advisable to go immediately on social media and share details. Maybe one can speak about any concern about an organisation one he/she has left the company and also preferably without naming the firm," says Aditya Narayan Mishra, CEO, CIEL HR Services. He adds that talking about confidential information that one is privy to at the workplace, on social media, is not just contractually disallowed but is also 'morally incorrect.' For sure, the suspension of Gaurav Taneja has raised many an issue and may set a precedent in the industry. With additional inputs from M Saraswathy The coronavirus pandemic could force one in five people to delay retirement, as the knock-on financial crisis damages pension savings. The impact is causing many to rethink plans, even younger workers who have plenty of time to recover investment losses, according to an Aegon study. Separate research found half of all workers say the financial hit from the virus means their pension pots will no longer deliver the income they need for a decent retirement. They report a 'significant fall' in the value of their savings following the Covid-19 outbreak, says Fidelity. Coronavirus lockdown: Many people are working from home while others are furloughed The UK economy shrank by 25 per cent from February to April, and the coronavirus lockdown affected almost every sector. The furlough scheme to protect jobs covers pension contributions, but at the reduced 80 per cent rate. Employers will have to start picking up the tab for furloughed staff's pensions again from August 1, but this won't affect workers themselves. The crisis has led to a growing number of redundancies, which will also harm people's ability to save into pensions. See our guides to safeguarding your pension from the financial impact of Covid-19 below. Aegon found that 18 per cent of people plan to delay retirement overall, but younger workers and the self-employed are most concerned. Some 21 per cent of those aged 18-34 expect to postpone stopping work because of the current crisis, compared with 11 per cent of those aged 35-55 and 13 per cent of those aged 55-plus. And 22 per cent of self-employed people now expect to put off stopping work. Meanwhile, among over-55s who had not accessed their pensions before the coronavirus struck, 12 per cent have taken out money since the pandemic began, and 8 per cent are considering doing so. Aegon surveyed some 1,600 people who are not retired yet. Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon, says: 'Our research shows that the over-55s and self-employed are set to be hit hardest as many are forced to reconsider plans for the retirement they had hoped for with a significant number now opting to dip into their pension pot earlier than they may have planned. 'For those over age 55, the pension freedoms offer extensive freedom and flexibility in how they access their defined contribution pensions, but this can be a double-edged sword. 'It's positive that people have the option to use retirement savings intended for later life earlier to reflect their situation. 'But just because you can access pensions early doesn't mean you should. 'It leaves less of a retirement fund to provide an income throughout what can be decades of retirement. 'Taking larger amounts out of pensions can also mean paying more income tax and it may be better to consider dipping into other savings first.' Fidelity's survey of nearly 800 adult investors who are yet to retire found 51 per cent say their pension pots will no longer give them the income they require in retirement, and almost the same amount report a serious shock to their savings. Some 29 per cent believe they'll have sufficient income to cover their retirement, but 75 per cent are considering other means of boosting their retirement finances. Contingency plans: Light red columns show results from employed, non retired investors. Dark red columns show responses from investors who plan to retire in the next five years How do you shore up your pension? An even higher proportion than in Aegon's survey say they will continue working, either full or part-time, while others anticipate an inheritance filling the gap or plan to lean on a partner's income. Maike Currie, investment director for workplace investing at Fidelity International, says: 'The Covid-19 market falls will be remembered for their speed and brutality, with extreme market volatility, often over consecutive days. 'While the market has recovered some of these losses, for many the impact will be far longer lasting, with half of investors reporting a "pensions blackhole" impacting their retirement plans. 'Pension pots that have taken decades to build may have suffered sharp losses.' Currie offers advice to those worried about their pension depending on how close you are to retirement below: Many decades away: 'Younger investors have the gift of time on their side and can recover losses as markets continue their climb back to pre-pandemic levels. 'By maintaining your regular contributions you will benefit from both the compounding of returns, and pound cost averaging - investing more when prices are low and less when they're high.' Lockdown: Many parents are struggling to balance childcare and work Near to stopping work: 'Those approaching retirement, however, may want to consider more decisive action; working for longer and/or exploring supplementary income streams such as property, or looking for cost savings. 'If you decide to defer your desired retirement age and work for longer it's important to update your pension provider about your plans, particularly if you're a member of its default investment option. 'Doing this means you'll avoid de-risking your investments too early, and potentially missing out on further opportunities for growth.' Retirement blackhole: Pots that have taken decades to build may have suffered sharp losses At retirement age: 'Working for longer may not be an option [people] either want or can pursue, depending on their circumstances. Similarly, they're likely to want to hold onto their desired standard of living as much as possible. 'Drawdown allows you to remain invested for as long as possible - benefiting from potential market recovery - while also offering you access to flexible income. However, always make sure you have sufficient cash or a guaranteed income - this could be your state pension, an annuity or defined benefit pot - to cover the essentials. As Covid-19 has taught us all, you really never know what is waiting around the corner.' Burma Myanmar Govt Unveils Four Projects as Part of Chinas BRI Scheme The Muse-Mandalay Highway in northern Shan State / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy YANGONMyanmars Ministry of Construction has unveiled four projects to be implemented under Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including expressways, a bridge and a tunnel, which will form crucial links in trade routes with China. Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Myanmars capital Naypyitaw, Deputy Construction Minister U Kyaw Lin said the government had agreed with China to implement the four early-harvest projects as part of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), which is a key component of the BRI. The four projects were not among those announced when the two countries drew up their initial agreements on implementing BRI projects. During the 2nd BRI Forum in Beijing last year, which was attended by Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar and China signed a document referring to nine early-harvest infrastructure projects under the CMEC. However, the only details released by the government at that time concerned three economic cooperation zones in Kachin and Shan states and the Muse-Mandalay railway project. Myanmar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China establishing the CMEC in 2018. The 1,700-kilometer-long corridor will connect Kunming, the capital of Chinas Yunnan province, with Myanmars major economic hubs, linking first to Mandalay in central Myanmar before branching east to Yangon and west to the Kyaukphyu SEZ in Rakhine State. The ministry said it plans to construct an expressway connecting Muse in Shan State with Mandalay via Tigyaing in eastern Sagaing Region. Muse, which sits across the border from Yunnan province, is the largest trade portal between the two nations. Mandalay is central Myanmars commercial center and the countrys second-largest city. The expressway is envisioned as another lifeline for China-Myanmar border trade. China earlier announced plans to implement the 431-km-long Muse-Mandalay Railway, which would connect with Chinas rail network in Ruili, Yunnan province across the border from Muse. The railway is also expected to be a key part of the economic corridor. Additionally, the minister said, the government has agreed to implement a highway connecting Naypyitaw with Kyaukphyu via Thayet and Aung Lan in Magwe Region. The port of Kyaukphyu is crucial to Chinas BRI. The planned Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is expected to boost development in Chinas landlocked Yunnan Province and provide China with direct access to the Indian Ocean, allowing its oil imports to bypass the Strait of Malacca. During Chinese President Xi Jinpings trip to Myanmar early this year, the two sides signed a document to mark the handing over by China of a feasibility study (FS) on the Mandalay-Tigyaing-Muse Expressway and Kyaukphyu-Naypyitaw Highway projects. According to the minister, the early-harvest projects also include the construction of a new bridge over the Salween River in Kunlong, and an outer ring road in Chinshwehaw, both in the Kokang Self-Administered Zone (SAZ) in northern Shan State. Both projects are expected to boost trade with China, and form part of a cross-border economic cooperation zone between the SAZ and Chinas Mengding in Lincang, a prefecture-level city in southwestern Yunnan. The 4.2-km-long bridge will be located on the Theinni-Kunlong-Chinshwehaw Road, comprising a span of about 323 meters and linking roads measuring about 3.9 km. In March 2018, Myanmar and China signed a letter agreeing to implement the new Kunlong Bridge project. During Xis visit, the two sides signed a project implementation agreement including a Chinese aid grant. Preparation for the bridge project is already under way, U Kyaw Lin said. [The two projects] will create a more direct route to Lincang, he said. Also on the early-harvest list is the Watalone Tunnel project on Taunggyi-Loilin Road in Shan State, which is part of the Shan Highway project. Initially, the government plans to construct three sections to pass through three mountains: Khauk Nwe Mountain 1, Khauk New Mountain 2 and Wa Ta Lone Mountain. The project aims to create a safer and faster route for travelers, as the current route is prone to accidents due to its many curves and steep slopes. The government recently upgraded a stretch of highway linking Taunggyi and Hsipaw via Loilina shortcut connecting northern and southern Shan State. The road will eventually also connect to Lashio, the main commercial hub in northern Shan State to which many BRI projects are expected to connect. According to the Ministry of Construction, the Wa Ta Lone Mountain segment will be 8.4 km long and is expected to cost nearly US$97 million (134.46 billion kyats). Originally, the project was expected to be funded by loans from South Korea and international development organizations, but these plans have been dropped. The minister did not reveal why the plan had changed. During Xis visit in January, the Ministry of Construction signed an MOU with China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd to conduct an FS for the Wa Ta Lone Tunnel project. The deputy minister said that even though the projects are on the early-harvest list, discussions still need to be held between both sides on their actual implementation. We have yet to discuss implementation plans [for the projects], U Kyaw Lin said. You may also like these stories: Myanmar COVID-19 Recovery Plan Wont Favor Chinas BRI Projects, Official Says Myanmar Pulls Swiss Firm to Scrutinize Chinas BRI Project MBABANE The Alliance Church in Eswatini and its pastor, Reverend Johannes Mazibuko, are being sued a sum of E1.5 million by two members of the church. The church members, Peter Maseko, who is a businessman, and Delisile Sibandze of Sidvwashini claim that Reverend Mazibuko and Malibongwe Dlamini, who is the church Board secretary of the Mbabane Branch, impaired their dignity. Defendants in the matter are the church, Reverend Mazibuko and Dlamini. In their particulars of claim, the plaintiffs (Maseko and Sibandze) claim that the incident first occurred on or about early 2019 in Mbabane. It is alleged that the church Board secretary (Dlamini) told Sibandze that he had obtained information that she had a travel document which was fairly-new. According to the particulars of claim, Dlamini allegedly further told Sibandze that, based on the above information, he was aware that she had travelled to the Republic of South Africa with Maseko on various dates. These are allegations contained in particulars of claim whose veracity is still to be tested in court and the defendants are yet to file their responding papers. Reverend Mazibuko published by disclosing the allegations referred above to Masekos wife. Reverend Mazibuko had neither sought nor obtained Masekos consent when making the publication, reads part of the claim. Sibandze submitted that on or about January 2020, Dlamini allegedly repeated the aforementioned allegations during a disciplinary hearing held in Mbabane against her. Intrusive The defendants conduct was wrongful intrusion to the plaintiffs right to privacy in that the defendants acquainted themselves with personal and private information concerning the plaintiffs without the latters consent, submitted the plaintiffs. It is alleged that Dlamini and Reverend Mazibuko were acting within the scope and course of the first defendants (The Alliance Church in Eswatini) or they were alternatively acting in their personal capacities. Maseko and Sibandze averred that consequently, they were allegedly humiliated and demeaned by the defendants unlawful conduct and they suffered damages amounting to E1.5 million. Maseko claimed that for the alleged invasion of privacy, he suffered damages amounting to E1million while Sibandze wants E500 000 as compensation for the alleged invasion of privacy. The duo submitted that, notwithstanding lawful demand, the defendants had allegedly refused, failed and/or neglected to pay them. In both their claim, the plaintiffs want the court to direct the defendants to pay the different amounts they are claiming with interest at the rate of nine per cent per annum from the date of issue of summons to date of final payment. Annexed to the notice of motion filed by the plaintiffs is the Constitution of the church which outlines what the church is all about. Under prerogatives, the Constitution of the Alliance Church provides that: The church shall have as its primary objects; the preaching, teaching and spreading of the Word of God as given to mankind in the Holy Bible; shall conduct outreach programmes in Eswatini and beyond; shall worship the Lord in accordance with holy scriptures; discipline its members as Christ commands; minister to one another; and fellowship as a family. Defend The defendants were informed that if they disputed the claim and wished to defend the action they should do so within 10 days of service upon them of the summons and thereafter, within 21 days file and serve notice of intention to defend, with the registrar and serve upon the plaintiffs attorneys a plea, exception, notice to strike out, with or without a counterclaim. Inform the defendants further that if they fail to file and serve notice as aforesaid, judgment as claimed may be given against them without further notice to them, reads part of the combined summons issued against the defendants. The matter is still pending in court and appearing for the plaintiffs are lawyers from Musa Motsa Attorneys in Mbabane. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed shock that the Buhari administration in the first quarter of 2020, spent 99 percent of revenue to service debt. No one should be deceived. This is a crisis!, Atiku said in a statement today. Debt servicing does not equate to debt repayment. The reality is that Nigeria is paying only the minimum payment to cover our interest charges. The principal remains untouched and is possibly growing. The statement entitled Nigeria In Financial Crisis: Robbing Our Children to Pay for Our Greed, was signed by Atiku himself to underscore its significance. The former vice-president was alarmed by what he called a shocking revelation in Nigerias first quarter 2020 financial report. Nothing has shocked me in my entire life in public service as the revelation from Nigerias First Quarter 2020 financial reports in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, which shows, alarmingly, that whereas Nigeria spent a total sum of 943.12 billion in debt servicing, the Federal Governments retained revenue for the same period were only 950.56 billion. This means that Nigerias debt to revenue ratio is now 99%. We are at a precipice. If our revenue figures do not go up, and go up quickly, Nigeria risks a situation where our revenue cannot even sustain our debt servicing obligations. Meaning that we may become insolvent, and our creditors may foreclose on us, as has occurred in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. `In my opinion editorial of December 17 2019, titled Endless Borrowing Will Lead Nigeria to Endless Sorrowing, I had cause to counsel the Federal Government to desist from indiscriminate lending, and offered suggestions on ways to both increase revenue, and reduce expenditure, however, my counsel fell on deaf ears. And now we have come to this. Again, on May 15, 2020, I counselled that the Federal Government ought to reduce Nigerias budget by at least 25%, to reflect the economic realities of the times that we live in. Again, my entreaties were brushed aside. As part of an administration that paid off Nigerias entire foreign debt, I am concerned by the alarming and avoidable unprecedented increase in our debt to GDP ratio and debt to revenue ratio. The alarm I sounded last year is now sounding louder. Not only have we squandered our opportunities, we have also squandered the opportunities of our future generations by bequeathing them debt th Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Winnipeg police have announced an arrest in the case of a 15-year-old boy who suffered serious head trauma after being attacked with a hammer last month. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Winnipeg police have announced an arrest in the case of a 15-year-old boy who suffered serious head trauma after being attacked with a hammer last month. Jerry Robert Kipling, 30, faces several charges, including aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, three counts of possession of a weapon, and multiple firearms charges in relation to the incident, police said during a news conference Monday. POLICE / HANDOUT Police released last week images of a suspect wanted for the attack that took place on May 30 on Selkirk Avenue. Police said the suspect and victim were likely not known to each other before the attack, and the motivation for the assault remains unknown. "The reality is that this individual wasn't arrested for about two weeks after the incident, so there's a lot of questions that we simply don't have the answers to at this time," WPS public information officer Const. Jay Murray said when asked if drug use had been an element of the attack. The man and the teen were waiting in line for food May 30 at a restaurant on the 500 block of Selkirk Avenue when they struck up a conversation, police said. Based on area video surveillance footage, the suspect showed the victim a firearm concealed in his backpack. The teen then received his food and walked away, at which point the suspect hit him in the head with a hammer causing life-altering injuries, police said. The teen was taken to hospital, where Murray said he is likely to remain "for the foreseeable future." "It's incredible that this isn't a homicide, and I hope that speaks to the severity of what was inflicted," Murray said. "He's got a number of injuries that will be with him for the rest of his life." Kipling was arrested Sunday in the area of Austin Street North and Pritchard Avenue, and was found to be carrying a knife and a hatchet, police said. Murray confirmed Kipling was known to police before the May 30 incident, and noted photos of a person of interest in the case circulated last week were instrumental in the suspect's arrest. In 2015, Kipling was sentenced to three years in custody for what court heard was a "vicious and unprovoked knife attack on two relatives. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Kipling was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault following a trial that offered no explanation for his actions. "Why this happened, I still dont know," Queens Bench Justice Vic Toews said at sentencing. "Im very concerned that something like this is going to happen again We could have been looking at a couple of manslaughters here." Kipling, who according to a pre-sentence report showed no empathy for his victims, promised to abide by probation conditions once released. "I will try not to mess up again," he said. with files from Dean Pritchard julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca Police outside The Glengannon Hotel, near Dungannon, where doorman and former republican prisoner Seamus Dillon was shot dead in 1997 A former republican prisoner left paralysed in a loyalist gun attack is to deliver a letter to the Secretary of State today in protest at draft British government guidelines which he says could deny him a Troubles pension. Christy Cummings, 63, was working as a doorman at the Glengannon Hotel, near Dungannon, when he was shot preventing an LVF massacre at the premises in December 1997. Another doorman, Seamus Dillon, was shot dead by the loyalist gunmen and several others were injured, including a 15-year-old boy. Mr Cummings was was shot in the back, and was left paralysed from the chest down. He says he didnt receive compensation because he was a former prisoner, and he fears that he now wont secure a victims pension for the same reason. Mr Cummings hopes to hand-deliver his letter of protest to Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, at Stormont House. Read More He said: I was working as a doorman on the evening of the (LVF) attack, along with Seamus and my brother-in-law who was also shot. As former republican prisoners, it was the only type of work we could get to put bread on the table for our families. We prevented loyalist gunmen from entering the premises and causing another massacre like that in Greysteel or Loughinsisland. Expand Close Gunned down: Seamus Dillon / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gunned down: Seamus Dillon Ive struggled physically and mentally over the years following the attack. I live with chronic pain. I was refused compensation as I was a former political prisoner. Mr Cummings was convicted in 1979 of leaving a hoax bomb outside a house and of IRA membership. He was sentenced to 16 years in jail, but the sentence was reduced on appeal, and he spent less than seven years behind bars. He continues to assert his innocence, and his case is under consideration by the Criminal Case Review Commission. Under the current draft guidelines for the victims pension, ex-prisoners who have spent more than two-and-a-half years in jail could be excluded if there were no mitigating factors for the assessment panel led by a High Court judge to consider. Mr Cummings claims that such guidelines contain the ability for widespread discrimination against me and many others injured through no fault of their own. In a statement last week, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said: Individuals with a serious conviction, other than those injured by their own hand, will be able to apply to this scheme. An independent panel will then decide if they are eligible to receive a payment. But Mr Cummings said that while he could be able to apply for a pension, the NIO retained the power to seek to block any application. I may be paralysed but Im determined to hand-deliver the letter drafted by my lawyers to the NIO. I want to see a pension for all those injured with no-one left behind, he said. Mr Cummings called on the Secretary of State to get this issue addressed so there is no scope for any discrimination. The Victims' Payment Scheme had been due to open for applications on May 29. But the row over the definition of a victim has meant that didn't happen, and Sinn Fein is refusing to nominate Stormonts Justice Department to oversee the scheme. Mr Cummings said there must not be an attempt to push people like me out of the way. Three terrorists were killed by security forces in an encounter that broke out in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district on Tuesday (June 16) morning. The operation was carried out by a joint team of police, Army's 44RR and CRPF in Turkwangam village. The identity of the terrorists are still unknown. The operation was launched after security forces received credible inputs that some terrorists were hiding in Turkwangam village. Army soiurces said that when the area where terrorists were hiding was cordoned, terrorists were asked to surrender but they fired upon the searching party triggering an encounter. Two AK-47 and one INSAS have been recovered till now. Operation is still in progress. On Saturday (June 13), two terrorists were killed by security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. A joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 19 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army and the Central Reserve Police (CRPF) launched a cordon and search operation on receiving inputs about the possible presence of terrorists in Nipora area of Kulgam district on Friday night. As they approached the site, they were fired upon by the hiding terrorists. The security forces fired back, thus triggering an encounter. Earlier, 14 terrorists including a top Hizbul commander, were killed in three separate encounters in Shopian district. In the last two weeks, security forces have killed 16 terrorists, taking the toll to 95 in this year. A presidential spokesperson has given an insight into President Muhammadu Buharis stance on the political travails of the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki. Mr Obaseki, who has been fighting a protracted political battle with Adams Oshiomhole, the national president of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was on Friday disqualified by the APC from contesting the forthcoming governorship primary of the party. Mr Obaseki has just announced his resignation on Tuesday from the APC after he reportedly met with Mr Buhari in Abuja. There have been speculations that he is planning to join the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Buharis spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said the president made several unsuccessful attempts at settling the rifts between Mr Obaseki and Oshiomhole, before he (Buhari) finally decided to allow the process to run its course. One thing about the president is that he likes to be fair to everybody, Mr Adesina said in a video interview he had on Facebook on Sunday with a UK-based Nigerian citizen, Ata Ikiddeh. So those who are complaining he has not done this, he has not done that, they dont know what he has done. What he has done is to meet with the parties separately. And he has been doing this for more than a year since the crisis in Edo began. So, if the people are in entrenched positions and refuse to shift ground, what would the president do as a democrat? You allow the process to run its course. Mr Adesina said when Mr Buhari met recently, though separately, with the governor and the APC chairman, he must have told them to comply with the party rules and constitution, and to also do things properly. What people expect the president to do is to legislate things, to order Obaseki No, step down or order Oshiomhole No, give him the ticket. That is not democracy. When you begin to order and legislate things like that you would be unfair to one party, the presidential spokesperson said. But before Edo, there was Rivers, there was Zamfara and of course you know many other states were the governing party lost because of internal issues. What may not be apparent to the public is what the president did in all those states and he has done in Edo. You have to give the worlds largest proxy firm ISS points for perseverance. For the second year in a row it is advising large shareholders to lay down some governance laws to Elon Musk when they vote at Teslas upcoming annual meeting. Elon Musk ... not the god of governance. Credit:Bloomberg But in governance territory, Musk has proven to be something of a law unto himself. The proxy sheriffs have traditionally found Tesla difficult to corral. In business circles, the views on Musk are wildly polarised. At one end he is a shameless self-promoter, at the other hes a genius. Objectively he is both. But as far as the majority of shareholders are concerned, Musk is a corporate messiah and they are his (enriched) disciples. EL PASO, Texas U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested an alleged rapist and rescued a female from a treacherous canal last week in El Paso. Shortly after midnight, Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Paso station observed four individuals make an illegal entry into the U.S. near Modesto Gomez Park. Responding agents quickly located and apprehended four subjects. Three were citizens of Guatemala and the fourth subject was a citizen of Mexico. Simultaneously, other responding agents arrived to the same entry location and encountered a female in distress and struggling to stay afloat in the American Canal. Agents utilized a rescue rope to extract the female before being swept away. El Paso Fire Department arrived on-scene to evaluate the subject who appeared to be in good condition, but was transported to a local hospital for precautionary measures. She was later determined to be a citizen and national of Guatemala. Agents transported the group to the Paso Del Norte Processing Center and through criminal record checks determined that 24-year-old Guatemalan citizen, Clemente Perez-Jimon, had been arrested by the Guymon City Police Department in Guymon, Oklahoma earlier this year. Perez-Jimon was charged with Rape Strong-arm. He remains in custody pending criminal prosecution. I am proud of the hard work of the men and women of the El Paso Sector Border Patrol, often wearing multiple hats while securing our Nations borders. They transition quickly, at a moments notice, to also respond swiftly and assist those in need of rescue, stated El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. It is important to note that an arrest or criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered evidence of guilt. Subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509 toll-free. Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter at @USBPChiefEPT and @CBPWestTexas. 2020 The Deming Headlight (Deming, N.M.) Visit The Deming Headlight (Deming, N.M.) at www.demingheadlight.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. - Introducing ArchiMate Lite, Validation Checks for Relations, an All-New Design & Document Interface, and More, to Elevate the EA Experience for All Users DUBLIN, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BOC Group today announced the new ADOIT release with enhancements to capability, performance and design, pushing the limits of what ADOIT can do, and powering a next-generation experience. Bringing new ways to collaborate, create relations, model simply and get around quickly, ADOIT 11.0 encompasses groundbreaking ease of use, making it perfect for newbies and EA pros alike. "ADOIT transforms how people do EA and create a digital replica of their business, and with ADOIT 11.0, we're taking it even further by bringing new capabilities that take advantage of its power and versatility," said Christoph Moser, ADOIT product manager. "ADOIT 11.0 delivers exciting features, including ArchiMate Lite making modelling with ArchiMate simpler and easier, Validation Checks for Relations ensuring accuracy and consistency in architecture documentation, and a fresh look for the Design & Document scenario highlighting ADOIT's simplicity, while putting uncompromising power at your fingertips." The capabilities mentioned above, in addition to other features from this release like the Search Queries Publishing which put collaboration in ADOIT front and centre, make the ADOIT 11.0 an immensely powerful tool, perfectly equipped to accompany all EA needs. A detailed insight into the latest improvements is available on the BOC Group website. BOC Group recommends all interested parties to register for the Free Trial to experience the power of ADOIT first hand. About the BOC Group BOC Group develops software products and services for effective and extensive management of all capabilities and assets within your organization. The company puts a strong emphasis on improving Process Management and Enterprise Architecture capabilities as well as facilitating better Governance and Compliance. ADOIT global customers include, among others, Allianz, PostFinance, Raiffeisen Bank, Vienna International Airport and Volksbank Wien. We deliver our products and services with over 200 employees spread across Athens, Berlin, Dublin, Madrid, Paris, Vienna, Warsaw and Winterthur, with more than 90 partners around the globe. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094508/BOC_Logo.jpg Contacts BOC Information Technologies Consulting GmbH Ing. Enrique Lobo Cruz Market Development Manager +43 1 905 10 81 2250 enrique.lobo-cruz@boc-group.com (Photo : Hannibal Hanschke / Reuters) This Tesla leader wants to create a device to help paralyzed people be able to walk again. Known to be the "Six Million Dollar Man," this device is being conceptualized by billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk, and could one day allow a paralyzed individual to walk again Sun shared the story. The 48-year-old billionaire is getting this 1in diameter device that can be implanted in the human brain, saying that it will help paralyzed people be able to use their feet again. Musk said that its electrodes and chips can be able to fix conditions in the brain to make it effective. It also will improve human vision. "The device we are working on right now is about an inch in diameter," Musk told The Sun. "It has a battery, and a Bluetooth and a charger and the electrodes are inserted into the brain by a robot." He added that the device can facilitate treatment for a wide range of brain injuries, including stroke, epilepsy, muscle control, eyesight, and memory gaps. The device is touted as a substitute for broken circuits and noted there is still more work to do. RELATED STORY: Elon Musk Says He Has Verbal Approval To Begin Work On Hyperloop Train Tunnel From New York To DC The details "When I say we've got a shot at putting this into a person in a year, I mean exactly that hopefully restoring some functionality that they have lost," Musk added. He compared the individuals with the Six Million Dollar Man, a 1970s television character where a maimed astronaut portrayed by Lee Majors is rebuilt with bionic implants, and endowed with superhuman capabilities. In May, he spearheaded the campaign called SpaceX, sending astronauts in space. More on Elon Musk Musk is probably one of the most celebrated figures in the tech industry. Knowing that the tech tycoon's Twitter feed is mostly dull, the SpaceX CEO is now the inspiration behind this coloring book featuring artwork based on his tweets. These included philosophical insights such as video game life, and the illustrious "door hinge," plus the memorable meme battle with the Museum of English Rural Life. An artist who goes by the name Salina Gomez or Ill Ink devised a 52-page coloring book titled The Illuminated Tweets Of Elon Musk. It spans nine inches by 11 inches with drawings of Musk's tweets from July 2016 to May 2020 and added with images. Fans and interested buyers may order a copy of the coloring book for $30 on the Kickstarter page of the artist. Salina also sells artworks, such as the poster inspired by the "Oh btw I'm building a cyborg dragon" tweet, and the hoodie from the tweet "SpaceX propulsion just achieved first firing of the Raptor interplanetary transport engine." In a report on The Verge, his team is said to be looking at digging more tunnels in the state of Nevada, after completing the excavation of the city's first-ever convention center last month. Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom presented a map showing the tunnels that would run west from the Las Vegas Convention Center to the Wynn. Oh btw Im building a cyborg dragon Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 25, 2018 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ALBANY New York had a slight increase 1 percent in the number of people who tested positive for coronavirus antibodies over the past six weeks, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Tuesday. Still, the governor declared that New York's phased reopening is controlling the spread of virus and the state has "the lowest rate of transmission of any state." Related: Capital Region gets go-ahead for third phase reopening Wednesday More than 12,000 people were tested across the state, with some regions showing a slight decrease in positive tests while others, including Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley, saw slight increases. The number of people who tested positive for the antibodies, which indicates they had been infected with COVID-19 with or without symptoms and developed antibodies to the infectious disease, rose from 12.3 percent to 13.4 percent since the last round of testing. "So statewide, we've gone up a point," Cuomo said. "New York City has gone up about 1.6 percent. ... These numbers are telling and significant. ... It's not good to see the number going up, but it's manageable." The Capital Region had an increase of 0.3 percent in the number of people who tested positive for the antibodies, while the Mohawk Valley went up 2.8 percent and the North Country increased 2 percent. The Southern Tier, Finger Lakes and western New York saw declines in the number of people who tested positive. The governor also announced that the state will begin allowing hospital visitations, but the visitors must wear masks, limit their time in the hospital and be subject to having their temperature taken as they enter. Visitations to nursing homes remain suspended. The state reported 25 deaths on Monday, including nine fatalities in nursing homes. "That is something to celebrate," Cuomo said. "We're basically at a number that is so low that it may even be statistically questionable. ... You're talking about literally how doctors decide a cause of death, in some situations, that may have multiple reasons behind it." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country have been asked to strategically reposition themselves to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their operations. They should take advantage of technology and other innovative means to reach out to customers to stay in business and also ensure that the health and safety of employees are not compromised. Mr Inuwa Musah, Executive Director of Confluent Media, organizers of the US Ghana Business Summit who gave the advice, said the usual way of doing business would change significantly post COVID-19 and urged SMEs to take steps to embrace the new business environment. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, Mr Musah said COVID-19 may have devastating effect on businesses but it also offers opportunity for local enterprises to penetrate the international markets through technology. It is important for local businesses to take advantage of the current situation to market their products and services online and compete on the global stage, he advised. He said the pandemic has left in its trail a broken global economy which would take time to recover but businesses could make smart investment in strategic sectors to become global brands. Touching on this years edition of the US-Ghana Business Summit, he said, his outfit was yet to settle on a date due to the coronavirus but was optimistic it would come off later this year in the United States of America (USA). The annual event which is organized by Confluent Media in partnership with the Urban Entrepreneurship Centre of America provides a common platform for Ghanaian and American businesses to share ideas and explore business opportunities in the two countries. It also seeks to promote partnership and networking between local enterprises and the business community in the diaspora with the ultimate goal of growing local businesses by exposing them to best practices in other jurisdictions. Mr Musah said this years edition would be held at Brooklyn Center, Minnesota in the USA should the COVID-19 situation improve. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment It seems that everyone is sensing the destabilization of America. Even billionaire Elon Musk recently commented, We must get to Mars. Civilization isnt looking all that stable here. Books could be written on how we got to this point, but let me offer just a few thoughts from a biblical perspective. You can also hear the sermon, The Destabilization of America, here. Destabilization by false information. Unless you have beaten Musk to the punch and have been on Mars for the last decade, you have clearly seen how many in the secular media purposely create false narratives and use lies and carefully edited half-truths to push their agenda. They withhold information, such as all the black police officers who have been killed recently, and deliberately fail to highlight the positives alongside the negatives, creating the illusion of an imbalance where one does not exist. For example, two years ago a deputy sheriff who attends our church had to pull over on the 101 freeway and resuscitate a black female suffering from a drug overdose. I tried to contact several news outlets, but no one wanted to run the story. The lesson here is to be very careful about where we get our information. Much of the media is owned by large corporations who would love to see America fail. One recent headline read, CNN sticks to liberal script, ignores black police officers killed in riots. This is appalling and should not be tolerated. Destabilization by the enemy within. Many are coming to believe that what we are witnessing is an orchestrated attempt to destroy our economy and disrupt the November elections. Peaceful protests are infiltrated by hate groups paid by individuals with deep pockets to create confusion and chaos. Why is there such a huge upheaval? It's simple. The current administration is working to minimize the murdering of babies. They are also very concerned about race issues and trying to do the right thing the right way. They are being a terror to terrorists and are bringing the Bible and God back to Washington and the nations schools. They want to remove the pulpit-silencing Johnson Amendment. Christians with godly values are being promoted to some of the highest offices in America. The president is surrounding himself with godly counsel. There is a love for Israel. They are honoring hard work and minimizing free handouts. The list of biblical accomplishments is impressive. Now you see what the real battle is: A battle for the soul of our nation. God doesnt judge a nation based on the character of one man; He judges it based on the spiritual health of its people. Never forget that. Destabilization by intolerability. Those waving banners of tolerance are often the most intolerant of those who oppose them, as one Birmingham pastor recently discovered. Tony Perkins writes, A handful of likes were all it took to make the biggest church in Alabama homeless. Believe it or not, a local English teacher decided to catalogue the pastors likes on Facebook and then share them with the press. This motivated the local high schools to revoke the lease of the church. Am I the only one who sees the hypocrisy of school district leaders and teachers who behave in this manner while crying out for tolerance and justice? Destabilization with class warfare. Even though Rasmussen recently reported that there is a 40 percent approval rate for our president among black voters, if you listen to the secular media, you would think that its closer to 4 percent. Yes, racism runs deep in America, but only a changed heart can solve that. And keep in mind that revisionists began to rewrite history many years ago, portraying all white people as racists. The actual numbers are very small; the vast majority are not racists, and there are black racists too. We realize that we are all Americans and must unite against our common enemy. It's a sin problem, not a skin problem. White people feel the dynamic too. There are certain places in my community such as parks that I can no longer go for fear of being profiled because the media created a false narrative. You wont find it in many of the modern history books, but the truth is that many of the Founding Fathers in America abhorred slavery and fought against it. Destabilization fueled by the passive pulpit. I recently saw a survey on Facebook that asked: Do you feel that most church leaders speak up about the real issues facing us today? The overwhelming response was a very loud and clear No! Pastors, our people are looking to us to lead the way, but many of you are exchanging truth for tolerance, boldness for balance, and conviction for cowardliness. Many dont want to offend for fear they might lose their audience. Pastors, and Christian leaders alike, we must take responsibility for the spiritual health of our nation and make no mistake, whether we accept that responsibility or not, God Himself will hold us accountable. The pulpit inevitably sets the tone of the religious climate of the nation. A culture void of God simply reflects the lack of conviction in the pulpit as well as the pew. The silent pulpit is not Gods pulpit. We must bend when needed, but not capitulate. Destabilization because kingdoms are colliding. I believe that the next hammer to fall will be a spike in COVID-19 that is, if the riots dont accomplish their intended purpose first. There is also a great deal going on behind the scenes with generals and other elected and unelected officials divided against President Trump. The real reason, in many cases, is because many of these people are holdovers from the last administration (what is commonly referred to as the Deep State). So of course they are upset and seeking to be divisive; it is a strategic play designed to protect themselves. Subpoenas are being served; crimes are being investigated; perversion is being exposed. This is why there is a huge upheaval. Kingdoms are colliding. All this is a clear demonstration of Romans 1. People are rejecting God, and He is giving them over to a debased and corrupted mind. How else can they justify killing children while promoting deviant sexual behavior? There is no fear of God in the land. Patience Is Not Approval Whats happening in America is called psychological warfare, and it may get worse before it gets better. The goal of some is to elevate stress to the point of exhaustion (stay at home) and then fuel fear so that people give up their rights (riots). To win the psychological battle (the battle of the mind), one must saturate their mind in the Word and ways of God. We need to look up at God and not look around at what is going on. Churches need prayer meetings and worship nights, even if its just a small group of people. God doesnt look for huge crowds; He looks for broken hearts. Americas heart needs to break so that deep repentance takes place. Yes, much of the chaos does have to do with Donald Trumps re-election, but do we really think that we can flood our homes with porn; murder millions of children; satisfy the gods of alcohol, lust, and addiction; mock Gods Word; declare war on the family; excuse racism; promote self-centered politicians; and idolize celebrity pastors who tip-toe around sin and expect a wonderful life for our nation? No, we cannot. What also is coming down is an ungodly foundation. Isaiah 30:1 (NASB) sheds much-needed light on what is happening: Woe to the rebellious children, declares the LORD, Who execute a plan, but not Mine, and make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, in order to add sin to sin. As in the prophet Joels day, today joy has withered away from the sons of men (Joel 1:12). Instead of complaining, we need to obey God, who says, Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord (v. 14). In a sense, God is saying, How bad do you want deliverance? Will you turn to Me with all your heart? Will you starve the flesh in order to be filled with the Spirit via prayer and fasting? Will you humble yourself and repent? If we do, we are reminded that God is merciful and slow to anger, but we must stop confusing His patience with His approval. Sigmund Freud and his family in 1898. Sophie Freud is the little girl on the left, when she was five years old. (Wikipedia) This afternoon we received the news that our sweet Sophie in Hamburg had been snatched away by influenza, snatched away in the midst of glowing health, from a full and active life as a competent mother and loving wife, all in four or five days, as though she had never existed. It is a distant voice that echoes our reality. It brings us face to face with our vulnerability and the terrifying possibility of losing loved ones. These are the words that Sigmund Freud wrote to Pastor Oskar Pfister in a letter dated 27 January 1920 to tell him that the so-called Spanish flu had snatched his daughter away from him. The devastating effect of the unexpected Sophie was Freud's fifth daughter and probably his favourite. She softened her father's autocratic character and as she grew up, she evoked feelings of admiration in him, according to his biographers. At the age of 20, Sophie Freud married Max Halberstadt, a photographer from Hamburg. Nevertheless, despite the distance, she always maintained an intense correspondence with her father, who kept up with his daughter's joys and sorrows. Sophie had two boys, but a third seemingly unwanted pregnancy weakened her and paved the way for the virus that was sweeping across Europe to take hold of her. She died on 25 January 1920, at the age of 26. Her death was a severe blow to the father of psychoanalysis, who came to recognise that although he had mentally prepared himself for the death of his sons, who had all been drafted for the Great War, he was not prepared for his daughter to be snatched away. Losing a loved one is always painful, but losing them suddenly is even more so because, as Seneca said centuries before: what is quite unlooked for is more crushing in its effect, and unexpectedness adds to the weight of a disaster. The unexpected is exactly what is dealing us the greatest blow in this crisis. What has left us with nothing to hold onto. With no cardinal directions to guide us. Many people have seen their relatives get sick quickly and leave them in a matter of hours. Story continues These unexpected deaths make everything seem like a nightmare. We live through them with a sense of unreality that clears up at times, when the pain breaks through. Sudden losses make it difficult for us to accept that the person is no longer with us. They make it even more difficult for us, if such a thing were possible. No chance to say goodbye Although we had been worried about her for a couple of days, we had nevertheless been hopeful; it is so difficult to judge from a distance. And that distance had to remain distance; we were not able to travel immediately, as we had intended, after the first alarming news; because there were no trains, not even for an emergency. The clear brutality of our time is weighing heavily upon us. Tomorrow she will be cremated. Freuds words are a very distant mirror, but they perfectly reflect the pain of many people who saw their loved ones disappear behind the doors of an intensive care unit or an ambulance on its way to the hospital and who were not given the chance to hug them or hold their hand again during their final moments. Not having a chance to say goodbye causes great anguish that in the long term can lead to feelings of guilt. We start blaming ourselves for what happened in an attempt to make sense of a sudden death that we find difficult to accept and understand, while the world around us becomes increasingly confusing, chaotic and alienating. This is why Freuds story is also the story of those who have had to accept something that until recently had been unthinkable: that someone could die without their loved ones by their side to accompany them on their final journey. That their funeral would be brief, silent and deserted. With only three people to fill the emotional vacuum and 10 minutes to say goodbye to an entire life. The fact is that coronavirus, just like the Spanish flu, can take away not only our loved ones but also something as essential as saying goodbye and supportive hugs, which we may receive too late or which will not be strong enough to break through the screens from behind which we try to send them. We must not forget that the funeral ritual fulfills very important psychological functions. It helps us become aware of our loss so that we can start the mourning process. It also gives us the chance to receive the love and support of others to confirm that, although we have lost someone, we still have others by our side. And lastly, it fills that deep-seated need to know that the body of the person we love has been treated and sent off with dignity. When both the person and the farewell ritual are taken away from us, we experience a double loss. Double the pain. And double the anger. Sigmund Freud and his daughter Anna Freud pictured in 1920. (Wikipedia) How did Freud deal with the pain of losing his daughter? At first, Freud was devastated. He wrote to the husband of his deceased daughter that it was a senseless and brutal stroke of fate," stating that they could only bow their heads under the blow like the poor, helpless creatures we are, mere playthings for the higher powers. His words give a glimpse of that initial period of mourning when we resist accepting the loss and feel immense anger because something extremely valuable that we would have always liked to have with us has been taken away from us. Freud, too, wavered between the need to accept a painful reality and the desire to reject it, precisely because it was too painful. He took refuge in his work. His work was his salvation and he acknowledged: I do as much work as I can, and I am grateful for the distraction [...] as for mourning, that will no doubt come later." Freud, who had always been very attached to his routines, found in them a comfort and a way to escape the pain that gripped him, even if only for a few hours a day. Finding comforting routines to keep our minds occupied will help us cope with loss and give our unconscious time to process what has happened. It is no coincidence that it was during this period that Freud published the book that would mark a turning point in his theory: Beyond the Pleasure Principle. It is likely that he took advantage of the chaos that surrounded him to reflect on the human essence, later manifesting it in his work. The deaths from the Great War, the rampage of the Spanish flu in Vienna, and even the death of his own daughter must have left a very strong impression that led him to restructure the model of the psyche that he had proposed and to which he had made every effort to include Thanatos, or the death instinct. Some critics have said that this book was his most confusing work, albeit his most intimate. In a way, writing about death seems to become a way of regaining control after the disrupting experience of death, of reassuring continuity in the face of discontinuity, of mastering the absence, suggested Elisabeth Bronfen. Freud found a way to channel those losses, the chaos and suffering of the world around him. And that helped him move forward. From pain to acceptance Little by little, in time, acceptance also came. Nine years later, Freud sent a letter to Ludwig Binswanger in which he wrote: "My daughter who died would have been thirty-six today [...] We know that the acute sorrow we feel after such a loss will run its course, but also that we will remain inconsolable, and will never find a substitute. No matter what may come to take its place, even should it fill that place completely, it yet remains something else. And that is how it should be. It is the only way of perpetuating a love that we do not want to abandon. Freud always wore a tiny locket with a photo of his daughter inside it, and he looked at it every so often. Nothing could take her place. He knew it and so do we. We know that the arrival of another person will never take the place of the one who has left us. And thats the way it should be. But we should also be aware that mourning will be softened and transformed into nostalgia. With the passage of time, whenever we remember the person who is no longer there, their memory will no longer evoke pain but instead a bittersweet feeling that can even be comforting for us. Freuds story drives home the fact that no matter how great the pain we feel today, acceptance and consolation will come in the end, with the reassurance of knowing that, although a loved one may have been taken from us, nothing can take away the moments we have shared together. And that is what we must hold onto. Latest News Westpac makes first fixed rate move of 2022 New year, same rate action as major lenders continue rate hikes Inside the property market explosion in regional Australia Regional broker explains just how crazy the property market has been in one NSW town One of Australias largest mortgage aggregators has announced a new collaboration with a business school in a bid to provide further skills, education, and tools to its members than are typically made available through traditional industry training. Connective and the Melbourne Business School (MBS) together built the education and development program, entitled Strategic Management in an Uncertain World, specifically for brokers. Were going to be navigating the economic impact of COVID-19 for a long time and we believe brokers need tools and insights that go deeper than whats been offered before, in order for them to strengthen their businesses, said Mark Haron, Connective executive director. This program is unique, with the content developed for our brokers at this time of uncertainty. Its an opportunity to participate in a business success masterclass what business operator doesnt want that?" The program has seven modules which cover: understanding the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, disruptive strategy for mortgage brokers, marketing during COVID-19, resilient leadership, the psychology of change and leading in uncertainty and applying strategic foresight for an uncertain future. According to Sam Wylie, Principal Fellow at the MBS, the program was crafted with the "perfect balance of relevant and practical industry insights mixed with broader business models, trends, and proven tactics for success. Weve partnered with Connective to deliver a program that not only provides insights into the forces disrupting broker channels, but also delivers the tools and knowledge for brokers to lead through change, to innovate and deliver sustainable success, he added. Participants are able to register for individual modules or all seven, which can either be viewed live or when it suits their schedule; there will also be the opportunity for interaction with other enrolled brokers and partnering lenders. The program is available exclusively to Connective members, each of whom will receive 21 CPD points upon completion. Expressing anger over the clash in Ladakhs Galwan Valley, which led the Indian Army to lose three brave personnel, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday called for a strong response from the Government of India to the repeated violations of the Indian territory by the Chinese. Our soldiers are not fair game that every few days officers and men should be killed or injured defending our borders, a furious Captain Amarinder said, reacting strongly to the development, which came even as the armies on the two sides were supposed to be in the process of disengagement from a tense stand-off of the past several days. It is time now for India to stand up to these repeated incursions that are a blatant violation of our territorial rights and put a stop to such attacks on our territorial integrity, said the chief minister, asserting that every sign of weakness on the part of India makes the Chinese reaction more belligerent. While it was important to defuse the tensions at the border, and India was not in favour of war, Captain Amarinder said the country could not afford to show weakness at this time and needed to take a strong stand to deter the Chinese from any further intrusions and attacks on its territories and men. SEND OUT STRONG MESSAGE Even after brutally beating the Indian Army commanding officer and two soldiers to death, Beijing was feigning innocence, and trying to put the blame on India, accusing it of provoking the conflict through unilateral actions, the chief minister pointed out. Such reaction on the part of China was typical of its duplicity, he said, adding that the escalation of tensions in the Ladakh sector of the Indo-China border were the direct consequence of the incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory. The Chinese actions were in direction violation of all treaties signed between the two countries and a brazen assault on Indian integrity, said Captain Amarinder, urging the central government to take suitable steps to send out a strong message that it would not take such attacks lying down. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF COVID CRISIS Referring to the rising tensions at the Indo-Pak and Indo-Nepal borders also in the recent weeks, the chief minister said the country was clearly surrounded by forces seeking to destabilise its peace by taking advantage of the Covid-19 crisis. Let them be warned that India will not compromise on national security at any cost, and is capable of combating external challenges even as it continues to battle the pandemic internally, he asserted. Paying tributes to the soldiers who had lost their lives in the Galwan Valley violence, Captain Amarinder said the nation stands with the Indian Army in this hour of grief. By PTI NEW DELHI: WhatsApp has launched its 'WhatsApp Pay' in Brazil, two years after it began testing the payments service in India. In 2018, the Facebook-owned company had started testing the service in India, which allows users to utilise the messaging platform to send and receive money. However, the ambitious plan has been caught in a bind over regulatory issues. In a Facebook post on Monday, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Brazil is the first country where it is widely rolling out payments in WhatsApp. "Today we're starting to launch payments for people using WhatsApp in Brazil. We're making sending and receiving money as easy as sharing photos," he said, adding that small businesses will also be able to make sales right within WhatsApp. "To do this, we're building on Facebook Pay, which provides a secure and consistent way to make payments across our apps," he said. Zuckerberg said WhatsApp is working with local banks, including Banco do Brasil, Nubank, Sicredi as well as Cielo, the leading payments processor for merchants in Brazil. In a blogpost, WhatsApp said it has built payments with security in mind and a special six digit PIN or fingerprint will be required to prevent unauthorised transactions. "To start, we will support debit or credit cards from Banco do Brasil, Nubank, and Sicredi on the Visa and Mastercard networks -and we are working with Cielo, the leading payments processor in Brazil. We have built an open model to welcome more partners in the future," it added. WhatsApp has about 400 million users in India. It has been testing its payments service in India - based on UPI - with about a million users. While the company was hopeful of rolling out the payments service to a larger userbase last year itself, it has faced regulatory hurdles that has delayed a full-fledged launch in India. Its rivals in the country include Softbank-backed Paytm, Flipkart's PhonePe and Google Pay. Interestingly, Facebook had recently announced USD 5.7 billion investment in Jio Platforms. Simultaneously, Jio Platforms, WhatsApp Inc, and Reliance Retail Ltd (RRL) have also proposed to enter into a separate commercial arrangement. Under the arrangement, JioMart - a new RRL commerce marketplace which connects customers with Kirana stores and other small and microlocal Indian businesses - plans to integrate certain WhatsApp services with JioMart. As Switzerland marked 'Women's Strike' - a protest by women across the country - on Sunday, hundreds of women protesters took to the streets to scream in solidarity for gender equality. The one-minute screaming protest began at 3.24 pm, to mark the exact hour of the day, as per the protesters, when women start working for free due to the pay gap between men and women. While the scream-in protest was meant to protest against gender inequality and gender pay gap at work, the protesters also wanted to make a point about domestic violence, literally by raising their voice against it. The Women's March, known the world over as "Fraunestreik", has taken place annually ever since 1991. Despite nearly half a million participants in 2019, however, this year's protest saw a drop in numbers due to coronavirus as only some 2,000 protesters joined the march. Videos on social media showed that protests nevertheless took place across various Swiss cities with protesters filmed speaking about gender inequality, pay gap, gender-based domestic violence, and sexual harassment. For me it is emotional. Because I scream for me, but I also scream for my sisters and brothers, I scream for all the other children who lost a mother or a father, and I also scream for my mother, who would have screamed if she was still here, said Roxanne Errico, a 19-year-old student who said her mother was killed by her violent boyfriend. Another Geneva resident, Rose-Angela Gramoni, said she had joined all the womens strikes since 1991. Now I can die in peace, the next generation is here to take over. But for a while, I was very sad. I thought we fought for many things, but we did not finish the job and nobody was here to finish it, said Gramoni, who is in her 70s. Switzerland has a high quality of life but lags other developed economies in womens pay and workplace equality. Women earn roughly a fifth less than men, better than 30 years ago when it was about a third less, but worse than in 2000, according to government data. Thousands of marchers in Geneva and other Swiss cities screamed for a minute at 3:24 p.m. the time of day when women technically start working for free given the wage gap. They also staged a flash mob and held a minutes silence for women killed by husbands or boyfriends. Demonstrators decried violence against women and the LGBT community, and called for recognition of often unpaid work caring for family and relatives. I would love to walk at night wearing a skirt, shorts or leggings without being insulted, without being scared to be raped, said Geneva resident Vani Niuti, 20. The scream-in protests are a characteristic of women's protests in Switzerland and even inspired protesters in parts of the world such as in Hong Kong last year where protesters took to their windows and balconies at a specific time in 2019 amid the then-ongoing protests. Such protests are also common in countries like Sweden. The "Flogsta scream", for instance, originated the town of Flogsta, close to the Uppsala University where women students screamed from their balconies and windows to raise their voice against inequality. such protests have since been held in several parts of Sweden. (With inputs from Reuters) (Alliance News) - IT consultant and recruiter FDM Group Holdings PLC on Tuesday said trading since the end of first-quarter was in line with board's revised expectations, and the company's cash position remains strong with no debt. "Following the group's first-quarter trading and Covid-19 update given on April 30, 2020, the group has traded comfortably in line with the board's revised expectations," Chief Executive & Chair Rod Flavell said in his annual general meeting statement. In April, the London-based company had said it was unable to estimate with any degree of precision the extent of the impact on its earnings in 2020 from the Covid-19 pandemic. Flavell on Tuesday also said that Mounties placed with clients at June 15 were 3,706, down from 3,812 Mounties placed with clients a year ago. The company has both freelance IT contractors and its own employees known as Mounties. The company has focused on growing Mountie numbers and revenue, while keeping freelancers "ancillary to the group". FDM had GBP53 million in cash and no debt. Shares in the company were untraded at 854.00 pence each in London on Tuesday morning. By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. We now have access to a dynamic marketplace backed by strict bidding standards, transparency, and a trusted purchasing cooperative, said John Brenchley, chief innovation officer for the CSIU. Today PEPPM Cooperative Purchasing announced that Amazon Business won an education and public sector purchasing contract. Bid-protected access to Amazon Business under the PEPPM contract was launched today, following a competitively bid award by the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU) of Milton, Pennsylvania, the education agency that operates the nationwide cooperative known as PEPPM. Schools, colleges, cities, counties, and other governments will be eligible to buy from Amazon Business. The contract and bidding process solved a unique problem facing public agencies: the need for a competitively bid contract based on dynamic pricing. PEPPM required bidders to provide bid pricing based on commercially available marketplace prices on a Snapshot Day, so that fair comparisons could be established among potential bidders. The result is that more than one million products useful to public sector agencies on Amazon Business are eligible for purchase without most agencies having to go to bid themselves. Amazon Business is committed to providing access to commonly purchased products in the categories of Breakroom Supplies, Foodstuffs, Cafeteria Supplies, and Kitchen Equipment, First Aid and Safety, Instructional, Art, and Craft Supplies, Maintenance, Repair, and Operations, and Office Supplies. Outside of these categories are more than one million additional products under contract. In developing its request for bids, PEPPM, under the auspices of the CSIU, set for itself 19 bidding process criteria that were meant to satisfy the procurement rules of even the most conservative jurisdictions. It meant making the bid specifications applicable to a wide number of marketplaces, wide distribution of the bidding invitation, and the capability of evaluating more than one million product prices. We now have access to a dynamic marketplace backed by strict bidding standards, transparency, and a trusted purchasing cooperative, said John Brenchley, chief innovation officer for the CSIU. Jared Lehman, associate director of cooperative purchasing for the CSIU said, It wasnt easy to develop this request for bids. It took months of study, lengthy legal reviews, and multiple iterations of terms, conditions, and specifications. The CSIU is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, created by the Pennsylvania Legislature. Its PEPPM co-op purchasing program started in 1982 and currently has competitively bid purchasing contracts in force with national manufacturers that have been used by education and local governments throughout the United States. Bhubaneswar: Rejecting allegation that Dana Majhi was denied a hearse by the authorities forcing him to carry his wifes body on his shoulder for 10 km last month, Odisha government told the Assembly he had never sought any help before leaving Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital. Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu S Nayak gave this information while replying to a written question by Congress member Prafulla Majhi. Holding a contractual staff nurse Rajendra Rana responsible for the incident, the government has dismissed him from the service. Similarly, the security agency guarding the hospital at Bhawanipatna has also been disengaged, Nayak said. Majhi had never sought any help or assistance like dead body carrier to any of the hospital staff in the night of August 23, Nayak said quoting the Chief District Medical Office (CDMO), Kalahandis report to the government. In case of poor patient, if approached, transportation arrangement is made from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund or Rogi Kalyan Samiti or Red Cross fund, he said. The poor tribal from Melghar village, located 60 km from the Kalahandi district headquarters town of Bhawanipatna, had hogged headlines for carrying his wifes body on shoulder for 10 km before journalists informed the district authorities and a vehicle was arranged. Majhi on August 24 had said he carried his wifes body on shoulder and walked 10 km after the hospital authorities refused to provide any assistance to transport the body. The staff nurse at the ward told me to take away the body as she has died. I also knocked the door of the doctor on the hospital premises on August 23 night to inform him about death of my wife. The doctor also told me from behind the door to take away the body, Dana Majhi had told reporters. However, the minister said the hospital authorities came to know about the incident next day at 9 AM (on August 24) when the doctor came on ward visit. On 24.8.2016 in the morning round when the doctor found the patient absent in the ward, he mentioned in the bed head ticket- left against Medical Advice. He informed the matter to the ADMO (med) Kalahandi on 24.8.2016 at 9 AM. The patient was not declared dead. The patient was given adequate medical treatment and there was no negligence in treatment, Nayak said quoting the CDMOs report. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A chilling emergency call has revealed the final moments of a mother-of-eight as she was beaten to death with a paving stone by her ex-boyfriend while their young children watched in horror. Rueben Paul Peeni savagely bashed Crystal Lee Selwyn, 38, at their home in Hamilton on New Zealand's North Island, on November 23. The evil father inflicted 13 blows to Ms Selwyn's head with a 7kg paving stone as their six-year-old son pulled on his shirt and bit him, pleading with him to stop hurting his mum. Another 14-year-old boy who lived nearby tried to intervene, but was shoved away by Peeni, who continued his fatal 90-second assault. Crystal Lee Selwyn died after being brutally bashed by the father of her children as they watched on Rueben Paul Peeni (pictured) repeatedly bashed Crystal Lee Selwyn, 38, at their home in Hamilton on New Zealand's North Island, on November 23 Ms Selwyn called police to try and get help moments before the horrific attack, with the emergency operator hearing the thug smash her head with a brick as he verbally abused her. As Ms Selwyn slowly went quiet, the terrifying screams of the six-year-old and 14-year-old boys were heard on audio, as well as six other children who witnessed the murder. All children, who will be forever traumatised by Peeni's thuggery, were aged between six and 14, the NZ Herald reported. They included five of the six children the couple shared. Ms Selwyn was rushed to Waikato Hospital with head injuries, but had her life support turned off four days later. Harrowing details about the attack were revealed when Peeni appeared at Hamilton High Court on Tuesday. He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum sentence of 17 years by Justice Graham Lang. During his sentencing Justin Lang told the court the children will feel the effects from witnessing and hearing the attack for the rest of their lives. 'This is a tragedy that will have disastrous consequences for years to come,' he said. Justice Lang said the taunts made to Ms Selwyn in front of her children as she was attacked took the 'callousness and cruelty of the offending to another level'. 'It's difficult to see how any father could subject his young children and their friends to seeing and hearing conduct such as this,' Justice Lang said. Peeni inflicted 13 blows to Ms Selwyn's head with a 7kg paving stone as their six-year-old son pulled on his shirt and bit him to stop him from hurting his mum Ms Selwyn was rushed to Waikato Hospital with head injuries, but had her life support turned off four days later Peeni had been day-drinking and returned home after buying more alcohol when he started walking around the house saying he was going to kill Ms Selwyn. The pair had broken up but were still living together at the family home. Ms Selwyn called police for help at 6.27pm and stood outside talking to the dispatcher. Peeni punched his former partner in the head causing her to fall to the ground before grabbing her hair and punching her another four times. At this point the 14-year-old stepped in but was pushed away and Peeni's six-year-old son pulled on his shirt and bit him to get him off his mother. Rather than stopping Peeni picked up the paving stone and hit Ms Selwyn. Ms Selwyn's six youngest children (pictured) witnessed the alleged attack, and are now being taken care of by extended family He put the stone down briefly before picking it up and hitting her again as he said 'die you f****** a*******'. Peeni ran from the scene, leaving the stone next to Ms Selwyn's body before returning a short time later with his sister and her husband. When he returned police were at the scene and he was arrested, telling police he 'just lost it' but insisted he only his Ms Selwyn twice with the brick. Peeni pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner on February 25. The court heard police had been previously called to the couple's home for previous domestic violence offences. Peeni had also been arrested and jailed for previous attacks on Ms Selwyn with previous convictions dating back to 2008. Chandigarh, June 16 : Appreciating Punjab's Covid micro-containment and house-to-house surveillance strategy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked all other states to adopt the model, which was helping Punjab successfully control the spread of the pandemic to a significant extent. Intervening as Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was describing the state's model to combat Covid, Modi suggested that all states should follow the same strategic approach to effectively counter the pandemic. The Prime Minister was conducting a video conference meeting with Chief Ministers of several states, as part of his scheduled two-day interactions to review the Covid situation and management strategies of all the states. He will be holding a similar meeting with the remaining Chief Ministers on Wednesday. During the meeting, Amarinder Singh suggested to the Prime Minister that a group, which should include a few Chief Ministers, be set up to discuss and formulate a coordinated Centre-state response to the devastating impact of Covid on the economy. During the conference with Modi, who was joined by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, the Chief Minister requested the Centre should work closely with the states to ease the distress caused by the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. While living with Covid was the new normal since the lockdown could not continue indefinitely as the cycle of economy, once broken, takes a long time to restart, the need of the hour was to take care of both lives and livelihoods, as the Prime Minister had himself said in his meeting in April, he noted. Amarinder Singh recalled that when, in early April, he had said Covid impact could go on till September, he had been called an alarmist by some people. But with experts now warning that the pandemic could continue even beyond September, it was important to learn to co-exist with it and cope with it better, he said, underlining the need for the Central and state governments to work in close coordination. Calling for urgent steps to mitigate Punjab's financial stress, he said a detailed memorandum had already been sent to the Centre, listing out the impact of Covid-19 and also seeking fiscal and non-fiscal assistance. Even as he thanked the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister for the release of GST payment of around Rs 2,800 crore in early June, Amarinder Singh said while he appreciated that the Centre was also under financial stress, he had to request for release of the state's pending share of taxes to tide over the fiscal crisis. The crisis in Punjab was likely to be acute with around Rs 25,000-30,000 crore shortfall in revenue collection on various counts, he said. Even though Punjab's contribution to the all-India cases was less than one per cent (at 3,140 cases) at present, with a mortality rate of 2.1 per cent and recovery rate of 75 per cent, the curve was rising as a result of the inbound travellers and the easing of restrictions and more mixing of people, the Chief Minister said, giving a status update on the Covid situation prevailing in the state. Emphasising the need for more tests, despite the current 5,527 tests per million in Punjab being higher than the all India average of 4,088, Amarinder Singh reiterated his request to the Prime Minister to direct Central institutions in Chandigarh and Punjab to increase testing capacity. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The warm weather is here, which means its time for that summer vacation youve been daydreaming about every day during quarantine. As hotels and Airbnbs open back up in Phase 2 of the states reopening plan, those looking to get away after being cooped up inside for the last few months will be eager to pounce on some of the best deals out there. There are a plethora of places around the state available for booking, including the South Shore. If youre interested in securing a rental, take a look below at some of the best properties the South Shore has to offer. Humarock Summer Home Beach Rental - $300/night Courtesy of Airbnb.com Click here to see more photos of this rental Completely renovated and fully furnished 3 bedroom/1 bathroom home. This is our summer home and we absolutely love it here! Beautiful view of the river and ocean. Large kitchen with open concept dining area (both bar top and small breakfast nook) and living room space. Oceanfront Cape Cod Home w/ Porch, Yard + Grill! - $367/night Courtesy of Airbnb.com Click here to see more photos of this rental Wash away your worries in the water at this oceanfront 2-bedroom, 2-bath home in Marshfield! Prepare savory summertime meals in the fully equipped kitchen or opt for a beachside barbecue with the group at this vacation rental. Let the crashing of the waves be your daily soundtrack as you relax on the furnished porch with a good book in hand. Be sure to explore other nearby beaches like Green Harbor Beach and Rexhame Beach before walking over to the tasty locales serving up fresh-caught seafood! Ocean front with panoramic views - walk to beach! - $425/night Courtesy of Airbnb.com Click here to see more photos of this rental Completely renovated in 2018, this 1850s historic Oceanfront home features 3 bedrooms & 2 full bathrooms with custom luxury showers. There are Ocean Views from nearly every room of the house. Relax on the huge wrap around porch while taking in the breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Brant Rock Beach is just a 5 minute stroll away! 3 minutes walking to bars, restaurants, and shops. Duxbury Beach is also minutes away, or enjoy the beautiful Rexhame Beach which is 3 miles away! Beautiful Scituate Cottage with ocean views - $275/night Courtesy of Airbnb.com Click here to see more photos of this rental Beautiful summer cottage for a family on Lighthouse Point with direct ocean view; Close to beaches shopping and restaurants. Short walk to Lighthouse beach. The cottage has a fenced backyard with a wooden play structure for the kids. Also we have bikes for kids and adults in the garage for guess use. The house has an outdoor shower in the back if guess would like to use it when they come from the beach. Hexagon Heaven on Cape Cod Bay - $275/night Courtesy of Airbnb.com Click here to see more photos of this rental Sitting atop a cliff on Cape Cod Bay, be completely surrounded by the outdoors in this exceptional oasis. Due to the unique hexagon shape, you are constantly drenched in light and can enjoy 180 degree views of the ocean. For an even better view, step out for breakfast on the expansive wrap-around deck or make it a point to stay up all night to catch the sunrise! Whatever you do, relaxation is guaranteed. If you must get out, all the beauty of the Cape and Plymouth are at your fingertips. Bayfront Home w/Spacious Deck, 5-Min Walk to Beach - $568/night Courtesy of Airbnb.com Click here to see more photos of this rental The shores of Cape Cod Bay call you to this fantastic vacation rental, boasting high-end amenities and fantastic views. Resting atop a high bluff, only a 5-minute walk to Manomet Beach, this 3-bedroom, 3-bath home is open and spacious, with an entire ground-floor wall opening to the furnished deck overlooking the water. Listen to the sounds of whales as they migrate during the spring, gaze out to see the Provincetown Monument, explore historic Plymouth sites, and relax with modern comforts! Family vacation with Beautiful Sunsets in Humarock - $500/night Courtesy of Airbnb.com Click here to see more photos of this rental Large open split level home, totally renovated Wrap around deck with patios Family orientated with all the things needed for a younger family Very large yard directly on the North River. Access to pier for fishing Beach access is approximately 14 houses away Pets allowed with prior approval. Fantastic Plymouth House w/Huge Deck & Ocean Views - $513/night Courtesy of Airbnb.com Click here to see more photos of this rental An unforgettable New England escape awaits you at this 6-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom Plymouth vacation rental house. Boasting over 3,000 square feet of living space, this spectacular property invites 14 lucky guests to experience coastal living at its finest. Watch boats pass through Plymouth Harbor from the homes expansive deck or walk down the street to greet them as they dock. With splendid scenery and an unbeatable location, this home is sure to leave you wanting to come back for more! Apartment Getaway at AhhQua Bed & Breakfast - $200/night Courtesy of Airbnb.com Click here to see more photos of this rental AhhQua Bed & Breakfast now offers WEEKLY & MONTHLY stays in our custom apartment w/deck overlooking in-ground pool, patio & luscious landscape. Enjoy the comfort of a lovely, fully equipped apartment set on a 4 acre retreat lot close to Plymouth, 45 min to Boston & Cape Cod. Continental Breakfast, Beverages & Treats served daily. Take a Swing Shot off the deck & Play the Putting Green. Enjoy Bad-mitten, Volleyball, Croquet, Walking Trail & Swimming at AhhQua Bed & Breakfast. Waterfront Rocky Nook Beach House - $275/night Courtesy of Airbnb.com Click here to see more photos of this rental Waterfront 3 bedroom weekly rental beach house on Plymouth/Duxbury/Kingston Bay, steps from private sandy neighborhood beach on quiet street. Area exceeds crowded Cape Cod for quiet vacations. Wake to fantastic views & sunrises on unique tidal bay; step out to beach without packing the car! Downtown historic Plymouth has many shops, restaurants & water sports; Cape Cod bridges are 20 mi south, Boston 35 miles via nearby train; take a ferry to Marthas Vineyard, Provincetown, Nantucket for a day! Related Content: The dramatic increase in tourist reservations in Majorca has exceeded all expectations of small, medium and large hotel chains. At the presentation of the Pilot Plan on Monday at the Riu Concordia, Maria Frontera, President of the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation, or FEHM and Gabriel Llobera from Agrupacion de Cadenas Hoteleras, or ACH, said everything has changed for the better from one day to the next. Markets Reservations for the next two weeks in Majorca are being driven by Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and the Nordic countries. FEHM and ACH acknowledge that the situation has taken a dramatic turn, that each chain will have to adapt to the spike in demand and have more establishments operating." The co-President of RIU Hotels, Luis Riu, was more than enthusiastic as the first tourists taking part in the Pilot Plan arrived at the Riu Concordia. We must be cautious, but it is also true that the evolution of the current tourist situation does not have nothing to do with that of a few weeks ago. This new situation forces us to respond and act with the opening of more establishments not only in Majorca, but also in other vacation destinations where we are operating, he said. It's time for this to change, because we all want to work and boost the economy, said Carmen Riu. The forecast openings for July and August are a long way from the 2019 figures, but the important thing is that now there is a way to grow, open more hotels and recover workers from ERTE and that is great news for everyone, said Gabriel Llobera. Foreign airlines, including Jet2, EasyJet, Lufthansa, Condor, Eurowings and TUI Fly have already changed their strategy and begun to recover aircraft that were grounded at the end of March due to lack of activity in the European tourism industry. Spanish Tour Groups Globalia, Barcelo, El Corte Ingles and other Spanish Tourist Groups are getting ready for June 22, when domestic routes are scheduled to be reactivated. This change will positively affect the Balearic Hotel Sector. The search intensifies for missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen as her case sparks nationwide attention from local and national celebrities. Guillen's family remains hopeful they will find Guillen alive. MISSING SINCE APRIL: Family of Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen want answers on her disappearance Houston rapper Baby Bash shared a message on Facebook and committed to adding $5,000 to the reward for information on Guillen. Salma Hayek shared two Instagram posts with Guillen's photo and important details about her case. "Her mother Gloria, claims that her daughter had complained to her about a sergeant sexually harassing her," Hayek said. "When her mother asked her to report him, Vanessa said other women had reported him, and they were not believed." "Vanessa and Gloria, I believe you and I pledge to put Vanessa's photo on my stories every day until she is found," said Hayek. The family has also started a GoFundMe account to raise money for a lawyer. The account has raised $49, 561 to date. On Friday, June 12, a peaceful protest was held outside the gates of Fort Hood, and the family vowed to hold protests every Friday until Guillen is found. Guillen was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, purple leggings, and black Nike shoes. She is 5 feet, 3 inches tall, and weighs 126 pounds. According to a Fort Hood press release, Pfc. Vanessa Guillen is a highly valued member of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, said 3rd Cavalry Regiment commander Col. Ralph Overland. We will maintain our resolve to locate Pfc. Vanessa Guillen and will continue our efforts until she is found, Overland said. We will never quit searching. Anyone with information is being asked to contact Army CID Special Agents at 254-495-7767 or the Military Police Desk at 254-287-4001. STAY INFORMED: Sign up to receive breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. One of the opinions repeated arguments is that the issue of sex discrimination cannot be viewed only as the equal treatment of men and women as classes, but as the rights of individual men, individual women, individual humans. An employer who has a blanket ban on hiring both lesbians and gay men might be technically treating women and men equally, but this perverse version of equality means nothing to the individual employee who has lost his job for bringing his husband to the company picnic. An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex, Gorsuch wrote. A third Melbourne school has been forced to close this week after a child tested positive to coronavirus, while a cluster in a Melbourne family has now been linked to a dozen cases. A childcare centre in Melbourne's north-west was also closed on Tuesday after a staff member attended for two days while infectious. A spokesman from the health department confirmed Inspira Early Learning Centre in Gladstone Park would be closed for 24 hours. At nearby Strathmore Primary School, a grade five student was among nine new cases in Victoria in the past day. There is a definite spike on 2 April, and this is where looking at a plot becomes the nerdy equivalent of reading tea leaves. Was that because 2 April is when Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the five pillar plan for virus-testing, or was it because the number of deaths had just jumped into the thousands and people were finally taking it seriously? We often cannot say. But the massive spike on 11 May was on the same day that Boris Johnson released the recovery strategy to wind up the lockdown, so it seems the tantalising prospect of being allowed out of their homes was the first time the UK started earnestly searching for face masks. Something to note: Google Trends will always scale the graphs so that the biggest spike is right at the top, which means it can be deceptive to just eyeball two different plots and compare them. When I searched sour dough, for example, a single massive peak made it look like the people of the UK cared more about their hipster toast than they did searching for face masks to stop the spread of the virus. But if you plot them both together, you can see sour dough correctly scaled (though they came close to each other on 12 April): The indictment against Sarabia, which also names El Chapo and several of his top henchmen, alleged that the cartel used jumbo jets, submarines and tunnels to smuggle massive amounts of drugs into the U.S., much of which was later distributed in wholesale quantities in Chicago. North and South Korea are still technically at war. Here are some key moments in the decades-long standoff between them, after Pyongyang on Tuesday blew up its liaison office with the South: The US and Soviet Union agreed to divide the Korean peninsula between them in the days after Japan's surrender ended the Second World War and its rule over the territory. In June 1950 the Communist North invaded the capitalist South, sparking a brutal war that killed millions of people. Beijing backed Pyongyang in the three-year conflict, while Washington threw its support behind the South -- alliances that have largely endured. The two sides fought each other to a stalemate and hostilities ceased in 1953 with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, leaving them technically still at war. Pyongyang has tested the ceasefire with numerous attacks. It sent 31 commandos to Seoul in a botched attempt to assassinate then-President Park Chung-Hee in 1968. All but two were killed. Pyongyang launched perhaps its most audacious assassination attempt in Myanmar in 1983, killing 21 people in a bomb blast in a Yangon mausoleum, but visiting South Korean general-turned-president Chun Doo-hwan survived. In 1987 a bomb on a Korean Air flight exploded over the Andaman Sea, killing all 115 people on board. Seoul accused Pyongyang, which denied involvement. In 1996 a North Korean submarine on a spying mission ran aground off the eastern South Korean port of Gangneung, sparking a 45-day manhunt that ended with 24 crew members and infiltrators killed. A clash between South and North Korean naval ships in 1999 left some 50 Northern soldiers dead. North Korea has steadfastly pursued its banned nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, seeking to build a rocket capable of delivering a warhead to the US mainland. In 2006 it carried out its first nuclear test, and progress has accelerated under Kim Jong Un, who inherited power in 2011. In response, the UN Security Council, US, EU and South Korea all imposed increasingly tough sanctions on the North, with the Kaesong industrial zone shut down in 2016. Pyongyang remained defiant, carrying out its sixth nuclear test in 2017 -- its biggest by far -- and launching missiles capable of reaching the US. Kim has since declared the country a nuclear power. Following years of tensions, the South's election of the pro-engagement Moon Jae-in as president and its hosting of the Winter Olympics gave the neighbours a window to reopen communications. At the opening ceremony in February 2018 the two Koreas marched together and Moon shared historic handshakes with Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong and the North's ceremonial president Kim Yong Nam. Pyongyang declared soon afterwards that nuclear blasts and intercontinental missile launches would cease immediately. A historic inter-Korean summit in April saw Pyongyang and Seoul promise to pursue the denuclearization of the peninsula and a permanent peace. Dozens of South Koreans were able to cross over to the North in August to meet parents they had not seen since before the war. In June, US President Donald Trump met with Kim at a historic summit in Singapore featuring the first handshake between a US president in power and North Korean leader. But a second summit between the two leaders in February 2019 collapsed when they failed to agree on what the North would be willing to give up in exchange for sanctions relief. Since November, Pyongyang has increased its weapons tests and in May 2020 the North fired multiple gunshots towards the South in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the peninsula, prompting the South to fire back. On June 16, after days of increasingly virulent rhetoric from the North, Pyongyang blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 02:59:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENNA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The obligation to cover the mouth and the nose when shopping was lifted in Austria on Monday as the country entered the phase of "fewer rules, more self-responsibility." Business has returned to near normal. Face masks are a thing of the past in schools, supermarkets and other stores. Only in health facilities, pharmacies and other service providers where the one-meter minimum distance cannot be maintained do people have to wear masks - for example at the hairdresser's. "We are on a good path in Austria ... so we can begin the next phase -- fewer rules, more self-responsibility," said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz when announcing the new rules at the end of May. He warned that while the number of new infections had decreased, it could shoot up again quickly, urging citizens to use "common sense" to avoid posing a risk to others. Restaurants and cafes will also be allowed to stay open until 1 a.m. starting Monday. The current limit of four adults per table will also be abolished. Some experts have expressed doubts about the relaxation of the rules. Professor Hans-Peter Hutter, a specialist in hygiene and microbiology at the Medical University of Vienna, said that it would be better to wait until there is a vaccine against the coronavirus. "We wish that the obligation to wear face masks remained in force, because the older people, who can of course be in close contact with the others, go to the supermarkets more often," he told the Austrian broadcaster ORF on Monday. Enditem Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks on Tuesday with his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, his first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The two sides met at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Jerusalem. Greece and Israel have strong ties deeply rooted in tourism, a source of income that has been severely damaged by the pandemic. Netanyahu said Israel was aiming to open the country for tourism on 1 August, when Israeli tourists would be able to travel to Greece and Cyprus as the first two destinations. Mitsotakis raised his concern over what he said was Turkey's "aggressive behaviour," after Turkey's navy and air force, which back the UN-supported government in Libya's capital, conducted exercises in the Mediterranean Sea near Libya last week, an apparent show of backing for Tripoli. Turkey has also signed a maritime deal with the Tripoli-based government that would give Ankara access to an economic zone across the Mediterranean, despite the objections from Greece, Cyprus and Egypt. Turkey has said it will begin exploring for natural resources there within months. The two delegations signed three agreements on cyber, agriculture and tourism. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has now reportedly confirmed that the government will allow companies in the region to work with Huawei on 5G. Mr. Ross indicates that the move is intended to strengthen the United States position in the industry. Thats in addition to protecting national security interests pertaining to foreign policy. To that end, the Commerce Department and other agencies have signed on to allow companies in the US to work with Huawei on 5G standards. The rule change follows the addition of Huawei to the US Entity List last year. That effectively banned US companies from working with Huawei across the board. It has also discouraged some companies outside of the region from working with the Chinese tech giant. US companies such as Qualcomm have been calling for such a rule since late 2019. The CEO of Qualcomm pointed out, at the time, that standards are imperative. And, without the interaction and cooperation of international companies and industry leaders such as Huawei, global standardization is not possible. Or, the US simply wont be a part of setting the standards. Advertisement This wont just apply to 5G technologies either As noted above, this doesnt necessarily change things for Huawei. It does mean that the company can continue working on the standardization of technologies it leads on. But it doesnt mean that it will be able to move forward with its proposal to license 5G tech to US companies, for example. Perhaps more importantly, it doesnt allow Huawei to step away from bans that have forced the company to look elsewhere for components for its products. The company has had a great deal of difficulty sourcing those for everything from its smartphones and tablets to its chipset division. In some cases, thats been a direct result of long-time partners opting to work in and with the US as opposed to working with Huawei. But it will extend further than just 5G too. Advertisement According to the reported announcement from the Commerce Department, the US needs to be participating in standards-setting for all upcoming tech advancements. That, of course, includes 5G. But it also includes the US maintaining influences on standards for autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technologies. The implication is that the Commerce Department doesnt want to see any US company or partners left behind on big tech innovations. So it appears to be setting up and maintaining a line between two activities. Namely, those are working with a banned company and working with a banned company on standards. Those standards arent necessarily going to be limited to 5G or even to Huawei if the US is going to remain in the loop and competitive. When does this rule go into effect? With the new rule in place, companies will be able to work with the banned company. But its not immediately clear how far that will extend. Presumably, that will extend to other banned companies too. Or at least it will as long as those companies have a measurable impact on the formation of standards. Or if the company in question is an industry leader in its respective technology fields. Advertisement That will likely be clarified with the publication of the rule. The rule change could be published as early as today. It is currently waiting to be published by the Federal Register. Thats according to individuals reportedly familiar with the process. United Nations: With US Secretary of State John Kerry invoking North Korea's latest nuclear explosion as a "reckless act of provocation," the UN Security Council has approved a resolution urging quick global implementation of a treaty that would ban tests of such weapons. Kerry said universal adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty would result in a "safer, more secure, and more peaceful planet," as the United States and 18 other council members approved the resolution yesterday, with none opposed and Egypt abstaining. Security Council approval comes as the Comprehensive Test Ban Organisation set up to administer the treaty marks its 20th anniversary. CTBO chief Lassina Zerbo welcomed the vote, telling The Associated Press that "it will remind the international community ... that we have to finish what we started 20 years ago." European Union foreign policy coordinator Federica Mogherini said approval is "an important step" toward global enactment of the treaty. The Washington-based Arms Control Association called it "a very important reaffirmation of the global taboo against nuclear weapon test explosions and strong call for ratification" by key nations. Yet yesterday's move was mostly symbolic. The US remains one of the holdouts among the 44 countries that are designated "nuclear capable", the United States, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan that still need to ratify the treaty for it to enter into force. North Korean leaders appeared in no mood to ratify any time soon, with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho vowing his country will expand its nuclear capabilities in defiance of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. Speaking at the UN General Assembly yesterday, he condemned Washington for flying two supersonic bombers over South Korea earlier this week, vowing "the United States will have to face tremendous consequences beyond imagination." North Korea, he said, "will continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality in order to defend the dignity and right to existence and safeguard genuine peace vis-a-vis the increased nuclear war threat of the United States." Even without ratification, the UN's CTBTO already polices the world for any sign of nuclear tests with a global network of monitoring stations that pick up seismic signals and gases released by such events. But until those eight countries embrace the treaty it is supposed to administer, it cannot go on site to inspect for tests. The White House has lobbied Congress for support since anti-treaty minded Republicans rejected ratification 17 years ago under President Bill Clinton, with Senate approval falling far short of the required two-thirds majority. But opposition remains strong, although advocates say that computer modeling and other cutting edge techniques make real testing obsolete. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The East Sides Second Baptist Church has dropped its monthslong lawsuit against the city to house a migrant child shelter in its community center. The church thought were better off serving children in a different capacity, whether its having parishioners going to other facilities that are up and running in San Antonio, or providing a different service in the building, said Dan Dalton, a Detroit-based attorney for the church. So with that, the church just withdrew the case. Second Baptist had planned to contract with Arizona-based VisionQuest. But the company said in a statement it no longer has plans to open up more migrant child shelters in Texas because of a reallocation of federal funds related to the COVID response. The $14.6 million the firm was awarded by the federal government last year to house up to 150 boys in the San Antonio area no longer is available, VisionQuest spokesman Jeffrey Bender said. The Department of Health and Human Services later confirmed that the grants funding had been terminated. After signing a $3.2 million draft lease with the company last year, Second Baptist requested a zoning change necessary for the shelter. The city rejected it, and in January, the church sued the city on religious freedom grounds. After the churchs preliminary injunction was denied by U.S. District Judge David Ezra, the city filed to dismiss the case. By late May, the church dropped its case. We appreciate that the plaintiffs decided to drop their federal lawsuit. We continue to believe the councils actions were based exclusively on zoning and land-use principles, City Attorney Andy Segovia said. VisionQuest, which operates other migrant child shelters, was looking to house up to 90 boys ages 10 to 17 in the church community center. The Rev. Robert Jemerson said in earlier interviews that the lease with VisionQuest would help the church pay $1.5 million in debt it owes for building the community center. Since VisionQuest began pursuing a shelter in San Antonio, concerns re-emerged over previous complaints about the companys treatment of children in its shelters. In Pennsylvania, two of its facilities were the subject of staff abuse allegations. In New Mexico, the companys request for a state license application was denied because officials said it needed more information about the Pennsylvania incidents. In San Antonio, Universal City and Waco, residents largely expressed opposition to the facilities. Many were wary of a for-profit company being put in charge of caring for children, and expressed concerns over the role these facilities played during the Trump administrations family separation policy. Others took issue with having immigrant teenage boys living in their neighborhood. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and East Side leaders expressed concerns over the indefinite detention of migrant children, and the conditions under which theyre held. The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment. Jemerson declined a request for comment. Dalton said the church preferred to put its resources into the community than to continue paying legal fees. Im sad for the children that could have had a warm, comfortable safe place to be, Dalton said about the end to the case. Youd think its a humane thing to do, but the people who opposed us had their reason, and created a story that wasnt true, and it was just very unfortunate. Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. To read more from Silvia, become a subscriber. sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF Anonymous has taken action against Atlanta PD for the execution of #RayshardBrooks, we call for the arrest of the two murderers. No more impunity. #BlackLivesMatter #AtlantaShooting #AtlantaProtests https://t.co/jpFhU7T8Ij Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) June 14, 2020 For the second time in two weeks the hacker group Anonymous has expressed solidarity with the protest movements roiling the country by targeting a U.S. police department this time taking aim at Atlanta police.The Atlanta Police Department's website became temporarily unavailable Sunday, losing connectivity at approximately 8:30 a.m. until around 11:30 a.m., according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution The incident occurred roughly a day after police shot and killed an African American man, Rayshard Brooks, during a struggle at a local fast food restaurant Friday night. The killing has spawned localized protests against police brutality.Anonymous claimed responsibility for the apparent cyberattack on APD in a tweet Sunday morning.The decentralized "hacktivist" group, which also recently took responsibility for an attack on the Minneapolis Police Department , made a name for itself by targeting what it deems oppressive institutions all around the world. It has also taken aim at terrorist groups, like the Islamic State Herb Lin, senior research scholar at Stanford University, said that Anonymous true to its moniker is a hard group to pin down. While they do not operate like traditional cybermercenaries, there's no telling what the group's origins are or who is involved."It could be state-sponsored, or criminal, or individual activists, or hackers out for a good time or any combination of these," said Lin. "I believe anyone can buy a Guy Fawkes mask on Amazon for about $15 and claim to be a part of Anonymous."The recent targeting of police departments is a little different than their traditional efforts, said Lin, but it is in many ways consistent with their overall, self-expressed goals."One fairly common thread is that they tend to embody uncompromising principles/ideals of Internet libertarianism anti-censorship, anti-copyright, anti-authoritarianism, and so on," he said. "Their efforts against the Minneapolis police department are a bit of an exception in that there was no overt 'cyber' dimension to George Floyds murder, but those efforts are broadly consistent with an anti-authoritarian ethos."The APD could not be reached for comment about the incident. The company stressed that the Ukrainian language is a priority in communication with customers. Ukrainian Embassy in the United States praised the recent step by McDonald's Ukrainian office to leave Ukrainian and English the only two languages available for electronic orders, which sparked criticism among some Russian speakers, while other Ukrainians who speak Russian in everyday life have welcomed the move. We totally understand @McDonalds, names of food in Ukrainian sound much yummier Many thanks to the company for their firm position regarding Ukrainian language in the menus of McDonalds stores in Ukraine. Now we can say: Learn Ukrainian with McDonalds pic.twitter.com/jOXUdLQ5kQ UKR Embassy in USA (@UKRintheUSA) June 16, 2020 "We totally understand @McDonalds, names of food in Ukrainian sound much yummier," Ukrainian Embassy tweeted. "Many thanks to the company for their firm position regarding Ukrainian language in the menus of McDonalds stores in Ukraine," diplomats wrote. "Now we can say: 'Learn Ukrainian with McDonald's," the tweet concludes. In a comment to BBC News Ukraine, the company's press service said: "According to the language legislation, McDonald's in Ukraine has Ukrainian as the main language of communication. All official paperwork, advertising, communication on social networks, information on the site and in the consumer's corner is in the state language." Read alsoUkrainian language stripped of official status in Russian proxy Donbas "republic" rights watchdog The company stressed that the Ukrainian language is a priority in communication with customers. "However, our staff are ready to switch to Russian if asked to do so," the company said. File image(Image Source: Reuters) Amid the coronavirus crisis, a housing society in Maharashtra's Aurangabad city has converted its two empty bungalows into COVID care centres for asymptomatic patients with the help of its own funds. The idea is to facilitate asymptomatic patients from the housing society stay near their homes and family members and remain stress-free while undergoing treatment, its resident Shailesh Kasliwal told PTI. After a resident of the 'Blue Bell' housing society, comprising 200 houses in Chikalthana area, tested positive for coronavirus about 15 days back and the health staff reached there to take him to hospital, the society members decided to set up a COVID care centre for the asymptomatic patients. "The society has spent its funds proposed for the Ganpati festival this year along with some remaining funds of last year," Kasliwal said. He said one of the society members tested positive for coronavirus about a fortnight back following which local health teams and administrative personnel came to the premises to take him to hospital. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show "It was a tense moment for the entire society. All of us, from children to elderly people, were stressed seeing the situation. This gave us the idea to set up a COVID care centre to treat asymptomatic patients from our society," he said. The housing society then formed a five-member committee to implement the idea. "We have two empty bungalows and we set up the facility there. We decided to celebrate Ganeshotsav this year in a simple manner and spend the entire fund proposed for the festival on this COVID care facility," said Kasliwal, who is a member of the committee. The two COVID care facilities set up in the society have separate rooms for doctors, and also has a family ward and a ward for children, he said. Some doctors from the society who were working in other COVID care hospitals guided residents on how to set up the facility. The two COVID care centres are equipped with all necessary items, from toothpaste to slippers, as well as medicines and oxygen cylinders if needed, Kasliwal said. "We have also appointed two nurses at the facilities...the COVID care centre in our own premises has helped residents shun the fear of the disease," he said. If anyone from the society tests positive for the disease and is asymptomatic, he or she can be lodged at the facility which is near their homes. The patient will also be able to get food and other requirements fulfilled from his/her home or with the help of neighbours, he said. "We have also set up a kitchen for the COVID care centre for which residents provided a refrigerator, an oven, and a cooking gas," he said. Kasliwal said their corporator Raju Shinde also asked the local health teams to help the society in guiding about all the essential requirements at the two facilities. Another society resident Preeti Zanwar said she was initially scared after a person, who resided just five to six houses away from hers, tested positive for coronavirus. "But, with the COVID care facility now being there in our society, the stress and tension has gone. If anyone suffers from COVID-19 here, the person will at least be near to his/her family," she said. Aurangabad Municipal Corporation's health officer Dr Neeta Padalkar lauded the initiative. "This is a good initiative by the housing society. Now we need to sit and check the availability of staff to run the centre, if it is needed. I have told the team in that area to co-ordinate with the society and check the hurdles," she said. MUMBAI : After giving up on a costly lockdown, India is projected to see its coronavirus outbreak nearly triple over the next month to more than 800,000 cases as the countrys leaders tell citizens to learn to live with the virus. The forecast from a team of data scientists at the University of Michigan would put India just below Brazil, the worlds second worst-hit country right now, and on track to surpass the Latin American country given its massive population of 1.3 billion people and the ongoing relaxation of virus containment measures. You cannot see the peak, its been pushed further in time," said Bhramar Mukherjee, a professor of biostatistics at the University of Michigan who is part of the team thats modeling Indias epidemic. Mukherjee removed longer term projections from the teams website because they were causing people to panic. I wish I could be more positive but I think its going to be really hard over the next couple of months." India tried a nationwide lockdown at the end of March, at a relatively early stage of its detected outbreak. While the measures slowed transmission somewhat, they didnt flatten Indias infection curve as they have in other, developed nations. Steadily worse In fact, the lockdown pushed India toward its first full-year economic contraction in over four decades, leaving millions jobless and forcing the government to ease curbs this month. Daily cases have since spiked to over 10,000, taking the total tally past 343,000, trailing only the US, Brazil and Russia. With lockdowns too costly to continue and the surge of new cases each day too overwhelming to implement the kind of test-and-trace strategy used in South Korea and Germany, India must now focus on limiting casualties while hoping people practice social distancing on their own. But as day laborers put out of work by the lockdown continue to flee Indias megacities for their villages in the hinterland, infections have begun to multiply in poorer, more rural parts of the country that have even less health-care infrastructure. Spokespeople for the Ministry of Health and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment. India cant afford to have any more lockdowns and, therefore, the strategy is to open up and deal with the virus -- I think the slogan is live with the corona," said Ramanan Laxminarayan, director of the New Delhi and Washington D.C.-based Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy. You basically have to live with it until the vaccine arrives or there is herd immunity." Both those milestones are far off. Herd immunity occurs when at least 60% of a population develops antibodies naturally after infection. Years to inoculate Though there are about 100 vaccines in development globally, it could be years before theres viable and widely-available inoculation. As Indias infection numbers have climbed, the government has taken to pointing to the countrys reported fatality rate -- among the lowest in the world at 2.9% -- as evidence its approach to the virus is paying off. But a low death rate may also be a function of Indias young population, who are less likely to fall seriously ill from Covid-19. Doubts also remain over whether official data shows the full picture. The health care system is already becoming overwhelmed in the cities hardest hit by the virus. In New Delhi, the countrys capital, and Mumbai, its financial center, bodies are piling up in hospitals and crematoria and stories of patients being denied treatment for lack of beds have become common. Record fatalities New Delhi reported a record 129 casualties on June 12, and Maharashtra, the state where Mumbai is located, logged a record 178 deaths on June 15, according to coronavirus.app, a data aggregation platform. While other countries used lockdowns to bring the rate of daily new cases down to low enough levels to break large chains of transmission, Indias population density and multi-generation households pose a different set of challenges. Despite some bright spots in virus containment -- the southern state of Kerala and the Dharavi slums in Mumbai have brought case growth down through intensive contact tracing and isolation -- these measures may be too hard to implement across India. Until herd immunity catches up, India can expect a cascade of peaks" as outbreaks sweep around the country, the University of Michigans Mukherjee said. In experiencing a lockdown that wrought economic suffering without flattening the infection curve, India had the worst of both worlds," she said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! A 1980s-era elevated monorail in Floridas largest city is being reimagined as a starting point for a new autonomous transit system.The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is moving forward with a "request for qualifications" (RFQ) to evaluate contractors, or a collection of contractors, to design, build, operate and maintain an autonomous transit system that will revive the 2.5-mile Skyway in downtown Jacksonville.The project, known as the Ultimate Urban Circulator Program (U2C), will introduce autonomous vehicle technology and other transportation innovation into the downtown area, building on the footprint already occupied by the Skyway.The thought that will go into this project has the opportunity to be leveraged around the country, in terms of the deployment of autonomous vehicles, in our communities around the United States, said Nathaniel P. Ford, CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, in his comments during a meeting last Thursday to discuss the qualifications process.The JTA is searching for a turnkey solution where an operator will be able to develop a Level 4 autonomous system, officials said.In 2015, the JTA launched a Skyway Advisory Committee to review the system and to see how to either improve it, demolish it or maintain it as is, said David Cawton II, communications director for the authority, explaining how the concept for the Ultimate Urban Circulator was conceived.Crawton went on to explain that the project will be a multi-phase plan to convert the existing tracks to accommodate autonomous vehicles and expand the network through ground-level connections and on-street routes to create a 10-mile network in and around downtown Jacksonville.What exactly that system might look like is still to be determined.The Ultimate Urban Circulator project is vehicle agnostic at this point, Cawton said.The first phase of the project is to be developed in the Bay Street Innovation Corridor, a primary east-west thoroughfare in downtown, connecting historic districts and other areas with potential for redevelopment.The JTA has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) to include AV testing and curriculum development in advanced automotive technologies, which will include connected vehicles, big-data collection, big-data analysis and real-time data feedback.Partnering up with JTA certainly gave us an opportunity to really take it to the next level and get involved with autonomous technologies," said Doug Brauer, dean of Engineering, Technology and Industry at FSCJ.The autonomous shuttle project being pursued by JTA will serve as an ideal research area for the universitys advanced transportation technology education.It ends up being a natural marriage, he remarked. Were going to be creating a more advanced workforce thats exactly what they need to step in and support autonomous vehicles.This undertaking touches on a number of transportation trends that cities across the nation are exploring ranging from how to effectively deploy and use autonomous vehicle technology namely in the form of small, electric shuttles to reimagining legacy transportation systems and networks.In a number of cities like Los Angeles and others, bus-rapid-transit lanes have been carved out of downtown streets and expressways, allowing transit vehicles to zoom past crawling traffic in dedicated lanes. In other cities like Kansas City, Mo., streetcar systems perhaps the most ubiquitous form of public transit in the first half of the 20th century have been revived to great fanfare, often serving as the launch point for downtown revitalization efforts.And so, the Urban Circulator is set to serve as a restart for the Skyway monorail people mover, a product of 1970-era transportation dreams to address parking shortages, traffic congestion and environmental concerns.Were looking forward to partnering with a very progressive, thinking-outside-of-the-box-type organization to really bring something home that is going to be a legacy project for Jacksonville, for Florida and for the United States, Ford said. Ramallah, June 16 : The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of misleading the world regarding his government's plan to annex the Palestinian lands. "Netanyahu is trying to mislead the world's public opinion and the international officials to facilitate the process of marketing his planned annexation of parts of the West Bank," the ministry said in an emailed press statement, Xinhua news agency reported. "He wants to soften the international reactions and positions ... and dismantle the international consensus that clearly rejects the annexation plan," it added. Netanyahu's attempts at a gradual implementation of the annexation plan "will never change the actual essence of annexing large parts of the West Bank lands," the statement noted. Israel Radio earlier reported that Netanyahu had hinted at the possible postponement of his annexation plan that is supposed to be set in motion in early July. As the United States continues to face record unemployment due to the coronavirus pandemic, 30% of Americans missed their housing payments in June, according to a survey by Apartment List, an online rental platform. That's up from 24% who missed their payment just two months earlier in April and about on par with the 31% who missed payments in May. Renters, younger and lower-income households and urban dwellers were the groups most likely to miss their housing payments, Apartment List found. At the same time that this "historically high" rate of Americans are missing their housing payments, eviction protections put in place at the beginning of Covid-19's spread in the U.S. are beginning to expire. Additionally, the current 30 million unemployed Americans will lose the extra $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits at the end of July. Taken together, experts warn of a coming housing "apocalypse" unless the government intervenes. Some 37% of renters and 26% of homeowners are at least somewhat worried that they will face eviction or foreclosure in the next six months, Apartment List reports. Columbia University researchers estimate that homelessness could increase by between 40% and 45% this year over where it was in January 2019. Some legal experts expect "at least" 50,000 eviction filings in New York City alone when the state's blanket eviction moratorium lifts June 20, most for nonpayment of rent. (A more restricted eviction ban is in place in the state until August 20.) "In the current climate, with unemployment at record levels and with many unable to pay rent for Covid-related reasons, neither housing court judges nor our lawyers will be able to resolve many of these disputes, resulting in evictions, displacement, homelessness, senseless exposure to infection and more difficulty in containing Covid-19," writes The Right to Counsel NYC Coalition in a letter to Lawrence K. Marks, Chief Administrative Judge at the New York State Unified Court System. To prevent a homelessness crisis, governors could extend, or put into place for the first time, universal eviction moratoriums for the duration of the coronavirus crisis, advocates argue. Not only would this help keep people in their homes, it would keep Covid-19 from spreading even more in the U.S., where at least 118,000 people have died from the disease. On the federal level, the House's Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act would allocate $100 billion for emergency rental assistance, which would help tenants around the country pay their rent and utility bills. The HEROES Act, which was passed by the House in May but has so far stalled in the Senate, includes an extension of the nationwide moratorium on eviction filings, hearings and executions for 12 months. These are needed responses to a coming crisis, Solomon Greene, a senior fellow in housing policy at the Urban Institute, previously told CNBC Make It. "Housing instability has huge health consequences even when we're not facing a pandemic," says Greene. "Exposure risk is so much more amplified and worsened when you can't shelter in place because you don't have a place to shelter." Don't miss: Check out: The best credit cards of 2021 could earn you over $1,000 in 5 years Having Palm Beach Tax Groups Roland C. Manuel as a resource is an integrated approach for meeting tax and financial needs for multi-family offices, business owners, and taxpayers of South Florida. Raised by his grandmother in South Florida, Manuel wanted to pursue architecture and law but was inspired by his grandmother to change his career path. Working with her, Manuel shifted completely to tax and finance and she hired him at Palm Beach Tax Group. Manuels upbringing by his family in finance and tax has given him the drive to support local family-owned businesses much like his own. During Family Office Networks interview with Manuel, some of the topics they reviewed were geared towards explanations behind the paycheck protection program forgiveness and qualifications, loan cap rules for franchisees, the effect of using third-party payroll providers, and what quarterly dates should be used to calculate maximum loan value. With no sight on when the pandemic will end, the government is set in their exclusions when it comes to added employee benefits. Said exclusions include non-cash benefits such as group healthcare coverage, local and state tax payments, and retirement plans. Having Palm Beach Tax Groups Roland C. Manuel as a resource is an integrated approach for meeting tax and financial needs for multi-family offices, business owners, and taxpayers of South Florida. The goal of the Palm Beach Tax Group is to keep clients tax-aware and advise them on how to run a financially sustainable business as well as how to accumulate additional wealth to feel secure during unprecedented times. To see his insights on navigating the CARES Act for family owned and other businesses visit: https://familyofficenetworks.com/fon-featured-news/sustaining-the-covid-19-financial-crisis-qa-with-roland-c-manuel-ea-of-palm-beach-tax-group/ For more information about Palm Beach Tax Group call at (561) 655-5777, visit palmbeachtaxgroup.com, or email Roland@palmbeachtaxgroup.com. Released by DVK PR & Marketing (dvkpr.com) Anglo-German airline Tui has resumed operations across several European countries, with the UK to follow later in the summer following the company's decision last week to extend the suspension of flights from Britain. The Hanover-based group, which also runs hotels and cruise lines, said it is progressively restarting flights out of Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, which they have been forced to ground due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They plan to include more travel to destinations in southern and eastern Europe next month when it hopes to have about half of its hotels reopened. Since it recommenced their business operations, the company said it had experienced 'a notable increase' in bookings for vacations, especially in its German and Belgian markets Tui also aims to be running 'Blue Cruises,' which are three to four days long, in the North and Baltic Seas and to have its Hapag-Lloyd Cruises subsidiary restarting journeys later in the summer. Since it recommenced their business operations, the company said it had experienced 'a notable increase' in bookings for vacations, especially in its German and Belgian markets. But, with holidays from the UK and other markets not being restarted until later in the summer, the group is still expecting to be operating at just 30 per cent of its capacity in its final quarter. It has sold around a quarter of its 2020 summer holidays so far, while prices have rocketed by 14 per cent. Earlier this month, the group made further financial savings by agreeing on a deal with Boeing to delay the delivery of new airplanes for an average of two years Tui last week extended the suspension of holidays for customers from the UK due to coronavirus travel restrictions as the government brought in a 14-day quarantine policy for international arrivals. The company cancelled all trips from the UK up to July 10, having previously set a date of June 30. In its latest update, Tui said UK bookings for winter 2020/21 are up 6 per cent with selling prices 5 per cent higher on average, while it added that bookings for summer 2021 look 'promising'. To help it survive the crisis, Tui has received a 1.6billion bridging loan from the German government and announced 8,000 job redundancies Tourism companies have been severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak in recent months, with countries imposing strict international travel restrictions. Flights and holiday bookings have had to be rescheduled or cancelled en masse, and many airlines have had to fire staff whilst others such as Flybe and Latin American company Avianca have gone bankrupt. To help it survive the crisis, Tui has received a 1.6billion bridging loan from the German government and announced 8,000 job redundancies to combat what it called 'unquestionably the greatest crisis the [travel] industry and Tui has ever faced.' Earlier this month, the group made further financial savings by agreeing on a deal with Boeing to delay the delivery of new airplanes for an average of two years. Boeing also agreed to provide some compensation to them for the financial damage that has been caused to them by the grounding of 737 Max planes. Shares in Tui were up by 4.6 per cent to 473p by late afternoon. The Chattanooga Airport Board approved what they deemed a conservative 2021 budget, one which shows the devastating effects COVID-19 had had on the airport and industry in general. Also, it was announced that United Airlines is suspending its service from Chattanooga to Chicago effective July 3. Airport President Terry Hart said, "We are optimistic that service to Chicago will resume as the air travel industry continues to rebound. We are already experiencing a positive resurgence of travel and expect that to continue into summer and fall." Of the budget, Mr. Hart said, Revenue is budgeted at 13.1 million, which is 38 percent below the fiscal year 2020 forecast. This overall decrease in revenues is a direct impact of COVID-19 has had on airport operations. He said he believed that because of the lost revenue, some airports are looking at raising rates. However, President Hart believes that the Chattanooga Airport does not have any need to increase fees or rates in 2021. Among these fees is the parking rate, which will remain the same next year. On our budget, I would say we prepared what I would call a very conservative budget, said the president. One that really focuses on not thinking were going to be taking in a lot of revenue to offset expenses from last year. As you can see from the airline perspective, we built a schedule based upon a slow build-up of flights. That has in impact on other things such as parking, rent-a-car, the terminal. A lot of those things take place as a result of the air-carrier operations. General operating expenses for the year is set at $11.5 million. He said this is a 21 percent decrease over what the airport believes they will finish by the end of June of this year. We decreased this primarily because of cost-cutting measures put in place that were necessary to offset reduced operations, said president Hart. As he was going through the budget, an unfamiliar voice began to make sexually explicit remarks about Mr. Hart and the board. It was quickly determined that the Zoom call had been hacked, and every member of the board disconnected from the call. About half an hour later, the board established a conference call and the board discussed the rest of the budget. Mr. Hart said because there will still be a positive balance after the budget, he said the airport can feel like it is in a good place. Mr. Hart also said he believes the effects of COVID-19 over the last three months will continue to be felt for months, if not years. Migrant workers making PPE for firms supplying the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic are earning as little as 1.08 an hour in cramped factories, an investigation has found. Staff employed by Top Glove in Malaysia, the world's largest manufacturer of medical gloves, have told Channel 4 News for a special report, broadcast tonight, of the level of exploitation seen in factories. It is set to raise serious questions about whether the company is adhering to international and UK law and standards in its efforts to meet the huge global demand for PPE. Migrant workers, pictured, making PPE for firms supplying the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic are earning as little as 1.08 an hour in cramped factories, a Channel 4 News investigation has found Top Globe staff fear catching the virus due to poor social distancing in factories and in worker hostels, pictured, where there can be up to 24 people per room Workers are not paid for the additional time, up to 30 minutes per day, they spend queuing for temperature checks, meaning they are effectively paid less than Malaysia's minimum wage The broadcaster has been told workers are regularly putting in 12-hour shifts, six days a week, while payslips reveal some are clocking up 111 hours in overtime, breaching Malaysian law. Top Glove is also accused of making illegal deductions from the salaries of its workers, who fear catching the virus due to poor social distancing in factories and in worker hostels, where there can be up to 24 people per room. The company, which declined to address any of the allegations specifically but said the broadcaster's report was inaccurate, reported a 366 per cent increase in quarterly profits because of huge demand for PPE. It has been a supplier of gloves to Polyco Healthline, a major contractor to the NHS Supply Chain, which provides PPE to UK hospitals. Documents show that BM Polyco, a subsidiary of Polyco Healthline, ordered 2.8 million gloves from Top Glove in February. Polyco Healthline insists the order was not for the NHS and that it has not ordered from the NHS for 'several months'. In the early stages of the pandemic, the UK government put pressure on the Malaysian Government to increase production of gloves amid chronic shortages in NHS hospitals and care homes. Top Glove maintains it has taken appropriate measures to protect its workers during the lockdown, but Channel 4 News has seen evidence that the company has failed to properly enforce social distancing at its factories, worker hostels and transportation. Despite Channel 4 News seeing evidence that Top Glove has failed to properly enforce social distancing, the company maintains it has taken appropriate measures to protect its workers during the lockdown This is in breach of Movement Control Order measures imposed by the Malaysian Government on essential industries as part of its Covid-19 preventative strategy. Migrant workers from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal are housed in cramped and squalid company-run hostels. A union leader in Malaysia warned that the sub-standard accommodation was a potential breeding ground for a spread of Covid-19, after mass outbreaks of the disease in migrant worker hostels in neighbouring Singapore. 'All they need is only one person if at all contacted with someone who has COVID, the entire group of workers will be in a vulnerable situation as what happened in Singapore,' said Gopal Krishnam, former Secretary General of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress. Top Glove workers said the company compels them to work 12-hour shifts, six days per week. They are paid Malaysia's minimum wage, approximately 1.08 per hour. Overtime rates are just 1.50. Workers also claim the company makes unlawful deductions from its employees' salaries for lateness and clocking out early from the factory. Workers are not paid for the additional time, up to 30 minutes per day, they spend queuing for temperature checks, meaning they are effectively paid less than Malaysia's minimum wage. Payslips show that some migrant staff have worked up to 111 hours in overtime each month in excess of the maximum allowed under Malaysia's employment laws. Many workers have paid extortionate recruitment fees of up to 5,000 US dollars to agents in their home countries, leaving them in effective debt bondage. Many are trapped in poverty because they are paid a basic wage of 1,200 Ringgit per month (approximately 225) which, after deductions, leaves them with little money to live on, let alone send to their families back home. The lack of social distancing in hostels, pictured, is in breach of Movement Control Order measures imposed by the Malaysian Government on essential industries as part of its Covid-19 preventative strategy Concerns about the conditions of migrant workers at Top Glove were first raised in December 2018 in investigations by the Guardian and Thomson Reuters. The Department of Health and Social Care announced an investigation which was initiated by NHS Supply Chain. NHS Supply Chain confirmed that one of its biggest glove suppliers, Polyco Healthline, had purchased product from Top Glove for the NHS. They said an 'action plan' was agreed and an audit was carried out and completed in August 2019 that showed Top Glove had made 'good progress' in addressing concerns. A spokesman for the company told Channel 4 News: 'Top Glove is compliant with labour laws and social compliance requirements & is committed to continuously improving our labour practices.' The Department of Health and Social Care said: 'We take all allegations of modern slavery very seriously and we expect all suppliers to the NHS to follow the highest legal and ethical standards. 'The British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur engages regularly with the Government of Malaysia on improving the protection of vulnerable migrant workers.' Polyco Healthline said it had not supplied product manufactured by Top Glove to the NHS for 'several months', and that the order placed by its subsidiary BM Polyco was not for the NHS. Polyco Healthline declined to give Channel 4 News a statement but made clear this order was not for the NHS. They insisted that any gloves produced for the NHS had come from a different Top Glove factory that was 'A rated.' Researchers are launching a study to see whether blood plasma from coronavirus survivors can block infection in others. The study will involve people in groups at high risk of getting infected. This could include health workers, husbands or wives of sick individuals and people who live in nursing homes. The new research will build on recent studies that looked into whether blood plasma from recovered coronavirus patients could be an effective treatment for infected individuals. Plasma is the yellowish, liquid part of blood. It contains proteins called antibodies that target infections entering the body. Blood plasma from former patients may help infected individuals defeat COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Many survivors of COVID-19 have donated their blood plasma in hopes of helping sick patients recover. Thousands of coronavirus patients in hospitals around the world have been treated with this kind of plasma, including more than 20,000 in the United States. So far, there is little evidence to demonstrate that blood plasma is helping coronavirus patients recover. One recent study from China had unclear results. Another from New York showed only small benefits. Dr. Shmuel Shoham of Americas Johns Hopkins University told The Associated Press that the studies do provide some glimmers of hope. Shoham will lead the new study on whether the plasma can prevent infections entirely. Researchers plan to use 150 volunteers for the study. Some of the test subjects will receive plasma from COVID-19 survivors that contains coronavirus-fighting antibodies. Others will receive a kind of plasma used daily in hospitals. Scientists will examine whether there are differences in who gets sick. If the survivor plasma works, it could play a major part in reducing the number of coronavirus infections until a vaccine is approved. The researchers say the survivor plasma could be given to high-risk individuals to temporarily strengthen the immune system. Theyre a paramedic, theyre a police officer, theyre a poultry industry worker, theyre a submarine naval officer, Shoham said. Can we blanket protect them? As more people survive COVID-19, there are increasing calls for them to donate plasma to build up the nations supply, in case the treatments prove to be effective. Donated blood plasma is also sometimes combined with products designed to make the plasma stronger. The Spanish chemical company Grifols is expected to create a version of donor plasma that is filled with a large amount of antibodies. Using blood plasma directly from recovered patients seems to be safe, Dr. Michael Joyner of the Mayo Clinic reported last month. His team followed the first 5,000 people to receive plasma in a program run by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The program, which helps hospitals carry out the experimental treatment, found few serious side effects in patients. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story nursing home n. a place where people who are old or who are unable to take care of themselves can live and be taken care of benefit n. a good or helpful result or effect glimmers of hope phr. a belief that there is a slight chance that something positive will happen entirely adj. completely immune system n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections poultry n. domesticated birds kept for meat blanket n. the whole amount side effect n. a secondary and usually negative effect of something (such as a drug) Central govt has jurisdiction over serious cases in HK on natl security: official Global Times By Yang Sheng Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/15 22:57:46 Stricter measures needed if natl security law faces resistance: experts A senior official of the central government in charge of Hong Kong and Macao affairs said the central government should retain its jurisdiction over "specific serious cases" in Hong Kong that grossly compromise national security, but that the city government will shoulder the "major" responsibility in enforcing the national security law after it is enacted. Mainland experts said if the legislation is interrupted just like the turmoil in Hong Kong in 2019, the central government will be empowered to take stern measures to govern Hong Kong and exercise its direct jurisdiction in the city. Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, made the comments at a symposium in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province on Monday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Basic Law promulgation. Deng said the central government's direct jurisdiction of specific serious cases would be "very, very few" and would not replace the responsibility of the relevant departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), nor would it affect the HKSAR's judicial authority according to the Basic Law. The central government will establish national security agencies to oversee national security-related issues in Hong Kong, and the agencies should "supervise and guide" Hong Kong's enforcement of the law, and the agencies and the HKSAR's relevant authorities should also strengthen information and intelligence sharing on a routine basis. On what the "specific serious cases" are, mainland experts provided various views, saying the legislation is still in progress. They said Deng's remarks could guide legal professionals in Hong Kong during the legislation progress. According to the decision on the national security legislation for Hong Kong passed by the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on May 28, acts in the HKSAR to split the country, subvert state power, organize and carry out terrorist activities and other behavior that seriously endangers national security, as well as interference from foreign and external forces in the affairs of the HKSAR will be targeted by the new law. Li Xiaobing, a Hong Kong affairs expert at Nankai University in Tianjin who attended the symposium in Shenzhen, told the Global Times that "as long as the cases involve these acts, in principle, they can be regarded as 'specific serious cases.' This is a clear bottom line the NPC has set, and no matter how the legislation gets finalized, the central government has been authorized to have direct control in these conditions." "The new national security law could differentiate between 'normal' and 'significant' cases," Tian Feilong, a Hong Kong affairs expert at Beihang University in Beijing who also attended the symposium, told the Global Times. "So, in order to safeguard national security and keep the HKSAR's high-level of autonomy, Hong Kong legal professionals should think about providing constructive suggestions to help clarify the distinction between 'normal' and 'significant' cases, and between the responsibility of the central government and the HKSAR in the new law, instead of vainly attempting to exclude the direct jurisdiction of the central government in Hong Kong," since it is impossible and unreasonable, he noted. Deng also said that establishment of national security agencies under the central government in Hong Kong was an "unequivocal demand" set out by the NPC. The central government's jurisdiction over cases which seriously damage national security in the HKSAR must be given "teeth" for effective deterrence, rather than just talking the talk but taking no effective action, Deng noted, adding that the HKSAR government should also establish institutes for decision-making, and be responsible for research and analyzing the national security situations. For the executive aspect, the HKSAR government should set special branch with special and professional forces and personnel to handle cases related to the national security, Deng further said. Hong Kong police are setting up a dedicated unit to enforce the national security law, ready to function on the "very first day" the legislation takes effect, the city's security secretary said, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Wednesday. HKSAR Security Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu said the new unit, under the command of police commissioner Chris Tang Ping-keung, "would have intelligence gathering, investigation and training capabilities," the SCMP reported. Wang Zhenmin, former director of the Legal Affairs Department of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong, said the national security legislation for the HKSAR is the gentlest, the most fundamental and most bottom-line legislation, and if the legislation is still opposed, then it would need to be adjusted to meet the high standards of similar laws in other countries, Hong Kong-based media takungpao.com reported. Tian said "compared to the national security laws of other countries, the new legislation for the HKSAR only targets a few, and the cases are also very few," so this shows that the central government doesn't want to get involved in every aspect and affect Hong Kong's high-level autonomy. Li noted that "Wang's remarks also showed another sign: If the legislation process faces serious resistance, just like the massive turmoil in 2019 against the extradition bill, then the legislation could be much stricter and the central government's authority on jurisdiction in Hong Kong could also be broadened." Tian added that "if it still faces massive resistance, it means the current gentle legislation is not enough to handle the national security threat in the HKSAR. The central government will take stricter and tougher actions, and more powers could be given to the central government in governing Hong Kong, and punishment for illegal activities could also be harsher." Officials from the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong, members of the Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the NPC, and more than 200 experts and former officials from the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as foreign scholars and experts from countries including the UK, Spain and Russia, also attended the symposium, takungpao.com reported. Lau Siu-kai, a vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said at the symposium that "some people in Hong Kong are very disappointed and feel 'betrayed.' The support foreign forces can offer them will largely be reduced after the national security law is enacted." Chen Dong, a deputy director of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong, said there is no such region like Hong Kong which could enjoy such a high level of autonomy, and some Western politicians make groundless comments on the HKSAR's autonomy, "and I don't know where they get the evidence and confidence to do so." The Xinhua News Agency reported that foreign experts who attended the symposium discussed the experience in safeguarding national unity and preventing separatism in their own countries, and China's countermeasures to foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs are in accordance with international law. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address I am disheartened and enraged to learn about the remarks made by U.S. Senate candidate Chris Janicek, she said. Chris should acknowledge the harm his behavior has caused and immediately withdraw from the race. This behavior cannot be tolerated. As a sexual assault survivor, I offer my love and support to this woman and thank her for her bravery. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) The government will help in producing robots that can allow health workers to accommodate COVID-19 patients without physical contact. President Rodrigo Duterte's latest report to Congress said the Department of Science and Technology will help produce the Logistic Indoor Service Assistant Telepresence Robot, developed by researchers from the University of Santo Tomas. The LISA Robot is a remote-controlled wheeled device which allows health workers to talk to their patients via wi-fi using a computer, a tablet or a cellphone. "The DOST has approved the proposal submitted by the UST to produce more LISA Robots that can be deployed to health care facilities attending to COVID-19 patients," the report read. The prototype, first developed by UST Professor Anthony James Bautista in April, can be controlled via a simple remote control and powered by a 12-volt battery, with an operating time of eight hours. It also has a compartment to deliver medicines and small items to the patient. The LISA robot may then be automated and programmed with a map to autonomously travel within the hospital premises once it is further developed, the UST Faculty of Engineering said. There are 26,420 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, with 6,252 recoveries and 1,098 deaths as of Monday. Missing N100m: Gen. Otiki's Lawyers Speakes after his Demotion, Awaits Army Council's Decision Says GCM Verdict didnt reflect facts on ground A serving senior army officer and immediate past General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division Sokoto, Major General Hakeem Otiki on Monday said he awaits the final decision of the Nigerian Army Council on his fate before taking the next steps after his conviction on the five count charges brought against him and demotion to the rank of Brigadier General by an army court martial in Abuja. Counsel to the accused senior army officer, Israel Olohundare (SAN) told journalists after the trial that the conviction and sentencing by the General Court Martial "did not reflect the realities on ground, facts, witnesses called and evidences tendered" hence they are looking forward to a favourable response from the Army Council on the matter. - Sentencing - "Many will be praying to have such an unblemished career and record of military service in the country like the accused senior army officer", President of the General Court Martial, Lt. General Lamidi Adeosun had said before sentencing Otiki after his army profile was read following his earlier conviction. Adeosun said that having confirmed that Maj. Gen. Otiki is a first time offender in his 34 years of "previously unblemished career in the army and to the Nigeria armed forces", the court president however said it would "not fail in dispensing justice. We would do the very best with the humanness and kindness that the law allows". The President of the General Court Martial then went ahead and delivered the sentencing of Otiki and ruled as follows: COUNT FIVE: Two (2) years loss of seniority on rank of Major General. Subject to confirmation by the Army Council. COUNT FOUR: Severe reprimand. Subject to confirmation by the Army Council. COUNT THREE: Reduction of rank to Brigadier General with two years seniority on the rank. Subject to confirmation by the Army Council. COUNT TWO: Dismissal, disgrace and dishonour. Subject to confirmation by the Army Council. COUNT ONE: Dismissal, disgrace and dishonour. Subject to confirmation by the Army Council. ORDERS: 1. All monies recovered by the Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) of the Nigerian Army totaling N135,382 million and $6, 600 dollars from the convicted senior officer should be returned to the Nigeria Army coffers. 2. The N150million stolen by the accused senior officer which remained unaccounted for in Count Two should be returned to the coffers of the Nigerian Army. The prosecution counsel, Major AA Onumo had earlier thanked the court martial for doing justice to the case after the conviction of the army general. - Battle shifts to Army Council - After a request for release from detention of the accused senior officer by his lawyers, President of the General Court Martial, Lt. General Lamidi Adeosun said the senior army officer had in recent times been confined to house arrest and that the status quo remains until the SIB guards are eventually pulled out since there was no custodial sentencing. "The SIB and the administrative officer of the court are the ones to handle that. When you say (he has been in) detention the accused senior officer has been in his house since, unless you want us to pronounce that he should be moved out of his house." The defence counsel said with the court's clarity, the accused senior army officer won't be under custody and has now regained his freedom subject to confirmation of the sentencing by the Army Council. "If you listened to my allocutus, you will see that I raised some questions and it was even confirmed by the court that they recovered the sum of N135,382,000.00 million, $6,682 and ongoing projects. Witnesses for the prosecution confirmed that ongoing projects were on and some were completed. So if some projects were completed and some were ongoing as at the time they came to testify, why would you now dismiss a person based on that with disgrace and dishonour?", Olohundare said. The defence counsel went ahead to query why the court martial convicted Otiki when he was not the one that was robbed directly of the army funds. "And you recovered even the N100million. Even the N100million was returned even before the investigation by the SIB started on July 12th (2019). He (Maj. Gen. Hakeem Otiki) was not the one that was robbed, it was the soldiers under him that robbed. It was confirmed that the soldiers robbed, he was not the one. Is it now a crime to entrust money even to soldiers?" Olohundare added. "Supposing even if he had intention to steal it, it was confirmed that he was the one who reported, even the theft. He was the one who reported the theft. So all these ones, we will put them together as mitigating factors before the Army Council for them to have a rethink about all these and we believe that it will be in our favour." the defence counsel told journalists. Major Gen. Otiki had been on trial following the abscondment of five soldiers attached to his office with the sum of N100 million but which had erroneously been reported in the media as N400million. The five soldiers, who absconded with the money were allegedly instructed to deliver it to a senior officer in Kaduna for the purchase of furniture meant for the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto. The fleeing soldiers, who have since been declared wanted are: Corporal Gabriel Oluwaniyi, Corporal Mohammed Aminu, Corporal Haruna, Oluji Joshua and Hayatudeen. One of them Lance Corporal Isah later returned the sum of N15 million as well as $6,600 to army authorities voluntarily and he was detained. Lt. General Lamidi Adeosun who is also the Army Chief of Policy and Plans led the nine month trial. Others on the jury of the court martial include Major General A Tarfa, Major General FO Agbugor, Major General FA Nadu, Major General N Mohammed, Major General CT Olukotu, Major General C C Okonkwo. He also named Major A Mohammed was the judge advocate; and Captain A Ibrahim the Liason Officer. Like the size of the state itself, Texas culinary riches are epic in scope, influenced by history, geography, and native and immigrant cultures. The best cookbooks that mine the food of such a giant place tend to focus on a region, a distinct place and time or specific foodways that illuminate how we live and eat. Such is the case with two new cookbooks that speak to different dining traditions. Cooking in Marfa: Welcome, Weve Been Expecting You and Recipes From the Presidents Ranch: Food People Like to Eat could not be more different in subject matter. The former is a sophisticated treatise on highbrow dining in the art-obsessed desert Shangri-La that is Marfa; the latter a folksy immersion into downhome meals shared by the George W. Bush family at their Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, known as the Western White House. But the two publications share an undeniable spirit a passion for the people and flavors that do Texas proud. Marfa eats Recipes From the Presidents Ranch By Matthew Wendel The White House Historical Association 180 pages, $45 'Cooking in Marfa' By Rocky Barnette and Virginia Leberman Phaidon 256 pages, $49.95 See More Collapse Published by Phaidon in May, Cooking in Marfa is an immersion into the lifestyle, history and food culture of a storied town as seen through the eyes of the owners of destination restaurant the Capri. Authors Virginia Lebermann, co-founder of the arts nonprofit Ballroom Marfa, which is responsible for works such as Prada Marfa, and her husband, chef Rocky Barnette, ushered in a new level of dining in Marfa with a restaurant known for celebrating indigenous ingredients. Recipe: Hibiscus Margarita Though Lebermann hails from a family of ranchers who have been in Texas for more than 100 years, Barnette was raised in North Carolina and moved to Marfa after an eight-year stint in the kitchen of the Michelin-starred Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Va. They share, though, a love of the la frontera culture of a place that Lebermann calls not exactly Texas or Mexico. Recipe: Jamaica (Hibiscus) Paletas It is a regional collision of vastly different yet intertwined histories, cultures, and economic political structures, she writes in the cookbook. She purchased the Capri and its sister property, the Thunderbird Motel, in 2004, and together they created a restaurant that from the beginning was meant to embody the history of this border region. There are about 80 recipes in the cookbook, photographed by Douglas Friedman, that show the Capris obsession for color, texture and composition built on a deep knowledge and appreciation for the regional landscapes native origins. The Capris menu is filled with dishes such as masa pasta with bottarga, tostadas al carbon with razor clams, duck confit with huitlacoche salsa, watermelon gazpacho with sal de gusano and desserts including mesquite bean ice cream and helados fashioned from tamarind, nopales and Mexican elderflower. It is thrilling stuff. Recipe: Grilled Avocado Guacamole Bush people Matthew Wendel, author of Recipes From the Presidents Ranch, is a born and bred Texan from Danbury, a small, rice-farming town south of Houston. His memoir/cookbook now available to order from The White House Historical Association, its publisher reads as a story of a person plucked from obscurity to work with a dynastic family that just so happened to include the most powerful men on Earth. Recipe: Jalapeno Cheese Biscuits The way Wendel tells it, he was working as a catering waiter in Austin in 1995 when he was sent to the governors mansion, where George W. Bushs family lived. Fast-forward a few years when Bush asked Wendel if hed continue serving the family, who was headed to the White House. Wendel was not the White House chef but cooked for and served the Bushes at Camp David and mostly at their home at Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford. He had no formal culinary training, but Wendel, the sixth of nine children, possessed food sensibilities the Bushes appreciated. He learned his way in the kitchen from his mother, Velva, an accomplished home cook and baker known for her from-scratch cinnamon rolls and Sunday suppers of chicken fried in a cast-iron skillet. Recipe: Mattys Fried Chicken Just the kind of food the Bushes loved. And its that filling, honest, flavorful food that populates the cookbook: guacamole and roasted ancho chile salsa, chicken and black bean Mexican lasagna, chicken-fried steak with skillet gravy, green chile macaroni and cheese and jalapeno cheese biscuits. There are touches of elegance lemon asparagus soup, blood orange and date salad, pecan-smoked beef tenderloin but mostly the Bush dining roster was stick-to-your-ribs Texas favorites such as fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, cheese enchiladas and ranch chili. Recipe: Laura Bushs Peach Cream Pie People always asked me, What is the presidents favorite dish? I would always answer, Dessert, Wendel writes. The president is a fast eater, and I said that he ate his meal fast to get to dessert. One of those desserts was undoubtedly Laura Bushs peach cream pie, a recipe included in the cookbook. Wendels service with the Bushes ended after their eight years in the White House. But he remains friends with the family; Laura Bush wrote the books foreward. Today, Wendel is the general manager of the Blair House, the presidential guest house. They continue to be a part of my life, he writes of the Bushes. I had watched Jenna and Barbara grow up from teenagers into smart and beautiful women. I was there for the many birthdays and special moments the family celebrated, never feeling like a servant but as an important part of the care and feeding of the first family and serving my country in the best way I knew how. greg.morago@chron.com The Senate passed expanded vote-by-mail legislation Tuesday that would allow voters to avoid the polls, but still participate, during the upcoming primaries and general election if they feel unsafe due to the ongoing pandemic. The Senate approved its own version, S. 2755, of vote-by-mail legislation that would offer registered voters three options to cast a ballot: during extended early voting periods, voting in-person on election day, or voting-by-mail. Between early voting and vote-by-mail, the reforms could substantially reduce lines on Nov. 3 and increase interest in sometimes lower-turnout primary contests, supporters said. As social distancing has pushed people away from crowded, public locations, officials saw voting-by-mail as a way to offer a safe alternative to keep participation high during the 2020 elections. After adopting several amendments, the Senate unanimously passed the bill that would instruct Secretary of State William Galvin to mail every voter an application for a ballot by July 15. The bill now goes back to the House, which approved the initial voting bill on June 4, and it must be reconciled between leaders of both branches before final legislative votes can be taken and the bill can be sent to Gov. Charlie Baker for review. Operating in a virtual session with many members participating via phone, senators dispensed with 41 amendments over the course of nearly three hours. Senate President Karen Spilka said she thought the session went smoothly and the bill will provide the most robust vote-by-mail ever in the history of Massachusetts." We need to get this on the governors desk quickly so that the secretary of state can start working on it, the clerks can start working on it, and we can help them all meet their obligations," she told the News Service, adding that the two branches must work together to push the legislation forward. Sen. Barry Finegold, the Senate chair of the Election Laws Committee, said the process of crafting the pandemic voting bill was a balancing act and it did not come without its challenges. Provisions in the bill, he said, create new tasks for local clerks and because of that we will do everything we can to be helpful to them." Our goal with this legislation was to make it easier for people to exercise their fundamental democratic right to vote during these unprecedented times," he said during the session. This is the first time in the history of the commonwealth that we are offering early voting for primaries, sending out applications to vote by mail, and counting ballots after Election Day. Minority Leader Bruce Tarr questioned whether the expanded voting methods would be limited to the 2020 elections, or extended to future elections. Finegold said the provisions of the bill would expire Dec. 31. Prior to Tuesdays session, Common Cause Massachusetts and more than 80 organizations, including ACLU and MassPIRG, threw their support behind three amendments filed by Sens. Jo Comerford, Adam Hinds, and Eric Lesser dealing with an online portal to request ballots, postmarking ballots to ensure they are properly counted, and extending the deadline to request mail-in or absentee ballots to the Friday before Election Day. All three were adopted during Tuesdays session. Lessers amendment would require Secretary of State William Galvin to offer a functional online portal no later than Oct. 1 for voters to request mail-in ballots for the general election. Lesser said requesting ballots online is easier, reduces local clerks workload, and is more in line with how most of us live our lives in an increasingly online world. If ballots are returned via bulk mail, some advocates have raised concerns that those ballots would not receive a postmark and might not be counted because it would be difficult to determine if it was mailed by a voter on time. As amended, the Senate bill would ask Galvin to pursue a system which generates a postmark for determining the date upon which the envelope was mailed. Sen. Jamie Eldridge and others pointed to recent elections in other states as examples of what Massachusetts should avoid.Eldridge said nearly 70 percent of Wisconsins African American voters live in Milwaukee, where the city reduced its physical polling location in the spring primary from 180 to five. The Acton Democrat sponsored a successful amendment to limit any last-minute changes to Massachusetts polling locations. One amendment from Sen. Becca Rausch would have required the secretary of state to mail out ballots for the general election to every voter in the state who registered before Oct. 14, removing the step of asking voters to apply for a ballot. The Needham Democrat withdrew her amendment without asking for a vote and pointedly targeted Galvin for what she described as disingenuous and belittling remarks on the proposal. The package would have included an official ballot, instructions for early voting, instructions for completing the ballot, an inner envelope to place the ballot, and an outer envelope addressed to the local election official with postage guaranteed. Rausch said mailing every active, registered voter a ballot without the need for an application process would have removed unnecessary barriers for residents. An op-in vote-by-mail system creates additional bureaucracy for our clerks to manage. Automatic vote-by-mail is administratively simpler and more efficient, she said during the session. But we will not be adopting this policy today. And its important to say why. Our chief elections official simply will not make it happen. Galvins office declined to comment on Rauschs statements. MassVOTE Executive Director Cheryl Clyburn Crawford said while the organization is disappointed that voters will not automatically receive ballots this fall, they applauded the Senate for passing the legislation. This falls elections will undoubtedly prove challenging. Nevertheless, we believe the Senate bill passed today will provide local election officials the tools they need to run our elections this fall, while allowing voters to cast their ballot in a safe, secure manner, she wrote in a statement. With COVID19 impacting all sectors of society, from public health to the economy, voters deserve to face the least amount of burdens as possible when voting this fall. Citing the financial impact the Senates bill would have on municipalities for early voting and other measures, Tarr sought to affirm our obligation to compensate cities and towns for the cost we are imposing on them through an amendment guaranteeing prompt reimbursement. That amendment was rejected without further debate. At the start of Tuesdays session, Majority Leader Cindy Creem said the Senate took care to avoid lofty ideas that could never be adopted in a timely manner, pointing to the new technology deployed by the Iowa caucuses earlier this year which ultimately turned into a boondoggle. Admirable goal, however for a host of reasons, the process failed. Our process today that we are voting on will not fail, she said. Related Content: Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:52:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Eritrea's number of COVID-19 confirmed cases has risen to 109 after the Red Sea nation recorded 13 new confirmed cases on Tuesday, the Eritrean Ministry of Health said on Tuesday. "Thirteen additional patients were diagnosed positive for COVID-19 today in tests carried out for individuals who had completed their quarantine time at Adibara, Gash Barka region," Eritrea's Ministry of Health said in a statement issued Tuesday. Following the latest 13 new confirmed COVID-19 positive cases, the total number of confirmed cases in the Red Sea nation has now risen to 109, the ministry said. Amid the rising new COVID-19 positive cases in the East African country, the ministry had also on Sunday and Monday reported additional 24 and 31 new COVID-19 cases, respectively. The ministry further said 39 of Eritrea's confirmed COVID-19 cases have recovered fully and have been released from hospital, while the remaining 70 are receiving the necessary medical treatment. According to the ministry, some 7,764 Eritrean nationals have returned home in recent weeks through irregular land and sea routes from Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti as well as Yemen despite the overall ban on people's movements in the region as a whole. Some 4,359 of those who were quarantined upon their return to Eritrea were duly released from the respective quarantine centers after completion of the process in force, while some 3,405 persons still remain across 47 centers throughout the country, it was noted. The Red Sea nation confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 21. Since then, Eritrea has implemented a series of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. These include a nationwide lockdown, ban on all non-essential local and international flights as well as banning all trading activities and transactions during the lockdown period. Enditem PHOENIX Phoenix police say a man wielding a knife inside a store was shot by an officer. Authorities say the incident occurred Sunday night near 43rd Avenue and Union Hills Drive. The suspect entered a store and started threatening to stab people. Police say an employee managed to get the man outside and then locked the doors. Investigators say he then proceeded to threaten people in the parking lot. When a police officer showed up, the suspect allegedly chased her around the patrol car. After continuing to refuse commands to put the knife down, she fired her weapon at him. The 55-year-old suspect was transported to a hospital. Police said he was listed in stable condition Monday. His name will be released once he is booked into Maricopa County jail. Police say the officer has been with the department for less than a year. The Ghana Immigration Service on June 16 intercepted a number of agricultural and musical items at Saboba in the Northern Region. The items were being smuggled in a vehicle to neighbouring Togo. The officers of the Ghana Immigration Service, upon intelligence swiftly moved in to apprehend the suspects, when the items were being offloaded at the riverbank at Boagban, a suburb of Saboba and handed them over to the police for further investigation. The items include knapsack machines, weedicides and some musical items. Meanwhile, the driver of the vehicle and his mate have been arrested and detained at the Saboba police station. Last year Saboba was one of the districts that were banned from selling fertilizers due to an increase in smuggled fertilizer in the area. The Saboba District Chief Executive, George Bingrini told journalists that the Agric ministry this year decided to approve seven dealers to supply fertilizer to the district for the farmers to use in the farming season. According to him, a security task force was formed to monitor the activities of the accredited suppliers to ensure that no fertilizer is smuggled outside the district. In one of their rounds, the immigration officers intercepted the vehicle carrying knapsack machines, weedicides a tossing into Togo. He assured that the district security council will ensure that they tackle smuggling in the area. We dont want even a piece of our fertilizer to across to any neighbouring country this year and beyond, he said. 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. Featured Video The onslaught of coronavirus has been ruinous to the global economy. But some are seeing this cloud of uncertainty through an opportunistic eye, including me. In light of the market's volatility, Ive been spending a lot more time reading up on financial trends, terminology and general teachings. Regardless of what may or may not happen, I believe now is a great time to learn more about investing. S&Ps Global Financial Literacy Survey found that overall financial literacy is low around the world, and that risk diversification is one of the least understood concepts, a particularly relevant topic in todays economic climate. And this divide is unevenly distributed across gender, social class and race. I reached out to my friend Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen, the cofounder of Denmark's Female Invest and a 2020 Forbes 30 under 30 recipient, to share some of her recommended resources to help get a balanced view of the financial landscape. Related: 4 Fun Ways for Millennials to Dip Their Toes Into Investing 1. Invest Like the Best (podcast) Invest Like the Best is a podcast hosted by Patrick OShaughnessy, CEO of OShaughnessy Asset Management. The podcast (and website) says it is an "ongoing investigation into stocks, markets, investing strategies, and ways of thinking." Why I like it: The host launched his career in finance during the 2008 global financial crisis, a particularly challenging time to get into investing. But in light of the current situation, OShaughnessy breaks down very relevant perspectives, strategies and advice on approaching todays stock market and diversifying risk, while preparing for an upswing. 2. Morningstar Investing Classroom (online course) Morningstar is widely regarded as one of the financial industrys leading independent research companies for mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Its comprehensive teaching platform is designed to introduce both new and experienced investors to strategies for analyzing and evaluating the financial health of companies for prospective purchases. Why I like it: For those interested in long-term strategies based on underlying economic fundamentals, this is a fantastic course hosted by a prestigious financial institution. The lessons are easy to follow, and the language is easy to understand. After completing this course, youll have a solid foundation to further develop your investing knowledge. Related: 10 Reasons the Stock Market Will Likely Crash Again 3. The Journal (podcast) Hosted by the Wall Street Journal, The Journal is about money, business and power. It brings a personal narrative to economic and business developments around the world, examining how certain events can have particular impacts on the economy, and the knock-on effects into society. Why I like it: Its a fantastic podcast to demystify the charts and numbers with real-world stories. For example, in one recent episode, the hosts explained how the debt incurred through the coronavirus crisis may lead to the next financial crisis, outlining the mechanisms at play beneath the surface. 4. Investing for Dummies (book) An essential guide for building a quick but detailed overview of investing, from where to put your money to improve returns on IRAs and 401(k)s, as well as identifying new opportunities and weighing risk and returns. With hundreds of pages of to-the-point information, its a great get-started guide to learn the theories and the jargon. Why I like it: Its a well-organized, comprehensive introduction to investing and stays true to the promise of being for "dummies." In other words, its an accessible introduction to conservative investing principlesa great place to start. Related: 8 Women VCs Share the Most Memorable Pitch They've Ever Received 4. Female Invest (online learning) For decades, the financial industry has failed to include and engage women, both as private investors and as professionals in leading positions. In fact, in the U.S., men make up 80 percent or more of financial advisers and at least 90 percent of mutual fund managers. Female Invest aims to bridge this gap and empower women through online courses, seminars and community. As founder Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen comments, Instead of changing the women, we should be changing framework. Why I like it: More than 20,000 women are already subscribed and registered as part of the community, which has already built up a strong presence in Europe. The site allows access to dozens of webinars, tutorials, events and communities to connect women interested in investing with a thriving network of likeminded people. Related: Abu Dhabi Investment Office Invests US$5 Million in Shorooq Partners' Bedaya Fund To Support Early-Stage Startups In Abu Dhabi 7 Ways to Succeed When Virtually Pitching an Investor Alankit Ties-up With Stockal to Help Indians Invest in US Stocks Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers An Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed during a violent confrontation with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, the first such incident in the last 45 years that reflected massive escalation in the five-week border row. The Army said India lost an officer and two soldiers during the violent face-off, while there were casualties on the Chinese side as well. The extent of casualties on the Chinese Army is not immediately clear. According to a senior military officer, it is the first incident involving the casualty of an Indian soldier in a violent clash with the Chinese Army after 1975 when four Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush at Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh along the de-facto border between the two countries. Official sources said there was no firing between the two sides. "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place on Monday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers," the Army said in a brief statement. It is learnt that the Army officer killed in the clash was the commanding officer of a battalion at Galwan. It is believed that the three Army men died due to injuries sustained following stone-pelting by the Chinese side. However, there is no official word on it. Large number of Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks. The incident comes days after Indian Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said both sides have begun disengaging from Galwan Valley. China's state-run newspaper Global Times claimed in a report that clashes were triggered by Indian troops as they crossed over to the Chinese side and carried out attacks on Chinese soldiers. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in the standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row. In their first serious efforts to end the row, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held a nearly seven-hour meeting on June 6. The meeting was followed by two rounds of Major General-level talks. The Indian side has been pitching for restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from the areas which India considers on its side of the LAC. On Saturday, Gen Naravane said both sides are "disengaging" in a phased manner. "We have started from the north, from the area of the Galwan river where a lot of disengagement has taken place. It has been a very fruitful dialogue that we have had." Following the standoff in eastern Ladakh, the two sides have deployed additional troops along the LAC, the de-facto Sino-India border, in North Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh in the last few days, the sources said. After the standoff began in early last month, Indian military leadership decided that Indian troops will adopt a firm approach in dealing with the aggressive posturing by the Chinese troops in all disputed areas of Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie. The Chinese Army has been gradually ramping up its strategic reserves in its rear bases near the LAC by rushing in artillery guns, infantry combat vehicles and heavy military equipment. The trigger for the face-off was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley. The road in the Finger area in Pangong Tso is considered crucial for India to carry out patrol. India has already decided not to stall any border infrastructure projects in eastern Ladakh in view of Chinese protests. The situation in the area deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. New Delhi, June 16 : Three Indian Army men, including an officer, were killed on Monday night during a violent face-off with Chinese Peoples Liberation Army troops at Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh region. Indian Army in a statement said, during the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place on Monday night with casualties." "The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers". Indian Army said. The force further stated that senior military officials of both the countries are currently meeting at the face-off site to defuse the situation. On Monday, Brigade Commander and company level talks happened in Eastern Ladakh between India and China. The talks are happening near patrolling point 14, near the mouth of Galwan Valley and patrolling point 17 at Hot Spring Area. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Initiation of Coverage by Evolution Capital Advisors Sydney, June 16, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Nova Minerals Limited ( ASX:NVA ) ( OTCMKTS:NVAAF ) ( FRA:QM3 ) Initiation of Coverage by Evolution Capital Advisors.The Estelle Gold project is located in a world-class district within the premier Tintina Gold Belt (Alaska) that hosts >220 Moz in mostly bulk tonnage, low grade but high margin deposits.Estelle is a near-surface Intrusion Related Gold System (IRGS) deposit. The Tintina Gold Belt contains a number of IRGS deposits with low grade multi-million ounces gold mineral resources.To view the report, please visit:About Nova Minerals Limited Nova Minerals Limited's (ASX:NVA) (FRA:QM3) (OTCMKTS:NVAAF) vision is to develop North America's next major gold trend. The company is focused on exploration in Alaska's prolific Tintina Gold Belt, a province which hosts a 220 million ounce (Moz) documented gold endowment and some of the world's largest gold mines and discoveries including Victoria Gold's Eagle Mine and Kinross Gold Corporation's Fort Knox Gold Mine. The company's flagship Estelle Project has a current total estimated JORC gold resource of 9.6Moz (3Moz Indicated and 6.6Moz Inferred). Estelle is a 45km long string of 15 identified gold prospects bracketed by the Korbel deposit in the north and the RPM deposit in the south. These two deposits are currently host to extensive exploration programs. Additionally, Nova has an indirect interest in the Canadian Thompson Brothers Lithium Project through a substantial stake in Snow Lake Resources Ltd (NASDAQ:LITM) and holds a 12.99% interest in Torian Resources Limited (ASX:TNR), a gold exploration company based in Western Australia. COLUMBIA, Md., June 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tenable, Inc. , the Cyber Exposure company, today announced that it has been recognized as one of The Washington Posts 2020 Top Workplaces in the Washington, D.C. area based on ratings from employees for the second year in a row. To be named a Top Workplace by The Washington Post is especially thrilling because this honor reflects our employees own feedback, said Bridgett Paradise, chief people officer, Tenable. Tenable is the worlds number one vulnerability management company, yet for all of our market-leading technology, our employees are by far our most important asset. Cultivating a culture of innovation and inclusion is critical to our continued success. Tenables leadership in the industry is reflected in its numerous accolades and awards, including a 2019 Employee Voice Award from Quantum Workplace, a 2019 SC Award for Best Vulnerability Management Solution and a 2019 Corporate Growth Award from ACG National Capital. The full list of top workplaces along with additional content will run in print in a special Top Workplaces magazine on October 14 and will be available on The Posts site. The Washington Post will also host an awards ceremony in October to recognize the 200 top-ranked companies. To learn more about Tenable, visit the companys career site at tenable.com/careers . About Tenable Tenable, Inc. is the Cyber Exposure company. Over 30,000 organizations around the globe rely on Tenable to understand and reduce cyber risk. As the creator of Nessus, Tenable extended its expertise in vulnerabilities to deliver the worlds first platform to see and secure any digital asset on any computing platform. Tenable customers include more than 50 percent of the Fortune 500, more than 30 percent of the Global 2000 and large government agencies. Learn more at www.tenable.com. A Trader Joe's store in Seattle has been closed temporarily, and some workers says it's related to employees' support of the Black Lives Matter movement. On June 11 a group of employees at the Trader Joe's Capitol Hill store informed their managers that they would be attending a Black Lives Matter protest the next day, which they were told would be an excused absence, according to Peter Strand, a crew member at the store and an employee-appointed spokesperson. Due to limited staff, the store had an early closure on that Friday, Strand said. But upon learning this, Trader Joe's corporate office subsequently decided that location would be "closed indefinitely, effective immediately," according to Strand. "I think we were all shocked there has been no prior indication that a closure was a possibility," Strand told ABC News. Dismayed with the sudden announcement, the group of employees reached out to the community for a protest of their own, Strand said. (MORE: The quiet army supporting Black Lives Matter protests) On Sunday the group posted a petition to save the store, and within 24 hours it had garnered more than 19,000 signatures. Some employees at the store believe the store's abrupt closure on the day that dozens of its workers protested in solidarity with Black Lives Matter was a deliberate retaliation from the company. "We believe that our community deserves to know that Trader Joe's corporate took this action in response to our participation in [the] march," Strand said. "That was a clear tipping point." But Trader Joe's spokesperson Kenya Friend-Daniel told ABC News in a statement Monday that they closed the Capitol Hill location early last Friday due to the lack of crew members and that it will only be a temporary closure. PHOTO: Protesters silently march up 23rd Avenue South in Seattle, Washington on June 12, 2020. (Noah Riffe/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) "During this temporary closure, we are taking the time to execute a remodel plan to address safety and security concerns that have developed over the last year," the statement said. "We will reopen the store as soon as these construction projects are completed, and it is our hope that we can welcome back our customers in the next week or two." Story continues Friend-Daniel also added that Trader Joe's will continue paying their crew members for their scheduled shifts during this time. When pressed on the employees' claims, Friend-Daniel said, "We have more than 50,000 Crew Members across the country and are well aware that a number of our Crew Members are choosing to speak out against racial and social injustice" and referenced Trader Joe's previous statement on its support of the black community. Staff at the store said they received that same announcement on Monday via their scheduling app. "That is a smokescreen -- we were not told anything about a proposed remodel until today, we were not told anything about extended closures," Strand told ABC News. 'That is them regaining control of the narrative because they are feeling the pressure." (MORE: Grocery store employee working during COVID-19 crisis: 'I'm going to say my prayers') Strand said he and some of his coworkers suspect the company saw their store as a "hot spot for worker organizing," given what he claims is a history of failed attempts to organize workers. Strand provided ABC News with a letter which he says was sent out in late March by Trader Joe's CEO Dan Bane to employees, discouraging them from joining a union. In the letter, addressed to "All Crew Members," Bane said that recent union campaigns "seek to capitalize on the current unstable environment in America -- one in which misinformation and fear are spreading unchecked in the media." Calling the efforts to unionize a "distraction," Bane said that union advocates want to "create some sort of wedge in our company through which they can drive discontent." He also said that, in comparison to union contracts, Trader Joe's offers higher starting wages, pay raises every six months, a higher cap rate, and significant upward mobility and benefits. However, he pledged that if there are 30% of the crew members in any store who want a union vote, they will oblige "when this current period of unrest has settled down." "Trader Joes Crew Members very much have the right and ability to discuss possible unionization or other collective bargaining-type activity." Friend-Daniel added. (MORE: Does Black Lives Matter sell? As protests roil the nation, corporate America's response met with skepticism) Most of the crew members there work paycheck to paycheck, said Strand. "Many of us [are] working without health insurance while having steady exposure to the public," he said. Prior to the temporary closure, employees at the Capitol Hill location were organizing to fight for a living wage, health insurance, hazard pay and other protective measures against the coronavirus, Strand said. Earlier this month Trader Joe's issued a statement in support of its black crew members and customers, echoing the sentiments of many companies who have affirmed their commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement. "At Trader Joe's we uphold the human rights and civil rights of all of our Crew Members and customers and communities. We have no tolerance for racism, discrimination, harassment or intimidation," the statement said in part. Strand called the statement vague and disingenuous, and said he has not seen the company take actions that tangibly support the movement or black crew members. "This labor struggle is not just about getting our jobs back -- it's about loudly and unequivocally denouncing corporate anti-blackness," Strand said. This story has been updated with additional comments from Trader Joe's. Seattle Trader Joe's employees claim company closed store due to their support of Black Lives Matter originally appeared on abcnews.go.com By Catarina Demony and Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) - Negotiations between Portugal and Britain on an "air bridge" that would allow British tourists to dodge a mandatory COVID-19 quarantine upon returning home are still in progress and going well, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Monday. Portugal's tourism-dependent economy has been hard hit by the pandemic and lockdowns at home and abroad, and authorities are trying to save at least part of the crucial summer season. Britain, its leading source of tourism, introduced a 14-day self-isolation rule for travellers arriving from abroad on June 8, including returning nationals. "Talks are going well," Costa told a news conference with foreign media, adding that Britons travelling to Portugal should feel safe. "We are working towards an agreement and will wait for it to happen." Portugal has been hailed as a success story in its fight against the virus, but localised outbreaks in and around Lisbon have kept cases at a worrying plateau in their hundreds per day for the past month. In 2019, more than 16 million foreign tourists visited Portugal, almost 20% of them from Britain. The tourism sector accounts for nearly 15% of Portugal's gross domestic product and was one of the main drivers of its recovery from the 2010-14 economic and debt crisis. Costa also said on Monday the European Commission's recovery plan, worth 750 billion euros ($845 billion), was robust and balanced enough to help tackle the impact of the crisis. "Our opinion is the Commission's proposal is timely and smart," he said. The plan aims to help economically weaker countries hit worst by the coronavirus to recover at a more equal pace with the stronger ones, preserving the unity of the European Union's single market. (Reporting by Catarina Demony, Sergio Goncalves; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Andrew Cawthorne) Beijing's government ordered all schools in the city to close Tuesday in an effort to contain a new coronavirus outbreak which has spread to neighboring provinces, Bloomberg reports. Why it matters: The Chinese capital, home to more than 21 million people, has so far reported 106 new infections and raised its emergency response to level two meaning people must be tested for the virus before they can leave the city. New cases in two northern neighboring provinces have also been linked to the outbreak in Beijing. The city government also closed another food market after a case linked to the original cluster was discovered there. 11 other food markets have been closed and almost 300 others sanitized, and multiple housing compounds have been put under lockdown. The big picture: Government officials in Beijing must now balance containment policies with recovery efforts as strict lockdown measures would undo some of the progress the country has made in reopening its economy. Local officials said the city can conduct more than 90,000 coronavirus tests per day. It tested more than 70,000 people on Sunday. Go deeper: China's V-shaped coronavirus recovery looks too good to be true This is only the fifth time in the UN Human Rights Council's 14-year history such an event will take place. The request for the racism debate was made in a letter signed by more than 50 African nations to the president of the council, Austrian Ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger. Tragic events unfolded May 25 in the U.S. city of Minneapolis after the death of African American George Floyd while in police custody, triggering an urgent debate. Delegates attending the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council will hold an urgent debate Wednesday on alleged systemic racism and police brutality in the United States. The letter states the death of George Floyd is not an isolated incident noting other people of African descent have suffered the same fate due to what the letter says is unchecked police brutality in the U.S. The African countries are calling on the council to urgently address the systemic racism that produces such racial violence particularly against people of African descent throughout the world. Tichy-Fisslberger tells VOA discussions will not just focus on one country but will examine racism elsewhere. "When I said it is not against the United States, I mean there is complaints about a lot of racism in many countries of this world, of course, in Europe but not only. You find it all over the world. And, if you listen to what people have to say, I think they will just come up with statements on describing different situations in different countries," she said. Both delegates and non-governmental organizations will take part in the UN Human Rights Council debate. A resolution is likely to be adopted at the end of the event. Tichy-Fisslberger says the United States, which is not a member of the council, normally does not attend council meetings. She says U.S. delegates most likely will follow the debate via webcast, which is in line with what it has been doing recently. The U.S. has not commented. However, the U.S. ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Andrew Bremberg, issued a statement last week expressing "horror, anger, and grief" at what he called George Floyd's senseless death. He said the public reaction in the U.S. following this tragedy showed the American people's desire to overcome racial injustice. On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there... The body of a veteran who had been missing for more than a month has been discovered in a hospital stairwell in Massachusetts - at the same campus he vanished from. The unnamed 62-year-old's body was discovered at the Bedford Veteran Affairs Hospital campus by another resident, authorities said, wearing the same clothes he was reported missing in. The man, a former homeless veteran, had been living at a residential facility on the hospital campus and was last seen on May 8. It took five days, however, before he was reported missing on May 13. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan described the incident as 'very concerning' and said it appeared his body had been in the stairwell from the day he went missing. The hospital, which is run by the federal government, has refuted the claim that the man was found on its premises and say his body was discovered in an area operated by Caritas Bedford Police conducted a search for the man at the time but were unable to locate him. The victim was a resident of Caritas Communities, a non-profit dedicated to preventing homelessness. The organization runs the Bedford Veterans Quarters residential facility in part of a building it leases on the hospital campus. A Caritas spokeswoman said the man was found in an 'emergency-exit stairwell' outside of the space it leases. She added that the stairwell was 'one of several' that are 'solely controlled by the VA'. One resident told CBS Boston the victim had undergone a substance abuse treatment programme and described him as 'the kind of guy who didn't want to burden others with his issues'. Other residents said certain exits had been blocked off for months to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and speculated whether that was why his body lay undiscovered for so long. In April this year officials called in two mobile morgues to the 450-bed facility as the number of patients and staff who tested positive for coronavirus skyrocketed. At the time a spokeswoman said the measure was a precaution that would provide additional space to refrigerate bodies if the existing morgue became overcrowded. In April this year officials called in two mobile morgues to the 450-bed facility as the number of patients and staff who tested positive for coronavirus skyrocketed The hospital, which is run by the federal government, has refuted the claim that the man was found on its premises and say his body was discovered in an area operated by Caritas. A spokeswoman for the facility said: 'A non-VA resident was found deceased on the Bedford VA campus in an area leased and operated by a private company'. The District Attorney's office will conduct an investigation into his death, a spokeswoman told CNN, but it is not thought that it is linked to coronavirus. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole said he does not believe that Governor Godwin Obaseki would use the COVID-19 law in Edo state to discriminate against the APC. There are 580 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Edo, the fourth highest in the country, as of June 14. A new law in the state which is meant to halt the spread of the virus prohibits any gathering of more than 20 people anywhere in Edo. Mr Obasekis spokesperson, Crusoe Osagie said in a statement, earlier on Monday, the state government would enforce strict compliance with the law in any political gathering in the state. We need to be alive to play politics; we need to live to vote and be voted for in the election. The rules to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the gazette must be strictly followed by all political parties in the state as the government will not condone any form of violation of the provisions of the gazette by any person or group of persons. Were once more warning persons intent on rubbishing the gains made in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and compromising our healthcare system to be assured that the full weight of the law would run its cause, Mr Osagie said in the statement. But Mr Oshiomhole on Monday said if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would assembly 5,000 delegates in the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, for their governorship primary, he saw no reason why the APC would be disallowed from having between 100 and 150 people queue to vote in each of the wards during the party governorship primary. The APC national chairman spoke to reporters at the presidential villa, Abuja, after the partys National Working Committee meet with Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. He (Obaseki) is our governor. We are law-abiding. But if PDP can conduct activities across 192 wards with the same law, I dont think our governor will discriminate against his own party. So, we are hopeful that everything will be peaceful, Mr Oshiomhole said. The PDP would be using indirect election for their primary, while APC adopted direct primary which Governor Obaseki kicked against. Mr Oshiomhole explained why the APC did not accept the use of indirect primary as canvassed by the Edo governor. Im sure you will agree that our President led by example when we conducted direct primary in the last presidential election. We still went to Eagle Square for affirmation. So, if the President did not have the right of first refusal because our constitution does not provide for it, we cannot under any circumstances now bend the rules when it comes to some people and change the rule when it comes to others, he said. Mr Obaseki was on Friday disqualified by the APC from contesting the party governorship primary in Edo state on grounds of alleged discrepancies on his certificates. Mr Obaseki, on Sunday, met with Nyesom Wike and Udom Emmanuel, the PDP governors of Rivers and Akwa Ibom respectively, therefore fueling speculations that he is planning to defect from APC to PDP. I dont know about (his) exit, Mr Oshiomhole said of the speculations around the Edo governor. What we see from your media, electronic and print, is that he visited a number of PDP governors. We read from electronic and print that those consultations may have to do with his plan and so on. But we are not here to speculate. Our party is not a party of big men. It is governed by rules. President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to put Cebu City back under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the strictest form of lockdown, starting today until June 30. In a statement broadcast early this morning, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque added that Talisay City, located in Cebu province, has been placed under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). Metro Manila will remain under the general community quarantine (GCQ) as well as the following areas: Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Santiago City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Olongapo City, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Bohol, Cebu province (except Cebu City and Talisay City), Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Zamboanga City, and Davao City. Read: Metro Manila put under general community quarantine despite spike of COVID-19 cases There are several tiers in the countrys lockdowns: the strictest is the ECQ, where no one is allowed to work except for frontliners; followed by the MECQ, the GCQ, and the modified GCQ. The last three categories allow certain industries to partially operate. Roque said the presidents decision was based on the data at hand while considering the impact of the lockdown on the province or citys economy. The Philippine government uses the statistics reported by the Department of Health (DOH), which tallies the number of people who have tested positive of the coronavirus, as well as the deaths and recoveries. Experts have pointed out, however, that their data is incomplete and unreliable because it takes the DOH almost one week before it officially reports a patients death. Cebu City was already under GCQ early this month but a team of researchers from the University of the Philippines (UP) warned last week that the number of infected residents in Cebu province could balloon up to 11,000 by June 30. The conclusion was based on the islands reproduction number (R0) of 1.96, higher than Metro Manilas, which stands between .96 and 1.19. Story continues The (R0) is the expected number of people that one COVID-19 patient can infect in a susceptible population. This means that in Cebu, one patient can infect up to two people, a scenario that led the UP researchers to declare the province the second COVID-19 hotspot in the country after Metro Manila. At present, the Philippines has one of the worlds longest lockdowns, surpassing even the one imposed on Wuhan, where the coronavirus was first discovered. As of yesterday, there are 26,420 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, with 1,098 deaths and 6,252 recoveries. This article, Duterte brings Cebu City back to ECQ; Metro Manila remains under GCQ, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! Twenty Indian soldiers were killed by Chinese troops late Monday in a clash along the disputed India-China border, the first such episode in decades, military experts said. The violence is a continuation of a decades-old dispute between the two nuclear powers over the precise location of their Himalayan border. What is the Line of Actual Control and why does it matter? Six decades ago, India and China went to war over a border dispute that ended with an uneasy truce in 1962. While no border has ever officially been negotiated along the forbidding stretch of land high in the Himalayas that divides the two nations, the truce established a 2,100-mile-long Line of Actual Control. Since then, an uneasy peace has held. But every time there is a flare-up of violence, the world watches anxiously. Asian regional superpowers India and China share a long history of mistrust and conflict along their lengthy border, and tensions flared up this week in a deadly clash between troops. The world's two most populous nations and nuclear-armed neighbours have never even agreed on the length of their "Line of Actual Control" frontier, which straddles the strategically important Himalayan region. Follow live updates on India-China border tension Recent decades have seen numerous skirmishes along the border, including a brief but bloody war in 1962. Here are some key dates: India inherited its border dispute with China from its British colonial rulers, who hosted a 1914 conference with the Tibetan and Chinese governments to set the border. Beijing has never recognised the 1914 boundary, known as the McMahon Line, and currently claims 90,000 square kilometres (34,750 square miles) of territory -- nearly all of what constitutes India's Arunachal Pradesh state. The border dispute first flared up during a visit by India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to Beijing in 1959. Nehru questioned the boundaries shown on official Chinese maps, prompting Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai to reply that his government did not accept the colonial frontier. Chinese troops poured over the disputed frontier with India in 1962 during a row over the border's demarcation. It sparked a four-week war that left thousands dead on the Indian side before China's forces withdrew. Beijing retained Aksai Chin, a strategic corridor linking Tibet to western China. India still claims the entire Aksai Chin region as its own, as well as the nearby China-controlled Shaksgam valley in northern Kashmir. Another flashpoint was Nathu La, India's highest mountain pass in northeastern Sikkim state, which is sandwiched between Bhutan, Chinese-ruled Tibet and Nepal. During a series of clashes, including the exchange of artillery fire, New Delhi said some 80 Indian soldiers died and counted up to 400 Chinese casualties. This skirmish was the last time shots were officially reported to have been fired across the disputed border. Four Indian soldiers were ambushed and killed along the dividing line in Arunachal Pradesh. New Delhi blamed Beijing for crossing into Indian territory, a claim dismissed by China. India and China had a months-long high-altitude standoff in Bhutan's Doklam region after the Indian army sent troops to stop China constructing a road in the area. The Doklam plateau is strategically significant as it gives China access to the so-called "chicken's neck" -- a thin strip of land connecting India's northeastern states with the rest of the country. It is claimed by both China and Bhutan, an ally of India. The issue was resolved after talks. Tensions have boiled over again after several Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in a high-altitude fistfight on the border at Sikkim state in early May. Indian officials said that within days, Chinese troops encroached over the demarcation line further west in Ladakh region and India then moved in extra troops to positions opposite. Last week both countries said they would peacefully resolve the face-off after a high-level meeting between army commanders. But on Monday, India said three of its soldiers were killed in a violent clash in the strategically important Galwan Valley on the Himalayan frontier. Investment continues to flow from New York to Belfast despite the heavy toll of coronavirus, as the city's state pension fund pledged another $30m to support business here. New York State Comptroller Thomas P DiNapoli, who manages the fund, announced the funding boost at the New York-New Belfast Conference, which was broadcast on YouTube. And Peta Conn, executive vice president and head of Americas at Invest NI in North America, also revealed three firms in the US are currently eyeing up investment opportunities in Northern Ireland. In May, Boston-based cyber-security specialist Cygilant announced 65 new jobs here. Two companies on the east coast and one on the west coast are looking at setting up here, she revealed. "We hope we would be able to announce those in the next quarter," Ms Conn said. "The team is actively engaging in reaching out to US companies to see if Northern Ireland is a match for their international expansion vision." And Mr DiNapoli also announced the New York State pension fund would plough another $30m into the economy - matching an earlier investment. Mairtin O Muilleoir, former Sinn Fein MLA and Finance Minister, whose business Aisling Events organised Friday's conference, welcomed the Comptroller's investment. Mr O Muilleoir said: When you think how bleak the economic environment is, I thought it was very uplifting for people like him to say at a time like this that he remains committed to Northern Ireland at a time when he could otherwise be retreating. It comes as Invest NI today announces that remote learning firm Firefly Learning Ltd is creating 52 new jobs here. However, Invest NI said it could not give further details on the pending investments from the North American companies. A spokesman for New York States pension fund known as the New York State Common Retirement Fund (CRF) confirmed its in the process of finalising a $30m commitment through a global private equity manager. 57 Stars will manage an account seeking private equity fund managers and co-investments in Northern Ireland, part of a larger $100m commitment to Emerging Europe. The spokesman said: While the markets have been volatile of late, the overall strength of the pension fund allows Comptroller DiNapoli to pursue a diversified strategy that seeks best-in-class opportunities in all geographies, including Northern Ireland and other non-traditional European markets. Some examples of other pension fund investments in Northern Ireland include new technology firms through Crescent Capital, as well as more traditional industrial and business services companies through Kernel Capital. The targets are generally growth-oriented companies seeking to expand in Northern Ireland. CRF has also invested in health care services through a co-investment alongside 57 Stars. G ermany today launched a coronavirus tracing app that officials say is so secure even government ministers can use it. The new Covid-Warn-App uses Bluetooth to monitor close contacts between people and issue a warning should one of them test positive. Everyone who downloads the app, and everyone who encourages friends to do so, is making a difference, said health minister Jens Spahn. A spokesman for the German interior ministry said confidence in its security was such there can be an unreserved recommendation to members of the federal government to use this app. Norway has suspended use of its track and trace app after a spat between health authorities and the information watchdog. Its data protection agency said that the low infection rate meant data gathering on the app could no longer be justified. UPDATED: 11:06 p.m., June 16 The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will issue a proclamation supporting inclusion and diversity the third such statement issued in the past four years at its Thursday meeting as well as a discussion of use of force policies employed by the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, which patrols the township on a contracted model of service. The meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m., is set to be hosted online again in a Zoom videoconference format. Residents or others who want to make a public comment can do so via a special telephone line that only works for one meeting. The instructions for calls are attached to the agenda. The board often does proclamations before moving to official business. In light of the recent protests, the outpouring of calls for activism and demands to address race issues in the United States, Director Ann Snyder asked the township staff to draft a proclamation, in support of diversity in The Woodlands and healing for the nation. Our world has changed. And what is occurring worldwide necessitates that we, The Woodlands Board of Directors, reemphasize our ideals as a community, Snyder said. The foundation of The Woodlands embraces all. The proclamation is the third one Snyder has asked for since 2017. Related: Woodlands board candidates lament negativity, shenanigans at polling places In August 2019, Snyder again asked to have a proclamation issued about diversity and inclusion after a community debate erupted over immigration policies implemented by President Trump. Following Snyders request, the board did not make a new statement but instead re-read the one from 2017. Later that fall, rancor and claims of harassment and unsavory comments were made by candidate Rashmi Gupta, who lost the 2019 election to Shelley Sekula-Gibbs. Gupta made a presentation after her election loss to the board, showing videos of her and supporters being harassed by opponents in the parking of the South County Community Center. Directors will also get a full update from various law enforcement officials from both Harris and Montgomery counties about use-of-force policies and other issues stemming from the protests that have sprung up across the region in the weeks after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. Letters from Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson will be entered into the township records and constables from Precinct 4 in Harris County, which patrol the Village of Creekside Park, will be on hand to explain their protocols. In other items on the agenda, the board will hear the quarterly law enforcement report from Montgomery County Sheriffs Capt. Tim Holifield. The June report, which includes data from Jan. 1 through May 31, shows a total of 31 suicides or attempted suicides to date in 2020. That includes 12 in the month of March alone, something that has concerned officials as the COVID-19 pandemic causes mental health issues. The initial version of this article contained the incorrect date of the second proclamation. jeff.forward@chron.com Martin Gugino suffered a skull fracture and still can't walk, according to his lawyers The 75-year-old peace activist who was filmed being pushed to the ground by Buffalo police during a Black Lives Matter protest has a skull fracture and can't walk, his lawyer has said. Martin Gugino was filmed being shoved over by cops in Buffalo and lying on the ground in pain while blood streamed from his head earlier this month. He had not aggravated the officers and was instead protesting peacefully. On Tuesday, his attorney told CNN that he had a skull fracture and still had not recovered fully. 'I am not at liberty to elaborate at this time other than to confirm that his skull was fractured. 'While he is not able to walk yet, we were able to have a short conversation before he became too tired. 'He is appreciative of all of the concern about him but he is still focused on the issues rather than himself,' Guginos attorney Kelly Zarcone told CNN. Gugino was violently pushed by Buffalo cops earlier this month while peacefully protesting The 75-year-old lay on the ground, bleeding from the head, but no cop stopped to help him Trump stoked fury by claiming that he was an Antifa 'provocateur' The video of him being hurt emerged at the height of nationwide protests over police brutality. It was admonished by leaders but President Trump suggested Gugino had somehow hatched it up as a stunt. He claimed on Twitter, without evidence, that Gugino was an Antifa 'provocateur'. The president was widely criticized for his remarks. Among critics was New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who called it 'reprehensible' and said: 'And from the president of the United States at this moment of anguish and anger. He pours gasoline on the fire. 'If there was ever, if he ever feels a moment of decency, he should apologize for that tweet.' He called it 'wholly unacceptable' and said there was 'Not a piece of proof. Personally disparaging when the man is still in the hospital. 'Show some decency, some humanity,' he continued. Gugino's lawyer previously said he had no connection to Antifa. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. It began raining on a Tottenville couple one day last summer when they stopped at a Richmond Valley gas station to fill up their car. But what fell from above wasnt water, a lawsuit alleges. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 22:00:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs a China-Africa leaders' meeting in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over an extraordinary China-Africa summit on solidarity against COVID-19 in Beijing on Wednesday, and deliver a keynote speech, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Tuesday. The summit is jointly proposed by China; South Africa, the rotating chair of the African Union (AU); and Senegal, co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It will be held via video link. Leaders of African countries, including members of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and rotating chairs of major African subregional organizations, and the chairperson of the AU Commission, will attend the summit upon invitation. The secretary-general of the United Nations and the director-general of the World Health Organization will attend the meeting as special guests. "China has consistently attached great importance to the friendly relations of cooperation with Africa and is ready to work with African countries to build a closer community of shared future," foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a press conference Tuesday. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and African countries have offered assistance to each other and joined hands in fighting COVID-19, he added. Currently the pandemic remains severe globally and the epidemic continues in Africa, Zhao said, adding that convening the summit at this crucial time shows once again the brotherhood between China and Africa. The summit will not only consolidate consensus between the two sides on solidarity against COVID-19 and advance China-Africa cooperation, but also inject a new impetus into multilateralism and global cooperation against COVID-19. China is willing to work with all participants to make the summit a success, Zhao said. India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent Indian troops seriously violated consensus between two sides: Chinese FM India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, June 16: China has said that Indian troops on Monday seriously violated the consensus of the two sides by illegally crossing the border twice and carrying and carrying out provocative attacks on the Chinese soldiers. This resulted in serious physical clashes, the Chinese foreign minister told Global Times. China has lodged solemn representations with the Indian side and urged it to strictly restrain its frontline troops from crossing the border or taking any unilateral action that may complicate, the minister also said. Army colonel & 2 Jawans martyred in violent faceoff with Chinese troops at LAC | Oneindia News Indian-Chinese forces clashed with stones and sticks at Galwan Valley China and the Indian side agreed to resolve the bilateral issues through dialogue to ease the border situation and maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas, the Chinese FM also said. Meanwhile, the Indian Army has said that there have been casualties on both sides, during the face-off with China. After reports said that an Indian Army officer and two jawans have lost their lives at the Galwan Valley, the Army later clarified that there have been casualties on both sides. Casualties have been suffered on both sides in the violent stand-off during the de-escalation process with China in the Galwan Valley, the Indian Army said in an amended statement. During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation, the earlier statement from the Army said. The two sides had managed to make headway last week, when the Lt. Generals of both sides had met. Army Chief M M Naravane said that the disengagement was in process. On Saturday, Army Chief M M Naravane had said hat the military dialogue would hopefully resolve the issue. He also said that the disengagement of troops had begun in a phased manner. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, while reacting to the incident said, "We call upon India not to take unilateral actions or stir up trouble. Beijing has also accused India of attacking its personnel, news agency AFP reported. The Michigan Civil Rights Commission on Monday, June 15, declined to hire its sole finalist for the open Department of Civil Rights director job, based in part on his ties to former Gov. Rick Snyders administration and the Flint water crisis. The vote to hire Harvey Hollins III, former director of the Michigan Office of Urban Initiatives, tied 4-4 and failed. Hollins would have replaced Michigan Department of Civil Rights Director Agustin Arbulu, whom the commission fired following an investigation into sexist comments he made. The commission whittled down a field of nearly 65 to two finalists: former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Conrad Mallett Jr. and Hollins, a top aide to Snyder. Mallett, however, withdrew his name last month after being named as Detroits deputy mayor. The director position, which pays between $160,000 and $170,000, is being reopened to candidates, the commission said Monday. The commission voted 5-4 to allow Interim Civil Rights Commission Director Mary Engelman to apply for the position. She was previously not allowed to submit for the position when the commission began compiling the initial candidate pool following Arbulus departure. Multiple commissioners said the results of an employee survey played into their decision to vote against the hiring of Hollins, especially comments over concerns about Hollins ties to the Flint water crisis. Prior to Mondays vote, Attorney General Dana Nessels office verified that Hollins is not a target of any known litigation or criminal investigations related to the crisis. Our 2017 report on the Flint water crisis specifically found that racism was a key factor in the crisis, Commissioner Zenna Faraj Elhasan said. And I think hiring a candidate who was involved in that crisis goes directly against everything that department must prevent and that the commission is meant to protect against. Hollins previously testified in court that he warned the former governor of growing concerns about lead levels in Flint water in July and August 2015 -- months before Snyder has said he ultimately concluded the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality had under-estimated the danger. I was not surprised that ... the survey of the employees of the department said that they emphatically did not want someone who had any ties to the Flint water crisis or any other comparable controversial moment, said Commissioner Portia L. Roberson, who identified herself as a friend of Hollins. " ... Hes a good guy, but we are in a position right now where we just moved away from a director who was involved in things that were nefarious." Commissioner Jeffrey J. Sakwa, who voted in favor of hiring Hollins, said it really bothers him that Hollins is being penalized for something hes not responsible for. Commission Chair Stacie Clayton, Vice Chair Laura R. Kopack, Sakwa and Commissioner Ira Combs voted in favor of hiring Hollins; Commisioners Regina Gasco-Bentley, Denise Grim, Elhasan and Roberson voted against. Clayon indicated a majority of the commission previously expressed support for hiring Hollins. While the support may have been there very early on, on paper, after you learn more about someone, you make a decision based upon those facts that have been put before you," Elhasan said. " ... Its sort of irrelevant that there was support early on." A timeline for compiling a new candidate pool, conducting interviews and making a selection hasnt been released. More on MLive: Harvey Hollins said he warned Snyder Arbulu dismissed over sexist comments Gov. calls for Arbulu resignation Whitmer bans Arbulu from cabinet meetings Rather than be put off a career in farming when his older brother Jimmy took over the family farm in Summerhill, Co Meath, Richard Austin took the road less travelled and moved to The Colony, Louisburgh, Co Mayo to work alongside his uncle at the age of 19. Over 30 years later he is still there and is milking a herd of pedigree Montbeliarde with his Spanish wife Lorena, who works for pharmaceutical company Allergan. They have two children, Dara (8) and Liliana (7). After struggling with fertility on his pedigree Holstein herd, Richard decided to change his cow type to suit his system. It wasnt the cows fault; a lot of people lose sight of that, he says. Fertility is not just genetic, its how the cow functions in general in the conditions shes in. I was having to buy replacements every other year. A friend of mine had Monties and I had an interest in pedigrees, so I decided they were the way to go. I went to France and bought 13 and bought another five from France the next year, and I bought seven bulling heifers in Ireland as well and bred up from that. Ive been selling the surplus stock for the last few years. Expand Close Richard Austin with his herd of pedigree Montbeliarde dairy cattle, The Colony Louisburgh. Photo Conor McKeown / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Richard Austin with his herd of pedigree Montbeliarde dairy cattle, The Colony Louisburgh. Photo Conor McKeown Richard now sells all his calves from home, with the female calves from red Angus or Belgian Blue bulls sought-after for suckler cows and pedigree Montbeliarde bulls for breeding. He also has a herd of red pedigree Angus cows and sells bulls and pedigree heifers. As well as having good fertility, Richard finds Montbeliarde to be a good all-round producer. Monties are a longer-lasting, high-production cow, with low cell count and high fertility. Theyre strong and healthy with a good bonus on beef value, he says. Every dairy-born animal, male or female, is a beef animal in the end, unless they die of natural causes. People lose sight of that. They might not produce as much at the peak as a Friesian, but they will produce more on a herd basis because there will be more mature cows in the herd. I have lots of cows in their 8+ lactation, with a 365-day calving interval my empty rate last year was 3pc. There were trials done on Montbeliarde crossbreeds, but they werent done for long enough. When you mention crossbreeding nowadays its assumed youre talking about Jersey crosses. But there are other options out there. Given his proximity to the Atlantic coast, Richard has to contend with difficult grazing conditions, especially in the shoulders of the year. My cows are well fed. I only have a six-month summer here, so I feed up to a tonne of meal every year, he says. Im aspiring to be a good grass manager, doing it within the confines of a short summer and long winter with better rainfall. Im trying to dodge the weather bullet the whole time. The land is very mixed; its reclaimed peat mostly. Im trying to manage for the sake of the land, more so than production. I wouldnt be getting strict 21-day rotations. I prefer for the paddocks to get a little bit stronger rather than to graze extremely lush grass all the time because its severe on the land and the cow in the long term. Im very interested in mixed-species swards and plan to try them. They may have a big part to play in maintaining soil health and being more environmentally sustainable while not hurting production. Expand Close Richard and Lorena Austin with their 2 kids alongside their herd of pedigree Montbeliarde dairy cattle, The Colony Louisburgh. Photo Conor McKeown / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Richard and Lorena Austin with their 2 kids alongside their herd of pedigree Montbeliarde dairy cattle, The Colony Louisburgh. Photo Conor McKeown It wont be easily done but incorporating more mixed-species swards will allow us to use fewer chemical fertilisers and promote better soil bacteria and micro-organisms. Its all monoculture at the minute in terms of systems, cows, grass type etc. We must look after whats going on under the grass in the soil. Its not sustainable to keep pumping the ground with artificial fertilisers. Were killing the natural interactions between the soil and the plant. Trials are being done on it in Ireland. If theyre done right, then theyll show the benefit of them. I have strong views on the direction farming is going. The very positive spin about dairying is not held by all farmers. My biggest problem is that farming is industry-led, not farmer-led, so its the industry that is benefiting, not the farmer. Its a race to the bottom. More milk might seem great to the farmer at first, especially after 30 years of quotas, but its not more money for the farmer, its just more work. We need less product going out and a higher value on it. We dont even have to reduce numbers; it can do it by continuing what were doing but being more in touch with the soil. We have great lads coming out of college but theyre all trained into one system. There are so many different situations and land types in Ireland. Theres no one size fits all. Every farm is different. Richard is particularly keen to see the beef and dairy sectors work more closely together. Beef and dairy shouldnt be so separated, he says. The dairy sector has become so one-dimensional that it has become detached from the beef sector and has ruined it. Theres so much cheap carcass that the dairy farmer doesnt give a damn about, be it cull cows or bull calves etc. If there was less focus on numbers and more focus on diversification and adding value to our product there could be more profit from less milk and more integrated sustainability for general agriculture. You have Teagasc advisers working in the same office and one goes to a dairy farm, one goes to the beef farmer and another one goes to a sheep farmer etc. You have no joined-up thinking between them on the advisory end. There are three or four industries that are integral to each other but are being treated as separate entities in competition with each other, to their detriment. The ethical sustainability of dairying depends on a healthy beef sector. The beef sector has a vital part to play in Irish farming, but it is being let die because of the volume from the dairy sector. There are a lot of people down here on mixed land. A lot of my friends are suckler or sheep farmers with a job in a factory or somewhere else, and those lads are on the verge of getting out of farming and then the next generation will be lost to the parish. Farming is not a big part of their income, but it keeps them tied to the parish and the local culture. Herd Facts Average yield: 7,000 litres Milk fat: 4% Protein: 3.6% Milk solid/cow: 530kg/ year In-calf rate: 97% Calving interval: 362 days Sustainable prices will help the environment Richard Austin is passionate about farmings role in combating climate change and he feels that it all hinges on farmgate prices. Agriculture can be a big positive player in climate change correction, he says. Farm organisations and advisory sectors must take the lead on this. We have the highest-quality products in the world but because prices havent improved in over 40 years, we are forced to increase production and chase quantity. This is detrimental to future incomes and the environment. If we can learn more about the soil under our feet and not just how to get more kilos of milk per hectare but how the soil can function better then our farms can become better carbon sinks and not carbon sources. For this, we need a sustainable price for food as well as direction and incentive to improve the relationship of our production with the soil and the environment. PARIS, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellium SE (NYSE: CSTM) ("Constellium") announced today the commencement of a proposed private offering of approximately $300 million of U.S. dollar denominated senior unsecured notes due 2028 (the "Notes"), subject to market and other conditions (the "Notes Offering"). Constellium intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to fund the redemption of 100% of its outstanding 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021 (the "Redemption"), including the payment of accrued interest, and the remainder for general corporate purposes and to pay related fees and expenses. There can be no assurance that Constellium will successfully complete the Notes Offering on the terms described herein or at all. The Company expects the redemption date for the 2021 Notes to occur on July 16, 2020 (the "Redemption Date"). The redemption price for the 2021 Notes is 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 2021 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date. The Redemption is conditioned on the consummation of the Notes Offering. Important Additional Information The Notes will be offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase shares of the Company, the Notes or any other securities, shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, and shall not constitute a notice of redemption of any of the 2021 Notes. The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold, transferred or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold, transferred or otherwise made available, as part of their initial distribution or at any time thereafter, directly or indirectly to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (the "EEA") or the United Kingdom (the "UK"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 on the prospectus to be published when the securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making available to retail investors in the EEA or UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes to any retail investor in the EEA or UK may be unlawful. Solely for the purposes of each manufacturer's product approval process in MiFID II, the target market assessment in respect of the Notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market of the Notes is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (each as defined in MiFID II) and (ii) all channels for distribution of such Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. About Constellium Constellium (NYSE: CSTM) is a global sector leader that develops innovative, value added aluminium products for a broad scope of markets and applications, including aerospace, automotive and packaging. Constellium generated 5.9 billion of revenue in 2019. www.constellium.com Forward-looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" with respect to our business, results of operations and financial condition, and our expectations or beliefs concerning future events and conditions. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as, but not limited to, "believes," "expects," "may," "should," "approximately," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," likely," "will," "would," "could" and similar expressions (or the negative of these terminologies or expressions). All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Many risks and uncertainties are inherent in our industry and markets, while others are more specific to our business and operations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: market competition; economic downturn; disruption to business operations, including the length and magnitude of disruption resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic; the inability to meet customer demand and quality requirements; the loss of key customers, suppliers or other business relationships; the capacity and effectiveness of our hedging policy activities; the loss of key employees; levels of indebtedness which could limit our operating flexibility and opportunities; and other risk factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F, and as described from time to time in subsequent reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The occurrence of the events described and the achievement of the expected results depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Steroid cuts risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators, by a fifth for those on oxygen, researchers say. Dexamethasone, a cheap and widely used steroid, has been found to dramatically reduce the risk of dying from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, in what scientists in the United Kingdom have hailed as a major breakthrough. Researchers led by a team from the University of Oxford administered dexamethasone, which is used to reduce inflammation in other diseases, to more than 2,000 severely ill COVID-19 patients. Among those who could only breathe with the help of a ventilator, the drug reduced deaths by 35 percent, and by one-fifth in other patients receiving oxygen only, according to preliminary results of the Recovery Trial. There was no benefit among the patients who did not require respiratory support. Based on these results, one death would be prevented by treatment of around 8 ventilated patients or around 25 patients requiring oxygen alone, a University of Oxford statement said. 200522054906603 The results suggest dexamethasone, which is available at pharmacies, should immediately become standard care in patients with severe cases of the disease, according to the researchers. This is an extremely welcome result, one study leader, Peter Horby of the University of Oxford, said in a statement. The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients. Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide. The trial results are particularly promising as about 40 percent of COVID-19 patients who require a ventilator end up dying, often because of the bodys uncontrolled inflammatory response to the virus. For those receiving the new treatment, the mortality rate dropped to less than 30 percent. Even though the drug only helps in severe cases, countless lives will be saved globally, said Nick Cammack of Wellcome, a British charity that supports scientific research. Dexamethasone must now be rolled out and accessed by thousands of critically ill patients around the world, said Cammack, who had no role in the study. It is highly affordable, easy to make, can be scaled up quickly and only needs a small dosage. Steroid drugs reduce inflammation, which sometimes develops in COVID-19 patients as the immune system overreacts to fight the infection. This overreaction can prove fatal, so doctors have been testing steroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs in such patients. 200324152419919 This is a result that shows that if patients who have COVID-19 and are on ventilators or are on oxygen are given dexamethasone, it will save lives, and it will do so at a remarkably low cost, said Martin Landray, an Oxford University professor co-leading the trial. Its going to be very hard for any drug really to replace this, given that for less than 50 pounds ($63.26), you can treat eight patients and save a life, he told reporters in an online briefing. Englands chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, said Tuesdays announcement was the most important trial result for COVID-19 so far, adding: It will save lives around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises against using steroids earlier in the course of illness because they can slow the time until patients clear the virus. The Recovery Trial was launched in April as a randomised clinical trial to test a range of potential treatments for COVID-19, including low-dose dexamethasone and the malaria drug, hydroxycholoroquine. The hydroxychloroquine arm was halted earlier this month after Horby and Landray said results showed it was useless in treating COVID-19 patients. Global cases of infection with the novel coronavirus have exceeded eight million while the related death toll has surged past 434,000. Wellington, June 16 : The New Zealand Ministry of Health reported two new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday for the first time in 24 days. The new cases are two women who flew in from the UK and travelled to Wellington to grieve the sudden passing of their parent, the New Zealand Herald quoted Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield as saying. One of the woman had mild symptoms after arriving in the country, but it was put down to a pre-existing condition so the two were placed in managed isolation rather than quarantine. Bloomfield said their conditions might have been picked up if the daily health check in managed isolation had been done properly, including asking them about every individual COVID-19 symptom. The women's application for leave was expedited because of the sudden death of their parent, Bloomfield said, and they were allowed to leave for Wellington without being tested. Bloomfield said they had only been in contact with one family member in Wellington, who had also been staying at home. When asked about the two new cases, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the media on Tuesday that "there are eight million cases worldwide. We still have New Zealanders returning home". She added that the country was ready for a second surge of cases, but the focus was on preventative measures, reports The New Zealand Herald. The two new COVID-19 cases have taken the total number in New Zealand to 1,156 , while the death toll stood at 22. On June 9, New Zealand had lifted almost all of its coronavirus restrictions after reporting no active cases in the country. New Zealand first went into lockdown on March 25, setting up a new four-stage alert system and going in at level four, where most businesses were shut, schools closed and people told to stay at home. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Zealand's 24-day streak without a new coronavirus case is over after two women who arrived from Britain to visit a dying parent tested positive for the disease. The new cases are a setback for prime minister Jacinda Ardern who last week declared victory over the outbreak after imposing one of the West's toughest lockdowns, at the expense of a greater economic hit than Australia is suffering. Ardern today doubled down on New Zealand's strict border controls which only let in citizens and residents, and blamed the handling of the two new cases on a lapse in the quarantine rules for new arrivals. The new cases emerged as China - another country that announced it had defeated the virus - also battled a new outbreak in Beijing, highlighting the challenges many nations face as they move forward with easing virus restrictions to revive their economies. The women landed in New Zealand on June 7 and were given special permission to leave quarantine six days later, to grieve with another relative when the parent died. They were tested in Wellington yesterday 'as part of their agreed self-isolation plan' - although one of them realised 'in retrospect' that she had experienced symptoms earlier. The positive results came back today, a week after New Zealand scrapped almost all its lockdown restrictions when the number of active cases dropped to zero. Passengers on their connecting flight from Brisbane and staff at their Auckland isolation hotel are now being traced as officials try to prevent a new outbreak. Ardern declared last week that New Zealand had 'eliminated transmission' of the virus within New Zealand, and the PM's popularity has surged in recent weeks after the country emerged from lockdown with only 1,504 cases and 22 deaths. However, today's news shows that New Zealand is still vulnerable to cases from abroad despite the border controls, which are likely to remain in place 'for an extended period' to prevent a new surge in cases. Tourism usually brings in $40billion per year and makes up around six per cent of New Zealand's economy, which is expected to shrink by up to 8.9 per cent this year compared to a 5.0 per cent drop in Australia. New Zealand had enjoyed a 24-day streak with no new virus cases before two new positive results came back today. Even at its peak there were never more than 100 cases per day New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) said the new cases were not a surprise but criticised the handling of the two women's testing New Zealand's economy is expected to contract by more (8.9 per cent) than Australia's (5.0 per cent) this year, according to the OECD. This graph shows the two countries' projected GDP as a share of late 2019 levels What are New Zealand's coronavirus rules? BORDER RESTRICTIONS New Zealand's border is closed to foreign travellers Kiwis, permanent residents and their partners can return home There are only very limited exceptions for others, including for essential health workers Other 'essential workers' seeking to enter the country will have to justify why their job could not be done from abroad or by someone else in New Zealand Everyone who does enter the country is quarantined for 14 days in a hotel at government expense Self-isolation at home is only possible if an exemption is granted on compassionate grounds - and this procedure has now been suspended DOMESTIC MEASURES There are no restrictions on gatherings, movement or leaving the home Bars, shops, restaurants, schools and workplaces can all open as normal Weddings and funerals can take place with unlimited numbers of guests and crowds can attend sports events as normal Public transport is running as normal Masks are neither required nor even encouraged, though people may choose to wear one 'for their own comfort' if they wish People are encouraged to 'maintain a record of where they have been' and download a contact-tracing app. People must self-isolate if told to by health authorities Advertisement The two women, one in her 30s and one in her 40s, stayed in a 'managed isolation hotel' in Auckland after they landed in New Zealand on June 7. They applied for permission to visit a dying relative in Wellington on June 12, but the parent died that evening. The next day, the two women were exempted from isolation 'on compassionate grounds' and allowed to drive to Wellington to grieve with another relative. The women were carrying a 'supply of face masks' with them but were not tested before they left the Auckland hotel. New Zealand's director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield said they 'had no contact with anyone else during that trip' and 'did everything that was asked of them'. The two women did not use any 'public facilities' en route, he said - adding that there is 'a lot of empty roadside' on the way from Auckland to Wellington. They were tested at a drive-through facility in Wellington yesterday and the results came back today, Bloomfield said. One of the two women was showing mild coronavirus symptoms before being tested, which she initially put down to a pre-existing condition. The another is symptom-free. They are now starting a new 14-day quarantine on the property of their relative, who is also being tested. The parent's funeral will be deferred until after their new 14-day quarantine is over, Bloomfield said. Others potentially at risk of exposure include their fellow air passengers and staff at the isolation facility in Auckland. Officials are also set to watch CCTV footage of the two women's arrival at Auckland Airport to see if any border staff need to be isolated. Passengers on the Air New Zealand flight will be moved to a 'managed isolation facility' and tested, Bloomfield said. Australian health authorities are also on alert after the passengers flew from London to Brisbane via Qatar before connecting to New Zealand. It is not believed that the women were tested before leaving London, but none of their relatives in the UK had been unwell. Health officials do not know whether they were infected in Britain or alternatively at the airport or on one of the flights. 'A new case is something we hoped we wouldn't get but is also something we have expected and planned for,' Bloomfield said. 'That's why we have geared up our contact tracing and testing capability to be able to respond rapidly. 'We know there are people continuing to come to New Zealand from countries where there is active community spread of COVID-19.' Speaking later, Ardern criticised the handling of the case and said all compassionate leave for people in isolation had been suspended. 'Compassionate leave was granted for those individuals, however the testing of those individuals was done outside of their isolation facility. That does not meet our expectations,' she said. 'While of course we are reviewing exactly what has happened in these circumstances because they cannot be repeated, we have also directed the director-general of health to suspend all compassionate leave.' She also said: 'We have continuously highlighted that New Zealand will have cases of Covid-19 particularly obviously at the border. 'There are eight million cases worldwide. We still have New Zealanders arriving home. What this does prove is the importance of a rigorous system at our border, of us continuing to be very, very cautious in our management and taking the cautious approach that we have continued to take as a government.' New Zealand's director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield (pictured) speaks at a press conference about the two new cases today It is not known whether the two women are British citizens or returning Kiwis. The border is currently closed to almost all travellers except for citizens and residents. In contrast to New Zealand, Britain has suffered one of the world's worst outbreaks with 296,857 cases and 41,736 deaths. Bloomfield said hundreds of returning Kiwis are still arriving in New Zealand every day and warned that 'we're not out of this yet'. New Zealand's n ministry warns that the restrictions are 'likely to be in place for New Zealand for an extended period of time' and that there is 'no end date' for the two-week quarantine policy. A projection by the OECD says New Zealand's economy will shrink by 8.9 per cent this year, compared to 5.0 per cent in Australia. The same projection says that the size of New Zealand's economy will not return to pre-coronavirus levels until the end of 2021. In 2019, tourism contributed 5.8 per cent of New Zealand's GDP and 20 per cent of its exports, and nearly 230,000 people were employed in the industry. GDP figures for the first quarter of 2020 are due to be released later this week. 'The swift and decisive response against Covid-19 successfully contained the virus outbreak, saving lives and allowing the economy to reopen faster. However, confinement brought a number of sectors to a sudden stop in the second quarter,' the OECD says. 'The economic recovery will be supported by substantial fiscal and monetary stimulus, but will remain sluggish, as high unemployment and weak business confidence hold back domestic demand and export growth is stymied by the collapse of international tourism.' The two infections - the first newly identified cases since May 22 - take New Zealand's total to 1,506. There have been 22 deaths. Officials ended New Zealand's strict lockdown rules from midnight on June 9, after the country's last 'active' patient was declared free of the virus. The final patient, a woman in her 50s, recorded no symptoms for 48 hours, before being announced as recovered at St Margaret's Hospital and Rest Home in Auckland. Speaking last week, Ardern said the country had 'united in unprecedented ways to crush the virus'. 'We are confident we have eliminated transmission of the virus in New Zealand for now, but elimination is not a point in time, it is a sustained effort,' she said. Asked about her reaction upon hearing the news, she replied: 'I did a little dance' with baby daughter Neve. 'She was caught a little by surprise but she joined in, having absolutely no idea why I was dancing around the lounge.' New Zealand goes to the polls in September, and Ardern's re-election was seen as far from certain before the pandemic began. However, her leadership during the health crisis has propelled her Labour Party to a record 57 per cent in a recent opinion poll. 60 per cent had Ardern as as their preferred choice for PM, up more than 20 points on the last poll and the highest score for any leader in the Reid Research poll's history. The survey also indicated an overwhelming 92 per cent backing for Ardern's Covid-19 response. Jacinda Ardern (pictured, centre) speaks to the media on June 10, with New Zealand now reporting its first two cases of coronavirus for 24 days People eat at a restaurant in Auckland (pictured on May 16) after coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased New Zealand only confirmed its first case on February 26, but had shut its borders by March 19. Gatherings of more than 100 people were also banned New Zealand from March 19, and schools, bars and restaurants were ordered to close from March 24. Ardern announced a total Level 4 lockdown from March 26, at which point there were 363 confirmed cases. The first stage of the lockdown kept Kiwis inside their houses, except for trips for health reasons or the supermarket. The four-tier alert system meant that restrictions were slowly eased as the infection rate began to slow to a trickle. The country has since moved to its lowest Alert Level 1, with minimal restrictions on public life - but strict controls still in place at the border. The move to Level 1 allowed weddings, funerals, hospitality and public transport to resume without any restrictions. The government says that 'everyone can return without restriction to work, school, sports and domestic travel, and you can get together with as many people as you want'. New Zealand's most recent death was announced on May 28, although that patient - a woman in her 90s - had tested negative for coronavirus by the time of her death. Health officials said Covid-19 was 'not recorded as the primary cause of her death' but said they had included it in the figures 'consistent with our inclusive approach'. Beijing back in lockdown: Parts of the city are fenced off and new travel bans introduced to stop new 'extremely severe' coronavirus outbreak China has put parts of Beijing back into lockdown and reimposed some travel restrictions in an attempt to contain a new coronavirus outbreak amid fears that a second wave is about to hit the country. Beijing's coronavirus situation is 'extremely severe', a city official warned Tuesday, as 27 new infections were reported in the Chinese capital from a cluster has sparked a huge trace-and-test programme. The coronavirus resurgence - believed to have started at the city's sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food market - has prompted alarm because China had largely brought its outbreak under control through mass testing and draconian lockdowns imposed earlier in the year. But it now faces a dilemma on how drastically to deal with new outbreaks while keeping the momentum in its economic recovery - a situation shared by other countries such as New Zealand that have beaten the virus. Beijing has not set a GDP growth target for this year for the first time in decades, but analysts say it will have to grow GDP by three per cent to steady its economy. There remains a sense of unease on Asian and global markets about signs of a Covid-19 resurgence, just as the city was getting back on track and after months of no new cases. 'A cluster like this is a concern and it needs to be investigated and controlled - and that is exactly what the Chinese authorities are doing,' WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan said. Today's new cases took the number of confirmed infections in Beijing over the past five days to 106, as authorities locked down almost 30 communities in the city and tested tens of thousands of people. Those at most risk of having come in contact with the virus were also banned from leaving the city. Pictured: A Chinese epidemic control worker wears a protective suit and mask as he directs people at a site where authorities were performing nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 on citizens who have had contact with the the Xinfadi Wholesale Market, June 15, 2020 in Beijing, China Pictured: A police vehicle is seen outside an entrance of the Xinfadi wholesale market, which has been closed following cases of coronavirus infections in Beijing, June 16, 2020 China had eased much of its anti-coronavirus measures in recent months as the government all but declared victory against the disease that emerged in Wuhan late last year. 'The epidemic situation in the capital is extremely severe,' Beijing city spokesman Xu Hejian warned at a press conference. The country's Vice Premier Sun Chunlan urged the city's officials to impose 'the strictest' virus control measures to contain the spread of the virus, which has been linked to a massive food wholesale market called Xinfadi. The World Health Organization had already expressed concern about the cluster, pointing to Beijing's size and connectivity. Officials in the city said they would test stall owners and managers at all of its food markets, restaurants and government canteens. Zhao Honglei, manager of grocery chain store Shuguoyan, told AFP his 13 staff members had all tested negative. Customers seemed reassured by the testing, he said, but online orders had increased tenfold in recent days. 'People are concerned that it might be crowded at shops or they might get infected,' he said. Beijing's testing capacity has been expanded to 90,000 a day, according to state news agency Xinhua. Retiree Wu Yaling, 57, was in a long queue of masked people waiting in the scorching heat for tests at a park opposite one city-centre hospital. 'I try not to go out as much as possible,' she said, adding that her home is near one of the closed markets. On Tuesday, the capital's transport commission banned taxi- and ride-hailing services from carrying passengers out of the city, Xinhua said. After new daily cases of the coronavirus had levelled out in the last couple of months, the last few days have seen a spike following the new outbreak of the virus in Beijing, with 106 new cases being reported over the last five days Pictured: People get tested for the coronavirus at a temporary testing facility in Beijing at an outdoor sports center June 15, 2020 Pictured: Paramilitary police officers and security staff wearing protective face masks stand guard next to the closed Xinfadi market, in Fengtai district, Beijing, China, 14 June 2020 All indoor sports and entertainment venues in Beijing were ordered to shut on Monday, while some other cities across China warned they would quarantine arrivals from the capital. Players and coaches from the Beijing Super League football team were all tested and given the week off as their training camp is in the same area of the city as the outbreak. The National Health Commission also reported four new domestic infections in Hebei province, which surrounds the capital, and a case reported in Sichuan province was linked to the Beijing cluster. Authorities were racing to track people from Beijing who had travelled to other parts of China, and encouraging those who visited the capital to get tested. Meanwhile, deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University - Yang Zhanqiu - told state media that he believed the latest outbreak in Beijing involved a more infectious strain of the virus than the one which hit Wuhan at the start of the pandemic. Virologist Yang believes that the new strain could be more infectious based on the high number of new cases in a short period of time, according to China's state-run global times. The Times reported that Yang believed that if the virus spreading in Beijing 'matches the type of virus sampled in the Xinfadi market and from Europe', then it was likely that it had been 'imported' into China by food or people from Europe. Yang did warn that new strains of the virus make finding a vaccination more challenging, explaining: 'No doubt different genotypes of the virus can cause the vaccine to be less effective, or even ineffective. 'That means the vaccine would have to be effective against both viruses circulating in China and those in Europe, adding difficulty to developing a vaccine,' he said. Authorities have been testing market workers, anyone who visited the market in the past two weeks and anyone who came into contact with either group. The Chinese capital, with a population of 21.5million, has locked down at least 11 neighbourhoods close to Xinfadi, with some areas being fenced off, and launched a mass-testing programme to screen all 46,000 people who have visited the market or live nearby. On Saturday, the Fengtai district, where the market is based, announced a 'wartime mechanism' and will establish a command center from which to manage the spread of the new outbreak. Fresh meat and seafood in the city and elsewhere in China was also being inspected on the unlikely chance that was how the virus spread. Residential communities around the market have been put under lockdown, along with the area around a second market, where three cases were confirmed. In all, 90,000 people are affected in the two neighborhoods in the city of 20 million. Authorities are also barring residents of areas considered at high risk from leaving Beijing and those from such areas who have already left must report to local health bureaus as soon as possible. Restitution and repatriation of sub-Saharan African art and cultural heritage in museums and private collections is an area of increasing global focus and debate. Many of these works are in Western museums and were acquired by European countries from their former colonies particularly through armed pillage, military expeditions, missionary collections, and/or taken without sufficient documentation of consent or adequate compensation. Racist attitudes that underpinned colonialism have, for the most part, not changed, and this makes the debate contentious. In November 2018, president Emmanuel Macron asked for a groundbreaking 258-page report during his tenure on the restitution of African art (The Sarr-Savoy Report), since major museums in the United Kingdom and France (the two major colonial powers) were not addressing the issue. The report was a positive step in the right direction; it is the first time a European leader acknowledged there was something wrong with Western institutions holding plundered works hostage. However, little concrete action has been taken since by France or the international museum sector since the reports release. Macron promised to return objects looted from their African homelands, starting with 26 artifacts from the Kingdom of Dahomey, now Republic of Benin, taken by colonial military leader Alfred Amedee Dodds in 1890. However, they have still not been sent back. The French culture minister reportedly asked heritage professionals at a recent symposium in Paris not to focus on the sole issue of restitution, but to instead emphasize cultural cooperation with Africa. At present, there are questions as to whether the UKs efforts to address ongoing calls for repatriation of stolen artifacts will meet or exceed the bar set by France and Germany who have devoted considerable government resources and even more time developing their own guidelines. Story continues The British Museum has remained intransigent about the issue of repatriation and has equally refused to pay restitution to the African countries whose artifacts are held in bondage. It has, however, entered into discussions with the Benin Dialogue Group (BDG), this is the Benin kingdom founded in the 12th century in southern Nigeria. The BDG, which includes museum representatives from Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden with partners from Nigeria, the Edo state government and representatives of the Royal Court of Benin with support of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria (NCMM) that was established in 2010 to craft a solution to this problem. One realizes the prospect of colonial restitution is more complicated than anticipated. The response from Western museums and the BDG has been disparate, ranging from examples of unconditional restitution and repatriations to a lace of engagement with African communities. However, museum reps propose to loan items to African museums, which is insufficient. Christies and Sothebys ongoing auctions of historical African art are controversial as these artifacts could be candidates for repatriation to their countries of origin. This sidesteps the real issue of restoring full legal ownership and intellectual property rights of these artworks to their countries of origin. Debates have been ignited among Western museum professionals who fear returning African objects are a sign their precious collections will be gutted. Debates have also ignited among Western museum professionals who fear returning African objects are a sign that their precious collections would be gutted. This fear is unfounded since there are hundreds of thousands of objects from sub-Saharan Africa in these collections, of which only a fraction is on display at any time. Many European museums and collections are currently protected by assertions of inalienable and imprescriptible right, prohibiting them from permanently handing over accessioned objects. UK museums do not have a single, agreed upon protocol for dealing with repatriation requests. The British Museum Act of 1962 prohibits an institution from disposing of objects in its collection except in very limited circumstances, and any effort to repatriate objects would require government action. No permanent historical African artifacts should be kept in Western museums and collections while Africans have none of their own. Otherwise, Western museums will continue to condone the ongoing plunder of Africa of the past five hundred years, which aside from colonialism include the theft of African bodies for the gruesome Transatlantic Slave Trade. We should note that Western countries have also not offered any restitution for the suffering imposed on Africans by slavery, even though Britain paid its aristocracy reparations in exchange for giving up their slaves. African consultants What is to be done? African consultants with specific areas of expertise such as intellectual property rights lawyers and consultants, renowned African art historians, art conservators, and architects should be hired to create guidelines and for advice. Two heads of a royal ancestor from the former Benin Kingdom, a part of modern-day Nigeria, 18th century (R) and 19th century (L) are displayed at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, France, Nov 23, 2018. In the case of Nigeria, members of the Royal Court of Benin, Edo state and the NCMM are currently advising the BDG on how cultural patrimony from the Benin kingdom and Nigeria that are scattered around the world should be restituted and repatriated. They should secure the unconditional transfer of the intellectual property rights of its cultural patrimony to the rightful owners of said objects and offer a fresh perspective on how to address the legal complexities that govern the issues of return and restitution (e.g., license agreements for reproductions, royalties on artifacts awaiting repatriation, etc.). They should also obtain and review inventories from Western museums to identify artworks, cultural, and human artifacts that should be returned to the Royal Court of Benin. Above all, any further discussion of this issue must secure Africans ownership of the intellectual property rights of their cultural patrimony as a future source of income in the digital economy, work with relevant institutions to ensure appropriate funding is available to successfully preserve and safeguard African artifacts that are to be repatriated. The discussions should also ensure any new museum built in Africa to house these works meets or exceeds prescriptions of the Alliance of Museum and/or International Museum standards. The narrative for African artifacts remaining in possession of Western museums must also be redefined by providing insights from an African perspective. Africans should be able to see cultural artifacts of their own heritage in their own cultural contexts. Restitution and repatriation of the artifacts and cultural heritage would allow Africans to participate in interpreting their meaning. Without these steps, the debate will continue to lack concrete results. Sign up to the Quartz Africa Weekly Brief here for news and analysis on African business, tech and innovation in your inbox Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said that the decision to resume international flights will be able taken in the coming month. International flights were halted temporarily in March to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic. Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday expressed confidence that the decision to resume international flights will be taken in the coming month. We are confident that in the coming month we will start taking decisions on resuming international flights, I do not want to put a timeline here all stakeholders and passengers need to be taken into confidence, Puri said while addressing a webinarReposing the Faith in Flying organised by GMR group. Centre intimated all stakeholders and passengers that the decision to resume international flights is not easy, as it requires talking to all the states in the country and the international agencies. We are trying to ensure that the government of all states is ready first for international flights. Being a minister, I received many requests, suggestions and demands from the flyers to resume international flights, but this may be possible once the entire ecosystem is ready for international service, Puri said. We are operating many flights to abroad under Vande Bharat mission to bring back stranded Indians amid COVID-19 situations, but we are operating empty aircraft from India to Gulf country because UAE has banned the entry of many nationals including India into the country, Puri added. Flying smooth & steady. Domestic operations on 15 June 2020, Day 22 till 2359 hrs. Departures 730 67,718 passengers handled. Arrivals 734 68,236 passengers handled. Total movements 1,464 Footfalls at airports 1,35,954 Total number of flyers 67,718 pic.twitter.com/0svBdJUUxW Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 16, 2020 Commenting upon the safety while travelling in flight, Puri said, Air travel is more reliable with respect to travelling by bus and train. India resumed the domestic flights operations after 60 days of coronavirus-induced lockdown from March 25. India has banned all scheduled international flights from March 25 to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in the country. Also Read: Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says domestic flight operations will return to normal by Diwali For all the latest National News, download NewsX App I think in some ways its really inspiring to see so many people out, and black folks understand this moment will have the same legacy of the Ferguson uprising, Reed said. But there is a piece of it thats difficult to process so much time has passed since Mike Brown was killed and so little has been done. (Albuquerque City) Councilor Pat Davis is an embarrassment to the law enforcement profession. His proposed legislation to eliminate military-style equipment and weapons is akin to taking away personal protective equipment (PPE) in the wake of the COVID-19 virus. Armored vehicles protect officers and allow them to rescue hostages from armed suspects. Semi-automatic and fully automatic rifles equip officers to face suspects that (are) armed (with) greater firepower. In fact, most police departments did not carry semi-automatic rifles until the 1997 North Hollywood bank robbery where officers were outgunned by offenders with fully automatic weapons. After 20 people were injured during the gunfire from the offenders, police departments across the country began to arm their personnel with semi-automatic rifles that have proven themselves time and time again to save lives. Councilors Davis (and Thanh-Lan Lan) Sena, Mayor (Tim Keller) and Police Chief (Michael Geier) are only playing upon the publics fear of victimization by the police, rather than criminals. According to Davis, the sight of military-like equipment such as armored vehicles instills fear in the public and causes them to fear the police. By making this statement they imply that the public should be more afraid of the police when their fear should be directed to the reason why the police need to use that equipment in the first place. Furthermore, the mainstream news media continues to pander the false narrative that black citizens are slaughtered by the police daily. Nothing could be further from the truth. Of the 812 people killed by on-duty police officers between 2009-2012, 52% were white and 32% were black, according to the National Violent Death Reporting System. Instead of pandering to the national narrative of the left our city leaders should be supporting the Albuquerque Police Department, not castrating them. Mayor Keller, Chief Geier and Councilors Davis and Sena should be ashamed of (themselves). Quit micromanaging the police department. Geier should start supporting (his) officers or resign as (he has) no intestinal fortitude whatsoever. EDITORS NOTE: The National Violent Death Reporting System 2016 report says: Victims were majority white (52%) but disproportionately black (32%) with a fatality rate 2.8 times higher among blacks than whites. Sweeping Emergency Measures A Recipe for Abuses of Power, Says Legal Expert A controversial bill that has been shelved by the New Brunswick government was cause for legitimate concern due to the excessive state power it would facilitate, according to constitutional experts. Bill 49 furnished cabinet with legislating power to change, repeal, or make new laws and to do so without the necessary oversight that the legislature provides, James Kitchen, a lawyer at the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, said in an interview. The cabinets law-making ability is only limited by how long the cabinet decides to renew a declared state of emergency. New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs announced on June 15 that he would scrap Bill 49, a piece of legislation proposed last week that sparked controversy over its intent to expand the powers of the police and provincial cabinet during an emergency. The legislation would have allowed cabinet to suspend laws without an immediate vote in the legislature and give police the authority to stop citizens without a reason. Higgs cited the recent deaths of two Indigenous people at the hands of police as the reason why Bill 49 was shelved. Responding to the initial outcry over the bill, he maintained the point of the legislation was to clarify the powers that cabinet and law enforcement could use. In Kitchens analysis of the bill, however, he believes it would have been a dire violation of the division of powers that uphold the democratic system. At the core of New Brunswicks democratic system of governance, like all free and democratic societies, is the division of powers between the three branches of legislative, executive, and judicial, he says. There is a very important reason that the legislatureand not cabinet, as the executiveexclusively possess legislative power, he explains. It took hundreds of years of blood, sweat, and tears to figure out that such division of powers is required to achieve it. Centralizing the power of the legislature with cabinet disregards that hard-learned lesson and is a recipe for abuses of power. The controversy over the legislation ties into the broader debate about the use of emergency powers by governments during a time of crisis. In the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, the federal government came under fire for proposed new spending powers that would have enabled it to spend, borrow, and tax Canadians unilaterally for 21 months without parliamentary approval. The Liberals dropped the proposal after the Opposition denounced it as an attempt to give themselves unprecedented new powers, as Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer put it. A revised version of the legislation was passed on March 25, which will be in effect until September. The governments suspension of regular sittings has also come in for criticism due to its effect of limiting parliamentary debate and oversight on measures implemented since the pandemic. In a new study for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, political scientist Christian Leuprecht says that although the government consulted the House of Commons in its attempt to legitimize a virtual substitute, its actions have served to stifle Parliament and prioritizes governance over representation. Canadas democracy thrives on a continuous parliamentary audit of the judgment of both the executive and the bureaucracy, he writes. Canadians have the democratic and constitutional right to scrutinize the Canadian governments handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. To constitutionalists, proposals like Bill 49 and moves that limit parliamentary debate can, if left unrestrained, uproot aspects of the constitutional order and the democratic process. Whether emergency orders pass constitutional muster depends on things like their duration and whether they are properly tailored so that they go no farther than necessary, Kerri Froc, a law professor at the University of New Brunswick, tells the Epoch Times. Weve had experience in Canada with legislation suspending rights and ordinary operation of laws, as was the case with the War Measures Act and the FLQ crisis. The bottom line is that the constitution is what ensures that the state does not operate unrestrained. Kitchen contends that the expansion of police powers that would have been enabled by Bill 49 could lead to something resembling a police state, while undermining the rule of law and Charter rights. Bill 49 also would have given powers to law enforcement to stop and investigate individuals, including to require documentation, to determine if they are adhering to the lawall without any reason or evidence of breaking the law, he says. The possession of such powers by the police, which are ripe for abuse, are alien to a free society and reminiscent of communist-ruled nations. The exercise of such powers by police will result in violations of constitutionally protected privacy rights, and likely several other rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The best way to change police departments and police union contracts is to revise the civil rights laws that immunize cities from liability. If local governments faced liability for police misconduct, both cities and police unions would have incentives to ensure that miscreant officers are fired. The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 unveiled in Congress last week is a major step in the right direction and will be more effective than efforts to ban police unions or to restrict how cities negotiate with them over discipline. But because the bill does not establish that cities are liable for police officer misconduct, it does not go far enough. Some believe the principal obstacle to police reform is police union contracts that prevent the summary firing of officers. Their proposed reform is to prohibit cities and police unions from bargaining over discipline. This limit on labor rights is argued to be necessary so that police departments would not be tempted to trade smaller increases in salary and benefits for more protections against discipline. It is true that contractual and statutory protections for officers accused of misconduct make it harder to summarily fire them. But federal civil rights law gives cities no reason to change this because municipalities face so little risk of liability for employing officers who engage in misconduct. The Supreme Court has held that local governments are liable only if their own policies violate the Constitution. The high court also has made it very difficult to prove the existence of a municipal policy. Municipalities, unlike private employers, cannot be held liable for wrongs committed by their employees. Although Derek Chauvin used his knee to crush the life out of George Floyd while three other officers watched, Minneapolis and its police department face no liability unless Floyds family can prove that the knee chokehold was city policy, which Minneapolis has denied. Nor can victims of police abuse sue the officers individually. Under the rule of qualified immunity, officers can be sued only if they violate constitutional rights that the reasonable officer should know. The Supreme Court has said qualified immunity protects all but the plainly incompetent. Although the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 would scale back the hugely overbroad qualified immunity, victims still could not sue cities directly for officer misconduct. If cities were vicariously liable for the damages that officers inflict, they would have a much stronger financial incentive to prevent and punish police excessive force. And if officers did not have such broad qualified immunity, they would have much greater interest in avoiding injury to the public. Think of the police department negotiating with a union about discipline. Because the city rarely pays damages to victims of police violence, it makes financial sense for the city to trade smaller salary increases for greater protections against discipline: the city saves money on salary and gives up nothing economically significant by agreeing for protections for officers. But if the city faced the prospect of multimillion-dollar judgments in every case in which an officer kills, maims, or wounds a member of the public, the cost to the city of tolerating violence goes up enormously. The city then would have a much stronger financial incentive to ensure that they dont hire bad officers and fire those accused of misconduct. Similarly, if officers knew they faced a risk of liability for excessive force, they might be far less likely to engage in such behavior. Changing the law of municipal and officer liability would also change the incentives of unions negotiating over discipline. If union negotiators know that the money the city spends paying damages for civil rights violations is money that is not available to pay salaries, the union would think hard before negotiating a disciplinary rule that makes it difficult to fire the officers responsible for excessive force. If the majority of the rank and file realize that they didnt get a pay raise because the city spent its police budget paying for harms caused by the officers who use excessive force, the union leadership will respond or be voted out. The legal doctrines protecting local governments and police officers from liability are based on the Supreme Courts interpretation of federal civil rights statutes, not the United States Constitution. Congress can and should change these laws to ensure much greater police accountability in the United States. Reforming civil rights law to hold cities liable for their officers misconduct is an essential way to reform police unions and policing. Erwin Chemerinsky is dean and professor, UC Berkeley School of Law; Catherine Fisk is professor of law, UC Berkeley School of Law. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: Laverne Cox attends BuzzFeed's On Monday, June 15, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - which prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace - includes LGBTQ+ employees. Following the ruling, Laverne Cox opened up about the importance of the historic agreement and explained that the new court decision is just a stepping stone toward long-term societal and interpersonal change. "This Supreme Court victory is huge but it doesn't bring these people back," Laverne told ET. "It doesn't change the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens who are murdering us and discriminating us around race, gender and sexual orientation. We have to look inside ourselves and ask how do I internalize the value systems that devalue the lives of trans people and black people... Then, when we change policies, it can stick and it will mean something because the hearts and minds have also changed." Laverne went on to thank the late Aimee Stephens, a transgender woman whose lawsuit against a former employer was the impetus for the Supreme Court case and recent ruling. "She is dead now. But she is affirmed!" Laverne said. The Orange Is the New Black star also addressed the movement in support of Black transgender lives across the country, citing recent activism in Brooklyn and LA as progress. "That is the result of years of activism," she said. "Result of countless lives of black trans women, LGBT people of color, being taken away from us by the state and fellow citizens. This is just the beginning." The Supreme Court ruling comes shortly before the premiere of Netflix's Disclosure on June 19. The documentary, executive produced by Laverne, will discuss the evolution of transgender representation throughout cinematic history and will feature interviews with Laverne, Mj Rodriguez, and more. Find out more about how you can help the transgender community with these books written by trans and nonbinary authors. By Trend Turkey has announced the onset of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in the country, Trend reports citing Turkish media. Reportedly, the beginning of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country was expected and health authorities are ready for it. Previously, the Turkish media said that the onset of the second wave of the pandemic was not ruled out in the Turkish Van province. Over the past days, 18 people more have died from the coronavirus, and the total number of infected people has reached 4,825, the report said. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Turkey has increased to 179,831. Over the past days, 1,592 people were tested positive with coronavirus. So far, the total number of people recovered from the virus has reached 152,364. Amid protests and a pandemic, this week brought an unexpected victory for LBGTQ rights as the Supreme Court outlawed anti-LGBTQ employment discrimination. But many in the country still have a long way to go in standing up for all of its citizens, especially those who identify as transgender. On this weeks episode of How To!, Karin wants to support her child, Kay, who recently came out as nonbinary, but shes still coming to terms with their gender identity. More challenging still, her conservative community in Pennsylvania isnt very acceptingincluding her husband. We introduced Karin to a fellow mom of a nonbinary child and former president of PFLAG Oklahoma City, Lisa DelCol, to share some tips for developing the understanding and language to be an advocate for Kay. This transcript has been condensed and edited for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charles Duhigg: What are you struggling with? Karin: Im struggling with the name change. I saw myself as the mother of two boys. I feel like I have to change my identity now too. This came as a complete shock to me. My husband is like an ostrich putting its head in the sand, like Im just not going to deal with this. Kay told my husband that it was OK if my husband kept calling him Kevin [Kays birth name], so thats what my husbands choosing to do. But thats one thing that makes it really difficult for me to try and start using the name KayIm kind of afraid to use it around my husband. Advertisement Charles: Do you feel guilty that youre struggling with this? Karin: Yes. I feel like a mother should just be unconditional love. And I do really, really love my child. It hasnt been quite two years yet, but I wish I could just flip a switch and be completely on board with this, but I still struggle. It makes me feel sad because obviously my childs been in a lot of pain for a lot of time, but I just didnt have a clue. I really care about my child and I want to have a relationship with my child and I want my child to be happy. So I want to be able to come to terms with this. Advertisement Advertisement Charles: So I wanted to introduce you to another mom, Lisa DelCol, who has been through something similar and now leads a support group for parents of transgender children. Lisa DelCol: I currently live in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and I am the parent of a nonbinary young adult. My child who was assigned female at birth came out to me just before they started high school. It was difficult to wrap my head around. So I totally get Karin taking some time to come to terms with it. Its not the same path for everybody and its not the same timeline for everybody. Its a learning curve. Advertisement Advertisement My kid said, Mom, Im the same person! At that moment, I actually asked myself, OK, so what is it about this kid that you value? My kid is smart, funny, empathetic. All of that is still there. And when I finally wrapped my head around that and went, OK, I am not losing this person. I just have to change my frame of reference. Im not grieving my kid. Im grieving the expectations that I had for my kid. Youve held those expectations for your entire life. Its hard to let those go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charles: Karin, let me ask you. Does this sound familiar? Karin: Yes. When she said that her child said, Im still the same person, I got that exact statement to me, too. Ive been trying lately to use the name Kay and they and Im going to keep practicing. Its helpful as Ive been able to tell people. Right now, my husband is still using Kevin and its very difficult for me to go back and forth. Lisa: Youre gonna have to learn when and how to gently correct other people. Its a habit you have to force and youre going to have to force yourself to use that name and force yourself to use those pronouns. Its going to feel weird for a long time. Im not going to lie. Im not saying its easyyou can get there, but you have to force yourself to do it. Advertisement Karin: I havent told a whole bunch of people. Ive been telling people who I know will support me. There are a few people I should probably tell, but Im imagining that the reactions will not be great. I have one co-worker who I already know what her viewpoint is gonna be, so I dont really want to tell her. But its kind of hard when people are saying, How are your boys? I am kind of at a loss as to how to talk to people right now. Advertisement Advertisement Lisa: In that type of a situation, I just kind of present it as matter of fact. There was a person actually that I talked to at work one time. He knew I had twins. And we hadnt seen each other for a year or two. He said, You have to tell me againBoy? Girl? And I paused for a minute because I knew the person was conservative and I wasnt sure how it was going to go. But I thought, no, this is my kid and Im proud of my kid. And so I just said, I have a boy. And the other one is nonbinary. And his eyes kind of popped and I just said, I know, right? Imagine my surprise when I found out. I joked a little bit to let him know that its OK to be surprised. And then he asked a couple of questions and I said, Hey, Im glad youre asking. And we had a conversation. I think we anticipate a negative reaction more than it actually happens. Advertisement Karin: I have a family member who said recently that they think that you should just take all transgender people and lock them in a house and burn them alive. How would you have a conversation with them? Advertisement Advertisement Lisa: I would say, I dont ever want to hear anything like that again. The person that you knew as Kevin is transgender. Kay goes by they/them pronouns now and identifies as nonbinary. So Im going to let you sit with that for a bit. Let them go away. Let them think. Who knows how that turns out. It may be that they are hardened in their position and theyre never going to change. Or, they may come back in a week, two weeks, a month and say, OK. I thought about what you said. I get it. I still dont agree with it. But Ill use the name and pronouns. Hey, thats a start. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can even do that over email or Facebook. It doesnt have to be a conversation. Remember, youve got to take care of you, too. You cant advocate for your kid if youre not OK. So if its more comfortable for you to send an email and say, Look, I have this news. I just need to let you know. How about you contact me when youre ready to talk about it? Thats acceptable too. Charles: Karin, can you tell us a little bit about how the conversation with your husband has gone? Karin: Its not something that hell discuss with me. He says he doesnt want to talk about it. Hes going to act like its not happening. He got permission to keep calling Kay Kevin, and hes going to roll with that. Advertisement What I have said to him is that hes supposed to be my person. Hes my husband and were supposed to share whats going on with each other and our lives. And its something that I need support on and want to talk to him about. I dont want to paint him as a bad guy because hes really nothes a really great guy and hes been the most amazing father. He was so active with everything in their lives. Its just not something that he can deal with right now. Lisa: Even if you said to your husband, I know that this is really tough and I know that Im ahead of you and that you cant accept it right nowand thats OK. Hes on his own journey and you can just acknowledge that to him. But also say, Listen, I just need to talk about this. If you can say, Heres what I need from you. Just let me use the names and pronouns and dont cringe when I do it. Just little things like that. Baby steps. To hear how Karins husband responded after she told him what Lisa said, listen to the episode by clicking the player below or subscribing to How To! with Charles Duhigg wherever you get your podcasts. Mumbai, June 16 : Maharashtra announced a staggering record of 1,409 Covid-19 deaths, including those notched on Tuesday, with the state toll touching 5,537, health officials said. Of these 5,537 deaths, 81 were recorded in the past 24 hours while 1,328 announced today were a reconciliation of the Covid-19 fatalities that occurred in the past few weeks. The state also recorded 2,701 new patients adding to a total of 113,445 cases to date, and a recovery rate of 50.99 per cent. After over a fortnight, Maharashtra's day toll came down to double-digit figure with 81 deaths, down by 97 over yesterday's highest 3-digit toll of 178, and also notched a drop in new cases by 85 from yesterday's 2,786 to touch 2,701 today. For most days in June, the state has been recording three-digit highs -- 103 deaths (June 2), 122 (June 3), 123 (June 4), 139 (June 5) and 120 (June 6), 109 (June 8), 120 (June 9), 149 (June 10), 152 (June 11), 127 (June 12), 113 (June 13) 120 (June 14) 178 (June 15), and 1,409 (June 16) today. This comes to roughly three deaths every 18 minutes, and a whopping 112 new cases notched every hour, in the state today. With the revised total of 1,409 fatalities, the state death toll zoomed past 5K to touch 5,537 while the total number of Coronavirus patients rose from yesterday's 110,744 to 113,445 today, both highest in the country. The health department said of the total number of cases declared so far, 50,044 were 'active cases' today -- down by 510 over yesterday's 50,554. Despite the gloomy data on the perpetually growing number of Covid-19 deaths and cases, the state continues to record an impressive recovery rate, standing today at 50.61 per cent. However, the mortality (death) rate shot up sharply from yesterday's 3.70 per cent to 4.08 per cent in view of the additional death toll included today. Of the total 81 fatalities today, Mumbai notched 55 deaths -- taking the city death toll up from yesterday's 2,250 to 3,167 (including the reconciled data) now, while the number of Covid-19 positive patients here went up by 935 cases to touch 60,228 now. Dharavi, Asia's biggest slum, continued to show improvements with 21 new cases, taking the total to 2,089 cases and and the number of fatalities stable at 77. Besides Mumbai's 55 deaths, there were 23 fatalities in Thane (Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Kalyan-Dombivali), 9 in Pune, and 2 in Ahmednagar. On the positive side, a total of 1,802 fully cured patients returned home today, taking the number of those discharged from 56,049 to 57,851 now. The MMR (Thane Division) remains a jittery issue with a total of 3,967 Covid-19 deaths, and the number of positive cases touched 84,121 today. Likewise, Thane - with 19,328 cases and 641 fatalities - has emerged to be the second worst-hit district after Mumbai. Pune district has dropped to the third position with 12,888 patients and 588 deaths till now. Pune Division ranks second (after MMR) with 15,606 patients and 664 deaths. The next major region of concern is Nashik Division with 368 deaths and 4,750 positive cases, followed by Aurangabad Division with 185 fatalities and 3,476 cases, and finally Akola Division with 95 deaths and 1,716 cases. There's Latur Division with 33 deaths and 657 cases, Kolhapur Division with 40 deaths and 1,589 patients, and finally Nagpur Division with 14 deaths and 1,360 cases. State Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta and Health Secretary Pradeep Vyas, who announced the Covid-19 deaths reconciliation figures, said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had ordered last week to complete the process by June 15 after checking with all testing labs and district collectors. "The state is fighting Covid-19 with absolute honesty and holds transparency sacred. Data reconciliation and tally will be done every few weeks to ensure complete transparency," said the officials. The development came a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party's Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging fudging of figures of deaths by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Fadnavis had accused the BMC of a 'cover-up' by suppressing around 950 deaths which was a gross violation of ICMR guidelines. After the state government declared the latest reconciled figures, Fadnavis tweeted: "It is my sincere request to the state government that please don't ignore this entire episode of criminal negligence in the name of reconciliation of numbers. These figures were suppressed for the last 3 months." Meanwhile, the number of people sent to home-quarantine decreased from yesterday's 587,596 to 586,686 now, while those in institutional quarantine decreased from 28,084 to 27,242 today. In another relieving news for patients, there are as many as 80,502 beds currently available in 1,543 institutions for Covid-19 related quarantine in the state on Monday. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Something incredible happened. Russia has to follow the world scene from the stalls. The US and China dominate the scene Something incredible happened. Russia has to follow the world scene from the stalls. The US and China dominate the scene. Their clash or their dialogue will determine the movement of the global world. What has Russia to do with this? We have our own concerns. We have on the agenda the popular endorsement of autocracy for all time. The irony is that popular approval is worthless if autocracy ceases to be great-power! After all, Russia has dropped out of the league of those who shape the global trajectory. But in this case, it is not clear how autocracy can exist with a broken sovereign spine. Meanwhile, America is not in the best fighting form. Russia is whining about American hegemony, making it the idea of fixation, which should fuel our resentment. In fact, America is trying to escape from its obligations. The withdrawal of 15,000 American troops from Germany, and before that the withdrawal of troops from Syria, the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, and the limited contingent in Iraq, are a confirmation of the collapse of the US global presence. The collapse of the world order is a consequence of Americas refusal from the role of arbiter and gendarme. The world, grumbling about US leadership, was at a loss, not knowing how to live without the hegemon that is bossing everyone around. What hegemony are we talking about if America has fallen into a crisis? Things began to crumble: an economic recession, a deadly pandemic, and finally racial conflict. Analysts have long been predicting problems, saying that the American model is degrading. Trump deepened the crisis by starting to undermine the principles on which American democracy is built. But those who bury America are in a hurry. The crisis is a great healer. Change is impossible without a crisis that exposes the decrepitude of the structure. The crisis that shakes the United States might have been necessary for the Americans to think about the changes. The great nation has already gone through crises in the 30s and 70s and managed to consolidate, reaching a new level of development. American tradition has regulators that protect against the worst - maintaining power through the suppression of society. This is evidenced by the readiness of the Americans to protest, and the elite cannot ignore it, and the armys refusal to turn into an instrument of suppression. We will not become a repressive body. We have vowed to defend the right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, the military told their president when he tried to force the army to disperse the protests. With such an army you cannot be afraid for the fate of democracy. China looks more dynamic. The first civilization in the world to form a state based on meritocracy and rules. In China, the ability of rulers to self-restraint and bureaucratic efficiency were laid in control, while Europe was ruled by monarchs, who considered the state to be their property. At the same time, China is a country with a complex of humiliation. For a long time, China compensated for the humiliation with clever "soft power." China has managed to rise like an economic giant, has begun to build an economy based on knowledge and new technologies. Today, China, having the largest group of scientists and engineers in the world (more than 4 million people), has become an important part of the global scientific and technological hub. China managed to carry out a creeping expansion, subjugating the continents to influence and penetrating the pores of the Western economy while displacing foreign campaigns from its market. Xi Jinping's projects - Made in China 2025, Chinese Standards 2035, and One Belt - One Way - mean a bid for world domination and export of the Chinese model. But China let down impatience. Too early, Beijing announced its desire to become a hegemon. Too frankly, Beijing has begun to impose itself on the world. This is what Chinese analysts, independent of Beijing, assure. In order to build a "world order in accordance with the interests of the Communist Party, China carries out militarization, bribes politicians from different countries, avenges criticism of Chinese politics, creates thousands of Confucius Institutes around the world, pays for scientists in the USA and other countries, and buys abroad strategic ports and infrastructures." Chinese analysts warn: Chinese leadership "never keeps promises," "does not believe in rules, laws, and common sense," "it believes only in strength." Chinese peaceful expansion was more effective than Russian attempts to force the world to accept its sovereignty. China has made the world dependent on its economy, finance, and technology. But emboldened, China took off its gloves and began to act according to the Russian scenario. Beijing has shifted to "warrior-wolf diplomacy" - a global hard pressure. The new policy in China is associated with the exploits of the hero of the Chinese blockbuster Wolf-Warrior, in which Lang Feng, Chinese Rambo, smashes enemies around the world. Australia has become an example that demonstrates the Chinese retaliation. You want to investigate our responsibility for the coronavirus, China assures. Get your answer here! By increasing duties on Australian agricultural products, Beijing has put Australian farmers at risk of bankruptcy. America is leaving. China is trying to entrench itself on the world stage. But everyone has already understood, looking at the revived Dragon, that its arms would be asphyxiating. They have understood and shuddered! The world will soon begin to nostalgic for American hegemony. What about Russia? Russia sits in the parterre. Not on the balcony. Looking at the struggle of the giants, we can turn our brains on and think about whose victory will be more profitable for us. Which hegemon would there be less humiliation for us? We are unlikely to be able to influence the outcome of their clinch. We need to get used to living with a new balance of power. We have to more realistically assess our ambitions. This is for the best: its time to finally go about our business. Read the original text on Facebook Jan-May exports from Turkey up 37% ICR Newsroom By 16 June 2020 In the January-May 2020 cement and clinker exports from Turkey surged 37 per cent to 9.8Mt, according to the Turkish Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMB). Export revenues advanced by 16.7 per cent YoY to US$447m. Cement exports were up to 4.8Mt while clinker exports rose to 5Mt. While volume increases were across the board, exports to Ukraine showed particularly robust growth, followed by Togo and Romania. The rise in exports surpasses expectations and TCMB President, Tamer Saka, said: It is important to support the sector with economic measures to maintain foreign momentum gained in international competition and continue to provide foreign currency input and employment security to our country. Cement sales in Turkey edged up 0.6 per cent YoY to 9Mt while output from domestic cement plants increased 10.4 per cent YoY to 12.6Mt in the January-March 2020 period. Published under Federal officials announced reviews into the deaths of two black men found hanging from trees in California within two weeks of each other and 50 miles apart in a region known for active neo-Nazi groups. The deaths of 24-year-old Robert Fuller and 38-year-old Malcolm Harsch were both described as suicides by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, despite challenges from their families, who said neither were suicidal, as well as activists and civil rights groups. Thousands of protesters gathered during the weekend in Palmdale, where Mr Fuller was found hanging from a tree on 10 June, to demand an investigation into his death. The protests, which coincided with demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, also brought attention to the death of Mr Harsch, who was found hanging from a tree outside the Victorville City Library 10 days earlier. Following the protests, Los Angeles officials formally requested an independent investigation by the California Attorney Generals office into the death of Mr Fuller. A separate investigation into the death of Mr Harsch was not announced. However, the FBI and Department of Justice said on Monday that both agencies will review the deaths, amid mounting accusations the two black men died as a result of lynchings. Diamond Alexander, Mr Fullers sister, told the Los Angeles Times he had attended a major Black Lives Matter demonstration in the area days before he died, adding that she did not believe her brother killed himself. My brother was a survivor, she told the newspaper. We want to find out the truth of what really happened. Everything that theyve been telling us has not been right. His high school friend, Tommie Anderson, also told the Times he did not believe Mr Fuller killed himself. He pointed to apparent discrepancies in the story of his friends death, saying it was unlikely he would have been out that late at night, and the tree he was found hanging from was too thin to support his weight. For people to say he did this, this wasnt Robert, he said. For him to tie himself to that tree, its not possible. Mr Harschs family also refuted his cause of death in a statement that said they dont believe it to be true, adding: There are many ways to die but considering the current racial tension, a black man hanging himself from a tree definitely doesnt sit well with us right now. The statement continued: We want justice not comfortable excuses. City officials initially appeared to blame a string of recent deaths similar to those of Mr Fuller and Mr Harsch on the coronavirus pandemic, saying in early statements to the Daily Beast about the apparent suicides: Sadly, it is not the first such incident since the COVID-19 pandemic began. White supremacist activity and pockets of neo-Nazi groups have continued to flourish in the Antelope Valley, according to several reports, for decades. In Palmdale, where Mr Fuller was found dead, officials have a well-documented history race-based discrimination, including reported attempts to push out low-income minority families through harassment tactics. Black Lives Matter demonstrations have consumed entire cities for weeks as protesters demand justice over the death of Mr Floyd who died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes as he pleaded for air as well as an end to police brutality and systemic racism. WATERLOO REGION The public school board will pause the School Resource Officer program as it reviews having police in schools. At the Waterloo Region District School Board meeting on Monday, Trustee Scott Piatkowski notified colleagues he will bring forward a motion asking a committee be formed to review police in schools. His motion is in response to the board receiving numerous emails from parents and alumni and other community members expressing concern with the program. During the meeting education director John Bryant said the administration was committed to undertaking a review and would pause the program while the review is underway. We really do need to listen and to learn and understand what our students and families have experienced, and really to listen to understand the concerns of our community, said Bryant. Trustees heard that staff met with its Black Brilliance advisory committee and local Black activists and organizers who expressed concerns with the program. They do not want officers in schools dealing with racialized youth and say students are reporting they do not feel safe with police in their hallways and classrooms. The community wants to work together with our school board to think creatively about what could replace the SRO program, Deepa Ahluwalia, the boards human rights and equity adviser, said at the meeting. Theyre asking that we come to the planning table with an open mind. They are dedicated to finding a solution with us and not to just dismantle everything without thoughtful consideration of next steps. Also on Monday, a group of local students launched a campaign on social media called Students 4 Inclusive Schools calling on the school board to include their voices in the review. The group said in a statement Tuesday they commend the move to review the program and its suspension, but say it is long overdue. We continue to advocate for a community-led alternative to disciplinary action that is based in restorative and social justice, the group said in a statement. These alternatives must include culturally-responsive support workers, crisis counsellors, mental health workers, and community-led de-escalation response teams. The board committed Monday to consulting with a variety of groups as it conducts the review. This will be a very important process as we listen and learn and understand the concerns that are coming from our community, said Lila Read, associate director at the board. Administration with the board will get started gathering information for the review and it is expected that at a September meeting the board of trustees will formally vote on Piatkowskis motion requesting a committee be formed to review the program. The proposed committee will look at the history and origin of the program, its scope, gather data, host consultations with the community, and examine whether to continue with the program. It will include trustees, a student trustee, a superintendent, teachers, parents, a youth worker, principals or vice-principals, the human rights and equity adviser, and an administrator responsible for student discipline. We understand that some of our students have had a negative experience with the SRO program with the police officers in schools and I think its an important and necessary step that we are doing this review to understand better what those concerns are, Ahluwalia said in an interview. In a statement Tuesday, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board said it is committed to a review of the program in the fall as well. The School Resource Officer program has existed for about two decades. Currently there are 10 officers in the program who are assigned to 240 secondary and elementary schools in the region. Officers are available to the public and Catholic school boards as well as private and independent schools, according to Waterloo Regional Polices 2019 annual report. The goal of the program is to develop positive relationships between youth and police, reduce youth victimization and partner with school staff to proactively address student, family and school challenges, the report says. Student resource officers make regular visits to schools and bring awareness on topics such as online safety, substance abuse, bullying and sexual harassment. They also investigate school-related incidents that happen on school grounds, including reports of suspicious persons and altercations between students. They also assist in situations such as lockdowns and suspension re-entry meetings, the report says. The WRPS (Waterloo Regional Police Service) supports an evidence-based review and we look forward to future engagement with the school board surrounding the SRO program, said Cherri Greeno, police spokesperson. The International Space University (ISU) in France has paid homage to Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput in a statement, saying the news of the actor's death was "deeply saddening". Rajput was found dead in his Bandra apartment on Sunday. According to an official, Mumbai Police found out during the probe that the 34-year-old actor was under medication for depression. The official Twitter handle of ISU on Monday tweeted how Rajput was supposed to visit the campus last year but was unable to due to scheduling conflict. "We are deeply saddened by the dramatic news on the death of well known Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Mr Singh Rajput was a believer and strong supporter of STEM education and was following ISU on social media. He had even accepted an invitation to visit ISUs Central Campus in the summer of 2019 but other agenda priorities prevented him from traveling to Strasbourg. Our thoughts are with Sushant Singh Rajput, his family and his friends. His memory will remain among his thousands of followers across India and all over the world (sic)," the statement by the university read. We @isunet are deeply saddened by the dramatic news on the death of well known Indian actor @itsSSR Mr Singh Rajput was a believer and strong supporter of STEM education and was following ISU on social media. https://t.co/E3GZFHdZdo pic.twitter.com/PAqwY5MGoB Space University (@ISUnet) June 15, 2020 ISU paid condolences to Rajput's family and friends, saying the actor's memory will "remain among his thousands of followers across India and all over the world". Rajput had enrolled at Delhi Technical University (DTU) in 2003, which was then known as Delhi College of Engineering but left the course to pursue his showbiz dreams. Even after leaving the four-year degree course, he remained fascinated with science and had a deep interest in astronomy. As part of his research for the film Chanda Mama Door Ke, he also visited the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 2017. Rajput had stayed in NASA to train for his role as an astronaut for the film, which was eventually shelved. The actor also owned Meade 14" LX600 telescope. On his first trip abroad since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today in Jerusalem. Mitsotakis is the first leader to arrive in Israel since the pandemic began. The Greek prime minister arrived in the country heading a large official delegation including five ministers who are scheduled to hold separate meetings with their Israeli counterparts. The visit constitutes the fourth Government-to-Government (G2G) forum. After the tete-a-tete encounter, a larger meeting was convened, where the two leaders signed three memorandums of understanding: one each on cyber, agriculture and tourism. Iris Ambor, director of the Foreign Ministrys Southern Europe Department, told journalists before the meetings, We will discuss the peace plan of President [Donald] Trump, and we will talk about energy and the EastMed [gas pipeline project], [and about] stability in the Middle East with an emphasis on Iran and Lebanon. She said the two leaders will discuss the coronavirus crisis and ways to put bilateral tourism back on track. Indeed, the issue of resuming flights and reopening Greece to Israeli tourists represented a top priority for Mitsotakis in his meeting with Netanyahu. It now seems that Israeli tourists could fly to Greece as of the beginning of August, without entering a 14-day quarantine upon their return. "Over a million Israelis go to Greece every year. This is an expression of Israelis' love for Greece," stated Netanyahu. This also depends on what happens with the coronavirus pandemic, but if the numbers allow it, this [Aug. 1] is the target date for opening the skies, he told reporters. For the past several weeks, Netanyahu has been discussing with counterparts in Greece, Cyprus, Austria and other countries less infected by the virus possible ways of relaunching regional tourism and the creation of bilateral travel corridors. Another topic brought up by Mitsotakis was increasing Turkish activity in the Mediterranean, citing recent incidents of illegal and provocative Turkish behavior at our sea, air and land border and the destabilizing effect that Turkey has made vis-a-vis its relationship with Libya. Netanyahu brought up in the meeting ongoing talks on the East-Med pipeline project, which should promote the construction of a 1,900 km undersea pipeline from Israeli waters to the western Greek mainland via Cyprus and Crete. Jerusalem and Athens see eye to eye on almost all of the above issues. Bilateral ties have been reinforced in the past few years, especially on the backdrop of the deterioration in Jerusalems ties with Ankara. Thus, the only really delicate topic discussed between the leaders was Netanyahus annexation plan. Considering Greece as an important ally, Netanyahu hopes to dilute the European Unions objection to annexation. Netanyahu does not expect Greece to support his plan, but he would like to see it thwarting a joint EU declaration against it or an EU initiative for such a resolution at the United Nations. Asked about the issue, Israels Ambassador to Greece Yossi Amrani told the press, "We expect Greece to be an anchor of support for us in the [European] Union." CAIRO The joint venture of Egyptian companies Arab Contractors and El Sewedy Electric Company, under government guidance, continues to work on the Julius Nyerere hydropower project in the Rufiji River in Tanzania. On June 1, Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Assem el-Gazzar praised the progress of the project and the commitment to preventive and precautionary measures to protect and ensure the health and safety of the workers part of it. Gazzars remarks came during a meeting he held to follow up on the execution of the Julius Nyerere hydropower dam and plant project, in the presence of ministry officials and representatives of the joint venture. The project aims to control the flooding of the Rufiji River, generate power and preserve the environment. It will include the construction of a 1,025-meter-long (3,363-feet) dam, with a height of 134 meters (440 feet) and a storage capacity of 34 billion cubic meters (bcm) of water. The hydroelectric power plant will generate electricity of 2115 megawatts, Mahmoud Nassar, chief of the Central Agency for Reconstruction affiliated with the Ministry of Housing, said during the June 1 meeting. The power station is to be located across the Rufiji River in the Stiegler's Gorge, at the Selous Game Reserve in the Morogoro region in the southwest of Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania, according to Nassar. In July 2019, Egypt and Tanzania laid the foundation stone for the hydroelectric dam project in the Rufiji River basin, which is completely located inside Tanzania. The Rufiji River basin consists of the confluence of Kilombero and Luwegu rivers and is approximately 600 kilometers (373 miles) long, with its source in southwestern Tanzania. The chairman of Arab Contractors, Mohsen Salah, told Al-Monitor that the dam covers an area of 1,350 square kilometers (521 square miles) with a length of 100 kilometers (62 miles). A total 80 kilometer (50 miles) of roads will be constructed for the dam, 40% of which have been completed. On the stages of the project, Salah explained that the project consists of five main components, including the dam body, the powerhouse, the water diversion tunnel, the energy distribution sites and the permanent bridge connecting the two sides of the project. This is in addition to constructing two quarries on the two sides of the project and a small village for the workers. He clarified that 20% of the planned housing camps, including the temporary camp, have been executed. The surveying works for all of the project area have been completed along with the soil exploration works with a total of 223 exploration wells. A concrete plant and a crusher were constructed to secure the materials needed by the project, he added. Nassar noted that the project includes the construction of four sub-dams to form the water reservoir, and two temporary dams in front and behind the main dam, for the drying and diversion during the construction of the main dam. He added that this also includes a water spillway in the middle of the main dam, an emergency spillway and a 703-meter-long (0.4-mile) tunnel to divert river water, three tunnels to ensure the flow of the water needed for the power station, a permanent concrete bridge and two temporary bridges over the Rufiji River. The project area is serviced by creating temporary roads and permanent roads to facilitate movement and connect the project components, Nassar said. He further noted that the entire project that started in 2019 will be completed in July 2022. Ahmed Bahaa Eddin, head of the Nile water department at the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, told Al-Monitor that the dam does not have a negative impact on neighboring countries. The dam does not affect Egypts water quota because it is located on the Rufiji River basin and is far from the Nile River. The Nile Basin riparian countries have a number of river basins. The Rufiji River is 220 kilometers (137 miles) southwest of the Tanzanian capital. It is a 600-kilometer-long internal river and its annual run-off ranges from 10 to 58 bcm. Al-Monitor spoke to Mahmoud Abu Zeid, head of the Arab Water Council and former minister of water resources and irrigation. He believes the Tanzanian dam project would boost Egypts influence among the Nile Basin countries, as it refutes Ethiopias accusations of obstructing development projects in the basin countries to monopolize the largest share of water. Egypt is strengthening its relations with the Nile Basin countries, by implementing joint development projects for the benefit of their people without harming anyone, and to take advantage of the annual rainwater that is being wasted in most of these countries. Abu Zeid stressed the importance of Egypt's support for Tanzanian funding requests to international institutions. This is all the more important in light of Egypt's presidency of the African Union [AU]. On Feb. 10, 2019, AU leaders elected Egypt to chair the AU for one year. Ethiopia claims that Egypt wanted to deprive it of its development projects and electricity generation in light of the dispute of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, alleging that the project goes beyond development since it is a matter of survival for Ethiopia. Over the past month, Egypt and Ethiopia exchanged accusations of infringing rights and foiling negotiations on the Nile dam dispute, amid verbal skirmishes, and diplomatic moves by officials of the two countries to mobilize international positions in their respective favor. Negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have been frozen after the latter withdrew from a meeting in Washington in late February, which was dedicated to concluding a final agreement regarding the rules for filling and operating the Renaissance dam. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 20:48:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on June 16, 2020 shows the medical supplies donated to Pakistan from the Chinese government at the Islamabad International Airport, near Islamabad, Pakistan. The Chinese government on Tuesday donated the sixth batch of anti-COVID-19 medical supplies to Pakistan at the Islamabad International Airport to help the country fight against the pandemic. (Xinhua/Li Hao) ISLAMABAD, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on Tuesday donated the sixth batch of anti-COVID-19 medical supplies to Pakistan at the Islamabad International Airport to help the country fight against the pandemic. Addressing the donation ceremony, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal thanked the Chinese government and people for providing Pakistan with the urgently needed medical supplies. Pakistan and China have a relation like two brothers, and whenever Pakistan has a difficult time, China will always extend a helping hand, Afzal said. "The people of Pakistan and government of Pakistan appreciate this support from the government of China and hope that our friendship will continue to prosper in the future." Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing said on the occasion that China and Pakistan are good brothers and partners who see each other though difficulties and challenges. Since the outbreak of the disease in Pakistan, China has taken practical actions including sending batches of medical supplies and expert teams, to enhance Pakistan's ability to curb the disease, and the friendship between the two countries have been deepened through the collaborative efforts of combating the pandemic, Yao said. He added that Pakistan still faces a serious situation of curbing the spread of the disease, and China is willing to continue to support Pakistan in fighting the disease and helping Pakistan restore its economic development. The sixth batch has been the largest batch of anti-COVID-19 medical supplies that the Chinese government donated to Pakistan so far, and the batch of 68 tonnes supplies includes testing kits, protective suits, N95 masks and protective goggles, according to the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths after it started to ease the lockdown in May. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan has risen to 148,921 with 2,839 deaths, according to the data updated by the country's health ministry Tuesday. Enditem Who says you cant go home? WFANs Chris Oliviero told Newsdays Neil Best that Craig Carton could return to the airwaves once the disgraced host finishes his prison sentence. "If a time in the future came where Craig had gotten his life back on track, fulfilled all that was asked of him and was in a position to resume his career, of course wed talk and discuss. ... I think every other radio group would have the same conversation. His talent is well-documented. ... I do think New York believes in second chances in life, so I do think that when that day comes, he will have conversations with people. But I dont know when that is. Introducing Giants Extra: Sign up for a free trial now. Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text directly with reporters Carton, who hosted an afternoon show on New Jersey 101.5 prior to his time at WFAN, was arrested Sept. 6, 2017 at his Manhattan apartment and charged with helping to run a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme in order to pay off gambling debts. Carton resigned from WFAN shortly after, was convicted in November 2018 and sentenced in April 2019 to 42 months in prison. Buy coronavirus face coverings: MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA Last month, Chris Oliviero was tabbed to oversee WFAN and all Entercom-run New York stations. And as Best noted, Oliviero has a long history with Carton, including helping bring him to WFAN alongside Boomer Esiason in 2007, when they succeeded Don Imus in morning drive time. (NJ Advance Medias James Kratch contributed to this report.) Get Giants text messages from reporters: Cut through the clutter of social media and text directly with the Giants beat writers. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now for a free trial. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Will Jewish and Christian Schools Teach the Truth About America and Racism? Commentary Do not follow the majority to do evil.Exodus 23:2. When I went to yeshiva day schools, America was celebrated. America was regarded, in the description of Menachem Schneerson (the Lubavitcher rebbe), the most influential rabbi of the 20th century, as a medina shel cheseda country of kindness. He knew, as all American Jews knew, that there were many anti-Semites in America, that America should have done more for the Jews of Europe, that universities like Harvard limited the number of Jewish students, that prestigious law firms and country clubs barred Jews, etc. So, then, why did he describe America as a country of kindness? Why did my yeshiva in Brooklyn put on plays honoring George Washington? Why did my Orthodox Jewish day school utilize texts not only celebrating America but affirming America as a melting pot? Why did a Jew, Irving Berlin, write God bless America? The primary reason was that these Jews knew what the rest of the world was like. They had the wisdom to compare America with other countries, not, as the foolish, nihilistic left does, to utopia. Compared with the rest of the world, America wasand remainsa medina shel chesed. Was it such a country for every one of its citizens? Of course not. At the time Rabbi Schneerson described America as a country of kindness, the southern half of America enforced immoral and degrading Jim Crow laws, and racism was common in the North as well. I have noted the anti-Semitism in American life at that time. And gays were often ostracized and degraded. But the Torah teaches us that we are not to compare the past with the present. That is why Noah, the man God saves from the Flood, is described in Genesis as righteous in his generations. If Noah were to be compared with people in later generations, he would be found wanting. Abraham, the man chosen by God to be the father of His People, had a concubine and lied about his wife to save his own life. But only foolslike all those who want to tear down monuments to George Washington and Thomas Jeffersonwould dismiss Abrahams greatness. Jacob, the man God renamed Israel, owned slaves. Should Jews cease calling themselves the children of Israel? Should the State of Israel change its name? That is what Jewishand all religiousschools should be teaching when discussing Washington or Jefferson having slaves. If we are to dismiss the greatness of two of the founders of the freest country in human historynot to mention the best non-Jewish country Jews have ever lived inthen we should do likewise to the Jewish patriarchs. Moses had a fellow Israelite executed for publicly violating the Sabbath. Should his sculpture be removed from the Supreme Court? Will Jewish day schools start dismissing the greatness of all our ancestors? If they start doing this to Washington and Jefferson, they should be consistent. Or should they do what the Torah does? While never ignoring the flaws of giants, remember why they were giants. Will Jewish and Christian schoolsthere is no hope for wisdom in secular schoolsteach that every society in world history, including African, Native American and Arab societies, all practiced slavery? If not, why not? Isnt it morally and factually dishonest to teach only about slavery in America? What should be taught is that Americas and the Western worlds uniqueness did not lie in having slaves. Slavery was universal. Therefore, the morally serious person asks who abolished slavery, not who practiced it. But the leftas opposed to liberals and conservativesis not now, nor ever has been, morally serious. When you ask the only morally significant questionwho abolished slavery?the answer is America and some other Western countries. And then you should teach the reason: because of Western values rooted in the Bible. One would think that fact would be central to the curriculum of every Jewish and Christian school that takes their religion seriously. But much of contemporary Christianity and Judaismincluding Jewish and Christian schoolshas been influenced more by the left than by Christianity or Judaism. If your school cares about truth, it should try to teach all the facts while acknowledging the history of racism and including the history of police racism. One such fact is that in August 2019, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded there is no significant evidence of antiblack disparity in the likelihood of being fatally shot by police. A Jewish school might also wish to note that, according to a 2016 Anti-Defamation League survey, anti-Semitic views among black respondents were materially more common than among whites. The Washington Post reported two years earlier, entrenched anti-Semitic views are far more common among African Americans and Latinos than among others. Indeed, in 1991, black attacks on Jews in Crown Heights, New York City, were so violent that former Mayor Ed Koch, New York Times executive editor A.M. Rosenthal and others called it a pogrom. Brandeis University historian Edward S. Shapiro wrote it was the most serious anti-Semitic incident in American history. Will Jewish schools smear American society as systemically racist while making believe blacks are the only victims? One reason this is important is so students will understand that all whites are racist is as vile a charge as all blacks are anti-Semitic. Finally, will Jewish and Christian schools teach the central teaching of both faithsthat Adam had no race? As the sages put it: Why was only a single specimen of man created first? To teach us that no race or class may claim a nobler ancestry, saying, Our father was born first. In other words, the Bibles demand is that we be colorblind. There are only two races, Viktor Frankl wrote, the race of the decent and the race of the indecent. No Jewish or Christian parent should send their child to a Jewish or Christian school that teaches otherwise. Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Child sex offenders will face mandatory minimum sentences upon their conviction under federal laws that have gained Labor support after months of dispute about whether Parliament should impose the changes on the courts. Labor dropped its objections to the mandatory sentences in a formal vote in the federal caucus on Tuesday that clears the way for tougher sanctions on abuse. New laws will include mandatory sentences for some people convicted of child sexual abuse. Credit:iStockphoto But the decision did not prevent Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton attacking Labor in Question Time hours after the decision, saying the Opposition had voted against the government bill. Mr Duttons argument incensed Labor leader Anthony Albanese and caucus members who claimed the minister was not being honest in Parliament about the Oppositions stance on the contentious bill. A teenager who's fascinated with the 1940s has spent around 10,000 snapping up memorabilia from the war-time era - and spends his time dressing like a middle class man from the period. Charlie Roy, 19, from Milton Keynes, believes his love of all things vintage was sparked at the age of six, after listening to stories his nan told him from her time working in a powdered egg factory during the Second World War. Growing up, his obsession has continued and he's now amassed over 6,500 worth of memorabilia from the 30s, 40s and 50s - and spent a further 3,500 on tweed jackets, Oxford 'bag' trousers and RAF military uniform. The time-warp teen says he was bullied as a youngster for being 'different' but that now his friends affectionately dub him a 'vintage fruitcake.' Step back in time: Charlie Roy, 19, from Milton Keynes says 40s obsession began when he was six after listening to his nan's tales about working in a powdered egg factory Now 19, he's amassed a huge collection of memorabilia from the wartime period - including a vintage bike, which he rides around his home town Elegance: Charlie says the period seems more refined than the modern day and he aspires to dress like a middle class man from the 1940s His great grandfather Ron, a WWII veteran is also a big inspiration and the teenager says his dream is to learn to drive in a classic Austin 7. Charlie said: 'I've been into all things vintage since I was six years old. My great nan Peggy used to work in a powdered egg factory in the 40s and my other great grandma Helen worked at the Handley Page Factory in Cricklewood, building Halifax Bombers during the height of the war.' He explains that their stories left him captivated by the bygone era: 'The world they described seemed like a completely different world to the one I had been born into' 'Style was so much better back then and everything was far more elegant. 'I remember my mum being pulled in by a primary school teacher who said I had lived before because I had been reciting bits of history from the period in class, in a way well above a seven-year-old's intellect.' Enough for a small museum: the teenager has amassed a huge collection of vintage items from the 30s, 40s and 50s...including military badges, recipe books and a gramophone 'I mainly dress like I'm from the middle classes in the 40s. You can get away with it more than having to dress in your tuxedo every time you pop out for a meal. My dream is to get a vintage Austin 7 - but I need to learn to drive first. I'd like to learn to drive in one.' And people seem to love his passion for the wartime period. 'I've got a vintage bike which I go out on dressed-up and it's nice seeing people's reactions, usually people of a certain age who remember the 40s,' he says. 'I've had people tell me they remind me of their dad or their uncle when I'm in my RAF 'blues.' Over the years Charlie has collected hundreds of vintage items, including typewriters, gramophones, projectors and RAF memorabilia - either buying them himself or being handed down them by family and friends. Not your average driving lesson: Charlie hopes to one day own an Austin 7 from the period His most valuable hand-me-down is a 500 gold pocket watch which was sent back to his family from the trenches after his Great Great Grandad died in the first world war. I've started exploring making my own clothes and I made my first two-piece suit the other week to a original 40s pattern Charlie Roy, 1940s enthusiast Charlie used to get his suit jackets and Oxford 'bags' trousers handmade by taking photos of people from the 40s into his local tailors and asking them to replicate their clothes, but has recently taken to sewing his own clothes. He said: 'I would go into tailors with pictures of Edward VIII and ask them to whip up his original Oxford bags for me. 'I've started exploring making my own clothes and I made my first two-piece suit the other week to a original 40s pattern. When I wear uniform, I try and make it a replica of my great grandad's RAF uniform. 'My Great Grandma gave me his Observer wings. They are now pride of place on my uniform. 'I never met him, but I feel a connection with him through dressing like he would have.' He says he's not fixated on the weaponry of the period, it's more the social history, and how the world has changed, that grips him. 'It's not so much the military aspect that interests me. I'm not bothered about how much horsepower the Spitfire has. What interests me is how social conduct has changed between then and now.' The history fan says he was bullied as a young boy but a move to Dubai, where he spent ten years, put a stop to it, as people were more welcoming of difference in the UAE Charlie has had a replica WWII uniform made, which even has his great grandfather Ron's Observer wings on them. Right: the vintage bicycle that's among his retro purchases Ready for work: his mini museum boasts a telephone, crockery and furniture from the period An original bakelite phone - worth around 400 - sits on his desk, alongside a working Remington Brand typewriter Who needs an Iphone: Charlie has an enviable collection of vintage records to play on the gramophone Charlie, who returned from living in Dubai for ten years last June, has plunged himself into the UK's thriving vintage scene - winning runner-up for 'Mr Vintage UK' at vintage festival, Twinwood, last year. And while his mum shares his enthusiasm for all things 40s, he says his dad doesn't share their passion for all things vintage and would prefer living in an ultramodern house with white walls. Charlie adds: 'I got quite heavily bullied when I was younger, but when we moved to Dubai in 2010 that changed. 'There are so many different nationalities there and people are more accepting of people who're a little bit different. Nowadays all my friends refer to me as the 'vintage fruitcake.' Brussels, Belgium (PANA) - The European Council on Tuesday adopted conclusions reiterating its unwavering commitment to protecting EU citizens against terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms and irrespective of their origin New Jersey hair and nail salons, barbershops, massage and tattoo parlors and other personal care services forced to close amid the coronavirus pandemic can once again open their doors next week under new rules released Tuesday by Gov. Phil Murphys administration. The requirements issued by the states Office of the Attorney General include rules about screening customers and workers for symptoms of COVID-19 and limiting the number of people allowed in personal care businesses. The rules also apply to electrology offices, tattoo parlors and tanning salons, which can reopen Monday under Murphys executive order allowing them to resume business. "As New Jersey continues to take steps to strategically reopen businesses, we cant let our guard down, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. As personal care services resume, its important that businesses and professionals offering these services as well as their clients take precautions to diminish the risk of infection CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage According to Grewal, the new rules and safety guidelines are as followed: Screening customers and staff no more than 24 hours before a scheduled appointment and immediately prior to or upon arrival at the business. Any individual who reports having any symptom consistent with COVID-19 in the last 72 hours, or having had exposure to an individual suspected of having had or confirmed to have had COVID-19 in the last 14 days, cannot be permitted to enter, whether for work or a scheduled service. Requiring appointments for all services, with no walk-ins being permitted. Limiting the number of people allowed in an establishment at any given time. Only staff and clients receiving services by appointment should be inside the establishment. Spacing appointments to allow time for cleaning and disinfecting between customers. Checking temperatures for clients and staff prior to entry, regardless of symptoms. Individuals with a temperature over 100.4 shall not be permitted to enter the shop to work or for an appointment. Taking steps to reconfigure the space within the business to ensure at least six feet of distance between individuals wherever possible and implementing adaptations to the space with physical barriers, signs, tape or floor markers to facilitate social distancing. Requiring everyone entering the premises to wear masks or a face covering at all times, with limited exceptions. According to the guidelines, No services may be performed that would require the removal of the clients face covering, except that a client may remove their face covering when face down on a massage table. Requiring the removal of reusable items such as magazines, toys, and samples. Complying with additional requirements for certain services. The rules also call for business owners to step up cleaning and disinfecting efforts. Other things slated to reopen on June 22 include pools and outdoor, non-contact organized sports. And both youth day camps and in-person summer school can operate beginning July 6. All will have restrictions. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Dundalk Institute of Technology has confirmed that student experience will remain a major priority for the institute as it develops plans to reopen the campus over coming months and commence its next academic calendar 2020/21. DkIT has announced a new start date for incoming first-year students of September 28th, in line with all Institutes of Technology nationwide, and existing DkIT students will commence on the 30th September 2020. Part-time and postgraduate taught programmes will commence around similar timeframes and individual plans are being put in place for Postgraduate Research Students. Staff within the institute (where feasible) will commence a phased return to campus over the summer months in line with the Governments Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business and the Return to Work Safely Protocol. The health and wellbeing of DkIT staff and students is of primary importance and the preparation for the delivery of the 2020/21 academic year will have that principle at the heart of all decision-making. It is envisioned that while the campus will be open and fully operational from September, the volume of people on campus at any given time will be substantially reduced to allow for social distancing and other public health directives. In developing its plans for next year, DkIT has recognised the clear message from students in Ireland that they are committed to preserving the on-campus student experience and the institute is fully supportive of that. The quality of the student experience is of paramount importance and DkIT aims to protect that experience as much as possible while delivering academic programmes in a way that is safe, inclusive, supportive, and effective. The Institute will introduce a blended model of learning which will incorporate online teaching including lectures coupled with practical and tutorials that will take place predominantly on campus. Provisions are being made to ensure that all services and supports (including counselling, disability, pastoral care, careers & employability etc.) remain accessible to students via a mixture of on-campus and remote delivery. The institute is currently developing a newly adapted induction programme for all new students to support students during their transition to higher education. Plans are also underway to ensure that critical learning supports offered via the Library, Student Learning & Development Centre, Math Learning Centre and the IT Learning Centre are available to students via online and face-to-face delivery to coincide with the September start. Speaking today, President of DkIT Michael Mulvey, PhD paid tribute to staff for their commitment and endeavours to on behalf of the institute in these challenging times. He also praised students for their adaptability and openness to engage with new ways of learning during the Covid-19 restrictions. We look forward to welcoming students back on to our campus in September, albeit the numbers on campus at any one time will undoubtedly be smaller, he said. Staff across the college are working hard to ensure that timetables are developed to reflect new health & safety protocols and as with previous years, these will be made available via our website www.dkit.ie. The health, safety and well-being of staff and students is of the highest priority in all plans to reopen our campus. This is an evolving situation but I can assure you that all decisions being made over the coming weeks will be done with adherence to CMO, NPHET, HSE, Department of Education and Skills and HSA guidelines and as set out in the Return to Work Safely Protocol. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of strong regional infrastructure and the need to be able rely on critical services within your local community. Learners do not need to commute long distances or travel to densely populated cities to access high quality higher education with DkIT on their doorstep. Our highly skilled graduates from level 7 to level 10, provide a powerful injection of new talent and ideas for industry in our region which we know will be vital to support the economic recovery. I want to reassure students and their parents/guardians at this time that DkIT is firmly committed to taking care of our students next year. We are investing time and resource into rigorous planning now because we want you to come onto our campuses in September, where we will ensure their safety and provide them with a stimulating college experience. Because our model blends the theoretical with the practical, our students will be on campus for much of their learning. It may be happening in a different way, but it will be happening. The entire institute has been working with colleagues across the sector to ensure that our students will be safe and will experience college life. DkITs new 2020/21 roadmap is currently under development and will be published in the coming weeks. It is set out in accordance with the Return to Work Protocol and reflects many of the principles and guidelines for academic delivery in 2020/21 that have been published today by the Technological & Higher Education Association (THEA). These guidelines state that: All Institutes of Technology are fully committed to delivering a fulfilling and enriching student experience while protecting the academic integrity of our programmes and awards and abiding by all public health guidelines. All Institutes of Technology will facilitate an on-campus experience for students, particularly incoming first years, and are in the process of communicating directly with students in order to fully outline how their 2020/21 learning will take place. All Institutes of Technology are working towards a commencement date in September for the 2020/2021 academic year. Speaking today, Dr Joseph Ryan, Chief Exectuive of THEA said: Our Institutes of Technology are particularly well placed to support students through the COVID-19 learning process, while maintaining a positive student experience. Our institutions are geographically well distributed throughout Ireland, specialise in small student group teaching, and are accustomed to more interactive learning. The innovation and dedication of our staff has been central to the successful completion of the 2019/20 academic year. This agility allows us to deliver this key message to students, both current and prospective: we will welcome you on to our campuses in September 2020. We encourage all Leaving Certificate students and those going through the CAO this year to accept their offer for higher education institutions in the knowledge that their student experience will still be exciting, dynamic, and stimulating as their institution contributes to the drive towards economic recovery. You will be fully supported as we all continue to demonstrate the resilience that is characteristic of our people. The commitment of the sector is to be solutions-focused. The scale of the task ahead is clear. Our determination is to work collaboratively with the Department of Education and Science, with the Higher Education Authority, and with the partner unions and other key stakeholders, and most centrally with our students at national and local levels, to put in place the necessary amended programme schedules and the infrastructure required for a smooth commencement in September, when we will welcome students to campuses across the country. DkIT will announce details of its roadmap for reopening the campus over coming weeks and specific guidance will be provided to new and existing students in advance of the commencement of the academic term. All up-to-date information on DkITs plans to reopen its campus and details for the new academic year will continue to be available at www.dkit.ie When the late Harold Brathwaite left his role as director of the Peel District School Board in 2002, the board was at the cutting edge of human rights thanks to his visionary leadership. Ironic then that the same board is now in the midst of significant turmoil, having been the subject of a scathing provincial review and investigation, which include troubling assessments of its handling of equity issues. This is not the institution Brathwaite worked so hard to strengthen. In fact, its undoing is a cautionary example of how critical it is to embed racial equity in the workings of every institution to secure the rights of all communities. Brathwaite, who was the first Black director of any school board in the country, passed away on May 31 from colon cancer on the day before he was to turn 80. All these years later, educator Zubeda Vahed remembers his pioneering anti-racism and inclusion work. He was progressive in that he understood that the community was an essential component to the school and he knew we had to remove barriers that kept parents from engaging in the system, shared Vahed in an interview. With him, the community had a voice and we were able to bring an equity strategy forward for the whole system. While Brathwaite earned accolades for his determined approach, he also faced resistance. People thought he was too radical, Vahed recalled. He wanted to see racial minorities move up in the system and that brought him real grief. Slowly, [those who disagreed with him] would bring people in who would undo what he had done. This is the perennial issue facing human rights advocates and community members. A committed leader can make progressive advances only to have them turned back by those who come later. This is what makes it important to pay close attention to the fine print when it comes to implementing change. Many school boards have relevant policies in place, pointed out Karen Mock, an anti-racist educator and a former executive director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, who worked closely with Brathwaite. Yet, as she explained to me, many boards fail to develop timelines to implement an actual equity strategy, if they have one at all. A ministry review of the York Region District School Board in 2017, then facing similar dysfunction and evidence of anti-Black racism and Islamophobia as Peel is currently, offered recommendations to address these common gaps. Recommendations included tying performance appraisals of senior leaders to their fulfilment of equity goals. This is the type of accountability that is too often missing in most organizations. Without it, it is too easy for managers to pay lip service to combating racism without ever having to undertake the work, or without ever answering for inaction or bias. Accountability also necessitates education. Anti-oppression training should be mandatory for every staff member in any organization or company, right up to the highest offices, suggested Mock. Interestingly, the Canadian Human Rights Commission conducted its first horizontal audit to examine barriers to Indigenous employment in banking and finance last year. Its findings, highlighted in the commissions recently released annual review, provide a window into the challenges that continue to exist when it comes to attracting and retaining Indigenous employees. The audit recommended anti-harassment training and robust anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, among other initiatives. Representation mustnt be tokenistic, either. A recent policy analysis by researchers at the University of Manitoba found that 15 Canadian universities were finally moving beyond cosmetic diversity, and implementing meaningful policies around inclusion. Cosmetic diversity describes the notion that the presence of a small number of people of colour in an organization suggests it has done all that is required to be inclusive. Thats never good enough. The nature of public institutions necessitates clear objectives, strategies for implementation and audits. Otherwise, they risk losing trust of the communities they claim to serve. The same is true in the private sector. We cant rely on the Brathwaites of the world to dismantle systemic racism. But we can do more to protect their gains. Ever since Sushant Singh Rajput left the nation mourning over his sudden demsie, netizens are hell-bent behind Karan Johar and his protege, Alia Bhatt for making the film industry a worst place for the outsiders. While some are sharing old clips of Koffee With Karan, wherein many celebs including Alia Bhatt and Sonam Kapoor mocked Sushant, some are blatantly slamming Karan and Alia for putting out condolence tweets, but not marking their attendance at Sushant's last rites. Amid all the hatred towards Karan and Alia, a picture of Sushant, wherein he can be seen posing along with Alia Bhatt, Karan Johar and Sidharth Malhotra, is going viral on social media. On a related note, recently, Swara Bhasker slammed the netizens and came out in support of Karan and Alia. She tweeted, "Parts of India Twitter blaming #KaranJohar and #AliaBhatt for the tragic suicide of Sushant - for some silly game played on a frivolous and pointless chat show (that All those people who are now abusing Bollywood nepotism lapped up) is both the height of idiocy and hypocrisy!" She further tweeted, "Sushant didn't leave a note. We don't know what he went thru. We don't know the cause. STOP taking out ur frustration using the pain of a troubled person. He didn't leave a note! Get it? He didn't want to talk about it. He's gone. Let him have his peace & his family privacy." Report: Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister-In-Law Passes Away In Bihar When a netizen explained to Swara about why they are so pissed at Karan and wrote, "Swara it maybe a silly chat show for you & You may have that sense of humour or thick skin to not get affected. But some don't. And just cause you're a big producer, you can't call out people and "rate" them on national TV. Most of us are calling out this hypocrisy & toxicity." To which Swara replied, "That may be but it's still idiotic to hold Karan & Alia responsible for this tragedy - because they made some thoughtless comments. The fact is we don't know what Sushant was going through nor what the cause was. Everything being discussed is speculation & gossip. It's not right." (Social media posts are unedited.) Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM Shah also suggested psychosocial counselling of doctors and nurses engaged in corona care Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday took charge of overseeing the management of the novel coronavirus in Delhis hospitals and issued orders that CCTV cameras be installed in all Covid-19 wards and alternative canteens be set up for uninterrupted supply of food to patients. After paying a surprise visit to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital to review arrangements related to Covid-19, Mr Shah also suggested psychosocial counselling of doctors and nurses engaged in corona care. Mr Shahs directions to Delhi chief secretary Vijay Dev to ensure the installation of CCTV cameras in all Covid-19 wards of designated hospitals and setting up back-up canteens in case of infection in the main canteen came after he held an all-party meeting with the local leaders of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party. At the meeting, the home minister urged all political parties to put their differences aside and work unitedly for the people of Delhi. The national capital has the third-highest Covid-19 count after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. After the meeting Mr Shah made a surprise visit to Covid-designated LNJP hospital, run by the Delhi government. The hospital has been receiving negative publicity after several videos, purportedly shot on its premises, showed patients bodies lying on the floor or next to patients in wards. The videos also showed some elderly patients left unattended even as they cried for help. With the total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi now at 42,829, after 1,647 cases were reported in the last 24 hours, home ministry said that special units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other Central para-military forces have been kept on standby. If the situation in Delhi gets worse, they would be deployed in the worst affected containment zones to contain the spread of the virus. With 73 more deaths, the toll due to the deadly virus in Delhi is now 1,400. WEST CHESTER West Chester area Democrats are scheduled to meet next week to select a candidate who will represent the party in the General Election in November for the 156th Legislative District seat currently held by state Rep. Carolyn Comitta. Comitta, who has been in office in the district since 2017 and who won renomination in the June 2 Primary Election, withdrew from the race last week after having been successful in getting the Democratic nomination to run for the 19th state Senate District seat in November. Five candidates have notified party leaders that they intend to seek the approval of the 156th district committee members on June 23 during an unusual virtual nominating process, which is being convened electronically because of the continued COVID-19 crisis restrictions on public gatherings, said District Leader Nancy Lorback of West Goshen. Those who have notified leaders of their hope to be chosen to replace Comitta on the ballot include: legislative staffer Charles Alex Christy Jr. of West Chester; business consultant Marcel Kaminstein of Birmingham; West Chester Mayor Dianne Herrin; former Chester County Democratic Committee Chairman Brian McGinnis of West Chester; and sales executive Carrie Pizzillo-Stare of Westtown. In an interview Tuesday, Comitta said that even though she will have a vote in the process because of her status as a sitting elected official in the district, she would not throw her support toward any of the candidates before the meeting. I am not going to be making a public endorsement, she said over the telephone. But I will support 100 percent whoever is the candidate selected by the committee people of the 156th Legislative District. Comittas move to withdraw her name from the ballot for re-election to the district which covers West Chester, East Goshen, Westtown, Birmingham, Thornbury and a portion of West Goshen comes as no surprise. She was expected to withdraw her name from the 156th District race if she won the three-way primary contest for the state Senate seat being left open after incumbent Andy Dinnimans announced retirement, as is allowed by state election law. In results in the race, Comitta topped the Democratic Partys endorsed candidate, Dinniman staffer Don Vymazal of Phoenixville, and Tredyffrin-Easttown School Board member Kyle Boyer, the head of the West Chester NAACP, getting 51 percent of the vote to Vymazals 31 percent and Boyers 16 percent. Lorback said that the 156th Legislative District committee members would be holding informal township-by-township video meetings with the candidates over the next few days, and convene by video conferencing next week to make their selection, after hearing from the candidates in brief presentations. The process is fairly straightforward: any one of the candidates who wins a simple majority of those casting votes via an internet poll on the first ballot would have his or her name forwarded to the countys Office of Voter Services for inclusion in the General Election on Nov. 3. If no candidate gets a majority on the first ballot, the top two candidates would face one another in a run-off, she said. There are 60 committee seats in the 30 precincts in the district, but party by-laws also allow officials such as county District Attorney Deb Ryan and county Sheriff Fredda Maddox to also vote for the new candidate. Whoever is chosen would run against the Republican Partys nominee, communications company executive and Realtor Len Iacono of West Goshen, in the fall. Lorback said, she, too would not be making any endorsement in the selection process. My priority, and I think that of the committee members, is to pick the candidate who has the best chance of retaining the seat in Democratic hands come November. That is no clear task. The 156th Legislative District seat has switched parties three times in the years since the late Elinor Z. Taylor retired in 2006 after holding the seat for three decades. Democrat Barbara McIlvaine Smith of West Chester won the seat after Taylors retirement, but she was then replaced by Republican Dan Truitt of East Goshen, who was then himself replaced by Comitta. Two of the races, in 2006 and 2016, were decided after protracted recounts of close balloting. The district still has a slight GOP voter registration edge, according to recent figures from the Pennsylvania Department of State. There are 20,885 Republicans, 19,088 Democrats, and 7,887 independents in the district. Those running who could be contacted issued statements touting their qualifications and desire to keep the 156th seat in Democratic hands. I love being West Chesters mayor, and I love this community, said Herrin, who succeed Comitta in that office. Throughout my term, I have realized that public service is exactly where I belong and, as a committed public servant, I need to take every opportunity to work even harder to support the common good. In the coming years, the Commonwealth will face many critical issues that will define our future, and the future of our communities. I will fight for equity, the environment, public education, living wages, and Pennsylvanias small business economy. I will always remain in service to West Chester no matter what happens, she said. Rep. Carolyn Comitta has served this district with dedication for the last four years, and she will no doubt succeed as our next state Senator predicted McGinnis. I know that I have the talents, credentials, and passion needed to win this seat, protect our Democratic gains, and enhance what Rep. Comitta started in Harrisburg. This race will undoubtedly require a candidate immediately prepared to hit the campaign trail running, he said. My recent success attaining the highest male delegate count (in a race for delegate to the Democratic convention) solidifies my electoral capability. A newcomer to elective politics, Kaminstein promoted his business acumen as a credential that would benefit the district. With a great university, tier-one hospital system, and many outstanding businesses right here in our district, West Chester has the potential to be the technology capital of Pennsylvania, said Kaminstein, who owns MediaLabCBG, a brand consulting agency in Wilmington, Del. As a state representative, I will facilitate the creation of a technology hub through public-private partnerships that will boost our local economy, attract new investments, and ensure that students stay in the West Chester area after graduation. Christy, who works as a legislative aide for state Sen. Tim Kearney, D-26th, of Swarthmore and is the son of former West Chester Councilman Chuck Christy, vowed to, bring my passion of fighting for vulnerable people to Harrisburg and offer a new voice for Chester County. Working for (Kearney) over the past year and a half has given me a deep perspective on the needs of the people in the Southeast, he said. I know that perspective will only help us keep this seat in November, and give me a firm foundation to build upon if I am fortunate enough to be elected. Pizzillo-Stare, a sales representative for AT&T and board member of the LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) questions Intelligence Committee Minority Counsel Stephen Castor and Intelligence Committee Majority Counsel Daniel Goldman during the House impeachment inquiry hearings, in Washington, on Dec. 9, 2019. (Dough Mills/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban Chinese Communist Party Members From Immigrating to US U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) has introduced legislation that would prevent members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from obtaining green cards. The CCP continues to engage in aggressive and reckless behavior on the global stage, including stealing American intellectual property, violating international trade laws, committing heinous human rights abuses, and more recently, failing to act and responsibly share information that could have contained the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, Reschenthaler said in a June 15 statement. It is clear members of the CCP do not share our American ideals and values, he added. We should not permit them to enjoy all of the privileges that come with being an American citizen. Currently, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) bans immigrants who have been a member of or affiliated with the Communist or other totalitarian party from receiving a green card. The INA also has inadmissibility provisions that bar those with such party membership from being granted immigrant visas. But the language of such rules doesnt clearly define which Communist party. The proposal, named the End Chinese Communist Citizenship Act, would amend the INAs inadmissibility provisions to include specific language to ban individuals with membership in the Chinese Communist Party or its successor. Reschenthalers bill would also do away with two current exceptions: if an immigrant terminated their party membership prior to filing a U.S. visa application, or if they are relatives of a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. In June 2019, Chinas state-run media Xinhua reported that the CCP had more than 90 million members as of the end of 2018, based on a report by the regimes organization department. China currently has a population of about 1.4 billion. Among the more than 90 million, about 35 percent were workers and peasants, roughly 16 percent were professional and technical personnel, and almost 11 percent were business and management personnel. The CCP isnt the only Party organization in China. Hundreds of millions of people have joined the Partys youth organizations in primary and secondary schoolthe Young Pioneers and the Communist Youth League. All who join those organizations declare an oath of faith to the Party. Chinese individuals with Party membership have had brushes with the law in the United States. Ye Yanqing, a former exchange student at Boston University, was charged with visa fraud for failing to disclose her Chinese military background on her application. She is a Party member and a lieutenant in Chinas Peoples Liberation Army. Federal prosecutors alleged that she retrieved U.S. military intelligence and sent U.S. documents to China while in the United States. Recently, Chinese military officer Wang Xin was charged with visa fraud after being arrested in Los Angeles on June 7. The officer hid his military background to get a visa to work as a researcher at the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco, and allegedly passed on research information back to his lab in China. The Chinese military is under the direct command of a Party organ called the Central Military Commission; thus, Wang would have been under orders from the Party. But now, we have the era of Donald Trump vowing under his Make America Great Again slogan to change the times back. Trump, who often seems to be more familiar with breaking the Ten Commandments than citing them, nevertheless appealed heavily to religious conservatives. Among other smart moves, he turned to the right-leaning Federalist Society for court recommendations. The phrase But, Gorsuch is routinely cited by evangelicals when asked why they give more than 80% approval to Trump in polls. [June 16, 2020] SDL Tridion Named a Contender in Intranet Platforms Report SDL (LSE: SDL), the intelligent language and content company, announces that SDL Tridion has been named a Contender in The Forrester Wave: Intranet Platforms, Q2 2020. This report, the first by Forrester Research (News - Alert) to analyze the most significant intranet platform providers, notes SDL Tridion's customizable framework, strong information architecture and ability to help customers accelerate their pace of innovation. SDL Tridion, a content management system that handles both structured and unstructured content, is being used by many of world's leading brands, including Philips, Panasonic (News - Alert) and Nielsen. It lays the foundation for next-generation intranets and collaboration, and supports granular content services for product documentation, service and support information, learning and training, policies and procedures. The Forrester Wave: Intranet Platforms report states that "Firms should consider SDL when the intranet serves global, often complex, lines of business and requires rigorous content modeling." The report, which includes Leaders, Strong Performers, Contenders, and Challengers, evaluated 12 global providers of intranet platforms and their capabilities across three high-level categories (Current Offering, Strategy and Market Presence). Vendors are analyzed using 26 criteria, including Collaborative Content Services, Integration and Interoperability, Personalization, Delivery Model and Product Vision. Further findings include: "SDL is a mature content platform seving internally and externally-focused digital experience use cases and is noted for its strong translation capabilities." "Its transition to a cloud-first, customizable framework means that customers will benefit from a faster pace of innovation. Investments are continuing in areas of current differentiation including a strong information architecture, robust global partner ecosystem, and advanced translation services." "SDL's market maturity is reflected in strengths that few other vendors can claim, particularly its overall repository services, structured approach to content authoring, information architecture, developer support, and relatively mature use of AI." said Marcus Hearne, SVP of Product and Solutions Management at SDL. "SDL Tridion supports this approach in a radically different way compared to traditional document-based information sharing, and we're delighted to be recognized in this market for our ability to drive collaboration and innovation." SDL Tridion offers tightly integrated, end-to-end component content management, alongside traditional intranet and web publishing capabilities, through easy web-based authoring, reviewing, versioning, translation, and publication management - underpinned by the DITA XML standard. A Microsoft (News - Alert) Word-style interface makes it easy for subject matter experts to contribute their knowledge across the organization. Distributed teams of authors and reviewers can work simultaneously on the same document providing comments to each other, tracking and merging changes, ensuring only a single correct version of a document exists at any point in time. Customers benefit also from efficient translations as well as delivery to multiple end points such as their intranet, knowledge portals, documents, PDFs, websites, apps, chatbots, and IoT devices. About SDL SDL (LSE: SDL) is the intelligent language and content company. Our purpose is to enable global understanding, allowing organizations to communicate with their audiences worldwide, whatever the language, channel or touchpoint. We work with over 4,500 enterprise customers including 90 of the world's top brands and the majority of the largest companies in our target sectors. We help our customers overcome their content challenges of volume, velocity, quality, fragmentation, compliance and understanding through our unique combination of language services, language technologies and content technologies. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005783/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Armed police were sent in to quell violence after a fourth consecutive night of clashes between rival gangs in eastern France. Unrest began in Dijon on Friday, when police said around 100 Chechen youths from across France descended on the city to avenge an attack on a Chechen teenager by local drug dealers. Several dozen police officers were called to respond after unrest flared up again late on Monday. At least 10 people have been injured during the disorder. Images from BFM television showed two cars and several rubbish bins on fire, as black smoke rose over the neighbourhood. Young people wearing hoods and masks carried metal bars or bats as they roamed the area, and a makeshift gasoline bomb in a plastic bottle lay on the pavement. As a result of the situation, Laurent Nunez, France's interior security minister, is due to arrive in the area on Tuesday. Local prefect Bernard Schmeltz said the clashes were a settling of scores between the Chenchen community and residents in Gresilles, a low-income neighbourhood with a heavily north African immigrant population. Dijon prosecutor, Eric Mathias, told regional radio news station France Bleu he had opened an investigation into attempted murder by an organised group and incitement to violence. Mr Mathias said some Chechens had allegedly used social media to issue a France-wide call for retaliation against the Maghreb community in Gresilles. After violence broke out on the weekend, videos emerged online purporting to show a group of men with handguns or knives in the suburbs of Dijon. Stephan Ragonneau, regional secretary of the national Alliance Police union, described the gang who had gathered in the city as very mobile, very organised, armed [and] hooded. It would have been dangerous to intervene [earlier], Mr Ragonneau added. If it had kicked off, there would have been shooting everywhere. There would certainly have been injuries, deaths. Francois Rebsamen, the mayor of Dijon, said: "We're no longer in a [functioning] Republic when that is how things play out." Recommended Protests against abuse of police power spread through France In a statement released on Monday on Twitter, the local police said: "The events of the last few days in the Gresilles district of Dijon, where there had been gatherings of youths which had led to vehicles and dustbins set on fire, only leads to more insecurity and worries for the local population, following on from the events of the weekend. The force added that more reinforcements would be called on if needed. The situation in Dijon comes amid a recent wave of violence on estates across France, including clashes in the past week in the southern city of Nice, which the mayor attributed to tensions over drug territory between local Chechen residents and their rivals. Four people were reported injured there. Additional reporting from agencies The father of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. has died of complications from covid-19, the congresswoman announced Monday night, as the pandemic continued to touch the lives of members of Congress and their families. "It is with tremendous sadness and pain that I share that my father, Nur Omar Mohamed, passed away due to complications from covid-19," Omar said in a statement. "No words can describe what he meant to me and all who knew him." Close to a dozen members of the House and the Senate have tested positive for covid-19 or coronavirus antibodies, and other lawmakers have lost family members during the pandemic. Donald Reed Herring, the eldest brother of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., died of the disease in Oklahoma in April. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., lost her sister to covid-19 in May, a month after she stood on the House floor and dedicated her support for a coronavirus relief package to her gravely ill sister. In previous interviews, Omar has described being primarily raised by her father and grandfather after her mother's death. The family fled war-torn Somalia for refugee camps in Kenya and ultimately sought asylum in the United States. In 1997, they settled in Minneapolis, where Mohamed drove a cab before finding a job at the post office. As a middle school student who wore a hijab, Omar was constantly the victim of bullying, she told the New York Times in 2018. She recalled that her father told her: "Listen, these people who are doing all of these things to you, they're not doing something to you because they dislike you. They are doing something to you because they feel threatened in some way by your existence." Omar ultimately went on to become one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, as well as the first Somali American member of the House. Though a freshman, she has attracted attention as a member of "the Squad," a group of four minority congresswomen who have shown a willingness to speak out against House leadership and have often been attacked by President Donald Trump. JBANC Statement on the Proposed U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Germany JUNE 9, 2020 The recent Administration proposal to significantly scale back American troops in Germany by 25 percent raises several concerns. The reduction of our troops based in Germany would not only curtail the United States operational military presence in Europe but sends a message that the U.S. is not keeping up with its commitments to its NATO allies. As a non-partisan organization, the Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) believes in and advocates for robust transatlantic relations, not just between the United States and the Baltic countries, but with all of our NATO allies. Americas commitment to its NATO allies is fundamental to ensuring its own security. JBANC urges the Administration to reaffirm its support of all NATO allies and to reconsider the proposed move. This potential withdrawal from Germany will be welcomed by those intent to divide the West as a sign of vulnerability in the Atlantic alliance and fading American leadership on the world stage. A significant troop pullback from the heart of Europe would be extremely counterproductive for American national security and that of our allies globally. As the NATO alliance continues to deter conventional warfare and thwart unconventional threats that seek to erode global stability, the United States cannot allow any weakening of commitment to stand with our allies, especially in Europe. U.S. presence within the NATO alliance continues to prevent devastating conflicts that brought American forces to Europe in the first place. The American military presence in Germany plays a critical role in protecting U.S. interests in Europe and beyond. Since Russia has not scaled back its own aggressive stance in Europe, American resolve is as important as ever. Baltic-Americans understand well the importance of effective American leadership in support of the Alliance. Karl Altau JBANC Managing Director Are you still turning on your lights by hand like its the 20th century? Today, youve got the chance to join the future with this killer Amazon deal. The online retailer is selling a three-pack of TP-Links Kasa Smart Light Switches for $45. This three-pack usually sells for $55 to $60, and this is the all-time low. Individual switches go for $20 each, so this is a great bundle if youre looking to smarten up several switches in your home. These single pole switches dont require a smart home hub. Instead they connect directly to your Wi-Fi network via the Kasa smartphone app. The switches use 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and they integrate with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. The Kasa app also lets you control the switches remotely or set up scheduling to turn them on before you get home. One thing to note is that your junction boxes each need a neutral wire to work with the Kasa Smart Switches. That shouldnt be an issue if you have a home from the 1980s or later. Older homes, however, might need a visit from the electrician before these switches will work. For most people, however, these switches should be very easy to installand today theyre going cheap. [Todays deal: Three-pack Kasa Smart Switches for $45 on Amazon.] FP Trending Microsoft Teams will now allow users to upload their photos for custom backgrounds. The company made the announcement in a blog post. Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft 365 wrote on the blog that when the world started work from home earlier this year, Microsoft Teams customers turned on video in Teams meetings two times more than they did before people began working from home full-time. Spataro went on to add that they are announcing rollout of new custom background effects in Teams, along with new features in the free version of Teams and that it is "all about enabling you and your team to work productively, collaboratively, and with everyones well-being in mind." According to a report in The Verge, Teams has introduced a blurring effect for the background as well as a library of pre-installed images to help participants hide their messy home offices. However, the report mentions that using the blurring effect may not stop others on a video call from being able to see sensitive information. Microsoft has also rolled out other features that include the ability to schedule meetings and send out invites instead of just using the Meet Now option. Teams free users can now turn on live captions during their calls and meetings. According to Microsoft, the free version of Teams also provides organizations with up to 50,000 users with unlimited chat and search, audio and video calling, scheduled meetings, 10 GB team file storage and 2 GB personal file storage per person as well as ability to use the Office web apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote) and unlimited app integration Microsoft has also created 20 virtual backgrounds to support the LGBTQI+ community, which can be downloaded today, (16 June) for Pride celebrations. Andrew Smith, ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes Program Winner at McCarthy Services We received many inspirational nominations from our community, and as giving back is a key pillar of our business, we are proud to help support them through the ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes program, said Manning Savage, Operational Manager of McCarthy Services. McCarthy Services, a local HVAC and plumbing services provider and part of the American Residential Services (ARS) Network of Brands, is providing a new water heater to Andrew Smith, a deserving ICU Nurse as part of the ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes program. The program is an extension of the year-round, company-wide ARS Cares initiative, and is rewarding more than 50 free home services makeovers to healthcare professionals across the country during the current COVID-19 crisis. Northern Virginia healthcare workers have been working tirelessly to ensure our safety and recognizing their efforts by installing a new water heater was an easy way we could ensure they have a comfortable and safe environment to return home to, said Manning Savage, Operational Manager of McCarthy Services. We received many inspirational nominations from our community, and as giving back is a key pillar of our business, we are proud to help support them through the ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes program. As an ICU nurse at MedStar Washington Health in DC, Andrew Smith has been diligently working on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. In the middle of the crisis, he and his wife welcomed their first child into the world. After spending almost two months in NICU they were finally able to bring their baby home. In an effort to keep his new baby safe, Smith had been isolating from the family, staying at a hotel. When that was no longer financially possible he fixed up the family basement. A failing water heater only added more stress to the family. McCarthy Services is happy to provide much needed assistance to this local hero. The installation of Smiths new water heater was completed on June 12. Following the announcement of the ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes program on May 13, family, friends, and co-workers were invited to share stories of why a Northern Virginia frontline worker was deserving of home improvements that would deliver relief and relaxation. ARS received more than 400 nominations. The ARS Cares initiative was launched in 2016 to cultivate positive relationships with communities where we live, work, and play. Since that time, more than 90 home services makeovers have been completed, donating more than $500,000 of HVAC systems and water heaters to deserving recipients. To learn more about ARS Cares and view official Terms & Conditions, visit ars.com/ars-cares. ABOUT AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Based in Memphis, Tenn., privately-owned ARS operates a network of more than 70 locally-managed service centers in 24 states, with approximately 7,000 employees. The ARS Network features industry-leading brands including, 4 Eco Services, A.J. Perri, Aksarben ARS, Allgood, Andy's Statewide, ARS, Aspen Air Conditioning, Atlas Trillo, Beutler, Blue Apple Electric, Blue Dot, Blue Flame, Bob Hamilton, Brothers, Columbus Worthington Air, Comfort Heating & Air, Conway Services, DM Select, Florida Home Air Conditioning, Green Star Home Services, Hauser Heating & Air Conditioning, McCarthy Services, Rescue Rooter / Jack Howk, Rescue Rooter, RighTime Home Services, RS Andrews, TempRite Air Conditioning and Heating, Unique Services, "Will" Fix It, and Yes! Air Conditioning and Plumbing. As an Exceptional Service Provider, the ARS Network serves both residential and light commercial customers by providing heating, cooling, indoor air quality, plumbing, drain cleaning, sewer line, radiant barrier, insulation, and ventilation services. Each location has a knowledgeable team of trained specialists. ARS requires background checks and drug tests on all employees. We hire professionals with the highest level of integrity. Providing exceptional service and ensuring the highest standards of quality, ARS has the experience to do any job right the first time, with all work fully guaranteed. ARS: "Making it work. Making it right." ### Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam all battled severe drought last year as the tide of the Mekong River fell to record lowsexposing rocks, killing fish and threatening millions of livelihoods China was pressed Tuesday to show more transparency over its dam operations on the Mekong River, months after downstream water levels hit record lows and threatened millions of livelihoods. Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam all battled severe drought last year as the tide of the river fell to record lowsexposing rocks, killing fish and threatening millions of livelihoods. But the dams along the waterway in Chinawhere the river is known as the Lancangheld "above-average natural flow" at the same time, according to satellite imagery published by US monitor Eyes on Earth in April. The extreme low flows showed the need for China to publish timely data from its dams so its neighbours can forecast bad conditions, the intergovernmental Mekong River Commission (MRC) said in a Tuesday statement. It called for "all year-round data for effective monitoring and reporting on flood and drought," in rare comments directed at the regional superpower. The Mekong is Southeast Asia's longest river and acts as a lifeline to 60 million people. The MRC acts as a dam consultation body for Mekong nations, but has been accused of being toothless in stopping river projects sponsored by governments and big business. The Mekong is Southeast Asia's longest river and acts as a lifeline to 60 million people China has built 11 dams on its section of the river while downstream countries, including underdeveloped Laos, have dozens of hydropower dams built or in planningmany funded by Chinese-backed companies. Pianporn Deetes of International Rivers said "sincere political will" was needed to mitigate existing environmental damage between the Mekong nations. "This includes changing the ways the dams are operated." The dam-building spree in China, as well as in Laos, has incited worry from the US, which vies with Beijing for geopolitical influence in Southeast Asia. US Secretary of State Pompeo last year warned that China's dam-building spree "concentrates control" over the Mekong's downstream flow. Beijing has long denied responsibility for the low water flows, and its foreign minister Wang Yi last year said that China had released more water on the request of Thailand, which was experiencing a drought. Explore further Laos to press ahead with 'destructive' new dam on Mekong 2020 AFP The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the central government and Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) on a plea seeking directions to insurance companies to provide medical insurance coverage for treatment of mental illness. The plea, filed by an advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, stated that insurance companies are refusing to provide such coverage despite a mandate under the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017. Section 21 (4) of the said act states that every insurer shall make provision for medical insurance for treatment of mental illness on the same basis as is available for treatment of physical illness. Based on that provision, the IRDA had issued a circular in August 2018 to the insurance companies to comply with the same but to no avail. The IRDA, however, has not taken any action against insurance companies for such violation, Bansal pointed out. The inaction by IRDA is hampering the rehabilitation process of thousands of persons with mental Illness, the petition said. A bench headed by Justice Rohinton Nariman sought response from IRDA and central government. The mental health issue is again being debated after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Mental health needs to be addressed as a medical emergency. The shocking thing is that we lose young ones in such scenarios. The maximum number of suicide is happening in adolescence or early adulthood after which comes the old age population. We require a national helpline to prevent these things. We also require a great destigmatising programme of psychiatry. To tell the whole population of destigmatisation, we require a national policy, said Dr Rajiv Mehta, Vice-Chairperson, Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Sir Gangaram Hospital. The fear and the stress at this time of Covid-19 pandemic have exposed the vulnerabilities of all individuals, said Dr Manushree Gupta, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry VMMC (Vardhman Mahavir Medical College) and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico will stop sending temporary workers to Canadian farms that have registered a coronavirus outbreak and that do not have proper worker protections, Mexico's labor ministry said on Tuesday, although it will not completely suspend the program. The decision came after a coronavirus outbreak in Ontario hit at least 17 farms, killing two Mexican workers aged 24 and 31, and prompting the testing of about 8,000 migrant farm workers. Canadian farmers rely on 60,000 short-term foreign workers, predominantly from Latin America and the Caribbean, to plant and harvest crops. This year, Mexico's Temporary Agricultural Workers Program (PTAT) has sent more than 16,000 people on short-term contracts to Canada, including 10,600 people since the pandemic began, the labor ministry said. The program was halted only from March 19 to April 9, restarting after Canadian authorities said there were proper health conditions. Workers planning to travel to farms that have had coronavirus outbreaks or do "not have a strategy of prevention and care for workers" will be reassigned, the labor ministry said in a statement. Ken Forth, president of Canada's Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS), said Mexico is looking for assurances that workers will be safe. "No additional workers will go to the farms where there's an outbreak until they can demonstrate to the Mexican government that they've done all the protocol for the new workers to come," Forth said. CNN and Canadian media earlier reported that Mexico had put the program on hold while it reviewed Canadian health policies and procedures, citing Mexican embassy officials in Ottawa. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expressed condolences to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in a recent call. "We are going to make sure that we're following up," Trudeau said, citing living conditions and labor standards as areas that must be considered. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon and Frank Jack Daniel in Mexico City and Kelsey Johnson in Ottawa; Editing by David Gregorio and Nick Zieminski) SHANGHAI, June 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HTC VIVE, a global leader in innovative technology, today officially announces it will enter the cloud software business with the VIVE XR Suite offering at its hybrid event, "Journey into the Next Normal", which took place physically in Shanghai and online through the Engage virtual events platform. Comprised of five separate applications covering remote collaboration, productivity, events, social and culture, the VIVE XR Suite gives users the tools they need to overcome the new challenges faced while working and living in a socially distant world. The VIVE XR Suite is targeted to launch in Q3 2020 in China, with additional regions to follow throughout the year. The VIVE XR Suite is comprised of 5 major applications (VIVE Sync, VIVE Sessions, VIVE Campus, VIVE Social, and VIVE Museum) to meet the daily needs of the users to overcome the new challenges faced by users around the world who are working, learning and living remotely. Although it is called an XR Suite, it is important to note that this software is not dependent on VR/AR devices to function. All the applications will function on existing PCs/laptops and some apps will even support modern smartphones, but for a superior immersive experience, PC VR or standalone VR devices would be recommended. Users will be able to login to all apps in the suite using a single account and across various devices they own. This integrated application bundle which is created in partnership with the leading software companies in their respective areas will provide a seamless experience for the consumer and business user. The CEO's of all the software partners in the VIVE XR Suite (Immersive VR Education, VirBELA, VRChat, and Museum of Other Realities) attended the event live via video and within VR in avatar form. "The world has irreversibly changed in the last 5 months taking us all on an accelerated path towards a digital-first future. This video-centric 'New Normal' we are living will rapidly transition to the XR first 'Next Normal' that awaits us. With our announcement today, HTC Vive is reaffirming our commitment to the XR industry and enabling the world with a suite of mission critical software applications that are intended to make all our lives richer and more productive," said Alvin Wang Graylin, China President, HTC. "We are extremely excited to be partnered with the best-in-class solutions providers to create this integrated software bundle. And we are so honored to receive the industry-wide support from the channel and distribution partners we are announcing coop with today. These partners represent the leading firms nationally and globally in their fields. By working together with so many leading companies, we are confident we will be able to make a real impact in accelerating VR adoption near term and ultimately enabling an XR-powered global workforce." To ensure the broad distribution and adoption of the VIVE XR Suite, HTC has announced major partnerships with leaders in various industries to reach customers of all sizes: "Baidu is announcing the establishment of an in-depth partnership with HTC utilizing the VIVE XR Suite to provide more complete intelligent cloud solutions for our existing enterprise customers. Baidu is the largest Chinese search engine in the world, the largest Internet integrated service company in China , and recognized as one of the world's leading AI platform company," said Jie Ma , Vice President of Baidu, "Both parties will join forces to explore new developments in virtual reality technology and application, broaden the boundary of VR business services, create various immersive experience for consumers, explore the value of 5G and VR applications to service a broader market, and promote the growth of the VR ecosystem in the 5G era." , and recognized as one of the world's leading AI platform company," said , Vice President of Baidu, "Both parties will join forces to explore new developments in virtual reality technology and application, broaden the boundary of VR business services, create various immersive experience for consumers, explore the value of 5G and VR applications to service a broader market, and promote the growth of the VR ecosystem in the 5G era." Hewlett-Packard, the global PC market leader, will pre-install the VIVE XR Suite in its mainstream business PCs/laptops to meet the needs of users brought on by the sweeping changes in the world now and in the coming future. Xinhong Zhou , Vice President of HP China and GM of the Personal Information Products Division of Greater China , said, "Today, the boundaries between everyone's work, life, entertainment, social networking and learning scenes are becoming blurred. Flexibility is the future trend of the future of work. The VIVE XR Suite makes remote communication smoother and more immersive, and it is also highly interactive, which is well suited to the needs of our business customers. Users can easily access the VIVE XR Suite applications through HP products and experience the freedom to work from anywhere and at their own schedule." , Vice President of HP China and GM of the Personal Information Products Division of , said, "Today, the boundaries between everyone's work, life, entertainment, social networking and learning scenes are becoming blurred. Flexibility is the future trend of the future of work. The VIVE XR Suite makes remote communication smoother and more immersive, and it is also highly interactive, which is well suited to the needs of our business customers. Users can easily access the VIVE XR Suite applications through HP products and experience the freedom to work from anywhere and at their own schedule." BCW ( Burson Cohn & Wolfe), one of the world's largest full-service global communications and public relations agencies, will make VIVE XR software and solutions available to clients in China . "While digital transformation has been a buzz word for many years, it has quickly become a mission-critical priority for modern businesses today," said Joe Peng , Managing Director and Head of Digital Innovation, BCW APAC. "We are excited to partner with HTC to provide BCW clients in China with the ability to integrate cutting-edge XR experiences into their communications activities." & Wolfe), one of the world's largest full-service global communications and public relations agencies, will make VIVE XR software and solutions available to clients in . "While digital transformation has been a buzz word for many years, it has quickly become a mission-critical priority for modern businesses today," said , Managing Director and Head of Digital Innovation, BCW APAC. "We are excited to partner with HTC to provide BCW clients in with the ability to integrate cutting-edge XR experiences into their communications activities." "VSTECS and HTC will jointly promote VIVE XR SUITE in the Chinese market towards enterprise customers. As the leading distribution channel for enterprise software and solutions in China , VSTECS maintains a wide channel coverage and development capability, and is the trusted partner of many world-renowned technology providers," said Qijiang Li, General Manager of VSTECS's General Intelligent Software Division. "We are in a highly interconnected world. In order to enhance the core competence, companies need to expand domestic and foreign markets through establishing partnerships, sharing information and innovating. The VIVE XR SUITE will be increasingly important as China's 5G network develops, bringing revolutionary ways for communication between users from various industries. With our professional distribution capabilities, VSTECS strives to provide HTC with a massive reach into the Chinese enterprise market." , VSTECS maintains a wide channel coverage and development capability, and is the trusted partner of many world-renowned technology providers," said Qijiang Li, General Manager of VSTECS's General Intelligent Software Division. "We are in a highly interconnected world. In order to enhance the core competence, companies need to expand domestic and foreign markets through establishing partnerships, sharing information and innovating. The VIVE XR SUITE will be increasingly important as China's 5G network develops, bringing revolutionary ways for communication between users from various industries. With our professional distribution capabilities, VSTECS strives to provide HTC with a massive reach into the Chinese enterprise market." Activation Group, the integrated marketing leader in the Greater China region, will cooperate with Vive Events to jointly develop a synergetic offering in China to deliver extraordinary experiential marketing and digital interactive solutions. According to Mr. Steve Lau Kam Yiu , CEO of Activation Group, "this strategic partnership with HTC Vive will allow the group to provide a new class of digital solutions by leveraging cutting edge XR technology to deliver astonishing marketing experience for our vast base of premium clients. Activation Group aims to continuously exceed the expectations of its clients with interactive marketing services that utilize the latest technological breakthroughs." VIVE XR Suite - Enabling the Impossible As the New Normal of 2020 is forcing the world the change the way we interact with each in life and work, the VIVE XR Suite will enable us to remove the physical distance that separates us, while allowing us to maintain our humanity and productivity. The VIVE XR Suite apps is designed with openness in mind and thus compatible with all leading VR platforms and devices, and allow supports most non-VR devices. The VIVE XR Suite is also designed to support the VIVE WAVE SDK and thus will be compatible with the most current and future hardware products in the VIVE WAVE ecosystem over time. We want to ensure nothing is restricting the billions of people from accessing this important toolset. The VIVE XR Suite will be available both in free lite-version, and as a premium Pro subscription version with enterprise/creator level capabilities and commercial use licenses. Both versions can be downloaded on various VR and non-VR app stores, while the VIVE XR Suite Pro subscription will be available for purchase on the VIVEPORT store. The official release of the VIVE XR Suite is expected in Q3/2020, but beta versions of the components will be gradually rolled out over time. Vive Sync is the remote collaboration and meeting application for businesses and remote employees from HTC Vive. Built specifically for businesses to improve communication and productivity, Vive Sync is a secure and intuitive VR collaboration tool allowing internal and external teams to seamlessly meet in an immersive way. David Sapienza , Vice President of Content Production at HTC, said, "I'm really happy to have Sync be part of the VIVE XR Suite. Combining multiple industry-leading solutions into one software suite will allow companies the flexibility to try different products, so they can evaluate the benefits of integrating XR solutions into their workflow without high cost or risk." , Vice President of Content Production at HTC, said, "I'm really happy to have Sync be part of the VIVE XR Suite. Combining multiple industry-leading solutions into one software suite will allow companies the flexibility to try different products, so they can evaluate the benefits of integrating XR solutions into their workflow without high cost or risk." Engage, is a leading virtual platform used for doing large-scale online conferences and exhibitions and virtual education solutions. Through this platform, participants can get the feeling of real face-to-face interactions and experiences, without being limited by physical constraints put upon us by the new normal. David Whelan , CEO of IVRE (Engage), said, "We are delighted to be working closely with HTC as part of the VIVE XR Suite to help apply bleeding-edge technology to solve the world's pressing problems. Partnering with Vive gives us access to the best XR technologies first to ensure our customers can receive the features they require to work and teach remotely inside VR". , CEO of IVRE (Engage), said, "We are delighted to be working closely with HTC as part of the VIVE XR Suite to help apply bleeding-edge technology to solve the world's pressing problems. Partnering with Vive gives us access to the best XR technologies first to ensure our customers can receive the features they require to work and teach remotely inside VR". VirBELA, a cloud-based enterprise application platform, expects to redefine the future of work with XR technology. The platform supports a customized virtual office environment, online meetings for up to 2500 people, and users can share and view various files at will. It enables enterprises to break through geographical restrictions, recruit talents from all over the country, improve work efficiency, save operating costs, and establish and develop in the cloud in a new way. VirBELA CEO, Alex Howland said, "VirBELA is proud to be part of the VIVE XR Suite and provide a collaborative virtual environment to businesses of all sizes for remote work, learning, events and social engagement. We look forward to our partnership with HTC as we work together to redefine the 'Next Normal'." said, "VirBELA is proud to be part of the VIVE XR Suite and provide a collaborative virtual environment to businesses of all sizes for remote work, learning, events and social engagement. We look forward to our partnership with HTC as we work together to redefine the 'Next Normal'." VRChat is the leading XR based social community in the world today, serving millions of users from around the world and offering open tools for users to create and operate their own virtual worlds and interact with users from around the world. Co-founder and CEO of VRChat, Graham Gaylor said, "HTC and Vive played an instrumental role in creating and growing the consumer VR market world worldwide. VIVE XR Suite will have a similar impact on the enterprise market and VRChat is excited to be part of the suite and help expand XR adoption to more of the world!" said, "HTC and Vive played an instrumental role in creating and growing the consumer VR market world worldwide. VIVE XR Suite will have a similar impact on the enterprise market and VRChat is excited to be part of the suite and help expand XR adoption to more of the world!" MOR (Museum of Other Realities) is the leading destination for the virtual art community to exhibit and share their creations with the world. It has been the platform selection by many leading artists to conduct virtual art exhibitions and has just announced that it will cooperate with the Cannes Film Festival to operate their VR exhibition for 2020. CEO of the MOR, Robin Stethem said, "Over the last couple of years, MOR has worked closely with HTC to produce a virtual reality museum experience unlike anything in the world. We are excited to have been selected to be part of the VIVE XR Suite and help business users in ways they can't imagine yet. We are very much looking forward to working with HTC to realize the 'Next Normal' in the coming years." VIVE Events Bridging Gaps. Connecting Lives. Vive Events is the end-to-end virtual events service offering from HTC Vive working in combination with leading events agencies and organizers from around the world. To deliver premium quality virtual events, all components of the VIVE XR Suite will be incorporated to meet the demands of our clients. Vive Events leverages the power of XR to deliver all the benefits of face-to-face physical events, while providing the convenience benefits of simple video events, at a fraction of the price of traditional offline events. For more information or inquire on projects, please visit https://www.vive.com/cn/vive-events/ or email to [email protected] . As a pioneer in the XR industry, HTC Vive continues to contribute to long term growth and development of the XR ecosystem. The VIVE XR Suite is the next step in our history of firsts in delivering XR focused offerings/solutions to help solve today's problems in an innovative way and spur long-term mass adoptions that benefit the entire XR industry. For more information, please visit https://www.vive.com/cn/xr-suite/. About HTC VIVE HTC Vive is the premier virtual reality (VR) platform and ecosystem that creates true-to-life VR experiences for businesses and consumers. The Vive ecosystem is built around premium VR hardware, software, and content. The Vive business encompasses best-in-class XR hardware; VIVEPORT platform and app store; VIVE Enterprise Solutions for business customers; VIVE X, a $100M VR business accelerator; VIVE STUDIOS, an entertainment, gaming, and enterprise content studio; and VIVE ARTS for cultural initiatives. For more information on Vive, please visit www.VIVE.com. HTC, VIVE, VIVEPORT, and the VIVEPORT logo are the trademarks or registered trademarks of HTC Corporation. All other names of companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. SOURCE HTC VIVE Greece and Egypt have much to gain from the signature of an Exclusive Economic Zone Agreement that would be to the economic and strategic benefit of both countries, writes Ioannis E Kotoulas Greece and Italy, two states sharing sea borders in the Ionian Sea, signed an agreement for the delimitation of their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) on 9 June in an important development for stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Egypt signed an EEZ agreement with Cyprus back in 2003. The time has now come for a similar Greece-Egypt Exclusive Economic Zone agreement that will greatly enhance the vital interests of both countries. The Greek-Italian EEZ agreement of 2020, an extension of the 1977 bilateral agreement on the continental shelf, was the result of laborious diplomatic efforts and contacts between the political and technical personnel of both countries. Initial Italian reservations concerning the potential restriction of fishing rights in the Ionian Sea were overcome with relevant provisions. The Defence and National Security Committee of the Libyan parliament also announced its support for the maritime delimitation agreement signed between Italy and Greece and requested that this should function as a potential model and a fair framework for maritime delimitation among the countries of the Mediterranean. Attention has now turned towards Egypt and a possible Greek-Egyptian agreement. Egypt has raised partial concerns that are primarily focused on the repercussions of the effects of an EEZ agreement on the island of Kastellorizo. Kastellorizo, a strategic Greek island, is a linking part in the EEZ agreement between Greece and Cyprus. According to Article 121 of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf of an island are determined in accordance with the provisions of this convention applicable to other land territory. This in effect means that the island of Kastellorizo, like all other Greek islands and all other land territory of the Greek state, possesses a full economic zone. It should be remembered that Turkey is one of the few states that have not signed the UNCLOS. Kastellorizo is fundamental for Greek and Cypriot security vis-a-vis the Turkish rejection of international law, and Greece cannot be seen to abdicate from the Kastellorizo region, which has become the primary focus of Turkish interest in relation to EEZ agreements, as such a move would only encourage further Turkish aggression. Egypt, along with Greece, Cyprus, France and other countries, rejected the signing in November 2019 of two Memoranda of Understanding between Turkey and the Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord Fayez Al-Sarraj. The Memorandum of Understanding for the delimitation of maritime zones between Turkey and the Tripoli government, an illegal action from the point of view of international law, was rightly rejected by Egypt. It is in this context that Egypt can now complete its commitment to international law and its vital national interests by signing an EEZ agreement with Greece. A compromise between Egypt and Greece on this matter would ensure the vital strategic interests of both countries. With the possible extension of an Egyptian EEZ agreement to the north with Greece, Egypt would unify its energy reserves in the Zohr natural gas field and obtain a recognised economic and strategic presence in the central part of the Eastern Mediterranean. Egypts growing energy needs and overall interests have reoriented it towards the Mediterranean Sea and the Zohr Field. Cooperation with Greece is essential in this regard. Agreeing terms with another member state of the European Union, after the successful 2003 Egyptian-Cypriot EEZ agreement, would enhance Egypts vital interests and ties with the European Union as a whole. It is in the interests of Egypt to share sea borders with two member states of the European Union rather than with an unstable and revisionist Turkey. Greece and Cyprus are not antagonistic towards Egypt in any field, and they are Egypts best diplomatic allies in the framework of the European Union. On the other hand, Turkey is a major opponent of Egypt in its interference in the affairs of other states and support for Islamist militias, as well as in the spheres of regional interests and power projection in the greater Middle East. Greece does not interfere in Egyptian zones of interest, unlike Turkey, which has grown to be a major opponent of Egyptian interests in both internal and foreign affairs. Concerning issues of national security, Egypt faces two issues on its land borders, one external and one internal. The external threat is connected to events in Libya, where the Turkish intervention in support of the Al-Sarraj government in Tripoli has altered the balance of power. Libya represents strategic depth to Egypt, and the establishment of a Turkish-supported and Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated power structure in Libya is clearly against Egyptian interests. The internal threat is represented by the Islamist militias active in the Sinai Peninsula, against which the Egyptian authorities have achieved considerable success, thereby ensuring internal peace and stability for the Egyptian people. A possible third zone of tension with a revisionist Turkey in the Mediterranean would undermine Egypts strategic interests and produce an unnecessary field of confrontation. Egypt can avoid this through an EEZ agreement with Greece. The Eastern Mediterranean has become a focus of instability due to the revisionism and expansionist policies of Turkey. Turkish interference in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Egypt in the past, Cyprus and in the Aegean Sea creates zones of instability that pose a collective security threat. If Egypt and Greece move forward with the signing of an EEZ agreement, this would constitute a major turning point for the geopolitical equilibrium of the region. Greece and Egypt, along with Cyprus, could thus create a new axis linking the Eastern Mediterranean and isolating the connection between Turkey and the Tripoli government. An EEZ agreement between Egypt and Greece is thus a matter not only of economic interest, but also of strategic interest as well. A Greek-Egyptian EEZ agreement would safeguard Egyptian geopolitical interests in the case of Libya, as it would combat Turkish interference and undermine the Memorandum between the Tripoli government and the Turkish regime concerning EEZs. We should also remember that Iran has obtained a sea facade on the Mediterranean through Syria and Lebanon, and Egypt cannot remain inactive for long on the EEZ issue. After a Greek-Egyptian EEZ agreement and the stabilisation and legal recognition of the exact sea borders of each country, Greece and Egypt with the possible cooperation of France could move forward to form a real military alliance focused on the seas. This Eastern Mediterranean Naval Alliance could extend to joint military exercises and joint patrols of the border regions of the national EEZs in the sea. Sea power is the main field of power projection for both countries concerning their fundamental strategic interests. Greek strategic interests include its connection to the Cyprus Republic and are mainly historical. Egyptian strategic interests are primarily economic and strategic. Both countries would benefit greatly from an EEZ agreement. The time has come for a leap forward as part of a pro-active strategic mentality. The writer is a lecturer in geopolitics at the University of Athens. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A man is in a critical condition after being shot as protesters tried to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquerer outside a museum in New Mexico. A confrontation erupted between protesters and a group of armed men who were trying to protect the statue of Juan de Onate outside Albuquerque Museum. Protesters wrapped a chain around the statue and began tugging on it, while chanting: Tear it down. Moments later, gunshots could be heard down the street and people started yelling that someone had been shot. Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said the man who was shot is in a critical but stable condition in hospital. Police detained a number of people after the shooting / AP Anti-racism protests over controversial statues have erupted across the world in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. Mr Gallegos said police used tear gas and flash bangs to protect the officers who intervened and detained those involved in the shooting. He said they were disarmed and taken into custody for questioning. The city said the Onate statue would be removed until officials determine the next steps. The shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city, Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. Protesters attach a chain to a statue of Spanish conquerer Juan de Onate / AP Our diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us. Our hearts go out the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight. "This sculpture has now become an urgent matter of public safety. Democrat governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said there would be no room in New Mexico for any sort of escalation of what she called reckless, violent rhetoric. She said in a statement: The instigators this evening will be rooted out, they will be investigated, and they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The police spokesman said detectives are investigating with the help of the FBI. The violence came just hours after activists in northern New Mexico celebrated the removal of another likeness of Onate on display at a cultural centre in Alcalde. Rio Arriba County officials removed it to safeguard it from possible damage and to avoid civil unrest ahead of a scheduled protest. Onate, who arrived in present-day New Mexico in 1598, is celebrated as a cultural father figure in communities along the Upper Rio Grande that trace their ancestry to Spanish settlers. But, to Native Americans, Onate is known for having ordered the right feet cut off of 24 captive tribal warriors that was precipitated by the killing of Onates nephew. All rise! boomed the deputy constable at the front of the courtroom. As Judge Roberto Vazquez took his seat at the bench in Bexar Countys Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Court just before 9 a.m. Monday, most of the pews in front of him sat empty. On a typical day of eviction hearings before the pandemic, dozens of landlords and tenants would have been in the courtroom. But Monday, less than a half-dozen people, all of whom wore face masks, faced him. If you have a cellphone, please put it on silent or vibrate, the deputy constable told the small group. And, remember to practice social distancing. Those standing in the courtroom were the first to arrive for eviction hearings since mid-March, when San Antonio government leaders stalled most evictions to prevent families from ending up homeless amid the global pandemic. Only evictions related to criminal or safety threats were able to proceed. That ended Monday, when the first of Bexar Countys four justice of the peace courts scheduled a day of eviction hearings, all of which were filed before the pandemic shut down businesses and forced residents out of work, Vazquez said. Before the coronavirus spread rapidly across San Antonio, Vazquez scheduled 65 cases for each eviction court session. It generally took about three hours to get through them. On Monday, Vazquez planned just five cases each hour. He generally cleared them within the first 15 minutes. The courtroom sat empty until the top of the next hour, with the exception of a court employee whod douse the room with disinfectant spray. In the room next door, another judge hired to slog through the backlog of cases moved through an additional five cases per hour. Between the two judges, they moved through 70 cases Monday at roughly one-fourth of the speed it wouldve taken Vazquez before the pandemic. At the front of the building, where the public would have normally walked through a metal detector and then freely entered the courtroom, a deputy constable and court employee guarded the front entrance. I just need to ask a few questions, the employee told anyone who walked through the front door. Are you experiencing any coughing or shortness of breath? Any chest or muscle pain? Headache or sore throat? Diarrhea? Have you been in contact with anyone with the disease? Face masks are required to enter. So, too, are temperature checks. Inside the courtroom, seats are marked with an X made of masking tape. Two are marked at the end of each row, and every other row is skipped. Anyone who is uncomfortable coming to court can schedule court appearances through teleconference in advance. During the first hour of court Monday, one of five cases took place by phone. Two of five were dismissed. Some of the cases had been filed four months ago, Vazquez said, giving landlords and tenants weeks to come up with payment plans or find rental assistance. Thats probably going to be what we see a lot of tenants and landlords trying to work things out, Vazquez said. From a business perspective, it makes more sense. In a room tucked away in the courtroom, city and county employees set up workstations to help landlords and tenants apply for rental assistance. But in Vazquezs courtroom Monday morning, few tenants arrived to defend themselves. Unless cases were dismissed, landlords won automatically when their tenants didnt show up an ordinary occurrence in Bexar County before the pandemic. Leona Castillo was one of two tenants who did appear in front of Vazquez that morning. At the 11 a.m. docket, just Castillo, her landlord and a court interpreter stood in the otherwise empty room. Your honor, I am seeking possession of the unit. The tenant failed to pay her portion for February, March, April, May and now June, Jeff Trif, the owner of Castillos apartment building and about 20 others in San Antonio, told the judge. She stated she is transferring her Section 8 (voucher) to Kerrville, but its going to take another month or two. Ms. Castillo, your response? Vazquez asked. My apartment has mold in it and cracks down the walls; its infested with roaches, Castillo said. And I have two kids: a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old that have been placed in the hospital because of this. Her voice quivered, as if she was on the verge of tears: Because of the mold in my apartment. I have pictures of it. For a couple minutes, Vazquez listened to Castillo speak, only interjecting every so often to ask whether she had copies of repair requests and complaints she said she sent to the city about the property. But under Texas law, tenants arent allowed to withhold rent if landlords dont make repairs. Unlike many other states that allow tenants to do so, in Texas they can face eviction. A few minutes later, Vazquez told Castillo and her landlord that hed made a decision. An eviction judgment would be granted. She had five days to appeal. A city employee watched in the back of the courtroom, ready to offer Castillo rental assistance. Just before she turned to leave the courtroom, the judge spoke again: Thank you, maam. Good luck. Marina Starleaf Riker is an investigative reporter for the San Antonio Express-News with extensive experience covering affordable housing, inequality and disaster recovery. To read more from Marina, become a subscriber. marina.riker@express-news.net | Twitter: @MarinaStarleaf London, June 16 : The number of employees on British payrolls fell by more than 600,000 as lockdown restrictions hit labor market heavily amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Tuesday. Early indicators for May suggest that the number of employees in Britain on payrolls fell by 2.1 per cent, down 612,000 compared with March, the ONS said in a report, Xinhua news reported. ONS's data showed from March to May, there were an estimated 476,000 vacancies across Britain, around 342,000 fewer than in the previous quarter (from December 2019 to February 2020), recording the "largest quarterly fall" since the current series started in 2001. Notably, hit by social distancing measures with hotels, restaurants and retail stores being closed, the vacancies in the "wholesale, retail trade and repair of motor vehicles" industrial sector declined by 49.9 per cent quarterly and the "accommodation and food service activities" sector decreased by 70.7 per cent, figures revealed. "Latest UK labour market data overall show clear deterioration," said Howard Archer, chief economic adviser at EY ITEM Club, an economics forecasting group, adding that the poor labor market "markedly increased hit to pay, squeezing purchasing power." To tackle the devastating blow due to the lockdown, the British government allowed non-essential retailers on high streets of England to reopen from Monday in a move to recover its economy. "From Monday, shops selling books, clothes, and electronics are able to open for business for the first time in more than two months, as part of our plan to gradually and safely reopen the economy," said Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. According to the official data, the non-essential retail sector employs 1.3 million people and provides 46.6 billion pounds (about US $58.9 billion) to its economy every year. Meanwhile, the country's Claimant Count, a statistic of the number of people claiming benefit principally for being unemployed, increased to 2.8 million in May, representing a monthly increase of 23.3 per cent and a rise of 125.9 per cent since March 2020, according to the ONS report. New Delhi: Reacting to the latest development at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the India-China border, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday asked the central government to ensure that sacrifices of the three soldier who were killed during a violent clash with Chinese troops, do not go in vain. "India stands with the 3 brave martyrs who were killed by China today in #Galwan. My thoughts are with families of Colonel & 2 brave soldiers. The commanding officer was leading from the front. The government must avenge these killings & ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain," the AIMIM leader wrote on Twitter. In another tweet, the Lok Sabha MP also raised speculation if the soldiers were beaten to death by the Chinese troops on the Indian territory. Colonel Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment, and two other valiant soldiers were martyred during violent clashes with Chinese troops at one of the standoff points in the Galwan Valley. The sources said the three Army men died due to injuries sustained following stone-pelting and use of rods by the Chinese side. The 'shocking' bloodshed incident which took place on June 15 night at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a first to take place in the last 45 years. The sources said the three Army men died due to injuries sustained following stone-pelting and use of rods by the Chinese side, adding that no firearms were used during the clash. Military sources said the two armies held Major General-level talks at the site of the clash to defuse the situation. While calling India to not take unilateral action on the killing of its troops in the border standoff, China accused Indian soldiers of crossing border and attacking Chinese personnel, that caused the latest standoff. China alleged that the Indian troops twice crossed the de-facto border on June 15 for illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel which led to serious physical conflict. "We once again solemnly ask the Indian side to follow our consensus, strictly regulate its front-line troops and do not cross the line, do not stir up troubles or make unilateral moves that may complicate matters," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said. Large number of Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks. The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in the standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso. The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row. The Indian side has been pitching for restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from the areas which India considers on its side of the LAC. [June 16, 2020] Blue Beat Sales Races to Give Away 1 Million Masks in New Sales Initiative TUSCAN, Calif., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Beat Sales, a division of Blue Beat Digital, announces its new initiative to give away 1 million masks. Blue Beat, an innovative company born in South Africa, is a lead developer of branded mobile phones and accessories that are bundled with SIM cards to offer premier service at partner pricing. "We are proud of our program, which will help with summer approaching and crowds rushing to the outdoors. Our top-quality masks and other PPE are inspected in the U.S. and ready to ship," said Jonathan Berger, CEO Blue Beat Digital. "Our campaign to give away 1 million masks was inspired by our desire to bridge economic divide and ensure safety amongst all Americans," continued Berger. As this pandemic has no end-date or preventative options, we are harnessing our ability to fulfill our goal of saving lives," commented Edith Liao, Head of Marketing for Blue Beat Digital. "Our core business is technology, but when the novel COVID virus struck, so did we by finding anther solution to help connect America and their communities with the PPE they need," concluded Liao. Mobile phones and accessories enabled Blue Beat to begin its operations in the U.S., including its CA-based warehouse of PPE. The mission exploded in the mobile and consumer electronic markets so Blue Beat continues to develop new sales strategies for items like Bluetooth headphones and small appliances. The U.S. operation has since extended beyond mobile phones to include consumer electronics and has a projected growth of 45% by the end of 2020. About Blue Beat Digital Blue Beat Digital is a California-based specialized sales and marketing company with specific expertise in distribution in mobile phones, small electronics and SIM cards for mobile service plans that are lower than most providers yet access the same towers as the biggest providers in the U.S. Media Contact: Melanie Gordon-Felsman, [email protected]; 1-917-499-4477 Related Images image1.jpg View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blue-beat-sales-races-to-give-away-1-million-masks-in-new-sales-initiative-301078088.html SOURCE Blue Beat Digital [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] KITCHENER Kitchener-based biotechnology company Nicoya is getting almost $300,000 in specialized funding through the National Research Council to develop a saliva-based portable COVID-19 diagnostic test that would be able to detect for the virus in 20 minutes or less. The saliva-based diagnostic test will be powered by smartphones to make rapid, low-cost testing more widely available. Nicoya will receive up to $299,190 in research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program to develop a portable COVID-19 diagnostic test called Atlas. This funding comes as part of a joint challenge issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the National Research Council of Canada. Nicoya hopes to develop the new test within a year. The user connects Atlas, a small hand-held device, to their smartphone and opens up the app. The user then collects a small saliva sample and inserts the sample swab into the Atlas test cartridge. The device then delivers lab-quality results to the app in under 20 minutes. The swab and the single-use, disposable device are discarded afterwards. A quicker, easy-to-use test will make it easier to trace infections and help curb the spread of the disease, said Ryan Denomme, co-founder and CEO of Nicoya. There is an urgent need for diagnostic kits that can provide users with immediate results, rather than having to rely on testing labs that can take two to five days, he said in a news release. Delays increase the possibility of infected people spreading the virus further, or uninfected people facing unnecessary quarantine. A quick, portable test like Atlas will fill an important void, Denomme said, making testing more widely available, and making it easier to run tests in remote areas and on the front lines. Nicoya specializes in advanced analytical instruments for biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients. It is one of several local firms stepping up to help out during the pandemic. It is offering technical support for researchers working on a COVID vaccine. The U.S. economy is officially in a recession, the National Bureau of Economic Research recently announced. Economists revealed that the recession actually began back in February, and nobody knows exactly how long it will last. This can be concerning news for investors, and many Americans are worried about investing right now. In fact, approximately 4 in 10 U.S. adults say it's not the right time to invest in the stock market, according to a recent survey from Personal Capital. While it can be nerve-wracking to invest during a market downturn, a recession is actually a prime investing opportunity. However, there is one major caveat to consider before you throw your money into the stock market. The advantages of investing during a recession Stocks tend to lose value during recessions, which results in lower stock prices. So by investing during a recession, you may feel as if you're simply throwing your money away. However, lower stock prices also mean that the stock market is essentially on sale. Right now is a prime time to invest, because when stocks are discounted you can get more for your money. If you only invest when the economy is strong and stock prices are high, you're missing out on the opportunity to load up on stocks when they're on sale. In other words, if you want to buy low and sell high, right now is your best chance to buy low so you can sell high later. Keep in mind that you likely won't make a profit anytime soon. Investing in the stock market is playing the long game, so don't expect to see massive investment gains in the near future. However, while the market may be volatile in the short-term, it has always bounced back from every recession it experienced. It could potentially take years before you start to see your investments flourish, but by investing as much as you can afford now, you'll reap the rewards later once the market fully recovers. One thing to consider before you invest Although recessions are a great time to invest in the stock market, there's one question to ask yourself: Can you realistically afford to invest? Because it could take years for the market to recover from this recession, it's important to make sure you're only investing money you won't need anytime soon. If you invest everything you have right now and then need to withdraw some of your money a few months or years down the road, you could end up selling when stock prices are even lower -- thus losing money on your investments. In addition, withdrawing money from your 401(k) or traditional IRA before age 59-1/2 could result in income taxes and a 10% penalty fee. With millions of Americans out of work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, money might be tight right now. If you're struggling just to pay the bills, it might be better to focus on your immediate financial needs before investing in the stock market. Similarly, if you're still working but don't have a robust emergency fund, focus on building that first just in case you lose your source of income. Ideally you should be able to leave your investments alone for several years (if not decades), so try your best to ensure you're only investing what you can afford. Investing during a recession can be intimidating, and the truth is that things could get worse before they get better. But they will get better eventually, and by investing as much as you can now, you'll reap the financial rewards later. PENNSYLVANIA Tick season is here in Pennsylvania, and the Department of Health is warning residents that symptoms of Lyme disease, transmitted through tick bites, are often similar to those of coronavirus. Shared symptoms betwee the two include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and more. "It is essential that all residents know the proper ways to protect themselves against ticks and are aware of the dangerous diseases they can carry," Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said in a statement. "We want all Pennsylvanians to get outside and be healthy but do so in the safest way possible." Levine added that there's been an increase in the number of emergency room visits due to tick bites over the last few months. Preliminary data showed there were more than 8,500 cases of Lyme disease reported in Pennsylvania in 2019, and the final count could be much higher. Ticks are common throughout the state, and can be found anwyhere from woods, trails, and public parks, to your own backyard. Not all ticks carry disease, and ticks usually must be affixed to the body for 36 to 48 hours in order to transmit any disease, according to the CDC. The blacklegged tick, also known as deer tick, which carries Lyme, is present in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Officials recommend the following measures to prevent Lyme disease: Walk in the center of trails Avoid areas of high grass and leaves Wear light-colored clothing Conduct full-body tick checks on yourself and your pets Take a bath or shower within two hours after coming indoors You can also apply a bug repellent that's registered by the Environmental Protection Agency Lyme disease can appear within two days after a bite, or can take up to 30 days for symptoms to manifest. When ticks hatch from eggs, they have to "eat blood at every stage to survive," according to the CDC. They range in size from less than one-eighth of an inch up to about five-eighth of an inch. And they find their hosts like a highly skilled assassin, detecting breath, body odor, body heat, moisture and vibration. Story continues "Some species can even recognize a shadow," the CDC wrote. "In addition, ticks pick a place to wait by identifying well-used paths. Then they wait for a host, resting on the tips of grasses and shrubs." Once on the skin, the tick inserts its feeding tube, which sometimes has barbs to keep the bug in place. Many species also secrete a cement-like substance to keep them firmly attached. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers. Make sure to pull straight up with steady, even pressure to ensure part of the tick doesn't break off in the skin. Once it's out, clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. This article originally appeared on the Phoenixville Patch Antoine Champreux, a PhD student in the Global Ecology Lab at Flinders University, has catalogued the discovery of the new fern-like plant species as part of an international effort to examine the Australian fossil in greater detail. The fossil was found in the 1960s by amateur geologist Mr John Irving, on the bank of the Manilla River in Barraba, New South Wales. The fossil was exposed after major flooding events in 1964, and Mr Irving gave the fossil to the geological survey of New South Wales, where it remained for more than 50 years without being studied. It was dated from the end of the Late Devonian period, approximately 372-to-359 million years ago - a time when Australia was part of the Southern hemisphere super-continent Gondwana. Plants and animals had just started to colonise continents, and the first trees appeared. Yet while diverse fish species were in the oceans, continents had no flowering plants, no mammals, no dinosaurs, and the first plants had just acquired proper leaves and the earliest types of seeds. Well-preserved fossils from this era are rare - elevating the significance of the Barraba plant fossil. The fossil is currently in France, where Brigitte Meyer-Berthaud, an international expert studying the first plants on Earth, leads a team at the French laboratory of Botany and Modelling of Plant Architecture and Vegetation (AMAP) in Montpellier. This French laboratory is particularly interested in further examination of Australian fossils from the Devonian-Carboniferous geological period, to build a more detailed understanding of plant evolution during this era. Mr Champreux studied the fern-like fossil during his master's degree internship at AMAP and completed writing his research paper during his current PhD studies at Flinders University. "It's nothing much to look at - just a fossilised stick - but it's far more interesting once we cut it and had a look inside," says Mr Champreux. "The anatomy is preserved, meaning that we can still observe the walls of million-year-old cells. We compared the plant with other plants from the same period based on its anatomy only, which provide a lot of information." He found that this plant represents a new species, and even a new genus of plant, sharing some similarities with modern ferns and horsetails. "It is an extraordinary discovery, since such exquisitely-preserved fossils from this period are extremely rare," he says. "We named the genus Keraphyton (like the horn plant in Greek), and the species Keraphyton mawsoniae, in honour of our partner Professor Ruth Mawson, a distinguished Australian palaeontologist who died in 2019." An article describing the new plant - Keraphyton gen. nov., a new Late Devonian fern-like plant from Australia, by A Champreux, B Meyer-Berthaud and A-L Decombeix - has been published in the scientific journal PeerJ and It reinforces the partnership between the lab AMAP (Montpellier, France) and Flinders University. ### WASHINGTON - The Trump administration has offered a muted and belated expression of concern over the convictions of two Philippine journalists on criminal libel charges. A one-sentence State Department statement titled On Press Freedom in the Philippines and released on Tuesday nearly 48 hours after a Manila court pronounced the convictions may raise new questions about the U.S. commitment to supporting press freedom abroad. In the statement, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus called for the Philippines to resolve the case but pointedly did not take issue with the legal process or the guilty verdicts rendered against award-winning journalist Maria Ressa and her former colleague Reynaldo Santos Jr. of the Rappler online news site. The United States is concerned by the trial courts verdict against journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos and calls for resolution of the case in a way that reinforces the U.S. and Philippines long shared commitment to freedom of expression, including for members of the press, she said. Ressa and Santos were convicted Monday of libeling a wealthy businessman in a decision that human rights activists called a major blow to press freedom in an Asian bastion of democracy. The verdict was announced Sunday night Washington time and repeated requests for U.S. comment about the case beginning on Monday morning in Washington went unanswered. Ressa, the sites founder and former CNN reporter who was one of Time magazines Persons of the Year in 2018, and Santos were convicted for a May 29, 2012, Rappler story that cited an intelligence report linking businessman Wilfredo Keng to a murder, drug dealing, human trafficking and smuggling. The sites lawyers disputed any malice and said the time limit for filing the libel complaint had passed. Rapplers lawyers said the story was based on an unspecified intelligence report and that Philippine penal law requires a libel complaint to be filed within one year. Keng filed his lawsuit in 2017, five years after the story was published. The cybercrime law, which the Rappler journalists allegedly violated, was enacted in September 2012, or four months after the story written by Santos was published. Rapplers lawyers said Philippine penal laws cannot be retroactively applied. Ressa was sentenced to up to six years in prison, but her lawyer, Theodore Te, said the jail terms and other penalties imposed could not be enforced unless all appeals were rejected. She posted bail for the case last year and will study possible appeals in the next 15 days, Te said. Human rights and press freedom advocates have condemned the convictions, which they say are symptomatic of an erosion in journalists ability to independently report news in the Philippines specifically and around the world more generally. Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Freedom House were among those to denounce the ruling, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, whom President Donald Trump has said he admires, and other Philippine officials have said the criminal complaints against Ressa and Rappler were not a press freedom issue but a part of normal judicial procedures arising from their alleged violations of the law. Like Trump, Duterte has openly lambasted journalists and news sites who report critically about him, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer, a leading daily, and ABS-CBN, the countrys largest TV network, which was shut down by the governments telecommunications regulator last month. NATO chief and German foreign minister underline importance of US military presence in Germany for mutual security. Germany and NATO have underlined the importance of US troops in Germany for security on both sides of the Atlantic after US President Donald Trump said he would cut the number stationed in the European country. The remarks opposing Trumps stance were made separately on Tuesday by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas during a visit to Warsaw and NATOs Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels. We think that the US presence in Germany is important for the security not just of Germany but also for the security of the United States and especially for the security of Europe, Maas said. Trump on Monday said he was reducing the numbers because Germany was delinquent in contributions to NATO and had treated the US badly on trade. He said there are 52,000 US soldiers stationed in Germany and he would bring the number down to 25,000. But according to the Pentagon, there are only between 34,000 and 35,000 US soldiers permanently stationed in Germany. Rotation of units means the overall number can only temporarily top 50,000. Maas said Germany had not been given any details on when and how the redeployment might take place. Neither the State Department nor the Pentagon has been able to provide any information about this, he said, adding that any changes to Europes security architecture definitely need to be talked about. NATO position Stoltenberg also said US troops in Europe made both sides of the Atlantic safer. Defence ministers from the alliance will discuss Trumps plans during video talks on Wednesday and Thursday. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in a statement to the AFP news agency that the US presence in Europe was the foundation of NATO deterrence. We expect that some of the troops that the United States plans to relocate from Germany will stay in Europe, he said, adding that Lithuania would be glad to host US troops on a regular basis. The move has been criticised as weakening Washingtons commitment to European defence as well as its ability to wield influence in the Middle East and Africa. US troops have been stationed in the geopolitically vital country since the end of World War II, forming the bulk of NATOs conventional defence against the now-defunct Soviet Union during the Cold War. The resurgence of Russias military ambitions under President Vladimir Putin has given the US presence new importance in the last 20 years, with central and Eastern Europe states leading the way in pressuring for stronger US defences. Speaking at a joint news conference with Maas, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said his government had been in discussions about boosting the number of US troops in Poland, but the two issues were separate. I want to underline that these talks (with the US) have no connection with the recent US declarations and US-German relations concerning the presence of, or reduction of, US forces in Germany, he said. From our standpoint, US forces in Germany also serve our security. We would want that presence in Germany to be continued. Warding off Russia A country of 38 million people on NATOs eastern flank, Poland has long campaigned for a permanent US troop presence on its soil to ward off Russian adventurism. Trump has already upped his countrys troop rotations in Poland to 5,500 personnel as part of a wider NATO response to concerns in the region triggered by Russias 2014 annexation of territory from neighbouring Ukraine. Having spent decades under Soviet rule before 1991, Baltic NATO ally Latvia also hailed the possibility of fresh US deployments to the sensitive region bordering Russia. We would welcome more American involvement in the safety of Baltics, including permanently stationed US troops here, Latvias Defence Minister Artis Pabriks told AFP in Riga. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi has slammed the Centre's "insensitive decision" to raise fuel prices amid the coronavirus crisis. I am deeply distressed that in these exceedingly difficult times since the beginning of March, the Government has taken the wholly insensitive decision to increase petrol and diesel prices on no less than ten separate occasions, Gandhi has said. Gandhi claimed the Centre was seeking to earn an additional revenue of nearly Rs 2.6 lakh crore by ill-advised increases in excise duty and prices of petrol of diesel. On June 16, fuel prices were raised for the tenth consecutive day, with the cost of petrol and diesel raised by 47 paise and 57 paise per litre, respectively. In Delhi, the cost of petrol is Rs 76.73 per litre and the price of diesel is Rs 75.19 per litre. She added that the government "is doing nothing short of profiteering off its people when they are down and out" as the international price of crude oil has fallen by around 9 percent over the last week. Also read: Why are we paying so much for petrol and diesel when global prices have not risen so much? The Member of Parliament (MP) also said that she saw no logic in why the government would consider such a price hike at a time when the economic impact of COVID-19 is depriving millions of jobs and livelihood, devastating business big and small, rapidly eroding the income of the middle class, even as farmers are struggling to sow the crop for the Kharif season. Gandhi further urged the prime minister to roll back these increases and "pass on the benefit of low oil prices directly" to citizens. Rates have been increased across the country and vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT. The rise in diesel rates is the highest daily since the state-owned fuel retailers started daily revision in rates in May 2017. IFA President Tim Cullinan said the Programme for Government has positive aspects but lacks clear commitments on budgets and spending. "Overall, while there is lots of rhetoric, it lacks hard figures," he said. "In implementing the programme, farmers will be looking to this Government to support farming and bring forward climate action measures that are practical, achievable and that properly reward farmers, he said. "Farmers must be viewed as part of the climate solution," he said. "Any Climate Change Bill will have to take account of the benefits that farmers and agriculture provide in carbon sequestration. "All carbon sinks including grassland, hedgerows, crops, peatlands and forestry must be fully accounted for with the most up to date science." "The devil will be in the detail in terms of how emission targets are to be achieved and how they are calculated. We will engage fully in the discussions that will take place," he said. Tim Cullinan said there must also be recognition for the cyclical nature of methane in GHG emissions accounting methodology. "I note the clear statement that biogenic methane must be treated differently and we will ensure this is the case in any new proposals or targets." "The Programme for Government commits to an environmental scheme similar to REPS. This will need to be sufficiently resourced with new funding to enable a significant payment per farmer," he said. Tim Cullinan also acknowledged the commitment to appoint a food ombudsman in line with the EU directive on the Food Chain. "Some of the more extreme proposals from the Green Party such as a ban on live exports and the removal of the nitrates derogation are not in the programme, which is important," he said. The IFA President said that the increase in the carbon tax would have a disproportionate impact on rural communities where are there are no alternatives. "The potential for farmers to contribute to our climate targets through the production of renewable energy must be something the new Government embraces," he said. "Farmers are keen to play their part, but to date they have been excluded," he said. Finally, he said that implementing legislation to revise the Nursing Homes Support Scheme arrangements for farmers and business owners must be prioritised by the new Government The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has said he is in support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) decision, to disqualify Gov... The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has said he is in support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) decision, to disqualify Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, from the June 22 primaries. Obaseki will not contest for second term on the platform of the APC, after the partys screening committee disqualified him, over alleged defective certificate. Ganduje, while speaking with reporters on Monday, said what matters at the moment is the legal implications of the likely outcome of the exercise. The Kano Governor cited Bayelsa as an example, claiming the ruling party won the election in the state, but lost to the opposition on point of legality at the court. As far as Edo is concerned, we are worried about the legality of our action. We believe the national headquarters of our party is doing all it takes to stay in the right course, Ganduje said. We are conscious of legal implications, we dont want to overlook anything that will turn to be our albatross, the issue of Bayelsa state where we won an election and taken away is still fresh in our memory. Ganduje expressed optimism that no matter what happened, the APC would emerge victorious in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo. It is ever more important that we continue to have powerful conversations around justice and equity on the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment - an act that, while giving primarily white women voting rights, failed to protect the right to vote of millions of Black women. Out of utmost caution for the safety and well-being of the attendees and all stakeholders, Mobilize Women Summit hosted by Ellevate Network, previously scheduled to take place in New York on October 16th, will be taking place online over the course of a full week between August 24 and August 28. The online experience will also be marking the centennial of Womens Equality Day, the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. During such uncertain times when uniting as a community is more important than ever, we are ecstatic to meet thousands of attendees virtually through Mobilize Women Week this year, says Kristy Wallace, CEO Ellevate Network. It is ever more important that we continue to have powerful conversations around justice and equity on the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment - an act that, while giving primarily white women voting rights, failed to protect the right to vote of millions of Black women. It is only through paying homage to the memories of Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terrell, and other suffragists that we will advance the conversation on equity. Designed to create a space for thoughtful discussions on pressing issues, Mobilize Women has become the standard for diversity on stage and has been recognized as one of the leading conferences of its kind. Mobilize Women Week is a multi-day experience designed as a space for authentic, courageous, and invigorating conversations. Over the course of five days and ten different sessions, attendees will hear thought-provoking discussions from diverse perspectives and leave with action-oriented solutions to tackle some of todays biggest challenges in the workplace and within our communities. Mobilize Women brings together leaders in business, sciences, media, sports, politics and more who, like the audience, are passionate about using their influence and social capital for equity. Mobilize Women Week is free of charge for attendees. Registration and more information can be found on ellevatenetwork.com/summit Mobilize Women is made possible with the gracious sponsorship and contributions of numerous organizations. The events 2020 sponsors include Accenture, RBC Wealth Management - U.S., London Stock Exchange Group, Lincoln Financial Network, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, and Columbia Business School. Those interested in getting involved by sponsoring the 2020 Mobilize Women Week can contact Madeline Kelley, Enterprise Account Manager, at madeline@ellevatenetwork.com. For media partnerships and promotion opportunities, please contact press@ellevatenetwork.com Applications to speak at Mobilize Women 2020 can be submitted through this form. About Ellevate Network Founded in 1997 as 85 Broads, Ellevate Network is the largest community of women at work. A powerful coalition of ambitious and supportive women who believe there is strength in numbers, Ellevate is built on the premise of showing up for each other, helping everyone no matter their background or aspirations build a career they love, and mobilizing the collective power of women to change the culture of business. Ellevate also works with companies committed to diversity and inclusion and has a proven track record of changing business culture from the inside out. The United States is not seeking to censor any legitimate aspect of Defendants manuscript; it merely seeks an order requiring Defendant to complete the prepublication review process and to take all steps necessary to ensure that only a manuscript that has been officially authorized through that process and is thus free of classified information is disseminated publicly," the lawsuit says. A few weeks ago, the Google Store listed the Google Home smart speaker as no longer available. Now, we might know why. According to 9to5Google, the company is planning on a new Nest-branded smart speaker that is more in line with the minimalist look and fabric stylings of the Nest Mini and the Nest Hub. The device is apparently codenamed Prince and is said to be somewhat of a rival to the Sonos One, which might mean more robust speakers. 9to5Google speculates that the audio quality would be somewhere in between the original Google Home and the larger Google Home Max. Its unclear when the product will actually launch, but as the Pixel 4a is likely delayed, Googles next smart speaker will probably have a later debut as well. In many ways, the Google Home speaker is overdue for a refresh. Released in 2016 as a rival to Amazons Echo, it was the companys first foray into smart speakers. It was soon overshadowed by the smaller Home Mini (now rebranded as the Nest Mini) and the aforementioned Home Max (which has yet to be renamed), which boasts a louder, deeper sound. Amazon has since released several more updates to its own Echo lineup, making the Google Home look relatively ancient by comparison. Whats more, ever since Sonos introduced support for Google Assistant, the Sonos One is often seen as the Google-powered smart speaker of choice. It would make sense for Google to want to offer its own take on a powerful smart speaker. Aside from the Pixel 4a, other Google hardware plans for 2020 include a possible Pixel 5 and an Android TV dongle codenamed Sabrina. Its not clear yet when all of these will be revealed, but if rumors are to be believed, itll be some time this fall. A Seshacharyulu By Express News Service NALGONDA: Telangana mourned the death of Colonel Bikkamalla Santosh Babu on Tuesday, who laid down his life along with two other fellow jawans fighting for his country against the Chinese on Monday night in faraway Galwan Valley on the Indo-China border. His death stunned his ageing parents who could not come to grips with reality for a long time. It was his mother Manjula, who recovered first. She said she was heartbroken and happy at the same time. "I lost my son, I cannot bear it. But he died for the country and that makes me happy and proud," she said after the news was conveyed to her by her daughter-in-law Santoshi on Tuesday afternoon. "My son, daughter-in-law and their two children live in Delhi. The tragic news was conveyed to me by my daughter-in-law on Tuesday afternoon though the army officials informed her last night itself. She was afraid I might collapse if she broke the news immediately," Manjula said. Colonel Santosh leaves behind his daughter Abhigna, nine, and son Anirudh, four. His father Upender and mother both remembered how their son had promised to be with them in a month's time. LAC standoff: Ladakh martyr Havildar Palani served country for 22 years, had plan to retire next year "My son had been transferred to Hyderabad but could not join us immediately because of the nationwide lockdown. He had told us that he would be with us soon. We too felt that happy as it meant being with him for three years. But we lost him. He was too young to die but what makes me proud is that he died fighting the enemy," Upender, a retired SBI manager, said. Santosh Babu had a brilliant academic career as a student at the Korukonda Sainik School. He then trained at the National Defence Academy, Pune and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He joined the Army in 2004 and his first posting was in Kashmir. "He could not have become Colonel at the age of 37 if he had not been efficient. Normally it takes time for one to become colonel but in my son's case, it was quite early in December 2019," Upender said. Santhosh Babu was in the 16th Bihar Battalion and one year ago he was deployed at the China border. His parents recalled his services to the nation. TN CM hails Armys sacrifice in Ladakh, grants Rs 20 lakh to kin of jawan from state "He killed three infiltrators in an army operation across the Indo-Pak border in 2007. Wherever he worked, he earned a name for himself as someone who is not only dependable but also very efficient," Upender said, recalling that in his son's 15 years of service, he worked in Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and on the Pakistan and China borders. His parents spoke to him last on Monday when he told them that clashes were going on between Chinese and Indian troops on the border. "I was informed that my son and two other soldiers slipped and fell in the Valley. After some time other Army officers found them dead," Upender said, adding, "I, in fact, wanted to become a soldier. My dreams came true when my son joined the Army." Meanwhile, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao mourned Santosh Babu's death and said he had rendered great service to the nation. The CM asked Energy Minister G Jagadeesh Reddy to be present as the government's representative till the last rites were performed. LONDON, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced technologies are increasingly being adopted in the healthcare industry to provide better patient-centered care. New technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), block chain, cloud, robotic process automation (RPA), internet of medical things (IoMT) and virtual reality are aiding healthcare professionals and hospitals to provide services remotely to measure the patient's condition. These new smart health technologies are lowering medical costs and increasing affordability, quality, and accessibility to patients. Technology is expected to be a continued driver of the healthcare services market growth during the forecast period. Areas of particular development are robotics, artificial intelligence, internet of health things (IoHT) and minimal invasive surgery technologies. For example, daVinci's surgical system robot transcends limitations with laparoscopic surgery to treat conditions such as obesity, heart disease and prostate cancer. In 2017, 35% of healthcare organizations planned to leverage artificial intelligence in the coming two to five years. The healthcare services market will benefit from the greater efficiencies offered by these technologies. Read More On The Business Research Company's Healthcare Services Market Report: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/healthcare-services-market Mobile and IoT Technology Adoption Mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are being implemented by hospitals to provide information to stakeholders in the hospital ecosystem. This technology offers real time visibility of patient health through active and passive data collection. This technology can monitor medical conditions and prevent life threatening diseases. It enables healthcare providers to make accurate and informed decisions on patients' health. Data generated through IoT devices is becoming critical for patient care managers, and patients to diagnose, track and treat medical conditions. Major hospitals adopting IoT technology in the USA include HCA, Mercy Virtual Care Center, and Kaiser Permanente. High Adoption Of Mobile Strategies In Hospitals A survey was conducted by clinical communications provider Spok, in the USA, in 2017, among healthcare professionals. According to the survey, 65% of hospitals have a mobile strategy and 35% of hospitals do not have a mobile strategy. Around 20% of respondents had their mobile strategy in place for less than a year. About 54% of respondents had their mobile strategy in place for one to five years, with 70% of them stating that the strategy has changed. According to the same survey, the two major reasons for the change in the strategy were changes in the needs of end users (44%) and the availability of new mobile devices (35%). About 26% of healthcare professionals said their strategy had changed due to new features available from their electronic health records (EHR) vendor. Request A Free Sample Of The Healthcare Services Market Report: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=2359&type=smp Rising Demand for Cloud Based Electronic Health Records (EHR) There is a rising demand for greater access and portability of health information from both consumers and hospitals service providers. Cloud based EHR systems store data on remote servers which can be accessed through mobile and web applications from a range of devices. They are cost effective, accessible from remote locations, secure, and offer robust privacy features. Cloud based EHRs integrate additional business and information services such as disease outbreaks, price information and other services to both patients and healthcare providers. Major cloud based EHR systems providers include CureMD, Practice Fusion, AthenaHealth, MIE WebChart EMR, and Quest Diagnostics Care360 EHR. Here Is A List Of Similar Reports By The Business Research Company: Telemedicine Technologies Market By Segment (Tele-Home & Tele-Hospital), By Applications (Tele-Radiology, Tele-Consultation, Tele-Monitoring And Tele-Surgery) Global Forecast To 2022 Minimal Invasive Surgery Devices Global Market Report 2020 Interested to know more about The Business Research Company? The Business Research Company is a market intelligence firm that excels in company, market, and consumer research. Located globally it has specialist consultants in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, chemicals, and technology. The World's Most Comprehensive Database The Business Research Company's flagship product, Global Market Model, is a market intelligence platform covering various macroeconomic indicators and metrics across 60 geographies and 27 industries. The Global Market Model covers multi-layered datasets which help its users assess supply-demand gaps. Contact Information: Nitin.G The Business Research Company Europe: +44-207-1930-708 Asia: +91-8897263534 Americas: +1-315-623-0293 Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/the-business-research-company Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tbrc_Info SOURCE The Business Research Company Ryan Severino, CFA Our program stands out because of experts like Ryan on our faculty, and other world-renowned industry leaders who serve as personal mentors for our students. They are getting real-time information and advice by true leaders in the field. The Fordham Real Estate Institute (REI) is pleased to announce that Ryan Severino, CFA, chief economist at JLL, will join the REI graduate adjunct faculty staff this fall. He will be teaching classes in Real Estate Risk and Portfolio Management. In his role at JLL, Severino is responsible for global and regional economic research, analysis and forecasting, as well as property market forecasting. He previously served as senior economist and director of research at Reis, as well as associate director of research at MetLife Real Estate Investments. Before joining MetLife, Severino served as the director of investment strategy and market research at Starwood Capital Group. He has also held research positions at Prudential Real Estate Investors and UBS. We are thrilled to welcome Ryan to the Fordham Real Estate Institute and know that our students will benefit tremendously from his decades of experience, said Dr. Anthony Davidson, dean, Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS). Our program stands out because of experts like Ryan on our faculty, and other world-renowned industry leaders who serve as personal mentors for our students. They are getting real-time information and advice by true leaders in the field. Severinos research has appeared in publications such as The Real Estate Finance Journal and Wharton Real Estate Review. An industry thought leader, his insights have been featured in top news outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times and The Economist. He also has experience teaching real estate finance and economics at leading universities in New York City. Severino is a member of the CFA Institute, the American Economic Association, the National Association for Business Economics, ULI and NCREIF. He earned a masters degree from Columbia University in International Finance and Economics, a bachelors degree in Finance, Japanese and Economics from Georgetown University and is a CFA Charterholder. It is my honor to be joining the esteemed adjunct faculty at the Fordham Real Estate Institute and I look forward to a great semester, said Severino. With everything that has gone on over the last few months, the industry at large has shifted which will certainly lead to exciting discussions. For more information on the Fordham Real Estate Institute, visit https://www.fordham.edu/realestate. ABOUT THE FORDHAM REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE The Fordham Real Estate Institute (REI) currently offers a Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE), graduate certificates in real estate finance, development and construction management, a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate (BSRE), and a comprehensive array of professional certificates in real estate and construction at its campuses in Manhattan and West Harrison, N.Y. Serving professionals and owners/investors of all stripes, the curriculum presents the essential elements of real estate finance, investment, development and management. The programs are developed and taught by leading industry practitioners and are centered on imparting real-world professional skill sets. Flexibility and convenience are program hallmarks as classes can be taken in-person, online, and at various paces. REI is a part of Fordhams School of Professional and Continuing Studies. For more information, visit http://www.fordham.edu/realestate. The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has launched a scanty attack on critics of the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki. Shai... The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has launched a scanty attack on critics of the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki. Shaibu said those criticising Obaseki daily were a colossal failure during their era as governors of the state. The Deputy Governor stated this in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media Mr. Benjamin Atu. According to Shaibu: The most vocal critics of the incumbent administration are people that were colossal failures during their era in government, who in actuality owe the people of Edo State an apology for their mismanagement of the State resources. Their daily criticism against the government is geared towards scoring cheap political points in their race for political survival. The background of those attacking Obaseki makes their criticism annoying since all of them have failed during their stint with managing the affairs of the State in previous years. Obaseki and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have been involved in a faceoff over the governors second term bid. Last week, the APC screening committee had disqualified Obaseki from participating in the partys primary election. The committee had blamed Obasekis alleged fake result for his disqualification. Following his disqualification, the governor on Tuesday resigned as a member of the APC. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi, had disclosed that Obaseki and all his loyalists were set to join the party. Austin is now in Stage 4 of its COVID-19 risk-based levels after 30 new hospital admissions on Sunday According to the city's website, the new risk-based guidelines set out five distinct stages of risk, from the lowest threat, Stage 1, to the most serious, Stage 5, along with recommended behaviors for each stage. The recommendations for the fourth stage are as follows: practice good hygiene; stay home if you're sick; avoid other people who are sick; maintain social distancing; wear fabric face coverings in public; avoid non-essential travel, all social gatherings and any gatherings of more than two people for high-risk individuals. READ ALSO: Heres what you should know about a 'second wave' of coronavirus cases in San Antonio On Sunday, Austin Mayor Steve Adler wrote a letter about the spike in local hospitalizations, stating that the city passed its 20 new daily hospital admission it has been averaging in the span of seven days. He added the spike will soon lead to an "overwhelming surge" in hospital admissions. "Make no mistake, we will be seeing more hospitalizations and deaths," he said in his letter, adding that the city needs Gov. Greg Abbott's help when it comes to enforcing masks and social distancing. In Texas, masks are recommended but not mandated. In the letter, Adler also revealed he was tested for COVID-19 last week. The mayor posted a video of him being tested on his Instagram on Wednesday as a way to encourage others to get tested if they are experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to the virus. He said it was "a little uncomfortable" but "pretty quick." "Sure, it feels funny. But its fast and it doesnt hurt," he concluded in his letter. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre Kangana Ranaut has lambasted the industry and media almost to the point of saying that they abetted the suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput, who committed suicide June 14. (twitter photo) Chinas capital, Beijing, has yet again gone into lockdown after a fresh cluster of coronavirus cases linked to a nearby meat market, came to light. Seven cases have so far been linked to the Xinfadi meat market, six of them confirmed. Nine nearby schools and kindergartens have been closed. Image For Representation Beijing authorities had earlier halted beef and mutton trading at the Xinfadi market, alongside closures at other wholesale markets around the city, reports Reuters. Reflecting concerns over the risk of further spread of the virus, major supermarkets in Beijing removed salmon from their shelves. The chairman of the Xinfadi meat wholesale market told state-run Beijing News, that the virus was detected on chopping boards used to handle imported salmon, stoking fears over the hygiene of Beijing's food supply. Video: A large number of armed police and police officers are seen stationing outside the #Xinfadi market in Fengtai District, #Beijing at 2 pm Saturday. Residential communities near the market are now in lockdown. pic.twitter.com/dHicQYrCzV Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 13, 2020 Beijing authorities have announced a mass COVID-19 testing campaign of anyone who has had "close contact" with the Xinfadi market since May 30, after they tested over 5,000 environmental samples from farmers' markets and large supermarkets across the city on Friday. Of those, all 40 positive samples came from Xinfadi market. AP Nearly 2,000 wholesale market workers in Beijing were also tested for the virus on Friday, authorities said. Beijing authorities said more than 10,000 people at the market will take nucleic acid tests to detect coronavirus infections. The city government also said it had dropped plans to reopen schools on Monday for students in grades one through three, because of the new cases. Update: Of 517 samples taken from Xinfadi market, 45 people were positive. Beijing now started tracking those who have been to the market. 11 residential areas around Xinfadi have been closed. Checkpoints in all residential areas resumed today after being cancelled for a week. pic.twitter.com/8DiCsbKimP Secret Beijing (@Secret_Beijing) June 13, 2020 Health authorities visited the home of a Reuters reporter in Beijing's Dongcheng district on Saturday, to ask whether she had visited the Xinfadi market, which is 15 km (9 miles) away. They said the visit was part of patrols Dongcheng was conducting. The detection of novel coronavirus on the chopping board of a #salmon seller at Beijings Xinfadi Market sparks public worry over food safety, triggering some supermarkets in the city to remove salmon. https://t.co/NLOLTschT0 pic.twitter.com/i1LZCndhpr Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 13, 2020 The National Health Commission said that five imported cases were reported elsewhere in China in the last 24 hours, bringing the daily total to 11 and the nationwide cumulative total to 83,075. The death toll remained unchanged at 4,634. Agency Inputs: Reuters/AFP A T-Mobile US Inc. service outage, which kept thousands of customers from making calls or using data on Monday, will be investigated by the Federal Communications Commission. The T-Mobile network outage is unacceptable, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai tweeted on Monday evening, saying that the agency would launch a probe into the matter. Were demanding answers -- and so are American consumers. Voice and text services have been restored, T-Mobile network chief Neville Ray said in a Twitter post. PREVIOUSLY: T-Mobile says it's working to fix widespread network issues These issues are now resolved, T-Mobile Chief Executive Officer Mark Sievert said in a statement time stamped 10:03 p.m. Pacific Standard time Monday on the companys website. We again apologize for any inconvenience. T-Mobile shares were down 1.3% in pre-market trading in New York on Tuesday. The network outage was related to the companys 5G rollout, Deutsche Telekom AG Chief Executive Officer Tim Hoettges said in a press conference. The problem comes at an awkward time for T-Mobile. The company finally got government clearance a few months ago to acquire Sprint Corp., arguing that the two carriers could form a strong challenger to AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. T-Mobile is now the second-biggest U.S. carrier -- based on regular monthly subscribers -- and its vowed to build the best 5G network in the industry. RELEASE NOTES: Get Dwight Silverman's weekly tech newsletter each Monday Sievert said earlier in the day that the carrier had hundreds of our engineers and vendor partner staff working to resolve this issue. Because of T-Mobiles network problems, callers with other service providers were having trouble connecting to T-Mobile customers, giving an impression that other carriers were also experiencing disruptions. Representatives for AT&T and Verizon said their networks were performing well. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. The syracuse.com | The Post-Standard police blotter of arrests from police agencies around Central New York has been updated today. This includes Syracuse City Police arrests not previously transmitted due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Newser) An Air Force sergeant already charged with killing a sheriff's deputy in California on June 6 has now been charged with a drive-by shooting that killed a federal officer and critically injured another in Oakland last month. Investigators say Staff Sgt. Steven Carrillo and an accomplice support the extremist "Boogaloo" movement, which is preparing for a second Civil War, and used the George Floyd protests as cover to attack law enforcement, the San Jose Mercury News reports. "There is no evidence that these men had any intention to join the demonstration in Oakland," says John Bennet, special agent in charge of the FBI in San Francisco. "They came to Oakland to kill cops." Dave Patrick Underwood, a 53-year-old Federal Protective Service officer, was killed in the May 29 shooting, the AP reports. story continues below Investigators say Carrilloleader of an elite anti-terrorist security squadron known as the Phoenix Ravensmet alleged accomplice Robert A. Justus Jr., 30, on Facebook and plotted the Oakland attack with him. Authorities say Justus drove a van while Carrillo fired an AR-15-style gun at the officers outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building, where they had been monitoring protests. On June 11, five days after Carrillo's arrest for the ambush killing of Santa Cruz Sheriff's Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, Justus arrived at the federal building in Oakland with his mother to confess, authorities say. He has been charged with attempted murder and aiding and abetting murder, while Carrillo will face federal murder and attempted murder charges as well as state charges. (Read more California stories.) Ive never been the go-along-to-get-along politician. Ive been the guy that has always had to deal with very difficult political situations in this district and in the state capital, he said. Its easy to look back in time and say, Oh, you should have done this, you should have done that. Well, where were you when we were getting marriage equality passed? . . . Where were you when we were raising the minimum wage, when we got paid family leave done? The 10-person limit is part of Pritzkers May 29 executive order, which eased some restrictions he put in place to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. The state is on track to move to the next phase of the reopening plan, when gatherings of up to 50 people would be allowed, on June 26. There have been more reports of ticks this year compared to previous years, a doctor with Manitoba Health told the Sun on Monday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 16/6/2020 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us There have been more reports of ticks this year compared to previous years, a doctor with Manitoba Health told the Sun on Monday. Dr. Richard Rusk, who is the provinces specialist on tick-borne diseases, said that the governments tick testing hasnt gone as planned due to COVID-19, but there has been an increase in submissions on the provincial tick reporting website. Ticks line the ears and portions of the face of a black bear foraging along Highway 10 in Riding Mountain National Park recently. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) "I have to admit weve had a little bit of a frustrating year," Rusk said. Normally Manitoba Health runs a program called tick checker, which helps give the government an idea of what the tick season would look like, but it hasnt been possible to carry out work during the pandemic. "We dont have all the data we want from the tick checker, but in the preliminary data, we do see that theres an increased number of submissions. That means more people have sent in samples to our online version so far," he said. "Its hard to know what does that mean, are we going have more disease this year? Very difficult to tell at this point. Usually, by now we would start to see actual cases, but I have not seen any coming through at this point yet." The province is concerned with blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, because those are the ones that bite humans. Rusk said Manitoba is the only province with three tick-borne diseases carried by its tick population: Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Dog ticks are present in Manitoba, but the local population does not carry diseases that affect humans. Sun photographer Tim Smith has recently seen a lot of wild animals covered in ticks during his travels across Westman. Rusk said that there are generally two major waves of blacklegged ticks in any given year. The first comes after the snow melts and the temperature rises to four or five degrees above freezing, causing the ticks to wake up and then be active for six to eight weeks, usually ending at the end of June. The second wave comes in the fall as young ticks have hatched, matured and become active as they look for meals to carry them through the winter. The longer the fall lasts before it freezes, the longer ticks hang around. After going out in nature, Rusk advises that people strip down and inspect their bodies for ticks after coming home, especially in areas like the groin, belly button and underarms. "If you feel something, then you look," he said. When bitten, Rusk said you dont need to call a doctor immediately, but you should make a note of when the bite occurred and where it happened on the body. If you feel symptoms within 30 days, then you should reach out to a doctor. Symptoms can include a rash, something at the bite site, a fever, a headache, muscle or joint aches. He likens these symptoms to the flu without a cough. "Something were actually recommending now is that you take a photo of that tick," he said. "And then if you see a rash, then you take a photo of it because if you go to the doctor and the rash is gone, then you can at least show them to the doc. As a physician, thats something Im appreciative of because it really helps. Bug repellants containing DEET are usually effective in preventing tick bites, and certain types of clothing made with permethrin also repel the arachnids. Those finding a tick can remove it with tweezers. A video demonstrating the proper technique is available on the provinces website. A surveillance map on the provinces website shows where some of the hot spots of disease-carrying ticks in Manitoba are located. Early treatment for tick-borne diseases is more likely to be successful. cslark@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ColinSlark Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16, 2020 19:57 584 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf3d6c6 1 National Hawk-209,Air-Force,Air-Force-base,plane-crash,Riau,fighter-jets,pilot,accident,aircraft-crash,aircraft Free Before crashing into a residential area in Kampar regency, Riau, on Monday morning, the pilot of an ill-fated Indonesian Air Force Hawk 209 jet fighter reported irregularities in the engine to the base, the Air Force has said. Air Force chief of staff Air Chief Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo said the pilot, First Lt. Aprianto Ismail, heard a strange noise on the plane, followed by a warning light showing an interruption in the aircraft. Apriantos plane was one of three Hawk jets departing from Rusmin Nuryadin Air Base in Pekanbaru to perform combat training in Siabu, Kampar district. Fadjar said the practice went well before the three fighter planes started to head back to the home base at around 8 a.m. The three fighter planes flew in sequence and Aprianto's aircraft was the last. Read also: Indonesian Air Force Hawk 209 jet fighter crashes in residential area of Riau When the plane was about to land, around 2 kilometers from the the runway at an altitude of about 200 feet, the pilot reported an abnormality in the aircrafts engine, Fadjar said at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru, Riau on Monday afternoon, as quoted by kompas.com. The pilot also said the aircraft engine suddenly lost power and reported his plan to eject, which he eventually did. The plane then crashed into two vacant houses in the Mutiara Sialang Indah complex in Kubang Jaya village, Siak Hulu subdistrict, and caused a fire. Aprianto landed with his parachute about 500 meters away from the crash site, while his ejection seat fell onto a rooftop. Residents immediately helped the pilot and, fortunately, there were no fatalities in the accident. The Hawk 209, a British-built aircraft that had flown 3,100 hours, had been checked before being operated and was found to be in airworthy condition, according to Fadjar. Fadjar said an investigation into the causes of the crash was ongoing and could take up to two weeks. (syk) Joel Todd Pfliger, 57, Hazen, was born March 3, 1963, to Clem and Betty Pfliger, joining his sister, Kari, to complete the family. His life came to an abrupt end on Saturday, June 13, 2020. His plane crashed during routine take off and he died instantly. A celebration of Joel's life will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at the family farm near Stanton with a time of sharing and comfort to follow. The address is 1252 46th Ave. SW, Stanton. Fly-ins welcome. Directions from the south: seven miles north of Hannover, turn right on 14th St. SW. Head west for two miles and turn right. Head north 1.3 miles. Turn right into farm. From Crossroads: Go two miles south, then turn left, go one mile East, then turn right. Go 2.6 miles south to Pfliger mailbox. Turn left into farm. The farm is not visible from the mailbox. The runway is beside the road going into the yard. Call Steve for further assistance at 701-870-0381. Joel always loved farming and spent many hours with his farm toys, making fields in the front yard. When he went off to college at UND, his most cherished picture was of dad, the dog and the Versatile tractor. He was a member of the Phi Delta fraternity. Joel graduated as a mechanical engineer and worked at Dakota Gasification Company north of Beulah for 24 years until he retired in 2012. Besides his engineering career, Joel was a full time farmer and took the reins at the family farm in the 90s. With all that work, Joel did not have a lot of time for socializing, but he followed his passion for planes and flying, getting his pilot's license shortly after he started working at the gas plant. He was part owner of a couple different planes during that time. His first mission was to get recertified and buy his Cetabria. He flew constantly, taking great delight in giving rides and exploring the area from the sky. Through flying, Joel made many new friends, attending fly-ins around the area and having coffee nearly every Saturday with his pilot friends at what he lovingly referred to as OGC Old Guy Coffee. Hunting was always a big part of Joel's life, hunting with his dad, uncles and cousins as he grew up and then with his many friends. His lifelong love of wildlife and the outdoors led him to make many new friends and renew old friendships after he retired. His friend, Stan, drug him out of hiding and he never went back. One of Joel's favorite activities was gathering with friends at Swanny's shop, playing bags and making memories. Everyone knows you can't hunt pheasants without a great dog, so along came Buddy, who was the best dog ever. Rocko came along last fall and gave Joel tremendous pleasure with his antics and bright personality. Joel's love of travel really kicked into high gear in the last ten years, taking him on numerous trips with his nephew, Ross, and cousins Al and Peg Sutherland, and his nearly annual trip to Oshkosh with cousin Scott Sutherland. Travels included trips to Ireland, Scotland and Norway, as well as Canada and the US and a memorable trip to New Orleans with Steve, Kari and Ross. He had an ongoing list of places he planned to visit. Family always came first for Joel and he seldom missed a chance to spend time with aunts, uncles and cousins, talking, laughing and frying fleishkuechle. Joel was well known for his warmth and caring and his ability to see a need and volunteer to help in any way he could, whether it be assisting an ailing neighbor with harvest or helping a young farmer get on his feet or blowing snow. He was honored to mentor young people and foster their own love of farming, hunting or flying. Leaving behind those who loved him best, his sister, Kari and her husband, Steve Huber; nephews, Scott, Ross and Trevor Huber; as well as his uncle, Jim (Lee) Pfliger; aunt, Dorothy Lang; and numerous cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; three infant brothers; as well as his grandparents and many other dear family members. Memorials can be directed to the Dakota Territory Air Museum in Minot or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen. HUAWEIs HONOR brand has confirmed the global launch of its HONOR 9A smartphone as a part of its VIP Day Launch Event on June 23rd. It was announced in Russia back in April, comes with a 6.3-inch 20:9 HD+ screen, is powered by MediaTek Helio P22 SoC, packs triple rear cameras and a 5000mAh battery. HONOR 9A specifications 6.3-inch (1600 720 pixels) HD+ 20:9 display Octa-Core MediaTek Helio P22 (MT6762R) 12nm processor with IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU 3GB RAM, 64GB storage, expandable memory up to 512GB with microSD Android 10 with Magic UI 3.0.1 Dual SIM (nano + nano + microSD) 13MP camera with f/1.8 aperture, LED flash, 5MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, 2MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture 8MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture Dimensions: 159.07 74.06 9.04; Weight: 185g Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/GLONASS, Micro USB Port 5000mAh (Typical) / 4900mAh (Minimum) battery The HONOR 9A comes in Black, Blue and Green colours and was introduced in Russia for 10990 Ruble (US$ 150/ Rs. 11,290 approx.). The company also plans to launch the HONOR Router 3 for the global markets after it was introduced for the Chinese markets last month. It has in-house Kirin W650 Wi-Fi 6+ chipset, Gigahome Dual-core 1.2 GHz CPU and packs 128MB of RAM, and flash memory. It has 4 external antennas which have a gain of 5dBi and it can transmit at 2976 Mbps (maximum) with 2402 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 574 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. The HONOR Router 3 was introduced for 219 yuan (US$ 31 / Rs. 2334 approx.). The new amendments have been approved by the cabinet and the draft is set to be sent to the parliament for ratification, TOLO News reported on Monday. Kabul, June 16 (IANS) At least 20 Afghan media outlets in an open letter to President Ashraf Ghani raised their concerns on press restrictions and on the freedom of speech, as the government has suggested amendments to the mass media law that was enacted in 2006. The letter mentions that the proposed amendments were in contravention of the articles 7, 34, 120 and 122 of Afghanistan's Constitution. Article 34 of the constitution says, "freedom of expression shall be inviolable" and "every Afghan shall have the right to express thoughts through speech, writing, illustrations as well as other means in accordance with provisions of this constitution". It also says that "every Afghan shall have the right, according to provisions of law, to print and publish on subjects without prior submission to state authorities", adding that the proposed amendments will restrict the independence of monitoring organizations. The letter further said that the proposed amendments will limit media activities and freedom of expression in the country. "If this draft is sent to Parliament and if it is passed, it will impose very serious restrictions on media activities," TOLO News quoted Najib Sharifi, head of the Journalists Safety Committee, as saying. "Also, the cancellation of the licenses of media outlets has been eased (in the draft)," Sharifi said. "It has given the media monitoring role to specific government institution. This can result in autocracy," said Mujib Khalwatgar, head of Nai, an open media supporting organization. However, the Ministry of Information and Culture said the government remains committed to safeguarding the freedom of speech. "Any amendment in the mass media law is shared with heads of media, media unions and heads of newspapers," said Sabir Mohmand, a spokesman for the Ministry. --IANS ksk/ Labor's national executive is to step in to clean up the Victorian branch, taking over preselections and appointing two administrators. Three frontbenchers have been forced out of the Victorian state cabinet over a branch-stacking and infighting scandal. The national leadership is expected to decide at a Tuesday night video hookup to appoint former premier Steve Bracks and former federal minister Jenny Macklin as administrators to oversee the clean up until the end of January. Labor's national executive is to step in to clean up the Victorian branch, taking over preselections and appointing two administrators A draft resolution said all voting rights in the Victorian branch would be suspended until 2023 and federal and state preselections would be run by the national executive. 'I have no confidence in the integrity of any voting rolls produced for any internal elections in the Victorian branch,' premier Daniel Andrews wrote to the executive. 'Accordingly, we must suspend those elections and begin a long and critical process of validating each and every member of the Labor Party in Victoria as genuine, consenting and self-funded.' An initial report on new integrity measures would be due in July while a final report would be submitted in November. The draft motion said the national executive had asked that new measures ensured that the Victorian branch solely comprised 'genuine, consenting, self-funding party members'. Mr Andrews earlier said he expected reform. 'I have no confidence in the integrity of any voting rolls produced for any internal elections in the Victorian branch,' premier Daniel Andrews wrote to the executive 'No one should underestimate my resolve to deal with these issues properly to make sure that we make really significant reform,' he told reporters. Party powerbroker Adem Somyurek has been banished from Labor after being caught handing over cash and using parliamentary staff to create fake branch members and amass political influence. Two of his allies - Robin Scott and Marlene Kairouz - have also resigned from the ministry. The scandal exposed by 60 Minutes threatens to seep through federal Labor ranks. Even so, there was no mention of Mr Somyurek or the Victorian crisis during a long federal Labor caucus meeting in Canberra on Tuesday. The factional heavy claimed to be protecting federal MP Anthony Byrne in whose office some of the footage was filmed. A state Labor MP has called for the Australian Federal Police and ASIO to investigate the covert recordings. Tim Richardson is concerned, given Mr Byrne is the deputy chair of the powerful parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security. WHY VICTORIAN LABOR MPS HAVE LOST THEIR PORTFOLIOS: ADEM SOMYUREK * Accused of handing over cash and using parliamentary employees to create fake members to branch stack and amass political power * Allegations were first aired by 60 Minutes and The Age on Sunday * There are recordings of him using profanities against colleagues and staff * Mr Somyurek denies the allegations and wants police to investigate the recordings used in the expose * Mr Somyurek was sacked from the Victorian ministry on Monday and resigned from Labor before the party could boot him out * He most recently held the local government portfolio * In 2014, Mr Somyurek was made a minister only to have him stand down over bullying allegations a year later * He was reinstated to the ministry in 2018, with Premier Daniel Andrews saying Mr Somyurek had made the case he had changed * Will now sit in the Legislative Council as an independent for South Eastern Metropolitan Region * Supports the ALP Right faction MARLENE KAIROUZ * Factional ally of Mr Somyurek * Accused of encouraging staff to take part in the branch stacking with Mr Somyurek, according to secret recordings obtained by The Age * Assured Mr Andrews on Monday that she had acted appropriately at all times * After becoming embroiled in the allegations, she resigned from the ministry on Tuesday * Held various ministerial portfolios of suburban development, local government and consumer affairs, gaming and liquor regulation * 'I no longer want these matters to be a distraction to the government. They have placed enormous pressure on my family and caused them great distress,' she said in a statement on Tuesday * Ms Kairouz will continue to serve the electorate of Kororoit ROBIN SCOTT * Factional ally of Mr Somyurek * Mr Scott is accused of having staff involved in the branch stacking * Stepped down from his ministerial post on Monday * 'To the extent that these matters relate to my conduct, I look forward to the opportunity to clear my name. I am very confident that the investigative process will do so,' he said in a statement * Mr Scott will continue to serve the electorate of Preston Advertisement Party powerbroker Adem Somyurek has been banished from Labor after being caught handing over cash and using parliamentary staff to create fake branch members and amass political influence 'We don't know who put those recordings in, we don't know what's been compromised,' he told reporters. 'That's a great concern for our commonwealth and our national security.' Former senator Stephen Conroy alleged Mr Somyurek intimidated federal Labor MPs including Tim Watts, Julian Hill, Joanne Ryan and Rob Mitchell. 'The intimidation of federal MPs is to be absolutely deplored,' he told Sky News. Mr Somyurek was also recorded claiming Labor MP Josh Burns relied on his support. 'It's not true and I am my own person in the Labor Party,' Mr Burns told the ABC. 'I think that there are clearly issues, though, that we need to deal with as a party.' He said an arm's length inquiry was needed to restore trust. Former Labor leader Bill Shorten says the party thought it had stamped out branch-stacking until the 'shocking and reprehensible' Victorian scandal erupted. 'The party has been trying to clean up branch stacking across Australia and ... well, we thought it had, but clearly it hadn't in Victoria,' he told Nine. 'Every person's credentials need to be checked again. Did they pay for it, their own membership?' [June 16, 2020] A New Italian-Israeli Cooperation: After the first wave of the Corona epidemic ends with a potential second wave, Israeli-Italian research centers join forces announces Afeka College TEL AVIV, Israel, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After a particularly difficult few months in which the two countries have faced the challenges of the epidemic with the rest of the world, all eyes are now directed to technological solutions to lead the next step in fighting the Corona epidemic. The initial outline for a groundbreaking Italian-Israeli collaboration was at the center of the meeting today between the Italian ambassador to Israel, Mr. Gianluigi Benedetti, and President of Afeka Tel-Aviv Academic College of Engineering, Prof. Ami Moyal, and their teams. Top-level academic centers, the Israeli "ACLP - Afeka Center for Language Processing" located in "Afeka Tel Aviv Academic College for Engineering" and the "Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore" are working together to develop solutions using their competencies on speech processing ad artificial intelligence into clinical practice. Summer and Fall of 2020 are an interim period that requires rapid readiness for another eruption. Therefore, this cooperation between the two countries may be a key factor in the international fight against the corona epidemic. New technological tools, allowing pre-diagnostic detection of corona potential carriers through the analysis of patients' voice, speech and coughing will be subjected to clinical trials sharing the same protocol. The recruitment of patients and the trials will involve both Italian and Israeli hospitals, such as the "Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli" in Rome, Italy and the "Rabin Medical Centre, near Tel Aviv, Israel The Italian Ambassador in Israel, Gianluigi Benedetti, stressed that "The cooperation between these two centers of excellence is one of the several fruitful results of the long-term intensive contacts between the Italian and Israeli scientific communities, further strengthened since the very first stage of the pandemic." Prof. Ami Moyal, President of Afeka Tel-Aviv Academic College of Engineering, stated: "We are looking forward to a successful cooperation between our institutes, and our countries, in developing technology-based tools that will assist our citizens, countries and humanity in the fight against corona virus and together save lives. The expected result of the collaboration should provide us tools for dealing with future outbreaks of corona and other viruses." CONTACT: Dan Cohen, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-new-italian-israeli-cooperation-after-the-first-wave-of-the-corona-epidemic-ends-with-a-potential-second-wave-israeli-italian-research-centers-join-forces-announces-afeka-college-301077850.html SOURCE Afeka College [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In this Sunday, June 14, 2020 file photo, medical workers attend to a COVID-19 patient in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen. Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve survival from COVID-19. The drug is a cheap, widely available steroid called dexamethasone. Results released Tuesday, June 16 show it reduced deaths by up to one-third in severely ill hospitalized patients. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File) Read more The good news that an inexpensive generic drug cut deaths by a third in severely ill COVID-19 patients was cheered and criticized by physicians in the Philadelphia region and around the world on Tuesday. They were delighted to hear such encouraging results from a rigorous British study of a corticosteroid called dexamethasone. But they also were disturbed that those results came out piecemeal in a self-congratulatory news release, rather than a journal article reviewed by outside experts before publication. During the pandemic, companies and researchers have been racing to share results without adequate scientific vetting, a trend that has contributed to backpedaling and confusion about potential therapeutics. I would call the [British] results intriguing, said George Anesi, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. There has been a lot of rapid publication, some of which has required correction or retraction. Wed want to see the paper before making changes in practice. Surgeon Atul Gawande, the public health researcher and author, tweeted, It will be great news if dexamethasone, a cheap steroid, really does cut deaths by in ventilated patients with COVID-19, but after all the retractions and walk backs, it is unacceptable to tout study results by press release without releasing the paper. The U.K. trial is evaluating a number of potential therapies. On June 8, the dexamethasone arm of the study was stopped because its benefit was clear, according to the news release. It compared 4,321 patients who were randomly assigned to receive usual critical care with 2,104 patients randomly assigned to also receive a low daily dose (6 mg) of dexamethasone in a pill or a shot. The drug, which is widely used to reduce inflammation in arthritis and other disorders, costs less than $1 a day per patient. For patients on ventilators, the drug cut the risk of death by a third, from 40% to 28%, suggesting one death would be prevented by treating eight ventilated patients. For patients on oxygen, the risk of death was cut by a fifth, from 25% to 20%, meaning one death would be prevented by treating about 25 patients. There was no benefit in patients who didnt require oxygen. It is fantastic that the first treatment demonstrated to reduce mortality is one that is instantly available and affordable worldwide, study coleader Martin Landray, a physician and epidemiologist at the University of Oxford, said in the release. Dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients, declared study coleader Peter Horby, a specialist in emerging infectious diseases at Oxford. Other experts were more cautious, both because the data have not been subjected to peer review and published, and because of the history of corticosteroid use. The drugs were found to do more harm than good in many patients with the flu or previous coronavirus diseases SARS and MERS. Among other things, steroids suppress the immune system, raising the risk of secondary infections and possibly reducing the bodys ability to fight the original infection. Steroids have been studied for decades in critical care patients, said Christopher Seymour, a critical care specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Up to this point, many of us who have lived through the ups and downs have held off using it to treat COVID-19. Seymour called the results tantalizing because the British trial is well-designed and the largest to date. But, he added, there is quite a bit that can go wrong by adopting practice changes based on a headline. In a tweet, Laurie Garrett, the Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist, called the results exciting but added, Ive interviewed many SARS 2003 survivors that have suffered permanent side effects from steroids, including bone loss and pain. How might dexamethasone work to relieve severe COVID-19? The news release did not speculate. But experts suggested the drugs anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing activities may help the lungs while preventing a potentially deadly immune system overreaction that can be triggered by the worst coronavirus infections. Youd like to treat the inflammation to help the lung status, but you dont want to compromise the bodys ability to clear the virus, said R. Phillip Dellinger, a critical care specialist at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. I think what this trial will do is swing the pendulum toward using dexamethasone, pending peer review of this study. Several journals have been stung even after peer review. And we havent even gotten through peer review on this. Indeed, two of the worlds most respected journals this month retracted papers that were based on flawed statistics from a little-known database of electronic medical records. A Lancet paper linked use of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to higher mortality in COVID-19 patients but backpedaled after revealing journal reviewers were not given full access to needed data. (The drug is no longer recommended for COVID-19 patients, as there is no proof it prevents or cures infection.) HELP US REPORT: Are you a health-care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker, or other expert? We want to hear from you. And the New England Journal of Medicine said it could not vouch for evidence in an article that concluded certain hypertension drugs are safe for those COVID-19 patients. Many scientific manuscripts on the coronavirus have come out as preprints, published online prior to peer review. And some companies developing vaccines have been faulted for touting early results in news releases, sending their stock values up, only to see them tumble when more complete information came out. In the commodities-trading capital of the world, staff at most of the biggest companies are returning to their offices and some are even venturing back into the skies for business flights. "In Switzerland, we have been quite lucky," said Gerard Delsad, the Geneva-based managing director of Vitol Group, the largest independent oil trader. "It has been very stable." Geneva, home to many of the heavyweight merchants of oil, grains and metals, didn't dodge an outbreak of covid-19 but Switzerland as a whole has brought the virus under control much faster than other global trading hubs. Delsad spoke on Monday as about a third of Vitol's 180 Geneva-based employees returned to the office. Next week, they will work from home again in rotation with another group that will be back in the building. Restaurants and shops have been open for weeks, and even sex work, which is legal in Switzerland, was back to business on June 6. Many of those employed in the commodities-trading sector, which at about 20 billion Swiss francs ($21 billion) or 4% of GDP is larger than the country's tourism industry, have also returned to their workplaces. "I work about a day-and-a-half a week in the office," said Mercuria Energy Group CEO Marco Dunand. The trading house handles more than 2 million barrels of oil and petroleum products each day. Dunand set up his workspace in a Mercuria boardroom at its office on Rue du Rhone, Geneva's priciest shopping street. The former Goldman Sachs executive, who has family roots in Geneva dating back some five centuries, is spending the rest of his work time up a mountain in the Swiss Alps conducting meetings via video conference. Commodities trading is responsible for some 35,000 direct jobs at more than 500 trading companies in Switzerland and outstrips Swiss bank financial services as the country's top services export. While many in the sector are back at their work stations, they've done so gingerly with new strict social-distancing protocols. "Even in Geneva where things are 'back to normal' they are not exactly back to the pre-virus normal," Dunand said. At bigger rival Trafigura, the number of traders and staff in the Geneva office has been steadily rising over the past few weeks. They're following government guidelines including limiting one person to an elevator and keeping distances of more than a meter at desks. Trafigura traders are now permitted to resume flights for "essential business," a spokeswoman confirmed. She declined to say whether staff would be flying by private jet or commercial. Traders working in Geneva can easily walk, drive or cycle to the office in the small city. Face masks are not mandatory in Switzerland and borders with neighboring Austria, France and Germany have reopened. "We continue to follow local regulations and guidance closely, including in Geneva, where our staff is in weekly grouped rotation between work-from-home and the office," said Seth Pietras, a spokesman for Gunvor Group, one of the five biggest independent energy traders whose main office is in Geneva. Cofco International, the Geneva-based global trading arm of China's biggest food company, returned to its office in the city on rotating shifts during the first week of June. Business travel remains banned, a spokesman said. Agribusiness giant Cargill is also seeing staff return, with its new Geneva trading office welcoming back about 70 workers, or about 20% of the total, this week. There are no plans to increase that amount in the immediate future and the company is taking a "controlled and phased" approach that includes scores of new office procedures and protocols, a spokesman said. Even though much of Geneva's commodities-trading industry is back, the way the city's traders do their jobs will remain flexible with remote work, according to Mercuria's Dunand. "There may be a new way of working," he said. "It won't be 100% the same." Mumbai: The COVID-19 pandemic has hit all sections of the society, but domestic helps, who are otherwise in high demand in urban areas, are among the worst affected with majority of them without wages for last two months. Though a lot of restrictions have been lifted and many business have restarted operations, there is no clarity on resumption of work by domestic helps, prolonging their misery. The Sarvashramik Sanghatna, a union of domestic workers in Maharashtra, has said that if they are not allowed to resume work, the government should give them a monthly allowance and food supplies. Most of the domestic helps got their March salaries since they had worked for 25 days. But since April, some have got half of their wages while many have not got anything, the Sarvashramik Sanghatna's president Uday Bhat. "The maids are ready to abide by all safety norms regarding COVID-19. It is not true that if they provide a medical certificate of being free of coronavirus, the maids or their employers can't get infected at a later stage. The onus is not on the maids alone," he said. Bhat said his organisation, which has nearly 19,000 members in the state, mostly in Mumbai and Pune, earlier wrote to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to give directions to housing societies to allow domestic workers inside. The Pune civic body has issued such a circular, he said. "If that doesn't happen, the government should give them a monthly allowance directly in their bank accounts and also food supplies. The domestic helps, majority of whom are women, are the most vulnerable as many of them are the sole breadwinners of their families," he said. "We are demanding that the maids be given the status of laborer so that they can avail the benefits of social security schemes, fixed wages, and also violations of rules should attract penal action," he said. In 2010, the Maharashtra State Domestic Workers Welfare Board Act came into force. But, very few domestic workers can avail benefits of insurance cover, allowances for pregnancy leave and fund for family in case of death, he rued. Hira lad, a domestic worker from Mumbai's Santacruz area, said she has been at home for the last three months. She said her son is a gym instructor, but since gymnasiums are closed he is also at home, while her daughter-in-law, who is a trained nurse, is on maternity leave. "My employers are paying me half the salary while my son is managing through his savings. How long will this last? I am worried. I keep calling my employers every month to remind them that I am ready to work. But, they say they are sorry, as no decision has been taken yet," Lad said. Sameera Kelkar, a private firm employee residing in suburban Andheri, agreed that maids are going through lot of hardships at this time. Kelkar said she has been paying her maids half of their salary for last two months. "We are not allowing any outsider in our society, including maids, and we are also not going out. Everyone is working from home and also doing household work. It is sad that the poor are finding it difficult to make their ends meet in such unprecedented times," she said. A second man has been charged with murder in the death of retired police captain David Dorn, who was shot dead in front of a pawn shop by suspected looters during a night of violent protests. Mark Jackson, 22, was charged with second-degree murder, robbery, burglary, stealing, and three counts of armed criminal action. It comes days after suspected shooter Stephan Cannon, 24, was charged with first-degree murder, burglary, robbery, armed criminal action and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Charging documents say Jackson, Cannon, and a third person were caught on CCTV fleeing the store in a Pontiac G6. Mark Jackson (pictured above left ) is the second man to have been charged with murder in the death of retired police captain David Dorn, as well a string of other offences related to the incident. Alleged shooter Stephan Cannon (top right) was charged with first-degree murder in the days after the killing The Pontiac was found by police parked nearby Jackson's home, with a temporary license plate in his name as well as paperwork inside the car that also had his name on it. A debit card belonging to Jackson was found inside the shop and officers also discovered his fingerprint on a television set left inside the shop. He is currently being held with bail, according to STL Today. Dorn, aged 77, was found dead on the sidewalk in front of Lee's Pawn & Jewelry after trying to protect the shop from looters, according to St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner. The looting occurred during one of many protests following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota last month. Dorn, 77, was reportedly friends of the pawn shop's owner and frequently checked on the business when alarms went off. His death was initially streamed on Facebook Live, but footage has since been deleted. The same night Dorn was killed four St Louis officers were shot, others were pelted with rocks and fireworks, and dozens of businesses were burglarized or damaged, including a convenience store that burned. According to a police statement, Cannon and Jackson were among those seen on surveillance footage entering the store and then stealing several televisions. Retired St Louis police captain David Dorn, pictured, was shot dead by looters who had broken into his friend's pawn shop, officials said Cannon then reportedly walked towards the street corner with a gun in his hand. 'At the time the shots were fired, (Cannon) was the only person standing at that corner,' according to a probable cause statement obtained by New York Post. 'Multiple plumes of smoke' were allegedly seen coming from where Cannon was standing on the street corner and shell casings were later found. Court documents revealed that Cannon acknowledged that he was inside the pawn shop the night of Dorn's murder and that he cut his hair to change his appearance. Police investigate the scene of a shooting at Lee's Pawn & Jewelry in St. Louis on June 2 after Dorn was found shot dead The St. Louis Police Department released surveillance footage taken inside the store shortly after 2.30am, in which seven persons of interests are seen entering through the pawn shop's front door A stolen TV was later found inside Cannon's home and the serial number matched that of Lee's Pawn and Jewelry store. Cannon also admitted he became aware that his photograph being distributed after local authorities released CCTV footage from the pawns shop. CCTV footage showed the Pontiac G6 pulled up alongside the store that night and reportedly showed Cannon entering with the driver. Cannon is also being held without bail. In a statement from Kim Gardner, she cited police work and public outrage as what helped locate the pair. Two other men have also been charged with looting the shop. Retired captain Dorn had served 38 years on the St. Louis police force before retiring in October 2007. He then became chief of Moline Acres, a small town north of St. Louis. The Ethical Society of Police, which represents black officers in St. Louis, said in a news release that Dorn was 'the type of brother that would've given his life to save them if he had to'. One witness to the Facebook Live video said the incident had 'sickened' him. Marquaello Futrell wrote: 'The man just was shot and killed outside of Lee's Pawn and Jewelry has me sick to my stomach.' The St. Louis PD posted the video on Twitter, where they also stated they were offering a reward for those who had information on the men The store looks to have already been completely ransacked by the time the group arrived at the scene, with windows shattered, display cabinets emptied and trash discarded on the floor He suggested eyewitnesses did not help Dorn after he was shot, adding: 'It's one thing to be a victim of a robbery/assault but to lie in you own blood pleading for help and no help comes other than people standing around on FB Live recording his death. All over social media. I'm upset and can't sleep!' Colonel John W. Hayden, Jr., a St. Louis police commissioner, called Dorn a 'fine captain.' 'Many of us, the other officers, looked up to him,' Hayden said. 'Was very well-liked, very pleasant. And his wife still works here. So a very sad time for our agency. We will honor him.' Tim Fitch, the former St. Louis County police chief called Dorn 'a true public servant', adding: 'Protecting & serving all the way to the end. None of us who knew you are surprised you went out fighting at Lee's Pawn this morning. God speed my friend.' President Trump tweeted his own tribute Tuesday evening, writing: 'Our highest respect to the family of David Dorn, a Great Police Captain from St. Louis, who was viciously shot and killed by despicable looters last night. We honor our police officers, perhaps more than ever before. Thank you!' State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, told the Post-Dispatch that he watched to Facebook Live post before it was removed. 'Very traumatized right now,' he said about an hour after the shooting occurred. 'Im hurting.' President Trump also shared his own tribute for Dorn on Twitter last Tuesday. 'Our highest respect to the family of David Dorn, a Great Police Captain from St. Louis, who was viciously shot and killed by despicable looters last night,' he wrote. 'We honor our police officers, perhaps more than ever before.' For the tenth straight year, Children's National also ranked in all 10 specialty services, with seven specialties ranked in the top 10. "Our number one goal is to provide the best care possible to children. Being recognized by U.S. News as one of the best hospitals reflects the strength that comes from putting children and their families first, and we are truly honored," says Kurt Newman, M.D., president and CEO of Children's National Hospital. "This year, the news is especially meaningful, because our teams like those at hospitals across the country faced enormous challenges and worked heroically through a global pandemic to deliver excellent care." "Even in the midst of a pandemic, children have healthcare needs ranging from routine vaccinations to life-saving surgery and chemotherapy," said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of Health Analysis at U.S. News. "The Best Children's Hospitals rankings are designed to help parents find quality medical care for a sick child and inform families' conversations with pediatricians." The annual rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals. The rankings recognize the nation's top 50 pediatric hospitals based on a scoring system developed by U.S. News. The top 10 scorers are awarded a distinction called the Honor Roll. The bulk of the score for each specialty service is based on quality and outcomes data. The process includes a survey of relevant specialists across the country, who are asked to list hospitals they believe provide the best care for patients with the most complex conditions. Below are links to the seven Children's National specialty services that U.S. News ranked in the top 10 nationally: The other three specialties ranked among the top 50 were cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and gastro-intestinal surgery, and urology. About Children's National Hospital Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., celebrates 150 years of pediatric care, research and commitment to community. Volunteers opened the hospital in 1870 with 12 beds to care for children displaced after the Civil War. Today, 150 years stronger, it is among the nation's top 10 children's hospitals. It is ranked No. 1 for newborn care for the fourth straight year and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children's National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. In 2020, construction will be complete on the Children's National Research and Innovation Campus, the first in the nation dedicated to pediatric research. Children's National has been designated twice as a Magnet hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers in the D.C., metropolitan area, including the Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. Children's National is home to the Children's National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and is the nation's seventh-highest NIH-funded children's hospital. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. About U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C. SOURCE Childrens National Hospital Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) President Rodrigo Duterte is inclined to sign the new anti-terrorism bill, his spokesman said Tuesday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told CNN Philippines that the chief executive is already reviewing the controversial measure which seeks to impose stiffer penalties for terrorists and those found to be helping or engaging in related acts. It also allows suspects to be arrested without warrant and detained without charges for up to 24 days. The enrolled bill is now in his desk. So lets just say that hes taking a final look at it, Roque said in an interview with The Source. But I think he is inclined to sign it, the spokesperson added of the bill, earlier certified as urgent by Malacanang. Roque, however, has yet to give a specific timeline for the signing of the measure. The proposed law which seeks to repeal the Human Security Act of 2007 was met with a flurry of criticisms from netizens who voiced out concerns on its broad and vague provisions that may supposedly lead to human rights violations. Critics also argued the measure may be used to target those who express dissent against the government. However, lawmakers and security officials have brushed off these claims, saying citizens have their rights and several safeguards under the Constitution. READ: Esperon assures Anti-Terrorism Bill critics: Activism is not terrorism Roque noted Duterte is likewise waiting for the final review of the Office of the Executive Secretary as well as possible inputs from the Justice Department, which conducted its own review on the provisions of the anti-terrorism bill. [June 16, 2020] Experity Launches EMR Patient Visit History Functionality to Support Urgent Cares Looking to Transform into Hybrid Clinics Experity, the leading provider of clinical and practice management software in the urgent care space, today announced the launch of Face Sheet, a patient history view, within its electronic medical record (EMR) platform. As more urgent care clinics look to provide patients with continued care, the new functionality provides a single view of patients' visit history within their EMR chart to seamlessly support both episodic and longitudinal workflows. As a growing number of urgent care clinics add primary care services to their offerings, providers need the ability to easily review a patient's visit history and document their acute and chronic problems to provide quick, informed treatment. With Face Sheet, users have a single overview of patients' past visits to enable efficient, comprehensive care regardless of service type. "The concept of documenting chronic problems in urgent care isn't necessarily novel, but the seamless two-pronged approach we're providing to our clients certainly is," said Experity CEO Dr. David Stern. "As hybrid clinics become more popular, we knew how important it is that our solution supports both workflows simultaneously and separately within the same chart. We will continue evolving to support urgent care-focused clinics venturing into expanded offerings, understanding they still require technological adaptability for their foundational urgent care need." Experity's product roadmap is designed to deliver innovative solutions and functionalities that will evolve alongside the urgent care industry. Beyond Face Sheet, hybrid urgent cares have been able to leverage existing features that include: A chronic problem managementtab that provides a consolidated view into patient history and allows providers to easily document active problems without ever leaving the patient's chart. allows providers to easily document active problems without ever leaving the patient's chart. A history and tracking grid to view past labs and vital signs. A Referral Management page to easily manage, schedule, and follow up on referral orders. Collectively, the Experity EMR platform helps users efficiently manage, track, and document both short- and long-term care visits without compromising their traditional urgent care-focused workflows. To learn more about how Experity supports over 40 percent of the urgent care industry in the United States, please visit www.experityhealth.com. About Experity Experity is a dynamic HIT company that provides integrated technology solutions to more than 4,000 on-demand healthcare practices, primary care clinics, diagnostic testing centers, and health systems nationwide. With a mission to power patient-centered care, the company's complete suite of software and services includes EMR and PM, patient engagement, teleradiology, business intelligence, consulting, and billing solutions. The company was formed through the merger of the leaders in urgent care technology, DocuTAP and Practice Velocity. A Warburg Pincus portfolio company, Experity is a fast-paced, high-growth company committed to improving on-demand healthcare for everyone. Visit experityhealth.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005653/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after he was trapped in a collapsed eight-foot trench in Markham Tuesday morning, York Regional police say. Police got the call at 11:08 a.m. about the man trapped in the trench on Old English Lane in Markham. The Markham Fire department was called to free the worker, a tweet by York police said. It took the department nearly two hours to remove the man from the trench. Police say he has been taken to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing. Read more about: Publishing lives on comparables or comps, previous books similar to the one being shopped to publishers. Harbach was touted as the next John Irving or Michael Chabon literary writers who also sell well. Ward was never going to be viewed as the next Chabon because of her identity and her subject matter. Tuesday, 16 June 2020: A new National Preclinical Imaging Centre (NPIC) which will provide enhanced research data to inform new clinical trials that aim to improve patient outcomes, has been awarded funding of 3.4 million under the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Infrastructure Programme. The Centre, which is the first of its kind in Ireland, is being established and co-funded by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, University College Dublin (UCD), and CURAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, based at National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway). The Centre's imaging infrastructure will support the development of new therapeutics and diagnostics in human disease areas including cancer, neurology, dementia, psychiatry, cardiology, medical devices, diabetes, tissue engineering, nanomedicine and inflammatory disease. The Centre will provide a national pre-clinical imaging resource open to all academic, industry and not-for-profit researchers, and will have locations in Dublin (RCSI, UCD) and Galway (NUI Galway). NPIC establishes a national pre-clinical magnetic resonance (MR) facility, a national high-field preclinical MR / chemical imaging platform and incorporates a high-resolution micro-computed tomography (CT) and Optical Imaging laboratory. "The National Preclinical Imaging Centre's high resolution imaging technologies will allow the research community in Ireland to respond to future international research challenges and will provide important support infrastructure for SFI Research Centres, Irish academic institutes and industry collaborators," commented Director of NPIC, Professor Annette Byrne, Head of the RCSI Precision Cancer Medicine Group, Department of Physiology and Medical Physics and Centre for Systems Medicine at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. "The Centre's resources will allow us to work more collaboratively on research projects with clinicians and on training initiatives in radiology, which are critical elements of translating laboratory research finding to improvements in patient care in clinical settings," Prof. Byrne said. "This infrastructural funding provided by SFI, which is complemented by financial support from each of our partner institutions, along with in-kind contributions from industry, will provide an unparalleled national resource for advancing in vivo imaging. Our research in the area of precision oncology will benefit considerably from being able to image non-invasively tumour growth and spread, leading to improved understanding of disease and associated therapeutic options," said Professor William Gallagher, Associate Director of NPIC, Director, UCD Conway Institute and Deputy Director, Precision Oncology Ireland. "I am delighted to see the establishment of NPIC as it will provide a significant boost to our existing capabilities across academic, industry and clinical networks allowing us to further progress medical device research and its clinical application in each of our disease target areas," commented Professor Abhay Pandit, Associate Director of NPIC and Scientific Director at CURAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices at NUI Galway. The SFI Award is co-funded by all three Universities (RCSI, UCD and NUI Galway) and the application was supported by a diverse number of academic, not-for-profit and industry collaborators across the island of Ireland including Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, Technical University Dublin, Cancer Trials Ireland, Queens University Belfast, Pfizer, Roche, M2i Ltd and Boston Scientific. ### For further information please contact: Jane Butler Senior Communications Officer RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences +353 87 7531877 janebutler@rcsi.ie NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Automotive Infrared Night Vision Research: Infrared Thermal Imaging May Handle Extreme Cases Well Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05914912/?utm_source=PRN Infrared radiation consists of electromagnetic waves in the wavelength region from 0.75 m to 1,000 m, lying between visible light and microwave light. The corresponding energy ranges from 0.1eV to 1.0eV, within which all the physicochemical effects can be used for infrared detection. A myriad of detectors have been developed, which can be divided into cooled detectors and uncooled detectors by the operating temperature. Cadillac equipped its sedans with night vision systems early in 2000, being the world's first to pioneer such system. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, etc. followed suit. By 2013, a dozen OEMs had installed night vision systems on their top-of-the-range models but having sold not so well to this day due to the costliness of the night vision system. 4,609 new passenger cars carrying night vision systems were sold in China in 2019, an annualized spurt of 65.6% thanks to the sales growth of Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6 and Hongqi H7, according to ResearchInChina. Now, there is growing concern about safety issues amid strides in ADAS and autonomous vehicle. A controversy arises in the industry particularly after a fatality in Uber's self-driving road test, about whether infrared night vision can be used for autonomous driving to prevent accidents like Uber's incident. Infrared night vision system may be an important option for addressing the safety concern of self-driving in critical situations. Veoneer is a typical trailblazer that has spawned infrared night vision systems in the world, and its products have experienced four generations. Its 4th-Gen night vision system, expected in June 2020, will have improved field of view and detection distances, reduction in size, weight and cost featuring enhanced algorithms for pedestrian, animal and vehicle detection as well as supporting night time automatic emergency braking (AEB) solutions. Boson-based thermal sensing technology from FLIR Systems has been adopted by Veoneer for its L4 autonomous vehicle production contract, planned for 2021 with a "top global automaker". Veoneer's system will include multiple thermal sensing cameras that provide both narrow and wide field-of-view capabilities to enhance the safety of self-driving vehicles, and that help detect and classify a broad range of common roadway objects and are especially adept at detecting people and other living things. Hongqi H7 is provided with an advanced active night vision (ANV) system, which uses the infrared transmitter on the headlights and the camera on the front windshield to simultaneously monitor the area ahead of the vehicle, so that the driver can get clear road conditions at any time. The near infrared (NIR) night vision system exploited by Hongqi H7 is worth thousands of yuan. Only far infrared thermal imaging technology can see the distance beyond 300 meters. FLIR has been sparing no effort in the availability of infrared thermal imaging technology in automobiles. In August 2019, FLIR announced its next-generation thermal vision Automotive Development Kit (ADK) featuring the high-resolution FLIR Boson thermal camera core with a resolution of 640 512 for the development of self-driving cars. Uncooled infrared imagers and detector technology remain hot in research to date In August 2019, IRay Technology released a 10-?m 1280 1024 uncooled infrared focal plane detector. Maxtech predicts that the unit price of uncooled thermal imaging cameras will be below $2,000 after 2021, and the sales will outnumber 3 million units. Still, infrared cameras are too expensive for automotive use. Israel-based ADASKY, China's Dali Technology, Guide Infrared and North Guangwei Technology are working on the development and mass production of low-cost infrared thermal imagers. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05914912/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 04:15:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on April 28, 2020 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Some 63 percent of respondents said in a Gallup poll that they are either "extremely" or "very" proud to be Americans, a 7-point dip from last year and the lowest figure over the past 20 years. WASHINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- American pride has continued its downward trajectory, reaching the lowest point in two decades, according to a Gallup survey released on Monday. A majority of adults, 63 percent, still said in the new poll that they are either "extremely" or "very" proud to be Americans. However, that's a 7-point dip from last year and the lowest figure recorded in the 20 years since Gallup first started asking the question. The new low came at a time when the United States is facing public health and economic crises brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest following the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, in police custody. In the poll, 42 percent said they're "extremely" proud and 21 percent said "very" proud. Fifteen percent said they are "modestly" proud, 12 percent "only a little proud" and 9 percent "not proud at all." These latest data are from a May 28-June 4 poll, which also found 20 percent of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the United States. The percentage of Americans expressing extreme pride in the country has been declining over the past 20 years, especially recently, Gallup said. Just over half, 55 percent, felt extreme pride in the initial January 2001 reading, prior to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In the three subsequent years, between 65 percent and 70 percent were extremely proud as the public rallied around the flag. By 2005, that reading fell to 61 percent and remained steady until 2015 when it dropped to 54 percent. The current reading is the sixth consecutive year since then that it has fallen to a new low in Gallup's trend. By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Five new coronavirus positive cases were reported in the city in the last 24 hours including a man with travel history to Saudi Arabia. The 41-year-old man belongs to Patia.Two others - 31-year-old man from Chintaminiswar with travel history to Delhi and a 26-year-old woman of Khandagiri who travelled from West Bengal - were also tested positive for the virus. The rest two are patients with local travel history. A 37-year-old woman of Nayapalli Behera Sahi and a 28-year-old woman employee of a private hospital in the city, who had travelled to other districts in the State have been tested positive. The increasing number of cases at a time when the government has enforced weekend shutdown has remained a concern for the health officials and BMC. Despite shutdown, Bhubaneswar had reported its second highest single-day spike of Covid cases on Sunday. Currently, the city has 127 Covid cases of which, 71 are active. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) confirmed in a statement late Monday that her father, Nur Omar, had died of complications from the novel coronavirus. The big picture: The 37-year-old's father and grandfather raised her following her mother's death in Somalia, per Politico. She and Nur Omar arrived in the U.S. as refugees in 1995. Omar became in 2018 the first Somali-American elected to Congress and one of the first two Muslim women elected. She urged people on Sunday to take precautions against COVID-19 during protests, tweeting: "The pandemic is not over." More than 116,000 people have died from the virus in the U.S., per Johns Hopkins. A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted. Go deeper: Ilhan Omar makes history as first Somali-American elected to Congress Port Neches-Groves announced Monday it will host a Roaring '20s themed prom night July 18 from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. The date and time are subject to change pending further changes to social distancing guidelines, the district said. The event is the final senior event for the class of 2020 after a hectic year that included disruptions from cyberattacks, explosions and floods ending with a shutdown due to the coronavirus. Related: Bridge City High School cancels prom That virus has caused other schools in Southeast Texas, like Bridge City, to cancel similar events last minute as Texas continues to see record numbers of new coronavirus cases. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes Farmers fear the new Programme for Government will see funding "recycled" from current farm payments to pay for new measures. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party yesterday agreed on a Programme which will heighten pressure on farmers in relation to climate action. The coalition deal is subject to approval by the three parties, with the Greens requiring approval from two-thirds of their members to enter government. A raft of environmental measures for farming have been put forward in the Programme including a commitment to a 7pc reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030. There is no specific target for reducing agriculture emissions. However, the agriculture section of the Programme is heavily weighted towards climate action. Farming organisations broadly welcomed the proposals, but said there was a worrying lack of specifics over the funding of proposed objectives. "Overall, while there are lots of words, it lacks hard figures," said IFA president Tim Cullinan. Some of the key commitments for farming in the programme include: Opening a new REPS scheme to include farmers not currently in GLAS as well as those exiting GLAS; Conducting a baseline biodiversity survey on every farm to inform future policy developments; Ensuring the Beef Market Taskforce implements the agreement reached with stakeholders in the beef sector; Publishing a successor strategy to Foodwise 2025, within six months of Government formation; Establishing a national food ombudsman, to ensure fairness and transparency in the food chain. Other key commitments and targets in the programme include: Exploring opportunities in anaerobic digestion; Establishing an Energy Efficient Farming scheme; New targets for organic farming; Pesticide usage will be reviewed; Ending badger culling; A review of natural heritage protections, including hedgerows, native woodland and wetlands; Co-ordinated actions for peatlands to maximise the benefits for biodiversity. Beef Ensuring the Beef Market Taskforce implements the agreement reached with stakeholders in the beef sector; Greater transparency, cooperation and fairness in the beef industry throughout the supply chain; More producer organisations will provide farmers with the opportunity to build strength in the marketplace; A Protected Geographical Indicator (PGI) for Irish beef; Prioritised Bord Bia funding for beef promotion. Dairy Increased efficiency and sustainability are the themes here . There will be a focus on: Developing new markets; Renewable infrastructure on farms to reduce energy costs; The viability of dairy calf-to-beef systems will be looked at. Sheep Increased emphasis on exports; A review of opportunities around wool-based products. Tillage There will be a focus on: Maximising potential opportunities in the organic sector; The supply of Irish grains to the food and drinks industry; Opportunities for home-grown proteins in animal feeds. Young Farmers Young trained farmers will continue to receive prioritised access to National Reserve entitlements; Supports for the forgotten farmers who lost out on payments in recent years. When Elon Musk said in April he was dropping the insurance policy that protects Tesla Inc.s board from shareholder lawsuits, it got Skip McBrides attention. To McBride, who used to manage law firm Bracewell LLPs malpractice exposure, Musks decision to insure Teslas directors out of his own pocket was a firstand a risky move. But it was also the latest sign that companies are hunting for creative workarounds as rates for directors-and-officers insurance skyrocket amid a surge in lawsuits by plaintiffs seeking to sue as a group. That litigation is now driven by a rash of claims that companies bungled the response to the coronavirus outbreak and the economic lockdown that followed. Prices for D&O coverage are up by almost half and, by one reckoning, are headed for a triple-digit increase. The galloping rates are clearly related to litigation over the Covid-19 outbreak and a several-year increase in the number of securities cases against directors and boards, said McBride, who is now of counsel at the Lanier Law Firm and sits on five boards himself. Im not about to serve on a board where I have to rely on a single individuals wealth to guarantee I have directors-and-officers coverage, he added. Theres just too many unexpected things that can happen. How Coronavirus Could Further Stress an Already-Stressed D&O Insurance Market A.M. Best predicts the D&O insurance market will see radical changes based on 2019 results and the unprecedented turbulence created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Oil & Gas Companies Seek More D&O Insurance as Bankruptcies Loom Companies at risk of insolvency have been looking to purchase additional insurance to cover claims. Insurers Worry About D&O Claims Against Executives From Coronavirus D&O insurers are considering excluding the virus from policies which protect the bosses. Tesla didnt respond to emails seeking comment on Musks D&O arrangement. Teslas board may be expensive to insure, given Musks Twitter missteps and run-ins with regulators, and his new insurance setup creates the potential for conflicts of interest. But the burgeoning litigation and higher rates are widespread, and companies are pressing insurance brokers for solutions. More corporations are inquiring about covering risks to the board by using a captive insurer, an entity funded solely by the company and dedicated to indemnifying it against risk, according to Sarah Downey, a D&O specialist at Marsh & McLennan Cos. insurance brokerage. She declined to cite examples. Since February, investors have sued more than a dozen boards of companies ranging from cruise lines to drug makers chasing a coronavirus vaccine, alleging they were asleep at the switch as the crisis decimated their businesses, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. I think the run to the courthouse has really only just started, Downey said. Investors in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. sued company directors in March over alleged efforts to downplay the risk the virus posed to customers. Bookers were instructed to tell callers the pathogen can only survive in cold temperatures, according to court filings. Norwegian now faces other securities cases targeting directors over its handling of the virus. Its stock is down 65% for the year. Norwegian didnt return a call and emails seeking comment. Plaintiffs filed 428 new securities cases seeking class action status in federal and state courts last year, the most on record and nearly double the average from 1997 to 2018, according to a Cornerstone Research report. Evan Greenberg, chief executive officer of insurance giant Chubb Ltd., has repeatedly addressed the wave of suits in his annual letter. This year he called excessive litigation a tax on society and business. Whether the lawsuits spurred by the pandemic will succeed remains to be seen. A volatile stock market generally translates into more securities class actions, but the breadth of the markets decline might make it harder to prove it was a companys response to the virus that caused its travails, Travelers Cos. CEO Alan Schnitzer said in April. Rates Rising In the meantime, rates on D&O policies in the U.S. rose 44% in the first quarter from a year earlier, with 95% of clients experiencing an increase, according to a report by Marsh. AM Best said last week that the pandemic could push those increases to three digits. Covid-19 will ensure that we will see these kinds of increases for the foreseeable future, said Ty Childress, an insurance lawyer at Jones Day. Tesla officials decided not to renew the D&O coverage due to disproportionately high premiums quoted by insurance companies, and Musk personally agreed to provide coverage equivalent to such a policy for a one-year-period, according to an April securities filing. Tesla said the board doesnt expect Musks arrangement to threaten the independence of its other members, because the new structure is governed by a binding agreement with Tesla and is intended to replace an ordinary insurance policy. Not everyone sees it that way. Hedge fund manager David Einhorn, who has long bet against Tesla shares, said last month the structure creates an obvious conflict of interest that hinders the boards ability to curtail Musks behavior. The setup is dependent on his financial ability to honor his commitment, Kevin LaCroix, a liability insurance expert at RT ProExec, wrote in his D&O Diary blog in April. He warned that if the economy takes another dive, the directors need for coverage could arise in a set of circumstances that could itself undermine Musks ability to honor his commitment. Its a risky board to sit on. In January, Teslas insurer paid out $60 million to settle investor claims that directors allowed Musk to dupe the company into overpaying for solar panel maker Solar City. The accord covered all the directors except Musk; his trial is set for July. Musk faces other litigation over controversial tweets about taking Tesla private and rosy predictions about initial production rates for the Model 3 sedan. Captive Alternative Captive insurers have their uses, said the Lanier Law Firms McBride. Johnson & Johnson, for example, set up Middlesex Assurance Co. in 1970 to address a profusion of exposure, according to securities filings. Over the years, Middlesex has helped cover litigation costs tied to liabilities including those from the companys talc-based baby powder, which has been blamed for causing cancer. J&J took the talc-based version of the powder off the market last month. Kim Montagnino, a J&J spokeswoman, declined to comment on whether J&J has used Middlesex to self-insure its coverage for the companys directors, who include former Citigroup Inc. chairman and CEO Charles Prince and former Aetna Inc. chairman and CEO Ronald Williams. Captive insurance is generally trickier with D&O coverage because of potential conflicts of interest, said Marshs Downey. The inquiries shes received havent necessarily translated into action, she said. Musk may be at the leading edge here, as he is in electric cars and space travel, but dont expect a stampede, said McBride, whose five boards include Blue Bell Creameries. Directors are always going to want to have another pocket of money they can rely on, he said, in case their interests and those of the company diverge. And if he were invited to join Teslas board? First hed need to cut his own deal with Musk. Im crafting that agreement, and you can be sure it will be airtight, he said. Mr. Musk would have no out when it came to my coverage. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. China will see a bumper harvest of grains this summer thanks to stable grain acreage and improved crop yields, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Monday. Summer grain acreage is 400 million mu (about 26.67 million hectares) this year. As of Monday, 90 percent of summer grains have been harvested. The quality of wheat, which is the mainstay of summer grains, has improved and its yield is expected to rise by 4 kg per mu on average, said Han Changfu, minister of agriculture and rural affairs. Noting that the harvest is hard won, Han said the country has allocated over 1.6 billion yuan (about 225.66 million U.S. dollars) to the prevention and control of wheat diseases and pests. The ministry urged local authorities to make every effort to complete the summer harvest and ensure every grain is brought to the granary, while asking them to step up preventive measures in the face of droughts, floods, typhoons and pests. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The Global Antiperspirants and Deodorants Market is growing worldwide due to rising awareness about personal hygiene and increasing purchasing power of the consumers. A variety of antiperspirants and deodorants have been introduced by companies with different characteristics and forms to cater to the consumer demand for various body-odor related products. The global antiperspirants and deodorants market is expected to garner a revenue of USD 70 Billion by 2024 and projected to record a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period of 2019 to2024. The companies, involved in the global antiperspirants and deodorants market, are expected to witness several lucrative opportunities in the coming years owing to rapid urbanization and growing awareness of consumers about personal care. This is expected to drive the demand for antiperspirants and deodorants among the consumers across the world. Get a Free Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7918 By distribution channel, the global antiperspirants and deodorants market has been bifurcated into store-based and non-store-based. The store-based segment has further been divided into supermarkets and hypermarkets, convenience stores, and others. The store-based segment is projected to account for the larger market share due to the widespread availability of antiperspirants and deodorants in supermarkets and hypermarkets. Moreover, there is a higher preference toward store-based channels, among consumers, as it provides a one-stop shopping experience. However, the non-store-based segment is projected to register the higher CAGR due to the increasing use of e-commerce in personal-care retail. Industry News: In December 2018, Unilever Plc launched deodorant wipes across six of its brands Dove, Degree Women, Dove Men+Care, Degree Men, Axe, and Love Beauty and Planet. The company is looking to create new antiperspirants and deodorants to expand its product portfolio. Key Players Some of the key players in the global antiperspirants and deodorants market are The Procter & Gamble Company (US), Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Coty Inc. (US), Unilever Plc (UK), L`Oreal S.A. (France), Beiersdorf AG (Germany), LOccitane International S.A. (Luxembourg), Avon Products, Inc. (UK), Colgate-Palmolive Company (US), Kao Corporation (Japan), Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited (India), Nike, Inc. (US), CavinKare Pvt. Ltd. (India), Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (US), and Benetton Group S.r.l. (Italy). Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/antiperspirants-and-deodorants-market-7918 Regional Analysis The global antiperspirants and deodorants market has been segmented, on the basis of region, into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world. The market in Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate owing to consumers becoming more aware about personal care and hygiene, leading to high expenditure on personal care products. Additionally, due to hot climatic conditions in countries such as India, Malaysia, and Australia, consumers prefer antiperspirant products to keep themselves sweat-free. The market in North America is expected to be the fastest-growing due to the rising expenditure on personal care products by consumers. Some of the strategies followed by the players operating in the market were innovations, product launches, expansions, and mergers. About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact: Market Research Future +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Might IMAX (NYSE:IMAX) soon be a takeover target? According to Street Insider, that's a growing possibility. Citing an unnamed source, the media outlet said IMAX partner Barco is considering a buyout attempt. It has hired "investment bankers and other professionals," to help in this effort. The article did not mention a possible price or price range for the company. As of the end of trading on Monday, IMAX's market capitalization was just under $772 million. Neither Barco nor IMAX has yet commented on the report. Barco is a display technology specialist based in Belgium, with offices around the world. It is publicly traded in Europe. The two companies have been partners for many years, with Barco providing some of the visual technology that goes into IMAX's immersive large-screen projections. IMAX praises the European company on its website, stating that "Barco's cutting-edge technology helps IMAX take its awe-inspiring, immersive movie experience to the next level and deliver the ultimate in 3D, brightness and vivid colors." As with other companies that operate cinemas, IMAX has been negatively affected by the economic fallout of the coronavirus and the business closures it has engendered. In IMAX's most recently reported quarter, the company suffered a year-over-year revenue drop of nearly 57%, while its bottom line flipped dramatically into the red, with a $49.4 million loss versus an $8.3 million profit in the year-ago quarter. Takeover talk could have been the support that drove IMAX's shares up by 2.8% on Monday. That was a better performance than many consumer discretionary stocks, and handily beat the gains of the major equities indexes on the day. HURON COUNTY Prior to last years coronation, Michigan Sugar Queen Channon Turrell had never held a royal title. It was pretty crazy to believe my name was called, Turrell said. I felt blessed to have been given the opportunity. To the crowned queen, 2019 was far more important than winning a popularity contest or showing off her beautiful crown throughout the state. I ran for Michigan Sugar Queen because I wanted to continue my leadership experience in agriculture, she said. I served as a Michigan FFA state officer from 2017-2018 and loved advocating for agriculture. That is exactly what the next 12 months entailed. Right after being crowned, parades filled weekends throughout the end of summer, said Turrel. Social outings and networking occurred throughout the year. She felt privileged to connect with state representatives and senators, familiarize herself with the industry of agriculture, and learn more about the Michigan Sugar Company. I have heard so many stories of family members and friends working for Michigan Sugar or being part of the co-op, in which they grow beets processed by the company, Turrell said. The pride in the Michigan Sugar Company is remarkable. Turrell shared some of her favorite experiences, such as role modeling for little girls and forming lifelong bonds. The best thing about serving as queen was seeing younger girls and taking pictures with them wearing my crown, Turrell said. Every girl really is a queen in her own unique way and their smiles always made my day. A queen could never be whole without her attendants. It was Linde Bolle and Emily Jaramba who accompanied Turrell on her many social events and outings. "Huge thank you," she said. "Without (them), this year would not have been anything close to what it was." Turrell referred to Bolle and Jaramba as the sweetest girls ever. "Both of you are my friends and can not wait to see what you accomplish later in life," she said. Apart from work, the year was also filled with more than enough fun and laughs to make for lasting memories. "My favorite parade by far was the Cheeseburger Festival in Caseville," Turrell said. "I have never seen city streets so full of people with unmeasurable amounts of energy." Every year the queen and attendants take a special trip to Mackinac Island's Fudge Festival. It is one filled with tons of community events, like the slowest bike race, sugar sack race and egg hunt. "My favorite events were judging the baking competitions," Turrell said. "I can still taste the winning peach pie from the Saginaw County's Michigan's Best Fruit Pie Competition. Even in the brisk February weather, the warmth of joy filled the tent during the 'All Things Chocolate Baking Contest.' Emily, Linde and I all ate enough chocolate to last a year's worth of sweets." Turrell said the experience helped her to expand in ways she never thought possible. "I have continued growing in my ability to advocate for agriculture and especially the sugar industry," she said. "And gaining experience interviewing on air with local radio stations and recording videos to share on social media." Turrell recognized all the hard-work put forth by Michigan Sugar Company Director of Communications and Community Relations Rob Clark. She thanked him for a successful reign. "Rob ensured that we had our parades and social outings planned," she said. Aside from scheduling and preparing, no one knew what the past three months would entail in midst of looming coronavirus fears. Would there even be a queen in 2020? "He got busy pursuing avenues to ensure a new queen and court members would be elected," Turrell said. She credited Pat Terrill and Chris Dutcher for pulling the float in parades and managing its decor. Following a busy year of growth, the time has come for Turrell to relinquish her title. The coronation of the 2020 Michigan Sugar Queen and two attendance is scheduled to take place in a private ceremony on Friday, June 19 at 6 p.m. at the Michigan Sugar Company headquarters in Bay City. Contestants for this year's queen are Haley Bell of Bay City, Alayna Celestini of Macomb County, and Shaelynn Lavrack of Montrose. Turrell offered advice for the lucky young lady. "Idolize your attendants, because those two girls will become some of your closest friends by the end of the year," she said. "They are also some of the best role models you could have for yourself. Enjoy your time with them because before you know it your year will be over and they are going to go do amazing things in this world. Also, practice waving with your left hand as your arm will be tired half way through every parade." The 2019 Michigan Sugar Queen looks forward to a bright future. "I have just started my senior year at Michigan State University and will be graduating next spring with a bachelor's of accounting degree," Turrell said. "My career goals are to become a certified public accountant and pursue a career with finances in Michigan agriculture." The ACLU analysis was based on data from the D.C. police on more than 62,600 stops that were made between July 22 and Dec. 31, 2019. The D.C. police are required to record extensive data on each stop as part of the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act, which the D.C. Council implemented in 2016 as part of a criminal justice reform effort. Ajit Jogi's passing reminds Dr Sudhir Bisht of his meeting with the then Rajya Sabha MP while probing an alleged act of impropriety. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Working with the Indian Oil Corporation for nearly 11 years gave me exposure to so many memorable situations that I can write a small book of memoirs some day. Commanding an oil installation in an emergency situation for two weeks at Kargil, with no substantive experience in oil depot operations was a high point in my life. Operating an LPG plant with all my senior officers when the workmen had gone on strike was another such memorable event. In mid-1995, I was transferred to Delhi and was in retail marketing division. In 1997, I was involved in the investigation in a petrol pump allotment case as a few complaints were received by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas against alleged 'arbitrary' allotment of petrol pumps to many political persons. One such case that I was asked to handle involved Ajit Jogi, then a Rajya Sabha MP, who was allotted a petrol pump dealership in Delhi. During those days a petrol pump couldn't be allotted to anyone whose family income in the preceding financial year was more than Rs 50,000! A complainant had alleged that Ajit Jogi's wife -- a medical doctor -- was an employee of the Madhya Pradesh government and earned a salary much more than Rs 50,000 per annum and hence Jogi was not entitled to a petrol pump. I would like to mention here that the petrol pump existed only in the form of a letter-of-intent (LoI) and even the land for the petrol pump was not allotted by then. I don't remember the exact month or year when I first met Ajit Jogi, but I guess it was towards the beginning of 1997. I had called him up on the landline at his residence and sought his appointment beforehand. I reached his 79 A/B, Shahjahan Road bungalow five minutes before the scheduled meeting and was asked to wait. At exactly the time that was agreed upon, Jogi walked into the drawing room. I stood up to greet him and he extended both his hands and clasped my hand in a warm handshake. "Most welcome to my humble abode, Mr Bisht. Did you have breakfast or would you give me the pleasure of offering it to you?" he asked. "Thank you sir, but I had breakfast when I started from my home." "I see. This means you are coming straight from your home to my little house. Then a cup of tea is mandatory before we start any official talks." "Okay sir, if you insist." Jogi himself served the cup of tea to me and insisted upon my savouring two pieces of Britannia Marie biscuits. I then handed over a letter to him wherein I mentioned that it was alleged by a complainant that he had concealed his wife's income while filling up the application form for allotment of a petrol pump. In my letter I had said I was in possession of some documentary proof in respect of his wife's income and asked him to explain his position in respect of the charges made against his application form. Jogi smiled as he read the letter. I then asked him to sign the duplicate letter as a token of acceptance of the original letter. "You can get the acknowledgment done by my staff, Mr Bisht," the MP said in a polite way. "Sir, since you and I are meeting face to face, I would request you to put your signature on the duplicate copy. This is as per the prescribed procedure." Jogi took out a pen which was bigger than most pens that I had seen and scribbled 'Received' on the duplicate copy and signed it and put the date on it. He looked at the pen and said, "This is a pen made for me especially. It is made of wood and is a bit grotesque. You know it is made for a tribal like me. Strong and useful, though it may not look very fancy." A suppressed laugh came out of me in genuine appreciation of the way he lent a unique personality to his pen. "Mr Bisht, what do you want me to do now?" "Sir, you have to explain your position, that is all for now. When do you want me to come again to see you sir?" The MP said, "Please come back next week, same time, same day. I am disappointed that someone doesn't want me to have a stable source of income. I gave up my top government job to come into public life, but I too need to have a source of income." "Why should someone feel envious if I get a small petrol pump somewhere in Delhi that will keep going, even when I am no longer an MP?" he asked. He shook hands and left for a meeting. Ajit Jogi was a man of above average height. I am 5'4" and hence his 5'9" looked like reasonably good height to me. He wore white pyjamas and a coloured kurta that had broad vertical stripes of green running over a grey background. Around his neck he had wrapped a hand-crafted muffler that looked more like a gamcha. The man wasn't wearing that staid looking overstretched, spotlessly white kurta and pyjamas. And on his feet, he wore a pair of simple leather slippers. I saw him drive out of 79 A/B in his green Maruti car with two other men who appeared to be dressed in an even humbler way than their leader. A week later, I arrived at his bungalow again. I didn't have to wait for him, he was already there to meet me. Tea and Britannia Marie biscuits were served again. Tea in a white cup-saucer combination and biscuits in a thick, black quarter plate. "Mr Bisht, I will not ask you the name of the complainant as I know that you would refuse and I will also tell you that I already know the name of the complainant," Jogi smiled. "Thank you sir for this. You know it wouldn't be correct for me to give out the name." "Mr Bisht, When I applied for the dealership of the petrol pump, I was a relatively new MP and a year before that I wasn't gainfully employed. So my own income in the previous financial year was almost nil." "My wife's income is her own and I don't depend upon her income to maintain myself. So why is my wife's income a factor in this case?" "Sir, as per the rules made by the ministry, the family income is considered to assess the financial status of a candidate and since your wife's income was far in excess of Rs 50,000 your application may become ineligible." "But Mr Bisht, we are tribals. We have our own way of calculating family income," he laughed and continued. "What if I say that she doesn't live with me as I am in Delhi and she is in Madhya Pradesh? Will you then count us as two independent households?" "No sir. But you can write that in your response and the management shall look into it. I am just an assistant manager in the company and I am not the one to decide," I said. Jogi was looking at me attentively, as if he was trying to assess if what I spoke was in congruence with my inner thoughts. "Mr Bisht, you know that I was a district collector for more than a decade. Just like you, I am a very educated person. I am an engineer by profession and an administrator by training. I came into politics by chance. I know that an intelligent field investigator knows where his investigation is heading to." "Sir, I think the evidence in respect of your wife's income cannot be contested. Since madam is a government hospital doctor, her salary is in the public domain." Ajit Jogi asked for another round of tea. He was dressed as modestly as he was the last time. Only the muffler was missing from his neck. And I could see two thick pens tucked inside his kurta pocket. Not fancy looking, but solid. "Tell me, Mr Bisht, what would you do if you were in my place?" "Sir, how can I answer that question? I am not competent to answer this," I protested in a friendly way. "Ah! I asked you the same question that was asked to me by my chief minister when he visited my district. And you answered in exactly the same manner that I had answered, about 15 years ago. So please help me with an answer." "You are a first class MBA and can be more imaginative than I was." The MP encouraged me with his persuasive words. I replied, after much thought and with some hesitation, "Sir, you had a brilliant academic career and a trailblazing career as a bureaucrat. You left the coveted job of an IAS officer to join public service. With your credentials, you would one day become a Cabinet minister yourself or maybe the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh one day." "Why do you want to risk all that may come your way for a petty petrol pump dealership? And the dealership is many years away from seeing the light of the day. So if I were you, I would surrender the LoI for the dealership." A wide smile ran across Jogi's face. "There you go, Mr Bisht! My view is identical to your view and thanks a ton for helping me. Now just stay here and pardon my absence for just one minute." Ajit Jogi went into another room and came back with a letter that stated that he would like to relinquish the petrol pump dealership. It was a handwritten letter that he had obviously written even before I arrived at his residence that day. I read the letter and smiled and said, "Very well, sir. I will leave now. I wish you all the best in your political career." Jogi was seen to be close to Sitaram Kesri, the evergreen treasurer of the Congress party who briefly became the party president. But he wasn't a very prominent politician then. Three years later, Ajit Jogi went on to become the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh, when the state was carved out in 2000. I never met Ajit Jogi after that, but his recent demise made me sad. May his soul rest in peace. Dr Sudhir Bisht, author and columnist, writes from New Delhi. He can be reached at sudhir_bisht@rediffmail.com. (Natural News) Incompetence and Errors in Reasoning Around Face Covering SIX ERRORS: 1) missing the compounding effects of masks, 2) missing the nonlinearity of the probability of infection to viral exposures, 3) missing absence of evidence (of benefits of mask wearing) for evidence of absence (of benefits of mask wearing), 4) missing the point that people do not need governments to produce facial covering: they can make their own, 5) missing the compounding effects of statistical signals, 6) ignoring the Non-Aggression Principle by pseudolibertarians (masks are also to protect others from you; its a multiplicative process: every person you infect will infect others). (Article by Nassim Nicholas Taleb republished from Medium.com) In fact masks (and faceshields) supplemented with constraints of superspreader events can save us trillions of dollars in future lockdowns (and lawsuits) and be potentially sufficient (under adequate compliance) to stem the pandemic. Bureaucrats do not like simple solutions. I want to travel this summer First error: missing the compounding effect People who are good at exams (and become bureaucrats, economists, or hacks), my experience has been, are not good at understanding nonlinearities and dynamics. The WHO, CDC and other bureaucracies initially failed to quickly realize that the benefits of masks compound, simply because two people are wearing them and you have to look at the interaction. Let us say (to simplify) that masks reduce both transmission and reception to p. What effect on the R0(that is, the rate of spreading of the infection)? Simply the naive approach (used by the CDC/WHO bureaucrats and other imbeciles) is to say if masks reduce the transmission probability to , one would think it would then drop from, say R0= 5, to R0=1 . Yuuge, but there is better. For one should count both sides. Under our simplification, with p=1/4 we get R0= p R0 . The drop in R becomes 93.75%! You divide R by 16! Even with masks working at 50% we get a 75% drop in R0. Second error: Missing the Nonlinearity of the Risk of Infection The error is to think that if I reduce the exposure to the virus by, say, , I would then reduce the risk, expressed as probability of infection, by as well. Not quite. Now consider (Fig 1) that probability must follow a nonlinear dose-response, an S curve. In the convex part of the curve, gains are disproportionately large: a reduction of x% of viral exposure leads to a drop of much more than x in risk of infection. And, patently we are in the convex part of the curve. For example, to use the case above, a reduction of viral load by 75% for a short exposure could reduce the probability of infection by 95% or more! Third Error: Mistaking Absence of Evidence for Evidence of Absence There is no evidence that masks work, I kept hearing repeated to me by the usual idiots calling themselves evidence based scientists. The point is that there is no evidence that locking the door tonight will prevent me from being burglarized. But everything that may block transmission could help. Unlike school, real life is not about certainties. When in doubt, use what protection you can. Some invoked the flawed rationalization that masks induce false confidence: in fact there is a strong argument that masks makes one more alert to the risks and more conservative in behavior. Fourth Error: Misunderstanding the Market and People Paternalistic bureaucrats resisted inviting the general public to use masks on grounds that the supply was limited and would be needed by health professionals hence they lied to us saying masks are not effective. They did not get the inventiveness and industriousness of people who do not need a government to produce masks for them: they can rapidly convert about anything into well-functioning protective face covering appendages, say rags into which one can stitch coffee filters about anything. Nor did bureaucrats heed the notion of markets and the existence of opportunists who can supply people with what they want. Fifth Error: Missing Extremely Strong Statistical Signals Many people who deal with statistics think in terms of either mechanistic concepts (say correlation) they dont quite understand, or local results; they fear to be presenting anecdotes, and fail to grasp the broader notion of statistical signals where you look at the whole story, not the body parts. For here, again, evidence compounds. We have a) the salon story where two infected stylists failed to infect all their 140 clients (making the probability of infection for bilateral mask wearing safely below 1% for a salon-style exposure) we know the probability of infection for non mask wearers from tens of thousands of data points and the various R0 estimations) plus b) the rate of infection of countries where masks were mandatory, plus c) tons of papers with more or less flawed methodologies, etc. Sixth Error: The Non-Aggression Principle Libertarians (in brackets) are resisting mask wearing on grounds that it constrains their freedom. Yet the entire concept of liberty lies in the Non-Aggression Principle, the equivalent of the Silver Rule: do not harm others; they in turn should not harm you. Even more insulting is the demand by pseudolibertarians that Costco should banned from forcing customers to wear mask but libertarianism allows you to set the rules on your own property. Costco should be able to force visitors to wear pink shirts and purple glasses if they wished. Note that by infecting another person you are not infecting just another person. You are infecting many many more and causing systemic risk. Wear a mask. For the Sake of Others. Notes 1- I commend the very very very few writers such as Zeynep Tufekci who have been fighting the fight in the media. 2- I truly believe that the pseudolibertarians are sociopaths and misanthropes looking for a political party that they think fits their misanthropy. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-16 01:27:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close - On Sunday, Beijing conducted nucleic acid tests on 76,499 people, with 59 testing positive for COVID-19 - More containment and precautionary measures have been applied in the city. BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Beijing is conducting extensive COVID-19 screening, with its daily testing capacity reaching over 90,000 samples, as the Chinese capital works to stem new indigenous cases that have emerged in the past few days. The city reported 79 confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases from June 11 to 14, most of which were related to the now-closed Xinfadi market, a large wholesale market of fruit, vegetable, and meat in Beijing's Fengtai District, according to the local health commission. A medical worker collects throat swab of a resident at a sampling site in Dongcheng District of Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) The city has conducted tests on people in contact with the market as well as in nearby communities, and strengthened control measures in efforts to contain the spread of the virus. EXTENSIVE TESTS Beijing has expanded the number of nucleic acid testing institutions to 98 with the capacity to test over 90,000 samples daily, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission said at a press conference Monday. Compared with around a month ago, the number of testing institutions increased by 31 while the testing capacity increased by 42,000 samples, according to statistics given by the commission. On Sunday, the city conducted nucleic acid tests on 76,499 people, with 59 testing positive for COVID-19, according to the press conference. As of 6 a.m. Monday, 193 sampling sites had been set up across Beijing to facilitate nucleic acid testings, said Gao Xiaojun, spokesperson for the municipal health commission. As of 6 a.m. Monday, 193 sampling sites had been set up across Beijing to facilitate nucleic acid testings, said Gao Xiaojun, spokesperson for the municipal health commission. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) More than 8,000 dealers and workers at the Xinfadi market have received nucleic acid tests as of early Sunday and been put under medical observation, according to Xu Ying, an official with the Beijing municipal committee of the Communist Party of China, told the press conference Monday. About 200,000 people who had visited the market since May 30 were interviewed via door-to-door inquiries, calls, social media platforms and other methods. Nucleic acid tests for these people are underway while they are asked to stay at home for medical observation, Xu added. Beijing has required medical institutions across the city, especially 79 institutions with fever clinics, to conduct nucleic acid and antibody tests on all fever patients and strengthen epidemiological investigation. TIGHTENED CONTROL Medical workers collect samples for nucleic acid tests at a sampling site in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Apart from the testing, Beijing authorities have further tightened control measures on more communities. Nearly 100,000 workers in 7,120 residential communities and villages have thrown themselves into the battle against the disease, Xu said. Strict closed-off management has been implemented in a total of 21 residential compounds in the vicinity of the Xinfadi market as well as the Yuquandong commodities trading market in Haidian District, where new infections were also reported. Enditem (Reporting by Ma Yujie, Peng Peigen, Tu Ming, Luo Xin, Guan Guifeng, Ni Yuanjin, Wang Xiaojie, Li Meng; Video reporters: Pang Yuanyuan, Wang Xiunan, Xia Zilin, Ji Ning, Xia Ke, Zhang Chenlin, Tian Chenxu, Meng Jing, Ju Huanzong, Tai Sicong, Guo Peiran; video editor: Hui Peipei) Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 02:13:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A hairdresser wearing a face mask serves a customer at a salon in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 16, 2020. Iraqi Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 1,385 new coronavirus cases, setting a new record of daily increase, bringing the total number of infections to 22,700. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi said on Tuesday that many medical workers in Iraq have been infected with COVID-19, while a new record in the daily infections was set with 1,385 new cases registered. "We are fighting a fierce enemy and our medical staff have been infected with the pandemic, but they are still serving the infected people at the quarantine centers," al-Tamimi said in a statement issued by the Iraqi Health Ministry. "This is something to be proud of, as they achieved high rate of recovery recently despite the great challenge," said al-Tamimi during his meeting with the heads of Baghdad health departments. "The battle against the coronavirus may be prolonged and we must prepare ourselves to make additional efforts," the minister added. He also noted that Iraq is facing "great challenges ahead, including the increasing number of infections and how to achieve higher rate of recovery and protect the medical personnel, which is a top priority." Separately, al-Tamimi said in a televised interview that "the coronavirus has become a reality and we have to deal with it on this basis. The virus may last for a year or two." "Coexistence with the coronavirus has become realistic because its presence will last, but (we should coexist with the virus) by wearing masks and gloves, and keeping social distance," he said. Meanwhile, Wahda al-Jumaili, a female member of the Iraqi parliament, confirmed in a tweet that she has been infected with COVID-19. Mahasin Hamdoun, another female parliamentarian, also tested positive for the virus in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh. On the same day, Iraqi Health Ministry reported 1,385 new coronavirus cases, setting a new record of daily increase, bringing the total number of infections to 22,700. It also reported 60 deaths during the day, the highest single-daily rise so far, bringing the death toll in the country to 712. Abbas al-Husseini, head of al-Zahraa Hospital in Baghdad, said that the increase in deaths is attributed to the return of many Iraqis from abroad and the fact that the virus has became more infectious and dangerous. "There are some young men who were in good health but, after infection with the coronavirus, they may die after 24 to 48 hours," al-Husseini said. He added that many patients went to the hospital too late, which also led to the increase of deaths. On June 13, the Iraqi authorities decided to partially lift the nationwide curfew from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time starting from June 14, but the full curfew will continue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday every week. Other restrictions adopted in the country include demanding wearing masks, preventing religious and social gatherings, as well as imposing fines and severe penalties on violators of the health instructions. China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad. Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Road building companies will be some of the biggest beneficiaries of a potential expansive infrastructure bill that the Trump administration is reportedly mulling, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Tuesday. Bloomberg reported earlier in the day that the Department of Transportation is patching together a $1 trillion spending measure for projects like roadwork and bridges, along with 5G wireless and broadband expansion. If it comes to fruition, Cramer said investors can expect to see a rise in orders for Vulcan Materials and Martin Marietta Materials, two of the largest aggregate companies. "Both of these companies are very very strong and they've always done well even when they only have" a few orders "from state governments," the "Mad Money" host said. "I cannot imagine how profitable they'd be with a trillion-dollar infrastructure package from the federal government." Martin Marietta, a Raleigh, North Carolina company with operations in dozens of states, is Cramer's favored choice of the two. The company is valued by the market at $13.3 billion. The stock price surged north of 7% during the trading day, closing at $214.13, which is down 23% from the start of the year. "They blanket the South" and "have the ability to go North and East and even Far West although their exposure there is weaker," Cramer said. "I like Martin Marietta because even if we don't get an infrastructure bill you'll do very well just from the great state projects that they do and because of the homebuilding related business." Vulcan Materials has a market cap of $16.3 billion. The stock also spiked almost 9% on the day and is down 14% year to date. Cramer isn't completely sold, however, that Congress will put the legislation on President Donald Trump's desk this year. CNBC White House reporter Eamon Javers also threw cold water on the likelihood of the plan seeing the light of day amid the 2020 election cycle. Tweet Cramer also commented on the rises in U.S. Concrete, Caterpillar and Nucor shares. U.S. Concrete rocketed 22% higher to a $28.33 close. "Honestly, I don't' trust this one. U.S. Concrete has been a serial disappointed," Cramer said. "If you bought it every time we had a whiff of the possibility of an infrastructure bill you would've lost a fortune." Caterpillar rose 5% to $130.11 at the close. "Today's six-point rally comes at a time when Cat's larger business, oil and gas, is still in a house of pain," the host said. Nucor rallied 6% to $44.59 on the news. "I like Nucor because it's a buy no matter what, and even with the stock up more than 6% today it's still down roughly 20% for the year," Cramer said. Disclaimer Night club identity John Ibrahim's girlfriend Sarah Budge will not be reopening her Kings Cross bar and restaurant, which has been closed for months due to COVID-19. Budge has been upset by the realisation the business would not recover from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown that has smashed the hospitality industry. 'Sarah's a bit heartbroken,' a friend said. 'She's disheartened at the moment.' The 30-year-old model launched Crane Bar in May 2013 and had traded through the Kings Cross lockout laws which forced the closure of many local venues. A source close to the stylish brunette said she had been carefully considering Crane Bar's fate in recent weeks and had finally accepted she had to let the business go. Budge had already shut down its website and disconnected the phones. Eighteen staff will now lose their jobs. Scroll down for video Night club identity John Ibrahim's girlfriend Sarah Budge will not be reopening her Kings Cross bar and restaurant, which has been closed due to COVID-19. Budge has been upset by the realisation the business would not recover from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown Daily Mail Australia understands John Ibrahim had advised Budge against re-opening, believing it would take at least six months for the business to have any chance of recovering. The couple is pictured together Crane Bar, known for its Japanese fusion food (left) and selection of cocktails (right), had been the main focus of Budge's attention in recent years Restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic including limits on patron numbers forced Budge's painful decision to permanently close the doors. 'Unfortunately, Crane is another casualty of corona,' the source close to Budge said. 'Crane will be one of many to come. She's going to put her focus on other things.' Crane Bar opened to much fanfare with a lavish event attended by onetime X Factor host Luke Jacobz and Home and Away star Dan Ewing. It originally had a coveted 24-hour licence and could cater for late-night corporate and social functions for up to 350 guests. Laws introduced in 2014 to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence in Kings Cross meant 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks but coronavirus proved to be the last straw. New South Wales restaurants were closed for all but takeaway and delivery from March 23. Up to ten seated patrons were allowed from May 15, then 50 from June 1. That limit will be removed from July 1, when each customer will still be required to have four square metres of space. For Crane Bar, the damage has already been done. Daily Mail Australia understands Ibrahim advised Budge against re-opening, believing it would take at least six months for the business to have any chance of recovering. The King of the Cross has told friends any hospitality venue that was on shakey ground before the coronavirus pandemic was unlikely to survive COVID-19. The 30-year-old model launched Crane Bar in May 2013 and had traded through the Kings Cross lockout laws which forced the closure of many local venues Crane Bar opened to much fanfare with a lavish event attended by onetime X Factor host Luke Jacobz and Home and Away star Dan Ewing. It originally had a coveted 24-hour licence Ibrahim once operated a string of night clubs in the Cross but his main commercial interests in the formerly infamous party precinct are now in real estate. He is the owner of the Bayswater Road building in which Crane Bar was located. The premises was previously the site of the popular Bayswater Brasserie. Ibrahim's friend, radio host Kyle Sandilands, is moving his private business ventures into another Bayswater Road building he owns which used to be a Milky Lane burger joint. Budge had been better known for her modelling career before being photographed with Ibrahim in July 2015, when they had reportedly been dating for about a year. After finishing school Budge had studied to be a make-up artist and worked part-time in night clubs in Sydney's central business district. Over the past decade she featured in TV campaigns for Virgin Australia and in photo shoots for lingerie and swimwear brands. Budge had been better known for her modelling career before being photographed with Ibrahim in July 2015, when they had reportedly been dating for about a year. They are pictured together at Crane Bar She has been represented by leading agencies such as Scoop and Chic and scored a role promoting women's fashion brand Rockmans. Crane Bar, known for its Japanese fusion food, cocktails and music, had been the main focus of Budge's attention in recent years and she had fought to keep it open. The closure of Crane Bar comes after Budge was acquitted in September last year of possessing an unlicensed 9mm Glock 26 pistol. Budge was charged after police found the weapon in the bedroom of her Double Bay apartment in August 2017 during raids on the homes of Ibrahim family members and associates. John Ibrahim was not linked to the gun charge or any offences committed by his relatives which led to the raids. The King of the Cross has told friends any hospitality venue that was on shakey ground before the coronavirus pandemic was unlikely to survive COVID-19. Crane Bar staff are pictured John Ibrahim supported his girlfriend Sarah Budge at her mother Leone's funeral in Sydney in March last year (pictured) Budge was found not guilty of three firearm charges after a jury determined prosecutors could not prove she knew the weapon was in her apartment. In what was a difficult year for the entrepreneur, her beloved mother Leone died of cancer in March 2019. Crane Bar had operated under the company name Crane Bar Sydney, of which Budge was the sole director between October 2013 and May 2019. In May 2018 it was placed in the hands of liquidators who reported the business was 'not profitable' and generated trading losses of $726,909 between July 2015 and May 2018. The liquidator's report found the losses were likely influenced by the lockout laws introduced after the 'coward punch' deaths of two 18-year-old men in Kings Cross. A Melbourne primary school has become the latest to close its doors due to coronavirus. Strathmore Primary School, in Melbournes inner north, will be closed on Tuesday as it undergoes a deep clean. A Victoria Department for Education and Training spokeswoman confirmed the schools closure to Yahoo News Australia. The Department of Health and Human Services has recommended closure of Strathmore Primary school after a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection was identified in a student. The school will close for all students and staff for at least 24 hours, effective Tuesday, June 16, so that contact tracing and cleaning can occur. The spokeswoman added further investigations are being undertaken to whether anyone else at the school needs to self-isolate. We wish the student a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming them back to school once theyve recovered, she said. It follows a Year 5 student testing positive to the virus. Strathmore Primary School won't open on Tuesday due a Year 5 student testing positive for coronavirus. Source: Google Maps (file pic) While Victoria readies for its next step to normality, nine new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded on Tuesday, bringing the state's infection tally to 1741. Of these, two cases were linked to a known outbreak at Monash Health while one was associated with an extended family cluster in Coburg. Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the Monash Health outbreak had increased to six cases after a patient and health care worker recently tested positive. A Monash Health spokesperson on Monday said close contacts were identified and placed in quarantine but no services have closed following the incident. The extended family cluster has grown to 12 cases after they had gatherings across homes in Coburg, Broadmeadows and Pakenham. Four of the family members to test positive are children who attended two different schools in Melbourne, prompting their closure for cleaning and contact tracing. On Monday, Pakenham Springs Primary School was closed after two students test positive along with St Dominics at Broadmeadows. Story continues While the school undergoes thorough cleaning and risk assessment, staff and students have been advised to stay at home, according to an email which appears to have been sent to parents and carers by the schools acting principal Renee Cotterell. Yahoo News Australia has contacted Victorias Department for Education and Training for comment. More to come. with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. WINDSOR LOCKS - With passengers gradually returning to Bradley International Airport, there are new measures in place to keep travelers safe in the age of the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, the Connecticut Airport Authority announced the rollout of BDL Cares, a readiness and safety program. Our number one priority is always the well-being of our passengers and the entire Bradley International Airport community, Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, said in a release. With that in mind, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented additional cleaning and sanitization protocols to prevent the spread of germs at Bradley International Airport. Now that we are starting to anticipate the gradual return of passengers, we are taking it a step further with the implementation of this comprehensive program to include additional cleaning, physical distancing procedures, and other measures intended to keep everyone safe. Passengers who are considering traveling in the near future can expect to see the following changes to facilities and operations: Face Coverings - All passengers, visitors and employees are required to wear face coverings while at Bradley International Airport in accordance with CDC age and medical guidelines. Additional cleaning - The airport has increased the frequency of cleaning and sanitization efforts in all high-traffic and high-touchpoint areas. Addition of hand sanitizer stations - Hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout the terminal to make them readily accessible for passenger. Physical distancing signage - To remind everyone to keep a safe physical distance from other individuals, the airport has installed floor markings and other graphics throughout the terminal. More News CDC: Tips for minimizing coronavirus risk in public places Plexiglass shields - As a further precaution, plastic shields are being installed at high passenger interaction points throughout the terminal. Restaurants and shops - Sit-down restaurants are preparing to reopen gradually with modified seating and added cleaning protocols. Take-out options continue to be available with new physical distancing and protective measures in place. Overhead announcements - A new message has been added to remind passengers to maintain a safe physical distance. New airline procedures - Airlines have also been adjusting their operations. They are now requiring face coverings to be worn and they have also implemented added cleaning protocols at their ticket counters, gate areas and onboard the aircraft. Updates to TSA procedures - The TSA is allowing a liquid hand sanitizer container up to 12 ounces per passenger in carry-on bags until further notice. Passengers can expect that these containers will need to be screened separately. The TSA is also allowing passengers to wear face coverings during the screening process, however, passengers are advised that they may need to briefly remove the face covering for identification purposes. Travelers should also: Follow CDC guidelines for best practices to stay healthy when traveling. Bring a face covering. Contact their airline to confirm the status of their flight and any potential changes before coming to the airport When possible, use the mobile boarding pass option for their travels. Consider bringing hand sanitizer while traveling. Consider having family and friends wait in our free cell phone parking lot and meet at the curb once ready to be picked-up, instead of going inside the terminal. A tortoise, nicknamed 'sex machine' for his role in repopulating his species, has retired after 87 years of reproductive efforts. Diego the Giant tortoise fathered over 800 children after being moved to Santa Cruz island in Galapagos, Ecuador, by conservationists in the mid-1960s to save its dwindling population. Now the 100-year-old tortoise will return to the uninhabited Galapagos island where he originated, Espanola Island off the coast of South America, to live out his days in peace. It's believed Diego was picked up from the island by explorers in 1933, eventually finding his way to Californias San Diego Zoo where he was drafted to join the breeding programme, reports The Guardian. Diego the Giant tortoise fathered over 800 children after being moved to Santa Cruz island in Galapagos, Ecuador. He is named after San Diego Zoo in California From there Diego, who is 175lb (12.5 stone) and an incredible 5ft tall when he stretches, became a prolific breeder. He is said to be responsible for at least 40 per cent of the 2,000 existing members of his species, Chelonoidis hoodensis - a species of Galapagos tortoise only found on Espanola. Ecuador's Environment minister shared two pictures of Diego and fifteen others of his species making the journey back to Espanola Island, with the caption: 'We close an important chapter in the management of Galapagos National Park. 'Fifteen turtles of from Espanola Island, including Diego, return home after decades of breeding in captivity and saving their species from extinction. Your island welcomes you with open arms.' It's believed Diego was picked up from the island by explorers in 1933, eventually finding his way to Californias San Diego Zoo Ecuador's Environment minister shared two pictures of Diego and fifteen others of his species making the journey back to Espanola Island In order to stop non-native plants being spread to the island by the tortoises - as they may be carrying seeds in their digestive system - the tortoises spent time in quarantine before being transferred home by boat. Washington Tapia, a tortoise preservation specialist at Galapagos National Park said: 'He's a very sexually active male reproducer. He's contributed enormously to repopulating the island. Mr Tapia added: 'We don't know exactly how or when he arrived in the United States. He must have been taken from Espanola sometime between 1900 and 1959 by a scientific expedition. He said the journey marked an important chapter in the management of Galapagos National Park, where the breeding programme took place 'We did a genetic study and we discovered that he was the father of nearly 40 percent of the offspring released into the wild on Espanola.' The Galapagos islands were well documented for their biodiversity in 1835 when Charles Darwin spent five weeks there studying the turtles, giant tortoises, the marine and land iguanas, the circling frigate birds. However the population dwindled in the years after this due to predators, human behaviour, and habitat destruction from invasive species. Thanks to Diego's efforts the future outlook for his species has vastly improved, just 50 years ago there were only 12 female tortoise on Espanola Island - who had ventured to different parts of the island making reproduction less likely, reports The Guardian. BOBIGNY, France Luc Pechangou had never joined a protest before, not even when his own neighborhood just outside Paris was convulsed with anger over the violent arrest of a young black man from the area in 2017. It was instead the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis that led him to join an anti-racism rally and, he said, see things more clearly in France, his own country. It was the shock that I needed to finally wake up, Mr. Pechangou, 20, said. White privilege is real. Whites have access to employment. Theyre not stopped by the police. They dont have to worry about what theyre wearing or if they have their I.D. cards. But we, as blacks, have to worry every day, said Mr. Pechangou, who was born in Cameroon, a former French colony in central Africa, and lives in Hector Berlioz, a sprawling subsidized housing complex in Bobigny, just northeast of Paris. People look at us suspiciously. They ask us what were doing. When I take public transportation, I have to show whats in my backpack. Its not right to have to live like that. The United States responded to North Korea's blowing up of a joint liaison office with South Korea on Tuesday by saying it fully supports Seoul's efforts on inter-Korean relations and urging Pyongyang to "refrain from further counterproductive actions." North Korea blew up a building set up in 2018 in a border town as a joint liaison office to foster better ties with South Korea after threatening action if North Korean defectors went ahead with a propaganda leaflet campaign. "The United States fully supports the ROKs efforts on inter-Korean relations and urges the DPRK to refrain from further counterproductive actions," a spokesman for the U.S. State Department said, using the official acronyms for the two Koreas. Hyderabad, June 16 : Telangana's Information Technology and Industry Minister K. T. Rama Rao on Tuesday directed the officials to complete the T-Fiber project, which aims at providing affordable and high speed broadband connectivity across the state, within 10 months. At a review meeting, the minister directed the master system integrators to speed up the on ground project execution. He said that the Right of Way Act would be reviewed to ensure brisk progress of work. L&T Infotech, Sterlite Technologies Ltd and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) are the system integrators for the project, which is to be executed with an investment of Rs 1,200 crore. Rama Rao, who is the chairman of the Telangana Fiber Grid Corporation, said T-Fiber network once completed, will help transform the delivery of government to government and government to citizen services across the state, especially in rural areas by connecting government institutions, enterprises and households. The minister stated that reliable broadband connectivity will facilitate seamless Work-From-Home option for the IT and allied sectors in a post-Covid world. He stated that digital infrastructure is proving to be a game changer in the fight against Covid-19. The importance of a robust digital infrastructure once again validated in the form of increased demand for online education, online healthcare and e-commerce services during the current pandemic. He noted that the T-Fiber network has a lot of potential to revolutionize delivery of online education, tele-health and agriculture services in the state by enabling high speed connectivity and digital content reliably and seamlessly. KTR, as the minister is popularly known, directed the T-Fiber team to connect Rythu Vedikas coming up in the state. He said this would enable the vision of the Chief Minister to bring all the farmers in the state to come under one roof to discuss, interact and exchange of ideas with ministers and government officials through video conferencing. Farmers can also benefit as they will have better access to prices and other marketing information at their fingertips. He said that the potential of T-Fiber network once ready will be enormous in delivering the citizen services across the state. He asked the officials to bring all existing network infrastructure in the state and the state data centre under T-Fiber. KTR, who is also the Minister for Municipal Administration, directed the officials to include all municipal corporations and municipalities in the scope of T-Fiber. By PTI NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday questioned the prime minister's silence on the "intrusion of foreign troops" and said it was worrying for the country. He said the nation is waiting for an official statement from the Ministry of Defence or Army headquarters. "Will it come tonight?" "The PM has maintained a worrying silence since May 5. Can you imagine any other Head of Government not saying a word for 7 weeks since the intrusion of foreign troops into a country," the former Union minister asked on Twitter. ALSO READ: Colonel, two jawans killed in clashes with PLA, reports of casualties on Chinese side too He said one has seen the official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs that says nothing new after the news broke out at 12.52 pm on Tuesday, thanks to an Army WhatsApp group. "Admittedly, Indian lives have been lost. Who are the brave men who have made the supreme sacrifice? Is one of them a Tamil/Indian from Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu," Chidamabarm also asked. An Indian Army colonel and two soldiers were killed during a violent clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night -- the first such incident involving fatalities in the last 45 years and signalling a massive escalation in the five-week border row in the sensitive region. Kansas City Pushes Hard For More LGBT Satisfaction!!! On back of landmark SCOTUS ruling, KC gay community pushing for more KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision, extending protections against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. "I think it really allows the queer community to just show up to work, bring their full selves," said Lance Pierce, founder of Outspoken, a group that works to help foster discussion around LGBTQ issues around Kansas City. Kansas City Inclusion Victory Party Amid Tumultuous 2020 KC residents react to Supreme Court ruling of LGBT people now protected from job discrimination MISSION, KS (KCTV) - The lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community is celebrating a win in the fight for equal rights, but there are also some who believe this will cause chaos, not equality. It's a landmark decision for LGBTQ rights. Local Campaign 2020 Supreme Political Reaction LGBTQ Rights Advocates In Kansas And Missouri Want Landmark Gains To Extend Beyond Employment Protections When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that it was illegal to fire an employee for being gay or transgender, LGBTQ activists in Missouri and Kansas were gratified to see these long-sought protections come at the national level, but say there's still work to be done. Trump Strategy FAILED Why Trump's Supreme Court appointee Neil Gorsuch just protected LGBTQ rights Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump's first nominee to the Supreme Court, delivered an opinion Monday that will change how more than 7 million LGBTQ individuals will live and work in the United States. Equal Job Protection Supreme Court ruling protects Kansas City LGBTQ employees from job discrimination The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a landmark civil rights law protects LGBTQ people from discrimination in employment, a resounding victory for LGBTQ rights from a conservative court.The court decided by a 6-3 vote that a key provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 known as Title VII that bars job discrimination because of sex, among other reasons, encompasses bias against LGBTQ workers.The historic ruling has a Kansas City tie. Conservative Values Supreme Court, despite conservatism, keeps expanding gay rights Five years after the US Supreme Court declared a fundamental right for same-sex couples to marry, the justices produced another landmark for the gay rights movement by ruling that federal anti-bias law covers millions of gay, lesbian and transgender workers. Supreme Equality Supreme Court finds federal law bars LGBT discrimination in workplace "Those who adopted the Civil Rights Act might not have anticipated their work would lead to this particular result. Likely, they weren't thinking about many of the Act's consequences that have become apparent over the years, including its prohibition against discrimination on the basis of motherhood or its ban on the sexual harassment of male employees," Gorsuch wrote. Just a bit of local reaction to a milestone, surprise win and a sing of changing times . . .Developing . . . The Portland Police Bureau faces mounting criticism and calls for investigations as accounts continue to surface that depict officers roughing up journalists covering chaotic moments in the citys ongoing demonstrations. An Oregonian/OregonLive photographer and a reporter with The Portland Tribune became the latest members of the press to publicly detail such encounters during the nightly protests against police violence and systemic racism. Photographer Beth Nakamura said an officer shoved her forcefully from behind with a baton early Saturday after police declared a civil disturbance near the Multnomah County Justice Center downtown and attempted to clear hundreds of demonstrators from the area. 12:40am: police bull rush protestors, tear gas and flash bangs are used, protestors run in a panic pic.twitter.com/ihrK0Yu4YZ Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) June 13, 2020 Nakamura said she was holding her press ID and camera in her hands above her head and had been following the police orders to leave. When she identified herself as a journalist, the officer responded with an expletive and said he didnt care, she said. Hours later, on Saturday evening, reporter Zane Sparling said he was shoved into a wall as a phalanx of police in riot gear charged at protesters. In a video, Sparling can be heard telling officers he was a reporter covering the demonstration. An officer who charged at him replies: I dont give a (expletive). Both accounts follow several others by Portland journalists who said theyve been beaten, shoved and pepper-sprayed during the protests that have continued for nearly three weeks. The latest reports spread widely on social media and renewed claims that the citys police force was trying to stop the news media from documenting the aggressive tactics officers have repeatedly used against protesters. Weve already seen an obviously chilling effect on the media, said Kelly Simon, interim director for the ACLU of Oregon. This should scare all of us. Simon said the civil rights group, which has successfully sued the Portland Police Bureau in the past over its use of force during protests, is considering litigation once again. Portland Police charge protesters tonight. Officer: Move! Me: MEDIA! Officer: I dont give a shit! Go! I was shoved into the wall, then hit in the heel by some sort of crowd control munition. Im fine pic.twitter.com/daPElkEb6J Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) June 14, 2020 Therese Bottomly, editor of The Oregonian/OregonLive, called on Mayor Ted Wheeler and Police Chief Chuck Lovell to investigate the episode involving Nakamura. The news media have an important role in documenting this moment in American history, including documenting police tactics, Bottomly wrote in a letter. Roughly pushing news media who are complying with police orders sends a message that police do not accept the independent medias role. Wheeler, who also serves at the citys police commissioner, separately said Monday that his office would begin to investigate all complaints against police targeting members of the media at protests. I know @portlandpolice works hard to protect the rights of our press, but there are alarming incidents that need to be addressed, Wheeler wrote on Twitter. His office did not respond to follow-up questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive. Similar scenes have played out in Oregon and across the country during the demonstrations that have erupted in the aftermath of George Floyds death in Minneapolis under the knee of a police officer. Officers have arrested, tear-gassed, manhandled and shot directly at members of the media even when they have identified themselves as reporters. Many of these altercations have been captured on video, including an episode last month when police struck a Eugene Weekly reporter with a tear gas canister at close range near the University of Oregon. In Portland, such contentious moments have often occurred late at night downtown after police have declared a demonstration to be unlawful, which allows them to use force or make arrests to clear the area. Police have claimed that protesters whove routinely gathered near a fence erected around the Justice Center have attempted to cut holes in the barrier or have thrown objects at officers on the other side. While the First Amendment protects a journalists fundamental free speech, press and assembly rights, they are required to disperse if ordered by police. Lt. Tina Jones, a Portland police spokeswoman, echoed these points a video published Sunday night aimed to address the bureaus recent interactions with members of the media. The unlawful orders apply to everyone without exception, Jones said. When a civil disturbance, unlawful assembly or riot are declared its because criminal activity is occurring and that the area is not safe for anyone. However, the Oregon chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has condemned such orders as unlawful restrictions on the free press and says that it is concerned by the growing number of reporters claiming to be targeted by the police. This behavior against professionals who work tirelessly to inform and educate the public is unacceptable and intolerable, the society said in a letter. Journalists should have the freedom to gather news without fear of violence or retaliation as is protected under the First Amendment. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories Women for Election has labelled a programme for government formation agreed by Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party "disappointingly vague" in its commitments to see more women elected to local government. Ciairin de Buis, CEO of Women for Election said: "The Programme for Government was an opportunity to show the next government are serious about wanting to see more women running for election - we had called on the negotiating parties to commit to a 40% quota for our next local and Seanad elections, a practical way to ensure parties run a balanced ticket. Instead, we got vague aspirations. "While the Programme for Government has the right sentiment and we very much welcome this, it falls short on practical commitments. We need more women at all levels of Irish political life, and this Programme for Government doesn't contain those practical commitments needed to ensure we have a political system reflective of Irish society." Ciairin de Buis continued: "The next government needs to show some political leadership. A balanced cabinet would be a start in showing a commitment to seeing more women in politics. Only 19 women have ever served as a cabinet minister in Ireland. The next Taoiseach can bring about real change and appoint a balanced cabinet. It is, after all, 2020." Ciairin de Buis also pointed out that the next Taoiseach can also ensure better balance in the Oireachtas by nominating women to the Seanad. "The next Taoiseach can nominate women, in all our diversity, to the next Seanad. The 11 nominees should be made up of women from all walks of life, reflecting Irish society, to bring fresh perspectives to the Irish political system." In 2017, Janice Brahney was examining dust that had blown across the wilderness of the Western United States to determine its nutrient composition. She slid her samples under a microscope, expecting to see the usual quartz and feldspar grains, pollen and random bug parts. Instead, what leaped from the lens were candy-colored shards and spherules - blue, pink and red plastics mixed with the dust like foul confetti. "I was really taken aback when I saw this," said Brahney, an assistant professor of biogeochemistry at Utah State University. "I had no idea that our pollution had extended to that level." Sensing a potential discovery, Brahney, along with fellow researchers, started monitoring dust deposits in nearly a dozen protected areas in the West - places we tend to think of as relatively pristine, like Joshua Tree National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and the Grand Canyon. At each location, they found microplastics blown in on the breeze. In a study released Friday in the journal Science, they reveal just how much plastic is landing on protected areas in the West: more than 1,000 tons each year, equal to 123 to 300 million pulverized plastic water bottles. Not many hikers huffing up a mountain trail would realize they might be breathing in components of what used to be somebody's snazzy nylon pants. Minuscule plastic particles - microplastics, made from artificial-clothing fibers, broken-down consumer products, beads used in medical and industry applications and other sources are practically undetectable to the naked eye. But they're ubiquitous now, thanks to a world that generates hundreds of millions of tons of plastic every year. "We are producing something that doesn't go away, and just because we can't see it doesn't mean it's not there," Brahney said. The study found microplastic particle sizes that ranged between 4 and 188 microns, which are as small as one-tenth the width of a human hair. On the upper end, the researchers found particles twice the size of fine beach sand. Some of the smaller particles can, if ingested, become lodged in human lungs. We've known for decades that plastics litter the oceans, accumulating in floating garbage patches, piling up like landfills in deep-sea trenches and eaten by the tiniest organisms in the marine food chain. But it hasn't been until recently that scientists realized it was flying above our heads, similar to how dust particles are picked up by the wind. One of the first studies on this phenomenon came out in 2015 - through the precise mechanisms of uptake and deposition, and, more importantly, their consequences, are still poorly understood. The discovery of airborne plastic dusting cities and agricultural areas as well as more-remote locations have alarmed the research community that studies such contamination. "Atmospheric transport means our wilderness areas - and thus our safety net of ecosystems, insects, and animals not affected by farming - are not safe," Steve Allen, a plastics researcher at Scotland's University of Strathclyde, said via email. "The effects of microplastic on these areas is still being researched, but it is known that even the physical act of eating it can block the digestive tract of small creatures like worms. That is not even counting the mutagenic, carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals that plastic carries," Allen said. Brahney's work sheds new light on the atmospheric plastic cycle, revealing the role that cities play as generation tanks, how storms can fling plastics many miles away, and vast ribbons of lightweight plastic whizzing across vast distances on the power of large-scale atmospheric circulation like the jet stream. This research "has shown that it is not a simple process of source to deposition and that it is influenced by the bigger atmospheric processes," said Allen, who in 2019 released a study of microplastic deposition in the French Pyrenees. "This opens up a lot of new questions on the mechanisms and factors influencing this transport. It is exciting and very worrying." So what's behind the great aerial migration of plastic? To find out, Brahney used a publicly available computer model from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) called HYSPLIT that reconstructs the source regions of a particular air mass. "You can give it a point in space and say, 'Tell me for the previous 48 hours where that air mass came from, and it gives you this nice spatial output of (its) trajectory,'" she said. The detective work pointed one of several fingers at cities. The highest deposition rates of "plastic rain" the researchers found was in Rocky Mountain National Park, less than 50 miles from Denver and Fort Collins. Colo. That cities influence the drift of microplastic makes sense, as they're where most people and plastic sources are located. Human activity can release plastic into the air in a variety of ways, from spraying industrial paints and coatings that contain microbeads to running clothes dryers that belch out fibers to driving on tires that degrade into nasty black dust. Thunderstorms might not just bring rain and lightning, but also torrents of microplastics after they pass over urban centers and erodible soils. "We were able to show that a storm track and the energy from a storm can pick up a lot of plastics from a city and deposit it somewhere remotely," Brahney said. The National Park Service, for its part, recognized the potential hazards that come with so much microplastics raining down within its protected areas. "The NPS is concerned about the deposition of microplastics in parks and wilderness areas. The recent study further contributes to the large body of evidence that microplastics are everywhere, including remote and high elevation areas," Kristi Morris, a physical scientist in the air resources division of the National Park Service, said via email. "Further studies are needed to understand some key mechanisms that enable microplastics to be emitted and transported over large distances and to better understand the effects that microplastics have on park ecosystems and biota," Morris stated. "(An) important question to me is: How much microplastic is in the atmosphere in comparison with other natural particles, and does this actually have the potential to affect weather patterns?" Melanie Bergmann, a marine ecologist who studies microplastic at Germany's Alfred-Wegener-Institute, said via email. "Particles can act as nuclei for condensation. This depends of course on the particle load and sizes, but it is a question to tackle in my opinion." Even without cities and storms, plastic fallout seems to always be persistent, billowing and falling like invisible, non-digestible snow. This constant deluge of plastic is typically made up of smaller, lighter particles like fibers, which can travel vast distances under the influence of high-level winds like the jet stream. "I think we can identify (if) it's coming from far away and it's within the size range that can move across continents," Brahney said. "Given the amount of plastics we've put into the world, there's no reason to think it hasn't been moving around the globe." That means the flake of ethylene-acrylic copolymer now landing imperceptibly on your nose could've originated from, say, somewhere in Morocco. Or perhaps Fiji, as it has been shown that microplastic can erupt from the surface of the ocean in a process called bubble-burst ejection. Short of installing giant HEPA filters from the North to South Pole, can anything be done to stop the circulation of airborne plastic? One obvious solution is to reduce our plastic production, which continues at a rampant pace. A consumer movement has taken hold worldwide to eliminate the use of plastic straws, for example, but this goes only so far. The goal of cutting plastic use is increasingly at odds with oil companies looking for new profit sources that are turning increasingly to plastics. "This is important in an era of a shale-gas fracking boom, which is closely linked with the production of polyethylene, the most common plastic produced," Bergmann said. "Building of new (plastic-making) infrastructure is on the way with $180 billion of investments, rather than reductions." In the meantime, we can contemplate the implications of inhaling particles of plastic of a size known to be small enough to be a source of potential harm to human bodies. However, a lack of studies means the effects on people are a mystery. "The human health effect of breathing this material is almost unknown, in spite of the first study on human lungs being back in 1998," Allen said. "Simple logic tells us this cannot be good for us. It is hard to imagine a sentence starting with: 'The health benefits of breathing airborne microplastic ...'" New Delhi, June 16 : Key BJP leader B.L. Santhosh continuing his onslaught on the Kejriwal government over its handling of the pandemic in the national capital, has alleged that while the AAP government prefers to communicate with hospitals through circulars, Home Minister Amit Shah chooses to be on the spot. This comes hours after Shah visited and interacted with Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) hospital staff, amid huge spike in Covid-19 cases as total touched 42,829 and deaths around 1,400. BJP's General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh, who technically comes next to party President J.P. Nadda, tweeted: "In democracy dialogue is the first factor. But @ArvindKejriwal & his @AamAadmiParty want to talk with people, officers, Police, Hospitals, doctors, neighbouring states, Union Govt thru' Media & circulars. Alienated neighbouring states." He went on to allege, "Arvind Kejriwal issued notices to hospitals, played with numbers, failed to ramp up facilities. Above all, failed to communicate. When Narendra Modi-led Govt intervenes through Amit Shah, people feel the change. It requires strength of character to administer a state." This charge comes a day after the union home minister made the surprise visit to capital's LNJP hospital to review Covid situation. Even on Monday, soon after Shah's visit to the Delhi government-run hospital, Santhosh said, "Home Minister Amit Shah visits LNJP Hospital, Delhi to review operations and preparedness. Till date, the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal did not find time to visit hospitals. Governance is never a priority for anarchists." Since Sunday, Shah visibly took charge to control the spiralling Covid tally in the national capital with back to back meetings followed by specific orders to ramp up testing and attaching 6 IAS officers to aid Delhi to fight against the pandemic. The 1971 movie Zeppelin, starting Michael York, is about an Imperial German plot to destroy irreplaceable British artifacts, paintings, and documents during the First World War. The premise was simple; destroy the nation's history, and you destroy the nation. The outcome was a mixed result with the successful destruction of some of the irreplaceable documents, but also the loss of the German superweapon. The Czech playwright Milan Kundera, who lived under totalitarian governments such as the Nazis and communists, elaborated (emphasis is mine), "The first step to liquidating a people is to erase its memory. Destroy its books, its culture, its history. Then have somebody write new books, manufacture a new culture, invent a new history. Before long the nation will begin to forget what it is and what it was." This approach was put into practice in George Orwell's 1984, and "woke" left wing extremists are putting the same principle into practice today by vandalizing statues of Christopher Columbus, Queen Victoria, Mohandas Gandhi, Winston Churchill, and other historical figures. The Army now says it is open to renaming bases that have been named for Confederate generals, and it is time to draw the line. The electorate should support President Trump's decision to veto this idea right out of the starting gate. In addition, any Confederate statues that are removed or destroyed should be replaced, with educational placards that explain, "This statue honors the named individual but not the cause for which he fought. His actions were praiseworthy and laudable under the standards of the mid-19th century, which have however changed for the better during the past 150 years." It's about Not Slavery, but Character No civilized person defends, justifies, or glorifies slavery as practiced in the antebellum South along with the Union states of Delaware, West Virginia, and Maryland unless we count Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats who recently tried to show their solidarity with black Americans by wearing the kente cloth favored by Ashanti slave traders who sold other Africans to Europeans during the 19th century. Maybe the Democrats will next hitch their wagon to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, and somebody like Joe Biden (D-Del.) will dress up as Simon Legree (D-La.) because he thinks Legree was one of the abolitionists in the story (hint: he wasn't) while The Squad will call Little Eva a "Karen" and denounce her white privilege. Joe Biden has meanwhile made it clear that while the Democratic Party understands that it can no longer own black people, he thinks it still owns their votes. If we applied our own standards to people of the mid-19th century, we would also have to demolish the Lincoln Memorial, rename the USS Abraham Lincoln, remove a quarter of Mount Rushmore, and redesign the penny and five-dollar bill because of Abraham Lincoln's blatantly racist (by our standards) remarks during his debate with Stephen Douglas. I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races [applause] that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. Lincoln was a great man because we judge him by the standards of the 1850s rather than the 21st century. His positon that no human being should ever be permitted to own another is taken for granted today, but it was extremely progressive and courageous at the time. Uncle Tom's Cabin would be taken for granted today "Stowe argues that slavery is evil so what? Everybody knows it is evil." but Stowe was arguably our country's real "breaker of chains" without the aid of Daenerys Targaryen's dragons, although the Union Army's "terrible swift sword" was more than up to the job. The Confederate generals and soldiers have the same right to be judged by their era's standards rather than ours. Last we heard, by the way, the "woke" left has no plans to remove statues of William Tecumseh Sherman, who committed what were arguably atrocities against civilian property a violation of the then-prevailing Lieber Code i.e., the standards of his era as well as ours during his march through Georgia. Robert E. Lee and the Bhagavad Gita This concept of performing one's duty, even if one does not like it, is thousands of years old. The Bhagavad Gita is about an Indian hero's dilemma as to whether he should fight his cousins and his teacher at India's Armageddon (Kurukshetra). Krishna then shows the hero that his duty or Right Path requires him, in fact, to fight his teacher and his cousins, while the teacher's own duty or Right Path requires him to fight the hero and his companions. The focus of the Bhagavad Gita is "selfless action," which describes similarly Robert E. Lee's dilemma. Lee had to choose between fighting for his state, Virginia, and fighting for the Union. The idea of secession was quite acceptable in the mid-19th century; New England had previously threatened to secede rather than fight the War of 1812. Lee chose, under these circumstances, to turn down supreme command of the Union Army in favor of a subordinate role in the Confederate Army. Put Historical Figures in Perspective Other countries understand quite well that historical figures must be judged according to the standards of their own eras rather than ours. "Attila" is a popular name in Hungary. Mohammad was similarly a great leader by the standards of the 6th century but would qualify as a war criminal today. Moses, one of Judaism's most venerated patriarchs, who led the Hebrew people out of slavery, committed genocide, and the "civilized and democratic" Athenians' treatment of the Melians is self-explanatory. Mongolian money features Genghis Khan, who purportedly reduced the world's carbon footprint by killing 40 million people. Spain is not ashamed of its statue of the conquistador Hernan Cortes, who killed and enslaved Americans Indians. Far more controversial are a street in Belgrade named for Gavrilo Princip, the assassin who started the First World War, and a French village's "Rue Gerard," named for the assassin of William of Orange. Assassins were villains under the standards of their own eras as well as ours. The proper course of action is to educate people that we are judging these historical figures solely according to the standards under which they lived, which are however not acceptable standards today. Under no circumstances should we tolerate the "woke" left's agenda of destroying our history, and the U.K.'s history, right in front of us. This means a straight Republican vote for House, Senate, and president in November. Civis Americanus is the pen name of an American Thinker contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. A five-year-old boy was burnt alive after a massive fire broke out in the slums at Teur village in Punjabs Kharar town on Tuesday. As many as 43 families were left roofless as their shanties were destroyed in the fire that broke out around 3.30pm. All their household articles were ravaged. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia relief for the family of the deceased, apart from ordering the district administration to assess the losses of the families and provide them relief. A boy named Aditya, aged five, sustained 100% burns and died. A woman also sustained burn injuries. The civil and police officials immediately reached the spot, and two fire tenders were deployed to douse the flames, said deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan. Kharar fire station officer Mohan Lal Verma said though the fire broke out at 3.30pm, they received an alert at 4.15pm, and by the time, the fire brigade reached the spot, everything was gutted. He said the reason behind the fire was yet to be ascertained, but could have been caused by a gas stove in one of the shanties. Verma said most of the occupants of the shanties were away at work and only three to four women were present there. The gutted remains of the slum. (HT Photo) As the fire broke out, the women rushed out to safety, but the five-year-old boy ran back inside and was burnt alive. The injured woman was rushed to the Kharar civil hospital, he said. I have lost everything in the fire, including all my household articles. Most of the families staying here work in farmers fields. We dont know what to do now, said Hamraj Kumar, a migrant. Kharar sub-divisional magistrate Himanshu Jain, who reached the spot, said the boy was cremated and all families were temporarily shifted to a local government school where they were being provided food.Five-year-old boy burnt alive in Kharar village fire View over 50 houses on the market during Keefe Real Estates annual Open House Tour. On Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21, buyers can tour a condensed number of homes throughout the region. This year, people can view this year either in person or through virtual open houses online. Tom Keefe, owner of Keefe Real Estate, said they usually choose the third weekend in June to host the Open House Tour because it is often after graduations and other gatherings. This year, our sales season was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, but in the past three weeks, we have seen buyer activity pick back up to normal if not higher traffic than last year. Keefe Real Estate agents will be prepared to accommodate for seller and buyer preferences by practicing social distancing and other safe showing practices. In cases where in-person open houses are not possible, buyers will have the opportunity to view live home tours on social media. We have found that everyone has a different comfort level at either selling or buying a home during this time, and we are doing what we can to match our customers comfort levels, Tom Keefe said. For sellers or buyers who have any underlying conditions or other health concerns, we are pleased that we have the technology and resources to not only show their homes virtually, but to complete nearly every step of the selling or buying process virtually. Homes on the tour will be spread throughout Walworth, Racine, Kenosha counties in Wisconsin, and McHenry County in Illinois. From starter homes to lakefronts, Keefe represents a wide variety of styles and prices. To preview properties scheduled for the tour, visit www.keeferealestate.com/OHT or follow Keefe Real Estate on Facebook for updates. Interested people may also call 262-248-4492 or email info@keeferealestate.com for a full list and schedule of available properties on tour. Homes may be added o the schedule through June 19. Founded in 1943, Keefe Real Estate is an independent and family-owned full-service real estate brokerage, specializing in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, with over 80 agents in Walworth, Racine, Kenosha and McHenry counties. For more information, visit www.keeferealestate.com. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and his wife, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska arrive to meet the President of Latvia at the Riga Castle square in Riga, Latvia, on Oct. 16, 2019. (Gints Ivuskans/AFP/Getty Images) Ukraine Presidents Wife Hospitalized With Moderate COVID-19 KYIVThe wife of Ukraines President, Olena Zelenska, was hospitalized after contracting CCP virus and her condition was stable, the presidential office said on June 16, adding a fresh test of her husband showed he remained negative. Zelenska said last week she had tested positive for CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, while her husband Volodymyr Zelenskiy and their two children had tested negative. The President also canceled all meetings and visits. Olena Zelenskas current diagnosis is COVID-19bilateral polysegmental pneumonia of moderate severity. (She) Does not require oxygen donation. The condition is stable, the office said in a statement. It said Olena was isolated and under medical supervision. The new tests of the President and children were negative. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the presidents office in Kyiv, Ukraine on Jan. 31, 2020. (Anastasia Vlasova/Getty Images) Ukraine went into lockdown in March, preventing a massive spread of CCP virus. In late May the government began to ease the restrictions, allowing restaurants, gyms, and public transport to operate. Since June 15, the country resumed air flights to and from the country. However, in recent days Ukraine has seen a significant rise in CCP virus cases, which the government attributes to the neglect by citizens of medical steps to contain the infection. We all confused the mitigation of quarantine measures with the complete abolition of all restrictions that exist in the country, health minister Maksym Stepanov told a televised briefing on Tuesday. Ukraine reported 32,476 CCP virus cases as of June 16, including 912 deaths. By Pavel Polityuk Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. As Israel prepares to extend sovereignty over large parts of the West Bank, a senior Hamas official called for resistance among Palestinian groups who seek the land for part of a future state. "We call for the annexation project to be confronted with resistance in all forms," said Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil. "It is the duty of each free Palestinian citizen to rise up against this flagrant aggression on our land," he said, calling for a meeting between Hamas and other Palestinian groups. Despite widespread international condemnation, the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with plans to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank and possibly the entire Jordan Valley. Under a unity deal reached between Netanyahu and his former rival Benny Gantz, the government can take up the annexation issue as soon as July 1 on the condition there is American approval. Some recent reports say Netanyahu might opt for a phased annexation plan that does not include the Jordan Valley and other settlement areas. Captured by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967, the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, is part of the territory Palestinians envision as part of a future independent state. The Arab League, the United Nations and much of Europe oppose the proposed annexation, while the United States under the Donald Trump administration has offered conditional support. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said last month that because of the annexation plans, the Palestinian Authority is no longer obliged to agreements with both Israel and the United States. The Hamas threat came the same day that the Israeli military accused the group of firing a rocket into southern Israel and hitting an empty field. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) retaliated Monday with airstrikes on Hamas targets in southern Gaza, including an underground infrastructure near the city of Khan Yunis, according to The Times of Israel. Both Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant group in the enclave, have recently threatened attacks on the border. Israels Channel 12 reported the IDF is preparing for a range of scenarios in the event of annexation, including a potential state of war. This story contains reporting from Agence France-Presse. A further sharp increase in UK jobless claims and slump in vacancies increased longer-term concerns over the labour-market outlook, but firm global risk conditions underpinned Sterling in currency markets. UK jobless claims increase 529,000, weekly hours slide The headline UK unemployment rate held at 3.9% in the 3 months to April and below market expectations of an increase to 4.7%. Officially, employment data posted a small increase of 6,000 in the 3-month period, but the data did not capture the lockdown impact. The experimental data for May recorded a decline of 612,000 in the number of employees on payrolls compared with March. There was also an increase in unemployment jobless claims of 529,000 for May and above market expectations of 400,000 and the total increasing to 2.8mn, the highest level since 1993. Image: UK claims count There was also a huge upward revision to the April data with the increase in jobless claims reported at 1.32mn compared with the original estimate of 857,000. The total number of weekly hours worked in period was 959.9 million, a decline of 94.2 million from the previous year. Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician for economic statistics at the ONS, said: "The slowdown in the economy is now visibly hitting the labour market, especially in terms of hours worked. Slide in earnings growth will curb consumer spending Overall average earnings slowed sharply to 1.0% in the year to April from 2.3% previously with an underlying increase of 1.7% from 2.7%. This was the first decline in real terms since March 2018 as many furloughed workers saw a drop in earnings. The data for April alone reported a 0.9% annual decline. Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics commented that the data suggested; the majority of furloughed workers were only paid 80 per cent of their usual wages the minimum stipulated by the scheme and did not receive a top-up from their employers. Average wages might well recover in the autumn, as furloughed staff get fired; low-paid part-timers have been furloughed more than most. The data recorded a sharp quarterly decline in the number of self-employed workers. Vacancies slump at a record pace The number of vacancies also declined very sharply to 476,000 from 841,000 the previous year, the sharpest quarterly decline on record. Experimental single-month estimates indicate a decrease of approximately 60% of vacancies for May 2020 compared with March 2020. Image: UK vacancies Gerwyn Davies, senior labour market adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), commented: The UK is clearly entering a major employment crisis. While the rise in the claimant count is set to grab most attention, the most worrying feature of these latest job figures is the record fall in the number of vacancies. The private sector is unable to create enough jobs due to a lack of demand for products and services, which bodes ill for the remainder of the year unless business conditions improve very significantly over the rest of the summer. Pantheons Tombs added; The UK jobs data have been kept in suspended animation by the furlough scheme, which now has helped 8.7m stay on the payroll. The slump in vacancies points to a second wave of redundancies in the autumn, when many furloughed workers will be laid off and unable to find new work. Capital Economics economist Ruth Gregory warned that bigger unemployment rises were on their way and that the labour market has weakened dramatically. "Despite the apparent stability of the actual unemployment rate, the labour market data were still pretty awful. And some of this will surely start to filter through into the actual unemployment figures as the government's job furlough scheme is wound down from August." Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors commented: "The furlough scheme continues to hold off the bulk of job losses, but unemployment is likely to surge in the months ahead." Sterling dipped after the data with GBP/USD retreating from 1-week highs, although strong global risk appetite continued to cushion the impact. GBP/USD traded around 1.2635 from early highs at 1.2685 with Euro/Sterling at 0.8965. Image: EUR/GBP exchange rate chart The Museum of Osteology in Oklahoma says the skull, which is in its collection, is reported to have been that of a man who was injured during battle before having some of the earliest forms of surgery to implant a piece of metal in his head to repair the fracture. Experts told the Daily Star that the man was believed to have survived the wound and the surgery, with the skill now a key piece of evidence in proving that ancient peoples were capable of performing complex surgeries. The skull in question is an example of a Peruvian elongated skull, which is an ancient form of body modification where tribe members intentionally deformed the skulls of young children by binding them with cloth or even binding the head between two pieces of wood for prolonged periods of time. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Last week, Antifa and various radicals took over Seattles Capitol Hill neighborhood, a very lefty part of the city. They told the police they were not allowed in the area, and put up barricades to keep them out. So how are things working out in this new leftist utopia? Seattles far left Mayor Jenny Durkam didnt seem to care. She said the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ, or Capitol Hill Occupy Protest, has a block party atmosphere and could turn into a summer of love. It is not an armed takeover (despite the armed patrols guarding the perimeter). But thats not what Seattles Police Chief Carmen Best is saying and considering she reports to the mayor, its saying a lot that she would come out and contradict her. "Rapes, robberies and all sorts of violent acts have been occurring in the area and we're not able to get to [them]," she warned. Emergency calls from the area have tripled. I wonder why? Reports from people within CHAZ say its overrun with homeless people and drug addicts. Assistant Chief of Seattle Police Deanna Nollette said shes heard complaints about businesses being required to pay a fee in order to operate in CHAZ. She said victims should call 911, but its not clear what the police can do since CHAZ is trying to keep them out of the zone. A video shows Antifa holding down a street preacher by his neck, hypocritically reminiscent of what happened to George Floyd, and evidence this is not about the death of Floyd. The preacher struggles and yells, Youre choking me! I am a free citizen of the autonomous zone! One of the militarized looking men around him says, "The autonomous zone has the right to reject you." In another video, a gay man holds his hands around the preachers neck while hes standing, taunts him that he is a gay man hugging him and kisses him on the cheek. The preacher is carrying a large sign that says Jesus and keeps repeating Glory to the king. They finally let him go but appear to be escorting him out of CHAZ. Later on he is seen on the ground yelling This is a Jesus Christ zone! Several men appear to be holding him down. The occupiers pushed out a man who claimed he was a pro-life activist, saying foul things about him and calling him a white supremacist. There was zero evidence that he was. A group of people carrying American flags were chased out. The occupiers stole a flag from them and threw a drink at them. So much for all those signs posted around the area touting diversity. One resident of the area expressed his concerns to The Daily Callers Shelby Talcott. They took our rights away. Thats not okay. Its not political. He was too scared to give his real name, saying he had been threatened before after speaking out. He said protesters bang on his front gates at night and he hears shots being fired throughout the evening. Another resident told police that there were "tents lining my streets, barricades littered throughout the intersection by protestors, and civilians walking around with AR15s. And the noise has not stopped." A Daily Caller reporter said he could smell marijuana everywhere. One bystander told him there is no government in the autonomous zone. Handwritten signs are all over revealing the primitiveness. A millionaire named Raz Simone is acting as warlord of the area. This is not surprising since the far left always claim theyre for the little people but want millionaires like Bernie Sanders as their leaders. Talcott told Fox News that not everyone agrees that Simone should be their leader. Some Black Lives Matter organizers say the anarchists occupying Capitol Hill have hijacked the movement. Most of the men restraining the street preacher were white. Its not a democracy as they claim, Simone is a dictator. Theres no First Amendment; no right to free speech, freedom of assembly or freedom of religion. Those inside cant street preach, cant be a pro-life activist and cant carry an American flag and walk around as a group. Residents are forced to show IDs to show they belong there. People are not allowed to enter their homes and businesses without ID. Its a totalitarian society. And how is Antifa and other radical groups patrolling the area with guns not just another police force? Not to mention they dont have the accountability of the police, so you never know what they are going to do. What about the blockades and fencing around the perimeter? The far left claims it wants borders abolished. The same people railing against the police want to tear down the border with Mexico. So why are they doing exactly what they claim to oppose? If this was really about fighting racism, and Republicans are supposedly the party of white supremacists, then why didnt the protesters ruin a more conservative area, such as Bellevue nearby? Thats because its not about racism, Antifa co-opted those protests and turned them into anarchy and violence directed at the establishment. They hate the police since many, if not most, of them have criminal records and dont want the police interfering. Talcott told Fox News the occupiers are settling down, getting ready to stay there a long time. Theyve built a no police co-op where they hand out food and other items for free. However, the police intend to retake the East Precinct in that area. Just like the Occupy movement, this will eventually flame out into nothing, accomplishing nothing. The spoiled brats who live in their parents basements will get tired of hanging out with homeless drug addicts and move back home for showers and moms cooking. The functioning of the world post the COVID-19 global health crisis seems to have witnessed a radical change in such a short span of time. The old way of living has now been replaced by a different lifestyle full of new rules to help us all sail through this difficult time. It's no surprise that masks and sanitisers have become the new normal without which one cant even step out of their home. Recently, there have also been many instances of people buying designer masks for their weddings. This goes on to show that face masks have become the new normal. Keeping up with the current trend, Kunal Pariyani, a clothes seller, from Bhopal is selling cloth masks with PM Modi's face printed on them. Now, thats what is called smart thinking, dont you agree? Twitter Undoubtedly, these masks are now extremely high on demand. Kunal Pariyani, a clothes seller,from Bhopal, is selling cloth masks with PM Modi's face printed on it. He says,"I've sold about 500-1000 Modi masks till now&demand for it is high. Masks featuring our CM also popular. I also have masks with images of Rahul Gandhi&Kamal Nath ji". pic.twitter.com/HU8owhrRgy ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2020 "I have sold about 500-1000 Modi masks till now and demand for them is high. Masks featuring our CM also popular. I also have masks with images of Rahul Gandhi and Kamal Nath ji," Kunal told news agency ANI. Well, this innovative thinking didnt go unnoticed on Twitter and garnered mixed reactions from people across the country. Uh oh! Modi Mask is one of the best tool to keep away #coronavirus. Please Note : Like Poles Repel ! Syed Rafi - ''. (@syedrafi) June 16, 2020 Indeed... Nahi re. Surely it is "Made in China" (@bijuodisha7) June 16, 2020 LOL. Absolutely. Yes! Isko bolte hai businessman Siddhesh Chaudhari (@siddheshC8) June 16, 2020 Koi shaq? Indians and creativity goes hand in hand pic.twitter.com/eIhOaVtHCG abhi (@abhinav93102205) June 16, 2020 This must be free of cost pic.twitter.com/ZFSjK7jQ7N Saiyog Nagari (@nsaiyog) June 16, 2020 Wearing masks in public is already compulsory or recommended for all in several countries, including India, Singapore, France, Spain, and Germany, among others. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its guidelines for countries earlier this month and advised, governments to encourage the general public to wear masks where there is a widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments. Tell us in the comments below what you think about this innovative idea. Editor : Wang Liyan Source : Xinhua Female embroiderers of Dong ethnic group recently displayed their traditional Dong stitchwork and crafts in Jinping County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, on June 11, attracting a multitude of passers-by and tourists. The event was organized to celebrate the upcoming Cultural and Natural Heritage Day which fell on June 13 this year. It aimed to promote Dong embroidery, the national-level intangible cultural heritage, and encourage people to join in protecting the embroidery and enjoy its beauty. On that day, women embroiderers gathered on a wind and rain bridge, a traditional architecture of Dong ethnic group on which pavilions were built to provide shelter to people from the wind and rain. Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, derived from Cultural Heritage Day, was first observed in 2006 on the second Saturday of June every year and got its current name in 2017. Since 2009, the National Cultural Heritage Administration has selected a host city to hold cultural heritage activities every year to mark Cultural Heritage Day. A series of celebrations is also launched across the country. (Source: Xinhua/Translated and edited by Women of China) (Sharecast News) - Blencowe Resources updated the market further on the JORC-resource diamond drilling programme underway at its Orom-Cross Graphite Project in Northern Uganda on Tuesday, reporting that a single drill hole has been completed to a depth of 30 metres, to test both the weathered zone and possible graphite mineralisation. The London-listed firm said that followed its decision to test the recently-identified high-grade zone close to the existing camp site, and close to where the proposed processing plant would be. It said the hole returned visible high grade graphite over 28 metres of 30 metres of intersection, with weathering extending to the base of the hole. Based on prior samples taken in the area, the expectation was for grades of up to double the 6%-to-8% average Orom-Cross grade. Subsequent logging by company geologists also identified zones of "large to jumbo" flakes in the core. The core had been sampled, and was being prepared for dispatch to assay laboratories in Tanzania. Following confirmatory identification of the potential high-grade zone in close proximity to the intended plant location, the company said it had now authorised the redirection of a drill rig to complete a nine-to-15 hole programme to delineate the lode, which would occur following the completion of the current drill programme and within the current budgeted numbers. "We are very enthusiastic to note the potential of this new high-grade zone based on visual inspection," said executive chairman Cameron Pearce. "We look forward to receiving the assay results and in the meantime, we are going to escalate the drill programme in the vicinity to identify the extent of this zone. "This additional high grade zone would add material value to the overall project and we look forward to reporting further on the drilling and assays in due course." A common practice at jails across Latin America is to allow detainees to receive food packages when their family members stop by to visit. However, one man recently tried to break the rules in Mexico when he attempted to smuggle marijuana inside nine jalapenos. As a preventive measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus at penitentiaries, the Mexican government temporarily banned family visits. Roberto Carlos was arrested Friday at a prison in Puebla, Mexico, after he attempted to smuggle marijuana inside jalapenos that were part of a care package he was dropping off for a jailed relative A guard became suspicious of the package when one of the jalapenos broke and a small bag of marijuana popped out Roberto Carlos was placed under the custody of the Tehuacan, Puebla, police In this case, a correction officer accepted a package from a visitor identified as Roberto Carlos last Friday at the Social Rehabilitation Center in Tehuacan, a municipality in the central state of Puebla. The care package included eggs, tomatoes and jalapenos. While a prison guard inspected the goods, one of the jalapenos suddenly broke. The guard then proceeded to inspect the rest of the green peppers, and discovered nine small bags filled the party drug. Roberto Carlos was immediately arrested and placed under the custody of Tehuacan police. Google integrated Meet into its Gmail web app a few weeks ago. Now it Meet is finally coming to the Gmail app on Android and iOS. What this means is that you now dont need to install the standalone Google Meet app. And it also makes it much easier to start a Meet video call from Gmail, instead of needing to open a separate app to do so. This is the latest step in making Meet more mainstream Google has had to make its Meet videoconferencing software a lot more mainstream, due to the pandemic. Where just about everyone is relying on video calls to talk to their loved ones, friends and even their coworkers. And of course, Google wants to be a part of that. Advertisement Obviously, thats something that Google has wanted all along, but with Hangouts being killed off at some point in 2020, now is a good time to make Meet ready for the masses. Google Meet was only made available for free to everyone starting in April. Before this, it was only available to G Suite customers, as it was part of its enterprise suite of services. But with the pandemic, Google pretty much had to make it free to everyone. Since then, Google wasted no time in integrating it into Gmail. Starting with bringing it to Gmail on the web and now in the Android and iOS apps. Google wants Meet to go head-to-head with Zoom During the pandemic, Zoom has really picked up steam. Becoming the default video calling app out there. In fact, much like how many people say let me Google that instead of searching for it, many say let me jump on this Zoom call instead of a video call. Zoom has become synonymous with video calls during this pandemic. And Google, wants a piece of that pie. Advertisement Zoom has had issues though, even though it has gained a ton of customers during the past three months. There have been a handful of security issues that have shown up in Zoom. As well as people finding out that Zoom calls are routed through China. Which is not okay with most people, mostly because China likes to spy on everyone even its own citizens. Adding Google Meet to Gmail on Android is definitely going to help Google get there. And be able to compete with Zoom. Especially since it is being integrated into so many of Googles services. But that doesnt mean itll stick around. Hangouts was once integrated into just about everything, and its going away by the end of the year. A six-month-old baby has contracted the deadly COVID-19 disease at Nkawkaw in the Kwahu West Municipality of the Eastern Region. The district is currently battling with 30 confirmed coronavirus cases as Ghana puts in efforts to stop the spread of the disease. At the moment two persons have recovered in the Municipality. The Municipal health director, Celestina Asante, in an interview with Abena Opokua Ahwenee host of 'Efa Wo Ho' on Daddy Media, said other children as young as one have also been infected. Were talking about six-month-old baby. Others are one and two years, and strangely their mothers are negative, Mrs. Asante said in the interview monitored by Dailymailgh.com. She added: This should tell you that we have to be mindful about those we leave our babies with during these unusual times. We have to be careful in the community, especially those we ask to take care of our children The community spread is becoming an issue, we must all do our best to help stop the spread of the disease. For the adults, their age range is between 25 to 50 years. Thankfully, they are all in a stable condition and most of them are asymptomatic. Our major issue now is behavioral change and were appealing to everyone to wear the mask. That is our surest bet now to contain the spread. Meanwhile, three more persons have died of COVID-19 in less than 24 hours, increasing the tally to 54, President Akufo-Addo announced in his 11th address on Sunday. The case count has shot up to 11, 964 with 4, 258 recoveries. Mr. Akufo-Addo used his address to warn Ghanaians that the wearing of facemask is now mandatory. He also used the occasion to pay glowing tribute to the former mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi, KK Sam, who died of COVID-19 a few days ago. Source: Daily Mail Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video MANCHESTER, MI After spending the past 19 years in Saline Area Schools, Brad Bezeau is ready to take the next step as the face of Manchester Community Schools. Despite not having any experience as a superintendent, Bezeau said hes ready to take on the challenge in Manchester, after reaching a contract agreement with the district Monday, June 15. Details of the contract were not immediately available. Bezeau said he will lean on his past experience as a counselor, teacher and principal to serve as a foundation in leading the district of 870 students. The challenges in a small school district are declining enrollment and making sure that we create some opportunities that set us apart and make us different than other places, Bezeau said. I think that personalization that Manchester has to offer with small class sizes and a small community can be part of the draw. Bezeau has 26 years of experience in education, most recently serving as principal of Saline Middle School, which enrolls more than 1,200 students. While at Saline, he also was an elementary principal and assistant high school principal He plans to lean on the experience of those in the district in getting up to speed on the most pressing needs, including finalizing a plan for learning this fall and how to address the unclear funding picture with the state facing a $1.1-billion decrease in school aid anticipated for 2020-21. Despite some of the difficulties and challenges the current reality presents, Bezeau said it is an exciting time to be working in education because educators are recreating how schools work. We want to create a learning platform where students can be nimble, moving from in-person to blended learning situations, Bezeau said. Its a challenge, but educators are pretty creative and nimble themselves. Its exciting, but its certainly a time well have to work together. Regarding the potential for significant budget cuts, Bezeau said he is hoping to learn more about what type of support is available at the state and federal level while planning for the worst in the 2020-21 budget. The district is in a good position, he said. Theyve been good stewards of the publics money and Ill continue that tradition. Bezeau takes over a district that had been led by a familiar face in Saline Area Schools Superintendent Scot Graden, who filled the interim role at Manchester since mid-April, while still maintaining his job as Salines leader. Manchesters superintendent job opened up in November 2019 when Nick Steinmetz left to become superintendent of the Madison School District after about a year and a half on the job. The district first worked with the Washtenaw Intermediate School District to hire Kevin Upton, its achievement Initiatives coordinator, on an interim basis until Graden took over. After interviews, Bezeau was selected over Manchester Junior/Senior High School Principal Eric McCalla in a tightly contested process that saw board members favor Bezeau 4-3 over McCalla on June 1. Board of Education President Tom Mann said he believes Bezeau brings a diverse set of experiences to the district. I think from a personality standpoint, his demeanor is an attribute for him and how he carries himself, Mann said. I can envision him interacting with community members with the same enthusiasm as what he came to each of the interviews with. Board Vice President Chris Fegan said she also thinks the district will benefit from Bezeaus abilities as a communicator and his understanding of technology in the classroom. I really was impressed with the way he used the word we, she said. It wasnt all about him. It was how were going to continue this school district in a positive way. Bezeau said he understands rural school districts like Manchester face significant challenges with the current reality of distance learning, and wants to use the experiences it had this past spring to help in implementing learning plans this fall. If were going to live in this remote, distance learning world, there is an inequity right now with some of the rural districts like ours, Bezeau said. Its not just Manchester. How do we level the playing field for rural students in making sure they have the access they need to be successful in that new learning environment? There are ways to get creative. READ MORE: Saline superintendent brings stability to Manchester amid search for new superintendent, board says While other Michigan schools are making cuts, Ann Arbor isnt ready to hit the panic button yet Saline Area Schools hopeful for in-person graduation, fall classes AAPS announces new start date, what instruction might look like for 2020-21 While Turkey continues in its attempt to establish military bases in Libya, the question of Russian involvement also looms, complicating prospects of a political settlement to the civil war Forces of the Government of National Accord (GNA) are surrounding the city of Sirte in central Libya on the western flank since the beginning of June, after the city became a stronghold for the Libyan National Army (LNA) when it withdrew from areas in western Libya at the end of May. The city is now on the brink of a third war after two previous ones in 2011 and 2016, as it waits for the outcome of international wheeling and dealing about the city, especially between the US and Russia who are competing to use the Mediterranean military base there. Meanwhile, pressure and local mediation continue between the GNA and LNA to convince the latter to withdraw to the east. GNA forces are adamant on regaining control of Sirte. A meeting scheduled for Sunday in Istanbul for the Russian and Turkish ministers of defence and foreign affairs to discuss the Libyan crisis and the situation in Sirte was cancelled due to disagreement on the ceasefire and the GNA in Tripoli insisting on recapturing the city and Jufra Airbase. Turkey supports this position, as does the US which rejects Russian presence in Libya and establishing a Russian military base there. Turkey and Russia unexpectedly took centre stage in Libyan affairs at the beginning of the year when the GNA signed a security and maritime agreement with Ankara in late November 2019. Moscow, meanwhile, infused LNA ranks with Wagner Group fighters (a private Russian military company) during the campaign to seize control of Tripoli, and this advanced role came at the expense of regional and international powers that had been more involved in Libya over the past six years. Despite reports about a quarrel between Moscow and Ankara on the ceasefire in Libya, as reported by Turkish media, Foreign Minister Mouloud Jawish Oglu denied disagreement with Russia regarding the main principles in Libya, and stressed the importance of avoiding another failed truce. He said it would be unrealistic for Turks and Russians to take decisions without conferring with the Libyans, especially the legitimate government meaning the GNA that is resolute in reconquering Sirte and Jufra Airbase. Oglu told the press in Istanbul that we decided it would be more beneficial to continue talks on a technical level in reference to downgrading the cancelled ministerial talks. Turkey and Russia are raring to establish military bases in Libya. Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak said Thursday that Ankara is talking to the GNA about using Misrata Naval Base east of Tripoli and Al-Watiya Airbase southwest of the capital after revamping them, to establish itself south of the Mediterranean. Reuters news agency confirmed the news, quoting Turkish sources on Sunday. Al-Ahram Weekly reported as early as last December that Turkey is planning to build a military base in Libya. Russia, meanwhile, also wants a military base in eastern Libya after receiving a request two years ago from Haftar. Lev Dengov, head of Russias contact group on Libya, revealed this request to the press 18 February 2018. Libyan sources previously told the Weekly that Russia wants to build a large military base near Ajdabiya, close to the main oil fields and ports. In 2016, the US published reports that Russia wants to procure a military base near the eastern city of Derna. The US army reported that Russia deployed 14 fighter jets to Jufra Airbase, and with Wagner Group combatants and a few forces from the Russian army in Benghazi and Tobruk since mid-2016, it seems Russia is keenly eyeing Jufra Airbase, especially since it is close to the southern Mediterranean coast and the heart of the African continent. The US and Western powers are opposed to Russias overtures because they threaten the southern border of the NATO alliance. They also differ on strategic priorities in Libya, such as migration, war on terrorism and energy, as well as Turkeys advanced role in Libya due to the geo-strategic situation in North Africa. In 2018, US officials discussed with the head of the GNAs Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Sarraj, the possibility of using Ghardabiya Airbase south of Sirte in the war against terrorism, which is the same request made by France years earlier to the Libyan interim government. Washington objects to Russias presence in Libya, but not as much as Europe and the Middle East which are also opposed to a Turkish presence more than the US. Washington could view Ankaras role as beneficial, decisive and practical, unlike European powers who have failed on the Libya issue since the US delegated it to them nine years ago. France and Greece object to a Turkish presence in Libya for separate reasons. France believes a Turkish presence will undermine its influence in North Africa based on the understandings of the 1942 Operation Torch by the US army, which France employed post-World War II. Greece believes Turkey encroached on its rights during the demarcation of the GNA maritime borders. On both Sunday and Monday, the French presidency issued statements condemning Turkish intervention in Libya and accused Ankara of taking advantage of NATO for its own gains. It said this is unacceptable and called for a NATO meeting to discuss Turkeys role in Libya and urged the Turkish Foreign Ministry to end interference in Libya. This escalation by Paris is expected since it supported Haftar. A source in the GNA told the Weekly that Turkey and the Tripoli government are intent on recovering Sirte and Jufra, as confirmed by GNA Interior Minister Fathi Pashagha in earlier statements, as well as the southwest region which is historically known as Fezzan province. On the local level, there are domestic considerations that make it urgently necessary for the GNA to regain control of Sirte. Misrata residents believe they made many sacrifices in Sirte since the 2011 rebellion against the Gaddafi regime, including recapturing Sirte from Islamic State group control, when 700 Misratans died. Also, a substantial number of the 65,000 Sirte residents are originally from Misrata. Political and security leaders in Misrata view Sirte as an advanced line of defence for their city. Along with Misratans, most forces in western Libya prefer that the GNA regain control of Sirte and Jufra since they are on the eastern and southern border of West Tripoli province. This is the reason that fuelled mobilisation and media campaigns during the past nine years of war, as well as ideas for a political settlement, including regional and international initiatives (most recently the Cairo Declaration and the UN-sponsored Berlin Process). At the outbreak of war in Tripoli, some key players in Sirte such as the Gaddafi and Warfala tribes tried to distance the city from the conflict to avoid the ravages of war and destruction, so they struck a deal with the leaders in Misrata. However, once Haftars LNA forces entered the fray, the tripartite agreement signed by social, security and political leaders in Sirte and Misrata in April 2019 faltered. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A view of Baghdad international Airport, after Iraq has suspended flights at its domestic airports as the CCP virus spreads, in Baghdad, Iraq on March 17, 2020. (Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo/Reuters) 3 Katyusha Rockets Land Near Baghdad Airport: Iraqi Military BAGHDADThree Katyusha rockets landed near Baghdad International Airport late on Monday, the Iraqi military said. The military said it found rocket launchers with several rockets in a rural area in western Baghdad, and there were no reports of damage or casualties. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Iran-backed militias have been suspected to be behind a number of similar rocket attacks in Baghdad in recent months. Shimla, June 16 : Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Minister Virender Kanwar said on Tuesday that the state has started exporting fish from its reservoirs to the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi. He said a total of 600 metric tonnes of fish valuing Rs 683 lakh were produced from various fisheries till May after the lockdown was opened in the state. A total 17,549 kg of fish were sold in retail outlets in the state after April. The state has exported around 743.25 metric tonnes valuing Rs 1,857.73 lakh during the year 2019-2020, he added. He said that fish exports were affected due to the lockdown, but now the situation has begun to improve. Looking at the huge potential to increase the state's fish exports to the neighbouring states, the government is planning to promote export of exotic carps, singhara and trout in a big way due to their high demand and remunerative prices. Kanwar said the state has registered fish production of around 14,020.14 metric tonnes in 2019-20, while by September the state anticipates fish production of around 3,000 metric tonnes. He said that fish export hubs would be created in the state reservoirs and trout areas where export varieties like singhara, carp and rainbow trout would be promoted. Amid the lockdown, the government took several steps to encourage fisheries activities and 76,650 fish seeds were made available to private fish farmers and 77,245 fish seeds were stocked in fish cages at the Bhakra Dam and Bilaspur. In order to maintain the production rate of fish in the state, 5,900 kg trout feed was provided to various trout farms in different parts of the state and 3,239 kg trout feed was also provided to private trout farmers. After April 20, a total of 17,549 kg fish were sold in various retail outlets in the state. He said the Department of Fisheries has released a Rs 1.07 crore relief package to 5,350 state reservoir fishermen for compensating the losses accrued due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the state. Each fisherman was given a financial assistance of Rs 2,000 for the nearly month-long halt in fishing activities. Click here to read the full article. The roster of potential buyers for J.C. Penney Company Inc. is expanding. Ten days after news emerged that private equity firm Sycamore Partners is considering a purchase of the bankrupt retailer, a report is circulating that brand management firm Authentic Brands Group is in the middle of discussions with two of Americas biggest mall owners to snap up the storied chain. More from Footwear News According to Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the matter, ABG might join forces once again with Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners to pull JCPenney out of bankruptcy. Discussions remain fluid, it added, and the future of the beleaguered department store, which is undergoing reorganization after it filed for Chapter 11 protection in mid-May, remains in question. Should a deal transpire, the acquisition would add another notch in the belt for ABG and the retail landlords: Four months ago, the consortium of buyers became the new owners of teen mall staple Forever 21, which went bankrupt in September. As part of the buyout, ABG and Simon each own 37.5% of the fast-fashion chain, while Brookfield took control of the remaining 25% of Forever 21s intellectual property and operating businesses. Whats more, in 2016, ABG and Simon partnered with mall owner General Growth Properties now owned by Brookfield to save Aeropostale from liquidation. The purchase saved thousands of jobs and maintained operations at 700 stores around the world, including 400 in the U.S. and Canada. Separately, an exclusive Reuters report early this month revealed that Sycamore Partners was in preliminary talks to buy JCPenney outright or make an investment in the retailer. It is uncertain how much the private equity firm would be willing to pay for the struggling chain, or whether the talks will result in an agreement. Story continues At the time of its bankruptcy filing on May 15, 118-year-old JCPenney had about $500 million in cash at hand and received debtor-in-possession financing commitments of $900 million. It expects to shutter 242 units, or about 29% of its brick-and-mortar fleet, by February. The company, which employs about 85,000 people, is also in the process of reducing its staff. FN has reached out to JCPenney as well as Authentic Brands Group, Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners for comment. Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Military says it will re-enter border areas demilitarised under a 2018 inter-Korean pact if leaflet campaigns continue. North Koreas army will re-enter border areas demilitarised under a peace pact with South Korea if defector groups there continue with their campaign to send propaganda leaflets across the border, state media said on Tuesday. The General Staff of the Korean Peoples Army (KPA) said it has been studying an action plan to re-enter zones that had been demilitarised under a 2018 inter-Korean pact and turn the front line into a fortress. Our army will rapidly and thoroughly implement any decisions and orders of the Party and government, the KPA said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency. Tensions have risen over the leaflets, which are usually sent across the border by balloon and carry messages critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with Pyongyang threatening to sever inter-Korean ties and take retaliatory measures. Seouls defence ministry called for Pyongyang to abide by the 2018 agreement, in which both sides promised to end all hostile acts and dismantled a number of structures along the heavily-fortified Demilitarized Zone between the two countries. Maintaining readiness Were taking the situation seriously, ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo told a briefing. Our military is maintaining readiness posture to be able to respond to any situation. Several defector-led groups send leaflets, together with food, one-dollar bills, mini radios and USB sticks containing South Korean dramas and news, over the border and have said they will continue with their planned campaign this week despite the North Korean threats and South Korea saying it will take legal action. On Saturday, Kim Yo Jong, who serves as a senior official of the ruling Workers Party and is Kims sister, said she ordered the military to prepare for unspecified next action. South Korea said the defector groups actions increase cross-border tensions, pose risks to residents living near the border and cause environmental damage. The sending of leaflets across the border was also banned under the 2018 agreement. South Koreas President Moon Jae-in urged Pyongyang on Monday to keep peace agreements reached by the two leaders and return to dialogue. & #13; Scouring the FTSE 100 for companies that havent slid into a deep and painful hole during lockdown can be tricky, but Ashtead answered investors prayers on Monday. The equipment rentals giant proved a rarity, toasting a resilient performance during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ashtead, a supplier of cranes and temporary power generators, shot to the top of the blue-chip index, with the shares up 243.26p, or 10%, to 2660.26p as it maintained its final dividend. Shareholders welcomed news that, although business was quieter in the second half of March and April, there was still plenty of work to keep it busy, including providing tools to construction sites that remained open and getting barriers to 495 UK supermarkets to help aid social distancing while people queued. Group sales for the year to April rose 9% to over 5 billion. Underlying pre-tax profit was 4% lower at 1.1 billion but Ashtead kept its divi of 33.5p, returning 40.65p for the full year. Meanwhile, the company could benefit from overnight news that the Trump administration is eyeing a near $1 trillion infrastructure proposals. Ashtead generates around 90% of its revenues in North America, and a note from Deutsche Bank said the package news should be positive for the [Ashtead] stock. Overall the FTSE 100 improved 125.98 points to 6190.68 while the FTSE 250 was up 431.34 points at 17520.51. Among the risers on the FTSE 250 index was energy industry engineering firm Wood Group. It said it has won two major contracts with an unnamed American power and energy company worth over $200 million. Wood Group said it will deliver two solar projects in Virginia. Stephanie Cox, chief executive of Woods asset solutions Americas business , said: We are seeing an unstoppable momentum towards a lower-carbon energy environment. Shares in the firm rose 18.4p, or 8.72%, to 229.3p. Outsourcer Capita also updated on a contract win. It has secured work with Irish Water, worth 10 million a year, over five years, to help with its customer contact centre services. Shares in Capita rose 4p to 44.84p. Elsewhere today Braemar Shipping Services was also in favour, up 4.26p to 123.26p. The maritime services firm posted a 2.5% increase in revenue and 5.5% rise in underlying operating profit for the year to February. Small cap spotlight AIM-listed fashion retailer Joules, known for its wellies and jackets, today cheered a jump in online sales for the lockdown period. Group pretax losses for the year to May will be in the range of 2 million to 3 million, but that is in line with expectations and largely due to Covid-19 disruption. Joules has now started reopening sites that had to close due to the virus outbreak, and said online sales from the start of lockdown to May 31 were 40% higher than a year earlier. Protests were held in Kathmandu on Monday against Oli government with students demanding an end to corruption and slamming the government over its inefficiency in handling the Covid-19 situation. Hundreds of protesting students highlighted corruption of KP Sharma Oli government and demanded strong action in such cases. They accused the government of lacking efficiency in dealing with the situation created by coronavirus and said there was lack of support and initiatives to local businesses who had suffered badly and were reeling under the impact of the Covid-19. The youth also said that the government had not taken any measures to tackle unemployment and dignity of common man was falling. Read also: Nepals Upper House endorses proposal seeking consideration to update countrys new map Read also: Hundreds of youths protest in Nepal against governments response to COVID-19 About 500 students took part in the protest at Baneshwor in Kathmandu. Various groups of youngsters have continued to demonstrate in Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal demanding that the government be more accountable about measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. They have been demanding PCR tests, implementing four-tier triage approach for all at risk, protecting frontline health care and hospital workers, providing legally-binding protection against stigma and discrimination in suspected or positive Covid-19 cases. They are also demanding dignity and relief measures for daily-wage workers, returnee migrants, the poor and marginalized communities and a commitment to transparency and accountability by sharing all COVID-management details including budget allocation and expenditure. The protestors are demanding that the government be more transparent in expenses incurred in attempts to control the pandemic. Read also: Amendment to include controversial new map passed in Nepals lower house For all the latest World News, download NewsX App People march in solidarity with protests in the United States on June 6, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) 12 New COVID-19 Cases Found in Victoria on June 15 Victorias chief health officer is not convinced coronavirus was spread at Black Lives Matter rallies, despite a second protester testing positive to the virus on June 15. Brett Sutton confirmed the young woman tested positive to COVID-19 after attending the June 6 rally in Melbournes CBD but it is very unlikely she contracted it there or passed it on to others. (She) took a great deal of care in terms of having a distance with others and I think is unlikely to have acquired it there given that there are a whole number of other places that this individual has gone to without PPE, Sutton told reporters on Monday. While he was not convinced there had been community transmission at the Black Lives Matter protests, Sutton urged anyone who has developed coronavirus symptoms to get tested. Its really in that first week that people overwhelmingly develop symptoms, so any cases really should be out there now, he said. The woman was one of 12 new COVID-19 cases in Victoria on Monday, bringing the states total to 1732. Seven of the new cases are linked to a family outbreak spread across households in Broadmeadows, Coburg and Pakenham, with 11 family members testing positive to the virus so far. Among them are four schoolchildren, prompting the closure of Pakenham Springs Primary School and St Dominics Primary School in Broadmeadows. Two other cases recorded on Monday were linked to a patient of Monash Health, one was a returned traveller in hotel quarantine and another case remains under investigation. Despite the double-digit increase in new cases, Sutton remains confident restrictions will be eased on-schedule next week. Benita Kolovos NEW DELHI : Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday said that foreign airlines have operated 870 chartered flights, carrying around two lakh stranded people to their destinations amid the coronavirus-triggered lockdown. These charted flights were foreign airlines transporting stranded people to their destinations amid coronavirus lockdown. "In addition to facilitating the Vande Bharat Mission, DGCA granted permission to around 870 chartered flights, transporting around 2 lakh passengers, both inbound and outbound. Several Airlines helped in the humanitarian mission of taking stranded people to their destinations," tweeted the DGCA. In addition to facilitating the Vande Bharat Mission, DGCA granted permission to around 870 chartered flights, transporting around 2 lakh passengers, both inbound & outbound. Several Airlines helped in the humanitarian mission of taking stranded people to their destinations. DGCA (@DGCAIndia) June 15, 2020 In another tweet informing about the airline taking part in the operations, the DGCA said, "Major airlines including Qatar Airways-81, KLM Dutch-68, Kuwait Air-41, British Airways-39, FlyDubai-38, Air France-32, Jazeera-30, Air Arabia-20, Gulf Air-19, Sri Lankan-19, Biman Bangladesh-15, Korean Air-14, Delta-13, Saudia-13 and Air Nippon-12 took part in the operations." Major airlines including Qatar Airways-81, KLM Dutch-68, Kuwait Air-41, British Airways-39, FlyDubai-38, Air France-32, Jazeera-30, Air Arabia-20, Gulf Air-19, Sri Lankan-19, Biman Bangladesh-15, Korean Air-14, Delta-13, Saudia-13 & Air Nippon-12 took part in the operations. DGCA (@DGCAIndia) June 15, 2020 "Additionally, Airlines like Air New Zealand-12, Thai Air Asia-11, United Airlines-11, Iraqi Airways-11, Oman Air-10, Ural Airlines-9, Lufthansa-8, Somon Air-8, Condour-8, Emirates-5, Etihad-5, Aeroflot-4 & Virgin Atlantic-4 also took part in the chartered operations," the DGCA said in another tweet. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics A self-proclaimed holy man who claimed to be able to miraculously cure people all of their ailments, including Covid-19, by simply kissing their hands, recently died of Covid-19. The man, known only as Aslam, told followers in Ratlam, Indias Madhya Pradesh state, that his kiss-cure was full proof and would cure them of all ailments. Unfortunately, Aslams wonder cure didnt seem to work so well on himself, as on June 3 he was diagnosed with Covid-19, and sadly succumbed to the diseases the very next day. As soon as the news of his demise spread through the community, his followers started coming forward, and as it turns out, instead of curing people of coronavirus infection, his special kisses only helped the virus spread. Photo: Katrina Holmgren/Unsplash Authorities in Ratlam sprung into action as soon as the known healer tested positive, and started locating people who had recently used his services. Out of the 40 people they tested, 20 tested positive for Coronavirus. In fact, out of the 24 confirmed cases in Ratlam on June 9th, a whopping 13 had come into close contact with Aslam. Twenty of them, including seven of his family, have tested positive, the health departments Ruchika Chouha told the Times of India newspaper. Indian officials recently found at least 29 other so-called holy men offering similar cures, some of which turned out to be more sure-ways of spreading the novel coronavirus faster. According to OPIndia, some of these healers have the habit of blowing into the water they make their followers drink, which only puts them at higher risk of infection. Aslam isnt the first healer to claim he had the ability to rid the world of the potentially deadly coronavirus. A few months back, a known Nigerian pastor vowed to travel to China and destroy the dreaded virus. He was smart enough not to carry out that mission, though. Hyundai Card Vice Chairman Chung Tae-young, right, and Starbucks Coffee Korea CEO Song Ho-seob brew coffee at the U.S. coffeehouse chain's The Jongno R branch in downtown Seoul, Monday. The card firm said Tuesday the two companies agreed to launch a Starbucks-branded private label credit card during the second half of this year. / Courtesy of Hyundai Card Two Munich Re subsidiaries recently made new executive appointments. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance an executive to be Senior Care Leader, Healthcare Professional Liability in the U.S. *** Two Munich Re subsidiaries recently made new executive appointments. Cathy Smith has been appointed Chief Risk and Underwriting Officer for Munich Re America Services, Inc. and Kamalesh (Kam) Jha was named Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriting Officer for American Modern. Smith is based in Princeton, New Jersey, and reports to Tony Kuczinski, President and Chief Executive Officer, Munich Re US Holding. Kam Jha succeeds Smith, at American Modern, as the Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriting Officer. Jha is based in Amelia, Ohio, and reports to Andreas Kleiner, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Modern. In her new role, Smith oversees regional underwriting and pricing, as well as Integrated Risk Management for the Munich Re U.S. P&C Companies which consists of Munich Reinsurance America, Inc., American Modern, HSB, and the Munich Re Specialty Insurance operations. Previously, Smith served as Senior Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer at American Modern, a role she had held since 2017. She joined American Modern in the Amelia, Ohio, home office in 2015 as Vice President, Regional Product Management, and shortly afterward was named Vice President, Head of Product and Underwriting. Before joining American Modern, Smith held various leadership roles in personal and commercial lines insurance operations management at several U.S. property and casualty insurance companies. Jha joins American Modern with more than 20 years of experience in technology and insurance. In his new job as Chief Underwriting Office, he is responsible for execution of the American Modern product and underwriting strategy. Jha will also become a member of the Executive Management Board of American Modern. Before joining the company, Jha held several executive roles at various insurance organizations, where he helped lead the utilization of new innovation solutions. He brings in-depth experience in personal lines products as well as data analytics and is skilled at bridging the interface between insurance products and technology solutions, the company said. *** Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance promoted Austin Elkin to Senior Care Leader, Healthcare Professional Liability in the U.S. Elkin takes over the role from Mary Nolan, who is currently overseeing the launch of BHSIs new Senior Care Primary Auto offering, but will retire in September following a 30-year career. Elkin joined BHSI in 2013 as Senior Underwriter, Healthcare Professional Liability. He previously served as a large account Underwriter on the Healthcare team at Zurich Insurance Group. Austin will continue to be based in BHSIs office in Atlanta. Sources: Munich Re and BHSI Donald Trump addresses a crowd in Charlotte, NC, at his last in-person rally before the coronavirus lockdown: Reuters Donald Trump has been hit by a rash of polls showing Joe Biden pulling ahead of him and now, a new survey by Scott Rasmussen for website Just the News shows him falling behind Mr Biden nationally by 12 points. According to Mr Rasmussens results, Mr Biden would win 48 per cent of the national vote to Mr Trumps 36 if there election were held today. It would worry any sitting president to poll at less than 40 per cent at this point in the election, but Mr Trump is especially invested in his own numbers, which he regularly shows off on Twitter. The latest poll will be particularly galling for the president given it comes from Mr Rasmussen, founder of Rasmussen Reports. The company is one of the only pollsters whose results Mr Trump routinely cites when celebrating his own numbers. frequently writing that it was an outlier in predicting he would win the 2016 election. However, the company has previously been criticised for its methodology, which some say tends to produce Republican-tilted results, and the data analysis website FiveThirtyEight has rated it only C+ for quality. And while the companys prediction for that election was indeed one of the closest among the major pollsters, it did not in fact predict Mr Trump would win the popular vote and nor did he, instead losing it to Hillary Clinton by one point. Mr Bidens numbers, meanwhile, are holding up steadily across numerous polls, and not just nationally. Recent surveys show him almost tying Mr Trump in Iowa, which Mrs Clinton lost badly, and trouncing the president in Michigan, one of Mr Trumps most important and narrowest victories. Across the board, Mr Biden is now polling slightly better against Mr Trump than Mrs Clinton was at this distance from election day. However, the comparison is somewhat muddled by the advent of the coronavirus pandemic and knock-on recession and the relatively early and smooth end to the Democratic primary; at this point in 2016, Bernie Sanders had not yet conceded the race. Story continues The Trump campaign recently demanded CNN retract a poll which showed the president losing to Mr Biden by 14 points, threatening the network with legal action for a stunt and a phony poll to cause voter suppression, stifle momentum and enthusiasm for the president, and present a false view generally of the actual support across America for the president. CNN refused the campaigns demand, its executive vice president pointing out that to the extent we have received legal threats from political leaders in the past, they have typically come from countries like Venezuela. Mr Trump has many times used Twitter to trumpet his supposedly near-unanimous approval rating among Republicans, raising the number over the years without ever providing a source. In recent months, he has consistently proclaimed it to be 96 per cent even as his rating among the American electorate writ large sits somewhere at 55 per cent disapproval. ERS' COVID Dashboard We want to help retailers and their suppliers maximize their opportunities and minimize their pain during these exceedingly difficult times - Jim Lewis, Founder and CEO at ERS Enhanced Retail Solutions (ERS), an Inventory Planning and Retail Analytic Specialist serving suppliers, licensors and their retail trading partners and Planalytics, pioneers of climate-driven solutions, announce a Webinar to help retailers and their suppliers maximize their opportunities and minimize their pain during these exceedingly difficult times. There are a number of external variables that constantly influence consumer purchasing decisions. Weather is constantly throwing retailers a curve and the recent pandemic has significantly changed demand trends. History is no longer a reliable benchmark to work from. New algorithms will need to be created and smart, experienced demand planners will need to pressure test assumptions to optimize inventory productivity. This webinar shows how weather-informed demand analytics provides businesses with the visibility and actionable metrics they need to capture more sales, improve inventory productivity, and reduce costs. The webinar will be held on Thursday, June 25th at noon. Topics include: Measuring the impact of weather on sales with weather-driven demand How to best allocate door level inventory based on store reopenings + weather Identifying sales opportunities and risks throughout the selling season Review of recent spring weather impacts and a look at weather-based opportunities and risks for the summer How to optimize sell through of seasonal merchandize Q&A More information and registration are available here. Companies seeking more retailer-specific COVID-19 resources can find them here or by joining ERS LinkedIn Group. We want to help retailers and their suppliers maximize their opportunities and minimize their pain during these exceedingly difficult times, says Jim Lewis, Founder and CEO at Enhanced Retail Solutions. We and Planalytics want to share our knowledge and experience across many verticals, suppliers and retailers in this Webinar. About Enhanced Retail Solutions LLC: Enhanced Retail Solutions is a service-oriented business with the goal of helping retailers, suppliers and brands turn their inventory faster, forecast more accurately and provide deeper visibility to sales. With a fusion of consulting and software solutions, ERS can more specifically meet their clients needs at any level- quickly and affordably. ERS' broad customer base includes industry leaders in the electronics, consumer products, apparel, footwear, home textile, toy, home decor, home improvement, housewares, jewelry and food industries. Headquartered in New York City, Enhanced Retail Solutions has offices in the Dallas, TX and development in the US, Cork, Ireland and Delhi, India. For more information, visit https://www.EnhancedRetailSolutions.com. About Planalytics: Planalytics is the global leader in Business Weather Intelligence helping companies effectively assess and proactively address how the weather impacts their business. Their analytics, online tools and services help companies measure and manage the impact of weather throughout all facets of an organization. For more information, visit: https://www.planalytics.com/ June 18 Event Spotlights Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness, Other Regulatory Developments Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions is hosting an informational webinar dedicated to discussing lender compliance considerations and impacts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. This complimentary event, "Keeping a Focus on Compliance in the Face of COVID-19," takes place at 3 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 18. Regulatory experts from Compliance Solutions' U.S. Advisory Services group speaking at this event include Thomas Grundy, CRCM, Senior Director, CMS and Regulatory Consulting; Britt Faircloth, CRCM, Consulting Manager, Fair and Responsible Banking; Lori Lennemann, Senior Regulatory Consultant; Ann-Marie Lefebvre, Consulting Manager; and Neal Doherty, Consulting Manager. The pandemic is creating broad groups of vulnerable people, and protective regulatory programs are being rolled out in response. Compliance officers are operating through remote workforces, disrupted client contact, and hastily assembled regulatory programs, all while anticipating the potential for eventual regulatory scrutiny. Wolters Kluwer regulatory experts will share strategies for maintaining compliance in the face of pandemic-driven regulatory developments with a focus on: Fairness in Servicing: A compliance deep dive on mortgages and consumer credit A compliance deep dive on mortgages and consumer credit Paycheck Protection Program: A look at compliance review considerations A look at compliance review considerations Community Reinvestment Act: Capturing and reporting COVID-related community development activities A recording of the informational webinar will be available approximately 48 hours after the event; visit the TSoftPlus website for details. Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions is a market leader and trusted provider of risk management and regulatory compliance solutions and services to U.S. banks and credit unions, insurers and securities firms. The business, which sits within Wolters Kluwer's Governance, Risk Compliance (GRC) division, helps these financial institutions efficiently manage compliance obligations tied to loan and deposit origination transactions and workflows, manage risk and other regulatory compliance obligations, and gain the insights needed to focus on better serving their customers and growing their business. Wolters Kluwer's TSoftPlus PPP Forgiveness Module is one of several expert solutions launched by the company's GRC division in response to the COVID-19 crisis, including the Business Entity Search for CARES Act solution, offered by Wolters Kluwer's Lien Solutions business, which conducts bulk/batch corporate identity searches to verify the business status of potential borrowers. COVID-19 Noteworthy Developments Bulletins, meanwhile, aggregates COVID-19 related global regulatory changes, orders, notices and other informational updates for the financial services industry. The division has also launched a COVID-19 resource center to provide businesses and law firms with international, federal and state legislative updates. About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk Compliance Governance, Risk Compliance (GRC) is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance. Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005270/en/ Contacts: Paul Lyon Director of Global Corporate Communications, Banking Regulatory Compliance Governance, Risk Compliance Wolters Kluwer Office +44 20 3197 6586 Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com David Feider Corporate Communications Manager, Banking Regulatory Compliance Governance, Risk Compliance Division Wolters Kluwer Tel: +1 612-852-7966 David.Feider@wolterskluwer.com On Twitter: @davidafeider Mumbai, June 16 : Actor Karan Tacker took to Instagram Stories to explain why he posted work-related content at a time when everyone is mourning the loss of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. "While it might seem a bit insensitive to some to be putting up work posts given the current situation. But there are some professional commitments that could not be avoided. Thank you for understanding. I am just as shook as you are," Karan explained. Sushant was found hanging at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on Sunday. He was just 34. His funeral on Monday was attended by his family, who flew in from Patna, and industry colleagues including Vivek Oberoi, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Sharma and Abhishek Kapoor. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text India: Shrimp hatchery operators import broodstock from US June 16,2020 | Source: The Hindu Business Line Strict bio-security protocol followed by Aquatic Quarantine Facility ensures high survival percentage of the imported shrimp, says MPEDA Chairman KS Srinivas. For the first time since its inception in 2009, the Aquatic Quarantine Facility (AQF), a premier institution of RGCA-MPEDA, received 3,600 numbers of L. vannamei (Whiteleg shrimp) broodstock imported by Indias shrimp hatchery operators from Hawaii in June, through rigorous quarantine measures. The import of broodstock, which came as a single consignment from a single source, was facilitated by a chartered flight by six hatchery operators on June 4. The broodstock were successfully quarantined for five days and handed over to the hatchery operators with 97.12 per cent survival on June 8. MPEDA Chairman KS Srinivas said the SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) status of all the broodstock was confirmed by screening of OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) and non-OIE-listed pathogens. Although the broodstock arrived at the airport 10 hours later than the scheduled time, the strict bio-security protocol followed in the AQF ensured their successful quarantining and high survival percentage. The dedicated and positive efforts of the AQF team ensured better survival of the brooders during these difficult times of quarantine, and such an initiative was highly appreciated by the hatchery operators and farmers, he noted. Srinivas said the remarkable feat would play an important role in sustaining the shrimp farming sector in the country. He also appreciated the help rendered by the Coastal Aquaculture Authority for the successful operation of AQF in these difficult times. India holds second position in shrimp production in the world mainly due to L. vannamei species, and Chennai-based AQF has rendered unstinted service in supporting the Whiteleg shrimp farming sector in the country. Opened to hatcheries During the Covid-19 pandemic and prolonged lockdown, AQF was made open to the hatchery operators in May and meticulous planning was done to accommodate maximum hatcheries and import maximum broodstock to ensure that the hatcheries get adequate brooders to produce seeds, he said. AQF is operated by the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquatics, an institution under the MPEDA. At present, there are 20 cubicles for quarantining 4,12,500 L. Vannamei broodstock a year and an average 2.5 lakh of broodstock are being quarantined in the AQF every year. It has so far quarantined more than 15 lakh Whiteleg shrimp broodstock imported by shrimp hatchery operators in the country. The facility also caters to the quarantining of Post Parental Larvae (PPL) of Whiteleg shrimp and of imported broodstock of P. Monodon (giant tiger prawn or Asian tiger shrimp) as well. Beginning June 20, Pedal Oak Park bike tours through Oak Parks historic neighborhoods will also resume. Each tour is two hours in length and will visit 21 Wright-designed structures in Oak Park. Trust officials said a new 75-minute outdoor Wright in the Neighborhood guided tour will also be available, which explores the neighborhood around the Home and Studio. Tuesday, June 16, 2020 Sarah Skidmore, a member of our Emerging Fellows program publishes a blog post full of entrepreneurial questions on Africa. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the APF or its other members. The past fifteen years have been marked by notable advancements in infrastructure systems throughout the continent. Yet critical infrastructure problems with energy, transportation, and water still exist for millions of Africans. Looking at the contemporary history of infrastructure investment, African governmental leaders have dedicated finances to buildout. They have also growingly accepted foreign investment (particularly from Chinese investors) to fund projects. Though foreign investment is not new and certainly not a 2020 discovery, the repercussions the African people might experience due to foreign indebtedness over the next three decades must not be overlooked. As foreign investors continue to support infrastructure projects in Africa, at what point might the magnitude of foreign indebtedness reach a tipping point for the African people? With infrastructure projects totaling over two trillion in dollars slated for the coming years, how might funding decisions by African leaders today impact the lives of the African people in the next three decades? Do current funding decisions allow for long-term sustainability or rather burden the African people with a catastrophic debt? Debt financed infrastructure investment is often the default standard practice. Over recent decades international investors and private equity funds have canvased infrastructure projects throughout the continent. From an international investor perspective, Africa is a haven for risky yet lucrative financial returns. Public Private Partnerships (PPP), like Africa50, is another means of infrastructure investment in which the African government works alongside the private sector. What do the African people gain from these multi-billion dollar financed endeavors? Or rather, what are the African people potentially losing in decades to come as they are saddled with enormous debt? How does billions of dollars in debt allow for unlocking the potential of Africa by 2050? At what point might the African people opt for a different approach to infrastructure development? At what point may a bottom-up movement from the African people overcome the top-down approach currently used by African leaders? How might a more localized, micro-development approach to infrastructure development better fuel African entrepreneurialism opposed to large-scale macro-development infrastructure projects? Consider what a bottom-up approach to development may look like. Energy is an essential starting point. Imagine the power that accompanies capturing and creating energy locally everything from running sanitation systems, to supporting humanitarian efforts, and even to promoting educational initiatives. As oil and gas discoveries in East Africa attract international industry, micro-grid electricity offers localized opportunities for the African people. Micro-grids for instance offer a sustainable and clean approach to fueling rural infrastructure needs throughout the continent. How might localized micro-grids impact a farm owner, a restaurant owner, or even an entrepreneur? There is no denying that Africa is in need of infrastructure development. After decades of unsuccessful top-down to development, what benefits may arise from shifting toward a bottom-up approach? What benefits may local communities, their economies, and their entrepreneurial initiatives experience with a bottom-up approach? How might the next three decades be different than the past five decades if a bottom-up approach to infrastructure development replaces the top-down approach so prevalent throughout the continent? As the African people are projected to hold 25% of the global talent in 2050, activating local and sustainable solutions when establishing critical infrastructure sets Africa on a new trajectory. A trajectory that empowers local entrepreneurship and leverages local talent all the while establishing critical infrastructure. How might altering the current approach to infrastructure development shift from a future of unsustainable debt toward a future of sustainability? A future where the African people are thriving and unlocking potential? Sarah Skidmore 2020 A California pastor and nearly all of his 160 parishioners refused to cooperate with COVID-19 contact tracers after one churchgoer with the virus attended a Mother's Day service, a new report has revealed. The Butte County Public Health Office said that they believed as many 180 congregants of The Palermo Bible Family Church could've been exposed to the virus back on May 10, after an attendee tested positive for COVID-19 the day after attending a service. The service was held against the orders shelter-in-place orders of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had banned religious congregations from gathering in-person at the time. The county dispatched a team to track and contain the disease, though their efforts were thwarted almost as quickly as they had begun after the church and the vast majority of its members refused to share information with health officials, the Sacramento Bee reported. As consequence, the six contract tracers assigned to the investigation were only able to speak with 25 of the church's 163 parishioners - of which only 15 percent were actually present at the Mother's Day service. The Butte County Public Health Office said that they believed as many 180 congregants of The Palermo Bible Family Church could've been exposed to the virus back on May 10, after an attendee tested positive for the virus the day after attending a service (Pictured: Pastor Michael Jacobsen during a Sunday Service on June 14) The county dispatched a team to track and contain the disease, though their efforts were thwarted almost as quickly as they had begun after the church (above) and the vast majority of its members refused to share information with health officials, the Sacramento Bee reported. A statement released by the church at the time suggested they were working with the county's health department - a claim since denied by its director Danette York Butte County's health director, Danette York, said her staff has no idea how many of the church members and their close contacts were tested in the days after the service. It also remains unclear how many quarantined themselves. In a May 16 email York voiced frustration at the lack of cooperation from the church and its pastor, Michael Jacobsen. Two days later, county health nurse Monica Soderstrom said in an email that Jacobsen had told her he had passed the county's wishes to speak with parishioners to his congregation, though refused to provide any further information. 'He said that he is unwilling to release a list of church members and contact info due to confidentiality reasons and is claiming clergy privilege,' Soderstrom wrote according to the Bee, conceding she couldn't force him to cooperate. Jacobsen has since said he did self-quarantine though remained unapologetic for holding the in-person service against the orders of Gov. Newsom in an online sermon last week. 'I dont feel the like the decision we made was irresponsible,' Jacobsen said, adding that the infected congregant wasnt feeling any symptoms while attending the Mothers Day service at the church. 'They didnt do it intentionally,' he continued. 'It was never in my heart to put our church in harms way.' Jacobsen said he felt compelled to bring his congregation together after two months of lockdown. 'May I just say to all of our church, you dont need to defend us,' he said. 'When Jesus went before Pilate, he didnt defend himself. So I dont feel the need.' Jacobsen has since said he did self-quarantine though remained unapologetic for holding the in-person service against the orders of Gov. Newsom in an online sermon last week The in-person service was held against the orders shelter-in-place orders of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had banned religious congregations from meeting at the time While Butte County seems to have managed to avoid a major coronavirus outbreak, the foiled investigation into the church shed light on the challenges county health departments face in areas where skepticism of government institutions is high. Contract tracers are assigned to track the movements of new COVID-19 patients to help determine who may have come into contact with the virus. The investigators then contact those individuals and encourage them to get tested and to self-quarantine in order to prevent a large outbreak. Butte health director Danette York told the Sacramento Bee that she believes the congregants reluctance to cooperate was because the church was violating Newsom's orders and they felt 'protective of one another and the church itself.' 'I dont feel the like the decision we made was irresponsible,' Jacobsen said, adding that the infected congregant wasnt feeling any symptoms while attending the Mothers Day service at the church. 'They didnt do it intentionally,' he continued. 'It was never in my heart to put our church in harms way' At the time of the mid-May service, Newsom had controversially banned public mass meetings, including religious congregations, from occurring. The order spurred a revolt from religious leaders and a series of legal challenges across California. In excess of 1,200 pastors declared they would be holding in-person services on May 31. During the same week, an appeals court sided with Newsom after a church in San Diego sued to have the ban overturned. The order has since been eased, with religious groups now allowed to meet in person but only ib congregations of 100 people or less. 'They thought they were going to be judged for attending a service that had not been opened up yet in the state,' she said, 'and I believe they are very protective of the pastor and were afraid he would be judged and so they were more reluctant than they would have been under other circumstances.' York however insists the role of a contract tracer is not to pass judgement, but rather save lives. 'They are about getting information to try to prevent the spread of a communicable disease,' she told the Bee. 'It has nothing to do with what the individual has done or has not done or what they attended or how they were exposed. But that doesnt necessarily come across at the time when people are worried.' York said only one other person tied to the church is known to have contracted the virus. However, in the two weeks after the Mother's Day service, the county did see a spike in coronavirus cases. Nonetheless, York said none of the people who later tested positive in Butte County said they had gone to the service at Palermo Bible Family Church. Jacobsen also criticized the decision to ban church services when business, such as supermarkets were still allowed to remain open As of Tuesday, Butte County has had 71 reported cases of coronavirus and one death since the pandemic began three months ago. The Palermo Bible Family Church has held at least two in-person services since May 31, posts to its Facebook page would suggest. During the same June 7 service in which he voiced no remorse for holding the Mother's Service, Jacobsen compared his experience quarantining to being under house arrest. 'They might as well put an ankle bracelet on me,' he said. 'The only difference is I have broken no laws.' Jacobsen also criticized the decision to ban church services when business, such as supermarkets were still allowed to remain open. 'What I found out during this pandemic is you cant catch this at Walmart,' he said. 'You cant catch the virus at Home Depot. You cant catch the virus at liquor stores, marijuana shops. Can I be so bold? You cant catch it at strip joints. The one place you can catch it is singing and worshiping the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And yes! Yes! I might be a little bit bitter. Just a little bit.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the chief ministers for over two days - Tuesday and Wednesday - to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the wake of rapidly spreading coronavirus disease. On Tuesday afternoon, PM Modi will hold a video-conference with chief ministers, Lieutenant Governors and administrators of 21 states and union territories. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage These include Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and the North-Eastern states. The situation in Delhi will be discussed separately on Wednesday along with Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This will be the PM Modis sixth round of consultation with the chief ministers, the last being on May 11. The main objective of the meeting, according to officials, is to keep the death rate, or the case fatality rate low. A detailed action plan for this purpose has already been chalked out, they added, and PM Modi may even raise the issue in his meeting with chief ministers. Click here to follow Covid-19 live updates Even as Indias average death rate has remained low at 2.9 - the global average is 5.4% - the concern, the officials said, is that over 80% of the total deaths in the country are from just five states: Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. We have also noted with concern that 65 districts of India have more than 5% fatality rate. And the largest chunk, 19, of those districts are in Madhya Pradesh, followed by 11 in Gujarat and 10 each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, said one of the officials who asked not to be identified. In Madhya Pradesh, Mandla, Sehore, Umaria and Chhindwara are among the districts; in UP, Lalitpur, Jhansi, Meerut and Agra; and in Maharashtra, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Dhule, and Aurangabad. The situation in Delhi was already discussed in detail in a series of meetings held by Union home minister Amit Shah in the last two days. Apart from Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, he also met the mayors and other officials from Delhi to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the national capital. Shah also held an all-party meeting where leaders from different political parties offered solution to tackle to crisis. Meanwhile, Indias Covid-19 tally crossed 3.3 lakh on Monday and the death toll surpassed 9,500. These include nearly 1.53 active cases, as close to 1.7 lakh have recovered already to give a recovery rate of over 51 per cent, the health ministry said. Lenders have communicated to the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that they are opposed to an interest waiver on loans during the moratorium period. Representatives of banks met officials from the finance ministry and the RBI on June 15 to finalise the government's decision on the subject, The Economic Times reported. Officials from the Indian Banks Association (IBA) and the heads of some state-run lenders were present at the meeting, the report said. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. "Banks led by IBA have presented key points to the finance ministry pertaining to the moratorium and how it will hit their bottom line if any waiver is granted," a source told the paper. Also read: View | Supreme Court shouldn't meddle with loan moratorium "How is it fair to banks that we have to the compensate borrowers and also keep paying depositors, shouldnt banks also seek moratorium or waiver to pay interests on deposits?" the source added. The RBI granted a moratorium on term loans whose instalments are due between March 1 and May 31, which was later extended till the end of August. The moratorium is intended to provide borrowers some relief during the COVID-19 outbreak and consequent lockdown. The IBA might file a separate application which would state that a waiver on the interest would hurt the financial system, the report said. The central bank had on June 4 communicated to the Supreme Court (SC) that lenders might lose around 2 lakh crore if interest is waived completely during the moratorium. Such a burden would hurt the financial viability of banks, the RBI added. The State Bank of India on June 12 filed an intervention application in the SC against the plea seeking interest waiver on term loans during the moratorium. The apex court will next hear the interest waiver case on June 17. New Delhi: Markets ended in the red on Monday amidst negative global cues. The BSE Sensex fell 552.09 points or 1.63 percent to end at 33,228.80. The NSE Nifty on the other hand finished 159.20 points or 1.60 percent to 9,813.70. Here are the Stocks in focus on June 16, 2020 Tata Motors The Auto major on Monday reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 9,864 crore in the January to March quarter (Q4 FY20) as compared to a net profit of Rs 1,109 crore in Q4 FY19.Total revenue from operations declined to Rs 62,493 crore in Q4 FY20 from 86,422 crore in the corresponding period of previous fiscal. Total income dropped to Rs 63,057 crore from Rs 87,286 crore in the same period. Pfizer Drug firm Pfizer Ltd on Monday reported a 5.90 per cent decline in net profit at Rs 103.01 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 109.47 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, Pfizer said in a filing to the BSE. Aarti Industries Ltd Chemicals maker Aarti Industries Ltd (AIL) on Monday said its long-term contract with a global firm to supply agrochemicals worth Rs 4,000 crore has been cancelled. In a regulatory filing, AIL informed that the company in June 2017 had entered a 10-year contract with a global agrochemical major to supply a high-value agrochemical intermediary with application in herbicides. Lakshmi Vilas Bank The board of the bank on Monday considered a proposal for capital infusion by Clix Capital. The bank routinely evaluates capital raising options and proposals which are in its best interest, it said in a regulatory filing. Representative image The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has said it is awaiting crucial data about the stability and efficacy of medicines being manufactured by local companies, The Economic Times has reported. This comes at a time when there are growing calls for a quick launch of the experimental COVID-19 drug remdesivir. Applications are being processed on a priority basis. Being injectable, testing for assay identity, impurities, bacterial endotoxin and sterility become critical for patient safety. We are awaiting this data from companies, a DCGI official told the newspaper. Cipla, Jubilant Life Sciences, Mylan, Hetero, Dr Reddys and BDR Pharma have reportedly sought the national drug regulator's permission to manufacture and market remdesivir in India. Gilead Science, the United States-based patent holder of remdesivir, has a licensing agreement with all the companies listed above except BDR Pharma. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Amid delay in getting remdesivir to India, some patients have reportedly been importing the drug from Bangladesh for personal use. Remdesivir, the experimental antiviral drug, is being used for COVID-19 patients with a moderate disease or those on oxygen. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic Moneycontrol had reported earlier that the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) was processing applications of the six companies on "priority". Sources told Moneycontrol that the drug may not be available in the market till July as the DCGI had sought more data on the safety and stability of the drug. The companies are responding to the requests made by the regulator. If you recently graduated from college, visit Honda of Victoria to receive a bonus when purchasing or leasing a new Honda vehicle. Honda of Victoria is helping college students celebrate graduating with its Honda College Grad Leasing Program. Drivers from Victoria, Texas, and the surrounding areas who have recently graduated college, can receive a $500 bonus towards a 2019 or newer Honda vehicle. Honda Financial Services will grant this bonus when potential customers finance or lease through HFS. There are a few requirements that grads must meet to qualify for this bonus. They must provide proof of employment or a strong commitment from an employer. Graduation must have occurred within the past two years or will happen in the next six months. Honda of Victoria must be given credit and documents requirements. The potential buyer must also not have an unfavorable credit history. Once approved, the bonus will be applied to the purchase or lease of the new Honda vehicle. This offer can only be applied to one vehicle. If the grad is leasing, the $500 is applied toward the cap cost of the vehicle. Monthly payments and the amount due at lease signing will be calculated after bonus is applied.If the customer is purchasing a Honda vehicle, the bonus will be applied to the down payment. The college grad bonus cannot be used for Honda Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles or used Honda vehicles. If local shoppers are interested in learning more about this program, they can find more information at hondaofvictoria.com. The Honda of Victoria team is willing to answer any questions and be contacted by calling 361-575-0495. The dealership is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Honda of Victoria is located at 116 Huvar St. in Victoria. The Schengen area of 22 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland operates control-free crossings, but they have been mostly closed for three months to all but goods traffic and critical workers. European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson urged Schengen members last week to lift internal border controls by Monday, to allow a gradual reopening to other countries from July. The move could help salvage the part of the summer season for Europe's battered travel and tourism industry. With recreation and culture, the sector makes up almost 10% of the EU economy and an even bigger chunk in Mediterranean countries, some of which were hit hardest by the pandemic. From Iceland to Greece, many restrictions for EU and Schengen visitors will ease on Monday, but it will not be a return to unfettered travel for the Schengen area's 420 million inhabitants. Spain will allow no foreign tourists until June 21, with exceptions on some Spanish islands. Elsewhere, the right to travel will depend on where you live and where you are going. Greece will mandate quarantines for those arriving from a string of airports in eight EU countries. The Czech Republic has a traffic-light system, barring entry for tourists from 'orange' or 'red' countries such as Portugal and Sweden. Denmark will allow in tourists from Iceland, Germany and Norway, but notably not Sweden, on condition they book at least six nights' accommodation. Britain's mandatory two-week quarantine for visitors means Brits will face the same confinement in France. NJ Transit has new rules for passenger conduct to prevent the spread of coronavirus as businesses gradually reopen, including one that asks riders to treat the system like a library. While there are no additional schedule changes beyond the resumption of full weekday bus schedules, announced on June 8, the agencys guidelines to reduce COVID-19 includes some behavior rules that some foreign transit systems have adopted. Officials announced them Tuesday. Commuting loud talkers might want to adopt the habits of the low talker from the Seinfeld sitcom. The new guidelines ask customers to avoid loud talking or restrict phone conversations until after their trip because they increase the expulsion range of droplets which may contain the virus." Masks are still required. That follows the lead of Japanese health officials, which have asked people to avoid conversations in close spaces such as transit trains to reduce the spread of the virus, City Lab reported. The recovery guidelines are now found on NJ Transits website and coming to stations and trains on eye-catching SAFE NJT signs and on other messaging, as the New Jersey-New York region starts a phased reopening. We thank our hardworking crews for all theyre doing to keep the system safe, clean and moving for those who rely on @NJTRANSIT for essential travel. Help #FlattenTheCurve and protect those who keep us safe from #COVID19 by only taking essential trips. https://t.co/DWvVv7R5AC pic.twitter.com/QN5vMOS2TE NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) June 16, 2020 The signs provide easy-to-understand instructions to encourage customers to practice ideal transit behaviors that probably should be second nature by now. They come shortly after PATH officials announced increased service and other measures the bi-state transit system is taking. Rail service continues on a modified schedule with extra trains deployed as needed, meaning that riders should download the NJ Transit mobile app. Other service changes will be announced on the app and the agencys social media accounts New Jersey is in stage 2 of a reopening plan announced by Gov. Phil Murphy in May. However, Murphy still urged all employees working from home to continue doing so if possible, during his Monday press briefing. NJ Transit officials echoed that point, telling riders only to travel if it is essential. What else will be different? NJ Transit plans to provide hand-sanitizing dispensers at major terminals where it is feasible following the lead of New Yorks subway system. Murphys Executive Order 125 is still in effect and requires passengers to wear masks while riding on and in NJ Transit facilities, which also is now required on PATH trains and in the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Riders need to continue social distancing on trains, buses and in stations and NJ Transit asks riders to sit and stand as far away from one another as possible. Naturally, passengers who feel sick should stay home and not ride mass transit. NJ Transit will continue cleaning and disinfecting the interiors of equipment and stations every 24 hours, concentrating on touchpoints armrests, handles, handrails, screens on ticket vending machines and doors. Officials asked customers to limit what they touch and to use contactless ways to buy tickets using the mobile app. They also advised riders to carry their own hand sanitizer and wipes. @NJTRANSIT I know you say you are disinfecting trains every day, but could you please also do some surface cleaning? I wipe down my area before I sit and get this most of the time.. pic.twitter.com/M7mup4GEKx Ariella Dav (@ariella973) June 16, 2020 Counter to what transit systems usually ask riders to do, officials asked people to ride only if it necessary if they cant work from home. They asked employers to institute staggered work hours. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. The internationally renowned dictionary Merriam-Webster may soon add two new words - Doomsurfing and Doomscrolling to its collection. Both these words are being widely used across the world amidst the coronavirus pandemic. In April, the dictionary had added these words to its 'Words we're watching" blog. "Doomscrolling and doomsurfing are new terms referring to the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening, or depressing," Webster says in its blog. The words being added to the "Words we're watching" blog means that though they are being widely used the terms haven't met the criteria for being added to the dictionary yet. According to Google Trends, there has been a huge spike in interest in these terms over the last 90 days with most searches coming from the US. Like many terms before, doomsurfing and doomscrolling have generated considerable traction on social media, even in India. Rajeev Sharma, the founder of digital consultancy firm Awrizon, used doomsurfing in a tweet on June 6. While another Twitter user Lalit Singh tweeted that he had learned two news words - doomsurfing and doomscrolling. "Many people are finding themselves reading continuously bad news about COVID-19 without the ability to stop or step back," the Merriam-Webster blog says. While the words gained popularity enduring the pandemic they did not originate in 2020. According to the blog, the origins of one of these words can be traced back to 2018. The word 'doomscrolling' first appeared in a Twitter post back in 2018. The person who had used it did not have many followers, the tweet was only retweeted by two people. One of the people who had retweeted was Quartz's Global Finance Economics reporter, Karen K. Ho. Ho has been identified by Merriam webster as the person who helped initially popularise the word with her retweet. Since then Ho has been reusing the word frequently in her tweets. On the other hand, the word 'doomsurfing' was first used by New York Times columnist Kevin Roose in an article published on March 24, 2020, instantly gaining popularity. Also Read: Coronavirus update: PaisaBazaar lays off half of its workforce; over 1,500 impacted Also Read: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain admitted to hospital due to fever; tested for COVID RIVERSIDE Police in the Northumberland County borough of Riverside are looking for a woman and her two young children, saying they have no idea where she is. Sawsan Hadidi, 39, and her two children, Danny, 4, and Dana, 3 months, were last seen about 4 p.m. Thursday on 11th Street, borough police Cpl. Brad Harvey said Monday. She had been staying with a family in Riverside but is known to be a transient, he said. Police have no information about Hadidi, such as her home town, whether she is married and the identity of the childrens father, Harvey said. Hadidi is believed to have the children with her and was driving a purple 2012 Toyota Scion with Virginia registration UUA4239, he said. Highway message boards along interstate highways in central Pennsylvania are displaying messages about her car, urging people to contact authorities if they see it Harvey does not believe the children, both of whom have dark brown hair and brown eyes, are in any immediate danger unless it would be from lack of care. Northumberland County Children and Youth are involved in the investigation, he said. Due to privacy issues, agency director Katrina Gornley said she could not confirm that. Anyone with information on Hadidi and her children is asked to call Riverside police at 570-275-4305. Callers who get the answering machine may either leave a message or call the communications center at 570-784-6300. Riverside is across the North Branch of the Susquehanna River from Danville. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:37:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Israel will receive a donation of Remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug for COVID-19, from its U.S. manufacturer, Israel's prime minister's office said on Tuesday. The Israeli cabinet approved in a telephone vote the decision by the Health Ministry to issue a permit to accept a donation of the drug from Gilead Sciences Inc, the U.S. biopharmaceutical company that produces the drug. The supply of the Remdesivir is limited, and it is not being commercially marketed but distributed globally without payment, according to a document distributed to the ministers. The drug has shown promise in early clinical trials in treating COVID-19 patients in the early stage of the infection. Gilead received an emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on May 1 for "emergency use" of Remdesivir for the treatment of hospitalized patients. Now, the California-headquartered biopharmaceutical giant is expanding quickly the supply of the drug to enable more clinical trials. Enditem Duliajan : State-owned Oil India Ltd (OIL) said on Sunday that it is investing Rs 1,200 crore to revamp the pumping stations of its trunk pipeline. Currently, revamping of the pumping stations of the trunk pipeline, which have been operating for over five decades, is in progress at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore, a company statement said here. OIL operates a total network of 1,220 km long crude oil pipelines, with a capacity to carry 5.38 MMTPA crude. These pipelines transport crude oil produced from oilfields in Upper Assam to the public sector refineries at Numaligarh, Guwahati and Bongaigaon in the state. OIL Chairman and Managing Director Utpal Bora said at the Annual General Body Meeting that the company achieved highest ever production and sale of natural gas in its history during 2015-16 fiscal. While natural gas production was 2,838 MMSCM as against 2,722 MMSCM during 2014-15, natural gas sales was 2,314 MMSCM as against 2,181 MMSCM during 2014-15, he added. Bora informed the shareholders that crude oil production was 3.247 MMT as compared to 3.440 MMT during 2014-15. The turnover of the company stood at Rs 9,764.87 crore as against Rs 9,748.23 crore, while the Profit after Tax (PAT) was Rs 2,330.11 crore against Rs 2,510.20 crore during 2014-15, he added. Bora said the contribution to the state exchequer during the year was Rs 1,861 crore and that to the Central government was Rs 3,245 crore. UN Nuclear Watchdog Chief Again Demands Iran Allow Inspectors Into Sites By RFE/RL's Radio Farda June 15, 2020 The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has again pressed Iran to provide inspectors with access to sites where the country is thought to have stored or used undeclared nuclear material. IAEA Director General Mariano Grossi told reporters in Vienna on June 15 that for more than four months Iran has denied the agency access to two locations, and that for almost a year "it has not engaged in substantive discussions to clarify our questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities." He called on Iran to cooperate immediately and said he has made the case with high-level Iranian officials. "We need this cooperation," Grossi said. "I regret that at this point we have this disagreement." Even though the two sites are not thought to be key to Iran's current activities, the agency says it needs to know if past activities going back almost two decades have been properly declared and all materials accounted for. Iran maintains that the IAEA has no legal basis to inspect the sites. Activities at the two sites and a third are thought to have been from the early 2000s, before Iran signed the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. 'No Legal Ambiguities' Grossi rejected Iran's view that the request for access was without legal merit, saying there are "no legal ambiguities." Grossi has previously demanded that Iran stop blocking its investigation into the sites. He said in March that Iran should "cooperate immediately and fully with the agency." A report released earlier this month provided details about Iran blocking access to the sites. The report also said Iran has continued enriching uranium far beyond the limits set by its 2015 pact with major powers. The IAEA said in the report that it had determined that one site had undergone "extensive sanitization and leveling" in 2003 and 2004 and there would be no verification value in inspecting it. It said Iran has blocked access to the other two locations, one of which was partially demolished in 2004 and the other at which the agency observed activities "consistent with efforts to sanitize" the facility from July 2019 onward. Iran told the agency that the report was a source of "deep regret and disappointment" and hinted that the queries were based on "fabricated information" from "intelligence services." Israel has previously claimed its intelligence services unearthed information on an alleged previous nuclear weapons program in Iran. Western countries have voiced concern over Iran's denial of access to the sites, with the United States being particularly vocal. Washington unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear pact two years ago. With reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/un-nuclear- watchdog-chief-again-demands-iran-allow- inspectors-into-sites/30672078.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A map showing the reported location of the Hai Yang Dhi Zi, a Chinese survey ship, in relation to the coast of Vietnam and an oil exploration block that lies to the southwest, June 16, 2020. Updated at 5:18 p.m. ET on 2020-06-16 A Chinese government-owned survey ship appears to have been sent into Vietnams exclusive economic zone (EEZ), vessel-tracking data shows, in a move that could stir more tensions in the South China Sea. Two separate vessel-tracking tools showed the Hai Yang Di Zhi 4 traveling toward Vietnamese waters on Sunday, passing the Chinese military base at Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands. It was last detected Tuesday morning, just within 200 nautical miles of Vietnams coast and roughly 182 nautical miles from the Vietnamese island of Phu Quy. China is known for sending survey ships into other countries waters to assert what it considers its right to search for resources in the vast South China Sea. China claims nearly the entirety of the South China Sea, a stance that has never been supported by international law. Five other governments, including the Philippines, have territorial claims there. In July 2019, another Chinese survey ship, the Hai Yang Di Zhi 8, provoked a months-long standoff with Vietnam at Vanguard Bank close to where the Hai Yang Di Zhi 4 is now in an attempt to stop Russian-owned oil exploration activity within Vietnams EEZ. An EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from a countrys coast giving it sole rights to explore resources while allowing free passage to shipping. It wasnt immediately clear why the Hai Yang 4 has been deployed in the area. Neither the governments of China nor Vietnam has commented on it, although non-government South China Sea watchers in Vietnam have been tracking the ship this week and posting about its movements online. China and Vietnam increasingly have been at loggerheads in recent weeks over the South China Sea. Vietnams Foreign Ministry last week objected to Chinas recent laying of undersea telecommunication cables between disputed features in the Paracel Islands, describing it as a violation of Vietnams sovereignty. Also last week, a Vietnamese fishing ship reported was chased and rammed by a Chinese ship near the Paracels Islands. In the meantime, a Vietnamese Coast Guard ship is in the Union Banks area of the Spratly Islands, where there is a large Chinese maritime militia presence and military outposts occupied by both countries. Ship-tracking software shows that the Hai Yang 4 survey ship left Huangpu, in Chinas Guangdong province, last Wednesday. According to its listing with the International Maritime Organizations registry, it is operated by the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, which is part of Chinas Ministry of Natural Resources. Chinas geological survey agency also lists a ship named the Hai Yang Di Zhi 4 on its website, and notes its past work in polar expeditions. Often the China Coast Guard (CCG) accompanies survey ships but the Hai Yang 4 appears to be traveling alone on its current mission, although a CCG ship, Haijing 5202, is in harbor at Fiery Cross Reef near its last reported location. The Hai Yang 4s deployment may be related to Vietnams oil exploration activity in its waters with international partners which is what precipitated the Vanguard Bank stand-off between China and Vietnam last year. There have been indications that oil exploration could be imminent about 215 nautical miles southwest of where the ship is, at an oil block off Vietnams Southeastern coast licensed by Russian company Rosneft. Vietnamese state media reported the Clyde Boudreaux oil rig, operated by the U.K.-based Noble Corp., was due to operate there. It was towed to Vietnams port at Vung Tau on April 22 but has yet to leave port, according to vessel-tracking software. China has a track record of pressuring international oil companies out of working with Southeast Asian countries in the South China Sea. Between mid-April and mid-May, the Hai Yang Di Zhi 8 conducted a survey in Malaysian waters that appeared intended to pressure the West Capella, a Malaysian-contracted drillship that was operated by a London-based company. The West Capella eventually left the area. On Saturday, Spanish oil company Repsol decided to transfer its shares in three oil exploration blocks off Vietnams southeastern coast to Vietnams state oil company, PetroVietnam, citing the inability to drill in the area after both it and Vietnam came under pressure by China in 2018. Vietnam at the time ordered Repsol to halt drilling days before its oil rig was set to leave port. U.S. oil company ExxonMobil reportedly expressed interest in Vietnams gas and oil sector during a call with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on June 11, according to Vietnamese state-run media. The map used in this version replaces a photo used in an original version of this report. The second vehicle was a kombi being driven by a tall, dark and big uniformed member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). The kombi had two other uniformed police officers, but the one I saw clearly was the driver. On disembarking from their vehicles, the part of men, armed with the weapons, started to assault me and my friend accusing us of hitting one of them with a brick and taking his bicycle in a nearby bush earlier that evening. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 06:32:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Peter Mertz VAIL, the United States, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Severe drought conditions have forced the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for eastern Utah and much of western Colorado. But that did not stop shoppers from trickling back into the famous, tony, remote ski towns in the Colorado Rockies over the last week, after more than two months of closure for many businesses. In both Breckenridge and Vail, the mayors allowed most businesses to open -- with six-foot social distancing, masks and crowd size limits. WILDFIRE SEASON Colorado's high elevation Rocky Mountains, the longest and tallest mountain range in the United States, features mild, sunny and humidity-free conditions in America's hot summer months, and is a top tourist destination. However, the dry conditions do not come without a downside. Colorado and the country's arid southwest are entering another wildfire season. Campfire bans have been in place throughout Colorado since April. This year has been very dry thus far. "Red flag warnings are issued when there is a combination of warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds create conditions that would allow the quick spread of a wildfire," the Eagle River Fire Protection District said Monday. REOPENING WITH CAUTION Vail, Eagle County's biggest town, is the third largest ski resort in the country and the biggest in Colorado, covering 5,289 acres (21.4 square km). Local officials were not talking about the fire ban. They were talking about more visitors coming from nearby Denver, capital city of Colorado, to shop at the stores, eat in the restaurants, and enjoy the majestic mountains. Vail Mayor Dave Chapin contracted and recovered from the deadly coronavirus, which, according to Johns Hopkins University data, has now killed more than 110,000 Americans and 430,000 worldwide. Chapin's cautious approach toward reopening certain businesses has been successful thus far, as no new reported cases of COVID-19 have come from Eagle County in weeks. "We're seeing business increasing gradually," said a manager at Westside Cafe and Market on Tuesday, where the breakfast, lunch and dinner crowds have been steadily on the rise. Another popular Vail restaurant, Mountain Standard, told Xinhua that it has lines of people waiting patiently outside to get a table, and that the outside seating is "always full," where tables are spaced apart, and servers, cooks and mangers are all wearing masks. In the small mountain town of Basalt -- the nearest town away from world renowned Aspen-Snowmass ski resorts, Wienerstube Restaurant has expanded outdoor seating to allow for more tables, set at six-foot distances. Tuesday's lunch crowd was noisy, as Wienerstube patrons enjoyed food and drink outdoors in the pleasant Colorado climate, many sitting at tables with umbrellas providing shade from the hot sun. "It's great to see things opening back up, and people taking precautions and behaving responsibly as well," Josh Clemens told Xinhua. Other creative measures to support local businesses occurred in Carbondale, another town near Aspen, where town officials made Main Street one-way to allow more outdoor seating for some bars and restaurants. Chapin and Breckenridge Mayor Eric Mamula told local media last week that everybody just needs to play by the rules. That means "staying home if sick, getting tested if symptomatic, wearing masks, socially distancing and relentlessly washing hands and using hand sanitizer," they jointly told KUSA Channel 9. Breckenridge is another top 10 ski resort in the country, an hour's drive away from Vail -- closer to the state capital of Denver. "It'd be great if we could get everybody on board with the social distancing and the mask-wearing," Mamula said. Enditem The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a new initiative that will give you access to more information on automotive vehicle tests conducted by various companies. Its a voluntary effort called Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing (c) Initiative, which aims to increase transparency in the industry. The program will also enable Federal, State, and local government to coordinate and share information in a standard way. At the moment, the project counts nine companies and eight states as participants. Beep, Cruise, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Local Motors, Navya, Nuro, Toyota, Uber and Waymo have signed on to be part of the program. Meanwhile, the participating states are California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah. According to Reuters, the hope is to boost public awareness about self-driving technologies, since most people are still skeptical about automated vehicles. Deputy NHTSA Administrator James Owens told the organization in an interview that being more transparent encourages everybody to up their game to help better ensure that the testing is done in a manner fully consistent with safety. The NHTSA will hold a series of public discussions nationwide to achieve that goal, featuring leaders from the industry and officials from the government. AV TEST will also lead to an online public-facing platform where participants will share their on-road testing activities and other data. Eventually, the regulators will roll out online mapping tools that show test locations across the US along with testing activity data, such as vehicle types and uses, dates, frequency, vehicle counts and routes. OAKLAND, Calif., June 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cw Analytical Laboratories is pleased to announce its ongoing commitment to science-based Cannabis testing, improving accuracy and infused Cannabis product efficacy for both recreational and medical consumers. Recognized as a leader in scientific THC and CBD testing for over 10 years, Cw Analytical's research team has discovered interference inherent in the potency testing of infused Cannabis products exposing inaccuracy in THC labeling and testing results. "The proliferation of Cannabis-infused products has created confusion and false readings in test results," says Dr. Robert Martin, CEO of Cw Analytical Laboratories. "Many of these forms, whether food, lotions, or tinctures produce analytical challenges that create interference to the removal and quantification of cannabinoids, including THC. There is a need to understand Cannabis potency as it is, not as people want it to be. Our consumers deserve accurate and precise products for their health and recreation," asserts Martin. The scientists at Cw Analytical recently published a scientific paper in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry entitled, "Investigation of Chocolate Matrix Interference in Cannabinoid Analytes"* that confirms significant interference in measured cannabinoid levels, including THC, due to compounds found commonly in chocolate. "This is just the tip of the iceberg," says Dr. David Dawson, first author on the paper and Research Principal at Cw Analytical. "In the Cannabis industry, which is ripe with over-inflated THC and other cannabinoid values, research efforts assuring accurate numbers should be everyone's target. Consumers should be aware that the dose of THC or other cannabinoids that they are seeking may not be the actual dose they expect with any given infused product." The published research paper can be viewed here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.0c01161 State regulatory standards are typically written very narrowly, a situation usually reserved for analyses of consumer products with a long history of use, while research has hardly begun on how various ingredients and compounds affect the analyses of a myriad of new Cannabis products. Cw Analytical Laboratory invites other Cannabis labs to contribute to the scientific study of matrix interference to ensure more accurate measurements for consumers. About Cw Analytical Laboratories Founded in 2009, Cw Analytical's team of scientists and industry experts has been providing patients, cultivators, distributors, and manufacturers in California important information about the safety, quality, and science of Cannabis products long before the mandateConnect with cwanalytical.com, Instagram, and, Facebook. *: Agric. Food Chem. 2020, 68, 5699-5706 SOURCE CW Analytical Related Links http://cwanalytical.com Delhi police on Monday filed a charge sheet against 16 people in the murder of a man, Parvez, during the riots in North East Delhi riots earlier this year. As per the charge sheet, all 16 accused have been charged with murder, rioting, criminal conspiracy and offences under the Arms Act. As per the document, Parvez, a proper dealer, was shot dead on the street outside his house in North Ghonda. He was rushed to the nearby GTB hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The police had registered an FIR in the case on February 26, 2020. The investigating officials have mentioned in the charge sheet that Parvez was shot while pacifying the local Hindu and Muslim residents. The 16 accused named in the charge sheet were arrested based on statements of eye witnesses and CCTV footage. Police said one of the accused had shot Parvez in his chest, while others attacked him on the evening of February 25 at around 7. Police have also mentioned that the rioters took away Parvezs licensed pistol. He had kept 25 bullets but police found only 13 bullets next to his body. Police have told the court that all the accused are in jail and that they are trying to recover Parvezs gun along with the weapon that was used in ther murder. At least 53 persons died, while 400 persons were injured in clashes that broke out between Hindus and Muslims. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Steve Carrillo (L), and Robert Alvin Justus Jr. were charged in the killing of federal officer David Patrick Underwood. (Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office/AP; FBI) Two Charged in Murder of Federal Officer During Riots A man accused of shooting a federal officer protecting a courthouse in California was charged with murder and attempted murder, federal officials said Tuesday. A second man was charged with aiding and abetting the slaying. Liberty flourishes in the rule of law, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said in a statement. Indiscriminate targeting of law enforcement officers by those motivated by violent extremism of any stripe is contrary to our nations values and undermines the powerful message of peaceful protestors. David Patrick Underwood, a federal protection officer, was guarding the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on May 29 amid widespread riots and protests sparked by a police custody death in Minnesota days prior. A male identified as Steven Carrillo was driven past the courthouse at approximately 9:43 p.m. in a van by a man identified as Robert Alvin Justus Jr. As the vehicle moved past where Underwood was stationed, the passenger-side sliding door opened and Carrillo fired multiple rounds toward the guard post, killing Underwood and injuring his partner, according to criminal complaints released on June 16. Investigators launched a manhunt to find those responsible and pinpointed Carrillo after discovering an abandoned van in Ben Lomond that contained ammunition, firearms, and bomb-making equipment. A white van parked near the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland, Calif. on May 29, 2020, shortly before it was driven by a guard post. (FBI) A still image from surveillance footage shows Steven Carrillo with a gun, according to federal agents. (FBI) Deputies from the Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office went to Carrillos house in the same town but he refused to surrender, killing one deputy and injuring two others through gunfire and explosives. Carrillo was shot but fled from the scene on foot before carjacking a vehicle on a nearby highway. He was taken into custody a short time later. Evidence uncovered at Carrillos property included shell casings with the same brand as some of the casings recovered in Oakland. A ballistics analysis found two of the casings from the home were fired from the same gun that fired four of the casings during the shooting of Underwood, according to a criminal complaint. Officers also found an AR-15-style short-barreled rifle with a binary trigger and a silencer. At the time of the murders, Carrillo was an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force who was assigned to the Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield. U.S. Attorney David Anderson said in announcing the charges that Underwood was murdered because he wore a uniform, noting that the slain officer left behind family members including children and a wife. California Highway Patrol officers keep a road closed in Ben Lomond near Santa Cruz, Calif., June 8, 2020, as FBI agents continue processing the scene where Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller was killed Saturday. (Shmuel Thaler/The Santa Cruz Sentinel/AP) Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell speaks as proceedings get underway on Fri., June 12, 2020, during the arraignment of Steven Carrillo, seen in a video link at far right, for the killing of Santa Cruz Sheriffs Deputy Damon Gutzwiller in Santa Cruz, Calif. (Shmuel Thaler/Santa Cruz Sentinel/AP) Many, many people will miss hearing the sound of his voice and laughter. Pat Underwood wore his uniform because it signified his authority to protect the courthouse where we are gathered here today. This courthouse exists to administer justice, to uphold the rule of law, and to protect the freedoms that we all cherish. In announcing todays charges, we are reaffirming our determination to protect those who protect us, he said at a briefing outside the courthouse where the officer was shot. Agents said in court documents that Carrillo appeared to use his own blood to write phrases on the hood of the car that he carjacked. The phrases included apparent references to the so-called boogaloo movement, which experts say includes people who are willing to use violence. In general, followers of the Boogaloo ideology may identify as militia and share a narrative of inciting a violent uprising against perceived government tyranny, FBI agent Brett Woolard wrote in a criminal complaint (pdf). Justus, 30, was tracked down using cell phone records and admitted to being involved in the courthouse shooting after meeting Carrillo over Facebook and planning to attend protests in Oakland. Justus said he didnt want to participate in the murder but felt he had to because, he said, he was trapped in the van with Carrillo. When an officer noted that Justus left the van and walked around before the fatal shooting, Justus said he didnt walk away because he was trying to convince Carrillo not to go through with the plan. Woolard said in a complaint (pdf) that he doesnt believe Justus statement because he could have walked away and not returned or he could have reported Carrillo to nearby authorities. Justus also didnt come forward later. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 16 2020 When President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo tapped Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma'ruf Amin as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election, the motivation was clear from the beginning: He picked a politician who had strong Islamist credentials and could appeal directly to a majority of the Muslim population. As the country is battling COVID-19, President Jokowi has given the Vice President the authority to deal with all things pertaining to religion in the fight against the pandemic. So it was par for the course when, during a Cabinet meeting last week, Ma'ruf requested that fresh funds be earmarked for pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) before these institutions reopen. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Mizoram is celebrating the success of one of its sons who has become an officer in the Indian Army. Lieutenant Lalhmachhuana from Mizoram capital Aizawl was commissioned into the Indian Armys Artillery Regiment recently. His achievement has drawn the attention of Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga as well. Mizoram is proud of our very own Lt. Lalhmachhuana, s/o Lalsangvela from Ramhlun N who was recently commissioned as an officer in the reputed Indian Army under the famed Artillery Regiment, the CM tweeted. His post was retweeted by 39 users and liked by 638 others. They congratulated Lieutenant Lalhmachhuana on the feat. One of them, Thaiba Simon, wrote: Congratulations Lalhmachhuana and Mizoram. Zoramthanga also shared some photos from the passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun where the young Mizo army officer can be seen proudly posing for camera with proud fellow officers. However, the photos, widely shared on social media, created confusion about his height. Lt Lalhmachhuana said the confusion was created as he was clicked along with his two very tall batchmates. I learnt about the photos shared on social media. The two officers standing with me are 6.5 and 6.3 ft tall. They are the tallest officers in our course. Thats why I looked very short. I am 5.5 ft tall, Lt Lalhmachhuana told this newspaper. The minimum height requirement for entry into Indian armed forces as an officer is 157 cm. However, there is relaxation for tribals from the Northeast, Assamese, Gorkhas, and others. The minimum height acceptable for this category of candidates is 152 cm. Lt Lalhmachhuana said he had always dreamt of becoming an army officer. It was my dream to join this profession. I love the Army a lot, he added. Palestinian officials say the Israeli army raided Ramallah in the occupied West Bank and arrested a 20-year-old man. The Israeli army raided Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, the first such incursion since the Palestinian Authority (PA) announced last May it would cut security coordination with Israel, a Palestinian official told AFP news agency. Israeli forces entered Ramallah before dawn, interior ministry spokesman Ghassan Nimr said, noting that three houses were searched in the city but no arrests were made. The PA has its headquarters in Ramallah and the city is nominally under Palestinian control, but the Israeli army has carried out numerous raids there. Under the Oslo agreements signed between Israel and Palestine in 1993, the PA is obliged to share information with Israel about any armed resistance to the Israeli occupation in a practice known as security coordination. Rights activists have accused the PA of working hand-in-hand with the Israeli occupation forces to suppress Palestinians. A security source said Israeli soldiers arrested a 20-year-old man in Al-Amari refugee camp near the city. Residents of the refugee camp responded to the Israeli raid by throwing rocks, as the Israeli soldiers fired tear gas at them, the source said. The Israeli military confirmed an arrest was made in the refugee camp, but a spokeswoman told AFP that the army did not enter Ramallah overnight. The raids were the first since the PA announced in mid-May that it was ending security coordination with Israel, the interior ministry spokesman, Nimr, said. 200615151853816 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the step last month without further details, in a response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank. More than 450,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements deemed illegal under international law, alongside 2.7 million Palestinians. The Israeli government said it could begin the annexation process from July 1, as part of a so-called peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. The initiative has been welcomed by Israel but rejected by the Palestinians, who cut ties with Washington in 2017 over its pro-Israel stance. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh warned of a hot summer if Israel presses ahead with annexation, while the United Nations said it will likely lead to violence. On Tuesday, UN human rights experts said Netanyahus annexation plan would violate international law. The annexation of occupied territory is a serious violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions, and contrary to the fundamental rule affirmed many times by the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly that the acquisition of territory by war or force is inadmissible, said a joint statement signed by nearly 50 independent experts. Packages of Dexamethasone are displayed in a pharmacy, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in Omaha, Neb. Researchers in England said Tuesday they have the first evidence that the drug can improve COVID-19 survival. The cheap, widely available steroid called dexamethasone reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: A cheap, widely available steroid reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients. The results were announced Tuesday and the British government immediately authorized the drug's use across the United Kingdom for coronavirus patients like those who did well in the study. Researchers said they would publish results soon in a medical journal, and several independent experts said it's important to see details to know how much of a difference the drug, dexamethasone, might make and for whom. But "bottom line is, good news," said the United States' top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci. "This is a significant improvement in the available therapeutic options that we have." The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 438,000 people worldwide since it began late last year in China. The study, led by the University of Oxford, was a large, strict test that randomly assigned 2,104 patients to get the drug and compared them with 4,321 patients getting only usual care. The drug was given either orally or through an IV for 10 days. After four weeks, it had reduced deaths by 35% in patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20% in those only needing supplemental oxygen. It did not appear to help less ill patients. Researchers estimated that the drug would prevent one death for every eight patients treated while on breathing machines and one for every 25 patients on extra oxygen alone. "Those are big effects," said one study leader, Dr. Martin Landray at Oxford. "It's not a cure, but it's certainly a long way forward." It's especially good news that the drug "is remarkably cheap, perhaps $20 or $30 for an entire course of treatment," he added. Steroid drugs reduce inflammation, which sometimes develops in COVID-19 patients as the immune system overreacts to fight the infection. This overreaction damages the lungs and can prove fatal. The World Health Organization and others advise against using steroids earlier in the course of illness because they can impede clearing the virus. "Early on, you're fighting the virus and you want your immune system to be as intact as possible," Fauci explained. But in the advanced stage of COVID-19, the battle against the virus causes so much inflammation that it "is hurting you more than helping you," he said. The results seen in the Oxford study make "perfect sense" with that notion, he said. Many hospitals and doctors have been trying steroids to quell the immune system, but there's been no evidence from high-quality studies that it helps for COVID-19. Although the Oxford researchers talked only about dexamethasone, the detailed plans for the study say that participating hospitals could use two other steroidsprednisolone or hydrocortisoneand there's no reason to think any particular one works better than another, said Dr. Francisco Marty, an infectious disease specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "I assume the majority of people used dexamethasone, but it's not the only one that people could have used," he said. "It will be great to see the data to see if there's a class effect." In this Sunday, June 14, 2020 file photo, medical workers attend to a COVID-19 patient in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen. Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve survival from COVID-19. The drug is a cheap, widely available steroid called dexamethasone. Results released Tuesday, June 16 show it reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File) Steroids are known to help fight certain fungal and bacterial infections such as meningitis, and a type of pneumonia common in HIV patients, but they have not proved useful against flu or some other viral diseases, he said. The Oxford results would persuade him to try them for COVID-19 patients needing extra oxygen, he said. Until now, the only drug shown to help fight COVID-19 is remdesivir, an experimental drug from Gilead Sciences that blocks an enzyme the virus uses to copy its genetic material. Remdesivir shortened the time to recovery for severely ill hospitalized patients to 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care, in a study led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. "We don't know yet" if remdesivir could be used with dexamethasoneor before or after itto give more benefit, Fauci said. Even though dexamethasone only helps in severe cases, "countless lives will be saved globally," said Nick Cammack, a virus expert at the Wellcome Trust, a British charity that supports research. "This is the dream," because the drug has been used for decades for other conditions, said Cammack, who had no role in the study. "It's very straightforward to make so there's no reason this can't be rolled out for the entire world." No information was given on side effects, but researchers said they used a low dose and for a short time, which is generally safe. "Short-term low dose shouldn't be a problem, but steroids do have a lot of side effects" including weight gain, high blood pressure, water retention, mood changes, sleep problems and rise in blood sugar for people with diabetes, Marty said. Dr. Peter Bach, a health policy expert at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, noted that in the study 41% of those on breathing machines and 25% on oxygen alone died. "The mortality rate seems to be way higher than it is in the U.S.," where one recent study found a death rate of 12%, although that was only after two weeks versus four in the UK study, he said. "We are going to struggle to look at these data and use them for U.S. patients," he said. But he added that "it's good news for science that the right studies got done," and that the drug works and is so affordable and available. The Oxford study is the same one that earlier this month showed the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was not working against the coronavirus. The study enrolled more than 11,000 patients in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who were given either standard care or that plus one of several treatments: dexamethasone; hydroxychloroquine; the HIV combo drug lopinavir-ritonavir; the antibiotic azithromycin; the anti-inflammatory drug tocilizumab; or plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 that contains antibodies to fight the virus. Research is continuing on the other treatments. The research is funded by government health agencies in the United Kingdom and private donors including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Stephen Griffin, of the University of Leeds in England, said treatments that can prevent infection and serious illness are still needed. "Ideally, we will find something that stops the disease from progressing to a more advanced stage," he said, noting that remdesivir might yet prove to be effective this way. Dexamethasone "is not a wonder pill, but it will lessen some of the nasty effects of COVID-19." 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A vehicle of the airport rescue and firefighting services stands in front as a Boeing 767-400ER aircraft of United Airlines takes off from Zurich airport in Germany on April 9, 2019. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters) United Says Passengers Who Refuse to Wear Masks May Lose Travel Privileges United Airlines said in a press release Monday that passengers who refuse to comply with the companys mask-wearing policies on flights may be put on a blacklist and lose travel privileges. Starting on June 18, United passengers who refuse to wear masks in accordance with the companys policies will be put on an internal travel restriction list. Anyone who ends up on the list will lose their travel privileges on United for a duration of time to be determined pending a comprehensive incident review, the company stated. The air carrier currently requires the majority of passengers to wear face coverings on all flights and keep the masks on for the duration of the journey, except when eating or drinking. The only exceptions to this policy are individuals who have a medical condition or a disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering, those who cannot put on or remove a face covering themselves, and small children, United said. The company said that while the overwhelming majority of passengers are already covering their faces, United is seeking to increase the level of protection for crews and customers, calling the move an unmistakable signal that were prepared to take serious steps to enforce compliance. United outlined procedures for the new policy, noting that if a flight attendant notices or is informed of a passenger who does not qualify for an exemption not wearing a mask, they will notify the passenger that face coverings are mandatory and offer to provide them with a mask. Refusal to comply with the request will result in the flight attendant filing an incident report, which will be followed by a security team review that will result in final decisions or actions on a customers future flight benefits. Every reputable health institution says wearing a mask is one of the most effective things people can do to protect others from contracting COVID-19, especially in places like an aircraft where social distancing is a challenge, said Uniteds Chief Customer Officer, Toby Enqvist. United was the first major U.S.-based carrier to order flight attendants to wear facial coverings on flights, a policy that was expanded in May to include all customers and employees on board a flight. Wearing a mask is a critical part of helping make air travel safer, said Dr. James Merlino, chief clinical transformation officer at Cleveland Clinic. The more people in a given space wearing masks, the fewer viral particles are making it into the space around them, decreasing exposure and risk. The airline industrys trade organization Airlines for America said in a statement Monday that, out of concern for passenger and crew safety, its member carriers will be vigorously enforcing face covering policies and putting rigor around rules requiring passengers and customer-facing employees to wear facial covering over their nose and mouth. The organization said that passengers who refuse to comply could have their flying privileges revoked. U.S. airlines are very serious about requiring face coverings on their flights. Carriers are stepping up enforcement of face coverings and implementing substantial consequences for those who do not comply with the rules, said Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. The lobbying organization said Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines will implement more rigorous policies on facial coverings to stem the spread of the deadly bug. Nightly protests against police violence and systemic racism are slated to continue Tuesday for the 20th consecutive day in Portland. Thousands of demonstrators have gathered and marched through city streets each day, calling for sweeping reforms to protect people of color from police brutality. Theyre part of a massive uprising of demonstrations that has swept the country after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The officer was charged with second-degree murder, and three other officers who were present and didnt intervene face charges of aiding and abetting in the killing. Portlands 20th consecutive day of protest comes as Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced shes calling the Legislature into a special session later this month to pass police accountability legislation and adopt some of her coronavirus executive orders into law. Law enforcement oversight will be the focus of the session, Brown said in a statement. The publics call for significant police reform is too urgent to wait until the next regular legislative session, the governor said. "Its imperative that the Legislature take action on these issues right away. Portlands protests on Monday brought more than 1,000 marchers from Southeast Portland to Pioneer Courthouse Square, where several speakers addressed the crowd. This is about us, together, coming together to transform our community, to create new visions of health and safety, said Lisa Bates of the Portland African American Leadership Forum. Police officers stayed away from the Pioneer Courthouse Square demonstration. But some officers wearing riot gear stood on the landing of the Justice Center, a part of the building that remained fenced off from protesters after police dismantled a large section of the fence. Police said they left up part of the fence which became a flashpoint for the downtown protests because workers are repairing damage the building sustained after the demonstrations started in late May. Several people broke into a first-floor office where people were working inside the Justice Center on May 29. Many people gathered in Pioneer Courthouse Square began to march toward the Justice Center about 9 p.m. Monday. As they walked, they chanted, Whose streets? Our streets! After the crowd arrived near the remaining fence, they continued to chant at police. Officers used a loudspeaker to tell people to go into a park across the street. Several hundred people remained by the fence, filling most of Southwest Third Avenue between Main and Madison streets. Two blocks away, a fire broke out on a sidewalk near a closed Chipotle restaurant about 10:45 p.m. The flames attracted a crowd of people from the Justice Center, but police used a loudspeaker to instruct the crowd to move away so fire crews could respond. The fire was quickly extinguished. SW 3rd Avenue - just south of Yamhill , fire blazing - crowd gathering pic.twitter.com/kTwdyOcwfy Maxine Bernstein (@maxoregonian) June 16, 2020 By 11 p.m., a few hundred people remained outside the Justice Center. Some threw items over the fence. Police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly soon after and directed people to leave. Officers moved in within minutes and dispersed the crowd. Police said items, including glass bottles, were thrown at officers. A deputy was taken to a hospital after a rock thrown from behind hit them in the head, according to police. Police set off stun grenades. Within minutes, the area outside the Justice Center was clear. Police said a business on Northwest Davis Street west of the Park Blocks had a window smashed and items stolen about 11:45 p.m. Some of the people involved in the burglary were arrested, according to police. The crowd kept marching through the Pearl District, where demonstrators reportedly tagged walls and buildings, police said. The marchers wound back into downtown Portland, police said, and more were arrested. Ten people were arrested over the course of the demonstrations, according to police. Several of those people are accused of assaulting or trying to assault officers, police said. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Maxine Bernstein, Beth Nakamura, Jayati Ramakrishnan and Hillary Borrud of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. A nurse wears personal protective equipment (PPE) as she cares for a coronavirus COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit (I.C.U.) at Regional Medical Center on May 21, 2020 in San Jose, California. Public health experts have urged U.S. leaders to make a coronavirus vaccine available to everyone, not just those who can afford it. "We will work with them to get the vaccines distributed through the typical channels that they use" such as retail pharmacies and physician offices, the official said. "Our role in the federal government is to ensure anyone who is vulnerable, who can not afford it and desires it gets it." The administration is also working with insurers, the official said. Some commercial insurers have expressed "eagerness" to cover the vaccine without a co-pay, the official said, adding most are already covering coronavirus-related services. Any American who is "vulnerable, who cannot afford the vaccine and desires the vaccine, we will provide it for free," a senior administration official told reporters during a press briefing Tuesday morning. The coronavirus vaccine will be provided free of charge to Americans who can't afford it, the Trump administration announced Tuesday. The coronavirus has infected more than 2.1 million Americans and killed at least 116,127 since the first reported U.S. case less than five months ago, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. U.S. officials and scientists are hopeful a vaccine to prevent Covid-19 will be ready in the first half of 2021. U.S. health officials and researchers have been fast-tracking work on vaccine development, aiming to produce 300 million doses of a potential vaccine by January. The official said the Trump administration's goal is to have enough vaccines to protect "as much life as possible" by the height of the flu season. Because of the pandemic, U.S. officials are investing in multiple stages of research even though doing so could be for naught if the vaccine ends up not being effective or safe. The Trump administration has narrowed its list of promising experimental vaccines to about seven from 14, the official said. The official did not say which ones have started vaccine production. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. had already produced 2 million coronavirus vaccine doses that are "ready to go" once scientists figure out whether it is safe and effective. Scientists are still learning about key aspects of the virus, including how immune systems respond once a person is exposed. The answers, they say, may have important implications for vaccine development, including how quickly it can be deployed to the public. The fastest-ever vaccine development, for mumps, took more than four years and was licensed in 1967. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of Trump's coronavirus task force, said he worries about the "durability" of a potential vaccine, saying there's a chance it may not provide long-term immunity. If Covid-19 acts like other coronaviruses, "it likely isn't going to be a long duration of immunity," Fauci said during an interview on June 2 with JAMA Editor Howard Bauchner. There is high probability though that the issue of lifting sanctions off Russia will be raised during these discussions, the young activists warn. The World Congress of Ukrainian Youth Organizations (SKUMO) members say they are "deeply outraged" by the Kremlin's attempts to exploit the ongoing global crisis to force EU leaders to weaken and even lift international political and economic sanctions. The EU summit on June 19 is set to see European heads of state and government make a political decision to extend for another six months economic sectoral restrictive measures earlier imposed on Russia in response to Moscow's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, diaspora youths wrote in a statement. "There is high probability though that the issue of lifting sanctions off Russia will be raised during these discussions," the organization warns. Read alsoRFE/RL: Top EU officials rule out sanctions relief for Russia Earlier, activists with the Patriots of Ukraine Worldwide Movement appealed to EU leaders to refrain from easing political and economic pressure on Russia to coerce the aggressor state "to stop the war, withdraw from Ukraine, and stop meddling in internal affairs of sovereign states (including in democratic elections), as well as restore respect for international law." The World Congress of Ukrainian Youth Organizations says it supports the said appeal, calling on diaspora youths worldwide to join international action against Russian aggression "When Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine around the world protest against Russia, the youth of the Ukrainian diaspora cannot stand aside," the statement reads. Voice of America Director Amanda Bennett and her top deputy, Sandra Sugawara, resigned Monday, saying that Michael Pack, the newly approved chief executive of VOAs parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, has a right to replace them with his own VOA leadership. Bennett and Sugawara, both veteran journalists, have overseen VOA since 2016, sharply broadening the scope of news and features produced by the U.S. governments independent news agency on television and radio shows aired in 47 languages around the world and digitally on the voanews.com website. In their resignation letter, Bennett and Sugawara told VOAs hundreds of writers, broadcasters, editors and technical staff they had changed the agency for the better over the last four years. They cited VOAs compassionate and compelling quest to tell Americas story; your focus on pushing back on untruths and disinformation around the world; your attention to the stories of women, of refugees and of your press colleagues around the world. Bennett and Sugawara told the VOA staff that nothing about you, your passion, your mission or your integrity, changes with Packs takeover of VOA and other U.S. government media organizations. Michael Pack swore before Congress to respect and honor the firewall that guarantees VOAs independence, which in turn plays the single most important role in the stunning trust our audiences around the world have in us, Bennett and Sugawara said. But Packs assumption of USAGM control with a recent Senate-approved three-year contract has been rocky. President Donald Trump named Pack, an associate of one of Trumps most ardent ideological supporters, former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon, to the VOA job more than two years ago. But his approval was blocked by Senate Democrats until recently, in part because of Democratic concerns about alleged financial self-dealing in his businesses. In recent weeks, Trump has criticized VOA for its news coverage of China during the coronavirus crisis. When asked about the Pack nomination on May 15th, Trump said, Voice of America is run in a terrible manner. Theyre not the Voice of America. Theyre the opposite of the Voice of America. At the time, Bennett defended the U.S.-funded news agencys mission and reporting. We export the First Amendment to people around the world who have no other access to factual, truthful, believable information, she said. Thats why more than 80% of our 280 million audience in 47 languages in more than 60 countries say they find our work credible, she added. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 00:39:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIGA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The local governments of 46 municipalities across Latvia have sent President Egils Levits a petition asking to halt a highly controversial municipal reform, which has already been greenlighted by the central government and parliament, the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments said Tuesday. Opponents argue that the reform is poorly planned. The local authorities accuse the Regional Development Ministry of a failure to properly consult local governments and residents about their needs and expectations in the context of the reform. Most importantly, the petitioners say, the reform plan does not answer the main question - how will the new map of municipalities ensure a better development of Latvia and its territories? The local governments are therefore calling on the president not to sign the reform bill into law and to send it back to lawmakers for revision. The petition has been joined by more than a third of Latvia's 119 local governments. As a result of the reform, which the parliament passed in the final reading on June 10, the number of municipalities in the Baltic country will be reduced from 119 to 42, primarily by merging smaller administrative territories to form larger and economically stronger municipalities. In support of the reform, Regional Development Minister Juris Puce said that the creation of larger municipalities is necessary because it is much harder for small and fragmented municipalities to attract significant investment and that the goal is to ensure equal opportunities for all people in Latvia regardless of their municipality of residence. For the reform bill to take effect, it has to be promulgated by the president. Enditem One day virtual event on Thursday, July 2, to focus on how businesses in the APAC region can adopt DevOps for the database by directly addressing their concerns With the current pandemic causing the cancellation and postponement of IT conferences and events around the world, Redgate Software has accelerated its programme of free virtual events so that IT professionals can continue to develop their skills and enhance their knowledge. Thursday, July 2, turns the spotlight on Australia and New Zealand with a dedicated one-day Redgate Streamed event starting at 8am AEST and featuring a line-up of experts from the region. Speakers like Damian Brady, Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, and Greg Low, Microsoft Data Platform MVP and founder of SQL Down Under, will be presenting a series of sessions on topics like how DevOps principles can be applied to any project, and what a real cloud transformation project involves. Troy Hunt, Microsoft Regional Director and Founder of Have I Been Pwned, which allows internet users to check whether their personal data has been compromised by data breaches, will also be hosting an Ask the Expert session. While based in Australia, he's one of the most respected security experts in the world and he'll be interacting with delegates and responding to questions about data privacy and protection issues. For Troy Hunt, the fact that many of the speakers work in the region is a big part of its appeal. "Whilst it looks like everything will remain virtual for a while yet, having a local flavour will give participants a sense that they're part of the same audience they would have been in days gone by when we all got together in the same location. Adding some resident knowledge to the show gives us the opportunity to talk about how organisations in our corner of the world have managed to solve some of the big tech challenges of today." In April this year, Redgate moved its entire conference programme online and introduced many new events to keep IT professionals informed and up to date with the latest developments. As a result, the events are now attracting thousands of delegates who can watch the sessions live as well as catch up with them afterwards online. For every delegate who attends the latest Redgate Streamed event, live or on-demand, Redgate will also be donating A$1 to the Australian Red Cross and A$1 to World Health Organisation's COVID-19 response fund. Even if delegates cannot join the event live on the day, they will receive recordings to watch on-demand. The Redgate Streamed APAC Edition takes place on Thursday, July 2, from 8am AEST, and delegates can register by visiting www.red-gate.com/APACstreamed. About Redgate Software Redgate makes ingeniously simple software used by over 800,000 IT professionals around the world and is the leading Microsoft SQL Server tools vendor. Redgate's philosophy is to design highly usable, reliable tools which elegantly solve the problems developers and DBAs face every day and help them to adopt compliant database DevOps. As well as streamlining database development and preventing the database being a bottleneck, this helps organizations introduce data protection by design and by default. As a result, more than 100,000 companies use Redgate tools, including 91% of those in the Fortune 100. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005902/en/ Contacts: Press contact Matt Hilbert, Redgate Software matt.hilbert@red-gate.com UK based Michaela Murray michaela.murray@red-gate.com Australia based Since June 15, all border crossing points across the state border of Ukraine have finally been opened for air traffic. The foreigners entry into the territory of Ukraine is also allowed. Where can Ukrainians travel right now and whether quarantine restrictions must be observed upon arrival? Open source EU borders will remain closed for the majority of Ukrainians until July. The ban on tourist trips of foreigners, which was supposed to end on June 15, was extended until June 30. Now the following categories of Ukrainians are entitled to fly to European countries (spoiler: there are no tourists among them): A person who has a close relative who is a citizen of the country; A person who has a residence or work permit; A person who goes to seasonal work and can confirm this with a document. The same rules remain in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova. Entry to Ukraine for foreigners According to Minister of Infrastructure Vladyslav Krykliy, the government, by its decision, opened checkpoints at Ukrainian airports and allowed entry for foreigners who are not citizens of countries with a significant spread of Covid-19. The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has published a list of countries that according to the incidence rate of Covid-19 belong to the "red" and "green" zones. According to the decision of the Government of Ukraine, states with a significant spread of Covid-19 are countries in which the number of active cases of coronavirus infection is more than 40 people per 100 thousand. The Cabinet of Ministers bill provides that crossing a state border by a person who has arrived from a state with a significant spread of coronavirus is the basis for observing this person. On June 22, Ukraine fell into the "red zone" in terms of coronavirus infection. There were 19,597 active cases of coronavirus in Ukraine. And there are 46.8 active cases of infection per 100,000 people in Ukraine. As of the morning of June 23, 833 new cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in Ukraine for the past 24 hours. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,035 people have died from coronavirus (+23 per day) and 16,956 patients (+314 per day) have recovered. The total number of infected in Ukraine is 38,074. Citizens of states with a significant spread of coronavirus who have not been on the territory of these states for the past 14 days, employees of diplomatic missions and consular posts of foreign states, official international missions, organizations accredited in Ukraine, and members of their families are not subject to observation. As well as drivers and crew of freight vehicles, the crew of aircraft and sea, river vessels, members of the train, and locomotive crews if there is no reason to believe that they were in contact with a sick person. Situation at the airports From June 15, Ukrainians will be able to fly without restrictions to Albania and the United States, subject to 14 days quarantine - to the UK, without restrictions on the border and testing after arrival they can fly to Turkey. Also, from June 27, citizens of Ukraine will be able to fly to Tunisia with testing after arrival. Countries such as Cyprus, Montenegro, Georgia, Greece will consider opening borders after improving the epidemic situation in Ukraine from July 1. And do not forget... During quarantine, and even after its cancellation, most likely, the rules for staying at the airport will not be the same as before. For example, at the time of quarantine in Ukraine, only the terminal D will operate at the Boryspil International Airport. Boryspil airport Open source Only passengers with boarding passes or a ticket in paper or electronic form, as well as in masks or respirators, will be allowed to the terminal. Accompanying persons must also have personal protective equipment. Before traveling to the airport, people are asked to fill out a health questionnaire, if required by the airline. To enter Terminal D, you need to go through a temperature and metal scanner. In fact, passengers will go through two scanners at a time. People with fever, as well as symptoms of a coronavirus, will not be allowed into the airport. Passengers are also asked to keep distance and to use their own sanitizers or those installed at the airport. Documents must be provided only without covers. Passengers should be prepared to take off the mask or respirator at the request of the inspector. Upon arrival at the airport, passengers must pick up their luggage and leave the building as soon as possible. See Full Image Gallery >> For car designers, falling in love with your own work, we imagine, must be an occupational hazard. When that work is a production car, the easy solution once the model reaches showrooms is to go out and buy one taking advantage of friendly, employee pricing. But when your Rembrandt is a concept car, usually after its auto-show tour is done it disappears into an automaker's warehouse or, worse, ends up being crushed. The Ford Via concept car escaped both of those fates and eventually wound up on Bring a Trailer, where it caught the attention of Moray Callum, one of the designers who originally worked on the project. During the auction, Callum posted a comment on the site giving the background of the Via. The objective was to show a cab-forward design for a proposed Ford powertrain comprising a transverse engine and a T-drive transmission. (Note that this is three years before Chrysler's LH cars the Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid and Eagle Vision popularized the whole cab-forward idea.) Callum explains: "The exterior was the result of an internal competition where two designs were picked and combined, the front and [the] greenhouse from one, [and] the rear and [the] body side from another. These were from myself and Claudio Messale. The program was managed by my brother Ian [Callum, who also worked at Ford at the time]." The car was constructed for Ford by Ghia and made its debut at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show, later appearing at the Chicago Auto Show. Like most concept cars, the Via was built strictly for show, not for go. The car has no powertrain. Only two of the doors open. Those factors did not dim its ardor for Callum, who said "it's one we're all still proud of." So much so that at the eleventh hour, Callum swooped in and scooped it up with an $11,000 bid. As one member of the commentariat remarked, "It's hard to imagine a better outcome." Indeed. Tamil Nadu announced announced another lockdown, but the Delhi government has clarified that it will not impose restrictions though coronavirus are rising in the national capital. Tata Motors is on the lookout for a new partner for its domestic passenger vehicle business, which the auto major is create into a new entity separate from its main company. In a relief for the mobile data customers, the spike in demand seen in April-May has stabilised which may solve the issue of slower speed but sudden surge in economic activities may bring back such woes. Here are the top news of the ... John Cornyn Regarding Turner says Confederate statues to be gone by Juenteenth, (A1, June 12): Sen. John Cornyns statement, that removing statutes would erase our history, is only a dream or perhaps wishful thinking. There is nothing that can erase the hatred, the murder, the unbearable servitude and torture that was perpetrated on African Americans. His comments about China, along with his racist dog-whistles about his possible opponent Royce West, demonstrate why this senator should be left in the past that he admires. He is not a senator for the future of Texas. Patricia L. Garris, Spring U.S. Sen. John Coryn said, I dont think we can go back and erase our history by removing statues, and What happens next? Then somebody says you cant teach about the Civil War or slavery in your textbooks. No one is trying to erase our history or prohibit teaching about the Civil War or slavery by removing statues. We are pursuing the exact opposite. Its disingenuous at best to imply displaying statues of men who fought a war against our country for the primary purpose of protecting the institution of slavery, is teaching history. The removal of slavers from pedestals is the beginning of truthfully teaching, not erasing, our history. We should preserve history, not the diabolical whitewashing of truth purposely designed to oppress. David E Eguia, Houston Replacing statues with heroes People might feel differently about removing monuments honoring Confederate military and political leaders if they knew these monuments require regular cleaning and maintenance at taxpayers expense. Public art and monuments after all indicate what people value and respect. On May 31, Susan Combs wrote about the struggle of Texas suffragists to win the womens right to vote 100 years ago. During the Spanish flu pandemic, women nurses willingness to care for the sick and risk infection proved that they deserved the vote. Not all heroes are on battlefields. Some fight with logic, truth and perseverance. The suffragists worked for 72 years before the 19th amendment was passed. Maybe its time for a statue of a real Texas hero, Minnie Fisher Cunningham, executive secretary of the League of Women Voters, whose dedication and political savvy gave millions of Texas women access to politics. In a democracy, what could be a greater achievement? Nancy Perich Daly, Houston Instead of removal Instead of knocking down or moving the Confederate statues, why not put a Union officer, of equivalent rank, next to the Confederate one. The statues are a work of art. Someone spent months, maybe years chiseling the piece. Bette Burton, Weston Lakes live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Sharans* request for an extension of his L-1 visa (a professional worker visa for intra-company transfer) was recently declined. His pregnant wife, a dependent, was due in June first week making it difficult for them to leave the US on Vande Bharat mission flights, which brought hundreds of stranded Indians back home. The only option left with Sharan now is to get a B2 visa instead and stay back even it means huge expenses including on insurance. Finding a new job amid COVID-19 is out of the question, particularly since he is an L-1 visa holder. In another case, an L-1 employee was laid off without prior notice as the firm's business took a hit. He is now contemplating higher education in the US, just so that he can stay there. This is a challenge most L-1 visa workers are facing in the US. With increasing denials and layoffs, L-1 visa holders are in the line of fire with limited options. What is L-1 visa? COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show L-1 is a non-immigrant visa for intracompany transfers for candidates who are already working for the company that intends to open or expand operations in the US. It could also be the US parent company that wants one of its employees working in its subsidiary to work in the US. These visas are reserved for experienced professionals such as managers and executives (L-1A) and those with specialised knowledge in the companys processes (L-1B). Indian firms continue to be the largest beneficiaries of L-1 visa accounting for 23 percent of total visas issued followed by the UK. For instance, companies like TCS, Infosys and Tech Mahindra, are one of the largest users of this visa. Why do companies use L-1 visa? According to immigration experts that Moneycontrol spoke to, unlike H-1B, the intra-company transfer visa does not have cap issues. H-1B visa cap is 85,000 in a financial year. This allows companies to file for L-1 for those employees who would be working at their US units. An immigration attorney pointed out that some companies used L-1 in place of H-1B given the complex and long-drawn process the latter involves. What are the current hurdles? The rate of denials and request for evidence have increased under the Trump administration leading to L-1 visa rejections. According to a research report by the US-based immigration think tank CATO.org, between 2016 and 2019, rejection share of L-1 increased from 25 percent to 34 percent. Recent layoffs due to COVID-19 have only added to the troubles. Unlike H-1B visa holders, these employees cannot seek employment in another firm once laid off and have limited options but to return home, especially in the case of Indians. (Canadian and Mexican nationals can move to TN visa that allows them to work in the US). Take for instance Suraj K*, a techie working in the US on L-1 visa. Suraj had come to India in March for personal reasons and was stuck here till May end before he was able to go back to the US. However, right after he reached, he came to know that his contract was terminated. Suraj had just three options; changing visa status to B2 or the visitor visa and waiting it out till an opportunity opened up in the company again; pursuing higher studies in the US by taking an F-1 visa and; returning home. However, given the uncertainty, opportunities may not be immediately available and staying back without a job would be expensive. So most people are likely to opt to return back home. Romish Badani, CEO, Bridge US, an immigration firm, said that given the cost of living is high in the US most people would go home till they find a better opportunity to come back to the US for work. How will it impact IT firms? The visa rejection would also impact IT firms in delivering projects on time as it would be challenging to find replacements for L-1 visa resources who are specialised in particular fields. This would, in due course, force companies to look at other operating models apart from the onsite-offshore mix. We are already seeing it happening. Most IT firms now have close to 60 percent of their workforce in the US as locals. In its FY20 annual report, TCS said with remote working becoming a norm it was looking at a lesser dependency on visa and travel as meetings go virtual. Dissolution comes days after opposition leader Freeman Mbowe was allegedly beaten in a politically-motivated attack. Tanzanias parliament has been dissolved ahead of elections due in October, with President John Magufuli pledging a free and fair vote in a country where the opposition has decried a climate of fear and violence. Magufuli, who took office in 2015 promising a crackdown on corruption but whose time in office has drawn criticism by rights groups, urged all political parties to avoid insults and violence while campaigning. The constitution requires that the 393-seat legislature be dissolved ahead of the elections. The vote is scheduled for October but the precise date has not yet been set. I want to assure everyone that the elections will be free and fair, for all political parties, Magufuli, who is expected to seek a second five-year term, said in an address to legislators. The dissolution comes just days after Tanzanian opposition leader Freeman Mbowe, who has announced his intention to run against Magufuli, was allegedly beaten and hospitalised in what his Chadema party said was a politically-motivated attack. The European Union mission in the country denounced the alleged assault as an attack against democracy while the US and British embassies also expressed concern. Tanzanian police have cast doubt on the allegations. Chadema says attacks against the party and its supporters have risen sharply under Magufuli, whose administration has been accused by rights groups of eroding democratic freedoms. The government has denied seeking to stifle dissent. Chadema and other opposition parties including Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT Wazalendo) have called for an independent monitor to oversee the elections, warning they will not be free otherwise. The current setup of the electoral commission does not guarantee free polls, as it favours the ruling party. The chairman and some other officials are appointed by the president, who is the ruling party leader, said ACT Wazalendo chairman Seif Sharif Hamad. In November, the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party won more than 99 percent of seats in local elections boycotted by the opposition over allegations of government interference. The government denied foul play. Schools reopening Separately on Tuesday, Magufuli also announced that schools across Tanzania would reopen on June 29, saying the threat of coronavirus had diminished. Universities already reopened on June 1, despite complaints from some students that they might be at risk of infection. Tanzania is one of the few countries in Africa that has not taken extensive measures against the virus. Magufuli has played down the seriousness of the pandemic, and the country stopped providing updated information about its cases in April. In late May, the government summoned the top official at the US embassy to object to an advisory that warned of exponential growth of COVID-19 cases. The foreign ministry said the claim was not true and could cause panic among Tanzanians and foreigners. It came after several opposition leaders and activists accused the government of failing to inform the public on the extent of the diseases outbreak and covering up the true number of fatalities. Perez said he returned with a gun, walked into the home and shot her in the head and back before running out, according to Assistant States Attorney James Murphy. He left but went back inside and fired three more shots as she laid on the floor, Murphy said. A 28-year-old Lincoln man who has done prison time for arson turned himself in to Lincoln police Monday in connection with a fire early May 30 when a peaceful protest turned to looting at a gas station near 26th and O streets. Police also asked Tuesday for the public's help to identify a second man, seen throwing lit objects into buildings along Lincoln Mall early the next day, Officer Erin Spilker said. She said police arrested Tyler Maple on suspicion of first-degree arson for the incident at the gas station. Police had posted photographs taken from the convenience store's surveillance video of the man, wearing a white face mask, tank top and sandals, on the local Crime Stoppers page. Last week, they said they had identified Maple through a call to the departments anonymous tip line but didn't give a name since he hadn't yet been arrested. On Monday morning, Maple called police and turned himself in. Spilker said security video from inside the EZ Go taken just before 3 a.m. May 30 showed a man getting in through a broken window, taking a lighter out of his pocket and lighting trash on the floor on fire before walking out. Irans foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran will not allow the United Nations nuclear watchdog to become a tool for destroying the 2015 nuclear agreement signed between Iran and world powers. Zarif was speaking in a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA( on Monday criticized Iran for lack of cooperation in allowing international inspectors full access to conduct their investigations of possible nuclear sites. Reports say that the three European signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, Germany, France and the U.K. have prepared a resolution to censure Iran for the lack of cooperation. The United States backs efforts to force Iran to allow full access to UN inspectors. President Donald Trump decided to withdraw form the JCPOA in May 2018, demanding Iran to renegotiate a stronger agreement preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons. Zarif told reporters in Moscow, The job of the Trump administration is to exit international agreements and organizations and we will not allow the IAEA become a tool in the hands of the Trump administration to destroy JCPOA. The official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Zarif as saying that his country has always cooperated with the IAEA and has discharges its duties. The controversy around more inspections began in 2018 when Israel revealed evidence it said was acquired through espionage efforts that Iran had hidden evidence of a secret weapons program. In his remarks Zarif condemned efforts to use evidence based on espionage to demand additional inspections. However, the IAEA appears to be convinced such inspections are necessary. The Russian foreign minister Lavrov backed Zarifs position in the press conference condemning U.S. efforts to extend a UN arms embargo beyond October 2020. Washington "has no right to punish Iran by profiting from the Security Council's authority and, in fact, manipulating the Security Council and, to some extent, the UN Secretariat," Lavrov said. He was probably referring to a recent report by the UN Secretary General saying Iran might have violated the UN arms embargo. Reporting by IRNA, Interfax By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday delivered a watershed victory for LGBT rights and a defeat for President Donald Trump's administration by ruling that a longstanding federal law barring workplace discrimination protects gay and transgender employees. The landmark 6-3 ruling represented the biggest moment for LGBT rights in the United States since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. Two conservative justices joined the court's four liberals in the decision: Neil Gorsuch, a 2017 Trump appointee who wrote the ruling, and Chief Justice John Roberts. The justices decided that gay and transgender people are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex as well as race, color, national origin and religion. Workplace bias against gay and transgender employees had remained legal in much of the country, with 28 U.S. states lacking comprehensive measures against employment discrimination. The ruling - in two gay rights cases from Georgia and New York and a transgender rights case from Michigan - recognizes new worker protections in federal law. The legal fight focused on the definition of "sex" in Title VII. The court agreed with the plaintiffs that discriminating against gay and transgender workers was inherently based on their sex and consequently was illegal. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump called the ruling very powerful and said, "They've ruled and we live with their decision." Supported by evangelical Christian voters, Trump has taken actions that have undermined gay and transgender rights since taking office in 2017. LGBT activists and the only surviving plaintiff in the litigation lauded the ruling. "I truly believe I went into shock this morning," said Gerald Bostock, who brought the Georgia case after losing his job as a county government child welfare services coordinator months after joining the local gay-friendly Hotlanta Softball League. "I'm proud to have taken part in this process in getting us to this historic moment," Bostock added. The ruling does not resolve other legal issues on LGBT rights including whether separate federal laws that bar sex discrimination should also be interpreted as covering sexual orientation and gender identity. "Americans must be able to rely on what the law says, and it is disappointing that a majority of the justices were unwilling to affirm that commonsense principle," said John Bursch, a lawyer with the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group that represented the employer in the Michigan case. Trump's administration joined the employers in arguing that Congress did not intend for Title VII to protect gay and transgender people when it passed the law. Gorsuch conceded that point but said what mattered was the law's text. 'A NECESSARY AND UNDISGUISABLE ROLE' "An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex," Gorsuch wrote. "Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids." Gorsuch, who signaled sympathy toward the plaintiffs during arguments in the case in October, wrote that "there is no way an employer can discriminate against those who check the homosexual or transgender box without discriminating in part because of an applicant's sex." Roberts, considered the ideological center of the court, backed gay rights in this case after dissenting in the gay marriage ruling. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh dissented from Monday's ruling. "There is only one word for what the court has done today: legislation," Alito wrote. Two other plaintiffs did not live to see the ruling. Donald Zarda, who sued after being fired as a skydiving instructor in New York, died in 2014. Aimee Stephens, fired by a Detroit funeral home after revealing plans to transition from male to female, died in May. Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign gay rights group, said, "No one should be denied a job or fired simply because of who they are or whom they love." "By discriminating against homosexuals," Gorsuch wrote, "the employer intentionally penalizes men for being attracted to men and women for being attracted to women. By discriminating against transgender persons, the employer unavoidably discriminates against persons with one sex identified at birth and another today." Trump's administration last week issued a rule lifting anti-discrimination protections for transgender people in healthcare. His administration also has backed the right of certain businesses to refuse to serve gay people on the basis of religious objections, banned most transgender service members from the military and rescinded protections on bathroom access for transgender students in public schools. The court faces another test in its next term, which starts in October, in a case pitting LGBT rights against religious rights involving Philadelphia's decision to bar a Catholic organization from participating in the city's foster care program because the group will not place children with same-sex couples. [For a graphic on major cases before the Supreme Court, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2mZn6MJ] (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley in Washington; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung in New York and Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is set to make significant inroads in Zongo communities across the country in the 2020 general elections. Mr Abdul-Aziz Haruna Futa, NPP National Nasara Coordinator, said this would be achieved on the back of massive development projects which was transforming Zongo communities in the country. Zongo communities, therefore, have no excuse but to overwhelmingly endorse the President for keeping faith with the people of Zongo and delivering on the promises he made them in the 2016 election. He was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after a day's training for Constituency Nasara Coordinators in the Ashanti Region as part of a campaign dubbed, We Care for You which is being implemented by Nasara across the 16 regions. The campaign seeks to sensitize Zongo communities on the need to stay safe from the coronavirus disease by adopting hygienic lifestyles and observing all the safety protocols recommended by the World Health Organization. Constituency Coordinators would supply personal protective equipment to residents of Zongo communities under the We Care for You Campaign which is being funded by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Mr Futa said the governing NPP has demonstrated its commitment to promoting the welfare of Zongo communities under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. When Allah gave him the opportunity to serve Ghana, the first thing he did for the Zongo community was to give us the Inner Cities and Zongo Development Ministry as well as the Zongo Development Fund, he said. He said for the first time under the fourth republic, a Muslim from the Zongo community in the person of Justice Issifu Omoro Amadu Tanko had been appointed to the Supreme Court, saying former President Mahama who is a northerner himself overlooked him even when he qualified. These coupled with massive infrastructural development in Zongos across the country, according to him, should attract huge votes for the NPP in December. He said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has over the years described President Akufo-Addo as anti-Zongo but he has demonstrated his commitment to bridging the development gap between Zongos and other parts of the country since assuming office in 2017. Alhaji Saalim Bamaba, the Regional Nasara Coordinator, said the Nasara wing of NPP was determined to lead the party to victory by mobilizing the people of Zongos to show appreciation for the transformation of the communities. If we are able to work very hard in these communities and maximize the votes of the President in the Zongo polling stations, by extension we are bringing back Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the seat of government, he said. He expressed optimism that the good works of the President would provide them good messages to convince the people of Zongo on the need to give the President a second term. ---GNA State Bank of India on Tuesday said it has disbursed Rs 8,700 crore under the Rs 3-lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for the MSME sector, pummelled by the coronavirus-induced lockdown. As per the directions of the finance ministry, SBI and other banks rolled out the Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) loan product to support MSMEs and business enterprises as per the guidelines of NCGTC. ECLGS is the biggest fiscal component of the mega Rs 20-lakh crore package announced last month. Under the scheme, 100 per cent guarantee coverage is being provided by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) for additional funding of up to Rs 3 lakh crore to eligible MSMEs and interested MUDRA borrowers in the form of a GECL facility. "The bank has sanctioned GECL aggregating Rs 15,000 crore to 1.5 lakh MSME customers. SBI so far has disbursed loans worth Rs 8,700 crore," SBI said in a statement. Additional supportive measures such as COVID Emergency Credit Line, re-assessment of working capital limits, and restructuring of advances are also being made available to MSME customers, it said. "MSMEs formed a very crucial part of the announcements made under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' by the Government of India wherein MSMEs were defined. To empower them in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, SBI organized more than 125 E-Town Hall Meetings from May to date," it said. Also read: Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund eyes 2.33% stake in Jio India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent India-China standoff: Anand Mahindra says time to stand by martyred soldiers India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, June 16: Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra on Tuesday has said that eventually people will come to know the truth behind the clash but now is the time to stand in support of the martyred soldiers. We will eventually learn about the details of what happened in Ladakh. That is our right. But right now, we must grieve with & stand by the families of our martyred soldiers. And stand solidly in support of our armed forces. anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 16, 2020 Army colonel & 2 Jawans martyred in violent faceoff with Chinese troops at LAC | Oneindia News Meanwhile, Congress termed as "shocking" and "unacceptable" the death of an Indian Army officer and two soldiers in a violent face off with the Chinese troops, and asked Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to confirm the development. India-China stand off: Casualties on both sides says Indian Army "Shocking, Unbelievable and Unacceptable! Will the Raksha Mantri confirm," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter. Earlier in the day, an Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night during a violent face off with the Chinese troops, the Army said. They said senior military officials of the two sides are holding a meeting in Galwan Valley to defuse tension. A large number of Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley for the last five weeks. President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable about Americas seniors, in the Cabinet Room of the White House (Evan Vucci/AP) President Donald Trump said on Monday he is ordering a major reduction in US troop strength in Germany, a move widely criticised by members of his own party as a gift to Russia and a threat to US national security. Were putting the number down to 25,000 soldiers, Mr Trump said at the White House. The US currently has about 34,500 troops in Germany far fewer than during the Cold War, when Germany was the central focus of American and NATO efforts to deter invasion by the former Soviet Union. In recent decades, Germany has hosted key American military facilities and provided a transit point for troops deploying to and from the Middle East, including during years of conflict in Iraq. We're protecting Germany and they're delinquent. That doesn't make sense Donald Trump Mr Trump faulted Germany for failing to pay enough for its own defence, calling the long-time NATO ally delinquent. Were protecting Germany and theyre delinquent. That doesnt make sense, the president said, referring to Germanys failure thus far to attain a goal set by all NATO members in 2014 to spend at least 2% of gross national product on defence by 2024. Germany says it hopes to reach 2% by 2031. Until they pay, were removing our soldiers, a number of our soldiers, Mr Trump said. His plan, however, did not sound fully defined. When we get down to 25,000 well see where were going, he added. Since his election in 2016, president Trump has pushed for the 2% as a hard target, and he has repeatedly singled out Germany as a major offender, though many others are also below the goal. In his White House remarks to reporters, Mr Trump suggested his troop withdrawal decision was intended to punish Germany, noting that the presence of American troops is a boost to local economies. Those are well-paid soldiers, he said. They live in Germany. They spend vast amounts of money in Germany. Everywhere around those bases is very prosperous for Germany. So Germany takes, and then on top of it they treat us very badly on trade. In addition to the 34,500 US troops in Germany, there also are approximately 17,500 Defence Department civilians. The government has contemplated a partial troop withdrawal from Germany since last year, and in recent weeks it became apparent that the pesident was ready to move forward, although no decision had been announced. The decision was not discussed in advance with Germany or other NATO members, and Congress was not officially informed prompting a letter from 22 Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee urging a rethink. Withdrawing our forces and abandoning our allies would have grave consequences, emboldening our adversaries and making war more not less likely Liz Cheney The threats posed by Russia have not lessened, and we believe that signs of a weakened US commitment to NATO will encourage further Russian aggression and opportunism, Republican representative Mac Thornberry of Texas wrote in a letter to Mr Trump with his colleagues. Representative Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming, said last week that Mr Trump appeared to be making a serious mistake. Americas forward presence has never been more important than it is today, as our nation confronts the threats to freedom and security around the world posed by Vladimir Putins Russia and the Chinese Communist Party, she said. Our presence abroad is critical to deterring these adversaries, bolstering alliances, maintaining peace through strength, and preserving American leadership. Withdrawing our forces and abandoning our allies would have grave consequences, emboldening our adversaries and making war more not less likely. NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that Arlene Chow and Ernest Yakob have joined the firm's New York office as partners in the Litigation & Trial Department and Intellectual Property Litigation Practice. Both are seasoned life sciences patent trial lawyers who focus on branded pharmaceutical cases in jurisdictions across the country. Chow is an experienced first-chair litigator who handles district court trials, arguments before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and inter partes review hearings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). She represents some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies in important litigations relating to small molecule and biologic drugs, including Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA) litigations, and has substantial experience leading biotech cases. A skilled patent litigator, Yakob represents major, innovative life sciences companies in district courts, as well as post-grant review proceedings before the USPTO. Drawing on his substantial technical knowledge and multiple advanced degrees, Yakob serves as a technical strategist, working closely with in-house counsel and in-house scientists on the most complex competitor cases. David Callahan, Global Chair of the firm's Intellectual Property Litigation Practice, said: "Arlene and Ernest are skilled trial lawyers and sophisticated strategists at the helm of some of the most notable patent matters in the life sciences space. They are phenomenal additions to our team, who will further expand our brand-side pharmaceutical and biotech platform following the addition of Adam Perlman in Washington, D.C. in January. We're excited to have them on board." Mike Morin, Global Co-Chair of Latham's Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group and Vice Chair of the IP Litigation Practice, said: "We're thrilled to welcome Arlene and Ernest. Our team is built on talented lawyers who can stay ahead of a fast-changing, innovative industry and they are well positioned to advance those efforts. Moreover, their addition will further fortify Latham's ability to be a one-stop-shop for brand-side pharma and biotech clients, offering best-in-class advocacy and counseling across practices, whether litigation, regulatory, or transactional." Michele Penzer, New York Office Managing Partner, said: "We couldn't be more pleased to have Arlene and Ernest join the firm. They add further depth and muscle to our IP Litigation Practice in New York by combining first-rate courtroom skills and advanced scientific training that will help drive results. Clients will benefit from their practical know-how and thoughtful guidance when navigating cutting-edge IP matters." "Ernest and I look forward to contributing to Latham's impressive IP Litigation Practice and being a part of the firm's multi-disciplinary life sciences platform," said Chow. "We've seen the firm's IP team grow strategically over the past decade into the premier trial practice that it is today and are excited to complement those capabilities." "We were drawn to Latham's culture of collaboration and global platform, which serve pharma and biotech innovators so well" said Yakob. "I'm thrilled, along with Arlene, to join the firm's dynamic, seamlessly integrated team and look forward to leveraging its platform to our clients' benefit." Chow and Yakob join Latham from Hogan Lovells in New York. Chow earned her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University and her JD from Columbia Law School. Yakob completed Columbia University's six-year Accelerated Interdisciplinary Legal Education Program, earning both his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and JD. In addition, he earned a Master of Science in Recombinant DNA Technology from New York University and a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. About Latham & Watkins (lw.com) Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability. Notes to Editors 1 Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office. Latham & Watkins works in cooperation with the Law Office of Salman M. Al-Sudairi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Contacts David Callahan, Global Chair of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice, +1.312.876.7694 Mike Morin, Global Co-Chair of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group and Vice Chair of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice, +1.202.637.2298 Michele Penzer, New York Office Managing Partner: +1.212.906.1245 SOURCE Latham & Watkins Related Links http://www.lw.com A court heard that Sharna Dixon's 'persistent and sustained' 672 emergency and 101 calls left HM Coastguard alone with a staggering bill of 350,000 in just over a year. Her actions led to them being called out to her almost every week, and made up 35 per cent of all responses in that time by the volunteer lifeboat team on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The financial impact of the 27-year-old's behaviour on Kent Police was also said to run 'well into hundreds of thousands of pounds', and her calls cost the South East Coast Ambulance Service just under 94,000. A psychiatric report concluded that Dixon continues to 'see herself as a victim of her circumstances' and refused to take responsibility for her behaviour. Emin Kandola, defending, said the trigger for Dixon's behaviour was giving birth to a stillborn child on a beach when she was 19 and unaware she had even been pregnant. Sharna Dixon, 27, from Sheerness, Kent, pictured, was jailed for two years after admitting assaulting a police officer and making hundreds of fake emergency calls - including taking 125 ambulance trips to hospital Dixon was responsible for more than a third of the emergency call outs made by the RNLI and coastguard in Sheppey Island, Kent In one year alone she arrived at the A&E department at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham by ambulance approximately three times a week, but never needed treatment lasting more than a few hours. A judge said that although the total bill to the three emergency services was 'eyewateringly' in excess of 500,000, the cost was more in terms of hours spent dealing with her and the impact on the wider community. The former nursing degree student would repeatedly ring police saying she felt suicidal, or threatening to drown herself or self-harm. However, the calls were made more for attention than in a genuine emergency, Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, heard on Monday. A probationary police officer sent to assist her during one incident in September last year ended up being pushed by Dixon into a canal, suffering a wrist fracture which required surgery, as well as bruises and grazing. It was alleged that she had even filmed one of her rescue operations and later posted it on social media. She was also brought 125 times by ambulance to Medway Maritime Hospital, pictured, Dixon disputed this however during her sentencing hearing for causing grievous bodily harm to the officer, and persistently sending false communications to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety between November 2017 and February this year. Judge Julian Smith jailed her for 15 months for GBH, three months consecutive for the malicious communications offence, plus 180 days also to be served consecutively for breaching a suspended sentence. 'What is apparent is that you have made so many calls that the impact on individual services is very significant,' he told Dixon, who appeared via video link with Bronzefield Prison in Middlesex. 'The coastguard has been called out numerous times and you constituted 35 per cent of all calls to them. 'There is a 131-page report produced by police regarding your contact. That is extraordinary. 'The hospital visits - 185 in one year and 125 by ambulance. That is a profound impact on services and on others who may have a greater need for an ambulance. 'The costs you have incurred are eye-watering.' Prosecutor John Crawford detailed the 'significant involvement' from the authorities as a result of her calls. 'Since October 2018, the coastguard has responded to 67 incidents involving the defendant, approximately once a week,' he told the court. 'The majority have been in and around the Isle of Sheppey but also the wider East Kent area. 'Ms Dixon was responsible for 35 per cent of all call-outs of the Sheppey island lifeboat and coastguard rescue teams, and up until January 2020 the total cost of responding to her call-outs to the coastguard alone had been 350,000.' The court also heard that Dixon's involvement with Kent Police during the same period was as much as 'a few times every week'. In just 13 months, she made 162 emergency and 101 calls to police, and there were 202 visits to her home. One police community support officer who had as many as 80 dealings with Dixon during call-outs, face-to-face meetings, and visits to her family said in his report for the court: 'Hundreds of police hours were spent dealing with her. 'The cost is well into the hundreds of thousands of pounds, and other people in the community would have had their police response negatively affected.' The court also heard that there were 473 ambulance requests resulting from Dixon's calls between January 2019 and February this year, costing the service 93,654. It was alleged that during one incident at Warden Bay in Sheerness, Kent, Dixon would not cooperate with those trying to save her and even filmed the rescue taking place. However, having earlier in proceedings told Judge Smith she was 'really not a bad person', Dixon denied this, claiming the video had been recorded and shared online by a member of the public. The police officer injured on September 27 last year had been called to an area by Sheerness Canal after Dixon had again called police telling them she felt suicidal. However, she became 'agitated, aggressive and distressed' and began pushing out, said the prosecutor. 'They were near the edge of the canal and in the course of this pushing, the officer lost his balance, was unable to steady himself on the uneven ground, and ended up falling into the canal,' added Mr Crawford. 'He put his arm out to break his fall which resulted in him fracturing his wrist and needing surgery.' She was eventually charged with the malicious communications offence - which carries a maximum prison term of six months - after another search operation involving police and the coastguard had been mounted on February 15 this year. The court heard Dixon made 473 ambulance requests which cost almost 100,000 and was taken by ambulance to the A&E department of Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent on average three times a week The court heard Dixon threatened in a 999 call to drown herself before the phone line disconnected. She was eventually found 'on the wrong side of railings' at Margate Harbour in Kent, and told police her call had ended because her phone had run out of charge, said Mr Crawford. Dixon, who went on to work in a care home after failing to complete her university studies, also claimed there were no other services she could have called for help. At a previous hearing last week, Judge Smith told Dixon, from Sheerness, that had she been charged with a public nuisance offence her sentence could have been as much as seven years. 'No one can ever be prevented from calling the police but if they continue to persistently require their services for no good reason they become a public nuisance and punishment can be very severe indeed,' he said. 'The total cost of those persistent phone calls, never mind the extraordinary number of hours, was huge, and the impact on services available to others was extremely significant. Dixon, pictured, cost the emergency services more than 500,000 with her repeated calls 'We are talking at least half a million pounds worth in financial costs and rather more in the sense of time. 'It is apparent from the sheer volume of calls to the coastguard, ambulance service and police that this was excessive. 'These were inappropriate, malicious and false calls, and an absolute clear case of the misuse of the emergency call system.' Miss Kandola also told the court that the push on the officer at the canal resulted from a 'reckless' swing of her arm when she became startled by his presence. The court heard the offence was committed within weeks of Dixon having been handed a 210-day suspended sentence for two offences of possessing a bladed article and one of assault. The knives were discovered by police while responding to emergency calls made by Dixon while she was at a coastal park and a beach in May and August last year. A decision on whether Dixon should be made subject to a two-year criminal behaviour order banning contact with the emergency services unless for 'genuine' reasons will be made at a separate hearing on July 3. Any breach could result in a maximum prison sentence of five years. Napa County is preparing a half-billion-dollar budget that despite a battering from the COVID-19-related economic downturn includes no layoffs. The county projects receiving $20 million less in general fund tax revenues for the 2020-21 fiscal year beginning in July than predicted in January. Shelter-at-home orders to stop the spread of the pandemic are taking a toll. On Monday, the county Board of Supervisors opened the first budget hearings to have a degree of belt-tightening drama since the Great Recession. A selective hiring freeze is among the steps the county is taking. Still, neither firings nor furloughs are part of the countys plan. We are fortunate Napa County has always been frugal, even when things were good, County Executive Officer Minh Tran said. We always try to save money for a rainy day. And yes, it is raining. Napa County provides a range of services, from the District Attorneys Office to libraries to rural road maintenance to elections to health and social services. It also oversees land use in rural areas for world-famous wine country. The countys overall budget is to be $505 million. Some of the spending is predetermined, such as delivering an array of health and social services programs on behalf of California. Supervisor Ryan Gregory said part of the countys job is being a branch office of the state. Supervisors have much more control over the countys general fund. Thats where much of Mondays budget session discussion centered. The 2020-21 general fund is forecast to have $195.1 million in revenues and $207.4 million in spending after various budget-cutting steps, such as the hiring freeze. That leaves a gap of about $12.3 million. Part of that gap is to be filled by a $7.7 million carryover from this years budget in a routine budget move. But the remaining $4.6 million is to come from the countys fiscal uncertainty assignment, which provides cash flow to buffer the timing of revenues and expenses. The remaining $14.1 million for fiscal uncertainties would be $7.8 million below the countys preferred level based on the budget size. Were balancing our budget based on reserves, Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza said. While he didnt oppose doing so in the COVID-19 situation, neither did he want to see this approach become a habit. Revenues are dropping 5.9% from this fiscal year, but expenses are dropping only 2%, he said. That structurally is not a good balance, Pedroza said. This is how counties and other special agencies have structural deficits that get extended into years. Napa County also has a general reserve fund that is savings for emergencies, such as flood, fire, earthquakes and pandemics. The county has taken $4.1 million from its reserves to address the COVID-19 situation, leaving $25.9 million, below the countys target of $30.5 million. The county Health and Human Services Agency has a proposed $128.5 million budget that is outside of the general fund. That is $4.1 million more than in 2019-20, with $2.1 million being offset by state and federal revenues and $2 million from a fund balance. Thirty-eight positions are being held vacant due to the hiring freeze, a county presentation said. Department goals include responding quickly and appropriately to the COVID-19 pandemic, the presentation said. You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Trump's remarks were the first official confirmation of the planned troop cut. President Donald Trump said on Monday he would cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany to 25,000, faulting the close U.S. ally for failing to meet NATO's defense spending target and accusing it of taking advantage of America on trade. The reduction of about 9,500 troops would be a remarkable rebuke to one of the closest U.S. trading partners and could erode faith in a pillar of postwar European security: that U.S. forces would defend alliance members against Russian aggression, Reuters said. Read alsoNATO recognizes Ukraine as Enhanced Opportunities Partner It was not clear whether Trump's stated intent, which first emerged in media reports on June 5, would actually come to pass given criticism from some of the president's fellow Republicans in Congress who have argued a cut would be a gift to Russia. Speaking to reporters, Trump accused Germany of being "delinquent" in its payments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and vowed to stick with the plan unless Berlin changed course. "So we're protecting Germany and they're delinquent. That doesn't make sense. So I said, we're going to bring down the count to 25,000 soldiers," Trump said, adding that "they treat us very badly on trade" but providing no details. NATO in 2014 set a target that each of its 30 members should spend 2% of GDP on defense. Most, including Germany, do not. Trump's remarks were the first official confirmation of the planned troop cut, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal and later confirmed to Reuters by a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity. That official said it stemmed from months of work by the U.S. military and had nothing to do with tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who thwarted his plan to host an in-person Group of Seven (G7) summit. Asked about Trump's statement, German Ambassador to the United States Emily Haber said U.S. troops were in Europe to defend transatlantic security and to help the United States project its power in Africa and Asia. Pressure group Occupy Ghana says it suspects government is under-reporting Ghana's COVID-19 death toll. According to the group officials of government in charge of the management of COVID 19 information have not been truthful with Ghanaians in that regard. In a statement issued on Monday, June 15, 2020, the group said the reported 54 deaths so far cannot be right. Explaining its reasons for the claim, OccupyGhana said even though 38 deaths have been reported from the Ashanti Region alone, less than 20 of those deaths are included in the national count. There is cause to suspect that the death numbers are being massaged. The reported 54 deaths so far cannot be right. For instance, even though 38 deaths have been reported from the Ashanti Region alone, less than 20 of those deaths are included in the national count, OccupyGhana noted in a statement. It also accused officialdom of lacking candour as far as dealing with the virus is concerned. The case count is growing steadily by the day about 200 to 300 new cases per day. At the last count, we had 7652 confirmed active cases even though that number could be higher (the total number of confirmed cases is 11,964 If the public suspects under-reporting etc, there will be a loss of trust in the reporting system and that will have consequences that will influence public behavioural responses, the statement noted. Read OccupyGhanas full statement below: OCCUPYGHANA PRESS STATEMENT DEAR GHANA, HAVE WE DECIDED TO LIVE WITH THE VIRUS? The outbreak of COVID-19 surprised many leaders around the world. Several had to institute lockdowns in major parts of their countries to stem the spread of the virus. However, this led to massive economic downturns in their countries. To deal with this reality, several leaders have opened their countries up again and are countenancing an express or implied policy of 'Living with the Virus.' THE HEALTH REALITY IN GHANA We acknowledge the initial successes that the government has had with containing the spread of COVID-19 within Ghana, which has even attracted the favourable attention of some international commentators. However, we should not be lulled into a false sense of security. Ambulances are not showing up when people call 112. Tests are delayed on account of suspected depletion in reagents, short staffing etc. There's a complete lack of candour from officialdom on infections. A good case in point is the real possibility that there is an outbreak of COVID-19 among parliamentarians and yet that fact is being hidden and all we get are conflicting statements and behaviour that is not in line with how to deal with this disease. The case count is growing steadily by the day about 200 to 300 new cases per day. At the last count, we had 7652 confirmed active cases even though that number could be higher (the total number of confirmed cases is 11,964.) There is cause to suspect that the death numbers are being massaged. The reported 54 deaths so far cannot be right. For instance, even though 38 deaths have been reported from the Ashanti Region alone, less than 20 of those deaths are included in the national count! If the public suspects under reporting etc, there will be a loss of trust in the reporting system and that will have consequences that will influence public behavioural responses. Several healthcare workers have been infected and some have died, sadly. This points to the sad fact that our doctors and nurses and frontline health workers do not have adequate PPE. Our holding and treatment facilities are running out of space and just a few days ago, the Special Advisor on Health at the Presidency lamented the fact that we do not have enough critical care staff. We also do not have enough critical care beds. Hospitals are getting overwhelmed with spill overs of designated areas for suspected and confirmed cases into emergency rooms and wards otherwise not assigned. The result of this, with delays in getting test results, is a desperate attempt to shorten hospital stay and increase availability of bed space by discharging patients before the post-treatment test results. The unfortunate occurrence, which has led to some being discharged with their repeat tests coming back positive after their discharge. This is disheartening and should not be allowed as we seek to fight this pandemic with professionalism and integrity. Contact tracing is not being done at the levels needed anymore. The government must answer allegations that because contact tracers were paid GHS70 instead of the promised GHS150 per day, they have walked out. The result is that there isnt much contact tracing going on at the moment. And yet we, Ghanaians, are not doing the things that have been shown to reduce the spread of the disease no physical or social distancing and an unwillingness to wear face masks. Even elected and other high-ranking government officials are guilty of this. The country's success in suppressing the spread of this disease was due in part to the early and aggressive lockdown strategy, minimising the opportunity for transmission of the disease in strategic areas. If the lockdown is not economically feasible, should we not be pursuing other measures that reduce transmission and do not affect the economy as much? REOPENING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Following that line of thought, is it a wise decision to reopen schools even if it is just for Forms 2 and 3 SHS, Form 3 JHS and final-year students in our tertiary institutions? We acknowledge that to ensure social distancing, the President directed that JHS 3 classes are to comprise of a maximum of 30 students and SHS classes a maximum of 25 students. Prior to the students arriving, the schools are supposed to be fumigated and disinfected. Once the students arrive, each student, teacher and non-teaching staff are to be provided with re-usable face masks by the Ministry of Education. Yet we worry about the wisdom and safety of this measure, looking at how fast the disease is spreading now. The belief that the virus does not affect children is false. Children and teenagers do get the disease and then spread it to adults who are more vulnerable. Also, the virus induces an inflammatory condition in children and teenagers that can be deadly. Looking at the behaviour of the general Ghanaian population, how sure are we that the JHS and SHS students are going to wear their masks and social-distance not only in the classrooms but also when they leave the classrooms and in the dormitories? How good is personal hygiene going to be at a time when it is of utmost importance? For instance, are all schools going to be assured of the running water needed for the basic hand-washing protocol? If we are not careful, these schools could turn into hotspots for disease transmission and the students could become super-spreaders. Of course, students have been impacted by lockdown. Their learning has been affected, even where there are robust online and at-home lessons underway. But at this point in the school year, is it really worth the risk of reopening schools? If the whole aim is for them to finish their exams, can we put resources into getting students to take these exams online? How about students being given time-bound extended essays and/or open book examinations to write at home? How about combining all of those with continuous assessment grades to arrive at a final exam score for all such students? We are asking these questions because we do not think that the need to get the students to be physically present for exams is worth the risk of having the disease break out in our schools. We are not convinced that if students get sick in schools, there are adequate resources to test and treat them. CONCLUDING COMMENTS If the government has decided to pursue a policy of 'living with the virus,' then the healthcare system and the population should be prepped for this. Let's just remember that Sweden tried the method and has one the highest levels of deaths per million in the world. We acknowledge the renewed emphasis on enforcing social distancing and the wearing of masks. This should be across the board and must include all government officials. They have to lead by example. Large social gatherings should be continued to be banned. We should re-dedicate resources into testing and contact tracing. Recent studies have shown that not all patients who get severely ill need ventilators. We should invest in cheaper non-invasive oxygen therapy solutions. Also, the use of convalescent plasma has been shown to reduce mortality. The Ministry of Health should start an aggressive push to harvest and store plasma from recovered patients. At the start of this outbreak, Ghana showed the world that we could do a lot with the little we had. This took resolve and great leadership. We should not lose that now when the stakes may be much higher. For God and Country OccupyGhana ---citinewsroom Ottawa, June 16 : The application process have started for the Canadian government's C$50 million surplus food rescue program amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it was reported. When the program was announced last month, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau wasn't specific about which products were eligible for what was then billed as a "food surplus purchase program", CBC News said in a report on Monday. But potatoes, chicken products and mushrooms were mentioned as foods at risk of going to waste while restaurants remain closed and the larger food service industry remains disrupted by the pandemic. Although the government still isn't saying exactly which commodities will be "rescued" with the new funding. The money will be allocated in rough thirds - with one third being used to buy horticulture products (such as grains, fruits and vegetables), another third earmarked for buying surplus meat and poultry products and the final third set aside for purchasing fish and seafood. The program also has a new goal - of directing 10 per cent of its purchases to Northern communities, where food supplies were insecure. "With restaurants and hotels closed for weeks, many producers were left with extra food they couldn't sell," the CBC News report quoted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as saying during his regular briefing here on Monday. "Farmers work hard to raise their livestock and grow their crops. They shouldn't be in a position where they have to see that wasted. "This is a win-win. Farmers will have people to buy their goods and food will get to the plates of families who wouldn't have enough otherwise," he added. The program, which is a first for Canada, will be accepting applications until July 15. Penny stocks, they divide market watchers like no other. Some investors steer clear of these tickers going for less than $5 apiece, as poor fundamentals or overwhelming headwinds could be keeping them down in the dumps. On the other hand, penny stocks lure the more risk-tolerant. Not only does the bargain price tag mean you get more bang for your buck, but also even minor share price appreciation can yield huge percentage gains. The implication? Major returns for investors. Based on the above, weeding out the long-term underperformers from the penny stocks going for gold can pose a significant challenge. In this case, the activity of legendary stock pickers can provide some inspiration. Among these Wall Street titans is Ken Griffin. The guru, who began trading from his dorm room at Harvard University, went on to found hedge fund Citadel in 1990, with Griffin serving as CEO. Given that the fund now manages over $33 billion in capital, its no wonder investor focus locks in on Citadel when moves are made. Currently, we're in the moving business. So unless we think there's a very clear reason as to why an asset we own is going to appreciate soon, that's just not where we're going to be. And we drove our business away from balance-sheet intensive businesses to in a sense all skill-based businesses, Griffin commented. Taking all of this into consideration, we used TipRanks database to find out what the analyst community has to say about three penny stocks that Griffin's fund snapped up recently. It turns out that the analyst consensus has rated each a Strong Buy." Not to mention substantial upside potential is also on the table. Millendo Therapeutics (MLND) Primarily focused on developing new treatments for endocrine diseases, Millendo Therapeutics wants to address the significant unmet medical needs of patients. At $2.07, its share price could reflect the ideal entry point given everything the company has going for it. Story continues Pulling the trigger for the first time, Griffen joined MLNDs growing list of fans. Recently, Citadel bought up 374,653 shares, with the value of this new holding coming in at just under $2 million. Also singing the healthcare names praises is Roth Capital analyst Yasmeen Rahimi. At the beginning of May, MLND announced that it expects to have interim data in Q3 2020 from currently enrolled patients in the Phase 2b study evaluating nevanimibe (ATR-101), its ACAT1 inhibitor, in classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), which was halted due to COVID-19. This development is especially exciting for the 5-star analyst as she believes success in this indication is very likely. Currently, the only approved treatment option for patients with CAH are glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement therapies, but these can lead to overtreatment and growth retardation. Thus, in our view, there remains an urgent need for interventions that can alleviate the serious health risks associated with cortisol deficiency and excessive androgen levels in CAH, Rahimi said. MLND tackles the condition from a different angle as nevanimibe's mechanism of action (MOA) utilizes an elegant approach to CAH treatment by working upstream of these pathways and reducing the available reservoir of cholesterol esters, which are used in the synthesis of steroid hormones. This allows for the suppression of excess steroid production as well as a more selective MOA. Expounding on this, Rahimi noted, In our view, nevanimibes selectivity gives it a major advantage in specifically reducing steroid synthesis in the adrenal cortex, which targets the root cause of CAH... Nevanimibes strength lies in its potential to offer an adrenal-targeted approach that can allow patients to better balance their control of excess androgen secretion with the required glucocorticoid replacement therapy. With data from nevanimibes Phase 2a trial demonstrating strong levels of both efficacy and safety, the deal is sealed for Rahimi. To this end, the top analyst rates MLND a Buy along with a $6 price target. This target implies shares could climb 190% higher in the next twelve months. (To watch Rahimis track record, click here) Looking at the consensus breakdown, most other analysts are on the same page. With 3 Buys and 1 Hold, the word on the Street is that MLND is a Strong Buy. The $5.25 average price target puts the upside potential at 153%. (See MLND stock analysis on TipRanks) MEI Pharma (MEIP) Hoping to build a top oncology franchise, MEI Pharma boasts a strong development pipeline that includes four compelling drug candidates. Currently going for $3.49 apiece, the share price could present investors with the chance to get in on the action. Not wanting to miss out on an opportunity, Citadel added a new MEIP holding to the fund. Griffins fund acquired 1,055,185 shares, with the value of the purchase landing at $1.7 million. Turning now to the analyst community, Wells Fargos Jim Birchenough is also optimistic about MEIPs long-term growth prospects. The 5-star analyst explains that a recent ASCO KOL investor event related to its lead candidate, ME-401, strengthened his bullish thesis. We continue to view ME-401 as a best-in-class PI3K inhibitor with superior safety and tolerability driving long-term dosing resulting in improved outcomes. We remain confident that the pivotal TIDAL follicular lymphoma (FL) trial will be positive and support product approval in 2021. The recent global alliance with Kyowa Kirin will accelerate development beyond 3rd line-plus FL into earlier stage disease and more broadly into other lymphomas in 2021, Birchenough commented. Looking at the trials design, it utilizes a 60mg once per day dose for two 28-day cycles, which is then followed by a 7-days on 21 days off intermittent dosing schema. This design is important as the intermittent dosing mitigates against the risk for early discontinuation due to immune-related toxicity secondary to on-target inhibition of regulatory T cell function. Additionally, should an 83% response rate be achieved, both duration of disease and progression free survival will be superior to those for approved PI3K inhibitors, ZYDELIG, ALIQOPA and COPIKTRA. It should be noted that FL has a complicated treatment landscape. However, based on efficacy data for ME-401rituximab, Birchenough argues that the therapy could be a second-line chemo-free option thats more easily tolerated. In line with his bullish take, Birchenough reiterated an Overweight call and $13 price target. Should the target be met, a twelve-month gain of 272% could be in store. (To watch Birchenoughs track record, click here) Like Birchenough, other analysts also take a bullish approach. MEIPs Strong Buy consensus rating breaks down into only Buys, 5, in fact. Given the $11.40 average price target, the upside potential lands at 204%. (See MEIP stock analysis on TipRanks) Kezar Life Sciences Inc. (KZR) Last but not least we have Kezar Life Sciences, which develops treatments for patients with autoimmune diseases and cancer. With encouraging new data supporting its most advanced asset, KZR-616, some think that its $4.96 share price looks like a steal. This appears to be the stance taken by Griffin. Boosting its KZR holding by a whopping 1,338%, Citadel snapped up 859,760 shares. Now at 924,034 shares, the funds total stake in the company is valued at over $4 million. Weighing in for H.C. Wainwright, 5-star analyst Raghuram Selvaraju says the recently published interim data from the Phase 1b part of the MISSION trial testing KZR-616 is incredibly promising. Pointing out this readout is most likely one of several data sets from interim analyses, he notes that improvements were seen across seven measures of disease activity, and two out of two patients with lupus nephritis (LN) experienced a >50% reduction in proteinuria, a biomarker of disease severity. On top of this, the candidate exhibited a robust safety and tolerability profile at the step-up dose, which could solve the tolerability issues produced by a higher dose. Digging a bit deeper into the results, as of the data cutoff on May 4, the trial had 39 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients enrolled across five dose cohorts evaluating 45mg and step-up dosing to 60mg weekly for 13 weeks. Out of the patients that finished treatment in cohorts 2a and 2b, a majority saw all seven measures of disease activity improve. Selvaraju added, Improvement in disease activity persisted following completion of treatment, pointing to sustained impact with KZR-616. We are hopeful that this could prove a harbinger of disease-modifying potential. Even though COVID-19 has led to significant slowdowns and forced the company to fully pause some of its three KZR-616 studies, the situation may be improving soon, in Selvarajus opinion. KZR is still able to conduct trials at private clinics, and it already implemented an in-home nursing solution. It should come as no surprise, then, that Selvaraju stayed with the bulls. In addition to keeping a Buy rating on the stock, the analyst bumped up the price target to $12. This new target suggests shares could soar 148% in the next year. (To watch Selvarajus track record, click here) All in all, other analysts echo Selvarajus sentiment. 4 Buys and no Holds or Sells add up to a Strong Buy consensus rating. Based on the $15 average price target, which is more aggressive than Selvarajus, a twelve-month gain of 210% could be in the cards. (See KZR's stock-price forecast on TipRanks) To find good ideas for penny stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. It was a $21.1 million show of force. That was the cost of the controversial decision to deploy thousands of National Guard troops including a contingent of 85 from New Jersey onto the streets of Washington, D.C., earlier this month, after demonstrations erupted over the death of George Floyd, according to National Guard estimates. The bill was picked by the federal government. There were no costs to the state of New Jersey for this mission, said a state National Guard spokeswoman. The deployment, which has come under withering criticism by many, came after President Donald Trump threatened to deploy active-duty troops if state and local officials failed to quash the protests in the nations capital and elsewhere. Troops from 11 states were marshaled to augment the District of Columbia National Guard. While a number of Democratic governors refused to send personnel, Gov. Phil Murphy was one of the few who agreed to dispatch troops. The decision came before the presidents widely criticized walk from the White House to a historic Episcopal church during which peaceful protesters were forcefully moved aside in a park outside the White House. Several New Jersey lawmakers have criticized the deployment. The Guard in Washington is separately investigating an incident in which a military helicopter flew dangerously low over protesters, blowing dust and tree branches into the streets. For New Jersey, the role was relatively small and brief, with 85 members of the 508th Military Police Company based in Teaneck sent to Washington, according to the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. They were back in the state within five days. The governor said New Jerseys troops were not involved in clearing protesters, and were there to guard monuments. This was a very small and very short-lived deployment, said Murphy, a Democrat, during a call-in radio show following the deployment. We had no interest, appetite, and we could not have signed on to anything other than that. According to a guard spokeswoman, an advance team arrived on June 1st, with main element arriving on June 2nd. They stayed at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington, DC, and then relocated to the Hampton Inn on June 5th. All of it was paid for through federal funding. There were peaceful protesters in the mission area and our Guard members did not encounter any incidents, said the spokeswoman, who said all personnel departed on June 6th. The total projected federal cost to pay for the deployment was $21.1 million for the 11 states and the D.C. Guard, she said. That including $18.2 million in pay and allowances, and another $2.9 million in operations and maintenance costs, which included contract lodging, bus transportation in and around the capital., and other miscellaneous expenses. Meanwhile, another New Jersey Guard unit was deployed on Sunday, this one to the Middle East. The 42nd Regional Support Group sent approximately 100 personnel in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the conflict in Iraq and Syria targeting ISIS. Officials said the year-long mission of the Somerset County-based unit will be to provide base operations support. Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL West Dakota, a drag queen in Brooklyn, was checking in on a fellow drag queen and mentor when they began discussing what they said was a painful reality about the George Floyd protests: Black transgender people are disproportionately the victims of police violence, but attending demonstrations against police brutality can often put them in further danger. Her mentor, a drag queen named Merrie Cherry, who is black, said she had seen silent marches in other states and would have felt safer attending an event like that, West Dakota recalled. And so she had an idea: a rally for black trans people that would evoke one of the most notable protests in New York history, the Silent Parade, when the N.A.A.C.P. assembled nearly 10,000 people in 1917, all wearing white and silently marching down Fifth Avenue to demand an end to violence against black people. Two weeks later, West Dakotas idea blossomed into one of the most striking demonstrations that New York has seen since the killing of Floyd, a gathering of thousands of people in a sea of white. Its size and intensity stunned bystanders, participants and the organizers themselves. Doctors can still prescribe anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to patients, US Health Secretary Alex Azar said, hours after the FDA withdrew the emergency use authorisation of chloroquine and HCQ in the treatment of COVID 19 patients. The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision came on Monday after it concluded that the anti-malarial drugs may not be effective to cure the virus infections and lead to greater risks than any potential benefits. "At this point, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine are just like any other approved drug in the United States. They may be used in hospital, they may be used in out-patient, they may be used at home, all subject to a doctor's prescription," Azar said. "In fact, the FDA's removal of the Emergency Use Authorization takes away what had been a significant misunderstanding by many that had made people think that somehow it could only be used in a hospital setting, and we've tried to make that clear throughout," he said in response to a question. During a White House media appearance with President Donald Trump, Azar asserted that HCQ was approved in the United States. "If a doctor wishes to prescribe it, working with a patient, they may prescribe it for any purpose that they wish to do so. And, this (FDA's decision) actually removes a potential barrier to them," the health secretary said. The FDA said its decision in this regard was based on new information, including clinical trial data results, that have led it conclude that the drugs may not be effective in treating COVID-19 and that its potential benefits for such use do not outweigh its known and potential risks. FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton, in a letter dated June 15 to Gary Disbrow of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), said as of the date of this letter, the oral formulations of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and (chloroquine) CQ are no longer authorised by the FDA to treat COVID-19. On March 28, FDA had issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for use of oral formulations of chloroquine phosphate (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) to be distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Hinton said that FDA now believes that the suggested dosing regimens for CQ and HCQ are unlikely to produce an antiviral effect. "Earlier observations of decreased viral shedding with HCQ or CQ treatment have not been consistently replicated and recent data from a randomised controlled trial assessing probability of negative conversion showed no difference between HCQ and standard of care alone," he said. Current US treatment guidelines do not recommend the use of CQ or HCQ in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial, and the NIH guidelines now recommend against such use outside of a clinical trial, the FDA said. Azar described the media interpretation of FDA's letter as inaccurate. "With the FDA finding that they don't see enough data to support hospital-based use, for those who are the most extreme cases of patients who have been hospitalised, they took that restriction off. They took the Emergency Use Authorization off," he said. Azar asserted that FDA said its data in the hospital setting was not supportive. "We continue to study in out-patient settings, as well as preventative. That data is not yet in," he added. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to stop "profiteering" from the misery of the poor as he attacked the BJP-led government for raising fuel prices. He also asked the prime minister to put money in the hands of the poor and middle class during the current crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic. "PM Modi, these tragic times dictate putting money directly in the hands of the middle class and poor. STOP profiteering from their misery," the Congress leader wrote on Twitter, using the hashtag -- "ModiStopLootingIndia". He also shared a letter from Congress president Sonia Gandhi to the prime minister, seeking a rollback of the increase in fuel prices. The former Congress chief has been targeting the government over the rise in petrol and diesel prices, and has said the middle class and poor people pay for the "gifts crony capitalists get". "Middle class and the poor pay for the gifts the crony capitalists get," Gandhi wrote on Twitter on Monday. Petrol & Diesel Rates Petrol Rate in Mumbai Current Petrol Price Per Litre View more Diesel Rate in Mumbai Current Petrol Price Per Litre View more Show Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also wrote on the microblogging website that Sonia Gandhi has written to the prime minister demanding a rollback of the surging petrol-diesel prices that have broken the back of the common man in these challenging times. The statements came on a day oil companies raised petrol and diesel prices for the 10th day in a row, with the petrol price hiked to Rs 76.73 per litre from Rs 76.26 in Delhi and the diesel rates to Rs 75.19 a litre from Rs 74.26. Due to the 10 hikes, the petrol price has gone up by Rs 5.47 per litre and that of diesel by Rs 5.8 a litre. [June 16, 2020] Fuji Electric Corp. of America Celebrates 50th Anniversary Fuji Electric Corp. of America is celebrating 50 years in the United States. Fuji Electric Corp. of America (FECOA) was established in 1970 with it's first office in New York across from Grand Central Station, with sales of heavy electrical machinery- rectifiers and power generation equipment, Ring Compressors and Distribution and Control products. In the 1980's US Fuji Electric was established in Piscataway, NJ manufacturing and selling Photoconductors, the NY FECOA Company moved to Lincoln Park, NJ and Fuji Hi-Tech was established in Fremont, CA (News - Alert) repairing power drives for computers. In November 1994, FECOA moved their offices to Saddlebrook, NJ , and in the late 1990's Fuji Electric purchased Collmer Semiconductor of Texas the exclusive American Fuji Electric Semiconductor Distributor. A joint venture between Fuji Electric Japan and GE was formed in 1995 for the sale of inverters, known as GE Fuji. Fuji Electric experienced many transformations from 2000 to present, moving Semiconductor operations from Texas to Piscataway, NJ and the US Fuji Electric entitiy became Fuji Device Technology America. In October 2007 the Fuji Hi Tech entity was merged into FECOA. GE Fuji was desolved and FECOA decided to promote Fuji's own inverter business in 2007 with its headquarters in Fremont California. Then in 2009, all Fuji American Companies were merged together under the first Fuji American entitiy FECOA corporate name and brand. All of the Fuji Electric NJ locations were combined and moved to Edison, NJ, the current corporate headquarters, helping to expand total product sales. In 2014, the Roanoke, VA facility was opned and started manufacturing inverter panels and transit equipment. In 2015 Reliable Turbine Services was purchased to support the turbine repair business and in 2016 a joint venture was created with Semec for local Linear Train Door manufacturing. Today, Fuji Electric Corp. of America is a leader in supplying the Americas with all types of power and electronic products ranging from semiconductors, photoconductors, HMIs, instrumentation, AC Drives, ring compressors and blowers, contactors, relays, power generation equipment, transit equipment, power supplies, uninterruptible power supply systems and commercial bean-to-cup coffee machines. Our commitment to our customers continues to remains a top priority. "It is a very exciting time for Fuji Electric celebrating 50 years. The company has always strived to provide the most technically advanced engineered products for the power electronic industry, along with stong customer service and technical support. In these difficult times with Covid-19, Fuji Electric contiues to support our customers, especially those in essential markets to keep those customers running efficiently." Said Matt Sato, CEO of Fuji Electric Corp. of America. Fuji Electric Corp. of America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and has been responsible for sales and distribution of the company's products since 1970. Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. began developing power electronics equipment in 1923. For more information, please visit https://americas.fujielectric.com/or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005778/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Disturbing new details have emerged regarding the death of a 51-year-old man in California police custody, who died after being forcibly restrained by officers for several hours while he was suffering from a psychiatric crisis in 2017. In the last hours of his life, Phillip Garcia had desperately pleaded with Riverside County deputies, Somebodys gotta help me. Please man, as he lay strapped to a hospital gurney, bound by his ankles and wrists, with a hood placed over his head. Garcia died shortly after making those pleas and his death was ruled a homicide, ProPublica reported. According to his autopsy, the cause of death was a mental health crisis combined with rhabdomyolysis, a fatal condition that can be caused by overexertion. After reviewing 17 hours of surveillance footage and dozens of law enforcement documents, the outlet determined that Riverside County Jail staff had failed to address Garcias urgent medical health and mental health needs. Staff were also found to have used violent force against Garcia, who was already restrained, with deputies allegedly falsifying reports regarding the circumstances that eventually led to his death on March 23, 2017 less than two days after he was arrested. The psychological crisis combined with the restraints led to the fatal condition, ProPublicas Ryan Gabrielson told CBS, adding that Garcia is believed to have arrived at the jail in a state of psychosis. The sheriff's department saw him only as someone who wouldn't follow orders and that had to be punished. In the last hours of his life, Phillip Garcia had desperately pleaded with Riverside County deputies, Somebodys gotta help me. Please man, as he lay strapped to a hospital gurney, bound by his ankles and wrists, with a hood placed over his head, as officers pinned him Garcia died shortly after those pleas and his death was ruled a homicide. According to his autopsy, the cause of death was a mental health crisis combined with rhabdomyolysis, a fatal condition that can be caused by overexertion As part of the apparent perception, it was discovered that deputies repeatedly struck, shoved, and twisted Garcias head and limbs throughout his 44 hours in custody. ProPublica also concluded that deputies falsified jail logs and then made false statements in their reports after Garcias death. Garcia was arrested in late March after he allegedly smashed his neighbors window and was found by officers acting strangely in the street. The 51-year-old reportedly had a history of seizures, mental illness and inconsistent treatment, a family friend of Garcias told the outlet. After his arrest he was placed in an isolation cell in a Riverside County jail where he is seen in surveillance footage acting erratically, dancing on the spot and jumping from his bed. Over the course of his 18 hours inside the cell, Garcia reportedly did not eat or sleep, nor was he attended to by a mental health professional or any other kind of medical expert. When Garcia began damaging his cell, dozens of deputies in helmets and body armor used a number of weapons on him, including stringer grenades and riot shields as they rushed in to remove him from the cell and restrain him. Garcia, who had by this time been in the jail for 21 hours, was taken to Riverside University Health System Medical Center, however there was no bed available for him at the time of his arrival. For the next 12 hours, Garcia waited for a bed inside the emergency room in full restraints, on a gurney, with a hood over his face and his wrists and ankles shackled, while constantly straining against them. By the time his gurney was wheeled into the detention care unit, his skin was tearing beneath the straps, ProPublica reported. Garcia was arrested in late March after he allegedly smashed his neighbors window and was found by officers acting strangely in the street After his arrest he was placed in an isolation cell in a Riverside County jail where he is seen in surveillance footage acting erratically, dancing on the spot and jumping from his bed When Garcia began damaging his cell, dozens of deputies in helmets and body armor used a barrage of weapons on him, including stringer grenades and riot shields as they rushed in to remove him from the cell and restrain him Garcia, who had by this time been in the jail for 21 hours, was taken to Riverside University Health System Medical Center, however there was no bed available for him A team of eight armored deputies were then called in, tasked with moving Garcia three feet, from the gurney to the hospital bed. A ninth member was responsible for recording the operation with a hand-held camera. Footage shows the deputies surrounding Garcia. One officer, Robert Parker, pressed a large plastic shield down on Garcias head, as the other officers began pinning, lifting and dragging Garcia over to the bed. Somebodys gotta help me. Somebodys gotta help me. Please, man, Garcia cries out, with the sound of his voice muffled by the shield. He was completely naked at the time, except for the hood covering his head and the pants around his ankles. Deputies and nurses then attempted to re-secure the restraints but Garcia tried to resist. Packer is then seen leaning his chest against the shield and pushing down to apply more weight to Garcias head and neck. The teams commander signaled for Packer to ease the pressure, which he followed, standing up and lifting his body weight off the shield, footage shows. As the cohort of nurses and deputies worked to finish tying Garcia down, the 51-year-old is heard groaning beneath the shield. By the time he was fully secured to the bed, Garcia had bled through the hood covering his face. A nurse then asked a colleague to bring in a heart monitor but a guard intervened, advising her Garcia needed to calm down before any medical equipment could be brought in. A few hours later, Garcia is believed to have died in those restraints. For the next 12 hours, Garcia waited for a bed inside the emergency room in full restraints, in a gurney, with a hood over his face and his wrists and ankles shackled, while constantly straining against them By the time his gurney was wheeled into the detention care unit, his skin was tearing beneath the straps A team of eight armored deputies were then called into, tasked with moving Garcia three feet, from the gurney to the hospital bed. A ninth member was responsible for recording the operation with a hand-held camera Footage shows the deputies surrounding Garcia. One officer, Robert Parker, pressed a large plastic shield down on Garcias head, as the other officers began pinning, lifting and dragging Garcia over to the bed As the cohort of nurses and deputies worked to finish tying Garcia down, the 51-year-old is heard groaning beneath the shield. By the time he was fully secured to the bed, Garcia had bled through the hood Hours earlier, doctors at the emergency room had diagnosed him with the potentially fatal condition, rhabdomyolysis, which is brought on by overexertion and causes the bodys muscles to break down. Autopsy and jail records observed by ProPublica concluded that Garcia had been destroying muscle tissue as he struggled against the restraints, which poured toxins into his bloodstream. Despite the diagnosis, ProPublicas investigation found that nurses and deputies appeared oblivious to both his rhabdomyolysis and his psychosis, taking zero measures to treat either. Garcias family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Riverside County in October 2018, accusing jail and clinical staff of excessive force and inadequate medical care. Medical records show that Mr. Garcia never regained mental awareness while at the hospital, the complaint reads, and spent all of his time in Riverside County Sheriffs Department custody in a psychotic state. The county denied the allegations and admitted no wrongdoing, but it settled the lawsuit in June 2019 and paid Garcias family $975,000. iStock/MotortionBy EMILY SHAPIRO, ABC News (LOS ANGELES) -- Federal authorities are reviewing the investigations into the deaths of two men, who were each found dead and hanging from a tree, to determine if federal laws were violated, the FBI said. The two men died in California towns about 50 miles apart. In Victorville, 38-year-old Malcolm Harsch was found dead, hanging from a tree, on May 31, according to authorities. "There were no indications at the scene that suggested foul play," the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department told ABC News this weekend. "The cause and manner of death are pending." In Palmdale, 24-year-old Robert Fuller was found dead, hanging from a tree, on June 10, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said. Though "initial signs seem to point" to suicide, and there was nothing to suggest foul play, officials "felt it prudent to roll that back and continue to look deeper, which is why currently the case is still deferred and under investigation," the chief medical examiner for Los Angeles County, Jonathan Lucas, said at a news conference Monday. The FBI said in a statement Monday: "The FBI, U.S. Attorney's office for the Central District of California and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division are actively reviewing the investigations into the hanging deaths of two African American men in the cities of Palmdale and Victorville to determine whether there are violations of federal law." At the site of Fuller's death, nothing was found at the scene besides the rope, his backpack and the contents of his pocket, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Capt. Kent Wegener said at a news conference on Monday. A complete autopsy was performed on June 12, Lucas said. Officials are awaiting toxicology results and are looking into Fuller's medical history, Lucas said. "We don't have much to release at this time other than we're going to continue to evaluate the evidence as it comes in, independently make an assessment into the cause and manner of death," Lucas said. Investigators will complete forensics on the rope and look into how the knot was tied, Wegener said. They are also analyzing Fuller's phone and will look for any surveillance video that may have captured the scene, he said. Fuller's family said Tuesday that they are seeking an independent investigation and autopsy. His family, as well as community members, are "enraged" that "the Sheriff's Department immediately declared his death a suicide," family attorney Jamon R. Hicks said in a statement Tuesday. "For African-Americans in America, hanging from a tree is a lynching. Why was this cavalierly dismissed as a suicide and not investigated as a murder?" Hicks said. "We want complete transparency. To that end, the family should choose the pathologist to conduct the independent autopsy." Meanwhile, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said he would "have conversations" with the investigators in Victorville, which is located in nearby San Bernardino County. San Bernardino Sheriff's officials said Monday that Harsch's death remains under investigation. Harsch's autopsy was completed on Friday. "Although there remains no signs of foul play, the forensic pathologist is waiting for toxicology results before assigning the cause and manner of death," the sheriff's department said. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. In The Know by Yahoo There appears to have been a break-in at the Los Angeles mansion that was once home to one of TikToks best-known creator collectives, the Hype House. TikToks most popular user Charli DAmelio used to be a member of the group, but many influential users still remain, including the groups co-founder, Chase Lil Huddy Hudson. A few weeks ago, the house members moved from their original abode into another mansion. According to a comment left by Hype Houses official TikTok account, many of the members still pay to rent that first space the one that was apparently broken into. Hudson gave an alarming update on the break-in situation on June 12. So today I woke up, checked TikTok, and saw that a few girls along with their MOTHER broke into our old house, and also took MY clothes, Hudson wrote in a tweet. This is beyond f****** weird, how do people think this s*** is okay? One of the girls Hudson mentioned was 13-year-old TikTokker Roselie Arritola, also known as Jenny Popach. Her mother, Maria Ulacia, uploaded multiple TikToks (which have since been deleted) in which she, Arritola, and two of Arritolas teenage friends can be seen dancing in various rooms of what appears to be the original Hype House. The Instagram account TikTokRoom saved and shared the videos before they were deleted from the original accounts. In one video, Ulacia can be seen wearing what appears to be Hudsons signature skeleton jacket. In another, fans noticed what seems to be the Hype Houses distinct bathroom. In another clip, Ulacia claimed to presently be at the OG Hype House. We are, in fact, making it the junior Hype House. So if you want, stay tuned. Its gonna be amazing, she said. Were gonna have amazing content in the house. And yes, we have all the great memories of the OG Hype House. Story continues After seeing the videos, Hype House member Kouvr Annon returned to the original mansion to check on its condition. She shared what she found in her own video. So, I just got back to our old house, which was deep-cleaned by our maids before we left. Its so pretty, right, she said while showing off a mess on the floor. Also, someone took my tattoo gun. Thanks. And um I had fish here on an automatic feeder and the fish tank is now next to the toilet with no fish in it. The mother-daughter duo told Insider that a caretaker let them into the mansion and denied stealing anything or vandalizing the home. A spokesperson for the Hype House, however, told Insider there is no caretaker for the house, and said they have turned the investigation over to law enforcement. The situation has drawn comparisons to the Bling Ring a group of seven California teenagers and young adults who were convicted of burglarizing celebrity houses between 2008 and 2009. Hopefully this saga comes to an end before theres enough drama to make a major motion picture about it like the original Bling Ring. If you found this story interesting, you might also want to read about how TikTok users are sharing tips for getting into the worlds most exclusive nightclub. More from In The Know: Man emerges from silent retreat with no knowledge of the past 3 months You can still buy the $5 cleanser Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy used This $20 tightening cream feels like vacation in a jar Shoppers love this $6 balm that treats damaged hair The post TikTok users allegedly broke into the former Hype House to record videos appeared first on In The Know. By AFP SEOUL: North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border on Tuesday, after days of increasingly virulent rhetoric from Pyongyang. The demolition came after Kim Yo Jong -- the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- said at the weekend the "useless north-south joint liaison office" would soon be seen "completely collapsed". South Korean television pictures showed smoke rising from a long-shuttered industrial zone just across the border in Kaesong, where the office was set up less than two years ago. Analysts say Pyongyang may be seeking to manufacture a crisis to increase pressure on Seoul while nuclear negotiations with Washington are at a standstill. Seoul's presidential Blue House called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, Yonhap said. The liaison office was opened in September 2018, days before the South's President Moon Jae-in flew to Pyongyang for his third summit with Kim, and around 20 officials from each side were stationed at the office during subsequent months. But inter-Korean relations soured following the collapse of the Hanoi summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in February last year over sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return. Operations at the office were suspended in January because of the coronavirus pandemic. And since early June, North Korea has issued a series of vitriolic condemnations of the South over activists sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets over the border -- something defectors do on a regular basis. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday the liaison office's destruction was in line with "the mindset of the enraged people to surely force human scum and those who have sheltered the scum to pay dearly for their crimes". Last week Pyongyang announced it was severing all official communication links with Seoul. "North Korea has started a provocation cycle with stages of escalation," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, calling the destruction of the office "a symbolic blow to inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation". "The Kim regime is also signalling the United States won't have the luxury of keeping North Korea on the back-burner for the remainder of the year," he added. Relations soured Since Pyongyang condemned the leaflet launches -- usually attached to hot air balloons or floated in bottles -- the Unification ministry has filed a police complaint against two defector groups and warned of a "thorough crackdown" against activists. On Monday, the left-leaning Moon urged the North not to "close the window of dialogue". The two Koreas remain technically at war after Korean War hostilities ended with an armistice in 1953 that was never replaced with a peace treaty. Last week the North criticised Trump in a stinging denunciation of the US on the second anniversary of the Singapore summit, with its foreign minister Ri Son Gwon accusing Washington of seeking regime change. US diplomats insist that they believe Kim promised in Singapore to give up his nuclear arsenal, something Pyongyang has taken no steps to do. The North is under multiple international sanctions over its banned weapons programmes. It believes it deserves to be rewarded for its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and the disabling of its atomic test site, along with the return of jailed US citizens and remains of soldiers killed in the Korean War. "Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise," Ri said in his statement, carried by the official KCNA news agency. Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Sejong Institute's Center for North Korean Studies, said: "North Korea is frustrated that the South has failed to offer an alternative plan to revive the US-North talks, let alone create a right atmosphere for the revival. "It has concluded the South has failed as a mediator in the process." FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio Drunken driving: Onoko Drive On June 11, a driver reported that a car had run over the stop sign at Wooster Road. The car then went north into Rocky River. The license plate number given by witnesses showed a Rocky River address, only a couple of streets away from the accident location. When officers arrived, a car as described by the witnesses was in the driveway, door open, with a man standing next to the car. When approaching him, the officer could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and noticed that he could not stand without the support of his car. The man admitted to having been drinking and also said he was taking lots of medication. Sobriety tests were given, which he failed. The 51-year-old Rocky River resident was arrested. While at the police station, he threatened to burn down the house of the two snitches that turned him in, with them in it. Computer fraud: Lorain Road On June 8, a resident reported that she had received a notification via a phone app that over $1,600 was sent, by money order, to a Food Lion store in Columbia, S.C. The woman had not made the transaction, nor authorized anyone else to do so. Vandalism: Bain Park On June 8, on multiple occasions, officers discovered graffiti on the pedestrian bridges at Bain Park and also on the buildings at Bohlken Park. The graffiti included derogatory racial terms, sexual depictions, sexual orientation comments and random symbols. Anyone with knowledge of those responsible should contact the police department. Drug law violation: West 210th Street On June 13, an officer on patrol noticed a car with expired license plates. Upon checking for the listed owner, it showed that he was under suspension. As the officer prepared to stop the car, it quickly pulled into a driveway. When the officer approached the car, the driver appeared to be extremely nervous, and admitted to being under suspension. He said that he had ducked into the driveway hoping to avoid the police. The officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car. The driver admitted to drugs being under the seat, and also that he had a loaded shotgun in the car. A search yielded a bag of suspected marijuana, multiple marijuana edibles and a jar of psychedelic mushrooms (confirmed by the driver). As he mentioned, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun was found in the trunk area. The 21-year-old Cleveland man was arrested. Read more news from the Sun Post Herald. Hannah Fizer, 25, was shot dead by a police officer during a traffic stop in Sedalia, Missouri, on Saturday night A missouri family is demanding answers after a white woman was shot dead during a traffic stop by an officer she allegedly threatened to shoot - but police say they don't know whether she even had a gun. Hannah Fizer, 25, was killed on Saturday night in Sedalia, a city of 21,700 residents about 90 miles southeast of Kansas City. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which is investigating the shooting, said an unnamed sheriff's deputy shot Fizer after she claimed she had a gun and threatened to use it on him. 'The suspect allegedly threatened the deputy by stating she was armed and going to shoot him,' MSHP said in a news release. 'The incident escalated and the deputy discharged his weapon, striking the suspect.' Fizer's father, John Fizer, said Monday that she never carried a gun and he doesn't believe she became belligerent with the officer. He suspects his daughter had her phone in her hand 'because she always had her phone in her hand.' John Fizer said he couldn't imagine what could have occurred to lead the deputy to shoot his daughter, and he questioned why the deputy didn't use a taser instead. Authorities say Fizer (pictured in January) was shot after she claimed to have a gun and threatened to use it on the police officer who pulled her over. But Fizer's family have insisted that she doesn't carry a gun and would not have gotten belligerent with the officer Hannah Fizer was driving to her job as an assistant manager at a convenience store when she was stopped near Interstate 50 and Winchester Drive. She was pulled over because she was ran a red light while speeding and kept going as the deputy tried to stop her, patrol Sgt Bill Lowe said. Further details about why the situation escalated have not been released. John Fizer said law enforcement officers haven't yet discussed the shooting with the family. Patrol Sgt Andy Bell said there was no available dashboard camera or body camera footage of the shooting. The county sheriff, Kevin Bond, said his department doesn't have or use such technology. Fizer's father John (above together) said he couldn't imagine what could have occurred to lead the deputy to shoot his daughter, and questioned why the deputy didn't use a taser instead The shooting comes amid increased scrutiny of officer-involved killings since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd, a black man, died after white police officer Derek Chauvin pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes even after he pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. Both Fizer and the deputy who shot her were white. Bond said the deputy, who has worked for Pettis County since 2007, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard practice in officer-involved shootings. The department has not had any previous complaints against the officer, he said. Lowe said it was unclear Monday if Hannah Fizer had a gun because the warrant to search the car was still pending. Officers administered first aid, but Fizer was pronounced dead at the scene. The deputy was not injured. Fizer's boyfriend, James Johnson, told The Kansas City Star that Fizer wasn't armed when she left their place shortly before driving to work. Her stepmother, Lori Fizer, also said she's never known Hannah to carry a gun. The entire ordeal doesn't make sense, she said. 'We need to know exactly how everything went down,' she said. 'She weighed a whole 145 pounds and she was by herself.' Fizer's boyfriend, James Johnson (above together), told The Kansas City Star that Fizer wasn't armed when she left their place shortly before driving to work Fizer's family described her as quiet, kind and generous - not someone who would have verbally abused a member of law enforcement. John Fizer said his daughter 'was not a perfect angel by any means. She liked to drink and smoke a little weed sometimes, but by no means was she violent. She was the kind of person that wouldn't hesitate to give a homeless person $10.' Hannah Fizer pleaded guilty in April to possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana, a misdemeanor. And she pleaded guilty in March to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. John Fizer said that when his daughter was pulled over for the DWI, she immediately told the arresting officer that she knew she was in the wrong and accepted responsibility. He said Hannah respected law enforcement and at one point considered trying to become a police or parole officer. He said his daughter and the rest of the family believe there are good and bad officers and that some police reforms are needed but they generally support law enforcement and have not participated in recent protests over the death of Floyd and racial inequality. The family set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Fizer's funeral costs. By Rich McKay ATLANTA (Reuters) - Relatives of Rayshard Brooks, many of them in tears, called for justice and 'drastic change' in policing after a white Atlanta officer fatally shot the African-American man in the back, and the city's mayor called for a shake-up in the force. The death of 27-year-old Brooks, which the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office ruled a homicide, was the latest killing of a black man to spark nationwide outrage at police brutality and racial injustice. By Rich McKay ATLANTA (Reuters) - Relatives of Rayshard Brooks, many of them in tears, called for justice and "drastic change" in policing after a white Atlanta officer fatally shot the African-American man in the back, and the city's mayor called for a shake-up in the force. The death of 27-year-old Brooks, which the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office ruled a homicide, was the latest killing of a black man to spark nationwide outrage at police brutality and racial injustice. "We're tired and we are frustrated. Most importantly we're heartbroken, so we need justice for Rayshard Brooks," his cousin, Tiara Brooks, said at a news conference. "The trust that we have in the police force is broken. The only way to heal some of these wounds is through a conviction and a drastic change in the police department," she added. Relatives spoke of Brooks as a warm family man who loved to take his daughter skating. One man, after breaking down in tears, left distraught, shouting, "Somebody took my cousin!" More than 1,000 people marched on the Georgia state Capitol in Atlanta on Monday, calling for justice for Brooks and other slain African Americans. "We are going to take over the capitol every single day until they do their job," the Rev. James Woodall, president of the state NAACP civil rights group, told the crowd, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other media reported. As the crowd chanted for justice, the Georgia Assembly rebooted its 2020 session with a renewed call to pass a hate-crime law. Georgia is one of four U.S. states without such a law, which increases punishment for offenses deemed to be racially motivated. The death of Brooks, and the separate shooting of a black jogger, Ahmaud Arbery, near the coastal town of Brunswick in February involving a former law enforcement officer, has driven calls for racial justice in Georgia. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms announced immediate reforms within the police department, including orders requiring police officers to de-escalate situations and requiring officers to intervene when they see a colleague using excessive force. Bottoms told a media briefing that she was heartbroken and angry over Brooks' death. "It pissed me off, it makes me sad, it makes me frustrated and there's nothing I can say that will change what happened Friday." She said she could not wait for an advisory council to come up with police reform recommendations. "It was clear that we do not have another day, another minute, another hour, to waste," she said, adding the police must find better ways to handle confrontations. Vince Champion, southeast regional director for the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, urged against a rush to judgment. "We don't know everything. We are basing what we saw on a video that has no context to it," Champion told Reuters. "I do believe that the powers that be the mayor and the DA are just trying to appease the rioters." President Donald Trump told reporters the shooting in Atlanta was "a terrible situation" and "very disturbing". CALL TO A RESTAURANT The fatal encounter on Friday night began when police responded to a call Brooks had fallen asleep in his car in a Wendy's restaurant drive-through lane. Caught on video, the encounter seemed friendly at first but when an officer moved to arrest him, Brooks struggled with him and another officer before breaking away across the parking lot with what appeared to be a police Taser in his hand. A video from the restaurant's cameras showed Brooks turning as he ran and possibly aiming the Taser at the pursuing officers, both white, before one of them fired his gun and Brooks fell. An attorney for Brooks' family, Chris Stewart, said the police should have let Brooks walk home rather than pursue and shoot him. "It didn't have to go to that level," he said. "Where is the empathy in just letting him walk home?" Atlanta's police chief, Erika Shields, resigned over the shooting. The officer suspected of killing Brooks was fired, and the other officer involved was put on administrative leave. Prosecutors will decide by midweek whether to bring charges, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said on Sunday. Brooks' death reignited protests in Atlanta after worldwide demonstrations against racism and police brutality prompted by the death of black American George Floyd when a white Minneapolis policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes on May 25. Brooks' widow, Tomika Miller, implored the public to protest peacefully in her husband's name. "We want to keep his name positive," she said. (Reporting by Susan Heavey, Gabriella Borter, Nathan Layne and Rich McKay; Editing by Steve Orlofsky, Jonathan Oatis, Howard Goller and David Greorio) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. PALO ALTO, Calif., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyberhaven , a trailblazing Data Behavior Analytics (DaBA) provider, today announced it was named a 2020 Fortress Cyber Security Award winner in the Data Protection category. The company also unveiled new continuous monitoring and real-time discovery capabilities that help organizations expose insider threats and stop risky employee behaviors before critical data and intellectual property are even jeopardized. The Fortress Cyber Security Awards recognize the world's leading companies and products that are working to keep data and electronic assets safe from ever-evolving cyber threats. This prestigious industry distinction comes on the heels of two Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM) award wins for Cyberhaven, providing further validation for Cyberhaven's leading Data Behavior Analytics Platform. "We are proud to name Cyberhaven as a winner in the 2020 Fortress Cyber Security Awards program," said Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer, Business Intelligence Group. "As our society continues to evolve and become more reliant on networks and data, companies like Cyberhaven are critical at providing the protection and trust consumers demand." According to the 2020 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), 17% of all data breaches are caused by human errortwice as many as just a year ago. The majority of insider threats (over 60%) are also caused by careless human error. This is corroborated by a Cyberhaven study, which found that 58% of organizations believe a lack of employee awareness and training is the #1 cause of insider threats. As organizations contemplate extendedor even permanentwork from home policies, they can expect increased data exposure by employees using collaboration apps and personal cloud storage. The only way to address these sources of pervasive insider threats is to understand how, when and why people make mistakes with sensitive data and provide immediate and continuous education to end those behaviors. Cyberhaven's newest capabilities help organizations constantly monitor critical assets and data and pinpoint the moment an employee or authorized user is about to make a mistake. When an employee uploads a sensitive file or shares valuable IP on a chat application, for example, Cyberhaven delivers a warning to the employee, as well as team leads or management to discourage risky behavior and instill accountability. Armed with real-time insights, security teams can take appropriate action and provide "just-in-time" training to empower employees. This training can also be used to inform an organization's ongoing employee education efforts. "Most cybersecurity professionals believe users are innocent until proven guilty and that they should be treated accordingly. Rather than constantly watching users, most would prefer to monitor high-value data, while providing trusted users with proper education to ensure data is not exposed to unnecessary risk," said Dr. Volodymyr Kuznetsov, CEO of Cyberhaven. "Cyberhaven's industry recognition reinforces a market need for innovative, data-driven ways to mitigate risk while actively educating users on cybersecurity best practices. By continuously analyzing data behavior, Cyberhaven provides security teams with a unified view of risk, reduces alert fatigue, and protects critical data and assetswithout inhibiting employee productivity." Cyberhaven indexes and reconstructs the flow of data across all assetson-premises and in the cloud, including SaaS and proprietary applications and homegrown systemsto reveal intent behind data exposure and understand the full story. To learn more visit here . And for information about the annual Fortress Cyber Security Awards, please visit https://www.bintelligence.com/fortress-cyber-security-awards . About Cyberhaven Cyberhaven's Data Behavior Analytics (DaBA) solution enables organizations to gain real-time visibility into the behavior of business critical data as it moves across endpoints, servers and applications on-premises and in the cloud. Cyberhaven observes data's behavior and records it, so that whenever a data incident is suspected, it has the entire context and knows everywhere the data went, who accessed it and when. Cyberhaven doesn't require any changes to a company's data or IT environment, or any heavy upfront policy creation effort. Founded in 2016 by a group of accomplished security researchers, Cyberhaven is based in Palo Alto, Calif. with offices in Boston, Mass. and Lausanne, Switzerland. For more information, please visit https://cyberhaven.com . SOURCE Cyberhaven Kids clothing retailer The Childrens Place announced plans to close 300 stores over the next 20 months to dramatically reduce its brick-and-mortar portfolio. The company said its store closings plan has significantly increased due to the coronavirus pandemic accelerating e-commerce demand, according to a conference call transcribed by The Motley Fool. The Childrens Place stores will mostly be leaving malls, with about 200 stores closing this year and 100 in 2021. There are 74 The Childrens Place locations in New York, including one at Destiny USA, but it is unknown if any will be impacted. A Childrens Place spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Select stores that have been temporarily closed will hold liquidation sales, depending on inventory, while others will remain closed, the transcript said. The Childrens Place is currently holding an online summer sale with items up to 80% off. The companys total sales decreased by 38.1% compared to 2019 as a result of the temporary store closures, which began March 18, while e-commerce sales increased about 12%. The Childrens Place announced in October that it acquired Gymboree after the former rival filed for bankruptcy and closed all stores in 2019. The Gymboree brand has since relaunched. The brick-and-mortar retail industry already had been suffering, but the coronavirus has wreaked additional havoc on chains. Starbucks, Signet Jewelers, Nordstrom and JCPenney are among the companies that have recently announced store closures. MORE ON RETAIL Plea from 41 food and beverage businesses at Destiny USA: Let us reopen Tenants-only meeting: Destiny USA retailers map lobbying strategy Lord & Taylor reopens at Destiny USA; J.C. Penney to reopen Friday for closing sale Restarting NY, Phase 3: Whats opening? Whats closed? Nicolette Accardi can be reached at naccardi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Egypt has arrested a prominent journalist who gave an interview to Qatari TV channel Al Jazeera, his family said in a statement. Mohamed Monir, 65, was taken from his apartment in Sheikh Zayed by secret police early Monday, according to his family. He was charged with joining a terrorist group, spreading false news and misusing social media, reported the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. He will reportedly be held in pre-trial detention for 15 days. Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Mohamed Monir and drop these baseless charges, CPJ said. Monir is already in failing health, and to detain him pending trial during a pandemic is exceptionally cruel. Monirs arrest came after he says police raided his home and searched through his belongings over the weekend. Surveillance video Monir posted to Facebook appears to show officers breaking down his door. On Sunday, Al Jazeera published an opinion piece written by Monir that criticized the Egyptian governments handling of the coronavirus. Al Jazeera is owned and funded by Qatar, which supports the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization blacklisted as a terrorist group by Egypt. Monirs family suggested his arrest was actually related to comments he made during an interview on Saturday about a controversy that erupted when Egyptian magazine Rose al Yusuf published a cover deemed offensive by the Coptic Church. It was merely an expression of opinion and he did not say anything that could be deemed offensive to the nation or national unity, Monirs family wrote. Paris-based advocacy group Reporters Without Borders called Monirs arrest symptomatic of the difficulties faced by other journalists working in Egypt. A journalist was taken from his home without a warrant just hours after an appearance on a TV channel that is banned in his country to discuss a controversy involving a media outlet," said Sabrina Bennoui, the head of the groups Middle East desk. Mohamed Monir must be released at once. A veteran journalist, Monir had worked as an editor for various news outlets, including as editor-in-chief of Al-Diyar newspaper and the deputy editor of the pro-government Al-Youm Al-Sabae. He is also a member of Egypts Journalists Syndicate. Egypt is considered one of the worlds worst abusers of press freedom. Reporters Without Borders ranked the North African country 166th out of 180 countries in its 2020 World Press Freedom Index. In May, security forces briefly detained Lina Attalah, the editor-in-chief of one of the countrys last major independent news outlets, Mada Masr. The Indian army has confirmed that at least 20 of its soldiers have died after a clash in the Himalayan Mountains on Monday. Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June, the Indian army said in a statement. 17 Indian troops were critically injured in the line of dutyand exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20. The statement came hours after the Indian authorities first announced that three of its troops had been killed in the confrontation. The incident marks the first time since 1975 that Indian soldiers were killed in clashes with Chinas Peoples Liberation Army. Indian officials told the Associated Press that the recent clash involved fistfights and stone-throwing, without the use of any firearms. Troop regulations along the border prevent each side from manning border posts with firearms. India said the clash was started as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo at the border, while China Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that Indian troops seriously violated the consensus of the two sides, crossed the border illegally twice and carried out provocative attacks on Chinese personnel. China has been building up its troop presence in the Galwan Valley since April. The region sits on the border of Tibet and the Ladakh region, which is part of the Indian province of Kashmir and is the subject of a long-running territorial dispute involving India, China, and Pakistan. Previous clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley led to the Sino-Indian War of 1962. More from National Review Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) The Senate Electoral Tribunal has dismissed the quo warranto petitions seeking to declare Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III ineligible for the post of lawmaker for the term 2019 to 2025. The consolidated petitions argued that Pimentel exhausted the two-term limit for senators under the Constitution since he was elected in 2007, 2013, and 2019. However, the tribunal in its June 3 decision released on Tuesday, ruled that Pimentel did not enjoy the full 2007-2013 term. Pimentel only assumed office in August 2011, when the SET then ruled in his favor in his electoral protest, proclaiming him as the rightful winner in the 2007 polls. "Being an interrupted term, the 2007-2013 senatorial term cannot be counted against respondent for purposes of counting the term limit," the SET said, noting that Pimentel only served for one year and 10 months instead of a full six-year term. "Wherefore, the instant consolidated petitions for quo warranto are hereby dismissed for lack of merit," the SET added. The order was signed by Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, along with other members of the SET, composed of Supreme Court justices and senators. Pimentel thanked the tribunal for its "well-reasoned decision." "We hope this decision contributes to the development of case law on the issue just as our arguments have led to the possible amendment and improvement of the SET Rules," Pimentel said. Coco the Monkey on a Kellogg's Coco Pops cereal box. (Kellogg's) A disgraced former MP has criticised Kelloggs for using a monkey on its branding for Coco Pops, claiming its racist. Fiona Onasanya, who was sentenced to three months in prison last year, attacked the cereal on Twitter. She claimed to have written to Kelloggs about the issue, but said she was still waiting for a reply. Comparing Coco Pops to another of its cereals, Rice Krispies, she asked why one had Coco the Monkey on its boxes, while the other has Snap, Crackle and Pop. She tweeted on Monday: Coco Pops and Rice Krispies have the same composition (except for the fact CPs are brown and chocolate flavoured) so I was wondering why Rice Krispies have three white boys representing the brand and Coco Pops have a monkey? Former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya has claimed that Coco Pops' branding is racist. (PA) Onasanya, a former Labour MP, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice in December 2019 after lying to police over a speeding ticket. She was sentenced to three months in prison in January 2019. Read more: Marcus Rashford's 'concern' over minister's response to Twitter plea In a follow-up tweet, she pointed out that the inventor of Corn Flakes, John Harvey Kellogg, who was in favour of racial segregation, founded the Race Betterment Foundation, a US eugenics foundation. He was the brother of Kelloggs founder Will Keith Kellogg. Coco is also used on the branding of White Chocolate Coco Pops. (Kellogg's) She wrote: Well, given John Harvey Kellogg co-founded the Race Betterment Foundation (the Foundation's main purpose was to study the cause of and cure for race degeneracy), it would be remiss of me not to ask. The term Coco Pops was trending on Twitter on Tuesday morning as a result of her tweets. @KelloggsUK, as you are yet to reply to my email - Coco Pops and Rice Krispies have the same composition (except for the fact CP's are brown and chocolate flavoured)... so I was wondering why Rice Krispies have three white boys representing the brand and Coco Pops have a monkey? Fiona Onasanya (@Fiona_Onasanya) June 15, 2020 But many Twitter users ridiculed the former MP for Peterborough for her comments. Story continues Some pointed out that Coco the Monkey is also used on boxes of White Chocolate Coco Pops. Others tweeted that Snap, Crackle and Pop are not boys, as Onasanya said, but elves. She was accused of being offended by everything by other Twitter users. Read more: 'Very surprising' if UK avoids second wave of coronavirus A spokeswoman for Kelloggs said: Its important that we are all talking more about how we can build racial equality. They are not 3 white boys. They are Elves. Elves lifes matter finny (@finnyofthenorth) June 15, 2020 The monkey does standard coco pops and white chocolate ones. pic.twitter.com/vuLr0nKkC6 abx-labs (@abxlabs) June 15, 2020 Kellogg stands in support of the black community. We do not tolerate discrimination and believe that people of all races, genders, backgrounds, sexual orientation, religions, capabilities and beliefs should be treated with the utmost dignity and respect. The monkey mascot that appears on both white and milk chocolate Coco Pops was created in the 1980s to highlight the playful personality of the brand. As part of our ambition to bring fun to the breakfast table, we have a range of characters that we show on our cereal boxes, including tigers, giraffes, crocodiles, elves and a narwhal. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK The Haryana government will bring a bill against religious conversion by force, inducement or through marriages solemnised for the sole purpose of adopting a new religion, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday. He also said that if needed, the existing cow protection law in the state will be made more stringent. Speaking to reporters in Nuh, Khattar said there have been complaints that a handful of people indulge in cow slaughter. There have also been complaints about instances of religious conversion in Nuh. Khattar said that while one has the right to adopt any religion, conversion by force, inducement, etc. are not tolerable. The Right to Freedom of Religion Bill will be brought in which there will be provisions against conversion by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement, marriage or any fraudulent means, Khattar said. "Strict action would be taken against those involved in forcible conversions," he said. He also said a board would be constituted to look after the "religious assets of Hindus in those areas where they are in minority. This work would be done according to the demand of the people of the area concerned". The chief minister said that various steps were being taken by the state government for maintaining mutual brotherhood and social harmony among the communities. Khattar said that one issue which sometimes creates wedge and disharmony between two communities is when some people indulge in cow slaughter. He said the state government has decided to hold trials against accused in cow slaughtering cases in fast-track courts in a bid to curb such incidents. He said that to curb incidents of cow slaughter in Haryana and to take strict and prompt action against the accused, hearings of all such cases would be held in fast-track courts. Though Haryana has a stringent cow protection law, Khattar said, it does not deter people at times. "Recently, 2,550 pieces of cow hides were recovered from a village... If needed, amendments would also be made in the Haryana Gau Sanrakshan and Gau Samvardhan Act, 2015, to ensure protection of cows," he said. Earlier, the chief minister held a meeting with district officials and representatives of various social and religious organisations, a state government statement said here. He appealed to the people that they should continue to maintain social harmony that has been prevalent through the ages by strengthening the spirit of brotherhood. He said the state government plans to set up a unit of the India Reserve Battalion in Nuh district. The IRB battalion based at Gurugram will be shifted to Nuh and a new women IRB battalion will be established in Gurugram. New Delhi, June 16 : Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the prevailing situation in Eastern Ladakh where Indian Army faced multiple casualties during a violent face-off with the People's Liberation Army of China. The Chinese army too faced casualties though the exact figures are yet to be ascertained. Singh met Modi after he held a meeting with External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and the three service chiefs in the South Block here to review the current situation following the violent stand-off in the Galwan Valley amid the de-escalation operation. These are the first casualties faced by the Indian Army in clash with the People's Liberation Army since 1975, when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. Singh has asked the service chiefs to explain the current situation in the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh and also what course of action should be taken from hereafter diplomatically. Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane was to visit Kashmir on Tuesday morning but following the developments on Monday night at Line of Actual Control, it was cancelled. Sources in Indian Army stated: "The Defence Minister reviewed the current operational situation in Eastern Ladakh, consequent to Monday's violent face-off on the Line of Actual Control along with the Chief of Defence Staff and the three service chiefs. The External Affairs Minister was also present during the meeting." Three Indian Army men, including an officer, were killed on Monday night during a violent face-off with Chinese People's Liberation Army troops in Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh. An Indian Army Colonel, the Commanding Officer of an infantry battalion, and two soldiers were killed, the Indian Army said, pointing out that no shots were fired during the violent clash. Indian Army in a fresh statement also said that during the de-escalation process presently underway in the Galwan Valley, the violent face-off took place on Monday night with "casualties on both sides". Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting to defuse the situation. A Major General level meeting between the two sides is going on after China requested to hold the meeting early in the morning. On Monday, Brigade Commander and company level talks happened in Eastern Ladakh between India and China. The talks were happening near patrolling point 14 near the mouth of Galwan Valley and patrolling point 17 at the Hot Spring Area. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed South Korea Increases Combat Readiness Amid Soaring Tensions With North, Reports Claim Sputnik News 12:27 GMT 15.06.2020 SEOUL (Sputnik) - South Korea has increased monitoring and combat readiness along its border with North Korea amid escalating tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang, the Yonhap state news agency reported on Monday. "We are closely monitoring the North Korean military's moves and are maintaining a firm military readiness posture. As of yet, there has been no incident to give additional explanations on," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Kim Jun-rak told a regular press briefing, as quoted by the Yonhap state news agency. According to Yonhap, South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said earlier that Seoul had allocated a record budget amount to shore up its defensive capabilities. "In order to effectively curb and respond to North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats, our military will ... continue to develop various measures to implement a catered deterrence strategy based on a firm South Korea-U.S. alliance," Jeong said at a seminar, the agency reported. The defence minister went on to detail that the military has deployed advanced weapons, such as F-35A fighter jets and Global Hawk unmanned aircraft. A statement over the weekend from Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, ratcheted up tensions by threatening to invoke military retaliation. The statement came in response to activists sending balloons with food and anti-Pyongyang messages over the border from the south. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Charlotte Plantive (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Tue, June 16, 2020 09:14 585 fc6853813033f564188675f8bdf0c50d 2 World US,gay-rights,LGBT-rights,LGBTQ,sexual-orientation Free The US Supreme Court delivered a landmark victory for the gay and transgender communities Monday when it ruled that employers cannot discriminate against workers because of their sexual orientation. In a blow to the administration of President Donald Trump, the court ruled by six votes to three that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws discrimination against employees because of a person's sex, also covers sexual orientation and transgender status. "Today we must decide whether someone can be fired simply for being homosexual or transgender," the court said. "The answer is clear." Trump's administration had effectively thrown in its lot with employers, but the president later Monday called the ruling "very powerful". "They ruled and we live with their decision," he said. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights activists, as well as Democratic politicians and several major businesses, had been demanding that the court spell out that the community was protected by the law. "This is a huge victory for LGBTQ equality," said James Esseks, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's LGBTQ & HIV Project. The group uses the longer version of the acronym, in which the Q stands for "questioning" -- as in still exploring one's sexuality -- or "queer." "The court has caught up to the majority of our country, which already knows that discriminating against LGBTQ people is both unfair and against the law," he said in a statement. Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, hailed the decision as "a momentous step forward for our country." "Before today, in more than half of states, LGBTQ+ people could get married one day and be fired from their job the next day under state law, simply because of who they are or who they love," said Biden, who was vice president when the court made its historic ruling in favor of same sex marriage in 2015. Rights activists had feared that Trump's appointment of two new conservative judges to the top court could hinder further wins for their cause. Yet it was one of them, Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority decision, joining with the court's four progressive-leaning judges and Chief Justice John Roberts. "An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids," Gorsuch wrote. "Those who adopted the Civil Rights Act might not have anticipated their work would lead to this particular result," Gorsuch said. "But the limits of the drafters' imagination supply no reason to ignore the law's demands." 'Fired for coming out' Solicitor General Noel Francisco, representing the government's position before the court, argued that "sex refers to whether you were born woman or man, not your sexual orientation or gender identity." He said it was the job of Congress to update the law, not the justice system. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian religious freedom group, said the court's decision was "truly troubling" and encroached on the religious beliefs of employers. Donna Stephens, the wife of transgender plaintiff Aimee Stephens who died last month, hailed her late partner's struggle for justice after being sacked by a Detroit funeral parlor when she came out. "For the last seven years of Aimee's life, she rose as a leader who fought against discrimination against transgender people," Stephens said. "I am grateful for this victory to honor the legacy of Aimee, and to ensure people are treated fairly regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity," she said in a statement. Among Democratic leaders hailing the ruling was Pete Buttigieg, the former Navy officer and mayor who became the first openly gay person to run for the Democratic presidential nomination. "It was only 11 years ago this summer that I took an oath and accepted a job that I would have lost, if my chain of command learned that I was gay. Firing us wasn't just permitted -- it was policy," he said. Pop superstar Taylor Swift also lauded the decision, tweeting, "We still have a long way to go to reach equality, but this is a beautiful step forward." T he wife of a US Air Force pilot who died when his plane crashed off the north-east coast of England has paid tribute to her "best friend" as he was named as 1st Lt Kenneth Allen. The newly-wed pilot had been taking part in routine training exercises in his F15C fighter aircraft when he got into difficulty on Monday morning. The American airman is survived by his parents and wife Hannah, who described him as "perfect" in a heartbreaking tribute. Writing on Facebook, she said: "He was my absolute best friend and man Christ needs hurry up and come back so I can be with Kage again. "Thanks for all the messages. I love you all, Kage loves you all. He was so Christ like in how he cared for others. I feel beyond blessed to have loved him in this life and cant wait to love him for eternity." Entrance to RAF Lakenheath / AFP via Getty Images Lt Allen had served with the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk since February and was assistant chief of weapons and tactics for the 493rd Fighter Squadron. In the post Mrs Allen said: "He is gone. Im shaking, I got a priesthood blessing and he told me Kage is so sorry. "Typical Kage to apologise even though he shouldnt. "No words to express how shaken I am. Kage was perfect, never been treated with more love and respect in my life." The couple got married in February this year before the pilot was posted to England. Due to time pressures they were wed in a civil ceremony but religious Mrs Allen said they wanted a blessing in a church and would hold a party at a later date. She said: "We quietly got civilly married and are planning on getting sealed in the temple and having a reception as soon as we can. "P.s. highly looking forward to the day where I can be sealed to this guy for eternity in a temple." Col Will Marshall, commander of 48th Fighter Wing also paid tribute and said: We are deeply saddened by the loss of Lt Allen and mourn with his family and his fellow Reapers in the 493rd Fighter Squadron. "The tremendous outpouring of love and support from our communities has been a ray of light in this time of darkness." HM Coastguard, which co-ordinated the search efforts, said it received reports that an aircraft went into the sea 74 nautical miles (85 miles) off the coast of Flamborough Head in Yorkshire. Wreckage was located before the pilot was found and confirmed to be deceased. The pilot was flying a F15C jet / Getty Images The cause of the crash is not known and an investigation is underway. The F15C is a model of jet that has been used by the US Air Force since 1979. In October 2014, an F15D fighter jet based at RAF Lakenheath crashed in fields near Spalding in Lincolnshire. The pilot ejected safely, suffering only minor injuries, and no-one on the ground was hurt. A US air force investigation found that the crash was caused by the angle of attack of the aircraft and imperfections in the assembly of the jets nose cap. In October 2015, US pilot Major Taj Sareen died when his F-18 Hornet jet crashed on farmland near RAF Lakenheath. A subsequent investigation found the 34-year-old did not report problems with his aircraft before take-off. Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-17 03:38:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said Tuesday that he intends to convene a new session of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, probably at the end of August. "I am ready to convene and facilitate a third session of the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned Constitutional Committee," Pedersen told a virtual meeting of the Security Council. "Conscious that global travel restrictions remain in place, I am hopeful that a session in Geneva may be possible toward the end of August." However, he cautioned that the realities facing the Syrian people cannot be solely addressed by discussing the constitution. The Syrian parties will face great difficulties in resolving Syria's problems without real diplomacy among the key international players with influence. After all, there are still five international armies operating across the country and, active measures by many countries as regards Syria, he said. "There are real and substantive differences among those international players, as there are between the Syrian parties. ... Unlocking progress will need mutual and reciprocal steps, on the basis of clear understandings, by the Syrian parties and by international partners." Syria is going through a time of great flux. Nobody involved in the conflict should presume that time is on their side. Nobody should be sure there will be better openings down the road. What is required is the readiness of all to deal seriously with the realities of the conflict, said Pedersen. The Constitutional Committee, which comprises representatives of the Syrian government, the opposition, and civil society, was officially launched in Geneva on Oct. 30, 2019. The committee has yet to agree on an agenda. Enditem Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (27) Egypt ranks as the third-worst jailer of journalists worldwide, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Egypt arrested a veteran journalist who has been openly critical of the government after he appeared on Qatar-based Al Jazeera Media Network. Mohamed Monir, 65, was arrested by plain-clothes police officers early on Monday, New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists reported on Tuesday. Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Mohamed Monir and drop these baseless charges, it said. Monir is already in failing health, and to detain him pending trial during a pandemic is exceptionally cruel. Monir has been remanded in custody for 15 days on charges of joining a terrorist organisation, spreading false news and misusing social media. His arrest comes as Egypt steps up a crackdown on the press that it has been waging since Abdel Fattah el-Sisi became president in 2014, a year after he led the armys overthrow of his predecessor, Mohamed Morsi. The government regards Monir as a mouthpiece for Morsis Muslim Brotherhood, now blacklisted as a terrorist organisation. Police raided Monirs apartment on Saturday. He was not home at the time, but he obtained footage of the raid from a camera in his building that he shared online. Freedom of speech In a defiant video message he posted on Facebook, Monir vowed the authorities attempt to arrest him would not stop him from speaking out. In a family statement posted on Monirs Facebook page, his daughter Sara said: He was merely exercising his freedom of speech, and his words did not contain any incitement against the nation. In May, the CPJ documented the arrests of at least four Egyptian journalists, including Sameh Haneen, a Coptic Christian who also faces charges of joining a terrorist organisation. The interior ministry later published video footage of an alleged confession by Haneen, in which he claimed he had been paid thousands of dollars for producing videos critical of the government for Al Jazeera at the request of members of the Muslim Brotherhood. 1,271 days in jail Mahmoud Hussein is an Al Jazeera journalist held in Egypt for more than three years. An Egyptian national, he was arrested shortly after his arrival in Egypt on December 20, 2016, while on a personal visit. He has not been officially charged. In May 2019, an Egyptian court rejected an order by the state prosecutor to release him. Authorities opened a new investigation against him with unspecified charges and returned him to prison. Egypt and its Gulf allies Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have boycotted Qatar since June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorists and interfering in its neighbours affairs, accusations Doha denies. Egypt ranks as the third-worst jailer of journalists behind China and Turkey, according to the CPJ. The Centre has communicated to the Delhi government that it can deploy rapid antigen COVID-19 detection kit in containment zones and hospitals in combination with the traditional RT-PCR test for faster diagnosis and effective prevention. The Centre's communication came in the wake of the recent spurt in coronavirus cases in the national capital. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has capped the procurement cost for rapid antigen test kit at Rs 450 following negotiation with the firm that produces it. It negotiated the price of the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection kit (rapid antigen test kits) with the South Korean company SD Biosensor, which developed it and which has its manufacturing unit in Manesar, Gurgaon. On June 14, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had written a letter to the Health Ministry, highlighting the need to augment COVID-19 testing in containment zones in the Delhi. The ICMR letter followed two high-level meetings Union Home Minister Amit Shah had with the Delhi government on Sunday. "The Delhi government has already been told that they can deploy rapid antigen detection test for COVID-19 in the containment zones as well as hospitals in combination with the RT-PCR test to check the spread of infection," a health ministry source said on Tuesday. The rapid antigen test kits allow faster diagnosis without laboratory examination of samples. "It is critical to immediately augment COVID-19 testing capacity in containment zones of Delhi to prevent the spread of infection," ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava told Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan in the June 14 letter. It stated that Delhi has 40 RT-PCR testing labs in both public and private sectors. "The overall testing capacity of Delhi as on today is close to 18,000 samples per day. Testing remains a cornerstone in our fight against COVID-19 and therefore ramping up testing is essentially critical to track, trace and treat all cases of COVID-19," Bhargava said in his letter. According to the ICMR letter, symptomatic individuals who test negative should be definitely tested sequentially by RT-PCR to rule out COVID-19 infection, whereas a positive test should be considered as a true positive and does not need the confirmation by RT-PCR test. Standard Q COVID-19 Ag kit is available with the local vendor of SD Biosensor, the letter said, while mentioning the contact details. According to an ICMR advisory issued on Sunday, the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection can be interpreted as positive or negative after 15 minutes of putting the collected nasal swab into the well of the test-strip by appearance of test and control lines, which can be read with a naked eye, requiring no specialized equipment, it said. The maximum duration for interpreting a positive or negative test is 30 minutes. After that the test strip should be discarded, it said. The test kit should be stored at temperatures between 20 to 30 degrees Celcius. NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Qualis Capital LLC today announced James Hird as Manager of the Board of Qualis Holdings. He will be joining Anil Arora as Chairman of the Board of Qualis Holdings. The team is excited and humbled to have such talented and brilliant minds on board to help guide the way as they navigate their launch and for years to come. "Not only are we thrilled to have James join us because of his accomplishments and connections to international markets, but we are also incredibly honored to have the guidance of Anil who brings a wealth of experience and expertise, all the while being such a well-respected individual in our industry." Antonio DeRosa, CEO of Qualis Capital. About James Hird James Hird has served as an executive and non-executive director of global marketing company The Gemba Group since 2004. Over the past 25 years he has combined a professional sporting career, roles at JB Were Goldman Sachs, Gemba and several successful entrepreneurial ventures in the health, food, tech and financial industries. James has worked with start-ups and early stage companies in the USA, UK, Australia, South America and Asia. James holds an MBA from Insead in France and an Honours degree in Engineering from RMIT in Melbourne Australia. About Anil Arora Anil Arora has served as director on the board of directors of Conagra Brands, Inc. since May 2018, and has served as a director and vice-chairman of Envestnet, Inc. since November 2015. He has also served as chief executive of Envestnet | Yodlee, a unit of Envestnet Inc., during this time. Previously, he was president and chief executive officer and a director of Yodlee, Inc. since February 2000. Arora served as the chairman of the board of directors of Yodlee from March 2014 through November 2015. Prior to joining Yodlee, Arora served in various positions with Gateway, Inc., a computer hardware manufacturer which was acquired by Acer Inc. in 2007. From 1995 to 1998, Arora served in various positions for The Pillsbury Company, a manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods, including vice president, strategy and marketing for North America and vice president, general manager for Progresso. Prior to Pillsbury, Arora served for more than a decade in various brand management and corporate strategy and operations roles for Kraft Foods Group, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods. Arora holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a BS in business administration from Rockford College. About Qualis Capital Qualis Capital LLC, headquartered in New York City, is a financial services platform offering a marketplace for private alternative investments. Their cloud-based asset allocation platform provides the High Net Worth community direct access to curated alternative investments, generally at lower minimums, and at institutional pricing. For more information, visit www.qualiscapital.com For more information, please contact: 212-653-8370 [email protected] Financial Intermediaries: Elizabeth Ward 212-653-8377 [email protected] SOURCE Qualis Capital Related Links https://www.qualiscapital.com/ To merge or not to merge? That is the question on the lips of many of the people running your super fund. Financial regulators have been slowly but surely escalating the rhetoric on industry consolidation. In April, a letter to super fund trustees called for funds to show "strong leadership" and make "tough decisions" to ensure long-term viability. First State Super chief executive Deanne Stewart says size and scale will matter increasingly for super funds, together with the ability to drive down fee costs for members. Credit:Louise Kennerley Nearly two months and a multi-billion-dollar drain on the super system later, courtesy of the COVID-19 early access to super scheme, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is no longer beating around the bush on mergers, telling funds they need to shape up or ship out. "APRA continues to pressure the trustees of poor-performing funds to merge or exit the industry unless they are able to materially lift their game," the regulator said. (Newser) Luce Douady was seen as a "climbing prodigy" and one of the "brightest young talents" in rock climbing, per AFP. But the French 16-year-old Olympic hopeful is dead after falling from a cliff in southeastern France on Sunday, the BBC reports. She reportedly slipped and fell from the approach path on her way to an unexplored sector of the cliff near Grenoble; AFP says the "tricky" path between two climbing areas has a handrail. The French Mountain Climbing Federation expressed the "immense sadness of the climbing community" in a statement, while the International Federation of Sport Climbing, the sport's governing body, called her a "young, brilliant and talented athlete." She was the reigning world junior champion and had achieved many other accomplishments in the climbing world. (Read more rock climbing stories.) Secondary Infektion campaigns featured fake news articles and forged documents. Another hallmark was the creation of burner accounts that were used only once, then fell dormant. Such single-use accounts make it difficult to identify who is behind them and suggest that this was the work of an intelligence agency concerned about maintaining secrecy. But it also prevented accounts from accumulating followers or going viral, limiting the operations impact. The report "Starter Culture Market by Microorganism (Bacteria, Yeasts, Molds), Application (Dairy & Dairy-based Products, Meat & Seafood), Composition (Multi-strain Mix, Single Strain, Multi-strain), Form, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", The global starter culture market size is estimated to be at USD 964 million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 1,314 million by 2025, at a CAGR of 5.3%. Increasing awareness among manufacturers regarding the benefits of starter culture, growing application in cheese & other dairy products, and rising demand for fermented meat & dairy products are some of the main drivers for the growth of the starter culture industry. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=213083494 Consumer awareness regarding the benefits of starter culture drives the market for dairy & dairy products The starter culture market is segmented on application into dairy & dairy products, meat & poultry products, seafood, and others. The dairy & dairy products segment is dominant in the application segment due to the growth of starter cultures in the cheese industry. The demand for dairy and dairy-based products is projected to record the highest CAGR between 2019 and 2025 with the growing demand for dairy-based products across the world. High demand from end-user industries for bacteria-based starter culture The starter culture market is segmented based on target microorganisms into yeasts, molds, and bacteria. The market for starter culture in the dairy industry is significant and is used primarily in cheese manufacturing. The use of starter culture has helped in the fermentation process and also helps in retaining the aroma and flavor of different products. Speak to Analyst: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=213083494 Europe is projected to account for the largest starter culture market share by 2025. Europe is projected to account for the largest market share by 2025. The region has some of the leading manufacturers of starter cultures in this world. The combined output of the EU-28 countries in the global dairy industry contributes 44% to global dairy production. Also, the overall starter culture market in Europe is driven by the growing demand for fermented dairy-based products. The report includes a study of the marketing and development strategies, along with the product portfolios, of the leading companies. It includes profiles of leading companies such as CHR Hansen (Denmark), DowDuPont (US), Sacco S.R.L (Italy), CSK Food Enrichment B.V. (Netherlands), THT S.A. (Belgium), Dalton Biotechnologies (Italy), Biochem S.R.L (Italy), Mediterranea Biotechnologie SRL (Italy), Royal DSM N.V (Netherlands), and LB Bulgaricum (Bulgaria). Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) with Senator Marise Payne (R) speak to media in Sydney, Australia on May 13, 2019. (Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images) Infodemic Undermines Democracy: Australian Foreign Minister Disinformation spread by countries such as China and Russia is undermining democracy and creating fear and division. That was the pointed message from Foreign Minister Marise Payne in a speech at the Australian National Universitys National Security College on Tuesday night. The European Commission issued a report last week that concluded Russia and China were the main culprits in carrying out targeted disinformation campaigns seeking to undermine democratic debate and exacerbate social polarisation, and improve their own image in the COVID-19 context. Social media platform Twitter has also disclosed over 32,000 accounts as state-linked information operations which the company attributed to China, Russia and Turkey. Senator Payne described it as an infodemic. It is troubling that some countries are using the pandemic to undermine liberal democracy and promote their own, more authoritarian models, Senator Payne said. She also rejected as disinformation Chinese warnings that tourists and students should reconsider coming to Australia because of the risk of racism. I can say emphatically that Australia will welcome students and visitors from all over the world, regardless of race, gender or nationality, she said. The disinformation we have seen contributes to a climate of fear and division when what we need is cooperation and understanding. She reiterated a comment by Prime Minister Scott Morrison who praised the swift health-protecting actions of Chinese-Australians returning from China in the early period of COVID-19. At the weekend, Australia co-signed with 131 other countries and observers a Latvian-led statement warning that COVID-19 had created conditions that enable the spread of disinformation, fake news and doctored videos to foment violence and divide communities. I can assure you that Australia will resist and counter efforts at disinformation, the minister said. We will do so through facts and transparency, underpinned by liberal democratic values that we will continue to promote at home and abroad. By Paul Osborne Demonstrators calling for the removal of Juan de Onates image from Albuquerque faced violence, according to reports. A man was shot on Monday night in the US state of New Mexico as protesters in its largest city tried to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador outside the Albuquerque Museum, prompting the city to announce that the statue would be removed until officials determine the next steps. The man was taken to a hospital and was listed in critical but stable condition late on Monday, said Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos. A confrontation erupted between protesters and a group of armed men who were trying to protect the statue of Juan de Onate before protesters wrapped a chain around it and began tugging on it while chanting: Tear it down. One protester repeatedly swung a pickax at the base of the statue. Moments later, a few gunshots could be heard down the street and people started yelling that someone had been shot. Gallegos said police used tear gas and flashbangs to protect the officers who intervened and arrested those involved in the shooting. He said they were disarmed and taken into custody for questioning as police worked to secure the scene. He said detectives were investigating the incident with the help of the FBI but he did not immediately release any other information. Reckless, violent rhetoric The shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city, Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. Our diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us. Our hearts go out the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight. This sculpture has now become an urgent matter of public safety. Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement in which she took aim at the armed individuals, saying they were there to menace protesters. She said no matter who strikes first, there would be no room in New Mexico for any sort of escalation of what she called reckless, violent rhetoric. The instigators this evening will be rooted out, they will be investigated, and they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, she said. The violence came just hours after activists in northern New Mexico celebrated the removal of another likeness of Onate that was on public display at a cultural centre in the community of Alcalde. Rio Arriba County officials removed it to safeguard it from possible damage and to avoid civil unrest before a scheduled protest. A forklift pried the enormous bronze statue of Onate on horseback from a concrete pedestal. Cheers erupted among bystanders who saw the memorial as an affront to Indigenous people and an obstacle to greater racial harmony, though several people also arrived to defend the tribute to Onate. County Manager Tomas Campos said the statue was placed in storage for its own protection. He expects the three-member county commission to solicit public comment on what to do next with the public works project commissioned by the state in the early 1990s. This is public property and Im not going to allow it to be damaged, Campos said. Plus, I dont feel like risking my sheriffs deputies or state police to defend it. Legacy of criticism The Onate statues have been a source of criticism for decades. Onate, who arrived in present-day New Mexico in 1598, is celebrated as a cultural father figure in communities along the Upper Rio Grande that trace their ancestry to Spanish settlers. But he is also reviled for his brutality. To Native Americans, Onate is known for having ordered the right feet cut off of 24 captive tribal warriors, precipitated by the killing of Onates nephew. In 1998, someone sawed the right foot off the statue an incident that weighed in the decision to stash away the statue. People have protested against the death of George Floyd across the world, demanding racial justice [Andres Leighton/AP Photo] Luis Pena of Espanola, an artist and computer network engineer, started a public petition last week to remove the statue in Alcalde. He said he was heartened to see it taken off display. Removal of the statue was followed by a few heated roadside discussions about local colonial history, under the gaze of half a dozen sheriffs deputies. Tony Valerio, 65, rushed to the site after a neighbour alerted him that the statue was being taken down. Hes my hero. He brought a lot of good things to New Mexico, Valerio said of Onate. Whats next? The Statue of Liberty? Lujan Grisham, who has campaigned on her heritage as a 12th-generation New Mexican, called the statues removal a step in the right direction in an earlier Twitter post. New Mexico's multiculturalism is its strength. Understanding our complicated history and acknowledging the imbalanced power structures within it is a process, and this is a step in the right direction.https://t.co/H7tPnFLVaQ Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) June 15, 2020 By Monday evening, dozens had joined a celebratory gathering with Native American dancing and drumming outside the cultural centre where demonstrators left handprints in red paint on the empty statue pedestal. Meanwhile, the scene in Albuquerque turned to chaos as people ran for cover. Police in riot gear could be seen taking at least two people into custody following the shooting as some protesters heckled the officers. It was more than two hours before the area was cleared. Monuments to European conquerors and colonists around the world are being pulled down amid an intense re-examination of racial injustices in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of police. Albuquerque city officials have promised to convene a council of community leaders and artists to consider the concerns about the public art piece. Titled La Jornada, the sculpture depicts Onate leading a group of Spanish settlers to what was then the northern-most province of New Spain in 1598. The collection of statues includes an Indigenous guide, a priest, women settlers and soldiers. The names of the families who accompanied Onate are listed on plaques below as part of the Wall of Spanish Ancestral Heritage. Recent calls for altering La Jornada remind us that works of art often challenge communities to debate ideas, pursue empathy, grapple with multiple perspectives, reconcile conflict and interrogate history, said Shelle Sanchez, head of the citys Cultural Services Department. An Australian program that avoids hospital admission for some young cancer patients with a fever is helping to ease pressure on the UK health system during the COVID-19 crisis. The AUS-rule system, now published in E Clinical Med, guides doctors when deciding whether patients can be treated and supported at home. Led by experts at Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, AUS-rule has already been successfully deployed in several Australian hospitals including the Royal Children's Hospital. It has also been fast-tracked in some UK hospitals. Children undergoing cancer treatment face an increased risk of febrile neutropenia (FN), a fever with low numbers of a white blood cell important in fighting infections. Febrile neutropenia may require hospital admission for antibiotics, but an international collaboration is working to manage suitable cases at home. Pediatric cancer researcher Dr. Gabrielle Haeusler, from MCRI and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, recalibrated a febrile neutropenia decision rule, with input by UK researchers. AUS-rule was formulated by the Australian and UK Predicting Infectious Complications In Children With Cancer Projects (PICNICCs) and the Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG). The University of York PICNICC project was led by Dr. Bob Phillips. The AUS-rule (Australia-UK-Switzerland) name reflects this international collaboration. The AUS-rule helps doctors decide which children with febrile neutropenia are suitable for home management using antibiotics and temperature monitoring. It considers platelet and white cell counts and chemotherapy intensity. Over half of these patients do not have a severe infection and can be treated at home with antibiotics and the appropriate supports. This reduces their time spent in hospital by 3-4 days and allows kids to recover in the comfort of their own home. We are currently in the process of scaling up the program across Australia so more children with cancer can benefit from this research." Dr. Gabrielle Haeusler, Pediatric Cancer Researcher, MCRI Dr Phillips is leading the UK push to roll out the Low-risk Febrile Neutropenia Program using the AUS-rule, endorsed by the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG). Those using it can access vital AUS-rule guidelines, patient information, checklists and tip sheets online. Dr Phillips said it was early days, but the simple and robust system was already popular with families who had trialled it in Leeds, London, and Liverpool. Of the 32 children who have presented with febrile neutropenia at Leeds Teaching Hospital so far, nine have gone home with support and an antibiotic treatment plan within a day, compared to a usual minimum hospital stay of three days. Families have embraced the development. "They absolutely want to get out of hospital quicker," Dr Phillips said. "It means that we don't do unnecessary tests on kids and just annoy them, and they actually do better at home. "It's been wonderful to have the direct support of Dr Haeusler and the Australian teams in implementing this program in the UK. Without her input we'd be struggling to make this work. The more we show it works across different hospitals in different countries, the more robust it is because it's experiencing variation and being effective." Ireland's exports took a bath in April, according to numbers from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) issued yesterday, but it was not all bad news. As lockdowns spread across Europe and the US, exports from the State fell by 5.4bn from March to 11.6bn, but that March figure was record number and the decline from a year earlier was just 1.24bn as exports of pharmaceuticals products rose. Data from the European Union as a whole showed that Ireland was the only country in the bloc to record an increase in exports in the January-April period, with a gain of 6pc while the rest of the EU was deeply in the red. Those four months covered plant closures in China and lockdowns across Europe, so the Irish export machine did not actually do that badly and one of our main markets, Britain, recorded the biggest decline in exports from all EU countries. The UK has experienced the biggest economic collapse of any major economy as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and it contracted by a record 20.4pc in April. Although our nearest neighbour accounts for a diminishing share of Ireland's exports, it is still an important market that is worth 7pc of the total. "Exports to Great Britain decreased by 305m to 865m in April 2020 compared with April 2019," the CSO said. "The value of goods exports to Great Britain in the first four months of 2020 was 4.14bn, a decrease of 340m on the first four months of 2019," it said. Ireland's export numbers - like almost everything else in the economy here - are highly volatile and unpredictable from month-to-month. Stripping out the strongly performing pharma sector, Irish exports were down almost a quarter from a year ago overall. The Government expects exports to fall by nearly 8pc this year. Alabama Board of Education member Tommie Stewart wants public schools to play a bigger role in combating racism. During the state board meeting last week, Stewart was the only board member to bring up the social unrest in the wake of George Floyds killing by Minneapolis police. We are, as educators, another arm, embracing children in the family of development, Stewart told AL.com after Thursdays state board meeting. And because of that, I think its vital for us to do something right away. Stewart is the newest member of the board, appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey in January to fill the vacancy left when longtime state board member Ella Bell died in November. During a presentation of the states new strategic plan for education, Stewart asked, In light of the current events that are happening throughout this nation, where are we covering in it (the strategic plan) morality and sensitivity for justice and equality so that our leaders, our teachers, and our students can be exposed to that training as we try to do it across the board in this country? Deputy Superintendent Daniel Boyd said that type of training is in the section on making sure all students have highly effective teachers who are aware of "the sensitive needs of our students and the ethical and cultural concerns that exist across our state." In a discussion about the newly passed education budget, Stewart asked if money not already committed to other programs could be allocated for equal justice and sensitivity training. State education officials gave no definitive answer. I bet you, in every school, theres somebody there that could chair a committee for the school and help with sensitivity and character development training, Stewart told AL.com. "We just need to sit down and talk it out." Talking it out is important, State Superintendent Eric Mackey told AL.com Tuesday morning. The conversation about race and equity is an ongoing conversation in education, Mackey said. There is a strong focus on it right now. "Alabama has a history of educational inequity in outcomes," he continued. Schools can level the playing field, providing equitable opportunities to address learning gaps among students of color and their white peers. Even though schools have come a long way in the past 60 years and there is a lot of pressure on schools from the ongoing pandemic, Mackey said, That conversations not over, and it has to be ongoing even during difficult times. "Some people want to think or want to say, 'well, we've dealt with that, and that issue's done and put that book back on the shelf and now there are new issues to deal with.'" "Schools have to be willing to be involved in the conversation," Mackey said. "It is very hard right now. I know our teachers and principals are absolutely overwhelmed with the amount of work they have to do. But at the same time, that work that they are doing is exactly what we're talking about." Mackey pointed to inequities related to internet access and access to digital devices during extended school closures as an example. We have to make sure we have equitable inputs so we have equal outputs. Selma Superintendent Avis Williams on Wednesday published a statement on social media, addressing the protests and social unrest head on. Nearly all of the 2,800 students in her district are African American. "It has been amazing and refreshing to see the racial diversity of those involved in the recent protests," Williams wrote. "Acknowledging racism and the ideology of white supremacy is a step in the right direction." "To truly understand the depth of hurt and mistreatment of blacks and other people of color throughout the history of our nation, we must be willing to face many uncomfortable truths that led us to this point. Slavery, red-lining, Jim Crow and Bloody Sunday to name but a few." Williams said Team Selma, her term for the community in and around Selma City Schools, will continue to partner with the Selma Center for Nonviolence for education. #TeamSelma is committed to serving our community! Our scholars deserve teachers and leaders who protect their rights to learn and grow in schools where racial equity and social justice matter. #BlackLivesMatter #Equity pic.twitter.com/9SfO2JjRST Dr. Avis Williams (@DrAvisW) June 10, 2020 Virtual "chat and chew" discussions will be held soon, she wrote, "to allow our youth and others to have a safe space to discuss racial equity and justice." Stewart and Williams are among few educators speaking publicly about protests and what role schools can play. In other states where the school year has not yet ended, educators are having conversations with their students and families, protesting racism in peaceful ways, but with Alabamas schools out for the summer, there is no easy way to reach students. One group of Alabama teachers hosted a virtual forum on Friday afternoon, pulled together after the protests started, featuring six African American educators answering questions from the 125 teachers attending. The series, "Social Justice and Anti-Racism for Educators" includes seven hour-long discussions for Alabama teachers to explore the multiple facets of systemic racism and how it impacts children of color in Alabama's schools. Panelists addressed questions about definitions of racist and racism, how systemic racism can be hidden from those not affected by it, and what does racism look like in the classroom. National Board Certified teacher Amber Trantham, who is white, said she was inspired after seeing not only the protests across Alabama and beyond, but what was in her social media feed. "I saw the hurt in my friends' posts on social media," she said, "and saw my white friends were either silent or they're making negative comments." I wanted a place where their voices could be heard by people who wanted to listen. In a relief to residents visiting Feroze Gandhi market, the municipal corporation (MC) has disallowed parking on road sides in the latest contract awarded to the parking contractor. Now, cars and two-wheelers can be parked only in demarcated parking lots in the market. Raising a hue and cry over traffic jams in the market, the market association had complained against fee being charged by the contractor for cars parked on roadsides for long periods of time. As per MC officials, traffic police have also been asked not to allow roadside parking. MC secretary Neeraj Jain said,The contractor had sought permission for road side parking, but it has not been allowed. Last week, the finance and contracts committee (F and CC) of the MC had approved resolutions to allot two parking lots Feroze Gandhi Market and Sarabha Nagar Block I. An e-auction for the lots was held in March. Highest bids of Rs 1.1 crore and Rs 4.5 lakh for the Feroze Gandhi Market and Block-I market lots were received respectively. Officials in Tokyo are working on preventive measures to prepare for another possible surge of coronavirus infections. They've set up a team of experts amid a recent daily spike in confirmed cases. Monday saw 48 new cases in the capital including 20 linked to a downtown nightclub district. It's the 2nd day in a row with more than 40 positive results. The increase comes after the Tokyo government on Friday canceled most of its requests for businesses to restrict operating hours. The team of experts is looking at how to enhance testing and medical systems, as well as how to monitor infections to prepare for another surge in infections. At a meeting on Monday, they reportedly discussed the merits of evaluating specific areas, rather than the entire prefecture, in light of the fact that a significant number of recent cases are nightclub employees in central Tokyo. The experts plan to decide by the end of this month what new criteria the metropolitan government will use when issuing alerts urging people to exercise more caution. Meanwhile, the central government plans to lift more restrictions on social and economic activities on Friday. They include movement across prefectural borders as well as concerts and sporting events. Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi said: " We don't intend to make any changes to our plan at this point. We will continue to closely monitor the situation every day taking expert views into account." Across Japan, more than 17,500 people have tested positive for the virus and over 920 have died. Los Angeles, June 16 : Hollywood star Keanu Reeves is auctioning a 15-minute virtual date to raise funds for a children's cancer charity. For years, the actor has been reportedly quietly donating time and money to cancer charities in honour of his sister, who battled leukemia. Now, he is now offering a 15-minute Zoom call to the highest bidder in a nearly 50-lot auction for Camp Rainbow Gold, reports hollywoodreporter.com. The actor will answer questions and there is a possibility that he will share a virtual glass of wine during the call. The organisation's mission is to "provide emotionally empowering experiences to Idaho's children diagnosed with cancer and their families". The auction serves to boost fundraising efforts for the organisation following a postponed event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "We quickly realised we wouldn't be the only ones moving our fundraiser to an online auction," said Camp Rainbow Gold executive director Elizabeth Lizberg, adding: "We also realised after months at home, people are craving connections and experiences that are safe but fulfilling." Reeves is joined by notable names including former Fifth Harmony member Ally Brooke who will perform a 15-minute private Zoom concert and voice actor Rob Paulsen who will mimic some of his memorable characters. The campaign opened on June 15 and will end on June 22. ABC News executive Barbara Fedida at Variety's Salute to Service presented by History Channel in New York on Nov. 9, 2019. (Clint Spaulding / Variety / Shutterstock) ABC News personnel were reeling Monday over a report that one of its top executives used racist language in her discussions about Black on-air talent at the network. Barbara Fedida, senior vice president of talent, editorial strategy and business affairs for the news division was put on administrative leave over the weekend as parent Walt Disney Co. conducts an investigation into allegations of abusive comments raised in a HuffPost report published Saturday. Several ABC News insiders who were not authorized to comment publicly believe Fedida is likely negotiating an exit from the company. The controversy could also be problematic for the future of ABC News President James Goldston, who relied heavily on Fedida. The report surfaced amid the country's reckoning on race relations that has occurred since the May 25 death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer. Those discussions have already led to changes in several media organizations where management was found to be unresponsive to concerns about diversity and fair treatment in the workplace. Peter Rice, chairman of Walt Disney Television, told employees Monday that an investigation into Fedida's alleged remarks will be overseen by the company's general counsel. "ABC News must be a place where all employees can thrive in a diverse and inclusive environment," Rice wrote in a memo obtained by The Times. "Everyone has the right to feel fully respected and supported at work, with the opportunity to be heard and to contribute in meaningful ways. You can be assured that once this investigation is concluded, we will take whatever actions are necessary." An ABC News representative declined to comment on the status of the investigation. Based on conversations with anonymous sources, the HuffPost recounted a discussion on "Good Morning America" cohost Robin Roberts' contract in which Fedida allegedly said the network was not asking Roberts to "pick cotton." Story continues Fedida also allegedly used the term "low rent" to describe Sunny Hostin, a Black cohost on "The View." In discussing the value to the network of a former Black correspondent Kendis Gibson, she allegedly said ABC News would spend more money on toilet paper. The HuffPost also said there have been settlements with former ABC News employees who complained about Fedida's behavior. Fedida, who has been in her current position at ABC News since 2011, is responsible for recruiting and developing talent at the network (she first joined the network as a news production assistant in 1989). She has long had a reputation for being a tough negotiator who expresses her views in coarse language. As an executive who has had to fire employees, cut salaries and deny raise requests, Fedida is not an overwhelmingly popular figure within the news division, according to many people who have worked with her. But the racist terms described in the HuffPost report which Fedida has denied came as a shock to many ABC News staffers and other people in the industry familiar with her and were devastated by the claims. "It's a gut punch to people," said one former ABC News executive who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. "I know Barbara Fedida, and I dont think shes a racist," said Whoopi Goldberg on Monday's edition of the ABC News daytime program "The View." "Everything I know about her doesnt say she has this in her. But I will say that one of the things that everyone should always make sure we say, and I say it all the time lets find out. If its true, shes gone. If its not, lets find out whats going on. During a June 4 companywide conference call to address reporting and race in the aftermath of George Floyds death, several Black ABC News on-air personalities including Nightline co-anchor Byron Pitts and correspondents Pierre Thomas acknowledged the efforts of Fedida and other executives to improve diversity in the division. Fedida cited her record for diversity in the company in her statement on the HuffPost report. Throughout my career, I have been a champion for increased diversity in network news, the statement read. Building a news division where everyone can thrive has been my lifes mission. I am proud of my decades of work of hiring, supporting and promoting talented journalists of color. And, unlike these heartbreaking and incredibly misleading claims about me, that track record is well-documented and undeniable. But Hostin, who has talked on "The View" about growing up in public housing, said she was "saddened and disturbed" about the "low rent" comment and the remarks made about her colleagues. [It] tells me that systemic racism touches everything and everyone in our society regardless of social stature," Hostin said. "No one is immune. Its the type of racism that Black people deal with every single day, and it has to stop. While TV news divisions have tried to improve their diversity on-air, there have long been complaints that journalists of color are underrepresented in newsrooms and are often subjected to discriminatory practices. In 2017, a judge dismissed a class action suit against CNN brought by former and current employees who alleged discrimination at the cable news channel over two decades. In 2018, Fox News parent company agreed to a $10-million settlement to resolve a group of racial and gender discrimination lawsuits involving 18 current and former employees. - Armed men have killed two police officers in Niger state - They were killed when they were providing security for maintenance Shiroro hydroelectricity dam - According to reports, they were on their way back when the criminals attacked them PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! In a sad development, gunmen have reportedly killed two police officers at Kusasu village in Erena district of Shiroro local government area of Niger state. Daily Trust reports that the policemen were said detailed to provide security to staff of Shiroro hydro electricity dam. The staff were said to be on routine maintenance work on electricity high tension along Kauore village which shares boundary with Birin Gwari in Kaduna state. Going further, the report stated that the policemen attached to Zumba police division came under attacks from the criminals. The two officers who lost their lives are one Inspector and a corporal They were killed when they were providing security for maintenance Shiroro hydroelectricity dam. Credit: Twitter Source: Depositphotos Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Usman Suleiman, the Agatu council chairman while confirming the incident said details of the simultaneous attacks were sketchy. The chairman narrating the incident explained that around 7:00 am suspected gunmen attacked Adana community. He then quickly alerted the necessary authorities including security agencies in Benue state. Suleiman went on to note that the security personnel responded quickly and were able to make some arrests and retrieved nine corpses. Items recovered from a militia leader arrested by men of Operation Whirl Stroke include one Ak47 rifle and 60 rounds of ammunition. Though the Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Adeyemi Yekini did not comment on the matter, DSP Catherine Anene, the Benue Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed that 3 bodies were recovered from the attacks. The command PPRO said: Information was received on Sunday at about 5:30 am that suspected herdsmen attacked Adama village, a riverine area in Agatu that is not motorable. A team of police officers has been deployed to the area but the level of destruction/ casualties is yet to be ascertained. Further development will be communicated to you as soon as the team on the ground starts sending reports. In another development, Governor Yahaya Bello gave orders to security agencies in Kogi to go after the criminals who participated in the bank robbery and attack on a police station on Thursday, May 4 at Isanlu. Democracy Day: Nigerians lament bitterly over governance | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng East downtowns newish moniker EaDo has given the neighborhood hipster credibility, seeing a rise in brewpubs and new watering holes in the past decade. Its history as an old neighborhood for Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants and businesses, combined with its proximity to both the George R. Brown Convention Center and Minute Maid Park, make this one of Houstons most eclectic neighborhoods. WHAT TO DO Graffiti Park: This popular collection of walls, featuring murals and street art, defines the EaDo aesthetic. And its updated with fresh paint fairly often, including this years big COVID-19-era mural dedicated to nurses working on the front lines. 2102 Leeland; facebook.com/pages/Houston-Graffiti-Building Truck Yard: This concept combining an outdoor drinking area with attractions such as karaoke and a Ferris wheel was a hit in Dallas. The EaDo location fits snugly between local breweries and brewpubs, making it an ideal weekend or post-Astros game hangout. 2118 Lamar, 713-855-9666 ; truckyardhouston.com The Secret Group: More than just a hip, grungy EaDo bar, The Secret Group is home to some of the best comedy events in town, which include a funny real-life storytelling series, open mics, local features and out-of-town comic specials. 2101 Polk, 832-898-1088; thesecretgrouphtx.com Warehouse Live: Keep an eye on this venues event list, which runs the gamut from parties to Moth Radio Hour events to an eclectic mix of artist performances. 813 St. Emanuel, 713-225-5483 WHERE TO SHOP Texas Art Asylum: This place is a craft store, antiques shop, thrift store and salvage yard all in one. Whether youre an artist looking for supplies or inspiration, or simply a vintage-loving fashionista looking to update your look, this place has something for you. 1719 Live Oak, Unit L, 713-224-5220; texasartasylum.com EaDo Bike Co.: Dive into Houstons burgeoning bike culture by visiting this local shop located at the head of the Columbia Tap Trail. East downtown is a vital part of many recommended bike routes for downtown Houston, and bikers can stop by here for a tune-up or for parts such as helmets, speed chains and front hubs. 912 St. Charles, 281-826-2453; eadobikeco.com WHERE TO EAT Huynh: The best Vietnamese restaurants in Houston generally are no-frills experiences loud, messy and cheap. Huynh preserves the authenticity of its Vietnamese cuisine but caters to a more upscale crowd, sporting a new lounge area to drink the bottle of wine youve brought for this special occasion. BYOB. 912 St. Emanuel, 713-224-8964; huynhrestauranthouston.com Brothers Taco House: Whenever locals argue about the best tacos inside the Loop, Brothers Taco House often gets mentioned. For good reason though their breakfast tacos are nearly unbeatable, this spots selection of carnitas, beef, lengua and chicken tacos (wrapped satisfyingly in foil) are delectable. 604 Emancipation, 713-223-0091 Original Ninfa's on Navigation: Theres a reason why Ninfas, or Mama Ninfas, appears on list after list of best places to eat in Houston. Even after becoming one of the best known spots for Tex-Mex, Ninfas hasnt lost its original charm nor its family-style service and food. 2704 Navigation, 713-228-1175; ninfas.com Madurai, Jun 16 (UNI) Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Monday granted bail to 31 foreign Tablighi Jamaat preachers and asked Tamil Nadu government to consider closing the cases against them to facilitate their return to their respective countries. Tamil Nadu police arrested 11 Tablighi Jamaat preachers from Bangladesh and 20 from Indonesia for violating Indian tourist visa conditions and indulging in religious preaching in the aftermath of COVID-19 outbreak in the country. They were lodged in Puzhal and Saidapet prisons in Chennai. Los Angeles: Authorities have arrested the suspect behind a shooting that left five people dead at a shopping mall in the US state of Washington, about 24 hours after the killings. Gunman captured tonight (Saturday) by authorities, Washington State Patrol spokesman Sergeant Mark Francis said on Twitter on Saturday. There were no other suspects. The gunman opened fire with a rifle in the makeup section of a Macys department store late Friday, killing four women and a man, according to police. The FBI office in Seattle said it had no evidence the shooting was terror-related. The shooter - described as a Hispanic man in his late teens or early 20s - later left the store on foot, triggering an intense manhunt. A weapon was recovered at Cascade Mall in Burlington, a town of about 8,000 people some 110 kilometres north of Seattle. I dont know what his motivation was to do this, Chris Cammock, police chief in the larger nearby town of Mount Vernon, told a news conference. But I certainly plan to find out through the investigation, to the best of our ability. It was the latest chapter in Americas epidemic of gun violence. Burlington Mayor Steve Sextons voice trembled as he noted that the randomness of gun violence in America - which causes an estimated 30,000 deaths a year - had hit his small town.This was a senseless act, the world knocking on our doorstep. It came to our little community, Sexton said. The shooting came amid fierce debate in America over gun control laws. It is a hot issue on the campaign trail ahead of the November 8 presidential election. The shooter had walked in without a weapon, and appeared on security cameras about 10 minutes later with a rifle, said Cammock. Police received calls around 6:58 PM Friday that shots were fired at the mall. The suspect was last seen walking toward a highway from the mall before officers arrived. The mall was evacuated, police swarmed the area and medics rushed to the scene after the mall was initially placed on lockdown. Local and regional law enforcement from more than 26 agencies responded to the scene, with about 200 officers on site at the height of the incident. Police took hours to clear the sprawling building. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bespin Global, a Seoul, South Korea-based global cloud management company, raised $75M in Series C funding through its holding company, Newberry Global. SK Telecom participated in this funding round through SK Telecom China. Other investors include DY Holdings. The company has raised $177M so far, including $14M Series-A and $90M Series-B. Led by Mr. John Hanjoo Lee, CEO, Bespin Global will join forces with SK Telecom, SK C&C, and SK Infosec to develop a 5G cloud-integrated and multi-hybrid management platform based on OpsNow which is its proprietary cloud management platform. The company supports all major public cloud platforms and offers cloud managed service globally through its proprietary platform, OpsNow. Recognized for its skills and growth, Bespin has a significant presence in the Chinese MSP market and is expanding in the Middle East & Africa region through its MEA arm. FinSMEs 16/06/2020 The mysterious death of a young model who was found slumped against a kitchen cupboard just hours after she broke up with her boyfriend has been ruled a suicide. Baillee Schneider, 25, was found unconscious by her parents with a gold cord tied around her neck at their home in Moonee Ponds in Melbourne's inner-north on June 24, 2018. In the hours leading up to her death she had been in close communication with well-known Melbourne 51-year-old events promoter Antony Hampel and had a row with him the night before at a barbecue. The dental assistant had told her mother that morning she had broken up with her older socialite boyfriend. One of Mr Hampel's previous partners Pheobe Handsjuk died in 2010 at the age of 24 when she fell feet first down the garbage chute of her high-rise apartment building in what was deemed by a coroner to be an accident. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Mr Hampel was involved in either of the women's deaths. Baillee Schneider, 25, was found unconscious in the kitchen of her parents' Moonee Ponds, Melbourne home on June 24 last year The model was found slumped against a cupboard with a gold cord tied around her neck leading investigators to initially believe she had taken her own life Ms Schneider's death was initially ruled a suicide but referred to a homicide squad for further review in December. Deputy Coroner Caitlin English on Tuesday though said the review had established her cause of death in her family home was self-inflicted asphyxiation. Ms English accepted investigators had 'not identified any suspicious circumstances' relating to the death. 'I am satisfied that Ms Schneider while affected by drugs, alcohol, prescription medication and cocaine, upset by relationship difficulties, made an impulsive decision to end her own life,' Ms English found. Ms Schneider had split-up with the 51-year-old because 'their worlds were just too different', the coroner was told. Ms Schneider's parents Cameron and Sabine had pushed for a deeper investigation into their daughter's death, with Mr Schneider saying last year 'it was hard to see how' the 25-year-old could have killed herself. He said there was no suicide note, no obvious place to hang a rope and they are still baffled by her decision to take out a life insurance policy three weeks beforehand. Ms Schneider had been dating 51-year-old events promoter Antony Hampel (right) - who previously was in a relationship with Pheobe Handsjuk (left) - who fell to her death down an apartment block garbage chute in 2010 'None of us can understand how she could have done this to herself,' Mr Schneider told The Age at the time. 'It's not impossible but it is hard to see how. 'Yes we want resolution but not at the expense of the truth. So it is encouraging police and the Coroner are being thorough.' At the time of her death Ms Schneider had been dating Mr Hampel for about nine months. He is believed to have been one of the final people Ms Schneider spoke to before her death. Their row at the barbecue was still weighing on Ms Schneider's mind the morning after, and while her parents were out she had poured herself a glass of wine and smoked a cigarette. A review has established Ms Schneider's (pictured) cause of death in her family home was self-inflicted asphyxiation In the months leading up to her death, Ms Schneider began working at strip clubs in Melbourne and increasingly hid more of her life from her parents A toxicology report also revealed traces of cocaine in her blood. In the months leading up to her death, Ms Schneider began working at strip clubs in Melbourne and increasingly hid more of her life from her parents. Included in this was her relationship with Mr Hampel, who she rarely mentioned or posted about on social media. At the time of her death Ms Schneider had been dating Mr Hampel (right), 51, for about nine months. Following the death of her daughter, Mrs Schneider rang Mr Hampel to inform him of the tragic news. In response he expressed his condolences and said he had been trying desperately to help get her daughter's life back on track. Meanwhile, Ms Handsjuk's death was found to be an accident by Coroner Peter White. He found that affected by a combination of alcohol and sleeping pills, Ms Handsjuk entered the small chute feet first and fell down 12 storeys. One of Mr Hampel's former partners Phoebe Handsjuk (pictured) fell down 12 storeys of her high-rise Melbourne apartment building Upon entering the compactor room her leg was hit by the blade of the machine, the impact of which almost severed her limb at the ankle. She bled to death on the floor of the compactor room - a tragic accident. At the time of her death Ms Handsjuk had been living with Mr Hampel for close to 12 months. Mr Hampel's lawyers opposed an inquest, but he gave evidence during it and denied his involvement in her death. The state Senate on Monday passed a bill, named for a Penn State student who died in 2017 after a night of heavy drinking and hazing at his fraternity, imposing harsher penalties on people found guilty of hazing. If passed by the Assembly and signed by the governor, the bill would classify hazing that results in bodily injury as a crime of the fourth degree or third degree if the bodily injury is serious, according to the bill. Additionally, any student, fraternal organization or higher education institution that knowingly or recklessly promotes or facilitates a person to commit an act of hazing or aggravated hazing would be subject to fines of $5,000 to $15,000 and may be forced to forfeit any proceeds or property connected to the hazing activity. The bill (S84) also specifies that hazing includes forcing someone to consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the other person to a risk of emotional or physical harm. It would, however, provide protections for someone who seeks out help for a victim of hazing, such as calling 911 and staying by the victims side until help arrives. The Senate passed the bill 39-0 on Monday. More than half of all students are hazed at some point during their college career, state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., R-Union, said in a statement. We wont allow this culture of humiliation and violence to continue in New Jersey. Our legislation sends a clear message: if you engage in hazing, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The bill is named for Timothy J. Piazza, a Pennsylvania State University student from New Jersey who died from a fall after a night of drinking and hazing at the fraternity he was pledging. Piazza grew up Readington Township in Hunterdon County. He died in February 2017 after a bid ceremony at Beta Theta Pi. Piazza fell down the stairs, and nearly 12 hours passed before anyone called for help. His father, James Piazza, told state lawmakers last year that stiffer penalties and legislation making it easier to prosecute hazing as a crime are necessary to deter fraternities, sororities and other groups from hazing. Hazing always is a planned event. It always has intent to it," he said. "These are not things that happen just by happenstance. These are things that are well orchestrated and planned. And the individuals that are perpetrating, that are carrying them out, are taking other students lives in their hands, he said. Under the bill, public and private colleges are required to adopt and enforce anti-hazing policies that prohibit students participating in organizations recognized by the school from engaging in hazing. Universities could impose fines, revoke charters, suspend or expel students, or withholding diplomas or transcripts. Public k-12 school boards would be required to do the same, with punishments including withholding diplomas or transcripts, shutting down student organizations, or suspensions and expulsions, according to the bill. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. I will die of fear here. There are dead bodies all around me. Please take me home," a sobbing Surinder Kumar told his shocked family over a phone call from LNJP Hospital, pleading to be taken home. Kumar, a retired NDMC official, was admitted to the Delhi hospital on June 8 after he tested positive for Covid-19. He needs regular dialysis and suspects that he caught the novel coronavirus during one of the sessions. At the LNJP Hospital emergency ward, he was greeted by the shocking sight of bodies lying around. But Kumars ordeal had just started. "The ward boy came to give him oxygen and put the mask on his head rather than his nose. When we protested, bouncers threw us out. We didn't even get a chance to give my father the bag which had his phones and some food," Sandeep Lala, Kumars son told News18. Over the next 24 hours, Kumar's family made several attempts to reach out to their father, but got no information. The family alleges that the staff on duty asked them to call the helpline, but the number went either unanswered or was busy. Finally, on Day 3, Sandeep bribed a sweeper to smuggle in a mobile phone. "I called the mobile number repeatedly, but papa didnt take the call. I called the helpline number and was assured that he is fine, but all night I kept calling and he didnt answer," says Sandeep. Surinder Kumar, meanwhile, was battling his own fear and hospital apathy on the third floor ward of the LNJP. He told News18 that he feared for his life given the conditions around him. "Meri haalat kharab kar di LNJP waalon ne. Koi ilaj, koi vyavastha nahi thi. Sirf 2 bread dete the khane ko. Paani bhi nahi tha peene ko. Main agar 2-4 din aur ruk jaata toh main mar jaata wahan par. Wahan dead bodies ki line lag rahi thi sab jagah (LNJP worsened my health. There was no treatment and no arrangements. They gave me just two bread slices to eat and there was no water to drink either. I would have died had I spent even two more days there. Dead bodies were lined up everywhere), Kumar, who continued to be Covid positive said over the phone from his residence where he is self-isolating. On June 11, after calling on the helpline from 8 am to 4 pm, Kumars family were finally told by the hospital that their father had run away and a missing persons complaint had been filed. "I was shocked. How could my 60-year-old father who is unwell run away? My brother and I reached the hospital, and had a huge altercation with the staff. One Parminder called us from Mandir Marg police station where the complaint was registered to say that they are investigating. But we were not convinced," Sandeep told News18. Sandeep and his brother snuck into the Covid ward to look for their father. The duo said they saw used PPE kits, filth and body bags lying all around. They went from ward to ward and finally located their father in a different ward from where he was supposed to be. The hospital released Surinder Kumar after another round of altercation, but the family's ordeal is far from over. Kumar still has coronavirus symptoms. A private hospital in Okhla assured bed availability on Monday, but turned them back when the family reached there. Sandeep claims it is because they wanted to use the NDMC medical card and not pay in cash upfront. Surinder Kumar, meanwhile, is still breathless and awaiting dialysis. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has formed a coalition of officials to call for reforms in how police hire new officers. The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association has joined the coalition that is especially concerned about law enforcement agencies unknowingly hiring officers who may have a record of abuse or misconduct. Shapiro is guest at noon Tuesday on Live On with Joyce Davis to discuss his calls for police hiring reform that is gaining traction within law enforcement. The Chiefs of Police Association supports creation of a statewide registry that would maintain data on police with confirmed cases of misuse of power. But while the data may be available to law enforcement, there is a question about whether the public would have access to such information. Shapiro will discuss police reform as well as the ongoing protests in Pennsylvania and around the country on todays Facebook Live. Bring your questions and comments to PennLives Facebook page today at noon. Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. And please subscribe to Battleground PA to stay abreast of the issues in the 2020 elections! - Kenrelbis started off as a cosmetics expert dealing with ladies' manicure and pedicure - He switched to hawking boiled eggs and smokies just but to raise money for school fees - Luck struck and he finished school and landed a job with one of Kenya's broadcaster KBC Life has a funny way of rolling out; While some people may be lucky to come from rich and affluent families, others come from struggling ones, making it quite hard for them to succeed. However, there are some people whose God's favour fall on them and change their lives for the better. READ ALSO: 9 incredible photos of little known TV genius Brian Aseli who rose from ghetto to the screens READ ALSO: Aaaaaaaw! Man uses all his savings from piggy bank to buy son phone as graduation gift 1. KBC and Y254 TV Swahili presenter Kenrelbis happens to fall in the latter category, TUKO.co.ke has learnt. 2. Kenrelbis unlike many celebrities who were raised with silver spoons in their mouths had it rough and tough growing up. 3. The dapper TV presenter who hails from Mombasa first dropped out of school at form two due to lack of school fees. 4. It is at that juncture that the now abled presenter decided to pick a hustle and started by doing cosmetic services for ladies including applying nail polish. 5. The hardworking presenter who hosts Y-Mashariki then raised money which he used as capital for boiled eggs and smokies business. READ ALSO: Waigwa Wachira: Akorino man marries mzungu lover in US 6. In a recent TV interview, Kenrelbis disclosed he was forced to hawk boiled eggs and smokie for months all in a bid to raise fees so he could finish high school. 7. God favoured him as he got enough money and got back to school, this time, jumping all the way to form four. 8. The journalist sailed through form four, wrapped it up and went back to hawking eggs and smokies to raise his college fees. 9. Well, that he did and money he raised which enabled him to join college where he graduated with a diploma in TV production and digital strategy. READ ALSO: Helikopta ya polisi yaanguka eneo la Kaithe-Kithoka, Meru 10. It is after college that he started getting attachment opportunities in different media houses, both locally and outside the country. 11. Before landing his current gig at Y254 TV, the young lad was working at Swaiba FM and Clouds FM in Tanzania. 12. Today, Kenrelbis is one of the go-to TV presenters in Africa and promises to take over the world with his skillful presentation. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. I married a man every woman wanted - Pastor Joan Chege | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke